 III  2022         ,            8      ,    - 2,2  .
Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Hawaii for landmark Pearl Harbor visit

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has visited several memorials in Hawaii, ahead of a visit to Pearl Harbor, the US naval base attacked by the Japanese in 1941.
KMC raises over Rs1m fine from street vendors

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has raised more than a million rupees in fines in a month from illegal footpath shopkeepers, who have been selling petty items in various areas ignoring the metropolis rules.
Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice.
Man on police most wanted list arrested

Bara district commander of Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala), an armed Tarai outfit, has been arrested from Raxaul, India.
NAC board starts formal talks on strategic partnership

The board of directors of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has started formal discussions to bring in a foreign strategic partner.
NFC padlocks Manoj Driving

Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) on Sunday padlocked Manoj Drivingwhich has been operating a driving school on NFCs land in Bhadrakali, Kathmanduafter the latter failed to vacate the land even after the expiration of the rental agreement.
No to politicisation

The names of five nominees have been forwarded to Prime Minister Dahal for him to select one as the Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University, an institution that has maintained itself as a credible centre of learning since its establishment in 1991.
On poll ground, PM pressed from all sides

A fresh push for local elections from the Nepali Congress has put Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in a fix, signalling trouble for the coalition formed with a promise to end the Madhes crisis and hold three tiers of elections by January, 2018.
Pancheshwar DPR to be finalised next Feb

Nepal and India have agreed on a fresh deadline of February 2017 to finalise the detailed project report (DPR) of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project.
Tanker driver looted in Raxaul

A tanker driver was looted after he was shot at his left leg by an unidentified gang in the bordering of Raxaul in India on Tuesday.
Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years.
Toothless commissions

The government has tabled bills in Parliament for the establishment of four constitutional commissions, namely the Madhesi, Janajati, Tharu and Muslim commissions.
TRC set to begin investigation soon

The government has finally approved a proposal for setting up temporary bases of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in seven provinces to formally begin investigation into the complaints of the conflict victims.
Two excavators torched

A group of unidentified men torched two excavators at the Beni-Jomsom road upgradation site in Beni-9, Myagdi, on Sunday night.
Two held with eight automatic weapons

Police involved in an extensive search for 21 statues stolen from Chandannath Baba's temple on November 26 arrested two individuals in possession of eight high-end automatic weapons.
Here's a look at the 10 most read stories of the year on Kit Up:

1. Congress Wants to Know Why Soldiers, Marines Don't Use the Same Rifle Ammo

The Marine Corps and the Army use different rifle ammo -- and Congress wants to know why. The final version of the defense authorization bill includes a provision requiring the secretary of defense to submit a report to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees explaining why the services are using different types of 5.56mm ammo for their M16A4 and M4 rifles.

By Hope Hodge Seck | Read more

2. Army Drops Smith & Wesson from Pistol Competition

The U.S. Army has dropped Smith & Wesson from its Modular Handgun System competition, according to a Sept. 23 report Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation made to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Smith & Wesson, which was partnered with General Dynamics, was one of five gun makers competing to replace the Army's M9 9mm pistol.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

3. MARSOC Chooses Glock 19s over .45s for Raiders

Marine Corps Special Operations Command has decided to shelve its custom .45 pistols and outfit its elite Raiders with the Glock 19. MARSOC has not yet responded to Military.coms questions for the story, but a source familiar the effort said the command made the decision.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

4. Navy Getting Rid of 'Blueberries' Camouflage Uniform

The Navy's most mocked camouflage uniform will soon be a thing of the past, the service announced. The Navy Working Uniform Type I, blue camouflage utilities commonly referred to as "blueberries," will be replaced everywhere in the service by the forest-green NWU Type III camouflage utilities developed by Naval Special Warfare Command as a tactical uniform.

By Hope Hodge Seck | Read more

5. Army Selects New Compact Sniper Rifle

The U.S. Army has chosen Heckler & Koch to make its new Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System. The March 31 contract award to Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. -- worth up to $44.5 million -- allows the Army to purchase a maximum total of 3,643 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) units.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

6. Army to Introduce Enhanced M4 Magazine

The U.S. Army TACOM is introducing a new M4 Enhanced Performance Magazine, according to a TACOM Maintenance Information Message. The new magazine will feature a tan body and blue follower and will be engineered to address feeding issues with M855A1 ammunition.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

7. Army and Marines in No Rush to Chamber a Common 5.56mm Round

So it doesn't seem that the Army or the Marine Corps are in any hurry to explain to Congress why they don't use a common 5.56mm round. Lawmakers asked both services to explain the same thing last year, but Marine Corps leaders said they need to do more testing of the Armys M855A1 enhanced 5.56mm round.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

8. Army Adds 84mm Recoil-less Rifle to Platoon Arsenal

U.S. Army infantry platoons will soon have the 84mm Carl Gustaf recoil-less rifle, a highly effective anti-armor system, as a permanently assigned weapon. Officials completed a conditional materiel release authorization late last year, making the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System an organic weapon system within each infantry platoon.

By Matthew Cox | Read more

9. Marines Could Ditch Ammo Cans in Push to Get Lighter

In the Marine Corps rush to drop weight, one of the most beloved and storied pieces of gear could be left behind. At the services first Equipping the Infantry Challenge here Sept. 27, program managers said theyre looking for a lighter, more practical alternative to the iconic ammunition can.

By Hope Hodge Seck | Read more

10. Beretta Displays New CSASS in 7.62mm

Beretta had its version of a compact semi-automatic sniper rifle on display at Modern Day Marine 2016. The ARX200, chambered for 7.62mm NATO, is the rifle Beretta was designing for the U.S. Armys Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System competition awhile back.

By Matthew Cox | Read more
By Jay Ambrose



Barack Obama first came to national attention as a conciliator. It was 2004 at the Democratic National Convention and the Illinois state senator made a resounding, eloquent speech calling for national unity. Five years later, at his inauguration as president of the United States, he made another resounding, eloquent speech, this time calling for national division.



Or at least provoking it. Dr. Jekyll was gone, Mr. Hyde was on hand and the healing physician has since been hard to spot as Obama has broken records in polarizing the country. He has stirred up class antagonisms, heightened racial tensions and helped instigate political stalemate. His negotiation style with Republicans has been a modern-age version of a king telling uppity peasants what they had darned well do.



And, on top of that and much more, he now appears ready to harass Donald Trump from a prominent D.C. perch for the next four years, more or less serving as an unofficial leader of disruptive antagonism.



But let's start with that 2009 inauguration speech that told us so much about the real Obama as he tried to tell us so much about President George W. Bush. As a report in The Guardian newspaper observed, Obama spoke of Bush's eight years of running things as a time of "greed and irresponsibility," of "a sapping of confidence" and of "a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable."



He announced an end to "the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that far too long have strangled our politics." With Bush sitting close by, the new president said the government must quit "protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions." He said we must now "pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America," then failing to go over to Bush, pick him up, dust him off and apologize.



This smooth, charming, brilliant but arrogant man continued to pick on Bush for the next four years as Bush himself said nary a word. And yes, I've heard the stuff about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying he wanted to make Obama a one-term president. That happened in a 2010 interview in which he also said he would love it if Obama would try to meet the Republicans at least halfway. So far, he had not, and, in McConnell's view, his uncompromising agenda was a thing to fear.



Misleading critics love to kick McConnell without mentioning how Obama started his tenure by telling some Republicans he was president and they weren't, implying they should shut up. The adorers do not delve into the ways in which subservient Harry Reid, easily among the worst Senate majority leaders in U.S. history, did far more than House Republicans to block conciliation on issues of moment. They also excuse Obama's vow to act unilaterally if necessary after the GOP took over both houses of Congress in 2014.



We've got a new issue now, namely that Obama, thoroughly practiced in keeping unity at bay, is not about to let his skills go to waste. He has said he will stay in Washington, D.C., to train Democrats on how to assume power again and has explicitly said he will speak out if he sees Trump going astray. Hardly any president has ever booed successors much  Jimmy Carter is a disgraceful exception  but it's easy to imagine Obama growling through a media microphone on a daily basis.



Gallup did various polls during this administration showing more political division in the country than ever before. Imagine what could happen with all the anti-Trump virulence, the mass protest rallies already planned and those now refusing to go to Canada despite pleas they get their passports as promised.



We seem to be in for something like a two-president country, and the national hurt could be enormous.





Jay Ambrose is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service.




This image released by A24 Films shows Alex Hibbert in a scene from the film, "Moonlight." The National Board of Review awarded best director to Barry Jenkins, and best supporting actress for Naomie Harris for their work on the film. (David Bornfriend/A24 via AP)
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As the holidays approach, state and local governments are gearing up for a predictable surge in drunken driving and emergency room visits related to binge drinking.

Little has changed when it comes to Americas alcohol problem, with one exception: substantially more women are drinking compared to a decade ago, and a higher percentage of them are binge drinking.

Because women are more vulnerable to the damaging health effects of alcohol than men, and because drinking during pregnancy can have devastating effects on a fetus, the federal government and some states have made the growing trend a top public health priority.

According to Dr. George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the harms associated with alcohol use in women escalate more quickly, affecting women at an earlier age than men, and the damage tends to be more severe.

For decades, states have attempted to suppress drinking among men and women of all ages by levying alcohol excise taxes, regulating the number of restaurants and bars that sell alcohol, holding retailers accountable for harms resulting from selling alcohol to minors, and placing limits on the days and hours alcohol can be sold  with some success.

But a number of states are redoubling efforts to educate women and their health care providers about the widely misunderstood risks of what many people consider harmless levels of drinking.

The Delaware public health department, for example, has developed a questionnaire to help young women discuss their alcohol use with their health care providers, as well as resources that can help physicians screen patients for potential alcohol abuse. North Carolina has developed specialized alcohol screening programs for pregnant women under the states community health program.

And in Colorado, where a statewide substance abuse screening and prevention program has collected data on more than 50,000 residents, a tailored approach has been developed to help health care providers address the personal and often touchy issues of alcohol use and family planning.

Even for women who do not become addicted to alcohol, having more than seven alcoholic drinks in a week puts them at higher risk for heart disease, stroke and liver disease. The recommended maximum level for men is twice that amount.

Alcohol is a carcinogen, meaning it increases the risk to both men and women of a variety of cancers, including cancers of the colon, liver, esophagus, throat and mouth. Many medical professionals insist that any alcohol consumption can be harmful, an unwelcome message for many who enjoy an occasional drink.

Women who have even one drink a day have a 10 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not drink, and the risk rises another 10 percent for every extra drink they have a day, according to 2009 research from the University of Oxford.

Year after year, alcohol kills 88,000 Americans when accidents and diseases are combined. And the annual cost to the nation, including health care, death, incarcerations and lost productivity, is roughly $250 billion.

Its the elephant in the room when we talk about substance abuse, Koob said. Nobody wants to talk about it because weve made so little progress in reducing it over the years.

In the last decade and a half, the share of women in the U.S. who drink alcohol has increased at least 22 percent, while the percentage of adult men who drink has remained about the same, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

Despite the rise in drinking rates among women, men are still more likely to be drinkers than women. Seventy-seven percent of all men drink compared to 69 percent of women. And men tend to drink about twice as much as women.

Most worrying is an increase in the frequency and intensity of binge drinking among women and girls, said Dr. Bob Brewer, who heads the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions alcohol division.

The prevalence of female binge drinking, defined as four or more drinks on one occasion of about two hours, has risen 12 percent in the last decade. Male binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks on one occasion, has remained the same.

One in eight women now report binge drinking. The typical female binge drinker usually binges three times a month and usually has six drinks when she does.

Theories differ on why American women are drinking more today than in the past. A study published in October by researchers from Columbia University and the University of New South Wales in Australia indicates a similar trend is occurring worldwide.

Unlike other unhealthy behaviors, such as obesity and smoking, excessive drinking among both women and men is more prevalent in populations with incomes of $75,000 or more.

The story there is that we havent given as much attention as a society to reducing drinking, particularly binge drinking, as we have to other health risks, Brewer said. We need to do a better job.

Dr. Corey Waller, an addiction specialist who treats pregnant women at the Camden Coalition in New Jersey, suggests that drinking among women started to become more accepted in American society as more women began to attend college and move into high-level careers.

As females became uplifted in education and business, we began to see a normalization of the same bad habits that used to be male-dominated, Waller said. For example, women now account for 55 percent of all college students, a group with high rates of binge drinking.

As in most states, Delawares alcohol abuse prevention has focused on women of childbearing age. Alcohol use during pregnancy is the No. 1 preventable cause of birth defects. It can lead to sudden infant death syndrome or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is caused by irreversible neurological damage to the fetus.

The disorder affects as many as one in 20 schoolchildren, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Delaware also is working with primary care doctors, obstetricians and gynecologists to increase the frequency of screening for alcohol use among all women. Research has shown that even asking the question, Do you drink? during a physical exam can have positive effects on a patients health, said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Delawares director of public health.

Nationwide, only one in six people report that their doctors have asked them about drinking, and the rate is even lower for women. Experts say this is primarily because physicians tend to rule out excessive drinking as an issue for women.

There is also some confusion, even among doctors, about the potential health benefits of alcohol, Rattay said. Some studies have shown that moderate drinking may be good for the heart and circulatory system, and may protect against type 2 diabetes and gallstones.

But its not clear that there is a great advantage to drinking a serving of alcohol every day, she said. Theres much more evidence that there is harm with drinking. I dont think that if a doctor suggests someone not drink, theyre putting their patients cardiovascular health at risk, she said.

In February, the CDC called on the medical community to discuss and recommend, as appropriate, available contraception methods to women who are sexually active and drink alcohol.

According to the federal agencys alert, approximately 3.3 million U.S. women aged 15 to 44 who were not pregnant and not sterile were at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy between 2011 and 2013.

The CDCs bluntly worded message got a mixed reception from women nationally. In general, women objected to what they perceived as being told when they can drink and when they need birth control, said Carolyn Swenson, manager of Colorados substance abuse screening program.

Alcohol consumption and the use of contraception are issues that most women consider personal choices, Swenson said, making it difficult for medical professionals to simply tell them what they should do.

She said Colorado has developed a quick and easy reference to help health care professionals screen women for alcohol use. But, she said, Were still working on the messaging.

Approximately 3.3 million U.S. women aged 15 to 44 who were not pregnant and not sterile were at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy between 2011 and 2013.
A West Salem woman did not die from a pipe that impaled a windshield, and the spread of blood inside her car is consistent with a beating, according to court testimony.

Todd Kendhammer, 46, stood mute Thursday to a first-degree intentional homicide charge in the Sept. 17 death of his wife, Barbara Kendhammer, after a judge found probable cause in the case and bound him over for trial.

Its a case built on circumstantial evidence with no motive revealed, his attorneys argued in court records and to La Crosse County Circuit Judge Todd Bjerke before a courtroom full of Kendhammers supporters, including his late wifes family.

This is not a run-of-the-mill first-degree case, defense attorney Jonas Bednarek said. This case will be a battle of the experts.

Prosecutors argue that Kendhammers lie about where he was going the morning his wife died  combined with autopsy results and conclusions made by the State Crime Laboratory  conclusively shows that the death of Mrs. Kendhammer was the result of blunt force trauma at multiple places on her body and not from a pipe coming through a windshield, assistant district attorney Susan Bakken-Donskey said.

The only reasonable inference is that the defendant caused the death by multiple uses of blunt force and then tried to cover up a homicide by placing a pipe through the windshield at the time when Mrs. Kendhammer was not inside the vehicle, she argued.

Kendhammer told authorities the couple left their home at N6617 E. Scotch Coulee Road in West Salem between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. Sept. 16 for Holmen, where he planned to pick up a truck to replace its windshield.

Barbara Kendhammer was scheduled to work at 8 a.m. at West Salem Middle School. The owner of the truck said he did not arrange for Todd Kendhammer to repair the damaged windshield, according to the complaint.

A car matching the couples Toyota Camry is on surveillance video at 7:57 a.m. traveling north past the Wild Winds Ranch at N5624 Hwy. M, about one mile south of Bergum Coulee Road in the town of Hamilton.

Todd Kendhammer said they were driving north on a straight and flat stretch of Hwy. M when a 53-inch pipe fell from an oncoming flatbed truck, bounced off the pavement and impaled the passenger side of the windshield, striking his 46-year-old wife, according to his initial statement to authorities.

En route to the hospital with an investigator, Kendhammer said the pipe did not strike the pavement before passing through the windshield. He said he punched the windshield with his left hand trying to block the object, according to the complaint.

Kendhammer said he turned onto nearby Bergum Coulee Road while trying to remove the 10-pound galvanized steel pipe from his wife, accidentally put the car in reverse and rolled backward into tall grass alongside the road. He removed the pipe from the windshield and his wife from the passenger seat and tried CPR for three to five minutes before calling 911 at 8:06 a.m.

Barbara Kendhammer was unresponsive when medical help arrived and died the next day at Gundersen Health System.

An autopsy determined she died from extensive blunt impact injuries to her head and neck, including skull fractures, brain swelling and bleeding in the area around it, and fractured cartilage around her trachea, Dane County Deputy Medical Examiner Kathleen McCubbin testified Thursday.

Her brain was remarkably swollen, she said.

Injuries to the back and front of her head  including a cut to her forehead and three on the back of her head, a fracture to the back of the skull, abrasions on her cheeks, facial bruising, lip injuries and a broken nose  did not match her husbands description of an airborne pipe piercing the windshield and striking her, the complaint stated.

The primary reason is that she had injuries in locations that could not be explained by that mechanism, McCubbin said. The totality of injuries are inconsistent with a single blow from a single pipe.

Do you have an opinion as to how many impacts it took to cause the injuries on the back of her head? Bakken-Donskey asked.

My opinion is that it would take at least two or more likely three to cause those injuries, McCubbin said.

And are those consistent with a pipe coming through windshield?

No, they are not.

Especially concerning are possible fingernail scratches on her neck and a fracture to the cartilage ring at the top of the trachea that is consistent with strangulation or a direct blow to the neck, McCubbin said.

Barbara also had injuries on her hands that were healing and two torn fingernails.

It could indicate a struggle took place, McCubbin said.

Todd Kendhammer had scratches on his neck and chest and injuries on his knuckles. He most recently worked at Crown Cork and Seal Co. and repaired and installed windshields part-time, according to court records.

He stated he works with glass and he gets cut frequently, La Crosse County Sheriffs Chief Deputy Jeff Wolf testified.

Kendhammer described the oncoming flatbed truck as a 2000 model that was dark blue, dark green or black with metal side rails, but no truck matching that description is on four surveillance videos within minutes of the scene.

A passerby said he spotted the Camry half in the ditch on Bergum Coulee Road with its passenger door open and no damage to the windshield, the complaint stated. He did not see the couple.

Blood spatter around the passenger seat and on the inside of the windshield suggest that force was applied to Barbara Kendhammer while she was inside the car, according to the crime lab.

These bloodstain patterns are consistent with a beating, Wolf testified.

The crime lab analyst found blood on the rear passenger tire and a piece of grass was wedged between the trunk and its seal.

There was no blood on the pipe recovered after the incident, Wolf said.

The analyst also found at least four impact points to two areas of the windshield: two inflicted from the inside and one from the outside that damaged the glass before the pipe penetrated the windshield, according to the complaint.

The spread of glass particles on the passenger seat indicated it was empty when the pipe came through. The analyst also concluded the passenger door was likely open, because there were no glass pieces in the door pocket.

Kendhammer remains jailed on a $250,000 cash bond after the judge rejected his attorneys argument to drop it to $25,000 cash.

Prosecutors initially sought a $1 million cash bond and argued against a reduction Thursday.

Todd Kendhammer has known of this investigation for almost three months. He never hid. He never fled. He did not resist arrest in any way. He remained in the community, his attorneys wrote in a motion. Indeed, counsel told the lead detective in September 2016 that Todd Kendhammer would voluntarily appear, if requested, to face any criminal charges.

The couple had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a surprise party organized by their two grown children and attended by 150 people, his attorneys wrote to the court.

He and Barb did everything together, the motion stated. Todd describes his marriage as good.

Kendhammer was released from custody Friday after posting his $250,000 cash bond. He is under house arrest and being monitored by GPS.

The only reasonable inference is that the defendant caused the death by multiple uses of blunt force and then tried to cover up a homicide by placing a pipe through the windshield at the time when Mrs. Kendhammer was not inside the vehicle. Susan Bakken-Donske, assistant district attorney The only reasonable inference is that the defendant caused the death by multiple uses of blunt force and then tried to cover up a homicide by placing a pipe through the windshield at the time when Mrs. Kendhammer was not inside the vehicle. Susan Bakken-Donske, assistant district attorney
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Dolores Jean Ellis, 82, passed peacefully into the presence of her Savior Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, while residing at Living Tree Estates in Greenville.

She was born Sept. 29, 1934, to Oscar and Margaret (Staff) Mikkelson in the town of West Salem. The only child of hard-working Norwegian parents, Dolores developed a strong work ethic and a powerful sense of devotion to her family. She followed in her parents footsteps by working in the local Holmen canning factory during her high school and college years.

After graduating from West Salem High School, Dolores attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. She graduated from there in 1956, with a degree in elementary education. Dolores began her educational career by teaching at Wisconsin Rapids, for about eight years before transitioning to Tullar Elementary School in Neenah, Wis. Dolores taught her beloved students at Tullar for 33 years, before retiring in 1997, after 41 years of educational service.

Dolores Mikkelson became Dolores Ellis when she married Leslie Ellis July 18, 1964, in West Salem. Les and Dolores were not only dedicated to education, but also to their home church, Community Baptist Church of Hortonville. Dolores had a love for music and played the organ for the church for over 45 years. Even after moving into assisted living, Dolores continued to play the organ when able until her dementia made it impossible for her to do so.

Dolores enjoyed the outdoors and worked alongside of Les to care for their large yard and home in Freedom, Wis. Les and Dolores were involved with the Boys and Girls Club and enjoyed bringing children home for Christmas, and spending time with them throughout the year. Les and Dolores were also generous donors to charities such as the Salvation Army and the Special Olympics. Dolores other interests included scrap booking, keeping a diary, reading, and sewing all of her own clothes when possible. In addition to personal interests, Dolores was also a kind and devoted blessing to her grandparents and father in their old age.

Dolores was preceded in death by her father; mother; and stepmother; her beloved husband, Les; and close friend, Valary Anderson Zietlow.

Dolores is survived by her husbands cousin, Janet King, of Wisconsin Rapids. She is further survived by her adopted family, Pastor Lary and Connie Long, of Oshkosh, Levi and Sarah Rocke, of Neenah, the Stephen Rocke Family, of Hortonville, and friend, Al Zietlow, of Delafield.

A memorial service for Dolores will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at Community Baptist Church in Hortonville. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Pastor Lary Long and Pastor Levi Rocke will officiate. Burial will follow at the Neshonoc Cemetery in West Salem.

Special thanks to Dawn Goss, Dolores beautician, for all of her service to Dolores over the years. A big thank you is due to the staff of Living Tree Estates, Greenville, and Compassus Hospice, Green Bay, for their care of Dolores during the last years and months of her life.
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Federal authorities say crew fatigue may have contributed to the derailment of a BNSF freight train that spilled more than 20,000 gallons of ethanol after leaving the tracks last year near Alma, Wis.

The engineer applied the brakes too suddenly, in violation of railroad guidelines, causing 25 cars to jump the tracks as the train bunched up on the morning of Nov. 17, 2015, according to a report released Tuesday by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The makeup of the 112-car train, which had heavily-loaded cars behind dozens of lighter, empty cars contributed to the derailment, the FRA determined.

When brakes are applied too rapidly, momentum at the rear of a train can push forward cars off the track, which one former train operator likened to locking up the front brake on a bicycle.

While the engineer and conductor each had more than 13 hours of rest prior to beginning their shift at 1 a.m., both scored poorly on the FRAs fatigue analysis tool. According to the report, their likely impairment would have been similar to having a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent, the legal limit for driving a vehicle.

Both passed drug and alcohol screenings.

FRA spokesman Marc Willis said the agency did not fine the railroad as the engineer did not violate any federal regulations; he characterized the mistake as poor handling.

BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said the engineer is no longer employed as a result of this incident.

According to the report, the 112-car freight train was traveling south at 26 mph when it derailed at 8:45 a.m. The engineer had previously slowed it from 54 mph. The maximum speed limit on that track is 60 mph, although the train was restricted to 55 mph, according to the FRA report.

The train included 20 hazardous material cars, including 15 carrying ethanol. Five of the tankers leaked a combined 20,413 gallons of alcohol.

About 75 people were evacuated and Hwy. 35 closed for about three hours as firefighters from as far away as La Crosse responded. There were no fires or explosions, but emergency responders said the situation had the potential to be disastrous.

There were no injuries reported in the derailment, which caused about $2.1 million damage to rail equipment and track.

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have not documented any wildlife kills following the derailment.

McBeth said water monitoring, conducted under the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, was completed in the spring at an undisclosed cost to the railroad. Officials with the EPA and DNR did not immediately respond to messages left Tuesday.

The Alma derailment was one of several high-profile rail accidents to occur last winter in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The following day, a Canadian Pacific train carrying crude oil left the tracks in Watertown, Wis., spilling hundreds of gallons of the fuel and prompting an evacuation in the southern Wisconsin city. In January, a CP train en route from St. Paul, Minn., to Kansas City derailed near Brownsville, Minn., sending six tank cars and about 660 gallons of vegetable oil into the Mississippi River.

Two locomotives and five freight cars in a BNSF train derailed on Sept. 22 when flash flooding washed out the earth beneath the tracks near Ferryville, Wis. About 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel were spilled in that incident.
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP)  The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., is reaching into its past as it plans for its future.

Looking ahead to next years 150th anniversary celebration of when founders Jacob Leinenkugel and John Miller first began brewing beer in Chippewa Falls, the brewery is honoring its familys roots by creating a collaborative beer with Hofbrau Munchen, a German brewery thats even older, dating back to its founding by William V., Duke of Bavaria, in 1589.

The brew  Leinenkugels Anniversary Lager  is an amber-colored, marzen-style beer that when introduced in April will represent more than a years cooperative effort between the two breweries, including a meeting in Chippewa Falls last June that featured the key representatives from both companies. The beer will be brewed simultaneously  for bottles and kegs in Chippewa Falls, for kegs in Munich  using identical formulas and ingredients, with American hops shipped to Munich and German malt sent to Chippewa Falls.

We have our roots in Germany, and this is the first time the Leinenkugels have brewed beer in Germany since at least 1845, said Dick Leinenkugel, brewery president and a member of the fifth generation of Leinenkugels charged with carrying on the family tradition.

We felt a lot of similarities with the Hofbrau representatives as we worked on this, Leinenkugel said. Hofbrau Munchen is owned by the Bavarian state, and theyve been around for 400-plus years, and working with them you get the sense they feel very much like the caretakers of a brand and a brewery. And in our case, its our family, its our name on the label, and we feel very responsible for it.

Jacob Leinenkugel learned the brewing science at the knee of his father, Mathias, who brewed beer in Meckenheim, Germany, before immigrating in 1845 to the United States with his wife, Maria, and children in tow, including Jacob, age 3. Mathias founded a brewery in Sauk City, and his offspring all eventually operated breweries in the state, including Jacobs creation in Chippewa Falls in 1867.

This collaboration is really historic, the Leinies brewery with its German heritage and a historic German brewer creating a beer together and both of them brewing it, said Bill Febry of Cardinal Marketing in Chippewa Falls, a Leinenkugels ambassador helping with the 150th anniversary planning. Both breweries have such a story to tell, and what better way to help tell it than through a collaborative beer.

When discussions about creating a beer with a German brewery began in 2015, Leinenkugel said working with Hofbrau Munchen immediately came to mind.

We already had a relationship with them through Steve Ksycki; we knew Steve, and Steve knew us, Leinenkugel said. Ksycki, the U.S. brand manager for Hofbrau Munchen, formerly worked for Leinenkugels then-parent company SABMiller in their specialty craft beer accounts, which included Leinenkugels. (Leinenkugels is now part of MillerCoors.)

Ksycki said he was excited by the concept of a collaborative beer and brought the idea to his superior.

Just like Leinenkugels, Hofbrau Munchen is very protective of their brand, Ksycki said. They view themselves as guardians of a national treasure. They were willing to listen, but it was going to have to be a very good fit.

The early discussions led to a key January 2016 conference phone call  in English  among all the principals of both breweries, including executives, brand managers and brewmasters.

There was a lot involved, Leinenkugel said, noting the agenda included developing timelines, determining an organization, defining roles and discussing possible beer styles. That initial call went well, and over the next several months teams worked out a variety of issues, including legal agreements, pricing, packaging and distribution.

And then there was the beer itself. Because it would be brewed by Hofbrau Munchen in Germany, it had to adhere to the Reinheitsgebot, sometimes called the German Beer Purity Law. Only four ingredients could be used: malt, hops, yeast and water.

There were several different versions of what we call a fest-style beer, Leinenkugel said. Our Oktoberfest is a marzen-style, but we wanted this to be different than that. There was input from the Hofbrau team and the Leinenkugels team. By the end of April we were ready to brew prototypes.

With beer ready to taste, in June representatives from Hofbrau Munchen flew over to visit the Chippewa Falls brewery. All the key players from both breweries attended. Hofbrau Munchen representatives included Dr. Michael Moller, director and CEO, Rudy Seider, national sales, and Rolf Dummert, head brewmaster. The Leinenkugels team included Dick Leinenkugel and brewmaster John Buhdrow.

That was a key selling point, for Dr. Moller and the others to come over and experience the Leinies brewery and meet the people, the family, Ksycki said. They loved the character and the feel of the brewery.

We knew this was a historic meeting, Leinenkugel said. Our brewmaster, John Buhdrow, showed them around our brewery. And then we went to the Leinies Lodge, and we started tasting the prototypes and discussing what we liked about each.

The two brewmasters, Dummert and Buhdrow, gravitated toward the more traditional style of the two finalists. The younger members of the teams leaned toward a style that included mosaic hops.

That style had a little bit of spiciness, that little bit of floral aromatic that comes from the mosaic hops, Leinenkugel said. So it was a bit of old school meets new school.

There was more conversation, more deliberation, more tasting, and we decided to go with the one that included the mosaic hops. And in the end, everyone was pleased with the decision.

Leinenkugel describes the beer as bready, toasted caramel, rich, flavorful, with the hops bringing in this fruitiness, a little bit of spiciness, but still balances the malt. The goal was to have a beer that has drinkability, a beer that can be enjoyed in liter steins.

And after the final recipe was chosen, we went and broke bread at Famous Daves, and we drank Hofbrau original, and they drank Leinies Original, he said.

Leinenkugels Anniversary Lager will only be a part of the brewerys celebration of its 150th anniversary, which will include a community event Aug. 10-12 at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds.

But when Leinenkugel considers the significance of the collaborative beer, he points to both the professional and personal achievements that made it possible.

This was two brewing teams from historic breweries collaborating on a new recipe, tasting it, discussing it, and in the end choosing it and brewing it, he said. And also the conversations about how were going to package it, how were going to promote it, how were going to sell it, all of those details.

And then after meeting the representatives from Hofbrau, you really understand that they care about their beers as much as we do. And even though they are from Germany, and were from Chippewa Falls, we are brewers. In many ways we speak the same language.
ST. PAUL, Minn.  Each month the subscription beauty boxes that Jasmine Harris ordered would arrive at her home.

But shed have to throw a lot of the products out.

If it was makeup, the coloring would be off, Harris said. Lipstick, the shades would be inappropriate for my skin tone, or hair products that were not made for kinkier textured hair, like mine.

After a few too many experiments, she concluded subscription boxes werent thinking about people of color.

The experience galvanized Harris, along with her mother and sister, to create a new subscription service aimed at the multicultural market. The Burnsville family named their new company Hues Box.

We want to connect people with products made for their skin tones and hair textures, Jasmine said.

This is by people of color, for people of color  not just African-Americans, Africans, said Robin Harris, Jasmines mother. Were talking about Asians, Hispanics and American Indians because its this missing component of other boxes that are out there.

The company launched over the weekend with its first shipment. More than two dozen newly subscribed customers will receive boxes containing sample personal care and beauty products.

Subscription e-commerce has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. Just about anything  from arts and craft to dog treats  can be ordered online and delivered regularly to your doorstep.

Industry success comes from buying in bulk, said Sucharita Mulpuru, chief retail strategist for the ShopTalk retail conference. And personal care companies have huge growth targets making a push for the multicultural market less of a priority, she said.

I think what that means for this company in Minnesota is its a market opportunity, Mulpuru said. It may not be billions of dollars, but theres absolutely a demand for it, and its a unique niche thats not being addressed now.

But at its core, Hues is social enterprise. It will only feature products made by vendors of color, especially small operators without big marketing budget. As Hues accumulates subscribers around the country, it will give those obscure brands greater exposure, Robin said.

What youll see in our box you wont see in a store, she said. These are small business vendors who are looking for a way to get their products out and their voices out into the broader community.

For example, in the first box, Sailor Girl, a Native American company on a reservation in Idaho, made the lip balm, and Butters by Jay, an African-American-owned business in Brooklyn Center, produced the whipped shea butter.

Butters by Jay owner Jasmine McConnell, 28, works full time as a construction site superintendent but makes the bath-and-body products out of her home.

New customers from the exposure would propel my business to the next level and help me reach my goal of doing this full-time, said McConnell. This is huge for my business.

The busy Harrises funded Hues out-of-pocket as a side business. Robin, the human resources director for Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, ran for Burnsville City Council a couple of months ago. Jasmine is a sociology professor in Philadelphia. Jenae also teaches, along with running an event planning business and participating in beauty pageants.

Hues has 10 vendors and are in talks with a dozen more from around the country.

Its awesome to see a spike in entrepreneurship in communities of color, Jenae said.

But finding these businesses has been challenging.

Often vendors of color, just starting out, dont have the resources to have a website or dont know about search engine optimization if they do have a small website to get their businesses in a Google search results, Jenae said.

In addition to lack of resources, some vendors lack business know-how. But the Harrises are mentoring some these vendors on marketing and branding for a potential partnership.

If youre a small business owner from a community where theres not a lot of successful entrepreneurship, Jenae said, it makes it all the more difficult for your business to be visible and for people like us to find it.

Each month Hues box will feature four to six sample-sized products about a specific theme. Customers can pay $12 a month or subscribe for a lengthier delivery option. Subscribers will be able to buy full-size products from Hues or the vendors website.

The boxes will also include beauty and wellness products rooted in different ethnic traditions. For example, first boxs theme is detox and includes a feminine hygiene tea used by Native American, Latino, African and Asian women, Jasmine said.

Theres cultural overlap between communities of color, some of our regimens are the same, Jasmine said. It will also be an opportunity to reconnect and share lesser known traditional practices with each other.

And the Harris hope the products will generate conversation about health.

Well have products to reduce stress and boost mental health  topics not discussed often in communities of color, she said. One of our goals is to generate those conversations and thats why its important that this is not just a makeup box.
The following editorial appeared in The Baltimore Sun on Thursday, Dec. 22:

A is for alt-right, a sanitized, newspeak name for assorted white nationalists, neo-Nazis, anti-Semites and other irredeemables. Also, a distressing chunk of Donald Trumps base.

B is for Brexit, or as we now like to call it, the handwriting on the wall.

C is for classified emails, or what Hillary Clinton insisted there were none of on her home email server, until the FBI discovered that there in fact were.

D is for deplorables, basket of: Hillary Clintons unfortunate description of half of Trumps supporters; she later apologized, saying its not quite half.

E is for emoluments clause, a formerly obscure section of the Constitution barring presidents from receiving payments from foreign countries  obscure because what president would even consider making that an issue? Donald Trump.

F is for fake news, the kind of unsubstantiated trash that circulates around on Facebook and Twitter, convincing undiscerning readers that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump or that Hillary Clinton is running an underage sex slavery ring out of a Washington pizza joint.

G is for grab em by the , a phrase the American public will be trying desperately, and we fear in vain, to erase from our collective memories. Thanks, Access Hollywood.

H is for hands, small, or Sen. Marco Rubios amazing feat of making the 2016 election even more juvenile than Donald Trump did, though Trump did not let this new record of puerility stand for long, asserting that there was no problem, I guarantee with the body part Rubio really meant to measure.

I is for illegal votes, or what President-elect Donald Trump claimed there were millions of without any evidence whatsoever, amid trying to argue that no recount of the election was necessary.

J is for James Comey, the FBI director whom Donald Trump called a disgrace until he sent a bizarre letter to Congress days before the election about Hillary Clintons emails, at which point he became a man of principle.

K is for KKK, or a group whose endorsements Trump felt little compulsion to disavow and whose most famous ex-leader Trump pretended not to have heard of.

L is for Lyin Ted, Little Marco and Low-energy Jeb, or the hit parade of insults Trump threw at his primary election opponents before ultimately turning his fire on Crooked Hillary.

M is for Machado, Alicia, the former Miss Universe whose weight Trump couldnt stop tweeting about.

N is for non-endorsement, or what Sen. Ted Cruz offered to Donald Trump in a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention, ensuring that Americans across the political spectrum could agree on at least one thing this year: that guys a jerk.

O is for Obama, Michelle, likely the first person in modern political history whose words were among the highlights of both the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

P is for pneumonia, the illness that caused Hillary Clinton to collapse in what was evidence of either a) her self-defeating penchant for secrecy or b) a global conspiracy to cover up her battle with some sort of grave degenerative disease.

Q is for Quebec, or the prospective home of some of the multitudes of celebrities who said they would leave the country if Donald Trump were elected, including Amy Schumer, Barbara Streisand, Miley Cyrus, Cher, Lena Dunham and Samuel L. Jackson.

R is for revolution, or what was promised by Sen. Bernie Sanders to Democratic primary voters in a tone most often associated with old men yelling at kids to get off their lawns.

S is for Sachs, Goldman, the giant investment bank that paid Hillary Clinton hundreds of thousands of dollars for speeches, the text of which she refused to release, leading to much criticism from Trump that she was too cozy with Wall Street. Also: The former employer of Trumps chief strategic adviser and treasury secretary.

T is textbook racism, or one of the many denunciations House Speaker Paul Ryan made of the comments and actions of the candidate he endorsed for president but whom he would not campaign for or answer questions about.

U is for Utah, the state whose fondness for former CIA officer and independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin led to fevered speculation about the possibility of an electoral college tie and a movement to stop Trump in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

V is for Vladimir Putin, Russian president, ex-KGB agent, annexer of Crimea, jailer of political opponents, crusher of free speech, kleptocrat of historic proportions, and BFF of Donald Trump.

W is for what is Aleppo? or a phrase that sank any hope that Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnsons campaign might take off.

X is for  so many options here: xanthous, or a description of Trumps odd skin tone; x-rated, for the content of some of Trumps speeches, debate answers and Howard Stern interviews, not to speak of leaked Access Hollywood tapes; Xi Jinping, the Chinese president whose call of congratulations Trump initially denied receiving; or xyloid, a description of Clintons speaking style on the stump. But obviously, weve got to go with xenophobia for this one.

Y is for youd be in jail, or Donald Trumps promise during a presidential debate about what would have happened to Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server if he had been in charge, though he later dropped plans to appoint a special prosecutor to go after her in an act of magnanimity befitting the most benevolent of despots.

Z is for zero, or the number of previous presidents who have lacked government or military experience; the number of press conferences Trump has held since the election; the level of interest the president-elect has shown in briefings from the nations intelligence agencies or advice on diplomacy from the State Department; the number of tax returns Trump has released; or the impact repeated denunciations of Trump by editorial boards, foreign policy experts or mainstream Republicans had on the outcome of this election.
A day after announcing plans to streamline water quality regulation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources emphatically denied that it will allow large dairy producers to write their own pollution permits.

But DNR leaders do want animal feedlot operators to take more responsibility for drafting pollution discharge permits, the legal documents that spell out standards and techniques aimed at keeping millions of gallons of manure they produce annually out of the states lakes, streams and drinking water.

Conservationists say the change is loaded with pitfalls that threaten water quality, while industry representatives say it doesnt go far enough.

A key to their arguments is something that hasnt been highlighted: Much of what goes into the permits under current practices is already written by the industry, subject to DNR oversight.

The DNR wants to start a program under which it would review the credentials of the private consultants who are hired by large dairies to write lengthy proposals that eventually form the basis for the permit, then create a list of those the DNR and the dairy operators can be assured would do good work that could be approved quickly with less review and revision.

A Dairy Business Association representative praised the DNR plan to give more cursory review to proposals from approved consultants but added that it would be a relatively small additional step to what the industry sees as an even better arrangement involving concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) writing the whole permit.

That would speed permitting and create more efficiently designed CAFOs by giving the consultants who are experts in their fields greater control, while still allowing DNR the last word, association lobbyist John Holevoet said.

Its important to remember that the consultants cant risk doing poor work that would make their insurance premiums go up, Holevoet said.

Sometimes the public thinks theyll just do whatever the farmer wants, he said. Thats not true because they have to have fairly expensive insurance policies, and if something goes wrong the farmer will sue the engineering firm and the insurance company will pay out.

But conservationists pointed to problems that have surfaced even with the existing level of DNR scrutiny.

With DNR staff stretched thin and under pressure to issue permits quickly, the agency has approved CAFOs whose manure lagoons have overflowed into trout streams and where animal waste was spread on farm fields with thin soil and porous bedrock that allowed drinking water to be tainted, said Sarah Geers of Midwest Environmental Advocates.

It would be one thing if the process were already working really well, but from what we know about the CAFO program I dont see how less DNR review will result in better permits, Geers said.

Assured consultants

DNR secretary Cathy Stepp announced plans to change water permitting as part of a broad reorganization aimed at recognizing that the agencys responsibilities have grown in recent years at the same time that elected officials have cut its staff.

Stepp said she wants to reduce time staff members spend reviewing and seeking revisions in permit applications so they can talk with CAFO operators about best practices and conduct inspections to ensure they are complying with their permits.

Critics say inspections wont mean much if the DNR isnt ensuring that the standards written into permits are adequate. Revising a faulty permit is a legal process that takes many months.

But Stepp said a similar assurance program reduced staff responsibilities without lowering standards about 10 years ago when the DNR used it to give the private sector more responsibility for mapping sensitive wetlands.

So this isnt about producers writing their own permit, its not about them writing their own regulations or standards, Stepp said in a recent Wisconsin Public Television interview. This is just about some of the more heavy-duty technical paperwork side of things getting done by professionals who are very well educated and credentialed to do that.

Water pollution discharge permits include operating conditions. Some, such as required ground water monitoring or leak detection devices in production areas, may be taken from the plans and specifications submitted by the CAFO.

But the bulk of the permit document is hundreds or even thousands of pages describing how, where and under what conditions the CAFO will dispose of manure it produces. The so-called nutrient management plan is incorporated into the permit.

The DNR said the best case is that a CAFO submits spotless plans that dont require the department to request additional information or revisions.

But conservationists who have challenged DNR-approved permits say the agency too often allows CAFOs to operate with inadequate permit restrictions.

State oversight of the waste water discharge permits have become a hot topic as regulatory shortcomings have come to light.

Stepp wants to create lists of approved consultants for the two major portions of a CAFO application  the plans and specifications for structures in milk production areas, and the plans for manure disposal.

Both involve mapping, soil tests and highly technical calculations aimed at ensuring that rain wont flush manure into the aquifer or surface water.

Its not entirely clear how closely DNR staff members would review applications from assured consultants, but the idea is that they would spend less time on them so they could spend more time elsewhere.

Well be doing spot audits and regular check-ins to make sure that those calculations are being done correctly, Stepp said in the television interview.

Its possible that spot checks would be done on an annual basis to ensure consultants were using the same methodology that DNR staff would insist upon, but details will be worked out in meetings with stakeholders, DNR director of business support and science Mark Aquino told the State Journal.

State law already requires that nutrient management plans be prepared by consultants who have been certified by professional organizations.

The plans describe how manure may be spread over hundreds of acres sometimes involving multiple landowners.

Meanwhile, at least one lawmaker is considering legislation to break up the DNR and divide its functions among three existing and two new agencies. Gov. Scott Walker said the idea should get consideration, while critics raise questions about how the plan would affect environmental protection.

Experience level varies

Engineering companies that design CAFO production areas have varying levels of experience, so a DNR list of assured firms would be useful, said Jennifer Keuning, Green Bay project manager for the international engineering and construction services company GHD.

The company specializes in construction projects involving environmental regulations, and it has handled hundreds of CAFO projects and expansions in Wisconsin, Keuning said. Like Holevoet, she said the industry could write the entire permit if the DNR wanted that.

Even if the assurance program works well, its difficult to imagine improvement in the DNRs performance in protecting water quality unless elected officials stop cutting and start restoring the agency, Midwest Environmental Advocates Geers and others have said.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Maria Ivanez, left, and South Texas College of Law Houston President and Dean Donald J. Guter celebrate her recognition as the Texas Access to Justice (ATJ) Commissions 2016 Law Student Pro Bono Award recipient at the State Bar of Texas recent New Lawyer Induction Ceremony in Austin. Photo courtesy of Texas Lawyer

The Texas Lawyer reports on this pupbeat immigration story. When she was a kid, law student Maria Ivanez was afraid of deportation. Her family moved from Venezuela when Ivanez was a child, and for ten years, she lived as an undocumented immigrant. When it came time to graduate from high school, she needed her legal status to qualify for in-state college tuition at the University of Houston.

Then 18, Ivanez filed her immigration case alone because she could not afford a lawyer. As a law student at South Texas College of Law Houston, where she graduated this month, she made sure that other undocumented children would not go through that without representation.

Ivanez recently received the Law Student Pro Bono Award and a $2,000 stipend from the Texas Access to Justice Commission for her dedication and commitment to pro bono services for low-income and underserved people.

She took a course that required her to work in the school's Immigration Clinic, and then kept volunteering after her class ended.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2016/12/south-texas-college-of-law-houston-student-former-undocumented-immigrant-receives-law-student-pro-bono-award.html
Relations between India and Pakistan worsened in 2016.

This worries world leaders. The South Asian neighbors have fought several wars and each has nuclear weapons.

The two countries had better relations a year ago. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi surprised many observers when he went to the wedding of the granddaughter of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last December. Many hoped the visit would improve relations that had been tense for months.

But in January, Kashmiri militants attacked an Indian air base in Pathankot, 50 kilometers from the Pakistani border. The attack damaged relations between Pakistan and India.

In July, Indian troops shot and killed Burhan Wani, a young Kashmiri separatist leader. People protested his killing for months. Indian troops and protesters fought. Many people, including security forces, died.

Pakistan strongly supports those who are fighting for Kashmiri independence from India. Pakistani leaders worked in international meetings to bring attention to reported human rights violations in the area. The Modi administration then protested reported human rights violations by Pakistani security forces in Baluchistan province. Indian leaders had never done that before. Tensions worsened further.

In September, four gunmen attacked an Indian military base in Uri, in Kashmir. Eighteen Indian soldiers were killed. India blamed the attack on militant groups based in Pakistan.

Modi said he would try to isolate Pakistan internationally.

The same week, Sharif strongly criticized India in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

This indigenous uprising of the Kashmiris had been met, as usual, with brutal repression by Indias occupation force of over half a million soldiers.

India reacted sharply to the speech. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj suggested that Pakistan is a supporter and exporter of terrorism.

Soon, India said it had carried out attacks against militants on the Pakistani side of the Kashmiri border. Pakistan rejected the claim. But it warned that it would consider any such attacks acts of war.

Continued fighting along the so-called Line of Control has killed many people, most of them civilians. The line is unofficially considered the border in Kashmir.

Pakistans army trained near the Indian border. Then, India persuaded some countries not to attend a meeting of nations planned for Islamabad. Pakistan was forced to cancel the meeting.

The two countries continue to attack one another, but many observers hope relations will improve in 2017.

Im Jill Robbins.

VOA Correspondent Ayesha Tanzeem reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Caty Weaver 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

isolate  v. to put or keep (someone or something) in a place or situation that is separate from others

indigenous  adj. produced, living or existing naturally in a particular region or environment
Some Bay area kids and teens are getting a once in a lifetime opportunity to perform the iconic Nutcracker alongside famous dancers from the Moscow Ballet.

Bay area students to dance alongside Moscow Ballet

World renowned dancers rehearse with students for the Nutcracker

Tickets for show, here

The student dancers will be showcasing their talents at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

More than 100 dancers from over 20 local dance schools auditioned for the role in the holiday classic. World renowned dancers from the Moscow Ballet have been rehearsing with the students for their upcoming performance.

"It's so exciting for them because they're backstage, they hear the dancers speaking in Russian, they see them warming up, they see the whole process," Rehearsal Mistress and dance studio owner Judith Lee Johnson said.

Dancers aged 7-17 all have their own role in the iconic show.

"It's kind of nerve-wrecking because you're next to them and don't want to mess them up, but at the same time it's like, 'Wow I'm actually dancing next to these people,'" student dancer Omar Brito said.

Larissa Walker has been dancing since she was a toddler and said the Moscow Ballet has served as a big motivation.

"I've watched them since I was 3 and 4 years old, so getting to grow up with this has definitely inspired me a lot," Walker said.

Walker is now going to college in hopes of pursuing a career in dance. Students said they can't thank the dancers enough for their time, effort, and empowerment.

"It's really nice that they can do this. They're professionals and risking so many things but it's so nice that they're letting us do this," Brito said.

Tickets are still available for the Moscow Ballets Great Russian Nutcracker at the Mahaffey Theater. For more information, click here.
A cab driver is recovering after being shot in the leg Monday night.

Cab driver shot in Largo

Non-life threatening injuries

No suspect as of yet

According to Largo police, the cab driver was shot while picking up a fare at 8:30 p.m. near 2122 Bradford Street.

After he arrived he was approached by a suspect who was wearing a mask. The suspect pulled out a gun and demanded money.

The cab driver and the suspect then physically struggled. At some point during the fight, the suspect shot the cab driver once in the leg resulting in a non-life threatening injury.

The driver, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area hospital.

The shooting remains under investigation and no suspect has been identified.
This was the year of Donald Trump, and the New York businessman who will be sworn in as president next month made a lot of claims and promises on the campaign trail.

There were also a lot of attacks against candidate Trump, many based on what he did as a businessman.

During a September conference call with reporters, Democratic Congressional candidate Scott Peters from California talked about Trump and his record. During the call, Peters made the claim that Trump "rooted for the housing crisis, because he knew he could make money off of it."

Our partners at PolitiFact looked into Peters' claim to see whether it was accurate.

PolitiFact reporter Joshua Gillin says that Peters' claim rates MOSTLY TRUE on the Truth-O-Meter. Gillin says that it's indeed the case that this was a situation that Trump could have profited from.

"This actually goes back to a 2006 audio book that Trump recorded," Gillin said. "In the tape, he was asked about signs pointing to a potential housing crash, and he said he sort of hoped that it would happen, because cash-rich investors like himself would be able to go in and buy properties at reduced prices."

Gillin notes that there is a slight difference between what Trump said and the claim that Peters made.

"The difference here is that Trump did not say he necessarily wanted the housing market to crash," Gillin said. "There's a big difference between speculating on what might happen as opposed to wishing for something to happen, especially something like the 2008 crash where people lost their jobs and the economy floundered, which is what actually happened."

Gillin says that, although Trump was saying in general terms "when prices are lower, I can buy more," he wasn't actively rooting for a housing crash so that he could directly make money from that, which leads to Peters' claim being rated MOSTLY TRUE by the Truth-O-Meter.
On Tuesday, a Jet Airways flight from Goa to Mumbai skidded off the runway at Goa's Dabolim airport, reported ANI. The flight 9W-2374 veered off the runway while aligning for take off to Mumbai, with 15 passengers suffering "minor" injuries during evacuation. There were 161 people on board the flight, including the crew members.

#FLASH Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 from Goa-Mumbai skidded off runway at Dabolim airport(Goa).All passengers safe.Airport closed til 12.30 PM  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

The incident took place at around 5 am. Flight 9W 2374 which had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, was about to take off when it skidded off the runway.

When the evacuation was on, the aircraft tilted forward, an eyewitness said, triggering panic among passengers.

According to ANI, all the passengers were safely evacuated.

Jet Airways issued a statement saying, "All guests and crew have been safely evacuated. Few guests have sustained injuries during the evacuation process."

Jet Airways Statement with regard to flight 9W 2374 from Goa  Mumbai: pic.twitter.com/Vhb7atP8Z6  Jet Airways (@jetairways) December 27, 2016

#WATCH: Passengers, who were injured after Mumbai bound Jet Airways flight skidded off runway at Goa airport, being taken for treatment pic.twitter.com/JUWYRpFe1r  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Some disgruntled passengers found that the grave incident could have killed them.

Media makes it look like its nothing,bt it was terrible; Engine exploded,could've died; Going to complain-Stranded passenger at Goa airport pic.twitter.com/jd7jGlgGY1  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Talking to ANI another passenger named Abhishek said, "Situation was critical; nobody is helping, authority is not giving answers; Dont know what to do."

A few hours after the incident, Jet Airways issued a statement where they announced that they will facilitate the transport of the stranded passengers from Goa to Mumbai on their wide-body Boeing 777.

@firstpost Please refer to our latest update for flight 9W 2374 from Goa to Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/fZ1rQo6063  Jet Airways (@jetairways) December 27, 2016

With inputs from PTI
Prime minister Narendra Modi will meet NITI Aayog officials today to discuss the demonetisation impact on the economy and also to plan for the Union Budget to be presented on 1 February, according to media reports.

The government's surprise decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November has impacted the consumption demand resulting in a cash crunch. A section of experts think the government or the RBI was not prepared to handle the situation effectively. The currency printing presses under the central bank and government had not printed enough cash of smaller denomination currencies even as the move sucked out about 86 percent of the currency in circulation.

The prime minister's meeting with experts assumes significance as the cash crunch persists even as the deadline of 30 December, when Modi has promised the pain will end, is nearing.

The shortage has resulted in huge job losses in the informal sector, with construction workers being laid off in hordes.

Textile, tourism and jewellery sectors also have witnessed deep impact as slowing demand is pulling down the sales. Also, agriculture is another sector that has been crippled as farmers are holding back rabi sowing because of their inability to buy seeds and pay for the labour owing to the persisting cash shortage situation.

Many brokerage houses and economists have already reduced the GDP growth target for the current year, citing sluggish economic activity after the demonetisation announcement.

Meanwhile, the government's efforts to push for transition into cashless economy has not paid off due to various issues including low internet penetration and speed.

According to a report in The Times of India, agriculture sector and jobs will be the focus area of the prime minister's meeting today with NITI Aayog, which is expected to start at 11 am in the morning.

The meeting will be attended by 13 experts, including finance minister Arun Jaitley, NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, secretaries and a few others from outside, said reports in ToI and the Business Standard. The theme of the meeting, the ToI report says, is 'economic policy: the road ahead'.

Apart from those mentioned above, according to the CNN-News18 report, the experts include Vivek Dehejia, professor with Carleton University in Canada, economist Surjit Bhalla and NITI Aayog chief executive Amitabh Kant.

The BS report says the team will have an initial discussion in the morning and they will split into three groups, who will again deliberate on the issues. They will again present their discussion outcomes in front of the PM in evening.
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Azores Airlines, a subsidiary of Portugals SATA group, will begin flying connections to Cape Verde and Barcelona in the 2017 IATA summer season (April to October), the groups CEO Paulo Menezes announced.

The operation will use company aircraft, similar to what was done in the summer of 2016, Menezes said while presenting the summer 2017 operational plan along with new Azores Airline products.

The chair of the SATA (Servico Acoriano de Transportes Aereos) groups board of directors explained that flights to Barcelona would begin in April and those to Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) only in June, two routes that we have identified as having great potential.

The regional secretary for transport and public works, Vitor Fraga, said that SATAs operational plan clearly shows the commitment of Azores Airlines to the region, using the islands as a hub between Europe, North America and Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, Cabo Verde and Canary Islands).

The current fleet of Azores Airlines comprises one A330 aircraft, three A310s and three A320s. Plans call for it to receive its first A321 in the last quarter of 2017 and another aircraft in the first quarter of 2018. MDT/Macauhub
Non-residents who leave their employment or whose jobs are terminated now face another setback in the region, as local immigration authorities amend the relevant policies.

Previously, local immigration authorities granted 10-day visas to these employees, but have now shortened their length to eight 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.

Paul Pun, secretary general of Caritas Macau, has criticized the MSAR government for decreasing the number of days given to non-residents once they leave their job.

It would be problematic for them. They may go back to their hometown. Somehow the government policy intends to not let them look for another job, he explained.

Pun explained some challenges that these domestic workers may face under the new visas, such as difficulty in finding affordable plane tickets. If its just a short time, the price of the ticket is more expensive. Two days could make big difference.

Although employers are responsible for purchasing a one-way plane ticket for employees, Pun explained that the employer might refuse to provide additional allowance to compensate employees for costly tickets.

The anxiety level is high, he added. The visa expires in just eight days; they dont even have time to adjust before going home. This is also difficult. Ten days is [already] not enough.

Pun believed that the move is probably a crackdown to limit the regions growing number of domestic workers.

Separately, the Caritas head told the Times that the number of low-income residents under Caritas Macaus Food Bank program will be more or less the same compared to last years figures.

According to the Caritas head, the short-term food assistance program has reached 2,028 families as of December 11, a figure quite similar to last year.

Pun noted that in 2015, there were 2,015 families taking part in the program. Those families included 3,714 individuals.

Its gradually increasing because of the promotion, he told the Times. There is still more [days] to count so we are not sure if there is an increase, [but] probably its more or less the same.

In recent years, Pun noted that some low-paid residents were not comfortable accepting food assistance from the government.

Last year, 1,882 families that took part in this initiative.

The non-government association hosted dialogues amongst these families, encouraging them to participate in the short program.

According to Pun, they had to explain the benefits of the assistance to the families, implying that such residents find it embarrassing to accept food aid.

[More] people know about the program and second, people [have] accepted the service, he explained.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general also emphasized that the number of the programs users in Coloane has grown, citing that several families have moved from Macau to the Seac Pai Van public housing complex.

As of December 11, 1,369 individuals in Coloane received weekly food packages from Caritas Macau, a 32.3 percent increase compared to 2014.
China re-established diplomatic ties with Sao Tome and Principe, cementing the small West African island nations shift in allegiance from Taiwan. The two countries signed a communique yesterday at a ceremony in Beijing attended by Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The switch highlights Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens growing risk of isolation amid tensions with China. It cuts to 21 the number of nations that recognize the government in Taipei, rather than Beijing.

China has shown a willingness to use its economic and military might to pressure Tsais Democratic Progressive Party, which swept the more Beijing-friendly Kuomintang from power in January. The Communist Party considers the self-governed island a province and has criticized Tsais refusal to accept that both sides belong to One China, its precondition for ties. China accounts for around 40 percent of Taiwans exports.

Wang told reporters in Beijing that China welcomed Sao Tome and Principes decision, saying it was made under the One China principle. This relationship could bring solid results to both nations, Wang said. The two sides will start cooperation in all areas based on the principle of mutual trust. China is willing to provide support to the economical and social development of Sao Tome and Principe within its capacity.

Sao Tome and Principe, with a population of about 197,500, consists of two archipelagos that lie within 320 kilometers off the northwestern coast of Gabon. It established ties with China in 1975 only to switch to Taiwan in 1997.

We hope more and more Chinese interests will invest in Sao Tome and Africa, Urbino Botelho, Director da Politica Externa of Sao Tome and Principe, said at the Beijing briefing. We hope more Chinese tourists will come visit.

Sao Tome and Principe had sought more than $100 million from the government in Taipei, Taiwans Central News Agency reported last week, citing an unidentified foreign ministry official.

Sao Tome and Principe Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada said on Thursday that breaking relations with Taiwan was the most correct decision because we have a commitment to the people to improve their living conditions, according to Taiwans United Daily News. Trovoada also denied that he had approached Taiwan for money.

In March, Beijing formally reestablished relations with Gambia  another former Taiwanese partner in West Africa  and has stepped up communications with others, such as Panama and the Vatican. China had refrained from actively wooing away any of Taiwans diplomatic partners during the eight-year tenure of Tsais predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, who advocated increased ties with the worlds second-largest economy.

Tsai visited Panama and Paraguay two months after taking office and plans a similar Central American tour next month, including Guatemala and Honduras. That could provide an opportunity for a transit stop in the U.S., where the incoming president, Donald Trump, has expressed a willingness to reconsider long-standing U.S. policy toward China.

Trumps recent protocol-breaking phone call with Tsai and his attacks on China on Twitter, have sparked friction between the worlds two biggest economies before he takes office. After the call, China flew a bomber around Taiwan in what it called a normal flight operation. Bloomberg
In his first Christmas message to the Catholic community since becoming Bishop of Macau, Stephen Lee encouraged believers to strive to bring more people to the church.

Encourage all your fellow parishioners to bring friends, especially those who have been away from the church, Lee said in the message published December 23 on the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Macau. The message was titled: Going back to the Fathers embrace.

In a message that emphasized the ideals of mercy and reconciliation, Stephen Lee wrote, I hope the Diocese of Macau will keep promoting a merciful culture during the upcoming few months and quoted Pope Francis Apostolic letter Misericordia et Miseria from late November this year, which focuses on mercy and reconciliation.

We are sinners and we bear the burden of contradiction between what we wish to do and what we do in fact. Yet grace always precedes us and takes on the face of the mercy that effects our reconciliation and pardon, he quoted. He used Pope Francis quote to comment on the topic of reconciliation, in which he is said to be particularly interested. Lee said that he plans to publish a book next year with reports on reconciliation. In his preparations for the book, he requested fellow believers to help send him personal stories on the topic.

Another topic addressed in the message was the availability of people for the religious sacraments.

This event [the sacrament], allows us to feel Gods embrace: he comes out welcoming us, restoring our grace, letting us become his children once again, [] through this event [the sacrament], we confess our sins, and then we see, we acknowledge, we feel and embrace Gods great love, he concluded. RM
Chinas first aircraft carrier and five other warships passed by Taiwan and sailed into the contested South China Sea yesterday, Taiwans Defense Ministry said.

The ships, led by the Liaoning, sailed past the Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands, a Taiwan-controlled atoll in the northern part of the South China Sea, according to the ministry.

Chinas Defense Ministry said Saturday that the Liaoning had set off for a routine open-sea exercise in the Western Pacific as part of its annual training. But its entering into the politically sensitive South China Sea follows rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei over the status of the self-ruled island.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has refused to endorse Beijings concept that Taiwan is a part of China. Beijing claims the self-governing island as its own territory and says failing to endorse the one-China principle would destabilize relations.

The Taiwanese ministry said the Liaoning and warships had on Sunday sailed 90 nautical miles south of Taiwan in the Bashi Channel, a waterway between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Tensions have mounted in the South China Sea, where the U.S. and China accuse each other of engaging in a dangerous military buildup. China claims nearly all of the sea and is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons.

The U.S.-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative think tank said this month that satellite imagery showed China building large anti-aircraft guns on artificial islands in the contested waters, where China has also laid airstrips, built communications facilities and deployed suspected missiles.

China has characterized its moves as defensive in nature and accused U.S. warships of making provocative passes through the region.

The Liaoning, commissioned by the Chinese navy in 2012, first sailed to the South China Sea in 2013, when it docked at a navy base near the Chinese holiday resort of Sanya. The vessel at the time was not outfitted with a full aircraft complement.

AP
Hundreds of Mongolians braved frigid weather yesterday to stage a protest in the countrys capital demanding that the government do more to address worsening air pollution that they fear is sickening their children and shortening their lives.

The demonstrators gathered in a public square in front of government offices, holding banners with slogans such as Lets give fresh air to our future children, Smog is silent killer and We cant breathe.

We are desperate and we are organizing this demonstration to make authorities feel our frustration and anger, said Purevkhuu Tserendorj, one of the protests organizers and a mother of two.

The air temperature hovered around minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit).

According to UNICEF, the United Nations childrens agency, air pollution is linked to the three diseases that have resulted in the most lost life-years in Mongolia.

The agency said in February that pneumonia and other respiratory infections were among the leading causes of death among Mongolian children under the age of 5. It said that the lungs of children living in highly polluted districts of Ulaanbaatar, the capital, do not function as well as those living in rural areas, with real risks of them suffering chronic respiratory diseases when theyre older.

The protesters demanded that the government increase the number of beds in hospitals that have been overcrowded with sick children and develop a plan to reduce air pollution by 80 percent by 2018. They also urged the government to install air filters in kindergartens in the capitals slum areas, which are worst-hit by the pollution.

Ulaanbaatar is one of the worlds coldest capitals, with temperatures sometimes falling to -40 C (-40 F) in January, the coldest month of the year. More than half of the citys 1.3 million residents have to rely on burning raw coal, plastic, rubber tires and other materials to stay warm and cook meals in their homes. Such areas, where residents live in traditional round tents that do not have centralized heating, have been shrouded in choking smog in recent days.

Responding to the protesters calls, Mongolian Minister of Environment and Tourism Oyunkhorol Dulamsuren said that between 2011 and 2015, the government spent more than $37 million while international donors spent $47 million on measures aimed at curbing air pollution. Ganbat Namjilsangarav, AP
Servers and dealers on the Las Vegas Strip say theyre worried that as more foreign visitors hit the restaurants and casinos, theyll receive smaller tips because the tourists are coming from countries like China, where American-style, 20 percent gratuities are uncommon.

Its very difficult when youre serving or relying on tips and the majority of your guests are foreign. They dont tip you, or they may have a USD200 meal and tip you a dollar per person, said Cheryl Holt, who has been a food server on the Strip since 2011.

With a $200 dinner check, Holt said as a server, shed typically have to pass on about $10 to the rest of the service staff, including a bartender, busser and food runner. If she receives a small tip, Holt said shes paying for those customers to eat at her table.

Holt told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that in her experience, visitors from Canada tend to tip about 10 percent. European tourists give smaller tips and Chinese visitors give about $1 per person.

Hotels and resorts should help educate visitors, perhaps by displaying signs at dealer tables noting that the dealers expect tips, according to Xiaosheng Huang, a Chinese immigration lawyer in Las Vegas.

Chinese normally think service workers are paid by the boss and need not to be paid separately, Huang said. This is a side of cultural misunderstanding.

Dealers in the casinos, who receive about 80 percent of their income in gratuities, worry about stingy tips too, according to Joseph Carbon, who represents dealers at Caesars Palace, Harrahs Las Vegas, Ballys, Paris Las Vegas, and Wynn Las Vegas as the head of the Transport Workers Union of Americas gaming division. Lets face it, this is a tip town, Carbon said.

Chinese tourists have an obligation to learn the culture theyre visiting, but tourism officials need to help too, according to Michael Boyd, with China Ni Hao, a New York firm that was hired to help McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas welcome Chinese visitors.

We may just have to accept the fact that we want that business, we want them to come here, but if they feel gouged for a tip, they may go somewhere else, Boyd said.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority spokeswoman Heidi Hayes said the agency does not have any program in place to educate foreign visitors about the culture. AP
India successfully test-fired its longest range nuclear-capable missile, confirming its status in the select group of nations with weapons that can travel from one continent to another.

Agni-V, with a range of more than 5,000 kilometers, completed its final firing test at the Defence Research and Development Organizations range on Dr. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha yesterday.

This was the fourth test of Agni-5 missile and the second one from a canister on a Road Mobile Launcher, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. All the four missions have been successful.

Indias president, Pranab Mukherjee, confirmed the launch with a tweet. Congratulations DRDO for successfully test firing Agni V. It will enhance our strategic and deterrence capabilities, he wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon followed with his own tweet: It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defense.

Indias space and missile programs, along with economic growth of more than 7 percent and a bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, is part of the countrys efforts to build up its defense capabilities and establish itself as a world power.

The locally-developed Agni-V is capable of reaching as far as Beijing, IANS reported in July. India joined a group including the U.S., Russia, China, France and the U.K that have intercontinental ballistic missiles when it first test-fired Agni-V in 2012.

Indias current range of missiles are mostly intended for confrontation with neighboring rivals China and Pakistan. India has fought three wars with Pakistan and one with China.

While differences over border disputes remain, India and China have improved political, economic and military ties in recent years. Relations between India and Pakistan are passing through their worst phase in more than a decade. Bibhudatta Pradhan, Bloomberg
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will visit Pearl Harbor with President Barack Obama today, wasnt even born when Japans former leader Shigeru Yoshida went there just six years after the countrys World War II surrender, by himself and feeling awkward.

Yoshida is best remembered for signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the U.S. and others in 1951, allowing Japan back into international society after its war defeat. His Pearl Harbor visit, which he made on his way home from San Francisco, was largely eclipsed by the historic treaty.

Archival writings and photos unearthed by The Associated Press reconstruct Yoshidas visit, from his aim to win U.S. trust to how he was put at ease by the U.S. Navy commanders dog.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor on Sept. 12, 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the site of the Japanese attack of Dec. 7, 1941.

Radford recalled that he thought Yoshida might feel uncomfortable because of his offices location. I could almost see the wreck of Arizona out of the window, he wrote in his memoir, From Pearl Harbor to Vietnam, referring to a battleship that sank in the attack.

Yoshida, westernized and fluent in English, showed up in a white suit, wearing his trademark brimmed hat and carrying a cane, apparently looking a bit stiff.

Then Radfords dog broke the ice.

His little Scottish Terrier, which was stretched out in front of Radfords desk, walked slowly to Yoshida to be patted, while sniffing around his shoes and ankles.

That started a dog conversation that took most of the visit, Radford wrote.

Yoshida was a dog fancier, and had bought terrier puppies just before leaving San Francisco, his grandson Taro Aso, currently Japans finance minister, has said. Yoshida named the pair San and Fran after his successful trip.

Years later, Yoshida told Radfords wife how he was embarrassed when he walked into the office after seeing Pearl Harbor, and how happy he was that the dog was able to settle him down.

A Navy archival photo obtained by the AP shows the two men shaking hands, with a smiling Yoshida looking up at the much taller Radford. Yoshida spent about 20 minutes at the office, according to an AP story from Sept. 13, 1951.

Yoshidas visit to Pearl Harbor was actually on his second Hawaii stopover, having stopped there on his way to San Francisco as well.

But he was more relaxed the second time after completing the important mission in San Francisco, where he also signed the original Japan-U.S. security pact.

On his way to California, Yoshida landed in Honolulu on Aug. 31, 1951, when Japan was still technically an enemy.

During that visit, he laid flowers for the war dead at Honolulus National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a military cemetery better known as Punchbowl. Three other Japanese prime ministers have since followed suit. A local Hawaii newspaper recently reported that two others also had visited Pearl Harbor later in the 1950s.

Yoshidas daughter, Kazuko Aso, who was traveling with him, recalled that security was extremely tight in Hawaii on his first stopover, before the peace treaty was signed, and that Yoshida, who stayed on the top floor of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, was instructed not to leave the hotel for safety reasons.

But that old man insisted he wanted to go out [] to pay tribute to the war dead, Aso said in an interview published in the Bungei Shunju monthly magazine weeks after the trip.

She said the Japanese delegation unexpectedly received a warm welcome. Photos in the Japanese newspaper Mainichi showed Yoshidas face nearly buried in Hawaiian flower necklaces because he had received so many of them at the airport.

At the Sept. 12, 1951, reception attended by U.S. military and Hawaiian officials, Yoshida sought further U.S. economic assistance and cooperation to reconstruct his war-devastated country and pledged to never use aggression.

Two days later, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin welcomed his speech as a notably frank admission of Japans war guilt and a pledge that Japan will do everything possible to repair the enormous damage done by her armies, navy and air force. Mari Yamaguchi, Tokyo, AP
The total population of Macau has risen over the last five years at a faster rate than the number of households in the territory, according to a statement from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC). At the same time, the average number of occupants per household has also fallen. No explanation for the phenomenon was offered in the statement.

The analysis originates from the 2016 Population By-census, which shows that the MSAR population increased by 17.8 percent over the last five years, reaching around 650,900 compared to around 552,500 in the 2011 census.

In that five-year period, the number of non-resident workers living in the territory soared by 68.8 percent to a total of 105,200, while the resident population (excluding non-resident workers and foreign students) increased by 10.5 percent to 536,400.

Accordingly, the average annual growth rate of the population of Macau was 3.3 percent over the past five years, according to DSECs analysis. This figure is considerably higher than the average growth rate between 2006 and 2011, which measured 1.9 percent.

Macau-based sociologist Larry So told the Times that Macaus growing population would result in greater housing pressures in the region but would not affect education much, as most of the citys institutions are still seeking to attract more students.

I think there is a lot of concern over housing, said So. If the population is increasing this much, the government will have a problem calculating how many new houses will be needed. We still dont have an exact number of those waiting for public housing.

However, it will definitely not be so much of a problem for education as there are still many institutions still trying to attract students and [are now looking] to mainland China for that, added the Macau-based academic.

Among the total population, just over 40 percent (265,100) of those living in Macau were born in the territory, while 43.6 percent (284,100) were born in mainland China.

The total number of households in the territory reached 188,600, up by 10.4 percent compared to five years ago. The average household included 3.06 people in the latest census, a slight decrease from the 3.08 recorded in 2011.

According to DSECs analysis, the population density of the MSAR was up by 15.9 percent in 2016, from 18,478 persons per square kilometer to about 21,400.

In a statement, the bureau extrapolated that the completion of public housing units in Taipa and Coloane, coupled with an increase in foreign students resulted in significant population growth in certain parts of the MSAR.

The areas of Coloane Island, Pac On and Taipa Grande, and Universidade and Baia de Pac On each registered explosive population growth of 531 percent, 127 percent and 99 percent respectively. At the same time, Areia Preta and Iao Hon remained the most populous district, accounting for 11.8 percent of the territorys total population.

Other data collected in the census revealed that the median age of the total population increased from 37 in 2011 to 37.5 in 2016, whereas that of the Macau resident population rose by 0.7 years to 38.8.

The male population in the MSAR totaled 314,000 and the female population numbered 336,800, accounting for 48.2 percent and 51.8 percent of the total respectively.

The gender ratio was therefore 93.2 males per 100 females, marking a slight increase from 92.3 in 2011. The gender ratio of the resident population was lower at 90.2, a further decline from 92.7 five years ago.
A bond offering that gaming operator Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd. planned to use to fund construction of a new casino on the remote Pacific island of Saipan has been put on hold, according to people with knowledge of the matter, raising questions about the projects future.

The firm had planned to raise USD200 million to $400 million, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. Investors wanted a higher yield than the 10 percent to 11 percent that the Hong Kong-listed company was willing to offer, the people said. Imperial Pacific, with a market value of $1.9 billion, planned to use the funds for the first phase of its new casino in the U.S. territory that was slated to open next year. Its currently operating there from a temporary facility.

With the bond off the table for now, Imperial Pacific loses a key source of financing for its casino project, ultimately envisioned to cost $7 billion and encompass 20, six-star hotels and 11 casinos. Its current facility, Best Sunshine Live casino, posted daily per-table VIP revenue of about $170,000 in the first half of 2016, almost eight times the average of Macaus largest casinos, according to company filings.

Imperial Pacific declined to comment on the status of its bond offering or its operations generally.

Some potential bond investors traveled to Saipan to tour the construction site in late September and met with the islands tourism board and the casino commission that oversees Imperial Pacific, according to the people. Subsequently, investors and the company couldnt agree on terms, the people said.

The reason, they said, was that the pricing of the security didnt sufficiently compensate them for the possible risk that Saipans gaming laws could someday change and make it more difficult for Imperial to operate there, according to the people. The deal was dropped by two of the lead underwriters in October, the people said.

The casino commission didnt respond to an e-mail and phone messages seeking comment on the investors trip and their concern about possible regulatory changes.

Last month, Moodys Investors Service assigned Imperial Pacific a B2 credit rating, five levels below investment grade, and put it under review for a possible downgrade because of the delay in selling bonds to help finance the project.

The companys receivables, which mainly comprise credit loaned to customers for gambling, tripled in the first half on unpaid bills of VIP gamblers, and it had enough cash to cover 18 percent of its short-term debt as of June 30, according to a company interim report.

Imperial Pacific shares dropped 1 percent to close at HK$0.104 in Hong Kong Friday. They are down 38 percent this year.

Moodys said its review will focus on the companys ability to secure sufficient long-term funding as well as the management of money-laundering risk to ensure that its gaming business in Saipan is sustainable.

Potential investors would start to question what other alternatives might be available for the company, said Raymond Chia, head of credit research for Asia ex-Japan at Schroder Investment Management Ltd. in Singapore.

Mark Brown, Imperial Pacifics chief executive officer and a former senior executive in U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps Atlantic City casino operations, said in an interview last month that the Saipan operation complies with all relevant money-laundering and other regulations, and that bets are closely monitored by local and U.S. regulators. The new, multi-billion-dollar resort is aimed at attracting more Chinese gamblers and becoming a tourist draw within Asia, he said. Carrie Hong and Daniela Wei, Bloomberg
INDONESIA A court ruled yesterday that the blasphemy trial of the minority Christian governor of the countrys capital will proceed. Gov. Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama is charged with insulting Islam and desecrating the Quran by using one of its verses to boost his chances of winning re-election.

CHINA Authorities handed down prison sentences to nine protesters in a fishing village thats received international attention for its demonstrations against land seizures, state media reported yesterday.

PHILIPPINES The coast guard pressed its search yesterday for 18 crewmen from a cargo ship that sank at the height of Typhoon Nock-Ten, which struck the country on Christmas Day. The Starlite Atlantic sought cover in an anchorage area as the typhoon passed and its crew decided to move to safer waters but encountered huge waves and fierce winds, causing their ship to sink.

SOUTH KOREA While lawyers desperately tried to restore the impeached South Korean presidents powers, politics advanced without her as parties and potential candidates postured for elections that could take place in just months.

KUWAIT A Kuwaiti criminal court has sentenced a Filipina to 10 years in prison for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group. The woman was arrested in August and accused of joining the terror group through its affiliate in Libya via email while working as a maid.

EGYPT For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has stifled the economy and largely blocked its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, there are signs that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the Islamic militant group.

FRANCE French authorities say the main suspect in Berlins deadly Christmas market attack made a stop in the eastern French city of Lyon, yet they still dont know how he entered French soil.

US Senator John McCain has pledged U.S. support to the security of Russias three Baltic neighbors amid worries that the U.S. may not be fully committed to the defense of NATO allies following statements by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He added that Washington should consider basing troops permanently at least in Estonia.
TWIN FALLS  The Magic Valley lost more than a few community leaders in 2016. Here is a sampling of those who died this year:

Lex Kunau was known as Burleys gentle leader.

There was never a more generous man than Lex Kunau, said Doug Manning, Burleys economic development director. He was one of the most outstanding citizens the city has ever produced.

Over the years, Kunau anonymously donated $1 million in grant-matching funds for city development, Manning said.

He served on the board of directors for First Federal Savings and Loan and D.L. Evans Bank. Kunau also served as president of the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, and was a member of the College of Southern Idaho Foundation Board and the Cassia County Sheriffs Mounted Posse. His contribution to the development of boat marinas on the Snake River resulted in his namesake  Lex Kunau Park. He and his wife, Celia, were honored by the Idaho Community Foundation with the Friend of the Foundation Award.

Reuben Delbert R.D. McKinney was a Magic Valley banker for nearly 40 years.

McKinney was loan officer and branch manager at Twin Falls Bank and Trust, where he worked from 1950 to 1978. He managed Idaho Bank and Trust from 1978 to 1980, then joined Farmers National Bank in 1981 and retired in 1987. He was also a farm loan analyst with Farmers Home Administration.

McKinney served in World War II as a flight instructor on a B-25 Mitchell bomber in the U.S. Air Force. Later he taught flying lessons at the Gooding Airport. He flew for years afterward.

He was a member of Twin Falls Elks, Shriners, Masonic Lodge, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Lions Club.

LaVar Steel was an accomplished potter, painter, and sculptor whose work adorns the halls and offices at the College of Southern Idaho.

Steel began his career in 1959 at Boise State Junior College, and in 1966, became the first art faculty member at the CSI, where he served as the chairman of the Fine Arts Department and president of the department chairs.

He was honored in 2005 with the Governors Award for Art.

Steel has been described by coworkers and students as a mentor, a thinker, and a gentle, fatherly figure.

He will be missed more than words can express, CSI President Jeff Fox said. LaVar was not just our coworker, but our good friend as well.

The CSI LaVar Steel Art Complex stands as a reminder of his commitment to the arts.

David Mead was determined to make the world a better place. His advocacy for education, conservation and politics was deeply rooted.

Many will remember his quirks: his daily flag-raising ceremony at dawn, his familys nightly candlelit dinners and his scrawling purchase dates on new clothing. But most will remember his devotion to the community.

Dave, above all else, was a good citizen, said former state Sen. Laird Noh of Kimberly, who used to backpack in the mountains with Mead. He took his (civic) responsibilities seriously. You could count on him.

Mead and his wife, Marty, are well known for their contribution to the arts, which included founding the Magic Valley Dilettantes and JuMP Co. groups and raising more than $500,000 to construct the College of Southern Idahos Fine Arts Building.

David had a tremendous impact on the valley, said Mike Winterholler of Jerome, who performed in and directed several Dilettante productions. David and Marty were such great supporters of the arts in all forms  dance, symphony, all performing arts.

Mead, 86, died June 9.

Bob Juker was a lifelong rodeo enthusiast, who grew up with a passion for work and church.

His successful rodeo career included the 1966 and 67 Idaho Cowboys Association Champion Steer Wrestler, 1958 Champion Wild Cow Milker and 1959 and 64 All-around Champion.

Juker, 85, died Aug. 15.

Forrest Hymas was a Renaissance man crossed with an iconic cowboy, his family said.

Hymas lived in Jerome for 40 years. He was the co-founder and chairman of the Jerome Economic Development Task force that initially attracted Tupperware and Moore Business Forms. He was on the Jerome Airport board for 19 years. Later in life, he became the owner of Smiley Creek Lodge in the Sawtooth Valley.

Hymas reorganized Heiss Charolais Ranch and bred five national champions. The family also raised Peruvian Paso horses, introducing the new breed to Idaho.

He did what he could to benefit farmers and ranchers, and spent 33 years helping Idahos farming families stay in business as a bankruptcy trustee. He was awarded the Idaho Bar Associations Merit of Professionalism and was recognized as the top trustee in the U.S. with his win-win philosophy and his skill as a moderator.

Hymas served on numerous boards. He was the founder director of the Idaho Horse Board, chairman of the Idaho Cattlemens Association, chairman of the Idaho Beef Council, a representative to the National Livestock and Meat Board, director of the Western Charolais Association and co-founder of the annual Horse Expo in Boise.

Hymas, 82, died Oct. 17.

John Laird Seaich, M.D., spent 32 years practicing endocrinology at the Twin Falls Clinic and Hospital. He founded the Diabetes Foundation in Twin Falls.

Seaichs quick wit and uncanny ability to diagnose made him a favorite with doctors and nurses. But Lairds patients came first; he gave each his undivided attention and loving care.

He loved classical music and was a disc jockey in college. Seaich supported the arts in Twin Falls, and raised money for Art in the Park. He had many passions throughout his life for which that well-known twinkle in his eye never faded.

Seaich, 75, died Nov. 3.

Wayne Skeem was a busy man with several careers.

He was unconventional, his son Tom said. So unconventional that Skeem celebrated his 90th birthday with a community celebration three years ago, in lieu of his funeral.

Skeem was most loved for his dance bands  the Melody Skeemers and the Wayne Skeem Orchestra  in the late 1930s, 40s and 50s.

Skeem was a Castleford farmer who invented and patented round-bale feeders and home driveway gate operators designed to open at the sound of a siren from emergency vehicles.

As a music teacher, he took the Elko, Nev., High School Band all the way to Washington, D.C., to march in Richard Nixons 1973 inaugural parade. He also taught music at Buhl and Wendell.

Skeem was an energetic man who had a unique ability to inspire and motivate students. He handled downhill skis and Rollerblades into his 80s.

Skeem, 93, died Nov. 21.

Robert Hamblen had two passions: selling clothing and making music.

In 1972, Hamblen and his wife, Jean, bought the Mayfair clothing store at Overland Avenue and 13th Street in Burley and expanded it to include The Celler Mens Shop. They ran the popular stores for 44 years.

Hamblen taught piano and organ lessons full time in his home for more than fifteen years.

He was named the Burley Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year, served as the president of the Burley Area Merchants Association, president and treasurer of Community Concerts, and was an ambassador for the Burley Chamber of Commerce. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and was an active member of the Burley Rotary club where he was instrumental in starting the Miss Mini-Cassia Scholarship Pageant.

He was the organist for the Miss Twin Falls Pageant for 25 years, and for the Miss Idaho Pageant for several years. He also judged in many other pageants in Idaho and Utah.

Hamblen, 81, died Nov. 24.

Clarence Rocky Baker was a Heyburn city councilman since appointed in 2002. He was council president for two years.

He was a very good councilman and he always had the city in mind in all things, said George Anderson, a former Heyburn mayor who worked with Baker for 13 years at the city. He never made a decision that was not well thought over.

Baker was a volunteer firefighter at the Minidoka County Fire Protection Districts Heyburn Station for 20 years and was assistant chief for many years. When he retired from the station he became a fire commissioner for the district, a position he had served in for 10 years.

He was... a grounding rod for the community and his family, said Mike Brown, Minidoka County Fire Protection District chief.
TWIN FALLS  A Buhl man on Tuesday became the second of two suspects to plead guilty to the vicious beating of a Twin Falls murder suspect in the Twin Falls County Jail and agreed to spend between three and 13 years in prison.

James Russell Hunt-Pyeatt, 30, pleaded guilty to a felony count of aggravated battery for the Sep. 5 beating of 45-year-old Glenn Joseph Tures, whos accused of the strangulation murder of 20-year-old Anessia Shaye Winterholer on Aug. 20.

The beating left Tures with multiple fractures in his face and back and prompted authorities to move him to the Jerome County Jail after detention deputies learned Tures had a hit out for him because of his case.

Last week, during the sentencing of Hunt-Pyeatts co-defendant, 27-year-old Spencer Coy Vulgamore, a prosecutor and judge talked about the need to protect county jail inmates.

Protection of the community I dont think stops at the cell door, Twin Falls County Deputy Prosecutor Trevor Misseldine argued last week. We do have to look after our inmates, they are still members of our community.

District Judge Richard Bevan sentenced Vulgamore to three to eight years in prison and echoed the prosecutor by saying that good order and protection of society doesnt stop at the jail house door.

During an investigation into the beating, jail deputies determined Hunt-Pyeatt and Vulgamore attacked Tures because of his first-degree murder case.

They both barreled into my room and started unloading on me, Tures told deputies.

The first deputy to arrive at the cell saw Hunt-Pyeatt holding Tures in the corner with one hand and punching him with the other hand, while Vulgamore was also raining down blows.

Hunt-Pyeatt also pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony count of trafficking in methamphetamine, the charge he was being held on at the time of the beating. He was arrested Aug. 29 on the trafficking and other drug charges, though as part of a plea deal, prosecutors dismissed all but the trafficking and aggravated battery charges.

District Judge Randy Stoker said Tuesday he intends to impose the three to 13 year prison sentence agreed to by both prosecutors and Brad Calbo, Hunt-Pyeatts attorney. Because of that, all parties in the case agreed a presentence investigation is not required and the sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday, an unusually quick turnaround.

Hunt-Pyeatt will be sentenced to three to 13 years on both the trafficking and aggravated battery charge, but the sentences will run concurrently. The trafficking charge also carries a mandatory $10,000 fine, and Hunt-Pyeatt will also be ordered to pay restitution to Tures to cover his medical expenses  an amount was not specified Tuesday, but Vulgamore last week was ordered to pay more than $2,000 in restitution.
TWIN FALLS  Its not every day students get to skip school with their principal.

In this case, the reason was both exciting and educational.

Mickey Combs has been introducing her students to the whimsical world of Jan Brett for years. Earlier this month, she introduced three of her former first-grade students to the author herself.

On Dec. 9, she gathered Falken Duarte, 12, Brylee Lott 10, and Samantha West, 10, for a photograph in front of Jan Bretts tour bus parked beside Barnes & Noble in Twin Falls. Then, the four of them were invited onto the bus by Bretts husband, Joe Hearne.

Combs, principal at Sawtooth Elementary, won a private meet-and-greet with the childrens book author on her bus tour stop in Twin Falls. Combs has been applying to contests Brett holds on her website and Facebook for years. In the past, shes won free books, but never a one-on-one lunch. Combs chose three students who were in her first-grade class when she taught at Bickel Elementary School.

Brett has been writing books for 30 years and is known for her colorful and detailed illustrations influenced by cultures around the world. She stopped in Twin Falls on a 23-city tour that began in Rhode Island and will end in California.

Brett was in Colorado Springs, Colo. the night before and would travel to Reno, Nev. later that night. On the drive to Twin Falls, the bus hit an ice storm and traveled 13 miles per hour through the night.

Before Brett showed the students her latest book she is working on, she brought out some of her award-winning Polish chickens to meet them.

Have they ever pecked you? Falken asked, petting the fluffy white feathers.

They have, Brett said.

But that was when she was new at raising chickens.

The students shared with Brett their favorite things to do  drawing and learning about space.

Samantha told Brett that she read her book Gingerbread Baby and really enjoyed it.

Combs, an educator for 24 years, said shes always been a huge fan of Bretts work. Her mother, who is a librarian, is also a fan. She appreciated the time Brett took to talk with each student.

Shes a really big storyteller person, she said. She was having the kids tell her a story about their life, about their pet or what they like to do. She just listened and was wonderful and attentive.

Combs said Brett wanted to make sure that their visit with her was educational because they were missing school to meet her.

Brett told them about her new book she is working on that is a mash up of Goldilocks and Three Bears, mermaids and Japanese culture. She brought out a rough draft of her book with illustrations. To prepare for the book, she visited the sea animals at the New England Aquarium in Boston and shared what she learned about octopuses and lionfish. Her deadline is in early January and the book is expected to be out in the fall.

The funnest part for me is I get to meet the people who enjoy my books because being an author can be a very isolating profession, Brett said.

Combs encouraged teachers and parents to reach out to or research their favorite authors, and take advantage of material they have on their Facebook pages or websites.

Remember when we watched the video and learned how to draw an Armadillo? Combs asked the students. She read Armadillo Rodeo to them when they were in the first-grade.

Bretts website, janbrett.com, has free coloring pages, videos, cards and games.

She has a world of games for everyone to use, Combs said. I just encourage everyone to take advantage of all the quality websites like that.
Russias theft and strategic leaking of emails and documents from the Democratic Party and other officials present a challenge to the U.S. political system unlike anything weve experienced. In October, when Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr. declared that the intelligence community was confident that Russia was responsible for hacking and dumping material and that such activities could only have been authorized by Russias senior-most officials, he was describing a modern-day Watergate break-in, but one that was carried out by a foreign adversary through cyber means.

The unprecedented interference in our election is disturbing enough, but the damage to our democratic system was compounded by campaign rhetoric calling on Russia to hack Hillary Clintons email. Continued dismissals of the intelligence communitys consensus view that the most senior levels of the Russian government directed the attacks undermine those in the best position to prevent and disrupt further problems.

President Barack Obama has ordered a full review of Russias meddling, which will be completed before he leaves office. But that is not sufficient. Russias campaign was nothing short of an attack on our democracy, and without a full and bipartisan accounting of what occurred and a robust response, trust in our institutions will be diminished.

One of us currently serves as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, while the other served in that capacity from 2003 to 2007. We share a deep appreciation for the importance of the oversight responsibilities the House and Senate intelligence committees carry out each day. Their work is done behind closed doors and away from partisanship for good reason.

Yet some issues are so significant to our national security that they require a coordinated investigation and response. A hostile foreign power meddling in our political system is one of those issues.

We believe a joint inquiry by the House and Senate intelligence committees is the best structure for a congressional investigation into Russian actions, intentions and potential responses. By virtue of their jurisdiction, the committee members have unique exposure to the murky world of intelligence and a full appreciation for Russias long history of interfering in the political affairs of its neighbors through covert means. A joint inquiry would be the most effective way to investigate what took place and avoid not only an unnecessary duplication of effort but also any discrepancies in the testimony to more than one investigative body.

There is a clear precedent for such a structure. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Congress recognized that the traditional oversight process was insufficient for an investigation of such importance and complexity, and established a joint committee on which one of us served. That committees recommendations were the basis for the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, which fostered unprecedented cooperation within the intelligence community. While standing committees have substantial investigatory powers, their resources and staff are limited, and they cannot focus on a particular investigation. A joint committee has the added benefit of allowing Congress to speak with one voice.

A joint inquiry into Russian actions would demonstrate that this is not simply another oversight issue but an issue that goes to the core of our democracy.
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.
The foreign affairs ministry has issued Monday a statement rejecting and rebuking in the strongest terms the verbal blunders uttered by the Istiqlal partys Secretary General, Hamid Chabat, regarding the borders and the territorial integrity of Mauritania.

Chabat said at a meeting on Saturday that Mauritania is a Moroccan territory and that the borders of Morocco stretch from Ceuta to the Senegal River. These statements infuriated the Mauritanian political class.

The foreign affairs ministry flatly rejects these statements which are prejudicial to bilateral relations with Mauritania and undermine Moroccos diplomacy in the continent.

The statement adds that Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, adopts a diplomacy that is underpinned by neighborliness, solidarity and cooperation with the sister nations.

Moroccos foreign ministry made it clear that the Kingdom fully respects the known and recognized borders, under the international law, of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and its territorial integrity and calls on the Mauritanian government to take these statements with a pinch of salt.

The statement concludes that such reckless remarks play into the logic of the adversaries of Moroccos territorial integrity who are fighting to prevent its legitimate return to its African institutional family.

Later in the evening, local media le360.ma reported that the Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane would fly to Nouakchott this Tuesday as envoy of King Mohammed VI to the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Tel Aviv seems not ready to swallow the latest UN resolution condemning Israels illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus team strongly believes that US outgoing President Barack Obama is behind the adoption of the UN resolution as the US did not oppose its veto as usual and its abstention enabled the resolution to pass.

Some Israel officials said they have strong evidences which expose President Obama.

The United States acted behind the back in composing and advancing the resolution against Israel. We knew about it through Arab and international sources, Netanyahus spokesman David Keyes indicated.

Israeli ambassador to Washington Ron Dermer added oil to fire as he indicated that Israel would present the evidence to President-elect Donald Trump.

We will present this evidence to the new administration through the appropriate channels. If they want to share it with the American people they are welcome to do it, he told CNN.

These latest unprecedented strong reactions come after Netanyahu summoned the US ambassador Dan Shapiro to explain the US abstention.

On Friday the UN Security Council in a large majority, 14-0 condemned Israels illegal settlement policy in Palestinian territories.

The Obama administration has denied any involvement in the wording of the resolution pointing out that Egypt proposed it and pushed it through.

We did not draft this resolution; we did not introduce this resolution. We made this decision when it came up for a vote, said Ben Rhodes, Obamas deputy national security adviser.
The Chadian government unveiled its intentions to amend the law on strike and industrial action in the central African nation. The move follows government workers strikes in the last few months.

According to the amendment proposed by the government, public servants are no longer paid on non-working days. The government said that as of January, any striking worker will not be paid.

Trade unions in the country are demanding payment of wage arrears and the non-reduction of allowances for civil servants who are opposed to this decision.

The unions have said they intend to petition against the bill, which they described as draconian. The bill must however first be approved by the Parliament then president Idriss Deby before its implementation.

As a reminder, President Deby took power in a coup 26 years ago and has survived several attempts to oust him. He won elections for the fifth time earlier this year but is under growing pressure on several fronts.

Chad produces about 120,000 barrels of oil a day and the fall in crude prices sparked a fiscal crisis for the government, which depends on petrodollars for 70 per cent of revenues. Austerity measures including cuts to student stipends have sparked street protests and civil servants strikes.

Chadians complain of restrictions on civil liberties and poor living and working conditions. In the UN Human Development Index for 2015, Chad comes very close to the bottom, occupying the 185th place out of 188.
Nigerias army on Monday disclosed that from next year they will begin training exercises in the fallen stronghold of Boko Haram terrorists, the Sambisa Forest in northern Nigeria.

The Army last weekend dislodged Boko Haram insurgents from the last enclave in the Sambisa forest located in the formerly restive northeast  home to the seven year insurgency.

We are also opening up roads to Sambisa and Alagarno forests, Sambisa forest is going to be one of our training grounds, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai said.

We are going to use it to also test fire our fighting vehicles, other key equipment and weapons that require testing whenever we want to induct new weapon and equipment into the Nigerian army inventory, he added.

It will afford us very good ground for basic tactics and, indeed, advance tactics, including but not limited to tactics at the Platoon, company, battalion, Brigade and even division levels, he said.

We are going to make it more robust to make sure these criminals do not come back to that forest again.

Buratai was speaking in Damasak in Borno State while celebrating Christmas with troops who fought to oust the insurgents.

Despite having been pushed back to the forest by the army in recent months, the group still stages bombings in the northeast and in neighboring Niger and Cameroon.

On Monday, a female suicide bomber attacked a cattle market in Maiduguri.

The police said that the female bomber was the only one dead during the attack.

In a statement, police said a second woman who had a bomb was lynched by an irate mob in the vicinity. Security forces later detonated her device.
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The textbooks tell us that killer cells have to match their antigens exactly if they're to fulfil their task. Researchers in Bern, however, have also found that loosely attached white blood corpuscles also play a role in the immune system. Credit: Swiss National Science Foundation

After host cells have been attacked by a virus, they present parts of the pathogen on their surface. Thanks to these virus components, the killer cells patrolling in the body (CD8+ T lymphocytes) can recognise the infected cells and kill them, thereby preventing the virus from spreading further.

Until now, the orthodoxy was that killer cells were the primary component in the body's immune response. These so-called high-affinity killer cells attach themselves firmly to the antigens presented on the surface of the host cells. Then, one or two weeks after infection, we only find high-affinity killer cells in the blood. The low-affinity killer cells that carry fewer matching receptors have always been believed to be rejects from the production of these white blood corpuscles.

However, Jens Stein and his colleagues at the University of Bern have for the past four years been busy investigating the behaviour of the low-affinity killer cells, and they now doubt the current wisdom. They have found indications that these less precise cells also make a contribution to the immune response. After a brief activation phase, they launch an initial, quick attack on an intruder while high-affinity killer cells are proliferating in massive numbers in order to attack the pathogen in a mighty, second wave. "This is still just a hypothesis, but our experiments suggest that it is the case", says Stein.

The researchers injected killer cells into test mice that had been provided with a receptor against a specific antigen such as might come from a virus. In addition, the animals were given dendritic cells that present assorted antigens to the killer cells, activating them and thus prompting an immune response. Using a special two-photon microscope, the researchers followed what happened in the lymph nodes of the anaesthetised mice. Stein and his colleagues developed this method specifically for this type of experiment, and it enabled them to determine precisely where and when the cells interacted with each other.

Quicker, but less thorough

"To our surprise, all the killer cells reacted with the dendritic cells  regardless of which peptide the dendritic cells presented", says Stein. "So all the T cells prepare themselves for their role as killer cells. They initiated the differentiation and began to proliferate".

However, there was a major difference among these encounters: if there was a strong link between dendritic cells and the killer cells, the molecular dialogue lasted longer. If dendritic cells had the lesser matching version of the molecule on their surface, and if the link was looser, then the T cells were activated and were prompted to begin proliferating. But these T cells abandoned their contact with the dendritic cells very quickly and then migrated to the exits of the lymph nodes in order to go virus-hunting. At the same time, these low-affinity cells acquired their killer function more quickly than the cells whose receptors were highly suited to the peptide on offer. The high-affinity T cells, meanwhile, did not remain very long in contact with the dendritic cells and proliferated; their daughter cells were also activated and made to proliferate.

"We interpret this and other data as meaning that low-affinity cells are a small, rapid-response group", says Stein. "High-affinity killer cells come into play later, but are all the more numerous, presumably more accurate and quite possibly more effective". At least, this was the case in the mice. There has as yet been no verification of this in human tests.

More information: Aleksandra J. Ozga et al. pMHC affinity controls duration of CD8T cellDC interactions and imprints timing of effector differentiation versus expansion, The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2016). Journal information: Journal of Experimental Medicine Aleksandra J. Ozga et al. pMHC affinity controls duration of CD8T cellDC interactions and imprints timing of effector differentiation versus expansion,(2016). DOI: 10.1084/jem.20160206
mRNA administration into the brain: Intraventricular injection of mRNA encoding luciferase.

The progressive dementia suffered by patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects millions of people globally each year and puts considerable strain on healthcare services. The mechanisms behind AD are not yet clear, and there are no effective therapies available to fully tackle the disease.

Scientists know that one particular protein, amyloid-beta (A), is over-expressed in AD patients and accumulates in plaques in the brain, disrupting normal functions. In addition, memory loss is thought to be connected with soluble A depositing as insoluble A plaques and infiltrating key parts of the brain. Breaking the connections between these two forms of A may be one way of tackling AD. One protein capable of degrading A is neprilysin (NEP), but this would need to be introduced to the brain via the challenging process of gene introduction.

Now, Keiji Itaka and co-workers at the University of Tokyo have pioneered a safe way of introducing NEP to mouse brains by delivering NEP-carrying mRNA to the brain inside polyplex nanomicelle carriers. Their results may herald the dawn of a new era of targeted therapeutics for AD and other brain diseases.

Nanomicelles are tiny, self-assembling molecular structures that can carry drugs in their core, only dissolving to release their load when they reach target sites in the body. The nanomicelles developed by Itaka's team degrade into non-toxic metabolites after releasing the mRNA into the brain's cells, meaning the procedure is lower risk than other gene delivery methods.

After testing the nanomicelle carriers in cell cultures in the laboratory, the researchers trialled their mRNA carrying system in vivo via an infusion directly into the brains of mice. They found that the nanomicelles successfully introduced NEP mRNA to all target tissues, and found protein levels were boosted across the brain. This resulted in a significant decrease in A concentrations  the first study to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of introducing treatment to the brain via mRNA.

More information: Chin-Yu Lin et al. Messenger RNA-based therapeutics for brain diseases: An animal study for augmenting clearance of beta-amyloid by intracerebral administration of neprilysin mRNA loaded in polyplex nanomicelles, Journal of Controlled Release (2016). Journal information: Journal of Controlled Release Chin-Yu Lin et al. Messenger RNA-based therapeutics for brain diseases: An animal study for augmenting clearance of beta-amyloid by intracerebral administration of neprilysin mRNA loaded in polyplex nanomicelles,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.06.001

Provided by Kawasaki Innovation Gateway
A Dutch medical institution announced an investigation Tuesday after discovering that up to 26 women may have been fertilised by the wrong sperm cells at its IVF treatment laboratory.

A "procedural error" between mid-April 2015 and mid-November 2016 during the in vitro fertilisation was to blame, the University Medical Centre in Utrecht said in a statement.

"During fertilisation, sperm cells from one treatment couple may have ended up with the egg cells of 26 other couples," it said.

"Therefore there's a chance that the egg cells have been fertilised by sperm other than that of the intended father."

Although the chance of that happening was small, the possibility "could not be excluded," said the centre.

Half the women who underwent fertility treatment have become pregnant or already had their babies.

"For some of the 26 couples, frozen embryos are still available but the chance remains that they (too) have been fertilised by the sperm from a man other than the intended father," the UMC said.

The couples have been informed.

"The UMC's board regrets that the couples involved had to receive this news and will do everything within its powers to give clarity on the issue as soon as possible."

In vitro fertilisation involves a series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with conception.

During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from a woman's ovaries and fertilised by sperm in a laboratory.

The fertilised egg (embryo) or eggs are then implanted in the uterus. One cycle of IVF takes about two weeks.

But mix-ups do occur, including one in 2012 when a Singapore mother sued a clinic for alleged negligence after it mixed up her husband's sperm with that of a stranger.

In that case, the ethnic Chinese woman first suspected that something was amiss when her baby, who was born in 2010, had markedly different skin tone and hair colour from her Caucasian husband, news reports at the time said.

 2016 AFP
Psychologists have found that recalling the detail of shouting matches and disagreements could help people keep incidents in perspective and stop the triggering of self-doubt and even depression. Credit: University of Exeter

The British way of dealing with family quarrels may be to sweep them under the carpet. Yet re-playing upsetting or annoying events like an argument in your head and recalling what happened in detail can in fact be therapeutic and prevent you getting quarrels out of proportion, or becoming depressed and anxious as a result.

Psychologists at the University of Exeter have found that recalling the detail of shouting matches and disagreements, including exactly who said what to whom and how, may not be destructive and prolong the tension, but could help people keep incidents in perspective and stop the triggering of self-doubt and even depression.

The advice, which comes at a time of year when tensions tend to flare up, is designed to help people keep upsetting events - including family squabbles and being forgotten from the family Christmas list - becoming deep rifts with damaging psychological consequences.

Psychologists have carried out a series of experiments and found that dealing concretely with moderately upsetting events such as arguments, which includes reviewing precisely the context of the event, how it unfolded and thinking how things could have been dealt with in another way, can be the best way to keep them in proportion.

But dwelling on why events happened and what an incident means about you or other people and its potential consequences could lead to overgeneralizing to other situations and tip into feelings of worthlessness and depression.

Repeated studies have found that people prone to depression can get worse if they excessively dwell or ruminate on a stressful incident such as a quarrel or a loss. But experiments by Exeter University psychologists have found that when individuals practised running emotional incidents through their head, focusing on sensory details and recalling exactly what happened, how it happened, and even where it happened, it helped them respond constructively and stopped them becoming so upset about a future or past stressful experience.

Professor Ed Watkins of the Mood Disorder Clinic at the University of Exeter, who has researched the impact of overthinking and 'rumination' on mental health, found startling improvements in mental health among people who learn to run through upsetting events in concrete detail in this constructive fashion.

Professor Watkins said: "Christmas and the New Year can be a tricky time for many people's mood whether it be due to the colder and darker weather, the often common family tensions and quarrels, which sometimes lead to the reopening of old grievances, finances being tight, or the triggering of unfavourable comparisons with how we want to be this year or against "picture-perfect" ideals of a Merry Christmas. We often see this in an increase in referrals for treatment for depression in January and February. Staying with the details of what happens and keeping it in context can be one way to prevent these challenges of the festive season becoming something worse."

After training to recall the details of an upsetting incident including the tone of a voice, the words used and how the event happened, people became more resilient and put the upsetting incident into context, stopping a downward spiral into low mood.

The same exercise of focusing on the sensory details of sad experiences and asking "How did it happen?" "How can I do something about it?" was also found to speed up recovery from doing badly on a test in undergraduates, and to improve interpersonal problem solving, such as finding a way to make up with your partner after an argument, in people who were currently or formerly depressed.

For people experiencing depression learning to focus on stressful incidents and to re-imagine them in full technicolour asking themselves 'What is unique about this situation?' ' How did it happen?'  instead of 'Why did it happen to me? had an a 'significant' impact on helping to alleviate mental ill health.

A clinical trial in patients with clinical depression found that daily training in spotting warning signs for stress and then reviewing stressful situations in a concrete way  by paying attention to the details of what could be seen, heard, felt, smelled and the sequence of what happened  over 6 weeks significantly reduced symptoms of depression, outperforming treatment-as-usual from the GP alone.

His findings can be applied to all situations in which people overthink difficult situations, including helping to reduce anxiety in teenagers and students about tests and exams and the depression caused by conflicts in relationships.

Professor Watkins said: "We know that rumination about upsets and losses is a big factor in getting and staying anxious and depressed. Often clinical depression can follow a difficult life event, such as losing a job, the end of a relationship, illness, or being trapped in a stressful situation. Furthermore, once people are depressed, the normal hassles and challenges of daily life can themselves lead into more rumination and get blown out of proportion, further fuelling the depression. So being more concrete by reducing the negative impact of daily hassles can help people to come out of depression,"

Professor Watkins said. "We have found in the lab that when people train themselves to think about the specific sensory details, context and sequence of an emotional event, including how it unfolded, they were more emotionally resilient to an unexpected stressor than those who thought about the meaning and implications of emotional events. Similar studies showed that when people with depression are encouraged to focus on how an upsetting event happened and how it unfolded it improved their ability to solve problems such as arguing with their partner, and with repeated practice, this can in fact hasten recovery out of depression itself."
Credit: Osaka University

Scientists at the Immunology Frontier Research Center (IFReC), Osaka University, Japan, report a new molecular mechanism that could explain the cause of some autoimmune diseases.

While the immune system is crucial for protecting the body from infection and disease, prolonged activation can damage healthy tissue. After its activation, the immune system is shut off by specialized immune cells known as regulatory T cells (Treg cells). Understanding the development of Treg cells is thought to be critical for combating autoimmune diseases. "The development of Treg cells in the thymus depends on super-enhancer establishment," explains IFReC Professor Shimon Sakaguchi.

This super-enhancer establishment permits the expression of genes specific for Treg cell development. "Super-enhancers appeared to be a pre-requisite for Treg cell development, so we sought molecules controlling super-enhancers," he added.

In the most recent publication by the Sakaguchi lab, which can be seen in Nature Immunology, Sakaguchi and his team report that Satb1 regulates the super enhancers essential for Treg cell development.

Looking at the Treg cell development pathway, the scientists found that the level of Satb1 was highest before Treg cells develop, and dropped after Treg cell development. Further study showed that Satb1 bound to the super enhancers responsible for Treg cell development, but again, only in progenitors that differentiated into Treg cells and not Treg cells themselves. Therefore, Satb1 may regulate the epigenetic changes that precede the creation of Treg cells.

"Satb1 appears to be necessary for the differentiation of Treg cells, but not for the maintenance of Treg cells," said Dr. Yohko Kitagawa, who first-authored the study.

Indeed, in mice lacking Satb1, the development of Treg cells was impaired and the mice showed symptoms of autoimmune disease. Furthermore, the progenitors cells of these mice showed inferior super enhancer activity, which resulted in less expression of the genes necessary for Treg cell development.

Based on these findings, Sakaguchi theorizes that defective Satb1-dependent super-enhancer establishment could be a cause of autoimmune diseases and allergy. "Autoimmune diseases are due to hyperactive immune systems. One cause is not having enough Treg cells. Understanding how this occurs is an important step towards treating autoimmune diseases," he said.

More information: Yohko Kitagawa et al. Guidance of regulatory T cell development by Satb1-dependent super-enhancer establishment, Nature Immunology (2016). Journal information: Nature Immunology Yohko Kitagawa et al. Guidance of regulatory T cell development by Satb1-dependent super-enhancer establishment,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/ni.3646
Increase in energy pay not excluded

By Messenger Staff

The head of Georgias National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission, Irina Milorava, doesnt exclude an increase in energy tariffs in the wake of the dramatic devaluation of the national currency to the US dollar, with one Lari now costing 2.74 USD.The Commission is the legal entity established under the Law of Georgia on National Regulatory Authorities, which regulates the Electricity, Natural Gas and Water Supply Sectors.The Commission is independent from any other governmental authorities and acts in the capacity under the Law of Georgia on National Regulatory Authorities and the Law of Georgia on Electricity and Natural Gas.During her visit to the Parliament of Georgia yesterday, Milorava stressed that prices on energy products would be specified next week, and did not exclude an increase in tariffs.Her statement came after Georgias Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze vowed no increase; however, he added that the issue needed to be settled by the Commission and not by his ministry.As it appears, next year will be extremely hard for the population of Georgia, with increased prices in many directions.In the situation when the incomes of Georgian people are very low, and with thousands of unemployed people, increased costs for oil and energy products will be a real disaster, especially in the winter and spring seasons, which are quite cold in Georgia.Some energy providers have already increased prices, without waiting for the Government changes to come into force from January 1.It is obvious that the Government can no longer control the situation in terms of the national currency; the only way it found to alleviate pressure on the Lari was to make life more expensive for its people.Such negative changes and steps, when nothing genuine was created in the Georgian economy over last several years, will very likely cause negative reactions amongst the people.
The News in Brief

Belarus Foreign Minister Visits Georgia



The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, who is paying a working visit to Georgia, met his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Janelidze and President Giorgi Margvelashvili on December 20.



During his two-day visit, the Foreign Minister will also hold talks with Parliamentary Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze and Georgian Patriarch Ilia II.



The sides will discuss a broad range of issues on political and economic cooperation, as well as the issue of increasing Belarusian exports, interactions in international organizations and cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, the Belarus Foreign Ministry reported.



The Embassy of Belarus will be opened in Tbilisi during Makeis visit. This issue was first raised during the visit of President Alexander Lukashenko to Tbilisi in April, 2015. Georgia opened its embassy to Belarus in 2007.



The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that the Belarus Foreign Minister will also visit the village of Khurvaleti on the administrative boundary line with breakaway South Ossetia. (Civil.ge)







Georgian journalist tells of road rage by police



A journalist in Georgia claims police beat him and pointed a gun at him following a traffic incident.



The incident happened in Borjomi, a town in the southern part of Georgia, Iberia TV reported on Monday. Journalist Giorgi Gasviani, who works for a TV company, said he was beaten by a police officer.



Gasviani was out driving on Sunday, but his car was poorly prepared for the icy conditions and it was when his car slipped on the ice that he got into trouble, he recalled.



The police officer and his friends, who were on the same road, claimed that the skidding behaviour of Gasvianis car was actually an attempt to kill them. As he recalls, they approached his car and proceeded to beat him while he was still sitting in the car, without giving him a chance to explain why the car had slipped, and without even letting him speak.



He pointed a gun at me. They threatened me and didnt let me explain how I felt when something went wrong with the car, he said.



The journalist, who was on his way to a seminar about human rights, was forced out of his car and beaten over the head.



When he told them he was a journalist they threatened to take him to the police station, but offered to bring him instead to the hotel where the seminar was held, in return for not telling anyone about the incident.



Gasvian called the Ministry of Internal Affairs general inspection, a unit tasked with looking into allegations of police brutality. He was taken to the hospital and afterward to the police station for questioning.



Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Mghebrishvili told journalists on Monday that if the beating incident is proven to be true the perpetrators will be harshly punished.



A person who should take care of order and call on others to do the same, and this person offends the law I will never protect this person. If necessary, this police officer will be fired and punished, Mghebrishvili said.



The Prosecutor Generals Office launched an investigation under article 126 and 333 of the Criminal Code about battery or other violence and exceeding official powers. (DF watch)







Norway contributes 1.1 million to boost human rights in Georgia



Norway will contribute more than 1 million to enhance the judiciary, human rights and administration of elections in Georgia.



The Council of Europe Office in Georgia announced the news, saying Norways contribution of 1.1 million was to help the implementation of the Council of Europe 2016-2019 Action Plan for Georgia.



The announcement came when Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni met with Permanent Representative of Norway to the Council of Europe Astrid Helle last week.



At the meeting Helle confirmed the importance Norway attached to the cooperation activities delivered by the Council of Europe in Georgia.



With this new pledge, Norways voluntary contribution to the current Action Plan for Georgia reached approximately 1.8 million.



The contribution from Norway will allow the Council of Europe to increase support to the Georgian authorities and stakeholders, in areas such as reform of the judiciary, human rights and administration of elections, the Council of Europe Office in Georgia said in a statement.



This additional support is particularly timely, coming at the beginning of a new governance cycle, when reform directions are being reconfirmed in line with the European values of human rights, democracy and rule of law. (Agenda.ge)




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ALERT: Help Mike McGuff fight Alzheimer's disease by donating to his 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer's team
The smell of burning frankincense hung in the air as Father Haralambos Rob Spaliatsos walked down the aisle at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church carrying a painting depicting the icon of the Nativity.

The Greek Orthodox version contains small differences from the Nativity scene most often seen in Western churches, Spaliatsos said. Instead of a stable, the icon depicted Jesus being born in a cave.

Given the geography of the Middle East, there werent very many trees so its more likely animals were kept in a cave rather than a barn, Spaliatsos said.

Six Missoula churches, including Annunciation, continued an annual holiday tradition for the fourth year on Monday, opening their doors to Missoula residents for the Yuletide Church Stroll. The event encouraged people to learn about the way Christmas is celebrated at different churches around the University District neighborhood by enjoying their musical traditions.

Members of Annuciations congregation chanted a series of Byzantine hymns as visitors came in through the doors and found a seat in the pews.

The pieces that youre going to hear date back to at least the sixth century, Spaliatsos said. They are some of the earliest hymns to proclaim the birth of Jesus.

***

Blocks away, conductor Tomi Kent took her place at the head of the handbell choir at First Presbyterian Church. As the bells began to ring and the sounded rebounded off the high ceiling, Jonah Adams  who'd said he was only stopping in for a moment  shrugged off his jacket and took a seat instead.

Its really something to get to listen to this and look at the stained glass with all of the light coming through, he said.

Adams stayed through the choirs full performance and applauded with the rest of the visitors when Kent and her red-scarved musicians finished.

***

Pamela Waltop sat alone in the pews at St. Paul Lutheran as the organ player worked his way through a series of Christmas classics.

Its like getting my own private concert, she said. Theres snow outside and now theres music inside.

Christ the King Parish, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and University Congregational Church also took part in the Yuletide Church Stroll.
Missoula had a white Christmas the likes of which it hasn't seen in 20 years, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologist Jeff Kitzmiller said Missoula had 13 inches of snow on the ground Sunday, the most for a Dec. 25 since 1996, when 22 inches of powder blanketed the city.

Kitzmiller said just over 8 inches of new snow fell in the Missoula Valley between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The weather service is forecasting another 1 to 3 inches to come down Tuesday, although Kitzmiller said the scattered snow bands will leave varying amounts around the area.

"What we're seeing is very high winds coming in, so the higher mountain areas will be taking most of it," he said.

Gusts up to 40 mph could mean hazardous driving conditions on mountain passes in western Montana, and Kitzmiller said some places, like Lookout Pass could see another foot of snow along with the wind.

"That's really our main concern with this storm from Tuesday to Wednesday," Kitzmiller said.

The Missoula area will see a break from new snow between Wednesday afternoon until Friday when the next storm system moves in, Kitzmiller said.

***

Elsewhere in the region, a combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that forced vast stretches of highways in the Dakotas to be shut down Sunday continued into Monday, and authorities issued no-travel warnings for much of North Dakota.

Most of North Dakota was to remain under a blizzard warning through Monday afternoon or early evening, according to the National Weather Service in Bismarck. Severe whiteout conditions led to the closure of Minot International Airport, and the facility wasn't expected to reopen until 3 a.m. Tuesday. The airports serving Fargo and Bismarck also listed flight cancellations on their websites.

Winds gusting 40 mph to 50 mph also led to delays and cancellations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The storm also has caused power outages in the Dakotas and Nebraska.

The North Dakota Transportation Department closed most of a 240-mile stretch of Interstate 94 Sunday night, from the Montana border to Jamestown. That stretch remained closed Monday. Portions of U.S. Highways 2, 52 and 281 were also closed because of snow, ice and "near zero visibility." Motorists who drive past the roadblocks can be fined up to $250.

No-travel advisories were issued for much of North Dakota, including the Williston, Dickinson, Minot, Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City and Grand Forks areas.

Authorities in South Dakota shut down Interstate 90 from the Wyoming border to Chamberlain  about 260 miles.
Now that the dust has settled from the November election and the approval by voters of a $30 million bond to build a brand new Missoula County Public Library downtown, officials are working to get the final designs in place.

In fact, several public meetings to take public input on the design are scheduled to be held with architects starting in February. Groundbreaking for the 121,000-square-foot facility is still scheduled for the summer of 2017.

It will be built directly to the east of the current library at 301 E. Main St., and library officials hope to move in as early as the end of 2019. The new building will take up the entire block, and at four stories tall, will be roughly three times the size of the old one.

There will be large windows on every face, parking below the main floor, and an open-air terrace on the fourth-floor. The library will have space for a cafe, and will also house Missoula Community Access TV, the spectrUM Discovery Area and the Childrens Museum Missoula.

It will be a space that, theres nothing like it in Missoula, said library foundation director and development coordinator Karl Olson. People who are used to going to free cultural public spaces in cities like Seattle or Chicago I think are going to be pleasantly surprised. This is going to be major.

Library officials appealed to voters because the current building is beyond its useful life and has been cramped for years. For example, there are 38 places to sit on the main floor but 1,500 people visit the library every day on average. The Missoula Public Library is the busiest library in the state by sheer number of checkouts. Needless to say, there was a lot of relief among staff after the bond passed with a by about a 58 percent to 41 percent margin.

We are so grateful to the voters, said library director Honore Bray. There was a lot of joy after the election, and it was more driven by users who were coming in saying how excited they were that the bond had passed. Were looking forward to the future. We just have to keep working hard every day.

The library foundation has raised $2.7 million of its goal of contributing $5 million in private donations towards the project, according to Olson. In fact, a $500,000 donation came in recently, but theyve also gotten many much smaller donations.

Its a public/private partnership, Olson said. It couldnt happen solely on one side. After the bond passed, several people called to donate to the project.

Bray said that she feels confident that voters in Frenchtown and Seeley Lake, where the bond was not widely supported, will benefit from the additional services, programming, technology and content that the new library and the branch offices will have.

The access to the three nonprofit organizations housed there will be free, and will be available to anyone. The library also has money saved, not from the bond, to refurbish the Condon branch library soon.

With the addition of a $38 million student housing project currently under construction across the street, the eastern portion of Missoulas downtown will be radically changed by the project. The library will complete a land swap for the block east of the current location with a local businessman and philanthropist, Terry Payne, this spring.

That will allow the old library to remain open until the new one is complete rather than having to demolish it first. Payne hasnt said what he intends to do with the old building or the land it sits on. The houses that Payne currently owns on the block east of the library will be demolished this summer.

The library will put the project out to bid and should know who the builder will be this spring. A local architectural firm, A&E, is partnering with a Minneapolis firm that specializes in contemporary libraries to design the facility. The library so far has only paid for conceptual designs because they didnt want to waste taxpayer dollars in case the bond didnt pass.

Olson said that the project has many regular library visitors enthralled.

"A lot of library patrons did a lot of the advocacy work (promoting passage of the bond) on their own," he said. "In a way, that's kind of the unwritten story."
Sheila Stearns was part of a candidate interview last year at the University of Montana, and she remembers one of her colleagues asking a question.

The candidate was already making more money out of state. Why did he apply for the job at UM?

As she recalls, the candidate was incredulous: "Because you're the University of Montana."

Stearns, who has taken over for outgoing President Royce Engstrom, understood exactly what he meant.

"That says a lot, and frankly, it means a lot to a lot of people, and I just want to get that spirit right back toward the front of mind for all of us," Stearns said.

To lead UM that way, Stearns aims to celebrate and broadcast UM's academic excellence; govern collaboratively, with clear communication and shared responsibility; and make real connections with students.

"What are we doing to interact with every single student to ensure that they are learning and getting the best out of the experience for which they have signed up and paid good money for?" Stearns said.

On Dec. 1, Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian announced Engstrom would depart by the end of the month, and Stearns would take the interim post while a search takes place for UM's next permanent president.

The transition in the president's office took place more quickly than originally anticipated; Stearns' official start date will likely be Dec. 12, according to the Commissioner's Office.

Last week, Stearns said she will not be applying for the permanent position, but she is prepared to lead her alma mater through the following semester  or longer, if necessary.

***

Stearns, former commissioner of higher education in Montana, takes pride in the academic excellence at UM. She's already familiar with it, having earned all her degrees at UM: a bachelor's in English and history, a master's in history, and a doctorate in educational administration and supervision.

Even so, she's still surprised as she steps into the president's role to meet so many people on campus who are leaders in their fields. She just recently met a faculty member in biology who is recognized nationally and internationally.

"I think to myself, 'There we go again,'" Stearns said. "There is star power all over the place, and I just cannot wait to discover even more and find and meet even more people."

Sometimes, people see universities as centers of rabble-rousing students, or places with budget issues, Stearns said. As a former provost and chancellor of UM Western and former president of Wayne State College in Nebraska, she sees something different at institutions of higher learning.

"I've always thought universities are just such centers of creativity," she said.

As such, she finds joy in her work at UM, and she'd like to ensure that sense is prevalent for others on the flagship campus.

"Unlike so many organizations, we are helping to create futures, and when you're doing that, what could be more joyful?" Stearns said.

"But everything we do is hard work, so people can get down if they're thinking about the challenge of the day and not so much what a student has just learned or accomplished."

She's excited to reconnect people with the joy of what a university can accomplish for students and for society.

***

Enrollment has been an ongoing challenge for UM despite the campus having appeal in areas students and parents consider important: strong academics, a beautiful setting, and relatively affordable tuition.

"I think enrollment's biggest challenge is to market credibly again in a world which has over-simplified the old definition of STEM," said Stearns.

STEM traditionally stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. However, to illustrate the new model, Stearns pointed to a poster created in part by director of communications Paula Short. In it, E stands for different possibilities  Ecology, Education, Entrepreneurship, Expression.

"The biggest challenge is to shine a light even more effectively on ourselves as to the science-related fields, the technology-related fields in which we have nationally respected majors, or in mathematics," Stearns said.

UM has the chance to remind people in Montana not to overlook it just because of some recent negative publicity, she said. UM's main campus enrollment has plunged 20 percent since 2010, and a sexual assault scandal rocked the school in 2012.

"Our opportunity is to remind people that not all universities that they might even be considering would have nearly our depth, breadth or history of excellence," Stearns said. "I think that's both a challenge and an opportunity."

***

Faculty, staff and students have all called for a continuation of shared governance on campus, and Stearns said the phrase has been ridiculed in other sectors.

"Frankly, other industries are learning from us that if they are more collaborative in terms of their governance ... they are more successful," Stearns said. "I'm not saying we in the academy have always practiced shared governance well, but where it works well, it is really honest. I'm a real believer in it."

It means good communication about important decisions, she said. It means the group has identified priorities for the institution, and it can move ahead together, possibly without consensus, but with a shared sense of mission, she said.

"Shared governance is shared wisdom. It means you are gathering collective wisdom, and therefore, as many other sectors are finding out gradually, it's much better than just top down decrees because you get more effective participation," Stearns said.

The shared governance plays out in nuances, she said.

Recently, for example, faculty and student leaders called for UM to proceed with its provost search, but UM opted to postpone the search.

However, communications director Short said because of the input from faculty and students, the search wasn't canceled altogether. Rather, it was placed on hold. And Stearns said UM had serious conversations with all of the candidates about remaining in the pool as a direct result of the feedback from faculty and students.

"They may disagree, but at least they're not alienated," Stearns said of the model of shared governance.

A few weeks ago, the Commissioner's Office noted UM still needs to get closer to an average 18-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, since it's hovering at a 16-to-1 ratio.

Stearns said UM will work collectively to reach that goal. She said she believes the budget plans UM made last year move the university toward a ratio that's closer to the benchmark for a public institution, and UM will continue to make credible progress toward its goals.

She believes the university should be open as it develops its budget and that it should make decisions that value people. For example, take advantage of attrition to make the budget pencil out, she said.

"You have to balance the budget. We don't have (adequate) reserves. That's not how university fund balances are created in our university system," Stearns said. "I do believe in creating more reserves. If I were a long-term president, I would urge that."

***

Stearns, former head of University Relations and the Alumni Association at UM, also wants students to have connections on campus. She praised the people who advise students, and she said she wants to learn how to advise and take on one or two students herself.

"That's a pet interest of mine, and I want to give a lot of pats on the back to those who are doing it really well," Stearns said.

She'd like students and families to have help every step of the way at UM, from their application to their career path, and she believes that connection is important.

"If all of us do that, each and every student, no matter where they came from  Alaska or an eastern European country or Corvallis  (will) feel valued ... and connected," Stearns said.

Stearns wore a maroon and black polka dot jacket that day last week, and she's a Grizzlies fan who wants people on campus to remember not only UM's tagline, "We are Montana," but more.

"We are the University of Montana. To me, that's huge," Stearns said.
Following Mike Cuffes example (Missoulian, Dec. 20), I too wish to stress the significance of the recent discovery of quagga and zebra mussels in Montana water bodies. As Rep. Cuffe notes, the implications (of a mussel infestation) are serious for our economy, environment and quality of life.

Montana has lagged other states in addressing the mussel threat. The Flathead Lakers and many other organizations have, for years, brought the serious threat of mussels to the attention of our legislators, governor and state government officials. Progress was made, but still Montana is behind neighbors, such as Idaho, in providing resources needed to address the threat. Boat inspection stations have been too few, with limited hours and many drive-bys, and enforcement with quarantines and fines has been minimal. States such as Minnesota have launched massive awareness campaigns to inform the public and have closed water bodies to boat traffic as necessary.

Money is limited but insufficient action raises the cost. Indeed, the partial or full draining of reservoirs, as mentioned by Cuffe, is a cost that accompanies being late to the party. Some increase in fuel or income taxes, boat sticker fees or other options are far less costly than having invasive mussels in our waters. Perhaps you recall the saying about an ounce of prevention.

Lets recognize the positive action recently taken by the governor and state agencies. But more is needed. We must work with Cuffe, other legislators, our governor and state departments to educate Montanans on the mussel threat and to strengthen preventative and enforcement measures. Federal funding, too, will help, so let U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke and U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester know that you support their efforts to prevent the spread of invasive mussels to more Montana waters.

Many partners in the Flathead, including the Flathead Basin Commission and the Flathead Lakers, developed a plan to protect the Flathead Watershed from mussels and other aquatic invasive species threats, thereby protecting headwaters of the Columbia Basin. Now we need action by our legislators and governor to develop and fund a comprehensive plan and to work with local organizations, local governments and tribes to implement it.

Serious action is needed to protect Flathead Lake, the Flathead Watershed and other state waters that remain mussel-free. We need to stay ahead of the threat or it will cost us dearly  as is well noted by Cuffe.
We write in our capacity as members of the Montana Public Defender Commission.

We are an all-volunteer commission, formed pursuant to the 2005 Montana Public Defender Act. We are charged with administering and managing a statewide agency that consists of 247.44 FTE attorneys and staff, and 252 contract attorneys as of the end of fiscal year 2016. The agency had a budget of over $35 million (about 2 percent of the states total budget) in FY 2016.

In recent weeks, statewide news outlets have reported on certain struggles and challenges facing the Office of the State Public Defender. Specifically, media sources have noted that, due to unprecedented increased caseloads, the system faces an anticipated budget shortfall. Public defenders, it is claimed, have failed to collect fees from their clients. Further, three members of the governors commission, and the recently hired chief administrator, have resigned.

We wish to assure the public that we are taking fiscally responsive steps to address the challenges the system faces, while recognizing the legal responsibilities associated with effective representation.

The staggering caseloads that public defenders take on illuminates the problems inherent in our justice system. Last year state public defenders were appointed to more than 36,000 cases. Since 2012, OPDs caseload in homicide and other felony cases has increased by approximately 32 percent. Similarly, caseload for misdemeanors has increased by approximately 11 percent and the dependent and neglect caseload has increased by approximately 53 percent.

These increases in workload are not addressed through corresponding increases in funding, staff or attorneys. Thus, all of our attorneys are working extraordinarily high caseloads  in many regions, their caseloads exceed the amount they can ethically take on and maintain effective representation. Public defenders cannot legally refuse to take a case when assigned by the courts, which creates unique ethical dilemmas for these attorneys.

Pursuant to state law, the OPD commission has developed a mitigation plan that addresses many of these challenges. We have enacted a hiring freeze on certain positions, and discontinued the use of contract investigators in certain regions. We have begun hiring modified, part-time attorneys to replace contract attorneys as a more cost effective means of providing required representation.

The plan directs that all 11 regional public defender offices work to reduce expenditures wherever possible. Offices are striving to reduce requests for investigators, psychiatric evaluations and chemical dependency screenings, all in an effort to save money. We have noted the significant ethical challenges and associated expenses involved in collecting fees from public defender clients, and have recommended that this effort be taken on by the Department of Revenue  a recommendation adopted by the task force that is now the subject of specific legislation.

We are committed to working with the Governors Office and the Legislature during the upcoming session to assure that the public defender system continues to function efficiently, and admirably to fulfill this legal representation obligation. Despite the staggering caseloads, public defenders work with great dedication and dignity. They believe wholeheartedly in the constitutional and statutory provisions that guarantee all clients deserve effective legal representation. Many public defenders work in excess of a 40-hour week. They work against great odds, without complaint.

Montanas public defenders are among the finest attorneys that can be found anywhere. They deserve our appreciation, our respect and our support.
In the (Dec. 18) Sunday issue of the Missoulian, we read with dismay about the degrading racial comments made by a substitute teacher at Big Sky High School. The comments were directed at two students, Cipriano Gutierrez and Manny Hernandez, and reflect a troubling element of racial hatred that is growing across the country, the state and here in Missoula.

Every one of us has a duty to stand up to such unacceptable comments and defend the individuals they are directed against. Every one of us deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

We agree with Ciprianos mother, Mary Peters, who called for the Missoula County Public Schools to investigate how the district screens and hires substitute teachers. She wants the MCPS to ban the particular teacher who made the comments, so he doesnt teach in Montana again. She wants the MCPS director of Human Resources and Labor relations to clearly communicate what the district will do to prevent racism in the future.

Mary Peters suggested that teachers do more to address racism in their classrooms and show students how destructive it is. We know teachers are overwhelmed with work as it is, and many already do a great job teaching kids to respect each other. Perhaps the rest of us need to work harder on this.

Anne and Erick Greene,

Missoula
BILLINGS  If congressional Republicans scrap Obamacare, Montana cannot in good conscience end the health coverage it offers 60,000 people through a heavily subsidized Medicaid program, said state House Speaker Austin Knudsen.

The Culbertson Republican recently said that state lawmakers would have to figure out a way to dial back the states Medicaid program humanely. More than 60,000 people have signed up for Medicaid since the 2015 Legislature voted to offer Medicaid to more than 70,000 working Montanans who at the time couldnt afford insurance but were too far above the poverty level to qualify for Medicaid.

That expansion depends on a federal subsidy that covers nearly all of the programs cost, which this year is $201 million, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. The state cant afford the expanded program, Knudsen said, but it cant rip the healthcare coverage away from participants.

Youre going to tell me that were going to put 100,000 people on the Medicaid rolls and then when the federal government takes the money away we're just going to jerk the rug out from under them? I dont see that as being a realistic answer, Knudsen said. The state of Montana is going to have to look at trying to help keep those people covered. Whether I like the bill or not, it passed. It was signed into law. We covered a whole bunch more people.

Medicaid expansion passed largely on the votes of Montana Democratic lawmakers with enough Republican support to get it approved with a narrow margin of support. The program was officially offered for the first time in January 2016. By mid-November 60,123 newly eligible Montanans had signed up for Medicaid, according to DPHHS.

***

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, which congressional Republicans have been attempting to repeal for years, calling it unaffordable and a drag on the economy.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act. He said that legislation to repeal the ACA will come early next year, but that it may take two to three years to end the healthcare program, which Republicans plan to replace with something else, although what that would be is only being conveyed in broad brushstrokes.

Republicans are going to have to bake time into their replacement healthcare proposals, Daines said.

We need to provide a two- to three-year glide path, Daines said. We will have a transition that clearly assures that the Montanans that are on Medicaid arent harmed on this transition.

Republicans have discussed replacing healthcare subsidies, for things like Medicaid, to states with block grants that would allow states more freedom in how the money was spent. Those block grants would certainly be worth less than the amount of current subsidies.

The ACA hasnt worked as planned, Daines said. He points to the number of insurance companies getting out of state-organized health exchanges for the uninsured as proof the ACA is failing.

If the first repeal actions to ACA were to come within two years, Montana could be caught without a plan for dealing with the transition. The state Legislature meets every other spring and creates a budget for the coming two years. The budget crafted in the first four months of 2017 will set state government spending through June 30, 2019.

If Congress hasnt acted by the end of the 2017 state Legislature, special action might be needed, Knudsen said. But he said there isnt a practical way to plan without knowing first what the federal government might do. Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said the same.

It would be grossly irresponsible to rip healthcare away from tens of thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans without presenting a real and viable alternative that patients, providers, states and insurers can all plan around, Bullock said in an email. Republicans in Congress have had six years to think about and plan for fixes, replacements, and alternatives. We cant speculate on a state response until those plans are clear.

Bullock recently wrote U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., asking that ACA not be repealed before an alternative has been created.

***

Since 2013, changes under the Affordable Care Act have decreased the rate of uninsured Montanans from 20 percent to 7 percent, Bullock told McCarthy. Rural hospitals that have lost money serving the uninsured and underinsured have been better compensated.

There are 52,000 Montanans younger than 65 with pre-existing conditions who could lose coverage if the ACA mandate that everyone qualify for insurance be eliminated.

When the Montana Legislature approved Medicaid expansion in 2015, it wrote into the law that the coverage would end if the federal subsidy fell below 90 percent. That doesn't seem responsible now, Knudsen said.
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A blog by Jay Livingston -- what I've been thinking, reading, seeing, or doing. Although I am a member of the Montclair State University department of sociology, this blog has no official connection to Montclair State University. Montclair State University does not endorse the views or opinions expressed therein. The content provided is that of the author and does not express the view of Montclair State University.
Incoming Anaconda-Deer Lodge County chief executive Bill Everett wants open meetings held on the financial agreement the county has worked out with Atlantic Richfield Company.

The county has been in confidential negotiations with ARCO since at least July 2015 to reach an agreement that could potentially solve some long-standing Superfund problems for the county and give it a financial boost. ARCO is the responsible party for 100 years of smelting waste in Anaconda.

Everett takes over from current chief executive Connie Ternes-Daniels on Jan. 1.

Everett says he has already sought his own legal counsel into the situation and may refuse to sign the confidentiality agreement himself.

Transparency is huge to me, said Everett by phone last week.

Contentious as soon as it rolled out in August, the institutional controls agreement, or IC agreement, the county brokered with ARCO would mean the county will get $120 million spread over 100 years time. In exchange, the county will manage the waste left in place.

The agreement also resolves some longstanding issues, voiding an older agreement the county signed in 1994 with ARCO that left the county responsible for hundreds of acres that contain waste.

What sort of effect such a move on Everetts part might have on the agreement is not yet known. Everett does not have the ability to vote on the agreement, said county Board of Commissioners member Terry Vermeire. Only Anacondas legislative branch can vote on it. Unlike Butte-Silver Bow, Anacondas chief executive cannot vote even to break a tie among commissioners, Ternes-Daniels previously told The Montana Standard.

The Montana Standard, in conjunction with Silver Bow Creek Headwaters Coalition, launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice in September to open up the confidential Butte Hill Superfund talks. If The Montana Standard had prevailed, the suit could have had long-term repercussions for Anacondas Superfund talks as well, said Jim Goetz, attorney for The Montana Standard in the case.

Helena U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon ruled against the Standard last month.

Anacondas confidential talks, which have not formally begun yet, are also protected under Haddons original 2003 order. Because the countys financial agreement with ARCO involves the Environmental Protection Agencys cleanup plan for Anaconda, the county had to sign the confidentiality agreement with ARCO and the EPA, Anacondas Superfund coordinator Carl Nyman previously told the Standard.

Everetts goals may quickly come to a test. Vermeire wants to move forward again on the agreement. Vermeire and commissioner Elaine Lux-Burt both sit in on the confidential talks with ARCO.

The agreement went back to ARCO with edits after the August public meeting, said Vermeire. Vermeire said many of the changes sought by local attorney Michael Grayson, one of the foremost critics of the agreement, were made to the draft.

The county is waiting for ARCO to give their OK to the edited version and finish up some supplemental material, said Vermeire. He said the county expects to hold a meeting with ARCO in mid-January.

Vermeire defends the countys process to reach an agreement with ARCO.

Im a firm believer in the process, and I want every single person in the community to understand what the IC agreement is and what itll do for Anaconda, said Vermeire.

Everett says he is "not opposed" to bringing in an "outside" team of legal and technical experts to get a second opinion on the draft agreement. ARCO has given the county around $1.3 million since 2012 to pay for legal and technical assistance on creating the agreement, according to county Superfund coordinator Carl Nyman. How the county might pay for another set of eyes to wade into the complexities is not clear. Everett says he believes the county could apply for a grant from the EPA for some assistance.

Nyman told the Standard that the grants the county has received in the past from EPA is money that ultimately comes from ARCO.

Vermeire and Everett have at least one goal in common. Both say they are willing to wait  whether its 2 months or 2 years  to get an agreement with ARCO that is good for the county.

"Some kind of agreement with ARCO needs to happen, maybe at a future time. I'm not sure this is the time," said Everett.
MISSOULA  Like a pair of fraternal twins, the timber markets of the United States and Canada don't quite look identical.

In the West, both sides cut conifers mainly for the U.S. housing market. The industries each revolve around huge swaths of public forest, and have boisterous debates about how to manage that landscape. Whole communities depend on the logging and milling business north and south of the border.

But Americans and Canadians see the same issues differently in ways likely to roil relations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Take the housing market.

Housing starts in the United States hit a nine-year high in October with 1.32 million starts. While that's still off the long-term average of 1.5 million, it means good news for anyone selling 2x4s. Until we get to the business of selling 2x4s.

Two-thirds of British Columbia's lumber production flows south to the United States, according to market analysis by Business Vancouver journalist Gordon Hamilton. Most of the remaining third goes across the Pacific Ocean to China. And several cross-border issues demand attention.

First, the Canadian dollar currently buys 74 U.S. cents. That's down from near-parity in 2012. And it means Canadian lumber imports have a big competitive price advantage against American suppliers. Hamilton noted it also means the Canadians attract more attention from price-sensitive Chinese lumber importers.

"We see less tourists and more wood coming this way," said Craig Rawlings of Forest Business Network, a timber industry newsletter. "It always seems to me theres no shortage of wood in the world. If it doesnt come from Canada, it has to come from somewhere else."

Currency exchange rates also aggravate the larger negotiations over western wood markets, codified in the U.S.-Canadian Softwood Lumber Agreement that expired last year. Twelve months of negotiations failed to produce a replacement for the previous 10-year deal. And in November, U.S. trade officials filed a dispute accusing the Canadians of dumping government-subsidized wood into the U.S. market. They seek punishing duties of up to 40 percent in retaliation.

The election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency has raised particular alarm in the British Columbia timber industry, Hamilton noted, because of Trump's campaign pledges to reconsider American trade deals. While the Americans have lost most of their trade cases against the Canadians, that hasn't helped gain back profits the Canadians might have earned while the market was locked up in legal limbo.

Trump's change of command comes just as Tolko Industries closed a large sawmill in Merritt, British Columbia, shortly after the B.C. forestry officials announced a 38 percent drop in timber supply due to the region's beetle-killed stands having grown too dry and brittle to harvest. The mill closure cost 200 jobs.

Hamilton also reported Canadian logging contractors have been struggling with increasing operating costs and an inability to get their mill buyers to raise delivery prices accordingly. Residents of Vancouver Island have clashed over how much of the island's remaining old-growth forest to open to logging.

In Frebruary, B.C.'s legislative assembly approved protections for nearly 16 million acres of the Great Bear Rainforest on the province's central Pacific coast, opening just 15 percent of it to logging. The agreement ended nearly 20 years of land management dispute and could be a template for future decisions, Hamilton reported.

Russ Vaugen, a timber analyst whose family owns sawmills in both Washington and British Columbia, said the way the two nations handle their landscapes needs work.

"In the U.S., you have a federal government thats walked away from consistent management of its forest system," Vaugen said. "That puts American mills in a difficult spot  buy logs from expensive, faraway sources or go out of business.

"That's contrasted (in Canada) with a supportive government making sure mills are still operating within the rules theyve created for sustainability in their forests. They have an opportunity to run mills on a consistent schedule to maintain viability in the future."

Vaugen acknowledged that difference stems from the U.S. Forest Service's struggles with a multi-use responsibility in its forests, while the Canadian foresters have much less public involvement in the debate.

"What they did (in Canada) was they identified important places to protect, set those aside, and the rest of the area went to management," Vaugen said. "You can argue if management is appropriate, but I do not hear Canadians saying their management practice are bad. I mainly hear Americans are saying that."

As the western Canadian timber horizon has shrunk, many firms there have expanded their reach into the United States.

"The Weyerhaeuser (medium-density fiberboard) plant in Columbia Falls  a lot of wood fiber comes out of Canada to feed that mill," Rawlings said. "Most Canadian timberlands, B.C. in particular, have a shelf-life of saw logs that is pretty much over with. Thats why so many Canadian companies have invested heavily in the (U.S) Southeast. They can play the market any way they need to by having plants on both sides of the border. In industry we complain, but theyre part of the bigger picture. Everybody trades with everybody."
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.
After struggling to recruit and retain forensic pathologists for the past two years, the Montana Crime Lab is expecting more turnover.

The state lost three Montana pathologists in 2015 and employed no medical examiners for part of that year. Instead, the Department of Justice relied on contract doctors from out of state and sometimes transported bodies hundreds of miles for autopsy.

State records show that the Department of Justice spent about $570,000 over its budget in fiscal 2016 to cover the contracts as well as recruiting expenses, as reported by Jayme Fraser in the Dec. 18 Gazette. Last May, the department asked to use spending authority from the 2017 fiscal year to cover the previous years cost overruns, Fraser reported. The department also held some crime lab positions vacant to recoup the unbudgeted medical examiner expenses.

In January, the state will increase the fee it charges county coroners from $965 to $1,500 per autopsy.

RETENTION CHALLENGES

Dr. Jaime Oeberst, hired in August 2015 as chief medical examiner in Missoula, was demoted to assistant last summer and recently returned to work part time after months on leave.

Dr. Robert Kurtzman, who started work in Billings in November 2015, is now chief medical examiner.

The third pathologist slot was filled later by Dr. Nikki Mourtzinos, who is leaving the Missoula crime lab in February to take a job in Maryland, the area where she previously worked, according to Eric Sell, DOJ spokesman. Dr. Sunil Prashar, of Minnesota, who has done contract work for Montana, has been hired to replace Mourtzinos, Sell said.

The medical examiner shuffle is concerning because Attorney General Tim Fox claimed to have stabilized the staff after an extended period of friction and turmoil that began before he took office. The hiring of Oeberst was said to have resolved issues about supervision of state pathologists, after disputes between the contract doctor in Billings and the state doctors in Missoula.

The unexpected cost for pathologists and autopsies added to DOJs budget challenges. The new satellite crime lab that opened in Billings last year to analyze suspected drug samples was authorized by the 2015 Legislature, which inadvertently failed to actually fund it. However, DOJ spokesman Eric Sell said last week that the department was able to absorb the crime lab and pathologists costs with existing revenue and wont be seeking a supplemental appropriation from the 2017 Legislature.

The crime lab has seen some staff turnover since the Billings satellite opened last spring. That hindered improvement time needed for analysis in law enforcement cases.

SPEEDIER TESTING

The lab now is reporting a much better turnaround time on drug tests needed for criminal prosecutions. The average time for getting test results was eight months in 2014, according to DOJ. Recently, 95 percent of cases were completed within three months and the average time is two months.

Time is of the essence for the justice system, which is why so many lawmakers, county attorneys and law enforcement leaders in Billings and Eastern Montana pushed for the Billings crime lab. Suspects often remain in jail pending lab test results. Cases must be postponed in court if results arent available. Because most of these defendants are addicted, months of delay in the criminal case usually means months of delay in starting effective addiction treatment.

The recent challenges in the crime lab have called attention to the labs critical role in our justice system.

We call on Attorney General Tim Fox to make the medical examiner and crime lab top priorities. There isnt a big supply of the specialized scientists and physicians needed for this important work. Montana must be competitive with other states to attract and retain the staff needed. We encourage Fox to lobby for the resources needed to ensure timely high-quality forensic work. If that means asking for more money, he needs to ask the Legislature.

-- The Billings Gazette
HELENA  As Ray Reed, director of the Montana Military Museum, gazes over the collection of artifacts, he reflects on what gives a display impact. It's not so much the items themselves but what they represent.

"We can take in all the objects, but it's the stories that connect them and make them important," Reed said. "That's what we look for -- we look for the stories."

When it came to taking on new exhibits, the museum on Fort Harrison welcomed one centered around the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. The display is especially fitting because the woman who began the project lives in Helena.

Diane Carlson Evans, a registered nurse who served in the war, is the founder and president of the Vietnam Women's Memorial Foundation.

"Our stories are so important," Carlson Evans said.

It took years to rally enough support to have the bronze statue depicting three Vietnam-era women, including one tending to a wounded male soldier, come to fruition. The statue honoring the more than 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam War both in uniform and in civilian support roles was dedicated in 1993.

The display, one of the latest at the museum, shows the story of the statue itself and the struggle to have it be a reality.

"I served in Vietnam in '68 and '69. Those years I took care of injured soldiers," she said. "It's a special bond between the wounded and the nurses."

The exhibit remains in progress but is available to visitors of the museum, which is open Thursday and by appointment.

The Montana Military Museum showcases events starting with the Lewis and Clark Expedition all the way up to the most current wars and conflicts.

Another new item on display is a World War II Jeep. The project was a labor of love and took the last year.

"We decided we needed to get a Jeep in here," said Jim Duffy, president of the museum's foundation. "It was a big part of World War II."

Reed said volunteers had discussed the addition of a Jeep in the collection. Then a museum board member mentioned a family member had one in Conrad. It was in poor shape and needed some extreme refurbishing. The board raised the money to bring the vehicle back to its former glory.

It took about $13,000 and the handy work of a local veteran. The 1942 Jeep now welcomes visitors to the World War II exhibit in the museum.

Reed said the Jeep serves as a two-fold homage.

"It's a tribute to our veterans and also our volunteers," he said. The museum currently has about 17 volunteers, and Reed says it can always use more.

"Our key is the volunteers. It wouldn't happen without them," Reed added.
BILLINGS - Police arrested one woman and another woman was sent to the hospital after the pair left Alternatives' Passages correctional facility through a third floor window Sunday night.

Cinnamon Maray O'Donnell, 24, was arrested after she left the Passages treatment center through a third floor window. She was taken to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility.

O'Donnell was sentenced on Nov. 22 to five years with the Department of Corrections. O'Donnell has felony convictions for theft, criminal endangerment and possession of dangerous drugs.

The women were being housed on the alcohol and drug treatment level, Alternatives CEO David Armstrong said. The women were attempting to escape the building through the third floor window, Armstrong said.

Women being treated on the third floor stay anywhere from 60 to 90 days at the inpatient treatment center before being put back into the community.

Billings Police Sgt. Matt Lennick said police responded to a call a little before 9 p.m. about a woman who had fallen out of a window at Passages at 1001 S. 27th St. The woman was taken to the hospital with a broken leg.

Passages is a womens community-based correctional facility serving state and federal inmates.

Escape charges have a maximum sentence of 10 years.
ORIGINAL NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

OneWest Bank N.A.

Plaintiff,

vs.

Parties in Possession; Unknown spouse, if any, of Verne Hanft; United States of America - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; United States of America - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; All Unknown Heirs, Devisees, or Claimants with an interest in Property of Vern R. Hanft, deceased; State of Iowa - Department of Revenue; State of Iowa - Department of Revenue; Parkview Condominium Association, et al.

Defendants.

You are notified that a petition has been filed in the office of this court naming you as a defendant in this action. The petition was filed on September 9, 2016, and prays for foreclosure of Plaintiffs mortgage in favor of the Plaintiff on the property described in this notice and judgment for the unpaid principal amount of $137,981.25, with 1.39% per annum interest thereon from June 25, 2007, together with late charges, advances and the costs of the action including (but not limited to) title costs and reasonable attorney's fees, as well as a request that said sums be declared a lien upon the following described premises from June 20, 2007, located in Muscatine county, Iowa:

THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE IN MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA:

UNIT B-2, OF PARKVIEW CONDOMINIUM, A HORIZONTAL PROPERTY REGIME IN MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA, ESTABLISHED BY A CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION DATED MARCH 5, 1980, AND RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA, IN BOOK 290 OF LOTS, AT PAGE 977,

AND, AN UNDIVIDED 1/18TH INTEREST IN AND TO THE COMMON ELEMENTS AND LIMITED COMMON ELEMENTS APPURTENANT TO SAID UNIT, AS DESCRIBED IN THE CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION, AND SUBJECT TO THE EASEMENTS, RESTRICTIONS, COVENANTS, RIGHTS, OBLIGATIONS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION, AS AMENDED, AND THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS OF PARKVIEW CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, AN IOWA NONPROFIT CORPORATION

, commonly known as 2051 Heatherlynn Drive Apt B2, Muscatine, IA 52761 (the "Property")

The petition further prays that the mortgage on the above described real estate be foreclosed, that a special execution issue for the sale of as much of the mortgaged premises as is necessary to satisfy the judgment and for other relief as the Court deems just and equitable. For further details, please review the petition on file in the clerk's office. The Plaintiffs attorney is Emily Bartekoske, of SouthLaw, P.C.; whose address is 1401 50th Street, Suite 100, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

NOTICE

THE PLAINTIFF HAS ELECTED FORECLOSURE WITHOUT REDEMPTION. THIS MEANS THAT THE SALE OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY WILL OCCUR PROMPTLY AFTER ENTRY OF JUDGMENT UNLESS YOU FILE WITH THE COURT A WRITTEN DEMAND TO DELAY THE SALE. IF YOU FILE A WRITTEN DEMAND, THE SALE WILL BE DELAYED UNTIL TWELVE MONTHS (OR SIX MONTHS IF THE PETITION INCLUDES A WAIVER OF DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT) FROM THE ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS YOUR RESIDENCE AND IS A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING OR UNTIL TWO MONTHS FROM ENTRY OF JUDGMENT IF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS NOT YOUR RESIDENCE OR IS YOUR RESIDENCE BUT NOT A ONE-FAMILY OR TWO-FAMILY DWELLING. YOU WILL HAVE NO RIGHT OF REDEMPTION AFTER THE SALE. THE PURCHASER AT THE SALE WILL BE ENTITLED TO IMMEDIATE POSSESSION OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY. YOU MAY PURCHASE AT THE SALE.

You must serve a motion or answer on or before 17th day of January, 2017, and within a reasonable time thereafter file your motion or answer with the Clerk of Court for Muscatine County, at the county courthouse in Muscatine, Iowa. If you do not, judgment by default may be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

If you require the assistance of auxiliary aids or services to participate in a court action because of a disability, immediately call your District ADA Coordinator at 563-326-8783. If you are hearing impaired, call Relay Iowa TTY at 1-800-735-2942.

This case has been filed in a county that utilizes electronic filing. You may find more information and general rules governing electronic filing in Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16. You may find information concerning protection of personal information in court filings in Iowa Court Rules Chapter 16, Division VI.

By: Jeff Tollenaer

CLERK OF THE ABOVE COURT

Muscatine County Courthouse

401 East 3rd Street,

Muscatine, IA 52761

IMPORTANT:

YOU ARE ADVISED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE AT ONCE TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS.
Notice is hereby given that the following appeals have been filed with the City of Muscatine Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Appeal Case No. 963, filed by Donne Wagner, to change the use of 116 Green Street to residential apartments of two or three units. A variance is required as ground floor residential uses are not permitted in the M-1 Zoning District per City Code 10-14-1 (A).

A hearing on these cases will be held on the 3rd day of January 2017, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, at which time all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard with reference to the matter(s) set out in said cases.

The appellant or his/her representative must be present before each case will be acted on.

City of Muscatine

Zoning Board of Adjustment

Andrew Fangman, Secretary

City of Muscatine
DES MOINES -- When Iowa Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds received her degree from Iowa State University on Dec. 17 at age 57, she completed a years-long journey and joined the vast majority of state officials with at least a four-year college degree.

In the Iowa Legislature, however, where Reynolds served for two years, state lawmakers without a four-year degree are not uncommon. When the Legislature convenes in a few weeks, 1 in 5 state senators will not possess a four-year degree.

But Reynolds and other state officials, both with and without a four-year degree, say possessing one is not required to adequately perform legislative duties.

Thats not the message Im trying to send (by earning a four-year degree), Reynolds said this week.

Reynolds, a Republican, said in addition to the years she spent taking classes to earn her bachelors degree, she also learned on the job by observing those around her and studying Iowa law. She was a pharmacists assistant and worked in the Clarke County treasurers office before her career in public office, where she has served as Clarke County treasurer, state senator and lieutenant governor.

I learned every day from the people and the job and the people Ive encountered, the people that I worked with like Gov. (Terry) Branstad. What a phenomenal on-the-job training Ive had from Day 1 partnering with him, Reynolds said. I utilized many educational facilities and institutions to get this done.

The rate of four-year degree-holders in the Iowa Legislature vastly outpaces the states general population.

Among Iowans 25 years and older, 26.7 percent have a bachelors degree or higher, according to Census data.

In the Iowa Legislature, 80 percent of senators and 86 percent of representatives possess at least a bachelors.

Senators are responsible for voting on public funding for the states colleges and confirming appointees to the Board of Regents -- the state panel that governs Iowas public universities, including the University of Iowa, Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa.

Thats not a problem, said Iowa Sen. Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Waterloo whose district includes the UNI campus and who possesses two degrees from the school.

I like Thomas Jeffersons approach to an informed electorate, and that means having an organic feel for, not just the laws that are made in Des Moines, but being able to come back and be a part of your community and be able to communicate why those things are important. That doesnt necessarily require a college degree, Danielson said.

Because of how common it is for farmers to go straight from high school to full-time work on the farm, they comprise five of the 10 Iowa senators and roughly a third of the 14 representatives without a four-year degree. Four senators and seven representatives without four-year degrees have business or professional careers.

Danielson said he would like to see the states public universities acknowledge life experience as credit toward acquiring a degree. He said he experienced it first-hand when none of his experience serving in the U.S. Navy was recognized for college credit.

I want people to achieve being a lifelong learner, and I think we can improve the way in which he recognize that experience, Danielson said. Thankfully, weve changed some of those laws.

Iowa Rep. Walt Rogers, a Republican from Cedar Falls who holds a degree from UNI and will be chairman of the Iowa House committee on education starting in 2017, said, while he believes post-high school education is important, he also believes Reynolds learned just as much -- if not more -- from her professional and political experience.

It depends on your perspective, I guess. Practically, I dont think Kim is going to act any differently other than being proud she was able to accomplish that, Rogers said. Obviously 98-99 percent of what she knows about government shes learned on the job. All of us, we learn mostly from experience.

Reynolds attended Northwest Missouri State University and majored in business administration and marketing, but she did not complete her degree there. Over the years, she also took classes at a pair of community colleges. In 2012, she focused on obtaining her degree through Iowa State.

It was a personal goal of mine, has been for a long time. I dont like starting something and not finishing it, Reynolds said. So, it really just was an important goal. I wanted my grandchildren to see that its never too late, and, really, Iowans to see that its never too late.

A non-traditional student himself, Danielson applauded Reynolds achievement and said he hopes more Iowans do the same, that the states universities should do what they can to make that easier, and reiterated those who do not possess a four-year degree can draw on their experiences to serve as state legislators.

Weve got a lot of work to do helping people understand the school of hard knocks and higher education are not opposing concepts, Danielson said. What I want is a well-rounded life experience, and we ought to honor both. Our capitol should reflect that. You dont need a college degree to figure out how to help people.

John McGlothlen of The Gazette contributed to this report
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 []
The Napa Fire Department is warning the public of the dangers of propane heaters that are inappropriately used indoors following the death Monday of a 60-year-old man who was found non-responsive in his bedroom.

The man, who lived in a home at 1029 Foster Road in south Napa, was identified Tuesday by the Napa County Coroners Office as Stephen Covey. He was sleeping in a bedroom warmed by a propane heater that was not certified for indoor use, Fire Capt. Ty Becerra said Tuesday morning.

Covey apparently went to bed at 10 p.m. Sunday, but was not discovered until shortly after 1 p.m. Monday  15 hours later  Becerra said.

Napa Police said Stephen Covey was found unresponsive by his brother Michael Covey, who called out to his brothers friend who was in a nearby outbuilding. This friend called 911, while Michael Covey attempted CPR on Stephen Covey, but was overcome by the carbon monoxide, police said.

The house reeked of the smell of propane, Becerra said. Firefighters went into the home wearing breathing apparatus and dragged Stephen Covey out onto the front yard where CPR was performed until he was declared dead at 1:47 p.m.

The deceased mans brother was discovered in a severely incoherent state in a chair in the living room, said firefighter Jeff Hunter.

We werent too far away from two fatalities, Hunter said.

Carbon monoxide is commonly described as an invisible killer. It is odorless, colorless and tasteless, the product of incomplete combustion from such devices as heaters and generators. High levels can kill a person in minutes.

According to federal statistics, about 150 people die annually in the U.S. from non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer products. Becerra said Coveys death is likely the first of its kind in Napa since he joined the department 14 years ago.

Stephen Covey apparently went to bed and closed his bedroom door on a night when the temperature was expected to drop to freezing. The propane heater in his bedroom was not designed for indoor use, Becerra said.

Firefighters said they did not know if the homes regular heating system was working.

Someone using the heater would have no way of knowing if it was efficiently burning the propane or whether there was a high level of carbon monoxide escaping from incomplete combustion, Becerra said.

Carbon monoxide, which is slightly lighter than air, had traveled throughout the Foster Road house. We were getting levels of carbon monoxide far beyond what a person could survive in, Becerra said.

The house was saturated. It had gone into the attic and the crawl space, Becerra said. The whole house had pockets.

Since 2011, California law has required carbon monoxide detectors in homes with a garage or a fossil fuel source. No carbon monoxide detector was found in the Foster Road house, Hunter said.

People should heed warnings on outdoor heaters, Hunter said. Outdoor devices carry a manufacturers warning not to use them indoors, he said.

The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu, including nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and lightheadedness.

Napa Police are investigating the incident, but cautioned in a news release that there are no signs of foul play.

Anyone with information beneficial to the investigation is asked to call Det. Pete Piersig at 707-257-9514.

The Coroners Office said it would be conducting an investigation to confirm the cause of death this week.
Napa Humane will offer free spay and neuter surgeries for cats starting in January for a limited time.

The organization announced Tuesday that surgeries will be free of charge with a donation of any size, which will go toward additional procedures for animals at Humane's clinic in Napa.

Wendi Piscia, executive director of Napa Humane, said the aim is "to make it easy to be responsible cat caretakers, whether the animal is owned or a stray. By offering free surgeries, Piscia said, "we hope to inspire more people to bring cats in for the procedure.

According to the organization, one un-spayed female cat is capable of producing more than 11,000 kittens in a five-year span. A nationwide estimate places the populations of neighborhood cats in the tens of millions. Surgery is the best way to cull the booms that come with "kitten season," the organization said.

Jim Brandt, president of Napa Wildlife Rescue, lauded the group's effort as having "a great impact on lessening the free-roaming cat population, which is good for the environment, wildlife, and the community as a whole.

For information about Napa Humanes spay and neuter surgeries for cats, please call 707-252-7442, or drop by the clinic at 3265 California Blvd. in Napa.
Millions of children harbor youthful dreams of grown-up careers, unbounded by fear and doubt and difficulty. Few such dreams are as ambitious as the desire to someday become an astronaut and fewer still are those who can set a target literally out of this world, and hit it.

For nearly four months in the summer and fall of 2016, Kate Rubins did just that.

Rubins, who as a girl slept in a bedroom lined with glow-in-the-dark stars on its ceiling and attended the NASA Space Camp in Alabama as a seventh-grader, went where no Napa native had gone before. The former biochemist and virus hunter spent 115 days aboard the International Space Station, performing two spacewalks and conducting scores of experiments in earth orbit, including some meant to prepare future explorers for the rigors of long-term spaceflight to Mars.

Those exploits 250 miles above the Earth capped seven years of preparation since NASA selected Rubins for a group of 13 new astronauts, and set her life and curiosity on a new course.

It was one of those childhood dreams I couldnt let go of, she said in a 2013 interview for Nature magazine. I thought that NASA didnt take biologists and so nothing would come of it, but I knew I would regret it if I did not apply.

A 1996 graduate of Vintage High School, Rubins, who turned 38 in November, left her first marks not in space but in the microscopic realm, as a virologist studying HIV, Ebola, smallpox and other pathogens for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By 2008, she had become the leader of an infectious disease laboratory in the Democratic Republic on the Congo when NASA put out the call for a new class of space travelers. Almost on a lark, Rubins sent her application, then was chosen after a year of interviews and evaluations.

Rubins was chosen for a space station mission in 2014, teamed with Anatoly Ivanishin of Russia and Takuya Onishi of Japan. Two years of intensive training followed, from the piloting skills needed for flying and docking the Russian Soyuz vehicle to practicing zero-gravity spacewalks in underwater chambers.

At last, on the morning of July 7, Rubins and her two crewmates boarded their Soyuz capsule at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in the remote steppes of Kazakhstan. Hundreds of thousands of pounds in rocket thrust boosted the trio into orbit, and their spacecraft docked with the space station two days later.

As her orbiting platform circled the Earth more than 15 times a day, Rubins kept busy with more than 200 scientific experiments, including tests of the first handheld device for sequencing DNA. A pair of spacewalks in August took her into the vacuum outside, first to install a new docking port for future U.S. spacecraft and again to perform maintenance work including the addition of new high-definition video cameras.

Amid all the work in microgravity, the first-time astronaut still found time to remember her alma mater, and to encourage its present-day students to be as ambitious as she had been.

A satellite link Sept. 14 carried Rubins voice and image to a worldwide Internet audienceand about 200 Vintage High students who gathered in the schools auditorium. For 20 minutes, she gaily took questions about day-to-day life in orbit, her scientific work, even the experience of being as separated from loved ones as a human can be.

Everything is hard, and nothing is hard, the space traveler said of a realm that transforms even the simplest experiences  turning a glance out the window into a sighting of all humanity, or a breakfast into a misadventure of floating food. Were having so much fun up here that every single activity in the day is so fascinating.

The adventure finally ended Oct. 30 as Rubins, Ivanishin and Onishi undocked from the space station for a 3 -hour race back to Earth, the final part a parachute-topped drift onto the Kazakh grasslands.

Kate Rubins journey from Napa to space was complete. But the meaning of the mission had long been clear to her, more than a year before liftoff.
One man died and another went to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in critical condition on Monday after what appeared to be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Details were sketchy at the scene on the 1000 block of Foster Road at 1:30 p.m. Napa Police Sgt. Ryan Cole said the occupants may have been heating the home with propane.

Thats preliminary, Cole said as paramedics, police and firefighters walked around in the front yard. There will be a full investigation by police.

The house is on a large lot against a hill, making it seem like a rural pocket within city limits. Emergency crews tried vainly to revive one of the victims on the front lawn before covering the deceased with a yellow tarp.

Two fire trucks, a paramedic unit, an ambulance and four police cars blocked off Foster Road to traffic in front of the house at 1:30 p.m. Firefighters had hooked up a hose to a hydrant near Snow Elementary School as a precaution against a possible gas leak.
"Peace on Earth, good will toward men." One hears this phrase in the United States this time of year, but prospects for peace and goodwill abroad, not to mention at home, appear to be evaporating before our eyes. Staving off a gradual downward spiral of foreign and domestic politics into violence and rancor requires some serious reflection on what's gone wrong, and a willingness to rethink our present approach.

A little over a year ago, I wrote a column explaining why international peace was in the U.S. national interest. Yet none of the presidential candidates - not even Bernie Sanders - made it a key theme of their campaign. We heard a lot about strength and resolve and "greatness" and leadership, along with repeated warnings about alleged threats and "enemies," but hardly a word was said about the virtues of peace or the policies that the United States should follow in order to preserve it. Indeed, one of the candidates kept making bizarre and bellicose statements of various kinds, including not-so-veiled threats of violence against his political opponents. And guess what? That guy eventually won.

Looking beyond the recent U.S. election offers little reason for optimism. There are a few bright spots - such as the renewal of the peace deal in Colombia - but encouraging episodes like that are few and far between. The European Union used to be a shining symbol of its member states' commitment to transcend their conflict-ridden history; today the EU seems to be in a slow-motion process of disintegration. Syria is a demolished wasteland, and Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, South Sudan, and Libya remained mired in violence with no end in sight. The political landscape in Asia is beginning to shift as well, and the U.S. president-elect has already questioned the "One China" policy and repudiated the Trans-Pacific Partnership. A neat trick: He's managed to provoke China and undermine the U.S. position in Asia simultaneously, and he's not even in office yet. Fasten your seatbelts, folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Moreover, the bright red lines which help states avoid intruding on each other's vital interests are blurring as well. Poet Robert Frost famously wrote that "good fences make good neighbors," and one of the virtues of the Westphalian approach to state sovereignty is that it established clear boundaries and made infractions easier to spot. These features didn't make war impossible, of course, but they made it easier to identify clear acts of aggression and made it less likely that states would stumble into war because they had crossed some unknown tripwire by accident. As norms of sovereignty have eroded and the tools for interfering in other states have become more numerous and sophisticated, states have more reason to fear that others will tamper with their internal politics and the danger of mutually reinforcing, tit-for-tat spirals goes up. In a world of hackers, cyberweapons, drones, and other ambiguous instruments of power, miscalculation and inadvertent escalation will be more likely, especially if leaders do not appreciate the risks.

Add these trends up, and the prospects for serious inter-state conflict are rising. The global balance of power is shifting - usually not a promising development, in terms of maintaining peace - and familiar features of the international landscape are increasingly contested. It will take a lot of patient and adroit diplomacy to keep all of these simmering disagreements within bounds. On reflection, this might not have been the best moment to turn U.S. foreign policy over to a combination of amateurs and ideologues.

Alas, prospects for peace don't look much better here at home. The U.S. presidential campaign set a new low for civility and reasoned discourse, but that depressing spectacle was merely a symptom of the broader coarsening of political life that has been underway since the Cold War ended. As my Harvard colleagues Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argued this week in The New York Times, stable democracies need more than a functioning economy, reliable elections, and a well-written constitution. They also depend on informal norms of fair play and self-restraint - what Levitsky and Ziblatt call the "soft guardrails of democracy" - based on the shared belief that one's political rivals are still part of the same political community, and that temporary political advantages should neither be exploited to the hilt nor used to cement one's hold on power.

Today, however, that sense of fair play and restraint is steadily eroding. Filibusters are increasingly common, the GOP-controlled Senate refuses even to hold hearings on a legitimate Supreme Court nominee, and political commentators routinely accuse those they disagree with of "treason" or worse. Such tendencies have always been part of the American political scene, of course, and they have occasionally risen to prominence for brief periods, as in the heyday of Sen. Joe McCarthy. But these forces are more prominent and well-established than ever before, especially in the Republican Party, and no one should be surprised if some on the left conclude their opponents are proto-fascists who must be resisted by any means necessary. The result will be a naked, rule-free, no-holds-barred struggle for political power, and with that comes a grave threat to the U.S. constitutional order and the domestic stability Americans take for granted.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Back in the early 1990s, many experts thought the defeat of communism had put the United States and the rest of the world on the threshold of a long era of peace and prosperity. Democracy and free markets were spreading, globalization as the supposed guarantor of universal prosperity was the watchword of the day, and humankind had supposedly reached the conflict-free "end of history." In those heady days, Americans thought their version of democracy was the ideal model for everyone and that it was just a matter of time before these ideals were embraced almost everywhere, permanently cementing international stability and peace.

If only. This rosy vision was always too optimistic, but a lot of smart people succumbed to some version of it. Where did that cheerful vision go wrong?

For starters, liberal internationalists in both U.S. political parties embraced several flawed theories of international peace. Some believed that economic interdependence would bind states together and make conflict irrational-to-impossible, but interdependence has never been a reliable barrier to violent conflict. (If it was, civil wars would be exceedingly rare.) Moreover, globalization failed to deliver as promised: Wall Street got rich but Main Street didn't. Globalization also made many states more vulnerable to economic events elsewhere, and especially to financial panics like those in the wake of the 2008 Wall Street crash, which in turn cast doubt on the wisdom of entrenched elites and opened the door to the know-nothing populism of 2016.

American leaders also believed spreading democracy would guarantee peace, especially if new democracies were also given a U.S. security guarantee. This idealistic view ignored Realism 101: Expanding NATO poisoned the once-cordial relationship with Russia and eventually provoked a harsh Russian backlash in Georgia, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Meanwhile, trying to spread democracy in the greater Middle East destroyed existing political institutions throughout the region and created ungoverned spaces in which violent extremists like Al Qaeda or the Islamic State could flourish. The liberal prescription for peace thus had exactly the opposite effect.

Third, a number of scholars and pundits believed the outsized power of the United States in the post-Cold War world would be able to dampen or deter conflict for decades to come - that unipolarity centered in Washington would prove uniquely stable. They were mistaken. Fear of U.S. power may have discouraged trouble in a few places for a while, but Washington could not impose order everywhere and its dominant position encouraged both adversaries and allies to look for ways to tame American power and keep Washington's ambitions in check. As other states grew more capable, America's ability to police the entire world declined even more.

And let's be honest: Preserving peace was never at the top of Washington's foreign-policy priorities. On the contrary, both Democrats and Republicans were more interested in eliminating rogue states, spreading democracy, disarming would-be proliferators, and forcing other states to amend their internal politics in order to join U.S.-led institutions. The United States was not a "status quo power," not even under the supposedly restrained presidency of Barack Obama. Instead, the bipartisan desire to reshape global politics led the United States to bomb Serbia, invade Iraq, nation-build in Afghanistan, and topple Muammar al-Qaddafi, along with its broader efforts to promote democracy and globalization through more benign means. This idealistic and bipartisan commitment to liberal hegemony also explains why Barack Obama helped nudge Hosni Mubarak from power in 2011 and was quick to declare "Assad must go" when the Syrian uprising began. I like liberal ideals as much as anyone, but making them the primary basis for U.S. foreign policy was not a recipe for stable peace.

And as Matt Bai points out, these various foreign and domestic policy blunders helped bring us to where we are today. If you want to know why so many Americans were willing to support a candidate as visibly flawed as the president-elect, all you have to do is look at how badly others performed yet how little price they paid for their mistakes. If a few more losing generals had been relieved, if a few Wall Street bankers had gone to jail for their fraudulent misdeeds, if the neoconservatives who led us into the Iraqi disaster hadn't been given cushy sinecures and prominent media posts afterwards, if more of the bought-and-paid-for politicians in both parties had been voted out for their irresponsible behavior, and if the Democrats had not gone back to the Clinton machine one too many times, then the man who will be the next U.S. president would have had far less appeal and prospects for peace at home and abroad would be brighter.

As we look ahead, peace at home and abroad must be a paramount goal. Not just an idle dream, or lofty rhetoric to aspire to, but a top priority. When confirmation hearings begin next year, I hope senators from both parties will ask nominees for top foreign-policy posts to explain what they intend to do to promote peace in the world. And I want them to ask nominees for domestic policy jobs to explain what they intend to do foster greater unity and civility here at home. If they don't have good answers, they shouldn't be confirmed.

Peace should be a central goal because it makes most other good things possible. As realists have understood since Thomas Hobbes, a precondition for human progress is sufficient security and order to allow us to imagine, to create, to build, to grow, and to appreciate the other joys that life offers. But as liberal democrats have known since John Locke, genuine peace requires constraints on executive power, and a shared commitment to accountability and civility. And as the Founding Fathers recognized, Americans' lives, liberty, and pursuits of happiness require that they live neither in fear of foreign enemies nor in fear of each other.

If we are to reverse our present course, in short, each of us must stand ready to support those from any faction who are committed to reasoned debate, to judicious compromise, and to civility in public life. And we must be equally quick to condemn those who prefer to sow division, who demonize opponents without cause and who believe there are no rules but only winners and losers.

"Peace on Earth, good will toward men (and women)." Words to live by, now more than ever.

Stephen M. Walt is professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. he wrote this for Foreign Policy magazine.
Expert Alexander Mozgovoi explained the cause of the concerns of US military analysts.



"While submarines used to be employed against ships, the emphasis has been shifted to land attack recently," he said. "Yasen-class submarines pack 32 Kalibr cruise missiles each. They can attack infrastructure, e.g. oil tanks, port terminals, etc. Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates will be fitted with Kalibr missiles in the future too. In addition, they will be given the ASW capability."



The Russian expert added that the advanced missiles afforded the Russian Navy utterly new capabilities.



"The strategic offensive capability of the Russian Federation is growing, because the advent of the Kalibr missile is turning even diesel-electric submarines into formidable strike systems," Mozgovoi noted. While the Kalibr can be intercepted with enough luck in theory because it is subsonic, the Tsirkon is a hypersonic missile capable of operating in both the antiship and land-attack roles. Intercepting it is next to impossible, according to the Izvestia daily.



The fourth-generation Project 885 and 885M nuclear-powered attack submarines are designed to eliminate surface combatants, submarines and land targets. Their total displacement stands at 13,800 tons. They can dive to 600 m and travel at 30 knots under water. They have a composite design, with the light hull covering only part of the pressure hull at the bow to reduce the acoustic signature. The vertical launch systems (VLS) were set aft of the conning tower, rather than in the bow, for the first time in the history of the Russian shipbuilding. The submarines of the class carry Oniks (SS-N-26 Strobile) and Kalibr missiles and a formidable torpedo-missile system.



The Project 22350 frigate is designed for ASuW and ASW operations on the ocean and for air defense of itself and its formation. Her hull is flush-deck and has a three-island superstructure, a mast tower and steel tube. The ship was designed using radar stealth technologies, which makes her almost invisible to radars of the potential adversary. The frigate displaces around 4,550 tons and measures 135 m long. Her combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion plant is 65,000 hp. The ship is armed with a single advanced 130-mm AK-192 gun and antiship, antisubmarine and air defense missile systems, including the Kalibr and Redut-Poliment. The frigate carries a Kamov Ka-27 (Helix) helicopter or its derivatives.



 Copyright 2016 TASS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute has been opening up new high-tech fronts in the battle against childrens diseases.

John "Bud" and Rebecca Colligan, longtime supporters of the Genomics Institute, have established the Colligan Presidential Chair in Pediatric Genomics with matching funds from the University of California Office of the President.

The endowed chair will support a distinguished member of the UC Santa Cruz faculty whose research involves pediatric genomics.

Efforts at the UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute to drive targeted treatment of diseases by unlocking the world's genomic information include a focus on pediatric cancer driven by the Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative.

David Haussler, scientific director of the Genomics Institute, said that the Colligans have been terrific supporters of the Genomic Institute. He noted that the endowed chair will help the Institute build on its expertise in pediatric cancer while extending its efforts to fight other childhood diseases.

The Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative was established to analyze genomic data of children with cancer in the context of large datasets of both pediatric and adult cancers. This allows researchers to identify situations where an available drug is predicted to work for a given patient's tumor. Treehouse promotes the sharing of pediatric cancer genomic data as well as the translation of the findings from this analysis to the clinical setting. Cofounded by Olena Morozova, a research scientist at the Genomics Institute, the initiative has grown rapidly and recently received a major grant from St. Baldrick's Foundation.

"Our pediatric cancer genomics program has been one of the fastest growing and most exciting programs in the Genomics Institute," Haussler said. "The focus on children's diseases is one that resonates with people here, and we've found that it's an area where our emphasis on data sharing can really make a difference."

Increasing support for endowed chairs is a goal of the Campaign for UC Santa Cruz, which has raised more than $286 million for the campus.

"Rebecca and I wanted to support the growth and world-class research of the Genomics Institute, and we felt particularly strongly about helping children who are suffering from rare diseases," said Bud Colligan. "The Genomics Institute has been coming up with approaches to treating pediatric cancer that have never been tried before."

"It's especially exciting that this pediatric research is happening right in our own backyard at UC Santa Cruz, and we wanted to support that effort," added Rebecca Colligan.

The Colligan family has had a decades-long impact along the Central Coast. Bud Colligan is the Co-Chair of the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership and the founder and CEO of South Swell Ventures. Rebecca Colligan is an artist who had a successful career in photography and now works in mixed media and oil painting.

The Campaign for UC Santa Cruz supports excellence across the university through increased private investment in the people and ideas shaping the future. It is bringing critical new resources to each academic division, and to signature initiatives in the Student Experience, Genomics and Health, Coastal Sustainability, the Institute of the Arts and Sciences, and Data Science Leadership.
Online e-commerce shopping portal with various brands and designers on board 'Once Upon a Trunk' is gearing up for the wedding season as it has come up with a whole new innovation of wedding oriented trunks. Founded in February 2015 by the sister duo Saanchi and Shivaani Jain, Once Upon a Trunk is intended to solve a simple problem of inconvenient shopping. It has collaborated with over 100 top notch premium designers at affordable prices, and presents an amalgamation of top brands, expert service, unparalleled convenience, delivering a highly personalized experience that helps you look your best. Believing in revolutionizing fashion with ease, their USP lies with offline shopping as personalized styling services at your doorstep. Their online version of magazine blog, 'TheHeyDay' is one hotspot where one can find featured diverse shoots, collaborations, fashion and lifestyle stories and so much more to help with all your queries and keep you entertained at the same time. Once Upon a Trunk has incorporated a stylized OUAT trunk bag with wedding apparels, bangles, thankyou gifts and accessories that is sure to surprise your loved ones. The experience with 'Once Upon a Trunk' is straightforward and convenient. Their stylist are just a click away. All that needs to be done is to sign up online, set up a phone conversation with one of their stylists, and a 30 to 40 pound box will arrive on your front door, packed with ensembles for the occasion. The client tries the items on, tells the stylist what she likes, and send the rest back. They aim to achieve comfort for their customers with home shopping facility. Once upon a Trunk is the only portal which is providing the facility to try before one buys things. Online shopping lets you recoup much better and it also facilitates a faster shopping process. You can get several brands and products from different sellers at one place. The online stores offer a far greater selection of colors and sizes than you will find locally. There are many advantages of online shopping; this is the reason why online stores are a booming business today. (ANI)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has said it is incumbent upon Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to substantiate his corruption claims against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "It's a political strategy adopted by Congress. In fact, the Congress is supported by several opposition parties, including the JD (U), SP, Left and CPM and TMC. In the last session the opposition was completely united and in that context Rahul has some names, evidences about the involvement of Prime Minister personally. He will have to substantiate it now," NCP leader Majeed Memon told ANI. He was speaking ahead of a united opposition meeting to devise a strategy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on demonitisation. Memon also said that this meeting assumes significance as the Prime Minister's 50 days deadline to ease the cash crunch is coming to an end. "This meeting by the opposition is now to draw a strategy because 50 days are closing now. Now that 50 days are coming to close, the Prime Minister is changing his goal posts. Now, he is saying that the trouble of the poor people is gradually starting to diminish. That would mean that it will continue indefinitely for some longer time, so, his comment has been blighted," he added. The meeting, called by Congress, will be followed by a joint press conference by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to join. However, its attempt to unite opposition parties against demonetisation has suffered a severe jolt with the Left, Janata Dal United JD (U) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressing their inability to attend. Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has arrived in New Delhi to take part in the meeting. The DMK, RJD and others are scheduled to participate. (ANI)
"Rahul Gandhi has put something forward. He says that proof is lying with the Income Tax authorities. If the Prime Minister has a different view, he has to refute it. He has not so far addressed the issue. He has only addressed irrelevant side issues. So we ask him to respond to Rahul Gandhi," Congress leader told ANI.

The Congress has called for a united opposition meet today to device a strategy against demonetisation and personal corruption charges on Prime Minister Modi.

The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference by Gandhi, along with other opposition leaders.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to join the meeting.

Rahul has accused Prime Minister Modi of receiving crores in kickbacks during the latter's tenure as Gujarat chief minister.

Speaking in Gujarat's Mehsana last week, Gandhi alleged that in the records with the Income Tax, there were notings of Sahara officials' claims that they paid Prime Minister Modi nine times between October 2013 and February 2014 and that the total amount was Rs. 40 crore. (ANI)
Despite coming at the fag end of the year 2016, the decision of demonetisation ruled the entire debate in the field of economy, as it impacted each and every person in the country. Though Government took a lot of steps in the field of economy, it was demonetisation which ultimately made a dent on every aspect of life as for some days there were almost no money left with the people to make their daily purchases and other needs. In a surprise move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation on November 8, 2016 making the high value currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 as illegal tender from the midnight of the same date. He announced that the currency can only be deposited in the bank accounts till December 30, 2016. Withdrawal limit was then fixed through ATMs or through Banks. A small amount of Rs 4,500 was made exchangeable in new currency through banks for only one time. More UNI ADP CJ SV RJ 1000 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0429-1081820.Xml
The South Korean won slipped early on Tuesday as the greenback stood tall against abasket of currencies while investor sentiment in Korea cooledahead of the new year. The won was quoted at 1,205.9 as of 0229 GMT,down 0.4 percent compared to Monday's close of 1,201.4. "The won's movement for this week will be decided by thedollar," said Jeong My-young, a foreign exchange analyst atSamsung Futures. She added that even the exporters' month-end dollar sellingfor this month won't be enough to turn the sentiment around andsupport the local currency. South Korean shares were slightly up by 0.2 percent, and theKorea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) stood at2,041.32 point4s. Offshore investors were expected to be net buyers,purchasing 31.8 billion Korean won ($26.39 million) worth ofKOSPI shares near mid-session. Shares of Cheil Worldwide Inc rose nearly 5percent as the market expected the company's fourth-quarterearnings data to be surprisingly high. LG Display Co Ltd lost 1.4 percent. Advancers outnumbered decliners 412 to 335. March futures on three-year treasury bonds shed 0.03point to 109.44. REUTERS RSD 0807 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-1082334.Xml
There was no relief for hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DeM) chief Asiya Andrabi, who are under house arrest, while Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah remained under detention in a police station. However, there was no restriction on moderate HC chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin Malik. Meanwhile, more than 5,000 separatists and stone pelters, some of them detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA), are languishing in different jails in and outside the Kashmir valley since July 9, a day after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag, evoking valleywide unrest, during which over 90 people, mostly youth, were killed in security force and police actions. Large number of security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani, who has been put under house arrest since his return from New Delhi in May, a Spokesperson of the HC said. However, he said, Mr Geelani was taken into custody a number of times when he tried to move out of his house, but released in the evening same day. The amalgam chairman was not allowed to offer any Eid or Friday prayers in a Mosque, he alleged. Mr Shah remained lodged in a room in police station Raj Bagh since July 9, a Spokesperson of the DFP said. There is no heating or any other arrangement in the room, he alleged and said Mr Shah was not shifted to any jail for the past six months. The DeM chief, who was released recently after the High Court quashed her detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA), has been put under house arrest, a Spokesman of the DeM said. She said that DeM chief was not being allowed to move out of her house by the security forces deployed outside. Meanwhile, over 5,000 people, mostly youth and leaders of different separatist organisations and Jamait-i-Islami, have been arrested during about five months long unrest in the valley. Several hundred of them have been booked under the PSA. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had recently directed the administration to review the cases of youth, who are were not involved in any ''serious offence'' during the recent unrest in the Valley, or were too young.UNI BAS SV RJ 1120 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1082416.Xml
Three people were killed and at least 10 others sustained injuries, when four vehicles including two trailors, a car and a truck collided with each other near Khalapur on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, this morning. Police said at around 0830 hrs, four vehicles collided with each other, killing three people on the spot and injuring 8-10 others. The trailor was carrying iron rods. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital and clearing off the Expressway was going on, sources added. UNI ST RJ 1154 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1082473.Xml
A 24-year-old youth was beaten to death in a quarrel at Ouppalam near here last night. According to police, Mathias alias Anthony along with his friends were consuming liquor at the Oupplam helipad and they had a quarrel with a gang consuming liquor there. In the quarrel, the gang beat Mathias on his head with a beer bottle causing serious injuries. He was rushed to the government general hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Odeansaalai police registered a case and started investigation.UNI PAB CS 1230 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1082530.Xml
Terming the IT raids at his office chamber in the presence of gun-totting CRPF personnel as a 'constitutional assault', former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Dr P Rama Mohana Rao, in an act of defiance, today said the search warrant did not contain his name and that the officials had seized just Rs 1.12 lakh during the searches on December 21. Talking to reporters at his Annanagar residence, Dr Rao, whowas discharged last night from hospital where he was admitted on Saturday for chest pain, said he was 'targetted' and that hewas in fear and his life was in danger. He also accused the Central government of not respecting the State government and its authorities. Releasing the copies of panchanama issued to him by the IT department after the raids, he said the officials seized onlyRs 1,12,320 cash 45 sovereigns of gold jewellery of his wife and daughter and 25 kg of silver, mostly idols of Goddess Amman and Lord Balaji and Ganesha from his house. Breaking his silence, he also said the officials did not seize any incriminating documents from his office at the Secretariat. Pointing out that the search warrant was in his son's name, Dr Rao wondered how could IT officials raid his office with CRPF personnel. "What business they got to enter my room without the permission of the State government. If this is the condition for a Chief Secretary, what will happen to other government officials", he asked. Claiming that he was kept under 'house arrest' for 26 hours by the CRPF personnel, he said the IT department officials knocked at his door at 0530 hrs on December 21 and showed a search warrant that contained only the name of his son Vivek Papisatty and not his (Rao) name.MORE UNI GV CS 1243 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1082554.Xml
''We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity,'' the External Affairs Minister tweeted.

The priest in a video uploaded on the YouTube and Facebook yesterday appealed to the Government and Pope Francis to get him freed from captivity.

''I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us,'' Ms Swaraj said.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, said he was sad that nothing was being done seriously to secure his release.

''If I were a European, I would have been taken very seriously, but since I am from India, I am not considered of much value,'' Fr Tom said.

He was abducted by the Islamic State terror group in an attack on an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemen city of Aden.UNI NAZ SV RJ 1228

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National Fish Workers Forum (NFF) today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the release of all Indian fishermen arrested by Pakistan and languishing in prisons, besides their boats. In a memorandum to Mr Modi, NFF Chairperson M Illango, while thanking him and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for the release of 220 fishermen from Pakistan prison on December 25, pointed out that as per records, there were 296 fishermen in Pakistan prisons besides the unconfirmed imprisonment of 55 more Indian fishermen. This make the strength of Indian fishermen in Pakistan prisons to 351. Similarly, 130 Pakistan fishermen were languishing in Indian prisons. Two Karachi fishermen Zaman and Usman were in prison for more than 17 years, he pointed out. Mr Illango said due to the actions of Navy, fishermen of Gujarat, and Damen and Diu could not venture into the sea freely which adversely affected their livelihood. He also pointed out that seven Indian fishermen had lost their lives in Pakistan prisons in the last four years,of which two in 2016. Hence, the Pakistan government should release the innocent fishermen on humanitarian grounds, the NFF Chairperson said.UNI PAB CS 1313 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1082587.Xml
Malaysia's Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) came under mounting criticism on Tuesday for its plans to purchase a stake in Indonesian palm oil firm PT Eagle High Plantations Tbk in what critics have called an overpriced deal.State-owned Felda, which operates some of the world's biggest palm oil plantations, said on Friday it plans to buy a 37 percent stake in Eagle High for $505.4 million.Based on Reuters calculations, that puts the deal's value at about 582 rupiah (4 cents) a share, a 95 percent premium to Eagle High's Friday closing price.Criticism from opposition parties and Felda settlers, or small landowners, was swift.One settlers' association, the National Felda Settlers' Children Society (ANAK), asked the government to intervene and stop Felda's purchase of the Eagle High stake."I'm confident it's not just among ANAK members. A majority or a large number of the Felda community are upset (with the deal)," said ANAK president Mazlan Aliman.He expressed concern that Felda may have to borrow to finance the stake acquisition, which could affect the settlers, who typically receive some grants from Felda.Felda settlers are ethnic Malays who receive aid in the form of land from the government. They form a bulk of the vote base in about 50 of 222 parliamentary seats.Najib, mired in a corruption scandal involving state fund 1MDB, is eyeing elections in the second half of 2017, nearly a year ahead of the 2018 deadline, a government source has told Reuters.Mazlan said he was worried the deal was made "expensive" for a "personal agenda" and that the association would organise protest rallies if the deal was not called off.Rajawali Group, which owns a controlling stake in Eagle High, is one of Indonesia's biggest conglomerates, with companies involved in media, telecommunications, mining and plantations. It is headed by tycoon Peter Sondakh, who has long-standing ties with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.Felda's main listed unit, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), first tried to buy a stake in Eagle High in June 2015 for $680 million, but scrapped that plan in November after politicians and investors blasted the deal as too expensive.One reason Felda Group is trying to do the deal through one of its unlisted entities is so it can bypass shareholder approval, sources familiar with the matter said."If (Najib) pushes this, he picks a fight not with political parties but with UMNO's largest vote bank," opposition lawmaker Rafizi Ramli told a news conference on Tuesday, referring to the ruling United Malays National Organisation.Rafizi said he was confident the deal would be stopped again and that he would work with Indonesian legislators on this.VALUATION QUESTIONEDNazir Razak, the brother of the Malaysian prime minister and chairman of the country's second biggest bank, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, also questioned the deal."Eagle High's average price in November was 212 rupiah per share, so a 173 percent premium for a noncontrol stake," Nazir said in an Instagram post on Friday. "I hope the board will fully justify the acquisition & valuation even though the deal is no longer made by listed FGV (Felda Global Ventures)."Felda, in a statement addressing the criticism, said the share price was not the accepted valuation method when it comes to a plantation company and that it should instead be determined by enterprise value per hectare.Palm oil industry analysts say while this is a justifiable metric for a complete takeover or a controlling stake, it is not justified for minority stakes."Felda will not be in the drivers seat, so this is only an investment for them. From an investment perspective, share price is very much relevant," said an industry analyst, who did not want to be identified.In the statement, Felda also said the deal will not impact its existing commitments and programs to improve the well-being of the settlers.Reuters CJ PR1415 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1082702.Xml
Addressing a parivartan rally in Dehradun, Prime Minister Modi said, "My Army jawans were demanding OROP for the last 40 years, the party that ruled the country then never thought of their demands."

"In reality, the budget for OROP is over Rs. 10,000 crore. Why did they (Congress) betray the Jawans by allocating 500 crore for this," he added.

He said the Centre was always clear that from day one that the Jawans must get their due and therefore, his government always stated that OROP will be a reality.

"6,600 crore have already been disbursed under OROP. We were clear that from day one that our jawans must get their dues," he added. (ANI)
Leading automotive player Tata Motors today announced the appointment of Bollywood film star Akshay Kumar, as its brand ambassador for its Commercial Vehicle Business Unit. Indian Cinema's 'original Khiladi'will make his blockbuster entry in this new role at the launch of Tata Motors' latest offering in Commercial Vehicles, slated in January 2017, the company said in a statement. Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said, "We are delighted to announce versatile and reliable Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as the new face of Tata Motors' Commercial Vehicles Business Unit. Akshay embodies dynamism, popularity, machismo, performance and style. More importantly, he blends well with the core values of trust, reliability, responsibility and good leadership of Tata Motors' Commercial Vehicles Business." Tata Motors' association with Akshay Kumar for Commercial vehicles will be supported by a high-decibel, multi-media campaign, beginning in the first week of January 2017. Speaking on the association, Akshay Kumar said, "The Tata brand is one that most of us have grown up with and now to be associated with them is indeed an honour. No one understands Indian trucking better than Tatas and there couldn't have been a better and more apt brand to promote."UNI ASH SNU 1545 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0388-1082830.Xml
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) senior leader Ajit Pawar today said he is not afraid of anyone, as his party workers are with him. Addressing a party workers' rally at Pimpri-Chinchwad last evening, ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation election, which is likely to be held in February, next year, Mr Pawar said ''People are migrating to other political parties. It does makes any difference. The party runs on the support of workers, till the party workers are with me, I don't care about anyone.'' NCP is the party, which gave respect and prosperity to its workers, made them Corporators, MLAs, MPs. Some of them are opportunists, they often changed the party for their own benefits, he alleged. Criticising other political parties without taking names in pertaining to the inauguration of Pune Metro project, he said parties are in the race of taking credit. But, citizens of Pune are ''aware about who have done what?'' he added. At the occasion, party City President Sanjog Waghere, Vice Mayor Ratnakar Waghmare, Azam Panasare, Women Wing City President Sujata Palande and others were present. UNI SP ST RJ SNU 1523 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-1082745.Xml
In an urgent message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Mr Raghavan, representing Kozhikode in Lok Sabha, said expertise of Gen Singh in diplomacy and defence should be utilized for the purpose, according to a statement here.

A native of Kottayam in Kerala, Father Tom Uzhunnelil, abducted from Yemen this year, had appealed to the Pope and the Indian Government through a purported video to secure his release.UNI PCH CS 1657

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Former Uttar Pradesh Minister Nand Gopal Gupta alias Nandi, who has now inclined towards the BJP, would be holding a traders' conclave "Aagaz- 2017" in the Sangam city of Allahabad on January 8 to discuss the issues related with the traders' community, including demonetisation and GST. The chief guest of the conclave would be Rajya Sabha member and Zee channel owner Subhash Chandra. The conclave would be held at the KP College ground in Allahabad. Nandi told reporters here today that the conclave would be a historic one where all the traders of the Allahabad Division have been invited along with their family members. Though the former minister in the previous BSP Government, who had contested the last Lok Sabha polls from Allahabad on Congress ticket, showed his soft corner for the BJP with indirectly supporting the demonetisation and the GST, said all the matters related to the traders would be discussed in the conclave. Nandi had won from Allahabad North seat in the 2007 assembly polls but lost in 2012. Later he shifted to Congress and unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha seat. His wife Abhilasha Gupta is the Mayor of Allahabad. The leader, who owns several business interests and has assets worth over Rs 95-crore, is hobnobbing for the BJP ticket in the forthcoming UP Assembly elections from Allahabad North seat.UNI MB AE SNU 1612 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1082779.Xml
Attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over alleged 'irregularities' in Aam Aadmi Party fundings, state BJP Chief Manoj Tiwari today held Mr Kejriwal responsible for the discrepancies and demanded his resignation. Addressing reporters here, the newly appointed BJP State President said, "Mr Kejriwal is responsible for the irregularities in the AAP's accounts. He has deceived the people and has no right to remain in the office. He should resign." Mr Tiwari said, "the AAP convener cannot evade responsibility for these manipulative errors in the accounts submitted to the authorities, right from its formation year. It stands clear that the source of funding is suspect and legally and morally Mr Kejriwal stands responsible." Tiwari also claimed that the party has not amended the list suo moto, they have done it under pressure of the IT authorities. "The Chief Minister is himself a former IRS officer and such violation coming from his party makes us presume that this economic offence is also a part of his habit to violate the constitutional and administrative provisions," the BJP State Chief said taking a dig at Mr Kejriwal. Mr Tiwari said, "it is now clear that AAP has always kept three sets of accounts. One for the public domain, second for the Election Commission and Income Tax Department, and third which is actual fund collection is kept with Mr Kejriwal."UNI DS SNU 1750 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-1083086.Xml
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will inaugurate the Fibernet scheme at Mori village in East Godavari district on December 29. Under the scheme, Internet, Cable and Telephone connections will be provided for Rs.149. Energy and CRDA Principal Secretary Ajay Jain said that Chief Minister is launching the scheme at Mori village as it had earned reputation for achieving in implementing Swacch Bharat scheme. The three services are being provided in the village now on a trial run. Mr.Jain said that 15 MBPS Internet, Cable TV and Telephone connection would be given to all households in the state for just Rs.149. He informed that 250 TV Channels would be provided, 50 paisa per minute would be charged for mobile phone subscribers. The set top box costs Rs.4,000 and subscribers could buy it on installment basis also, he said. The government wanted to implement the scheme as part of bringing revolution in Information and Technology in the state. In order to provide the three connections, the government set up Andhra Pradesh State Fibernet limited (APSFL). The implementation of the scheme would also encourage cash transactions, he said. As part of implementing AP Fibernet scheme, the government had entered agreements with Telecom giants Airtel and Vodaphone. The APSFL would emerge as the biggest networking agency, Mr Jain said.UNI DP CS 1726 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0275-1083048.Xml
Union Minister for Health and Family welfaretoday turned the table on the Siddaramaiah Ministry and said thatthe Karnataka Government, both through video Conference and writtensubmission, had sought English question paper for the NEET Examination. Responding to questions from newsmen about Centre not offeringKannada question paper for NEET, he said the government before theexam had a dialogue with all state governments through videoconference and also discussions was held about providing questions inregional languages. However, the Karnataka Government after goingthrough the procedure had opted for English. ''It's request for Kannada is an after thought after gauging thepublic sentiment and outcry'' he said. He, however said that thegovernment was willing to consider the request of the stategovernment, but the entire process need to be worked out, he added.UNI CNR MSP CS 1754 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-1083110.Xml
The Lab was funded by Karnataka Science and Technology PromotionSociety (KSTPS) under the Special Development Programme.

The Lab was launched by Dr H Honnegowda, Managing Director, KSTPSalong with Prof K S Rangappa, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore.

Speaking on the occasion, CDSS Convener Dr H S Chandrashekar saidthat students in high schools have an inhibition towards science,particularly practicals, especially those studying in the governmentschools.

He said that the Mobile Science Lab would visit ten governmenthigh schools in the district every month covering one school a dayand added that the mobile laboratory would visit government schoolsin Chamarajanagar and Mandya districts also.

Elaborating further, Dr Chandrashekar said that the Lab, fittedin a modified mini bus, will be manned by three teachers conversantwith all branches of science. There are about 500 working sciencemodels in the vehicle covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology and othersubjects. The students will be explained the intricate points ofscience with practical demonstrations to enable the students to shedtheir inhibition towards science which they might have deemed as atough nut to crack. About 50 schools have been listed in thedistrict right now for coverage, he added. UNI BSP MSP CS 1827

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The Shiv Sena today took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, saying that the Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation". Significantly, the Sena's barb at Mr Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian Sea off Mumbai coast. The junior partner in the Maharashtra as well as central governments also voiced its unhappiness over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. "What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of 'Swarajya' (nation) as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' said here.UNI AAA SS AE SNU 1950 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-1082947.Xml
Led by its President and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Kashmir group of publications, Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo, the delegation apprised the Chief Minister of the issues confronting the newspapers in the State.

The Chief Minister complimented Mr Kaloo and other office bearers of KEG. She hoped the Guild would play its role in strengthening the institution of journalism in the State for which she said Government would all along be supportive.

Ms Mehbooba assured the delegation that the issues raised by them would be examined and looked into.

Minister for Finance Dr Haseeb A Drabu and Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar besides Director Information, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary were present on the occasion.

The delegation which met the Chief Minister comprised editors of prominent Srinagar based publications.UNI BAS SHS VN2026

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Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah today said the idea of issuing 'domicile certificates' to West Pakistan Refugees was unacceptable and that National Conference would not be a mute spectator to such extra-constitutional misadventures that aim at circumventing the State's special constitutional status and character. ''There was a clear effort to exploit the West Pakistan Refugee issue to further a traditional agenda of weakening the State's special status and eroding the State Subject Law,'' Dr Abdullah here told reporters at the sidelines of a function. ''These belated sympathizers of the West Pakistan Refugees have never done anything to help them in the pursuit of their day-to-day challenges and are exploiting this issue now only to serve their own political interests,'' he added and said that while we have always empathized with the refugees and will continue to do so, there is no denying the fact that they are not and cannot become the State Subjects of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Any efforts by the State Government to the contrary will be unconstitutional and illegal. ''The Government's excuse that certain certificates and documents are being issued to West Pakistan Refugees as proofs of identification are absurd justifications. West Pakistan Refugees have already been given Adhaar cards and before that other proofs of identity that enable them to apply for Central Government and other jobs,'' he added and said that why the present Government suddenly found the need to issue another form of an identity proof is incomprehensible. The National Conference President also expressed concern over repeated statements by senior BJP functionaries on this sensitive issue calling this move a "first step" towards granting full citizenship rights to West Pakistan Refugees. ''These statements by senior BJP functionaries have exposed the intentions of the State Government. Contrary to explanations being provided by the PDP on this move, BJP leaders continue to maintain that this move is a first step in the direction of granting West Pakistan Refugees full State Subject rights,'' he asserted. ''National Conference will do everything necessary to ensure such machinations to erode the State's special status are defeated'', Dr Abdullah said.UNI VBH SHS AN2157 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083575.Xml
This is 34th time court has quashed the detention of Masarat, brain-behind 2010 mass protests, under PSA but each time he was re-arrested by the police.

A single bench of the HC comprising Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar has reserved the judgement on Masarat's petition last week after hearing arguments from both sides. Justice Attar in his order today quashed the detention under PSA of Musarat and ordered his release.

Musarat is heading Muslim League, a constituent of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) who was arrested in 2010 from Tailbal area of Shalimar after he was issuing protest calendars for strike.

However, in 2014 Musarat was released on the directions of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed immediately after he formed a coalition government with Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

The release of Masarat however, evoked sharp reaction from BJP and other national and Jammu based parties forcing his re-arrest only about a month.

He was later immediately shifted to Jammu where he is under detention since his arrest. UNI BAS SHS VN2147

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At least 15 passengers were injured when a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight with 154 passengers and seven crew members onboard skidded off the runway at Dabolim airport, Vasco, around 25 km from here today. Indian Navy statement said, ''At about 0504 hrs on December 27, Jet 2347 (Goa-Mumbai) flight veered right from the runway 26 while rolling for take-off. ATC duty personnel on runway reported Aircraft leaving runway and subsequently received distress call from Aircraft. Aircraft came to halt about 250-300m away from runway." "The emergency crew of the Indian Navy were immediately dispatched in rescue vehicles to crash site. All personnel onboard were evacuated and medical aid on the site was provided by MI Room, Hansa. Total of 15 personnel were injured and medical aid is being provided by local hospitals,'' the statement added. ''Flying operations were suspended till 0900 hrs and aircraft in air were diverted by ATC personnel. Runway was made ready by 0900 hrs post thorough inspection and clearance of minor debris. Investigation has been commenced by Jet technical team and Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) members. All assistance has been provided by the Navy. Shifting of Aircraft will commence postclearance by AAIB. In addition, some salvage material has arrived Goa and rest will be arriving by road,'' it said. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on his Twitter handle said, ''AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) probe ordered into the unfortunate incident involving Jet Airways plane at Goa this morning. A few passengers have received some injuries and are being attended to. I pray for their early recovery. Thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action shall be ensured. Action will also be taken in case there is violation of procedures.'' Earlier, Jet Airways in its updated statement on its Twitter handle said, ''We have resumed normal operations to/from Goa and normalcy has been restored to the operations at Goa airport. Our flights 9W 475/476 are operating as scheduled. Our subsequent flight 9W 472 to Goa is being operated on a wide-body Beoing 777-333ER aircraft at tthe scheduled time, to ferry our guests to Goa. 7 of the 12 injured guests have already been discharged after administration of first aid. The remaining 5 injured guests are currently receiving medical attention and shall be discharged once they have been medically cleared.'' Earlier, it had said ,''Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 from Goa-Mumbai skidded off runway at Dabolim airport (Goa). All passengers safe. Airport closed till 12.30 PM 154 guests and 7 crew, veered off the runway while aligning for takeoff. All guests and crew have been safely evacuated. Few guests have sustained injuries during the evacuation process. Medical assistance is being coordinated to those injured by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities.'' A senior police official attached to Vasco Police Station told UNI that out of the 15 injured, 11 passengers had been discharged, three were admitted to SMRC Hospital in Vasco and one in Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim, near here. UNI AKM SHS AN2317 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083633.Xml
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in a statement issued after the cabinet meeting here that the Departments of Nomadic Species, Nomadic Tribes and Other Backward Classes has been renamed as the 'Special Backward Category Department'.

The new department would be created for the transition period of three months from April one, next year, the release said and pointed out that the Specific Backward Department or Board would be transferred to this newly created department.

The new department would have a total staff strength of 51, including officials and employees, with an independent secretary.

The new department would have an annunal expenditure of more than Rs 2 crore for recurring cost and Rs 1.5 crore for non-recurring cost, the release said.

The new department would implement total 24 schemes which include scholarship to matriculated students and other schmes that come under Education Department, the release added.UNI ST SS SHS AN2321

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According to a statement from the party, the list of candidates was announced by approval from party's Political Affairs Committee chaired by its national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Former councillor and Goa Congress general secretary Santosh Pai-Raiturkar (62) will be contesting from Madgaon; Edwin Domnic Vaz (38), an engineer by profession, will contest from Curtorim; Vasant Sahadev Naik (47), leader of traditional fishermen, will contest from Dabolim and former councillor Ashish Kanekar will contest from Valpoi.

AAP has now announced 36 candidates besides declaring its state convenor and former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes as the chief ministerial candidate.

The party has announced to contest all the 40 constituencies in the state which is due for polls early next year.UNI AKM SS SHS AN2350

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The induction of senior Congress leader and former MLA from Cumbarjua constituency, Pandurang Madkaikar, into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not gone well in the party, as Union Minister for AYUSH (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik has expressed displeasure over it. According to sources close to Mr Naik, an MP from North Goa, has claimed that he was not consulted before induction of Mr Madkaikar. According to Mr Naik, the decision was not in favour of the party and party workers in Cubharjua constituency in North Goa district also were not in favour of the decision. As per the sources, Mr Naik's son was one of the aspirants for the ticket from Cumbharjua assembly constituency. However, responding to a question while interacting with media persons at Paryatan Bhavan in the city recenlty, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had claimed that Mr Naik was consulted before the decision was taken. Last week, in a 'Vijay Sankal Mahamelava', a party meeting in Cumbharjua constituency, Mr Parrikar had made it clear that Mr Madkaikar, a three-time MLA, would be contesting next assembly elections on BJP ticket from the constituency. However, the annoncement had perturbed local supporters of Mr Naik. Mr Madkaikar was a minister in Parrikar-led government 12 years back. Later, he joined Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).From MGP he moved to Congress and became minister in the previous Congress-led government during 2007-12. Mr Parrikar, who was chief minister of the state before being elevated to cabinet minister in Delhi, had accused Mr Madkaikar of corruption in the state legislative assembly. The state is likely to go for polls early next year.UNI AKM SS SHS AN351 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-1083611.Xml
The Afghan Parliament Members (MPs) said that holding such a meeting on Afghanistan, without consulting its government is an obvious interference in internal issues, reports the Tolo News.

"Talking on Afghanistan without consulting the country raises serious questions for the Afghan people. We are worried about what the reasons behind the meeting are and want the relevant parties to explain," said MoFA spokesperson Ahmad Shekib Mustaghni on Monday.

"We are worried about holding such meetings and the security situation the next year," said Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, speaker of the house.

"Our politicians only sit on seats, but others talk about Afghanistan in Moscow. It is shameful," said Saleh Mohammad Saleh, an MP.

The expansion of insurgents' activities in Afghanistan, however, has always been a key concern for Russia and central Asian countries.

According to statistics from the National Security Council (NSC), nearly 11,000 foreign fighters are believed to be in the country.

According to a Defence Ministry source, currently around 40,000 insurgents are active in the country, while President Ashraf Ghani has said in the past that more than 30 terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan. (ANI)
They were handed over to the Levies force at Pak-Iran borders in Taftan area of Chaghi district, reports the Express Tribune.

The Levies sources on Monday said these Pakistani workers had been apprehended from different parts of Iran by the security forces because they were living there without proper travelling documents.

They would be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further interrogation after completing initial inquiry, the sources added. (ANI)
In a clear indication that the law of the land is not taken with utmost seriousness in Pakistan, the grave of Elite Force commando Mumtaz Qadri, executed in March this year for killing former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, is being turned into a shrine. An article in the Dawn says it is chilling in the sense that Qadri's shrine is becoming more than a place of burial for some and believed to be a haven for those subscribing to the ideology that led to the governor's murder. According to Qadri's confession, Taseer's statements in support of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged with blasphemy, and criticism of the existing blasphemy law had provoked him to commit the crime. The shrine, which is under construction, is frequented by visitors and is supervised by the 'Mumtaz Qadri Shaheed Foundation'. According to the foundation on the first day after Qadri's funeral, Rs. 80 million came in the form of donations with a steady stream continuing since then. "To pray at his grave is a guaranteed way to have it answered, for Qadri has earned a place at the side of the Prophet (PBUH) through his sacrifice," said one of the visitors. This belief is linked to the miracle of intercession granted to saints (awliya) in the popular imagination of the subcontinent. This is what makes going to their mausoleums (ziyarat) such a widespread phenomenon, says the article. It has hardly been a year since his execution yet the process of his canonisation is utterly complete. While the outcry against his trial and execution and the subsequent construction of this shrine might bewilder some, Qadri's saintly status is beyond question in the hearts and minds of his sympathisers, says the article. The article adds that this development is a mirror to a dark reality that people do not believe in the law of the land. (ANI)
Cambodia's exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia on Tuesday for posting a fake government pledge to dissolve the Southeast Asian country's border with Vietnam.The sentence follows months of tension between Cambodia's two main political parties, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades but his grip on power was shaken in a 2013 general election when the CNRP won 55 seats in the National Assembly, leaving the Cambodian People's Party with 68 seats in the 123-seat assembly.Members of the opposition have complained of a crackdown by the government and its allies in a bid to intimidate critics before a general election in 2018.The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Sam Rainsy and two members of his social media team, Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath, guilty of citing the false 1979 border treaty.The fake treaty, which they posted on Facebook, purported to show Vietnam and Cambodia agreeing to get rid of their mutual boundary.Presiding Judge Leang Samnath sentenced Sam Rainsy to five years in prison and Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath to three years, all in absentia."The court orders the arrests of Ung Chung Leang, Sathya Sambath and Sam Rainsy to serve these sentences," Judge Leang Samnath told the court.Cambodia has fretted for centuries about its much bigger neighbours, Vietnam to the east and Thailand to the northwest, encroaching on its territory. The issue remains emotive and many Cambodians are suspicious of both countries.Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest in a separate defamation case. He did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday but said on Twitter the case against him and the two others had been "fabricated" by a "kangaroo court".The CNRP said it had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath. REUTERS CJ NS1128 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-1082451.Xml
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterpart in Sao Tome and Principe Urbino Botelho on Monday held talks at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse and signed a joint communique to resume diplomatic relations, reports Xinhua.

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea and a former Portuguese colony established diplomatic relations with China immediately after gaining independence in 1975 but switched to Taiwan in 1997.

Last week after the African island cut its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and acknowledged the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese media termed it as a first setback to Taiwan "diplomacy" after President Tsai Ing-wen's phone call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

An article in People's Daily said that the diplomatic break was not accidental, but is obviously a punishment for Tsai's refusal to recognize the 1992 consensus and other provocations against the one-China policy.

Meanwhile, authorities in Taiwan cited Sao Tome's request for enormous aid as a reason for the diplomatic cut off. (ANI)
"Russia, Iran and Turkey will be the guarantors of an agreement to be formulated at the upcoming meeting in Astana," Bogdanov told Interfax news agency in an interview.

When asked whether these three countries would act as mediators of the Astana meeting, he said : "Yes, they will."

He added that the presence of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura at the meeting in Kazakhstan is not envisaged.

Bogdanov said the meeting is expected to involve groups that are fighting "on the grounds", including opposition and government groups.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said earlier that Astana was ready to receive all of the sides taking part in the talks on Syria and create the required conditions for their meeting.UNI XC AE SNU 1708

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The search operation on the site of the crash is ongoing, with 98 divers and 14 different deep-sea vehicles. The flight data recorder case has been delivered to Southeast Moscow Research Center in fair condition, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

It said the black box of the Defence Ministry's aircraft that fell soon after takeoff early Sunday was delivered to the Aerospace Forces Central Scientific and Research Institute in the south-eastern Moscow suburb of Lyubertsy.

"According to the institute experts' inspection results, the flight recorder container is in fair condition. Its decryption will begin after technical cleaning in distilled water," the Ministry said.

The Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154 aircraft en route to Syria from Moscow crashed soon after takeoff near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi early on Sunday. The plane was carrying 92 people including eight crew members, 64 musicians of the Alexandrov Ensemble, nine reporters, head of Spravedlivaya Pomoshch (Fair Aid) charity Elizaveta Glinka, and two federal civil servants.

UNI XC AE SNU 1715

-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0100-1082959.Xml
Romania's President Klaus Iohannis today rejected the leftist Social Democrat Party's (PSD) nominee for prime minister, asking them to find someone else.The PSD had proposed Sevil Shhaideh, a 52-year-old Muslim woman who is a close associate of PSD power broker Liviu Dragnea who was ruled out of the job due to a conviction in a 2012 referendum rigging case.The PSD won the Dec. 11 general election by a wide margin and, with its junior coalition partner and long-time ally ALDE, has an outright majority in parliament of 250 members in the 465-seat, two-house assembly and will easily be able to get parliamentary approval for its government.Dragnea and Shhaideh, who comes from Romania's 65,000- strong Muslim community, are close. He was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian-born former agriculture ministry consultant."I have carefully weighed the pro and con arguments and I have decided not to appoint Mrs Sevil Shhaideh," Iohannis told reporters. "As a result, I am asking the PSD and ALDE to make a new proposal."Iohannis did not elaborate on his reasoning and the PSD did not immediately comment.Political commentator Mircea Marian said: "Either there were national security reasons to reject her, as she is married to a Syrian citizen which may put security at risk, or there were purely political reasons.""The PSD has lost a lot by making this proposal, which came as a surprise to their hard core electorate."Rise Project, a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of investigative journalists, said this month that Shhaideh's husband had posted messages on his Facebook account in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.The PSD, which promised higher wages and pensions during the election campaign, had hoped Dragnea would stand for prime minister but Iohannis made clear he would refuse any candidate with a criminal record.Dragnea has kept his post as party chief despite being convicted this year for abusing his influence in a referendum to impeach former president Traian Basescu, for which he received a suspended two-year jail sentence.Reuters AE PR1701 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0100-1082986.Xml
Russia wants to expand its air force deployment to Tajikistan and is in talks with Dushanbe for joint use of an air base in the former Soviet republic, the Russian ambassador to Dushanbe said today. Russia already has an infantry base near Dushanbe with up to 7,000 troops stationed there and last year deployed four attack and transport helicopters to a nearby Ayni air base. Ambassador Igor Lyakin-Frolov told reporters the Russian and Tajik governments were in talks over an agreement that would allow Russia joint use of the Ayni base and to expand its presence there. Tajikistan, which borders Afghanistan, is seen by Russia and the West as a possible conduit for Islamist militants. The Ferghana Valley, a fertile and densely populated strip of land that straddles Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, is considered to be the heart of Islamist militancy in Central Asia, whose main target is Russia. Moscow last year launched a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad take on various rebel groups as well as the Islamic State militant group. In November Russia's security service said it had arrested 10 people from Central Asia with links to Islamic State who planned to carry out attacks with firearms and explosives in Moscow and St Petersburg. Reuters AE BL1720 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0100-1083018.Xml
The first criminal trial related to a summer coup in Turkey started today as 29 police officers faced sentences of up to life in prison on charges of involvement in the failed attempt to overthrow the government.Some 40,000 people have been arrested since the July 15 putsch, which killed around 240 people, in a crackdown targeting the military, police, civil service and private sector. More than 100,000 have been sacked or suspended.The officers face a range of charges, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by Reuters. Some are accused of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, and others of membership of a terrorist organisation.They include three police helicopter pilots accused of disobeying an order to take special forces to defend President Tayyip Erdogan's mansion in Istanbul.Two defendants who testified during the morning session both denied the charges against them. Lawyers for the other 27 defendants could not immediately be reached to say how their clients would plead."Everyone involved in the coup attempt must have a fair trial," Orhan Cagri Bekar, a lawyer who represents an association for coup victims, told reporters. "Those who are guilty must be sentenced to the heaviest punishment because this is a betrayal of the country."Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for 21 of the policemen and sentences of between 7-1/2 to 15 years for the other eight, state-run Anadolu Agency said.Security was tight at the courthouse in Silivri, west of Istanbul. Attendees were not allowed to bring recording devices into the building and the gallery was only partly full."There are very few relatives, this is because there is a climate of intimidation," said one man, a relative of one of the accused, who declined to be identified."Had there been any democracy then these people would not have been so scared to own up to their own children."SOLDIERS AND TANKSOn the night of the coup, rogue soldiers commandeered tanks, helicopters and warplanes in Istanbul and Ankara, attacking parliament and other institutions. Their efforts failed after thousands of Turks took the streets and faced them down in response to calls from Erdogan.Some of the police officers had the ByLock app on their smartphones, according to the indictment. The government says that coup plotters used the little-known messaging app to communicate.Prosecutors also allege one officer had messages on his phone telling him and others to post messages on social media condemning the coup and to "act normal" to avoid detection.The coup's alleged ringleaders are due to go on trial in Ankara, probably next year. The government said earlier this year a new court would be built there as there were none big enough to handle such a large number of defendants.The government has blamed a US-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, for orchestrating the failed coup. Gulen, a former ally of President Erdogan, has denied the allegation and condemned the coup. REUTERS SHS AN2322 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083646.Xml
Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan said in an interview with Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT that Tehran would consider letting Russia use its Hamadan air base again if Moscow asked, the RIA news agency reported.Russia launched air strikes against Syrian militants from the Iranian air base in August before the arrangement ceased amid tensions between Moscow and Tehran over how Russia had publicised its use of the facility.REUTERS SHS AN2324 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083652.Xml
Iran would consider sending military advisors to the Syrian city of Aleppo if they were needed, Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview, according to the RIA news agency today. REUTERS SHS AN2325 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083655.Xml
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted today as saying that the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, but a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations.Lavrov did not say where the consultations were taking place or which opposition groups were taking part.Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out the principles any agreement should adhere to.Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and be distinct from separate intermittent UN-brokered negotiations, remain hazy, but Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally."During the recent meeting in Moscow with my colleagues from Iran and Turkey we approved a joint declaration in which we confirmed our readiness to guarantee a future agreement between the Syrian government and the opposition," Lavrov told the Interfax news agency in an interview."Negotiations about that are going on," he said. Interfax said he was referring to talks between the opposition and the Syrian government.The High Negotiations Committee, a body grouping armed and political opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said it had no knowledge of the consultations."We in the High Negotiations Committee certainly have no connection to this matter," George Sabra, a member of the HNC, told Reuters.The HNC includes armed groups fighting Assad under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. It took part in a failed bid to launch peace talks earlier this year. The HNC was established in Saudi Arabia with Riyadh's backing in December 2015.President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia, Iran and Turkey and Assad have agreed that Astana, the Kazakh capital, should be the venue for new talks.Russian officials say preparations for the talks are under way, but that invitations to participants have not been sent out and the exact timing has yet to be decided.The officials, who have spoken of mid-January as a possible date, say it is too early to talk about contacts with the HNC.Lavrov spoke to Mevlut Cavusoglu, his Turkish counterpart, by telephone today. The two men agreed to push for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for the Astana talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying that representatives from the Russian and Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide ceasefire might work.Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview that Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to take part in the Syrian peace process, the RIA news agency reported.It cited him as saying he thought Riyadh's insistence that Assad should step down meant it had no place at any talks.He also said that Assad should have the right to stand in the next presidential election if he wanted to, RIA said.REUTERS SHS AN2327 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1083667.Xml
"The preliminary analysis of the flight recorder has ended and leads to the conclusion that a pilot error was the cause of the accident," Xinhua news agency quoted the source as saying on Tuesday.

The Russian Air Force's three-engine Tu-154 aircraft crashed into the water minutes after taking off from the coastal city of Sochi -- located 1,600 km to the south of Moscow -- killing all 92 passengers on board.

According to Interfax news agency, another source said that preliminary data shows the wing flaps failed and as a result, the plane crashed after losing lift.

A Russian border guard who witnessed the Tu-154's demise said that the plane began to quickly descend towards the sea, instead of gaining altitude.

On board the military plane were 64 members of the Russian Army's prestigious Alexandrov Academic Ensemble of Song and Dance.

Also among the victims were eight crew members, nine journalists, eight members of the Russian armed forces, two civil servants and the head of an influential humanitarian foundation.

--IANS vgu/

( 218 Words)

2016-12-28-03:20:07 (IANS)
ANKARA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and the U.S. have agreed that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and local forces will participate in the offensive to liberate Raqqa from the control of Islamic State (IS) terrorists, Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told press on Monday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Manbij is Turkey's first priority as part of its Euphrates Shield Operation, adding that the so called IS capital, Raqqa, would be the second target.

Turkish troops along with Ankara-backed FSA rebels have been fighting for Syria's al-Bab against the IS for over one month and clashes intensified last week.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, comprised mainly of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Party Union (PYD) and its military wing, the People's Protection Unit (YPG), along with Syrian Arabs, liberated Manbij from the IS in early August.

Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield operation on Aug. 24, to free its border of terrorist organizations, which not only include the IS, but also the PYD and YPG. Turkey considers both of the PYD and YPG as terror organizations, due to their ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The U.S., on the other hand, regards the PYD and YPG as "reliable" partners in the fight against IS in Syria, even though it also designates the PKK as a terrorist organization.

"After Manbij, comes Raqqa if we can collaborate with the United States in the new era," said Erdogan, "Turkey is a global power; you should know this," he added.
BUJUMBURA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- A man, his wife and their child were Sunday night killed by people armed with machetes at Muyange in Bubanza province, 30km west of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, the police said on Monday.

"A man, his wife and their child were intercepted at Muyange around 20:00 (18:00 GMT) as they were walking to their home. The criminals had machetes that they used to kill the victims," said Burundian Police Deputy-Spokesman Moise Nkurunziza.

He added that three suspects had been arrested for further investigations.

In a related development, Moise Nkurunziza said that unidentified persons Sunday night blasted two grenades at Kamenge in the north of the Burundian capital Bujumbura.

"Those grenade explosions did not make any casualties as they exploded in the middle of the road while there was no traffic by 22:00 (20:00 GMT) when the explosions happened," said Nkurunziza.

The explosions happened at a time when people were celebrating Christmas.
TOKYO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is leaving for Pearl Harbor to 'offer condolences', but why can't he visit and offer condolences to Nanjing and other places in Asia which were also victimized by Japan before and during Word War II?" asked Eriko Ikeda, chairwoman of a museum in Tokyo dedicated to remembering the "comfort women".

It's simply because the prime minister doesn't want to do it, as he is a historical revisionist who views history not based on facts but believes what he wants to believe, she added.

Ikeda has been chairwoman of the Women's Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) since she retired in 2010 after making TV programs for Japan's public broadcaster NHK for some 37 years.

WAM, founded in 2005, based on the will of and historical materials collected by the deceased former Asahi Shimbun reporter and women's rights activist Yayori Matsui, is Japan's only museum focused on wartime sexual violence against women.

The museum, located in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, displays materials and testimony on the "comfort women" who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan in China, Korea, the Philippines and other areas in Asia during the war.

According to Ikeda, with the Japanese government denying the historical truth as well as its culpability in forcing women to serve as "comfort women," the situation is now becoming more and more difficult for those who want to remember the war with factual accuracy.

Ikeda's team investigated museums all around Japan with the theme of peace and war. Very few of the museums exhibit materials on or even mention the "comfort women" issue, and some of the few that did mention the issue were forced to remove the displayed materials due to pressure from ultra-rightwing forces who claim that admitting the facts about "comfort women" reflects a "self-torturing" historical view.

"It is so regrettable that local governments and relevant bodies have failed to preserve those historical materials," she lamented.

The government is also suppressing the memory of the issue in its own way. Middle school history textbooks compiled by seven publishers in Japan mentioned the "comfort women" issue in 1997, while none of them mentioned the issue in 2012.

The media is also under pressure. When Ikeda was working for NHK, she took part in the production of eight programs about "comfort women" in the 1990s. But no such program has been made since then.

Meanwhile, WAM constantly receives harassing calls and threatening emails. It received a letter of threat in October which demanded it to remove war-related displays. The museum reported the letter to the police, noting that it was its first-ever bomb threat, but no result came out of the investigation.

Ikeda has been worried that with a government in denial of true history and ultra-right forces imposing pressure on those who want to remember the facts of the past, the Japanese people may soon not know the truth about the "comfort women" issue and Imperial Japan's coercion and abuse of thousands of sex slaves.

"Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to shake off the burden and guilt caused by Japan's wartime history and just focus on the future, but it is impossible," she said.

"Just have a look at what the German leaders have done... I feel ashamed to have such a leader in Japan," she added.

She also said that it's time for the people to expose the Abe administration's problems one by one. "We will pass on the facts about the history of 'comfort women' to future generations, and people will know that such injustice can't go on," she said.
DUBAI, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Abu Dhabi International Airport said on Monday it received around 1.9 million passengers in November, representing a 4.4 percent increase in airport traffic compared to the same month in 2015.

The airport said in a statement that its traffic figures show consistent growth throughout the year, with the number of passengers having increased by 5.3 percent from the previous year. More than 22 million travelers have used the airport so far during 2016.

Traffic to and from Saudi Arabia saw a large surge compared to the previous year, with a significant increase of 43.5 percent, it said.

Cargo services saw a growth of 1.3 percent in November compared to the same month last year, it added.

A project worth multi-billion dollars is underway to redevelop and expand Abu Dhabi International Airport through its new Midfield Terminal, designed to increase the overall capacity of the airport to more than 45 million passengers per year.

The Midfield Terminal is scheduled to open by December 2017.

In 2015, the hub welcomed 23 million passengers, a 17.2 percent year on year increase. The UAE's first airport Dubai International hosted in the same year 78 million passengers, retaining its position as the world's busiest airport for international travelers.
BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Central Military Commission (CMC) has prioritized political loyalty in selecting military delegates to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The delegates from the military must be absolutely loyal and reliable, and they must unswervingly adhere to the Party's absolute leadership over the army, said a CMC document, which specifies requirements for potential delegates and election procedures.

The military delegates will be elected from 31 organs of the People's Liberation Army and armed police force, and they should include both military officials and ordinary Party members, the document said.

The Party members' political integrity and moral qualities are major criteria for selecting candidates, it said.

Military authorities must strengthen supervision over the election to prevent canvassing and bribery.

The 19th CPC National Congress will be held in the latter half of 2017.
BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- From 2011 to 2014, student-teacher ratios in China's rural areas fell from 16.64 to 14.41 among primary schools and from 13.58 to 10.89 junior high schools, according to a report released Monday.

In China's rural areas, a teacher shortage for compulsory education has effectively been relieved and the student-teacher ratio has dropped, the report said.

By the end of 2015, the central government had provided over one million rural teachers in poor areas with living allowances totaling 7.37 billion yuan (1.06 billion U.S. dollars), the report said.

The income of rural teachers has continuously increased and the job has become more appealing over the years, attracting more people who have attained higher levels of education.

However, problems such as the imbalanced development of compulsory education and educational quality in rural areas have not been fully resolved, according to the report.

The report on China's rural educational development, a national research project funded by the Ministry of Education, was compiled by an institute of Northeast Normal University.
CHENGDU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of renowned Dunhuang Cave art opened in southwest China's Sichuan Province Monday, with more than 200 items on display.

The free exhibition at the municipal museum in Sichuan's capital, Chengdu, will end April 10 next year.

Dunhuang Academy gave the exhibition full-size replicas of several caves from Dunhuang's Mogao and Yulin grottoes in northwest China's Gansu Province, replicas of 12 colored sculptures and replicas of 70 frescos, as well as 10 documents found in a Mogao Cave.

The Dunhuang Caves were cut over a period of 1,000 years from the 4th to the 14th century. Today, the caves hold China's largest collection of stone carvings and mural paintings.

In addition to items from Dunhuang, relics from caves of Gansu's Maiji Mountain and Gaochang ancient town in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are being exhibited to show culture on the ancient Silk Road.
MOGADISHU, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Somalia's presidential election, scheduled for Dec. 28, has been postponed again to January 2017 as a result of disputes over the lower and upper house elections, officials said Monday.

Sources close to the National Leaders Forum, which includes President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, senior officials and state leaders, said the election will be held in January 2017, however "there is no exact date for conducting the election."

Members of the lower and upper houses of the new federal parliament is expected to take oath of office on Tuesday in the capital Mogadishu, according to a statement issued on Dec. 24 by the National Leaders Forum.

This is the fourth time that the presidential election, initially set in September, has been delayed.

Somalis have expressed concern on the social media over the continued delays, which have happened despite pressure from the international community.
DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Austerity measures to control lavish government spending, efforts to revive the industrial sector and the revamping of the national flag carrier are among economic measures taken by the new Tanzanian administration under President John Magufuli.

According to analysts, these economic measures, mostly implemented in 2016, were likely to propel the East African nation, the second largest economy in the region, to impressive economic prosperity.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL)

President Magufuli came into power on November 5, 2015, after succeeding retired President Jakaya Kikwete who ruled the country for 10 consecutive years on the ticket of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Magufuli is also from CCM.

Tanzania, with more than 45 million people, has an average annual GDP growth rate of nearly 7 percent over the past decade. Despite rapid economic growth, over 46 percent of the population live below the extreme poverty threshold of 1.90 U.S. dollars a day.

Benson Bana, a senior lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam's Political Science and Public Administration Department, said the economic measures that were taken by the president in 2016 were likely to make Tanzania "a better place to live".

"The fifth-phase government was on course towards the right direction," said Bana.

He added that efforts to revive the industrial sector will not only make Tanzania an industrial country, but will also provide employment to tens of hundreds of jobless youth.

On the political front, Bana said the country's new administration was more action-oriented with the sacking or rescinding of appointment of civil servants accused of maladministration, unethical conduct and underperformance.

Another political score was the government's decision to move the country's government capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.

In July this year, Magufuli told the CCM General Congress delegates that he was determined to accomplish a plan by the country's founding leader, Julius Nyerere, to make Dodoma the Tanzanian capital.

"The aim was to bring government services closer to the people owing within the centrality of Dodoma. However, the move has been dragging on for years due to financial constraints coupled with a lack of political will," said Magufuli.

But Bana said the country also experienced some depressing political events such as the unwarranted opposition Members of Parliament behavior and the boycott of parliamentary sessions to protest the Deputy Speaker's leadership style.

BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP

Lincoln Chitanda, a consultant engineer based in Mtwara region, said the opening of Chinese-built state-of-the-art Nyerere Bridge, connecting Tanzania's economic capital Dar es Salaam and the southern side of Kigamboni district across the Kurasini creek, was another landmark event in 2016.

The 135-million-U.S.-dollar bridge opened to public on April 19. Magufuli named the bridge Nyerere in honor of the country's founding president.

The construction of the bridge, which also created 5,000 jobs, ended years of local residents' reliance on wooden boat ferry to cross the creek. The bridge also heralded a new era of development in Tanzania and even all of Africa.

Magufuli said the quality and successful completion of the bridge was one of the symbols of great relationship between Tanzania and China, which was started by the two countries' founding leaders in the early 1960s.

INSTILLING DISCIPLINE

Kitojo Wetengere, a lecturer at the Centre for Foreign Relations in Dar es Salaam, also praised Magufuli for fighting corruption and serving the poor, increasing government revenue collection, reducing unnecessary government expenditure and reviewing government budget to allocate more funds to development projects.

He said the head of state has also succeeded instilling discipline and hard work among public servants. "The era of business as usual is gone," said Wetengere.

Other analysts said although there were still issues that needed to be given attention to, Magufuli has tried to his best to restore the respect of Tanzania from various quarters.

Damian Gabagambi, a senior lecturer at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, said he believed that if Tanzania will maintain the spirit Magufuli has initiated, it was likely to change for the better in the near future.

PARTY RESTRUCTURING

As 2016 pulled down its curtain, Tanzania's ruling party CCM underwent sweeping restructuring to bring the party back to the people and to cut down operational costs.

Some of the restructuring announced by party's National Executive Committee (NEC) included minimizing the number of members in its top decision making organs at all levels and centralizing the party's operations.

Other changes include reducting the number of the Central Committee (CC) members from the current 34 to 24, and from now onwards no one will be allowed to hold two positions at a time.

The restructuring of the party which has been in power for more than 50 years was announced under Magufuli, who was crowned chairman of the party in July.

CCM also reduced the number of NEC members from the current 388 to 158, slashed NEC meetings from three times a year to two as well as minimizing the number of members of the party's regional political committees.
LISBON, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Portugal Central Administrative Court of the North has ruled a compensation of about 75,000 euros by rail network company Refer and an insurer to the parents of a child who was run over by a train in 2006.

The court said Refer and the child's grandmother were both responsible for the death of the child, Portuguese Lusa News Agency reported on Monday.

The accident took place in September 2006 in Gaia, northern Portugal, when the five-year-old child left the home with a four-year-old friend without his grandmother noticing.

The children managed to climb over a partially crumbled wall and played on the railway, where one of the kids was killed.

The compensation ruling was made following an appeal by the parents against an acquittal given by another court.
ARUSHA, Tanzania, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania will host an outdoor agricultural show "Agritech Expo Tanzania" from Jan. 26 to 27, organizers said Monday.

The annual event, to be held in the northern safari capital Arusha, will gather farmers, officials, agro associations, NGOs, researchers, traders, as well as investors and bankers.

"The technologies that will be displayed at the expo have potential to play a great role toward the commercialization of agriculture," said David Nyange, policy advisor to Tanzania's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, a supporting partner of the expo.

The success story of the outdoor agricultural show Agritech Expo started in the Zambian agri-hub Chisamba three years ago and has been a tremendous boost to that country's farming sector. The Agritech Expo Tanzania transitioned from the Agribusiness Congress conference that has taken place in Dar es Salaam over the last three years.

The expo offers a unique opportunity to meet some of the world's leading agricultural companies, network with fellow agricultural professionals as well as government and union officials. Enditem
A Chinese satellite model is displayed during the exhibition, as part of the Forum Between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and China on Science, Technology and Innovation, at the venue of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR, for its acronym in Spanish) in the town of Mitad del Mundo, 15 kilometers from Quito, capital of Ecuador, on Sept. 17, 2015. (Xinhua/Santiago Armas)

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's recent Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean is key to developing ties, since it serves as a road map to furthering cooperation, according to a leading Argentine economist and political observer.

The document "marks which path to take in diplomacy, investment and trade, basically in partnership with Latin American economies," said Gustavo Girado, head of the Buenos Aires-based consulting firm Asia & Argentina (A&A).

In November, China presented its second policy paper on the region, building on the original document issued in 2008.

"Ties have progressed immensely, to the point where China is a leading trade partner of nearly all the Spanish -- and Portuguese-speaking economies, including Brazil -- all of Latin America," said Girado.

In the past decade, trade exchange between China and Latin America grew 20-fold to reach 236.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, according to the Chinese government, which has free-trade agreements with several regional countries, such as Chile, Peru and Costa Rica.

Biregional ties made more headway in 2016, including on the cultural front, with the Year of China-Latin America Cultural Exchange.

Today, China is the region's second largest trade partner and third largest source of investment, while Latin America is China's seventh biggest trade partner and a leading destination for Chinese foreign investment.

"China is one of the main investors in the region, and China is practically the leading consumer of products that comprise the Latin American economies' basic basket of export goods," added Girado.

"Chinese investment in Latin America fills a void, with infrastructure and technology, which Latin American economies cannot themselves fill," he said.

Girado said his own country is a clear example of that.

"Argentina is a typical case, because with little external financing (from traditional lending sources), it has used a lot of Chinese financing in the past decade and a half to undertake major development and infrastructure works," said Girado.

The policy paper, Girado believes, seeks to promote ties that are "much closer and more cooperative."

"That last word is repeated on many occasions throughout the text -- 'cooperative and comprehensive' -- because it (China) has achieved a comprehensive strategic partnership with several Latin American countries, but not with all," he notes.
TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran is planning to offer at least 10 new contracts for the development of oil and gas projects to international energy companies in the near future, Press TV reported on Monday, quoting an Iranian energy official as saying.

Iran's oil projects are attractive to global investors given the low risks as well as the low costs, said Gholam-Reza Manouchehri, the deputy for development and engineering affairs of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

Since January when anti-Iran sanctions were removed, some 12 contracts have been awarded to international companies, Manouchehri said, adding that 10 other projects are ready to be awarded in near future.

Among major contracts Iran signed with the leading energy companies were the development of Phase 11 of the country's South Pars gas field awarded to a consortium led by France's Total in November.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed with the Royal Dutch Shell, earlier this month, to conduct studies on Iran's Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish oilfields.
PARIS, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Monthly unemployment rate in France fell by 0.9 percent in November, the lowest level since 2013, figures released by labor ministry showed on Monday.

French government received 3.447 million jobless claims in November, 31,800 fewer than last month. It was also a deline for three straight months.

On a yearly basis, the unemployment rate was down by 3.4 percent.

During the period of January to November, the number of people registered as out of work in mainland France also fell by 3.7 percent, according to the monthly report.

The ministry attributed the improvement to the government's "measures to support activity."

French Prime Minister Bernard Cazenevue said the results "confirm that the government's commitment for employment is bearing fruit."

He also pledged further government engagement in the battle for employment.
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's budget airline Interjet on Monday canceled at least 25 flights for an inspection of its Russian-made fleet, the country's consumer protection agency Profeco said.

Regarding the 680 people affected, the agency said it was "looking to rebook the stranded passengers onto the next available flight," or helping them get to another airport, amid the holiday crush.

If the measures do not work, Profeco agreed to return the cost of the tickets in full.

The agency said in a statement that the Interjet planes were grounded for inspection following the recommendation of Russian authorities.

The airline's fleet includes 25 Superjet 100 planes.

Interjet said in a statement that the inspection was simply a precautionary measure, and that the alert issued by Russian aviation authorities was unrelated to Sunday's Russian plane crash in the Black Sea.

The crashed Russian plane was a Tupolev Tu-154 jetliner flying to Syria. All the 84 passengers and eight crew members aboard were killed.

Interjet is Mexico's third largest airline, operating flights to major Mexican cities, as well as the United States, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia and Peru.
LIMA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three former presidents in Peru are to testify before Congress in relation to allegations of bribe taking, congresswoman Karina Beteta said Monday.

Ex-presidents Alejandro Toledo, Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala will be questioned about recent revelations that the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht paid out 29 million U.S. dollars in bribes to secure major public works contracts during their administrations.

Beteta, a member of the opposition Popular Force (FP) party, said "if they have something to say, they must say it to the (congressional) committee."

The committee was created to clear up the allegations tainting the governments of Toledo (2001-2006), Garcia (2006-2011) and Humala (2011-2016).

The scandal broke out on Thursday, following Brazilian media reports Odebrecht had admitted to paying more than 1 billion U.S. dollars in bribes across much of Latin America and parts of Africa.

Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Venezuela immediately launched or called for investigations into the matter.

The confession was made as part of a plea bargain deal with the U.S. Department of Justice, which released the documents.
YANGON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The truth about Oct. 9 armed attacks in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state is being uncovered, chairman of the Rakhine incident investigation commission U Myint Swe said.

Speaking at a coordination meeting of the commission in Nay Pyi Taw Monday, U Myint Swe, who is also First Vice President, said that the attackers took their time to conspire the deadly attacks since 2012 which was intended to harm the sovereignty of the country.

Noting that the recent attacks were different from the previous ones which took place between the two local communities only, he said the recent attacks were more complicated than any previous conflicts in the state as they are found to be linked with overseas organizations.

U Myint Swe vowed that his commission will go again to the affected areas to find out further information as needed so that the commission can compile a full report, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.

The commission visited Maungtaw township from Dec. 11 to 13, inspecting and investigating in the 10 villages where the armed attacks occurred.

The commission had also arranged for independent journalists to cover the true situation there without restriction in the affected areas in response to the call of Kofi Annan, chairman of the government-assigned Advisory Commission, early this month to allow access to information in the northern Rakhine state to refute the rumours.

The government formed a 13-member investigation commission, led by U Myint Swe, in Dec. 2 to probe into the background of Oct. 9 violent attacks by armed men on three border posts in Maungtaw.

The commission is tasked to report to the president by Jan 31, 2017.

Islamic extremists were exposed as being involved in the attacks, which were supported financially by foreign terrorist organizations, the government said.

A series of fightings followed after nine policemen and five soldiers were killed in violent attacks by armed men on Oct. 9 on three border posts in Kyikanpyin of Maungtaw, Kotankauk of Rathedaung and Ngakhuya Office in the state.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed on Maungtaw since Oct.10.
CANBERRA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government is struggling to clamp down on a gold scam which has left Australian taxpayers more than 430 million U.S dollars out of pocket, an industry insider told local media on Tuesday.

The scam - in which gold bullion is purchased tax free (as is allowed under Australian law) - involves criminals breaking up the bullion into scrap pieces or jewelry before on-selling it to a refinery.

As the gold is no longer considered to be bullion, it attracts the nation's 10 percent goods and services tax (GST), thus giving criminals a 10-percent taxpayer-funded windfall on the sale.

One source within Australia's gold industry told News Corp that it was "extraordinary" that the government has been unable to stamp out the fraud sooner.

"You buy the bullion, you smash it up, and it's worth 10 percent more," the source said.

The Australian Tax Office has said it has recovered some of the scam money, however tax commissioner Chris Jordan told a Senate estimated committee that it was hard to distinguish legitimate business from fraudulent business in the "carousel" scam.

He said the ATO had recovered just 40 million U.S dollars of the 430 million U.S dollars identified since 2013, while around 228 million U.S. dollars' worth was before the courts - with 142 million U.S. dollars of that reportedly in dispute.

"Part of the problem is you have legitimate jewelers and you have legitimate refiners carrying on a legitimate business," Jordan told the Senate committee.

"You cannot stop everybody. So we have to work out who are the criminal activity people, who are the fraudulent people."
HAVANA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- China and Latin America maintain "win-win" relations, which bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields, an article published in Cuba's official daily Granma on Monday said.

Their mutually beneficial relationship is based on Beijing's realization that "its development is closely tied to the progress of various emerging and developing countries, including those in Latin America and the Caribbean," the daily said.

Encouraged by the "advances in recent years" in its relationship with the region, as well as various bilateral agreements in different fields, China recently published its updated policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, the newspaper of the Cuban Communist Party said.

In the document, China pledges to generate better opportunities for both sides to carry out win-win cooperation, said Granma.

"Gone are the days when Latin America supplied raw materials and China sold products with little added value. The new scenario seeks to expand trade in high added-value and high-technology goods," said Granma.

"Today's panorama of economic exchange has changed so much that Chinese money is now invested in projects in infrastructure, transportation, industry, technological innovation, energy and electricity, among others, which, if well planned, could change the region's trade and productive matrix," it added.

China has invested in public works projects in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Cuba, with which it has signed about a dozen accords "to bolster ties in biotechnology, renewable energy and industrial development" and other fields, reported Granma.

The daily cited a United Nations study that shows China will soon displace the European Union to become Latin America's second-largest trade partner, after the United States.
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top Internet regulator released a cyberspace security strategy on Tuesday.

The Chinese government will push for a peaceful, secure, open, cooperative and orderly cyberspace, according to the 15-page strategy released by the Cyberspace Administration of China.

The government will firmly safeguard cyberspace sovereignty and national security, protect key information infrastructure and crack down on cyber terror and crimes, according to the strategy.

The governance mechanism will be improved and international cooperation enhanced for cyberspace security and development, according to the strategy.
MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first of two flight data recorders of an ill-fated Russian military Tu-154 aircraft was retrieved from the wreckage, two days after the plane crashed into the Black Sea, local media reported Tuesday.

"The first Tu-154 black box was found and raised to the surface at 8:48 a.m. (0548 GMT)," Russian news agency TASS reported, citing an law enforcement source.

The Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sochi early Sunday morning.

There were 92 people aboard the plane, including 84 passengers and eight crew members. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.
Donald Trump (Xinhua file photo)

by Xinhua writers Zhu Junqing, He Jing

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- From Brexit and Donald Trump's win in U.S. presidential race to Matteo Renzi's defeat in Italian referendum, the year 2016 witnessed a cluster of "black swans" events in the Western world featured by evident social cleavage and institutional defects.

Rooted deep in the Western democratic systems, such flaws as reassessment-needed election systems were fueled by social media, a revolutionary phenomenon, and triggered unexpected changes, said observers both inside China and abroad.

They believed that these are just a beginning and predicted increasing instability into 2017 against the backdrop of fragile economic recovery, potential terrorist attacks, the worst refugee crisis facing Europe since World War II, among other challenges.

It is also worried that Trump's foreign policy stances and military posture, coupled with the sweeping of populism in Europe, sow uncertainties in global political domain and may hinder the trend of globalization.

IMMANENT CAUSES

The Western society has long showed disintegration between the establishment and non-establishment, political elite and grassroots, native citizens and immigrants.

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, told USA Today earlier this month that there is immense amount of anger at the established ways of doing things, and more anger in politics. He said a whole group of people feel ignored by those in power.

Jim O'Neill, a famous economist who has created the BRIC nations acronym, said "the policy elite of the past 25 to 30 years have lost the ability to connect with normal people."

Fabrizio Francisi, Italian geopolitical analyst, said referendum as a direct democratic tool has come into problems, and its disadvantage and role need to be reassessed.

"Direct democracy is dangerous sometimes," he said, adding that the concept of so-called popular sovereignty usually distorted the notion of representative democracy.

Common sense and historical experience have demonstrated that excessive democracy will inevitably kill the democracy itself, he concluded, saying that the Western society has began to reflect on the democratic institutions and tried to seek an alternative effective governance model, however, there is no existed model can be copied.

According to a poll launched November by Ipsos/Sopra Steria in France, 57 percent of persons interrogated think democracy system runs "badly" in the country, and 77 percent think democracy works "worse and worse," 14 points higher than two years ago.

About one third of French respondents think other political systems can be as good as the democracy, two points higher than two years ago, according to the poll.

Wu Bingbing, honorary research fellow at the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University, elaborated that European countries in need of labor force preferred to absorb foreign immigrants from countries a little way off in North Africa, Middle East and East Asia, but refused and tried to strip their original culture and religion.

Such move over the past years has created some sorts of racial resentment, caused social division and sowed seeds of unrest, violence and terrorism, which has shocked the whole Europe with a series of brutal attacks, he said.

INEVITABLE RESULTS

History consists of contingencies as well as inevitabilities. The current situation facing the West is sort of historical inevitability and a result accumulated gradually with radical changes in economy, politics and society.

Zheng Yongnian, professor and director of East Asian Institute at National University of Singapore, said capitalism has entered an adjustment phase after reaching its peak in 1800s.

Trump's election, Brexit and right-wing's popular support in Europe, all reflection of populism, can be considered as a response to capitalism in due time as the socialist movement did in the beginning of the 1900s, he said.

Zhang Yansheng, head researcher of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said such "black swan events" seem surprising, but actually "normal and rational," as "many people around the world thought opening up has harmed their interests, therefore, they want to reflect on the globalization, opening up and European integration."

During the globalization process, inequality has been exacerbated while innovation has been forgotten, resulting in unbalanced distribution between financial oligarchy and ordinary people, and bubbles in finance and real estate.

In the rising of populism in the West, pundits believed that globalization, industrialization and informatization, particularly social media, a revolutionary phenomenon, have played key roles.

O'Neill said, modern media, particularly social media, is a new phenomena to people's lives and has played a role in those "black swan events."

Blair said social media changes the way politics work and the way media works. "It (social media) locks people into conversations with people who just agree with them, who then have a conspiracy theory view of the rest of the world. This is all over the Western world right now."

As Blair, O'Neill also saw problematic issues in social media, explaining that "seven billion people getting access to the internet is a brilliant thing but them getting influenced by non-factual based aspects of that media."

Zheng Yongnian attributed "Trump phenomena" to a social media phenomena featured dispersibility and individuality, saying without social media there will be no such a social movement.

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE

On one hand, the rising populist ideology in Europe, along with Trump's election in the United States, have posed potential challenges to economic globalization, trade liberation and global governance as a whole.

On the other hand, the current global governance system, whose rules, macro policies and public goods supply were established in 1950s, not in the globalization era, have lagged behind the economic and political evolvement and can not fully represent emerging markets and developing countries.

In such context, unjust and improper arrangements in the global governance system need to be reformed, and new connotations need to be introduced. China's proposal on global governance featuring mutual consultation, efforts and sharing go with the trend of peaceful development and win-win result.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, reform is about "laying down rules for the international order and international mechanisms" and "deciding in which direction the world will head."

"It is not simply a case of competing for the high ground of economic development, but what roles and functions nations will play in the long-term systemic arrangement of the international order," Xi said.

Wu Bingbing said China's Road and Belt Initiatives and other innovative measures featuring inclusiveness and win-win situation are not only based on China's self-interest, but also aims at common prosperity and sustainable development.

(Xinhua correspondents Liu Yang in Washington, Wang Xingqiao in Rome, Gui Tao in London, Bao Xuelin in Singapore and Han Bing in Paris also contributed to the story.)

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Donald Trump's election victory to hardly affect Europe's economy: survey

BERLIN, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- German finance experts believe Donald Trump's election as U.S. president will only have minor effects on Europe's economy, a recent survey showed.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday vowed to cut the costs of the Air Force's F-35 fighter jet program, stressing again his eagerness to trim down government spending.
HOUSTON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes, a well-known Houston expert said Monday.

"Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes and his speech on peace and stability is empty talk unless Japan denounces once and for all its shameful past of militarism and aggression," Peter Li, a professor at the University of Houston, told Xinhua.

Describing Abe's refusal to apologize for the attack on Pearl Harbor as "not surprising," Li said that "this refusal to admit Japanese crimes against humanity has been shown in Tokyo's policy towards Asian countries that were victims of the Japanese aggression."

"This refusal to admit crimes was also demonstrated in its denial of the use of Asian women as 'sex slaves' for the Japanese army and its denial of its war crimes in Nanking, China," he said.

He pointed out that "Japan owes the American people, the Chinese people, and other Asian peoples a sincere apology for its war crimes against humanity."

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base, where thousands of U.S. sailors and marines were killed.

Currently, Abe is in Hawaii and he will take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument on Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama to honor those who died at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.

Abe's visit came seven months after Obama's trip to Hiroshima in Japan, during which he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the site where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb in 1945.
ANKARA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish army hit 158 targets of Islamic State (IS) terrorists and neutralized 13 IS terrorists in the Al-Bab area of Northern Syria, Turkish General Staff stated on Tuesday.

Turkey's military often uses the word "neutralized" to imply the terrorists in question were captured, heavily wounded or killed.

Ankara has criticized international coalition forces for not doing enough to support Turkey in its offensive on al-Bab against the IS, calling especially for U.S. backing for the operation.

"These circles, which always level criticism at Turkey on IS, are not giving the necessary support for our struggle against IS in Azez, Jarablus, Dabiq and al-Bab. This is unacceptable," Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin told reporters on Monday.

In the past week, clashes and operations around al-Bab had gained intensity, he said, emphasizing that the Turkish Armed Forces had showed great sensitivity to avoid civilian casualties.

Some 1,900 square kilometers in northern Syria have been cleared of IS as part of the Operation Euphrates Shield, the spokesperson said.

During the past week, hundreds of IS targets have been eliminated, and 226 IS militants have been killed, Kalin stated.

Kalin added that Some 44,000 people have been evacuated from Aleppo and taken to Idlib, while Turkey aims to extend a cease-fire to all of Syria, Kalin said, citing an upcoming meeting in Astana where the issue will be discussed.

So far, approximately 200 people from eastern Aleppo have been brought to Turkey, he added.

Meanwhile, Turkey has sent an additional 500 commandoes to Syria's Al-Bab in order to help Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syria rebels capture the town.
MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The main flight recorder of the Russian military Tu-154 aircraft that crashed Sunday into the Black Sea has been retrieved from the wreckage, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

In the next few hours, the recorder, also known as the black box, would be delivered to the Central Research Institute of the Russian Air Force near Moscow for specialists to decode, the ministry said in a statement.

The search operation in the crash area continued on Tuesday involving 45 ships, 15 submersibles, 12 planes and five helicopters. Over 3,500 people are currently participating in the mission, including 192 divers, the ministry said.

So far, 12 bodies and 156 pieces of body parts have been found and delivered to Moscow for identification, according to the ministry.

At a distance of 1,700 meters off the shore and at a depth of about 30 meters, pieces of the wreckage have also been found, including parts of the fuselage, engines, as well as various mechanisms and units, it said, adding that this debris has been transferred to the investigating authorities.

The ill-fated Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimin air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Black Sea resort city of Sochi early Sunday morning.

Ninety-two people -- 84 passengers and eight crew members -- were aboard the plane. Most of them were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as nine Russian journalists. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.
SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- A rising South Korean presidential hopeful in the opposition bloc raised doubts about the capability of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and the possibly hidden aim behind the agreed-upon deployment of the U.S. missile defense system in South Korean soil.

Lee Jae-myung, mayor of Seongnam, a city to the southeast of capital Seoul, told foreign correspondents in Seoul that the U.S. anti-missile system would never help South Korea defend its metropolitan area from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s missile attacks.

Seoul and Washington agreed in July to install one THAAD battery by the end of next year in southeastern South Korea. Given the limited intercepting capability, THAAD interceptors are incapable of reaching the capital city and its adject areas, where about half of the country's 50 million population reside.

DPRK missiles targing the South Korean territory are known to fly at a much lower altitude than the one at which THAAD interceptors travel, bolstering doubts about the U.S. missile shield's capability to shoot down missiles from the northern neighbor.

The United States, the mayor said, wants THAAD deployed in South Korea as part of its missile defense strategy in Northeast Asia, but his country will suffer from losses rather than make gains in consideration of the damaged ties with China.

Mayor Lee said China has opposed the THAAD deployment as it sees the THAAD's X-band radar as a kind of eye that can peer into Chinese territory in cooperation with Japan and the U.S.

He argued for South Korea's adoption of an indepeedent, balanced diplomacy between China and the U.S., saying Seoul should refrain from siding with one party.

Seoul needs to expand and develop its alliance with Washington, but the country should not give up its relations with China by pushing through the THAAD installation, the mayor of the biggest opposition Minjoo Party said.

Touching on the agreement reached last December between South Korea and Japan on so-called comfort women, Lee called for a thorough re-examination of it that was against the will of the comfort women victims and caused strong public objections.

The victims of comfort women, a euphemism for Korean women who were lured or forced into sexual slavery for Japanese military brothels during World War II, demanded the agreement be cancelled and called for Japan led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to sincerely apologize for and take legal responsibility for past atrocities.

Mayor Lee expressed his objection to the signing of the South Korea-Japan accord to directly exchange military intelligence on the DPRK's nuclear program, saying Japan has yet to eliminate its military hostility against South Korea.

The bilateral military intelligence pact was inked on Nov. 23 despite strong oppositions here from the parliament and the public. Historical and territorial disputes between Seoul and Tokyo are going on as the Abe-led cabinet is increasingly leaning toward the militaristic ambition.

The mayor said Japan has yet to make a sincere apology for its past aggression of the Korean Peninsula, which had been placed under the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule.

He pointed out the neighboring country's repeated territorial claims over Dokdo islets, called Takeshima in Japan, which South Korea retrieved following its liberation from the Japanese colonization.

Regarding his country's policy toward the DPRK, Lee said South Korea must take all available measures, including dialogue and negotiations as well as pressure and sanctions, to defuse tensions on the peninsula.

For the past decade when the South Korean government under President Park Geun-hye and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak only adopted a hard-line policy, the DPRK's nuclear capability ironically advanced at a faster pace, the mayor noted.

If he is elected as next South Korean president, Lee said he will sit down face-to-face with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, adding that the DPRK is a counterpart with which South Korea should co-exist and ultimately unite even though it is currently hostile with South Korea from the military perspective.
By Yoo Seungki

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- A political clock is rapidly changing in South Korea on the first division in almost three decades of the conservative bloc and the scheduled return of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who is seen as one of powerful presidential contenders.

The change was triggered by the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, who is waiting for the constitutional court's final decision on whether to permanently remove her from office.

A group of 29 anti-President Park faction lawmakers declared a formal defection Tuesday from the ruling Saenuri Party, planning to launch a new party, tentatively named "New Conservative Party of Reformists" on Jan. 24.

It was the first division in the conservative camp since the four-party system emerged in the dynamic country in 1988. The minor opposition People's Party, composed mostly of former members of the main opposition Minjoo Party, was launched earlier this year.

The divide lowered the number of Saenur legislators to 99, lower than 121 lawmakers of the Minjoo Party. The People's Party has 38 seats in the 300-member assembly.

The political arena, led by two parties from both liberal and conservative camps, adds uncertainty to the country's next presidential election, which is widely forecast to be held earlier than scheduled.

The court is expected to complete its deliberation on the parliamentary impeachment of President Park who has been branded by prosecutors as a criminal accomplice to her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil by mid-March.

Nine judges of the court have up to 180 days to deliberate, but two of them are set to retire before mid-March, encouraging the justices to speed up the deliberation process. If President Park is finally forced out, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Lee Jae-myung, mayor of Seongnam, a city to the southeast of capital Seoul, expressed skepticism over the future of the new conservative party, raising a possibility for the "re-alignment of political parties."

Historically, the conservative bloc regained presidential power in early 1990s by re-aligning the divided ruling and opposition parties according to respective political interests.

Lee told foreign correspondents in Seoul that people will not be deceived into supporting the new party, which he said had attempted a "name laundering" though they are also responsible for the influence-peddling scandal and the creation of the Park administration.

The mayor is a rising star in recent presidential polls who moved into a third place for his pointed criticisms of the Park administration and his social welfare policies in the Seongnam city.

Moon Jae-in, former chairman of the Minjoo Party, and outgoing UN chief Ban Ki-moon have run neck-and-neck in recent presidential surveys.

The greatest variable in an early presidential race would be Ban, whose second, five-year term is set to end by the year-end, given that there is no distinguished contender found from conservative politicians.

Both the new conservative party and the ruling party have sent love calls to Ban, while the People's Party having its own presidential hopeful with lower approval scores also attempted to scout the career diplomat as its player in the party primary.

The Seongnam mayor said Ban's popularity is now being exaggerated as he is a newcomer in the political scene. But, voters will focus on what he did as the UN chief rather than his splendid career of being elected as the top UN post, Lee said.

The media spotlight, Lee said, would be put on the outgoing UN chief's moral qualifications, referring to recent media reports about his suspected corruption.

Over the weekend, local weekly magazine Sisa Journal reported that Ban took bribes worth 200,000 U.S. dollars in 2005 as the South Korean foreign minister and 30,000 dollars in 2007 as the UN chief from a South Korean businessman, citing multiple unidentified sources.

Ban's spokesman sent an unusual press release to South Korean journalists to say that the Sisa Journal report was "completely false and groundless," local media reports showed.

The magazine on Monday raised a suspicion involving Ban's son, while reminding readers of the suspected secret relationship between Ban and Sung Wan-jong, a South Korean businessman who killed himself in April 2015 after leaving the name list of heavyweight politicians and the amounts next to the names, which were estimated to be bribes given to them, as a suicide note.
by Xinhua writer Qu Junya

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has recently been in a diplomatic rush, yet his intransigent insincerity would mean that his geopolitical maneuvering was no more than flogging a dead horse.

Abe is now in the U.S. state of Hawaii for what Tokyo calls a "visit of reconciliation." He is scheduled to visit the Pearl Harbor on which the Japanese military launched a sneak attack that killed more than 2,000 Americans and pulled the United States into World War II.

Ahead of the trip, Tokyo has stressed that the purpose of the visit "is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology." That has stirred widespread and serious questions over Abe's sincerity.

It is evident that Abe came to the United States to prop up the alliance with the United States, especially at a time when Washington is going to have a new leader who has vowed to stop giving free rides to U.S. allies around the world.

Worried about the future of the alliance, Abe rushed to become the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump following his election as U.S. president.

Yet Trump's announcement to dump the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal Tokyo has already ratified, has made the Japanese leader even more depressed.

For most of the Obama years, Tokyo has, under the aegis of Washington's pivot to Asia, sought to strengthen its military power and the country's ability to project influence overseas. A key step of realizing that goal is to revise the pacifist constitution, the fundamental instrument to keep Japan's militarist elements caged in the post-war period.

Curtailing China's rising influence in the region has also been one of Japan's strategic targets.

Apart from painting China as a regional security threat and meddling in Beijing's maritime disputes with some of the countries in the area, Abe's recent efforts to promote Japan-Russia relationship reflects well Tokyo's intentions to help counter China's rise.

Yet Abe's bet of tipping Russia against China could make little headway. While trying to court Moscow during Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent Japan visit, Tokyo is still following Washington and maintaining economic sanctions against the country. It would not be hard for Russia to pick sides.

First Russia, then the United States, the Japanese leader seems to believe that he can manipulate the world powers for its own ends.

However, Tokyo needs to realize that peace and prosperity for the region and the world should rest on its commitment to post-war order and a sincere apology for its war crimes. An unapologetic Japan would only turn Abe's foreign policy into a diplomacy of fantasies.
KATHMANDU, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The political leadership and policy makers in Nepal need to work with China to ensure the country's active participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative for the good of the country's long-term interests and to raise economic prosperity in the Himalayan country, experts said.

Even as the Dahal-led government reiterated its commitment to participating in the initiative on multiple occasions after the current administration came into power in August, experts and media reports are now urging these words from the political leadership to be translated into action soon.

Expressing its keen interest in joining the Belt and Road initiative, Nepal initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China in December 2014. However, Nepal has yet to finalize projects to be developed under the initiative, Kathmandu-based media reports said.

"The current (Pushpa Kamal) Dahal-led administration seems insincere towards implementing agreements with the Chinese government on developing rail and road connectivity and transit facilities, among others, that were reached during the former government," Madan Kumar Dahal, a professor of economics at the state-run Tribhuvan University, told Xinhua.

He went on to say that due to the lack of the government's efficiency, implementation of other past agreements reached with neighboring countries including China and India has not been taking place as expected.

Nepal and China had agreed to work under the Belt and Road initiative framework last March when the then Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli paid an official visit to Beijing.

"Regarding Nepal-China bilateral cooperation, both sides agreed to synergize each other's development planning, formulate appropriate bilateral cooperation programs and to carry out major projects under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative."

"Both sides agreed to strengthen connectivity, further step up the land and air links and improve the land transport infrastructure," part of the joint communique issued during the Nepalese Former Prime Minister's visit to China stated.

"China's Belt and Road initiative will connect Asia and Europe, creating more opportunities in trade, investment and infrastructure development in our region," Professor Dahal said.

"This grand vision, introduced by the Chinese leadership, will be a win-win situation for Nepal and the entire region," he said, adding "Realizing this fact, the current leadership of Nepal needs to bring roadmaps and formulate plans so as to ensure the country's active participation in the initiative."

Dahal said that the initiative could elevate the whole of Asia to a new height by exploring development. "Nepal will become a transit country between two giant economies of China and India through this initiative."

An editorial piece recently published in the Kantipur Daily, Nepal's largest selling newspaper, suggested that the Nepalese government is doing very little to implement bilateral deals reached with the Chinese government.

"Landmark deals reached with the Chinese side have not been

implemented by the government yet, which have long term significance for the country. The most important thing is action, commitments are not enough," the editorial piece said.

As Nepal and China are keen to forge trilateral cooperation endeavors between China, Nepal and India, there have been highly positive discourses in Nepal and India regarding the issue in recent times.

"China, Nepal and India can make the trilateral cooperation a part of the Belt and Road Initiative and work on common interests," Professor Dahal suggested.

However, Rishiraj Adhikari, the prime minister's Foreign Affairs advisor, refuted allegations from the media and scholars, saying "the current government is keen to join the Belt and Road Initiative."

"The prime minister is confident that Nepal-China cooperation can be further enhanced under the framework. Particularly, Chinese assistance on developing rail networks and infrastructure development will be vital for us," he said.

Adhikari added that trilateral cooperation between China, Nepal and India can be a part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"China is eager to promote the trilateral cooperation, although India is not as encouraged by the idea. On our part, we have promoted the trilateral cooperation and the Belt and Road initiative and want to reap the benefits from such tremendous initiatives," he added.
TEHRAN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Tuesday tested a number of high-precision missiles as well as radar operations in the ongoing military exercise in the southern Persian Gulf provinces, Press TV reported.

On Tuesday, the low and high-range missile defense systems of Mersad (Ambush) and Ya Zahra-3 stationed at Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Khatam al-Anbiya air defense base reconnoitred, intercepted, and destroyed mock airborne targets, the report said.

In the radar operators by Iran's army and the IRGC, the long-range aerospace telecommunications system named Aseman provided sustainable contact among the elements of the drill over a range of over 150 km.

Among the objectives of the maneuver on Tuesday was detection and interception of the hypothetical enemy's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with homegrown missile systems, Tasnim news agency reported.

On the first day of the drills on Monday, various defensive apparatuses were successfully scrambled to designated positions in record time.

Also, the drills on Monday focused on intelligence gathering during reconnaissance missions and capturing aerial footage from designated targets in the sea using reconnaissance drones.

Iran launched a large-scale air defense exercise in the country's southern regions on Monday.

Code-named "Defenders of Velayat Skies 7," the war game covers the Persian Gulf provinces of Hormozgan and Bushehr along with the southwestern province of Khuzestan.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Iran's Air Defense Commander Brig. Gen. Farzad Esmaili said that "the drill will be held for three days in an area covering 496,000 km and F-4 fighter jets and S300 defense missile systems will be test-fired during the exercise."

Participants in the drill include the air defense forces of both the Iranian army and the IRGC, navy support units, the army and IRGC's ground forces artillery units, Esmaili said.

The military exercise features considerable volumes of artillery and missile practices, he was quoted as saying.

The exercises, which include around 17,000 military personnel members, simulate intense and large-scale electronic warfare.

The maneuvers seek to hone coordination among the different divisions of the armed forces employed to defend the country's airspace.

Domestic and foreign planes have been cautioned stay away from the drill zone.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on December 25, 2016. Israel was defiant over a UN vote demanding it halt settlements in Palestinian territory, after lashing out at US President Barack Obama over the "shameful" resolution. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The applause that rang through the UN Security Council chambers over passing of resolution 2334 was the sound of a resounding failure for Israeli government over the issue of settlements.

The resolution that condemned Israeli settlements said they had "no legal validity."

While Netanyahu responded with alarm and harsh language, the resolution is not legally binding and will most likely join other resolutions which are more declarative and do not translate into actions.

"It's a slap in the face politically for Israel -- there's no doubt about it. That doesn't mean, however, that it will have any operational effect," said Prof. Robbie Sabel, an expert on international law from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Since the resolution was not passed under the binding chapter of the UN charter, it cannot directly call for any action against Israel. There will be no sanctions of punitive measures.

"Those elements who want to take action against Israel may continue to do it and will find support in the security council resolution. But it doesn't oblige them to do so, it doesn't provide them with any legal reasoning," Sabel added.

Netanyahu's immediate response was a personal attack on U.S. President Barack Obama. It seemed like the Israeli premier was waiting for the moment when he could personally attack the leader with whom he has been at odds with for the past eight years of his administration.

"From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama Administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed," Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting days after the resolution was passed.

The U.S. abstained on the vote, rather than vetoed it as the Israeli government expected the Americans to do.

The harsh criticism by the Israeli government brought to light the discord that the Jewish state is at with the entire international community. Israel has no allies when it comes to its settlement policy.

"The Israeli government has been aware for many years that there is no international support for settlements," Sabel said.

Since the government is aware that the resolution itself has no real implications for Israel, the vocal response serves two political goals.

The spotlight that Netanyahu put on the U.S. abstention diverted attention from his foreign policy failure to secure abstentions from countries he says Israel has excellent relations with.

Netanyahu is also the country's foreign minister.

According to Sabel, the voting pattern is no surprise.

"Voting in the United Nations is done by blocs for political reasons, most states do not want to harm their bilateral relations with Israel," he explains.

Netanyahu summoned the ambassadors of the countries that voted against Israel to his office in Jerusalem. On Christmas day, one by one, they arrived in order to be reprimanded. In itself, this was a controversial move.

The Israeli reaction and the subsequent coverage of it in the country prevents a real discussion within Israel on the actual issue.

Has the current Israeli government, a clear-cut right wing hawkish one, abandoned the idea of a two-state solution even though Netanyahu says he still supports it? And will Israel continue its settlement policy at the price of further international condemnation and perhaps isolation?

The avoidance of such a debate is critical for Netanyahu in order to maintain his right-wing coalition.

Nadav Eyal, a foreign affairs editor for Israel's Channel 10, summarized the official Israeli reaction as an inherent contradiction.

"A collective panic attack that on the one hand explains that the resolution is meaningless and on the other hand explains it is awful," Eyal wrote on his Facebook page.

Israel has its own legal arguments as to why it can settle the territory. Sabel said Israel "has a valid point -- this is an area in dispute. There has never been a Palestinian state there."

While the resolution itself is not a prelude to action, it can be used by the Palestinians in order to strengthen their claim to the land.

Israel captured the territory from Jordan during the 1967 Mideast War. Since Jordan has said it has no claim over the land, Israel says its future needs to be decided by both parties through negotiation.

For the current Israeli government, the West Bank and East Jerusalem belong to the Jewish people. For the Palestinians, the settlements are a major stumbling block to their future state.

The Israelis and the Palestinians have not sat at the negotiating table since April 2014. They can both be blamed for their lack of ability to sit down and hammer out the issues together.

The United Nations can table any number of resolutions dealing with the conflict but until the two sides begin a dialogue with each other, the conflict will continue. As long as the resolutions are not binding, both sides can maintain their current patterns.

As Netanyahu's Israel continues with it's diplomatic offensive, the country may find itself even more isolated in in the international arena. The consequences of such a personal attack on the American president may echo long after Obama is replaced and may be relevant regardless of who is in the White House.
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (R) meets with Urbino Botelho, foreign minister of Sao Tome and Principe, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Cui Xinyu)

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday called for more pragmatic cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi made the remarks when meeting with visiting Sao Tome and Principe Foreign Minister Urbino Botelho.

China resumed diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe on Monday, after the African nation cut "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region last week.

Stressing that the restoration of diplomatic ties is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries, Yang said China appreciates the Sao Tome and Principe government's return to the one-China principle, a basis for the two countries to develop healthy, smooth and sustained relations.

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea and a former Portuguese colony, established diplomatic relations with China immediately after gaining independence in 1975 but switched to Taiwan in1997.

Yang said he hoped both countries would enhance political trust, boost people exchanges, and deepen international coordination to benefit people on both sides.

Noting that Sao Tome and Principe is delighted to return to the family of China-Africa cooperation, Botelho said his country hoped to strengthen cooperation with China, a strategic partner that will help its domestic development.
BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday responded to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Pearl Harbor visit by urging him to sincerely reflect on the country's history of aggression rather than offering diplomatic displays.

"It is only a one-sided wish that he wants to put an end to the history of World War II by just visiting Pearl Harbor," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing.

Abe is in Hawaii, where he will take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument with U.S. President Barack Obama.

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base, where thousands of U.S. sailors and marines were killed.

China was the main theater in the Asia-Pacific for the World Anti-Fascist War, and the Chinese people made major contributions to the victory, said Hua.

According to statistics, Chinese military and civilian casualties totaled approximately 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties suffered by all countries during WWII.

"Japan can never turn the page without reconciliation with the victim countries in Asia, including China," Hua said.

She urged the Japanese leader not to "dodge the core issue, and to make a sincere and profound reflection upon its aggression history" so as to "make a clean break from the past".

"Sincere reflection is the only key to the reconciliation," she added.

Related:

News Analysis: Abe's duplicitous visit to Pearl Harbor more about forgetting than reconciling

TOKYO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor which will culminate with a final summit with outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday will see the Japanese leader take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument where thousands of U.S. sailors and marines were killed in a surprise attack by Japan on Dec. 7, 1941.

It was this sneak attack that was a catalyst for the United States to join World War II and emerge victors with the eventual nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that forced Japan's unconditional surrender, a historical fact that to this day does not sit well with some rightist factions with significant political sway here and wholesale revisionist intentions. Full story

Commentary: Abe should show more sincerity, play less tricks during visit to Pearl Harbor

TOKYO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe starts a two-day visit to Pearl Harbor on Monday, where he is slated to attend a ceremony with U.S. President Barack Obama to remember the thousands of U.S. soldiers and civilians killed during a surprise attack by Japan there on Dec. 7, 1941.
A foreign cargo ship is seen at Qingdao Port in east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 8, 2016. China's exports in yuan terms ended previous drops to rise 5.9 percent year on year in November, while imports continued to pick up steam by increasing 13 percent, customs data showed on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yu Fangping)

BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The doom-mongers continue to get it wrong on the Chinese economy, time and time again.

There were frustrations when the world's second largest economy shifted gear to allow for structural reforms, but many of the doomsday scenarios predicted -- total economic collapse, a local debt meltdown, a burst property bubble, the yuan in freefall -- were a step too far and, as ever, wide of the mark.

There has also been a lot of finger-pointing, alleging that China has dragged down the world economy. Blame has been piled on China for the uphill struggles facing troubled industries worldwide.

Here is a list of scare-mongering proved wrong by the realities of the Chinese economy in 2016.

A HARD LANDING

The same old predictions about China's economy suffering a hard landing provide perfect fodder for media sensation year after year, especially amid the country's recent economic slowdown.

However, they were all proved false alarms, as shown by the economy's steady growth of 6.7 percent in the first three quarters, within the government's annual target range of 6.5 to 7 percent, and the envy of most other countries.

China has not only made a hard landing near-impossible, but also taken strides in lifting the quality of its economy, evident from the bigger contribution made by consumption and services in the economy.

By steering the economy on a quality and sustainable path, the country will secure a smooth transition to a medium-high level of growth and avoid a hard landing, much to the disappointment of the China bears.

YUAN TUMBLING OUT OF CONTROL

Persistent weakness in the yuan at the beginning of 2016 fueled concerns that China's policymakers might have lost control of the currency, which would tumble in the year.

Although the yuan weakened about 7 percent against a strong U.S. dollar, it remained relatively stable against a basket of currencies and even gained value against some major currencies.

For the year ahead, China plans to "keep the yuan basically stable, while improving the flexibility of exchange rates."

It believes that despite short-term fluctuations, the yuan will maintain overall stability, and the chance for a sharp depreciation can be ruled out, backed by China's stable economic growth, balanced fiscal conditions and ample foreign exchange reserves.

CHINA DRAGGING DOWN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

It is true that China has slowed from its previous double-digit growth, but as the Chinese economy transitions to what some have dubbed the "new normal," China remains the world's major growth engine.

If China's GDP grows 6.7 percent in 2016, in line with the official target, it would account for 1.2 percentage points, or 39 percent, of world GDP growth, according to economist Stephen Roach.

Fraught with growing economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, the world needs a stable Chinese economy more than ever.

China's ongoing transition from an export and investment-driven growth economy to one based on consumption, services and innovation, will be of huge benefit to the world, without a doubt.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEBT BOMB

China's local government debt woes have been depicted by the Economist as a "bomb" that needs to be defused.

Local governments had issued 1.13 trillion yuan (162 billion U.S. dollars) of bonds by the end of September this year, using 96.2 percent of the annual quota of new issuance, with the debt rate expected to stay flat with last year.

A debt level of about 90 percent is relatively low when compared with other major or emerging economies, and authorities have reacted promptly with debt swap programs and deleveraging measures.

The caps and tightened supervision imposed by the finance ministry in November will help curb debt, and contingency plans have been introduced to allow for fiscal rebalancing.

China's debt calculation is open and transparent and the risks remain controllable, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said in October.

A BURST HOUSING BUBBLE

A number of market analysts expected a crash to hit China's housing market, predicted to have a disastrous impact on the economy.

However, policymakers have always been alert to the risks in the market, and have introduced measures to cool an overheated property market and keep asset bubbles at bay.

Latest figures show the market is stabilizing, with total floor space of sold apartments in major Chinese cities in November experiencing the first year-on-year decline in 21 months.

The recently concluded Central Economic Work Conference reaffirmed that houses are to be built for living in, not for speculation, vowing to adopt financial, fiscal, tax, land and regulation measures to build a long-term system that provides housing for all people.

CHINA CULPRIT OF GLOBAL STEEL WOES

Throughout the year, China has faced anti-dumping probes from many trade partners, the EU in particular. Along with these trade remedy measures is the allegation that China is an irresponsible exporter of cheap steel, causing instability in the global steel sector.

However, it is unfair to accuse China of being the cause of the global steel sector's woes, and finger pointing will not solve the problem.

A sluggish world economy and shrinking demand is the root cause of the steel sector's troubles, and the world should work together through the difficult times, said Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.

As the world's largest steel consumer and producer, China is pressing ahead with cutting excess capacity in steel, aiming to reduce 100 million to 150 million tonnes of crude steel capacity by 2020.

CHINA LESS WELCOMING TO FOREIGN INVESTMENT

The United States sensed an increasing reluctance among China's economic planners to pursue further reforms, said Chris Wilson, deputy chief of the U.S. mission to the WTO, in July, citing concerns of "more and more" U.S. companies about "a less welcoming business and regulatory environment for foreign enterprises" in China.

Gone are the days when foreign firms can make easy money in China with abundant cheap labor, land and other resources. It is understandable that these firms are not finding it as easy to do business in China as before.

However, the Chinese market has not lost its gloss, and its charm is not waning, but radiating across different sectors.

In the first 11 months, 24,355 new foreign-funded firms were established in China, and U.S. and EU investment in China grew by 55.4 percent and 43.9 percent year-on-year respectively. Meanwhile, foreign investment in the high-tech service sectors almost doubled.

China strives to make it easier for foreign investment, having expanded a negative-list approach in approving foreign firms setting up branches in China and streamlining the registration process for investment this year.
A reflection on waste liquid shows people wawing Free Syrian flags as an aid convoy to Aleppo organized by IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation is about to leave, on December 14, 2016 in Istanbul. (AFP/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some Turks have suggested enlisting Syrian refugees for the Turkish armed forces, as the death toll is growing for Turkish troops on mission in northern Syria.

An online campaign was launched lately, calling for recruiting Syrian men in Turkey who are aged between 18 to 45 and sending them to the battlefield.

As many as 260,000 Turks have signed on the petition within days, which will be sent to the Turkish General Staff for consideration when the figure hits 300,000.

Last week, 17 Turkish soldiers were killed in three suicide bomb attacks by the Islamic State (IS) militants in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, bringing the total number of Turkish deaths to 37 since Ankara launched what it called Euphrates Shield Operation on Aug. 24 in Syria's north.

The military offensive is aiming chiefly at preventing the Syrian Kurds from seizing more land for an autonomous region or worse, an independent state, along the border with Turkey.

The Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels are trying now to take al-Bab from the IS, with next targets being Manbij and Raqqa, the de-facto IS capital, as announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday.

As the news of more Turkish deaths broke, Turkish columnist Yilmaz Ozdil became one of the most vocal in denouncing the Syrian refugees being sheltered in Turkey.

In an article published in the Turkish daily Sozcu last week, Ozdil chided the Syrian men living in Turkey for "doing nothing for their country."

"These people, instead of protecting their own country, are having fun in our country," he wrote.

According to the columnist, there are almost 500,000 Syrian men on Turkish soil, who are in a position to hold a gun.

Some three million Syrians have fled to Turkey since Syria was plunged into chaos in March 2011.

Turkish citizens, brought up with a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism, are having difficulties in understanding Syrians who have fled their home country.

For Turks, men should join the military to "defend their country to death."

While voicing concerns on social media over the growing deaths in Turkish troops in Syria, Turks vented their anger as well on the Syrian men living in Turkey for keeping mute.

Most declared the Syrian men of military age who fled their country as traitors.

"Those who sold their own country will sell Turkey anyway," said a post on Twitter.

A taxi driver in Istanbul vowed not to leave his country even if he would be in the same situation some day as the Syrian men.

"I will have a gun and fight till the end," he said.

For Hakan Erol, an Istanbul-based journalist, it would be too optimistic to expect those Syrians to fight in their country under the Turkish command.

"They have already fled their country," he said. "Who could guarantee that they wouldn't leave us in the lurch?"

Cem Ulusoy, a restaurant owner, does not believe either it is a good idea to draft Syrians into the Turkish military.

"The Syrians will have conflicting feelings about what exactly they may be fighting for in the Turkish army, therefore creating a faction of 'confused troops' who might be too hard to control in the future," he remarked.

Abdullah Agar, a security analyst, described the debate as meaningless, noting "Being a Turkish citizen is the first prerequisite for joining in the military."

In his view, Turkey is already doing what is necessary for those Syrians who want to return to their homeland and join in the struggle.

"We are giving all the necessary military training for these people and anytime they want, they can join the Free Syrian Army and fight in the war zones," he said. "But if the social expectation would rise even further, then the Turkish parliament has the authority to take a step and Syrian people could be granted a dual citizenship."

In the view of Mete Aktas, a sport commentator, the public debate is normal "as Turkey has been overloaded by Syrian refugees."

"The important thing is to be able to control these anti-Syrian sentiments," he said.
Turkish special force soldiers stand guard next to the courthouse as a vehicule transporting prisoners passes on December 27, 2016 at silivri district in Istanbul. (AFP/Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-nine former Turkish police officers went on trial in Istanbul on Tuesday over their alleged roles in a failed coup in July, local media reported.

It is the first trial of the alleged plotters since the coup bid on July 15, in which 248 people were killed.

The former police officers are accused of attempting to persuade their colleagues and the citizens not to join the anti-coup resistance, the state-owned Anadolu Agency said.

Among the defendants, three are helicopter pilots who were ordered to go to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Huber Palace in Istanbul to provide security on the coup attempt night. CNNTurk said the pilots rejected the accusations at the open hearing.

Press reports said the indictment demands three aggravated life sentences for each of the 21 defendants for attempting the coup and a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for the other eight for being members of a terror organization.

Of the 29 suspects, 25 have been remanded in custody for not obeying the orders to resist the coup attempt, Anadolu said.

Ankara believes the coup attempt by some in the military was orchestrated by followers of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in the United State and leader of the so-called Gulen movement now branded as a terror group.

According to press reports, over 36,000 people have been arrested and more than 100,000 state employees dismissed in Turkey in the ongoing crackdown launched soon after the coup bid.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Uruguay international striker Sebastian "Loco" Abreu said Tuesday that his signing with Brazilian minnows Bangu represented "a good fit" as he extends his professional career to a 23rd year.

Abreu, 40, was officially presented to the media almost two months after the Rio state-league club announced his signing.

"I liked the eagerness of the board, who showed that I could be an important part of a winning project," Abreu told a press conference.

"I thought it would be a good fit, apart from coming back to Rio, which is a very special city."

Abreu was a free agent after helping El Tecla win El Salvador's league title last week with two goals in the final against Alianza.

Bangu will be the 24th club of Abreu's professional career, which started at Uruguay's Defensor Sporting Club in 1996.

It will be his second spell with a Rio de Janeiro-based side, having also represented Botafogo from 2010 to 2012.

When asked about whether he could still be an important player aged 40, Abreu replied: "If you have doubts about my form just take a look on Youtube."

Abreu was capped 70 times for Uruguay's national team and scored 20 international goals.
Narcotics found, firearm seized

According to reports officers of the Eastern Division Task Force were on patrol along Cunapo Main Road, Sangre Grande when they had cause to intercept a Nissan vehicle, which was occupied by two men, aged 31 and 25. During a search of the vehicle, police officers found a crocus bag with approximately 4.2 kilogrammes of marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. The two male occupants, were then arrested and taken to the Sangre Grande Police Station, where they were charged in connection with the find. The two men are expected to appear before a Sangre Grande Magistrate on Wednesday.

In a separate incident, two men were arrested when police officers thwarted what was believed to be an attempted robbery in the Western Division.

According to reports, at about 6 pm on Christmas Day officers of the Western Division Task Force received information that two known bandits were planning to rob several business places in the Diego Martin district.

They were told that the men planned to break into the business places which were closed for the holiday.

The information received led them to a bus shed along the Diego Martin Main Road, where they saw the two suspects and intercepted them. While searching the two men, they allegedly found a Colt .38 revolver, loaded with four rounds of .38 ammunition.

The two men were arrested and taken to the West End Police Station.

Identification parades are expected to be conducted with the two men, in relation to other robberies committed in the area during recent times.

The two men are expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Wednesday.
Nurses getting ready to leave TT

Since being elected two months ago as president of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nursing Association (TTRNA), Idi Stewart said he would be looking into keeping local nurses here within the health system.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, Stewart said during this Christmas season nurses have been fulfilling their duties, with just a few exceptions. I cant say what the figures are, but there has not been any drastic shortage as far as I have heard, or any fall outs. Most of the nurses came out to work, there may have been one or two on a shift but nothing drastic.

I will be looking at the shortage of nursing staff in the new year. In 2017 it would get even worse due to the fact that a number of United States and English recruiting agencies are presently intervieing a number of our nurses. They are being offered positions abroad so they would have done the exams so they can get through with the proposals to go abroad, he said He said some of the nursing agencies were only hiring European nurses, but now that England had reopened its borders to Caribbean nurses, next year the nursing brain drain would begin again.

There has been no emphasis placed on the problem, but we are hoping that the nurses who would gruaduate later would fill the gap, but unfortunately they would be green and need to be guided, and the senior ones would not be around to shepherd them. Stewart said the nurses could not be blamed because there was a lack of opportunities locally for nurses to advance themselves.

He said their basic salary was miniscule for a professional for a person who would have spent five years training, no health insurance.

There is a lack of opportunities financiallly and professionally so a number of nurses are looking to fly out. A number of them would have gotten in contact with the Nursing Council to get their transcripts ready, Stewart said.

He said a standard nurses salary was around $6,000 a month, with allowances. However, these allowances were paltry when compared with foreign nurses who received about $3,000 for housing when compared to local nurses who received $100
Crash victims discharged from hospital

Her husband Devinish Bridglal 35, and two of their children and her niece were all discharged from hospital on Sunday. Elizabeth , 32, of Monkey Town Village, Barrackpore, was a front seat passenger in the family car, driven by her husband Devinish when it was involved in a collision with a van around 4 am on Christmas Eve.

The family members were a short distance from their home after attending a birthday party in San Fernando.

The couples nine-year-old son, Emerald, daughter Deliza,15, and niece Vishacar, 15, along with Devinish were treated for various injuries.

The couples other son, Emery, 10, was at the home of relatives in Barrackpore at the time of the crash. He was later told of the tragedy that befell his parents and siblings.

Reports said Fire officers used the Jaws of life to free the passengers who were trapped in the back seat of Devinishs car. A district medical officer pronounced Elizabeth dead at the scene while an ambulance rushed the other occupants to the hospital.

Elizabeths sister in law Usha Sundar said yesterday that family members are just trying their best to console each other.

The children crying for their mother, nobody not eating, nobody not sleeping, we drained, we dont have the strength to cope. She explained that her brother Devinish and his wife Elizabeth were childhood sweethearts and they were very close to their three children.

She said her mother left New York to come to Trinidad yesterday to support the family during this difficult time.

Usha thanked her neighbours for supporting them in their time of grief.

Funeral arrangements are tentatively set for Thursday
Senior Counsel traumatised over firecracker incident

The attorney who did not wish to be named was one of the many persons around the Savannah early Saturday who scampered for safety on hearing the loud explosions caused by firecrackers, and who believed that it was persons shooting indiscriminately.

According to the attorney, she was accustomed to walking around the Savannah on early Saturdays, but on Saturday last, while she was doing so, she heard three explosions. The first one sounded like a blown transformer.

She recalled seeing two women running away from the sound of the explosion and added that although there was fright etched on their faces they still took time to tell her dont go there, it seems that someone is shooting in that direction. According to the attorney she did not recognise the two women who turned out to be former HDC Managing Director Jearlean John and her sister Jacqueline.

She said what stood out to her was that although John and her sister were fleeing from what they thought was someone shooting they still took time to warn her not to go in the direction of the sound of the loud explosions.

The attorney said she then made her way to the Belmont Police Station where she reported the matter to the police who informed her that they were aware of the incident. Yesterday the attorney said that she intends to go to the St Clair Police Station to corroborate the entire incident as claimed by John and her sister.

The attorney also revealed that she actually heard one of the men saying: look them there. She pointed out that when the media reported the incident it was then that she learnt of the trauma endured by John and her sister who climbed over walls with barbed wire and suffered cuts and bruises while fleeing from the two persons who they thought were hired gunmen.

The attorney also pointed out that she remains traumatised over the whole incident, especially in these trying times with crime being what it is. She said that she is hoping that police get to the bottom of the whole incident, and seek out the persons responsible for Saturdays incident, which left many persons traumatised. In that incident John and her sister were walking along the Savannah when, on reaching near Marli Street they saw a black SUV with two men, shouting Look them, shoot them followed by loud explosions.

John and her sister thought they were being attacked by gunmen and began running and climbing over walls to reach to safety, and later contacted the St Clair Police.

Camera footage later received by police revealed that the two men in the SUV were responsible for throwing firecrackers and did not appear to be in possession of any firearm.

No spent shells were recovered from the scene but officers found traces of residue from firecrackers. Yesterday police investigating the incident said that the probe is ongoing as the search continues for the two suspects in the black SUV
Pierrot Grenade sends best wishes to hospital staff

Recently I was a patient at Ward 24 of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and wish to thank the doctors, nurses, cleaners and all those who had to attend to me, for they made my stay more comfortable than I would have thought, he said.

Edinborough explained that from the time he entered the ward to the time he left, he was treated very cordially with politeness and respect.

I always had the feeling that those attending to me were interested in my welfare. Before being admitted to the ward I had to attend the Surgical Outpatients Clinic (SOPC), and here again I felt comfortable that the doctors were interested in my welfare. He added, I saw that they had many people to deal with but they gave me (and I suppose all the other patients) their full attention and time, politely responding to my questions and concerns. I thought of them on Christmas Day and knew that they had to work on that day and all other days that the rest of us have the time off. Edinborough said he prayed for the staff at the hospital and will continue doing so, and urged all citizens to remember them in their prayers.
IOCL workers take heat on day 67

There is a massive collusion, said Ronald Williams, the Oilfield Workers Trade Union Shop Sterward for IOCL, as the striking workers entered their sixty seventh day of striking. Speaking under a strike camp along the Southern Main Road near Oropouche Junction yesterday, Williams added My President General (Ancel Roget) has been saying that, because up to now Petrotrin has not taken action against these people. Williams said that the government wasted no time to go after OAS Construtora to recover the millions paid to the company for its failure to complete construction of the Point Fortin Highway, yet they are not doing anything of the sort for a small contractor like IOCL. IOCL provides marine transport for Trinmars offshore workers. Williams said their strike has caused Trinmar to suffer a severe drop in production resulting in serious losses in revenue.

We understand, however, that Petrotrin has been advertising for a new service provider be it local, be it foreign, said Williams. If IOCL wants to standby and let the most lucrative of all contracts in marine transport in Trinidad slip through their hands for whatever reason, so be it. That is their fault. IOCL workers have gone without salaries for two months, but they did not allow that to put a damper on their Christmas. They beat their drums and chanted yesterday around a lit Christmas tree.

Today is our sixty-seventh day so a few days to go again, said Ronald Williams, We are as strong as ever, we are as committed as ever to this camp, and when the time comes, if it has to go to the Industrial Court, that is where it will go. The Christmas season did not put a damper on us at all. Christmases will come and go, some will be better than others as all of us have experienced in our lives. It will come again, but Christmas cant stop us from doing what is right, fighting for peace, bread and justice. IOCL workers are demanding that they are paid the minimum wages of Trinmar employees which, they say, is supposed to be paid to contract workers
PSI-Caribbean & ANSA McAl partner to help prevent gender-based violence in TT

The partnership will include interventions in schools, offices and vulnerable communities.

Through its Make It STOP - Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project in Trinidad and Tobago, PSI-Caribbean is seeking to contribute to the reduction of the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and to ensure the health and safety of women and girls experiencing IPV.

The project will be implemented in collaboration with local partners such as ANSA McAl.

To address IPV in real and concrete ways, Make It STOP will seek to: 1) Increase access to quality, comprehensive GBV services and support for women and girls experiencing violence; 2) Transform negative gender norms among youth and their families; 3) Cultivate community- based approaches to preventing GBV; 4) Support the creation of an enabling environment for the uptake of GBV services; and 5) Increase public awareness and advocacy for a concerted national response to GBV.

Speaking at the announcement of the partnership earlier this month; during a celebration of ANSA McAls 135th anniversary at the Queens Park Oval, Port-of-Spain, Group Chairman A Norman Sabga said the decision to sponsor the PSI project, Make it STOP, was inspired by the Groups responsibility to be protectors of the nations daughters, mothers and sisters.

PSI-Caribbean said that in referring to the scourge of violence against women and the disappearance of others, Sabga declared his company must be a catalyst for positive change and transformation.

Senior Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, PSI (Global), Julia Roberts, also spoke about the partnership. PSI recognises the incredible impact of public private partnerships  harnessing leadership, vision and lasting commitment.

ANSA McAL has now joined the ranks of our global corporate partners and together we will make meaningful progress to Make it STOP, Roberts stated.

PSI-Caribbean said, It is to the credit of Mr Sabga and his Group that they would take such a leadership response to such a critical issue. PSI is a global health network that has decades of experience in conducting many social initiatives related to womens health and welfare. Partnering with such an influential Group as ASNA McAl will go a long way towards mounting a substantial response required to create a positive impact. PSI-Caribbeans Executive Director, Marina Hilaire-Bartlett, commenting on the partnership, said the company believes in the power of the collective when like minds come together to face issues that affect our nation, our communities, and those we love. We stand in solidarity with the various other entities and individuals who work towards ending this scourge in our nation. We are therefore deeply pleased to partner with ANSA McAL to join forces in facing the issue of GBV head on.

Kudos to you Mr Sabga for your compassionate and sincere leadership, Hilaire-Bartlett said.
Air Canada Rouge launches year-round non-stop service between Toronto and Trinidad

The Air Canada service to PoS from its Toronto hub will operate twice weekly (Tuesday and Thursday).

Tourism Minister, Shamfa Cudjoe, hosted a welcome reception at the airport that day, during which passengers who flew in from Toronto on flight AC1880 received commemorative eco-friendly token bags with local gifts, as tokens of appreciation from the ministry and the Tourism Development Company (TDC).

This year-round service between Toronto and Port-of-Spain is part of Air Canadas ongoing global expansion, connecting its extensive domestic and international network through the global hub, Toronto Pearson International Airport; officially Lester B Pearson International Airport. Addressing the crew, Cudjoe noted that in todays fiercely competitive global market place, consistent, reliable and competitive air access is the lifeblood of any modern economy. In this light, therefore, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has sought to attract additional airlift both to Trinidad and to Tobago. We welcomed Condor and Thomas Cook to Tobago in November 2016. Moreover, as a result of our recent participation in ITB Berlin and the World Travel Market in London, we are in discussions with several other airlines - including Eurowings, Norwegian Airlines and Air Berlin  all in our efforts to secure additional airlift directly to Tobago. Minister Cudjoe applauded Air Canadas decision to recommence flights to Trinidad and wished the company all the best in this initiative.

Canada is home to a thriving business and financial community and a large Caribbean Diaspora. The ministry said the Toronto-Trinidad non-stop service will play an instrumental role in serving both communities and in enhancing trade and economic ties between TT and Canada. With an average of 40,000 to 50,000 visitor arrivals from Canada each year, Canada is this countrys second largest source market. The typical Canadian visitor stays for approximately two weeks and spends approximately TT $6,500 per trip, generating approximately TT $0.34 billion (US$ 0.05 billion) in foreign direct revenue.

More than 50 percent of Canadian visitors come to Trinidad and Tobago to visit Friends and Relatives (the VFR market); followed by approximately 20 percent who come for leisure.

During the proceedings on December 20, the ministry announced that early next year (2017), the TDC will launch a new tourism mobile application which will provide users with a comprehensive insight into TTs many events and festivals, as well as provide feedback regarding the quality of visitor experiences whilst in TT.
Iran conducting war-game exercises, threatening to shoot down foreign aircraft

Iran has kicked off a five-day large scale military exercise in the countrys southern region warning that civilian and military aircraft risk being shot down if they stray into Iranian airspace occupied by the drill.

Article by Lisa Daftari

The exercises, codenamed Modafean-e Aseman-e Velayat 7 or Defenders of Velayat Skies 7, include air defense drills and various missile, artillery and radar equipment as well as cyber and electronic warfare exercises.

Speaking Sunday, the commander of Irans air force Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili warned foreign aircraft trespassing the airspace covering the drill area would be shot down immediately.

We are witnessing the presence of a number of trans-regional planes outside the air and sea borders of the country but we emphasize that these planes should know their limits and know that we will take action in less than one second, he said.

Iran began receiving the advanced missile system last year when U.N. sanctions sanctions were lifted in the aftermath of the nuclear deal aimed at curbing Tehrans controversial nuclear program, despite objections from the United States and Israel.

The drill features U.S.-made F-4 Phantom II fighter jets and is also set to include test firing of the Russian built S-300 long-range anti-aircraft missile defense system.

In all, more than 17,000 military forces comprised of troops from the army, Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Basij forces are taking part in the wargames in an area spanning over 300,000 square miles and including Persian Gulf provinces Hormozgan and Bushehr.

The drills are aimed at creating better coordination between Irans various military forces, according to military spokesman Abbas Farajpour Alamdari, and the maneuvers a defense doctrine based on deterrence, according to Iranian media.

But a senior Iranian commander has called the recent victory for Syrian president Bashar Al Assad in the battle of Aleppo a great and strategic victory for Iran, lauding Irans increasing military hegemony in the region.

In an interview with the Hezbollah-linked Al Mayadeen channel, Gen. Hossein Salami said, Hezbollah has now become an influential regional power on par with the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Zionist entity, further warning that after the victory of Hezbollah in Aleppo, it will not hesitate to do similarly to the cities of Israel.

Hezbollah is ready to stage battles in Tel Aviv, Acre, Nahariya and other cities, he said.

Iran has deployed several thousand troops to Syria to back up the Assad regime and only recently disclosed a death toll of more than 1000 troops.

Read more at: foreigndesknews.com

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Annual meeting of Chinese Catholic representatives begins

China,Religion, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Beijing, Dec 27 (IANS) The ninth National Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives, a meeting held every six years, started in Beijing on Tuesday, according to a State Administration for Religious Affairs statement.

The meeting, which will have participants from China's state-controlled "official" Church, as well as the semi-clandestine Catholic Church that answers to the Vatican, will conclude on Thursday, Efe news reported.

The gathering is expected to serve to renew the top leadership of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, as well as the Chinese Episcopal Assembly.

The last such conference in 2010 sparked protests from the Vatican, which believed members of the non-official Chinese Church, loyal to itself, had been forced to attend the event.

This year's meeting comes at a time of improving China-Vatican relations, which had been officially non-existent for over six decades.

"The Chinese Catholic Church will hold its ninth national congress from December 27 to 29, which is believed to help Catholicism better adapt to and integrate into the Chinese culture and society," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a press briefing on Monday.

She also stressed Beijing's "sincere" wish to improve ties with the Vatican, stating that the country "is willing to work alongside the Vatican to make new headway in conducting bilateral constructive dialogues and improving bilateral relations."

A total of 365 Catholic delegates from across the country, in addition to representatives from the government and other religions, are expected to attend the conference.

Bishop Fang Xingyao, chairman of the Communist Party-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said during the event's inaugural speech that the three-day event will review the work done by Chinese Catholics in the past six years and set targets for the future.

--IANS

ksk/vt
Demonetisation puzzle: How will PM's black money scheme work after Dec 30?

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi's black money scheme be valid after December 30? The question takes on importance because old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would no longer be allowed to be deposited in banks after that date.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme 2016 (PMGKY) is open till March 31, 2017 or for the the rest of the current financial year.

But the tax, penalty, cess, surcharge and deposit under the scheme can only be paid with demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 till December 30, according to the details of the scheme advertised by the Income Tax Department.

So what happens when a person wants to declare undisclosed income on or after December 31? The department has left this question hanging.

Under the scheme, a person disclosing income would have to pay total tax, surcharge and penalty amounting to 49.90 per cent of the undisclosed income. Additionally, 25 per cent of the undisclosed income would have to be put in PMGK Deposit Scheme 2016 for four years without interest.

Since, obviously, the black money sought to be unearthed would be in old currency notes, how will a person declaring such income pay the penalty or deposit the 25 per cent amount on December 31 and up to March 31, 2017?

Is the government planning to extend the date of depositing old currencies for those declaring undisclosed income?

If the government does allow black money hoarders to deposit old notes after the December 30 deadline, it would be giving them preference over honest taxpayers who have to deposit all their old currency notes in their bank accounts by then.

A more cumbersome procedure of seeking special permission from the RBI kicks in after that deadline for anyone who wants to deposit demonetised notes.

In the case of PMGKY, the government does not seem to have thought through the practical aspects of inviting declaration of black money in the new year.

The black money scheme provides "total confidentiality" to the declarer. It also provides for immunity from prosecution under various laws.

--IANS

hs/sac
US leads in weapons sale globally

United States,Defence/Security,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Washington, Dec 27 (IANS) The US sold weapons worth $40 billion in 2015, again making it the world's dominant supplier of weapons globally, according to a new congressional study.

The US market share of weapons sales amounted to about half of all arms agreements in 2015, and more than double the orders recorded by France, its nearest rival with $15 billion in sales. The US and France both grew their market shares, by around $4 billion and $9 billion, respectively.

Russia, another dominant power in the global arms market, saw a modest decline in weapons order, dropping to $11.1 billion in sales from the $11.2 billion total in 2014, the New York Times reported on Monday.

China reached $6 billion in weapons sales, up from its 2014 total of over $3 billion.

The 2015 study, titled 'Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations', 2008-2015, said that developing nations continued to be the largest buyers of arms.

Qatar signed deals for more than $17 billion in weapons last year, followed by Egypt, which agreed to buy almost $12 billion in arms, and Saudi Arabia, with over $8 billion in weapons purchases.

Other leading buyers included South Korea, Pakistan, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq.

Although global tensions and terrorist threats have shown few signs of diminishing, the total size of the global arms trade dropped to around $80 billion in 2015 from the 2014 total of $89 billion, the study found.

The latest figures were released by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress, and delivered to legislators last week.

Developing nations bought $65 billion worth weapons in 2015, substantially lower than the previous year's total of $79 billion.

Not only did the US rank first in new arms orders, it also ranked first in the value of all arms deliveries worldwide at $17 billion, or nearly 37 per cent of all shipments. This is the eighth year in a row that the US has led in global arms deliveries.

The US arms exports in 2016 looks set to remain broadly in line with the previous year's sales.

--IANS

soni/vt
Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister passes away at 83

Sri Lanka,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Colombo, Dec 27 (IANS) Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake passed away on Tuesday. He was 83.

Wickremanayake was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka from 2000 to 2001 and 2005 to 2010, Xinhua news agency reported.

He entered politics in 1960, winning a seat in the legislature as a member of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front).

In 1970, Wickremanayake was appointed the deputy minister of justice.

In the 1994 general elections, he won a seat in Parliament and was appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs, Public Administration and Plantation Industries.

--IANS

py/vt
Demonetisation broke backs of terror, human trafficking: Modi

Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Dec 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said demonetisation had broken the backs of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling and human trafficking.

"With just one move on November 8, the worlds of terrorism, drug mafia, human trafficking and fake note smuggling were destroyed," Modi said at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in this Uttarakhand capital city.

"Most people are for honesty; it is just a handful who are trampling them. We have waged this war to empower those who are being trampled," he said.

"Corruption has destroyed the country, which was known as a bird of gold. If the country is to progress, this plunder has to stop, corruption has to stop," the Prime Minister said.

Modi said despite hardships, the people of the country had supported the November 8 demonetisation whereby Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were scrapped.

"This is a cleanliness drive and only because of the common people's support that we have been able to wage this war against corruption."

"There are those who are on the lookout for an opportunity to pounce on me. But I know that so long as I have the security cover of 125 crore people, nothing will happen to me," the Prime Minister said, quipping that along with black money, black hearts too have destroyed the country.

Enumerating various development schemes and initiatives of his government, including implementation of 'One Rank One Pay' scheme, he called upon the state's people to vote for the BJP.

The people of Uttarakhand have a substantial representation in the country's armed forces.

"Uttarakhand in now lying in such a deep pit that it needs two engines to pull it out. Those two engines are -- one in Delhi (central government) and we need another in Dehradun (state government)," Modi said.

"You have already installed one engine in Delhi; now it time to do the same in Dehradun," added Modi.

Uttarakhand goes to elect a new legislative assembly early next year.

--IANS

and/tsb/vt
Hailey Baldwin struggles to perfect winged eyeliner

United States,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

null

Los Angeles, Dec 27 (IANS) Model Hailey Baldwin has never been able to perfect winged eyeliner.

The 20-year-old, who launched her beauty line in August this year, says she is a "huge fan" of the beauty trend, which accentuates the eye area with a simple sleek of kohl liner, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Baldwin told W Magazine: "I am a huge fan of the winged eye but could never actually do this on myself. Yes, I am obsessed with watching beauty tutorials; I love those videos that are sped up."

Baldwin says she designed her own cosmetics line based on all her "go-to" cosmetic essentials she can't live without.

"I love glowing, fresh skin so I really love all the products in my collection that help me to achieve that look. Glow Beauty Balm really illuminates your skin and is amazing for wearing on its own or as a primer. I love that it is unisex, I actually first smelt it on a guy," she said.

--IANS

ks/rb

null
ASUS launches another 4G smartphone at Rs 6,999

Delhi,Business/Economy,Technology, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Taiwan-based technology major ASUS on Tuesday launched its latest 4G smartphone Zenfone GO 4.5 LTE at Rs 6,999 in India.

Starting December 27, consumers can buy the smartphone across retail stores before the end of this month.

"We are sure this smartphone will be able to provide an enriching user experience," said Peter Chang, Region Head, South Asia and Country Manager, ASUS India, in a statement.

The device runs on Android Marshmallow 6.0 operating system, along with ZenUI, and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM.

Zenfone Go 4.5 LTE comes with an internal memory of 8GB and offers micro-SD card support up to 128GB. ASUS also offers an additional 100GB of Google Drive storage for two years.

Equipped with ASUS' PixelMaster technology, the smartphone has 8MP rear and 2MP front cameras with 11 camera modes.

--IANS

anuj/na/bg
Rahul demands probe into Sahara, Birla bribes involving Modi

Delhi,National,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reiterated his demand for an inquiry into allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving bribes from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Gandhi has been repeatedly saying that Modi's name has figured in the documents listing those who have been paid alleged bribes by the corporate giants.

The documents were seized by the Income Tax Department in raids on Sahara and Birla offices in 2014. The documents have names of other politicians, including Congress' Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit.

"The Prime Minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," Gandhi said at a press conference, also attended by other opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The Congress leader said while Modi was responding on all other issues, he was silent on questions raised on his "honesty and integrity".

Gandhi asked that when former Delhi Chief Minister Dikshit was open to an investigation, "why is the Prime Minister shying away from a probe".

He said four of Congress ministers resigned when their names surfaced in Jain Hawala Diaries case.

"The Prime Minister should be the first person to say if I am facing allegations, then there should be an inquiry," Gandhi said.

--IANS

vv/sar/vt
Rishi Dev joins 'Yeh Rishta...'

Maharashtra,Cinema/Showbiz, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 27 (IANS) Actor Rishi Dev will replace actor Rohan Mehra as Naksh in popular soap opera "Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai".

Rohan is currently seen as a contestant on "Bigg Boss 10".

The character of Naksh was shown to have gone on a trek. But he will be seen returning to his house.

The show will take a six months' leap forward, after which the entire family will be seen gearing up for Naira (Shivangi Joshi) and Kartik's (Mohsin Khan) engagement ceremony.

"Being a part of the show that is an out and out audience favourite, feels amazing. 'Yeh Rishta...' as a show, is a brand in itself. I am really excited about entering the show," Rishi said in a statement.

"Naksh, as a character, is extremely popular amongst the audiences and I really wish to do justice to the character and live up to the audience expectations. I am really looking forward to playing Naksh," he added.

"Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai" is aired on Star Plus.

--IANS

sas/rb/vt
Jackie Chan taught me how to stay grounded, says Sonu Sood

Delhi,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Actor Sonu Sood says working with legendary actor Jackie Chan taught him about the importance of staying grounded after becoming successful.

"The biggest learning that I got after working with Jackie Chan is that no matter what you achieve in life, you have to be grounded and connected to your roots always," Sonu told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Sonu will soon be seen sharing screen space with Chan, who received an honorary Oscar for his career achievements earlier this year -- in the upcoming Sino-Indian film "Kung Fu Yoga".

"Kung Fu Yoga" is a part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's past visit to India.

The film, which is directed by Stanley Tong, also stars actress Amyra Dastur. Hindi film stars have reportedly performed some adrenaline-pumping action sequences for the movie, which was partly shot in India.

There is a lot of buzz about the film before its release. But Sonu is not nervous.

"No, it (all the attention) doesn't add pressure. I think it is high time that all our hard work comes in front of the audience. They need to see it," he added.

With "Kung Fu Yoga" slated to release in February next year, the "Tutak Tutak Tutiya" star says he is excited about the film and is sure that people will love it.

--IANS

sug/rb/bg
Devotees throng Bihar gurdwara for Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary

Bihar,National,Politics,Religion, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Patna, Dec 27 (IANS) As thousands of devotees arrive here to participate in the celebrations to commemorate the 350th birth anniversary of the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, dozens of cooks and volunteers are busy preparing nearly 12 lakh packets of special 'prasad' for pilgrims.

Officials at Takht Sri Harimandir ji Patna Sahib gurdwara near here said on Tuesday that each 60-gm packet of 'panjeeri prasad', prepared from pure ghee, flour, semolina and sugar, will cost Rs 15.

Cooks from Amritsar in Punjab have arrived at the historic gurdwara near here to prepare this special 'prasad' for devotees," gurdwara management committee official Ishpal Singh said.

The 'prasad' will be available at gurdwara counters during the 'Prakash Parv', or birth anniversary celebrations, slated to be held from January 1 to 5.

Devotees, meanwhile, are offering prayers at Takht Sri Harimandir ji Patna Sahib -- the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh -- as well as other Sikh holy places. The gurdwara is situated about 10 km from state capital Patna.

Several langars (community kitchens) for devotees -- who are mainly from Punjab, Delhi and Haryana and foreign countries like the United Kingdom, Canada and Nepal -- are being run in tent cities and other places.

Tight security is also in place for the safety of devotees coming from outside Bihar.

The government expects more than five lakh devotees to visit Patna for the religious event.

The main function of holding special prayers and 'kirtan' (singing of hymns set to music) will be held on January 5, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and a large number of Sikh dignitaries from India and abroad will participate.

Earlier, the Bihar government had announced a three-day holiday during the 'Prakash Parv' celebrations.

Guru Gobind Singh was born on December 22, 1666, to ninth Sikh master, Guru Tegh Bahadur, and Mata Gujri. He was annointed the supreme leader of the Sikhs at the age of nine, becoming the last of the living Sikh gurus.

--IANS

ik/tsb/bg
BJP's social media cell campaigned against Aamir Khan, claims new book

Delhi,National,Art/Culture/Books, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Following actor Aamir Khans comments on "intollerance" in November 2015 at an award ceremony, the BJP social media cell organised a campaign to build pressure on Snapdeal to drop Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador, claims an upcoming book, which quotes a former volunteer of BJPs social media team.

Written by journalist Swati Chaturvedi "I am a Troll", extensively quotes Sadhavi Khosla, who quit as a volunteer of BJP's social media team at the end of 2015. Khosla has purportedly shared WhatsApp messages sent to her by Arvind Gupta, head of the BJP IT cell, and other WhatsApp groups associated with the team.

On November 23, 2015, Aamir Khan, speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony, had said: "Kiran (Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India?"

"That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers everyday. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet."

The actor's comments was immediately perceived to be critical of the ruling dispensation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and caused a massive backlash for the actor from a group of social media users. The actor was soon dropped from the Ministry of Tourism's "Incredible India" campaign.

In the light of these remarks, Khosla has been quoted in the book as claiming that the BJP social media cell organised a campaign to get Khan removed as the brand ambassador of Snapdeal.

In this regard, the whistleblower has also shared messages she claims were sent to her from Arvind Gupta, head of the BJP IT cell.

"Arvind Gupta also messaged all the party's social media volunteers directing them to endorse a petition addressed to Snapdeal asking Khan to be dropped from their advertisements.

"After facing the wrath of BJP supporters, who downgraded the Snapdeal app on Google Play and the iOS App Store on orders from Gupta, Snapdeal terminated its contract with Khan," Chaturvedi writes.

The whistleblower is quoted in the book saying: "The campaign against Aamir was the last nail in the coffin for my association with the BJP and forced me to part ways with a party and PM I had passionately supported.

"The poisonous campaign launched by the BJP's social media team proved Aamir's point on intolerance", Khosla says in the book.

The book also claims that the volunteers and employees of the BJP's social media team "were given a 'hit list' of mainstream journalists who needed to be constantly attacked".

Arvind Gupta has reportedly rejected Khosla's claims, saying she "supports the Congress" and "has all reasons to publish unsubstantiated claims".

Published by Juggernaut, the offering is available in bookstores and can be downloaded from www.juggernaut.in.

--IANS

ss/vm
Shot 'Haraamkhor' in 16 days: Director Shlock Sharma

Maharashtra,Cinema/Showbiz,Bollywood, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Mumbai, Dec 27 (IANS) Upcoming Hindi film "Haraamkhor", the trailer of which was launched on Tuesday, was shot in as less as 16 days. Shlok Sharma, the movie's director, credits his actors and team members for the speedy and "spot on" job.

The movie, which features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Tripathi, is set in real locations.

"It was indeed very challenging to finish an entire feature film's shoot in 16 days. That's why the team's role was the most crucial. My lead actors Nawaz bhai and Shweta were spot on. So was the crew," Sharma said in a statement.

"Siddharth, my DOP (director of photography), and his team, along with the production team, were all absolutely in tandem. There was no way this would have been possible without the team I had behind me," he added.

"Haraamkhor" is finally set to release on January 13, 2017, following a prolonged run-in with the Central Board of Film Certification. In a judgment last week, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) reversed a ban on the film, citing it to be socially responsible.

Shot in a small village in Gujarat, the film explores the romance between a 14-year-old school student and her teacher.

Decorated with visuals set in a small village are the main characters of the film, the teacher, the student, a boy who has a crush on the same girl and his friend who helps him and the teacher's wife. The trailer is funny in parts -- even as the film sets out to spread a serious message.

--IANS

rb/vt
Russia battle-tests 160 new weapon systems in Syrian conflict

Russian Federation,Defence/Security, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Moscow, Dec 27 (IANS) Russia's Defence Minister on Tuesday said over 160 weapons systems were successfully battle-tested throughout the course of the anti-terror operations in Syria.

"During the operations in Syria over 160 cutting-edge weapons systems were tested," Efe news quoted Sergei Shoygu as saying.

The head of Russian defence highlighted that the new weapons systems "in general terms demonstrated a high degree of reliability".

Shoygu highlighted some systems that have received their baptism of fire in Syria: Su-30SM and Su-34 fighter jets, Mi-28N and Ka-52 attack helicopters and Kalibr cruise missiles, among other weapon platforms.

He said that 10 of the 162 weapons showed flaws that had not been identified during initial testing, thereby enabling the ministry to halt deliveries until their manufacturers fixed them.

"It is important to point out that not only 84 per cent of our Aerospace Forces pilots have flown (Syrian) combat missions but have also put their weapons to the test," said the minister.

On September 30, 2015, an aerial bombing campaign was launched by Russia in support of Damascus' armed forces.

In the Syrian air base of Hmeimym, Russia has deployed expeditionary combat aircraft.

Hmeimym air base was the destination of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft that crashed into the Black Sea on December 25, killing all 92 passengers aboard.

--IANS

py/vt
Modi to lay foundation stone of Char Dham highway

Delhi,National,Politics,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to lay the foundation stone of Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

"Will visit Devbhoomi Uttarakhand today (Tuesday) for the inauguration of a key infrastructure project, the Char Dham highway development programme," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"Char Dham highway project will lead to creation of over 900 km of roads. Connectivity and tourism will get a strong boost through the project," the Prime Minister said.

"Adding of bypasses, tunnels, bridges and flyovers will ease travel. Proper slope stabilisation will ensure protection against landslides," he said pointing out at the towards ensuring uninterrupted all weather safe journey for pilgrims to the four shrines.

The Prime Minister also said that he will address a public meeting in Dehradun during his Uttarakhand visit.

--IANS

aks/ksk
PM calls for innovative approaches to budget, skills, tourism

Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) In his first such interaction with a set of noted economists and experts organised by Niti Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for innovative approaches to budget-making, and a special focus on skill development and tourism.

Attending the session on "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead", the prime minister said the budget has a significant effect effect on India's real economy and wanted this yearly exercise to be given prime importance.

Till date, Modi observed, such exercises earmarked expenditure only at the onset of monsoon, which was not desirable.

That is the reason why the presentation date of Budget 2017-18 is being advanced so that a roadmap is ready before the beginning of the financial year, he added.

A range of issues covering subjects such as agriculture, skill development, job creation, taxation and tariff related matters, education, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy and future steps for growth were discussed.

Besides Niti Aayog and Finance Ministry officials, the session was attended by economists and experts, including Pravin Krishna, Sukhpal Singh, Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Pulak Ghosh, Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, N.K. Singh, Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose and T.N. Ninan.

--IANS

ap/vm
Russia seeks to enhance bilateral ties with India

Russian Federation,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Moscow, Dec 27 (IANS) Russia has committed to further strengthen its partnership with India in the newly released edition of the Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation.

The new Foreign Policy Concept, approved by Russian President Vladimir Putin, says that Moscow wants to boost ties with New Delhi based on the convergence of foreign policy priorities, historical friendship and deep mutual trust.

Russia sought to enhance bilateral ties with India in all areas, primarily in trade and economy, with a focus on implementing long-term cooperation programmes approved by the two countries.

The doctrine also warns about the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS) and several other terror groups and says that these terror groups aspire to create their own state and seek to consolidate their influence on a territory stretching from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to Pakistan.

It calls for a creation of a broad international counter-terrorist coalition with a solid legal foundation in order to combat terror.

"The foundation should be based on effective and consistent interstate cooperation without any political considerations or double standards to prevent terrorism and extremism and counter the spread of radical ideas," says the statement by the Russian Federation.

--IANS

soni/ab/bg
Innovative antimicrobials from New Zealand labs could help 'Make in India'

West Bengal,National,Science/Tech,Business/Economy,Diaspora, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Dec 27 (IANS) Eco-friendly antimicrobial agents that are being developed by a team of researchers at New Zealand's University of Auckland could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India', says an Indian-origin member of the scientific team.

Scientists associated with the Biocide ToolBox (BTB) programme are targeting the discovery and invention of eco-friendly biocides - chemical agents which control or kill bacteria - to design a range of products and solutions like antifouling coatings and food packaging.

The programme, funded by the nation's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is a major antimicrobial research programme hosted by the University of Auckland and closely networked with the University of Otago, Scion and the Cawthorn Institute in New Zealand.

"The initiatives taken in BTB programme could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India' , for example, chemicals, biotechnology, food processing, smart textiles. Joint R&D partnership between BTB and corporates in India could enhance the scope of developing customised biocidal products particularly important for Indian market and possible manufacturing of some of these products in India," Sudip Ray, a senior research fellow in the School of Chemical Sciences with the MBIE Biocide Toolbox and Product Accelerator Programmes at University of Auckland, told IANS.

BTB aims at the development of a toolbox of new greener biocides applicable in commercial and healthcare contexts which contribute to NZ export growth.

Ray was in Kolkata for a series of lectures.

Describing the initiative, he said the current research is focused on developing a suite of biocides which constitute practical solutions for a range of products like decorative paints, antifouling coatings, food packaging, cleaning chemicals, air conditioning tunnelling/filters, medical equipment, in various healthcare settings requiring a safe and clean environment.

"These biocides developed by BTB in New Zealand could be exported in India as chemicals and then incorporated in products which utilise biocides and thereby the final manufacturing of the biocidal products could be performed in India. This will fulfil the key focus of aMake in India' and also enhance the possibility of exports from New Zealand," he explained.

One of the innovations is turning wine waste into biodegradable plastics with usable anti-bacterial properties for use in food packaging and storage.

Recently India and New Zealand discussed the promotion of FDI in India in support of India's Make in India campaign and development objectives.

"So, R&D partnership could further strengthen the growing bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand," Ray added.

--IANS

sgh/vd
Mayawati says Dalit's daughter targeted, BJP hits back

Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Lucknow/New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sniffed out more than Rs 104 crore deposited in her party's account after demonetisation, BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday said a "Dalit's daughter" was being barred from political power in Uttar Pradesh through the "misuse" of official machinery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, saying championing the cause of the Dalits does not entitle anyone to indulge in corruption.

Addressing a press conference in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, Mayawati said: "The anti-Dalit BJP and all those having a casteist mentality do not want that a 'Dalit ki beti' (Dalit's daughter) should get the master key of power in Uttar Pradesh."

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the official machinery to malign the BSP ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Mayawati, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, said the money deposited in her party's account was not black money and was collected by her party workers over the last few months.

She said the said money was collected by party workers as donations and then converted into big denomination notes as it is "convenient" to carry such currency.

"The money belongs to the party, which has been deposited following due procedures. Every penny of this money is accounted for," she said.

"The party workers collected the money through membership drive across the country and deposited the same in the party office. Should we have thrown this money after demonetisation? We deposited it in the bank account with full transparency," she said.

Alleging that "facts are being distorted" to malign her party's image, Mayawati challenged the BJP to make public the details of its accounts 10 months before demonetisation till date.

"If they (BJP) have an iota of integrity or honesty, they should make public the details of their accounts," she said.

Taking strong exception to Mayawati's remarks, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he could not understand Mayawati's agitation at a legal process.

"The ED has detected the money and asked for explanation as to where did this money come from. She owes an explanation within the legal framework. Why is she so agitated?" Prasad said.

"Now, it is becoming clear why Mayawati has been opposing the demonetisation move tooth and nail," he added.

Hitting back at Mayawati's "Dalit ki beti" remark, Prasad said being a champion of the Dalit cause does not allow one to indulge in corruption.

"We are all for Dalits' empowerment and development. But the issue of Dalit development should not become a symbol of corruption or hijacked by anyone," Prasad said.

In a separate media briefing, Dalit leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan slammed Mayawati's comments, saying being a Dalit's daughter is not a "licence to corruption".

"My party works for the Dalits. The total money in (my) Lok Janshakti Party's bank account is Rs 1,03,198. Being a daughter of a Dalit does not give you the licence to indulge in corruption," Paswan said.

--IANS

mak/tsb/vm
Demonetisation: Opposition seeks Modi shoulder blame, quit if problems persist (Roundup)

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Training guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, a fractured opposition on Tuesday asked him to own responsibility for the chaos that ensued following the currency ban and demanded his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline

If Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi's silence on corruption charges and held him responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people due to the notes ban, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dubbed demonetisation a "mega scam" and said he ought to take moral responsibility and resign.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

However several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign - the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), skipped the event.

"The Prime Minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," said Gandhi said, referring to his repeated allegations that Modi benefited financially from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

On demonetisation, he said it had no impact on corruption or black money laundering but was rather an attack on the country's poor while creating "a new black market has emerged -- to convert black money into white".

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," said Gandhi and asked Modi to tell the nation the "real motive" behind the move.

Banerjee who has been scathing in her attack over the decision to spike Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, minced no words in lambasting Modi.

Besides calling demonetisation to be the "biggest scam" post independence, the West Bengal Chief Minister said the decision was "illegal and unconstitutional".

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Accusing Modi of destroying the country's federal structure, she said that the Prime Minister neither took Parliament into confidence before taking such a huge decision nor bothered to make even one line statement in Parliament after implementing it.

Claiming that over 107 people have died across India post demonetisation, she described the prevailing financial state as a "super-Emergency".

She also mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Like Gandhi, she too claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation and said it has taken the economy 20 years back.

Notwithstanding the depleted strength, Banerjee insisted the opposition was united against the government over demonetisation and said a "common minimum agenda" on the issue will be worked out.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee harped on Modi owning responsibility of demonetisation woes.

"Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. Modi must resign, this government must go otherwise, the people will throw it out," she added.

Replying to media queries, Gandhi said: "We hold the Prime Minister responsible for this decision. If he doesn't resign, we'll put pressure on him to resign."

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

But soon after the opposition's press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive, saying if Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is "the Congress' defeat and BJP's victory".

Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun, Modi strongly defended demonetisation and said the move, aimed at weeding out corruption, had broken the back of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.

--IANS

and/vd
PM calls for innovative approaches to budget, skills, tourism

Delhi,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) In his first such interaction with a set of noted economists and experts organised by Niti Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for innovative approaches to budget-making, and a special focus on skill development and tourism.

Attending the session on "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead", the prime minister said the budget has a significant effect effect on India's real economy and wanted this yearly exercise to be given prime importance.

Till date, Modi observed, such exercises earmarked expenditure only at the onset of monsoon, which was not desirable as it results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months.

That is the reason why the presentation date of Budget 2017-18 is being advanced so that a roadmap is ready before the beginning of the financial year, he added.

The government has said February 1 will be the date for presentation of future Union Budgets.

The other two major changes to the upcoming budget are converging into it the railway budget and doing away with the Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure.

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya, at a press briefing later, said that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the economists was an experiment where the latter gave presentations on three important focus points - agriculture, jobs and budget related issues.

For the agriculture sector, the economists focussed on ways to double the farmers' income by 2022 and expanding the digital payment revolution to include them, he said.

"Economists suggested doubling farmer's income by 2022. They discussed digital payments for farmers. There were suggestions on moving to high-value agriculture products," Panagariya added.

While in the education sector, the economists suggested the need to improve the quality, there was need felt to increase investments in the tourism sector.

"The tourism sector was highlighted. Suggestions were made that we need to invest more in tourism. Also need to have a learning revolution to improve quality of education was emphasised," he added.

A range of other issues covering subjects such as skill development, taxation and tariff related matters, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy and future steps for growth were discussed.

Besides Niti Aayog and Finance Ministry officials, the session was attended by economists and experts, including Pravin Krishna, Sukhpal Singh, Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Pulak Ghosh, Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, N.K. Singh, Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose and T.N. Ninan.

The Prime Minister's meeting with experts to take stock of the economy assumes significance against the backdrop of the cash crunch post the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency.

--IANS

ap-bc-mm/vm
Haryana Police foil bank robbery

Punjab,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Chandigarh, Dec 27 (IANS) The Haryana Police has foiled a bank robbery and arrested one person belonging to a gang involved in major bank robberies in different districts, police said on Tuesday.

The gang had looted more than Rs two crore from different banks in recent months, said a police spokesman.

The robbery was foiled after information was received about some people loitering near a branch of Oriental Bank of Commerce at village Kisangarh under Meham police station in Rohtak district, 250 km from here.

"Acting on the tip off, a police team reached the spot and arrested one accused identified as Sunil. The other accused escaped under the cover of thick fog," the police spokesman said.

During interrogation, Sunil revealed that he and his associates used to rob banks, and they had attempted to rob a bank last week also.

"They were also involved in bank robberies in Sonipat and Rewari, and had looted Rs 1.22 crore from a bank in village Saiydpur in Sonipat. They had also looted Rs 81 lakh from a bank in Rewari," he added.

Police have also recovered one walkie-talkie set from his possession, besides recovering a car, drill machine, hammer and other weapons used by the accused.

--IANS

js/vd
CPI-M plans multiple protests against demonetisation

West Bengal,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Kolkata, Dec 27 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist in West Bengal on Tuesday announced multilayered protest demonstrations in the state at the beginning of the new year against the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation move.

The CPI-M state committee will organise rallies, road shows, demonstrations and sit-ins at various part of the state between January 1 to January 10 protesting the common man's suffering and misery caused by the demonetisation, said a statement after the end of the two-day committee meet here.

Accusing the Modi government of making new announcements every day after demonetisation, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said such frequent changes in money withdrawal policy have further confused people.

"The Left parties should take the initiative to notify people about Central Government's real intentions behind the note ban," he said at the meeting.

Yechury also called for pposition political parties to unite on the issue of demonetisation and go ahead with a proper plan of action.

Taking a swipe at the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for trying to hamper the secularism of the nation, Yechury call upon the CPI-M and other left parties to take a tough stand against them.

"BJP and RSS are trying to hit the foundation of secularism and democracy in the nation. CPI-M and the other left parties have to play an important role to fight against these powers," he added.

--IANS

mgr/bdc/vd
Eight parties discuss common minimum agenda, demand for Modi's resignation

Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Eight opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss a Common Minimum Agenda and also the demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation on kickbacks charge.

Two more meetings on the lines of one held before the joint press conference of these parties will be held in January for further discussion on the Common Minimum Agenda, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said after the press briefing held at the Constitution Club here.

Other parties that attended were the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

"The Common Minimum Agenda will be finalised in due course of time. This was discussed in the (Tuesday) meeting and also the Prime Minister's resignation. It was decided that it will be raised in the press briefing," said a leader who attended the meeting.

Addresing the press briefing, Banerjee asked whether the Prime Minister will resign if the cash crunch situation doesn't normalise in the next three days, that is, by December 30, the deadline fixed by Modi for the situation to normalise following the November 8 demonetisation.

"The Common Minimum Agenda that we spoke about -- there will be a meeting on this matter. How we organise the programme, there should be consultations with all political parties. We must take everyone into confidence," Banerjee said.

"Some are busy with elections; some are busy with internal party programmes. But we are all together. There is no problem. But, they have their own system, their policy decisions; we cannot interfere in their business," she added.

The Chief Minister said: "On demonetisation, all political parties have expressed their views and we are together. One may differ with me. That is their political policy. Sometimes for bigger interest, we can work out these things."

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said: "We are not like the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where every single person has to say the same thing. So, what we are designing is a broad agreement for this Common Minimum Programme or a series of things that we agree on."

--IANS

sid/tsb/vm
Eight JNU students suspended for disrupting Academic Council Meet

Delhi,National,Politics,Education, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) At least eight students were suspended by the JNU administration and their hostel facility withdrawn on Tuesday for disrupting the Academic Council (AC) Meeting on December 26, said a university professor.

"I know that a few students have been suspended but nothing official has been heard from the administration's side," JNU professor and council member Nivedita Menon told IANS.

A group of students was alleged to have disrupted the 142nd AC Meeting on Monday by barging inside the convention centre where it was being convened.

The students belonged mainly to Birsa-Ambedkar-Phule Students Association (BAPSA), Democratic Students' Union (DSU), and Students' Front for Swaraj (SFS), Rama Naga, former General Secretary of JNU Students Union (JNUSU), told IANS.

It was alleged by the university administration that the meeting was disrupted when a number of faculty members, part of the Academic Council, objecting to a part of the agenda, called the students inside who had been protesting outside.

"Towards the end of the AC meeting, someone from this group of members, disrupting the meeting, called in the students who were protesting outside the venue. A group of unruly students broke open the latch of the meeting room after thumping the door, came inside and began to shout slogans at the Chairperson and the Academic Council members," said a statement issued by the JNU administration on Monday.

However, Menon, who was present at the meeting, said that none of the faculty member called the students inside, who, far from barging in, had come through an open door.

The JNUSU objected to the suspension of the students saying that according the very statement issued by the administration, all the important decision had already been taken before the students barged in.

"The JNU administration itself contradicts its yesterday's statement, where it itself said that the VC (Vice Chancellor) already declared all the agenda passed when a group of Students entered inside the convention centre... then how can it allege the students of disruption?" it said in a statement.

During the AC meeting on Monday, 21 out of 40 faculty members had objected to the act of tampering with the minutes of the previous meeting, which was held last year. The protesting members decried the minutes added to the previous meeting which, they alleged, were never discussed during it.

"While more than half of the council members stood and objected to the act, the Registrar read the agenda and concluded the meeting, without any discussion or clarification for the fraudulent practice," Menon said, terming it "blatant abuse of power and completely illegal".

The controversial minutes were objected to by the faculty members for granting dominant powers to the VC in selecting the members of Selection Committee.

--IANS

vn/vd
Bihar nod for 50% quota in judicial services

Bihar,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Patna, Dec 27 (IANS) The Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar on Tuesday decided to provide 50 percent reservation in the state judicial services, an official said.

The decision was taken by the state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Nitish Kumar here, said an official of the chief minister's office.

According to a notification issued by the state General Administration Department, aspirants belonging to Extremely Backward Class (EBC) will get 21 per cent reservation, Other Backward Class (OBC) 12 per cent, Scheduled Caste (SC) 16 per cent, and Scheduled Tribe 1 per cent in the state judicial services.

Besides, 35 per cent quota has been reserved for women belonging to all categories.

In October this year, the Supreme Court has asked the Bihar Government and Patna High Court to complete the exercise for providing reservation to backward classes in the state judicial services by January 1, 2017.

The apex court also upheld the high court's judgement, quashing Rules 4A and 3A introduced by amending the Bihar Superior Judicial Service Rules, 1951, and Bihar Civil Services (Judicial Branch) (Recruitment) Rules, 1955, respectively, providing for reservation of posts in the judicial services in favour of backward classes.

All the major political parties in the state had been demanding reservation for backward classes in judicial services.

--IANS

ik/vd
Deputies critical of S.Korean president split from ruling party

South Korea,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Seoul, Dec 27 (IANS) Twenty-nine deputies from South Korean ruling Saenuri party, who are critical of embattled President Park Geun-hye, have begun the process of forming a new political party after formally resigning from the previous one.

The New Conservative Party for Reform, which aims to launch its activities on January 24, 2017, plans to attract conservative voters disenchanted with Saenuri, a party that has been divided by the "South Korean Rasputin" corruption scandal which led to the preliminary dismissal of the president.

"Park loyalists have forgotten the true values of conservatism, which has resulted in the loss of the people's trust. Their loyalty to the president and ignorance of the people's voice and truth allowed Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs," a group's spokesperson told Yonhap news agency.

The spokesperson added that they will try to turn the scandal into an opportunity to reform South Korea.

The process of dismissal of the president, which is yet to be ratified by the Constitutional Court in the next few months, comes after prosecutors indicated that she was an accomplice in the corruption and influence-peddling scandal led by Choi Soon-sil, nicknamed as "South Korean Rasputin."

Choi, a close friend of Park and currently in prison, is accused of meddling in state affairs despite not holding any official position, besides extorting large sums of money from Korean companies and appropriating part of it for personal use, among other charges.

Divided for years between Park's followers and a more critical faction, the country's largest political party has experienced the division even more in the aftermath of the scandal, Efe news reported.

It is expected that more deputies will resign from Saenuri and join the new formation in early January.

Following the split of Saenuri, which had 128 seats in the National Assembly but now only 81, the Democratic Party, the main opposition force, currently is the faction with the highest number of seats, with 121 deputies.

The newly formed party will become the fourth political force of the country with 29 deputies, after the People's Party, which has 38 seats in parliament.

--IANS

ksk
Overcrowding at opposition press meet leaves some media out

Delhi,National,Media,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) Many media persons could not enter the venue of the joint press conference by eight opposition political parties on Tuesday as police barred many from entering due to the overcrowding in the hall.

It led to chaos outside the hall at the Constitution Club of India where at least 30-40 journalists were stopped.

The press meet was supposed to begin at 3 p.m. but it started about half an hour late. However by 3 p.m., the hall was already packed.

"Many of us could not enter the hall as there was complete chaos. There was also verbal duel with police outside the hall. It was total mismanagement. As many as 30 mediapersons could not enter the venue," said a senior print journalist.

As Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi started addressing the media, media persons outside were heard shouting and screaming.

--IANS

sid/vd
Court clears way for Jakarta governor's blasphemy trial

Indonesia,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics,Religion, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Jakarta, Dec 27 (IANS) An Indonesian court on Tuesday decided to proceed with the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's governor, which could land him in jail for up to five years, officials said.

A bench of judges headed by Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said its role is not to rule on whether defendant Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is guilty or not, and that it has only decided on the formality, not the substance of the case, Efe news reported.

Judges gave the go-ahead to the case, noting that the accusations are in line with the law and dismissed the argument that evidence was required for filing charges.

The decision paves the way for depositions by witnesses and experts, proposed by both the prosecution and the defence, before judges issue a verdict.

Basuki, a Christian and of Chinese ethnicity, popularly known as Ahok, was booked by the police in November over comments he made in which he rejected criticism of him by opponents that had been based on verse 51 of the Quran.

During the preliminary investigation, Basuki claimed the video in which he was shown making those statements had been doctored and apologised for offending Muslims.

The governor, who is seeking re-election in February 2017, reiterated his innocence and denied he had any intention of insulting the religion through those statements, made in September during a campaign.

His candidacy for governor sparked Islamist protests, which began before the blasphemy case and supported rival parties in the elections.

The politician, the favourite in opinion polls for the governor's post before the case emerged, is a close ally of President Joko Widodo, who blamed political interests for the protests.

Indonesia is home to the highest Islamic population globally, with 88 per cent of its 250 million people being Muslims, mostly moderate.

--IANS

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24 die after consuming toxic liquor in Pakistan

Pakistan,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Health/Medicine, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Islamabad, Dec 27 (IANS) Twenty-four people died and dozens were hospitalised after they consumed what turned out to be toxic liquor on Christmas Eve in Pakistan's Punjab province, the police said on Tuesday.

"At least 22 Christians and two Muslims died after consuming the liquor in Toba Tek Singh district," News International quoted police as saying.

According to the police, 60 people were taken ill, and of them, 12 were in a critical condition.

An inquiry committee was constituted to probe the illicit liquor deaths.

--IANS

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After year of momentous change, UN girds for uncertain future (2016 In Retrospect)

United States,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

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United Nations, Dec 27 (IANS) A year of momentous changes at the UN and around the world sets the stage for a year of uncertainties at the world body.

This was the year another man, the ninth, was elected the Secretary-General -- defying the clamour for a woman to head the global body.

In the UN's main financier and the world's unparalleled superpower, the United States, Donald Trump was elected president on a pledge to upend the world order showing an open contempt for international organisations.

Across the Atlantic, British citizens voted to leave the European Union raising questions about the future of the international institution and globalisation.

Civil war-wracked Syria descended into hell, as Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon put it, with hundreds of thousands dead and cities pulverised while the UN was paralysed by the permanent members' feuds.

Yemen and South Sudan were not far behind. And a nuclear-armed North Korea with an erratic regime seemingly beyond the pale of the comity of nations is possibly another hell in the making.

Into this maelstrom descends former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as the new Secretary General, having beaten out strong women candidates like Unesco Director General Irina Bokova and Eastern Europe's claims to the office.

But on the positive side, the election was historic for its relative transparency, with openly-nominated candidates subjecting themselves to scrutiny in Town Hall-style meetings and for being possibly the smoothest process ever in the UN's 71-year history as the permanent members quickly agreed on him.

When he takes office, he is unlikely to see the level of cooperation that got him elected to continue.

India's Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin has described the Security Council's working "as an interesting and random mix of ad-hocism, scrambling and political paralysis".

There are no signs that will change and, if anything, omens say it could worsen.

Even before Trump takes over as president and sends in Indian American Nikki Haley, his nominee to the cabinet-level post of UN ambassador, he tried to dictate US policy -- on Israel -- in the Security Council and was roundly rebuffed by every member, including his own country.

On the other hand, his detente with Russia may contribute to a solution in Syria.

The UN, though, is also bracing for the fallout of his attitude to China and the Middle East, and approaches to nuclear proliferation and disarmament, and development.

The 2015 Paris Agreement on fighting climate change was among the singular UN achievements of the year when it was ratified by early October by 73 countries accounting for more than 55 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and went into force the next month.

"This is our chance to set us on course towards a safer, more sustainable and more just future for all on a healthy planet," said Ban. It was one of the defining moments of his tenure where a lot of his pleadings, threats and demands have been ignored.

The long-festering scandal of sex abuse of civilians by UN peacekeepers came to a head with reports of scores of women and children sexually attacked in Central African Republic by both those under the UN flag and French troops sent by their government to its former colony.

Atul Khare, the Undersecretary General for field support, became the point person for dealing with the problem and enforcing a zero tolerance policy for sex abuse by UN forces. The nearly 7,500 Indian peacekeepers, who make up the second largest contingent, received a clean chit.

In an organisation made up primarily of governments, corruption is an ever-present risk. Former General Assembly President John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda was prosecuted by New York federal prosecutor in a $1 million bribery case involving the use of his office. Ashe, who was married to an Indian, died in an accident while exercising at his home.

(This is a part of a series of articles from IANS that look back at the year that was. Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

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Not been invited to Astana talks, says Syrian opposition

Saudi Arabia,Diplomacy, Wed, 28 Dec 2016 IANS

Riyadh, Dec 28 (IANS) The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a coalition of Syrian opposition groups, said that they have not been invited to the negotiation meeting set to take place within the next few weeks in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

On Tuesday, the HNC reaffirmed in a statement issued in Riyadh its commitments to a "political solution" to the conflict, in accordance with the Geneva declaration of 2012, the Riyadh conference and similar resolutions issued by the UN Security Council, Efe news reported.

It is also committed to participating in serious negotiations that will take place within the framework of international legitimacy and under the umbrella of the UN, according to the note.

Those negotiations, in the view of the opposition body, should lead to a political transition with a clear timetable, and not include Syrian President Bashar al-Assad or those who have committed crimes against Syrians.

Two weeks ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to hold a new round of talks in Astana in order to relaunch the peace process, the last round of which took place last April in Geneva.

--IANS

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Syrian refugees in Turkey urged to enlist against IS

Turkey,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Wed, 28 Dec 2016 IANS

Istanbul, Dec 28 (IANS) Some Turks have suggested enlisting Syrian refugees for the Turkish armed forces, as the death toll is growing for Turkish troops on mission in northern Syria.

An online campaign was launched lately, calling for recruiting Syrian men in Turkey who are aged between 18 to 45 and sending them to the battlefield, Xinhua news agency reported.

As many as 260,000 Turks have signed on the petition within days, which will be sent to the Turkish General Staff for consideration when the figure hits 300,000.

Last week, 17 Turkish soldiers were killed in three suicide bomb attacks by the Islamic State (IS) militants in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, bringing the total number of Turkish deaths to 37 since Ankara launched what it called Euphrates Shield Operation on August 24 in Syria's north.

The military offensive is aiming chiefly at preventing the Syrian Kurds from seizing more land for an autonomous region or worse, an independent state, along the border with Turkey.

The Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels are trying now to take al-Bab from the IS, with next targets being Manbij and Raqqa, the de-facto IS capital, as announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

--IANS

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Putin launches natural gas pipeline supply to Crimea

Russian Federation,Diplomacy, Wed, 28 Dec 2016 IANS

Moscow, Dec 28 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a natural gas pipeline linking Crimea to Russia's gas pipeline system, which will allow the inhabitants of the peninsula to receive a continuous supply of gas.

During the ceremony, Vladimir Putin said via video conference that this is another important outcome for the development of Crimea and its future, Efe news reports.

He announced that two power plants will be built within the next two years to meet all the electricity needs of the peninsula's inhabitants.

The length of the natural gas pipeline is 358.7 km.

Ukraine has not given up on retaking Crimea, which Kiev considers territory occupied by Russia, while Moscow says that Crimea inhabitants opted mostly to join the Russian federation through a referendum.

--IANS

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A Moroccan court of Appeal decided Monday to postpone until January 23rd, 2017 the hearing of the case of the culprits, who were convicted earlier by a military tribunal for the murders committed during the events of Gdim Izik in 2010.

The civilian court refused to grant the defendants temporary release requested by their lawyers. In 2013, the 24 culprits involved in this case were already handed by a military court sentences ranging from life imprisonment to jail terms from 30 to 20 years for the killing of 11 members of unarmed law enforcement agents.

Despite the fact that this trial respected international rules and regulations, Moroccan authorities decided to cancel the military tribunal sentences and refer the case to a civilian court following a recommendation made by the Moroccan national council of human rights.

Several national and foreign observers & attorneys attended Monday the re-opening of the case before a civil magistrate, ensuring that the defendants get a fair trial.

Among the foreign observers who were present there were representatives of NGOs and human rights watch-dogs from Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.

Several international rights organizations commended Morocco for the retrial of the defendants before a civilian court, saying the move shows the North African Kingdoms attachment to democratic principles and to the rights to fair trials.

The families of the victims of Gdim Izik events have set up an association to defend the rights of the law enforcement agents who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The association says the retrial is an opportunity to highlight the sufferings endured by the victims families. It expresses its determination to foil all attempts seeking to disregard the criminal acts committed or present the culprits as victims.
The two Libyan hijackers who diverted Libyan Afriqiyah flight to Malta have been convicted for use of violence and terrorism related charges by Maltese authorities.

The two men known as Musa Shaha Soku, 27, and Ahmed Saleh, 28, did not plead guilty for their actions and refused to answer questions by Malta police, Libya herald reported citing Maltese news reports.

The hijackers face life in prison sentence if found guilty.

The two hijackers diverted the Afriqiyah internal Sabha-Tripoli flight to Malta International Airport on Friday. The A320 plane was carrying 118 people. The passengers safely left the aircraft after hours-long standoff.

The two men, both from southern Libya, claimed their loyalty to former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi. One of them was seen waving Gaddafi-era flag. They wanted to head to Rome but ended in Malta due to lack of fuel.
Moroccan Premier is expected in the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott Tuesday in a move to reiterate Moroccos full respect of Mauritanian territorial integrity after the verbal blunder of leader of the Moroccan Istiqlal Party who referred to Mauritania as part of Moroccan territory.

The foreign affairs ministry has issued Monday a statement rejecting and rebuking in the strongest terms the verbal blunders uttered by the Istiqlal partys Secretary General, Hamid Chabat, regarding the borders and the territorial integrity of Mauritania.

Abdelilah Benkirane is undertaking the diplomatic trip as envoy of King Mohammed VI, online media le360.ma reports.

Hamid Chabat, Secretary General of Istiqlal Party, said during a trade union meeting on Saturday that Mauritania had originally been part of Morocco, and that these lands will remain Moroccan; all historians affirm this.

Chabat also accused Mauritania and Algeria of obstructing Moroccos efforts to join the African Union.

Even though the Moroccan political party enjoys friendship relations with the Mauritanian ruling party; Union for the Republic Party (UPR), the Mauritanian regime was quick to react and call Chabat to make public apologizes.

The Moroccan foreign ministry on its part lambasted Chabats comments which it deemed dangerous and irresponsible.

For the ministry, Chabats comments undermine Moroccos diplomacy spearheaded by King Mohammed VI and that is underpinned by neighborliness, solidarity and cooperation with sisterly countries.

Morocco officially declares its full respect for the Islamic Republic of Mauritanias borders as known and recognized by international law and for its territorial integrity, the ministry said in a statement released Monday.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Mohammed ould Abdelaziz of Mauritania have voiced their shared determination to preserve the neighborliness and solidarity relationship existing between their two countries and to shield this relationship against any attempts to undermine it, whatever the origin or motivation of these attempts.

This came during a phone call King Mohammed VI had on Tuesday with President Ould Abdelaziz, a statement from the Royal Office said.

During the phone call, the King reiterated to the Mauritanian President his unwavering support and friendship as well as his attachment to the relationship of neighborliness and solidarity between the two countries, that is based on the age-old and family ties, which have always existed between the two peoples, the statement said.

The Moroccan Monarch also made it clear to the Mauritanian Head of State that Morocco recognizes Mauritanias territorial integrity in accordance with international law, the Royal Office statement said, adding that the two leaders expressed their determination to shield this relationship against any attempts seeking to undermine it, whatever the origin and motivation of these attempts.

In this vein, the Sovereign has decided to dispatch the Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane and the Junior Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita as envoys to the Mauritanian President, and asked them to dispel any misunderstanding that could have a negative impact on the excellent relations that exist between Morocco and Mauritania, the statement added.

The royal envoys are expected to arrive in Mauritania on Wednesday.

The phone call with the Mauritanian President and the decision to dispatch envoys to Mauritania came in the morrow of the deplorable remarks by the Istiqlal partys Secretary General, Hamid Chabat, regarding the borders and territorial integrity of Mauritania.

Chabat had said at a meeting on Saturday that Mauritania is a Moroccan territory and that the historical borders of Morocco stretch from Ceuta to the Senegal River.

These statements infuriated both the Moroccan and the Mauritanian political class.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry rejected in the strongest terms Chabats verbal blunder as dangerous and irresponsible and renewed, in a statement released Monday, Moroccos full respect for the Mauritanian borders as they are internationally recognized.

Chabat was also harshly rebuked by members of the Istiqlal Partys Council of Elders at a meeting convened Monday evening.

According to press reports, during the meeting, Mhamed Boucetta and Abbas El Fassi, both former Secretary Generals of the Istiqlal Party, expressed their remonstrances to Chabat over his remarks on Mauritania and challenged him to find in the partys reports and memos any reference contesting Mauritanias territorial integrity.
A heavily armed police officer blocks the entrance of the Oak Court Mall in Memphis. Photo: Jim Weber/AP

Fights involving hundreds of teenagers broke out in malls across America on the day after Christmas and videos uploaded by shocked shoppers of holiday mayhem have become ubiquitous on social media. Police have so far reported 15 similar incidents in crowded malls from coast to coast including at shopping centers in New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, and Tennessee.

All told, by the end of the day, pandemonium had broken out at shopping malls in 12 states with some states like Tennessee and Connecticut reporting multiple incidences.

Fight breaks out at Newport Mall in Jersey City  pic.twitter.com/DXYtUfwoX0    (@Kyng__g) December 26, 2016

Police were forced to put the upscale Hullen Mall in Fort Worth, Texas, on lockdown after more than 200 teenagers began fighting with each other, running, and screaming in a mall-wide rumble.

hulen mall wild for this one lmao pic.twitter.com/4rD4ZO5h1H  cyn angel (@cynthiaram0s) December 27, 2016

In Beachwood, Ohio, the Beachwood Place mall was also put on lockdown after a chaotic fight broke out between more than 500 teenagers. In the end, it took officers from three separate jurisdictions  some using pepper spray  to restore order.

They shooting in Beachwood Mall tho...  pic.twitter.com/MNBEes9GIp  DOE BEEZY/FREEBANDZ (@DoeBoyOfficial) December 27, 2016

Hundreds of rampaging teens forced the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, Connecticut, to close early, and the city had to call in extra buses to take all of the teens home. In Aurora, Colorado, police were arresting one fight participant when the crowd of onlookers became restive, swelling to more than 500 people. The mall had to be shut down and evacuated. Another mall in another town named Aurora, this one outside of Chicago, was also temporarily shut down after a similar incident there. At least eight juveniles from 13-to-17 years old have been charged in that disturbance.

Fight at the fox valley mall pic.twitter.com/JMhScRyZwI  Justin (@JustinMaveus) December 27, 2016

In Memphis, seven people were arrested after two brawls broke out in malls only ten miles apart. Nationwide, many mall-fighters were arrested; one, in Cleveland, for allegedly pushing a police officer.

Meanwhile, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, chaos broke out with shoppers being pushed to the floor after some teens set off fireworks, allegedly to distract people while they shoplifted. Inevitably mallgoers thought someone was shooting a gun and panicked.

Nervous shoppers mistakenly believing that they heard gunshots were a common feature of many of the brawls. During a fight in a mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a widely heard gunshot turned out to actually be the sound of someone throwing a chair.

In Fort Worth, a SWAT team actually stormed a mall where gunshots were erroneously reported. In all, more than 70 people called 911 nationwide believing that they heard gunshots.

Somehow, there were no major injuries reported during any of these fights or in the ensuing chaos as terrified shoppers fled. In New Jersey, two children suffered minor injuries while trying to escape, and in North Carolina, medical personnel responded after one person had a medical episode while trying to get away from the mob.

Though the size and pervasiveness of this years brawls is unprecedented, holiday-mall fights are not a new phenomenon. Just ask anybody who shopped at Kings Plaza in Brooklyn the day after Christmas in 2013 when more than 300 teens started a small riot.

While the scale of the incidents led some officials to conclude that they were organized on social media  police in Ohio claimed the mall brawl there was loosely organized on social media  no evidence of premeditation has turned up.

Speaking to the New York Times, Gary Haba, a captain in the Beachwood Police Department, said he doubted that the fights were organized at all: I dont think theres Dr. Evil sitting around in some chair somewhere directing everybody to do this. It just seemed like kids showed up and they were waiting to start seeing some mayhem.
Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

On Christmas Eve, when no one in their right mind was paying attention, President-elect Donald Trump announced that, in order to avoid even the appearance of any conflict with my role as President, he would shut down his eponymous charitable foundation, leaving him free to pursue [his] strong interest in philanthropy in other ways. Of course, as months of reporting on the Trump Foundation (most notably by the Washington Posts David Fahrenthold) have revealed, Trumps definition of philanthropy includes using other peoples money to settle lawsuits, donate to politicians deciding whether to investigate his scams, and buy life-sized portraits of himself  which might have something to do with why he never got around to properly registering the organization as a charity. Back in October, that lack of registration prompted New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman to order the foundation to cease fundraising while he investigated it for misconduct. Its easy to see why the incoming president  who already has a seemingly infinite number of conflicts of interest  would want to make the Trump Foundation disappear, but it turns out that its not easy.

The Trump Foundation is still under investigation by this office and cannot legally dissolve until that investigation is complete, said Schneidermans spokesperson on Monday night. The statement went on to say, The Foundations fundraising activities remain suspended following the AGs notice of violation earlier, just in case anyone was thinking that it might be a good place to squeeze in some end-of-the-year giving.

Drawing more attention to the situation, Trump tried to defend the foundations good name:

The DJT Foundation, unlike most foundations, never paid fees, rent, salaries or any expenses. 100% of money goes to wonderful charities!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016

I gave millions of dollars to DJT Foundation, raised or recieved millions more, ALL of which is given to charity, and media won't report!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016

He could probably clear all of this up by releasing his tax returns, but he wont.
Self-proclaimed comedian, Carl Paladino. Photo: Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images

Carl Paladino is not good at apologies. The upstate New York Republican, who said last week that his hopes for 2017 include President Obamas death after sex with a cow and Michelle Obama being let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe, tried and failed to explain himself Tuesday.

I certainly am not a racist, Paladino said in an open letter to Artvoice, the Buffalo alt-weekly that asked him questions for a year-end survey and published his completely bonkers answers.

When he received the survey, Paladino writes, I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. In that emotional moment, he writes, he tried to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others. But the public should have never seen his missives. He was trying to send them to friends but clicked reply instead of forward, he admits.

But Paladino, the GOPs 2010 nominee in the New York gubernatorial race, didnt stop there. He added shots at those hes deemed unworthy, including the media (mean spirited disoriented), progressive activists (rabid hordes of attacking parasites), and anyone who dares to call him out (timid souls who sit unbloodied in the gallery always prepared to criticize).

Among that final group, no doubt, are those calling for him to resign his seat on the Buffalo School Board. Governor Andrew Cuomo and Buffalo mayor Byron Brown have chided Paladino, too. Even his own son is running away from the remarks. William Paladino issued a statement on the controversy Saturday; he called his fathers comments disrespectful and absolutely unnecessary.

Carl Paladino had previously defended his remarks as old-style humor, which he claimed was to wake people up. But not even Donald Trumps campaign was willing to support him here. Paladino calls himself a personal friend of Trumps and he served as the New York co-chair of Trumps campaign. But even the president-elect, the man who delivered the infamous Mexican rapists speech, couldnt publicly stand by Paladino here.

Carls comments are absolutely reprehensible, a Trump spokesperson told the Times, and they serve no place in our public discourse.
Governor Jerry Brown and other political and business leaders in California spit defiance at the Trump administration over climate change and other environmental issues. Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Berggruen Insti

One of the ongoing news stories we are likely to hear about in 2017 is the state of Californias defiance of a climate-science-denying Trump administration. With fossil-fuel enthusiast Scott Pruitt slated to execute a hostile takeover of the Environmental Protection Agency, and given a Trump economic strategy that may depend on a massive expansion of oil, gas, and even coal production, everything blue states  and especially California  have been planning on for years in the way of carbon-emissions reduction and clean-energy promotion is in peril.

That is certainly well-understood in Sacramento. The very day after the election, the leaders of Californias two legislative chambers (where Democrats hold a super-majority) issued what might be described as a call to arms:

California has long set an example for other states to follow. And California will defend its people and our progress. We are not going to allow one election to reverse generations of progress at the height of our historic diversity, scientific advancement, economic output, and sense of global responsibility.

And while the statement alluded to Trumps proposed immigration and antiterrorism policies, Governor Jerry Brown has subsequently made it clear that climate change is the most immediate battleground:

Gov. Jerry Brown directly challenged the incoming Trump administration on climate change Wednesday, promising that California will fight any attempt to roll back progress on the environment, including possibly launching its own damn satellite to track global warming.

Weve got a lot of firepower, Brown told more than 3,000 climate scientists attending the American Geophysical Union conference at Moscone Center in San Francisco. Not only is California the worlds sixth-largest economy, weve got the scientists, weve got the universities, weve got the national labs and we have the political clout for the battle. And we will persevere, have no doubt about that.

As any Southerner can tell you, state saber-rattling toward the Feds is easier to articulate than to implement. And there are two immediate problems Trump and the Republican Congress could create for a go-it-alone Golden State when it comes to climate change and other progressive environmental priorities. The first is that all those scientists, universities, and national labs Brown boasted about depend pretty heavily on federal funding, which could be slashed next year. The second is that California has long relied on the principle  almost always followed in Democratic administrations and sometimes even under Republicans  that states which choose to enact tougher environmental standards than Washington can usually receive waivers to do so. With Pruitt at the EPA, that is no longer a safe assumption.

More generally, California is likely to test the GOPs fidelity to the supposedly high value the party places on federalism and maximum flexibility for states and localities. We will likely discover again that Republicans are all for federalism as long as the jurisdictions taking advantage of flexibility pursue policies conservatives favor. When business lobbies unhappy with state policies run to Washington seeking relief, they usually find a sympathetic audience from GOP lawmakers, philosophy be damned.

The other big question raised by Californias defiant stance on environmental regulations is whether it will succumb to the race to the bottom psychology, whereby states that act on the publics behalf in a way that increases business costs are punished (or fear that they will be punished) by employers and investors going elsewhere. That is already a specter being raised by California business interests and their political allies:

If the other states pursue no climate change policies, and we continue to go it on our own with our climate change policies, then we would be at a competitive disadvantage for either relocating companies or growing companies here, particularly manufacturing factories, said Rob Lapsley, the president of the California Business Roundtable.

Still, the technology sector and clean-energy companies represent a much larger share of the business community in California than in most states, making race to the bottom pressures less urgent. And overriding the entire issue could be the strong atmosphere of mutual hostility between the Trump administration and the state that gave Hillary Clinton a 4.2 million popular-vote margin in November. The battle between Sacramento and Washington over climate change and other environmental issues may just be heating up.
Photo: Kajakiki/Getty Images/iStockphoto

In a recent interview, Oprah asked Michelle Obama about whether her husband had delivered on his campaign promise of hope. The First Lady said yes, emphasizing how Barack was always the levelheaded adult in the room, reassuring America when tragedy stuck  again, again, and again. Though she never mentioned Trump by name, she said that she could feel the difference now that shes on her way out. Were feeling what not having hope feels like, she said. You know? Hope is necessary. She added: Barack didnt just talk about hope because he thought it was just a nice slogan to get votes. I mean, he and I and so many believe that if you  what else do you have if you dont have hope?

Its devastating to hear the outgoing First Lady, whos become a singular voice in American politics, express such anguish. (Naturally, Trump maintained that she misspoke.) Like the first act of a dark, modern folk tale, its a sign that darkness has swept across the land.

David Biello, who just authored a book on climate change, said in a recent interview that we did just get a little more doomed. Theres hopelessness in Chicago over relentless gun violence, and deaths of despair are driving down the life expectancy of whites. This very publication declared that with the election, the republic repealed itself.

In light of all this, is it naive to be optimistic? Foolish to harbor hope? Three modes of inquiry  neuroscience, history, and psychology  supply complementary and contrasting perspectives. By putting them together, you can start to see what good hope and optimism might do you. And the country.

Neuroscience: Were born optimistic.

Perhaps part of the reason that everyone is so relentlessly disappointed by the world is that its programmed into our very brains. According to Tali Sharot, the principal investigator at University College Londons Affective Brain Lab, an optimism bias is baked in. Its expecting things to be better than they are, she says, like if you just know that youll make more money in the stock market or at the poker table than is really likely. Whats surprising is we have positive expectations even in the face of reality, she says.

Take the Belief Update Task, in which Sharot and her colleagues would present participants with 80 or so unsavory life events, like a domestic burglary or getting kidney stones. Participants would then estimate the likelihood of their experiencing such a thing themselves. Then theyd be told of the real-life statistical chances. Afterward, theyre asked to estimate the likelihood again  and inevitably, participants would amend their original estimate more with good news (that kidney stones, for instance, were less likely than they first thought) than when they get bad news (that the kidney stones are more likely). For most people, she says, this is because the brain is actively regulating the reception of negative information. Even more intriguing: People whose brains have more white-matter connections between areas related to inhibition and error-monitoring and areas related to emotion and motivation would be more extreme in the way they discounted bad news and readily received good news.

It helps to explain illusory superiority, the humbling and pervasive psychological finding where people think theyre better than they are at just about everything, whether its driving, their own attractiveness, making moral judgments, or knowing what makes a joke funny or a food healthy to eat.

The optimism bias makes evolutionary sense, she says, since it reduces anxiety and gets people exploring their worlds and living healthier lives. Your ancestors were your ancestors because at least in part they were optimistic (while also a bit anxious). When I asked about whether one can be rightly optimistic about national politics in the U.S. or U.K., she simply said no: Its like the financial markets  one person can only make small changes. From that perspective, you might be better suited to deploy your optimism at a hyperlocal level, like your goals for personal growth, fitness, and the like. But civic change, as the long arc of history will tell you, does have a way of bubbling up.

History: You need to see how hope has worked.

With Hope in the Dark, Rebecca Solnit established herself as the chief American historian of hope. A philosophical, lyrical assessment of popular action, the book contends that all revolutions start out as revolutions of the imagination. Correspondingly, to have a well-stocked imagination is to be fluent in the past. First published in 2004, the book is a reaction to  and document of  Bush-era America. It caught fire again after this past November 8. Publisher Haymarket Books tells Science of Us that theyve sold 8,000 copies since the election, and since it shows no signs of slowing down, theyre reprinting another 20,000.

Solnit defines hope against the certainty offered by optimism (it will all be fine) and pessimism (nothing will be fine). Its humility, a tolerance of ambiguity, and a willingness to act all rolled into one. People have always been good at imagining the end of the world, which is much easier to picture than the strange paths of change in a world without end, she writes. And also: Despair is also often premature: its a form of impatience as well as of certainty.

If one is to be hopeful, then one needs to have a sense of the victories of progress that have indeed come to pass. Its cultural amnesia to forget how quickly standards can change. Solnit calls the reader to remember that gay bars used to be raided and homosexuality illegal, that women fought (at least) 75 years of suffragette struggle to get the vote. The abolitionist movement started in 1785 in a London print shop, she recalls, and by 1833, the British parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act. It required imagination, empathy, and information to make abolition a cause and then a victory, she writes. In those five decades antislavery went from being radical to being the status quo.

If that soaring rhetoric doesnt get you, maybe the long-term trends will  this is the argument of Harvard cognitive scientist Stephen Pinker, who has a side gig as a historian, the fruit of which includes 2010s The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. Look at history and data, not headlines, he told Vox recently. The world continues to improve in just about every way. Extreme poverty, child mortality, illiteracy, and global inequality are at historic lows; vaccinations, basic education, including girls, and democracy are at all-time highs.

This echoes the points that he emphasized to me before: that the drivers of human progress are, in many cases, getting less politicized  theyre neutrally, empirically verifiable. There are, in global health speak, evidence-based interventions, like the insecticide-treated bed nets in Africa that cut down on the deaths of children under age 5 by 20 percent, or deworming efforts in school children that have big impacts not just academically  like an increase in school attendance  but a decade down the line, with more hours worked, greater earnings, and fewer missed meals compared to a control group.

Pinker also praises economic development: The booms in India and China have made millions of people wealthier and healthier without leaning on old recipes for social enrichment, like conquering other countries or radically redistributing wealth. Time itself is a reason to be hopeful, too: As my own cohort of baby boomers (who helped elect Trump) dies off and is replaced by millennials (who rejected him in droves), the world will become more tolerant, he said.

Psychology: Without being woo-woo about it, hope changes lives.

If you want to know how hopeful you are, take the Adult Hope Scale (pdf), built to measure the University of Kansas psychologist C. R. Snyders cognitive model of hope. Snyder was the guy in developing hope as a psychological construct, and he pioneered the field from the late 1980s and into the early 2000s  all while living with chronic pain  until his death by cancer at age 61. In a review published near the end of his life, Snyder concluded by writing that in studying hope, he had also observed the spectrum of human strength. Its like the rainbow that frequently is used as a symbol of hope, he continued: A rainbow is a prism that sends shards of multicolored light in various directions. It lifts our spirits and makes us think of what is possible. Hope is the same  a personal rainbow of the mind.

To Snyder, hope reflects the interaction between your goals, your sense of personal agency, and your pathfinding ability. Its your ability to link your present to imagined futures.

Snyder and his peers found a ton of correlations between high hopefulness and diverse measures of success. Studies indicate that highly hopeful college students get higher GPAs and are more likely to graduate. They also perform better in track and field, cope better with injuries, and have greater psychological adjustment; that is, they are better able to deal with the cards that life deals them.

The mechanism, Snyder thought, had a lot to do with how the highly hopeful conceive of goals and how theyll get there. To Snyder, the highly hopeful are canny goal investors: They diversify the things they want out of life, and sub one in when another cant be reached.

Similar to Stanford psychologist Carol Dwecks growth mindset, highly hopeful people see barriers as challenges. According to Snyders work, this comes through in subjective experience. If youre high in hope, then challenges make you feel excited and confident, bouncing around and dancing like Usain Bolt before he wins a gold medal. That happy-go-luckiness translates into a flexible imagination: Since you feel so hopeful about your chances, your mind wanders around, looking for ways that youll succeed. Its like what the poet Robert Sylvester Kelly once said: If I can see it, then I can do it / If I just believe it, theres nothing to it.

Usain Bolt: Hopeful guy. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The low-hope condition is much more immobilizing, and should be familiar to anyone who was a wallflower at a middle-school dance. Snyder hypothesized that being low in hope meant that as soon as a problem started getting hard, confidence would flag for the low-hoper, as they turned inward, told themselves they were bad at it. And therein lies the savage irony of hope: If youre low on hope, youll be less focused on the task at hand, compounding the issue, kind of like how being more biologically sensitive to threats makes people more easily distracted from their work, or how Atlanta Hawks center Dwight Howard refuses to take jumpshots because they might not go perfectly. It rhymes with the organizational-psychology advice to reframe the anxiety you feel about giving a talk or singing karaoke as excitement: Your body is already in high alert, so instead of spending your attention cogitating about what could go wrong, you think about what could go right.

This is a point Synder returned to in his review. He shared that he was often asked by incredulous interviewers if hed rather have a low-risk pessimist or a risk-taking optimist piloting his next flight. To him, the choice was clear: Do we really want the pessimistic pilotfilled with anxiety, tension, worry, sadness, rejection, anger, self-criticalness, and profound uncertaintyto be at the controls when our jet is landing during a thunderstorm? he wrote. Not me. I want a high-hope pilot in that cockpit.

This seems to be the function of the audacity of hope: Even if it risks the vulnerability of your candidate losing, its an attitude that generates power, whether personally, professionally, or politically. After all, much of life is contemplating, pursuing, and completing goals  what you might colloquially call dreams  and hope is the fuel that gets you there.
Photo: Guido Mieth/Getty Images

Of the five senses, sight seems to be the most trustworthy. Its the one thats most helpful in getting us through the day, the one that pushes us the most from I think to I know. Seeing is believing, a pictures worth a thousand words, etc.

But really, sight is a lot trickier than we give it credit for. Often times, the reality we think were seeing is something else altogether  the brain bends visual information to suit its purposes, warping our vision in any number of ways. The sting of rejection, for example, makes us more inclined to perceive a stray glance as eye contact, even when it hasnt actually landed anywhere near our eyes. New knowledge permanently alters the way we take in a given optical illusion. And, according to a study recently published in the journal Psychological Science, much of what we see in our peripheral vision is just the mind making up things that arent really there. A blog post by the Association for Psychological Science explains:

Over a series of experiments, the researchers presented a total of 20 participants with a series of images. The participants focused on the center of the screen  a central image appeared and then a different peripheral image gradually faded in. Participants were supposed to click the mouse as soon as the difference between the central patch and the periphery disappeared and the entire screen appeared to be uniform.

Heres one example (and you can try out more for yourself here):

The researchers fiddled with different elements of the image across different rounds, altering things like shape or color to see whether some factors were easier to detect in peripheral vision than others. But across the board, the study volunteers continually fell victim to what the authors called the uniformity illusion: the belief that what they saw on the periphery matched what they saw at the center of their gaze, even when the two were mismatched.

But the illusion, the researchers argued, wasnt a trick so much as a shortcut; we dont take in as much information from our peripheral vision as we do from the center, so the brain makes an educated guess to present a clear picture of the world. This effect seems to hold for many basic visual features, indicating that this filling in is a general, and fundamental, perceptual mechanism, Marte Otten, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, told APS. Perhaps our brain fills in what we see when the physical stimulus is not rich enough. Helpful, yes, but also a reminder that just because you see something with your own two eyes doesnt necessarily mean you should trust that its real.
An Amazon Echo getting grilled. Photo-Illustration: Amazon, Getty Images

Could what you ask your Amazon Echo be used against you in a court of law? A murder case in Bentonville, Arkansas, is putting that question to the test. As detailed in the Information (subscription required), local police have issued Amazon a warrant for the voice recordings of Echo owner James Andrew Bates, who is accused of murdering Victor Collins in his hot tub after a night of drinking in November 2015.

Amazons Echo (and its main competitor, the Google Home) works by passively recording everything you say. None of this information is actually sent to Amazon. Think of it more like taking notes in class  as if youre listening but not writing anything down until your professor actually says something important. But when the Echo hears Alexa (or whatever your activation phrase is), it begins to actively record. That snippet of speech is then sent to Amazons cloud servers, where your recorded message is run through a speech-recognition neural network and a response is sent back to you, whether thats playing a song on Spotify or giving you the weather forecast.

Amazon keeps all of the recordings of you asking Alexa to play WNYC or of you setting a timer for 20 minutes. You can jump into the Alexa companion app and hear all of your requests again if you want to see just how bored you sound when talking to your home voice robot. Sure, its slightly creepy  but Amazon also tracks pretty much every move you make while youre online shopping as well.

Court records show that Amazon twice declined to turn the actual voice-search queries over to the local police, though it also did not comment to the Information about the case in question. For what its worth, anecdotally, Ive heard from a professor who works in voice research that Amazon deletes all voice data after six months  but Amazon has no stated policy about how long it holds onto that data. Still, if any of this has you feeling uneasy about your Amazon Echo, you can always head to amazon.com/myx, find your Echo, and delete out all of your old voice recordings.

In the above case, police confiscated the Echo itself and attempted to extract data from it, but its unclear how much they could get  the Echo itself doesnt have much of a hard drive and almost no information is stored locally on it.

That may not necessarily be a problem, though. People have been convicted as a result of digital fingerprints left from cell phone use, search history, and even World of Warcraft. It would be very CSI: Cyber to imagine Amazon Echo being the proverbial smoking gun after someone asks, Alexa, tell me how to murder someone? but in the real world, many convictions rely on establishing where a suspect and their victim were on the day in question. And one of the key ways a smart home works is by keeping detailed logs of who is in your home and when they are in certain rooms. The major players in smart-home tech all take data security seriously, but its not outlandish to imagine a court compelling a company to turn over smart-home data that might be a key piece of evidence in a future trial.

In this specific case, it seems unlikely the Echo will prove useful for the investigation. Even if Amazon were to turn over the voice recordings, the Echos microphone, by design, is very good at filtering out background noise  its why an Echo can understand you even if youre asking it something in a room with a lot of people talking. And, according to Batess defense attorney, police are actually focusing more on the data collected from his smart water meter than his Echo. Police say an abnormal amount of water was used when they believe Collins was killed, allegedly an indicator of Bates having washed away blood.
Photo: Mirek Towski/FilmMagic/Getty

Dear Polly,

My boyfriend of four years broke up with me last week, and I am a mess. Im shocked because the reason he gave doesnt make sense.

Some background: We met four years ago and dated long distance for over a year, then he got a job and moved to my city. When he arrived, I discovered that he was totally broke and a huge financial trainwreck (I had NO idea and was pissed that he hid it from me). I had some reservations about us living together right away, but then we had no choice because he didnt have money to get his own place. So right away it was tense. He had been living in a sort of frat-house situation before, never cooking or cleaning or having adult responsibilities beyond his job. I was hard on him about all this stuff and in retrospect should have been nicer, but I felt like it was an emergency. In the meantime, I did a lot of the heavy lifting financially and domestically and felt a little taken advantage of and used. But within a year or so, he had found his footing, learned to clean and cook, started paying his bills on time, and even built up a little buffer in his savings account. We moved into a modest apartment and got a puppy. Finally, we were on equal footing, we had built a little family, and I was thrilled. He seemed happy with the changes in himself, too, and commented frequently that this was the best thing that ever happened to him.

But then fast forward to this fall. We got invited on a spontaneous trip to Iceland with friends over New Years, and I sort of strong-armed him into booking it. That wasnt unusual for us; he always needed some convincing that he should spend money on luxuries and hadnt really traveled much. In the past he always had a great time on trips I pushed for, and told me later it was totally worth it. But this time it was a mistake. The flights were cheap but nonrefundable, and the trip looked to be much pricier than I expected based on serious miscalculations on my part. I assumed my friends would get an Airbnb together (they didnt want to), and we couldnt afford any of the hotels because it was New Years and they were charging a bajillion dollars, so we had to book a hostel. I also assumed that wed be able to rent a car and explore on our own, but soon it became obvious that Iceland roads are really dangerous at that time of year and the only way to do any activities is with a guide or professional driver. Hugely expensive and a big surprise. I was kind of panicking but trying to figure out how to pull it off, but he was really mad about the costs. None of this seemed like a BIG deal, just a live-and-learn kind of thing.

But then it became a BIG deal to him. He started bringing it up constantly, how we were spending too much money and burning too much vacation time and it was affecting our Christmas plans and we never should have booked it, like hed said from the beginning. At first I was defensive, but then I apologized sincerely, and offered as many options as I could think of, short of not going at all (remember, flights were nonrefundable). I offered to cover some of the costs out of my savings account, I offered for him not to go if he really didnt want to, I promised that this would be the last trip we took for a while. None of this was good enough. He brought it up at EVERY opportunity, for three months straight. If something in the apartment broke and needed to be fixed, hed say something like Well, we could hire someone to come, but YOU WANTED TO GO TO ICELAND. If I mentioned we needed to sit down and settle up monthly bills, hed make a snarky comment like Well, wed have more money but YOU WANTED TO GO TO ICELAND. If I mentioned any future plans  from going out to dinner next week to moving to a bigger apartment a few years from now, or if I talked about having a baby  it always somehow came back to Iceland. It got to a point where I started getting mad about him bringing it up all the time. I had fucked up, for sure, but I had apologized, and at the end of the day it was only a few hundred dollars each that we were talking about. And we had a cool trip planned!

It made me REALLY embarrassed as my friends started picking up on how pissed he was and were asking me over and over if the trip was going to be okay, or if wed be fighting the whole time. They were spending a lot of money, too, and his horrible mood was affecting everyone. It seemed totally unfair. I felt like, You owe me one, you need to forgive me for ONE mistake since I stepped up and saved us from financial ruin many times but I got over it. And it frustrated me that he wasnt coming up with any solutions of his own. But the fights kept coming, with more and more frequency and greater and greater rage from him. Then, three weeks before we were supposed to leave for Iceland, he broke down and told me he couldnt be with me anymore. I asked why and every single reason he gave tied back to the Iceland trip. For him, it had become a huge metaphor.

Almost immediately after he broke up with me, he started calling really upset  saying he regrets getting so mad and that we couldnt properly communicate, and he wants to try to work on things. But he IS sticking to his guns with the metaphor shit, like This is an example of how you bulldoze me into doing things even when I say I cant or This is an example of you always getting your way or This is an example of how all our plans are things YOU came up with and not things I want to do. But I dont always get my way. I definitely push him into trying new things, but it isnt out of selfishness.

So now we have decided that hes getting his own apartment close by, and were going to try to find a way forward while giving each other space. Sometimes I feel really comforted by that. It feels mature, and I know that he really does love me and wants it to work. But I also am so confused why hes still digging in his heels and saying this is a metaphor. My mom tells me that I need to see Iceland as a pretext, that the breakup wasnt really about Iceland. But the thing is, it was! Every fight was about Iceland in some way. And I am so, so confused about it. In the context of how much wed been through, this was peanuts. And if this doesnt make sense to me, then we really have no hope and should just move on. I will surely piss him off again and hes going to assign some random decision I make to be a Metaphor for Everything and the Biggest Deal-Breaker in the World.

I read one time that the human brain is so hardwired to look for patterns in things that nonsense is actually an impossible thing for us to accept. The brain just works it over and over again, looking for logic when no logic can be found. I feel that way now. Not a single friend of ours understands his behavior. I really love him and Im driving myself crazy trying to figure out why this happened.

Iceland Iceland Iceland

Dear Iceland Iceland Iceland,

As long as were talking about Iceland, were going to have to talk about Bjork, that fantastical creature from Iceland who recently got dumped by her husband and wrote a whole album about it. On the first track, Stonemilker, she sings:

All that matters is

Who is open-chested

And who has coagulated

Who can share and

Who has shot down the chances.

Being open-chested is everything. When youre open-chested, you say things like I wanted us to have an amazing trip, but I made big mistakes in planning it, and Im sorry. Please forgive me. Lets start from here.

Being open-chested can also sound like this: Im sorry I got so angry about Iceland. I want to try again. But  

This is where our ears pick up. But what?

But ICELAND. Iceland stands for our doomed future together! You always steamroll over me! You never listen! Youre selfish! You always act like youre doing things for me, but youre not, youre only doing them for YOU! You dont care about my needs at all, youre just trying to get what YOU want and you dont care what I have to say about it, you dont listen! This is all YOUR fault!

So, who has shot down your chances? Your ex has. He resents you because he doesnt know how to express his true needs and desires the way you do. He doesnt ask for what he wants. He watches things go badly, shakes his head from the sidelines, and blames you for it. Hes not an adult yet.

This guy needs a therapist. If Iceland is a metaphor, its a metaphor for something much deeper than just you and him. This isnt about planning a trip; this is about the way he was treated as a kid. Maybe he was coddled but disrespected. Maybe people pretended to listen to his needs but did whatever they wanted instead. Whatever it is, he still feels angry and powerless and hes projecting that onto you.

I have empathy for that. It took me years to crawl out of that space. But beware: Some people never do. Instead of learning how to become open-chested, instead of embracing vulnerability as the cure to their inflexible, defensive, anxious, blaming postures (Bjorks album title: Vulnicura), some people retreat, get defensive and anxious, and blame others for everything thats wrong in their lives.

Theyre trying. But theyre too anxious to make space for anyone else. When they try to listen, they make faces like youre force-feeding them something disgusting. They have low self-esteem, so they feel bullied all the time, even in the most mundane circumstances. In less-intimate relationships, they seem to function well, but with partners and close friends, they return to the same perceived offenses again and again. You can say, Yes, but we hashed this out already. Or Yes, but that wasnt really the fulcrum point of everything bad thats happened since then. Or even YES, THAT WAS THE WORST. Acknowledgment, patience, lots of room, affection, consistency, a million apologies: If theres no self-reflection and vulnerability in the mix, it doesnt help.

The people I know who are like this sound exactly like your boyfriend: But Iceland! they say, 20 years after Iceland. You are supposed to drop everything when you hear the word Iceland. Iceland proves that youre bad, youre selfish, and youre actively oppressing them just by existing.

I know that sounds harsh, but the stakes are high for you: You love him, but youre stuck on this Iceland thing, too, because it doesnt make sense. Its smart to recognize that. Its smart to stop and say: ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS? Its smart to notice that he thinks you still need to be punished for Iceland. Its smart to recognize that you will always answer to Iceland if you decide to stick around. We can get back together, slowly, he says, on my terms, carefully, but I get to be wishy-washy, I get to get angry, I get to back away, I get to blame you, BECAUSE ICELAND. Iceland means that everything is on my terms now. Iceland keeps me safe from you.

Thats not growth. Let him grow alone instead. Let him learn to be open-chested without you.

Do you have flaws? Sure. Should you look closely at how aggressively you pursue your own agenda? Yes. Most of us need to look at that, in order to be better partners and friends. But thats a very common, low-stakes challenge, compared to being defensive and stuck. You wanted to do something nice and you made a few mistakes. You tried to make it better and you apologized. But he kept returning not to the intention, not to the accidents that anyone could make, not to the apologies, but to the fact that YOU ARE TO BLAME, YOU DID THIS TO HIM. If you marry this man right now and he never looks closely at himself and never goes to therapy, you will regret it. Your friends are baffled by him because he is baffling. He has issues he needs to address.

Im sure hes a nice person and I know you love him and this hurts. Its going to take a lot of work and belief in vulnerability and growth for him to express his desires directly and stop making other people responsible for what happens to him. He needs to understand: This is about intimacy. Intimacy scares the fuck out of him, and makes him angry. My guess is that he didnt feel safe in his most intimate, affectionate relationships as a kid, so you make him feel tremendously unsafe and angry. He keeps saying that Iceland is a metaphor because some part of him is looking for a metaphor, a story that will lead him out of the darkness. And maybe this Iceland metaphor will help him in therapy. But if you wait around for him to grow up, then youre not honoring your own growth.

Keep in mind, the reason he called you crying right after he broke up with you is the same reason he blames you for things that arent your fault: He needs you, but he resents the fact that he needs you. When guys are in this state, they keep sleeping with you, on and off, until they find someone else who will take care of them, someone who gives off the illusion of being right in all the ways you were wrong. This is how immature, defensive people operate. Dont get tangled up in that mess. Move forward with your own life instead.

Go to Iceland. Thats your first step. Go without him, and consider deeply what kind of a life you really want. Remember Bjork while youre there. It takes a special kind of bravery to wear a dress that looks like a swan to the Oscars. It takes a special kind of bravery to write a whole album about getting dumped by your husband.

Its pretty common, actually, for a strong, decisive woman like Bjork to wake up one day and discover that her partner secretly resents her power. Even a famous artist like Matthew Barney can resent a strong woman. But seriously, what are you going to do? I guess you couldve let your ex get a place of his own instead of saving him when he moved to your city. Some guys dont want to look back on a story like that, even if they say it forced them to grow up. They cant stand it when you bring it up, either. They need an Iceland to counteract it.

Men dont always like a woman who upstages them, who is more capable and maybe braver than they are. You cant understand why theyre so tepid, and then it comes out: They want someone to be a pretty background while theyre the main attraction. Other guys just dont want to be asked to bring everything they have to the table. They dont want to share, because sharing and intimacy feel like being manipulated to them. Theyre stuck, but they dont want your help, either.

But let me be clear: Some guys are just plain grateful that you pulled them out of the shit. They love that youre so capable. They love that you know what the fuck youre doing.

Some men want you at your absolute best, and some men dont. I didnt realize how important that distinction was when I was younger. If you choose a man who resents your power and feels small whenever you feel big, youre very likely to give up your own power and independence and happiness just to soothe him. You wont just have a bad relationship, in other words, youll also feel insecure in your career, angry with your friends, and unhappy in general. And even when you compromise yourself to prop a man up, he might still feel like youre robbing him of his independence.

So before you make a lifelong commitment to someone, you need to know if he appreciates you when youre firing on all pistons. You want someone whos confident enough to say, That swan dress is nutballs, for sure. But it looks fantastic on you, and I bet theyll still be talking about it 15 years from now.

Whatever happens next, this is your moment to commit to being open-chested. Forward movement is impossible without vulnerability. When youre vulnerable, you can look at yourself and say, Sometimes Im weak. Sometimes Im anxious, and I make mistakes. You can look at your partner and say, Sometimes youre weak. Sometimes youre unfair, but I forgive you. But you can also say, Sometimes I need you to drop your hard position and be kind to me instead. Sometimes I need you to be the strong one, the one who makes plans, the one who dares to look into the future, who dares to picture the best-case scenario instead of the worst.

But for some people, every story is the same. There is always an Iceland. And if you want to be truly happy in this imperfect world, you will turn back from every coagulated, blaming, angry path to another Iceland. You will lead with love instead. Each new moment presents a new opportunity to believe in yourself, to believe in your fragile center, to believe in a whole world full of open-chested people who can appreciate what you have to give. You can be capable and smart and opinionated and a little intense and still be loved by someone who is thrilled to know you, with your energy and your great big heart. All that matters is who is open-chested.

Polly

Order the new Ask Polly book, How to Be a Person in the World, here. Got a question for Polly? Email askpolly@nymag.com. Her advice column appears here every Wednesday.

All letters to askpolly@nymag.com become the property of Ask Polly and New York Media LLC and will be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical correctness.
The 21 Chibok girls who were released by Boko Haram attend a meeting on October 19, 2016, with the Nigerian president. Photo: PHILIP OJISUA/AFP/Getty Images

Ten weeks after they were released by Boko Haram, 21 Nigerian schoolgirls were reunited with their families just in time for the holidays. According to CNN, they arrived home on Thursday after a flight from Abuja to Yola in eastern Nigeria and a six-hour road trip north to Chibok.

The girls were among hundreds kidnapped by the terrorist organization in April 2014. Boko Haram released periodic videos of the girls, who were forcibly converted to Islam and kept in captivity, sometimes going for long periods of time without food. For one month and 10 days we stayed without food, one girl, Glory Dama, told CNN. I narrowly escaped a bomb blast in the forest. I did not know that a day like this will come, that we will be dancing and giving thanks to God among people.

Thank you for all the kind messages about my report on #ChibokGirls heading home for Christmas. These girls are beautiful and amazing. #CNN pic.twitter.com/QGLzushhPF  Isha Sesay (@IamIshaSesay) December 27, 2016

The Nigerian government tried and failed to negotiate the girls release three times; negotiations reportedly fell through because Boko Haram changed its demands each time.

There are still 197 schoolgirls in captivity, and negotiations to free them are ongoing, although a source told CNN that current negotiations only involve 83.
the inside game

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored

The Most Important Senate Race Is Also the Most Ignored
NOOOOO

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FFFUUCCKK

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YOU MONSTER!!!!!!!

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the only film that never fails me

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FUCKKK OFFFFFFFFFFFF





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i don't even need to watch the movie clip, the music alone gets to me







Edited at 2016-12-26 11:59 pm (UTC)

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The agony of waiting for Shadow to show up... Kills me everytime.

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fuck :( I loved this movie so much tho

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I cry like a baby every goddamn time. The moment Shadow comes limping into view, I lose all control over my emotions.

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i'll go die now

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one time when i was subbing, a class was watching this during inside recess and i was sobbing at the teacher's desk and the student teacher looked at me like i was batshit

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student teacher has no soul

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COME ON, THAT'S NOT FAIR AT ALL.

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Do not watch this when you've got a dying pet. I made that mistake last week and I still haven't recovered tbh.

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LOOK AT THAT FACE

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This movie was everything. I would rewind the scene when the dogs & cat are reunited with each other over & over again.

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FUCK YOU

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OMFG. The best and the worst all at the same time.

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This always gets me in the feels. :(

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OMG NOOOOOOO. I was so upset at the end of this movie.

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E.T and The Champ. Always :(

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the fox and the hound when she leaves the fox in the woods always makes me cry like a baby



and of course mufasa dying in the lion king :( basically disney movies always get me lmao

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and he doesn't understand so he tries to go back with her!! :'( broke my heart lol

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the fox and the hound is the worst movie ever :( I'm still traumatized

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ughhh @ The Fox and the Hound. Wrecks me every time. Ahh I can't even think about it.

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I finally watched this movie a couple years ago because EVERYBODY tells me it's the saddest thing ever.



I obviously had to watch it as a child because I found it incredibly boring and not sob-worthy at all.

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The Fox and the Hound. :(

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The Fox and the Hound had one of the best endings in Disney imo



It was so sad, but very real. Extremely bittersweet.

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the Fox and the Hound is brutal omg

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Just thinking about the Fox & the Hound makes me sad lol

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ugh yes at both of these. i cry every time.

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How/why did my parents let me see The Fox and the Hound?!?! That scene is not designed for easily crying people like me. And another one is Dumbo. When he goes to see her "jailed" mom and the lullaby starts my eyes are already full of tears



Edited at 2016-12-28 05:08 am (UTC)

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Inside Out legit makes me come close to sobbing. :(((((

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uGH

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That just breaks my heart every fucking time. :((((((((

They could have just sang, like, at the top of their lungs or something...it didn't have to end that way. :((((

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OMG STOP

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NO! What makes me feel better is that I wasn't the only one crying at my theater, you had me, my brother, our friend, the guy next to me, the girl behind us and the guy in front of us, sobbing all over the place :(

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WHY THO

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fuuuuucckkkk off

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That movie's so good. ;; And yeah Bing Bong's story is heartwrenching but the ending when she finally opens up to her parents got me too.

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I asked my daughter if she wanted to watch Inside Out again the other day and she said, "ok but don't cry when bing bong dies this time mommy." Aaaand that was the day I learned my 4 year old is emotionally stronger than I am.

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I wept at the damn Lava short before the movie, cried when Bing Bong died, and then just felt terrible in general during a lot of the rest of it. But I was going through shit at the time which kinda compounded my emotions in general tho. :/

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my friend and i saw that in theaters and the moment when riley loses it and starts crying we both just started crying lmao fuck that movie

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I cried for a solid 20 mins afterwards

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This movie bloody destroyed me.

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Omg, no. I love this movie sfm, but I can't watch it. I turn into a sobbing mess.

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I have not watched this and have no plans to. I don't think I could stand the pain!

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my brother and sister didn't know the story before the movie and they came into my room WAILING and i got so scared because i legit thought someone had died lmao

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this movie is fucking soul destroying. i can't even watch the trailer without wanting to sob my eyes out. the first time i saw it, i had snot streaming out of my nose and my eyes were bloodshot with tears. i wasn't prepared for how devastating the end of the movie was.

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i love this movie even if it does make me cry

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This one omg TT

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Nah. I feel sad for him but not enough to cry. He lived a good and cultured life

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it doesn't make me cry, just makes me hate jenny.

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omg yes he loved her so much and she treated him horribly ugh :|

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its not even a good movie loool

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this whole thread is killing me. i'm not even allowed to watch forrest gump anymore because i cry so often during it lol

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Yup. Same with Titanic which I find so boring.

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Prob nostalgic Baby Boomers tbh. I'm still waiting for a Millennial version ngl.

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it's such a long movie and i've only watched it all the way through maybe 3 times or so. it's the end that gets me.

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i love their friendship sfm

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Fuuuck this DEVASTATED me when I watched it in the anime

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all movies involving animals dying/missing their owners/being sad/being heroic/just being cute af, etc. make me sob.

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I watched a really crap 80's movie the other night and a doggie died in a fight with some dudes who were trying to attack his owner 

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Agreed on all accounts

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I cannot handle these AT ALL

NO



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I can't watch them at all

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Same. I can't even watch the scene from Futurama where Fry's dog waits for him.

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Same. 100% I will cry if the movie features a sad animal or an animal dying (even more so if it's a dog). I've accepted it at this point. It's too much for me.





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same

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Omg I get so angry if someone recommends a movie to me and the dog DIES. I am still super pissed. Especially when it seems to come out of nowhere and I was actually enjoying it and the story would be just as impactful without the death. Like in Hunt for the Wilderpeople.



Or if it dies having suffered like stupid John wick or The Lobster. 

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i cried on christmas because of a headline about a dog being left out in the cold by its shitty owners. he was rescued though but oh god i hate hate HATE people who are cruel to animals. ugh.

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atonement, never let me go, eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, and in the mood for love - all put me in that ~devastated~ mood.



(tbh, i'm v. emotional and cry easily while watching anything really so most of the time, i try to avoid movies w/ obviously devastating storylines...)

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Never let me go makes me so sad for a few days tbh

I've watched eternal sunshine of the spotless mind once, and that's enough for me. It was so depressing, I was sad for about a week.

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i can't watch never let me go. it makes me sad for days on end

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yess all of these + blue valentine fuck me up

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I love Atonement and Eternal Sunshine so much. I need to re-watch In the Mood for Love again, I fell asleep during it (through no fault of the movie, I was just really tired). It was filmed so beautifully.

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atonement makes me want to DIE ITS SO DEPRESSING the first time i watched it i cried so hard i got the flu the next day???? like i was a mESS

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omg I remember renting ESOTSM thinking it was a comedy and I cried for like half the movie. WTF

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What about

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I hated Ash and this just destroyed me as a little kid

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The Land Before Time





Pleasantville (the entire second half)





Mississippi Damned (especially the finale, fuck)





Titanic (duh)



A Little PrincessThe Land Before TimePleasantville (the entire second half)Mississippi Damned (especially the finale, fuck)Titanic (duh)

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The land before time makes me cry rivers.

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I bet you know this but the old Rooter character who tells Littlefoot that his mother's death wasn't his fault was included to make it less traumatic. They cut about 10 minutes of footage " too frightening or too difficult for children to understand." Man I wish we could see Don Bluth's original vision.

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me too, it was my favourite movie as a child. his mom's death and when he first finds himself alone made me feel so anxious and desperate.

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A Little Princess gets the tears going for sure.

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Pleasantville and A Little Princess both are fantastic movies that make me feel hopeful more than anything else. Yea, there are sad times but the endings are great.

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A Little Princess is one of my favorite movies. The score is amazing.

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land before time definitely ;~~~; and poor ducky irl

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In The Land Before Time, the part where the baby dinosaur tries to give Littlefoot his cherry always gets me.

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i cried a couple of times during return of the king

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yep, weepy

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Saaaammeee

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Oh God, same here

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i still cry in the first one when Gandalf 'dies' :x

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Ugh I cry every time, I can't watch it now I'm in public

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I haven't even seen lotr and im tearin up lol

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ah, this part always gets me

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omfg i skipped through the build up and started at "you bow to no one" and i STILL teared up

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My friend can't watch this movie anymore because she cries so much.



I love it though. There's so many good moments.

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this scene always gets me.

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When Sam says "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you" to Frodo it gets me.

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It's weird



The first 50 times I watched RotK I never cried but idk something happened this year on the first of whatever rewatches I do that I just bawled.



Just cried like a little baby.



Boromir's death always gets me tho.

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Ride of the Rohirrim fo sho

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I'm currently on vacation in Switzerland and ROTK was playing on TV here last night dubbed in German. I was able to watch it bc I know all the words by heart lol.

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When Aragorn says softly "For Frodo" I get hit in the feels.

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i watched the trilogy at christmas and sobbed uncontrollably at some points



Edited at 2016-12-27 06:54 pm (UTC)

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I've never cried during titanic



I cried during Inside Out with that part with Bing Bong :(

Still Alice made me emotional too

I don't really cry during movies



Even though the first movie that made me cry was glitter lmao, in my defense I was 10 when I watched it, and it was the first grown up movie I ever watched

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Bing Bing was SO UNEXPECTED to me. I am super guillible and bad at predicting any plot change, so I'm always surprised and destroyed. Why do I even watch movies, tbh

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I KNOW when that part I came I was like W H A T

LMAO ME!!!

I always try and come up with scenarios but most time I'm taken aback, unless it's super obvious

But I'm also ~that person~ who asks too anybody questions while watching a movie (not in theater though, only at home)

Sorry for the late response 

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I never cry during Titanic either, I hate that movie sfm

it's so sappy and annoying

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I don't cry either. I just get sad.

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i remember being traumatized as a kid after watching my girl. "he can't see without his glasses"

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+1

I came to this post to comment practically the same.

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that scene gets me every fucking time.

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Oh noooooo, My Girl ;_;

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OH fuck me, why'd you quote that line??? :_(

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I caught that on TV once, and it DESTROYED me. Full-on ugly sobbing.

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Oh goodness, My Girl had me tearing up when I was a child. I'm afraid to watch it as an adult because I'd likely have the same reaction.

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I was totally traumatized by that movie. My parents got it for me on VHS and I think I was only able to make it through one watch of it. I was too freaked out to see it again.

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i cried so much when watching for the first time that movie. i still adore this movie tho and i don't cry anymore just get a bit sad

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That was the first movie I remember wrecking me as a kid.

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What I wouldn't give for Tom Cruise to call me white devil and curse me in public. It would be so cool.

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Mte. He could just say it to my face in a room filled with people and I'd be like "DID Y'ALL JUST HEAR WHAT TOM CRUISE SAID TO ME?"

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lol I'm getting mean girls "one time she punched me in the face" vibes from this thread

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Props to her for doing this. And props for her show touching on Lisa McPherson's death, even if it was a brief moment, Going Clear didn't even do that.

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I had no idea about that. I really want to look into more but I think it might be too overwhelming. It's just so heartbreaking.

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I find it interesting and horrifying that after her death, that David Miscarriage wanted the sidewalk of the church to be "worked on""or bulldozed" so that protesters won't protest near the church.

He is such a megalomaniac.

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Don't Google her, bb. There's autopsy photos all over the place :/ Try to use a search engine that doesn't have images pop up with results.



Edited at 2016-12-27 05:00 pm (UTC)

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What happened to her?

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I remember hearing about Lisa McPherson's story ages ago when someone put together the YTMND clip. The pictures of everything used to send many chills down my spine. I am so glad her death was mentioned.

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I used not to like her, but after this, she's my fucking hero.

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Same. I went from thinking she was very abrasive (and she reminds me of a relative that I have some baggage with), but after watching the first few eps, I'm praying she stays safe. I'm GLAD for her personality because I don't know how many other people would be tenacious enough for this job.

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Exactly. I thought she was too loud, and I had this "who does she think she is" attitude toward her. I started to soften up to her when she appeared as a guest judge in Rupaul's Drag Race, but now her attitude is an atribute for this.

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I think she will be safe. she's putting herself constantly in the media and saying shit about scientology and they can't touch her because everyone is watching. it's the safest way to be. i'm glad she's speaking out and being so blunt. i need to read her book.

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Same

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What floored me was the sheer amount of money she stated would be required to have to be spent on materials and etc. to attain the highest levels... OT VIII I believe? A quarter of a million dollars if not more. THAT is just.... WOW. She is absolutely right when she says that you need to be really wealthy already to do anything. But people go in anyway, and plunk down their entire life savings to.... what? It's baloney.



Not to mention the organization's whole thing about disconnection when one leaves. Families broken beyond repair, some never to see each other again. It's tragic and so, so wrong.



Leah, keep fighting the good fight. Keep getting the word out there. Her series has been really good.

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And what's also super fucked up about that is they drop all this money, work for SeaOrg/church in whatever capacity, and receive no education at all. So if they want to leave not only are they broke and in debt, they have no job history or education at all. I can't imagine it's easy for any one of them to find a job.

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Her ama was something else. I have so much respect for her. This cult needs to die.

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I'm reading it now. Holy shit, she is such a badass.

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i was cracking up at the question that was like 'what is the biggest rumor about scientology that is true' and her response was 'i have yet to see any rumor about scientology'. it was funny and harsh and true at the same time.

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love her

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This is so fucking rad. $cientology makes it their business to ruin the lives of people who speak out against them so the fact that she refuses to let up is AMAZING.

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At this point I think her being so in upfront about it is her insurance policy. If anything happens to her now, it'd be really shady and there'd be a massive investigation involving the church. If I were her, I'd be concerned about fading into obscurity and then the church could basically do whatever.

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This is what I'm worried about. Being in the spotlight people are going to notice if she's suddenly missing...

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She probably also has security around constantly so she can't get approached. Lisa Marie Presley apparently had a shit ton of security around her home after she left.

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She is a badass for this

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still need to watch this show, bc she seems to just keep going in on them but her ama had me stanning a bit

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He is evil.

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It makes me cry too. And my friend. She'll turn to me and we'll both have tears in our eyes. It's such a good show. Heartbreaking, but good. I can't believe a&he had to balls to put this out.

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I've been pleasantly surprised with her series. It's actually really fucking good.

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It really is. I'm enjoying it so much more than going clear. HBO really hyped that up so I was expecting to see Tom cruise eating human flesh or something, but it really didn't have much that I didn't already know. Her series is much more personal.

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I actually think Aftermath is more interesting and better made than Going Clear. Which shocked the shit out of me.

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Are there reruns online or on demand or something?! how many episodes?? i could go for a good series

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i don't follow her career at all but i might have to stan her

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I remember watching her awful sitcom because there was nothing else to watch, and disliking her and everyone else there on it. Now I'm in awe of her for what she's doing.

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she's worthy of your stanning~

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for years I thought she was a brusque bitch. she definitely would come off that way in her interviews and the talk and the wedding and baby specials she did while still a member.



now she's definitely earned my respect for sure. idk if I like her though. not that she would care lol.

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I love her strong personality lmao I became a fan of hers after seeing how much she loved bugging the shit out of EllenI love her strong personality lmao

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I really hope this gets renewed if she's willing to do it. I hope it becomes more than just a miniseries.

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She recently tweeted that she was enough worthy stories to do 10 seasons of it so here's hoping!

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I was wondering the same thing! How do they have such nice homes after losing everything to scientology?

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Haven't a lot of them written books? could be the money from the books paid for their homes.

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That weird update about Shelly Miscavige is so strange and I wouldn't be surprised if the police report Leah filed was purposefully tossed and not just forgotten about.

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It was. It's actually a huge part of why she left scientology. She was at Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes' wedding, and noticed that Shelly wasn't there, when she was ALWAYS around for big stuff like that. When she asked everyone turned on her. She wasn't supposed to ask questions. She got written up by a shitton of people for being destructive, when scientology had taught her to ask questions and to not take things at face value - except, of course, scientology doctrine.

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wait, what update?

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The press tour for episode VIII is going to be so sad. ;_; I still can't believe she's gone.

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she was JUST on talk shows, it feels surreal...



2016 has sucked so hard





My favorite teacher died, my grandma died, my best friend's grandma died...it fucking sucked.



Edited at 2016-12-27 09:17 pm (UTC)

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Seriously. I haven't watched her Graham Norton interview yet but it's sitting on my DVR. It's going to be so sad when I do get around to watching it.

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she was just on 8oo10c last week, it was only filmed 2 weeks ago :/



She looked in great health so this (the heart attack) felt like it came out of nowhere :(







Edited at 2016-12-27 09:33 pm (UTC)

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I was rewatching her TFA interviews/TFA stuff before going for Rogue One and dying w laughter @her describing how her acting school training led to Leia's accent turning British when she was pissed off.



Hard to believe she's not with us anymore, I hope her family have all the support they need.

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I don't think I'll be able to stand the press tour, it'll be more of a wake now. Everything will be in her memory(rightfully) it'll be so gutwrenching

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I'm seriously wondering if they will have to do reshoots.

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I know. The cast and set is going to be somber? :(

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Did he ever comment on carries revelation of their relationship? I hope he was supportive bc it'd be sad if his last contact with her wasn't great. He seems like he dgaf about much, esp since it was so many decades ago

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She said that she told him she was putting it in her book and he was fine with it

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Bless. So glad. I can't imagine a loved one dying and my last words to them were angry or hateful.





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I thought she sent it to him and asked if there's anything he wanted taken out and he just never responded?

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i love this bc of who she was i read this as "i'm putting you in my book and you're fine with it."

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Knowing him, he probably didn't give enough of a fuck to make a comment tbh lol

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It's been decades and they're clearly on good terms. I'm sure he didn't mind.

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This whole thing is just so sad, I'm in shock.

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I can't believe this is still real, I refuse :(

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Carrie was iconic as Leia, but she was also really good comic relief in supporting roles over the years too. I loved her bits in Shampoo, Hannah & Her Sisters, When Harry Met Sally and Austin Powers. So wonderful.



She also had a lovely singing voice just like her mom





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omg in a playboy costume lol

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this is so weird, her voice here sounds the same as it sounded at 60, she had a really mature voice here too

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her deep voice in SW was a game changer for me, I'd only heard her dubbed before & it didn't do her justice at all

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aw she's beautiful here. love her voice.

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aw i finally got the laverne and shirley dvds for christmas

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I love her voice! :(

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I've never heard her sing! I knew she'd have a nice voice though, both her parents are such good singers

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LMAO crossing her legs for her on the piano. XD



She did have a great voice. <3

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oh god im crying now :( she sounds just like her mum :'(

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Aw! I wonder how Penny Marshall is dojng, IIRC she and Carrie were longtime BFFs.

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i can't believe this is real

i also read mark's tweet and felt really bad for him

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fook I can't imagine what mark and him are feeling right now :(

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i just want to wish this into being a bad dream :(

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2016 should take Trump next tbh. Do us a solid bb

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I can't even explain how happy that would make me

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mike pence too, make it a 2 for 1 deal

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yes, god

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then we're left with President Paul Spineless Ryan

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DO IT!!

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Please and thank you.

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Right? the universe owes us

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Trump and Nigel Farage together, make it a double whammy 2016!

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woody allen, polanski, sean penn, pence, anyone. just fucking redeem yourself 2016

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evil assholes like trump & co live till they are 100 years old.



Edited at 2016-12-27 09:26 pm (UTC)

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WOODY ALLEN BETTER BE NEXT

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We don't even need them dead, just incapacitated for 4 years.

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nah, he should wait until 2017 and kick it off right. the year of people that deserve to go finally dying

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Seriously, he looks like a decaying corpse left out in the water too long AND he apparently only eats fast food, why the fuck did Carrie Fisher have to have the massive heart attack and not him :(

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So you can have Mike Pence as president of the united states?

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Unfortunately evil seems to last forever.





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Trump and his whole cabinet. And if possible, we'd get Carrie back in return.

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I'd love that. Unfortunately that monster's cold blackened heart is probably still going to be pumping in the year 3016

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mfte, he's long overdue.

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they must be devastated, i can only imagine how they are feeling



the fact that she's around my mom's age like damn, you never know your hour :/

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My first thought tbh :/ my mom is only a year younger

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60 is too young :/



i wonder how this impacts the upcoming star wars movies. i can only imagine how much would need to be changed around.

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IF Kylo Ren had a redemption arc planned that's over now, she would have been integral to it. After Han there's just no way he could be redeemed without Liea specifically forgiving him.



Watching the next two is going to be so hard :(

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I'll def be sobbing while watching the next one.

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See, I'm of the opposite opinion. It would be horrible for Leia's legacy and overall story arch if her son didn't get redeemed. So much of Leia's life has been tragic and it shouldn't end that way as well.

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i'm sure they will still have a redemption arc for kylo

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There are other ways they can show that. I wouldn't want them to do a full CGI resurrection for Carrie like they did with Peter Cushing (which weirded me out and I wasn't fully okay with it) but it'd be alright if they gave her a brief non-speaking moment as a force ghost or something short and respectful like that. IDK, I can't see them NOT doing a redemption arc for Kylo, fucking everyone with even a shred of internal conflict gets a redemption moment in Star Wars.

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I feel bad for immediately wondering how they'll change the storyline for ep. 9 now.

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The last thing I care about some annoying whiny fictional villain who murdered his own father dumb redemption arc. Especially when a irl good person just passed away.

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Right? I assumed she was going to be integral to Kylo's redemption. Maybe they'll have Luke take over that role.

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This and the love theme were always my favorites from the SW soundtracks. They sound so romantic

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bowing to Queen Leia, she was in the fight so long ahead of the rest of the trio that she's literally the first person named at the very start of A New Hope in the opening crawl.

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This theme is so gorgeous. In the making of book, when John Williams showed the tracks to the cast, Carrie fell in love that John wrote a theme for her and she went around bragging about it to Mark (to which Mark replied by saying that he thought the 'Force' theme was unofficially his). But, yeah. When I think of this song, I feel that John also captured Carrie in it as well. John Williams has a tendency to do that with his music - capture not only the character but the person as well.

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Mark had some of the best anecdotes about Carrie



apparently when the revelation that Luke and Leia were twins came out, the first thing he asked was since he was her bro and she was a princess, did that make him royalty too? And Carrie went "NO!" bc she hated the idea of sharing royalty status lol. It's such a weirdly siblinglike exchange.

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Aww, that's a really sweet anecdote and I'd never heard it before. <3



He's had the chance to live a long and full life so it won't be tragic in the same exact way, but I'll still be a wreck whenever it's John Williams' time to go.

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I love how so many Mark/Carrie anecdotes come off like siblings arguing over who has better toys/refusing to share their toys lol.

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This and the Godfather soundtrack are so brilliant they send chills down my spine. one of a kind classics

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I'm so upset by this I feel sick, the next Star Wars press tour and even movie will be unbearable.





I'm glad I saw Rouge One last night, I think it would have ended me to see it now

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I'm so glad I caught it for my third watch over Sunday, I still had hope she'd pull through and I'd left the theatre sobbing anyway. After this, tho.... it really will end me.

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I'm going for my second viewing tonight

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I had just come back from the theatre when I heard the news :'(



Edited at 2016-12-27 11:46 pm (UTC)

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I spoiled myself and I havent watched yet. Don't know how I'm going to

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I thought she was going to make it. This is awful. :(



2016 death machine taking the wrong people

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To begin, we will take a quick look at some of the critical figures and data in the energy markets before analyzing the key events of the week.

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Chart of the Week

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 Much has been made about the collapse of the coal industry in the U.S., with lots of blame on federal regulations. But the largest single factor in Big Coals decline has been cheap natural gas.

 The shale gas revolution led to the collapse of prices long before a similar trend unfolded for oil. Consistently cheap gas has undercut the case for coal in the electric power sector. Coal is still cheaper than gas on a strictly fuel cost basis, but gas has many more advantages over coal, leading to its displacement.

 Nevertheless, environmental regulations have added to the difficulties for coal, and more importantly, looking forward, utilities are planning for a lower-carbon electric power sector, which plays to the benefit of gas.

Market Movers

 Panasonic (OTCPK: PCRFY) and Tesla (NYSE: TSLA) have agreed to ramp up solar PV manufacturing in the summer of 2017, with production set to hit 1 GW by 2019.

 Workers of Petrobras (NYSE: PBR) authorized a strike in Brazils largest oil producing region, the Santos Basin. The union has rejected a 6 percent pay raise.

 Blackstone Group (NYSE: BX) is considering a purchase of the assets of Energy Transfer Partners (NYSE: ETP), a deal that could be worth more than $5 billion. ETPs share price rose on the news.

Tuesday December 27, 2016

Oil prices moved up to start the week as light holiday trading and relatively low volatility have provided a rare period of calm in the oil markets. The looming OPEC cuts are adding a bit of optimism to oil, with WTI moving above $53 per barrel and Brent topping $55 per barrel. Related: Oil Consumption Is Immune To A Transport Transformation

OPEC and non-OPEC cuts set to begin next week. The oil production cuts that OPEC and a handful of non-OPEC countries agreed to will take effect on January 1. The deal calls for a six-month average, so even leaving aside the possibility of cheating, participating countries are not exactly obliged to start cuts immediately. The cuts could take place at a later date so that average levels hit the targeted range by June. Moreover, data on what exactly is happening at the ground level will come in on a delay, with January output levels not published until February. As a result, while the oil markets are optimistic that OPEC and non-OPEC countries are accelerating the move towards a balance, we may not get a clear picture if that is indeed the case for a few months. In the most bullish case, OPEC and non-OPEC take a combined 1.8 million barrels of oil per day off the market by mid-year, which would likely push the supply/demand balance into a deficit. Presumably that would lead to a rise in oil prices, but analysts are skeptical that such a scenario will truly play out. To go above $60 is going to be difficult. Were already close to the top rather than the bottom of the range right now, Olivier Jakob, oil analyst with Petromatrix, told Reuters. From January, well start to have a better idea about the level of OPEC production. That is going to be more and more of a focus.

Oil analysts see prices averaging $58 per barrel in 2017. A survey of oil analysts puts oil at $58 per barrel over the course of 2017, fueled by tighter conditions after the OPEC cuts. The prices would be up roughly a quarter from this years average. The big question, however, is how quickly and how substantially U.S. shale output comes roaring back. Citigroup estimates an increase of 500,000 barrels per day if oil prices average $60 per barrel. Macquerie largely concurs, with the firm predicting a 1 mb/d increase if oil prices rise above $60. Its going to take them a while to gear up, Mike Wittner, head of commodities research at Societe General, told Bloomberg. The investments got to gather pace, the drillers and the fracking contractors also need time. Its a gradual process.

Shell buys offshore wind. Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) has agreed to purchase wind power off the coast of the Netherlands. Shell owns 50 percent of the offshore wind farm. The move is seen as the prequel to more renewable energy ventures in the years ahead, as activist shareholders are pushing oil companies towards cleaner technologies. The move could be a smart way for oil majors, under pressure from tightening climate policy, to diversify and hedge against policy risk. And who better to do the job than companies with engineering and offshore knowhow. This agreement allows us to develop our expertise in wind management as well as to establish Shell Energy Europe as an active participant in the renewable electricity market in Europe, Jonathan McCloy, an executive with Shells energy trading arm in northwest Europe, said in a statement.

Energy bonds one of juiciest returns in 2016. Oil prices bottomed out at roughly $27 per barrel in February, with the entire sector battered by the commodity bust. Yields on energy bonds spiked, particularly for those companies in distressed territory. But oil and gas companies that survived the downturn offered savvy investors the best returns of the year if they got the timing right. A survey of energy debt by Bloomberg found that energy bonds surged 37 percent from a low point earlier this year, way more than broader funds or even junk-bond indices. Related: The Craziest Oil Price Predictions For 2017

Mexico becomes net-importer of oil and gas products with U.S. Mexico has long been a substantial oil producer, sending crude north to its larger neighbor. But a few developments in just the past few years have upended that relationship. Mexicos crude oil production is falling; U.S. oil production has surged and so has the export of refined fuels; and Mexicos economy is expanding, leading to higher fuel demand. The net result is that Mexicos rapidly rising imports of refined products has led to it becoming a net-importer of fossil fuel from the United States. American refiners along the Gulf Coast, as well as oil and gas producers in Texas, are benefitting from the evolution in the trading relationship. More pipelines are set to come online between Texas and northern Mexico in the next few years, which will lead to an expansion in U.S. gas exports to Mexico.

Alaska looking at oil drilling. Although President Obama moved to permanently ban Arctic oil drilling, a couple members of Congress from Alaska are considering legislation that will overturn the ban. The removal of offshore Arctic was done in such a way that the incoming Trump administration would have trouble overturning it. However, an act of Congress might do the trick.

By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com

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An eventful year for oil is coming to an end. During the year, crude oil sank to depths unseen since 2003, but recovered nicely to above $52 per barrel by December. We saw OPEC hammer out a deal to cut production, another first in eight years, and non-OPEC nations like Russia also pitched in with their contribution to a production cut.

Will 2017 also be another year of ups and downs, or does the picture for next year look much better for the oil bulls? Lets analyze.

EIA projections

The latest Short-Term Energy Outlook released on December 6, forecasts Brent to average $52 a barrel and WTI to average $51 a barrel in 2017. While the EIA expects both Brent and WTI to average $50 a barrel during the first half of 2017, the second half is likely to see higher oil prices of $55 a barrel.

Global inventory builds are likely to average 0.4 million bpd for 2017, with the first half showing higher builds at 0.8 million bpd.

As far as total world production and consumption is concerned, the EIA forecasts 97.42 million barrels per day in production, whereas demand is forecast to be 96.99 million barrels per day.

OPEC crude oil production is likely to be 33.2 million bpd in 2017. Nigeria continues to struggle due to militant attacks, and similarly, Libya is also held back by tribal militia infighting. Related: Oil Traders See Market Balance By Mid-2017

Global oil demand is expected to increase by 1.6 million bpd in 2017, and the real oil-weighted world GDP growth is expected to be 2.7 percent in 2017. An increase in demand has been factored in considering the strong PMI numbers in India, China, Europe and the U.S., which indicates increased oil demand.

What are the risks to higher oil prices?

There are a few risks, which we believe will limit the rally in crude oil prices.

1. Though the OPEC nations will follow up on their promise to cut production in the first two or three months of 2017, they are unlikely to continue any further. The fiscal situation in the oil producing nations cannot sustain any decrease in revenues, as most are reeling under the pressure of low oil prices.

2. Higher oil prices will revive the shale oil industry in the U.S., which will attempt to increase its exports into new markets, thereby threatening to enter markets previously dominated by the middle east nations. As this is a real threat, OPEC members will start pumping frantically so as to not lose their hard-earned market share.

3. Demand growth from China and India might not be as supportive as 2016. While India is dealing with the demons of demonetization, China has tightened the regulations on its teapot refiners and its storage facilities are filling up. Both these events are likely to reduce demand growth from the two major nations guzzling crude oil.

4. A stronger dollar, as expected by most analysts, will also curb demand. If the U.S. resorts to trade protectionism, it is likely to start trade wars, thereby threatening the global recovery, leading to lower oil demand.

However, in the first quarter, we expect crude oil prices to trade higher to $60 a barrel, as news of the OPEC nations maintaining their quotas will provide a temporary boost. These higher levels are unlikely to be sustained, though.

What do the charts suggest?

(Click to enlarge) Related: 10 Energy Surprises In 2017

The crude oil chart shows an ascending triangle pattern, which is bullish in nature. Though crude oil prices broke out to the upside, there has been little follow-up buying. However, at times, breakouts are unsuccessful during the first attempt. After some consolidation, another attempt is made, which can lead to higher oil prices, which we believe will happen in the first quarter of 2017.

However, $61 is a strong resistance, which is unlikely to be scaled. Higher oil prices will accelerate the shale oil recovery and entice nations like Libya, Iran and Nigeria to ramp up production. Following this, we expect prices to correct in the second quarter onward.

On the downside, the floor for crude oil prices is $52, $44 and $36 per barrel levels. After the initial jump, crude is likely to trade below $52 a barrel for most of the second half of 2017.

By Rakesh Upadhyay for Oilprice.com

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When the first snow fell in late November in Tajikistan, it caught many by surprise, including the countrys power providers.



The last two years have accustomed Tajiks to unusually short winters, seemingly lulling authorities into a state of unpreparedness. The November cold snap stretched a decrepit electricity system to its thinnest point in several years.



Temperatures dropped at one stage in November to several degrees below freezing  an abnormal state of affairs in a nation where people have, on rare occasions, greeted the New Year in light spring clothing. A similarly sharp cold front moved in on December 10.



Many would turn to electricity for heating if they could, but service has been particularly sporadic this year. In line with recent custom, energy-rationing season began in October and was implemented nationwide with the exception of the capital, Dushanbe, and part of the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, which is supplied by the Agha Khan Foundation-run Pamir Energy power provider. In rural areas, households get about five hours of electricity daily, some in the morning and some in the evening.



But this winter, even in Dushanbe, where electricity supplies are normally more reliable, sudden surges in demand appear to be causing outages. With electricity in short supply, many have turned to firewood- and coal-powered household stoves, gas heaters, kerosene lamps, hot water bottles, and even candles to provide some warmth.



The crisis is forcing neighbors to club together. Mavlyuda Obidova, a 45-year old Dushanbe resident, lives with her two children in an apartment in a five-story building that has been afflicted by power cuts. My neighbors are like me, they have two or three children, Obidova told EurasiaNet.org. We have to help each other out. We take turns in the kitchen boiling water and making soup. Some neighbors hand out soup from large pots so as to save time.

There is much conspiracy-theorizing online about whether power surges are truly to blame for the blackouts in Dushanbe. Some wonder whether authorities are using the weather as an excuse to mask their inability to produce enough electricity.



Tajikistans long-strained relationship with neighboring Uzbekistan is a contributing factor for the countrys current power problems. Back in the 1990s, Uzbekistan stopped electricity deliveries to Tajikistan, and it followed up in 2009-2010 by halting sales of natural gas too. The decay of Soviet infrastructure is another major component.



A group of people in Dushanbe has created a dedicated Facebook page called Cold and Dark to discuss the electricity shortage and related issues. Members of the group hope that by publicizing problems, authorities might be moved to take action. This kind of grass roots mobilization has some, albeit a negligible, effect.



Mahmadsaid Ubaidulloev, the mayor of Dushanbe, reacted to the social media grumbling by forcing his deputies and the heads of all four districts of the city to be on round-the-clock duty until March. Contact telephone numbers for heads of city government departments have been made publicly available, but those who have tried calling complain that nobody picks up.



Related: Saudi Use Of Solar Could Boost Its Oil Exports



Some measures smack of despair.



Ubaidulloev has ordered a halt at work in bathhouses and bakeries running on electricity as a power-saving measure.



There is some hot water piped into houses from one heating and power plant in Dushanbe  the TETs-2  but that only extends to 1,200 dwellings. And there, Ubaidulloev has ordered that people only use the heated water flowing into buildings for heating and not for household purposes.



Radiators in many apartment blocks in Dushanbe lie idle, as there is no centralized urban heating network. It is not uncommon for households to saw off their hulking steel radiators and sell for scrap.



Household gas bottles are another way to keep warm, but they carry their own risk. Obidova, the Dushanbe mother of two, said she is the only person in her block with a fully charged gas cylinder. And, strictly speaking, that is a violation of the fire safety code, which considers gas cylinders to be hazards. Anybody found owning gas canisters can be fined up to 600 somoni ($75).



Not everybody has been caught off guard. Those with foresight have been preparing since the summer for the heating season.



Gulbahor Sharipova, 30, said that when her family remodeled their home, they did not bother doing work in one room since they knew that was where the wood-fired stove was going to go.



Related: The Craziest Oil Price Predictions For 2017



The smoke would just leak out and ruin all the redecoration, Sharipova said. So we decided not to touch that one room. We stuck the stove in there, and the whole family, nine people, will get together in one room and cook and boil the water in there.



Of course we know this isnt hygienic, for us all to be in one room, but there is no other way, Sharipova added.



The extent to which Tajikistans energy system has been pushed to the edge was plainly illustrated on October 28, when almost the entire country was plunged into darkness following a technical fault at the all-important Nurek hydropower plant.



Authorities are continuing to pin all their hopes that the countrys heating woes will be resolved on the completion of the first generating unit of the long-awaited Rogun hydropower project.



On October 29, only one day after the nationwide blackout, President Emomali Rahmon oversaw the start to work on stemming the flow of the Vakhsh River as part of construction work on the mega-dam, so some progress has been made. Still, the completion date for the promised generating unit is not known.

By Eurasianet

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Many Palestinians and many of their sympathizers would like to see this vote as a landmark victory for the Palestinian cause in a long campaign to isolate Israel diplomatically and to delegitimize it morally in the eyes of the world. The vote is certainly a propaganda victory for the Palestinian cause, but it does nothing to help the Palestinians in practical terms. Indeed, a sober look at the situation suggests that the Palestinians have not been this weak, this divided or this helpless in many decades. Almost everywhere one looks around the world, the net effect of the policies of the Obama presidency has been to undermine the movements and the values that the President hoped to support; the cause of the Palestinians and the quest for the two state solution are no exceptions to the rule.

Not only have the Palestinian territories devolved into two micro-states (Gaza and the West Bank, so that instead of a two-state solution one would have to speak of a three state solution barring a Palestinian civil war), but both Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank have become increasingly corrupt, ineffective and exhausted. Both of the major Palestinian political organizations depend on foreign paymasters to cover their expenses; neither has shown much ability to build a real state or to solve the problems of the Palestinian people.

... Berlin, Zurich, Ankara, Moscow, with a very nasty plot uncovered in Melbourne, and yet another involving terrorists in Detroit, Maryland, and Virginia. Not to mention the ongoing slaughter in Syria, and, on Christmas day, Cameroon.



What does the western world do in response? Declare the Western Wall occupied territory. This is no accident, since the jihadis believe that they have unleashed holy war against infidels. That war will not end, in their view, until we infidels have been crushed and subjected to the will of a caliph. Theyve got plenty of support from the Russians, without whom thousands of Iranians and Iranian proxies would have been killed in Syria and Iraq, and the Assad regime would have been destroyed.



That would have been a better world, but Obama did not want that world. Nor did the feckless Europeans, who act as if profits on Iran trade compensate for the open subversion of public order. Indeed, as Christmas arrived we were treated to the spectacle of the bishop of Romeaka Pope Francis--blaming material misery for the jihadist assault on the West. Thus the first Jesuit pontiff surrenders the moral high ground to his mortal enemies.



Maybe Obama should convert and run for pope.

Once in office, President Trump should act urgently to mitigate or reverse Resolution 2334s consequences. Mr. Obama has made this significantly harder by rendering America complicit in assaulting Israel. Nonetheless, handled properly, there is an escape from both the current danger zone and the wasteland in which the search for Middle East peace has long wandered.



First, there must be consequences for the adoption of Resolution 2334. The Trump administration should move to repeal the resolution, giving the 14 countries that supported it a chance to correct their error. Nations that affirm their votes should have their relations with Washington adjusted accordingly. In some cases this might involve vigorous diplomatic protests. But the main perpetrators in particular should face more tangible consequences.



As for the United Nations itself, if this mistake is not fixed the U.S. should withhold at least its assessed contributions to the U.N.which amount to about $3 billion annually or 22%-25% of its total regular and peacekeeping budgets. Meanwhile, Washington should continue funding specialized agencies such as the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency, if only to dissuade them from entering the Resolution 2334 swamp.



Second, Mr. Trump should unambiguously reject Mr. Obamas view that Resolution 2334 is justified to save the two-state solution. That goal, at best, has been on life-support for years. After Mr. Obamas provocation, its life expectancy might now be only until Jan. 20. And good riddance. This dead-end vision, by conjuring an imaginary state with zero economic viability, has harmed not only Israel but also the Palestinians, the principal intended beneficiaries.



Far better to essay a three-state solution, returning Gaza to Egypt and giving those parts of the West Bank that Israel is prepared to cede to Jordan. By attaching Palestinian lands to real economies (not a make-believe one), average Palestinians (not their political elite), will have a true chance for a better future. Other alternatives to the two-state approach should also be considered.

There has been much commentary in the aftermath of Barack Obama's contemptible U.N. veto abstention. But as the dust begins to settle, five things have become apparent.First, Barack Obama is anti-IsrealHe's a Leftist and is simply following the meme that views a liberal democracy, Israel, as an "oppressor." At the same time, it views a broken society, the palestinians, that revels in anti-Semitism, along with virtually every trait the left condemns, as a "victim.Second, Barack Obama has no foreign policy ability. Virtually everything he has tried and every decision he had made has lead to failure. The Middle East is far more unstable today that it was on the day he took office. He has presided over a true humanitarian disaster in Syria; through his feckless approach, he has been a catalyst for the rise of ISIS, and was behind the descent of Libya into a failed state.Third, he doesn't have the courage to stand up and be countedIf he truly believed that building apartments in Israel is a threat to peace, he should have voted in favor of the U.N resolution, so that all of his supporters would know exactly where he stands. In fact, his cowardice is even more compelling because his administration orchestrated the resolution and the vote . But he favors wiggle room so he can be dishonest when the need arises. He still has theto tell us he's pro-Israel.Fourth, his words leads to nothing meaningfulbut pontificates as if his words mattered to the hard men in the region.Fifth, his actions hurt our allies and help our adversariesHis disastrous Iran "deal" hurt every ally in the Middle East, but helped the Mullahs of Iran immeasurably.This last minute U.N. episode provides us with a clear look at this president, his anti-Israel predisposition, and the utter failure of his foreign policy decisions. But except for a finger in the eye of Bibi Netanyahu and the muffled cheers of the anti-Israel Left, exactly what has Barack Obama accomplished with his UN action? Walter Russell Mead assesses the situation on the ground when he writes:It's almost comical to listen to Obama and his apologists talk wistfully about an unachievable "two state solution." Mead breaks this down:If a diplomatic solution is ever achieved (and that is impossible as long as the palestinians won't recognize Israel's right to exist), it will require a change in geography, not only a change in attitude. In my view, Gaza must be returned to Israel. A contiguous palestinian state must be created in the millions of square miles of territory in Egypt and/or Jordan. Billions could be donated from the European countries who are oh-so worried about "the plight of the palestinians" and maybe a few bucks will come from the Arab states. But eventually, the palestinans will have to get off international welfare and govern themselves, create an economy, and live by the rule of lawnot Sharia, mind youmodern law.It's reasonable to argue that none of that will happen, and you'd almost certainly be right. No one in the Arab world wants the palestinians and few have done anything to help them moderate and govern. The real question isshould they even try? Michael Ledeen notes that the five things I mention in the body of this post do not go unrecognized by Islamic terror groups. He writes about Christmas week terror plots:Or Secretary General of the UN.UPDATE:-------------------Here are a few comments and cogent diplomatic moves that might help to mitigate the serious damage done by Obama's duplicitous actions at the U.N., suggested by John Bolton
Three mosques in California were sent anonymous hate-mail in November warning them that Donald Trump would "cleanse" Muslims from the US the same way "Hitler did to the Jews."

This story best reflects the dilemma of the seven-million-strong Muslim American Community during the presidential election year. The year 2016 was perhaps the worst year for American Muslims since 2001 .

The New York Times pointed out: Hate crimes against American Muslims have soared to their highest levels since the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to data compiled by researchers, an increase apparently fueled by terrorist attacks in the United States and abroad and by divisive language on the campaign trail. The trend has alarmed hate crime scholars and law-enforcement officials, who have documented hundreds of attacks -- including arsons at mosques, assaults, shootings and threats of violence -- since the beginning of 2015.

Political rhetoric plays an important role in mitigating or fueling hate crimes. USA Today said Trump's inflammatory rhetoric and policy positions have made many groups feel unsafe on Twitter. Trump has suggested banning Muslims from entering the U.S., has said "Islam hates us," suggested the surveillance of mosques, and has talked about "profiling" of Muslims as a response to terrorism. According to AOL Global, 15 years after the 2001 terrorist attack, Muslim Americans still face discrimination in their everyday lives.

A study reported by Huffington Post indicated hate crime in U.S. survey was up 6 percent but Anti-Muslim rose to 89 percent. A new report from California State University-San Bernardino's Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism suggests that anti-Muslim hate crimes in the U.S. rose sharply to the highest levels since the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. "We're seeing these stereotypes and derogative statements become part of the political discourse," said Brian Levin, the director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at the San Bernardino campus. "The bottom line is we're talking about a significant increase in these types of hate crimes."

Police and news media reports in recent months have indicated a continued flow of attacks, often against victims wearing traditional Muslim garb or seen as Middle Eastern, the New York Times said adding: "Some scholars believe that the violent backlash against American Muslims is driven not only by the string of terrorist attacks in Europe and the United States that began early last year, but also by the political vitriol from candidates like Donald J. Trump, who has called for a ban on immigration by Muslims and a national registry of Muslims in the United States."

A Georgetown University report released in May 2016 similarly found that threats, intimidation and violence against Muslim Americans have surged over the course of the presidential election.

According to the report, in the period between March 2015 and March 2016, there have been 180 reported incidents of anti-Muslim violence. These include 12 murders, 34 physical assaults, 56 acts of vandalisms, nine arsons, and eight shootings and bombings.

Last September, a leading Muslim civil advocacy group reported that 2016 is on track to be one of the worst years ever for anti-mosque incidents, with a total of 55 cases recorded as of mid-September. The majority of the 2016 incidents have been violent in tone, characterized by intimidation, physical assault and property damage, destruction or vandalism. In the first two weeks of September, three incidents targeting mosques have occurred. The most destructive of these has been in Florida, where a mosque was intentionally set ablaze and a suspect arrested.

Here are few examples of hate crimes:

On Oct 25, an Agoura Hills Man was arrested and accused of making criminal threats against the Islamic Center of Southern California, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Mark Feigin, 40, was accused of making two calls to the Islamic Center in September, threatening to kill local Muslims and violence against the ICSC. Police found a stash of weapons, including riffles, modified ammunition magazines and ammunition inside Feigin's home.

In October, Abdul Usmani's father, Dr. Zeeshan-ul-hassan Usmani, told BuzzFeed News that his wife and three sons have left the US for Pakistan after his7-year-old boy was beaten by five students on a school bus. This was the latest incident in a long history of discrimination towards his children and family.

More alarmingly, Muslim-Americans are receiving anonymous robocalls asking for religious affiliation. The New York Daily News reported on November 22 that several Muslim-Americans received mysterious robocalls asking them whether they identify as a follower of Islam.

In the meantime, a number of libraries across the U.S. reported that they have seen an increased number of anti-Muslim acts of vandalism and hate speech in the wake of the election of Donald Trump. The Guardian reported on December 12 a survey by the American Libraries Association (ALA), which found that copies of the Koran and books about Islam have been defaced with swastikas and other hate speech at a number of libraries.

The Trump rhetoric is not only fomenting hate crimes against the Muslims but also other minorities. On November 1, a historic African-American church in Greenville, Mississippi, was burned down and vandalized with "Vote Trump" graffiti. Local and federal officials were investigating the fire at the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church as a hate crime. The words "Vote Trump" were spray-painted on the side of the burned-out church, which was home to a congregation of 200 members. Greenville is a city of around 35,000 inhabitants in northwestern Mississippi, on the border with Arkansas. The vast majority of its residents are African-American.

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How Could This Have Happened in the United States?

The reasons are complex, some peculiar to the U.S. and some that are common to both the U.S. and Europe. The most significant that applies as well to Europe as here is the economic situation. There is very high unemployment, especially among younger people and the marginalized. In France, overall unemployment is higher than in the U.S. That being said, the true unemployment rate in the U.S. is much higher than the official figures. In both the U.S. and France, there is a tendency among many to blame immigrants and minorities for it. They are also often seen as sapping the country in terms of social services that particularly strain local units of government.

External entities are also held responsible. In the U.S. it is trade pacts like NAFTA that encourage employers to chase after low-wage industrial workers abroad (even though there are plenty of low-wage service workers in the U.S.). In Europe, it is the European Union that is seen as an unaccountable, undemocratic arrangement that forces austerity policies upon the individual countries to the detriment of the general population, and to the advantage of the upper, capitalist classes. All of these factors produce high emotions of fear and anger, of ultranationalism and the attribution of otherness to minorities and immigrants, and to despair with the status quo and the hope that far-right parties, usually with charismatic leaders, can save them from the calamity that they feel they are living.

Another interesting dimension to this is religion. In Poland and in the Slavic countries of Eastern Europe, the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox churches respectively are playing a major role in supporting right-wing politics. In France, a conservative Catholic bloc has been manifesting itself in the conservative Republican Party and can be seen in the programs of former President Nicolas Sarkosy and in the present Republican presidential candidacy of Francois Fillon. Gay marriage, abortion, and even secularism in public institutions, especially the schools, which has been a mainstay of French republicanism, have newly become major issues in the mainstream of French politics. This resembles, on a smaller scale, Trump's appeal to the white evangelical voters in the American South and Mid-West. The big issue for them is who will be appointed to the Supreme Court and be voting on civil rights issues for women, minorities, and the LGBT population. The European right, in both Western and Eastern Europe, has taken up the battle over cultural and social issues (the culture wars) that the American right has engaged in for along time and that Trump has been playing so effectively.

But there are other variables that accounted for Trump's victory that are not so easily comparable to what is happening in Europe recently. The first is the electoral college. If Trump and Clinton had been French, Clinton would have won because she had a sizeable lead in the popular vote, over two million more votes than Trump.

Aside from this, there was the difference between the two candidates themselves. Clinton was clearly the more politically experienced and qualified. She discussed policy issues in a serious way. And she would have been the first woman president, following the first African-American president. That was both a plus and a minus. A plus for those who valued diversity in political life, a negative to those who despised "identity politics."

Even some on the left felt that she should have devoted more time to addressing the serious economic plight of many Americans than in stressing the breaking of the glass ceiling imposed by males. While this is not necessarily an either/or, many Democrats who supported Bernie Sanders in the primary felt that Clinton did not come across as sincerely attentive to the economic plight of so many people where industry had disappeared. Fairly or not, the association that was made between her and her husband's support of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), and her hesitation in coming out against Obama's Trans-Pacific trade agreement, made her unpopular both on the left and on the populist right. Her vote for the Iraq War and other more hawkish positions also alienated progressives on the left and noninterventionists on the right. Her use of a personal server for public business when she was Secretary of State came back to haunt her. And her closeness to Wall Street when she was the Senator from New York, and refusal to release the content of speeches she gave to investment bankers for large fees, did not help her on either wing of the political spectrum.

Trump, on the other hand, has had no political experience that could be held against him. His business dealings were marred by frequent bankruptcies, by refusal to pay for services provided by contractors, by a constant stream of threats and lawsuits against people and institutions. He broke tradition by being the first presidential candidate to refuse to release his tax returns. Instead of seriously discussing policy issues, he offered a series of ad libs to please his crowd. He vilified all of his opponents in both the primary and the general elections. He referred to Clinton as "crooked Hillary" who should be criminally prosecuted. He refused to say that he would accept the result of the election. He degraded women, Mexicans and Moslems. He even ridiculed the physical gestures of a paralyzed reporter who asked a question at a press conference.

Our next president has bragged about molesting women and been accused by a number of women of doing so. He has encouraged violence against protestors at his rallies. He has defended the use of torture. Since the election, he has appointed to be his attorney general Senator Sessions, who has spoken favorably of the Ku Klux Klan and opposed civil-rights legislation. His special adviser, with an office in the White House, will be Stephen Bannon, the former head of Breitbart, a far-right "news" outlet that has diffused racist and anti-Semitic material, and which intends to establish an office in Paris. His national-security advisor is going to be former Lt. General Michael Flynn, who has spread abusive and scurrilous stories about Clinton on social media. His Trump-employed son went so far as sending out messages contending that Hillary Clinton was involved with child sex rings.

In Europe, you have had your Le Pens and your Berlusconi, whose sexual vulgarity equals Trump's. The former were established party leaders. Trump has captured a party. What he has behind him are largely the economically hard hit who are willing to forgive his sins in the hope that he will be their salvation, and white supremacists who see him as their vindication and leader. Trump is an actor who has created politics as a one-man spectacle, combining Mussolini's oratorical style and facial gestures with a skilled use of Twitter, which the cable news media has retransmitted instantaneously to the public.

Indeed, the closer historical analogy to the spectacular Trump are the Nazis, who used the technology of radio to mobilize the masses in their living rooms, vilified and crushed political opponents, dehumanized ethnic and religious groups, and repeated lie after lie with the assurance that their followers would believe them and that establishment politicians and business leaders would be afraid to confront them. It is precisely this complex of factors that foreshadowed the first totalitarian state in Western Europe in the late 1930s, which began with an electoral victory and which too few took seriously enough until it was too late.

I say to my French friends, please do not be taken in the way we Americans have been.
2016 is finally coming to a close.

For those who care about the environment, the only choice is to look forward toward mobilizing in 2017 -- with the goal of keeping progress from backsliding.

Easier said than done?

Not really.

True, there will not be a pro-active partner in the White House. However, the biggest take-away from this deadly election cycle is that grassroots action is the key to the success of any movement or ideology. Change emanates from the strength at the bottom, creating a shift that may be slower than desired -- but that in the end yields a monumental force.

Too many people are already throwing up their hands, convinced that there is nothing that they -- as an individual -- can do.

Not true.

There is a much bigger picture here. What cannot be overlooked is the essential hyperlocal aspect of the struggle.

Has your district been gerrymandered so that people faced with environmental-justice challenges are not being equitably represented? Does your councilperson share your alarm about particulate matter in air pollution or the high rates of asthma in children? How about your state senator?

Do you know where your elected officials stand on state-based deregulation or why the electrical industry is pushing to restructure itself to become a "tradable commodity?"

I recently read Frackopoly by Wenonah Hauter. One of the biggest insights culled from her well-researched book was how actively interconnected fossil-fuel companies, finance, government, media, and influence have become. Hauter introduces her story with the evolution of today's top fossil-fuel companies. They evolved out of the 1911 Supreme Court decision to break up the Standard Oil monopoly, which was divided into thirty-four companies, because it violated the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

In 1946, Congress opened up public lands that were not yet developed, making them easier to lease and accessible to the grasp of fossil-fuel interests. In post-World War II America, there was an expansion of infrastructure devoted to pipelines. It is during this period that fossil-fuel interests began to seek out connections within Congress, in order to exert their influence and become active players.

Hauter revisits the history of the CIA's involvement in the 1953 coup against the democratically elected Iranian government. The purpose was to secure the oil-resources connection. In a deja vu scenario, Trump has spoken about taking all the oil in Iraq as part of his "plan" to defeat the Islamic State.

By 1980, Hauter writes that those in the gas and oil sector began aggressively working to defeat those in the House and Senate who didn't support their agenda.

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When: December 27, 2016, 9AM

Where: Entrance to Arizona Memorial, Route 99, Honolulu, Hawaii

For the meeting of President Obama and Japan's Prime Minister Abe at the Arizona Memorial on December 27, members of Veterans for Peace, Hawaii Peace and Justice, Revolution Books, World Can't Wait and other concerned organizations will gather to remind both heads of government of the need to preserve Article 9, the NO WAR article of the Japanese Constitution to prevent Japan from joining the U.S. wars of choice.

53,000 U.S. military personnel (39,000 onshore and 14,000 afloat in nearby waters), 43,000 dependents, and 5,000 Department of Defense civilian employees live in Japan. Okinawa hosts a disproportionate share of the U.S. military presence with 50% of all facilities used by U.S. Forces Japan and about half of the U.S. military personnel are located in Okinawa, which comprises less than 1% of Japan's total land area.

We will remind both heads of government of the dangerous US military aircraft, the widow-maker, the Osprey that crashed twice last week in Okinawa and that has crashed several times in Hawaii.

Concerned citizens also will have signs for issues concerning the U.S. military on Okinawa: "Save Henoko Bay from US military runways," "Save Takai from Ospreys" and "Close Futenma Air Base."

We will urge President Obama to Close Guantanamo Prison, Grant Clemency to Chelsea Manning and Pardon Leonard Peltier and Mumia Abu Jamal.

For more information, please contact:

Ann Wright, retired US Army Reserve Colonel (retired) and former US diplomat who resigned in opposition to the 2003 war on Iraq)

Phone: 808-741-1141; email: annw1946@gmail.com
Blog of the week on Politics Done Right

Watch the entire show here.

We have a lot of work to do if we intend to ensure that Donald Trump does not change what most Americans are striving for in their lives. But we as liberals and progressives cannot continue doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We know the phrase and what it means: It is a form of insanity.

We know we are right on economic policies, social policies, environmental policies, social justice policies, and much more. The problem is that we are wrong in how we talk about them and how we reach out to people.

Many will balk at that statement, but it is true. Progressives believe in science. Facts and numbers guide us. But in finding the appropriate method to deliver our message, too often we don't think carefully enough about our approach.

It is a fact that many working class voters see us as elitists who think we know more than they do. They believe we look down on them. If they don't immediately agree with what we know is best, we tend to malign them as low-information, gullible, and dumb without taking the time and effort to engage.

Some say we need not worry about them at all. After all, we have our voters, and there are more of us and less of them. If we just work on bringing our voters out, we will win. To be blunt, that is downright ignorant, elitist, and condescending. And Hillary Clinton's Electoral College loss showed that.

Yes, more voters believe what we believe--but to assume they are our constituents is misguided. Voters must understand they matter and that we are not taking them for granted. You see, it doesn't matter if one's oppressor is progressive or conservative. If both seem to disregard you, you simply don't care. You don't vote.

Hillary Clinton collected hundreds of millions of dollars during her campaign. The Democratic coalition--the progressive coalition--is the perfect coalition of all Americans of every race, religion, and creed. Anecdotally, it seems Clinton and her team wasted that money on high-priced consultants and advertising that looked nothing like the Democratic coalition.

Journalist Roland Martin complained that he spoke to the Clinton campaign about investing in radio, TV, newspapers, and other organizations that could better reach other communities. His pleas fell on deaf ears. Michael Moore urged the Clinton campaign to work the "Blue wall," to no avail. President Obama offered to work the Blue wall. They sent him elsewhere.

But this is not only a Hillary Clinton problem. It's a type of cancer that permeates the progressive space. We talk the talk and pass legislation sufficiently progressive for many. But deep down we maintain a hierarchy not so dissimilar from the establishment on the right: do enough to win, but ensure we keep the status quo.

I used to scoff when many said that the Democratic Party and Republican Party are the same. And while I don't yet agree with that statement, depending on what Trump does, I may get there. What do I mean?

When Democrats had the opportunity to make America a real progressive country in terms of policy, it wasn't Republicans holding them back. It was Blue Dog Democrats.

Imagine if we had passed the right-sized stimulus. Imagine if we had gone to single-payer universal health care. Imagine if we had nationalized the banks that ripped America off and almost destroyed the world's economy. The reality is they do not provide a service commensurate with their profits and gains. Imagine if we allowed a real free enterprise system to reign instead of crony capitalism.

We had the votes. But Democrats opted to maintain the status quo. They denied Americans the taste of what could have been because it meant the super wealthy would have to give back some of their ill-gotten gains in the form of more taxes. They denied Americans a robust economy, given that a dollar in the hands of someone who will spend it is worth much more to our economy than one invested in a factory in China or Vietnam.

Republicans outright lie to their constituents. They then get into office and serve the same masters Democrats enslaved themselves to by ensuring any legislation passed is, first and foremost, acceptable to the plutocracy.

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We need to understand how Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump- not to hurt Hillary, but to avoid future losses for the same reasons. A reluctance to fully understand what went wrong, even if it is painful, especially to Hillary should not diminish any examination of the 2016 election. Hillary may not have been one of the best candidates to ever have run for President but she was far from being the worst one. She was not the devil, she has long demonstrated her capacity for handling complex issues and preparing for challenges. Why then did she not beat the least favorable candidate in U.S. history and the candidate who, as she described, presents a true threat to the US? Many are saying "don't look back -- don't look back, look forward". The point is we must look back until we feel we understand what happened so that we can work on solutions for the future. How should Democrats prepare for future races?

In April 2016, during the democratic primary contest, we published an analysis of Hillary Clinton as a candidate, then contrasting her with Bernie Sanders. We described Clinton as having economic blind spots, somewhat based on her loyalty to President Obama, and some based on her political philosophy hardening during the Bill Clinton's presidency. In 2016 she was half-hearted and unconvincing as she moved away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) largely because she had long held free-trade beliefs and was defensive about the downsides of the North American Free Trade Agreement, originated by President George HW Bush, and signed by Bill Clinton. Hillary focused more on the proximate issues surrounding the 2008 financial crisis, rather than demonstrating a real concern for those Americans who have been hurting year after year for over 30 years. In contrast, Progressives and Donald Trump emphasized that NAFTA was largely responsible for growing unemployment and wage stagnation. Their focus on NAFTA's negative effects may have been simplistic and missed explaining the role of automation, but were none-the-less appealing to Rust-Belt voters, who found empathy and promise.

Hillary, for some unknown reason, also refused to hold actual people accountable for some of the problems voters were facing. She preferred to propose programs to correct "issues", but did not want to blame powerful bankers, corporatists, or politicians, and perhaps long standing friends for their role in stealing the wealth of Americans and causing many voters misery. Without an explanation for the shift of power and without naming those who wielded power, her messages lacked coherence and did not tell a story. She promised she would fight. But a fight requires an opponent, and she would not name her opponent. Many voters, not understanding who her opponent was, simply did not believe she would fight for them.

Now that voter file analyses from the 2016 election are becoming available, Nate Cohn and others are confirming our analysis and describing how the Clinton campaign should have been thinking. Democrats needed to keep the Obama coalition together, and to expand it, but, they didn't.

The key facts that created and held together the Obama coalition was the focus on Blacks and Latino. What Mrs. Clinton missed was the fact that Obama -- a mixed race Black- with an Asian sister- did not need a narrative that explicitly included all of the elements of his coalition. He, along with "Hope and Change" was that narrative. She, however did need such a narrative.

Donald Trump, on the other hand did develop a narrative that explicitly included all groups, albeit a racist one. This narrative was that stupid politicians, aided by a dishonest media, allowed bad trade deals and immigrants to take white jobs. Those stupid politicians are able to keep their jobs because blacks and illegal immigrants - who should not be voting - returned them to office in exchange for welfare programs like Obamacare. Of course, Donald Trump's racist nationalism is appealing to some voters, but the narrative that explained their suffering is appealing to more.

Hillary might have intended to implement policies to positively impact the Obama coalition. Voters, however did not believe that she would fight for them when she seemed reluctant to name who she was fighting, seemed ambivalent about trade deals even though she promised not to sign the TPP. She didn't even want the transcripts of her speeches to Goldman to be published because showed her being pleasant to these bankers rather than calling them out. If she wanted to show she was going to fight, she would have to name who she was going to fight.

So here we are -- not even beyond the inauguration of Donald Trump and it looks like some Democrats think it will be ok to again be nice to those who are stealing voters' wealth. The idea that Americans will vote for Dems because they are smart and nice, but allow themselves to be impoverished is not at all smart or nice. Dems cannot allow themselves to pretend that they can show favoritism or even neutrality to those who have been taking the nation's wealth. A focus on Hillary's flaws as a candidate cannot paper over this economic reality.

If it is any comfort, Donald Trump shows clues of hailing his friendship to bankers and the super-wealthy. He has loaded his cabinet with millionaires, billionaires, and corporatists. There is little reason to believe that he and his friends will stop the flow of wealth to the super wealthy, let alone pause their own quest for enrichment at the expense of most American families. Democrats should not bet the party on the hope that he'll miss the point more than the 2016 Democratic leadership did. They should not pretend that he will fail while they give him "the benefit of the doubt".

Democrats cannot look to mass media to explain the truth to voters and assist them to win in 2018, 2020 and beyond. The media simply will not explain why some policies are damaging American families and communities. So, if Democratic strategists think that such an explanation is worthwhile, they better think how to convey that message themselves. Democrats need to "name names", "cast blame", fight the people who create the policies. Donald Trump is a dangerous man with dangerous ideas culled from the Republican Party. More worrisome is that once he is gone, other Republicans will replace him to promote the same ideas. If Democrats want to preserve any of the values they hold such as a government standing between bankers, corporatists, and the super wealthy, they must fight the Republican Party which champions the same ideas.
By Taxpayer Association of Oregon

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Oregon Governor Kate Brown has looked at one of the most generous and expensive government pension problems and decided that there is nothing to change. This is why she balked at reforming the states pension problem (PERS) at the Oregon Leadership Summit and then proceeded to call for a billion in new taxes on small businesses, health care and alcohol. Oregons pension deficit is $21 billion and is threatening to devour huge portions of our state budget. Experts are predicting that pension costs are nearing 30% of the cost of payroll.

Despite all this, Gov. Brown continues to give a free pass to the states pension crisis and push all the blame and the burden to taxpayers. It seems Oregon wishes to continue to ignore the pension crisis while also continue to hiring new government employees at a rate of 17 new state and local government employee positions created every single day (including weekends and holidays). Even if Gov. Brown gets her $1 billion tax increase we will likely be facing a continued pensions PERS crisis in the next budget. The problem will never be fixed until you fix over-spending of benefits and new employees. Oregon government should not be spending faster than taxpayers can afford.

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Zarb e Azb is a challenge Pakistan would do it at all costs: Qamar Bajwa

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that consolidation and retention of operation Zarb e Azb is a challenge but promised that Pakistan would do it at all costs. According to an ISPR spokesman, the army chief was addressing the officers of the Southern Command during his day long visit to Quetta. The COAS address focused on professional matters under evolving security environment. He shared thoughts on the security situation and future challenges.



He said the armed forces and nation have sacrificed a lot to bring stability to the country, and that the army had lived up to the expectations of the people of Pakistan. He said Zarb e Azb had brought considerable improvement to the internal security environment, and that the global geo-political and geo-economic environment was evolving.



Our region is in focus. CPEC has changed the dynamics and is critical to our economic progress and stability. We shall do it at all costs. He said Pakistans officers had the spirit of sacrifice and valour and were the best in the world. Pakistans Armed forces are fully capable and prepared to respond to a full spectrum threat, he said.



Balochistan development: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the development of Balochistan was the top priority of the government.



Balochistan is the largest province of the country and is bestowed with immense resources and outstanding human talent. These resources will open new vistas of development for progress and prosperity of the province in future, he gushed.



The army chief said that improvement of law and order in Balochistan was also a priority of the Pakistan Army. He said that together with other institutions, the Pakistan Army was extending cooperation for the purpose. He said it was an endeavour of the armed forces and other law enforcing institutions to play a positive role for economic development of the province despite limited resources.



He expressed hope that the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project would prove to be beginning of a new era in the development of Balochistan. The army chief said some elements were trying to create hurdles in the way of the bright future of the province. He called these are anti-state elements and claimed the people of Balochistan had rejected them. He expressed confidence that terrorists would face their doom because of the patriotism of the people of Balochistan.



General Bajwa was effusive in his praise of the Pakistan Army as an institution, terming it a symbol of national integration that had representation from all provinces according to their population ratio. The Pakistan Army is extending all-out support for capacity building of police and other Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs), he said.



The COAS said Pakistan was proud that youth from Balochistan were not behind anyone in safeguarding the motherland and undoubtedly every citizen of Balochistan was Pakistans pride and dignity. He said improvement in law and order was the priority, adding that LEAs had the full cooperation of other departments and agencies.



Keeping in view all this, thousands of youth from the province of Balochistan have been inducted as officers and soldiers in Army, Police and other departments, he said. He said Balochistan was Pakistans largest and most important province and nature has bestowed it with countless resources and its people possessed immense qualities.



He expressed the hope that Balochistans natural resources would open up new opportunities for its people and they would play a key role in Pakistans development.



The Chief of Army Staff also said that irrespective of their limited resources, the Armed Forces of Pakistan had always tried to play a positive role for educational, social and economic uplift of the province. We believe in action and our work is before you, he added. He said with the timely completion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, the region would enter into a new era of development for which the Pakistan Army was working round the clock. The COAS also expressed confidence that the passed-out recruits would utilise all their energies for safety and development of the province as well as the country.
In this photo provided by Joseph Roginski, taken May 13, 2011, Joseph Roginski, right, holds a package in a storeroom of the Misawa City Hall in Japan, where donations of clothing and supplies were being kept for earthquake relief efforts. He says that while the cost of living is higher in Japan, access to health care is not. "Things are very expensive here. It is impossible to live off Social Security alone," said Roginski, who was stationed in Japan in 1968. "But health insurance is a major factor in staying here." The former military language and intelligence specialist said he pays $350 annually to be part of Japan's national health insurance. His policy covers 70 percent of his costs. The rest is covered by a secondary insurance program for retired military personnel. (Joseph Roginski via AP)

Newly widowed, Kay McCowen quit her job, sold her house, applied for Social Security and retired to Mexico. It was a move she and her husband, Mel, had discussed before he passed away in 2012.

"I wanted to find a place where I could afford to live off my Social Security," she said. "The weather here is so perfect, and it's a beautiful place."

She is among a growing number of Americans who are retiring outside the United States. The number grew 17 percent between 2010 and 2015 and is expected to increase over the next 10 years as more baby boomers retire.

Just under 400,000 American retirees are now living abroad, according to the Social Security Administration. The countries they have chosen most often: Canada, Japan, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Retirees most often cite the cost of living as the reason for moving elsewhere said Olivia S. Mitchell, director of the Pension Research Council at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

"I think that many people retire when they are in good health and they are interested in stretching their dollars and seeing the world," Mitchell said.

McCowen's rent in Ajijic, a community outside Guadalajara near Mexico's Lake Chapala, is half of what she was paying in Texas. And since the weather is moderate, utility bills are inexpensive.

In some countries, Mitchell said, retirees also may find it less expensive to hire someone to do their laundry, clean, cook and even provide long-term care than in the United States.

McCowen has a community of other American retirees nearby and has adjusted well.

But for others there are hurdles to overcome to adjust to life in a different country.

Viviana Rojas, an associate professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, says the biggest obstacle is not speaking the language or knowing the culture.

"Many of the people we interviewed said they spoke Spanish, but they actually spoke very little Spanish," said Rojas, who is writing a book about retirees in Mexico. "They didn't have the capacity of speaking enough Spanish to meet their basic needs like going to the doctor or to the store."

Access to health care also can be a challenge. While retirees still can receive Social Security benefits, Medicare is not available to those living abroad, Mitchell said.

Joseph Roginski, 71, says that while the cost of living is higher in Japan, access to health care is not. "Things are very expensive here. It is impossible to live off Social Security alone," said Roginski, who was stationed in Japan in 1968. "But health insurance is a major factor in staying here."

The former military language and intelligence specialist said he pays $350 annually to be part of Japan's national health insurance. His policy covers 70 percent of his costs. The rest is covered by a secondary insurance program for retired military personnel.

Japan experienced biggest growth, 42 percent, of American retirees than any other country between 2010 and 2014, according to data from the Social Security Administration. The large U.S. military presence in the country may be a factor.

There are more than 50,000 U.S. military servicemen and -women stationed in Japan. The presence is so large that in the island of Okinawa, the U.S. military occupies about 19 percent of the area, according to Ellis S. Krauss, professor emeritus of Japanese politics and policy-making at the University of California, San Diego.

Roginski, who volunteers for the Misawa Air Base Retiree Activities Office, said he helps connect more than 450 retirees and their families living in Northern Japan with resources. He said he would never move back to the United States.

"We have a real strong sense of security here," he said. "I can leave my door unlocked and no one will take anything. When I go to another country I feel nervous, but when I come back I feel like I'm home."

Mexico has become home for retired firefighter, Dan Williams, 72, and his wife, Donna, 68. The couple has been living near the same retirement community in Lake Chapala for 14 years.

"The climate and the medical services are very good," Williams said.

Williams teaches painting to adults and children and puts together a monthly magazine for the local American Legion. He is also a member of the Lake Chapala Society, which offers daily activities for American retirees.

It was those same services that attracted McCowen to the region.

"Before moving, I found out how many widowed and divorced women lived here," she said. "There is comfort in numbers."

She says she loves being in a lively community.

"I see older people walking year round. I see them all over the place even in their wheelchairs. If they were in the U.S., they would probably be in a nursing home," she said. "I don't think I could move back."

 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Basic architecture and procedures of the proposed algorithm. Credit: University of Electro-Communications

"Diagnosing unusual events (called "anomalies") in a large-scale network like Internet Service Providers and enterprise networks is critical and challenging for both network operators and end users," explain Hiroyuki Kasai from The University of Electro-Communications in Japan, and co-authors Wolfgang Kellerer Martin Kleinsteuber at the Technical University of Munich in Germany in a recent report. In their latest work they devise a computationally efficient and effective algorithm to identify network level anomalies by exploiting the state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms, especially the large-scale higher-order tensor tracking technique.

Kasai, Kellerer and Kleinsteuber describe their system as data flows from origin to destination along courses that cross at various links. Measuring the traffic volume of each flow is incredibly data intensive, so instead the researchers focus on the directly observable but coarse link matrix, for which they then need to identify how they can estimate the unobservable flow matrix for the full network from the link matrix.

The researchers also avoid storage issues for large sets of archive data by developing the algorithm to operate online. They formulate their system with a latent structure of normal flows with noise, and they can then estimate abnormal flows as outlier sparse flows by leveraging sparse modelling.

As the researchers point out in their report, network anomalies can be caused by deliberate malicious operations, or misconfigurations and failures of network equipment, all of which are important to identify. They add, "Extensive numerical evaluations show that the proposed algorithm achieves faster convergence per iteration of model approximation, and better volume anomaly detection performance compared to state-of-the-art algorithms."

More information: Hiroyuki Kasai et al. Network Volume Anomaly Detection and Identification in Large-Scale Networks Based on Online Time-Structured Traffic Tensor Tracking, IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management (2016). DOI: 10.1109/TNSM.2016.2598788

Provided by University of Electro-Communications
Stented vessel fragment. Credit: ITMO University

Researchers from the Netherlands and Russia presented a concept of a virtual artery. According to the scientists, a new multiscale computer model of the human artery will combine several sub-models of the cardiovascular system at different complexity levels. The developers believe that such a detailed model can lay a foundation for deeper study of vessel pathologies and become an alternative to animal tests in pharmacology. The study appeared in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A.

The design of the virtual artery comes lies at the intersection of biology, chemistry and physiology. Combining these disciplines enhances the model, but presents a tricky challenge. Now, researchers from the University of Amsterdam and ITMO University have designed a computer model that can simulate the entire function of blood vessels. To create the virtual artery, the scientists proposed a combination of multilevel models of the cardiovascular system and showed how they can interact with each other.

In the study, the scientists noted that most sub-models required for the virtual artery already exist. Some of them are currently undergoing pre-clinical trials. However, many computer models poorly agree with experimental data, which prevents researchers from combining sub-models into a full-fledged virtual artery.

One of the potential applications is testing new drugs and surgical techniques. "The medical industry and society as a whole are interested in reducing the amount of animal experimentation," explains project supervisor Alfons Hoekstra, professor at the University of Amsterdam and ITMO University. "Our goal is to create a tool that will provide an alternative to such tests and enable scientists to develop drugs without inflicting any harm on any living organisms. And maybe even reduce the role of human trials. We hope that the new collaboration with ITMO University and Almazov Medical Center will bring us closer to this goal."

Zoomed vascular wall. Credit: ITMO University

The future virtual artery will be partly based on a model of unwanted tissue growth inside the artery after placing a stentan expanding frame that surgeons insert into vessels of patients suffering from stenosis. This disease develops when one or several parts of an artery become narrowed, which can lead to serious health complications, including heart attack or stroke.

Stent implantation is not always successful. "Our model will help understand why in some cases tissues start to grow too much through the stent, causing restenosis and a recurring narrowing of a vessel," says Pavel Zun, researcher at the High-Performance Computing Department of ITMO University. "Simulating this process, we learned how to model cellular growth in arterial walls, stretching of the vessel by the stent and stent drug penetration into tissues."

A full-fledged virtual artery, according to the scientists, will help study a wider range of cardiovascular diseases by combining several multilevel models. At the first level, the developers simulate common body blood flow. This model is one-dimensional and quite rough. Going deeper, they reach a three-dimensional blood vessel model. At the deepest level, they deal with interactions between cells within the arterial wall. Thus, step by step, the researchers approached simulation of complex natural processes.

Image shows how the models put into each other. Credit: ITMO University

More information: Alfons G. Hoekstra et al. Towards the virtual artery: a multiscale model for vascular physiology at the physicschemistrybiology interface, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (2016). DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0146 Journal information: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A
Simulation of a helicopter-landing on a ship. Credit: Chair of Helicopter Technology / TUM

Missions at sea, in mountainous regions or close to skyscrapers are extremely risky for helicopter pilots. The turbulent air flows near oil rigs, ships, cliffs and tall buildings can throw a helicopter off balance and cause a crash. To provide pilots with optimal preparation for these challenging conditions, engineers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are developing new simulation software.

Providing helicopter pilots with the best possible preparation for extreme situations: That is the goal of the new simulation software being developed by researchers working at TUM's Chair of Helicopter Technology. For the first time, real-time computational analysis will be implemented for both fluid mechanics and flight dynamics. "Until now, flight simulators have not adequately reflected the reality of flying in close proximity to large objects," says Dr. Juergen Rauleder. "The problem is that, when it comes to wind conditions and the response of the helicopter, existing programs follow a rigid pattern. That means that local variations and changing conditions are not taken into account - unless the entire flow environment is known in advance."

But it is the unforeseen air flows that can be the most treacherous: For example, a moving ship causes air turbulence and sudden local shifts in wind speed known by specialists as "ship airwake flow". It changes continually through wave action and fluctuating inflow conditions. In addition, turbulence occurs near the deck, the bridge and other ship structures. As a helicopter approaches the ship, there is interference between these air currents and the flow produced by the rotors. Conditions near a mountain slope or next to high buildings are similarly complicated. In all of these cases, the helicopter's flight characteristics are influenced by complex and overlapping aerodynamic effects.

Stress for pilots and machines

Dealing with those situations takes a lot of skill and practice, both of which can currently be acquired only through on-the-job training. To become adept at landing on a ship in heavy seas, for example, a student pilot has to repeat this tricky situation dozens of times with an experienced flight instructor. That's the only way to gain the necessary experience to compensate for the complex interplay of air flows through perfectly timed adjustments to the pitch of the rotor blades.

"Conventional training is expensive, risky and very stressful for student pilots. It also imposes heavy demands on the aircraft: Because the first attempts usually result in rather hard landings, the dampers and landing gear take quite a beating," explains Rauleder.

Flow fields and flight dynamics all in one

His team has now developed a simulation program that combines flow mechanics and flight dynamics in real time: "The numerical model is extremely flexible and does not depend on stored flow data. We only have to enter the external conditions such as topography, global wind speeds and the helicopter type. During the simulation, our algorithms use that data to continuously compute the interacting flow field at the virtual helicopter's current location," the engineer explains.

The new program also lets pilots instantly "feel" the impact of the local air flows on the helicopter. This allows them to try out the effects of their control movements in a stress-free situation: perfect preparation for a soft landing that is easy on the aircraft. The potential of this method has attracted international interest, including from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, which is contributing funding under the auspices of its basic research program.

The ultimate test for flight simulators: reality

The TUM researchers have successfully validated the new real-time simulation with established reference models. All that is left to do is the biggest test of all: the reality check. To find out whether the virtual models actually reflect conditions at sea, the engineers are cooperating with researchers at the U.S. Naval Academy, the George Washington University and the University of Maryland.

The specialists in Washington have measured air flows on a ship using hundreds of sensors. To check the flight dynamics, the TUM team will also be using in-flight data collected by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). "The validation of the models and testing of our simulation environment by experienced pilots in our research simulator is enormously important for our developments," says Rauleder. "That's the only way we can ensure that the simulator training provides student pilots with optimal preparation for tough missions."

More information: J. Bludau, J. Rauleder, L. Friedmann, M. Hajek: Real-Time Simulation of Rotor Inflow using a Coupled Flight Dynamics and Fluid Dynamics Simulation, Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2016, Braunschweig, www.dglr.de/publikationen/2016/420304.pdf
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Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association

Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America.
Mary called Saturday morning  Christmas Eve  and left me a message.

I just wanted to comment on todays paper. What a wonderful edition for Christmas, she.said. You did a great, great job. You often hear bashing of The Post-Star, but I tell you, you have been doing a great job lately and it was great for Christmas and I thank you.

Maybe it was just the holiday spirit in Mary, but it was nice to see someone noticed our holiday efforts.

We always have to cover the news, but for the Christmas edition we try to make it a little softer and holiday-oriented.

This year we started with Gretta Hochsprings cute feature where she asked kids how Santa gets into the house to deliver the presents.

On the editorial page, we had our annual reprinting of the classic newspaper essay, Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli followed with a feature about how the nuns and monks of the Monk of the New Skete celebrate the holidays and I had a column about how my family celebrates the holidays on the local front.

Finally, photographer Steve Jacobs had the cutest photo of a young man on Santas lap in the local section.

If you werent in the holiday spirit before reading Saturdays newspaper, you probably were after.
HUDSON FALLS  A longtime Hudson Falls manufacturing company is utilizing the science of light to increase jobs.

UVBioTek, which designs and makes ultraviolet light tanning units and similar units to treat skin disorders, recently added seven jobs, bringing its workforce to 15 people.

Venture capital investment and brand strategy consulting from Creatively Practical, a firm with offices in Saratoga Springs, Albany and New York City, is intended to position the company to steadily continue increasing employments.

Our plans are to double or triple the size of this business in the next two to three years, said Dan Gorney, chief executive officer of UVBioTek.

Creatively Practical is focusing on redesigning the companys original product, a stand-up tanning unit for commercial health salons, to be installed in homes.

The project is being re-engineered to be smaller and have new features to appeal to upper-middle class and wealthy people that have gyms in their homes.

You have your own gym. You have your own trainers. This is the next step toward a lifestyle experience, said Robert Mansier, chief executive officer of Creatively Practical and managing director of EDA Funding, an affiliated firm.

Mansier said it is his companys first investment north of Saratoga Springs.

Separately, Gorney is focused on diversifying the companys line of medical devices that use ultraviolet light to treat skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema.

The company purchases components and assembles them in units that look like closets at its Hudson Falls plant.

Various models can be used in medical offices or homes.

The company will launch a new, similar light technology product to treat acne in mid-2017, and plans to diversify into units to treat seasonal affective disorder, a winter depression condition, to treat neonatal jaundice, and, possibly at some point, to treat Alzheimers and Parkinsons disease.

The company, on Depot Street in Hudson Falls, was established in the 1980s to design and manufacture tanning units, and branched out into medical devices in 1993.

Both product lines use concentrated levels of ultraviolet light to produce the effect of longer periods of sunlight.

Tanning was first and it was a pretty strong business. And then the company kind of reallocated resources into the medical field, and the tanning business kind of wavered. We werent paying attention to the tanning business, said Gorney, who has been associated with UVBioTek for about three years.
QUEENSBURY  Chad Wiekierak became fascinated with weather as a child growing up in Michigan.

Being in a flat area, you could see the storms rolling in, he said.

Now an Earth science teacher at Queensbury High School, he is incorporating his love of science and weather on his website, Crystal Ball Weather.

A trained meteorologist, Wiekierak used to work in Houston forecasting for offshore oil rigs. After a career change to teaching science and relocating to Queensbury, Wiekierak befriended another teacher, who was then known as the forecast guru. After that teacher retired, Wiekierak took the informal title.

It got to a point where people were calling me in the middle of class, he said, so he started a district website through the school.

Just this June, he filed for an LLC and started his own independent site called Crystal Ball Weather, which he calls a little hobby that may turn into a bigger job upon his retirement.

Im a teacher first, he said. This is just something Ive got on the side.

He issues storm warnings and, more importantly, predicts the chance of school closures and delays at the Queensbury schools. The website explains that despite the name Crystal Ball Weather, Its science, not sorcery.

Crystal Ball was created in response to the inability of various government and private weather organizations to produce consistently accurate weather forecasts, according to the website.

Many of the weather apps are done via computer, Wiekierak said, using an algorithm that misses details or suffers from timing issues. The Weather Channel, for instance, is based out of Atlanta, while other weather apps do not have enough manpower to forecast for the entire country.

His website pinpoints Queensbury weather specifically, and Wiekierak formulates his forecasts from various models like the NeXt Generation Weather Lab, the UQAM-Montreal Weather Centre and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

I try to focus in on a small area, he said. It allows for being very specific.

When asked which he prefers more, weather or teaching, he smiled and said, Teaching weather.

In fact, he is teaching a weather unit right now, which requires his students to keep weather logs of different cities and graph what happens when weather changes direction.

He gives his students a homework assignment to watch television weather for 5 minutes every night.

It gets them definitely paying attention when we start talking about a potential first snow day, he said.

Students and teachers do check his website, which already has some dedicated followers. Speech Language Pathologist Alissa Iantosca is one of them.

When inclement weather is predicted, she said she always checks out Wiekieraks snow day forecast on the Crystal Ball Weather page.

I cant speak for all of my teacher friends, she said, but I know many of us frequently refresh his page  with our fingers crossed  to stay updated on his latest prediction.
William E. Slater, 46, was charged with two felony counts of criminal sex act and predatory sexual assault against a child. The victim is younger than 11 years old, according to the New York State Police public information website.
LAKE GEORGE  John Carr has had his share of dreams in his life, and thanks to a recent state economic development grant, he may be on his way to achieving another.

Carr dreamed of creating a brewery and pub in Lake George and of bottling and distributing his beer. He achieved that years ago. Carr dreamed of expanding and opening a distillery, and he is well into that process.

His latest dream is to open the Adirondack Craft Beverage Campus next to his Route 9 brewery, and a $325,000 Empire State Development grant should help make that dream a reality.

"There is really no place like this anywhere around. It would really be kind of a neat place to go," said Carr, who envisions the site as both an educational center and a tourist attraction. "We don't have a center for this kind of activity. Ultimately, it would become a unique place."

The campus would provide a place to offer college and other classes on brewing, wine-making and distilling, and would also have facilities to sell the beverages.

Carr, who is actively involved in promoting Lake George as a year-round tourist destination, said last week he thinks the beverage campus would work toward that.

"Certainly it would add to the spring and fall seasons," Carr said. "This could be a place you could go to learn to make beer, wine or spirits. A lot of the school programs are in the fall, and that's a good time to bring people to Lake George."

Carr still needs to get financing for the project. The state grant money is retroactive, and he will need additional funding to build the beverage campus.

Ed Bartholomew, president of Warren County EDC, said he and his group had been working with Carr for several years and added he is glad the project got state grant money.

"I think John is fulfilling a life-long dream for himself, and his persistence will bring new people into Warren County and Lake George," Bartholomew said. "I think what John is creating is a destination, not only for craft brewing, but for wine and distilling."

Kristine Duffy, president of SUNY Adirondack, confirmed there have been discussions with Carr.

"SUNY Adirondack is always interested in partnering with local businesses," she said. "A possible agreement with Adirondack Pub Brewery is in the initial discussion phase."

The state, especially Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has been pushing brewery expansion through the state's farm-brewery program. The most recent ESD grants included a number of breweries.

"There were 100 new breweries opened this year," Carr said. "When we opened, there were 40 breweries in the state. Now there are 300."

The project calls for three phases, and Carr said the first step will be to talk to various schools about the educational component.

"This is a big-picture, long-term project," Carr said. "The important thing is the better products New York produces, the more we can sell on a national level."
FORT EDWARD  Only a tiny fraction of the vacation-home owners in Washington County responded to a tourism survey directed at them this fall.

But tourism officials are making the best of it as they try to figure out what impact tourism actually has in the county.

They surveyed vacation-home owners on the theory that the owners represent a good chunk of the countys tourism. Owners were asked what activities they do in the county, when they visit, how much money they spend and how many people they bring with them, among other questions.

Out of 2,248 property owners, only 160 returned the survey, said Economic Development Director Laura Oswald.

Clearly, I would be happier if it was more, she said. But it was enough to draw conclusions.

A consultant is crunching the numbers now, along with data from event organizers who were asked about customers and the amount of money spent at their events.

Next, the county will hold public meetings with business owners and others in late January or early February. Theyre hoping to find out what business owners want and need.

The final report will be finished by March, Oswald said.

The goal is to help the county determine a return on investment, she said.

At issue is whether any particular investment from the county is worth it.

Its going to end up being a return on investment scenario, she said. If you find tourism is bringing $1 into the county, and the county is spending $2, that math doesnt work very well.

The report will also include recommendations on actions the county could take. But Oswald is well aware that supervisors will judge the cost of those actions in comparison to how much money they will bring in.

Thats why she must know what the current economic impact of tourism is, she said.

Understanding the impact helps with the decision on how many dollars should be spent, she said.

Of course, actions can be fairly cheap. Right now, the county is planning to teach business owners how to get their businesses listed on Google maps, Oswald said.
FORT EDWARD  After two years, Washington Countys new agriculture and farmland protection plan is nearly done.

Its getting high marks from farmers, but some of the recommendations didnt impress the county supervisors when they saw the draft plan last week. They were particularly concerned by a proposal for at least one paid coordinator to implement the plan.

Itll be up to you all to figure out how that gets (funded), said Nan Stolzenburg, the consultant who helped draw up the plan. Community Planning and Environmental Associates was hired to update the countys plan, which was last written 20 years ago.

The plan also calls for someone  such as the coordinator  to lobby for lower taxes for farmers. That could include restructuring property taxes so that farmland has a lower tax rate. Supervisors didnt greet that idea with enthusiasm either.

But those who wrote the plan assured the supervisors that many recommendations can be accomplished without paid staff. While it would be easier to have someone organizing the effort, they said things can be done on a volunteer basis.

The plan calls for organized cooperation to meet the new rules of todays world. Farmers want a shared facility for cold storage and freezer space. They also need support to meet new food safety requirements, which can require expensive investments.

Shared facilities would help a great deal, said farmer Mary Pratt of Elihu Farm in Easton.

You used to be able to rent a freezer 40 years ago or so, she said.

She is hoping that rental locations are set up in several locations throughout the county. Thats what farmers need  not one location that could be an hours drive away, she said.

To preserve farms for decades to come, the plan calls for an increase in meat and protein processing, which means improving local farms capacity and efficiency.

The plan also proposes promoting hops farming and providing training in alternative crops, including vineyards, honey, hops and hemp.

If a coordinator is funded to work on the plan, that person could also try to get more state funding to preserve smaller farms. Thats what Pratt is hoping will happen.

Its the smaller parcels. If they cant preserve that, thats more likely to get houses on it, she said. The state is mostly interested in protecting large parcels.

The plan also issues a plea for workers.

One thing we heard over and over was, we need a skilled labor force, Stolzenburg said. Skilled labor is a critical component to make sure we have successful farms.

Skilled labor isnt people who help with the harvest. Its people who can handle machinery  operating it, cleaning it and fixing it, she said.

The plan will be presented to the public in late January or early February.
ARGYLE  Work turned out to be slower than expected and a hoped-for state grant did not come through, but Dean Tripp said last week the expansion of Locust Grove Smokehouse is moving ahead.

Those things have slowed us down, but we will get it done, said Tripp, who runs the smokehouse with his brother Bill and son Adam.

The store was started in the 1970s by Bill Tripp, Dean and Bills father, who died in January 2015.

Its really looking good from the outside. The roof is finished, Tripp said.

Inside, the Tripps are getting ready to finish laying the concrete for the new floors and framing the new rooms. The most critical part of the expansion is that it will create separate areas for raw meat and cooked meat.

A $300,000 loan for the project was the result of a collaborative effort between the Washington County Local Development Corp. and the Lake Champlain-Lake George Regional Planning Board, said Deanna Derway, president and executive director of the LDC. The two organizations split the loan at $150,000 each.

With the separate rooms, Locust Grove will be able to do more smoking of meat while keeping its slaughterhouse active at the same time. Locust Grove does a good deal of slaughtering and processing of meat for local farms.

The new website, www.locustgrovesmokehouse.net, will expand as the business expands, Tripp said.
GLENS FALLS  Despite an early lack of toy donations and a continued deficit in its annual fund drive, the Salvation Army of Greater Glens Falls was still able to meet the needs of local families.

A late surge put the number of toys collected at 4,416, more than 1,000 more than 2015.

Unfortunately for the 2017 overall budget, income around the holiday was down $17,288.

Almost the entirety of that shortfall came from the Red Kettle drive, which produced $98,525, a drop of $17,018 from the 2015 figure of $115,543. That marks a 15 percent decrease.

The weather really hurt us this year, and the number of volunteers was down, said Major David Dean. But we were able to help everyone who needed it for the holidays. It is going to be tougher in the coming year.

The direct-mail campaign also took a hit, dropping from $45,745 to $42,735. Walk-in donations went up from $64,545 to $66,285.

The toy program served 581 local children with new toys and new clothing. That is up from 527 in 2015. Each child received 11 items in their Christmas bag, including three primary gifts, four smaller gifts, two knit items and a stuffed animal. Each family also received a board game. In total, 5,512 gifts, presents, toys, games and stuffed animals were distributed.

The food drive and distribution served 461 families comprised of 1,741 individuals. The total number of meals provided was 10,446.

The Salvation Armys League of Mercy also served residents in six local nursing homes.

Most people are not aware of our seasonal nursing home visits, but this year, we stopped at six homes, visited 456 residents and passed out 912 gifts and presents to the residents, Dean said. We also did carol sings and worship services in the homes.

The visits are done primarily by worshippers who attend the Salvation Army but are open to anyone wanting to volunteer.

The Christmas food basket program served 461 families this year, totaling 1,741 individuals. The baskets consisted of both purchased and donated foods.

Area food drives had a good Christmas and enabled the baskets to be filled to the brim, Dean said, noting the holiday meals included a wide variety of food, as well as a gift certificate for meat. The baskets were huge. Families of seven or eight people had to come back twice to get all their food. The community came through with more food this year at Christmas than at Thanksgiving, and for that we are very grateful.

Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, the group served 871 families consisting of 3,387 people.
Theres an old saying, You cant make an omelette without cracking a few eggs.

Likewise it could be said, You cant raise money for charity without twisting a few arms.

Peter Brock, owner Sams Diner on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls, accomplishes both with a smile.

Brock raised $24,012 this year in his annual Small Business Challenge campaign for Operation Santa Claus, exceeding his goal of $22,000 and setting a new record, Pete Cloutier, of Regional Radio Group announced.

Last year he raised $21,000.

Operation Santa Claus, a local charity, provides food and clothing for about 2,500 children at Christmas.

Ice in on Glen Lake

The ice is in on Glen Lake, lakefront resident Harold Bud Taylor said at the Dec. 20 EDC Warren County board meeting.

Taylor was responding to Queensbury Supervisor John Strough, who said he went kayaking on Glen Lake last Christmas, and was wondering if he would be able to do so again this year.

Its in  about five inches (deep), Taylor said.

Retirement

Queensbury Town Board members at the Dec. 19 meeting, had kind words for long-time town Planning Board member Paul Schonewolf, who is retiring from the board.

Big loss to the Planning Board right there  big loss, said 4th Ward Councilman William VanNess.

The board also congratulated Sue Hemingway, a clerk in the community development department, on reaching the 30-year mark in town employment.

Family concert

Musicians Rich Ortiz and Brian Chevalier team up for a fun-filled musical concert for families at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the community room at Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls.

The concert is open to the public free of charge.

Mark your calendar

The next Friends of Crandall Public Library book sale is Feb. 3-5 in the library basement.

Remind me to buy more poetry books this time.

Ive already read through the stack I bought at the October sale.

In the new year

A quotation from the Christmas message of King George VI of Great Britain still rings true today:

A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we will be.

May we all find reasons to be thankful in 2017.
LAKE GEORGE  A Rensselaer-based firm has been awarded the contract to conduct a study of the military history of Fort George.

The town of Lake George has contracted with Hartgen Archeological Associates to perform an inventory and noninvasive exploration of sites associated with Fort George battles during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War.

Over the summer, the town learned it received a $50,000 grant from the National Park Services Battlefield Protection Program to perform the study.

Fort George was the site of a key battle in 1755 during the French and Indian War, in which British and Colonial soldiers defeated the French. Americans captured the site from the British in 1775, but Great Britain took it back in 1780.

Dan Barusch, director of planning and zoning for the town, said the firm was selected by a committee from four submissions.

Hartgen is well known in the Capital Region and has good experience working with officials in Washington and filing the necessary quarterly reports required by the grant, Barusch said. The firm was excited during the interview process about potentially doing the job and has good experience, Barusch added.

(We) saw a report they did for Fort Ann and it is almost exactly what we are hiring them to do, he said.

The project will have a formal kickoff in January, according to Barusch. There will be a couple of public workshops throughout the process and updates on the project will be posted on the planning and zoning page of the towns website.

The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2018, Barusch said.

Barusch has said previously that the report would also provide geographic information system mapping showing the locations and movements of battles throughout the town and village and identify historically relevant sites and objectives for future preservation and identification.

Historic signs denoting the battles would be posted throughout Lake George.

There is no matching requirement for the grant, but Barusch has identified about $20,000 of in-kind time and resources to be donated to the project from his office and the towns partners.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
The story about his death was revealed by a Facebook user named Ajetunmobi Ridwan Olawale, supposedly a friend to the deceased.

According to Olawale, the deceased passed away on December 25, 2016. He was reported to have gotten married the previous day.

No information about his death circumstances was given by the user who wrote, Sad.Sad.Sad. This is quite a gigantic sad news. Auwal Sani got married on 24th December 2016 passed away 25th December 2016.

"He died together with his friend on his way back from Katsina where his wedding took place. May his gentle soul rest in peaceAmin.

ALSO READ: Friends mourn young graduate who died in car crash
The youth had selected some individuals as local revenue collectors after accusing officials of the District Assembly of mismanagement.

The leader of the youth Safianu Mahama told Accra-based Kasapa FM that the situation resulted in some misunderstanding between the youth and the district assembly officials.

He said the police who were subsequently called in arrested some three individuals who have been selected as local revenue collectors.

Mr Mahama indicated that another person was picked up by the police on Tuesday which angered the youth of the area.

Many of them subsequently mounted roadblocks, created rumble strips and staged a wild demonstration in protest.

Mr Mahama lamented that authorities of the assembly have reneged on their promise to allocate 60% of the revenue to develop the community.

Police are yet to comment on the incident.
They presented assorted items and gifts including bags of rice, cooking oil, beverages, drinks, fruits and biscuits to the childrens ward, female ward as well as the hospital staff.

The Second Lady, Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur said the gesture was to show love to the children, the nursing mothers and the hospital staff for the care of the kids.

She commended the staff of the hospital for their attention and dedication to the patients at the childrens ward.
With the stress of Jamb and Post UME, a lot of Nigerian students have decided to simply hop over to other countries to get their university degrees, and a popular choice is Benin Republic's private universities.

Probably due to the tempting three years of study as compared to the Nigerian four years minimum, the supposed 'cheap' education, the almost 24/7 power supply.

However, quite a number of Nigerians that initially went over to the Benin Republic to study returned back to Nigeria to restart their education after a year or two of study, and I am one of them, others graduated and ended up regretting wasting three years of their lives simply because they were ignorant of few facts. So I decided to create this list of five reasons why studying in the Benin Republic isn't the best option for you.

1. The Controversial Certificate

A lot of Nigerian graduates from Benin Republic private universities, find it hard to get a job in Nigeria after studying there, due to questionable standards. And they also have problems studying for higher degrees both In Nigeria and Other more developed countries.

I personally know of a girl that graduated from a Private university in Benin Republic and applied for a masters degree in the University of Lagos but was declined even though she supposedly had a Second Class Result.

2. It's not Actually Cheap

Sure they'll preach to you how it's much cheaper than the Nigerian private universities, but if you calculate the very poor quality of education and structure possessed you'll realize you are paying for too much for far too little.

Even when the exchange rate was supposed to be Favorable to Nigerians, after changing your Naira to CEFA, I assure you'll be surprised at the terrible purchasing power of the CEFA.

Other than school fees, you'll have to pay either accommodation fee for a hostel that Is usually too expensive and crappy, or do what most of the students there do. Pay for a room, that is far too expensive seeing how you'll pay not just the room but a caution fee that you'll never get back.

3. The Educational Loopholes

One of the oddest things I saw in Benin Republic has got to be students coming into the second year directly without any special qualifications, merely paying about fifty thousand naira to some lecturer, or how students with barely three credits in their WAECs get admitted without any hitch.

They, the private universities, possessed very little education structure and what little they had was extremely fluid easy to be manipulated by just anyone.

You'll see quite a good number of students there, that 'transferred' from one university to the other without transcripts, and the student will have an admission letter that will portray the student has only ever being in that school and grades created and entered into the book for exams the person wasn't even in the school for.

4. The Non-Existent Social Life

One thing Almost every young Nigerian dream of is going to the university, making a lot of friends and in general be a part of a bustling university social community.

If these are your plans and you intend going to Benin Republic to study, I suggest you re-evaluate your plan. I know of several private universities there with about three People in a department.

A very populated department may have over thirty students, and a good percentage of these students are the ones that have 'transferred without transcripts' or the ones that 'skipped' classes. Not only are their demography nothing to write home about, the buildings are usually very small and reminiscent of a small JAMB tutorial center.

5. The Beninese

Sure they aren't South Africans, but they definitely have something against Nigerians. They seem to possess a general believe that Nigerians are 'Wealthy Thieves' and will go out of their way to cheat you, and generally, make life hard for you.

I remember once in School I can't remember what exactly happened but a Nigerian student was demanding his change from a Beninese and suddenly it turned into a Beninese against Nigerians free for all, several students got their head broken and got injured.

One thing with them is that while they also have really great and nice people, a good percentage of them believe we are here to steal from them, with good reasons, and as such, they endeavor to steal from us first.

I am writing this out of my personal experience studying at a Private University in Benin Republic, after which I had to leave to come back to Nigeria to study and I genuinely hope that this helps someone out there not to make the mistake that I almost made.
The actor claimed Muma Gee travelled to Abuja leaving a few month old baby behind.

Now, the actress has shared some family Christmas photos and Prince Eke is missing from the mix. It seems like the pair have taken a break for now with these latest photos.

Recall that the actor called out his musician wife on Instagram, saying she left for Abuja, abandoning him alone to cater for their three children and all she does is hang out at night clubs with different men.

Muma Gee then told Punch, Are you saying I shouldnt do my work again because I am married?

I am in Abuja and I came to work. I have a show here. In fact, I am in a meeting right now. Im not bothered, I dont have any problem with whatever he says.

The mother of three, reacting to the claims that she abandoned her children, said, I have no comment. I have a new album, let him help me and market it.

It is this kind of controversy that we are looking for right now, she quipped.
The much publicized collaboration between TV Icon Uti Nwachukwu and Senior Pastor, CGMi Church, Rev. Mrs. Laurie Idahosa for a Christmas Charity visit to a camp housing widows and children displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria was a huge success.

Speaking prior to the event, Uti stated that his intention is to help foster hope amongst the IDPs by assisting the camp administration in providing necessary aid and awareness. Uti was the 2009 Best Graduating Student of Idahosa's school, Benson Idahosa University.

Uti lead entertainers and also fellow BIU graduates like actor Blossom Chukwujekwu, Kevwe Ogunje, BBA reality TV star Lillian Afegbai, Gulder Ultimate Man 5 Michael Nwachukwu, BBA's Melvin Oduah, A-List stylist Yolanda Okereke, Afro-Pop Star TeeManay and behind the scenes organizer, Mrs. Joy Sillo.

Utis drive to give back provided brand new clothing materials to widows as well as educational items, toys and food to children in the camp. Mrs. Idahosa's drive supplied the volunteer work force, logistics and a well-balanced meal for the the 2,400 residents of the camp.

The missionaries, widows and children in the camp were ecstatic with all the gifts and especially commented about being given meat to eat, explaining that it has been months since theyve tasted meat or fish.

Explaining his decision to partner his NGO with Idahosa, Uti Nwachukwu said : " Idahosas integrity and long term commitment to the humanitarian efforts for the IDPs made her an ideal partner for this collaboration. This year I was thinking of what to do differently for our 5th anniversary so when she reached out to me, I knew it was God".

Generous Loyal donors include U.N MDG Ambassador Emmanuel O Jibromah, Alhaji Abu Inu Umoru, Mr Olakunle ChurchHill, Ambassador Karo Ekewenu, Dr Mrs Awotedu, Mrs Pat Awele, Mr Emeka Nnmadi Uwenwekwe, Mz Joy Momodu, Mr Austin Amado and lots more

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Punch reports that a staff of the bank, Samuel Ndudiri, was also arrested alongside other gang members in the foiled bank robbery.

According to a statement by the State Police Command, Sergeant Ukwoma and Nduriri were arrested after a discreet investigation by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team with assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police.

The statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Nnamdi Omoni, the duo, alongside one other suspect. were arrested at about 11.35 am on Friday, December 23, 2016, in what would have been the biggest robbery operation in the history of the state.

The three suspects with others on the run, according to the report, had brought a filled gas cylinder to the Access Bank premises in Rumuolumeni and had engaged in cutting the main door into the bank when security operatives stormed the place.

However, some members of the gang, including a police corporal identified as Gabriel Igwe, attached to the 19 Police Mobile Force, are currently on the run with two AK 47 rifles belonging to the serving police personnel, were recovered during the operation.

Ndudiri, the Access Bank employee, was said to have masterminded the foiled robbery of the bank with the assistance of the police sergeant, who is from the Department of Operations, Port Harcourt.

Part of the police statement read:

Arrest of a serving Police Sergeant and bank staff involved in bank robbery and recovery of two AK47 rifles belonging to serving personnel on 23/12/2016 at about 1135hrs.

Sequel to the arrest and handing over of three suspects involved in Access Bank, Eagle Cement, Rumuelumeni branch robbery to Intelligence Response Team by CP, Rivers State, for discreet investigation, IRT Operatives immediately commenced investigation and with technical assistance from TIU (Technical Intelligence Unit), two key members of the gang were arrested.

Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma of DOPS Port Harcourt and Mr. Samuel Ndudiri m, 38 years, a staff of Access Bank, Eagle Cement (Rumuolumeni) branch, who brought the job and masterminded the robbery, were both arrested in Port Harcourt.

Exhibit recovered are Two AK47 Riffles with breach Nos. 523513 / 21173 and two AK47 rifle magazines fully loaded. One Cpl. Igwe Gabriel of 19PMF attached to RRT DOPS, now at large, is the owner of the second rifle with S/No. 21173, the statement read.
The incident, according to a witness, Cheta Igbokwe who posted it on his Facebook wall, happened in Owerri, the capital of Imo State where the young man, Nduka Eto, was allegedly cut down in cold blood because he bluntly refused to give the policeman a bribe.

It was gathered that the police officer, Inspector Mike Edem, who was on duty at a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Station located at the Control Post junction in Owerri, had reportedly shot and killed the young man who hailed from Oguta Local Government Area of the state on December 22, 2016, with his wedding slated for December 27, 2016, in the presence of his fiancee and younger brother.

This is how Igbokwe captured the incident on his Facebook wall:

"Eto was killed three days ago, at NNPC Fuel Station, Control Post Owerri, Imo State. He was not attacked by robbers. He was not bombed by Boko Haram. He was not lynched by any angry mob.

No! Sadly, he was killed by a certain Mike Edem, a police inspector, who shot him after a little misunderstanding with a staff, killed him and ran away.

Eto was killed by someone who was meant to protect him, a police officer, our acclaimed friends. This is a sad story.

The police create more trouble for the citizens rather than protect their lives and properties. A lot of people have lost their lives through the careless handling of guns by some of these folks that call themselves the police.

Etos story is not even a result of an officers carelessness; it was borne out of a certain pride that comes upon these men when they are handling guns (even the ones without bullets). They would point the gun at you, threatening to shoot you when you try to engage in an argument.

These officers are very quick in finding out how the citizens have faulted; they do not care to know your own view, and they opine that when they speak, the case is closed. That is why someone like Mike Edem could pull the trigger on Nduka, and run away.

This is a special plea to the Imo State Police Commissioner and to whom it may concern: wake up and work! Do not let Ndukas story die, just as millions of similar stories are dead and buried.

However, the manager of the Mega Station, Mrs. Ruth Enemmuo, who is now in police detention, said that there was an argument between the late Nduka and one of her attendants over a missing iPhone 7 which degenerated into a fight with Nduka injuring the attendant.

Enemmuo said that she had to intervene and settle the issue but that as soon as Nduka entered his car, the police inspector fired at him, killing him instantly.

It was learned that the inspector fled the area and had not been seen and the manager later went to the police station to report the killing but was detained immediately.

Enemmuo narrated further that the police say she must produce the fleeing Inspector before she is left off the hook.
In our innocence, we thought the outgoing year was a harbinger of sad news, especially when there were some calamities our parents witnessed in the year.

We would wait for the 31st of December when, at exactly 12 midnight, we would scream at the top of our voices, wishing the year to go out as fast as it could. In our innocence, we felt by doing so, the next year would take a cue from the way its predecessor was disgraced out.

Now that we are all grown up, it is the same feeling that we have for the outgoing year 2016 and it is our hope we would not witness such a calamitous year in a long time to come, especially as Nigerians.

The year began on a very positive note and for the first time in 16 years of our democracy, Nigerians began the year with a new government, a new regime, new faces and renewed hopes of better things to come.

We had just inaugurated a new president and a new era some six months earlier and with the new government, there was a new way of thinking, a new hope that the wrongs of the past government would be corrected.

Everyone knew that the task ahead was not an easy pie but with the zeal the new regime set about its campaign and with all the promises they had made, Nigerians felt that within a short while, the government would set right the wrongs and the calamitous government the country had.

But almost two years into the life of this regime, Nigerians have now seen that making promises are one thing while actualizing them is a different ball game entirely.

But instead of the optimism Nigerians heralded the new government when it rode into power, it has been gloom, hardship, hunger and despondency that became the daily plight of Nigerians.

While the government wobbled and fumbled to have a hang on the situation, Nigerians became the worst hit. Millions of Nigerians lost their jobs due to the harsh economic policies that became quite unfavorable to businesses to thrive.

The Naira took a downward spiral and with foreign currencies hard to get, many companies folded up and moved out of the country en masse because they could not continue running at a loss.

Hunger became the daily cries of Nigerian while the government went on a long-winded blame game, attributing every of their failure on past governments. At a point, it was like playing a cracked record on a repeat mode as all their failed promises were put at the feet of the past government.

The ministers the president spent a whole six months to put I place turned out to be the worse set the country has ever noticed as they were mere compensations for political favours.

Square pegs were put in round holes with many of them not up to scratch at the very least. There were incongruous and discordant voices within the government with the presidency saying something different from the president would say, while policies kept changing with no one knowing the directions they were going.

The president himself did not help matters as he only filled up his kitchen cabinet with his relatives, political friends and those who worked for his emergence. Many would argue that it was better to surround himself with people he could trust but the question many asked was if the interest of the president superseded that of the nation.

Insecurity became the order of the day as Fulani herdsmen became the Lords of the Manor with the government not able to put a reign on them. It was as if they were given a license to kill as they raided communities in Enugu, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, Ogun, Plateau, Taraba and Adamawa States with reckless abandon.

At such times, the silence in the presidency would be defeaning while the government would be quick to send condolence messages to other countries whenever there was a slight mishap.

The excuses for the failures of the present government was always placed at the feet of corrupt politicians who had looted the country to no end, a war they have been able to fight admirably but on a broader look, it feels like the war has only been targeted at the opposition.

Any indicted politician who felt the government was coming for him, would take the sharp decision of decamping to the ruling All Progressives Congress and in a jiffy, he would become a patriot and his slate would be wiped clean.

The fanfare with which these politicians were accepted into the party and celebrated was so shameful that many felt the war against corruption was nothing but a charade.

Nigeria has gone into the worse recession it has ever witnessed in many years and from the look of things, it seems the government is bereft of ideas on how to pull the country out of its present state.

This is becoming more worrisome as the body language of the government does not give any hope at all. All they keep saying is that Nigerians should continue to pray but the question is: how long will Nigerians keep praying before things turn out for the best?
The items were distributed on her behalf by Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Chairperson of Mrs Aisha Buharis Committee on Distribution of Donated Items (WIPCOMDI) at Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri.

Shettima also visited other injured troops at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.

According to her, Buharis gesture is to celebrate Christmas festivities with the injured and to appreciate their efforts in restoring peace.

Both religions say how good and pleasant it is when God makes us enjoy together in peace, tranquillity, progress and unity.

I am not here in my own capacity alone but am wearing two caps; I am here representing the wife of the president and as a wife of Borno governor, she said.

She commended the gallant troops in crushing the remnants and restoring peace to Borno, the north-eastern region of the country and the nation at large.
He also added that he set out like most of the youths and became the governor of Lagos State through the grace of God.

Quoting the state Governor, We believe so much in all of you. We know that you are our future. Like most of you, I started from here. By the grace of God today, I am your governor and so there will be many more governors from this crowd. But if you want to be a President; if you want to be a Governor; if you want to a Doctor or you want to be a lawyer and so on, you must now work hard and trust more in God.

Ambode also promised that his administration would continue to create an enabling environment for the youths to aspire to be who they want to be.

So, even when you work hard, our duty, as government, is to provide the enabling environment for all of you and so we are going to create more jobs for our youths and also we will create more facilities so that you can crave on your talents to become more creative.

While speaking on the facilities provided for youths in Lagos State, the Governor referenced the Employment Trust Fund (ETF). Those of you who are out of school or are graduates now and you do not have jobs; the ETF is available for all of you. Between now and November next year, we are providing an Arts Theatre in Epe. It is going to be a 500-seater Theatre and we will also have a modern cinema here in Epe.

We are bringing a shopping mall to Epe also. We will create more jobs but I want you to be the best. I will support you and I pray that all the things that I have gained from here, you will gain better ones than me, he said.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who made the call in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos, stressed that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.

We urge Nigerians to keep our gallant and victorious troops in their prayers.

Nigerians should also imbibe the mantra of if you see something, say something as a way of ensuring that no escaped terrorist is able to wreak havoc in their communities.

It is also important to know that now that they have been dispossessed of their fortress, the Boko Haram escapees will intensify their cowardly attacks on vulnerable targets if only to maintain an illusion of terror.

There should be no panic because the worst is over, he said.

The minister congratulated the gallant troops of the Nigerian military for finally seizing the Sambisa Forest from the Boko Haram terrorists and securing the North-East.

He said the feat had paved the way for Sundays re-opening of two strategic roads in Borno.

Mohammed appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the troops as they clear the remnants of the terrorists who are now on the run.

We commend the military for the re-opening of the Maiduguri-Gubio-Damasak road and the Maiduguri-Mungono-Baga road, which link Nigeria with neighbouring countries.

The Federal Government also commends Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, for his unwavering support for the military and his administrations determination to quickly restore normalcy across the state, he said.

The minister said it was in recognition and celebration of the great feat by the military that he decided to lead over 30 Nigerian and international journalists to join the Minister of Defence, the Service Chiefs and Borno Governor at the opening of the roads.

Unfortunately, due to bad weather, our flight to Maiduguri from Abuja was cancelled after several hours of waiting at the airport in Abuja.

However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. , accompanied by the top brass of the military, re-opened the two arterial roads.

This is very significant because the two major roads, which were closed due to the activities of the terrorists in the area, are of strategic importance to the economy of the Lake Chad Region, he said.

The minister noted that the exceptional leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari provided the much-needed impetus for the militarys victory in the North-east.
According to Vanguard, Eric Omare, the IYC spokesman said this on Monday, December 26, 2016 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

This is coming after Buhari called on militants in the Niger Delta to lay down arms and negotiate with the Federal Government.

Omare also said the President, through his comment just wants to make Nigerians to believe that his administration wants to negotiate with the militants.

According to him, Buhari wants  to deceive Nigerians and the world to create the false impression that the Federal Government is ready for dialogue whereas it is not.

The Buhari administration is the one frustrating attempts at negotiation and not Niger Delta agitators. The Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders have done everything possible to start the negotiation process which has been frustrated by the Federal Government.

IYC therefore call on President Buhari to demonstrate sincerity towards negotiating with the Niger Delta people by constituting the government negotiation team rather than Christmas day rhetoric.

Omare also slammed Governor Nasir Ek-Rufai for alleging that militants from the Niger Delta were contracted to kill indigenes of Southern Kaduna.

He said The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide states that the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El Rufai is inciting the people of Kaduna State and by implication the entire north against Niger Deltans by his statement that Niger Delta militants have been hired to carry out attacks in southern Kaduna.

This statement is reckless and highly condemnable. Mallam El-Rufai having failed in his duty to protect the lives and properties of the people of southern Kaduna should not use innocent Niger Deltans as scapegoats. Niger Deltans have no business going all the way to Kaduna or any part of Nigeria to attack Nigerians.

We call on Nigerians and the security agencies to hold Governor El-Rufai responsible for any attack on Niger Deltans in the north as a result of his irresponsible statement.

ALSO READ: Buhari wants Niger Delta militants to sit down and talk with him

The Fulani herdsmen who El-Rufai paid for killing people are well known to the world, hence Niger Deltans should not be linked under any circumstances to the unwarranted killings going on in southern Kaduna.

We also call the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency bring the killings in southern Kaduna to a stop and bring the perpetrators to justice including Governor El-Rufai.
Speaking during the interview, Mrs Dauda said, We have so far captured the database for the vulnerable households in twelve (12) local government areas and by 2017 we shall be covering the entire state.

Giving further details on the empowerment scheme, Dauda mentioned the twelve (12) out of a total of twenty-five (25) Local governments in Niger State that have benefitted from the Scheme. Quoting the SA, Chanchaga, Shiroro, Paikoro, Munya, Lapai, Agaie, Edati, Bida, Machegu, Kotangora, Wushishi and Magama Local government Areas (LGAs) have been captured.

Furthermore, according to her, seventy five thousand, one hundred and fifty (75,150) households are actually to benefit from the scheme. It is noteworthy to mention that there has been an intervention by the World Bank to the worthy cause.

The World Banks N32million intervention helped this office immensely in capturing 75,150 households out of which 10,173 are currently receiving their monthly N5, 000 stipends, she said.

It is further believed that by 2017, those who are yet to would start benefitting from the empowerment scheme for the vulnerable households in Niger State.
Mr Dayo Adeyeye , the Partys National Publicity Secretary made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He described the news as a welcome development in the fight against terrorism in the country.

Adeyeye, however, said the feat was a collective efforts and sacrifices of Nigerians.

We congratulate Nigerians for this important milestone in the long and bitter struggle against the forces of evil that have wreaked so much suffering and hardship on our people in the last few years.

We also congratulate the President for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency, we are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors.

Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present administrations, Adeyeye said.

He lauded the victory which earlier made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas in the North east states last year.

He said We are therefore very much delighted with the continuation of this great effort by the President.

We salute the men and women of our beloved armed forces for their courage, determination and sacrifice which made this achievement possible.

The men and women of the Nigerian armed forces have served and continue to serve with distinction in many peace keeping operations all over the world.

We salute them for fighting with great courage to keep the peace in their own country. 

He also commended the support and encouragement of international communities, particularly countries that helped in the procurement of critical military hardware.

The PDP advised the government and the military not to rest on their oars.

Beyond Sambisa, all the other forests which criminals use as hideouts and bases must equally be cleared by the military.

Forests such as Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue have become killing fields, he said.
He said this following the controversy surrounding the rejection of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) boss, Ibrahim Magu by the Senate.

Opadokun also called on Buhari to be on his toes, adding that people voted for him because of his anti-corruption stance.

He said It (the non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate) is an unfortunate development, very unfortunate dimension to our national crisis. Our national crisis of identity is being further damaged by the conduct of the Nigerian state.

First, I like to say that President Muhammadu Buhari by conduct and behaviour over Magus confirmation is indicating to his admirers and those who voted for him that he is no longer in control of his government.

There are two or three major unfortunate developments that are showing a divided presidency, clearly telling Nigerians, perhaps that the Buhari we thought we knew in the 80s is totally a different personality now.

The fact that the so-called DSS will now be writing a spurious and pedestrian report on Magu is an unfortunate dimension. I see this as humiliation of what Magu stands for and it is an unfortunate dimension to our so-called anti-corruption determination of President Buhari.

Let me say clearly, President Buhari needs to be on his guard. The only reason that people voted for him was because of his promise to fight corruption because if we do not fight corruption, corruption will fight us and it fought us too badly.

Meanwhile, the Senate looks like it is divided on whether Magu was rejected or not.
This is coming after Adesina explained to Nigerians why President Buhari is not saying anything about the killings in Southern Kaduna.

The presidential spokesman told Channels Television that the President is quiet because the Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is handling the matter effectively.

According to Daily Post, Ahmed said Mr. @FemAdesina cannot destroy what we have spent a decade and half building with obnoxious statements. if u don't want d job resign pls.

ALSO READ:Why President is keeping quiet on the killings in Southern Kaduna

Adesina also told Channels TV that the press misquoted President Buhar when he sent out a congratulatory message to the troops who captured Sambisa forest.
According to Punch, Ganduje ordered the immediate suspension of the director and nine employees of the Ministry for Local Government over their alleged connivance to divert funds, running into millions of naira.

It was also reported that the nine local government employees under the platform of REMITA,as well as four employees of the Kano State Pension Funds Trustee and two top members of Kano Pension Union to police authorities have also been handed over to anti-corruption commission for investigation.

The workers handed over to the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation, have been accused of connivance to siphon public funds.

In a statement from the office of the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammed Naiya, the preliminary investigation by a special committee indicted the affected officers.
Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, made this known at an interactive meeting with State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to him, about N13billion has been taken off the payroll monthly from February to December this year.

The flagship programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course.

Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.

When the committee was constituted in February 2016, Federal government monthly salary bill was N151 billion excluding pensions.

Now the monthly salary warrant is N138 billion, excluding pensions. Which means that the government is making a monthly saving of about N13 billion. That is from February 2016 to date, he said.

The Presidential spokesman explained that the the pension bill was 15.5bn monthly as at February.

He said Now, it is down to N14.4 billion, which means average monthly saving is made of about N1.1 billion.
In a statement reportedly credited to his media office on Monday, December 26, 2016, Babangida hailed President Buhari and the Nigerian army for the feat.

He went further to congratulate the citizens of Nigeria on the feat achieved by the Nigerian army while urging them to work more on defeating other insurgents, armed bandits and cattle rustlers.

May I rejoice with the government and Nigerians on the successful dislodging of Boko Haram from their base in Sambisa.

It is a sign of relief that the military has finally smoked out Boko Haram terrorists from their notorious enclave of Sambisa forest.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the military are capable of crushing any challenge of the territorial integrity of Nigeria, he said.
In a statement it issued in Calabar on Tuesday, the government said that the report was concocted and done with the aim of embarrassing it.

The statement was signed by Mr Christian Ita, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state Governor Ben Ayade.

The report is replete with factual inaccuracies and outright lies invented by the author of the said report.

It is shocking that a reporter who is holidaying somewhere in Lagos could conjure a robbery incident that never took place.

The reporter syndicated same to some of his colleagues all in a bid to damage a brand that has been painstakingly built over the years.

For the avoidance of doubts, there was no robbery at the Calabar Christmas Village. That it was even reported that gunshots were fired, shows the depth of ethical bankruptcy of the writer, the government stated.

It claimed that what happened was that some fans watching Kiss Daniels performance became unruly at some point and threw plastic bottles on stage.

The incident lasted for a very brief period before security officials restored normalcy.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper, the suspected cattle rustlers not only gruesomely murdered the herdsman but also stole two of his cows.

The corpse of the herdsmen, whose name was given as Haruna Mohammed, was later thrown in a shallow river where it was pinned down by a large trunk to prevent it from floating.

While Mohammed's murder is reported to have generated apprehension between herdsmen and residents, security operative have been deployed to the community to prevent a reprisal attack.

A source who spoke to Punch said: The herdsman was attacked on Friday evening by the rustlers while trying to steal his cows when he resisted them. They were two herdsmen that went for the grazing but one of them went to buy food, before he returned his colleague had been killed.

It took us two days before we could discover the corpse tied to a heavy wood inside the river. We traced him to the river bank after his colleagues waited for his return on Friday. The next day (Saturday), his colleague reported the case at police station in Abbi.
In a report by Daily Trust, the General Officer Commanding the Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade made this disclosure.

He said, The troops became suspicious when they tried to stop the men and they objected. The troops then approached them, only to discover there were rounds of ammunition in the vehicle. They have been arrested and taken to the military camp in Kafanchan.

It was also reported that the development has seen the GOC directing an immediate deployment of troops to Ninte, a Southern Kaduna community where the renewed attacks remains strong.

It was further reported that there were allegations that Fulani herders had taken over Ninte village and had been grazing their cattle on the natives farms since after the first attack in June 2016.
NAN recalls that the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan announced the release of the money after the abduction of Chibok school girls.

Former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had flown to Chibok to inaugurate the N500 million rebuilding project under the Safe School Initiative programme.

Two years on, the project is yet to be competed while students of the school remain at home.

Shettima told residents of Chibok that the government would pressurise the Federal Government to uncover those who might have diverted the money.

The governor lamented that a lot of individuals and groups have turned the misfortune of Boko Haram victims into a money making venture.
He made the comments via a statement released on Monday, December 26.

The statement reads:

We urge Nigerians to keep our gallant and victorious troops in their prayers. Nigerians should also imbibe the mantra of if you see something, say something as a way of ensuring that no escaped terrorist is able to wreak havoc in their communities.

It is also important to know that now that they have been dispossessed of their fortress, the Boko Haram escapees will intensify their cowardly attacks on vulnerable targets if only to maintain an illusion of terror. There should be no panic because the worst is over.
Kalu said that the prisoners held in Aba, Arochukwu, Port Harcourt and Enugu prisons were granted pardon on the advice and recommendation of the Abia State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.

He said that three among the 20 prisoners were on death row and had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment while the others sentenced to various prison terms were released.

Government expects the pardoned prisoners to be law abiding and contribute to the drive to provide a better future for the state and the country at large, he said.
The attack was carried out during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) N19m empowerment meeting occurred in Prince Ita-Etuks residence, which is situated at Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government in Akwa Ibom State.

According to a statement issued and signed by Abasifreke Effiong, the media aide to Prince Umen Ita-Etuk, the unfortunate incident occurred minutes after a Christmas meeting held by members of the Peoples Democratic Party. Extracts from the statement are seen below:

Scores of suspected hoodlums have attempted to cart away money for the empowerment of Ibesikpo Asutan people at Prince Ita Etuks residence.

It was also reported that the thugs tried to seize the nineteen million naira (N19M) meant to be distributed to supporters of the party. The party was giving out N19m to supporters of the party when the hoodlums walked in and attacked guests at the event, he says.

It should be recalled that Prince Uwem Ita Etuk was a former chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government in Akwa Ibom State under Victor Attahs administration, and former Akwa Ibom State chairman of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP).
Abubakar said that the capture of Sambisa forest from Boko Haram was historic and a great success. We are happy to hear this good news; we are, therefore, calling on the Nigerian Army not to relent in its efforts in fighting the activities of Boko Haram, he said.

He called on Muslims to continue to pray for peaceful coexistence in the country, adding that they should cooperate with all the tiers of government to move the country forward.

The royal father called on political office holders to ensure fairness and transparency in implementing projects for the development of the people particularly at the grassroots.

On the bill before the senate seeking equality in inheritance, the Sultan said that the bill was against Islamic religion and, therefore, unacceptable to Muslims.

NAN reports that the bill is seeking equality for male and female children in the sharing of inherited family wealth or property.

The bill also proposes that a widow is entitled to the custody of her children unless it is contrary to the interests and welfare of the children.

The bill also seeks that a widow shall have the right to remarry any man of her choice and should have the right to a fair share in the inheritance of her late husbands property and the right to live in her matrimonial house.

The Sultan said: Our religion is our total way of life; therefore, we will not accept any move to change what Allah permitted us to do.

Islam is a peaceful religion; we have been living peacefully with Christians and followers of other religions in this country. Therefore, we should be allowed to perform our religion effectively.

He called on the senate to not consider the bill because of its religious implications.

In his remarks, the Zamfara Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, gave the assurance that the state government would continue to support the Quranic recitation competition.

ALSO READ:Sultan makes case for Fulani herdsmen

Yari and that his wife, Asmau, donated N500,000 to each male and female winner of the 7th category of the competition  recitation of the Quran with Tafsir.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the winners are Faisal Muhammad from Shinkafi Local Government Area and Subaia Saidu from Gusau Local Government Area.

NAN also reports that the state government donated a car to each of the male and female winners.
Dr Victor Oye, the APGA National Chairman, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Tuesday.

Oye attributed the poor economy to poor implementation of the 2016 budget, which he said, passed through a series of political and administrative bottlenecks.

The government should be more proactive; the problem with budget implementation is lack of sincerity.

We have the capacity to implement our budget and that is why you cannot compare Nigeria with her contemporaries as India and China.

The budget has recently been presented to the National Assembly; it must be properly implemented because that is the way to drive the country out of recession.

Government must spend through diligent funding of the budget; this will make contractors go back to site and create employment and other business opportunities for the masses.

We must say that the implementation of the 2016 budget was poor. Some people said it was about 59 per cent; that is poor by our own rating.

Any government that is serious about revamping the type of economy we are in now should aim at 75 per cent and above.

I am hopeful, next year will be much better but it demands action, sincerity and good planning to achieve that, he said.

Oye called on the Federal Government to issue bailout to some strategic sectors of the economy that are experiencing setback due to the recession.

The Nigerias economy can be likened to what President Barack Obama met in the United States back in 2009 and to tackle it, he immediately announced a stimulus package.
The PDP also said that former President Goodluck Jonathan had already achieved great success in defeating the sect before Buhari came into office.

The President cannot solely claim responsibility for the success he claimed the Armed Forces recorded in reclaiming Sambisa Forest from the Boko Haram. This is because the regime of former President Jonathan had done a lot in the war against terror, PDP spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye told Punch.

This was why elections were held in almost all the local government areas in Borno State and the entire North-East in 2015. Though there has been no independent verification of the claim, the President ought to give kudos to the regime of Jonathan that bought the weapons being used to fight the war.

We are all aware that propaganda is a tool being used by this government to deceive Nigerians. We hope this is also not another one, he added.
He said, while other states are battling with economic downturn, Rivers State is operating a Jesus economy, which entails divine provision and sustenance.

If God be for us, nobody can be against us. We have had turbulent times, but we have always come out victorious. This state is a Christian State. Therefore, we shall continue to collaborate with the Church, the governor said.

According to Vanguard, the governor informed that the State Government will support schools owned by Churches with grants. He noted that the Church stood by him right from the campaign period till date, when he is transforming the state.

The governor called on the Church to continue praying for his administration for Gods protection and wisdom.
In his Christmas message on Monday, Dr. Olasupo Ayokunle, President of CAN, also sympathized with the victims of the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East and the victims of killings in Southern Kaduna.

I admonish all Christians, and of course all Nigerians, to pick up courage and move on with their lives in spite of the challenges facing us as a nation.

Though Joseph was disappointed when he saw Mary pregnant thinking it was an outcome of her unfaithful sexual intercourse, he decided not to allow that to determine his future. He made up his mind to put her away privately and move on with his life.

That was courage. Although things turned out this year in the way we never expected, the Lord that intervened through a dream in the case of Joseph and restored their relationship with a baby as icing on the cake will restore prosperity to our land and make the coming year a year of abundance in the name of Jesus.

CAN President also prayed for a better year in 2017, urging Nigerians to continue to pray for the country.

As we prepare for the task ahead in the New Year, its the prayer of the Nigerian church that the government at all levels will be ready to put aside ethno-religious sentiments and put Nigeria and Nigerians first.

The government should make effort to balance the fight against corruption and also take seriously youth restiveness, high rate of unemployment and the security challenges which retard the growth of the nation.

As we march into the New Year, its our prayer and hopes that every Nigerian will see the need to put in his/her best for the growth and development of our dear country.
Kawu says the Commission will create the fund using the N1000 annual digital TV license fee which will be paid by all TV owners.

The digital switch over process is live in Abuja and the NBC boss said the Commission will engage with the Nigerian Governors Forum next on the next phase of the switch over project.

The process will now roll over the rest of the country starting with six states in each of the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Kawu also expects that the project will create over one million jobs.
In a Christmas message, Barrow said Gambians should be free of the threat of violence as "we enter a New Year of hope" after Jammeh threatened to cling to power unless the Supreme Court orders him to step down.

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.

"I should assume office when the term of office of the incumbent expires... I do not want to preside over a country that is not at peace with itself," Barrow said in a statement.

"I am calling on all peace loving Gambians to... work for a peaceful transfer of executive power, for the first time in our history since independence."

Jammeh 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.

"If the colonialists could peacefully hand over executive power... (we) should be able to show a better example to our children," Barrow said.

"To ensure that the country realises its full potential when I assume office, I have already commissioned the establishment of a think tank" to prepare a transition plan.
Sophie Petronin was abducted in the city of Gao on Saturday, the ministry said, adding that French and Malian authorities were working together "to find and free our compatriot as quickly as possible".

"We are continuing the search for Sophie. We have men deployed on the ground to find her. But up until now, there has been no result," a Malian security source told AFP Sunday.

A French military source meanwhile told AFP: "French soldiers of the Barkhane force (in Mali) are actively taking part in the search alongside the Malians."

Thousands of French soldiers have been deployed across the Sahel region just south of the Sahara since Operation Barkhane was launched in 2014. The troops have a base in Gao.

The Barkhane forces' mission is to target jihadist groups that are active in the area including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Despite sustained efforts, it has proven extremely difficult to bring the vast desert terrain of northern Mali under control with jihadists, rebels and criminals still on the loose.

13 French hostages

Petronin is the director of a non-governmental organisation called "Aide a Gao" (Help Gao) that assists children suffering from malnutrition, the ministry said, adding that officials were in contact with her family.

According to French media, she is a doctor specialising in nutrition and tropical diseases who had escaped a kidnapping by Islamists in Gao in 2012.

In Paris, prosecutors opened an investigation into Petronin's kidnapping, a judicial source said.

Petronin is the latest French aid worker to fall prey to kidnappers in the Sahel.

From 2010 to 2013, 13 French citizens were kidnapped or killed in the region, mostly by groups linked to AQIM.

While those behind the kidnappings have often claimed to be holding their victims for political reasons, they have later -- behind the scenes -- demanded ransom in exchange for their release.

Northern Mali fell to jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda from March 2012. These forces were driven out of key towns by a French-led military intervention the following year.
Moussa Saha and Ali Ahmed Saleh pleaded not guilty in Valletta's law courts to a string of offences including hijacking a plane and threatening passengers.

If convicted they face maximum sentences of life in jail.

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 the two suspects were initially thought to have used a real grenade and at least one pistol to stage the hijacking, it later emerged that they had allegedly used fake weapons, a Maltese government statement said.

The pair were escorted into the Christmas Day hearing under heavy armed security and the two men were wearing bullet proof vests.

Through his lawyer, Moussa asked the court to allow him to communicate with his family and be allowed to pray. The presiding magistrate said usual practices and procedures should be followed.

Sources close to the investigation told AFP that the men refused to answer any questions during their interrogations. They were remanded in custody. The case continues.
Tunisia has seen a wave of jihadist attacks since its 2011 revolution, including on foreign tourists, and the United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 Tunisians are fighting for extremist outfits, mainly in Iraq and Syria.

"The return of terrorists from hotbeds of unrest in Tunisia is worrying and could lead to the Somali-isation of the country," said a statement from the internal security forces' national union, referring to the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group in Somalia.

Battle-hardened fighters "have received military training and have learnt to use all sorts of sophisticated weapons", it added.

The warning came a day after the authorities said they had arrested three people including the nephew of Anis Amri, a Tunisian suspected of carrying out a deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market this week.

The demonstrators also chanted slogans hostile to Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist Ennahdha party, who had in the past backed the idea of "repentance" in exchange for renunciation of violence.

On Sunday, he said he opposed a ban on returning Tunisian jihadists, saying the country should "assume its responsibilities".

"This disease has to be dealt with seriously," Ghannouchi told a public meeting, saying his "treatment" was "justice, police, education and therapy".

On Friday, Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub told parliament 800 Tunisians who had fought for extremist groups abroad had since returned home.

President Beji Caid Essebsi said earlier this month the authorities would refuse to pardon Tunisians who fight for jihadist organisations.

"Many of them want to return, and we can't prevent a Tunisian from returning to his country," he told AFP in Paris, "but we will be vigilant."

Following a storm of criticism in the press and on social media, on December 15 Essebsi told Tunisian television that "we will not be indulgent with the terrorists".
PNP Director General, Ronald Dela Rosa, said at a news briefing that since Duterte took office in July, the police had accomplished 70 per cent of its target in the war against drugs.

Dela Rosa said there were 1.8 million drug users and pushers based on the 2010 data by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Duterte, however, said that there could be as many as three to four million drug suspects in the Philippines.

The PNP is on a continuous campaign against criminal gangs and personalities, with more focus on the arrest and bringing to account of High Value Target personalities involved in illegal drugs, Dela Rosa said.

Some of the drug suspects include military generals and politicians.

He also said that based on the latest data, 983,232 suspected pushers and users surrendered to the police while 42,543 were arrested between July and Dec. 27.

A total of 2,157 were killed during police operations; there were in addition 3,000 victims of extrajudicial killings, he said.

According to Dela Rosa, they may have been killed by the drug syndicates themselves or by vigilante groups and some of the deaths may not have been drug-related.

The Philippine president gained support from the public when, during the election campaign, he promised to suppress drugs and defeat crime in six months.

Duterte said most of the drug addicts sold drugs to sustain their habit and many of them were involved in other crimes.

He has, however, been criticised by the U.S., the European Union and the United Nations for the alleged extrajudicial killings.

Dela Rosa said that the successes recorded by the police so far had been accomplished within the original six-month deadline set by the president.

The President has however moved to introduce a six-month extension because of the extent of the drug problem.

Meanwhile, Philippines authorities have seized more than 890 kilograms of methamphetamine in a series of raids this month in what Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II described as the biggest drug bust in the countrys history.

Aguirre, at a news conference, estimated the methamphetamine hauled as having a street value of around 6 billion pesos ($121 million dollars).
Some 1,000 people from the Middle East, Asia and Africa "were expelled in November alone along the Balkans route... more than before", the UNHCR spokeswoman in Serbia, Mirjana Milenkovska, told AFP.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants took the Balkans route through Macedonia and Serbia, Croatia and Hungary as they tried to reach western Europe from Greece before it was largely shut down in March.

Non-governmental human rights organisations and activists also warned that an increasing number of legally-registered migrants were being "illegally deported" from Serbia to Bulgaria and Macedonia.

On December 17 "a seven-member Syrian family, including a two-year old child, 16-year old girl and two women almost froze after being left in a forest in -11 Celsius degrees (12.2 Fahrenheit) to walk towards Bulgaria some one kilometre (half a mile) away," an activist said.

"The family was registered in Belgrade and on its way to a refugee centre, when they were taken off the bus by a police or army unit that tore their documents," said Gordan Paunovic of the Info Park group that provides help to refugees.

They were eventually rescued by a regular police officer from a nearby town who was alerted by activists, Paunovic said.

The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) that represents the family said that the bus driver confirmed the information.

Serbian Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic denied army involvement in the incident.

Some 7,000 migrants are currently in Serbia. Most are lodged in 13 official reception centres, while some 1,000 are sleeping rough in downtown Belgrade, Milenkovska said.

Some 109 people were reportedly deported in November to Macedonia from Serbia's border migrant transit centre at Presevo.

"They all came back to Belgrade and told us the same story: they were awakened at 4 am, put in a police van and than driven to a field in the middle of a forest on the border with Macedonia," Paunovic said.
Two men escaped with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries when the cars they were driving collided head-on Monday afternoon on the shoulder of U.S. 30 near Mechanicsville, Iowa.

Both men were taken to University Hospitals, Iowa City, according to a news release from the Cedar County Sheriff's Office. Neither man was identified.

The crash happened when a car being driven west on U.S. 30 by a 24-year-old Marion man was passing another vehicle. Another car being driven east on the highway by a 69-year-old Stanwood man moved to the shoulder to try to avoid a collision.

The two vehicles collided head-on on the eastbound shoulder of U.S. 30, according to the news release.

The crash remains under investigation by the sheriff's office.

Also participating at the scene were the Mechanicsville Fire Department, Mechanicsville Ambulance, Stanwood Fire Department, Mount Vernon Ambulance, Lifeguard Helicopter and Cedar County Conservation.
The city of Bettendorf has denied an open records request from the Quad-City Times for body camera footage from an officer-involved shooting at Home Depot earlier this month.

City attorney Kristine Stone said in a written response that while she can confirm that the requested records exist, I have determined that they are confidential under the peace officers investigative reports'" exemption under Iowa law.

The Times made the request Dec. 22; Stones response came Tuesday.

The incident occurred at 11:35 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Home Depot store at 920 Middle Road, Bettendorf.

After receiving a call of a disturbance, police arrived and engaged Joshua G. Price, who was armed with what was believed to be a handgun, according to a news release from the city.

Investigators later learned that Price, 19, of Bettendorf, had a airsoft gun, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Price also presented "suicidal tendencies" in front of the officers, according to the DCI.

Investigators say Lt. Kent Keeshan, a 22-year veteran of the Bettendorf Police Department, shot Price during the incident. Price was taken to University Hospitals, Iowa City, for what police say are non-life-threatening injuries.

No officers or employees of Home Depot were harmed or injured.

The investigation is ongoing.
A Moline man charged a second time in the fatal shooting of a tattoo artist in 2013 has pleaded not guilty.

Yolanduis L. McDuffie, 23, made his plea Tuesday after Rock Island County Judge Frank Fuhr ruled that there was enough probable cause to bind the case over for trial during a short preliminary hearing at the Rock Island County Justice Center.

McDuffie, charged with two counts of first-degree murder, will be back in court Jan. 27 for a pretrial conference.

He already is serving up to 15 years in prison in Iowa for the fatal shooting of a Davenport man in 2015.

McDuffie will remain at the Rock Island County Jail on a $1.5 million bond until his case is resolved.

Just before noon Dec. 18, 2013, Rock Island police were dispatched to the home of Derek J. Jackson in the 1000 block of 16th Avenue.

Police found Jackson, 24, lying on his back in the dining room. He had two gunshot wounds to the head and one gunshot wound to his left arm, Detective Chad Sowards testified during McDuffie's preliminary hearing.

He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

According to Sowards:

Jackson's girlfriend told police that he had talked about purchasing a handgun from Aaron D. Henderson II prior to the shooting.

The girlfriend, who was upstairs with Jackson's young son, said she went downstairs after the shooting and saw Henderson standing over Jackson and rifling through his pockets.

She said she ran back upstairs and saw Henderson and another person, later identified as his then 16-year-old cousin, fleeing the scene.

Henderson was arrested later that night.

On Jan. 8, 2014, police interviewed Hendersons cousin, who said the two and McDuffie went to Jacksons house to buy marijuana. The teen told police that McDuffie pulled out a black semi-automatic handgun and fired at Jackson.

Police later interviewed Hendersons brother, also a juvenile, who said he was at a gas station with Henderson, their cousin and McDuffie prior to the shooting.

The gas station is about a block away from Jacksons house.

McDuffie was arrested Jan. 10, 2014, on an outstanding parole warrant. Police seized a black coat and his cellphone. Police searched the phone and found a text message at 9:47 a.m. Dec. 18 from McDuffie, who said he was at Hendersons house.

McDuffies cellphone also pinged at two cellphone towers close to Jacksons house before and after the shooting.

McDuffies then-girlfriend told police in late January 2014 that he had been at her home on the day of the shooting and had left between 9 and 10 a.m. and returned at 12:30 or 1 p.m.

The woman said McDuffie was not wearing shoes and his socks were wet when he returned to her house.

She told police that McDuffie told her that he was with Henderson and his cousin at Jacksons house at the time of the shooting but did not know who fired the gun.

She further told police that McDuffie seemed confused and described him as being scared and shook up, Sowards testified.

McDuffie initially was charged with first-degree murder in Jacksons death, but prosecutors dropped the charges on Jan. 6, 2015, the day his trial was scheduled to begin.

The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning charges could be refiled at any time. There is no statute of limitation for a murder charge.

Rock Island County prosecutors recharged him in August 2015 after investigators found a handgun they believe was used to kill Jackson.

Sowards, under questioning from defense attorney Dora Villarreal, said Tuesday that he believed the gun was recovered from a hotel room in Bettendorf. The gun was handed over the police department in May 2015, he said.

Sowards said the gun was sent to the state crime lab for testing, which determined that it matched the shell casings recovered from the scene.

He said he did not know who rented the room where the gun was located.

McDuffie had been in the Rock Island County Jail from May 7, 2015, to May 21, 2015, on a felony charge of aggravated battery of a police officer in an unrelated case.

He was arrested several days later on drug charges in Scott County.

Sowards testified that McDuffies fingerprints were not found at Jacksons house.

McDuffie appeared on the newly filed charges Dec. 17.

He pleaded guilty earlier this year to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a felon in Scott County District Court and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in the April 2015 shooting death of James Goode Jr., 33, of Davenport.

Henderson, 24, was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder in connection with Jackson's death and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The jury rejected prosecutors theory that Henderson pulled the trigger but were convinced that Henderson was an accomplice in Jacksons death.
A native of Cordova is on a team of engineers working to make history with the world's first solar-powered SUV  a vehicle that would reliably carry four people.

In October, the Iowa Staters will compete in the World Solar Challenge in southern Australia, an 1,800-mile race across Australia of team-engineered solar cars from all over the world.

Called the Penumbra, it is the 14th solar car design from Iowa State University's PrISUm team. This student-run organization has more than 100 members, many of them engineering students.

One of the team leaders  responsible for the car's charging port  is Sean Robinson, 20, a 2015 graduate of Riverdale High School in Port Byron.

Robinson got involved as a beginning engineering student who was invited to a Team PrISUm meeting. "They are all great people, and they actually can help me, academically, as well as be friends," he said.

Robinson sees his involvement in Team PrISUm as possibly leading to a job in the future.

The director of Team PrISUm is Matt Goode of Coggen, Iowa. Goode was in elementary school when he helped his neighbor rebuild the V8 engine for a Ford Mustang. In high school, he had his own engine-rebuilding business. He and his dad also converted a Jeep CJ5 into a fully electric car.

By the time Goode got to the Iowa State campus in Ames, he was an easy choice for the solar car team. Now 21, he was elected project director of the team that aims to make history in the solar vehicle world.

Team PrISUm was founded at Iowa State in 1989. Over the years, the students have designed more than a dozen cars to drive in national solar competitions. To date, the cars were essentially for a single person, the driver.

For the event in Australia, they will take the Penumbra, a vehicle currently under construction. Goode was interviewed as he watched the molds the students had designed return in a semi-truck after they were treated by Plastics Unlimited, of Preston, Iowa.

Assistant project director Dylan Neal, 22, of Webster Groves, Missouri, said the car is an ergonomic design, with a usable trunk, dashboard, and headlights  like the Tesla vehicles.

"It's the same look as a Tesla but it will be very light, and strong, and run off of solar power," Neal said.

The students are in the process of raising $250,000 for Team PrISUm; this will help to fund the world challenge trip. The club is student-governed and student-operated, funded by donations and supported by sponsors.

Once team members finish building the Penumbra, they plan to bring it to all 99 counties of Iowa, including the Davenport area.

The students are trying to build a vehicle that people, some day, you can just buy. "We've never done something of this scale, but it will be incredible once it's done," Goode said.
A four-unit apartment building on Marquette Street in Davenport was heavily damaged by fire Sunday night.

The fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. at 508 N. Marquette St. Flames were shooting from the roof and visible through upstairs windows nearly three hours later.

Davenport firefighters battled the blaze in cold temperatures.

Firefighters said about 5:30 p.m. that they were not able to get into the building because of the intensity of the blaze.

Assistant Chief Bart Howard said firefighters do not think the building was "formally occupied"  that is, the building was not being used as a home. No injuries have been reported, he said.

Davenport police reported late Sunday that Marquette Street was closed to all traffic between 4th and 6th streets because of the fire. Police said the closure was expected to remain in effect overnight and possibly into the morning commute on Monday.

The two-story, wood-frame building was built in 1900, according to the Scott County Assessor's website.

Smoke could be seen for several blocks in the area.
Voters in Iowas 45th Senate District will go to the polls today to cast ballots in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Joe Seng.

State Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, is facing off against Republican Mike Gonzales and Libertarian Severin Gilbert.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and people will have until 9 p.m. to cast ballots.

The 45th District includes much of west Davenport, along with the citys downtown and parts of the central city, as well as the town of Buffalo.

So far, the contest has been fairly low key. But Democrats have been the most aggressive in harvesting absentee votes. The Scott County Auditors office said Monday afternoon that 1,728 Democrats had cast ballots so far, while 423 Republicans had done so.

A total of 326 others not affiliated with the two major political parties had voted early, too.

For a complete list of polling places and to see a map of the 45th District, visit www.scottcountyiowa.com/
1. Mild today with flood threat on the Rock

A good Tuesday to all. Rick's Six resumes after a short holiday break. Did you enjoy yesterday's warmth? The Quad-Cities tied the 1936 record high temperature of 56 degrees Monday at 12:01 a.m. What about today, you ask?

Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

Today will be sunny with a high near 37 degrees and a low around 26 degrees.

For Wednesday it will be partly sunny and breezy with a high near 42 degrees and a low around 26 degrees. Winds will gust between 20-25 mph.

2. Flood warning issued for Rock River near Joslin

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Rock River near Joslin, Ill., because of an ice jam. The warning is in effect until further notice.

Early this morning the river was at 12.3 feet and holding steady. Flood stage is 12 feet. The river is expected to rise to 13.6 feet Thursday morning and then begin falling.

As for the Rock River in Moline, the river is expected to only rise to 11.3 feet on Thursday and hold steady into the new year. Flood stage is 12 feet.

3. Lane closures today on Brady Street

There will be short-term, traveling lane reductions on Brady Street today for sewer cleaning.

The middle two lanes between 8th and 14th streets will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. while the two left lanes will be closed between River Drive and 7th Street from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m.

During this time, lane reductions also will occur on some of side streets leading to/from Brady from the east and west. These lane reductions include 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Streets as well as the left turn and adjacent lane of eastbound River Drive. Lane reductions will be removed as work is complete.

This work is being performed in advance of sewer work to be scheduled at a later date.

4. Iowa Senate District 45 special election today

Voters in Iowas 45th Senate District will go to the polls today to cast ballots in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Joe Seng.

State Rep. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport, is facing off against Republican Mike Gonzales and Libertarian Severin Gilbert.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and people will have until 9 p.m. to cast ballots.

The 45th District includes much of west Davenport, along with the citys downtown and parts of the central city, as well as the town of Buffalo.

For a complete list of polling places and to see a map of the 45th District, visit www.scottcountyiowa.com/

5. DOT completes first I-80 study, suggests improvements

The Iowa Department of Transportation has completed an initial study of Interstate 80 in the Quad-Cities, the precursor for what eventually could lead to major investments to this area's northern traffic corridor.

Much of the study's findings have been apparent to transportation officials for some time. Traffic is heavy from I-74 to U.S. 61, while many of the interchanges are outdated.

In particular, the report contemplates widening I-80, along with changes at the corridor's interchanges with I-280, Northwest Boulevard, U.S. 61, I-74 and Middle Road.

No decisions have been made on what construction projects might be pursued. The main priority for the DOT in this area is construction of a new I-74 bridge. Read more.

6. House fire on Warren Street remains under investigation

One occupant underwent medical evaluation after a house fire Monday morning at 1134 Warren St., Davenport.

At dusk Monday, crews remained on the scene of the fire, which started shortly before 10 a.m. Firefighters said the home's layout, which has a unique compartmentalized construction, allowed the blaze to reach areas that firefighters had trouble accessing.

Winds blowing from the back side of the house made fighting the blaze even more difficult.

Four occupants live in the house, said firefighters. The fire remains under investigation.
A lull sets in around the house after Christmas. The holly-jolly wrappings have long been cleared from the living room floor and stuffed into big plastic bags. Only the bows are saved  maybe. Im saddened. When all is neat and tidy, it is finis, the end of another Christmas season. I prefer to just leave all the empty boxes and paper on the floor. That makes me believe that Christmas is lasting for at least a week. I hate to have Christmas end.

A rush to the rescue

We appreciate that the holiday season brings out the best in all of us. I watched a fine bit of kindness emerge at the side door of the big First Presbyterian Church in Davenport. The annual Christmas concert was over in the early evening darkness. We sat in a friends car, waiting for the motor to warm.

Theres trouble at the church door, I worriedly said. A member of the orchestra was alone and having difficulty getting out. She was disabled, but doggedly carried her violin and a stool. Held in her teeth was a cushion for the stool and a sheaf of music under one arm. My Samaritan friend and his wife leaped from their car, running to help just as the church door closed on her. Suddenly, an associate appeared from inside to rescue the violinist. The violinist passed by our car, smiling and nodding thanks for their intended assistance.

Were all good and kind. But I think the kindess mood was hurried on this holiday night.

What price, glory

In my days, I have been commended with plaques and scrolls and other undeserved honors, but nothing quite so appreciated as this. In a Quad-City Times obituary last week for Stella Mae Golden, 91, Bettendorf, it was stated, She enjoyed reading Bill Wundrams column.

In praise of secrecy

This man, as I best understand it from Quad-City Salvation Army officers, quietly visited their Davenport office. He wanted no hoopla or publicity. He just came in and said he wanted to give a cash gift for Christmas, said one of the officers. The benevolent giver had a check for $20,000. It was to be divided, $10,000 to the Sally on the Iowa side of the Quad-Cities and $10,000 to the Illinois side.

A little white lye 

I vowed to never again bring up that ghastly dish, lutefisk, but I couldnt escape at the annual Christmas feast of the Quad-City Sons of Norway. The menu called for The finest serving of Norwegian Lutefisk that had been soaked in lye and baked in butter. Lutefisk was accompanied by music from the Sons of Norway Psalmodikon Players. In the old country of Norway, the violin was banned as the devils instrument, so the fiddle was cut down to a single string, called a psalmodikon. Eight Sons of Norway in these parts make lively psalmodikon music. It eases the awful essence of lutefisk.

Off we go!

On the last day of this year, we plan to escape the miserable Quad-City snow/ice/ cold. Were flying to Florida for a few months to thaw out in our little condo. My little red PT Cruiser convertible is already down there, waiting for us. It will forever stay there. Handy, when we return.
The pain of losing a child is unbearable, and it's worse when the child takes his or her own life. Rapid City councilman John Roberts doesn't know where he and his wife would be today without the help of the Front Porch Coalition.

At the Dec. 19 city council meeting, Roberts told everyone what a crucial role the locally based nonprofit organization played in helping him and his wife make it through the hours, days, weeks and months that followed the tragic loss of their son.

His emotional story was prompted by discussion of annual Human Services Grant awards and the fact that the committee recommending awards opted to stop funding the coalition.

Roberts recalled that when he first was elected to the council, someone suggested he serve as the liaison to the Front Porch Coalition, but he dismissed it because he said it didnt affect him.

And then three years later, my son committed suicide, he said. So when people are affected by it, it changes the priorities.

In an interview last week, Roberts added: I dont know where my wife would be today without the LOSS team and without the people of the Front Porch Coalition. It was very sad for me to see even $3,000 being taken away from a group that (changes) peoples lives.

In a subsequent interview, Roberts was able to go into more detail.

I didnt know what to do, he said. I took my wife to the hospital because she has high blood pressure and it went through the roof.

After getting medical care for her, Roberts called the Front Porch Coalition, as he was familiar with the group's work.

They were there by the time we got home, he said. They had boxes of groceries for us and we didnt need that, but it is just what they do. And they stayed with us and talked for hours.

The LOSS team, or Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors, helps family members, friends and colleagues of those who have died by suicide. The team works with local law enforcement so members can help help survivors by connecting them with resources and being available to help them through that very difficult time, coalition executive director Stephanie Schweitzer Dixon said.

We send people to be with them so theyre not alone and dont feel alone, she said. Just so they have someone who has gone through that before to help them get through.

Roberts said they set him and his wife up with a support group that started the following weekend.

My wife could not stop crying for two months and couldnt take care of herself, so I took care of her. I think she cried herself to sleep for the first year.

Later, Roberts served on the LOSS team when the father of one of his best friends committed suicide.

It is a program that is very needed, he said. Because without this, what do they fall on? They fall on drinking, they fall on drugs, they get divorced .... These people are the support of the people that are hurting.

Dixon said she was disappointed to find out the unique and important work they do is not a priority with the council.

Its unfortunate that the city council and the committee had to make the decision they did, and that this states leading cause of death of our youth is not their priority, Dixon said last week.

The $3,000 it had previously received came through the grants. This year, the coalition requested $15,000 to expand its youth suicide prevention training primarily to schoolchildren, but also to the general public, parents and other caregivers. The funds were going to be used to buy training kits, books and materials.

The city allocated $204,000 in the 2017 budget for Human Services Grants for Allied Arts and Human Services. The Allied Arts fund is set to receive half for distribution to arts programs. The other half was allocated to Human Services programs.

This time, 34 grant applications requested a total of $501,250. Funding was awarded for 11 requests. Three of the agencies submitting requests were added to the general fund for 2017.

Dixon said she understands there is a limited amount of money to be given out, but she argues the Front Porch Coalition is the only organization that has anything like the LOSS team.

What's more, all the volunteers have lost someone to suicide themselves.

Although the loss of funding won't cause the coalition to shut its doors, Dixon said, it will put a crunch on her as the only employee.

And its going to have our extremely small staff and volunteers to have to work harder at fundraising, and that takes time," she said. "And time is what we dont have when were out there in the community trying to help people.

One agency that does give the coalition support is the Pennington County Sheriff's Office.

We do receive support from our sheriff, who has completely invested in this program because his officers work with us and our team, and they see the true benefit of what we do and how it helps people and their officers.

What hurt the most at the council meeting, she said, was how Alderman Ritchie Nordstrom and Alderwoman Darla Drew were very critical of their operations and demonstrated a lack of understanding about what exactly the Front Porch Coalition does.

Nordstrom criticized Dixon for not being present at the meeting Monday, though a representative was there. He also said he and Drew met coalition members and offered suggestions to help them, but he said they did not take the suggestions.

Right now, if theyd take a little better counsel from us and others trying to help them out, Id be more supportive, Nordstrom said.

Dixon said Nordstrom didnt think about what her job is when he made those comments.

He has no idea what I do on a daily basis or how many people I run into that need help, Dixon said. If somebody is dying or somebody died from suicide or somebody is suicidal, Im there and I may have saved their life. So, to make that kind of judgment is inappropriate.

Dixon also responded by saying that as the sole employee working for an organization that does crisis intervention, sometimes she is unable to meet timelines given to her for things that are not a critical priority.

Drew said she believes churches or other organizations can provide the same services.

When I met with them, they really seemed very tired, Drew said last week. I can only imagine that this type of work just drains your soul and maybe they just need a shot in the arm from somewhere else, from some other group that can help them.

Roberts said of course they are tired.

Yes, the people that do this are tired, he said. Were tired of seeing people that we love committing suicide.

Dixon said she wasn't tired: "I wouldnt be here if that was the case. ...

People would say, I wish I wouldve had you at the time because as a result, my family became dysfunctional, turned to drugs or alcohol or lost another family member. With our team helping, the family doesnt lose another member to suicide and thats a result of what we are doing.

Roberts told the city council that though the organization is small, its impact is wide-reaching and too important to those affected to be dismissed.

It doesnt matter if youre poor, it doesnt matter if youre rich, it doesnt matter if youre educated ... it doesnt matter," he said. It just happens everywhere, and we never know when its going to happen again. And there is so much more that needs to be done with it.
SIOUX FALLS | Home-school families are like red cars.

"You don't see them until you start looking," Sioux Falls home-school parent Chad Theisen said. "Then you're like, 'There's a red car; there's a red car.' "

And those red cars are starting to pop up everywhere.

The number of home-school families has been on the rise nationally for most of the past two decades, and it's a trend that has held true in Sioux Falls, where the number of home-schoolers has nearly doubled since 2009. The numbers are also up in Rapid City, from 332 home-schoolers in 2010 to 574 in 2015.

More parents are taking their children's education into their own hands for a variety of reasons, such as the dislike of Common Core curriculum, wanting more family time or wanting religion in children's education.

The home-school atmosphere has two distinct sides. On one hand, South Dakota's laws are friendly to families choosing to keep school at home. But socially, home-school families still face stereotypes and stigmas.

However, it's getting better, parents say, especially as the community grows through home-school groups and social media.

Cathy and Bernie Schock were the only people they knew who were home-schooling in Sioux Falls in 1981.

They knew they wanted to spend more time with their kids, and after hearing radio personality Paul Harvey talk about home-school families in Missouri, Bernie Schock started getting excited about the prospect of teaching the couple's three children at home.

"A lot of people thought we were crazy," he said.

The Schocks were the first family to fill out the state's alternate education application in the Sioux Falls School District. The application was added to state law in 1981  the same year the couple began home-schooling.

The couple were pioneers in home education. They lobbied in Pierre and met with legislators to make their case for home-schooling as a viable form of learning.

"They had to see that we were normal parents with normal children, that we wanted to give them a normal education," Cathy Schock said.

Today, they are seeing their grandchildren among thousands of home-schooled kids in the state.

Their daughter-in-law Barb Schock has been teaching her kids for nine years. She's also a board member of home-school group Living Legacy Academy, one of several parent groups in the state.

LLA started in 2005 with about 25 families. Today it has 87 families, with 50 more on a waiting list, said board member Marla Peters.

Statewide, home-school enrollment has risen 40 percent since 2010, according to the state Department of Education.

Ask Natalie Michael why she home-schools, and she turns the question around.

"Why does anybody put their kid in the school system that doesn't have to?" said Michael, a home-school parent and director of the eastern South Dakota chapter of Classical Conversations.

Not all home-school parents feel as strongly opposed to public schools as Michael, but most will mention Common Core curriculum as at least one reason influencing their choice to teach at home.

Joel Brunick, who serves on the Sioux Empire Christian Home Educators board with his wife, Kristin, said he sees Common Core as one of the biggest drivers of home-school growth in recent years.

Michael fought strongly against Common Core in South Dakota until she began the chapter of Classical Conversations in 2013. That group now has between 85 and 90 families.

"Instead of fighting Common Core directly, I decided to offer them a better solution, which is, in my opinion, home-schooling," Michael said.

Parents also choose home-schooling as a way to spend more time with their children.

Chad Theisen, the father who drew the analogy between home-school families and red cars, and his wife, Brooke Theisen, always planned on having one stay-at-home parent with their three children. Though they didn't always plan on home-schooling, now they see their kids' education as a lifestyle.

"Nobody's more passionate about the education of my kids than I am," he said.

The Brunicks also saw home educating as a way not only to spend more time with their kids, but also to share with them the joys of learning.

Religion also plays a role in choosing to home-school for many families, but Joel Brunick said that receives too much emphasis.

He said it's a stereotype that families home-school their children only for religious reasons.

"A lot of it has to do with families wanting to reconnect," Brunick said.

Home-schooling isn't free, unlike public schools, but Marla Peters, an LLA board member and 10-year home educator, said it can be done on a "shoestring budget." Peters estimates spending $250 annually on home-school supplies.

Sarah Kramer began home-schooling her children when private school tuition became too expensive. She said the initial curriculum investment was about $1,000, but then materials can be reused.

The growth in home educators opens the door to communication with one another. There are about a dozen parent groups and co-operatives in the state, and countless resources online.

A Facebook group for home-schoolers in the Sioux Falls area alone has more than 550 members.

That's helpful for parents new to home-schooling or those looking for answers to curriculum questions, Theisen said. Ask a question, and within an hour, someone, somewhere is willing to help.

Those groups also make it easier for home-school parents to find social outlets for their children.

Peters believes the argument that home-schooled children aren't social is just a stereotype, and 13-year-old Na'ama McGowan agrees.

She said when she meets new people and tells them she's home-schooled, they dismiss her or assume that she's overly sheltered or shy. She wants the world to know that's not true.

"People assume you're not going to be a rebel," she said. "(Or) you're not going to fight with your parents. ... Just because we learn in a different environment doesn't mean we're that different."

Peters' children are involved in 4-H, sports, church groups and the weekly LLA meetings, which allow home-schooled children to learn in a traditional classroom environment with each parent teaching different subjects.

Barb Schock's children also have plenty of outlets to socialize with children of all ages and with adults. She said she's surprised that people sometimes think kids have to go to school to develop social skills.

"My kids are not lacking in the slightest bit of socialization," Schock said.

As the primary educator in his household, Theisen also has heard plenty of generalizations about home schooling, including that parents who home-school aren't as educated.

"Yeah, there are stereotypes," said Theisen, who has a master's degree in education. "And I don't meet any of those."

People still ask questions, but Brunick said almost everyone she talks to knows somebody who has home-schooled.

"It's been more and more accepted," she said. "It's just a lifestyle that I think people are really embracing."
Throughout the fall semester Sarah Polak, director of Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center, was active helping create exhibits and scheduling events designed to teach the public about history.

Polak believes museums are powerful educational resources.

Studies have shown, museums teach history better than things such as TV and books, because in a museum there is actual physical history. They call it the power of object, and it revolves on the importance of being able to see something tangible and understand it, Polak said.

Polak traveled to Harrison, Nebraska, in late August, with Laure Sinn, Rangeland program coordinator, to help coordinate western Nebraska exhibits at the Sioux County Historical Society Museum. The displays combined materials and history from the Coffee Family Ranch, near Harrison.

According to Polak, successfully collaborating with local museums has multiple purposes.

We are a resource to the region as well as contributing to the mission of Chadron State College, so representing and furthering that role is important, Polak said.

During the first two weeks of August, Polak traveled with education majors to multiple historic locations to gain understanding about the importance the sites can have in teaching social sciences.

Karen Enos, an education professor at CSC, and her Elementary/Middle School Social Studies Methods (EDUC 323) class joined Polak on trips to the Lincoln County Historical Museum in North Platte and the Scotts Bluff National Monument. The class also visited the Sandoz Center.

According to Enos, the goal of the field trips was to show the educational benefits of a museum to students aspiring to become teachers.

Todays museum directors plan wonderful, educationally rich, often interactive displays. Pre-service teachers need to know about these robust community resources. Museum exhibits bring to life the topics children are studying in the classroom, Enos said.

Polak also traveled to the 63rd Annual Mountain-Plains Museums Association (MPMA) Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oct. 23-27.

According to its website, the MPMA is a regional organization of museums and museum professionals that advocates excellence in the field, provides a forum for communication between its members, and shares creative learning opportunities with the regions diverse audience.

At the conference, Polak presented on mentorship for mid-to-late career professionals, along with a workshop on label design.

Label design and organization in a museum may seem like a subtle topic, but really it determines how presentable, readable and accurate a display or exhibit is, Polak said.

Whether speaking about exhibit collaboration, educational opportunities or organizational nuances, Polak is adamant about the valuable role of a museum.

Museums are important, not only for education, but for recording our history in an accurate and compelling way, Polak said.
President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks so far have not been, to put it mildly, universally applauded.

Neither was the news that Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke graces the top of the list for secretary of the Interior welcomed in every corner of the state. But while critics are right to have some concerns, these worries are far outweighed by Zinke's numerous advantages.

The Interior Department is a powerful agency that packs particular punch in the West. This is why U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, in a recent meeting with the Missoulian editorial board, emphasized his hope that Trump would tap someone who understands western values to lead the agency.

"The Interior is all about public lands. It's about wildlife and national parks. This is very, very important," Daines told the Billings Gazette editorial board as news broke of Zinke's nomination last week. "I'm very pleased to see that it's a westerner and even more pleased to see that it's a Montanan."

Undoubtedly, public lands  their protection, maintenance and accessibility  are of key importance in Montana, which counts some 25 million acres of federal land, including part of Yellowstone National Park and all of Glacier National Park.

The U.S. Department of the Interior is the agency charged with managing these vast public lands. It employs 70,000 people, coordinates an even more expansive network of volunteers and is currently overseen by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. The department is comprised of various offices and nine distinct bureaus.

Zinke was elected to represent Montana in the U.S. Congress in 2014, and re-elected last month. Prior to his re-election, this editorial board expressed strong concern with Zinke's tendency toward self-promotion, even at the risk of leaving Montana behind, and his unwavering support of Trump.

It appears that his loyalty to Trump will be rewarded; similarly, his wife, Lolita Zinke, an early and ardent Trump supporter, was asked to join the Veterans Administration landing team.

Nearly 30 percent of Montana is federal land, making the U.S. government the state's largest landowner, on behalf of the American people. The right of the people to access their public lands must be protected, and on this point, Zinke would appear to strongly agree.

In an opinion piece published in this newspaper in April 2014, Zinke wrote: "We chose to live in Montana and are blessed with clean air, water, and are fortunate to share in the fruits of having access and use of our public lands. Responsible development of our assets, to include resources on our public lands, will create economic prosperity and a better future in the Treasure State."

And shortly afterward, in January 2015, Zinke told the Montana Legislature, "I will not tolerate selling our public lands."

A good portion of Zinke's legislation in Congress has focused on public lands matters, followed by energy and Native American legislation, according to the federal watchdog Govtrack. He has voted against bills that would trade increased timber production for public lands.

Most encouragingly, Zinke demonstrated his willingness to stand by these values when he opposed the Republican Party's platform calling for federal land transfer to the states. He went so far as to withdraw as a delegate to the Republican National Convention over the matter.

If he does become the nation's secretary of the Interior, his commitment to public lands may be put to its greatest test yet. We have no fear he will do the right thing and stand by both, so long as he keeps one foot grounded in Montana.
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!
What Would It Mean to Have a Madman In the White House With His Finger on the Nuclear Trigger?

December 26, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Nuclear war would wipe out most of life on Earth, as we know it. Humankind and most of the animal life would disappear because of the rising of the dust and smoke and fire of a nuclear mushroom cloud. The sun would be blocked for a significant, long period of time. The Earth would begin to freeze, literally. We would not be able to grow food. Radiation sickness would be everywhere. So wed either die from the radiation sickness, or wed die from hunger, very quickly. Life on Earth would essentially stop. (See Interview with Bruce Gagnon of the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space, on the Danger of Nuclear War: The planet would survive. But humankind would disappear.)



Mushroom cloud over Hiroshima.

Nagasaki mail carrier Sumiteru Taniguchi's back injuries, taken in January 1946, from the U.S. atomic bomb attack on August 9, 1945.

On December 22, Donald 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.

When questioned about this by an MSNBC reporter, he said

Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

The fuck you tone, the fascistic threats of strengthening and expanding nuclear weapons, the threats of an arms race, and the obscene brazenness of these threats, is not only a cold statement of aimsbut it imminently escalates the danger of nuclear warby design or accident.

Trumps Finger on the Nuclear Trigger

Nuclear weapons were introduced into war when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. At Ground Zero in Hiroshima, almost everything was simply destroyed and every human being died. Even two miles from the blast, human skin was severely burned. The wind blew at 1,000 miles per hourshattering the bodies of thousands of people as it hurled them through the air or brought buildings crashing down upon them. When the firestorm died down, the former city was a scorched plain. A heavy black rain brought radioactive dust back down to earth. Some of the dead had been vaporized, many others lay where they died, in their thousands and thousands. When President Harry Truman was told of the Hiroshima bombing, he said, This is the greatest thing in history. (See American Crime Case #97: August 6 and 9, 1945The Nuclear Incineration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.)

In the decades that followed, there were repeated incidents that came within a hair trigger of setting off such a nuclear war, including during the Cuba Missile Crisis, in 1962. (See Massive Death by Nukes... And Close Calls.)

Since the 1980s, it has been the policy of both the U.S. and Russia to decrease their stockpiles of nuclear weapons. That has not, actually, decreased the danger of nuclear war. During his administration, Barack Obama moved to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal. He installed missiles in Eastern Europe that have been seen as a provocation to Russia. He has instituted a trillion-dollar program to upgrade the U.S. nukes. And the U.S. has built up missile defense systems that increase the viabilityat least in the eyes of the U.S. militaryfor winning a nuclear war. In that sense, Obama has built and handed a loaded nuclear gun to Trump.

Under Obama, drones, invasions, occupations, assassinations, and coups (and the threat of nuclear attack) have been combined with diplomacy, sanctions, and other forms of soft power that advance U.S. interests, including projecting the U.S. as the global champion of human rights and democracy. The Iran nuclear deala product of vicious sanctions aimed at creating suffering among the populace and squeezing the regimeput severe restrictions on Irans nuclear technology capacity. It is a model of the Obama approach. And it is reviled by the Trumpites because, in their eyes, Iran and other countries that challenge U.S. power need to be pulverized, not just restrained.

Find out more about the revolution

Find out about BA, the leader of the revolution

And Obama has been careful, in that context, to avoid overtly expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal. He has insisted his goal is to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy.

Lets stipulate, for the minute, that it is part of the insanity of this system that these different imperialist and regional powers gamble with the continued existence of humanity as part of their calculations as to how to advance their own narrow, exploiting-class interests. Its crazy, its sick, and its part of why this system has to be overthrown and something far better put in its place. Having said that, in one tweet and an explanation, Trump has made that much worseperhaps exponentially worse. He has at best destabilized what was already a criminally unstable status quo.

Even before he has assumed office, Trump has thrown out the window all pretenses that the U.S. is trying to prevent nuclear war. He rants, Let it be an arms race. And he brags that in a race to destroy human life, We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.

Theres no mystery about whether rival powers and other challengers to the U.S. will stand by while the U.S. builds up overwhelming nuclear weaponry. Kingston Reif, director for disarmament and threat reduction policy at the Arms Control Association, characterized Trumps tweet as Pouring more gasoline on the fire is exactly the opposite of what is needed. And calculations are being made now by the rulers of other countries as to what risky moves they might need to make now to preempt nuclear blackmail by the U.S.

Method and Madness

There is a logic behind the madness Trump is projecting around using nuclear weapons.

American Lives Are Not More Important Than Other Peoples Lives. Bob Avakian, BAsics 5:7

If you are coming from the interests of humanity, there is a very clear answer to why the world cannot tolerate a nuclear arms race. Because nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction whose objective is to massacre huge numbers of humans, are a crime against humanity. They should be forever banned, right now. Not strengthened and expanded.

But in the eyes of the Trump-Pence regime, strengthening and expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and making it clear they wont hesitate to use it, is essential. When Donald Trump talks about Making America Great Again, he, and the sections of the ruling class who have rallied around him, are talking about dramatically reinforcing and strengthening U.S. domination over other imperialists and the world as a whole. When they talk about bringing the world to its senses, they mean other countries going along with that domination. And, in their eyes, this requires profound, violent recasting of the way things have been for decades, including rewriting the rules not of whether, but how overtly to threaten humanity with nuclear war.

To them, the threat to U.S. power posed by the rise of Russia and China, along with challenges from fundamentalist Islamic Jihad, from regional powers like Iran, and from wild card states like North Korea, is close to reaching a point of no return. And these different crises interpenetrate with each other in a volatile mix. As they see it, Obama has been far, far too soft, when what is needed is to project the U.S. as a power that will obliterate all who stand in its way without regard to pretenses of respecting human rights, rule of law, and concern for the danger of nuclear war.

Deeply embedded in the fascist mix around Trump are people like Lt. General Michael Flynn, appointed to the very powerful position of National Security Advisor. Flynn has said Islam is a political ideology that hides behind this notion of it being a religion and is like a malignant cancer that has metastasized. (see video) Think about the implications of that analogy, and the fact that this former general will be a top adviser to Donald Trump. And then think about Trump having his fingers on the launch codes for the U.S. nuclear arsenal!

At the same time, these other powers are not exactly willing to lie down for the U.S. They are working to heighten their ability to counter U.S. military force and themselves cannot necessarily afford to back downcertainly not each and every time.

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.

Here, the madness factor enters in. This is actually an articulated doctrine for behavior of U.S. presidents, attributed to former president Richard Nixon. Nixon told advisers to spread rumors to the leaders of the Vietnamese revolutionary war against the U.S. invasion that he was a madman who had no hesitation to launch nuclear weapons. Trump takes that further. In campaign rallies and interviews, Trump has worked to cultivate that image, with statements like I would bomb the shit out of em, I wanna be unpredictable, and I love war. What is even more dangerous with Trump is that it is not at all clear what may be bluster and bluff and what is real please note again his point at the top of this article, threats to greatly strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability and to outmatch and outlast every rival in an arms race.

As for Trump taking to Twitter to overturn existing nuclear weapons policy, the medium is part of the message. Given the understanding among at least sections of people about what nuclear war would mean, every previous U.S. administration has felt compelled to produce long, detailed policy positions on nuclear policy. Great pains have been taken to create the appearancefor the domestic public and global audiencethat the U.S. rulers are aware of the risk involved, and would not use nuclear weapons without careful consideration of all factors involved. In announcing his policy, before he is president, in a tweet, Trump advertised how thoroughly he will disdain any and all conventions that have maintained a tense, profoundly dangerous status quo in nuclear weapons.

The situation the world confronts is this: The wide range of obstacles and challenges to actually implementing America uber alles, combined with Trumps outlook and threats, are already intensifying the odds that one or another of a whole set of conflicts (or even accidents) could trigger a nuclear holocaust that could end life on Earth.

That regime cannot come to power!

For full coverage and the current issue of REVOLUTION click here
CHITWAN, Dec 27: A person was killed on the spot and 26 others injured when a night bus veered off the road and plunged downhill towards the Kali river at Chandibhanyjang last night.

The ill-fated night bus (Na 4 Kha 5442) heading towards Malangawa from Kathmandu fell at least 100 meters below at 12:40 am, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Deepak Thapa, of District Police Office, Chitwan.

In the incident, Dharma Ra Mandal, 33, of Laxmipur Pataha of Siraha district was crushed to death between the seats inside the bus.

Among the injured 19 are undergoing treatment at the Chitwan Medical College, Bharatpur with five reported to be critical condition. The rest of the injured passengers returned home after minor treatment.

The bus landed in a notch on the face of the hill 20 meters above the river which saved it from further losses. The police started the rescue work at 1:15 am using ropes. The site of the incident is located three km towards Narayangadh from Muglin. RSS
Prime Minister Pushpa Kama Dahal

Kathmandu, Nepal: A tripartite meeting among the top leaders of the ruling allies- Nepali Congress (NC), CPN (Maoist Center) and agitating Federal Alliance (FA) is going on at Prime Minister Pushpa Kama Dahals official residence.

Prime Minister Dahal summoned the meeting in a bid to forge a consensus to forge consensus on contentious issues of the constitution.

It is said that the meeting is concentrated on the issue of constitution amendment proposal registered in the parliament, local body elections and the report of the local body restructuring commission.
Dawn, December 25, 2016

Plight of fishermen highlighted

Shazia Hasan

KARACHI: Plight of fishermen of both Pakistan and India who are often arrested for violating limits of territorial waters of the two countries was highlighted at a press conference jointly addressed by representatives of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), National Labour Council and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday.

Pakistani fishermen were often arrested by Indian coastguards at the Sir Creek which was a disputed territory between the two countries, said Karamat Ali of the National Labour Council. There was no demarcation in the sea, he said and asked when coastguards of the two countries could not determine from where the limits of their countries began and ended then how they could expect from poor fishermen to know about it.

He said the arrest of fishermen for the violation of territorial limits was in fact violation of their rights.

156 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails for years and in Pakistani jails there are 439 fishermen awaiting release

He said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was against the arrest of fishermen at sea. He said according to international rules fishermen could be warned when they unintentionally entered the territory of other countries. And if they were arrested the imprisonment should not be more than six months, he added.

He regretted that fishermen of both Pakistan and India languished in jails for years after their arrest.

aTheir cases donat even come to trial for months. Their embassy representative doesnat even get counsellor access until after fishermen have served their sentences. Then after serving their sentences many are sent to jails until their country recognises them. Some languish there for over a year. Some even die during this time.a

The representatives of Piler and the other organisations pointed out that families of Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails suffer terribly in their absence.

PFF chairman Mohammad Ali Shah said that 27 fishermen from a fishing village in Sujawal were arrested at sea by Indian authorities leaving behind only womenfolk in the village.

aThere is no one left to earn a living,a he said and urged the Sindh government to register and provide social security to all fishermen so that at least their families could be taken care of in their absence.

He also brought up the case of Rashid Ibrahim, who was arrested by Indian coastguards in 2014.

aThere are some 156 Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails for years and in Pakistani jails there are 439 fishermen awaiting release.a

Habibuddin Junaidi, convener of Labour Solidarity Committee, also spoke on the occasion.

o o o

The News, December 25, 2016

India asked to reciprocate Pakistanas goodwill gesture

Labour leaders and civil society and human rights activists have hailed the Pakistani governmentas goodwill gesture to release 439 Indian fishermen on December 25 (today) and January 5.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Saturday, they demanded that the Indian government reciprocate by releasing Pakistani fishermen languishing in Indian jails.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah, National Labour Council Secretary Karamat Ali, Sindh Labour Solidarity Committee Convener Habibuddin Junaidi and Muttahida Labour Federationas Jaffar Khan asked the governments of both the countries to devise a mechanism for not arresting fishermen in case of border violation in the open seas.

Recalling the struggle of activists in both the states for the release of fishermen, Shah said that in 1997 the then prime ministers had assured during the Saarc summit that a mechanism would be devised to deport fishermen to their countries if they crossed into their neighboursa borders.

Ali pointed out that on December 20 the Indian government had arrested 26 Pakistani fishermen and seized their five boats, adding that Pakistanas Maritime Security Agency had arrested 43 Indian fishermen on November 20.

aCurrently 156 Pakistani fisher folk are languishing in various Indian jails. Among them are 13 children. Meanwhile, 513 Indian fishermen are incarcerated in Pakistani jails.a

He said the National Fishworkers Forum and the Pakistan-India Peoplesa Forum for Peace & Democracy have assured that they would contact the Indian government for the release of Pakistani fishermen.

aOur friends in India, including senior journalist Jatin Desai, are actively working on it. If Pakistani fishermen are not released, Mr Jatin has assured us that they would approach the Indian Supreme Court.a

The labour leaders also demanded that the Sindh government provide social security facilities to all fishermen, especially those arrested and languishing in Indian jails, adding that the Karachi Fishermen Cooperative Society should contribute for the social security of fishermen.

Shah lamented that 17 of the Pakistani fishermen in Indian jails have been languishing for over 17 years, adding that their counsels require access to them, but the high commissions of both the countries have been underperforming and many fishermen are in jails despite finishing their sentences.

Junaidi said the Sindh government would soon announce a labour policy. aSindh was the first province of the country to provide fishermen with the right to join trade unions.a

o o o

SEE ALSO

EDITORIAL in DAWN

Fishermenas plight

[Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2016]

AS the African proverb goes, when two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled. To be more specific, in this case it is the poor fishermen that get netted when Pakistan and India want to flex their muscles. So it was heartening that Pakistan released 220 Indian fishermen from prison in Karachi on Sunday, enabling them to return home and start the new year reunited with their families. The men had spent more than a year behind bars on the charge of trespassing on Pakistani waters. As per a report in this paper yesterday, all of them said their boats had drifted off course while they were asleep and they had been arrested by the coastguard in the middle of the night. For at least one of them, incarceration in Pakistan for the same crime was a repeat experience.

While the India-Pakistan relationship is at present going through a particularly fraught period, thanks largely to unreasoning hostility from the Modi government, the plight of fishermen from both sides being arrested for maritime trespassing is a long-standing, chronic issue. It need not, and should not, be so. This is an indigent community whose detention behind bars causes enormous suffering to their dependents back home. Their incarceration will not compel the other side to change their policies on matters that bedevil their relationship; it in fact serves no purpose other than petty point-scoring. Groups of fishermen, sometimes after having spent years in cross-border prisons, are periodically released from time to time in agoodwill gesturesa, only for the same exercise to be repeated over and over again. At a recent news conference in Karachi on the issue, speakers highlighted how the arrest and detention of fishermen by maritime security agencies violates international law and contravenes the victimsa legal rights. For example, consular access is granted only after they serve their sentences; some have even died in prison. It is high time India and Pakistan tackled the issue of maritime boundary demarcation.
The trial of the perpetrators of the inhuman atrocities committed in November 2010 in Gdeim Izik, near Laayoune, was reopened on Monday before a civilian court in the city of Sale.

During this trial, the families of the 13 victims were allowed to join the prosecution as civil parties, five months after the Court of Cassation invalidated, in July 2016, the judgment rendered by the Military Court following the adoption of a New law prohibiting the trial of civilians by military courts.

The perpetrators of the cowardly assassination of 11 members of unarmed public forces first appeared before a military court in February 2013. They were then handed sentences ranging from two years in prison to life imprisonment for setting up of criminal gangs, violence against law enforcement agents causing death with premeditation, and mutilation of corpses.

During this new trial, the issue of material evidence does not arise, as the facts had been immortalized by video footage showing the defendants slaughtering unarmed law enforcement agents and mutilating their bodies. The crimes were committed on November 8, 2010, following the intervention of the security forces to dismantle a camp of tents erected in the locality of Gdeim Izik by inhabitants of Laayoune who were claiming socio-economic reforms.

The savage horde in the pay of the Polisario, armed with sabers, axes, stones and gas cylinders, had taken advantage of the fact that the law enforcement agents were not armed and savagely attacked some of them. Eleven agents, including firefighters, were cowardly slaughtered, their skulls smashed and their bodies mutilated.

On the basis of the evidence produced and the charges against the 25 criminals, the lawyers defending the victims accused the international lawyers collective of putting forward untruths, while the defendants lawyers plead for the application of international humanitarian law in their case.

The association of the families and friends of the victims calls for justice to be done in this horrific case, saying that the right to life is the most sacred human right and that the 11 victims have been deprived of this very right to life as they were murdered in cold blood while fulfilling their professional duties.

It is hallucinating that these lawyers try to focus on the status of the Sahara while we have to deal with a horrendous crime where 13 Moroccans, including 11 law enforcement agents were brutally killed and mutilated, said Abdellatif Ouahbi, one of the lawyers of the victims families.
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I laughed, I cried, I cheered.

Granted, I'm just an old sap, and Hannes Holmes' big- screen adaptation of Fredrik Backman's popular novel En man som heter Ove -- out today on Blu-ray and DVD from Music Box Films -- is shamelessly sentimental, especially if you have grumpy old men in your life. (Or recognize those qualities in your own personality, no matter your age.) Yet beneath the comic bluffing, authentic personalities seep through.

Now 59 years of age, Ove (Rolf Lassgard) has no reason to live. His beloved wife Sonja has passed away and he is determined to join her by killing himself. When he is informed that he will be relieved of his duties as a safety inspector at the factory where he has worked for decades, he abruptly quits and heads home to hang himself.

But as he has the noose around his neck, new neighbors Parvaneh (Bahar Pars), her husband Patrik (Tobias Almborg), and their two young daughters move in, and his plans are delayed. Ove is well-known in his gated community for his intemperate behavior and insistence that everyone adhere to the regulations.

His daily visits to his wife's grave reveal the depth of his grief, expressed through his angry grumbling to one and all. Just when it seems that Ove has reached the point of no return, the film kindly rewinds to his youth, and begins to unwind his personal history. He wasn't a grumpy young man, but he did manifest certain traits that made him unique.

When he grew older, young Ove (Filip Berg) met Sonja (Ida Engvoll), a breath of fresh air who was attracted to his modesty and reliability and loyalty, and accepted him for who he and what he was, and they melted together. These scenes are, in most respects, a romantic fantasy, but what memories of happy past loves are not?

Contrast those nostalgic dreams with Ove in the modern day, as a cold and bitter old man who is haunted by his past and shuts out the present.

Until Parvaneh comes along, a pregnant mother from the Middle East who shows him kindness and reminds him of what it means to have a family. Parvaneh already has his hands full -- her husband Patrik is loving but not the most capable kind -- yet it's not within her constitution to ignore the sad, grumpy, unpleasant old man living across the street.

Shot through with humor, A Man Called Ove is equally filled with memories and yearning and romance and family. It's handled with subtlety and grace by writer/director Holm and the actors, and becomes a moving meditation on loneliness and the challenges of daily life, no matter your age or situation.

The Disc :

The picture looks perfectly fine, as good as expected from a new release. Cinematographer Goran Hallberg captures the action in a crisp, colorful and restrained manner. Everything looks quite natural, both the modern-day scenes and flashbacks.

I listened to the 5.1 Swedish DTS-HD audio track, which sounded splendid, and watched with optional, English subtitles, which were well-timed and easy to read (white lettering with shadowing). A 2.0 Swedish DTS-HD audio track is also available, as are optional Swedish subtitles.

The extras are led by The Ove in Us All: A Talk with Hannes Holm, Rolf Lassgard and Bahar Pars, a 14-minute feature built around interviews with the director and two of the actors. Director Holm explains how he came to the project and his approach with adapting a best-selling book, while the actors talk about the motivations for their characters. Pars also talks about the rare opportunity to portray a Middle-Eastern woman who is not a terrorist, and how she aimed to bring authenticity to the role.

Director and Cast Q&A at Scandinavia House NYC: Hosted by John Anderson in September 2016, this live, 21-minute Q&A session features the director and actors as they cover a few of the same points as in the extra above. But there's much more than that in this friendly chat, as Lassgard and Pars talk about how they first met (not on set), the cat, and more spoiler-ish subjects.

Makeup Gallery consists of 19 photo stills, showing the makeup work done for Lassgard to play his role. Makeup Time-lapse shoots through the daily process of application and removal in less than a minute.

The 2-minute theatrical trailer for A Man Called Ove rounds out the film-specific extras. Five other trailers are also included and autoplay after inserting the disc: Jaco Van Dormael's comedy The Brand New Testament, Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzard's nature documentary Seasons, Nanni Moretti's drama Mia Madre and Felix Hemgren's comedy The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared.

This Blu-ray edition of A Man Called Ove is highly recommended. It's available via Music Box Films.
By now I don't think it's a spoiler to say thattakes place a short while before the very first (1977)film, and as such is about the Death Star. Indeed, the entire film is about providing the Rebel Alliance with the information about the deadly contraption's weak spot.While the first Star Wars was a gamble and an experiment, it did have an interesting mix of known and unknown actors on board, with the famous ones definitely bringing some class to the proceedings. On the hero-end, we got an actual knight with Sir Alec Guinness playing Jedi Knight Ben Kenobi, while on the villain-end we saw the great Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, the high officer who was in charge of the Death Star.By now I think it's ALSO not a spoiler that Grand Moff Tarkin is in the new film. As Peter Cushing died 22 years ago, digital means were used to resurrect him. And the effect is uncannily real in the first few scenes, when it's used in small doses. In my opinion they drop the ball a bit later on, by overdoing it (unfortunately introducing a couple of less-than-photorealistic moments and thereby nose-diving into uncanny valley territory), but that's beside the point for this discussion.Done well or not, should dead actors be digitally resurrected when the need arises? Or do you sully their remembrance by doing so? It's an impressive effect for sure, and if they get closer to perfection it's a great way to keep continuity in a series. But some already quip that Peter Cushing has now given his first less-than-stellar performance, and history has shown audiences can be very forgiving when you use different actors for the same part. Take Michael Gambon replacing Richard Harris as Dumbledore in thefilms...So chime in, in the comments below, and HAVE YOUR SAY!
A driver named Paterson in a town called Paterson played by a man named Driver - the rhyming seems almost too perfect. Yet Jim Jarmuch's latest, a delicate, poetic, often delightful musing on creativity and the art of listening, is more than just a series of rhyming couplets. It's a film that echoes Jarmusch's past works like Dead Man and Ghost Dog, yet feels very much its own.

For a film where much of it takes place on mass transportation, there's a fair share of repetition, starts and stops, great moments of furious action, and then a lot of waiting around. It's also an exploration of expectations, about how to judge just who finds the beautiful in the simple things, who finds the words to express the ephemeral.

The casting of Driver works on other, deeper levels as well. Jarmusch added a backstory to the character based on Driver's own past, making the character a former military man. It makes his serene sense even more sublime, and accounts for a moment later in the film where he disarms a foolish friend. It's a way of defying expectations on another level, and works fantastically.

His partner in the film, Golshifteh Farahani, quite literally sees the world in black and while. Obsessively creating everything from decorated cupcakes to painted shower curtains, she adds a sense of delightful dualism to Paterson's life. His views are all gray, finding middle ground between the mediocre, the melancholic and the magnificent, while her dualism is a daffy counterpoint. Combined they're quite the couple, as engaging as any of the magic pairings that Jarmusch habitually crafts.

For many, however, it's a certain bulldog that steals the show. It's a gifted canine performer, to be sure (complete with black and white collar, of course), and what could come across as a silly addition actually plays critical parts of the storyline.

It's in Paterson's reaction to a well telegraphed tragedy that we find him at his most poetically serene. Capped with a nod to the Zen-like teachings espoused in Ghost Dog, we're treated to a cyclical narrative that finds our lead character finding further ways of continuing his quest, despite the ephemeral nature of worlds and expression.

With a quirky soundtrack shaped in part by Jarmusch along with a dream-like air, Paterson is infectious and fun, a quiet and capable work by one of the giants of American independent cinema. A fine contribution to Jarmusch's remarkable canon, Paterson proves to be a remarkable ride.

Review originally published during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016. The film opens in select theaters on Wednesday, December 28.
A recently floated plan to replace aging facilities at Pier 22 1/2 on the Embarcadero would put a crucial fire station on a barge or buoyant pier, a floating facility to support three fire boats, one fire engine, and 12 firefighters, 24/7. The Chronicle's architecture writer John King had the story, a novel design solution to the problem of building a structure to serve the fire department for the next 75-years on the bay side of the Embarcadero seawall.

That structure is due to be strengthened in anticipation of a major earthquake and raised in anticipation of sea level rise, and as the city requires all major new infrastructure projects to account for such a change, the fire station, were it built on land or even on a pier anchored to the seafloor, would need to be 4 feet above the existing Embarcadero. Doing so "would present a curious presence on the Embarcadero, to have this structure literally up in the air, Public Works architect and program manager Charles Higueras told King.

But the floating pier  technically a barge of steel  would face no such problem. A proposal approved by port and fire commissions calls for the structure to be 80 feet wide, 180 feet long, and 32-feet high.

Especially in the event of earthquakes, fire boats have historically been pivotal: As Atlas Obscura recalls, the Phoenix, one such boat, was instrumental in putting out fires in the Marina District after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, extinguishing flames at Beach and Divisadero by pumping water from the St. Francis Yacht Harbor through a portable water system.

So far, Public Works has fielded responses from five design teams who are submitting their proposals in February. But in addition to quakes and rising seas, the floating facility will have to withstand reviews from state and federal agencies that will consider everything from its impact on the Bay and public waterfront access to the adequacy of its living quarters for firefighters.

This seems like the most flexible approach that we can take to prepare for sea level rise as it manifests itself, not as we think it might be in 50 or 75 years, Gabriella Judd Cirelli, project manager at the Public Works department, told King.

Related: Fighting Rising Sea Levels In Mission Bay Will Require Levees, Sea Walls
Like so many other holidays these days, New Year's Eve is amateur hour for a remarkable number of people who don't know how to drink. It's also a traditional time when people in their twenties from other parts of the Bay Area take bridges and tunnels to ring in midnight in the big city, preferably at a big club, or maybe with some fireworks.

Below we bring you some party ideas for SF locals who aren't looking to drop hundreds of dollars on the evening and yet still want to have a good time, outside their homes or their friends' homes, amongst other locals. This is, indeed, possible. And, you're welcome.

(And ICYMI, here's our post from a couple weeks ago about music shows for which there might still be tickets.)







Whitechapel

Get off Polk Street and get into this glorious gin bar decorated like a secret, magical London tube station for a mellow, adult affair featuring DJ Captain Hat, complimentary fruits de mer and veggie bites (from 9 to 10 p.m.), party favors, drink specials, British bubbly, and a midnight toast. There are various options for entry or table reservations, with a basic cover of $35 for all of the above. As the event page puts it, "Come party like its 1899!"

Whitechapel, 600 Post Street at Larkin, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., tickets here





Photo: Takeover Tokyo

Swagger Like Us

This monthly hip-hop outfit leans LGBTQ, but their New Year's party in SoMa could be kind of mixed. In any case it's a cheap date option, with advance tickets just $25. If you want to spring for the open bar "happy hour" from 9 to 11 p.m., that will be $60 total, including admission, and that might be a cheaper way to get tanked in those two hours than just paying by the drink  and then you can just switch to PBR to finish out the evening.

F8, 1192 Folsom Street at 8th, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., $25, tickets here





Photo courtesy of Bar Fluxus

Bar Fluxus

The newest addition to the Madrone Art Bar family, inside the Hotel Des Arts on Harlan Place (at Grant Avenue, near Bush), boasts an intimate and well decorated space from the guys behind Tunnel Top, and cocktails from Matt Grippo (Blackbird) and Shirley Brooks (Madrone). On NYE they're doing a party with a $10 cover and DJ Vlad Simko spinning disco, mid-tempo, and deep house. Because this place is so new, too, you'll be the cool kid if you take your friends here.

18 Harlan Place near Bush and Grant, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., $10 at the door





Photo from last year's bash courtesy of PianoFight

PianoFight

The hip kids and theater nerds at PianoFight threw a NYE bash last year, and they're doing it again, with their three stages all in action  one features the 10-piece soul/rock band known as the PianoFight Music Department who'll be covering the best and worst songs of 2016, another features live-band karaoke, and another will have DJs. Also there'll be two bars and snacks served. Unfortunately, the $50 early bird tickets are sold out, but you can get in for $75.

PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street, doors at 7, music at 8 p.m., tickets here





Polyglamorous's Year of the Cock

The biggest gay affair of the night will be this 13-hour dance bash at 550 Barneveld bringing together the likes of Honey Soundsystem, BAAAHS, Mystopia, Comfort & Joy, and the House of MORE, along with famed DJs David Harness, Harvard Bass, and Gay Marvine. Juanita MORE! will be helping to host alongside Grace Towers and MamaDoras Cabaret, and it should be a big affair with two dancefloors, a lounge, and an outdoor space.

550 Barneveld, 9 p.m. to 10 a.m., $40, tickets here







Madrone Art Bar

Like their new little sister Bar Fluxus, Madrone is doing a No Theme Super Dance Jam on NYE that is likely to be packed. I'd advise arriving early and securing a cozy corner, and settling in for an evening of hip kids crowding you on the dancefloor, whether or not you're a hip kid yourself. DJs Sonny Phono and Bessed Drest will be in control, and fans of this place know what to expect.

500 Divisadero at Fell, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., $10





The Stud's Champagne Poppers Party

Ring in the New Year at this, the first big event being thrown by The Stud's new collective of worker-owners. The hosts will be Leigh Crow, Honey Mahogany, and VivvyAnne ForeverMore!, with a performance by Red Hots Burlesque, and music from DJs Rolo, Siobhan Aluvalot, John Fucking Cartwright, and Marke B. There'll be the mandatory Champagne toast at midnight, and this will double as a toast to The Stud's 50th anniversary, and to the club's ongoing survival. Drag is obviously encouraged for those who do it, but no costumes are required... and this will be mostly an LGBTQ affair.

Harrison at 9th Street, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
All is not well in Hillsborough, a suburb of 11,500 people west of San Mateo that's among the nation's wealthiest towns. There, nine unhappy residents are suing the municipality to recoup fines that were temporarily enacted to encourage conservation in light of the ongoing California drought.

Now, before you weep for these would-be water rights advocates, know that they probably don't need the additional moisture: Hillsborough homes, which cost an average of $4.3 million, typically use three times as much water as elsewhere. But Beau Burbidge, an attorney who represents the aggrieved residents, argues in the San Mateo County Superior Court lawsuit that the temporary town-imposed fines, put in place to promote state-directed cutbacks, were unconstitutional. We understand the drought is severe and water use needs to be cut, Burbidge tells the Chronicle, who covered the story. But we have to do that in a matter thats consistent with the law, he insisted.

Who are Burbidge's clients? A lot of them are top-tier users, he tells the Mercury News. They have quite a bit of acreage. They all let their lawns go brown. They put in drought-friendly plantings, and all they did was get penalized.

The State Water Resources Control Board called for California-wide water restrictions in 2015, and those were in effect through this past summer, when they were lifted. Under those restrictions, Hillsborough was directed to cut back its water consumption by 36 percent over its 2013 rate or else face state penalties  it did so successfully, though it still uses three times as much water as the average town.

In response to the demands of the state, on top of tiered pricing, the town began to impose fines for excessive water use beginning last summer. Local consumers were allotted a certain amount of water based on their parcel and household and were charged an extra $30 for every 748 gallons by which they exceeded it. That netted the town $600,000 before the system was dropped after the state restrictions were lifted.

But penny-pinching town residents aren't going to let those fines just go down the drain. "Its about the principle," Burbidge tells the Mercury News. "Its not like the clients are becoming destitute from the water rates, but the town is running amok.

Burbidge, who represents venture capitalist David Marquardt, wealth manager Eldridge Gray, oral surgeon Charles Syers, and six others in their fight, argues that based on voter approved California Proposition 218, the fines were illegally imposed in the first place. The argument follows the logic of a case from the Orange County city San Juan Capistrano, which is based on the proposition's pronouncement that public agencies can't charge more for a service than what it costs to provide the service.

All theyre really doing is charging extra for extra water use, Burbidge tells the Chronicle. Since the town of Hillsborough buys its water at a fixed cost from the SFPUC, his lawsuit claims that fines like those imposed are unconstitutional.

Lawyers for Hillsborough reject that claim, countering that the fines are legit because the cost of delivering the water, not buying it, goes up with consumption.

Michael Lauffer, chief counsel for the State Water Resources Control Board, also contends that Prop. 218 applies to property-related fees but not to civil fines, but that's led Burbidge to argue that the Hillsborough fines are just fees.

If the small group of Hillsborough residents are successful in their lawsuit, it's bad news for California towns that might similarly hope to promote conservation with fines. "Until we get a good court decision from the Supreme Court or other courts of appeal, it makes it difficult to actually advance the law in this area, Lauffer told the Chronicle.

Of course, not everyone is horrible. Paul Saffo, a Hillsborough resident, puts it simply to the Merc: Were in a drought... We have a short reprieve, but the fact is that this problem is only going to get worse, long term, and everybody has to pull together. If the court strikes down Hillsborough's enforcement measure, he and others who use less water than the area's biggest users will pay a greater share of the bill.

Related: California Lifts Mandatory Water Restrictions Though Drought Continues
An Uber driver waiting for a fare was injured this Christmas Eve, when a man followed the car on foot then fired shots into the vehicle.

According to San Francsico Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Michael Andraychak, a ShotSpotter device in the area picked up gunfire at Oak and Buchanan Streets at 3:01 a.m. on Saturday.

"After a search," Andraychak says, they located the victim, a 31-year-old Sacramento man who "drives for a TNC company" at Oak and Gough. He was suffering from "non life threatening injuries to his face."

ABC 7 reports that that TNC company is Uber, and the driver is an Afghan refugee and father of two who asked to be identified by the pseudonym "Mohammad," as he is "afraid for his safety."

Andraychak says that Mohammad "told officers he was in a Toyota sedan on Oak St waiting for a passenger when an unidentified male suspect approached his car and fired a shot at the windshield." He "drove away, stopping several blocks later where he called 9-1-1."

ABC 7 reports that the suspect had "followed him for a few blocks on foot, before running to his window and firing."

"He take out the gun and he shoot me and, um, fortunately the bullet just pass from my face," Mohammad told ABC 7.



Andraychak says that an ambulance was summoned to treat Mohammad at the scene, as investigators "noted damage to the windshield that appeared consistent with a bullet impact." A search of the area did not yield any suspects, however, so no arrests have been made nor is any suspect information available.

When contacted by SFist, an Uber spokesperson responded that The individual reported this to us directly through the app and weve been in contact with him over the weekend. Were very relieved he is OK.

Andraychak asks that anyone with information on the case call the SFPD Anonymous Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or Text A Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
DAKOTA CITY | The Dakota County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help to identify a man they believe committed a theft at a Pony Express gas station.

On the Dakota County Sheriff's Facebook page, authorities posted photos taken by security cameras inside the station of the man, who was wearing dark pants and a dark coat or hoodie. According to the sheriff's office, the man broke into the gas station on Sunday and stole an undetermined amount of money.
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VMware, Inc. provides software solutions in the areas of modern applications, cloud management and infrastructure, networking, security, and digital workspaces in the United States and internationally. It offers VMware multi-cloud solutions, including VMware vSphere, a data center infrastructure that provides the fundamental compute layer; vSAN and VxRail, which offers holistic data storage and protection options to applications running on vSphere; and vRealize Cloud Management solutions that manages hybrid and multi-cloud environments running in virtual machines and containers, as well as VMware Cloud Foundation, a cloud platform that combines its vSphere, vSAN, and NSX with vRealize Cloud Management into an integrated stack and delivers enterprise-ready cloud infrastructure for private and public clouds. The company also provides networking solutions, such as VMware NSX, NSX Distributed and Gateway Firewalls, NSX Network Detection and Response Engine, NSX Advanced Load Balancer, Tanzu Service Mesh, and VMware SASE; security solutions consisting of VMware Carbon Black Endpoint, Workload, and Container; and digital workspace solutions comprising Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management, Access, Intelligent Hub, and Horizon. In addition, it offers application modernization solutions, such as Tanzu Application and Operations Platform, Tanzu Application Service Platform, Tanzu Observability, Tanzu Community Edition, and Tanzu Labs; and cloud management solutions, including vRealize Cloud Management, vCloud Suite, and CloudHealth by VMware Suite. The company sells its products through distributors, resellers, system vendors, and systems integrators. VMware, Inc. has a strategic alliance with Amazon Web Services to build and deliver an integrated hybrid solution. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
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JPMorgan Chase & Co. is the 5th largest bank in the world and the largest in the U.S. The current company is the result of a series of mergers that began in the earliest days of American banking history and include more than 1,200 original banks. The oldest predecessor is The Bank Of The Manhattan Company which was founded in 1799 by Aaron Burr. At the time, The Bank Of The Manhattan Company was the 3rd oldest bank in the U.S. and the 31st oldest in the world. The Chase Manhattan Bank, a precursor to JPMorgan Chase, was later formed when The Bank Of Manhattan Company purchased Chase Bank which was established in 1877.

JPMorgan & Co came to life in 1895 in order to finance the United States Steel Corporation. Itself a result of merger, the company also financed other early American businesses as well as aided the federal government by backing a bond offering. It wasnt until the year 2000 and after several more mergers that JPMorgan Chase & Co was born. It will be four more years before the merger with Bank One which is notable because it brings CEO Jamie Dimon into the picture.

JPMorgan Chase & Co was instrumental in aiding the US government during the 2008 financial crisis. It backed the accounts of several major banks including Bear Stearns and eventually took over their operations. Today, JPMorgan Chase & Co operates as a financial services company worldwide with operations on every continent and in more than 60 countries.

JPMorgan Chase & Co operates through four segments that are Consumer & Community Banking (CCB), Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), Commercial Banking (CB), and Asset & Wealth Management (AWM). Services are available in branches in 48 of the 50 US states and around the world. Services are available via ATM, online, mobile, and telephone.

The CCB segment offers traditional banking services to consumers that include but are not limited to deposits, loans, mortgages, and lines of credit. The CIB segment provides investment banking products and services to businesses, institutions, and governments that range from prime brokerage, insurance, corporate strategy, and access to capital markets, to lending, cross-border financing, and derivative instruments. The CB segment provides financial services for small, medium, and large businesses including commercial real estate banking of all types.

The AWM segment provides investment management solutions to institutional and retail investors. This segment also provides retirement products, brokerage, trusts and estates, and investment management products.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. engages in designing, building, overhauling, and repairing military ships in the United States. It operates through three segments: Ingalls Shipbuilding, Newport News Shipbuilding, and Technical Solutions. The company is involved in the design and construction of non-nuclear ships comprising amphibious assault ships; expeditionary warfare ships; surface combatants; and national security cutters for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. It also provides nuclear-powered ships, such as aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as refueling and overhaul, and inactivation services of ships. In addition, the company offers naval nuclear support services, including fleet services comprising design, construction, maintenance, and disposal activities for in-service the U.S. Navy nuclear ships; and maintenance services on nuclear reactor prototypes. Further, it provides life-cycle sustainment services to the U.S. Navy fleet and other maritime customers; high-end information technology and mission-based solutions for Department of Defense (DoD), intelligence, and federal civilian customers; nuclear management and operations and environmental management services for the Department of Energy, DoD, state and local governments, and private sector companies; defense and federal solutions; and unmanned systems. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Newport News, Virginia.
Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells. The company operates through five segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software. The company also offers REVit, an automated real time stick-slip mitigation system; ROCKit, a directional steering control system; SmartNAV, a collaborative guidance and advisory platform; SmartSLIDE, an advanced directional steering control system; and RigCLOUD, which provides the tools and infrastructure to integrate applications to deliver real-time insight into operations across the rig fleet. In addition, it manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and other drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools; and provides aftermarket sales and services for the installed base of its equipment. As of December 31, 2021, the company marketed approximately 301 rigs for land-based drilling operations in the United States, Canada, and in 20 other countries worldwide; and 29 rigs for offshore platform drilling operations in the United States and internationally. Nabors Industries Ltd. was founded in 1952 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The following companies are subsidiares of Quanta Services: (De) Lazy Q Ranch LLC, 1 Diamond LLC, 1Diamond AS, 618232 Alberta Ltd., 8246408 Canada Inc., Advanced Electric Systems, Advanced Electric Systems LLC, Advanced Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Alexander Publications LLC, Allteck GP Ltd., Allteck Limited Partnership, Apprenticeship Programs Inc., Arby Construction, Arcanum Chemicals LLC, Arnett & Burgess Oil Field Construction Limited, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners (Rockies) LLC, Arnett & Burgess Pipeliners Ltd., B&N Clearing and Environmental LLC, Banister Pipelines Constructors Corp., Banister Pipelines Constructors GP Ltd., Banister Pipelines Limited Partnership, Brent Woodward Inc., Brink Constructors Inc., Brink Constructors Inc. A Corporation Of South Dakota, Brown Engineering and Testing, CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership, CAT-SPEC Limited Partnership (Regd Name) CAT SPEC Ltd., CAT-Spec Limited Partnership, Canadian Utility Construction Corp., Cat Spec Limited LP, Cat Spec Ltd, Cat Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat Spec Ltd. LP, Cat Spec. Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd (A Domestic limited Partnership), Cat-Spec Ltd LP, Cat-Spec Ltd., Cat-Spec Ltd. L.P., Cat-Spec Ltd. LP, Cat-Spec Ltd. Limited Partnership, Catalyst Changers Inc., Chatham Electric, Citadel Industrial Services L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. L.P., Citadel Industrial Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Coe Drilling Pty Ltd., Computapole, Conam Construction Co., Consolidated Power Projects Australia Pty Ltd, Conti Communications Inc., Crux Subsurface Canada Ltd., Crux Subsurface Inc., Cutting Technology - 1 Diamond LLC, DB Utilities Inc., DE Lazy Q Ranch LLC, DNR Pressure Welding Ltd., Dacon Corporation, Dashiell (DE) Corporation (Dashiell Corporation), Dashiell Corporation, Dashiell Corporation DBA Dashiell (DE) Corporation, De Mears Group, De Mears Group Inc., Delaware Quanta Technology LLC, Delaware Underground Construction Co., Didado Utility Company Inc., Digco Utility Construction L.P. Digco Utility Construction Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. L.P., Dorado Specialty Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Dorado Specialty Services. Ltd. L.P., Driftwood Electrical Contractors, EHV Power ULC, ELITE PIPING & CIVIL L.P., ELITE TURNAROUND SPECIALISTS LTD, Elite Fabrication Ltd. Elite Fabrication LP, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Limited Partnership, Elite Piping & Civil Lp, Elite Piping & Civil Ltd L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. L.P., Elite Piping & Civil Ltd. Limited Partnership, Elite Piping and Civil L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists L.p., Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Limited Partnership, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd Lp, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. L.P., Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. LP, Elite Turnaround Specialists Ltd. Limited Partnership, Energy Consulting Group LLC, Enscope, Enscope Pty Ltd, FIC GP LLC, Field Personnel Services LLC, First Infrastructure Capital Advisors LLC, First Infrastructure Capital GP L.P., Five Points Construction Co., G-Tek, G-Vac, GEM Engineering Co., Grand Electric Inc., Great Lakes Line Builders, Grid Creative Inc., Grid Manufacturing Corporation, Grid Training Corporation, H.L. Chapman Pipeline Construction Inc., Haverfield Aviation, Haverfield Aviation Inc., Haverfield International Incorporated, Heritage Midstream LLC, IM Electric Inc., IUC ILLINOIS LLC, IUC Nebraska LLC, InfraSource Construction LLC, InfraSource Field Services LLC, InfraSource Services LLC, InfraSources Construction LLC, Infraestructura ETP de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V, Infrasource Engineering Company PC, Infrasource Iowa Underground LLC, Infrasource Of Pa LLC, Integracion Tecnologica del Peru SAC, Intermountain Electric Inc., Intermountain Electric Inc. A Corporation of Colorado, IonEarth LLC, Irby Construction Company, Irby Construction Company Inc., Iron Mountain M.J. Electric LLC, Island Mechanical Corporation, J.C.R. Construction Co. Inc., J.C.R. Utility Construction Co., J.W. Didado Electric Inc., J.W. Didado Electric LLC, J.w. Didado Electric, JBT Electric LLC, Kingston Contracting Inc., Lazy Q Ranch LLC, Lazy Q Training Center LLC The Lazy Q Lineman School, Legend Foundation Services, Lex Engineering Ltd., Lindsey Electric L.P., Logical Link, Longfellow Drilling, M. G. Dyess Inc., M. J. ELECTRIC LLC IRON MOUNTAIN, M. J. Electric LLC, M. J. Electric LLC - Iron Mountain, M. J. Electric LLC DBA M. J. Electric Iron Mountain LLC, M.J. Electric LLC DBA M.J. Electric Iron Mountain, M.J. Electric LLC Iron Mountain, MTS Field Services, MTS Field Services (Richmond Co), MTS Quanta LLC, Manuel Bros. Inc., Marathon Construction Services, Mears Canada Corp., Mears Equipment Services LLC, Mears Group Inc., Mears Group Pty Ltd, Mears Installation LLC, Mearsmex S. de R.L. de C.V., Mejia Personnel Services LLC, Mercer Technical Services, Microline Technology Corporation, Mid America Energy Services Inc., NACAP Niugini Ltd., NC Northstar Energy Services Inc, NGI Construction, NGI Construction Inc., NGI Construction Inc. (FN), NLC CA. Inc., NLC FL. Inc. Northwest Lineman Center, NLC ID. Inc. Northwest Lineman College, NLC TX. Inc., NPC Energy Services LLC, Nacap Australia, Nacap PNG Limited, Network Communication Services, North Houston Pole Line L.P., North Houston Pole Line Limited Partnership, North Sky Communications, NorthStar Energy Services Inc., Northern Powerline Constructors Inc., Northstar Energy Solutions LLC, Northwest Lineman Center, Northwest Lineman College, Northwest Lineman Training Center, Northwest Lineman Training Center Inc., Nova Constructors LLC, Nova Constructors LTD, Nova Equipment Leasing LLC, Nova Group Inc, Nova Group Inc (CA), Nova Group Inc., Nova Group Inc. DBA NGI Construction, Nova NextGen Solutions LLC, O. J. Pipelines Canada Corporation, O. J. Pipelines Canada Limited Partnership, O.J. Industrial Maintenance, O.J. Pipelines Canada, One Call Locators Canada Ltd., P.D.G. Electric, PAR Electrical Contractors Inc., PDG Electric Co., Par Internacional S. de R.L. de C.V., Performance Energy Services Guyana Ltd., Performance Energy Services L.L.C., Phasor Engineering Inc., Phoenix North Constructors Inc., Phoenix Power Group Inc., Potelco Inc., Potelco Incorporated, Power Delivery Program Inc., Price Gregory International Inc., Price Gregory Services LLC, Probst Construction Inc., Probst Electric Inc., QEPC, QEPC Power Solutions LLC, QES GP LLC, QP Energy Services LLC, QPS Engineering LLC, QPS Engineering LTD., QPS Engineering PLLC, QPS Environmental, QPS Flint Construction, QPS Flint Tank Services, QPS Global, QPS Global Services, QPS Global Services (Richmond Ci), QPS Professional Services, QPSE, QS Mats, QSI Engineering Inc., QSI Finance (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance (Cayman) Pvt. Ltd., QSI Finance Canada ULC, QSI Finance GP (US) LLC, QSI Finance I (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance I (US) LP, QSI Finance II (Australia) Pty Ltd., QSI Finance II (Lux) S.a r.l, QSI Finance II (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., QSI Finance III (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance III (Lux) SARL, QSI Finance IV (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance IX (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance V (US) L.P., QSI Finance VI (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance VII (Canada) Limited Partnership, QSI Finance VIII (Canada) ULC, QSI Finance X (Canada) ULC, QSI Inc., QSN Lux Holdings I SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings II SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings III SCSp, QSN Lux Holdings IV SCSp, QTSL LLC, QUANTA FOUNDATION SERVICES, Quanta APL GP II Ltd., Quanta Asset Management LLC, Quanta Associates L.P., Quanta Aviation Services LLC, Quanta Canada GP ULC, Quanta Canada Holdings III Limited Partnership, Quanta Canada Holdings LP, Quanta Canada III GP Ltd., Quanta Capital GP LLC, Quanta Capital LP L.P., Quanta Capital Solutions Inc., Quanta Cares, Quanta EPC Services, Quanta Electric Power Construction LLC, Quanta Electric Power Construction Management Inc., Quanta Electric Power Services LLC, Quanta Electric Power Services West LLC, Quanta Energized Innovations Ltd., Quanta Energized Services U.S. LLC, Quanta Energized Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Energy Services LLC, Quanta Environmental Solutions, Quanta Equipment Company LLC, Quanta Government Solutions Inc., Quanta Holdings I (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Holdings II (Netherlands) B.V., Quanta Infraestructura de Chile SpA, Quanta Infrastructure Services LLC, Quanta Infrastructure Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Quanta Inline Devices LLC, Quanta Inspection Services, Quanta Insurance Company Inc., Quanta International Holdings (US) LLC, Quanta International Holdings II Ltd., Quanta International Holdings Ltd., Quanta International Limited, Quanta Kingsvale LP Ltd., Quanta Lines Pty Ltd., Quanta Maine Services LLC, Quanta Middle East LLC, Quanta Pipeline Services Inc., Quanta Power Australia Pty Ltd, Quanta Power Generation Inc., Quanta Power Inc., Quanta Power Solutions India Private Limited, Quanta Resource Development, Quanta Services Africa (PTY) Ltd., Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd., Quanta Services Chile SpA, Quanta Services Colombia S.A.S., Quanta Services Costa Rica Ltda., Quanta Services Guatemala Ltda., Quanta Services International Holdings II LP, Quanta Services International Holdings LP, Quanta Services Management Partnership L.P., Quanta Services Netherlands B.V., Quanta Services Panama S. de R.L., Quanta Services Peru S.A.C., Quanta Services Puerto Rico LLC, Quanta Services of Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface Canada Ltd., Quanta Subsurface LLC, Quanta Tank Services, Quanta Technology Canada ULC, Quanta Technology LLC, Quanta Technology UK Ltd., Quanta Tecnologia do Brasil Ltda., Quanta Telecom, Quanta Telecom Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services, Quanta Telecommunication Services LLC, Quanta Telecommunications Services LLC, Quanta Underground Services, Quanta Underground Services (Culpeper Co), Quanta Underground Services (Spotsylvania Co), Quanta Underground Services Inc., Quanta Utility Engineering Services Inc., Quanta Utility Installation Company Inc., Quanta Utility Operation LLC, Quanta West LLC, Quantecua Cia. Ltda., R. R. Cassidy Inc., RMS Holdings LLC, RMS Holdings LLC (Delaware), RMS Welding Systems, RMS Welding Systems LLC, Ranger Directional, Realtime Engineers Inc., Realtime Utility Engineers Inc., Redes Andinas de Comunicaciones S.R.L., Riggin & Diggin Line Construction, Rms Welding LLC, Rms Welding Systems LLC, Road Bore Corporation, Ryan Company Inc. The, Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, Ryan Company Inc.(The), Seaward, Seaward Corp, Seaward Corporation, Service EC (DE) Inc., Service Electric Company (DE), Service Electric Company Inc., Service Electric Company of Delaware, Servicios Par Electric S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios de Infraestructura del Peru S.A.C., Southwest Trenching Company Inc., Specialty Tank Services L.P., Specialty Tank Services LP, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Limited Partnership, Specialty Tank Services Ltd., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. (LP), Specialty Tank Services Ltd. L.P., Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, Specialty Tank Services Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold General LLC, Stronghold Holdings (BVI) Limited, Stronghold Inspection L.P., Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Limited Partnership, Stronghold Inspection Lp, Stronghold Inspection Ltd L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. L.P., Stronghold Inspection Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Limited Partnership, Stronghold Ltd., Stronghold Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Management Holdings LP, Stronghold Specialty General LLC, Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd., Stronghold Specialty Ltd. Limited Partnership, Stronghold Tower Group LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd LP, Stronghold Tower Group Ltd., Stronghold Tower Group Ltd. LP, Stronghold VI LLC, Subterra Damage Prevention Specialists Ltd., Summit Line Construction, Sumter Utilities Inc., T. G. Mercer Consulting Services Inc., TA Construction, TC Infrastructure Services Ltd., Taylor Built, Texas Specialty Tank Services Ltd. LP, The Aspen Utility Company LLC, The ComTran Group Inc., The Hallen Construction Co. Inc., The Massachusetts Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc Of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Inc., The Ryan Company Inc. (Massachusetts), The Ryan Company Inc. of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Incorporated of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company Of Massachusetts Inc., The Ryan Company of Massachusetts, The Ryan Company of Massachusetts (FN), Tom Allen Construction Company Inc., Tom Allen Construction Company of Delaware, Trans Tech Electric, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd., TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey Automation Ltd. Limited Partnership, TurnKey I&E Ltd., Turnkey Automation Ltd. L.P., Turnkey Automation Ltd. LP., UCC Underground Construction Co. Inc., Ucc - Underground Construction Co., Underground Construction Co. Inc., Underground Construction Co. Inc. (Delaware), Underground Electric Construction Company LLC, Utilco Inc., Utility Fleet Services, Utility Line Management Services Inc., Utility Testing & Maintenance LLC, Utility Training Services Corporation, VALARD Polska sp. Z o.o., Valard, Valard, Valard Construction (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Construction (Quebec) Inc., Valard Construction 2008 Ltd., Valard Construction Australia Pty Ltd, Valard Construction LLC, Valard Equipment (AB) Ltd., Valard Equipment GP Ltd., Valard Equipment Limited Partnership, Valard Geomatics (Ontario) Ltd., Valard Geomatics BC Ltd., Valard Geomatics Ltd., Valard Mechanical Ltd., Valard Norway AS, Valard Sweden AB, Valard Zagreb d. o. o., Wade D. Taylor Inc., West Coast Communications, Winco Helicopters, Winco Inc., Winco Inc. an Oregon Based Corporation, Winco Powerline Services, Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Powerline Services Inc., Winco Services Inc., World Fiber Inc., and mmit Line Construction Inc..

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The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide. It offers a range of skin care products, including moisturizers, serums, cleansers, toners, body care, exfoliators, acne care and oil correctors, facial masks, cleansing devices, and sun care products; and makeup products, such as lipsticks, lip glosses, mascaras, foundations, eyeshadows, nail polishes, and powders, as well as compacts, brushes, and other makeup tools. The company also provides fragrance products in various forms comprising eau de parfum sprays and colognes, as well as lotions, powders, creams, candles, and soaps; and hair care products that include shampoos, conditioners, styling products, treatment, finishing sprays, and hair color products, as well as sells ancillary products and services. It offers its products under the Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, MAC, Bobbi Brown, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Smashbox, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, GLAMGLOW, Kilian Paris, Too Faced, Dr. Jart+, DECIEM, and The Ordinary brands. The company sells its products through department stores, specialty-multi retailers, upscale perfumeries and pharmacies, and salons and spas; freestanding stores; its own and authorized retailer websites; third-party online malls; stores in airports; and duty-free shops. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
The 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.
LA PLATA, Md.

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.

(Dec. 27, 2016)The Charles County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.DRIVER CRASHES VEHICLE AFTER FLEEING TRAFFIC STOP: On December 26 at approximately 6:10 p.m., an officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with expired tags in the area of Crain Highway at St. Patrick's Drive in Waldorf. Instead of stopping, the vehicle accelerated and fled northbound on Crain Highway. The driver lost control in the area of Crain Highway at VFW Road, and the car left the roadway, striking a building at a car dealership. The driver, a 26 year-old man from Washington, D.C., was ejected. He was flown to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries but is currently in stable condition. There were no other occupants in the car. Cpl. B Saunders is investigating.FLEEING AND ELUDING: On December 26 at approximately 1:08 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle speeding in the area of Berry Road at Middletown Road in Waldorf. When the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the vehicle accelerated, travelling eastbound on Berry Road. At the intersection of Berry Road at Crain Highway, the driver ran the red light, hit a bump in the road, and struck and disabled another vehicle in travel. The driver crossed over Crain Highway onto Leonardtown Road to the area of Vivian Adams Drive, where he hit a curb and disabled the vehicle. When the vehicle came to a stop, the driver, Michael Jason James, Jr., 28 of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding police and driving while intoxicated. Pfc. J. Squriewell investigated.FOURTH DEGREE BURGLARY: Sometime between 2:50 p.m. on December 17 and 11:30 a.m. on December 21, unknown suspect(s) gained entry to the backyard of a residence in the 4100 block of Bluebird Drive in Waldorf through the victim's gated fence and stole several packages. Pfc. D. Butler is investigating.HANDGUN IN VEHICLE: On December 21, officers were working impaired driver patrols on Crain Highway in Waldorf when an officer stopped a vehicle in the 4100 block for an equipment violation. The driver and two passengers fled on foot and were apprehended by officers. An unloaded revolver, on which the serial number had been filed off, was located a short distance from the vehicle. Further investigation revealed ammunition inside the vehicle. Markquis Williams, 20 of District Heights, Tre Williams, 23 of District Heights, and a juvenile passenger were arrested and charged with transporting a handgun in their vehicle and knowingly altering the firearm's identification number.FUEL THEFT: Sometime between December 6 and December 20, unknown suspect(s) drilled a hole into the gas tank of a van parked in the 4500 block of Crain Highway in White Plains and stole fuel. The vehicle belongs to the State of Maryland. Pfc. R. Glover is investigating.BURGLARY, DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY: Sometime between 5:30 p.m. on December 17 and 2:22 p.m. on December 18, unknown suspect(s) cut a screen and made entry through a window into a business located in the 2200 block of Crain Highway in Waldorf. No items were taken. The suspect(s) cut off power to several units from the main breaker box behind the business. Pfc. C. Figgins is investigating.
(EDGE) On Monday, Dr. Sherman Leis, founder of The Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, one of the leading resources for transgender surgery and medical support in the United States, presented his annual list of the top 10 trends that will affect the transgender community in 2017.

"While cultural and public support for the transgender community and its people has grown tremendously in the last year, there is still much more to be accomplished," Leis said in a statement released Monday. " However, due to the changing political climate, there is an air of uncertainty among the transgender community and its advocates about the continuity and pace of this progression. That said, I remain optimistic and believe the achievements we have made through 2017 will continue to move in the right direction."



Dr. Leis' top 10 trends for 2017 include:
(EDGE) A New York City woman was arrested after allegedly stabbing a black transgender man who offered his seat to her on a subway Christmas night. She has been charged with assault as a hate crime, the New York Daily News reports.

Ijan DaVonte Jarrett, 44, offered his seat to Stephanie Pazmino, 30, who was riding the subway in Harlem with her cousin around 11:05 p.m. on Dec. 25. Pazmino refused the offer, however, allegedly telling her cousin in Spanish that she didn't want to sit next to a black person, sources told the NYDN.

"I got up anyway and said to her that she didn't have to sit next to me," Jarrett, a hairstylist who was on his way home from a Christmas Day job, told the newspaper. "I took a seat across from her and just forgot all about it."

On her way exiting the train, Pazmino allegedly started to punch Jarrett. He said he didn't realize he was stabbed until another man rushed to help him. The NYDN reports police sources say Pazmino stabbed Jarrett in the arm with a 2-inch knife and slashed his face.

"I ran to the ticket booth to ask the attendant to call the police, she stated that she did, and that I should sit down. And I passed out after that," Jarrett said.

He said he wasn't sure if he was targeted for being trans.

Cops arrested Pazmino, charging her with assault as a hate crime, reckless endangerment and weapons possession.
Le Collectif Cheikh Yassine a organise un certain nombre dactivites et de festivites pour les enfants de Gaza sous le theme  La joie des enfants de Gaza pour lAid . Ces activites ont commence le premier jour de lAid et continue jusquau 4eme jour de lAid dans la bande de Gaza.



Plusieurs activites, ont ete organisees parmi lesquelles : des competitions recompensees par des prix, des jeux, des animations et des chants presentes par un groupe ainsi que des distributions de cadeaux et daides financieres.




Roger (Carroll) Garis

and the Outboard Boys Series. The Boys, Terry, Martin and Warren, were created by Roger Garis and appeared in the four-book series published in 1933 and 1934. The Boys used their powerful outboard motors to solve mysteries and have adventures, etc.

1 The Outboard Boys at Mystery Island or Solving the secret of the Hidden Cove

2 The Outboard Boys at Shadow Lake or Solving the Secret of the Strange Monster

3 The Outboard Boys at Pirate Beach or Solving the Secret of the Houseboat
A blog published by Susan Eisen that has columns on all the latest jewelry fashions, news, and store information.
In a breakthrough, scientists have found most heat resistant material in the world which might improve the heat shielding of the spacecraft and also it might come handy in several other areas of scientific experiments. The new material can withstand temperatures of up to 4,000 degrees Celsius with ease.

A team of researchers from the Imperial College of London discovered the heat resistant ability of refractory ceramics named Tantalum carbide (TaC) and hafnium carbide (HfC), and their ability to withstand extremely harsh temperatures which might come handy in manufacturing heat shield for the very fast moving objects like spacecraft and as fuel cladding in the super-heated environments of nuclear reactors.

According to scientists, these materials have very high melting point of over 4000 K, but researchers cannot test it as they cannot create such harsh environments in any lab. Still, study authors tested the materials by bombarding laser and found that the materials started melting in the range of 40414232 K. HfC was found to be more heat resistant when compared to TaC.

For the study, researchers had to develop a new heating technique using laser or else they couldnt have tested the endurance of these ceramic materials. Researchers are calling it a breakthrough as it will aid in several areas of science and technology.

The friction involved when travelling above Mach 5  hypersonic speeds  creates very high temperatures. So far, TaC and HfC have not been potential candidates for hypersonic aircraft, but our new findings show that they can withstand even more heat than we previously thought  more than any other compound known to man. This means that they could be useful materials for new types of spacecraft that can fly through the atmosphere like a plane, before reaching hypersonic speeds to shoot out into space. These materials may enable spacecraft to withstand the extreme heat generated from leaving and re-entering the atmosphere, said Dr Omar Cedillos-Barraza, who is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Texas.

Dr Cedillos-Barraza added: Our tests demonstrate that these materials show real promise in the engineering of space vehicles of the future. Being able to withstand such extreme temperatures means that missions involving hypersonic spacecraft may one day be manned missions. For example, a flight from London to Sydney may take about 50 minutes at Mach 5, which could open a new world of commercial opportunities for countries around the world.

Researchers are developing hypersonic vehicles that have very sharp and pointy tips to improve aerodynamics and extreme heating produced due to very high speed can melt nose tips causing aircrafts to crash. Scientists say that temperatures can cross over 2200k when moving faster than 5 Mach. Thus, we need materials that have extremely high melting point will not melt even at very high temperatures. It has led to the researcher and developement of high temperature materials, including a group of ceramics commonly known as ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs). UHTCs have melting temperature over 3300K which is well above the 2200k mark.

Tantalum carbide (TaC) and hafnium carbide (HfC) have even higher melting points (over 4000 K) which are the highest reported among all known inorganic materials. They are known to form a continuous solid solution over the whole range of compositions.

Laser heating experiment consisted of four consecutive laser pulses, starting with a low-power pulse held for a long hold time (typically 1000 ms), and then the power of the subsequent pulses were increased but shortened in hold time (typically few hundreds ms). The pre-heating stage and the successive pulses were conceived to minimise thermal stresses and the risk of mechanical failure of the samples.

The results from this work show that HfC0.98 has the highest melting point in the TaC-HfC system at (4232  84) K, which make it the highest melting point compound, since the melting temperature of TaC was experimentally found to be lower than HfC in this work.Scientists at NASA are also struggling to develop heat shield for the Orion spacecraft that will carry humans on Journey to Mars. Now, the new study has paved the way for developing a better heat shield that will ensure

Scientists at NASA are also struggling to develop heat shield for the Orion spacecraft that will carry humans on Journey to Mars. Now, the new study has paved the way for developing a better heat shield that will ensure safety of astronauts aboard the spacecraft.

The study appeared in the journal Scientific Reports.
Bengaluru-based Indian startup TeamIndus has gained lot of fame after it announced that it will send a rover to the Moon in December 2017. After the partnership with the Japanese space startup Hakuta that will send 4 kg rover on TeamIndus spacecraft, now, Kolkata scientists are planning to send an instrument with spacecraft.

According to the latest reports, researchers in Kolkata have developed a payload that will share the ride with TeamInduss lunar rover and will land on the moon before the Republic Day of India.

The four-kg payload would be installed atop a lunar lander that a Bengaluru-based private company Team Indus is planning to send to the moon in December 2017. We have signed a deal with Team Indus. The countrys trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) engineered by Indias space agency ISRO would be carrying the lander and at least two rovers to the moon, said Sandip Kumar Chakrabarti, Head of thade Indian Center for Space Physics in Kolkata.

The instrument will study outer space environment of the lunar surface. It is to be noticed that no one has previously studied outer space environment on the moon and it will be the first time. The spacecraft has sophisticated X-ray sensors and small but powerful computer to analyse the data.

TeamIndus has partnered with the Indian space agency ISRO which will launch the lunar probe using the PSLV rocket. While taking the private moon mission, every part of the mission is being completed by the TeamIndus except the launching which is being assisted by ISRO. As per the estimates, the mission will cost around $60 million. So far, the team has raised $15 million and they aim to raise remaining funds by September-October next year.

The total expense of the project is about USD 60 million and we have raised USD 15 million so far. We will have to raise the remaining amount by September-October next year, TeamIndus co-founder and Director Julius Amrit said.

Renowned personalities like Ratan Tata of the Tata Group; Sachin and Binny Bansal, co-founders of Flipkart and Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys Ltd, have invested in the project. In addition, the TeamIndus which is backed by a team of hundred engineers is aiming to win $25 million Google Lunar XPRIZE competition.

The Moon is not only our nearest planetary neighbour, but it is also the gateway to the rest of the universe, Googles website describing the Lunar XPRIZE states. The Moon provides exciting opportunities for discovery in the fields of science, technology, resource detection and utilisation, and human habitation.

Googles Lunar XPRIZE was started back in 2007 with a goal to involve private organisations in space missions and revisit landing site of Apollo 17. Google believes that space agencies like NASA and SpaceX are planning for Journey to Mars but studying Moon can help us in developing a better understanding of our universe.

The US space agency NASA started sending astronauts to the moon with Apollo missions starting in 1969. While Apollo 17 was the last manned mission to the moon and Google wants to examine the site. In addition, Google has also announced an additional $5 million prize for the mission that makes further scientific discoveries after exploring the site.

Moreover, ISROs PSLV rocket will be used to lift the spacecraft. If successful, it will mark another milestone in Indian space history which will also motivate other private firms towards space mission. The PSLV will inject the spacecraft into an orbit 880 km x 70,000 km around the Earth. From there, the spacecraft will take another 21 days to land on Moon.

India as a country is underestimated when it comes down to having a technology led firm  it is time, India is seen from a different perspective on the global platform, said Dhruv Batra who manages product delivery for the startup.

We can be profitable in this mission. We are making a fair amount of money but investing more than what we are making right now, said Julius Amrit, director, TeamIndus
tech2 News Staff

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is in India on a private holiday trip, but will host an event on 4 January where new announcements for small businesses and startups are expected, according to a report in BGR. The event will be attended by IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, as well as senior Google officials. The event is likely to see participation by Google in the Startup India and Digital India initiatives by the government.

Google introduced the "My Business" app in Rajasthan. The application provides a one point interface for small business owners to feed in and update information about their businesses on Google Search and Google Maps. Business owners can directly feed in the working hours, vacations, contact details and locations. The accounts are authenticated by Google, and the listings can be used by consumers to provide feedback and write reviews. Business owners can add photos to the listing, and respond to the reviews.

Google has previously encouraged startups in India by selecting seven Indian startups for the Launchpad Accelerator program. The program selects promising Startups, provides them $50,000 (roughly Rs 33,98,250) equity free funding each, identifies the critical challenges, and provides hands on training to tackle these issues. The startup teams will receive guidance from Google Engineers, product managers and mentors from other tech firms in Silicon valley.

The conference is the latest in a series of initiatives by Google of improving its presence in India. The move comes close on the heels of Google India collaborating with Ministry of Consumer Affairs to improve online consumer protection. The partnership between Google and Railtel to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots in railway stations has recently reached a milestone of 100 railway stations. The project is called Railwire Wi-Fi, and aims to provide free wi-fi services in 400 stations across India.
Aditya Madanapalle

A group of scientists are gearing up to send repeated messages to exoplanets, in an effort to elicit a response from alien civilisation. The organisation, known as Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI) is a response to the decades long unsuccessful search for aliens by the Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) program, mostly funded by Nasa. While Seti passively listens to potential signals from space, Meti hopes to initiate contact by sending messages to planets that are likely to host alien life, using highly targeted lasers or radio signals.

While there have been previous attempts at contacting alien civilisations, none of them involve consistently and repeatedly sending the same message over and over again. The reason for this is that scientists like a series of consistent results, and one off intelligent signals are more likely to be dismissed as an error if it is not confirmed with repeated signals from the same source.

The first target planet is a small rocky planet in orbit around the closest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri. The messages are expected to be sent for months, if not years, and the program intends to further expand to other planets, according to a report in Phys.org.

There are plenty of known earth like planets with a potential for supporting life. Earlier this year, the resurrected Kepler mission discovered 1284 new planets, the biggest batch of exoplanet discoveries. Earth like planets in habitable zones around planets are regularly discovered, there are rocky planets that are just the right distance from the sun, so that the terrestrial conditions have liquid water, but are not too hot. Earlier this year, MIT discovered three rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone around an ultracool dwarf star. The keywords here are rocky, which means earth like, and not a gas giant such as Jupiter or Saturn, and habitable, which means it is the right distance from the star.

The Drake Equation is an estimate of the number of planets that have a potential for life. The predicted numbers from the equation shows that alien life should be fairly common, but there is an eerie lack of evidence. We haven't seen confirmed signals, or an artifact, or trails of propellant. That there is no evidence despite maths showing that there should be plenty of life, is known as the Fermi Paradox. One possible explanation is the Rare Earth hypothesis, which says life as we know it on Earth is incredibly rare, but microbial life is common in the universe.

Since the number of planets known to have life is a sample set of one, it is difficult to derive statistical information on how common life is. In opposition to the Rare Earth theory is the possibility that the conditions for life on Earth are not the best they could be. Superhabitable planets could have conditions that are even more hospitable to life than on Earth, and we do not know how common or rare these kinds of planets are.

The problem is that the parts of the Drake Equation is not fully understood, and there are no hard numbers here. For example, every time a civilisation discovers radio signals, there is a spike in the discoverability of the civilisation, but the window of discovery may be two hundred years or less. Humans have moved on to using wires and fibres, which reduces the amount of signals that leak out into space, and thus reducing the chances of our civilisation being discovered through radio waves. Meti is working on better understanding of the Drake Equation, which could pave the way for a more fine tuned search for extra terrestrial life.

https://twitter.com/METIintl/status/813430451683487745

If Seti continues in the traditional way, with only passive listening instead of actively sending signals, it could be a while before we find evidence. A probabilitic analysis of the Fermi Paradox has allowed scientists to estimate how long it will be before we hear from alien civilizations. The analysis is based on a potential response from alien civilisation to the signals from earth that have leaked into space. The analysis shows that aliens are very unlikely to contact Earth before 1,500 years. Using targeted laser based signals, scientists believe that contact could be established in under a century.

The bigger issue here is the implications of initiating such a contact. An optimistic result for the exercise would be Proxima-b pings back with a hello, and the two civilizations start a radio conversation that spans decades, with a delay of around four years. Science and maths are expected to be universal languages, but the potential to exchange philosophy and art with alien civilisations is perhaps more exciting. The message is being figured out, as well as the appropriate language to use. There are complexities of using a language with an alien civilisation, a theme that was recently explored in the movie Arrival. Exposure to alien languages can potentially transform the way humans think, or at least influence human cognition.

https://twitter.com/arrivalmovie/status/799353372075692032

That is however, the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is well, we just set up a homing signal calling out to all nearby civilisations that there is a resource rich planet right here waiting to be looted for resources. A nouveau elite planet ingenuously hoping to find benign life in the skies discovers to its horror that the extra terrestrials are not really as interested in art, language, philosophy, or unsolicited messages cluttering their inbox. Here is Douglas Vakoch, President of Meti, explaining why humans need to initiate direct contact with aliens.

There are some simple reasons to be cautious. We have no basis for taking an informed decision of how extra terrestrials might react to such signals. We have only recently discovered the capabilities for interstellar communications, and using transmission capabilities at this point of time to contact aliens would be the equivalent to putting a baby who has just learnt to talk on public radio. Although Seti has been going on for decades, there program is only expanding, with newer telescopes joining in the hunt, including the largest telescope in the World, the Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) that began operations in China this year. Only a fraction of the skies have been scanned so far, and interpreting the signals is the largest distributed computing project on Earth.

Those not in support of sending messages directly to aliens include technology historian George Dyson, Hugo and Nebula award winning science fiction author David Brin, and CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk. Scientists and industry leaders have stressed the need for caution before attempts are made to directly contact extra terrestrials, in a statement regarding Meti. It is better to listen than to shout, the statement says, and any signals should be a global effort, once there is a thorough discussion of the scientific, humanitarian and political implications.

Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking also says that humans should be careful of contacting aliens, and warns that the results could be similar to Columbus discovering America. A problem that Meti opposers have identified is the fallout of Seti being associated with Meti, by vocal opponents of Meti. This could mean that funding for Seti could dry out because people do not support Meti.

There are no current international regulations on transmitting signals to aliens. The Meti team is on track to send the signals by the end of 2018. Meti intends to seriously take forward the research in interplanetary and interspecies communications. Meti intends to be the leader in the field of interstellar message design, and tackle the issues of transmission of science, maths and aesthetics. The counter argument of the scientists who oppose Meti is that most of the research and investigation can go ahead, including building up the capabilities of interstellar communications, without actually jeopardising humans by initiating contact.
South Korea ruling party splits over President's impeachment

South Korea President Park Guen-Hye is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil .

AFP, Seoul :

South Korea's ruling conservative party officially split Tuesday over the impeachment of scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye, threatening to complicate presidential elections that could be held as soon as March.

A group of 29 lawmakers left the ruling Saenuri Party, arguing that its leadership refuses to embrace reforms despite the political crisis fuelled by the corruption scandal that has engulfed Park.

Their departure left the party with 99 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, relegating it to second place behind the liberal Democratic Party.

In a statement, they accused the ruling party of defending Park, branding her as the "worst-ever" offender against constitutional order. "Our departure will provide momentum to turn the country's tragic incident-the impeachment of its president-into chances for the development of democracy", the dissident group said.

More than 60 Saenuri lawmakers crossed party lines to join opposition parties in passing a motion to impeach Park this month.

The case is now being considered by the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the validity of the impeachment that charged Park with multiple criminal and constitutional violations-ranging from bribery to abuse of power.

The next presidential election is slated for December 2017, but if justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days-meaning a ballot could be held as early as late March. The Saenuri Party split could be problematic for one frontrunner-outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

He had been widely expected to compete as a centre-right candidate on the Saenuri ticket but is now without an obvious platform to launch and run his campaign.

The 72-year-old last week strongly hinted he will jump into the presidential race, saying he was willing to devote himself to developing South Korea.

An opinion poll last week showed Ban was neck and neck with Democratic Party hopeful Moon Jae-In, each with a 23 percent support.

It remains unclear whether Ban will join the Saenuri Party or the emerging conservative party.

Park is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil to strong-arm large companies like Samsung into handing over tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations Choi allegedly controlled and plundered.

Park also allegedly ordered aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, allowing her to meddle in some state affairs including the appointment of top officials.

Choi, who is said to have had a "Rasputin-like" influence over the president, has denied all charges against her.




Taiwan warns of growing threats from China

China\'s Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier Liaoning sails the water in East China Sea

AFP, Taipei :

Taiwan's defence minister warned Tuesday that enemy threats were growing daily after China's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions rise.

After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships on Monday passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The naval drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Chinese media had earlier reported that the carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time along with its escort ships.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in less than a month.

Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily.

"I ask for strict training... We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name.

"The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all."

Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships.

His ministry estimated that the Liaoning would arrive at a base in China's southern island province of Hainan around Tuesday evening.

"The ministry has been tracking the Liaoning carrier's movements so the public can rest assured... and will closely monitor its movements in the future," it said in a statement.

Recently the Liaoning has been involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea, with J-15 fighter jets taking off from it and conducting air refuelling and combat drills, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Earlier in the month the Liaoning led large-scale exercises in the Bohai Sea that included live ammunition for the first time.

Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept.

Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative.

China poses the main military threat to self-ruled Taiwan. Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification-by force if necessary-even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.




Indonesian court refuses to drop Governor's blasphemy trial

AFP, Jakarta :

An Indonesian court on Tuesday refused to drop blasphemy charges against the Christian governor of the capital Jakarta, as hundreds of people protested outside the court where the trial is taking place.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama-the first Christian to govern the capital in more than 50 years-sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country when he quoted a verse from the Koran while campaigning ahead of elections for the Jakarta governorship.

The high-profile case against Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, has captivated attention in Indonesia, and fanned concerns about hardliners pushing their agenda in the nation of 255 million.

Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto ruled that the charges filed by prosecutors were legitimate despite complaints from the defence which said the trial was rushed and surrounded by too much public scrutiny.

Outside the court, hundreds of protesters are chanting slogans including "God is Great".

"We Muslims demand Ahok to be jailed or punished as severely as possible," said Suyono, who like many Indonesians go by one name.

Purnama remains a candidate for re-election in February, though he could be jailed for a maximum of five years if found guilty.

He had been a favourite to win but the lawsuit has seen polls turn against him.

"I don't really care that the judges have rejected the governor's objection. We will still campaign for the governor whatever happens," Jappy Pellokila, a Purnama supporter, told AFP.

Almost all blasphemy cases in Indonesia have resulted in convictions and rights groups fear the case is eroding the country's reputation for tolerance and diversity.

The trial has been adjourned until January 3.




When heroine in search of location

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Most of the time director and his/her assistants of any movie or TV play take the responsibility to find out locations before starting its shooting. But hero or heroine does not go with them. But in case of Sumon Anwars movie, an exceptional incident took place. Heroine of his first directed movie titled Koyla Moushumi Hamid went with Sumon Anwar to find out locations for the movie.

Few months ago, it was announced that Moushumi Hamid is going to act in Sumon Anwars first movie Koyla. After the announcement within very short days it was scheduled to start its shooting but due to financial constraints it couldnt kick off. Now everything is ready. In June of coming year, shooting of Koyla will start in full swing. Before this, full unit visited different places to search its locations.

Last Monday night director Sumon Anwar went to Kuakata for searching location. Moushumi Hamid also visited with him. Moushumi will play in a challenging role Moina in the movie. In fact, Moushumi Hamid wanted to see the real scenario of that place in which the character Moina of the movie is living there.

While talking in this regard Moushumi Hamid told this correspondent, The role of Moina is a dream role for me. I want to concentrate with the role till starting shooting of the movie. For this reason, to contain the role in mine I have come into the location of the movie. Therefore, I think before starting shooting if I visit the place I can easily relate with the context of the movie. I am very much optimistic about Koyla. Now time will say what will be happened?

Story, script and dialogue of Koyla were also written by director Sumon Anwar. Rawnak Hasan will work against Moushumi Hamid in the movie. Moushumi is expected to return to Dhaka today after seeing the location.

Moushumi Hamid acted released movies are: Shafi Uddin Shafis Black Money and Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini-2, Anonno Mamuns Blackmail and Abu Shahed Emons Jalal-er Golpo.


How to make profit from defeating climate change

Mark Carney and Michael Bloomberg :

From rising sea levels to more severe storms and more intense droughts, climate change will present serious risks to, and create major opportunities for, nearly every industry. Citizens, consumers, businesses, governments, and international organisations are all taking action. And entrepreneurs are developing disruptive technologies that will create and destroy value.

The challenge is that investors currently don't have the information they need to respond to these developments. This must change if financial markets are going to do what they do best: allocate capital to manage risks and seize new opportunities. Without the necessary information, market adjustments to climate change will be incomplete, late and potentially destabilising.

Public policy, consumer demand and technological innovation are driving a shift towards a low-carbon economy. Which companies and industries are most, and least, dependent on fossil fuels? And who stands ready to provide resilient and sustainable infrastructure? Which financial institutions are best positioned to gain and which to lose? In every case, which firms have the governance, resources and the strategy to manage, and profit from, these major shifts?

We believe that financial disclosure is essential to a market-based solution to climate change. A properly functioning market will price in the risks associated with climate change and reward firms that mitigate them. As its impact becomes more commonplace and public policy responses more active, climate change has become a material risk that isn't properly disclosed.

In response to a G20 request to consider the financial stability risks, the Financial Stability Board created a taskforce on climate-related financial disclosures. Its purpose is to develop voluntary, consistent disclosures to help investors, lenders and insurance underwriters manage material climate risks. As befits a solution by the market for the market, the taskforce is led by members of the private sector from across the G20, including major companies, large investors, global banks and insurers.

After a year of intensive work and widespread consultation its recommendations are now publicly available. They concentrate on the practical, material disclosures most relevant to investors and creditors and which can be compiled by all companies that raise capital as well as financial institutions.

We are pleased that all taskforce members, companies with market capitalisation of $1.5tn and financial institutions responsible for assets of $20tn, have announced their support for the disclosure recommendations. We encourage others to participate in the consultation, to become early adopters thereafter, and to encourage the companies in which they invest to also make the disclosures.

A year ago in Paris, 195 countries committed to limit the rise in global average temperatures to less than 2C. With better disclosure, a market in the transition to that world can be built. That market will expose the likely future cost of doing business, of paying for emissions, and of changing processes to avoid both those charges and tighter regulation. And it will help smooth price adjustments as opinions change, rather than concentrating them in a short, dangerous space of time.

Of course, given the uncertainties around climate, not everyone will agree on the timing or scale of adjustments required to achieve this goal. But the right information will allow optimists and pessimists, sceptics and evangelists, to back their convictions with their capital.

Early disclosure rules allowed 20th-century financial markets to grow our economies by pricing risks more accurately. The spread of such standards internationally has helped lift more than a billion people out of poverty. Climate-related disclosures could be as transformative for 21st-century markets.

(Mark Carney is the governor of the Bank of England and chairs the Financial Stability Board and Michael Bloomberg, a former mayor of New York City, heads a taskforce on the financial exposure of companies to the risks of climate change).


Rape victim unconscious for 3 days

Sent to DMCH: Joypurhat people critical of police role

DU Correspondent :

A teenage girl, who was raped in Joypurhat's Kalai Upazila, is still lying unconscious after three days into the incident.

Police have not yet identified or arrested any suspect.

Attackers entered the 10th grader's room at her house in Bandighi village and raped and hacked her with a sharp weapon sometime after Friday midnight.

She was first taken to Gobindaganj Health Complex early on Saturday morning and then transferred to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

On Sunday night, she was moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where she underwent a surgery for two hours next day. DMCH Neurosurgery Department Head, Associate Professor Ashit Chandra Sarker said that she had suffered fracture in the skull as she was hit by a sharp weapon.

"It has damaged her brain. She is in critical condition now," he said.

A relative said the family suspected the miscreants belong to a gang of drug peddlers and addicts.

National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Hoque visited the girl at the hospital on Monday.

"This isn't any ordinary incident. Those who did this crime must face tough penalty," he said.

The girl's uncle lodged a case at Kalai Police Station on Saturday. Kalai Police Station OC Nuruzzaman Chowdhury said on Monday that they could not identify the culprits because the victim was yet to regain consciousness. "We need her statement. "We are also trying to identify the perpetrators by the evidence collected from her room," he said.

Residents of Joypurhat are critical over police's failure to arrest the criminals.

Anwar Hossain, a former member of Bangladesh Army, and Fazilatunnesa, a school teacher, behind some drug-addict youths used to harass the girl on her way to and from school.
RMG owners fire 1500 workers

Staff Reporter :

At least 1500 garment workers have lost their jobs for demonstrating protests against the owners' reluctance to increase their pay.

The protest led to a week-long closure of 59 factories in Ashulia Garment Industrial Zone.

"Factory owners have sacked around 1,500 workers over unrest for wage hike," Nur Nabi, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Savar, told The New Nation yesterday.

He said the owners filed five cases also against the workers.

"All the factories have resumed their operations on Monday and workers' attendance was recorded over 90 per cent," said Nur Nabi.

Police arrested 30 workers including seven Union Leaders and a television reporter.

The Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), however, put the number of sacked workers about 3,500 and said dozens of protest organisers had been forced into hiding.

"At least 3,500 workers have been sacked by owners and 50 leaders have gone into hiding," Babul Akhter, President of the GBIWF told The New Nation on Tuesday.

He accused that police have used Special Power Act to detain Union Leaders and workers.

But Ashulia Police said only those, who were involved in violent protest, had been arrested.
First Istanbul coup trial starts in Turkey

DW News :

A man who runs the cafeteria of Turkish newspaper "Cumhuriyet" has been accused of insulting President Erdogan. If found guilty, he could face up to four years in prison.

Twenty-nine former Turkish police officers went on trial in Istanbul on Tuesday for their alleged role in July's failed coup, the first trial in the metropolis as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extends a crackdown on alleged putschists and the opposition. Some 40,000 people suspected of playing a role in the failed coup have been arrested and tens of thousands more suspended or fired from their jobs under a state of emergency that has roiled the nation. Amid a heavy security presence at the Silivri prison outside Istanbul, judge Fikret Demir read the indictment against the police officers accused of belonging to a terrorist organization and disobeying orders to defend Erdogan's palace in Istanbul on the night of the coup.

Twenty-one of the defendants face three life sentences if convicted, while the other eight officers face jail time of between 7.5 years and 15 years. Twenty-four of the defendants are under arrest, one on the run and the rest were released from jail on bail pending the trial. "Everyone involved in the coup attempt must have a fair trial," Orhan Cagri Bekar, a state prosecutor, told reporters. "Those who are guilty must be sentenced to the heaviest punishment because this is a betrayal of the country." Turkey accuses US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen and his followers of orchestrating the coup attempt, in which rogue soldiers used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters to bomb parliament and take over the streets before being defeated. Nearly 250 people were killed.

Gulen, an ally-turned-foe of Erdogan and Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, denies any involvement. Many more coup trials are expected to start next year, raising questions about the ability of an overburdened and politicized judiciary to provide fair trials as the rule of law in Turkey deteriorates. The government has so far only provided circumstantial evidence of Gulen's direct involvement and allegations of torture further cast doubt on testimonies. Pro-government media has also ramped up accusations and conspiracies about the so-called Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Structure. The government continues to use broad state of emergency powers to arrest suspected followers of Gulen, who authorities say over at least three decades infiltrated the military, police, judiciary, media and other institutions. In the past week, more than 1,000 people have been arrested.

Thousands of people accused of being supporters of Gulen but who had no direct involvement in the coup may be swept up in the trials. There is concern that soldiers and police may have unwittingly followed orders on the night of the coup, not knowing that they were under the command of the putschists. The state of emergency powers have since been used to target the opposition and media, including the pro-Kurdish party in parliament, drawing international concern over the extent of the crackdown. The crackdown comes as Erdogan seeks an expanded presidency that will remove many checks and balances on his power. The location of the trial at Silivri reminds Turks of two other coup plot trials known as Ergenekon and Sledgehammer, designed to clip the wings of the secular military. Erdogan and Gulenist prosecutors led the charge in those multiyear trials, in which several hundred military officers, opposition politicians, academics and journalists were convicted. At the time, critics of the trials pointed to widespread evidence fabrication and distortion.

All the suspects were released in 2014 and 2015 after Gulen and Erdogan had a falling out over a corruption scandal and the courts squashed the verdicts.
Election under Hasina to be suicidal:BNP

Staff Reporter :

BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said on Tuesday that participation in the Parliament election under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be a suicidal case.

"We cannot commit suicide by jumping under a running truck. So we cannot go to election under Sheikh Hasina to avoid death," said, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy.

He said it while addressing a discussion meeting at the National Press Club, organized by 'Voice of Democracy,' a voluntary organization.

Gayeshwar Roy complained of vote rigging in the Narayanganj City Corporation polls held on December 22.

"The voting of NCC polls was fair, but the result was unfair. Our party won most of the councillor posts than the Awami League, but the party nominated Mayor candidate got less votes. It is totally incredible," he said.

The BNP leader said that his party nominated MP candidates won in all the five Parliamentary seats of Narayanganj in 2001. In view of this, the defeat by a big margin could not be practical.

Zillur Rahman Rintu, Advisor of the organisation, presided over the programme.

BNP Joint-Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and central leader Abu Naser Muhammad Rahmatullah, among others, delivered speech.

Meanwhile, BNP Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan marked the District Council polls as illegal.

He said it after placing wreath at late President Ziaur Rahman's grave to mark the founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS).

Nazrul Islam Khan alleged that Union Parishad, Municipalities, Upazilas and City Corporations' polls were held in unfairmeans.

JASAS President MA Malek and General Secretary Monir Hossain, among others, were present.


Metro rail to reduce traffic jam

Gazi Anowarul Hoque :

The government has initiated to modernize the Metro rail giving priority to the easy transportation of the commuters in the capital and its adjoining areas, sources said.

They said, the government is going to undertake a project to construct overpasses and underpasses at the level-crossings on Narayanganj-Joydevpur section to remove traffic jam in Dhaka city.

Besides, a project has been undertaken to construct circular railways around Dhaka city to reduce traffic.

There will be no traffic jam in the city and adjoining areas when all the projects will be implemented. The government has also been implementing different development projects in the railway sector since 2009 with a view to materializing 'Vision-2021.'

The government has already procured 20 diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) trains from China for the capital and other important cities of the country.

With these DEMUs, 16 pairs of commuter trains are running between Dhaka and Narayanganj, while four pairs between Dhaka and Joydevpur.

Besides, circular commuter trains have been introduced on the routes of Mymensingh-Joydevpur, Akhaura-Comilla,

Laksam-Comilla-Chandpur, Laksam-Comilla-Noakhali, Sylhet-Akhaura, Parbatipur-Thakurgaon, Parbatipur-Lalmonirhat, Chittagong-Comilla and in Chittagong city.

Railways Minister M. Mujibul Huq told the New Nation that some of the initiatives have already been implemented and some are under implementation.

He said that traffic jam has been eased to some extent because of those steps.

Though railway remained neglected for long in the country, a lot of development activities taken by the present government has already made it a safe, low-cost and environment friendly mode of transport with rising number of passengers.

Referring to the on-going development of the Dhaka-Tongi, the Tongi- Joydevpur and the Dhaka-Narayanganj sections, Mujibul Huq said more commuter trains would be added into service on completion of those projects.
Nahid for teachers` role in nurturing ethics to curb militancy

Staff Reporter :

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Tuesday emphasized teachers' role in nurturing ethics among the students to lift them out of the path of militancy.

The minister also urged the teachers to create a charming atmosphere in classrooms to make students leaned to the education.

Nurul Islam Nahid said this while speaking at a gathering of teachers titled "Creating Militancy-Free Educational Institution" at Krishibid Institution organised by Secondary and Higher Secondary

Education Board of Dhaka. Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board of Dhaka Chairman Professor Mahabubur Rahman presided over the programme while Secretary to the Secondary and Higher Education Department of the Education Ministry Md Sohrab Hossain, Acting Secretary to Technical and Madrasa Education Department of the Ministry Md Alamgir and Director General of Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Dr S M Wahiduzzaman addressed the programme, among others.

He stressed to increase extra-curricular and cultural activities in schools and uphold "the right to education so that they cannot be diverted to wrong path".

"The existing law alone cannot defeat militancy. We need a social movement and resistance. Our ministry is working to plant the social resistance," he said.

"You (teachers) are the most respectable personalities. You must make sure that the students you teach have a moral standard, so that they grow to be compassionate human beings.
Tip of iceberg!

Only a fraction of smuggled bullion being seized: Syndicates thrive with insiders

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

Gold smuggling in the country's three international airports in connivance with the insiders is increasingly becoming a headache for the Customs Intelligence Department as seizures of the contraband bullion have become a daily affair.

Intelligence sources said, the quantity of gold seized by the Customs Officials is only a fraction of the bullion being brought to the country. So, the gold confiscated is just the tip of the iceberg, they added.

It is to be noted that the Customs Authorities have seized nearly 3,000kg of gold bars and jewellery in the last three years from the three airports, particularly the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

In 2015, 784kg gold was seized, 1,540kg in 2014 and 620kg in 2013 from the airport.

In its latest drive, the Customs Department recovered over 21kg gold in the last three days from a flight at HSIA in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence Agencies have detected at least 25 syndicates involved in smuggling the yellow metal through airports.

The agencies in their reports said airport and airline insiders are facilitating smugglers in moving the consignment out of the airports.

Most of the consignments are going to India. Local agents are delivering smuggled gold to the border with India for a commission paid for each gold bar, added the reports.

"Gold seizures in the airports have become a daily affair for us and dozens of syndicates are involved in gold smuggling in connivance with airport and airline insiders," Dr Mainul Khan, Chief of the Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (CIID), told The New Nation on Tuesday.

He said teams of Airport Customs are catching gold smugglers red-handed almost everyday at the two international airports in Dhaka and Chittagong with bullion brought in mainly from the Middle East and believed destined for India.

"We have found airliner staff indulging in 'such nefarious activities', but have still not been able to completely put a stop on such activities by their officials because there are a lot of unforeseen cracks in the security apparatus in the airports," he added. "We are trying our level best to plug these cracks by conducting surprise checks at vulnerable spots," he said.

Bangladesh has seen a huge leap in gold smuggling through airports after India increased duties on gold imports in April, 2013.

"The amount of gold seized by our officials is only a fragment of the bullion that is being brought to the country. This is then smuggled to India through land routes," said Moinul Khan.

Officials said, the boost in gold seizures may be due to increased enforcement efforts.
Middlemen making big profit

50-180 pc vegetables price gap found between villages and city markets

Anisul Islam Noor :

The middlemen are consistently eating up most of benefits as both the farmers and consumers are deprived of the gradual rise in production of winter vegetables in the country.

Data of the government agencies showed a 50-180 per cent gap in vegetable prices at farmers' level and in the city's kitchen markets this winter.

This reporter visiting some kitchen markets also found a 30-60 per cent price gap between the city's retail and wholesale markets, which is further increasing the vegetable prices.

According to experts, production of winter vegetables has been gradually increasing in the country for nearly a decade amid increase in demand, development in varieties, and available seed supply due to various initiatives of the public and private sectors.

The output of nutritious crops cultivation witnessed difficulties for floods and subsequent water-logging in September-October period this year. But it increased significantly in November with drying up of arable lands, said Chaitanya Kumar Das, Director at Field Service Wing of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

He said vegetable production in Robi season (winter) now stands at above 7.2 million tonnes (FY 16), which is 60 per cent of the total production. Winter vegetable output has been maintaining a 3-10 per cent growth year-on-year basis in a decade.

Horticulture Wing of DAE data showed that more than 35 kinds of vegetables are grown in winter season - from October to March - of which cauliflower, winter brinjal, cabbage, cucumber, tomato, winter bean, pointed gourd, radish, carrot, coriander leaf and dozens of leafy ones are major.

The data also showed that Dhaka city consumes 30-35 per cent of vegetables that the country produces.

According to traders of Karwan Bazar, Jatrabari, Shyambazar, Sadarghat and other five wholesale markets in the city, usually 650-700 trucks and pickup vans loaded with 7,000-7,500 tonnes of vegetables enter the metropolis per day.

The volume increased to 9,500-10,000 tonnes a day in November-January period thanks to notable rise in production of winter vegetables.

Md Abdul Hannan, vice-president of Jatrabari Kanchamal Aratdar Samity, an association of wholesalers, said the supply of vegetables was lesser last month, but it has increased significantly in the current month.

He said, now 100-120 trucks and pickup vans, especially from Comilla, Narsingdi, Munshiganj and southern districts, are daily entering Jatrabari kitchen markets, whereas the number was 70-80 in November.

President of Uttar Karwan Bazar Babosayee Janokalyan Samity, another association of wholesalers, Haji Hafez Khan said 280-300 vegetable-laden trucks are coming to their market everyday from northern, south-western and central districts.

He said, there is no shortage of supply now, which they observed from October to mid-November period.

However, despite significant increase in supply, the prices of winter vegetables have not declined to the consumers' expected level this year.

In the city markets, cauliflower and cabbage, most demandable winter vegetables, are selling at Tk 30-45 per piece, based on size. Radish is selling at Tk 30-35 a kg, brinjal at Tk 40-60, bean at Tk 50-60, seasonal tomato at Tk 60-80, and coriander leaf at Tk 150-180 a kg.

Different varieties of leafy are selling at Tk 8-30 a bunch in the city's retail markets, including Muhammadpur, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar (retail), New Market, Hatirpool Bazar, Fakirerpool Bazar and Nowabganj Bazar.

According to the latest data of the state-run Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) on November 20, the prices of vegetables have been found a huge gap between their prices at farm level and the city's retail level.

DAM assistant director T M Rashed Khan told The New Nation on Tuesday that winter crops are selling at 50-180 per cent higher rate in the city's retail markets than those in villages.

He said a medium-sized cauliflower is trading at Tk 11-13 on Narsingdi farm premises, which is selling at Tk 22-24 at Karwan Bazar.

The country now exports vegetables worth Tk 8.40 billion (US$ 105 million) annually, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data showed.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Senior Research Fellow Dr Nazneen Ahmed said four levels of mediators between vegetable growers and city consumers are responsible for raising their prices.

She said the chain-shops have been able to remove three stages of middlemen, which are benefiting consumers to some extent. But an inclusive market system should be developed, where farmers will have scopes to sell crops directly to consumers.

Increase in number of super-chain shops, orientation of big kitchen markets by both the public and private sectors in the cities in line with the chain-shops, and direct linkage between farmers and exporters can give profits to both growers and consumers, she commented.


Textbook Festival on Jan 1

M M Jasim :

Like the previous years, the National Textbook Festival Day-2017 will be celebrated across the country on January 1, with the distribution of new textbooks among the students of schools and madrasas.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid will formally inaugurate the festival at the Azimpur Government School and College by distributing new sets of textbooks among the students on the day.

The Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar will celebrate the day at Dhaka University Playground. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is likely to attend the function as the Chief Guest.

The day will be celebrated in all the educational institutions across the country on January 1.

This year, a total of 36 crore 21 lakh 82 thousand and 285 textbooks will be distributed among the students of pre-primary to secondary level for 2017 academic session.

The Education Ministry has already completed all out preparations to celebrate the Textbook Festival Day.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told The New Nation on Tuesday that the Ministry was ready to celebrate the Textbook Festival Day 2017.

"The moment of distribution of books among the students is very exciting. I exult it very much. It is a joyful day. We had to work round the year to reach the books in time and when we see the smiling faces of our children, we forget everything," the Minister said.

He said that almost cent percent books reached the institutions. "Now it is time to wait for the festival."

"I guarantee, all the books have reached all the educational institutions. There is nothing to be anxious", he said.

The government this year printed textbooks in five ethnic languages. Textbooks printed in Braille method will also be distributed among the challenged students.

However, for the first time, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has printed Braille system textbooks for the visually challenged students and it also printed pre-primary books in the languages of five small anthropological groups which would be distributed free of cost on January 1.

As per the agreement with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), three categories of works of the primary level textbooks were given to the foreign organizations, Nahid said.

However, sources said there were some upazilas in few districts where schools had not received all textbooks. But the ministry officials denied the allegation outright and said that they had all the information in their hands.

From 2010, the government began distributing free textbooks among students of secondary schools. Free distribution of textbooks among the primary school students began in 1981.
6 BD fishermen shot at by BGP in Bay

UNB, Cox's Bazar :

Six Bangladeshi fishermen sustained bullet injuries as members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police (BGP) opened fire on them while catching fish in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to St. Martin's Island on Tuesday afternoon. Four of the injured were identified as Nur Ahmed, 60, M Osman, 22, M Saiful, 25, and Rafiqul Islam, 35. Sub-inspector Dalim Barua of Saint Martin police camp said a group of fishermen in two boats were netting fish near the St. Martin's Island in the afternoon. A BGP team intruded into the Bangladesh water territory around 2:30pm and opened fire on the fishermen, leaving six of them injured with bullets, the SI added.The injured fishermen were taken to St. Martin's Island where army members gave them primary treatment, said Nur Ahmed, chairman of St. Martin Union Parishad. Later, they were sent to SadarHospital for better treatment, the chairman added.




Revamp HSIA

Govt initiatives poor to upgrade airport: No respite from sufferings until 3rd terminal is built

Hundreds of visitors regularly gather in front of arrival and departure gates of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to receive and bid farewell to their near and dear ones due to lack of waiting facilities. This photo was taken on Tuesday.

Sagar Biswas :

Sufferings of passengers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport [HSIA] are nothing new. From VIP-CIP to general passenger, if anyone comes from abroad or starts for foreign destination, often becomes victim of harassment at the airport.



Not only the local, the overseas visitors also complain that the HSIA is one of the dirtiest airports in the world where officials of relevant departments are mostly rude, immigration and check-in are quite unsatisfactory and its toilet facilities are frustrating.



But strangely, the government initiatives are very much poor to upgrade the 'standard' of the national airport. A dozen of development projects have so far been taken in the last few years to improve the service of HSIA, but most of them are not yet implemented.



Even, the construction of third terminal is now facing debacle due to bureaucratic tangle. If the third terminal is constructed, there will 24 boarding bridges and other facilities to tackle the increasing pressure of passengers. The work of third terminal may start next year under the auspices of Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] and it will take three to four years to complete the project, officials said.



At present, the situation has gone worst at HSIA as most of the flights cannot land in the winter morning due to poor visibility resulting in from dense fog. To overcome the situation, the planes now started landing one after another after around 9:00am creating heavy pressure on the existing seven conveyor belts, out of eight.



At the same time, it has been creating additional pressure on the checking points of the departure and arrival lounges. So, the passengers' sufferings become intolerable now.



In fact, the initial impression of a visitor to Dhaka is likely to be unfavourable too. While the aircraft taxies toward the boarding bridge, the adjacent grounds are seen indecent with deep ditches and messy surroundings. The entire airport terminal looks like a big cage where the entrance and exits are often remain shut.



It is not the end! Anyone comes out of the arrival area; the touts will pounce upon him with offers of cheap taxis, good exchange rates, hotels, etc. On the other side, if anyone goes inside the terminal, the brokers also swoop on him to arrange flexi load, getting internet connection, SIM, currency exchange and other services.



In each and every service their motto is nothing but to cheat the passengers. Especially, the condition of migrant workers, who use the airport to come home and go abroad, have to face an awkward situation almost often in the HSIA.



When contacted, Director of HSIA Group Captain Kazi Iqbal Karim told The New Nation on Tuesday: "I'll not object about the complaints. There is a stink around the terminal, it's sordid. But we've nothing to do, as the terminal building is getting old. It is very difficult to drive out the bad smell."



Apart from bad smell and mosquito menace, the bathroom facilities in the terminal building are totally frustrating. The unclean bathroom along with stink is unbearable. Besides, there is lack of toilet paper and soap in the bathroom. Wastes are often seen piled in the corner.



On the other hand, with no one directing traffic, the immigration area is apparently a mess. The luggage handling is also primitive at the airport. Normally, it takes hardly fifteen to twenty minutes for a passenger on arrival to collect his baggage from the conveyor belt in neighbouring Netaji Subhash Chandra International Airport whereas in HSIA it takes ninety minutes on an average.



But the utmost sufferers are the visitors who come to the airport to welcome or bid farewell to their near and dear ones. Hundreds of them have to stay outside the terminal while there is no waiting room for them. Even, there is no toilet or washroom facility. Usually, they have to stay in front of the gates apparently to pass a very disgusting time.



About cleanness and bathroom service, the Director said: "Presently, we don't handle this matter. Earlier, the employees of Civil Aviation Authority Bangladesh [CAAB] were engaged in the cleaning service. But now, the matter has been given to outsource. We, however, are trying to get a good result from it. There is a combined complaint centre where the passengers can lodge complain, and we will address the issue."



There is widespread allegation that the security and intelligence officials, particularly the Customs Intelligence, harass the migrant passengers those bring a little amount of gold for marriage ceremony of their daughters or sons. But the gold billions of taka worth allegedly goes untouched almost every day to make happy the smuggling syndicates.



Recently, a new style has been introduced to harass the passengers in the name of militancy. In that case, the officials concerned open the baggage and suitcase in a disorderly manner in the name of search.



"If the third terminal is built, the situation will be changed. The JICA will start the implementation work of third terminal from next year. It will be completed within next  years. So, we've to stay satisfy with our limited resources at present," the director said.
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Isle de Jean Charles is endangered for the same reasons that much of coastal Louisiana has become part of the Gulf of Mexico: The land is sinking, river levees are preventing it from being replenished, oil and gas drilling accelerated erosion  and on top of that, seas are rising.

After the people of Isle de Jean Charles won a grant to move, they were dubbed Americas first climate refugees. But other U.S. communities  all in Alaska  have been called the first climate refugees. And researchers say subsidence, not climate change, has been the main problem for Isle de Jean Charles so far. Google Maps via U.S. Geological Survey

In May, when the community of Isle de Jean Charles received a federal grant to relocate from the crumbling marshes in Terrebonne Parish, headlines around the world proclaimed them Americas first climate refugees. The label has stuck.

But are they?

Experts familiar with the issues in Louisiana and other coastal areas of the U.S. would disagree.

To start, Isle de Jean Charles isnt the first. Although the grant called for innovative community responses to the devastating effects of climate change, several villages in Alaska have been labeled Americas first climate refugees as far back as 2013. One is already in the process of relocating. The Isle de Jean Charles community has yet to settle on a new location.

The issues go beyond semantics to the root of the islands problems. If coastal researchers were to write a headline about whats happened to Isle de Jean Charles, they have several options that would be more accurate.

Isle de Jean Charles main problem is that its sinking

Their first choice: Americas first subsidence refugees.

After all, the island rests on a sediment-starved delta that is one of the fastest-subsiding coastal landscapes on the planet, which sank more than three feet last century.

Over the same period, sea level rise, the most visible result of climate change, averaged only about 6.5 inches. It has increased since 2000 and will become the main problem facing the island in the decades ahead.

Alex Kolker, a researcher at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, offered this rough comparison: Subsidence was about five times faster than global sea level rise at Isle de Jean Charles last century, and its now about three times faster than global sea level rise.

Levees, canal dredging and fault lines have made it worse

If the headline were to address the causes of subsidence, it might read, Americas first river levee refugees.

Once those mud walls were raised to protect cities, the Mississippi River was blocked from replenishing the delta, guaranteeing all of Southeast Louisiana would eventually sink below the Gulf.

Yet if thats all humans had done, experts have said, most of the wetlands and ridges that existed in the 1930s when those levees were built would likely still be intact today. But thats not all we did.

Which brings us to another headline: Americas first oil and gas development refugees.

Research has showed the oil industry was a major cause of the rapid sinking and erosion of the Louisiana coast between 1932 and 1980.

Ten thousand miles of canals were dredged to reach drilling sites, and the withdrawal of those hydrocarbons caused subsurface layers to compress.

Isle de Jean Charles was in the heart of an area that lost more than 80 square miles of wetlands a year during the height of that activity, from the 1950s to the 70s.

Some geologists think there is an even more accurate headline: Americas first geological fault-line refugees. They believe the major cause of the sinking is activity in the scores of faults in the area.

On top of that, climate change will cause the Gulf of Mexico to rise

Although researchers agree subsidence, and all of its causes, is the primary reason the people of Isle de Jean Charles must move, they also agree that sea level rise has magnified its problems  and it will be the major issue going forward.

While sinking is slowing in many areas, [sea level rise is expected to increase rapidly](http://thelensnola.org/2016/03/01/sharply-increasing-estimates-for-sea-level-rise-raise-questions-about-coastal-plan/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Just published Financial benefits of short-lived coastal restoration arent clear&utm_content=Just published Financial benefits of short-lived coastal restoration arent clear CID_7e251e7bed5237282addc5551ce74a97&utm_source=Email Campaign&utm_term=The first story is here) in the decades ahead.

Even a small increase in sea level results in larger, wind-driven waves hitting the shoreline, increasing and accelerating erosion, says Jim Pahl, senior coastal resources scientist at the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Hurricane storm surges amplify the impact of those small increases.

Such waves cause sudden land loss when hurricanes drive storm surge onto the coast. Louisiana lost more than 200 square miles of coastal wetlands during hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, far more than would have been lost that year to subsidence alone.

Those huge losses raised the average annual land loss that decade, which includes all the other factors. So, Pahl asks, how do you tease out what is due only to sea level rise, or levees or canal dredging or faults?

Those losses will probably become even larger in the future because climate scientists expect the frequency and duration of large hurricanes to increase as the climate continues to warm, says Virginia Burkett, a Louisiana-based U.S. Geological Survey researcher. She has studied coastal impacts of climate change for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This is linked, in part, to warmer sea surface temperatures that are caused directly by the warming of the atmosphere, she says.

So what would be the most accurate headline for the impending move by the residents of Isle de Jean Charles?

If the story followed the consensus of among coastal scientists, it would probably read something like this: Americas first subsidence/levees/oil and gas drilling/fault lines/climate change refugees.

Bob Marshall covers environmental issues for The Lens, with a special focus on coastal restoration and wetlands. While at The Times-Picayune, his work chronicling the people, stories and issues of Louisianas wetlands was recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes and other awards. In 2012 Marshall was a member of the inaugural class inducted into the Loyola University School of Communications Den of Distinction. He can be reached at (504) 232-5013.
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 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.
CARBONDALE  This month, Civil Air Patrol celebrates 75 years of serving America.

In early 1940, officials knew that the United States was likely to get involved in World War II; it was just matter of when. Gill Robb, director of aeronautics for the state of New Jersey, envisioned mobilizing Americas civilian aviators for national defense, an idea shared by many. On Dec. 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol was born.

Six days later, the United States was attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbor. A couple weeks later, German submarines began attacking U.S. vessels along the East Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.

A local group, Shawnee Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol, formed in Williamson County a few years later in 1946, according to Maj. Wesley D. Flannel of Shawnee Composite Squadron.

It still makes us one of the oldest in the states, Flannel said.

He explained that Civil Air Patrol spent the years from 1941 to 1946 mostly along the coasts. Inland units were mostly training units. They trained pilots, then sent to patrol along the coasts.

Today, the local squadron has a building at 2 S. 16th St. in Herrin where they meet. Equipment and planes are located at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois.

The squadron has two main components, operations and cadet training. They currently have 30 cadets and 25 senior members.

We do have a very active unit, Flannel said.

The squadrons operations include mission base staff, ground crew and air crew, all of which have training in their roles.

From spring to fall, the squadron flies about five days a week doing counter-narcotics missions with the Illinois State Police. They do searches with ELT locators to find planes in case of an emergency; every aircraft has an ELT locator device that is supposed to activate in a crash or other emergency.

Most of the searches we go on are false alarms, which is a good thing, Flannel said.

They were also called to duty in North Carolina for Hurricane Matthew and in August 2015 to search for a plane that crashed in Shawnee National Forest. They can also be used to search for a missing person.

The cadets are very active in the squadron and also participate in operations. Flannel said sometimes a cadet who is 12 years old has more training relating to the mission than local EMS providers.

Cadets also have an honor guard that carries the flags at Southern Illinois Miners games and in parades across Southern Illinois. The cadets served in a joint honor guard with the National Guard at the opening of the new terminal at Veterans Airport in November.

Flannel said cadets also go through leadership and flight training. For example, a cadet can attain his or her pilots license through Civil Air Patrol. Cadet Nick Mechler flew his first solo flight on his 16th birthday, and Flannel said he is on track to get his pilots license on his 17th birthday.

Flannel also joined Civil Air Patrol in 2002 as a cadet at age 13. At 21, he transferred to the senior side and was put into a leadership position. He is currently deputy squadron commander.

I joined because I wanted to fly. My dad was a pilot in the Army, Flannel said. When I got in, everything started clicking.

Flannel now has a career in emergency services. He is an emergency medical technician on an ambulance.

He has served as mission-based staff, air crew, ground crew and aerospace educator. He also helps with aviation programs in local schools.

The best part is being able to mentor and lead cadets and watch them grow, Flannel said.

Flannel said the squadron will continue to stay busy in 2017. They started a sub-unit at SIU and are planning a big flight clinic to get the pilots Civil Air Patrol training.

Squadron leaders would also like to bring in more cadets and continue growing operational abilities. They currently can field three full air teams and almost have three full ground crews. They hope to have two members trained as incident commanders within two years.

To join Civil Air Patrol, cadets must be 12 years old. No future or past military service is required. If a cadet chooses to go into the military, he or she will go in at an advanced rank. A senior member must be at least 18 years old and must pass an FBI background check. They are not required to be pilots or possess a pilots license.

For more information, contact Flannel at wesley.flannel@shawneecap.org or Evan Youngblood, commander, at commander@shawneecap.org.
Officials are investigating a fire that destroyed a modular home early Monday in West Frankfort.

According to a news release from the West Frankfort Fire Department, no injuries had been reported from the fire, which happened at about 3:10 a.m. and left the modular home in the 200 block of Kennedy Drive a total loss.

Officers on the scene confirmed that the residence had been unoccupied after initial reports indicated that there may have been someone inside the home.

When firefighters arrived at the residence they found the home fully aflame.

"High winds threatened to spread the fire to a nearby apartment complex, forcing firefighters to protect that building before attacking the already burning house," according to the release.

Firefighters from Benton, West City and Ziegler assisted in extinguishing the blaze.

No other buildings were damaged.

An investigation into the fire by the Illinois Fire Marshal Arson Investigation Unit is ongoing.

 The Southern
Stagnant crop prices have farmers in the Midwest searching for places to cut expenses. Fortunately, many input costs are also relatively low.

Still, the annual anticipation of the coming planting season will likely include the use of a sharp pencil, as producers seek to minimize expenses.

Theyll be looking at any place they can, starting with seed, said Dennis Bowman, a University of Illinois crop specialist.

Theyll be looking at what the premium products are and in seeding rates. Weve been pushing corn populations higher for many years, and at this point were at a sweet spot around 34,000 that seems to give us our best yields.

Bowman said 2017 represents a turning point of sorts for growers, though seed may not be a target for scrimping.

Thats where a lot of our yield keeps coming from. The companies know they have a good product to sell, Bowman said. With this decline, this is our first real test, to see which of the inputs will blink first.

Indeed, many agree that seeds may not represent an area that will see deep cuts. Improving varieties have pushed yields to near-record levels in many areas, and that has not been overlooked.

Seed costs are going to vary year to year, but for the most part theyve been pretty flat the last few years, said Wade Kent, an agronomist with Becks Hybrids who covers central Iowa. Its a large expenditure, but most farmers dont want to cut back there and run the risk of a major catastrophe.

The technologies are there with the insect protection. You want to maintain that. Especially if you look across Iowa, theres a lot of corn on corn up there.

Where youre growing corn on corn you dont want to sacrifice performance. Thats why they dont really want to cut back on that.

More likely, fertility will be getting a hard look next spring. Aggregate prices for nitrogen and other growth aids have dropped nearly 20 percent over the past five years, according to a joint study by Ohio State and University of Illinois economists Carl Zulauf and Gary Schnitkey, respectively.

Right now, beyond the discussion is on fertility and whether or not certain fertilizer applications are warranted and whether they can cut back on PNK this year, Kent said.

Farmers are taking a look at split applications and looking at different sources.

They are down from last year, so that is helping the situation. Overall, fertility is still going to be a fairly large expense on the farm. But even with cheaper fertilizer prices, theyre looking at ways to alter or change that program for a year or two to hold costs down.

Bowman indicated that while most farmers wont be looking at purchasing cheaper hybrids, they may take a closer look at add-ons.

They want to keep those seed packages. But they might save a little by controlling populations and not going with the Cadillac seed treatments, he said.

Many will be picking the things they really think they need, rather than every fungicide, insecticide and biological.

Fuel prices  perhaps one of the most volatile of input costs  have dropped steadily in recent years. The Zulauf-Schnitkey study found that while fuel prices increased 38 percent from the mid-1990s to 2000, they have fallen 41 percent since, on average.

Chemical, seed and machinery costs have increased over the past five years, but at a lower rate than in previous periods, the study concluded.

Kent said some producers are considering ways to reduce unnecessary costs associated with crop protection.

Ive talked to farmers looking at some different herbicide programs, he said. They still want to use a pre and a post, but do they want to do two post applications or a tank mix, to eliminate a path across the field?

Another suggestion is late-season inputs such as foliar fertilizers or fungicides, whether you should be spraying a fungicide. Is it warranted?

Based on data, in most years you tend to see a positive response to fungicide, but they are weighing whether theyre going to see a gain on it, and if so, whether its economical.
OLIVE BRANCH  Doris Ann Isom, 82, of Columbia, Tennessee and formerly of Olive Branch, passed away Dec. 22, 2016, in NHC Healthcare in Columbia, Tennessee.

She was born April 18, 1934, in Good Springs, Tennessee, to Willis Junior Legg and Ora May Bass Legg. At the time of her birth she had two older siblings, Thomas Fagan and Gene Austin. Four years later, Louie Junior, was born to complete the family of six.

Doris lived in Tennessee until she was 12 years old. At that time, her mother married Mr. Glenn Bridges of Olive Branch and she moved to Sandy Ridge, where she started the seventh grade at Olive Branch grade school. She graduated from Thebes High School in 1952.

While living in Tennessee she worked hard as a young girl, working on the farm doing the many chores that was required. Cotton was king in our area, and she spent many hours under the hot sun picking cotton. School would terminate for two weeks during cotton picking time, because it was an absolute necessity for children to get in the fields and help pick.

At age 14, she started working as a waitress in the Twin Gables Cafe' and remained there until she graduated from high school. Later she worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone in Cairo, then at Kevel as a key punch operator during the construction of the plant there in 1950-51.

From 1954 to 1966 she worked in Federal Civil Service as a key punch operator on four different Air Force bases. The first at Scott AFB, from 1954 to 1957; Westover AFB, Massachusetts from 1957 to 1961; McCoy AFB, Florida from 1961 to 1964, and Kinchloe AFB, Michigan from 1964 to 1966.

In 1966, she left the employment rolls and became a housewife and mother for her husband and two children. During the next 40 years, she worked outside of the home only as a part-time House of Directive Assessments (HODA) saleslady and seven years as a receptionist with H&R Block during tax preparation period.

She is survived by her husband, Gene Isom of Columbia, Tennessee; son, Jerry Isom of St. Charles, Missouri; daughter, Lora Lemons of White Oak, Georgia; six grandchildren, James Nelson and Jared Isom, Zachary, Nicholas, Aleah and Jacob Lemons; brother, Gene (Marilyn) Legg of Columbia, Tennessee; sister, Sandra (Donald) Riley of Summertown, Tennessee; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Thomas Fagan and Louie Legg.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, in Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.

Funeral services for Doris Ann Isom will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the funeral home, with Pastor Stephen Clardy and Clarence Thompson officiating. Interment will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.
CHRISTOPHER  Dennis Tomei paces through his Christopher garage. Cold air from the holes in his roof stings his face as he looks out the bay-door windows, waiting for work to pull in. This is how his winters are spent.

Tomei has been involved in the automotive industry nearly all of his life. His father built the garage where he now operates his business, Crown Rebuilders. It is a family business started by Tomeis father, Herman Tomei, who built the garage in 1946 when he returned from WWII. He opened it in 1949 as a Chrysler dealership, later shifting to a full automotive shop.

Tomei, now 61, was hired to work with his father in 1960. He remembers waking up at 3 a.m., hauling fuel to the familys service station, which was across the street from the garage, all before going to classes at SIU. He did a lot of his studying there in the shop.

This used to be the gathering place, Tomei says, standing in the middle of an empty bay in his garage. He said the old-timers would come to chat with one another and occasionally argue politics. It is a quieter place now.

Tomei said his business, which now focuses on rebuilding starters and alternators, has slowed considerably in the last 20 years. He credits the North American Free Trade Act for some of this decline. He proudly stocks American parts when he can, but said the country has entered into the junk era, where it is hard to find anything but Chinese import parts, which Tomei said are of compromised quality.

The ones that are really striving to keep American stuff ... are being gobbled up, Tomei said. The focus became more about money than about quality, he said.

It went to being everything about the almighty dollar, he said.

Summers are his busy times. Local farmers call on him to service their heavy equipment as soon as the ground is soft enough to plant. However, as the weather starts to cool and the fields are harvested, his days grow slower. He gets work  when it rains it pours  but generally his days are lighter. Despite the shift in customer flow, Tomei still works nine-hour days, a routine he said he does not plan to retire any time soon.
CLEMSON  A Clemson researcher is embarking on a mission to help fight the most prevalent chronic disease plaguing Americans today.

The disease is tooth decay and Vincent Richards, an assistant professor in the universitys biological sciences department, is working with researchers from the University of Florida to determine which bacteria can help promote oral health. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. According to the NIH, tooth decay, also called dental caries, is the most prevalent chronic disease that is preventable in both children and adults.

This study will help us determine how bacteria associated with tooth decay interact with one another as the disease progresses, Richards said. This will allow a better understanding of tooth decay so that a probiotic can be created to help fend off this disease.

According to Richards, many microorganisms live inside each persons mouth. There are good bacteria  probiotics  and there are bad bacteria. The bacteria change as tooth decay progresses, making the disease much worse.

Weve known for a while many of the microorganisms associated with tooth decay, Richards said. During this study, we will be doing genetic research to determine which bacteria can help fight against tooth decay.

The study is a five-year project funded by a $628,828 NIH grant, of which Clemson gets $237,554.

What we aim to do is use DNA and RNA sequencing to better understand how these good and bad bacteria differ at the genetic, or more precisely, genomic level, Richards said.

Richards is using a genome sequencer he acquired last year. The first technology of its kind on the Clemson campus, Richards said the genome sequencer is the next generation in sequencing. This technology allows researchers to determine entire genome sequences and measure the activity of all metabolic and biochemical pathways within the genome.

Genome sequencing involves extracting DNA from living organisms and conducting a comprehensive genetic analysis. Data from the sequencer are transferred to powerful computers where it can be read and analyzed. Information provided by the sequencer can prove valuable in many instances.

Genomic information can help identify mutations and genes associated with virulent pathogens, measure the genetic activity of these factors, profile microbial communities, as well as track diseases, Richards said. By determining how the good and bad bacteria on our teeth interact, we can develop new strategies to help prevent tooth decay.

Because the genome sequencer is the only one on Clemsons campus, Richards invites other researchers to let him help them with any genetic sequencing tasks they may have.

We can work together and they wont have to outsource their genetic sequencing tasks, he said. They can keep their work here on campus and get the results quicker.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation hopes to begin replacing the John C. Calhoun Drive bridge over the Edisto River by 2021, a department official says.

The change will include a redesigned intersection for Russell Street and John C. Calhoun Drive.

What well do with the proposed redesign is widen that bridge a little bit and add a free-flow, right-turn movement, SCDOT engineer Adam Humphries told Orangeburg City Council last week.

Itll be a free-flow, right-turn movement so coming from Russell Street onto Calhoun so you will not stop there at all, he said.

The area sees numerous rear-end collisions, he said. Some people would yield and other people would not, so it was creating an unsafe movement there.

SCDOT is currently securing a consultant assist with the development of the Edisto River bridge design. It looks to begin the right-of-way phase in fiscal year 2019 and go into construction in fiscal year 2021.

Humphries discussed several upcoming road projects at city councils meeting.

SCDOT is also working on the railroad realignment at the intersection of Magnolia Street and Zan Street.

We are currently in the right of way phase and we have secured 11 of 22 tracts, Humphries said. We anticipate going into construction sometime late summer of 2017.

SCDOT will also be partnering with the Lower Savannah Council of Governments to make pedestrian improvements at the intersection.

Those will consist of new sidewalks, push-button pedestrian signals, signage to increase visibility of pedestrians in the area and beautification of the area.

SCDOT also plans to work on the Bicycle and Walk Friendly Community Action Plan.

This plan envisioned a network of safe, convenient routes for bicycles and pedestrians for walking as daily activities for fitness, recreation, as well as transportation, Humphries said.

The plan includes improvements such as bicycle lanes, paved shoulders, bicycle routes, multi-use paths and sidewalks where there are none presently.

Were still developing scopes and schedules for all of these projects, Humphries said. When we have something more concrete, well come back and update council again.

In other business:

Council voted 4-2 in favor of a resolution setting health insurance benefits for city employees for 2017.

Mayor Michael Butler and council members L. Zimmerman Keitt, Bernard Haire and Sandra Knotts voted in favor of the resolution. Council members Buddy Barnwell and Richard Stroman voted against it. Councilman Charles Jernigan was not present at the meeting.

The version we have  does not pass any increase onto the employee for the employee portion, City Administrator John Yow said.

But there will be a $20 cost to employees, Stroman said.

It encourages the employee to get either a physical or a health risk assessment by March 31, Yow said. If the employee chooses not to do that, it would be a $20 a month charge.

The physical and assessment would be free of charge to the employees.

I just dont want to put a charge to the employees, Stroman said.

Barnwell said he was against it because, Its too much like ObamaCare.

Council approved the purchase of a commercial sanitation truck in the amount of $241,994 from Amick Equipment Company. The truck will replace a 2001 front loader commercial truck.

Public Works Director Durwood Bowden said it is just time for a new truck.

We try to keep our trucks 10 years as a frontline truck and an additional 5 years as a spare, Bowden said.

The city is saving $8,000 through the co-operative purchasing agreement which allows for the procurement of products, supplies or services between joint or multi-party contracts.

Council approved second reading of changes to the city purchasing ordinance.

Changes include a more uniform way of purchasing IT equipment, the addition of equal opportunity policies and procedures, fair and open competitive solicitation processes and equal opportunity for women/minority business enterprises in all aspects of the citys contracting and procurement programs.

Council approved third reading of an ordinance adopting building codes and standards which fall in line with the state adopted codes.

Changes were to the 2015 editions of the International Building Code, International Mechanical Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Fire Code and International Fuel Gas Code.

The 2014 edition of the National Electrical Code was edited.

The 2012 editions of the International Plumbing Code, International Existing Building Code and International Residential Codes were also edited.

The codes added City of Orangeburg, misdemeanor, $500, and 30 days to the appropriate sections.
Friends of Nettie Sherry Reese, 75, of Bamberg, are invited to attend her funeral services at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at Dash Funeral Home, 12409 Heritage Highway, Bamberg, SC 29003.

Viewing will begin two hours before services from 9 to 11 a.m.

She will be buried in Groton Cemetery, Accomac, Virginia.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Grace Funeral Services, LLC, 8827 Old State Road, Holly Hill, SC 29059 (803-496-5539); gracefuneralservice@gmail.com.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.  First Amendment, U.S. Constitution.

With attacks on the press in 2016 coming from the highest levels and from all political persuasions, it is time that Americans renew commitment to the First Amendment. From the president on down, that does not mean necessarily liking the media. It means understanding that a free press is vital to a free society -- and must be guarded as fiercely as any aspect of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

The best way to understand what limitations on a free press can mean is to examine the latest statistics on jailed journalists and the type of societies that imprison those who report what the government does not like.

At least 259 journalists have been jailed around the world this year, the New York Times reports, citing numbers from the Committee to Protect Journalists, a press advocacy group. That is the most reporters put behind bars in any year since the committee began a detailed annual census of imprisonments in 1990.

The increase is attributed to a surge of imprisonments in Turkey after the failed military coup in July.

At least 81 journalists  almost a third of the total  were incarcerated by the Turkish authorities in relation to their work, CPJ said in announcing the 2016 figures, the highest number in any one country at any time.

The 259 total for 2016 shattered the previous global record of 232 journalists imprisoned in 2012. Last year, 199 journalists were jailed, the group said.

After Turkey, the biggest jailers of journalists were China, where at least 38 had been incarcerated as of Dec. 1; Egypt, with 25; Eritrea, with 16; and Ethiopia, with 14.

For the first time since 2008, Iran was not among the top five jailers, the committee said, counting eight journalists in Iranian prisons compared with 19 a year earlier. The group attributed the decline partly to the release of many of those who had been sentenced after a 2009 crackdown following a disputed presidential election, but Iran is still jailing journalists.

In the way of perspective on what gets journalists jailed in these countries, consider the case in Turkey of Mehmet Baransu, a former columnist and correspondent for the daily newspaper Taraf. He was accused of obtaining secret documents, insulting the president and membership in a terrorist organization. He is facing a maximum sentence of 75 years.

As this occurs around the world, Americans seem passive. Interview people about press freedom and youll get a perceived or stated willingness to curb liberty in the name of a particular belief.

The press is held in less-than-high esteem by the public, even though the shadow cast upon national media and local media is often quite different. Yet tampering with press freedom means tampering with the publics right to know, whether the source is local, state or national.

Contemplate the alternative.

Remember, it was none other than Vladimir Lenin who said, Why should freedom of speech and freedom of the press be allowed? Why should a government, which is doing what it believes to be right, allow itself to be criticized? It would not allow opposition by lethal weapons. Ideas are much more fatal things than guns. Why should any man be allowed to buy a printing press and disseminate pernicious opinion calculated to embarrass the government?

The answer: Because free speech, embodied by a free press, is the foundation of freedom.
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By Trend

Iran's ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, has called on entrepreneurs from his country and the neighboring Azerbaijan to make joint investment in Azerbaijani Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.



Vaezi who co-chairs the Azerbaijan-Iran state commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, told Trend that the ongoing visit is aimed at facilitating trade ties between the two countries.



Elaborating on the plans for broadening trade ties between the two countries, he said that Azerbaijans Nakhchivan enjoys proper trade opportunities and he will visit the autonomous republic to discuss investment-related issues.



Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan with an estimate population of 430,000 people.



The minister expressed his countrys readiness to boost cooperation between the two countries concerning Nakhcivan in various fields, including gas, transport and medicine.



Saying that he will lead a large economic delegation comprising of the representatives of Iranian private sector during his upcoming visit to Nakhchivan on Dec. 29, the minister added that a document on cooperation between the two countries will be inked in the autonomous republic.



The minister added that he also is slated to review the construction process of a dam over Araz River in Nakhchivans Ordubad.



Iran and Azerbaijan have earlier agreed to cooperate on the construction of two plants near the Aras River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Nakhcivans Ordubad.



Vaezi has arrived in Baku to attend the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian issues discussing opportunities for expansion of bilateral ties. He will visit Nakhchivan on the third day of his ongoing visit to Azerbaijan.



Iranian companies have so far invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. As much as $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan.



Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January-November 2016, $130.13 million of which accounted for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
This post is prompted by a number of things that have left me pondering how as Christians we are to bring about change in our churches. When we strongly b...

7 years ago
State-run Saudi Aramco, a global petroleum and chemicals enterprise, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with strategic partners to establish the National Information Technology Academy.



The MoU was signed by representatives from Saudi Aramco, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), with representatives from major information and communications technology (ICT) companies such as Oracle, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Huawei, Wipro, SAP, Cisco, and Mobily in attendance.



The academys strategic objectives are aligned with those of the Kingdoms Vision 2030  developing the IT sector and a digital economy, increasing local workforce skills, equipping citizens with competencies that will meet the future needs of the labour market, and increasing female participation in the workforce.



The academy will invest in Saudi human capital by equipping young Saudis with market relevant ICT skills, bridging the skills gap, and developing a job-ready talent pool. Its curriculum will focus on technical and professional skills, as well as address emerging technologies that are aligned with market needs where students are trained to hire.



The academys operating model will offer three streams:

The Core stream: A two-year foundation program that offers high school graduates ICT technical and academic courses (i.e., business English, interpersonal skills, etc.)



The Bridge stream: An on-demand bridge program that offers vocational and university graduates ICT advanced technical courses and professional certifications, as well as academic courses



The Distance Learning stream: A stream that offers students a web-based platform to access courses from anywhere.



A key component of the academys operating model is the use of online and virtual technologies to support distance learning, thereby expanding outreach to the furthest regions of the Kingdom and allowing students to become active participants in the learning process.



The academys vision is to build capacity that will increase Saudization in the ICT local market by bridging the skills gap between academia and the industry.



Specialized academies



Establishing strategic partnerships with stakeholders and major sector companies, Saudi Aramco has established 11 specialized academies across various disciplines that include drilling, construction, inspection, and industrial training.



These academies have more than 8,000 Saudi students who are all sponsored by companies  Saudi Aramco contractors, vendors, and suppliers  which is the model that the National IT Academy will apply.



Yousef A Al Ulyan, IT executive director at Saudi Aramco, said the establishment of the academy will require active participation and commitment from key players in the ICT sector.



Today, we have among us leaders in the ICT market who come with a strong corporate social responsibility. Through strategic partnerships and collective efforts, we will effectively enable the academy to meet its objectives and bridge gaps where approximately 35per cent of the ICT labour market is missed  primarily for not having the right skill mix in the ICT workforce, Al Ulyan said.



Next steps



Nabil K Al Dabal, general manager of Training and Development (T&D) at Saudi Aramco, highlighted the benefits of the Academy.



The National IT Academy facilitates the creation of a thriving, diversified economy that will provide higher economic profits and ample opportunities for higher education, training and development, and entrepreneurship, he said, noting that this will be the 12th such academy established by T&D and that the organization has a goal of establishing a total of 25 by 2025.



After securing stakeholder and partnership alignment, a board of trustees and a tech steering committee will be established. The board will look into developing an academy charter and establishing a legal entity, Al Dabal said.



Next year, the board will approve the facilities, acquire, and install the necessary equipment, partner with training service providers, establish organizational structure, and select and enrol trainees. The academy is working to admit 700 ICT students by the end of the third quarter of 2017. - TradeArabia News Service
The Crown Prince of Dubai has directed that the Dubai Industrial Strategy be implemented expeditiously in order to ensure that the emirate becomes a major axis of the global economy.



Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the chairman of Dubai Executive Council, instructed that implementation of the strategy should begin with the advent of 2017, said a Wam news agency report.



The Dubai Industrial Strategy was launched by Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.



"Enhancing creativity and innovation in industry will be a cornerstone of the Dubai Industrial Strategy. This will be in line with our approach to establish a sustainable economy based on research, development and knowledge. All these components will contribute towards making Dubai an exceptional investment destination. Dubai also has a suitable and reliable infrastructure along with a comprehensive set of legislations," the Crown Prince said.



He stressed that all government departments and bodies in charge of implementation of the industrial strategy needed to intensify efforts as part of the framework identified by Sheikh Mohammed. The aim must be to promote team work, encourage positive energy and creative ideas, and expedite efforts to achieve the goals as defined in the strategy. This will serve the cause of sustainable development in the UAE, he said.



Meanwhile, the General Secretariat of Dubais Executive Council affirmed that it has already started implementing the leaderships instructions. It said it has been holding a series of meetings and workshops in co-operation with the concerned parties with the aim of achieving the goals defined in the industrial strategy.



The emphasis will be on promoting industrial co-operation, linking it with educational and research institutions to encourage creativity and innovation.



Also, the focus will be on ensuring an investment environment to attract targeted industries since the industrial strategy is expected to boost Dubais GDP by Dh165 billion by 2030.



Abdullah Al Shaibani, secretary general of Executive Council of Dubai, said Dubai's Industrial strategy is deemed one of the pillars of achieving Dubai Plan 2021 through innovation to position the emirate as a main hub of the global economy.



"Through this strategy Dubai under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and follow up of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid is proving its capability to be one of most advanced economic and industrial developed hubs around the world," he added.


Senaat, a leading industrial investment holding company in the UAE, recently participated as a Gold Sponsor of the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, for the third consecutive year.



The festival, one of the largest cultural demonstrations to take place in the UAE, is named after the UAEs founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.



The annual festival celebrates Sheikh Zayeds pivotal role in preserving the UAEs heritage and history, and developing the nation as a modern gateway to the future. It was also graced by the visit of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques amongst many other dignitaries and guests.



This year's festival focused on the UAE as a crossroads of civilisations and was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.



Eng Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, CEO of Senaat, said: The late Sheikh Zayed wanted to develop a modern nation that stays true to its culture and traditions.



Today, the UAE is a true reflection of his vision. The UAE is a crossroad of all civilisations, attracting world-class businesses and institutions as well as talent. It is also a nurturing hub for different industries, not just those related to oil and gas, he said.



Our company is an example of what the UAE is today. We are very proud of our national heritage and through our portfolio company, Al Foah, we have preserved an important part of this heritage, he added.



We have also been able to introduce and grow new industries through our other eight portfolio companies that operate in metals, oil and gas services, construction and building materials and food and beverages manufacturing, stated Al Dhaheri.



Our support of the festival represents much more than our patronage of an event; it represents our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our emirate and our country. As a leading UAE industrial company committed to championing the UAEs diversification efforts, we are proud to be part of this event as we contribute to Abu Dhabis efforts to build a modern and diversified society for our people, he concluded.



The 7th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, showcased Emirati culture through a variety of memorial wings, traditional customs exhibitions and a village market.



It also had a heritage village, folkloric performances, a traditional souk and an Emirati handicrafts exhibition. The festival offered a wide range of events that embody the UAE's great legacy and that of the Gulf and the Arab world, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT), the manager and operator of Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT), has announced the arrival of three of the largest ship-to-shore quay cranes in the world to accommodate growing volumes and demand at Khalifa Port Container Terminal (KPCT).



Transported from China on specially-built vessels, the latest additions complement the current 9 STS cranes already operational at the facility, said a statement from the company.



The Super Post Panamax cranes, commissioned from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry (ZMPC), were delivered on November 10 and follow ADTs recent milestone of 5 million TEUs being handled at KPCT since its establishment in 2012, it said.



The STS cranes are designed to the highest industry specifications; capable of handling the worlds largest container ships (VLCCs) and will provide an additional capacity of 600,00 TEUs per annum to complete Phase 1 of 2,5 mio TEUs of capacity at the world-class port facility, it added.



One of the STS cranes measures 126.5 meters in height and weighs 1,932 tons with an outreach of 65 meters (covering 26 rows) and a lifting capacity of 90 tonnes. This new equipment will ensure continued and sustained cargo growth and provide increased value, efficiency, and speed for Port Khalifas customers.



Martijn Van De Linde, chief executive officer, ADT, said: Our customers demand the fastest possible turnarounds with the and highest levels of operational performance and safety.



At our company, we are consistently investing in the most cutting-edge equipment to meet and exceed their needs, he said.



PKCT has become a crucial logistics hub and were extremely proud of this latest infrastructural investment as it further enables us to support and encourage socio-economic growth of the region, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) said it has completed 53 per cent of the work at M-Station, the largest power production and water desalination plant being built in the emirate at a cost of Dh11.6 billion ($3.15 billion).



The M-Station project was launched in 2013 at a cost of Dh10.15 billion. This included an estimated Dh6.2 billion towards boosting electricity output to 2,060 MW through six Siemens (F) model gas turbines with a capacity of 234 MW each, six heat recovery steam turbine generators, and three back-pressure steam turbines with a capacity of 218 MW each.



Mott MacDonald is the consultancy company for the project, which is set to be completed and delivered by end of April 2018.

According to Dewa, the estimated cost of the expansion project has been put at Dh1.47 billion. It will include setting up of new power generation units with a capacity of 700 MW to be added to the current capacity of the station to eventually produce 2,760 MW by 2018.



Its current total capacity is 2,060 MW of electricity and 140 million gallons of water per day (mgpd).



Dewa pointed out that the station adopts the highest levels of availability, reliability, and efficiency, using the most advanced technologies in the world. It has successfully completed 3.9 million safe man-hours without any injuries.



Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa, was briefed by representatives from Siemens on the project including its operational process and completion.



Nasser Lootah, the executive vice president of generation at Dewa, and Mansoor Al Suwaidi, the vice president for projects generation at Dewa, joined Al Tayer during the tour.



The Dubai utility firm is also set to inaugurate two gas turbine generators in May next year followed by the addition of two heat recovery steam turbine generators and one back-pressure steam turbine on April 30 in 2018.



This will help increase the plants thermal efficiency from 82.4 to 85.8 per cent, which is considered one of the highest thermal-efficiency rates in the world.



Dewa said the project has been completed in phases since mid-2010. The desalination cost is put at Dh3.95 billion using 8 desalination units with multi-stage flash distillation (MSF) technology, with a capacity of 17.5 million MIGD for each unit, with a total of 140 million gallons per day.



There are two dual-fuel fired auxiliary boilers of 390 tonnes per hour and 16 fuel oil storage tanks each with a capacity of 20,000 cu m. The total fuel storage tanks capacity is 320,000 cu m, it stated.



The utility company continues to build a strong infrastructure to enhance its installed capacity, which is currently 9,900MW of electricity and 470 million MIGD.



It enhanced the efficiency rate between 84-90 per cent, while production capacity improved by 27 per cent in 2015 compared to 2006, with the use of efficient technologies in electricity production and desalination.



Dewa currently operates 21 (400kV) substations, and 222 (132kV) substations and has achieved promising success in energy transmission and distribution.-TradeArabia News Service
Most passengers have been allowed off a hijacked Libyan jet that has landed at the Malta International Airport.

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, said a BBC report.

Malta's Prime Minister has said only some of the crew remain on board the domestic Afriqiyah Airways flight but it remains unclear how many hijackers there are.

At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.

The Airbus A320 which was flying from Sabha to Tripoli when it was diverted.

It is believed that 118 people were aboard the plane.

Initial information suggests the hijacker is trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC.

But a Libyan member of parliament who spoke to a colleague on board the flight told Reuters news agency the demands were not yet known.

Col Khayali also said there was only one hijacker - although some reports say there are two.

He added there were 111 passengers on board the Airbus A320, plus seven crew members.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by. He said on Twitter that the passengers list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) organised a workshop for educational institutions to introduce the new categories and standards of the Conservation Award.



The 11th edition of the Conservation Award is being held under the theme Together for a Sustainable Future, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Dubai Educational Zone, and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); and in partnership with Taqati, and Etihad Energy Services.



Dewa also announced the opening of registrations for the awards at the two-day workshop which was held in both Arabic and English.



It witnessed the participation of over 120 educational institutions from the government and private sectors in Dubai, including nurseries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, universities, colleges, special needs centres, and adult education centres.



The workshop began with the launch of the Conservation Award brochure. It also included the launch of the Preparation Plan for Electricity and Water Conservation, which provides comprehensive details on how to achieve efficient conservation within educational institutions.



The workshop provided details on how to register, terms, standards and conditions, and cash prizes for the winners in each category.



It also aimed to encourage the students, faculty, and management of educational institutions to enhance their participation in the award, and to contribute towards achieving its goals.



Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and CEO, pointed out that Dewa collaborates with different sectors to achieve strategic goals related to the environmental stability of Dubai.



"We strive to instil the principles of conservation in students through initiatives and programmes targeting the educational sector," he noted.



"Through this workshop, we aim to enhance the role of the educational sector, to achieve environmental sustainability. This will ensure a bright future for generations to come," stated Al Tayer.



The workshop introduced participants to the new categories of the award, which include Distinguished Educational Institution, Distinguished Conservation Leader, Distinguished Conservation Team, and Distinguished Conservation Project.



Amal Koshak, the senior manager of the marketing communication department at Dewa, said: "The award witnessed positive development across all areas, reflecting the motto, Together for a Sustainable Future, as we reiterate the importance of partnership between us and the educational sector, to prepare future generations that are able to continue sustainable development and protect our natural resources."-TradeArabia News Service


Clubs

Scholarship notice

The Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration -- Central Wyoming Section offers up to four $2,500 scholarships, the Coates, Wolff, Russell, & Swank Memorial Scholarship. Applicant must have graduated from a Wyoming high school, must be enrolled full-time for the 2016-2017 academic year, upperclassmen -- current college sophomore, junior, senior or graduate student, enrolled in mining/mineral extraction-related discipline, and have a 3.0 GPA minimum. Application forms are available by email request to smecasper@gmail.com

New Year's Eve at the Elks

New Year's Eve Party at the Elks, bring a covered dish of your choice to share with your family Elk members (snack or hors d'oeuvres. Stay and dance to Country Line from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Bring in the New Year with your family and Elk members. No charge and party favors provided. Members, significant other and guest accompanied by a member. For more information, call 234-4839.

Auto club hosts brunch

Oil Capitol Auto Club will start off the New Year with a great breakfast at the Ramada on the River. All members are reminded that there will be a New Years Brunch at 10 a.m., on Jan. 1, 2017. The cost is $20 per person. Also yearly dues will be due in January as well. Call Jerry Russell at 577-7119 for questions and to make a reservation. A head count is very important. Lets start the New Year with a good meal and fellowship.

Republican women elect officers

Natrona County Republican Women announce the officers for 2017-2018 term. The officers are president, Laura Johnson; vice president, Rachel Allen; secretary, Hope Herbst and treasurer, Marcie Buchholz. The officers will be inducted at the meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 by WFRW president Amy Womack. The meeting will be at Bosco's Italian Restaurante on the corner of N. Jefferson & A street at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $15 and $17 for gluten free. Please join us in welcoming the new officers and what they have planned for NCRW. Reservations can be made by e-mailing ncrwmember@gmail.com or calling 215-9749. Please RSVP no later than Jan. 6, 2017.

OCAC awards scholarships

The Oil Capitol Auto Club would like to introduce the recipients of the veterans scholarship awards for 2016. These scholarships are awarded each year to deserving Casper College students from the proceeds of the Memorial Day Car Show. Everyone who attends the show and all of the sponsors generously contribute to the educational advancement of our service men and women here in Wyoming. All of these recipients have served our country honorably and are pursuing their educational goals and life after their service. The OCAC is proud to help them along the trail toward their educational goals and wish them all of the best. The 2016 scholarships to Casper College were awarded to Adam Stamp, Brian Hiser, Ariel Wagner, and Colton Sasser. To all of our men and women in uniform, and to these students, thank you for your service, and good luck.

Civil Air Patrol meets

Civil Air Patrol meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Casper National Guard Armory, 5905 CY Ave. For more information, call 259-0855.

Stammtisch at Applebee's

After Jan. 5, the Casper German Stammtisch is meeting weekly on Thursdays at Applebee's from 6:30 to 8 p.m. New this year -- on the second Thursday of each month we will focus on speaking German! All ability levels are welcome, as long as they are eager to hear German.
Wading through the legal steps of a divorce or child custody case is complicated and often heart-wrenching. For people who cant afford an attorney, those processes are even more convoluted.

But a month ago, a statewide nonprofit started offering a new solution for people in Casper: make volunteer attorneys available for questions twice a month. In a way, the sessions are like open office hours for people involved in civil cases.

The attorneys are available in the Townsend Justice Center to answer questions about civil cases for a couple of hours on the first and third Thursdays of every month. Unlike in criminal cases, civil litigants have no constitutional right to a public attorney, which means that many are left to wade through the court system on their own.

Equal Justice Wyoming, in cooperation with the Wyoming Access to Justice Commission, launched the program at the Laramie County Courthouse in March. The groups then brought the volunteer attorney program to Casper in November.

We knew that there was a big need out there, said Angie Dorsch, executive director of Equal Justice Wyoming. It didnt take long for the word to get out and for lines to form for our volunteer reference attorneys.

Most of the people who consult with the volunteer attorneys are dealing with family cases  like divorce, child custody and child support  or lawsuits for small amounts of money, Dorsch said.

They just need some help moving their cases along, she said.

Walter Eggers, a Cheyenne attorney who has volunteered with the program, said most clients need help filling out forms or have questions about other procedural issues.

While the group doesnt track the income levels of people attending the sessions, Dorsch said a large majority of them live on low incomes.

What weve seen from the national research is that the overwhelming majority is they dont have an attorney because they cant afford one, Dorsch said. Most of this doesnt happen by choice.

Eggers said he recognizes how difficult the legal system is without an attorney as a guide. But ideally finances shouldnt determine how successful someones case is.

The legal system is designed for everyone and everyone ought to have equal access, he said. I also personally think the legal system works better when everyone has access  its more fair, and more efficient.

The volunteer attorneys have helped 27 people in Casper since November and 117 people in Cheyenne since the program launched there in March, Dorsch said.

The program not only helps the people navigating their own legal issues but also makes sure hearings move more quickly and lessens the burdens on court clerks, to whom people often turn for guidance. Hearings go smoother and more quickly when people are prepared, which also helps court schedules stay on track, Dorsch said.

The volunteer attorneys are also able to connect people to other resources for people who cant afford their own representation. Equal Justice Wyoming hosts night clinics on legal topics, an online tool to ask attorneys questions and a large collection of information and forms for a range of civil issues.

The groups hope to expand the reference attorney program to courthouses in Sheridan and Sweetwater County in the near future, Dorsch said.

Despite the resources the groups offer, many people still fall between the cracks.

Its still just serving a fraction of the need, Dorsch said. A lot of people still dont really have anywhere else to go.

Follow crime and courts reporter Elise Schmelzer on Twitter @eliseschmelzer
The process of finding a replacement for Rep. Kendell Kroeker, R-Evansville, begins this week.

Local Republicans wishing to replace Kroeker, who announced his resignation last week, must submit their names to Natrona County Republican Party Chairman Bonnie Foster by 5 p.m. Friday.

Time is of the essence, Foster wrote in an email to reporters Tuesday.

Already-elected precinct committee people from Kroekers House District 35 will interview the candidates Saturday morning at the Ramkota Hotel. While only precinct committee people may vote, the meeting will be open to the public.

After the committee people select three finalists, the Natrona County Commission will select a single replacement from the three at their Jan. 3 meeting.

The newly selected candidate will be able to be in Cheyenne to start the (Legislative) session January 10, Foster wrote.

Any person who lives in House District 35, and was registered as a Republican prior to Dec. 21, may apply to replace Kroeker.

Foster said that so far two people had submitted their names for consideration.

The first, Ed Opella, is a former Casper City Councilman and Natrona County Commissioner.

He ran against Kroeker in 2014.

The other person who has submitted his name is Joe MacGuire.

Kroeker announced his resignation in an email to his legislative colleagues on Dec. 22.

He said that due to unforeseen circumstances related to his business, Casper Mountain Motorsports, he was unable to take time off to attend the legislative session in Cheyenne, which runs from Jan. 10 usually through March.

It absolutely tears me up inside to have to resign, Kroeker wrote. Thank you for being part of my family the past 6 years. I will greatly miss serving with all of you...

Kroeker, who took office in 2011, had a conservative record in the Legislature.

He sponsored a bill allowing firearms to be openly carried in government buildings and supported the repeal of gun-free zones in the state. He also voted to allow firing squads as a method of capital punishment in Wyoming.

On other issues Kroeker was more libertarian. For example, he opposed a bill banning powdered alcohol and sought to reform Wyomings civil asset forfeiture laws.
Hundreds of positions eliminated. Programs cut and reduced. That was the picture of state government in 2016, as revenues from oil, gas and coal slid beyond state projections.

The $3 billion, two-year budget the Wyoming Legislature adopted in March reduced nearly all state agencies by 2 percent. Revenues continued to sink and on Jan. 1, Gov. Matt Mead cut nearly $250 million more.

The public is beginning to feel the pain.

Preschool programs for developmentally disabled and delayed children have been cut.

The End Stage Renal Disease Program was eliminated. The program helped uninsured Wyomingites and assisted others with insurance co-payments.

Mary Oliver, who lives outside of Rawlins, now has to pay $500 for a kidney medication. Travel reimbursement to receive dialysis also dissolved.

I was glad that they helped me, but then they took it away, she said.

Therese Fortier, a social worker at Wyoming Kidney Center in Casper, one of seven dialysis clinics in the state, said some medications cost as much as $1,500 a month. Patients are having to make hard choices.

They have to pretty much bite the bullet, she said. They have to take a really careful look, a really careful look at their finances and cut back where they can  whether its TV, or cellphones.

The latest round of budget projects show Wyoming could be in the hole another nearly $160 million. Mead forwarded to state lawmakers a budget proposal that uses the rainy day fund and calls for some bonding to pay for repairs to the state prison. He called on the Legislature, which meets beginning Jan. 10, to pay for state government operations with $49 million that the state unexpectedly received from a number of sources, such as investment income and money that agencies didnt spend.

While the Legislature cut most agencies across the board, Mead said he faced a situation in which many small agencies had no more fat to cut. So he looked to the states largest agencies, including the Wyoming Department of Health.

Ultimately, the Legislature adopts the states budget. Lawmakers can agree or reject parts or all of Meads budget proposal.

I think the cuts we made in June that started July 1, they have largely  been paper cuts, Mead said. People have not felt the full effects of the diminished services. We have not yet heard from the citizens of Wyoming to the full extent of how those decreases have affected them. So before we start cutting more, I think we are in a good enough place that we can wait and see how these cuts affect the citizens of Wyoming.

Erin Johnson of the Wyoming Association of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers, which represents the 20 centers that experienced cuts to their contracts with the state, said that with the increase in unemployment, now is not the time to reduce services.

Many Wyomingites are suffering. Mental health seems to be the last place the state should cut, Johnson said. Stress exacerbates peoples problems and they may need to see a therapist. Or they may begin having trouble with substances or alcohol.

I dont know where the bubbles going to burst, she said.
After a Tuesday morning that saw wind gusts of 74 mph hit the Casper area, wind speed was expected to hover below 40 mph for the rest of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

We should see a decrease, said NWS meteorologist Chris Jones. Itll be Wyoming windy.

The wind seen Tuesday morning and over the last few weeks has been a little more intense than is typical, even in Wyoming.

The ferocity of it, from time to time, has been stronger than what we may remember, Jones said.

This weeks high winds come a week after gusts up to 88 mph pummeled portions of central and southern Wyoming, blowing over semi-trucks along Interstate 80, Wyoming Boulevard and other routes.

On Monday, the weather service reported gusts of up to 81 mph outside Clark, 77 mph in Highland and 74 mph near Muddy Gap.

A high wind warning was in effect for most of central Wyoming through Wednesday, with sustained winds forecast to be around 44 mph and gusts up to 60 mph Tuesday night.

Wind gusts toppled a carport at the Pheasant Ridge Apartments on Tuesday in Casper. No one was injured, but it crushed some cars and residents were told not to leave or enter the building until crews could clear the debris.

The winds come on the heels of a winter storm on Christmas Day that dumped more than a foot of snow in some mountains and 7 to 10 inches in the Casper area, shutting down portions of many major highways and interstates.

Councilwoman Kenyne Humphrey said that a similar storm several years ago cost the city around $1 million.

Despite complaints about driving conditions around Casper, Humphrey said not much can be done by road crews during such windy weather.

Unfortunately, when the wind blows like this, its just not humanly possible to keep up with it, Humphrey said.

Hogadon Ski Area, which planned to remain open every day through Jan. 3, was unable to open Tuesday due to the wind.

Despite plans to remain open, extreme winds close Hogadon Despite plans to remain open during the entire winter school break, Hogadon Basin Ski Area c

But theres no dramatic explanation for the uptick in fierce wind, Jones said.

Instead, he attributed the most recent gusts to a new weather system moving into Wyoming later this week and changing the air pressure around the state.

One factor that has made the high wind especially dangerous, though, is the combination of dry, windy weather immediately following a heavy snowfall.

The impact of the blowing snow and the drifting just really creates a situation that we dont always get after a snowfall, he said.

Wyoming typically sees strong wind due to its elevation. Winds that pass high over the plains states come in at ground level when they hit the northern Rockies.

In addition, Casper bears the brunt of the wind funneled through the North Platte River Valley.

Jones added that the weather service works closely with the Wyoming Department of Transportation on road warnings and strongly recommended drivers heed the notices.
2016 was a year of extremes in Wyoming, as rivers overflowed their banks and temperatures careened between unseasonable warmth and record cold.

High snowpack levels in spring spurred above-average water volume entering the North Platte River from Alcova Reservoir to Glendo.

At Pathfinder Dam, almost 50 miles south of Casper, the gates to the reservoir and power plant are built to accommodate 5,000 cubic feet of water per second. In June, when the Bureau of Reclamations Wyoming-area office needs to release more than that, it sent water crashing over Pathfinders spillway, creating a 200-foot waterfall that drew visitors for a few weeks.

It was only the fourth time in 30 years that water has pushed past the spillway.

The extra water was also on display in Casper. The North Platte River overflowed its banks throughout Natrona County for most of June, sending water surging onto sidewalks in front of the Tate Pumphouse. The swollen river began to recede in July.

Later in the year, summery temperatures hung around longer than usual, with Caspers average November temperature hovering around 55 degrees, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Centers for Environmental Information. Thats a substantial increase over the November 2015 high of 47.

That unusual warmth ended abruptly in early December, when temperatures significantly below zero sent much of Wyoming into a deep freeze that lasted for a few days. Bondurant saw temperatures dip to minus 33. The Casper/Natrona County International Airport reported a low of minus 31, its coldest temperature in a decade.

The city received national attention because of the sudden chill. Its a good morning, unless you are living in Casper, Wyoming, Matt Lauer told Today show viewers on Dec. 8. The show reported that the city had seen a 28-degree drop in temperatures since the day before.
BILLINGS  Hugh Glass just wont die.

Resurrected in spirit 183 years after his murder, the mountain man continues to stoke research into the few crumbs available detailing his grisly life, grizzly mauling and eventual violent death at the hands of Indians.

Glass gained worldwide attention with the release of The Revenant, a lushly filmed movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The film dramatized a portion of Glass incredible life: when he survived a harrowing grizzly bear attack and vengefully tracked down the men who left him for dead.

Now mountain man researcher and aficionado Clay Landry, of Whitehall, has shed more light on Glass real-life demise with publication of an article he wrote for The Rocky Mountain Fur Trade Journal.

I confirm who died with Glass, Landry said, as well as narrowing down when he died.

Mountain man Hugh Glass reportedly walked about 250 miles to reach an outpost following his attack by a grizzly bear. In real life, though, the walk wouldnt have been in the mountains but across the South Dakota badlands.

Many accounts

There are few references to Glass in historical records. Although literate, he apparently carried no diary. Yet his harrowing tale has inspired 10 books by nine authors that are still in publication. Hugh Glass Grizzly Survivor by James D. McLaird is the most recent addition. Two older publications  Hugh Glass and the Grizzly Bear by Rufus B. Sage, published in 1857, and Glass and the Bear by George Frederick Augustus Ruxton, published in 1847  a date much closer to the Glass era.

Now Landry has added his voice to the historical record with the article Hugh Glass: The Rest of the Story, which was printed in the fall of 2016.

Actually, I correct history with that article, said Landry, who helped prepare members of the cast of The Revenant in the ways of the fur-trapping age to ensure authenticity.

Landry loves to take part in excursions into the backcountry just like his heroes from the fur-trapping era of the 1800s.

Killed in 1833

At some time during the winter of 1833, Glass and his two companions set out from a small fur trading post known as Fort Cass built about 3 miles east of the confluence of the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers  about 60 miles northeast of present-day Billings.

At the time, Glass was employed as a hunter for the fort. Accompanying him were two men with the last names of Rose and Menard. All three were killed in an Indian attack.

They scalped them and left part of the Scalps of each tied to poles on the grounds of the murder, according to a letter written by John F.A. Sanford, an Indian agent, in a July 1833 letter to William Clark, superintendent of Indian Affairs. Landry includes the excerpt in his article.

This is the same Clark so well known for his exploration of the West with Meriwether Lewis between 1803 and 1806  the same Clark who essentially paved the way for folks like Glass and the fur companies that employed him.

Tom Hardy played John Fitzgerald, one of the trappers who stayed behind to bury Hugh Glass after suffering grizzly bear wounds.

Now named

According to Landrys research, the men accompanying Glass when he was ambushed by members of the Arikara Tribe were Hilain Menard and Colin Rose.

In the past, historians guessed who he died with, Landry said. Thats always been the byline for that.

The story is all the more remarkable because Glass life remains largely obscured by the passage of time because there are only scattered written accounts that mention the legendary trapper. Landry confirmed the full names of Menard and Rose from entries in the American Fur Companys Upper Missouri Outfit accounting ledgers. Microfiche copies of the ledgers are stored in the Montana Historical Societys archives in Helena.

As luck would have it, at the bottom of the ledger page, they had an entry for Colin and Menard  killed by Ree Indians, Landry said.

A hand-written notation made on the credit side of Menards account book page states, Killed by the Rees near Fort Cass Spring 1833, Landry wrote in his article. The word Rees was mountaineer slang for the Arikara tribe.

It was the coolest thing Ive ever found, Landry said. I wanted to kiss the clerk who put the note at the bottom of that ledger page.

Set straight

Previous accounts had speculated that Rose may have been Edward Rose. Landry said the ledger entry disproves that account, which was repeated by trappers of the time such as James Beckwourth.

The three trappers were buried on a nearby knoll overlooking the river valley. No archaeological survey has ever been made to locate Fort Cass or the mountain mens burial site, both of which are likely located on private property.

If we could find Glass grave we could memorialize him like we should and prove that Beckwourth told another whopper, Landry said.

What comes around

Landry has spent a lot of time contemplating Glasss unusual life, especially in the past year.

You know what the irony of the whole story is? said the retired banker. The first time Glass appears in the historical record hes with Ashley, William Henry Ashley, who was leading a group of 70 trappers up the Missouri River. While camped near an Arikara village in June 2, 1823, the trappers were attacked by the Indians. Fourteen trappers died and 10 were wounded, including Glass, who was shot in the leg.

Ashleys list of men wounded in this conflict is the first historical record of Hugh Glass as a member of the Henry/Ashley Company, Landry wrote. Andrew Henry was Ashleys partner in the venture.

In retaliation for the Indian assault, an Army force accompanied by trappers attacked and burned the Arikara village. Without a village, the rootless tribe spread out across the territory.

Because of the attack on the group of trappers, Ashley and Henry agreed to split the force of 70 men and travel overland rather than up the Missouri where more  possibly hostile  Indian tribes would be encountered.

And thats why Glass was in a position to be mauled by a grizzly bear, Landry said, a mauling that was so horrific that two of his companions  who had volunteered for extra pay to stay behind and bury him when he died  left him for dead.

The fact that members of the same Arikara Tribe were responsible for Glass death is just plumb bad luck, Landry said. Yet Glass bad luck has also added to the legend that has helped resurrect the trapper and his incredible story of survival for nearly two centuries.

Landry said he told script writers for The Revenant that Glasss story was amazing without adding cinematic changes.

I told them, Just tell the guys life story. Its fascinating in its own right.
JACKSON  Teton County Search and Rescue has narrowed its search for a missing snowboarder to an avalanche-prone snowfield behind Grand Targhee Resort.

The search area for Lee Kidd, of Driggs, Idaho, was narrowed after talking with witnesses who may have seen Kidd, 34, on Friday before he went missing.

Our deputies conducted extensive interviews and investigations and the conclusion is that we are looking for him in the Grand Targhee area, sheriffs Sgt. Matt Carr said.

Kidds season pass was last scanned at 10:45 a.m. Friday when he boarded a lift. He had mentioned to friends that he wanted to explore the backcountry, but he left his transceiver, shovel and other backcountry equipment at home, along with his cellphone, Carr said.

He was reported missing Friday afternoon when he failed to show up for work at one of the resorts kitchens.

The search has been challenging and expansive, officials said.

This is truly a needle-in-a-haystack scenario, Carr said. There is a ton of area back there.

A foot of snow and high winds have covered any tracks, and stormy weather limited a helicopter search to about an hour Saturday. The snowfield rescuers are focusing on has a large cornice prone to avalanche and a 500-foot cliff. Teams were unable to search the area thoroughly Monday.

Teams planned to search again Tuesday, Carr said.

We have dogs available, Carr said. They would be our first line of use (on the ground) if we could bring them in safely.
ROCK SPRINGS  As property owners in Sweetwater County have been buying shipping containers for storage, county officials are working to catch up with zoning codes.

People in the county have been purchasing shipping containers since a large number of them became available after Simplot used them during construction. Residents have been placing the containers on residential properties and using them as accessory buildings, though officials say they do not meet minimum fire code standards.

The county's Planning and Zoning Department is amending zoning codes to require an egress door and ventilation for the structures so they meet fire code.

Residents who currently own a shipping container have until Aug. 31 to bring their property into compliance.
Its a new dawn, its a new day, its a new life for me, and Im feeling good. And this old world is a new world and a bold world for me.

 Anthony Newly, Feeling Good (1964)

Before our recent election, I got a bit political. Specifically, I encouraged all of us to pursue a much more charitable intercourse  to transform the destructive reactions of fear and anger that are all too common in our thoughts, words and actions into their creative equivalents of love and compassion, especially for those who are most different from us. In the wake of this historical election, many feel disheartened, angry and even scared. Others feel validated, happy and emboldened. Amid this great paradox where a single result can create such strong disparate responses, the need for a more charitable intercourse is as crucial as ever.

But perhaps equally important is the need to press on and harness the many opportunities that lie ahead for each of us. By this, I do not mean to undermine the emotional responses to this election or to minimize our interconnectedness. Rather, it is because of our interconnectedness that our own personal action, leadership and advocacy are so important. As we each take personal responsibility, we directly change the opportunities and realities available for ourselves and those around us; our individual action shapes our interconnectedness.

Secondly, individual action is one of the few things we can at least partially control. There are countless negative circumstances outside of our control and plenty of people to blame for their poor choices or bad behavior. But as we turn the page to a new year and a new national leader, we also have a new day with countless opportunities to love others better, tackle big dreams, improve life in our local community, pursue disciplined work on our businesses, grow and become better versions of ourselves, and with everything we touch, create beautiful things out of the dust. No one can rob us of these profound opportunities, not our next door neighbors and certainly not our next president.

My burden of proof is that we owe it to ourselves and to each other to pursue these opportunities as we seek to create a new dawn in a bold new world. I bet Mr. Newly himself would raise a toast to that.

Champagne Celebration

Brut Champagne

 oz cognac

 oz Cointreau

Peychauds bitters

1 sugar cube

Thoroughly soak a sugar cube in a Champagne flute with Peychauds Bitters. Add the cognac and Cointreau (it is best to freeze these ingredients beforehand so the finished drink is icy cold) and top with chilled Champagne. Garnish with an orange spiral. The garnet-colored sugar cube creates a fading red gradient throughout the drink and introduces a stream of giddy bubbles. Truly, this drink is as visually stunning as it is tasty and makes a super easy yet elegant champagne toast. Oaky vanilla notes from the Cognac combine with spice, sweet orange and orange peel bitterness to complement the Champagne. Thanks to the well-decorated modern mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim for this simple, stunning delight.

Dead Mans Wallet

1.5 oz rye

 oz ruby port

 oz fresh lemon juice

 oz cinnamon simple syrup

1 dash Angostura bitters

Boil 1.5 cups of water, then reduce to a simmer and steep half a dozen broken cinnamon sticks for 20-30 minutes. Strain out the cinnamon sticks and thoroughly dissolve 2 cups of sugar in the hot cinnamon water. Allow the syrup to cool completely before using. Then combine all ingredients and shake vigorously with ice for 15 seconds; strain over clear ice into an old fashioned glass. Lemon and sweet cinnamon make friends with ports complex berry, plum and subtle anise flavors as well as ryes spicy oak, honey and vanilla as they go walking in this winter wonderdram. Darrin Ylisto, head barman at New Orleans Sylvain Restaurant, dreamed up this delicious elixir a few years back; thanks to one of my kindred spirit readers for introducing it to me. When no one is looking, you should definitely rifle through this valuable find  it is flush with rich flavor currency.

I created this last round to star equally well as a hot toddy or a brisk, refreshing punch. For this reason, I chose tea as the main ingredient, not water. And because I was creating a drink that paid homage to winter holidays, I wanted to incorporate two of my favorite winter scents as flavors  the Christmas tree and the wood fireplace. So, although toddies are most usually whiskey drinks, I chose a juniper-forward spruce gin to create something reminiscent of a pine forest. The addition of barrel-aged Old Tom gin lends evergreen support without the typical competing botanicals and provides some rich oaky complexity that drinks more like a whisky. The citrus and honey are usual suspects in a toddy, while the ginger and maraschino festoon the drink with a splash of seasonal spiciness. Lastly, we come full circle back to pine, but this time in its smoky form. The backbone of this drink is my favorite black tea  Lapsang Souchong, a rich, smoky black Chinese tea that is cured over pinewood fires. Alas, the allusion to Christmastime is complete! Take this treat to the birthday party at the home of Farmer Grey; it will be the perfect ending to a perfect day. Or use it as a cozy down-to-earth toast to 2017 or to ring in the Chinese New Year in late January. Or enjoy it for all three!

Cup of Kindness Yet for Auld Lapsang

1 oz spruce or juniper forward gin

1 oz Old Tom gin

 oz fresh lemon juice

 oz ginger liqueur

 oz Cointreau

 oz honey

1 barspoons maraschino liqueur

4-6 oz Lapsang Souchong tea

Combine all ingredients in a preheated Irish coffee glass or tea mug. If you take the punch route, adjust this single-serving recipe accordingly and steep your tea in advance in cool water for six hours. This cold-brew method will minimize the astringency that plagues tea that is heated, then cooled or waits too long between brewing and consumption.

The burden of proof is now yours. Be a force for good and an active participant in your own life and in creating a bold new better world for those around you. And before you do, go brew up a good auld cup of kindness yet for a good auld friend.
SOCHI, Russia  The Kremlin on Monday played down the possibility that a terror attack might have downed a Syria-bound plane, killing all 92 people on board, as the nation observed a day of mourning for the victims, including most members of a world-famous military choir.

The Tu-154 owned by the Russian Defense Ministry crashed into the Black Sea early Sunday, two minutes after taking off in good weather from the city of Sochi. The plane was carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, often referred to as the Red Army Choir, to a New Years concert at a Russian military base in Syria.

About 3,500 people, 43 ships and 182 divers have been sweeping a vast crash site for bodies of the victims and debris, and dozens of drones and several submersibles also have been involved in the search. Rescue teams had recovered 11 bodies and numerous body fragments, which have been flown to Moscow for identification.

Divers have located parts of the planes fuselage and other fragments, but the search for the jets flight recorders will likely prove challenging as they lack underwater locator beacons for easy spotting common in more modern planes.

Officials sought to squelch speculation that the crash might have been caused by a bomb planted on board or a portable air-defense missile.

But some aviation experts pointed that the crews failure to communicate any technical problem and a large area over which fragments of the plane were scattered point at a possible explosion on board.

Evidence of a bombing of a Syria-bound military flight would badly embarrass the Kremlin, highlighting Russias extreme vulnerability to attacks even as it boasts its success in Syria after Aleppo fell into President Bashar Assads hands.

President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that an attack isnt a likely scenario. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov, who oversaw the rescue efforts, said investigators were looking into a possible technical fault or pilot error as the most likely reasons behind the crash.

But some experts remained skeptical, noting that the crew would have reported any technical glitch.

Possible malfunctions ... certainly wouldnt have prevented the crew from reporting them, Vitaly Andreyev, a former senior Russian air-traffic controller, told RIA Novosti, adding that an external impact was the most likely reason.

Russias main domestic-security and counter-terrorism agency, the FSB, said it has found no indications or facts pointing at the possibility of a terror attack or an act of sabotage on board the plane.

The plane departed from the Chkalovsky military airport just outside Moscow and stopped in Sochi for refueling early Sunday. The FSB said border guards and military servicemen were protecting the plane as it sat on the tarmac in Sochi, and the chief pilot along with the flight engineer personally monitored the refueling. The agency said a border guard officer and a customs official were the only ones to briefly come on board in Sochi.
Its the grandest gorge on the face of the Earth.

One look into the Grand Canyon  a mile-deep maze of carved-stone majesty slashed into a Northern Arizona plateau  inspires an outburst of superlatives from many visitors:

Unbelievable!

OMG!

Awesome!

My golly what a gully!

This year  as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial  Grand Canyon National Park reigns as one of the crown jewels in the nations public-lands treasure chest.

The 277-mile-long natural wonder is revered not only for its incomparable, multi-hued rock formations but also for its cool forests, blooming deserts, frothing waterfalls, abundant wildlife and wealth of geologic and human history.

Those attractions  along with grand lodges such as the historic El Tovar on the canyons South Rim  have drawn more than 6 million visitors this year. Thats an all-time record for annual attendance.

Christine Lehnertz, who took over as superintendent of the park in September, has an idea of what lures so many people to the canyon.

I think the Grand Canyon gives us an opportunity to have a personal experience of awe, Lehnertz says.

A part of it is the immensity of the canyon and the perspective it builds in each of us when we have an opportunity to be on the rim, along the water or in between, she says. It lets us think about our place in the universe.

ORIGINS

What created the Grand Canyon?

Short answer: The persistent, very persistent, Colorado River carved the canyon into a high plateau.

How old is the canyon?

Best estimate by park scientists: Its 5 to 6 million years old. But other experts believe its age is much greater than that.

A brief description of the geologic processes can be found on the parks website.

Grand Canyon is the result of a distinct and ordered combination of geologic events, says the website entry. The story begins almost 2 billion years ago with the formation of the igneous and metamorphic rocks of the inner gorge. Above these old rocks lie layer upon layer of sedimentary rock, each telling a unique part of the environmental history of the Grand Canyon region.

Then, between 70 and 30 million years ago, through the action of plate tectonics, the whole region was uplifted, resulting in the high and relatively flat Colorado Plateau. Finally, beginning just 5 to 6 million years ago, the Colorado River began to carve its way downward. Further erosion by tributary streams led to the canyons widening. Still today these forces of nature are at work slowly deepening and widening the Grand Canyon.

HUMAN HISTORY

People have been exploring the Grand Canyon, and living in it, for thousands of years.

According to the National Park Service, the earliest known period of occupation, known as the Paleoindian period, began some 11,500 years ago and lasted about 3,000 years to the end of the last ice age.

A Park Service document called Prehistory of the Grand Canyon says that in those long-ago days, small, mobile bands of people hunted megafauna such as mountain goats, ground sloth and bison; and gathered wild plants. Paleoindian sites are extremely rare in the Southwest. One known site has been found within the Grand Canyon.

Over the ensuing thousands of years, native peoples relied on hunting and gathering and later cultivated plants. They built storage granaries in canyon cliffs, made baskets and pottery and went on to construct masonry pueblos and subterranean rooms known as kivas. By A.D. 900, puebloan peoples were cultivating maize along the Colorado River corridor.

It is believed that by A.D. 1300, semi-nomadic, non-puebloan peoples occupied the river corridor of Grand Canyon, says the Park Service document. These Pai and Paiute hunter-gatherers had a stable subsistence economy based on combined agriculture and hunting and gathering, supplemented by trade.

According to historians, the first Europeans to visit were members of Francisco Vasquez de Coronados expedition in 1540.

Over the next several centuries, the canyon was hardly seen as a worthy destination.

In 1861, a U.S. Army lieutenant named Joseph Christmas Ives echoed a then-common sentiment about the so-called God-forsaken terrain in and around the Grand Canyon.

This region is, of course, altogether valueless, Ives wrote. It can be approached only from the south, and after entering it there is nothing to do but leave.

Ours has been the first, and will doubtless be the last, party of whites to visit this profitless locality. It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed.

But later came John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War veteran who led the first documented expedition through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River in 1869. Powells journals awakened the nation to the wild, incomparable beauty of the little-known inner gorge and inspired a passion for the canyon that endures to this day.

President Theodore Roosevelt established a precursor of todays park, Grand Canyon National Monument, in 1908. But it wasnt until 1919, seven years after Arizona became a state, that Congress passed a bill creating the park and President Woodrow Wilson signed it into law.

GRAND ACTIVITIES

Visitors to the Grand Canyon can experience its splendors in a wide variety of ways  from simply walking to an overlook and snapping selfies while spewing superlatives, or strolling along a flat rim trail, to hiking into the gorge, trekking all the way across it, or rafting the Colorado River through thrashing rapids.

No matter the approach, the canyon does its part by dazzling the daylights out of most visitors with its sheer, rock-solid, timeless beauty.

The canyons South Rim  at an elevation of about 7,000 feet, 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff  is open all year and receives most of the parks visitors.

The North Rim  at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, south of the community of Jacob Lake  is closed from Oct. 15 through May 15 annually.

Each of the rims offers numerous spectacular viewpoints accessible by vehicles and, during part of the year, by canyon shuttles.

Then theres everything between the rims. Vista-rich trails  including the popular Bright Angel and South Kaibab routes  lead legions of hikers and mule-train travelers to sites at the bottom of the canyon, including historic Phantom Ranch.

Rafting the Colorado River through the canyon is, for many, the adventure of a lifetime.

Not uncommonly, a first awestruck visit leads to a lifelong love affair with the grand abyss.

I think I was 5 when I first saw the Grand Canyon, says Helen Ranney, a resident of Flagstaff who now works as a guide in the canyon with The Wildland Trekking Co. and Arizona Raft Adventures.

I remember being out near the rim and my mom holding on to the back of my shirt.

Later in life, Ranney was drawn back again and again. She lived in the park for more than three years while working with the Grand Canyon Association, and she now spends much of the year guiding hikers and serving as a volunteer backcountry ranger with the Park Service.

The Grand Canyon has changed my life, she says. It recharges me. Its almost a church for me. I recharge and find my peace.

Mike Harris, a member of the Southern Arizona Hiking Club and a former chief guide for the group, has his own trove of rich Grand Canyon experiences.

I hiked from the North Rim to the South Rim on a day when it was 110 degrees at Phantom Ranch, Harris recalls. Ive seen elk on the South Rim.

I take a lot of pictures at the canyon, he says. Im awestruck every time Ive been down there or up on the rim. And Im going back in April for a three-day backpack trip with my son.

Like so many others, Harris says he never ceases to be excited about a planned visit.

People think its hard to get excited about a big hole in the ground  until they see it, he says.

Even those who never venture into the vast expanse of the inner canyon come away from a visit with incomparable memories  of a sunset walk along the South Rim followed by a canyon-side feast in El Tovars restaurant, or perhaps an evening of stargazing outside the rustic North Rim lodge.

CANYON CHALLENGES

For all the inspiring beauty, a site that receives 6 million visitors in a single year faces some daunting challenges. Among them:

Crowding at viewpoints sometimes detracts from a peaceful or contemplative experience.

Traffic congestion on canyon roads and in parking lots.

Concerns about runaway development in communities near the canyon and impacts from proposed mining ventures near the gorge.

Lehnertz, the park superintendent, notes that issues also arise among Grand Canyons 500 National Park Service employees and some 2,000 or so concessionaires and others.

Since replacing a former superintendent who departed in the wake of revelations of widespread sexual harassment among park employees, Lehnertz says her No. 1 priority is a creative and respectful workplace here at the Grand Canyon.

SIGHTS TO SEE

Travel to the Grand Canyon and something is likely to capture your attention practically anywhere you look. Heres a short list of some of the top observation sites and destinations:

Mather Point  Peer down from this overlook, east of Grand Canyon Village, and youll need approximately a nanosecond to understand why the canyon is considered one of the natural wonders of the world. The point serves up a soaring hawks view of the canyons splendor  from top to bottom and rim to rim.

Hermits Rest  The views from this outpost and overlook, at the western end of a road tracing the South Rim, are breathtaking. A stone building designed by architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter crowns the site.

North Rim overlooks  The North Rim provides a different experience from the South Rim because of its higher altitude, more remote location and, some say, more spectacular overlooks. Among them are Bright Angel Point, Cape Royal and Point Sublime.

El Tovar Hotel  The hotel, perched a stones toss from the edge of the South Rim, was built in 1905. It has hosted Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein and a long list of other noteworthy guests. But the building itself  with its wood-frame construction, namesake tower and elegant dining room  outshines its guests.

On the trail  This is where many of us move beyond mere observation to truly experience the canyon. Here are a few sentences from a personal experience in 1994:

At a place called the Eye of the Needle, I feel the Grand Canyon in the pit of my stomach. The feeling is sheer drop. The feeling is narrow trail. The feeling is dont fall. The Eye of the Needle, a short passage on the North Kaibab Trail named for a nearby needle-shaped spire, is essentially a ledge that was blasted into a vertical wall of what I dearly hope is solid limestone. The ledge is 5 or 6 feet wide and perfectly safe  so long as you watch where you walk. I watch very carefully indeed.

For more photos of Arizonas National Parks, go to tucson.com/parks
PHOENIX  Five child welfare workers fired in the wake of a scandal about uninvestigated abuse complaints will not be getting their jobs back.

In its ruling today, the state Court of Appeals did not address whether it was fair for the state to dismiss the workers who were linked to marking certain cases as NI, as in "not investigated,'' despite statutes requiring all such complaints to be researched. Their attorney, Terry Woods, said they were "scapegoats'' for decisions made by upper management.

Instead, appellate Judge Andrew Gould, writing for the unanimous three-judge panel, said the five were all supervisors. And what that meant, he said, is they were "at-will'' employees who, under state law, could be fired for no reason at all.

And the appellate judges rebuffed Woods' request they ignore that law and rule that, as a matter of public policy, that it was wrong of the state to fire them simply to provide "official political cover'' for the policy that resulted in bad publicity.

But they reserved for another day  and another case  whether the law declaring all employment relationships to be severable "at will'' is unconstitutional.
Seven of eight senior executives at the University of Arizona are taking home more money this school year, as is most of the UA workforce, public records show.

President Ann Weaver Hart approved pay raises of 4 to 5 percent for every member of her senior leadership team except for the top earner, the records show.

The highest paid, Joe G.N. Skip Garcia, who recently announced hes about to step down as senior vice president for health sciences, is drawing the same $870,000 salary this school year as last.

University spokesman Chris Sigurdson couldnt immediately say why Garcia didnt get a raise.

This school year marks the first time since 2013 and the second time since 2007 that the UAs overall workforce  Southern Arizonas largest  saw pay raises.

The percentage increases varied and were based on individual merit and market demand, said Sigurdson, who received a 5 percent raise and now earns more than $194,000 a year.

In most cases, faculty members saw raises of 3 to 6 percent while staff members saw increases of 1 to 5 percent, he said.

Allison Vaillancourt, the UAs head of human resources, said some employees  such as those deemed underpaid or in high-demand fields  received raises of more than 10 percent. Each of those cases were reviewed by the schools provost and finance chief, she said.

Kendal Washington White, the UAs dean of students, had one of the highest percentage increases at 20.3 percent, the records show. Her new salary is $180,500, up from $150,000.

The university is a people-intensive business, and we have to have regular salary increases to stay competitive or we lose brilliant people, said Vaillancourt, who received a 4.5 percent raise and now earns more than $258,000 annually.

We also need to recognize the great work by all our employees, which is why President Hart has made compensation increases part of the annual budgeting process for all units, she said.

Harts $665,500 pay package is set separately by her bosses at the Arizona Board of Regents.

Pay raises for the presidents inner circle are as follows:

Andrew Comrie, provost: 5 percent raise. New salary: $434,120.

Jon Dudas, secretary of the university: 5.1 percent raise. New salary: $368,000

Kimberly Espy, senior vice president for research: 4.8 percent raise. New salary: $393,000.

Joe G.N Skip Garcia, senior vice president for health sciences: 0 percent raise. Same salary: $870,000.

Gregg Goldman, senior vice president for business affairs: 4.9 percent raise. New salary: $425,000.

Laura Todd Johnson, general counsel: 5.6 percent raise. New salary: $299,250.

Amy Taczanowsky, director of the presidents office: 4.6 percent raise. New salary: $161, 697.

Melissa Vito, senior vice president for student affairs: raise 3.9 percent. New salary: $327,500.
Eva Mae Ross elementary school resume would be impressive for any kid.

The sixth-grader at the Academy of Math and Science-Prince does cross country and track and field, plays piano, volunteers at her church and has been a winner in the Tucson Festival of Books Young Authors competition.

Stories that Soar also picked up and performed one of her stories.

In third grade, she was Student of the Year. She recently stopped doing gymnastics.

About a month ago, mom Robin Ross Facebook feed inspired her to put together bags of essentials for the homeless people they encounter on street corners. They stuff the bags with socks, snacks, hygiene items and Band-Aids.

Just watching her say, Sir! Sir! Come over to my car. She is just really funny about it, Ross says. They are just so taken aback by her.

Eva Mae, 12, stays busy to stay positive.

The extracurricular activities help me physically and mentally and they kind of keep my mind off of the negative things that might be going on, she says.

And sometimes, theres a lot going on.

Robin Ross adopted Eva Mae from Vietnam at 2 years old. Her daughter had been left at the gates of an orphanage as a newborn, umbilical cord still attached, wrapped in a towel.

She was born with cleft lip/palate, and thats a shame on the family, Ross says, noting that because Eva Mae was born in a southern province near Cambodia, the likelihood of her being trafficked for sex as a young child was high.

We would walk around the streets of Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City, and people would come up and say, Shes a lucky girl, and I would think, Im lucky, Ross says. I would see women beggars on the street with cleft/lip palate, so I know what they meant, but Im the one thats blessed in this.

Earlier this year, Ross spouse, LaConda Ross, also adopted Eva Mae.

Since coming to the U.S. with Ross, Eva Mae has had 16 or 17 surgeries and usually has about three medical appointments each month and remains in speech therapy. Eva Mae gets anxious as a result of the surgeries  its one reason she stay so busy, Ross says.

Ive been through a lot of things, so I try to be the best I can, and I try to find the positive in everything, Eva Mae says. I know that even though you might be going through a hard time, youll get through it.

She thinks she might want to become a doctor one day to help others  Im not the best with blood, so maybe a mental doctor, she clarifies. Already, her friends come to her for support, looking to her for some positivity and a good cheer-up. She likes to help others feel better.

Her first 2 years in an orphanage, in a crib on the floor, she never crawled, Ross says. She was malnourished. The fact that she is alive and able to function at all is a miracle to me, and the fact that she tries to overcome her anxiety by excelling in things and giving back is just amazing. Shes not very good at tooting her own horn because its her life. Its just what she does.
The city of Tucson is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Mark Brnovich over the citys policy to destroy confiscated guns.

The 30-page motion filed Thursday night suggests the legal mechanism that brought the complaint to the states highest court  SB 1487  is unconstitutional and, therefore, unenforceable.

The states lawsuit threatens 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, since 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  legal documents that spell out the functions and powers of a city.

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. Signed by Gov. Doug Ducey earlier this year, it restricts local governments from passing any laws that conflict with state laws, jeopardizing their state-shared revenue if they dont repeal such laws.

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 attorneys wrote.

They also wrote that the 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 SB 1492 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 also decided at the same time to indefinitely suspend the destruction of firearms until the court fight has been resolved.
You wont have to fly your Learjet to Nova Scotia to see the next total eclipse of the sun on August 21, but youll have to leave Tucson.

Solar astronomer Matt Penn and a group of students from Cienega High School are getting ready to do just that.

Penn will be headed to Weiser, Idaho, for the Aug. 21 spectacle, where he will be operating one of 60 telescopes stationed along the line of totality from Oregon to South Carolina.

Penn is heading an effort by the National Solar Observatory, with cooperation from NASA, to create a continuous view of what is being billed as the All-American Eclipse. The team is known as the Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse Experiment  Citizen CATE for short.

The students from Cienega, members of an astronomy club at the Vail School District high school, will head to Nebraska with adviser Jack Erickson and one of Penns telescopes. They are part of an army of volunteer astronomers whose observations could lead to new discoveries about the suns chromosphere and corona.

If you dont leave town, you will still be able to join in the fun. Itll be dark here, with about 65 percent partial eclipse, said Penn.

In addition, Penn and NASA are planning to stream the event live on NASA-TV. He said the Cienega students plan to live-stream their observations to the Vail schools.

Solar eclipses are not rare. They occur every 18 months or so when the disk of the sun is fully covered by the shadow of the moon, as seen from somewhere on Earth.

The last eclipse visible from anywhere in the United States was in 1991. Tucsonans saw a partial eclipse that year.

Whats rare about this upcoming one is the continuous path that shadow will take  a 2,400-mile swath of the United States from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic that is home to about 10 million people.

A lot more than that are expected to travel to places along the path of the eclipse. Penn said officials in Weiser, Idaho, with a population of 5,333, are excited about attracting visitors but a little worried that 600,000 people from Boise will be showing up.

The path of totality is mostly rural, said Penn, but will pass over urban sections of the country such as St. Louis, Nashville and Charleston, South Carolina.

A total solar eclipse is life-changing, said Claire Raftery, head of education and outreach for the National Solar Observatory. People have been known to burst into tears.

Once the sun is totally blocked by the moon, you can take off your eclipse glasses, Raftery said. You have about two minutes.

With the suns illumination blocked, you can see the colors of the chromosphere and the loops and streamers and beautiful symmetrical shapes that outline the magnetic fields of the corona.

Another feature, called Bailys Beads, allows you to see little bubbles or blobs along the rim of the moon. Were seeing the valleys and the mountains. It reminds me that the moon is a rock, its a physical body and not just a painting in the sky.

Penn is hoping to observe more than the beautiful phenomena that an eclipse causes.

Astronomers have always used transits, passages of one body in front of another, to gather scientific information. Its a good way to find exoplanets and its how scientists initially verified Einsteins theory of relativity.

Penn said he hopes, with his continuous observations, to fill in some missing information about the suns corona, its outer atmosphere.

He is assembling 60 identical telescopes and cameras, training their operators and positioning them about 50 miles apart from Rosebud, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina.

The 80-mm refractor telescopes were donated by DayStar Filters, and the mounts by Celestron. MathWorks kicked in some cash and technical assistance with the software package.

The identical hardware and software will allow the team to combine the individual observations into a continuous 90-minute movie, weather permitting.

Weather is always a limiting factor in astronomical observations. Nobody forecasts weather this far out, but climate data show a greater than 50 percent chance of clear skies from the West Coast to Nebraska and a less than 50 percent chance east of there, Penn said.

While Penn cant guarantee the weather, he does predict a resurgence of interest in solar astronomy.

To begin with, the volunteer observers will get to keep their equipment, courtesy of donations from the companies, individuals and nonprofit groups. Research Corp. in Tucson, for example, is helping to underwrite the Cienega students.

He has also written proposals to NASA and the National Science Foundation to fund academic partners  22 universities and 22 high schools in the path of the eclipse, to join in continued observations of the sun, comets and variable stars.
Help India!

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Eight Dalit, Adivasi and minority students of Jawaharlal University (JNU) were suspended with immediate effect and their hostel facilities withdrawn for disrupting an Academic Council meeting held on Monday.

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Along with Rahl, the other students names are: Dawa Sherpa, Mulayam Singh, Shakeel, Bhupali Kusum Vitthal, Dileep Yadav, Mritunjaya Kumar Yadav and Prashant Kumar.

Students belonging to Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), Democratic Students Union (DSU), Students Front for Swaraj (SFS) and United OBC Forum protested on at the meeting venue, and demanded that the academic council re-schedule its meeting which passed the UGC gazette notification of May 2016 making interviews the sole criterion of admission.

Students like Rahul Sonpimple, who had also contested for the JNUSU elections, have strongly protested against such a notification, alleging that this will only increase the bias against students from the marginalised communities.

Although the JNUSU issued a press release condemning the action taken by the Vice Chancellor, Sonpimple and other students took to social media to expose the double standards of the students body.

The AISA-SFI led JNUSU was not present in the protest against the Brahmanical Viva Voce but it condemns the protest done by BAPSA, United OBC Forum, DSU and Students for Swarajhowever the JNUSU and the JNU Administration are both condemning our protest as Undemocratic. Both the JNUSU and the JNU administration have collectively passed the decision of fee hike and given the fate of students in the hands of the various Centers by letting them decide the students marks in Viva Voce.

It has been already proved that all of the Centers discriminate against ST, SC, OBC, and minority students. The Abdul Naffeh Committee which was formed by the JNU Administration itself has already stated that the discrimination against sT SC OBC and minority students is high in all the Schools and centres. While the Dalit-Bahujan,and Muslim students are fighting against this Casteist Decision by the JNU Administration & VC the AISA-SFI led JNUSU chose to keep quiet and ignore our struggle. Now the JNUSU has come to extend its solidarity to us.Dalit-Bahujan students can fight their own wars, Sonpimple said on Facebook.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the vice-chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will now have a greater say in appointment of faculty members, and he now has the power to nominate experts of his choice to the selection committees.

The move, many Academic Council (AC) members said, was not approved by the body in the previous meeting. On Monday, the AC meeting was held after it was adjourned on Friday, the report added.
Help India!

Lucknow/New Delhi : A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sniffed out more than Rs 104 crore deposited in her partys account after demonetisation, BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday said a Dalits daughter was being barred from political power in Uttar Pradesh through the misuse of official machinery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, saying championing the cause of the Dalits does not entitle anyone to indulge in corruption.

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Addressing a press conference in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, Mayawati said: The anti-Dalit BJP and all those having a casteist mentality do not want that a Dalit ki beti (Dalits daughter) should get the master key of power in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the official machinery to malign the BSP ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Mayawati, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, said the money deposited in her partys account was not black money and was collected by her party workers over the last few months.

She said the said money was collected by party workers as donations and then converted into big denomination notes as it is convenient to carry such currency.

The money belongs to the party, which has been deposited following due procedures. Every penny of this money is accounted for, she said.

The party workers collected the money through membership drive across the country and deposited the same in the party office. Should we have thrown this money after demonetisation? We deposited it in the bank account with full transparency, she said.

Alleging that facts are being distorted to malign her partys image, Mayawati challenged the BJP to make public the details of its accounts 10 months before demonetisation till date.

If they (BJP) have an iota of integrity or honesty, they should make public the details of their accounts, she said.

Taking strong exception to Mayawatis remarks, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he could not understand Mayawatis agitation at a legal process.

The ED has detected the money and asked for explanation as to where did this money come from. She owes an explanation within the legal framework. Why is she so agitated? Prasad said.

Now, it is becoming clear why Mayawati has been opposing the demonetisation move tooth and nail, he added.

Hitting back at Mayawatis Dalit ki beti remark, Prasad said being a champion of the Dalit cause does not allow one to indulge in corruption.

We are all for Dalits empowerment and development. But the issue of Dalit development should not become a symbol of corruption or hijacked by anyone, Prasad said.

In a separate media briefing, Dalit leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan slammed Mayawatis comments, saying being a Dalits daughter is not a licence to corruption.

My party works for the Dalits. The total money in (my) Lok Janshakti Partys bank account is Rs 1,03,198. Being a daughter of a Dalit does not give you the licence to indulge in corruption, Paswan said.
The foundation was founded in 2014 by Miriam Shaded, a Polish charity worker and human rights activist. Miriam Shaded is president of this Foundation.

Why Estera?

The name comes from the Bible (Old Testament), from Queen Esther (Polish = Estera), who saved her people from extermination.

Help persecuted Christians in Syria

In July 2015 the Estera-Foundation brought christian refugees from Syria to Poland. The foundation gives them 470 pounds every month. All the rescued Syrians are very happy that they can stay in a safe and beautiful country now. One of the Syrians opened a restaurant with Syrian food and its selling well.

Hope for victims

Estera-Foundation means hope for victims. Miriam Shaded received 500 applications from people who want to flee from Syria to Poland. Her Foundation supports not only Syrian people, but also Yazidis. Recently Orla Straz, Estera-Foundation and Children Aid Foundation in Zywiec organized a joint action to help families from Iraq who lost relatives in their fight against ISIS. Estera-Foundation transmitted 500$.

Goals of the foundation

1) Help for sex slaves.

2) Fight in defense of Christian values.

3) Help for camps in Dahuk.

4) Help for Christians in Syria and fight in defense of human rights.

5) Fight for women's rights.

6) Support for families who lost relatives in their fight against ISIS.

Miriam Shaded about Syrian people: "My goal was only to ensure their safety. I wanted to rescue them. I want to help them in the process of granting work visas, tourist visas. I am doing it for the people" - said Miriam Shaded, president of Estera-Foundation.

Miriam is famous not only in Poland, but in the world too. A lot of magazines write about her and her foundation.

We can see her in the media of Israel, Germany, UK, USA and France.

"Estera-Foundation was established in response to a cry for help of the Syrian Christians who are currently the most endangered minority in the region. For the sake of their religion followers of Christ are savagely tortured and exterminated. Their religious affiliation often prevents them from seeking help in the neighboring countries. They are persecuted wherever they go."
A San Francisco based organization known as Messaging Extra terrestrial Intelligence (METI) is intending to send radio signals to other worlds instead of expecting aliens to communicate with earth. For this task, scientists have chosen the nearest star-Proxima centaury (PC), to earth. the project aims to send salutations in radio or laser signals to an earth-like planet in PC and then to more distant planets. this would be the first attempt to try to establish contact with other civilizations in outer space.

Objectives and purposes of METI

this organization was founded last year and its main purpose is to promote international collaboration in the design and transmission of interstellar messages.

This implies the social implications related to the search for life beyond the earth, even before the first contact with other outer civilizations. METI intends to research and transmit to the general public the factors that influence the origins, evolution and distribution of life in the universe in the future, addressing principally the last three terms of the Drake Equation.

Are extraterrestrial hostile?

One of the main concerns that come to mind when trying to contact alien civilizations is the way in which they would react when encountering humans for the first time. those who are concerned consider if its worthwhile to encounter aliens given that they are hostile and if we as humans really want to let them know where earth is located in the universe.

Opinions of renowned scientists and theoretical physicists, such as Stephen Hawking have also raised concerns of whether we should draw attention of ourselves to other civilizations.

Communicating with aliens

in the past, there have been efforts to try to communicate with aliens. in the 1970s, spacecraft Pioneers 10 and 11 carried a signal that meant to convey where in the universe humans were located.

the message also included a phonograph record portraying the cultural diversity on earth. Frank Drake from the Search for Extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) sent a radio message assembled into a pictogram of images. recently, scientists have sent concerts of Vivaldi and Gershwin. The song by the Beatles, Across the Universe,  was also sent to outer space.
As the massive $500 million+ success of Rogue One will show, people are interested in seeing the younger incarnations of their favourite characters. Thats what CBS are thinking in commissioning a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory to follow the exploits of Sheldon Cooper as a child.

Casting has begun

Auditions have commenced in the producers search for the young actor who will take the role of the quirky genius. The casting call for young Sheldon (not that one is particularly needed, since Im pretty sure every kid in the world has seen The Big Bang Theory and knows who Sheldon is) is asking for a boy in the 8-11 age range who can play a socially awkward, one-in-a-generation genius. Other adjectives used to describe the character in the casting call are confident, arrogant, short-tempered, and fiercely ritualistic.

Some might argue against this spinoff that Jim Parsons has made the role his own in the way that Ricky Gervais did with David Brent or Steve Coogan did with Alan Partridge, and that no one else could ever be convincingly seen as Sheldon, but Parsons himself is involved with the show as an executive producer, and is assisting Big Bang creator Chuck Lorre and showrunner Steve Molaro in their quest to find young Sheldon.

Laurie Metcalf might not return as Sheldons mother

Laurie Metcalf, who plays Sheldons mother Mary Cooper in The Big Bang Theory, may not be returning to play her younger self. The casting call does mention Sheldons mother, but nothing about Metcalf. It seems a new actress will be selected as the younger Mary. The call notes that the series will focus on Sheldons family life in East Texas as a young boy, something weve heard a lot about from the anecdotes Sheldon tells in Big Bang.

The spinoff might still not happen

So far, this is just a pilot, but given that The Big Bang Theory brings out 20 million viewers per episode and is one of the most watched shows on TV right now, even in its tenth year, with Sheldon as its most popular character, this seems like a no-brainier for CBS.

Expect a cast in place for the young Sheldon spinoff soon, as its slated to premiere in the autumn of 2017, which is quite close considering all the deals that have to be made, sets that have to be built, and shooting that needs to be done. The spinoff could run in the summer when Big Bang is off the airwaves between seasons, the way Fear the Walking Dead does when the original flagship Walking Dead is on hiatus.
Li Xinlei is planning a trip to Dunhuang in northwestern China's Gansu province. Rumor has it that some ancient grottoes might be closed soon to protect them from rough weather, and he wants to see them before it is too late.

Thirty-year-old Li is a travel enthusiast, and has journeyed to most of China, with only the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and northwestern region left on his wish list.

"I travel as often as time permits, with a limited budget," said Li.

Li seldom chooses star-rated hotels, instead, he stays in youth hostels and inns, where travelers share rooms or suites. Prices per person can be low as 50 yuan ($7.20) a day, and newly met travelers can make friends and travel together.

There is also abundant room for cost-saving in transportation. Inter-city buses, car-pooling and hitchhiking are Li's frequent choices. Some places are ideal for traveling on foot: He had an intense four-day hike in snow-capped mountains of Muoto in the Tibet autonomous region.

Doctor candidate Geng Zhaowei, 26, drove a rented van from Ohio to California in a 20-day trip in the United States in July, and camped in national parks to experience a simpler vacation. Booking a campsite for one night costs $20 to $26.

New graduate Bu Yusi usually books tickets ahead of time and studies travel guides online on sites such as Mafengwo and Qyer to trim expenses. When she traveled from Beijing to Taiwan in April, she chose to make two transits by plane and ship. The price was roughly 1,300 yuan, or half the price of a direct flight ticket.

"Not only did I save money, but I enjoyed a fantastic sea journey," she said.

Her 15-day trip in Taiwan cost roughly 9,000 yuan. The daily spending per capita of the 4 million mainland travelers to Taiwan was 1,521 yuan in 2015. Bu's spending was only 40 percent of the average.

Though with bigger budget now, Li prefers immersing into local culture rather than seeking out luxurious pleasure. He recently discovered a passion for photography, and anticipates capturing the beauty of wild deserts and grottoes in Dunhuang.

He Fei contributed to this story.
BEIJING - China's new five-year plan on developing its western regions will promote sustainable and healthy development and boost the confidence of overseas investors.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday during a meeting that the 13th Five-Year (2016-2020) Plan period is a crucial time for western regions to achieve transformation and upgrading.

He said the regions should push forward supply-side structural reform, moderately expand demand, boost innovation, continue to implement the west development strategy, and strengthen coordination between it and other major strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative and development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The fundamental way to develop the regions is by enhancing their endogenous growth through innovation, reform and opening-up, Li said.

China launched its "go west" strategy in 2000 to boost economic development of 12 western provincial-level regions -- Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi and Qinghai -- that are home to more than 400 million people.

Under the strategy, the western regions enjoy support in infrastructure construction, foreign investment, environmental protection, education and talent retention.

From 2000 to 2016, the Chinese government invested 6.35 trillion yuan ($914 billion) in 300 major projects, mostly in infrastructure and energy, in western regions.

In 2016 alone, 743.8 billion yuan was invested in 30 major projects in western regions, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

China's "go west" strategy has brought western regions to their best period of development in history and promoted coordinated growth of the regional economy, said Gao Xincai, vice president of Lanzhou University in Gansu Province.

The total GDP of the 12 regions included in the "go west" strategy accounted for only 17 percent of the country's total in 2000, but the figure had risen to 21.2 percent by the end of 2015, official data showed.

As the Chinese economy urgently needs to address entrenched structural imbalances and find sustainable growth momentum in the next five years, new content should be added to the "go west" strategy, said Chen Yao, deputy director of the Research Center on Western Region Development of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He noted that the industrial structure in western regions should be transformed into a high value-added and environment-friendly one advocating innovation and technology.

Indeed, as Premier Li stressed in the meeting, infrastructure construction and ecological protection are two key elements in promoting the sustainable development of western regions. He urged efforts to protect the environment, improve road and water infrastructure, and ensure the quality of drinking water for rural residents.

Li called for efforts to develop an advanced manufacturing sector and emerging sectors, and promote the development of industries with "ethnic characteristics" such as medicine and traditional handicrafts.

The new five-year plan also aims to create a healthy investment environment in western regions to help investors, advance government administrative reform and improve services, said Chen.

More efforts should be made to streamline administrative approvals, reduce taxation and fees, cut transaction costs, improve the business environment, promote entrepreneurship, and encourage private capital to help develop western regions, according to the plan.

In the 16 years since the "go west" strategy was implemented, more overseas investors have come to western China in search of opportunity.

More than 200 German companies have set up operations in Sichuan in manufacturing, environmental services, vocational education and other industries, according to the 16th Western China International Fair held in November in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

In addition, more cooperation with eastern China and countries along the Belt and Road is encouraged in the new five-year plan to open the west.

Cooperation between eastern and western China has shown itself to be an effective platform for advancing both economic growth and common prosperity, so it needs to be maintained for the long term, said Chen Xiushan, a professor of regional economy at Renmin University of China.

He said that more technological, industrial and information resources in regions along the Yangtze River Economic Belt should be channeled into western regions to boost concerted development of eastern, western and central regions and help with poverty-relief measures in the west.

Meanwhile, cooperation between western regions and countries along the Belt and Road should also be strengthened, which will attract more investment opportunities and promote personnel and cultural exchanges, Chen added.
China said on Tuesday that its diplomacy is pioneering a successful path and making good progress thanks to adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the remark in response to some US media outlets claiming China has been using its economic power as strategic weapon for its recent diplomatic success.

"As the largest developing country, Chinas economic power is not the strongest," Hua said. "We want to develop friendly relations with various countries around the world through mutual respect, equal treatment, and cooperation for mutual benefit."

At the same time, "China has enough will and power to successfully protect its core interests," Hua added.

China has recently recorded a number of diplomatic achievements, including normalizing relations with Norway, resuming ties with Sao Tome and Principe, and Mongolia has promised to prohibit the Dalai Lama from visiting the country.
Beijing's new airport subway line begins construction on Monday. [Photo/VCG]

Beijing's new airport subway line, which will become the fastest subway train in China, began construction on Monday, Beijing Daily reported.

The 41.36-kilometer subway line is expected to be ready for operation in September 2019. The new line will include three stations and will connect the Beijing Daxing International Airport, which is currently under construction, and Caoqiao subway station near Beijing's south third ring road.

Compared to the current travel speed of most subway trains in Beijing, which is 33 to 35 km per hour, "the designed speed of the subway train on the new line is 160 km per hour, and the travel speed reaches 110 km per hour," said a director at the Beijing MTR Construction Administration Corporation.

The entire journey will take just 19 minutes, which includes the train's running time and station dwelling time.

Caoqiao station, a transfer station that will connect four subway lines in the future, will be built into an airport terminal for passengers to manage check-in procedures.

The station has a passenger flow volume of 20 million a year, and the efficiency of check-in procedures will be equivalent to that of terminals at the airport.

The Cigezhuang station and the North Airport Terminal station will connect inter-city railways to coordinate the traffic of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area.
BEIJING -- China on Tuesday called for more pragmatic cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi made the remarks when meeting with visiting Sao Tome and Principe Foreign Minister Urbino Botelho.

China resumed diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe on Monday, after the African nation cut "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region last week.

Stressing that the restoration of diplomatic ties is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries, Yang said China appreciates the Sao Tome and Principe government's return to the one-China principle, a basis for the two countries to develop healthy, smooth and sustained relations.

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea and a former Portuguese colony, established diplomatic relations with China immediately after gaining independence in 1975 but switched to Taiwan in1997.

Yang said he hoped both countries would enhance political trust, boost people exchanges, and deepen international coordination to benefit people on both sides.

Noting that Sao Tome and Principe is delighted to return to the family of China-Africa cooperation, Botelho said his country hoped to strengthen cooperation with China, a strategic partner that will help its domestic development.
BEIJING -- China on Tuesday responded to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Pearl Harbor visit by urging him to sincerely reflect on the country's history of aggression rather than offering diplomatic displays.

"It is only a one-sided wish that he wants to put an end to the history of World War II by just visiting Pearl Harbor," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying at a daily press briefing.

Abe is in Hawaii, where he will take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument with U.S. President Barack Obama.

On Dec 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a US naval base, where thousands of US sailors and marines were killed.

China was the main theater in the Asia-Pacific for the World Anti-Fascist War, and the Chinese people made major contributions to the victory, said Hua.

According to statistics, Chinese military and civilian casualties totaled approximately 35 million, accounting for one-third of the total casualties suffered by all countries during WWII.

"Japan can never turn the page without reconciliation with the victim countries in Asia, including China," Hua said.

She urged the Japanese leader not to "dodge the core issue, and to make a sincere and profound reflection upon its aggression history" so as to "make a clean break from the past".

"Sincere reflection is the only key to the reconciliation," she added.
Luo Jie/China Daily

Three audacious terrorist attacks on Dec 19 left the world horrified. Perhaps the most chilling of those attacks was the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov in Ankara. The assassin, an off-duty police officer, pulled out a gun while Karlov was several minutes into a speech at an art exhibition and shot up to eight times, shouting "Don't forget Aleppo, Don't forget Syria".

In Berlin, a truck plowed through a Christmas market, killing 12 people, which German Chancellor Angela Merkel described as a "terrorist" attack. The suspect, a Tunisian national, was killed in a shootout with police officers in Milan, Italy, on Friday.

And in Zurich, Switzerland, three people were wounded when a gunman opened fire in a mosque frequented by Somali immigrants.

Despite Karlov's assassination, however, Russia and Turkey have vowed to maintain their detente and work together to "invigorate" a political resolution to the Syrian conflict, which in turn, they said, will defeat the designs of the perpetrators to create a chasm between the two countries. The needed response, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, would be to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

However, it is too early to say whether the assassination of Karlov was a result of extreme individual expression of political opinion, or organized opposition to Turkey's efforts to improve relations with Russia.

The two countries, along with Iran, have made notable progress in jointly handling the Syrian crisis despite their longstanding differences. The key disagreement between Moscow and Ankara lies in their stance on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. Moscow and Teheran stand firmly behind Assad, whereas Ankara does not trust him and has been backing the Syrian opposition forces.

But Turkey also wants a secure border and wider support for its efforts to neutralize the independence-seeking Kurdish forces in the southeastern part of the country. Apparently the Turkish government is more desperate to prevent the Syrian Kurds from growing stronger and seek an independent homeland with their compatriots in Turkey and Iraq.

Yet Turkey's concerns were not properly addressed by the United States, which explains why it turned to Russia, which has gained a bigger say in the Syrian crisis. Combating extremist groups in Syria with Russia is also in line with Turkey's national interest.

Factors that have led to increasing terrorist attacks in Europefrom Belgium to France to Germanyand the Middle East, especially Turkey, in recent years, are interwoven. In Europe's case, the sluggish economic recovery has not only dealt a blow to people's livelihood and welfare but also triggered blind hatred toward immigrants, creating deeper divisions and violent reactions.

Besides, violent attacks might be carried out by armed terrorists and homegrown extremist groups, or both, trying to make their voices heard. In the long run, with the Islamic State group struggling to regain its footing in Iraq and Syria, the chances of terrorism spilling over into Europe could increase. The recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, however, are clearly targeted at the Turkish government, and possibly carried out by Kurdish militants.

It is noteworthy that both the European Union and Turkey have reached a historical turning point in their involvement in the Middle East. Turkey is struggling to contain the Kurdistan Workers' Party, and the EU is still seeking ways to deal with the ongoing refugee crisis and the rise of populism in some member states. But neither Turkey nor a weakened EU can heal the wounds in the short term.

The second round of globalization since the 1980s has mostly benefited the financial and high-tech industries in the West, but left the manufacturing sector in deep trouble. More Westerners tend to blame the rise of export-oriented emerging economies and the influx of immigrants for their waning benefits, further fueling protectionist sentiments. And the foreseeable spread of terrorism to other regions and frictions between major powers point to a bumpy road ahead for all parties involved in the Middle East.

The author is an associate professor at the History Department of Peking University, and director of the Turkey studies center at Pangoal Institution, a Beijing-based think tank.
An Indian Catholic priest abducted from Yemen this year appealed to Pope Francis and the Union government through a purported video to secure his release from his captors.

If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value, said priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by news channels in Kerala.

Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating, he said in the video, a day after Christmas.

Father Uzhunnalil, who looked very weak, appeared to be reading out from a text placed before him.

The veracity of the video, which was uploaded from YouTube and Facebook, could neither be independently verified nor was the period when it was shot known.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden.

He claimed his captors have made many contacts with the government of India--president and prime minister.

I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard, he said.

He said reports had said everything has been done to get his release, but in reality nothing has been done.

Father Uzhunnalil said a news reporter abducted in the Middle East was released as she was from France.

I am from India and not considered. Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all to do your might to help me to save my life. I need hospitalisation soon. Please come to my help quickly, he said.

The Union government has said efforts are being made to secure Uzhunnalils release, but such attempts take time.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen.

Swaraj had said it takes more time to secure release of people who are held captive and asked the MPs to keep faith in governments efforts to trace the abducted priest.
An ordinance to extinguish the liability of the government and the Reserve Bank of India on the demonetised high denomination notes is likely to come up before the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.

Sources in the government said the ordinance is being brought as it was found to be necessary to prevent future litigations against the government for junking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Seeking to prevent harassment and any ambiguity, a proviso would be added to ensure that certain category of people can still deposit the old notes in RBI branches between December 31 and March 31 next, they said.

The category may include people in armed forces, people who were abroad and ordinary citizens who can explain that the money is part of their legitimate income and they could not deposit it in banks due to some reasons.

The government is also mulling imposing penalty on people for possessing certain quantity of old notes after December 30 but there is no confirmation.

In 1978, a similar ordinance was issued to end the government's liability after Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 notes were demonetised by the Janata Party government under Morarji Desai.

The government had, while announcing the demonetisation of the old currency on November 8, allowed holders to either exchange them or deposit in bank and post office accounts. While the facility to exchange the old notes has since been withdrawn, depositors have time till Friday to deposit the holding in their accounts.
Alleged terrorist Mohd Mosiuddin was plotting Islamic State-style chilling execution of foreigners, especially those from the United States, Russia and the Unityed Kingdom, visiting the Mother House in Kolkata as it would be a "heart pleasing" experience for him, the National Investigation Agency has claimed.

The NIA, in a chargesheet filed before a special court in Kolkata recently, claimed that Mosiuddin alias Musa was planning to stab and kill foreigners, a style frequently chosen by the IS to eliminate its targets.

The Mother House in West Bengal capital is the headquarters of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity.

In its chargesheet, the anti-terror probe agency has said Musa termed the militants operating in Kashmir as "Mujahids (holy warriors) with impure ideologies" who were fighting for Kashmiri land when they should have fought in support of Sharia, the Islamic canonical law based on the teachings of the Koran and the traditions of the Prophet (Hadith and Sunna).

The agency has provided Musa's photographs in Kashmir to buttress its claim that the terrorist had visited the Valley.

The NIA alleged it had proof of his having bought a big knife to commit the terror crimes before fleeing away.

He also allegedly procured pepper spray from Snapdeal, an online marketplace to facilitate his proposed criminal acts as the intended target would be rendered temporarily blinded by it.

The chargesheet alleged that Musa discussed plans for conducting such attacks at the Mother House, which is frequented by foreigners from the US, Russia and the UK. Armed forces of these countries are locked in fierce battles with the IS in many nations.

Musa had discussed with some others the exact location of the Mother House and was claimed to have told them that foreigners, particularly Russians, Britishers and Americans often visited the place. He wanted them killed as the governments of their countries had bombarded the IS in Syria and Libya, the charge sheet alleged.

The NIA had taken over investigation in the case from Howrah police on July 22.

During Musa' arrest, a .38 bore six-chamber revolver, three rounds of ammunition, a knife, a Samsung mobile phone and other incriminating articles were seized.

Subsequently, one Apple Macbook and a sword were seized from his residence at Tiruppur, Tamilnadu.

During investigation, two more accused, namely Saddam Hossain alias Kalu and Abbasudin Sk alias Amin were arrested by West Bengal CID.

"Mosiuddin was found involved in furthering the illegal activities of the IS in India and Bangladesh and had been in touch with Shafi Armar...and was also linked to the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh operatives in Bangladesh," the NIA had said in a statement.

Armar is a former Indian Mujahideen operative who was later claimed to have joined the IS. It was Armar who had radicalised him by sending the links of jihadi sites like Jihadology.net, Al-Shabab media and Just-Paste-it links, etc.

Armar also allegedly sent him videos released by Ansar Ut Tawid which included footages of the war between the IS and Iraqi forces. The videos and speeches of 'Anwar ul Awlaki', a jihadist ideologue and preacher who was killed in a US drone attack in Yemen, were also sent to him by Armar, a native of Bhatkal in Karnataka and one of the main recruiters for IS in India.

Abu Suleiman, a Bangladeshi IS/JMB operative, visited India to meet Musa twice in March, 2015, and May, 2016. He encouraged Musa to use encrypted chat applications like Telegram, Surespot, Threema, Chatsecure, to communicate with him and other IS operatives, the NIA has alleged.
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Farmers harvest dragon fruit in Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province.  VNA/VNS Photo Minh Tri

HCM CITY  Vietnamese businesses must focus on developing brands for their farm produce to become competitive both at home and abroad, a seminar heard in HCM City last Saturday.

Le Van Banh, head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developments Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production, said Viet Nam is among the largest exporters of many agricultural products like coffee, pepper, cashew, and fruits and vegetables.

But 80 per cent of it is exported without brand names and sold in foreign markets under foreign brands, which is a big disadvantage for Vietnamese farm produce, he said.

Bui Thi Thanh An, deputy director of the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency, said, We export a lot of coffee and tea, but few consumers know they are using products from Viet Nam.

Instead of supplying just raw materials, many firms have invested in modern production technologies to make products of good quality and with high value addition, but developing brands remains a big challenge for them, she said.

Many foreign customers thought for a long time that Vietnamese products were low in price and quality, which greatly affected the countrys exports, she said.

To promote exports, Viet Nam should continue to improve quality and promote its good things globally, she said.

In recent years the Government, industries and businesses have tried to build and protect Vietnamese agricultural brands, delegates said.

But the lack of a master plan and co-operation between various stakeholders means the results have been poor, they said.

Luu uc Thanh of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam said the number of applications for the protection of collective or certified or geographical indications brands is increasing every year.

We [have] granted 649 collective brand certifications.

Besides, 52 geographical indications are protected in Viet Nam, he said.

But a majority of the brands have not been managed effectively, with very few certified brands available in the market, he said.

Only a few geographical indications have been promoted well, like Phu Quoc fish sauce, Buon Ma Thuot coffee, Binh Thuan dragon fruit, Hung Yen longan and Hoa Loc mango.

To ensure the quality and protect the reputation of their specialties, producers and traders in each locality should form a collective organisation (like association) to consolidate their strength and come up with strategies to develop brands, he said.

Banh said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is implementing a plan to develop brands for key agricultural products with an initial focus on mango, dragon fruit, tea, coffee and tra fish.

His ministry has recommended that the Government should offer small and medium-sized enterprises and co-operatives preferential policies in terms of credit, land and others and create a legal framework for brands and other related aspects, he said.

ang Hoang Giang, deputy chairman and general secretary of the Viet Nam Cashew Association, said, We should focus on building brands for farm produce that have good demand and pay more attention to quality than quantity.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said to create a brand for a product three conditions should be met: its production is large and steady, its quality meets food safety and hygiene standards and is competitively priced, and it has a good distribution system.

Building a national brand for Vietnamese farm produce is a unavoidable task, but it is a long process and requires combined efforts by relevant ministries, agencies and industries, especially the business community, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Samsung Electronics Viet Nam (SEV) in association with University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of Languages and International Studies on Saturday held a ceremony to mark completion of the 14th Korean language course.

The course was taken by outstanding employees at SEV and Samsung Electronics Viet Nam Thai Nguyen (SEVT) plants.

The programme is a part of SEVs sustainable development plan to contribute to the countrys high quality human resource development in general and to provide Samsungs employees opportunities to learn and improve their capabilities.

The programme is undertaken by Samsung annually for free for its employee, with the company spending nearly VN50million (US$2,200) spent per trainee, and is exclusive for employees performing exceptionally well in the SEV and SEVT plants.

Each course, which continues for 12 straight weeks, will be taught by Korean lecturers and Vietnamese teachers with PhD and masters degrees from the two leading universities.

On returning to work, the employees can practice their intensive Korean skills at their department by self-study or through spending time with Korean dispatchers. Following the 12-weeks course, all trainees will get the opportunity to obtain the TOPIK certificate. All the trainees are provided with training, accommodation and meals for free.

"We believe every Samsung employee comes here not just to work, but to also get an opportunity to develop soft skills and hard skills for their personal development. Therefore, their development is a high priority within the company. We hope through these training programmes, our Vietnamese employees will be more proactive and confident in the global working environment and develop solid skills during the management process in the future, Cho Hoseok, general director of Human Resources, said.

Established in 2014, Samsung has organised 14 Korean training courses for nearly 250 employees. Samsung expects to host another six training courses for 120 employees next year.

Samsung has also established several training programnes for management levels, as well as the entire staff body at the two factories.  VNS
HA NOI  Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee (KADI) has initiated an anti-dumping investigation of relevant colour-coated steel sheet imports from China and Viet Nam.

This was revealed by the Viet Nam Competition Authority (VCA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

VCA said the investigation could be implemented for 12 months and extended to 18 months if required.

The decision was made following the complaint by PT NS BlueScope Indonesia alleging that repeated illegal trade practices have devastated production and employment and are causing irreparable harm to the Indonesian steel industry. The colour-coated steel being investigated have HS codes of 7210.70.10.00, 7212.40.10.00 and 7212.40.20.00.

Large Indonesian steelmakers are seeking an anti-dumping investigation and the imposition of tariffs on steel imports from both Viet Nam and China.

KADI said from July 2015 to June 2016, Indonesia imported 224,120 tonnes of colour-coated steel, of which, imports from Viet Nam and China were 196,191 tonnes, accounting for 87.5 per cent of the countrys total steel imports.

VCA said Vietnamese colour-coated steel has been also under investigation by Thailand following the complaint of the NS BlueScope Company. The product can be levied anti-dumping taxes of 4.51 to 60.26 per cent in Thailand.  VNS
HA NOI  China has authorised 22 Vietnamese businesses to export rice into its market, Viet Nams Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development (MARD) announced.

Chinas General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has given only 22 firms permission to start exporting rice and rice products starting January 1, counting from the date of departure from the Vietnamese border.

Any businesses not listed by AQSIQ will be banned from exporting to the Chinese market from January 1, the ministrys Plant Protection Department (PPD), which received the related documents from AQSIQ on December 23, said.

The PPD has notified the Vietnam Food Association, sterilisation companies for exported rice and the 22 listed businesses, and published the list online at www.ppd.gov.vn.

The PPD has ordered the 22 companies to comply strictly with the regulations on food safety and plant quarantine set by both Viet Nam and China. It has also urged sterilisation companies authorised by the AQSIQ to work with rice exporters to maintain the quality of the rice and ensure there are no storage pests.

The AQSIQ has issued the list after carefully considering numerous Vietnamese businesses that had applied for permission to export. A group of Chinese experts had travelled to Viet Nam to inspect 31 enterprises that had previously applied to the local ministry for export rights to China.

Among the several countries that import Vietnamese rice, China tops the list with 35.4 per cent of market share in the first three quarters of 2016, according to MARD.

The total rice export turnover into the Chinese market touched 1.35 million tonnes amounting to $613.4 million, down 23 per cent in terms of quantity and 13.9 per cent in terms of value as compared to the same period in 2015.  VNS
AHMEDABAD, India  An Indian diamond trader has thrown a mass wedding for more than 200 fatherless brides and given each of them gifts worth thousands of dollars, to help poor women start a new life.

Mahesh Savani performed the Hindu wedding ritual of Kanyadaan  the practice of giving away ones daughter in marriage  for 236 fatherless brides from poor families at a mega-wedding event in the western state of Gujarat on Sunday.

Savani, who believes that giving away brides is a blessing from God, has been organising similar mass weddings every year since 2012.

"With Sundays mass wedding, I have become (a) proud father to have performed kanyadaan of over 700 girls," he said.

Hundreds of brides in colourful ethnic attire and ornate jewellery performed their wedding rituals in front of thousands of guests in the city of Surat, a hub for the diamond polishing industry.

The tycoon also gave gifts of gold and household items, including sofas and beds, worth 500,000 rupees (US$7,400) to each of the brides to help them start married life.

Two of the grooms at the mass wedding were his own sons.

"This year my two sons also got married during the mass wedding event. So, in all there were 238 marriages," said Savani.

Savani said he began his charitable campaign in 2008 when one of his own employees died just days before his daughters wedding.

It is not known how much the giant ceremony cost.

Indian weddings are famous for their lavish scale with multi-course feasts, decorated horses, brass bands and huge tents to entertain hundreds or even thousands of guests.  AFP
HA NOI  Viet Nam Culture Week has kicked off in Tehran, Iran, aimed at promoting the countrys image and helping people from the two nations get deeper insights into each others culture.

Hosted by the Viet Nam Embassy in Iran, the festival, being held from December 24 until December 29, offers various activities taking place in Tehran, Shiraz, Esfahan and Kish Island, as well as Tabriz and Kashan.

Viet Nams Ambassador to Iran Nguyen Hong Thach said the events will foster greater understanding between people of the two countries and boost bilateral relations.

Culture helps build the shortest bridge between hearts, he said at the opening ceremony in Tehran on Saturday.

Ghodrat Ali Heshmatian, Chairman of the House of Parties of Iran, noted Irans support for Viet Nam since the war and hailed the embassys initiative to organise the cultural event.

The week will feature performances of quan ho (love duets) from Bac Ninh Province and traditional musical instruments, such as the monochord, bamboo xylophone, flute and an tranh (16-string zither).

Photos portraying Viet Nams landscape, culture and peoples lives, taken by Vietnamese and Iranian photographers, will be on display.

Andrian Jelveh, director of the film project "Heaven Is Not Far Away," which presents beautiful destinations in Viet Nam, also attended the opening ceremony and talked about his film crews impressions of the country during the filmmaking process. He explained the reason behind the films name, which was to describe Viet Nam as heaven in terms of beauty, not far away from the people of Iran.  VNS
Party Central Committees Secretariat inh The Huynh(R) receives Chief of the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) cabinet Mam Sarin in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

HA NOI  Chief of the Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) cabinet Mam Sarin has proposed leaders of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and the CPP sign a new bilateral co-operation agreement for the 2017-18 period.

He made the proposal at a meeting with Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committees Secretariat inh The Huynh in Ha Noi yesterday.

The official thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for supporting Cambodia in the past and at present, and especially for saving the country from the Khmer Rouge regime.

Cambodia will spare no effort to further nurture its relations with Viet Nam across all fields, he affirmed.

For his part, Huynh said in any circumstances, the Vietnamese Party, State and people will stand side by side the CPP and Cambodian people to develop their good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-standing collaboration.

He hailed the outcomes of the talks between Vietnamese and Cambodian Party Central Committees Offices and suggested the two sides increase information and experience exchanges.

Viet Nam is willing to share experience with Cambodia in Party building and cadres training, he asserted.

On the same day Mam Sarin held talks with Nguyen Van Nen, head of the Party Central Committees Office, seeking to speed up the two offices cooperation in the coming time.  VNS
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) meets with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith in Laos yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

VIENTIANE  The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue its close co-operation with its Lao counterpart to keep solidifying the two countries special relationship for the sake of their peoples and the success of their respective revolutionary causes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the commitment while meeting with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

The meetings were part of his official visit to Laos on Sunday and Monday, during which he also co-chaired the third political consultation at the foreign ministerial level.

Welcoming Minhs official visit, the top leaders of Laos described the political consultation between the foreign ministers as an important co-operation mechanism for both sides to discuss strategic issues so that the foreign ministries can coordinate effectively to advise their respective Party and State leaders about diplomatic works.

They also appreciated the great and wholehearted assistance that the Vietnamese Party, National Assembly, Government and people has given to their Lao counterparts. They noted Laos always treasures the time-tested friendship, special unity and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries.

The leaders thanked Viet Nam for supporting their nation in acting as the ASEAN Chair this year, which has helped Laos raise its stature in the world.

They hoped the two sides will tighten links in the time ahead, adding that closer co-ordination is needed to prepare for activities marking 55 years of their diplomatic relations and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation in 2017.

During the talks between Minh and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, the officials noted with satisfaction the extensive and effective development of their countries relations in all fields.

Both sides have worked together to tackle difficulties and obstacles to enhance economic partnerships, especially in accelerating projects on energy and transport connectivity, improving the co-operation effectiveness in education, training and human resources development, and managing and using financial assistance to Laos, the ministers noted.

They pledged to direct their ministries to keep co-ordination to serve the countries exchange of visits and boost the effectiveness of existing co-operation mechanisms. They will also urge relevant ministries and agencies to carry out high-level agreements, particularly the joint statements issued during the recent mutual visits by Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith and Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The ministries will also work closely to organise various activities celebrating the 55th founding anniversary of bilateral ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation in 2017, thereby helping to educate younger generations about the countries special solidarity.

At the talks, the two sides exchanged viewpoints on regional and international matters of common concern, including the strategic environment in Asia-Pacific, co-operation within ASEAN, the development of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the sustainable use of the Mekong Rivers water resources, and the East Sea issues.

They agreed to push ahead with close collaboration at regional and international forums, proactively and actively share information, exchange viewpoints and coordinate stances through all channels and at all levels.  VNS
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers speech at the 72nd national police conference in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

HA NOI  The police must be the core force to ensure national security, social order and safety in any circumstances, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong underscored while addressing the 72nd national police conference in Ha Noi yesterday.

He pointed to key tasks that the public security force should concentrate on in 2017.

Firstly, he asked the police to continuously build a strong and transparent force which is absolutely loyal to the Party, State and people, and steadfast in the path of socialism.

The Central Public Security Party Committee must set an example in implementing the Resolution adopted at the fourth plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party construction, while seriously and frankly assessing, identifying and proposing measures to tackle the degradation of political firmness, moral principles and lifestyle, he said.

He called on the police to heighten their responsibilities to serve the Party and people as well as enhance capacity and firmly punish any violators inside the field.

The Party leader reminded the force to continue grasping the Party and States viewpoints, guidelines and policies, which were highlighted at the 12th National Party Congress and the sixth Congress of the Central Public Security Party Committee, to step up people-based national defence.

At the same time, the police must proactively defeat all plots and activities of hostile forces; prevent terrorism and sabotage; effectively cope with non-traditional security threats; and gradually crack down on crimes, to ensure political security in any circumstances, he said.

He urged the public security force to make active contributions to defending the countrys independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in addition to creating a peaceful, stable, safe and healthy environment for national building and development.

He asked the force to exert more efforts to prevent corruption and wastefulness whilst actively making consultations for authorities to reinforce people-based national defence, particularly in strategic areas such as border routes, seas, islands, regions with ethnic minorities and religious followers along with economic and urban zones.

The sector is also required to proactively develop foreign relations and bilateral co-operation with other countries, he concluded.

In 2017, the Central Public Security Party Committee is set to improve the forces strategic forecast and consultancy; proactively discover and stop sabotage schemes by hostile forces; work hard to ensure the country is free from terror, sabotage, and social disturbances.

The police will make efforts to protect political, cultural and diplomatic events in the country while creating positive changes in social order, and reducing social vices, traffic accidents, and fire and explosion incidents.

It will focus on combating self-transformation and self-evolution and tightening disciplines in its staff under the motto renovation, pro-activeness, discipline, responsibility and efficiency.  VNS
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked four central provinces to speed up disbursement of compensation for mass fish deaths earlier in April so as to complete the first payment phase before the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.  Photo baogiaothong.vn

HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked four central provinces to speed up disbursement of compensation for mass fish deaths earlier in April so as to complete the first payment phase before the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue are the provinces that were affected by the toxic spill caused by Taiwanese firm Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS). The spill caused millions of fish to die, imperiling the health and livelihoods of coastal residents.

In a document issued by the Government Office following a meeting of the steering committee set up to deal with the incident, the Deputy PM also instructed the Peoples Committees of the four provinces to work with Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Ministry of Finance to submit compensation proposals for those not included in the original list of recipients.

Under a September 29 decision, the original list of individuals and businesses eligible for assistance included fishermen, owners of fishing boats and their employees, owners of and workers at seafood cold storage facilities, fish sauce and shrimp paste makers, and fish and shrimp farms. The list was expanded later to include seafood processors, service providers in coastal areas, seafood traders and others.

Binh also asked the Ministry of Health to work with relevant agencies to assess the quality of seafood caught within 20 nautical miles of the four provinces seabed and submit the results to the Prime Minister.

He said provincial authorities should sort out their seafood inventories into what can and cannot be used when proposing compensation solutions to a working group led by the Ministry of Industry and Trade that will verify the results.

He also underscored the need to increase communication in seeking public consensus on the governments compensation efforts as well as supervision of Formosa Corporations production processes.

The first phase of compensation disbursement to people suffering from the mass fish deaths began late October and Quang Tri Province was the first to complete it by the end of November.

The province disbursed over VN202 billion (US$8.9 million) from the Government Budget to owners of fishing boats and their employees.

Most of the compensation recipients in the province said they would use the money to buy fishing tools and invest in expanding farming and animal husbandry to revive production and restore normal lives.

The compensation for the affected will be calculated from April to September 2016, with funds sourced from the $500 million compensation paid by Formosa.

The mass fish deaths were first reported on April 6 when a large number of fish washed ashore in Ha Tinh Province. It soon spread to Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.

About 70 tonnes of dead fish were found in the four central provinces, with Thua Thien-Hue Province alone reporting the deaths of 35 tonnes of farm-raised fish.

The spill also affected the lives of over 260,000 people who depend on the sea for a living.  VNS
The August shooting of two high-level officials in Yen Bai was motivated by personal cause, said the local police yesterday.  Photo dantri.com.vn

YEN BAI  The August shooting of two high-level officials in Yen Bai was motivated by personal cause, said the local police yesterday.

In a press conference announcing the official investigation results of the unprecedented shooting that rocked the country, Yen Bai police concluded that the killer, o Cuong Minh, then head of the Yen Bai Forest Protection Sub-Department (FPSD), killed two of the provinces top leaders due to his frustration over the staff shuffle before turning the gun on himself. The FPSD, or the forest ranger unit, of which Minh was at the helm was planned to be merged with the municipal Forestry Sub-Department.

The police ruled out possible motives like political or economic conflicts or twists in love affairs which triggered the killing of provincial Party Committee Secretary Pham Duy Cuong and the provincial Peoples Council Chairman Ngo Ngoc Tuan on August 18. Tuan was also the head of the Yen Bai Party Committees Organisation Board.

Responding to questions on whether the triple-shooting was involved with corruption, Yen Bai Police Deputy Director Pham Ngoc Thang said that the police already investigated that angle, but it did not fall within the jurisdiction of the police to announce in yesterdays press briefing.

Searches at Cuongs office found VN50 million (US$2,200) in a file folder while a safe in Tuans room held $100,000 and VN1.5 billion in cash together with four gold rings and jewellery that is yet to be analysed.

The 52-year-old shooter was said to have driven to the Party Committee office at about 6.30am, and waited outside Cuongs office. When Cuong arrived, Minh followed him into the room and used a Russian-made Makarov pistol K59 to shoot him four times.

Minh then drove his car to the adjacent municipal Party Committees Organisation Board, which was about 150m away from Cuongs office. After waiting for guests to leave Tuans office, Minh came into the room and opened fire three times at the leader.

He then turned the gun on himself.

Cuong and Tuan were pronounced dead later the same day.

The gun was given to Minh by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as arms to the forest rangers.

Next to Minhs body in Tuans office, the police found a 1.5l bottle containing petrol inside a bag, as well as a K59 reloading box holding eight cartridges and a gas lighter.  VNS
Nearly 14 million spam messages are frustrating phone users across the country every day despite efforts by information and telecommunication authorities to combat them.  VNS Photo Truong Vi

HA NOI -- Nearly 14 million spam messages are frustrating phone users across the country every day despite efforts by information and telecommunication authorities to combat them.

The figure, given out at conference on information and telecommunications management held by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) at the weekend, was proof of the failure to control and prevent spam messages.

Officials and experts at the conference blamed the issue on loose subscriber management from telecommunication service providers and fragile punishment mechanisms from authorities.

Wiping out spam messages and illegal mobile phone SIM cards is the responsibility of the service providers. If providers can not do that, the head of the company should be fired and replaced, said Minister of MIC, Truong Minh Tuan at the conference.

The minister vowed to handle the situation of spam messages, illegal SIM cards and even spam calls, stressing the role of mobile phone companies.

It is now time to completely wipe them out, said the minister.

Tuan said spam phone calls were also spreading at an alarming rate without any intervention from mobile phone network providers causing annoyance to users.

He himself was a sufferer of this problem, saying that in just one day, he had received three spam calls, all related to advertising.

The MIC minister suggested a promotional programme to boost the use of post-charged subscribers in the near future.

Discussing measures to undertake, particularly tasks of provincial departments of information and communications, Le Quoc Cuong, Deputy Director of HCM City Department of Information and Communications supported MIC and Minister Tuan for his determination to combat the issue.

Cuong revealed the role of preventing this problem was not only focused on authorities but also the subscription providers.

He cited HCM City as an example, saying that currently the city has a total of 13 million citizens, most of them with at least one SIM card, so it was extremely hard for the city department to investigate or examine the surge of spam messages spreading across the city.

It was hard because subscriber service providers in the city do not provide authorities with adequate figures and details of their customers. The companies that provide mobile phone services do not give out specific information about their handling of the violations, including details of customers that used illegal SIM cards to spread spam messages, said Cuong.

Thus, the official said, the main and most effective solution should come from the subscription providers and mobile phone service companies who need to be toughed and more transparent in their operations.

Telecommunications businesses need to be "squeezed" and there must be clearer mechanisms, and closer co-ordination between business and authorities in controlling the spread of spam messages and the use of illegal SIM cards, according to Cuong.

Meanwhile, another representative from a Nang Citys Department of Information and Communications, who did not want to give a name, said one could buy a SIM card without original certification anywhere in the city.

"This was unacceptable", said the official.

That was proof of loose management and irresponsibility of the providers, particularly towards national security, the official said, adding that this also caused problems for the national telephone number sources as well.

According to the Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Team (VNCERT) in 2016, it received nearly 600,000 complaints about spam messages, most of them were ads, via the 456 channel alone. Of these, 35 per cent were about telecommunication services, 20 per cent about real estate and 13 per cent about ads for SIM cards with rare telephone numbers.

A report from MIC revealed about 2 million subscribers had been found active on the distribution channel but without any user information.

As of December 22 this year, about 15 million virtual mobile phone subscribers accounts had been locked, the report said.

The virtual subscribers were the major sources of spam messages, and organisations and individuals had used such SIM accounts to spread their ads, according to the report. VNS
HA NOI  Misuse of antimicrobial materials was discovered in five out of 15 antimicrobial material import companies this year, the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development said.

Some 16 per cent of the total amount of antimicrobial material imported by these companies was sold to unqualified units, the ministry said.

These units bought the antimicrobial material, then either sold them to other customers or put them in food mixture for pets without clarifying the antimicrobial component on the packages.

These major import companies distributed 70 per cent of their total imported antimicrobial material.

Pham Tien Dung, head of the ministrys Specialised Inspection Division, said selling the antimicrobial material to unqualified units is the most significant wrongdoing within the sector.

According to regulations of the ministrys Veterinary Department, antimicrobial material can only be imported for the production of veterinary medicines. Only manufacturers with a certificate of good manufacturing practices issued by the Ministry of Health can produce veterinary medicines.

Several companies said they only used antimicrobial material in food for sea animals, although in reality they sold them to veterinary units, which would eventually sell them to marine animal farms, Dung said.

During a product examination, a company purchasing shrimps in southern Ca Mau Province found antibiotic residue in up to 15 per cent of the total quantity of shrimps, according to the ministrys Specialised Inspection Division.

The ministrys inspectors will continue highlighting the issue in a key inspection programme next year to put an end to the use of antibiotics in aquaculture.

Such programmes needs close collaboration with the health sector to be effective, Dung said.  VNS
A NANG  The new joint United Kingdom and Australia Visa Application Centre has been inaugurated in the central city to help those in central Viet Nam apply for UK and Australian visas.

Vice director of a Nangs Foreign Affairs Department, Le Thi Thu Hanh confirmed the news with Viet Nam News yesterday.

The centre, which is located at ACB Tower, 218 Bach ang Street, is open from Monday to Friday, and will also be open on Saturday mornings for those willing to pay an extra fee.

Applicants in central Viet Nam no longer have to travel to either Ha Noi or HCM City to apply for visas.

The British Deputy Head of Mission Stephen Lysaght hoped that the visa centre would encourage more visitors from central Viet Nam to come to the UK.

The British Government is committed to improving the visa service for our Vietnamese customers and as well as the new Application Centre, this year we have introduced a new online application form, which is quicker and simpler to fill out. For the first time the form is available in Vietnamese, so that customers can better understand the visa requirements.

Applications at the central city will be processed within five business days

The embassies will provide an option for online applications with introductions in Vietnamese to assist applicants with necessary documents.

Russia and Laos have also opened their Consulate General in the city.

Japan also plans to open a Consulate in a Nang as a way of boosting tourism and exchange between Japan and the central city in the future.  VNS
HA NOI  Fire broke out in two houses in two different parts of Ha Noi today. No injuries were reported.

At noon, a fire broke out in an old house in the capitals Old Quarter, burning all the furniture. Colonel Tran Van Vu, head of the citys Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department Unit 1, said the fire started on the second floor of the house on 83 Phung Hung Street.

Five fire trucks and tens of firefighters were mobilised to the scene. The blaze was stamped out in an hour.

Earlier in the day, at 7.40am, a fire broke out on the second floor of an apartment building in Ha Nois Trung Tu Ward.

Residents said the flat belongs to a 76-year-old man who lives alone and uses wood to cook. They believe that the fire may have started in the kitchen because of flammable substances near the cooking area.

Firefighters had to break down the apartment door to rescue the man.

Investigations are on to establish the cause of both fires.  VNS
HA NOI  One of the solutions to prevent sexual harassment at school is to equip students with the necessary skills to identify signs of sexual abuse so that they are able to protect themselves, heard a workshop today in Ha Noi.

The workshop was held by Kenan Institute Asia, as part of the US State Department-funded Viet Nam Women Improving Lives and Leadership (Viet Nam WILL) Project, which works to build the capacity of Vietnamese civil society organisations and public agencies serving the needs of women.

Nguyen uc Manh, head of the Institute for Population, Family and Children Studies, cited the latest statistics, according to which, each year, on average, there are some 1,000 child sexual abuse cases in Viet Nam, adding that this figure was unacceptable in a civilised society.

The development of means of communication is one of the leading causes of increasing child sexual abuse, he said.

He said up to 45 million people in Viet Nam use the Internet. Among those, 33 per cent are students. Viet Nam is also one of the countries with the highest number of mobile phone users in Asia. A survey in HCM City shows that 95 per cent of students in high school use mobile phones. Up to 73 per cent have two or more than two mobile phones.

Students use mobile phones and the Internet for networking. Bad guys use this habit to lure and cheat students, he said.

Nguyen Luong Thien, a teacher at inh Tien Hoang High school in Ha Noi, pointed out other reasons for sexual harassment cases at school.

Students access to sexual abuse knowledge is limited. They are not even aware about their right to be protected when they raise their voice in case of sexual abuse, she said.

In addition, families and schools are not equipping students with self-protection skills.

Doctor Nguyen Tung Lam, chairman of the Ha Noi Education Psychology Association, said sexual abuse leaves an extremely harmful effect on students. In other countries, child sexual abuse offences are subject to heavy penalties and punishment.

Teachers and families must have psychological knowledge to help sexually abused children overcome the trauma, he said.

At the workshop, psychological experts, parents, teachers and students of inh Tien Hoang High School also participated in a round table discussion on measures to prevent school sexual abuse.

Measures rolled out by students include being proactive in searching for information about self-defence skills to protect themselves from sexual abuse, In addition, schools should organise sex education lessons, not only for students but also for teachers and parents.

Other suggestions included introducing hotlines to report sexual abuse or to consult and answer students queries. Each school was advised to have a psychological consultant room.  VNS
SOCHI  Russian rescuers found on Monday the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea, as officials dismissed terrorism as a possible cause of the crash that killed all 92 people on board.

The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Russias military base in Syria when it went down off the coast of the resort city of Sochi shortly after take-off on Sunday.

Investigators have yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but officials said that an act of terror was not being considered as a possible explanation, despite the plane and its black boxes still being underwater.

A spokeswoman for the Sochi-based search and rescue branch of the emergency ministry confirmed that parts of the plane had been found underwater.

"The debris is at the depth of 27 metres one mile from shore," spokeswoman Rimma Chernova said.

The Russian military added that divers had retrieved "two elements of the planes control mechanism."

Later the defence ministry said part of the planes fuselage, measuring 3.5 metres by 4.5 metres, had been recovered and brought to shore on Monday evening.

Authorities announced that the search operation would continue overnight and into the following days.

Russias federal security service said it is looking into four suspected causes of the crash, which do not include terrorism.

"No signs or facts pointing to a possible act of terror have been received at this time," Russias Federal Security Service said in a statement carried by national news agencies.

The probe is focusing on a pilot error, a technical fault, bad fuel and a foreign object in the engine as the four main scenarios, it added.

Thousands searching

The military has cordoned off part of the Sochi shore, with soldiers standing in a chain and motor boats participating in the search regularly unloading at the pier, an AFP photographer reported.

More than 3,000 people are racing to find the remaining bodies and debris in a massive operation that includes 45 vessels, planes, helicopters and drones, along with divers and remotely-operated deepwater machines.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said some of the bodies could have already been carried off by the "strong current" to Abkhazia, the separatist region of Georgia, and some of its own rescue workers have joined the search operation.

Along with the first 10 bodies, 86 body fragments were brought to the Russian capital for DNA analysis, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

He said searchers have finished looking over the on-land territory around the crash site while divers are working over an area with a radius of 500 metres.  AFP
Storms wreak havoc on northern Plains

CHICAGO (AP)  Travel conditions remained hazardous as a winter storm swept across much of the northern Plains on Monday, with blowing and drifting snow forcing the closure of an airport and creating near-zero visibility on some roads.

The combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that forced vast stretches of highways in the Dakotas to be shut down Sunday continued into Monday, and authorities issued no-travel warnings for much of North Dakota.

Meanwhile, in parts of the South, unseasonably warm temperatures was raising the risk of tornadoes and damaging thunderstorms. About 3 million people in parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee could see damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.

Most of North Dakota was to remain under a blizzard warning through Monday evening. Winds gusting 40 mph to 50 mph associated also led to delays and cancellations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

U.S. tourist reports rape in India

NEW DELHI (AP)  Indian police said Monday they arrested four men on suspicion of raping an American tourist who came to New Delhi alone earlier this year, marking another incident of sexual violence to stir outrage.

Police said the suspects  a tour guide and his associate, a car driver and a hotel worker  were arrested Monday.

The woman said in her police complaint the four men raped her after she was drugged in a New Delhi hotel room in April. They denied the accusations.

She also said the four men shot a video of the attack and had threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone, police said.

Connecticut, Ohio mall melees reported

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP)  State and local police arrested several people after a melee at a Connecticut shopping mall.

Authorities said fights broke out Monday evening at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall in Manchester. There were no reports of serious injuries.

Several hundred teenagers were in the mall at the time and there were several fights.

Meanshile, police in Ohio used pepper spray to disperse a large crowd following a fight at an upscale shopping mall.

The fight broke out Monday evening at Beachwood Place mall, prompting a lockdown.

Also, a mall in Fayetteville, N.C., was evacuated after a fight among teens sent a crowd of shoppers fleeing.

At building site, truck rolls, kills boy

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (AP)  A young boy was killed by an unmanned truck that rolled down a hill after it wasnt properly secured at a construction site.

Hillsborough Police Chief Duane Hampton said the 5-year-old boy was playing in the neighborhood when the truck rolled away from the construction site where it was being loaded.

The truck rolled through several yards, hit the boy and came to rest after crashing into a house. A worker was arrested.

50 shot in Chicago over weekend

CHICAGO (TNS)  Five people were wounded in shootings in Chicago early Monday, bringing to almost 50 the number of people shot in the city since Christmas weekend began Friday afternoon.

Much of the violence happened in areas with historical gang conflicts on the south and west side of Chicago, said police. Ninety percent of those fatally wounded had gang affiliations.
WATERLOO  An energy company is working in southern Black Hawk County to develop what would be the countys first wind farm.

RPM Access is actively securing landowner permission, gathering technical data and has applied for a power grid interconnection agreement for a new 70 megawatt facility generally between U.S. Highway 63 and Iowa Highway 21 south of Waterloo.

While some property owners are preparing to fight the prospect of up to 35 wind turbines in their backyard, company officials said theyre getting a positive response from landowners who would host what theyre calling the Washburn Wind Farm.

Plans detailing the exact size, number and location of the turbines and related infrastructure may not be available until next summer, said RMPAs Felix Friedman.

The design still hasnt happened yet, Friedman said. We dont know where the turbines are going to be, so we dont know who the neighbors are going to be.

But its a great location because of its proximity to Waterloo, he added. Physically, that power would be flowing into Waterloo and will be consumed by users right there.

The De Soto-based company has developed over 1,000 megawatts of wind generation projects in Iowa since 2000, selling more than half of them to MidAmerican Energy Co., including the nearby 138 megawatt Wellsburg Wind Farm in Grundy County.

RPMA also owns and operates the 41 megawatt Elk Wind Farm in Delaware County, 36 megawatt Hawkeye Wind Farm in Fayette County and 50 megawatt Rippey Wind Farm in Greene County.

The company has applied to Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which oversees the power grid in 15 states and part of Canada, for permission to connect a 70 megawatt generation facility in Black Hawk County. Friedman expects MISO approval next summer.

Meanwhile, RPMA and its consultants are working on environmental and cultural studies in the project area; conducting geotechnical surveys and collecting wind data; and mapping out underground utilities, roads, residences and other landmarks for turbine setbacks and other location restrictions.

Those factors will be used to design the project before RPMA can apply to the county for necessary special permits. Even with that approval, the company would need to find buyers and investors before any construction would take place.

You dont have anything to sell unless youre in the (MISO) queue with land under contract and wind data being collected at the site, Friedman said.

While RPMA said it has not reached agreements for any utility to buy the Washburn Wind Farm, it may find a willing partner in MidAmerican Energy.

MidAmerican received Iowa Utilities Boad approval Aug. 26 for its plans to invest $3.6 billion to develop 2 gigawatts of wind power over the next three years. The Wind XI project would utilize 1,000 turbines at multiple sites across the state, with some of those sites yet to be determined.

RPMA has held four informational meetings to date with property owners who are being asked to lease land voluntarily for the Washburn Wind Farm. No eminent domain would be involved.

But several potential neighbors have been voicing opposition to the development to the county Board of Supervisors, including three residents who spoke about the project during an Oct. 25 board meeting.

We as property owners have not been notified of this proposal, said Deb Nieman. Since we only own an acreage and not the farm around us we are left in the dark.

RMPA is offering lease payments to landowners and additional payments to surrounding property owners within a certain distance of the turbines.

Those who arent exactly a half mile from them but still get the full view and effects get nothing, Nieman said. But we ourselves could care less about the money.

Opponents worry the large turbines would hurt their property values; kill bats and birds, including eagles spotted in the area; throw ice from the blades; and even cause human health issues due to low-frequency noise, motion and shadow flicker.

Black Hawk County is prime agricultural ground, Nieman added. Wind turbines should be on ground that is not productive.

Rick Green, who operates a helicopter crop dusting service and farms in the area, said the towers could hurt his business.

If this windmill farm goes through Im looking at $5,000 per machine increase in my (insurance) premium, Green said. Its going to cause me to have to raise my rates. Plus, as a human being, Im not looking forward to seeing flashing lights every evening.

RPMA officials said the company has its own biologist on staff and had adjusted projects to mitigate the impact on wildlife, even curtailing turbine operations at certain times when bats are most active. Similar curtailments are made to accommodate crop-dusting.

They said there are no scientific studies linking wind turbines to human health effects, contending those impacts would be documented by now given 30 percent of the power generated in Iowa today comes from wind.

Were environmentalists ourselves because were in the wind business and we think clean energy is good, Friedman said. Other energy sources are much more harmful to human health and the environment, whether its coal or gas or nuclear.

RPMAs Kevin Lehs, who is working to sign up landowners for the Washburn Wind Farm, said the company tries to limit the amount of farm land used for its project and noted the lease payments provide a secure source of income for farmers that isnt affected by flood or drought.

We seek to put these things on fencelines if we can, said Lehs, noting each turbine takes up about three-fourths of an acre. I farm myself, so Im sensitive to those issues too.

RPMAs $80 million, 41 megawatt Elk Wind Farm, for example, has 17 turbines and took just 13 acres of land out of production, Lehs said. The project has paid $1.25 million in landowner payments since it opened five years ago.

Company officials said local governments and the economy reap enormous benefits from any lost ag land.

Lots of times were the biggest property taxpayer in the county, said RPMAs Kirk Kraft. Our Wellsburg project will be 10 percent of the taxable value in Grundy County when its fully on board.

Kraft said a single wind turbine will generate $25,000 to $40,000 in county and school property taxes each year depending on the size of the machine and the local property tax rates.

Friedman said wind has already proven to be an economic development tool, as companies like Facebook, Google and Microsoft have located in Iowa due to those corporations commitment to meeting their large power demands with renewable energy.

Facebook officials said access to wind energy was a key reason the social media giant chose to build a $300 million data center, which opened in Altoona in 2014 and is preparing for its third expansion.

Facebooks Altoona campus is powered by the Wellsburg Wind Farm developed by RPMA and sold to MidAmerican Energy.

The Board of Supervisors encouraged wind farms to locate in Black Hawk County when members voted in April 2015 at RPMAs urging to adopt an ordinance granting property tax breaks for turbines. Iowa law allows counties to initially tax projects at 30 percent of their value, which is phased in to the full amount over six years.

Supervisor Linda Laylin said her counterparts in Grundy County have given RPMA high marks based on the Wellsburg project.

But the Board of Supervisors has little say about whether the Washburn Wind Farm gets approved.

County zoning regulations state wind generation projects require a special permit and not a zoning change. The appointed county Board of Adjustment determines whether to approve special permits.

The Black Hawk County Board of Adjustment rejected the only wind project to come before it to date. A request from Optimum Renewables to erect three towers near Dunkerton drew heavy opposition in August 2015 before the board voted unanimously to reject it.

Optimum Renewables later build the towers in Fayette County near Fairbank, but the project is now the subject of an ongoing legal battle.
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Coors LightTroy Ave, born Roland Collins, was shot on Christmas Day, while on his way to visit family in Brooklyn, New York.

According to WABC, the rapper was shot twice -- once in his arm and another bullet grazing his head -- as he sat in his red Maserati in the East Flatbush neighborhood of the New York City borough.

Collins' lawyer stated that the shots came from a man wearing a hoodie, who walked up to the driver's side of Collins' vehicle.

Collins drove himself to Brookdale Hospital, where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. 50 Cent visited the recording artist as he recuperated, posting a picture of the two on his Instagram account.

The "Appreciate Me" entertainer is currently out on $500,000 bail, following his involvement in the fatal Irving Plaza shooting, which occurred before the start of a T.I. concert last May. His friend and bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, died following the incident.

Collins was indicted on both attempted murder and weapons possessions charges and is due back in court January 26.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
WEST UNION  Charges are pending in a Fayette County crash where a man spent the night trapped in his vehicle.

The incident happened the evening of Dec. 22 and he was discovered the morning of Dec. 23, according to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office.

The crash was reported just north of 16857 Lincoln Road. Deputies said at about 7 p.m. Dec. 22, Austin Ruroden, 28, of West Union, was northbound in his 1999 Chevrolet pickup when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed the center line and entered the west ditch and struck a cement box culvert. Ruroden remained trapped in his vehicle overnight, managing to free himself from the vehicle the next morning and make his way to the shoulder of the roadway where he was discovered by a passing motorist.

Ruroden was transported to Palmer Hospital in West Union where he was treated for multiple fractures, internal injuries and lacerations. Ruroden was later transferred UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo.

Ruroden told The Des Moines Register from his hospital bed he just went into survival mode. The Ruroden vehicle was considered a total loss.

Recent UNI grad killed in crash

BLAIRSBURG  A University of Northern Iowa student who graduated Dec. 17 was killed two days later in a car crash in Hamilton County.

Andrea U. Matul, 24, of Clarion, studied music therapy at UNI and had gone through winter commencement ceremonies on campus.

The crash was the afternoon of Dec. 19. The Iowa State Patrol said Matul was driving north on U.S. Highway 69 when she crossed the center line and hit a southbound vehicle near Blairsburg. Troopers say she lost control on the slush-covered road.

According to her obituary, Matul was born in Guatemala but moved to the U.S. in 2000 and graduated from Clarion High School in 2011. While going to UNI, she worked at Younkers and Cafe Due. She also performed with the UNI dance club.

Funeral arrangements are being provided by Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion, www.ewingfh.com.

Fire damages Clarksville home

CLARKSVILLEA Christmas Eve fire damaged a home whose residents were wintering in Florida, authorities said.

Butler County Emergency Management director Mitch Nordmeyer said crews were called to a home near the intersection of Elizabeth Street and Ilgenfritz Avenue shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday after a neighbor reported seeing smoke coming out of the attic. Crews were on the scene until about 9 p.m.

Nordmeyer said the home sustained smoke and water damage; fire damage was confined to the attic and roof. Nordmeyer said it appeared most of the contents of the residence are salvageable. He said the residents were notified of the fire and are returning.

No cause has been determined, Nordmeyer said. Clarksville and Allison fire crews responded, along with Clarksville police and Butler County emergency management personnel.

Shooting arrest

in Benton County

VAN HORNE  A man was arrested in connection with a Christmas Day shooting in Van Horne in Benton County.

Steele Lee Unkrich, 24, of Van Horne, faces charges of willful injury, intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent, all felonies.

Benton County Sheriff Randy Forsyth said the incident was reported about 7:15 p.m. Sunday. The victim is an unidentified 38-year-old Belle Plaine man who was taken to St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids after being shot. His condition was not available.

Unkrich was arrested on U.S. Highway 30 in Tama County by Tama County authorities and the Iowa State Patrol. No further suspects are expected. Unkrich and the victim are believed to know each other, Forsyth said.

Unkrich was being held Monday in the Benton County Correction Facility on a $10,00 bond.
DES MOINES  Hull Sen. Randy Feenstra is living the dream as a Republican legislator tasked with reforming Iowa income taxes.

Feenstra, 47, enters his third term in the Senate next month as the newly named chairman of the Senates tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Republicans control the Senate for the first time in a decade along with the House and the governors mansion.

Expectations are running high the GOP will produce significant changes to the states complicated income tax code beyond the 10 percent across-the-board cut they engineered the last time they controlled state government in 1997.

There is absolutely a lot of pressure, said Feenstra. He has been busy analyzing data with the nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency on the impact of proposed changes in the tax code.

He also has been getting input from taxpayers, trying to avoid any unintended consequences.

GOP leaders say tax reform is at the top of their two-year agenda, but the task has been complicated by slumping revenue.

It is time that we do some type of reform in the system that is the most complicated system in the nation. My goal is to streamline and then see how that plays out with revenues and so forth, he said.

Feenstra has looked at past studies of Iowas tax code as well as changes other states have made to analyze what worked and what didnt.

Right now were like little test tubes, were testing many, many different scenarios and what is the best thing for Iowa, he added.

The Legislature convenes Jan. 9.

Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, who will be installed as the new Senate president, told a Des Moines business forum tax reform will be a top priority, along with balancing the state budget and improving Iowas water quality.

I believe one of the messages from this campaign is that Iowans feel that they are overtaxed, Whitver said. We will have a bill to address individual income tax this year. I believe were going to have a situation where we can have a win-win where we can put more money in the pocket of hard-working Iowans while also growing our state. Well have that bill. What it will look like we dont know yet. Were still working on the details.

Feenstra added, As much as Id like to do it in one year, we might have to do some things over a two-year period and maybe show whats behind the curtain in the first year and say this is what were looking at doing.
Heres a paradox for you. Whenever theres a terrorist attack, the immediate response from government officials and the media is: Lets not jump to conclusions. Yet when there are breaking reports that Muslim or Arab Americans were allegedly victimized by bigots in some hate crime, the response is instant credulity, outrage and hand-wringing.

This doesnt really even scratch the surface of the double standard. When theres a terrorist incident, theres deep skepticism at every stage of the unfolding story. At first were told theres no evidence the attack is terror-related. Then, when reports come in that a shooter shouted Allahu akbar! or has an Arabic name, were assured theres no evidence the shooter is tied to any international terror groups.

Days go by with talking heads fretting about self-radicalization, homegrown terror and lone wolves. This narrative lingers even as the killers Facebook posts declaring allegiance to ISIS emerge.

Now, truth be told, I think some of this skepticism is understandable. Often the media and the pundit class on the left and right are too eager to win the race to be wrong first. Its perfectly proper to not want to get ahead of the facts.

More annoying is the Obama administrations studied practice of slow-walking any admission the war on terror isnt over, but at least its understandable. President Obama came into office wanting to end wars and convince Americans terrorism isnt such a big deal.

It seems to be a sincere belief. The Atlantic reported Obama frequently reminds his staff that slippery bathtubs kill more Americans than terrorism. It took Obama six years to admit the shooting at Fort Hood was terrorism and not workplace violence.

Regardless, my point here is I can understand why politicians and the media want to be skeptical about breaking news events and even why they try to frame those events in ways that fit a political agenda.

The best defense of that agenda isnt the sorry effort to pad the legacy of our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president. Its the desire to err on the side of caution when it comes to stigmatizing law-abiding and patriotic Muslims with the stain of acts of terror in the name of their religion.

The media doesnt want to give credence to the idea all Muslims are terrorists, not least because that attitude will only serve to radicalize more Muslims. As we are often told, ISIS wants peaceful Muslims in the West to feel victimized and unwelcome.

And that brings me back to the medias instant credulity for stories of anti-Muslim bias. This eagerness to hype anti-Muslim backlash stories has been around for nearly 20 years, and it has always been thin gruel.

According to the FBI, every year since the 9/11 attacks there have been more  a lot more  anti-Jewish hate crimes than anti-Muslim ones. Which have you heard about more: the anti-Jewish backlash or the anti-Muslim backlash?

Amazingly, the experts fear an anti-Muslim backlash stories keep popping up after every Islamic terror attack, despite the fact the backlash never arrives. To be sure, there have been hateful and deplorable acts against Muslims. But evidence of a true national climate of intimidation and bigotry has always been lacking.

What has not been lacking is evidence that many activists want to convince Americans such a climate exists.

This effort has been old hat for the media-savvy spokesmen of the Council on American Islamic Relations for years. But since Donald Trumps election, there has been an explosion of freelance anti-Muslim hate crime hoaxes.

A Muslim girl fabricated an attack by three Trump supporters on a New York subway. A young man pulled a similar stunt on a Delta flight this week. False fraud claims by Asian and Hispanic students at various universities have popped up as well.

The media, still in the throes of anti-Trump panic, has been quick to credit these hoaxes and grudging in clearing the air when theyve been debunked.

Its time the media applied at least the same level of skepticism they reserve for real terror attacks to fake hate crimes. Why? First, because their job is to report the facts. Second, because if theyre really concerned about not alienating or radicalizing American Muslims, they shouldnt hype the propaganda efforts of the idiots who are doing exactly that.
President-elect Donald Trump has every right to select whomever he wants for his Cabinet and chief advisory positions. Some of his choices, however, make it harder to distinguish between the reality of our 45th president and the parodies of him on Saturday Night Live.

Sometimes it seems as if Trump is playing jokes. How else to interpret his selection of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry as secretary of energy? This department is, after all, the only one Perry couldnt remember when asked in a 2012 debate to name the three federal departments he wanted to eliminate.

Except for 14 years as Texas governor, Perry has been an expert at working himself out of a job, having done so in two presidential campaigns and his disastrous stint this year on Dancing With the Stars. Perhaps Trump wants to dismantle the Energy Department and believes Perry is the best person to do it. Perrys demonstrated ability on live national television to wipe the department from his own memory certainly counts for something.

Petroleum revenues play a major role in the economic health of Texas. As governor, however, Perry had little to no direct responsibility over that sector. Petroleum production is regulated by the independently elected Texas Railroad Commission. Royalties from oil production on state land are managed by the independently elected state Land Commissioner (currently George P. Bush, son of Trumps primary opponent, Jeb Bush).

Nothing in Perrys academic background points to an expertise in energy. And if his mission truly is to dismantle the department, theres nothing in his resume to suggest particular experience in dissolving agencies with $28 billion annual budgets. Nor does Perry offer much expertise in managing nuclear security, which accounts for more than a third of the Energy Departments annual budget.

Perry did, however, work hard to assist one of his principal campaign donors, Harold Simmons, to establish a major depository for radioactive and hazardous waste in West Texas. Simmons, a deceased Dallas billionaire who bankrolled the 2004 Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, donated $3 million to Perrys various electoral endeavors.

Thats just a taste of the sweetheart, mutual back-scratching society that characterized Perrys three-plus terms in office. Imagine the miracles he can work at the federal level.

Equally troubling was the 74-point questionnaire the Trump transition team sent to Energy Department staffers asking them to account for any attendance at conferences where global climate change was discussed.

Both Perry and Trump reject the overwhelming body of scientific evidence that humans contribute to global warming. We shudder to imagine future McCarthy-like hearings in which employees are challenged, Are you now, or have you ever been, a climate-change believer? This is no joke.
Astros throw group no-hitter at Phillies to tie Series at two games each
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The Louisiana Channel has unveiled its latest video on Bjarke Ingels' anthropocentric discussion and human being's massive impacts in the current geological era. Titled The Beauty of Human, in the 7-min video, Ingels says ''the one thing all humans share is that we all inhabit the same limited amount of real estate, which is planet earth.''

Celebrated Danish architect Bjarke Ingels discusses an ultra local approach to architecture in a global world. The beauty of the human project has always been its adaptability, the result of which is a highly differentiated catalogue of possible ways of living.

Video by Louisiana Channel

''Each city becomes a very specific experiment in how to inhabit this particular part of the planet for this particular group of people,'' Ingels says, proposing that we use this ''catalogue of global best practice'' as inspiration for building better, more sustainable architecture and cities. While modernist architecture tried to create one style of building to fit all humans, todays architecture can help us learn from each other and adapt solutions from one environment to another  such as the Copenhagen bike paths that were exported to Australia.

Ingels also discusses the Anthropocene, the current geological era in which humans are the main actors on the environment, causing massive ecological and social change. ''Once youve accepted that there is no way we can be here without having a very significant influence on our planet we just have to take it as a positive,'' says Bjarke Ingels and proposes to design our world so that we have positive social and environmental side effects.''

Bjarke Ingels was interviewed by Marc-Christoph Wagner in New York in October 2016.

Bjarke Ingels is a potential candidate for the 2017 Pritzker Architecture Prize in our recently released Pritzker Prize list. Read World Architecture Community's short memorable index and cast your vote in our poll.



Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard

Edited by: Klaus Elmer

Produced by: Marc-Christoph Wagner

Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2016

Top image: Bjarke Ingels, image via Video

> via Louisiana Channel






Dec 27, 2016 | By Tess

South Korea has been at the forefront of adopting 3D printing technologies in many fields. Within the medical sector, for instance, it has explored fast-track approval for 3D printed devices, and the South Korean government has also forged ahead with tax exemption policies for companies pursuing research and development for 3D printing technologies. We can likely expect to see even more innovation coming out of South Korea now, as the government has published a list of emerging technology sectors, which includes 3D printing, at the 8th Information and Communication Strategy Committee.

The technologies listed, which also include fifth-generation telecommunications and artificial intelligence, will be focused on for further development, and are considered as key next-generation drivers of growth. While not much has been disclosed in terms of how much money will be invested into growing and advancing these technological sectors, they will receive some sort of funding.

According to the list, technologies such as 3D printing, virtual reality, IoT, and self-driving vehicles will benefit from investments from the South Korean government. In terms of 3D printing technologies specifically, the South Korean government is reportedly planning to help the countrys automotive and aerospace industries adopt additive manufacturing. It will also promote the use of 3D printing within the defense, railroad transportation, and medical sectors.

Aside from 3D printing, the South Korean government is also planning to introduce a 5G telecommunications network by the year 2020. According to a release, this means that telecom carriers will be given access to a high-frequency spectrum for the new 5G service as of 2019. The new 5G network reportedly has speeds up to 100 times faster than current 4G wireless networks. The governments support of technologies like VR/AR, artificial intelligence, and self-driving cars is linked to the release of the new 5G network, as they are technologies that would benefit highly from faster operating speeds. Other applications that are being pushed in the lead-up to 5G are smart city, disaster response, and medical care.

The newly released plan also lays out strategies to deal with increasing cyber-hacking threats, which include funding programs and firms that are developing AI-based security technologies and services. This essentially means that computers could be adapted to fend off cyber-attacks themselves thanks to advanced artificial intelligence.

As part of the cyber-security effort, South Korea will establish a government body that will deal explicitly with South Koreas cyber safety. In addition to AI-based security measures, the cyber-security plan will also involve investing in block-chain security technologies, which will make it more difficult for hackers to counterfeit and steal. This investment marks the first time that the South Korean government has put funding towards R&D for block-chain security.

Lastly, the plan addresses ways to help bolster struggling industries such as the shipbuilding industry. As weve previously covered, the country is putting $20 million towards developing and advancing technologies such as 3D printing and IoT at a shipbuilding center in Ulsan.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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H. M. Naqvi in Dawn:

Translation is not a craft but an art, a vital one, one that allows us to participate in each others experiences, in each others stories. Imagine if we had remained cloistered like our fur-swathed forefathers  far-flung tribes wrapped up in ourselves. Imagine the world without the Mahabharata, Iliad, A Thousand and One Nights, Rumis musings, Cervantess epic. Without Flaubert, Proust, Chekhov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky. Imagine learning Sanskrit, Greek, Arabic, Persian, Spanish, French, and Russian. And what of Chinese?

In a wonderfully thought-provoking piece titled The Wonderfully Elusive Chinese Novel2 Perry Link, Professor Emeritus of East Asian Studies at Princeton University, describes his experience teaching Chinese to American students: The most anguishing question I get is Professor Link, what is the Chinese word for ___? I am tempted to say that the question makes no sense  [for in] languages as far apart as English and Chinese, in which even grammatical categories are conceived differently, strict equivalence is not possible. Elucidating, he offers the example of a word as corporeal, as tangible as book. Apparently, the closest approximation of book is the word shu. But shu might mean writing or letter or calligraphy or, intriguingly, book-ness. If you were to ask for a book at a Chinese bookstore, you would ask for a volume of book-ness.

More here.
What are the steepest streets in San Francisco?

It's a question you've likely been asked a million times by everyone from random tourists in Fisherman's Wharf to your own mother. And if you've dutifully gone to Google to research that question, then you'll likely find the SF Bureau of Engineering's outdated list from the last century.

It looks something like this:

1. Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde (31.5% grade)

2. 22nd between Church and Vicksburg (31.5% grade)

3. Jones between Union and Filbert (29% grade)

4. Duboce between Buena Vista and Alpine (27.9% grade)

5. Jones between Green and Union (26% grade)

6. Webster between Vallejo and Broadway (26% grade)

7. Duboce between Alpine and Divisadero (25% grade)

8. Jones between Pine and California (24.8 grade)

9. Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway (24% grade)





But don't be deceived! You'll notice that there are some seemingly very steep streets that are obviously missing from this list. What about Kearny Street just above Broadway, for instance?

We joined forces with Stephen Von Worley, who combined the National Elevation Dataset's data with an Open Street Maps grid, to come up with the real list of San Francisco's steepest streets. You're welcome.





The Real List of the Steepest Streets in San Francisco:

1. Bradford above Tompkins (41% grade)

2. Romolo between Vallejo and Fresno (37.5% grade)

3. Prentiss between Chapman and Powhattan (37% grade)

4. Nevada above Chapman (35% grade)

5. Baden above Mangels (34% grade)

6. Ripley between Peralta and Alabama (31.5% grade)

7. 24th between De Haro and Rhode Island (31.5% grade)

8. Filbert between Hyde and Leavenworth (31.5% grade)

9. 22nd between Vicksburg and Church (31.5% grade)

10. Broadway above Taylor (31% grade)


Central, Herreid-Selby, Warner just 1 win away from state title games

Aberdeen Central, Warner, Herreid-Selby and Hitchcock-Tulare are all just one win away from high school football championship games.
Adding sweetness to the holiday season for year-end celebrations, Del Monte, one of the leading food and beverage brand in India, has come up with a social media campaign for all the sweet enthusiasts called #SweetEscapades. The campaign inspires home chefs, home and professional bakers and the likes to create delectable desserts made effortlessly using exotic packaged ingredients by Del Monte.

Understanding the customers desire of creating new recipes without spending too much time, Del Montes Sweet Escapades campaign thrives on recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, and use those ingredients that are common to ones household kitchen, along with Del Montes packaged and dried fruits. For this, Del Monte has taken up a unique format of videos which are short, informative and captivating.

The campaign also highlights and promotes the resourcefulness and usage of Del Montes packaged fruits which are used in the short recipe videos. It focuses on enabling the consumers to experiment their own recipes incorporating Del Monte dried and canned fruits. Del Monte offers a diverse range of packaged fruits such as Pineapple slices, Pineapple Tidbits, Peach Halves, Fruit Cocktail, Dried cranberries & Prunes. The Sweet Escapades Social Media campaign has reached over 5 million people with 98% of audience being women and interested in making desserts at home.

As part of the campaign, Del Monte is also inspiring home bakers to take part in a dessert making contest in association with Home Bakers Guild, a popular baking community with over 1.2L members. Inspired by the common love for baking, Home Bakers Guild opens the platform for likeminded home and professional chefs. Del Monte Sweet Escapades contest has invited entries from the members of the group to share their unique recipes created with the help of Del Monte ingredients. Top 10 entries will be chosen by a special jury and the winners will be rewarded with goodies from Del Monte worth nearly 60k. The contest will conclude on 30th December 2016.

Link to Del Monte twitter handle:-

https://twitter.com/DelMonte_In

Link to the Twitter handle with the video: - https://twitter.com/DelMonte_In/status/803850620469997568
NowFloats, a location-based disruptive Mobile technology backed; online and offline discovery platform which helps businesses get discovered, today announced the appointment of Mr. Rajeev Goyal as the companys Vice President of Growth & Strategic Projects. Also appoints Mr. Mukesh Lohar as their Business Head for India and Asia Emerging Markets; where he would be chiefly responsible for creating and managing business streams for NowFloats.

Mukesh Lohar comes with 15 years of rich experience in setting up SMB and SaaS businesses, pre-sales and strategy working with multiple companies such as Knowlarity Cloud Telephony, Tata Communications Ltd. and Bharti Airtel Ltd and has several awards in his name, including the much coveted ProClub and Blue Ribbon award. He is passionate about everything that has got to do with Cloud, SaaS, mCommerce, digital and mobile marketing. He is an alumni of IILM and IIM, Lucknow GMPE dropout.

Rajeev will assume the responsibility of growing the discovery platforms business through the use of empirical and scalable methodology. He will be also be leading the companys Digital Desh drive. It is an initiative by NowFloats which aims to unravel exactly how the Tier 2, 3 and even 4 cities are using technology innovatively in their everyday life. This is an anti-survey of sorts because it is a quest to document the real stories behind those numbers of increasing internet users in

He brings with him over 17 years of experience across Digital Search Marketing, Ecommerce, Online Grocery, Payment Solutions, SME Financing, Consumer Internet and VAS in organizations across verticals, including, Vodafone, Ericsson, Videocon, Spice and Askme. He is adept at running large teams and deliver on key organizational goals such as revenue, scale and operational efficiency. During his 7 year stint with Vodafone, he led the companys VAS Vertical (Including Internet (3G/2G Business).

Prior to joining NowFloats, Rajeev was the Group Vice President for Operations, Strategy and Go-To-Market for Askme. In this leadership role, he was primarily responsible for heading operations across business lines, incentive management across teams across business lines, managing Go-To-Market for all new launches and rollouts, providing strategic direction to the organisation in terms of geographical expansion, consolidation, rollouts, back-end efficiencies, customer Engagement and sales force management.

Speaking on the top leadership appointment, Jasminder Singh Gulati, Co-founder & CEO NowFloats, commented, Roping in Rajeev is an important strategic decision on our part. He strongly believes in growing exponentially rather than incrementally and his role at NowFloats will evolve with time. His philosophy is that when one works in a startup environment, ones Key Result Areas is everything that one is capable of doing, and not limited to a "role". This will define how he contributes to NowFloats in the coming times.

Rajeevs experience includes handling expansions and rollouts, GTM, operations, CLM, backend, CRM, loyalty programs, call-center management, customer service, seller/merchant acquisition, merchant on-boarding, content, telco alliances, product pricing and packaging, taxonomy, quality, audits, sales management, consumer internet, VAS etc, and we will be able to viably leverage such myriad expertise at NowFloats.

Elaborating on the roles and responsibilities of Mukesh Lohar, he added, In addition to managing the end to end business lifecycle, Mukesh will be responsible for helping the company in strategic acquisitions and funding, creating International Business and Channel sales verticals and managing our 28 sales offices across India and other offices that we will be setting up over the coming months. Mukeshs objectivity of sales successes keeps him achievement oriented which has won him many coveted awards in the past. We are extremely confident that his strong relationship oriented approach will go a long way in strengthening our ties with partners and customers.

Rajeev Goyal, Vice President, Growth & Strategic Projects, NowFloats, commented, I am extremely elated to join NowFloats. Businesses face many hurdles to get an effective digital presence, which includes investing time and effort in creating an impactful website, content freshness, updating of business relevant content in real time, online discovery, generating potential leads and subsequent conversion. This is where NowFloats comes in. The platform boasts of a magnanimous market share currently and is bullish on riding an aggressive growth gradient.

Reiterating the conviction, Mukesh Lohar, Business Head for India and Asia Emerging Markets, NowFloats said, I am immensely excited to be a part of this fastest growing local content discovery platform globally. The companys digital marketing solutions for organic SEO is helping millions of enterprises solve their discovery issue and give online identity. I would definitely like to extend my expertise and experience in delivering the best of solutions to our esteemed stakeholders.

NowFloats extensively uses Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, NLP & big data analysis to help clients update their business website and also enables them to optimize their website for localized discovery by potential consumers.
Parle Kismi recently rolled out its new TVC after three years focussing on todays youth, in a way entering the list of Emoji campaigns. Keeping the tagline, Har kismi mein hai Kiss in mind, Vipin Dhyani, Founder & Chief Creative Director, Thoughtshop Advertising & Film Productions, came up with the idea giving a refreshing twist for new age teenagers, who are mainly glued to mobile and use the emojis.

In the TVC, tool wise emojis explain the tiff between a young couple and how the boy makes an efficient use of Kismi Emojis to woo his girl. Kismi Emojis come as a rescuer and the eureka moment is that we see the couple together. Thoughtshop has conceptualised and created communication films for various products for the Parle Group, which include Hide and Seek, Hide and Seek Bourbon, Milano, Monaco Smart Chips, Mango Bite and Krackjack.

Explaining the insight and creative thought process behind the campaign, Vipin Dhyani said, If you notice advertising for the confectionary segment, it comes under impulse advertising. Simply saying, we as a consumer dont calculate or judge our decisions before buying a candy or toffee, as we do before buying a car or a refrigerator. We feel like munching something sweet and we choose any brand available. The category is quite cluttered and so is the advertising. Thus, o finding a differentiator in TG is a better bet sometime.

Link to the TVC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEC6KNL2LA4

He further said, To keep Parle Kismi in the teenager category was definitely a good move. As the name suggests, kismi gels well with teenagers than a younger age bracket. We took the brief from the client as we had to communicate with the TG in a contemporary manner, without losing the focus from the product. So, story wise we took the Emoji route, where we see a cold war situation between a girl and a boy. The girl throws a bouquet belonging to the guy, back on him and the boy is trying to appease her by sending a virtual bouquet via emoji. She snips it quickly with her emoji of a pair of scissors. He sends an overexcited smiley and she breaks its teeth with her hammer emoji. Finally, kismi comes to his mind as a saviour, he clicks the real kismi and sends her. He strikes the right chord and a happy reunion, followed by our product window with the voice over, which says: Parle Kismi. Har kismi me hai kiss. (A Kismi is equal to a kiss). So, in this visual narrative format the guy is trying his best to win her back, but when nothing works, the spotlight moment comes on the product. It is a gesture of a truce in this case, Dhyani added.

The campaign has been crafted out well with cool graphics and a romantic background score in order to be palatable for the appropriate TG.

When asked what took Parle Kismi three years to come with up a new campaign, BK Rao, Deputy Manager  Marketing, Parle Products, replied, Parle Kismi was promoted through print media and Point of Sale material during these years. In an increasingly cluttered market, we felt the need to promote Kismi and hence, the new TVC.

Further speaking about the objective of the campaign, Rao said, The objective is to build the brand proposition of Har Kismi main hai ek Kiss. The brand Kismi plays the role of an enabler between lovers, friends or so.

We all remember Kismi since our childhood days. While promoting the brand via TVC, the brand name appeals to the youth. Hence, we decided to target the teens and the youth TG, he said, while commenting on the progression of Parle Kismi from a kids brand to the current target audience (teenagers and young adults), he added.

Commenting on the key growth areas for Parle Kismi, Rao stated that the focus for Kismi is to increase the width of distribution in the urban markets. Kismi has been traditionally a strong brand in the rural markets.

Parle is looking to promote Kismi via platforms like Facebook and YouTube and is tapping youth occasions like Valentines Day, etc., in terms of incorporating social media in their communication strategy.
Thums Up has always recognized the Toofani - heroic spirit  in every individual. The new Thums Up communication campaign that was released today, takes this theme forward. The new thematic campaign starring Ranveer Singh, draws on the core idea of Main Hum Bhi Hoon, Aur Khaas Bhi  a set of values that is true for all Thums Up loyalists. The "Toofani" Thums Up drinker shines in the face of danger. Along with introducing a bold new face to the brand, the campaign ladders up from its traditional chase, for a bottle of Thums Up.

The new campaign is the second rendition of the creative expression  Main Hoon Toofani which was launched early this year. Based on the idea of celebrating the Khas in Hum, the campaign seeks to inspire its consumers to unleash their toofani or heroic spirit.

Launching the new Thums Up campaign, Mr. Debabrata Mukherjee, Vice President, Marketing, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia said, Thums Up advertising is set apart by its energetic, fast-paced and stylishly rendered action. Ranveer Singh, with his palpable energy and inimitable style, will help amplify the aspirational quotient of the brand. Ranveer embodies the Thums Up philosophy in his personal life - an uncompromising attitude towards achieving ones goals. We are confident that this partnership will work towards fulfilling the brands objectives.

The campaign has been conceptualized by team Leo Burnett, led by Sachin Das Burma (National Creative Director) and has been launched through a high-octane action film directed by acclaimed Hollywood DirectorSimon West. Simon is known for his work in blockbusters like Con Air and Expendables 2.

Commenting on the campaign Sachin Das Burma, said, It is a fact that nobody is born a Toofani, it is what you do in the face of adversity that makes you one! Real Toofani exists in everyone, its just that we need to recognize it and work towards achieving our goals. Following the brands philosophy of believing in oneself and inspiring people to unleash their true potential, the campaign focuses on the hero spirit that resides in every Thums Up drinker. It was a great learning experience working with someone of Simons caliber, as all the action sequences in the film are live and look nothing short of an action-packed rollercoaster ride.

Talking about associating with Thums Up, Ranveer Singh said, Thums Up has been an integral part of my life, my favourite cola. My entire family could entice me with a Thums Up and make me do anything for it. I am glad to have chosen Thums Up as its endorser, since the brands attitude resonates with me more than any other. Thums Up personifies me  daring, confident in my skin and a risk taker.

Creative Team on the new Thums Up campaign
The ground marshal raises his hands into position  the signal.



The jets engines begin to rumble louder and louder and louder.



The baritone rumble fills the flight line, electrifying the air.



Its time for the launch.



With a mighty roar from the growling engines, QF-4 Phantom II, AF 349, jumped forward with excitement.



The same excitement washed across the flight line over the hundreds of people in the crowd at Holloman Air Force Base.



Some cheered. Some smiled. Some snapped photos as fast as they could. But everyone was focused on AF 349.



This was her moment.



Lt. Col. Ronald King, her pilot, grinned and eased her forward on the way into history. Today was Dec. 21. This was the final flight of the QF-4 Phantom  the final flight of AF 349  and after 53 dedicated years of superior service, the final flight of the Phantom II would be done right.



This has been a humbling experience, said King, the Det. 1, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron commander. There is no way to truly understand what this aircraft has done without talking to the people who lived it.



The F-4 Phantom II entered military service to the Air Force in 1963. In the early years, it served as the primary fighter-bomber of the Air Force until aircraft production ended in 1979.



On top of its outstanding combat record, the Phantom was also optimized to fly more specialized missions. The RF-4 was a reconnaissance aircraft built for speed, while the F-4 "Wild Weasel" terrorized enemy anti-aircraft missile installations.



The Phantom also became a beloved icon of air superiority beyond its combat service to America. It set 15 world records, including aircraft speed  1,606 miles per hour  and absolute altitude  98,557 feet. It is also the only aircraft to be flown by both the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.



It earned beloved nicknames such as Double Ugly, Old Smokey and the Rhino, which made many aircraft fans love it all the more.



What can I say about the F-4? said Clint Richards, a civilian F-4 aircraft fan who shared the final flight ceremony with his 3-year-old son, Isaac. The Phantom was the first model airplane I had as a kid. Just hearing the sound of this aircraft is awesome. It is the sound of freedom.



Despite the tremendous love many share of this aircraft, its operational capability ended in 1997.



But the Phantom continued to serve.



The aircraft was re-designated the QF-4 and was assigned to the 82nd ATS, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, 53rd Wing. At Holloman AFB, the QF-4 would begin the final decades-long chapter of its service to America both as manned and unmanned aerial targets.



Det. 1, 82nd ATS at Holloman AFB is the only QF-4 full-scale aerial target mission in the Department of Defense. This mission supports the QF-4 anytime, anywhere at Holloman AFB and White Sands Missile Range, N.M. from pilot training to testing the Army's Patriot Missile System. The squadron manages all contract operations of the QF-4 fleet to meet mission needs from Tyndall AFB, Fla.



QF-4 targets helped test an array of weapons, increasing effectiveness. It also directly assisted with improving capabilities of the 4th and 5th generation fighters.



Over its many years at Holloman AFB, the QF-4 flew 145 unmanned missions and 70 aircraft were destroyed in service. It flew its last unmanned mission in August 2016, and will be replaced by the QF-16 in 2017.



Ive learned a lot on this journey, said King, the only active duty F-4 pilot in the Air Force. This is not an aircraft; this is a family. With that, I would leave you with this  Phantom forever.
You need it, we move it.



That is the saying of Airmen with the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron who enable rapid global mobility every day at Al Udeid Air base, one of U.S. Central Commands busiest en route stations.



We are the middle man for the area of responsibility, and everything goes through this port, said Master Sgt. Kelly Lemke, air freight superintendent with the 8th EAMS. Rapid movement is what keeps us in the fight. Without us, cargo doesnt move and personnel cant travel.



Lemke explained the 8th EAMS primary mission is to load cargo onto the C-17 Globemaster III, but because of their expertise in transportation and logistics, they have become more and more involved in supporting the majority of aircraft here.



The 8th EAMS knowledge in transportation and logistics enable their ability to inspect, temporarily store and load cargo such as munitions, blood, special operations cargo, hazardous materials, vehicles and medical supplies. Their ability to also rapidly move cargo has given them a larger tie to theater operations impacting battlefield personnel.



As a tenant unit, we mostly maintain ourselves operation-wise, said Lemke, but with our specialized skills we hope to establish ourselves as a partner [in wing operations] rather than just a tenant.



Those same skills allow the 8th EAMS to also support coalition partners with their air missions. Recently, they worked together with other agencies on base supporting missions critical to operations in Mosul, Iraq, including those impacting the posture of ground forces.



During November of this year, Airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron were tasked with supporting Mosul operations by expeditiously gathering, organizing and palletizing more than 19 tons of fire retardant foam and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense equipment.



There are always surprises in the military, said Staff Sgt. Mark Majack, sealift coordinator with the 379th ELRS. I went from my daily routine to leading a team into palletizing almost 45,000 lbs. of fire extinguishing foam and 1,000 gas masks.



With the support of the 8th EAMS, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing expedited those 19 tons of equipment in support of Operation Conquest. That same partnership backed the Mosul offensive by also quickly shipping 11,000 lbs. of special operations equipment and more than 19,000 blood units, saving 107 patients. The cargo supporting U.S. and coalition forces was on its way only 12 hours after the initial tasking, a showcase of 8th EAMS mantras of velocity and tenacity.



It is all just a matter of knowing what is coming in to the port, knowing what needs to go out and then matching that all up, said Staff Sgt. Matthew Sanders, a capability forecaster with the 8th EAMS. If things get hung up in one spot, it creates a ripple effect.



To prevent such hang ups, the diverse Airmen of the squadron do everything from tier two aircraft maintenance, command and control of Air Mobility Command aircraft and mission tracking, to loading and unloading equipment, and even servicing aircraft washrooms.



With a steady focus on flexibility and tenacity, Airmen of the 8th EAMS work around the clock to bolster the U.S. Air Forces Central Command and AMC missions.
On April 4, 1975, just a few weeks before the fall of Saigon and end of the Vietnam War, the first military flight of Operation Babylift out of Saigon on a C-5 cargo aircraft, crashed right after take-off. There were close to 300 hundred people on board, mostly children under the age of two that day, only a little more than 170 people survived the crash 41 years ago.

Retired Col. Regina Aune and three guests visited the 433rd Airlift Wing Dec.19, to tour a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft and to recount the day of that terrible crash. In the group was Aryn Lockhart, one of the orphaned babies, who survived the deadly crash.

The group was hosted by Col. Thomas K. Smith, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander.

Operation Babylift was a combined effort between the United States, Canada, Australia and France to mass evacuate more than 3,300 refugees from South Vietnam.

According to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, when President Ford was faced with mounting evidence of the imminent fall of South Vietnam, he authorized the evacuation of thousands of Vietnamese orphans (many fathered by American military personnel) to the United States.

A then, Lt. Regina Aune was on the first military aircraft to Vietnam to bring the refugees to the United States. As the medical crew director on that mission, she was charged with taking care of all the passengers, mostly babies on that ill-fated flight.

During the tour, Aune recalled how the children were bedded down in the overhead troop compartment of the aircraft. While walking through the aircraft, she took the group back through the day of the flight, while Smith explained the workings of the C-5 and the mission of the 433rd AW.

She went on to describe what she heard right before the crash, and seeing the cargo doors blew, and watched as a crew member got sucked out with them. Aune told the group, she remembered seeing the South China Sea through the hole in the back in the back of the aircraft. When the aircraft finally came to rest, it was torn into two parts.

Although wounded, Aune and the other crew members carried the surviving children off the aircraft. Aune was honored for her actions that day with the Cheney Award, recognizing her act of valor, In a humanitarian interest performed in connection with aircraft. At that time, she was the first female to ever receive the award.

Lockhart doesnt remember the crash or the aftermath; she was too young, and only remembers what was told to her by her adopted parents.

After growing up, she set out on a quest to find something about the crash and her journey to the U.S. During her search, she found Aune, by simply doing an Internet search. Together they have become friends and have written a book entitled Operation Babylift: Mission Accomplished.
Tata Sons slapped a legal notice on Cyrus Mistry for alleged breach of confidentiality by making public sensitive, confidential documents.

Breaking his silence on the ongoing feud with Cyrus Mistry, Ratan Tata last week said that there was a definite move to damage his personal reputation over the last two months.

He, however, hailed that truth will prevail in the end whatever the process may be and however painful it may be.

He also said the attacks on him and Tata Group were unsubstantiated and very painful, in direct references to all the allegations and charges fired at by ousted chairman of the company, Cyrus Mistry and Nusli Wadia.

Ever since Cyrus Mistry was ousted as the Chairman of Tata Sons and Ratan Tata appointed as interim boss, the battle between the two sides have seen allegations and charges.

Misty has vowed to continue his fight against Ratan Tata even moving the National Company Law Tribunal, charging the interim boss of weak governance and oppression.

The ousted chairman also said there was no chances of truce with Ratan Tata nor the company. Instead, the ousted Tata Group Chairman vowed to continue his fight against Ratan Tata stating that his fight is for larger issue of governance.
The All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) had given a call for demonstration against the problems that various banks and their employees were facing due to demonetization. Pointing out that the banking system itself is losing credibility because of frequent changes in RBI/government policies, AIBOC General Secretary Harvinder Singh said customer dissatisfaction is increasing because of chaos and confusion created in implementation of the scheme.

Bank employees are feeling increasingly targeted in the face of public anger. The constant notifications and the lack of cash provided have led banking establishments facing the wrath of clients. Banks staff members serve the people and are working overtime to keep their commitments, but are helpless when they do not get enough cash to meet the minimum requirement of the customers. The governments constant flip-flop on exchanging and depositing old cash notes in the bank branches, besides changing the limits on cash withdrawals has also created lot of confusion among the people.

Bankers know banking best so they should be not involved in questioning for accepting deposits. Further, no accountability should be fixed on the bank officers in this respect as they are plunged with a job not anticipated of them. It is true that there are some black sheep among the bank employees and officers but just because of that one cannot paint all of the bank personnel and officers with one tainted brush. Apart from the given problems the banks staff have to face with some unruly customers. It is commendable that they are serving their customers with a smile and are also working overtime without extra wages.

Public sector bank officers are being subjected to the anger, anguish and wrath of customers or general public due to short supply of currency notes to the banks. The banks have been at the receiving end of much of the troubles, leading to a deterioration in bank-customer relationships, with increased reports of violence against banks and bank employees as public frustrations grow. There is acute shortage of Rs. 100 currency notes and hence even the recalibrated ATMs are not able to dispense cash to the customers. The banks have rightly demanded increased transparency in the cash flow and called on the RBI to ensure the protection of bank employees.

The RBI authorities should assure the supply of adequate cash to all banks and branches so that ATMs are restored without further delay. There should be transparency in cash supply to banks by the banking regulator without any discrimination. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated the commendable work done by banks. Many have worked honestly during the recent crisis after demonetisation. While the culprits deserve severe punishment those who have worked hard should be compensated. Does anyone talk about the unlucky persons who lost their lives due to stress and strain after standing in the queue or working behind the counters? Government should also take care of their kith and kin and provide adequate compensation.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed the demonetisation drive a complete mess and away from Achche din, which was built up by the UPA government.

Addressing a joint press conference with Opposition leaders at the Constitutional Club in New Delhi, Rahul said that PM Modi should reply regarding that the problems faced by the people of India. What about the unemployment in the country?

PM should answer the nation what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for the poor people affected by it, the Congress Vice-President said.

Demonetisation has made no impact on black money. It is an attack on financial independence, poor people, he said.

A new market for the conversion of money has been set up. What resulted is an attack on financial institutions and poor people of the country, Gandhi said.

Adding to the criticism, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the move has taken the country back by 20 years. The government is looting money of poor people and giving it to rich people in the form of loan, Banerjee said.

She questioned PM Modi whether he would resign if things dont go back to normal even after 50 days. Even if after 50 days, things will not change. Will the prime minister resign? she said.

In push for cashless economy, Modi government has become baseless. Its a total loss of face for them, she said. Describing the situation prevailing in the country as a super emergency, Banerjee said it has not been officially declared. It is not emergency, its super emergency. Just it has not been officially declared, Banerjee said.

Soon after the Oppositions press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive on Banerjee and Gandhi.

He said PM Modi has stressed time and again that the people of the country were supporting the note ban move, and asked whether this could be the reason behind the Oppositions discomfort.

Prasad also targeted Gandhi, who has alleged that Modi took bribes from corporates as Guajarat CM, over the issue of corruption, raking up scams in the previous UPA regime.
A Saudi Arabian man has been jailed for one year for calling for an end to the Muslim kingdoms guardianship system that gives men wide controls over women, local media said Tuesday.

The man, who was also fined 30,000 riyals ($8,000) by a court in the eastern city of Dammam, was convicted of inciting to end guardianship of women in statements he posted on Twitter and in public posters, the Okaz daily said.

He was arrested while putting up posters in mosques in Al-Hasa district calling for an end to the globally unique system that subjects women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to male control.

During questioning, police found out that the man was also behind a wide online campaign to end the guardianship, the paper said.

The defendant admitted pinning up the posters in several mosques, saying he solely launched an awareness campaign after finding that some female relatives were facing injustice at the hands of their families, the daily said.
As part of the pharmocracy that has become America, flu vaccines - with a full 25 mcg of poisonous mercury - have become blackmail in keeping one's job in some professions. Can you imagine that? In the United States of America, if you do not accept the risk of a flu shot, you could LOSE YOUR JOB. The flu shot is known to be a miserable failure year after year, crafted on the previous years' strain, no risk for pharma if it fails, or maims or kills. You're a nurse You love your job. You could lose your job if you do not take a flu shot. Well, in Erie, Pennsylvania, score one for medical freedom. Nurses who were fired for not taking the shot are getting their jobs back. Let's hope the intense pharma control of the last several years is coming to a close.

###

Saint Vincent Hospital has agreed to rehire six former employees it fired after they refused to get flu shots in late 2013 and early 2014 due to their religious beliefs.

The Erie hospital also will provide about $300,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to the employees as part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of the workers by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September. A consent decree that ended the case and detailed the settlement terms was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Erie.

The commission had claimed Saint Vincent violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it fired the six workers, who refused to be vaccinated after the hospital implemented a mandatory flu vaccination policy for all employees. The hospital granted medical exemptions to 14 other workers.

"The consent decree filed this week between the EEOC and Saint Vincent Hospital does not constitute any admission of violations by Saint Vincent or a finding on the merits of the case," Dan Laurent, a spokesman for Allegheny Health Network, Saint Vincent's parent organization, said in an email. "Although we have vigorously and respectfully disagreed with the EEOC's position and characterization of how employee claims outlined in this lawsuit were handled by the hospital, we have reached a resolution of the matter in the interest of avoiding the expense, delay and burden of further litigation on all parties."

As part of the consent decree, Saint Vincent must pay the following employees back pay and compensatory damages: READ MORE



http://www.goerie.com/news/20161221/erie-hospital-to-pay-rehire-ex-workers-who-refused-flu-shots








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On November 8, 2016, Donald Trumps message of saving American jobs from outsourcing won him the U.S. elections and made him the 45th President of the United States. Some commentators then suggested that the greatest threat to American jobs was not from outsourcing but from the advance of technology.

However, a quick look at the history from the time of the Industrial Revolution onwards shows that the opposite is true. The massive shift towards greater use of technology in the workplace over the past century did not decimate jobs but, in fact, created a much more dynamic workforce with versatile skills.

Over the course of the 20th century, this approach contributed significantly to the elevation of many nations to the superpower status they still enjoy today.

Pall-Pack AB is a company that embodies the spirit of innovation and technological advancement that drove the Industrial Revolution. Specialized in packaging, they offer a range of end-to-end solutions that allow their clients to deliver their products safe from accidental damage and environmental factors.

The right packaging systems and solutions allow their clients to not only cut down on the amount of time required to deliver packaged products but also save on overhead and material costs in the process. By using intelligent packing methods, Pall-Pack AB minimizes the weight of the packaging, which in turn also contributes to reduced transportation costs.

The same advantages follow upon delivery of the finished product  the correct level and style of packaging allows the recipient to receive their products intact while reducing the amount of time required for the unpacking process.

None of this would have been possible had Pall-Pack AB not taken lessons from the automation of the U.S. economy and the evolution of industry over the course of the last century.

At the turn of the last century, about 40% of the U.S. workforce was employed in agriculture. The number today is less than 2%. Yet, the incorporation of technology into farming did not contribute to mass unemployment.

Quite the contrary, these developments diverted the workforce away from traditional farming; they created a boom in jobs that provided better pay and better work conditions. The next generation of would-be farmers enjoyed a world of possibilities that their forefathers could not imagine.

Jobs associated with agriculture - for example, in transport, infrastructure and research - have created a new world of possibility for individuals who would otherwise only have had menial labor as an employment option. They ate better food, had access to wider knowledge and higher education, enjoyed greater disposable income and became the epitome of the Great American Dream.

There would have been a similar apprehension by the labour force in the last century as they saw the machines that were designed to replace them. However, that trend toward industrial automation in direct farming spawned a boom in production, employment and income.

In a world where bottom lines and annual profit reports matter, it would be naive to assume that every step taken towards automation is taken with the employee in mind. However, the lesson from history is that, regardless of intent, the demonstrable results of the shift drive entire nations and their citizens to a bigger and brighter future.

If we can rid ourselves of the fear of change, it is hard to dispute that the potential for a cleaner, safer and better world lies in automation.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2016  Forecasters widely expected colder than normal temperatures to persist in the Pacific Ocean in the first half of 2017, bringing about a phenomenon known as La Nina, but those predictions are not being realized, according to USDA officials.

Mark Brusberg, USDAs deputy chief meteorologist, told Agri-Pulse Tuesday that temperatures in the Pacific had dipped into La Nina levels in recent months, but they have already begun rising, pushing conditions into neutral territory.

Ocean temperatures need to drop by an average of half a degree for at least six months to bring about La Nina conditions that can have substantial impacts on farmers in South America and the U.S., Brusberg said, and now it looks like that is not going to happen.

While there isnt any guarantee of a correlation, a strong La Nina pushes up the odds that South American farmers will suffer drought conditions, Brusberg said. Growers in Argentina and Brazil are planting corn and soybeans now and weather conditions are good, Brusberg said. The failure of La Nina conditions to develop could provide even better conditions in Argentina, and to a lesser extent, Brazil.

From September through November, heavy rains and flooding in some regions of Argentina pushed down soybean planting expectations and threatened production, according to a recent report from USDAs Foreign Agriculture Service. FAS is now predicting that Argentina will produce 55 million tons of soybeans in 2017. Thats down from the roughly 57 million tons in 2016.

A separate FAS report is predicting a bumper corn crop for Argentina. The country is forecast to produce 34 million tons of corn in 2017, up from 28 million tons in 2016.

Do you find the information on Agri-Pulse helpful? See even more ag and rural policy news when you sign up for a four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription.





As of Dec. 22, Argentinas corn was 67 percent planted and the countrys soybeans were 75 percent planted, Brusberg said.

While La Nina can have an adverse effect of Brazilian crop yields, the impact is usually weaker than what is felt in Argentina, the meteorologist added.

But anything that impacts South Americas crops can also affect U.S. farmers who compete for the same international markets as Argentina and Brazil.

Whatever happens down there is going to influence our markets and right now were looking at big crops coming out of Argentina and Brazil, Brusberg said in a USDA audio posting.

In the U.S., La Nina episodes are normally associated with a warm and dry winter across the southern states while conditions are colder and wetter over the northern part of the country.

#30

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 2016  The U.S. has scored a big win in a trade dispute with Indonesia at the World Trade Organization.

A WTO trade enforcement panel has ruled in favor of a U.S. challenge to wide-ranging restrictions and prohibitions on agricultural products. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative says the trade barriers are restricting millions of dollars worth of imports of American fruits and vegetables, animal products including beef and poultry and other agricultural and horticultural products.

USTR says the panel agreed with the U.S. on 18 out of 18 claims that Indonesia is applying import restrictions and prohibitions that are inconsistent with WTO rules.

The Obama administration has again prevailed on behalf of U.S. farmers, ranchers, and businesses, U.S. Trade Rep Michael Froman said in a release. Todays panel report will help eliminate unjustified trade restrictions on American agricultural products, allowing U.S. farmers and ranchers to sell their high-quality products to customers in Indonesia  the fourth-most populous country in the world.

Froman said the victory is the fourth WTO win announced by USTR this year. It again affirms the Administrations commitment to enforcing U.S. rights to ensure Americans benefit from all the opportunities the United States has negotiated under our trade agreements.

According to USTR, Indonesia has maintained the trade-restrictive licensing regimes since 2012. The United States initiated the dispute with Indonesia in January 2013 and, working together with New Zealand, filed additional complaints in August 2013 and in May 2014 to address modifications to Indonesias import licensing restrictions. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body established the panel for this dispute in May 2015. The panel found that all of Indonesia's import restricting measures for horticultural products and animal products are inconsistent with international trade regulations. The United States challenged Indonesias agricultural import regime as a whole as well specific measure including:

Restriction on the importation of horticultural products during Indonesian harvest periods to avoid competition with domestic products. For example, Indonesia would restrict the importation of oranges during the harvest season of its domestic oranges.

Restrictions on the use, sale, and distribution of imported products. For example, imported beef could only be sold in restaurants and hotel, but not in traditional markets and supermarkets.

Restriction on the importation of certain products when their market prices fall below the government-determined reference prices.

Restriction on the importation of horticultural products based on an importers ownership of storage facilities. For example, an importer could only import 100 bushels of apples if it owns the storage space for 100 bushels of apples. The importer cannot lease or rent storage spaces to satisfy this requirement.

Prohibition on the importation of horticultural products, animals and animal products when Indonesia determines that its domestic supplies are sufficient to satisfy domestic demand.

The panel found that all of these break WTO rules because they either restrict or prohibit importation of these products, USTR said.

This is a slam dunk for American agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. Since 2012, Indonesia has maintained an untenable import licensing program, harming the ability of U.S. producers to sell a wide range of American-grown products in the Indonesian market  from potatoes to beef to grapes to oranges to poultry. Importantly, the WTO Panel findings will discourage Indonesia from simply substituting new trade-distorting approaches for the measures repealed, restoring American farmers' and ranchers' ability to compete.

USTR noted that Indonesia is an increasingly important export market for many U.S. agricultural products, with exports of agricultural products affected by the countrys import licensing regimes totaling nearly $115 million in 2015.

Affected U.S. agricultural products include fruits, such as apples, grapes and oranges; vegetables, such as potatoes, onions and shallots; dried fruits and vegetables; flowers; juices; cattle; beef, including a ban on secondary cuts; poultry, including a ban on chicken parts; and other animal products.

The dispute panels decision is not the end of the dispute. Under WTO rules, either party may request adoption of the panel report by the WTO within 60 days of the release of the report, and the report would be adopted unless an appeal is filed. If the report is appealed, WTO rules provide that the WTO Appellate Body must issue its report within 90 days of the filing of the appeal.

Click here to view a fact sheet on the Obama administration's trade enforcement record.

#30

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There were no winners last week with the arrest of South Carolina Rep. Chris Corley on felony domestic violence and weapons charges. Our thoug
Offer Iraq's Assyrians the Safety They Need to Go Home

On Christmas Eve church bells rang for the first time in two years on Christmas in Bartella, a predominantly Christian town outside Mosul. Even though the Mar Shimoni church has been badly damaged by ISIS, it was filled with Christians who returned to their town for this occasion. For the most part, they would return afterwards to their places of refuge in Ainkawa, the Christian enclave of the Kurdish capital Erbil, where they fled when ISIS entered their town in August 2014. Not only because they had since found homes, work and income, and not even because their houses have been looted, or have been used as bomb factories and pharmacies, or damaged by tunnel building or air strikes. The reason why hardly anyone has in the past two months returned to the liberated Christian towns of Nineveh was clearly illustrated by the gunmen that guarded churchgoers on Christmas Day from the roofs in Qaraqosh, where hundreds attended mass in the Mar Yohanna Church. ISIS had left its graffiti there, as a warning for those daring to consider returning, written inside the church, declaring that 'the Islamic State remains and extends'. Even though the ISIS state has lost over half of its territory in Iraq and is on the way to be evicted completely soon, the threat of its radical faith remains, as most Christians are very aware of. With dozens who were left behind when most Christians fled in August 2014 still missing, they realise all too well that amongst those roaming and looting their towns were Arabs from the surrounding villages; people they knew, and they even might have mixed with socially. It's the broken trust that prevents them from going home, as even though they don't know exactly who was involved with ISIS and who did not get their hands bloodied, they are no longer able to trust any of them. And that does not even apply to the Salafists groups only, for in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad attackers -- presumably Shiite radicals, acting on a recent one-sided law that prohibited the sale of alcohol in Iraq -- killed and wounded Christian liquor sellers. The Kurdish president Masoud Barzani has pledged the Christians that found refuge in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq that they are very welcome and will be protected, telling them that they are very much part of the fabric of the society in the region. But even though safety and aid was offered, around half of those who fled from the Nineveh Plains in the past two years made their way into asylum in the West, stating they will never feel safe again at home. This very emotion has led the Assyrian Bishop Mar Awa Royel to call for a free and autonomous Assyria in Iraq, as the only way to ensure the survival of his flock in Iraq. The Assyrian Confederation of Europe announced that it will work in 2017 for "the Assyrians in the homeland (to) establish their own region to secure their life, culture, history and future" and called on human rights organisations for assistance. At the same time, the main Kurdish party KDP has called on Christians to decide soon whether they want to join the Kurdistan Region or the State of Iraq. Yet even the threats of ISIS have not been able to unite the different denominations of Christians in Iraq, with many of them recently forming militias to guard the safety of their own group. Even though the call for a Christian region is not new as it dates from before ISIS, it is closely related to the need for safety. It is connected to the recent call for international protection; many Christians say they will only return to rebuild their cities if the international community guarantees their safety there. A special United Nations' force on the ground, or a no-fly zone -- the ideas about how this protection can be offered exactly are still fluid and needs to be developed. For most Christians should be able to go back to their historical homeland as their return is one of the few possibilities to safeguard their continued presence in Iraq. If we are serious about Iraq as a multiethnic, multi-religious and multicultural country, this call cannot be neglected, nor can we agree to the dangerous formation of new militias that could in the future lead to infighting and new conflicts. Clearly, if we want to be able to keep celebrating Christmas together in Iraq, this should be treated as a main issue that the world community urgently needs to solve in the wake of an ISIS defeat.
Another aspect of our SOF capability reinforcement is the desire to create a SOF Specialized Aviation unit, based on four small Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft able to operate from short and unprepared tracks and which, thanks to their relatively high operational range and their discretion, will be adapted to SOF insertion, extraction and supplying missions, said the Belgian Defense Ministry in its plan.





These four aircraft could also be equipped to carry out medical evacuations and to provide ISR and Close Air Support capabilities for the Special Forces. Platforms such as the Swiss-made Pilatus PC-6 aircraft would be considered by 2025. The planned STOL aircraft are to be integrated in a new 38-strong SOF Aviation unit. Belgium plans to allocate a 130 M budget to create this new capability.

The country will also study the possibility to purchase and integrate new tactical kits to upgrade its fleet of NH90 Multirole Transport Helicopters , such as MEDEVAC or Special Missions ones.
December 27, 2016

CAIRO  The Gulf-British rapprochement has started to shape, after UK Prime Minister Theresa May attended the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Manama, Bahrain, on Dec. 6-7.

In her speech at the end of the summit, May stated that security risks have increased in the Arab region and Western countries alike. According to May, to combat terrorism, it is essential to work together. May also promised to support the Gulf states with all the help they need to confront what she described as threats from Iran.

Fear of Iranian interference is considered the greatest concern among Gulf countries, some of which have accused Iran of interfering with their affairs before. The dispute between the Gulf and Iran is related to a number of policies in the region, including the situation in Yemen and Syria. Tension prevails between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for instance, over Irans occupation of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and the Abu Musa islands in the Persian Gulf; while the Islamic Republic condemned the execution in January of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, threatening that the Riyadh government would pay a costly price for this action. Also, Saudi Arabia is concerned about the logistical support Iran provides to the Houthi group in Yemen, which threatens the kingdoms national security, fearing the spread of Shiite thought.

Concerning what the British-Gulf rapprochement indicates and how it would affect Egypt, Mokhtar Ghobashi, the deputy head of the Arab Center for Strategic and Political Studies in Cairo, stated that such rapprochement comes at a time of unprecedented stressed Egyptian-Saudi and Egyptian-Qatari relations. Ghobashi considers Saudi Arabia and Qatar the GCC states with the most impact on the entire region. (The GCC countries include the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.)

On Oct. 8, tensions between Egypt and Saudi Arabia emerged for the first time when Egypt voted in favor of the Russian resolution in the UN Security Council session, urging the implementation of a US-Russian cease-fire agreement in Syria, which Abdullah bin Yahya al-Muallami, the Saudi ambassador to the United Nations, labeled as painful.

On the other hand, the relations between Egypt and Qatar witnessed an obvious tension after the June 30 Revolution, particularly after the ousting of former Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohammed Morsi. Qatar hosts a number of the Muslim Brotherhood leaders, which the Egyptian Cabinet declared in December 2013 as a terrorist organization and criminalized joining thereof.

Moataz Salama, the director of the Gulf research unit at the Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, considers such rapprochement normal, especially as Britain is preparing to leave the European Union officially next March. London is looking into new separate trade agreements with Gulf states, Salama told Al-monitor.

Gulf states are considered the second-largest non-European importer of British goods and services, and Gulf investments in the United Kingdom reach up to $1.26 billion.

GCC states are looking for an international partner after ties with Washington became stressed, especially as US President-elect Donald Trump escalated his tone of attacking Gulf states considering them possessing nothing but money  which observers saw as belittling of the Gulf role in the region, Ghobashi told Al-Monitor, clarifying another reason why the rapprochement is important.

According to Ghobashi, the Gulf-British rapprochement is a new step that might further widen the gap in the Egyptian-Gulf ties. This could consequently affect the Syrian crisis to which Egypt adopts a stance different from Saudi Arabias. In time, the Gulf has lost hopes of depending on Egypt regarding protection of its regional security, Ghobashi said.

Concerning the Iranian-led Shiite expansion in the region, which the Gulf considers the most dangerous threat to its national security, Ghobashi said that Egypt does not put this dossier among its priorities. Therefore, Gulf countries are looking for another partner.

However, Salama opposed this view, as he considers that such rapprochement would not affect Egypts interests in the region. He said, GCC states could invest this rapprochement with the United Kingdom to change the latters view on continuing support of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, on condition of enhancing Cairos ties with the Gulf.

However, he expects that Egypts relations with the Gulf would not witness any development anytime soon. He attributed this to how the relations were not built on institutionalism, where states would consider the interests of one another, especially those related to national security and avoiding formalities in official meetings. Salama called for a serious talk between Cairo and Riyadh to break the ice, provided that Qatar would come at a later stage on condition of changing its stance from supporting the Brotherhood as well.

Relations between Cairo and London were also cold, especially given Londons support to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Home Office announced in August in a new internal guidance titled Country Information and Guidance Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood that Egyptian members of the Brotherhood could seek asylum in the United Kingdom, because they are at risk of persecution. However, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected and condemned the guidance, and accused it of lacking correct information and depending on wrongful reports.

On Nov. 3, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee published a report that whitewashed the violent crimes of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. By the end of last year, the British government announced that it would not ban the Muslim Brotherhood on its soil, and clarified in a report it published in December 2015 its review on the activities of the Brotherhood in the United Kingdom, and told the House of Commons that the Muslim Brotherhood should not be categorized as a terrorist group.

The report prompted the response of an Egyptian parliamentary delegation to fly to London to meet with members of the House of Commons on Nov. 27.

An anonymous source from the Egyptian parliament told Al-Monitor that the delegation expressed their resentment of the British report, and that the aim of the meeting was to review the extent of the practices of violence adopted by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt since June 2013.

In a phone interview with Al-Monitor from London, Abdallah Hamouda, a member of the London-based Chatham House, said that the Egyptian parliamentary delegation expressed their anger over the position the members of the House of Commons adopt toward the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, which he considers uncompromising.

On Dec. 15, GCC states slammed Egypt for the first time as they expressed their extreme discomfort at Egypts accusation of possible Qatari involvement in the Dec. 11 bombing of St. Peter and St. Paul's Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo, which left 26 dead, and described it as unacceptable.

The Egyptian Ministry of Interior had accused Dec. 12 the Muslim Brotherhood leaders who reside in Qatar of training and financing the perpetrators of the suicide bombing targeting the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Cairo on Dec. 11. The bombing aimed at igniting a sectarian crisis in Egypt, according to a statement by the Health Ministry, of which Al-Monitor obtained a copy.

On Dec. 16, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Egypt had hoped that the stand of the GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif bin Rashid al-Zayani would reflect an accurate reading of the Egyptian stance.

Salama concluded, Egypt will not stand idly by watching any cooperation that may undermine its role in the region. He said that Egypt is not a passive player in the region, as it can attract coalitions that serve its interests and national security.
December 22, 2016

QAMISHLI, Syria  Fawza al-Yusuf, a Syrian Kurd from a modest family, left northern Syria as a teenager and student in 1991, fearful of arrest for her political activities. She joined the uprising that broke out in the Kurdish areas of southeastern Turkey in 1977 and remains ongoing, calling herself Zakho Zaghrous after Zakho, a city in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Mount Zaghrous, which dominates the mountain range between the Iranian- and Iraqi-ruled Kurdish regions.

Yusuf's family was like many others in Rojava, as Kurds call Syrian Kurdistan. She and her three sisters all joined the Kurdish uprising in Turkey, considering it the only way to stand up to the oppression they faced. Fawzas older sister, Roza, who took the name of another Kurdistan mountain, Joodi, as her nom de guerre, was killed during the Iraqi-Kurdish civil war in 1995.

After 10 years of fighting Turkish forces in the mountains, in 2011 Yusuf returned to northern Syria, with its social fabric of Kurds, Arabs and Assyrians. She is now a leader and sits on the board of the Democratic Federal System for Rojava-Northern Syria, the democratic autonomous administration overseeing predominately Kurdish areas in northern and northeastern Syria.

Yusuf sat for an interview with Al-Monitor Dec. 16 at her office in Qamishli.

Al-Monitor: What do you feel when you are described as a symbolic leader in Rojava? When did you leave your family and your hometown? Why did you return? Do you see that as a way of fixing the past?

Yusuf: The Syrian Kurdish people have faced cultural and political annihilation for a long time, due to emergency and martial law imposed on the region. Being involved in any political action was very hard on us because of arrests by the Syrian regime. Many college students were arrested, deported or wanted by security forces. I was subjected to these practices and forced to leave my studies in Syria to carry on with the political struggle abroad, in the Kurdistan mountains. That was at the start of the 1990s.

I would return home secretly to do political work, but due to the security situation and the fact that I was wanted by the regime, I would be forced to leave again. After the start of the Syrian rebellion, and with the political developments in Syria since 2011, I returned home to try and crown the struggle we had been engaged in for long years with a permanent victory and find a solution that would guarantee our peoples political, cultural and social rights.

Al-Monitor: What do you make of the unclear future of Rojava, given recent events? Why are [Kurds] advancing on Raqqa, where the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF], the Peoples Protection Units [PYD] and Womens Protection Units are leading the battle to liberate the city?

Yusuf: The future of Syria as a whole is unclear, and that obviously affects us too, but I am optimistic despite the risks, because the Kurds have played a big role in the fight against terrorism, particularly against the Islamic State. The Kurds today have the strategy and the strength to become an influential player in the Syria of the future. Naturally, there are challenges and risks that we must tackle, but that is also true for anyone with an interest in Syria.

As far as the Raqqa campaign is concerned, there are many reasons. In sum: First, Raqqa is the so-called capital of IS, and every attack faced by Kurdish cities such as Kobani, Tell Abyad and al-Shadadi in the Jazeera region originates there. Unless we liberate that region from IS, we cannot achieve stability and security in our own areas.

Second, the Turkish state and the militias it supports are working to threaten our areas, to in one way or another block our project of building a federation in northern Syria. They are trying to occupy areas near the Kurdish region so they can constantly attack us and stop us from building a political entity that guarantees Kurdish rights. Unless we, as Kurds, respond by taking part in the liberation of Raqqa, the Turks and their mercenaries will occupy Raqqa. On top of that, they will turn it into a military base, posing a permanent threat to us, similar to the situation in southern Kurdistan [Iraqi Kurdistan] and the Bashiqa region today.

Third, it is the SDF that is fighting to liberate Raqqa. The SDF includes Kurds, which is natural as Kurds are nearly 25% of the population of Raqqa and it is their right to defend their brethren there. Fourth, we as Kurds have proposed a solution that includes all parts of Syrian society. We believe that it is a comprehensive democratic solution for Syria that can guarantee the rights of the Kurdish people too. We think that a resolution of the Kurdish issue can be reached within a federal system across the whole of Syria. Therefore the whole issue of Syria concerns us, as does the presence of IS in Raqqa, because it is a barrier to bringing stability to Syria in general, which directly affects our situation too.

Al-Monitor: Will you cooperate with the regime if a semi-autonomous Kurdish region in Syria is recognized?

Yusuf: We announced at the beginning [of talks between the opposition and the government of President Bashar al-Assad in 2013] that we were ready to negotiate with the regime and opposition forces to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, but we were cut out, marginalized and prevented from taking part in the Geneva meetings and other meetings on the Syrian issue.

Because the areas we liberated from IS and other terrorist groups need joint administration of the different districts, and particularly after this area expanded with the liberation of Manbij, Shadadi and others, autonomous rule for some districts no longer meets the needs in terms of administration, economy and security. Whats needed is shared administration among the districts, which is what prompted us to develop a joint administrative system. 

Also, a democratic federal system is the most realistic solution for solving the crisis across the whole of Syria. On that basis, we are ready to negotiate  not just with the regime, but with all powers concerned about the Syrian issue in order to discuss a democratic federal project, and if the Syrian regime accepts that project, we have no objection to negotiating with it. Of course, it would be better if that happened under an international umbrella.

Al-Monitor: Does the democratic self-rule project in Rojava include Raqqa in the Kurdish provinces once it is liberated?

Yusuf: The important thing for us is to liberate Raqqa from IS and neutralize the danger that it poses to our areas. Concerning the administration of Raqqa, it is the people of Raqqa who should decide that. The fundamental thing for us is the development of an administrative system that represents all elements, cultural and political diversity, in Raqqa, and that the city ceases being a place where terrorist organizations organize themselves. For us, what is essential are the decisions of the people of Raqqa.

Al-Monitor: When, in your view, will the war end? When will civil organizations be established in the Kurdish areas of Rojava and northern Syria?

Yusuf: If no political compromise can be found that pleases all sides, it will be hard to end the war in Syria, as happened in Iraq. Therefore, it is very important to develop a political system that includes all identities, ethnic and religious diversity, in order to avoid the Iraqi experience. I believe the system of democratic federalism we are proposing is the best possible solution for all of Syria, and if not, then the exclusion of one ethnic, religious or sectarian group will mean the war carries on in one form or another, and the end of IS will only mean the appearance of a new IS.

As for setting up organizations in Rojava, after we declared a democratic self-government in January 2014, many political organizations were set up, both civil and cultural, which are active. We defend our areas, and in parallel, we are in the process of building. The organizations are not ignored in spite of the war were living through.

Al-Monitor: What will the creation of educational and administrative organizations in Raqqa depend upon? Demographics or economic and political clout?

Yusuf: I think it is hard to predict that because after Raqqa is liberated, its people will decide. We will help in whatever way we can to set up a democratic administrative system that delivers equality and justice for all the people of Raqqa, regardless of their ethnic, religious and cultural differences. It is very important to learn from the experience of Tell Abyad and Manbij, and it is vital that the people of Raqqa govern themselves and become self-sufficient in every way.

Al-Monitor: After Raqqa is liberated, will you have relations with the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party], which fights Turkey? Or will you have special relations with neighboring countries depending on the situation?

Yusuf: Turkey constantly uses the PKKs presence in northern Syria as a pretext for its attacks, but it is a totally false argument. The truth is that Turkey is hostile to the Kurds and refuses to let them claim their rights in any other country in order to prevent them from obtaining their rights in Turkey. Its arrest of members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Turkey and its attack on the Democratic Union Party confirm this. The basic reason Turkey is attacking our areas is that IS suffered a defeat. Turkey doesnt fight IS, it fights those who are against IS. When Manbij was under IS control, Turkey was unperturbed. It had no problem. But after the Manbij military council liberated the area, Turkey flipped the scales. That shows that Turkey can accept having IS next door, but rejects a democratic force.

After we liberated the border areas from IS, we did nothing to harm our neighborly relations with Turkey and others, despite the fact that Turkey kills many unarmed Kurdish civilians during their attempts to cross the border in search of work. We will stick to this position.

Al-Monitor: What if Turkey refuses to let you advance on Raqqa? Will you confront it?

Yusuf: Turkey doesnt just reject an advance, it also rejects Kurdish participation in the liberation of Raqqa. We cannot accept that because we are Syrian, and it is our legitimate right to take part in the liberation of Raqqa from the darkness of IS and to defend our people there. The first campaign for Raqqa began under the name Operation Euphrates Rage on Nov. 4, and the second stage began Dec. 10 and is still underway. I believe Turkey does not have the power to stop the SDF from advancing.

Al-Monitor: Do you think US policy toward the Kurds will change when Donald Trump takes office?

Yusuf: We dont believe US policy will fundamentally change, because America is a state of institutions that has a long-term policy. On top of that, Trumps statements and positions before the elections and since indicate that the positive relations that have developed will continue and that our cooperation will develop and grow. The battle is still ongoing in Syria, which has become a hell like no other, and the Kurds, with their PYD and Womens Protection Units, fought alongside the SDF and liberated many towns that were under IS control.
The son of a 2010 murder victim has been awarded more than $1 million in a wrongful death suit.

Etowah County Circuit Judge William Rhea rendered a summary judgment of $1,250,000 in damages on Oct. 26 to Michael Shawn Stone, the son of Carla Parton Smith, according to court records.

Carla Smith's body was discovered Nov. 1, 2010, in the trunk of her blue Jaguar. The car was parked on a gravel lot on Brooke Avenue between an Interstate 759 overpass and Alabama 77.

Carla Smith was a nursing supervisor at Gadsden's Riverview Regional Medical Center. Workers at the hospital grew concerned when she didn't show up for her shift one Sunday, and her body was discovered clad in hospital scrubs later that afternoon.

Smith's husband, Roy Thomas Smith, was convicted in 2014 of strangling her to death. Prosecutors said Roy Smith was anxious about losing assets in a possible divorce which led him to kill her.

The wrongful death suit, filed in November 2010, contended that Roy Smith caused his wife's death.
A Phenix City man died in a motorcycle crash Monday in Lee County, the fourth traffic death there in 24 hours.

Lee County Coroner Bill Harris on Tuesday identified the latest victim as Philip Warren Alexander. He was 51.

Alexander was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle Monday afternoon when, authorities say, the driver of a Chevrolet Avalanche turned in front of him causing them to collide almost head on.

The crash happened about 12:16 p.m. in Opelika at the intersection of Alabama Highway 169 and Marvyn Parkway, Harris said. The motorcycle was traveling northbound on Marvyn Parkway and the Avalanche was trying to make a left turn onto Alabama Highway 169.

Alexander was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force impact injuries. Harris said no autopsy will be performed, and alcohol is not suspected to have been a factor in the accident.

The crash was the latest in a string of deadly Lee County accidents. The other three happened on Christmas Day.

The first incident happened at 12:20 p.m. Sunday in Smiths Station after an ATV crashed on Lee Road 2006. When officials arrived on the scene, they found a 7-year-old girl unresponsive.

She was rushed to Midtown Medical Center in Columbus, where she was pronounced dead at 1:07 p.m.

Officials said the girl was riding on an ATV with a family member when she throttled the vehicle too hard. The two then lost control of the ATV and it left the roadway before striking a utility pole. The child was wearing a helmet, Harris said.

Because of the victim's age, the coroner is not releasing her name. Lee County sheriff's deputies are handling the case, and an autopsy will be performed under Alabama law.

In another incident, a 52-year-old woman died after a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 280 and Alabama Highway 147.

Harris said the incident happened at 7:14 p.m. Sunday, when Susan Debra Hammock was traveling west on Highway 280 and was attempting to turn onto Highway 147. Hammock turned in front of a pickup truck, which was towing a boat, and she was struck in the passenger side of her 2013 Toyota Corolla. Harris said Hammock, of Waverly, was killed instantly from a massive head injury and injuries from the blunt-force impact.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:33 p.m. Hammock's three-year-old grandson was in a car seat in the back of the car, and was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. The child was later released without any injuries. The driver of the pickup truck was not injured. Alabama State Troopers are handling that investigation.

The third crash, which happened just after midnight, left a 28-year-old man dead in Opelika, right in front of Storybrook Farms.

Selonzo Cantrell Jackson, of Opelika, was killed instantly from blunt force chest injuries when the car he was driving left the roadway at a high rate of speed, and then struck a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:55 a.m. Monday morning, Harris said. Opelika Police are investigating the crash.
Murder suspects_edited.jpg

Dacedric Deshun Ward and Trevor Davis Cantrell

(Limestone County Jail)

Editor's note: An updated story has been published with additional information.

Two Huntsville men have been charged in the Monday afternoon fatal shooting of an Alabama teen at a Sonic Drive-In.

The victim, 18-year-old Jason Ender West, of Madison, died at Huntsville Hospital from injuries he sustained in the shooting, according to Madison police. An investigation revealed West was shot during a robbery that may have involved illegal narcotics, police said.

Dacedric Deshun Ward, 22, and Trevor Davis, 19, of Huntsville, each are charged with capital murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the incident at Sonic on County Line Road. The restaurant is in the Madison-annexed portion of Limestone County, so all court proceedings will be in that county's court system, rather than Madison County.

Ward and Davis fled the scene and were later taken into custody.

Both suspects are held in the Limestone County Jail without bail. If convicted, each faces the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole.
A former Alabama high school teacher who pleaded guilty to sending a nude photo to a student will not serve prison time, per a plea agreement.

Aundrea Winbush

Aundrea Winbush, formerly a math teacher at Lee High School in Huntsville, has been sentenced to two years of probation, according to court records.

Winbush pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of school employee distributing obscene material to a student, court records show. She initially had been charged with sending obscene material to a juvenile, which is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment. Misdemeanors carry a sentence of no more than one year in a county jail.

Winbush was sentenced to one year of imprisonment, but that sentence has been suspended, pending the 26-year-old's successful completion of the probation.

The former teacher resigned after she was accused of sending a nude photo to a 16-year-old student in October. She was arrested in November but Huntsville police.

School officials were notified of the incident when they received a tip through an anonymous reporting app that's available online.

Winbush is not being required to register as a sex offender.

The plea agreement requires she pay a $500 fine and $25 to the victim's compensation fund.
Editor's note: This story has been updated. To read about the resolution, click here.

At least seven gunshots have been fired by "heavily armed" man, who's barricaded inside a home in Priceville, police said.

File photo

The man barricaded himself inside his home on Meadow Lane shortly after 5 p.m., and thus far efforts to talk him down have been unsuccessful, said Priceville police Investigator Herman Davis.

Priceville is a town in Morgan County. The home is near Apple Tree Academy daycare.

The standoff was prompted by a domestic incident, but the wife and children got out of the house before shots were fired, Davis said.

"We are just trying to talk him down," Davis said. "He's heavily armed. Seven or eight shots have been fired from the house."

No injuries have been reported.

The Decatur police SWAT team and Morgan County Sheriff's Office are assisting Priceville police.
A north Alabama man is jailed this morning following the peaceful resolution of a 5-hour standoff with police in Priceville.

James Joshua Warren, 36, of Priceville, is charged with domestic violence by strangulation, a Class B felony that's punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.

After a domestic incident at his home on Meadow Lane Monday evening, Warren fired multiple shots and refused to come outside, Priceville police Investigator Herman Davis said.

The man's wife and children were out of the home before shots were fired. No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire.

About 5 hours later, Warren surrendered and was taken for evaluation at Decatur Morgan Hospital, Davis said. A SWAT team and hostage negotiator from Decatur along with deputies from Morgan County also assisted with the incident.

Warren was booked into the county jail after 6 a.m. today. He's held with bail set at $5,000.
A former Fort Bragg soldier convicted of murder and rape could be the first person executed by the U.S. military in more than 50 years.

Last week, a federal court rejected an order that placed a hold on the execution of Ronald Gray, The Fayetteville Observer reported. In 1988, a military court found Gray guilty of two murders and five separate rapes that took place while he was stationed at the North Carolina military base. He pleaded guilty in civilian court to two more murders and five separate rapes.

He was scheduled to be executed in 2008 after an order signed by President George W. Bush but ongoing appeals delayed the process. Last week, a federal judge ruled the stay was no longer in effect, restarting the process towards Gray's execution.

If carried out, Gray's execution would be the first by the U.S. military since 1961. Before it can be carried out, the president must sign off on the order.

The last U.S. military execution was in 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was hanged for the rape and attempted murder of an 11-year old Austrian girl.

Including Gray, there are five other military personnel on death row: Dwight Loving, convicted in 1989 on two counts of premeditated murder in Texas; Hasan Akbar, an Army soldier convicted in 2005 of using a hand grenade to kill two military members and wound 14 others in Kuwait; Andrew Witt, a former Air Force senior airman from Robins Air Force Base, Georgia who was convicted in 2005 of two counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted premeditated murder; Timothy Hennis, who was convicted in 2010 for the murder of three people in North Carolina; and Nidal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009.
A look at Alabama's largest churches makes one thing clear - there are plenty of Baptists in Alabama.

A survey by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 42 percent of Alabamians described themselves as a member of the Baptist denomination - more than 3 times the number of people in the state who said they belong to another denomination.

Here are the top 10 denominations in Alabama:

Baptist - 42 percent Unaffiliated - 12 percent Methodist - 9 percent Catholic - 7 percent Pentecostal - 6 percent Non-denominational - 6 percent Church of Christ - 3 percent Presbyterian - 2 percent Holiness - 2 percent Non-Christian religion - 2 percent

How do Alabama's numbers compare to the national figures? Here you go:

Unaffiliated - 23 percent Catholic - 21 percent Baptist - 15 percent Non-denominational - 8 percent Methodist - 5 percent Pentecostal - 4.5 percent Non-Christian religion - 4 percent Lutheran - 4 percent Presbyterian - 2 percent Church of Christ - 2 percent

Welcome to Tuesday's Wake Up Call. Let's see what's going on:

Former Illinois governor applies for commuted sentence

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has applied for early release from prison.

The decision on whether to free Blagojevich rests with President Barack Obama. Blagojevich is in his fourth year of a 14-year sentence and recently submitted a commutation request to the U.S. Department of Justice for his conviction on corruption charges.

Blagojevich, 60, was convicted in 2008 for his role in a scheme to sell the Senate seat vacated by Obama to the highest bidder. If his sentence is not commuted, Blagojevich's projected release date is 2024.

Vet catches bird flu from cat

A New York City veterinarian has contracted bird flu from cats housed at the animal shelter where he worked.

The New York City Department of Health said the vet had only a mild illness from the virus. The department screened more than 160 workers and volunteers at the Animal Care Centers of NYC but none were found to be infected with the virus.

Officials said it's rare for cats to contract Bird Flu. Most cases have been linked to - you guessed it - poultry.

Sony hacked, fake Britney Spears tweet sent

The Twitter account of Sony Music was hacked over the weekend and used to start a rumor that pop star Britney Spears had died.

A tweet sent Monday said Spears, 35, had died by accident. It was followed by another bogus tweet, this one claiming to be from Bob Dylan, expressing condolences for Spears' "death."

Spears manager quickly assured the public she was fine and Sony later said its accounts had been "compromised."

Officer suspended for arrest Snapchat photo

The New York Police Department has suspended an officer who posted photos of a handcuffed family on social media.

The officer, who has not been identified, was among those who delivered a search warrant last week to a New York apartment. The residents of the family were handcuffed during a three-hour search. As they were waiting on police, the officer took photos of them and posted them to social media with titles like "Merry Christmas it's NYPD!" and "Warrant Sweeps it's still a party smh."

The woman who owns the apartment said she did not know the man police were searching for. She later filed a complaint against the officer and was told he had been suspended for 30 days.

Until tomorrow.
More than two and a half years after former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords came to Mobile's Austal shipyard to weld her initials into the keel of the Littoral Combat Ship that would bear her name, the vessel has been delivered to the U.S. Navy.

Austal announced over the weekend that LCS 10 had been handed over on Friday, in an official document signing ceremony aboard the ship. LCS 10 is the fifth ship of its kind built by Austal, with six more under construction in Mobile.

"We are pleased to receive the future USS Gabrielle Giffords into the LCS class," said Capt. Harrison, commander of LCS Squadron One, according to a story at news.usni.org, a site run by members of the U.S. Naval Institute. "Gabrielle Giffords will join her sister littoral combat ships in their homeport of San Diego in 2017, commencing testing and training for deployed operations upon arrival."

LCS 10 has drawn special attention because of its namesake. Congresswoman Giffords was seriously injured in a 2011 assassination attempt. She resigned in early 2012, and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that LCS 10 would be named for her. "The name this ship bears and the story represented by that name will inspire all those who come in contact with her," Mabus said. "It's very appropriate that the LCS-10 be named for someone who has become synonymous with courage, who has inspired the nation with remarkable resiliency."

There was some backlash, partly because the naming was outside the mainstream of Navy tradition. In all its history, the Navy has named fewer than 20 ships for women, and it has named only a handful (including the carrier USS Ronald Reagan) for people alive at the time. LCS 10 also is the first of its class named for a person - aside from the prototypes, all are named for cities. And some within the military community felt strongly that ship names should honor military personnel who served with distinction, or political leaders who conspicuously supported the sea services.

On a more personal level, those angered by Giffords' role in founding American for Responsible Solutions in 2013 also took issue. Focused on gun violence, the organization's initiatives have included a push for background checks that could better prevent mentally ill people from acquiring firearms. According to the group's website, Giffords is a "long-time gun owner (who) ... believes in the constitutional right of all Americans to safe and responsible gun ownership."

Giffords visited Mobile in April 2014 for ceremonies that marked the laying of the LCS 10 keel, etching her initials into a metal plate that would be welded into the ship. The ship was launched in February 2015, and in June of that year Giffords returned for a ceremony that formally named the ship the Gabrielle Giffords.

In 2017, the Navy will officially commission the ship into service as the USS Gabrielle Giffords. According to Austal, LCS 12 and 14, the Omaha and the Manchester, are preparing for sea trials. LCS 16 and 18, the future Tulsa and Charleston, are being assembled, and construction is under way on modules that will make up LCS 20 and 22, the Cincinnati and the Kansas City.

"It's exciting to be handing over another littoral combat ship to the Navy," Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said in a release announcing the handover of LCS 10. "This is the fourth Navy ship we've delivered this year, a sure sign of the steady maturation and momentum of both our Expeditionary Fast Transport and Littoral Combat Ship programs."

The even-numbered LCS ships are an aluminum trimaran. Odd-numbered ships are built by Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, using a more conventional hull style. The overall program has often been subject to criticism, including a recent broadside from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain. But recent news that the Navy intends to set a bigger fleet goal of 355 ships was seen as good news for Austal.
The Mobile Police Department arrested 28-year-old William Rotter in connection with 14 home burglaries in the Mobile area.

Police said on Thursday at approximately 2:30 a.m. officers responded to the 7400 block of Wigfield Road for a report of stolen property.

When police arrested Rotter they said he was in possession of stolen property from 14 different residential burglaries. Rotter was charged with 14 counts of third-degree burglary in the incident.

Mobile County jail records showed that Rotter's arrest history stretches back to 2007 that includes multiple theft of property, probation violations and possession of a controlled substance charges.

Prior to this incident he was arrested on December 6 for having his probation revoked. The police did not list the stolen items that were recovered.
Bentley_Dec14.jpg

Jim Carnes

By Jim Carnes, policy director of Arise Citizens' Policy Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of congregations, organizations and individuals promoting public policies to improve the lives of low-income Alabamians. Email: jim@alarise.org.

If Gov. Robert Bentley still wants to be the doctor for Alabama, he has a good opportunity to prove it before Jan. 6. That's the deadline that U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has given governors to respond to his letter asking them how best to "give all patients a fair shot at quality, affordable health care."

House Republicans already have laid out a vision of health care that falls far short of fair, high-quality and affordable. With their party set to take the White House next month, nothing stands in the way of their repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as early as January.

GOP lawmakers used to speak of "repeal and replace," but the "replace" part is proving difficult. The "Better Way" plan they announced in June would strip Medicaid coverage from millions of low-wage workers, increase out-of-pocket health costs for many middle-income Americans and allow insurance companies to charge more to older enrollees and people with pre-existing conditions.

But let's take McCarthy at his word: If he does want advice, Bentley should offer some.

The first point we urge the governor to make is that "repeal and replace" cannot mean "repeal and delay." There's something deceptively reasonable-sounding about pushing the effective date for repeal a couple of years down the road. After all, don't ACA supporters want to delay the big changes as long as possible?

Don't be fooled: A ticking time bomb will not preserve the status quo. Once insurance companies see an end date looming for the ACA Marketplace, they lose their ability to plan ahead and likely will bail out of the Marketplace early. That would cost 195,000 Alabamians their coverage and disrupt the entire health insurance market.

A second point is that converting Medicaid to a federal block grant - as many House Republicans favor - would be a disaster for Alabama. Medicaid is now a federal-state partnership that serves anyone who meets eligibility standards. Medicaid covers one in five Alabamians, almost all of whom are children, seniors, pregnant women, or people with disabilities. Alabama contributes only about 30 percent of its Medicaid program's funding, with federal money covering the remaining 70 percent.

Changing Medicaid to a block grant would limit Alabama's federal Medicaid allocation to a fixed amount each year, regardless of the state contribution. Any cost increases would be borne by the state alone, with no 70-30 federal match.

A Medicaid block grant would jeopardize health coverage for hundreds of thousands of Alabama children and seniors. It would leave our state's Medicaid program with no protections against population growth or greater need during economic downturns or health emergencies. And it would imperil the Medicaid regional care organizations (RCOs) that Bentley has heralded as a way to save money and keep patients healthier by focusing on preventive care and early intervention.

A related proposal to enact a per capita (or per-enrollee) cap on Medicaid funding would allow for enrollment growth, but it also would severely limit the program's ability to respond to changing needs or pay for promising new treatments in the future. The cap also could open the door for new eligibility restrictions that would deprive more Alabamians of health coverage.

Bentley is reconsidering his previous support for a Medicaid block grant, one of his aides told the Alabama Health Care Improvement Task Force this week, and he should be commended for that. We also hope Bentley recognizes the similar risks that a per-enrollee cap in Medicaid would pose for Alabamians, and that he will convey his concerns about both proposals to McCarthy.

The holidays and the start of a new year are a time to reflect on what we've accomplished and what we hope to achieve in the year ahead. If the governor wants his legacy to be a healthier, stronger Alabama, he should stand against imminent threats to Medicaid and the insurance market and give Congress a strong prescription by Jan. 6.
A compilation of Al Jazeeras top photos of the year from around the world.

Last Days of FARC

Estefany, from the Yari Savannas in Colombia, joined the FARC when she was 10, after the civil war swept through her village and left her orphaned. At 15, a bullet tore through her shoulder during combat.

This image originally appeared in The Last Days Of The FARC, published September 2016

Photograph: Tomas Ayuso

Prison Overcrowding in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the war on drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte has led to nearly 6,000 deaths and the number of prisoners suspected of links to drug-related crimes is also on the rise. In this image, 40 prisoners are held inside the detention cells, which measures only a few square metres.

This image originally appeared in Prisons and rehab overcrowding in the Philippines, published December 2016

Photograph: Alberto Maretti

Festival of African Masks

Hundreds of traditional masks from six African countries came to life during the largest International Art and Mask Festival in West Africa in the western Burkina Faso town of Dedougou.

This image originally appeared in FESTIMA: A Festival of African Masks, published in March 2016

Photograph: Jacob Balzani Loov

Indias Tonnes of Waste

Dozens of children, some as young as five, work alongside adults in the Bhalswa landfill  one of three landfill sites in Delhi, India. Mountains of waste are dumped in open spaces where children can often be seen picking through the sometimes toxic material.

This image originally appeared in Delhis Dilemma: What To Do With Its Tonnes Of Waste?, published in November 2016

Photograph: William Brown

Gaza in the Dark

Eight-year-old Osama does his homework at his family home. Blackouts are common in the Gaza Strip, where residents receive less than eight hours of electricity a day.

This image appeared in Gaza in the Dark, published August 2016.

Photograph: Sebastian Leban

Rooftop Rebels

Hong Kongs youth have been at the forefront of political activism in the city. For roof toppers, defying the authorities and photographing their adventures is a political statement.

This photograph appeared in the gallery, Hong Kong Through The Eyes of Rooftop Rebels, published August 2016

Photograph: Airin T

A Fathers Battle

With many myths still surrounding albinism in parts of Africa, many live in constant fear. In Kampala, Uganda, Mwanje washes his children Sekiringa and Marry in the morning, and applies sunscreen with SPF protection 50 to Sekiringa. Without sun cream or a hat, their skin begins to suffer within minutes.

This photograph was originally published in A Fathers Battle To Protect His Children With Albinism, published in July 2016

Photograph: Fredrik Lerneryd

Ballet at Kibera

This ballet class in the slums of Nairobi is part of a larger charity that also hosts dance, music, creative writing and film classes. Without proper-fitting dance shoes, students practise barefoot on the old concrete floors in the classroom.

This image originally appeared in Kenyan Children Learn Ballet At Kibera Slum, published in September 2014

Photograph: Fredrik Lerneryd

ISIL in Mosul

Youssef Sadi Latif holds up a cigarette, which had been banned under the rule of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) group in Mosul, with oil wells ablaze behind him.

This image was originally in the article, In Our Village, ISIL Executed Hundreds of People, published in November 2016

Photograph: Alessio Romenzi

High in the Himalayas

High in the Himalayas, villagers maintain the centuries-old tradition of growing Indian cannabis, known as charas . The plant grows wild in many parts of the Himalayas, making is difficult for authorities to trace the source of the hashish back to the farmers, pictured above.

This article appeared in the article Cannabis Farmers Hidden In Indias Himalayas, published April 2016

Photograph: Andrea de Franciscis

Fundao Dam Collapse

In October 2015, around 600 kilometres of the Rio Doce was destroyed in the worst mining accident in Brazils history. Nineteen people were killed, fishermen lost their livelihood, and farmers lost their irrigation source and livestock. The drinking water of millions of people was contaminated, and more than 900 hectares of soil was covered in a layer toxic sludge.

This photo originally appeared in the article, The Silence After the Mud, published in June 2016.

Photograph: Fabio Nascimento

Refugee Crisis Continues

As the refugee crisis continued to pour into the early part of this year, Greece saw an increasing number arrivals on its shores. At the Idomeni camp, many refugees gathered, waiting for the Greece-Macedonia border to open. After some tried to break the fence, Macedonian police fired tear gas to keep them back.

This image appeared in the photo gallery, Refugee crisis: Bottlenecked on the Balkan route, published in March 2016.

Photograph: Alexandros Stamatiou

Mauritanias Iron Trains

Considered among the longest in the world, Mauritanias iron trains travel hundreds of miles through the Sahara desert to deliver iron ore, covering a distance of over 650 kilometres.

This image originally appeared in The iron trains of Mauritania, published March 2016.

Photograph: Daniel Rodrigues

Blinded by Pellets in Kashmir

Twenty-four-year-old Danish was shot by a pellet gun from a distance of 10 metres, suffering irreversible damage to his eyesight. His story is among thousands of Kashmiris blinded by pellet guns used by security forces to defuse protests in the region.

This image appeared in Blind in Kashmir with 100 pellets lodged in his head, published December 2016.

Photograph: Zacharie Rabehi

Standing Rock

Thousands of Native Americans had camped out in North Dakota since April in protest against a pipeline that would cut across sacred burial grounds and the Missouri river  the main water source for the Standing Rock Sioux. Backed by armoured vehicles, police cleared the protest camp, using sound cannons, pepper spray, taser guns and beanbag shotguns against the protesters.

This image appeared in the story Standing Rock tribe protests over North Dakota pipeline, published October 2016

Photograph: Jason Patinkin
The number of people with life-threatening injuries fast-tracked out of Syria is around 100.

When surgeon Mounir Hakimi operated on five-month-old Maram in the Syrian province of Idlib last week, the horrific extent of her injuries quickly became clear.

She lost both her parents in an air strike, has multiple fractures, a wound in her abdomen, and has lost lots of skin, Hakimi told Al Jazeera in a telephone interview. We feared she might end up with an amputation because [her wounds] are so infected.

Maram was one of the 35,000 people who left Aleppo last week as Syrian regime forces retook the citys formerly rebel-held eastern districts.

As the evacuation ended on Thursday and snow blanketed the burned ground, opposition fighters and civilians were forced to go to the rebel-held countryside to the west, and to Idlib province on the Turkish border.

Medical staff are now overwhelmed by the influx of wounded Aleppans, who were under siege and aerial bombardment for more than 100 days. Thousands are suffering from infected shrapnel wounds, hypothermia and malnutrition. Surgeons are operating for up to 12 hours a day, and medical facilities are running at double capacity.

OPINION: Aleppans to Idlib  Out of the frying pan into the fire

Marams case is typical, according to Hakimi, who heads the charity Syria Relief, which is among a dozen aid organisations supporting the displaced from Aleppo. She had no parents and was left in the hospital; she was taken by the ambulance and we found the names of her grandfather and her stepmother.

Doctors in Idlib are seeing dozens of infected and gangrenous wounds, Hakimi said, noting that some patients may need amputations, or could be left with other long-term disabilities.

Due to the continuous air strikes [on Aleppo], there are children who have shrapnel in their spines, he explained. That has caused them to be paralysed. We are seeing children who have lost vision in one eye because of the shrapnel.





Civilians are also presenting symptoms of psychological trauma.

The father of a three-year-old boy  who was not injured  was wondering why his son is not speaking yet, Hakimi added. He was born in the middle of the war and can still not say a single word, because of shock from the air strikes.

Idlibs medical infrastructure was already damaged before the Aleppo evacuation. Five years of barrel bomb attacks and a year of Russian air power have maimed its hospitals, civil defence force headquarters and schools.

The province suffered 11 massacres in November, second only to Aleppo across Syria, according to analysis from the Syrian Network for Human Rights monitoring group. It defines a massacre as the killing of five or more civilians at once.

I am very tired and I feel like my mind is dead. My feelings were terrible when we left the city: We left my house, my brother's grave, and so many happy memories. But my family wants me to carry on. by Mohamed Fadoua, Syrian Civil Defence volunteer

Already the medical facilities that we are sponsoring and running are under huge pressure  even before the evacuation started, Hakimi said. Now we have to cope with a bigger population and funds are waning. The machines are not going to deal with the scale of the casualties.

Around 100 people with life-threatening injuries have been fast-tracked out of Syria. Meanwhile, some aid workers who themselves had to leave east Aleppo have vowed to continue working from their new homes.

The Syrian American Medical Society, which supported hospitals in Aleppo city, is planning to move into three new underground facilities in the rebel-held countryside and Idlib. All of its medical staff who left Aleppo city will continue working with the organisation.

In his new home in Idlib, Mohamed Fadoua, a 24-year-old Syrian Civil Defence volunteer from Aleppo, intends to don his white helmet  the headgear by which the search-and-rescue team has become recognised.

I decided to carry on my work with the civil defence force because even though we left Aleppo, that does not mean I should stop my humanitarian work, such that everyone is killed, Fadoua told Al Jazeera. I am very tired and I feel like my mind is dead. My feelings were terrible when we left the city: We left my house, my brothers grave, and so many happy memories. But my family wants me to carry on.

LETTER FROM ALEPPO: My city is not just a death toll

Rady Saad, the White Helmets Idlib liaison officer, said that the 840 volunteers in 90 teams across the province were ready to welcome new volunteers.

Of course, the teams from Aleppo will carry on in Idlib, like people from rural Damascus, he told Al Jazeera, citing men who had arrived after previous displacements. We have teams ready to respond 24 hours a day. This area has been bombed for more than five years and I do not think it will stop now.

Indeed, the humanitarian situation in Idlib is likely to get worse in the long term. Analysts believe that the regime will ultimately annihilate any opposition in the province, under the pretext of fighting internationally proscribed terrorist groups.

As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prioritises retaking ground in southern Syria, notably the Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, civilians from such rebel-held areas are likely to be forced into Idlib, increasing its injured and traumatised population.

Kyle Orton, a research fellow with the British-based think-tank the Henry Jackson Society, told Al Jazeera that Assad forces are expected to ultimately turn Idlib into a free-fire zone.

Idlib is fated for a lot more mass killing, Orton said. The pause these populations deported to Idlib get after the leave-or-die tactics of the regime to force them from their homes is only temporary.
The infiltration of illegal firearms has led to a rise in violent cattle raids. Pastoralists are now arming themselves.

Baringo County, Kenya  On a morning in mid-November, 16-year-old Richard left his fathers cluster of huts with a loaded AK-47.

He drove a dozen cattle from their village of Sinoni, in the hilly region of Mochongoi, along a footpath snaking west through shrubs. He was headed for grazing fields by a river which divides his Tugen and the Pokot tribe.

Richard, like most herders from his village, takes a gun whenever he drives cattle to the river.

He keeps his gun cocked: one bullet in the chamber, eight more in the magazine. He always runs into Pokot herders by the river, and although they have never attacked him, he needs to be prepared. Pokot raiders have stormed his village in the past.

You never know when they will turn on you, kill you and take your livestock, says Richard, who gave only his first name out of fear of being arrested for owning an illegal firearm.





In greater Baringo County, where the land, arid and rocky, is non-arable, the majority of Tugen who live there have traditionally been livestock farmers. Once nomadic, these days families usually live in one place, while herders, mostly men, move in search of pasture and water.

Kenyas pastoralist communities have long considered cattle rustling a cultural practice, according to a 2011 Kenya Human Rights Commission report. In the past, warriors would wield crude weapons such as spears, swords and bows and arrows to steal livestock, but they rarely killed people.

Livestock is a symbol of wealth; stealing cattle was considered a means to elevate ones status.

But in the past few decades, in West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Turkana and Samburu counties, in northwestern and central Kenya, cattle raids have escalated, fuelled by the proliferation of small arms smuggled into the country. A 2015 Kenya Police report indicates that cattle raiders weapons originate from neighbouring countries with internal strife, particularly Somalia and South Sudan.

In recent years, the raids have grown deadly, with a sharp rise in the number of people killed during attacks. Gangs of gun-slinging raiders usually storm villages at night, shooting people on sight before driving away entire herds of cattle, sheep and goats, leaving entire communities devastated.

According to the most recent Kenya Police report from 2015, more than 24 people were killed in cattle rustling violence in that year, while nearly 25,000 livestock were stolen in 56 raids. Yet local media reports suggest that the number of people killed could be far higher. In May 2015, AFP reported that 75 people were killed over a period of just four days.

In November, Kenyas deputy president, William Ruto, oversaw the destruction of at least 5,250 guns recovered over the past nine years, a fraction of the estimated 500,000-plus illegal firearms in the country  most of which are owned by pastoralists. Disarmament efforts have so far yielded little progress.

Mochongoi lies where much of the violence is concentrated: along the borders between the districts of West Pokot, home mostly to the Pokot tribe, and Baringo in Kenyas Rift Valley. Herders there, tired of waiting for the governments help, feel they have no option but to arm themselves. They buy AK-47s, but also more powerful guns such as M16s and G3s, to protect their families, their livestock and also to take back their stolen animals.

READ MORE: Kenya  Telling the story of Turkana, one film at a time

In the mostly lawless Suguta Valley, an area which the local media have dubbed the Valley of Death, the ethnic Turkana, Samburu and Pokot are both victims and raiders, and cattle rustling has led to revenge attacks. The area goes unpoliced after one of the deadliest attacks on Kenyan police in 2012, in which 32 policemen pursuing stolen cattle were ambushed and killed.

Day-time raids

Sixty-year-old Arap Chebon Lochumunyang, a cattle owner from Richards village, home to about 200 people, says that the Endorois (a Tugen subtribe) did not own guns for a long time and were frequently attacked by armed Pokot bandits, who had earlier access to guns.

In the past five years, the Tugen started arming themselves. While raiders often come at night, they sometimes strike during the day.

It was a sunny afternoon in March 2015, when, just as Chebon was just sitting down to a meal at home, he heard a burst of gunfire.

His eldest son, 35-year-old Elijah Nasorot, also heard the shots. He ran with his AK-47 to confront the gunmen while his parents, children and two wives headed in the opposite direction into the hills, driving their livestock, some 50 cattle and 100 sheep, as fast as they could.

As the villagers fled, Elijah, his brothers and about 20 young men from their village fought the Pokot attackers. There were more than 50 raiders; they often strike in large numbers.

Two hours later, the guns fell silent.

The men from Sinoni, some wounded, had lost and escaped from the village. The better-armed, battle-hardened cattle raiders stole hundreds of livestock.

IN PICTURES: Kenyan children learn ballet at Kibera slum

After the fight had ended, a young man who had fought alongside Elijah came to Chebon with bad news.

He told me that my son had been shot and had died on the spot. It was very painful to lose a son at such a young age, says Chebon, a tall man with stooped shoulders, whose son had five children all under the age of ten.

With difficulty, Chebon arranged his sons funeral from the bush. When the time came to bury Elijah, the mourners emerged from hiding to hurriedly conduct the funeral on a slope near his home.

Afterwards, people from Sinoni and from neighbouring villages, fearing more attacks, went to stay with relatives in the hills of Mochongoi, while some men remained at Sinoni.

That night, gunmen struck again. They killed an elderly woman who had stayed at home and took more livestock.

WATCH: Kenyan foreign minister on corruption claims

Cycle of violence

The violence has affected the everyday lives of the people who live in Kenyas cattle-raiding areas.

People have been displaced, impoverished and childrens schooling disrupted. A once busy livestock market at Kapindasum village in Baringo County has been deserted for the past year because of the violence. The people of Sinoni and the surrounding villages also burn wood to sell as charcoal  displacement has made it hard to continue this practice.

Cattle raids have led to prolonged and bloody clashes between communities as aggrieved villagers often try to retake their livestock.





I have lost friends and neighbours in battle when we go to recapture our livestock, says 36-year-old Sinoni resident Noah Kibaron, who says he has fought in 27 gunfights while defending his village or retrieving stolen animals.

Three days after Elijahs funeral, Kibaron, and Tugen youth from Sinoni and other villages, went on a mission to steal back the livestock from the Pokot.

They tracked the raiders and took them by surprise while they were out herding the stolen animals. A gunfight ensued and three Pokot men were killed. As the Pokot ran for backup, Tugen men drove the livestock back to Sinoni.

They managed to recapture dozens of cattle, but the Pokot decided to pursue them later that day.

That afternoon, Chebons son Nelson Nasorot hired a motorbike taxi to take him the town of Marigat, about 50km away, where he planned to buy household items for his family.

He did not know that a group of Pokot warriors was pursuing the recovered livestock and the herders.

They spotted the motorbike and its Tugan passenger and shot from behind, killing Nelson immediately.

It was more than painful. I cant even describe how it felt to lose two sons in such a short time. I was devastated, says Chebon, whose family once again came down from the hills to hold a funeral.

READ MORE: Millions of Kenyans at risk of elephantiasis disease

According to Kibaron, the guns are readily available, but are expensive.

The AK-47 goes for 80,000 shillings ($800) and is sold by people we know. Some sell a bull or sheep to buy one, he says.

Kibaron says he does not know who exactly sells the guns, but alleges that theyre brought into the town of Rumuruti in bordering Laikipia County by Somali traders who come to buy cattle at the market.

I think the guns come from Somalia and South Sudan, he says.That is what I have heard people saying.

Despite their high price, almost every herder in Sinoni and the neighbouring villages owns guns. Their livelihood, supplying major towns with livestock for slaughter, means they can often afford to buy at least one gun per herder.

Bullets are also expensive. Richard, who at eight years of age learnt how to use the family gun bought by his father, says the bullets cost 100 shillings ($1) each. He said he has to be careful not to waste the rounds.

Kibaron and Richard allege that the bullet sellers get some of their supply from the police. Residents of Sinoni believe corrupt police officers stationed in camps in cattle-raiding hot spots sell ammunition to both raiders and herders.

They also believe that some of the Pokot thieves are hired to raid by wealthier livestock owners.

We once found a very new gun on a raider we killed. They have a lot of bullets and can fight for very long, unlike us who have very little bullets because they are expensive. I think there are rich people who provide them with guns and bullets, Kibaron says.

READ MORE: Kenya  Boxing for change

Neglected by the government

With raids occurring several times a year and sometimes as often as a few times a month along the border area between Baringo and West Pokot, the government set up two police camps, including one last year near Sinoni.

The residents of Sinoni village, however, feel that the police are not doing enough to stop them from being attacked. They say the police fear the bandits, but also have little motivation to do their job because of isolated and poor working conditions  many deployed police are reportedly junior officers and dont have adequate food or water supplies.

Chebon says that the police have yet to investigate his sons killings and that his cattle have never been recovered.

The people of Sinoni feel marginalised and neglected by the government.

Nobody is looking after us here. We are on our own and that is why people are buying guns, Chebon says.

In April last year, Kibaron called the police camp, located just three kilometres away, while their village was being attacked.

It was around midnight and they told me they were coming but they didnt show up until eight the next morning, he says.They came, picked up bullet casings from one of the homesteads and left.

Earlier this year Sinoni residents returned to their village in the warmer lowlands. Chebon says their cattle were dying in the cooler climate of the hills. But they feel uneasy at home. Chebon wishes that the government could provide adequate security for them.

Al Jazeera contacted the Kenya Police twice requesting an interview, but did not receive a response.

Chebon is not opposed to disarmament, which has been successful in parts of West Pokot on the Kenyan-Ugandan border, where the two governments worked together.

If it is done for everybody so that we all do not have guns and cant steal from one another, then we can rear our livestock without fear, he says.

Cattle raids have left many pastoralists in Kenyas north poor and the victims have had enough.

I was once rich, but I now have very few cattle, Chebon says.We are tired of running away from home and losing livestock and children.

Follow Anthony Langat on Twitter: @ AntonyKip
Recent events are evidence of the failures of neoliberalism as the dominant ideology in the international order.

It is indisputable that the current international zeitgeist is definitely characterised by a profound uneasiness. The sense for many is that the international order as it is currently known is, at least, in check.

The signs are plenty: the environmental crisis, the financial crisis of 2008, the rise of the far-right in Europe, Brexit and Donald Trump in the White House, to mention just a few.

Surprisingly, these events are normally reasoned individually, which is undoubtedly misleading. Remarkably, the veiled force underneath all these events is not even mentioned.

However, an attentive observer of the international reality perceives, quite clearly in fact, that these events are all evidence of the failures of neoliberalism as the dominant ideology in the international political and economic order.

Neoliberalism as the dominant ideology

Even though it is often overlooked by many people, neoliberalism shapes every aspect of contemporary political, economic and social spheres.

In such an environment, it is quite hard to remember that neoliberalism was not always the structuring force in international politics. It was only in the 1970s when neoliberalism started to position itself as a dominant ideology in many countries across the globe.

This path started in the periphery of the international system. One of the first countries to implement neoliberalism as a structuring framework was Chile. Unsurprisingly, this was operated through a coup against a democratically elected government. After deposing President Salvador Allende, General Augusto Pinochet made Chile function as a sort of laboratory, a kind characterisation for a guinea pig, for the Chicago Boys  the graduates from the University of Chicago, an important intellectual powerhouse of this economic framework  and their social engineering.

In the late 1970s, neoliberalism reached the very core of the international system with the election of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom (1979) and Ronald Reagan in the United States (1980).

From that time onwards, neoliberalism started to take the global stage as a dominant ideology. At this point, the tenets of neoliberal policies such as deregulation of different spheres, massive tax reduction for the rich, privatisation of state-owned companies, outsourcing of businesses, free trade, austerity measures, dismantling of public services and so on were decidedly stimulated.

It is myopic to believe that the failures of neoliberalism just affected the periphery. by

Inversely, elements such as regulations, taxes, state programmes, union activities and so on were severely blocked.

Thatcher was bluntly clear when she said that there was no alternative to such an agenda. This agenda was disseminated internationally with a varying degree of violence: through a veiled violence, by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, when countries had to structurally reform their economic, political and social spheres in order to borrow money from these international financial institutions, or through a brutal force, by the violence against unions or protesters and the regime changes around the world.

Failures and current shockwaves

The widespread neoliberal offensive across the globe certainly had consequences. Contrary to what is commonly advertised, it is clear that the world experienced a noticeable deterioration in many spheres.

David Harvey, for instance, in his A Brief History of Neoliberalism, evinces neoliberalisms link with the increase of poverty and unemployment, the concentration of income and wealth, and the rise in inequality after decades of decline.

Even economic growth  a cherished indicator of the neoliberal mantra  was much slower during the neoliberal dominance in comparison with the preceding decades.



OPINION: Neoliberalism and public unrest  Time to make the connection

These consequences were devastating for the vast majority of the people across the world and overwhelmingly severe on the middle and working classes. In the periphery, the results were destructive. Not by coincidence, the 1980s is known as the Lost Decade in Latin America.

However, it is myopic to believe that the failures of neoliberalism just affected the periphery. Not surprisingly, the middle and working classes in the core of the international system were also not immune. The fact that the failures of neoliberalism negatively affected both classes worldwide generated several shockwaves across the globe. These are engendering the current uneasiness perceived globally.

Continuity in the failures

It is with this background in mind that one should reason a wide range of current international developments that, on the surface, are not related at all. The failures of neoliberalism produced a deep anger worldwide and opened the space for nationalist and xenophobic groups to galvanise supporters, channelling a wide range of frustrations and benefiting from this anger in different elections around the world.

The election of Trump is the most manifest shockwave of the failures of the neoliberalism as the dominant ideology in the international order. It is enough to remember that a significant part of his support came from the workers of the manufacturing industry, a segment that suffered over the past decades of neoliberal dominance. Not by coincidence, Trump won in key states of the so-called rust belt.

Therefore, it is incomplete if one tries to understand Trumps election without considering the long-term failures that led to the international financial crisis in 2008  which is another fundamental pillar of the current international uneasiness, and a direct consequence of the neoliberal dominance internationally.



OPINION: Trumping it up  Neoliberalism on steroids

Moreover, the failures of neoliberalism are the same underneath force, due to its severe impact on the middle and working classes in several European countries, producing the rise of the far-right and nationalist populism across the whole continent.

This is observed, for instance, in the European Parliament but also with the rise of the Freedom Party in Austria, the Swiss Peoples Party in Switzerland, the Finns in Finland, the Jobbik in Hungary, the Golden Dawn in Greece, the UK Independence Party, the National Front in France and also, more recently, Britains withdrawal from the European Union.

Consequently, to properly apprehend the current international zeitgeist one has to dig beneath the surface. Most importantly, to overcome the current international uneasiness properly, we need to frontally address its underneath force  neoliberalism as a global dominant ideology.

Ramon Blanco is a researcher and professor of international relations at the Federal University of Latin-American Integration (Brazil).

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
J Berkshire Miller is the director of the Council on International Policy.

The Asia-Pacific region is in for another challenging year, with a number of long-standing tripwires ripening during a period of great geopolitical uncertainty.

The stunning victory of United States president-elect Donald Trump earlier this fall only magnifies a number of these areas of concern, ranging from Chinas destabilising activities in the maritime domain to North Koreas relentless march towards a more potent nuclear weapons capability.

But, in addition to uncertainty about the incoming Trump administration, there are a host of other wild cards in the region.

Turmoil in the region



In South Korea, scandal has led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and clouded the countrys political future. Meanwhile, the regime of Kim Jong-un in North Korea has been quickly moving ahead with the development of its nuclear and missile programmes and soon may provide a credible threat to the US continent.

While Trump may see China  as Pyongyangs only significant backer  as both the problem and potential solution, he would be naive to think he can force Beijings hand on North Korea. It is a challenge that vexed all of his predecessors.

In addition to problems on the Korean peninsula, Russia continues to push for a more active role in the region and also develop its strategic relationship with China.

Meanwhile, in the Philippines. strongman leader Rodrigo Duterte has charted a drastically different course than his predecessors and has broken the recent warming of ties with its ally in Washington.

This has led to a volatile scenario where crumbling US credibility is combined with corresponding weakness among some of the USs most critical relationships in the region.

Will Trump trump East Asia?

Trumps rhetoric thus far on East Asia has largely been erratic and contradictory. On one hand, he has levied threats against China and its unfair economic practices.

And this month, Trump announced the appointment of Peter Navarro, well-known for a hardline approach towards Beijing, as his choice to lead the newly created White House National Trade Council.

Trump has similarly  but reactively  railed against Beijings security posture in the region, especially in the South China Sea, where he accused Beijing of building a massive military complex.

The president-elect subsequently called out China, via Twitter, for its seizure of a US navy unmanned underwater vehicle earlier this month, operating off the coast of the Philippines.

It is highly unlikely that Trump will do away with US alliances in the region - which have and continue to serve US commercial and security interests. by

Finally, Trump has stirred concern in Beijing with his direct diplomacy with Taiwan and his suggestion that the long-standing one-China policy should not be considered as a given.

But prognostics of a looming US-China showdown under Trump may not be entirely accurate.

Trump will surely press hard on China economically and on trade  a bread and butter issue for him.

But, on the trade front, China will also look to take advantage of failed US leadership on delivering the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and press forward on agreements that are either led or inclusive of Beijing  such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Japan-Korea trilateral free trade agreement.

It is less clear that Trump will stand stout against Chinas growing assertiveness in the region, marked by efforts to forcibly change the status quo in the East and South China Seas.

Despite barbs on the South China Sea and promises to rebuild the US navy, most of Trumps known doctrine promotes a myopic America First worldview that likely will complicate Washingtons established relationships with allies in the region.

OPINION: Trump era has Beijing on edge

Indeed, during his campaign, Trump accused allies, such as Japan and South Korea, of freeriding on US military support and promised a tougher approach to alliance burden sharing.

In reality, it is highly unlikely that Trump will do away with US alliances in the region, which have and continue to serve US commercial and security interests.

But, while Trump may not abandon allies, he will definitely take out the crude scalpel and look for trade-offs. This approach has already led to weakening faith among Washingtons allies in the US deterrence commitments in the region, and that trend will only continue if Trump proceeds to treat alliance relationships in Asia in a transactional manner.

Chinas side of the game

China will push ahead accordingly and look to expose areas of vulnerability. In the coming year, there will be a number of areas that Beijing can retaliate to Trumps plans to turn the economic screws.

First, China could continue to up the stakes in the East and South China Seas and might look to be more overt and bold in its militarisation of reclaimed reefs in the latter.

Beijing may also look to use its newly placed military assets in the region to announce an Air Defense Identification Zone over the controversial nine-dash line in the South China Sea.



OPINION: Chinas love affair with the dollar

Similarly, in the East China Sea, Beijing may look to increase the presence of its maritime militia in the waters surrounding the Senkaku islands and further push into grey-zone situations  sensing Washingtons lack of appetite to jump to Japans defence.

China will also be keeping a shrewd eye on US policies regarding Taiwan and, depending on the direction that Trump goes, may look to press harder on Taipei through tightening the vice on trade and tourism flows and being more overt with its poaching of Taipeis diplomatic allies.

A more gloomy and dangerous scenario might see China ramp up military threats to Taiwan through missile tests and naval exercises in the Cross-Straits region.

It is time to buckle up for a bumpy road in Asia over the coming months.

J Berkshire Miller is the director of the Council on International Policy and is a fellow on East Asia for the EastWest Institute.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Russia, China and Pakistan meet in Moscow to discuss growing ISIL threat in Afghanistan  the third in a series.

Government officials in Kabul have reacted with dismay to a trilateral meeting in Moscow involving Pakistan, China and Russia to discuss the situation in Afghanistan.

The gathering in the Russian capital  the third in a series of consultations between Russia, China and Pakistan that have so far excluded Afghanistan  is likely to deepen worries that the government in Kabul is being sidelined in negotiations over the countrys future.

Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni, Afghanistans foreign affairs ministry spokesperson, said the government was not optimistic about the outcome of Tuesdays meeting.

SPECIAL SERIES: Taliban oil

Even if such talks are organised with a good will, it cannot yield any substantial results because no one from the Afghan side is there to brief the participants about the latest ground realities, Mostaghni said.

He said meetings without the presence of Afghan government officials will not represent a real picture of the situation.

For their part, the representatives from Russia, China and Pakistan at the Moscow meeting said the influence of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group was growing in Afghanistan and that the security situation there was deteriorating.





They also agreed to invite the Afghan government to such talks in the future, the Russian foreign ministry said.

[The three countries] expressed particular concern about the rising activity in the country of extremist groups including the Afghan branch of IS, Maria Zakharova, the ministry spokesperson, said referring to ISIL, also known as ISIS.

She said the three countries agreed on a flexible approach to remove certain figures from sanctions lists, as part of efforts to foster a peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement.

FAULTLINES: Afghan Translators  Out of hiding (24:32)

Responding to the developments, Fawzia Koofi, an Afghan parliament member, said Pakistan should convince the Taliban to come to the negotiating table so that we have only one enemy to fight, which is the ISIL.

What we are concerned about is that there is a legitimate elected government that could represent Afghanistan in international and regional talks, she told Al Jazeera from Kabul.

And we know that without Afghanistans inclusion, any process will prove unsuccessful.

At this stage, we have multiple enemies in Afghanistan, therefore our vulnerabilities are growing and, as a result, we cannot defeat our enemies in the country.

US not invited

Along with Afghanistan, the United States, which still has nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan more than 15 years after the Taliban was toppled, was not invited to the Moscow talks.

Officials in Kabul and Washington have said that Russia is deepening its ties with the Taliban, but Russia has rejected the claims.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last month asked the UN to add the Talibans new leader to its sanctions list, further slowing a faltering peace process.

A number of Afghan provincial capitals have come under pressure from the Taliban this year, while Afghan forces have been suffering high casualty rates, with more than 5,500 killed in the first eight months of 2016.

An offshoot of ISIL has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the last year.
Partys ex-volunteer says IT Cell ran campaign to drop Aamir Khan as brand ambassador of e-commerce firm Snapdeal.

Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ran an online campaign against Bollywood star Aamir Khan for his comments on growing intolerance in the country, according to a former volunteer with the BJPs IT Cell.

Khan had to face the wrath of far-right Hindu groups for his comments late last year that were seen as critical of the government of Narendra Modi, who became prime minister after leading the BJP to a massive election victory in 2014.

Khan, 51, was later dropped as brand ambassador by Snapdeal, an Indian e-commerce firm.

Khan is one of Bollywoods biggest stars and his current film, Dangal, has been running to packed houses in cinemas across the country.

OPINION: Online Republic of Modi

Sadhavi Khosla, who volunteered for the BJPs social media team between 2013 and 2015, said that malicious and sexist campaigns were run online against opponents and prominent journalists.

I have submitted proof of [the then] BJP IT Cell chief Arvind Guptas message sent to me personally to boycott Snapdeal because Aamir Khan was its brand ambassador, she told Al Jazeera.

When a message from IT Cell comes from the party, it automatically becomes official party line.

Khoslas account is being published in a book entitled I Am A Troll, written by journalist Swati Chaturvedi.

What's the relationship between the filth-, violence- & hate-spewing RW twitter army & the BJP? Read @bainjal's chilling book to find out pic.twitter.com/3YUsoFfzel  Arunava Sinha (@arunava) December 27, 2016

Khan was also dropped as the face of Indias tourism for the Incredible India campaign, but the government denied that his comments on the issue of growing intolerance were the reason.

However, Manohar Parrikar, Indias defence minister and a senior BJP leader, suggested at a public function later that Khan was taught a lesson.

Khosla says that the two Khans  Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan  part of the triumvirate of Khans that also includes Salman Khan  were targeted for whatever comments they made.

For 25 years, I grew up watching their movies. For me they are my superstars, they are the biggest Bollywood stars, she said.

Suddenly after Modi came to power I realised that they are being targeted as Muslim actors.

BJP officials version

Gupta has dismissed Khoslas allegations as unsubstantiated and told the Indian Express newspaper that the BJP never encouraged trolling.

He denied that he directly supervises social media activities since 2015 when the party structure was reorganised.

Amit Malviya, the current BJP IT Cell chief, also denied that the party promoted such activities.

Arvind [Gupta] is a valued colleague and his words are final. We have proper guidelines on the party website about these matters, Malviya told Al Jazeera.

BJP is a pioneer among the political parties in using the social media for political campaigning, and Modi was one of the earliest politicians to adopt online tools when he was the chief minister of Gujarat state.

During the 2014 elections, the party employed thousands of volunteers spread across the country as well as overseas on top of its more than 1,000 paid staff based in New Delhi.

On the allegations that anti-minorities messages were being pushed by supporters of BJP such as the Hindu Defence League (HDL), Malviya said: You can speak to their spokespersons  I cannot speak for them.

The Indian government has been accused of ignoring the army of trolls who zealously defend it and often engage in personalised attacks against journalists and political opponents.

Social media army

Modi has drawn criticism for personally meeting many of the so-called bloggers and social media volunteers, who have been accused of issuing threats of rape to activists and journalists, particularly women, on twitter.

India has a law against online hate messages but instead of acting against abusive trolls, governments in recent years have used it as a weapon against dissent.

Senior journalists such as Barkha Dutt and Sagarika Ghosh have been at the receiving end of the trolls that Indian media refers to as bhakts who push ultra-nationalistic narratives online.

BJP runs a massive social media army. If you look at their entire campaign, it was based on fabricated lies. So you keep spinning the lies until the point it becomes the truth, Khosla said.

Khosla says she supported Modi in the 2014 parliamentary elections on the promise of creating jobs and improving living standards.

WATCH: Is India becoming increasingly intolerant?

After six to eight months of his coming to power, I started feeling suffocated and disenchanted, and this was not the government and the leader that I wanted.

But by the mid-2015, I had decided that it was mistake to support this party, said Khosla, adding that she stopped volunteering for the BJP at the end of last year.

Critics say Modis silence has emboldened far-right Hindu groups, who have been running vigilante campaigns such as Save cow and Love Jihad.

In September last year, a Muslim man near the capital, New Delhi, was bludgeoned to death by cow vigilantes over rumours that he ate beef. Later it turned out that he had not eaten beef.

This was pretty shocking for me. I dont eat meat neither does my family, but I dont support killing a human being for eating beef, said Khosla.

That is not the kind of India I had dreamed of.
Scientists say an estimated 7,100 cheetahs remain in the wild with poaching one of the largest threats.

Scientists are warning that the cheetah, the fastest land animal, is rapidly heading towards extinction, with depleting habitats and poaching to blame for the plummeting numbers.

According to a report published in the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, an estimated 7,100 cheetahs remain in the wild across Africa and a small area of Iran, and human encroachment is to blame for pushing the cats out of 91 percent of their historic habitat.





The report said that cheetahs had been virtually wiped out in Asia, with fewer than 50 left in Iran.

This period is really crunch time for species like cheetah that need these big areas, said Sarah Durant, a lead author of the report and cheetah specialist at the Zoological Society of London.

Researchers said that in addition to habitat loss, falling numbers could also be attributed to the illegal trade in cheetah cubs, the trafficking of cheetah skins, attacks from villagers and the loss of the cheetahs prey.

The report recommended that the cheetah be defined as endangered instead of the less serious vulnerable, on an official watch list of threatened species worldwide.

WATCH: Vanishing Cheetahs

In Zimbabwe, the cheetah population has dropped from an estimated 1,500 in 1999 to between 150 and 170, a group called Cheetah Conservation Project Zimbabwe said.

The group solicited cheetah photographs and reports of sightings from tourists, safari guides and others, and interviewed more than 1,000 people, including village heads and cattle managers.

Despite habitat loss across the continent, the Mara area in southwest Kenya and in the adjacent Serengeti National Park in Tanzania still offered a refuge, Femke Broekhuis, the head of the Mara Cheetah Project said.

Cheetah experts also noted that Angola was developing a plan to protect cheetahs and African wild dogs, and that could yield better data on cheetah numbers in a country where information has been thin.
Creation of council with authority to strip broadcasting rights comes amid rising concerns over press freedom.

Egypts president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, has ratified a new media law that critics say is a blow to pluralism and press freedom in the country.

The new law, approved by parliament and signed into law by Sisi on Monday, will see the creation of a Supreme Council for the Administration of the Media, a body that can revoke licences to foreign media and fine or suspend publications and broadcasters.





The council, whose chairman will be picked by Sisi, will create a list of penalties and sue media organisations that violate its regulations and fine outlets that break licence terms.

Yehia Qalash, chief of the press syndicate, told the Reuters news agency that the law and the council were mostly concerned with administrative affairs and did not compromise media freedoms.

However, earlier this month, when the law was still being deliberated in parliament, the press syndicate condemned the legislation as an infringement on the media.

The law allows the executive power to take control of media outlets, it said in a statement published by local media.

The new law comes amid rising concerns over press freedom in the country.

On Sunday, the interior ministry confirmed it had arrested Mahmoud Hussein, an Al Jazeera news producer, accusing him of incitement against state institutions and broadcasting false news with the aim of spreading chaos.

Al Jazeera has denied the charges and demanded his immediate release, saying Hussein was in Egypt on holiday and not for work.

[Hussein] is a news producer in the Al Jazeera Arabic newsroom and not a correspondent supervisor as alleged by the statement  [he] would not have travelled through the airport at Egypt if he was undertaking any illegal activities as alleged by the MOI statement, the network said.

WATCH: Face-off at Egypts Press Syndicate

Over the past few years, Egyptian authorities have arrested several Al Jazeera employees, with some being accused of conspiring with the devil to destabilise the country.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 25 journalists have been imprisoned in Egypt in 2016, making it the worlds third-worst jailer of reporters after Turkey and China.
Judges reject call to strike down case against Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian accused of insulting the Quran.

An Indonesian court will proceed with a controversial blasphemy case against Jakartas Christian governor, who is accused of insulting the Quran, a judge said.

A panel of judges on Tuesday rejected a call by lawyers defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politicians human rights and breached procedures.

The exception by the defendant will be considered and decided by the court after examination of all evidence. The defendants exception is not accepted, said Judge Abdul Rosyad.

READ MORE: Indonesians rally against Purnama over blasphemy claims

A tearful Purnama denied the charges in the first hearing on December 13. The case is seen as a test of religious freedom in the worlds largest Muslim-majority nation.

Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, ignited a storm of criticism in September when he controversially quoted a Quranic verse while campaigning in elections for the Jakarta governorship.

He is running for re-election against two Muslim candidates.

He could be jailed for up to five years if found guilty of breaking Indonesias tough blasphemy laws.
Basel Ghattas of the Joint List accused of smuggling mobile phones and SIM cards to Palestinians prisoners.

A Palestinian member of the Israeli parliament has been placed under house arrest for 10 days after he was accused of smuggling mobile phones and SIM cards to Palestinian prisoners.

An Israeli court in Rishon LeZion, a city near Tel Aviv, issued the decision on Tuesday.

Basel Ghattas, of the Joint List, a predominantly Palestinian electoral coalition in the Israeli Knesset, was arrested last week after he surrendered parliamentary immunity for search and arrest, and remained in police custody for six days undergoing interrogation.

Micky Rosenfeld, an Israeli police spokesman, said that the legislator would be placed under house arrest with a number of specific restrictions.

He will not be allowed to leave the country until the final decision is made on the investigation, Rosenfeld told Al Jazeera.

He is also not allowed to visit any prisons for the next 180 days.

When asked what evidence was presented before the court on the accusations, Rosenfeld said there was concrete evidence but would not elaborate on the nature of it.

A second suspect involved in the case was arrested this morning, he said.

Avichai Mandelblit, the Knessets attorney general, said Ghattas was caught on police surveillance cameras giving envelopes to one of the prisoners at Ketziot prison in the south of the country, but the investigation is still under way.

Ghattas has neither publicly denied nor confirmed the accusations, but in a video posted on his official Facebook page before his arrest on December 22, he said that he did not carry out any violation linked to so-called state security or the security of citizens.

My ongoing activism in regards to the prisoners  my personal, moral, humanitarian and conscience-based activism, is one that I do not regret, he said.

Ghattass office and home were raided and searched by Israeli police during the time of his arrest.

Moshe Mizrachi, a Rishon LeZion magistrates court judge, set bail at 50,000 shekels (approximately $13,000).

Exploiting incident

Yousef Jabareen, who is also a member of the Joint List, said there is no doubt that these are ongoing efforts by Israels right-wing parliament to strip away the legitimacy of Palestinian politicians.

They are exploiting this incident and blowing it out of proportion, Jabareen told Al Jazeera.

They are persisting in their efforts to frame us as enemies, in line with their racist agenda.

READ MORE: Arab Knesset members vow to sue Netanyahu

Last year Israel banned the northern branch of the Islamic Movement.

Earlier this year, Israeli police carried out mass arrests of political activists and members of the Arab Democratic National Assembly party, or Balad, on accusations of money laundering.

An estimated 1.7 million Palestinians, descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land after the creation of Israel in 1948, hold Israeli citizenship.

According to the Haifa-based Adalah Legal Centre for Arab Minority rights, Palestinian citizens of Israel suffer from more than 50 discriminatory laws limiting their access to state resources and political expression.
By refusing to reveal details to expectant mothers, such as genetic conditions, doctors hope to reduce terminations.

Warsaw, Poland  Some doctors in Poland are refusing to reveal the full medical implications of pregnancies to expectant mothers in an attempt to limit abortions, Al Jazeera has learned.

Poland, a country with a Catholic majority, already has the strictest abortion laws in Europe. Many doctors also refuse to carry out abortions on moral grounds; the vast majority are carried out illegally.

Al Jazeera interviewed Aleksandra Wiecka, who is now a mother to Jonathan. She said she was not given all the details of her pregnancy. There was a high risk of Down syndrome. It was only after Jonathan was born that she discovered he had the condition.

READ MORE: Defying Polands restrictive abortion law

Throughout all the examinations, my doctor was saying that everything is all right, that its great, said Wiecka. I know from many of my friends that very often, even if the doctors know something is going wrong, they wont tell the mother.

Last month, thousands of women dressed in black and protested against proposed legislation that would have completely banned abortions, including terminations for victims of rape and incest.

The bill was not passed, but Catholic conservatives are still pushing for a complete ban.

The state has no right to interfere into peoples intimate affairs. They can be ruled only by peoples own conscience, said Krystyna Duniec, a professor at the Polish Academy of Social Sciences. They have to [decide] what is right and what is wrong, and then carry the burden of the decision, for good or bad.
Sevil Shhaideh, a politician of Turkish origin, could have been EU nations first female and Muslim prime minister.

Romanias president has rejected the left-wing Social Democrats candidate for prime minister, Sevil Shhaideh, who would have been the EU nations first female and Muslim prime minister.

Klaus Iohannis has not elaborated on his reason for rejecting the candidacy of Shhaideh, a 52-year-old politician of Turkish origin who comes from Romanias 65,000-strong Muslim community.

I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal, Klaus Iohannis said in a televised statement on Tuesday.

I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal by Klaus Iohannis, Romania's president

I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal.

The PSD, which has yet to comment on the issue, had put forward Shhaideh after its sweeping election victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote.

The PSD, along with its junior coalition partner and longtime ally ALDE, control 250 of the combined 465 seats in the two-house assembly  enough majority for their leader to be elected as the prime minister.

Liviu Dragnea, leader of the PSD, had withdrawn his bid to become prime minister because he is serving a two-year suspended sentence for electoral fraud.

Shhaidehs political experience is limited; she served as development minister for six months before the previous PSD-led government resigned in late 2015.

This and her personal closeness to Dragnea  he was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian businessman  have spurred opposition accusations that she would merely be a puppet.

Election promises

Rise Project, a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of investigative journalists, said this month that Shhaidehs husband had posted messages on his Facebook account in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The PSD, which promised higher wages and pensions during the election campaign, had hoped Dragnea would stand for prime minister but Iohannis made clear he would refuse any candidate with a criminal record.

The PSDs election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it and Victor Ponta, the prime minister, from office.
Criticism comes days after Russian forces helped Assad government take control of Aleppo, displacing tens of thousands.

Russia has called a US decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian opposition groups a hostile act that would directly threaten Russian military forces in Syria.

Maria Zakharova, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, said on Tuesday the policy change set out in the annual defence policy bill signed into law by US President Barack Obama last week, would lead to weapons ending up in the hands of jihadists with whom the sham moderate opposition have long acted jointly.

The bill gives the next US administration under Donald Trump the authority to send Syrian rebels surface-to-air missiles.

READ MORE: Idlib overwhelmed by influx of Aleppos wounded

Such a decision is a direct threat to the Russian air force, to other Russian military personnel, and to our embassy in Syria, which has come under fire more than once. We therefore view the step as a hostile one, Zakharova said in a statement.

Reporting from Moscow, Al Jazeeras Natasha Ghoneim said Russia is lashing out at the United States in the final days of Obamas administration.

The [Russian] foreign ministry is saying that the Obama administration is trying to complicate the global situation ahead of the President-elect Donald Trump taking office, she said.

Campaign of air strikes

Throughout the Syrian civil war, the US has funded several Syrian rebel groups and provided them with logistical support as well as weapons.

Russia, on the other hand, launched a campaign of air strikes last year in support of President Bashar al-Assad and his government forces to battle the Syrian opposition groups, some of which are supported by the US.

Last week, the Syrian government recaptured previously rebel-held eastern Aleppo after an intense battle that led to the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians. Many other civilians were caught in the crossfire.

Zakharova accused the Obama administration of trying to put a mine under the incoming administration of Donald Trump by attempting to get it to continue what she called the anti-Russian line of the US.

Diplomatic efforts

The Russian Interfax news agency cited Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, on Tuesday as saying that the Syrian government was taking part in talks  coordinated by Russia  with the opposition.

However, the reports have been rejected by some members of the Syrian opposition.

Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep in Turkey near the border with Syria, said there is a clear attempt by the Russians, the Turks and the Iranians to find a political solution to the war, with talks possibly to be held in Kazakhstan.

The Syrian National Council , the political umbrella of the Syrian opposition groups, has distanced itself from the talks, saying that they so far have not met the Russians, he said.

READ MORE: East Aleppo  Our memories are buried

At the same time, there are many powerful armed groups which are involved in those talks, which shows there is a widening rift between the different Syrian factions.

Meanwhile, the Syrian government along with its ally Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group, has stepped up its efforts to take control of rebel-held Wadi Barada on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.

Dozens of civilians were reportedly killed in barrel-bomb attacks on the area on Monday.

The Wadi Barada valley, a mountainous area near the Lebanese border, has been under siege since 2014 with food, water and electricity all in short supply.

The area is crucial for the government as it contains a vital river supplying drinking water to Damascus.

The operation was launched after the Syrian government accused the rebels of contaminating the water with diesel.

The Syrian civil war started as a largely unarmed uprising against Assad in March 2011, but quickly developed into a full-on civil war.

Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy to Syria, estimated in April that more than 400,000 Syrians had been killed since 2011.

Calculating a precise death toll is difficult, partially owing to the forced disappearances of tens of thousands of Syrians whose fates remain unknown.

Almost 11 million Syrians  half the countrys prewar population  have been displaced from their homes.
Shinzo Abes visit to memorial in Hawaii is the first to include ceremonies and speeches together with the US president.

The leaders of Japan and the US have met at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, 75 years after the surprise Japanese air attack that led to the US entering World War II.

The meeting on Tuesday between Shinzo Abe and Barack Obama at the historic site is a further step in the reconciliation process between the two wartime enemies.

The Japanese prime minister and US president have both sought to guide their citizens to embrace reconciliation and remembrance.

Although Abes visit is not the first by a Japanese leader to Pearl Harbor, it is the first to include ceremonies and speeches together with the US president.

For Obama, it is possibly the last time he has met a foreign leader as president, White House aides said.

This visit, and the presidents visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago, said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obamas top Asia adviser in the White House.

That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history.

The meeting between the two leaders comes as Abe prepares to lead Japan into an uncertain era, with Republican Donald Trump set to occupy the White House in January.

The president-elect has declared his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that Obama was pushing for and that Abe made the heart of his economic strategy.

And, at least on the campaign trail, Trump has even called into question the US security guarantees that shielded Japan through the Cold War and later the rise of China.

In eight years, Obama, Americas Hawaiian-born first Pacific president, never made the headway he wanted in his vaunted rebalance to Asia diplomatic strategy. In May, he visited Hiroshima to pay his respects.

Theatre of war

The Japanese attack of January 7, 1941, on an unsuspecting US fleet moored at Pearl Harbor turned the Pacific into a major theatre of war.

The raid had been prepared in secret by Japan for months, but was over within two hours.

Japanese warplanes came out of nowhere to sink much of the US fleet and leave 2,400 sailors and soldiers dead.

A reluctant America was drawn into the war already raging in Europe and its colonies, a war that ended after US atom bombs razed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

In May, Obama surveyed the preserved ruins in Hiroshima and revived his Nobel Peace Prize-winning call for a world without nuclear weapons.
More than 150 people. mostly Christians, taken to clinics in eastern Pakistan.

At least 42 people, most of them Christians celebrating Christmas, have died and dozens have fallen ill after drinking toxic alcohol in Pakistan, the Dawn newspaper has reported.

Police in eastern Punjab province took all alcohol sellers in the district of Toba Tek Singh, the site of the incident, into custody for questioning, Muhammad Shahbaz, a local police official, told DPA news agency.

The brew was consumed during festive celebrations in a Christian community, Shahbaz said. Five Muslims were among the dead.

Many of the victims had been drinking and dancing throughout Sunday and into Monday morning, when some of them fell ill and were taken to hospital, he said.

About 150 others were taken to clinics, dozens of them unconscious. Funerals have been held for 25 victims, Shahbaz said.

Suspect among the dead

The police official said that the individual who allegedly arranged for the alcohol at the Christmas festivities was among the dead, complicating police efforts to trace where the toxic beverage came from.

Deaths from tainted liquor, often home-brewed, occur periodically in Muslim-majority Pakistan, often around religious festivals.

In March, at least 40 people, mostly Hindus, died after drinking toxic liquor just days before Holi.

It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in the country, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities.

Christians make up about 1.6 percent of Pakistans 190 million people, with most living in Punjab.
An insight into the battle for Native American land rights as protests continue against the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

For months, Native Americans have been protesting against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, a multibillion-dollar construction project that tribal leaders say is threatening sacred sites, as well as the tribes source of drinking water.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says the federal government failed to properly consult with them before issuing permits for the pipeline.

All by Ladonna

dogs were coming.]

Protests against the project have been growing since April and began when a handful of people set up camp, just south of the proposed pipeline on the land of Ladonna Brave Bull Allard.

When the Army Corps approved the first major permit for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), Allard received a 48-hour heads up, warning her of work commencing on the pipeline. It was then that the Sioux took the Army Corps to federal court  Allard called in for reinforcements using a social media video, calling people to stand with the cause.

Since then, thousands of people, including tribes across the US, have joined historic demonstrations in support of the Sioux.

In December, the Obama administration handed them a victory, denying a final permit the company needed and saying different routes for the pipeline would be sought.

But the election of Donald Trump has cast doubt on that decision, and the company in charge of constructing the Dakota Access Pipeline says it isnt backing down.

Fault Lines examines the case against the pipeline, connecting it to other fights being waged by US tribes that have helped build the growing movement at Standing Rock.

Editors note: We have used archive footage in this Fault Lines episode from Democracy Now! and Unicorn Riot.
The 1948 restoration of Jewish sovereignty to parts of the historic Jewish homeland, under the auspices of the United Nations, was not accepted by Israels Arab neighbors who launched the first of several wars against it. The 1948-49 war resulted in the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza by Jordan and Egypt, respectively. Jordan also illegally grabbed the eastern side of Jerusalem from UN control and

laid siege to Jewish residents, eventually driving them out,

destroyed or desecrated as much evidence of Jewish patrimony as possible, and

forbade Jews to come and pray at their holiest site and bury their dead.

Then, in a monstrously stupid decision, the King of Jordan shelled Israel from Jerusalem in 1967 on the fourth day of a Six-day War. Israels defense left it in control of the illegally occupied territories, including eastern Jerusalem. Recognizing that the root of the Arab-Israel conflict was not where Jews lived, but that they had sovereign rights to a Jewish homeland, and that Israel should not be forced to concede territory as it had in Sinai in 1956 without concrete security, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 242.

Last weeks passage of UN Security Council Resolution 2334 erases the guarantees of UNSCR 242.

Rather than requiring Arab recognition of the legitimacy and permanence of the State of Israel, this newest resolution expresses grave concern that continuing Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperiling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines. The Arabs and Palestinians are off the hook for decades of rejecting Israel peace, but the problem has been reduced to Jews building houses where the Arabs dont want them.

Fury at the Obama administrations betrayal of Americas ally Israel is fully warranted as is disgust with politically impotent countries such as Senegal, Malaysia, Venezuela, and New Zealand looking for relevance. But more important than venting would be a review of text of UNSCR 242  the resolution most closely tied to the time and actual events of 1947, 1948, and 1967.

The preamble states, "Emphasizing the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every State in the area can live in security." Note the use of the word war, not force as it is generally translated. Israels use of force in 1967 was defensive; war having been initiated by the Arabs. The inadmissibility of territorial acquisition applies to by war, which makes sense -- otherwise an offender, in this case, the Arab States, could simply say, Okay, status quo ante, and wait for the next opportunity. Use of the word security is key as well -- the UN insisted Israel should not have a nebulous peace but a concrete set of conditions to create security.

To ensure that, the Resolution has clauses (i) and (ii):

(i) Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in the recent conflict;

The resolution not only does not specify ALL the territory. In the French translation there is a les (the), but the US and UK Ambassadors to the UN at the time and since have firmly insisted on the English translation of territories not all-inclusive.

Clause (ii) affirms that Israels withdrawal would be accompanied by:

(ii) Termination of all claims or states of belligerency and respect for and acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every State in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.

Those were to be given to Israel not by the Palestinians, who did not and do not meet the requirements of a State, but the belligerents of 1948 and 1967. Egypt and Jordan have done so. Israel is still awaiting acknowledgement of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and the countries that supported the war -- Algeria, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Sudan, and Tunisia  plus the PLO. Today, Israel demands that the Palestinian Authority -- successor to the PLO in the West Bank -- accept those terms as well. The PA has refused.

Concerned that Resolution 242 didnt go far enough in providing security for Israel, the UNSC added the necessity for:

Guaranteeing freedom of navigation through international waterways in the area, the proximate cause of the 1967 war;

Achieving a just settlement of the refugee problem. There is no mention of Palestinian statehood; nor is there mention of the Palestinian demand for a right of return for refugees and their descendants to parts of Israel from which they claimed to have come; and

Guaranteeing the territorial inviolability and political independence of every State in the area, through measures including the establishment of demilitarized zones.

It should have been simple. In 1967, the Arab states should have acknowledged that their obstructionism in 1948 was illegitimate and the establishment of Israel was legal and just. Instead, nearly 50 years later, Israels security requirements are reduced in Resolution 2334 to:

Palestinian Authority Security Forces (must) maintain effective operations aimed at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantling terrorist capabilities, including the confiscation of illegal weapons,

Condemning all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction. (It isnt clear that this one refers specifically to the PA, but it might.)

The goal is no longer an Israel with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force, but an urgent need by the UN to: (i) stabilize the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground, which are steadily eroding the two-State solution and entrenching a one-State reality, and (ii) to create the conditions for successful final status negotiations and for advancing the two-State solution through those negotiations and on the ground.

The situation would best be stabilized and the conditions for successful final status negotiations would be best advanced by returning to the original premise and original wording of UN Resolution 242.

The UN had it right once.
Ilse Koch, also known as The Bitch of Buchenwald, had a penchant for heavily tattooed human skin. She would search out the finest examples of skin art from among the prisoners at the death camp and have them skinned before they were shoveled into the ovens. Workers at the camp then made the skin into various artifacts. Some say lampshades were made from the most beautiful specimens.

Kochs hobby would later lead to her downfall during the Nuremberg trials. Witness after witness gave testimony to Kochs monstrous cruelties, some testifying that she seemed to demonstrate particular joy at sending children to their deaths.

Imprisoned for her crimes, she later committed suicide.

People with tender consciences find themselves revolted by the atrocities committed by Koch and others. The use of human skin for gloves and lampshades is so repulsive and grotesque that some even deny the possibility it actually happened.

Today, such gruesome practices seem long ago and far away. There has even been a cottage growth industry dedicated to denying such atrocities; and indeed, the Holocaust itself.

But Brandon Showalter, reporter for the Christian Post, has exposed another horror story in which babies skin is being purchased and used by biotech companies for their purposes.

Showalter writes that spurred on by videos exposing the sale of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood, the Senate Judiciary Committee dug into the matter and has now published a report outlining in detail the scope of aborted baby body parts profiteering, investigating biotech firms that were caught illegally selling tissue from aborted babies.



He reports:

" It's all there documented, classic invoice format, the skins of a Down Syndrome baby, brains of a baby, Fedex'ed overnight priority for $120. People just don't know this is going on, " Phelim McAleer told the Christian Post in a Wednesday phone interview.

Showalter continues:

McAleer is an acclaimed filmmaker and author who made a documentary about the infamous Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell. He noted that one of those companys invoices included in the report charged a customer $325 for the skin of an aborted Down Syndrome baby. [Italics added.] McAleer, co-author of the forthcoming book Gosnell: The Untold Story of America's Most Prolific Serial Killer, noted that the report supports the findings of the undercover videos the Center for Medical Progress released last summer showing Planned Parenthood officials haggling over the prices of fetal body parts. Many who support legalized abortion claimed the videos were doctored, but the proof is now indisputable, he said.

Some readers will recall the lengths to which Planned Parenthood went to discredit the undercover videos made and then leaked to media by David Daleiden. Abortion supporters said the videos had been faked; edited heavily; illegally obtained. They targeted Daleiden, and in January of 2016, he was indicted. Planned Parenthood was found guiltless. (However, charges against Daleiden were dismissed six months later.)

The question is what will the mainstream media will do now that the 547-page Senate report proves beyond doubt the sale of baby body parts in a gold mine for the Ilse Kochs of Planned Parenthood and Buchenwald biotech companies like Advanced BioSciences Resources? Will CNN and other progressive news outlets see anything worth covering concerning the sale of baby skins?

Showalter further reports on the highly profitable and brisk business. Planned Parenthood is now proved guilty beyond a doubt, as the actual invoices are produced in the report:

After paying $60 for a 20-week old fetus at a Planned Parenthood clinic in June of 2014, ABR "sold its brain to one customer for $325; both of its eyes for $325 each ($650 total) to a second customer, a portion of its liver for $325 to a third customer; its thymus for $325 and another portion of liver to a fourth customer; and its lung for $325 to a fifth customer." And those costs were only for the fetal organs themselves. Before adding shipping and disease screening fees, on that one fetus alone the company charged its customers a total of $2,275, netting a $2,215 profit. "They are making a fortune off of this. This is not a cottage industry but a mansion industry," McAleer told the Christian Post. Other invoices from that same biotech company show those exact same prices charged for the body parts of a 21-week-old Down syndrome fetus, "except that a buyer was found to pay $325 for a leg and an extra $325 for the baby's skin." "This report absolutely vindicates and reinforces the Center for Medical Progress videos. This goes even further, said McAleer.

The reaction from the press and from Americas citizens remains to be seen. It is horrifying enough to realize that nearly 90% of all Down syndrome babies are aborted.

Let us hope that citizens, including law makers, will be horrified enough to outlaw the sale of baby body parts for economic or so-called scientific purposes.

Let us also hope the drive to defund Planned Parenthood of Americans tax dollars gains irresistible momentum. It is past time that organization, a dealer in death and the sale of human body parts -- including the sale of baby skins -- was put out of business.

Fay Voshell is a frequent contributor to American Thinker.
White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) -- To mark the beginning of Kwanzaa Monday, President Obama issued a statement sending his "best wishes" to those celebrating the holiday.



"For families across the country, today marks the beginning of a joyous time to reflect on the rich African-American culture and to remember the principles of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith - principles that reflect our most cherished values as Americans," said the president, who is in Hawaii with the first lady and their children for their final vacation as the first family.



Obama added, "As we reflect upon this year, we look forward to the blessings and aspirations that await us in the year to come and we wish those families that will gather together and light the Kinara blessings for a happy and healthy new year."



Kwanzaa will end on Jan. 1, 2017.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
It was Anna Freud, Sigmund Freud's daughter, who first described the most common ego defenses in detail. Later, scientists and clinical psychiatrists expanded the list of accepted defense mechanisms and did much improved research, like Harvard's George Vaillant. There is good agreement on a basic set of ego defenses, like denial, displacement (blaming), and rationalization.

Ego defenses distort reality in some way, from very mild defenses like rationalization to "primitive" defenses like massive denial of reality and fantasy-driven thinking. These defenses are fairly easy to spot when people can't cope or feel very anxious or overwhelmingly confused. Ego defenses protect us from excessive fear, uncontrollable rage, shame, guilt, and other painful emotions. Some adults retreat into the safety of childhood and even infancy, feeling protected by an all-powerful mother or father substitute.

This brings me to modern liberals. This country used to have mainstream liberals who faced reality, like Harry Truman, Hubert Humphrey, JFK, and more recently Joe Lieberman and a few others. But today, the radical left controls the Democrats, which is why I believe they lost the election. And they can't cope with losing.

Donald Trump used hints and half-sentences that might have come from Rush Limbaugh to signal the voters that he was on their side. Because liberals have filtered out conservative thinkers like Limbaugh for all these years, they simply did not get what Trump was plainly saying to most Americans. Trump's rhetoric became a kind of secret code, not because conservatism is a conspiracy, but rather because ordinary liberals simply need to escape from ordinary conservative ideas. They created their own cult of silence when it came to sensible conservative ideas, which they experience as intolerably scary. It's a kind of normal-phobia.

Normal Americans never wanted to crush the coal industry or squeeze our domestic oil supply to please fantasy-driven greens, constantly screaming that the world is coming to an end. Obama's idea that he would personally "stop the rising of the oceans" makes our eyes roll. The fantasy left has taken over the Democratic Party, and a lot of American voters see that. But we can't speak out because the nearest commissar of the left will jump on our sensitive parts. We've all had that experience.

It's not surprising that in the Fear Society produced by P.C., people quietly come to their own conclusions. They are not going to tell some anonymous pollster on the phone. The left has made truth-telling unsafe. Conservative college students are not going to expose themselves to ridicule from professors and student fanatics.

The mass cult of P.C. has turned our universities into dangerous territory for ordinary people, and there are no "safe spaces" left for conservatives on campus. This is a terrible and corrupt state of affairs.

I believe that the deepest reason for liberal goofiness is their primitive ego defenses. George Vaillant of Harvard Medical School has worked to place the most common ego defenses in an ordered list, going from infantile or primitive defenses to healthy adult defenses. You can Google all kinds of examples of primitive defenses openly proclaimed by liberals traumatized by political reality.

Fantasies are normal for infants and other children. They are valuable in the process of growing up. But for adults, some of those wilder fantasies signal a serious neurosis, or even a "walking psychosis," like paranoid personality disorder. Paranoids can sound normal most of the time, but then you'll suddenly hear their persecution or grandiose fantasies popping out. The next moment, they can sound normal again.

Obama has some of these features, although I don't think his consistent pattern of denials and openly expressed feelings of persecution are extreme enough to qualify. Still, a quick search of his public statements will show a pattern of constantly blaming others (even when he is personally responsible for some mess), immense grandiosity, a lush fantasy life, great vulnerability to any perceived slights, and frequent use of denial as an ego defense. In a politician who tells lies as a matter of course and who is surrounded by a small cult that protects his delicate ego, it is often impossible to tell where Obama begins and his inner cohort ends.

It is obvious that Valerie Jarrett, described as his alter ego, supports Obama's grandiose beliefs. This used to be normal for hereditary kings and secular tyrants, who surrounded themselves with a constant flow of flattery. As a direct result, they often begin to drift out of touch with reality. T.S. Eliot wrote that "humankind cannot bear too much reality," and that point certainly applies to small, self-reinforcing liberal cults. Realism is an adult capacity, and if we work at it, we become more and more realistic over our lives. But some people flee into a comfortable cave of self-protective beliefs.

One striking thing about liberals is their need for echo chambers. Conservatives can thrive as individuals, but liberals need to hear their favorite beliefs echoed and supported by others.

Climate catastrophism is common in tribal groups, as reported by anthropologists. Human beings conduct rain dances in times of drought and pray for the monsoon to end in countries bedeviled by that constant downpour. Weather magic is a cultural universal, and claiming to calm the rising oceans is a very common superstition.

"Superstition" is the right word for liberal campaigns against (non-existent) global freezing and global warming, against phony claims about the oceans overflowing, against the great benefits of coal and oil (the lifeblood of human prosperity), against nuclear power, against GMO foods, and much more.

Modern liberals have caught a kind of hypochondria, a fear of perceived but nonexistent dangers. Psychologically, this is a kind of conversion hysteria. (Freud's famous first case of Anna O was a spectacular example of conversion hysteria in a young, recently traumatized woman. Anna O had a "museum" of illness symptoms, including a pseudo-pregnancy, which usually lasted only for a short time, only to be followed by yet another dramatic symptom.)

Modern liberals have projected that kind of search for scary disasters onto the whole world, so that increasingly there is nothing good and healthy in prosperous societies. Only the fabled Noble Savages are healthy, and anything "natural" is good for you.

Well, our forbears knew about toxic mushrooms, rotten meat, violent hobos, Indian genocides, and infected wounds. Those are all natural, too.

In this season of despair for the left, liberals are not just going through a hissy fit after Hillary lost. They are showing us a bunch of primitive, infantile defenses.

This tells us everything we need to know about them, from Obama and Hillary to Al Gore and John Kerry. These are classical infantile personalities.

Primitive defenses are normal in early childhood, and if a child grows up well, eventually mature defenses take their place. Infants cry in rage when they are deprived of a beloved toy. Liberals have been telling us about their own fits of rage and crying after Hillary lost.

Children easily retreat into fantasies and daytime dreams. When little ones start to talk, around age three, they still express infantile defenses, including denial, displacement (blaming others for their own perceived weaknesses), retreat into fantasy, projection ("you're a poopie kid!" to a young sib when they just learned bowel control themselves), infantile narcissism (also called healthy narcissism because it shows up in normal child development; the same ego-centered beliefs are considered a personality disorder in adults), "rage fits" when they are angry, dependency on Mom or a favorite blanket, and bitter crying when another sib tells them there is no Santa Claus.

Infantile defenses are completely normal, but over time, they should disappear as children grow up.

There is a word for adults with infantile defenses. They are called neurotic, or people with personality disorders.

It seems increasingly that such pathologies can actually be taught in a cult-like setting. Leftist power over the schools has resulted in an infantile generation of snowflakes, young adults acting out narcissistic rage against nonexistent enemies, living in Santa Claus fantasies, clinging to a magical cult of the left to make themselves feel powerful and competent. They suffer from irrational rage and substitute name-calling for reason ("racist! sexist! evil!" "bitter clingers with their God and their guns"). We are seeing primitive mob rage, a widespread inability to face reality, a lot of wishful and phobic thinking in a harsh world, "splitting" the world into absolute Good and absolute Evil, failing to see shades of gray. We are seeing mental fixations on super-heroes (like Obama) who are always fighting demons  Nixon, Bush 41, and soon Trump.

Disturbed liberals typically present a false self to the world for self-glorification.

Talk to a liberal, and you soon see primitive, infantile defenses popping out  especially if you are a calm, adult conservative. They don't get adulthood; adulthood, responsibility, and reality are what they are forever trying to escape.
On November 28, a syndicated op-ed by Charles Wohlforth and Amanda Hendrix appeared in the Los Angeles Times and carried over the following days by a number of other newspapers claiming that journeys to Mars are just a dream. According to these writers, the race to Mars cant be won with eithers [NASAs or SpaceXs] current technology, regardless of their spending or commitment. The barrier is human biology. Even a short sortie mission to Mars would be extremely hazardous to human health. A Mars colony is out of the question.

These pessimistic pronouncements have no scientific basis. For example, while Wohlforth and Hendrix point to a UC Irvine study in which irradiated mice sustained brain damage, they failed to note that the mice in question received their dose at about 40,000 times the rate it would be experienced by astronauts on a journey to Mars. This discrepancy makes the study invalid. In toxicology dose rates are critical. A glass of wine a night will cause no ill effects; 40,000 glasses of wine drunk at once would unquestionably be fatal.

In fact, not only do the cosmic ray alarmists lack foundation for their claims, we have direct contrary evidence. As a result of extensive stays onboard the International Space Station or Mir, about a dozen astronauts and cosmonauts have already experienced cosmic day doses comparable to a Mars journey, and there have been no radiological casualties. This is not surprising, since, on the basis of extensive radiation health knowledge, the radiation doses and dose rates involved pose no threat whatsoever of short-term effects, and at most about a 1 percent increase in statistical risk of contracting cancer at sometime later in life.

The authors are on somewhat firmer ground when they talk about the dangers of extended exposure to zero gravity, as there have in fact been harmful effects, including thinning of bones and weakening of muscles, observed. However, it must be noted that literally scores of astronauts and cosmonauts taking six-month tours (an equal duration to that required for flight from Earth to Mars using current propulsion) have survived such exposures. Moreover, a countermeasure -- artificial gravity produced by spinning the spacecraft -- that would eliminate all such effects is readily available.

Ignoring these facts, Wohlforth and Hendrix say that space propulsion would need a giant technical leap to make a Mars roundtrip in a safe period of 150 days. They then pile on further impossibilities by saying that the goal should really be not Mars at all, but Saturns moon Titan, which is not only ultra cold and ultra dark, but ten times further away than the Red Planet.

Engineering is the art of making the impossible possible. Those who seek to make the possible seem impossible are members of a very different profession. Americans should not allow their horizons to be constrained by such defeatists.

Mars  the new world of our time  is within reach. It holds the key to the truth about the potential prevalence and diversity of life in the universe. It is the bracing challenge that will draw millions of our youth into science and engineering, with vast benefits to our society as a result. But more than that, it is the first step into an open frontier, offering an unlimited future for humanity.

The effort to get there wont be free of either risk or cost. But from a technical point of view, we are much closer today to being able to send humans to the Red Planet than we were to being able to send men to the Moon in 1961, and we were there eight years later. For us to accept claims that we can no longer do such things is to accept the idea that we have become less than the kind of people we used to be.

And that is the one thing that this country cannot afford.

Dr. Robert Zubrin, an aerospace engineer, is president of the Mars Society and Pioneer Astronautics, and author of The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must.
It is not certain that Barack Obama is the first president with African progenitors on adjacent branches of the ancestral tree. It is absolutely certain that he is the first president in American history who shot to the presidency on the rocket of race-based preferentialism. Mr. Obama became commander-in-chief without ever evidencing knowledge or even respect for the U.S. military because throughout his education and career, he enjoyed astronomical preferences above his peers, even above more qualified competitors, due not to his achievements, but to his bronzish mug. He in turn chose his wife and his attorneys general from his cohort beneficiaries of the peculiar institutions of affirmative action, the racialist hypersensitivity and preferencing that arose in the 1960s.

By the time Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, and Barack and Michelle Obama were born, they enjoyed God-given freedom and opportunity to work hard, pursue careers, earn comfortable lives, and secure the same for their children without any need of race-based privileging. Instead, Barack, Loretta, and Michelle went to the head of the line called Harvard. What a great thing it would have been if Barack Obama had not been made editor of the Harvard Law Review, even though he could not compose a creditable paragraph. How much better if the $316,962 Michelle Obama was paid to be vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center had been spent to warm the apartments of poor patients against the knife-like winds of Chicago. But political control of a permanently pseudo-aggrieved minority was there for the Democrats' taking, and solving imaginary problems rather than real ones is always to be preferred.

With legal slavery and segregation gone forever, it was necessary for race grievance industrialists to concoct a new narrative of oppression. Add a pound of white guilt and a pinch of victimology, and a maudlin mythos called the LEGACY OF SLAVERY (LOS) was concocted. Since the 1960s, the indefinable yet ever worsening LOS has been the go-to justification for black privilege and the pandemically deadly transfer of responsibility away from black people for the crimes they commit. The great thing about the LOS is that because it harkens back so far no one has a clue what it means. LOS pertains not to civil rights, but to the most basic human rights. Anyone who won't face the reality of LOS must be turning a blind eye to the scourge of slavery.

The Obamas, Holder, Lynch, and others make up the first LOSers presidency. Michelle Obama was hopeless and unable to be proud of America until Barack's nomination meant that something could finally be done about LOS. At the Democrats' recent loss, LOS is back, and hope is gone again! LOS not only excuses street crime, but lowers the standards of legal and ethical conduct for people like Holder and Lynch because  for the love of God  what's at stake is basic human rights for black people! Now that the failed Obama administration is winding down, regrets are being expressed by the highest ranking LOSers of the administration.

Regrets, Barack has a few, but then again too few to mention, considering he pulled off the greatest bait and switch in political history: his 2004 keynote address at the Democrat convention:

The bait: "There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America." Obama delivered the parting switcheroo to Tavis Smiley a few days ago when he declared, "We have, by no means, overcome the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow and colonialism and racism[.]" By no means, the president said. No sirree, Bob, not even close on overcoming the slavery deal.

Also, in the course of his presidency, Barack Obama discovered that there definitely is a white America after all. He figured out who white America is. They are the folks who dish out all the racism and never have to take it. E.g., Obama shares in that interview, "my genuine belief that those who are not subject to racism can sometimes have blind spots or lack of appreciation for what it feels like to be on the receiving end of that[.]"

On 12/12/16, Matt Lauer asked President Obama, "You wanted to unite people. And they are not united. Is it a failure?" Failure, no, certainly not! Just like Ol' Blue Eyes, Obama did what he had to do, and so he says without contention: "It's a regret. I could not be prouder of what we've accomplished, and sometimes we look at the past through rose-colored glasses. It's been pretty divided in the past. There's been times where people beat each other with canes and we had things like the Civil War[.]" With the keen insights of a Harvard-trained historian, Obama observes that under his leadership it's real different now than 1861. And takes credit that slavery didn't actually come back into practice.

Eric Holder is the only cabinet member in American history to be held in criminal contempt of Congress; he withheld documents pertaining to the investigation into his department's gun-running program. If there is one word to describe this LOSer's conduct toward the American people, whom he labeled "cowards on race," it would be contemptuous. Except a tarnishing footnote in history, Holder suffered no consequences whatsoever for his lawlessness. LOSers never do. But even Holder had a regret. In an interview with the Beltway bootlickers of the Washington Post, Holder said he regretted investigating reporter James Rosen in the context of labeling Rosen "aider and abettor and/or co-conspirator" with North Korea. Holder never would have abused a black family in the way he did Mr. Rosen and his family.

Loretta Lynch's tone has been as dulcet as Holder's was disrespectful. But like other outgoing LOSers, Lynch's record suggests she held what she imagined to be the interests of black people a higher calling than constitutional pointers, like equal justice before the law. Her tenure encompassed the Baltimore riots and the high prominence of the cop-hating Black Lives Matter. She never enforced the law to protect the protectors, who are the police. Attorney General Lynch, another Harvard alumna, regrets holding a secret meeting with President Clinton during the heat of her department's investigation of his wife. "I wish I had seen around that corner and not had that discussion with the former president, as innocuous as it was, because it did give people concern. It did make people wonder, is it going to affect the investigation that's going on? And that's not something that was an unreasonable question for anyone to ask."

There could not be a more striking contrast to Trump, who is creating a cabinet based on demonstrated achievement, regardless of race or sex. If Trump has a bias, it seems to be in favor of the telegenic typology. So far, PEOTUS Trump's highest ranking African-American is Dr. Ben Carson. Dr. Carson grew up poor. But it is not possible to be simultaneously a LOSer and a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon. Legacy of slavery just won't cut it in the O.R.: "Oops, my scalpel slipped, and the kid died, but it's not my fault. My great-great-great-grandmother was a slave."
One of the most brilliant economists and columnists in America, Thomas Sowell, has written his last syndicated column.

For 25 years, Sowell set about explaining complex, arcane, and sometimes nearly incomprehensible economic issues so that ordinary people could easily grasp their meaning. It was a rare and wonderful gift that Sowell used to advance conservative economic theory as well as build support for other conservative issues.

A black Republican academic, Sowell was respected by both sides in the debate for his quick wit and relentless logic. In his last column, he takes a step back and marvels at the changes wrought in America since he was born.

Looking back over the years, as old-timers are apt to do, I see huge changes, both for the better and for the worse. In material things, there has been almost unbelievable progress. Most Americans did not have refrigerators back in 1930, when I was born. Television was little more than an experiment, and such things as air-conditioning or air travel were only for the very rich. My own family did not have electricity or hot running water in my early childhood, which was not unusual for blacks in the South in those days. It is hard to convey to todays generation the fear that the paralyzing disease of polio inspired, until vaccines put an abrupt end to its long reign of terror in the 1950s. Most people living in officially defined poverty in the 21st century have things like cable television, microwave ovens and air-conditioning. Most Americans did not have such things, as late as the 1980s. People whom the intelligentsia continue to call the have-nots today have things that the haves did not have, just a generation ago. In some other ways, however, there have been some serious retrogressions over the years. Politics, and especially citizens trust in their government, has gone way downhill. Back in 1962, President John F. Kennedy, a man narrowly elected just two years earlier, came on television to tell the nation that he was taking us to the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, because the Soviets had secretly built bases for nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from America. Most of us did not question what he did. He was president of the United States, and he knew things the rest of us couldnt know  and that was good enough for us. Fortunately, the Soviets backed down. But could any president today do anything like that and have the American people behind him? Years of lying presidents  Democrat Lyndon Johnson and Republican Richard Nixon, especially  destroyed not only their own credibility, but the credibility which the office itself once conferred. The loss of that credibility was a loss to the country, not just to the people holding that office in later years.

Sowell was born less than a lifetime since the Civil War ended, when blacks were second-class citizens in the South. But the changes in society that have turned once habitable black neighborhoods into shooting galleries concern him most:

With all the advances of blacks over the years, nothing so brought home to me the social degeneration in black ghettos like a visit to a Harlem high school some years ago. When I looked out the window at the park across the street, I mentioned that, as a child, I used to walk my dog in that park. Looks of horror came over the students faces, at the thought of a kid going into the hell hole that park had become in their time. When I have mentioned sleeping out on a fire escape in Harlem during hot summer nights, before most people could afford air-conditioning, young people have looked at me like I was a man from Mars. But blacks and whites alike had been sleeping out on fire escapes in New York since the 19th century. They did not have to contend with gunshots flying around during the night.

We haven't heard the last of Sowell. He will no doubt continue to pen incisive, brilliant articles in the future, making us see things in a different way while gaining a better understanding of the issues. Sowell's columns will stand as a beacon of logic and reason for generations of conservatives to come.
Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real phenomenon, and while the American left is unmasking itself as hateful and even bloodthirsty, the NeverTrump faction of the right is driving away its historical constituency. The big difference is that there is a large market for Trump hatred on the left, but the conservative base is rejecting NeverTrumps.

So opportunity beckons those Trump haters who put their personal situation ahead of ideological consistency. There is a market for Trump hatred on the left, but not the right. That is at least one plausible explanation for what is going on inside Glenn Becks head.

David Krayden offers a speculative essay in the Daily Caller to explain Becks appearance on a left-wing comedians show:

Passing without much political comment last week was a bizarre performance by faded conservative figure (I cannot write icon) Glenn Beck. Beck was a guest on the extremely overrated Full Frontal, fronted by the tediously left-wing comedian Samantha Bee  who, I am, distressed to admit, was also born in Canada. Looking like a celebrity fresh out of rehab, anxious to share his addiction horrors and earn the acceptance of a forgiving audience, Beck confessed that he had divided people in the past as a conservative commentator. His earnest repentance was apparently a matter of little consequence to his dismissive host who considered Beck irredeemable: My audience wants to kill me for normalizing a lunatic like yourself, said the irascible Bee, who as far as non-liberals are concerned, might attempt to resemble bonafide comedian Don Rickles but lacks the comic timing to make the insults work. Nonplussed, Beck proceeded to do his level best to ingratiate himself with his lefty viewers  both in-studio, and apparently, those overwhelmingly bored enough at home to tune in as well.

Will Glenn Beck follow in the footsteps of David Brock and end up a far left partisan? I suspect that it will be difficult unless George Soros and his friends open up their checkbooks. I am no expert, but my understanding is that Becks empire now depends on subscription revenue for its Blaze TV outlet. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of subscribers are not following Beck leftward.

And what of the lesser lights Beck attracted to Dallas to join his organization? Will Dana Loesch stick to peddling miracle beet cures on late-night TV?

Beck has a history of erratic behavior, so hitching ones star to him poses risks. Here is his interview with Bee.
President Obama's refusal to veto the U.N. Security Council's Resolution 2234, which delegitimizes the Jewish State of Israel's presence on its own land, should have come as no surprise. His behavior since his first inauguration speech and more elaborately in his "new beginning" speech in Cairo on June 4, 2009 was a clear indication.

Pursuing his anti-colonial agenda, it is not surprising that Obama sympathizes with the Muslim Brotherhood, which was first established to fight colonialism. For Obama, the Brothers' claim to desire an "Islamic democracy" (an oxymoron) is similar to that of the anti-colonialist liberation theology, which has moved from Latin America into the Vatican.

In the name of "tolerance," Obama regularly repeated Muslim Brotherhood disinformation, praising their "religion of peace" whenever he could. And he put special effort in advancing the suppression of Western Judeo-Christian norms of behavior, and in particular, American values.

Since he took office in January 2009, Obama's Middle East policies aimed to legitimize Iran, facilitating its nuclear ambitions and turning it into a dominant power in the Middle East. He gifted the theocratic terrorist Republic of Iran more than $100 billion, plus a few billions of dollars of in laundered untraceable cash, to directly fund terrorism. And there was more.

The mullahs in Tehran have been probably delighted with Obama's deliberate blindness toward the growing involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in sectarian wars in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen and their assistance of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Could Obama be unaware of Iran's amplification of its narco-terrorist activities in the Latin America? And let's not forget Obama's groveling to Iran to return the U.S. drones they hacked over Afghanistan. Iran responded with sending Obama a pink miniature toy model of a drone.

What was their reaction to this U.S. president, who has taken no action when the IRGC seized two U.S Navy boats in international waters, captured the crew of 10, mistreated them, and publicly humiliated them? Obama not only accepted Iran's lies about the incident, but had his State Secretary, John Kerry, even apologizing to Tehran. This is the same Kerry who made the rounds in European capitals, encouraging bankers to trade with Tehran despite U.S. sanctions and international anti-money laundering laws.

And not to be outdone, President-Elect Donald Trump's managed a successful negotiation with Boeing for a new Air Force One for less than the $4 billion, previously agreed by the Obama, it seems that the outgoing administration had something to do with Boeing's selling 80 commercial airliners to Iran for only $8 billion instead of $16 billion. Now, that's a deal.

The Iranian regime has always supported Palestinian terrorism with funding, training, weapons and propaganda against the Jewish State of Israel. In a meeting held in Tehran in support of the Palestinian struggle against Israel, on October 2015, Hamas's representative in Tehran, Khaled Qadoumi; PIJ representative in Tehran, Naser Abu-Sharim; and the secretary general of the "committee to Support Intifada and Jerusalem" and adviser to the Majlis (Iranian parliament) chairman in international affairs Hossein Sheikh ol-Islam, were present. The Iranian Sheikh ol-Islam declared that the "intifada" was a golden opportunity to restore the issue of Palestine to the top of the Muslim world's agenda. He quoted Ayatollah Khomeini's declaration: "the fate of Islam will be decided in Palestine" (Fars News Agency, October 13, 2015).

Obama's sympathy with the Palestinians, who claim to be oppressed by Israeli occupation, is not surprising. Obama conveniently ignores the fact that the U.N. and the Arab League joined to create the Palestinian refugees problem, sustaining it, its corruption, and terrorism with billions of dollars of American taxpayers money pouring into the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for the past 66 years, as well as by direct funding from USAID. Obama, like previous U.S. presidents, especially Jimmy Carter, all but ignored the fact that Palestinian leaders have become enormously wealthy, as they keep the corruption going and their people oppressed.

The Palestinians have been kept in oppression as collateral to ensure the denial of the historical ties and legal rights of the Jewish State of Israel and to terrorize it into submission. For oppressed people are easily manipulated into becoming martyrs, for little financial rewards and fame in the streets of Ramallah or on social media. Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) shows the rolling party FATAH's official website a "Thank You" note to the 14 members of the UNSC who voted for Resolution. The posting show a "map of "Palestine," (all of Israel) painted like the Palestinian flag, with a knife stabbing the word "settlement" in a pool of blood." This abhorrent invitation to murder Israelis, as many similarly graphically instructive and inciting cartoons, was not condemned by the Obama administration, nor by anyone else.

While Obama's animosity toward Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is no secret. It is not the reason Obama withheld his veto, allowing the shameful resolution to pass. Nor was it his undeniable support of the Palestinians. It was apparently a remaining item on his "to-do list" in his dealings with Iran. But he is not dome yet. Don't be surprised if days before the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president, Obama flies to Tehran to declare there his recognition of an independent Palestinian State. Such an exit would surly get this Nobel Laureate for war a special Oscar in Hollywood.
Israel has accused Obama of deliberately orchestrating the drafting and push for the U.N. resolution that condemned Israel for its settlement policy.

David Keyes, spokesman for Netanyahu, said Arab sources, among others, informed Israel of Obama's involvement in the resolution: "We have rather ironclad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place"

The effect of the resolution is to label the settlement area "occupied territory," which means that the U.N. agrees with the Palestinian position that Israel is illegally occupying land because that belongs to the Palestinians. This puts Israel at a severe disadvantage in negotiating with the Palestinians; it implies that the U.N. effectively recognizes the borders that existed before the 1967 war. The resolution can also subject Israel to economic sanctions from members of the U.N.

This is a deliberate betrayal of Israel, one of our strongest allies, and the only democracy in the Middle East. This resolution does not advance, but weakens the national security of the United States and Israel. It is consistent with Obama's deal with Iran that leaves Iran's nuclear program in place and gave Iran 150 billion dollars, rescinded sanctions, and gave Iran another billion in ransom money. Iran thanked us by harassing our ships, seizing one of our ships and humiliating our sailors.

When Obama promised to fundamentally transform our country, we did not know that also meant abandoning and betraying Israel, our ally, and rewarding Iran, the chief sponsor of radical Islamist terrorism since 1979.

Obama has also deliberately betrayed one of the strongest and loyal groups supporting the Democratic Party: American Jews. Of course, he did this after the November election.

Congress should immediately declare via legislation that it rejects the resolution and supports Israel. The initiative would pass overwhelmingly. Obama needs to be publicly rebuked by Congress.

Obama has created another problem for Trump because the Trump administration will have to work to rescind the U.N. resolution. We should cut off funding for the U.N. if it does not rescind.

We must make clear to the world that Obama does not speak for the United States on this issue.
Stealth warfare is breaking out, as jihadists take account of the new sheriff in town, President-Elect Donald Trump. They, and their allies, know they must employ all of the dark arts to counter an active opponent taking the presidency and threatening an anti-jihad alliance with Vladimir Putin.

A NATO auditor has just been assassinated, plausibly by jihadist forces, since he was investigating jihadist penetration in NATO and presumably also in NATO member nations.

German intelligence recently estimated that perhaps 10,000 jihadis now live in Germany, most coming from Turkey. For the first time in memory, the Germans have publicly used the correct term "terrorist soldiers" among its massive "Syrian refugee" invasion.

The NATO assassination comes one week after the public assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey by a Turkish policeman, who shouted "Allahu akbar!" before the killing. The assassin was on a suicide mission, since he could easily have been killed by the ambassador's guards.

A martyrdom assassination suggests a jihadist background, as does the shout "Allahu akbar," sometimes interpreted as guaranteeing life after death in Paradise.

Recep Erdogan, the autocrat who rules Turkey, is an ideological jihadist and calls himself a "neo Ottoman." The auditor of NATO is said to have been tracking down ISIS funding; Turkey has been exposed as a major ISIS oil smuggling outlet  by Vladimir Putin.

As Admiral Lyons pointed out in his vitally important speech at the National Press Club two years ago, jihadist infiltration in Europe and the U.S. has gone on since the late 1960s, with major funding coming from OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran.

Assassination is often a terror weapon with the aim of frightening other high officials at NATO and perhaps in Russia.

I have to believe that Putin, who knows a great deal about "wet affairs" carried out by the KGB and its successor agencies in Russia, has sent in sizable numbers of undercover agents to Turkey, a traditional enemy of Russia.

These are potentially very dangerous developments. In both killings, the guilty party can be exposed and punished in Russian fashion.

It is impossible to know whether Erdogan was responsible for the assassination or whether Erdogan's Salafist enemy, Fethullah Gulen, who resides in the United States, is trying to make trouble for him.

This is a national security snakepit, as it usually is when these historical forces are entangled. Open assassinations are very alarming, since they suggest an immediate crisis in some party's view, urgently demanding extreme measures.

Russians and Turks are well aware of the Serbian assassination that triggered World War I and brought down the Ottoman Empire and the Romanov regime in Moscow. So these events are charged with terrific symbolic significance.

The timing at the end of the jihadophile Obama administration and the beginning of Donald Trump accession must also be significant. Trump has now signaled by his appointments that he will be a vigorous opponent of jihad, already in close contact with Vladimir Putin.

If jihadist regimes, both Sunni and Shi'a, want to derail the impending Russian-American alliance, major terror strikes are exactly what they will do.

Please note that the Saudis have been giving public warning of economic retaliation against the United States if the Saudi role in the 9/11 massacre is ever exposed. But careful news readers are already convinced of that.

Saudi and Gulf State economies are going to be under even greater pressure if Trump opens up domestic oil and shale exploitation.

Saudi Arabia is currently run by its defense minister, while the king is reportedly suffering from dementia. It is in an undeclared state of emergency.

Iran, as the chief Shi'a terror sponsor, cannot be ruled out, either.

The European Union seems to be breaking down, after Brexit, with Marine Le Pen calling for a French exit, a "Frexit." She and other anti-EU parties in Europe are likely to make major gains in coming elections.

This is the snakes' nest to end all snakes' nests.

General Mattis, who is expected to be nominated as secretary of defense, has said that treachery happens in every war. Given his immense experience and scholarship, it has to be supposed that he has a deep understanding of the situation.

U.S. intelligence must be under immense pressure to prevent further top-secret leaks, and to deal with its own jihadist infiltration problem. Both Trump and Mattis plausibly have intelligence sources outside regular channels.

I have never seen so many precarious forces clashing at the same time in international politics. Maybe at the end of the Vietnam War or the Stalin years.

It should be said that Trump has recruited the best military and foreign affairs leaders in perhaps half a century. Contrary to the useful idiots, Trump is extremely well informed and sophisticated about economics and international affairs, and he has been playing master's level chess even before his inauguration. For that reason, Obama's involvement in these critical events cannot be ruled out with certainty. He has made close friends with many bad actors, including Recep Erdogan himself.

It may be remembered that at the end of the Cold War, Pope John Paul II suffered near fatal injuries in an assassination attempt by a Turkish assassin.

Obama is leaving us a world full of rocking dominos, and there are many reasons to think this is not accidental.

Red lights are flashing all over the world.
Hillary Clintons back must be sore this morning from the stiletto wound delivered by Barack Obama in the course of an interview with former senior adviser David Axelrod. As has been well publicized, he claimed that had he been allowed to run for a third term, he would have won the election against Donald Trump. As summarized by the U.K. Daily Mail:

CNN on Monday published an interview that former Obama senior adviser David Axelrod conducted with his old boss, who claimed the vision of a united America he stressed in his famous 2004 Democratic National Convention keynote speech is still powerful enough that it might have carried the day. 'You know, I am confident in this vision because I'm confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it.' 'I know that in conversations that I've had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say, "The vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one",' he said.

This is a stinging rebuke to Hillary Clintons appeal as a candidate and to the campaign strategy she embraced. In essence, Obama is accusing her of abandoning his vision of where America should go, of what the left used to call deviationism when Stalin was running the Communist Party and the CPUSA was covertly leading the American left. Of course, the deviation is being not-Obama.

It is absolutely clear that the president is in denial over his claim that his policies were on the ballot, and voters should choose Hillary to continue his policies. That is consigned to the Memory Hole.

It is a fair speculation to believe that as ex-president, Obama will not be stinting in his advice to Democrats, and that the advice he offers will be, in essence, choose someone like me  or someone I designated. That would likely include choosing an African-American as presidential nominee. The president knows but will not admit that his race brought him and his party record turnout and levels of support among blacks and no small number of non-black voters anxious to atone for the legacy of slavery.

There are two problems with this approach. One is that you cannot redo a historic first. The potency of the symbolism declines rapidly. And while Obama paints his legacy in fantasy terms (still claiming to be the most transparent president ever), he will be facing not just a bully pulpit, but a bully Twitter feed. For example:

For the past eight years, President Barack Obama has enjoyed the high ground, able to put down anyone he pleases, with the authority of high office. That will no longer be true. He will face a more powerful man. On a symbolic level, he will not have Air Force One; he will have to borrow private jets from friends  a humiliation Hillary Clinton found unendurable. While you and I might find solace in a first class airline seat, for Obama, it is a humiliation to be among the hoi polloi. Pay careful attention to media coverage of his travels, and look to see whose jets he borrows.

The second problem is that there are more white Democrats than black Democrats, and if the party is not insane, it wants to keep that arrangement. There are not enough African-Americans to make an electoral majority, even if Obama wants to push the party in the direction of being the black party by keeping a thumb on the scale for the selection of another black nominee.

This will play out in silence, for the issue is too explosive to be addressed publicly. Nonetheless, it is obvious to many Democrat politicians (and former defeated politicians) that millions of formerly loyal white Democrat voters have left the party and delivered enough of the industrial Midwest to President-Elect Trump.

Obama cannot help himself. He will keep picking at the racial scab, and that will not help the Democrats, nor will it help African-Americans.

But it will gratify Obamas ego as the First Black President.

And that is what controls his future actions. It will not end well for the Dems.
We're now in the Trump era. Time to drop the euphemisms. Time for consequences. Obama is not motivated by personal "pique" at Netanyahu. Anti-Zionism is not personal; it is ideological, and it is widely popular among the Democrat leftist base. Whereas anti-Semitism has shrunk to 3% of the white population in America, the ADL estimates that it is 22-36% among blacks and Latinos. It is much higher than that among leftists.

Obama has chafed at the need to put on a mainstream front. Now he is baring his leftist teeth. The effect is more mean than frightening, and it will not have the outcome he wants.

Obama hates Israel, as he hates America. He is the spiritual son of his Marxist father and of the openly anti-Semitic and anti-white Reverend Wright, as Obama told us from the first. To the left, Israel and America are evil imperialists. Obama has always wanted to cut Israel and America down to size.

Obama's last-ditch efforts to leave a legacy reveal his animus: flood our country with murderous jihadi "refugees" and make Israel a pariah nation in international courts. It is a big "F you" from our perfidious president.

Make no mistake: Obama has handed a useful club to Israel's enemies. Nonetheless, his leftist idea that he can effectively shackle the United States and Israel with international law is a progressive pipe dream. Neither Trump nor Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is intimidated by the United Nations.

Obama is a small man with large dreams of destruction. His malicious attack at the U.N. will rebound. The permanent damage will be to Obama's own image. The Wall St. Journal editorial called it "a defining act of Obama's Presidency." Senator Tom Cotton was more blunt:

This cowardly, disgraceful action cements President Obama's richly deserved legacy as the most anti-Israel president in American history.

The literal wording of the U.N. resolution would push Israel to its 1949 armistice lines, which are militarily indefensible, and end Israel's viability. It would expel Israelis, and all Jews, out of ancient Jerusalem and their holiest sites, the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, and lead to the expulsion of 600,000 Israelis from their land and homes. It will never happen, but Obama is inviting international courts and the anti-Israel EU to sanction and boycott Israel. In today's toxic world of leftist judicial activism, that would happen.

The Wall St. Journal:

No longer needing Jewish votes, Mr. Obama was free, finally, to punish the Jewish state in a way no previous President has done. No effort to rescind the resolution  will succeed because of Russia's and China's vetoes. Instead, the resolution will live on as Barack Obama's cat's paw, offering support in every European capital, international institution and U.S. university campus to bully Israel with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Andrew McCarthy argues that the U.N. resolution is legally indefensible (not that legality has ever stopped Obama), as these territories are not "occupied," but "disputed" under international law. The word "occupation" is Arab propaganda. McCarthy is apoplectic:

It is Islamist-leftist dogma that Israel's millennia of attachment to its homeland count for nothing. Adding a final shameful chapter to a foreign-policy record that already runneth over with them, Barack Obama on Friday abandoned America's commitment to Israel's security, and to the vindication of democracy over sharia-supremacist aggression. In an act of cowardly venomThe resolution undertakes to render our ally indefensible.



I don't believe that this resolution will live on. The victor in a struggle between the U.N. and President Trump is foreordained. Trump will beat Obama's attack, not just this one time, but in the years to come, on many fronts, as Obama is free to act openly as a socialist agitator (that's what a community organizer is, folks). That Obama chose Israel as a first battleground is one more example of how tone-deaf he is to the American heart.

President-Elect Trump has surrounded himself with a powerhouse of cabinet ministers and advisers, the most successful men to ever serve a president. They have set themselves to take on ISIS and Iran. Palestinian maneuvering at the U.N. is small potatoes and will be dealt with appropriately.

The U.N. will find their U.S. funding cut by Congress. The Palestinians will find they are worse off than before, that Obama's support will bring them worthless victories and real-world grief.

Many senators are calling for consequences to the United Nations, none more eloquently than Senator Tom Cotton (hat tip: Power Line):

President Obama is personally responsible for this anti-Israel resolution. His diplomats secretly coordinated the vote, yet he doesn't even have the courage of his own convictions to vote for it. ... This resolution ... targeting Israel for building homes in Jerusalem, its own capital, while not specifically addressing Palestinian incitement of and financial support for terrorism. ... [T]his resolution surpasses even the infamous "Zionism is Racism" ... in its irrational obsession with the Jewish state.

Wimpy Obama thinks he handed the Palestinians a killing weapon. Instead, he has guaranteed that Trump will take on the Palestinians sooner. Trump will drain the diplomatic swamp that has normalized Palestinian hate. Knowing this, Obama tried to pre-empt Trump's intended change of course with this U.N. resolution.

Trump will be the first president to stop pushing the Palestinian's anti-Semitic cause. The Palestinian jihad against Israel was launched by Hitler's Third Reich. Adolf Eichmann himself traveled to the Mideast to focus the Moslem Brotherhood's jihadi rage on Jews. Decades before there were "occupied territories," Yasser Arafat was trained by ex-Nazi officers to destroy Israel.

President-elect Trump's new ambassador, David Friedman, is even more outspoken than Trump, has no illusions, and will break the false diplomatic tradition that Palestinians are a legitimate national movement.

Obama will find he has not even slowed down building in the so-called settlements. If not for the propaganda war against Israel, they would be called neighborhoods and suburbs of Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Planning and Construction Committee told reporters they are not intimidated and will be voting for 5,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem this week. They look forward to a friendly Trump administration that will not give them grief if they start a nice little building boom in East Jerusalem.

It will also be interesting to see how Obama's U.N. move plays out politically in America. Liberal Jewish organizations have been behaving bizarrely over Trump's victory. In a shocking repudiation of their traditional political neutrality, 11 groups including the biggies the ADL, the Reform movement, and Hadassah, recently joined a fringe Soros BDS group to boycott the community Chanukah Party because it was at Trump's D.C. hotel.

It is entirely possible that this U.N. resolution will reverse that momentum. It will force Jewish Democrats into a bipartisan coalition with Trump. It seemed there were no limits to liberal Jews' willingness to betray Israel and Jewish interests (think Iran deal) in the service of the Democratic Party, but Obama may have found the limit.

The well known liberal Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz voted for Obama twice. He now calls Obama "nasty."

Dershowitz said he met with Obama previously, and he was promised he would "always have Israel's back." "I didn't realize what [Obama] meant is that he would have [their] back to stab them in the back, and he just stabbed them in the back," Dershowitz said.

Personal anecdote: An unhinged Hillary supporter who had been peppering a conservative friend with anti-Trump emails called in tears, saying she can no longer consider herself a Democrat.

Obama's betrayal came on the eve of Chanukah. Jews are sensitive to our holidays being occasions for attack. Roseanne Barr tweeted:

nazis enacted anti jewish laws on the eve of jewish holidays-exactly as @POTUS has done on eve of Hanukkah.

Israel's survival cannot be harmed by Obama's puny malice. This is how Israel responded at the U.N.:
For more than 70 years, American presidents have largely supported the UN as a forum to discuss differences between nations. To varying degrees, presidents have expressed admiration for the world body and acknowedged its usefulness in the diplomatic sphere.

Now comes Donald Trump who with one tweet not only recognized the UN for the useless organization it is, but identified its primary purpose; a forum for third world kleptocrats to "have a good time."

Washington Post:

Three days after the United Nations adopted a resolution calling on Israel to halt Jewish settlement activity on Palestinian territory, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that the international body is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. The harsh criticism, which Trump made Monday while vacationing at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, signaled he would likely challenge more than just the 71-year-old institutions approach to the Middle East once he takes office. While Trump did not elaborate on why he considered the United Nations ineffectual, he made it clear both before and after the Security Council adopted the resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that he believed the United States should have blocked the move. President Obama instructed U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power to abstain from voting, on the grounds that the Israeli governments continued support for expanding Jewish settlements could undermine any prospect of eventually reaching a two-state solution to the simmering conflict. After the Security Council voted Trump tweeted, As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th, which is the day he will assume the presidency.

There is absolutely no reason to continue supporting an organization that works so tirelessly against America and our interests. The opposition to the US is not based on logic or reason, but rather a visceral, unreasoning anti-Americanism that is partly due to a nation's domestic policy. Many countries blame the US for their troubles as a matter of course, deflecting attention from their own corruption and incompetence. And they use the UN as a forum to broadcast their hate for us.

Trump is right that the third world UN diplomats accomplish nothing while living it up at UN parties and galas - a lifestyle their benighted fellow citizens cannot even imagine. Time to halt the partygoing and either force these fat cats to justify their outrageous lifestyle or go home.
We remember two amazing men of the Midwest who died on this day.

Truman served as president for two terms from 1945 to 1953, when he and his wife Bess happily retired to Independence, Missouri, where he referred to himself jokingly as Mr. Citizen. He was hospitalized on December 4, 1972, with lung congestion, heart irregularity, kidney blockages and failure of the digestive system. He died on December 26. A very subdued and private funeral, fitting for the down-to-earth Truman, was held in Independence according to his and his familys wishes.

I remember the day that he died. I recall the news flash on the radio. It was not a surprise since Mr. Truman had been very ill for days.

President Ford died late in the day in California in 2006. Most of his obituaries were actually published on December 27. Like me, most people did not hear about it until the next day:

Thrust by Mr. Nixons resignation into an office he had never sought, Mr. Ford occupied the White House for just 896 days. But they were pivotal days of national introspection, involving Americas first definitive failure in a war and the first resignation of a president. It was Mr. Fords uncommon virtue to have presided with a common touch.

Mr. Ford had been out of the public view for a long time. I do remember him at the 2000 GOP convention. In 2004, President Bush paid him a visit during the campaign.

As we mentioned above, VP Truman became president when President FDR died in 1945. He was not well known and it must have been quite a task to follow a political giant of the 20th century.

Nevertheless, it was President Truman who made the decision to drop nuclear bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. He also gave us the Truman Doctrine, the CIA, NATO, the Marshall Plan and a few other things that left his footprint on U.S. history in the 20th century.

VP Ford became president when President Nixon resigned in 1974. He is the only man never elected to the office.

In 1976, Jimmy Carter defeated him in a change election. We must point out that Mr. Ford made quite a comeback that year and it ended up a lot closer than anyone predicted that summer during the conventions.

He served about 30 months but did much to restore confidence in the presidency after Watergate.

His pardon of Nixon was vindicated over time, a profile in courage! It was the right thing to do, as he always said when asked about it.

They were both Midwestern men, of great integrity and character.

They also did not aspire to be president but rather took over and performed to the best of their abilities.

And I say with a great deal of pride that President Ford was my first vote for president in 1976.

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
HALLOWEEN SPOOK-TACULAR Young and old alike participated in several Halloween events on Oct. 29. The Williamsville Business Association hosted trick-or-treating along Main Street, while the Village of Williamsville held a scavenger hunt...

HPC nominates properties for Historic Williamsville Water Mill District The Historic Preservation Commission nominated several buildings to be a part of the Historic Williamsville Water Mill District with a vote of five to one, at its Oct. 25 meeting....

Town considers separate water district for farms Amherst Town Board members heard from Planning Board Chair Robert Gilmour about the strain that water taxes are having on local farmers at its meeting on Oct. 24. Gilmour spoke...
As the end of the year closes in and smartphone makers prepare to enter 2017 with new products, industry sources are looking at three major Taiwanese smartphone makers and their market performance throughout 2016. Sadly, according to reports the three-leading Taiwanese smartphone manufacturers including ASUS, HTC, and Acer are falling behind their projected shipment figures, which might lead to an even more difficult situation next year.

ASUS was expected to ship 25 million smartphones throughout the year, but according to sources, the company is now looking at shipments of 20 million units. Apparently, the decline was caused by lower-than-expected sales in major markets including China, Europe, and the United States. Additionally, sources say that the delayed shipments of the ASUS ZenFone 3 series unveiled in mid-2016 further contributed to these results. Moving on to Acer, the company seems to be having a difficult time on the smartphone markets too, and it was only last week when it has announced that it will exit the competitive Indian smartphone market in order to cut its losses. Fresh reports say that Acer was aiming to ship 10 million smartphones in 2016, but managed to ship less than 5 million devices. Industry sources also added that Acer will likely have a difficult journey in 2017.

Last but definitely not least, HTC is reportedly looking at smartphone shipments of 10-to-12 million units throughout 2016. Given these figures and considering the fact that HTC shipped 18 million smartphones last year, the company has now lost its top spot on the Taiwanese smartphone market. The decline is once again caused by lower sales figures and a diminishing market share in China, Europe, and the US, and sources add that it will be very difficult for HTC to make a comeback in 2017. HTCs flagship for 2016  the HTC 10  has received positive reviews from media outlets across the globe, and it remains one of the best Android smartphones available on the market today. However, the flagship wasnt enough to keep HTC in the spotlight for too long, and the pricing may have contributed to lower shipments as well. Hopefully, Asus, Acer, and HTC will be able to rebound in 2017, but as it stands, chances look slim.
The Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro will be announced really soon, as it was just certified by TENAA (Chinas equivalent to the FCC). The Galaxy C5 Pros design and specifications have been revealed by TENAA, and the device will launch in the coming weeks, quite probably alongside its sibling, the Galaxy C7 Pro, which has been popping up online for a while now. The Galaxy C5 Pro will be introduced in China first, and it remains to be seen if Samsung plans to launch it anywhere else, as the companys Galaxy C lineup is created for the Chinese market.

The Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro will be made out of metal, and as you can see, it looks like a number of other Galaxy-branded smartphones. This seems to be a Gold-colored variant of the phone, and it comes with a physical home button which is placed below the display. This home button will act a fingerprint scanner as well, and the overview (multitasking) and back buttons are flanking the phones home key. The Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro will feature a 5.2-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable internal storage. The device will be fueled by the Snapdragon 626 64-bit octa-core SoC running at 2.2GHz, and a 3,000mAh battery will also be a part of this package, and were looking at a non-removable battery here. On the back of the Galaxy C5 Pro, youll get a 16-megapixel shooter, and a 16-megapixel snapper will be placed on the front side of this phone as well. 4G LTE connectivity is included in this package, and Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow will be pre-installed on this phone, along with Samsungs custom UI. The device will measure 145.7 x 71.4 x 6.95mm, while it will weight 143 grams.

Now, if the previous info is to be believed, both the Galaxy C5 Pro and Galaxy C7 Pro will be available in Pink, Gold and Dark Blue color variants. These two phones are expected to launch in January, and it seems like Samsung will introduce quite a few smartphones next month considering that the Galaxy A3, Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 are also expected to land in January.
Its been a few months since Samsung was forced to issue an unprecedented second recall of the Galaxy Note 7, but this saga is still far from over. As it turns out, a small but determined group of people who bought the companys latest phablet arent willing to turn over their device in spite of a worldwide recall and Samsungs insistence that the Galaxy Note 7 is a potential fire hazard. Due to that turn of events, the South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer was forced to resort to more aggressive means of increasing participation in the Galaxy Note 7 recall program. For example, Samsung recently started bricking most of the remaining Galaxy Note 7 units in the United States. As it turns out, the company is now planning a similar course of action in its home country of South Korea.

Earlier today, Samsung announced its considering pushing out a new software update for the Korean variant of the Galaxy Note 7. This update would be the last one issued for the device as it would be designed to render the phone unusable, i.e. prevent it from charging. With that in mind, this OTA patch would mark Samsungs final attempt to recall the Galaxy Note 7 in South Korea as the company previously limited the phablet from charging over 60%. Given how more than 90% of people who bought Samsungs defective flagship in South Korea have already returned their purchases, the Seoul-based tech giant is apparently eager to wrap up this recall as soon as possible.

With that in mind, its not surprising that Samsung is planning to extend the Galaxy Note 7 exchange program until January 31st, according to sources close to the company. SK Telecom, the largest wireless carrier in South Korea reportedly already agreed to pushing out an update designed to remotely disable the Galaxy Note 7, while other mobile service providers in the country will allegedly follow that lead shortly. As things stand right now, there are still around 100,000 of active Galaxy Note 7 units in South Korea. Samsung is also currently offering loyalty credits to people who are yet to return the device. Customers can use those credits to get a discount on the upcoming Galaxy S8, though the Seoul-based company is apparently only offering this incentive by the end of the month.
The autonomous driving industry is improving in a rapid manner, mostly thanks to numerous efforts from tech giants like Google, Tesla, and Uber. However, while self-driving cars finally seem like valid means of transportation, theyre still far from perfect, especially when theyre operating in weather conditions that are less than ideal. As autonomous vehicles heavily rely on various sensors to perceive their environment, adverse weather conditions like heavy snow or rain can severely cripple their ability to drive in a safe manner.

Now, all automakers investing in self-driving technology are aware of that problem, which is why most of them have already started testing their prototypes in harsh weather. Last week, General Motors revealed plans to start testing its autonomous vehicles in Michigans cold weather, while Uber recently started preparing its self-driving cars for adverse weather conditions in Pittsburgh. Back in early 2016, Ford completed its first autonomous driving test in icy conditions, and the company continues to pursue this line of testing to this date. In other words, almost all major car makers that are developing self-driving technology are also simultaneously testing their prototypes in snowy and other problematic weather conditions and are relatively straightforward when it comes to talking about these endeavors.

However, Google is the one exception to this rule. As things stand right now, the Mountain View-based tech giant has yet to announce any initiative designed to prepare its autonomous vehicles for snowy conditions. The company is currently testing its prototypes in California, Texas, Arizona, and Washington, and while these sites are ideal for adjusting the vehicles for extreme temperatures, heavy rain, and dusty roads, none of them were picked with icy roads in mind. So, despite the fact that Google started its autonomous driving initiative way sooner than most other tech giants currently driving advancements in this field, the company is seemingly falling behind competitors when it comes to testing prototypes in extreme weather conditions. Interestingly enough, while this same problem was highlighted almost two years ago, the Alphabet-owned company has yet to announce how its planning to test its self-driving cars in snow and its still refusing requests for comments on the matter as of last Saturday, as reported by Business Insider.
Ever since Nokia officially left the smartphone market, its comeback has been one of the most anticipated things in the industry. Now that HMD have partnered up with Nokia in order to produce smartphones under their name, though, the comeback is getting closer by the day and, according to a new rumor, it appears HMD has big plans.

Its been known for some time that HMD would be announcing their first Nokia-branded smartphone in February at MWC 2017 in Barcelona. Now, though, a new rumor claims the company has up to four other smartphones in the pipeline, all of which are expected to be released sometime in Q2 and Q3 2017. Size-wise, though, rumors point towards somewhere between 5 and 5.7-inches for each device. Its currently unknown if they are four completely different models, or if they are two main devices with two configurations each. Considering HMD is still a relatively new company and demand for Nokia-branded devices is yet to be tested, the latter option seems like the most likely, allowing them to cater to the markets that they are sure will be interested in their devices, while also offering consumers some options. If the devices do turn out to be four different smartphones, though, it would mean HMD have the possibility of covering all ends of the market, from low-end budget smartphones to flagship-priced ones, something that could pay off in the long run by establishing the Nokia name as a market leader once again.

Although HMD have plans for four separate releases, its inevitable that their first Nokia-branded smartphone will make the biggest impact. According to rumors, the company is planning two variants of the device, one with 2GB of RAM and a 5-inch display, while the other is expected to feature 3GB of RAM and a larger 5.5-inch display. Regarding pricing, rumors point towards $150 and $200 respectively. Either way, with MWC only a couple of months away, it wont be too long before the company will see if its efforts have paid off. With tough competition, especially in the mid-range market, the company is definitely going to have to bring something unique to the table in order to differentiate themselves. If they rely on Nokia branding alone, it may not be the comeback that consumers were hoping for.
Using your sleeping moms fingerprint to buy Pokemon presents is definitely something that isnt common. But that is exactly what happened just days before Christmas when 6-year old Ashlynd, from Arkansas, ordered about 13 Pokemon gifts for herself on Amazon. Her parents had believed that their Amazon account was hacked, but their daughter told them that she was shopping. On the bright side, she did reassure her parents that she at least got the shipping address correct. These 13 Pokemon gifts that Ashlynd ordered cost her parents around $250 total, so it wasnt a cheap shopping trip for her.

Ashlynds mother, Bethany Howell, was a bit upset as you would expect. And reportedly told her daughter that Santa Claus found out what she did, and informed her that she wouldnt be getting all of her gifts. The way that Ashlynd was able to do this was quite simple actually. Simply touched her moms iPhone to her finger while she was asleep on the couch, and the fingerprint sensor recognized the finger and unlocked it. So it appears that fingerprint sensors are not as secure as everyone thought they were  even though many security experts have said that they arent much more secure than a PIN or password. This isnt unique to the iPhone either, it can be done with Android or any other smartphone with a fingerprint sensor. Seeing as the finger is still alive, it will register correctly on the fingerprint sensor.

Howell told The Wall Street Journal that she was only able to return four of the 13 Pokemon gifts that her daughter bought on Amazon. Hopefully the company will allow her to return the remaining gifts when they ship to their house. This isnt the first time that a child has bought things  either physical or digital goods  without their parents knowing, and it most likely wont be the last time. Google, Facebook, Apple and Amazon have all faced several class action lawsuits in regards to in-app purchases, and it has cost them billions. The companies have worked to make it a bit more difficult for kids to purchase items without their parents knowledge, but it appears that there is still a bit to go.
While LG demonstrated a lot of ambition with the LG G5, a 5.3-inch flagship boasting an innovative modular design, consumers havent rewarded the companys attempt to innovate in the smartphone space. Given how the LG G5 failed to achieve a notable level of commercial success, the South Korean tech giant is now reportedly planning to go back to a traditional design philosophy with the LG G6. Most industry sources are claiming that the companys upcoming flagship will feature a non-modular design as the Seoul-based phone maker will apparently focus on delivering a better user experience through improved hardware and leave less conventional features to other Android OEMs.

All in all, LG is hoping that the LG G6 will be a commercial success and help the company recoup some of the losses incurred by the LG G5. In fact, according to a recent report from South Korea, the Seoul-based tech giant is looking to gain any possible advantage over its competitors. This endeavor will reportedly result in the LG G6 being released a month earlier than what was originally planned. Sources close to the company are claiming that LG is looking to launch the LG G6 by early March, if not a bit sooner. This change in schedule was allegedly mainly prompted by the fact that Samsung is pushing back the release of the Galaxy S8 which is rumored to launch around April. Provided this report is accurate, the new LG G6 release window would coincide with the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2017. Given how LG often opted to reveal its premium devices during the said annual trade show in Barcelona, this report indicates that the company is possibly planning to release the LG G6 shortly after unveiling it in late February. Of course, another possibility is that LG will announce the phone before MWC and release it just as the trade shows kicks off on February 27th.

Finally, industry sources claim that LGs executives believe the LG G5 was too late to the market, which is another important factor that allegedly influenced the decision to release the LG G6 earlier in the year. The production of the companys upcoming flagship has reportedly also been pushed ahead by about a month and is now allegedly slated to start in January.
Nokia is all set to make a comeback to the smartphone market in 2017 and weve seen today more pictures and designs showing a new Nokia device, claimed to be the Nokia E1. Nokia were prevented from selling smartphones following the takeover of the Nokia branding and manufacturing by Microsoft in 2014. Under Microsofts stewardship, the Lumia brand of former Nokia branded devices, running Windows 10 Mobile, have struggled in the market dominated by Googles Android with Apples iOS a distant second in worldwide market share. During Nokias absence from the consumer market, we have seen a number of leaked designs and blurry pictures of alleged prototype models from the Finnish company, with reasonably conventional hardware running a version of Android software. The photograph presented here is once again somewhat blurry, but its another image backing up the Finnish companys re-entry into the smartphone market.

During the last two and a half years we have seen Nokia introducing a tablet into select markets around the world. The Nokia N1 tablet, based around a near-stock version of Android and running over Intel Atom architecture, was well received and had a respectable specification and some clever software tricks. However, the tablet market is declining as customers move towards either larger screen smartphones or small but powerful laptops and Chromebooks: Nokia may be able to sell their branded tablet, but a smartphone should be an easier product to shift especially considering the companys reputation for good quality devices that are easy to operate, have better than average cameras and good call quality and signal attenuation.

As for the specifics of this particular Nokia branded device, unfortunately the details are sparse. We do not know what version of Android the device runs but from the source website, it appears that this device has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. However, the screen size, type and resolution is unknown, as is the underlying chipset and hardware. Nokia have given the device hardware buttons under the screen, which goes against Googles guidelines, but there are two designs showing here: one appears to have a fingerprint sensor on the front and the other does not, which might indicate that Nokia are preparing both higher-level and lower-level devices. Production appears to have all but started in an undetermined location somewhere in China, but we do not know what markets the new Nokia smartphones will be sold into.
MediaTek initially announced the Helio X30 processor back in September, saying that it would bring entirely new levels of battery efficiency and raw power to their Helio processor lineup. According to Taiwanese publication Economic Daily, the new processor is due out in the second quarter of 2017, and the facts about the processor that have come to light so far make MediaTeks claims about it seem anything but hyperbole. The processor will pack a number of unique features, and be one of the first tri-cluster mobile processors out there, as well as one of the first to use TSMCs 10 nanometer manufacturing process.

The processor is reported to have 10 cores in total. A pair of power-packing Cortex-A73 cores, clocked at 2.8 gigahertz, are set to do the heavy lifting. Four Cortex-A53 cores at 2.3 gigahertz are joined by four Cortex-A35 cores at a flat 2 gigahertz to pick up the slack. While some disappointing early benchmarks were spotted recently, those seemed to have been done at less than the chips full power. The real deal is supposed to go head to head with Qualcomms Snapdragon 820 and 821, the same chips that power Samsungs Galaxy S7 and Googles Pixel. Thanks to power management equipment from a Richtek subsidiary on board, the chip is also supposed to put its predecessors to shame in power efficiency, an area that MediaTeks flagship processor lineup already dominates.

The processor is also said to support UFS 2.1 for compatibility with super fast storage, as well as LTE Cat 10, for network speeds up to about 450 megabits per second. It will also support up to 8 gigabytes of LPDDR4 RAM, making it more than suitable for use in competitive modern flagship phones. MediaTek is rumored to begin mass-producing and selling the chips in the first quarter of 2017, with rumors also saying that they should start finding their way into consumer devices by the second quarter of the year. Other rumors peg the first manufacturers to use the chip in a flagship device as OPPO, Vivo, or Meizu. A lot of whats being said about the chip right now is unsubstantiated, so its anybodys guess as to how its release and commercialization will play out; all thats really known about the chip for the time being is that its going to bring MediaTeks lineup into competitive territory with Qualcomms flagships, while boasting improved power efficiency.
Samsungs late 2016 flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Note 7, was released in the summer. Shortly after its release, customers started complaining that the device was exploding whilst being charged. Samsung replaced the Galaxy Note 7 units with new ones, but these replacements were also exploding and overheating under normal use. Ultimately, Samsung and their industry partners recalled the Galaxy Note 7 devices to reycle and offered customers a refund, ideally to put towards a replacement Samsung device. There remain questions over the future of the Samsung Galaxy Note family branding: would Samsung withdraw the Note family of devices from their 2017 portfolio? A new rumor from Samsung is suggesting just this and that there will be no Samsung Galaxy Note 8 but instead the early 2017 flagship device family will include the Samsung Galaxy S8 and a larger screen variant, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus.

The story on the source website states that the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will feature a 6.0-inch display, which is notably larger than the Samsung Galaxy Note 7s 5.7-inch AMOLED panel. The Galaxy S8 family of devices may feature a very slim bezel and so it is possible that the new device will be a similar size to the discontinued Galaxy Note 7. Both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are expected to have curved screens with the flat screen models no longer featuring in 2017. Should Samsung sell the Galaxy S8 Plus device, there are questions as to if Samsung will release any more Galaxy Note devices  especially given the fiery reputation of the Galaxy Note 7 has. However, the Galaxy Note family is more than simply a larger Galaxy S model as they also include the Samsung S Pen together with additional functionality. Although the S Pen is not necessary for customers to enjoy the device, it does open up additional functionality. It remains uncertain if the Galaxy S8 Plus model will include the S Pen and the accompanying electronics embedded into the screen to allow the fine level of control. If Samsung do not include support for the S Pen in the Galaxy S8 Plus then it would appear likely that there will be another Samsung Galaxy Note model later in the year.

Ultimately, Samsungs decision will weigh on how badly the Galaxy Note image has been tarnished by the exploding battery problems and how much consumers will miss the S Pen. It remains to be seen how many customers bought the Galaxy Note family for the S Pen and the productivity and how many simply wanted the large screen and considered some of Samsungs S Pen features to be unwanted software features. Perhaps Samsung will drop the S Pen and instead concentrate their efforts towards cleaning up the device software and implementing their artificial intelligence features, expected to be released at the same time as the April 2017 Samsung Galaxy S8 announcement.
Its been rumored for some time now that Samsung would include its own virtual assistant, expected to be called Bixby, in the upcoming Galaxy S8. Now, though, it appears the company has plans to make use of the assistant in nearly every native app installed on the device.

According to a new leak, Samsung is eager to make use of its own virtual assistant, which is based on the technology it acquired with the purchase of Viv recently, by including support for it in nearly all native Samsung apps that will come pre-installed on the Galaxy S8. The company is so eager, in fact, that they are expected to redesign the UI of nearly every native app in order to make them much more user-friendly and allow for seamless integration with Bixby. The new assistant, which will be much more advanced that its predecessor S Voice, will work everywhere, not just in Samsung apps, similar to how the Google Assistant or Siri work. Additionally, the assistant is expected to be able to compete on the same scale as the latter ones, meaning users will be able to search the internet, their phone, or simply ask for suggestions or help. Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 would feature a virtual assistant, with the company stating that it will be able to offer answers and actions based on what is appearing on the display. The assistant is also expected to replace S Voice completely, so there is the possibility that Samsung could update previous flagships, specifically the Galaxy S7 line, with support for the assistant.

Back to the Galaxy S8, though, Samsung is expected to update the devices software so that the status bar will be always visible, removing the need to swipe twice to access notifications and quick settings. All of this, along with the rumored hardware upgrades such as the larger display, a faster processor, more RAM and a newly improved rear camera sensor are sure to help the company impress consumers and regain trust. Either way, itll remain to be seen if Samsungs upcoming Bixby assistant will be able to compete with Google Assistant or Siri. If they are successful, though, the likes of Apple and Google, as well as Microsoft and Amazon may start looking for ways to one-up Samsung in the virtual assistant market.
With the release of Samsungs next big flagship nearing, its no surprise that more and more leaks are appearing over time. According to the latest one, though, Samsungs Galaxy S8 may well be the first smartphone to break the 6GB of RAM barrier by including a whopping 8GB of RAM, among other features.

According to a new leak, Samsung is reportedly toying with including 8GB of RAM inside its next flagship, something that is looking increasingly likely due to the companys hopes of impressing consumers. Now, this is not the first time rumors have been floating around about the inclusion of 8GB of RAM, but it is the first time that the rumor is looking more and more likely, considering that, originally, most rumors pointed towards a 6GB of RAM configuration. The increased RAM was not the only thing, though. The rumor also states that Samsung will include UFS 2.1 (Universal Flash Storage) an upgrade over the UFS 2.0 standard that the Galaxy S7 line includes. Now, for those wondering what this actually means, it essentially will allow for quicker data transfers. This, along with the rumored iPhone-rivaling 256GB storage option, should help please a number of consumers, especially those looking for high amounts of internal storage.

With the upgrade in flash storage speed, it remains to be seen if Samsung will choose to remove the microSD card slot which many of the companys customers enjoy. Though, its fair to say that, considering the backlash they received from the removal of the slot in the Galaxy S6 and the praise that came with its reinstatement last year, its looking increasingly unlikely the company would remove the microSD card slot just yet.

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All of these features, along with the rumored increase in screen size, the removal of the companys signature physical home button, a beast mode that will boost the performance and even the fact that both models will feature a dual-edge display, its certain that Samsung will be giving it all next year in order to regain the trust they lost with the Galaxy Note7 fiasco. Nonetheless, if everything goes well for Samsung and they also manage to release next years Galaxy Note device without any problems, it seems 2017 may well be one of the best years for the company.
Both tech giants and traditional automakers have been investing in self-driving technology for the better part of the last decade. Contemporary autonomous driving prototypes are incredibly advanced in comparison to solutions Google started developing back in 2009, but they still have a long way to go before they become a viable alternative to human drivers. Regardless of that, the auto industry already started including some limited autonomous technologies in its latest products. The new Tesla Model S is a good example of that endeavor seeing how the Palo Alto-based company is offering to equip this electric car with a package of sensors that enables the so-called Tesla Autopilot feature. As the name suggests, Tesla Autopilot allows the car to operate on its own in certain conditions, but its still far from offering a fully fledged self-driving experience.

Namely, this technology utilizes sensors such as radars to identify the surroundings of ones vehicle and control the car accordingly. However, Tesla is specifically marketing this feature as designed for assisting drivers and not for completely autonomous driving. Unfortunately, Tesla Autopilot lulled some people into a false sense of security, which is how one Joshua Brown was killed in a car accident this May after his Tesla Model S crashed into a trailer it failed to detect. An incident such as this one is something that sticks in peoples minds even if both Tesla and authorities agree the driver was at fault for expecting their driving assistance technology to do more than just assist.

So, were still somewhat away from tech giants and automakers commercializing completely autonomous vehicles as theres a lot more work to be done on that front. As Danny Shapiro, one of the executives of NVIDIAs car division recently stated, the industry has yet to figure out how to completely replicate the behavior of human drivers. At the moment, a self-driving vehicle needs at least 20 sensors to achieve a level of perception a human driver has. In addition to cameras, radars, and GPS mapping solutions, contemporary autonomous cars also rely on something called a LIDAR, which is an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging, a sensing technology which shoots lasers to measure variable distances. However, even when all of these technologies work seamlessly and the car sees everything around it, it still needs to interpret that data in real-time.

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Thats why exhaustive testing is a crucial part of the effort to commercialize self-driving vehicles and teach deep learning technologies powering them how to react to various objects that one might encounter on roads. However, sooner or later, these prototypes learn everything they can from operating in controlled conditions and must start driving on public roads to improve further. Now, given how these are still prototypes were talking about, theyre not going to perform flawlessly. For example, Uber recently got into a lot of trouble after one of its self-driving cars was recorded running a red light in San Francisco.

When Shapiro was asked about these issues, NVIDIAs executive was rather straightforward on the matter by asserting that some accidents will simply be unavoidable. In addition to the possibility that a self-driving car encounters an object it doesnt recognize and cant respond accordingly, Shapiro said that some accidents were and will be caused by unpredictable human behavior. As he explained, while autonomous vehicles are already statistically safer than human drivers, this technology wont eliminate traffic accidents as long as there are human drivers and pedestrians on public roads. In fact, crazy behavior of humans is one of the main reasons why Shapiro believes people need to cut self-driving cars some slack.

Needless to say, thats easier said than done, as evidenced by numerous surveys which suggest people arent ready for the autonomous driving revolution. While most consumers whove already had the pleasure of operating vehicles with semi-autonomous driving assistance like the Tesla Model S are more inclined to trust self-driving cars with their lives, people, in general, are still scared by the idea of a fully automated vehicle. Sure, driving can be a stressful activity, but if people find the idea of being driven by a computer even more stressful, then thats potentially the biggest obstacle the industry will have to overcome before autonomous vehicles become a common occurrence on public roads. Sensors, radars, and artificial intelligence solutions will certainly improve by a wide margin in a few years, but it remains to be seen whether peoples perceptions can be changed as quickly.
BlackBerry switched to Android OS last year when it released the BlackBerry PRIV, which was powered by Android 5.1 Lollipop. Since then BlackBerry has released two additional Android-powered smartphones, namely the DTEK50 and DTEK60, and over the past couple of months, leaks and rumors have been building up to indicate the arrival of yet another Android BlackBerry handset known as the DTEK70 or the Mercury. Now, according to leakster Roland Quandt on Twitter, the BlackBerry Mercury, (also identified by model number BBB100) will be available in the United States through Verizon Wireless.

After the launch of the BlackBerry PRIV and two additional Android-powered smartphones equipped with full touchscreens, the BlackBerry Mercury is expected to become the companys second smartphone powered by Googles mobile OS, featuring a physical QWERTY keyboard. However  assuming that the leaks so far have any weight  unlike the BlackBerry PRIV the Mercury will not have a slider form factor, but instead it will accommodate a QWERTY keyboard on the front panel, below a 4.5-inch display with an aspect ratio of 4:3. Other rumors hint that the BlackBerry Mercury will rely on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 System-on-Chip clocked at frequencies of up to 2.0 GHz per core, an Adreno 506 graphics processor, and 3GB of RAM. Furthermore, the smartphone will apparently run Android 7.0 Nougat, it will carry an 18-megapixel main camera, and will reportedly be powered by a 3,400mAh battery, which should fare well given the smaller-than-usual display and the less energy-hungry Snapdragon 652. Its also worth mentioning that, according to leaked promotional material, the BlackBerry Mercury will have a fingerprint recognition sensor embedded into the keyboards space bar.

In any case, according to the source, the BlackBerry Mercury will arrive in the United States through Verizon Wireless, which has been a promoter of BlackBerry devices in the past. The source also adds that although the smartphone has been designed by BlackBerry, the product will be built by Chinese company TCL. Keep in mind that the information above regarding specs hasnt been confirmed by official sources, and details remain subject to change, but were hoping that the BlackBerry Mercury / BBB100 will be showcased at CES 2017 between January 5 and Jan.8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our editor Alex will be on the CES show floor covering new announcements so stay tuned.
Xiaomi recently announced that its looking for owners of the Mi Max and Mi Max Prime interested in testing the Android 7.0 Nougat build of the MIUI 8 user interface. People interested in participating in this restricted test can apply in the MIUI 8 Global Beta ROM thread linked below. The Chinese phone maker is accepting applications until Friday, December 30th, after which it will notify people selected for the test with a private message sent via the MIUI boards. Users who apply should make sure to check their PMs on Saturday, December 31st, seeing how thats the date when Xiaomi will be sending out invitations and the company will likely pick someone else over people who dont respond to their message as quickly as possible. Other requirements for testers include some degree of knowledge about ROMs and an active presence on the MIUI boards. Finally, Xiaomi explicitly stated its looking for people willing to discuss the new ROM in both the QQ Beta group and forum, adding how no alternative means of communication are an option.

To apply, users must download and install the MIUI Global Forum app on their Mi Max or Mi Max Prime, open the apps homepage, select the Recruitment option, and submit a short form to Xiaomi. The form requires them to disclose the model of their device, how long theyve been using smartphones in general, and a particular reason for wanting to participate in the closed beta for the MIUI 8 build based on Android 7.0 Nougat. The gallery below depicts this entire process. The Chinese phone maker revealed that its planning to provide approved testers with a beta ROM by the end of this week.

Finally, all interested testers should make sure theyre familiar with the official flashing guide for the Mi Max and Mi Max Prime, backup their files before starting the flashing process and provide Xiaomi with timely bug reports. Those who get approved by Xiaomi and download the MIUI 8 Nougat beta ROM will also get access to a special read permission on the MIUI boards and access to daily development updates. Other bonuses include the ability to attach files of larger sizes while posting on the MIUI boards and a priority when applying for any official MIUI-related activities and events.
(ANSA) - Rome, December 27 - A cash call for the newly nationalised, troubled Tuscan lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) must be raised from five billion to 8.8 billion euros, the European Central Bank (ECB) has said after the Italian government unveiled a bailout just before Christmas.

The recapitalisation for Italy's third-biggest and the world's oldest bank, to be paid for by the Italian State and stakeholders, was made necessary by a "rapid deterioration of the bank's liquidity position between November 30 and December 21, as highlighted by a significant drop in the counter balancing capacity and one-month, net liquidity," MPS said. "The bank promptly got in touch with the competent authorities to understand the methodologies underlying the ECB's calculations," it said.

Italian consumer groups complained of the allegedly high price to the Italian taxpayer of an estimated "333 euros per capita". The Bundesbank said Tuesday the bailout has to be "carefully weighed to avert the risks of strong economic turbulence".

Two aspects of the bailout are at the centre of negotiations between the ECB and the Italian government, sources said: the timeframe for the repayment of public funds and the price that MPS shareholders and bondholders will have to pay.

MPS shares were still suspended from trading Tuesday.

The bailout became necessary after an MPS five-billion-euro capital hike failed.

MPS needed to raise cash urgently after coming last in ECB stress tests of 51 banks in July because of its high rate of non-performing loans (NPLs).

On December 23 Premier Paolo Gentiloni's government moved to save MPS after the troubled bank failed in a bid to raise the five billion euros of fresh capital.

In an overnight meeting, the cabinet approved a decree with a mechanism to give MPS's retail clients 100% protection via a 20-billion-euro fund for both MPS and any other banks who will need help.

Under the measure, the government will offer MPS capital under a formula called "precautionary recapitalization," with which the State offers assurances that the bank is solvent and that the government will get its money back.

"I think that this is an important day, a turning point (for MPS)," Gentiloni said Friday.

"It gives reassurance for its savers and for its future".

MPS had said Thursday that its drive to bring in fresh capital had raised 2.45 billion euros via debt-for-equity conversions, well short of the five-billion target after it failed to secure an anchor investor, the Qatar sovereign fund.

The 100% protection mechanism for MPS bond holders will entail giving them shares first and then ordinary bonds, Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said, noting that State intervention would result in forced conversion with losses.

In order to prevent this, the bank will activate a transaction mechanism to exchange bonds into shares and then into ordinary bonds.

The decree passed by the Italian government could have a positive effect for senior bondholders and those holding an account in the banks concerned, since it aims to increase their protection with greater capital, ratings agency Moody's said.

It added that it would be expected to also reduce the probability of contagion for the strongest banks.

MPS CEO Marco Morelli said State intervention "was not the bank's first choice".

However, he added, "it will in any case give us the chance to quickly get rid of non-performing loans and to have a different, stronger position".

State intervention, he said, will enable MPS to restore an arrangement, "as concerns liquidity, in line with what had been the bank's position in early 2016".

MPS has decided to present a request for special, temporary financial support that will enable it to access precautionary recapitalization as stipulated by the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD).

Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem meanwhile said that since not enough funds had been raised by MPS, state intervention could be weighed. He cautioned, however, that regulations require there first be a 'bail-in' of shareholders and junior bond holders.


(ANSA) - Rome, December 27 - A cash call for troubled Tuscan lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) must be raised from five billion to 8.8 billion euros, the European Central Bank (ECB) has said after the Italian government unveiled a bailout just before Christmas.

The recapitalisation for Italy's third-biggest and the world's oldest bank will be paid for by the Italian State and shareholders.

The Bundesbank said Tuesday the bailout has to be "carefully weighed to avert the risks of strong economic turbulence".

Two aspects of the bailout are at the centre of negotiations between the ECB and the Italian government, sources said: the timeframe for the repayment of public funds and the price that MPS shareholders and bondholders will have to pay.

MPS shares were still suspended from trading Tuesday.

The bailout became necessary after an MPS five-billion-euro capital hike failed.

MPS needed to raise cash urgently after coming last in ECB stress tests of 51 banks in July because of its high rate of non-performing loans (NPLs).

On December 23 Premier Paolo Gentiloni's government moved to save MPS after the troubled bank failed in a bid to raise the five billion euros of fresh capital.

In an overnight meeting, the cabinet approved a decree with a mechanism to give MPS's retail clients 100% protection via a 20-billion-euro fund for both MPS and any other banks who will need help.

Under the measure, the government will offer MPS capital under a formula called "precautionary recapitalization," with which the State offers assurances that the bank is solvent and that the government will get its money back.

"I think that this is an important day, a turning point (for MPS)," Gentiloni said Friday.

"It gives reassurance for its savers and for its future".

MPS had said Thursday that its drive to bring in fresh capital had raised 2.45 billion euros via debt-for-equity conversions, well short of the five-billion target after it failed to secure an anchor investor, the Qatar sovereign fund.

The 100% protection mechanism for MPS bond holders will entail giving them shares first and then ordinary bonds, Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said, noting that State intervention would result in forced conversion with losses.

In order to prevent this, the bank will activate a transaction mechanism to exchange bonds into shares and then into ordinary bonds.

The decree passed by the Italian government could have a positive effect for senior bondholders and those holding an account in the banks concerned, since it aims to increase their protection with greater capital, ratings agency Moody's said.

It added that it would be expected to also reduce the probability of contagion for the strongest banks.

MPS CEO Marco Morelli said State intervention "was not the bank's first choice".

However, he added, "it will in any case give us the chance to quickly get rid of non-performing loans and to have a different, stronger position".

State intervention, he said, will enable MPS to restore an arrangement, "as concerns liquidity, in line with what had been the bank's position in early 2016".

MPS has decided to present a request for special, temporary financial support that will enable it to access precautionary recapitalization as stipulated by the EU Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD).

Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem meanwhile said that since not enough funds had been raised by MPS, state intervention could be weighed. He cautioned, however, that regulations require there first be a 'bail-in' of shareholders and junior bond holders.


TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the UN that "Israel won't turn the other cheek" and is putting in place series of diplomatic countermeasures following the UN Security Council's approval last Friday, in a vote in which the US abstained, of a resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.



Meanwhile, with a decision taken prior to the resolution's approval, on Wednesday the city of Jerusalem will most likely approve a previous plan for construction of 618 new homes in the eastern part of the city, the majority of whose population is Arab.



If the project is approved, the new residences will be divided thus: 140 in Pisgat Zeev, 262 in Ramat Shlomo, and 216 in Ramot.



The choice would further inflame the situation that's been burning since last Friday, the consequences of which some Israeli commentators have called "the isolation of Israel".



But Netanyahu, who is being criticised at home by the political centre and left - doesn't seem to have any intentions of giving up.



Following his harsh words in recent days against the administration of US President Barack Obama, with whose abstention the resolution was passed, on Tuesday the Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Dermer said Israel has evidence that the Obama administration orchestrated the vote.



"We will present this evidence to the new administration through the appropriate channels," Dermer said.



"If they want to share it with the American people, they are welcome to do it," he said.



This clear and direct message further demonstrates the faith that Netanyahu and his government are placing in the incoming Trump administration.



Last Friday following the UN resolution vote, Trump tweeted: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th." Netanyahu has said he doesn't think Obama's actions are finished: he is concerned that there could be new developments at the international conference to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts (without Israeli or Palestinian representatives in attendance) scheduled in Paris for January 15, just five days prior to the US presidential inauguration.



In fact, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman spoke out against the conference on Tuesday, calling it a new "Dreyfus trial", referring to the 1894 wrongful conviction of a French Jewish army captain for treason that became a symbol for anti-Semitism, "with one difference", he said.



"Instead of one Jew being on trial, it will be the entire Jewish people and the state of Israel," Lieberman said.
Syria: Russia-Turkey prepare rebel-regime meeting in Astana Lavrov-Cavusoglu phone call, want terms of ceasefire quickly

(ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, DECEMBER 27 - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu spoke by phone about preparations for a meeting in Astana between Syrian opposition rebels and government forces, as well as the terms of a ceasefire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.



"The ministers continued an exchange of opinions on the situation in Syria," the statement said.



It said the ministers highlighted the necessity for agreement as soon as possible on "practical parameters for putting an end to combat operations, separating moderate opposition from terrorist groups, and preparing the meeting in Astana by invitation of the leadership of Kazakistan to launch a political solution in line with UN Security Council resolution 2254", the December 2015 resolution on a roadmap for peace in Syria.(ANSAmed).




(by Olga Piscitelli)- RABAT - A controversy in education has surfaced in Morocco with the textbook 'Manar At-Tarbia Al-Islamiya' for first-year baccalaureate students, which states that philosophy is tantamount to ''perversion and blasphemy''.



The textbook on philosophy and faith states that philosophy is ''a production of human thought that is contrary to Islam'' and ''the essence of degeneration''. Following sexist notes in commonly used textbooks, and polemics on the uselessness of public schools, philosophy teachers are now protesting.



The textbooks were released in bookshops in October after a reform project by the education ministry ''to promote a tolerant Islam at all levels of schooling, from elementary school to high school''. The teachers' association has said that the revised books are dangerous, especially as they classify sciences into two categories: ''legitimate'' and ''illegitimate'', echoing an idea of ''haram'' and ''halal''.
ROME - Maurizio Vallone, head of the interior ministry's anti-terrorism office, on Tuesday said retaliation against police could be a possibility following the death last Friday of Tunisian Anis Amri, suspected of the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, in a shootout with Milan police.



"It's the first time that a terrorist has been killed in Italy and certainly a uniform has become a privileged target," Vallone said, adding that two officers in France have been killed.



"We must be especially alert, taking all possible self-protection initiatives," he said.



Vallone said the Milan officers were "perfect" in their encounter with Amri and said theirs was a "textbook operation".



Meanwhile, Italian special ops police are investigating possible contacts that Amri may have had in Italy who could have helped him following the attack last Monday that left 12 people dead.



He purchased a train ticket to Milan connecting in Chambery at the Lyon train station three days after the attack.



Rookie officer Luca Scata shot Amri dead after the Tunisian shot and wounded his colleague, Christian Movio.

Milan probe traces Amri's last movements. Passed near Turin and Milan central station

MILAN - Milan police on Tuesday released a still frame from video surveillance footage taken on December 23 at the Milan Centrale train station showing Anis Amri, the suspect in last Monday's attack at a Berlin Christmas market, just hours prior to his killing by police in a shootout at the nearby Sesto San Giovanni train station. Milan investigators are retracing Amri's movements prior to his death last Friday, and the video from the Milan Centrale station places Amri there at 12:58 am on December 23. Police on Tuesday said Amri had also stopped at the Bardonecchia train station near Turin after having travelled from Lyon to Chambery, France. In a press conference, police confirmed that Amri rode a city bus from the Milan Central station to reach the Sesto station.

Italy buries Berlin victim. Fabrizia Di Lorenzo interred in Abruzzo hometown

ROME - Italy has bid farewell to Fabrizia Di Lorenzo, the 32-year-old from Sulmona in Abruzzo among the 12 victims of the December 19 terror attack on a Berlin market. President Sergio Mattarella and Interior Minister Marco Minniti were among those attending Di Lorenzo's funeral in her hometown Monday. The local bishop, Msgr Angelo Spina, said in his homily that "she loved life with so many ideals and many values, she had to leave this land that cannot seem to give hope to young people for work". Di Lorenzo, who had two degrees, was working for a German transport company.
Trial begins for 29 Turkish police in attempted coup Life sentences requested for 21, other eight risk 15 years

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, DECEMBER 27 - A trial got underway on Tuesday in Turkey's capital in which 29 former police officers are accused of involvement in the July 15 coup attempt by refusing to obey orders.



Prosecutors are requesting life sentences for 21 of the officers, accused of "attempted coup", while the remaining eight risk 15 years in prison for "belonging to a terrorist organisation".(ANSAmed).




Israel challenges UN with new East Jerusalem settlements Netanyahu says 'We don't turn the other cheek' and accuses Obama

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, DECEMBER 27 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the UN that "Israel won't turn the other cheek" and is putting in place series of diplomatic countermeasures following the UN Security Council's approval last Friday, in a vote in which the US abstained, of a resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.



Meanwhile, with a decision taken prior to the resolution's approval, on Wednesday the city of Jerusalem will most likely approve a previous plan for construction of 618 new homes in the eastern part of the city, the majority of whose population is Arab.



If the project is approved, the new residences will be divided thus: 140 in Pisgat Zeev, 262 in Ramat Shlomo, and 216 in Ramot.



The choice would further inflame the situation that's been burning since last Friday, the consequences of which some Israeli commentators have called "the isolation of Israel".



But Netanyahu, who is being criticised at home by the political centre and left - doesn't seem to have any intentions of giving up.



Following his harsh words in recent days against the administration of US President Barack Obama, with whose abstention the resolution was passed, on Tuesday the Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Dermer said Israel has evidence that the Obama administration orchestrated the vote.



"We will present this evidence to the new administration through the appropriate channels," Dermer said.



"If they want to share it with the American people, they are welcome to do it," he said.



This clear and direct message further demonstrates the faith that Netanyahu and his government are placing in the incoming Trump administration.



Last Friday following the UN resolution vote, Trump tweeted: "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th." Netanyahu has said he doesn't think Obama's actions are finished: he is concerned that there could be new developments at the international conference to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts (without Israeli or Palestinian representatives in attendance) scheduled in Paris for January 15, just five days prior to the US presidential inauguration.



In fact, Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman spoke out against the conference on Tuesday, calling it a new "Dreyfus trial", referring to the 1894 wrongful conviction of a French Jewish army captain for treason that became a symbol for anti-Semitism, "with one difference", he said.



"Instead of one Jew being on trial, it will be the entire Jewish people and the state of Israel," Lieberman said.(ANSAmed).




Israel to limit working ties with 12 UNSC nations After they voted for UN resolution on W. Bank settlements

(ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, DECEMBER 27 - Israel will temporarily limit working relations with countries that voted for a UN resolution on West Bank settlements and who have diplomatic relations with Israel, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.



It will not, however, be ''suspending'' them, as was initially reported. The measure was brought in by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu after Friday's vote. Netanyahu also decided to recall Israeli ambassadors from Senegal and New Zealand and to limit ''working ties'' with the embassies of 10 countries. Official visits by Israel to these countries will also be limited but not visits by these countries to Israel, ''or at least until another decision'', ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said. (ANSAmed)
TEL AVIV - ''A united Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel, and it will remain our capital. No international body can undermine that fact,'' Israeli president Reuven Rivlin said.



Rivlin on Tuesday met with Christian community leaders for the exchange of New Year's greetings. He then underscored that Israel ensured religious rights for faiths in the country and said that the decision to bring Israel to the UN Security Council was mistaken in that it set down pre-conditions and in the way that it was conducted.

''The international community's major task is to help us resolve the conflict, by creating trust between the two sides. The UNSC vote was a slap in the face to peace and truth,'' he said.

Israel to limit working ties with 12 UNSC nations. After they voted for UN resolution on W. Bank settlements

Israel will temporarily limit working relations with countries that voted for a UN resolution on West Bank settlements and who have diplomatic relations with Israel, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday. It will not, however, be ''suspending'' them, as was initially reported. The measure was brought in by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu after Friday's vote. Netanyahu also decided to recall Israeli ambassadors from Senegal and New Zealand and to limit ''working ties'' with the embassies of 10 countries. Official visits by Israel to these countries will also be limited but not visits by these countries to Israel, ''or at least until another decision'', ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said.

Netanyahu may block Angola aid due to UN vote. Abu Mazen hopes Paris conference brings stop to settlements

TEL AVIV - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said he is thinking of cutting Israeli aid for development in Angola, one of the countries that voted in favor of the UN Security Council resolution against Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, according to press reports. Angola's diplomats to Israel, who Netanyahu summoned to Jerusalem, had promised Israel that they would oppose the resolution, the reports said. Meanwhile in Ramallah, Palestinian President Abu Mazen said he hoped the international conference for relaunching peace, scheduled in Paris on January 15, would bring a stop to Israeli construction in the West Bank, local media said.
PRIZREN - The southern municipalities of Kosovo including Dragash, Rahovec, Malisheva, Suhareka and Prizren are focusing on the attractions of mountains, pristine nature, eco-tourism and culture to increase tourism and give the young a future there. The area is still predominantly agricultural, poor and changing only very slowly, with a lack of facilities and hotels.



The association of southern regional development agencies reports that from 2008 until 2015, some 25 million euros were spent to increase the number of hotel facilities and 1.6 billion have been spent to develop the road network over the past ten years. From the northern-most of the cities - and one that was almost entirely burnt during the war - Malisheva, to Dragash, this zone of Kosovo offers a wealth of local traditions.

The Gorani, for example, is an ethnic group of southern Slavic origins originally from Bulgaria and of the Muslim religion. Having arrived in the mountainous region of Gora in the 13th century, the Gorani speak the Nasinki dialect, which is close to Bulgarian but strongly influenced by Macedonian, Serbian and Turkish. In the wedding ceremonies, the entire faces of the bride and groom are painted to ''protect them against the devil's eye''.

An attempt is also being made to renovate the ski resort of Bresovica, which boasts 39 hectares of terrain and forests amid the Sar mountains and was in the Yugoslav era known for hosting international competitions.
This new system will enhance the logistics across all its front and back office departments supporting Falcon Aviations processes in providing a service to its clients.

Falcon Aviations new FBO facility located at Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai represents a new era in private passenger handling.

FBO One is used at over 140 FBOs everywhere around the world. It is the international standard for aircraft ground handling and fuel sales and processes over 25.000 flights per month.

FBO Ones dashboard and search capabilities make the system easy to use. It manages, enhances and visualises all workflows, from creating and confirming an order to handling, payment, invoicing and booking.

FBO One is officially supported by and integrated with NetJets, as well as CFMU / Eurocontrol and FlightAware, so changes in flight data are accurate and up to date and handling requests are automatically updated.
The BIBFs deputy director, Dr. Ahmed AbdulHameed AlShaikh said: This partnership outlines the importance of continuous training and development, and with todays corporate requirements it becomes imperative for companies and organisations to continuously update staff on the dynamic changes in the information technology field, and to provide them with experienced and expert training, for professional developmentthe BIBF has entered into this alliance to facilitate the delivery of what business professionals and our corporate partners need.

Dr. Jassim Haji, director of IT at Gulf Air said: We are delighted to launch this partnership with the BIBF, which plays a key role in shaping the economic future of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and with Gulf Airs alliance and its heritage of developing inspired global leaders, we believe that continuous training is key to sustained development in individuals, teams and organisations. Partnering with the BIBF will bring global opportunities for the our valued human capital.

The programmes will deliver cutting-edge, practical education in business, cyber security, networking and other areas, preparing professionals to do business efficiently and professionally.
Boeing 777 freighters will fly twice a week to the South American cities of Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Quito* and the North American city of Miami. The twice weekly freighter service will depart from Doha via Luxembourg, the cargo carriers European hub, with stops at Sao Paulo in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina and Quito in Ecuador. On the return leg, the freighter will stop in Miami, Florida and Luxembourg before arriving in Doha.

These new freighter services aim to meet the growing demand for import and export trade in the region and will supplement the belly-hold cargo capacity on Qatar Airways daily flights to Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Miami.

Qatar Airways chief officer Cargo, Ulrich Ogiermann, said: We are excited to start 2017 with the launch of four new freighter destinations. These new destinations will connect the burgeoning import and export markets in the Americas region with the rest of the world. Through our expertise in specialised solutions, namely QR Pharma for pharmaceuticals and QR Fresh for perishables, we are able to offer our customers a seamless and an unbroken cool chain for their temperature-sensitive products via our state-of-the-art fully automated hub in Doha.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of the Diocese of Tavush, 43 Christian education schools were established during 2016 within the framework of the 1 community 1 school program, with approximately 2100 school children, Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of the Tavush Diocese said, expressing gratitude to all organizations and individuals who supported the process.

Praise our Lord, who helped us to summarize this year in such a gifted way. Beginning December 21, we celebrated with festivities the year with children in each regional center (Noyemberyan, Dilijan, Berd-Noyemberyan) and nearby communities, during which we gave childrens bibles to the kids, along with other presents, in order for their spiritual education to be more complete. Today, 2100 students of the Tavush Diocese have their Bibles. By the Will of God, we must reach everyone. The Bishop said.

Bishop Bagrat Galastanyan officially assumed the leadership of the Diocese of Tavush in September 7, 2015, and ever since the regions of Tavush, namely the bordering regions, are under his unconditional attention.

On New Years Eve, the Diocese organizes visits to border military posts, blessing the soldiers who are defending the borders of the Fatherland.
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New clause that requires chairman to seek nod of Tata Trusts for major deals widened rift.

New Delhi/Mumbai: When Ratan Tata retired as chairman of Tata Sons Ltd in 2012, he proposed a change in the laws governing the relationship between Indias largest conglomerate and its key shareholder, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Until then, the Tata Trusts  public charities owning two-thirds of the company  had easily protected its investment. A Tata family member had for decades held the chairmanship at both the Trusts and the company, whose businesses include cars, software and steel.

But an outsider, Cyrus Mistry, had just taken the top job at Tata Sons. Mr Tata wanted to make sure the Trusts, that rely on Tata Sons for dividends to fund their charitable work, could keep having a major say in company decisions, the sources said.

Mr Mistry agreed, and in doing so sowed the seeds of his ouster from the company last October, according to interviews with more than half-a-dozen current and former Tata executives and advisors, and a review of meeting minutes, emails and a court petition that Mr Mistry has filed against Tata Sons.

Mr Mistrys departure  and the reinstatement of the 78-year-old Tata as interim chairman  has triggered a bitter, public spat that has contributed to nearly a $10 billion decline in the market value of Tatas many listed companies.

Even if the conflict is resolved, Tata Sons could face future governance issues as the structure remains unchanged, which means it could weigh on any new chairman. It is going to be very difficult for an external person to take the role, said Shriram Subramanian, founder of proxy advisory firm InGovern Research.

Mr Mistry wrote in a letter to the Tata Sons board on October 26 that Mr Tata improperly used the change in bylaws to interfere in the affairs of the company and created an alternate power center at the group, which made it hard for him to do his job.

The changes in bylaws, which were finalised in 2014 after more than a year of discussions, increased the accountability of the chairman of Tata Sons to the directors nominated by the Trusts. The Trusts can nominate one-third of Tata Sons directors. The new bylaws require major decisions, such as deals and changes to the companys capital structure, be approved by a majority of the Trusts nominees.

Tata Sons spokesman Debasis Ray said Mr Tata asked Mr Mistry to do only what was in the bylaws and got involved in the companys affairs when he was asked.

Interviews with sources on both sides and the review of documents show that the changes in bylaws helped create the conditions that caused friction between Mr Mistry and Tata and increasingly hindered smooth functioning of the group.

The chairman, though, was not directly accountable to any of the trustees, including Mr Tata. The Trusts nominees were expected to represent their interests on the Tata Sons board, sources familiar with the rules on both sides of the conflict said.

Mr Mistry said in his letter that the familys patriarch nevertheless continued to directly interfere in the conglomerates affairs and called the nominees postmen who did Mr Tatas bidding.

Mr Mistry claimed that Mr Tatas interference constrained his ability to make the necessary chan-ges to turn around many companies.
Legal notice alleges Mistry deliberately made sensitive, confidential documents public in his petition filed with NCLT.

New Delhi: Tata Sons today slapped a legal notice on its ousted chairman Cyrus P Mistry for alleged breach of confidentiality by making public sensitive company documents including minutes of board meetings, financial information and data.

It termed attaching dozens of confidential and sensitive company documents with the petition filed by his family investment firms before the National Company Law Tribunal against his removal, as "reckless failure" in discharging of "fiduciary, legal and contractual duties" by Mistry.

Tata Sons in the notice served through law firm, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, said "without there being any requirement to do so" the Mistry family firms "deliberately included in petition, as exhibits, confidential data, business strategies, financial information pertaining to the business affairs of Tata Sons Ltd, Tata Group Companies and Joint ventures (all such material being 'Confidential & Sensitive Information')."

"By passing on Confidential & Sensitive Information accessed by you in your capacity as a Director of Tata Sons to companies owned and controlled by your family... you have acted in complete violation of your confidentiality undertaking to Tata Sons, your fiduciary duties towards Tata Sons and your obligations under the Tata Code of Conduct," it said.

Stating that it intends to exercise all legal rights and pursue all remedies available under law, the petition asked Mistry to "cease and desist" from sharing confidential and sensitive information.

Also, it wanted any document or parts which are unrelated to his petition before NCLT be suitably redacted. Mistry's actions have exposed Tata Sons to potential claims from third parties for breach of confidentiality, the petition said adding Tata Sons will make him liable for all such claims.

It alleged that Mistry, who was unceremoniously ousted as Chairman of Tata Sons on October 24 and subsequently forced to resign as director from key operating companies, had not only breached his legal duties as a director but also acted recklessly with the sole intent to cause harm and loss to Tata Sons.
According to the provisional data released by the stock exchanges, FPI offloaded equities worth Rs 1,095.04 crores.

Mumbai: The equity markets closed below their Brexit day lows amidst speculation about an increase in capital gains tax rate for stock market transactions after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked financial market players to contribute more towards nation building during his weekend visit to Mumbai.

The PMs comment, just a month before the Union Budget was interpreted as a subtle hint about an increase in tax rates for capital market transactions. However, a clarification made by finance minister Arun Jaitley a day later that the government has no intention to impose long-term capital gains tax on investment income failed to soothe investors nerves.

The Nifty slipped below its key psychological support of 7,900 level mark in the intra-day trade before ending the day at 7,908.25, down 77.50 points or 0.97 per cent. The Sensex slumped 233.60 points or 0.90 per cent to close the day at 25,807.10.

According to the provisional data released by the stock exchanges, foreign portfolio investors (FPI) offloaded equities worth Rs 1,095.04 crores.

Markets are currently facing too many headwinds from both domestic as well as global fronts, said Jagannadham Thunuguntla, head of fundamental research at Karvy Stock Broking.

Markets are lacking confidence and traded volumes are very low. This is one of the reasons why the markets are not getting support at lower levels. The next major trigger would be the Budget where investors would look forward to some confidence building measures from the government, he added.
As Salman cuts his birthday cake, we see Iulia smiling candidly while capturing the actor in her phone.

Reports of Salman and Iulia Vantur dating, breaking up and patching up have constantly been part of reports recently.

Mumbai: The parties thrown by Salman Khan's family are often grand and star-studded. So when the superstar celebrates his birthday, it is bound to be an even grander occasion.

Salman celebrated his birthday at a star-studded party at his Panvel Farmhouse. The bash was attended by the actors entire Khandaan and close friends from the B-Town.

Earlier, we showed you a cute picture of Salman Khan cutting his birthday cake along with his nephew Ahil and now, in the recent new pictures, we see the actor surrounded by his loved ones and his rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur.

As Salman cuts his birthday cake, we see his rumoured lady love smiling candidly while capturing the actor in her phone.

Ahils father and Salmans sister Arpitas husband Aayush Sharma is also seen holding Ahil while they celebrated together with the cutting of the cake. The picture was shared by choreographer Remo D'Souza.

We also see Salmans mother Salma Khan in the picture.
Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted the bail to Mr Tyagi on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of the same amount.

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday granted bail to former chief of the Indian Air Force S.P. Tyagi in the multi-crore AgustaWestland chopper deal scam. The court, however, directed the former Air Chief Marshal not to leave Delhi and the National Capital Region or tamper with evidence in the high-profile case.

Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar granted the bail to Mr Tyagi on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of the same amount. The bail applications of other two accused - Mr Tyagis cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan - are pending before the court, which said it would decide on the two pleas on January 4.

During the hearing of the bail plea, Mr Tyagis advocate Maneka Guruswamy had said that her client could not be deprived of freedom if the investigation is taking time to complete. She had claimed that ever since the registration of the FIR four years ago, the CBI has not been able to confront Mr Tyagi with any incriminating evidence to date.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, had opposed the bail pleas, saying if set free, the accused might influence the witnesses and hamper the multi-layered probe by various agencies in more than one jurisdictions involving several countries.

We have evidence where the meetings unofficially took place for the purpose of crime. At this stage, please do not entertain their bail pleas. Let the probe be completed, he said, seeking dismissal of the bail pleas of all the three accused. He added that the case has tarnished (the) countrys name.

On the courts query whether the CBI had any material supporting the claim that Mr Tyagi had received the money, the agency said that the former IAF chief had purchased several properties for which the source of income were not disclosed and the official position held by Mr Tyagi faced abuse.

Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, counsel for Mr Khaitan, too, had countered the CBIs argument, claiming that the agency was trying to sensationalise the matter and there was no allegation that his client did not join the probe or that he ever tried to influence the case. Sanjeev Tyagis counsel Manav Gupta also opposed the CBIs contention saying there was no reason to claim that, if granted bail, his client would hamper the probe.

The accused sought bail on the grounds that the evidence was documentary in nature and had already been seized by the CBI with which they have been cooperating.
Government may announce some cuts in direct taxes: Sources

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addressing at the inauguration of Professional Training of 68th batch of IRS (C&CE) at National Academy of Customs, Excise & Narcotics in Faridabad. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: In a significant remark ahead of the Budget on February 1, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday that India needed to move to a lower level of globally compatible taxation to make the country competitive.

The competition is not domestic, it is global. Gone are the days of the philosophy that high taxation will bring greater revenues. Extraordinary high taxation rates in the past have led to higher tax aversions. Since 1991, the course of Indias economy has altered itself, the minister said.

While Mr Jaitley was referring mostly to indirect taxes, there are reports that the government may announce some cuts in direct taxes in the Budget to boost the economy.

The demonetisation exercise, announced last month, has resulted in higher tax revenues from unaccounted wealth coming into the system.

What you need is a broader base of economy for which you need a lower level of taxation. You need to manufacture products and provide services, which are more competitive in character. Therefore, your taxes have to be globally compatible, Mr Jaitley said while inaugurating a training session for Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officers in Faridabad.

Tracing the behaviour of people in the last 70 years, the finance minister said that there had been an impression that tax evasion was not improper or immoral. It was considered to be commercial smartness, and some people have faced serious consequences because of this, he said.

According to sources, the Budget will mostly deal with direct taxes, and there may not be a scope to tinker with indirect taxes as the GST Council is discussing them to roll out the much-awaited Goods and Services Tax. Any change in indirect taxes may only be proposed and discussed in the GST Council now.

The finance minister said that there was an urgent need for a mindset change, and India had to move towards voluntary compliance. He said that the payment of legitimate taxes should be considered as part of the process, and nobody should think that tax evasion was acceptable. He pointed out that tax payment was every citizens responsibility.

It should be reciprocated by you with a confidence in the taxpayer. The taxpayer is to be trusted, except when its proven otherwise. And therefore only in those select cases, very objectively selected, you go in for a wider audit or a wider scrutiny, Mr Jaitley told the officers.

Mr Jaitley told the gathering about the importance of co-ordination between the central and the state administrations for a smooth transition from the old to the new indirect tax regime (GST) so that the taxpayer of the country did not suffer.

GST is Indias biggest tax reform that will replace various federal and state levies with one tax. Central and state finance officials have repeatedly postponed talks on how to administer the tax.

The new tax law would need to come into effect by mid-September when the old system of indirect taxation is due to lapse. Mr Jaitley also said that once GST was implemented, the tax base would increase further.
The step comes on the heels of a recent cadre review of Indian Information Service by the Union Cabinet.

New Delhi: Press Information Bureau, the Central governments media interface, is in for a major overhaul with new appointments and strengthening of the departments regional offices.

Sources aware of the development said senior ADG-level officials are likely to be posted at PIB offices in order to make the bureau an effective nationwide agency for the Central government, of which Union information and broadcasting minister Venkaiah Naidu is understood to be in favour of.

The step comes on the heels of a recent cadre review of Indian Information Service by the Union Cabinet.

Due to the cadre review, two director general-level officials were made principal DGs, while six officials were aelevated to the DG level and 19 officials were promoted to the rank of ADGs.

Sources stated that the I&B minister had at a recent meeting with senior officials asked them to be prepared to be posted in other parts of the country. While this has created some unease in the PIB, Naidu is understood to be of the view that strengthening of PIBs regional offices was very essential as the message of people centric work and policies being done by Narendra Modi government needs to be taken to the masses across the country.

It is understood that while DG-level officials are likely to be spared from a posting in regional centres, several ADG-level officials are soon likely to receive their transfer orders from the government.

The information ministry is currently looking at various options where these senior officials can be deputed soon.

The I&B ministry has isued the first list of promitions in the cadre in which Frank Noronha and Ganeshan have been promoted to the rank of Principal DG from DG level. The second list of promotions is expected soon in which six ADG level officials are expected to be elevated to DG level. Another list is also awaited in which 19 directors are likely to be proimoted to ADG rank.

Sources stated that IIS service is facing severe stagnation as officers from the 1989-2000 batches are still working as directors, while IAS officers of 1997 batch are working as joint secretaries in Government of India. Due to the stagnation, officers selected to the IIS services start looking for options as soon as they are selected under the service.
Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Monday lashed out the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detected deposits of over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP and Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to party supremo Mayawatis brother Anand in a branch of United Bank of India in New Delhi.

Dismissing allegations that Rs 104 crore was deposited into an account belonging to the BSP after demonetisation, party supremo Mayawati claimed that the Centre was trying to malign the BSPs image by misusing official machinery.

Mayawati said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to tarnish her partys image due to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

The BSP chief claimed that all deposits into banks had been made as per norms, and the money was collected from public donations before demonetisation came into effect.

We have an account of every rupee deposited in bank. But what about deposits made by BJP? Mayawati asked.

"I want to tell Prime Minister Modi that if you have any honesty and sincerity.... you should make public any major expense, statement of deposits and expenditures of the BJP. Let is all be out in the open," she said addressing a press conference in Lucknow.

Officials said the agency, Enforcement Directorate, as part of its routine survey and enquiry operations to check suspicious and huge cash deposits in banks, visited the Karol Bagh branch of the UBI on Monday and found huge deposits made in the accounts of the BSP and Mayawati's brother post demonetisation.

They said the sleuths called for the records of the deposits made in the BSP account and found that while Rs 102 crore was deposited in Rs 1,000 notes, the rest Rs 3 crore was deposited in the old Rs 500 notes.

Officials said they were astonished to find huge cash of about Rs 15-17 crore being deposited every other day.

The agency also detected another account in the same branch belonging to Anand, brother of BSP chief Mayawati, where a total of Rs 1.43 crore funds was found. A sum of 18.98 lakh came into account using the old notes after the ban.

The ED has sought full details about the two accounts from the bank even as it is understood that the agency will write to the Income Tax department which has the powers to go into the legality of donations and contributions made to political parties.

The ED has also asked the bank to provide to it CCTV footage and KYC documents used to open the accounts, they said.

With regard to Anandss accounts, it is understood, that the agency will soon issue notices to him and also intimate the I-T sleuths for investigation under anti-tax evasion laws.

The agency has been carrying out enquiry operations at over 50 bank branches to check possible instances of hawala dealings and money laundering after the government scrapped the two high value currencies of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 on November 8.
Verma is a political appointee of the Obama administration and not a career diplomat.

New Delhi: With the Trump administration set to take office on January 20, US Ambassador to India Richard Verma is likely to put in his papers and demit office by then. Mr Verma is a political appointee of the Obama administration and not a career diplomat.

Sources indicated that it is the convention for political appointees to offer their resignation once a new administration is in place. Usually, the new administration accepts the resignation or may ask an envoy to continue for another six months in case there is no immediate replacement.

Around noon on November 9, when it became clear that Republican presidential candidate (and now President-elect) Donald Trump was winning the election, Mr Verma had said the US was pretty divided during the impassioned campaign and that the new President would have to bring the country together. Even as a visibly grim Mr Verma looked on, the mood in the US Embassy premises for many had become distinctly sombre during the counting process when Mr Trump began surging ahead, with some of the women there sobbing after Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was defeated.

Mr Verma, who is of Indian origin, had worked closely with Hillary Clinton when she was serving as the Secretary of State during Mr Obamas tenure.

The ties that bind our two countries together are built on our shared democratic values, and go beyond the friendship of the American President and the Indian Prime Minister. They go beyond the economic and people-to-people ties. The US-India relationship is vitally important, it is bipartisan, and it is only growing stronger. Heres to another four years of robust US-India dosti (friendship), Mr. Verma had said soon after the electoral verdict.

Mr Verma is serving as the 25th US Ambassador to India. He was nominated by President Obama on September 18, 2014, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and sworn in by Secretary of State John Kerry in December 2014. The US diplomatic presence in India comprises one of the largest U.S. Missions in the world, including four consulates across India and nearly every agency of the U.S. government.

As a former Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs in the Obama Administration, he had led the State Departments efforts on Capitol Hill and served as a senior member of then Secretary of State Hillary Clintons team.

According to the US Government, Ambassador Verma earlier has had a distinguished career in the private sector, serving as partner at the global law firm of Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and as Senior Counsellor to the Albright Stonebridge Group. His practice had focused on international law and regulatory issues, with a specialisation in Asia and emerging markets. He is also the recipient of the State Departments Distinguished Service Award.
Nearly 4,000 paramilitary personnel have been sent to Manipur in an attempt to open the national highway.

New Delhi: The Centre has rushed additional reinforcements to Manipur even as top home ministry officials described the situation in the state as highly alarming. Officials claimed that nearly 700 trucks carrying essential commodities and fuel are still stranded on the national highway which has been blocked for almost months now by a Naga outfit, United Naga Council (UNC).

Nearly 4,000 paramilitary personnel have been sent to Manipur in an attempt to open the national highway as Manipur has remained virtually cut off from the rest of the country resulting in acute shortage of essential commodities.

Following additional reinforcements sent on Monday, the total number of central paramilitary personnel in the sensitive state now tatals 17,500.

Our main priority is now to reopen National Highway-2 which connects Manipur to Nagaland. The other highway, NH-37 has already been reopened but we want to reopen the NH-2 too as early as possible, a senior home ministry official said.

Ministry officials said central security personnel were sent to the northeastern state to assist the local administration in the wake of violence following the economic blockade imposed by the UNC since November 1. The UNC has imposed the economic blockade on NH-2 which connects Imphal-Dimapur and NH 37 for Imphal-Jiribam which is the most important connection for the landlocked Manipur.

Curfew has been imposed in Imphal East district since the last fortnight after a mob torched and vandalised 22 passenger vehicles on the Imphal-Ukhrul road, while curfew in Imphal West district has been imposed from evening to dawn.

On Friday, the Centre had sent out a terse message to the Manipur government, saying that it cant escape responsibility for the humanitarian crisis arising out of the 52-day economic blockade and that it must ensure it ends while making it clear that nobody will be allowed to take political advantage out of it.

Minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, who visited Manipur, said it is completely unacceptable to have such blockades due to which thousands are suffering and added that both the Centra and the Manipur government 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, Mr Rijiju had earlier said.
Father Tom, who hails from Kerala and works in a Church at Aden, in a video posted through web, appealed to the govt to release from ISIS.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said India will spare no effort to secure release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Keralite priest abducted nearly nine months ago by a terror group in war-torn Yemen.

The minster's remarks come a day after a purported video by the priest appealing to the government to free him surfaced.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," Swaraj tweeted.

Expressing government's resolve to bring him back, she cited examples of India ensuring release of kidnapped citizens like Judith D'Souza and Fr Alexis Prem Kumar from Afghanistan.

Father Uzhunnalil was abducted in March by dreaded terror group Islamic State from port city of Aden.He had gone missing after the terror group attacked a care home run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity.

"I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan," Swaraj noted.

In the video, Tom was seen as pleading for help from Indian government and fellow Christians including Pope Francis. However, the veracity of the video could not be ascertained.

In the clip, Uzhunnalil was seen saying, "If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered of much value."

Prem Kumar was abducted from Herat in Afghanistan in June, 2014 and was released from captivity eight months later. Indian aid worker D'Souza was released in July more than a month after she was kidnapped in Kabul.
The Indian couple had first sought BJP leader Vijay Jollys help in getting back the custody of their child.

Five-year-old Aryan with his parents in Oslo. The boy was taken away from his parents by Norwegian authorities on a complaint of abuse. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: The Indian ambassador to Norway has sought a meeting with the head of the consular section in the Norwegian foreign ministry after the Indian woman, whose son has been taken away by the child welfare services there, sought the governments intervention.

Indian ambassador to Norway Debraj Pradhan has sought a meeting with the head of the consular section in the Norwegian foreign ministry, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, adding that after the meeting the government will decide how to pursue the case. Ms Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their five-year-old son Aryan, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse. MEA officials said after the formal request by the Indian woman, the ministry was now empowered to pursue the matter with the Norwegian authorities. The Indian couple had first sought BJP leader Vijay Jollys help in getting back the custody of their child, after which he wrote to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj who had said India will provide them help.

According to news agency reports, Jolly had also maintained that according to the mother, the child is being daily served porridge and bread while he is fond of Indian food.

In its response, the Norwegian Embassy here had asked for restraint in the case, assuring that it is being handled with complete sensitivity and awareness.

According to reports, 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.
Sources privy to developments said that during the meeting, the PM is likely to discuss the current economic situation.

New Delhi: With the queues outside banks and ATMs refusing to end even more than 45 days after the demonetisation exercise was announced and negative feedback about the move gaining ground among the common public, a concerned government has called a meeting with economic experts at Niti Aayog on December 27 to discuss the post-demonetisation scenario, and thrash out ways to deal with the situation.

The meeting comes at a time when the December 30 deadline to deposit old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination in banks is just days away, and indications are coming from the government that the cash withdrawal restrictions may continue for quite some time. Also with speculations rife that some tax could be imposed on withdrawals has also raised concern among people.

Sources privy to developments said that during the meeting, the PM is likely to discuss the current economic situation, especially with the NSE slumping to a seven-month low of 7,908 and the Sensex below 26,000 on Monday, after Mr Modis December 24 remark that market participants should contribute to nation-building in a fair, efficient and transparent way, as he promised more sound and prudent policies and reform measures, which was seen by some as the government planning to impose long-term capital gains tax on profit made from investment in shares.

Though finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday had sought to allay the fear saying that the government has no such intention, investors were already a nervous lot.

The meeting is officially titled Economic Policy Reform, Road Ahead. During the meeting, around 15 economists and experts are likely to make their presentations on the prevailing economic scenario before the Prime Minister. The meeting is scheduled to start in the morning, while Mr Modi is expected to attend it during the post-lunch session, official sources said.

The Prime Ministers meeting also assumes significance in view of various multilateral agencies and RBI lowering growth forecast for the current fiscal.

RBI has reduced the economic growth forecast to 7.1 per cent from 7.6 per cent in its monetary policy review earlier this month.

Multilateral funding body Asian Development Bank (ADB) too slashed growth projection to 7 per cent for the current fiscal, from its earlier 7.4 per cent due to the impact of demonetisation on economic activities.

Indian economy expanded by 7.1 per cent and 7.3 per cent in first and second quarters of 2016-17.
Norway reportedly informed the Indian ambassador that child welfare cases are highly sensitive and subject to strict confidentiality.

New Delhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said India wants the custody of Aryan  the five year-old son of an Indo-Norwegian couple  restored to his parents, saying that foster parents can never take care of a child better than natural parents as they (foster parents) are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits.

Our ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. This is our firm stand and Indian ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities, Ms Swaraj said in a series of tweets on Tuesday morning.

Later in the day, the Norwegian embassy spokesperson in New Delhi was quoted by news agencies as saying, The Indian ambassador to Norway visited the Norwegian authorities earlier today (in Oslo) to discuss the child welfare case involving a Norwegian/Indian family, where the child holds Norwegian citizenship. The meeting had a constructive atmosphere. The Norwegian authorities have reiterated 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.

Norway reportedly informed the Indian ambassador that child welfare cases are highly sensitive and subject to strict confidentiality. During the meeting with the Indian envoy, the Norwegian authorities also said the Act applies to all children in Norway, irrespective of their background, residential status or citizenship, and that authorities are dealing with the case with sensitivity.

Five-year-old Aryans mother, Gurvinderjit Kaur, is an Indian national while his father is a Norwegian of Indian origin. The child is a Norwegian national.

The Norwegian authorities had taken over the custody of the child from the parents after allegations that the boy had been beaten up by his parents. His parents have denied the allegations and alleged that the authorities have taken away their son on a frivolous complaint of abuse.
The motive of the crime allegedly was forced marriage and a case has been registered against the accused and his family members.

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and forcibly confined in a farm pit for over three weeks in November and raped repeatedly by a teenager. (Representational image)

Ahmedabad: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and forcibly confined in a farm pit for over three weeks in November and raped repeatedly by a teenager at Kotda Nayani village of Morbi district in Gujarat before she was freed earlier this month, police said on Tuesday.

According to a police official of Wankaner taluka police station, a case of rape, kidnapping and illegal confinement was registered against 19-year-old Naresh Solanki, while seven others belonging to his family were booked under charges of kidnapping and illegal confinement.

The motive of the crime allegedly was forced marriage.

The family of the accused wanted the family of the victim to marry her to Naresh as they both belong to the same caste of 'Devipujaks'. When the latter refused, they planned the kidnapping of the girl, police said.

The victim was kidnapped on November 11 and taken to a farmland some two kilometres from the village. There she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit covered on top with wooden plank so as to avoid her detection.

The victim was taken out to be raped repeatedly for over three weeks before she was freed by her father and others in the village on December 4.

The girl, in her statement to police, said that she was kidnapped by eight persons late night on November 11 and taken to a farmland in an autorickshaw where she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit dug in the farm.

As per the girl's statement, she was confined in the pit and was taken out only to be raped by accused Naresh.

The girl's father lodged a case of kidnapping against unknown persons on November 25.

After intense search, the girl was finally found on December 4, the official said, adding that based on her statement, police lodged a case against the eight accused who were subsequently arrested.

The eight persons include Naresh, his brother Haresh, father Janantbhai Solanki and his grandfather Chaturbhai Solanki, who are currently lodged in Rajkot central jail, they said.

Other than sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366 (abduction of woman to compel her into marriage) of the Indian Penal Code registered against unknown accused in the November 25 FIR, police have also added sections 376 (rape) against Naresh along with relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The two top Congress leaders and others moved the Delhi HC pleading that the documents should not be handed over to Mr Swamy.

New Delhi: In a huge relief to Congress top brass, a Delhi court dismissed on Monday BJP leader Subramanian Swamys plea seeking documents from the Congress and Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) in the National Herald case filed by him against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others.

Metropolitan magistrate Lovleen rejected Mr Swamys application while giving him one last opportunity to submit a list of witnesses in the case in which he has accused the mother-son duo and others of conspiring to misappropriate funds by paying just Rs 50 lakh through which Young Indian Pvt. Ltd. (YI) obtained the right to recover Rs 90.25 crore which AJL owed to the Congress.

The other accused are Motilal Vohra, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda. They have all denied the charges.

On Mr Swamys plea, the trial court in its January and March orders had sought documents from the finance ministry, the urban development ministry, the corporate affairs department and the income-tax department, and the 2010-11 balancesheet of the Congress, which were submitted by the party and AJL on April 8.

The two top Congress leaders and others moved the Delhi high court pleading that the documents should not be handed over to Mr Swamy. On July 12, the high court set aside both the orders of the trial court saying they were passed in a casual manner and without application of mind.

Mr Swamy then filed a fresh application before the trial court seeking summoning of certain documents while the Congress leaders and AJL sought the return of documents, including the balancesheet, which had been submitted in the court. During the December 9 hearing, the Congress counsel told the court that Mr Swamy was seeking a fishing and roving enquiry.
BJP hits back, says she cant use dalit identity to hide graft.

New Delhi: BSP supremo Ms Mayawati on Tuesday attacked the Centre for deliberately using the government machinery to target her since she was a dalit, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detected huge deposits in the BSP and her brothers bank accounts.

Rejecting her allegations as baseless, Union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asked if the huge amount of money deposited in her partys bank account was a money conversion exercise.

At a hurriedly convened press conference, in Lucknow, Ms Mayawati also alleged that the ruling BJP was resorting to arm-twisting since the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are just round the corner. All deposits are as per norms and party rules and the money was collected before note ban. Should we have thrown it? she said.

After I exposed the conspiracy of BJP in forcing an alliance between SP and Congress on Monday, BJP was taken aback and out of sheer frustration it indulged in such a petty act against BSP and family members of the party chief, she said.

Talking about the deposits, she said, We have account of every rupee deposited in bank...This money has been collected through membership fee all over the country and brought for deposit by converting it into big denomination notes as it is easy to carry from remote areas.

Ms Mayawati challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying if he is so honest, he should disclose the bank transactions made by his party 10 months before the demonetisation came into effect. The BSP chief also called the PM, the BJP and its chief Amit Shah anti-dalit.

As the BSP supremo breathed fire at the PM, the BJP on Tuesday hit back at her asking whether it (the huge amounts in banks) was the real reason for her opposing the note ban decision since day one. The BJP also accused Ms Mayawati of using her dalit identity to hide corruption and asked why she was rattled by EDs routine exercise.

Does Mayawati want to say that her corruption should be seen as a fight against dalits? It is an insult of dalits, said Mr Prasad while noting that she did not deny the deposits in the BSPs account. It raises a bigger question. Is it a donation or money conversion exercise, he asked while adding that development of dalits and deprived cannot be mortgaged to corruption.

The BSP supremo claimed that Rs 104 crore found in her partys bank account in Delhi had come by way of political donations and that those were converted into high denomination notes before being deposited after the note ban kicked in on November 8.

Small currencies were converted into bigger bills and the money was not deposited in September and October but soon after demonetisation. It also raised suspicion. Now we are getting signals of why she has been opposing the note ban from Day one, he said.

Rejecting her claim that the EDs action was linked to her assertion that the BJP was pushing SP and Congress for an alliance for the UP Assembly polls, the Union minister said This is nothing but her frustration. She made these comments only yesterday while deposits were made much earlier. As far as BJP is concerned, even if SP, BSP and Congress come together, it will emerge victorious.

When asked about her demand that BJP too make public the donations it has received, Mr Prasad said all parties submit these details to the Election Commission which puts it on its website.
Rahul, Didi attack Modi; Opposition stays divided.

New Delhi: Despite the absence of some top regional political satraps, eight Opposition parties  led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee  attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation as well as alleged corruption charges against him.

Both leaders said at a press conference in Delhi that the PM should quit if the situation did not improve post December 30, when the deadline to deposit scrapped notes in banks ends. While announcing his radical monetary reform on November 8, Mr Modi had promised to restore normalcy in 50 days, but the Opposition said that the situation had not improved.

The ruling BJP mocked the Congress-led meet saying it was Mr Gandhis flop show, and that the bubble of the so-called Opposition unity had burst.

Many parties such as SP, BSP, JD(U) and NCP decided to stay away from the meet. Besides the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, parties whose representatives were present at the meeting were RJD, DMK, JD-S, JMM, IUML and AIUDF.

Thought the opposition meet was apparently the brainchild of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, sources said she herself did not attend as a majority of the parties did not turn up.

A combative Mr Gandhi said demonetisation was the PMs personal initiative, which he had announced without consulting even his top officials. He should take personal responsibility for its failure, Mr Gandhi said.

He described the ban on old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes as a single arbitrary financial experiment in the history of the world that affected 1.3 billion people, and asked the PM to explain the real reason for implementing it and take responsibility for giving pain to people. Such an experiment was never done even during Maos reign in China, he said.

Mr Gandhi also asked the PM to answer charges of personal corruption made against him in the wake of his name allegedly figuring in the Sahara and Birla diaries.

It was West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who first demanded the PMs resignation and Mr Gandhi only later echoed it.

If even after 50 days he has not been able to address the grievances of the people will he take responsibility and resign? Ms Banerjee asked.

She further said that there were only three days left and wondered what magic wand the PM would use to get things in order now. It is nice to market digital payments with government money, she said. She also alleged that politicians were being threatened. This government is perpetually threatening that Gabbar aa jayega.

When the Congress leader was asked whether he supported the demand for the PMs resignation and what would be done if Mr Modi did not resign, he said: If he does not resign, we will put pressure on him to resign.

Both the leaders said that a common minimum agenda was being evolved which would be followed by the Opposition in the agitation against demonetisation.

They also said that some Opposition parties did not turn up because of regional Compulsions, but broadly all were together.

Asked about former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshits name figuring in the same documents on the basis of which he had accused the PM of corruption, Mr Gandhi replied, Sheilaji herself is saying that she has no problem with an inquiry. Why Narendra Modiji is not saying that. While there are many names in Sahara diaries, his name appears clearly in the e-mail of the vice president of Aditya Birla group.
Fake notes, terrorism, human trafficking and drug mafia were all dealt with in one stroke after demonetisation: PM Modi

Dehradun/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that his fight against black money and corruption would only intensify despite intense pressures from the powerful, as he was not voted to power to cut ribbons and light inaugural lamps.

His remarks came on a day when a divided Opposition escalated its attack on him, saying a cash crunch and accompanying chaos continued to cripple the country even as his 50-day deadline for normalcy has almost ended.

Didnt you give me the huge mandate in 2014 to combat and end corruption? Shouldnt we fight the evil with all our might? Some people are upset when I act as the nations chowkidaar, he said while addressing a rally in poll-bound Uttarakhands Dehradun after inaugurating a highway project.

Asserting that the country suffered due to both kaala dhan and kaala mann, Mr Modi said that it was his governments endeavour to strengthen the hands of the honest and law abiding citizens.

The PMs outburst also came hours after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati while defending her partys suspect bank deposits accused the ruling BJP of misusing power to malign her image.

Targeting parties opposed to the scrapping of high-value notes, he claimed that some people were upset as his decision had struck the ring leader of thieves.

In some, corruption is in their blood. They tried to convert their black money and thought Modi wouldnt see. But we knew, and now they are being caught. After demonetisation, black money stored in cupboards and kept under mattresses is now coming to banks and to the people, he said referring to various raids by law enforcement agencies on black money hoarders.

He acknowledged that people faced a lot of inconvenience, but asserted that they also helped him in the safaai abhiyan. The corrupt and black money hoarders are being punished. Fake notes, terrorism, human trafficking and drug mafia were all dealt with in one stroke after demonetisation, he said.

People continue to scramble for cash after PM Modis announcement on November 8 to scrap Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes. He had promised to restore normalcy in 50 days, but queues have stayed outside low-on-cash banks and ATM kiosks.

Hitting back at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhis charge of helping big corporates and the rich, Mr Modi said that his government was focused on working for the poor. India, which used to be called the bird of gold, has been looted by its very own people. It is now high time for us to fight for the honest, he said.

The PM appealed to the people of Uttarakhand to vote for a BJP government in the state in the 2017 state Assembly polls.
Katrick says he's been getting so much from family, friends and strangers, he wanted to give back to those who could use the pizza more.

He is the winner of a contest sponsored by his favorite neighborhood restaurant (Photo: AP)

Pennsylvania: A Pennsylvania man going through treatment for colon cancer won a pizza parlor's raffle for a year's worth of free pies and then donated his prize to a food bank.

Thirty-six-year-old Josh Katrick, of Northampton, had just completed his eighth round of chemotherapy when he learned he was the winner of a contest sponsored by his favorite neighborhood restaurant.

After hearing of Katrick's plans to donate the pizza to the Northampton Food Bank, the owners of Mario's Pizza decided to double down and offer the prize to both him and the food bank.

Katrick says he's been getting so much from family, friends and strangers during the past few months that he wanted to give back to those who could use the pizza more. Roughly 1,200 people entered the contest.
The criminals fired two gunshots and robbed Rs 10 lakh cash kept in a suitcase after overpowering the gunman.

New Delhi: Three persons have been arrested in connection with the first bank cash van heist in national capital following demonetisation in which Rs 10 lakh was stolen in Pandav Nagar area of East Delhi.

The meticulously planned heist was carried out on December 19 by three men while the employees of Brinks Securities were supplying cash in ATMs of trans-Yamuna area.

When the cash van reached the SBI ATM for depositing cash around 2 pm, the custodians of the cash were attacked by two armed criminals.

The criminals fired two gunshots and robbed Rs 10 lakh cash kept in a suitcase after overpowering the gunman.

CCTV footage from market areas of East and West districts were collected to determine from where the accused had started tailing the van, the officer said. A secret information was received by the police team that the accused would be coming near Cross River Mall on December 25. A raid was conducted and the three accused persons  identified as Bittoo, Sunny and Rohit  were apprehended in an Accent car on Sunday afternoon, said the officer.

The accused had gone to Hardwar after committing the robbery and had returned to the area to see what was happening.

Out of the robbed amo-unt, Rs 9.48 lakh was recovered, said Mr Singh.
Sitaram Yechury cites lack of coordination, consultation.

Kolkata: Citing lack of coordination and consultation among the opposition parties over anti-demonetisation issue, the CPI(M) on Monday decided to stay away from the meeting which is being convened by the Congress in Delhi on Tuesday. This was announced by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury who is in the city to attend partys two-day state committee meeting. Alimuddin Street sources said the real reason for CPI(M) leaders absence from the opposition leaders meeting against demonetisation was that they did not wish to share stage with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who left for Delhi on Monday afternoon and is likely to attend the meeting.

We have decided to stay away from the meeting of opposition parties convened by the Congress because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among the parties. Most of the parties were neither consulted nor informed about what will be the agenda of the meeting. Several opposition parties have reservation about the way the meeting has been convened, Mr Yechury said.

According to him, he had received a call from the Congress leadership few days back inviting him to the meeting on December 27. But when I wanted to know what will be the agenda of the meeting, plan of action and whether all opposition parties have been called, I did not receive any answer, he added.

When asked whether CPI(M) was walking out of the meeting and the press conference because of the presence of Ms Banerjee, Mr Yechury said, No. We are not going because of lack of coordination and consultation. Had Trinamul Congress been the reason then we would have stayed away from the protests outside Parliament where TMC was also present.

He, however, did not give a satisfactory reply on why CPI(M) was lagging behind TMC in terms of organising protest movements on the demonetisation issue. We have not stopped organising such movements. It is the media in West Bengal which is not reporting it, Mr Yechury said.

The party politburo member also wondered why only the chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee was invited to the press conference and why chief ministers of Tripura, Bihar, and the NCP leadership were not properly consulted. Why are you only inviting chief minister of West Bengal and not calling CMs of Bihar, Tripura and other states which have non-BJP governments? he asked.
Two of the passengers in the Eco car and the driver of the speeding trailer died on the spot.

Pune: Three passengers travelling in a car and another person died in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway when a four-wheeler first toppled after being hit by a tempo and then was crushed after coming under a trailer, which another out-of-control speeding trailer had rammed into. The accident occurred after the tempos driver took an abrupt turn in a bid to veer to safety after seeing the two trailers colliding with each other, but ended up hitting the car.

The accident, in which three other passengers of the car sustained injuries and the driver of the out-of-control trailer was killed as well, took place at Borghat near Khopoli. The passengers in the Eco car were travelling to Mumbai from Satara, according to the police.

H.D. Kisave, police sub-inspector, Khopoli, said, The speeding trailer (RJ 14 GG1846) hit another trailer near Khopoli in Borghat on the Expressway, near Dheku village. The driver of a tempo saw the speeding trailer hit another trailer and tried to change the direction of his vehicle. But in doing so, he rammed badly into the Eco car, which toppled and got crushed completely under the trailer. The passengers in the Eco car were going to Mumbai from Satara.

Two of the passengers in the Eco car and the driver of the speeding trailer died on the spot. Another passenger in the car died in hospital, while the other three in the car are severely injured and admitted to MGM Hospital in Kamothe. The deceased have been identified as Balasaheb Shinde (40) from Phalatan, Satara, Sanjay Pawar (40) and Rajendra Patankar (42) from Chiplun, and the driver of the trailer Nandkishor Mali (42), who is from Rajasthan. Their bodies were sent for post-mortem to the same hospital, even as the family members of the deceased were informed of their death.
It is widely believed that such political parties exist only on paper and are suspected to be potential conduits for money-laundering.

The recent debate about electoral reforms with an aim to bring transparency in political funding is timely. Recently, according to a survey conducted in 25 countries, Indians worry the most about political corruption, though unemployment seems to be the biggest worrying factor. While there have been concerns on bringing about electoral reforms even in the past, the recent debate is slightly different from the earlier ones as it focuses more on the issue of bringing about reforms in political funding, to ensure transparency and make parties more accountable. The recent announcement about political parties being allowed to deposit old currency notes up to `20,000 without being questioned while the common man may be asked several questions for depositing cash up to `5,000, generated fresh debate on the issue of electoral reforms.

It is in no way a continuation of several attempts made in the past that ended with setting up of committees. Sadly, the committees looked at the issue through techno-managerial lens and the most sought-after recommendation that was suggested was state funding of elections. They also recommended imposing restrictions of various kinds, such as on the number of days of campaigning, restriction of the number of constituencies, restriction on nature of campaign and campaign expenses etc.

Sadly, none of the earlier discussion on how to bring about reforms paid any attention to the issue of laying down norms about reforming the political parties, or on how to make elections more inclusive where an average citizen could participate without any problems.

While political parties often criticise each other and politicians even engage in verbal duels, they unite when it come to funding. No political party will even budge an inch when it comes to curbing and fighting black money, but on the issue of demonetisation political parties have a different stand.

Sadly, during the last several years, political parties have almost remained silent on the issue of bringing about transparency in their funding and even about coming under the ambit of the Right to Information Act. During elections, all political parties spend a huge amount of money that the common man cannot even imagine.

The age-old rule of exempting political parties from disclosing the source of donations/income or paying income-tax on donations of less than Rs 20,000 has been misused by all political parties as they encourage donations in multiples of less than Rs 20,000. It is only mandatory for political parties to disclose the source as well as the amount they have received by way of donations and pay income-tax, if the donation is more than Rs 20,000, as any amount more than this could be accepted only by cheque or similar such accountable sources. Rightly, all of them do not find any flaw in this law as it benefits them. So why would they like it to be changed?

The recent proposal of the Election Commission to reduce the amount of undisclosed donations to less than Rs 20,000 has been welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent rally in Kanpur, but we are yet to see if it remains in the dark tunnel or it sees the light of the day.

The recent report mentions national parties receiving more than Rs 100 crores in donations in 2015-16 from 1,744 donations. While these figures speak of the accounted funds of political parties, what we do not get to know is how much donations these parties received in the form of anonymous contributions. There are reasons to doubt that the amount and number of such donations to political parties may be, if not bigger, but similar to the accounted donations. Those giving donations (usually business houses) devise ways or develop an understanding for sharing the financial benefits thus turning black money into white.

No wonder that the Election Commission has found out that there are 255 registered political parties which are registered but have never contested elections. It is widely believed that such political parties exist only on paper and are suspected to be potential conduits for money-laundering. In a welcome move, the names of such political parties have been forwarded to the income-tax department for scrutiny.

The EC has also made a suggestion that the rules should also be amended to make it a punishable offence of jail up to two years for submitting false affidavits. It also proposes to debar candidates charged with cognisable offence from contesting elections. While parties can come to a consensus on various issues, it is hard to believe that the parties will bring about these changes by way of bringing about electoral reforms. We have to wait and see if this just remains political rhetoric or if there is some movement in this direction.
A new year is waiting. A year full of possibilities. It could be full of towering taxmen and further shrinking freedoms.

Have a happy New Year! Please say it with conviction, so it works this time. Last year we clearly messed up  2016 was not a happy year. In fact, there has seldom been a year that has caused so much grief to so many people across so many countries, and has introduced so many possibilities of causing further grief in the future. No sir, not happy at all. Bizarre, at best.

Take, for example, our homeland. We have a respectably right-wing, pro-capitalist government, right? Its the government that released Republic Day advertisements where the words secular and socialist had been omitted from the Preamble to the Indian Constitution. So why on earth is it spouting socialist jargon? Why this sudden harping on empowering the poor? During the colossal chaos following demonetisation, apna sarkar even talked of the redistribution of wealth. Keep the money the rich have deposited in your Jan Dhan accounts, said the Prime Minister to the poor, do not give it back! If this is what we do when we hate socialism, what would we do if we loved it?

But to be honest, this drastic demonetisation does have benefits. I for one am happy that I can give my seven-year-old a glimpse of my childhood experiences. We grew up seeing people standing in slow-motion, serpentine queues. For kerosene, for sugar, for rice, for wheat, for candles, for daily necessities generally classified as ration. People set aside time for queuing up, took time off from work, skipped friendly addas, got up early to get a headstart on the queue. Because sometimes, by the time they got to the head of the queue the kerosene or sugar was finished. Which meant another day standing in line. Very often, it was just a long line of odd bricks and empty tins thirsting for kerosene. Placeholders for tired men and women who sat in gender-segregated clusters in the shade somewhere nearby. Today the queues are back, but the new generation has not perfected the art of waiting with placeholders yet.

Unlike middle class youngsters today, we were also quite used to not having enough cash. You had to choose your pleasures to suit your pocket. So this post-demonetisation cash crunch was not entirely new either. It had elements of deja vu.

Except that we were now middle-aged, with less patience and greater needs. More importantly, we were not queuing up for government-subsidised provisions, but for our own, hard-earned money on which we had already paid tax to the government. This was the first time that the promise inscribed on the Reserve Bank of Indias promissory notes was being brazenly violated. Legal tender was suddenly not legal anymore. Every other day you were given new instructions about how you may try to access your own money, and how little of it you would be allowed to touch. And even then, you were not sure that there was money at the end of the long line. Banks and ATMs speedily run out of cash.

Like unwelcome rain, you are routinely told to go away and come back another day. It was as if the very concept of private property was under attack. Now its money  the next target, we are told, will be our houses. Sounds like a communist dreamland, doesnt it?

But we are not really interested in the abolition of private property or the redistribution of money in the socialist sense. Thats where our government sticks firmly to its pro-capitalist stance.

While the poor are squeezed dry and the honest cash economy is throttled, as farmers unable to repay small loans kill themselves, the State Bank of India gets busy writing off loans worth thousands of crores of big industrialists, and dishing out a $1 billion loan to the Adani Group. Its income redistribution all right, but not the socialist kind.

Anyway, theres more to our deja vu than the cash crunch and socialist frills. There is the word notebandi. Reminds us of another notorious word from our childhood, as scary, as confusing and as disempowering  nasbandi. The forced sterilisation campaign during the Emergency.

It reminds us of the sudden suspension of our rights, the clampdown on free speech, the suspension of democratic freedoms and constitutional guarantees. When citizens were as harassed and frightened as today, but not as silent.

People spoke out. Everyone from political opponents like Raj Narain, who sought justice in court, and Jayprakash Narayan, who galvanised the public, to a strident press that refused to accept censorship, to writers and poets and even Bollywood filmmakers and lyricists. Kya mil gaya sarkar tumhe Emergency lagake/ Nasbandi karake hamari bansi bajake? (What did you gain my government with this Emergency, by sterilising me, by making us face the music?) people asked in I.S. Johars satirical film Nasbandi. And concluded: Ram bolo bhai Ram, Ram nam satya hai!

Today, Bollywood bows not only to the state but even to the wishes of non-state agents.

And Karan Johar has to prove his nationalism by promising never to work with Pakistani actors again.

Of course we are not in an Emergency-like situation today. For one, the trains dont run on time.

And bribes continue to rule the roost. Besides, there is a fascinating arbitrariness about this demonetisation and other attacks on our individual freedom that a heavy-duty act like the Emergency could never aspire to. We are merely distressed. And so is our democracy.

But fear not, dear reader. The year is over and a new year is waiting. A year full of possibilities. It could be full of towering taxmen and further shrinking freedoms, or it could be a rejuvenating year celebrating democracy. Its up to us. As they sing in Nasbandi: Jag zara soch zara lagega sabka number/ dama dam mast kalandar! (Hey crazy beggar! Wake up, think a bit, everyones time will come!)

So this time, we better get it right. Lets make it work. And say it once more, with feeling: Happy New Year!
The Pathankot attack challenged the leaderships on both sides.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Lahore one year ago on Christmas Day, ostensibly for Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs granddaughters wedding and his birthday. This Christmas Mr Modi again conveyed birthday greetings to Mian Sahib, overlooking that past year of acrimony and tension. This phenomena of periodic leader-led bonhomie alternating with terror and instability needs examination.

Mr Modi was hardly back from Lahore when a fidayeen attack began against the Pathankot airbase on January 1. Although the National Investigation Agency has filed its chargesheet, many aspects remain unclear.

First, why did the terrorists release a senior Punjab police officer after snatching his vehicle, leaving a witness to alert the security authorities? Second, could it have been triggered so soon after Mr Modis Lahore visit by the jihadi-Army spoilers? Considering the terrorists used an existing smuggling network with Indian collaborators, it is possible that some existing module was fast-timed to disrupt the growing Modi-Nawaz chemistry.

The two leaders met earlier on sidelines of the Ufa Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in July 2015, breaking the ice persisting since Mr Sharif attended Mr Modis swearing-in in May 2014. They had brushing contact at the Climate Summit in Paris two weeks before their national security advisers met in Bangkok on December 6, 2015. Thus, Mr Modis Lahore sojourn was not entirely whimsical. It was a quantum leap, but part of developing mutual confidence. Talks on terror were isolated, by apportioning them to the NSAs, from discussions on the other issues, which were handed to the foreign secretaries and thus the diplomatic track. The NSA-level mechanism merely rejigged the 2006 anti-terror mechanism, which was conducted by additional secretaries of the foreign ministries.

The Pathankot attack challenged the political leaderships on both sides. It embarrassed Mr Modi, but for the first time by any Pakistani government it did not reflexively deny complicity of anyone in Pakistan. They sought evidence and offered to apprehend conspirators if any in Pakistan. India allowed, also for the first time ever, a five-member Pakistani joint investigation team to visit India and access the Pathankot airbase on March 29, 2016. The Indian Opposition screamed murder as the Pakistani team allegedly included elements from ISI  the all-powerful intelligence wing of the Pakistani Army that sponsors India-specific militant groups. The team over six days had comprehensive interaction with their Indian counterparts.

The plot unravelled when Pakistan stalled the agreed return visit by an Indian team. The Panama Papers revelation that Mr Sharifs three children had offshore companies and accounts began swirling in April. His position weakened, Mr Sharif left for the UK on April 13. In Pakistan, speculation mounted of a soft coup and the departure being for political and not medical reasons. Mr Sharif thus lost control over the India file. Opposition leader Imran Khan, with proximity to the Army, launched an oust Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government campaign. Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif joined the debate, arguing terrorism cannot be effectively curbed unless the menace of corruption is uprooted.

Mr Sharif, however, returned to Pakistan after open-heart surgery in July. In India meanwhile, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir having passed away in January, the state drifted as his daughter and political heir dithered till April before assuming charge. She had barely settled down when Burhan Wani, a social media-amplified commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was gunned down. The political drift in J&K, the dissonance in the ruling PDP-BJP alliance and the Centres lack of engagement with the Hurriyat had created a volatile situation. Wanis killing provided the spark.

The ruling elite in Pakistan then fatefully concluded that the uprising in the Kashmir Valley would be unmanageable for India. All instruments at their command were unleashed to support it. An enfeebled Nawaz Sharif saw an opportunity to reclaim the high moral and political ground. His political offensive culminated in his September UN General Assembly speech, dubbing terrorists as freedom fighters when a burning Syria left the world with no appetite for dangerous nonsense. Leaders of Pakistani jihadi groups were allowed to openly preach vengeance against India and support militancy in J&K.

Mr Modi, seeing this as betrayal, abandoned engagement and began enlarging Indian strategic options. In his Independence Day speech he introduced Pakistani human rights abuses in Balochistan and Indias legitimate rights in Gilgit-Baltistan  a part of the former Dogra kingdom of Kashmir. He aligned more forthrightly with Afghanistan and reopened the debate over the Indus Waters Treaty. Criticism of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor traversing disputed Gilgit-Baltistan followed.

The Pakistani response was attacks on military camps by fidayeen, at Uri on September 18 and the corps headquarters at Nagrota on November 29. In between India retaliated by a surgical strike across the LoC to eliminate terrorists and degrade launchpads used for infiltration. Pakistans new Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, handpicked by the civilian government, assumed charge on November 29.

India missed an opportunity to gauge the new balance of forces within when Pakistans de facto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz attended the Amritsar Heart of Asia conference on December 8. Are Mr Modis birthday greetings to Mr Sharif now another rebalancing of Indias Pakistan policy towards engagement post-surgical and verbal strikes by Mr Modi and his government over last six months?

Winter and sheer fatigue has brought relative calm to Kashmiri towns. Meanwhile, Donald Trump brings new uncertainty to global security. While surgical strikes play well domestically, in reality patient diplomacy is preferable, combined with stiffened defences, robust intelligence and counter-terrorism, provided

Mr Sharif incrementally delivers on trade, people-to-people links and shutting down of Jihad Inc. The expanded strategic options can remain on the table  Gilgit-Baltistan, Indus Waters Treaty and Afghanistan-India security cooperation  much as the Pakistanis keep the jihadis up their sleeves.
The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements.

New York: If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for US ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the US and Israel.

In a stunning decision Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of US tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

"Things will be different after Jan. 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end.

Under Obama, the US has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades, the US has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the US to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally.

It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century.

"Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy."

Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere.

Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman - his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot.

"He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said.

At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan - a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism - to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death.

And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period.

Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy.

In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East."

Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace.

Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.
The call came in response to the Pakistan FMs earlier letter urging the World Bank to appoint a chairman for then Court of Arbitration.

Washington: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has called Pakistan Finance Minster Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the latter's request to help settle the Indus water dispute, sources said.

The development comes after the Pakistani Minister wrote a letter to Kim on December 23, urging him to move ahead with the appointment of a chairman of the Court of Arbitration, reports the Dawn.

The letter written by Dar was in response to the World Bank President's letter of December 12 and their decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration.

Dar, in his letter, said that World Banks decision will seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

The letter also said that the matter of appointment of a chairman for the Court of Arbitration has been inordinately delayed.

It urged the World Bank to execute its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Finance Minister noted that the pause proposed by the World Bank President will merely prevent Pakistan from approaching a competent forum and having its grievances addressed.

Earlier this month, the World Bank asked both India and Pakistan to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute 1960.

The bank said it is temporarily halting the appointment of a neutral expert as requested by India, and the chairman of the Court of Arbitration, as requested by Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding two hydroelectric power plants under construction by India along the Indus Rivers system.
More than three thousand people are racing to find the remaining bodies and debris in a massive operation.

Russian soldiers salute in front the home stage building of the Red Army Choir in Moscow on Monday. The choirs members died in the plane crash. (Photo: AFP)

Sochi: Russian rescuers found Monday the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea, as officials said they do not suspect terrorism as the reason for the crash that killed 92 people on board.

The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Moscows military base in Syria when it went down off the resort city of Sochi shortly after take-off Sunday.

Investigators have yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but officials said that an act of terror was not being considered as a possible explanation, despite the plane and its black boxes still being underwater.

A spokeswoman for the Sochi-based search and rescue branch of the emergency ministry confirmed that parts of the plane had been found underwater.

The debris is at the depth of 27 metres one mile from shore, spokeswoman Rimma Chernova told AFP.

The Russian military added that divers had retrieved two elements of the planes control mechanism. Russias federal security service said it is looking into four suspected causes of the crash, which do not include terrorism.

No signs or facts pointing to a possible act of terror have been received at this time, Russias Federal Security Service said in a statement carried by national news agencies.

The probe is focusing on a pilot error, a technical fault, bad fuel and a foreign object in the engine as four main scenarios, it added.

The military has cordoned off part of the Sochi shore Monday, with soldiers standing in a chain about 20 metres apart, while motor boats participating in the search regularly unloading at the pier, an AFP photographer saw.

More than three thousand people are racing to find the remaining bodies and debris in a massive operation that includes 45 vessels, planes, helicopters, and drones, along with divers and remotely-operated deep-water machines.

Transport minister Maxim Sokolov said some of the bodies could have already been carried off by the strong current to Abkhazia, and some of its own rescue workers have joined the search operation.

Along with the first 10 bodies, 86 body fragments were brought to the Russian capital for DNA analysis, defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
Klaus Iohannis gave no reasons for his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, a relative political novice.

Sevil Shhaideh, 52, stands at the Romanian presidency before being sworn in as regional development minister in Bucharest, Romania. (Photo: AP)

Bucharest: Romania's president sparked fresh political turmoil Tuesday after rejecting a proposal by the election-winning leftist party to name the EU country's first female and first Muslim prime minister.

Klaus Iohannis gave no reasons for his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it may be due to her Syrian husband's background.

"I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal," the president told reporters in a televised statement.

"I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal," Iohannis said.

The PSD had suggested the previously little-known Shhaideh, 52, after its thumping poll victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote.

The leader of the PSD, Liviu Dragnea, had withdrawn his own bid to become prime minister because he is serving a two-year suspended sentence for fraud in a previous election.

Shhaideh's political experience is limited, having served as development minister for just five months before the previous PSD-led government resigned in late 2015.

This and her personal closeness to Dragnea -- he was a witness at her wedding -- have stoked opposition accusations that she would merely be his puppet.

Shhaideh is from Romania's small and long-established Turkish minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been a problem for Iohannis.

Instead the focus may have been on her Syrian husband, whom she married in 2011.

According to non-profit investigative journalism group the Rise Project, he has several times expressed his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and for Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

The 54-year-old worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before emigrating in 2011, according to media reports and Dragnea. He then served as an advisor to the Romanian agriculture ministry and gained citizenship in 2015.

Former Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu, from the centre-right National Liberal Party, said on Facebook that he "can't see how" the PSD candidate could get the necessary security clearance needed to be prime minister.

Being premier would "give her access to defence information classified as secret, including from NATO," the Western military alliance that Romania has belonged to since 2004, Predoiu wrote.

"In the absence of any explanations by the president, I suppose that his rejection is linked to questions of national security and because the United States would not have been very keen," political analyst Andrei Taranu told AFP.

Website HotNews cited unnamed sources as saying that the security services had "strongly cautioned" against Shhaideh's nomination because of the closeness to the Assad regime of her husband and his two brothers.

What now?

All eyes Tuesday were on how the PSD would respond, with some in the party calling for Iohannis to be suspended. Party leader Dragnea was due to make a statement in the afternoon.

"Either the PSD shows its wisdom by making a new proposal (for prime minister) or we move towards fresh elections," Taranu said.

But he added that an attempt by the PSD to remove the president was problematic because under the constitution Iohannis is entitled to request a second proposal for premier.

The PSD's election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it and prime minister Victor Ponta from office.

The inferno inside the Colectiv club was blamed on corrupt officials turning a blind eye to a lack of fire precautions. Poor medical care exacerbated the death toll.
Israel has already called back its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations, and cancelled aid programmes.

Jerusalem: Israel's foreign ministry said on Tuesday the country was "reducing" ties with nations that voted for last week's UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to settlement building in Palestinian territory.

Refuting reports that ties had been suspended, foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that Israel was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies.

"Until further notice, we'll limit our contacts with the embassies here in Israel and refrain from visits of Israeli officials to those states, and of visits of officials from those states here," he said.

Israel has already called back its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations, and cancelled aid programmes with the African state.

On Tuesday, Israel informed Angola it would be freezing its aid programme there, Nahshon said.

Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, has asked officials to visit the countries that voted for the resolution as little as possible for now.

At least two trips have been cancelled or postponed, including this week's visit to Israel by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and an upcoming visit by the Senegalese foreign minister.

There have also been reports that Netanyahu was calling off a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at January's World Economic Forum in Davos, but there has been no official confirmation.

Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday she was concerned that Israel would miss opportunities to explain its position by cancelling visits, but that she supported making clear "you can't take Israel for granted."

Countries should not be able to "make pilgrimages to Israel to learn about fighting terror, cyber-defence and agricultural technologies, and in the UN do whatever you want," she told army radio.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have responded with especially harsh language to Friday's Security Council resolution which passed after the United States abstained from voting.

Netanyahu has alleged that US President Barack Obama "colluded" to see the "shameful" resolution through in the waning days of his administration.

By deciding not to veto the move, the United States enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

'Not turn other cheek'

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

Israel summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution on Sunday -- Christmas Day - while Netanyahu also met with US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

The United States is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

On Monday, Netanyahu defended his response to the UN vote in the face of criticism that he was overreacting, saying "we do not turn the other cheek".

"Not only will our relations with the nations of the world not be harmed, over time they will only improve because the nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak ingratiating countries that bow their heads," he told a conference.
Discontinuation of the note will be a source of major discomfort and anxiety for the people, Pakistans Ministry of Finance said.

Pakistan on Tuesday rejected reports about demonetisation of Rs 5,000 notes to curb corruption in the country. (Photo: AFP/File)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected reports about demonetisation of Rs 5,000 notes to curb corruption in the country.

The Ministry of Finance, in a statement, denied the reports and said the government has neither taken such a decision nor is there any justification for the discontinuation of Rs 5000 note.

"The current denomination of highest value notes in Pakistan, i.e. Rs 5,000, is significantly smaller compared to those of major currencies such as the USD 100 note, Euro 200 and Pound Sterling 50. During 2015-16, only 17 per cent of the notes printed were of Rs 5000 denomination," the statement further added.

It said that in view of the continuing use of cash in transactions, the discontinuation of the Rs 5,000 note will adversely affect the efficiency of exchange in commercial activities and be a source of major discomfort and anxiety for the people.

"As such the very notion of cancellation of such convenience in transactions is preposterous and unequivocally denied," it said further.

The ministry further stated that it is pursuing the National Financial Inclusion Strategy in association with the State Bank, through which digital transactions and branch-less banking will be brought to the doorstep of people that would significantly reduce the dependence on currency.

"This is the way to move forward for promoting documentation in the economy rather than by cancelling any existing denomination," it said.

There were reports that the highest denomination note in Pakistan may be cancelled as it is perceived to have made the carrying and hiding of ill-gotten money easier.

Last week, the Senate had passed a resolution calling on the government to withdraw the Rs 5,000 note from circulation.

The resolution was moved by Senator Osman Saifullah Khan of the opposition Pakistan People Party.
Musharraf, who is facing murder and treason charges, had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year.

Islamabad: Days after he made headlines by saying that ex-army chief General Raheel Sharif had helped him exit Pakistan, former dictator Pervez Musharraf on Monday claimed he had not sought any assistance from him and that his statement was distorted by the media.

"No one approached me, nor did I approach anyone... Raheel Sharif did not discuss anything with me, nor did I send him any request," Musharraf said in an interview to a TV channel.

He said his last week's statement to Dunya News was "distorted" by the media.

Musharraf in a talk show on Dunya News last week had said: "Well he (Raheel Sharif) did help me and I am absolutely clear and grateful. I have been his boss and I have been the army chief before him...He helped out, because the cases are politicised, they put me on the ECL, they turned it into a political issue."

When asked about the military's influence on domestic politics, he on Monday said: "All institutions in Pakistan work together with each other... I've served in the army for over 40 years."

"There is a sense of bonding between the army and me, and it will always remain like that," the former president added.

Referring to Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan's statement about Musharraf's return, the former president said he has no knowledge of any such timeline wherein he was asked to return within four to six weeks of his departure, the Dawn reported.

"There is nothing of the sort in the court's judgement," Musharraf added.

The Interior Minister had said in March that Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him in court and had "promised to return in four to six weeks".

Musharraf had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL).

The government notification followed the Supreme Court's order to lift the ban on his foreign travel.

But the order from the top court had come with the rider that the federal government or the three-judge special court trying the retired general for treason was free to make decisions to regulate his custody or restrict his movement.

Apart from murder cases of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, the retired general is facing treason charges for imposing emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers. His name was kept on the Exit Control List for more than 20 months.
by Nguyen Hung

Small shops selling products made by children operate in the citys pastoral centre. On the theme Come to love, 453 social workers organised activities for blind and deaf children.

Ho Chi Minh City (AsiaNews)  For Christmas, Caritas Saigon (Ho Chi Minh Citys old name) organised special celebrations for thousands of children in need who live at the citys pastoral centre.

Based on the theme Come to love, 453 social workers celebrated the birth of Jesus with some 3,000 children.

"On Christmas Day, we served 125 children with severe disabilities, 485 deaf children, 265 deaf children and more than 2,000 housed by the diocese, said Sister Anna, who works at the religious centre. We were helped by social services volunteers, teachers and nuns who have worked with these children for years."

The centre, which has small shops selling products made by children, has become over time an important place where children can exchange work experience and acquire new skills. "We have set up 33 food stalls, 10 toys stalls and 10 for other items," said Hung, a member of the local Caritas.

The Ho Chi Minh City pastoral centre takes in children from all religious backgrounds and educates children with disabilities. For Christmas celebrations, it received the support from Vietnamese corporate sponsors, such as Anh Hong, Long Kim and the Mina Company.

On Christmas Day, some volunteers in the field of environmental protection joined the social workers. One of them is a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

"We are part of a project for environmental protection, he told AsiaNews. We collected, recorded, and classified hundreds of kilos of waste. Through this activity we finance activities for disabled children.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are tens of thousands of unfortunate kids who have nothing to eat. We help them both physically and psychologically."
by Giorgio Marengo*

The Consolata missionary tells how the tiny Catholic community celebrated the birth of Christ. "Underpinning the universe is this child in whom the Most High has decided to incarnate." The liturgy in the tent-chapel, children's poems, the recitation of the Nativity.

Arvaiheer (AsiaNews) - "Coming out of the tent we must be recognized not as those who have participated in one of the many festive seasons  that are very popular in Mongolia - but as people who have a new hope in their hearts and become shoots of a more humane and just society" urged Fr. Giorgio Marengo, a Consolata missionary in Mongolia.

Speaking to AsiaNews he describes how the small Catholic community of Arvaiheer (composed of 24 baptized and some sympathizers) celebrated the birth of Jesus. The novena, Christmas Mass, the poems recited by the children, a small representation of the Nativity, before returning home all "hand in hand". And "in the heart there is new hope: God has chosen this earth to dwell among us." Below his letter to our readers.

Christ is born in time, took on our human condition and in doing so has opened a glimpse of heaven into our lives. That sky immense above the long horizon of Mongolia or even contemplated "in glimpses", from inside the ger, the traditional Mongolian tent, which has no other openings if not the one at the top, round and divided into triangular sections. But today it is clear that is not the eternal or motionless circle of stars that support the universe, to which to the shape of the wheel symbolically alludes, but the sign of this Child in which the Almighty has decided to be incarnated.

And many have come into our ger-chapel on the night of the 24th and the morning of 25 to contemplate this mystery of the Almighty who has become a child. We had prepared with a novena and a moment of withdrawal the morning of the 24th, a pause to enjoy the wonder of the holy night.

The small Catholic community of Arvaiheer (24 baptized and some sympathizers) responded enthusiastically to this proposal in preparation for Christmas that we missionaries of the Consolata have proposed since our beginning. A meditation to introduce personal prayer, Eucharistic adoration and then time for confessions.

Then there was the Midnight Mass, presided over by the young Congolese missionary Fr. Dieudone Mukadi Mukadi. From his words an invitation to the simplicity and humility of Bethlehems newborn. Mary offers us her Son, knowing that it is no longer hers alone, rather he is for everyone. And if we want to welcome him into our lives, we must learn precisely from her and take her as our teacher of faith. Words that resonate deep in a culture that highly honors the mother and in which women occupy a prominent role in society.

On the morning of the 25th, there were very many, with a good representation of children from the neighborhood where the mission is located, on the outskirts of the capital of the Mongolian Uvurkhangai region. God is with us and has a human face, we may know him and so become more human, because we are all children of God. This is the main reason of the joy of today, it must also radiate on the other 364 days of the year. The elevation of the Eucharistic Body, Mass in the bright light that shines from the steppes radiates on the altar of the ger-chapel, passing through the round opening of the roof.

Coming out of the ger we must not be recognized as those who have participated in one of the many festive seasons  that are very popular in Mongolia - but as people who have a new hope in the heart and become shoots of a more humane and just society: if God was made man, each person has an immense dignity!

A Christmas concert concluded celebrations, before lunch for all. With a microphone in hand even the smallest got up the courage to sing rhymes learned at school and traditional songs. The larger ones have prepared a Nativity play, where the comet was held in the hands of a helper, who also provided the roof to the stable in Bethlehem ...

Then everyone returns to their ger or house, crowds of small children holding hands and defying the cold before the snowfall. Tomorrow [26 December] the usual activities will resume, but in the heart there is new hope: God has chosen this earth to dwell among us, even in the Mongolian steppe.

In Him we trust!

* Consolata missionary
by Melani Manel Perera

Catholic prisoners took part in Mass in Colombo Prison, and received presents. They later met with relatives and had lunch with them.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Catholics in the Colombo Prison celebrated Christmas with a solemn Mass organised especially for them. On this occasion, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena also pardoned 572 prisoners, held on minor convictions or because they did not have enough money to pay bail.

At the Colombo Prison authorities granted prisoners a special permit to meet relatives and share a Christmas lunch. The prison chaplain Fr Patrick Perera handed out presents.

The liturgy was celebrated in both the mens and womens wings. Can I see God within me? Can I hear his voice inside me? Am I ready to listen to him?" said Fr Perera during the Mass in the womens wing.

"We must not forget that our lives belong to God, he explained. We know nothing about ourselves: the day, the month or the year of our birth, who our parents will be, in what village or country we will dwell, what our race will be, the colour of our skin or our religion. Only God, who decides these things, does."

This means, he told the inmates, "that we must always keep in mind that our life belongs to God. Not to us. Therefore, we must listen to the inner voice, and try to see God in us. This way, we shall not do anything wrong. "

The chaplain invited his congregants to rediscover the authentic meaning of Christmas, which "is not only to celebrate, but to share food, forgive offenses and visit those who are alone."

In the prayer of the faithful, the inmates asked God to protect their children, who are without the loving care of their mothers. They also asked for protection for all the men and women of Sri Lanka as well as justice for themselves.

Fr Noel Dias celebrated the Mass in the mens wing in a ceremony filled with songs and music performed by the prisoners themselves.

At the end of the two services, a large crowd of relatives visited their loved ones behind bars and brought them the comfort of family affection.
Thousands took part in the celebrations. The president and the prime minister issue messages of peace and prosperity. Former King Gyanendra joined in the festivity.

Kathmandu (AsiaNews)  The Government of Nepal reinstated Christmas as a national holiday under pressure from minority groups. Back in April, it had dropped the festivity from the list of statutory holidays.

Shops and malls were decorated with Christmas decorations, lights, and trees. Christians sang hymns, exchanged gifts, glorified the birth of Jesus Christ, and said prayers.

Thousands of non-Christians took part in the festivities and celebrations as well. Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari led public celebrations.

In her address to Christian leaders, she said that she hoped that this occasion "would reinforce feelings of love and unity among Nepali citizens and inspire everyone to respect the Constitution in the name of a peaceful and prosperous Nepal."

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed wishes of "peace, happiness, prosperity, good health, unity, and brotherhood to all Nepali Christians at home and abroad".

Even former Nepali King Gyanendra Shah and his son joined in the celebrations. This however was met with sarcasm from some Hindu believers and spiritual leaders (babas) who, according to local media, still aspire to see Hinduism restored as the state religion.
by Loula Lahham

The new media council's status will be set up within three months. Meanwhile, journalists who transgress can expect more fines.

Cairo (AsiaNews)  Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has approved a new law that "organises" the press and information media.

As of this morning (27 December), all of the country's information media are under a Supreme Council for the Press and Media. The new law stipulates that the Councils official executive status will be issued within three months.

"The law is very similar to that presented by the Journalists' Union, but with some differences, said Ossama Heikal, chairman of Media Committee of the Egyptian Parliament. The fines for those who break this law have increased from 50,000 to 500,000 Egyptian pounds" (US$ 2,600 to 26,000).

According to most human rights groups, the new state body will just control freedom of expression.

The Council will be headed by persons picked by the president and will have the right to suspend the publication or dissemination of news. It will also have the authority to withdraw permits from foreign journalists.

NGOs are well aware that violations of freedom of expression are frequent in Egypt. According to a report by Reporters Without Borders, Egypt is the third country in the world for the number of journalists arrested in 2016.
by Purushottam Nayak

It is a historic event for the Indian state, scene of past antichristian pogroms. Hindu sectarian violence raised the profile of Christianity. The authorities protected the faithful in Kandhamal district. The Missionaries of Charity provided lunch to the poor, orphans and needy.

Bhubaneshwar (AsiaNews)  On Christmas day, some 45,000 Hindus paid tribute to the Child Jesus in Bhubaneshwar, capital of the State of Odisha (Orissa).

The event is historic, the more so since the Indian State was the scene in 2008 of the most vicious persecution of Christians ever perpetuated in India.

According to Fr Prasanna Pradhan, pastor at St Vincent Cathedral in the state capital, the people of Odisha "have a deep sense of respect and honour for Jesus, who dispels the darkness of discord and division and strengthens ties between people."

The clergyman believes that as a result of the sectarian violence unleashed by Hindus in Odisha in the summer of 2008, which killed about 100 people and led to the destruction of 300 churches and places of worship, "Christianity is much better known among people of different faiths".

Leena Dutta, a young woman from Patia, was among the thousands of devout Hindus who came to Bhubaneshwars pro-cathedral. "I studied in a school run by nuns, she said. There I met Jesus' life. For this reason, I come to visit him every year during the holiday season."

In Kandhamal district, the most affected by sectarian violence, Christmas celebrations were held under tight security. This was possible, Christians say, thanks to constant surveillance by police, which is deployed every year to prevent possible attacks.

Even in 2007, when pogroms started, police were present, averting an attack by an angry mob of 2,500 Hindus, armed with sticks and knives, who wanted to avenge the death of a Hindu struck by the collapse of a cross.

Mgr John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, thanked the state government for providing "protection to Christians, especially those persecuted in Kandhamal".

"Christmas, he added, speaks about Christ. It speaks of how he deprived himself to save sinners. Christmas is about how the Son of God became man and how he lived on earth. Christmas speaks of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and how he conquered death. Christmas tells us how a sinner can meet with God."

In the capital, 25 December was also a day dedicated to the care of the poor and needy. The Missionaries of Charity, an institute founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, handed out a hot meal to hundreds of destitute.

"At the time of Jesuss birth, no door was open and no one accepted him, said Regional Superior Sister Olivet. When we give food to the poor we remember the phrase 'serve man is to serve God'."

Tata Steel manager Abhisek Das, who visits the Sisters house every three months, offered the meal.

"When I see that my humble gesture brings a smile to the faces of orphans and poor, I feel immensely happy, he said. Every religion teaches us to do good. Charitable work makes us grow in love and unity; this way, we become agents of peace and harmony."
29 MPs quit party to create a new conservative group. They hope to recruit the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to nominate for the presidency of the Republic.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - The scandal that led to impeachment Korean President Park Geun-hye is about to give birth to a new political force, made up of 29 MPs (pictured) who have left the Saenuri Party.

They apparently intend to create a new conservative party that hopes to recruit the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to nominate to the presidency, which could take place within a few months. And there is the possibility that other MPs will leave Saenuri because of the division with the loyalists who are still at the top of the party.

Choung Byoung-Gug, one of the deputies who left Saenuri, states that "the values of true conservatism" are overlooked and that the violation of constitutional values by the president are still being defended.

As former Secretary of the United Nations, he was considered the best candidate that conservatives can take in order to regain the Blue House after the crisis caused by the Park. Recent polls see Ban with a slight lead over the liberal Moon Jae-in, who lost the presidential race four years ago to Park, as the favorite to win the presidential vote.

In a recent meeting with Korean reporters in New York, Ban Ki-moon made a strong hint at his desire to run for president, saying he is ready to "burn" his body in devotion to his country.
Barack Obama will accompany him to the place of the attack. The Japanese Prime Minister will pray for the dead but will not apologize It is the first time that leaders of both countries visit the memorial together.

Honolulu (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe landed today in Hawaii, where in the afternoon he will visit Pearl Harbor, the American Naval base attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Immediately after landing, Abe went to visit several memorials recalling the battle that killed 2,400 US soldiers (as well as dozens of Japanese). At the National Pacific Memorial Cemetery the Japanese Prime Minister laid a wreath of flowers.

Abe will be accompanied to Pearl Harbor by Barack Obama and will be the first time in history that the leaders of the two countries will go to the place at the same time together. The spokesman of the Japanese leader announced that he will not ask for forgiveness but will say a prayer for the dead. Before the visit, Abe and Obama held a working summit, the last for both of them before the resignation of US President.

The Japanese prime ministers visit arrives in three weeks after the 75th anniversary of the attack and follows the visit made by Obama to Hiroshima last May (the first US president to do so), a sign of the ever closer alliance between Tokyo and Washington. The first Japanese leader to go to Pearl Harbor was Shigeru Yoshida in 1951.

On December 7, 1941, 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the US military base at 7:55 am. The operation lasted just over an hour, and, in addition to the dead, 19 US war ships, including eight battleships were destroyed.
Two Canadian Sisters Arrested For Allegedly Blackmailing Nigerian Billionaire

Trending News: These Two Sisters Are Accused Of Extorting A Nigerian Billionaire

Long Story Short

Two Toronto sisters with popular Instagram followings have gotten themselves mixed up in a Nigerian scandal by allegedly threatening to release photos of a Nigerian billionaire cheating on his wife in exchange for cash.

Long Story

Remember that scam where a Nigerian prince would email you asking for a loan and in return, you'd be repaid handsomely? Well, this isn't that, but the story has similar plot points.

A couple of Canadians with 50,000 followers between them on their Kardashian-like Instagram feeds are in big trouble in Nigeria. Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo have been arrested for allegedly blackmailing billionaire Femi Otedola by threatening to release photos of the businessman cheating on his wife, according to Politics Nigeria (seen via the Toronto Star).

A photo posted by K I R A N M A T H A R O O (@kiran_matharoo) on Nov 15, 2016 at 1:33pm PST

A photo posted by J Y O T I M  T H  R O O (@jyotimatharoo) on Dec 8, 2016 at 4:26pm PST

The two sisters have been arrested in Lagos, Nigeria as confirmed by the Canadian consulate, but not just for blackmailing this one particular rich dude.

They're allegedly responsible for a whole website dedicated to sex scandals called NaijaGistLive (now defunct) and are accused of cyberbullying around 274 people, mostly in Africa.

A photo posted by K I R A N M A T H A R O O (@kiran_matharoo) on Sep 5, 2016 at 4:50pm PDT

A photo posted by J Y O T I M  T H  R O O (@jyotimatharoo) on Dec 13, 2016 at 2:18pm PST

Besides the Nigerian Prince scandal, this story is reminiscent of those Cocaine Cowgirls who stole $22 million worth of blow.

Can someone please inform Canadians that if you're going to commit a crime, you should probably lay low on social media?

Own The Conversation

Ask The Big Question

Were the sisters retaliating after falling for a Nigerian prince scandal?

Drop This Fact

Nigeria doesn't actually have a prince.
Source: Personal20

A trend sweeping Europe, the 20 minute workout that gives the results of 90 minutes with Whole Body Electronic Muscle Stimulation opens at Sport & Health Herndon

HERNDON, Va., Dec. 27, 2016 -- Personal20, the Electro Fitness Studio, had its Grand Opening event at Sport & Health Worldgate location on December 19th. A Portuguese brand currently with 10 locations abroad, hosted a cocktail and ribbon cutting ceremony with Miss Portugal Cristiana Viana. Also attending were industry leaders Kirk Galiani, USFITNESS Co-Chairman, and Allison Flately, Corporate Strategy Office of Corporate Fitness Works.

The first Personal20 in the USA, a studio dedicated to whole body electronic muscle stimulation, is "a boutique inside the health club". "The fitness industry and traditional health club operators have been witnessing the rapid growth of boutique studios with a niche value proposition. Having a Personal20 Studio at the entrance of a Sport & Health club is a unique opportunity to offer something innovative that can reach the un-tapped market and serve as a great first step towards fitness," says Connie Ruiz, who is on the executive board and leading the project for the USA. The service is available for non-members while members of Sport & Health have a member discount.



Personal20 is powered by E-Fit technology, the first of its kind from Europe to have the FDA clearance. "This new technology will be revolutionary for the fitness industry. The stimulation of 350 muscles combined with active exercise obtains outstanding results in a 20 minute workout," says Connie, who is also the exclusive distributor for E-Fit machines in VA/MD/DC territory.



The Sport & Health club in Herndon, Virginia is home of the first showcase location. No fitness club in the area has more ways to get fit than Sport & Health. Staying true to this differentiation factor, here is one more new way to get fit. The E-Fit technology can deliver over 36,000 muscle contractions in 1 session.



This training method has been used for over 30 years by professional athletes and it is highly regarded by doctors and physiotherapists in Europe.



Now fitness professionals can deliver a whole body electronic muscle stimulation (EMS) workout with all the benefits of increasing strength, body-shaping, and back-pain relief. This technology has been used for 7 years in Germany, Spain, Belgium and Hungary.



Naturally our muscles achieve movement when the brain sends electrical impulses. Wearing a special work out suit with 20 electrodes, EMS also sends electrical impulses to our muscles. Highly effective results can be obtained when combined with exercise.



The training is very versatile with 3 different impulses. Low impulse stimulates blood circulation and the lymphatic system. This is effective for muscle relaxation and cellulite elimination. The medium impulse is appropriate for cardio fitness training with muscles contracting and relaxing. The high impulse reaches deep muscle tissues not easily reached by conventional exercises. It is used for muscle building, toning, weight loss and recovery after childbirth. http://www.Personal20.com
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By Alan Duffy, Research Fellow, Swinburne University of Technology

LIGO/T. Pyle

The achievements of astrophysicists this year were as groundbreaking as they were varied. From reuniting a lander with a mothership on a comet, to seeing the most extreme cosmic events with gravitational waves, 2016 was truly out of this world for science.

Here are some of the highlights of the year that was.

1. Gravitational Waves

The spectacular announcement that ripples in the very fabric of spacetime itself had been found (and from surprisingly massive black holes colliding) sent similarly massive ripples through the scientific community. The discovery was made using the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and represents a fundamentally new sense with which to see the universe.









The gravitational waves cause one arm of the LIGO detector to stretch relative to the other by less than a thousandth of the width of a proton in the centre of the atom. Relatively speaking, thats like measuring a hairs-width change in the distance to the nearest star.

This discovery was the end of a century-long quest to prove Einsteins final prediction that these gravitational waves are real. It also allows us to directly see that famously and fundamentally invisible entity: the black hole (as well as definitively proving its existence). The fact that the two black holes collided 1.3 billion years ago and the waves swept through Earth just days after turning the detector on only add to the incredible story of this discovery.









2. SpaceX lands (and crashes) a rocket

The year started so well for SpaceX with the incredible achievement of sending a satellite into orbit, which is no mean feat itself at such low cost, before then landing that launch rocket on a barge in the ocean. A seemingly unstoppable sequence of launches and landings made it appear that a new era of vastly cheaper access to space through rockets that could be refuelled and reused was at hand.









Unfortunately, with the explosion of a Falcon 9 on the launchpad, the company was grounded, but apparently hopes for a resumed launch in early January.









Add to that the visionary plans to settle Mars outlined by Elon Musk, albeit not without some audacious challenges, and its been a year of highs and lows for SpaceX.

3. Closest star may harbour Earth-like world

Proxima Centauri is our Suns nearest neighbour at just over four light years away, and it appears that its solar system may contain an Earth-like world. Until this year, astronomers werent even sure that any planets orbited the star, let alone ones that might harbour the best extrasolar candidate for life that spacecraft could visit within our lifetime.









The planet, creatively named Proxima b, was discovered by a team of astronomers at Queen Mary University in London. Using the light of Proxima Centuari, the astronomers were able to detect subtle shifts in the stars orbit (seen as a wobble), which is the telltale sign that another massive object is nearby.









ESO/M. Kornmesser





While Proxima Centuari is barely 10% the size of our Sun, Proxima bs orbit is only 11 days long, meaning it is very close to the star and lies just within the so-called habitable zone. However, follow-up with either Hubble or the upcoming James Webb Space telescope is necessary to determine if the exoplanet is as well suited for life as Earth.

4. Breakthrough Listen listening and Starshot star-ted

With a potential Earth twin identified in Proxima b, now the challenge is to reach it within a human lifetime. With the breakthrough initiative starshot, which has been funded by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner and endorsed by none other than Stephen Hawking, lightweight nanosails can be propelled by light beams to reach speeds up to millions of kilometres an hour.

Such speeds would allow a spacecraft to arrive at Proxima b in about 20 years, thus enabling humans to send information to another known planet for the first time.

However, there are many challenges ahead, such as the fact that the technology doesnt exist yet, and that high-speed collisions with gas and dust between stars may destroy it before it can reach its target.

But humans have proven to be resourceful, and key technology is advancing at an exponential rate. Incredibly the idea of sailing to another world is no longer science fiction, but rather an outrageously ambitious science project.









Perhaps, aliens are already sending out their own information in the form of radio transmissions. In another breakthrough initiative called Listen, also championed by Hawking, astronomers will be searching the habitable zones around the million closest stars to try to detect incoming radio transmissions. Involving Australias very own Parkes telescope (as well as the Green Bank Telescope and Lick Observatory at visible wavelengths of light), observations have been running through 2016 and the search for alien signals will continue for the next decade.

5. Philae reunited with Rosetta

In 2014 the Philae lander became the first space probe to land on a comet, and even though its crash landing dictated that its science transmission would be a one-off, its recent rediscovery by Rosetta has allowed it to continue to contribute to analysis of comet 67P.

Philaes crash location, as well as the orientation of the doomed probe, has allowed astronomers to accurately interpret data taken by Rosetta regarding the composition of the comet.









ESA





While Philae has literally been living under (crashed on) a rock for the past two years, Rosetta has been the busy bee, taking numerous images, spectroscopy and other data of the comet.

In fact, data taken from Rosettas spectrometer has been analysed and revealed that the amino acid, glycine, is present in the comets outgassing, which breaks away from the surface of the comet as it becomes unstable from solar heating. Glycine is one of the fundamental building blocks of life; necessary for proteins and DNA, and its confirmed extraterrestrial confirms that the ingredients for life are unique to Earth, and that we may have comets to thank for providing our microbial ancestors with those crucial ingredients.









ESA





Outlook for Down Under

The future for astrophysics in Australia in 2017 looks particularly bright, with two ARC Centres of Excellence: CAASTRO-3D studying the build of atoms over cosmic time; and OzGRav exploring the universe with gravitational waves; as well as SABRE, the worlds first dark matter detector in the Southern Hemisphere, installed by end of the year.

If you thought 2016 was a great year in space, then youre in for a treat in 2017.

Alan Duffy is an Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGRav) and an Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO-3D) and member of SABRE.

Rebecca Allen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

Originally published in The Conversation.
Air connections between Australia and Latin America are set to improve in the New Year with a significant new international service being launched in 2017.The nonstop service from Melbourne to Santiago in Chile will be airline LATAM's longest flight ever covering 11,000 kilometres and taking approximately 15 hours. The airline will operate three non-stop flights per week between Santiago and Melbourne, becoming the first airline group to offer a direct service between the two cities, as well as the only carrier to fly non-stop between Melbourne and Latin America.'Over recent years, we've seen increasing demand for flights between Latin America and this part of the world both from business and leisure travellers and we want to continue supporting the growth of bilateral tourism and commerce,' said Enrique Cueto, chief executive officer of LATAM Airlines Group.'With the Melbourne service, we are not only reinforcing LATAM's commitment to Oceania and the Asia-Pacific, but also to offering unrivalled connectivity to, from and within Latin America,' he added.Australian Ambassador to Chile, Tim Kane, welcomed the new route. 'It is an important milestone for the airline group, the state of Victoria, Australia and Latin America. Chile is Australia's gateway to the region, just as Australia is Chile's platform into Asia,' he said.'These new non-stop flights will deepen and broaden Australia-Latin American links, open new markets, expand people to people opportunities and enhance Melbourne as a key destination for Latin American travellers to Australia and the Asia-Pacific region,' he explained.'The Australian Government is strongly committed to increasing relations with Latin America and these new non-stop flights between Santiago and Melbourne will play an important role in strengthening our relationships,' he added.After Sydney, Melbourne will be the second city in Australia served by the airline group. LATAM currently operates seven flights per week from Santiago to Sydney via Auckland in New Zealand.In 2015, the airline introduced the Boeing 787-9 aircraft to the route, increasing capacity by 27% and in total, LATAM transports approximately 190,000 passengers per year between Latin America and Oceania.With the new direct Melbourne service, LATAM estimates that it will transport an additional 75,000 passengers between the two continents each year.The new route will begin in October 2017 and leave Santiago on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Melbourne the next day in each case. While the return flight will depart Melbourne on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Santiago the same day.Santiago is regarded as one of South America's principal airline hubs and has onward connections to 124 destinations throughout Chile and Latin America, including direct services to major cities such as Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima, Bogota and Quito.This gives tourists access to major destinations including Machu Picchu in Peru, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador, Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, the Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Dear Seniors,



Recently we have been approved our family PR,



Any one has requested IMMI for entry date extension after PR approve. I am thinking to request extension around 30 days for my daughter only due to her exam.



Is that any issue if I request please advise.



Thanks in advance.



Cheers

Rajmohan.
Hi,



I am applying for state nomination from Northern Territory, Australia.



Can anyone please help me with the guidelines/samples on how to write a "Commitment to the NT Statement"?



The statement should include:

 demonstrate your commitment to living and working in your skilled occupation (or a closely related skilled occupation) in the Northern Territory (NT) for a minimum of two years from when the visa is granted

 explain, in your own words, why you want to live in the NT

 explain how the NT lifestyle would suit your way of life more than that of any other city in Australia.



Thanks & Regards

Kazi
Even assuming you're in a factory stock Huracan, which, at least until the Huracan Performante shows up next year, means you can enjoy a maximum of 610 horses, won't bring a simple answer to such a question.Truth be told, the only way to find out the answer is to actually duke it out with that Supra. And, to be fair to the rear-wheel-drive tuner car, a rolling start would be nice.This is precisely what happens in the clip below, which brings us a V10 Raging Bull and a Fast and Furious-style Supra battling it out on an airfield in Sweden - as far as we know, this Lambo has kept the specs delivered by its Sant'Agata Bolognese maker.The Toyota was used as a camera car, which gave us the opportunity to notice the rollcage fitted to the thing - we applaud the driver's decision to upgrade the passive safety of his beast after upping the ante on the 2JZ front.It's impossible not to notice that the two speed demons also fight each other in terms of which draws more attention though the styling-color combination. And speaking of the Supra's color, if you get the feeling you've seen this Toyota before, it might be because you've checked out the story we delivered back in May, when the Japanese delight duked it out with a Porsche 911 Turbo S, the 991.2 kind.The two velocity animals raced on a single occasion, but the conclusion of their mph fight is more than obvious, so you won't be left with too many questions after watching this piece of footage.
We are talking about the largest utility vehicle in the Citroen range that is focused on transporting people, which will get a crossover version that is reportedly in the latest stages of development.The described model does not have a name yet, but it is expected to have a look that resembles the SpaceTourer Hyphen Concept , which was first showcased at this years Geneva Motor Show.At the time, Citroen let its designers go wild with the SpaceTourer , and they created a two-tone body with plastic cladding for the lower parts of the vehicle. The interior was even crazier, as it came with three colors, which were blended to make a compelling contrast.Evidently, the crossover version will be inspired by some of the additional elements found on the Hyphen, but none of the crazy colors are expected to reach production.Instead, the crossover version of the Citroen SpaceTourer Hyphen will get the black plastic cladding for the lower part of the front/rear bumpers, the side sills, and the wheel arches. A set of alloy wheels might be included in the package, since most crossovers do not look cool with steelies and hubcaps.Citroen has not officially confirmed the companys intentions of building a model like this, but unnamed insiders claim that it will happen. The funky people carrier from Citroen is expected to reach the market in 2018, if it gets the final approval from the companys leaders.While it may seem odd to launch a crossover based on a utilitarian people carrier, this has happened before in smaller segments, and it appears that we have a trend on our hands.Citroen might offer this car in China before it launches it in Europe, but the French brand has a shot at the Old Continent with this unusual vehicle. As long as the two-tone paint is not on the table, the crossover based on the SpaceTourer seems possible for the brand known for its eccentric products.
In a confrontation between a two-wheeled vehicle and a four-wheeled one, the one with the higher count will always win. The stability provided by the two extra wheels makes it impossible for the motorcycle to have hopes of finishing the duel standing.That's why a lot of bikers learn from the early stages that no matter how belligerent you are at the wheel, once you get on that motorcycle seat, you need to go to your happy place and ignore anything around you that might set you off.Police officers on motorcycles don't have this luxury, though. Their job is to apprehend suspects, and you can't do that by staying back and hoping they would suddenly grow a conscience and stop on their own will. You need to get in there and force them to.But the only thing they have on their side is the power of that uniform they're wearing. If the suspect is completely unimpressed, then you're left without any arguments, so you have to improvise.For instance, these two Finnish officers were called to intervene in a case of reckless driving. The man on the quad bike was swerving all over the road and going at speed, being a potential hazard for other drivers. The police had the unenviable job of having to stop him without putting him, them or anybody else in danger.One of the two officers charged forward, just to make sure the guy knows he's being followed. Since it was just a misdemeanor , he didn't imagine he would react aggressively. He was wrong.With one swift move - well, two, actually, since the officer withstood the first hit - the quad bike driver turned a fine into a possible prison sentence. He knocked the police bike rider over by hitting him twice, just to make sure nobody mistakes it for being accidental.He was probably very close to a murder charge considering how nasty that fall looked. In retrospect, the officer should have backed off after the first blow, but things happen so fast, and the adrenaline rushes in and it's hard to keep your composure. Luckily for him, he got away with it that time.
The new ruling, which is also known as the Vnuk judgement, makes it compulsory for anyone that races in any and all forms of motorsport (yes, bike racing is one too) to own a third party insurance.So how would this affect motorsport in the UK ? Simply put, the insurance companies will refuse to insure against third-party motorsport risks. Just the sheer number of vehicle claims alone would make their business unprofitable.And if this Vnuk judgement thingy really comes into force, then say good bye to all kind of motorcycle racing or any other sport done with an engine and wheels. However, there might be a way out of this.Well, first of all, we have that Brexit thing, and it sounds stupid to implement an EU regulation now only to be aborted later if the UK gets out of the big union. It simply makes no sense.Secondly, and most importantly, motorsport is a big contributor to the UK economy. This branch employs over 50,000 workers, generates around 11 billion per year, and is home to several world-leading companies, teams, and talent.At a stroke, this would wipe out a successful industry and all the jobs that go with it, as well as eliminate a popular leisure pursuit for 1.9 million people, along with the boost that this gives to both local and national economies, Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) CEO Steve Kenward said.If the government implements the Vnuk judgment un-amended, British motorcycle sport would end in the UK. Given that we are coming out of the EU, we are astonished that the government is even considering an option to implement Vnuk. We call on ministers to end uncertainty and put a stop to Vnuk in the UK.And Mr. Kenward is not alone in this debate as MCIA is joining forces with Auto Cycle Union (ACU) and Amateur Motorcycle Association (AMCA) to send Vnuk back where he came from.Oh, in case you didnt know, the Vnuk ruling comes from a case involving a Slovenian farmer, Damijan Vnuk, who got hurt falling off a ladder which got hit by a reversing tractor
Kurt, whos now 65 years of age, is best known for his roles in movies such as the flawless classic The Thing and Tombstone. His role in the latter is a testament that rocking a bushy mustache while playing Wyatt Earp is a whole lot cooler than playing a government agent in Furious 7 These said, Chevrolet C/K 3500 Silverado from the 1980s is not exactly the type of vehicle befitting of a Hollywood star and, to some extent, the decade of greed. A time of Reaganomics, the 1980s were the decade of the burgeoning yuppies, an era when the rich and famous were buying exotica such as the Ferrari Testarossa Despite the greed is good mantra of that epoch, Kurt didnt give in to what didnt matter. What the actor needed was something he could go off-road with, whenever the situation called for it. As Barrett-Jackson points out, this [C/K 3500] was the personal ranch truck of actor Kurt Russell. Russell purchased this one-ton Silverado 4x4 at Dick Wheeler Chevrolet in Glenwood Springs, CO, with 27 miles on the odometer.Now it shows less than 39,000 miles on the clock, which is not a lot in truck terms. The interior was replaced in 2015, as were the fuel tanks and sending units. Essentially a rust-free example of the breed, this Silverado also prides itself on a recent repaint with the original blue it had when it left the dealer lot. Offered at no reserve, this old workhorse also happens to be equipped with a handful of rather desirable options.The Dana 60 solid front axle, for example, is one of the highlights thanks to its 4:10 gear ratio. The one-ton package ups the ante with five lights in the tailgate and five cab lights. Power steering, power brakes, and a 4-speed manual with a 2.05 gear-driven transfer case are on the menu as well, as is a thumping great big-block V8 engine displacing 7.4 liters
The adventure, which is delivered by vlogger Shmee150 involves the three videos at the bottom of the page and we'll start by dropping the idea behind it.One week ago, Pasin Lathouras, the Thai owner of the Naraya, took delivery of his K machine, with Shmee using his McLaren 675LT Spider to attend the event.Well, now that Shmee needed to visit the Aston Martin factory, as he is preparing to take delivery of his Vantage GT8, Pasin... returned the favor by giving the YT man a shotgun ride to the Gaydon production site in his Agera RS. While the first clip below shows us this experience, the second brings back memories from the McLaren trip mentioned above. As for the third piece of footage, this is the most recent episode of Shmee's pre-delivery Aston Martin Vantage GT8 adventure.Spending about 150 miles (that's 245 km) in the passenger seat of the 1,160 hp vehicle means Shmee can deliver plenty of daily driving impressions.The Naraya is driven through London and, for one thing, the twin-turbo V8's voice is always involved in the conversation between the driver and his passenger.As you can expect, the British nature of the drive is reinforced by a speed camera moment, one that makes all the power at the driver's disposal seem like an amusing proposal.The speed demon you see here took 18 months to build, with the owner, whom some of you might know thanks to his name being used for a racing team, sharing tons of details on his Instagram account.Perhaps the most impressive non-velocity details of the car is the gold leaf. Applied by Ettore "Blaster" Callegaro, an Italian craftsman, this part of the build took two weeks to complete - keep this in mind as you watch the Koenigsegg get dirty in the video.
The partnership between Tesla and Panasonic started with batteries , but it has expanded with other components, which now include solar PV cells for solar panels, as well as modules to control and manage those cells. An important part of the collaboration focuses on solar glass tile roofs, which will be manufactured by Tesla, and they will incorporate Panasonics PV (photovoltaic) cells.Tesla has already announced that the new components, scheduled for production in the summer of 2017, will be compatible with its energy storage products. Moreover, the representatives of the American brand defined the interaction between the Powerwall, Powerpack, and the new PV cells and modules as seamless, which refers to an excellent integration that will improve the lives of their customers.The factory in Buffalo, New York, which will manufacture the PV modules and cells is part of SolarCitys chain of production. According to Teslas statement, Panasonic has agreed to cover the necessary capital costs in Buffalo, which could bring over 1,400 jobs to the city, out of which over 500 are in manufacturing.As you know, Tesla has acquired SolarCity , and the two brands will share their logistics network to increase sales and offer better integration of their solutions . Module production is predicted to be ramped up to 1 Gigawatt by 2019.Panasonics specialists will work in close collaboration with Tesla to develop the next generation of photovoltaic cells at the SolarCity facility in Fremont, California. The Asian corporation is motivated to do this kind of investment because Tesla has agreed to make a long-term purchase commitment with Panasonic , which includes grid storage battery cells, and electric vehicle battery cells at the Gigafactory.It is important to remark that Tesla has underlined the fact that its press release contains several forward-looking statements, which rely on multiple factors to become valid, and are currently based on the managements current expectations.
The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) now has more than 900 members  a 16% increase since the end of 2015.



The announcement was made at the association's annual industry conference where BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney delivered a review of 2016 as well as the association's outlook for 2017.



The association has now welcomed its 900th member, and we are fast approaching a combined fleet size of five million vehicles, which has never happened before, said Keaney. In the last three years, both membership and fleet size have grown by more than 30%, which corresponds with the growing strength of the industry which is now more influential than ever.



The majority of companies who have joined the association in 2016 are leasing brokers. This sector now consists of 308 members, a 40% year-on-year increase.



The overall growth in membership has had an impact on the number of vehicles that members are responsible for, according to the association. The number of vehicles on members fleets has now passed 4.7 million  more than 3.8 million are cars.



According to the results of the BVRLAs latest quarterly leasing survey, the number of cars and vans within the business leasing sector (contract hire and finance lease) has grown by 5.2% year-on-year, with the car fleet increasing by 2.2% and the van figure up 13%.

The overall size of the BVRLA car leasing fleet has increased by 10% year-on-year, with personal contract hire accounting for nearly 60% of this growth, according to the association.
The 2017 Honda CR-V and 2017 Honda Civic are officially on the list of the best-selling cars in the U.S. this 2016. There's a lot to celebrate as Honda also surpassed the barrier of 100 million units of manufactured cars. This is a valuable achievement that not many manufacturers are capable of.

Honda's Brief History

In 2017 Honda will celebrate 70 years since its founding in 1947. It was established as a manufacturer of motorcycles at first and it was not until 1963 that it produced its first car. This week, the automobile division of the Japanese brand has produced more than 100 million units, according to CarMagazine.

The first models of Honda were the light truck T360 and sporting S500. It was not until 1964 that it established its first production plant exclusively for cars, the Sayama, in the province of Saitama, which premiered with a new model, The S600 roadster.

Today, the current range of Honda includes specific car models for different segments and are distributed accross the globe. Best-selling sedans such as the Accord and Civic are available as well as crossovers such as the CR-V and HR-V.

2017 Honda Civic Shines

With a little more than a week left in 2016, the 2017 Honda Civic was the best selling retail car in North America of any size, according to TorqueNews. It also achieved its best sales record in 44 years, thanks to the reinvented Civic, which is one of our most-read topics here in AutoWorldNews.

The 2017 Honda Civic arrives with a new aesthetic, more interconnectivity on board, improved dynamics and, above all, new security systems. Both the 2017 Honda Civic Sedan and Hatchback also feature a new, sportier design on the front, with new optics and integrated daytime running lights, as well as a new front bumper.

The 2017 Honda Civic is available in three engines: one diesel and two petrol. The first is a 1.6-liter diesel i-DTEC of 120 hp, and in the petrol powertrain will be 1.4 i-VTEC of 100 hp and the 1.8-liter i-VTEC of 142 hp.

2017 Honda CR-V Tops Competitive Segment

Second only to pickup trucks, the crossover and SUV segment is the hottest and most competitive sales segment in the US. The 2017 Honda CR-V tops this segment, according to TorqueNews.

The 2017 Honda CR-V hits the mark with exceptional utility, decent drive and ride dynamics, with an attractive price point and exceptional all-wheel-drive fuel efficiency. It launches a series of improvements in perceived quality inside as well, with more space for occupants, a full battery of safety assistants and driving aids.

A new engine turbo for the 2017 Honda CR-V was inherited directly from the Honda Civic. It has a four - cylinder engine naturally aspirated with a capacity of 2.4 liter, and offers 184 hp and 244 Nm of maximum torque.
Honda has already given a facelift to its 2017 Honda City sedan. The new look will soon arrive in India and Thailand. The 2017 Honda City release date will be as early as next month, with Thailand having a date set at Jan. 12. India, on the other hand, has no specific date yet.

The 2017 Honda City is going to have a whole new look via a series of cosmetic changes. Speculations have surfaced that this is Honda's move to counter Hyundai's latest Verna sedan, as reported by Auto.NDTV.com. A newcomer also tags along in the form of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz. The following are the expected cosmetic upgrades for the 2017 Honda City.

The All-New 2017 Honda City: Exterior Features

The 2017 Honda City has obviously borrowed its design cues from bigger siblings Honda Accord and Honda Civic. Striking its design at the front, the refreshed look for the subcompact sedan will have a reimagined bumper sporting a pair of L-shaped headlamps lit by LEDs as well as its LED-powered daytime running lights (DRL). Chrome grills will house the fog lamps.

The new Honda model will also get 16-inch allow wheels featuring diamond cut finishes. To top it all off, it will have tail lamps getting its inspiration from the Honda Civic.

The All-New 2017 Honda City: Interior Features

The 2017 model Honda City will have a bunch of new features based on Thailand's version. An infotainment system 5-inch LCD display topped with eight speakers will bedazzle its new owners. On top of that, it will be compatible with Apple's CarPlay and Android Auto.

The latest Honda car model will also have a climate control feature, rear cameras for parking and AC vents for passengers in the rear.

The All-New 2017 Honda City: Engine

The next generation Honda City will still sport the good old 1.5L engines, for both petrol and diesel. It will have 5-speed manual transmission and CVT variations. The engine delivers 117 horsepower with 145 Nm for torque, the diesel variation will have a slightly lower horsepower, measured at 99 with 200 Nm for torque. The 2017 Honda City sedan will be offered in S, V, V+ and SV variants.
A Chinese official told local reporters last week that researchers are moving forward with plans to build a four-engine tiltrotor aircraft capable of speeds up to 310 mph, substantially faster than other heavy-lift helicopters. The Blue Whale project was first reported on about three years ago, so last weeks announcement seems to signal a commitment to the ambitious project. We will design two variants of the Blue Whale  a medium-duty type and a heavy-duty one, Wu Ximing, chief helicopter designer at the Aviation Industry Corp of China, told China Daily last week. The medium-duty model will have a maximum takeoff weight of 20 metric tons (22 tons), and the heavy-duty model 40 tons (44 tons).

The Blue Whale will have four rotating propellers, set on the tips of two parallel wings. Officials have said they plan to have a flying prototype by 2018. Meanwhile, Sikorsky is continuing to develop the S-97 Raider, which first flew in May 2015, for the military market. The Raider, which flies with two counter-rotating rotors plus a horizontal pusher prop at the tail, is expected to reach speeds of about 250 mph.
More ethnic Armenian citizens of Syria have decided to relocate to Armenia soon, a Yerevan-based charity assisting in their resettlement said on Tuesday.

The Initiatives for Development of Armenia (IDeA) foundation, which was set up by the Russian-Armenian philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, allocated in October $250,000 to support Syrian Armenians gravely affected by the bloody conflict in the Middle Eastern state.

The funding is aimed, among other things, at helping them settle and find employment in Armenia through three local non-governmental organizations. One of those NGOs called Halep (Aleppo) unites Syrian Armenians living in their ancestral homeland.

In a statement, IDeA said 37 Armenians from Aleppo have already moved to Armenia thanks to its project. Eighteen others have told Halep representatives that they want to follow suit, it said.

The announcement follows the capture by Syrian government troops of all districts in Aleppo remaining under rebel control. The city was home to the majority of an estimated 80,000 Armenians who lived in Syria before the civil war.

According to Armenian government estimates, only about 7,000 ethnic Armenians remain Aleppo at present. Virtually all of them live in the citys western government-controlled districts that were for years shelled by rebel forces.

Up to 20,000 Syrian Armenians are thought to have fled to Armenia in the last five years. Many of them have been struggling to find jobs in a country that has long suffered from high unemployment.

IDeA said that starting from next month another Yerevan-based NGO, Mission Armenia, will use its funding to cover housing expenditures of some of those migrants.

The charity hoped to also obtain funding from other organizations and individuals in Armenia and its worldwide Diaspora when it launched the aid scheme two months ago. It has raised only about $22,000 so far.
Environment Minister Artsvik Minasian rejected on Tuesday environment protection groups criticism of the Armenian governments decision to give the green light for a new gold mine currently constructed in Armenia.

A U.S.-British company, Lydian International, started building gold mining and smelting facilities at Amulsar deposit in the countrys southeastern Vayots Dzor province in August. It plans to launch ore extraction operations there by the end of 2017.

The Amulsar project is due to result in more than 1,000 new jobs and a significant increase in Armenias gold exports worth around $100 million last year. Lydian has attracted most of $370 million in capital investments needed for its implementation from U.S. equity firms.

Armenian environment protection groups are strongly opposed to the project, saying that it poses a serious threat to the local ecosystem. They also argue that the mountainous mining site is located less than 20 kilometers from Jermuk, the countrys most famous spa resort.

Both Lydian and the Armenian government have sought to dispel these concerns, saying that the company will use advanced technology that will minimize the environmental risks involved.

Minasian dismissed continuing attempts by the environmentalists to block gold mining at Amulsar, saying that the project received government clearance in accordance with all legal requirements, including an environmental impact assessment conducted by his ministry.

I will be guided only by the law, he told a news conference. If there are legal grounds for a revision [of the assessment,] we are ready to discuss them. But its wrong to constantly speak about the subject without a revised package of legal grounds because as a result of that we also damage initiatives connected with environment protection programs.

Minasian, who was appointed environment minister about three months ago, admitted that the existing government system of gauging environmental consequences of open-pit mining in Armenia is weak. But he said this is not sufficient grounds for halting the Amulsar operation.

The mine is not yet being exploited, but you are demanding that the project be suspended or annulled. What are the legal grounds for doing that? he said.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which hold minority stakes in Lydian, also scrutinized the environmental impact of the Amulsar project before agreeing to invest in it. A senior EBRD executive said in August that Lydian has pledged to meet the strictest environmental conditions set by the London-based lending institution.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan has also voiced support for the mining operation, with Ambassador Richard Mills attending a ground-breaking ceremony at Amulsar. Mills expressed confidence that Lydian will operate in Armenia in line with international environmental and social standards.
27 December 2016 11:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People has revealed the latest data on Azerbaijanis, who went missing during the Karabakh War.

As of late December 2016, a total of 3,866 people are considered as missing persons. The data showed that majority of the missing persons  3,123 people, are military personnel, while 743 people are civilians.

Sixty two of the missing civilians are children (20 girls and 42 boys), 261 are women and 301 elderly people (including 152 women).

The bloody war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan led to occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions by Armenian armed forces.

In a cruel war more than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

The Commission also disclosed information on the persons, who were taken captive  the total number of captives is 873. Out of the total number, 591 persons are military personnel and 282 people are civilians. The majority of those captured during the hostilities are children, elderly people and women.

Armenia repeatedly refused to submit information regarding the fate of thousands of Azerbaijanis, who gone missing or taken hostage.

The number of people, who were eventually released from the Armenian captivity is 1,437, including 351 of military personnel and 1,086 civilians.

The number of missed people registered by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is 3,768 from the Azerbaijani and 780 from the Armenian side.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly declared its readiness to begin negotiations with Armenia to free the captives and resolve the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

However, the Armenian side keeps ignoring all attempts of Azerbaijan and international organizations, thereby disrespecting the international law and hindering the settlement of the conflict.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 December 2016 14:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

War and corruption are interrelated, thats why the top ten corrupt countries are those in war. For example, the generals use the war for their own goals. The remarks about Armenia's current problems were made by the Secretary of the Armenian National Congress faction Aram Manukyan.

He said that because of blockade, imported goods cost more expensive by 30 percent in Armenia with no railway. "In terms of the growth rate we are lagging behind by 15-20 times. Someone should talk about this, he said.

Manukyan noted that the Armenian parliament has approved three new credit agreements, and the external debt of Armenia reached $6 billion, which constitute 60 percent of GDP.

Answering the question of how the Armenian authorities should start tackling the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh, Manukyan said that, first of all, the executive body should advocate for a staged solution, then the coalition should join it, and after that  the press and the public should participate in the process.

As a result, the willingness to support reconciliation will be supported by the international community. The authorities have not prepared the people for peace yet, he underlined.

The Armenian political scientist Armen Grigoryan also talked about the problems of today's Armenia. He said that it is necessary to eliminate the monopolies in the country. As an example Grigoryan noted that after the mobile operator VivaCell-MTS entered the market, ArmenTel lost the monopoly in Armenias telecommunications industry and the prices of mobile services fell several times.

Grigoryan also linked emigration from Armenia with the economical problems.

According to the International Economic Forum, a quarter of people born in Armenia no longer live in the country.

Moreover, the UN Population Fund states that over the past 25 years the number of emigrants from Armenia amounted to more than 1 million people. Such a high indicator was not recorded neither in any other republic of the former USSR, nor in the countries of region.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 December 2016 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Although the New Year is approaching, Armenia is missing holiday spirit. Financial shortages, uncertainty about the future, household inconveniences, as well as lack of any flash of hope to survive the heavy situation frustrate ordinary Armenians.

Armenia and its people will meet the New Year holidays in debt, such a bleak statement was made by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan during the discussions in the Armenian Parliament.

He said this because of the expected increase in the country's external debt in connection with the next loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank. This time Armenia is going to borrow $90 million. Another loan will provide 40 million euros from the French Development Agency.

A big part of all loans Armenia borrows from other countries and international organizations is being spent for personal needs of the criminal clan which rules the country. Eventually, simple Armenians pay off for the dirty business of their authorities.

According to Armenias Ministry of Finance, the national debt of the country will grow by $789 million by the end of 2016 to $5,867 million, and reach $6,277 million in 2017. The numbers are big enough to frighten a small country like Armenia.

Pashinyan said 8.8 percent of the budget expenses in 2017 will be aimed at the payment of foreign debt  third largest expenditure after social and defense expenses.

Unfortunately, we have people who celebrate the New Year in debt. And now we all, our country, will likewise celebrate this New Year, he noted.

Recently Armenia achieved three credit agreements about providing $180 million from abroad to the country. MP from Armenian National Congress Levon Zurabyan resented on this case: We have zero growth, but we take credit for $180 million, by this increasing the national debt. I have an impression that there is no concept, there is only the intention to solve the immediate issues. We take the money, but we don't think what we will do in the future.

Every citizen born in Armenia gets this duty on his neck, an opposition MP Aram Manukyan continued the discussion. This debt amounts to $300 for every citizen.

He said that according to the data of Carnegie Foundation, Armenia is ranked third in the world in terms of emigration after Syria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

That is, each of the four officially emigrate from Armenia. Then how will you replenish the budget and demonstrate economic growth to settle the debt? he asked the Parliament members.

However, the Armenian authorities have not managed yet to solve this problem  they cannot give up corruption which long ago turned into the government's main feeding source.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
27 December 2016 13:24 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The government of Azerbaijan plans to achieve a GDP growth by 249 million manats ($ 141.2 million) until 2020, through the implementation of measures envisaged in the Strategic Road Map for the development of housing provision at a reasonable price in Azerbaijan.

Under the Road Map, some 10,000 new jobs will be created in the construction sector of the country.

The document comprises short-term (until 2020), medium-term (until 2025) and long-term measures (post 2025) to be implemented in the sphere.

The short-term measures include strengthening of positions of the State Housing Agency to meet housing needs of the population, while medium-term measures envisage overall and systematic reconstruction of cities. Post-2025 measures cover the elimination of shortcomings in the development of housing sector in the regions.

MIDA LLC (which acts under the State Housing Construction Agency) will be responsible for the development of projects on the provision of housing at reasonable prices.

Some 900 million manats ($ 510.5 billion) are planned to be spent for the implementation of the measures. The financial means are expected to be provided from the state budget, and other sources including the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support, international financial organizations, banking credits, Azerbaijan Mortgage Fund, and securities.

The project of social houses is expected to provide young and low-income families with renovated apartments with all conveniences. The project is also expected to be of great importance for the strengthening of non-oil sector of the economy.

Social housing is low-cost houses built in a short time. The area of the apartment is small, but there are appropriate living conditions.

The country earlier introduced a new system of subsidized housing, which will be created at the E-government portal and become available since May 2017. The system will provide all necessary information about requirements applied for acquisition of apartments on easy terms. The apartments, to be built to improve living conditions of citizens, will be constructed in the area of 11.6 hectares, which is located along the Outer Ring Road, in Yasamal district of Baku city. Nearly 2,000 apartments will be built at the campus.

Developing the construction sector is expected to become one of the major drives of non-oil economy and to trigger the inflow of investment in the country.

Besides, the country aims to become self-reliant in the sphere of construction materials, minimizing its import dependency. The products of building industry in Azerbaijan include cement, iron-concrete products and panels, cubic stones, brick, glass, slate, asbestos-cement pipe, heat-insulating polymer construction materials, linoleum, plumbing and chemical window and door products.

The country meets the domestic demand in cement production through local output. Some 2 million tons of cement worth over $100 million were imported in the country in 2014, while the volume recorded a fourfold drop and decreased down to 500,000 tons of cement in 2015. The figure reduced to 320,000 tons of cement and clinker in January-August 2016, while the sum spent for import operations amounted to only $15 million. Moreover, the country exported some 100,000 tons of cement worth $5 million to Georgia.

Priority areas in the sphere of construction are construction of brand hotels in the capital city and quality hotels in the regions, construction of tourism complexes, logistical warehouses, production of new types of construction materials, development of architectural and engineering services, introduction of brand new construction technologies, the production of aluminum, lime, ceramics, construction glass as well as the construction of logical warehouses and machinery plants.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNews
27 December 2016 14:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

A new farming enterprise on production of ecologically clean products may be established in Azerbaijan.

The measure is reflected in the Strategic Road Map for the manufacture and processing of agricultural products in the country.

Relevant agencies will initially examine the possibility of creation of such enterprise in the country. Further, the work will be implemented for the production of fertilizers, should the establishment of the institution is found reasonable. Motivational measures are also planned to be implemented to enlarge the area suitable for the cultivation of such products.

Besides, some 5 green shops and 50 farmers markets are planned to be organized in large cities and regions of the country by 2020. The establishment of such specialized stores is deemed to be one of the main factors of food security that will allow the country to provide its population with organic and ecologically clean products.

Also, meat production will be increased by 20 percent, milk  by 30 percent, the volume of cotton production and its processing  fourfold.

The country has a self-sufficiency ratio for fresh fruit and vegetables and is keen on developing grain production to fully ensure self-sufficiency in the product and export it to the third countries.

Ensuring food security is one of the country's strategic goals, while one of the key elements of this concept is to eliminate dependence on foodstuff imports.

The country currently ranks the 57th among 113 countries of the world according to the Global Food Security Index 2016, while the highest scores are recorded on such indicators as the presence of food safety net programs, low level of food loss, food safety, access to financing for farmers.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNews
27 December 2016 15:34 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ, which accumulates and manages revenues of the country coming from the implementation of oil and gas agreements has revealed the plan of its activity for the next year.

SOFAZ head Shahmar Movsumov told Trend that the Fund will continue to participate in currency auctions in 2017, as manat bonds are envisaged in the Funds budget, adding that a big part of SOFAZs budget accounts for manat expenditures, particularly for transfers to the state budget.

Main revenues of the institution are being received in foreign currency, particularly in the US dollar, therefore, to implement its commitments the Fund converts the currency obtained from transactions into manat. He clarified that the Fund implements even currency sales through auctions organized by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), to prevent a negative impact of large-scale sales of currency on the market and for timely implementation of budget commitments.

Over 11 months of 2016, SOFAZ sold funds worth $4.6 billion through currency auctions. SOFAZs transfers to the budget are planned at the level of 7.615 billion manats ($4.321 billion) in 2016 and 6.1 billion manats ($3.46 billion) in 2017.

He went on saying that in early 2017, the Fund will define a new asset portfolio manager, adding that in the long-term investment period, the Fund will aim to achieve a balanced global portfolio by means of increasing the share of risky assets. The Fund plans to increase the volume of financial instruments promising high income in the long-term perspective.

Movsumov said that the Fund will also continue the activity on the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Azerbaijan, joining EITI in 2003, received the "2009 EITI Award" for its commitment to EITI principles and criteria and achievements in its implementation. In April 2015, Azerbaijans EITI status was downgraded from compliant to candidate. The Candidate status was maintained in the 35th EITI Board Meeting held in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 24-26, 2016. The EITI Board agreed that Azerbaijan had made meaningful progress with implementing the EITI Standard with considerable improvements across several requirements compared to the first Validation in 2015. The government of Azerbaijan will prepare a new plan of corrective measures by the next EITI meeting, which is scheduled for March 8-9, 2017.

Activities in 2016

Commenting on the activity of the Fund in 2016, Movsumov said that it may be assessed as successful, underlining that the role of the Fund in supporting Azerbaijans financial stability significantly increased in the conditions of low oil prices, the decrease in state revenues from oil sales and drop in the oil sector.

"In 2016, SOFAZ carried out timely transfers to the state budget and also continued financing important infrastructure and social projects, for example, a project on improvement of social conditions for IDPs, a project on reconstruction of the Samur-Absheron irrigation system and a project on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway," Movsumov said.

Besides, the fund also financed Azerbaijans share in the Southern Gas Corridor project, as well as the construction of the STAR oil refinery in Turkey. In addition, the Fund continued financing the state program on education abroad.

Movsumov noted that in late 2015, changes were made to the investment policy of SOFAZ. As a result, the balance of risks and return changed in favor of more profitable financial instruments, which is a part of a long-term process of building a balanced investment portfolio.

The permitted share of investment in real estate doubled (from 5 to 10 percent). As a result of these changes, this year the share of direct investment in real estate, as well as investment via real estate funds increased. In 2016, the purchase of Palazzo Turati office building in Milan was completed. A big amount of investment was put in real estate funds and investment was also put in private equity funds. The portion of funds that can be invested in stocks also increased," SOFAZ head said.

Total revenues of the Fund are expected to stand at $5.8 billion in 2016 instead of the forecasted $2.8 billion. The revision of the forecast is linked to the fact that initially the budget of the Fund was based on the oil price standing at a low level.

In early 2016, the budget of the Fund was based on oil price standing at $25 per barrel. The average oil price stabilized during the year and exceeded the level of $42 per barrel. Therefore, the revenue of SOFAZ is expected to exceed the forecast significantly, Movsumov clarified, adding that depending on the rate differences which may arise as a result of changes in exchange rates of currencies included in the investment portfolio, the Funds USD assets may increase or decrease at the end of 2016 in line with the volume of the rate difference.

The Fund plans to increase its assets by $1 billion in 2017. Assets of the Fund as of October 1 stood at $35.82 billion, with some $33.95 billion accounting for the investment portfolio and 1.87 billion falling to a share of manat account.

Also, in 2016, the Fund managed to enter the top five of the most transparent sovereign wealth funds of the world. SOFAZ ranked the fourth among 60 sovereign wealth funds with overall score of 92 out of 100 in the fourth edition of Sovereign Wealth Fund Transparency and Accountability scoreboard published in October 2016.

Being a special purpose state organization primary objectives of SOFAZ are to help maintain macroeconomic stability in the country and to generate wealth for present and future generations.

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27 December 2016 17:25 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Baku hosted the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran State Commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, as well as an Azerbaijan-Iran business forum on December 27.

The meeting and business forum took place as part of a visit of Iranian delegation led by Irans Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi to Azerbaijan. Vaezi is expected to visit Nakhchivan on the third day of his Azerbaijan trip. Governor General of East Azerbaijan Province Esmail Jabbarzadeh and Ardabil Province Governor General Majid Khodabakhsh are accompanying Vaezi during the visit.

The events became a stage for the discussion of a number of issues, which are economically important for both Azerbaijan and Iran.

Pharmaceuticals plant in Pirallahi

The creation of the joint Azerbaijan-Iran pharmaceutical plant, which is expected to be built in Pirallahi Industrial Park, was high on agenda during the meeting. Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev addressing the event said that a foundation stone for the plant will be laid in January 2017. Some $30 million will be invested in the joint venture.

The necessary medicines will be imported from Iran to Azerbaijan within the first stage, while Iran will provide all necessary technology for the production of drugs in the second stage of the project, production of medicines will be launched at the third stage. The implementation of these three stages will take around 3 to 5 years.

Irans Darou Pakhsh Pharma Chem Company, the largest pharmaceutical company of Iran earlier signed a MoU with Azerbaijan Investment Company (AIC) and Azersun Holding. Some 49 percent of share in the capital of the JV will belong to the Iranian side, while the rest part is expected to be shared between AIC (25 percent) and Azersun Holding (26 percent). The plant to be commissioned within 2 years is expected to produce some 90 types of medicines, including drugs for cardiovascular diseases, infectious and noninfectious diseases, as well as different types of antibiotics and anesthetics.

Azerbaijan sees the pharmaceutical manufacturing as one of the major directions to diversify the non-oil sector of the economy. Taking into account the profitability of pharmaceutical sector, the government is keen to cooperate with foreign companies in this direction. Iran with its modern pharmaceutical system has 100-year experience in this sector.

Heavy Industry

The sides have also held discussions on the allocation of the area for the construction of Tabriz tractor manufacturing plant within the territory of Netchala industrial district. Besides, Mustafayev mentioned that a work is underway on the construction the Azerbaijani-Iranian car plant. A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant was held in Neftchala industrial district in August 2016.The total cost of the plant is $15 million, while some 25 percent of the cost will be provided by the Iranian side. The plant, which is a joint project of Azerbaijans AzEuroCar LLC and Irans giant automaker, Iran Khodro, will cover an area of 10 hectares.

The plant is expected to provide jobs for 300 people at the first stage, with the further increase up to 500. Twenty percent of the produced cars will be exported. The cars produced at the plant will meet Euro 5 standard. Four Iranian car brands  Dena, Runna, Soren and Samand will be produced at the new plant, which will have a capacity of 10,000 cars a year.

Simplified Visa regime

Mustafayev said that Azerbaijan plans to significantly simplify the visa regime for Irans citizens in 2017. Starting from January 10, 2017, Iranian citizens will be able to register visas for entry into Azerbaijan via the ASAN Viza system, as a result of which, they will be able to obtain visas within three days.

Some 18 flights are operated from Iran to Azerbaijan on a monthly basis, while the interest of Iranian tourists in the country is growing steadily. The Islamic Republic has repeatedly voiced its intention to cancel visa regime with Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan currently issues 2 types of visas, including entry and transit visas to foreigners and stateless people. A single-entry visa allows only one entry-exit to the country within the period, while a multiple entry visa is valid for 2 years. This visa type allows a person to enter and exit the country several times within relevant period.

A period of staying in the country is limited by a validity period of a visa, which becomes invalid if it is not used during its validity period. Azerbaijani citizens currently have visa-free or visa on arrival access to some 62 countries and territories. Citizens of Iran can obtain a 15 days visa on arrival only for Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

On June 1, 2016, president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on simplification of e-visas issuance procedure and the creation of the ASAN Viza system. Visas will be issued through a single online portal within three days without applying to state organizations.

Agriculture

The Islamic Republic also offers Azerbaijan to expand relations in agriculture, as the two countries have ample opportunities to expand cooperation in the field. Vaezi said that Azerbaijan and Iran can develop a mutual use of agricultural lands, as well as jointly export agricultural products to third countries. He added that the countries can also jointly produce various agro-technologies.

Moreover, the Iranian minister offered the Azerbaijani side to mutually export and import agricultural products at advantageous prices, mentioning that the sides have already created a trade committee and determined a list of goods exported and imported by the two countries.

Also, National Confederation of Entrepreneurs Organizations of Azerbaijan (ASK) has signed a MoU on mutual cooperation with Iran's Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture (ICCIMA), on the sidelines of the forum.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January to November 2016, $130.13 million of which accounted for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. The country's exports to Iran almost doubled to $14.4 million in the first quarter of 2016, while imports increased from $19.4 million in 2015 to $27 million in 2016.

Transport

The meeting also discussed the second stage of the implementation of the ambitious North-South transport corridor. Mustafayev said that the first stage of implementation is drawing to a close, mentioning that the work on the construction of railway till Iranian border, as well as the construction of the railroad bridge over the Astarachay River will finish soon. Tehran plans to complete the Iran-Azerbaijan railways Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) segment over the next three months.

The construction of the bridge, which forms the border between the two similarly-named towns of Astara in Azerbaijan and Iran, was launched in April 2016. The bridge, which is funded and built jointly by the two countries under the terms of an inter-governmental agreement, bears strategic importance, as it will serve as a connector of railways of Azerbaijan and Iran. The facility will be an integral part of the Astara (Azerbaijan) - Astara (Iran) railway, which is part of the North-South international transport corridor.

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27 December 2016 16:53 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Any activity conducted in the occupied Azerbaijani territories is illegal, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov told reporters in Baku on December 27.

He was commenting on the reports about the restoration of a mosque by Iranian specialists in Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces.

Armenia by all means tries to carry out illegal activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories and to settle there Armenians from abroad. These actions contradict the international law, said Khalafov.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Hikmat Hajiyev recently noted that one of the fundamental principles of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations is non-interference of the states in the internal affairs of each other.

He said that Armenia is a country that looted, destroyed and abused the material and cultural monuments of the Azerbaijani people in the occupied territories, including mosques belonging to the Islamic religion.

Since the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and occupation of Azerbaijani territories, Armenian aggressors destroyed 1,200 historical and architectural monuments, looted 27 museums, over 100,000 items were exported to Armenia. In addition, the Armenian occupiers destroyed 152 religious monuments and 62 mosques, 4.6 million books in 927 libraries, including the Holy Quran and rare Islamic manuscripts.

Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.

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27 December 2016 10:20 (UTC+04:00)

The Azerbaijani Embassy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organized a reception in Riyadh on occasion of December 31  the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis, Azertac reported.

The event brought together Turkish Ambassador Yunus Demirer and representatives of Turkish Diaspora, businessmen and compatriots living in Saudi Arabia.

The event began with a performance of the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Then a minute of silence was held in blessed memory of the national leader of Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev.

Ambassador Rasim Rzayev congratulated the event participants on the Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis and spoke of the importance of this holiday, which was founded at the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1991.

The ambassador noted that the Solidarity Day represents the unity of the Azerbaijani people and fully justifies itself as an important step towards the protection of the compatriots living in different countries of the world.

Emphasizing the increasing influence of Azerbaijan in the international arena thanks to the activity of the national leaders worthy successor President Ilham Aliyev, Rzayev presented the results of policies aimed at solving the problems of compatriots living abroad.

The diplomat named the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the restoration of the territorial integrity of the country as the most important problem of Azerbaijan and called the world Azerbaijanis to continue attempts of confronting provocations and propaganda directed against the country.

The reception continued with speeches by compatriots living and working in various fields in Saudi Arabia. It was noted that the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis has become a national holiday of the Azerbaijani people and represents the basic idea of the unity of the Azerbaijanis, respect for national and spiritual values, feelings, and ideas associated with attachment to historical homeland.

The participants of the evening were given detailed information about the work done by the Embassy in 2016, and they were urged to immediately contact the Embassy in case of occurrence of any problems.

During the reception videos reflecting modern Azerbaijan were shown and popular folk songs were sounded. The event continued with a banquet.

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27 December 2016 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans first lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has today viewed conditions created at newly-constructed orphanage-kindergarten No.343 in Bina settlement, Khazar district, Baku.

Construction of the orphanage-kindergarten started in 2015 under the Heydar Aliyev Foundations Program for Development of Preschool Institutions, and ended in August 2016.

President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the orphanage-kindergarten, and then toured it.

Azerbaijans first lady was informed of the work done here. The two-storey orphanage-kindergarten can handle up to 140 children in 7 groups.

President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva met with children, chatted with them and posed together for photographs.

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27 December 2016 10:44 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan-Japan Friendship Society organized a reception on occasion of December 31  The Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis.

The event brought together employees of Azerbaijan`s Embassy to Japan, members of Azerbaijani Diaspora, and local public, Azertac reported.

Chairman of the Society Khalil Kalantar, Counsellor of the Embassy Farid Talibov congratulated the event participants on the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and spoke of the importance of this holiday, which was founded at the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev in 1991.

They noted that the Day of Solidarity represents the unity of the Azerbaijani people and fully justifies itself as an important step towards the protection of the compatriots living in different countries of the world. Emphasizing the increasing influence of Azerbaijan in the international arena thanks to the activity of the national leaders worthy successor President Ilham Aliyev, the speakers presented the results of policies aimed at solving the problems of compatriots living abroad.

The event continued with performing Azerbaijan`s national dances and music.

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27 December 2016 09:48 (UTC+04:00)

A new book by academician Ramiz Mehdiyev, head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, titled "New world order and national idea" has been published.

The book includes Ramiz Mehdiyev's two works which were published in local media in 2002 and 2003.

In his book, Ramiz Mehdiyev says that Azerbaijan has gained global influence thanks to President Ilham Aliyev's wise and consistent policy.

Academician Ramiz Mehdiyev highlights also the leadership, charisma, wisdom and other rare qualities which were typical of Heydar Aliyev's personality, as well as the national leader's mission of emancipation, formation of national idea and ideology, his role in national state building and other invaluable services.

The book is available in Azerbaijani and Russian versions.

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27 December 2016 17:02 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov stated that issues regarding the draft convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea have been mostly agreed upon.

Khalafov, talking to reporters in Baku on December 27, said that negotiations on the remaining issues continue.

We expect them to be fully agreed upon until the next summit of heads of Caspian states in Astana, Khalafov said.

The legal status of the Caspian Sea has remained unsolved during the past two decades, preventing development and exploitation of its disputable oil and gas fields and creating obstacles to the realization of major projects.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier 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.

Khalafov went on to say that a special group should work out these issues before the meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian states.

We plan to summarize all the work in order to finally agree on a draft convention on the Caspian Seas legal status for the heads of state to sign it, Khalafov said.

The Caspian littoral states  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.

Moreover, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it in November 2001, and February 2003, respectively.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.

Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan hold to the principle of dividing into national sectors based on the median line principles since it is an international boundary lake, and leaving the sea surface for general use, i.e. they are for demarcation of mineral resources and the Caspian Sea shelf, but against dividing up its waters.

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. 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.

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27 December 2016 17:13 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan has made great strides under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, said Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

The president made the remark as he received credentials of Azerbaijani Ambassador Hasan Zeynalov, Azertac reported.

Zeynalov conveyed sincere greetings of President Aliyev to the Afghan leader. The ambassador noted that Azerbaijan attaches special importance to developing relations with Afghanistan, saying he will spare no efforts to contribute to the further expansion of these ties.

The envoy further noted that there is a great potential for the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation between Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, adding the commissioning of Lapis Lazuli Transit, Trade & Transport Route, which will cross the regional countries, will give a serious impetus to the expansion of the cooperation.

Zeynalov stressed that the two countries enjoy successful cooperation within the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Organization.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Zeynalov thanked Afghanistan for supporting Azerbaijan`s fair stance.

The Afghan president asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to President Aliyev, further emphasizing that his country attaches special importance to expanding ties with Azerbaijan.

President Ashraf Ghani noted that they have always supported Azerbaijan`s fair position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding the conflict should be solved only on the basis of Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity.

The president expressed his confidence that Zeynalov will contribute to the development of Azerbaijan-Afghanistan relations.

Azerbaijan, as a reliable partner of NATO and friend of brotherly Afghanistan, is committed to continue its significant contribution to the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016 by providing troops, multimodal transit, training and financial assistance.

The country has several times made substantial donations to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund. Moreover, Azerbaijan supports Afghanistan on its path of reforms towards integrating into regional and global economy.

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27 December 2016 11:46 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

The Energy Ministry of resource-rich Azerbaijan has prepared the energy balance forecast for 2017. The document has already been submitted for the consideration and approval of the Cabinet of Ministers.

The document was drafted based on such directions of the energy policy as meeting the countrys demand in energy resources, elimination of import dependence, ensuring energy security and provision of uninterrupted and reliable operation of the fuel-energy complex.

The document was prepared with the participation of representatives of the Cabinet, Economy Ministry, Azerenergy JSC and SOCAR.

The country earlier revised its forecast for oil output to bring the volumes in line with the landmark deal reached between OPEC and non-OPEC states to put ceilings to production.

Azerbaijan plans to produce some 39.797 million tons of oil in 2017, while the figure is 3.7 percent lower than the index of 2016. Average daily oil production will amount to 800,000-807,000 barrels in 2017 (in line with Vienna accord), while the daily output for 2016 stands at 842,000 barrels.

The country holds 0.4 percent of the worlds total proven oil reserves, and produce 1 percent of the worlds oil total output according to the BP Statistical review of World Energy 2015.

The volume of gas production in 2017 is forecasted to stand at 28.39 billion cubic meters (bcm), some 2.9 percent less than in 2016. By late 2016, the volumes of oil extraction in the country will hit 41.307 tons, while gas production volumes will amount to 242.5 mcm.

The share of renewable energy in the total energy balance currently stands at 16 percent. The country aims to increase the share of alternative energy in its total energy balance. By 2020, the country plans to increase this figure up to 20 percent.

In addition, Azerbaijan intends to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 35 percent by 2030, as the country is among the countries that signed the Paris Agreement, which envisages the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to support green planet.

Potential of renewable energy sources in the country exceeds 25,400 megawatt. The potential of solar energy in the country is more than 8,000 megawatts, while the capacity of wind power and geothermal energy are 15,000 and 800 megawatts, respectively.

The potential of bio-energy (a type of renewable energy made available from materials derived from biological sources) is estimated at 900 megawatts, while capacity of small hydroelectric power plants is 700 megawatts.

The energy balance allows to see the relative importance of different fuels in their contribution to the economy, assess the level of consumption in the energy sector and to make sound decisions on the planning of the national economy.

The format of energy balance used in the country is in line with the recommendations of the International Energy Agency (IEA), while the template contains indicators on some 23 types of energy products.

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27 December 2016 13:04 (UTC+04:00)

A batch of Russian Su-30SM jet fighters of 4 ++ generation have been delivered to Kazakhstans Military Forces, Kazakh Defense Ministry reported on December 27.

The aircraft is capable of performing a wide range of combat missions at a considerable distance from the base in any weather conditions.

The first batch of Su-30SM was delivered to Kazakhstans Air Forces in 2015 within the agreements reached between the defense ministries of Kazakhstan and Russia. Kazakh pilots have already used them in military drills.

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27 December 2016 13:37 (UTC+04:00)

Syria and is maintaining contact with Russia and Turkey on this matter, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said Tuesday, Sputnik News Agency reported.

"There was a general understanding of the possible convenience of using Astana for intra-Syrian talks. Our international partners, namely, Russia and Turkey, are creating the right atmosphere for the talks and determining the agenda. This is what is happening right now, we are staying in touch," Idrissov said.

On Monday, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed readiness to host Syrian peace talks in Astana, the city proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier as a suitable neutral territory. Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, following the protests that had turned violent, as part of the so-called Arab Spring. The opposition and Damascus, along with the mediators, have been engaged in UN-brokered settlement talks. The last round of intra-Syrian talks took place in Geneva in April. The Syrian High Negotiations Committee opposition group walked out of the negotiations, citing the continuous fighting in Syria and the lack of progress on humanitarian issues.

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A file photo of Hua Chunying, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry. [Photo/IC]

China lodged a protest with the United States for signing a defense act that included a call for senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"We are resolutely against the Taiwan-related section in the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and have lodged solemn representations with the US," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news conference.

Part of the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act directs the US Department of Defense to conduct a program of senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan, Reuters reported.

Noting that the Taiwan question has a bearing on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said that "China will by no means accept" the stipulation of the US defense act.

"Although the Taiwan-related content in the US act has no legal binding force, it severely violates the three joint communiques and interferes with China's domestic affairs," she said, adding that China urges the US to end military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan. The three communiques were crucial agreements in the normalization of diplomatic relations between the US and China.

Hua praised the recent remarks by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser to former US president Jimmy Carter. Brzezinski told WorldPosta partnership between online news aggregator Huffington Post and independent think tank the Berggruen Institutelast week that "a world in which America and China are cooperating is a world in which American influence is maximized".

"It is not in our interest to antagonize Beijing," Brzezinski was quoted as saying. He criticized the phone call between US president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Dec 2 as "a pointless irritant".

"Cooperation is the only right choice between China and the US," Hua said, adding that the two countries should adhere to the principle of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and cooperation for win-win results.

Tang Shao-cheng, a research fellow in the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University in Taipei, said that although the US defense act looks like a measure that is friendly toward Taiwan, it is hard to say whether it would benefit Taiwan.

Taiwan is a valuable chip for the US to curb the rise of the Chinese mainland, Tang wrote in an article in the Taipei-based China Times, noting that it was Tsai's refusal to accept the 1992 Consensus, which establishes the one-China policy, that led to the island's self-limitation.
Carrie Fisher, the actress from Hollywood royalty best known for playing Star Wars' iconic Princess Leia, has died at age 60.

Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher has died at age 60

She was best known as Princess Leia Organa

Fisher suffered cardiac emergency on flight 2 days before Christmas

RELATED: FINAL GOODBYE: Roll call of some of those who died in 2016



Her daughter, Billie Lourd, released a statement through a publicist confirming her death. Lourd said her mom was "loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly."

Fisher experienced a cardiac emergency Dec. 23, on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She was treated by paramedics immediately after the plane landed, according to several news reports. She had been hospitalized since then.

Celebrity website TMZ, which first reported the medical emergency, said she suffered a heart attack.

Over the weekend, the actress was showered with well-wishes, from fans to family to friends. Peter Mayhew, who played "Star Wars" character Chewbacca, called her "everyone's favorite princess right now."

And Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo opposite Fisher, in a statement said: "I'm shocked and saddened to hear the news about my dear friend. Our thoughts are with Carrie, her family and friends."

Soon after the announcement of her death, tributes poured in on social media.

Star Wars creator George Lucas joined other top execs for Lucasfilm and Disney in remembering Fisher on the official Star Wars website.

Lucas called Fisher "a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved:"

"In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess  feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carries family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all.

One of the most heartbreaking statements may actually come from the social media account for Gary, Carrie Fisher's dog, who had a huge following on Twitter:

I was always by your side but best of all you were always by mine. #RIPCarrie pic.twitter.com/QgeOYdmmH2  Carrie Fisher's Dog (@Gary_TheDog) December 28, 2016

Fisher, the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and entertainer Eddie Fisher, was 19 when she first played Princess Leia Organa in 1977's "Star Wars." She reprised her role as General Leia in last year's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."



She also was an accomplished author, writing the best-selling "Postcards from the Edge," which was later a movie starring Meryl Streep. Recently, she had been promoting her memoir, "The Princess Diarist," in which she reveals that she and Ford had an affair on the set of "Star Wars."

Carrie Fisher meets the fans

Fisher's legions of fans got the chance to meet the star at conventions all over the world. Fisher attended the two previous Star Wars Celebration conventions held in Orlando. In 2015, Fisher appeared at Tampa Bay Comic Con, where she answered questions, signed autographs and posed for pictures. Digital media producer Christie Zizo tweeted video from the convention. Be sure to turn the audio up on your device to listen to the following clips:

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Matharoo sisters of Toronto Billionaire Femi Otedola

Toronto sisters Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo have been accused in Nigeria of attempting to extort money from wealthy Nigerian men. The two women have a history in Nigeria, having worked there as restaurant managers among other occupations. But their profile is one of high-living, luxury-loving and frankly sexy ladies about Lagos. Now comes news reports from Nigeria that the sisters  Canadian of Indian extraction  are accused of what is called cyber bullying and extortion. A statement published on Politics Nigeria says the two created a website as well as Twitter and Instagram accounts which they have employed to execute humiliation and cyber bullying of some 274 persons, mostly based in various regions of Africa.

BILLIONAIRE COMPLAINED

The Matharoo sisters and their exploits may be found in a number of Internet postings from Nigeria but the news of their present predicament is told by Avery Haines of City News. She quotes the publisher of Politics Nigeria as saying that the women approached certain people who they knew were wealthy. They told them that, this is what they have on them, these are the image (sic) they have. If they dont want it to go out in public, if they dont want a story to go out in public, they should pay a certain amount. The source said the sisters were arrested after they tried to extort one of Nigerias richest men, billionaire Femi Otedola. Mr. Otedola, 54, is chairman of Forte Oil Plc, an importer of fuel products. He is also the founder of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, and the owner of a number of other businesses across shipping, real estate and finance. A raid on the women netted laptops and iPads that allegedly contained information about different people, including videotapes of men having sex with them. Haines said Global Affairs Canada told her they are providing consular services to the Matharoo sisters, who they confirm, are being detained in Lagos. .
Photo credit: Flickr user iluvgadgets

2016 is a year that speaks for itself. Its been a rough and tumultuous one, culminating in a divisive presidential election that has many people afraid of whats in store for the country once the new administration takes office on January 20. When were in need of wisdom and guidance during troubling and unpredictable times ahead, we turn to our authors, who continue to offer their time and insights to give us perspective and commentary on the condition of our world. Our blog, the Broadside, wouldnt be what it is without them. As always, were so grateful to them. Well need their thought-provoking essays as we head into 2017. Before the year comes to a close, we would like to share a collection of some of the Broadsides most-read posts. Happy New Year!

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz: A Skirmish Between Colonizers



In January, a group of armed militiamen, including Ryan and Ammon Bundy, broke into and took over the headquarters and visitors center of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Harney County, Oregon. The reason for the take-over was to protest the imprisonment of two local rangers for committing arson on public lands in 2001 and 2006. The take-over, though, has more to do with the ongoing US system of colonialism and the illegal seizing land from Native communities. Providing some historical threads to understand the present, An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz calls for all the sacred sites and public lands to be returned to the stewardship of Native peoples.

David R. Dow: The Myth That Scalia Matters



Before the rumors of Justice Antonin Scalias death were confirmed, he was already being lauded as a transformational figure, eulogized as a jurist who made originalism a respectable mode of constitutional interpretation. His views were regressive, but he expressed them in memorable prose. During oral argument, he made people laugh. Law professor David R. Dow argues, however, that Scalias interpretive philosophy is the equivalent of climate change denial. It will be forgotten in a generation and laughed at in two.

Christopher Emdin: For the Folks Who Killed Black History Month...and the Rest of Yall Too



Ten years ago, rapper and producer Kanye West said ...I make Black History everyday, I dont need a month. Its a declaration, says For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood author Christopher Emdin, that signals the tensions between Black History Month and the youth to whom it should mean most. In his visits to classrooms, Emdin discovered that black students were disengaged from Black History Month celebrations because they didnt feel connected to it. For them, it was a relic whose historical significance they recognized, but had no personal import. Emdin proposes a radical approach to making Black History Month relevant for the new generations.

Jeanne Theoharis: What MSNBCand the CountryLoses by Silencing MHP and Her Inclusive Forum



Social media filled with outrage as well as tributes for Melissa Harris-Perry when MSNBC silenced her show and dismantled her editorial control. Her show was important, and for many viewers Harris-Perry was their first and often only national exposure to a broad range of issues. It raised uncomfortable, needed questions about American politics and enduring sites of injustice; it hosted a diverse array of experts for an informed national conversation. Jeanne Theoharis, who discussed her book The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks on the show, celebrates Harris-Perry and the inclusive forum an entire nation lost.

Suzanne Kamata: The Boy Abandoned in the Woods of Hokkaido



Japan and the United States have differing cultural standards when it comes to parenting. That became apparent when seven-year-old Tanooka Yamato made international news as the boy whose parents abandoned him in the bear-infested forest of Hokkaido. Many Americans were incensed, fearing the worst that could have happened to the child and blaming his parents for negligence. But are we missing something as far as cultural differences are concerned? Suzanne Kamata, editor of Love You to Pieces and American expat who lives in Japan, addresses the other side of the story from the Japanese perspective.

Karl Giberson: Noahs Ark Park Keeping Christians in the Eighteenth Century



In July, biblical literalist Ken Ham opened his controversial Ark Encounter theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky. Here, visitors come in contact with a full-sized wood ark, built according to the dimensions provided by the Bible, and the events of the myth of Noah and the flood. Scientists have expressed concern about the project promoting pseudoscience. Biblical scholars have objected to the parks treating the myth as a historical event. Karl Giberson, author of Saving the Original Sinner, argues that with the park, Ham has done a great disservice to Christianity and thinking people in general.

Suzanne Kamata: Say Their Names



In Japan, there is still stigma attached to people with disabilities and they continue to be marginalized. This July, disabled residents died or sustained injuries by knife attack in a care facility, but their names were never made public. Police didnt disclose their names on the grounds that their relatives did not want to have them identified due to their disabilities. In her second post about Japan, Suzanne Kamata points out that this is the opposite of what happened when a driver of a rampaging truck killed eighty-four people in Nice, France on Bastille Day. Names and photos of the truck victims were publicized. Kamata asks: How can we mourn those who are denied their humanity?

Richard Hoffman: Do Bullies Have Mommies?



Weve heard plenty about President-elect Donald Trumps father during the course of his campaign, but not a word about his mother. Thats because, as Love & Fury author Richard Hoffman writes, women in Trumps macho bullys world are worth their fetishized bodies and nothing else. In fact, Trumps inherited and antiquated brand of masculinity is designed to shame boys into rigid gender compliance and into identifying with a tangle of anxieties that can only be assuaged with violent behavior. But this ideology is on its way out. You can tell by the ferocious backlash of its death throes.

Why We Need the Secular Gospel of James Baldwin in Our Times: A Q&A with Rich Blint

In response to the persistent racial injustice and the renewed spirit of activism represented by the Black Lives Matter movement, we released the eBook Baldwin for Our Times to help us understand and confront the inequalities in our times. This collection features specific selections from James Baldwins Notes of a Native Son and his poetry collection Jimmys Blues. We reached out to prominent Baldwin scholar Rich Blint to provide notes and an introduction for the publication. In this Q&A, Blint chats with us about the project and why Baldwins sharp and lucid social criticism will be imperative during the upcoming administration.
Here are seven things ASC leaders should know for the week of Dec. 27, 2016.

ACA enrollment surges to 6.4M

Despite news swirling about an ACA repeal, nearly 6.4 million Americans purchased coverage under the ACA. This year, 400,000 more Americans bought coverage, compared to 2015.

Tenet stock down 51.2% so far in 2016

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's stock has decreased in value by 51.19 percent so far in 2016.

Aetna-Humana, DOJ attorneys stand behind arguments as antitrust trial wraps up

The antitrust trial over the proposed Aetna and Humana deal is coming to a close, with both parties' attorneys reaffirming their claims for and against the deal.

171k clinicians face Medicare penalties in 2017

CMS will penalize several clinicians in 2017 for not complying with meaningful use requirements demonstrating EHR use in 2015. The agency reported 171,000 physicians, nurse practitioners and other clinicians are slated for a 3 percent pay cut from Medicare because they didn't meet MU requirements in 2015. It's uncertain whether the penalties will remain when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Statin drugs may improve surgical outcomes

UC San Francisco researchers found statins may yield better patient outcomes. Among patients exposed to stains, researchers noted a significant reduction in 30-day all cause mortality.

Edward Foundation awards scholarship to Edward's Ambulatory Surgical Care Center's Diane Patino

The Edward Foundation granted scholarship money to Diane Patino, RN, of Plainfield, Ill.-based Edward's Surgical Care Center. 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 list includes ACOs and collaborative care agreements that were announced, launched, ended or expanded in 2016, beginning with the most recent.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. It includes the ACO and collaborative care agreements covered by Becker's throughout 2016.

1. Christiana Care Quality Partners ACO adds 2 health system partners, rebrands

Wilmington, Del.-based Christiana Care Quality Partners ACO is expanding and changing its name to eBrightHealth ACO on Jan. 1, 2017.

2. Highmark BCBS, Aledade strike two-state ACO partnership\

Bethesda, Md.-based Aledade is expanding two Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs in Delaware and West Virginia to cover Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield members.

3. Community Healthcare System to form collaborative care relationship with Cigna

Munster, Ind.-based Community Healthcare System and Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna entered into a collaborative care relationship to improve access to healthcare, enhance care coordination and lower costs for residents of northwest Indiana covered by Cigna.

4. BCBS of Kansas partners with Aledade ACO

Bethesda, Md.-based Aledade's Kansas ACO  Aledade Kansas  and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas partnered to offer value-based contracts to ACO members beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

5. UnitedHealth Group to roll out national ACO in 2017

UnitedHealth Group plans to launch a national ACO called NexusACO beginning in 2017.

6. Vermont gets OK for all-payer model

Vermont's regulatory healthcare board approved a statewide all-payer ACO model to improve healthcare quality, coordination and spending.

7. UNC Health, Cigna launch collaborative care initiative

Cigna is teaming up with Chapel Hill, N.C.-based UNC Health Care and its clinically integrated network, UNC Health Alliance, to launch a collaborative care program similar to an ACO beginning Jan. 1, 2017.

8. Doylestown Health, Holy Redeemer plan to roll out Medicare ACO in 2017

Doylestown (Pa.) Health and Meadowbrook, Pa.-based Holy Redeemer Health System applied to participate in the MSSP beginning in 2017.

9. Delaware Valley ACO, Humana renew value-based contract

Delaware Valley ACO and Humana renewed their value-based network agreement for Humana's Medicare Advantage members.

10. New York launches first Medicaid ACO

Buffalo, N.Y., is home to the state's first ACO designed to serve Medicaid and privately insured patients, reports Buffalo News.

11. Blue Shield of California, PrimeCare, San Antonio Regional expand Calif. ACO

Blue Shield of California is collaborating with PrimeCare Medical Network and Upland, Calif.-based San Antonio Regional Hospital to expand its ACO in Southern California.

12. Aledade to roll out physician-led ACO in suburban Philadelphia

Bethesda, Md.-based Aledade added yet another ACO to its portfolio, this time in suburban Philadelphia.

13. Aledade accountable care frenzy continues

On the heels of four other recent partnerships, Bethesda, Md.-based Aledade rolled out a new ACO in Arkansas and expanded its ACO in Missouri.

14. New Aetna network combines Duke, WakeMed providers

Aetna established an ACO with Durham, N.C.-based Duke Health and Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals. The resulting product will be called Aetna Whole Health-Duke Health & WakeMed.

15. Mount Sinai CIN, Cigna form accountable care partnership

New York-based Mount Sinai Health Partners and Cigna are teaming up to offer Cigna beneficiaries better access to more coordinated care at a lower cost through a collaborative care agreement.

16. UCSF, John Muir add 7 hospitals, 3 medical groups to ACO

Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health and UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco expanded their ACO.

17. BCBS of Kansas, St. Francis launch ACO

Kansas' largest payer is teaming up with Denver-based SCL Health to roll out an ACO for SCL subsidiary, Topeka, Kan.-based St. Francis Health.

18. Essentia, Medica launch ACO

Duluth, Minn.-based integrated health system, Essentia Health, and Minnesota payer Medica are teaming up to launch an ACO in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin beginning Nov. 1.

19. 3 Next Generation ACOs head for the door

Out of the original 21 participants in CMS' Next Generation ACO Model, 18 remained after roughly seven months in the program.

20. Aetna, Gateway Health in Virginia strike ACO agreement

Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and Danville, Va.-based Gateway Health formed a commercial, product-based ACO in Virginia.

21. Cigna, Calif. physicians group ink coordinated care contract

Cigna and Hill Physicians Medical Group in San Ramon, Calif., entered into a collaborative care agreement to improve patient health by improving patient access to quality healthcare services.

22. UConn, Hartford Health to team up on accountable care

Farmington-based UConn Health and Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare are working together to form an ACO.

23. Aledade signs first commercial ACO contract with BCBS

With two years of operation under its belt, Aledade, a startup dedicated to helping physicians launch Medicare ACOs, announced a new kind of partnership.

24. DeKalb PHO, UnitedHealthcare launch ACO

Atlanta-based DeKalb Physician Hospital Organization and UnitedHealthcare are allotting more resources to coordinate patient care in Georgia.

25. UnitedHealthcare, Aurora team up for a Medicare Advantage ACO

Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin are rolling out an ACO for more than 40,000 Milwaukee residents with Medicare Advantage.

26. Aledade rolls out 3 new ACOs, expands another

To ring in its second anniversary, Aledade added three new ACOs and expanded another.

27. 10 W.Va. health centers team up to form ACO

Aledade launched an ACO led by 10 West Virginia-based Federally Qualified Health Centers.

28. MemorialCare extends ACO to Boeing employees

Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Health System is teaming up with the Chicago-based Boeing Company to offer a customized health plan for the aerospace company's employees and dependents in Long Beach, South Bay and Orange County, Calif.

29. Mount Sinai Health Partners, Humana partner on value-based care model

New York City-based Mount Sinai Health Partners and Humana partnered to create a value-based care model that aims to improve health outcomes and care coordination while reducing healthcare costs for Humana Medicare Advantage members.

30. Memorial Hermann Health System, UnitedHealthcare launch ACO

Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System and UnitedHealthcare formed an ACO aimed at improving the coordination of healthcare and patient satisfaction.

31. Oneida to participate in Basset Healthcare's MSSP, commercial ACOs through population health partnership

Oneida (N.Y.) Healthcare is teaming up with Cooperstown, N.Y.-based Basset Healthcare Network to enhance primary care and population health management in the Oneida region.

32. John Muir Health System, Humana sign value-based care agreement

Walnut Creek, Calif.-based John Muir Health System and Humana inked a value-based care agreement that will benefit Humana Medicare Advantage members in Contra Costa County, Calif.

33. Cigna, Integrated Independent Physicians Network roll out collaborative care agreement

Cigna and Orlando, Fla.-based Integrated Independent Physicians Network partnered April 1 to improve quality and access to care and lower costs for 7,000 Cigna beneficiaries.

34. Evolent Health, Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care strike partnership

Arlington, Va.-based Evolent Health partnered with Macon-based Georgia Physicians for Accountable Care, the largest physician-led ACO in the state.

35. Cigna, New England Quality Care Alliance form accountable care partnership

Braintree, Mass.-based New England Quality Care Alliance is teaming up with Cigna on a new collaborative care initiative for more than 10,000 patients.

36. Cigna, Rush launch collaborative care program

Cigna and Chicago-based Rush Health established a new collaborative care relationship similar to an ACO.

37. Medica, Altru Health team up on ACO in Minnesota, North Dakota

Minneapolis-based Medica and Grand Forks, N.D.-based Altru Health System plan to roll out an ACO called Altru & You with Medica.

38. Integra, Unitedhealthcare launch Rhode Island's first Medicaid ACO

Integra Community Care Network, a Providence, R.I.-based, CMS-certified ACO, is teaming up with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island to roll out a Medicaid accountable care entity through the State of Rhode Island Accountable Entities Pilot.

39. Aetna teams up with St. John Health System for accountable care

Aetna and Tulsa, Okla.-based St. John Health System, part of St. Louis-based Ascension, unveiled an ACO in Tulsa County.

40. University Hospital, BCBS of NJ to collaborate on value-based care

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and University Hospital in Newark, N.J., are entering into a strategic partnership designed to accelerate the integration of Horizon's value-based care models into University Hospital's operations.

41. Northwell, EmblemHealth sign collaborative care agreement

Building on their two decade relationship, Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health and New York City-based EmblemHealth partnered in a risk-sharing agreement.

42. Wake Forest Baptist, UnitedHealthcare team up on accountable care

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, with the help of its clinically integrated network and UnitedHealthcare, launched an ACO.

43. Meritain, Banner to roll out accountable care in Phoenix

Phoenix-based Banner Health Network and Meritain Health, an Aetna subsidiary, are collaborating to offer patients in the Phoenix area highly coordinated care through an ACO.

44. UnitedHealthcare, Delaware Valley ACO partner up

Philadelphia-based Delaware Valley ACO signed another accountable care agreement with a commercial payer, following its deal with Aetna in February.

45. Aetna, Virtua Health team up for ACO, health plan

Aetna and Marlton, N.J.-based Virtua Health will collaborate to form an ACO and develop co-branded commercial health plans for businesses and consumers.

46. DeKalb Physician Hospital Organization, Humana launch value-based care agreement

Atlanta-based DeKalb Physician Hospital Organization and Humana expanded their relationship by adding value-based care provisions to their agreement serving Humana commercial members with the goal of enhancing the coordination of care services, improving quality and reducing healthcare costs.

47. BCBS of Rhode Island, Lifespan and Coastal Medicine forge accountable care agreement: 3 things to know

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Lifespan and Coastal Medical, all based in Providence, entered into an accountable care agreement designed to improve the coordination of primary, specialty and inpatient care.

48. 13 rural hospitals to form ACO

Hamilton, Mont.-based Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital and the local medical group, Ravalli Family Medicine, are banding together with a dozen other rural hospitals in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, to launch an ACO.

49. UnitedHealthcare, Florida Accountable Care Services launch ACO

UnitedHealthcare and Orlando-based Florida Accountable Care Services are launching a joint accountable care program April 1 to improve patients' health and satisfaction while lowering costs.

50. Dickinson County Healthcare joins ACO

Iron Mountain, Mich.-based Dickinson County Healthcare System joined an ACO.

51. Aetna, Mount Sinai Health Partners launch ACO alliance

Aetna and New York City-based Mount Sinai Health Partners, a clinically integrated network including Mount Sinai Health System and select physicians, inked a three-year deal to enhance coordinated care and lower costs through an accountable care agreement.

52. River Health ACO drops out of Next Generation program

Just weeks after its selection for the Next Generation ACO program, Harrisburg, Pa.-based River Health ACO chose to leave the program because it would not be able to meet the required cost targets.

53. Health Net, University of California expand ACO to employees

Los Angeles-based Health Net of California brought accountable care to employees at University of California campuses in Davis, Irvine and San Diego in 2016.

54. Cigna, Sequent Health Physician Partners roll out accountable care agreement

Lawrenceville, Ga.-based Sequent Health Physician Partners teamed up with payer Cigna for its first accountable care program, which launched in January 2016.

55. Cigna adds 5 collaborative care agreements in Florida

Cigna expanded its collaborative care programs to 75,000 more Floridians through five new agreements that launched Jan. 1, 2016.

56. Aetna, Meridian Health form product-based ACO: 4 things to know

Aetna and Neptune, N.J.-based Meridian Health created a co-branded, commercial, product-based ACO.

57. Florida Blue, Palm Beach ACO partner up

Florida Blue and Palm Beach ACO, based in West Palm Beach, Fla., are teaming up to provide high quality, efficient care in South Florida.

58. Aetna teams up with Delaware Valley ACO

Aetna inked an accountable care agreement with Villanova, Pa.-based Delaware Valley ACO for roughly 70,000 commercial customers in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

59. 2 NC hospitals join National Rural ACO consortium

Two hospitals in North Carolina's Surry County joined the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium.

60. Heritage California ACO to exit Pioneer program

Heritage California ACO, an affiliate of Marina del Rey, Calif.-based Heritage Provider Network, will transition from the Pioneer accountable care program to the Next Generation ACO model.

61. Humana, ConcertoHealth launch value-based care in Detroit

Detroit-based ConcertoHealth teamed up with Humana to launch a value-based care program for Medicare Advantage patients in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

62. Cigna, WakeMed Key Community Care Partners launch collaborative care initiative

Cigna is partnering with an already-existing ACO, Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Key Community Care, to enhance healthcare access, care coordination and affordability for Cigna beneficiaries in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

63. Cigna, Health Choice Preferred roll out ACO

Phoenix-based Health Choice Preferred, an ACO and division of Franklin, Tenn.-based IASIS Healthcare, is teaming up with Cigna to roll out more coordinated care for more than 16,000 patients with commercial health plans in Utah.

64. 100 new ACOs join MSSP

CMS' MSSP added 100 new ACOs and renewed contracts with nearly 150 ACOs on Jan. 1.

65. CMS announces Next Generation ACO participants

CMS officially launched its Next Generation ACO Model with the selection of the first 21 participating ACOs.

More articles on accountable care:

CMS releases Track 1+ ACO model details: 5 things to know

CMS launches ACO model for dual eligibles: 6 things to know

Leavitt Partners: ACOs strongly prefer upside-only contracts
An Illinois appellate court ruled Thursday that a 2012 law that allows nonprofit hospitals to avoid paying property taxes is constitutional, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The appellate court upheld a lower court's decision. The ruling comes just weeks before the Illinois Supreme Court is slated to hear a different case on the same issue.

The dispute in Illinois over hospital tax exemptions has been going on for years. In 2010, the Illinois Supreme Court handed down a decision that suggested nonprofit hospitals in the state that behave like for-profit businesses should not qualify for tax exemptions. Subsequently, the Illinois Department of Revenue denied tax exemptions to three hospitals.

Illinois hospitals were issued a win in 2012 when state lawmakers passed legislation that simply required a nonprofit hospital's charitable services to exceed its property tax liability to qualify for tax exemptions.

However, the tax exemptions were once again brought into question in January when the Illinois 4th District Appellate Court ruled the 2012 law unconstitutional, saying the Illinois Constitution only allows lawmakers to exempt property "used exclusively" for "charitable purposes." The ruling was issued in a case brought by Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Ill., against the city of Urbana and other local taxing districts.

The Illinois Supreme Court announced in May it would hear Carle Foundation Hospital's appeal. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case Jan. 12.

More articles on healthcare finance:

How CHS, Tenet, UHS, LifePoint and HCA fared financially in 2016

Iowa hospital files for bankruptcy

CMS finalizes cardiac bundle, expands CJR: 10 things to know
Brent Smith, DO, vice president and CMO of Edward Hospital in Naperville, Ill., died in his nearby home Dec. 17 after experiencing a heart attack.

Dr. Smith held his position at Edward since 2011.

His colleagues and hospital staff are still in shock over Dr. Smith's death, according to the Daily Herald. Hospital President and CEO Bill Kottmann described Dr. Smith as extremely passionate about his work, highly intelligent and a strong leader.

"He was definitely in the right line of work," Mr. Kottmann told the Daily Herald. "In watching him carry out his duties here, it was obvious to me he cared about people deeply. He was probably one of the kindest, most compassionate people I knew."

Dr. Smith previously practiced internal medicine in Chicago's Southwest suburbs and served as assistant medical director and physician leader for the Silver Cross Managed Care Organization. He earned his degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and, in 2010, earned a master's degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Services will be held Jan. 7 in Dr. Smith's hometown of Carthage, Ill. The Daily Herald reports that a memorial will be held at the hospital after the holidays, but the event is still in the planning stage.
The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions and general partnerships took place or were announced in the past week.

1. CHS sells 10 medical office buildings for $163M

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems completed the sale and leaseback of 10 medical office buildings for $163 million to Irvine, Calif.-based real estate investment trust HCP.

2. Hallmark Health System to join Wellforce Jan. 1

The board of Hallmark Health System in Medford, Mass., unanimously voted to join Burlington, Mass.-based Wellforce as the system's third member, effective Jan. 1, 2017.

3. Massena Memorial Hospital slims possible affiliates to 2

Massena (N.Y.) Memorial Hospital narrowed its affiliate search from five to two hospitals.

3. Walgreens, Rite Aid ink $950M deal to sell 865 stores

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance and Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid entered into an agreement to sell 865 Rite Aid stores to Memphis, Tenn.-based Fred's in an all-cash $950 million transaction.

4. Advocate Health Care forms two partnerships with Surgical Care Affiliates

Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates formed two partnerships with surgical centers jointly owned by Downers Grove, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care and community physicians.

5. Harrison Community Hospital in talks to acquire Wheeling Hospital

Cadiz, Ohio-based Harrison Community Hospital is negotiating a potential acquisition agreement with Wheeling (W.Va.) Hospital.

6. Opelousas General Health System partners with outpatient facility operator for cancer treatment

Opelousas (La.) General Health System is partnering with outpatient cancer care center operator e+CancerCare in Nashville, Tenn.

7. Premier Health to affiliate with Wayne HealthCare

Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health and Greenville, Ohio-based Wayne HealthCare plan to affiliate.

More articles on healthcare industry transactions:

22 recent hospital transactions and partnerships

2016 sees more than half a trillion in broken deals: 7 things to know
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission granted Abbott Park, Ill.-based Abbott Laboratories approval Tuesday to buy St. Paul, Minn.-based St. Jude Medical for $25 billion, Reuters reports.

The companies will divest two medical device businesses to Japan-based Terumo to settle the FTC's antitrust concerns. The two device businesses slated for unloading are St. Jude's vascular closure device and Abbott's steerable sheath. Abbott said in October the two companies would sell some of their businesses to Terumo for about $1.12 billion, according to the report.

Abbott said acquiring St. Jude Medical will help the company compete with larger companies like Dublin, Ireland-based Medtronic and Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific, Reuters reports.
From HHS asking a federal court to reconsider an order to clear the Medicare reimbursement appeals backlog to the former interim CEO of Broward Health suing the North Broward Hospital District, here are the latest healthcare industry lawsuits and settlements making headlines.

1. Ousted CEO sues Broward Health

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health's ex-CEO Pauline Grant filed a lawsuit against North Broward Hospital District, which does business as Broward Health, over alleged open-meetings law violations.

2. Pennsylvania hospital to rehire 6 workers fired for refusing flu shots

Saint Vincent Hospital in Erie, Pa., agreed to rehire six former employees who were fired in late 2013, early 2014 for refusing to get flu shots due to their religious beliefs. The agreement came on Dec. 20 as part of a legal settlement.

3. HHS: Court order on Medicare appeals backlog would require improperly paying claims

HHS asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to reconsider an order instructing HHS to clear its backlog of Medicare reimbursement appeals by the end of 2020.

4. Olympus executives take the Fifth during investigation of scope-related infection outbreak

Three executives from Olympus invoked the Fifth Amendment during a deposition about deadly infectious disease outbreaks linked to the Tokyo-based company's duodenoscopes.

5. Minnesota chiropractors accused of insurance fraud

Twenty-one defendants, including several chiropractors, in Minnesota were charged for conspiring to commit healthcare fraud.

More articles on health law:

OIG expands Anti-Kickback Statute safe harbors: 6 things to know

7 latest lawsuits involving hospitals

Hospitals' billion-dollar pension dispute heads to Supreme Court
An unidentified person seized an ambulance in Austin, Texas, Sunday afternoon as medics treated a patient in the back of the vehicle, according to an Austin-American Statesman report.

First responders with Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services were assisting a patient when someone accessed the front of the vehicle and drove off at a high speed and intermittently used the siren. One medic continued to treat the patient while the other informed EMS communications of their location on a minute-by-minute basis, which was relayed to Austin police.

Medics said the driver took the ambulance a couple miles south of downtown Austin, parked in an apartment complex parking lot and ran away. Another ambulance arrived to transport the patient, as the hijacked vehicle was investigated as a crime scene, according to Fox 7.

On Monday police told the Austin-American Statesman there were no further updates to report. This is the second time in December someone attempted to steal an ATCEMS ambulance.
New admissions have been suspended at Brookhaven Manor in Kingsport, Tenn., after a complaint investigation determined conditions at the nursing home were detrimental to the health and safety of residents.

The order of suspension was made by Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, and went into effect Dec. 19. The order will stand until the safety issues at the 180-bed licensed nursing home have been resolved. According to a release, safety violations at the facility were identified in the areas of administration, performance improvement, physician services, infection control, nursing services and resident rights.

The suspension order was issued in tandem with a $5,001 state fine. A monitoring agent has been appointed by the state health department to review operations at Brookhaven Manor.

More articles on quality:

Minnesota ends 5-year licensing restriction on state's largest psychiatric hospital

Family caregivers often untrained and ill-equipped to care for relatives

LifePoint ED nursing directors earn patient safety recognition
Here are 10 key notes on orthopedic and spine device companies from the past week.

Mazor Robotics received three orders for the Mazor X systems from a healthcare organization with facilities in the mid-Atlantic region.

The state of Michigan offered Stryker $1 million in an economic development support package to keep its expansion efforts in the state.

Amedica reported positive results for its porous silicone nitride device and plans to refile an FDA application with the modified CsC-based cervical implant.

The 10th patient was enrolled in the InVivo Therapeutics INSPIRE study which tests the company's Neuro-Spinal Scaffold's efficacy and safety to treat thoracic AIS A spinal cord injury.

Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo appeared on CNBC's Squawk CEO Call to discuss the medical device industry and the company's strategy going forward.

Misonix appointed Stavros G. Vizirgianakis president and CEO.

Safe Orthopaedics earned a CE Mark for the upgraded version of its patented Oak screw for vertebral fractures.

Jeffrey Carlson, MD, became the first surgeon in Virginia to perform an L5-S1 anterior lumbar interbody fusion using the Synfix Evolution ALIF System.

Ali Araghi, DO, is leading the nation in patient enrolment for the Zyga Technology EVoluSIon Study.

Germany-based joimax participated in the German Spine Society's 11th Congress earlier in the month.
Belfast music store Head is to close in February after a deal to move to new, larger premises collapsed at the last minute.

The chain arrived in Belfast six years ago and has been based at CastleCourt for three years.

Bosses had planned to relocate to a two-storey outlet on Royal Avenue three times bigger than the existing branch.

But without premises the business will be forced to close in February, despite strong sales.

Staff say they are still hopeful something can be agreed before then.

Head had already given notice to landlords at CastleCourt before the move fell through.

The chain previously closed its first Belfast shop after it was unable to negotiate a short-term lease with Victoria Square.

In 2012 the store left Victoria Square after the disagreement over the lease could not be resolved.

Fans launched an online campaign to help save it and the record store reopened on Ann Street a few months later.

The chain is owned by Indulge Retail Ltd and runs outlets in Dublin, Bromley, Cardiff and Leamington Spa.

Belfast manager Ronan McGuiggan said staff were hopeful the store would reopen.

He has worked at the chain since it opened here.

He said having seen it survive similar issues with its lease in 2012, he was confident it will live on in Belfast.

"We've such a loyal following and have so many regulars - our customers have followed us every time we have moved and have been very supportive every time," he said.

"We've had a really good three years at CastleCourt and have built up a strong brand here over that time.

"We've seen strong sales, particularly across vinyl and turntables, so there is definitely demand for what we offer in Belfast."

He said the store sold more than 1,400 turntables last year, and this year was on target to sell even more as the trend back towards vinyl gathered pace.

The store employs nine permanent staff and six seasonal workers, all of whom have been warned they may lose their jobs if a new location is not found.

The store is currently expected to bring down the shutters on February 10.

Writing online to customers, a spokesman for the company said: "A massive thank you for all the kind words about the store and possible location suggestions.

"Your response has been overwhelming and it is great to hear how well thought of the staff and store is.

"We are still looking for a suitable city centre location so we can continue to trade in Belfast.

"It is with great sadness that we are announcing the closure of Head in CastleCourt Shopping Centre.

"We are, however, continuing to look for a new store in Belfast, but unfortunately we have not had time to agree a deal anywhere yet.

"The city centre is almost full, and so far units we have found are too expensive or too small for us.

"We originally opened in October 2010 and have had great support from the music and film lovers in Belfast since then. Thank you.

"I would like to thank the staff in the store for the hard work and great customer service they have given over the years."

Management at the firm previously criticised the leasing system here, saying five-year leases made it difficult for retailers to survive.

The Belfast branch also hosts small live music events for local artists, and was named Ireland's best independent music retailer in 2012.
Spider-Man: Homecoming, due for release in July, will be Tom Holland's first starring turn

With some highly anticipated movies slated for release in 2017, actors enjoying relative obscurity right now will soon be thrust into the spotlight.

Here are some stars poised to rise in the new year.

:: Tom Holland

Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield became big stars in the role of Spider-Man so all eyes will soon fall on British actor Tom Holland, who is expected to make a big splash in the same part.

He briefly appeared in costume in Captain America: Civil War but Spider-Man: Homecoming, slated for UK release in July, will be his first starring turn.

At present Holland is best known for his role in tsunami drama The Impossible but that will all change when he becomes a fully fledged superhero.

:: Zendaya

Zendaya's Disney Channel credentials mean she already has a huge young following and seven million Twitter followers. K.C. Undercover and Shake It Up were hit shows but her role opposite Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming could give her name recognition with a very different audience.

Her character Michelle only appears very briefly in the trailer but she's expected to have a significant part.

Her appearance in The Greatest Showman, opposite Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Michelle Williams, should cement her new status.

:: Mahershala Ali

Prepare to hear this name a lot when it come to awards. As one of the stars of gritty coming-of-age drama Moonlight, due to arrive in cinemas in February, his is the performance getting the most praise.

Already starring in Marvel's Netflix series Luke Cage and recognisable for his role as Remy Danton in House Of Cards, Ali is now tipped for a best supporting actor Oscar.

He is also due to star in Hidden Figures, opposite Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst and Taraji P. Henson.

:: Ruby Rose

Fans of Orange Is The New Black will recognise Rose as inmate Stella Carlin and she may be familiar from numerous group shots on Taylor Swift's Instagram page but in 2017 the Australian actress will star in some of the biggest films of the year.

She is due to appear in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage and John Wick 2. She is also due to make an appearance in Pitch Perfect 3, meaning she will cross the divide between high-octane action and musicals.

:: Fionn Whitehead

The young Brit made headlines when Christopher Nolan chose him, as an unknown, for a leading role in his Second World War epic Dunkirk.

He will star opposite Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance and Kenneth Branagh, as well as One Direction star Harry Styles, in the July release.

He follows that up with another big role opposite Emma Thompson's judge in the much-anticipated adaptation of Ian McEwan's The Children Act, directed by Richard Eyre.

:: Gal Gadot

She stole the show in her brief appearance as Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and in 2017 she finally gets her own film.

Gadot's debut in the superhero's first ever big screen outing was a huge responsibility but while the film was critically panned, she was widely praised.

In her own film she stars opposite Chris Pine and Robin Wright before she returns to the company of Batman and Superman in Justice League.

:: Dane DeHaan

DeHaan has appeared on the verge of stardom for years thanks to a string of winning performances in small or indie films and a turn as Harry Osborn in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 but 2017 could be the year he breaks through.

He will star in both Gore Verbinski's A Cure For Wellness and in the title role opposite Cara Delevingne in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, directed by Luc Besson.

As if the genre films were not enough, he is also poised to appear in Tulip Fever opposite Oscar winners Alicia Vikander and Christoph Waltz, as well as Delevingne.

:: Alden Ehrenreich

While the currently untitled Han Solo film is not due to be released until 2018, Ehrenreich's star will be well in the ascendant in 2017 as expectations for the prequel reach fever pitch.

Playing a role made famous by Harrison Ford is no mean feat but Ehrenreich has impressed in his small roles in Blue Jasmine and Hail Caesar!, as well as his turn in Beautiful Creatures, so Star Wars fans are hopeful.

Next year he will be seen in Warren Beatty's Rules Don't Apply and opposite Jennifer Aniston in The Yellow Birds.
Liam Neeson - who portrays a priest who renounces Christianity in his new movie - has revealed his own Catholic faith has dwindled.

The Ballymena-born star plays 17th century cleric Fr Christovao Ferreira in Silence, directed by Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese.

Ferreira recants his faith after being forced to endure the sight of Japanese Christians being crucified and tortured.

Neeson described his own waning faith as "a gradual process", but added that he admired true faith in others, especially his mother Kitty, who is 90.

"She gets annoyed if she can't walk to Mass on Sunday morning, and I just think: 'Mom, you're 90. It's OK! God will forgive you'," he told The Times Magazine.

He also described being one of few Catholics in his home town. He said: "It wasn't easy living in Northern Ireland in the Fifties and Sixties."

He said he grew up "cautious".

"Our town was essentially Protestant, but there were a few Catholics on our street. The Protestants all had marches and bands and stuff. I didn't quite understand what it was about," he said.

Neeson, who was at university in the late Sixties and early Seventies when the Troubles started, said he was unworldly in those days. "Drive-by shootings, bombs. I was at university for one abortive year and we were so f****** naive," he explained.

"You'd be in a bar, drinking a glass of cider, and suddenly soldiers would come in and say: 'Everybody out - there's a bomb scare'. We'd order more drinks to take across the street, then the soldiers would go off and we'd filter back into the bar. F****** stupid."

The actor now spends a lot of time walking in New York's Central Park and has become a hero to more than 300 horse and carriage drivers in the Big Apple after becoming involved in local politics.

During his 2013 election campaign, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio promised to ban horse-drawn carriages in the park.

The move had big-name advocates, including Miley Cyrus and Alec Baldwin.

Neeson, who grew up caring for horses on his aunt's farm in Co Armagh, waded in to defend the drivers.

"There were so many celebrities supporting (the ban) I was like, these guys need a celebrity or two," he explained.

The carriage drivers consider his intervention as a game-changer.

Colm McKeever, an Irish-born driver and friend of Neeson, said: "There's a framed picture of him in every stable.

"It's the Pope and then Liam Neeson."

He dismissed being considered in the Ninties as a potential James Bond as "no big deal" - but revealed that his late wife Natasha Richardson said she wouldn't marry him if he was 007. He added: "Women, foreign countries, Halle Berry. It's understandable!"

He said that it was nice to be enquired after, and admitted he would have loved to have been given the role.

Missing out hasn't hindered his career. Neeson, who turns 65 soon, is still a bankable star. His latest movies - Silence and A Monster Calls - will be released on January 1.
Northern Ireland's agricultural colleges and a chicken processor have revealed they are participating in the controversial Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.

Stormont's RHI was supposed to increase the use of eco-friendly boilers - but it ended up paying significantly more than the price of fuel, enabling applicants to "burn to earn" by generating free heat and making a profit as they did it. It also caused political chaos after the 400m overspend on subsidies was revealed.

Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1m in the next two decades for heating an empty shed.

One of Northern Ireland's biggest employers, Moy Park, has confirmed its participation in the scheme. There is no suggestion it or the agricultural colleges have acted improperly.

Up to six million people were expected to tuck in to a Moy Park turkey this Christmas.

The firm said: "We have been advocating the use of hot water heating systems across our poultry production in England and Northern Ireland for many years.

"These systems produce a dry heat, which creates a healthy environment for the chickens.

"We made two investments in hot water heating, one through the RHI scheme in Great Britain as part of an energy supply contract arrangement and one in Northern Ireland, where we invested in four 199KW boilers under the revised RHI scheme which is tiered and capped, similar to the scheme in GB."

A total of nine biomass boilers, six of which are eligible under the RHI scheme, have been installed at the three College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) campuses controlled by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Four of the eligible boilers are installed at Loughry campus and one each at Greenmount and Enniskillen.

A DAERA spokesman said: "As part of Government's drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CAFRE has progressively installed biomass boilers as a key instrument in working towards these targets.

"It has installed nine biomass boilers with six of these eligible for the RHI scheme. All biomass boilers were designed to both ensure optimum heat delivery to the facility combined with efficiency in greenhouse gas reduction."

It has been reported that the six boilers the department claims for under RHI generated an income in the last quarter of almost 2,000.

The department spokesman said: "All funds raised by the department are allocated towards the delivery of DAERA public services."

Set up in November 2012, the green scheme was an attempt by the Executive to help increase the use of heat from renewable sources.

RHI offered a financial incentive for businesses and other non-domestic users to install renewable heat systems. Those systems included biomass boilers, mostly burning wood pellets, as well as solar thermal and heat pumps.
The Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and the University of Melbourne (Australia) have signed an agreement on establishing a center for the study of the Arctic and the Antarctic, the TASS news agency reports. The document stipulates experience exchange in ocean fluid dynamics between the researchers and the creation of a scale model of the Arctic Ocean that would include its ice cover.

"The agreement to establish a center for the study of the Arctic and the Antarctic was signed at the end of last week. The scientists in Australia study ocean fluid dynamics, but they lack a scale model of the Arctic Ocean as they don't know how to represent the ice. As different from other oceans, the surface ice cover in the Arctic Ocean affects boundary conditions, due to which our foreign colleagues are unable to develop a scale model on their own and have requested our help," Alexander Bekker, director of the FEFU School of Engineering, DSc in Engineering and professor said without specifying dates or any details.

According to the agency, a similar joint center for the study of the Arctic has already been founded by FEFU with the Harbin Institute of Technology (the People's Republic of China). The center is to develop platforms for the extraction of hydrocarbons on the shelf and study the effect of cold on different materials and the impact of ice on structures, including sea vessels. The center will include a joint research team who will be in charge of breakthrough fundamental and applied research in Arctic commercial exploration.

FEFU is carrying out several Arctic research projects. In 2015, the Center of Excellence in Arctic technology of the world's ocean resources was started in the university. The center studies the ice and its impact on different engineering structures, including rigs for oil and gas production on the shelf.
Police behaved correctly in using a Taser in four separate incidents, the police ombudsman has ruled

Police were justified in using a Taser stun gun while arresting a man equipped with a samurai sword, the Police Ombudsman has said.

The suspect had been chased by an officer in August last year in Belfast city centre but complained that he had stopped and given himself up before the the device was employed.

Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire said: "The officer's actions were justified given that he was on his own in a dimly lit narrow street and was fearful that footsteps he had heard behind him during the chase might have been accomplices of the suspect.

"In addition, the officer reported that he had not been sure whether the man was stopping to give himself up, to catch his breath before running off again, or to prepare for an attack."

In August 2015 police in Portadown used a Taser while responding to a call from an "upset and incoherent" man who reported that he was "swinging a knife".

They found him in his living room amid damaged furniture, holding a knife and threatening to stab himself.

In November 2015, officers used a stun gun against a man in west Belfast, to prevent him causing further injury with a shard of broken glass which he had pressed against his throat.

Officers reported that the man was bleeding heavily from a wound to his arm, and was acting aggressively while moving backwards towards passing traffic. They said a Taser was used to prevent him being knocked down or inflicting further injury with the broken glass.

In June 2016, a Taser was used in Antrim against an intoxicated male who pointed a crossbow at his head and threatened to shoot. Officers had also been warned that he had a gun and a hunting knife.

The Taser was used when he dropped the crossbow and ran towards officers, who said they were concerned that he would reach for a weapon.

Dr Maguire found that in each instance, use of a Taser had been lawful, justified and proportionate given the risks posed by the situations the officers faced.
The Pope is to be asked to give his blessing to mixed marriages during his prospective visit to Ireland.

The request is being formulated by the Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association (NIMMA) in advance of the pontiff's visit here in 2018.

Association chairman Ken Dunn has revealed that he will be writing to the Vatican soon.

It is expected that Pope Francis will cross the border during the trip to visit Ireland's ecclesiastical capital of Armagh.

The NIMMA chairman says he hopes that "his Holiness will allow (the association) to share in the joy of the Irish visit granting us some role in its content".

Mr Dunn says he is making the written request even though mixed marriage "within fairly recent memory (has been) the bugbear of Roman Catholicism".

However, he says his letter to the Pope will explain "who we are, what we do and how we feel that mixed marriage has much to offer in the long journey to a truly ecumenical future".

Writing in the association's monthly bulletin, he states: "NIMMA has been to the fore in the field of reconciliation for more than 40 years and a champion of Christian marriage in an increasingly secular society for just as long.

"I feel that a NIMMA contribution to the visit should be welcomed and encouraged."

He says that the hearts of Christians everywhere are "deeply appreciative that his Holiness is guiding the worldwide Church with a breath of new life and he is guaranteed Cead Mile Failte, and even more, if he visits the ecclesiastical capital of the island at Armagh".

He says: "It is particularly fitting that the proposed visit coincides with the World Meeting of Families in Dublin at that time and I will be explaining that NIMMA has spent more than 40 years providing pastoral care for couples and families throughout this island."

But he pointedly adds: "NIMMA also challenges the secularisation of marriage and has been a close companion of all the major denominations in their pilgrimage of peace, ecumenism and mutual understanding over more than four decades.

"We will certainly be asking for changes to attitudes to mixed marriage in the name of reconciliation and community relations and I would hope that his Holiness will allow us to share in the joy of the Irish visit by granting us some small role in its content.

"This is a unique opportunity for Christians to come together in the true spirit of ecumenism and we must all play our parts to the full."

Mr Dunn says a papal visit in 2018 would be "a historic time for Christians on this island and particularly in Northern Ireland where Pope Francis looks set to be greeted enthusiastically by many. None more so, I am sure, than by NIMMA".

He underpins that statement by explaining that NIMMA provides country-wide support and information to couples either in or contemplating mixed marriage, as well lobbying for tolerance and acceptance of mixed marriage.

He writes: "We are desperately keen to contribute to that warm welcome to the pontiff in any way we can.

"We recognise that Pope Francis is in a unique position to foster goodwill and reconciliation on this island and feel strongly that we should at least try to have some kind of input to the visit.

"To that end, I will be writing to Pope Francis within the next few weeks to explain who we are, what we do and how we feel that mixed marriage... has much to offer in the long journey to a truly ecumenical future."

A recent survey reckoned that around 20% of marriages in Northern Ireland are now 'mixed' between Protestants and Catholics.

And a Queen's University study found that opposition to mixed marriages from both Catholics and Protestants is diminishing, with the number of Protestants opposing them dropping to an all-time low of around 16%.
A man is in hospital in Northern Ireland being treated for a stab wound following an incident in Antrim.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the serious assault on the Dublin Road on Monday night.

It was reported that an altercation took place between a number of people in the High Street area.

The family group who were socialising in the town centre were then chased by a number of people onto Dublin Road and assaulted.

A 19-year old man was taken to hospital for treatment to a stab wound to his back. His condition is described as serious. It happened around 8.25pm and the 19-year-old is being treated in hospital.

Alliance councillor Neil Kelly said he was "shocked and horrified" at the incident.

He said: "It is baffling someone could carry out an attack like this. A life could have been lost and because of it, a man remains in serious condition in hospital.

I hope he is able to recover from his injuries and I would encourage anyone with information to contact the police immediately.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident at High Street, Dublin Road or the Bridge Street area or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact Detectives in Antrim on 101 quoting reference number 973 of 26/12/16. Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Tributes have been paid to a popular priest of 50 years' service who died on Christmas Day.

Father George Doherty, (87) a priest of the Diocese of Derry, was ordained in June 1954 and soon after was appointed curate in Greencastle, Co Down.

Born on July 31, 1929 in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, he attended St Patrick's National School, Carndonagh before going on to St Columb's College, in Derry.

After his exams he was accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Derry before studying at St Patrick's College, Maynooth.

Father Doherty was placed all over Northern Ireland, including Donagheady, Dungiven and Killyclogher, as well as a number of parishes within Donegal.

He retired in 2004, aged 75, when his health began to deteriorate.

Father Doherty died peacefully at Beach Hill Manor Nursing Home, Lisfanan. To honour his service his remains were returned to Desertegney in the parish of Buncrana, where he once served as curate.

Spokesperson for the Diocese of Derry, Father Michael Canny led tributes to Fr Doherty.

He said: "Father Doherty's death is deeply regretted by the bishops, priests and people of the Diocese of Derry.

"May he rest in peace."

A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at Star of the Sea Church, Desertegney, Buncrana, at noon, followed by a burial in the adjoining graveyard.
A leading animal charity has made an urgent appeal for would-be cat owners to consider adopting older animals.

Cats Protection said medical advances mean cats are now living longer, healthier lives but when it comes to finding a new home, they are frequently overlooked in favour of fluffy, cute kittens.

Bel Livingstone, manager of the charity's Belfast Adoption Centre, said: "While 10 years ago the household moggy could have been expected to live to around 13, today's life expectancy is much higher and we have seen many cats surviving to their late teens and early 20s in remarkably good health.

"However, their longer existence places the Belfast Adoption Centre under strain because older cats can block up pen spaces for many months, which means we are unable to help other needy cats or kittens until the older ones are found new homes.

"It is a shame because older cats have a lot to offer, as they tend to be lap cats and have much more settled personalities.

"Though the Belfast Adoption Centre does its very best to care for all the cats in its care, life in a pen is no substitute for a permanent home so I would urge people to consider adopting an older cat."
Around 10,000 people will stay in Airbnb accommodation in Ireland this new year

The number of Airbnb guests in Ireland this New Year's Eve is expected to almost double on last year, the hospitality company has predicted.

Around 10,000 are expected to ring in 2017 in the Republic and half will stay in Dublin. The greatest number from outside Ireland will come from London.

Airbnb, founded in California in 2008, is a website which allows clients to list rooms in their house or whole properties to be rented by visitors for short stays, and is popular with holidaymakers seeking apartments.

A spokeswoman for Airbnb in Ireland said 10,000 guests were expected to stay in its properties this New Year's Eve, an increase of 82% on the same time last year.

She added: "Half of those will stay in Dublin where the average price for a private room is only 62 euro for the night."

Planners ruled earlier this year that an Airbnb apartment in Temple Bar required planning permission for short-term holiday lets.

While they can give travellers more choice than traditional options, local residents and campaigners have raised concerns about the frequent comings and goings by renters and servicing staff.

Globally, nearly two million guests will stay in Airbnb accommodation this new year.

Revellers will come from more than 200 countries and territories, and are travelling to nearly 200 countries and territories globally. The most popular countries travellers are staying in are the United States, followed by France, Australia, Spain and Great Britain.

New York will be the most popular destination.
Potentially deadly Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish with 50m-long tentacles have landed on Irish shores sparking fears of widespread beach closures.

The Rrpublic's Irish Water Safety (IWS ) agency warned yesterday it would close beaches where the poisonous sea creatures land in large numbers.

Unprecedented numbers of the tropical jellyfish have been found on beaches in Waterford and Cork. They are also expected in Kerry.

IWS chief executive John Leech said: "If they land on beaches in large numbers we will have no choice but to close the beaches. This is an unprecedented number of sightings."

Mr Leech said strong southerly winds had blown the jellyfish 350 miles further north than normal.

He advised any members of the public spotting them to notify lifeguards and the local authorities.

There is a risk that they may drift further north than Waterford or Cork or Kerry depending on wind direction.

The Portuguese man-of-war is an animal made up of a colony of organisms working together.

They are 30 cm long, 12.7cm wide, with tentacles up to a maximum of 50m long.

They usually cause severe pain to humans, leaving whip-like, red welts on the skin that normally last two or three days after the initial sting. But the venom can travel to the lymph nodes and may cause an allergic reaction and/or fever.

Stings can also be fatal, but this is extremely rare.

IWS said medical attention is required if pain persists or symptoms worsen.

The jellyfish is most commonly found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans, but also in the northern Atlantic Gulf Stream.

The IWS said the best treatment for a sting is carefully remove any remnants of the creature from the skin, taking care not to touch them directly, before applying salt water to the affected area.

"Then follow up with the application of hot water to the affected area, which eases the pain of a sting," the IWS said.

Vinegar is not recommended for treating stings as it increases toxicity and can provoke a haemorrhage.
Spiritual leader Amma hugging one of the thousands of people who queued at the Royal Dublin Society halls

Bono, President Michael D Higgins and Hindu hugging guru Amma have been suggested to lead a proposed diplomatic taskforce for conflict zones.

Aid agency Concern put forward the idea after calling on world powers to set up a new team of influential, global figures who could be deployed to broker peace.

Others suggested were Senator George Mitchell who chaired the Good Friday Agreement talks and Malala Yousafzai, the inspirational Pakistani woman shot by the Taliban on her way home from school.

Concern chief executive Dominic McSorley said the diplomatic mission is based on the idea of the Elders - a group of independent leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela in 2007 to work for peace and human rights.

"We need a robust mechanism like that of very senior, global influencers who would be deployed at the early stages of a crisis," he said.

"You could consider (US President) Barack Obama. It could be controversial but he's already won the Nobel peace prize, maybe he could start earning it. He didn't actually do anything to get it."

The suggestion of creating a rapid response, diplomatic mission was first mooted by Concern during the World Humanitarian Summit last May.

Others being put forward for the role are Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese businessman who set up a lucrative award in his name to inspire transparency in African government, Michele Vachilet, the current President of Chile who lived through the Pinochet regime, and Christine Karumba, a renowned women's rights activist who heads Concern's work in Haiti.

Concern raised the prospect again as it listed its 10 disaster hotspots for 2017.

High on the list is Syria, where millions of people have been forced from the homes by war, and also Yemen which the charity says is on the verge of collapse in an deepening conflict with seven million people facing starvation.

Concern also warned of the potential for a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon where geologists have said there is a high risk of an earthquake.

Mr McSorley said Ireland could be doing more to take in refugees than the figure of 4,000 first promised in late 2015 and the commitment to have 1,100 here by next September.

"Should we be doing more to go out there and canvass and say to people Ireland is a safe haven? I don't think we should be waiting for people to choose Ireland.

"I definitely think we should be working harder to meet the commitments of the 4,000 that were coming in.

"But I do firmly believe that the focus has to remain on root causes."

Concern also highlighted crises in several other regions.

In Nigeria, Niger and Chad region millions of people have been displaced in the conflict involving Boko Haram.

Fighting in the world's newest country South Sudan is worsening, the charity said, while it also warned about the civil war in the Central African Republic which has escalated since 2013.

Concern said Haiti and Pakistan remain at risk from flood, earthquakes, cyclones or hurricanes and other natural disasters.

It also warned of the hundreds of thousands of people forced back into Afghanistan, while in Somalia an estimated five million people are affected by drought, food insecurity and conflict.
Police said her disappearance is "extremely out of character"

Isabel Gayther who has failed to turn up at her family's home on Christmas Day, sparking concerns for her safety.

A university student has failed to turn up at her family's home on Christmas Day, sparking concerns for her safety.

Isabel Gayther, 21, who lives in halls of residence on Goodwood Road in New Cross, south east London, has not been seen or heard from since around 11.30am on Christmas Eve.

The Metropolitan Police said her disappearance is "extremely out of character" and that her family are extremely concerned for her safety and wellbeing.

Isabel is known to frequent places popular with students in the New Cross and Deptford areas and has family in Oxford.

She is described as white, with olive skin and long dark hair, is of a slim build and was last seen wearing a dark-coloured dress.

Police said it is believed she has her phone with her, but that it is unreachable and that it is not known if she has access to money or transport.

Anyone who has seen Isabel or who knows of her whereabouts should call police on 101.
Liz Smith with her MBE for services to drama.

Sue Johnston has revealed how Liz Smith "loved being recognised" by fans as she praised the "extraordinary" late actress in a touching tribute.

Royle Family star Smith died on Christmas Eve at the age of 95, and Johnston - who played her on-screen daughter Barbara in the hit BBC comedy series - shared her memories of the TV and film veteran.

Johnston said Smith was not like her Royle Family character Nana, but "she was fun".

She described Smith as an "extraordinary, sensitive woman and very bright" during a chat with BBC 5 Live Daily's Adrian Chiles.

Johnston said: "Her eccentricity was wonderful and it got her through stuff. She had a really tough life coming out of the war and then she was a single parent before people were single parents.

"She had a tough old life but she never moaned about it and she got on with it. When she became Nana it was a total transformation - that's what makes her performance even more remarkable."

Smith, who found fame in later life, would often be delighted at being noticed by fans in public, Johnston added.

She said: "I went down to see her in her home in Worthing and I took her out in her wheelchair and we walked along the prom.

"And people were ecstatic, because Nana and Barbara were walking along the prom, and she thought it was hilarious. She just screamed with delight that everybody was recognising her and coming up and being so loving towards her."

Ricky Tomlinson also paid his respects to the "absolutely lovely" actress.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: " She was wonderful. Actually she was my favourite character in the Royles."

Tomlinson, who played Johnston's husband Jim Royle in the series, recalled memories of their time working with Smith.

He said: "We had a great time together and we were so close as a family.

"She would come in on her days off and just sit there, and of course I'd take the Mickey out of her because she always came in at lunchtime. I'd say, 'you're like your character, you, anything for nothing, you come because it's lunchtime!'.

"And she was absolutely lovely."

He said: "I was fascinated by her, really, really fascinated by her. The stuff I can't even tell you about the out-takes, that me and Liz got up to, because it was hilarious. Because actually I thought she spoke rather eloquently, she spoke really nicely, whether she'd taught herself or been taught. She didn't talk at all like Nana. She used to take the Mickey out of me for being a little bit rough.

"I really, really loved her. When you get a company together like that and you work as a unit together over two or three years like that, you do become a family.

"I'll say this about Ralf Little who played Antony - he adored Liz Smith. He used to go visit her - she was in some sort of sheltered accommodation - he would go and visit her. He loved her."

Director Mike Leigh, who cast Smith in his debut feature film Bleak Moments - her first professional role - praised her during the broadcast.

He said: "I was always a bit cautious. But from the moment I met her she was a complete breath of fresh air. She had no 'thesp' cobwebs about her at all.

"She was not your bog-standard middle-aged actress, she was a great character actress."

Leigh described her as a "consummate character actor" and "eccentric" who was "the most generous woman you could meet".

Smith's death comes in the same year as co-star Caroline Aherne, who died from lung cancer.

A statement issued on Monday night said: "The Bafta award-winning actress Liz Smith has died, on Christmas Eve, at the age of 95, her family has announced."

Following the announcement, Little tweeted: "Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana. Xxx."

Another of Smith's Royle Family co-stars, Craig Cash, described her as "a real master of her craft".

Co-writer Cash played Dave Best in the series, the partner of Aherne's Denise.

He said in a statement: "Liz was a real joy to work with and a master of her craft. She could turn an ordinary line into an extraordinary one. As huge a gift to her writers as she was to her audiences.

"You felt both reassurance and excitement when handing Liz a script. It was like handing the baton to Usain Bolt: you knew she wouldn't just run with it - she'd practically fly.

"She was loved, will be sadly missed and my thoughts and prayers are with her family."

The Queen Of Sheba - the episode of the sitcom in which Nana dies - was repeated on the BBC days before Christmas.

In 2009, the Prince of Wales presented Smith with an MBE and told her that the sofa-bound TV characters in the show were "nothing like my family, thank God".

Smith was born Betty Gleadle in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, in December 1921, and she later referenced her name in the title of her 2006 autobiography, Our Betty.

She got her first professional roles in her 50s when Leigh was looking for a middle-aged woman capable of improvisation for Bleak Moments.

Her career took off after she played the lead role in his first television film, Hard Labour, and she once said: "I owe everything to Mike."

The actress also played eccentric baker Letitia Cropley in The Vicar Of Dibley, but was devastated when her character was killed off.

At the age of 85 she won a best actress award at the British Comedy Awards f or her portrayal of Nana.

Smith also won a Bafta for best supporting actress for her performance as Maggie Smith's organ-playing mother in the film A Private Function.

Coronation Street star Andrew Whyment, who also appeared in The Royle Family, tweeted: "What a fantastic actress she was absolutely hilarious RIP lovely Liz x."

Smith appeared alongside Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter in the 2005 version of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, playing Grandma Georgina.

She also played Mrs Brandon in long-running sitcom I Didn't Know You Cared, as well as Bette in 2point4 Children.

She took to the stage to play Nell in a West End production of Samuel Beckett's Endgame.

Smith announced her retirement from acting in 2009 following a series of strokes.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh told Armenpress the Azerbaijani forces made over 70 ceasefire violations from various caliber small arms at almost all directions of the line of contact.

The Ministry issued an announcement which says:

Overnight December 26-27 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 70 times by firing nearly 850 shots from various caliber small arms at almost all directions of the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani forces fired also 60mm mortar (1 shell) at the southern (Hadrut) direction.

The Defense Army forces responded to the Azerbaijani provocative actions only in case of strict necessity and confidently conducted their military duties.




Israel said it would ignore a UN Security Council resolution and push ahead with the building of more illegal settlements in Palestinian areas.

Last week, in a rare condemnation of Israel, the UN said it settlements had no legal validity. The criticism went ahead after the US decided to abstain, rather than use its vote to veto the measure.

Mr Netanyahu, who has long had a difficult personal relationship with Mr Obama, immediately announced that Israel would not turn the other cheek.

Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolute at the UN and will not abide by its terms, Mr Netanyahu said on Friday. 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.

On Tuesday, officials in Israel indicated their intention to push ahead with the controversial development of more Jewish settlements, with Jerusalems municipal government saying it intended to proceed with the building of 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian section of the city. Plans for the homes were approved in the summer.

Meir Turjeman, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, told AFP that the plans remain on the table ahead of the UN meeting and would still be raised "in a serious manner".

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Earlier, the Palestinian President, Maymoud Abbas, has also weighed in on the issue, saying that he hoped the forthcoming Middle East conference in France would bring about an end to the building of Israeli settlements.

"The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month," he said, in his first public remarks since the UN vote.

"We hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation. The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal."

Israel has responded to the vote by announcing it is reducing ties with the nations that voted against it.

The war of words between Israel and the US - Israel has claimed that Mr Obama was personally behind the UN resolution - is likely to continue for the final few weeks of Mr Obamas presidency. Mr Netanyahu, who last year addressed the joint houses of Congress to condemn the US deal with Iran, knows that President-elect Donald Trump is likely to be far less critical of Jewish settlement building on Palestinian land.

Indeed, Mr Trump had called on the US to veto the UN resolution. When it failed to do so, he tweeted that things would be "different after he assumes office.

Reuters said that some of Mr Netanyahus fiery rhetoric may be part of an effort to position himself for domestic political reasons. A $38bn US aid-package to Israel has already been agreed and the Israeli premier wants to try and tap into deep-seated feelings among many Israelis that their country and its policies towards the Palestinians receive excessive global condemnation.

It said that he has tried to rally Israelis around him by portraying the anti-settlement resolution as a challenge to Israel's claimed sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.

This was underscored with a Hanukkah holiday visit to the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites, which is located in Jerusalems Old City in the eastern sector captured along with the West Bank in a 1967 war.

Expand Close Construction on land owned by a Palestinian in east Jerusalem (AP/Mahmoud Illean) / Facebook

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Almost all Israelis believe that Jerusalem is their countrys capital.

Palestinians claim eastern Jerusalem as their capital, while Washington has in the past accepted an international view that the city's status must be determined at future peace talks.

In contrast, Mr Trump has promised to reverse decades of US policy by moving the US.embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

Speaking on MSNBC on Monday, Israel's ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, accused the Obama administration of orchestrating Fridays UN vote behind the scenes, despite US denials.

Mr Trump has selected David Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi, as his choice to be the US envoy in Israel.

The Associated Press said Mr Friedman is a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, an opponent of Palestinian statehood and a defender of Israels government.
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) waves before departure for Hawaii at Tokyo's Haneda airport on December 26, 2016. AFP/Getty Images

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in Hawaii to recognise the attacks on Pearl Harbour.

Mr Abe arrived on Monday for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honours sailors and Marines killed in the 1941 attack.

The memorial will be closed to the public on Tuesday when he visits with US President Barack Obama, who is holidaying in Hawaii with his family.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbour six years after the country's Second World War surrender.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbour in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Admiral Arthur W. R. Radford, commander of the US Pacific fleet.

The office overlooked Pearl Harbour, offering a direct view of the attack site.

AP
Shinzo Abe places a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific's Honolulu Memorial (The Star-Advertiser /AP)

Japan's prime minister has offered "sincere and everlasting condolences" for the US service members who died when his country attacked Pearl Harbour, catapulting America into the Second World War.

Shinzo Abe paid a historic visit to the Hawaii site with Barack Obama, becoming the first Japanese leader to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and the first to visit Pearl Harbour with an American president.

The former enemies came together on Tuesday to acknowledge the tremendous loss from the Japanese attack on US military installations in Hawaii in 1941.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place," Mr Abe said.

After a formal meeting, Mr Abe and Mr Obama placed a pair of green and peach wreaths made of lilies aboard the USS Arizona Memorial and tossed purple flower petals into the water.

The rusting wreckage of the sunken ship where more than 1,000 American service members are entombed can be seen just under the water's surface.

Mr Obama and Mr Abe closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments before concluding their visit to the memorial and heading to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, where both leaders spoke.

Mr Obama said Mr Abe's visit was a "historic gesture" that showed the power of reconciliation.

He said Mr Abe's presence was a reminder of what was possible between nations and peoples and that wars could end and enemies could become allies.

Mr Obama said it showed "the fruits of peace always outweigh the plunder of war" and the US-Japan relationship was now a cornerstone of peace in the world.

The president singled out Pearl Harbour survivors in the audience, saying the nation saluted them.

The visit is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said.

Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbour before, Mr Abe was the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Mr Obama, it is probably the last time he will meet a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It is a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Mr Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

And for Mr Abe, it is an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Mr Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Mr Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House.

"That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on December 7 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded.

In the ensuing years, the US incarcerated about 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Mr Abe will not apologise for Pearl Harbour, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologise at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Mr Abe used to emphasise their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

But Alfred Rodrigues, 96, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy", said there was no apology needed.

"War is war," Mr Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

Mr Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war.

Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbour a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the US prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling".

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbour syndrome' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Japanese embassy in Washington.

"I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the US and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Mr Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Mr Obama and Mr Abe were driving forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and US president-elect Donald Trump.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the US than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Mr Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbour.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimised countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

AP
(FILES) This file photo taken on June 09, 2007 shows British pop singer George Michael performing during his 25 Live concert at the Wembley Stadium in London. George Michael died aged 53, according to his publicist on December 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNISADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES) This file photo taken on May 8, 2007 shows British pop star George Michael (L) arriving at Brent Magistrates Court in west London, as he faces charges of driving while unfit through drugs. British pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said on December 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / CHRIS YOUNGCHRIS YOUNG/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES): This file photo taken on September 6, 1997 shows pop stars George Michael (L) and Elton John (R) leaving Westminster Abbey following the funeral service of Diana, Princess of Wales. British pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said on Sunday, December 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / AFP POOL / JOHNNY EGGITTJOHNNY EGGITT/AFP/Getty Images

(FILES): This file photo taken on September 6, 1997 shows pop stars George Michael (L) and Elton John (R) leaving Westminster Abbey following the funeral service of Diana, Princess of Wales. British pop singer George Michael, who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said on Sunday, December 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / AFP POOL / Adam ButlerADAM BUTLER/AFP/Getty Images

File photo dated 07/12/06 of George Michael performing at the Point Depot in Dublin, as the pop superstar has died at the age of 53 from suspected heart failure. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Monday December 26, 2016. See PA story DEATH Michael. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

File photo dated 11/04/99 of Tom Jones (left) and George Michael performing a duet during a tribute concert to Sir Paul McCartney's late wife Linda, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Pop superstar Mr Michael has died peacefully at home, his publicist said. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday December 25, 2016. See PA story DEATH Michael. Photo credit should read: Sean Dempsey/PA Wire

File photo dated 19/04/2000 of George Michael and Geri Halliwell arriving for the 95.8 Capital FM London Awards in London, as the pop superstar has died peacefully at home, his publicist said.

File photo dated 24/08/10 of the Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north London, which George Michael crashed into in his Range Rover, as the pop superstar has died peacefully at home, his publicist said.

George Michael of Wham performing at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London, as the pop superstar has died at the age of 53 from suspected heart failure.

George Michael collecting his Ivor Novello award at London's Grosvenor House for his album Faith to be international hit of the year, as the pop superstar has died peacefully at home, his publicist said. 04/04/89

George Michael outside his house in Highgate, north London, after being released from prison, as the pop superstar has died peacefully at home, his publicist said. 11/10/10

Princes Diana, Patron of the National Aids Trust talking to George Michael as Mick Hucknall looks on ahead of a concert of Hope at Wembley Arena in London, to mark World Aids Day. 01/12/93

Its got nothing to do with the year, for a start. Its not 2016s fault that so many famous people, especially musicians, have died in it.

All those big frowny-face tweets from surviving celebrities ignore the fact that people are dying every single day in ordinary and extraordinary ways. What makes certain deaths more poignant for so many people, though, is the particular impact of the deceased  as writers, or sportspeople, or actors, or superstars.

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Its bad enough when the dead people are just simply famous, or hugely influential. But once the famous dead start being from our generation  that is, the generation that invented first video culture and then the internet and all its applications  the loss is felt particularly personally.

There was something peculiarly potent about the announcement of George Michaels untimely death. In an era where we are schooled, not only to applaud the writings and performances of idols of all sorts, but also to find our private and public identities by means of them, Michaels departure at 53 carries a particularly powerful charge.

I remember watching Club Tropicana on Top Of The Pops with my dad, who was hugely amused at the absurdity of it all: pilots, pools, tight-fitting shorts, and the lyrical cure-all: All thats missing is the sea/But dont worry you can suntan. While he was probably more knowingly in on the joke than his teenage daughter, I think we were both entranced by the sheer exuberance of it all. The colour, the vitality, the sheer thrill of (very innocuous) hedonism. It was a far cry from 1980s Northern Ireland. Just like almost every other young girl, I had posters of Wham! (never forget that exclamation mark) on my bedroom wall. Right next to my poster of Freddie ... (how could I not see... mind you, I was so naive I thought Andrew Ridgeley co-wrote the songs).

We all have our own memories of George, but his achievement should not be shrouded in misty nostalgia with talks of perms, jumpsuits and ra-ra skirts. Michaels reputation rests on a more substantial platform than I Love The Eighties fodder. He remained a vital artist  right to the end.

Say it loud: he was a pop songwriter of genius. Young Guns, Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go), Careless Whisper, Club Tropicana, Freedom, Faith, Outside, Jesus To A Child, and, of course, the now hugely poignant Last Christmas. I could add a dozen more, but the point is made. George Michael  the creation of the shy, north London boy Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou  is there in the pantheon of great pop songwriters, with Lennon, McCartney, Bowie, Dylan, Jagger & Richards, Elton & Bernie, Leiber & Stoller.

True, we, in our foolishness, sneered sometimes at the flimflammery  the espadrilles, the Make It Big T-shirts, that weird beard/moustache combo George donned off and on throughout his career. But when all of that is stripped away, were left with songs of a kind of pop perfection, exhilarating (yes, even the ballads) and inevitable.

Classic George Michael tracks ticked all the definitions of great pop: they seemed effortless and, in a good sense, obvious. It was as if the melodies were always out there, waiting... just waiting for the right time.

A George Michael song drilled itself into your heart, soul and mind on first listen  yes, even the novelty Wake Me Up. But most importantly of all they made a curious little jump from him to us, the listening world; they became not just hummable pop ditties, but part of the warp and weft of our lives. We owned Careless Whisper. We owned Faith. We owned Last Christmas. These songs became a kind of common property. This was the stuff of first dates, first serious relationships, the office party, friends weddings, of broken hearts. This is part of the strange alchemy by which stars take hold of our hearts.

And it is this sheer talent that makes his death paradoxically both sad and untimely, but also triumphant. Would George have slipped from the pantheon if he had lived to be 90, but never wrote another hit? Absolutely not. Those songs written were already enough. To want more would be ungrateful and trivial: Only nine symphonies, Herr Beethoven? And yet  like Bowie  we also knew that genius could flare like a flame on a low-burning ember to produce another great song, another album, a reinvention. After all, had he not done it before? From pretty-boy pin-up to serious artist? From moon/June pop balladry to serious songs about death, desire, need and loss.

Of course, we saw only part of the picture: his car ploughing into Snappy Snaps in London, falling asleep at the wheel, the drug busts, being fined for performing a lewd act in public toilets.

But life is rarely black and white, and behind the headlines was a complex, tormented human being, one who it emerges gave generously and anonymously to good causes. George once spoke of his golden child upbringing, as a Greek boy in a patriarchal family of girls. He spoke, too, of his simple awareness that he was supremely talented, with more magical power than 99.9% of the planet.

In any company, however glitzy, or Oscar- or Grammy-laden, no one had more charisma, or genius, than him  and no one looked as good as well. Clad head to toe in leather, bathed in the strobing of a thousand lights, George looked so at ease, it was as if he spent his every waking hour on stage.

Fame was hard though. He realised early on that hed been chasing something that wouldnt make him happy. He admitted to being self-destructive, yet no matter how off-the-rails his life lurched, his career righted itself miraculously, as he memorably put it, like a plastic duck in the bath. Perhaps thats why we, too, always hoped, against all the odds, that George would have some late and long-lasting recovery... but no. We should have known he was always a superstar of the old Hollywood school.

Maybe we are getting this now. Maybe we are working out in our own age what the ancients knew of old when they said: Those whom the gods love die young. Were working out that those who have everything, or seem to, are in fact just as prone to the sudden exit as those who have nothing, or seem to.

Maybe were finding out that, even with wealth, global fame, huge artistic satisfaction and the acclaim of several generations, we are all truly singular people left alone with our own selves and no number of hangers-on, acolytes, lovers, managers or fans can stand between us and our own reckoning.

Even George Michael. We used to laugh at the various syndromes of celebrities, their diva demands, their first world problems, their visits to clinics and rehab and retreats for the famous... their heartfelt seasonal sit-down TV interviews with sensitive couch doctors. Maybe not anymore. Not even wealth and fame and success protect us from the savagery of our own lives and how we live them.

After all, this morning George Michael is dead. And we will go to work as usual, hoping, for us, it might all be somehow different.
Martin McGuinness time as a leading figure in Sinn Fein may soon be coming to an end

It could be argued that a public figure's health is a private affair and that voters have no right to know any more about it than he, or she, chooses to tell them. When it was reported over Christmas 2009 that Brian Lenihan, then Finance Minister in the Dublin Government, had pancreatic cancer, many were certainly outraged on his family's behalf.

The TV station in question reminded critics that the country's economy was in crisis post-recession and that the stamina of the man in charge of fixing it was a cause of concern to all.

The controversy surrounding the Renewable Heating Initiative (RHI) may not be as critical as that, but if no less senior a figure than Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is warning of "grave consequences" if the matter is not resolved satisfactorily, then the health of the main players surely matters just as greatly.

So, it's been something of a concern that the medical condition afflicting Martin McGuinness has so far remained shrouded in mystery.

Now the first crack in Sinn Fein's legendary wall of silence has appeared, with the admission by former MLA Daithi McKay that the Deputy First Minister may soon stand down from his post because of poor health.

If the first real "changing of the guard" in the republican movement since the end of the Troubles is, indeed, imminent, it offers a timely opportunity to assess what all sides must agree is a mixed legacy.

There will be plenty who struggle to find much sympathy for the former IRA leader, pointing out that he's enjoyed many more decades of life than the legions of victims of the terrorist group that he commanded.

Not everyone is ready to show the forgiveness which Gordon Wilson showed after his daughter, Marie, was murdered by the IRA in Enniskillen. Some may never be ready to do so and their right not to pardon the killers of their loved ones is equally valid.

Forgiveness without justice generally suits the interests of the guilty, rather than the innocent.

At the same time, it would be churlish to deny that it would have been much more difficult to make the progress which undoubtedly has been achieved with Gerry Adams at the helm in Stormont instead.

On the occasions that McGuinness has met and shaken hands with the Queen, he's done so with gravitas and dignity. Adams couldn't help souring his own handshake with Prince Charles on the latter's historic visit to Ireland by making it seem as if it was Gerry himself who was making the more magnanimous gesture.

McGuinness recognises that not everything is about him. He appears not to be ruled by his ego, a rarer quality than it should be. It may be a front, but it's a necessary one. He's also learned to judiciously bite his tongue.

Because he works with unionists every day, he's had to develop strategies to keep his political prejudices in check. Adams let his true feelings show when he said - in Enniskillen, of all places - that the "point" of Sinn Fein's approach to unionists was to "break these b*******".

In order to make the Assembly work, McGuinness was even prepared to find common ground with then DUP leader Ian Paisley, to the extent that they became known as the 'Chuckle Brothers'.

There was something deplorable about two men who'd done much to divide Northern Ireland suddenly kissing and making up in the name of power.

The cosy double act was probably necessary, too, but no less nauseating for it. McGuinness has been lucky. Adams is widely mocked for denying that he was ever in the IRA. McGuinness was praised for being more forthcoming when he appeared before the Bloody Sunday tribunal, though he really didn't have much choice, after telling the Special Criminal Court in Dublin in 1973 that he was "a member of Oglaigh na hEireann (the IRA) and very, very proud of it". But he hasn't been entirely honest, either.

He continues to insist that he left the IRA in 1974. That lie has been politely overlooked. His failed bid for the Irish presidency in 2011 likewise brought out a tetchy, thin-skinned side to his character that he struggled to hide.

Confronted on the campaign trail by the son of an Irish soldier murdered by the IRA during a notorious kidnapping, he flatly denied ever being on the IRA's ruling "army council", superciliously asking the bereaved son who insisted that he was: "How do you know that?"

Question marks remain over numerous other episodes in his past, not least the death of IRA informer Frank Hegarty.

The dead man's mother says McGuinness personally assured her that her son would be safe if he returned from England. In fact, he was shot dead.

BBC journalist Peter Taylor, who's delved deeply into the secret history of the Troubles, further claims that McGuinness had advance warning of the Enniskillen bombing.

He was unquestionably in a major leadership role in the IRA during some of the most notorious atrocities, including the IRA attack in October 1990, in which Patsy Gillespie, a civilian cook at an Army base, was strapped into a van loaded with explosives and forced to drive to a border checkpoint, where the bomb was detonated by remote control, killing him and five soldiers.

That was an act of evil by any standards and it's a stain on the strand of Irish republicanism that the Derry man represents. A couple of years ago, he was still refusing to accept it was "cold-blooded murder".

In response, Victor Barker, father of 12-year-old James, killed in the Omagh bombing, said: "I would have more respect for Martin McGuinness if he completed his democratic journey and admitted some of the crimes which he has been a part of."

But if one thing has become obvious since the end of the violence, it's that his generation of ex-terrorists may never complete that journey.

They were able to go some way along the road from violence and we ought to be relieved that they did, though never grateful. They'll never deserve gratitude.

More important, though, is to never forget the monstrous things that can be done by apparently affable family men, who write poetry and enjoy fishing.

We're asked to brush the monstrous things that they did under the carpet, because these men eventually backed away from the brink - but it took them far too long to realise that they could not get their way by force.

A few good deeds does not erase the memory of evil.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Excavations in the territory of Nor Karmiravan village in NKRs Martakert region have recorded interesting facts.

Nzhdeh Yeranyan, deputy scientific director of the State Service for historic environment protection SNCO told ARMENPRESS studies were carried out in two main excavation sites: in the vicinity of the pillars and a little north from them, near the canal which was built in 2000s. While researching the external material, we suddenly discovered a jug on the bottom of the canal. 18 various vessels were also discovered, which date back to 7-9 centuries B.C., along with several beards, he said.

The archaeologist mentioned the excavations allow them to assume that this area had been actively populated in the beginning of the 1st century B.C. Therefore large-scale excavations are necessary, which would enable to re-create the history and culture of that period.

Yeranyan also mentioned the humanoid-like pillars which were discovered by one of the locals. Afterwards excavations were launched. Excavations, which lasted around two weeks, they were exploratory excavations, which were aimed at determining whether or not those pillars are located in their initial installation sites. As a result we can say they indeed are located in their environment. But in order to make final conclusions it is necessary to continue excavations in the future, he said.

Three dozen similar humanoid-like pillars are known currently in Nagorno Karabakh. The latest discoveries however, were moved from their initial locations. Therefore the research and excavations of the Nor Karmiravan pillars will give answers to several important questions.

The study of these pillars is important for both Nagorno Karabakh, Caucasus and the history and culture of the 1st century BC of the entire Western Asia, he said.
Father Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian Catholic priest believed to be a hostage of Islamic State in Yemen, appears in an online video, Dec. 24, 2016.

Indias foreign ministry said Tuesday it was doing everything to secure the release of an Indian Catholic priest believed to be a hostage of Islamic State in Yemen, but his relatives criticized their governments handling of the nearly 10-month-old case.

Days after Father Tom Uzhunnalil appeared in a video purportedly released on social media by his captors on Christmas Eve, in which he pleaded for help from his home government, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Tuesday via Twitter that New Delhi had spared no effort and will spare no effort to win the priests freedom. Uzhunnalil, a native of south Indias Kerala state, was abducted on March 4 when suspected IS gunmen stormed an old-age home in Aden run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity, where he volunteered.

I have seen the video from Fr. Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us, Swaraj said in one of her tweets.

We got Fr. Alex Prem Kumar and Judith DSouza released from Afghanistan, she said, referring to two Indians who were rescued from captivity in February 2015 and July this year, respectively.

I am very sad

In the video that runs just over five minutes, a heavily bearded Uzhunnalil appeals in English for Pope Francis and the Indian government to help free him from captivity.

Several months have gone by. My captors have made many contacts with the government of India to get me released. Honorable president and prime minister, I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard. Reports have been coming that everything is being done to get me released quickly, but, in reality, nothing seems to have happened, he said, alleging that the pontiff and the bishop of Abu Dhabi had also done nothing about his case.

I am sad that this is the situation. If I was a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities, and people would have got me released, the priest said, adding, I am from India, and perhaps I am not considered of as much value.

He appeared to be reading from a script, without presenting any demands from his captors.

Nothing has happened

Despite assurances from Indian officials, Uzhunnalils relatives said they were dissatisfied with New Delhis efforts.

The government has been saying this for the last 10 months, but, except for assurances, nothing concrete seems to have emerged, Joseph Mathew, Uzhunnalils cousin, told BenarNews by phone from Keralas Kottayam district.

We have been running from pillar to post to get him [Uzhunnalil] some help. His younger brothers have even visited Abu Dhabi to meet Bishop Paul Hindon there to get him to negotiate with the captors. But nothing has happened, Mathew said.

Shajan Thomas, another relative, said he was shocked and angry that the Indian government had still not been able to zero in on the whereabouts of Uzhunnalil.

We are extremely worried. In the video, he looks extremely scared and weak. The Indian government needs to get him released soon, else I fear the worst, Thomas told BenarNews.

Vikas Swarup, the spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said the government was in constant touch with authorities in Yemen and Saudi Arabia to help secure Uzhunnalils release.

You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country. With regard to the safe release of the priest, who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia and also the local Yemeni authorities, Swarup said in a statement.
Bangladeshi police escort two women, who were arrested during a weekend raid on a suspected militant hideout in Dhaka, into court, Dec. 26, 2016.

A female bomber who blew herself up in Dhaka over the weekend belonged to a militant group that uses women as sex slaves and whose male members force their wives into it, a top police counter-terror official said Tuesday.

Men in the militant faction known as Neo-JMB can have multiple wives and use women to ensure their own safety, said Monirul Islam, chief of the counter-terrorism and transnational crimes unit at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

They use the women as sex slaves. Another militant marries a female member if her husband dies, Islam told reporters.

Interrogating the female members, we have come to know that the women do not enter militancy by their own choice. They are basically forced by their husbands to get involved, he said.

Islam addressed a news conference in Dhaka three days after a woman and a teenager reportedly blew themselves up separately as police raided a three-story house in Ashkona, a neighborhood in the Bangladeshi capital.

Two women and two children left the house and were taken into custody at the time.

But a third child, who was with the female bomber as she exited the building and headed toward police, was injured in the blast when the woman set off the explosives, a police official who was at the scene told BenarNews.

The bomber was the girls mother. The girl remains hospitalized in Dhaka.

After 12 hours of persuasion, one woman came out of the den, holding a [girl] aged 6 to 7 year old. We asked the woman to raise both her arms up and hand over the [girl] to us, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sanwar Hossain said.

She was not listening to us. Suddenly, she pushed the [girl] toward us and exploded her suicide vest. Probably she had a plan to destroy herself and police members, Hossain told BenarNews.

Totally against Islam

A faction of Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Neo-JMB reportedly aligns itself with the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and has been blamed for a terrorist attack that left 29 dead, including 20 hostages, at an upscale cafe in Dhaka July.

IS claimed responsibility for the overnight siege, but Bangladeshi officials have insisted that Islamic State has no presence in the country, saying the attack was carried out by a home-grown group, Neo-JMB.

The female bomber who committed suicide on Saturday, identified as Shakira, was the wife of Neo-JMB member Sumon, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal confirmed.

She married Sumon after her first husband, Iqbal, had died of cancer, the minister said. The injured girl, identified as Sabina, was the daughter of Iqbal and Shakira.

Retired Brig. Gen. Shahedul Anam Khan, an expert on militancy and security issues, told BenarNews that Neo-JMB follows an IS policy on women.

The IS uses the women, especially the Christians, the Shiites, the Yazidis and other faiths, as sex slaves. What IS does is totally against Islam and the Islamic guidelines on womens rights, he said.

Suicidal female militants are really a big threat for us, Khan said.

Women can even use their clothing to their advantage.

Traditionally, a large number of women in Bangladesh don burkas, so this is difficult to find the militant women from the general ones, Abdul Halim, a student at the criminology department at Dhaka University, told BenarNews. He said the government could not ban burkas.

Instead, law enforcers must enhance intelligence gathering, Halim said.

Arrests of women

In 2016, not including Saturdays arrests, Bangladeshi security forces have arrested at least 17 suspected female members of JMB, who, according to police, were being groomed for suicide bombing missions.

Our female members rent houses stating that their husbands work in other places and they will come at times. Thus our militants stay with their wives at secure houses and continue the operation, a JMB member who identified himself as Khadem told BenarNews in September.

JMB carefully manages marriages within its ranks to help it survive, he said, noting that high-ranking members are allowed up to four wives so that they have safe places to stay. Moreover, men who are with JMB appoint standby husbands for their wives in case they are widowed. Khadem said.

Women who do not accept their new husbands can leave the group as long as they do not divulge any of JMBs secrets, he added.

Leaking any information  would be dealt with severely. But in most of the cases, our women members remain with the company and marry the standby candidates, he said, using an insider codename for JMB.

Shahriar Sharif in Dhaka contributed to this report.
Jakarta Gov. Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama speaks with his lawyers during his blasphemy trial at the North Jakarta District Court, Dec. 27, 2016.

An Indonesian court Tuesday rejected a motion filed by lawyers for Jakarta Gov. Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama and ordered that his blasphemy trial over alleged anti-Islam comments go on.

The motion was the last legal opportunity to stop the trial of the governor, a member of Indonesias Christian and ethnic Chinese minorities who is running for election in February.

The allegations against Ahok have grabbed national headlines before and since his trial opened on Dec. 13. They have led to mass street protests by Muslim groups that have called for his prosecution, including one on Nov. 4 that ended in rioting and looting in central Jakarta.

The objection of the defendant Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and his lawyers cannot be accepted, presiding Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarso said Tuesday in the courtroom of the North Jakarta District Court.

The judge also agreed with the prosecutor and rejected a claim by Ahoks lawyers that pressure from the Muslim community was responsible for bringing the case to trial.

Ahok, when asked if would accept or appeal the ruling, consulted with his lawyer and said, We will take it into consideration.

Ahoks lawyer, Sirra Prayuna, said the courts rejection was normal in such a case.

We have set up five to seven fact and expert witnesses who will testify during the trial, he said.

When the trial opened two weeks ago, Ahok testified that he never intended to offend Muslims during a speech in the Thousand Islands regency near Jakarta on Sept. 27, when he cited Surah Al-Maida Verse 51 from the Quran. Some have interpreted the passage as barring Muslims from having non-Muslim leaders.

The next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3. For security reasons, it will be moved to an auditorium in the Ministry of Agriculture, a larger room that can accommodate more than 80 people.

Catholic complaint

Meanwhile, the Jakarta Police Department has received a report of alleged blasphemy by Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, whose group has been among the most vocal calling for Ahoks prosecution.

The Catholic Students Association of the Republic of Indonesia (PMKRI) reported the hardline cleric to the police on Monday for a sermon he gave at a mosque in Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, on Christmas Day.

We feel humiliated, feel offended by the speech of hate delivered by Habib Rizieq Shihab, association leader Angelius Wake Kako told reporters.

In his talk, the FPI chief allegedly questioned Christian beliefs that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

He said if God could give birth, who was the midwife. And we learned many of the congregation were laughing at what Rizieq said, Angelius said.

A spokesman for Jakarta police, Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono, confirmed that officers were investigating the complaint against Rizieq.

Argo told BenarNews that police needed time to study the report, and would contact Rizieq if there was sufficient evidence against him.
China plans to launch first Mars probe by 2020

Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-27 10:16

BEIJING - China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration, said a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.



"China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration," said the document titled "China's Space Activities in 2016."



It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.



"When conditions allow, related projects will be implemented to conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life," it said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenias Ministry of Diaspora declared 2017 as the year of Karabakh. Minister Hranush Hakobyan said all programs of the upcoming year will be directed towards the solution of the Karabakh issue.

During 2016 we have carried out 22 programs. Our activities and projects were mainly related with global, regional and internal challenges. The regional developments were not beneficial for us. We can state that during the April aggression the Diaspora became united. The entire Diaspora stood together with Karabakh, they issued statements everywhere, organized rallies. The Ministry was working with more than 100 communities, combined its work with the NKR Government and the Defense Ministry. There were no community that didnt provide its moral and material assistance to the NKR, Hranush Hakobyan said.

The Minister said in 2016 What are you doing for Karabakh? large-scale movement was launched, and schools, community structures of 25 European countries joined it.

It was widely spread in the Diaspora. Thats why we have consulted with a number of Diaspora structures and decided to dedicate the upcoming year to Karabakh. We must all understand that the NKRs power, the settlement of the issue is the strengthening of Karabakhs economy, education, science and defense, she said.
Creators of the Facebook page Citizens against Single Gateway: Thailand Internet Firewall, are responsible for attacks on and the hacking of government websites, Thai authorities allege.

Updated at 5:46 p.m. ET 2016-12-27

Officers are hunting for more suspected hackers who breached some 30 government websites as a show of dissent against Thailands newly amended Computer Crime Act, national police said Tuesday.

Police have charged one of nine suspects detained thus far, Natdanai Kongdee, 19, on allegations that he was involved in the hacking, among other offenses.

Natdanai is a real culprit. Besides cracking data, hed buy and sell guns on the Internet, Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaichinda told a press briefing on Monday. The suspect was charged with sabotage, computer crimes, possessing illegal weapons and possessing drugs.

Also on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters nine people had been taken into custody for questioning since the law was changed on Dec. 16.

The act was passed unanimously despite opposition from free speech groups. The next morning, nearly 30 government websites were hacked.

Facebook group Citizens Against Single Gateway: Thailand Internet Firewall, which opposes the Thai juntas call for a single gateway for internet traffic, urged supporters to launch a series of cyber-attacks.

The anti-computer crimes police are interrogating him [Natdanai]. He hacked many governments websites. We are interrogating those who are involved and we will arrest all who are involved, Pol. Maj. Gen. Piyapan Pingmaung, the deputy spokesman for national police, told BenarNews on Tuesday.

Activists complain

Last week, U.S.-based rights advocacy groups Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued statements criticizing the changes to the act as paving the way for Thailands military government to further restrict free speech and retaliate against activists.

CPJ said the junta has broadened internet censorship since the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej on Oct. 13. Thai authorities had blocked access to 1,300 websites in the month following the kings death over content deemed anti-royal  more sites than were censored in the previous five years combined, according to the Associated Press.

At the time, Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-o-cha, who has led the government since the 2014 junta takeover, challenged claims by critics that the amendments would violate free speech rights.

No one wants to police social media because its tiring, Prayuth said at the time.

No SSL

In a related development on Tuesday, Thai officials denied that the government had acquired facilities to breach the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), which is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. The SSL is an industry standard used by millions of websites to protect online transactions with customers.

We did not purchase such a device. I control the purchase, there was not such purchase, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit told reporters in Bangkok.

The Citizens Against Single Gateway Facebook page recently alleged that the Royal Thai Army had purchased four decryption devices. The group claimed it had hacked the information about the purchase from the armys website.

In early 2016, we established cyber warfare center. We purchased some equipment, but no SSL cracking devices. The claim was bogus, Gen. Chalermchai Sithiwat, Army Commander-in-Chief, told reporters Tuesday.
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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The internal security and anti-smuggling department and double customs control department of the State Revenue Committee have discovered 100 grams of methamphetamine type narcotics in the luggage of Vladimir Hovsepyan, a passenger of the Yerevan-Moscow flight on December 22 in Armenias Zvartnots airport. The smuggler used a bottle of vodka to hide the narcotics. Law enforcement officers confiscated and sent the narcotics for expertise.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Investigative Department of the State Revenue Committee. Hovsepyan has been arrested and remanded in custody. Investigation continues, the State Revenue Committee told ARMENPRESS.

At the same time, the State Revenue Committee continues vigilant supervision to discover tax frauds during holidays. Three cases of illegal business activities have been discovered.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. During the reporting period, the works of the Ministry of Nature Protection were directed towards ensuring the Governments 2016 activity and the implementation of priority issues and measures on the natural protection sector proposed by strategically important programs approved by the Government, Minister of Nature Protection Artsvik Minasyan said at a press conference, reports Armenpress.

I have been appointed Minister of Nature Protection in September, 2016, in other words, 9 months later since the beginning of the year. Considering this, I want to state that all the programs proposed by the Government in the nature protection sector have been implemented. I want to thank for that to the former Minister Aramayis Grigoryan who made efforts to make the years program come into force. Overall, 6 events were planned, and all were implemented, the Minister said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Russia expects to establish constructive dialogue with the new US administration and jointly move forward over the settlement of the Syrian and Ukrainian crises, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Interfax, reports Armenpress.

We expect that it will be possible to establish pragmatic dialogue. First of all it is necessary to restart the inter-agency contact which is completely suspended in practice, he said.

The Russian FM said in case of US being ready for the constructive mutual cooperation, Moscow and Washington are able not only to move forward on solving bilateral issues, but also they can jointly have their input in overcoming the global and regional key issues, including the settlement of the Syrian and Ukrainian crises.

At the moment, perhaps, it is early to speak about how the work will be carried out with the Republican team on concrete issues. In any case, we need to wait for the US President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration ceremony, Lavrov said, adding that conclusions on prospects can be drawn when official contacts will be established with the new US administration.
Dyspnea (Shortness Of Breath): Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment Disorders Cure oi-Devika Bandyopadhya

Dyspnea is a condition that causes shortness of breath [1] . Most of the time people experience shortness of breath after a strenuous exercise. However, a severe form of this can occur due to carrying excess weight, a panic attack, illnesses such as asthma, etc. When a person has this condition, the breathing is rapid and uncomfortable [1] . The person experiences tightness in the chest with an accompanied feeling of suffocation. One should meet a doctor when he or she experiences recurrent, sudden or severe dyspnea. The treatment approach depends on the cause of your shortness of breath.

Read on to know more about dyspnea, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

What Is Dyspnea?

If you have ever felt like you could not breathe in enough air, then the condition that you have experienced is medically known as dyspnea [2] . This symptom can be a sign of other health problems that can be related to heart or lung diseases. However, one can also experience temporary dyspnea after an intense workout.

Sometimes described as 'air hunger', dyspnea can be a very uncomfortable feeling [2] . This condition can be mild and temporary at times, whereas in some cases, it can be quite serious and long-lasting.

Symptoms Of Dyspnea

When you cannot get enough air in your lungs due to dyspnea, you might feel the following [3] :

Tightness in your chest

Breathless

Suffocated

Unable to breathe deeply/ rapid, shallow breathing

Hungry for air

Heart palpitations

Wheezing

Coughing

Dyspnea can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-lasting). The acute form of this condition can start within a few minutes or hours [4] . It can be accompanied by other symptoms such as rash, cough or fever. On the other hand, chronic dyspnea can make you feel out of breath even after you do the regular, daily tasks such as standing up from a sitting position [5] .

Shortness of breath can get worse due to certain body positions such as lying down flat.

Causes Of Dyspnea

Many health conditions can cause dyspnea. The following are the most common causes of acute dyspnea [6] [7] :

Collapsed lung

Heart attack

Heart failure

Pregnancy

Severe allergic reactions

Choking

Pneumonia

A blood clot in the lungs

Hiatal hernia

The following are some of the common causes of chronic dyspnea [8] :

Obesity

Asthma

Being out of shape

High blood pressure in the lungs

Scarring of the lungs

Heart diseases

Stiff or swollen heart muscle

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other common reasons that can make you feel out of breath are lung cancer, panic attacks and anaemia. Environmental pollutants such as dust, chemical fumes and smoke [9] can make it even more difficult for people with dyspnea to breathe.

Complications Associated With Dyspnea

Shortness of breath can be associated with hypoxia or hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) [10] . This can lead to a decreased level of consciousness. In case dyspnea continues for long without being treated, then there is a risk of either temporary or permanent cognitive impairment.

Diagnosis Of Dyspnea

A complete physical examination of the person along with a complete description of the experiences should be sufficient for a doctor to diagnose dyspnea.

The patient would be asked the following questions [11] :

How and when the dyspnea attacks started

How long do the attacks last

How frequently do the attacks occur

How severe are the attacks

To reach a more specific diagnosis of dyspnea, the doctor might advice chest X-rays and CT images. This is to evaluate the health of the patient's lungs, heart, etc.

In some cases, an electrocardiogram can be quite helpful in showing signs of a heart attack. Spirometry [12] tests are carried out to measure the airflow and the patient's lung capacity. This test helps in identifying the extent of an individual's breathing problems. Additional tests can be done to look at the level of oxygen in a patient's blood.

Treatment For Dyspnea

Treating dyspnea ideally involves treating its underlying cause. The following are some of the treatment approaches used:

Diet and exercise: Obesity and poor fitness can be the prime cause of dyspnea. In such cases, eating healthier meals and exercising frequently is highly essential. However, if this medical condition is limiting your activity level, then you should meet your doctor and find out how you can begin a safe exercise routine [13] .

Pulmonary rehabilitation: Lung problems would need the care of a pulmonologist. Few people might need supplemental oxygen in a portable tank to prevent them from feeling out of breath. In such cases, pulmonary rehabilitation is extremely useful [14] . This kind of rehabilitation involves supervised exercise and education about breathing techniques that can help you overcome lung diseases.

Cardiac rehabilitation: All heart-related ailments would be treated by a cardiologist. When a person suffers from heart failure, it indicates that the heart is too weak to pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the body's requirements. One of the symptoms of heart failure is dyspnea. Heart failures can be managed through cardiac rehabilitation [15] . When heart failure is quite severe, the use of an artificial pump might become necessary to fulfill the blood pumping duties.

Prevention Of Dyspnea

One of the most common risk factors for shortness of breath is smoking [16] . Hence, a person with this condition should seek ample help to get himself out of the smoking habit. It is said that a person's lung and heart health starts to improve within hours of having the last cigarette.

If you work in an environment with poor air quality, consider the use of masks to filter out lung irritants [17] . Also, ensuring that the workplace is well-ventilated can be quite helpful.

In case you are obese, consulting a nutritionist or dietitian can help you set your meal plans and change your eating style.

View Article References [1] Manning, H. L., & Schwartzstein, R. M. (1995). Pathophysiology of dyspnea.New England Journal of Medicine,333(23), 1547-1553. [2] Mahler, D. A., Weinberg, D. H., Wells, C. K., & Feinstein, A. R. (1984). The measurement of dyspnea: contents, interobserver agreement, and physiologic correlates of two new clinical indexes.Chest,85(6), 751-758. [3] Nudel, D. B., Diamant, S., Brady, T., Jarenwattananon, M., Buckley, B. J., & Gootman, N. (1987). Chest pain, dyspnea on exertion, and exercise induced asthma in children and adolescents.Clinical pediatrics,26(8), 388-392. [4] Totten, R. S., Reid, D. H., & Moran, T. J. (1958). Farmer's lung: Report of two cases in which lung biopsies were performed.The American journal of medicine,25(5), 803-809. [5] Pratter, M. R., Curley, F. J., Dubois, J., & Irwin, R. S. (1989). Cause and evaluation of chronic dyspnea in a pulmonary disease clinic.Archives of internal medicine,149(10), 2277-2282. [6] Pratter, M. R., Curley, F. J., Dubois, J., & Irwin, R. S. (1989). Cause and evaluation of chronic dyspnea in a pulmonary disease clinic.Archives of internal medicine,149(10), 2277-2282. [7] Karnani, N. G., Reisfield, G. M., & Wilson, G. R. (2005). Evaluation of chronic dyspnea.Brain,100, 25. [8] Mulrow, C. D., Lucey, C. R., & Farnett, L. E. (1993). Discriminating causes of dyspnea through clinical examination.Journal of general internal medicine,8(7), 383-392. [9] Gorguner, M., & Akgun, M. (2010). Acute inhalation injury.The Eurasian journal of medicine,42(1), 2835. [10] Sarkar, M., Niranjan, N., & Banyal, P. K. (2017). Mechanisms of hypoxemia.Lung India : official organ of Indian Chest Society,34(1), 4760. [11] Berliner, D., Schneider, N., Welte, T., & Bauersachs, J. (2016). The Differential Diagnosis of Dyspnea.Deutsches Arzteblatt international,113(49), 834845. [12] Redelmeier, D. A., Goldstein, R. S., Min, S. T., & Hyland, R. H. (1996). Spirometry and dyspnea in patients with COPD: when small differences mean little.Chest,109(5), 1163-1168. [13] Bernhardt, V., & Babb, T. G. (2014). Weight loss reduces dyspnea on exertion in obese women.Respiratory physiology & neurobiology,204, 8692. [14] Olson, A. L., Graney, B., Baird, S., Churney, T., Fier, K., Korn, M.,  Swigris, J. J. (2017). Tracking dyspnea up to supplemental oxygen prescription among patients with pulmonary fibrosis.BMC pulmonary medicine,17(1), 152. [15] Tsai, M. F., Hwang, S. L., Tsay, S. L., Wang, C. L., Tsai, F. C., Chen, C. C., & Huang, T. Y. (2013). Predicting Trends in Dyspnea and Fatigue in Heart Failure Patients' Outcomes.Acta Cardiologica Sinica,29(6), 488495. [16] Rosi, E., & Scano, G. (2004). Cigarette Smoking and Dyspnea Perception.Tobacco Induced Diseases,2(1), 3. [17] Pirovano, M., Maltoni, M., Nanni, O., Marinari, M., Indelli, M., Zaninetta, G., ... & Labianca, R. (1999). A new palliative prognostic score: a first step for the staging of terminally ill cancer patients.Journal of pain and symptom management,17(4), 231-239.

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Story first published: Thursday, June 27, 2019, 19:30 [IST]
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. A positive conclusion has been given to the operations of the Amulsar mine in accordance to the law, Artsvik Minasyan, minister of nature protection of Armenia, told a year-end press conference, stressing the issue ought to be viewed on a legal level.

I, as a man guided by the Constitution, will move exclusively within the law. If theres another approach, legal grounds to revise the conclusion, then we are willing to discuss. However, on the other hand, we cant talk about the same topic over and over again without the corresponding revised package of legal grounds, because as a result of this we are also harming those initiatives which are linked with nature protection programs, he said.

Minasyan urged to move everything to the legal level. The minister also mentioned that it is necessary to shift from overuse of natural resources and environmental pollution to the creation of ecologically clean jobs  providing real stable economic growth.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan on December 27 hosted children of servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces, soldiers fallen or who became disabled at the Karabakh war, as well as during the April four-day war, the workers of Yerkrapah Volunteer Union, the Police and the National Security Service, families of several NGO members cooperating with the Defense Ministry, including also children from the Nagorno Karabakh Republic at the Presidential Palace on the occasion of New Year and Christmas, press service of the Presidential administration told Armenpress.

President Sargsyan congratulated the participants of the ceremony and addressed good luck to all children on the occasion of upcoming holidays.

Dear children,

I and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan sincerely congratulate you on the occasion of New Year, we wish the upcoming 2017 to be the best year for you compared to the previous years. We wish you always be happy, healthy in the new year, I wish you achieve success in the field of education in the new year. Dear children, if you study every day, I am confident, many of you later will come this building here not only on the occasion of Christmas Tree, but also to receive prizes for winning the Kangaroo, Meghu ["Bee"] contests.

Dear children, I have a request to you: I want that on January 1, early in the morning, when you wake up, please express gratitude to your parents on behalf of me for growing you up as a good citizen, congratulate them on the occasion of New Year and promise that you will study very good since it is the most important, the best thing for children. You must both study good and work well, and do at best what your teachers and parents say, the President said.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Presidential Palace was full of childrens joy and laughter today.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and First Lady Rita Sargsyan hosted children of soldiers, police officers, national security service officers, officials of the defense ministry, families of several NGOs including from Nagorno Karabakh.

The President chatted with the kids and posed for photos. He congratulated the children and wished 2017 to be the best year.

We wish you to be always happy, joyful and healthy in the New Year, I want you to have successes in the educational field. And if you learn a lesson every day, dear children, I am convinced that many of you will return to this building not only on the occasion of the Christmas Tree, but also to receive prizes for winning the Kangaroo, Meghu [Armenian language contests] and others, Serzh Sargsyan said.

The President urged the children to study well.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Politicians and public figures representing Talysh national minority in Azerbaijan presented the violence carried out against them in Azerbaijan during a round-table discussion headlined Talysh people: history and modern trends on December 27. The event was organized by the joint efforts of YSUs Department of Iranian Studies and the Talysh National Movement with the support of Voice of Talyshistan radio. Leader of Talysh national movement Alakram Hummetzode highlighted the dialogue between the Armenian and Talysh peoples. According to him, the two peoples must strengthen the scientific and cultural cooperation and todays round-table is another step taken for the strengthening of relations. He introduced the main goal of the Talysh national movement: to conduct reforms in Azerbaijan and obtain autonomy.

The voice of the Talysh people has been heard by numerous countries despite the impediments by Azerbaijani authorities. The number of the supporters of our movement increases day by day. The entire Azerbaijani people has become a hostage in the hands of Azerbaijani leadership, Armenpress reports Alakram Hummetzode saying.

Ismail Shabanov, President of the Talysh Diaspora of Russia, member of Russian Council on interethnic relations introduced the problems of the Talysh Diaspora and stated that they constantly face obstacles created by Azerbaijani authorities. But he added that they desire to restore their motherland and no one can hamper them in that path.

If the people of Nagorno Karabakh had not made their right choice back then, they would be suffering now like us, maybe worse. We did not engage in war, and what did we get in response? Where is that so-called fraternity? In this context the people of Nagorno Karabakh was cleverer than we were. I wish them success, the President of the Talysh Diaspora said.

According to Ismail Shabanov, the territories inhabited by the Talysh people are forcefully preserved within the territory of Azerbaijan. He stated that a biological warfare is conducted against the Talysh people.

A genocide is underway there by the use of disseminating different types of diseases. A question arises. Why does the number of the Talysh people decline? It is not a natural phenomenon and they should not think that these acts will remain unanswered. We receive hundreds of letters every day about the situation there. The law enforcement bodies spread narcotics and weapons among the Talysh populations in great quantities, Shabanov stated.

According to the Chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Talysh people Zaharaddeen Ibrahim, the entire Azerbaijani people is dissatisfied with the Azerbaijani regime. They just have no chances to change it since any act to show dissatisfaction, even peaceful protests, are persecuted, people are arrested. I am convinced this clan has to step down. This is merely a matter of time, Zaharaddeen Ibrahim announced.

Chair of Iranian Studies department Vardan Voskanyan highlighted the fact that the political elite of the Talysh people appreciate Armenian contribution to political movements of the Talysh people and in this context noted that Armenia is a type of regional super-power, since it is able to control some political processes in hostile Azerbaijan.

According to him, Armenian and Talysh people are the most ancient peoples in the region which had already established relations before the emergence of the Turkish element in the region.




BEIJING (PTI): China on Tuesday said it will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve the world's first soft landing on the far side of the moon to showcase its ambitious space programme.



China will continue its lunar exploration project in the next five years, and strive to attain the automated extra-terrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers, a White Paper titled 'China's Space Activities in 2016' released said.



China has already landed a rover on the moon in the past but wants to explore the dark side of the lunar surface to carve out a niche for itself as it has not been done by other countries.



"The lunar probe Chang'e-4 will conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point," the white paper said.



The probe plans to fulfil the three strategic steps of "orbiting, landing and returning" for the lunar exploration project by launching the Chang'e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017 and realising regional soft landing, sampling and return, it said.



Through the lunar exploration project, topographic and geological surveys will be implemented and laboratory research conducted on lunar samples, it said.



"Geological survey and research as well as low-frequency radio astronomy observation and research will be carried out targeting the landing area on the far side of the moon for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon," it added.



It also said China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration.



China's plan earlier to reach out Mars has not succeeded and it wants to catch up with other countries including India to enter Mars.



"China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration," the paper said.



It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.



The paper also highlighted several of China plans to achieve major discoveries and breakthroughs in the frontier areas of space science including formation of BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites for global navigation services by 2020 to rival America's Global Position System, (GPS).



China will start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018, it said.



China also plans to set up its permanent space station by 2022.



China also plans to launch a hard X-ray modulation telescope to study the matter dynamics and high-energy radiation processes in the strong gravitational field of compact celestial bodies and black holes.




An internet imagery

BEIJING (PTI): China has tested an improvised version of its stealth fighter and plans to sell it at half the price of the US variant to break Western monopoly over the high-tech aircraft, which will have strategic implications for India as Pakistan has already shown interest in acquiring it.



An improved version of China's fifth-generation FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighter jet has conducted its maiden flight last week in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, state-run China Daily reported on Monday.



Previously known as the J-31, the twin engine, radar evading aircraft is still under development by Shenyang Aircraft Corp, part of the Aviation Industry Corp of China, (AVIC), it said.



The Chinese stealth aircraft have strategic significance for India as besides China, Pakistan - which is producing JF-17 Thunder fighter along with Beijing - has already evinced interest in acquiring China's stealth fighter.



India is yet to have stealth aircraft in its arsenal.



AVIC displayed a large-scale model of the FC-31 at the 14th Dubai Airshow in the UAE in November, 2015.



Specifications supplied by AVIC show the jet has a maximum takeoff weight of 28 metric tonnes, a flight radius of 1,250 kms and a top speed of Mach 1.8, or 1.8 times the speed of sound.



It can carry eight tonnes of weapons. The plane can hold six missiles in its internal weapons bay and another six under its wings, AVIC said.



The first test flight of the FC-31's second prototype took place on Friday at Shenyang Aircraft Corp, four years after the first prototype took to the skies, the Daily quoted officials as saying.



The report also said fifth-generation fighters are the most advanced available.



Fu Qianshao, an aircraft expert with the PLA Air Force, said the new FC-31 has state-of-the-art instruments such as its electro-optical targeting system and helmet-mounted display and sight system.



The new FC-31 seems to have better stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity, said Wu Peixin, an aviation industry observer in Beijing said.



"Compared with the first FC-31, there are a lot of improvements on the second prototype. Changes were made to the airframe, wings and vertical tails, which make it leaner, lighter and more manoeuvrable," he said.



AVIC wants to use the FC-31 to capture market share at home and abroad but the company is making a big push to attract foreign buyers with its medium-sized stealth combat planes, he said.



Li Yuhai, deputy general manager of AVIC, previously said AVIC plans to use the FC-31 to "put an end to some nations' monopolies on the fifth-generation fighter jet" and this plane "is able to compete with any other aircraft of its kind".



"I believe the aircraft will have bright prospects in the market. Based on my experience and knowledge, I presume its price will be around USD 70 million, about half that of the US' Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II," Fu said.



"Moreover, the fourth-generation Euro fighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale fighter jets are priced at about USD 100 million. All of these mean you can spend a lot less money to get an advanced, fifth-generation stealth combat plane," Fu told the Daily.



The only fifth-generation fighter jet currently available in the market is the US' F-35 Lightning II, but the US sells it only to allies.



Following the Friday test flight, aviation enthusiasts posted pictures on Chinese websites, showing what they said was the second prototype in flight.



The FC-31 was unveiled in October, 2012, when the first prototype made its maiden flight, becoming the country's second fifth-generation fighter jet following the J-20, which conducted its first flight in January, 2011.



Deliveries of the J-20 to the People's Liberation Army Air Force have started.


STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: The Ministry issued an announcement which says:

Overnight December 26-27 the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime over 70 times by firing nearly 850 shots from various caliber small arms at almost all directions of the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact. The Azerbaijani forces fired also 60mm mortar (1 shell) at the southern (Hadrut) direction.

The Defense Army forces responded to the Azerbaijani provocative actions only in case of strict necessity and confidently conducted their military duties.
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A man led Brandon police on a short car pursuit on Friday morning when he refused to stop his vehicle during a traffic stop.

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We need your support!

Local journalism needs your support!

As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.

Now, more than ever, we need your support.

Starting at $4.99/month you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.

or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.

Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
Gunmen have kidnapped an Iraqi journalist after posing as members of the security forces and bursting into her home in Baghdad, the Guardian reports, citing authorities.

December 27, 2016, 16:19 Iraqi journalists abducted by gunmen

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: Afrah Shawqi Hammudi was abducted on Monday at about 10pm (1900 GMT) from her home in a southern neighbourhood of the capital, said Ziad al-Ajili, head of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory.

Eight armed men burst into her house in Saidiya dressed in plain clothes and entered by pretending to belong to the security forces, he told AFP. They tied up her son and stole mobile phones, computers and cash before kidnapping Afrah and fleeing.

The report was confirmed by a source in Iraqs interior ministry who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hammudi, 43, is employed by Asharq al-Awsat, a London-based pan-Arab newspaper, as well as a number of news websites, including Aklaam. On Monday, she published a stinging article on the website in which she hit out at the armed groups that act with impunity in Iraq.

The prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, condemned her abduction and ordered the security services to do their utmost to find her and track down those responsible.

Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Seven have been killed in the country in 2016, press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said last week.
GENEVA: The largest pear-shaped fancy vivid pink diamond ever put up for auction could sell for up to $35 million at...
The Scottish government has added to concerns being voiced about Macquarie Bank potentially "asset stripping" Britain's prized Green Investment Bank if the Australian investment bank is successful in acquiring the bank, possibly as early as next month.

The Scottish government's Cabinet Secretary for Economy Jobs and Fair Work Keith Brown has written to the UK government, warning that privatising the bank "may result in an asset stripping exercise."

Macquarie Bank is causing alarm in Britain over its proposed takeover of the UK's Green Investment Bank. Credit:Grant Turner

His concerns mean serving and former MPs from five political parties have sounded alarm at the prospect of the so-called "Millionaires Factory" taking over the Green Bank.

Although Mr Brown's statement does not mention Macquarie Bank by name, it is the only serious contender to buy up the 2 billion ($3.4 billion) bank.
The hugely popular Paul Sadler Swimland, which provides 30,000 swimming lessons a week to children across Australia, has been caught underpaying hundreds of young instructors over six years.

A Fairfax Media investigation can reveal that the franchise network, which operates more than 15 swimming schools in Australia and overseas, underpaid staff hundreds of thousands of dollars by breaching conditions and entitlements in the company's enterprise agreement.

Staff say the original enterprise agreement  which includes no penalty rates for weekend work and has staff classified as seasonal part-time instead of casual  has left some workers worse off than they would have been under the award.

The underpayments, which date back to 2010, are the result of some employees not having their rates increased as their age went up and the incorrect application of grades for more experienced teachers.
In his last address to the United Nations Security Council on December 16, outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recognised that the UN is biased against Israel.

"Decades of political manoeuvrings have created a disproportionate volume of resolutions, reports and conferences criticising Israel," Ban said. "In many cases, rather than helping the Palestinian cause, this reality has hampered the ability of the UN to fulfil its role effectively."

Only one week later, the Security Council itself passed another Israel resolution. Resolution 2334 said that Israel's settlements in the West Bank have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Settlements and borders are actually among the more resolvable of the core issues of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Two precedents are instructive.
We sympathise with people in pain. How could we not? But we also think it's good that the Therapeutic Drugs Administration has decided to reschedule codeine medications so that from February 2018 they can no longer be bought over the counter at a pharmacy but instead will require a doctor's prescription. It's a change the powerful pharmaceutical lobby groups have strongly resisted, as you'd expect. Australian sales of the drug, a weak opioid found in Panadeine and Nurofen Plus among other medications, are worth an estimated $215 million a year. After an interim decision foreshadowed the restriction last year, Fairfax Media reported how the Pharmacy Guild, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Australian Self Medication Industry succeeded in having a final decision postponed, claiming it would be costly and ineffective. Medications containing codeine will be prescription-only in Australia from February 2018. Credit:Jessica Shapiro But the "regulation impact statement", which the industry pushed for  unprecedented for a decision of this type  did not change the TGA's mind. On the contrary its modelling led to the conclusion that among four regulatory scenarios  which included reducing the pack size to not more than three days' supply and including a warning label that codeine can cause addiction  the only scenario that resulted in a net financial benefit to society was the prescription-only option. That's because it is expected to reduce deaths from codeine overdose, improve quality of life, and reduce dependency or risk of dependency on the drug. And here's the rub. Even though tens of thousands of Australians regularly use codeine-containing medications to treat coughs or reduce intermittent pain such as from headaches, migraines, period pain and musculoskeletal pain, and many also misuse the drug to self-treat chronic pain, "there is little evidence that low-dose codeine medicines are any more effective for pain relief or cough than similar medicines without codeine".

That's right. Over-the-counter codeine products are frequently taken in conjunction with other drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, but on the evidence, the codeine adds little or nothing to the effectiveness of the mix. "Current evidence demonstrates that significant harm is caused by these medicines, with little or no therapeutic effect," says the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Instead people can finish up with severe liver, kidney and stomach damage, respiratory depression and a codeine addiction. In its decision the TGA took into account the "compelling evidence" of the risk of harm and death and noted that the US, most of Europe, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and several other countries have already moved to prescription-only sales for codeine. The number of Australians being treated for codeine addiction more than tripled to more than 1000 in the decade to 2012-13. But the number of addicts who are going untreated is likely to be much higher. It is not surprising that many people who rely on the drug now fear they cannot do without it; they complain they will potentially have to add in the price of doctor consultations to its costs. The year-long lead time to transition the drug to prescription-only seems like a sop to big pharma, protecting codeine profits for another year. But officially, it is meant to give patients time to work out alternative treatment options. On the evidence, there are better ways to deal with pain. The problem is  and this is the most compelling of the criticisms levelled at the decision  there are not enough other options for managing pain on the one hand and treating addiction on the other in the Australian health system.
China to expand int'l cooperation on space sciences

Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-27 11:13

BEIJING - China on Tuesday issued a white paper summarizing international cooperation on space sciences since 2011 and the key areas for further cooperation in the next five years.



The white paper issued by the State Council Information Office, titled China's Space Activities in 2016, said that China always adheres to the principle that international exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and inclusive development.



Since 2011 China has signed 43 space cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding with 29 countries, space agencies and international organizations. It has taken part in relevant activities sponsored by the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, and supported international commercial cooperation in space. These measures have yielded fruitful results.



In the next five years China will conduct extensive international exchanges and cooperation concerning space in several key areas, such as construction of the BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation, and construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor.



Moreover, cooperative researches on space law, policy and standards and personnel exchanges will be further enhanced in the space field.
The foreign ministers of Russia and Turkey agreed in a telephone conversation on Tuesday to push for a ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for possible peace talks planned in the Kazakh capital of Astana, Reuters reports, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.

December 27, 2016, 16:27 Russia, Turkey agree to push for ceasefire in Syria

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: During the conversation "the importance was stressed of a rapid completion of agreements on practical parameters to end military actions (in Syria), the separation of the moderate opposition from terrorist groups, and preparations for the meeting in Astana," the statement said.
There no doctor available on the ward The family insisted that a locum be called. The locum admitted she had no experience with respiratory conditions. It was three days before my mother was seen by a specialist doctor. Fortunately, my mother is much stronger than our ailing health system. Elizabeth Starr Chiswick Let's move the whole shebang to Armidale Barnaby Joyce, where's your vision ("Public servants offered big bucks amid shakeup", December 27)? Don't just move the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to Armidale: move Canberra. Yes, Parliament too; the whole shebang. That way, you'd be able to pop home each day for lunch. John Cook Forde (ACT)

How to get a 15 per cent pay increase? Get your employer to move into Barnaby Joyce's electorate. Nick Franklin Katoomba Illustration: Alan Moir Merger a backwards step for all Despite the assurance of Department of Human services general manager Hank Jongen that all Medicare claims are dealt with in a short period of time this is not so ("Patients being testedwith bill hang-ups", December 27.

I tried for several weeks in October, before the Christmas rush, every day and at different times to contact Medicare by telephone, only to have the same message repeated each time and having the phone cut off without being able to leave a message. In the end, I fronted up at Centrelink and waited for two hours to see someone who told me that my claim, despite being lodged several weeks earlier, had not yet been dealt with and I would just have to wait. A whole day and petrol wasted. Before Medibank and Centrelink were merged, I could go to my local Medibank office and wait 10 minutes or so, meet courteous staff and have my matter dealt with promptly. The merger has been a retrograde step for all concerned and I call on the minister to to reverse this position. Beth Rose Mosman I, too, have had to interact with the new Medicare claims system in recent weeks. I had three visits to Medicare with an average waiting time of 50 minutes before seeing an officer. On two occasions the reason for the visit was that the system didn't recognise the item number on the doctor's receipt.

The literature in the office and elsewhere advises customers to ring a helpline but, according to other customers I met on these trips, this is difficult. Surely this isn't good enough. These interactions with Medicare were the most disempowering experiences I have had in recent years. Trish Simper Gordon Technology the key to reducing deaths and congestion I think it's unfair to blame our Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister, Duncan Gay, or our truck drivers, most of whom are responsible people, for the rise in road deaths (Letters, December 27).

Let's look at the facts, Australia and, in particular, Sydney, is in the midst of enormous change. On one side we have unprecedented population growth that puts massive demand on the movement of people and freight. On the other, huge changes brought on by technology, including "cruising" Uber drivers and online purchase delivery demands the likes of which we never seen before. The NSW government's road and rail agenda has never been more extensive. But the fact is it is being outstripped by the massive increase in demand. New infrastructure alone won't be enough. Intelligent use of new technology is the answer to reducing congestion on our roads. Technology coming on stream will produce better ways of predicting demand, demand-based control of traffic lights, provide drivers with alternate routes, better management of truck-driver fatigue, better intermodal connectivity, and give public transport passengers real-time data on bus, train and light rail capacity. Technology will also be key to confronting the enormous task awaiting us when autonomous vehicles hit the road. Arguably, better control of congestion will play a role in reducing road deaths, the emotional and financial cost of which is clearly unacceptable.

Ian Murray chairman, Australian Logistics Council, chairman IMOVE CRC bid team, Cremorne Point Manus GP must be held responsible After the appalling, ultimately lethal treatment of refugee, Faysal Ahmed, by an International Health and Medical Services medical practitioner is it not time to name and shame the person responsible ("'Don't wait treating me': desperate pleas for help", December 27)? Any doctor charged with maintaining the well-being of fellow humans living in dreadful conditions should be held responsible for his or her actions. For IHMS health professionals to say that "they [the refugees] often exaggerate their symptoms to get attention", as alleged in your article, shows an unhealthy level of cynicism and a reprehensible lack of empathy. Such people should be removed from service before they cost the lives of others.

Donna Wiemann Balmain I sincerely hope the GP who failed to diagnose and treat Faysal Ishak Ahmed will be disciplined appropriately - including the possibility of being struck off if he or she is found to have demonstrated gross negligence or having failed to put the best interests of the patient first. Are these medical practitioners not subject to Australian professional standards and regulations? Where are the Australian Medical Association, the Medical Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency in all of this? Their silence and inaction, to date, is damning and deeply concerning. Simon Hoyle Mosman Sixty detainees on Manus Island signed a letter calling for medical treatment for the sick inmate Faysal Ahmed. His subsequent death comes close to being murder by callous neglect. Australia has become a mongrel of a country.

David Rose Hamilton Why UN resolutions on Israel mean nothing Bob Carr conveniently forgets to mention the real reasons for failure in negotiations to establish a Palestinian state ("UN's savvy resolution on Israeli settlements", December 27). Namely the refusal to recognise Israel as a Jewish state, the absolute demand that Jerusalem be the capital of a Palestinian state and the continuing celebrations of terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. As long as the schools in Palestine preach hatred and praise terrorism, multiple resolutions of the UN Security Council against Israel are meaningless. Michael Besser Sydney Bob Carr can't imagine " a more explicit security guarantee" than the demilitarised state being offered Israel by the Palestinians. Well, I can: the demilitarisation of the Rhineland as part of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles which was remilitarised in 1936 with catastrophic consequences particularly for the Jews of Europe.

The tragic history of modern Jews is why Israel will always act in its own interest and not be lulled into a false sense of security by those who purport to be "friends" of Israel. George Fishman Vaucluse Benjamin Netanyahu's appeal to Donald Trump is proof that bullies seek affirmation from other bullies. Barry Henson Burraneer Talking up that party mood

I am similarly frustrated with modern party manners ("Why do so many party people like the sound of their own voice", December 27). A friend 's father amusingly describes the round of pre-Christmas parties as "standing around, drink in hand, shouting at the same people for two hours". While It is possible that many older party goers suffer hearing loss and prefer to keep talking rather than struggle to listen it seems to me that many people simply need to believe that they and their minutely detailed anecdotes are endlessly fascinating. Much more fascinating naturally than anything anyone else could possibly offer. A recent party springs to mind - a rather pompous guest, after completely dominating the conversation all evening was heard to mutter on the way out "good wine but really a rather dull party". Janet Spence Mosman After almost a life time of diplomatic dinners and parties, a friend introduced me to a game that made them much more fun. It is called 20 Questions, and involves simply seeing if you can ask your new acquaintance 20 questions about themselves and their opinions before they ask you one. It is astonishing how often I won.

Meg Pocock Potts Point Clarification is required in relation to the point made by David Vaughan (Letters, December 27). Vehicles remain fully insured under CTP insurance policies (which cover claims for death and personal injury) whether or not the driver is affected by alcohol even if the reading well exceeds 0.05. John Lees Castlecrag The prince and politics Anne McDonald (Letters, December 27) shies from the risk of abandoning the monarchy. Yet it was Britain that gave us populist politics' first shot only months ago. I don't know our prince's thoughts on Brexit; I am glad he's using his time to speak kindly of tolerance. I'm not so impressed by his history of supporting alternative medicine, and dogged dismissal of GM crops.

Those suggesting we stand by the monarchy because of his recent words ought to remember that like anyone else, he is a mix of ideas, principles, and actions. Good and bad, and hardly unifying. The only thing that makes him special is a title, from which he pushes tolerance and homeopathy both. We don't get to pick the prince, and he gets his platform for life. I'd rather take the risk. Hugh Mitchell Hornsby Up front claim I'd like to see the insurance claim sent in after this incident ("Seal wrecks car during day out", December 27). John Munro Middle Ridge (Qld)

The seal climbed onto the bonnet of a car, leaving significant damage. Credit:Tasmania Police Brandis knows best "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me" (Letters, December 27). Was that the instruction George Brandis gave to Justin Gleeson? Ron Harmer Surry Hills
The year 2016 has been a harsh mistress for celebrities. Now comes the news of the demise of The Bachelorette Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek's made-on-TV romance.

Frost, who is now a radio presenter for Southern Cross Austereo's marquee program, 2DayFM's breakfast show in Sydney, announced, via her manager, that Sasha is no longer her pick for the final rose.

"After 18 months together, Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek have come to a mutual decision to end their relationship," the statement released to Fairfax Media on Tuesday said.

"It is important to stress that there is no bitterness or scandal. They have just come to the realisation that the best way forward, is to separate.
Her love was astronomy, although she ended up having to move into the field sideways via physics at Cornell University, since women simply weren't eligible to apply for postgraduate astronomy courses.

Vera Rubin did exactly what so many female scientists did throughout history: she was just straight up better at her job than her male colleagues. And, like so many female scientists, it generally wasn't enough.

I always wanted to interview her but could never quite pitch the story in a way that interested a publication: sciencey ones thought it too political, mainstream ones thought it too sciencey. But here's the story I always wanted to tell:

Over the last few years I started and abandoned many, many emails to the late, great Vera Rubin, mainly because they all seemed to simply be love letters to a pioneer of astrophysics.

She had the support of her husband, Robert, who was also a distinguished academic and scientist, but in the 1950s and 1960s there was only so much she could do. She published several controversial papers and slowly built a name for herself, but her career stalled because she essentially had to progress by stealth, getting teaching and professorial positions that helped her gain qualifications and experience while raising her four children (all of whom became significant scientists in their own right).

In 1965, Rubin became the first woman to get viewing time at the Palomar Observatory  an honour denied to women, including Rubin, in many observatories, up until that point. And sure, it looked like pure sexism  but as they argued at the time, there were no female-specific toilets, and obviously those lady scientists couldn't possibly use the toilets for the men.

Rubin had done some important early work on the newly discovered field of pulsars, but when it became the sexy subject for ambitious (male) astronomers determined to make their mark, Rubin was effectively squeezed out. By this point she'd tired of having every paper and presentation aggressively picked over by male colleagues certain that this uppity dame mustn't know what she was talking about.

As she later explained: "I decided to pick a problem that I could go observing and make headway on  hopefully, a problem that people would be interested in, but not so interested in that anyone would bother me before I was done."

Specifically, she looked at how many stars were contained in galaxies  literally counting the things from plates of astronomical observations  and in so doing discovered something that no-one else had noticed, because she was a goddamn genius: that there weren't nearly enough stars in galaxies for them to hold together under their own gravity, given the speed at which galaxies rotate.
A tourist who went missing after a car washed off a causeway at the flooded Hugh River near Alice Springs has been found, Northern Territory police said.

Two tourists were in the car when rapid water swept it away about 1pm on Tuesday.

Both occupants of the vehicle, a female passenger and a male driver, are now safe with only minor injuries. They were transported to Alice Springs Hospital for assessment.

Acting Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said the car, which had been wedged against a tree about 250 metres downstream from the causeway, had gone missing from sight.
The mother of a 14-year-old boy missing in choppy surf in Sydney's east has collapsed on the beach as the search for her son resumes.

Tui Gallaher and his family, from Guildford in the city's west, were on a day trip to Maroubra Beach on Tuesday.

Tui and his cousin, also 14, went for a swim at the southern end of the beach about 8.30pm, when they got into trouble.

A 26-year-old man walking past spotted the teens and jumped in the water to rescue them.
Heavy traffic and car accidents caused queues of more than 10 kilometres along parts of the NSW coast, adding an hour to road trips north and south, as people travelled from Sydney to popular holiday destinations.

Heading north from Sydney, heavy traffic from Mardi to Warnervale has returned to normal, along with traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway from Kariong to Somersby.

Holidaymakers were told to expect lengthy delays. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Traffic has eased in Ryde, where all northbound lanes have opened again after a truck breakdown earlier in the afternoon.

On the north coast, a regular pinch point on the Pacific Highway at Macksville had a queue of 7 kilometres, adding 20 minutes of travel time, while further north at Woodburn, heavy traffic added 40 minutes of travel time heading north, with a 12-kilometre backlog.
Commuters abandoned Queensland Rail in the three months leading up to the opening of the Redcliffe Peninsula Line, with a half a million fewer trips.

There were 528,000 fewer train trips in July to September 2016, compared to the same quarter last year, decreasing 0.4 per cent to 13.51 million.

Half a million fewer trips were taken in July to September 2016 compared to the same quarter the previous year. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Patronage also decreased on buses (down about 390,000 or 1.31 per cent) and ferries (down 367,000 or 2.1 per cent) compared to the same time last year.

And there was a drop of 0.6 per cent in patronage overall across all modes of public transport compared to the same quarter last year.
At another point during the 27-minute press conference, Mr Benstead said Queensland Rail would "take the learnings" from Christmas Day and apply that to New Year's Eve. Mr Benstead said the planning meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday would discuss rostering arrangements, including whether it needed to bring people back from RDOs and leave to run New Year's Eve services. "That is part of our final planning for tomorrow to ensure that we have extra drivers that we can call on in case of unplanned leave and naturally people do fall ill so we are going to ensure that we have extra train crew available that we can call on to provide those services," he said. But Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said due to New Year's Eve having a higher patronage than other days, planning had happened for months, and as a result he had a "level of confidence". "I'm sure that confidence will be deepened by the briefing I'll receive tomorrow following a final round of planning and workshop that's occurring within the Queensland Rail network," he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was encouraged by the advice he had received from Queensland Rail. The meltdown on Christmas Day comes despite the fact Mr Hinchliffe said he had been extensively involved in briefings with Queensland Rail for months. "I have been engaging in further detailed briefings with Queensland Rail on a daily basis, I was doing that in the lead-up to the Christmas, New Year break in terms of everything that was happening around the changes to the interim timetable that we had and now in the development of the summer timetable that commences tomorrow," he said. "I'm certainly more actively involved than you might have traditionally seen ministers having been, but that's understandable, that's why I've been so actively engaged, since late October in the delivery of our five-point plan." Mr Benstead admitted Mr Hinchliffe was not impressed with the timeliness of the advice on Christmas Eve that there would be cancellations.

"Naturally the minister is not impressed with the timeliness of that information but if we could have done so earlier we would have done so," he said. Responding to criticism that staff would not have much time to find out if they were working on New Year's Eve - Saturday - with planning meetings being held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Mr Benstead said: "The arrangements for rostering is a dynamic arrangement but our drivers and our guards will know well in advance on who is required on those particular days and they'll get advance notice." Acting Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said south-east Queenslanders were bracing for chaos on New Year's Eve. "New Year's Eve, which is one of the best nights of the year for partygoers all over Brisbane  they won't know whether the train is going to turn up on time," she said. "Look what happened on Christmas Day, 235-odd cancellations on one of the most important days of the year... So this New Year's Eve, how are we to know that people's trains are going to turn up?
The two young men obviously know each other well.

The video shows them joking and jostling amongst themselves as they walk along West End streets at night.

The woman was attacked after she left what was then the Uber nightclub on Boundary Street. Credit:Michelle Smith

It's Friday, April 15, 2011, between 10.30pm and 11pm and the pair are the centre of attention in the police CCTV video.

One man is wearing light pants - possibly jeans - and a dark T-shirt with a lighter-coloured emblem right in the centre of his t-shirt.
A grinch has stolen a Jeep filled with children's presents on Christmas Day in Melbourne's outer north-east.

The children had opened the presents before the family left them in the black 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT while they attended a Christmas party in Doreen, about 3.30pm.

Ashley Garraway and his children Miller, seven, and Kade, 10, who had their Christmas presents stolen when a thief took the family's car in Doreen. Credit:Jason South

The jeep, with registration HKM 314, was left parked in the driveway of the Laurimar Hill Drive address.

The family returned to find the car and presents gone.
I grew up up in the 1980s, mostly in remote places of Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea. Dad was a primary school teacher and mum a housewife. We moved every year and life in these small and remote places was tough - friends were left behind, new environments had to be adjusted to, there was no electricity, few shops, sometimes no roads and mostly no resources in the schools.

Over time, women became involved  or forced their involvement - in various activities, including paid work, holding higher office, exercising the right to vote and engagement in other areas. Women began to emerge in society with equal rights and opportunities as men.

Women were to bear children, take care of them and perform chores like cooking and cleaning leaving the important decisions to men.

In earlier centuries, laws were written by men and women were largely kept out of decision making, voting, and owning property.

Teachers would use sticks and stones as learning tools. We would sit under a tree with a little blackboard and chalk learning the ABC or singing songs with the birds. It seemed more like survival of the fittest as if the government didnt care much about the future of the nations children.

If one of her children was ill, mum would carry us in a sling to the nearest health centre. If she didnt think our sickness was serious, we would have bitter leaf juices forced down our throats. And if you didnt drink it, it was a coconut broom across the bumbum.

Despite the hardship, mum raised seven healthy children. She made sure we had the basics - food, shelter, a clean house and clothes. Dad was the boss and everyone followed his instructions if they wanted to avoid the broom.

When my parents had disagreements, we all ran to find a safe hiding place. The fear followed by hot tears. As we got older we would run faster. Growing up in such an environment, I believed violence was normal and that everyone had this sort of life.

Furthering my education at boarding school made me learn new things and, most importantly, realise that what dad did was not right.

It made me appreciate life more and understand that there were other ways to solve conflicts other than with a broom or violence.

I also reflected and questioned myself on why my dearest dad could be loving and all of a sudden become a different person.

I realised it may be how he was disciplined when he was growing up and that perhaps he could not truly understand that his actions were unacceptable.

Well, I never blamed dad for the way he acted. Being more educated than him clarified my experiences and my attitudes. Girls doing all the cooking, washing up, carrying food, taking care of children  and even as a child being busy while the boys just waited for the meal to be served  its all out of my life these days.

So today Im a modern educated woman living in a totally different setting to those old days. With a wonderful and supportive husband and two gorgeous children, I want the best for my kids just like all parents, moulding them to be good and responsible citizens.

This means no violence, no unequal treatment and respect for everyone including themselves.

Apart from violence, PNG women and girls frequently witness and hear of other types of unfairness and ill treatment, especially if they live in the cities and big towns.

Every day is a nightmare for a girls and women in the street, shops, markets and all public places in general.

If youre in a club or a crowded area, youre lucky if your behind or boobs are not touched. The clothing you wear has to have everyones approval, the males seem to have every right to yell from vehicles calling you names and harassing you.

You are branded a two kina (prostitute) just because of your make up, hair style or short skirt. A male driver will slow down if he sees a woman or girl walking along the street and thinks he can pick you up.

In a disagreement with men, you are told to shut the fuck up woman.

Of course it can get worse  punches, kicks if youre pregnant and even being shot, as we hear reported in the news.

And we hear how so much of this is swept under the carpet and we ask is there no justice?

And what about those poor women who are branded witches and burnt alive or killed on the spot. Our individual rights and freedom to exercise those rights are taken away.

Yes, there are changes. Women breaking barriers into male dominated jobs such as pilots, doctors, judges, lawyers, engineers, parliamentarians and more. However the viciousness is never ending. Rape, domestic violence, education and denied job opportunities are still major issues that require addressing.

I feel lucky and I am grateful to have that opportunity to be better educated. It has given me a better understanding of issues of gender, discrimination, freedom and womens rights.

It has given me different perspectives on better ways of raising my children and Im just happy to be accepted in society.

I believe unequal treatment starts with your family in your own house.

Negative attitudes reflects individual upbringing, social issues faced within communities and influences by others that contribute to reacting to situations and negative actions.

I think that lack of health facilities, institutions and awareness of various mental conditions and stress contribute to a lot of these issues.

Better law and order and better government will also assist the creation of a harmonious society and country.

I have made the choice to accept the way I am, to dress in my own way, stand up and speak out for my freedom and rights without fear and not be governed by what others think of me.

Id like to add that not all PNG men and boys are violent and abusive. And only a few men and women think this is normal behaviour.

Genevieve Hobden is from Milne Bay and is studying a double degree in Accounting and Laws at James Cook University in Cairns. She says she loves change and challenge and desires a fair, just and equal society
Bangkok: Thai authorities have delayed a planned raid on Thailand's largest Buddhist temple to arrest its charismatic 72-year-old leader Phra Dhammachayo until after New Year celebrations.

Hundreds of police who had surrounded Wat Dhammakaya have withdrawn after moving obstacles and cutting a fence blocking access to its vast grounds on the outskirts of Bangkok.

Monks at Thailand's largest Buddhist temple Wat Dhammakaya accept an offering while police line up in the background.

Thousands of monks were chanting and vowing to create a human shield to prevent the arrest, raising the possibility of violence.

For months Phra Dhammachayo has refused to surrender to police on charges that include money laundering, receiving stolen property and encroaching on national forests.
Pearl Harbour, Hawaii: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has offered his condolences to the people killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, after visiting the memorial to the sunken battleship USS Arizona.

"President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the prime minister of Japan I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who have lost their lives here," Abe said on Tuesday.

"We must never repeat the horrors of war. This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken," Abe said.

"To the souls of the servicemen who lie in eternal rest aboard the USS Arizona, to the American people, and to all the peoples around the world, I pledge that unwavering vow here as the prime minister of Japan," he said.
Latest News Expect another interest rate increase before Christmas And one more in February, says economist

New way to own a slice of paradise Platform provides co-ownership model for holiday homes

Mortgage marketplace HashChing is celebrating its first full calendar year of operation, reaching a number of key milestones including attracting more than 350 brokers.The fintech has reached a total of $3 billion worth of received home loan applications and has rolled out a pilot of the first virtual identification system for home loan approvals in Australia.Also of note was the appointment of Siobhan Hayden , former CEO of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia ( MFAA ), as the companys COO.The firm had made great strides with on-boarding new mortgage brokers during 2016, Hayden said.HashChing has come a long way in alleviating the traditional pain points for mortgage brokers in Australia, and were looking forward to working even closer with them in the new year to make HashChing their number one lead generation platform.Mandeep Sodhi, the firms CEO, said a key focus had been streamlining the home loan process for both brokers and customers.Weve pioneered a completely digital home loan application process, and this has paid off with the incredible milestone of $3 billion worth of home loan applications, he said.While that first billion took us a year to accomplish, the last billion has only taken two months, so were scaling incredibly quickly.In 2017, HashChing was looking to introduce more technology innovations for a simpler home loan process, said CIO Atul Narang.The feedback we have received from customers is that while they appreciate the ability to compare their options, they dont want to be overwhelmed with choice when theyre applying for a home loan.
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.
Dec. 27, 1936

The new automobile for which Henry Ford has been granted a patent is an "experimental" machine, a spokesman for the Ford Motor Company told the United Press today.

Further, he said, the patent granted by the patent office at Washington for the rear-motored machine has no special significance; "Mr. Ford always patents inventions upon which he is experimenting."

Dec. 27, 1961

The Empire State Building, the world's tallest building and the unofficial symbol of New York City, was to be sold today to the Prudential Insurance Co. of America in a $65 million transacton. Prudential will take title to the 102-story building for $29 million paid to the owner, Empire State Building Corp., whose principal owner is Henry Crown of Chicago.

Prudential is then to give a 114-year leasehold on the building to a real estate syndicate known as Empire State Building Associates. The syndicate will turn over $36 millon to Crown, completing the transaction.

Dec. 27, 2006

Dec. 27, 2011
Yardley Friends Meeting at 65 N. Main Street in Yardley will host the documentary Organic Roots on Friday, November 18 at 7 p.m. Join director Al Johnson for a showing of this film followed by a discussion of the last 50 years of this movement. Organic foods are part of our life today and a tool in our concern for...
latest news

October 31, 2022

Buddy TV

In November, there are hundreds of new and returning TV showsit can be overwhelming to try and choose what to watch. That's why we've selected some of the best options...
FBI has 'credible information' about 'broad threat' to NJ synagogues

Law enforcement agencies as well as synagogues across the state increased security and patrols Thursday, after alerts from the FBI.
One person was airlifted to the hospital with very serious injuries Tuesday morning after a car and a tractor trailer collided in Moravia, according to emergency responders.

Cayuga County 911 dispatchers said emergency crews were called at 7:30 a.m. to Long Hill Road near Moravia-Venice Town Line Road. Troopers with the New York State Police are investigating.

The driver of the car was the sole occupant of the vehicle, according to Moravia Fire Chief Bill Anderson. Anderson said Moravia firefighters worked for 30 minutes with extrication tools to free the driver from the car before the individual was airlifted by Mercy Flight helicopter to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with very serious injuries.

The tractor-trailer driver, also the sole occupant, was taken to the hospital via ambulance with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Anderson. The names of the individuals involved have not yet been released; state troopers could not be reached Tuesday for further details.

Responders also included Four Town Ambulance, the Long Hill Fire Department and Southern Cayuga Ambulance.
As the calendar year ends, changes at the countrys largest beverages entity, Coca-Cola, continues to attract the attention of various stakeholders of the sector.
Kolkata-based Infinity Group is set to build a Rs 4,000 crore education city in Bhutan and has formed a joint venture with Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited for the same.

At 8,000 ft above sea level, this may well be the first project at such an elevation.

The 1,000-acre project plot is placed between capital Thimphu and Paro, where the countrys lone airport is located.

The land acquisition is complete and the work should start in sometime. We have formed a 50:50 JV with ILFS for the same and the whole project would see an investment of around Rs 4000 crore, Ravindra Chamaria, group chairman, told Business Standard.



It is also in talks with the leading universities of UK, USA and Australia who have shown interest to set up their campuses in the world's youngest democracy.



"The talks are on with these institutions at various levels with some world renowned universities. But the details are yet to be worked out to announce those names, he said adding that the 600-year independent school of UK -- Durham School -- which entered India on Thursday is likely to set up campus there.



This would be a real boost and one of the big investments to be made in Bhutan, which is leaving no stone unturned to attract foreign investment. The country has been keen to rope in investors especially after a survey was carried out by the World Bank in 2011, called the investment climate assessment not very 'investment friendly' and that access to finance was one major constraint.



The World Bank survey pointed out lack of infrastructure as a major reason for poor performance in the investments despite scoring on political stability. Bhutan's foreign direct investment flow was only $120m in 2010, according to the report.



Chamaria pointed out that the funds required for the mega project have come from internal accrual and there was no plan for private equity placement to feed the expansion needs.
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WEEDSPORT  A year after shutting down several shops in central New York, Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop is now closing its last location in Cayuga County.

An employee at the chain's eatery in Weedsport confirmed Tuesday that the shop is scheduled to close Dec. 31. However, the Arby's restaurant  which shares the building at 2767 State Route 31  will remain open.

In November 2015, the Canadian-based company suddenly shut several of its coffee shops in central New York, including the chain's restaurant in Auburn. At the time, corporate officials declined to discuss how many locations closed or how many employees were affected.

Still, the Weedsport location initially remained open, as Grant Avenue Development continued to run the restaurant. A call to the Auburn development group Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Tim Hortons, a division of Restaurant Brands International, opened in Canada in 1964. As of September 2014, the company had more than 4,500 restaurants; 869 of them were in the United States.
Navy today said its prompt response in rescuing passengers on-board the Mumbai-bound flight that veered off the runway at Dabolim Airport in Goa early today, has averted the incident from turning into a "catastrophe".

"The Navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely out of the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the Navy not acted promptly," a Naval spokesperson said.

The incident took place at around 5 AM when flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for the take off.

The Goa airport is located in Indian Navy's facility, INS Hansa in Vasco town, nearly 25 km from here.

As many as 15 passengers suffered "minor injuries and fractures" during the evacuation process, Navy sources said.

"Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement.

Beside 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board.

Meanwhile, the runway was made available for flight operations at 9 AM, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 PM.

Soon after the incident, Navy officials had cordoned off the aircraft that had tilted towards its front end, while the passengers were being alighted.

"After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started. The damage to the runway was also accessed by a team of Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India officials," the spokesperson said.

"There was lot of muck on the runway as the flight was grounded on the sides of the runway," he said.

During the rescue operation hours, a chartered flight was diverted to Bangalore, while an Oman Air flight that was scheduled to arrive in morning, was diverted to Mumbai, he said.

A total of seven scheduled flights that were to land at the airport were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded. The two aircrafts will take off later during the day.
For a sector seeing double-digit revenue growth over recent years, FY16 marked a reversal. At Rs 2 lakh crore, the sector grew by six% ; it was nearly double this in FY11-15. Revenue growth for the September was only 4.3% over the year-ago period.
Increased focus by central and state governments on improving the road network and transportation under the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) has provided a boost to bus purchases, helping the segment buck the broader demand trend.
Notwithstanding its Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit's name featuring in the list, the Congress on Monday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi come clean on the Sahara diaries bribery issue.

Besides the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) also demanded an impartial probe into the matter.

Among others, Modi's name allegedly featured in the diaries as a receiver of kickbacks from the Sahara Group while he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a decade.

While Dikshit has denied she had knowledge about any such diary, the Congress asserted that her denial does not dilute the corruption charges against Modi levelled by party's Vice President Rahul Gandhi, and called for scrutinising all the names in the list, including of its own party members.

Substantiating Gandhi's allegations against Modi, the Congress had posted on Twitter the entries in Sahara diaries listing payments to several politicians that included Dikshit, former Delhi Chief Minister.

Rejecting the allegations, Dikshit said she "does not recall anything" about the diary and asserted she has "nothing to do" with any such diary.

According to the list, Rs 1 crore in cash was given to Dikshit on September 23, 2013, in Delhi. She was the Delhi Chief Minister until December 2013.

But the Congress is insisting on the need for Modi to come clean.

"We are fully aware that several political parties and leaders, primarily from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Modi, have been named in the documents," Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha told IANS.

"Whether any Congress leader is named or not is not material. What is material is that the Prime Minister's name is there," he said.

"Modi is accused at the moment based on those documents and he should suo motu call for an investigation," he said.

Asked if the party wants the matter to be probed even at the cost of Dikshit, Jha said: "All the political parties, all the leaders featuring in the documents should be scrutinised, starting with the Prime Minister."

"We need to establish whether there was corruption or not. Since Modi is the senior most political executive in the country, he needs to subject himself to a thorough and neutral probe," said Jha, questioning the government's silence on the issue.

"If he (Modi) is clean, then why is he scared? He should go after the political parties named in the list," added Jha.

Later addressing the media, Congress leader and former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh said: "There are many names in the list, including that of Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. All the names should be investigated."

"If there is a name, there should be an inquiry. Some names may turn out to be wrong, some names may turn out to be right. Why is the government shying away from an impartial, independent inquiry," he asked.

While the BJP ridiculed Gandhi following Dikshit's denial, Congress leader P.C. Chacko said the existence of other names does not dilute the charges against Modi.

" has said that she has no idea about the diaries, she hasn't said anything about Rahul Gandhi's allegations against Modi," said Chacko.

"This in any way does not dilute the charges against Modi, especially when there are sufficient evidences to substantiate those charges. That is why, we are demanding an impartial probe," he added.

Ridiculing the Congress, BJP leader Rita Bahuguna said the entire issue is aimed at diverting the public attention from the AgustaWestland scam.

"The Supreme Court has already said that there is no substantive evidence to sustain the charges, then where is the need for a probe," said Bahuguna, referring to Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan approaching the apex court for a probe in the matter.

"Does the Congress think it to be bigger than the Supreme Court? This is nothing but a ploy to divert the attention from their scams," said Bahuguna about her former party.

BJP Secretary Siddharth Nath Singh also slammed the allegations, saying the move is akin to "whipping a dead horse".

JD(U) leader K.C. Tyagi as well as Majeed Memon of the NCP advocated for probing all the names in the list.
The Union Cabinet is likely on Wednesday to take up an ordinance to extinguish the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes not returned to banks by Friday, December 30.
Fake currency with the face value of Rs 26.10 lakh, in the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 denominations, were seized here on Monday and two persons arrested, police said.

"The city crime branch personnel intercepted a car and recovered fake currency notes of face value of Rs 26 lakh in Rs 2,000 denomination and another Rs 10,000 in Rs 500 denomination," said Rajkot Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot.

"The notes were kept inside the speaker box of the car they were travelling in," he told reporters.

Police arrested Hriday Jagani and Lakshman Chauhan, both from Ahmedabad, for possession of the fake currency.

Gehlot said the police have also recovered a high-quality colour printing machine from the two arrested persons. "It seems the machine was used to print the currency notes," he added.

Police have identified the mastermind to be a person called Jignesh Shah, who they claim is a land broker from Ahmedabad. "Jignesh would find customers seeking to exchange their old currency notes and would order printing of notes after he struck a deal with them. They would exchange the new notes with their fake ones at 50 per cent discount. Thus they would have sold their Rs 26 lakh notes for Rs 13 lakh worth of original notes," the police commissioner said.

Police have launched a manhunt for Shah as they believe that the accused may have supplied several such notes after the of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes announced on November 8.

Of the two arrested, Jagani worked as a printer and had good technical know-how of printing and cutting notes with perfection. "The key idea was to slip in 5-6 fake notes in a bundle of 100 original notes and put them in circulation gradually. Thus they would try and pass off their fake currency with original. They even had prepared tags and seal of State Bank of India to ensure their notes look genuine," Gehlot said.

"They would earn around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 on supply of Rs 2 lakh," Gehlot said.

Giving details of currency seizure post demonetisation, he said that, so far, around Rs 2 crore worth of old notes and Rs 70 lakh of new notes had been seized from Rajkot alone.
Worried about the fate of earlier promised tax incentives on investments done in various states once the goods and services tax (GST) takes effect, automobile companies have been seeking assurances.
The Tamil Nadu government has said it will give Rs 550 a tonne over and above the Centre's fair and remunerative price (FRP) of Rs 2,300, to farmers for the 2016-17 season.
The Narendra Modi government has asked for time till late December to mid-January for the 'pain' of to ease out. However, a major reason for the inconvenience -- withdrawal limits from banks and ATMs -- is likely to stay for longer.
Clarification regarding item in a national daily on working of anganwadis over the past one month

This is in reference to a item appearing in a national daily stating that the demonetisaiton is adversely affecting the working of anganwadis. The Ministry of Women & Child Development wishes to put the following points in perspective with regard to the above mentioned item:  Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the States/UTs. Management of the scheme, procurement and supply of various items rests with the States/UTs.  Government of India lays the policy guidelines, releases its share of funds and monitors/reviews the scheme. Funds to the States/UTs are released in the fixed cost sharing ratio as per Annual Programme Implementation Plan.

 For children 6-36 months age and Pregnant & Lactating Mothers (P&LM), nutrition is provided in the form of Take Home Ration (THR). Physical procurement of THR is made by the State Governments/UT Administrations. There is no role of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) in this matter.

 Nutrition for 3-6 years children is either supplied by the agencies or prepared at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). AWWs are not directly involved in purchase of the material.

 Self Help Groups are paid money through cheque/bank draft/RTGS and they are expected to procure the material in bulk and make payment accordingly.

 Government of India has not received any report from any State/UT expressing any difficulty due to the reasons reported in Times of India.

 Government of UP has informed that P&LM are provided THR on fixed date of the month. The scheme is running as usual and there is no affect of demonetization as payments are made through RTGS only. Statement of AWW Parvati Devi of Bahraich pertains to HAUSHALA POSHAN scheme fully funded by State Government of U. P.

 Government of Bihar has informed that they have received no complaint from any AWW regarding the cash crunch due to demonetization. Even during the visit of Chief Minister of Bihar to the area, no such report was made.

 Government of Chhatisgarh has intimated that there is neither decline in the number of beneficiaries nor any dearth of funds.

 As per Rapid Reporting System (RRS) data, in October and November, 2016, 5.73 lakh and 5.30 lakh AWCs reported the data serving 2.59 crore and 2.52 crore beneficiaries respectively. RRS is at the evolving stage and only about 5-6 lakh AWCs out of 13.50 lakh AWCs have started reporting raw data.
Seventy Per Cent of Tribal Affairs Budget Already Utilized Special Attention on the Proper Implementation of Forest Rights Act Says Jual Oram

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram has said that 70% of his Ministrys budget for the year 2016-17 has already been released. Addressing a press conference about the achievements of his Ministry during the year 2016 in New Delhi today, the Minister said his Ministry has paid special attention to proper implementation of Forest Rights Act. He said as per information received from State Governments till October 2016, about 16.78 lakh individual (Forest Rights) titles have been granted over an area of 55.43 lakh acres of forest land. Further, 48,192 community (Forest Rights) titles have been distributed over an area of about 47 lakh acres of forest land. Referring to the revision of list of scheduled tribes the Minister informed that recently Irular (including Villi and Vettaikaran) has been included in the ST list in Puducherry. He further said that to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura, a bill namely the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment), Bill 2016 has been introduced in Lok Sabha during the recent winter session of Parliament. Shri Oram said his Ministry is collaborating with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to build a framework suited to the need and requirement of tribal people. It is planned for setting up one Multi-Skilling Institute in each of 163 priority (tribal concentrated) districts. Infrastructure funding will be shared by Ministry of Tribal Affairs and State Govt. (50:50). Recurring cost component will be funded by MSDE, under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Details of the collaboration are being worked out. The Union Tribal Affairs Minister referred to the setting up of National Resource Centre on Tribal Livelihood (Vanjeevan) at Bhubaneswar on 22nd of this month. He said

Vanjeevan will serve as an apex central institution within Ministry of Tribal Affairs to act as research and technical hub to further socio-economic development of tribal communities through comprehensive interaction of the 3Es-employment, employability and entrepreneurship. The resource center would cater to the development and promotion of sustainable livelihood avenues in the tribal areas through entrepreneurship and skill up-gradation. Vanjeevan will also forge linkages and build upon the skill building efforts of the other Central Ministries/Departments such as Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises etc.

Referring to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Shri Oram said that last month the coverage of area of the scheme has been extended beyond Schedule V States and now the scheme is applicable in all States. He said in addition to the existing 12 MFPs another 14 items have been included in the scheme. States have also been given freedom for fixing MSP 10% above or below the MSP rate decided by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

About sickle cell anemia Shri Oram said his Ministry has taken initiative to arrest its spread so that sickle cell carriers (patients) can be cared for, and future generations can be saved from this scourge. A protocol for Sickle Cell Management was issued in March 2015 with the objective to control the spread of the disease. In this regard, workshops were conducted in States in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology for mapping of incidence of Sickle Cell Trait and disease among tribal people all over the country through State Governments. About 1.1 crore children and youth have been screened so far. A revised protocol has been issued to the States in November 2016 after consultation with Department of Health Research. As per this, apart from screening of children and youth, screening of pregnant women is also to be done, and in case one individual is identified in the family, then family members will also be screened. The programme also provides for counseling of sickle cell carriers, and management of patients with sickle cell disease, the Minister added.

Samir/jk
Turkish President today said the West was breaking promises in Syria, accusing Ankara's partners of backing "terror groups" including IS jihadists in the country.

At least 37 Turkish soldiers have died in Turkey's major incursion inside Syria since it was launched in August to back pro-Ankara Syrian fighters battling IS and Kurdish militia.

Casualties have mounted as the military seeks to take the town of Al-Bab from IS jihadists and Ankara has become more impatient over the lack of support from the US-led coalition against the extremists for the Turkish operation.

"The coalition forces are unfortunately not keeping their promises," Erdogan said at a news conference alongside visiting Guinean President Alpha Conde.

"Whether they do or they don't, we will continue along this path in a determined way. There is no going back on the path we have set out on," he added.

Turkey has met the fiercest resistance yet of the campaign in the fight for Al-Bab, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the Turkish border.

Erdogan complained that rather than supporting Turkey, the West was backing the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD), who work with the United States on the ground in Syria, and also IS.

"They are supporting all the terror groups  the YPG, PYD but also including Daesh (IS)," Erdogan said.

"It's quite clear, perfectly obvious," he said, adding that Turkey could provide proof in pictures and video.

Erdogan had made a similar claim on a visit to Pakistan in November alleging that "the West stands by Daesh right now" and its weapons were Western-made.

But the Turkish leader expressed confidence over the assault saying "we now have the Daesh terror group surrounded on four sides in Al-Bab".

"Yes we have martyrs... But now there's no turning back," he said.

Erdogan made no mention of a video purportedly showing two Turkish soldiers being burned to death by IS in Syria.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said earlier there was no information confirming the video.

Erdogan said that along with Russia, Turkey backed a plan to bring the parties in the conflict together with key powers for peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana.

But he said that "terror groups" must not be included and that Turkey also wanted to see its Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved.
The benchmark Nifty on Monday dropped to its lowest level in seven months as foreign investors intensified their selling over concerns of higher taxes on share trading. The sell-off was triggered after Prime Minister Narendra Modi hinted at raising taxes in the capital .
The benchmark indices on Tuesday continued to trade higher on the back of value buying in blue-chip stocks such as ITC, Tata Steel and Adani Ports with Sensex trading over 400 points higher, while Nifty50 surged above 8,000 level.
Music is an integral part of Casio business

and the brand has always been associated with ace musicians worldwide to inspire and encourage youngsters. In line up with the same, Casio India has partnered with Kochi-based famous rock band 'Motherjane' to create a music culture among youth and nurture the budding music talent and promote music education in India.

The association will feature a number of national and international gigs with the band wherein audience will get to experience the most sought after musical instruments from Casio. Additionally, the collaboration will also focus on workshops with 'Motherjane' where in the band members will impart expert technical music skills to the artists who are looking to strike big in the music industry.

Casio has always encouraged music and with this tie-up, the brand offers an opportunity for music lovers to learn from the professional artists wherein they would share their musical experience.

"India has ever-growing music fanatics, specially the youth. With the growing

music lovers, Casio India along with Motherjane band creates a platform to encourage and educate youth on music. We make sure that aspiring artists get to learn and perform music on Casio's best-in-class musical instruments," said VP Casio India, Kulbhushan Seth.

"We feel great pleasure and honor to be part of the Casio bandwagon, which is an iconic brand and has played an integral role in taking contemporary music to the next level. We are looking forward to work with aspiring musicians of the country and work towards creating some inspiring music," said Motherjane.

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China has lodged a protest with the United States for signing a defense act that included a call for senior military exchanges between Washington and Taiwan.

"We are resolutely against the Taiwan-related section in the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and have lodged solemn representations with the US," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a news briefing on Monday.

According to media reports, part of the USD 618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act directs the US Department of Defense to conduct a program of senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan.

Noting that the Taiwan question has a bearing on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said that "China will by no means accept" the stipulation of the US defense act, reports the China Daily.

"Although the Taiwan-related content in the US act has no legal binding force, it severely violates the three joint communiques and interferes with China's domestic affairs," she said, adding that China urges the US to end military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan.

Earlier, China also expressed its anger over U.S. President-elect, Donald Trump and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen saying it violates the 'One-China' principle.

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Dravida Muunetra Kazhagam (DMK) member and Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, M.K. Stalin on Tuesday urged Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to clarify on P. Rama Mohana Rao who has been claiming that he still holds the post of chief secretary of the state.

"I heard that Rao still considers himself as the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu. Hence Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam must clarify on the same," Stalin told media here.

On December 22, Rao was replaced from the top post by Additional Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan after the income tax officials conducted raids in his house and office in connection with a tax evasion probe.

Ealier today, Roa while addressing media asserted that he still holds the post of chief secretary of Tamil Nadu.

"This government has no guts to serve me the copy of a transfer order. I am the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu appointed by Amma.

Rao's house and office were searched by Income Tax officials, who claimed to have recovered Rs 30 lakh cash in new notes and 5 kg of gold besides getting "disclosure" about Rs five crore of unaccounted income.

The raids were carried out at 15 places, including the office and the residence of Rao, his son Vivek and some relatives in Chennai and Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

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Former warlord and Hizb-e-Islami commander Zardad Faryadi has said he regrets his actions during the Afghan civil war, adding that he is ready to appear in a court of justice.

Faryadi said he was released from a UK prison after completing his jail term, and stressed the release had nothing to do with the recent peace agreement signed between the Afghanistan government and Hizb-e-Islami, reports the Tolo News.

Faryadi served more than 10 years in a UK prison on charges of torture and human rights violations before being deported back to Afghanistan earlier this month.

In Afghanistan he has been accused of violating human rights and committing crimes during the Afghan civil war.

"As I am regretful, others also should be regretful. I was not the commander of the war, other Generals and commanders were involved in the war. I have paid for what I have done," he said.

Faryadi said anyone who has complaints against him can file a petition for him to be brought to court.

"If anyone have complaints against me, they can register their complaints and I am ready to appear in court. What happened in the past is actually over, because I already served 10 years in prison for what I have done in the past," he added.

Faryadi said he has no hard feelings towards those who testified against him during his UK trial in 2005.

Earlier, Human Right Watch has expressed fear that the deportation of Faryadi from the United Kingdom to Afghanistan poses a clear danger for witnesses who testified against the former warlord.

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The flight data recorder of the Russian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea with 92 people on board has been recovered.

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that the black box of the Tu- 154 plane has been found.

"The parameter flight data recorder has been recovered from the water. The plane with the black box will soon depart from Sochi to Moscow where it will be deciphered by specialists of the Defense Ministry," Tass news agency quoted a source, as saying.

The main flight data recorder will be sent to the Central Scientific and Research Institute of the Air Force in Moscow for deciphering.

According to the Defense Ministry, the main flight data recorder was found 1,600 meters away from the coast at the depth of 17 meters by the Falcon search apparatus.

Tu-154 had crashed on December 25 shortly after taking off from the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry and the Russian Defence Ministry had confirmed the crash of Tu-154, saying the debris of the aircraft and alleged personal belongings of the passengers were discovered in the Black Sea.

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Responding to a plea by Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest under Islamic State's captivity in Yemen, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asserted that the government won't spare any effort to secure the former's release.

"I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," Sushma tweeted.

Father Tom, who hails from Kerala and works in a Church at Aden, in a video posted through web, appealed to the Government of India to release from his captors.

"President and Prime Minister, I am sad nothing done seriously in my regard. If I was a European priest then I might have been taken more seriously by authorities and people would have got me released," he said.

"I am from India and therefore I am perhaps not considered of much value, I'm sad. Dear Pope Francis, please take care of my life. I request my fellow human beings of different Governments to come forward and help me," he added.

The video was uploaded yesterday on Youtube and Facebook.

However, the video's veracity was not verified.

Father Tom was abducted by the terror group when it attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Aden in March.

In Yemen, the fighting is going on with no central authority there.

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Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has called Pakistan Finance Minster Ishaq Dar to discuss the latter's request to help settle the Indus water dispute, sources said.

The development comes after the Pakistani Minister wrote a letter to Kim on December 23 urging him to move ahead with the appointment of a chairman of the Court of Arbitration, reports the Dawn.

The letter written by Dar was in response to the Bank President's letter of December 12 and their decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration.

Dar, said in his letter, that this decision of the Bank will seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

The letter said that the matter of appointment of a chairman of the Court of Arbitration has been inordinately delayed.

It urged the World Bank to execute its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Finance Minister noted that the pause proposed by the World Bank President will merely prevent Pakistan from approaching a competent forum and having its grievances addressed.

Earlier this month, the World Bank asked both India and Pakistan to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute 1960.

The bank said it is temporarily halting the appointment of a neutral expert as requested by India, and the chairman of the Court of Arbitration, as requested by Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding two hydroelectric power plants under construction by India along the Indus Rivers system.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Foreign Ministry to temporarily limit all working ties with the embassies of the 12 United Nation Security Council (UNSC) members, who voted in favor of Friday's resolution on West Bank settlements.

Two senior Israeli officials said businesses with the embassies of those countries - Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Spain, Senegal and New Zealand - will be suspended, reports the CNN.

The move will include Netanyahu not meeting with the Foreign Ministers of these countries and their ambassadors will not be received at Israel's Foreign Ministry.

In addition, travel by Israeli ministers to these countries will also be limited, the officials said, noting that Israeli ambassadors will still continue to working with the governments of their host nations.

The move came after ten ambassadors were summoned, under orders by Netanyahu, to the Foreign Ministry for a personal rebuke over the vote.

The UN resolution passed last week demanded the halt of settlement activity by Israel on occupied Palestinian territory with 14 votes after the United States abstained from voting.

The resolution states that settlements in the West Bank "had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security."

However, Netanyahu's action is a diplomatic move, which is unlikely to have any practical effect on either Israel or the other countries, as it does not affect trade, security coordination or other aspects of the relations.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has laid wreath at the graves of the U.S. military personnel in Honolulu at the outset of his two-day tour of Hawaii that includes a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing which plunged the United States in War II.

On Monday, Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath.

He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl, reports the Guardian.

Abe later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a U.S. navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001.

He will be the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the memorial that honours sailors and marines killed in Japan's surprise attack 75 years ago.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built.

The memorial will be closed to the public on Tuesday when Abe visits, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is on a holiday in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic.

Earlier this month, the Japanese Government had said that Abe will not apologise for Japan's attack when he visits.

Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga had said: "The purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American President to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing.

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At least 38 people were injured after a private bus of Attingal Government College turned turtle in Kerala's Kozhikode on Tuesday.

The untoward incident took place in the wee hours when the students were returning to their college from Mysore.

The injured students were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Two students have sustained serious injuries and are reportedly in a critical condition.

Further details are awaited.

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The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday decided to create a new ministry for welfare of Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), OBCs and Special Backward Classes.

A proposal to this effect was approved by the cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Fadnavis had recently announced that a separate ministry would be created for OBCs which would be headed by an independent minister.

The cabinet also approved hike in the grant provided for Ramai and Shabri Awaas Gharkul Yojana. It was also decided that the State Agriculture Corporation land will be available for allocation to those affected by notified projects as compensation.

The state government will provide financial assistance to backward cotton producers. A committee headed by the textile minister will be formed to discuss approvals to cotton mills in the revised textile policy.

The Cabinet also decided to grant extension to individuals, companies and institutions, who have been given the government land on lease or ownership for carrying out constructions.

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Even as the Centre has deployed additional 4,000 paramilitary forces in Manipur in a bid to reopen Highway-2, the state government on Tuesday extended the suspension of mobile data services for another week.

The United Naga Council has imposed the economic blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) that serve as lifelines for the state.

Curfew has been imposed in Imphal East district for the last fortnight after a mob torched and vandalised 22 passenger vehicles on the Imphal-Ukhrul road, while curfew in Imphal West district was imposed from evening to dawn.

The Centre last week came down heavily on Manipur Government for failing to resolve the economic blockade on the Highway-2, which has throttled the supply of essential goods.

In a scathing letter to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the state government had taken no steps to ensure that the NH-2 is kept open or at least movement of convoy is made, despite MHA officials being in constant touch with state officials.

"For the sake of people of Manipur, I call upon you to discharge these constitutional obligations with utmost promptness, while reiterating Government of India's commitment to support your forces in keeping NH-2 open," the letter read.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, who visited Congress-ruled Manipur last week as a central emissary, said it is completely unacceptable to have such kinds of blockades in which thousands are suffering and both the Central and Manipur Governments will work together to end it.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Ram Madhav yesterday alleged that the Congress Government in Manipur was not clearing the economic blockade in the state for political benefits, adding that the Manipur Chief Minister should have cleared the blockade.

"The Manipur Chief Minister is playing games with lives of people of the valley. The government of India from day one asked him to avail all required support from Centre," Madhav said.

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Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday asked bahujan Samaj Party chief whether she was trying to hide her corruption by using the Dalit card.

"Is trying to hide her corruption in the name of Dalits? Is it right to call an investigation as move against Dalits? What is trying to say. Is she trying to say that her corruption is a struggle for the rights of Dalits. It is disrespectful for Dalits," Prasad said.

Prasad also termed the allegations levelled by Mayawati against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as baseless and condemnable.

He said: "Mayawati has reacted on media's report, we haven't made any official statement regarding her deposit so far. Secondly, she has not denied report on deposit. This gives rise to a question that whether it was normal donation or money conversion."

Defending allegations that around Rs 104 crore was deposited in an account belonging to the BSP post demonetisation, Mayawati earlier in the day alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre was misusing its official machinery and trying to malign her party's image.

"Eyeing the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the frustrated Centre is trying to harass the people. The BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of the BSP," Mayawati said.

Asserting that she is herself a lawyer, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said she knows the law of the land and accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit mindset.

"I am being targeted because I am a Dalit. The BJP has an anti-Dalit mindset. The BJP wants to harass 90 per cent of the nation's population. It does not want to end the dynasty of capitalism," she added.

Escalating her attack, Mayawati said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have some amount of honesty left then they should provide details of their bank details before November 8.

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Mobile app for transportation Ola on Tuesday announced the launch of its 'One way' trip fares on Ola Outstation, covering over 50 key cities from Delhi NCR.

With this, Ola Outstation becomes the only inter-city mobility solution providing rides to over 50 destinations from Delhi NCR, on one way trip fares. Bringing more flexibility, convenience and cost-effectiveness to the recently launched Ola Outstation; the introduction of 'One-way' fares allows customers to avail one-way bookings at reduced fares.

From Delhi NCR, Ola Outstation provides one way trip fare rides to most sought after tourist locations like Agra, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Dehradun; popular pilgrimage locations like Mathura, Haridwar and Kurukshetra; and major industrial zones like Meerut, Sonipat, Bhiwadi and Bawal to name a few.

"We are aiming to make outstation travel as convenient and reliable as daily commute. While the Outstation in itself is extremely affordable, the added advantage of 'One-Way' fares makes it much more effective and sustainable, reaching out to a larger use case," said Head North at Ola, Deep Singh.

"Through Ola Outstation, we are now connecting over 50 cities and are charging one way trip fares, putting Ola ahead of all others in the intercity transportation segment," added Singh.

How does Ola Outstation work?

The booking process for Outstation remains the same as booking an Ola Micro or Ola Mini for travel within the city. The user needs to select 'Outstation' from the category list displayed at the base of the Ola app. Upon selecting the category and filling in the destination details, the user will have to fill in the date and time at which he/she would like to avail the service. Post that, the user needs to book from the packages and cab category of his/her choice.

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South African pacers Vernon Philander and Kyle Abbott wrecked havoc on Sri Lankan batters as the hosts staged a fight back after being bowled out cheaply on the second day of the opening Test here at St. George's Park on Tuesday.

When bad light forced an early finish to Day Two, Sri Lanka were seven down for 181 and trailed by 105 runs with three wickets in hand. Dhananjaya de Silva was batting on 43 along with Dushmantha Chameera on 7 when bad light brought play to an early close to the day's play.

Philander and Abbott were pick of the Proteas bowlers as they saw through the Sri Lankan top order. Both picked three and two wickets each and made sure their team staged a terrific fight-back after being bowled out for 286 early on Day Two.

Resuming the day at 267 for six, the Proteas lost their last four wickets for just for 19 runs. Sri Lankan fast bowler Suranga Lakmal took his maiden five-wicket haul and finished with figures of five for 63.

This was lowest first innings Test total at St George's Park in nine years.

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COTTONWOOD  Zahide Betancourt wakes up at 5 a.m. every Friday to get ready for her weekly GED prep class.

The 28-year-old mother of three meets up with a fellow classmate, who happens to be an old friend from middle school, and the two women grab their workbooks, makeup bags and cups of coffee before hitting the road.

Their teacher wont start lecturing until 8:30 a.m., but Betancourt and her friend, both Mexican nationals, need a head start. The two women live in Cottonwood, and their classroom is at the Wilson Community Center in Phoenix, 100 miles away.

The 200-mile round trip just to study for a GED certificate stems from the fact that state law prevents Betancourt, an undocumented immigrant, from attending state-funded adult education programs. But a program offered through the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix allows undocumented immigrants to attend prep classes for Mexican nationals seeking a high school equivalency credential.

Betancourt was 14 the last time she was in school. During her freshman year at Sedona Red Rock High School, she became pregnant with her first son. She spent the next 14 years working to support her young family.

It (was) either feed my kids or go to school, she said.

Now that Betancourt can afford to continue her education, she jumped at the opportunity when it arrived. A friend in Cottonwood mentioned she had recently earned her high school credential after taking the GED prep course at Wilson.

I just asked her, How much is it? Lets do it! Betancourt said.

The enthusiasm stemmed from a desire to apply for better jobs and help her kids more with their homework, instead of going, Uh-oh, we need to get some help, she said. Her next goal would be to train as a medical assistant or nurse, since she has several relatives who are doctors.

Even with these dreams in mind, Betancourt vividly remembers the nervousness she felt before returning to the classroom this fall.

My hands were sweating. I was like Oh god, here I am again, she said. But it will be worth it.

This is the fourth year Wilson Community Center has offered GED preparation classes in Spanish, as part of the Plaza Comunitaria program. Created under the direction of former Mexican President Vicente Fox in 2001, the Mexican government program enables Mexican consulates to partner with U.S. schools, libraries and community centers to offer a range of educational curricula for Mexican nationals. According to representatives from the Mexican consulate in Phoenix, there are nine locations in the state of Arizona that serve as Plazas Comunitarias. Many offer elementary and high school level courses in addition to GED prep classes.

Blue points designate the nine plazas Comunitarias in Arizona, according to the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix. Take a look at her route and click on each point for photos or other information.

At Wilson Community Center, the GED prep teacher lectures in Spanish, and courses can be completed in as little as one semester. Students pay a flat fee of $150 for the semester to cover the teachers wages, and the consulate provides the textbooks. The consulate also pays for the four subject tests students must pass to earn a high school credential.

In 2013, the GED Testing Service noted an increase in the total number of Hispanic test-takers, with nearly 47,000 people taking the Spanish-language version of the test. In Arizona, about 32 percent of GED certificate test-takers identified as Hispanic. Fifty-three percent of all GED certificate test-takers said they were motivated by personal reasons, such as to be a positive role model or to get a better job. Having a high school credential correlates with a nearly $200 increase in median usual weekly earnings for full-time workers 25 and older, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Over the last four years, more than 130 GED students at Wilson Community Center have graduated and received their high school credential, according to community liaison Luz Munoz. Many of them have continued their studies at Gateway Community College, just under two miles away.

Munoz glows when she talks about students who have gone on from their GED prep class to attend college and start their own business ventures.

Its wonderful, Munoz said. It made me cry.

Now, less than 10 miles away from Betancourts home in Cottonwood, the Verde Valley campus of Yavapai College offers a comparable GED prep course that is tuition-free. But because Betancourt is undocumented, she lacks an Arizona ID card, which is required for students to enroll. Though she has lived in Cottonwood since she was two months old, she was born in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.

Kim Kapin, the director of marketing and communications for Yavapai College, said the schools adult and basic education program receives funding from the Arizona Department of Education and therefore must adhere to certain legal standards.

According to state law initiated by a voter referendum called Proposition 300, adult-learning programs run through the Arizona Department of Education may only provide classes to adults who are citizens or legal residents of the United States. The stated purpose of the law is to save taxpayers millions in subsidies for illegals.

Because Wilsons GED prep course receives funding from the Mexican consulate, students like Betancourt can present a Mexican passport to fulfill ID requirements.

Cristina Baird, who teaches the GED prep classes in Spanish at Wilson Community Center, said she thinks Spanish-speakers should have the opportunity to take GED classes regardless of their status.

Because it makes a better world, she said.

Baird received her mathematics degree from the University of Sonora. She said she prefers teaching adults over elementary or high school students.

I feel like I have better impact, she said, because educated adults can immediately turn and use their knowledge to teach and influence others.

When Betancourt first signed up for the GED prep course at Wilson, it made an immediate impact for her three kids, now ages 13, 10 and 3.

When I first told them, they were jumping up and down, she said. Theyre really excited, and until now, they keep asking, Whens graduation? How are your tests? How are you doing?

However, the recent U.S. presidential election results have left her uncertain about the future.

As of right now its terrifying, she said, since we dont know what will happen.

Betancourt passed the GED social studies test earlier in the semester, and she now needs to pass science, language arts and math to earn her high school credential. She plans to take those final tests in December and said Baird is working hard to prepare the class for math, which tends to be the most difficult subject.

It takes time, Betancourt said. Hopefully by the big testing time Ill be ready.
President Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated DRDO on the successful test-firing of India's indigenous Agni-5.

In a message to Dr. S. Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Director General, DRDO, the President has said, " I extend hearty congratulations to all those associated with the successful test-firing of India's indigenous Agni-V.

President Mukherjee said he is happy to know that a number of new technologies have been incorporated in this version, adding that the test demonstrates India's advanced capabilities.

"Kindly convey my felicitations to the members of your team of scientists, engineers, and all others involved in this effort. Our nation is grateful for their hard work and proud of their accomplishment," he added.

The nation yesterday launched its indigenously developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile 'Agni 5' from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.

Unlike other missiles of Agni series, 'Agni-5' is the most advanced having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

The indigenously-developed surface-to-surface missile, Agni-5, is capable of striking a target more than 5,000 km.

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In a clear indication that the law of the land is not taken with utmost seriousness in Pakistan, the grave of Elite Force commando Mumtaz Qadri, executed in March this year for killing former Punjab governor Salman Taseer, is being turned into a shrine.

An article in the Dawn says it is chilling in the sense that Qadri's shrine is becoming more than a place of burial for some and believed to be a haven for those subscribing to the ideology that led to the governor's murder.

According to Qadri's confession, Taseer's statements in support of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman charged with blasphemy, and criticism of the existing blasphemy law had provoked him to commit the crime.

The shrine, which is under construction, is frequented by visitors and is supervised by the 'Mumtaz Qadri Shaheed Foundation'.

According to the foundation on the first day after Qadri's funeral, Rs. 80 million came in the form of donations with a steady stream continuing since then.

"To pray at his grave is a guaranteed way to have it answered, for Qadri has earned a place at the side of the Prophet (PBUH) through his sacrifice," said one of the visitors.

This belief is linked to the miracle of intercession granted to saints (awliya) in the popular imagination of the subcontinent. This is what makes going to their mausoleums (ziyarat) such a widespread phenomenon, says the article.

It has hardly been a year since his execution yet the process of his canonisation is utterly complete.

While the outcry against his trial and execution and the subsequent construction of this shrine might bewilder some, Qadri's saintly status is beyond question in the hearts and minds of his sympathisers, says the article.

The article adds that this development is a mirror to a dark reality that people do not believe in the law of the land.

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Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday asked Prime Minster Narendra Modi to respond to the personal corruption charges levelled against him by the party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, instead of addressing irrelevant issues.

"Rahul Gandhi has put something forward. He says that proof is lying with the Income Tax authorities. If the Prime Minister has a different view, he has to refute it. He has not so far addressed the issue. He has only addressed irrelevant side issues. So we ask him to respond to Rahul Gandhi," Congress leader told ANI.

The Congress has called for a united opposition meet today to device a strategy against demonetisation and personal corruption charges on Prime Minister Modi.

The meeting will be followed by a joint press conference by Gandhi, along with other opposition leaders.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to join the meeting.

Rahul has accused Prime Minister Modi of receiving crores in kickbacks during the latter's tenure as Gujarat chief minister.

Speaking in Gujarat's Mehsana last week, Gandhi alleged that in the records with the Income Tax, there were notings of Sahara officials' claims that they paid Prime Minister Modi nine times between October 2013 and February 2014 and that the total amount was Rs. 40 crore.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he was not voted to cut ribbons and light lamps but work as the country's watchman and fight the menace of black money that has destroyed the nation.

"Have I been made the Prime Minister to attend small inaugurations and cut ribbons? The people are upset when I act as the 'chowkidaar'," he said while addressing a parivartan rally in Dehradun after the inauguration of the Char Dham highway project.

Prime Minister Modi said India, which used to be called the 'bird of gold', has been looted by its very own people.

"It is now high time for us to fight for the honest," he added.

Asserting that the country has suffered due to both - 'kaala dhan' and 'kaala mann', Prime Minister Modi said it is his government's endeavour to strengthen the hands of the honest and law abiding citizens.

Prime Minister Modi said black money has destroyed the nation and added that this government was fighting against the black money hoarders.

"We had said that corrupt people will be punished and now this is happening. This is a 'Safai Abhiyaan' and the people of India have helped me," said Prime Minister Modi.

"Fake notes, terrorism, human trafficking and drug mafia were all dealt with in one stroke after the demonetisation announcement on November 8," he added.

Acknowledging that people faced a lot of inconvenience after demonetisation, Prime Minister Modi expressed his delight over the fact that the nation came forward to fight against corruption despite all hassles.

The Prime Minister's outburst came hours after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati while defending the Rs. 104-crore bank deposits accused the ruling BJP of misusing power to malign her party's image.

"Eying the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the frustrated Centre is trying to harass the people. The BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of the BSP," she told the media in Lucknow.

Mayawati stated that all BSP bank accounts are legal, adding deposits are the money collected as party funds honestly sans any wrongdoing.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said if Prime Minister Modi and the BJP have some amount of honesty left then they should provide details of their bank details before November 8.

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Asian Oilfield Services rose 10.66% to Rs 119.40 at 14:07 IST on BSE after the company said its Dubai-based subsidiary received a letter of intent for a $57 million contract for providing operations and maintenance services in offshore Nigeria.

The announcement was made during trading hours today, 27 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 223.31 points, or 0.87%, to 26,030.41.

On the BSE, so far 4.86 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 1.39 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 121.40 and a low of Rs 107.90 so far during the day.

The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 124 on 14 December 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 27.90 on 12 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 26 December 2016, rising 41.97% compared with the 1.94% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 77.47% as against Sensex's 8.56% decline.

The small-cap company has equity capital of Rs 22.32 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Asian Oilfield Services announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Asian Oilfield & Energy Services DMCC, Dubai has received a binding letter of intent (LoI) for providing operations and maintenance services for an offshore production unit operating at an oil field in offshore Nigeria. The duration for services is 3 years with approximate value of $57 million. The contract finalisation for LoI is under progress.

Meanwhile, in a separate announcement during trading hours today, 27 December 2016, the company said that its board approved allotment of 95 lakh warrants, convertible into equity shares, at Rs 80 per warrant. The warants will be allotted on a preferential basis. The company will issue 50 lakh warrants to Oilmax Energy, a promoter company. The company will issue 45 lakh warrants to Balram Chainrai, a non-promoter.

On a consolidated basis, Asian Oilfield Services reported net loss of Rs 11.12 crore in Q2 September 2016 as against net profit of Rs 4.09 crore in Q2 September 2015. Net sales declined 94.72% to Rs 3.09 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Asian Oilfield Services is engaged in providing geophysical, drilling and well services to customers across the Indian sub-continent.

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Capital First rose 1.22% to Rs 520 at 10.09 IST on BSE after the company said that the board meet is scheduled on 29 December 2016, to consider issue of non-convertible debentures.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 68.50 points or 0.27% at 25,875.60.

On the BSE, 3,887 shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 38,727 shares in the past one quarter. The stock was volatile. The stock rose as much as 1.79% at the day's high of Rs 522.95 so far during the day. The stock rose as much as 0.03% at the day's low of Rs 513.90 so far during the day.

The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 796.25 on 28 July 2016 and a 52-week low of Rs 348 on 29 February 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 26 December 2016, declining 8.22% compared with the Sensex's 1.94% fall. The scrip had also underperformed the market over the past one quarter falling 26.26% as against the Sensex's 8.79% fall.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 97.38 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Capital First said that the meeting of the debenture committee of the board of directors of the company will be held on 29 December 2016, to consider the private placement of rated, listed, secured/unsecured/perpetual, redeemable, non-convertible securities in the nature of debentures.

The debentures shall be listed on the debt market segment of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE).

Capital First's consolidated net profit rose 40.3% to Rs 57.57 crore on 57.6% rise in total income to Rs 686.32 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Capital First is a leading financial institution in India focused on providing debt financing to micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) and Indian consumers.

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The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that there is an urgent need for change in mindset and India has to move towards a mindset of voluntary compliance. He said that the payment of legitimate taxes should be considered as part of the process and nobody should think that tax evasion is acceptable. The Finance Minister further said that the payment of due tax is a responsibility of every citizen. Addressing the young IRS Officers, the Finance Minister inspired them to be hardworking and efficient while ensuring integrity and credibility in their careers. The Finance Minister expressed his faith in the probationers to be able to carry-out the onerous task of smooth rolling-out and administering the new indirect tax administration system i.e.

Goods and Services Tax (GST). Shri Jaitley impressed upon the gathering the importance of coordination between the Central and the State administrations in smooth transition from the old to the new Indirect Tax regime so that the taxpayer of the country does not suffer. The Finance Minister also reminded the officers that the economy of the country is undergoing major changes and that shall continue to challenge them to be capable officers at every stage of their career. The Finance Minster stressed on the 'Culture of Correctness' and 'Fairness' that every officer should follow in their work as Revenue Officers. He also wished NACEN well in the construction of the new Training Campus and Academy in Palasamudram, Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh. He concluded his address by motivating the officer trainees to train well and become officers who can lead this country into economic glory.

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Key benchmark indices were trading with small gains in early trade. At 9:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 32.50 points or 0.13% to 25,839.60. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 7.55 points or 0.1% at 7,915.80.

In side indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index was currently down 0.1%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.01%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 736 shares rose and 589 shares fell. A total of 47 shares were unchanged.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading on a mixed note, in thin trade and with little to guide them as most major markets were closed yesterday, 26 December 2016 for Christmas holidays. Markets in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong remain shut today, 27 December 2016 while those in the US and the UK will resume trading after the Christmas break.

Back home, Cipla (up 1.13%), Tata Motors (up 0.81%) and Infosys (up 0.71%) were the major gainers from the Sensex pack.

Bharti Airtel (down 1.42%), Hero MotoCorp (down 0.81%) and Coal India (down 0.51%) were the major losers from the Sensex pack.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise rose 0.2% after the company announced that it has issued a letter of comfort for an aggregate sum of Rs 37.10 crore to ICICI Bank in connection with the sanction of credit facilities in favour of its step-down subsidiary, Alliance Dental Care, Chennai. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

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Key benchmark indices held onto gains and hovered near intraday highs in early afternoon trade. At 12:18 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 128.08 points or 0.5% to 25,935.18. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 43.45 points or 0.55% at 7,951.70. Gains in index heavyweights ITC and Infosys boosted sentiment on domestic bourses.

After a positive start, key indices build onto gains as trading for the day progressed. The Sensex rose 147.71 points or 0.57% at the day's high of 25,954.81 in mid-morning trade. The index fell 3.91 points or 0.02% at the day's low of 25,803.19 at the onset of the session. The Nifty rose 49.60 points or 0.63% at the day's high of 7,957.85 in mid-morning trade. The index declined 4.55 points or 0.06% at the day's low of 7,903.70 at the onset of the session.

In side indices, the BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.94%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.73%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 1,386 shares rose and 865 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unchanged.

Index heavyweight and software major Infosys advanced 0.76% to Rs 990.45. The stock hit high of Rs 994.60 and low of Rs 982.25 so far during the day.

Index heavyweight and cigarette major ITC gained 1.89% to Rs 229.30. The stock hit a high of Rs 229.50 and low of Rs 224.45 so far during the day.

FMCG stocks saw mixed trend. Dabur India (up 2.65%), Britannia Industries (up 1.14%), GlaxoSmithkline Consumer Healthcare (up 0.53%), Godrej Consumer Products (up 0.81%), Marico (up 1.98%), Nestle India (up 0.5%) and Tata Global Beverages (up 2.35%) rose.

Colgate-Palmolive (India) (down 1.34%), Hindustan Unilever (down 0.1%), Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care (down 0.49%), Jyothy Laboratories (down 0.76%) and Bajaj Corp (down 0.97%) fell.

Metal and mining stocks gained on renewed buying. JSW Steel (up 1.63%), Tata Steel (up 1.29%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 0.73%), National Aluminium Company (up 3.38%), Vedanta (up 0.77%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 2.07%), Hindalco Industries (up 0.92%), NMDC (up 1.43%), Hindustan Copper (up 0.03%) edged higher. Hindustan Zinc (down 0.3%) fell.

Copper edged lower in the global commodities market. High Grade Copper for March 2017 delivery was currently off 0.08% at $2.477 per pound on the COMEX.

Cipla rose 1.26% to Rs 560.85 on media reports that a foreign brokerage has maintained a buy call on the stock with a target price of Rs 660.

Bharat Financial Inclusion rose 5.58% to Rs 507.25 on bargain hunting after a recent slide. Shares of Bharat Financial Inclusion fell 27.15% in seven trading sessions to settle at Rs 480.45 yesterday, 26 December 2016, from its close of Rs 659.55 on 15 December 2016.

Overseas, Asian stocks were trading with slim gains, in thin trade and with little to guide them as most major markets were closed yesterday, 26 December 2016 for Christmas holidays. Markets in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong remain shut today, 27 December 2016 while those in the US and the UK will resume trading after the Christmas break.

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Sasken Communication Technologies announced that it has fixed 6 January 2017 as record date for the proposed buyback of shares. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016. The company on Saturday, 24 December 2016 announced to the stock exchanges that the buyback committee of the board of directors, at its meeting held on 23 December 2016, fixed the buyback price of Rs 410 per share and the total consideration for buyback at Rs 120.04 crore excluding the transaction costs. This represents 16.52% of the total issued and paid-up equity share capital of the company as on 31 March 2016.

Capital First announced that the meeting of the debenture committee of the board of directors of the company will be held on 29 December 2016, to consider the private placement of rated, listed, secured/unsecured/perpetual, redeemable, nonconvertible securities in the nature of debentures. The debentures shall be listed on the debt market segment of National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

Shilpa Medicare announced that the board of directors, at its meeting held yesterday, 26 December 2016, allotted 30.25 lakh equity shares at Rs 570 per share in the name of TA FII Investors, Mauritius pursuant to the resolution passed by the shareholders at their extra-ordinary general meeting held on 26 December 2016 and in-principal approvals received from BSE and NSE. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise announced that the company has issued a letter of comfort for an aggregate sum of Rs 37.10 crore to ICICI Bank in connection with the sanction of credit facilities in favour of its step-down subsidiary, Alliance Dental Care Limited, Chennai. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

Kaya announced that the company is in receipt of letter dated 25 December 2016 issued by Kaya Middle East DMCC (Kaya DMCC) confirming the settlement of consideration amount for acquiring 75% beneficial interest in Minal Medical Centre, Dubai and Minal Specialized Clinic Dermatology, Sharjah. Hence, the corporate guarantee provided by the company stands cancelled on payment of the consideration amount by Kaya DMCC

On 27 September 2016, the company had announced the corporate guarantee provided by it on behalf of Kaya DMCC, wholly owned subsidiary of the company, for payment of AED 22.5 million by Kaya DMCC for acquiring 75% beneficial interest in Minal Medical Centre, Dubai and Minal Specialized Clinic Dermatology, Sharjah.

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Word on the street strongly suggests the Flagstaff Polar Plunge to be the most stimulating local celebration in honor of the new year. Can you, will you, dare you dive fearlessly through a hole in the ice (compliments of Bill Smith and his trusty chainsaw) into the frosty depths of Upper Lake Mary?

It's time to end all that empty chitchat, playful tongue-in-cheek and gleeful repartee done from the security of a warm cozy place. Become a true outdoor adventurer by throwing all caution into the face of our often unruly wind and join this splashabout in the only exposed water of our well-frozen lake.

The Polar Plunge starts at high noon on New Year's Day from the Upper Lake Mary boat ramp. Some kind of swimming attire is compulsory, the wearing of sandals highly recommended and the use of water wings optional. A Survivor Certificate will be awarded to every participant and please know, I can be trusted to hold your coat when you plunge without going through your pockets. (Well, almost always.) Spectators welcome and please bring a canned good for donation to the Family Food Center to start the year off right.

Also on this first day of January, the Walk the Walk group will begin the new year by picking up all the litter we find left in the downtown area from the previous night's celebration. But before that trash retrieval begins at 9 a.m., there'll be a raffle in the MIX Restaurant lobby at Heritage Square. Among the prizes will be four $25 MIX gift cards, a Northern Pines Restaurant gift card and Arizona Daily Sun 2017 calendars.

To those folks in our community rubbed somewhat cranky by all the New Year's Eve clutter that has been strewn carelessly onto our downtown landscape, you're encouraged to join us in this annual Spic & Span party.

And many thanks for all the help provided by the Flagstaff Streets Department, Flagstaff Sustainability Section and especially our friend Maggie Twomey, the Flagstaff Volunteer and Event Coordinator. All the equipment needed for this effort will be provided by the city.

The Snowshoe Optional-Weather Dependent" phrase has become a steadfast winter theme linked to the Walk the Walk hiking group. Spending a part of New Year's Eve in our spectacular Buffalo Park nighttime setting is fast becoming their cherished tradition.

And no, it hasn't always snowed enough to turn that evening into a snowshoeing event, but what has been consistent is our friend Pat Benson's participation and his remarkable knowledge of the Flagstaff night sky.

Pat is an enthusiastic amateur astronomer and volunteer at Lowell Observatory. He's also a dedicated walker and while his sense of humor can be off the wall, it's always clever and wholly entertaining.

All are welcome to join in our New Year's Eve activities in Buffalo Park at 6 p.m. for a beautiful night hike or snowshoe under our incredible Flagstaff dark skies.

And many thanks to all those folks responsible for the wonderful Fourth Street decorated tree located at Seventh Avenue. It's a huge, beautifully lit pine and a much-appreciated asset to our community.

Feliz Navidad, everybody!
Special attention on the proper implementation of Forest Rights Act says Jual Oram

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram has said that 70% of his Ministry's budget for the year 2016-17 has already been released. Addressing a press conference about the achievements of his Ministry during the year 2016 in New Delhi today, the Minister said his Ministry has paid special attention to proper implementation of Forest Rights Act. He said as per information received from State Governments till October 2016, about 16.78 lakh individual (Forest Rights) titles have been granted over an area of 55.43 lakh acres of forest land. Further, 48,192 community (Forest Rights) titles have been distributed over an area of about 47 lakh acres of forest land.

Referring to the revision of list of scheduled tribes the Minister informed that recently Irular (including Villi and Vettaikaran) has been included in the ST list in Puducherry. He further said that to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura, a bill namely the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment), Bill 2016 has been introduced in Lok Sabha during the recent winter session of Parliament.

Shri Oram said his Ministry is collaborating with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to build a framework suited to the need and requirement of tribal people. It is planned for setting up one Multi-Skilling Institute in each of 163 priority (tribal concentrated) districts. Infrastructure funding will be shared by Ministry of Tribal Affairs and State Govt. (50:50). Recurring cost component will be funded by MSDE, under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Details of the collaboration are being worked out.

The Union Tribal Affairs Minister referred to the setting up of National Resource Centre on Tribal Livelihood (Vanjeevan) at Bhuvneshar on 22nd of this month. He said Vanjeevan will serve as an apex central institution within Ministry of Tribal Affairs to act as research and technical hub to further socio-economic development of tribal communities through comprehensive interaction of the 3Es-employment, employability and entrepreneurship. The resource center would cater to the development and promotion of sustainable livelihood avenues in the tribal areas through entrepreneurship and skill up-gradation. Vanjeevan will also forge linkages and build upon the skill building efforts of the other Central Ministries/Departments such as Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises etc.

Referring to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Shri Oram said that last month the coverage of area of the scheme has been extended beyond Schedule V States and now the scheme is applicable in all States. He said in addition to the existing 12 MFPs another 14 items have been included in the scheme. States have also been given freedom for fixing MSP 10% above or below the MSP rate decided by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

About sickle cell anemia Shri Oram said his Ministry has taken initiative to arrest its spread so that sickle cell carriers (patients) can be cared for, and future generations can be saved from this scourge. A protocol for Sickle Cell Management was issued in March 2015 with the objective to control the spread of the disease. In this regard, workshops were conducted in States in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology for mapping of incidence of Sickle Cell Trait and disease among tribal people all over the country through State Governments. About 1.1 crore children and youth have been screened so far. A revised protocol has been issued to the States in November 2016 after consultation with Department of Health Research. As per this, apart from screening of children and youth, screening of pregnant women is also to be done, and in case one individual is identified in the family, then family members will also be screened. The programme also provides for counseling of sickle cell carriers, and management of patients with sickle cell disease, the Minister added.

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Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram has said that 70% of his Ministry's budget for the year 2016-17 has already been released. The Minister said his Ministry has paid special attention to proper implementation of Forest Rights Act. He said as per information received from State Governments till October 2016, about 16.78 lakh individual (Forest Rights) titles have been granted over an area of 55.43 lakh acres of forest land. Further, 48,192 community (Forest Rights) titles have been distributed over an area of about 47 lakh acres of forest land.

Referring to the revision of list of scheduled tribes the Minister informed that recently Irular (including Villi and Vettaikaran) has been included in the ST list in Puducherry. He further said that to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Tripura, a bill namely the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment), Bill 2016 has been introduced in Lok Sabha during the recent winter session of Parliament.

Shri Oram said his Ministry is collaborating with Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to build a framework suited to the need and requirement of tribal people. It is planned for setting up one Multi-Skilling Institute in each of 163 priority (tribal concentrated) districts. Infrastructure funding will be shared by Ministry of Tribal Affairs and State Govt. (50:50). Recurring cost component will be funded by MSDE, under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). Details of the collaboration are being worked out.

The Union Tribal Affairs Minister referred to the setting up of National Resource Centre on Tribal Livelihood (Vanjeevan) at Bhubaneswar on 22nd of this month. He said Vanjeevan will serve as an apex central institution within Ministry of Tribal Affairs to act as research and technical hub to further socio-economic development of tribal communities through comprehensive interaction of the 3Es-employment, employability and entrepreneurship.

The resource center would cater to the development and promotion of sustainable livelihood avenues in the tribal areas through entrepreneurship and skill up-gradation. Vanjeevan will also forge linkages and build upon the skill building efforts of the other Central Ministries/Departments such as Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises etc.

Referring to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Shri Oram said that last month the coverage of area of the scheme has been extended beyond Schedule V States and now the scheme is applicable in all States. He said in addition to the existing 12 MFPs another 14 items have been included in the scheme. States have also been given freedom for fixing MSP 10% above or below the MSP rate decided by Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

About sickle cell anemia Shri Oram said his Ministry has taken initiative to arrest its spread so that sickle cell carriers (patients) can be cared for, and future generations can be saved from this scourge. A protocol for Sickle Cell Management was issued in March 2015 with the objective to control the spread of the disease. In this regard, workshops were conducted in States in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology for mapping of incidence of Sickle Cell Trait and disease among tribal people all over the country through State Governments. About 1.1 crore children and youth have been screened so far. A revised protocol has been issued to the States in November 2016 after consultation with Department of Health Research. As per this, apart from screening of children and youth, screening of pregnant women is also to be done, and in case one individual is identified in the family, then family members will also be screened. The programme also provides for counseling of sickle cell carriers, and management of patients with sickle cell disease, the Minister added.

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Shilpa Medicare rose 1.96% to Rs 706 at 12:35 IST on BSE after the company said it raised around Rs 172.42 crore by allotting 30.25 lakh shares to Mauritius-based TA FII Investors.

The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 26 December 2016.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 129.50 points, or 0.50%, to 25,936.60.

On the BSE, so far 55,000 shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 16,699 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 715 and a low of Rs 642.25 so far during the day.

The stock hit a record high of Rs 786.75 on 21 December 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 355 on 20 January 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 26 December 2016, rising 11.03% compared with the 1.94% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 27.03% as against Sensex's 8.56% decline.

The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 7.71 crore. Face value per share is Re 1.

Shilpa Medicare said that its board at a meeting held yesterday, 26 December 2016, allotted 30.25 lakh equity share at Rs 570 each to TA FII Investors, Mauritius. The allotment was approved by the shareholders at an EGM held yesterday, 26 December 2016. Shareholders also approved increasing foreign investment in the company to 40% from 30%.

On a consolidated basis, Shilpa Medicare's net profit rose 63.91% to Rs 38.24 crore on 21.12% growth in net sales to Rs 209.67 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.

Shilpa Medicare is engaged in the business of bulk drugs manufacturing.

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Afghanistan's first female pilot Nilofar Rahmani has dismissed reports of her move to seek asylum in the US and reaffirmed her commitment to serve the country.

According to Tolo news, Rahmani in a letter to the Afghan Air Force said she was misunderstood and misquoted by the New York Times.

Reports that Rahmani had applied for asylum in the US sparked anger among people in Afghanistan.

Rahmani, who is a captain in the air force, said the enemies of Afghanistan have always tried to spread propaganda and misconception in the society aimed at misleading the public on the abilities and development of women.

"History proves that the enemies of Afghanistan have been waiting to get a chance to create confusion among the public by speaking out against women... These moves are only aimed at preventing women from being included in the development process in the country," she said.

"I was deeply saddened about the misinterpretation of the New York Times article and offer an apology to all my colleagues who had been hurt by the report. I only want a better education so I can serve my country and my oppressed people, particularly my sisters, and make Afghanistan proud," the letter said.

Rahmani was celebrated in the US in 2015 after the US State Department honoured her with its annual Women of Courage Award.

She made headlines in domestic and international when she completed her training to become Afghanistan's first female pilot in 2013 and vowed to serve in the nation's air force, in one of the world's most conservative countries.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has accused Rahmani of telling lies to the people.

"Those who legitimise the threats in Afghanistan to seek asylum in another country, this approach has no base," said Ministry of Defence spokesman Mohammad Radmanish.

The Afghan government invests nearly $1 million on each pilot to be trained.

--IANS

py/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced its displeasure over the trilateral meeting between Pakistan, China and Russia on Tuesday in Moscow.

The \ministry on Monday said that despite Afghanistan being the ocus of the trilateral meet, Kabul was not consulted, Tolo news reported.

It said the agenda for the meeting was a matter of concern for Afghanistan.

"Talking on Afghanistan without consulting the country raises serious questions for the Afghan people. We are worried about what the reasons behind the meeting are and want the relevant parties to explain," a spokesman for the ministry said.

Afghan MPs said holding such a meeting on Afghanistan without consulting Kabul was an obvious interference in the country's internal issues.

"We are worried about holding such meetings and the security situation the next year," Afghan Parliament Speaker Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Office has said the meeting was being held to discuss regional peace and stability, including situation in Afghanistan.

Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakria said the peace and stability in Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan and the entire region.

The Russian inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is another important agenda of the meeting, the News International reported on Tuesday.

The expansion of militancy in Afghanistan, however, has always been a key concern for Russia and central Asian nations, the report said.

According to the National Security Council statistics, nearly 11,000 foreign fighters are in Afghanistan to fight Taliban insurgents in the country.

According to Afghan Defence Ministry, currently around 40,000 militants are active in the country, while President Ashraf Ghani has said in the past that more than 30 terrorist groups were active in Afghanistan.

--IANS

py/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The black box of a Russian military plane that crashed in the Black Sea shortly after take off from Sochi, was found on Tuesday, the Defence Ministry announced.

The Tupolev Tu-154 plane's black box was located at a depth of 17 metres in the Black Sea by a FALCON underwater drone, RT News reported the ministry as saying.

The Tu-154 was carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members. It disappeared from the radar on Sunday morning 20 minutes after taking off from Sochi Adler Airport. It crashed into the Black Sea en route to Latakia, Syria, where Russia has a military base.

At least 12 bodies from the plane crash have been recovered so far, the ministry said.

Also on Tuesday, five more fragments of the crashed plane, including the fuselage and parts of the engine, were located.

Some 45 ships, 15 underwater drones, 192 divers, 12 planes, and five helicopters are currently involved in the search, according to the ministry.

The black box will be delivered within the next few hours to the Central Research Institute of the Air Force of Defence Ministry in the city of Lyubertsy, a Moscow suburb.

A source told TASS earlier that one of the key theories as to why the plane crashed "is that foreign objects penetrated the engine," adding that other possible causes, such as pilot error and technical failure, are also being investigated.

The victims included 64 members of the world-famous Alexandrov Ensemble army choir, humanitarian workers and several media crews that were scheduled to take part in Christmas and New Year's celebrations at Latakia, Syria.

Russia on Monday observed a nationwide day of mourning.

--IANS

ksk/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
China has resumed imports of Japanese koi, removing a ban imposed amid viral disease outbreaks at the country's fishing farms in 2003, authorities said on Tuesday.

The first shipment of 20 Japanese koi arrived in Shanghai on Friday and is undergoing quarantine inspection at the airport, Xinhua news agency cited the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau as saying in a statement.

After the inspection, the carp will be put under quarantine for another 30 days at a designated fish farm for further observation, it said.

China suspended imports of the Japanese aquarium carp in 2003, when a major outbreak of carp herpes, a virally transmitted disease, ruined many carp farms in Japan.

China's aquarium carp market reported a turnover of approximately 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) in 2015.

Resumption of imports from Japan is expected to help local fish farmers improve breeding.

--IANS

py/vt

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A clash between supporters of Congress leaders in Punjab's Kapurthala district led to a Congress legislator and his aides being booked by the police, officials said on Tuesday.

Congress legislator and industrialist Rana Gurjit Singh was booked by the Kapurthala police along with two others following the Sunday night clash during a party meeting in Nadala town in Kapurthala district.

The clash took place after Congress leader Kulwant Singh Babbal objected to the Congress ticket being given to Gurbinder Singh Atwal for the Bholath assembly seat.

Babbal's turban was thrown to the ground and chairs were flung by supporters of the Congress leaders in the legislator's presence.

Following a complaint by Babbal, the legislators and two others were booked for outraging religious sentiments, criminal intimidation and conspiracy, the police added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Communist Party of India-Marxist in West Bengal on Tuesday announced multilayered protest demonstrations in the state at the beginning of the new year against the Narendra Modi government's demonetisation move.

The CPI-M state committee will organise rallies, road shows, demonstrations and sit-ins at various part of the state between January 1 to January 10 protesting the common man's suffering and misery caused by the demonetisation, said a statement after the end of the two-day committee meet here.

Accusing the Modi government of making new announcements every day after demonetisation, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said such frequent changes in money withdrawal policy have further confused people.

"The Left parties should take the initiative to notify people about Central Government's real intentions behind the note ban," he said at the meeting.

Yechury also called for pposition political parties to unite on the issue of demonetisation and go ahead with a proper plan of action.

Taking a swipe at the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for trying to hamper the secularism of the nation, Yechury call upon the CPI-M and other left parties to take a tough stand against them.

"BJP and RSS are trying to hit the foundation of secularism and democracy in the nation. CPI-M and the other left parties have to play an important role to fight against these powers," he added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Undeterred by a resounding defeat at the UN, the Israeli government has said that it would move ahead with thousands of new homes in the disputed West Bank area, a media report said on Tuesday.

It said: The city intends to approve 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian eastern section of town on Wednesday in what a top official called a first installment on 5,600 new homes.

Israel also warned nations against further action, declaring that it does not "turn the other cheek", the New York Times reported.

This was following the vote, passed on December 23, by a 14-0 majority, with the US abstaining, demanding Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem".

Just days after, the Jerusalem's government signalled that it would not back down.

The defiant posture reflected a bristling anger among Israel's pro-settlement political leaders, who not only blamed the US for failing to block the Council resolution, but also claimed that President Barack Obama's team orchestrated it.

American officials strongly denied the claim, but the sides seem poised for more weeks of conflict until Obama hands over the presidency to Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also lashed out at the Security Council countries by curbing diplomatic contacts, recalling envoys, cutting off aid and summoning the American ambassador for a scolding.

He cancelled a planned visit this week by Ukraine's Prime Minister even as he expressed concern on Monday that Obama was planning more action at the UN before his term ends next month.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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.

Trump and the hacking probe

The following editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, Dec. 22:

To their credit, prominent Republicans in Congress  led by Sen. John McCain of Arizona  are refusing to join President-elect Donald Trump in dismissing concerns about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.

As a result, it seems increasingly likely that there will be an aggressive congressional investigation into what the intelligence community says was an effort by Russia to use information thefts and disclosures to meddle in Americas democratic process. More recently, the CIA and the FBI now reportedly agree that the object of the interference was to aid Trump and harm Hillary Clinton.

One sticking point is a split among lawmakers over which committee or committees should be involved: a Select Committee on Cyber, as McCain and some allies prefer, or the Senate Intelligence Committee and other existing panels, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has insisted.

Were not sure it matters that much how the investigation is configured so long as it is aggressive, bipartisan and not conducted completely in secret. A select committee would have the advantage of preventing duplicative inquiries by different committees, but it also could take time to organize.

Rep. Adam Schiff, of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has offered an attractive alternative: a joint inquiry by the House and Senate intelligence panels in which chairs and ranking members of other interested committees could also participate. That approach would minimize duplication but not require creating an entirely new structure.

Whatever form the investigation takes, it will be able to complete its work more expeditiously if it receives the cooperation of the incoming Trump administration.

The problem, of course, is that the president-elect has adopted a position of willful ignorance about the possibility that Russia meddled in the election, speculating that the hacking could just as easily have been the work of China or somebody sitting in a bed someplace. Trumps chief of staff, Reince Priebus, told Fox News on Sunday that the president-elect may come around if intelligence professionals publicly air unified findings. But both he and Trump have suggested that those who express alarm about Russian interference are just trying to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps election.

Now that the electoral college has spoken, its time for Trump to drop the defensiveness, stop assailing the integrity of the intelligence community and support a thorough and bipartisan congressional investigation. If Russia engaged in cyber espionage to influence the outcome of an American election, that should be alarming even to the candidate who won it.

Why Never Trump movement was nonsense after Nov. 8

The following editorial appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday, Dec. 20:

The Electoral College results are in, and all but a handful of electors voted as they had pledged, and Donald Trump will take over as president in a month.

Perhaps the millions of Americans who seemed to think it was possible the New York Republican would never take office despite a fairly decisive Electoral College lead can return from Fantasyland now and deal with reality. Yes, Hillary Clinton got nearly 3 million more votes. Yes, Russia very likely used hacking of embarrassing Democratic National Committee emails to hurt Clinton and help Trump. Yes, Trump is coming off a campaign in which he repeatedly said offensive, even appalling things.

But since Trumps victory became clear the night of Nov. 8, the Never Trump movement has been nonsense. Not just because it didnt have a chance of blocking him from becoming the 45th president. Because trying to isolate and marginalize a president-elect is both futile and a really bad strategy.

Anyone saying Not my president, stop. Trump will be next month. Trying to ostracize him didnt work when he was a candidate. It wont work now.

Any movement that wants to moderate or stop policy changes the Trump administration may seek needs to engage its ideas head-on.

The cancer moonshot: The bipartisan effort that gives hope

The following editorial appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Monday, Dec. 19:

There is no better term than moonshot to describe the extraordinarily ambitious goal of doing 10 years worth of research in half that time to find a cure for cancer. The fact that President Barack Obama just signed into law a bill to do just that  with bipartisan support  is, in itself, a testament to the 21st Century Cures Act.

The new law will invest $1.8 billion in the Cancer Moonshot Task Force, headed by Vice President Joe Biden. The research segment of that program is named the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot, in honor of the vice presidents son, who died of a brain tumor in 2015.

The bill also has in it $1 billion for opioid abuse prevention and another $4.8 billion for biomedical research. The new law provides funding to improve mental health access and services, as well.

Present during the signing of the bill was David Grubb, a former West Virginia state senator. His daughter Jessica became addicted to heroin after being sexually assaulted at college in her first year. She enrolled in a rehab program and succeeded. But following surgery for a running injury, the hospital released her with 50 pills of the painkiller OxyContin, even though her medical records stipulated that she was a recovering heroin addict. Jessica died in March from an overdose.

The toll that the opioid epidemic and cancer have taken on American families and communities is immeasurable. Our lawmakers are to be commended for responding.

But can we really beat opioids?

Can we really beat cancer?

Recall that at one time going to the moon seemed impossible. But President John F. Kennedy said it could be done, and it happened in 1969.

Though there was little bipartisan cooperation during the Obama administration, the signing of this bill into law was the exception that proves both parties can work together, and make progress, in politics and policy, when there are clear and common goals.
Training guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, a fractured opposition on Tuesday asked him to own responsibility for the chaos that ensued following the currency ban and demanded his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline

If Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi's silence on corruption charges and held him responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people due to the notes ban, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dubbed demonetisation a "mega scam" and said he ought to take moral responsibility and resign.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

However several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign - the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), skipped the event.

"The Prime Minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," said Gandhi said, referring to his repeated allegations that Modi benefited financially from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

On demonetisation, he said it had no impact on corruption or black money laundering but was rather an attack on the country's poor while creating "a new black market has emerged -- to convert black money into white".

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," said Gandhi and asked Modi to tell the nation the "real motive" behind the move.

Banerjee who has been scathing in her attack over the decision to spike Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, minced no words in lambasting Modi.

Besides calling demonetisation to be the "biggest scam" post independence, the West Bengal Chief Minister said the decision was "illegal and unconstitutional".

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Accusing Modi of destroying the country's federal structure, she said that the Prime Minister neither took Parliament into confidence before taking such a huge decision nor bothered to make even one line statement in Parliament after implementing it.

Claiming that over 107 people have died across India post demonetisation, she described the prevailing financial state as a "super-Emergency".

She also mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Like Gandhi, she too claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation and said it has taken the economy 20 years back.

Notwithstanding the depleted strength, Banerjee insisted the opposition was united against the government over demonetisation and said a "common minimum agenda" on the issue will be worked out.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee harped on Modi owning responsibility of demonetisation woes.

"Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. Modi must resign, this government must go otherwise, the people will throw it out," she added.

Replying to media queries, Gandhi said: "We hold the Prime Minister responsible for this decision. If he doesn't resign, we'll put pressure on him to resign."

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

But soon after the opposition's press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive, saying if Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is "the Congress' defeat and BJP's victory".

Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun, Modi strongly defended demonetisation and said the move, aimed at weeding out corruption, had broken the back of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.

--IANS

and/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twenty-nine deputies from South Korean ruling Saenuri party, who are critical of embattled President Park Geun-hye, have begun the process of forming a new political party after formally resigning from the previous one.

The New Conservative Party for Reform, which aims to launch its activities on January 24, 2017, plans to attract conservative voters disenchanted with Saenuri, a party that has been divided by the "South Korean Rasputin" corruption scandal which led to the preliminary dismissal of the president.

"Park loyalists have forgotten the true values of conservatism, which has resulted in the loss of the people's trust. Their loyalty to the president and ignorance of the people's voice and truth allowed Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs," a group's spokesperson told Yonhap news agency.

The spokesperson added that they will try to turn the scandal into an opportunity to reform South Korea.

The process of dismissal of the president, which is yet to be ratified by the Constitutional Court in the next few months, comes after prosecutors indicated that she was an accomplice in the corruption and influence-peddling scandal led by Choi Soon-sil, nicknamed as "South Korean Rasputin."

Choi, a close friend of Park and currently in prison, is accused of meddling in state affairs despite not holding any official position, besides extorting large sums of money from Korean companies and appropriating part of it for personal use, among other charges.

Divided for years between Park's followers and a more critical faction, the country's largest political party has experienced the division even more in the aftermath of the scandal, Efe news reported.

It is expected that more deputies will resign from Saenuri and join the new formation in early January.

Following the split of Saenuri, which had 128 seats in the National Assembly but now only 81, the Democratic Party, the main opposition force, currently is the faction with the highest number of seats, with 121 deputies.

The newly formed party will become the fourth political force of the country with 29 deputies, after the People's Party, which has 38 seats in parliament.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Haryana Police has foiled a bank robbery and arrested one person belonging to a gang involved in major bank robberies in different districts, police said on Tuesday.

The gang had looted more than Rs two crore from different banks in recent months, said a police spokesman.

The robbery was foiled after information was received about some people loitering near a branch of Oriental Bank of Commerce at village Kisangarh under Meham police station in Rohtak district, 250 km from here.

"Acting on the tip off, a police team reached the spot and arrested one accused identified as Sunil. The other accused escaped under the cover of thick fog," the police spokesman said.

During interrogation, Sunil revealed that he and his associates used to rob banks, and they had attempted to rob a bank last week also.

"They were also involved in bank robberies in Sonipat and Rewari, and had looted Rs 1.22 crore from a bank in village Saiydpur in Sonipat. They had also looted Rs 81 lakh from a bank in Rewari," he added.

Police have also recovered one walkie-talkie set from his possession, besides recovering a car, drill machine, hammer and other weapons used by the accused.

--IANS

js/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted search operations in hawala trader Paras Mal Lodha's office and house here, an official said.

"A team from our Delhi office has raided Parasmal Lodha's house at Queens Park and his office in south Kolkata," the official said.

Lodha, a leading businessman with interests in real estate and mining, was intercepted by a team of ED sleuths at the Mumbai airport in last week while he was trying to flee to Malaysia.

The city-based businessman was arrested for allegedly converting over Rs 25 crore demonetised notes linked to industrialist J. Shekhar Reddy and lawyer Rohit Tandon into new currency.

The ED booked Lodha under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
India has signed an agreement with Bhutan for assistance in green and sustainable construction of infrastructure in the Himalayan kingdom.

According to a statement, an MoU was signed between Central Public Works Department (CPWD), under India's Ministry of Urban Development and the Department of Engineering Services, under Bhutan's Ministry of Works and Human Settlements for the purpose in Thimpu.

"Under the MoU for bilateral technical cooperation in infrastructure engineering, CPWD will assist in promoting sustainability in the built environment, capacity building through training of Bhutanese manpower, bench-marking in building and road sectors besides deputing engineering experts to Bhutan," said the statement.

--IANS

spk/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eco-friendly antimicrobial agents that are being developed by a team of researchers at New Zealand's University of Auckland could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India', says an Indian-origin member of the scientific team.

Scientists associated with the Biocide ToolBox (BTB) programme are targeting the discovery and invention of eco-friendly biocides - chemical agents which control or kill bacteria - to design a range of products and solutions like antifouling coatings and food packaging.

The programme, funded by the nation's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is a major antimicrobial research programme hosted by the University of Auckland and closely networked with the University of Otago, Scion and the Cawthorn Institute in New Zealand.

"The initiatives taken in BTB programme could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India' , for example, chemicals, biotechnology, food processing, smart textiles. Joint R&D partnership between BTB and corporates in India could enhance the scope of developing customised biocidal products particularly important for Indian market and possible manufacturing of some of these products in India," Sudip Ray, a senior research fellow in the School of Chemical Sciences with the MBIE Biocide Toolbox and Product Accelerator Programmes at University of Auckland, told IANS.

BTB aims at the development of a toolbox of new greener biocides applicable in commercial and healthcare contexts which contribute to NZ export growth.

Ray was in Kolkata for a series of lectures.

Describing the initiative, he said the current research is focused on developing a suite of biocides which constitute practical solutions for a range of products like decorative paints, antifouling coatings, food packaging, cleaning chemicals, air conditioning tunnelling/filters, medical equipment, in various healthcare settings requiring a safe and clean environment.

"These biocides developed by BTB in New Zealand could be exported in India as chemicals and then incorporated in products which utilise biocides and thereby the final manufacturing of the biocidal products could be performed in India. This will fulfil the key focus of aMake in India' and also enhance the possibility of exports from New Zealand," he explained.

One of the innovations is turning wine waste into biodegradable plastics with usable anti-bacterial properties for use in food packaging and storage.

Recently India and New Zealand discussed the promotion of FDI in India in support of India's Make in India campaign and development objectives.

"So, R&D partnership could further strengthen the growing bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand," Ray added.

--IANS

sgh/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Sonu Sood says working with legendary actor Jackie Chan taught him about the importance of staying grounded after becoming successful.

"The biggest learning that I got after working with Jackie Chan is that no matter what you achieve in life, you have to be grounded and connected to your roots always," Sonu told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Sonu will soon be seen sharing screen space with Chan, who received an honorary Oscar for his career achievements earlier this year -- in the upcoming Sino-Indian film "Kung Fu Yoga".

"Kung Fu Yoga" is a part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's past visit to India.

The film, which is directed by Stanley Tong, also stars actress Amyra Dastur. Hindi film stars have reportedly performed some adrenaline-pumping action sequences for the movie, which was partly shot in India.

There is a lot of buzz about the film before its release. But Sonu is not nervous.

"No, it (all the attention) doesn't add pressure. I think it is high time that all our hard work comes in front of the audience. They need to see it," he added.

With "Kung Fu Yoga" slated to release in February next year, the "Tutak Tutak Tutiya" star says he is excited about the film and is sure that people will love it.

--IANS

sug/rb/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Japanese Prime Minister arrived in Hawaii on Monday, one day ahead of his visit to Pearl Harbor, the US naval base attacked by the Japanese in 1941 resulting in the deaths of 2,403 Americans.

The two-day trip's main highlight is the visit to the USS Arizona Memorial with President Barack Obama, making Abe the first Japanese leader to visit the memorial to the battleship that was sunk on December 7, 1941, the Japan Times reported on Tuesday.

The late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, but before the memorial site was built. Two other postwar premiers, Ichiro Hatoyama and Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, visited the US Pacific Command at Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, government officials have confirmed.

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," Abe told reporters before leaving Japan.

The visit comes seven months after Obama became the first sitting president to visit a park in Hiroshima dedicated to the estimated 200,000-plus people who were killed when the US dropped two atomic bombs on that city and Nagasaki in August 1945.

After arriving on Monday morning at the Hickam Air Force base here, which Japanese fighter planes strafed on the morning of December 7, 1941, Abe spent the day visiting the cemeteries of US servicemen killed in the Pacific War and Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, as well as a memorial to Japanese students and crew who perished on the Ehime Maru training ship when it sank off Oahu in a collision with a surfacing US submarine.

Abe is scheduled to stop by a memorial dedicated to Lt. Fusata Iida, who crashed his airplane on a hillside during the December 7, 1941, attack in what Americans later called Japan's first kamikaze suicide attack of the war.

The Prime Minister also laid a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during the Pacific War were laid to rest.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada are accompanying Abe on his trip, which concludes after a last meeting with Obama and their joint visit to the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday.

--IANS

ksk

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for alleged irregularities in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s accounts and demanded his resignation.

"Kejriwal is morally responsible for the irregularities in his party's accounts," Delhi BJP unit chief Manoj Tiwari told reporters at a press conference here.

"He should ponder on this and taking into consideration the letter written by his political guru Anna Hazare, he should own responsibility (for irregularities), apologise to the people and resign," he said.

Tiwari's remarks came after Hazare on Saturday rapped Kejriwal, also the Convenor of AAP, for removing the list of donors from its website. Hazare also asked Kejriwal what differentiates the AAP now from other political parties.

Tiwari also said that all through the BJP has maintained that the funding details of the AAP are fudged and the party has a lot to explain to the people. "Now, the latest revelations have vindicated our stand."

"Kejriwal cannot evade responsibility for these manipulative errors in the AAP's accounts submitted to the authorities, right from the year of formation," he said.

Attacking the AAP leader, Tiwari said the AAP has "always kept three sets of accounts". "One for the public domain, second for the Election Commission and Income-Tax Department, and the third, which has the actual fund collection details, is kept with Kejriwal."

"We believe that these are not inadvertent errors but intentionally done manipulations," he charged.

The BJP leader also alleged that the AAP accounts have major 'Golmaal' (discrepancies).

"After the notice of I-T Department, it is clear that a lot has been hidden or manipulated while submitting the accounts details, both in the list of small contributors and major donors," Tiwari said.

"It's an open and shut case of Golmaal by a party which has been talking a lot on political transparency right since its formation in 2012," he added.

"They were given more than four chances, but they tried to delay the matter and the party has responded only after the final notice was served," the BJP leader, who also represents the Northeast constituency of Delhi in the Lok Sabha, said.

He also accused Kejriwal of habitually violating the constitutional and administrative provisions.

"Kejriwal is himself a former IRS Officer and such violation coming from his party makes us presume that this economic offence is part of his habit to violate the constitutional and administrative provisions," he said.

The BJP leader also questioned why the list of donors to the party remains removed from the website since June this year.

--IANS

aks/nir/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Showcasing the Japanese performance art 'Butoh', the second Kolkata International Butoh Festival 2017 will kick off here on January 6 with the aim to connect audiences with the rebellious dance form that allows the body to speak for itself.

Often viewed as grotesque for the peculiar trance-like movements on bent legs with eyes rolled-up, the radical movement and dance form, originated in Japan as a response to the despair of the aftermath of the atom bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, organisers said.

"Butoh's aesthetics are totally different to what is considered aesthetic in India. This year , we have with us Rhizome Lee, a Butoh Master, born and trained in Japan, who is also the founder and director of the Subbody Butoh School, in Dharmasala," a member of the platform Culture Monks told IANS.

Culture Monks is an interdisciplinary, cross cultural platform of artists, academicians and professionals.

Butoh loosely translates into earth dance or stomp dance.

Founded by young rebellious modern dancers Tatsumi Hijikata and Kazuo Ohno, it encourages practitioners to tap into and find the gestures and movements hidden behind conditioned behaviour.

Running till January 19, the festival also includes performances which explore unknown and known spaces and art and photography exhibitions inspired by Butoh.

--IANS

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Wuhan University exhibits artwork from alumni 2016-12-27 15:19 By (chinadaily.com.cn)

"Centennial Presents in Return: Exhibition of Alumni Donation from Chen Dongsheng and Li Yifei", the exhibition at Wanlin Art Museum at Wuhan University, will last until Jan 19. [Photo by Li Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wanlin Art Museum at Wuhan University is presenting an exhibition featuring artwork donated by alumni.

The exhibition "Centennial Presents in Return: Exhibition of Alumni Donation from Chen Dongsheng and Li Yifei", lasting until Jan 19, presents 67 works, at a total worth of 40 million yuan. These exhibits span from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to today, including great masters Dong Qichang, Kang Youwei, Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi as well as well-known contemporary artists such as Jin Shangyi, Yang Feiyun and Zhang Xiaogang.

At the opening ceremony on Dec 21, Chen said they donated pieces from personal collections and all the artists are related in someway to Wuhan University.

"These works of art, having witnessed the vicissitude of the ages, lead visitors back to relive the history and experience the change of time in the last century," Chen said.

According to the university, Chen donated 45 pieces and Li donated 22, all of which will be added to the university's permanent collection. This donation is the universitys first large collection from alumni and marks the beginning of a systematic museum collection and highlights the awareness of public welfare and social responsibility of Chinese entrepreneurs.

Wanlin Art Museum, which houses the exhibition, was completed in 2015. In 2013, Chen, the chairman of Taikang Insurance Group, donated 120 million yuan for its construction, which is the largest private donation the school has ever received.
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The All India Tax Advocate's Forum (AITAF) on Tuesday urged the Delhi Government to set up special courts to resolve pending tax disputes before the introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST).

"AITAF has urged the Delhi Government to introduce an alternate tax disputes' resolution mechanism to resolve numerous tax disputes pending under the present Delhi Value Added Tax (DVAT) regime before the GST is implemented," forum president M.K. Gandhi said in a statement.

The forum said that currently there is a huge backlog of thousands of tax disputes before various commission, tribunals and courts.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to lay the foundation stone of Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

"Will visit Devbhoomi Uttarakhand today (Tuesday) for the inauguration of a key infrastructure project, the Char Dham highway development programme," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"Char Dham highway project will lead to creation of over 900 km of roads. Connectivity and tourism will get a strong boost through the project," the Prime Minister said.

"Adding of bypasses, tunnels, bridges and flyovers will ease travel. Proper slope stabilisation will ensure protection against landslides," he said pointing out at the towards ensuring uninterrupted all weather safe journey for pilgrims to the four shrines.

The Prime Minister also said that he will address a public meeting in Dehradun during his Uttarakhand visit.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There is no doubt whatsoever that choosing the Indian Army Chief, or any other service chief, is the prerogative of the government. Then why so much of a hue and cry over the selection of Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat as the next army chief?

Over three decades ago, in 1983, when Lt. Gen. A.S. Vaidya superseded Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha, there was an uproar but not as much, in fact nowhere near now, anger amongst both the serving senior officers and military veterans cutting across all arms and services.

Despite the fact that today the electronic and social media call the shots, the number of articles, editorials and letters to the editor that are commenting on the controversy are much more than in 1983. It was, perhaps due to the fact Gen. Vaidya, twice awarded the Mahavir Chakra -- in 1965 and 1971 -- had much greater battle experience than Lt. Gen. Sinha, who only held staff appointments in the wars of 1947-48, 1962, 1965 and 1971. The supersession was fully justified.

Since I was commissioned in Gen Vaidya's cavalry regiment, the Deccan Horse, my view may seem biased to some military veterans. But there is no doubt that Gen. Vaidya was an iconic figure of the Indian Army, especially the armoured corps, the arm to which the superseded Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi belongs. Ultimately, Gen. Vaidya, India's most decorated soldier, made the supreme sacrifice, like Indira Gandhi and Sant Longowal, for ensuring that India's sword arm is not cut off from the rest of the country.

But as the supersession raised a controversy which was not in the interest of the army, it was decided during the premiership of India's youngest Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, that amongst the vice chief and the army commanders, the seniormost would be elevated.

Gen. Vaidya's successor, Gen. K. Sundarji, and all the successive chiefs thereafter have been selected by both the Congress and non-Congress governments on the basis of seniority. The biggest advantage of following this principle is that nobody can accuse the government of the day of politicising the defence forces or indulging in favouritism.

Unfortunately, the choice of Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat, no doubt an outstanding officer, on the eve of Uttrakhand elections has raised eyebrows and led to an avoidable controversy. The only option before the government is to make Lt. Gen. Praveen Bakshi the CDS, or Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC) and similarly accommodate Lt. Gen. P.M. Hariz in an advisory role where he will not be junior to Gen. Rawat (on his elevation). Nobody will be more happier with this arrangement than Gen. Rawat. This will be in the best interest of both the army and the nation.

The army should be kept totally apolitical and secular. Otherwise there will be no difference between the armies of India and Pakistan, where supersession is never surprising and has become an established norm.

Praveen Davar, an ex Armoured Corps officer, is Member, National Commission for Minorities. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at praveen.davar@gmail.com)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Companies which are not listed on the stock exchanges as well as municipal corporations and other urban local bodies can make use of prepaid payment instruments (e.g. prepaid cards) to pay their staff, employees or contract workers, the RBI said on Tuesday.

In order to facilitate greater adoption of digital payments, banks may extend the provisions of prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) to include other employers such as unlisted corporates, partnership firms, sole proprietorships, public organisations like municipal corporations and urban local bodies to issue it to their staff, employees or contract workers, said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in a notification.

The modification in PPIs rules shall come into effect from Tuesday, it said.

According to the earlier guidelines PPIs could be issued only to those companies which were listed on the stock exchanges.

"Banks shall extend this facility only to those employers that have a bank account with them and after obtaining an undertaking that they are not availing of this facility from any other bank," it said.

Verification of the identity of the staff, shall be the responsibility of the employer concerned, while the bank should put in place proper systems to capture and maintain details of the employees to whom the cards are issued by the employer along with copies of photograph and identity proof of such employees, the central bank stated.

"The employer is also required to make available details of bank accounts (if any) of the employees to the bank," it added.

--IANS

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National Award winning filmmaker Krish said he needs to thank his wife Ramya Velaga, who has been a pillar of support throughout the making of upcoming Telugu period drama "Gauthamiputra Satakarni".

Krish and Ramya got married earlier this year in August.

"Post marriage, I couldn't even stay with my wife for ten days. Even though I couldn't spend much time with her, I know I've made a film that will make her proud. I need to thank her for being in my life and I love her," Krish said at the audio launch of the film.

He said the film will also make his mother proud.

Talking about how the project materialised, he said: "It was from a test book for the Civil Services exam. I read about the story of 'Gauthamiputra Satakarni' for the first time. As I continued researching, I told a friend from Mumbai about the story and he was happy that I was making a film on someone very popular in Maharashtra."

A surprised Krish wondered how the story of Satakarni was popular in Maharashtra.

"I learnt from this friend that the story of Satakarni was popular during the regime of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Similarly, a Tamilian friend told me how popular Satakarni was in Tamil Nadu. When I gathered more information and started reading about his story, my blood boiled and I started visualising a face that will suit this story," he said.

The story chose Nandamuri Balakrishna, said Krish, and not the other way around.

"It took him (Balakrishna) just ten minutes to give his nod. When I told him we're planning to release the film for Sankranti festival next year, he said we will work towards it and finish the film on time," he added.

This project happens to be Balakrishna's 100th film. It also stars Shriya Saran, Hema Malini and Kabir Bedi.

"Gauthamiputra Satakarni" is the story of an unsung warrior from Satavahana dynasty.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A software analysis can now highlight the subtle differences between a diseased and healthy retina, a development that shows promise of early detection of diseases of the human eye and could also help design a smart phone-based retinal diagnostic app, researchers say.

The technique may also prove useful for identifying other types of tissue abnormalities from OCT images.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging test that enables physicians to monitor alterations in the thickness of the retinal layer as disease progresses in the human retina.

Researchers at IISER-Kolkata, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai developed a software analysis that was able to parse through the differences between a healthy retina and retinal layers of diabetic macular edema (DME) subjects from OCT images.

With OCT, each of the retina's distinctive layers can be seen, allowing ophthalmologists to map and measure their thickness.

These measurements help with diagnosis and provide treatment guidance for glaucoma and retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic eye disease.

"However, subtle changes in the retinal layers due to early disease progression are often not discernible. Our analysis can overcome that drawback and pinpoint early disease progression. The software can directly tell us," N.K. Das, IISER-Kolkata, told IANS.

"In the future, we can develop affordable and portable devices for early detection, including a smart-phone app where images can be fed through an optic fibre," Das added.

Published in the Journal of Biomedical Optics, the study is co-authored by Nirmalya Ghosh, Sabyasachi Mukhopadhyay, Jay Chhablani, Ashutosh Richhariya, Kompalli Divakar Rao and Naba Kishore Sahoo.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Actor Nikitin Dheer, who was last seen as the antagonist in "Nagarjun - Ek Yoddha", will be ringing in the New Year with his wife and actress Kratika Sengar in Singapore.

Nikitin is going on a four-day holiday.

"Too much planning has to be done because we both are working and too many things at stake, so it's not easy," Nikitin said in a statement.

He added: "I think it really feels nice when you get married to somebody who is in the same field and you get so many things to do if you have the same type of interests. Travelling is our common passion and we will have a blast."

-*-

Nakuul, Surbhi's double date

Actor Nakuul Mehta is getting along with his "Ishqbaaaz" co-star Surbhi Chandna's boyfriend Karan Sharma, and they even went on a double date.

Nakuul spent some time with the couple at his Christmas bash - which he hosted for his close friends like Drashti Dhami, Ruslaan Mumtaz and Alekh Sangal.

A source from the set of the Star Plus show, told IANS: "Nakuul has always got along really well with his leading ladies -- be it Disha Parmar in his previous show or Surbhi Chandna in 'Ishqbaaaz'. While Surbhi and Nakuul get along really well, it was only befitting for their real life better halves to meet up as well.

"And no better occasion than Christmas eve when Nakuul and his wife Jankee invited Surbhi and her beau Karan for his annual Christmas bash where both the couples were seen enjoying to the fullest."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said all opposition parties -- even those who did not attend a joint press conference in Delhi -- were united on and Prime Minister Narandra Modi's alleged corruption.

The opposition is united on and Modi's corruption, though every party has some local compulsions and he respects it, the Congress leader said at the joint press conference here.

Out of 16 opposition parties that opposed the government on in the winter session of Parliament, only eight attended the joint presss conference, including the Congress, Trnamool Congress, DMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal-Secular, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

"Every day, during Parliament's winter session, all parties were together on the issue of demonetisation. Not even one party was away.

"Every party said they are together on demonetisation and Modi's corruption. But parties also have local compulsions and we respect those compulsions," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said: "Opposition unity is a process and it is going forward. You can ask all opposition parties -- they will tell you uniformly that they agree on the stand we are taking on demonetisation and on the Prime Minister's corruption."

"There are slight differences in the perspective of these parties. We are happy to embrace them. We see all opposition parties as assets, as people who represent people in this country.

"Every party have some differences, but broadly, everyone will say that demonetisation is a failed experiment. All opposition parties believe in the democratic principles," the Congress Vice-President added.

On meeting the Prime Minister on December 16, the last day of Parliament session, which may have irked some political parties, Gandhi said: "I did a 30-day campaign where I committed to the people of Uttar Pradesh that I'll take two crore of their forms they had filled up and submit to the Prime Minister. I only fulfilled that commitment."

"I told them I'll take these personally to the PM. It was a commitment to the farmers," he added.
Many persons could not enter the venue of the joint press conference by eight opposition political parties on Tuesday as police barred many from entering due to the overcrowding in the hall.

It led to chaos outside the hall at the Constitution Club of India where at least 30-40 journalists were stopped.

The press meet was supposed to begin at 3 p.m. but it started about half an hour late. However by 3 p.m., the hall was already packed.

"Many of us could not enter the hall as there was complete chaos. There was also verbal duel with police outside the hall. It was total mismanagement. As many as 30 mediapersons could not enter the venue," said a senior print journalist.

As Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi started addressing the media, persons outside were heard shouting and screaming.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Several opposition parties on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister over the demonetisation woes of the common man, asking him to own responsibility for the chaos and demanding his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline.

While Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi held Modi responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said he will have to resign if the cash crunch woes continued even after the December 30 deadline he himself set.

Banerjee said the demonetisation decision was "illegal and unconstitutional" and that the Indian economy had been set 20 years back in these nearly 50 days.

Modi will have to resign if the chaos continues beyond December 30, she said.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference at the Constitution Club here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

Several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign -- Janata Dal-United, the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party -- were, however, conspicuous by their absence.

Calling the November 8 note ban the "biggest scam after Independence", Banerjee asked if Modi will resign at the end of 50 days if the cash situation did not improve.

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left," the Chief Minister said.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Rahul Gandhi said Modi should accept responsibility since the latter's assurance of normalcy after 50 days seems to be failing and people are still facing hardships due to cash crunch.

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. The Prime Minister needs to answer who is responsible for the people's hardships... It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said demonitasation had failed to reduce corruption and arrest black money laundering, and was instead an attack on the country's poor.

"Demonetisation has had no impact on corruption and black money. A new black market has emerged -- to convert black money into white," Gandhi said.

Countering the government's stance that demonetisation will curb terror funding, Gandhi said 2,000-rupee notes were found in possession of terrorists killed days after the November 8 scrapping of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

He asked Modi to tell the nation what he dubbed was the "real motive" behind the move.

The West Bengal Chief Minister mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

"While an advanced economy like the United States has around 40 per cent cash transactions, he (Modi) talks about cashless economy. In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Banerjee claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation.

"If the government is weak, the country becomes weak. Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. This government must go; otherwise, the people will throw it out," added the TMC leader.

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said the country is facing a financial crisis due to note ban.

He said only six per cent of the black money was in hard cash and for this six per cent, the Prime Minister has put then entire people across the country in trouble.

"No results have come so far. It has been an ill-conceived and poorly implemented move," Siva said.

"There is no assurance that no black money will be generated in future. There is no actual figure as to how much black money was deposited or recovered," Siva added.

Jai Prakash Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal said his party had been opposing the demonetisation move since the very beginning and party President and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad planned to hold district-level protests in Bihar.

"Cashless is baseless. Note ban is anti-poor and anti-people," Yadav said.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, Prime Minister strongly defended demonetisation and said the move is aimed at weeding out corruption from the country.

He said the move had broken the backs of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called Pakistani Finance Minster Ishaq Dar on phone to discuss the Pakistan-India water dispute, an official said on Tuesday.

The phone call on Monday was in relation with the latest dispute concerning two hydroelectric power plants -- Kishanganga and Ratle -- that India is building on the Indus river system, Dawn online reported.

Dar earlier wrote to Kim requesting him to help settle the water dispute between the two neighbouring nations.

He said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty which was signed in 1960.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt the country's interests as India was working on completing the two projects. Dar said that once the projects are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

The treaty distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, while Pakistan has the three western rivers of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Last week, Kim in a letter to the Finance Ministers of India and Pakistan, said he had decided to "pause" the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle the dispute.

Pakistan asked the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration while India demanded the appointment of a neutral expert.

Kim said he was "pausing" arbitration to protect the Indus Waters Treaty, which has successfully resolved previous disputes between the two neighbours.

Tension over the water dispute intensified in November when Prime Minister Narendra Modi post the Uri attack which claimed the lives of 19 soldiers, said: "Blood and water cannot flow at the same time."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three former presidents in Peru are to testify before the Congress in relation to allegations of bribe taking, official said.

Ex-Presidents Alejandro Toledo, Alan Garcia and Ollanta Humala would be questioned about the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht bribery case, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.

There were recent revelations that the construction giant Odebrecht paid out $29 million in bribes to secure major public works contracts during their administrations.

Beteta, a member of the opposition Popular Force (FP) party, said "if they have something to say, they must say it to the (congressional) committee".

The committee was created to clear up the allegations tainting the governments of Toledo (2001-2006), Garcia (2006-2011) and Humala (2011-2016).

The scandal broke out on Thursday, following Brazilian media reports Odebrecht had admitted to paying more than $1 billion in bribes across much of Latin America and parts of Africa.

Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Venezuela immediately launched investigations into the matter.

The confession was made as part of a plea bargain deal with the US Department of Justice, which released the documents.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In his first such interaction with a set of noted economists and experts organised by Niti Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for innovative approaches to budget-making, and a special focus on skill development and tourism.

Attending the session on "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead", the prime minister said the budget has a significant effect effect on India's real economy and wanted this yearly exercise to be given prime importance.



Till date, Modi observed, such exercises earmarked expenditure only at the onset of monsoon, which was not desirable as it results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months.

That is the reason why the presentation date of Budget 2017-18 is being advanced so that a roadmap is ready before the beginning of the financial year, he added.

The government has said February 1 will be the date for presentation of future Union Budgets.

The other two major changes to the upcoming budget are converging into it the railway budget and doing away with the Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure.

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya, at a press briefing later, said that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the economists was an experiment where the latter gave presentations on three important focus points - agriculture, jobs and budget related issues.

For the agriculture sector, the economists focussed on ways to double the farmers' income by 2022 and expanding the digital payment revolution to include them, he said.

"Economists suggested doubling farmer's income by 2022. They discussed digital payments for farmers. There were suggestions on moving to high-value agriculture products," Panagariya added.

While in the education sector, the economists suggested the need to improve the quality, there was need felt to increase investments in the tourism sector.

"The tourism sector was highlighted. Suggestions were made that we need to invest more in tourism. Also need to have a learning revolution to improve quality of education was emphasised," he added.

A range of other issues covering subjects such as skill development, taxation and tariff related matters, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy and future steps for growth were discussed.

Besides Niti Aayog and Finance Ministry officials, the session was attended by economists and experts, including Pravin Krishna, Sukhpal Singh, Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Pulak Ghosh, Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, N.K. Singh, Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose and T.N. Ninan.

The Prime Minister's meeting with experts to take stock of the economy assumes significance against the backdrop of the cash crunch post the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency.
A close relative of the IS abducted Catholic Priest Thomas Uzhunnallil on Tuesday urged Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release.

Uzhunnallil has been in captivity for nine months since the Islamic State terrorist group in Yemen abducted him. Despite various efforts his release did not work out.

"Now Pope Francis and the Indian government have to act for his release," the relative said.

"Despite so many efforts our dear one languishes in captivity. Our Church has to take this up very seriously and at the highest level," said the relative who claimed that besides Uzhunnallil, there were five more from the family who were in the clergy.

The reaction from the family came soon after a video showing the captive priest pleading to authorities for his release, surfaced on the internet.

"I am very sad nothing seems to be happening for my release. If I was an European priest, I know by this time I would have been released," Uzhunnallil said in the short video.

"But since I am an Indian and not considered of much value, I am still here. I beg to all of you, please pray for me. My health is deteriorating," said the bearded, frail-looking captive.

Reacting to the news reports of the video, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj wrote on her twitter handle on Tuesday morning: "I have seen the video from Father Tom."

"He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Father Tom's release from captivity," said Swaraj.

In March, IS militants barged into a care-home for the elderly (set up by Mother Teresa in Yemen's Aden in 1992), and shot dead many people, including four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity.

Uzhunnallil was the one captured. The militants abducted the Kerala priest that day and there has been no information about him ever since.

Uzhunnallil's ancestral home is in Ramapuram in Kottayam district, which lies deserted as two of his brothers live abroad, while another lives in Gujarat.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Russian President launched a natural gas pipeline linking Crimea to Russia's gas pipeline system, which will allow the inhabitants of the peninsula to receive a continuous supply of gas.

During the ceremony, said via video conference that this is another important outcome for the development of Crimea and its future, Efe news reported.

He announced that two power plants will be built within the next two years to meet all the electricity needs of the peninsula's inhabitants.

The length of the natural gas pipeline is 358.7 km.

Ukraine has not given up on retaking Crimea, which Kiev considers territory occupied by Russia, while Moscow says that Crimea inhabitants opted mostly to join the Russian federation through a referendum.
A Cambodian court on Tuesday sentenced, in absentia, self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to five years in prison for conspiring to incite chaos in the country through posting fake documents on his Facebook page.

Rainsy, 67, leader of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was accused of conspiring to falsify a border treaty signed between Cambodia and Vietnam, using the fake treaty and inciting chaos to social security, Xinhua news agency reported.

"After hearing a witness's testimony, conclusion statements from the prosecutor and the lawyer for the defendants, and thoroughly looking into documents and evidence, the court decides to sentence Sam Rainsy to five years in prison," said the verdict read by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Leang Samnath.

The court also sentenced, in absentia, Rainsy's two aides, who maintained his Facebook page, to five years in prison with two years of that suspended on the same charges.

The two aides fled Cambodia to France in August 2015 to avoid arrest.

The court also issued an arrest warrant for Rainsy and his two assistants.

Rainsy has been living in exile in France since November 2015 to avoid a two-year prison sentence over a defamation charge.

The charges against the opposition leader relate to a video posted to his Facebook page that features opposition senator Hong Sok Hour, who was arrested on August 15, 2015, in Phnom Penh, presenting a fake border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.

On November 7, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Hong Sok Hour to seven years in prison for falsifying the border treaty, using the fake treaty, and inciting chaos to social security.

He is serving his prison term in Prey Sar Prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday.

The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident.

"Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said.

According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck.

She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January.

"The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died," police officials said.

After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. "But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body," police said.

Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours.

Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room.

However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it.

"I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it," Mishra said.

--IANS

ik/pgh/bg

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday gave away subsidies worth Rs 9.41 crore to 21 films under its Film policy.

Giving away the subsidy, in presence of a bevy of film stars, including Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Ravi Kishen and director Anurag Kashyap, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government was committed to create an environment in the state that promotes film production.

It was also informed that due to the attractive film policy rolled out by the state government, proposals of over 250 films for shootings had been received so far of which, shoots were on in 70-plus films. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishen lauded the state government for its film production friendly policies.

The films that have been handed out subsidy by the state government include "Masaan" (Rs 2 crore), "Was Taj Lagbhag" (Rs 65.69 lakh), "Pandit ji Batayi na Byaah Kab Hoi-2" (Rs 82.51 lakh), "Thoda Lutf, Thoda Ishq" (Rs 42.33 lakh), "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" (Rs 24.07 lakh), "Meeruthia Gangsters" (Rs 36.23 lakh) and "Raja Babu" (Rs 72.52 lakh) among others.

--IANS

md/vd

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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the government will spare no effort to secure Father Tom Uzhunnalil's release from captivity in Yemen.

"I have seen the video from Father Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us," Sushma Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

"We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan," she said.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," the External Affairs Minister added.

The Minister's remarks comes a day after Father Uzhunnalil appealed to Pope Francis and the Indian government through a purported video to secure his release from his captors.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by the Islamic State terror group which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Yemen's city of Aden.

--IANS

aks/ksk

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The post-traumatic stress amongst the clerisy and most Western media, after Brexit and Donald Trumps presidential victory, is being expressed as the defeat of progressives by Hilary Clintons deplorables. But is such a narrative valid?
Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to engage directly with the people of India have taken several imaginative forms of which Mann Ki Baat radio broadcasts, tweets and text messages are only some examples. Now, he is also communicating his approval for what he deems patriotic acts via public sector companies. Thus, a customer of a government-owned cooking gas distributor was the bemused recipient of an 18 x 18 plaque, hand-delivered by the dealer, thanking her for forfeiting the subsidy. The plaque, however, bears



Modis picture and a long discourse in Hindi on his work for the country. According to the dealer, the plaque may be displayed on the wall.
More reporters and camera crews turned up for the joint press conference of Opposition parties convened by the Congress than the party team tasked with organising the event had anticipated. Several journalists and photographers were turned away from the medium-sized hall at New Delhis Constitution Club where the Congress team hosted the gathering. That came as a surprise for journalists who follow non-Congress parties, particularly Trinamool Congress. Leaders of other parties and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees security detail were apologetic and cited instructions from the organisers of the event to deny entry to journalists. It transpired that those managing the Congress war room that operates out of a bungalow in New Delhis Gurudwara Rakabganj Road had booked the venue as they were not confident of filling up a bigger hall.
Blamed of flip-flops on the move of the Centre, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who heads the 13-member panel on note-ban related issues, had to put up with this brief discomfort as he has been continuously trying to do a balancing act that includes communicating with people facing immediate hardships on the ground in his state.
Addressing a public rally in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, Prime Minister came down heavily on his critics, saying that he hadn't come to power merely to cut ribbons and light lamps.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam over former Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao's insistence that he continued to remain on the top post despite being replaced following Income Tax raids at his residence and office.

DMK treasurer and opposition leader M K Stalin said he had sought an explanation from Panneerselvam when the raids were being carried out at Rao's house and office last week.

"If the former Chief Secretary is in a position to claim that he is the Chief Secretary, then only the Chief Minister has to respond to that," Stalin told reporters in Chennai.

Rama Mohana Rao, who is under I-T scanner, had earlier in the day said that the copy of the transfer order on his removal as chief secretary has not been handed over to him yet and that therefore he continued as the topmost official of the state government.

The state government had last week appointed Girija Vaidyanathan in his place, a day after I-T sleuths raided Rao's Anna Nagar residence and chamber at the State Secretariat.

Asked if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre was "behind" the raids, Stalin said it was up to the central government, BJP and I-T officials to clarify it.
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's barb referring to Paytm as 'Pay to Modi', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has advised the Congress vice-president to go to a play school in order to understand the meaning of Paytm.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the drive is claiming the lives of poor farmers, BJP leader Rahul Sinha told ANI that he should first see the records of suicide committed by the farmers during the 10-year rule of the congress. Sinha added that seeing the record would silence the Congress vice-president.

"The people who have not done anything for farmers are now talking about the farmers," he said.

Sinha said that the Congress vice president does not have any issue, and therefore, why is he searching for one?

He said that people have now understood that the politician who does not stick to his statements cannot fight for them and cannot do good to them.

"Rahul Gandhi's statement will remain statements only, they will not have any impact on the people," Sinha said.

Accusing the Congress of making things dirty, Sinha said that people will wipe out the congress for such .

He said that the BJP will keep clean.

Sinha also said that PM Modi's statement of a congress free India is proving correct.

"All that is left with congress will also end if Rahul Gandhi continuous to make such purposeless and unwarranted statements," he said.
With the 50-day grace period sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end woes nearing its end on December 30, eight Opposition parties on Tuesday came together to demand his resignation, saying the note ban was a failed experiment and resulted in miseries for the people.
With the 50-day grace period sought by PM Modi to end woes ending December 30, eight Opposition parties on Tuesday came together to demand his resignation saying note ban was a failed experiment and resulted in miseries for the people.

Following the note ban on November 8, PM had said the situation would normalise by December 30 urging the citizens to bear with him.
Former Delhi chief minister on Tuesday questioned why the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has not ordered a probe into the alleged bribes that corporate houses Sahara and Birla groups paid to politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Why is the PMO India shying from an independent and a thorough probe into the Birla, Sahara papers?" asked the Congress' Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate.

Dikshit's name has also figured in the list of the politicians who have allegedly received bribes from the corporate houses.

Denying any knowledge about any such diary, the Congress leader had earlier asserted that her denial didn't dilute the corruption charges against Modi levelled by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, and called for scrutinising all the names in the list, including those of her own party members.

Dikshit also junked reports that she had distanced herself from the Congress' election campaign in Uttar Pradesh where assembly polls are due early next year.

"I am amused by 'Sheila distances herself from UP' speculations in the media. Aligarh was not on my schedule. I will be in Barabanki tomorrow (Wednesday)," she tweeted about the two election meetings in the state.
Three members belonging to Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Congress were on Tuesday suspended from the Telangana Legislative Assembly over the Supreme Court categorisation issue, but it was withdrawn following an appeal from the Opposition leaders.

Some members of the TDP and Congress sought a debate on the SC categorisation issue but the government pointed out that it was decided that Question Hour would be taken up first.

As the Opposition members continued with their demand despite appeals to relent, A Revanth Reddy and S Venkata Veeraiah (both TDP) and Sampath Kumar (Congress) were suspended from the House for the remainder of the ongoing winter session.

However, Leader of Opposition (Congress) K Jana Reddy and BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy appealed for withdrawing the suspension of the members.

Recalling that the House had earlier passed a resolution on SC categorisation, Jana Reddy said the Opposition's request was for a word from the government on that it will take a delegation to Delhi to pursue the matter with the Centre.

Legislative Affairs Minister T Harish Rao said that the government is committed on the issue of SC categorisation, but it was not correct for the members to disrupt the House.

It was decided in the business advisory committee (BAC) to take up any matter after the Question Hour, he said.

The government would soon seek time from Prime Minister to take an all-party delegation from the state to Delhi, he said.

He proposed the withdrawal of the suspension of the members under relevant rules as a measure towards upholding the dignity of the House. Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary announced the revocation of suspension of the members concerned.
10digi, a start-up backed by IT firm SoftAge Information Technology, today launched a new service to help customers get mobile SIM cards delivered at their doorstep free of cost.

The web and app-based platform will also facilitate activation of the SIM cards. Besides, users will be able to choose service providers and compare type of plans as well.

Currently, the company works with Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Tata Teleservices and said it is in discussion with others like Airtel.

"Users just have to visit 10digi platform, request for a connection and go through the documents availability section. Once the request is made, our mobile retailer will arrive at the time specified by the user to collect the documents and deliver the SIM," 10digi co-founder and CTO Sherjil Ozair said.

While the service is free, they can get services like photocopy (of identity/address proofs) and photograph for a nominal charge, he added.

Asked about the company's business model, Ozair said it will get a fee from telecom operators for every subscriber that it signs up.

"We plan to expand the services to 135 cities by March 2018. By then, we should have a turnover of Rs 250 crore," he said, adding that the company will invest Rs 2 crore to enhance its presence in Delhi-NCR.

Ozair claimed that using the company's platform, customers can get their SIM activated within 4 hours for prepaid connections, and within 8 hours for postpaid connections as compared to the current process which takes anywhere from 8-48 hours.

Also, the company said it is hiring about 500 people to undertake the role of mobile SIM retailers, who will deliver the SIMs and this number will be gradually ramped up.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fragments of a carpet - likely made in the 17th century India - along with a silk gown and other royal artefacts have been discovered from a 400-year-old shipwreck near the Netherlands.

The carpet, made from silk and wool, is decorated with flowers and animals, including lions.

Based on the patterns, colors and weaving techniques, art historians concluded that the fabric was likely manufactured in Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, during the second quarter of the 17th century, researchers said.

Local divers found the Lahore carpet among other textiles in a shipwreck around Texel Island in the Wadden Sea, which was a heavily trafficked area during the Dutch Golden Age.

The shipwreck was covered in sand, resulting in unusually good preservation, researchers said.

"It's almost like having the fragments of an original Rembrandt in front of you," researchers were quoted as saying by the 'Live Science'.

Earlier this year, the Kaap Skil museum in the Netherlands started displaying a complete silk gown that was also recovered from the wreck.

The dress had been preserved in a clothing box that was packed with many other items, including a cloak, stockings and bodices adorned with gold and silver thread.

Leather covers of books (the pages had disintegrated) were salvaged from the wreck. They bear the coat of arms of the English King Charles I, suggesting that perhaps the cargo onboard the ship belonged to the royal Stuart family.

The carpet fragments will be on display in an exhibition called "Diving into Details" until mid-February next year.

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introduced several initiatives in 2016 -- a single window system for agriculture, GPS in food and public distribution system, UDAY scheme, real time monitoring of government schools and a film policy.

It also maintained its top 10 position on the ease of doing business for the second year running, coming seventh, besides topping the table in labour reforms as well.

became the first state to introduce single window system for agriculture to solve problems of farmers.

In addition to irrigation facilities, six lakh ponds were dug this fiscal.

The Raghubar Das government claimed to have completed 116 of the 173 announcements made in the last budget.

A new software e-vidya vahini was introduced for real time monitoring of government schools and GPS in food and public distribution system.

The BJP government also introduced the 'Mukhya Mantri Tirtha Darshan' for senior citizens with several batches of 60 years and above making pilgrimage within and outside the state.

also began footing 50 per cent bill to that of Centre's contribution under Ujjwala yojana as the state government aimed at providing 23 lakh families with LPG connection in the next three years.

Expanding the 'daal-bhat' yojana, the state added lentil- soyabean curry and introduced mobile kitchen vans in addition to 375 daal-bhat centres to provide food at Rs 5 to the needy.

Jharkhand was the first state to take up UDAY yojana after signing an MoU with the Centre and the Jharkhand Electricity Distribution Corporation.

In a new concept, the state government began consulting villagers on preparing schemes at the grass-roots level to underline budgetary provisions as per their suggestions. The second phase has begun ahead of the 2017-18 budget.

In another step, the state government would present the budget in January instead of February.

Indian Institute of Mines got IIT status when the Centre approved it on May 25.

The Baba Saheb Ambedkar Housing Scheme was implemented for widows above 30 years of age and having income less than Rs 5000. Rs 75,000 would be given under the housing scheme. The target for this fiscal is 11,000.

To curb witchcraft menace, five fast track courts were set up in Ranchi, Chaibasa, Khunti, Palamau and Simdega.

The government has also introduced Adarsh Gram Yojana under which housing would be provided where tribal population is more than 50 per cent. Chatra (36 villages), Palamau (22), Deoghar (18), Hazaribagh (14) and Giridih (10) have been selected under the scheme.

For the first time Jharkhand made a film policy. A film city is also coming up at Patratu near Ranchi.
Twenty-nine Turkish former police officers went on trial today accused of aiding the failed military coup in July, the first trial in Istanbul over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.

Renegade officers in Turkey's military used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in their July 15 attempt to unseat the government, attacking the parliament and other key buildings.

Turkey blamed it on a network of followers of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, an ally turned foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited from the United States so that he may also face trial, has denied any involvement in the coup.

The government declared a state of emergency following the coup and has launched a large-scale crackdown against Gulen's movement, which it has declared a terror organisation.

More than 40,000 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the coup while tens of thousands of other suspected Gulen followers have been purged from government jobs.

The police officers are standing trial in a prison and courthouse complex in the outskirts of Istanbul include three police helicopter pilots.

They are accused of aiding the coup by not carrying out their duties, including disobeying orders to protect Erdogan's Istanbul residence on the night of the coup, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

At the opening hearing, two pilots denied accusations that they ignored orders to fly a helicopter that would carry officers tasked with defending Erdogan's residence, Anadolu reported. The two also rejected accusations of links to Gulen's movement.

"I don't have the slightest link to the (coup attempt)," the agency quoted defendant Tolga Gultekin as telling the court. "There was no flight instruction given to me."



Another pilot, Ender Kucuka, was quoted as saying that he and a co-pilot were ready to fly their helicopter but that the flight mission was canceled by a superior.

The court was scheduled to continue hearing defense statements later today and tomorrow.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life prison terms for 21 officers charged with "attempted coup" while eight others face maximum 15 years in prison for membership in a terrorist organisation.

The trial is the first to take place in Istanbul in connection with the coup. Some 45 soldiers are on trial in separate cases taking place in the cities of Zonguldak, Bursa and Erzurum.

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Three persons have been arrested for duping a Kolkata-based businessman of Rs 16 lakh on the pretext of getting his demonetised currency exchanged from a private bank here.

The accused identified as Harkesh Shukla, Rajesh Kumar and Ram Lakhan allegedly cheated Kolkata resident Hitender Doshi on November 12, four days after notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 ceased to be legal tender.

Shukla, the "prime accused", hatched the plan after he came to know from Doshi's friend Shakti Gupta that the complainant was carrying Rs 16 lakh cash in old currency, which he received from his business partners on November 7, a senior police officer said.

They convinced Doshi that carrying such a huge amount in cash was "risky" and that he should deposit it into Gupta's account in an IDBI bank branch in Ashok Vihar.

It turned out that Gupta did not have an account in the bank. Shukla also ditched Gupta to get hold of the entire amount.

"He contacted accused Rajesh Kumar, who was working in IDBI, Civil Lines Branch, as Sales Officer and regularly visited the Ashok Vihar Branch and knew many bank officials there," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav said.

On November 12, the complainant and the accused reached the bank. Doshi handed over a bag having Rs 16 lakh in cash to Gupta and Shukla.

"Harikesh Shukla went inside the bank with the bag and did not turn up and his phone was found switched off. Through CCTV footage, it was revealed that Shukla handed over the cash bag to someone inside the bank and after that he and that man went out with it," Yadav said.

The accused, all residents of Delhi, were apprehended on December 23 and subsequently arrested, police said. They were also taken on three days police remand.

"From their possession, five mobiles phones having five SIMs used in the crime, jacket of the accused and bag of the victim captured in CCTV footage of IDBI Bank has been recovered," police added.

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At least 30 people, mostly Christians, have died and nearly 60 others fell sick after consuming illegally-brewed toxic liquor on Christmas eve in a town in Pakistan's Punjab province.

The incident took place in a Christian colony in Toba Tek Singh city on December 24 when residents brewed liquor and consumed it, police said.

The liquor, which turned out to be toxic, killed 30 people, mostly Christians, and seriously affected others, a police official was quoted as saying by Geo .

Over two dozen people were hospitalised as their health deteriorated after consuming the alcohol in Mubarakabad Christian Colony, hospital officials said.

Meanwhile, authorities have formed an inquiry committee to probe the tragedy.

According to a police official, a father-son duo have been arrested for making the toxic liquor.

Though Pakistan has allowed some breweries to function, alcohol sales and consumption are strictly prohibited for Muslims and tightly regulated for minority communities and foreigners.

In March, 45 people, including 35 Hindus, had died after consuming spurious liquor during Holi celebrations in Pakistan's Sindh province.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
At least 32 people, mostly Christians, have died and nearly 50 others fell sick after consuming illegally-brewed toxic liquor on Christmas eve in a town in Pakistan's Punjab province, officials said today.

The incident took place in a Christian colony in Toba Tek Singh city on December 24 when residents consumed home-made liquor, police said.

The toxic liquor killed at least 32 people, mostly Christians, and seriously affected others, a police official was quoted as saying by BBC Urdu service.

Over two dozen people were hospitalised as their health deteriorated after consuming the alcohol in Mubarakabad Christian Colony, hospital officials said.

Police officer Mohammad Nadeem said that 25 people were still being treated in hospitals in Toba Tek Singh and Faisalabad to have their stomachs pumped.

"The men who belong to the Christian community drank liquor on the night of 25 December and went home. Tragedy struck the next morning when many did not rise from their beds, while others got sick," he said.

Meanwhile, authorities have formed an inquiry committee to probe the tragedy.

According to a police official, a father-son duo have been arrested for making the toxic liquor.

Though Pakistan has allowed some breweries to function, alcohol sales and consumption are strictly prohibited for Muslims and tightly regulated for minority communities and foreigners.

In March, 45 people, including 35 Hindus, had died after consuming spurious liquor during Holi celebrations in Sindh province.

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At least 28 Huthi insurgents and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed today in the southern province of Shabwa as government forces pushed to capture a rebel enclave, military officials said.

The fighting flared when forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi attacked rebels in Bayhan district, on the border between Shabwa and Marib provinces.

Bayhan is the only part of Shabwa province still controlled by the Iran-backed rebels after government forces supported by the Saudi-led Arab coalition last year expelled them from five southern provinces.

"The death toll of the Huthis has reached 28 while 12 soldiers of the legitimate forces were killed," a military official said.

Military officials said government forces backed by coalition warplanes drove the rebels out of several positions in the area, adding that 14 insurgents were also captured.

The Yemen conflict has killed some 7,000 people since the Saudi-led intervention in March 2015, according to the United Nations.

The coalition began the military campaign against the rebels after they closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden, forcing him to flee to Riyadh.

The rebels and allied renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh continue to control the capital Sanaa, which they overran in September 2014, along with several mainly northern regions.

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Continuing his tirade against Narendra Modi government over demonetisation, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today asked what should we do now as the '50-day' period the prime minister asked for was about to end.

"Narendra Modi had said give me 50 days' time (for the situation to normalise after demonetisation) or else give me whip-lashes. Fifty days are getting over on December 30, what should we do on December 31?" Thackeray asked at a rally in Dhule, north Maharashtra.

He expressed confidence that Sena will retain power in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. Sena will win maximum number of municipal corporations in the coming polls and have maximum number of mayors elected, Thackeray claimed.

Referring to the Prime Minister's speech at Bhoomi-pujan ceremony of Shivaji memorial off Mumbai coast, Uddhav said, "After listening to the Prime Minister's speech, after some time I felt is there any end to this (constant speech-making)?"



Meanwhile, a senior Sena minister in the Maharashtra government, requesting anonymity, said his party was ready to contest the crucial MCGM elections on its own.

"Sena has made up its mind to contest the elections on its own, given the bitter experience we had with BJP calling off the alliance at the last minute before 2014 Assembly elections," he said.

The minister ruled out possibility of alliance with Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. MNS was a spent force, he said.

According to a senior BJP minister, the party's top brass in New Delhi has yet had not taken serious note of the ally Shiv Sena's regular outbursts against the Modi government.

Sena has been attacking the government over demonetisation move, among other issues.

Sena mouthpiece Saamana today took a swipe at Modi for greeting his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on birthday.

Chhatrapati Shivaji never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation," it said.

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Six persons were today detained in connection with the alleged robbery of around 5 kg gold jewellery worth over Rs 90 lakh from the branch here of gold financing company Muthoot Fincorp, police said.

Three robbers had allegedly looted the gold jewellery yesterday at gun point from the company's branch located at Jetpur road in Dhoraji under Rajkot rural police limits. The entire incident was caught on CCTV camera.

After detaining six persons, police also recovered jewellery worth around Rs 20 lakh, a police official said.

The police had identified three culprits based on CCTV footages. They had also announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for information on their whereabouts.

"We formed separate teams and also announced a cash reward to help nab the culprits. We received an information that three persons involved in the loot were hiding at a farm," Inspector General of Police, Rajkot range, D N Patel told reporters in Jetpur town of the district.

"The three persons, identified as Sunil Bhaskar, Ashok Parmar and Rajesh Bagda, were nabbed this morning and their interrogation led us to nab their three other accomplices, identified as Ashwin Chauhan, Pravin and Ravi," Patel said.

"Ashok, Rajesh and Sunil robbed the gold jewellery from the firm and fled on a motorbike, while their other accomplices were waiting in a car on a road," he said.

"The three handed over the bag containing the looted valuables to their three accomplices and took shelter in a farm from where they were detained," he further said.

"We have also recovered gold jewellery of around Rs 20 lakh from their possession, even though the bag used in the loot is yet to be recovered," Patel said.

"The valuables recovered from them are those which were hidden in the pockets of their jackets, and we are interrogating them to recover the bag in which valuables were carried," he said.

"Presently we have rounded up six persons, and will arrest them after interrogation and recovery of the rest of the valuables," the senior police officer added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today announced four more candidates for the upcoming Goa Assembly polls.

With this, so far AAP has announced candidates for 36 out of the 40 assembly segments in Goa.

Former Goa Congress General Secretary Santosh Pai Raiturkar has been fielded from Margao constituency which is currently represented by former state chief minister Digambar Kamat.

62-year-old Raiturkar is a former councillor of Margao Municipal Council (MMC).

Engineer by profession, Edwin Domnic Vaz, will contest on an AAP ticket from Curtorim constituency, currently represented by Congress legislator Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco.

Fishermen community leader Vasant Sahadev Naik would be AAP's candidate from Dabolim constituency.

AAP has fielded former councillor of Valpoi Municipal Council, Ashish Kanekar, as their candidate in Valpoi constituency which is currently represented by Congress legislator Vishwajit Rane.

The party has already announced former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes as their chief ministerial face in the coastal state.

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The Afghan government is expressing concern over a high-level tripartite meeting taking place to discuss Afghan issues, but without Afghan representatives invited.

Representatives from Russia, China and Pakistan are scheduled to meet today in Moscow to discuss Afghanistan.

Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni said today that that his government was not invited and hasn't been briefed on the agenda.

Mostaghni said this approach, regardless of the good intentions of the participants, could not help the situation in Afghanistan.

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After the separatists, National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today said the move to grant 'domicile certificates' to West Pakistan Refugees is "unacceptable" and his party would oppose it.

"The idea of issuing 'domicile certificates' to West Pakistan Refugees is unacceptable and National Conference won't be a mute spectator to such extra-constitutional misadventures that aims at circumventing the state's special constitutional status and character," he told reporters here.

Farooq said there was a clear effort to exploit the West Pakistan Refugee issue to further a traditional agenda of weakening the state's special status and eroding the State Subject Law.

He said the government's "excuse" that certain certificates and documents were being issued to West Pakistan Refugees as proofs of identification were "absurd justifications".

"West Pakistan Refugees have already been given Adhaar cards and before that other proofs of identity that enable them to apply for Central government and other jobs.

"Why the present government suddenly found the need to issue another form of an identity proof is incomprehensible," said Farooq, a former Union Minister.

He was commenting on the issue which has already become controversial with separatists slamming it and vowing to oppose it tooth and nail.

"National Conference will do everything necessary to ensure such machinations to erode the state's special status are defeated," Farooq said.

"These belated sympathizers of the West Pakistan Refugees have never done anything to help them in the pursuit of their day-to-day challenges and are exploiting this issue now only to serve their own political interests," he added.

"While we have always empathized with the refugees and will continue to do so, there is no denying the fact that they are not and cannot become the state subjects of Jammu and Kashmir. Any efforts by the state government to the contrary will be unconstitutional and illegal," he said.

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An aide of notorious criminal Anandpal Singh, carrying a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh was today arrested in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, police said.

The accused Srivallabh had escaped with Anandpal and another criminal Subhas Moond from the custody of police when they were being taken back to Ajmer jail from a Nagaur's court in September last year.

Following a tip off, several teams of police conducted a combing operation and caught Srivallabh in Jaswantgarh town yesterday. He was placed under arrest today, SP (Nagaur) Paris Deshmukh said.

Srivallabh is a close aide of Anandpal and had played a key role in the escape on September 3 last year.

The criminals were being taken back to Ajmer jail after a hearing in the court in Nagaur's Didwana town when they managed to escape near Parbatsar.

He said more than 80 member of the gang of Anandpal, who carries a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh, have been arrested so far.

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Police today registered a murder case against unnamed persons in connection with the death of a 26-year-old Junior Resident Doctor, who had been pursuing MD at AIIMS, in south Delhi's Gautam Nagar area in July.

Sarvanan Ganeshan was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his rented flat in Gautam Nagar on July 10.

The autopsy report had stated that he did not commit suicide.

"A case under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the IPC has been registered today at Hauz Khas police station against unknown persons.

"Ganeshan's parents had approached a Delhi court alleging foul play in their son's death and the court had asked police about the action taken in the matter. We have registered an FIR," a senior police officer said.

Ganeshan was found with a cannula attached to his forearm and his autopsy report had stated that he did not commit suicide.

The autopsy report had said there was no external or internal injury marks.

There was no substantial evidence of presence of drugs where his body was found.

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The "environmental Emergency" caused by one of the worst stretches of air pollution in Delhi and the northern region led National Green Tribunal to take the Centre and some states to task for inaction, as the year also it cracking the whip on airlines for dumping excreta in air and auto majors over sale of diesel vehicles.

Though several path-breaking orders were passed by the NGT in 2016, it also stoked controversy by allowing Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living (AOL) to hold a three-day cultural extravaganza on the dry bed of eco-fragile Yamuna.

Like previous years, hearings and orders of the green panel found mention in the global media and one such issue was the dumping of human excreta by aircraft over residential areas near the IGI airport here, which led it to order an inspection of the South Delhi house of a former senior armyman who had drawn its attention.

The menace of human waste being splattered on houses from airplanes while landing, also led the tribunal to slap a fine of Rs 50,000 on aircraft which empty toilet tanks in air.

The year not only saw slapping of hefty fines and environment compensation on public authorities for failing to discharge their "statutory" obligations, but big corporate houses too were penalised for damaging ecology.

The order imposing Rs 100 crore damage on a Panama-based shipping firm and two of its Qatar-based sister concerns for causing an oil spill in South Mumbai coast on August 4, 2011, was noteworthy.

While asking the three companies to pay environmental compensation to the Ministry of Shipping, the NGT also ordered Gujarat-based Adani Enterprises Ltd to pay Rs 5 crore as environmental compensation for dumping in the seabed 60,054 MT coal, being carried by ship M V RAK, and polluting the marine environment.

While NGT was training its guns on violators, on October 3, its website was hacked and it took almost two months to be restored.

The panel drew government's attention to approve and implement action plans to tackle "environment Emergency" in Delhi and neighbouring areas and ordering deregistration of 10-year-old diesel vehicles.

It also barred the government from spending on cleaning of Ganga after it failed to provide data.

The green panel announced a fine of Rs 10,000 on those



found throwing waste in public places while noting that municipal solid waste (MSW) was one of the most serious pollutants in the country, especially in Delhi.

However, cracking its whip against authorities to protect Delhiites from the worst air pollution in the last two decades, the green panel monitored on daily basis the steps being taken to check the long spell of persistent smog.

"The normal pollution in contra distinction to severe or environmental Emergency has to be examined and controlled by taking different and distinct measures, depending upon the situation and when air pollution takes such alarming proportions, immediate steps are needed to be taken as environmental emergency," the bench said.

While the nation was struggling with alarming pollution levels, reports appeared in international media about German automobile major Volkswagen admitting cheating emission tests in the US and installing "defeat" devices in their vehicles. This prompted the NGT to swing into action seeking an undertaking from the automobile company not to sell any diesel vehicle in India fitted with the "cheat" device.

However, one order of far-reaching consequence and controversy was the green nod given by the tribunal to the mega AOL event from March 11 to 13 that damaged the Yamuna's rich bio-diversity, as an experts' panel gave NGT a report in sealed cover quantifying the damage done by the NGO which termed it as "unscientific", "biased" and "unsustainable".

Cleaning of Ganga took the centrestage as the infuriated tribunal stopped the government from spending "a single penny" for Ganga rejuvenation work between Haridwar and Unnao after the authorities failed to inform it about exact quantum and quality if waste generated in the river.

The issues arising from the Ganga rejuvenation, which is one of the Prime Minister's most ambitious plans, remained the top priority of NGT which said a whopping Rs 20,000 crore was being spent under 'Namami Gange' Programme by officials who did not even know about the river.

"Today, if you pick Ganga water in your hands at Haridwar, you will see that it is full of pollutants including faecal matter. When you put your hand in Ganga you can get anything. Have you ever thought why is it so?



"We are talking of a river which is respected by people across the nation. This river is lifeline of millions of people in India and is also source of agriculture. People used to drink Gangajal and store it in their houses for years. Faith in Ganga was not a mere myth, it was tested fact," the NGT said.
161 people on board a Mumbai-bound Jet Airways aircraft today had a miraculous escape when it skidded off the runway, made an abrupt about turn and its nose touched the soft land while taxiing for take off early today in Goa airport, leaving 12 passengers injured.

There were 154 passengers and seven crew members onboard when the Boeing 737 aircraft turned a full 360 degree on the runaway and veered towards the soft land and in the process damaging the landing gear around 5 AM.

The nose cone was virtually on the grass abutting the runway, indicating the seriousness of the accident that could have been disastrous.

There was panic inside the aircraft as the plane jerked when it spun. The "minor" injuries to the 12 passengers came when they were being evacuated from the stricken aircraft.

The flying licence of the two pilots was suspended an a probe launched into the accident. It will be conducted by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said a thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action shall be ensured. Action will be taken in case of violation of procedures, he added.

Seven of the injured have been discharged from the hospital after being provided medical aid and the airline's flight operations to and from Goa have resumed, Jet Airways said.

Meanwhile, AAIB has rushed a three-member team to the "accident" spot to start its investigation, sources in New Delhi said.

"Prima facie the runway accident appears to be a pilot's fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of the two pilots, including the Commander, pending the initial outcome of the probe," a highly-placed DGCA official told PTI.

Sources in the AAIB also said that in all "probability," the accident took place because of the pilots fault, adding, " We will get to know the actual cause of the accident only after the initial report is submitted in this regard."



Sources said the preliminary findings on the accident are likely to be submitted in a week's time.

"We have resumed normal operations to and from Goa and normalcy has also restored to the operations at Goa airport," Jet Airways said in a statement.

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The Association ofMuslim Scholars of India has urged the Centre to set up a commission to re-examine thecases registered under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against "innocent people" in the guise of national security.

"The Centre should appoint a commission to re-examine thecases filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) that have been imposed on innocent people under the guise of national security," General Secretary of the Association, Kanthapuram A P Abubacker Musliyar said.

He was delivering the keynote address at the international Milad Conference by 'Jamia Markaz,' here on December 25.

He further said, the freedom of religion and freedom to believe and practice one's faith is one of the cornerstones provided in the Constitution.

Any attempt to curb this basic right should be fought by all means, a release from Markaz's media wing quoted him as saying.

"We will oppose tooth and nail every attempt to deny the citizens, comprising those from multi-faith communities, the right to live according to their religious convictions and ideals and alsocarry out a nation-wide system of unified civil code," Musliyar added.

A host of Muslim scholars representing different countries and international associations attended the conference.

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Indian Army today signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar (IITGN) to set up a Research and Development cell which would focus on the finding solutions for Army's requirements.

"The cell will work with the faculty and research students to identify problems and possible solutions for the Indian Army," IITGN said in a release.

IITGN director Sudhir Jain and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and System) Lt Gen Subrata Saha signed the MoU at the institute's campus at Palaj in Gandhinagar district.

"The MoU will result in meaningful realisation and efficient transfer of research into customised solutions for the Indian Army," the release quoted Lt Gen Saha as saying.

The research cell will deal with Army's requirements such as lighter and stronger bullet-proof jackets and materials to build bunkers, among other things.

"There is a whole lot of inventory even in the aircraft engines that can be done in India. We are very hopeful that this indigenous effort will take place at a fast pace through such MoUs," Saha said.

Army will also work with the faculty members and students to find possibility of conducting short term courses and lectures at the institute, the release said.

Speaking on the occasion, Jain said, "Indian Army, particularly those (personnel) posted in the harsh weather conditions, face diverse problems and we want to understand and address these problems. The plan is to have a Research Centre at IITGN through which our students and faculty can be in continuous touch with the Indian Army in researching and addressing these problems.

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: Memories of his hometown in Chendamangalam from where the first batch of Jews, including himself, migrated to Israel post-independence came to the fore for Eliyahu Bezallel during the book release of 'The Saga of Muziris', an English version of noted litterateur Sethu's novel 'Marupiravi' at the ongoing Kochi Muziris Biennale-2016.

The presence of Bezallel, who is characterised in the fiction about Muziris, was a sheer coincidence adding to the enthusiasm of those gathered at Fort Kochi for the launch.

"As Kerala is my motherland,I fly down to Kochi from Israel every year and visit Chendamangalam. I always tell people about the hamlet, a unique place where Christians, Hindus, Jews and Muslims have lived together in perfect harmony.

"The basic reason behind it is their philosophy of 'give and take respect'," said Bezallel, a noted horticulturist, who migrated to Israel in 1955.

KMB 2016 curator Sudarshan Shetty released the book and handed over the first copy to Bezallel in a function at the pavilion in Cabral Yard.

The 'Saga of Muziris' is a fascinating tale of the glory and decline of a major port, a hub of maritime trade in Kerala, which had mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth during the 14th century.

Historians, archaeologists and academics from the world over had been looking for the lost Muziris ever since.

Some interesting leads at the archeological excavations at Pattanam prompt Aravindan, the narrator, to pay a visit to his homeland.

What follows is a magical journey, enticing Aravindan to sail into the dark annals of history.

In an effort to document his findings, he unravels the evolution of the area over several thousands of years-through political turmoils, social struggles, emigrations and more -- unfolding an alluring history through powerfully and indelibly etched characters.

"Writing this book was an adventure for me. Moreover, Bezallel's presence has given the book release a dream-like feel. I have written this book essentially for the next generation to shed light on Muziris and its culture," said writer Sethu.

Nirmal Kanti Bhattacharjee of Niyogi Books introduced the book.

The book, 'Marupiravi' published in 2011, has been translated into English by Prema Jayakumar.

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Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari and his son PPP chairman Bilawal today attacked the Nawaz Sharif government over corruption and "facilitating terror" as the father-son duo said they would contest polls to enter the current Parliament.

In his first major public appearance after returning from an 18-month self-imposed exile, the 61-year-old Pakistan People Party (PPP) co-chairman said while he would contest elections from Nawabshah, Bilawal will do so from Larkana in Sindh province, a development that could affect the country's political scenario in a major way.

Addressing a charged crowd of PPP supporters while observing the 9th death anniversary of his wife and slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh - a village that contains the family graveyard of the Bhutto family, the father and son attacked the government over various issues, including Panama Papers and terror.

Zardari also criticised Prime Minister Sharif for his cordial ties with his Indian counterpart saying, "Mian sahib, have you ever thought of the children in Kashmir as to what do they feel when you have luncheons with Narendra Modi."



He began by saying he wanted to share the "good I had promised to share: Bilawal and I will contest the election now, right now, (and sit) in this Parliament".

"I will contest the election on my sister's (Azra Pechuho's) seat and Bilawal on (Ayaz) Soomro sahib's seat," he said.

Zardari's announcement is being interpreted as a strategy to enter parliament through by-elections in the two constituencies and fresh polls will have to be called in such a situation, the Dawn reported.

"We have sacrificed much for the sake of democracy and politics to save Pakistan. We will not leave this Mughal emperor (Sharif) to rule," Zardari said.

"Mian (Sharif) Sahab, we gave you this democracy as a sacred trust. We made every decision with your input. We made decisions in Parliament through consensus. It is a pity that you seem to have forgotten all your promises today," the former president alleged.

"I am not coming to the Parliament to topple you; we only intend to teach you certain things, to consult with you on national issues," he said, adding: "We have fought dictators, but never raised our voice against the military."



In his fiery speech, Bilawal lashed out at the PML-N government on multiple fronts, including terrorism and religious extremism.

"The world wants to call us a terrorist state, (and yet) people in your cabinet facilitate terrorists," the 28-year-old PPP chairman alleged while addressing the prime minister.

"If something were to happen tomorrow, you will run away, but the 20 crore people of Pakistan will stay here," he added.

On Sharif and his family's name appearing in the Panama Papers, Bilawal said: "Do you think it is that simple? So you think we are idiots?



"Your entire government is full of scandals," he alleged and warned of strong protests by his party if the Panama bill is not passed in the National Assembly.

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In a bid to counter electoral fraud, British government today announced plans to pilot a scheme under which voters would be required to show photo IDs at polling stations during local elections in 2018.

The voter ID scheme will be trialled in 18 areas of Britain which have been identified by police and the Electoral Commission as being "vulnerable" to voting fraud, including Bradford and Birmingham.

The pilot schemes will be implemented during local elections in May 2018 before they are rolled out nationwide.

The move is aimed at preventing anyone fraudulently taking another person's ballot paper.

"The government's view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy," said UK Constitution Minister Chris Skidmore.

"That is why the new measures we are announcing today will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote and their democratic right. By eliminating fraud and tackling improper practises, we are ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while building a clear and secure democracy that works for everyone," he said.

A full list of the participating councils has not been released, but the government wants to use the pilot scheme to see if it should be rolled out across the whole country.

Different councils will trial different types of photo IDs, including driving licences, passports or utility bills to prove addresses.

The creation of a new form of ID, specifically for voting, has been ruled out by ministers.

Northern Ireland already requires voters to show ID before casting their ballot.

The UK government will also introduce legislation to ban political campaigners from handing in large numbers of completed postal ballots on election day.

It comes after concerns that activists are "harvesting" votes to boost support.

Ministers are also prepared to raise the maximum sentence for electoral fraud from two years to 10 years to act as a "deterrent".

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Prominent businessman Mahimananda Mishra and his aide, arrested in a murder case, were sent on a four-day police remand by a court in Jagatsinghpur district today, a day after they were brought to Odisha from Thailand.

Mishra, Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Ltd, and his aide Basant Bal were produced before the court of judicial magistrate Digvijay Das, who sent both to police remand after rejecting their bail applications.

Wanted in connection with the murder of a shipping company official Mahendra Swain here on October 26, the two were caught in Thailand on Saturday and brought here late last night via Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.

Soon after their arrival in Bhubaneswar last night, Mishra and Bal had been sent to the Capital Hospital for medical check-up amid tight security.

Police said the duo had escaped to Kathmandu on a 15-day tourist visa after hiding at several places in the country following the murder of Seaways Shipping official Mahendra Swain.

On Friday, a Kujang court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them. A look-out circular had also been issued against them earlier.

With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the murder case, police said.

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Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today urged the Election Commission to check "proliferation" of firearms in the state, ahead of assembly polls.

About AAP eyeing Punjab after Delhi, he dismissed Arvind Kejriwal's party as an outfit of "corrupt and greedy" individuals who were busy selling tickets, with several party leaders even caught in sex and drugs scandals.

Amarinder said the situation in the state had deteriorated to unprecedented levels and urged the EC to intervene to prevent the crisis from escalating.

He appealed to the EC to ensure that its directives on firearms were stringently implemented, while once again calling for immediate imposition of the code of conduct to maintain law and order in the state.

Alleging Punjab police had "failed" to ensure surrender of all firearms as per the EC directives, Amarinder termed it a "deliberate ploy", instigated by the Badal government, to allow armed goons to "terrorise" the people in the run-up to the polls to "pressurise them to vote for the Akali Dal."



He alleged total lack of law and order in the state under the Badal regime, which had given a "free run" to armed gangs, criminals and mafias to unleash their terror on the people of Punjab.

"Even the state DGP was on record said that as many as 52 armed gangs were active in Punjab," Amarinder claimed.

He said there was a distinct wave in favour of Congress, with both SAD and AAP having failed the people of the state as a result of their corrupt policies and anti-people agenda.

He said once the ticket allocation process is complete in all the major parties and the candidates take to electioneering, the people's mood in favour of the Congress would become even more palpable.

He once again made it clear that there was no question of compromising on the SYL canal issue even if it meant losing out on former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda's support in the Assembly election campaign in Punjab.

He said that AAP stands completely exposed in the wake of allegations of bribery, drugs and sex scandals against various AAP leaders by their own party members and workers.

He categorically ruled out the possibility of AAP realising its dream of ruling Punjab, stating that the party had absolutely no base in the state.

The PCC chief said AAP had failed to meet the expectations of the people of Delhi, which had a large Punjabi population.

AAP had absolutely no connect with Punjabis and did not understand their aspirations, he added.

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China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature body, has approved the pilot reform program to create a new, powerful disciplinary organ in renewed efforts to fight corruption.

The NPC Standing Committee approved the program to create a supervision system that will be more independent and authoritative.

The Supervision Committee will integrate the power and duty of two government departments - the supervision department and the corruption prevention department - with part of the procuratorate for handling bribery and dereliction of duty cases or prevention of duty-related crimes, state-run Xinhua Agency reported.

The new committee will be under supervision of the local people's congresses, the legislature, which will also be in charge of staffing the committee.

Observers said this means China's legislature will for the first time have disciplinary power.

According to the pilot program, the new supervision committees will be formed in Beijing and the provinces of Shanxi and Zhejiang.

"A major point of this reform is that the supervision committee will now have the power to investigate not only public servants from the administrative branch, but also the courts, prosecutors offices, legislative bodies, and State-owned enterprises," Jiang Ming'an, a law professor from Peking University, told the Global Times.

"With expanded power, the status of supervision bodies will also rise in the political hierarchy," he said.

Over a million officials have been punished in recent years in the anti-graft drive launched by President Xi Jinping.

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Pakistan, China and Russia today discussed Afghanistan's "deteriorating" security situation and the increased activities of extremist groups in the war-torn country at a high-level meeting in Moscow that did not include any Afghan representatives.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a joint press release said that the three countries expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and the increased activities of extremist groups including local affiliates of the Islamic State.

It said the participants agreed to continue their efforts towards further facilitating the Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan according to the known principles of reintegration of the armed opposition into peaceful life.

The third round of the trilateral consultations on regional issues of Special Representatives on Afghanistan and Senior Officials of the three countries was held in Moscow.

Russia and China as the UN Security Council permanent members "confirmed their flexible approach to delisting Afghan individuals from the UN sanctions lists as their contribution to the efforts aimed at launching peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban."



"The parties agreed to proceed with consultations in an expanded format and would welcome the participation of Afghanistan," it said.

The participants also met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov.

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on Tuesday said it will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve the world's first soft landing on the far side of the moon to showcase its ambitious space programme.

will continue its lunar exploration project in the next five years and strive to attain the automated extra-terrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers, a White Paper titled 'China's Space Activities in 2016' released said.

has already landed a rover on the moon in the past but wants to explore the dark side of the lunar surface to carve out a niche for itself as it has not been done by other countries.

"The lunar probe Chang'e-4 will conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point," the white paper said.

The probe plans to fulfil the three strategic steps of "orbiting, landing and returning" for the lunar exploration project by launching the Chang'e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017 and realising regional soft landing, sampling and return, it said.

Through the lunar exploration project, topographic and geological surveys will be implemented and laboratory research conducted on lunar samples, it said.

"Geological survey and research, as well as low-frequency radio astronomy observation and research, will be carried out targeting the landing area on the far side of the moon for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon," it added.

It also said China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration.

China's plan earlier to reach out Mars has not succeeded and it wants to catch up with other countries including India to enter Mars.

"China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration," the paper said.

It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.

The paper also highlighted several of China plans to achieve major discoveries and breakthroughs in the frontier areas of space science, including formation of BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites for global navigation services by 2020 to rival America's Global Position System, (GPS).

China will start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018, it said.

China also plans to set up its permanent space station by 2022.

China also plans to launch a hard X-ray modulation telescope to study the matter dynamics and high-energy radiation processes in the strong gravitational field of compact celestial bodies and black holes.
Come next year, China will permit WiFi facilities in trains operating in the northwestern volatile Xinjiang province, which witnessed a spate of violent incidents in recent years.

Most passengers travelling by trains administered by railway bureaus in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will be able to enjoy free wireless network access starting from this year's Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year to be celebrated for about a fortnight next month.

Passengers aboard non-high-speed, air-conditioned lines to and from Xinjiang can also surf the web for movies, and online games by verifying their mobile phones starting Monday, the Urumqi Railway Administration said today.

Most routes operated by railway bureaus in Xinjiang will provide onboard WiFi services as part of an initiative to improve the experience of passengers on the often long, tedious trips, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Inter-city and direct express trains in the region already offer WiFi services.

WiFi was first introduced on Xinjiang's inter-city trains in 2015.

In September this year, direct express trains from Xinjiang to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou also started providing the service.

China has imposed severe restrictions including on religious gatherings in Xinjiang where Uyghur Muslims were restive over settlements of Han Chinese from other provinces. Xinjiang witnessed a spate of violent incidents allegedly carried out East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).

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The Rs-5,000 crore Indian composites industry seeks government support in the form of special grants, incentives and sops to grow and offer defence equipments at lower costs.

Composites industry also known as reinforced plastics (combining of polymer, glass fibre or carbon fibre) industry is aligning with the Union Government's 'Make in India' programme and expects immediate intervention in the form of special grants, incentives and sops to grow.

"Composites market in India is not fully tapped and offers tremendous opportunities for composites manufacturing in the coming years. This makes an apt case for 'Make in India'. The current rate of growth in the composites industry is a meagre 6 per cent in spite of huge untapped potential," FRP Institute Chairman S C Lakkad told reporters here.

"In order to build on the underlying opportunities, we urge the Government's unwavering support and interventions by way of incentives," he said, adding he also cited the need for increased awareness and visibility for composites, investment in technology and manufacturing of composites.

The industry is looking at opportunities in defence, auto, wind energy and marine engineering sectors, he said.

The industry participants have urged the Government for immediate attention as they feel that with government support it can unleash the potential of the industry to the fullest. The per capita usage of composites in India is just 0.25 kg compared to that of 10 kg in USA indicating a clear potential for composites manufacturing in India.

Further, compared to China, which produces a mammoth 60,00,000 tonnes of composites per annum, where as India just stands at 3,40,000 tonnes of production per annum.

The strong pitch from the industry for support from the Government and mainly from the Defence Ministry comes amid rising supplies of Russian and Chinese composites raw material in Indian defence sector. In the recent past, Russian and Chinese composites industry started focussing on India as a major exports markets for sectors like defence, aviation, auto among others.

Worldwide the consumption of composites is above



50,000 tonnes and about 30 per cent consumption of composites material is used for defence, where as the consumption in Indian defence sector is abysmally low, Russia and China started guarding for India's lucrative market.

As a result, Indian composites industry, which has been growing with a lower rate of 5 per cent per annum compared to the global rate of 12 per cent per annum is taking a big hit.

The Indian composites industry is fully capable of supplying 100 per cent of requirements of the defence sector, if given due support. Composite materials are emerging as an innovative alternative for steel and aluminium and hence, can be used in defence equipment manufacturing.

FRP Institute, a society for promotion of the composites is organising flagship 'International Conference & Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics (ICERP 2017), between January 10-12 in Mumbai. Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to inaugurate the event.
Militants tonight shot at and injured a Congress worker in Bandipora district of Kashmir, police said.

The ultras shot Baahir Ahmad Shiekh (40) insidehis residence atAshtengoo at around 7.30 pm, a police official said.

He said Shiekh was rushed to a local hospital where the doctors referred him to a hospit here for specialised treatment.

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Close on the heals of a BJP central team's attempt to visit Dhulagarh, CPI(M) leaders today marched to the violence-hit West Bengal town only to be prevented by the police from entering it.

CPI(M) workers, led by party general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Md Salim and RS MLA Sujan Chakraborty, had marched to Old Dhulagarh crossing in Howrah district and were stopped when they reached the police cordon set up there.

They, like BJP three days ago, were asked by police not to proceed any further in view of Section 144 CrPC promulgated in the area since the clashes.

At this, the CPI(M) leaders left but said they would return after five days.

Yechury, speaking at a meeting at New Dhulagarh crossing, said the clashes that had taken place in the area were earlier unthinkable in Bengal. "We always knew West Bengal to be a picture of communal harmony."



"What is the 'Ma, Mati, Manush' (TMC) government doing? Why could it not take steps to stop the clashes in Dhulagarh ... The culprits must be brought to the book," he said.

Chakraborty said that at a time when 115 people have died due to demonetisation there should be a united movement against it.

"A clash of the kind that Dhulagarh experienced is a matter of concern," he added.

Hitting out at Mamata Banerjee for her rallies against demonetisation in Delhi and elsewhere, he said when Yechury had come down from Delhi to be with the people in Bengal and urge them to maintain peace, the chief minister was away in Delhi "to be the prime minister."



Tension erupted in Dhulagarh when two groups reportedly clashed as a procession was brought out in the area earlier this month.

As per a senior officer at the Howrah Commissionerate, police had to use tear gas to bring the situation under control when the groups hurled bombs at each other.

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A criminal case has been registered against a Congress MLA and three other party leaders for allegedly beating a ticket aspirant and throwing away his 'turban' in Nadala village here.

In a complaint lodged with Subhanpur police, complainant Kulwinder Singh Babbal alleged that he was invited to a meeting by Congress leader Daljit Singh to express his views for giving ticket to an outsider Gurbinder Singh Atwal from Bholath assembly seat.

He alleged when he opposed the candidature of Atwal being an outsider, Daljit and other Congress leaders started beating him and threw away his turban.

They also took out revolver and threatened him with dire consequences at the instance of local Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh, he claimed.

A criminal case has been registered under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act against Congress leaders, including Rana Gurjit and Daljit and one unidentified person, police said, adding no arrests have been made as yet.

Meanwhile, Rana Gurjit today said it was a political conspiracy against him as he had only presided over the meeting to bring unity among Congressmen.

He demanded the cancellation of the "false" case registered against him and other Congress leaders.

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Actress Carrie Fisher, who found enduring fame as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars," has died. She was 60.

Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, released a statement through her spokesman saying Fisher died today morning in Los Angeles.

"It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," read the statement from publicist Simon Halls. "She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly."



Fisher had been hospitalized since Friday when she suffered a medical emergency on board a flight to Los Angeles.

She made her feature film debut opposite Warren Beatty in the 1975 hit "Shampoo." Fisher also appeared in "Austin Powers," ''The Blues Brothers," ''Charlie's Angels," ''Hannah and Her Sisters," ''Scream 3" and "When Harry Met Sally ..." But she is best remembered as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" in 1977 with her now-iconic braided buns, who uttered the immortal phrase, "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope." Fisher played a part in which she was tough, feisty and powerful, even if at one point she was chained to Jabba the Hutt. (She reprised the role in Episode VII of the series, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015, and her digitally rendered image appears in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.")



Fisher long battled drug addiction and mental illness. She said she smoked pot at age 13, used LSD by 21 and was first diagnosed as bipolar at age 24. She was treated with electroconvulsive therapy and medication.

In 1987, her thinly veiled autobiography "Postcards From the Edge" became a best seller. It became a 1990 film starring Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep.

More books followed: "Delusions of Grandma," ''Surrender the Pink," ''The Best Awful," ''Shockaholic" and this year's autobiography, "The Princess Diarist," in which she revealed that she and co-star Harrison Ford had an affair on the set of "Star Wars."



Ever ready to satirize herself, she has even played Carrie Fisher a few times, as in David Cronenberg's dark Hollywood sendup "Maps to the Stars" and in an episode of "Sex and the City." In the past 15 years, Fisher also had a somewhat prolific career as a television guest star, recently in the Amazon show "Catastrophe" as the mother of Rob Delaney's lead, and perhaps most memorably as a has-been comedy legend on "30 Rock."



Her one-woman show, "Wishful Drinking," which she's performed on and off across the country since 2006, was turned into a book, made its way to Broadway in 2009 and was captured for HBO in 2010.

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Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ashok Chavan today alleged that the state government's decision to create a separate ministry for OBCs has been taken with an eye on zilla parishad (ZP) polls.

"The government is not serious about welfare of backward classes. Is it just for convenience of bureaucrats. It is vote bank politics," Chavan told reporters here after a meeting of party leaders to discuss strategy for the 26 ZP and 10 municipal corporation elections.

"The decision to create a separate ministry for OBCs has been taken with an eye on zilla parishad polls," he alleged.

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister also said Congress was supporting the demand for redevelopment of 56 MHADA layouts in Mumbai.

He accused the government of being apathetic to the grievances of the residents.

"Congress will launch a statewide stir against demonetisation in the first week of January to highlight the problems faced by the common man," said Chavan.

He said that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance that the situation will be normalised in 50 days, "the ground reality suggests otherwise".

"Congress has done well in the municipal council and nagar panchayat polls finishing as the second largest party," Chavan added.

He further said that the party expects to do well in the ZP and municipal corporation polls as well.

"Decision on alliance with NCP will be taken at the local level", the MPCC chief added.

Chavan said strategy for ZP elections was discussed at the meeting which was attended by Congress general secretary Mohan Prakash, Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Manikrao Thackeray, senior leaders Narayan Rane, Balasaheb Thorat among others.

The Maharashtra government today decided to create a new ministry for welfare of Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), OBCs and Special Backward classes.

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Congress' Delhi unit today launched a campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought answers to the charges of "corruption" against him.

Workers of 280 booth-level committees of Congress held campaigns at public places including Metro stations, flyovers and markets on the first day of two-day campaign.

Addressing the 'Bhanda Fod' (expose) campaign at Chandni Chowk Metro station, Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said the whole country is "waiting" for Modi's reply.

"Modi talks about 'na khaunga, na khane doonga', but he now faces corruption charge of accepting Rs 65 crore from Aditya Birla Group and Sahara Group. Why is he silent on this issue?" Maken asked.

He joined the Congress workers at different parts of the city during the campaign.

Maken said that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had asked a question to Narendra Modi at a rally in Gujarat about the "Rs 65 crore he received" from two corporate groups.

Citing an I-T department raid in October 2013, he said there was "evidence" against the Prime Minister.

He said the Modi government has not yet constituted the Lok Pal, "perhaps fearing" that an independent inquiry of this "complex case" will expose "a very big corruption".

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In a bid to promote digital transactions, the Delhi government has directed all employers and contractors in the city to pay wages to their workers either electronically or through cheques.

The Labour Department of the Delhi government has issued an advisory asking all contractors and employers to adopt such mode of payments to disburse wages to their workers.

"All employers and contractors have been asked to pay wages to their workers either electronically or through cheque," said a senior government official.

"Digital payments are being adopted and promoted as these are less time consuming, transparent, inexpensive, user-friendly and convenient. It is our collective endeavour to promote digital payments," the advisory stated.

Wages can be disbursed through Unified Payment Interface (UPI), e-wallet, cards- PoS, Aadhar-Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), it said.

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The Delhi government is likely to introduce different sized buses, including midi and mini buses, in the city's public transport network to cater to the diverse needs of routes.

Government is mulling implementing the recommendations of the 2012 report of DIMTS which reportedly advocates running of different sized buses to augment public transport in the capital.

Many cities across the country have experimented with different sized buses to cater to the routes. For instance, Mumbai and its satellite cities have double-deckers, mini- buses running on different routes as per its requirements.

A senior government official said as per Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) report on route rationlisation, there is need to run different sized buses to augment public transport in the city.

Delhiites have been facing difficulties in commuting due to shortage of buses in the capital.

At present, around 5,800 buses, including that of 4,200 DTC and 1,600 of cluster, are plying across the city, but there is need for 16,000 buses.

"The DIMTS report advocates introduction of different size of buses on the city roads to strengthen public transport. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was also briefed by Transport Minister Satyendar Jain about report," a senior government official said.

The official said the decision to implement the report will be taken soon.

He also said bus manufacturers have also assured the government that mini and midi buses could be provided earlier in comparison to normal buses.

According to the government, if mini and midi buses are run, they can be plied on the city's narrow roads while the current low-floor buses being big in size occupy more space, which often leads to traffic.
Continuing the trend witnessed over the past few years, women constitute over 91 per cent of pickpockets apprehended by the CISF in the Delhi Metro network in the national capital region.

The force, that is tasked to provide armed security to Delhi Metro operations, apprehended a total of 479 women pickpockets, out of which an overwhelming 438 were women, according to official data.

The full-year data, updated till the middle of December, states that the security force undertook a little over 100 operations to check pickpocketing in the rapid rail lifeline of Delhi and its adjoining areas, that carries an estimated 26 lakh commuters every day.

The overwhelming number of women indulging in these crimes has shown a constant trend over the last few years and the Central Industrial Security Force, after apprehending these women, hands them over to the Delhi Police for legal action under law.

Recently, the CISF had unearthed a notorious gang of such women who had robbed a US-based Indian lady of her jewels and valuables while she was travelling in the Delhi Metro with her husband.

"The figures state that women constitute over 91 per cent (of the total pickpockets) in pickpocketing crimes in the Delhi Metro.

"It has been found that the modus operandi of these women is to either carry a child or travel in a group to con and pick a purse or other valuables of a traveller, be it a man or a woman," a senior official said.

In order to check these crimes, the force regularly undertakes special operations and deploys women and men personnel in plain-clothes to keep an eye on trouble makers.

Last year, 93 per cent of the total number of pickpockets apprehended by the CISF in the Delhi Metro were women.

In 2014, over 300 women were intercepted for these crimes making them about 94 per cent of those held, while in 2013, of the total 466 pickpockets held across various stations of the Delhi Metro, 421 were women and the rest were men.

This year, during the same time period till mid-December, the force also found 106 missing children and handed them over to their guardians or the station controlling authorities.

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The Delhi Police for the first time will be holding a special function to award ranks to 24 personnel out of the 27,000 promoted this year.

The event, which will be held on December 31, will be attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with ministers of state Kiren Rijiju and Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, a senior police officer said.

Since the function will be held on a grand scale, the annual press conference of Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma that was supposed to held on January 3, 2017 has now been postponed to January 10, sources said.

"This is a first of its kind event being organised by Delhi Police. In the last decade, more than 60,000 personnel have been promoted and out of these, the maximum have happened in this year. Personnel from the ranks of head constables to ACPs will be awarded ranks in the function," the officer said.

Usually, gallantry awards are given in functions but this is for the first time, that the ranks will be awarded, he added.

There are 24 personnel who have been chosen and in a symbolic gesture they will be given ranks in the function to be held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The event will also witness the presence of the families of these personnel.

To meet the prolonged demand of police personnel for improvement in promotional prospects, the force this year issued promotions in almost all the ranks of Delhi Police. The move is an effort to improve the morale and professional standard of the police force.

There had been stagnation in the lower ranks of police personnel for sometime and police constables, with 27-28 years of service, had not got the opportunity for promotion to the rank of head constable, he said.

There was stagnation in other ranks as well. This was adversely affecting the morale of the police force, he added.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at the premises of arrested Kolkata-based businessman in connection with a money laundering case probe and said it seized some documents related to a purported Swiss bank account.

ED is investigating Lodha after it booked him on criminal charges for his alleged involvement in two high-profile black money cases of illegal conversion of old notes in the wake of demonetisation.

Officials said the agency began the searches late in the afternoon here and covered two of his premises here at S N Roy road and Queens Park even as one of his locations in Delhi's elite Lutyens Zone area was brought under the same operation a few days back.

They said that the agency, apart from seizing some computer peripherals and other hardware, has also recovered some documents, purported to be of a Swiss bank account in the name of a woman, who could be associated to Lodha.

The agency, they said, will soon issue summons to some people associated to Lodha and involved in the case.

Lodha (62), at present, is in ED custody in Delhi after he was arrested by the agency last week.

ED is understood to have confronted Lodha with advocate Rohit Tandon of T and T law firm (in Delhi), who has been questioned in the same case more than once by the investigating officer (IO) of the case in Delhi.

Lodha was arrested by the agency in "connection with the recovery of large amount in new currency notes from a company belonging to Tandon and J Shekhar Reddy of Chennai".

The agency had earlier claimed that he was involved in a "deep-rooted conspiracy" in this case and that he was charging a commission "at the rate of 15-20 per cent" to convert old notes into new ones of several people.

It had said Lodha admitted that "post demonetisation he and his associates had converted old currency of at least Rs 25 crore into new currency notes".

While Tandon's case pertains to an operation of Delhi Police and the Income Tax department earlier this month when the agencies had allegedly seized Rs 13.6 crore from a law firm he is associated with, that of mining baron Reddy relates to Chennai where the I-T department has made the biggest detection of alleged unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.

Both the cases pertain to the ED's anti-black money operations post the currency ban.

These two cases, involving Tandon and Reddy, are being probed by at least four agencies-- the ED, the Income Tax department, the CBI and Delhi Police.
Veteran politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who served twice as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka today passed away after a brief illness.

Wickremanayake, 83, who also held many key ministerial positions since 1970, was ailing for sometime and breathed his last this morning, his family said.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a leading private hospital on December 21.

Wickremanayake served twice as the Island nation's premier first from 2000 to 2001 and then from 2005 to 2010.

He was appointed prime minister by former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 21, 2005.

It was Wickremanayake who paved the way for Rajapaksa to emerge as the next leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He resigned from his position as the leader of the main opposition in 2002 to make way for Rajapaksa to become the leader of the opposition.

That move cleared the way for Rajapaksa who went on to become the President.

In his previous stint as prime minister, Wickremanayake succeeded prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike who had resigned at the age of 84.

A host of political leaders cutting across party lines condoled the death of Wickremanayake.

"Veteran Politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was loved by his people for many decades. My condolences are with his loved ones and followers," President Maithripala Sirisena tweeted.

Rajapaksa also tweeted his condolences.

"Deeply saddened by the death of former Sri Lankan PM & veteran politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. My condolences to his family," Rajapaksa said in a tweet.

He entered politics in 1960 winning the Horana seat in the March General Election as a member of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna.

In 1970, he was appointed Deputy Minister, Justice and went on to be the General Secretary of SLFP in 1977.

In the 1994 General Election, he won the Kalutara District seat and was appointed as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries and the Leader of the House in President Chandrika Kumaranatunge's Cabinet.

His son Vidura Wickremanayake is also a member of the parliament.

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French art experts today lambasted South Korean state prosecutors for declaring a "fake" painting to be genuine despite its own scientific findings that supported the artist's disavowal of the work.

The painting "Beautiful Woman" by one of South Korea's most renowned artists, Chun Kyung-Ja, has been the focus of a bizarre and decades-long dispute over its authenticity.

Before her death last year at the age of 91, Chun had repeatedly insisted that the 1971 portrait owned by the country's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) was not one of hers.

"Parents can recognise their children. That is not my painting," she insisted.

The museum is adamant that it is genuine, and in April a prosecutorial investigation was launched after one of Chun's daughters filed a complaint. She accused former and current MMCA officials of hurting the artist's reputation by promoting the painting as authentic.

State prosecutors last week found in favour of the museum, citing forensic evidence and the opinion of local art experts.

They also clarified the provenance of the painting, saying it was once owned by the former head of the South Korean spy agency and was appropriated by the government after he was executed for assassinating then-president Park Chung-Hee in 1979.

"This announcement is an egregious affront to the justice system," French imagery analysis firm Lumiere Technology and Chun's relatives said in a joint statement.

The statement accused the prosecution of continuing to "willfully avoid seeking the truth even when presented with it".

Chun, born in 1924 in a small town in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, was best known for her paintings of female figures and flowers using vivid primary colours that broke with traditional South Korean styles.

Her works have recently sold at auction for between USD 700,000 and USD 1 million.

Lumiere Technology said it published a 63-page report after a "thorough" and scientific examination of the piece and nine authenticated paintings by Chun.

Based on forensic analysis using specialist technology, Lumiere Technology concluded that "the 'Beautiful Woman' is "absolutely and unequivocally a forgery".

But the prosecution authorities "completely disregarded" Lumiere Technology's scientific results, arriving at a conclusion based on "statements and notions backed by no evidence", it said.

"The Prosecution's denial of empirical evidence is akin to a DNA paternity test - for a child revealing that a man is in fact not his father - being disregarded in place of the mother's testimony that the child must be the offspring of that man because she never had a relationship with another man," it added.

Chun's family has also rejected the prosecution's conclusion, accusing it of seeking to help state museum authorities save face.

"We wonder if the prosecutors... Caved in to political pressure," the family said.

They vowed to pursue efforts to have it declared a forgery.

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The first full tribal Central paramilitary battalion will be ready for training in April 2017 and its 33 per cent recruits will be women.

This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a high-level meeting held to review the functioning of Central armed police forces here today.

The Home Minister was informed by the senior officers that the CRPF, for the first time, is raising an exclusive composite tribal battalion by recruiting male and female tribal youths from south Bastar region of Chhattisgarh.

The recruitment process is going on and is likely to be completed by mid-January, 2017.

"The recruits will be joining during April, 2017 for their basic training. This is also a first recruitment process, where CRPF has implemented 33 per cent reservation at the constable level recruitment for females," an official statement said.

Singh was informed about the steps to promote the digitisation campaign on cashless transactions launched by the Central government and to make the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel i.E CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF, NSG and Assam Rifles aware about the benefits of usage of latest technology in cashless transaction.

On the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs, CAPF personnel also attended Digi-Dhan Mela organised by NITI Aayog on December 25 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

The National Disaster Response Force also organised a workshop on December 21 with an aim to train the personnel in process of mobile banking and conducting daily transactions through various mobile application such as UPI, e-wallets and internet banking.

The Home Minister advised the heads of CAPFs to organise workshops upto the battalion level in their forces so as to apprise all the force personnel and their families about benefits and different models of cashless transaction.

Necessary instructions have been passed by the MHA to all CAPFs, the statement said.

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Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari today said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should resign taking "moral responsibility" for the alleged irregularities in AAP's funding details.

Kejriwal was at the forefront of raising questions on political donations and now is the time he should own up moral responsibility for "fudged" funding details of AAP and resign as Delhi CM, Tiwari told a press conference.

"He should ponder on this and further taking into consideration the letter written by his political guru Anna Hazare, he should own responsibility, apologise to the people and resign," he said.

BJP has been saying all along that the "funding details" of AAP are "fudged" and the latest revelations have vindicated its stand, he said.

The Income Tax department has issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party, citing discrepancies in the donors' list submitted to tax officials and what had been put up on the party website.

Terming the notice as "malicious", AAP alleged that the BJP-led NDA government is harassing the party and targeting its donors.

The list of donors was removed from the website of AAP to "hide the manipulations", Tiwari alleged.

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A "notorious" gangster Ayub Khan, who along with his associates was allegedly involved in 72 cases in Hyderabad, was arrested from the international airport in Mumbai, police said today.

"Mohd Ayub Khan alias Ayub Pahelwan, a most wanted criminal and gangster of Hyderabad, was caught at Mumbai international airport on December 25 upon his arrival, by immigration staff, based on the Look Out Circular (LOC) for his involvement in a land grabbing case under Shalibanda police station here", Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana said.

According to police, Khan committed his first offence of robbery in 1989 and was allegedly involved in a murder case in 1990.

"During 1990, he and his associates participated in communal riots in the city and on April 30, 1991 rowdy (history) sheet was opened against him to keep watch on his activities," said the DCP.

"He along with his gang members had created panic in the minds of common public and started extortion at the point of daggers and deadly weapons", the DCP said.

"He and his associates were involved in about 72 cases (6 cases of murder, 8 cases of attempt to murders, 5 case of TADA Act, 9 cases of Arms Act, 2 case of NDPS Act, 2 case of dacoity, 2 case of robbery and 38 other cases)," said the official.

"No witness and complainant was daring enough to depose evidence against him. Almost all the cases ended in acquittal as the witnesses turned hostile due to his brutal attitude," Satyanarayana said.

Khan had obtained passport with fake name and details as Naveed Ahmed in 1997 and in 2010, he obtained another fake passport, police said.

After releasing from jail in April 2014, he went to Dubai in August 2014 on a Visit Visa and due to fear of Preventive Detention (PD) Act invoked by Hyderabad Police and threat from rival gang, he later obtained a Business visa for a period of 3 years, they added.

In 2015, he had obtained another duplicate passport from Indian High Commission at Sharjah, police said.

Hyderabad Police was constantly searching for him by the way of sending Look Out Circulars to Immigration Departments at all International Airports situated in India and Sea Ports, added the senior police officer.

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Asking people of Jammu and Kashmir to "give peace a chance", Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has said it was imperative for dialogue and development and would have a "soothing impact" on India-Pakistan relations.

"For achieving the objective of development and dialogue, a congenial atmosphere of peace and tranquility needs to be created.

"I seek people's cooperation in creating an environment conducive for development and dialogue," Mehbooba said while interacting with people after kick-starting various developmental projects in south Kashmir's Pulwama district yesterday.

The chief minister said her government would work on the twin objectives of development and dialogue and asked the people of the state "to give peace a chance".

"The people of J-K have a huge responsibility to ensure a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in the state so that it has a soothing impact on the relations between the two neighboring countries (India and Pakistan) which ultimately can pave the way for getting the state out of its difficulties," Mehbooba said.

She regretted that every section of society suffered losses during the turmoil of past few months which also delayed the completion of many developmental projects in the state.

The Chief Minister said the government has planned a major developmental programme for the state and asked the people to extend their cooperation for its successful implementation.

Addressing the students after inaugurating the new building of the Government Women's College, Pulwama, the Chief Minister said empowerment of women is key to development of the state.

She asked the girls to focus on education as it has the potential to bring about the desired social change.

Mehbooba said women hold an important place in society and their empowerment would signal a positive turnaround.

She asked the students to attain different skills "so that they are not only educated but empowered as well".

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Godrej Appliances today said it will provide dabbawalas with customised cycles fitted with its mini-refrigerator 'Chotukool' to support the Mumbai Dabbawala Association's Rotibank initiative.

"Godrej Appliances is supporting this initiative through customised cycles fitted with 'Chotukool' that can retain cooling for up to 3-4 hours even without electricity, which will help dabbawalas to store food on the go and also preserve it overnight thereby enabling and empowering them to efficiently run this unique Rotibank initiative and scale it up further," the company said in a statement.

Mumbai's dabbawalas have been running the Rotibank initiative since 2015 to prevent wastage of food and feed the underprivileged.

"As a company that deals in appliances and promises brighter living, we are glad to be a part of such social initiatives which can contribute towards reducing hunger amongst the larger underprivileged sections of society," Godrej Appliances Business Head and EVP Kamal Nandi said.

Mumbai Dabbawala Association General Secretary and Spokesperson Subhash Talekar said, "we were facing a major challenge in delivering the food before it became stale. Additionally, we were not able to carry large quantities of food due to storage and space related constraints. It would make it easier for us to store food for longer and also reach far-flung places.

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Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who has a BTech degree from IIT Kharagpur, will relive his old days in the campus with teachers and students at a function here next week.

"Sundar Pichai, CEO Google and Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, has expressed his desire to visit the campus in the first week of January 2017," IIT-Kgp director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti said.

The institute is inviting students to come back to campus on time after the winter break to be able to listen to Pichai.

At an open-air theatre in the campus, the Google man will discuss his past, present and future at a function titled 'A journey back to the past to inspire the future' on January 5.

Pichai had passed out from the elite institute in 1993 with a BTech in metallurgical and materials engineering.

He then went on to pursue an MS in Engineering and Materials Science from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Later on he joined Google in 2004 as its vice president of product management, where he led the team working on Google's Chrome browser and operating system, before being elevated as its CEO last year.

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: Harmony, unity and tolerance is the DNA of India and 'USP' of India's ancient and rich cultural heritage, Minister of State for Minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here today.

He stated this while inaugurating 'Buon Natale', the largest gathering of Santa Claus, a Christmas procession, amid a huge gathering of people from all walks of life in Thrissur.

Naqvi said India's centuries old history is proof that its people had always defeated those forces who wanted to disturb it's rich culture.

Buon Natale celebrations,in connection with Christmas and New Year, are being organised by the Thrissur Archdiocese.

Naqvi said that despite religious and cultural diversity, the spirit of social harmony, unity and tolerance has been strengthened for several centuries which has maintained India's DNA of 'Unity in Diversity'.

Naqvi, also MoS for Parliamentary affairs, said it had been reaching out directly to people of these communities through 'Sadbhav Samagam','Progress Panchayat and 'Hunar Haat' and strengthening the feeling of trust and development among them.

He urged the people to judge the Narendra Modi Government through its works and not through 'misinformation propaganda' started by some people against the government.

Naqvi said India is the best example for the world in relation with communal and social harmony, unity and tolerance and also protecting rights of the Minorities.

"India is the champion of social harmony and ensuring Minorities' rights. India's cultural harmony is the password of social harmony. Social harmony can't be ensured without cultural harmony," he said.

Even with various languages, religions, regions and cultural traditions, the country is united only because of its cultural harmony, whose special feature is unity in diversity, he said



Naqvi said that cultural harmony not only saves us from religious narrow-mindedness and confrontation; it also strengthens the fabric of social harmony.

"We have to protect and strengthen this fabric of social harmony, unity and tolerance at any cost.Every religion, every region, every culture and every community will have to move forward together to make India an example of social unity for the entire world," he said.

Lauding Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur diocese and "Buon Natale", he said this function is a gathering which promotes social harmony and unity, tolerance and brotherhood.

Buon Natale" has already entered Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of people dressed up as Santa Claus.

Earlier today, Naqvi met George Alencherry, Cardinal and Major Arch Bishop of Diocese of Ernakulam at Kochi and discussed various issues concerned to the Christian community.

He said the Modi Government has been making honest effort to provide light of development to all sections of society.

Naqvi assured that no "destructive agenda" will be allowed to dominate our "development agenda".

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Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs HN Ananth Kumar on Tuesday expressed hope about the rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime from coming April, saying the government is pushing ahead with the agenda.

"Our discussions with opposition parties and council is an ongoing process. I'm confident that once we have passed the constitutional amendment bill without any opposition in both Houses of Parliament, ultimately council will also come out with unanimous decisions so that it can be given a legal framework in the Parliament of India," he said.

Asked how hopeful he was about rollout as one approaches April, Kumar said, "We are pushing ahead with the agenda, I'm hopeful."

The Union Minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.

The government intends to rollout the GST regime from April 2017, but there are apprehensions that the date will be missed because the all powerful GST Council is yet to iron outseveral vexed issues, including jurisdiction of the Centre and state governments over tax payers.

The Council, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comprising state finance ministers, has so far met seven times after Parliament amended the Constitution for implementation of GST.

The next meeting is scheduled for January 3 and 4 to decide on the contentious issue of dual control over assesses and the legislation on IGST.

"I am trying my best," Jaitley had earlier said on the expected April 1 rollout schedule.

"I am not going to bind myself with anything. Our effort is to do it as quickly as possible and I think we are making a reasonable headway," he had said.

On the demonetisation move, Kumar said the Prime Minister's direct target was those who are in favour of black money, corruption, fake currency and terrorism that originates with its help.

Stating that people of the country are with Modi in his fight against corruption and black money, he said, "Its echo effect was visible in the by-elections at different places."

He expressed confidence that people would adapt to the digital economy and cashless transactions in the same way they had to electronic voting machines and mobile communication.

Kumar noted that for 50 days people had peacefully co-operated despite difficulties, keeping their faith in the Prime Minister and said, "I salute their courage and will in taking this economic reform to its logical conclusion."
Maintaining that its strategic capabilities were not targeted against any particular country, India today said it abides by all applicable international obligations and expects others do the same, while responding to Chinese reaction to its test-firing of Agni V missile.

"India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country. India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all other do the same.

"India's strategic autonomy and growing engagement contributes to strategic stability," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The Spokesperson's remarks came after Chinese Foreign Ministry hoped that India's test-firing of the nuclear-capable Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile that could cover all of China complied with UN Security Council rules and safeguarded South Asia's strategic balance.

Even as Beijing maintained that the two nations are "not rivals for competition but partners for cooperation", it took exception to media reports that the successful test of Agni-V was meant to target China.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said," We have noted reports on India's test fire of Agni-5 ballistic missile. The UN Security Council has explicit regulations on whether India can develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons".

"China always maintains that preserving the strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive to peace and prosperity of regional countries and beyond."



India had yesterday successfully test-fired Agni-V, the country's most lethal nuclear-capable inter-continental ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 kms that covers entire China which may also pave the way for user trial of the weapons system and its eventual induction into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indo-US relationship has bipartisan support and would keep going up irrespective of which ever government is elected, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India has said as he lauded the role played by the Indian-Americans in strengthening bilateral ties.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu was speaking at an event organised yesterday by the Sikh community in Maryland and Virginia to felicitate the diplomat in recognition of his efforts to address the concerns and issues of the Sikh community across the country.

After serving the Indian Embassy for three and half years, Sandhu, a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer is headed to be the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

India-US relationship, is on "such a stable and bipartisan support" Sandhu said, irrespective of which ever government is elected "our countries" are so closely bound that the relationship would keep going up and up.

Contribution of Indian-Americans is extremely important in strengthening this relationship, he said.

"The hard work of Indian-Americans is very highly recognised and appreciated. This has all come out of your commitment and focus," he said and exuded confidence that in coming years there would be successful Indian-Americans in more prominent places.

Sandhu said Indian-Americans are facing the challenges of identity, modernisation and economic survival.

In his address, the Deputy Indian Ambassador stressed the importance of connecting second generation Indian Ambassador with India.

"Next economic potential where is it? It is in India. That is where the economic generation, economic power to the world is going to come. And your children are uniquely placed. But they would be uniquely placed if you connect them back with India," Sandhu said.

Welcoming Sandhu, Virginia Republican leader Puneet Ahluwalia said the strength of the community lies in its unity.

"In this new world, we all have to participate in the mainstream." he said.

"In the coming years, US-India relationship is going to be so critical" and "we have to play an important role in that," he said.

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Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, today performed the post-death rituals for her father at Brahman Seva Samiti hall here and returned to the Byculla Women's prison in the evening.

The special CBI court here had last week granted her permission to perform the rituals anywhere in Mumbai. The court, however, had rejected her plea for interim bail to visit her hometown, Guwahati, for the purpose, following her father Upendra Bora's death on December 15.

Indrani left jail at around 7.30 am today with a police escort for Brahman Seva Samiti hall in Mulund. After performing rituals there till 4.30 pm, she visited a nearby temple for prayers for an hour, a police officer said.

Judge H S Mahajan had said in his order that she shall not speak to media during the time she was out of the prison. She shall be brought back to jail by 7 pm, the judge had said.

CBI had opposed Indrani's request for interim bail to visit Assam. It had produced an e-mail sent by her son Mikhail, which said he did not want her to visit Guwahati.

Indrani's intention was to influence prosecution witnesses and there was also a possibility that she would try to escape, CBI said.

Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyam Rai are accused of killing Sheena, her daughter from an earlier relationship, in April 2012. Her husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea too has been arrested in the case for being party to the conspiracy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
today said it would launch a record 83satellites in one go using its workhorse PSLV-C37 toward theend of January.

"We are working for a January launch. It will be toward the end of January. The date has to be fixed," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters here.

Of the 83 satellites, 80 belong to Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland and the US. They weigh about 500 kg.

The three Indian satellites are Cartosat-2 series, weighing 730 kg as primary payload, and INS-IA and INS-1B, weighing 30 kg.

Setting a record in its space programme, in Junehad successfully launched 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission on board PSLV-C34 from the spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.

Calling 2016 a "good" year, Kumar said would launch at least five communication satellites in 2017.

"It (launches) will be more next year, we are actually looking at almost something like five communication satellites, then many more others. Some earth observation also," he said in response to a question on the number of launches that can be expected in 2017.

"In the year we are primarily trying to do our GSLV Mark III, then Mark II... One more launch we are trying to do," Kumar said.

The first three months should see three launches, beyond which ISRO was targeting almost one a month, he said on the sidelines of the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here.

Stating that 2016 was a good year because ISRO was able to improve on what they were doing the previous year, Kumar said the main emphasis now was on building capacity.

"We need more and more capacity, launch capacity. We are working toward that. Our effort is to continuouslyincrease," he added.

On transponder augmentation that ISRO is looking for, he said, "GSAT-17 is having another 48 transponders, thenthere is a SAARC satellite which will have about 12transponders, then we are getting into the next generationGSAT-11 and GSAT-19. We are trying to do something like 14gigabyte and 90 gigabyte type of thing- multi beam satellites."



Noting that ISRO is conducting tests for hazard avoidance for Chandrayaan 2 as it lands, he said, "We are verifying the performance of the system as designed."



"Chandrayaan 2,we are preparing for hazard avoidance, as it lands then it has to avoid boulders andthings. We are verifying the performance of the system asdesigned, so there are some craters created and as it comesdown how it negotiates. We are evaluating the performance ofthe system," he added.

ISRO has been conducting these tests atits facility in Challakere in Chitradurga district ofKarnataka.
Jharkhand government today signed an MoU with IIM, Ahmedabad for setting up an international standard 'Jharkhand Innovation Lab' with Chief Minister Raghubar Das saying this will give a new direction to the youth and entrepreneurs.

Jharkhand Information Technology Secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal and IIM Ahmedabad's Sailesh Gandhi inked the MoU, an official release said.

The Chief Minister said this would generate job opportunities, local resources would be utilised and economic activity would increase.

Barnwal said there would be a work station in the lab, it would be WiFi and it would be functional in eight months, the release said.

Gandhi said the main centre of the innovation lab would in Ranchi and sub-centres would be opened at training centres.

This lab would be connected with foreign investors, banks, corporate, industries association, foundry institution and others, the release added.

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Janhit Morcha today staged a protest in front of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority's office demanding that it give possession of plots to 21,000 allottees in a 2009 residential scheme.

The protesters, led by former UP minister Nawab Singh Nagar, held a demonstration for five hours at YEIDA office. They alleged that YEIDA has failed to give possession of plots to 21,000 allottees even seven years after the scheme was launched.

Nagar met YEIDA CEO Arunvir Singh and said they would launch an agiation if YEIDA failed to give possession of plots to allottees within a month.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit today to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.

He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.

He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe won't apologize for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."



The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

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The 161 people onboard a Mumbai- bound Jet Airways aircraft today had a miraculous escape when it skidded off the runway and spun around before coming to a jerky halt as its nose sat on the soft land while rolling for take off early today at Goa airport, leaving 15 passengers wounded.

There were 154 passengers and seven crew members onboard when the Boeing 737 aircraft turned a full 360 degree on the runaway, veered towards the soft land, damaging the landing gear in the convulsive process around 5 AM.

The nose cone sat on the grass about 250-300 metres away from the runway, indicating the seriousness of the accident that could have been disastrous.

"At about 0504 hours on 27 December (Goa-Mumbai) flight veered right from the runway 26 while rolling for take off. ATC duty personnel on runway reported aircraft leaving runway and subsequently received distress call from aircraft.

"Aircraft came to a halt about 250-300 metres away from runway. The emergency crew of the Indian Navy were immediately dispatched in rescue vehicles to crash site. All persons onboard were evacuated and medical aid on the the site was provided by MI Room, Hansa. Total of 15 persons were injured and medical aid was provided by local hospitals," the Navy said in a statement.

The Goa airport is located at Navy's Hansa facility.

There was panic inside the aircraft as the plane jerked when it spun. The "minor" injuries to the 15 passengers came when they were being evacuated from the stricken aircraft.

The flying licence of the two pilots was suspended and a probe launched into the accident. It will be conducted by Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said a thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action shall be ensured. Action will be taken in case of violation of procedures, he added.

Seven of the injured have been discharged from the hospital after being provided medical aid and the airline's flight operations to and from Goa have resumed, Jet Airways said.

Meanwhile, AAIB has rushed a three-member team to the "accident" spot to start its investigation, sources in New Delhi said.

"Prima facie the runway accident appears to be a pilot's fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of the two pilots, including the Commander, pending the initial outcome of the probe," a highly-placed DGCA official told PTI.

Sources in the AAIB also said that in all "probability," the accident took place because of the pilots fault, adding, " we will get to know the actual cause of the accident only after the initial report is submitted in this regard."



Sources said the preliminary findings on the accident are likely to be submitted in a week's time.

The Navy's statement said flying operations were suspended till 0900 hours and aircraft in air were diverted.

The stricken aircraft will be shifted only after the clearance by the AAIB, it said.

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Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today termed as "an after thought" Karnataka government's demand for including Kannada as a language for holding NEET for admission to medical colleges and said the Centre was still "open" to the demand.

He said the Union government was still open to including Kannada among languages for holding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission for the academic year 2017-18.

"It was only an after thought. So first of all I want to make it amply clear that the government of India took this decision and issued the circular on the advice of Karnataka government. So saying that they were unaware or something or they were not taken into confidence is factuallywrong," Nadda said.

He said, "there is no confusion or communication gap; but anyway now Karnataka is of the opinion that they would like to have examination and the medium of instruction should be Kannada also. The government of India is open to it."



Asserting that the Centre respects the sentiments of the people and believes in cooperative federalism, the Union minister said "although we are late on the issue, but still we will consider and we are open to it."



"But a few stages and steps have to be followed by the Karnataka government and I feel that they will do it accordingly, and the government of India will respond," Nadda added.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here.

Stating that the Centre had held 'foolproof' consultation on the medium of instruction for NEET exams, Nadda said a circular was issued to all state governments, posing questions and problems which states will face and how they want to address those issues, whether related to language, reservation policy or mode of conducting the examinations.

A video conferencing was also held in thisregard, in which and also in written answers, theKarnataka government had opined that they would haveNEET exam in English, he said.

"When according to their advice, we circulated acircular in which we said about which are all the regionallanguages that are included, Karnataka government has had an after thought... Maybe because of the reasons of the sentimentsof the people or maybe some other reasons."



The Health Ministry on December 21 had said NEETexams for admission in medical colleges will be held in eight languages - Hindi, English, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu, following which a political blame game had erupted between ruling Congress and opposition BJP inKarnataka over non-inclusion of Kannada.

Taking strong exception to Kannada being left out, Chief



Minister Siddaramaiah had said his government had written a letter,stating that NEET exams should be held in Kannada also, but stillit had not been done.

"Omitting Kannada is a wrong thing, weare writing a protest letter also," he had said.

With Siddaramaiah seeking to put the onus on the Centre and state BJP leaders, Union Minister Ananth Kumar had hit back, saying the state government had written to the Centre suggesting that the examination be held in English.

Kannada Development Authority had called themove to exclude the language a "great injustice" to sevencrore Kannadigas.

The Chief Secretary and CultureMinister had also written to the Centre on the issue.

Karnataka is considered the home for highestnumber of medical colleges in the country.
Hitting out at main opposition Congress for criticising the construction of his new official residence, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said the buildings complex was built as per requirements.

"Congress has exposed its mindset in studying and projecting an issue. When you say something, it should be believable by people. Speaking so low and small on Chief Minister's residence when the CM is in House...Can there be 150 rooms in the CM's residence? Can Congressmen show? Is this the way?" Rao asked in the Legislative Assembly during a debate on housing.

He said the official residence building complex was built with about Rs 36 crore with facilities for organising large meetings and spacious vehicle parking.

"That Nizam (erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad) had left lakhs of acres of land for us. We don't know what is that poverty of thought of not having an official residence for Chief Minister. We built this with Rs 36 crore or Rs 37 crore so that there is a parking space for 300 cars and for holding (district) Collectors' conference or any other conference of officials, without having to go somewhere else, for organising official programmes, with a good hall to meet people. How many chief ministers will be there after KCR?



"It's the official residence of the Telangana Chief Minister. It's not KCR's residence. It's not the own building of KCR. It's the property of Telangana people. It will show the profile of our state, if foreigners come, those from neighbouring states come. It's the pride of Telangana," Rao said.

The CM had moved into the new official residential buildings complex at Begumpet here last month with Congress claiming the "wastage" of public money for its construction.

The sprawling official buildings complex, including the CM's residence and office, a conference hall and two existing buildings, has been named as Pragathi Bhavan by government.

Meanwhile, Rao said his government is committed to construct double-bedroom houses for poor as promised by his party (TRS).

The government has sanctioned a total of 2,60,000



houses for which the tendering process is going on, he said.

"The tenders were finalised for 14,224 houses. 1217 houses were constructed. People are residing in them. At present, 9588 houses were in construction stage at various places in the state," said a statement made by the CM on the issue.

Agreeing with opposition members that implementation of the two-bedroom houses has been delayed, Rao said the contractors were "back-stepping" to file tenders for double-bedroom houses, mainly because other flagship programmes like 'Mission Kakatiya', 'Mission Bhagiratha' and irrigation projects were going on and that profitability is low in construction of the double-bedroom houses.

The CM announced a waiver to the tune of Rs 3,920 core on loans availed by the poor in the weaker section housing over a period of time.

Saying that massive corruption took place in the weaker section housing during previous regimes, he said the guilty will be punished after the completion of the ongoing probe by CBCID.
The Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union (KDCMPU), a member union of GCMMF which markets its products under brand Amul, today said it has opened bank accounts for all its 6.7 lakh member farmers.

KDCMPU, member union of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the agency that markets Amul brand of milk and milk products, today claimed that between November 8 and December 20, 2.5 lakh more members farmers were brought under banking system.

"Out of our 6.7 lakh members, 4.2 lakh members had their bank accounts in nationalised banks. We opened bank accounts for remaining 2.5 lakh members," KDCMPU chairman Ramsinh Parmar told reporters.

"With this, the money for milk sold to us will be transferred into the accounts of 1,210 associated milk societies, which will in turn transfer the money into the accounts of individual farmers," Parmar said.

Out of 617 villages under Amul Dairy, 154 villages have bank branch or ATMs within the villages, while 463 villages have ATMs or bank branches between 5 and 25 kms distance, he said.

"To make money withdrawal easier for farmers who do not have banks in their villages, Amul Dairy has set up micro ATMs in 180 milk societies, and is in talks with nationalised banks to set up similar micro ATMs in remaining 480 banks," Parmar said.

He said the farmers will also be given special Amul card which will be relatively safe to operate for withdrawing and transferring money from their accounts.

The dairy union also operates milk societies in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab.

"We have provided bank accounts to milk producers in these states as well," Parmar claimed.

In West Bengal, Amul Dairy operates 219 societies with 21,000 members, in Maharashtra it has 91 societies and 7,950 members, and in Punjab it has 119 societies with 12,037 members.

Parmar said the dairy cooperative disbursed Rs 215 crore to member milk societies after demonetisation came into effect.

He said the sale of milk dropped from 23 lakh litre per day to 22 lakh litre as some farmers who could not receive money due to demonetisation and ban on central co-operative banks to sell their produce to private parties who offered them money in cash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 had announced his government's decision to demonetise high value currency notes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State John Kerry will offer a "comprehensive vision" of how to revive the Israel-Palestinian peace process in a major speech today.

President Barack Obama's administration, including Kerry, is to leave office in four weeks and last week gravely offended Israel by failing to veto a critical UN resolution.

But US officials said they plan to keep pushing both Israel and the Palestinian leadership to take concrete steps to revive talks on a two-state solution to the conflict.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry believes, "it is his duty in his remaining weeks and days as secretary of state to lay out what he believes is a way towards a two-state solution".

"It's always important to keep the process moving forward," Toner said. "We haven't given up on this and we don't think the Israelis and Palestinians should do either."



Officials said Kerry would make the speech to an invited audience, including the Washington diplomatic corps, at the State Department.

On Friday, in a historic move, the United States failed to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning its ally Israel's building of settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and many of Israel's supporters in Washington reacted with fury and accused Obama of working behind the scenes to betray them.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has signalled he will take a softer line on Israeli settlement building by promising to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

He has also nominated as US ambassador to Israel an American Jewish lawyer known as a strong supporter of the settlement movement.

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Speculation about Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, who has been superseded by Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next Army Chief, taking premature retirement heightened today after he proceeded on leave.

Army sources, however, said Lt Gen Bakshi is on a pre- scheduled three-day leave and is expected to resume duties on December 30, a day before Lt Gen Rawat takes over as the new Army Chief.

There has been speculation that Lt Gen Bakshi may take premature retirement.

He had recently met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, fueling speculation about his possible resignation.

Lt Gen Rawat's appointment as the new Army Chief superseding seniors Lt Gen Bakshi and Southern Army commander Lt Gen P M Hariz had also sparked a fierce political row between a section of the Opposition and the government.

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The BJP-led Maharashtra government has chosen acting Advocate General Rohit Deo as its next Advocate General, nine months after his predecessor Sreehari Aney quit the post following a huge row triggered by his espousal of statehood for the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

A meeting of the state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, today recommended elevation of Deo to the AG's post to Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, a senior official said.

Aney had courted controversy by advocating statehood for Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, which was vehemently opposed by the ruling partner Shiv Sena.

The Sena had then seized on the issue to target the BJP, which, as matter of policy, favoured smaller states, despite Fadnavis asserting that bifurcation of Maharashtra was not on his government's agenda.

The government had recently filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court, saying the post will be filled by the end of this month.

The Division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai was hearing a petition filed by Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt, urging the court to direct the state to appoint an A-G under Article 165 of the Constitution.

The court had criticised the state for not complying with the deadline of December 23 and had adjourned the matter to January 9.

It had earlier observed that constitutional and statutory functions were suffering due to the non-appointment of the A-G and has hurt the cause of justice.

On November 18, 2014, Sunil Manohar was appointed as the A-G, but he resigned on June 9, 2015. On June 11, 2015, additional Solicitor General Anil Singh was given the additional post of acting A-G. On October 14, 2015, Aney was appointed as the A-G, and he resigned on March 22, 2016.

Reacting to the decision, Dutt claimed that the government was compelled to take a decision on the matter after he moved the high court.

In a tweet, Dutt said, "The government has conceded my demand and finally appointed Acting AG as AG."



"However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis needs to answer why he waited for nine months to appoint Acting AG as the new AG," said Dutt.

"Maharashtra Chief Minister speaks of good governance but his indecisiveness reflects lack of governance! If acting AG Rohit Deo only was to be made the AG, why the government had waited for 280 days?" he asked in another tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Revenue and Public Works department Minister Chandrakant Patil this morning travelled by a suburban train so that he could reach on time for the state Cabinet meeting.

Patil, who hails from Kolhapur district in western Maharashtra, left his express train journey at Karjat this morning as it was delayed after the train's engine developed a technical glitch.

"I travel to Mumbai via Mahalaxmi Express from Kolhapur, regularly. There was some problem to the engine between Satara and Rahimatpur stations; hence the train reached at Karjat station at 7.45 AM. The train generally reaches Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) by 7.30 AM. As there were three key issues slated for the Cabinet meet, I decided to travel by local (suburban) train, the assured public transport service," Patil told PTI.

"I was accompanied by my wife and some official staff and body guards. Hence, I alighted the Mahalaxmi Express at Karjat and purchased the tickets of first class so that I can reach CST before 10 AM," he said.

It takes around 2 hours to reach CST from Karjat in a fast train.

"It helped me as I could reach the state secretariat within 10 minutes (from house)", the Minister quipped.

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The Maharashtra government today decided to create a new ministry for welfare of Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) OBCs and Special Backward classes.

The proposal was approved by the cabinet which was presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here, an official in the CMO said.

Fadnavis had recently announced that a separate ministry would be created for OBCs which would be headed by an independent minister.

In another decision, the cabinet sanctioned dissolution of the Nagpur Improvement Trust.

The cabinet also approved hike in the grant provided for Ramai and Shabri Awaas Gharkul Yojana. It was also decided that State Agriculture Corporation land will be available for allocation to those affected by notified projects as compensation.

Government will provide financial assistance to Ramdas Athavale backward cotton producers co-operative cotton mill in Digras. A committee headed by the textile minister will be formed to discuss approvals to cotton mills in the revised textile policy.

Cabinet also decided to grant extension to individuals, companies and institutions who have been given government land on lease or ownership for carrying out constructions.

(Reopens BES 5)



Speaking to reporters later, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision to create a separate ministry for Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT) OBCs and Special Backward Classes was taken so that implementation of welfare schemes for these communities could be given priority.

Currently the social justice department has to deal with myriad issues, he said.

The cabinet today also decided to allow development on pasturage lands in villages. But such usage would be allowed only if equal area of alternative land for grazing cattle is available in the village at the same rate.
Acting Advocate General Rohit Deo is set to be the new advocate general of Maharashtra, with the state cabinet today deciding to recommend his name for the post to the Governor.

At the state cabinet meet, chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, it was decided to suggest Deo's name as the next AG, a senior official said.

The stepping down of Shreehari Aney in March had left the post vacant since then.

The government had recently informed the Bombay High Court that an A-G would be appointed on or before December 30. The state had filed an affidavit on December 13 saying that the post will be filled by the end of the month.

A Division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai was hearing a petition filed by Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt.

The petition urged the court to direct the State to appoint an A-G under Article 165 of the Constitution. The petition also sought that the post, which has been held by Deo since June 17 this year, be declared unconstitutional as it is not in accordance with the same Article.

The court had criticised the State for not complying with the deadline of December 23 and had adjourned the matter to January 9.

It had earlier observed that constitutional and statutory functions are suffering due to the non-appointment of the A-G and has hurt the cause of justice.

On November 18, 2014, Sunil Manohar was appointed as the A-G, but he resigned on June 9, 2015. On June 11, 2015, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh was given the additional post of acting A-G. On October 14, 2015, Aney was appointed as the A-G, and he resigned on March 22, 2016.

Aney had courted controversy after advocating statehood for Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

(Reopens BES9)



Reacting to the state Cabinet's decision to recommend Deo's name for the post of Advocate General, Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt claimed that after he moved the high court, the government took a decision on the issue.

He said in a tweet that, "the government has conceded my demand and finally appointed Acting AG as AG."



"However Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis needs to answer why he waited for nine months to appoint Acting AG as the new AG," said Dutt, who had filed a petition in the high court on the issue of AG's post lying vacant since March 2016 and demanded appointment of a new incumbent on the post.

"Maharashtra Chief Minister speaks of good governance but his indecisiveness reflects lack of governance!. If acting AG Rohit Deo only was to be made the AG, why the government had waited for 280 days?" he asked in another tweet.
The main black box of the Syria-bound Russian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea with 92 people onboard has been found in a massive ongoing search operation, authorities said today.

"The main black box was found at 5:42 am Moscow time (0812 IST) 1,600 metres from the shore at a depth of 17 metres," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the device would be sent to the Moscow region to be deciphered by experts.

The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Russia's military airbase in Syria when it went down off the coast of the resort city of Sochi shortly after take-off on Sunday.

Investigators have yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but officials have said that an act of terror was not being considered as a possible explanation.

The finding of the black box comes as searchers are scrambling to recover bodies and remaining debris from the aircraft in an operation involving 192 divers, 45 vessels, 12 planes, five helicopters and 15 deepwater machines.

The defence ministry said that five plane fragments were found overnight 30 metres under water at around 1,700 metres from the shore.

Part of the plane's fuselage, measuring 3.5 metres by 4.5 metres, was recovered yesterday evening.

Russia's federal security service has said it is looking into four suspected causes of the crash, which include pilot error, technical failure, faulty fuel and an object in the engine.

The defence ministry said today that 12 bodies and 156 body fragments had been recovered from the water since the crash. They will be sent to Moscow for identification, it said.

The Kommersant daily newspaper reported that investigators are relying on a witness statement by a coast guard member who saw the plane in its final moments descending toward the sea with its nose tilted sharply upward.

Authorities have not said how long it would take to decipher the black box, which could provide information on the reasons for the crash.

The Tu-154 jet went down on Sunday morning minutes after taking off at 5:25 am (0755 IST) from Sochi's airport, where it had stopped to refuel after flying out from the Chkalovsky military aerodrome in the Moscow region.

The FSB said all passengers remained on the plane when it stopped in Sochi, with one customs officer and one border guard coming on board as it was being fuelled.

Onboard were 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble - the army's official musical group, also known as the Red Army Choir - and their conductor Valery Khalilov. The choir was set to perform for Russian troops at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria, which has been used to launch air strikes in support of Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad.

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The Malabar naval exercise involving the Indian, US and Japanese navies is designed to "target" China's submarines in the East and South China Seas and to back America's Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, a Chinese media report claimed today.

"Such a large-scale military exercise was obviously designed to target China's submarine activities in the East and South China Seas in recent years, promote the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and cement the US presence in the region," an article in state-run Global Times said.

"Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region," the article said.

Highlighting comments by Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, commander of the US Seventh Fleet stating that India, Japan and the US are set to focus their next round of Malabar exercise on anti-submarine warfare, it said the drills aimed at jeopardising peace in the East China Sea region "so as to distract China's attention from the South China Sea and disturb the political landscape in the Asia-Pacific".

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean. Since Japan joined in 2007, it has alternated between the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

In June, the three countries held their largest-ever joint exercise which involved 11 vessels and 8,000 personnel.

The article said Japan wants to become a permanent member of the exercise to enhance its military cooperation with the US and find a solution to its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

"India hoped to enhance the anti-submarine capability of its navy that has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region," it said quoting reports, adding "India also wants to disrupt China's military deployment in the East China Sea through these exercises".

Japan, which has participated in the exercise five times, also attached great importance to the Malabar 2016.

It used the exercise to enhance the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and spy on China's military deployment in the waters, it said.

"However, the anti-submarine warfare of the US, Japan and India won't make them succeed in countering China as China has significantly improved its technologies in ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. And with the development of multi-dimensional operations, merely elevating anti-submarine capability won't enable these countries to contain China," the article said.

"The Malabar exercise has always been led by the US, with Japan and India being just partners with varied purposes. This will cripple the actual effects of the exercise. In fact, this kind of exercise is unlikely to impair China's presence in the East China Sea, except for flaring up tensions in the waters and producing frictions," it said.

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Photo taken on Dec 27, 2016 shows the white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2016," issued by the State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- China aims to become a space power, according to a white paper on the nation's space activities issued on Tuesday.

The white paper, titled "China's Space Activities in 2016," was the fourth white paper on the country's space activities issued by the State Council Information Office, following the previous three in 2000, 2006 and 2011.

"The white paper sets out our vision of China as a space power, independently researching, innovating, discovering and training specialist personnel," said Wu Yanhua, deputy chief of the China National Space Administration at a press conference.

China's space industry took off 60 years ago and April 24 was declared National Space Day in 2016 as a focus for pioneering spirit and enthusiasm for innovation, Wu said.

PEACEFUL USE OF SPACE

China always adheres to the principle of the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes the weaponization of or an arms race in outer space, the white paper said.

The country develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner, takes effective measures to protect the space environment to ensure a peaceful and clean outer space and guarantee that its space activities benefit the whole of mankind.

In the next five years and beyond China will uphold the concepts of innovative, balanced, green, open and shared development, and promote the comprehensive development of space science, space technology and space applications, so as to contribute to both serving national development and improving the well-being of mankind, according to the white paper.

RAPID PROGRESS SINCE 2011

The new developments are "manifested by markedly enhanced capacity in independent innovation and access to outer space," and "constant improvement in space infrastructure," said the white paper.

The progress is also evidenced by "smooth implementation of major projects such as manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the BeiDou Navigation System and high-resolution earth observation system, and substantial achievements in space science, technology and applications."

According to the white paper, "the Long March carrier rocket series completed 86 launch missions, sending over 100 spacecraft into target orbit" from 2011 to November 2016.

In September and October 2016, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft were launched and formed an assembly that operates steadily, with the mission of carrying out science and technology experiments in space, the white paper said.

The mission indicates that "China has mastered technologies concerning astronauts' mid-term stay in orbit, and long-term ground mission support," according to the white paper.

TASKS FOR NEXT FIVE YEARS

China will continue its lunar exploration project in the next five years, and strive to attain the automated extraterrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers.

Around 2018, the nation will carry out the Chang'e-4 mission to achieve the first soft landing of mankind's probe on the far side of the moon.

The Chang'e-4 lunar probe will "conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point."

China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration.

It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.

China plans to form a BeiDou network consisting of 35 satellites for global navigation services by 2020, and to start providing basic services to countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018.

China will activate the heavy-lift launch vehicle project in next five years, according to the white paper.

"Endeavors will be made to research key technologies and further study the plans for developing heavy-lift launch vehicles," said the document.

Breakthroughs are expected in key technologies for the overall system, high-thrust liquid oxygen and kerosene engines, and oxygen and hydrogen engines of such launch vehicles.

INT'L COOPERATION

Since 2011 China has signed 43 space cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding with 29 countries, space agencies and international organizations.

China has taken part in relevant activities sponsored by the United Nations and other relevant international organizations, and supported international commercial cooperation in space. These measures have yielded fruitful results.

In the next five years China will conduct extensive international exchanges and cooperation concerning space in several key areas, such as construction of the BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation, and construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor.

Moreover, cooperative researches on space law, policy and standards and personnel exchanges will be further enhanced in the space field.

"China always adheres to the principle that international exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and inclusive development." the white paper said.




Haryana police today claimed to have nabbed a member of a gang which was allegedly involved in major bank robberies in different districts.

The gang had looted more than Rs two crore from different banks, police said.

A spokesman of the police department said that during a night domination campaign carried out by district police Rohtak yesterday, information was received about some persons roaming near the branch of Oriental Bank of Commerce at Kisangarh village.

Acting on the tip off, a police team reached the spot and arrested one accused identified as Sunil, resident of Chathra village in Sonipat.

The other accused escaped under the cover of thick fog.

During interrogation, Sunil said that he along with his associates, Monu, resident of Ismaila, Rohtak, Sanjeet, resident of Mahabir Enclave, Dwarka, Delhi and Krishan, resident of Brahi village, Rohtak, allegedly used to rob banks, and they had attempted to rob a bank in Brahmanwas village last week.

They were allegedly also involved in bank robberies in Sonipat and Rewari, and had looted Rs 1.22 crore from a bank in Saiydpur village in Sonipat. They had also allegedly looted Rs 81 lakh from a bank in Rewari, police said.

Police have also recovered one walkie-talkie set from Sunil's possession, besides recovering a car bearing registration number, a drill machine, hammer, and other weapons used by the accused, from the spot.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC in Meham police station.

Investigation is underway and a manhunt is being carried out to find the other accused and recover the looted money, police said.

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Maoists killed a tribal man and abducted another suspecting that the men were backing police in their operations against the ultras in Kudumuluguma area in Malkangiri district today, police said.

A group of around 50 armed ultras stormed into the village in the wee hours and targeted a camp where residents from a nearby area, who had fled due to naxal menace, were rehabilitated, police officials said.

They abducted two men after threatening them. While the body of Rabi Pujari was found with his throat slit on the outskirt of the village, the fate of Nanda Galori is not known yet, they said.

The men were suspected to have helped police in operations against Maoists, they added.

Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Mitrabhanu Mohapatra said police personnel were sent to the site and the body of Pujari has been sent for post-mortem.

Irate villagers staged a blockade on Jeypore-Gobindpalli road for sometime, saying they had taken shelter at the camp after leaving their houses due to Maoist menace but police failed to provide them proper protection.

They demanded effective measure to ensure their safety and security.

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A day after the ED detected deposits of a whopping Rs 104 crore in BSP's bank account, a furious party supremo Mayawati dubbed it as an attempt by "anti-dalit" BJP and Modi government to tarnish her party's image by misusing the official machinery.

Two senior ministers in the Modi dispensation, including BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan of LJP, shot back, saying her dalit identity does not give her "licence" to engage in corruption and that the former UP chief minister was trying to "hide corruption" by raking up the issue of her origin.

A major contender for power in the most populous state of the country which goes to polls a few months from now, Mayawati claimed the money detected by the Enforcement Directorate at a Delhi bank yesterday was accounted for and played the dalit card in her bid to turn the tables on BJP, calling it "anti-dalit".

"BJP leaders having casteist mentality do not want that a 'dalit ki beti' should get the master key of the biggest state's politics and work for the welfare of 90 per cent poor and deprived...It will bring an end to their capitalist politics," she told a hurriedly called press conference in Lucknow.

"All deposits are as per norms and party rules and the money was collected before note ban. Should we have thrown it?" she asked.

Terming the ED action as an effort to tarnish BSP's image ahead of UP Assembly elections just few months away, Mayawati said the "anti-Dalit" BJP managed a section of the media.

"After I exposed the conspiracy of BJP in forcing an alliance between SP and Congress yesterday, BJP was taken aback and out of sheer frustration it indulged in such a petty act against BSP and family members of the party chief," she alleged.

BJP, which is seeking to re-establish its primacy in the key Hindi heartland state following a remarkable showing in the Lok Sabha polls there in 2014, hit back quickly, insisting she was trying to hide corruption by using her dalit identity.

"Her allegations are baseless and we reject it with the contempt they deserve. If the Enforcement Directorate does a routine exercise, why is she so rattled? Will your corruption be hidden in the name of Dalits.

"Does Mayawati want to say that her corruption should be seen as a fight against dalits? It is an insult of dalits," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told a press conference in Delhi.

Noting that she did not deny the deposits in the BSP's account, he asked, "It raises a bigger question. Is it a donation or money conversion exercise?"



Paswan, a prominent dalit face in the ruling NDA, came down heavily on Mayawati, saying her origin does not give her a "licence" to indulge in corruption and that she should let the law take its own course.

"My party LJP works for Dalits. We have six Lok Sabha members and the total money in LJP's bank account is Rs 1,03,198. Being a daughter of a dalit does not give you licence to indulge in corruption. She must let law take its course and let authorities probe her party's account," he told reporters in the national capital.

Mocking Mayawati's strident opposition to demonetisation since it was announced on November 8, the LJP president said it has now become clear "why the likes of her and RJD chief Lalu Prasad" have been its most vocal critics.

"They were hit the hardest. That is why they are making so much of noise," he said.

Mayawati, however, insisted that "every rupee" in BSP's account in a Delhi bank were accounted for.

"We have account of every rupee deposited in bank...This money has been collected through membership fee all over the country and brought for deposit by converting it into big denomination notes as it is easy to carry from remote areas," she said.

Mayawati, however, said the ED action at BJP's bidding



was a "good omen" for her party as in 2007 too when the then NDA government at the Centre had raked up Taj corridor issue, it had helped her secure an absolute majority in the UP Assembly.

"If Modi and central government take a few more decisions like note ban, it will make our return to power in UP easier ...They will pave our way for an easy victory and I will not have to toil much...I want to thank them for it," she said.

The ED yesterday detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP and Rs 1.43 crore in another belonging to Mayawati's brother Anand at a branch of United Bank of India in Delhi during a routine survey and enquiry operations to check suspicious and huge cash deposits in banks post-demonetisation.

"BJP and other parties have also deposited their money in banks. Nobody is talking about that," she said, adding it only proved the "anti-dalit and casteist mentality" of the ruling party.

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she demanded that he make public the deposits made by BJP during the 10 months preceding the November 8 decision of banning Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes.

"If BJP and the PM have any truth and honesty left, they would have disclosed BJP's deposits 10 months before November 8 and after that date while making BSP's deposits public," she said.

Ravi Shankar Prasad rejected Mayawati's claim that the ED's action was linked to her assertion that the BJP was pushing SP and Congress for an alliance for the UP assembly polls.

"This is nothing but her frustration. She made these comments only yesterday while deposits were made much earlier... As far as BJP is concerned, even if SP, BSP and Congress come together, it will emerge victorious," he said.
Senator John McCain has pledged US support to the security of Russia's three Baltic neighbors amid worries that the US may not be fully committed to the defense of NATO allies following statements by US President-elect Donald Trump.

He added that Washington should consider basing troops permanently at least in Estonia.

McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says that while Washington remains committed to "strong" NATO operations, bilateral US-Estonian military cooperation could be made more effective by upgrading US troop status from less-than-a-year rotation to permanent.

The Arizona senator, known for being critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, today started a tour to the three NATO members with fellow Republican Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar. After Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, they head for Ukraine, Georgia and Montenegro.

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The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) today launched a massive survey to assess illegal structures along the GB road, infamous for prostitution and human trafficking, three months after DCW asked for its action plan for the demolition of unlawful structures there.

The north MCD officials, accompanied by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal, police, fire department officials and some NGOs, visited and examined over half-a-dozen brothels in the red-light area and found 'tehkhanas' or hidden cells in large numbers in each of these brothels.

"As a part of the survey we will find the hidden cells, assess illegal constructions and also ascertain the owners of these brothels apart from studying the safety aspects. It will take atleast two months' time to complete the survey," an MCD official said.

The Commission, in September, had issued a notice to MCD seeking to know its action plan for demolition of illegal structures on GB road. It had also asked the civic body to submit ownership records, house tax records and receipts and other relevant records for ascertaining the ownership of the brothels.

"After we issued the notice, the North MCD informed the Commission that it will conduct a survey of these brothels to identify these illegal structures ie the tehkhaanas. However, even after three months the survey was not conducted," Maliwal said.

Thus, the Commission organised a meeting at GB Road itself. The MCD officials informed that till date only external surveys were conducted and for the first time in its history, a survey was being conducted inside the brothels.

It is to be noted that the DCW has been actively advocating for framing of a policy for rehabilitation of these victims of trafficking at GB Road.

"GB Road is 3 km away from the parliament. Each woman is made to sleep with more than 30 men in a day. Minors are being trafficked from various parts of the country to this living hell.

"DCW will not stop until prostitution ends in Delhi and these victims of commercial sexual exploitation are rehabilitated. The Commission believes that this multi-crore flesh trade of innocent women and girls cannot flourish in Delhi without active connivance of politicians and authorities and is investigating the same," Maliwal claimed.

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Mumbai's 'Man of all Seasons' Abhishek Nayar once again brought his best out in pressure situation to guide the defending champions to the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy beating Hyderabad by 30 runs in a closely-contested last-eight encounter.

Needing 232 to win, Hyderabad were dismissed for 201 on the final day as Nayar and left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil (5/64) doing the damage.

Top-order batsman Balachander Aniruddh's dogged unbeaten 84 off 187 balls with four boundaries and two sixes was not enough with senior-most pro Nayar's 5 for 40 enabling the title favourites to survive a scare despite being in the pole position going into the final day.

All the three wickets were taken by the veteran all-rounder who finished with match figures of 9 for 100 and also scored a half-century once again proving that who has been Mumbai's most effective match-winner for a decade now.

Starting the day at 121 for 7 needing another 111 runs to win, Hyderabad with their No 3 Aniruddh at crease fought well with Chama Milind (29) adding 64 runs for the eighth wicket with Aniruddh.

While Mumbai needed three good deliveries, a score of 185 for 7 was a biot worrying before Nayar bowled his military medium stuff.

The man with the 'Golden arm for Mumbai' and the most ungainly action first got Milind to edge one to Adirya Tare and within two balls trapped Mohammed Siraj leg before.

Aniruddh now had a job of shielding No 11 Ravi Kiran (1) as well as score some runs. They did conjure up 16 runs for the final wicket before Ravi Kiran also edged to Tare as Mumbai once again made it to the last four of the competition.

Brief Scores: Mumbai 294 and 217.

Hyderabad 280 and (Target 232) 201 in 71 overs (B Aniruddh 84 no, Abhishek Nayar 5/40, Vijay Gohil 5/64).

Mumbai won by 30 runs.

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The Union Health Ministry in collaboration with AIIMS will come up with a National Death Registry which will have data about deaths, including their causes, in hospitals across the country.

"The objective is to have a nationwide database about the causes of deaths occurring in hospitals in various regions of India. This will help policy makers have a better understanding of disease outbreaks so as to optimise the resources and healthcare facilities in respective regions," Deepak Agrawal, chairman, computerisation, AIIMS, said.

AIIMS has already implemented the pilot version of the death registry with the unique feature of having a coding system called the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED), an international standard of providing codes, terms and synonyms and definitions which cover anatomy, diseases, findings, procedures, microorganisms, etc.

"This is the first time that such an international coding system is being implemented in healthcare in India," said a Health Ministry official.

The official said the ministry has called a meeting of all state health departments so as to have the programme rolled out across India.

AIIMS will be technical as well as the implementing partner for this programme.

"Currently as health is a state subject, the entire death data is not being transmitted to the central depository, it is creating hurdles for policymakers in framing health and disease related policies.

"As of now the data that we have is tentative but under this system deaths will be uniformly coded along with the cause and details of the patients," the official said.

"Once notified by the state health department it will become mandatory for all hospitals including private ones to implement the same," the official added.

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: The showcasing of rowing talents of Lakshadweep men across the scenic Arabian Sea marked the beginning of the fifth edition of National Minicoy festival, which was flagged off by here today by Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

Speaking at the function, Raju, who was the chief guest said the Minicoy Festival reflects the unity in diversity of India. The multi-religion and multi-language culture is the mosaic of the country, he said.

"The mosaic of our country is our different languages and multi religion. We are one of the very few places, probably anywhere in the world, which can claim of such a diversity. Still we remain as one," he said.

Over 200 zealous oarsmen powered the oars of their boats in unison, reviving memories of the centuries-old seafaring culture of the scenic archipelago.

The race, in which about 30 specially designed boats in three different categories took part, was the highlight during the inaugural day of the two day-festival.

Organised by the Tourism Department here, the annual event is envisaged to showcase the unique culture, tradition and natural beauty of Minicoy, the southern most atoll of the Union Territory.

Among the three different categories, the race of 'Jahadhoni', the colourful and elegant traditional snake boat of Minicoy, a masterpiece of indigenous craftsmanship, enthralled everyone the most.

Traditionally trained oarsmen, belonging to villages of different islands of Lakshadweep, powered oars from lagoon to the finishing point with the local people, who had gathered in large numbers at the shore braving hot sun, lustily cheering the participants.

'Jahadhoni' occupies a significant place in the annual cultural fest as the unique snake boat variety of the island is facing extinction threat.

The race is included in the festival and its winner is awarded the Prime Minister's rolling trophy with an aim to revive the dying sport tradition, tourism department, the organiser of the event, said.

The trophy was instituted after the visit of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to the union territory in the 1980s.

Besides 'Jahadhoni', race of 'Kudadhoni' (country craft), participated by teenagers and 'Bodudhoni', another boat variety, also enthralled the audience.

The demonstration by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel enhanced the spirit of the event.

The minister also distributed the prestigious Prime Minister's trophy in Jahadhoni category and Rs four lakh cash award to the team 'Furious', who beat rival participants.

Kashmir Tourism minister Priya Sethi, administrator of Lakshadweep Farooq Khan and P P Mohammed Faizal, MP, were among those present.

The boat race was followed by a traditional food festival and cultural programmes.

The two day event will conclude tomorrow.

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The Education Committee of North Delhi civic body has proposed for installation of CCTV cameras in schools run by it to ensure better security of children.

The committee in its budget proposals has planned for CCTV cameras at 30 model schools. The proposal envisages covering the remaining schools later on.

Presenting the proposal before the standing committee of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Education Committee chairperson Mamta Nagpal said that ensuring safety of the children should be priority of all.

"In the coming financial year, CCTV cameras will be installed first at the 30 model schools and later on all other schools will be covered," she said.

NDMC runs 719 primary schools, 23 aided schools, 15 pre-primary and 165 recognised schools, in which about 3.40 lakh children are enrolled.

The proposal for installing CCTV cameras at the municipal schools had been mooted earlier but it hit a roadblock due to high cost as the cameras were proposed to be connected to the nearest police stations, Nagpal said.

Now, the Education Committee has proposed for CCTV cameras to be connected to the principal's room to bring the cost down, she added.

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Ahead of its Ambassador's meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India today made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year boy united with his natural parents.

Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents."



Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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.

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OMAHA  The death penalty has again been voted the top Nebraska story of the year by newspaper and broadcast members of The Associated Press and AP staffers.

Nebraska voters reinstated the death penalty on Nov. 8 when they overturned the Legislature's decision last year to abolish capital punishment. The Legislature's action topped the AP list for 2015.

Critics of capital punishment say it's unlikely the state soon will execute any of the 10 men on death row. The state has had difficulty obtaining the drugs necessary, and any procedural changes contemplated likely will face legal challenges.

The death of Nebraska punter Sam Foltz finished second in the voting for 2016 stories. Foltz was killed along with former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler in a single-vehicle crash in Wisconsin on July 23. Nebraska opponents memorialized Foltz each game, home and away, and the Cornhuskers' senior day included his parents and a touching video tribute.

The year's No. 3 story was Cabela's announcement in October that it will sell itself to rival outdoor gear seller Bass Pro for $4.5 billion. The deal is expected to close sometime next year, but it's not yet clear how many jobs will be lost in Cabela's hometown of Sidney, where the company employs about 2,000 people.

Finishing fourth in the voting was the death of a 2-year-old western Omaha boy who was attacked by an alligator in Florida. The animal snatched little Lane Graves as he waded in shallow water at a Disney resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, on June 14.

The No. 5 story this year was Nebraska's prison problems. Despite new steps toward improvement, Nebraska's system continued to struggle with overcrowding, staffing shortages and a persistent lack of mental health and treatment services for inmates. Director Scott Frakes announced he will request a $15.6 million budget increase to reduce worker shortages and turnover when lawmakers convene next year.

The No. 6 story was the award of $28.1 million to six people wrongfully convicted in the 1985 rape and killing of a Beatrice woman. The county has since appealed the award as officials scrambled for ways to pay it. Bankruptcy has been mentioned among the possibilities.

Finishing seventh in the voting was the cybersex scandal involving state Sen. Bill Kintner. He's paid a $1,000 fine levied by the state accountability board but refused to resign after admitting having cybersex on a state computer with a woman who later tried to blackmail him. The married, outspoken lawmaker vowed to stay in office despite pressure from Gov. Pete Ricketts, threats of impeachment and public ridicule by Sen. Ernie Chambers.

The electoral shake-up in the Legislature was the No. 8 story this year. Nearly half a dozen incumbents lost their seats, an outcome that surprised many longtime observers around the Capitol. Five sitting senators who faced challengers were defeated in the Nov. 8 general election, and one appointed state senator lost her seat in the May primary. Gov. Pete Ricketts played a more active role in the races than his predecessors, donating tens of thousands of dollars of his own money to candidates.

The No. 9 story was the Nebraska Tourism Commission's firing of its executive director. A blistering state audit had found questionable spending and a lack of oversight within the agency. Kathy McKillip had been suspended with pay after auditors reported problems that included the commission running $4.4 million over budget in three years with an advertising firm's contract.

The budget woes facing the Legislature and the governor finished 10th. Gov. Pete Ricketts ordered agencies to restrict their spending as state revenue fell short of expectations. Ricketts and lawmakers will face a nearly $1 billion projected shortfall for the budget they're required to balance in next year's session.
Norway today told India that it is handling the case involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family in accordance with the Norwegian Child Welfare Act which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This was conveyed to the Indian ambassador who had gone to meet the Norwegian officials, who also informed him that since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality.

Ahead of the meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said India wants the five-and-a-half-year-old boy united with his natural parents and refused to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents," Swaraj had tweeted.

According to Norwegian Embassy Spokesperson here, "The Indian ambassador to Norway visited the Norwegian authorities earlier today (in Oslo) to discuss the child welfare case involving a Norwegian/Indian family, where the child holds Norwegian citizenship. The meeting had a constructive atmosphere.

"The Norwegian authorities have reiterated 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."



During the meeting with the Indian envoy, the Norwegian authorities also said the the Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship.

The embassy also was once again assured that the Norwegian authorities were dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness.

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that the authorities in that country have taken away their son on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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.

(REOPENS DEL57)



BJP leader Vijay Jolly hailed the government and Swaraj for their effort to restore the child to his natural parents.

Jolly was first contacted by the couple for help and he had written to the External Affairs Minister in this regard.

"Today is the 14th day of captivity of Aryan who is living in shadow of fear and is still in the custody of Barnevernet, the Norway Child Protection Agency," Jolly said.

He said the government's stand demonstrated its "commitment" to protect Indians overseas.
The number of community radio stations is set to increase as a high-level committee formed by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry today examined over a hundred applications for starting new stations.

Sources said many of these applicants may be given the go ahead to start community radio stations.

The I&B Ministry has given permission to 450 community radio stations and of these over 200 are already functioning.

The ministry recently announced that it would increase the quantum of assistance granted to new community radio stations.

Several other companies also bagged FM Radio frequencies



like Purvy Broadcast in Aizwal and Haflong. Sambhaav Media got frequencies in Godhra, Jamnagar, Bharuch and some other places, while JCL Infra ltd. Emerged the provisional winner in Kargil, Kathua and Leh.

Ushodaya Enterprises (P) Limited bagged frequencies for two channels in Warangal apart from one each in Tirupati, Vijayawada and some other places, while Malar Publications got one frquency in Vellore.

In the first batch of the FM Phase III radio auctions, the I&B ministry had put up 135 channels for auction, and at closure of the e-Auction in September 2015, 97 channels had been sold provisionally in 56 cities. The cumulative winning price totalled about Rs 1156.9 crore against the aggregate reserve price of about Rs 459.8 crore.
US President Barack Obama today warned against the "urge to demonize those who are different" as he hosted Shinzo Abe, the leader of foe-turned-ally Japan, for a solemn visit to Pearl Harbor.

Obama, who will leave office next month, also hailed the alliance between the two nations, saying it had "never been stronger."



In remarks that echoed with history and America's current hypercharged politics, Obama told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that "the character of nations is tested in war, but it is defined in peace."



"Even when hatred burns hottest, even when the tug of tribalism is at its most primal, we must resist the urge to turn inward. We must resist the urge to demonize those who are different," Obama said.

"I welcome you here in the spirit of friendship," he told Abe.

"I hope that, together, we send a message to the world that there is more to be won in peace than in war, that reconciliation carries more rewards than retribution."



Abe expressed "sincere and everlasting condolences" to the families of the more than 2,400 Americans killed by Japanese fighters.

"We must never repeat the horrors of war," he said, marking the 75th anniversary of the infamous attack that triggered America's entry into World War II.

Standing next to Barack Obama, he expressed thanks for the "tolerance extended to Japan" as he hailed the power of reconciliation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where the bloodshed of the surprise attacks drew America into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit today with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said.

Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial that now rests on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader that Obama hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House.

"That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."



More than 2,300 Americans died on December 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked.

More than 1,000 others were wounded. In the ensuing years, the US incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologise for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."



"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."



After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they'll go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders will speak.

Obama and Abe signed off on the visit last month when they met in Peru on the sidelines of an economic summit.

Though the parallels with Obama's Hiroshima visit are palpable, both governments said that one visit wasn't contingent on the other.

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US-Russian talks on their separate fights against the Islamic State group are improving and becoming more frequent, American officials said, with each side trading information in real time and even outlining some of their strategic objectives in the months ahead.

The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are "frozen."



In the discussions, Russia has made clear its counter terrorism priority in Syria is retaking the ancient city of Palmyra, officials said. The US is determined to pressure IS' headquarters in Raqqa.

The closer contacts have developed despite the former Cold War foes' bitter accusations against one another over the devastation in Aleppo and Moscow's claim that relations are now "frozen on all practical levels."



The confidential military discussions aren't focusing on the two countries' opposing positions in Syria's civil war, where Russia is fighting alongside the government and the United States has backed rebel groups, officials said.

But US officials with knowledge of the ongoing conversations are crediting both sides with putting aside much of the public animosity, which has included Washington's accusations of Russian war crimes in Aleppo and Moscow's charges of American support for terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

Much of the talk has concerned the two nations' immediate operations.

Since December 15, the US-led coalition has conducted air strikes on about two dozen locations around Palmyra, destroying air defense weapons, tanks, aircraft shelters, storage bunkers and other vehicles and equipment.

At the same time, US and Russian officials having been ensuring that the two militaries' don't cross paths in the airspace above the city that IS militants seized for the second time earlier this month, and that American strikes don't mistakenly hit Russian or Syrian forces.

But the talks have gone beyond the granular and even touched on broader US and Russian plans, according to several US officials, who weren't authorized to speak publicly on the confidential discussions and demanded anonymity.

The Russians have spelled out that after they retake Palmyra, they want to move on IS militants congregated in Deir el-Zour, a city closer to the Iraqi border. Succeeding in Deir el-Zour, according to one US official, could take Russia several months.

Palmyra became a more urgent mission after Islamic State militants ended the Syrian government's nine-month hold over the city, seizing Russian and Syrian military equipment and weapons in the process. These include dangerous air defense artillery that could be used against coalition and friendly forces.

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An ordinance to extinguish the liability of the government and the RBI on the demonetised high denomination notes is likely to come up before the Union Cabinet today.

Sources in the government said the ordinance is being brought as it was found to be necessary to prevent future litigations against the government for junking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Seeking to prevent harassment and any ambiguity, a proviso would be added to ensure that certain category of people can still deposit the old notes in RBI branches between December 31 and March 31 next, they said.

The category may include people in armed forces, people who were abroad and ordinary citizens who can explain that the money is part of their legitimate income and they could not deposit it in banks due to some reasons.

The government is also mulling imposing penalty on people for possessing certain quantity of old notes after December 30 but there is no confirmation.

In 1978, a similar ordinance was issued to end the government's liability after Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 notes were demonetised by the Janata Party government under Morarji Desai.

The government had, while announcing the demonetisation of the old currency on November 8, allowed holders to either exchange them or deposit in bank and post office accounts. While the facility to exchange the old notes has since been withdrawn, depositors have time till Friday to deposit the holding in their accounts.
Pakistani security forces today gave a 45-day ultimatum to the tribal people in Kurram Agency to surrender their heavy weapons and warned of strict actions if they failed to do so.

The ultimatum was given by Brigadier Malak Amir Muhammad Khan at a 'jirga' of all the tribes of Kurram Agency.

Brigadier Amir said the tribal people would be compelled to voluntarily hand over all heavy weapons to the government.

Issuing the directions, he said maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government and terrorists would not be allowed to disturb peace of the area.

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Polling to elect members and sarpanchs in 8,954 gram panchayats across Gujarat was held peacefully today with authorities predicting a higher voter turnout as against that in the last elections.

State Election Commissioner (SEC) Varesh Sinha said exact polling percentage will emerge later as it will take time to compile data of all 8,954 villages.

In previous village panchayat polls, the turnout stood at 77 per cent.

A large number of villagers queued up at polling booths during 8 AM to 5 PM to exercise their franchise.

Total number of registered voters for the polls stood at over 1.65 crore, including 79.6 lakh women.

Sinha said 36.36 per cent turnout was registered till 2 PM.

"Looking at the overwhelming response from rural voters, I can say that voter turnout would remain either at par or may go beyond previous election mark of 77 per per cent," he told reporters at Gandhinagar after voting closed.

The SEC said re-election will be held tomorrow on all seats in one ward and for a seat of Sarpanch in Kadana taluka in Mahisagar district.

"Due to some technical problem during polling, we have to conduct re-polling for the election of members of one ward and one sarpanch in Kadana taluka. The re-polling will be held tomorrow," Sinha said.

Counting of votes will be held on December 29 and the results will be declared the same day.

Sinha further said the polls on 12 seats have been postponed due to the death of candidates in the fray.

"Among these 12 candidates, 8 were contesting as panchayat members while four were in fray for the post of sarpanch. We have postponed polls on these seats," he said.

Out of total 10,279 village panchayats whose five-year tenure ended this month and were supposed to go for polls, 1,325 panchayats have been declared 'Samras' (representative elected unopposed), necessitating polls only for 8,954 gram panchayats, according to a release by SEC.

Around 1.20 lakh candidates were in the fray for 53,116 wards across the state, whereas 26,800 candidates contested on 8,527 seats of Sarpanch.

Over 44,000 ballot boxes were used across more than 22,000 polling booths in state.

Though EVMs were not used, voters were given the NOTA (None Of The Above) option in the ballot.

The state administration deployed more than 50,000 police personnel and over 1.35 lakh polling staff.

Gram Panchayat polls are not fought on party symbols and candidates need to fight in their personal capacity, wherein each voter is required to cast two votes, one to elect sarpanch and another for a panchayat member in his ward.

Ruling BJP had last month swept local bodies elections in state by capturing 107 seats out of total 123 seats.

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The ED today conducted searches at the premises of arrested Kolkata-based businessman Paras Mal Lodha here and in Delhi in connection with a money laundering case probe in two high-profile black money cases of illegal conversion of old notes in the wake of demonetisation.

Officials said the agency began the searches late in the afternoon and covered two of his premises here at S N Roy road and Queens Park here even as one location in Delhi was brought under the same operation.

Lodha (62), at present, is in the Enforcement Directorate's custody after he was arrested by the agency last week in Delhi.

He 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".

While Tandon's case pertains to an operation of Delhi Police and the Income Tax department earlier this month when the agencies had allegedly seized Rs 13.6 crore from a law firm he is associated with, that of mining baron Reddy relates to Chennai where the I-T department has made the biggest detection of alleged unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.

Both the cases pertain to the ED's anti-black money operations post the currency ban.

These two cases, involving Tandon and Reddy, are being probed by at least four agencies -- the ED, the I-T department, the CBI and Delhi Police.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti today said the political process and governance in the state have to be carried out simultaneously and asked her party workers to play their role in creating a congenial atmosphere for that.

"It has been the biggest success of our party to convince the stakeholders that the political process and governance in Jammu and Kashmir have to be carried out together.

"When the party was voted to power in 2002, it not only carried forward its development agenda, but the political process in the state took off, resulting in initiation of dialogue and many major state-specific confidence building measures," she told a gathering of PDP workers here.

The chief minister expressed regret that the state had to undergo a "political drought" after the PDP demitted office in 2005 and the whole process had to be "restarted from zero" in 2015 when her father and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took over the reins again.

"This was the biggest reason for the party to form the government in the state (with the BJP) so as to get the people out of the uncertainty which loomed large over them due to the political drought.

"In fact, much of the reason for the recent turmoil in the Valley lies in the fact that political engagement was discontinued after 2005 and no more state-specific confidence building measures took place afterwards," said Mehbooba.

The PDP president said when the party took over last year, "everything had to be started afresh".

"Development and dialogue were made prominent components of the Agenda of Alliance (PDP's common minimum programme with the BJP) and the government had just started to roll out its agenda.

"However, certain elements inimical to peace and development in the state worked to derail the process. The whole process got stuck due to the turmoil of the last five months during which not only the government, but every section of the society in Kashmir got affected and bruised," she said.

Mehbooba said though the delay in carrying forward the development process would be compensated, the lives lost and the setback the state's political process received were "irreparable".

She asked the party workers to make people aware of the "nefarious designs" of these "vested elements" who were only interested in "death and destruction in the state".

The chief minister asked the people to help her maintain peace in the state so that besides development, dialogue with all the stakeholders, opening of routes, more relief to the people and other state-specific measures could be undertaken.

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The American Red Cross pumps up its blood drive efforts at this time of year.

A conference room of the Holiday Inn in Beatrice held a busy, 11-hour blood drive on Tuesday.

Samantha Pollard, the Red Cross communications manager for Nebraska, said the organization can count on communities like Beatrice to put others needs before their own comfort.

Over half of Red Cross donors are repeat donors, Pollard said. You can see that here in Beatrice. People come in here and greet each other by name. Its really neat to see.

Limited stations and numerous donors resulted in long wait times and many pints of blood that will help individuals facing a variety of health situations.

Our phrase this year is, Give the perfect gift, because its free and it helps so many people out, Pollard said.

Pollard named examples of beneficiaries: a person suffering from a traumatic car accident, a cancer patient going through chemotherapy, a woman who lost a lot of blood during childbirth and a person with a blood disorder such as anemia.

The goal of the drive was 154 pints of blood. By 11 a.m., 46 donors had been through the line.

In the winter, we see a steep decline in donors probably because people are traveling, seeing family and not thinking about giving blood, Pollard said.

The American Red Cross is hosting seven major blood drive throughout Nebraska in the span of two weeks.

A total of about 1,000 pints will be donated from all of those combined, Pollard said.

Blood type O negative is the most sought after because it is the only type that can be transferred into any human. Less than 10 percent of the population has type O negative blood, Pollard said, while type O positive is the most common.

While some donors squeezed stress balls as blood pumped from them, others waited for their turn and sat patiently in a row of chairs. One donor said her wait time was nearly two hours, which she hopes doesnt happen in the future as it would repel donors from giving.
Rahul Gandhi today kept up suspense over a possible alliance in Uttar Pradesh as he skirted a question on the issue amid speculation that a tie-up between Congress and the ruling Samajwadi Party was in the offing.

"It is a strategic issue. I cannot say anything about it in a press conference. If you come to me personally, I can whisper in your ear," he told reporters at a joint press conference of eight opposition parties, here.

Gandhi was specifically asked whether the Congress was aligning with SP or the BSP in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, slated early next year, on the lines of the grand alliance in Bihar.

The grand alliance in Bihar comprising of once arch rivals Nitish Kumar's JD-U and Lalu Prasad's RJD, along with Congress had helped the defeat of BJP in the assembly polls last year.

Speculation is rife now that Congress may align with SP and reports of behind-the-scenes talks between the two parties are on.

Commenting on possibility of a tie-up between Samajwadi Party and Congress before Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, BSP supremo Mayawati has said an alliance would be struck only if it benefits BJP.

"SP and Congress alliance in UP will come into being only if BJP gives its approval and if it (BJP) feels it will gain from it...The green signal will be given by BJP after evaluating its gains and losses from such an alliance," she told persons in Lucknow yesterday.

BJP is banking heavily in Uttar Pradesh, where it secured 73 seats including two by its allies, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

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Union minister and BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan today said former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao has brought 'discredit' to late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa by saying Income Tax raids at his home and office would not have occurred had she been alive.

"Rao has brought discredit to the former Chief Minister by his alleged actions. Had she been alive and known about it, she would have permitted the raids and taken very severe action against him," he told reporters here.

Rao was trying to create "confusion" between AIADMK and the government officials, he said but did not elaborate.

Radhakrishnan pointed out that the raids at Rao's home and office in Chennai were only part of steps to eradicate corruption.

The BJP leader said it was not proper for AIADMK to blame the central government for the raids and pointed out that the Income Tax raids were carried out on specific information.

"The Income Tax officials are empowered to conduct raids," he said.

He said the Union government will not allow any person who commits wrong to escape.

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A man has died a week after being bitten by one of the world's deadliest snakes in his living room in Australia's tropical northeast, officials said.

The 77-year-old, named in local media as David Pitt, was at his home in Cairns when he was bitten between his toes as he tried to kill the snake with a spade last Tuesday, Queensland Ambulance said.

Paramedics performed CPR and gave Pitt anti-venom treatment before taking him to Cairns Base Hospital in a critical condition.

"There's quite a lot of blood on the scene so potentially the snake had actually hit a vein instead of just entering the tissue itself. It was quite a rapid injection of the venom," critical care flight paramedic Valerie Noble said last week.

Pitt remained in intensive care but died on Monday, a hospital spokeswoman told AFP today.

The snake was reportedly a 1.5-metre (4.9-foot) long coastal taipan, the world's third-most venomous snake.

Deaths from bites are rare despite Australia being home to 20 of the world's 25 most venomous snakes.

According to official estimates there are about 3,000 snakebite cases in Australia every year, with 300-500 needing anti-venom treatment. Only an average of two a year prove fatal.

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RJ Mir Afsar Ali has attracted online trolls for wishing everyone a merry Christmas but the radio jockey hit back at his detractors in a Facebook post that has gone viral.

Ali said he was shocked by some of the comments advising why a Muslim should not be "celebrating/wishing" on Christmas.

"I was actually very much shocked to see people reacting this way, telling me, literally admonishing me, and advising me that you being a Muslim, you actually should not be celebrating Christmas," he said.

"Had a great Christmas this year... Well almost.. Posted a pic of my family on my official page this morning wishing everyone on this very special day... But that's NOT what this post is about.. ?? It is about a few morons who started giving me advice on why a MUSLIM should not be 'celebrating'/'wishing' on Christmas...," Ali wrote on his Facebook wall.

He also attached the screenshots of some of the hateful comments and decided to put up a post, to criticise what he called a "worrying trend".

"NO... I am NOT angry. I am not even retaliating. I am just thoroughly amused at the state of affairs all around. I sadly realise where we stand today," he wrote, adding if he was to donate anything to a Christian or Hindu organisation, he will be criticised by some Muslims and if he decided to donate to a Muslim organisation, fanatics from other religions will object.

"Friends.. It is a strange world indeed and we are living in stranger times.. And maybe the people who have commented are from a neighbour country, but believe me... Believe me.. there are truly no boundaries/borders for religious fanatics... This is a worrying trend all over the world..

"And trust me, it was always there.. The minds were always this narrow... It's just that today, you get to read/speak about it more often than you breathe air and drink water!



"All I can say at the end of this post for these scumbags is ironically in the words of Lord Jesus Christ... "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."



He ended the post with an amusing line.

"Yeh Christmas jitni 'Merry' hai, utni hi hai 'Teri'.. Par Afsos, tu samjhegaa nahin."



Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said there is proper legal architecture in place about the IT Act for a person troubled by any trolling.

"Those who abuse the system, there is a proper legal architecture in place to take action for which complaint can be filed," he told a TV channel.

Superstar Aamir Khan said he prefers to ignore trolls and move towards positivity.

"In life we meet all kinds of people. Some people are negative. So I try and stay away from them. Get positive energy and give positive energy," he said.

According to wrestler Gita Phogat, its better to "ignore people speaking nonsense".

Actor Alok Nath said, "I am not that net savvy as how the intricacies work but I think this was not an issue for the award wapasi gang who thought they would get brownie points for. And they were hibernating.

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The chief of a cooperative bank in the district and two others were arrested today after more than Rs two crore worth jewels kept in its lockers by customers were looted in phases over the past few years.

President of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Bank in Punnavasal Kalimuthu, clerk Andi and another person were arrested for their alleged involvement in the loot after an inquiry found that all the jewels missing, police said.

The District Collector had directed Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives Jaya Singh to look into a complaint from 144 customers who said the bank remained closed for several moths and they were unable to retrieve their jewels.

The Deputy Registrar was shocked to find that the locker of the bank had only Rs.101 in cash and all the jewels missing.

Police said bank officials allegedly started to remove the jewels from 2013 onwards.

In fact, former bank president C.Narayanan was the brain behind the entire loot and he had built a posh house with swimming pool and other facilities.

The other person arrested was Thangapandi, who is the brother of Narayanan.

Police said they were searching for Narayanan, who is absconding.

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Former Central Information Commissioner and noted RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi has expressed concern over delay in filling of three vacancies of Information Commissioner in Maharashtra.

Two of these posts are vacant for the last two years, while the state has a huge pendency of 42,000 appeals under the Right to Information Act, he said in his letter a day ago.

There are a total of eight information commissioners in the state.

"It was very heartening to get a response from you (to an earlier letter) that the CM was seized of the matter....There does not appear to be any movement on this front in the last two months. If the CM gives an assurance, it should be implemented, lest it lose all meaning," Gandhi said in latest missive to the Principal Secretary, Chief Minister's Office.

Gandhi had first written to the CM about this in October.

Post of the information commissioner for Amaravati region is vacant for the last six months, while those for Aurangabad and Nashik regions are vacant for the last two years.

"As per the law, government can appoint as many as 11 commissioners, considering the influx and number of pendency of the cases, but Maharashtra government has so far preferred to appoint only maximum eight commissioners," Gandhi told PTI.

"This is why I have urged the Chief Minister to appoint at least five information commissioners against the vacancies of three, so that they can dispose of huge pendency of 42,000 (appellate) cases," he said.

Gandhi, in his letter, also reminded that Union Government, at one point, had to appoint Central Information Commissioners following the court orders.

"That is not the way a democracy should function. With all humility I request the CM to give his attention to this matter. Please appoint five commissioners so that the RTI Act works meaningfully in our state," he wrote.

Gandhi was appointed to the Central Information Commission in 2008 where he served till 2012.

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In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday amid chill in relations between the two countries, Shiv Sena today invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji saying the warrior king never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation."



Significantly, the Sena's barb at Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji in Mumbai.

The ally also voiced its displeasure over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

"What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of Swarajya as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

During the build-up to 'jal pujan' for the memorial, Sena did not hide its feeling that BJP has sought to "hijack" the event for claiming the legacy of the Maratha icon to secure political mileage.

"We only ask politicians not to use Chhatrapati to play low-grade politics. Those who claim rights on Chhatrapati will bite the dust in the end. They would do well remember the history," the editorial said today.

"Ensure that the memorial does not get trapped in selfish politics, thereby forcing Shivaji Maharaj to use his sword against these self-centred politicians," it said.

The ruling alliance partner, however, said it understood the importance of Modi in the BJP, and that his party is what it is today only due to the "Modi tonic".

"While the Sainiks and Shivaji fans were chanting slogans hailing the Chhatrapati, BJP workers were shouting slogans in the name of Modi. Can anyone compare himself to Shivaji? Modi himself will not approve of this," Sena said.

Notably, during the public meeting addressed by Modi here on Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's speech was interrupted for a while, apparently by BJP supporters present among the audience by chanting "Modi, Modi,".

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In a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka will soon release 20 Indian fishermen held for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, a senior minister has said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney General's department to release the 20 fishermen from India.

"Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned," Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

"So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released," he said.

Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said.

According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody.

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties.

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Tightening norms for tribal residential schools, Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all teaching and non-teaching staff to stay within the ashram school premises, in a bid to prevent any unfortunate incidents.

The government directive comes in the backdrop of an alleged rape of a minor in a tribal residential school in Buldhana last month.

At present, there are 546 aided and 529 government-run ashram schools under the Tribal Development Department. There are 2.53 lakh students in aided ashram schools and 1.93 lakh students studying in government-run ashram schools.

The state government's directive will be applicable to aided ashram schools, junior colleges with hostel facility, ashram schools for scheduled tribe and scheduled caste, such schools for handicap and special students as well as government-run ashram schools, an official from the social justice department said.

"There are students residing in these schools at night. In case of an unfortunate incident or any natural calamity, these students will require immediate help. It is thus binding on all teaching and non-teaching staff to stay in the premises of ashram schools," a Government Resolution issued by the social justice department stated.

It further said that the Joint Commissioner, district social welfare officer, Zilla Parishad should periodically keep a watch on tribal residential schools.

"If staff is not found in the school premises, strict action will be taken against the erring members," the GR stated.

Recently, a state-run residential school for tribals in Maharashtra was found to have 50 "bogus" students on its roll amid the government's move to tighten norms for providing grant to such institutes and also their overall administration.

The alleged rape of a minor girl at a government-aided tribal school in Buldhana district early last month led the government to order an inquiry into the living conditions of students in all the 1,075 such institutes in the state.

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Stimulus Research Services will host 'Globe Luxurie Decode' in Dubai next year, an event that will take Indian luxury brands to a global audience.

"Globe Luxurie Decode will be a unique platform showcasing the biggest luxury brands, a never-witnessed-before auction featuring 20 premium brands, a business conclave and an awards ceremony honouring 101 international luxury brands and an extravagant expo featuring more than 150 international luxury brands," Stimulus Research Services MD Sanjana Mohan told reporters here.

She added that the event is expected to see participation from more than 600 corporates.

* * * *



* Ola offers 'one-way' trip fares for 50 cities from Delhi-NCR



Transportation app Ola today said it has offer 'one-way' trip fares for over 50 cities from Delhi-NCR under its 'Outstation' offering.

One-way trip, where customers are charged only for one way instead of round trip for inter-city travel.

"Ola today announced the launch of 'One way' trip fares on Ola Outstation to over 50 key cities from Delhi NCR," it said in a statement.

This would include locations like Agra, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Mathura, Haridwar as well as industrial zones like Meerut, Sonipat, Bhiwadi and Bawal among others.

* * * *



* CyberHub parking to accept payment through MobiKwik



Visitors at DLF CyberHub in Gurgaon will now be able to pay for parking using MobiKwik's mobile wallet.

"MobiKwik has activated the entire parking bay at bustling CyberHub that connects Gurgaon and New Delhi and clocks about 25,000 footfalls a day," MobiKwik said in a statement.

* * * *



* Freecharge partners eBay India



Mobile wallet platform FreeCharge today said it has partnered online marketplace pioneer eBay India via Billdesk.

With the partnership, both FreeCharge and eBay customers can pay for their orders using the FreeCharge wallet option, a statement said.

Users can also avail 25 per cent cashback offer on selecting FreeCharge as the payment mode, it added.

* * * *



* CoinTribe ropes in former Oxigen exec Manish Gulati as CTO



CoinTribe, an online lending marketplaces, today said it has appointed former Oxigen Services executive Manish Gulati as its Chief Technology Officer.

With over 18 years of experience, Gulati has worked with companies like Yahoo, HCL, InfoEdge and Qwikcilver. In his last assignment, he was CTO at Oxigen Services.

He will be responsible for development of CoinTribe's tech strategy for SME lending marketplace, for creating next generation products and services including evolution of Platform as a Service (PaaS) and delivery of digital consumer experience, it said in a statement.

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The city police's crime branch today arrested three persons with 600 counterfeit currency notes of the defunct Rs 1,000 denomination.

Following a tip-off, crime branch officials nabbed three persons near a hospital in Limbayat area of the city, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Vaghela.

Zakir Patel (40), one of the accused, claimed to be a British citizen and told the police that he had brought the notes from UK to exchange them with new notes, said Vaghela.

Other two were identified as Faizal Patel (26) and Sarfaraz Yakub (35), both working as electricians.

"Zakir Patel, who originally belongs to Bharuch, claimed he is a citizen of UK and works there as a teacher. He claimed to have acquired these 600 notes of Rs 1,000 in UK and come to India some time back," said the DCP.

"We are yet to verify his claims about citizenship and acquisition of these notes with total face value of Rs 6 lakh," he said.

"The trio claimed they wanted to exchange these fake notes with new notes by paying around 20 to 30 per cent commission. We are investigating their possible links with people who are into this illegal trade," said the DCP.

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Launching a scathing attack on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for his "chauraha" comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi today said people would prosecute hoarders of black money at the public square after December 30.

"People are standing solidly with the prime minister on his decision to scrap high value currencies and they are ready to prosecute hoarders of black money who would be unmasked at the public square after December 30," he said in a statement.

Prasad had asked Modi to choose a "chauraha" (roundabout) where people can punish him on demonetisation and December 30 marks the end of 50 days after the scrapping of high value notes when, according to the PM's assurance, the situation would ease.

said the RJD dharna against demonetisation here tomorrow would meet the same fate as that of Bharat bandh and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's dharna against it.

"The deposit of Rs 104 crore in BSP bank account has exposed the reasons behind protests by Mayawati, Mamata Banerjee and Lalu Prasad against demonetisation," he said.

"Does Lalu Prasad, who has been convicted by court in a corruption case due to which he has been debarred from contesting any election have the moral right to talk on black money to fight against which the PM took a decision to scrap Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes?" he asked.

"Lalu Prasad is the first such leader of Bihar who has been sentenced to five year punishment by Supreme Court in the Rs 700 crore fodder scam, due to which he cannot even fight election for even a mukhiya post," he added.
Security forces today opened fire at two places in south Kashmir after noticing suspicious movement of people, police said.

Security force personnel fired several rounds in the air at Jablipora in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district after noticing some suspicious movement of people in an orchard, a police official said.

However, no casualty was reported in the incident, he said.

In another incident, security forces fired a few rounds after a three-wheeler ignored a signal to stop during checking at a mobile checkpoint in Lassipora of Pulwama district, the official said.

He said while the three-wheeler sped away, security forces have cordoned off the area and launched search operations.

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Taiwan's defence minister warned today that threats from China were growing daily after Beijing's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions grow.

After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The navy drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Chinese media had earlier reported that the aircraft carrier and escorts were headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in less than a month.

Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan had called the timing of China's air exercises a coincidence, but warned that the island still faces a military threat and called on youths to join the army.

Feng said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily.

"I ask for strict training ... We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name.

"The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all."



Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships, which were spotted on Sunday some 20 nautical miles outside Taiwan's air defence identification zone, in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept.

Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative.

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The Telangana government plans to set up an 'Industrial Health Clinic' to support sick enterprises in the state in Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector with a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore.

State Industries Minister K T Rama Rao has written a letter to Union Minister for MSMEs Kalraj Mishra seeking Centre's support for the initiative. The letter was handed over to Mishra by Telangana Principal Secretary for Industry in Delhi, an official release said.

"The Telangana government believes in the philosophy of prevention is better than cure and as such would like to set up Industrial Health Clinic for MSMEs under the Telangana Industrial Development Corporation to diagnose, aid, facilitate and support the incipient sick and sick enterprises and to supplement the efforts of the Banks/Financial Institutions through a dedicated corpus fund with active stakeholder participation," the release quoting the Minister said.

The 'clinic' is proposed to be set up with a corpus fund of Rs 100 crore in which the state's participation would be to the tune of Rs 10 crore. The contribution of industrial associations and other stakeholders would be Rs 50 crore.

The state government has requested the Centre to provide Rs 50 crore as its contribution as a "one time grant", the release added.

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Trinamool Congress today announced that it would launch a continuous movement in Tripura to "restore democracy" by ousting the Left Front government in the state assembly elections scheduled for 2018.

"Only insistent movement can oust the corrupt Marxist government from power. The way TMC led by Mamata Banerjee has ousted the Marxist government from power in West Bengal, Tripura too would follow the example," president of the newly formed Tripura unit of the party, Asish Saha told reporters.

Banerjee had formed a 74-member Tripura Pradesh unit of TMC with Saha as its president yesterday.

Saha alleged that the state's employees were deprived because the recommendations of the sixth pay commission were not implemented. Besides, a large number of youths were unemployed and crime against women was very high in Tripura.

He announced that TMC supporters and activists would demonstrate before the RBI office here on January 3 against demonetisation, which caused "limitless inconveniences to the people".

A nine-member state coordination committee with all the six TMC MLAs and former Tripura chief minister Samir Ranjan Barman was announced by party supremo Mamata Banerjee. Ratan Chakraborty is its chairman and Surajit Datta the convenor.

Six Congress MLAs led by former leader of opposition Sudip Roy Burman had earlier this year defected in protest against the party's electoral alliance with the Left Front in West Bengal.

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DMK MP Tiruchi Siva today said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam should respond to former Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao's claim that he continued to remain on the top post despite being replaced following Income Tax raids at his residence and office.

"Chief Minister Panneerselvam should respond to the claims of Rao that he still holds the post of Chief Secretary in Tamil Nadu," Siva told reporters here after a meeting of opposition parties against demonetisation.

Siva said, "His statements do not sound like a person who handled an important position in the government, but of a politician."



Rao was removed after an I-T search at his Anna Nagar residence, besides the premises of his son and some relatives, prompting the opposition parties in the state to seek his removal.

He was replaced from the top post with Additional Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan.

DMK was a part of the opposition grouping led by Congress which held a meeting today against demonetisation.

Siva said cash crunch had affected people from all walks of life.

"Despite the deadline, which the PM announced, being near, there is no clue about when the crisis would end. In the meeting, several demands have also been raised including the resignation of the Prime Minister if the crisis does not end," he said.

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A trader was shot dead by unidentified assailants in a village in Bihar's Samastipur district while foiling a bank robbery bid, a police officer said today.

The incident took place in Harishankarpur village late last night as gunmen shot at the grocery trader Manjeet Sahni after he raised an alarm to foil a robbery bid at a Bank of Baroda branch located near his house, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Javed Ansari said.

Sahni had woken up from sleep hearing the sound of gas cutter with which the thieves were trying to cut through the grill and window of the bank office to carry out the heist, Ansari said.

Apparently panicking at the alarm raised by the trader, the thieves shot at him from close range killing him on the spot, the DSP said.

The murder of trader evoked protest by the local people who set up a road blockade demanding compensation to the kin of the victim.

Efforts were on to pacify the mob, Ansari said.

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A Turkish court has put a broadcast ban on reporting of the investigation into last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov, state media said today.

A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey.

An Ankara court agreed to a request by prosecutors for a ban on broadcasting images of the assassination -- which was caught on film -- as well as the investigation itself, the state-run Anadolu agency said.

This includes concerning witnesses, victims or suspects in the murder.

The ruling said such could be prejudicial to the investigation and to national security. The ban will last for the duration of the investigation.

It was not clear what had prompted the ban one week after the December 19 murder but it came one day after the daily Hurriyet published a detailed interview with the sister of the murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas.

The sister, named as Seher O., said her brother had been "brainwashed" while attending police school in Izmir.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Altintas was a member of the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup.

However this has yet to be echoed by Russian officials, who say it is too early to comment on the investigation.

In recent years, Turkish authorities have repeatedly placed broadcast bans on sensitive issues and in the wake of attacks, citing national security.

Critics say freedom of expression has declined in Turkey after Erdogan became president in August 2014 but the government has insisted everything is done within the framework of the law.

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With the Midterm Elections less than one week away: What do you consider the top issues that you will be voting on to be corrected by your better representation?

Education Crime Big Government getting Bigger Biden /Democrat controlled Spike in Energy Cost Inflation created by Legislation of Majority in Power Gender Reassignment Corrupted Bureaucratic /Service (DOJ, FBI, etc.) Institutions Abortion Discredited Legacy Media Ending the Corruption of Dishonest Politicians Corruptive Influence of Social Media Wide Open Southern Border
The president of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot region of northern Cyprus said today that a referendum on reunifying the island could be held in the summer if talks next month went to plan.

Mustafa Akinci and President Nicos Anastasiades of the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus are due to meet in Switzerland in January, in a bid to give new momentum to the process.

"If everything goes well and there is no accident on the way, then a referendum could be on the agenda in the summer months," Akinci told reporters in Nicosia.

He said there are some 100 issues to deal with in the Cyprus negotiations but the most sensitive amount to just 8-10 issues, including land, property and security.

Anastasiades and Akinci agreed to resume the talks for the reunification of the divided Mediterranean island after negotiations broke down in Switzerland last month.

Akinci confirmed he would hold one-on-one talks with Anastasiades before being joined on January 12 by the three guarantor powers of Cyprus -- Britain, Greece and Turkey.

"There will be no one else around the table," Akinci said.

Turkish Cypriot media earlier this month quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin as saying the Turkish strongman would be joining the talks from January 12.

Meanwhile Anastasiades will travel to Athens Friday for talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras ahead of the fresh negotiations, his government's spokesman said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the island in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.

The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognised by Turkey. The Republic of Cyprus is however an EU member.

Anastasiades and Akinci, who are among the most outspoken proponents of a deal, are under huge pressure to deliver progress in the talks. But any agreement they reach will have to be approved by their respective communities in referendums.

Akinci, born in Limassol which is now in the Greek Cypriot south, had himself repeatedly spoken of 2016 as a "window of opportunity" to solve the Cyprus problem.

Cypriots on both sides of the island in 2004 voted in referendums on a UN plan to reunite Cyprus. It was overwhelmingly approved by Turkish Cypriots but also overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

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Two persons have been arrested in connection with the gunning down of a youth at Mahindra Park area of north-west Delhi, police said today.

The duo identified as Chotu(26) and Bhola(20), were detained for questioning and were arrested last night, said a senior police officer.

Victim Jeet Kumar, who was the complainant and main witness in a murder case in July, sustained three bullet injuries and died on the spot on December 25. Police had received a call around 9.30 pm last about shooting of a youth outside a liquor vend.

Police shifted Jeet having bullet injuries on head, leg and chest, to Babu Jagjivan Ram hospital where doctors declared him dead, said a senior police officer.

He was the main witness in a murder case and was also the complainant in a case of murder of his friend Vijay in July.

Vijay was beaten to death by some people, he said. Jeet was receiving threat calls asking him to back off from the case.

In Vijay's murder case, Sandeepand Sadat's name had cropped up. Four people were arrested but the duo is on the run.

The duo allegedly was threatening Jeet.

Chotu and Bhola, may not be connected with the murder of Vijay, police said.

"They are not involved in the murder which took place in July. But we are questioning them to verify their claims. The other four accused who were involved in Jeet's murder have been identified," said the officer



The four accused have been identified as Sandeep, Sadat, Ajay and Jaipal.

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Union Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala has commended the Sikkim State Rural Management Department for being the only one to implement Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) scheme in its full capacity.

The 100 per cent success in the implementation of the scheme reflects the inclination and total involvement of officers of the rural management department and the panchayat fraternity, Rupala, also Union Minister of State for Farmers Welfare and Panchayati Raj, said.

The Minister, who is on a three-day visit to the Himalayan state, also said that the 10 per cent enhancement in the planning fund for all the states from 32 per cent to 42 per cent is a huge incentive to carry out schemes and programmes for rural development.

At the same time this would mean that the Centre may have to withdraw certain schemes but he assured that the ongoing schemes and programmes would not suffer and would be completed in stipulated time.

He also lauded the state for being the leading state in the country in organic farming, cleanliness and being the first open defecation free state in the country.

Speaking on the demand for organic products, he urged the state to focus more on marketing of such products and added that more emphasis should be laid on medicinal plants. ' The minister also expressed his appreciation for the evolution of social auditing in the state and called it a noble initiative. Some of the best practices of the state in rural development are exemplary and worth sharing with other states.

The union minister assured that his ministry would sincerely look into the proposals submitted by the state Rural Management Minister S B Subedi.

Subedi had earlier submitted a memorandum of demands concerning panchayati raj in the state and requested Rupala to condier them.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today laid foundation stone for Film Television and Liberal Arts Institute here.

The state government has allocated a token amount of Rs 10 crore for the institute and 14 acres has been allotted for the institute under Awadh Vihar Yojna near Lucknow Haat on Shaheed Path.

The Chief Minister also distributed Rs 9.41 crore to film industry people for the films being shot in the state.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Yadav highlighted developmental projects during his rule, including Lucknow metro and Lucknow-Agra Expressway and claimed his government has set the tone for development of the state.

Veteran Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan, her son Abhishek Bachchan, film director Anurag Kashyap and Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishen were among those present on the occasion.

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Kurdish-led fighters are approaching a strategic dam controlled by the Islamic State group in northern Syria after days of fighting that killed a senior IS military commander, a spokesman for the US-backed forces and others said today.

Talal Sillo of the Syria Democratic Forces said the fighters, with the support of US, French and British special forces, have driven IS from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and are now about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Euphrates Dam.

The SDF, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, has been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November, advancing with the aid of US-led airstrikes. The operation is aimed at encircling and eventually retaking Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-declared caliphate.

The city is home to nearly 200,000 mostly Sunni Arabs and an estimated 5,000 IS fighters.

"The ongoing operation is the second phase west of Raqqa," Sillo said, adding that the first phase was north of the city. "More phases will come later to isolate the city and then to begin liberating it."



The capture of the dam, which controls the flow of water to parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, would deal a major blow to the extremist group, which has held the facility for more than two years. Behind the dam lies Lake Assad, which at 640 square kilometers (247 square miles), is Syria's largest reservoir.

Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other. The IS-linked Aamaq agency reported Monday that 24 SDF fighters were killed in the area, while Sillo said his forces had killed dozens of extremists.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fate of a top IS military commander known as Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti is still unknown after he was targeted by US-led coalition aircraft.

The Syrian army said Abu Jandal was killed fighting in the Tabqa area near the dam. IS supporters on social media confirmed he was killed.

The US Central Command said that coalition aircraft conducted nine strikes near the city of Raqqa yesterday that engaged three IS tactical units, destroying vehicles rigged with explosives, a bridge, a fighting position, and a supply cache. It said two airstrikes near the Ein Issa area to the north of Raqqa hit two IS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.

Sillo said that in recent days the SDF has captured 1,300 square kilometers (502 square miles). He said their next target is the town of Tabqa, home to a military base where IS fighters killed scores of captured Syrian troops in 2014.

He said the fighting today was concentrated near the Jaabar castle on Lake Assad, after SDF captured the nearby village of Jaabar.

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The United States says China has the right to sail in waters after a Chinese aircraft carrier cruised past Taiwan and into the contested South China Sea.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported on Monday that the aircraft carrier and five warships sailed 90 nautical miles south of Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China. Beijing says it is a routine training exercise.

China has previously accused US warships of making provocative passes through the South China Sea.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner yesterday said the US recognises lawful uses of the sea, and the same rights apply to the US, China and other nations.

He said, "as we often make the case with our own naval vessels sailing ... In those same waters, it's freedom of navigation.
Four men, arrested for allegedly raping a US tourist in a 5-star hotel earlier this year, were today sent to two-day judicial custody by a city court.

Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh sent the accused to Tihar Jail after Delhi Police moved an application seeking their judicial custody.

Yesterday, the police had arrested a tour guide, a driver, a cleaner and a hotel staff in connection with the alleged gangrape of the woman in April this year.

The US national arrived here a few days ago to join the probe and recorded her statement in front of a judicial magistrate where she reiterated that she was gangraped by five persons in a five-star hotel here.

Four accused were arrested after the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to Delhi Police asking them why the Rape Crisis Cell of the women's panel was not informed when the victim's statement was recorded.

Earlier, the complainant had said she was not "satisfied" with the probe and was ready to come to India to identify the accused.

The woman had alleged that she was raped by the men for two days and also threatened with dire consequences if she reported the matter to anybody.

She had also stated that the accused had made a video of the act and threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone. She had also told the police that the accused had claimed to have sexually assaulted a couple of other female tourists as well.

A team of psychologists and psychiatrists have been assisting the lady in recalling the details of the incident. The team is also working with the police in their investigation to tie up loose ends.

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Polling to elect members as well as sarpanchs in 8,954 gram panchayats across Gujarat is being held today with villagers queuing up outside polling booths since morning.

Counting of votes as well as declaration of results for these village panchayats will be held on December 29.

Out of the total 10,279 village panchayats whose five- year tenure ended this month and were supposed to go for polls, 1,325 panchayats have been declared 'Samras' (representative elected unopposed), according to the Gujarat State Election Commission (SEC).

Thus, elections are being held today for only 8,954 gram panchayats, a release by the SEC said.

Samras is a village panchayat where people come together and decide their representatives, including members and sarpanchs, without elections.

The gram panchayat polls are not fought on party symbols and candidates need to fight in their personal capacity. In gram panchayat polls, each voter is required to cast two votes, one to elect sarpanch and another for electing panchayat member for his ward.

For 53,116 wards across the state, around 1.20 lakh candidates are in fray while around 26,800 candidates are contesting for 8,527 seats of sarpanchs.

As per the figures of SEC, total number of registered voters for the polls stands at more than 1.65 crore, including 79.6 lakh women.

More than 22,000 polling booths have been set up across the state to facilitate voting, which is being carried out using more than 44,000 ballot boxes.

To have trouble-free polling, the state administration has deployed more than 50,000 policemen and over 1.35 lakh polling staff across the state, the release added.

BJP had last month swept local bodies elections by capturing 107 seats out of total 123 seats which went for polls in different parts of the state. It was considered a shot in the arm for the ruling party ahead of Gujarat elections next year.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had then hailed the victory as people's endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two recent steps - surgical strikes across the LoC and demonetisation.

The party had also won in two municipalities and one taluka panchayat along with majority seats of various other local bodies.

The Congress had manged to capture only 16 seats in local bodies elections.

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World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Finance Minster Senator Ishaq Dar and discussed with him Indo-Pak water dispute, days after the country asked the global lender to "fulfil its obligations" on the issue.

Dawn newspaper quoted official sources as saying the call was made yesterday.

Dar on December 23 had written a letter to Kim over the dispute over two hydroelectric power plants -- Kishanganga and Ratle -- that India is building on the Indus rivers system.

Dar in his letter said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt its interests as India is working day and night to complete the two disputed projects. And once they are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers - the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej - while Pakistan has the three western rivers - the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum. The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Earlier, last week Kim sent a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, informing them that he had decided to 'pause' the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle this dispute.

Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.

In the formal request sent to the bank, Pakistan argued that the Court of Arbitration could be formed at the request of either party, if the party concludes that the dispute is not likely to be resolved by negotiation or mediation.

The bank would also be obliged to establish the court if the aggrieved party concluded that the other government was unduly delaying the negotiations.

Pakistan informed the World Bank that it has already exhausted the option to engage India for resolving the dispute through bilateral talks and was now exercising the option to take its case to the Court of Arbitration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The West Bengal government has instructed the police not to send any report directly to the Union Home Ministry on the law-and-order situation in the state without getting it vetted by the state secretariat.

"This is a practice where the Home Ministry sends a letter to the state police headquarters seeking a report on the law-and-order situation every year and replies are sent directly to it without seeking the opinion of the secretariat," a highly-placed source at the state secretariat told PTI.

But this year, the report from the police headquarters requires a nod from the secretariat, before being sent to the Centre, he added.

The source said the letter from the Centre, which was sent recently to the state police headquarters (Bhawani Bhawan), sought information on law-and-order in the backdrop of the arrest of several persons having links with terror outfits such as the JMB and IS, unearthing of an international child-trafficking racket and seizure of fake currency notes.

He said an "internal circular" was issued from the top echelons of the state police that "no statistics would be sent to the Home Ministry without the consent of the state secretariat".

The circular stated that henceforth such queries from the Home Ministry, seeking any report on law-and-order, should be forwarded to the state Director General of Police. From now on, no official at the police directorate will be allowed to send any report to the Home Ministry directly.

The DGP will go through the Centre's queries following which top officials of the administration will meet to decide whether to answer them or not. In certain cases, the chief minister's opinion could also be sought, the source said.

In 2013, the state had not sent any statistics to the National Crime Bureau (NCB).

The decision of the state government came in the wake of deterioration in the Centre-state ties over a number of issues such as the deployment of army at toll plazas "without taking the state's permission" and CRPF personnel accompanying income tax officers during a search operation in the state.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had described the two developments as a move against the spirit of the federal structure.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mrs. Alberta Boyd Hodges, aged 98, was a resident of Arapahoe, NC and passed away at Grantsbrook Nursing Center on Thursday, December 22nd, 2016.The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 27th from 1 to 2PM at the Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington. Following the visitation, family and friends are invited to proceed to the graveside service which will be held at Trinity Cemetery of Chocowinity, NC. The service will be officiated by Rev. Todd Parrish. Pallbearers will be Kevin Griffin, Alton Griffin, Ritchie Griffin, Johnny Griffin, Eddie Griffin and Robert Earl Carrow. Honorary pallbearer will be Josh Griffin.Alberta was born on June 4, 1918 to the late Noah Boyd and Emma Ryan Harrell Boyd in Beaufort County, NC. She was the longest living child in her family. She married Robert Earl Carrow who preceded her in death. She later married Leo Hodges, who also preceded her in death. Early in her life, Alberta worked in several area nursing homes as a nursing assistant. She then worked at Hamilton Beach for many years. After her marriage to Leo Hodges, she became the manager and cook at the family business, Hodges Grocery and Grill. Alberta was known far and wide as a wonderful cook.Mrs. Hodges is survived by her two children; Marvin "Bud" Carrow and his wife Cynthia of Chocowinity, and her daughter Lynda C. Griffin of Arapahoe. She had five grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren.Those who wish to express their condolences may do so by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com The family wishes to thank Mr. Billy Slade and Paul Funeral Home and Crematory of Washington for their kind and professional assistance during this difficult time.Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve Mrs. Alberta's family.
The fury of the winter storm that swept into the northern Great Plains on Christmas Day weakened today, but thousands remained without power in the Dakotas and Michigan.

High winds and drifting snow continued to make travel hazardous in the Dakotas, even as vast stretches of highways that had been closed reopened to traffic.

The storm has caused extensive power outages in the Dakotas, Nebraska and Michigan.

The South Dakota Rural Electric Association said roughly 13,700 of its customers were without power as of 1 am today.

In Nebraska, winds gusting up to 70 mph were cited for hundreds of power outages in central and eastern portions of the state Sunday, although by Monday morning, utilities reported that power had been restored to most customers.

High winds knocked out power to thousands of customers in Michigan on Monday.

Consumers Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler told WOOD-TV that more than 20,000 customers in the state were without power Monday evening. Most of the outages occurred between 7 and 8 pm, he said.

The Traverse City Record Eagle reported that customers of several utilities in northern Michigan were without power yesterday.

The combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that bore down on the northern plains starting on Christmas Day led to no-travel warnings for much of North Dakota.

The National Weather Service's blizzard warning for western and central portions of the state expired Monday afternoon, but the agency warned that drifting snow still blocked some roads.

Interstate 94 remained closed west of Jamestown, North Dakota. In South Dakota, Interstate 90, which had been closed for 260 miles between the Wyoming border and Chamberlain, was reopened to traffic yesterday.

Severe whiteout conditions led to the closure of Minot International Airport, which wasn't expected to reopen until 3 am today. The airports serving Fargo and Bismarck also listed flight cancellations on their websites.

Winds gusting 40 mph to 50 mph also led to delays and cancellations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A section of employees of the currency printing press at Salboni in West Bengal has informed the authorities that they will not be working beyond nine-hour shifts from tomorrow, indicating a slump in printing of currency notes at the facility.

The Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) Employees' Association have served a notice to the authorities that several of their members have taken ill due to continuous overtime shifts since December 14.

Trinamool Congress MP and president of the Association Sisir Adhikari said, "Several employees have taken ill at the currency presses in Mysore and Salboni. Since December 14, all employees were forced by the authorities to do 12-hour shifts so that round-the-clock printing of notes could be done to meet the sudden huge demand of notes specially of Rs 500 and Rs 100 denominations."



"We had repeatedly urged the authorities that more recruitment should be done to at least keep the workers fit to carry on with their duties, but nothing has been done. The workers are not slaves that they will continue doing 12-hour shifts," he said.

The BRBNMPL-Salboni facility prints around 96 million notes daily with workers putting in two shifts of 12-hours duration each.

Association secretary Nepal Singh said the output at nine-hour shift would be 34 million notes, a total of 68 million in two shifts. The shortfall would be of 28 million notes from the present output level.

Asked about the huge demand of new currency notes post-demonetisation and suffering of common people due to this sudden decision of the association, Adhikari said, "We know there will be problems, but the Centre has to solve it as it was their decision to demonetise currency notes in the first place."



Around 700 employees working at the Salboni facility are affiliated to BRBNMPL Employees' Association. The press prints all currency denominations from Rs 10 to Rs 2,000.

Authorities of BRBNMPL-Salboni denied to comment on the situation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MOSCOW/DUBAI (Reuters) - The first meeting of a committee of OPEC and non-OPEC nations responsible for monitoring compliance with a global agreement to reduce oil output has been proposed for Abu Dhabi on Jan. 13, two sources told on Tuesday.

The commission includes 5 members: Kuwait, Algeria, Venezuela, Russia and Oman.

(Reporting by Olesya Astakhova and Rania el Gamal; writing by Katya Golubkova; Editing by Adrian Croft)

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Makiko Yamazaki

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp said it may have to book several billion dollars in charges related to a U.S. nuclear power acquisition, a shock warning that sent its stock tumbling 12 percent and rekindled concerns about its accounting acumen.

The Japanese group said cost overruns at U.S. power projects handled by a nuclear construction business newly acquired from Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I) would be much greater than initially expected, potentially requiring a huge writedown.

Such a hit would be another slap in the face for a sprawling conglomerate hoping to recover from a $1.3 billion accounting scandal as well as a writedown of more than $2 billion for its nuclear business in the last financial year."This will come as an additional shock to Toshiba's institutional investors that may further undermine confidence in company management as well as significantly weakening its international nuclear credentials," said Tom O'Sullivan, founder of energy consultancy Mathyos Japan.

O'Sullivan noted the acquisition in December 2015 coincided with the finalising of a record fine by Japanese regulators for accounting irregularities at Toshiba, indicating that corporate governance controls were extremely weak.

Toshiba Chief Executive Satoshi Tsunakawa, who only took the helm in June after his predecessor embarked on a series of restructuring steps to clean up Toshiba's books, said the conglomerate would look at some kind of strategy to boost capital.

"We would have needed to boost our capital base anyway because our shareholders' equity ratio is low," he told a conference.

As of end-September, Toshiba had shareholders' equity of 363 billion yen, or just 7.5 percent of assets, which could fall close to zero if the company is forced to log significant losses.

Asked if Toshiba's liabilities would exceed its assets, Chief Financial Officer Masayoshi Hirata said the company had not yet completed its estimation of the charge.

It would finalise that by mid-February, he said, adding that the conglomerate would explain the situation to its main banks and seek their support. Toshiba's main lenders are Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc and Mizuho Financial Group

Toshiba has positioned its nuclear and semiconductors businesses as key pillars of growth while seeking to scale down less profitable consumer electronics units such as personal computers and TVs.

But Toshiba could revise the positioning of its nuclear business if need be, said Tsunakawa, who has been credited with having shaped a medical equipment unit into a major earnings driver. The unit was sold to Canon Inc this year.

Tsunakawa added that asset sales or a potential listing of its cashcow flash memory chips division were options that could be considered.

DEAL OF DISCORD

The deal between CB&I and Toshiba's Westinghouse division has been fraught with disagreement since at least July.

Clashing over who should shoulder potential liabilities related to cost overruns and over calculations for working capital for the unit, CB&I sued Toshiba's Westinghouse division after Westinghouse said it was owed more than $2 billion.

Toshiba has not disclosed its financial advisers for the deal.

Shares in Toshiba, which remains on the Tokyo bourse's watchlist due to concerns about the firms' internal controls, finished 12 percent lower, giving it a market value of around $14.2 billion. The charges were flagged earlier in the day.

Prior to Tuesday, Toshiba had forecast a full-year net profit of about 145 billion yen this financial year, a turnaround from a loss of 460 billion yen, thanks to strong demand for flash memory chips from Chinese smartphone makers.

Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said the focus may soon shift to whether Toshiba will divest some of its businesses if the latest loss wipes out its shareholders' equity.

"There will be a lot of companies that want to buy Toshiba's businesses," Ishino said. "It is possible that its NAND flash memory business would attract various buyout offers as there are few players in the market," he said.

($1 = 117.4200 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki; Additional reporting by Aaron Sheldrick, Ayai Tomisawa, Yoshiyuki Osada and Chris Gallagher, in Tokyo and Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Breaking with its tradition of keeping research topics a secret, has come out in the open, publishing its first artificial intelligence (AI) research paper that focuses on advanced image recognition.

Apple's first public research paper on AI was penned by vision expert Ashish Shrivastava and a team of engineers including Tomas Pfister, Oncel Tuzel, Wenda Wang, Russ Webb and Director of Artificial Intelligence Research Josh Susskind, appleinsider.com reported on Tuesday.

Shrivastava holds a PhD in computer vision from the University of Maryland.

Titled 'Learning from Simulated and Unsupervised Images through Adversarial Training', the paper describes techniques of training computer vision algorithms to recognise objects using synthetic, or computer generated, images.

However, learning from synthetic images may not achieve the desired performance owing to a gap between synthetic and real image distributions.

To reduce this gap, has proposed Simulated plus Unsupervised (S+U) learning, where the task is to learn a model to improve the realism of a simulator's output using unlabeled real data while preserving the annotation information from the simulator.

The company has developed a method for S+U learning that uses an adversarial network similar to Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), but with synthetic images as inputs instead of random vectors.

The improved realism enables the training of better machine-learning models on large datasets without any data collection or human annotation effort.

Moreover, since machine learning models can be sensitive to artifacts in the synthetic data, S+U learning should generate images without artifacts.

"Apple's first public research paper was penned by vision expert Ashish Shrivastava and a team of engineers including Tomas Pfister, Oncel Tuzel, Wenda Wang, Russ Webb and Apple Director of Artificial Intelligence Research Josh Susskind," the report added.
A former volunteer at the BJP social media cell has reportedly claimed that the party's IT cell had instructed its social media team to build pressure on Snapdeal to remove actor Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador.

The Indian Express reported that Sadhavi Khosla, who quit the BJP social media cell as a volunteer at the end of 2015, has revealed this information. She has also shared purported WhatsApp messages sent to her with journalist Swati Chaturvedi whose book I am a Troll is being published, the report said.

The instruction was made following Khan's comments on rising intolerance in November 2015.

Last year, while speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony, Aamir Khan said: "Kiran (his wife Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India? That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers everyday. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet."

Soon after these comments, the BJP social media cell organised a campaign to get Khan removed as the brand ambassador of Snapdeal, the report said.

She shared messages she claimed were sent to her from Arvind Gupta, head of the BJP IT cell, and other WhatsApp groups associated with the team, the Indian Express reported.

In one of the WhatsApp messages to Khosla, Gupta wrote: "Sign the Petition to Snapdeal India. Appeal Snapdeal to drop Aamir Khan from their ads."

E-commerce company Snapdeal did not renew Khan's contract as its brand ambassador in 2016.




When Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the recall of 500 and 1,000 rupee currency notes at 8 pm on November 8, those working at One Indiabulls Centre in Mumbai's Lower Parel rushed to the ATM of one bank - IndusInd Bank. This despite the fact that the premises also have ATMs of three other banks. The reason: IndusInd is the only bank whose ATM machines allow you to choose currency denominations.

"The rush was due to our offering called Choice Money, introduced seven years ago. This came in handy for people who wanted only 100 rupee notes," says Romesh Sobti, Managing Director & CEO, IndusInd Bank. "That is why 80 per cent people who use our ATMs are customers of other banks," he says. This helps the bank attract customers. "Almost 5 per cent ATM users become our customers," he says.

Choice Money is one of the several unique services that IndusInd Bank is known for. "We come out with something new for customers almost every six months. This is because when you're not a high street bank and an unknown brand without presence across geographies, you have to ask - why should a person bank with me? So, we think very hard about ways to make people bank with us. That is why we go beyond service and great conveniences that have never been asked for," says Sobti.

In the eight years that Sobti has been in the driver's seat, the bank has increased its profit from Rs 75 crore in 2007/08 to Rs 2,286 crore in 2015/16. Total income rose from Rs 2,178.2 crore to Rs 14,877.6 crore, while net non-performing assets, or NPAs, fell from 2.27 per cent to 0.36 per cent during the period. This made Sobti the jury's unanimous choice for the Best CEO in the BFSI category. BFSI stands for banking, financial services and insurance.

While Sobti has been hugely successful in transforming the bank, the job has been far from easy. "When we took over the management, the bank's loan book was badly impaired. So were capital, talent base and infrastructure. Growth had stagnated and no fresh investment was happening," he says. Sobti started off by bringing in fresh capital and addressing the problem of bad loans. "We built a business model. In the first 12 months, we brought in capital and talent, and put emphasis on loan recovery," he says. The bank did not open any new branch for two years. The efforts paid off. Within 10 months, it recovered a big loan given to one of India's largest conglomerates with interests in oil & gas, steel, shipping and information technology. "Suddenly, the profile of our loan book changed. Gross NPAs fell from 3.2 per cent to 1.3 per cent, and net NPAs from 2.27 per cent to 1 per cent."

Sobti started working on the bank's strong areas such as vehicle finance. He also started strengthening the branch network. To solve the problem of shortage of capital, he started focusing on earning more fee-based income. "If you look at the fee income-to-asset ratio, my guess is we would be at the top," he says, adding that with all the changes happening in the banking sector, be it digitisation or payments banks, what is going to work for everybody is collaboration. At the same time, he says, the bank will continue to focus on increasing revenue/market share and bringing down costs.

"He gave a sense of comfort to investors, particularly foreign investors, who weren't ready to touch the bank with a bargepole due to corporate governance issues. Second, he didn't upset the apple cart. He played on the strengths of the bank and built corporate and retail loan books," says a banking analyst from a foreign brokerage. He credits Sobti with making IndusInd the only Indian private sector bank that ate into the market share of foreign banks.

Sobti is not surprised. "Our top management was from an MNC bank. We knew where the money was. For instance, MNC banks used to dominate credit cards, but today the space has been taken over by private sector banks. Similarly, in trade and foreign exchange businesses, their market share was disproportionate to the size of their domestic balance sheets," he says.

But the biggest inflection point, he says, was the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the 2008 financial crisis within six months of his joining. "It taught us liquidity management, balance sheet management and, most important, how to price loan products," says Sobti, who turned IndusInd into a universal bank so that it could get more bandwidth to weather cyclical storms.

To connect with the employees, after the declaration of quarterly results, Sobti does a webcast with the entire staff to share with them the developments in the bank and innovations that are being worked upon. This also helps him get ideas for servicing customers better. One such innovation allows customers to talk to their branch manager. "Whoever uses this service deepens his/her relationship with the bank." Another innovation is 'My Account, My Number'. In this, customers can choose account numbers that they can remember easily. "This was introduced four years ago. Today, 20 per cent people who open an account with us do so because of My Account, My Number," he says. Although the bank has a think tank, most new ideas come from people who regularly interact with customers. The latest is fingerprint banking.

Sobti has a couple of years left to retire. While the years since 2008 have been spent on restoring the bank's health and increasing profit/market share, he has chalked out the next stage of the journey and sent the board a roadmap for the next three years.

"Rebalancing the book between retail and corporate by focusing on retail and digitisation will hold the key. Even in retail, the focus will be on non-vehicle finance. Similarly, selling loans online can bring down costs. We are also looking at entering rural banking through microfinance," he says.

The next stage of the bank's journey, it seems, has started.


Lt. Col. Edwin E. Robbins, U.S. Army-Ret., age 83, a resident of 661 East Water Street, Belhaven, died at his home, Friday, December 23, 2016. Born in Washington, NC., he was known locally as "June Bug."In keeping with his wishes, no funeral services will be held.The family will receive friends on Monday, Dec 26 from 1pm to 3pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 477 East Main Street, Belhaven, NC.Lt. Col. Robbins served his country honorably for 21 years in the U.S. Army.He is survived by five children: Edwin E. "Chuck" Robbins, III and wife, Pam of San Diego, CA; Samuel T. "Rob" Robbins of Belhaven, NC; John G. "Gil" Robbins and wife, Della of Pinetown, NC; Robert B. "Bert" Robbins of Greenville, NC; Tamera "Tami" Robbins Wiser and her husband, Dan of Indian Trail, NC; and thirteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.Flowers are appreciated or memorials may be made to the Salvation Army.Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home of Belhaven is honored to serve the Robbins family.
Never use a gas-powered generator or other fuel-burning appliances indoors or in your garage.

Install a carbon monoxide alarm with an Underwriters Laboratory UL listing on each level of your home and near all sleeping areas. Carefully follow the directions to ensure proper alarm placement and check the batteries regularly.

Replace alarms more than seven years old or when end-of-service indicator chirps.

If your CO alarm sounds, evacuate your home and call 9-1-1.

Frozen, partially-thawed food is safe to cook or refreeze if it still contains ice crystals or has not risen above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep refrigerated foods at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and frozen food at or below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) and the door remains closed.

Wash hands frequently, preferably with soap and water or an approved hand sanitizer.

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then discard the tissue promptly.

If you are sick with flu, stay home until you have been fever free for at least 24 hours.

2001 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-2001

news@dhhs.nc.gov (919) 855-4840

RALEIGH, N.C. State health officials encourage North Carolinians to take health and safety precautions during the winter months.said Public Health Preparedness and Response Director Julie Casani, MD.In 2015, one person died from unintentional, non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning in North Carolina. More than 218 people required emergency department care. To protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide poisoning:When power is lost, all refrigerated and frozen food should be evaluated before it is used or refrozen. You cannot always see or smell the bacteria that can make you sick. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers the following food safety information for anticipated power outages:In the 2015-16 flu season, there were 59 flu-associated deaths. This is a reminder that flu can be a serious illness, especially for adults older than 65, children younger than 5, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.DHHS encourages vaccinations for everyone 6 months and older, and the following precautions to protect against the spread of flu and other viruses during the winter months:For more information on flu and to learn where you can receive a flu vaccination in your community, visit flu.nc.gov For many of North Carolina's most vulnerable citizens, meeting the expense of household heating during the cold of winter may be a challenge. County Social Services Departments are accepting applications for the state's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which provides federal payment assistance for one month of heating to those who qualify. Last year, LIEAP provided heating assistance to more than 141,000 households across North Carolina. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, contact information for your local social services is available using the interactive map at www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/dss/local-county-social-services-offices For more information on how to prepare for winter related events download the free ReadyNC app, or visit www.readync.org for real-time traffic and weather conditions, open shelters and items needed in emergency supply kits.NC Department of Health and Human Services
Verna Lee "Honey" Brotchie, age 91, a former resident of Washington, NC, died Monday December 26. 2016 at River Trace Nursing and Rehabilitation.A funeral service will be held at 3:00pm Wednesday December 28, 2016 in the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington and will be officiated by Reverend Jim Pegan. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.Mrs. Brotchie was born in Beaufort County on July 4, 1925 to the late Samuel Maxwell and Lillie Jones Lee. She was a Washington High School graduated Class 1944 and she attended Women's College in Greensboro. On July 25 1954 she married Douglas William Brotchie who preceded her in death on August 1, 1994. She worked as a secretary for the North Carolina Highway Patrol until she retired in 1989. Mrs. Brotchie was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church in Washington.Survivors include several nieces and nephews.She is preceded in death by her two brothers, Sam Newman Lee, Ralph Arnett Lee, and four sisters, Elizabeth Lee Watson, Olivia Lee Handy, Iris Lee Cox, and Margaret Lee Nenstiel.The family will receive friends from 2:00pm until the funeral hour at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at the home of her niece Anna and Granville Lilley, 214 Whispering Pine Road, Washington, NC.Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.Condolences may be addressed to the family online by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Brotchie family.
A woman takes a selfie with workers wearing panda costumes during a promotional event for Chinese tourists at a department store in Seoul, South Korea, in April. [Photo/Agencies]

South Korea will introduce a new five-year renewable visa in January to attract affluent Chinese tourists, against the backdrop of a decrease in Chinese arrivals in the second half of the year.

The visa, which allows holders to return for stays of up to 30 days during the period of validation, is named hallyu, after the Korean pop culture wave. Chinese tourists who buy specialized four-day travel packages costing 17,350 yuan ($2,500) or more can apply.

China's leading tour company, Ctrip, predicted that only 1 percent of mainland tourists would be eligible for the new visa.

South Korea rapidly became a top destination among Chinese travelers in recent years, though it saw a brief slowdown in May last year after an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome. By the end of this year, the number of Chinese visitors is expected to reach a record 8 million, an increase of 33 percent year-on-year.

However, since Seoul announced in July that it would deploy the THAAD advanced United States missile defense system, there have been monthly decreases in the number of Chinese tourists. According to Seoul, 917,500 Chinese visited South Korea in July, but only 680,900 visited in October and 516,956 in November.

Xu Xiaolei, a spokesman for China Youth Travel Service Co, said his company saw a decrease of about 20 to 30 percent in the number of visitors to South Korea in the second half of the year compared with the first half. He said "many complicated exterior reasons" were responsible.

Additionally, protests arising from a scandal that led to the impeachment of South Korea's president affected some Chinese tourists' decision-making.

Tao Jia, a fashion buyer in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, rebooked her trip to Tokyo instead of Seoul in late November because she was concerned that protests in the South Korean capital might disrupt her travel or otherwise prove inconvenient.

Industry insiders said it was too early to know whether the new visa might fuel South Korea's inbound tourism industry in the coming year.

Wang Zhenyue, deputy director of UTour International Travel Service's direct-marketing center, said the timing of the new visa policy is good because it coincides with the New Year and Spring Festival holidays, a peak season for outbound Chinese tourism.

However, the amount needed to qualify for a hallyu visa "is relatively expensive" for a brief visit, and "residents from Shanghai and Beijing can easily get a five-year, multiple-entry visa without spending so much money", he said.

Xu of China Youth Travel Service said the new visa might prove more attractive to those from certain second- and third-tier cities whose residents usually must provide more documents to get a regular visa.

"However, generally speaking, the visa threshold for South Korea is not high," he added.
Spokane photographer Rika Ream traveled to Palouse Falls State Park near Washtucna, Wash., during the recent bitter cold weather to marvel at the ice around the 185-foot Palouse River waterfall.

The jaw-dropping white scene was mesmerizing, and a pair of daring ice climbers dropped her jaw even farther.

A photograph she captured of the climb has frozen the attention of a few Washington State Parks officials, too.

The image Ream posted last Sunday on Facebook shows Jess Roskelley of Spokane, Wash., climbing up the vertical wall of fragile ice in the frosty mist of the main waterfall. Scott Coldiron is belaying from below.

"We were both wearing kayaking dry suits in 1-degree temperatures because of the freezing spray," Roskelley said. "It was pretty miserable."

State Parks officials saw the photo as it was reposted on The Spokesman-Review's Outdoors Blog.

"I am concerned that posting the photograph of the ice climbers will be perceived as an encouragement of that type of recreation at Palouse Falls State Park," said Audra Sims, manager for the seven southeastern state parks in the Blue Mountains Area.

"We are not encouraging the public to proceed past the posted signs into potentially hazardous areas."

Roskelley, a pro climber who has challenged ice on Mount Everest as well as in Alaska, Canada and South America, was not particularly alarmed by the state parks sign his group passed as they hiked the precarious unofficial trail to the base of the falls.

"Warning," the year-round sign says, "Travel beyond this point is on unmarked, potentially hazardous trails. Users assume all risk associated with travel beyond this point. Rescue costs will be at the expense of the injured party."

This is pretty much the scenario wherever he plies his craft, Roskelley said.

Sims said she wants "to do everything possible to ensure public safety as well as the conservation and protection of the natural and cultural resources located within the boundaries of so many Washington State Parks."

Visitors unskilled in climbing occasionally "have overestimated their ability and underestimated the resource," she said.

"Volunteer fire departments have felt a strain in responding to the increase in and technical difficulty of emergencies, such as high angle-to-vertical rescues."

Inviting public visitation while managing public safety and protecting the resources is a delicate balance that state and national parks alike try to achieve, she said.

Concern for visitor safety in the rugged park with its vertical walls, crumbling rock, slippery boulders and treacherous falls has grown in recent years along with the increase in visitation  and injury accidents.

"What was once a quiet park has become a lot more popular, especially since Palouse Falls was officially named the state waterfall in 2013," said Virginia Painter, State Parks spokeswoman in Olympia.

"In 2012, the park had 85,000 annual visits. That number grew to 121,000 in 2015 and 172,600 in 2015.

Until a few years ago, major accidents were fairly rare at the park, which is served by volunteer emergency crews from very small area towns, such as Kahlotus, Wash., population 190.

Responding to emergencies hits these fire districts hard in terms of time and funding, she said.

"In 2015, the fire district staff responded to 11 emergency rescues, including five cases of people who had to be flown out by helicopter," Painter said. "A similar number of emergency responses occurred this year, and there was one drowning."

"Every step beyond the warning signs is steep and slippery even when the area isn't covered by snow and ice," Painter said. "There's also land ownership and cultural issues we deal with."

When contacted on Tuesday by The Spokesman-Review, Roskelley said, "I'm sorry if I caused any concerns. I was just doing what climbers do, checking out the climb."

Other visitors were already down by the water when he and Coldiron arrived, and the others weren't similarly equipped with crampons, ropes and other ice climbing gear.

His father, John Roskelley, a former Spokane County Commissioner who was considered America's premier mountaineer in the 1980s, said he could understand the park manager's safety concerns.

"It's a fact of life that the tools, boots, crampons and other gear has gotten very good and even regular climbers can buy that equipment and get themselves into trouble," he said.

"We were careful," Jess Roskelley said. "My assessment after checking it out is that you'd have to be a real idiot to get down there to try to climb that spray ice.

"Protection is tough to place. The ice formed by the mist from the falls is brittle, crumbly and poorly adhered to the rock.

"And I'd say it's extremely rare to be even as good as it was last weekend."

The weather window for climbing ice along the vertical walls along Palouse Falls may be only a few days a year and may not even exist every year, he said.

"I know a few ice climbers who've checked it out in the past and they could punch their arm through the ice," he said. "They packed up and got out of there."

Roskelley said he climbed one pitch of about 155 feet before descending.

"I'm done with Palouse Falls," he said. "I'm not going back, that is not unless another Ice Age comes and the entire waterfall freezes. In that case, I'll be the first one there."
Nkambe-Kumbo Roads into Bamenda Blocked Wilson MUSA

All roads from Nkambe in Donga Mantung Division and Jakiri in Bui Division into Bamenda town have been blocked by the military, also major roads into Bamenda town are fully controlled by men in uniform.

Travelers from Nkambe and Jakiri were forced to make a U-turn early Tuesday December 27, 2016.

A traveler from Ndu, Tata Sharick WEYI who was denied entry into Kumbo said, I just witnessed it, Im on my way back home as the men in uniform will not let us pass. Im going back to Ndu, was blocked and told roads will only pass by 6pm. Even patients on their way to the hospital were stopped and sent back.

The road block according to a lawyer based in Bamenda is due to fears that youths from Nkambe and Jakiri, stronghold of famous Hon. Wirba Joseph could invade Bamenda to disrupt the meeting previewed for today between Anglophone teachers trade unions and the government. The youths had earlier vowed that there would be no meeting if those arrested last November 21 and December 8 are not released.

The governor of the North West region, Adolphe LELE LAfrique is said to have given the orders.

Bamenda Under High Military Control

Military trucks from Yaounde have been perceived in Bamenda as it accompanied the delegation coming for dialogue. Bamenda town is heavily militarized.

Members of the mobile intervention unit of the army, BIR are seen parading the town with heavy arms ready for any showdown.
A cross Section of Ministers At The Bamenda Meeting (27/12/2016) Wilson MUSA

Teachers Trade Unionists in the English sub system of education have walked out of the meeting held between them and the government in Bamenda, North West regional capital Tuesday December 27,2016, aimed at looking for lasting solutions to the problems raised by trade Unionists.

The teachers had demanded the inclusion of representatives from the South West region in the ad hoc committee created by Prime Minister Philemon Yang and the immediate release without conditions all youths arrested in Bamenda and Kumba during the strike action.

After four hours of deliberations at the conference room of the North West governors office, the teachers made an attempt to leave the hall but the doors were firmly locked but the teachers remained intrepid, there will be no negotiation if the people arrested are not released they maintained.

Trade Union Leaders Present At Bamenda Meeting (27/12/2016) (c) Wilson MUSA

But after four hours Trade Union leaders left the meeting after getting the minister of higher education Jacques Fame Ndongo pissed off who angrily left the meeting also.

After the failed meeting, Paul Goghomu, head of the ad hoc committee issued a release calling on parents to send their children to school come second term next year but the trade unionist hold that only the teachers can call off the strike which they started.

Yaounde Lawyers Conclave Also Ends In Deadlock, Bobga Impeached



The meeting in Yaounde with Common Law lawyers was not different from that with the teachers, the lawyers who had denounced the non inclusion of the names of Barristers Agbor Felix and Elias Eyambe of Fako and Meme lawyers associations, told the ad hoc committee headed by Pierre Fogue, Minister delegate at ministry of defense that the venue must be in Buea or Bamenda.

Barrister Bobga Harmony Mbuton Impeached As NOWELA President (c) Wilson MUSA

They also asked the liberation of youths arrested in Bamenda and Kumba as well as the exclusion of some members of the committee. After failing to fulfill this, they all left in anger. Meanwhile Barrister Bobga Harmony, President of North West Lawyers Association, was Impeached by members of his General Assembly who met in an extra ordinary Assembly and decided that because Barrister Bobga went to Yaounde against the will of the lawyers, he has therefore betrayed them and could no more lead the lawyers.

They also made it clear that he should never negotiate in the name of NOWELA again.

By Wilson MUSA
Among the explosive claims against the AFP officers attached to the Trade Union Royal Commission is that they supplied the Canberra branch of the Master Builders Association details of the charges against CFMEU official Johnny Lomax, while he was in custody and long before the former rugby league great or his lawyers saw them.
"When he found out it was something quite unusual he was thrilled to bits then wanted to know more about it."
GREAT FALLS  A Great Falls lawmaker plans to resign from the state Legislature shortly after it convenes to help her daughter care for her infant triplets.

Sen. Mary Sheehy-Moe wrote a letter to her constituents saying she plans to resign in late January, shortly before the Cascade County Democratic Central Committee is scheduled to meet. The committee will forward the names of three candidates to the Cascade County Commission, which will choose Sheehy-Moe's replacement.

The Montana Legislature convenes Jan. 2.

Sheehy-Moe said Montana law requires any lawmaker who resigns to vacate the seat 72 hours after submitting an official resignation.

Sheehy-Moe said her triplet grandchildren were born prematurely and remain in a neonatal intensive care unit but may be ready to go home by late February. She said at that point, her daughter would need her help.
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 ...
After a decade of honors, the High Plains Book Awards will add a category for Native American authors in its next installment.

An award for indigenous authors will be among 13 prize categories in the 2017 contest. The addition was announced Tuesday by the Montana State University Billings Library, which is sponsoring the category.

Megan Thomas, MSUB library interim director, called it "an opportunity to recognize a previously under-represented segment of the areas literary tradition. ... While indigenous authors have received awards in the past, this award will highlight their contributions to literature.

The High Plains BookFest celebrated its 15th year in October, and the awards celebrated its 10th year. The awards began in 2006 with the Billings Public Library, and its first round of awards were presented the following year. Since then, there have been annual presentations during the High Plains BookFest.

The awards highlight authors who focus on the high plains region of the western United States, including Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, as well as western Canada.

Entrants into the contest have increased yearly, according to High Plains Book Awards chair Shari Nault. This year, Native American writers will receive special attention.

Adding this award category has been discussed for quite a few years, Nault said. This is extremely exciting for us because there is a lot of new contemporary work by Native writers and we want to showcase and give a voice to it."

The other award categories are medicine and science, children, fiction, nonfiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, woman writers, short stories, culinary and young adult.

The High Plains BookFest is held in the fall, but nominations will open in January.
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Bill Schultz, 91, is a World War II veteran and was a member of the U.S. Navy's Seabees. He served in the South Pacific as a mosquito abatement officer, trying to stop malaria outbreaks. He was born and raised in Glen Ullin, N.D., but has lived in Billings for decades. His brother was a prisoner of war for three years in Japan. Schultz was one of three brothers who served in the military.

Gazette: Where were you on Dec. 7, 1941?

Schultz: "I was on my way to set pins in a bowling alley. There were two lanes. You set the pins by hand. You got paid two-and-a-half cents a line. Somebody came out of the house and they had just heard it on the radio that we were attacked. So, I turned around and went back home and told my parents, and I didn't think that much about it. I knew my brother was out there someplace, but I didn't know where. I remember my mother crying."

Gazette: How did you enlist in the Navy?

Schultz: "When he was captured, when Corregidor fell, I quit school. I went to Tacoma, Wash., to work in the shipyards as a machinist helper. I got paid 87-and-a-half cents an hour. ... I was 17 and I decided I was going to join the Merchant Marines and I took the day off work and I went to Seattle, and I joined the Merchant Marines. They gave me a paper that I had take back to the shipyard because you were frozen to your job. You couldn't quit. You had to get written (permission). They wouldn't release me. Well, we were building small aircraft carriers there. My job was to help mount the five-inch guns on the rear fantail, and put in the ammunition hoists and the old portlets on the ship. That was basically what we did on every ship. Anyhow, it kind of made me mad that they didn't let me quit, so I said, 'Well, I'll go join the Navy.' So, I went in and told them I am going to quit, and then, of course, they told me I can't quit. I said, 'Well, I am anyhow because I went and joined the Navy.' Well, they couldn't stop me from that."

Schultz went to boot camp in Virginia and from there shipped to Rhode Island for machine gun school, but because there was a shortage, they didn't use ammunition. Instead, they learned how to take apart guns and put them back together. He shipped out for the South Pacific in December 1943. Just past Bora Bora, the ship hit a hurricane.

Schultz: "At that time, they told us that the radar measured a 146-knot wind, which was what, 156 mph (168 mph)? Before it got real bad, we were locked down in the hold. I was given a club and stationed at the top and told not to allow anyone up. After a couple hours, I was relieved by someone else. To stay in your bunk, I put a belt around me. Our ship finally went over so far that it took water down the stack. They said we should have gone all the way over, but we didn't but for the Seabees. We had a lot of caterpillars, road graders, heavy trucks down in the bottom of the ship. They figured that's what brought us back. But, it put all the boilers out. We had no power now. We were laying right there. All of a sudden, everything got calm. We didn't know about the eye of a hurricane. It got calm. We felt pretty good. That only lasted for 20 minutes  I don't even think that long and it hit us again. We felt we were going to go down. We had two destroyers escorting us. We made it through. We came out the next day and things were rough but not bad, and we came up on deck and our life rafts were gone. They used to be stacked up on deck maybe six high. There was a half a life boat left hanging. Our decks had been full of 55-gallon oil drums. They were all smashed and gone, but the oil had been spilled on the decks so that was kind of slick. Our galley had been smashed, garbage cans had been going back and forth and they had smashed all the equipment in the galleys so they couldn't cook anything. But, we had K rations and cookies. That's what we ate for several days. We just laid there because the destroyers had just disappeared. We thought they had sunk. We never heard from them again. Some of our men had worked down in the hole. It was so hot down there, they stayed 15 minutes and come back out and somebody else would go in. It took about two days to get the boilers back online so we could go again. We got underway and three days later, we hit another hurricane. This one really scared us because we knew what the other one was like. This one wasn't near as bad  only 90 mph winds."

Gazette: What happened to those other ships?

Schultz: "About four years ago, I got on the internet and our ship was the SS Azalea City. It tells on there that we had two destroyers that picked us up in Panama. It gave the names of them. Then I looked up the destroyers which I found on the internet. One of them had an article in there about some of the crew. So, I picked up a name. From there, I got a hit on the internet and put in his name and I can't hardly remember but I think he lives in Massachusetts. From there I found a number. I called him up. I asked him, "I thought you people were sunk." He said, "Who are you?" I said, "Well we were on the ship you were escorting." He said, "I thought you went down." They had radio silence then. That's why we didn't know what was coming."

Gazette: What does a malaria control officer in New Caledonia do?

Schultz: "I was given a spray tank which I filled with diesel fuel and I spent my days in the jungle. From our camp to the very edge, that's where the jungle started. I would try to cover a mile deep and all around us. You would spray diesel fuel on standing water of any kind, which could be from coconut hulls laying there to anything else. That's what I did every day  back and forth and when you ran out of oil you had to come back and load up again. ... The diesel fuel would kill the larvae. The larvae would float on the water and they would breathe through the very top. A slight film of oil will plug up and the larvae would die."

Gazette: Did people get malaria where you were?

Schultz: "To my knowledge, nobody in our outfit got malaria. People when they saw a mosquito would be on me. That's what I did for 19 months."

In New Caledonia, after 19 months, he was transferred to the 10th Army which was getting ready for the invasion of Japan.

Schultz: "I spent my time helping them load and unload ships. ... Then we got word the war ended. Really all I remember is that we celebrated for an hour and then we were told to get back to work."

Gazette: What was that celebration like?

Schultz: "Guys just went along shaking hands and happy. We thought we were on our way to Japan."

Gazette: Did they tell you that you were on your way to Japan?

Schultz: "The 10th Army was being assembled there. We were almost 100,000 in New Caledonia ready to leave. A lot of people have said to me that we should not have dropped the bomb, and I kind of agree. I said, "No, I think we should have dropped the bomb. But, we should have dropped leaflets first and told the people to get out of the villages and towns if we're going to do this." I said, "I might not be sitting here today if they hadn't dropped the bomb."

Gazette: Were you worried about invading Japan?
The tentative dates for the entrance examination of MBBS 2017 has been released by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-New Delhi on the official website.

According to the notification released by the institute, the entrance exam for MBBS will be held on May 28, 2017.

Tentative dates for AIIMS MBBS Entrance Exam 2017

Entrance Examination 28th May, 2017 (Sunday)

Result Notification 14th June, 2017 (Wednesday)

1st Counselling 03rd, 04th, 05th & 06th July, 2017.(Monday-Thursday)

2nd Counselling 3rd August, 2017 (Thursday)

3rd Counselling 5th September, 2017 (Tuesday)

Open Counselling [If required] 26th September, 2017 (Tuesday)

Who can take up this examination?

Candidates who are interested to pursue MBBS in any of the AIIMS institutes and those who have passed or will be appearing for the Class 12 examination from a recognised education board with a minimum of 60 percent marks in aggregate can apply for this examination.

Selection procedure

For AIIMS MBBS course, candidates will be selected based on the marks obtained in the written examination.

About AIIMS

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as an autonomous institution of national importance that awards its own medical degrees and other academic distinctions. The most important function of the Institute is to provide opportunities for training teachers for medical colleges in the country in an atmosphere of research and enquiry. Postgraduate students are exposed to newer methods of teaching and given opportunities to actively participate in teaching exercises. For further information, visit, www.aiimsexams.org
Only 19 out of 49,269 HSC medical stream students from Gujarat clear the engineering entrance exams after getting a second chance to attend it. In fact only 0.37 per cent of students took the examinations out of total qualified students. This amounts to 187 candidates.

This has disappointed the Gujarat Education Department badly as they had paved way for a dual opportunity for students and engineering colleges through this second chance.

The plan was that while a considerable number of students who had passed class 12 in March 2016 would clear the Maths exam and can also opt for the engineering colleges. This would also help fill in vacant seats of private engineering colleges. But little did they anticipate a mega failure of the supposedly beneficial plan.

After the scraping out of the semester system in June this year, the state government made an announcement in August that this year for all those students who had cleared Class XII medical stream in March 2016 can opt for engineering colleges as well after clearing mathematics examinations of both Class XI and XII to be conducted on August 28 and 29.

Although the prime motive of this decision was for the welfare of the students, subtly, it also aimed at rescuing self-financed engineering colleges where thousands of seats go vacant every year.

Still, proper planning was lacking as the the department's rate of success of previous schemes too turned out to be a failure.

The students were given two-months time to prepare. But out of a total 49,269 medical stream students who were qualified for the mathematics examination, only 290 registered for the special exam. Out of these, more than 100 did not appear for it as only 187 took the examinations.

"This result was unexpected as all these students were brilliant and meritorious. The board had not expected such a poor response of this opportunity," said a senior GSHSEB official.

When asked for the possible reasons, GSHSEB deputy director R R Thakkar said, "This scheme was for the benefit of students as we all know that medical stream students are left with very limited options if they are not able to make it to medical colleges. The Board has not been able to analyse the reasons for this result. Also, we do not have a data of how many appeared and got through engineering institutes."

GujCET Makes A ComeBack: JEE Made Optional In Gujarat
If congressional Republicans scrap Obamacare, Montana cannot in good conscience end the health coverage it offers 60,000 people through a heavily subsidized Medicaid program, said state House Speaker Austin Knudsen.

The Republican from Culbertson recently told The Gazette that state lawmakers would have to figure out a way to dial back the states Medicaid program humanely. More than 60,000 people have signed up for Medicaid since the 2015 Legislature voted to offer Medicaid to more than 70,000 working Montanans who at the time couldnt afford insurance but were too far above the poverty level to qualify for Medicaid.

That expansion depends on a federal subsidy that covers nearly all of the programs cost, which this year is $201 million, according to the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. The state cant afford the expanded program, Knudsen said, but it cant rip the health care coverage away from participants.

Youre going to tell me that were going to put 100,000 people on the Medicaid rolls and then when the federal government takes the money away we're just going to jerk the rug out from under them? I dont see that as being a realistic answer, Knudsen said. The state of Montana is going to have to look at trying to help keep those people covered. Whether I like the bill or not, it passed. It was signed into law. We covered a whole bunch more people.

Medicaid expansion passed largely on the votes of Montana Democratic lawmakers with enough Republican support to get it approved with a narrow margin of support. The program was officially offered for the first time in January 2016. By mid-November, 60,123 newly eligible Montanans had signed up for Medicaid, according to DPHHS.

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to scrap the Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, which congressional Republicans have been attempting to repeal for years, calling it unaffordable and a drag on the economy.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is a vocal critic of the Affordable Care Act. He told The Gazette that legislation to repeal the ACA will come early next year, but that it may take two to three years to end the health care program. Republicans plan to replace with something else, although what it would be is only being depicted in broad strokes.

Republicans are going to have to bake time into their replacement health care proposals, Daines said.

We need to provide a two- to three-year glide path, Daines said. We will have a transition that clearly assures that the Montanans that are on Medicaid arent harmed on this transition.

Republicans have discussed replacing health care subsidies, for things like Medicaid, to states with block grants that would allow states more freedom in how the money was spent. Those block grants would certainly be worth less than the amount of current subsidies.

The ACA hasnt worked as planned, Daines said. He points to the number of insurance companies getting out of state organized health exchanges for the uninsured as proof the ACA is failing.

If the first repeal actions to ACA were to come within two years, Montana could be caught without a plan for dealing with the transition. The state Legislature meets every other spring and creates a budget for the coming two years. The budget crafted in the first four months of 2017 will set state government spending through June 30, 2019.

If Congress hasnt acted by the end of the 2017 state Legislature, special action might be needed, Knudsen said. But he said there isnt a practical way to plan without knowing first what the federal government might do. Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said the same.

It would be grossly irresponsible to rip healthcare away from tens of thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans without presenting a real and viable alternative that patients, providers, states and insurers can all plan around, Bullock said in an email. Republicans in Congress have had six years to think about and plan for fixes, replacements, and alternatives. We cant speculate on a state response until those plans are clear.

Bullock recently wrote U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., asking that ACA not be repealed before an alternative has been created.

Since 2013, changes under the Affordable Care Act have decreased the rate of uninsured Montanans from 20 percent to 7 percent, Bullock told McCarthy. Rural hospitals that have lost money serving the uninsured and underinsured have been better compensated.

There are 52,000 Montanans younger than 65 with pre-existing conditions that could lose coverage if the ACA mandate that everyone qualify for insurance be eliminated.

When the Montana Legislature approved Medicaid expansion in 2015, it wrote into the law that the coverage would end if the federal subsidy fell below 90 percent. That doesn't seem responsible now, Knudsen said.
Honda has topped Googles list of trending automotive brands in the United States beating the likes of Ford, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla.



Unlike 2015 where Google collated its results from the most-searched names, the 2016 list ranks the highest trending names meaning those with the most significant and sustained spikes in search traffic.

Searches for Honda peaked around the updated 2017 CR-V and were then followed up by the 2017 Pilot, 2017 Civic, 2017 Accord and 2017 HR-V. In second place was Mercedes-Benz which remained consistent throughout the year and was a particularly popular search item in Florida and Georgia.

Third came Tesla which enjoyed a huge spike in popularity following the launch of the Model 3 in late March. Unsurprisingly, the electric vehicle loving state of California easily proved the most popular place of Tesla searches.

Completing the top five was Volvo in fourth and Lamborghini in fifth. Searches for the Italian automaker peaked following the release of Purple Lamborghini by Skrillex and Rick Ross.

Completing the top 10 trending car brands in the U.S. this year were Ford, Jaguar, Bentley, Maserati and Rolls-Royce.

trends.embed.renderTopChartsWidget(e672316e-8481-497e-ad93-3d3a655bb189, {geo:US});

PHOTO GALLERY
As BMW and Toyotas partnership goes from strength to strength, reports have emerged suggesting that the next-generation Toyota Corolla will be powered by BMW engines.



Citing unnamed Japanese sources, Indian Autos Blog suggests that BMW engines will only be offered for the range-topping Corolla models. This means more affordable and accessible variants will receive the familiar Toyota 1.5 four-cylinder, 1.5-liter hybrid, 1.2-liter turbod petrol engine and the 1.8-liter petrol four-cylinder.

Although no details have been given about which BMW engines may find their way into the Corolla, one of the German brands 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder powertrains seem the most likely candidate.

Beyond its availability of German-sourced engines, the next-generation Corolla will be underpinned by the Japanese companys TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture), ensuring it is safer, lighter and more agile than the outgoing car. It is also reported that the new Corolla will swell in size and adopt a longer wheelbase.

Note: 2014 Toyota Corolla pictured

PHOTO GALLERY
Car ownership can be a love or hate relationship  and a costly one at that. Consumer Reports annual Owner Satisfaction Survey tells us how owners feel about their vehicles and the brands that make them.



In order to determine the overall score, Consumer Reports went into their annual satisfaction survey and checked the average satisfaction score for each brands models while considering the percentage of owners who responded with a definitely yes when asked whether they would buy the same car again.

Also, in order for the score to count, the brand had to have at least two models with data, so the team focused on MY14-17 cars, from a pool of over 300,000 vehicles.

So what did they find out? Well, the top 4 is the same as last year, with Tesla, Porsche, Audi and Subaru looking strong, while Lincoln managed to climb from 21st place last year to 12th this year. Hyundai managed to shoot up from 24th to 13th in the span of 12 months thanks to their newly redesigned models.

But in the end it was Tesla which looked dominant, as 91% of buyers stated they would purchase their EV again. In comparison, 84% of Porsche owners felt the same about their cars, whereas Audi and Subaru owners stood at 77% and 76% respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 is Toyota (76%), Honda (75%), Mazda (74%), Chrysler (73%), Chevrolet (73%) and Lexus (73%).

On the bottom end of the study, Fiat came out dead last at , followed by Nissan, Infiniti, Acura and Jeep.

The list has 29 spots overall so if youre interested to know where your car brand stands, here are the numbers:
When Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May left the Top Gear and signed up with Amazon, BBCs lawyers stipulated certain things they couldnt do in their new show, like hire a new Stig for example.



Doing specials, like they used to, apparently isnt one of them, and the boys are free to do as they please. So they did  big time.

The first Grand Tour special sees Clarkson, Hammond and May on a trek to Africa in order to prove their boss, Andy Wilman, who believes beach buggies are no good, wrong.

Thus, theres no tent around this time, just the three hosts and their buggies, built to their specs, embarking on a road trip across Namibia. Now, that would make for an epic trip in and of itself even if everything went according to plan. Knowing these guys, of course, this certainly wasnt an incident-free trip. Far from it, as you can see in the trailer that follows.

The special will air in two parts on Amazon Prime, the first on December 30th and the second the following day.

Video
Photo: Contributed

MP Richard Cannings had a busy 2016, with one of his priorities for his ridings being having a good staff in place.

"Most of what I do is at a higher level, so one thing I wanted was to make sure we got going right away with hiring good staff for the region to assist people with immigration, pensions, et cetera," he said. "A highlight for me is being able to help people."

His staff, he added, are people with decades of experience for both offices in Penticton and Castlegar.

At the next level he works at, he takes people's issues whether it's a Penticton Indian Band project, or fruit growers, wine industry or distillery concerns directly to federal ministers in Ottawa.

An example he gave was recently sitting down with Peter Schiefke, the parliamentary secretary for youth, to talk about the need for a youth centre in Penticton and getting federal support for that.

"These are the kind of things where we can cut through the red tape," he said. "I met with people here in Penticton about the youth centre idea and took that forward."

During the past year his staff has also been involved with Syrian refugee families coming to the area.

"That has been a complicated one, because these refugee groups supporting families have wanted to know what's going on," he said. "I'd get emails like things are going off the rails and can you talk to the minister about what can be done about this."

An ongoing project he is interested in is trails in the South Okanagan, Boundary and Kootenays.

"There are issues around what kind of trails do people want to see," he said. "And these trails are really valuable to our local community."

In 2017 he said he hoped to see something moving forward on the national park in the South Okanagan.

"It got broad support in the public, it's something the majority of people in the valley would love to see happen," he said. "It's something I'd like to see happen."
When Yellowstone County proposed to replace dilapidated buildings at MetraPark with two large climate-controlled exhibition halls, a voter-approved property tax levy made the projects possible.

When Billings people want to build a public library that was safer and more accessible, they had to raise their property taxes.

Billings students have filled a beautiful, energy-efficient middle school in the Heights and next year will start classes in a new West End middle school  only because voters approved a property tax.

Property tax is the only avenue available to local government for raising revenue for infrastructure as well as operations. Many years ago the Yellowstone County Commission established a property tax levy to support economic development, creating the Big Sky Economic Development Authority.

Many local government and economic development leaders have recognized that options besides property tax are needed. The state of Montana draws its revenues from a multitude of taxes and fees imposed by the Legislature, but lawmakers have so far refused to provide more options for local government. So at the city, county and local district level, its property tax  or nothing at all.

Support local control

Members of the Big Sky Economic Development Board include business people who know those facts. So it is disappointing that after three legislative sessions in which Big Sky has supported the concept of local option authority, the board has voted to be neutral in 2017. Its especially disheartening that the countys top economic development agency has stepped back just as enthusiastic local option proponents have organized to tell their stories to the City Council and lawmakers.

Citizens have spoken up at recent City Council meetings to urge the council to include local option authority in its legislative priorities. The council ultimately agreed.

Meanwhile, Big Sky EDA took a pass. They didnt have the millennials and business people and Billings Chamber of Commerce imploring them for support before cameras and reporters. But they did get a message from county commissioners John Ostlund and Jim Reno.

Reno and Ostlund oppose local option authority. Now they have convinced a majority of the EDA board that its bad to cross the commissioners on legislative priorities.

Contacted by a Gazette reporter last week, Ostlund wondered aloud if it is prudent for the EDA to take a tax policy position contrary to that of the commissioners.

Well, the commissioners are supposed to appoint EDA board members to represent business community interests. The qualification for the board isnt complete loyalty to commissioners, nor should it be.

Was Ostlund asking about being prudent as a reminder that the commission allocated $1.3 million in county property taxes to the EDA this year? He shouldnt insinuate that economic development funding depends on keeping him happy.

For its part, the EDA must stand up for the business prospects of this community, and stand up to political bullying. The EDA's support is an important sign of solidarity and it has failed the community by caving now.

Commissioners Reno and Ostlund have reminded us repeatedly of their strong conservative values which include support for business. If this makes business, the economy and community in Yellowstone County stronger, they too should get on board.

Legislation drafted

Steve Arveschoug, executive director of Big Sky Economic Development, told The Gazette that support for local option authority will be revisited  if a bill is introduced.

That probably will happen soon. As of last week, at least two bills had been drafted to give local governments authority to ask their voters how they want to be taxed, if they want to pay for a particular public project. Similar bills requested by Sen. Mike Phillips, D-Bozeman, (LC249), and Rep. Dave Fern, D-Whitefish, (LC1136) propose to allow cities to levy a local sales tax of up to 4 percent, but only if it includes some property tax relief and voters approve it.

We call on Arveschoug to get that legislation in front of the Big Sky board so the board can see exactly what their options are. Local option authority should be on the boards January agenda.
The 2017 Legislature set to begin on Jan. 2, the old saying, Dont tell me your priorities; show me your budget, comes to mind. The budget proposed by Gov. Steve Bullock invests in our future in a number of ways. Montana can have a solid physical infrastructure while at the same time investing in the next generation and providing early education for all Montanas children. Montana remains one of five states without a statewide pre-K education program. We owe it to our working families to change this.

Some Republican lawmakers do not support pre-K, choosing instead to use the $14 million budgeted for early education as a short-term Band-Aid for Montanas highways. This is a false choice. We can invest in infrastructure while at the same time providing a bright future for Montanas next generation. Thanks to Bullocks leadership, our state budget is in good health, unlike other states that are struggling to keep the lights on. We do not have to choose between educating our kids and repairing crumbling bridges. We can, and should, do both.

While there are so many wonderful things about living in Montana, the cost of quality day care for a four-year-old is not one of them. Montana is one of the most expensive states to find good placements for little ones. It averages between $600 and $800 per month in many places around the state  more than the cost of college tuition. This squeezes working families, many of whom are saddled with their own educational debt and pinching pennies to save for their childs college tuition. Too many families find themselves in the bind of making just too much to qualify for Head Start or other help, but not enough to afford decent pre-K. We can do better.

Kids in early education see an immediate boost in literacy, spelling, and math that puts them months ahead of their counterparts. By the end of the second grade, kids with an early learning foundation see significantly better scores in math, comprehension and vocabulary. Fifth-graders with a pre-K foundation do much better in reading, math and science. These students continue to score better on tests and are 30 percent to 50 percent less likely to repeat a grade. They stay in school, graduate from high school, and become productive members of society.

Outdated studies falsely indicating the benefits of a quality pre-K education do not last past third grade have been disproven. A 2014 study by Nobel laureate economist James Heckman shows that students who received pre-K education were more likely to graduate high school, have higher IQs, experience better overall health, and less likely to be incarcerated than their peers who did not experience high-quality early learning programs. The rate of return on the public investment in pre-K education is 13 percent.

We do not want to take money away from our youngest learners for a short-term solution that fails to make positive long-term changes. Various funding sources, including bonding, exist to provide for Montanas physical infrastructure, while at the same time setting the stage to provide Montanas children with an early edge in life.

We can and should do both. Improving Montana is what all legislators, Democrats and Republicans, were elected to do. Working families across Montana depend on it.
A holiday storm that began on Christmas Day shut down roads in North Dakota and caused power outages in many communities statewide.

Snowy skies dumped as much as 16.5 inches in Dickinson in western North Dakota and 16 inches in Starkweather in far northern North Dakota, just north of Devils Lake.

Bismarck with 12.5 inches of snow, had to switch from using motor graders that were getting stuck to slower-moving front-end loaders on city streets. Some roads, the city said, might not be cleared until Wednesday.

The Minot International Airport, which was closed Monday due to whiteout conditions, reopened Tuesday and was expecting its first flights  incoming and outgoing  late morning.

Interstate 94, which had been closed for days in North Dakota, reopened Tuesday, as did Interstate 90 in South Dakota.

Otter Tail Power Co. issued a statement alerting customers in its service area that freezing rain and ice were taking a toll on power lines and causing numerous outages. On Monday, Otter Tail said 13 communities it serves were having power problems. Jamestown and Milbank, S.D., were especially hard hit.

Cass County Electric Cooperative reported late Monday morning that 1,300 of its customers were without power and crews that began working on the issues Sunday continued to work on them. Rain that turned to ice, followed by strong winds, were causing problems for power lines and those that work on them. The primary area of problems extended from north of Valley City to south of Lisbon.

In central and western North Dakota, Montana-Dakota Utilities hoped that power could be restored to some of its customers by Tuesday morning. Power restoration to several towns, including Burstad, Hazelton, Hoven, Lebanon, Onaka and Tolstoy, could take longer.

Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. encouraged customers to check their natural gas meter and furnace vent areas to make sure there is not a buildup of snow and ice, and asked anyone operating snow removal equipment to be aware of objects buried under the snow, which can include natural gas meters and risers.

The South Dakota Rural Electric Association said roughly 13,700 of its customers were without power early Tuesday, and it could take several days to restore service.
Snow removal in Bismarck-Mandan is continuing on a 24/7 basis, with some residential streets not expected to be clear until the end of the week.

"This isnt the kind of snow we can plow," said Bismarck Public Works Director Jeff Heintz. "It's dig and shovel, dig and shovel."

Heintz said snow emergency routes in Bismarck have been cleared, though some have only one lane open. The city is working on plowing out major arterial routes. It may be Thursday before all residential streets are open, he said.

In Mandan, most main routes and some residential streets are clear, according Morton County Emergency Manager Tom Doering. Plowing continues, and all city streets are expected to be navigable by Friday.

Bismarck city workers from several departments were called in to help plow, including forestry, street lights and landfill, Heintz said.

Bismarck also hired construction companies to "bust through" roads in north Bismarck to allow for emergency vehicles, Heintz said. Those roads are more exposed and therefore more likely to be drifted over than the rest of town.

"Theres just so much, the way the wind was blowing so hard," he said.

Vehicles parked on snow emergency routes and stuck in the middle of city streets are being towed to allow snow removal equipment through, according to Bismarck Police Lt. Glen Ternes.

"If you have access to a tow truck or someone can get you out, its time to do it," Ternes said. "Once the plow gets to them, there's nothing we can do but take them out to our lot."

About 10 cars had been towed in Bismarck as of midday Tuesday, according to Ternes. Anyone whose car is towed in the city should call the police at 701-223-1212.

In Morton County, plows are focusing on snow emergency routes, which were expected to be clear by Tuesday night, Doering said in an email. Snowplow operators were working with Mor-Gran-Sou Electrical Cooperative crews to enable access for restoring power. Only a few rural customers were without power by Tuesday evening.

All major highways in the state are had been reopened by Tuesday afternoon, but conditions on some remained sub-optimal.

As of Tuesday evening, Interstate 94 in North Dakota still had ice and compacted snow on some segments. U.S. Highway 83 was snowy from Coleharbor to Minot, and icy from Bismarck to the South Dakota border.

No-travel advisories were lifted Tuesday for Bismarck, Mandan, Williston, Dickinson, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Minot, Jamestown, Valley City and surrounding areas, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Heintz said he has not calculated the tab yet for the extra cost of handling extended snowfall this year. He said the Bismarck Public Works Department may have to dip into reserve funds.

Because of the volume of snow this winter  the city of Bismarck was hauling 1,100 load each day last week  city snow dump sites are still closed to private contractors, Heintz said. He said some private landowners have been opening new dump sites.

Bismarck Police Chief Dan Donlin is still recommending people stay home if they can.

We ask residents to give the snowplow operators enough time to get through the residential areas and not to travel unless its absolutely necessary, he said in a statement.
The world is facing many new problems that require stronger global governance and more work from the United Nations, President Xi Jinping told outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a phone conversation on Monday.

Xi praised Ban's contribution to deepening China's cooperation with the United Nations during his 10 years at the head of the organisation.

Ban has made positive efforts to promote world peace, development and prosperity, he said.

Xi said Secretary-General Ban had faithfully fulfilled the duties conferred by the UN Charter and scored remarkable achievements.

The Chinese president stressed that China's cooperation with the UN has reached a new level, thanks to the efforts of both parties.

He added that China would continue to firmly support the UN and maintain close cooperation with incoming secretary-general Antonio Guterres to advance China's ties with the UN.

Ban, whose second five-year term comes to an end this year, said he appreciated China's significant support while he served as the UN chief.

Ban said that China had played a leading role in promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, boosting South-South cooperation and tackling global climate change.

Ban said he believed that China would continue to maintain close cooperation with the next UN chief and support international peace and sustainable development as always.
The drug intervention program set to launch next month in Yellowstone County is Montanas best shot at slowing the explosive growth in our prison population.

The brainchild of County Attorney Scott Twito, the Yellowstone County Drug Intervention Program can be a model for other counties. The aim is to address the drug addiction of low-level, first-time offenders. Successfully treating addiction in the community is much more cost effective than having offenders sit in our jails or prisons.

Twito is presenting a better way to deal with the drug offenders. After months of planning and meetings, the intervention program is starting with crucial participation from the Montana Public Defenders Office and the Montana Department of Corrections.

A key component of this diversion program will be the pretrial risk assessment provided through Yellowstone County Justice Court, thanks to an effort led by Justice of the Peace David Carter and funded by the Yellowstone County Commission.

That type of screening is considered a best practice in states that have actually reduced their prison populations in recent years. Its one recommendation of the Montana Commission on Sentencing. The commission met over the legislative interim and hammered out a dozen bills that will be introduced in the 2017 session. Sen. Cynthia Wolken, D-Missoula, who chaired the commission, will sponsor Senate Bill 59 that establishes pretrial risk assessment and deferred prosecution grant programs." Wolken also has introduced Senate Bill 60, which requires the Department of Corrections to train staff to do risk assessments.

Other bills propose revisions in sentencing laws. The aim of all this legislation is to ensure that offenders who are violent or at high risk of re-offending are incarcerated while low-risk, nonviolent drug offenders get addiction treatment and jobs.

No county has more at stake than we do as the largest population center. Last year, Yellowstone County logged more than 500 arrests on methamphetamine charges alone.

If Montana continues its present trend, the number of people in the corrections system will increase 14 percent to 2,981 inmates by 2023, according to a study conducted by the Council of State Governments Justice Center. That increase will require at least $55 million in new operations spending, not counting the cost of constructing more prison space.

The policies recommended by the Commission on Sentencing are projected to reduce the need for new cell space, averting an estimated $82 million in taxpayer costs over the next six years.

Nearly three-fourths of offenders who get incarcerated in Montana have failed at probation with the majority having committed new drug or property crimes. The drug intervention program proposed in Yellowstone County targets that high rate of recidivism. In the current system, the slow pace of cases often means that a drug offender gets charged with a new offense before sentencing on the first one. The root of the problem is addiction, and that doesnt resolve without treatment and ongoing accountability, including random drug testing  all features of the new intervention program. The alternative is to keep doing what Montana has been doing: sending more and more people to prison, keeping our jails and prisons full and spending more tax dollars on incarceration.

We applaud Twito and the other county and state officials who are supporting this drug intervention program. Not everyone who goes through it will stay in recovery, but the savings for each one who does will be tremendous. Yellowstone County is starting with a small program that can screen up to four people a week. State support will be critical to sustain this effort long term and to expand it to intervene with all low-level drug offenders.

-- Billings (Mont.) Gazette
Police say a Grand Forks woman shot by her adult son before he took his own life has died of her injuries. Authorities say 53-year-old Jennifer Harrison died at Altru Hospital days after she was found in her home with multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and head. According to officials, 21-year-old Tyler Harrison shot his mother Wednesday at the home they shared in Grand Forks. Police say he turned the gun on himself and was found dead in their driveway. Officials say the shooting was domestic-related, but that their investigation is continuing.
FARGO -- The most tangible sign here of the new North Dakota constitutional amendment known as Marsy's Law is a simple white business card handed out to crime victims.

In Fargo, the Marsys card, distributed since Dec. 8 when the law took effect, directs victims to the website of either the Fargo Police Department or Cass County states attorney, where they can read the law in detail and learn more about their rights. Other law enforcement agencies and county prosecutor offices across the state are distributing cards with similar links.

Sgt. Tom Morris said Fargo officers have heard mixed reactions from crime victims about the law passed by North Dakota voters in November. It spells out 19 victim rights, including the right to be notified of court proceedings, offender releases or escapes, as well as parole and probation proceedings.

Some say Yeah, I want to invoke my Marsys Law rights, Morris said, while others say theyre OK with waiving those rights.

Tristan Van de Streek, an assistant states attorney in Cass County, said the new law hasn't yet brought big changes for his office because it was doing 95 percent of those things before.

He said it's hard to know the full impact because no one has yet challenged the county on how it's implementing Marsy's Law.

Were doing our best to comply, Van de Streek said.

One immediate change, he said, is that the county now calls victims to notify them of a defendants first appearance in court -- after charges are filed, but before the defendant is arrested.

The county also signs up victims in SAVIN, the North Dakota Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system, which sends automated notices via email or text of a defendants court proceedings or their whereabouts.

Previously, the county simply informed victims about the system and how to use it.

Van de Streek said the county also follows up with letters in the mail.

He said the impact of complying with Marsys Law could be greater on smaller counties that have fewer resources. But with three full-time victim and witness coordinators on staff, Cass County is managing.

Were trying to get a sense of where we are, Van de Streek said. If what were doing is taking too much time, we might have to pare back a little.
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With more than 3,000 people in North Dakota and South Dakota still without power Tuesday, companies expected to have most of the lights back on by early Wednesday.

Montana Dakota Utilities spokesman Tony Spilde said about 7,300 people lost power following Sunday's blizzard after ice and heavy snow knocked down power lines across the region. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the company said all residents would have power before morning.

On Tuesday, conditions were "pretty terrible," Spilde said, and more than 50 poles were downed. Crews were struggling to access the power lines and poles because of snowdrifts on the roads.

Spilde said state and county crews have helped clear paths for the linemen to repair the equipment.

"In some cases, we even had farmers help us out to get to areas where we needed to work," he said.

MDU customers in Artas, Eureka, Fullerton, Herreid, Napoleon, Lebanon, Monango, Mound City, Pollock, Hazelton, Braddock and Kyntyre were expected to have power restored late Tuesday evening. Residents of Zeeland, Hillsview and Hosmer may have to wait until Wednesday.

It may take until Thursday to restore power in Hoven, Onaka, Tolstoy and Burnstad because of "extensive damage and much of the distribution lines are in remote areas," according to MDU.

Linton Public School opened at 8 a.m. Tuesday to shelter residents who are without utilities, according to Emmons County Sheriff Gary Sanders, but as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, no one had been to the school.

In addition to being warm, the school has a kitchen, so meals can be served there if needed. The school also has showers and a library.

Sanders said many people in the county have a secondary heat source, such as propane or a generator, but there are some who do not.

Not everybody is set up for that, especially the elderly," he said.

Sanders said Emmons County reached out to people in rural areas through the 911 system to make sure they're OK and see if they need help.

If we need to get out to them, with the assistance of a county snowplow we can get out there, too," he said.

Tom Voller said he and his family got electricity back around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at their farm outside Hazelton.

Voller said he lost power at 2 a.m. Monday. He, his wife and his daughter, who is home from medical school, were awake when the power went out. Without an alternative heat source, their home hit 47 degrees Monday night.

It got pretty cold. That was more of an inconvenience, but we were worried about the house getting cold enough that the pipes would freeze, Voller said. We had some had candles out for light and then some flashlights, and just navigated in the evening and thought about the old times when people didnt have electricity."

The family layered up with blankets, and Tuesday morning they started working on getting a generator hooked up. Midway through the project, electricity was restored.

We were ill-prepared for things. We never used (the generator). In 30 years of being on this farm, Ive never had to use a generator," Voller said.

Mor-Gran-Sou and Roughrider electric cooperatives restored service in all areas Tuesday.

As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Slope Electric Cooperative said crews were still making progress to get power to affected areas.

North Dakota is expanding its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to allow people 10 calendar days to seek replacement benefits if they lost food purchased with benefits due to the power outages from the winter storm, according to the state Department of Human Services. The benefits are available to any SNAP household that experienced a power outage of at least four hours. Those who receive SNAP must report their losses to a county social service office by Jan. 3.

For more information, visit a local county social service office or go to www.nd.gov/dhs/locations/countysocialserv.
Nurse Nicole Martin, left, administers a Hepatitis B shot to a newborn baby girl while nurse Shayla Burke comforts the child Dec. 20, 2016, during a routine 24-hour checkup at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. (Alyssa Pointer / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago-area hospitals are waiting.

They're waiting to see what Donald Trump does with Obamacare. They're anxious to see what a federal court decides in a case over a merger between two large Illinois hospital systems. They're closely watching the state Supreme Court in a case about whether not-for-profit hospitals should have to pay certain taxes.

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They'll likely get their answers in 2017  answers that could change the costs and types of care available to patients across Illinois.

Lynn Gordon, a partner at law firm Nixon Peabody in Chicago who represents hospitals, said hospital leaders are worried about how those issues will affect their revenues, and in turn, the care they're able to provide to patients.

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"Will we have it? Is it sufficient?" she said they're wondering of their revenue for 2017. "Will it allow us to do what we need to do to continue to serve communities?"

Below are a few of the topics that could most affect local hospitals  and their patients  in 2017:

Obamacare or Trumpcare?

Hospitals in Illinois and across the country are arguably most concerned about Trump's plans for the Affordable Care Act federal health care law. He has pledged to repeal and replace the law, but it's not yet clear what that replacement will look like or when it might take effect.

The law requires all Americans to buy health insurance or face penalties; it barred insurers from refusing coverage because of pre-existing conditions; and it helped states expand Medicaid  a health insurance program for the poor.

In Illinois, the uninsured rate dropped from 12.7 percent in 2013 to 7.1 percent in 2015 under Obamacare, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. About 645,000 Illinoisans gained coverage through Medicaid expansion in Illinois as of June, according to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

Many now are worried that a repeal of Obamacare, without a replacement, will cause a reversal in the number of Illinois residents with health insurance. That could mean more visits to hospital emergency rooms by people without insurance  people who wait until their medical needs become dire before seeking care.

"If Medicaid expansion were repealed not only would upwards of 650,000 (Illinois) adults lose coverage but there would also be significant financial pressure on hospitals in the form of increased uncompensated care," said A.J. Wilhelmi, president and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

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Higher costs for hospitals could mean reduced service offerings and higher prices for all patients, Gordon said.

"If you're not able to bring in other revenue, if you're not able to offset and subsidize those losses, hospitals have to start making really hard choices," Gordon said.

Hospital mergers

Chicago health care leaders  along with those across the country  are also are watching one of the biggest court cases over a hospital merger in recent years.

If the merger between Advocate Health Care and NorthShore University HealthSystem is allowed to proceed, the newly created system will be able to provide high-quality care at lower prices, leaders of those systems say. The Federal Trade Commission, however, says the merger will lead to higher prices for Chicago-area patients.

A federal district court likely will decide in the first half of 2017 whether to temporarily halt the union.

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The court's decision also may chill or encourage further consolidation among hospitals in the area, depending on which way it goes, some have speculated.

In recent years, Illinois hospitals have been part of a nationwide consolidation frenzy.

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare is in discussions over a potential affiliation with Centegra Health System, based in Crystal Lake. Northwestern already has acquired a number of hospitals in recent years. University of Chicago Medicine finalized a merger in the fall with Ingalls Health System, which has run a community hospital in Harvey. Hospital system Presence Health formed through a 2011 merger between Chicago-based Resurrection Health Care and Mokena-based Provena Health.

Some credit the Affordable Care Act, which encourages hospitals to lower costs and improve quality, for the mergers. But Douglas Swill, chairman of law firm Drinker Biddle & Reath's health care practice group in Chicago, said the hospital merger craze began before Obamacare and likely will continue even if it's taken apart. He said the Affordable Care Act sped up some of that consolidation.

"The area is still probably going to see a few more affiliations," Swill said.

Larry Boress, president and CEO of the Midwest Business Group on Health, said such acquisitions can give hospitals a competitive edge.

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"It's about being able to acquire a great reputation as well as great volume and leverage in negotiations when it comes to working with (insurers)," Boress said.

Hospital tax exemptions

Illinois hospitals also are waiting anxiously for the Illinois Supreme Court to weigh in on a tax-exemption case that could lead to not-for-profit hospitals across the state having to pay more money to municipalities. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for Jan. 12.

The court will decide whether a state law that defines what not-for-profit hospitals must do to get tax breaks is constitutional. That law, passed in 2012, was meant to provide clarity around tax exemptions for hospitals. The law states that in order for a not-for-profit hospital to be considered tax-exempt, the value of its charitable services must be equal to or greater than its estimated tax liability. Of Illinois' more than 200 hospitals, 156 are not-for-profit.

The case arrived at the state Supreme Court after a state appeals court ruled the law unconstitutional in January 2016. The case involves the city of Urbana and the Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana.

Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing said that the city lost 11 percent of its assessed value for taxes when Carle and another Urbana hospital, now called Presence Covenant Medical Center, were relieved of paying more than $6 million a year in property taxes.

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But hospitals say it's important state law clearly define when they can get exemptions. They say exemptions for not-for-profit hospitals allow the hospitals to provide better care for patients. About 40 percent of Illinois hospitals already are operating in the red or on slim margins, said Wilhelmi, with the Illinois Health and Hospital Association.

"We feel that taxing local hospitals would hurt the communities they serve by diverting significant dollars away from efforts to care for their patients and upgrade their equipment, modernize their facilities and hire needed staff," Wilhelmi said.

Prussing questions that assertion, noting that Carle made a top 10 list of the nation's most profitable not-for-profit hospitals in the country in a study published in the journal Health Affairs earlier this year.

"There may be hospitals that can't afford it, but that's not Carle," Prussing said.

Another state appeals court recently upheld the law as constitutional in a separate case.

lschencker@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @lschencker
A Menards store is photographed Nov. 25, 2016 on Clybourn Avenue in Chicago. The National Labor Relations Board has filed a complaint against the home improvement chain. (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune)

Menards has been slapped with a federal complaint alleging the home improvement chain misclassified its delivery drivers as independent contractors and therefore deprived them of workplace protections afforded to employees, a charge the company calls "ridiculous" and vows to fight.

The complaint, filed Thursday by the National Labor Relations Board's Minneapolis regional office, also accuses Menards of violating federal labor law by maintaining a mandatory arbitration clause in its employee handbook to prohibit workers from filing class-action lawsuits in court and unfair labor practices charges with the NLRB.

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The NLRB's complaint is in response to a charge brought in August by the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 153, which is based in New York and represents some 17,000 workers in a variety of positions, including office and clerical workers as well as vendors at Yankee Stadium. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

The complaint adds to a growing list of cases examining who should be classified as employees eligible for workplace protections. Unlike employees, independent contractors are not covered by laws that provide for minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and unionizing activities.

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"This is the way that Menards cuts their costs and we don't think it's fair," said Seth Goldstein, a Local 153 senior business representative who provided the Tribune with a copy of the NLRB's complaint.

The NLRB's online docket shows the agency filed a complaint against Menards on Thursday but does not include the contents of the document. NLRB representatives did not immediately respond to queries and a Freedom of Information Act request Tuesday.

Menards, which is based in Eau Claire, Wis., and has some 280 stores, including 57 in Illinois, disputes the allegations of misclassification.

"We feel that the NLRB is wrong," Menards said in a statement provided by spokesman Jeff Abbott. "Our corporation has contracts with various corporations to deliver goods to our customers. These corporations include FedEx, UPS, the United States Postal Service, Stephens Delivery Inc., Quick Hauling Inc., Rhodes Delivery Service, R & R Delivery, Spee-Dee Delivery Service and more than 500 other corporations. We plan to vigorously defend ourselves against these ridiculous allegations."

It continued: "We are puzzled why the NLRB is involved with this because we have no disputes with any of these corporations or any of their employees. We believe that ultimately the charge will be dismissed because it lacks any merit."

The misclassification complaint comes several months after Menards entered a settlement agreement with the NLRB, also spurred by charges filed by Goldstein, in which it agreed, among several provisions, to revise its employee handbook to make clear that its arbitration program doesn't constitute a waiver of rights to file class-action suits of unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB.

Goldstein said he learned later that "several thousand" delivery drivers classified as independent contractors would not be covered by the agreement. He estimates that each Menards store has three or four drivers, also called "haulers," who deliver purchased goods to customers' homes.

Goldstein said Menards exercises enough control over its drivers that they should be classified as employees. In addition to requiring drivers to sign arbitration and class-action-waiver agreements, Goldstein said Menards requires drivers to use a certain design of truck, prohibits them from refusing loads, and has a noncompete clause that limits their right to work for competitors within 25 miles of the store.

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According to the NLRB complaint, the agency wants Menards to rescind or revise any portions of any agreements with delivery drivers that purport to classify them as independent contractors and to revise its mandatory arbitration clause to clarify that the drivers can still engage in class actions. A hearing before an administrative law judge is scheduled for April 4 in Minneapolis.

aelejalderuiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @alexiaer
After a couple splits, if one co-owner wants to sell the shared condo and the other doesn't, a simple solution is to negotiate a sales price and buy out the person who wants to sell. (JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty Images)

Q: My former significant other and I own a condo. We have split; she wants to sell and pull out half of the sales proceeds, but I want to stay where I am. How does this get resolved?

A: Before I respond, I want to do a little preaching. I assume from your question that you did not enter into a partnership agreement before you took title. I cannot recommend strongly enough the absolute need for two unmarried people to have such an agreement. The agreement should spell out such things as: What if one person wants out of the property? What if one person cannot afford to make the necessary payment, and what if one person dies? A good real estate attorney can assist in the drafting, but one caveat  each of you should retain your own attorney to make sure your interests are protected and incorporated into the legal document.

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Regarding your question, is there any equity in the house? You should obtain an appraisal of the property. What is it really worth? It may have so little equity that it just does not pay to get into a legal fight with your co-owner.

Let us assume the condo has a market value of $400,000 with a mortgage of $200,000. Under these circumstances, you each have the equivalent of $100,000. Keep in mind, however, that should the condo be sold on the open market, you will probably not obtain the full $200,000. There are closing costs, fix-up costs and real estate commissions which have to be paid, thereby reducing the net proceeds to be divided between you.

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You should make a valiant effort to reach a peaceable resolution. Since your co-owner wants to sell, she wants the money. One simple solution is to negotiate a sales price for her half, and buy her out. If you do not have enough of your own money, you may be able to borrow the funds by refinancing. Keep in mind that both of you are obligated under the mortgage (deed of trust) and she will not be permitted to be released from her obligation to the lender. This is a real problem that divorcing couples always face. Refinancing is the only option.

The alternative will be long, prolonged  and expensive  litigation. And in my opinion, there is nothing worse than two former friends fighting each other over money.

On the other hand, if you are unable to reach an agreement, I recommend each of you retain separate legal counsel. You two have separate interests, and lawyers do not want to have a potential conflict of interest when they take on a new case.

The ultimate remedy is for you to file a suit for partition. This is a legal concept that has been universally accepted throughout the United States.

The courts have made it clear they will not require two or more people to continue to own real estate when someone wants out of the relationship. A suit for partition can be filed in the local courthouse, asking the court to either force a resolution between you or sell the property to a third party and divide the net proceeds equally among all the owners of that property.

The only winners in a partition suit, however, are the lawyers and the speculators who purchase the property.

You might also want to consider asking your co-owner to have the matter decided by binding arbitration. Under this arrangement, you both would select an arbitrator who would have the written authority to review all of the facts. The arbitrator would make a determination that would be fair and equitable to all parties.

In the final analysis, this matter should be resolved between you and your co-owner without outside involvement  or interference  from the courts or from an arbitrator.

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Benny Kass is a practicing attorney in Washington, D.C., and in Maryland. He does not provide specific legal or financial advice to any reader. Readers may email him, but he cannot guarantee a personal response.

mailbag@kmklawyers.com







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Most restaurants attempt to have a distinctive dining room, but few ever create something utterly and completely unique. When it opened in 2010, Ruxbin was the exception, with a quirky mix of reclaimed materials that gained national recognition for its design.

That's why this news comes as a surprise: Come Jan. 1, the West Town restaurant will close for a complete remodel. The cozy booths with the church pews? Gone. The seat-belt straps on the banquettes? Gone. The ingenious bathroom entrance made from a revolving darkroom door? Yes, that's going away too.

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The restaurant will be closed for most of January to complete the redesign.

While Edward Kim, executive chef and co-owner with his sister Vicki and wife, Jennifer, has nothing but nice things to say about the original design by Davide Nanni, he's ready for a change. "It's been six years, and we've always evolved and progressed the food," says Kim. "But the one thing that hasn't evolved is the space. There is a cacophony between our service and our space."

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The design eliminates the church-pew booths, ceiling papered with cookbook pages and more. (Ruxbin)

When Ruxbin first opened, the average table turned after 90 minutes, but because of an embrace of more courses, that time is up to three hours now. While the booths still look great, they make it difficult for the waiters to easily serve the guests on the inside seats, Kim says. The comfort of his guests is now a much bigger concern for him. "When we first opened up, we were like a rock concert," says Kim. "Now we're a little more like jazz."

And what about the bathroom door? "Should we be known for a bathroom?" says Kim.

The new design, by Gil Melott of Studio6F, will certainly be a radical departure, favoring clean lines, plush pillows and an interplay of different textures. Melott wanted to bring some sophistication to the space. "There's a sense of humility to the food," he says. In the end, he focused on this thought: "If chef was cooking the most important meal and proposing to his wife, where would that be?"

Everything about the design is different, from the absence of booths to how you enter the restaurant. "You currently walk right into the service station," says Melott. "Now you'll jog to the right and be greeted by a hostess." Walnut vertical slats line the right wall. Windows, which are currently covered up, will be exposed and lined with a gabion wall, an iron cage filled with stones. The back wall will be covered with a Japanese style of burnt wood called shou-sugi-ban.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Even with all the different components, the design has a subdued quality, which Melott says is purposeful: "The food is the most important thing."

If you're already feeling nostalgic for the old space, you have until the end of the year to make a visit. During this time, you can order from a three-course $45 throwback menu, featuring popular dishes from the past six years.

But Kim has his attention on the future. "A restaurant is a living thing, and change is necessary. Some people tell me, 'Don't change the facade. Don't change!' But that can't be."

Kim acknowledges that no one knows the formula for creating a successful restaurant, and if you do happen to succeed, it's hard to know exactly why. "You did a hundred different things, but you don't know which one made it great."

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Ruxbin will close for remodeling after service Dec, 31, 2016, with the hope of reopening Jan. 24.

Ruxbin, 851 N. Ashland Ave., 312-6248509, www.ruxbinchicago.com

nkindelsperger@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @nickdk






Chance the Rapper performs at the lighting ceremony for the National Christmas Tree Dec. 1 near the White House. (Alex Brandon / AP)

Organizers of an Indiana festival say they are issuing refunds to ticket holders after plans for Chance the Rapper to perform fell through.

Chris Cammack said he paid more than $10,000 to an Atlanta talent agency to book the Chicago rapper for ChirpFest April 8 at Ball State University in Muncie. Organizers created a ticket page that promised Chance the Rapper and friends, but had not made an official announcement about the lineup. Cammack said about 500 general admission tickets were sold online Monday, which was earlier than organizers planned, after word got out that Chance was on the bill.

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We are very sorry for the inconvenience; everyone that has purchased tickets to our Spring 2017 Event will be refunded.  The ChirpFest (@ChirpFestival) December 27, 2016

But Chance said he is not part of the lineup. He tweeted Monday night that he's "not playing ChirpFest at Ball State, don't buy fake tix. If you already bought fake tix, go demand your money back."

I'm not playing chirpfest at ball state, don't buy fake tix. If you already bought fake tix, go demand your money back.  Chance The Rapper Album in July (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2016

Cammack, 23, said a representative for Atlanta-based Global Talent Agency contacted him Tuesday afternoon and said a solution was in the works. A representative for the agency told the Tribune that the deal was set up through a third-party booker.

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A man who contacted the Tribune and identified himself as the booker said the deal with Chance had not been "fully solidified" and festival organizers promoted Chance's participation too early. A refund will be issued to ChirpFest organizers, the booker said.

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Cammack said he and co-organizer Darius Norwood still plan on holding ChirpFest, and are focused on reworking the marketing plan for the year-old electronic music festival. They have not yet announced the rest of the planned lineup.

There may be some hope that Chance, who recently garnered seven Grammy nominations, will play at Ball State. He tweeted late Monday that he "would love to play Ball State at some point, in some capacity this school year. Just gotta take the proper channels." A rep for the rapper did not immediately return a Tribune request for comment.

I would love to play Ball State at some point, in some capacity this school year. Just gotta take the proper channels. https://t.co/jZWXTJept8  Chance The Rapper Album in July (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2016

Said Cammack: "We would love to do it the right way and go through the proper groups that we need to make this happen."

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Going to see a movie on a date or a group of friends is fun, but sometimes it's best to go solo. (Jacob Ammentorp Lund / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Long before I dreamed of writing about pop culture, I was a fan of the movie date.

Beverly Cleary's young adult novel "Fifteen" captured the ritual perfectly; after reading it as a child I dreamed about what it would be like to go to a movie and then get an ice cream soda afterward. In college, I went to Grauman's Chinese Theater for the first time with a date, who delighted in walking me through the extravagant gate out front and watching me marvel at the baroque wallpaper and seemingly endless auditorium. I have a soft spot for "Argo," Ben Affleck's middling spy drama, because my husband and I saw it on our first date.

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But if I really want to see a movie, there's nothing better than sneaking off to the theater by myself, preferably in the middle of the day when the cinema's likely to be pretty empty.

The problem with seeing a movie on a date is the movie becomes subordinate to the date. Rather than giving your full attention to what's happening on-screen, maybe you're wondering if you're going to hold hands, or you're feeling the weight of their arm across your shoulder. You're sharing popcorn, or your fingers bump when you both reach for a Twizzler at the same time.

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And even if you aren't distracted by these little zaps of physical electricity, the way you process a movie on a date is inevitably shaped by the discussion to come. I like this, but will she like it? I hate this, but will he? How could anyone think that was romantic, or smart, or suspenseful, or satisfying? If I talk about the cinematography, is he going to think I'm pretentious? If I don't talk about the cinematography, will she think I'm dumb? I wish I was at "Star Wars." I wish he was someone who wanted to see "Star Wars."

No, if you really want to get lost in a movie - and have an aesthetic experience that will be yours and yours alone - the only way to see a movie is by yourself.

One of the first experiences that convinced me of this was in 1994, when I went to see "Little Women" in the small Vermont town where my family was living at the time and cried so hard when Beth (Claire Danes) died that a neighbor called my mother to make sure I was all right. This year, I saw "Hell or High Water," David Mackenzie and Taylor Sheridan's magnificent neo-Western, by myself on a Friday afternoon. One of the reasons it's stayed at the top of my private best-of list all year is that, though I wanted to talk to everyone I knew about it as soon as I left the theater, while I was watching the movie, I didn't think about the world outside at all.

There's something singularly decadent about the other pleasures of going to the movies by yourself. Not that anyone ought to feel shamed about enjoying an enormous tub of popcorn or a movie-sized soda on their own, but there's a particular delight in not having to share your treats, or being observed while you eat them. If going to the movies alone is a chance not to pay attention to someone else's reactions, it's also a chance not to have someone else reacting to you, whether you're laughing at a stupid but irresistible joke, or eating an entire box of Junior Mints during the movie's first act.

So much of pop cultural consumption has become inescapably public, whether you're staying up on Sunday nights to watch "Game of Thrones" so you can talk about it at work the next day or watching all the Oscar-nominated movies so you can participate in horse-race debates about the contenders or dismiss the whole thing as a racist, sexist sham.

To a certain extent, I think that's great. After all, I make my living from the fact that people love to have vigorous public debates about pop culture. But part of what makes our conversations about art great, and what makes them so different from our debates about politics, is that our reactions to culture are highly personal and unpredictable.

The only way to have those truly private responses is to create space for ourselves to be alone with art. Going to the movies by yourself is an indulgence. But it's also the best way to really see a film, and maybe even to catch a little glimpse of your inner self in your reaction to it.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
"Scythe" by Neal Shusterman, 448 pages, Simon and Schuster, $18.99, ages 12+

In this first book of Shusterman's ingenious new science-fiction trilogy, death, as one character succinctly puts it, "has become the exception instead of the rule." The year is 2042, and technology has evolved to form a sentient, benevolent ruling body called the Thunderhead, which eliminated all of the obstacles  aging, disease, war, famine  that once prevented the human race from living forever. The Thunderhead also gave humans the freedom to establish an efficient method for combating overpopulation: gleaning. An elite order of Grim Reaper-esque workers known as scythes are charged with gleaning, i.e. killing, a certain number of people every year, and they do so with a solemn sense of responsibility, humility and compassion. Or most of them do. As apprentice scythes Citra and Rowan discover over the course of their harrowing training, not everyone follows the rules.

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The best futuristic stories don't just entertain us with fanciful what-ifs; they bring the present into sharp, meaningful focus. Shusterman expertly adheres to this pattern, depicting the world post "Age of Mortality" as rife with moral ambiguity and all-too-familiar corrupting influences. The power to decide who lives and who dies should be acted upon, according to the Scythe Commandments, "with no bias, bigotry, or malice aforethought." A noble goal to be sure, but death, it seems, is easier to tame than human nature.

"History Is All You Left Me" by Adam Silvera, 304 pages, Soho Teen, $18.99, ages 14+

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Social media's magic crystal ball makes it hard to avoid knowing when an ex has started dating someone else. But 17-year-old Griffin confronts something much more painful than cute Instagram photos of his first and only love, Theo, snuggling his new boyfriend, Jackson. Griffin must come face to face with Jackson in an unbearable context: at Theo's funeral.

Flipping back and forth from the present to the past, Silvera's tender second novel meticulously sifts through the layers of Griffin's emotions, charting how his relationship with Theo grew from childhood friendship to sweet romance to nebulous bond challenged by Theo's move across country, from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Santa Monica, Calif., to attend college. After Theo accidentally drowns in the ocean, Griffin is forced to acknowledge that he is not the only one grieving. He speaks to Theo constantly inside his head, and, in the moment at the cemetery when the casket descends into the ground, he says, "I look up, and Jackson's eyes find mine. For a second it almost feels like we're about to race into the hole to join you. Being buried alive has got to be better than whatever comes next." Through Griffin, Silvera presents an eloquent, in-depth examination of "whatever comes next," of the ways in which the grieving process both isolates people and draws them together.

"Loving vs. Virginia" by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, 250 pages, Chronicle, $21.99, ages 12+

"We are married./ We have a child./ We are a family./ Of this we are / Guilty." The upcoming 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Loving v. Virginia has brought renewed attention to Mildred and Richard Loving, the interracial couple who fought for nearly a decade to have their marriage legally recognized in their home state of Virginia. Like the current Hollywood film, this handsome oversized volume, illustrated with a mix of historic photographs and affectionate retro-style drawings, tells a quiet yet powerful story, one that accentuates the Lovings' relatively modest dream of having the freedom to live where they choose as husband and wife.

Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving grew up just down the road from one another in rural Caroline County, their families regularly getting together for barbecues, square dances and softball games. Champaign-Urbana author Hruby Powell sets the narrative in plain-spoken verse, alternating between the two main characters' fictionalized perspectives. In 1958, the couple has one child and another on the way when they travel to Washington D.C., which has no anti-miscegenation laws, to get married. Back home they awaken one night to the sheriff shining a flashlight in their eyes and telling them to get dressed so he can take them to jail. "Once you get arrested/ in your bed/ it's hard to be easy," Mildred says later with characteristic matter-of-factness. But they don't succumb to fear and, after a long, hard fight, eventually win the right, for themselves and others, to publicly love whom they love.

Christine Heppermann's latest book for young adults is "Ask Me How I Got Here."
SAN ANTONIO  When Brittany Galan was diagnosed with leukemia at 6 weeks old, doctors warned her parents she had little chance of surviving - she was so young and so sick. But after being treated with chemotherapy, "I lived and lived!" said the exuberant 24-year-old. "Everyone calls me the miracle baby."

The lifesaving chemo, however, took a heavy toll. It "messed me up neurologically," Galan said. In grade school, she had trouble with reading and math and eventually went on ADHD medication. In college, the once-avid runner developed a heart problem. Recently, Galan, who juggles two part-time jobs working with children with emotional problems, began taking medication for anxiety and depression.

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"Sometimes I think, 'What's next?' " she said. "I take a lot of pills. I feel like an old lady."

One of medicine's greatest successes is the sharp rise in survival rates for children with cancer. But the flip side of that success is that many of those children are turning up years or even decades later with serious and sometimes life-threatening complications, including second cancers, heart disorders, cognitive problems and infertility.

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"These treatments seem to accelerate the aging process," said Greg Aune, a researcher and pediatric oncologist who works at a clinic for childhood cancer survivors at University Hospital in San Antonio, where Galan gets her care.

Aune, like a growing number of scientists and clinicians, is focusing intently on "late effects" of cancer treatments. Many of these researchers work in clinics designed specifically to monitor the health of childhood cancer survivors and alert them to potential risks.With the ranks of survivors swelling, there is an urgent need to understand the treatments' effects on the entire body, not just the tumor, and to come up with less-toxic therapies.

Aune has a personal stake in the research. As a teenager growing up on a wheat farm in eastern Washington state, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and treated with intensive radiation and chemo. Two decades later, he ended up in emergency surgery to replace a badly scarred heart valve and three blocked arteries, a direct result of the treatment. At 41, he had a mild stroke while at his daughter's gymnastics class and was diagnosed with diabetes. His childhood cancer treatment saved his life, and at 43, he appears robust, but he worries that his battered heart might fail.

"If I had been born a lot earlier, I wouldn't have to worry about late effects because I wouldn't be here," Aune said.

In the 1960s, fewer than half of children with cancer were alive five years after their diagnoses; now, more than 80 percent are. There are more than 420,000 childhood cancer survivors in the United States today, and the number is expected to increase to 500,000 by 2020.

Yet the improved survival rates "came at a high cost," said Gregory Armstrong, an oncologist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospitalin Memphis. He runs the National Cancer Institute-sponsored Childhood Cancer Survival Study, which tracks more than 30,000 childhood cancer survivors. In the 1980s, survivors began worrying about new health problems, but the severity and connection to their treatments were not appreciated until years later. "This is a population that appears much older than its chronological age," Armstrong said.

As cancer doctors realized that patients might live not just for another five years but for another five decades or more, their just-keep-them-alive impulse evolved. Doctors carefully cut back on chemo and radiation for patients who seemed unlikely to relapse.

The less-punishing therapies bolstered long-term survival. Almost 11 percent of five-year survivors diagnosed with cancer in the 1970s were dead within 15 years of their diagnoses; that dropped to less than 6 percent for those treated in the 1990s, according to Armstrong's research.

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Still, patients continue to suffer from severe late effects. By age 50, 1 in 3 women who received chest radiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma will develop breast cancer, compared with less than 1 in 20 in the general population, Armstrong said.

People who develop cancer as adults also can suffer from late effects. But children are more vulnerable to toxic therapies because their bodies are still developing, researchers say. And they have many more years of life in which complications can occur.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 20 (Halloweencostumes.com)

Immunotherapy, a new approach that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer, could cause less collateral damage - but its use in children is a long way off. "For every patient I saw last week, I used the same medications we have had for the last 30 years," Aune said. "And they are very toxic."

---

When Aune is not caring for patients at University Hospital, he spends much of his time in nearby Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, where he oversees experiments in mice on the effects of chemo, includingdrugs called anthracyclines that can be toxic to the heart. Much of the research on late effects involves the heart, which is especially vulnerable to aggressive childhood treatments.

On a recent day, his lab manager, Thomas Andrews, anesthetized an 8-week-old mouse before laying it on its back on a heated board. With a cotton swab smeared with Nair, he removed a bit of fur from the animal's chest, then used a very small probe to take a scan, shown on a monitor, of the mouse's left ventricle. The echocardiogram allowed Andrews to measure the animal's heart-pumping efficiency.

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The mouse was destined for a study looking at whether vigorous exercise can limit heart problems caused by doxorubicin, which is also known as Adriamycin and is an anthracycline. After the mice receive several doses of the drug, some are put on treadmills for exercise, and others are not. Early data suggest that the ones on the treadmills do better, Aune said.

Another mouse experiment involves a medication called dexrazoxane, which is used to prevent heart damage caused by certain chemo drugs in breast-cancer patients. Its use in children has been controversial and spotty because some older studies have suggested that the medication, which is given at the same time as chemo, increases the risk of second cancers. There have also been concerns that it could blunt the cancer-fighting effectiveness of chemo.

But those worries have been largely disproved in recent years, and now a clinical trial in humans may be paving the way for widespread use of the drug, also called Zinecard.

Eric Chow, an oncologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, is leading an effort to see whether the drug prevents long-term cardiac deterioration. He and other researchers are scrutinizing the cardiac function of people who were in trials in the late 1990s and early 2000s and treated with either doxorubicin alone or the chemo drug plus Zinecard, the heart-protectant.

"We didn't really know what happened to those patients and what happened in terms of heart disease," Chow said. "Did the medication have any protective effects that could be detected 20 years later?"

A preliminary analysis released earlier this month showed that the Zinecard group appeared to have "more preserved" heart function many years later. One theory is that the drug interferes with a protein that makes heart tissue more vulnerable to certain chemo agents.

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Saro Armenian, a pediatric oncologist at City of Hope in Duarte, California, is taking another approach to counter the heart-damaging effects of anthracycline drugs. He is exploring whether giving childhood cancer survivors a common blood pressure drug will prevent heart failure as they get older.

"The question is," he said, "if you have been treated with chemo, can you take a drug to help the heart to heal?" He likened the approach to using low-dose baby aspirin to protect arteries among the general population.

---

Six-year-old Sammy Cuevas, decked out in black pants and a matching vest, watches videos on his mother's phone as he waits for his checkup at the University Hospital survivors' clinic. When he was 4 months old, he had surgery to remove a brain tumor called a medulloblastoma, followed by a year of chemo. "There were times," said his mother, Claudia Cuevas, "when I thought, 'The cancer won't kill him, but the chemo will.'"

He already has chemo-related problems, including mild deafness, severe constipation and what his doctors call an overall "failure to thrive." At 34 pounds and a little over 3 feet tall, the first-grader is in the third percentile for size for his age. As Sammy gets older, he will be monitored for late effects including leukemia and fertility problems.

Nevertheless, Sammy's doctor, Shafqat Shah, is optimistic about Sammy. "Our hopes for him are pretty dang good," she said. His mother also was upbeat. "He's very good with numbers," she told the doctor. "But he has a little trouble with pronunciations because of his hearing problem."

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Patients are referred to the survivors' clinic - officially called the South Texas Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Program - three to five years after they are finished with treatment, when the threat of relapse has receded. Depending on their anticancer regimen, they may get comprehensive blood tests, echocardiograms, lung function tests and hearing examinations. Red flags prompt immediate referrals to specialists.

On a recent day in a clinic conference room, a few teenagers talked about life as childhood cancer survivors. High school senior Katelyn Garcia, who developed leukemia at 14 months and struggled with learning disabilities and seizures in middle school, is now headed to college and wants to become a "child-life specialist" - someone who takes care of children undergoing cancer treatment. Her friend, Carmen Villarosa, who had a kidney tumor when she was younger, worries that her cancer treatment might make it difficult for her to have children when she is older.

Bryon Martinez, who was diagnosed with leukemia in the fifth grade and gets annual echocardiograms to check for heart problems, is an accomplished cross-country runner who hopes to go to Georgetown University and become a pediatric oncologist. When his mother, Ana Isabel Martinez, speaks in Spanish about his illness, she weeps quietly. "It was extremely difficult," she said.

Aune knows what the survivors are going through. When he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, he said, "people told me it was a good cancer, because it was fairly curable. Everyone said I should just get through the treatment, and then life would go back to normal."

At the time, his mother wisely urged him to bank his semen, an experience the 16-year-old found almost unbearably embarrassing. "My doctors didn't mention it," he said, "My mother read about it in Reader's Digest."

After he had surgery for the cancer, Aune had radiation to his chest and abdomen for nine weeks and received eight chemo drugs over nine months. He lost 70 pounds. It was years before he felt normal again.

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Later, as a 35-year-old training to become a pediatric oncologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center, he became so exhausted that he could not walk more than 30 steps - a fatigue he attributed to a demanding job and four small children but was actually due to the radiation and, probably, the chemo. (By then, he and his wife had managed to have two sets of twins via artificial insemination.)

After having heart surgery, he switched his career focus to late effects, vowing to fill research gaps and work with survivors. Having already dealt with a raft of medical problems, he is philosophical about his future. "You never know what's going to come your way," he said, "so you better do what you want to do now."

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The clarity of a winter sky filled with stars. No reservations needed.

These are the joys of winter camping. Sure, it might snow or rain, and temperatures could drop below zero, but some people say the pluses outweigh the negatives.

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Interest in winter camping and outdoor training appears to be growing. While it's less crowded, getting back to nature during the coldest months of the year comes with challenges: unpredictable weather, wildlife and fewer daylight hours.

Brett Stoffel, who teaches wilderness skills through his company OutdoorSafe Inc. in Washington near North Cascades National Park, sees the increased demand.

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"Winter camping is not difficult, but it's also not routine," he said. "People are actually surprised at how comfortable they can be with a little extra preparation."

Winter camping takes many forms  from a bivy sack to a cabin. It's available at many national and state parks and private campgrounds from Maine to Washington. The cost is minimal  and even free at some places  but the parks may have limited services, and fires may be banned.

At Yellowstone National Park, for example, just one of 12 campgrounds (Mammoth, $20 a night) and one road for regular traffic (the northeast entrance) are open, with few park services in winter. Still, park rangers lead programs, such as snowshoe walks and geology talks, and visitors can backcountry camp with a permit ($3 per person per night).

"Winter camping in the cold is mostly tent campers," said Jeffrey Olson, a spokesman for the National Park Service. "The RV crowd tends to avoid snow."

Winter is not the busiest time of year at Illinois state parks, but camping, cabins and lodges at more than 100 parks are open, though there's no water, and other buildings are closed, said spokesman Ed Cross. Some parks offer popular winter programs, such as guided winter hikes and sled dog demonstrations at Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby (about two hours southwest of Chicago).

Several years ago, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan changed its rules to make winter camping easier, said park ranger Bill Smith. For novices, the staff takes extra time to make sure they have the right gear, he said.

Something is working. The number of backcountry campers and overnights January through March at Pictured Rocks more than doubled from 2009 to 2014. Winter campers are mostly local college students wanting a weekend getaway and people looking to climb ice columns as high as 200 feet on cliffs along Lake Superior, Smith said.

Last winter, Eli Latham and a group of friends backpacked into the snowy Colorado wilderness, becoming lost after about 3 miles.

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"The trail was a lot harder to see than we thought it would be because of the snow," said Latham, 25, who lives in Charleston, S.C. When they stopped to camp on a mountainside, there wasn't enough room for all the tents, so Latham and a friend had to sleep outside. The tarp they set up didn't work, so they rigged up hammocks.

"We didn't get much sleep," he said.

It's important to be prepared for any situation. REI has seen participation in its nationwide winter programs, such as Winter Camping Basics, more than double in the last two years to 6,785 people in 2016.

"Everyone's looking for more to do in the winter," said Travis Brown, an REI Outdoor Programs instructor in the Minneapolis area who is an avid winter camper. "Winter camping isn't a new thing; people have been doing it for thousands of years. With all the gear we have today, it's easy to stay warm when it's cold outside."

Winter camping tips

Communicate: Don't go solo. Tell the park and a family member or friend where you're going.

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Orienting: GPS might not work, so carry a map and compass.

Weather: Always check the weather forecast and park conditions before heading out.

Clothing: Wear warm, quick-drying layers and a waterproof, windproof outer layer. Avoid cotton. After activity, replace wet clothing with dry gear. Sleep with clothes  even hiking boots and a water bottle  inside your sleeping bag to keep them warm overnight.

The campsite: Choose a site with wind protection and away from dead trees. Pack down snow before setting up a tent. Position RVs and tents facing east.

Kids: Involve children; teach them to read a compass or clear a campsite. Don't let them wander off alone.

Sleeping: Bring a warmer sleeping bag than you think you'll need. Use a sleeping pad for cushioning and warmth.

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Food: Eat plenty because your body burns more calories in the cold to maintain normal body temperature. Don't cook in your tent vestibule.

Hydration: You can become dehydrated in winter, so drink plenty of water or hot drinks.

Skin protection: Bring sunglasses, lip balm, sunscreen and/or Vaseline for sun and wind protection.

Extras: Pack extra money, clothing, food, batteries and cooking fuel (it burns faster at higher elevations) just in case.

Sources: Travis Brown, National Park Service, Bill Smith, REI, Brett Stoffel

Sheryl Jean is a freelancer.

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Aurora police squad cars are parked outside Fox Valley Mall, which was evacuated and closed Monday night after a major fight broke out at the Aurora shopping center. (Megann Horstead / For the Aurora Beacon-News)

The Fox Valley Mall in Aurora was evacuated and closed for about an hour Monday night after unusually large crowds of teens congregated in the mall and some fights broke out, an Aurora police official said.

Police Lt. Rick Robertson said about 1,000 teens congregated in the mall, some running from section to section. Around 6:30 p.m., the first fights started to break out. When bottles of water and Gatorade began flying from the upper levels, officials decided to close the mall to prevent a large brawl, he said.

It was a lot of kids and a couple of scuffles and just for everyones safety it was best to get everyone moving along before one large incident occurred, he said.

Robertson said he was aware of four people in custody Monday night, at least two of them juveniles, but he did not know whether they had been charged or with what. One police sergeant was punched in the face, Robertson said, but he was not aware of any other injuries Monday night.

Naperville resident Margo Whelan said she was shopping at Macy's when the evacuation started. Employees were moved out first, then announcements came over the public address system, she said.

"They locked all the doors and they followed us down the escalators," Whelan said Monday night at a nearby restaurant. "There's a lot more plainclothes police officers in the mall than you think. They were in there doing all that and combing through. But at the same time, they had come over the PA quite a few times."

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Fox Valley Mall wildin pic.twitter.com/UU7p0Qq7Gs  Velma (@BFitman) December 27, 2016

The Fox Valley Mall closing comes amid reports of fights and evacuations at other malls nationwide.

In Fayetteville, N.C., Police Lt. Todd Joyce said police were called to Cross Creek Mall around 5 p.m. Monday because of a disturbance. He says some teenagers were apparently involved in a fight at the mall.

He said officers found no one injured from the altercation. Witnesses told media outlets there was chaos as hundreds tried to flee the mall. Joyce said no arrests had been made but police were reviewing security video to see whether charges are warranted. He said emergency medical personnel were called to assist someone who had a medical episode while fleeing.

In Manchester, Conn., police responded to a melee at a shopping mall and arrested several people. Authorities said fights broke out Monday evening at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall. There were no immediate reports of any serious injuries.

Manchester police Capt. Chris Davis posted on his Twitter account that several hundred teenagers were in the mall at the time and there were several fights. He said several people were arrested and the mall was evacuated. He also said authorities were still trying to sort out what happened. A mall security official said at about 7 p.m. Monday that the mall was closed. He would not confirm or deny that there was a large fight. The mall's regular closing time is 9 p.m.

Robertson said he could not speculate on a motive for the Fox Valley Mall congregating or fights and had no indication beforehand the fights might occur. An Aurora police officer on duty at the mall requested extra officers when he saw the large number of teens congregating, Robertson said.

He could said police could not confirm or rule out that the Fox Valley Mall fights were connected to the incidents nationwide Monday night.

With social media nowadays, it wouldnt surprise me, he said. But at this point in time, we have nothing to substantiate that.

Ultimately, about 75 officers from several agencies responded, he said.

The Fox Valley Mall was emptied by about 7:30 p.m. and reopened around 8:30, Robertson said. After the mall was evacuated, many teens remained in the area waiting for rides and some went to nearby restaurants. Robertson said no incidents were reported, but police provided extra patrols until all kids were out of the area.

Freelance reporter Megann Horstead contributed.
Volunteers and staff from the Alliance for the Great Lakes pick up trash on Oak Street Beach in Chicago and place temporary flags at each location where trash was found on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Although Chicagoans are smoking less than they used to, cigarette butts are still the most common kind of litter found at city beaches, according to a recent study by Loyola University Chicago. On North Shore beaches, trash is more likely to come from food waste.

At Ohio Street Beach, 57,066 pieces of litter  nearly a ton  were collected April through October from 2003 to 2014. Of that total, 41.9 percent of items collected was cigarette butts, even though smoking has been prohibited along the lakefront since 2007 and in all city parks since 2014.

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"You don't see it right away," said Timothy Hoellein, a Loyola professor and lead researcher of the study. "But when you go out to the beach and when you really start to look down and look for stuff and picking things up, you're realize, 'Holy cow, there's a lot of garbage here.' "

The information was collected from four beaches in Illinois by volunteers, and regardless of whether the beach was rocky or sandy, food and smoking-related litter was the most common at all the beaches. The study also found more litter on beaches in the fall than in the summer, indicating that summertime municipal cleanings decrease the amount of litter.

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"Litter is not just unsightly, but attracts large numbers of gulls that can have an impact on water quality at beaches," Cathy Breitenbach, director of Chicago's Department of Cultural and Natural Resources, wrote in an email.

Because cigarette butts are not biodegradable, they release chemicals that are bad for the environment, said Zvezdana Kubat, a Chicago Park District spokeswoman.

The percentages of certain types of garbage collected at other Chicago beaches along Lake Michigan were similar to the breakdown at Ohio Street Beach.

The Park District works with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Loyola to raise litter awareness, Breitenbach wrote. The city also grooms the beaches daily in the summer and organizes volunteer beach cleanups and educational field trips.

"The big takeaway here is the type of litter that we found is litter that is easily disposed of," said Anna Vincent, a senior at Loyola who co-authored the study.

The same is true for the suburbs, where food-related debris, the source of most of its trash, can also be easily disposed of. In Waukegan, food-related litter was 51.3 percent and smoking-related litter was 33.2 percent of the total amount collected.

A discarded cigarette butt in the sand at North Avenue beach on Thursday, June 29, 2006, in Chicago. (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

"People are looking for recreational opportunities and they usually bring all of their picnicking-style food with them so that's no shocker to me," said David Motley, director of communications for the city of Waukegan. "Recreation and food go hand-in-hand."

A staff of 10 people, the Waukegan Beach Rangers, collects litter regularly at the beach during the summer, Motley said.

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The Beach Rangers also pass out garbage bags to beach patrons, right and empty garbage receptacles, and talk to people about keeping the beaches clean.

And whether the trash is food- or smoking-related, lake beaches have an advantage over ocean beaches.

"There is a potentially local solution," Hoellein said. "On oceans, the solutions are international in scope and it's such a vast expanse that it is hard to regulate those kinds of things. Here, we can look at what we have and come up with local ways."

Because oceans are affected by other countries, the debris can be from anywhere and include large amounts of fishing, dumping and shipping waste, Hoellein said.

Around the Great Lakes, the lakes alliance has been holding beach cleanups for 25 years, and more than 15,000 volunteers go to their local beaches annually to collect and document the litter they pick up. That information is entered into a public online system, which Hoellein and other researchers can access and analyze.

"Some of their findings are things that we've suspected for a long time, but we've never had anybody really analyze and go through the peer review process of confirming our suspicions," about food- and smoking-related litter, said Jennifer Caddick, spokeswoman for the lakes alliance.

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A similar study in 2015 focused on five Lake Michigan beaches and aimed to help researchers understand the data sets and how to analyze them, Hoellein said.

The information gathered so far has led the groups to believe there has been a decline in cigarette butts at beaches as local and national smoking rates decline.

"Chicago has positioned itself as a national leader in smoking prevention, passing landmark legislation to limit access to tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, by youth," Brian Richardson, a Department of Public Health spokesman, wrote in an email. "Youth smoking rates in Chicago continue to decline and remain well below both the state and national rates, but there is still more work to do."

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Smoking among Chicago high school students has decreased by 20 percent since 2011, according to an April 2014 news release from the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Hoellein said he plans to continue researching smoking using Ohio Street Beach data kept by the lakes alliance since 2003.

"By looking at the trends over such a long period, we're in the position to understand the future or make predictions on what things might look like," Hoellein said. "What we're asking is, are less people smoking? Or is it because some cities have passed bans on smoking at beaches?"

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In the meantime, the study has helped fuel creative ways to encourage people to dispose of their trash properly. Specifically geared toward the problem of cigarette butts, the researchers, lakes alliance and Park District have created a "vote with your butt" ballot box ashtray, where smokers can dispose of their cigarette butt to "vote" whether Chicago deep dish pizza or Chicago-style hot dogs are better, for example.

"The problem is us," Caddick said. "The majority of the litter and debris found at beaches come from people ... Sometimes we love (going to) our beaches too much and we have to be really careful and take care of them when we leave."

gwong@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @GraceWong630
Children who go through juvenile detention often lead adult lives plagued by incarceration, unemployment and other woes, and the problem is most drastic among African-American men, according to a new study by Northwestern University medical school professors.

The study  believed by its authors to be the first of its kind  found that African-American males who had been in Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in their youth struggled more than their white and Hispanic counterparts with employment and family life, among other areas.

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The study, published online by the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics on Dec. 19, should not be taken as a condemnation of police or the juvenile justice system, said Linda Teplin, a Northwestern psychiatry professor and the study's senior author. Rather, she said, juvenile detention facilities disproportionately take in kids who already suffer the disadvantages of poverty, broken schools and other social ills.

Detention, and the consequences of carrying criminal records, may in turn increase the challenges kids face as they grow older, she said.

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"To me, the obvious solution is to improve our educational system, not just in wealthy neighborhoods, but in all neighborhoods  so that all kids have an equal chance of achieving the American dream," she said.

The Northwestern Juvenile Project has for years followed some 1,800 people who came into the detention center in the late 1990s, and researchers have interviewed them face to face periodically. The researchers tracked their employment, education, family life, housing, substance use and any further arrests, among other topics.

A prior study had found that 111 of the study participants had died as of December 2011, the majority of them by homicides committed with guns, indicating a death rate vastly higher than that of the general population.

The findings of the new study were similarly bleak. After 12 years, only 1 in 5 males and 1 in 2 females had attained what the study described as "positive outcomes" in more than half of the areas of their lives that researchers studied. Only half of the participants obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent, a rate significantly lower than that of the general population; only 1 out of 5 males was working full time or in school.

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The results were worst for African-American men, who trailed other study participants in numerous categories. White male participants, for example, had more than five times better odds of being in school or employed full time than African-American males after 12 years.

Hispanic male study participants tended to have fewer problems than African-American male participants, but fared worse than their white counterparts.

"On average, minorities are poorer and, in addition to that, they face great racial discrimination and hardship," Teplin said. "In every area, they face greater hardship."

The study  which Teplin authored alongside Northwestern medical school psychiatry professor Karen Abram, among others  uncovered few positive revelations, but females were found to have fared significantly better than males.

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Nearly 70 percent of female participants, for example, had avoided further criminal activity as of 12 years after detention, compared with about 27 percent of males, the study found.

dhinkel@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @dhinkel
Money from the $14.7 billion VW settlement could help Metra to scrap 52 of its oldest locomotives and replace them with new engines that emit 90 percent less nitrogen oxides and diesel soot. Nearly 400 Metra trains travel through Union Station each day. (Nancy Stone / Chicago Tribune)

Commuters are still breathing high levels of toxic diesel pollution trapped inside Union Station, but long-stalled efforts to clean up Metra's fleet of dirty locomotives could get a big boost next year.

Illinois will collect nearly $98 million for anti-pollution projects from a federal legal settlement with Volkswagen, the German automaker that installed secret software in nearly a half-million diesel vehicles to make them appear cleaner than they actually were. The agreement stipulates the money must be used to reduce lung- and heart-damaging nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel trains, buses, ferries and equipment.

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So far there has been no public discussion of how Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration should spend the VW windfall, though a top aide said Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority and other potential recipients already are clamoring behind the scenes to secure a share.

"We're getting a lot of calls as people figure out this money is going to be out there," said Alec Messina, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. "We can do a lot of great work with it."

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Unlike the CTA, which has made substantial investments in cleaner buses during the past decade, Metra relies on locomotives built in the 1970s that are significantly dirtier than newer models. A 2010 Tribune investigation found that commuters are routinely exposed to spikes of harmful diesel pollution aboard Metra trains and at Chicago's three major rail stations, with the highest levels on the south platform of Union Station.

Metra responded by upgrading its passenger cars to filter out diesel soot. But its decades-old locomotives still emit high levels of pollution that form acrid blue clouds inside Chicago's busiest commuter station.

Money from the VW settlement could revive Metra's plan to scrap 52 of its oldest locomotives and replace them with new engines that emit 90 percent less nitrogen oxides and diesel soot. The transit agency had planned to start buying new locomotives in 2019, but backed off amid the ongoing budget battle between Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

Metra still hasn't received $121 million earmarked in the state's last capital budget for infrastructure projects, said Don Orseno, the transit agency's chief executive. With no sign that lawmakers and the Republican governor are anywhere close to a spending plan for future years, Metra has focused instead on repairs to keep its aging fleet on the rails.

"Our goal is to provide the safest, cleanest commute for our customers," Orseno said. "But we aren't going to be able to make a big difference without new locomotives."

Amtrak, the passenger rail service that owns Union Station, already is taking more dramatic steps to improve air quality for the 130,000 commuters who pass through a facility built in the 1920s for long-distance travelers, not for a daily crush of workers from the suburbs.

During the coming year, 38 of the 54 daily Amtrak trains at Union Station will be replaced with new locomotives that meet the latest federal emissions standards, said spokesman Marc Magliari. The new trains will serve routes between Chicago and Milwaukee, Carbondale, St. Louis and cities in Michigan.

While the rail service also has upgraded ventilation and doors in an attempt to improve conditions within the building, the number of new Amtrak engines is a fraction of the nearly 400 Metra trains that move daily through Union Station. And few think there will be noticeable improvements in air quality until Amtrak, Metra and the city move forward with plans to upgrade the entire station  work that at best is four or five years off.

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Most attention to the $14.7 billion VW settlement has focused on compensation to dealers and individual owners of vehicles that emitted up to 40 times the legally allowable pollution levels. The automaker acknowledged in September 2015 that it had installed software to make it appear the vehicles were cleaner during emissions testing.

Of the $4.7 billion to be set aside for cleaner vehicles, $2.7 billion will be directed to states and tribal governments, with each getting an amount based on registrations of illegal VW vehicles. California gets the largest share  $381.2 million  followed by Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Illinois. Wisconsin will receive $63.5 million, Indiana $38.9 million.

Similar to larger settlements with cigarette makers over the health damages of smoking and BP from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, money for states affected by the VW scandal will be distributed by a trust and must be spent on eligible projects. One option would allow states to use the funds to cover up to 25 percent of the cost of a new passenger locomotive through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, a popular federal law that has replaced or cleaned up thousands of dirty vehicles during the past decade.

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"Given the number of people exposed to exhaust from these old Metra locomotives, replacing them is probably the best use of the money," said Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health at the nonprofit Respiratory Health Association of Greater Chicago.

Testing last year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the Tribune's 2010 findings at Union Station. Portable monitors carried by EPA inspectors recorded average levels of diesel soot that jumped from 43 micrograms per cubic meter of air outside the station to 129 on the north platform. Soot levels were significantly higher on the south platform and spiked as high as 299 during rush hour.

But the federal Clean Air Act doesn't allow the EPA to crack down on the owners of dirty locomotives the same way it can force changes at factories or power plants. Efforts to reduce noxious diesel pollution instead rely on replacing older engines with newer, cleaner models, and upgrading other vehicles with soot filters.

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"One might argue you're exposed to that exhaust for a couple of minutes each way," said Danish Murtaza, who rides Metra to and from Grayslake every weekday. "But multiply that exposure for the daily commuter, five days a week."

The EPA considers diesel exhaust one of the most dangerous types of air pollution. Breathing even small amounts can inflame the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, researchers have found. Several studies have linked exposure with heart attacks, cancer and premature death.

mhawthorne@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @scribeguy
The wedding-industrial complex has ensured that ostentatious displays of one-upmanship have become a routine part of getting hitched  even for the middle class.

So how does a self-respecting billionaire assert his clout on his daughter's big day?

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For food and beverage distribution mogul Christopher Reyes, the answer was: ask Mayor Rahm Emanuel to close a major downtown street.

Reyes, 62  said by Forbes magazine to be the 206th richest American, with a net worth of $2.9 billion  wrote to Emanuel on Aug. 27, 2015, with the subject line "street closure for my daughter's wedding." The email was among hundreds released by the mayor's attorney in recent days as part of a settlement of a lawsuit with the Better Government Association.

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The big shot, who has a home in Lake Forest and has been a major donor to Emanuel and to Illinois Republicans, told the mayor his request through the normal channels to close down Monroe Street twice for a total of two and a half hours on a Saturday night in September 2015 had been denied.

He noted that he was "hoping" the street could be closed "for our guests' passage from the Art Institute of Chicago to the reception across Monroe."

Alas, Emanuel did not respond to the email, leaving Reyes, his daughter and their guests to slum it by crossing the street like ordinary mortals. The mayor's spokesman, Adam Collins, said there was "no action taken regarding the street closure. Just because someone makes a request doesn't mean anything comes of it."

Reyes, who serves on the boards of the Lurie Children's Hospital, the Steppenwolf Theater, the Lyric Opera and other nonprofits about town, did not respond to requests for comment this week.

kjanssen@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @kimjnews
He documented intense real-life dramas in Chicago and around the world. On Tuesday, friends and family were mourning the death of beloved local filmmaker David Steiner, who was killed in a bus crash while working in eastern Africa. CBS 2's Susanna Song reports.

A Chicago filmmaker who made a documentary about an Englewood charter school was killed in a bus crash Monday in Uganda, according to the U.S. State Department and a Chicago school official.

David J. Steiner was in the East African country working on his next project, about Sudanese refugees, and to attend a screening of his Chicago-based work at a film festival there.

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Steiner's documentary "Saving Barbara Sizemore" chronicled the successful struggle to keep open the Barbara A. Sizemore Academy charter school in Englewood. Chicago Public Schools administrators had targeted the school for closure.

Two eighth-grade students who attended Sizemore also were on the minibus when it was hit head-on by another vehicle on a road outside Kampala, the Ugandan capital, said Carol Lee, chairman of the board of directors for the Betty Shabazz International Charter School Network, which operates the academy.

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A male student suffered minor injuries in the crash, Lee said, and a female student was not hurt. Steiner also was accompanied by a son, a videographer and another person, Lee said. Steiner was near the front of the bus when it crashed, she said.

David J. Steiner, whose documentary, "Saving Barbara Sizemore," chronicled the successful struggle to keep open the Barbara A. Sizemore Academy charter school in Englewood, died in a bus crash in Uganda on Dec. 26, 2016. (LinkedIn)

William Cocks, a spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, confirmed Steiner's death. Cocks did not provide specifics about the crash.

"We offer our condolences to friends and family and stand ready to provide appropriate consular services," Cocks said in an emailed statement.

The Chicago students were on their way home to the United States on Tuesday with the help of the U.S. embassy in Uganda, Lee said.

Steiner, who lived in Evanston, decided to make a film about Sizemore after hearing from a friend about its possible closure, Lee said. He wanted to chronicle the events "from the children's perspective," she said.

"He was very committed to issues of social justice, and he had a broad perspective on trying to build communities," Lee said. "He saw his filmmaking as an opportunity to engage communities to address issues of social justice and try to bring communities together."

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 75 Mike Haley, a lifelong Cubs fan who helped start the Left Field Bleacher Bums, a group that inspired a play and a made-for-TV movie, died of natural causes on Dec. 31, 2016, in Chicago. He was 67. Read more. (Family photo)

"Saving Barbara Sizemore," in which Steiner appears, screened Dec. 18 in Kampala as part of the Nile Diaspora International Film Festival. In the days after the screening, Steiner toured the country and gathered footage for his new project, a documentary on Sudanese refugees.

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Last year, the Gene Siskel Film Center included "Saving Barbara Sizemore" as part of its annual Black Harvest festival.

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"My goal was to (talk about) the school and the teachers, the administrators and just show what rich culture they have there," Steiner told WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" earlier this year. "And the students wanted to say, 'We're standing up for ourselves, we're not going to get pushed around.'"

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 133 William Christopher, who was known as Father Mulcahy on "MASH" from 1972 to 1983, died Dec. 31, 2016. He was 84. Read more. (Annie Wells / Los Angeles Times)

Steiner's documentary "captured the tremendous family feeling at the school, and the unique rapport between the teachers and the children," Martin Rubin, Gene Siskel Film Center associate programming director, said Tuesday.

The film festival's organizers posted a tribute Monday on Facebook to Steiner that reads in part: "In the short time we spent with David, we appreciated his efforts toward humanity."

Tribune critic Michael Phillips contributed.

poconnell@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @pmocwriter
A man who was shot almost a week before Christmas died on Christmas Eve, officials said.

Demetrius Newell, 28, of the 1500 block of Mayfield Avenue, was shot in the same block in which he lived, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner's office.

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Newell suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the chest about 12:30 p.m. Dec. 19 after an unknown male approached him on foot, fired shots and fled on foot, police said.

He was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition. He remained there under care for five days, reports show.

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The medical examiner's office said he was pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m. Saturday.
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Tuesday. (Marco Garcia / Associated Press)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii  President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe together scattered petals on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II.

In a moment consumed with history, both leaders were fixed on the future. They expressed concern that the lessons of the war might be forgotten amid a shifting world order and the anti-internationalist sentiment that has swept over politics around the globe, most notably with the ascendance of President-elect Donald Trump.

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"Even when hatred burns hottest, even when the tug of tribalism is at its most primal, we must resist the urge to turn inward," Obama said. "We must resist the urge to demonize those who are different."

The ceremony was conceived of as an affirmation of close U.S. relations with Japan, once a bitter wartime enemy, and both Obama and Abe underscored the importance of building bonds between nations and the risks of slipping into isolationism. Their remarks also appeared to be warnings for Trump, whose divisive campaign took aim at longstanding alliances and stoked fears with harsh rhetoric about immigrants and minorities.

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President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial, part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, as part of a ceremony to honor those killed in the Japanese attack on the naval harbor. (Carolyn Kaster / AP)

"Ours is an alliance of hope that will lead us to the future," Abe said, speaking to World War II veterans after paying tribute at the Pearl Harbor memorial. "What has bonded us together is the power of reconciliation, made possible through the spirit of tolerance."

Obama, as has been his custom in public remarks since the election, argued the merits of his own worldview.

"There is more to be won in peace than in war," he said, without naming Trump.

Both during the campaign and since his election, Trump has challenged assumptions about U.S. commitments to the security of Asia. One of the central tenets of Obama's foreign policy was a commitment of resources toward Asia with an eye toward countering the rise of China.

But Trump has obliterated long-established protocols. He spoke with Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen despite the U.S. policy of officially acknowledging no Chinese government other than the one in Beijing. And when he met with Abe last month in New York, Trump brought not a battalion of Asia experts but rather his daughter Ivanka.

Trump also promised last week to expand America's nuclear arsenal after decades of a deliberate shrinking of the American and Russian stockpiles.

"Let it be an arms race," he told an MSNBC host, unnerving leaders in Asia, where North Korea and China are growing more aggressive.

Though the U.S.-Japan relationship has evolved considerably in recent decades, the healing over World War II has gone more slowly, making both Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, and Obama's in May to Hiroshima, Japan, the site of one of the two nuclear attacks that ended the war, significant gestures.

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Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to make a highly publicized visit to the USS Arizona memorial, though three of his predecessors are thought to have more quietly visited Pearl Harbor.

Under a bright sunny sky, Abe and Obama rode a small boat to the white memorial building in the harbor that looks out over the sunken remains of the Arizona, attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, killing 2,403 people and thrusting the U.S. into World War II. Abe laid a wreath in honor of the dead.

Veterans of the war gathered across the harbor to hear Obama and Abe deliver their brief speeches.

Among those in the crowd was Sterling Cale, 95, a sailor at Pearl Harbor on the day of the attack.

Of those killed that day, 1,177 were crew members of the Arizona. It was Cale's job to pull bodies from the burning battleship.

He recalled watching ashes rising from the deck of the ship. He and his crew were able to remove about 100 bodies.

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On Tuesday, he looked across the water where the Arizona is submerged.

He did not come hoping to hear Abe apologize, he said.

"'Sorry' is just a word," Cale said. "What matters more is the action of coming here and going out there with our commander in chief. That says more than words."

Abe did not issue a formal apology, even as he detailed the horror of the sinking of the Arizona.

"Each and every one of those servicemen had a mother and a father anxious about his safety," Abe said. "Many had wives and girlfriends they loved, and many must have had children they would have loved watching grow up."

"Rest in peace, precious souls of the fallen," he went on. "I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here."

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After that somber expression of sorrow, Obama stepped to the lectern and declared the site a symbol of reconciliation.

"Today, the alliance between the United States and Japan, bound not only by shared interests, but also rooted in common values, stands as the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia Pacific, and a force for progress around the globe," Obama said.

In likely his final visit with a world leader before he leaves office in January, Obama expressed hope.

"As nations and as people, we cannot choose the history that we inherit," he said, "but we can choose what lessons to draw from it and use those lessons to chart our own futures."

Christi.Parsons@latimes.com

Follow @cparsons for news about the White House.
Kevin Maxwell wrote that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have been increasingly aggressive in their arrests of those facing deportation in Maryland, based on information from the public defender's office. He gave principals and staff advice about talking to worried families and highlighted details about federal policy.

"The most important action you and your staff can take is reiterate that Prince George's County Public Schools will continue to be safe places where students and families will be welcome without fear of harm," he wrote in boldface type in the Dec. 7 letter.

Maxwell's message came amid growing efforts by school districts to reassure immigrant communities ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking office in January. Many are scared that Trump - who put illegal immigration at the center of his campaign - will ramp up deportation efforts, already significant during the Obama administration.

Educators want to be sure that one thing is clear: In schools, immigration status is not an issue. Many school districts have reaffirmed that all children in the United States have a right to a public education.

The District's interim chancellor, John Davis, recently posted a message that addressed concerns about immigration status.

In Minneapolis, the school board recently voted to declare the school district a safe haven for all.

The Los Angeles school board also affirmed its policy to keep ICE agents off school campuses unless the superintendent and district lawyers consent.

The American Civil Liberties Union recently reminded administrators in each of Virginia's 132 school districts that they cannot deny enrollment to undocumented students or allow immigration enforcement action on school grounds.

"We're encouraging school officials to be proactive in talking with students and the broader community with these issues," said ACLU spokesman Bill Farrar, noting that such efforts also could help prevent bullying or harassment.

Maxwell was among the superintendents who spoke out to reassure families after reports of federal immigration raids in January. Prince George's school officials said at the time that attendance among Latino students had fallen, with parents keeping their children home from school because of deportation fears.

Maxwell weighed in again in recent weeks after a public defender's assessment of increased enforcement action was forwarded to a school official.

The Maryland Office of the Public Defender cited a more aggressive approach by ICE in making arrests in and near courtrooms in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in recent months. The arrests, in a handful of cases, have come while defendants were at court on criminal matters unrelated to their immigration status, said Melissa Rothstein, the office's director of policy and development.

Rothstein also noted that the public defender's office received a recent report that after 150 to 200 people showed up at an ICE office in Baltimore in response to letters that called them in for an "interview," some were taken into ICE custody. The scale of the enforcement action was larger than others the office had heard about before, she said.

Asked about ratcheting up enforcement, federal officials issued a statement saying, "ICE continues to focus its immigration enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security."

ICE has said it avoids taking enforcement actions at "sensitive locations" such as schools and churches.

George Escobar, senior director of human services at CASA, an advocacy group, said school efforts are important, with some immigrants and advocates on edge.

"There is a vague, ominous negative feeling that something is going to happen," he said. "We're in a very difficult moment right now. It's a dark cloud over all of us."

Lori Kaplan, chief executive of the Latin American Youth Center, which has offices in the District and Maryland, said her staff has urged nervous parents to continue sending their children to school.

"We've let them know people just can't walk in and have an immigration raid inside a school," she said.

Several immigrant rights advocates pointed out that the Obama administration has been aggressively removing people from the country, having deported at least 2.7 million immigrants as of last year, with a focus on those who have committed crimes.

"Are we seeing more enthusiastic ICE officers? Unfortunately, we've seen that all year," Escobar said. "Unfortunately, people get deported and detained on a daily basis." He said he thinks that, after Trump's victory, public awareness is up, with many people "looking at ICE with a watchful eye."

But Escobar said the idea of making arrests in courts is troubling. He cited several instances earlier this year of arrests near the courthouse in Baltimore County as people were arriving or leaving. "Courts are used by immigrants to seek justice in a wide variety of situations," he said, such as testifying as witnesses in criminal cases.

Much of what schools want to convey is that students are not in peril when they are on campus.

Student absences do not appear to have spiked in recent weeks, but Nora Morales, diversity officer in the Prince George's school system, said the district wants to make sure that families understand educators do not ask about immigration status and would not share such information if they knew it.

"My primary concern is that our school community knows our schools are safe spaces and that students will be valued, respected and welcomed," she said. "There are a lot of unanswered questions about immigration reform. One thing remains constant: If kids don't show up to school, they won't learn."
Whether out of anger or of angst, Bill Clinton spoke from the core of Democratic Party presumption when he told a Westchester County, N.Y., journalist recently that Donald Trump "doesn't know much" but does know "how to get angry white males to vote for him." After all, this was supposed to be the Republicans' season of discontent. Instead, Democrats emerged from the election with less political clout on the national and state levels of government than at any time since 1928. And Hillary Clinton was again denied her appointed role in history.

If Trump pursued the politics of resentment in courting white, working-class voters and their rural cousins, Democrats succumbed to what I call "the politics of righteousness" in overlooking their concerns and underestimating their power. By righteousness I mean the tendency of the Democratic Party to assume ownership of the moral high ground whenever cultural values and social norms are at issue in American politics  and to presume that those who disagree are, as Hillary Clinton put it, "a basket of deplorables."

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If Democrats want to recapture their old self-image as "the people's party," their political self-examination will have to go deeper than strategy and further back than millennials can remember. The party's alienation from the white working class began in the streets of Chicago outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention. There, antiwar protesters and activists for a host of countercultural causes fought the police of Mayor Richard J. Daley while the nation watched on television. As President Bill Clinton later observed in the first volume of his memoirs, Vietnam was only one point of contention in what was really a wider clash between generations, social classes and moral cultures:

"The kids and their supporters saw the mayor and the cops as authoritarian, ignorant, violent bigots. The mayor and his largely blue-collar police force saw the kids as foul-mouthed, immoral, unpatriotic, soft, upper-class kids who were too spoiled to appreciate authority, too selfish to appreciate what it takes to hold a society together, too cowardly to serve in Vietnam "

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The 1968 convention marked the end of the New Deal coalition that had shouldered Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson to the White House. It wasn't that white working-class Americans turned away from the party so much as that political reformers representing the young, the newly wealthy, the suburban and the higher educated deliberately cut party ties with them. "Boss" Daley, the authoritarian Irish Catholic mayor from the blue-collar Bridgeport neighborhood, became the poster boy for all that was "bigoted" and socially regressive in neighborhood-based, white ethnic America.

The new era

Over the next four years, a commission on party structure and delegate selection, with Sen. George McGovern as chairman, introduced a series of reforms ensuring that, culturally as well as politically, the delegates to the 1972 Democratic convention would resemble the young activists who had battled the police in Chicago more than delegates who had been seated inside. The McGovern Commission, as it came to be called, established state primaries that, in effect, abolished the power of the old city and state bosses, most of whom came from white ethnic stock. The commission also established an informal quota system for state delegations to assure greater representation of racial minorities, youths and women that by 1980 became a mandate that half of every state delegation must be women.

The 1972 Democratic platform formally introduced the party's commitment to identity politics. Rejecting "old systems of thought," the platform summoned Democrats to "rethink and reorder the institutions of this country so that everyone  women, blacks, Spanish speaking, Puerto Ricans, Native Americans, the young and the old  can participate in the decision-making process inherent in the democratic heritage to which we aspire." There was also this: "We must restructure the social, political and economic relationships throughout the entire society in order to ensure the equitable distribution of wealth and power." The delegates put flesh on these lofty moral commitments by adding a plank commending the forced busing of students in order to achieve racial balance in public schools. Blue-collar Boston exploded.

McGovern naively took for granted the traditional party loyalty of union leaders and the white working class. But these pillars of the New Deal collation recognized that McGovern's creation of a new "coalition of conscience" built around opposition to the war, identity politics and a redistribution of wealth excluded some of their own conscientiously held moral convictions. McGovern went on to lose every state but Massachusetts and the District of Columbia  and with them the party allegiance of blue-collar workers, union leaders and  what often amounted to the same voters  conservative Roman Catholics.

Jimmy Carter was not a member of McGovern's coalition of conscience: He had his own powerful sense of moral righteousness, one he derived from his Southern Baptist heritage of personal rectitude rather than McGovern's secularized Methodist heritage of moral uplift and social reconstruction. There was much in that mix that was admirably righteous, especially the instinct to protect racial and sexual minorities from social oppression. The problem is that pursuing righteousness by expanding individual rights at the expense of communal values often creates greater social conflict. As sociologist Robert Bellah argued in 1991, "rights language itself offers no way to evaluate competing claims." One side wins, the other loses.

Self-inflicted wounds

The punitive side of political righteousness was on full display at the Democrats' 1992 convention. New York Gov. Mario Cuomo opened the proceedings by praising his fellow Democrats as the party of inclusion. But the "big tent" he boasted of was too small to include Gov. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. Casey was the most progressive governor in the country and far more successful in getting his agenda enacted than either Cuomo or presidential nominee Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas. Casey was a pro-life Catholic who had found legal ways to limit the sweep of Roe v. Wade that had made him anathema to Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America and other organizational pillars of the party's post-McGovern coalition of conscience.

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The DNC not only refused to allow Casey to address the convention but sought to humiliate him by welcoming a pro-choice Republican opponent from Pennsylvania to the dais instead. Afterward, the DNC sent the woman across the floor to confront Casey (who had left the convention by then) and dispatched a party camera crew to film the expected clash.

The line between political righteousness and party self-righteousness is wavy and easy to cross. The temptation to do so is all the greater when, as now, political party attachments are more divisive than even religion in this country used to be. Democrats have been humbled politically in ways that allow no room for arrogance. They should leave arrogance to the president-elect and embrace the politics of humility as a way of putting their own house back in order.

Kenneth L. Woodward of Chicago is a former religion editor of Newsweek. This essay is adapted from his book "Getting Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics From the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama."

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Republican Senate and House leaders who have summarily decided on a "repeal and delay" plan for Obamacare don't seem to understand what they are up against. They see House and Senate majorities, an incoming president who vowed to repeal all of Obamacare and a reconciliation process that allows them to gut Obamacare taxes and subsidies, essentially killing the program with 51 votes in the Senate. Do they understand it won't be that easy?

The first problem is Republicans in the House and Senate. Several Republicans have already voiced doubts about repealing Obamacare with no ready replacement. Every freshman congressman from an unsafe district should be voicing his or her concern. Repeal Obamacare and then go back to the voters in 2018 with nothing?! Yeah, it's risky for those new lawmakers who promised something better than Obamacare, not making healthcare coverage disappear.

Next are the voters, including the Rust Belt working-class whites, a group that surely benefited from the marketplace subsidies, as reports like this one from the Atlantic magazine point out:

"Among those whose incomes are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level-just around $49,000 for a family of four this year-whites actually gained insurance at relatively high rates. Data from the 2016 and 2014 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement shows that the proportion of uninsured low-income white people dropped by 8.6 percentage points from 2013 to 2015, a reduction that was roughly similar to the decrease among Hispanic people, but which outpaced the national average of 8.1 percentage points, and dwarfed the decrease among black people in the same income groups. Members of the white working class, in other words, were particularly likely to gain coverage from Obamacare."

When members of Trump's base start writing letters, sharing hardship stories with local media and appearing at Trump events, Trump may very well call off the "repeal and delay" strategy. Republicans who think he is locked into their strategy haven't been paying attention. Trump doesn't want to be seen as unsympathetic. (He won't "let people die in the streets," he famously declared.) It took him only one meeting with President Obama to concede that two parts of Obamacare (coverage for those with preexisting conditions and allowing adult children up to 26 years old to stay on their parents' plan) had to stay. With only 25 percent of the electorate approving of Obamacare repeal, he could very well turn on a dime, leaving the Republicans in Congress blowing in the wind.

And then there are the hordes of sympathetic interest groups who are about to descend on Washington. In 2017, you may hear quite a lot from the Alliance for Healthcare Security. Liberals did their legwork and organized a mammoth coalition to defend Obamacare, which already includes "1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Medical Student Association, American Medical Women's Association, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., Community Catalyst, Doctors for America, Families USA, Medicare Rights Center, National Medical Association, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Physicians Alliance, Network for Patient Advocacy, Physicians for a National Health Program, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Service Employees International Union, National Committee to Preserve Social Security, and the United Spinal Association."

Americans by and large like their doctors, and when doctors start warning of a healthcare crisis, many lawmakers will buckle at the knees. (The American Medical Association has already warned that it will oppose any plan that takes away coverage, which presumably would nix a plan that offers access but not actual coverage.)

We have already seen hospital organizations leap into the fray. The Hill reports:

"A powerful coalition of hospitals is previewing a fierce attack against GOP leaders if lawmakers follow through on their promise to repeal ObamaCare next year. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals ... fired off a damning new report warning that its industry stood to take a massive financial hit under the repeal of ObamaCare.
Katherine Miskell looks for her family at the UIC Pavilion as she waits for her name to be called to receive her diploma from UIC in political science on Dec. 10, 2016. (William Camargo / for the Chicago Tribune)

By the time Katherine Pumanes Miskell graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago, the college had renamed her minor.

That's the sort of change that happens when it takes more than a decade to finish your degree.

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Sometimes life happens. In Miskell's case, that included motherhood, military service and paralegal work. For years, Miskell has pursued her bachelor's degree while balancing a light course load with other responsibilities. She's done this to teach her daughters, Jasmine and Kayla, a simple lesson.

"I wanted them to know that even though life gets in the way, they could still achieve their goals," Miskell said.

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Miskell, who is 35, grew up in Ravenswood, the daughter of Filipino immigrants. Wanting an adventure, she joined the Army Reserve in 1998 and was assigned to the 416th Engineer Command in Darien.

While enlisted, Miskell became a paralegal specialist and a sergeant. In 2000, Miskell gave birth to her oldest daughter, Jasmine, and in 2003 she deployed to Iraq.

Two years later, Miskell married Jeremy, and in 2007 she gave birth to Kayla.

Miskell wanted to earn her college degree sooner, but that didn't happen. It wasn't until 2004, after her tour overseas, that Miskell completed her first course at UIC.

It's been a long journey since. Miskell enrolled each semester in one or two classes, which was the most she could handle while managing her family and work at Schmidt Salzman & Moran, a downtown property tax law firm.

"I still had to work full time, and I wanted to make sure I still had enough time to devote to my kids without being like a deadbeat," Miskell said.

Dick Ginsburg, one of Miskell's bosses at the law firm, said her work has never wavered under the pressure. He also said she's "representative of what America is all about in terms of raising a family, going to school, working, spending time in the military."

I feel the same way.

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We first met five years after Miskell started her first course at UIC, when I was a sophomore on the way to early graduation and she was still in the early stages of her college career.

Miskell and I took Professor Barry Rundquist's spring 2009 course on the U.S. Congress, a class that included a "simulation" of the Senate.

She portrayed a Democratic leader and I a Republican as we legislated through the early days of Barack Obama's presidency. My public goal was to stop anything from happening; my private goal was to start a small riot.

"I hated you," Miskell recalled recently.

We've been friends ever since.

Over the years, I've wondered whether Miskell ever thought about quitting. And the answer, she told me, is not really. It was important to set an example for her children, and she comes from a family where education matters.

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Plus, she likes learning.

At UIC, Miskell majored in political science and earned a minor in Asian-American Studies, which is now known as Global Asian Studies.

Miskell said she's glad to have added the minor because it opened her eyes "to alternative versions of history," the things they don't teach you in white-washed high school lessons.

What I like about Miskell's story is the perseverance.

Our dreams exist in a state of siege. The things we need to do often take us away from the things we want to do.

But as my friend's example shows there's time to do what you want, as long as you're patient.

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Despite the challenges of juggling her life, Miskell never gave up. That's dedication, and a good example for anyone.

On Dec. 10, Miskell graduated summa cum laude at the UIC Pavilion. Hundreds of students filled the arena floor, many of them much younger than Miskell. She later told me she felt "like an old lady," especially when the speakers made comments about students "just starting our lives."

That didn't keep her from taking it all in and feeling happy for her girls in the crowd.

Miskell's husband, parents and daughters attended the ceremony with Miskell's sister, husband and son. When the university dropped red, white and blue balloons from the ceiling, Miskell picked one up for her nephew.

When it ended, Miskell walked over to her family, kissed her husband and beamed.

gpratt@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @royalpratt
In this photo provided by the United Nations, members of its Security Council vote at its headquarters in New York on Dec. 23, 2016, in favor of condemning Israel for establishing settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. (Manuel Elias / United Nations)

Last week President Barack Obama delivered a hard slap to Israel on his way out the door. The U.S. abstained from a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements as a "flagrant violation under international law." And a major obstacle to a two-state peace deal.

For decades the U.S. exercised its unilateral veto on similar resolutions and protected its closest democratic ally in the Middle East for one powerful reason: The U.N. isn't where these issues should be decided. That's for Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators.

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Will Obama's petulant move budge those long-deadlocked talks? Not likely.

Will it inflame the Palestinians and give fuel to anti-Israel sentiment  the international boycott and divestment movement against Israel? More likely.

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Will it prompt the Israelis to dig in their heels and build more settlements? Absolutely. On Monday, Israeli officials said they would push ahead to eventually build thousands of new homes in disputed areas, The New York Times reports.

Obama's aides once described the president's foreign policy in a memorable phrase: "Don't do stupid stuff" (substituting a saltier term for stuff). The U.N. move fails that test. As an irate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Friends don't take friends to the Security Council."

The U.N. vote aside, an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal isn't topping the world's to-do list. Syrian civil war and a rising Islamic State have scrambled alliances and created chances for Israel to gain frenemies in the neighborhood.

Israel recently sent a new ambassador to Turkey  the last one was expelled in 2011 over a dispute  marking the restoration of diplomatic ties. Some Arab countries that generally keep Israel at arm's length or further may now privately view the Jewish state as the lesser of evils when compared with the Russian-backed Bashar Assad, the butchers of Islamic State or terrorist-enabler Iran.

And Israel will soon have a more sympathetic ear in the White House.

President-elect Donald Trump urged Obama to veto the U.N. resolution. He said its passage "will make it much harder to negotiate peace." But, he added, "we will get it done anyway."

Trump may dispatch his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to help negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian deal. (Would a Manhattan business and real estate mogul, steeped in high-stakes negotiations, have an easier time persuading both sides to swap land for peace? We may soon find out.) Trump has named bankruptcy attorney David Friedman, a strong supporter of settlements, to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel. And he's vowed to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. All provocative moves that will rattle the Middle East.

During the campaign, Trump frightened many of America's allies  and many Americans  with his off-the-cuff dismissiveness of decadeslong diplomatic relationships and accords. He blasted NATO allies for not paying for their own defense. He cozied up to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said he might allow Japan and North Korea to build nuclear weapons. He threatened to tear up the Iran nuke deal. Then, in his first days after the election, he picked a fight with China over the future of Taiwan.

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But Trump didn't lash out at America's most stable and loyal ally in the Middle East. He didn't set back already-distant peace prospects even further.

Obama did that.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Arlington Heights police are searching for a man who stole a woman's car at gunpoint Friday. (Arlington Heights Police Department)

Arlington Heights police are searching for a man who stole a woman's car at gunpoint on the south side of the village Friday.

The man approached the woman outside her car at noon in the 2100 block of South Goebbert Road, pointing a dark-colored handgun at her and demanding her car keys, said police Sgt. Chuck Buczynski.

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After the woman handed over her keys, the man drove away in her car, described as a silver 2008 Pontiac G6, Illinois license plate number Z203711, police said.

The man was described as being 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-10 tall, with a medium build and wearing all black clothing with a hoodie, police said.

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Police are asking the community's help regarding the identity of the carjacker and the whereabouts of the vehicle, Buczynski said.

Anyone having information may send an anonymous tip by texting the keyword 847AHPD and message to 847411 or by calling Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers at 847-590-7867. Callers are guaranteed anonymity and may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

kcullotta@tribune.com

Twitter: @kcullotta
An Aurora police squad car sits in the parking lot of Fox Valley Mall on Dec. 26, 2016, after the mall was evacuated due to a teen fight. (Mike Mantucca / Chicago Tribune)

An unusually high number of teen fights at shopping centers across the U.S. over the Christmas weekend  including at suburban Chicago malls  is prompting some mall operators to re-examine security policies and consider controversial restrictions on when and how teens may shop.

Security task force members from malls across the U.S. conducted a conference call Tuesday to discuss strategies for preventing mayhem, which may include more mall security or even bans on teens coming to malls alone, after multiple reports of teen fights over the four-day holiday, said Stephanie Cegielski, vice president of public relations for the International Council of Shopping Centers.

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The need for more restrictions is "becoming somewhat more of a reality," Cegielski said.

Still, mall operators worry expanding or initiating new limits could hinder retailers' efforts to woo consumers away from internet shopping carts and back to the malls.

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"There are a lot of properties that are hesitant to do it," Cegielski said. "We're all cognizant of what online shopping is doing and they want to keep people coming in. They don't want to stifle that foot traffic at all."

Fox Valley Mall wildin pic.twitter.com/UU7p0Qq7Gs  Velma (@BFitman) December 27, 2016

In Aurora, eight teens have been charged after what police described as a "large disturbance" that temporarily closed Fox Valley Mall on Monday night. On Dec. 24, another fight broke out at the mall that did not appear to be related, according to a statement from Dan Ferrelli, an Aurora Police Department spokesman.

And on Christmas Eve in Gurnee, two small groups started fighting each other at Gurnee Mills. All the suspects were identified through security video, but no arrests had been made, authorities said.

While security task force members for the shopping centers council noted that Dec. 26 historically prompts an increase in fights, this year's incidents seemed more prevalent perhaps because Christmas fell on a Sunday and the federal holiday was observed Monday, offering teens and other shoppers one extra day to run into trouble, Cegielski said.

The incidents are prompting some mall operators to beef up security in anticipation of the upcoming long New Year's weekend. Others are debating the need for parental guidance policies  rules that require children under the age of 18 to be accompanied by a parent. About 100 shopping centers already have some kind of teen restrictions, the council said.

Aurora police were called by mall security after they saw a large group of teens gathering in the mall's food court. Officers, including a police sergeant working extra duty, and mall security told the teens to disperse, and shortly afterward a large fight broke out followed by several smaller fights, Ferrelli said.

The crowd refused to obey police and security staff orders, and some teens threw drinks and other items, Ferrelli said. More than 1,000 patrons were in the common area and others were shopping throughout the mall, so police decided to evacuate and close the mall for about an hour while they "contained and controlled the situation," he said.

The police sergeant and a mall security employee were both "battered" while trying to break up the larger fight, Ferrelli said. Aurora police Lt. Rick Robertson said Monday night that a sergeant was punched in the face. There were no injuries to mall patrons, and no one involved in the fights needed immediate medical attention, he said.

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Aurora police are investigating any connection the Fox Valley Mall fights might have had to the disturbances in other cities, as well as the role social media might have played in organizing the Fox Valley incident.

Fox Valley Mall manager J. Scott Samson said in a statement that mall officials were cooperating with local authorities, but he could not comment on the investigation.

"While we are not able to speak about specific security measures, please know that we work close(ly) with local and national law enforcement on all matters relating to mall safety," he said. "Our holiday events and hours will continue as scheduled."

If the Aurora mall does ultimately change its rules to restrict teen shoppers, it will join 105 shopping centers of the 1,222 malls in the U.S. that currently have teen policies. The policies, which date back to the early 2000s, offer varying degrees of restrictions, according to data provided by the shopping centers council.

North Riverside Park Mall implemented a "youth escort policy" several years ago designed to keep shoppers safe. At times, it requires teens and children under 18 to be escorted by an adult at least 21 years old. Each adult can escort up to three people, general manager Harvey Ahitow said.

The mall enforces the policy typically on Friday and Saturday nights and specific days such as Dec. 26 and Halloween night but may choose to enforce it on other days based on how busy the mall is, Ahitow said. The escort requirement typically lasts from 4 p.m. to closing.

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"The shopping center was overrun with youths, especially on Friday and Saturday nights," Ahitow said. "And that's when we decided we needed to do something to maintain a safe shopping environment, and it's been very effective."

At Chicago-based General Growth Properties, some centers have a Parental Guidance Required program that requires teens be accompanied by an adult during certain hours. Where and when those programs are put in place are determined by each property, and many centers have had the program in place for years, according to Kevin Berry, senior vice president of investor and public relations.

For malls that don't have teen restrictions, the decision to add them can be agonizing for retail management, which views teen consumers as not only important because of their disposable income, but also for their years of spending to come, said Alexander Chernev, professor of marketing at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

"From their perspective, you don't want to impose any curfews and you'd like customers to have access to you as much as possible," Chernev said. "I don't think there's a universal prescription for this."

Cegielski said mall operators have worked hard in recent years to keep shoppers coming back by evolving into entertainment centers with miniature golf, movie theaters and other attractions beyond stores. In turn, management must be mindful of restrictions put on its properties to ensure consumers aren't deprived of a community experience. In some communities, bans on teens may also be perceived as racial profiling, she said.

Still, the wave of fights over the weekend has left some mall operators with a sense that more restrictions on teens are inevitable.

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"I think we're definitely going to start seeing more," Cegielski said of the teen restrictions. "It could be a very selective couple of days a year, but there's a high likelihood."

Sarah Freishtat is a reporter for The Beacon-News.

sfreishtat@tribpub.com

vortiz@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @srfreish
Since 2013 when the Argentine prelate Jorge Bergoglio officially became the head of the Catholic Church, he has emerged as a key figure in the progressive movement. Even though Pope Francis does not claim to be a part of any political movement, it is clear that he is representative of the views that many leftists hold. With his emergence has come much criticism from Catholics who hold opposing views on issues such as environmentalism and the market economy. Acton Institute Director of Research Samuel Gregg has penned op-eds and blog posts for a number of publications that take Francis to task on his economic pronouncements and even the way he presents the Catholic faith.

This past week in the Wall Street Journal Francis X. Rocca described how Pope Francis became so popular among progressives in a piece titled How Pope Francis Became the Leader of the Global Left. He describes Francis influence on different grass root activists and even the time when Sen. Bernie Sanders  a self-described socialist  left the campaign trail to visit the Vatican for a meeting with Francis. Toward the end of his article Rocca quotes Gregg:

Critics warn that, by aligning himself too closely with one end of the political spectrum, the pope could alienate more conservative Catholics. In the recent U.S. presidential election, according to exit polls, more than half of Catholic voters chose Mr. Trump. The global left clearly see an opportunity to appropriate the prestige of the papacy for their causes, said Samuel Gregg, director of research at the Acton Institute, a Michigan-based think tank with a religious, free-market approach. That introduces polarization in the church about issues that Catholics are free to disagree about.

You can read the full article where Gregg is quoted here in the Wall Street Journal.
A home in the 13800 block of 80th Avenue in Orland Park was damaged by a fire Monday. (Orland Fire Protection District)

An Orland Park man was hospitalized after being burned trying to douse a fire at his home Monday, according to the Orland Fire Protection District.

The homeowner was taken to the burn unit at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, the district said.

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Firefighters were called to a house fire in the 13800 block of 80th Avenue at 10:22 a.m. Monday, with firefighters encountering "heavy fire," according to a news release. The fire was extinguished in about an hour, and the home sustained heavy fire and smoke damage, the district said.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated but began near a live Christmas tree in the home, according to the district.

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The Red Cross was assisting family members displaced by the fire, the district said.

On Christmas night, the fire protection district responded to a chimney fire in a home in the 14100 block of Michael Drive. Damage from that fire was limited to the area around the chimney and there were no injuries, according to the district.
"...in the Arab world the most likely radicals are people in technical or scientific fields who lack the kind of humanities education that fosters critical thought."

Packer, George. "Exporting Jihad." New Yorker, 3/28/2016

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It was an evening in spring, right after the change to daylight savings time, so that light was still streaming through the windows in my evening literature class.

We were struggling with a lesson, which I attributed to the longer day and losing an hour of sleep, or something or anything other than our subject, which was the classic short story, "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen.

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I had asked the class to explain the main character's conflict.

Nobody volunteered an answer, though there was plenty of fidgeting and flipping through the pages of our textbook. I persisted, asking if anyone could tell from the main character's stream of thoughts while she ironed clothes all day, what she was most upset about, and what made her happy.

Finally, Grace, who hardly every spoke, raised her hand.

Most in my class were 19 and 20 years old. Then there were half a dozen older adults who had returned to school. Grace was somewhere between, 25, slight of stature, blonde hair cut very short.

"The main character is probably afraid," Grace said.

"As a mother, she thinks...she is wondering why her child who is so smart is having problems in school."

Grace's voice was shaking. The others sat still, watching her.

"I myself have a daughter. Six years old." She managed a smile.

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" I think the mother in the story... her biggest fear is she can't give her child what she needs. You're afraid you might hold your daughter back because of your own limits. Because of who you are."

Her voice broke on the last word. Then she shook her head as if in apology.

Now, my other students warmed to the topic, affirming Grace's description of the main character's feeling of helplessness, extrapolating it to the role of motherhood and how it has changed with so many mothers on their own.

I had the distinct impression that the 19 and 20 year olds were reflecting upon notions of parenting, freedom, and responsibility for the first time. They were able to feel the character's pain in Tillie Olsen's story, and among their own ranks in the classroom. And studies have confirmed that students do learn empathy through the study of literary fiction in college.

Intense discussions do not happen every day in my classes, so this felt special. And it's one of the reasons why I remember that class, especially after the federal and state governments this year began calling for colleges to concentrate more on science, technology, engineering, and math degrees (STEM).

The reasoning behind this push, according to some like Florida Gov. Rick Scott, is that the purpose of college should be to prepare students for employment and economic success. That degrees in "hard sciences" are the preferred preparation for today's job market. That a work force of science and math majors will better attract business and industry to the state.

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While it's true that a degree should confer knowledge and skill that makes graduates more employable, the political and corporate view of college as little more than an elaborate jobs training program, is short sighted. This kind of misunderstanding and manipulation of education's mission by elected officials can actually cause harm. That's because the pure purpose of higher education is contained in the name "university," which means to open doors to all fields, and open minds to all possibilities.

Higher education's mission, therefore, is to equip an individual not just with robotic skills in a discipline, but with better understanding of himself, his motivations, and his role and relevance in the larger community.

You can "train" a computer to make mathematical calculations and store tons of information. But only a human being can learn to appreciate art, poetry, film, and music, all of which equip us to be better judges of values, laws, principles, and dimensions of happiness.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

More simply, a STEM degree is good preparation for a job. But it must be supplemented with education in the arts and humanities, to prepare people for life.

History abounds with individuals and whole nations, that rose to great heights in science and technology, yet have otherwise lost their way. Nazi Germany comes to mind. And an eerily similar diagnosis for ISIS is made in the New Yorker essay quoted above.

At a faculty meeting about this conflict some years ago at College of DuPage, we were talking about possibly replacing some of elective courses in literature and creative writing, in order to better meet the more practical needs of so many divorced and single parents returning to school for job training. That's when my colleague Dan Thorpe stood and suggested that had some of those parents taken more of the electives in question, they might have avoided divorce in the first place.

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Oversimplification, perhaps, but his was a salient point: lopsided focus on utilitarianism, jobs, and money can leave the soul bereft.

E.A. Robinson's poem "Richard Cory," about a young man who achieved wealth and fame but ended up fatally shooting himself, suggested a parallel theme: human beings need a higher purpose than material success, in order to experience fulfillment and happiness in life. And discovering that purpose from all the truth, beauty, and mystery in the universe and in mankind, is the more vital mission of higher education.

We need to stay wary of politicians intent on limiting and defining education, so that college will remain a place of hope and promise that elevates us all.

Former Oak Forest and Evergreen Park resident David McGrath is Emeritus English Professor, College of DuPage.
If you want to see how Gov. Bruce Rauner's mind works, you should skim through the vast trove of emails from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's private account that a Better Government Association lawsuit recently forced into public view.

For instance, back in September 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 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 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.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs 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.
Carpentersville and members of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers have been working on improvements to Keith Andres Memorial Park. (Erin Sauder / The Courier-News)

Carpentersville officials hope stormwater issue improvements in the lowlands of Keith Andres Memorial Park could eventually pave the way for the creation a family picnic area.

To that end, board members recently signed off on a $160,000 engineering services agreement with the Rosemont-based Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., who will study existing conditions and identify possible improvements to areas of the stream and ravine within the park.

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The park has been getting a lot of attention from both the village and members of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. Over the past few years, the latter organization has spent thousands of dollars developing the park, named after a Carpentersville resident who lost his life in the Vietnam War, into a destination bike park.

And recently, village officials approved using about $70,000 in video gaming revenue to make enhancements at the Sacramento entrance of the park, including the installation of an archway sign, sitting areas, an informational kiosk, and memorial column with plaques in honor of Keith Andres.

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"Kind of our long-range plan for Keith Andres Park is to not only have it be a bike park but also a family-friendly, picnic-type park," Village President Ed Ritter said. "Right now the lowlands (are) either mud or water. It almost never seems to be in between. You really can't walk down there much or do anything. But if we can control the water flow then that opens the bottom land up to family picnicking and things like that."

He envisions one day having tables, kiosks and maybe a pavilion in that area.

"Once they finish their study we'll find out how much we can actually do with that park with the lowland," Ritter said. "But at the very least we want to control the erosion and turn it into a family park."

Village Manager Mark Rooney said the engineering study will be similar to the one done at Carpenter Creek, which helped to address erosion, establish more accurate base flood elevations, and stabilize 9,200 feet of stream bank.

For that project, which cost $1.1 million, the village was able to secure about $638,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

The village is hoping to land more grant funding for the Andres Park project.

"We're hoping with this engineering study to qualify again to take care of that water quality issue and the degradation to the park and that ravine," Rooney said.

Once the study is complete, "we can hopefully come back a year from now on a much bigger construction project to improve that," he said.

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Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Outsourcing bus drivers: I read in the newspaper about the school bus drivers in Elgin. They are afraid of losing their jobs. I believe Carpentersville, Geneva and Batavia school districts all outsource their school bus drivers. They are far more efficient and far safer than the school bus drivers in School District U46.

Call for better judgment: This is about the kid who was shot at school in Nevada while swinging a knife. I would like to say that I'm sorry the police didn't use better judgment, and I'm sorry the kid ended up getting shot. I also want to caution people and tell them that now they know how black people feel when one of their children is shot and it could have been avoided. The shoe is now on the other foot. We will see what happens. The policeman could have used a taser and called for backup to subdue the kid.

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Angst over Aurora: Has Aurora improved over the past 12 years? It depends on where you live or whether you exist under the bubble at City Hall. From where I sit looking at the vacant buildings on Lake Street, the abandonment of West Plaza and the chronic migration of the middle class, only an out-of-touch insider would believe there have been positive changes in older neighborhoods. After more than 10 years, Copley Hospital, the Masonic Temple and the Shodeen properties remain as huge embarrassments. Deterioration is more widespread than ever. Most of the real challenges facing old Aurora haven't improved and have gotten worse. We need a mayor who understands that real economic development demands stopping the mass exodus of our tax base. Neighborhood enforcement needs more than yearly inspection of rentals. Reset the clock with bold change and replace the out-of-touch players at City Hall. Evolve or die.

Life in prison over death penalty: I would like to say that the kid who killed the black people in the church should not get the death penalty. I am a black man. I do not believe in the death penalty. If you are a true Christian, you would forgive him and let God judge him. I do not excuse him in any way, but I am not the one to judge him. God will judge him in the afterlife. A true Christian does not take anyone's life. He did a horrible thing, and he should spend the rest of his life in prison. That's the way my God would do it. He said, "Vengeance is mine." Let God have vengeance and not man.

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Lack of morals: I have a question. When you read the newspaper, all you read about is grown men going after young girls for sex. What is wrong with men these days? Have they no morals? They can't leave children alone? Something is very wrong.

Weather warning: I think the warning message for bad weather was very kind of our mayor. He took time to worry about the people of Aurora. I hope our next mayor does the same. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.

Road improvements needed: They did a great job on the Ohio Street bridge. It looks wonderful, but it needs some help. We have bushes on the corner of Ohio and Rural Street. You must drive almost all the way out into the intersection, which makes it hard for the turning lane to turn west on Rural Street. I travel it every day. Please trim those bushes. Children and elderly are walking there and cross the street to catch the bus. Also, we go up to the McDonald's Restaurant. There is a huge sign of Linda Chapa LaVia. You can't see the traffic coming. I thought there was a law in Aurora that signs were supposed to be put back.

Roused about road crew: I live in Aurora Township, and I appreciate the fine work done by the Aurora Township road crew. Our streets are better plowed than the streets within the city. However, with about 50 miles of road to be maintained, I have some questions. Why are we paying salaries and insurance? Why are we buying all the equipment and gas? Is this unit of government even necessary?

Raising fuss about bus drivers: I want to talk about the school bus drivers. How many of them really live in Elgin and in the school district? Don't you think the other drivers from the professional bus driving company would be just as qualified? Here go our taxes again to pay more money for the school bus drivers. You see the school buses sitting in parking lots killing time and the bus drivers taking the school buses shopping with themselves in it. They need to be more accountable. Don't take a statement from the union. Let's get the best bang for our dollar. These are our children. We want to pay for their education. Get the competitive bids and see where the bucks fall.

In tune with caller: This is in regards to keeping Christ in Christmas. If this caller wants to hear Christmas music with Christ in it, he or she needs to tune into 94.3 or 93.9. He or she will hear music with Christ in it. I agree with the caller's comment.

Uneasy about president-elect: I want to say I am trying to give Donald Trump's administration its fair due just as I would give to any other commander in chief, but at the same time, he should listen to people and not just do whatever he feels like doing on this day or that day. He has some "colorful" people in his Cabinet. Some of them really scare me. Russia's tendency is to stab us in the back. Trump doesn't seem to be aware of this. Russia is just like Donald Trump. As soon as things aren't going their way, they will turn on you. I hope for the best. I really want this administration to succeed, even though I didn't vote for him, because I love my country. I have a lot of reservations about the people Trump is surrounding himself with.

Rob Sherman: My comment is about the activist Rob Sherman, who was recently killed in an airplane crash. I wonder if when his plane was coming down and he saw the earth closing in on him, did he call out God's name, or did he say, "Goodbye, Rob Sherman"? He was respected for his unshakable faith in nothing. When a single-engine plane fails in the air, you don't have a prayer. It's sad to lose him at this time of year.

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Aurora memories: How wonderful downtown Aurora was 50 years ago. Everything you needed was there. In 1960, my doctor was one block away from my residence on Broadway. When I needed surgery, I went two blocks the other way to St. Charles Hospital. Today, you would be lucky if you could fulfill your needs within 2 miles of Aurora.

Editor's note

Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line.
Rachel Weiss was named in 2016 the new rabbi at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston. Weiss is the synagogue's first female and openly gay rabbi. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)

A possible wrongful arrest, the first female and openly gay rabbi and hate graffiti at a chapel and in the library were stories that attracted attention from Evanston readers in 2016.

As the year wraps up we take a look back at some of the 2016's biggest issues.

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Hate vandalism hits Evanston

A Northwestern University chapel was vandalized in March with racist and homophobic messages. Then in November, a copy of the Quran and books about the Quran were marked with swastikas at the city's public library.

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Two former Northwestern University students were charged with hate crimes and vandalism for spray painting the slurs, along with a swastika, phallic drawings and the word "Trump", inside the Alice Millar chapel on Sheridan Road.

The two men pleaded guilty in November. They avoided a jail sentence but agreed to pay thousands of dollars in fines and restitution.

The men were freshmen when they committed the vandalism. Their attorney said alcohol was a factor.

The vandalism at Evanston Public Library included swastikas, homophobic slurs and other offensive graffiti. The markings were found as staff prepared for an evening program about the Quran. The culprits have not been identified.

First female, openly gay rabbi welcomed at Evanston synagogue

The Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston named its first female and openly gay senior rabbi in August.

Rachel Weiss, a graduate of Evanston Township High School, returned home from New York City to serve in the temple where she grew up.

She worked as associate rabbi at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, a 43-year old LGBT synagogue in New York.

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Staff at the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation said Weiss' appointment represents a big step in the temple's 30-year history and demonstrates the importance of diversity and inclusion at the temple.

Evanston/Skokie District 65 board rejects principal's hiring recommendation, then reverses decision

Parents, educators and community members were flummoxed by the Evanston/Skokie District 65 Board of Education decision in September to reject a hiring recommendation for assistant principal of a middle school.

But the board reversed itself in October and chose to appoint Josh Seldess as interim assistant principal at Nichols Middle School.

The board did not offer an explanation for its change of course, saying only that it was a personnel matter.

The board's original decision was made against the recommendation of Nichols Principal Adrian Harries, who first hired Seldess in August and asked the board to approve his choice.

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Seldess is a former history department head at Oak Park and River Forest High School. He has a background in addressing racial disparity in schools, a quality many said would be important in Evanston.

Evanston police officers on leave after arresting man collecting signatures

Two Evanston police officers were put on leave after arresting Devon Reid downtown as he collected signatures to put his name on the ballot in November. At the time, Reid was seeking to become an Evanston city clerk candidate.

The officers arrested Reid on Nov. 27 after he refused to give them his birth date, according to Evanston police. He bonded out of jail that night. Reid, who is African American, accused the officers of arresting him because of his race.

The officers were put on paid administrative leave while the department investigates what happened.

Reid's candidacy later was challenged by Lynne Greene, the wife of the current city clerk who is running to keep his position. Her complaint alleged that Reid did not file the proper paperwork during the candidacy filing period. The city's electoral board eventually ruled that Greene's complaint was without merit.

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Evanston responds to Trump

Evanston residents rallied in March against the candidacy of Donald Trump for president and again in November after he won the election, vowing to stand in solidarity with those of different religions and races.

The March rally followed the cancellation of then-Republican candidate Donald Trump's planned campaign event in Chicago. In Evanston, residents asked business owners to hang window posters decrying Muslim profiling and welcoming refugees inside.

After Trump's presidential election victory, the November rally aimed to create a sense of solidarity among those who might feel frightened or marginalized by the candidate's win.

Those at the rally were invited to sign up for a "protection committee." As members they would be called upon to help after a hate crime or similar incident. If the Trump administration initiates a Muslim registry as threatened, those on the committee would be asked to add their names to the list, despite their religious affiliation.

gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com

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Twitter @GenevieveBook
Several children sing along during the Community Kwanzaa Celebration held Dec. 26, 2016, at Fountain Square in downtown Evanston. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

Dozens of people showed up Monday to Fountain Square in downtown Evanston for the Community Kwanzaa Celebration.

"Anything that is uplifting and giving people hope and purpose, that's a great thing and 100 percent wonderful," said Tim Rhoze, artistic director of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, who attended the event.

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Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of West African and African-American principles related to community and family, was started in 1966 by activist and California State University-Long Beach Professor Maulana Karenga.

"It's good to celebrate your culture and where you come from," said Aliyah Lockett, 15, of Skokie.

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The Evanston Township High School sophomore attended the celebration with her siblings, Minah, 7, and Kya, 3, and their parents Dani and Steve Lockett.

"This is our family's first year to really celebrate Kwanzaa and we've been, over the last several years, trying to get our daughters more knowledgeable about their ancestry," Dani Lockett said.

Monday started the first day of Kwanzaa and during the program at Evanston, one candle on the special candelabra called a kinera was lit.

The first of day of Kwanzaa recognized Umoja, a Swahili term for "unity," according to Karenga's Kwanzaa website.

Each day a new principle is recognized using Swahili words, including "Kujichagulai" or self-determination; "Ujima," a Swahili term for collective work and responsibility; "Ujamaa," which means cooperative economics; "Nia," a term meaning purpose; "Kuumba," which describes collective creativity; and "Imani," a term that means faith, the website details.

Black, red and green candles used on the kinera represent each of the principles.

"The principles of Kwanzaa are important," said the Rev. Kenneth Cherry, recreation center manager for the City of Evanston and of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center. "Unity, empowerment, self-determination, it's all about the principles and educating our community and also about the unity of the city of Evanston."

Kwanzaa is observed through Jan. 1.

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Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer.
A Highland Park couple is awaiting a formal school board vote to delay school closings in North Shore School District 112 before dropping their request for a court injunction.

The District 112 school board may vote as early as Monday to delay the school closing plan known as BDR3, which stands for the district's third round of budget deficit reductions. A majority of board members agreed in mid December to postpone the school closings in light of Superintendent Michael Bregy's unexpected announcement that he would be leaving Jan. 27 to become superintendent in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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"If they drop their end of the rope, we will drop our end of the rope," said Steven Ludington of the litigation filed Nov. 16 in Lake County Circuit Court. "We will pick it up if they pick it up in the same form."

The suit seeks an injunction preventing the school district from closing schools, reassigning students and laying off teachers at least until after the April 4 school board election.

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The suit alleges, among other things, that school officials misrepresented the district's finances in labeling the plan a "budget deficit reduction" plan. The suit contended the word choice was a deliberate attempt to mislead the public into thinking the district's finances "were in some sort of cataclysmic crisis."

School officials refuted the suit's claims and vowed to aggressively defend the district's actions in court.

"We believe these complaints are counterproductive and will unnecessarily drain district funds," Board President Michael Cohn said earlier.

The Illinois Appellate Court Dec. 7 found in favor of the District 112 school board and Bregy in an electioneering complaint brought by Steven Ludington earlier this year. In the complaint filed with the State Board of Elections, Ludington said the district violated election law by disseminating communications supporting the $198 million bond issue without registering as a political action committee. He alleged the ballot question itself was worded in a non-neutral manner.

The state elections board dismissed the complaint March 17, two days after the referendum, saying the district's communications fell within the realm of providing factual information, as the school district is permitted to do.

The appellate court found Ludington had not proven the district spent more than $5,000 on the communications, the threshold for requiring registration as a political action committee.

kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com

@KarenABerkowitz
Diane Helt addresses other members of the book club, Dec. 20 at the Lake Forest Book Store. (Denys Bucksten / Pioneer Press)

The book club at the Lake Forest Book Store discussed its December selection, "Another Brooklyn" by Jacqueline Woodson, with spirited banter about the New York Times bestseller.

The novel's protagonist is August, a successful woman recalling her family and friends and the joy and perils of coming of age in 1970s Brooklyn.

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Some members at the Dec. 20 meeting had struggled to follow the almost poetic narrative as it alternated between past and present. Sitting in a circle on folding chairs members paged quickly to passages of the book to add to the discussion.

Lisa Dietrich, a co-leader of the book club, listens to a member's viewpoint on December selection, "Another Brooklyn" at Lake Forest Book Store. (Denys Bucksten / Pioneer Press)

Debbie Curren, a regular club member, said she's benefited from interacting with others at the club and has been introduced to books she might otherwise not have read.

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"I remember particularly when I started, we were reading the book "Room" and I had been afraid to read it," Curren said. "It was a woman being kidnapped and kept in a shed and ends up having a child by the kidnapper. It just sounded like a horrible thing to read and so I was afraid of it.

Curren said by participating in the group, she felt able to deal with the subject matter.

"We got background by the leaders, bringing in information about the author that helped me be brave enough to try something that seemed scary," Curren said.

Carolyn Finn, center, discusses the book, "Another Brooklyn" at the Dec. 20 club meeting inside Lake Forest Book Store. (Denys Bucksten / Pioneer Press)

Book club leaders Kathy Petray and Lisa Deitrich select the books to read each month, usually two months ahead, but Petray allowed that the system is "very free form when it comes to picking books. Sometimes the group weighs in."

The store was opened in 1949 by a group of local women, according to the store website.

The book club meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at 663 N. Western Avenue. The club's January selection is "News of the World."

A young adult book club meets next on Jan. 10 at 8:30 a.m.

Denys Bucksten is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
An Aurora police squad car sits in the parking lot of Fox Valley Mall on Dec. 26, 2016, after the mall was evacuated due to a teen fight. (Mike Mantucca / Chicago Tribune)

Eight teens have been charged in connection with fights that broke out Monday night at the Fox Valley Mall, forcing the shopping center to be evacuated and closed for nearly an hour, Aurora police said.

The suspects were among more than 1,000 people who congregated in the Route 59 mall's common area, Aurora police Lt. Rick Robertson said. Groups started gathering in the food court area, prompting mall security to call in Aurora police, police department spokesman Dan Ferrelli said in a news release Tuesday.

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As crowds were told to disperse, a large fight broke out followed by several smaller skirmishes, Ferrelli said. Many people refused to obey officers' orders, he said.

An Aurora police sergeant working extra duty at the mall was punched in the face during one incident, Robertson said, and a mall security employee was "battered" in another, according to Ferrelli. There were no injuries to mall patrons, and no one involved in the fights needed immediate medical attention, he said.

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Aurora police called for back-up help, with about 75 officers responding from the Aurora, Naperville, Woodridge, St. Charles, Geneva and West Chicago police departments, the Kane and DuPage county sheriff's offices, the Illinois State Police and the Fox Valley Park District, Ferrelli said.

Police arrested and charged two girls, ages 13 and 15, and one boy, 15, with battery. Two 14-year-old boys and one 16-year-old girl were charged with obstructing justice. All are Aurora residents.

A 17-year-old Aurora girl faces counts of battery and resisting police and a 15-year-old girl from North Aurora was charged with resisting police and disorderly conduct.

Ferrelli said all of the charges are misdemeanors but could be upgraded to felonies. He also said there may be more arrests forthcoming.

The mall was closed as police "contained and controlled the situation," Ferrelli said. The mall was cleared by 7:30 p.m. and allowed to reopen at about 8:15 p.m., mall manager J. Scott Samson said in a statement.

"While we are not able to speak about specific security measures, please know that we work close(ly) with local and national law enforcement on all matters relating to mall safety," he said. "Our holiday events and hours will continue as scheduled."

At least one Chicago-area mall put a "youth escort policy" in place several years ago designed to keep shoppers safe. The North Riverside Park Mall at times requires teens and children under 18 to be escorted by an adult at least 21 years old. Each adult can escort up to three people, General Manager Harvey Ahitow said.

The mall enforces the policy typically on Friday and Saturday nights and specific days, such as Dec. 26 and Halloween night, but will also choose to enforce it on other days based on how busy the mall is, Ahitow said. The escort requirement typically lasts from 4 p.m. to closing.

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"The shopping center was overrun with youths, especially on Friday and Saturday nights," Ahitow said. "And that's when we decided we needed to do something to maintain a safe shopping environment, and it's been very effective."

Aurora police said Tuesday they were working with Fox Valley Mall security to ensure the safety of businesses and patrons, and are conducting extra patrols.

Fox Valley was not the only mall where fights broke out Monday. Similar fights were reported at several shopping centers across the country, including malls in Fayetteville, N.C.; Manchester, Conn.; Fort Worth, Texas; and Memphis, Tenn.

It was also not the first fight at Fox Valley in the last week. Two days earlier, on Dec. 24, police were called in at about 1:05 p.m. and told by mall security that a group of males had just left after getting into a "large fight," according to police reports. A 21-year-old man was arrested.

Ferrelli said in his statement that police are investigating any connection to other fights and the role social media might have played in organizing them.

Anyone with information is asked to call the investigations division at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000, or to submit a tip through the Aurora Police Department app.

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sfreishtat@tribpub.com

Freelance reporter Megann Horstead and the Associated Press contributed.
Oak Brook wants to stop the installation of red light cameras at the intersection of Route 83 and 22nd Street. (Chuck Fieldman / Pioneer Press)

A letter to an Illinois Department of Transportation deputy director from state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, in support of red light cameras at Route 83 and 22nd Street reads like a marketing piece from the red light camera, according to Oak Brook Village Board member Michael Manzo.

The Feb. 11 letter from Cullerton to John Fortmann, IDOT deputy director, Region 1 engineer, includes quite a bit of wording that sounds like a sales pitch from SafeSpeed, LLC, the company hired by Oakbrook Terrace to handle installation, Manzo said.

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Along with requesting that Oakbrook Terrace be allowed to begin implementation of the red light camera program, Cullerton's letter includes the paragraph, "The majority of new clients have an existing Red Light Running vendor and once they review the benefits of Safespeed's business model, they decide to go with SafeSpeed."

Another paragraph in Cullerton's letter reads, "Chris Lai, Safespeed's COO, welcomes any opportunity to meet with you in-person and discuss in further detail how their company and business model can benefit your municipality."

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"It really does look like SafeSpeed gave Cullerton a marketing letter to use, and they didn't do a very good job making changes so it wouldn't look like a marketing letter," Manzo said. "Why would someone send a letter to IDOT, telling them how this company can benefit their municipality? IDOT is a state agency, not a municipality."

Cullerton was not available for comment, though several messages were left with staff members before the Christmas holiday, and on his cellphone Tuesday morning.

Oak Brook Village President Gopal Lalmalani wasn't quite as strong as was Manzo in his critique of Cullerton's letter, obtained by The Doings in a Freedom of Information Act request, but still wasn't pleased.

"I'm not too happy that he's promoting SafeSpeed," Lalmalani said. "There is more than meets the eye here."

Lalmalani said Oak Brook still is considering legal action in an attempt to stop installation of red light cameras.

Along with Cullerton's letter, he Doings also received a Nov. 19, 2015 memo from state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Cicero Democrat and chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, to Fortmann, stating he encouraged "Omar" to contact Fortmann, and that Fortmann's assistance would be appreciated.

Omar Maani is identified, in a Nov. 18, 2015 email to Sandoval, as a principal at SafeSpeed. Maani states in the email that he wanted to discuss the justification report the company was ready to submit for red light cameras at Route 83 and 22nd Street.

Sandoval did not return calls after several messages were left with his staff.

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Oak Brook officials have expressed issue with the fact that IDOT went, in about two months, from telling Oakbrook Terrace that red light camera enforcement is not supported to approving red light camera enforcement.

A March 3 IDOT justification report review denied the camera request and noted that data for 2015-2017 could be submitted for another review. Then, a May 20 letter from IDOT stated approval, based on video files dated November 2015, which "demonstrated a pattern of violations at the intersection.

Guy Tridgell, IDOT's director of communications, said correspondence to IDOT from Cullerton and Sandoval had no effect on the decision to issue the red light camera permit.

Tridgell also said that red light camera permits can be issued, based on data solely for violations. When asked if data for one 24-hour period would be sufficient, he replied, "That would be an engineering decision."

cfieldman@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @chuckwriting
Michelle Robinson is a certified master stylist who owns and operates Clean Paws Mobile Grooming Salon. She calls her work van "Proud Mary." Robinson also is a mentor for the Gary Literacy Coalition and Gary City Council's representation to the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority. (Jeff Manes / Post-Tribune)

" ... He danced for those at minstrel shows and county fairs

"Throughout the South

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"He spoke through tears of 15 years how his dog and him

"Traveled about

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"The dog up and died, he up and died

"And after 20 years he still grieves..."

 The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Michelle Robinson is a certified master stylist who owns and operates Clean Paws Mobile Grooming Salon. Her work van, which she calls "Proud Mary," was in the shop for repairs the day of our interview.

Robinson also is a mentor for the Gary Literacy Coalition and Gary City Council's representation to the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority.

***

"I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in the Roseland and West Pullman areas," Robinson began. "I went to John Marshal Harlan High School. The thing that's different now is that people in neighborhoods are not connected. When I was growin' up, we were a community. Everybody knew each other. My grandmother used to bake cakes for people in the neighborhood. All the kids knew each other. All the parents knew each other."

Did you have a favorite subject in school?

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"Science and math."

Are you right-handed?

"I'm left-handed. Actually, I'm ambidextrous. I can scissor while grooming with my right hand. I'm kind of what they call dual-brained; I'm very analytical and creative at the same time. I was raised Catholic. The nuns frowned on left-handedness."

When did you move to Northwest Indiana?

"In 1998. I found a house in the Small Farms community of Gary that was perfect. I love the Small Farms, and I love nature. I've been an animal person all of my life. I love the fact that I can now get up in the morning and have a herd of deer walkin' down the street. Because I'm so close to the Little Calumet River, I saw a fledgling eagle a couple of years ago in my neighborhood. It's very peaceful to me listening to frogs singing in the spring and summer. I just discovered the Little Cal River Trail that goes from Burr Street all the way to Martin Luther King Drive. It's 12.5 miles one way."

"When I first moved to the area, it was so beautiful because right along Clark Road and Ridge Road you have the wetlands where you can see all kinds of herons and cranes. But after a while, you start seein' all the dumping. Some of the animals have gone away because of that. That's the disheartening part."

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That's a shame. I do know several people who try to keep that area free of debris. Let's talk more about your love of dogs and cats.

"It's funny, I can be out with friends having a conversation and a stray dog or cat will come straight to me in a big crowd of people. One time, a girlfriend and I went out and a cat came up to me. I played with the cat for a few seconds. When my friend and I went into the club, the cat followed me in."

Do you have pets of your own?

"Yes, two dogs and a cat. All of them were rescued. I also feed the birds."

So do I.

"Feeding birds is a trap."

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Why's that?

"It all started when I saw this little electric blue finch in my yard."

Probably an indigo bunting.

"Is that what it is? It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I thought maybe if I put some seeds out, he'd come back. That bird never came back. The next thing I knew, I had all these other birds coming to eat. They'd sit on the phone wire if I didn't have the bird seed and poop all over my car."

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Tell me about these grooming competitions that you enter.

"It's funny, at first, I felt that I needed a poodle to practice on. That's when this little black dog came walking down the street. He was a mess and looked like a Rastafarian with the dreadlocks and everything. Finally, he let me hold him and I shaved him down. He had a tick in his foot the size of a dime. When I finished shaving him down, I said: 'I'll be darned, it's a poodle.' I named him Scruffy Dog."

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What became of Scruffy Dog?

"He went from rags to riches. I started competing with him, and we started winning in competitions. About a year or so after we competed, he started having seizures and eventually passed away. My Rottweiler and I grieved for Scruffy Dog for a long time."

Proud Mary?

"She's a full-sized grooming salon on wheels that is 10-and-a-half-feet tall with an air conditioner on top and a furnace inside. She carries 55 gallons of fresh water. Yeah, she's a 16-year-old Dodge Ram with nearly 300,000 miles on her. Proud Mary might not be the prettiest girl at the ball, but she's at the ball."

How far do you and Proud Mary travel?

"We have a 15-mile radius. It's by appointment only."

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How many cats and how many dogs do you service?

"I have more than 200 clients, 60 percent of which are dogs."

How long have you been in business?

"Since Nov. 8, 2010. In 2001, I started working at a big box store  Petco in Calumet City, Ill. I was the salon manager there for more than eight years. I started as a bather. When I saw my first soapy brown-eyed dog, I was in love. I knew I was in the right place. It's like when you know, that you know, that you know  you know."

Final thoughts?

"I'm one of those fortunate people who found a career that I'm passionate about. That's makes a big difference because I never work a day in my life.

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"I'm also passionate about bringing an off-leash community dog park to the city of Gary. There is no place in the city of Gary where I can exercise my dogs off-leash. I've started a not-for-profit organization called Cause4Paws Gary Inc. We are now 501C3. I've applied for a grant to help raise the money. I want the park to be centrally located."

Continue, please.

"Gary's animal control department processes anywhere from 800 to 1,000 stray animals per month. A lot of those animals are dumped into our city. The animals shelters are trying to help, but they are getting overwhelmed. We've partnered with the Neuter Scooter. They're going to come in every other month to do low-cost spay, neuter and vaccinations for cats. One cat can become 19 cats in a hurry. Our goal is to have everything in place by Sept. of 2017."

***

It has been said that the activist is not the one who complains that the river is polluted. The activist is the one who helps clean up the river.

Whether it's a paint can tossed into the middle of wetlands or "man's best friend" let loose in an alley, dumping is dumping. My hat's off to activists like Michelle Robinson who roll up their sleeves and get something done.

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Jeff Manes is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.

jeffmanes@sbcglobal.net

For more information

To help raise funds for Cause4Paws Gary Inc., the Frosty Paws 5K Fun Run will take place at South Gleason Park (3400 Jefferson St.) on Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information go to www.cause4pawsgary.org.

To make an appointment with Clean Paws Mobile Grooming call 888-648-7256.
Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub, right, presented the original Lake County Court Record for the murder indictment against John Dillinger to the John Dillinger Museum located in the Old Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point, Ind. Sperous Batistatos, president of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, accepted the record on Dec. 27, 2016. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

The public now will have the chance to look back in time to the day when infamous bank robber John Dillinger was charged in Lake County with murder.

The time capsule comes in the form of a court docket long buried in the archives at the Lake County Government Center in Crown Point. The book contains the original hand-written indictment of Dillinger.

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It was uncovered while the archives were being moved to a new space, said Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Crown Point.

"It's very interesting. There are a lot of old records in the county government building," Scheub said during a press conference Tuesday where the leather-bound docket containing the indictment will be on loan in perpetuity in an agreement between the county and South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, which operates the John Dillinger Museum on the ground floor of the historic Lake County Courthouse in downtown Crown Point.

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Scheub said the document shows Lake County was ready to do its job and prosecute the alleged killer before he escaped from the Lake County Jail in April 1934 and was killed in a shootout with police four months later in Chicago.

"We have to remember John Dillinger was a criminal," Scheub said, adding the docket is not intended to glorify Dillinger. He said he felt it was important for people to know the Lake County courts were prepared to prosecute the man for his alleged crimes.

Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore CVA, said the book was a welcome addition to the museum's collection of artifacts that tell the story of the rise and fall of Dillinger and his gang.

"It's a one of a kind document," Batistatos said.

Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub presented the original Lake County Court Record for the murder indictment against John Dillinger to the John Dillinger Museum located in the Old Lake County Courthouse in Crown Point, Ind., on Dec. 27, 2016. (John Smierciak / Post-Tribune)

Because the tourism bureau is a governmental entity, Batistatos said they do not seek to purchase items for the museum but welcome the opportunity to acquire important artifacts either on loan or as donations, such as the docket book.

"We are not in the buying business but we are certainly in the acquiring business," he said.

He echoed Scheub's point that the museum is not intended to glorify Dillinger but to provide a historical record of his activities, especially as they relate to Lake County and Crown Point.

"John Dillinger was a criminal," he said, adding the museum is intended to help visitors understand the time and draw their own conclusions.

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Charlie Goldbin, of Chesterton, heard a spot on the radio Monday announcing the press conference and arrival of the docket book at the museum and decided to use event as an opportunity to dress up in period clothing.

He wore a fedora made by the manufacturer who provided the fedoras for the Hollywood film "Public Enemy" starring Johnny Depp, which was filmed in Crown Point. His tailored pinstripe suit was a throwback in design and accessorized with antique cuff links from the 1930s.

"All I need is a Tommy gun," he said.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
City officials hope they will save money on workers compensation and other insurance costs after the Board of Works selected a private insurance carrier Tuesday.

Bliss McKnight, an insurance carrier with clients throughout the state, will provide general liability and employment insurance to the city beginning in 2017.

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For years, the city has used the Indiana Public Employers' Plan for workers compensation and other employment insurance, but hiring Bliss McKnight will be cheaper and provide more coverage, said James Hazzard, an account executive with Samuelson Insurance, the city's property and casualty insurance agency.

The city's annual premium will drop from $626,437 with IPEP to $612,701, Hazzard said.

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Portage also will get more coverage. IPEP covers up to $700,000 per injury claim, while Bliss McKnight will cover up to $3 million per incident and up to $6 million in total claims per year, Hazzard said.

Ultimately, that means the city will pay less money outside of its annual premium for injuries, he said.

The city has gone with IPEP largely because of the high number of workplace accidents and injuries it used to incur, but automating more services, such as trash collection, and stressing workplace safety has caused the number of incidents to drop, said Mayor James Snyder.

And, that makes it easier for Portage to shop around for more competitive insurance rates, Hazzard said.

"For a long time, the city had too many (injury) claims, and IPEP was the only show we could go to," he said. "I think this will help the city tremendously."

The Bliss McKnight contract also provides employment practice liability, or insurance for wrongful termination and similar claims, and employment benefits liability.

The extra coverage will give the city more options in dealing with expensive employment related lawsuits, Hazzard said.

The board also approved a fundraising 5K run next May by the Crisman Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, contingent on the group getting the go-ahead from the city's fire and police departments.

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Gretchen Schulz, a Crisman teacher, said the PTO fundraiser still is in the planning stages, but the idea is to open the color run to anyone interested. Runners will get a T-shirt in the race and run 3.1 miles throughout the Birdland subdivision and Woodland Park before ending in Crisman, all the while getting peppered with special, powdered dyes.

Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Donald Trump, left, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, right, acknowledge the crowd during a campaign rally on July 6, 2016, in Cincinnati. Gingrich says Trump 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. (John Minchillo / AP)

Trump lieutenant Newt Gingrich has 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.

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"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 NPR's "The Diane Rehm Show" last Monday.

"Drain the Swamp" is so October.

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In another NPR interview on Wednesday, Gingrich said Trump's "swamp" campaign theme had been relegated to the marshlands of history, asserting that "he now says it was cute, but he doesn't 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 he's 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 Trump's 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).

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 there's 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 business ties in 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.

Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Those laws aren't 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. "Yet, notwithstanding all this, if the laws be continually despised and disregarded ... the alienation of their affections from the government is the natural consequence."

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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. A recent 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 Lincoln's "political religion" when we need it?

Dana Milbank is a freelance columnist for the Washington Post.
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A female worker is seen at Hengli Group's production plant in Suzhou, Jiangsu province on September 10, 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Supply-side structural reform has been a catchphrase in China this year, and is set to remain a central theme of the nation's economic work in 2017 as it is expected to inject vitality into the world's second largest economy.

The reform has witnessed steady progress since China's policymakers proposed it at the end of 2015 to resolve structural imbalances in the economy.

Thanks to supply-side reform, the Chinese economy is ending 2016 on firm footing with the country looking like it will hit its annual growth targets.

In the first three quarters, the economy expanded 6.7 percent, well within the government's target range of between 6.5 and 7 percent.

Throughout the year, authorities have pressed ahead with five tasks: cutting industrial capacity, reducing the housing inventory, cutting leverage, lowering corporate costs and improving weak economic links.

A large number of zombie enterprises have been shut down this year. Industries plagued by overcapacity and lagging technology have been urged to move up the value chain to stay competitive.

China has met this year's target of reducing 45 million tonnes of steel and 250 million tonnes of coal production capacity, ahead of schedule.

The country has seen a continued decrease in the housing inventory. By the end of November, the inventory had fallen for nine consecutive months.

With business tax replaced by value-added tax, companies are expected to cut costs by over 1 trillion yuan (around 145 billion U.S. dollars) this year.

Due to targeted poverty alleviation measures, the country's poor population is forecast to fall by more than 10 million in 2016.

Unsurprisingly, China has also met with multiple challenges in carrying out reform.

Unexpected home price spikes in the first nine months pushed up residential leverage and swelled asset bubbles. Downsizing of the steel and coal sectors led to shrinking supply and shored up short-term prices, which impeded further reform. "Zombie companies" caused risks with unemployed workers and unresolved debts.

Despite the difficulties, policymakers have decided to stick with the reform in 2017 in a bid to address entrenched problems and find long-term growth momentum.

China will deepen supply-side structural reform next year, expanding reforms to more areas: overhauling the agricultural supply-side, reviving the real economy and stabilizing the property sector, according to the Central Economic Work Conference held earlier this month.
Teng Junying has no idea what 2017 will hold if she fails to win a spot at Hebei University for the Aged, a government-funded school for senior citizens.

Senior citizens talk during a calligraphy class at Hebei University for the Aged. Zhang Yu/China Daily

The 57-year-old has spent the past two years in the university's classrooms, learning to sing and dance, but she fears a change to its admissions policy could leave her disappointed.

"It feels like a lottery," she said, referring to the announcement that applications for its 4,000 places will now be decided at random.

The school, established in 1987 in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, previously operated on a first-come first-served basis, which resulted in long lines forming outside the admissions office.

"More people want to study at the school," said Li Lin, who works in the admissions office, especially as from next year, the school will waive all tuition fees, part of efforts to encourage more elderly citizens back into education.

The school has received more than 20,000 applications since the beginning of December, Li said. "The new selection method is to make sure each applicant has an equal chance."

Yet the news has Teng concerned. She has successfully been able to enroll for two consecutive years because she was willing to line up earlier than other applicants.

"Elderly people today are eager to learn new things, to enrich our mental health and to kill time after retirement," she said.

Teng retired at 50 years old and spent five years helping her daughter raise a child, which made her feel useful. "But my grandson no longer needs daily care, so I have a lot of time to kill."

Studying at the university, which offers 21 courses ranging from dancing to calligraphy and image design, "made me feel energetic and young", she said, adding that if she does not earn a place, she has no idea what she will do instead.

She is not alone. Lyu Pinghai, 60, who retired from his job as an engineer last month, submitted an application to the school on Wednesday. "I can't bear that I have nothing to do every day," he said.

Although education institutes for the elderly have developed over the past 30 years or so, with at now least one in every county and city, demand still exceeds supply, said Lyu Bingxing, vice-president of the Hebei college.

"Development needs to catch up with the rapid rate of aging in our population," he said.

China had 222 million people aged 60 or older in 2015, accounting for 16 percent of the population, according to an education development plan for senior citizens released by the State Council in October. The number is forecast to reach 243 million in 2020.

Currently, 3.2 percent of elderly people, more than 7 million, are studying at schools or other institutions. The plan sets a target to increase that to 20 percent within five years.
Chinese nationals may have been the earliest people to make textile from silk fiber, according to a recent report in international academic journal Plos One. The report was created by scholars from the University of Science and Technology of China.

Scientists inspected silk fibroin through soil samples collected from three tombs at the Neolithic site of Jiahu, Henan province. Rough weaving tools and bone needles were also excavated from the site, indicating that Jiahu residents from 8,500 years ago may have possessed basic weaving and sewing skills necessary for producing textiles.

Although previous studies have provided evidence of the early emergence of weaving, there has long been a lack of direct evidence proving the existence of silk. According to the report, this new finding may advance the study of early silk production, as well as civilization during the Neolithic Age, by nearly 4,000 years.
Chairperson Xi Yanchun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. At today's press conference, we'll brief you on the main contents of the white paper regarding China's space activities in 2016 and the latest developments in China's space industry.

Today, we have with us here Mr. Wu Yanhua, vice head of China National Space Administration (CNSA), and Mr. Li Guoping, director of Department of System and Engineering, CNSA.

Now, please allow me to make a brief introduction of the white paper.

China has released one white paper on its space activities every five years since 2000. Today's version is the fourth one of its kind. It covers the main tasks and policies of China's space industry. It showcases the progress of China's major projects, including manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, the BeiDou Navigation System and high-resolution earth observation system. It displays our achievements in space science, space technology and space applications. It also explains the country's principles regarding space activities.

The white paper contains about 11,000 words. It's available in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabian and Japanese.

Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Wu.

Wu Yanhua:

It's a great pleasure to meet you, friends from the press. Thank you for your care and support for China's space industry.

The white paper, China's Space Activities in 2016, reiterates that the fundamental purpose of China's space industry is to explore, develop and utilize outer space for peaceful purposes. It summarizes the major progress China has achieved since 2011 and lays out the development priorities and policy measures for the next five years.

Since 2011, our space industry has witnessed rapid development and played a positive part in promoting scientific and technological progress, economic and social development, comprehensive national strength and human wellbeing.

First, we have achieved substantial results in space science and technology innovation. The country has made significant breakthroughs and mastered the core technologies needed for manned space missions. The Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 spaceships carried out a successful rendezvous and docking with the already-orbiting Tiangong-1 space lab, while Shenzhou 11 docked with Tiangong 2. Chang'e 3 achieved China's first soft- landing on an extra terrestrial body and carried out roving exploration on the moon, elevating China to a new level in space science and technology. The third phase of the Lunar Exploration Program achieved successful re-entry and landing. The BeiDou-2 Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is now fully developed and is providing users in the Asia-Pacific region with positioning navigation and accurate time services. Construction of the BDS global system has been fueled. Six high resolution Earth observation satellites were launched successfully and are now in use, filling a number of domestic technological gaps. We also successfully launched a number of scientific satellites, including Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) and Quantum Experiments at Space Scale (QUESS), achieving a series of important scientific research results.

Second, China has greatly enhanced its capabilities in entering space. Between 2011 and November 2016, the Long March rockets accomplished 86 launches, with a success rate of 97.7 percent. The brand-new, large carrier rocket, Long March 5, which uses a non-toxic and pollution-free propellant, was successfully launched in November 2016 after 10 years of research and development. It represents the highest level achieved by China in scientific and technological innovation regarding carrier rockets. China has also successfully launched the newly developed small-load carrier rocket Long March 6 that also uses non-toxic, non-polluting fuel, a new-generation medium-lift Long March 7 and solid-fueled small-load Long March 11, thus laying a sound foundation for developing a whole series of next-generation carrier rockets.

Third, China has substantially improved its capabilities in space utilization. It has released a medium and long-term development plan for civil space infrastructure, initially shaping a key system based on remote sensing, communications and navigation. So far, China has more than 170 operating satellites in orbit and the nation has significantly improved its service capabilities. We are heavily engaged in building a satellite application system with an increasingly enhanced application level and expanded industrial scale. Space technology is playing an ever-increasing important role in the country's national economic and social development.

Fourth, China has greatly expanded international cooperation. Up to now, it has signed more than 100 cooperative agreements with over 30 countries, space institutes and international organizations. The China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-04 (CBERS-04) has gone into orbit, and research and development on the Sino-French SVOM (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor), the Sino-French Oceanography Satellite (CFOSAT) and the CSES (China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) mission involving Chinese-Italian collaboration are going smoothly. China has completed five whole satellite export and in-orbit deliveries. It is taking the initiative to participate in the activities organized by 16 international organizations, including the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), International Charter on Space and Major Disasters (CHARTER) and Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), and is playing an important role in multilateral cooperation. The guiding opinions on the construction and application of the "Belt and Road" Space Information Corridor have been issued. Broad consensus has been reached on the country's ideas for building a remote satellite constellation together with the BRICS countries and developing a multi-task, mini-satellite constellation with Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization member countries.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the start of China's space industry and the government has set April 24 as China Space Day.

In order to build China into a space power, we hope to accomplish the following goals: making independent and controllable innovation, researching cutting-edge scientific applications, providing strong and continuous service for economic and social development, providing efficient and reliable guarantee for national security, managing scientific development efficiently, conducting mutual beneficial and win-win international communication and cooperation, building advanced and open aerospace science and technology industrial system, constructing stable and reliable space infrastructure, cultivating innovative talent team, and holding broad and profound spaceflight spirit.

In the following five years, we will promote integrated development of space science, space technology and space application. Key tasks include:

First, implement major space engineering and promote capabilities in independent innovation. We will accomplish several national scientific major special projects, including manned space flight, lunar exploration, BeiDou navigation, and high resolution Earth observation, and start several major aerospace engineering programs, including deep space exploration represented by Mars exploration, space-Earth integration information network, spacecraft on orbit service and maintenance system, and heavy lift lunch vehicle.

Second, construct space infrastructure and boost space technology application. We will implement mid- and long-term development plan of national space infrastructure, and strengthen space-based, ground-based and application systems. We will strongly promote satellite remote sensing, satellite communication, satellite navigation industrialization and scale development, strengthen satellite and application strategic emerging industries, accelerate new industry cultivation of "internet + satellite application," and create new economic growth point, so as to make more significant contribution to domestic economic construction and social development.

Third, enhance the study of space science and make original achievements. Targeting major frontier areas of space science and technology, we will implement a series of new space science satellite programs, establish a series of space science satellites featuring sustainable development, and reinforce basic application research. Major discoveries and breakthroughs are expected in the frontier areas of space science to further mankind's knowledge of the universe.

Fourth, comprehensively deepen the reform and foster a favorable environment for development. We will establish a diversified investment and funding system. The government will continue to make investments and encourage other kinds of investments to participate in space activities. We will accelerate the legislation to promote an orderly development of the industry. We will also promote reform in relevant enterprises and public institutions.

Fifth, intensify international exchange and bring benefits to mankind. We will actively participated in activities organized by the United Nations and other international organizations. We will promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor. We will accelerate the construction of BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation and APSCO joint small multi-mission satellite constellation. We will also deepen the communication and cooperation in such fields as manned spaceflight, deep space exploration, space science, satellite communication, satellite remote-sensing, satellite navigation and monitoring and control of launching process. We will actively help Chinese enterprises to participate in international space activities and help Chinese space products "go global."

China is willing to carry out international space exchanges and cooperation, so that achievements in space activities will serve and improve the well-being of mankind in a wider scope, at a deeper level and with higher standards.

Xi Yanchun:

Mr. Wu Yanhua, thank you for your introduction. Now, we can take questions.

CCTV:

May I ask Mr. Wu Yanhua, compared with the last one, what features and highlights does this white paper have? Thank you.

Wu Yanhua:

Compared with the previous three white papers, the new one has changes and continuations. The continuations were reflected by: first, this white paper reiterates the missions for China to develop aerospace industry; second, the frame and structure of the text of the white paper remain the same with the previous three; third, the aerospace policies and international cooperation policies also keep a certain continuity.

The changes and highlights include:

First, we propose the goal of becoming a strong aerospace power for the first time. This year the Chinese government approved the establishment of April 24 as China's Aerospace Day. President Xi Jinping gave significant instructions and pointed the way clearly for the future development of China's aerospace industry. This fourth white paper came up with the vision of being strong aerospace power and depicted the vision in ten aspects regarding science and technology innovation abilities, scientific exploration, and science talents and teams.

Second, it tells the key missions for the next five years and a certain period of time in the future for aerospace development. Regarding major projects, the paper stated that China will continue implementing four existing significant programs, including manned space flight, moon expeditions, Beidou navigation system and high resolution earth observation systems. In addition, there will be new and influential projects to be launched in order to lead the development of China's aerospace causes. This white paper also indicates the transformation and upgrading in the aerospace domain. In the past, space technologies were used to drive the science research and promotion of utilization; in the new era, the space science and space application will exploit their full potentials to lead and promote innovative development in space technologies.

Third, the white paper further perfects the relevant policies and approaches. Regarding weakness and disadvantages, the paper proposes implementing the project to strengthen infrastructure and improve the basic capabilities of the aerospace technologies industry. It also proposes rapidly pushing forward the construction of a legal system and rules of aerospace area, which will make Chinese aerospace develop orderly and in a standardized way while following international space rules and performing international obligations.

Fourth, it identifies the key areas and key projects of international cooperation in the new era. In the aspect of key areas, first, China will support various activities to peacefully exploit outerspace within the United Nation's framework, and it will engage in several relevant activities; second, China has joined a dozen of intergovernmental and inter-non-governmental multilateral international organizations and initiated an Asia-Pacific space cooperation organization while working extensively with the European Space Agency; third, we will deepen bilateral cooperation. Regarding key projects, first we will start comprehensive cooperation with international organizations, enterprises and scientific research institutions in the areas of space science, space technologies and space applications; second, we will attach importance to building a "Belt and Road" space information corridor, pushing forward cooperation in remote sensing satellite constellation in certain relevant areas and perfecting the construction of space information corridor, especially for the implementation of the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits with relevant countries; third, in the aspects of technology innovation, talent training and laws and regulations, China will vigorously push forward cooperation in relevant products, technical services and relevant standards, and will support China's enterprises and institutions to go international.

Thank you.

CNR:

Just now the speaker mentioned the goal of becoming one of the world's leaders in the space industry. Does China have any specific plan for achieving the vision? And what new space projects will be launched in the future? Moreover, the Long March 5 carrier rocket was launched successfully this year. Could you give us a brief introduction to the general arrangement of the heavy-lift carrier rocket and its development? Thanks.

Wu Yanhua:

Just now I have introduced the vision for development.

Generally, we hope we can finish important space projects and tasks under the framework of the 13th Five-Year Plan. Through the strengthening of the infrastructure project, we wish to fix the weaknesses which may hamper the development of our space industry. We wish to build relatively sound space infrastructure within ten years. We hope to become one of the leading space countries by 2030.

There are more details about the important projects and highlights for future space development in the white paper.

In January 2016, the Chinese government officially approved our first Mars probe mission, which indicates that the Chinese space probe will extend from the moon to the deeper universe. This is the common responsibility and obligation of people all over the world.

Next, I will give a brief introduction to the plans of our deeper space probe in the coming 10 and 15 years.

Firstly, we will probe planets like Mars, Jupiter etc. We will orbit Mars, land and deploy a rover on it, and we will collect samples of the surface of the Mars and bring them back to Earth for study.

Secondly, we are developing the Long March 9  a new type of heavy-lift carrier rocket. We are in the phase of project feasibility study and key technology research.

Thirdly, we will build a space-ground integrated information network. Once it's established, there will be no obstacle for communication and transmission on Earth, and it is in accordance with the development of the 5G technology of the telecom industry.

Fourthly, we need to improve the on-orbit service and maintenance ability for the spacecrafts. Valuable geostationary satellites should be fixed when they are out of service.

Bloomberg News:

I'd like to ask if you could elaborate on the specific areas that the private sector will be encouraged to take part in. And my second question is: Will the government tap capital markets in order to fund these space programs? Thank you.

Wu Yanhua:

Since the beginning of this year, commercial aerospace has been unprecedentedly fueled as a new momentum for the development of world's space programs. The Chinese government has always advocated that space industry should be part of the national economy and contribute to undertakings concerning scientific advancement, economic progresses, social well-being and growths of comprehensive national strength.

First of all, let's start with the pertinent policies. In 2014, the State Council officially issued a circular to encourage diverse sources to fund the launches and applications of satellites.

Second, the Chinese government recently issued a negative list containing a few prohibited items to stipulate the rules for foreign investors to enter the Chinese market. There are very few items concerning the aerospace industry on the list. The national and international capital sources are encouraged to cover a variety of aerospace programs, such as the research, design and production of satellites and other supporting products.

Third, the white paper has elaborated on the policies related to commercial aerospace developments, showing the country's supportive views of the diverse capital sources, such as the private sector or the overseas investment. There are at least three enterprises with multiple stakeholders dedicated to the research and development of rockets for commercial use. Meanwhile, we also encourage the design and exploration of satellites as well as the development of key materials and single components. We'll make full use of cutting-edge space technologies and intellectual property rights, transforming them into products or programs conducive to people's wellbeing. We are still deliberating on the feasibility of opening the sectors such as commercial launches, testing and monitoring.

Phoenix TV:

Can you tell us what kind of measures will be taken to build up the talent pool for the country's space industry? Thank you.

Wu Yanhua:

We attribute the development of China's space industry to the strenuous efforts of generations of professional personnel, with Qian Xuesen, one of the most prominent founders of the country's space cause, as a role model. The development of the space industry is rooted in its talents. To disseminate space knowledge and attract more people to join the space industry, the government established an annual "China Space Day" from this year.

We plan to take the following measures to build up the talent pool:

Firstly, we will take great efforts to promote the "Spirit of the Manned Space Program" and overall space culture among elementary and secondary school students, inspiring their enthusiasm for science and motivating them to explore the unknown.

Secondly, the space industry plays a leading role in advancing science and technology and applying cutting-edge research fruits covering various fields such as physics, chemistry, electronics, etc. Many domestic universities are working to establish an astronautics department. The growing space industry is also driving basic science and theoretical study further.

Thirdly, the space industry itself is a high-level talent entity. We need world-class scientists, leading engineers and technicians, senior business managers and high-caliber entrepreneurs, as well as experts in international cooperation. Everyone needs to sharpen themselves in the rapidly growing industry and related areas.

CRI:

What contribution can China's space development make to the Belt and Road Initiative? Thank you.

Wu Yanhua:

We are mainly promoting the construction and application of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor.

First, we will jointly build the space information corridor to promote interconnectivity. Based on the already-orbiting satellites and those in the planning stage, China will work together with countries along the Belt and Road to complement and improve the space-based and ground system. In simple terms, the improvement of space infrastructure mainly focuses on the three satellite series, primarily remote sensing satellites, communication satellites and BeiDou navigation satellites, which will provide space information services and better information connectivity for countries in the region. The space-ground integrated information network I introduced just now can cover the countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. The BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation proposed by the China National Space Administration has also been warmly welcomed by our counterparts in the other four countries. When one country contributes a satellite, and shares it with other countries, then everyone can get data from the five satellites, producing what we like to call win-win cooperation.

Second, we will improve information-sharing. In satellite application, China will continue to exchange and cooperate with countries along the Belt and Road in terms of disaster prevention and reduction, ecological and environmental protection, climate change, sustainable development, and other major problems that might emerge. We will work together to build a space information service platform to tackle major socioeconomic challenges.

Third, we will deepen cooperation in the space industry and boost unimpeded trade. Space technology can do much to promote cutting-the-edge industries and scale production. Based on the characteristics of countries in the region, we will develop relevant space technology with appropriate industrial applications. With ever-intensifying technological applications, countries along the Belt and Road can get closely involved in promoting the Space Information Corridor and enable the space industry become a new growth point for national economic development.

For more information, you can check out the Guiding Opinion of Advancing the Construction and Application of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor. Thank you.

Reuters:

Thank you for taking my question. I'm from Reuters. You've previously spoken about putting a man on the moon. Is there still a plan for this, and if so, what's the deadline?

Wu Yanhua:

The world is closely watching the exploration of the moon. There are three phases of lunar exploration in human history. The first was carried out by the United States and the Soviet Union, which culminated with the landing of American astronaut Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969.

The second phase consisted of explorations conducted mainly by the U.S., Russia (the Soviet Union) and Europe with the aim of studying space science. China and India also carried similar missions.

Currently, lunar exploration work is in the emerging and developing stage of the third phase. Russia, Europe, China, Japan and India are all carrying out related research. The United States announced it would focus on Mars exploration, but moon-related technologies are still needed in order to go to the Mars, including the possible construction of a pit stop on the moon.

China National Space Administration has formulated plans for future lunar exploration. The last phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program will be completed in 2017, namely, launching Chang'e 5, realizing soft landing on the moon, collecting lunar samples and returning them to the Earth. Currently, everything is well under way. We will also research and launch Chang'e 4, which will be the world's first probe on the far side of the moon. A relay satellite will also be launched at the Earth-moon L2 point, which will be used in relaying signals and providing service for explorations of the moon and even deep space. Additionally, we will also carry out robotic exploration of the south and north poles of the moon twice in the next five and ten years.

As to sending man to the moon, we are studying the feasibility of the related plans. Thanks for your question.

Chairperson Xi Yanchun:

Thank you all. This is the end of the press conference.
With federalism increasingly becoming a geopolitical gambit, Nepal has found itself on a powder keg of intractable political tension. The country had accepted the federal system perfunctorily in a bid to address the demand of Madhesi parties that have been compounding the state restructuring project -- many of them unattainable. Though the heat of their agitation has already died down, they are still at loggerheads with the state over the boundaries of provinces determined by the new constitution.

The present coalition government came into existence with an objective to what Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda calls "strengthening internal unity" by bringing the recalcitrant Madhesi forces on board. Prachanda, also chairman of CPN-Maoist Centre, came to power replacing the CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli-led government that had significantly enhanced Nepal's relations with its northern neighbor China.

As per his commitment, Prachanda registered a constitution amendment bill in the Legislature-Parliament with the full backing of another large ruling party, Nepali Congress. The amendment bill seeks to split hilly districts from Terai belt in Province No. 5 in west Nepal. No sooner had the government tabled the bill than the massive protests erupted in the said provinces. All political parties, civil society members, students and commoners joined hands against the bill, terming it an "anti-national" agenda guided by the vested foreign interest.

Main opposition, UML, and the other three small communist parties are on the frontline to lead the protesting masses. They have been disrupting the House proceedings, demanding that the government withdraw it immediately. They have called the bill treasonous aimed at disintegrating Nepal in the long term. Even the stalwarts from ruling NC and CPN-Maoist Centre have strongly opposed the bill. CPN-Maoist Centre Deputy Parliamentary Party leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and NC lawmaker Chandra Bhandari are vocally castigating their leadership over the bill. They have warned of crossing the floor if the bill is put to a vote.

"When the people from Terai and the hills are saying that they want to live together, who is playing a spoilsport to create animosity between them?" questioned NC lawmaker Chandra Bhandari.

Although there is slim chance of getting the bill approved by the parliament, the government is unmoved by this avalanche of protests against it. The opposition argues that the amendment bid violates the new constitution that does not allow the transformed parliament to decide the boundaries of provinces. It is up to the Provincial Assemblies of the provinces in question to settle the demarcation row.

Agitating Madhesi parties tepidly responded to the bill in the beginning but they are now ready to vote for it after their meeting with Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae. India's External Ministry has hailed the amendment as a "vital step" to take the Madhesi parties into confidence. Envoy Rae had reportedly prodded the Madhesi lawmakers to stand by the amendment. The bill, according to the disgruntled Madhesi parties, does not address all their concerns. They have long been demanding two provinces along the southern plains bordering India excluding the hill. They had first pitched for "one Madhes one province" that was outright rejected by the major parties. It is noted that most of the leaders of Madhesi parties had been defeated in the second CA polls.

Main opposition parties fear that if endorsed, the bill will create two nations within the country -- the hill and Madhes -- which serves as a recipe to secede the country eventually. They cite that examples of the creation of Pakistan and Bangladesh wherein the elements of "religion" and "language" were exploited to create two countries. In Nepal, the ethno-centric politics has been blown out of all proportion. Madhesi and Janajatis insist that new provinces should be carved up on the basis of ethnicity and have undermined the economic viability of the provinces. This has, however, generated ethnic and cultural divisions among the people and regions. Federalism was adopted as a system of governance, but a high dose of ethnic chauvinism has virtually made it a poisoned chalice which hardly produces any elements of amenity, cooperation and fraternity.

The then CPN-Maoist had gone on to announce around a dozen ethnic states to muster the support of ethnic constituencies that helped fuel its decade long insurgency. The people cut the Maoist Centre down to size in the second Constituent Assembly election for its toxic ethno-centric politics. It became a small third force from the largest party in the first CA. It refused to learn from history and is again alienating the larger populace to the bewilderment of political observers.

Ritu Raj Subedi is an associate editor of The Rising Nepal.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
 Flash

South Korea will introduce a new five-year renewable visa in January to attract affluent Chinese tourists, against the backdrop of a decrease in Chinese arrivals in the second half of the year.

The visa, which allows holders to return for stays of up to 30 days during the period of validation, is named hallyu, after the Korean pop culture wave. Chinese tourists who buy specialized four-day travel packages costing 17,350 yuan ($2,500) or more can apply.

China's leading tour company, Ctrip, predicted that only 1 percent of mainland tourists would be eligible for the new visa.

South Korea rapidly became a top destination among Chinese travelers in recent years, though it saw a brief slowdown in May last year after an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome. By the end of this year, the number of Chinese visitors is expected to reach a record 8 million, an increase of 33 percent year-on-year.

However, since Seoul announced in July that it would deploy the THAAD advanced United States missile defense system, there have been monthly decreases in the number of Chinese tourists. According to Seoul, 917,500 Chinese visited South Korea in July, but only 680,900 visited in October and 516,956 in November.

Xu Xiaolei, a spokesman for China Youth Travel Service Co, said his company saw a decrease of about 20 to 30 percent in the number of visitors to South Korea in the second half of the year compared with the first half. He said "many complicated exterior reasons" were responsible.

Additionally, protests arising from a scandal that led to the impeachment of South Korea's president affected some Chinese tourists' decision-making.

Tao Jia, a fashion buyer in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, rebooked her trip to Tokyo instead of Seoul in late November because she was concerned that protests in the South Korean capital might disrupt her travel or otherwise prove inconvenient.

Industry insiders said it was too early to know whether the new visa might fuel South Korea's inbound tourism industry in the coming year.

Wang Zhenyue, deputy director of UTour International Travel Service's direct-marketing center, said the timing of the new visa policy is good because it coincides with the New Year and Spring Festival holidays, a peak season for outbound Chinese tourism.

However, the amount needed to qualify for a hallyu visa "is relatively expensive" for a brief visit, and "residents from Shanghai and Beijing can easily get a five-year, multiple-entry visa without spending so much money", he said.

Xu of China Youth Travel Service said the new visa might prove more attractive to those from certain second- and third-tier cities whose residents usually must provide more documents to get a regular visa.

"However, generally speaking, the visa threshold for South Korea is not high," he added.
 Flash

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) signs a joint communique with his counterpart of Sao Tome and Principe Urbino Botelho in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 26, 2016. (Xinhua/Cui Xinyu)

China resumed diplomatic relations with Sao Tome and Principe in Beijing on Monday, after the African nation cut "diplomatic ties" with the Taiwan region last week.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Sao Tome and Principe counterpart Urbino Botelho held talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, and signed a joint communique on resuming diplomatic relations.

Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation in the Gulf of Guinea and a former Portuguese colony, established diplomatic relations with China immediately after gaining independence in 1975 but switched to the Taiwan region in 1997.

"The one-China principle is a consensus of the international community and a basic norm in international relations," Wang said. "China believes Sao Tome and Principe will stick to one-China policy with practical action and support China's peaceful reunification."

China suggested both countries work to enhance political trust and friendship of their people, as well as cooperation in agriculture, fishery and tourism.

Wang said China eyes cooperation with the island country within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Botelho said Sao Tome and Principe will make up for its previous mistakes and open a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Sao Tome and Principe recognizes China's international influence and role in protecting the interests of developing countries, and support for its own and other African countries' struggle for independence, as well as welcoming Chinese investors and tourists to help with its national development and industrialization, Botelho said.

The Sao Tome and Principe government promises it will have no official relations with Taiwan. Instead, it acknowledges there is only one China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, the communique said.

Both sides agreed to send ambassadors as soon as possible and start the process to establish embassies, according to the communique.

"We are delighted to see that the Sao Tome and Principe government follows historical trends and makes the correct decision to come back to the one-China principle," Wang said at a joint press conference after his meeting with Botelho.

"The one-China principle is the foundation of bilateral relations and both sides should understand and support each other on issues relating to their core interests or major concerns," Wang said.

"The restoration of diplomatic relations gives China a new friend in the international community, while Sao Tome and Principe will get all-round support and assistance from a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world's largest developing country," Wang added.

This move will bring benefits to both countries, to Sao Tome and Principe in particular, and add new vitality to cooperation between China and Africa, Wang said.

Also on Monday, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with Botelho, saying the restoration of diplomatic relations is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries.

Li said China highly appreciates the Sao Tome and Principe government's return to the right track of one-China principle.

China will take the restoration of diplomatic ties as a new start to deepen political mutual trust and conduct all-round cooperation, Li said.

Botelho said his country attaches great importance to the relationship with China and will firmly adhere to the one-China principle and comprehensively forge ahead bilateral cooperation.
 Flash

Scores of South Korean ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers on Tuesday bolted from their party to create a new conservative party following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

A group of 29 members of the party's anti-President Park faction officially declared their defection and the formation of their new party tentatively named "New Conservative Party of Reformists."

The defection reduced the number of Seanuri legislators to 99, lower than 121 lawmakers of the main opposition Minjoo Party. The minor opposition People's Party has 38 parliamentary seats.

The new party would usher in a four-party system in the South Korean political scene in about three decades as it meets the requirement of over 20 parliamentary seats to form a floor negotiation body.

The four-party system came as the People's Party was launched earlier this year by former Minjoo Party members, while the anti-Park faction's defection divided the conservative bloc. The new conservative party will be formally launched on Jan. 24, 2017.

The divisions both in the liberal and conservative blocs would complicate an early presidential race.

The bill to impeach President Park was passed with an overwhelming support. Local media said the constitutional court could rule on the bill by mid-March, before which two of the court's nine justices retire. If the motion is justified, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

Potential presidential contenders of the Minjoo Party managed to fish in troubled water thanks to the presidential impeachment and the scandal involving President Park and her longtime confidante.

However, there is no distinguished candidate found from the conservative bloc, while Ahn Cheol-soo, potential contender of the People's Party, saw his approval ratings stay low in recent weeks.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose second five-year term comes to an end by the year-end, is seen as the most powerful presidential hopeful in the conservative bloc.

Both anti- and pro-Park factions of the Saenuri Party as well as the People's Party have reportedly sought to scout Ban as their presidential contenders.
 Flash

At least 26 people were killed and several others were unconscious after consuming toxic liquor during Christmas in Pakistan's east Toba Tek Singh district over the last two days, local media reported Tuesday.

More than 50 residents in Mubarakbad area at the district consumed home-brewed liquor on Sunday night and ended up in hospital on Monday after suffering stomach problem, Dunya TV reported, adding that the dead included 24 Christians and two Muslims.

The affected people were shifted to district Hospital of Toba Tek Singh from where the critical patients were referred to Allied Hospital of Faisalabad city.

Police said that two liquor sellers were also among the killed and an investigation into the matter has been underway.
China Aid

(Washington, D.C.Dec. 9, 2016) On Wednesday, China Aid founder and president Bob Fu convened with several prominent officials within the U.S. government in Washington, D.C., to advocate for Chinese prisoners of conscience, garnering the support of the State Department, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Chris Smith and Senator Marco Rubio.

Yesterday, Fu wrote:

Additionally, China Aid learned that the U.S. Senate passed the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act yesterday, which will enable the U.S. president to enact sanctions against human rights violators. In response, Fu wrote, This is a significant landmark law and a true mile stone for human rights. Lets hold all abusers of religious freedom and human rights accountable! I am so proud of our coalitions for being part of this effort. China Aid hopes President Obama has the courage to sign this bill into law before he leaves office.

At noon, we met with Minority Leader for the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi at her office, and she kindly promised to deliver another letter to President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. Then, I introduced sister Jin to a congressional hearing during my testimony. Two courageous congressional leaders and friends, Congressional-Executive Commission on China Chairman Congressman Smith and Co-Chair Senator Rubio issued a letter to the Chinese ambassador urging the release of three missing and believed arrested rights defenders, including Jiang Tianyong. A copy of the letter was also given to Jin Bianling.

It was a very productive day. I began the day with a live TV interview at the Voice of America headquarters. Then, I accompanied sister Jin Bianling, the wife of missing Christian human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, to meet with State Department officials from several bureaus. I also brought writer Woo Chan Wai, manager of Hong Kong Causeway Bay Bookstore and author of 120 books, who was the only witness when his boss, Lee Bo, was abducted to China by nine Chinese special agents on Dec. 30, 2015, for publishing books critical of President Xi.

Today is the 17th day since my friend, bold Christian lawyer Jiang Tianyong, went missing and was kidnapped on Nov. 21. We saw Gods presence the whole day yesterday at every stop during our journey in Washington, D.C. Thank you for your prayers.

China Aid advocates on behalf of persecuted Christians and rights activists in China in order to promote religious freedom, human rights and rule of law.

Dissidents Who Have Suffered for Human Rights in China: A Look Back and a Look Forward

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

HVC 210, Capitol Visitors Center

Congressional-Executive Commission on China





Religious Freedom and Rule of Law Under Xi Jinping 2016

Bob Fu, China Aid

Dear Chairman Congressman Chris Smith and Co-Chair Senator Marco Rubio,

As China regresses into a more Maoist regime, the Communist Party continues to place restrictive measures on human rights and religious freedom and executes its control over all forms of dissent by arresting or otherwise harassing those who oppose the strictures.

According to current president Xi Jinping, religion must conform to and benefit a socialist society. At a national conference on religion held in April of this year, he urged his administration to ensure that religions merge religious doctrines with Chinese culture, abide by Chinese laws and regulations, and devote themselves to Chinas reform and opening up drive and socialist modernization in order to contribute to the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, and argued that the role of the Party was to guide and educate the religious circle and their followers with the socialist core values.

His words reinforced a pre-existing nationwide crackdown on religious institutions, including an ongoing cross demolition campaign, arbitrary arrests of pastors and lawyers, and the suppression of Tibetan Buddhists and Uyghur Muslims. Because China Aid receives reports on Christian persecution, this summary will spotlight their cases as examples indicative of a much wider repression of belief.

In its 2015 Annual Report, Chinese Government Persecution of Christians and Churches in China, China Aid noted a 4.74 percent overall increase in persecution, based on how statistics gathered in 2015 compared to those collected the previous year. The various categories accounted for include: number of religious persecution cases (up 10.84 percent), number of persecuted individuals (up 8.62 percent), number of unjustly detained persons (up 6.14 percent), number of abuse cases (up 174.65 percent) and number of abused people (up 91.32 percent).

Persecution campaigns made 2016 one of the most tyrannical years since the Cultural Revolution. As imprisoned human rights lawyers still fight for the right to defend their clients without legal repercussions, officials in Zhejiang province carry out the third consecutive year of a beautification movement that targets church crosses for demolition, Henan province launched a movement focusing on forcing illegal Catholic and Protestant churches to conform to socialist ideals, and authorities arrested and detained church members.

Trials for lawyers rounded up in the 709 incident, the nationwide crackdown on human rights defenders named for the day it started, July 9, 2015, commenced on Aug. 2 with the sentencing of Zhai Yanmin, a rights activist who received a three-year suspended prison term for coordinating protests against government rule. A day later, a Tianjin court condemned Beijing church elder Hu Shigen to seven-and-a-half-years incarceration and five years deprivation of political rights for allegedly subverting state power by using Christianity to spread subversive thoughts and ideas. The tribunal presented photos of his baptism as evidence of his guilt, and Hu was forced to confess to his crimes, after which he accepted his sentence and did not appeal.

Hu, a Beijing University alumnus and former instructor at the Beijing Language Institute, formerly served 16 years of a 20 year prison sentence for founding an organization that opposed the Communist Party.

On Aug. 4, Zhou Shifeng was coerced into confessing to his crimes. Zhou, a Christian attorney, was arrested on suspicion of subverting state power on Jan. 8, 2016. In an attempt to publicly authenticate their charges against him, authorities pressured Zhang Kai, a human rights lawyer known for his defense of more than 100 churches affected by the cross demolition campaign, to travel from his home in Inner Mongolia, attend the trial, and conduct an interview in which he denounced Zhou and the other imprisoned human rights lawyers. Zhang later recanted his statements, saying he had been too frightened to stand up to the authorities. Consequentially, officials barred him from social media and attempted to arrest him again.

On the night of Aug. 25, 2015, government personnel broke into a church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang and took Zhang and his two legal assistants into police custody. After holding him incommunicado for six months in an unofficial prison known as a black jail, China forced Zhang to confess on television on Feb. 25, 2016. A few days later, he was taken into criminal detention and released on bail on March 23. Since then, he has lived with his parents in Inner Mongolia.

Another Christian lawyer, Li Heping, vanished into police custody on July 10, 2015, followed by his brother, attorney Li Chunfu, on Aug. 1 of that year. Li Heping was formally arrested on Jan. 8, 2016, on suspicion of subverting state power. Since their disappearance, family members have not been able to contact either of the men.

The cross demolition movement, which began in 2014 as part of a beautification campaign known as Three Rectifications and One Demolition, continued in Zhejiang province during 2016. Although official rhetoric claims the operation intends to address illegal structures, it specifically discriminates against Christian churches and imposes strictures on the crosses that adorn the exterior of their buildings. In 2016, the number of crosses demolished surpassed 1,800.

Zhang Chongzhu, a pastor who was placed under residential surveillance in a designated location, otherwise known as a black jail, in September 2015, was originally held in police custody for his opposition to the cross demolitions,. On Feb. 5, he was criminally detained for stealing, spying, buying, or illegally providing state secrets or intelligence to entities outside China. He was formally arrested on March 9 for the same crime. On May 9, he was released.

Now, Zhang faces a new challenge; on Oct. 29, the Zhejiang Provincial China Christian Council and the Zhejiang Provincial Three-Self Patriotic Movement, Chinas two state-run Christian organizations, expelled him from the clergy and revoked a certificate proving that he was licensed to preach. This triggered outrage among local Christians, one of whom speculated that the government terminated Zhang Chongzhu in order to keep citizens from attending house churches.

In addition to previous restrictions on religious activity, Henan province published a work plan devising to bring illegal Catholic and Protestant churches in line with the Partys ideologies. According to the official document, the authorities plan to manage church meetings and force the congregations to eradicate all religious symbols and become more socialist. The timeline outlined by the official document stated the plan was to be implemented on Sept. 4 and run until Oct. 15. The government mandated that the village and sub-district government branches investigate churches, submit reports to their superiors, assist the religious affairs bureau in distributing a notice about the expected changes to the churches, shut down non-compliant congregations, and record how satisfactorily they were able to complete the job as part of their year-end assessment.

Prompted by this decision, the BoAi County Religious Affairs Bureau issued a notice to a house church. Claiming that the church was unauthorized, the bureau ordered it to immediately disband and remove any religious materials within three days. They urged the attendees to conduct religious activities at the local official churches, with which many of them have deep, theological disagreements. Failure to comply with these measures will result in further government interference.

This campaign echoes the new political trend set out in a proposed revision of the Regulations on Religious Affairs, which was introduced by the State Council earlier this month. The revision introduces tighter control on peaceful religious activities, such as punishing house church meetings by imprisoning Christians or heavily fining the church leaders, forbidding religious adherents from attending conferences or trainings abroad, and barring minors from receiving religious education. By passing these regulations, China violates its own Constitution, which guarantees religious liberty and condemns discriminating against religious and non-religious citizens, and breaches the countrys pledges to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Paraphrasing and quoting an unnamed expert on the Regulations on Religious Affairs, Christianity Today published the following statements on Oct. 3 in an article entitled Red Tape: China Wants to Constrict Christian Activities with 26 New Rules, referring to Chinas State Administration on Religious Affairs as SARA:

The draft law opens with the assurance that all Chinese citizens are free to believe whatever they want and to engage in religious activityas long as its within the tighter limits. One Chinese religious policy expert, who asked to remain anonymous, summed up some of what the regulations include: No religious activities that are not approved by SARA.

No one may provide a venue for religious services that are not approved by SARA.

No one may use their home for religious practices that are not approved by SARA (including home or family Bible studies).

No publishing religious materials without approval from SARA.

No foreign or domestic donations may be made to any religious organization that hasnt been approved by SARA.

No foreign or domestic donations may be made to any religious organization that hasnt been approved by SARA.

No one may call themselves a pastor without the approval of SARA.

No international religious exchanges may happen without the approval of SARA.

No one may study theology at school without the approval of SARA.

As you can imagine, these amendments to the administration of religion in China by SARA would in effect leave no space for the house or unregistered church in China, and will significantly curtail many of the activities of the TSPM [Three-Self Patriotic Movement] as well, the expert told ChinaSource.

In 2015, a major developing case emerged as authorities increased pressure on Huoshi Church, the largest house church in Guiyang, Guizhou province. Though preluded by a police presence when the church moved into a new building in 2014 and the 2015 arrest of Zhang Xiuhong, an accountant and chairwoman at the church who was apprehended when she withdrew church funds at her beauty shop, the situation escalated when Pastor Su Tianfu received an administrative penalty notice on Oct. 21, 2015. It indicted himself, Zhang and a church member named Liang Xuewu for changing usage plans of the office space the church rents for its services and ordered them to stop holding religious activities there, despite the church continually reporting its services to the government. Originally, the building was approved for business operations. When they neglected to heed the orders, officials imposed a fine that accumulated 12,960 Yuan (U.S. $2,030) daily.

Su, who is currently released on bail, has been under constant surveillance since Dec. 19 and must use government-arranged transportation for all outings. He is expected to stand trial soon.

Additionally, administrative offices dispatched uniformed and plainclothes personnel to raid the church on several occasions. On Dec. 9, 2015, Pastor Li Guozhi, better known by his alias, Yang Hua, was taken into police custody and sentenced to two consecutive, five-day administrative detention terms a day later for the crime of obstructing justice and gathering a crowd to disturb public order after he attempted to prevent officials from confiscating a church hard drive. When his wife came to collect him on Dec. 20, she witnessed him donning a black hood and being herded into an unlicensed vehicle. Upon further inquiry, she learned that her husband had been charged with illegally possessing state secrets and was being transferred to another facility for criminal detention. She was not allowed to contact him. On Jan. 22, she received a notice announcing his formal arrest and changing his charge to divulging state secrets.

Even with his impending trial, which is expected to take place this month, authorities only permitted Yang to convene with his lawyers beginning in March. During one meeting, lawyer Chen Jiangang and his co-counsel, Zhao Yonglin, noted that he appeared fearful and began to suspect that he had been tortured. On their next visit, Zhao transcribed an interview with Yang in which he described how the prosecutors assigned to his case had stepped on his toes and threatened to kill him and harm his family in order to extract a confession from him. After hearing this, Chen and Zhao filed a lawsuit against the prosecution team and asked that they be criminally punished for using torture to extort a confession.

During one of his pre-trial meetings, Yang requested that Zhang Wei, one of the prosecutors in his case, be disqualified from hearing the trial on account of his torture allegations. Chen and Zhao have furthered this request by submitting a document requesting both the disqualification of Zhang and a transferal to a new court.

In the highest profile case of Christian persecution since the Cultural Revolution, China ousted Gu Yuese, chairman of the Hangzhou branch of the China Christian Council, from his position as the head pastor of Chinas largest Three-Self Church on January 18. Later that month, Gu was arrested on a falsified charge of embezzling 10 million Yuan (U.S. $1.6 million) in funds, although many Christians believe authorities incarcerated him for his opposition to the cross demolition campaign. On April 1, he was released and placed under residential surveillance. His case demonstrates the rampant spread of religious persecution as China clamps down on both house and state-run churches.

As 2016 progressed, religious persecution continued to intensify. In Xinjiang, a politically and ethnically restive region wrought with religious tension, authorities apprehended dozens of Christians in the last two months. One of them, Ma Huichao, was taken from her home in September, where she and four other Christians were gathering for a church service. As a result of the service, she was charged with gathering a crowd to disturb public order, and her trial of the first instance commenced in mid-November. According to Li Dunyong, her defense attorney, he was barred from pleading innocent on her behalf. Currently, the court is adjourned.

Recently, two Hong Kong residents, Lin Haixin and his wife, vanished into police custody for running a church that specialized in offering assistance to individuals suffering from addictions and mental health problems. The church was raided, and officials confiscated its computer and religious materials, banned it from holding religious services and dispersed Christians gathered there.

For two days, local Christians tried unsuccessfully to contact them. Some speculate that they were taken away for holding so-called illegal religious activities without registering.

Concerns over the safety of human rights lawyers spiked in the past weeks as Jiang Tianyong, a prominent human rights lawyer turned activist following his disbarment in 2007, disappeared, believed detained. He contacted his wife shortly before boarding a train from Changsha to Beijing, after which no one has been able to successfully reach him. He had been returning from a trip to visit the wife of Xie Yang, another human rights lawyer who was imprisoned during the lawyer crackdown last year, and helped her petition for his release. In the past, Jiang has been incarcerated for his work and suffered torture at the hands of the authorities.

On the morning of Nov. 29, the brother of veteran human rights activist Peng Ming received a call from prison authorities saying that Peng had suddenly collapsed while watching television and was found dead. However, three days earlier, Peng had received a visit from his brother, who reported that the prisoner was in satisfactory health. When he arrived at the hospital and tried to place a call to his sister, who lives in California, officials took the phone from him and related their version of the story. Pengs family has since demanded an autopsy to confirm the cause of his death, and the Chinese government has warned them not to travel to China for the funeral.

At the time of his death, Peng was serving a lifelong prison sentence that began on May 28, 2004, when Chinese agents lured him into Burma while he was visiting his parents in Thailand and abducted him. After arriving in China, he was charged with leading a terrorist organization and kidnapping and possessing counterfeit money and given a life sentence. Upon investigation, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded in 2005 that authorities arbitrarily detained Peng, violating his right to freedom of expression and association.

China is unwilling to commit to furthering religious freedom and human rights, which caused both a significant demise of human rights under the Xi Administration. Western policies can hold the country accountable for abuses of basic freedoms.

It is time for the West to shift their paradigm from appeasing China to truly principled engagement. Like what happened before in the West during Hitlers rule of Germany in the 1930s, the current policy of ignoring Chinas anti-democratic system of governance in pursuit of economic opportunity will likely produce irreparable damage for the fundamental interests of the free world.

Recommendations:

I urge the Trump Administration and members of Congress, including President Trump himself, to meet with religious leaders and family members of prisoners of conscience and visit religious sites- especially churches, mosques and Tibetan Buddhism temples when visiting China in order to:

1. Raise cases not only behind doors, which has proved non-effective so far, but in public as well. Look at what happened to the prompt release of the China feminist 5 after interventional outcry, including public demands by Secretary John Kerry and United States Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power.

2. Use multi-faceted approaches to religious freedom and human rights. The human rights dialogue mechanism has failed, be it bilateral or multilateral. After all, FoRB is a universal value. If the Chinese regime only sees the West as interested in talking about this issue behind closed doors in a compartmentalized way, its nothing but a green light for the abuses to continue.

3. Adopt a concerted, internationally coordinated effort by working jointly with our allies in Europe and other regions. The release of imprisoned human rights lawyer Zhang Kai and Pastor Wen Xiaowu, who were freed after the Communist Party received enormous international pressure, are good examples of how well this method works.

4. Pressure China to stop committing violations of international law by overstepping their own nations boundaries to detain dissidents such as Jiang Yefei and Dong Guangping, who were taken back to China from a detention center in Thailand; Peng Ming, who was kidnapped after being lured into Burma by Chinese special agents and died on Nov. 29 while serving a life sentence; and five Hong Kong booksellers, who disappeared into police custody for selling gossip books about the private lives of Chinese officials.

5. [Editors note: Fu added these last two points to his speech. They were not in the original document]Compel the Trump Administration to continue to push down Chinas internet censorship, otherwise known as The 21st century Berlin Wall and The Great Firewall and make internet freedom a priority.

6. Pass the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which would allow the U.S. president to place sanctions on human rights abusers. The Trump Administration must also work closely with allied nations to pass similar bills in other countries.

In conclusion, China continuously violates its own laws and international statutes safeguarding religious freedom and human rights in favor of promoting a socialist agenda, forcing dissidents and religious devotees to choose between certain persecution and disregarding their deeply-held beliefs. Additionally, it prosecutes lawyers who attempt to defend the rights of religious practitioners and activists, completely disregarding the rule of law. International governments must publicly and proactively organize efforts to persuade China to free those it unjustly holds behind bars and refrain from unproductive, behind-closed-doors conversations on these matters. Should the international community fail to do this, they will be communicating to China that they care more about trade than human rights, permitting these abuses to continue.

ChinaAid Media Team

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The chimpanzees abandoned on a series of islands in Liberia by the New York Blood Center continue to thrive under our care. Photo by Jenny Desmond/For The HSUS

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EDITORS NOTE: GOOD NEWS! The HSUS and the New York Blood Center have announced an agreement to provide long-term sanctuary for the Liberian chimpanzees. READ THE UPDATE 

At The HSUS and Humane Society International, as part of our commitment to all animals, we put our shoulder into the moral and scientific problems of using animals in research and testing. In doing this work, we follow the framework of the Three Rs  refining, reducing, and replacing the use of animals. That approach resonates with so many researchers, since no one should want to use animals if there are alternatives. Theres a consensus that hurting animals in research and testing is a moral problem, and we can get past it entirely if there are alternative methods and other strategies that work, and are actually superior, in their place

Today, I run down some of our most important gains in this realm, and note that so much work lies ahead.

NIH announces plan to retire chimps:

In August, the National Institutes of Health released an official plan for the retirement to permanent sanctuary of hundreds of government-owned and -supported chimpanzees. The development followed prior NIH announcements that it was getting out of the business of using chimps in invasive experiments. The decision to end decades of invasive government-funded experiments on chimps came after expert deliberations concluded with a declaration that chimpanzees are no longer necessary for biomedical research, given the development and recognition of alternative methods and approaches. It also followed a momentous 2015 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in response to an HSUS-led petition, to close the gate on invasive chimp experiments by listing captive chimpanzees as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, providing them the same level of protections as wild chimpanzees.

Work to support chimpanzees abandoned by New York Blood Center in Liberia gains momentum:

Since 2015, The HSUS and HSI, with the support of the government of Liberia and others, have been taking care of a group of more than 60 chimpanzees abandoned on a series of islands in Liberia, without food and water, by the New York Blood Center. In 2016, as the chimps continued to thrive under our care, we announced a collaborative campaign with former New Mexico governor and U.N. ambassador Bill Richardson to secure a safe future for the chimpanzees. The Richardson Center for Global Engagement is committed to holding the Blood Center accountable for its responsibility to chimpanzees but also to provide support for proper sanctuary of the beleaguered chimps until that responsibility is reclaimed. Insurance giant MetLife said it was ending its support for the New York Blood Center until the company resolves its dispute with The HSUS and other groups over the medical charitys abandonment of the chimps. Citibank, after learning the facts of the case, took a similar action, disassociating itself from NYBC and then donating $50,000 to The HSUS to be used to care for the chimps. A number of celebrities, including sisters, actresses, and New York natives Kate and Rooney Mara, stepped up to draw the worlds attention to the plight of the chimps and to demand that NYBC work with The HSUS to ensure their care.

Project Chimps partners with New Iberia Research Center with plans to retire 200 chimpanzees:

In May, a partnership agreement was announced between Project Chimpsa new sanctuary in northern Georgia backed financially by The HSUS and other partiesand the University of Louisiana at Lafayettes New Iberia Research Center laboratory to retire 220 chimpanzees. NIRC had been the subject of an HSUS undercover investigation in 2009, and the transfer of these chimps was a remarkable conclusion to a saga that included hundreds of steps to get to this point where invasive experiments have ended and the chimps are on their way to a new life. In September, nine chimpanzees from NIRC safely arrived at Project Chimps, starting the process of moving all of the 220 chimps from laboratories to sanctuaries. The HSUS provided the capital to buy the land for Project Chimps, and were proud to be so deeply immersed in this project.

Obama Administration upgrades Toxic Substances Control Act:

In June, President Obama signed into law a bill that upgrades the Toxic Substances Control Act, a 40-year-old federal law regulating the use of chemicals. The bill contains  for the first time in any broader environmental and health protection statute  an explicit decree from Congress to minimize animal testing and to create a clear preference for the development and use of alternative methods and strategies. This will accelerate the movement away from animal tests for safety substantiation of chemicals, as well as pesticides, biocides, cosmetics, and other regulated substances.

EPA will phase out obsolete animal testing practices in favor of alternatives:

The EPA is moving away from its long-standing requirement for pesticide manufacturers to perform dozens of tests on dogs, rabbits, rats, mice, and guinea pigs, including six extremely cruel tests  perversely nicknamed the six-pack  carried out on more than 500 new pesticide products brought to market each year in the United States alone. Following negotiations with The HSUS and other stakeholders, the EPA, in November, announced a plan to allow pesticide manufacturers to waive acute dermal toxicity tests for pesticide formulations. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of 34 member nations, approved four new non-animal test methods to assess the safety of chemicals, and a guidance document that describes how to reduce animal use for acute or lethal toxicity tests.

Ending cosmetics testing worldwide:

We have seen a cascade of successes in ending cosmetics testing worldwide, since HSI and The HSUS launched our #BeCrueltyFree campaign in 2012. Today, 1.7 billion people, or one quarter of the worlds population, live in countries where the sale of animal-tested cosmetics is banned. Thanks to our #BeCrueltyFree campaign, we worked to ban animal testing for cosmetics in Taiwan in 2016, while South Korea has made it a legal requirement for companies to use animal testing alternatives where available, and the Australian government pledged to ban cosmetics animal testing and trade in the coming year. Many other countries, including Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, and Russia, are considering bans on animal-tested cosmetics. Here, in the United States, the Humane Cosmetics Act was introduced in Congress. So far, 195 companies in the cosmetics industry have endorsed the legislation.

USDA imposes record penalty for animal abuse in testing:

In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Santa Cruz Biotechnology  one of the worlds largest suppliers of antibodies for biomedical research  came to a $3.5 million settlement agreement, the largest in the 50-year history of the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. Over the years, the USDA found serious violations of the law at this laboratory, including numerous severely sick and injured animals, inadequate veterinary care, failure to avoid and minimize pain and distress, and failure to consider alternatives to procedures involving animal pain and distress. SCBT lost its license to operate as a dealer, as well as its registration to operate as a research facility with the USDA, essentially shutting the business down.

New York passes law to find homes for dogs, cats used in biomedical research:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law to require that publicly-funded institutions of higher education give dogs and cats used in biomedical research and testing a second chance at adoption into forever homesa lifeline for hundreds of dogs and cats in state-funded institutions.

In the year ahead, well be pushing for the United States to ban cosmetic testing by enacting the Humane Cosmetics Act, well continue our efforts to get all chimps out of labs, and well drive ahead our campaigns to replace animal testing with non-animal methods throughout the world.
China Aid

Reported in Chinese by Qiao Nong. Translated by Carolyn Song.

(Dali, YunnanDec. 22, 2016) Officials criminally detained Christians, alleging they used cults to oppose the law, in Chinas southwestern Yunnan province on Oct. 22 and Nov. 27.

Tu Yan, a woman who began attending churches in Yunnan after she moved there for work, was returning home from a Christian gathering on Oct. 22 when she was apprehended on suspicion of using a cult organization to undermine the implementation of the law. A month later, she was arrested for the same charge. Authorities also accused her of being the backbone of two so-called evil cults and organizing three meetings on behalf of these institutions. In an interview, her father denied her involvement in any cult activities.

Following his visit to her last night, her lawyer said he believes the defendant has never participated in cults.

According to Tu, four other church members were detained along with her for the same charge. However, local Christians claim as many as 12 people were taken into police custody. The exact number of people detained is still unknown, but three people have since been released, leaving at least two, including Tu, in custody.

A similar occurrence took place in Kunming, the capital of the province, on Nov. 27, when police detained eight Christians, including a Taiwanese citizen, under the same accusation. Government personnel accused them of belonging to the Shouters, a Christian sect originating out in Taiwan that China labels as a cult. However, the members of the Shouters assert that they are Christians, and Xu Yonghai, the pastor of Holy Love Fellowship in Beijing, claims that they are a Christian denomination.

Xu also said many Christians do not know anything about cults, even when they are accused of belonging to them.

One of the Kunming defendants lawyers, Li Guisheng, said most of the information surrounding the case cannot be disclosed, since it is still in the investigation stage.

China Aid reports abuses, including those suffered by Christians in Yunnan, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom in China.

ChinaAid Media Team

Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985

Email: [email protected]

For more information, click here
PTI | Dec. 27, 2016

Nepal's national carrier today said it plans to restart flights to its northern neighbour China after the service was suspended nearly a decade ago.

The airlines, a state-owned entity, has sought a landing permit from Chinese authority at Guangzhou international airport as it plans to re-enter the Chinese mainland.

The Nepal Airlines Corporation, had long been operating flights to the Hong Kong, China, until 2008, when it had to suspend flights owing to shortage of aircrafts.

With addition of two more planes over the last two years, the airlines planned to reenter the Chinese airfield given the growing tourist arrivals from the northern neighbour in recent years. China is the second largest source market for Nepal's tourism after India.

"We are expecting the landing permit from Chinese authority in the next few weeks and we have got information that the process is in the final phase. Maybe, we will get green signal to operate flight to Guangzhou from Kathmandu in a couple of months," said NAC Managing Director Sugat Ratna Kansakar.

Guangzhou destination in China is the region from where most of the Nepalese traders import Chinese goods and they have been requesting for air service from NAC for a long time.

"As it is also the destination for conducting many international connecting flights, there is also the possibility of inflow of more Chinese tourists," said Kansakar.
A consumer experiences a virtual reality game device that applies 5G technology at a high-tech fair held in Shanghai in May last year. [Photo/China Daily]

As the mass deployment cycle of 4G technologies slows, we are preparing for 5G, or the fifth generation mobile communication technology, to take off, an Ericsson executive said.

Chris Houghton, Ericsson's senior vice president and head of region North East Asia, said the company is currently increasing its R&D resources to prepare for 5G in China.

The new generation of the internet will allow users to download massive digital content in seconds and execute tasks that are thrilling but remain difficult in the 4G era, such as operating driverless automobiles and implementing applications related to the Internet of Things.

Since the Sweden-headquartered telecommunications conglomerate will have been in China for 125 years by next year, Houghton believes it is a dynamic, challenging and highly competitive market and will increasingly drive the future of global communications.

Recently he spoke to China Daily about his vision and strategy and new opportunities for Ericsson in China.

The following are edited excerpts of the interview:

Chris Houghton, Ericsson's senior vice president and head of region North East Asia. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China's growth over the past 30 years has been remarkable and the benefits are there for all to see -- people's lives have been improved tremendously.

A slowdown from such a rapid growth rate is to be expected but 6.5 percent GDP growth is still a comparatively high rate of growth in a low growth world and therefore highly attractive to global companies.

Mobile communication is one of the last areas to be affected by changes in growth rates. People still have the need to communicate even in lower growth times and it's not one of the portions of disposable income they tend to cut back on, so we don't see a dramatic change to our business from the slowdown.

In addition, the digitalization of our daily life continues at a rapid pace and there is a need for more advanced technologies. As the mass deployment cycle of 4G technologies slows, we are preparing for 5G to take off.

How do you assess the prospects of Ericsson in China in conjunction with the Chinese market and economy?

I believe Ericsson China has a bright future; we have been in China for 125 years next year and we are planning for another 125. It's a dynamic, challenging and highly competitive market and will increasingly drive the future of global communications, so we are highly committed and will continue to contribute to China's economic growth and social development into the future.

Do you have any plans for new investments in China in the next few years? Do you plan to add to your R&D efforts in China?

We have a significant investment in China already, with over 11,000 people in the country covering sales, manufacturing, R&D, global service center and other global functions.

We also source a considerable portion of equipment and components in China for our global operations. We are currently increasing our R&D resources to prepare for 5G.

What do you think of the opportunities and challenges facing your company amid recent traditional industry reform in China? How does Ericsson fit into the national strategy of "Made in China 2025" and "Internet Plus"?

Our industry is ever-changing so we are used to change. We are in a continuous transformation to stay relevant and competitive in such a dynamic industry.

For us, change is good and to be embraced.

Ericsson has been manufacturing in China since 1992 and our factory in Nanjing is one of only two main manufacturing hubs globally.

Made in China 2025 is a key initiative for us, as manufacturing is transformed by increased development in robotics and the industrial internet powered by 5G technology.

Internet Plus is our core business and the benefits to Chinese society of a Networked Society, where everything that can be connected will be connected, are huge.

What's the biggest difference between the China market and the other markets? What are the challenges in the China market?

The China market is at the forefront of technology.

It's not watching other countries, it's taking a lead. Adding to that, the huge scale in the country combined with the incredible speed in which that scale is deployed, you have a unique combination that sets China apart.

China is an incredibly exciting and dynamic market with all the challenges to a business that cutting edge technology on a huge scale with high speed deployment entails, but it is also a market where the world's leading companies need to be for those very same reasons.
Two provincial deputy governors were punished for allowing steel mills that were previously shut down to restart operations, the first and most severe punishment that has been handed to provincial-level officials for failure to abide by capacity-cut policies.

Ma Qiulin, deputy governor of East China's Jiangsu province, and Zhang Jiehui, deputy governor of North China's Hebei province, received administrative punishment handed out by the State Council.

The decision was announced during a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Thursday, Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of forbidding construction of new capacity and renewing efforts to cut capacity.

A report released in September by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, a nonprofit formed by leading manufacturers and the United Steelworkers union, blamed China's sluggish progress in cutting capacity, which it said has caused a global importation crisis and led to 19,000 steelworker layoffs in the US.

But National Development and Reform Commission data show that the nation had completed yearly reduction goals by the end of November, ahead of the schedule.

China intends to cut 45 million metric tons of steel capacity and over 250 million tons of coal production capacity by year's end.

Lin Boqiang, a senior energy researcher at Xiamen University, said that the government may strengthen supervision and use of administrative orders to accelerate the pace of overcapacity cuts.

"Administrative orders would help in times when the nation faces more headwinds in capacity cuts next year," Lin said.

Zhang Lin, a senior analyst with dz18.com, an e-commerce platform for the steel industry, said the penalty given to the two provincial-level officials should warn officials in other places.

It shows that "cheating, say, submitting reduced capacity statistics that include data from operations that are already shut down, will not be tolerated", she said.
China will ramp up investment to develop essential industrial components and materials next year, in a move to reduce reliance on foreign technology in key sectors including telecommunications and railways.

Miao Wei, minister of industry and information technology, said on Monday the ministry will channel more resources to help tackle technological bottlenecks in 20 industrial parts and 15 industrial materials.

The initiative is designed to promote homegrown parts related to telecommunications, the internet of things, railway equipment, machinery manufacturing and other sectors.

"Though China has emerged as one of the world's largest manufacturing powerhouses, we still have to import basic components from other countries. We need to change that," Miao said at a conference in Beijing.

The move is part of China's broad effort to boost the competitiveness of its manufacturing sector, by encouraging firms to embrace the internet, big data and other information technology.

According to the ministry's forecast, China's industrial output will expand 6 percent year-on-year in 2017, roughly the same growth rate as this year.

Wang Ying, an engineering expert at the Beijing-based China Center for Information Industry Development, said there is an urgent need to cultivate domestic firms' ability to mass-produce reliable industrial components.

"High-speed railways, for instance, embody China's technological prowess, but frankly speaking, several of their parts still rely on imports," Wang said.

Ding Zhilei, assistant president of Ninebot Inc, a Beijing-based maker of personal electric vehicles and robots, said the problem also exists in the country's booming robotics industry.

A robotic arm can be worth several million yuan, and most of that cost comes from foreign components, such as speed reducers and servomotors.

"The strong policy support will accelerate firms' research and development efforts, and inspire innovation in this cash-intensive industry," Ding said.

At the conference on Monday, the ministry also said it planned to set up an investment fund to advance the development of new materials such as heat-resistant alloys, lightweight materials, and graphene, which is reportedly 200 times stronger than the strongest steel.
Cyclists ride next to a sign of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shanghai. [Photo/Agencies]

Zones allow inland regions to diversify manufacturing and geographic advantages

The development of free trade zones will create a competitive edge for China to tap supply-side reform and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as allow inland regions to diversify their manufacturing and geographical advantages, senior commerce officials said on Monday.

Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said China has introduced 19 practical measures on the investment environment, administrative reform and policies to assist innovation gained from the operation of its four FTZs.

Approved by the central government in August, the country will open another seven FTZsthe third batch, including Liaoning and Zhejiang provinces, to create new market growth points for both trade and investment.

FTZs offer greater access for global companies to expand in China and for Chinese companies to move their capital to overseas markets in diverse services and financial operations such as e-commerce, manufacturing and logistics.

"Based on statistics between January and November, China is expected to gain $126 billion in foreign direct investment from the non-financial sector in 2016," Gao said at the ministry's annual meeting in Beijing.

The third batch of FTZs are expected to be officially launched as early as January, according to the Economic Information Daily.

Tang Wenhong, director-general of the ministry's department of foreign investment administration, said the nation will further simplify and modify four foreign investment laws and encourage foreign companies to invest in the country's central and western regions next year.

"China's modern service businesses, environmental protection, communication and information services, as well as high-tech industries will offer more market access to foreign investment in 2017," said Tang.

"Foreign companies have discovered that market demand in China is changing as both consumers and companies want to purchase more high value-added products and there is a surging demand for services," said Li Gang, vice-president of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, the ministry's think tank.

Li said because the service infrastructure facilities of China's central and western regions are not as advanced as those in eastern regions, foreign companies are keen to enter markets which have yet to fully develop.

"The upcoming Hubei FTZ could possibly cut companies' financial costs in the area," said Fu Cheng, chairman of Exsun Electronics and Information Technology Inc, a company manufacturing satellite positioning systems in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province.

He said if the Hubei FTZ adopts the operating mode of Qianhai in Shenzhen, where inter-company transactions are tax-free, and businesses pay taxes annually instead of monthly, then liquidity costs will be significantly reduced. Now companies have to pay tax as long as transactions are billed, even if customers have yet to pay.

Timeline for FTZ development

September 2013

China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone was inaugurated.

March 2014

A plan for three FTZs in Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian, and the expansion of the Shanghai FTZ was approved by the central government.

August 2016

Seven new FTZs were approved by central government, in Zhejiang, Liaoning, Henan, Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces, and Chongqing municipality.

He Fei contributed to this story.
China's outbound tourism industry is expected to see slower but steady growth in the next five years.

Visits by Chinese outbound tourists are forecast to reach 150 million in 2020 from 117 million in 2015, with an estimated average annual growth rate of 5.09 percent, according to the China National Tourism Administration.

The administration released its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) on Monday. It said that domestic visits by Chinese tourists in 2020 would reach 6.4 billion; inbound visits would reach 150 million; and the total revenue of the tourism industry would soar to 7 trillion yuan ($1 trillion).

Peng Decheng, director of planning and finance for the tourism administration, said the tourism industry has exceeded all goals set for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15). Foreign exchange income for tourism in 2015 reached $113.65 billion, nearly double the $58 billion goal.

China's outbound tourism has seen explosive growth since 1998, when the annual growth rate of outbound visits surpassed 40 percent.

From 2010 to 2012, it maintained growth of 18 to 22 percent. Since 2013, China has continued to make rapid strides in trips and overseas consumption, but with a slower growth rate.

Li Baiwen, a professor of tourism at Beijing Union University, said the outbound goal set by the administration is conservative. He expected the actual annual growth of outbound visits to be higher than just 5 percent.

Travel agencies also have positive expectations. Wang Xiaosong, CEO of Lvmama, an online travel agency, said the market for outbound tourism is still growing rapidly.

"The parent-kid overseas tour is in great demand right now. The booking of such tours in 2016 nearly doubled the number in 2015," said Wang. "The potential for outbound tourism is great. Less than 6 percent of Chinese have a passport, which means more than 94 percent of Chinese are potential outbound tourists."

But Li noted that the explosive growth of more than 40 percent seen in the outbound market right after 1998 is unlikely amid depreciation of the yuan, increased fears of terrorism and concerns about contagious illnesses, though those factors could contribute to China's inbound tourism.

"China's tourism industry is becoming more sophisticated. Social order is better than in certain European countries. The only issue is smog," Li said. "If China would reduce air pollution effectively, China would become a very mature and attractive overseas tourism destination."
Two ground staff of Hainan Airlines prepare lists of passengers at the Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada. [Photo/Xinhua]

The parent of Hainan Airlines to help other carriers build and manage airports and facilities as well

HNA Group, the parent company of Hainan Airlines, plans to play a bigger role in advancing transportation services next year for multilateral cooperation in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative areas, its CEO Huang Qijun said.

"We will launch more routes connecting China with the Belt and Road countries, help our counterparts build and manage airports to improve local transportation services and introduce high-end tourism routes with distinguished Silk Road features," Huang said.

Three years ago President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, to promote multilateral development of the linked regions. The initiative has since witnessed tangible commitments by China, including the launch of a New Silk Road Fund worth $40 billion in late 2014.

"Infrastructure is the key to successful implementation of the initiative. HNA will actively engage itself in helping address problems such as under-investment in aviation facilities in the Belt and Road areas," said HNA's Huang.

HNA operates 1,250 aircraft, on about 1,000 routes connecting more than 260 cities around the globe. Haikou-based HNA, which made its first flight in 1993, has become a transnational giant boasting 600 billion yuan ($86.34 billion) of assets and about 200,000 employees at home and abroad, according to data from the company.

"With a diversified structure, HNA's business now ranges from aviation, finance, real estate, logistics, hospitality and tourism and ecological technology. It was ranked No 353 of Fortune's 500 companies in 2015," Huang said.

He said Hainan Island was a vital supporting point for the Belt and Road countries. The group would, he said, further strengthen the capacity of Haikou Meilan International Airport as an international hub to better link with countries in Africa and South Pacific.

"We will also help upgrade the infrastructure and services levels of the aviation, tourism, hotels, cruisers, and duty free service sectors of Hainan as a top international resort," Huang said.

As per the latest official estimates, the total number of tourists in Hainan was expected to reach 60.3 million in 2016, an increase of 13 percent on 2015.

"The Hainan provincial authorities are conducting feasibility studies on developing a free trade zone with ASEAN countries," Huang said. "HNA, the Chinese enterprise behind Hainan airline, will make its best efforts to help promote the plan."

He Dongni, vice-president of the Haikou-based China Institute of Reform and Development, said HNA had won international recognition by developing a diversified business model and through timely acquisitions of a string of overseas assets which highlighted its localized management.

HNA's practice had set a good example for Chinese enterprises in going global.

"Especially its innovations in the application and drafting of standards, upgrading of technologies, management, services, green development concepts and performance in conducting social corporate responsibilities," He said.

The group had a strong advantage in playing a leading role in contributing to the Belt and Road Initiative projects, He added.
BEIJING - Although China cannot solely lift the world economy out its current malaise, the nation's current stable growth offers more than just confidence to the world.

Despite a troublesome start and headwinds from home and abroad, the Chinese economy ends 2016 on a firm footing, and it looks like growth targets for this year will be met.

"Seeking progress while maintaining stability" is the main theme of next year's economic work, as China pledges to ensure its economy operates within a reasonable range while pushing structural reform.

As the world's second-largest economy and the main source of export demand for over 100 economies, which account for about 80 percent of global GDP according to the IMF, China's commitment to ensuring stable growth is reassuring.

China has long been seen as an engine to shore up global economic growth, a role it played during the global financial crisis, when strong growth here -- backed by a 4 trillion yuan ($575.9 billion) stimulus package -- helped avert the worst of a global recession.

It is not crisis time yet, but alarm bells are ringing. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said that not since the early nineties has the world economy been so weak for so long.

Growing uncertainty for the world economy, and geopolitical instability have made China's economic stability particularly significant.

It is true that China has slowed significantly from its double-digit growth rates, but after the transition to what some Chinese leaders have dubbed the "new normal," China still remains the world's major growth engine.

If China's GDP growth reaches 6.7 percent in 2016, in line with the government's official target for the year, China would account for 1.2 percentage points of world GDP growth, according to economist Stephen Roach. With the IMF currently expecting only 3.1 percent global growth this year, China would contribute to over one-third of the world's growth.

Given persistently weak external demand, ongoing deleveraging and capacity-reduction pressure, and a slowing property sector, maintaining stable growth will not be easy for China in 2017.

Unlike some major economies, where policy space is constrained, China policy makers have ample room to boost activity and avoid drastic decline. And unlike other major economies, China's slowdown is to some extent a desired outcome of reforms designed to transform the economy. China is moving from an export-and-investment-driven economy to one that is more sustainable and draws strength from consumption, services and innovation.

Through structural reform, China's transition is capable of addressing both short-term cyclical pressures and longer-term issues. Its successful rebalancing will greatly benefit the world.

Expanding domestic demand from China will become an increasingly important source of export-led growth for China's major trade partners, provided that those countries grant open access to growing Chinese markets.

China has worked hard to assume responsibility as a regional and global economic power, putting forward a series of initiatives to encourage regional economic integration and cooperation. High on the list are the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is also gaining momentum.

Under such circumstances, a weak and vulnerable world economy needs China more than ever.
The president of a nonprofit that supports charter schools in Colorado, Indiana, and Louisiana says high schools should change their focus.

GEO Foundation President Kevin Teasley said far too many high school administrators are concerned with having bigger buildings and offering more and more courses when they should be concerned with helping students gain college credit.

He said he was left scratching his head earlier this year when some political candidates talked about the feasibility of free college, a goal that he says can be accomplished with a change in priorities.

It is possible all across the country if everybody just was more disciplined on how theyre spending K-12 dollars, said Teasley. I get up every morning trying to figure out how I can get kids college degrees. I dont get up in the morning saying, Gee, how much bigger can I get my high school? What new class can I offer in my high school? I dont do that.

Teasley said high schools with 5,000 students that offer every elective imaginable and five or six different foreign languages are taking the wrong approach.

Its well-intended, but I dont think its appropriate, said Teasley. Its limiting students to a high school experience when they can go take that same Spanish course at the college level, Spanish 101, and get a college credit and a high school credit.

Dual-Enrollment Requirement

Thats what students are encouraged to do at the GEO Foundations 21st Century Charter School at Gary . Students who attend this K-12 charter school in Gary, Ind., are required to have at least three college credits to graduate. But school administrators hope they earn much more than that. The school also pays for these courses along with students textbooks.

I like to say we do dual credit on steroids, said Teasley.

At 21st Century Charter School, all students take community college placement tests in the 9th grade. If they pass at least one part of the three-part test, they begin taking college courses as freshmen in high school. If the students run into trouble, high school staff steps in to help them with the material.

Next spring, eight 21st Century Charter School students are expected to graduate with associate degrees. Since 2012, seven students have graduated with associate degrees.The school also has one student whos set to graduate from high school in the spring with an associate degree from Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana and a bachelors degree from Purdue University Northwest.

The Real College Experience

Unlike some high schools that offer college courses on their campuses, 21st Century Charter School provides transportation for students to take these courses at community colleges or four-year schools.

We need our kids to get the real college experience, so we send them to the college itself to get that experience sitting with students that dont look like them, that are older than them, that sort of thing, said Teasley. Its a maturity issue as much as its a learning issue.

So how does the school pay for all of this?

Teasley said it uses the resources it receives from the state.

The only way were able to do it is by being very disciplined in how we spend our money, said Teasley. Every year I actually want to see the number of dollars that we spend on college going up. Thats the one line item I want to see going up every year because if were doing that, that means more students are taking college courses.

Last year, Teasley said the school spent $85,000 on 700 college credits in 30 different courses for about 100 students.

The school began its dual enrollment program in the 2009-10 school year. The first student graduated with an associate degree in 2012. By 2020, 21st Century Charter School hopes to see all of its graduates finish high school with a two-year degree. About 900 students attend the school, which has an average graduating class size of 50.

Related stories:
New Oriental, the Chinese education consulting and test prep giant, has once again run afoul of standardized testing guidelines.

Reuters reported on Dec 23 that a number of New Oriental clients were given access to "practice questions" taken from actual administered exams, which were not released by the College Board, the New York-based owner of the SAT. The College Board opts not to release some test questions, as they are often reused on subsequent exams. The report noted that some students possessed full copies of an SAT exam given in Asia last month, while someone who identified himself as a New Oriental Instructor had posted 15 pages of the same exam on social media.

In addition to the SAT, New Oriental has also been accused of helping students to cheat on the TOEFL, a popular English proficiency exam. In 2004, the company lost a case brought against them by ETS, the owner of the TOEFL, for distributing exam content without permission. Reuters noted that after the case concluded, New Oriental and ETS actual formed a partnership, making the former the official provider of online TOEFL practice exams in China. Tom Ewing, an ETS spokesperson, was quoted confirming that ETS has a process in place for identifying and dealing with copyright infringement.

Meanwhile, in response to the Reuters investigation, New Oriental issued its own response, confirming that it condemns "illegal and illegitimate business practices, whether committed by competitors or any of our past employees ... we are reviewing what has been raised and will take disciplinary actions against anyone who violated our policies and procedures."

Although New Oriental has not disclosed how it gained access to the test materials, the statement to Reuters did acknowledge that its instructors are required to periodically take the exams for which they tutor.

"We believe this practice is fully consistent with industry practice elsewhere, including that of established private educational service providers in the US," the statement read. However, Reuters noted that the College Board banned "tutors and other non-students" from taking its newly redesigned exam in March, and again in December. In addition, those who did take the exam were prohibited from sharing its content, though the College Board acknowledged that this restriction is difficult to enforce.

A number of scores from SAT exams administered around Asia in October, November and December of 2014 were either withheld or canceled after allegations of widespread cheating, according to the Washington Post. A similar situation emerged in South Korea in May and October 2013, as well as in January 2007, when many students obtained access to unreleased test questions from previous exams.
Potential homebuyers examine a property project model in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Feb 28, 2016.[Photo/VCG]

Two major cities in Central China have further tightened housing purchase restrictions in the latest bid to rein in rising house prices.

Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, and Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, have adopted the measures, taking the number of cities trying to cool the red-hot property market to 22, The Time Weekly reported.

Driven by policies such as de-stocking, sold floor areas, prices of properties and new constructions have all reached new highs this year, triggering a slew of measures to curb the property market.

The earliest cities to roll out measures to curb its property market were Shanghai and Shenzhen, as well as the four cities that had the biggest increase in house prices; Suzhou, Hefei, Xiamen and Nanjing.

However, the panic-buying mood extended to several other cities. During the first half of this year, commercial housing sales experienced a year-on-year growth of more than 50 percent for three consecutive months.

In late September, Beijing announced a requirement for higher deposits on property, aimed at cooling down the market.

Twenty-one first and second-tier cities including Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen have released restrictions on home purchases since then, and the market has begun to respond, showing signs of slowing down.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's property sales growth slowed sharply to 7.9 percent in November from a year ago, its lowest since December 2015, and well short of 26.4 percent increase in October.

Market overdraft and policy pressures make the future not that optimistic and it's inevitable to go through a periodical adjustment. Future Land Holdings senior vice-president Ouyang Jie told the newspaper that this round of adjustment would take 18 months at least.

More measures will be taken to control property bubbles, the top leadership said at a high-level financial meeting last week. This is the fourth time that the central government has talked about asset bubbles this year.

Dealing with the property bubble and property speculation has become the new policy tone for the year ahead. Domestic economist Ma Guangyuan said that in addition to curbing speculation, renewing and designing the basic system of China's property market would also be a priority.
An employee of US Pharmacopeial Convention, a scientific nonprofit organization, works in the company's laboratory in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. China is speeding up free trade talks with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. [Photo/Agencies]

Trade with Belt and Road nations grows at a very fast pace

China plans to seal free trade agreements with 40 percent of the countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative in 2017, officials said on Tuesday.

The nation had already established FTAs or is in talks with 25 countries and regions along the route of the initiative by the end of this year, and it will accelerate the pace of FTA negotiations with Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan next year.

"We have also started FTA feasibility studies with countries including Nepal, Bangladesh and Mauritius this year," said Zhang Shaogang, director-general of the department of international trade and economic affairs at the Ministry of Commerce.

The infrastructure, service and trade network proposed in 2013 envisions a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, covering about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions in Asia, Europe and Africa.

Zhang said the ministry has made progress in eight FTA talks, as well as launching feasibility studies and negotiations with another eight countries and regions in 2016.

In the meantime, China also launched feasibility studies on FTAs with Canada, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, as well as starting research on upgrading existing free trade deals with New Zealand, Chile and Peru.

Zhang said the talks of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a regional free trade pact between 16 economies including Australia, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will also speed up.

Due to the rise of trade protectionism, China suffered 117 trade remedy investigations with a total of $13.98 billion involved between January and Dec 21, increases of 34.5 percent and 71.5 percent, respectively, on a year-on-year basis, said Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.

"China therefore can raise its investment and trade activities with emerging economies, in particular those from the Belt and Road Initiative, to diversify its export channels and avoid potential risks," said Zhou Liujun, director-general of the ministry's department of outward investment and economic cooperation.

Chinese companies signed a total of $84.39 billion of new contracts in sectors such as power, transportation, housing and communication industries in 61 countries and regions along these two trading routes between January and November this year, up 30.7 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Agreements under negotiations

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

Gulf Cooperation Council

Japan-South Korea

Sri Lanka

Pakistan (second phase)

Maldives

Georgia

Israel

Norway

Ministry of Commerce
Visitors at an auto expo in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, Oct 2, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

BEIJING - China is considering a flexible loan policy for car purchases to encourage automobile consumption, a major driving force for economic growth.

The loan-to-value ratio of automobile purchases will be flexible and set according to macroeconomic and automobile industrial conditions, according to a draft decision released by the central bank and the top banking regulator on Tuesday.

Previously, consumers could only borrow up to 80 percent of the total car price from banks.

The move is being considered to promote automobile consumption as another key driving force of the Chinese economy, the property market, is expected to slow down next year due to tightening policies.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance decided to adjust and continue a preferential car purchase taxation policy set to expire by the end of this year with the aim of boosting automobile consumption.

Auto sales and output in China, the world's biggest auto market, continued to expand during the first 11 months, hitting an all-time high.

From January to November, about 25 million cars were sold in China, up 14.1 percent year on year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Senior citizens talk during a calligraphy class at Hebei University for the Aged. Zhang Yu/China Daily

Teng Junying has no idea what 2017 will hold if she fails to win a spot at Hebei University for the Aged, a government-funded school for senior citizens.

The 57-year-old has spent the past two years in the university's classrooms, learning to sing and dance, but she fears a change to its admissions policy could leave her disappointed.

"It feels like a lottery," she said, referring to the announcement that applications for its 4,000 places will now be decided at random.

The school, established in 1987 in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province, previously operated on a first-come first-served basis, which resulted in long lines forming outside the admissions office.

"More people want to study at the school," said Li Lin, who works in the admissions office, especially as from next year, the school will waive all tuition fees, part of efforts to encourage more elderly citizens back into education.

The school has received more than 20,000 applications since the beginning of December, Li said. "The new selection method is to make sure each applicant has an equal chance."

Yet the news has Teng concerned. She has successfully been able to enroll for two consecutive years because she was willing to line up earlier than other applicants.

"Elderly people today are eager to learn new things, to enrich our mental health and to kill time after retirement," she said.

Teng retired at 50 years old and spent five years helping her daughter raise a child, which made her feel useful. "But my grandson no longer needs daily care, so I have a lot of time to kill."

Studying at the university, which offers 21 courses ranging from dancing to calligraphy and image design, "made me feel energetic and young", she said, adding that if she does not earn a place, she has no idea what she will do instead.

She is not alone. Lyu Pinghai, 60, who retired from his job as an engineer last month, submitted an application to the school on Wednesday. "I can't bear that I have nothing to do every day," he said.

Although education institutes for the elderly have developed over the past 30 years or so, with at now least one in every county and city, demand still exceeds supply, said Lyu Bingxing, vice-president of the Hebei college.

"Development needs to catch up with the rapid rate of aging in our population," he said.

China had 222 million people aged 60 or older in 2015, accounting for 16 percent of the population, according to an education development plan for senior citizens released by the State Council in October. The number is forecast to reach 243 million in 2020.

Currently, 3.2 percent of elderly people, more than 7 million, are studying at schools or other institutions. The plan sets a target to increase that to 20 percent within five years.
A notice at the entrance of Baoli Club in Beijing's Chaoyang district says it has suspended business. Liu Chang / For China Daily

Beijing police detained more than 100 people suspected of being involved in prostitution after raids at three nightclubs, part of a campaign to step up security over the festive season.

The city's public security bureau released a statement on Sunday naming the clubs, which attracted wide attention as one is located in Poly Plaza, a landmark building in Chaoyang district owned by a State-run conglomerate.

More than 400 police officers and auxiliary personnel took part in the weekend campaign, which also included visits to shopping malls and central business areas. The nightclub arrests were made on Friday night.

China Poly Group Co said in a statement on Monday that Baoli Club, which uses the same Chinese characters as the Poly brand, had infringed on its trademark and was not authorized to use the name.

The conglomerate was irrelevant to all consequences and liabilities caused by any entity that illegally bears its trademark, the statement said.

A job advertisement on the club's website for hostesses says it is looking for women aged 16 to 28 and offers a daily salary of 1,000 to 1,500 yuan ($140 to $215).

Baoli Club and the other two clubs, Landai Club and Lihaimingyuan, both in Haidian district, were ordered to close, police said.

The incident is the latest high-profile case involving prostitution.

In May last year, two people were sentenced to life in prison for running a gambling and prostitution ring at Royal No 1 Nightclub in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province. Another 85 people were also jailed.

More than 2,900 women had provided sexual services before the club was raided and ordered to close in November 2013.

A total of 152 police officers were also punished for covering up the ring and more than 8 million yuan in bribes was seized.
A maglev train for Beijing's new S1 line on Sunday. The maglev line is expected to start operation by the end of next year. Cheng Gong / For China Daily

Beijing's first rail line using magnetic levitation technology is scheduled to start running next year, with engineers now testing the new trains, city officials announced on Sunday.

The overhead maglev line, named S1, will run in the west, from Shijingshan district's Pingguoyuan to Shimenying in the mountainous Mentougou district. It will stretch about 10 kilometers and have eight stations.

The travel time between the two locations, currently connected only by bus, will be cut by two-thirds to just 20 minutes, according to an anonymous official from the Beijing Major Projects Construction Office quoted by Beijing Daily.

"It will take only the time it takes to eat a fast-food meal to travel the entire line," he said. "Plus, the maglev train is more stable, quieter and better at climbing hills compared with normal trains."

Once finished, S1 will connect with the subway's Line 1 and the western extension of Line 6, which is under construction.

Built in neighboring Hebei province, the first maglev train was delivered to the capital on Dec 16. According to officials, the line will have 10 trains, each with a capacity of 1,000 passengers.

The line will make scenic spots in Beijing's western suburbs more easily accessible to residents and tourists.

"As much as I enjoy the serenity there, it takes me about two hours by bus to go to Tanzhe and Jietai temples in Mentougou," said Liu Bo, 25, who lives in the city. "When the new line opens, I can go to the temples more often.

"It's been a while since the work began, so all I hope now is that it opens soon."

Construction on S1 began in 2011 after months of debate, with public fears raised about potential radiation. However, experts have dismissed such concerns.

"The line employs closed magnetic field technology that elevates the train about 1 centimeter above the track to reduce friction. It leaks no magnetic influence outside the controlling 'red line' distance, therefore it won't affect nearby residents," Li Jie, chief engineer of the maglev project, told Beijing Daily.

"As for passengers inside the train, as the radiation is non-ionizing like radio waves, it's neither accumulative nor harmful. At most, passengers may feel a bit warmer."

Although rare compared with conventional subway trains, maglev trains are not new to China. A high-speed maglev service has run from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport to downtown Longyang Road since 2002. Trains travel at up 430 km per hour.

A medium-to-low speed maglev line that uses similar technology to Beijing's S1 also opened in May between central Changsha, capital of Hunan province, and the city's international airport.
Companies accused of unloading garbage illegally; tighter supervision of transporters suggested

Eleven suspects from Zhejiang province who made nearly 800,000 yuan ($115,000) from illegally dumping more than 2,900 metric tons of household waste into the Yangtze River in Jiangsu province have been captured by police.

Police in Zhejiang's Jiaxing city said on Sunday after a preliminary investigation that one dumping case occurred on Dec 8, when more than 900 tons of garbage was dumped from a ship into the river in Nantong city. Another occurred on Dec 17, when more than 2,000 tons of garbage was dumped in the river by two ships in Taicang city, according to police.

One man, who drove a floating crane to help the ships dump the waste into the river, was involved in both cases.

Police said that in the first case, Chuangjie Sanitation Equipment Co, a qualified garbage transportation company in Tongxiang, had been approved by the Environmental Sanitation Management Office in Haining to transport household waste to garbage incineration plants in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces for disposal since mid-September. The company was paid 263 yuan for each ton of waste. Both Tongxiang and Haining are part of Jiaxing.

But at the end of November, the company signed a contract to sell nearly 1,000 tons of garbage to a man surnamed Zhu for 200 yuan per ton. On the night of Dec 8, the garbage was dumped into the river after it was loaded onto a cargo ship arranged by Zhu.

The second case showed similarities. Tianshun Garbage Transportation Co in Tongxiang had been approved by the environmental sanitation management office in Haiyan county to transport household waste to incineration plants in Anhui for disposal since May 25. The company was paid 277 yuan per ton of waste.

On Oct 21 and 22, the company sold more than 2,000 tons of garbage to a man surnamed Yang for about 160 yuan per ton. Yang then directed two cargo ships to transport the garbage, with the waste being dumped into the river on the night of Dec 17.

"The dumping started at 9 pm and continued until 4 am the next day because of the large amount of the garbage," the police said.

The incidents forced water intake from the Yangtze River in Taicang to be suspended over the weekend as a significant amount of garbage, including plastic bags, slippers, vegetable leaves and condoms, were seen floating on the surface of the water, China Central Television reported on Sunday.

Taicang's information office said the cleanup could last for a week.

Industry insiders suggested tighter supervision of garbage transporters.

"There should be records detailing the amount of garbage transported every day and its whereabouts," said Kong Ling, head of Shanghai Huanyu Sanitation Co, a certified transporter of household, industrial and building waste.
Nanjie chief credits collective economy, strong leadership for 2 billion yuan in sales revenue

Wang Hongbin, 65, has an astonishing ambition: To build a communist community that distributes goods and services according to one's needs, a goal of communism once proposed by Karl Marx.

Wang, secretary of Nanjie village Party committee since 1977, has every intention of turning his dream into a reality.

A 16-story apartment building stands in the corner of his village in Central China's Henan province. It cost 200 million yuan ($29 million) to construct, and work on the interior is expected to begin next year. It should be completed in 2018.

"If you want to move into the 'proletarian apartments', all you have to do is hand over everything you own," Wang said.

The building can accommodate 800 villagers, and a round-the-clock canteen will provide all the food the residents need. Clothes, shoes, cosmetics and even jewelry will be shared, after sterilization.

"We will choose top brands and meet everyone's personal needs," said Wang, who has plans to accommodate all of Nanjie's 3,700 villagers within 10 years.

In many ways, Nanjie is more like an industrial park than a village. Most young people in China cannot wait to get away from home and work in cities, but here 26 village businesses employ everyone who wants a job.

The village has just 33 hectares of arable land, nowhere near enough to feed the villagers. Only 21 people work on the plots dotted among factories.

Since the 1980s, Nanjie's wealth has come from food processing: beer, chocolate, flour, instant noodles, liquor, medicine and spices. The village raked in 2 billion yuan last year, 150 million yuan of which was profit.

Wang attributes the success to a collective economy and strong leadership, inspired by Mao Zedong, leading founder of the People's Republic of China. Monday marked the 123rd anniversary of Mao's birth.

At a symposium marking the 120th anniversary in December 2013, President Xi Jinping said the Communist Party of China will hold high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought forever in pursuing the Chinese nation's rejuvenation.

Xi said Party members should adhere to and make good use of the "living soul" of Mao Zedong Thought, namely seeking truth from facts, the "mass line" and independence.

Mao's legacy

It is hard to find another village in China quite like Nanjie where Mao's principles of morality and collectivism live on.

Here, people still wake to loudspeakers blaring The East is Red, a classic anthem of the 1960s. Mao's quotations appear on factory walls, in schools, shops and hotels, reminding people to sacrifice their personal interests for the benefit of the collective. Portraits of Mao hang in almost every living room.

In the village square, a 9-meter-tall white marble statue of the great helmsman is flanked by portraits of Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. A banner flutters over the statue, unambiguously declaring, "Mao Zedong Thought shines over us forever".

In the early 1980s, like the rest of rural China, Nanjie dismantled communes and began to open up. Collective land was distributed among households and collective factories were contracted to individuals. It was not long before bankruptcy was the order of the day.

The village committee took over two factories in 1984, and by 1986, Nanjie had re-collectivized all its farmland, expanded its industries and it began taking care of its residents.

Prosperity brought with it free water and electricity, then coal, gas, meat, eggs, flour and finally, education.

By the early 1990s, the village welfare system was complete. Even taxes and medical expenses were paid collectively.

In 1991, Nanjie became the first village in Henan with sales revenue of 100 million yuan and the number of enterprises in the village grew to 19.

"A collective economy is the inevitable path to common prosperity and the basis of solving sannong (farmers, villages and agriculture) problems," Wang said.

He believes Mao's greatest legacy in today's Nanjie is the socialist path to common prosperity, which conforms to the current government goal of building a well-off society by the end of 2020.

A collective economy can benefit from opening-up and market reform, and Nanjie, a village with no special resources or talent, is a model for other villages on their march toward prosperity, according to Wang.

While Nanjie is not alone in its collective economy, its distribution of wealth is unique. Huaxi village in East China's Jiangsu province has a strong steel and textile industry. There, gold bullion is distributed to villagers, making everyone a millionaire. In Nanjie, Wang and more than 300 villagers, mostly cadres and factory managers, receive a monthly salary of only 250 yuan, hardly enough for a family meal in Beijing or Shanghai. Most factory workers get 2,000 yuan.

Their incomes consist of 30 percent cash and 70 percent benefits. Wang plans to gradually reduce the amount of cash and increase the welfare.

"Ultimately and inevitably, we will root out private ownership and distribute goods according to individual needs," Wang said. "Enthusiasm inspired by cash will wither away. Strong philosophical commitment is the key."

Whose utopia?

Ding Xiaohui has worked in Nanjie's noodle factory since 2008. She dreams of being an "honorary villager", but the village stopped granting such titles in 2003. Ding earns 2,000 yuan a month, but enjoys none of the free food, accommodation or other niceties that the Nanjie locals have.

"Exploitation of workers from other villages is reasonable during the transition from collective capitalism to communism," Wang said, adding that he is confident that the work of building a communist community will be completed in his lifetime.

His wife works in the laundry room of the village hotel and is a staunch supporter of her husband. Their three children, two daughters and a son, work as civil servants in the cities of Zhengzhou and Luohe.

"They neither discuss nor support nor oppose my cause," Wang said.

Xinhua
A geological park dedicated to plant fossils - the first of its kind in China - is set to open in Yuzhou, Henan province.

It took more than three years to build and covers an area of 28.93 square kilometers.

Zhang Bingchen, deputy chief engineer of the Henan Institute of Geological Survey, said visitors to the park will be shown how plant fossils are formed and discover what the Earth used to look like during the Permian Period, more than 250 million years ago.

Yuzhou has rich deposits of plant fossils dating back to this period, with more than 306 species of plants already identified among its fossil records, according to Zhang.

"Most importantly, unlike other areas in Shanxi and Anhui provinces where the plant fossils are buried deep underground, here they are exposed on the surface, and are much easier for people to see and to study, " he said.

The new geological park will also feature exhibits on the history of Jun porcelain, a type of Chinese pottery with a complex blue glaze that was developed locally during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

"This porcelain owes much to the local clay, and the geological park will also show the history of this clay, as it was closely connected with local culture," Zhang said.

The new park is set to open in January, after successfully passing an inspection organized by the province's department of land and resources on Dec 2, according to the Henan Institute of Geological Survey.

Xie Dongfang, a professor at Henan Polytechnic University, said the park would fill a market niche as it is the first such venue dedicated to plant fossils in China.
Karsten Nohl and Nemanja Nikodijevic's Chaos Communications Congress presentation details their research into becoming a "Secret travel agent": they figured out how to force the various portals to the Global Distribution System to let them know if they've guessed someone's reservation locator code, which they can use to arbitrarily alter your flight plans, sending you to different cities, reseating you, or cancelling your flight.

The GDS has many portals, and many of those are not rate-limited; to make things worse, the space of all possible locator codes is pretty small, since it's non-case-sensitive letters and numbers (excluding 1 and 0, which could be mistaken for the letters I and O). So by sending a lot of guesses to a lot of places very fast, it's not hard to figure out whether any surname has a valid code associated with it.



The codes don't contain ones or zeros to avoid confusion with I or O, Nohl saysthey only use upper case letters and no special characters too. On top of that, in two out of the three larger GDSs, the numbers increase sequentially, Nohl explained. This means a hacker can predict when a particular set of numbers are more likely to be used at a certain time of day, or day of the week, in turn making it much more likely that they will successfully match a six digit code with the correct last name, and gain access to flight information. The codes themselves can also be easily found on people's' luggage tags or potentially on a boarding pass, as others have previously found. Armed with these techniques, a hacker might be able to track someone, finding out where they're flying to and from. Working with the German TV station ARD, the researchers were able to change the flight booking of a reporter, putting him on the same flight as, and in an adjacent seat to, a German politician. "We were able to try a couple million for a given last name, and that was enough to find this German senator," Nohl told Motherboard.

lecture: Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?

[CCC]

It's Incredibly Easy to Tamper with Someone's Flight Plan, Anywhere on the Globe

[Joseph Cox/Motherboard]





(Image: Southwest Flight 345 after nose-first crash landing on RWY 4 at LaGuardia 22 July 2013, PD)
Sitting atop a ridge, surrounded by green mountains and boasting an extensive view of terraced orchards, Shizizhai, a rural settlement in Gaopai village, Huichang county, has all the natural elements required for a major ecotourism attraction.

That potential is what prompted Huichang native Rao Rongsheng, a member of the Hakka ethnic group, to abandon his urban life-style and a lucrative career in the mining industry in Guangdong province in 2013, and return to his home in southern Jiangxi province, East China.

"When I made the decision, my older brother asked 'Are you out of your mind?'" the 45-year-old said.

"He couldn't understand why I had returned to a place I had been so desperate to leave more than 20 years ago. However, in the city I worked for other people and I just wanted to develop something of my own."

In 1990, beaten down by a life of chopping and selling firewood, and earning just enough to prevent the family from starving, Rao decided to seek work in Meizhou, a city in northeastern Guangdong. When he left Shizizhai, he had just 30 yuan ($4.30) in his pocket.

"When I set out, I was skinny and only about 1.5-meters tall. My brother said the only possible way for me to survive would be to beg for food in the street. I was annoyed, but also motivated, by his words," he said.

Boasting courage and a sharp mind, the hard-working Rao soon mastered the blasting and excavation techniques that are of prime importance in the mining industry, and by the late 1990s he had started making a decent living as a contractor.

However, when conditions improved in Huichang as a result of the burgeoning fruit-cultivation business, Rao decided to return and act on his ambition to develop ecotourism around the orchard in which his family grows navel oranges.

Since May 2013, Rao has invested his savings of 800,000 yuan to expand the orchard to 250 mu (16.7 hectares) growing a range of fruits, including kiwis and waxberries, which ripen for picking in all seasons.

He has also offered jobs to the villagers, such as pruning trees, picking fruit and fertilizing his "four-season" orchard, which generates annual income of about 1 million yuan.

However, his plans to build a mountain villa to accommodate tourists and to diversify his business operations by building fishing ponds, sightseeing paths and an organic vegetable farm - which would require the use of land owned by relatives and neighbors - have experienced a number of setbacks.

"Land means life to some conservative elders in the village. To gain approval for the use of their land, even though the economic returns would be great, is as difficult as applying for a loan from the local bank to build the villa," he said.

Despite the lack of funds and land, Rao remains upbeat because he believes the local government is on his side, encouraging and supporting private businesses based on local specialties.

Last year, the government laid a concrete road to connect the area of mountainside around the proposed villa with the highway, and has also included Rao's ecotourism business in a list of projects that will be eligible for tax breaks in the future.

"Before I returned, I only thought about developing my own orchard, but now I feel a greater responsibility to help the entire population of Shizizhai become rich," he said.
Measures focus on boosting water conservancy to protect ecology, people's livelihoods in vulnerable areas

China will accelerate efforts to repair flood-damaged water conservancy projects and help cities fight flooding in steps that will also boost investment and create more employment opportunities.

The decision, made at a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, targets improving the country's ecology and people's livelihoods in areas vulnerable to flooding, especially along the Yangtze, Huaihe and Yellow rivers, according to a statement released after the meeting.

The statement also said embankments along the Yangtze River damaged during this year's flood season will be renovated promptly, well ahead of next year's flood season, which usually starts in June and lasts until August. The central government also called for better management of smaller rivers and reservoirs, which experts cite as a vital measure for flood control of major rivers.

The meeting also called on governments at all levels to build a more effective underground drainage system and pipeline corridors that can tackle problems created by flooding within city boundaries.

In addition, the meeting decided to boost public-private partnership initiatives to encourage private businesses to participate in the projects and the central government will grant favorable funding policies. Officials in charge of the projects will be accountable and traced should the need to impose penalties arise in case of damage or liability resulting from inadequate supervision or projects undertaken not meeting certain standards.

The meeting was the latest move by the central government as the premier and State Council have prioritized flood-control measures and water conservancy, particularly for provinces prone to such occurrences, such as Hunan, Hubei and Anhui. The country has endeavored to control floods along major rivers, with most of the focus on water conservancy and flood control projects along the Yangtze, Huaihe and Yellow rivers.

This year saw unprecedented flooding across the country, the worst in 18 years, which led to billions of yuan in direct economic losses and the loss of life.

Meanwhile, urban drainage systems have lagged far behind the rapid growth of urban areas. The deluge in Beijing four years ago saw the city's drainage system overwhelmed.

In early July, the premier visited flood-hit cities in Hubei, Anhui and Hunan provinces to check flood control and disaster-prevention facilities, stressing the importance of such facilities in preventing excessive flooding and urging local governments to continue keeping a close eye on both small- and large-scale facilities.

In late July, the premier chaired a teleconference on flood-control measures in Beijing and again urged local governments to prevent potential danger and damage to properties and ensure people's safety.

One month later, the premier called on workers to build a facility that has the ability to tackle the worst flood in a century when he visited Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, an area that has China's largest fresh-water lake - Poyang Lake.

Li's proposals are in line with expert opinion. Peng Shizhang, a professor on water conservancy at Hohai University in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, said China is a country vulnerable to floods and drought in different seasons and areas.

Projects on major rivers, such as the Yangtze, are meant to prevent flooding that damages cities and causes casualties. Meanwhile, small rivers and urban areas should also be put under the spotlight as these are areas where most people live and are vital to China's food security, Peng said.

The function of small rivers in flood control is similar to that of capillary vessels in a human body, said Wang Congxing, a flood-control official in Hefei, capital of Anhui province. The government has spent huge amounts of money on large projects and now it's time to shift focus to smaller-scale ones, Wang said.

These projects will provide more opportunities for migrant workers and private businesses by boosting investment as a way to support the national economy, Wang said.

"The decision will see positive effects, once appropriately carried out," Peng added.
Fireworks explosion kills 3 in north China

Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-27 09:24

SHIJIAZHUANG - Three people died and one was injured in a fireworks explosion in north China's Hebei Province Monday night, the local government said Tuesday.



The explosion happened at around 9 p.m. in Baiguantun township of Fengrun District, in the city of Tangshan, an official with the district government of Fengrun said.



He said the four victims were all fireworks dealers who were stealthily burying the fireworks hoping to avoid confiscation amid an intensified government crackdown on illegal storage of the festive explosives.



Investigation is continuing.



The tragedy happened only two days after a fireworks explosion killed two workers, injured 16 and left six missing at a privately-run workshop in the same township.
New Oriental, the Chinese education consulting and test prep giant [File photo: People's Daily]

New Oriental, the Chinese education consulting and test prep giant, has once again run afoul of standardized testing guidelines.

Reuters reported on Dec 23 that a number of New Oriental clients were given access to "practice questions" taken from actual administered exams, which were not released by the College Board, the New York-based owner of the SAT. The College Board opts not to release some test questions, as they are often reused on subsequent exams. The report noted that some students possessed full copies of an SAT exam given in Asia last month, while someone who identified himself as a New Oriental Instructor had posted 15 pages of the same exam on social media.

In addition to the SAT, New Oriental has also been accused of helping students to cheat on the TOEFL, a popular English proficiency exam. In 2004, the company lost a case brought against them by ETS, the owner of the TOEFL, for distributing exam content without permission. Reuters noted that after the case concluded, New Oriental and ETS actual formed a partnership, making the former the official provider of online TOEFL practice exams in China. Tom Ewing, an ETS spokesperson, was quoted confirming that ETS has a process in place for identifying and dealing with copyright infringement.

Meanwhile, in response to the Reuters investigation, New Oriental issued its own response, confirming that it condemns "illegal and illegitimate business practices, whether committed by competitors or any of our past employees  we are reviewing what has been raised and will take disciplinary actions against anyone who violated our policies and procedures."

Although New Oriental has not disclosed how it gained access to the test materials, the statement to Reuters did acknowledge that its instructors are required to periodically take the exams for which they tutor.

"We believe this practice is fully consistent with industry practice elsewhere, including that of established private educational service providers in the U.S.," the statement read. However, Reuters noted that the College Board banned "tutors and other non-students" from taking its newly redesigned exam in March, and again in December. In addition, those who did take the exam were prohibited from sharing its content, though the College Board acknowledged that this restriction is difficult to enforce.

A number of scores from SAT exams administered around Asia in October, November and December of 2014 were either withheld or canceled after allegations of widespread cheating, according to the Washington Post. A similar situation emerged in South Korea in May and October 2013, as well as in January 2007, when many students obtained access to unreleased test questions from previous exams.
"Centennial Presents in Return: Exhibition of Alumni Donation from Chen Dongsheng and Li Yifei", the exhibition at Wanlin Art Museum at Wuhan University, will last until Jan 19. [Photo by Li Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

Wanlin Art Museum at Wuhan University is presenting an exhibition featuring artwork donated by alumni.

The exhibition "Centennial Presents in Return: Exhibition of Alumni Donation from Chen Dongsheng and Li Yifei", lasting until Jan 19, presents 67 works, at a total worth of 40 million yuan. These exhibits span from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to today, including great masters Dong Qichang, Kang Youwei, Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi as well as well-known contemporary artists such as Jin Shangyi, Yang Feiyun and Zhang Xiaogang.

At the opening ceremony on Dec 21, Chen said they donated pieces from personal collections and all the artists are related in someway to Wuhan University.

"These works of art, having witnessed the vicissitude of the ages, lead visitors back to relive the history and experience the change of time in the last century," Chen said.

According to the university, Chen donated 45 pieces and Li donated 22, all of which will be added to the university's permanent collection. This donation is the universitys first large collection from alumni and marks the beginning of a systematic museum collection and highlights the awareness of public welfare and social responsibility of Chinese entrepreneurs.

Wanlin Art Museum, which houses the exhibition, was completed in 2015. In 2013, Chen, the chairman of Taikang Insurance Group, donated 120 million yuan for its construction, which is the largest private donation the school has ever received.
SHANGHAI - China has resumed imports of Japanese koi, removing a ban imposed amid viral disease outbreaks at Japanese fishing farms in 2003, authorities in Shanghai said Tuesday.

The first shipment of 20 Japanese koi arrived in Shanghai Friday and is undergoing quarantine inspection at the airport, the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said in a press release.

After the inspection, the carp will be put under quarantine for another 30 days at a designated fish farm for further observation, it said.

China suspended imports of the Japanese aquarium carp in 2003, when a major outbreak of carp herpes, a virally transmitted disease, ruined many carp farms in Japan.

China's aquarium carp market reported a turnover of approximately 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) in 2015. Resumption of imports from Japan is expected to help local fish farmers improve breeding.
Japanese leaders should deeply and sincerely reflect upon its history of aggression during World War II and cut ties with its past, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.

Hua made the remark in response to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visiting Pearl Harbor, with, according to Kyodo News Agency a "forgiving heart" and "reconciliation" as key words, to, as Kyodo added, "completely clear Japan's WWII history".

It is Abe's own wishful thinking that he could completely clear Japan's name in WWII by going to Pearl Harbor and "comfort the spirit of the dead", said Hua.

"Don't forget, China was the main eastern battleground for the World Anti-Fascist War," said Hua. "The Chinese people sacrificed tremendously for the victory. Without reconciling with China and other suffering Asian countries, Japan can't turn this page of history."

Japanese leaders shouldn't evade the crucial subject and dwell on the trivial, and should profoundly reflect with introspection on Japan's war crimes in a manner that truly takes responsibility for the country's history and future, Hua said.
BEIJING -- China is planning missions to explore the far side of the Moon and to send robots to explore both lunar poles.

Plans to send astronauts to the Moon are also being discussed, according to Wu Yanhua, vice director of the China National Space Administration.

Wu told a press conference on Tuesday that work on the Chang'e-5 lunar mission, scheduled to make a soft landing on the Moon and return to Earth by the end of next year, is proceeding smoothly.

Asked about private capital in the space industry, Wu said commercial space projects are open to private investment, including foreign capital.

At least three enterprises, with diverse ownership or private, are involved in research and development for commercial rockets, and China is open-minded about issues such as commercial launch sites and telemetry.

There are very few restrictions in the space industry for foreign investment, Wu said, with a wide range of sectors from satellite research and production to commercial applications of spin-off service and products open.
BEIJING -- China's top Internet regulator released a cyberspace security strategy on Tuesday, advocating peace, security, openness, cooperation and order.

The government will guarantee cyberspace sovereignty and national security, protect information infrastructure and act against cyber terror and crimes, according to the 15-page strategy released by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

Rules and their imposition will be improved and international cooperation expanded.

SOVEREIGNTY

Cyberspace is a new frontier as important as any other. "Cyberspace sovereignty is an important part of state sovereignty," the strategy reads.

All countries should be respected in their Internet development and management, playing equal parts in a cyberspace governance without hegemony or double standards.

China will use whatever means necessary -- scientific, technological, legal, diplomatic or military -- to ensure cyberspace sovereignty. No attempt to use the Internet to undermine or overturn China's national regime or sabotage sovereignty will be tolerated.

OPEN MARKET

China is home to the world's largest online population. About 700 million people in China use the Internet to study, make purchases, work and access public services.

In this context, protecting critical information infrastructure and important data is crucial. Products, services and companies used by government institutions will be subject to security checks and vetting.

Service producers and other organizations will not be allowed to take advantage of privileged information or technology to compete unfairly or harm users' interests.

"This does not mean that we will refuse foreign products or services," said Zhao Zeliang, director of the CAC cybersecurity coordination bureau.

"Our requirements of security and controllability are not meant to raise barriers to foreign enterprises," he told a press conference at the release of the strategy.

"The market will be open and transparent."

INT'L COOPERATION

China will participate in dialogues and exchanges in cybersecurity; help establish international norms and anti-terror pacts; and improve judicial collaboration. International cooperation will be enshrined in policy, law, technology, standards, emergency response and security infrastructure.

Every assistance will be extended to developing countries as they build information infrastructure.

Lu Jianwen, in charge of cybersecurity at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said priority will be given to building Africa's information highway and cooperation in communication technology.

China will be pleased to provide training in developing countries, he said.


Kirkus Reviews is one of the publishing industry's toughest gauntlets, used by librarians and bookstore buyers to help sort through the avalanche of new titles, and its reviews often have a sting in their tails aimed at this audience, a pitiless rehearsal of the reasons you wouldn't want to stock this book  vital intelligence for people making hard choices.



So when I saw the starred, uniformly glowing review for my next novel, Walkaway, with nary a quibble in sight, I did a little victory dance on the spot. Good reviews always feel good, but a perfect review from Kirkus? That's amazing. This arrived just before Christmas but was embargoed until today, and it's given my whole holiday season a glow.





As a reminder: you can pre-order one of the 2,800 signed hardcovers that I labored over, risking my wrist tendons for your reading pleasure.
KUNMING - Niu Minghui is concerned about the group of wild Asian elephants that pay surprise visits to steal crops from his backyard.

One night in June this year, Niu heard loud noises outside. Inching the the curtains open, he saw a massive wild elephant casually munching on corn that it stole from next door.

"I did not dare to turn on the lights, and put my mobile on silent," said Niu, 29, of Shiban village, in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Niu quietly called the village elephant expert who tried to use firecrackers to scare it away, but it didn't work. Instead, the elephant took his time, spending about 40 minutes enjoying its stolen meal.

"Maybe he was just too hungry," Niu said. "It is OK if the elephants steal a little food as long as they do not attack."

Conflicts between elephants and humans are on the rise in Yunnan.

According to the provincial forestry bureau, more than 48,000 cases of wild elephants causing chaos were reported in Yunnan from 2011 to 2015, resulting in 18 deaths, 27 injuries and economic losses of about 99 million yuan ($14 million). The government compensated the families of the victims with more than 98 million yuan.

Wild Asian elephants are Class A protected animals in China, with a population mainly scattered in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, and in the cities of Pu'er and Lincang.

According to China's wildlife protection law, organizations and individuals have a responsibility to protect wild animals and their habitat. Hunting endangered wildlife and damaging their habitat are illegal.

China's efforts to protect the ecosystem have helped wild elephant numbers grow from less than 180 in the 1990s to about 300 currently, but the animals are still facing extinction, said Yang Yun, head of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve Administration.

"In the past decade, we have tried to raise awareness to protect wild Asian elephants," Yang said. "We also worked with several provinces in Laos as part of cross-border protection."

Chen Mingyong, a life science professor at Yunnan University, said that despite the growing number, wild elephants are still at risk of disappearing in China, particularly as villagers often "take revenge on the elephants for causing trouble."

Chen Yong, a wildlife protection official in Xishuangbanna, said that as the elephant numbers grow, more conflict between beast and man is inevitable.

In 2015 a pregnant wild elephant was shot dead by villagers in Yunnan after attacking local residents. Two wild elephants died the same year after eating crops sprayed with pesticides.

Li Zhao, head of the forestry bureau of Pu'er city, said the city has increased investment, closed hillsides, held training sessions on elephant attacks and bought insurance, to mitigate against the conflict.

"The city gives out more than 16 million yuan every year for wild elephant protection and for compensation for damage caused by the animals," Li said. "We will increase investment in the future, and will try to launch a monitoring and warning system."

Li added that the city is considering building a national park for wild elephants.

In July two wild elephants were born in Yunnan's Menghai county. Local officials named one of them "Little Peace," after soliciting public opinion.

"The name is a reflection of our common wish," said Xu Xin, deputy county magistrate of Menghai. "We hope that in the future, the people and animals can just live in peace."
BEIJING -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of several officials Tuesday.

Xu Lejiang was appointed vice minister of industry and information technology.

Ling Yueming was named vice minister of land and resources, to replace Wang Min.

Yin Yong was named vice governor of the People's Bank of China, replacing Guo Qingping. Liu Guoqiang was named assistant governor of the People's Bank of China, replacing Yang Ziqiang.

Zhao Yong was appointed deputy head of General Administration of Sport.

Li Yuanping was named deputy head of China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, to replace Zhang Qinrong.

Guo Wenqi was appointed deputy head of the China Food and Drug Administration, replacing Wang Mingzhu.

Song Zhe and Huang Liuquan were named deputy heads of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. Zhou Bo was removed from the post of deputy head of the office.

Qian Feng, Liu Zhao were named deputy heads of Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council.

Yang Shubing was appointed vice director of the State Council Research Office.

Zhang Tao was named vice president of Chinese Academy of Sciences, replacing Li Jinghai.

Tang Huajun was appointed president of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).

Li Jiayang was removed from the post of vice minister of agriculture and the president of CAAS.
BEIJING -- China's banking regulator on Tuesday gave approval to five new private banks, bringing the total number of private lenders to 16.

The five banks will be in Beijing, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning and Shandong, according to the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC)website.

Each of the banks will be co-sponsored by at least two private capital providers.

In 2014, China approved a pilot scheme setting up five private banks to give private capital a bigger role in the country's financial system.

The new of private lenders are expected to boost financial support for smaller firms, as the state-owned lenders usually favor state-owned enterprises.

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for around 60 percent of China's gross domestic product and some 80 percent of new jobs, but they are struggling to cope with weaker global demand and tight credit.

Data from the CBRC showed that total assets of the first batch of five private lenders reached 132.93 billion yuan (around $19 billion) at the end of September. Non-performing loan ratio rose slightly to 0.54 percent.
Religious affairs official says dialogue can lessen divisions, but certain conditions must be met

China is willing to conduct constructive dialogue with the Vatican and hopes that the Vatican will take a more flexible and pragmatic attitude in such a dialogue, a top religious affairs official said on Tuesday, as the country's Catholic church representatives gathered in Beijing for a national assembly.

China's stance on improving ties with the Vatican has always been clear and consistent, and the country is willing to hold talks "with the Vatican based on relevant principles to narrow differences and expand common ground", Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, said at the opening of the Ninth Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives.

He did not define the principles, but the administration and the Foreign Ministry have reiterated that the Vatican has to cut "diplomatic relations" with Taiwan and admit that the island is part of China. In addition, the Vatican should not interfere in China's internal affairs.

"We hope the Vatican will take practical actions to create favorable conditions for the improvement in ties," he said.

Wang made the remarks in the wake of a statement from the press office of the Holy See that calls for "positive signals" from the Chinese government.

Foreign media have reported recently that after several rounds of talks, Vatican delegates and Chinese officials have worked out a draft agreement on how to select and appoint new bishops in China.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in a daily news briefing on Monday that China has always shown good faith in promoting the improvement of bilateral ties with the Vatican, and is willing to continue to work with the Vatican toward progress in the constructive dialogue.

In a sign of improved ties, China ordained four new bishops in November and December, and all of whom have gained papal approval.

The three-day assembly of Chinese Catholic representatives started on Tuesday as 365 representatives, including bishops, priests and lay Catholics, from across the country convened to select a new leadership for the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishop's Conference of the Catholic Church in China.

Wang said at the meeting that China's Catholic Church should handle its own issues independently and free of foreign control.

"Sticking to the principle of independence, autonomy and self-direction would fit into the national interest as well as the reality of the Catholic Church in China," he said.

Ma Yinglin, president of the Bishop's Conference of the Catholic Church in China, said on Tuesday that the Catholic Church in China plans to set up a charity to expand its social services in the next five years.

The church also plans to increase its overseas exchanges with churches and invite overseas theologians to teach in its seminaries, he said.

There are 65 bishops, about 3,100 priests and 5,800 nuns in the Catholic Church in China, and the country has more than 6 million Catholic followers, according to the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) and US President Barack Obama (L) bow their heads during a wreath-laying ceremony aboard the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, US, December 27, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is on a trip to Pearl Harbor but has no plan to apologize for the World War II surprise attack that killed 2,400 Americans, should sincerely reflect on his country's war crimes rather than just "put on a show", a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

"Can a so-called victim-consolation trip to Pearl Harbor completely wipe away World War II history? I am afraid it's just wishful thinking on his part," spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regularly scheduled news conference.

Abe was scheduled to visit the site of the 1941 attack in Hawaii, which drew the United States into World War II.

Abe visited several memorials on Monday. He and US President Barack Obama were to lay a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial before speaking at a military base on Tuesday.

Analysts said that Abe's real purpose is not to reflect on Japan's war crimes, but to enhance its alliance with the US, which could undergo stark changes after Donald Trump becomes president next month. Trump has voiced opposition to the proposed, US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, including Japan as a member. Trump also has threatened to force allied countries to pay more to host US forces.

Pointing out that the main Asian battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War was in China, Hua said that Japan "could not turn the page of history" without reconciliation with Asian victim countries including China.

"Just like people in the US will not forget the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Chinese people will not forget the nation's immense sacrifice as well as the compatriots victimized by the Nanjing Massacre," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said this month. More than 300,000 people were killed by Japanese troops from December 1937 to January 1938 during the massacre.

On Sunday, 53 eminent US and Japanese people, including US filmmaker Oliver Stone and University of Tokyo professor Tetsuya Takahashi, sent an open letter to Abe to ask whether he planned to pay tribute to victims of Japan's wartime aggression in other nations.

"Will you also be visiting China, Korea, other Asia-Pacific nations, or the other Allied nations for the purpose of 'mourning' war victims in those countries who number in the tens of millions?" the letter said.

Gao Hong, a senior researcher in Japan studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Abe's trip is meant to gain political interests rather than "mourning the victims, as he is labeling it".

Gao said that through such diplomatic moves, Abe hopes to unload Japan's burden of World War II history and turn the page on Japan's atrocities during the war, he said.

Peter Li, a professor at the University of Houston, said that Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes.

Describing Abe's refusal to apologize for the attack on Pearl Harbor as "not surprising", Li said, "this refusal to admit Japanese crimes against humanity has been shown in Tokyo's policy toward Asian countries that were victims of Japanese aggression."

"This refusal to admit crimes was also demonstrated in its denial of the use of Asian women as 'sex slaves' for the Japanese army and its denial of its war crimes in Nanking, China," he said.




Many details of daily life behind the red walls of Forbidden City have been lost to history. It is a traditional establishment often associated with royalty and class, something far from the lives of ordinary people. But in recent years, the Palace Museum has tried to make itself less forbidden and more accessible through incredible bursts of creative efforts, such as integrating digital media and technology with its rich cultural legacy, and it has won huge public acclaim. So, has the development of the internet changed the traditional role of museums as "treasure houses"? How can we give traditional cultural gems a modern twist while maintaining their original flavor? Today we talk to Yu Zhuang, head of the Palace Museum's Digital Media Team, and in the later part of the show, you will hear from some foreigners about how a modern-day museum can reposition itself to be more culturally-relatable to the general public.

Host: Hu Zhe

Guest: Yu Zhuang

Camera: Cong Ruiting & Zhang Guangteng

Editing: Yu Xiaoou

Subtitles: Xu Xin (Intern)

Producer: Hu Zhe

Executive Producer: Feng Minghui

About Easy Talk:

Easy Talk is a talk show program covering the latest living-related issues in today's China. Foreigners living in China are invited to share their life experiences and observations on a variety of light topics. The discussions revolve around the cultural differences that exist between China and other countries, covering various aspects and the implications they have on China's cultural exchange with the world.

Previous episodes of Easy Talk:

Easy Talk: Advocating environment protection through storytelling

Easy Talk: Shakespeare is for all time

Easy Talk with Edward Chen: 'Fan economy' drives China's film market
The 4th Xinjiang Oil Painting Exhibition was held at the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Dec 25, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 4th Xinjiang Oil Painting Exhibition was held at the Xinjiang Museum in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Dec 25. The event featured 80 works from 73 artists of different generations.

The paintings capture the social development, ethnic culture and amazing landscapes of Xinjiang.

The exhibition will run through Jan 4, 2017.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gestures during a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he would send a message to the world during his visit to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii that Japan will never repeat the atrocities of past wars.

Which, as far as it goes, is a message that can be welcomed by all, especially Japan's neighbors which have been the main victims.

However, as is so often the case with Abe when it comes to this period in his country's imperialistic history, it attempts to hide more than it shows, since atrocities such as the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor were symptoms of the illness rather than the cause.

Abe's visit with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday comes 75 years after Japan's infamous attack propelled the United States into World War II, and is aimed at showing the former enemies are now reconciled. It is believed to be in return for the May visit by Obama to Hiroshima, the city on which the US military dropped the first atomic bomb, when Obama made a speech bemoaning "the agony of war".

On that occasion, Obama stopped short of offering an apology. Likewise, Abe will not apologize for the attack on Pearl Harbor, according to a Japanese government spokesman.

If there is no apology, and Tokyo and Washington are simply staging shows to cement popular support in the two countries for strengthening the US-Japan alliance, how can there be true reconciliation?

And how can there be a message that Japan will not repeat the mistakes of the past when its current leader is unrepentantly trying to bury its wartime past by revising history?

Unlike those of his predecessors that were willing to take an honest look at Japan's wartime wrongs and offer heartfelt apologies for them, Abe has consistently sought to wriggle and squirm away from any inconvenient truths.

He has tried to deny Japan's war of aggression, saying the "definition of invasion is not set in stone". He has dismissed the Tokyo Trials of Japan's war crimes as "no more than exercises in victors' justice".

To expect someone with such distorted historical views to feel remorse over his country's past is unrealistic.

The two countries' willingness to forgive and forget is not as Daniel Kritenbrink, senior director for Asian affairs at the US National Security Council, said at a news briefing, "a powerful demonstration of how the two countries can overcome a very painful history to become the closest of allies and friends".

It is a demonstration of their marriage of convenience. One that is likely to create more turbulence in the Asia-Pacific region as they seek to pursue the point of convergence in their agendas.
LI MIN/CHINA DAILY

On Jan 20, 2017, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. I would hate to say "I told you so", but his election should not have come as a surprise. As I explained in my 2002 book Globalization and its Discontent, the policies we have used to manage globalization have sown the seeds of widespread disaffection. Ironically, a candidate from the same party that has pushed the hardest for international financial and trade integration won by promising to undo both.

Of course, there is no going back. China and India are now integrated into the global economy, and technological innovation is reducing the number of manufacturing jobs worldwide. Trump cannot recreate the well-paying manufacturing jobs of past decades; he can only push for advanced manufacturing, which requires higher skill sets and employs fewer people.

Rising inequality, meanwhile, will continue to contribute to widespread despair, especially among the white voters in Middle America who handed Trump his victory. As economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton showed in their study published in December 2015, life expectancy among middle-age white Americans is declining, as rates of suicides, drug use and alcoholism increase. A year later, the National Center for Health Statistics reported that life expectancy for the country as a whole has declined for the first time in more than 20 years.

In the first three years of the so-called recovery after the 2008 financial crisis, 91 percent of the gains went to the top 1 percent of earners. While Wall Street banks were bailed out with billions of dollars in taxpayer money, homeowners received only a pittance. US President Barack Obama saved not only the banks, but also the bankers, shareholders and bondholders. His economic policy team of Wall Street insiders broke the rules of capitalism to save the elite, confirming millions of Americans' suspicion that the system is, as Trump would say, "rigged".

Obama brought "change you can believe in" on certain issues, such as climate policy; but with respect to the economy, he bolstered the status quothe 30-year experiment with neoliberalism, which promised that the benefits of globalization and liberalization would "trickle down" to everyone. Instead, the benefits trickled up, partly owing to a political system that now seems to be based on the principle of "one dollar, one vote", rather than "one person, one vote".

Rising inequality, an unfair political system, and a government that spoke as if it was working for the people while acting for the elites created ideal conditions for a candidate like Trump to exploit. Though wealthy, Trump is clearly not a member of the traditional elite, which lent credence to his promise of "real" change. And yet it will be business as usual under Trump, who will adhere to Republican orthodoxy on taxation and, by appointing lobbyists and industry insiders to his administration, has already broken his promise to "drain the swamp" in Washington, DC.
Inmates sit on the floor during an inspection visit in the longterm sentence zone inside Klong Prem highsecurity prison in Bangkok,Thailand on July 12. Jorge Silva / Reuters

An official of the food and drug bureau in Huanggang, Central China's Hubei province, reportedly "confiscated" some 36 bottles of cooking oil from a local grocery in the name of "investigating flawed samples". He has been suspended and an investigation has been launched. Beijing News commented on Monday:

It is difficult to believe that a law enforcer acted like a gangster while doing his job and felt no shame in admitting it. Yet such is the case. Asked by the shop owner what right he had to commit such "theft", he responded with complete honesty: "Yes I am just looting and I am doing this in line with the law".

Preposterous as it sounds, "looting in accordance with the law" vividly and aptly describes what the Huanggang enforcer didimpounding a number of "dubious" commodities without the consent of the shop owner and without providing solid evidence of the "quality problems" of the commoditiesin the name of further investigation.

Such gangster-style enforcement is in essence no different from any other form of corruption, as it embodies brazen abuse of public power.

For the crooked enforcer, the "confiscation" of some 36 bottles of cooking oil may not be a big deal compared with the public assets embezzled by the "big tigers", or senior corrupt officials.

But such an unclad disrespect for procedural legitimacy and enforcement restrictions certainly highlight the need to put public power in an institutional cage.
A worker at a steel factory in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, Sept 1, 2016. [Photo/China Daily]

The central authorities have made most progress on cutting industrial overcapacity out of five tasks they prioritized this year, according to Professor Yao Yang, Dean of the National School of Development at Peking University.

During a media conference on interpreting and analyzing the messages delivered by the Central Economic Work Conference, Professor Yao explained that its usually normal for stock to pile-up and zombie companies to emerge during an economic slowdown, so its remarkable the goal to reduce overcapacity in the coal and mining industry has been achieved, and even surpassed.

"45 million ton of steel and 250 million ton of coal have been cut as over-capacity to date. The goal of 2016 has been fulfilled ahead of time, according to the data reported by relevant central enterprises," as Xu Kunlin, deputy secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission, introduced the achievement of this area during a previous speech.

The central authoritys determination to cut over-capacity remains firm. NDRC, China's top economic planner, reaffirmed that cutting excess production capacity will be a priority next year, according to a statement issued after its annual work conference.

The authority said the focus would be broadened to other sectors. According to a previous speech, Yang Weimin, vice-minister of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Finance and Economic Affairs, said China will expand the scope of its overcapacity reduction program from steel and coal mining, to other sectors. He said, at the time, that a market-oriented approach must be adopted.

Margit Molnar, head of the China Desk of the Economics Department of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, also expressed her admiration for the central government's actions in this area.

In an interview with China Daily website she said: "As long as the excess capacity problem prevails, large amounts of resources that could be used more productively elsewhere are taken up, thereby reducing growth potential. It is also good news that the targets will go beyond coal and steel, as there are many more sectors affected and overcapacity needs to be worked off."

She also warned that special attention should be paid to the consistency and implementation of the policy, given the circumstances of previous years.

She recalled, "We also had high expectations in 2015, when the Economic Work Conference put cutting excess capacity as an objective. Soon after that, however, ambitions have come down when it came to quantifying the targets. We hope that this time ambitions will be higher and capacity cuts will be more effective."

Professor Yao Yang pointed to some potential challenges.

"Two aspects may bring further problems in future. Firstly, relying on administrative measures to cut overcapacity would lead to some unbalances. For example, recently some signs of economic recovery shows, while as the regulations and policies of cutting overcapacity still stands and imported steel products are also competitive, which leads to steel prices rising sharply. Secondly, the regional disparity has been caused when processing the cutting overcapacity. Maybe Hebei provinces capacity has been tightly controlled, while at same time a new steel mill is about to be built in Guangxi Province. That should be considered more comprehensively, authorities need to think about it."

Wang Yanfei contributed to this article.
A round table meet is held at the Ancient Town Summit 2016 in Guiyang on Dec 13. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

China has already achieved better soft power success at home than before. Recently I attended the Qingyan Ancient Town Summit in Guiyang, Guizhou province. Progress in building attractions such as ancient towns is accelerating and China Development Bank even funds financially sound proposals.

Although we dont think of the Forbidden City as an ancient town, it is the granddaddy of them all, and among the worlds most visited museums. Its dynamic director Shan Qixiang spoke about his successful efforts to make it more authentic, user-friendly, accessible and profitable.

Shan and Chinese Minister of Culture Luo Shugang announced on December 23 that a massive branch of the Forbidden City, Palace Museum, to give it its formal name, will be built in Hong Kong to promote Chinese culture through exhibitions, digital presentations, lectures and profitable merchandising.

These efforts, however, are not enough. Chinas soft power, winning heart and minds, has to be projected well beyond its borders. Palace Museum annexes and smaller Chinese Culture Centers should be built in other world cities just as the Guggenheim Museum has established numerous far-flung iconic branches. And as Ive written before, Beijing should reciprocate by establishing a Museum City, perhaps in the Olympic area, cooperating with the worlds best museums to solidify partnerships with them to further showcase Chinas rich culture at home and abroad.

With China investing in so many Hollywood studios, and building state-of-the-art production bases such as Wandas $8 billion Qingdao Movie Metropolis with its 30 sound stages and 40 percent budget rebates, films with Chinese actors and Chinese themes, together with Hollywood knowhow, will gradually gain increasing success in world film markets.

One underexploited area is the Confucius Institute/Classroom network of hundreds of centers and classrooms globally. These function primarily as Chinese language learning centers but their model is flawed. Since participating students obviously have an interest in China, they generally havent been afforded cultural enrichment or the opportunity to interact with Chinese of similar age and interests. With technology, this is so easy to do and is a gigantic missed opportunity to build lifelong bridges.

Tencents WeChat and its 1.1 billion users at home and abroad is the perfect tool for Chinese and foreign youngsters and teenagers to get to know about each other and each others cultures. They neednt even know a language in common given WeChats competent translation software.

Few foreigners even know Chinas rich and glorious history beyond perhaps its invention of fireworks and paper. But Cambridge Professor Joseph Needhams voluminous Science and Civilization in China catalogues hundreds of Chinese inventions not discovered in the west until hundreds of years later.

And few know about the voyages of Ming Dynasty Admiral Zheng He, who led his state-of-the-art ships on treasure voyages across 30 countries in Asia and Africa, and some say as far away as Australia and the Americas. According to Marco Polo, Zheng s treasure ships were mammoth with nine masts and four decks, capable of accommodating more than 500 passengers, as well as a massive amount of cargo. Their purpose: to project Chinese power and wealth to the outside world.

So why not create a floating museum ship calling at 21st century Maritime Silk Road ports among others. Imagine what an impression such a dramatic floating cultural center, high tech museum and massive ship would make. Imagine how many friends young and old would be inspired by it, awed by it, and have an indelible memory etched in their minds by it, and of the country that was master of the seas so many centuries ago.

More needs to be done along these lines to take the high road to reintroduce the world to Chinas past and future glories.

The author is a senior featured contributor of China Daily website.
Waterways bring Chongqing fresh beef Updated: 2016-12-26 By Sun Hui, chinadaily.com.cn

Thirteen tons of fresh beef from Australia arrived at Chongqing Lianglu Cuntan Tariff Bonded Zone on Dec 22, through waterways which combine sea freight and river freight, pioneering a new mode of water transportation in China.

The construction of the Three Gorges Dam has made this new mode of shipping possible, as ships can now navigate the length of the Yangtze River through a system of ships lifts and locks.

Sea-going ships loaded with tons of fresh beef from YIBEEF Co, an Australian fresh beef importer, departed Australias Brisbane Port on Nov 26. The cargo remained packed and was shifted onto river boats at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Port before arriving in Chongqing via the Yangtze River.

Thirteen tons of fresh beef from Australia get unloaded at the Chongqing Lianglu Cuntan Tariff Bonded Zone. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

Gu Yi, president of YIBEEF Co, claimed that the whole freight process kept a better preservation temperature of 0 to 2 C and took less than a month, helping keep the beef fresh. The new mode of transportation cut down freight costs by around 50 percent compared to air freight.

The company planned to import 100,000 Australian live cattle through Chongqing port, saving logistics costs of around 100 million yuan ($14.4 million) with the new transportation mode of combined sea and river freight.

The imported fresh beef is inspected by officials from Chongqing Customs and Chongqing Entry Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

It used to take two months for cargo from Australia to reach Chongqing, which was seldom a choice for long-distance freight, especially for time-sensitive products. But now, the new mode of water transportation allows fresh agricultural products and other time sensitive products to be shipped to Chongqing at a low cost, according to a manager from Chongqing Commerce Committee.

Edited by James Skinner
[Photo provided to China Daily]

The Rose Theme Park at Daxing District in Beijing is hosting a lantern festival until Feb 18 to celebrate the Spring Festival.

More than 30 sets of large-scale lanterns have been hung in the park, produced by craftsmen from Zigong, southwestern Chinas Sichuan province.

The craftsmanship is of national intangible cultural heritage.

The lanterns, together with modern light and shadow technology, illuminate traditional Chinese culture, fairy-tales and love story themes at the rose park.
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TOKYO - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he wants to send a message to the world during his visit to Pearl Harbor that Japan will never repeat the atrocities of past wars.

"The alliance between Japan and the United States is one with hope in dealing with various problems in the world," Abe said in a speech to the Japanese business lobby Keidanren.

"I hope this visit will be a historical one with leaders of Japan and the United States jointly visiting Pearl Harbor in a show of reconciliation," he said.

Abe's Dec. 27 visit with President Barack Obama comes 75 years after the attack that thrust the United States into World War Two.
TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor which will culminate with a final summit with outgoing US President Barack Obama on Tuesday will see the Japanese leader take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument where thousands of US sailors and marines were killed in a surprise attack by Japan on Dec 7, 1941.

It was this sneak attack that was a catalyst for the United States to join World War II and emerge victors with the eventual nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that forced Japan's unconditional surrender, a historical fact that to this day does not sit well with some rightist factions with significant political sway here and wholesale revisionist intentions.

The visit to Pear Harbor by Abe, which was previously hailed by the foreign ministry here as being the first by a Japanese prime minister, is in fact not, according to latest government saying. Some political observers thus question the ministry's own understanding, or at least, publicization of its own history, as Japan is, under Abe's leadership, aggressively trying to have its historical wrongdoings rewritten, or, better yet, forgotten.

"When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes his visit to Pearl Harbor, just after Christmas, it will be a dovish act that masks a hawkish intent," said political watcher Joji Sakurai, in a recent article on the matter.

"Pragmatism appears to be tempering Mr. Abe's rightwing instincts, which include an alarming penchant for historical revisionism regarding wartime Imperial army depredations. Yet it may be argued that this very pragmatism is driven by a conservative agenda," Sakurai continued.

"Mr. Abe's dream is to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, drawn up by the US under postwar occupation, so allowing the country to have a real army. The thumping majority in parliament's upper house that the prime minister won in July has allowed him to test the waters on achieving that goal," added Sakurai.

Sakurai and other experts on the matter have been quick to point out that Abe's Pearl Harbor trip will come with no apology for Japan's savage attack in 1941 and is, shrewdly, a duplicitous move by the hawkish leader to earn bonus points at home from the electorate, particularly following the disappointing outcome for Japan following Abe's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Abe will also be able to appease his ultra-rightwing backers by sticking to a revisionist agenda and not apologizing for Japan's wartime atrocities, not just regarding Pearl Harbor, but all the countries before, during and after WWII, who were brutalized by the Imperial Japanese Army, while simultaneously showing Japan's renewed commitment to its alliance with the US as future ties remain equivocal under the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.

This multi-faceted strategy, in fact, has not been denied by Abe, who will also be looking to up his support rate ahead of an imminent lower house election, after which the rightist leader will further his plans to remilitarize Japan with a "clean historical slate" by way of a referendum on revising the nation's pacifist constitution.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second from left, bows at the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park in Honolulu, Hawaii, US on Dec 26, 2016. [Photo/IC]

HONOLULU - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday stopped at several memorials in Hawaii, one day before he will visit the site of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor during a trip intended to show a strong alliance between his country and the United States.

Abe made no public remarks and stood in silence before a wreath of flowers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a memorial to people who died while serving in the US Armed Forces.

Abe, joined by two of his Cabinet members, bowed his head before wreaths of white flowers and greenery laid at the feet of stone monuments at Makiki Cemetery in Honolulu dedicated to Japanese who settled in Hawaii in the 1800s.

The crowning event of the trip comes Tuesday, when Abe and US President Barack Obama will visit Pearl Harbor, the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the United States into World War II. Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is spending his winter vacation there.

Japanese leaders hope to send a unity message as well to President-elect Donald Trump, who triggered concerns before his Nov 8 election by opposing the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and threatening to force allied countries to pay more to host US forces.

Abe's visit will come seven months after Obama became the first serving US president to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped an atomic bomb in the closing days of the war in 1945.
Wreckage recovered from the Black Sea at the crash site of a Russian Defense Ministry plane in Sochi, Russia, Dec 26, 2016. [Photo/IC]

MOSCOW -- Divers have recovered the wreckage of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft that crashed Sunday into the Black Sea after take off from the resort city of Sochi, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

The divers have already raised to the surface two elements of the steering unit, which have been identified by their serial numbers as those belonging to the crashed plane, the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

The fragments were found at a depth of 30 meters and some 1,700 meters off the coastline, he said, adding that debris of the crashed plane was scattered on the territory with a radius of around 500 meters.

Over 3,500 people, as well as 45 ships, 12 airplanes, 10 helicopters, three drones and several deep-submergence vehicles are currently participating in the search and rescue operation.

The ill-fated Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after take off from Sochi early Sunday morning.

Ninety-two people -- 84 passengers and eight crew members -- were aboard the plane. Most of them were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as nine Russian journalists. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.

Russia held a nationwide day of mourning on Monday. Flags were flown at half-mast at the signature buildings and government workplaces in Moscow. People laid flowers in front of the Moscow headquarters of the Alexandrov Ensemble.

The Defense Ministry denied reports that some of the crash victims were seen wearing life jackets.

The authorities have ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, saying the main reasons of the crash may be technical failure or pilot errors.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev said the flight recorders of the aircraft remain intact.
KIEV -- The ceasefire which took effect in eastern Ukraine on Saturday has brought a relative calm to some areas in the conflict-ravaged region over the weekend.

Still, the rival sides accuse each other of ignoring the truce, raising worries of a possible resumption of full-scale hostilities.

In the small town of Mariinka in the Donetsk region, which lies on the frontline between government troops and independence-seeking insurgents, guns fell almost silent despite the sporadic sounds of small arms being fired.

The residents and soldiers living in the town, tired from months of artillery shelling, pay little attention to the shots.

In the meantime, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the security situation in some areas along the frontline was far from peaceful during the weekend.

Insurgents carried out 33 attacks on positions held by government forces on Sunday, injuring five soldiers, said Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the ministry.

Meanwhile, insurgents said government troops carried out 189 attacks on their positions, using tanks, grenade launchers and small arms.

It is noteworthy that no death has been confirmed in the conflict-torn region in the past two days, while in the previous week both sides have reported multiple combat fatalities.

On Dec. 21, the Contact Group on the Ukraine crisis, which held a meeting in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, called on the conflicting parties in eastern Ukraine to begin a comprehensive, steady and definite ceasefire starting from midnight local time on Dec. 24.

The conflict between government troops and rebels in eastern Ukraine has been raging since April 2014, claiming some 10,000 lives.

The previous rounds of truce efforts have repeatedly failed, with the two sides accusing each other of ceasefire violations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem November 13, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

JERUSALEM -- Israel on Sunday summoned the envoys of countries that supported a UN resolution demanding an end to the settlements, while suspending some international diplomatic ties and coordination with the Palestinians.

Speaking at the cabinet's weekly meeting, Netanyahu told the ministers to "minimize" meetings and travels to the states that backed the resolution in the UN Security Council on Friday, and with which Israel has diplomatic relations.

The foreign ministers of the 12 countries will not be accepted for visits in the Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Ministry, he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu, who is also acting foreign minister, instructed the foreign office to summon envoys of these states for a reprimand meeting in Jerusalem.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman instructed the Israeli Coordinator of the Government's Activities in the Territories to cease all meetings and talks with senior Palestinian officials, as another mean of rebuke.

The moves were part of a "diplomatic and economic price" that Netanyahu vowed to exact from countries which supported the historic motion.

The vote, passed by a 14-0 majority, with the United States abstaining, demands Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem."

It states that the settlements, constructed by Israel on lands it occupied in 1967, has "no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law."

The Palestinians hailed the move, with Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, telling Israel's Walla news site that he hopes the resolution will help reignite the long-stalled peace talks.

Israel reacted furiously, immediately rejecting the motion and slamming it as an "anti-Israeli" move.
NEW DELHI - Indian police has arrested four men on charges of gang-raping a US tourist in New Delhi in March this year.

"On Monday, we arrested the four suspects -- a tour guide, a driver, a tourist bus helper and a hotel employee -- in connection with the incident after the American woman flew down to the Indian capital and filed a police complaint on Dec 3," a senior police official said.

The woman did not approach the Delhi Police soon after the incident in March as she had gone into depression and went back to America.

The woman claimed that she had come to Delhi on a tourist visa in March this year and was staying at the hotel when the incident took place. The tourist guide and his four friends came to the woman's room one day, shared drinks with her and then took turns to rape her.

"We will ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime get the strictest punishment and charge-sheet will be filed as soon as we get all the evidence," the police official said.

This is not the first case of gang rape of a foreign national in the Indian capital. In January 2014, a Danish woman was gang-raped by a group of men at knifepoint near the New Delhi railway station.

Scrutiny of sexual assaults in India has grown since the 2012 fatal and brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old medical student by six men on a moving bus in the national capital.
US President-elect Donald Trump talks to members of the media at Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, US, December 21, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - From Brexit and Donald Trump's win in US presidential race to Matteo Renzi's defeat in Italian referendum, the year 2016 witnessed a cluster of "black swans" events in the Western world featured by evident social cleavage and institutional defects.

Rooted deep in the Western democratic systems, such flaws as reassessment-needed election systems were fueled by social media, a revolutionary phenomenon, and triggered unexpected changes, said observers both inside China and abroad.

They believed that these are just a beginning and predicted increasing instability into 2017 against the backdrop of fragile economic recovery, potential terrorist attacks, the worst refugee crisis facing Europe since World War II, among other challenges.

It is also worried that Trump's foreign policy stances and military posture, coupled with the sweeping of populism in Europe, sow uncertainties in global political domain and may hinder the trend of globalization.

IMMANENT CAUSES

The Western society has long showed disintegration between the establishment and non-establishment, political elite and grassroots, native citizens and immigrants.

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, told USA Today earlier this month that there is immense amount of anger at the established ways of doing things, and more anger in politics. He said a whole group of people feel ignored by those in power.

Jim O'Neill, a famous economist who has created the BRIC nations acronym, said "the policy elite of the past 25 to 30 years have lost the ability to connect with normal people."

Fabrizio Francisi, Italian geopolitical analyst, said referendum as a direct democratic tool has come into problems, and its disadvantage and role need to be reassessed.

"Direct democracy is dangerous sometimes," he said, adding that the concept of so-called popular sovereignty usually distorted the notion of representative democracy.
PEARL HARBOR - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his condolences on Tuesday to the people who were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, after visiting the memorial to the sunken battleship USS Arizona.

"President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the prime minister of Japan I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who have lost their lives here," Abe said.
Bowalley Road Rules



The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.

So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.

These are based on two very simple principles:

Courtesy and Respect.

Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.

Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.

Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.

However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.


(Photo : Getty Images) China has taken a critical note of new the US Defense bill that seeks to enhance military cooperation between Taiwan and the US. The bill has been signed by outgoing President Barack Obama.

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China has lodged protest with the United States after outgoing President Barack Obama signed a US defense bill that aims for close US-Taiwan military alliance. The defense bill, enacted as "National Defense Authorization Act," suggested that the "US Department of Defense" must conduct senior military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.



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China's Foreign Ministry immediately took critical note of Taiwan's inclusion in the defense act and issued a statement on late Sunday.



"We urge the U.S. side to abide by its promises made to China on the Taiwan issue, stop U.S.-Taiwan military contacts and arms sales to Taiwan, to avoid damaging Sino-U.S. ties and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," the ministry said.



The ministry reiterated that Taiwan is an integral part of the Mainland China and any issue pertaining to Taiwan is its internal matter.



The sensitive issue of Taiwan has been a dominant topic between the US and China ever since Donald Trump's stunning victory in the US presidential election last month.



Analysts said that Trump's overture towards Taiwan is a mere extension of his tirade against China that dominated his month-long election campaigns.



Barely weeks after his unexpected victory, the Republican gave Chinese leadership a hint of his proactive diplomacy by accepting a phone call from the Taiwanese president. This unprecedented act was quickly followed with Trump openly questioning US' commitment to the 'One China' policy in a news interview.



Trump's proposal visa via Taiwan surprised many foreign analysts, who thought that the US president-elect would wait until his official coronation before taking calculated risk against China.



The US has a very complicated relation with self-ruled Taiwan. It does not officially recognize the island nation but has been one of its prominent military and defense equipment suppliers. The Taiwanese leadership considered military relation with the US as immensely critical for countering any future aggression from China.



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Tagschina, Taiwan, China and U.S., U.S and Taiwan, U.S Defence Bill, Cross-Strait Relations
(Photo : Getty Images) At least 21 Chibok girls have returned to their families for Christmas after a successful negotiation with the Islamist group Boko Haram.

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The 21 Chibok girls who were released by Islamist rebel group Boko Haram have joined their families for Christmas.



The girls were released in October after Switzerland and the International Red Cross struck a deal with the radical Islamists. They have been since held in a classified location by the Nigerian government for debriefing.



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"I never knew I would return home," 22-year-old Asabe Agoni said, adding that she had long lost hope of ever seeing her family again.



At least 276 students had been kidnapped by the Boko Haram, and the whereabouts of about 197 of them are still unknown. Negotiations for their release are still ongoing.



Many of the kidnapped girls were Christian and were forced to convert to Islam. They were also compelled to marry their kidnappers during their kidnap ordeal.



Recently, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said that the country's armed forces had driven the Boko Haram from their last stronghold in the Sambisa forest.



"The terrorists are on the run and no longer have a place to hide," the president announced.



Speculations had been rife that some of the girls are being held in the forest, after a small number of girls who had managed to escape mentioned it.



While congratulating the army for their successful Sambisa operation, Buhari also said that every effort is being taken to rescue the girls who remain in the hands of the Boko Haram.



The Nigerian army has managed to recapture huge areas of territory from the violent rebel group.



The group, whose leader Abubakar Shekau has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is estimated to have killed 15,000 people during a seven-year war. They still carry out suicide bombings in Northern Nigeria and in neighboring Cameroon and Niger.



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(Photo : Getty Images) Pakistans prominent politician Imran Khan said its political party has no issue on China's CPEC project but rather on the current government.

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Pakistan's Imran Khan reassured again that his political party had nothing against the $46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, the prominent politician said on Sunday at a public rally in the village of Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) where his hordes of supporters gathered.



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However, Khan, who heads the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said that he is certainly against the way the Nawaz Sharif government is handling the ambitious project. Khan is especially critical about the way the federal government was secretively handling the CPEC contract, adding that the agreement must be made public.



He also reminded the public of Sharif's promise that the western route in the CPEC project would be completed first and KP would become a huge beneficiary in the project.



"But now we came to know that the province is being deprived of its due share from the CPEC," he said.



Khan later predicted that the multi-billion dollar economic corridor would change the fate of Pakistan.



Khan's reassurance on the CPEC project came barely two months after he lend his crucial support to the ambitious project in an hour-long meeting with the Chinese ambassador. The meeting was held amid media reports that Khan was trying to sabotage the CPEC project in a bid to defame the Pakistani government.



The Pakistani politician told Chinese ambassador, Sun Weidong, that he considered the economic corridor project immensely important for Pakistan's economic development and described the project as a "game changer" for the region.



The CPEC has been widely hailed as the most important infrastructure project in Pakistan's history as it aims to connect Pakistan's Gwadar port in Balochistan with China's insurgency prone Xinjiang province.



After years of construction, the revamped Gwadar port was officially inaugurated last month by Sharif.



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TagsImran Khan, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC, China and Pakistan
(Photo : Getty Images) China has relaxed rules and regulations on foreign investment to lure businessmen to invest in the country.

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Despite China's efforts in opening up its market to entice more foreign investors, economic analysts said on Monday that the step may be a little too late given the impending assumption into office of US president-elect Donald Trump who has been throwing his trade tirades against China.



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China's economic planners have been taking market-opening steps to lure foreign investors into the country, but analysts said Beijing would be having a difficult time with a hostile administration ready to assume office in Washington.



Beijing's economic agencies have announced this month that they have opened new industries to foreign investment and have relaxed regulations restricting foreign investment in certain sectors.



Top Destination



After it lost its position as the world's top destination for foreign investment to India last year, Beijing said it will have to work double time to regain the status despite the challenges it is currently facing in its economy.



China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that among the various sectors it has opened to foreign investors for the first time were lithium mining, electric vehicle batteries, railway, and transportation.



Many analysts said Beijing's relaxation of the foreign investment rules and regulations failed to tackle the business needs of foreign investors and would not result in the economic boost that China so badly wants.



Trade War



"China has only superficially opened up more sectors to foreign investment. The broader environment is still highly restrictive, with wide swaths of the economy either off limits to foreign investors or with ownership caps that require foreign investors to engage in joint ventures with Chinese partners," Scott Kennedy, an economic expert at a Washington think tank, said.



Another challenge that Beijing is facing in its foreign investment opening measures is the current China-US trade dispute, analysts pointed out.



This month, President Barack Obama blocked the sale of a German chip manufacturer to a Chinese company citing national security. In another incident, a US trade agency blacklisted Taobao, the online retail site of Alibaba's group of companies, for selling fake goods.



Analysts said China would be facing tougher trade action once Trump assumes office as obviously seen in his choice of head of the National Trade Council, a known anti-China critic, Peter Navarro.



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Tagsforeign investment, economic planners, trade war, Sino-US trade relations, National Trade Council head Peter Navarro, Taobao, china
(Photo : Getty Images) Ambassador Karlov (on the ground) was shot and killed by a member of Ankaras riot force, Mevlut Altintas, (right).

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Turkish interior minister said that the assassination of Andrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Ankara, was a meticulously planned and premeditated murder and that the crime was not a result of the killer's initiative or personal vengeance.



The ambassador was shot dead as he was delivering his speech at the opening of an exhibition dubbed as "Russia in the Eyes of Turks" at an art gallery in Turkey's capital Ankara on Monday.



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Initially, top Turkish government officials have been hasty to accuse the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) of executing Karlov's assassination in an apparent move to jeopardize ties between Russia and Turkey.



However, Konstantin Kosachev, the head of Russia's Upper House International Relations Committee, said that it is too early to make conclusions, adding that Russia's goal "is to find out the truth, not use the incident for some political gain."



On Saturday, Turkey's interior minister, Suleyman Soylu, once again revived the theory that the Russian ambassador's assassin, Melvut Mert Altintas, was linked to FETO.



"At this stage, we have clearly defined a relationship with the terrorist Fethullah Gulen movement," the minister said, adding that the assassination was clearly planned. The minister revealed that investigators are trying to trace Altinta's link to terrorist organizations both inside and outside the country.



Earlier this week, Turkish media reported that when the police raided on Altinta's house, they found books related to FETO and Al-Qaeda. According to the assassin's father Israfil Altintas, his son's behavior changed after he was befriended by a man identified as Sercan B at the police academy.



The FETO group is led by American-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government believed that the group was behind the failed coup attempt on July I5. The Turkish government also claimed that the group has extensive contacts in the country's military, police, and judiciary.



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TagsRussia, Turkey
(Photo : Getty Images) During a state visit to the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he does not have any plan to militarize the disputed islands on the South China Sea.

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The United States intelligence agencies are convinced that the numerous surface-to-air missiles that China recently shipped to its Hainan Island in the South China Sea will soon be moved to the country's disputed man-made islands.



According to anonymous military officials, moving the missiles to the islands will be in line with China's declaration that it want to protect the three airstrips on the islands.



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The missiles, currently residing on Hainan Island, are a combination of short-, medium-, and long-range weapons. They include one battalion of the advanced SA-21 long-range missile system, which is based on the fourth-generation Russian software. It is capable of hitting aircraft from as far away as 250 miles.



According to the US military officials, there could be as many as 500 surface-to-air missiles on Hainan Island.



"The location is only temporary," the officials said, adding that the Hainan island location is only a training location before the missiles are moved early next year.



China's latest deployment of military armaments comes only days after Beijing agreed to return an underwater research drone captured in the South China Sea to the United States.



The Pentagon had accused a Chinese Navy ship of stealing the drone despite objections from the American oceanography crew operating in international waters.



China has also deployed surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island on the South China Sea.



During a visit to the United States last year, China's President Xi Jinping said that he does not plan to militarize the islands.



Ties between China and the United States have been strained lately, especially after US President-elect Donald Trump held a phone conversation with Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-Wen.



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TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, china, President Xi Jinping
(Photo : Getty Images) Russia, China, and Pakistan are concerned over the growing of the ISIS in Afghanistan.

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A meeting among top Foreign Ministry officials from China, Pakistan, and Russia will be held in Moscow on Tuesday. The meeting will review what the three countries see as a growing threat posed by Islamic State (IS) extremists based in Afghanistan.



"This is an existing forum for undertaking informal discussions on issues of regional peace and stability, including the situation in Afghanistan," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nafees Zakaria, said.



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Officials from the three countries said that the efforts by IS affiliated groups to establish a presence in Afghanistan drove the three countries to action. However, Afghanistan's Ashraf Ghani-led national unity government is reportedly skeptical of the motives behind the Moscow meeting, for which it was not invited.



Russian officials, however, insisted that the "working group on Afghanistan" is one of the many initiatives that Moscow has undertaken with regional governments, including Kabul. They want to develop a wider partnership to contain IS influence.



The three participants said that the talks will also try to come up with ways to bring peace between the Taliban and the Afghan government. The three governments maintained covert communication channels with the Taliban.



Russian and Pakistani officials said that US-led military campaigns have not weakened the Taliban. According to the officials, the military offensives have instead created ungoverned areas where terrorist groups such as Daesh can establish their operations.



Last week, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, told the UN Security Council that the worsening situation in Afghanistan has allowed IS fighters to flee Syria and seek refuge in the war-torn country. He said that his government has information about the presence of IS camps and save harbors in Afghanistan, adding that at least "700 terrorists have already arrived (in Afghanistan)."



Churkin dismissed Afghan and US concerns over Russia's ties with the Taliban, saying that Moscow's contacts with the insurgents are limited to the task of providing security to Russian nationals living in the country. He added that Russia is trying to move the Taliban towards joining the process of reconciliation in Afghanistan.



Future meetings could also involve Iran.



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TagsIslamic State group, Russia, Taliban insurgents
(Photo : Getty Images) Nepal will conduct its first ever joint military exercise with China in the first week of February. The joint military exercise has reportedly left India quite nervous.

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Nepal will conduct its first ever joint military exercise with China on Feb. 10, in what is apparently a beginning of a new chaper in the Sino-Nepal military engagement, senior military officials told Nepalese media.



The military exercise, named as Pratikar-1, will focus on horning the skills of Nepali soldiers in coping with hostage situations involving international terror groups.



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The plan to hold joint military exercise was apparently one of the main talking points during Nepal's army chief General Rajendra Chhetri's visit to Beijing in March. Both countries had resolved to enhance their military ties during the visit.



Traditionally, the Himalayan nation has shared close military ties with neighboring India, with whom it has signed several military agreements and treaties.



India Uncomfortable over Sino-Nepal Military Exercise



Meanwhile, signals from the Indian government suggested that India is not happy with Kathmandu's decision to go for a joint military exercise with one of its regional rivals.



India is likely to see the decision as a setback to its effort to mend ties with Nepal under the new Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who took over the office after anti-Indian PM Khadga Prasad Oli resigned earlier this year.



Nepal's ambassador to India, Deep Upadhyay, quickly jumped in to cool the nerves of Indian leadership, explaining that India has nothing to worry about since the military exercise would be on a "small scale."



"We have done similar exercises with some other countries, too, in the past to be able to deal with the Maoists," the ambassador told Times of India. He also assured that Nepal has a special relationship with India and that relationship will remain intact despite the military exercise with China.



China's Quest for Increasing Influence in Nepal & South Asia



Over the years, Chinese leadership has been on a mission to increase its footprints in Nepal and other South Asian countries, where India holds considerable influence.



Analysts said that Beijing wants to challenge New Delhi's supremacy on its own backyard as it looks to cement its position as a "rising global power."



China has inked several infrastructure deals worth billions of dollars in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Foreign experts claimed that Beijing aims to dislodge India's supremacy in these countries through its mega infrastructure projects.



Except for Pakistan, India enjoys huge influence in almost all the South Asian countries.



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TagsIndia, China and Nepal, India and China, China and Nepal Military Exercise
(Photo : NASA) Chinese spy Rongxing Li with a NASA Mars rover.

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China has revealed ambitious space exploration plans calling for landing its Mars probe by 2020, a feat some claim would have been impossible for China's immature Mars exploration program without critical data provided by the Chinese spy, Professor Rongxing Li.



China's new space exploration plans revealed in a white paper released on Dec. 26 details its plans until 2022. It calls for landing a probe on the far side of the Moon by 2018 and the launch of China's first Mars mission -- a Mars landing mission -- by 2020.



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China's space program is an adjunct of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), one reason why the United States has refused to cooperate with China on the International Space Station, and in other space projects.



China said it's determined to speed up the development of its space industry. China's military-managed and funded space program has made remarkable strides since 2003 when it sent its first astronaut or taikonaut, Col. Yang Liwei, into space aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft.



The extremely bold goals of China's first mission to Mars will see a lander touch down on the Red Planet and return samples to Earth -- a feat no country has ever successfully achieved.



That China has the gall to attempt an almost impossible goal for its maiden Mars mission confirms the key role played by Chinese spy Rongxing Li in fast tracking China's Mars exploration program.



Li, an esteemed and world famous NASA scientist, disappeared in September 2015 taking with him invaluable NASA secrets about its Mars program.



Li, 57, returned to China and while nothing much has been heard from him since he vanished, the incredible strides taken by China's Mars program indicates his key role in this quest.



Li was praised as a genius for his work in numerous NASA projects. These included the 2003 Mars Exploration Rover mission and the 2009 lunar orbiter currently orbiting the moon. He was participating scientist on both missions.



A world renowned specialist in geospatial information, remote sensing and photogammetry, Li's work at universities in the U.S., China and Canada led to decades of critical acclaim.



In 2014, Li was named a Fellow of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) in 2014 for his work in mapping sciences. ASPRS praised Li for his "unique leading position in planetary mapping."



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Tagschina, Mars, Professor Rongxing Li, People's Liberation Army, NASA, NASA curiosity rover
Business / Local

by Staff Reporter

Zimra

Gamuchirai

Makwangudze

Zimratu

Zimratu

Beitbridge

Zimratu

Chirenda

Zimra

Zimra

Zimra

Zimratu

A fierce fight is looming at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority over lie detectors as moves to fish out corrupt officials intensify.The first group of workers' will be subjected to tests between today and Friday.According to state media,acting human resources and administration directorinformed workers through a letter to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Trade Union () on 19 December."Reference is made to the discussion between thepresident and the head of employee relations over the phone on the 17th December 2016."During the meeting held on the 19th of August 2016, you were informed that the authority had received a directive from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to carry out polygraph testing of employees."We would like to inform you that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority is now proceeding with the implementation of polygraph testing of employees transferred to strategic locations in the authority starting with those transferred toBorder Post".However,president Johnsaid the tests are a violation of workers rights."We note with grave concern your continuous violation of the workers' rights by initiating a polygraph process unilaterally."The union would also want to categorically deny ever discussing withthis subject on the said date of 19 August 2016."The issue discussed on the date in question was the abrupt transfer of workers by"The union would want to remind you that your intended actions are a serious and direct violation ofworkers.is thus urging you to stop your planned tests and engage the union on this matter."
North Korea is cracking down on Christians and anything to do with Christianity in any way it can. North Koreas supreme leader, Kim Jong-un, issued a mandate stating that North Koreans must celebrate the birthday of his grandmother in place of the birth of Christ.

ChristianToday.com reports that Kim Jong-uns grandmother, Kim Jong-suk, was born on Christmas Eve in 1919. She was a Communist activist and the wife of North Koreas first dictator, Kim Il-sung.

She died in 1949 under mysterious circumstances and has since been known as the Sacred Mother of the Revolution.

Kim Jong-un has mandated that North Koreans pay their respects to his grandmother by visiting her tomb.

This celebration of Kim Jong-suk is also to take place instead of a Christmas celebration which is forbidden in North Korea.

Even though Christmas decorations and activities are forbidden in the country, some businesses in Pyongyang, the capital, have erected Christmas trees, although they were not decorated in order to draw less attention.

North Korea is number one on Open Doors 2016 World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is the worst.

It is estimated that 70,000 Christians are imprisoned in the country for religious or political reasons.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: December 27, 2016
Two young business owners in New York City have decided to use their Christmas tree business to help those in need this holiday season.

Siblings Dan and Morgan Sevigny are the founders of Christmas Tree Brooklyn, a company that delivers Christmas trees to homes and businesses as well as picks up discarded trees after Christmas for a fee of $49.

The Sevigny siblings say that many people and businesses make use of their services because they not only deliver or pick up Christmas trees, they clean up after transporting the trees.

According to The Huffington Post, this year the Sevignys wanted to use their business to do more for their community so they decided to partner with Covenant House, a homeless shelter for young adults which provides basic necessities for those in need.

First, they donated a Christmas tree to Covenant House for residents to enjoy.

Some of the young adults at the shelter touched a real Christmas tree for the first time in their lives.

It feels warm, comfortable, 18-year-old Destiny told Fox News. I feel like its home.

Christmas Tree Brooklyn is also offering to pick up items such as food, clothes, and toys when they pick up discarded Christmas trees and take these needed items to Covenant House. Thus far, they have raised almost $20,000 worth of goods for the shelter.

Its so important to help those in need in your community, Dan Sevigny told The Huffington Post. And this is such an easy way to do that.

The Sevignys also seek to help the environment through their business. They take discarded trees to mulching events where they are recycled.

We grew up in a national park in Maine, Sevigny said. So weve always had a strong sense of environmental responsibility.

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: December 27, 2016
On December 23, 2016, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2334, which calls on Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The US chose to abstain, allowing the resolution to become international law.

Why is this resolution so important to Israel, the US, and the world? As a frequent traveler to Israel and the Middle East, this development is especially personal for me. Lets survey the basic facts, then Ill offer my view on this vital issue.

What are the settlements?

The West Bank refers to an area slightly larger than Delaware situated on the western bank of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. According to the CIA, it is home to 2.7 million Palestinians. Along with the Gaza Strip (an area along the Mediterranean coast), it is land Palestinians intend for their future state.

Israel captured the area during the 1967 Six-Day War. In 198081, Israel annexed East Jerusalem as well. Some 630,000 Israelis now live in 123 government-authorized settlements and about 100 unauthorized outposts in the West Bank and twelve major neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. Israel views these settlements as security measures to protect its people.

However, many nations consider the settlements illegal. They are also seen as a major impediment to the two-state solution whereby Palestine would become an independent state alongside Israel. Critics claim that Israel is stealing land Palestine needs for its state.

Israel has offered to give Palestinians land equivalent in size and value to the areas used for its security settlements. But many living on land that would be ceded to Palestine are opposed to such an arrangement, and Palestinian leaders continue to insist on borders determined in 1967.

Why is this vote so significant?

American support for UNSC resolutions critical of Israel is far from unprecedented. Such resolutions have commonly been adopted under previous administrations. What makes this resolution different?

UNSC 2334 declares all Israeli settlements and buildings in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal. America had vetoed all such resolutions before Friday. US officials explained that they acted in response to recent acceleration in settlement growth and the lack of progress in peace talks with the Palestinians.

What is my view?

I respectfully disagree with the Obama administrations decision to permit the UN resolution, for three reasons.

One: It affects historically Jewish and Christian areas.

As Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz notes, UNSC 2334 applies not only to the West Bank settlements but also to historically Jewish areas taken by Jordan in 1948 and liberated by Israel in 1967. The Western Wall, the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City are all part of East Jerusalem and thus under the scope of the UN resolution. Since it demands that Israel completely cease all settlement activity, it would forbid renovation or even maintenance of these areas.

Two: It will not promote peace.

Susan Rice, the current National Security Adviser, noted when she was serving as UN ambassador in 2011 that it is unwise for the [UNSC] to attempt to resolve the core issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians. The UN is famously aligned against Israel and has been so for many years. Thats why the US has never attempted to use the UN to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

UNSC 2334 will escalate antagonism between Israel and its opponents. Relations with the US are obviously at their lowest point in years. Israel is presently reprimanding countries that supported the UN vote. Further diplomatic tensions are likely.

Three: It sends the wrong signal to Israels enemies.

On May 14, 1948, the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed the creation of a new State of Israel. That same day, US President Harry Truman recognized the new nation and its government. From then to now, American support for Israel has been vital to the Jewish state and its security.

Any suggestion that American support for Israel is wavering could embolden Israels enemies. With ISIS making advances in Egypt and Syria, the growth of Hezbollahs military ambitions in Lebanon, and the continued threat of Hamas from the Gaza area, these are problematic times for Israel.

I believe that the US should continue to pursue peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Both peoples are loved by God and deserve to live in security. But I also believe that the US should employ strategies that will make a practical and positive difference in the Middle East. UNSC 2334 will not make such a difference and could make things worse.

It is ironic that conflict in Israel emerged over the Christmas weekend. Clearly, the Prince of Peace is the only One who can bring lasting peace to the human heart. Robert Murray McChenye noted: If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.

As Jesus prays for our peace, we should pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6). Please take a moment now to intercede for spiritual awakening in the Middle East and around the world.

Publication date: December 27, 2016
A reported backlash against Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore has turned into an outpouring of support for one of President-elect Donald Trumps leading evangelical critics.



Dr. Russell Moore does a good job of leading the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission [ERLC] in speaking out on the moral issues of the day in the public square, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., a Southern Baptist, told me. He called the ERLC an effective advocate for family values, life, religious freedom, and other issues important to Baptists.



On Dec. 19, The Wall Street Journal reported on a possible backlash against Moore for his steadfast and public opposition to Trump on moral grounds. Some critics want to withhold funds from the ERLC over claims Moore denigrated Trump supporters, not just the candidate. Some questioned how effective Moore would be in the Trump era.



Hes going to have no access, basically, to President Trump, said pastor Jack Graham, a former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president, who in 2004 urged Christians to vote convictions rather than voting our pocketbooks or political parties.



The Wall Street Journal story quoted three other critics: William F. Harrell, a former member of the Southern Baptist Conventions executive committee, Georgia pastor Brad Whitt, and Dallas pastor Robert Jeffresswho called Christians who did not vote for Trump namby-pamby, panty-waisted, weak-kneed fools.



Since Monday, hundreds of supporters, many of them young Baptist pastors, have rallied to Moores side using the #IStandWithMoore hashtag. Those tweeting with it include: pastor and author Ray Ortlund, musician Derek Minor, evangelist D.A. Horton, The Gospel Coalitions Justin Taylor, Lauren Chandler, wife of Texas pastor Matt Chandler, and Liberty University professor Karen Swallow Prior.



Dr. Moore embodies the Baptist principles I have been taught most of my life: fidelity to Scripture, evangelical commitment to the spread of the gospel, and a passion for bringing Biblical principles to bear on public and private life, Prior, an ERLC research fellow, wrote in an email. In my lifetime, the Southern Baptist voice has never been so strong in American public life as it has with Dr. Moores leadership.



Moore became ERLC president in 2013, making him the lead ethics and public policy advocate for the 15.8-million member SBC, after Richard Land held the position for 25 years. While Moore has engaged on a myriad of issuesincluding vocal support for the international religious freedom bill President Barack Obama signed into law last weekhes become best known for his public opposition to Trump and the evangelicals who supported him.



To back Mr. Trump, these voters must repudiate everything they believe, Moore wrote in a September 2015 New York Times op-ed.



In a blog post, Moore apologized to those he offended and said he aimed his criticisms at a handful of Christian political operatives who had confused the definition of the gospel: Theres 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.



Despite the complaints, defunding the ERLC appears unlikely. The commission faced defunding threats during Lands tenure, and although a handful of state conventions discussed pulling funds during fall meetings, none moved to do so.



The ERLC receives most of its roughly $4 million budget from the SBCs cooperative program. Only 1.65 percent of the program goes to the ERLC, but the organization is almost completely dependent on it: Baptist missions boards have annual offerings and the six seminaries have development offices, but the ERLC is prohibited from directly soliciting churches for additional funding.



Some supporters have turned this weeks controversy into an ERLC fundraiser, tweeting instructions on how to donate.



Thirst for more like Moore is wide and deep among <50s, tweeted Southern Baptist Eric Teetsel, president of the Family Policy Alliance of Kansas, who reported an uptick in donations to the ERLC this week.



Only the ERLC board could remove Moore from officea prospect that also appears highly unlikely.



David Dockery, a longtime Southern Baptist and president of Trinity International University, said the current conflict reflects years of residual tensions within the denomination. He said Moore has worked in a most commendable manner to strengthen the SBCs efforts in the areas of racial and intercultural reconciliation. We now pray for new efforts toward reconciliation and consensus-building for the good of the work of the ERLC and the SBC at large.



While some critics have said Moore has not accurately represented his constituency, Lankford, the first elected official to speak out in Moores defense, said that is not his job.



The ERLC is not the political campaign arm of the Southern Baptists, said Lankford, a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The ERLC is a moral and ethical voice in a challenging political and social culture.

Courtesy: WORLD News Service

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: December 27, 2016
A Christian student is suing a Georgia college for allegedly keeping him from exercising his right to free speech after the school censored his evangelistic actions as "disorderly conduct."

Chike Uzuegbunam filed the lawsuit earlier this month challenging Georgia Gwinnett College officials at a US District Court in the state.

In July, Uzuegbunam wanted to distribute religious pamphlets outside the library in the campus, but was told to stop since the location was not among the college's free-speech zones. Also, he lacked a permit to hand out religious literature which needs to be reviewed by the administration.

The school rules also requires students to request the use of the "free speech area" which occupies 0.0015% of the campus space, three days ahead of proposed activities.

"To use these speech zones, students must submit a 'free speech area request' form three days in advance and submit any publicity materials and literature they want to distribute to administrators for review," reads the 76-page lawsuit filed with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom.

The following month, he complied with all the regulations and distributed fliers from a small patio area, which is one of the two permitted zones. However, the campus police stopped him after receiving "some calls from people complaining."

"The First Amendment guarantees every student's freedom of speech and religion. Every public school -- and especially a state college that is supposed to be the 'marketplace of ideas' -- has the duty to protect and promote those freedoms," said ADF Legal Counsel Travis Barham.

"Students don't check their constitutionally protected free speech at the campus gate. While touting commitments to 'diversity' and 'open communications,' Georgia Gwinnett College confines the speech of students to two ridiculously small speech zones and then censors the speech that occurs in those areas," he continued.

Uzuegbunam is seeking an end to restrictions on free speech, and "nominal damages" from the school.

"Free speech on campus should be a no-brainer," Barham told The Blaze. "It could be a religious or non-religious topic. It could be political expression. But in this day and age, anything could cause someone to get upset."
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

ZimPF United Kingdom chapter has said In Zimbabwe, it took political leaders to be dismissed from the Zanu PF party to realize they have been stuck in an abusive relationship for many years.The party said when a wife or a husband for that matter is in an abusive relationship, most of the time they do not realize that they are."They generally believe that it is their duty to withstand the abuse in the interest of either maintaining the marriage or being there for the children. (ndongarira vana vangu) It is when that wife or husband through an act of God or other somehow exits that relationship that they question themselves as to why they withstood such a relationship for so long. An abusive political culture where power and all authority is held by one individual and every other political player takes instruction in a top down political system," said ZimPF."The Zanu PF party has dominated the Zimbabwean political landscape ever since the ill-fated unity accord between Zapu and Zanu PF in 1987. The unity accord is seen by many as an emotive unity accord as it saw the former PF Zapu surrendering all autonomy and its very existence to Zanu PF. President Mugabe has grown older and his strangle hold on party and government has had no letting off. As it is natural in any political system, agitation to succeed him has become stronger and political players even those closest to him found themselves in the political wilderness after they sought to exercise their Constitutional right, the right to contest for political power."ZimPF said December 2014 saw Robert Mugabe again rock the unified government when he fired the vice president of the country Dr. Joice Mujuru and several cabinet ministers in yet to be proved allegations."In an unconstitutional move that went contrary to the spirit of the Zanu PF constitution, no due process was offered to those dismissed and the party constitution was amended to give sweeping dismissal powers to President Robert Mugabe. President Mugabe is now Zanu PF and every other party member is at his mercy. He fires and hires at will  "he appoints and disappoints". The same sweeping powers saw the appointment of a virtually unknown PF Zapu cadre, Phelekezela Mphoko to the post of vice president as a cosmetic attempt to hold up the unity accord," said ZimPF."The dismissal of the Zanu PF cadres including former vice president Dr Joice Mujuru could not have come at a better time. It was a welcome release from an abusive relationship in which power was yielded by one person. Their in-trays were merely directives of pre-determined instructions from one person. As we celebrate unity day, Zimbabwe, we need to be mindful of the fact that the most important form of unity now available to us, is the unity of purpose. We need to unite as a people and rid Zimbabwe of an abusive political culture. It is time the people of Zimbabwe become the primary drivers of policy."ZimPF said the people of Zimbabwe have to now put in place a responsible government that puts people first."We need to rid ourselves of a top-down system of government that dictates to the people instead of ruling with their consent. Zimbabwe, as 2016 beckons, let us be mindful of the fact that Zimbabwe will rise and fall on our watch," ZimPF said."We need a unity of purpose to rid ourselves of a system of government that has impoverished millions of our people, forced many citizens to flee into the diaspora in search of a better way of life. Zimbabwe will rise and fall based on how we act. The People First project offers Zimbabweans a unique opportunity to unite under the leadership of a tried and tested leader who has been the vice president of Zimbabwe for over 10 years. The People First project does not question were you have been, it questions were you want to go."ZimPF said Zimbabwe more than ever needs a unity of purpose."A unity that puts People First. A unity to create strong political institutions that will rid Zimbabwe of the political culture of patronage, BUILD strong institutions based on PEOPLE FIRST, BUILD strong institutions that are not corruptible. As we look into the future let us be mindful of the fact that only we Zimbabweans can change Zimbabwe. No one else will do it for us. Only us Zimbabweans can say enough is enough. We are tired of an abusive government and an abusive political culture. It is time and the time is now. Happy Unity Day Zimbabwe," ZimPF said.
The Obama administration on Friday abstained from vetoing a United Nations Security Council measure to declare Israeli settlements on east Jerusalem illegal.

The United States avoided voting in favor of the resolution but at the same time refrained from canceling it, which calls Israeli settlements in West Bank and East Jerusalem as "flagrant violation of international law."

"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 of the resolution," said Samantha Powers, US Ambassador to the UN.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that in the aftermath of the resolution the country is reconsidering its ties with the United Nations.

The resolution is not expected to impact the real situation, but is a taken as a gesture inclined not in favor of Israel.

In previous decades, the United States had been protecting Israel in the council by vetoing decisions against the settlements. This time, the measure passed 14-0, with the conspicuous absence of vote by the US which had used its veto power in the past.

"I instructed the Foreign Ministry to complete within a month a re-evaluation of all our contacts with the United Nations, including the Israeli funding of U.N. institutions and the presence of U.N. representatives in Israel," Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks.

"I have already instructed to stop about 30 million shekels ($7.8 million) in funding to five U.N. institutions, five bodies, that are especially hostile to Israel ... and there is more to come," he continued.

UN chief Ban Ki Moon's spokesperson defended the resolution.

"The resolution is a significant step, demonstrating the Council's much needed leadership and the international community's collective efforts to reconfirm that the vision of two States is still achievable," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"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," he added. "The United Nations stands ready to support all concerned parties in achieving this goal."

Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the UN voiced his disagreement with the resolution, saying that the resolution goes against history.

"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," he said.
Centerville Elementary School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, canceled a play called "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens after receiving complaints from parents over a line which says, "God bless us, everyone."

The school has been hosting the play annually for over 40 years.

The classic line, "God bless us, everyone," was character Tiny Tim's line, and was apparently offensive to two parents.

"I was very surprised because it's going on for decades, and it's a tradition at the school that everyone looks forward to," local resident Jane Burkhart told TV station WHTM.

Principal Tom Kramer said that one of the factors behind the decision to cancel the play was a "desire to be respectful of the many cultural and religious backgrounds," but he maintained that the real reason was excess of instructional time taken by preparation of the play which interfered with studies.

"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," Kramer said. "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."

He further said it was a rumor that involvement of "one or two parents" influenced the school's decision to cancel the play.

"I hate to see traditions taken away in my own community," said Randy Wenger, chief counsel for the Independence Law Center, told Charisma News. "What does this communicate to our kids? It says that anything religious is really not appropriate in public life. It's something you're supposed to keep to yourself."
Woori Church of New York will be on a mission trip from December 27 to January 2 in Haiti. The church, after starting its Haiti mission trips in 2013, has chosen the busiest time of the year during the holiday season to embark on the mission trip, carrying the love and gifts of Christmas to the Haiti natives.

This year, the mission team comprised of 13 people, and the team will be participating in relief efforts and evangelism, particularly to orphans. The church prepared gifts for the orphans in Haiti on December 18, and the gifts include letters and a photo of the members of Woori Church.

The orphans must actually spend the end of the year, which includes the Christmas and New Year holidays, alone, said Won Tae Cho, the senior pastor of Woori Church. During a time when there are less people visiting these places, we have been planning short term mission trips to share the love of Christmas each year.
Here are the Election 2016 stories that CT readers read most:

10. The Theology of Ted Cruz

Questions raised by the candidates God-and-country vision.

9. Sho Baraka: Why I Cant Vote for Either Trump or Clinton

Both candidates fail to address the heart concerns of black evangelicals like me.

8. Why Donald Trump Threatens to Trump the Gospel

There is something more important than our views of the controversial candidate.

7. James Dobson: Why I Am Voting for Donald Trump

The founder and president of Family Talk explains why his decision centers on the future of the Supreme Court.

6. Trump Won. Here's How 20 Evangelical Leaders Feel.

Pastors, authors, and others weigh in on 2016 election.

5. Whos Who of Trumps Tremendous Faith Advisers

The Republican candidate finally names his campaigns evangelical connections.

4. The Theology of Donald Trump

Four words that reveal what his followers really believe.

3. Should Christians Vote for the Lesser ...

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Here are CTs most-read news blogs that kept readers clicking this past year:

20. Lecrae Makes a Major Career Move to Join Beyonce, Adele, Pharrell

Evangelicals favorite rapper signs with one of America's most popular music labels.

19. Only One-Third of Pastors Share 'Left Behind' End Times Theology

Here's how 1,000 Protestant clergy disagree on the rapture, the Antichrist, and other points of eschatology.

18. Terrorists Kill Seven Missionaries in Burkina Faso

After freeing one of two Australian missionaries, African al-Qaeda reveals it kidnapped Swiss missionary also.

17. Methodists Wont Vote on Gay Marriage This Year After All

With a narrow vote to pass same-sex questions to committee, Methodists band-aid over rumors of split.

16. Died: Gary Smalley, Author Who Helped Christians Make Love Last Forever

Speaker was one of Focus on the Family's favorite experts on marriage and relationships.

15. How Perry Noble's Alcohol Firing by NewSpring ...

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home Faith Billy Graham says death is not the end for terminally ill Christians

Famed evangelist Billy Graham encouraged terminally ill Christians not to give up on life and look at their situation from God's point of view so that they may realize that death is not the end for them.

In his advice column in the Bowling Green Daily News on Dec. 20, a terminally-ill woman told Graham that the doctors have predicted that this year's Christmas might be her last due to an inoperable tumor. She said that she is having a hard time trying to pretend like she's enjoying the holidays.

"How can anyone in my situation be cheerful at Christmas?" the woman who is known only as Mrs. L.L asked.

Graham encouraged the woman to try to change her attitude and look at her own life from God's point of view.

"How does God see you? He sees you first of all as someone He deeply loves. You are not insignificant; you aren't something for whom death is the end," the evangelist wrote.

"Listen: God loves you! He loves you so much that 2,000 years ago He came into this world in the person of His Son, so you could have your sins forgiven and go to be with Him in Heaven forever," he continued.

The evangelist invited the woman to turn to Christ and let him come into her life in case she has not done so.

He urged the woman to ask God to make her an instrument of His love and peace for the people around her. He pointed to the Bible verse in Romans 15:13 which stated, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him."

Graham, who celebrated his 98th birthday last month, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1992. He retired in 2005, but he attended the re-dedication of the Billy Graham Library in 2010. An estimated 3.2 million people have come to accept Christ at his invitation during his rallies. He once told his son, Franklin, that he might live to be 100. His wife, Ruth, died in 2007 at the age of 87.
home World Christians in Baghdad celebrate Christmas in fear after deadly attack

Christians in Baghdad celebrated Christmas in fear due to a recent attack that left at least three people dead and four wounded.

According to Reuters, a gunman opened fire on two Christian-owned shops that sell alcohol on Friday in the city's Ghadeer neighborhood.

The police said that three people were killed, but local activists are claiming that the actual death toll is higher. Rayan al-Kildani, the commander of a Christian militia known as Babiliyon Brigades, said that eight Christians and one member of the Yazidi sect was killed in the attack.

Vian Dakhil, a lawmaker from the ancient Yazidi sect, also reported the same death toll.

"The criminals should be brought to justice as soon as possible so that their punishment serves as an example to those who dare kill civilians in the name of religion," Dakhil wrote on Twitter, as reported by Reuters.

Maria Polos, a retired schoolteacher in the district where the attack occurred, said that she and other Christians are fearful of celebrating Christmas in public.

"We fear getting killed like those in the alcohol shops," she told Reuters. "We feel we're aliens in this country," she added.

Christian-run shops that sell alcohol were frequently targeted by Shi'ite and Sunni militants during the years of the sectarian civil war in Iraq. Christians in the city are able to celebrate Christmas in churches, but many are still fearful because they feel that the authorities do not give them adequate protection.

Meanwhile, a Christian group has threatened to withdraw its forces from the battle against ISIS if the authorities fail to reveal information about the perpetrators of the attack.

"We ask security in charge of Baghdad and police to disclose who's behind the crime, and also arrest the criminals," said Rian Chaldean, Secretary General for the Babylon Movement.

"If security officials failed to disclose the ones who committed the crime... we will withdraw some of our heroes from the battle zones against Daesh," he added, referring to the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

The Babylon Movement is composed of Christian Chaldean fighters that are mostly embedded with Shiite forces who are engaging ISIS in the south and west of Mosul, according to Rudaw.
home US ISIS releases holiday attack list of U.S. churches

Thousands of churches in the United States appear on Islamic State's list of targets to attack during the holiday season.

According to Vocativ, the attack list was disseminated on the terror group's social media group called "Secrets of Jihadis." A user who uses the name "Abu Marya al-Iraqi" announced in Arabic the Islamic State's plan to get the group's lone wolf jihadists to "turn the Christian New Year into a bloody horror movie."

The same announcement was also distributed using the Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, wherein manuals on how to prepare and use weapons were also provided. The series of messages came with a hit list of churches across the country.

In a separate post, a member called on "the sons of Islam" to attack "churches, well-known hotels, crowded coffee shops, streets, markets and public places." The member also included a directory of addresses in the United States, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.

It may be recalled that in June, ISIS released a hit list of more than 8,000 names and addresses, although no known attacks stemmed from the list, Vocativ reported.

The Islamic state has claimed responsibility for several acts of terror in Europe and the Middle East over the past few months. One of such is the Dec. 11 Cairo church attack that claimed 24 Christian lives.

"Let all the disbelievers and apostates in Egypt and everywhere know that our war on polytheism is ongoing, and that the State of the Caliphate a with permission from Allah the Almighty a will continue to spill their blood and grill their bodies, so that there is no sedition and the religion is all for Allah," the Islamic State stated in relation to the Cairo bombing, as translated by SITE Intelligence Group.

The Islamic State also claimed involvement in the Christmas market attack in Berlin last Dec. 19, where 12 people were killed and 48 were injured.

Across the U.S. and Europe, authorities have prepared to counter and respond to terror attacks during the Holiday season.
home World Israeli PM orders reassessment of UN ties after vote on settlements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the reassessment of its ties to the United Nations after the Security Council voted on a resolution last Friday condemning the settlements in the West Bank.

"I instructed the Foreign Ministry to complete within a month a re-evaluation of all our contacts with the United Nations, including the Israeli funding of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in Israel," said Netanyahu, according to Reuters.

He stated that he has issued orders to cut 30 million shekels ($7.8 million) in funding to five U.N. institutions that he deemed to be "hostile" to Israel.

The 14 countries that voted in favor of the resolution were Russia, China Britain, France, Angola Egypt, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Netanyahu reportedly ordered the Foreign Ministry to suspend working ties with 12 of the countries on Sunday. Venezuela and Malaysia are not affected by the Prime Ministers orders because it does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, Times of Israel reported.

An official said that the activities involving the embassies of the 12 countries will be suspended, and the ambassadors of the said countries will not be received at the Foreign Ministry.

The U.S., which traditionally uses its veto power to block resolutions that condemn Israel, has abstained from the vote. Netanyahu accused U.S. President Barack Obama of "shameful ambush" at the U.N due to the abstention.

The Prime Minister summoned U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro to ask for "clarification" regarding Washington's failure to use its veto.

Ten ambassadors from states that voted in favor of the resolution were also summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Sunday. President-elect Donald Trump condemned the vote on Saturday and said that peace negotiations will be much harder because of the resolution.

Netanyahu said that he is looking forward to working with the president-elect.

"The decision taken at the U.N. yesterday was part of the swan song of the old world biased against Israel," said the Prime Minister.

"We are entering a new era and as the President-elect Trump said yesterday, this is going to happen much quicker than people think. In this new era there is a high price for those trying to harm Israel," he added.
home US Man wrongfully imprisoned for 31 years gets $75, seeks state compensation

A Tennessee man, who was imprisoned for 31 years for a crime he did not commit, is seeking state compensation. He only received $75 to start a new life after DNA testing proved that he did not take part in the rape that he was accused of.

In 1997, a Memphis woman identified Lawrence McKinney, then 22, as one of the individuals who broke into her home and raped her. He was convicted the following year and received a sentence of 100 years' imprisonment for rape and 10 to 15 years for burglary.

Results of the DNA test of the bodily fluid found on the woman's bed linens cleared McKinney of the charges in 2008, and in 2009, he was released by the Tennessee Department of Corrections, with a check of $75 to help him start over.

In September, The Tennessee Board of Parole made recommendations that McKinney's request for exoneration should be denied, arguing that the absence of his DNA in the rape scene was not convincing enough of his innocence. It was the second time that McKinney failed to get a recommendation for exoneration from the board.

Exoneration would have made McKinney eligible for state compensation amounting to around $1 million for the decades that he served prison time for something he did not commit.

According to Melissa McDonald, spokesperson for the Tennessee Board of Parole, as reported by CNN, "The (parole) board reviewed all relevant information related to the crime, conviction and subsequent appeals, as well as all information provided by the petitioner." She added, "After considering all of the evidence, the board did not find clear and convincing evidence of innocence and declined to recommend clemency in this matter."

The board, however, is not a decision-making body. Mckinney's fate, as far as getting exonerated is concerned, lies in the hands of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

The Tennessean reports that according to David Raybin, one of McKinney's lawyers, they will ask request directly from the governor to exonerate his client while pointing out that the latter has received tremendous public support.

McKinney, now married, finds support from his community at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee.

"Although I've spent more than half of my life locked up for a crime I did not do, I am not bitter or angry at anyone, because I have found the Lord and married a good wife," McKinney said, according to CNN. "All I ask is that I be treated right and fair for what has happened to me. I didn't do nothing, and I just want to be treated right," he added.
If human error was somehow eliminated, it's possible that 19 out of 20 cyber breaches may not have taken place at all, making
home US Marine who was court-martialed for posting Bible verse takes case to Supreme Court

Monifa Sterling, a U.S. Marine who was court-martialed for refusing to remove Bible verses displayed at her desk, has petitioned for an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday.

Sterling, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was ordered by a superior officer to remove a printed paraphrase of Isaiah 54:17, which reads, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." The officer, who felt that the verse was confrontational and antagonistic, tore it down when she refused to remove it.

She was court-martialed after she reprinted the verse and reposted it in her workspace. Sterling, who represented herself during the prosecution, argued that the order was unlawful because it violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a federal law that protects religious expression.

She was convicted and dishonorably discharged from the military, which makes her ineligible for veterans benefits.

According to Daily Caller, the case reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. The court ruled against Sterling, arguing that the order is not a "substantial burden" on religious expression.

Sterling's lawyers from the First Liberty Institute argued that the court should have adopted a broader definition of "substantial burden."

"Ms. Sterling posted the Bible verse as an expression of her faith a an expression which should have been protected under RFRA," said Mike Berry, the Institute's military affairs director.

"We hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will take her case and uphold her right to religious freedom, setting a clear precedent for all service members and their future expressions of faith within our military," he added.

The justices are expected to vote in early 2017 whether to take on the case. Former solicitor general Paul Clement of Kirkland and Ellis is serving as the leader of Sterling's legal team.

According to Chris Rodda, a senior research director at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), Sterling faced several other charges at her court martial.

In a blog post published by The Huffington Post, Rodda said that Sterling was found guilty of failing to go to her appointed place of duty and disrespecting a commissioned officer.

Rodda claimed that Sterling was also charged with disobeying direct orders to wear a proper uniform.
home US Pregnant waitress gets $900 tip just in time for Christmas

A pregnant food server received an unexpected early Christmas gift a a hefty $900 tip.

Sarah Clark, who is two weeks away from delivering her baby, was working her shift as a waitress at Pita Jungle in Phoenix, Arizona. She got the shock of her life when a customer had left her a tip that is much more than the usual 20 percent of the total bill that she gets. Instead, she was left a $900 tip on a $61.30 order. On the bill, the customer wrote, "This is God's money a He gave it to us so we could give it to you. God bless."

"You always hear about these [things] happening, but you never expect to be the recipient of it," Clark told KPHO, adding that it's a huge help for her family. Clark shared she expects money to be tight for her and her fiance, who is due for surgery to treat an injury and will not be able to work for a while. Additionally, Clark will be going on maternity leave soon and would not have a source of income for a while. She is expected to deliver her baby on January 8, 2017.

Sarah told local news outlets that the money will go to paying bills and rent, and it will help her buy some time to stay at home and care for her newborn.

The generous tip came from a patron whom Clark had served before. Clark told KPHO that she had shared with the generous customer some of her financial woes. Another interesting bit of fact is that Clark noticed that the lady who gave her the tip also happens to be pregnant.

"It's always wonderful when somebody can do something so generous, or something to really help somebody else's situation out. I plan to pay it forward as much as I can too."
home Faith Russell Moore congratulates Chick-fil-A for nabbing America's most popular fast-food chain title

Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, lauded Christian-owned Chick-fil-A for topping the list of America's most popular fast-food chains based on Foursquare app check-ins.

Business Insider released an animated map showing the most visited fast-food restaurants in the United States based on Foursquare check-ins. Chick-fil-A placed first in 24 states, dominating the south and the southeast of the U.S. map.

Moore took to Twitter to congratulate the fast-food chain, posting, "This is, to say the least, impressive. Congrats @ChickfilA!"

Chick-fil-A, which is known to strictly uphold Christian values, has been involved in controversies on several occasions.

In 2014, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy was quoted by Forbes magazine saying he was "guilty as charged" in supporting traditional marriage, explaining, "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

Earlier this year, New York City Major Bill de Blasio and Councilman Danny Dromm called for a boycott of the store, which was then about to open a store in the city. In a press conference, De Blasio claimed that Chick-fil-A espoused "strong anti-LGBT message by forcing their employees and volunteers to adhere to a policy that prohibits same-sex love."

Chick-fil-A responded to the accusation by issuing a statement asserting that the restaurant chain did not discriminate based on an individual's "beliefs race, creed, sexual orientation or gender."

The statement further read, as reported by The Christian Post, "We are a restaurant company comprised of 80,000 individuals who represent different backgrounds and beliefs, and we are all focused on offering great food, service and hospitality."

Despite being involved in controversies, family-owned Chick-fil-A has enjoyed success. Back in June, it ranked highest among fast food restaurants in the United State for customer satisfaction, based on the American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant, which made use of responses from 5,000 diners in March.
home World Turkish president wants Donald Trump's support in driving ISIS out of Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed his intentions to ask Donald Trump for support in driving out the Islamic State from Syria after the president-elect's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Turkish troops are currently fighting against ISIS in the terror group's stronghold in al-Bab in northwest Syria. The president suggested that the troops could move first to the town of Manbij before they head toward Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS.

Erdogan has expressed his country's readiness to fight against the jihadists in Raqqa if Trump is willing to block Kurdish troops from participating in the operation. Kurds have taken control over much of Syria's north in the past five years, and Turkey is concerned that Kurdish separatists might call for an establishment of a new state.

"We will not allow the formation of a new state in northern Syria," said Erdogan, according to Bloomberg. "After Manbij, Raqqa is next if we can join hands with the U.S.," he went on to say.

Kurdish forces recently recaptured Manbij from ISIS. Turkey considers Kurds as terrorists due to their links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The government claimed that the PKK's fight for autonomy has killed nearly 40,000 people, cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and has prevented Turkey from joining the EU.

"We will declare a safe zone cleared from terrorism in northern Syria," said the Turkish president.

Erdogan also revealed his plans to discuss the establishment of a no-fly zone over northern Syria with the Trump administration. Turkey has previously called for a no-fly zone in the same area, but the proposal did not get the backing of the Obama administration.

Turkey has deployed ground and air forces to Syria beginning in late August as part of Operation Euphrates Shield, which is aimed at retaking areas held by ISIS and securing the southern borders of Syria.

Turkish forces have clashed with Kurdish YPG militia forces on multiple occasions, and many analysts have claimed that the true goal of Euphrates Shield is to suppress Kurdish enclaves in Syria.

Erdogan stated in late November that one of the goals of the operation is to "end the rule of the tyrant al-Assad," referring to the Syrian president. He backtracked on the statement after Moscow asked him for clarification.
Fr Tom Uzhunallil Pleads With Pope, Indian Government For His Freedom

The Indian government has promised to do everything it takes to secure the freedom of kidnapped priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil after the release of a video by his Islamic State captors.

Uzhunnalil, from Bangalore, was kidnapped by fighters who overran a home for elderly people in Aden, killing four nuns. In all, 16 people died in the attack. Unfounded rumours that he was to be crucified on Good Friday spread rapidly despite denials by the Church and the Indian government.

Now a video released by his captors shows Uzhunallil looking frail and pleading with the government and Pope Francis for his release. He says he is "very sad and depressed" and that not enough is being done because he is Indian and not European.

He says in the video: "If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value."

He adds: "Nothing has been done by Pope Francis or the Bishop of Abu Dhabi to get me released, in spite of contact being made by my captors... Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating."

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded to the video, saying: |"You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country. With regard to safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities. Efforts continue in this regard."

External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter: "I have seen the video from Fr. Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity."
Indonesia Will Try Christian Jakarta Governor For Blasphemy

An Indonesian court will proceed with a controversial blasphemy trial against Jakarta's Christian governor, who is accused of insulting the Qur'an, a judge said on Tuesday, a case seen as a test of religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation.

A panel of judges rejected a call by lawyers defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politician's human rights and breached procedures.

"The exception by the defendant will be considered and decided by the court after examination of all evidence. The defendant's exception is not accepted," said Judge Abdul Rosyad.

A tearful Purnama denied at his first hearing on December 13 that he had intended to insult the Qur'an while he was campaigning ahead of elections in February for the governorship of Jakarta, capital of the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

Hundreds of white-clad Muslim protesters chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) outside the court in north Jakarta on Tuesday and called for the jailing of the governor, known by his nickname Ahok.

A smaller group of his supporters were also present outside the courthouse, which was flanked by lines of police.

The presiding judge on the panel, Dwiyarso Budi Santiarto, said the defence could appeal to a higher court if they did not agree with the decision to proceed with the case.

Purnama, after consulting his lawyers, told the court he would consider doing so.

The governor was named a suspect after hundreds of thousands of people, led by Muslim hardliners, attended rallies in recent months calling for his arrest.

Blasphemy convictions in Indonesia can carry a jail term of up to five years and nearly always result in conviction.

Amnesty International has criticised the law for hurting freedom of expression and for targeting religious minorities.

President Joko Widodo, seen as a Purnama ally, has blamed "political actors" for fuelling the protests, but declined to elaborate.

As governor, Purnama has won credit for cutting red tape and improving the performance of Jakarta's bloated bureaucracy. However, his abrasive language and insistence on clearing city slums has alienated many voters.

After suffering a slide in support in opinion polls, Purnama has rebounded to become the frontrunner again in the election race to lead Jakarta, according to a poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute earlier this month.

The next court hearing is scheduled for January 3 and will be moved to an auditorium in the Agriculture Ministry in the south of the city for security reasons, authorities said.
Kim Jong-un Forces North Korean Christians To Celebrate Grandmother's Birthday Instead of Jesus Christ This Christmas

Kim Jong-un, supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, has taken his dislike of Christianity to a whole new level this Christmas by forcing people under his regime to celebrate the birth anniversary of his grandmother Kim Jong-suk instead of Jesus Christ.

Kim Jong-suk was born on Christmas Eve in 1919. She was an anti-Japanese guerrilla and Communist activist, according to the New York Post. She was also the wife of North Korea's first dictator, Kim Il-sung, and former leader Kim Jong-il's mother.

Called the "Sacred Mother of the Revolution," she died under mysterious circumstances in 1949. Every Christmas, Kim Jong-un mandates North Koreans to pay their respects by visiting her tomb.

At the same time, Kim Jong-un has reportedly banned Christmas celebrations in North Korea. The dictator even threatened an all-out war back in 2014 when he found out that South Korea was planning to erect a huge Christmas tree along their border. The tree was never put up.

He has prohibited North Koreans from putting up Christmas trees as well. However, several people bravely stood up against the dictator's warnings and put up Christmas trees in the capital of Pyongyang. The trees were erected in upscale shops and restaurants but were stripped of any religious symbols so as not to incite the attention of government authorities.

Human rights organisations believe that the Pyongyang regime has about 70,000 Christians imprisoned over religious or political offences. The crackdowns reportedly began in the 1950s.

"The DPRK ostentatiously treats anyone of faith, but especially Christians, as hostile," Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at a U.S. think tank, wrote for Forbes Magazine in October. "Between 300,000 and 500,000 Christians are thought to remain in North Korea today. Refugees from the North report religious involvement ranging from 1.2 percent participating in to 5.1 percent witnessing secret religious activities."
New Battle For Mosul 'Within Days', Says US Army Source

Iraqi forces will resume their push against Islamic State inside Mosul in the coming days, a US battlefield commander said, in a new phase of the two-month-old operation that will see American troops deployed closer to the front line in the city.

The battle for Mosul, involving 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shi'ite militiamen, is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003. The forthcoming phase appears likely to give American troops their biggest combat role since they fulfilled President Barack Obama's pledge to withdraw from Iraq in 2011.

Elite Iraqi soldiers have retaken a quarter of Mosul, the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq, but their advance has been slow and punishing. They entered a planned "operational refit" this month, the first significant pause of the campaign.

A heavily armoured unit of several thousand federal police was redeployed from the southern outskirts two weeks ago to reinforce the eastern front after army units advised by the Americans suffered heavy losses in an Islamic State counter-attack.

US advisers, part of an international coalition that has conducted thousands of air strikes and trained tens of thousands of Iraqi ground troops, will work directly with those forces and an elite Interior Ministry strike force.

"Right now we're staging really for the next phase of the attack as we start the penetration into the interior of east Mosul," Lieutenant Colonel Stuart James, commander of a combat arms battalion assisting Iraqi security forces on the southeastern front, said in a Reuters interview late on Sunday.

"So right now, positioning forces and positioning men and equipment into the interior of east Mosul... it's going to happen in the next several days."

That will put US troops inside of Mosul proper and at greater risk, though James said the danger level was still characterised as "moderate". Three US servicemen have been killed in northern Iraq in the past 15 months.

James, speaking from an austere outpost east of Mosul where several hundred US troops are stationed, said the pace of the upcoming phase on the eastern side would depend on resistance from Islamic State.

"If we achieve great success on the first day and we gain momentum, then it may go very quickly. If Daesh fights very hard the first day and we run into a roadblock and we have to go back and go OK that was not the correct point of penetration, it may take longer," he said.

Integration

Further integration with the Iraqi troops  to what commanders described as an unprecedented level for conventional US forces  will help synchronise surveillance, air support and force movement, according to James.

"It increases our situational understanding. The man on the ground knows what's going on best," he said. "It's just better when they're on the ground talking to each other and saying, 'Hey, have you looked at that area over there? That's decisive terrain. Have you thought about putting forces there?'"

Mosul, the largest city held by Islamic State anywhere across its once vast territorial holdings in Iraq and neighbuoring Syria, has been held by the group since its fighters drove the army out in June 2014.

Its fall would probably end Islamic State's ambition to rule over millions of people in a self-styled caliphate, but the fighters could still mount a traditional insurgency in Iraq and plot or inspire attacks on the West.

A multi-ethnic city where up to 1.5 million people of a pre-war population of around 2 million are still thought to be living, Mosul is divided roughly in half by the Tigris River. The western section, which Iraqi forces have yet to penetrate, has built-up markets and ancient narrow alleyways which will complicate future advances.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had said he would win Mosul back by the end of this year, a deadline now certain to be missed. His commanders say their advance was held up by the need to protect civilians, fewer of whom fled than initially expected.

Bad weather has repeatedly delayed ground advances which rely heavily on aerial surveillance and air strikes.
School Lets Kids Sing Christmas Carol But Without the Christian References

To be inclusive of all religions and to adjust to a "changing world," a school in Sweden has decided to remove any references to Christianity in the carol "Now Light 1,000 Christmas Lights."

A grandfather was so disappointed with the decision made by Amal's municipal child and youth administration that he penned an open letter lamenting how society's influence has negatively impacted well-loved holiday traditions. "Our old Swedish Christmas traditions and carols contribute to bringing Christmas spirit. This is a tradition we should uphold," he wrote.

The lyrics with Christian references from the carol such as "born of the Lord Jesus Christ" and "a ray of God's love's light" have been removed. The grandfather is saddened by this, saying it diminishes the fact that Christmas is a religious feast. The phrase "star of Bethlehem" has even been changed to "star over all of us."

The grandfather said schools should "bring an end to this special treatment for newly arrived students," adding that "the idea was that [migrants] would be integrated into Swedish society and not vice versa."

"We shouldn't be afraid of our Swedish traditions. Soon we'll have none left," he concluded.

In response, Amal's municipal child and youth administration issued a statement explaining the school's decision to make "appropriate selection of verses from different songs and hymns." The administration explained that they wanted to allow "all students regardless of nationality and religion" to participate in the festivities, according to Breitbart News.

Replacing "Bethlehem" with "all of us" is actually a "commendable" move, the school explained, since "the wording then allows the star to shine on all of us."

"Protecting Swedish traditions is important, but raising their sights so that they have the courage to meet a changing world is another important task for the school and community to relate to," the administration added.
Seventh Christmas In Jail For Christian Mother Asia Bibi Facing Execution For Blasphemy In Pakistan

Christian mother Asia Bibi was forced to spend her seventh Christmas in a row in a Pakistani jail as she continues to fight against a death sentence for blasphemy.

Bibi is in the middle of a difficult and lengthy appeal against the sentence for execution she received in 2010 after being found guilty of blasphemy.

The mother-of-three was picking berries with Muslims in June 2009 when they accused her of insulting the Prophet Muhammad, a charge she denied.

Pakistan's Supreme Court was supposed to rule on her appeal in October when the senior judge scheduled to preside over the hearing unexpectedly resigned.

It is not known how long Bibi will have to wait until her appeal is brought before the Supreme Court once again, but religious iberty group International Christian Concern told The Christian Post it was hoping her case could be heard in 2017.

Human rights groups have strongly criticized Pakistan's blasphemy laws, claiming that they are misused against religious minorities.

Just last week, Amnesty International released a report in which it said that Pakistan's blasphemy laws were "emboldening vigilantes" who target religious minorities with false accusations. Blasphemy trials were described in the report as "unfair", with the authorities starting legal proceedings without any real evidence.

The report highlighted Christians who have experienced threats to their lives because of blasphemy allegations, including Rimsha Masih, who was 14 when she was accused of burning pages of the Qur'an. She was forced with her family to seek asylum in Canada.

"There is overwhelming evidence that Pakistan's blasphemy laws violate human rights and encourage people to take the law into their own hands. Once a person is accused, they become ensnared in a system that offers them few protections, presumes them guilty, and fails to safeguard them against people willing to use violence," said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International's Director of Global Issues.
'Star Wars' star Carrie Fisher has 'no idea' why Lord's Prayer ad was deemed offensive and banned in U.K.

In the new film "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," actress Carrie Fisher portrays the morally righteous General Leia (formerly known as Princess Leia Organa).

In real life, Fisher is every bit as strong and virtuous as her character.

When she found out that the 60-second Lord's Prayer advert was banned by the Digital Cinema Media (DCM), which handles chains like the Odeon, Cineworld, and Vue despite it being passed by the Cinema Advertising Authority and the British Board of Film Classification, she was furious. Fisher could not understand how the short film would offend moviegoers who would be watching "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

"I have no idea why they would do that," she told the Daily Mail UK. "Offended? No. People should get a life. I don't think it is offensive to have a 'power of prayer' advert before Star Wars."

Fisher, 59, compared the ad to a copy of Gideons Bible in a hotel bedroom. "I have never seen an advertisement like this, but if the theatre is like a hotel room, then they have every right to put up a power of prayer advert," she said. "It's advertising, so it has to be advertisers that are objecting."

Later, Fisher questioned her 698,000 Twitter followers about the prayer ban in the UK theatres. "Do you find this offensive?"

In response, Twitter user @mansizetrev tweeted: "I don't find it offensive... even if I did it shouldn't be banned. You can't ban everything that may offend someone."

Fisher also showed that she has quite the sense of humour when she retweeted a photo posted by another Twitter user showing a picture of Yoda with the meme: "Offended you are? A (expletive) I don't give."Yoda.
The Desperate Suffering Of Refugees In Hungary

Mustafa and his family are waiting in a Hungarian refugee centre when I meet them. With his mother, his uncle and his siblings, he is hoping to be granted permission to cross the border into Austria.

"It's dark the other side of the border," Mustafa tells me. He's not talking about a literal darkness, but rather the darkness of the unknown that awaits them. It has been more than nine months since he and his family left their home in Iran. Originally from Afghanistan, Mustafa's parents left the country before he was born, forced out by decades-old instability and conflict. The situation for many Afghan refugees in Iran has become untenable and the family made the difficult decision to leave. To reach Hungary they travelled through Turkey, then to Greece via the Aegean Sea, to Macedonia, and then through Serbia.

Mustafa recalls the complicated and confusing reality of his journey. Each country has different procedures and forms to be filled, different authorities to contend with, different ways of doing things and perhaps most telling, different forms of welcome  or not. As Afghans, Mustafa and his family are ineligible for EU relocation, which means that for now at least they are expected to either keep on waiting, or return home. It's an impossible and heart-breaking choice given all he and his family have endured to make it this far.

Mustafa uses a single word to describe the sea crossing from Turkey to Greece: "terrifying". It was only after two failed attempts that they finally reached the Greek shore. Twice their boat was turned back by Turkish coastguards. Mustafa describes the stampede to get on board. Sixty-five desperate passengers crammed into a boat built to hold 45, setting off into the midnight darkness.

What strikes me most as Mustafa recalls the journey is how he describes being forced to throw everything they carried with them into the sea in order to lighten the boat's load. Afterwards I reflect on what he shared. What would it feel like if I had been forced to leave behind my home and everything I owned? What if the few things I had carried with me, like family photographs, were also then lost to the sea? It is a darkness, and distress, that few of us can imagine.

Thoughts of light and darkness have remained with me since I returned from Hungary. Throughout the Bible we are instructed to bring light to dark places in the world. Refugees like Mustafa and his family, and the 65 million people in the world today who have also been forced to leave their homes and seek protection and sanctuary, know only too well what it means to live in a dark place.

At Christian Aid, and as Christians, we believe that there is the image of God in all people. All of us are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect, to be able to hope, to see light. Yet all too often, refugees receive neither dignity nor respect. Hope wanes as rich and wealthy nations turn their backs on people in need. Swathes of the UK media promote and perpetuate a dehumanising narrative to describe people seeking sanctuary. Our government continues to show a shameful reluctance to welcome more than the minimum number of refugees.

Earlier this year Christian Aid launched a campaign to Change the Story about refugees. As an organisation born out of the European refugee crisis in 1945, we are as committed now as we were then to stand up for people who are marginalised and demoralised, for those whose lives are marked by conflict and poverty, for those who experience injustice in whatever form. We are determined to tell a story that upholds people's rights, that challenges the toxic rhetoric, and that enables people who have been forced from their homes due to unimaginable suffering and impossible choices to believe that the light will come again.

Jenny Brown is Christian Aid's senior EU relations adviser. Find out more about Christian Aid's Christmas Appeal #Lighttheway by visiting christianaid.org.uk.
Police say a man dissolved his 26-year-old Tinder date in acid after she didn't have sex with him, according to multiple reports.

According to Attorney General Carlos Zamarripa Aguirre, Emmanuel Delani Valdez Bocangegra, 26, was arrested in Mexico City after human bones were discovered in garbage bags beside caustic soda and hydrochloric acid on his apartment balcony, a local news outlet reports.
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Ocean Grille & Beach Bar at 1228 Seawall Blvd. in Galveston has closed, the Galveston County Daily News reports.

The restaurant, which was opened with the help of some prominent Houston chefs, opened in the spring of last year.

Owner Randall Petitt told the Galveston paper that, despite a busy summer and fall, the restaurant didn't meet expectations. He said the business has been sold to investors.

SEABROOK: Famed Tookie's Burgers now has a seafood counterpart, Tookie's Seafood

According to the Daily News, the buyers will rebrand and reopen the restaurant as a new concept sometime next year.

Among the Houston talent who helped to open the establishment is Randy Evans, who now works as H-E-B's corporate chef.

"In Galveston, if you're only supported by tourists, you're not going to make it," Evans told Chron.com at the time. "You need the support of the locals."
When it comes to Christmas bonuses, bosses usually hand out $5 gift cards or a good ol' pat on the back. But one boss in Iowa is showing his appreciation in a big ... and tropical ... way.

The more than 800 employees that make up Bertch Cabinets in Waterloo, Iowa, will hit the Caribbean during a free cruise next month. The company announced the trip on the business' Facebook page.
The Missouri City city council will vote Jan. 3 whether to approve an ordinance that would begin development of a 95-acre tract of land near the Newpoint Estates and Creekmont communities.

The ordinance would change the zoning of the Missouri City property from Suburban district to Planned Development district, the first step in beginning to build on the property. This city council vote is the culmination of conflict that has lasted through the fall concerning the future of the land, during which city council has tried to find a balance between development and with nearby land owners' concerns about flooding and traffic.

Located off of State 6, south and west of Creekmont and north of Newpoint, the land is jointly owned by Larry B. Briggs, who owns a handful of area properties, and Alfred L. Deaton III. The engineering firm Jones and Carter, which submitted the zoning application on behalf of Ashton Woods, presented a schematic plan at a Sept. 6 Missouri City city council meeting of a 278-lot masterplanned community called Shipman's Cove for the property, composed of single-family homes on about a quarter of an acre each. The schematic plan also included an over 20-acre detention space.

At city council and planning and zoning meetings throughout the summer and fall, representatives from Jones and Carter said the development would not make flooding worse. Undeveloped land on the property - including the detention space - would handle the saturation, they said.

But that didn't alleviate concerns from Creekmont and Newpoint residents, who showed up at city council meetings in droves. They asked future development be consistent with the city's master plan for the area: estate homes reminiscent of those in Newpoint, on at least an acre of land each.

Those residents included Cindy Forney, who has lived on 10.5 acres in Newpoint for over 20 years. Forney wasn't sure she would like the country life when she moved to her home in Newpoint, which then was composed gravel roads, seven miles from the nearest grocery store.

Now, she says it's the best decision she has ever made. Despite its suburban location, Newpoint has the feel of a country retreat. It is the kind of community people rarely leave once they come, thanks to the close-knit neighborhood and the large properties, Forney said.

But during recent rains, Forney and her neighbors experienced flooding they had never seen before. About six acres of her property was under water, Forney said. The 100-year-old oak trees in her backyard were submerged about four feet. Neighbors' garages got a few inches of water.

Forney, and other Newpoint residents, chalk up the recent flooding to nearby development without proper drainage. She is afraid flooding will intensify if the land is developed as densely as Ashton Woods' proposal.

"We do have an issue," Forney said. "And it seems to be getting worse."

Residents demanded to see detailed drainage plans. Typically, those wouldn't be put together until a drainage study is conducted. That doesn't happen until zoning - which is what the Missouri City city council will vote on on Jan. 3 - is approved, said Scott McKinzie, a planner at Jones and Carter who was not directly involved in the project.

Once the zoning goes through, an engineering firm like Jones and Carter would conduct detailed studies in partnership with entities such as the city or the county. Concerns like the Newpoint and Creekmont residents' are pretty typical, McKinzie said. Most existing landowners fear new development will bring flooding and traffic. But the information from the drainage studies would inform development that would not worsen flooding.

"They're not going to approve anything that's going to be a detriment to adjacent neighbors," McKinzie said.

Newpoint and Creekmont residents have been fighting the development for months. In September, they thought they had succeeded.

Then, Missouri City city attorney E. Joyce Iyamu determined the ordinance needed affirmative votes from six of the seven city council members to pass. It's thanks to a city code that states if owners of 20 percent or more of the land within 200 feet of the property submit written protest of a proposed amendment, supplement or change to the area's zoning, three fourths of the city council members would have to vote in favor of the ordinance for it to pass. That's what the Newpoint and Creekmont residents did. City Council voted 5 to 2 for the ordinance on the first reading - the ordinance requires two readings to pass. That failed the three quarters majority rule.

Later, Iyamu said further research into the law changed her mind. Just a simple majority - four of the seven council members - were needed to pass the ordinance. Missouri City communications declined on behalf of Iyamu to explain what changed her opinion. However, Mayor Allen Owen said at a Dec. 19 city council meeting that the Suburban district zoning, which is what the area had, was the default for land annexed into the city.

Therefore, it's possible to view the change not as a zoning change but of the area's first zoning designation.

Concurrently, Missouri City was threatened with a lawsuit, which was discussed in closed session at a special city council meeting Nov. 21. Missouri City communications declined to comment on behalf of staff on the details of the suit.

Among protests from about 50 residents in attendance, Missouri City city council modified at a meeting on Dec. 19 the Sept. 6 meeting minutes to show the ordinance passed on the first meeting.

However, Mayor Allen Owen stated at a Dec. 19 meeting that the Suburban district zoning, which is what the area had, was the default for land annexed into the city. Therefore, it's possible not to view the change as a true zoning change, but rather as it's first zoning.

Civility broke down as council discussed the vote.

Owen tried to explain the change - "That wasn't something that we did just because we didn't like what happened that night" - and community members shouted out frustration.

"Recall, recall, recall," one muttered.

Council voted 5-2 to modify the minutes.

The second reading of the ordinance concerning the zoning change was also scheduled for Dec. 19. Before discussion or public comments could begin for the second reading, District A Councilmember Yolanda Ford tagged the item, which prohibits council from discussing or holding a public hearing on the item. The second reading will be pushed back until the next city council meeting, on Jan. 3

Ford did not respond to repeated requests for comment for why she tagged the item.

Newpoint and Creekmont residents lingered in the hallway outside of the Missouri City city council chamber for about 15 minutes after the reading of the ordinance was postponed.
D'Aundre Holmes Wilfork, son of Texans defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, faces a felony drug charge after he was arrested in Friendswood on Dec. 21, according to Galveston County records.

Wilfork, 19, was on the roster in 2016 for University of Houston, although he did not dress for any games, and previously played for the Friendswood High School Mustangs.
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Northwest Houston school districts are working to keep pace with technology upgrades for both students and teachers throughout the region.

Klein Independent School District is working to implement Future Ready 21 program to provide a computer to each secondary student in its district.

"Instructional technology tools allow students to access resources, to create their own information and products, and to be more engaged in their learning," said Stephanie Green, Klein ISD's director of Information Literacy. "It is also a powerful device to personalizing learning for every student."

As Klein Independent School District works to design and build its new high school, Klein Cain High School, technology has been a key focus.

"Klein Cain High School will be a 1:1 campus when it opens in August of 2017," said Klein Cain principal Nicole Patin said. "The campus will be very technology driven."

All classrooms in the new high school will be equipped with touch-screen interactive LCD panels, Patin said.

In addition, there will be collaborative areas throughout the campus that will have charging stations.

The library, or Learning Commons, at the new high school will also have a strong technology focus, Patin said. It will feature predominantly electronic media.

"The Learning Commons will also house an AV room that is accessible to all students; this room can be used for various projects on campus and will include pad-casters, go pros, a green screen and multimedia workstations for the students to utilize," Patin said.

The library will still also have hard copies of books available.

This spring, Klein ISD will have new leadership in its Information Technology department. The new Senior Executive Director of the IT department will be Vicki James and the district's new IT director is Chris Cummings.

"The immediate priorities for the IT department will be to continue the implementation of the 1:1 initiative to the four remaining intermediate campuses and the selection of the student and classroom technology for Klein ISD's newest high school, Klein Cain," James said.

This spring and summer, teachers and parents will be trained on the new devices for the Future Ready 21 program, Green said.

Tomball Independent School District has been using part of its $160 million bond referendum, Bond 2013, to fund technology upgrades at all of its schools, said Staci Stanfield, director of communications for Tomball ISD.

The district has invested $2.7 million in technology in classrooms district-wide, Stanfield said. That included the purchase of new Chromebooks for the district's 21st Century Learning Program.

And all teachers in the district received new computers, Stanfield said.

Additionally, the district used the bond funds to purchase 1,650 Chromebooks for students and an additional 255 Chromebooks for teachers.

Tomball ISD also upgraded its wireless infrastructure district-wide.

"Implementing new technology is part of our strategic plan," Stanfield said. "We're excited to integrate additional wireless technology that enables teachers to engage students in classroom lessons and deliver instruction in a format that enhances student learning."

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District will continue working through the 2016-17 school year on completing its final phase of upgrading the district's technology infrastructure, said spokeswoman Stephanie Migl. The district is also working to complete four new schools and major renovations at three schools.

During the 2017-18 school year, Cy-Fair ISD's technology focus will be on upgrading instructional technology, Migl said.

Magnolia Independent School District will add two class sets of Google Expeditions in 2017.

"This is a virtual reality set that allows teachers to take students on a 360 degree experience," said Denise Meyers, a spokeswoman with Magnolia ISD. "You can travel to the bottom of the ocean floor, travel through the Grand Canyon and visit many other places."

In addition, the district will be transitioning projectors in the classroom to new 75-inch interactive displays, Meyers said.

"The cost of these displays are comparable in price to projectors and have a 10 to 12 year product life," Meyers said. "We also will have 3D printers at all of our campuses."

New technology at area schools:

Klein Independent School District is working to implement Future Ready 21 program to provide a computer to each secondary student in its district.

Tomball Independent School District has invested $2.7 million in technology in classrooms district-wide. That included the purchase of new Chromebooks for the district's 21st Century Learning Program.

And all teachers in the district received new computers.

Additionally, Tomball used the bond funds to purchase 1,650 Chromebooks for students and an additional 255 Chromebooks for teachers.

Magnolia Independent School District will add two class sets of Google Expeditions in 2017.

Magnolia ISD will also be transitioning projectors in the classroom to new 75-inch interactive displays.

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District will continue working through the 2016-17 school year on completing its final phase of upgrading the district's technology infrastructure.

During the 2017-18 school year, Cy-Fair ISD's technology focus will be on upgrading instructional technology.
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SAN ANTONIO  A 21-year-old man in Kerr County faces federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill President Barack Obama, according to media reports.

Gavin Leonard Friedman is being held in the county jail without bond after police say he sent several letters alluding to killing the outgoing president, KSAT reports.

RELATED: Authorities identify 3 killed in crash outside Alamo Ranch movie theater

Friedman allegedly mailed four letters during the course of this year that threatened President Obama. On Jan. 22, Friedman said in a letter that Obama will be killed so that (Friedman) can be martyred in the name of Allah, the San Antonio TV station reports.

Later on April 3, Friedman said in a letter that he was going to assassinate Obama because Obama is a puppet for Zionist Organized Government.

He also sent two letter in September, one saying I am going to kill (Obama)  He is a dead (expletive) and the other saying I am going to kill (Obama) that stupid (expletive), KSAT reported.

It isn't immediately clear who the letter were sent to.

RELATED: SAPD: 35-year-old pedestrian killed in West Side crash on Christmas

Besides threats to President Obama, Friedman allegedly threatened to blow up the FBI Field Office in Houston and the White House in Washington, D.C. He also threatened in another letter to kidnap and kill the U.S. Attorney and the attorneys family. He allegedly said in the letter he hired people to kidnap and kill the U.S. Attorneys family, according to KSAT.

Friedman was in jail on other charges when he was formally arrested on the federal charges, the TV station reported. He was arrested in 2014 for felony assault on a public servant. Prior to that, he was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to online jail records.

RELATED: Police: Zero car burglaries reported at The Forum so far this season during 'Operation Grinch'

Police agencies were not available for comment due to the holidays.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
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Affordable housing in northwest Houston is becoming very hard to find.

"It is a huge problem," said Becky Loving, director of Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries. "That is one of the reasons people come to us. Their salaries haven't been increased, and their hours are probably decreased, and their apartment rent has just skyrocketed."

For many workers in lower wage jobs, including the service industry, finding affordable housing in the region can be difficult. And developers are building luxury apartments and high-end homes, pricing many in the local workforce out of the area.

"It's like a perfect storm - the demand for housing has increased and the pay and hours for so many of the people we see have decreased," Loving said.

The number of financially unstable households in northwest Houston continues to rise along with the population.

And among the few affordable apartments in the region, there is always a waiting list, Loving said. Or sometimes the list is so long, that even the waitlist is closed.

"They can't even get on the waiting list," she said.

Rents have continued to increase over the past two years for lower-end Class B and C apartment properties, according to an analysis by the Greater Houston Partnership. Class B rents averaged $948 per month, according to the analysis.

Economists have said this trend may affect long-term affordability.

Bruce McClenny, president of Houston-based Apartment Data Services, said has seen rents going up in less popular areas where older units are being refurbished.

The number of new apartment buildings in northwest Houston has increased in the last two years to meet the area's population growth. The growth has helped fill a void of multi-family housing in the area, however, the lower end, affordable units are still sparse.

The housing shortage is coupled with a rise in the homeless population in Northwest Houston, due in part to job layoffs and higher rents.

There are more than 4,000 homeless residents in the region, said Harris County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant Robert Henry, who started a homeless outreach program.

The Homeless Outreach Team works to help the area's homeless, including providing transportation to transitional housing or a doctor's appointment or by offering food, water, clothing, bedding and hygiene kits. The team's primary goal is to help the homeless community find housing.

"What we see too often are homeless families, single parents, mostly women, living in cars with their children," Loving said. "The number of homeless has really increased."

And there are no homeless shelters close by, Loving said. The closest is Interfaith in The Woodlands or the Salvation Army in Conroe.

"I don't want to see any children having to go through that experience," she said.

The other struggle for residents in lower wage jobs is transportation.

"A lot of people don't have it at all," Loving said. "And we see a lot of clients that can't afford to get their car fixed, or, if they do, then they don't have rent money."

Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries helps residents in need throughout the year, including with food and with help paying rent and utilities.

Hundreds of families and seniors in Northwest Houston struggle to pay for basic needs, primarily food. At Northwest Assistance Ministries, the biggest demand is for food, which is due in part to job layoffs, said Amy Ragan, chief development officer with the Houston Food Bank.

Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries helped 60 percent more households in November compared with November of 2015, Loving said. The nonprofit helped 317 households in November 2015 and 525 households last month.
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Roadway expansions and improvements will continue throughout the region in 2017 to help ease area traffic.

Gosling Road will be widened to five-lanes between Spring Stuebner and the Grand Parkway and a four-lane section between the parkway and Mossy Oaks, according to Harris County Precinct 4. The project is under construction and is expected to be complete in September.

In February, construction will begin on a signal light at Kuykendahl Road at Spring Rain Drive/Cypress Hill Drive traffic signal. The project is expected to be complete on March 18, said Pamela Rocchi, director of the Harris County Precinct 4 Capitol Improvement Projects Division.

In addition, a traffic signal will be installed at Kuykendahl Road and Hollywick Drive. Construction is scheduled to begin Feb. 20 and be complete by April 1.

"Installation of the traffic signal systems on Kuykendahl Road at the Spring Rain/Cypress Hill Drive and Hollywick Drive intersections provides for a safer, more efficient corridor as traffic volumes along the corridor increase due to ongoing growth," Rocchi said.

Construction began in September on the Kuykendahl Bridge across Spring Creek. The construction is expected to be complete in May.

"Completing the Kuykendahl Road over Spring Creek bridge project will minimize delays realized by motorists traveling Kuykendahl Road between Harris County and Montgomery County," Rocchi said.

The last several years of business growth and mobility improvements have brought a population boom to the region. The opening of the northern segments of the Grand Parkway has already helped reduce the area's growing traffic problems.

In addition, to help ease navigation around the Grand Parkway, Harris County Precinct 4 recently opened Fagan Lane in December. The new, two-land road runs parallel with the Grand Parkway, connecting Telge Road and Cedar Lane.

The new road was paid for with Harris County funds to provide immediate traffic relief, said Mark Seegers, communications director with Harris County Precinct 4.

The Texas Department of Transportation had originally planned to build the road, but under a unique agreement between TxDOT and Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, the county fronted the money to build the road quicker. The state will refund the county for the work.

The road is named after Mayor Gretchen Fagan of Tomball.

Area officials are continuously planning future roadway needs.

Also under design phase is a project to widen Gosling Road to a four-lane section between Mossy Oaks and West Rayford Road, Rocchi said.

And another four-lane expansion of Gosling Road is in the design phase between West Rayford Road and Creekside Forest Road.

Road improvements in 2017:

Gosling Road will be widened to five-lanes between Spring Stuebner and State Highway 99 and a four-lane section between State Highway 99 and Mossy Oaks. The project is expected to be complete in September.

In February, construction will begin on a signal light at Kuykendahl Road at Spring Rain Drive/Cypress Hill Drive traffic signal. The project is expected to be complete on March 18.

A traffic signal will be installed at Kuykendahl Road and Hollywick Drive. Construction is scheduled to begin February 20 and be complete by April 1.
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Through the generosity of a handful of anonymous donors, more than 250 animals at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter found homes this Christmas.

And according to new shelter Director Charles Jackson those donations will cover the cost of about 200 more adoptions for county residents looking for a new furry family member. The effort to find the shelter animals homes began Dec. 16 after Jackson was approached by several community members wanting to sponsor adoptions after he made a plea to find the shelter pets forever homes.

"It's fantastic," Jackson said adding the veterinarians are working hard to ensure all the animals are spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter ensuring they will be home for Christmas. "Animals are not allowed to leave unless they have been altered."

While some believe pets should not be given as gift, Jackson said the statistics show those animals don't have any greater return than pets adopted any other time.

"It's a huge misconception that animals that go out during holidays come back at a high rate," he said. "We still to the regular adoption process. We still screen people to make sure they are able to provide care and be responsible pet owners."

Jackson was recently hired by the county to take over direction of the shelter from interim director Dr. Todd Hayden. Following almost two years of turmoil, Jackson said he is working hard to get the shelter back on track and get more animals of the shelter alive.

Among those efforts are setting new policies and mending fences with numerous rescue and volunteer groups that stopped working with the shelter under the old management.

"There are some great employees here," he said. "It was hard for them to be successful in a system that was broken."

Jackson said the key to the shelter is the community.

"If a shelter doesn't have the support of the community, it won't be successful," he said. "If the community doesn't get engaged, we are going to fail."

To help with spay and neuter surgeries, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a grant for the shelter from the PetCo Foundation in the amount of $25,000 during its meeting Tuesday.

Jackson said the grant will allow the shelter to do target spay and neuters in the areas of the county that need that assistance.

"One of the fastest and easiest ways for us to manage intake is targeted spay and neuter in the areas that need it most," he said. "Most of those zip codes are in East Montgomery County."

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said he was excited about the direction of the shelter.

"They community has really stepped in and gotten behind him, and they said they would when we got the right director," Noack said. "It's awesome."

The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is located at 8535 Texas 242. For more information visit www.mcaspets.org.
As Hollywood's biggest stars take to the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards in January, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital will be holding its own Red Carpet for Hope, a multi-city fundraising gala. Joining the major metropolitan areas of Miami, Minneapolis and Chicago in the event is none other than The Woodlands.

The red carpet will be rolled out at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott and Convention Center to host the event for the second year in a row. The gala includes a cocktail reception, a live screening of the Golden Globes as well as a live auction where donors from the various cities compete in an enthusiastic bidding war.
Escaped inmate Jake Childress is still on the run after running away from a Live Oak Country prison late Saturday night.

"George West Police Department, Live Oak County Sheriff's Department, DPS, and Boarder Patrol are all searching for Childress," the Montgomery County Police Reporter states.
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Famed Houston rapper Paul Wall and several others have been accused of working together to profit from "weed parties" by selling large amounts of THC.

Wall, whose legal name is Paul Michael Slayton, appeared Tuesday in a Harris County courtroom on charges of organized crime, accused of working with three other men to sell Tetrahydrocannabinol, the waxy extract from marijuana.

Slayton told the judge he likely would test positive for marijuana, marijuana oil, codeine, hydrocodone, the muscle relaxer Soma and Ativan, which is similar to Xanax.

Slayton was arrested last week with nine other people at a "smoke session" at a Heights-area smoke shop. On Tuesday, he was given his legal warnings by state District Judge Denise Bradley, who outlined conditions of his bond, which include refraining from using drugs or alcohol.

Slayton, 35, and three others were charged with felony intent to distribute between 4 and 400 grams of the controlled substance, THC.

It was a charge vehemently denied by Slayton's attorney.

"Everything they think they know is just not there," said Jolanda Jones, after the hearing. In court, she said Slayton has a back problem and may have prescriptions for several of the drugs.

Slayton, who was escorted out of the courtroom through a crush of reporters by several supporters, declined comment.

Prosecutors said Houston police, who have been monitoring social media for illegal behavior, were watching the Facebook and Instagram accounts for Slayton and several others since the summer months.

They said two undercover police officers infiltrated a party at a smoke shop in the Heights to collect evidence and document illegal behavior. To get in, they each paid $10 cover, prosecutors said.

After police broke up the party and arrested the people they believe are the organizers Thursday night, police found a laundry list of illegal drugs including marijuana, THC, codeine (which is often mixed in soda), the prescription drug OxyContin, a powerful pain medication.

Also arrested on the same charge was fellow rapper Ronald Ray Bryant, known as Baby Bash, who declined to comment as he left the court.

"My client hasn't committed any crime that's been charged against him," said his attorney, Carl Moore. "And we plan to fight this vigorously."

Supporters of the two rappers have said the gathering, with a reported 150 people, was supposed to be a private party for the cannabis community. Slayton apparently spent the earlier part of the day collecting gifts for a holiday toy drive, according to his Instagram page.

After the arrest, Bryant tweeted a message to his followers stating, "Got caught up with a lil Weed yall.. no biggie. Lol #cannabiscommunity."

Both rappers are free on $20,000 bail. The other people are also free on bail and also have to abstain from drugs and alcohol while their cases are pending.
A U.S. Army soldier wanted on a desertion charge has been arrested in Texas.

Police in Copperas Cove found 34-year-old William Nicholas Powell on Dec. 24.

Powell was being sought by military police in Kentucky, which is home to Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. It is not clear what unit Powell belongs to or how long military authorities had been searching for him.

Powell was being held at the Coryell County Jail.
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.
AO Centrul de Drept al Avocatilor anunta concurs pentru procurarea/elaborarea panourilor informative pentru Inspectoratul General al Politiei de Frontiera
Podcasters now enjoy a number of ways to share audio clips on social media, including WNYCs Audiograms, Audiosear.ch Clipmaker, and the social audio app Clammr. In October, This American Life launched its own new social sharing tool, Shortcut, which was funded through grants from the Tow Center for Digital Journalism and the Knight Foundation. Shortcut gives users the ability to create short audio and text gifs using transcripts of This American Lifes episodes. While tools like Shortcut fill a need for podcasters themselves, are users taking advantage?

CJR first wrote about Shortcut when it launched in October. Two months after the launch, This American Life presented some early data about how listeners are using Shortcut at a panel at the Tow Center. The data give some important clues about how users are sharing audio online: They go back in the archives and deep in the episodesbut they also tend not to share clips directly to social media.

In the first seven weeks, about 3,900 people used the tool to generate 4,800 clips. Although the 10 most-clipped This American Life episodes originally aired between June and October 2016, the data show that users are also digging through the archive to create clips. In fact, users have so far sampled half of the entire archive at least once.

The activity in the back catalog of This American Life suggests fans have interest, appetite, and most importantly, memory, for old episodes. For example, Episode 241, titled 20 Acts in 60 Minutes which aired in 2003, is the 15th most-clipped episode. It was a departure from the classic format of This American Life. Instead of three acts, the episode had 20. The compressed format may have lent itself to many particularly memorable clips.

The transcript data generated by the tool show that the one of the most clipped lines from this episode comes from Act Eight: The Greatest Dog Name in the World. Its the story of two brothers who were fighting over what to name their dog: And then there was silence, and then from there he is Pasta Batman Loetz. Pasta, come on. Pasta Batman.

Another popular line in this episode was from Act Fifteen: Master Prediction, from an interview with David Rakoff: And in almost the only moment of decisiveness in my entire adult lifeIve certainly never equalled thisI went in the next morning and I quit. And all I could think was Sayonara suckers. Good luck with your network. And we know exactly what the network was. It was the internet.

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Interestingly, fewer than 1,200 of the 4,800 clips generated so far were shared directly to social media. The rest were downloaded and either shared to social media later as user uploads (rather than straight from the tool), emailed to friends, or enjoyed alone. This suggests that the sharing behavior of audio may be more private than the sharing of photographs (e.g. on Instagram), news articles, or memes online. Even short, engaging audio and text gifs still require more attention to scan and consume than a purely visual gif, photo, tweet, or news headline. And while podcasts create an intimate, up-close storytelling experience, those qualities might mitigate against meme-like sharing.

The data from Shortcut also show that listeners seem to have a common ear for material that they want to share, and tend to gravitate toward certain lines. The most-clipped episode to date is the post-election episode Seriously? which generated 948 clips. The most-clipped series of lines in the episode is from host Ira Glass, commenting on the relationship between facts and truth:

So thats where we are right now. The presentation of facts is seen as partisan opinion, and then every day a barrage of untruths are presented as truth, and were just supposed to suck it up. Thats the moment we live in. Thats our country right now. And this is going to continue after this election, no matter who wins. Like, this is the rest of our lives, I think, this post-truth politics. With so many of us getting our news from social media and from sources that we agree with, its easier than ever to check if a fact is true, and facts matter less than ever.

Ira with some pre-election wisdom thats still relevant. Thanks for the new podcast clip tool, @thisamerlife pic.twitter.com/h2XBhcr2ch  Margot Lieblich (@mleeblick) November 16, 2016

Great @ThisAmerLife on Clinton. Shocked by this clip, but remember Blair also a technophobe https://t.co/y2OJMr8uZs pic.twitter.com/CwqG4ITb4Z  Felicity Spencer-Smi (@felicitysp) November 8, 2016

Listeners also showed a slight preference for creating longer clips, suggesting a desire to incorporate context. Within any given episode, the clips users created didnt just come from the beginning of the hour, either. There seems to be an equitable distribution of clips between Glass, the other hosts, and the guests.

While most clips from Shortcut are expressing listen to this cool thing, some are also expressing other ideas or feelings through the text and audio clipped from the podcast.

Salve for spent nerves  not raging from the far edges, but more reasoned talk in the muddy middle. @thisamerlife pic.twitter.com/Nrm8lZxN8r  kids connect (@KinderFynes) November 18, 2016

On the other hand, listeners are still sharing screenshots of the full transcripts of episodes (which are available on the This American Life website), suggesting that the tool may not be able to incorporate enough context for some kinds of sharing behavior.

Hard to listen to @ThisAmerLife & realize white ppl believe they should get to vet LEGAL immigrants. Its pure white nationalism/pure Trump. https://t.co/qmQGrOlzML  spacedcowgirl (@spacedcowgirl) November 7, 2016

Engagement in the archive reveals another interesting path for podcasters to resurface and monetize old audio. Many popular podcasting platforms, like Apples Podcast app, show episodes in reverse chronology, which tends to hide the extensive back catalog that many shows are quickly developing. New ad technology like Panoplys Megaphone, PRXs Dovetail, or Art19 use dynamic ad insertion to help producers monetize their back catalogs when listeners dip into old shows. And different podcast platforms are experimenting with new ways to serve up episodes that go beyond the default reverse chronology, such as RadioPublic and 60DB.

Audio on mobile and on the web is, for now, mostly a black box: not scannable, searchable, skimmable, or linkable to other digital objects. Shortcut is working to change that; the way it makes audio accessible and searchable to listeners during the act of listening may be its biggest innovation.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Elizabeth Hansen is a Senior Research Fellow at the Tow Center and a doctoral candidate in Organizational Behavior at Harvard Business School.
Six Minneapolis-area chiropractors are among 21 people charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in what federal authorities described Wednesday as separate schemes that defrauded auto insurance companies out of more than $20 million.

More charges against more chiropractors are likely, the U.S. attorney for Minnesota, Andrew Luger, said at a news conference.

Luger said the chiropractors allegedly billed auto insurance companies for treatments that people who had been in accidents didnt need and, in some cases, services they never provided. The chiropractors allegedly paid illegal kickbacks to runners to recruit accident victims, and some of the runners in turn paid kickbacks to patients to ensure that they kept coming back for unnecessary appointments, he said.

The other defendants are accused of working as runners. They typically made around $1,000 per patient they brought in and sometimes worked with patients to stage phony accidents so there would be police reports to back up their claims, he said.

Kickback upon kickback, fraudulent billing, staging automobile accidents, this was the business model for these doctors, Luger said.

The indictments name the chiropractors as Preston Forthun, Angela Schulz, Huy Ngoc Nguyen and Adam Burke. They were arrested Wednesday. Chiropractors Marilyn Comes and Darryl Hummeny were charged separately in a type of document that usually means a plea deal is in the works, and were not arrested.

Online court records didnt immediately list attorneys for most of the defendants, who were making their first court appearances Wednesday. But attorneys listed for Burke, Comes and Hummeny did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.

Luger said the defendants took advantage of an opportunity for fraud in Minnesotas no-fault auto insurance system, which requires that policies cover at least $20,000 worth of medical bills for people injured in accidents. While some runners worked for more than one chiropractor, he said, the alleged conspiracies operated independently from each other. He expects more chiropractors will be charged.

We know that there are many more out there committing the exact same conduct, he said. Our investigation does not end today, this is only the beginning, and you can expect more charges in the future.

Insurance fraud is not a victimless crime, said Richard Thornton, special agent in charge of the Minneapolis FBI.

The reality is every single person in Minnesota who owns a car is paying more for their car insurance because of this type of fraud, he said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
At least four people in California have been killed when decaying trees have snapped over the past 16 months, including an Oakland teen whose family is suing the city over his death last December while he was climbing a tree.

The lawsuit filed Monday by the parents of 16-year-old Jack Lewis alleges that the tree was marked for removal because it was dead or dying, but city officials failed to remove it until after the boys death.

The boys father, Michael Lewis, said Tuesday that its terribly difficult to get through Christmas without their son.

The familys attorney, John Winer, said shortly after the incident that Oakland city officials told the Lewis family that the tree could have been cut earlier, but arborists have many trees to monitor.

Alex Katz. a spokesman for the city attorneys office, said Tuesday the office could not comment because officials had not yet seen the lawsuit.

In addition to the four people killed in the state, two others were severely injured by decaying trees.

In August 2015, two teens were killed in Yosemite after an oak branch fell on their tent. A year later, a woman in San Francisco was paralyzed after a tree branch fell on her as she sat on a park bench.

Last Saturday, a 61-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on a wedding party at a California park. She was the mother of the bride.

On Dec. 4, 2015, Lewis, a popular student and rower at Oakland Technical High School, was climbing in the tree in Oakland with several other minors when a limb broke, crushing his head in front of his friends.

Winer said the tree was popular among teenagers who frequently sat on a limb because it provided a great view of the sunset and nearby Lake Merritt.

It seems virtually impossible for employees of the city of Oakland to not know that, the lawyer said. At that time we believe it became crystal clear that the entire tree was dangerous and scheduled for removal with a distinctive blue marking that can be found on nearby tree stumps that were felled following the Lewis tragedy.

Certified urban forester and arborist Denice Britton said its difficult for urban foresters to manage trees effectively, given the inadequate budgets they are provided for maintenance by governments.

In examining the area where Lewis died, Britton said she found other trees with dead tops and branches.

I found trees with extensive decay that would be considered to have a probable chance of failing, she said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Akron police car.png

Akron police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man.

(File photo)

AKRON, Ohio - Detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man Monday in Akron.

The Akron man was shot several times just before 3 p.m. in a parking lot in the 1000 block of Ericsson Avenue, police said.

He was pronounced dead after being taken to Summa Akron City Hospital.

The man's identity will be released once his family has been notified, police said.

Investigators believe the man was shot during an argument with several men. Descriptions of the suspects were not released.

Anyone with information is being asked to call the Akron Police Department's detective bureau at 330-375-2490.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for burning his infant daughter in scalding water.

Demetrius Ford, 18, was convicted last month of felonious assault and child endangering for burning his 8-month-old daughter while giving her a bath Feb. 4.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Todd McKenney sentenced him Tuesday.

"This innocent child suffered significant, painful injuries. She will have to deal with the physical and emotional scars for the rest of her life," County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement. "A father's main goal should be to protect their child from harm, not cause pain. Mr. Ford will spend many years in prison thinking about what he did to his own daughter."

Ford's defense attorney, David M. Lowry, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ford caused second- and third-degree burns to his daughter's face, shoulders and chest. Investigators also discovered the girl suffered a fractured skull and broken ribs, prosecutors said.

A child abuse expert testified at trial that Ford purposefully burned his daughter, prosecutors said. Ford was 17 years old at the time of the incident, but a juvenile court judge moved the case to common pleas court in July.

The girl's mother - Chavelle Grier, 21, of Akron - was also charged in connection with the child's injuries. She pleaded guilty May 10 to two counts of child endangering and is now on probation.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section.
Bay Village City Hall

Bay Village City Council President Paul Koomar will become the city's mayor in 2017.

(Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com)

Paul Koomar

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - City Council President Paul Koomar will become the city's mayor Jan. 1 following the recent resignation of Mayor Debbie Sutherland.

"This is a great opportunity for me of jumping in in 2017," Koomar said.

Sutherland, who had been mayor for 16 years, resigned in October, saying she planned to create a consulting firm that would encourage regional cooperation and operational efficiency. She also planned on splitting her time between Northeast Ohio and Charleston, S.C., where she and her husband built a house.

The city's charter states the council president succeeds the mayor upon her resignation. However, at the time of Sutherland's resignation, Koomar said he needed to discuss the situation with his family and that the resignation caught everyone off guard.

As a result, Law Director Gary Ebert has served as interim mayor since Sutherland's departure. However, Ebert last week submitted his letter of resignation as mayor to city officials and announced Koomar would be taking over.

Ebert thanked city officials, including council members, for their support over the past three months.

"I plan on staying on with my position as law director and assisting the new mayor as we move forward," he wrote in his letter.

Koomar this week confirmed he plans on becoming the new full-time mayor effective Jan. 1.

"At the time Mayor Sutherland resigned, I had some business commitments in process and I have wrapped those up now," he said. "I really want to thank Gary for all the hard work he has done."

Koomar said he would begin circulating petitions early in 2017 to run for mayor in the November election.

He said his priorities as mayor would include focusing on infrastructure projects including the city's annual road maintenance program and efforts to reduce flooding. He also said he would focus on continued financial responsibility, transparency, and communication with residents.

Koomar has been a health-care business consultant and a certified public accountant.

Ebert will swear in Koomar Jan. 1 at 11 a.m. The Bay Village mayor earns about $86,000 annually. It is a full-time position.

Once Koomar is sworn-in as mayor, it will create a vacancy on City Council that council will fill. It is likely to interview candidates early next year.

Councilman Dave Tadych said he is excited about the changes.

"Gary has done a fantastic job over the last three months," Tadych said. "It is a very exciting time for the city."
Beachwood Place disturbance.JPG

Shoppers stand outside the Beachwood Place mall on Monday evening after officers were called to the scene for a disturbance.

(Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com)

BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Officers used pepper spray to disperse a large crowd after a fight that prompted a lockdown of Beachwood Place on Monday evening, police said.

At least one juvenile is in custody in connection with the fight that broke out just after 6:30 p.m. near the mall's food court, police said. The juvenile is accused of assaulting a police officer who arrived to break up the disturbance.

Officers were initially called to the scene for a report of shots fired, but have since confirmed there were no gunshots, police at the scene said.

One man and one police officer received medical treatment after being exposed to the pepper spray, a Beachwood Fire Department captain said.

No other injuries were reported.

The fight led to a throng of shoppers rushing toward the exits, witnesses said. The mall was also placed on lockdown as officers investigated.

Cleveland resident John Boyd said he was inside the mall when the officers arrived and used the pepper spray.

"My face burned ... it went into my skin," the 19-year-old man said. "My whole body burned."

Several Twitter users posted video from the mall on social media. Some of the Twitter posts incorrectly state that there had been shots fired during the incident.

Warning: Some of the videos include explicit language.

They shooting in Beachwood Mall tho...  pic.twitter.com/MNBEes9GIp  DOE BEEZY/FREEBANDZ (@DoeBoyOfficial) December 27, 2016

I picked the wrong day to go to Beachwood mall  pic.twitter.com/QMTPipGmYq  Michael Finley (@MikeFinley__) December 27, 2016

smh they was shooting in Beachwood Mall (Cleveland) pic.twitter.com/I8TjjsUPZB  ONG.BIGHANE (@ONG_BigShane) December 27, 2016

Officers from South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Willoughby and other cities assisted Beachwood police at the scene.

cleveland.com reporter Adam Ferrise contributed to this story.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
Homeless

A homeless person sleeps on a downtown Cleveland street.

(Scott Shaw, Plain Dealer file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Poverty rates in 17 Ohio cities top 30 percent, according to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.



(Find poverty rates for each Ohio city at the bottom of this story.)



The highest rates - 56.9 percent in Athens (Ohio University) and 47 percent in Oxford (Miami University) - might be explained by that fact they are college towns. For the purpose of determining household poverty, income data for off-campus students includes only their income, not support they may be receiving from their parents.

Other Ohio cities with relatively high poverty rates are topped by East Cleveland (42.6 percent) and Youngstown (38.3 percent).

The lowest poverty estimates among Ohio cities are 0.9 percent for the Columbus suburb of Powell and 1.2 percent Indian Hill, a Cincinnati suburb.

These rates are from a five-year survey, the only census data available for smaller towns.

Child poverty is highest in East Cleveland (63.5 percent), Youngstown (60.6 percent), Warren (56.7 percent), Fostoria (54.4 percent) and Cleveland (53.2 percent).

Ashtabula, Dayton and Nelsonville also have child poverty rates above 50 percent.

The poverty line currently is $11,880 for a single person, or $24,300 for a family of four.

Not included in this listing are villages - places with fewer than 5,000 people. Margins of error from the census surveys are much higher in those places.

This is the second in a series looking at the new census estimates released in mid-December.

Previously: See census bureau estimates on other topics and census-related stories.

Ohio cities

Statistics shown are from surveys that were conducted from 2011 through 2015 and released in December 2016. They are the latest estimates available from the U.S. Census Bureau for smaller areas. Separately, the Census Bureau releases annual estimates for large cities and counties, but they do not include smaller places.

City Percent

in poverty Percent

children

in poverty Percent

age 18-64

in poverty Percent

65-plus

in poverty Akron 26.5 40.2 24.9 1.1 Alliance 25.4 36.0 25.5 3.4 Amherst 8.0 18.3 5.7 2.2 Ashland 14.8 16.7 16.6 2.6 Ashtabula 34.8 51.2 32.8 4.5 Athens 56.9 36.9 62.7 5.3 Aurora 3.0 3.9 2.9 2.0 Avon 3.7 3.6 3.7 2.6 Avon Lake 3.5 2.6 3.2 2.5 Barberton 19.5 33.3 16.8 3.0 Bay Village 3.4 3.3 3.6 1.8 Beachwood 2.7 1.6 3.0 3.3 Beavercreek 5.2 4.3 5.9 1.6 Bedford 11.7 14.2 10.4 5.8 Bedford Heights 14.9 22.0 15.7 2.4 Bellbrook 2.6 3.8 0.9 5.9 Bellefontaine 20.3 25.7 20.2 4.0 Bellevue 10.3 18.9 8.0 3.5 Belpre 20.3 20.8 22.0 5.4 Berea 9.7 16.3 7.6 4.2 Bexley 9.1 6.3 11.0 3.6 Blue Ash 5.3 4.2 5.7 3.1 Bowling Green 33.6 14.3 41.6 2.6 Brecksville 3.0 4.9 2.4 2.1 Broadview Heights 4.1 5.3 4.3 1.2 Brook Park 9.5 15.5 8.9 2.3 Brooklyn 13.4 24.3 12.2 3.7 Brookville 8.9 12.2 8.3 6.2 Brunswick 8.4 9.6 8.6 2.1 Bryan 19.5 27.5 17.9 6.4 Bucyrus 20.0 31.5 18.7 4.2 Cambridge 30.8 46.4 30.1 4.3 Campbell 26.8 47.1 25.7 2.9 Canal Fulton 11.6 20.1 10.3 4.2 Canal Winchester 1.7 0.9 1.8 3.2 Canfield 5.7 8.7 4.2 7.0 Canton 32.3 48.7 29.4 2.8 Celina 11.9 14.6 13.3 2.1 Centerville 5.6 8.1 5.0 2.4 Chardon 10.6 17.7 8.6 5.3 Cheviot 23.6 34.8 24.0 2.9 Chillicothe 24.3 35.1 24.8 3.4 Cincinnati 30.5 45.5 28.0 1.2 Circleville 20.2 27.7 20.1 4.3 Clayton 8.2 11.9 8.0 1.8 Cleveland 36.2 53.2 33.0 1.2 Cleveland Heights 19.3 27.4 18.1 2.4 Clyde 15.2 16.8 16.1 7.0 Columbiana 8.9 13.8 9.1 4.4 Columbus 21.7 31.7 19.8 0.8 Conneaut 22.1 31.7 22.2 4.6 Cortland 9.6 14.6 8.8 4.1 Coshocton 17.0 21.6 18.6 3.3 Cuyahoga Falls 12.3 16.6 12.0 1.9 Dayton 35.5 53.0 33.2 1.7 Deer Park 7.6 11.4 5.7 6.9 Defiance 18.3 28.0 17.0 3.7 Delaware 9.3 9.6 9.4 2.8 Delphos 11.2 13.0 10.9 4.0 Dover 13.1 16.5 14.8 2.1 Dublin 2.6 3.2 2.1 2.5 East Cleveland 42.6 63.5 40.6 4.4 East Liverpool 28.9 41.1 28.8 3.3 Eastlake 9.1 14.3 8.7 1.9 Eaton 22.7 23.6 26.9 3.5 Elyria 22.2 36.5 19.9 2.0 Englewood 10.2 16.8 9.1 3.8 Euclid 20.9 31.9 18.9 2.6 Fairborn 23.1 32.2 23.2 2.7 Fairfield 8.3 12.3 8.3 1.5 Fairlawn 4.7 1.4 4.1 5.4 Fairview Park 9.2 9.9 9.3 2.4 Findlay 19.2 27.8 19.5 2.0 Forest Park 15.1 22.1 13.2 5.7 Fostoria 29.4 54.4 24.7 2.9 Franklin 16.8 26.1 14.3 4.2 Fremont 26.2 38.2 23.9 3.3 Gahanna 6.4 8.9 6.0 2.0 Galion 21.0 35.5 19.1 3.9 Garfield Heights 18.7 29.0 16.4 2.9 Geneva 12.2 16.0 12.6 3.6 Germantown 14.2 27.0 10.8 4.7 Girard 18.5 32.8 16.5 3.3 Grandview Heights 3.4 3.2 3.1 4.7 Green 8.3 10.8 8.7 2.1 Greenville 18.0 27.3 19.3 1.8 Grove City 8.2 11.1 7.5 3.3 Groveport 6.2 6.4 5.9 6.2 Hamilton 22.1 31.9 20.6 1.9 Harrison 6.3 3.3 6.8 6.6 Heath 12.2 14.9 12.6 4.0 Highland Heights 3.8 5.3 4.0 1.9 Hilliard 4.2 5.2 3.3 3.5 Hillsboro 29.1 35.3 30.3 6.4 Hubbard 16.1 29.3 14.8 2.9 Huber Heights 13.5 21.4 12.5 2.0 Hudson 3.8 4.5 3.9 1.6 Huron 15.4 26.0 13.8 6.3 Independence 3.2 1.9 3.6 2.7 Indian Hill 1.2 1.4 0.9 2.5 Ironton 20.0 25.3 18.7 5.1 Jackson 24.0 27.3 25.5 7.3 Kent 35.1 41.6 36.8 4.8 Kenton 23.6 36.0 21.2 9.1 Kettering 12.3 18.7 11.5 1.5 Kirtland 2.7 1.5 2.2 3.6 Lakewood 16.5 23.3 15.2 2.8 Lancaster 21.3 31.5 20.8 2.4 Lebanon 11.5 15.0 11.2 1.9 Lima 32.4 42.5 31.4 2.6 Logan 26.6 37.7 25.4 6.3 London 13.3 18.7 11.6 4.8 Lorain 27.0 43.6 23.9 2.0 Louisville 6.6 7.5 5.8 4.5 Loveland 8.8 12.7 7.1 6.0 Lyndhurst 6.8 12.5 6.5 1.9 Macedonia 1.9 2.5 1.7 2.3 Madeira 4.2 1.2 6.1 2.2 Mansfield 26.2 40.5 25.4 1.9 Maple Heights 20.8 36.1 18.0 3.2 Marietta 26.1 40.9 25.3 6.0 Marion 24.9 36.5 23.9 2.3 Martins Ferry 23.9 38.4 22.8 4.2 Marysville 9.5 9.7 9.3 4.9 Mason 2.9 2.1 3.0 2.3 Massillon 19.4 30.4 18.5 2.0 Maumee 8.4 8.7 8.7 3.1 Mayfield Heights 9.0 11.5 6.0 4.4 Medina 12.5 18.7 10.8 2.8 Mentor 6.8 10.9 6.5 1.2 Mentor-on-the-Lake 10.5 9.1 11.4 4.2 Miamisburg 13.5 26.7 10.5 3.5 Middleburg Heights 5.2 4.0 5.5 2.5 Middletown 24.9 39.9 23.4 1.8 Milford 24.2 42.4 20.8 7.2 Monroe 6.3 9.2 4.9 4.4 Montgomery 3.7 0.9 4.6 2.8 Moraine 18.3 28.9 14.6 8.6 Mount Healthy 24.5 36.0 18.8 8.6 Mount Vernon 21.2 34.2 19.7 3.7 Munroe Falls 2.6 0.0 1.7 5.7 Napoleon 18.8 26.8 19.4 3.5 Nelsonville 37.9 51.8 37.3 10.2 New Albany 2.6 3.3 2.3 3.0 New Carlisle 15.4 20.6 14.1 5.7 New Franklin 4.9 7.9 4.2 1.9 New Philadelphia 17.0 28.6 15.8 2.4 Newark 23.2 36.2 21.7 1.8 Niles 20.9 37.6 18.5 2.7 North Canton 6.7 4.5 8.0 2.5 North College Hill 18.9 34.2 14.9 5.7 North Olmsted 7.9 12.9 6.6 2.1 North Ridgeville 6.7 9.8 6.2 1.6 North Royalton 5.8 6.5 5.3 3.2 Northwood 10.0 9.6 9.3 14.6 Norton 6.9 10.0 5.9 3.0 Norwalk 16.3 23.4 14.7 3.4 Norwood 22.0 23.0 23.3 4.8 Oakwood (Montg. County) 3.4 0.8 3.4 8.2 Oberlin 21.3 24.6 24.9 4.3 Olmsted Falls 2.9 0.3 3.7 2.9 Ontario 7.2 4.0 8.9 3.3 Oregon 10.6 17.4 9.9 2.0 Orrville 14.4 19.6 13.2 5.0 Oxford 47.0 13.1 55.2 5.4 Painesville 23.0 25.2 23.8 4.7 Parma 11.2 16.8 10.5 1.2 Parma Heights 12.0 15.2 12.6 2.3 Pataskala 9.9 15.3 8.8 3.2 Pepper Pike 2.5 1.6 2.4 6.1 Perrysburg 6.6 6.7 6.3 3.2 Pickerington 4.7 5.2 4.8 2.5 Piqua 22.9 33.7 22.3 3.3 Port Clinton 12.3 12.1 13.9 3.9 Portsmouth 35.8 45.6 38.4 3.7 Powell 0.9 1.1 0.9 2.3 Ravenna 22.3 37.3 21.0 4.3 Reading 16.2 22.9 15.3 5.6 Reynoldsburg 11.7 17.7 10.2 2.8 Richmond Heights 10.6 16.4 10.8 3.2 Rittman 13.0 18.1 13.4 2.5 Riverside 14.4 21.9 13.1 2.4 Rocky River 4.9 3.5 5.3 2.1 Rossford 7.8 6.4 9.4 3.4 Salem 18.0 27.9 16.1 5.1 Sandusky 22.1 35.4 20.3 3.1 Seven Hills 4.1 3.4 3.6 2.1 Shaker Heights 8.6 10.2 8.4 2.7 Sharonville 12.7 17.5 11.0 5.2 Sheffield Lake 11.8 23.6 8.3 6.9 Shelby 13.4 15.3 13.9 5.1 Sidney 16.6 23.8 15.2 3.8 Solon 3.6 4.9 3.1 1.5 South Euclid 8.4 8.2 8.7 2.2 Springboro 2.7 2.1 3.2 1.5 Springdale 20.5 28.4 20.5 3.6 Springfield 29.0 44.0 27.2 2.2 St. Clairsville 4.4 3.4 3.8 3.8 St. Marys 13.1 19.2 10.4 6.1 Steubenville 27.2 35.3 29.3 3.5 Stow 5.1 5.6 5.0 1.9 Streetsboro 9.2 13.3 8.4 2.8 Strongsville 4.1 5.4 3.8 1.6 Struthers 17.5 26.5 16.3 4.0 Sylvania 7.8 10.8 7.8 2.1 Tallmadge 12.6 23.4 10.8 2.6 Tiffin 19.9 24.2 21.6 3.3 Tipp City 6.2 6.0 6.1 4.3 Toledo 27.8 40.3 26.5 1.0 Toronto 22.8 38.2 22.0 4.7 Trenton 15.2 15.3 16.2 5.6 Trotwood 27.1 44.2 25.4 3.7 Troy 14.1 23.8 12.3 3.2 Twinsburg 4.6 5.5 3.4 3.5 Uhrichsville 29.2 42.1 30.2 5.0 Union 5.6 12.2 3.2 3.3 University Heights 14.3 13.4 15.6 3.9 Upper Arlington 5.4 7.4 5.1 1.2 Upper Sandusky 19.5 24.9 20.4 6.1 Urbana 20.1 28.7 21.3 3.1 Van Wert 21.2 34.2 20.9 2.6 Vandalia 9.7 14.8 8.4 3.4 Vermilion 12.7 16.5 13.4 3.8 Wadsworth 8.3 11.0 8.2 1.9 Wapakoneta 11.3 17.1 10.0 3.5 Warren 35.0 56.7 32.1 2.9 Warrensville Heights 19.8 33.7 17.3 3.4 Washington Court House 21.8 33.4 20.4 3.1 Waterville 4.1 5.3 3.4 7.3 Wauseon 15.2 18.9 14.4 7.9 Wellston 25.3 38.9 25.2 6.4 West Carrollton 19.3 28.0 18.7 4.1 Westerville 6.7 7.9 6.0 3.0 Westlake 4.6 4.7 3.9 2.1 Whitehall 22.8 33.5 20.5 3.5 Wickliffe 7.3 10.7 7.0 2.6 Willard 25.1 40.5 21.0 6.1 Willoughby 7.9 10.6 6.7 2.9 Willoughby Hills 7.8 13.3 6.2 4.8 Willowick 8.2 13.3 7.0 2.5 Wilmington 22.9 33.0 22.9 3.2 Wooster 19.6 31.5 20.0 2.0 Worthington 3.3 5.3 2.9 1.2 Wyoming 2.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 Xenia 26.1 44.0 22.9 3.4 Youngstown 38.3 60.6 35.9 2.0 Zanesville 31.4 47.5 30.5 3.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2011-2015)
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio - A Cleveland man has been charged in connection with a SWAT situation last week in Garfield Heights.

Marquise S. Hamilton, 18, is accused of firing shots while chasing several other men Dec. 21 on Oakview Avenue near Eddy Road. Officers arrested Hamilton one hour after a SWAT team surrounded a house on Oakview Avenue, police said.

Hamilton is charged with having weapons while under disability, a third-degree felony, in the incident. He could face additional charges once a grand jury reviews his case, detectives said.

Hamilton waived his right to a preliminary hearing during his appearance Friday in Garfield Heights Municipal Court. The case has been bound over to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, records show.

Officers surrounded the Oakview Avenue house just after 10 a.m. on Dec. 21 after learning the shooter might be inside. The Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force's SWAT team was also called in to assist in entering the house.

The officers soon received information the shooter was hiding in a nearby garage. The SWAT team ordered the man out of the garage and he surrendered without incident, police said.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section.
Cleveland police car.png

Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on Cleveland's East Side.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head on Cleveland's East Side.

The man was found on East 113th Street near Benham Avenue, police said.

A Cleveland police spokesman did not say when the man's body was found. No other details were immediately available.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has not released the man's identity.

This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments section.
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Michael Sokol, an electrical engineer with Bold Alternatives LLC, installs another panel in the large solar array being erected atop a canopy in the parking lot of First Unitarian Church of Cleveland in Shaker Heights on Wed. April 25, 2012.

(Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio Gov. John Kasich vetoed legislation Tuesday that would have allowed investor-owned utilities to avoid making renewable energy investments for another two years.

The bill would have effectively extended a freeze on renewable-energy standards for the past two years by making them voluntary for 2017 and 2018. If the legislature had not acted, the mandates would have snapped back into place starting next year.

The Ohio General Assembly, lead by lame-duck Republicans in both the House and Senate, defied Kasich's warnings not to send him a bill that extends the freeze but essentially did just that by making the standards voluntary.

In vetoing Substitute House Bill 554, Kasich credited Ohio's "wide range of energy generation options" with helping to grow jobs in the state over the past six years.

"Sub. HB 554 risks undermining this progress by taking away some of those energy generation options, particularly the very options most prized by the companies poised to create many jobs in Ohio in the coming years, such as high technology firms," Kasich stated in a press release.

The legislature passed the bill after hearings that featured dozens of businesses and other renewable energy advocates imploring the legislature not to extend the freeze.

First Solar, a solar-panel manufacturer that employees about 1,200 people south of Toledo, was eyeing the bill closely. A company official told legislators that First Solar is planning an upgrade to its plant and that if the bill passed, the company would have to consider leaving the state.

Hundreds of companies are either involved in the development of wind or solar energy in Ohio or are suppliers to those businesses. The northwest area of Ohio is home to the majority of the wind turbines in the state, but developers there have been worried about the direction Ohio is taking when it comes to renewable energy.

Of even greater concern is the more restrictive setback requirements that were imposed in 2014 that restrict how close a turbine can be placed to property, even if unoccupied, that is not part of the development. Sub. HB 554 does not include any language on those requirements.

The legislature first set renewable energy standards in 2008, mandating that investor-owned utilities obtain 25 percent of their energy from advanced energy sources by 2025, with half the energy coming from renewable sources. But in 2014, the legislature, with Kasich's approval, froze the standards for three years.

The Senate voted 18-13 on the bill to extend the freeze, with five Republicans joining the Democrats. One of them, Ohio Sen. Cliff Hite, represents a region of northwest Ohio with a lot of interest in wind development.

"Wind is northwest Ohio's shale," he said during debate on the bill, according to the Toledo Blade. "I've got projects in my district that are on hold because of our freeze."

Kasich's veto, unless it is overridden, will cause the standards to snap back in place at the beginning of 2017.

Legislators mulled various incarnations of the renewable energy legislation, including the elimination of the standards, before settling on the bill that was sent to Kasich.
SOLON , Ohio -- New seats are waiting in the wings at the Solon Center for the Arts theater, along with some financial backing from the local Rotary Club toward the $65,000 replacement cost.

City Council voted Dec. 19 to replace the 203 seats in the auditorium, most of which were in "pretty bad shape" and some beyond repair, although a major repair project was also considered, City Recreation Director Don Holub said.

And while people may not realize it, all of the outgoing SCA seats were bought used.

"It's kind of an odd thing, but the 'S' on those seats does not really stand for 'Solon,'" Holub said. "It actually stands for the name of the company that built the seats."

He told council's Finance Committee that the city received two bids, the other coming in at about half the price, just under $35,000.

"They would not fit the time period at all," Holub said. "The ones we picked are very close to what we have and obviously much better made."

Company representatives from the winning bidder, Martin Public Seating, LLC, visited the theater and came up with upholstered laminate backs and seats, scrolled maple wood armrests, aluminum standards and bronze plating.

"The difference is a custom seat or an off-the-shelf, generic seat by a manufacturer," Holub said of the cheaper injected polypropolene model that wound up getting rejected.

City Finance Director Matt Rubino said the $64,671 is coming out of the Capital Fund, although there may be a reimbursement of up to $10,000 through a fundraising effort by the Solon Rotary Club.

Plans call for following up after the installation with a grand opening, as well as the possibility of naming rights.

Some of the prior donations to have names put on the existing seats -- as well as other features in the theater -- were only to been for five years in duration, Holub said.

But all contributors will still have their names posted somewhere in the theater if the process starts over.

"The recreation department is very appreciative of the support offered by the Solon Rotary Club," Holub said in a Dec. 8 memo to City Council.

In other business, City Council voted to extend the current outsourcing contract with SAFEbuilt building inspection services through the first quarter of 2017, while a new agreement is considered.

This contract has been in effect since October 2015 and covers services of a chief building official, a plumbing inspector and rental inspections.

The limited contract will allow the administration to look at other options as SAFEbuilt wants to bring Solon's fees more in line with other communities.

"Unfortunately, that could result in a cost increase for us," City Planning Director Rob Frankland told the Finance Committee.

The city's options could include another provider or returning to a full-time in-house building inspection department.

With SAFEbuilt, "we have a chief building official in the office for about one hour a day, where one used to be there for eight hours," Frankland explained.

And while it's worked out so far, city officials plan to re-evaluate.

"It has not been a major issue up to now," Frankland said. "But when you start increasing costs, is it better to have someone here full-time or not? That's what we'll be looking at."

The current SAFEbuilt contract, for which financial details were not discussed on Dec. 19, will remain in effect through the end of March.
China will meet its growth target of 6.5 percent to 7 percent growth this year, a reassuring sign for a "weak and vulnerable" global economy, state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary on Monday.

Xinhua noted a "troublesome start" to 2016, probably referring to a sharp fall in the yuan and worry about China's slowing economy roiling markets worldwide. The yuan remains weak after foreign reserves fell more than expected in November.

Nor would maintaining stable growth be easy for China in 2017, Xinhua said, "given persistently weak external demand, ongoing deleveraging and capacity-reduction pressure, and a slowing property sector".
India's equity market may be getting the thumbs up in many analysts' 2017 outlooks, but it might not be as protected from global trade turmoil as many believe, a fund manager said.

Investors in emerging markets generally have become worried about the prospects of a trade war after the surprise win by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While Trump's rhetoric primarily targeted China and Mexico, other countries were widely expected to get caught in any crossfire. More recently, the Trump camp has floated the idea of a broad 5 percent tariff on imports into the U.S.

Analysts have generally pointed to India as likely insulated from any trade wars because of its economy's mainly domestic drivers and strong consumption growth, with many advising going overweight on the market in 2017.

But Sat Duhra, a portfolio manager at Henderson Global Investors, told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday that expectations for India to remain insulated were overdone. Henderson Global had 100.9 billion pounds ($123.8 million) under management at the end of September.

"There's not a doubt that there will be an impact from external events," he said. "[If] you look at the large-cap companies in India, 40 percent of their earnings are overseas."

Duhra pointed to other reasons that optimism over India may be overdone, noting that earnings growth forecasts for the subcontinent were at around 15 percent for the next two years.

"Last year, it was barely a few percent, and that was not from top line growth, but because of margin improvement from commodities," he said.

Over the past couple years, commodity prices had tumbled, but in the past few months, they've recovered.

"Now that commodities have moved the other way, I think you'd be lucky to get 5 percent [earnings] growth. It's going to be a low number," he said.
This fault line, partially dormant since the primaries, burst open after the election. Economic progressives blamed the loss on identity politics, arguing that Hillary Clinton didn't focus enough on jobs and other working class concerns. Social progressives pushed back, arguing that abandoning people of color, women, and LGBT Americans would be a moral and strategic mistake.

The whole fight is misguided.

First, they're not mutually exclusive. You can easily care about widening economic inequality and black people getting killed by the police. It's not either/or.

Second, it rests on the incorrect assumption that Donald Trump won because of policy, rather than culture (more on this below).

And third, Hillary campaigned on jobs more than anything else.

This intra-party fight continues the primary battle, with economic progressives insisting that Bernie Sanders would have won.



There's no way to know for sure, but the evidence indicates otherwise. As Marcus H. Johnson shows, candidates and ballot measures Sanders supported did poorly in the general election.

Additionally, Senate candidates running to Clinton's left on economic issues did worse than she did. If more progressive economic policies were the key to electoral victory, those Senate candidates would have done better than Hillary, not worse.



When you believe strongly in something, it's hard to accept that most of your fellow citizens do not. Especially when you surround yourself with like-minded people, and get your information from like-minded media. But the evidence that a majority of Americans are eager to pay higher taxes, and give up their employer-provided health insurance, in exchange for a European-style welfare state is nonexistent.

Besides, Hillary did talk about economic issues. A lot.

Check out this chart from Vox's David Roberts breaking down the words she used in her speeches.

Clinton spoke about economic issues far more than anything else. She didn't lose voters by harping incessantly on race or gender.

When you look at those numbers, it makes the argument that she would have won if only she talked about jobs look pretty silly.
As the eggnog wears off and the non-stop holiday music changes back over to Top 40 pop hits, you may be surveying that pile of gifts you got and thinking, Hmm, that sweater really isn't my style.

You're not alone. In fact, the weeks following the winter holidays tend to be some of the busiest for retailers expecting lots of returns. But it can be hard to keep track of what stores will take back what merchandise up until what date, and organizing all of your gift receipts can be a hassle. That is, assuming your gift even came with one.



While some stores tighten their return policies around the holidays, here are a few retailers who make returning unwanted items painless  and keep customers coming back to spend more money.





Zappos

With Zappos' 365-day return policy, you don't have to decide right away if those chartreuse boots deserve the room they take up in your closet. Shipping is free, as are returns. And if you bought something on a leap year, apparently you have four years to make up your mind about it!



If someone bought you a gift on Zappos and you'd like to return it, you don't need a gift receipt, just the giver's email address and/or phone number. While the site can't give you store credit, Zappos will exchange out your item for something else on the site you pick out. Just beware that the gift swap might show up on the Zappos account of whoever bought you the gift.

Similar policies: REI, Bed Bath and Beyond





Kohl's

Unlike many stores, Kohl's has no time limits on returns. If you paid with a credit card, employees can look up the purchase with a swipe of your card and refund you. But save the receipts if you paid cash or are giving a gift! If you don't, those items will get you a merchandise exchange credit based on the item's lowest sale price.

Similar policies: Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Macy's





Asos

The clothing retailer has a 28-day return policy, which isn't ideal, but Asos is one of the few online clothing shops that allows buyers to return sale items, undergarments and swimwear.





L.L.Bean

On a July episode of NPR's "This American Life," producer Sara Corbett examined one of the craziest retailer return policies out there: L.L.Bean's. According to the Bean, you can return anything you bought at any time if you are no longer satisfied with the item.

Yep, that means that a pair of boots you bought in 1994 can be exchanged for a brand new pair in 2016, no questions asked.

The policy is intended to provide peace of mind, allowing customers to invest in high-priced items like hiking boots or tents while feeling confident that their purchases will last for years, if not decades.

But the podcast episode explores some of the ways people take advantage of the system. One L.L.Bean associate recalls working the weekend of a big music festival several years back. People came in on a Friday afternoon, bought tons of camping and outdoor equipment, and returned it Monday, caked with mud. It was obvious what was going on: People were borrowing from L.L.Bean as though it were a library. And they got away with it.

But the store argues it creates loyal customers by empowering them to decide when an item doesn't live up to L.L.Bean's promise of lifelong quality. And its return policy doesn't seem to be hurting revenue: The retailer reported $1.61 billion in sales in 2014.

Returns for refunds can only be made in L.L.Bean stores, not online.

Similar policies: Sephora, Athleta, Patagonia


President-elect Donald Trump and investor Wilbur Ross pose for a photo following their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 20, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey.

Wilbur Ross, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Commerce secretary, has urged other countries to exploit the "God-given opportunity" to steal business from the U.K., according to a report in The Times.

Ross urged Cypriot financiers to strike during this "period of confusion" in Britain to draw businesses away from the City. He made the remarks before the U.S. election and his selection by the Trump.

"I recommend that Cyprus should adopt and immediately announce even more liberal financial service policies than it already has so that it can try to take advantage of the inevitable relocations that will occur during the period of confusion," Ross said, according to The Times.

He further added that Britain's departure from the European Union was a "God-given opportunity" for the City's financial rivals, especially Frankfurt and Dublin in particular.

If confirmed as Commerce secretary, Ross would be among those responsible for negotiating a free trade deal with the U.K. But his comments have sparked speculation that the U.S. may seek to exploit the uncertainty created by Brexit in order to lure business away from London.
As CEO of Tupperware Brands, Rick Goings is a highly successful man. Now 71, he manages a company with more than $2 billion in annual sales and over 10,000 employees, and he is the organizer-in-chief of the iconic Tupperware parties. But it wasn't always that way. At 17, just as he finished high school, Goings' life looked as though it wasn't going anywhere great, he told me for my recently published book "Before I Was CEO." Due to a "troublesome situation at home," he was living in a rooming house in Wheaton, Illinois, and sleeping in a chair that could be turned into a bed. College wasn't on the radar: He simply couldn't afford it. Instead, Goings was going door to door in Wheaton and other Chicago suburbs selling Grolier Society encyclopedias. At least that would earn him a living  or so he thought. The sad reality was that he "went around with the books for 90 days, and never sold a single set." Looking back on this, Goings mused: "I became CEO of the most respected direct-to-consumer selling company, but I couldn't do direct-selling when I did it myself."

Despite the continuous failures, Goings didn't give up easily. "It is one of the key determining factors of a lot of people that don't succeed: They quit too soon," he said. He saw fellow young salesmen come and go. Some were successful and built entire sales teams; others quit after just a few disappointing days. All the while, he kept knocking on doors. But with just a few bucks left in his pocket at the end of the summer, Goings knew he needed to come up with a new plan. With the last of his money, he bought a loaf of bread and a big jar of peanut butter, and he ate peanut butter sandwiches for a week. Then, by a stroke of good fortune, a door inside him opened to a different future.

Cindy Ord | Getty Images

A young couple to whom he was presenting the encyclopedias changed his outlook. "They didn't buy the encyclopedia, but the man was very nice to me," Goings said. "He had gone into the Navy to find himself, he told me, and then on to university. When I met him he had a nice house, and he was 32, 33." That was the moment Goings said: "I've done this; I've stuck this out longer than anyone else on my sales team. It's time for something else." The Navy seemed like a pragmatic choice. Within a week, Goings quit his job and went down to Navy Pier at Lake Michigan to enlist. Three months later, Goings was in training. It would prove to be a life-changer. From that moment Goings was on an upward track. In the Navy, he learned to be a leader for the first time in his life. Following a successful test, he became the platoon leader of his crew. The hard training also helped him gain physical strength, and the Navy provided him with foreign experience, as he served at locations around Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and on a Navy ship aiding efforts in Vietnam. After his Navy years, Goings took an interest in business. He enrolled in college, but quit before graduating to start his own company, Dynamics Inc., making and selling fire alarms. He hired fellow students and eventually struck gold. Fire alarms in the 1980s were novel, and with Goings' sales experience and tenacity, the company became a runaway success.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at the Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 26, 2016.

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Hawaii to pay his respects at Pearl Harbor, questions remain over the future of Japan's ties with the United States when Donald Trump assumes the presidency.

While the trip is billed as the first visit to Pearl Harbor by a sitting Japanese prime minister with a U.S. president, it could be the fourth visit to the site by a prime minister of Japan. The New York Times reports that former prime ministers who have paid a visit to the site include Shigeru Yoshida and Nobusuke Kishi, the grandfather of Abe.

The visit by Abe is expected to be an opportunity for Japan to express reconciliation and more importantly, reinforce the strength of its ties with the U.S. "Prime Minister Abe is consuming a lot of his political assets to ... further build the stable base of U.S.-Japan relations," Kotaro Tamura, Asia fellow at the Milken Institute, told CNBC's "Squawkbox."

However, it might be a case of too little too late for Prime Minister Abe. "(The visit) is very important but that's not enough because (there will be) a new president in a few weeks and his policy is quite unpredictable," Tamura said.
A daily morning look at the financial stories you need to know to start the day. STOCKS/ECONOMY -Stock futures are flat. Today we get the Case Shiller home price index and consumer confidence numbers. OIL/ENERGY -U.S. crude prices are flat and at the $53 a barrel level. Gasoline prices are at $2.28 a gallon, national average. That's four cents a gallon more than a week ago today. TRUMP TRANSITION -President-elect Trump is continuing his Twitter attacks on the United Nations after the U.N.vote denouncing Israel. He and the Republican Congress could punish the U.N. in several financial ways once he's president. CHRISTMAS RETAIL -There were several reports of disturbances at shopping malls Monday. Many of them were apparently exacerbated by social media. It remains to be seen if this will affect sales. SOLAR DEAL - Tesla and Panasonic have agreed to make PV cells for solar panels at a factory in Buffalo. HIGHER ED -Some U.S. courts are starting to allow people with student loan debt to declare bankruptcy on that debt. TERROR/DEFENSE -Iran says it's getting a 50 percent discount on the 80 Boeing jets it recently bought. Tehran says it's paying about $8 billion instead of the $16.6 billion sticker price. -China's first aircraft carrier has moved into the South China Sea. MOVING AMERICA -The Federal Railroad Administration has a plan to shorten the passenger train ride from Washington, D.C. to New York to 2 hours and 10 minutes. CHARITY SCANDAL -A New York Times report says the American Kidney Fund is refusing to help dialysis clinics that don't make donations to the fund.

This is the home Dana Rice just put on the market for $1,469,000. Diana Olick | CNBC
President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump are engaged in a $3 billion game of chicken.

It started last week when the United Nations began considering a deeply one-sided resolution calling on Israel to end all Jewish settlement building in disputed areas of the West Bank and even East Jerusalem without a single word calling on Palestinians to end violent attacks on civilians or do anything else. Originally, the resolution was going to be introduced to the U.N. Security Council by Egypt, but President-elect Trump intervened and convinced the Egyptians to table it. Trump even tweeted about his opposition to the resolution that he said would not help the peace process and unfairly weaken Israel's negotiation position. Those events would have been enough to make the entire affair a truly unprecedented series of events involving a president-elect and foreign affairs.

But a day later, the same resolution was resurrected by New Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal and Venezuela, and the United States made the historic decision not to use its veto power on the Council to block one-sided anti-Israel resolutions and allowed this one to pass. And that's not all. Israel now even says it was actually the Obama administration that pushed for the resolution's re-introduction. The White House is denying that accusation, but Israel says it has "ironclad" proof.

After the resolution passed, Trump tweeted about the U.N. again, ominously saying "Things will be different after Jan. 20th." He followed that with a few more tweets over the weekend, including one where he slammed the U.N. as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time."

Of course, fast and furious work by an outgoing administration in its final weeks in office is nothing new in American history, especially when an opposing party's candidate is about to take over. It's a practice at least 216 years old, as it started when the outgoing Adams administration tried to jam through as many political appointments as possible in 1800 before the rival Jefferson administration came into power. And it's all legal, as the incoming Jefferson team learned when it tried to suppress some of those last-minute appointments and the Supreme Court ruled it could not in the landmark Marbury v. Madison case. When the new president's team takes office, there's really not much it can do about any appointments, pardons, etc. made by the former president's team. That resignation to the facts is one of the big reasons presidents from opposing parties, even in times of war, have yielded power to each other based on the results of the votes and not any coup d'etat.



But this time it's different. At no time in history has an outgoing administration attempted to make such a radical change in foreign policy and potentially make moves that will set a potentially permanent chain reaction of events in motion. The American-Israeli alliance is one of the closest allegiances not only in U.S. history, but all modern history. If this move results in Israel only being considered a strong ally depending on who's in the White House at any particular time, that will change everything not just for Israel but potentially all of our allies who may need to worry that a new precedent is being set by the Obama team right now.
Donald Trump on Tuesday chose former George W. Bush aide Thomas Bossert as a top homeland security advisor.

Bossert will serve as assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, the transition team announced. The position was previously held by a deputy national security advisor but will be independent of that group in Trump's administration.

The transition team said Bossert will focus on "domestic and transnational security priorities" while controversial retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn will address "international security challenges" as national security advisor. It is unclear exactly how their duties will break down, but the transition team said Bossert's job will include a focus on cybersecurity.

"Tom brings enormous depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to protecting the homeland to our senior White House team," Trump said in a statement. "He has a handle on the complexity of homeland security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity challenges. He will be an invaluable asset to our Administration."



Bossert was a deputy homeland security advisor to President Bush. Most recently, he has been president of Civil Defense Solutions, a risk management consulting firm.

He is also a cybersecurity risk fellow at the Atlantic Council, a think tank.
The image of bustling, modern cities is what usually comes to mind when most people think of Taiwan. For some, it also conjures the majestic imagery of gushing rivers and snow-capped mountains. And for still others, it is the magnificence of Taiwanese art and culture that leaves a deep impression.

Taking its heritage from a long legacy of Chinese civilization and evolved through the centuries, Taiwan's art and cultural artefacts can be as old as 5,000 years and as avant garde as the public art installations scattered across the island.

In this article, find out where to go to trace the history of Chinese art and culture in Taiwan, and where to catch an eyeful of some of the finest contemporary art produced in recent years.






The town has taken over operation of the Shenendehowa Adult Community Center (AKA Shenendehowa Senior Citizens Center) after being told by the non-profits governing board it could no longer operate the facility.

Town supervisor Philip Barrett said he was informed of the situation Dec. 16 by a member of the centers governing board. The town assumed operational control early the next morning and has continued to operate it since that time.

The Shenendehowa Senior Citizens Center was formed in the late 1980s and has run operations in the building ever since. The structure is owned and maintained by the town.

Barrett gave a summary of the situation at the start of the Dec. 19 town board meeting.

Its a team effort but we have the resources and personnel to operate the center officially, Barrett said. We are setting a budget for the center and there are various sources of revenue that the board will receive. I see this as a permanent change. I see it as being good for the center.

As part of the board meeting town controller Mark Heggen said there is enough money in the senior center budget to do it.

In an interview later in the week Barrett said financial difficulties with the Shenendehowa Senior Citizens Inc. was the cause of the problem but he did not know the details. He added that the matter has been referred to law enforcement by the centers board of directors.

The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation confirmed there is an investigation underway into financial dealings with the Shenendehowa Adult Community center made at the request of the centers governing board. They would give no further details.

In a prepared statement from Alicia Kelley, the president of the Shenendehowa Adult Community Center Board of Directors, the board confirmed it had reported financial discrepancies to local law enforcement which has since launched an investigation.

Management of the center has been turned over to the Town of Clifton Park, the statement read. For any questions related to the day to day operations please contact the town directly.

Barrett said he was invited by the centers board to a meeting at the facility at 6 Clifton Commons Boulevard on Dec. 15 where the situation was discussed.

Its dire for them, he said. We assumed operational responsibility Saturday morning because the town didnt want the center to close for even one minute. Programs took place Saturday and Sunday and plans were put in place to make sure the facility was open and that no programs were canceled. It was business as usual, seamless.

Since it assumed operational responsibility, Barrett said, the towns focus for the center is from Dec. 17 forward.

Ive put a lot of thought toward the center and its long term plans and Ive discussed them with the town board, he said.

Some of the ideas Barrett is considering are reducing the dues from $25 to $15, changing its name to the Clifton Park Community Center, and merging the senior center into the operations of the town.

Its a good fit, he said. With operational needs, we have people at the town.

The depth of the situation came as a surprise to Barrett. He acknowledged he had very little information on the type and number of nightly classes that were being held there. When he was asked the total membership he said he didnt know.

Were piecing it together as we go, he said. Its the little things, the little details of running an organization that get you, that were learning about. Every day theres a myriad of things that come out of left field and were addressing each task swiftly and decisively.

One of those little things is resurrecting the centers computer system. Barrett said once its back in working order he expects to have a full list of the membership with email addresses which he can then use for communication purposes and help piece together programs and services.

Due to the situation all paid employees have left the center, Barrett said. At the Dec. 19 town board meeting the board hired two employees part-time to work at the centers receptionist desk. Barrett said the town would appreciate any volunteer help it can get for center from the community.

Some people involved in this situation will be negatively affected but for the town, this is an incredible opportunity, he said. Well reinvigorate it. Many people have left this center in recent years. We want to change that.

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This 1792 Silver Center cent pattern graded VF-30, a type considered perhaps the first issue struck at the Philadelphia Mint, last sold at auction in 2012 for $305,500.

Heritage's auctions held in conjunction with the January 2017 FUN convention include such rarities as a 1792 Silver Center cent pattern, considered to be the first issue struck at the Mint.

All eyes in the coin hobby will be watching Heritages auctions in Fort Lauderdale between Jan. 4 and 9, held in conjunction with the Florida United Numismatists 2017 convention Jan. 5 to 8.

The firm will offer 18 featured collections included this year in the U.S. coin auctions, along with hundreds of other consignments from collectors and dealers. Two additional Heritage auctions featuring U.S. and world paper money are also scheduled for the convention.

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The FUN auctions are important because they are the first auctions of the year and set the tone for the rare coin market. Also, they are massive, with this years sales offering more than 8,000 lots. Among the offerings are dozens of important rarities along with thousands of the more bread-and-butter type coins that make up the majority of transactions in the rare coin market.

Top lots include one of just 10 1884 Trade dollars  this one in Proof 63  alongside a Mint State 66 1792 half disme pattern. There isnt an obvious seven-figure star this year as in previous FUN auctions, but the depth of the sale is impressive and here are some key issues to keep track of.

Early Mint issues

Among the early issues from the first years of the Philadelphia Mint to be offered at Heritages Jan. 5 Platinum Night auction is a 1794 Flowing Hair dollar graded Extremely Fine 40 by Professional Coin Grading Service. Approximately 140 examples of this always-popular dollar are known. The issue has been heavily studied, with a 2010 book detailing each of the 137 examples then-known. Since the publication of that book several other examples have emerged.

This particular example is generally problem-free, with Heritage observing, Dappled gold and iridescent toning resides on lovely pewter-gray surfaces with radial adjustment marks extending inward from the obverse border from about 5 oclock, clockwise to 12 oclock.

As these early silver dollars were individually struck on screw presses at the early Philadelphia Mint, examples usually have striking irregularities and this example is no exception. Heritage notes that, on the subject coin, The adjustment marks and press settings created strike weakness at the left side, although use of a glass will reveal that every star is still visible. The reverse border has a trivial planchet flaw at 2 oclock that makes a convenient pedigree identifier.

The pedigree includes a century in the collection of Walter Henry Childs and his descendants. When Bowers and Merena sold the collection in 1999, it sold for a relatively modest $59,800. Hobby legend Ken Bressett recalled at that 1999 auction that he was asked by the family to catalog, grade and appraise the holdings. He said, I cannot forget his asking why the 1794 dollar was in worn condition while all the others were so nice. Actually it was in relatively high grade, but it just seemed to pale alongside the many other superb pieces.

Another early highlight is a 1792 Silver Center cent pattern, considered to be the first issue struck at the U.S. Mint, graded Very Fine 30 by Numismatic Guaranty Corp. It represents an experiment by the early Philadelphia Mint to create a coin having an intrinsic value of one cent, by using smaller copper planchet with a silver plug. The idea proved impractical for mass production.

Heritage writes, A limited mintage of Silver Center cents was produced in December of 1792 to demonstrate the design to President Washington and the Congressional committee charged with amending the Mint Act of 1792 in regard to the copper coinage. Today just 14 examples are known of the curious issue.

The one offered at FUN Platinum Night traces its ownership history back to the Joseph J. Mickley Collection, sold by W. Elliot Woodward in October 1867. Its had more than a dozen owners since then and was last offered publicly at Heritages August 2012 Philadelphia Signature Auction where it sold for $305,500.

On its preservation, Heritage thinks it may be finer than the assigned grade, writing, In our opinion, this coin is close to XF overall, with the devices on each side well-centered on the flan. The upper right reverse shows some slight evidence of corrosion, and there two distinguishing planchet voids in the obverse fields, one before Libertys face and the other at the base of the second E in SCIENCE.
An example of one of the rarest English gold coins, the 1705 Vigo gold 5-guinea coin, was discovered among toys and sold at auction in 2016.

Many dream of finding treasure in unexpected places, but that dream became reality for a United Kingdom resident in 2016.

A 1703 Vigo Bay gold 5-guinea coin  one of the rarest English gold coins ever  was discovered in the inherited belongings of a family, according to the London auction house Boningtons Auctioneers, which sold the coin in its Nov. 16 auction.

The family had no idea the coin was valuable until a specialist at Boningtons appraised it. Their discovery was announced almost exactly 314 years after seizure of the gold that became the coin issue, during the reign of Queen Anne. Fewer than 20 examples of the coin were made from gold the British captured from a Spanish treasure ship in 1702 at Vigo Bay, northern Spain.

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The coin was reportedly passed down through four generations of the same family, kept in a little boys treasure box. From what the consignors told the auction house, their little boy liked to play pirate with the coin, and other coins, that originally belonged to the childs great-grandfather.

Boningtons spokesman Luke Bodalbhai said: The coin was consigned to us by a gentleman from Hertfordshire whose grandfather had given it to him many years ago, when he was a young boy. However, he had no idea what it was worth until recently, when he showed it to our coin specialist, Gregory Tong, [who] immediately recognized the coin and informed the consignor of its value.

According to a press release from the auction house, the consignor said, My granddad travelled all over the world during his working life and collected many coins from the various countries where he had been. As a boy, I was into pirate treasure, so he gave me bags of coins to play with. As time passed, these coins went back into bags and boxes and were forgotten about. Then, after my granddad passed away, I rediscovered the coins and recalled how much I had enjoyed them as a boy. So I gave them to my own son to play with, including the Queen Anne Vigo 5-guinea. He kept it in his treasure box and has been playing pirate with it just as I did, all those years ago.

The story of the coins discovery is worthy of great literature, but then, the story of its creation is also a romantic masterpiece.

The VIGO emblazoned coins were struck from treasure the British fleet seized in 1702 from Franco-Spanish ships returning from America, during the War of Spanish Succession. The 1703 Vigo gold issues were intended for circulation and comprised half guinea, guinea and 5-guinea pieces. In addition, related silver coins were struck in crown, half-crown, shillings and sixpence denominations, in 1703. (Some 1702-dated shillings were also struck.)

Each of the coins has the usual obverse and reverse design types appropriate to the denomination but on the obverse of each denomination, below Queen Annes bust, the word VIGO was added, engraved into the die.

The gold coins struck are all very scarce to very rare and would be beyond the means of most collectors. The silver coins, however, were struck in generally large numbers.

The coin realized 280,000 ($348,810) with the buyers fee.

Read all of our Coin World Top 10 of 2016 series:

- U.S. Mint issues gold Centennial coins

- Pogue IV auction tops $16 million

- Rare English gold coin found in toy box

- Boutique bullion trend catches on worldwide

- Langbord 1933 double eagle case rolls on

- 1974-D aluminum cent returned to U.S. Mint

- Treasury announces new Federal Reserve note designs

- 1964 Morgan dollar tooling uncovered

- American Liberty silver medal released

- U.S. Mint plans yearlong 225th anniversary party
The Endurance Expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton is memorialized on a pair of 2016 2 coins from South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands that share the same design.

The Endurance Expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton is memorialized on a pair of 2016 2 coins from South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands that share the same design.

Sir Ernest Shackletons successful Endurance expedition, so named for the ship it started with, is considered by some to be the last major expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

The official name is the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The Pobjoy Mint has struck coins honoring the expedition for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands.

By 1914 both North and South Poles had been reached, so Shackleton set his sights on being the first to traverse Antarctica.

He arrived at South Georgia on Nov. 5, 1914, and after a month-long stop at Grytviken whaling station the expedition sailed into the Weddell Sea, aiming to cross the Antarctic continent to the Ross Sea, where they would be met by the Ross Sea party aboard the Aurora. Eighteen months later Shackleton returned to South Georgia, albeit in very different circumstances.

The Endurance had been lost in the ice and its 28-man complement had spent months in makeshift camps before taking lifeboats to reach Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton and five companions made a 1,300-kilometer boat journey aboard the James Caird to King Haakon Bay, South Georgia.

After a short period of recuperation Shackleton, Tom Crean and Frank Worsley crossed South Georgia on foot to Stromness whaling station, arriving May 20.

Shackleton then began his ultimately successful efforts to rescue his men on Elephant Island. After four attempts in different vessels, Shackleton was able to rescue the men waiting on Elephant Island who were brought home aboard the Chilean steamer Yelcho without loss of life.

Uncirculated copper-nickel and Proof .925 fine silver 2 coins carry a common design honoring the Endurance and Shackleton. The reverse shows Endurance stuck in the ice in the background with the crew pulling a sled on the ice pack in the foreground.

The obverse features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II exclusive to the Pobjoy Mint.

Both coins weigh 28.28 grams and measure 38.6 millimeters in diameter. The copper-nickel coin is shipped in a blue presentation pouch.

The silver coin is shipped encapsulated in an acrylic capsule for protection and housed in a red box with a certificate of authenticity.The copper-nickel coin has a mintage limit of 10,000 pieces and retails for $16.95.

The silver coin is limited to a mintage of 2,000 pieces and retails for $65.

To order, visit the Pobjoy Mint website.
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City receives feedback on Whitegate Park proposal

Community members had an opportunity to provide feedback on a proposal for a new neighborhood park on Whitegate Drive in Columbia.
We offered our readers a varied menu, including the kicking-in of purdah, George Osbornes punishment budget, and Jeremy Corbyns faliure to campaign all-out for EU membership.

36 per cent of them plumped for David Camerons renegotiation. This is the wisdom of crowds. If Cameron had pulled off some immigration control on EU numbers, however slight, I believe he would have pulled the referendum off. But he didnt  and was never going to, given the four pillars and where the EU is on them (and on Britain). Technically, I suppose the renegotiation took place before the campaign proper. But the campaign proper was not the campaign whole.

I would have rated Corbyns deliberate lack of effort almost as highly  it was natural Labour voters that swung the result  and the onset of purdah almost as highly as that. But vox populi, vox dei.

Here are the rest of the figures:

George Osbornes punishment budget  23 per cent.

Jeremy Corbyn not campaigning enthusiastically for Remain- 11 per cent

Chris Grayling and Theresa Villiers threatening to resign from the Cabinet if Conservative Ministers were not given a free vote on Brexit  9 per cent.

Other  8 per cent.

UKIPs immigration poster  5 per cent.

The final TV debate at Wembley  4 per cent (4.0)

The start of purdah  4 per cent (3.5)

Since you ask, there was no settled view on other, though there was an impressive grasp of bits of detail, including David Davis analysis at ICE, Bob Geldofs sneering flotilla and Dominic Cummings not being sacked. A bit of Boris and Gove joining the Leave campaign too.

950 or so party member responses is a very healthy response rate, indicating that the survey got the readers going.
Close

Some clinics were reportedly not able to administer the necessary treatment to their patients just because they failed to donate to the American Kidney Fund. This has apparently been the situation as of late, despite a federal government agreement that states funding should be distributed based on a patient's financial need.

The agreement also bans the selection of recipients based on the clinic where it is availing of its services.

A report on the New York Times has revealed instances wherein there was a strong pushback on workers at clinics who did not contribute money to the fund. The charity organization itself released guidelines that aid will not be provided to clinics or companies who have not given funds to the American Kidney Fund.

Former Arkansas-based social worker Elaine Brecher has seen many patients needing dialysis and other treatments denied of such services by the American Kidney Fund. Some of them were not able to apply to other charities as they believed that their clinics could provide the services for them. Without the assistance, their hospital and doctor's bills would not be paid for.

The American Kidney Fund was born out of a deal struck between the government and dialysis companies 20 years ago. Included in the agreement is that there would be no bias on patient applications, regardless of whether their clinic has donated to the organization or not.

Besides this issue, the American Kidney Fund has also faced another scandal when United Healthcare raised complaints against the American Renal Associates. Investigations have found the company to be indirectly paying the charity organization, which then resulted in selected patients who were awarded coverage by the government. These patients would then use payments from third-party companies to buy insurance.

A representative from the American Kidney Fund has announced that they have already updated their guidelines.

See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare
P&O Cruises Australia announced that its latest ship, Pacific Explorer, will be emblazoned with the Southern Cross, "a national symbol in both Australia and New Zealand and a celestial constellation that has guided generations of seafarers." The ship will join the fleet in early 2017 and is currently sailing as the Dawn Princess.

The five-star constellation, a Southern Hemisphere feature of the Milky Way and the brilliant night sky, has strong emotional ties for people in both countries and has become etched in their national identities, according to a statement from P&O.

We couldnt think of a more powerful symbol to launch Pacific Explorers new era of local cruising than the Southern Cross, P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell said. It is a symbol that is close to our hearts as Australias home brand cruise line and it strikes a chord with our many Australian and New Zealand guests.

The Southern Cross is also an ageless pointer to contemporary cruising and the region in which our ships sail. We are proud to unveil Pacific Explorers Sailing Stars design, Myrmell added.

The five stars of the Southern Cross will decorate the bow of Pacific Explorer with a sweeping flourish when the ship debuts in Sydney in late June 2017.

The new livery is a contemporary interpretation of the classic Southern Cross symbol. It represents P&O Cruises affinity with the ocean, the cruise lines sense of adventure and its commitment to delivering memorable cruise holidays, the cruise line said in a statement.
According to media reports, a sole bidder has emerged for a majority stake in STX France, and it is most likely Fincantieri.

Reuters reported a Korean court said only one bid had been received.

French maritime news outlet Mer et Marine said Fincantieri was the sole bidder for STX France, with a decision expected as soon as early 2017. Genting Hong Kong was said to no longer be involved with Fincantieris bid; and previous rumors of Damen Shipyard aligning with Royal Caribbean Cruises and MSC Cruises have not panned out either.

The French government, which owns a third of the yard, can also veto bids.
WESTPORT  Police responding to a 911 hangup approached a Kings Highway South home Saturday and allegedly saw a resident snorting cocaine at the kitchen table.

Andrew Kindt, 40, of Kings Highway South was to be arraigned Tuesday in Superior Court on charges of possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence and risk of injury to a minor, Lt. David Farrell said.

Officers made entry and observed Kindt sweep the remaining narcotics and paraphernalia into his pocket in an attempt to conceal it, Farrell said. Kindt later admitted to the cocaine use and (said) that it was given to him by a friend.

At that time, there were two juveniles in the home, the Westport police spokesman said. The substance was tested by officers on scene and returned a positive reaction for cocaine.
When Connecticut resident Austin Haughwout uploaded YouTube videos of his pistol and flamethrower-equipped drones last year, he triggered a national debate over the use of weaponized drones that is expected to result in new state legislation.

Eight states, including Vermont and Maine, now have laws prohibiting or limiting the weaponization of drones, and Connecticut is expected to take up a similar ban in the next legislative session. A proposal in Connecticut to make it a felony to carry a weapon or an explosive in a drone was approved by the House during the 2016 legislative session, but the Senate failed to take action.

Hopefully, next year, we will get the legislation across the finish line, said Rep. Stephen Dargan, D-West Haven, co-chair of the legislatures Public Safety and Security Committee.

Connecticut has been at the center of the drone controversy since the videos by Haughwout, of Clinton, made national news, spurring investigations by the Clinton police and the FAA. No charges were brought against Haughwout and his father, Bret Haughwout, but the two men are expected to disclose information under oath about their use of weaponized drones before the FAA in the coming months, their attorney said. The men initially refused to comply with federal subpoenas to disclose information, but U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Meyer ruled in July that they must comply.

Their attorney, Mario Cerame, said he is prepared to contest any enforcement action or fines against his clients. He argues that the Haughwouts drone flights occurred before the FAA established in August specific regulations pertaining to drones.

Agency regulations prior to August, he said, were intended to apply to traditional aircraft with pilots including airplanes, helicopters and blimpsand not to small, unmanned aircraft like drones.

More Information Drones everywhere Nationally, there were 632,068 drones registered as of December. In Connecticut, 5,731 drones were registered as of May. Source: Federal Aviation Administration See More Collapse

An FAA spokesperson, Les Dorr, says that while the agency cannot discuss pending litigation, the FAA has the authority to take enforcement action against anyone who operates an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner and to levy fines against violators.

Many people fly drones for pleasure, and businesses and government agencies use them for numerous purposes, including assessment of farm crops, power lines, road conditions and storm damage. The FAA expects annual drone sales to jump from 2.5 million this year to 7 million in 2020.

Civilian drones are incredibly useful devices that can and will improve our everyday lives, Peter Sachs, a Connecticut lawyer and drone advocate, said. Weapons are intended to cause damage, injury and even death. Attaching any sort of weapon to a civilian drone serves no useful purpose and does nothing to improve our lives.

State lawmakers weigh in

As drone popularity soars, lawmakers in New England and other states are expressing concerns about the dangers of civilians, and in some instances, of law enforcement officials, using weaponized drones.

Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, Maine, North Dakota and Virginia have laws addressing weaponization of drones, said Amanda Essex, a policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Five states, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont and Wisconsin prohibit possession or use of a weaponized drone by anyone. Maine and Virginia prohibit weaponized drones for use by law enforcement or public agencies. North Dakota prohibits law enforcement from attaching lethal weapons to drones, but the states law doesnt address Tasers, tear gas or any other weapon considered non-lethal.

In Connecticut, the Senate never got a chance to vote on a proposed drone bill because budget deliberations took up too much time, said Sachs, who worked with Connecticut lawmakers on the bill. The upcoming session will be different, and it will pass. No one in the legislature is opposed to it, he said. The bill that failed included a provision to allow law enforcement bomb squads to equip drones with explosive detection, detonation or disposal equipment.

Paul Fitzgerald, the Connecticut Police Chiefs Associations legislative committee co-chair and Berlin's police chief, says the states police chiefs plan to draft a policy that will not allow weapons of any kind on any drones used by law enforcement. It will be based on a policy that was developed by the Virginia-based International Association of Chiefs of Police and will be shared with the state legislature, Fitzgerald says.

Weaponization issues aside, Fitzgerald says drones can be a great tool in the future to help with search and rescue, traffic investigation, crime investigation and event security.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut supports legislation to prevent police from weaponizing drones, says the groups spokeswoman, Meghan Smith.

Drones have a legitimate place in some law enforcement operations, such as search and rescue efforts or accident scene recreation, Smith says. Given their immense capabilities for surveillance and weaponization, however, we strongly support requiring police to get a warrant before using them for spying and preventing police from attaching weapons to them.

Evolving legislation

The new FAA regulations that went into effect in August make no mention of weapons but prohibit drones from carrying hazardous materials or operating in a careless or reckless manner. The rules also state that no person may allow an object to be dropped from a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that creates an undue hazard to people or property.

The FAA is concerned about anything that can impact aviation safety, says Alison Duquette, a spokeswoman for the agency. We work with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate unauthorized or unsafe unmanned aircraft systems operations.

FAA rules state that drones must weigh less than 55 pounds, must stay in the line of sight of the operator and can reach a maximum ground speed of 100 mph. Maximum allowable altitude is 400 feet above the ground, but a drone can ascend higher if it is within 400 feet of a structure.

All drones, including model aircraft used by hobbyists, must be registered with the FAA. Drones that are not model aircraft must be operated by someone with a remote pilot airman certificate or under the direct supervision of a person with such a certificate.

Since the drone incidents, Austin Haughwout has been arrested twice. In October, he was charged with fourth-degree sexual assault, enticing a minor and risk of injury to a minor. In July, Clinton police charged him with possession of child pornography, risk of injury to a minor and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault in the fourth degree.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team (www.c-hit.org).
Raul Castro send message of condolences to Russia

Submitted by: Juana

Havana

Personalities

Politics and Government

12 / 26 / 2016



Cuban President Raul Castro sent a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the death of 92 people in a plane crash in the Black Sea, according to diplomatic sources.

The accident took the lives of the 64 members of the Russian Army Choir Alexandrov Ensemble, among other passengers and journalists form three TV stations.

In his message, Raul recalled the concerts offered by the Russian ensemble in Cuba in December 2014, which the Cuban people remember fondly.

The Cuban President, on behalf of the Cuban people and government, asked Putin to forward his condolences to the relatives of the victims of the tragic accident.
Imamoglu'na bir suikast ihbar daha: '8 kisilerdi, hepsi silahllard...'
Civil War Gala to be held Saturday in Somerset

The 14th annual Col. Robert Cummins Civil War Gala will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Somerset Church of the Brethren, 606 Berlin Plank Road in Somerset.
Macquarie University announces scholarships worth AUD 1.8 Million for Indian women and undergraduate students

New Delhi | Published : 26th December, 2016

Scholarships will support postgraduate female students and undergraduates with tuition fee waivers

Macquarie University today announced scholarship valued at more than AUD 1.8 million for outstanding students in India, with a focus on support and opportunities for postgraduate female students and undergraduate students across all Macquarie courses.

The Macquarie International Womens Scholarship for postgraduate female students will enable women in India to achieve their career goals by improving the affordability of acquiring an internationally renowned Masters degree from Macquarie. The scholarship will provide for up to AUD 11,000 in tuition fees for the full duration of the course.

The Macquarie University Undergraduate Scholarship is being offered to applicants applying for undergraduate degrees and provides for up to AUD 17,000 in tuition fees for the full duration of the course for academic session commencing in 2017.

Macquarie has one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia, and we are excited to launch this program providing fantastic support to stand-out undergraduate students as well as exceptional female postgraduate candidates. We look forward to receiving applications from some of the brightest young minds in India said Pro Vice-Chancellor, International, Nicole Brigg.

Applicants for both scholarships will be required to meet the English requirements for the course they have selected and meet a minimum academic score in their last completed qualification.

About Macquarie University, Australia

Established in Sydney in 1964, Macquarie University is consistently ranked amongst the Top 10 universities in Australia (ARWU, 2015) and Top 250 in the world (QS, 2015). It is ranked amongst the top 100 in the world in nine disciplines (QS 2015 rankings by subject). It was created during a time of extraordinary social transformation to be a different kind of university: it was, and will always be, a bold experiment in higher education. True to its founders' vision, the University has challenged the conventional thinking of academia through innovations in its campus set-up, curricula, interdisciplinary research and engagement with industry and the wider community.

Macquarie's approach has paid off. Hundred percent of its research activity is rated through the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative at world standard or higher, and it has received a rating of 5 stars across all categories measured by QS. 90% of its graduates under the age of 25 are employed within 6 months of completing their studies. More importantly, the University has helped to form generations of individuals who are audacious and responsible leaders in their field and active members of their communities.

Application deadline - 1 month prior to course commence date. Student must have an unconditional offer letter to be eligible for the scholarship. Macquarie University has intakes in February and July for most programs.

How to apply - http://www.mq.edu.au/study/int ernational-students/how-to-apply

Is there a weblink for the scholarships - http://www.mq.edu.au/study/int ernational-students/scholarships

For more information contact, please contact:

Harsimran Kaur: 9654289813

email id: harsimran.cumulus@gmail.com

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For all the embittered Remoaners still determined to prove Brexit is going to be an unmitigated disaster, the calm and considered optimism of Mervyn King must have had them choking on their leftover turkey.

The former Bank of England governor  whose near-silence during the referendum campaign gives his words even more weight  called for all sides to be more self-confident about Britains prospects, but there can be little doubt about the doom-mongers he was really addressing.

With admirable even-handedness, Lord King said Brexit will present this country with many opportunities, and while it might not be a bed of roses from beginning to end, it was also not going to be the end of the world.

For all the embittered Remoaners still determined to prove Brexit is going to be an unmitigated disaster, the calm and considered optimism of Mervyn King must have had them choking on their leftover turkey

The referendum result also demands the non-negotiable restoration of controls on immigration, he said. Who apart from politicians prepared to wilfully distort the history of the campaign  could disagree?

Indeed, other than his overly generous view of Mark Carneys role in the referendum campaign, there was barely a word he uttered with which this newspaper would take issue.

But his most damning assessment was reserved for the European Union itself, and the existential problems of mass migration and the single currency.

With perfect timing, up pops the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, to insist the Schengen open borders system must remain in place and to reject calls for any restrictions on migrants.

Is it any wonder the EUs in such trouble when arrogant and intransigent bureaucrats like him are in charge?

A quiet Brexiteer?

ON the subject of the EU, this newspaper makes no claim to know what private views the Queen holds on Brexit.

Readers will make up their own minds about the report from BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg yesterday that Her Majesty said at a lunch: I dont see why we cant just get out. Whats the problem?

Readers will make up their own minds about the report from BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg yesterday that Her Majesty said at a lunch: I dont see why we cant just get out. Whats the problem?

They will also weigh in the balance a similar suggestion during the referendum campaign that in 2011 the Queen said Europe was going in the wrong direction.

It is impossible to know conclusively what Her Majesty thinks on such major political questions  and rightly so. Trust in the monarchy rests in part on its neutrality.

But wouldnt it be odd if a woman with such vast experience in public life, who has known every prime minister since Churchill, didnt hold strong views about Britains relations with the EU?

After all, this is an institution which in her lifetime has done so much to erode her countrys sovereignty. Isnt it likely the sovereign herself feels this very keenly? And isnt she entitled, as head of the Commonwealth, to take a particular  and not necessarily Eurocentric  view of our place in the world?

In her characteristically upbeat Christmas message, the Queen spoke of finding courage or strength to overcome challenges ahead. We can only wonder to what she might have been referring.

Fighting corruption

It is a scandal that for years was ignored or  worse  brushed under the carpet because of misguided political correctness: the debasement of our once gold standard voting system by widespread electoral fraud in some Asian communities.

Now, after a review, ministers are to bar activists from harvesting postal votes, and require all postal voters to re-register every three years.
Travelling with a young baby is never easy - but one mother has shared her story about the kindness she received from strangers, who made criss-crossing the United States with a four-month-old a breeze.

Nikki Olds was born in Odessa, Texas, but has settled in Sydney with her Australian husband Garrett and now, their son Rafferty.

Her family remain in the US and earlier this year, her sister-in-law invited them to Hawaii for her 40th birthday celebrations.

So she and her family set off for a two-month trip that would see them take several flights and hit stops including Dallas, Portland, Denver, Florida and more.

Kindness all the way! Nikki Olds and her son Rafferty encountered kind strangers as they spent two months criss-crossing across the United States

Mrs Olds expected a fussy baby and disgruntled passengers yet found herself pleasantly surprised time and again.

From getting a first class seat as a gift from a fellow passenger to a stranger helping her with her copious luggage, 'the kindness just kept coming,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The first special person they encountered was a flight attendant on a plane to Florida.

After travelling from Hawaii to Portland and taking a roadtrip through Idaho, Montana and hitting Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, the Olds had headed to Denver.

But after arriving in Denver, Mr Olds had to return to Sydney for work and Mrs Olds continued the trip without him, flying to Jacksonville with her brother.

There were five babies on that two-hour flight and flight attendants paid special attention to each one, Mrs Olds said.

Family trip: It started with Nikki, her husband Garrett and their son heading to Hawaii for her sister-in-law's birthday

Tiny traveller: Rafferty was just four months old at the start of the epic journey

Then, one attendant serenaded the little ones with a classic lullaby Goodnight Sweetheart.

'The flight attendant, she was just lovely,' she said. 'She said, "I just want to say goodnight to all my little boyfriends."

'That was kind of the first sign of things starting to get special.'

In Hawaii, Mrs Old had encountered a hurricane and in Florida, she found herself in the same situation.

Fortunately, they were far enough inland to avoid the worst of the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew.

'My brother and I both have little ones, and my mother was so worried about us,' she said.

Surprise: She got the middle seat on her flight to Dallas, before a passenger offered her his first class seat upgrade

But the bad weather meant her parents were not able to drive down from South Carolina to spend time with their grandson.

So instead, Mrs Olds was faced with flying alone for the first time on her trip - with five pieces of luggage, a pram and a baby.

Things took a turn for the worse on the flight to Charlotte, she said, as baby Rafferty was feeling unwell.

She put it down to teething but he ended up in hospital with a virus.

'It was pretty scary,' Mrs Olds added. 'I was fully by myself.'

Soon it was time for her and Rafferty to catch a flight to Dallas to visit more family before heading home.

Up in the air: Nikki Olds and Rafferty travelled to Hawaii, Portland, Florida, Dallas and more

Road trip! From Portland, they drove through Idaho and Montana and hit Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming

Bad luck seemed to strike again when she was not afforded the chance to pre-board as a parent flying with a baby and ended up with a middle seat with two men on either side.

Then a flight attendant approached one of the men next to her and told him his upgrade request had been granted.

She said: 'He just looked at me and said, "No, you take it."

Mrs Olds said she had refused, but the man, called Chris, had insisted.

'He said he traveled for business all the time and could upgraded any time. "You need it more than I do so take it," he told me.

She added: 'You could tell he wasn't going to take no for an answer. I was so emotional, I couldn't believe it.'

She said she'd told him: 'I don't know how but I will find a way to do something for someone in your name.'

Expert: After so many flights, little Rafferty became a wonderful little traveller, his mum said

With Rafferty in tow, she went and enjoyed the flight in a front row seat in luxury.

'It was a wonderful experience, they really looked after us,' she said. 'And Rafferty had become a wonderful little traveller, he wasn't a problem at all.'

And when she arrived in Dallas, she was contemplating how she'd single-handedly get her luggage off the carousal before making her way to her hotel in a transfer shuttle when a different passenger from the plane came along.

'I'm thinking, "How am I going to do this?" Then this guy comes up to me and says that he's traveled with his children and seen them travel with theirs.

'"I know it's really hard," he said and that he'd like to help.

'I just thought, this is what I've been waiting for! He was a total stranger, his name was Johnny, and he was just being so kind. He went out of his way.'

Life-changing: Mrs Olds said the trip with Rafferty has changed her perspective on life

Johnny helped Mrs Olds and Rafferty travel through the airport and waited until they were on the hotel shuttle before leaving.

As a Texan herself, she knows about how hospitable southerners are.

'People are kind all over the world, but in the south, people will walk across the street to help you.'

Mrs Olds said the kindness she encountered has given her a new perspective on life and now, she is always looking for ways to give back to others.

'They have seriously changed my life,' she said. 'Now when I see people, I am always thinking, what can I do to help them?

'The kindness just kept coming and I don't know what I did to deserve it.'




No matter how hard you try, chances are you'll still be looking at some leftovers from Christmas dinner this week.

But you can avoid eating endless turkey sandwiches and make the remnants of your gigantic meal go further by storing it correctly.

FEMAIL has compiled some tips and tricks to reduce your food waste and help you enjoy delicious meals well into the New Year...

Lovely leftovers: Slice turkey off the bone and it will keep in the freezer for three months

TURKEY AND HAM

Sydney chef Travis Harvey advises carving all turkey and ham from the bone after Christmas to ensure it stays fresh.

As long as they are carved shortly after cooking, slices of turkey and ham can be stored in the freezer in a container for up to three months, Mr Harvey says in a post for OzHarvest.

To ensure you're not eating food that's gone bad, label bags and containers with the date you put them in the freezer.

Simple: Peeled prawns last longer and can be kept in the freezer for up to three months

How do I keep food safe? The NSW Environment Protection Authority's Love Food Hate Waste page has these tips to keep your food safe: Check the food labels Always wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling food. Keep your kitchen, food preparation and food storage areas spotlessly clean. Check your fridge and freezer temperature to make sure your food is kept cool enough to stop bacteria growing. Separate raw food (especially meat, poultry and seafood) from ready-to-eat food and use colour-coded chopping boards if possible. Make sure all food (especially meat, poultry and seafood) is cooked thoroughly. Heat kills bacteria. Advertisement

PRAWNS AND SEAFOOD

To make prawns last longer, peel them before storing in the freezer for up to three months, according to Mr Harvey.

You could also put prawns into rice paper rolls and freeze those for a quick meal when you fancy it.

Mr Harvey also advises freezing prawn shells first before disposing of them to avoid a smelly rubbish bin.

According to the NSW Environment Protection Authority's Love Food Hate Waste page, if your freezer can maintain a temperature of minus 18C or colder, lean seafood such as prawns, bream, whiting, snapper, lobsters and scallops will keep for nine months to a year.

But fatty seafood, such as mullet, will keep for only three to four months.

'If freezing fish, clean and prepare it as if you were going to eat it and freeze as fillets. You can freeze a whole clean fish, if you want to cook and serve it whole. Make sure you label and date the fish,' the website advises.

Have your cake and eat it: Cakes with icing last for three months in the freezer, but for six months without icing

CAKES

Chances are you weren't able to get through the entire Christmas cake after dinner - but fortunately they can last a good while when stored in an airtight container.

If a cake has been iced after it has cooled, that can help increase its shelf-life by cutting down on moisture loss and preventing it from going stale.

Love Food Hate Waste advises wrapping cakes tightly in clingfilm or foil to remove any air before freezing.

Frozen cakes with icing will last for about three months and for six months without icing.

Cheesy does it! Soft cheeses should be stored in waxed cheese paper and hard cheeses in plastic wrap

CHEESE

Soft cheeses, like Camembert, should be stored in waxed cheese paper or baking paper.

Food experts advise people to avoid using plastic wrap because it will cause the cheese to sweat.

Blue cheese can be wrapped in foil, but remember to change the foil every few days as acidity will attack the foil.

Hard cheeses, like cheddar or Parmesan, can be stored in plastic wrap or airtight containers.

EGGS

If you bought far too many eggs to Christmas baking, but didn't end up using them all, not to worry. The easiest way to store them is in the fridge in the carton they came in.

Test for freshness by checking if the egg sinks in a bowl or glass of water. Fresh eggs will stay at the bottom, but stale eggs float to the top.

But if your want to store for longer, eggs can be frozen too.

According to Love Food Hate Waste, you lightly beat whole eggs and add either a teaspoon of salt or a tablespoon of sugar for every six eggs.

Freeze the eggs in small amounts of one or two and they should keep for up to 10 months.
It was the mother of all Christmas gifts.

Madeleine Fitzgerald, an Australian woman who moved to the UK four years ago, couldn't believe her eyes when her mother showed up on the doorstep of her Manchester home.

Mother, Anita Fitzgerald, gave the gift to her 'beautiful' daughter, working around the clock in her job as a nurse, to afford her ticket over to the UK. Madeleine's boyfriend, Roland Parsons, 23, was roped into bringing off the merry plot without a hitch.

Madeleine Fitzgerald, an Australian woman who moved to the UK four years ago, couldn't believe her eyes when her mother showed up on the doorstep of her Manchester home

Mum, Anita Fitzgerald, pulled off the surprise plan with the help of Madeleine's boyfriend Roland Parsons, 23

'I have 2 other children back in Oz who embraced my going to surprise her,'

'It was the greatest thing I could ever have gifted to my daughter that money cannot buy,' Anita explained.

'My girlfriend had no idea! She had no idea what was going on really,' said Mr Parsons.

Astonished at the sight of her mum, Ms Fitzgerald started to laugh and cry

In a video that Mr Parsons captured, Ms Fitzgerald, 22, reads a Christmas card:

'I really hope you like this present. It's something you wanted and need. It will keep you warm. This present will last a lifetime and beyond. Enjoy.'

Not knowing what to expect, Ms Fitzgerald is led by her boyfriend to the front door, where her mother is waiting for her.

Astonished, Ms Fitzgerald falls to the floor and starts to laugh and cry.

'I was really relieved and happy seeing her reaction. Her reaction was the icing on the cake. And her mum was in tears obviously,' said Mr Parsons.

Mr Parsons, a trumpet player, and Ms Fitzgerald, a violinist, met at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester

After planning the surprise with Ms Fitzgerald's mother via Facebook, Mr Parsons said he had a hard time keeping the plan a secret.

'I'm a musician, so with Christmas coming up I was quite busy. I didn't get much of a chance to see my girlfriend, but I was also kind of avoiding it because I didn't want to forget my tongue and let something slip,' Mr Parsons said.

Mr Parsons, a trumpet player, and Ms Fitzgerald, a violinist, met at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Being students, coming up with money for flights to Australia isn't easy.
As a parent, you spend your life trying to protect your children from harm. It's a parent's biggest fear that something will happen to their offspring, that they will be hurt in some way.

On a Monday afternoon in October, this fear became a reality for Mum Kayla Schapel, when her 21-month-old daughter Ayla Toft had a horrific accident, pouring a mug of boiling water on herself.

Ms Schapel, from Davoren Park in South Australia, had to call an ambulance to rush Ayla to hospital, where it was determined that the little girl had second degree burns.

Ayla Toft (pictured) accidentally poured boiling water on herself in October, causing second degree burns

Ayla's mum Kayla Schapel (right) told Daily Mail Australia that it happened as she was making a cup of tea

Recalling the awful day, Ms Schapel told Daily Mail Australia that the day seemed like one that wasn't 'normal' from the start.

'I was very flustered. My mum looks after Ayla during the day while I work, and when I got to her house I just really needed a cup of tea,' she said.

'Ayla is very attached to me, she was getting very cranky and upset. So I got her to help my mum get the milk out of the fridge for the tea, even though usually the kids aren't allowed in the kitchen if anyone is cooking.'

The mum had filled up the mugs with boiling water, emptying the kettle, and turned around for a second to fill it up with more water at the sink when disaster struck.

'As I turned around she had grabbed the cup, pouring it on herself. She fell to the ground screaming,' Ms Schapel recalls.

'I immediately ripped her clothes off and put her in sink. My mum came running and went to put the bath on with cold water.'

Ayla was rushed to hospital after being burnt and then developed an infection as well

The burn was so bad that doctors had to graft new skin over the burns on her chest, arm and neck

Doctors also had such hard putting an IV into the toddler that they had to put her under general anaesthetic to get the needle in

They managed to get Ayla into the bath, but them Ms Schapel noticed the toddler's skin was started to peel off and she 'freaked out'.

An ambulance was called and the little girl was rushed to hospital. The doctors and nurses couldn't get an IV in, and had to put the toddler under general anaesthetic to get the needle in and take blood.

'She couldnt keep anything down,' Ms Schapel said. 'On the Wednesday night she woke up in her sleep crying, as I picked her up her legs were so hot they were almost like they were burnt too.'

The family were in hospital for several weeks, and for the first couple of days Ayla couldn't keep any food down

The little girl developed a temperature and woke up in her sleep crying after a couple of days in hospital

Doctors then had to take skin from Ayla's scalp to graft onto her chest, having to shave her head in process

A doctor was rushed to her ward and it was determined that Ayla had succumbed to an infection.

Because of this, as well as the burns being deeper than initially thought, Ayla had to have skin grafts on her chest, neck, and left arm.

Doctors shaved her head and took skin from her scalp to cover her chest, as this would be the best colour match and reduce how noticeable the scarring was.

Despite this, the little girl has continued to smile and won over many of the doctors and nurses

Ms Schapel said that she was 'very proud' of Ayla and how brave she had been throughout everything

Ayla is now slowly healing, but will have to see doctors for years to check up on the skin grafts

Through all of this, Ms Schapel said she was in awe of her daughter.

'I'm very proud of how resilient and tough and brave shes been throughout it all,' the mum said. 'Shes given me positivity. I don't think I could have been so strong if she wasn't so brave.'

'But I have so much mummy guilt. As a mum its your job to protect your children. It's very hard to process that you didn't protect them.'

Ayla doesn't have to wear bandages anymore, just a compression vest on her chest and arm to stop her from scratching the sensitive skin, but still has a long way to go.

Despite the fact that she's okay, Ms Schapel says she feels guilty for not being able to protect her baby

Ayla now has to wear compression vests, but is on the mend

Ms Schapel said that she wanted to raise awareness for parents about how common burn injuries are in toddlers

The little girl will be seeing scar management doctors for years after the burns heal, checking on how the skin grafts go as her skin grows and stretches.

Ms Schapel feels lucky, and said that Ayla's burns could have been much worse.

'I want to spread awareness for other parents,' she said. 'Follow your gut instinct, I never in a million years thought my children would have an accident like that.

'I didnt realise how common it was either, burns are the most common accident in toddler years. It's very scary.'
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to leave their Norfolk residence behind for Kensington Palace in 2017.

Prince William and Kate, both 34, have reportedly decided their son Prince George, three, will be schooled in London meaning that the royal residence will be their permanent base.

It is thought the royals have put their eldest child's name down at the 6,500-a-term Wetherby School in London, just less than a mile from the palace.

Reception, here I come! Prince George, 3, began attending Westacre Montessori nursery school near Sandringham, Norfolk earlier this year

Capital attraction: The Duke and Duchess are reportedly moving their family to Kensington Palace permanently as they take on more royal duties

The pre-prep school was also attended by Prince William and Prince Harry and is said to be a firm favourite of the royal pair.

Both William and Kate are set to take on even more royal duties in 2017, after stepping up their responsibilities this year, and will be in need of a permanent London residence along with Princess Charlotte, one.

This also means Prince William will have to make a decision about his future as a helicopter pilot so that he is able to join Kate on a full-time basis.

His piloting contract ends in March and, according to the Daily Telegraph, it is thought the Duke may continue to work for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service until the summer.

Prince William and Kate, pictured with Princess Charlotte and Prince George attending a Christmas Day service in Berkshire

The royal family will be expected to leave their Norfolk home of Anmer Hall behind to bring their children up in Kensington Palace, London

The Duke and Duchess are also reportedly hoping to expand their own Royal Foundation charity and want to focus more on causes like mental health.

Prince William and Kate, along with Prince Harry have openly lent their support to the helping people battle mental health issues.

The Duchess pledged back in October that they will do 'what they can to shine a spotlight on emotional wellbeing' on World Mental Health Day and earlier in the year launched the Heads Together campaign.

While Kate is thought to be unhappy about a move back to London the royal pair will be helping The Queen, 90, to lighten her workload.
Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark rugged up warmly with their four children and relatives to attend a Christmas Eve church service.

The family gathered at the Aarhus Cathedral in Aarhus, on the Jutland peninsula's east coast, for the festive event.

The royal couple were accompanied by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Prince Henrik, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix of Denmark.

Scroll down for video

Crown Princess Mary (left) and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (right) rugged up warmly with their four children (centre) and relatives to attend a Christmas Eve church service

The family were accompanied by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and other family members at the service late on Christmas afternoon

Princess Mary dressed smartly in a full-length grey wool coat with a matching tie around the waist, and completed her look with a gold statement brooch, a maroon dress underneath, black stockings and patent black heels.

She wore her long, dark brown hair hanging loose on her shoulders.

As the family left the church and walked to a fleet of cars parked outside, Princess Mary was photographed clutching the hand of her youngest daughter Princess Josephine.

Crown Prince Frederik opted for olive coloured trousers, a grey coat and a navy printed scarf.

The Australian-born princess (front centre) wore a full-length grey wool coat with a matching tie around the waist, a gold statement brooch, a maroon dress, black stockings and patent black heels

As the family left the church, Princess Mary (centre) was photographed clutching the hand of her youngest daughter Princess Josephine (left). Princess Isabella (front centre) and Prince Vincent (back right) also walked with their mother

Their eldest daughter, Princess Isabelle, was in a navy coat, accessorised with a dark grey bow in her long hair.

While the girls wore dresses with black stockings and boots, their two brothers were dressed in coloured trousers and grey coats.
Plus-size model Tess Holliday is a major advocate for the plus-size community as well as embracing one's body, but even she has her moments of self-doubt and insecurity.

On Friday, the mother-of-two uploaded two selfies in her underwear, sharing an honest message about adjusting to her new figure.

'Each day feels like a battle to learn how to love my body postpartum,' she said. 'It's been 6 months, & my stomach is lower, my breasts are a different shape, new stretch marks & I feel like a stranger in my body more than ever.'

Scroll down for video

Baring it all: Tess Holliday shared two underwear selfies on Instagram this weekend

Truth: She also posted an honest message about her struggles to accept her body after having her second baby in June

Though she's long been able to accept herself at any size, she's having a hard time these days.

'I wasn't anticipating this at all,' she explained. 'I'm not used to looking in the mirror & feeling like I don't recognize myself, but sadly that's my reality some days.'

She added that she debated whether or not she should share this post, but she is tired of the pressure put on new moms to 'lose the baby weight'.

'I was fat before, I carried a healthy baby, & guess what, still fat... & THATS OKAY,' she wrote. I have no New Years resolution to lose weight, but only to work on learning my new body & loving & nurturing it.

'Not a day goes by that Nick doesn't tell me how beautiful I am, but it's not our partners job to lift our spirits, we have to be our own cheerleaders. So that's what I will do, take it day by day. It's a journey, not a race.. & a beautiful one at that.'

Pointing it out: Last week, Tess found that the bathrobe at her California hotel didn't live up to the title one-size-fits-all

A good time: Tess revealed that she and her family were staying in a cave-themed room in the run up to the holidays

She certainly seems to have some ups and downs with her body. Last week, she made a joke about her size when a 'one-size-fits-all' bathrobe didn't come even close to fastening around her.

'I'm so glad they had my size,' she wrote sarcastically on a photo of herself in the robe before sharing it on Instagram.

'AMIRITE?!' she added in the image's caption, including the hashtag: #onesizefitshardlyanyone.

Last Tuesday, Tess posted an image of an adorable baby outfit bearing her son Bowie's name. She revealed that the family were staying in a cave-themed room at the Madonna Inn in California for the holidays.

Bonding: Tess' husband Nick shared this photo of himself and the couple's baby son Bowie under the shower

On the same day, Tess' husband Nick shared a sweet snap of himself and Bowie in the shower, writing: 'Cave showers with my favorite cromag.'

The trip is finishing off a busy month for Tess, after she stripped down to her bra and underwear to strut down the runway during her first lingerie show at the beginning of December.

While she is often the picture of confidence, she admitted that she was nervous to flaunt her figure six-months postpartum at the show.

'I've never been the kind of model that gets to be part of runway shows, especially lingerie because of my size and height but I did the damn thing,' she explained.

'My husband was cheering me on in the back and even though I was terrified, damn if it wasn't liberating!' she added.

Breaking boundaries: Tess stripped down to her bra and underwear and strut down the runway during her first lingerie show earlier this month

Feeling liberated: The size 22 model took to Instagram after the show to share a photo of herself along with a candid message about her experience

Stunning look: Tess did a twirl so she could show off her sheer Catherine D'Lish dressing gown

Tess later shared a stunning photo of herself showing off her sheer Catherine D'Lish dressing gown for the audience, explaining that she had participated in Buzzfeed's recreation of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

The runway show featured women of all shapes, sizes, heights, and ethnicities, and Tess praised the event for its inclusion.

'It's full of diversity, the way VS shows should be,' Tess added.

At the event, Tess told the cameras that she stepped out of her comfort zone when she agreed to walk in the show.

'Today what I hope to gain is a little bit of bravery. I definitely never walked a runway in my underwear ever because no one's given me an opportunity,' she admitted.

'I was definitely really nervous to show my stomach because I don't really ever show this much of my stomach  especially because I have a five-and-a-half-month-old baby,' she said of the moment.

'But I felt like I was in good company and everyone was really supportive, so it was a really good experience.'
Every festive season the streets fill with the merrily tipsy tripping over kerbstones. But appearing to be drunk can also be the result of a serious health problem and patients who are affected can find the experience distressing, as they reveal here . . .

Police stop me as I can't walk straight

Tom Doyle, 28, a technical assistant for a mobile phone operator, has dyspraxia

Tom Doyle, 28, a technical assistant for a mobile phone operator, has dyspraxia, a neurological disorder affecting balance, coordination and posture and thought to be caused by a disruption in the way messages from the brain are transmitted to the body. He is single and lives in London.

I can't tell you the number of times I've been stopped by a policeman while walking home from work because he thinks I'm drunk. I've even been breathalysed a couple of times. I usually get a sincere apology when the results are negative, especially when I tell them about my condition.

Dyspraxia is quite common  between 5 and 10 per cent of the population have it. I was diagnosed eight years ago based on my problems with coordination, posture and the fact that I would mumble my words.

It affects fine motor skills and means I have difficulty walking in a straight line. I also trip over easily and my balance is awkward.

There can be other, co-occurring problems. Sometimes, for instance, I misjudge situations so I may hug someone a little too hard. And because of this, I've had numerous occasions when people think I've had one too many.

What's more, the condition can make me stumble over my words. So on a dark night when you're trying to explain yourself to a police officer, the stress of it can make it even worse. That's why I never drink. If I do go into a bar with friends and I stumble, I usually hear comments like, 'Oh, look, he's wasted already.' It's frustrating and humiliating.

There's no medication for dyspraxia. But when I was diagnosed I was told sport would help improve my coordination, so I swim and also play badminton, which needs good hand, eye and feet coordination. They do help.

I realise as a young man people may presume it's just 'laddish' behaviour. I just wish they wouldn't jump to conclusions.

scope.org.uk

Diabetic 'hypos' MAKE ME ACT oddly

Julie Norwood, 45, has type 1 diabetes

Julie Norwood, 45, has type 1 diabetes, and needs insulin injections to control blood sugar. She lives in Kent with her husband Gary, 46, an onboard train manager, and their children, aged 16 and 12.

It's not often that a grown woman propositions a policeman  especially in broad daylight. But that's exactly what I did, one lunchtime in Edinburgh while on holiday.

I simply stumbled over to the officer, asked him to dance and started to do so. Immediately he turned to my husband, Gary, and asked if I'd had one too many.

In fact, as Gary tried to explain  I was diabetic and was at that moment suffering from hypoglycaemia, or a 'hypo', caused by abnormally low levels of glucose in the blood. It's lack of glucose to the brain which causes confusion and, in my case, silly behaviour.

Sometimes people accept the explanation, but the police officer looked a little quizzical and left Gary to deal with me  which he did by sitting me down and giving me a bar of chocolate to raise my blood glucose levels.

I've been an insulin-dependent diabetic since I was ten, when my mother took me to the doctor because I was suffering with what turned out to be hypos. At first, I would take three pre-meal injections of insulin a day, and one long-acting one at night. Now, I am on an insulin pump  a little portable device attached to my body that delivers insulin when I decide I need it via a catheter under my skin.

Most of the time I have good control, but when my blood sugar plunges, when I haven't eaten enough, or if I've been on the go, it does make me behave rather strangely.

Once we were in a restaurant and, as the soup was served, I dumped an entire bowl of croutons into my serving because I was feeling so confused. The waiter looked at us with a raised eyebrow and I could tell from what he was muttering to his colleagues that he thought I was drunk.

On another occasion, I was on a train back from London late one evening and could feel my sugar dropping. So I frantically stuffed a bar of chocolate into my mouth  I usually carry three or four with me  to raise my levels. The man sitting opposite me muttered something about drink and moved away.

There have been times when I have fallen over in the street and people have literally looked at me in disgust and walked on by.

When I used to work as a receptionist in a hospital, I could fall on the floor when sitting on my chair because I felt so light-headed. When I slowly came round, after staff gave me something to eat, you could see the look of distaste on the faces of patients in the waiting room.

It takes me about half an hour to feel better after a hypo. And I carry medical ID, but it's amazing how quickly people make assumptions.

Kelli Ann Alexander, 39, was diagnosed with brain tumours in October 2015

Tipsy? No, I have brain tumours

Kelli Ann Alexander, 39, a horse groom, lives in West Lothian with her husband, Kevin, 48, a haulage driver. She was diagnosed with brain tumours in October 2015.

When my husband took me to our local A&E on a weekday afternoon, being accused of having a drink problem was the last thing I expected. Especially since I drink no more than, say, two glasses of wine a month.

Yet the nurse who examined me in October last year thought my slurred speech and vacant expression were down to alcohol. She remarked that I was a bit intoxicated and that I needed to see a doctor about my problem.

I was horrified and Kevin was so angry I thought he would explode. But since neither of us knew the cause of my symptoms, we just left. I wanted to get out of there. Two weeks later, I was diagnosed with not one, but two, tumours in my brain.

My problems began when I woke up one morning a few weeks earlier to find myself rolling around on the floor. I'd fallen out of bed and also bitten my tongue really hard.

I managed to phone for an ambulance  my husband works away a lot  but at the hospital, after a quick examination (and no scan), I was discharged. The doctors didn't know what it was.

However, after another similar seizure a few days later I saw my GP, who prescribed anti-convulsant drugs. But my problems got worse over the coming days. My face started to droop and my speech became slurred. It was then that my husband took me to A&E. When I was dismissed as drunk I felt too washed out to protest.

After this I went to stay with my parents, as Kevin had to go away again, and in October last year my dad took me to his local casualty department, as my symptoms were becoming worse.

This time I was taken seriously and, after scans, I was told I had two tumours, around 6cm in size, in the part of my brain affecting speech and movement.

It didn't sink in at first  all I could ask was whether I'd be able to ride my horse again.

In November last year I had a nine-hour operation to remove 50 per cent of the tumours. The rest were too deeply embedded. I also had surgery the following month to replace part of my skull after developing an infection of the bone.

Thankfully, the tumours are benign, but it has been a long road to recovery. I can't work, as I'm so tired, and it has taken months of therapy and self-determination to recover my speech. But I'm just glad to be alive. I'd love that nurse to know I wasn't drunk.

www.braintumourresearch.org

Louise Banks, 32, has Meniere's disease, a condition that affects the inner ear

Vertigo puts my head in a spin

Louise Banks, 32, lives in Exeter with her partner, Matthew, 44, an alarm engineer and their son, Ben, 13. She has Meniere's disease, a condition that affects the inner ear and can cause vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and a feeling of pressure deep inside the ear.

I can remember the first time I was accused of being drunk.

We were on holiday in Cyprus a few years ago and had been out for dinner. As we returned to our car I found myself stumbling. An English woman nearby shouted out that I shouldn't be driving when drunk.

I still feel humiliated. It's just so unfair to be judged that way for something you simply cannot help.

In the same way, I loathe the funny looks when workmen on a building site see me walking off balance and shout out: 'Look who's had one too many.' It's ironic, because I couldn't drink with my condition since alcohol would only increase symptoms.

I was diagnosed with Meniere's three years ago  before that holiday  when I developed a roaring noise in my left ear. This was followed about four days later by a horrible loss of balance and I was sick.

My GP thought I might have glue ear or labrynthitis  inflammation of the inner ear. But the problem persisted, so I went to a private specialist a week later and they diagnosed Meniere's after using an MRI scan to rule out other causes such as a brain tumour.

I was relieved to know what it was, but upset to hear there's no cure. I take anti-sickness tablets for the vertigo, but nothing really works.

I stopped working as an events organiser and stay close to home, as when I get a vertigo attack the whole world feels like it's spinning and I need to keep completely still with my eyes closed. This can happen a couple of times a week.

Doctors don't know why I have it  the only possible explanation is that my grandmother had it, too, so it may be genetic.

Meniere's has forced me to live a fairly limited life. This makes me infuriated when people think I am drunk. So I have developed 'Medical Information Capsules' sold through the Meniere's Society. These contain information about people regarding their 'drunken' appearance, medical conditions, medication and emergency contact information.

You carry these with you, so that you can alert someone to the reason why you might be falling over.

So, if you see someone who can't stand up, don't assume the worst. Don't ask if they're drunk. Ask if they need help.

menieres.org.uk

Craig Fairclough, 44, has petit mal epilepsy

Epilepsy means I start swearing

Craig Fairclough, 44, a call handler for the ambulance service, has petit mal epilepsy, also known as complex partial seizures. This is caused by abnormal bursts of neurons or brain cells firing off electrical impulses, which can cause the brain and body to behave strangely. He lives in Nottingham with his wife Irene, 38, who's also with the ambulance service. They are expecting their first baby.

When people see a man swearing uncontrollably in a bar, restaurant or in the street, it's assumed he must be drunk. It has happened to me countless times.

And though I understand why people may think that, it's awful to be judged this way, when you have a health condition you simply cannot control.

I was diagnosed with complex partial seizures at 22  I was in the Navy and had trained as a medic. During my training, I was taught about the different types of epilepsy.

I'd had seizures for some time  though I'd managed to conceal them  but realised I had petit mal before I was diagnosed.

I don't collapse, but I can feel a fit coming on  it's like a rising sensation. Then I just go into a form of daze and start swearing randomly  I think it's my way of trying to fight it off. This lasts for about one to three minutes and can happen two or three times a day, though it's more likely I'll get one once a week.

I'm on three types of anti-convulsant medication to try to control the frequency and symptoms of the condition.

Fortunately, friends and family understand what is happening, but strangers don't.

Recently I was in a bar with some friends  and the irony is, I don't drink  when a seizure came on. I was taken outside by a member of staff because they thought I'd had too much alcohol. I tried to explain, but just left. Otherwise I get comments such as 'Is he drunk?' or, 'He's had one too many.'

Once it's over, I try to explain, though sometimes I just want to forget about it. Anyway, most people don't believe it, though some can be helpful.

Stress and lack of sleep seem to make my condition worse. I particularly worry when I'm in a room with strangers  and the stress of that can trigger a fit.
After a horrific motorcycle accident, Warren McKinlay, 35, was convinced he was dead. He didn't think he had gone to heaven. He believed he was marooned on Earth as a walking corpse.

The mechanic, former soldier and father of two from Braintree, Essex, was utterly gripped by the notion he was a ghost.

'I genuinely believed I'd died in the crash, but for some reason my spirit hadn't moved on. I refused to eat because there was no point,' he says. 'I'd sit for hours in a room refusing to talk to anyone.'

Cotard's syndrome is the result of dysfunction in two areas of the brain

Warren's injuries in the crash included a broken back and pelvis. Unbeknown to him, he had also sustained an injury to his brain when his head smashed against a tree.

It was only after 18 months of being plagued by symptoms that he learned he wasn't going mad  he was in the grip of a delusion called Cotard's syndrome.

A delusion is usually a false belief that someone thinks is true  even if logically it doesn't make sense or if experience shows it can't be real.

There is a wide range of them. One leaves people convinced their loved ones have been replaced by impostors. Another convinces people that everyone they meet is actually the same person. These aren't all mental illnesses, per se  instead they are often the result of injury or disease.

Cotard's syndrome is the result of dysfunction in two areas of the brain that process our sense of reality: the fusiform gyrus, which recognises faces, and the amygdala, which regulates emotions.

Patients genuinely believe they are deceased or that parts of their body no longer exist.

Other delusions include Capgras syndrome, says Dr Trevor Turner, a consultant psychiatrist at the East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Patients are convinced that identical looking impostors have replaced close acquaintances such as spouses and close relations.

It tends to affect people who have suffered a brain injury, are developing dementia or who have schizophrenia.

In one case, a 40-year-old woman named Mary was referred to psychiatrists after claiming on numerous occasions that her nine-year-old daughter had been taken and replaced by an impostor. One day, she arrived at her daughter's school, but refused to pick her up, screaming: 'Give me my real daughter; I know what you've done.'

When no form of treatment helped Mary, social services sadly had to put her daughter in care.

One of the earliest medically recorded delusory illnesses  glass delusions  is, according to reports, making a comeback. Patients believe themselves to be made of glass and in mortal danger of shattering.

Patients with the condition believe they are deceased

First described in the 15th century, Charles VI of France was an early sufferer. However, Professor Edward Shorter, a medical historian from the University of Toronto, says the novelty of clear glass in medieval Europe is key to the disorder  people thought it had magical properties.

Meanwhile, epileptic seizures can trigger gender delusion. The first reported case involved a 37-year-old woman in Germany in 2006. She told doctors that during epileptic fits she felt her voice becoming husky and her arms growing muscular and hairy.

'The patient never experienced a similar phenomenon outside the seizures,' neuroscientist Burkhard Kasper wrote in the journal Epilepsy & Behaviour. Scans revealed a benign tumour next to her right amygdala  which is also thought to regulate our feelings of personal identity.

Dr Kasper said the tumour was not a threat and treatment with anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine stopped the delusions recurring.

Another example is Anton's syndrome, which causes people to hold a belief that defies all logic: they have become blind, but are adamant they can see. It usually occurs after a stroke or head injury that robs patients of their sight.

No one knows why this delusion occurs. It may be that the permanently visual region of the brain still sends out confused electrical messages. In response, the brain makes up images  convincing the patient they can see.

Psychiatric delusions may be treated with antidepressants, anti-psychotic drugs and mood-stabilising drugs.

The breakthrough for Warren McKinlay came during specialist treatment at the Headley Court military rehabilitation centre in Surrey in 2007.

There, he encountered another patient with Cotard's syndrome.

'He had come to the conclusion he was such a different person that the old him was dead. So he started again with a new identity,' says Warren.
Evolution could be to blame for chronic hip pain, scientists have revealed.

Orthopaedic problems may be a hangover from when humans began standing up straight on two legs, a study has suggested.

And future generations could be at even greater risk if human bodies continue to develop as they have, according to the research by the University of Oxford.

Human evolution: Evolution could be to blame for chronic hip pain, according to research by the University of Oxford

It is not the first time evolution has been blamed for our aches and pains.

Sufferers prone to lower back problems are already said to have spines closer in shape to those of our nearest ape relative, the chimpanzee.

Scientists looking at how bone structures have changed over the ages studied 300 specimens from different species across 400 million years.

They found that as animals evolved from walking on four legs to standing up, the so-called neck of the thigh bone  which connects the ball at the top to the rest of the bone  grew broader to support the extra weight.

The study found that the thicker this neck, the more likely that arthritis would develop.

Scientists suggested this could be one reason humans are so vulnerable to hip and knee pain.

Pain: Scientists suggested this could be one reason humans are so vulnerable to hip and knee pain

They then looked at how human bones would change 4,000 years in the future  and found that the neck of the thigh bone was becoming broader and would lead to more arthritis.

Lead researcher Dr Paul Monk, at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, said: We see certain things very commonly in hospital clinics  pain in the shoulder with reaching overhead, pain in the front of the knee, arthritis of the hip, and in younger people we see some joints that have a tendency to pop out.

We wondered how on earth we have ended up with this bizarre arrangement of bones and joints that allows people to have these problems. And it struck us that the way to answer that is to look backwards through evolution.

With a team of scientists, he looked at detailed CT scans  which use X-rays to build a computerised image of inside a body  of 300 ancient specimens from museums.

The team then created 3D models which they used to compare changes in the shape of bones over millions of years.

Predicting how skeletons could change over the next 4,000 years, they warned that we could suffer more problems if our bodies continue to evolve as they have.

Dr Monk said: What is interesting is if we try and move these trends forward, the (thigh bone) shape that is coming has an even broader neck and we are trending to more arthritis.

We wondered how on earth we have ended up with this bizarre arrangement of bones and joints that allows people to have these problems. And it struck us that the way to answer that is to look backwards through evolution. Lead researcher Dr Paul Monk, at the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences

He said maintaining good posture and the right physiotherapy could help alleviate the problems caused by human evolution.

Dr Monk added that artificial joints will have to be redesigned in the future to accommodate the evolving shapes of our bones.

The study also found a natural gap in the shoulder through which tendons and blood vessels normally travel has become narrower through evolution.

As this happens, it makes it more difficult for tendons to move. Scientists said it might help explain why some people feel pain when they reach overhead.

Other aches and pains have been linked to evolution. A study last year found people with lower back problems are more likely to have spines like those of chimpanzees.
Modi wished Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday in another gesture of goodwill

2016 has been a year of violence, tension and mistrust between India and Pakistan

Pakistan and India frequently arrest each others' fishermen for violating the territorial boundary

Pakistan has released 220 Indian fishermen held for allegedly violating territorial waters, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, goodwill gestures that came despite strained ties over crossborder terror incidents.

Modi took to Twitter to greet Sharif, a year after he made an unscheduled stopover in Lahore to meet the Pakistani leader on his birthday.

Pakistan responded by releasing the 220 fishermen lodged in Malir jail in Karachi, in what may seem a reciprocal gesture notwithstanding the severe chill in ties after a year of violence, tension and mistrust.

Pakistan has released 220 Indian fishermen held for allegedly violating territorial waters, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday

Birthday wishes to Pakistan PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif. I pray for his long and healthy life.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2016

The fishermen were released in a 'goodwill' gesture, Jail superintendent Hassan Sehto said.

They were arrested for allegedly entering Pakistan's territorial waters illegally and fishing, Sehto told reporters.

'We have released 220 Indian fishermen on Sunday and they will be handed over to India at Wagah border. The interior ministry ordered the release of the 220 fishermen while 219 are still in our custody,' Sehto said.

The fishermen boarded a train to Lahore and are expected to cross the border on Monday, he added.

Pakistan and India frequently arrest each others' fishermen for violating the territorial boundary. They spent months and sometimes years in jails before being repatriated (Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif).

The development comes amid strain in ties between the two countries after Pakistan-based terrorists attacked an Indian army base in Uri in September.

Pakistan and India frequently arrest each others' fishermen for violating the territorial boundary. They spent months and sometimes years in jails before being repatriated.

Last week, the Pakistan fishermen forum claimed that Indian maritime authorities had picked up dozens of Pakistani fishermen from inside Pakistan's territorial waters near the Gujarat coastline.
Trouble is mounting for BSP supremo Mayawati ahead of next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as central agencies are scanning the bank accounts of the party chief and her brother

Trouble is mounting for BSP supremo Mayawati ahead of next year's Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections as central agencies are scanning the bank accounts of the party chief and her brother.

Sleuths are also probing allegations of the former CM's sibling, Anand Kumar, amassing benami properties - involving anonymous deals that are often meant to conceal the identity of the true buyer or the seller.

Sources said the Income Tax department has begun inquiry into his alleged benami properties and the Enforcement Directorate has discovered details of his deposits amounting to more than Rs 1 crore in a Karol Bagh bank account after demonetisation.

Around Rs 18 lakh was reportedly deposited in cash and the remaining was transacted by an unknown company through Realtime gross settlement systems (RTGS).

Realtime gross settlement systems are specialist funds transfer systems where the transfer of money or securities takes place from one bank to another on a 'real time' and on a 'gross' basis.

The ED also discovered more than Rs 104 crore deposited in the BSP party account in Karol Bagh after demonetisation.

The agency is now examining the source of the money. The I-T department had received information from VIP reference possibly from political circles that Anand Kumar has amassed huge benami properties over a period of time.

Following this, the department sent notices to several real estate builders to probe their links with Anand in this connection.

Tax officials suspect Anand had a nexus with builders and he had managed to extend those developers favours in return for benami properties.

Sleuths are also probing allegations of the former CM's sibling, Anand Kumar, amassing benami properties - involving anonymous deals that are often meant to conceal the identity of the true buyer or the seller

Sources said the I-T department is not acting on anonymous complaints but specific ones received from 'reliable sources.'

The complaints have been categorised in 'X' category, which is considered to be quite serious in nature.

Several political leaders including Kirit Somaiyya had filed complaints in this connection in the past with the investigating agencies.

Half a dozen builders including those having businesses in Noida have been served notices in this connection.

The allegations are that certain builders entered into a conspiracy with Anand for allotment of favourable plots of land for their projects.
A planned show of strength by opposition parties ahead of the December 30 deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for demonetisation seems to be fast losing currency.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi invited BJP rivals to amass for a concerted attack on the government amid a nationwide crash crunch following the scrapping of high-value currency, even as the Parliament's winter session was washed out by continuous disruptions.

But the first of the opposition parties to back out was the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

The squad: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi invited BJP rivals to amass for a concerted attack on the government amid a nationwide crash crunch following the scrapping of high-value currency

Politburo member Brinda Karat raised the Sahara diary issue even though the Congress too is accused of wrongdoing.

However the Opposition is trying to corner the government and the PM concerning charges of personal corruption.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi alleged last week that documents seized by tax officials during raids proved that Modi, as Gujarat CM, had taken money from the Sahara and Birla groups, a charge rejected by the BJP as 'baseless, false and shameful.'

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury held a press conference in Kolkata to announce formally that his party would stay away.

'We are not attending tomorrow's opposition meeting. As far as coordination in Parliament is concerned, we were Ok with it.

'But at political level outside Parliament, there must be some consultation', he said.

'If West Bengal CM is going to be there in the meeting, why haven't CMs from Bihar, Tripura or Kerala been called? We have spoken to the JD(U) , RJD and a few other parties. They have their own concerns.'

The CPI, which stood by the Congress when the CPI(M) refused to, also did not mince words.

Senior party leader D Raja confirmed to India Today TV from Kerala that his party won't send any representatives to the meeting or the press conference that will follow.

New-found bonhomie between chief ministers Mamata Banerjee from West Bengal and Nitish Kumar from Bihar didn't yield much result either.

Kumar's Janata Dal (United) has given enough indications that its participation at the meet is highly unlikely.

Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said, 'Don't know about the real spirit behind this move. We haven't received a common agenda which is the minimum requirement for an Opposition meet. So far, we haven't decided whether to attend or not.'

Taking a direct dig at Banerjee, Tyagi said, 'Mamata wants a rollback, but we don't.' By the end of the evening, more bad news trickled in for the Congress.

Sources in the NCP indicated party supremo Sharad Pawar is not in favour of sending any representation.

Though party general secretary DP Tripathi neither confirmed nor denied the report, a highly placed source said the Nationalist Congress Party too will give the event a miss.

Satish Acharya on... Sonia's 'United Opposition'

Around the same time, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party too announced that it will not partake in the meeting.

AAP spokesperson Ashutosh said, 'We are campaigning in different states separately making people aware of the flipside of this move by PM Modi.'

A senior AAP leader on condition of anonymity revealed the real reason.
On January 18, 2017, Najeeb Jung will be 65 years old - it's the right age for him to retire.

Although a nice man with a gentlemanly style, Jung messed up the most important job he had, or could ever hope to have.

Some called him the 'Reliance man'. He had a stint in the Ministry of Petroleum. At ONGC, he had some role to play in the Panna-Mukta oilfields going to a RelianceONGC British Gas consortium. His stint in the Madhya Pradesh cadre found few admirers.

The Congress controversially appointed Jung Lt. Governor of Delhi in 2013

No great record

Jung became the Director, Research, in the Reliance-run Observer Research Foundation.

His role in the J.K.Task Force is not too renowned either.

He should, have retired in 2011 but had enough friends in the government (not excluding the St. Stephens connection).

He became Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Milia with no great achievement to his name. Jamia was embroiled in many controversies which he did not resolve in any great measure.

I did advise him on one matter involving Jamia. I found him concerned and gracious - the hallmark of his personality.

Suddenly, a dubious attempt of the Congress to appoint their man led to Jung becoming Lt. Governor.

Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal has frequently clashed with L-G Jung

Investigation of the paper work might reveal something, until which political patronage seems appropriate.

Curiously, a Muslim and a secularist, he supported the strange 8,000-page judgment of the Allahabad High Court in the Babri Masjid case which is still to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Why? Perhaps, the timing was perfect. What should be the qualifications of a Governor or Lt. Governor?

We have seen these gubernatorial (governor) posts being rolled in the mud.

From the mid-60s, governors have been hit-men for their government.

The office was demeaned by the Congress, taken advantage of by the Janata government and un-redeemed by governments that followed.

Though aware of the Governors discretionary powers, the Drafting Committee called the post 'purely ornamental'.

The wise Sir Alladi foresaw clashes between a Centre-nominated governor and an elected government.

Dharam Vir sacked the Chief Minister of Bengal. Many CM's were forced to resign.

Governors had no security of tenure and were thrown out of the Raj Bhawans they lived in.

There are only a few governors in independent India's history that rose to give their job constitutional and democratic dimensions.

The Constitutional practice of 66 years has not yielded a criteria on the basis of which distinguished, statesman and independent, democratic and just governors were to be chosen.

A day after Najeeb Jung resigned as Delhi's Lt Governor, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met him at Raj Niwas

We need a proper consultation procedure ratified by the Rajya Sabha to appoint governors.

Steady decline

What applies to Governors also applies to Lt. Governors - especially in the case of Delhi. Before 1966, Delhi was, run by a chief commissioner.

Amongst the last, was the distinguished Bhagwan Sahay.

The first Lt. Governor of Delhi was Aditya Nath Jha, an ICS officer. He was a giant, physically and as constitutional authority.

He retained that office despite differences with Chavan till he died A steady decline began.

Forget Lt. Governor's being independent.

For the most part, parties in power at the Centre were the same as the one elected to the NCT.

The entire constitutional scene changed in 1992 when Delhi got a democratically elected government.

From 1992, the governments at the Centre and Delhi were mostly common.

But although AAP had a majority of 67 to 3, Jung blocked every move of it.

He says he met Modi twice to resign, but was persuaded not to.

Obviously, the Home Minister was au fait with Jung. We will not ever get a full picture of why Jung resigned.

Conscience may not be his strong point.

An autocracy

What Jung managed to do is turn the constitutional provisions for Delhi upside down.

A democracy became an autocracy. The autocracy insisted that unless things were cleared by Jung, the government would not run at all.

The Constitution gives the Centre power over land, public order and police.

For all other purposes, Delhi is a parliamentary democracy.

Jung keeps repeating Delhi being a UT as a defensive formula. Look at the Constitution which lists 7 UTs.

Can you compare Delhi's democratic set-up with the Andamans, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu?

Unlike Pondicherry, Delhi's democracy is full blown. It says the Lt. Governor will be bound 'by the aid and advise' of the Cabinet.

'Aid and advise' is also the term used for Modi's government. Can the President say he will take Modi's advise only when he feels like?

The Lt. Governor is the ceremonial head of state in all other areas. On 4th August 2016, the Delhi High Court endorsed Jung's autocracy, clearly forgetting Delhi's government was a full fledged democracy.

Jung reached the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at South Block around 11.30am and spent a little over an hour inside before revealing his decision

The exceptions were made because Delhi is also the national Capital. What Jung did was decide that all appointments and transfers had to be made by him.

Appointments to the electricity board were made by him. He asked for 400 files and appointed the Shunglu Committee, which has no legal basis.

These are powers which even a court or Lokpal doesn't have.

I am glad Jung has resigned. Like everyone else, I wish him well.
In 2016, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India continued to enlarge its foreign policy options and generally pursue the goal of raising the country's international profile.

Over the year India exhibited more self-confidence in dealing with challenges, showed more assertiveness in defending its interests, and displayed far more flexibility in exploring compromises on issues of global concern.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (left) during the 6th Heart of Asia meeting

Diplomacy

The consolidation of the India-US relationship continued in 2016.

Modi met Barack Obama five times during the year.

The invitation in June to address the US Congress signified growing bi-partisan support for the India-US relationship.

Modi worked constructively with the US on climate change negotiations, leading to the Paris Agreement.

Defence ties with the US continued to expand, with additional equipment orders, the signing of the awkwardly named Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and India's designation as a Major Defence Partner of the US.

India's push for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2016 led by Modi himself failed because of China's opposition and lack of adequate US effort in a body founded by it in response to India's 1974 nuclear explosion.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, is welcomed by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe upon his arrival for their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. Modi is visiting Japan on a three-day visit. (Toru Yamanaka/Pool Photo via AP)

India, however, obtained membership of the Missile Technology Control Group during the year.

In 2016, India continued to grapple with the difficulty of finding a balance between dealing with China as a security threat and as an economic partner.

Modi engaged Chinese president Xi Jinping three times in 2016 - at the SCO, G-20 and BRICS summits.

Despite this, the atmosphere of India-China relations deteriorated.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China's persistent opposition to India's NSG membership and blocking the designation of Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) as an international terrorist by the relevant UN Security Council Committee hardened negative perceptions in India about China.

As part of this dynamic, India disregarded China's position on maritime issues in the South China Sea and in joint statements with the US, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia underlined the need to show utmost respect to UNCLOS in addressing them.

To increase its political space in dealing with China, India allowed the Karmapa to visit Tawang in November and, earlier, the US ambassador in Delhi in October.

The Dalai Lama's planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh in March 2017 was announced.

The invitation to him to attend a Rashtrapati Bhawan event this month was a signal to China that it should not expect only one side to show sensitivity to the core concerns of the other.

At the same time, the economic engagement of China continued with growth in Chinese investments in the country.

Terrorism

With Pakistan relations acquired a new confrontational edge in 2016 with Islamabad- sponsored terrorist attacks against the Pathankot airbase in January and against Army units in Uri (September) and Nagrota (November).

Following the killing of Burhan Wani in July, Pakistan chose to fuel disturbances in J&K, with Nawaz Sharif lauding him as a martyr and fulminating against India at the UNGA.

India decided to create more space for itself by changing the nature of its traditional response to Pakistani provocations.

Modi alluded to the Baloch issue in his Independence Day speech, which was unprecedented.

He created another point of pressure by announcing our intention to exercise India's full rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The publicly announced 'surgical strikes' by India across the LoC in response to the Uri attack was intended to upset Pakistani calculations about past Indian reactions to such provocations.

India's effort to isolate Pakistan diplomatically on terrorism made some progress with SAARC countries following our lead not to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad in November.

It gained more momentum at the Amritsar Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan in December, especially with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's public diatribe against Pakistan on its terrorist affiliations.

India's understandings with key Gulf countries on the terrorism menace - which indirectly put pressure on Pakistan on the issue - was bolstered in 2016.

Geopolitics

As part of carving out geopolitical options to our west, Modi visited Iran in May 2016 and signed the tripartite India-Iran-Afghanistan Chabahar port agreement.

The presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan visited India in December, with concerns about terrorism and extremism high on the agenda.

May went to India at the head of a 33-strong business delegation with the aim of bringing down barriers to commerce and paving the way for a free trade agreement following Brexit

Egypt's intrinsic importance in the Arab world, as well as mounting regional concerns about the ideology represented by the Islamic State, made Egyptian President Al Sisi's visit to India in September opportune.

Towards the east, India-Japan strategic ties received a boost with the signing of the civil nuclear agreement between the two countries during the Modi-Abe summit in November.

Modi's visit to Vietnam in September had evident geopolitical importance. Following the India-Africa summit in New Delhi in 2015 Modi's visit to South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya in July kept the momentum of our Africa policy alive.

The India-Russia summit in October addressed the perceived drift in Delhi- Moscow ties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking picture of a tiger

Major defence and energy-related agreements were announced.

However, aspects of Russian policies towards Pakistan and Afghanistan raised concerns during 2016. Russia held military exercises with Pakistan in September. Its statements gave legitimacy to the Taliban as a political force; it initiated a trilateral dialogue with China and Pakistan on Afghanistan.

China's deepening support for Pakistan, coupled with Russia's overtures to it, began a shuffling of the geopolitical cards in the region to our disadvantage.

In summary, 2016 saw India pursuing a more vigorous diplomacy, with considerable success but some less satisfactory results.
India's government has banned some 20,000 charities from accepting overseas funds because they failed to comply with the rules, a home ministry official said on Tuesday.

KS Dhatwalia, a spokesman for the federal home ministry which revoked the licences, told reporters that they had been cancelled 'over the period of one and a half years'.

'They have not followed FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) norms while applying for (licence) renewals,' he said.

Foreign-backed charities in India have come under increased scrutiny since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power (pictured British PM May and Indian PM Modi)

Without the licenses the NGOs will not be able to receive overseas donations, which could likely impair their day-to-day operations.

Dhatwalia, however, said they can reapply and have their licenses renewed by the ministry.

'Applications can be sent again. And if they are renewed and revalidated, these NGOs can receive foreign funds and start regular work.'

Charities and NGOs are viewed with mistrust in India and a report claimed that groups like Greenpeace were actually damaging the country's economy

Meanwhile that leaves only 13,000 NGOs with licenses in India where charities, especially foreign-backed ones like Greenpeace, have come under increased scrutiny since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

A major crackdown began in early 2015 after an intelligence report said groups like Greenpeace were damaging the country's economy by campaigning against key development projects.

The government has cancelled licences of thousands of NGOs since then, citing misuse of overseas donations to harm the country's growth.

Activists of GreenPeace abseil down their office building where they are head quartered to unfurl banners 'democracy' and 'free speech' in Bangalore on May, 2015

Critics have argued that the apparent clampdown was an attempt to stifle voices of dissent.

An Indian charity running schools for low-caste Dalit children said last week it was set to close down after its foreign funds were blocked over alleged threats to national unity.

The home ministry said the charity had engaged in 'undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities'.

Modi vs. NGOs

Official government hostility toward NGOs campaigning on everything from environmental, land rights, 'Dalit' or anti-nuclear issues is not new in India.

However the Narendra Modi government immediately came down hard on NGOs soon after coming to power when a highly-disputed Intelligence Bureau Report was released titled - 'Greenpeace, a threat to economy security of India'.

In his first year in office Modi cancelled the registration of over 10,000 NGOs even as United Nations human rights' experts urged India to repeal the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) that governs foreign funding of the organisations.

There is a strong suspicion that some of these donors are funding these organisations to push their agenda and derail Indias economic growth... Indian Home Office official

The Modi government believes that NGOs are often just fronts for money laundering activities in India and that their practices are often deeply corrupt and lacking in transparency.

A home ministry official told MailOnline last year: 'There is a strong suspicion that some of these donors are funding these organisations to push their agenda and derail Indias economic growth'.

However many of the charities that have been banned (including Greenpeace) are global organisations with a clear remit for progress in India.

Critics say that Modi's banning of charities that work towards the improved safety of workers and better conditions for members of the Dalit (untouchable) community is merely a way to guarantee a cheap and disposable labour force as India's economy grows at a staggering 7% per year.
New small hot hatches are not cheap: a Ford Fiesta ST costs 18,000, a Mini Cooper S will set you back 19,000 and an Audi S1 is a staggering 25,600!

But there are plenty of second-hand small hatches with sparkling performance figures that you can buy for a fraction of the price.

Here, we've enlisted three eight-year-old hot hatches you can get your hands on for as little as 2,000 today, providing go-kart handling for shopping-kart prices.

They handle like a go-kart: From left to right: Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart, Reanult Sport Twingo, Fiat 500 Abarth

With a new spicy Renault Twingo, the GT, on sale next year, now is a good time to look at what will be the outgoing model as the new arrival is bound to soften prices of older models.

Since laughter is better shared, we thought wed bring some company along too, in the shape of the familiar and feisty Fiat 500 Abarth and the rather less well known shape of the Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart.

The engines

The Mitsubishi may not be as well known as the 500 Abarth, but theres no denying the amount of clout on offer. Its 1.5-litre turbocharged engine pumps out 147bhp and the horses certainly seem willing to charge out of the stable.

The Fiat 500 Abarth with its 133bhp isnt far behind, so long as youve pressed the Sport button, but it takes a second to get off the line, scrabbling for grip like an excited dog on a tile floor.

The biggest engine of the lot, at 1.6-litres, is in the Renault Twingo but since its not turbocharged you need to rev it more to find the 131bhp. Once motoring, and with the revs up, you wont be complaining.

The Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart is very rare, though that doesn't necessarily mean it will hold its value better than other models

The Colt doesn't win our test, but it has a fantastic engine and the best ride comfort of the models featured in our group test

The handling

The Twingo pulls it back on twisty roads. It corners incredibly flat, with fast, accurate steering that allows you to dart about the place like a rat with a sugar rush.

The Fiat isnt far behind, although youll notice the lack of feedback and composure in comparison to the Renault.

The Mitsubishi, despite having the most horsepower by a margin, cant get it down so well, with rather odd-feeling steering and more body roll. As a consequence its the most comfortable in terms of ride, but you probably wont buy one of these based on their comfort.

Youll be comfortable enough, though, in any of these three cabins. But if youre looking for a bit of style then the Fiat has it in rather stylish spaces. Its a cool cabin and looks more appealing than the other two.

The Fiat has the standout interior - it feels a lot more stylish than the two rivals tested here

Both the Mitsubishi (left) and Renault (right) feel somewhat dull in comparison to the Fiat - both brands have tried to liven things up with splashes of chrome, but it doesn't liven up the fairly dab cabins

Cabin comparison

They all try the same trick of trying to brighten up dull, dark cabins with bits of metal flash and trim, but neither the Mitsubishi nor the Renault really pull it off very well.

In terms of practical stuff, the Colt has the most space front and rear, surprisingly more than the others, although the Fiat makes up for having the least rear legroom by having the most spacious boot  a strictly relative term you understand.

The Fiat 500 Abarth is the most expensive of the bunch - it also has the crashiest ride and sloppiest gearbox

The Abarth still has big appeal, though. It's the definition of a pocket rocket...but that's not enough to take the crown here

Running costs and future depreciation

While the 500 Abarth is clearly the most stylish vehicle here, its also the most expensive. Youll be looking for 6000 if you want a decent example with sensible mileage.

The Mitsubishi Colt is cheaper, with a budget of about 4000 finding you a solid example with full history.

Cheapest would be the Renault Twingo, with about 3500 buying you a clean, low-mileage example, although if you had less than 3000 you could still find one, albeit with higher miles.

The Fiat will retain more of its value although it must be said its hard to say if the rarity of the Colt will work for or against it as the years pass. Whatever, its the cheapest to service.

In terms of economy theyre all about the same, being in the 40-43mpg range.

The Renault Sport Twingo is the winner of our test - and it's the cheapest of all three cars

The Renault is the best in the bends. With a fairly moderate level of power on tap in all three cars, how it copes in the corners is what matters most

Cars & motoring verdict

After our test wed put the Mitsubishi Colt in third. The engine is terrific, and its comfy and practical, but there are too many negative points to recommend it as a winner.

The Fiat 500 Abarth gets a lot closer, with style, a lovely engine and a well-known profile. However, the gearbox is a box of mush and its not that comfy, while being at the same time fairly expensive.

So our winner is the Renault Twingo Renault Sport because its just so much fun to drive.

Renault Sport really know their stuff and youll be aware of the heritage when you drive the Twingo, its definitely a finer driving experience than the other two. And its the cheapest as well. Whats not to like?
Britain is dangerously reliant on imported coal, gas and oil and needs to do something about it if the lights are not to go out, say experts.

A year ago Britain's last remaining deep coal mine - at Kellingly in North Yorkshire - was closed.

Britain, which became a net energy importer in 2004, still relies on coal for 22 percent of our electricity generation, which means vast quantities are imported by sea from Russia, Colombia and the United States.

With North Sea oil and gas also on the decline, and nuclear power from the new Hinkley C power station not due to come online until 2025 at the earliest, Britain faces an energy security crisis.

Aled Jones, Director of the Cambridge-based Global Sustainability Institute, warned Mail Online: 'For energy security purposes we need to do something now.

'We do need to do something urgently, if only because it takes so long to change systems. It takes decades to change over from one fuel to another.

'If Middle East oil prices were to suddenly go up, due to a conflict of some sort, it would have a huge effect on our manufacturing. It would be similar to what happened in the 1970s. We should be thinking more strategically.'

Britain's last coal miners clocking off at Kellingly colliery in North Yorkshire a year ago (pictured) but millions of tonnes of coal have been left underground

While Norway continues to increase its natural gas production from the North Sea, the British sector is in decline

The 'dash for gas', which began in the mid-1980s and accelerated in recent years, meant estimated British coal reserves of 500 million tonnes - or possibly as high as 3,685 million tonnes - which remain underground will be written off.

The CEO of the World Coal Association, Benjamin Sporton, told Mail Online: 'Not only is the UK missing an opportunity to play a leadership role in the development of cleaner coal technologies, it is also missing out on the huge benefits of exporting these technologies worldwide.

'Coal still provides a significant chunk of the UKs energy pie and is important in times of high-demand, such as in colder winters. The UK should acknowledge the potential for low emission coal technology to meet both energy and climate needs.'

Britain's mining industry came under attack during the 1980s but some experts say it has been killed off too early and more could have been done to invest in clean coal technology

Shell has opened several hydrogen filling stations in Germany (pictured) and is planning to open some in Britain next year

But some companies have already seen the writing on the wall and have started to switch away from fossil fuels.

Nissan, with its giant car factory at Sunderland, is investing heavily in electric vehicles, as are many other manufacturers.

But the fact there are only 11,000 electric charging points around the country probably explains why there are only 85,000 electric cars.

Hydrogen has considerable environmental advantages over petrol and diesel

Shell has begun a major shift away towards hydrogen as a vehicle fuel.

A Shell spokesman told Mail Online: 'Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have the potential to be an important part of a low-carbon transport system.

'They produce no emissions at the exhaust pipe, only water, and refuelling only takes a couple of minutes. In the longer term, hydrogen can help reduce CO2 emissions from transport, if the electricity used to produce hydrogen is made from renewable sources.

'In the next year, together with our partner ITM, we will make hydrogen fuel available to customers in the south east (of England), with refuelling stations on three forecourts. The first of these will open shortly.'

Shell already operates a hydrogen station in Berlin and two in Hamburg and is planning to open four more in Germany.

No ordinary bus: This hydrogen bus will be trialled on a route in London next year

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has also indicated a willingness to go along the hydrogen route.

He is keen to improve London's air after years of pollution from diesel buses and taxis.

Launching the first hydrogen double decker bus recently he said: 'I want London to become a world leader in hydrogen and electric bus technology.'

But it is the national grid which faces the toughest challenge.

In 2015 total power generation in the UK fell to the lowest level since 1995, and the share of fossil fuel power decreased to 54 percent, an all-time low.

Green Frog Power has built this gas mini-power station in Somerset, to fill gaps in the electricity grid caused by the variability of renewables

Prof Jones said Britain had lost a lot of its energy security over the last 10 years, as North Sea oil production dropped off and the last of the deep coal mines shut down.

'We are now a net importer, not an exporter like Norway, Russia and the US,' he said.

America's fuel supplies have been boosted by the boom in fracking but Prof Jones said it was less likely to be successful in Britain because we are more densely populated and the geology is not as good as it is in US.

Britain's supplies of North Sea gas are running out and we will become reliant on imports from Russia and other unstable markets soon

BP's annual statistical review earlier this year said: 'Renewables in power increased by 31 percent in 2015 and provided almost 23 percent of total UK power generation.

'Non-fossil fuels in aggregate supplied nearly 46 percent of UK power last year.'

Jonathan Bartley, joint leader of the Green Party, told Mail Online: 'We should be aiming for a zero-carbon economy run on the renewable energy that we have in abundance.

The Green Party says Britain should be investing more in offshore wind, like this huge wind turbine farm at Heligoland, off the German coast

'We are an island nation and should be investing in, for example, marine renewables, such as offshore wind, tidal and wave energy  and also in making our energy system more resilient and responsive, through battery storage, interconnectors, demand-side response, and a smarter grid.'

'Instead, the government is intent on pursuing the reckless policy of fracking with no evidence it will improve energy security, and continues to subsidise the fossil fuel industry to the tune of billions.

'It is beyond absurd that onshore wind, the cheapest form of electricity generation which enjoys high levels of support across the UK, has been effectively banned by this government.'

The Hinkley C nuclear power station, next to the existing plant in Somerset (pictured) will cost billions to build and will deliver around seven percent of the UK's electricity

Fracking remains controversial in Britain because of fears of environmental damage. But fracking has made the US self-sufficient in energy

Mr Bartley also said the government had ignored calls to retrofit houses with insulation to conserve energy.

He said: 'Instead the government has U-turned on its support for renewables, and is intent on squandering taxpayers' money on expensive white elephants such as Hinkley Point C.'

As an island we should be the world leader in tidal power and offshore wind Grant Shapps MP

In November the British Infrastructure Group, led by former Cabinet minister Grant Shapps, warned British industry could face a return to the three-day week if something was not done to improve electricity supplies.

He said Britain should be doing much more to speed up the switch over to renewable energy.

'As an island we should be the world leader in tidal power and offshore wind. There is a huge growth opportunity here. I am not sure why we are not investing massively in it,' he said.

A Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesman told Mail Online today: 'Keeping the lights on is non-negotiable for this government and we do not leave security of our energy supply up to chance.

'The measures we have taken mean that homes and businesses will continue to have the secure supplies of energy they need all year round as we upgrade our energy infrastructure for the 21st century.'

Kellingly colliery in North Yorkshire closed last year, with the loss of 451 jobs. But Britain still has a few surface coal mines in south Wales, Scotland, the Midlands and the North East




From vintage photoshop fails to outrageously mislabelled snaps, these fake viral images fooled the world.

So how many did you believe?

The seven-headed snake

This picture of a central American snake with seven heads went viral, usually with the caption: 'God save us. This snake was found in the mountains of of Honduras. And the Bible speaks of a snake with 7 heads. Lord have mercy on our souls.'

Fail: The seven heads are clearly the same image copied and pasted - the original is on the right

But the seven heads are clearly the same image copied and pasted: the lighting is all wrong and there are sharp edges surrounding the snake's heads. A classic photoshop fail.

Putin riding a bear

Russian President Vladimir Putin famously rode a horse topless during his holidays outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia in 2009.

Russian President Vladimir Putin famously rode a horse topless during his holidays outside the town of Kyzyl in Southern Siberia in 2009

The image went down a treat with many Russians as it reinforced their image of Putin as a strong leader.

But it was soon doctored to show him riding a bear, something which not even Putin would dare to do.

Giant squid

This appallingly photoshopped image of a giant squid supposedly washed up on Santa Monica beach in California also did the rounds.

Really? This appallingly photoshopped image of a giant squid supposedly washed up on Santa Monica beach in California also did the rounds

The real image: A picture of a dead whale washed up in Chile in 2011.

An image of a normal-sized squid washed up in Spain was enlarged

Little did gullible viewers realise that it was created by merging two pictures together. One was an image of a normal-sized squid washed up in Spain, which was enlarged and imposed on a picture of a dead whale washed up in Chile in 2011.

The image circulated with the captions #RadioactiveGigantism and #GiantSeaCreature.

Fairy pools

One photo of a river surrounded by purple vegetation circulated online claiming to be of the famous fairy pools in The Isle of Skye, Scotland.

Photoshopped: One photo of a river surrounded by purple vegetation circulated online claiming to be of the famous fairy pools in The Isle of Skye, Scotland

The real fairy pools on the Isle of Skye in Scotland

In fact, it showed the Shotover River in New Zealand, and the green vegetation had been photoshopped.

Rainbow snake

It seems that people really love photoshopping snakes. The rainbow snake, like its seven-headed brother, does not exist.

It seems that people really love photoshopping snakes. The rainbow snake, like its seven-headed brother, does not exist

Frozen Venice

It is very rare for the canals of Venice to freeze. They slightly iced over in 2012 and before that in 1929.

This image is totally fake - it's a composite created by Robert Johns who took ice from a photo of Russia's Lake Baikal and imposed it.

Doctored: It is very rare for the canals of Venice to freeze. They slightly iced over in 2012 and before that in 1929

This image is totally fake - it's a composite created by Robert Johns who took ice from a photo of Russia's Lake Baikal and imposed it

World's longest traffic jam

This photo claimed to show China's National Highway 110.

The original image is actaully of the I-405 freeway north of Los Angeles, California, and the cars aren't nearly so jammed.

This photo claimed to show China's National Highway 110

The original image is actaully of the I-405 freeway north of Los Angeles, California, and the cars aren't nearly so jammed

Along with the fantastic spoofs, some photos went viral because they were just badly misunderstood.

Nepal earthquake

In April 2015 an earthquake struck Nepal and this adorable image of a girl hugging her brother was shared online to show the struggle of its young victims.

In April 2015 an earthquake struck Nepal and this adorable image of a a girl hugging her brother was shared online to show the struggle of young were victims

But photographer Na Son Nguyen revealed he took the image in Ha Giang province, Vietnam in 2007.

The girl hugged her brother because she was scared by the presence of a stranger, not an earthquake.

The image has also wrongly been shared on the internet with the caption 'abandoned orphans,' 'Burmese orphans,' and 'victims of the Syrian civil war.

The Angel of Kobane

This photo of a beautiful Kurdish woman in military gear went viral on the claim that she's slain over 100 Islamic State fighters.

A Swedish journalist who met the so-called Angel of Kobane (pictured) revealed she was a former law student not a front line fighter

But a Swedish journalist who met the so-called Angel of Kobane revealed she was a former law student who volunteered with the police force - not a front line fighter.

Sleeping Syrian

In 2014 this photo of a 'Syrian boy' thought to be sleeping between the graves of his parents was widely shared online.

Art project: In 2014 this photo of a 'Syrian boy' thought to be sleeping between the graves of his parents was widely shared online

But it was actually taken as part of conceptual art project in Saudi Arabia.

In reality, the boy's absolutely loving life - here he is, having a great time!
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Weve already seen a two-hour canal boat journey and a reindeers-eye-view of a journey across the Arctic Circle.

And following the success of these examples of slow TV on our screens over the past few years, the BBCs next venture is a spectacular hour-long journey aboard the Flying Scotsman on the Severn Valley Railway.

The 16-mile trip on the 12.34pm train from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster will be broadcast on BBC Four tomorrow, featuring stirring sounds of the whistle blowing and the train thundering through the countryside.

Hundreds of people can be seen waving from stations and the countryside surrounding the track as the magnificent locomotive 60103 cuts through stunning landscapes through the West Midlands in the programme.

It is another example of the hugely successful slow TV format from Norway, which in recent years has included a seven-hour recording of a train journey, a five-day programme on boat travel and 12 hours on knitting.

'Flying Scotsman from the Footplate': Following the success of slow TV on our screens over the past few years, the BBCs next venture is a spectacular hour-long journey aboard the Flying Scotsman on the Severn Valley Railway

Transport heritage: Noel Hartley from the National Railway Museum is pictured on the Flying Scotsman for the 16-mile trip on the 12.34pm train from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster which will be broadcast on BBC Four

Proud of their work: The 'cab cameras' capture fireman Ryan Green (left) and veteran volunteer driver Roger Norfolk (right) in action as they talk viewers through the mechanics and challenges of operating the stunning piece of machinery

Last Christmas BBC Four broadcast All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride, a two-hour programme of a snowy journey across the Arctic Circle which was described by Mail columnist Jan Moir as 'oddly mesmerising and rather wonderful'.

Slow TV features meandering, leisurely-paced programmes, with BBC Four having another surprise hit last year when a programme featuring a two-hour canal boat journey attracted more than 500,000 viewers.

The Flying Scotsman From the Footplate observational documentary due to be broadcast on December 29 at 9pm also features a signal-by-signal guide from those driving Britains favourite steam engine.

The 'cab cameras' capture veteran volunteer driver Roger Norfolk and fireman Ryan Green in action as they talk viewers through the mechanics and challenges of operating the stunning piece of machinery.

Mr Green is responsible for managing the boiler and steam pressure and watching out for signals on the line, and is joined by Noel Hartley from the National Railway Museum (NRM) to ensure the engine is looked after.

Locomotive engineer: Clive Goult from Riley & Son, which recently completed the ten-year restoration of the engine. The National Railway Museum bought the locomotive for 2.3million in 2004 before work began on its restoration in 2006

Volunteer driver: Mr Norfolk, pictured with the Flying Scotsman prior to departure at Bridgnorth station, shows in the documentary how he has trouble getting the locomotive started with a cold engine on a one in 100 gradient

Popular: The Flying Scotsman pulls in the crowds the crowds at Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway, with hundreds more people watching along the route through Hampton Loade, Highley, Arley, Bewdley and Kidderminster stations

The programme introduces viewers to a world of regulators, valves, pistons, smokeboxes, signalling systems and more  and how Mr Norfolk has trouble getting the locomotive going with a cold engine on a one in 100 gradient.

Controls: Built in Doncaster in 1923, the Flying Scotsman became the star locomotive of Britain's railway network

But they eventually get moving by easing the locomotive back to set the mechanics in a different position  and set off on their journey heading south from Bridgnorth through the sweeping landscape.

The locomotive takes the train across the Shropshire/ Worcestershire border - through Hampton Loade, Highley, Arley and Bewdley - before turning towards Kidderminster where it meets the National Rail line.

Built in Doncaster in South Yorkshire in 1923, the Flying Scotsman became the star locomotive of Britain's railway network, pulling the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934.

The NRM bought the locomotive for 2.3million in 2004 before work began on its restoration in 2006. The Flying Scotsman was painted in its original livery of British Rail green and had its nameplates reattached.

The rebuild took much longer than anticipated and cost far more than the original expectation of 1.5million because many more repairs were found to be required than expected.

In May, rail enthusiasts were left angry ahead of the Flying Scotsman starting its tour of England and Scotland after the NRM decided to keep its schedule secret in a bid to reduce the chance of people disrupting mainline services.

It came after February's inaugural run following a decade-long refit was marred by trespassers, which saw all East Coast Main Line trains temporarily stopped - causing eight hours of delays.

Network Rail paid 60,000 in compensation when 59 services were delayed by people encroaching on the track to get as close as possible to the Scotsman as it travelled from London to York.

Flying Scotsman From the Footplate will be broadcast on BBC Four tomorrow (December 29) at 9pm
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Tucked away on the edge of a dual carriageway between Terminal 4 and the M25, Heathrow's Animal Health Centre may not look like much on the outside  but inside it is a hive of activity that more closely resembles a zoo.

Every year the centre, affectionately known as the 'Arc', accepts 80 million animals from across the globe including bears, lions, penguins, elephants and tigers.

It is the place any exotic creature, pet or rescue animal must come when they first arrive in the UK.

Every year, the Arc handles 16,000 dogs and cats - they are given more space in their kennels than people on economy class

Will Hall cuddles Astra, a cross pom from Russia, in the dog section as the pet waits to be reunited with its owner

When dogs arrive at the centre from their flight, they are fed and given water before having their IDs checked (pictured: Astra, from Russia)

Corgi Rory arrives at the centre exhausted after his long-haul flight from Australia - after such a long journey it is important to get him out of his kennel as soon as possible

Each crate the animals travel in have to be big enough for them to stand up, sit down, turn around and lie down

After disembarking the aircraft, Rory is fed, hydrated and then has his microchip checked, as well as ensuring he has a valid rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment administered by a vet - he can then be reunited with his owner

The first thing you notice is the noise. Dogs bark, cats miaow and the doors slam open and shut with flashing vehicles bringing in the new dazed arrivals from their respective flights.

The smell is similar to a pet shop and attentive staff are on hand to check over the animals and remove them from their kennels so they can stretch their weary legs.

My visit coincides with the arrival of Astra, a poodle cross pom from Russia and Rory, a corgi from Australia, both of whom look exhausted from their long-haul flights.

Checking over Astra and Rory is animal health officer Will Hall, who is my guide for the day.

'When they come from Australia, we try to get them out of their kennels as soon as possible. We get lots arriving in the morning from Australia, as well as the USA, and then more from Europe as the day goes on', he explains.

'But they can literally come from anywhere in the world'.

Having been picked up from the aircraft and ferried to the centre, they are given a basic health check-up, fed and hydrated before having their IDs verified by the microchip under their skin.

Dogs, cats and ferrets can enter and re-enter the UK without going into quarantine so long as they have a microchip and valid rabies vaccination under the Pet Travel Scheme.

In addition to that, dogs must also have tapeworm treatment administered by a vet.

Will comes face-to-face with resident snake 'Sellotape' - the centre handles 280,000 reptiles every year

Animal health officer Will, who has worked at the centre for six years, holds aloft resident snake 'Sellotape'

Sellotape is housed in one of the four reptile rooms at the Animal Reception Centre, affectionately known as the 'Arc'

Inside the reptile rooms, animals are housed in boxes with their own lighting and heating systems

The centre handles 280,000 reptiles, 28 million fish, 16,000 cats and dogs, 2,000 birds and 200 horses every year.

Will, who has worked at the centre for six years, is one of the dedicated team of 26 staff who look after the animals 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

'One of the best things about the job is you expose yourself to so many different species', he says.

The 'dog wing'  split between the export and quarantine side [for those coming from 'unlisted countries' or who failed the checks] has corridors of kennels filled with yapping dogs and whining puppies waiting to be reunited with their owners.

They are put in a snug indoor area which has a 14ft outdoor run and to keep the pets happy, the Arc tries to put them in with a companion.

Will says: 'The main thing is to make them as safe and comfortable and possible.'

One of the ways their health is monitored is by a graded 'faeces scoring system' hanging on the wall, giving a detailed explanation of each type of dog poo.

Inside the 'exotic animal' section, Will holds up an enormous snapping turtle, another long-term resident at the centre

Away from the barking dogs are four reptile and amphibian rooms full of snakes, scorpions and spiders.

They are each placed in individual plastic boxes which have their own lighting and heating systems.

Some are pets while others have been detained or seized by smugglers looking to cash in on a lucrative market  snakes with interesting markings can fetch up to tens of thousands of pounds.

I nervously retreat a couple of steps as Will reaches into one of the boxes and brings out a long-term female resident snake, called Sellotape, that immediately starts moving over his body.

As Will bravely holds it up to the camera, Sellotape flicks out her forked tongue at him and even he looks a little daunted by the creature.

'Some people here prefer the reptiles', he admits. 'But I'm more comfortable with the dogs and cats.'

Snakes are also part of the 'handling courses' staff run for police officers and local authority workers who may have to pick up animals they are not used to.

Some of the animals found at the centre are 'stowaways' found on aircraft or smuggled pets hidden in handbags or luggage.

I spot a gecko in one of the boxes and Will says a number of African pygmy hedgehogs were recently seized by customs.

All these animals have their IDs checked by specially trained staff and can then be handed over to a more suitable location if required.

'We've had white lion cubs, cheetahs, alpacas', Will says. 'Every day is different. I don't know what will turn up, that's the beauty of the job.'

An iguana inside the exotic animal wing - bears, lions, penguins and rhino have all passed through the centre

While in the exotic animal wing, Will says one of the most rewarding parts of the job is handling so many different species

The Animal Reception Centre (ARC) - run by the City of London Corporation - is the destination for hundreds of thousands of animals flown into Heathrow every year

Inside the centre, run by the City of London Corporation, there is even a dedicated 'exotic animal' section where I spot an iguana, a bale of Northern map turtles seized by smugglers and the appropriately named 'snapping turtle'.

Will, kitted out in a lab coat, wellington boots and face mask, reaches in to a large area to scoop up the huge creature, another resident at the centre.

'You've got to be really careful when you pick it up', he says. 'You have to handle it from the back as it can snap its head and legs back which could take off your finger.'

As he admirably poses for pictures with the restless turtle, it demonstrates its vicious jerking movement at Will on three separate occasions.

Outside there is a fish wing, a bird area with computer controlled lighting to imitate sunset, sunrise and moonlight and a horse section at the back. There is also a large room with adjustable cages for big cats and fearsome predators.

As we depart the centre and remove our lab coats and wellington boots, we return to the reception centre  known as the reunion conservatory  where owners wait patiently to see their beloved animals.

'That's the greatest part the job', Will says. 'There's no better feeling than seeing owners reunited with their pets.'

The 'unsung heroes' loading every item imaginable into planes travelling around the world - including band equipment for Beyonce, luxury cars and tonnes of salmon

As the thousands of passengers who pass through Heathrow every day prepare to board their aircraft, the cargo team on the ground spring into action.

'Cargo are the unsung heroes', Janine Brown from American Airlines tells me. 'It's not a sexy part of the operation and very few people know about it, but there are so many different facets to it and some really interesting stuff is put into the aircraft.'

I am watching on the chilly, windswept airfield as the slick cargo team unload ten tonnes of packaged boxes into the belly of an empty AA plane, bound for Miami, before any passengers have taken their seats.

The team have only 30 minutes to load the cargo and ensure the weight is evenly distributed  described as an 'art form'  to maximise efficiency and fuel burn.

One of the main items being loaded into the belly of the plane today are flowers from Holland.

Boxes of flowers from Holland - such as lilies and tulips - are packed into the aircraft in chilled boxes en route to Miami

Cargo is loaded onto the American Airline an hour before the plane departs and the slick operation takes only 30 minutes

Cargo is loaded into both the front and back of the belly of the jet to try and maximise efficiency and fuel burn

The team have only 30 minutes to load the cargo and ensure the weight is evenly distributed

Paul Griffin, AA cargo operations manager in the UK, explains: 'Flowers, normally things like tulips of lilies, come from Holland overnight at about 4am or 5am. When they arrive in London they are X-rayed for any explosives and then put on a flight out to the US about 11am in chilled boxes. They will then arrive the following day.

'But it can be anything. Not too long ago the British museum held an exhibition of Colombian gold and we bought the gold inand then after six months when the exhibition was over, we had to take the gold back again.'

Aside from flowers, the airline transports huge amounts of bell peppers, cucumbers and salmon to the Far East and the US every day. It flies 100 tonnes of salmon  from countries such as Scotland and Norway  overseas on a daily basis.

As the cargo team finish packing the last boxes into the plane, managing director of cargo sales Tristan Koch tells me: 'We take it for granted but there's always surprise at the breadth and scale of itit's big business. It's all about the speed and transportation of fragile things.

'We have cars that are held in place in special car carrying pallets which strap them down and we move very expensive racing cars. We also send out ship parts when there is a rescue situation and we send lifesaving drugs to countries that need it.

'We have moved band equipment for Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Madonna.' He pauses. 'In that situation the ramifications of not getting it right can be very severe.'

American Airlines flies 100 tonnes of salmon  from countries such as Scotland and Norway  overseas on a daily basis

Every item is screened for safety before it is boxed up and placed into the belly of the aircraft

The cargo team are described as 'unsung heroes' - up to 30 tonnes of freight can be loaded into the plane

American Airlines has state-of-the-art transport equipment for perishable cargo such as produce, seafood, flowers and live tropical fish

In the shadow of Heathrow's control tower, the cargo operation clicks into gear - freight is loaded onto the plane before any passengers take their seats on the plane

Before cargo reaches the aircraft it is held in huge storage warehouses.

The Mixed Freight Services, in Feltham, is one such company that delivers freight to the airlines.

In front of the never-ending piles of boxes they have in their storage units  including one with a Ryder Cup 2018 ticket stamped on it  are two shiny supercars, a BMW and Mercedes.

Company director Steve O'Keeffe says: 'We get every luxury car you can imagine.'

Pointing to the flashy motors, he explains: 'These are going to Bangkok and Thailandpeople there want to be seen with good things, like we were in the 1980s and they show their cars off on weekends.

'They typically want English things as they are seen as being better quality.

'Everything is security checked for bombs, so to make sure the supercars are safe we have to drive them.' He chuckles before adding, 'apart from the Formula One cars we get.

'But we have driven a 2m antique Rolls Royce and the fleet of cars from the movie set of Transformers.'

A box carrying Ryder Cup 2018 equipment sits in the cargo warehouse waiting to be transported overseas

I ask what is in particularly high demand ahead of the frenetic Christmas period. His response is not what one might expect.

'Avatar baby bottles and baby powder, mainly going to China. We are collecting 80 pallets every day. The pound is weak at the moment and people like British brands.

'E-commerce is so big as well. I don't think people appreciate just how much it has grown  it's increased tenfold in 12 months.'

Steve, who has worked for the company since 1989, has seen almost every item imaginable pass through his doors.

This has included ice cubes sent from London for a swanky cocktail party in Korea; sand for horse racing in Dubai; dead bodies (that all have to be screened for bombs); space satellite dishes for space companies (a 'very valuable industry'); metal cages for the barricades round Camp Bastion in Afghanistan; rolls of carpets; barrels of olive oil; pandas; tigers; and art, paintings and antiques.

'You just can't predict what's going to come in', Nick Platts, the airport's jovial head of carjo, interjects.

'People don't realise that 30/35 per cent of UK trade value comes from Heathrow and a third of all UK trade comes from Heathrow. As a port it's more valuable than Felixstowe, Southampton and Liverpoolpeople don't understand how important air cargo is.

'Heathrow currently serves 180 routes, over the next few years it's not just about opening up new routes and adding capacity but increasing the frequency of the routes we currently serve.

'Heathrow handles 70 per cent of the air cargo market and take goods from across the UK. The biggest import into the UK are fresh beans, but also berries, asparagus and exotic fruits.'

As he looks around the warehouse, he adds: 'Everything you can think of comes through Heathrow.'
For Making a Murderer's Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, this holiday season couldn't get any sweeter.

Avery, 54, has sent a Christmas card to well-wishers telling them 'be safe over the holidays', and Dassey, 27, has appealed for donations to a charity which buys Christmas gifts for children of prisoners.

But they are the ones getting the best present of all - probable freedom.

With the first anniversary of the hit Netflix show's release just passing on December 18, Avery and Dassey's legal teams are more hopeful than ever that the men will be out of prison within the next six months.

Dassey's lawyer in particular has scored a procedural victory in federal court which opens the way for a slew of new evidence to be introduced.

Inside his Christmas card, Avery thanked his supporters for 'believing in me' and said that 'science' will save him and Dassey in 2017

Making a Murderer's Steven Avery sent Christmas cards to his supporters (left), while Brendan Dassey has asked that people donate gifts to children who have parents in prison. Dassey's family members posted in a Facebook group about the prisoner's request

Laura Nirider won permission to submit 'amici curiae' - friends of the court - briefs.

The briefs are evidence from independent experts, and the ruling means that the federal appeal court hearing the latest stage of Dassey's case will receive evidence from a number of sources, some of which can be disclosed by DailyMail.com.

Dassey's current attempt to obtain his freedom - spent all his adult life inside Columbia Correctional Institution in Wisconsin - has now centers on his confession.

His conviction has already been overturned, at federal court in August, when the judge also ruled the confession breached his constitutional rights.

With the state immediately opting for a retrial, it also appealed the ruling on the confession, and that will now be the center of the new litigation.

Dassey's lawyers want to prove that the confession and his representation during his first trial were unconstitutional.

If they do, the state's attempt at retrial would lack its central plank, the confession, and they believe the case would be abandoned before trial - and that if it is not, they would secure a not guilty verdict.

His lawyers believe the amici briefs will help his case by introducing evidence from experts to bolster their case.

Those experts include Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, a company that trains federal agencies, local and state law enforcement on carrying out interviews and interrogations.

They have been using the footage of Dassey's interview as an example of what not to do in interrogations.

Dassey was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of the murder and sexual assault of Teresa Halbach, in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, along with his uncle, Steven Avery.

At the time, Dassey, who was only 16, told police without an adult or lawyer present that he had helped rape, stab, shoot and dismember Halbach on his uncle's orders.

The teen has an IQ score of 70, which qualifies him as intellectually disabled, and later said his confession was coerced.

In the 'amicus brief' filed to the appeal court, the firm states: 'Due in large part to notoriety garnered by the Making a Murder documentary on Netflix, Brendan's interrogation has been under much public scrutiny.

Avery's lawyer Kathleen Zellner is more confident than ever that she can prove that Teresa Halbach's bones were planted on Avery's property

Dassey's lawyer won motion in the appeal courts, allowing for experts to help reach a verdict in her client's case. A company that trains law enforcement agencies how to interview and interrogate has been using the footage of Dassey's interview (right) as an example of what not to do in interrogations

'Certified interrogation specialists have used the video footage of Brendan's interrogation as the proverbial "what not to do" in training courses and pointed to the officers' practices to demonstrate the impropriety of Brendan's interrogation

'Experts point to key errors in the handling of the interrogation: (1) a failure to adequately account for Brendan's juvenile status and intellectual disability; (2) the use of coercion in the form of promises of leniency and threats of harm; (3) the use of false evidence ploys; and 4) the divulging of investigative information through leading questions or other tactics.'

BRENDAN DASSEY WANTS PEOPLE TO DONATE CHRISTMAS GIFTS TO KIDS WITH PRISONER PARENTS Brendan Dassey doesn't want a Christmas present - instead, he's desperate to help the children who have parents in jail. Family friend Dawn Brusha announced a special appeal to supporters, saying: 'Me and Brendan's loving mom, Barbara Tadych, are proud to announce Brendan's special Christmas surprise!!!!! 'When I last visited Brendan recently she asked him what he would like for Christmas and Brendan could not think of anything. 'When asked if he wanted to get something for someone Brendan explained that they have a program Angel Tree Project for kids who have incarcerated parents. 'They receive donated gifts from others and of course with Brendan's BIG heart, he tried to do this off of his own commissary account but was not able to. 'We as supporters could do this in Brendan's honor... You can also donate money towards a Bible or money for a gift for a child.' Advertisement

The Juvenile Law Center (JLC), which specializes in youth crime and wrongful convictions, is also to submit an amicus brief.

The JLC was at the forefront of a groundbreaking decision by the Supreme Court in 2011, which is similar to Dassey's case.

Avery and Dassey were convicted in 2007 or killing 25-year-old photographer Teresa Halbach on October 31, 2005

It wrote two amicus briefs in support of JDB vs N. Carolina, in which the court upheld the claim that a 13-year-old was taken from the classroom and wrongly forced into a confession by police without knowing his full rights.

Former criminologist and Avery supporter Tracie Strunsee adds: 'The JLC has had success with this type of brief in the past and considering that they presented it to the Supreme Court in a winning case, they carry a huge amount of credibility with the courts.

'The 7th Circuit granting the motion to file the brief really is incredible news for Brendan.'

Avery's case is different - he is attempting to obtain a new appeal at the state court level. That would mean introducing new evidence which was not available at the time of the first trial.

Now his lawyer Kathleen Zellner appears to have tweeted confirmation that his side's scientists believe they can show that Halbach's bones, which were found scattered in a half-burnt fashion over a half-mile radius, were planted.

Zellner tweeted twice, saying: 'Putting the State's case in a scientific truth crusher; fully expect it will be flattened & tossed in growing heap of WC's.

'The bones look like they were planted. - TickTockManitowoc No doubt! #Makingamurderer'

The move would open the way to claim there is significant new evidence.

Perhaps slightly bizarrely, however, DailyMail.com can disclose that Avery's mother believes that the murder victim is not in fact dead.

Family confidante and prison campaigner Shaun Attwood says that, for nearly a decade, Dolores, 80, thought that Teresa wasn't even dead, but is now 'undecided'.

Family confidante and prison campaigner Shaun Attwood (pictured above) has been fighting for Avery and Dassey's release

Attwood, 47, who got close to the family when he wrote his book, Un-making A Murderer: The Framing of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, says that Zellner's tests on the bones are 'verifying what we expect'.

He says: 'Bones were found in three locations: Steven Avery's burn pit, Bobby Dassey's burn barrel and in a burn pit along the property line of the Avery compound in an adjacent quarry, just over a quarter of a mile away.

'Despite the bizarre distribution of the bones, the prosecution procured several witnesses to implicate Steven Avery if Steven had burned Teresa and moved her bones, why would he have left the majority of them in his own burn pit?'

Attwood, a British immigrant, served a lengthy prison sentence in Arizona as a drug dealer and was deported back to the UK where he now campaigns on criminal justice issues and anti-drug education.

Netflix has been waiting to show a second series until they know the dates of Avery and Dassey's appeal, which were expected to drag into late 2017, but it now looks increasingly likely that a new series will start in early Spring, to coincide with the start of Dassey's appeal.

As Avery and Dassey's guilty verdicts are hanging by a thread, there's a huge clamor from supporters to know 'whodunnit'?

A poll of more than 1,200 on the official Facebook support group for Avery and Dassey this week revealed that more than half (747 votes - 62 per cent) thought Halbach's ex-boyfriend Ryan Hillegas was guilty and a further 17 per cent (202 votes) pointed the finger at Manitowoc Police Department.

Hillegas has long been held with suspicion by Making a Murderer fans, but was never treated as a suspect by police despite weird body language with Halbach family members and being present at the crime scene on multiple occasions, but couldn't remember what time of day that he had last seen Halbach.
The family of a five-year-old boy who they feared wouldn't even survive birth have shared heartwarming photos of their Christmas morning.

Five-year-old Christian Buchanan, who was born with birth defects so severe he had what looked like a letterbox-size hole in his face and no eyes, is all smiles in the photos as he poses with his younger brother and opens his gifts from Santa.

And for proud mom Lacey, 29, of Woodbury, Tennessee, this Christmas is a time to celebrate her son's amazing progress.

Doctors feared he may never be able to lead a normal life let alone turn into the thriving, happy boy he is today.

Mom Lacey said: 'Christian had a great Christmas. This time of year is his absolute favorite. He loves singing carols, visiting Santa, and the gifts of course. He definitely had a wonderful Christmas.'

In the run up to the celebration, Lacey and her son Christian posted a festive version of the classic Jingle Bells to her Snapchat.

In the Snapchat post, which she also posted on Facebook, she wrote: 'Jingle Bells because it's almost 10pm and Christian isn't sleepy and we are so into the Christmas spirit that we sweat egg nog and bleed tinsel!'

Lacey Buchanan, of Woodbury, Tennessee, has DailyMail.com of her five-year-old son Christian (right, with his younger brother Chandler), who was born with a severe cleft lip and palate and is blind

She says that Christian, who doctors feared would not survive birth, loves Christmas and it's a particularly special time in their household

Lacey said that Christian, pictured above opening presents, had a 'great Christmas'. Earlier this month, Christian and his mother shared a video of themselves singing Jingle Bells to Snapchat

Doctors feared that Christian, pictured above with his mother, may never be able to lead a normal life let alone turn into the thriving, happy boy he is today

It's been a difficult journey for Lacey who was blasted online for not aborting Christian in cruel comments after she posted photos of her son's horrific birth defects.

At the time she made a moving YouTube video defending the decision which went viral and has been viewed over a million times.

The little boy was born with a cleft lip and palate, but without eyes - a heartbreaking reality her and husband Chris had to come to terms with.

Amazingly, Christian is a now a happy kindergartner who, despite being blind, can play Christmas carols on the piano by ear and just earned his first belt in karate.

'It's so hard to explain because, in some ways he is behind developmentally,' says Lacey, who is sharing their story in her new book, Through The Eyes of Hope: Love More, Worry Less and See God in the Midst of Your Adversity.

'On paper there's a lot of ways that he's behind. But really, truly, how many five year olds do you know who can sit down at the piano and peck out tunes and who [have] a belt in karate?

'It's just one of those things where, in some ways his vision has made it more difficult for him, has made it a challenge and in other areas he's excelling where it would be really easy for him not to.'

Back in 2012 Lacey was a 25-year-old law student when she filmed the YouTube video of herself sharing her story, through a series of handwritten notes.

Clutching Christian she explained she and her husband Chris, who are non-denominational Christians, were shocked, but thrilled, when she found out she was going to have a baby in 2010.

Back in 2012 Lacey filmed the YouTube video of herself sharing her and her husband's story, through a series of handwritten notes

The video ended with Lacey saying that her son is a miracle, having survived complications in the womb

An ultrasound revealed that Christian had a bilateral cleft lip and palate when Lacey was just 19 weeks into her pregnancy

But 19 weeks into her pregnancy they were told something was wrong with their unborn child. An ultrasound revealed that he had a bilateral cleft lip and palate.

'I broke down and cried' Lacey said later. 'I started going in for weekly ultrasounds and shortly afterwards we were told there was something else wrong. Christian's cleft was different but they didn't know how.'

Despite having 3D ultrasounds towards the end of her pregnancy doctors couldn't tell them what exactly was wrong with their child, the extent of his facial defects or even if he would survive.

What they did know was that he was fighting another battle inside her womb.

Lacey says: 'The doctors told us he had amniotic band syndrome (ABS). This is a condition where the placenta breaks down, forming little fibers inside the womb that can stick to the baby anywhere, restricting blood flow.

'There is a risk that the body part that is affected may be amputated or not develop properly. For example, if the fibers get attached to a finger, the baby loses that finger.

'Christian had these fibers on his face, meaning that his facial features would be distorted beyond the cleft lip and palate.'

Despite the devastating news, Chris and Lacey dismissed predictions that their son would be born blind or mentally impaired.

Thankfully Christian survived his birth on February 18, 2011, but his condition was far worse than they expected.

In her 2012 video, Lacey explained, saying: 'He was born with a Tessier cleft lip and palate. He couldn't even close his mouth. His condition is only 1 of 50 in the entire world.'

Speaking after the video went viral she said: 'We were told that his eyes were underdeveloped and that he was blind.

Despite news that there were complications in the womb, Lacey and husband Chris dismissed predictions that their son would be born blind or mentally impaired. He survived his birth on February 18, 2011, but his condition was far worse than they expected

In her 2012 video, Lacey explained that Christian's cleft was so severe he couldn't close his mouth. His eyes were underdeveloped and he was left blind

Christian spent four weeks in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), and eventually his cleft lip and palate was closed. By the age of four-and-a-half, their son had seven major surgeries

Lacey said that she and her husband Chris suffered marital problems after Christian was born, but marriage counseling helped them pull through and remain together. Pictured left, the couple pose on their wedding day, and right, Lacey shows off her pregnant belly

'But the biggest issue was that he couldn't eat. So a feeding tube was put down his throat and IVs were stuck in his arms. It was hard to see my baby like that.

'He had his first surgery at four days old - to put a little box in his stomach that sticks outside, making it easier for us to feed him.'

Christian would spend four weeks in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). But if the challenge of giving birth to a baby with special needs wasn't enough it was the response of others that crushed the new mom.

Lacey said: 'When we brought him home from the hospital things were hard. Anytime we took Christian out in public people would stare and whisper behind my back, "Look at that baby".'

She added: 'One girl even told me I was a horrible person for not aborting Christian in utero. I was miserable.'

In her book Lacey also describes how the challenge of caring for Christian put an emotional strain on her marriage to Chris, whom she met when she was just 15.

By the age of four-and-a-half, their son had seven major surgeries, including operations to close his cleft lip and palate.

The young mom and law student was juggling hospital appointments with homework and her job in a children's daycare.

'I was so caught up and wrapped up in Christian's care and so consumed by law school and trying to hold down a job,' she says.

'I was in over my head as it was. I didn't have time for our marriage. I didn't have time to work on any of that stuff and that made him feel isolated.'

They were close to getting a divorce but through marriage counseling and with the love and support of family and friends she says they were able to work things out.

Amazingly, Christian is a now a kindergartner who, despite being blind, can play Christmas carols on the piano by ear and just earned his first belt in karate

Christian has been taking karate lessons since May. Pictured above, he for shows off his kicks as he works out with Bill Taylor in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Just this week, Christian's karate lessons paid off and he earned his first belt. Pictured above, he shows off his kicks

Above all Lacey believes her faith in God has helped her family overcome the challenges.

She also believes Christian himself is an inspiration and a blessing that has guided her through her darkest days.

'There were a whole lot of times where I just wanted to throw my hands up and be done, just because it was the easier thing to do,' she says.

'But I never did because I'm watching Christian go through life with these challenges that I haven't ever had to face.

'I've never had to deal with some of the things that he's had to deal with in just the few short years of his life.

'And he still wakes up every day, happy and ready to take on the world and ready to do what it takes to be successful and happy.

'He's really taught me not to give up on stuff just because it's hard. Also just to have a more positive outlook on life.'

Lacey says that Christian is a happy child. While he cannot see and his speech development is a little behind his peers because of his cleft lip and palate, she says he is catching up.

'He's just, in the last year, been able to hold a conversation with somebody,' says Lacey who also now has a three-year-old son Chandler. 'If you ask him a question, he's able to answer you.'

He goes to a school for the blind where he is starting to learn how to read.

She says: 'He's pretty much learned his alphabet in braille and he's able to type it on a braillewriter (type writer for the blind).'

In May he started taking karate lessons and this week he passed his test and won his first belt.

Lacey Buchanan said that her sons love Christmas, and they even visited Santa more than once this holiday season

Christmas has been especially important as Christian has developed, and the family loved celebrating this year

Christian is also an older brother - his younger sibling, Chandler, is three years old. Pictured above, they smile in matching T-shirts

Lacey says Christian also loves music and has been playing the piano ever since he took lessons for roughly six months, from the age of two and a half.

'We just wanted to really expose him to it,' the proud mom says. 'He can peck out Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, [and] Jesus Loves Me.

'He pecked out Jingle Bells last Christmas. He just sat down at the piano one day and pecked it out on his own.

'Nobody had taught him how to do it. Nobody had showed him the keys. He just did it by ear.

'He really likes classical music so he figured out the first few bars of Fur Elise.'

Christmas has been especially important as Christian has developed.

'I would tell myself he is going to be fine for Christmas.' Lacey says. 'I remember being so worried about it.

'He had just started sitting up, his first Christmas. And he was about ten-months-old. He had not been sitting up long at all and I just remember thinking oh my gosh is he going to reach his milestones?

'Is he going to do things other kids can do? Is he going to enjoy Christmas? Is he going to have a normal life? Now we know that all that and more He's not just going to have a normal life. He's going to have an extraordinary life.'

Lacey says Christmas is Christian's 'absolute favorite' time of year.

'He loves it so much,' she said before the holiday. 'He has picked out, what he wants from Santa, he calls it a tablet but it's actually a toy that mimics a tablet.

'It's not an actual tablet. It's like a little baby toy, a VTech brand. It's for 18 months and under. But that's what he wants. You press the buttons and it makes lights and sounds.

Five years after Christian's birth, Lacey (pictured with her husband and sons above) says that strangers are supportive when they see her and often recognize her from her YouTube video

'For whatever reason that's what he's been hooked on this year so I think Santa might bring it for him.

'He loves Santa. We've actually seen him twice now. The second time we went Santa said that the boys could pull on his beard to see if it's real so they tugged on his beard. That was really cute.'

Being out in public has always been difficult for the family.

At first the reaction from strangers was horrible.

But Lacey says the response to her YouTube video was so positive that now, when people see them out she's more likely to receive kind words than funny looks.

She says: 'The biggest reaction we get is, "Oh my gosh, I follow you on Facebook. How's Christian?"'

Through The Eyes of Hope: Love More, Worry Less and See God in the Midst of Your Adversity will hit bookstores on January 10

Lacey adds: 'Or they'll say, "Did you make a video several years ago about him?"

'I say, "Yep, that's him". You can see all the puzzle pieces coming together in their head as they say it, so it's really fun.'

But Lacey is under no illusion that Christian will escape the harsh words of bullies as he grows up.

'There's no doubt in my mind that he will be bullied, for sure,' she says. 'I can't shield him from the world forever.

'I can protect him while he's young from hearing the nasty comments, from being bullied and picked on. But one day I'm not going to be able to protect him anymore.

'So rather than trying to keep him in a bubble and hide him, I would rather teach him now, who he is and where he stands and build his confidence; give him the foundation so that when somebody tries to knock him down later on in life, they won't be able to do it.'

In the meantime she just wants the world to know that  despite his birth defects  Christian (whom she hopes will one day go to college) is just a normal, happy little boy, who play fights with his kid brother and is counting the days until Christmas.

She says: 'I tell people joy is a lifestyle for us because we have had so many hard days, I feel that makes the good days so much sweeter.'
Gerald Hall, 29, was fatally shot by police in Washington DC when he refused to drop a knife

A father-of-four who was shot dead by police in Washington DC on Christmas Day after he refused to drop a knife had stabbed a woman during an argument, police said.

Gerald Hall, 29, took the woman's house keys on Saturday when he left after an argument and he let himself in Sunday without permission.

Chante Hill told police that as they argued Sunday, Hall turned on the gas on the home's stove, spreading a strong odor of natural gas throughout the house and he lit paper towels.

She told police that as they struggled, Hall pushed her out of the house.

When Hill got back inside with another person, Hill says Hall produced a knife and approached Hill, but the third person was able to take the knife.

Hill said Hall, a father-of-four, produced another knife and stabbed her in the forearm.

Chante Hill told police that as they argued Sunday, Hall turned on the gas on the home's stove, spreading a strong odor of natural gas throughout the house and he lit paper towels

The victim said Hall, a father-of-four, produced a knife and stabbed her in the forearm

After a neighbor called police to report loud screaming, officers arrived and ordered Hall several times to drop the knife, according to the report.

Police said Hall refused and was shot. He died at a hospital.

Police didn't give the races of the officer or Hall.

Hall's mother, Angela McCain, said her son went to the home of a woman he was seeing to pick up Christmas gifts for his children, NBC Washington reported.

He was the father of four children, aged five, seven, eight and 10, she said.

McCain disputes the report that her son was armed, and said she believes police used excessive force.

After a neighbor called police to report loud screaming, officers arrived and ordered Hall several times to drop the knife. Police said Hall refused and was shot

Hall's mother, Angela McCain, said her son went to the home of a woman he was seeing to pick up Christmas gifts for his children

She said they could have used less lethal force, such as a Taser.

'I see it all the time on the news,' McCain said. 'And I never thought it would hit home. I'm hurt. He was such a good guy.'
Craig Wild, 33, complained to teachers, who said the cameras only covered communal areas and were used to tackle bullying

A father called the police after his 11-year-old daughter told him CCTV at her school filmed pupils in the toilets.

Craig Wild, 33, complained to teachers, who said the cameras only covered communal areas and were used to tackle bullying, smoking and truancy.

But the CCTV has now been taken away after police made a visit to Chamberlayne College for the Arts in Southampton.

Mr Wild told The Sun: 'The school said they don't look over the cubicles, just the communal area.

'But for dance classes, that is where some pupils get undressed.'

The 'horrified' father found out about the cameras after teachers solved a problem involving a pupil's bag getting wet after checking CCTV.

Deputy head Nick Giles said: 'The footage was only ever accessed in the event of an incident that required investigation.'

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: 'We have been in contact with both parties.'

In 2013, headteacher Neil Houchen was criticised by some parents for installing cameras in the boys and girls toilets at Eastwood Academy in Essex.

But Mr Houchen said it was his 'duty' to ensure all areas of the school were safe and secure.

But the CCTV has now been taken away after police made a visit to Chamberlayne College for the Arts in Southampton

He said: 'CCTV cameras have been installed in the girls and boys toilets. I would like to stress that these cameras face the washbasins and do not face the cubicles.

'The purpose of these cameras is to aid detection of acts of vandalism and/or bullying, which pupils have reported as occurring on an ad hoc basis.

'I see it as my duty to make all areas of the academy site as safe and secure as possible, including toilets.

'I would like to stress these acts are extremely rare, but I am keen that the opportunity for such feckless misconduct is eradicated.'
Twelve people were murdered as more than 40 were shot in 'gang-related' incidents in Chicago over the holiday weekend.

Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the majority of shootings and homicides from Friday afternoon through Monday morning were 'targeted attacks by gangs against potential rivals who were at holiday gatherings'.

The Chicago Police Department (CPD) said they seized more than three dozen guns.

Guglielmi says 45 guns have been seized since Friday afternoon, which is slightly more than a typical weekend.

More than 40 people were shot in 'gang-related' incidents in Chicago over the holiday weekend and 12 of those individuals were murdered. A woman who was show along South Maryland Avenue is transported to the hospital by a rescue unit

A police spokesman said the majority of shootings and homicides from Friday afternoon through Monday morning were 'targeted attacks by gangs against potential rivals who were at holiday gatherings'. A woman talks with police at the scene where six people were shot

In the first 48 hours of the holiday weekend, 27 people had been shot and seven of those were pronounced dead.

Chicago police superintendent Eddie Johnson told reporters that many of the recent shootings appeared to be gang-related.

'We now know the majority of these shootings and homicides were targeted attacks by gangs against potential rival gang members and groups who were at holiday gatherings,' Johnson said at a press conference.

Johnson said the shootings were 'deliberate and planned by one gang against another'.

'They were targeted knowing full well that individuals would be at the homes of family and friends celebrating the holiday,' Johnson said.

The Christmas weekend violence occurred during a year of record bloodshed in America's third-largest city.

With a week to go before the year is over, more than 750 people have been killed in Chicago in 2016, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the number of homicides has exceeded 700, according to the Chicago Tribune newspaper, which has been tracking the violence.

There have been more murders in America's third-largest city than in the two largest - Los Angeles and New York - combined.

Niko Walker (left and right), 21, was found shot dead around 12.49am on Sunday in the backyard of a home of East 76th Street. He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene

With a week to go before the year is over, more than 750 people have been killed in Chicago in 2016, marking the first time in nearly two decades that the number of homicides has exceeded 700. Police investigate a crime scene on Sunday

In the first 48 hours of the holiday weekend, 27 people had been shot and seven of those were pronounced dead. Derrick Jones (left), 21, and his friend 20-year-old Stephen Tucker (right) were gunned down outside a home in Chicago on Friday

The city is awash in illegally obtained guns, a major contributor to the problem, law enforcement officials say.

Chicago is planning to hire nearly 1,000 additional police officers over the next two years to help combat the rise in crime.

Homicides in Chicago have increased by more than 50 per cent since last year.

Officer Jose Estrada, a spokesman with the CPD told the New York Times on Sunday that the total number of shooting victims so far stood at 4,252, up 47 per cent from 2,884 at the same time in 2015.

An 18-year-old male was shot multiple times in the neck and back while he was driving at 1.30am on Sunday on the city's Southwest Side, NBC 5 Chicago reported.

He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

No suspects are in custody for his murder.

Last year's Christmas weekend saw 30 people shot and six of those died.

The majority of the individuals shot over the weekend were men under the age of 30.

Forty-two homicides have been recorded for December compared to 33 around the same time last year, the Tribune reported.

Niko Walker, 21, was found shot dead around 12.49am on Sunday in the backyard of a home of East 76th Street.

Police have not officially identified Walker as a victim, but family and friends took to social media to mourn him.

He had been shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two men were gunned down in front of a home in the West Side Austin neighborhood around 10.50pm on Friday.

Derrick Jones, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 20-year-old Stephen Tucker suffered gunshot wounds to the head and back and died at Mount Sinai Hospital, authorities told NBC 5.

On Saturday, a 20-year-old man was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound in the South Side West Englewood neighborhood shortly after 9pm. He was taken to Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead

Majority of the individuals shot were men under the age of 30. Chicago is planning to hire nearly 1,000 additional police officers over the next two years to help combat the rise in crime. Police are still investigating the deadly shootings over the holiday weekend

On Saturday, a 20-year-old man was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound in the South Side West Englewood neighborhood shortly after 9pm, police told NBC 5.

He was taken to Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Officers found a 27-year-old male on the ground with gunshot wounds around midnight on Saturday when the responded to reports of gunfire in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side.

The unidentified man suffered gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen and was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.25am.

Some victims have still not been identified in the fatal shootings.
An 'alcoholic' Iranian man could be granted refugee status in Australia over fears he will be executed for drinking booze if he goes home.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the Federal Circuit Court that he had already committed two alcohol-related offences in Iran - where drinking is illegal for Muslims under Sharia law.

He argued that he would struggle to kick his habit if he is deported, despite knowing he could be put to death by the Iranian authorities if he is caught drinking alcohol again.

An 'alcoholic' Iranian man could be granted refugee status in Australia over fears he will be executed for drinking booze if he goes home (file picture)

The man told the court that he had twice been in trouble in Iran for alcohol-related offences, in 2009 and 2012, The Australian reported.

He claimed that people can be executed in Iran for breaking their strict laws on alcohol for a third time.

While this was accepted by the court, the tribunal did not accept this as a reason why the man could not abide by Iranian law.

But the Iranian argued that the court should protect him from his own actions, saying it should take into account that he might drink alcohol even though it was illegal.

While Iranian law allows for death sentences for three alcohol-related offences, such a harsh punishment is rarely handed down (file picture)

Associate Judge Heather Riley said the man could be an alcoholic and that he may drink regardless of the possible death penalty for doing so.

'As a matter of common knowledge, in relation to the consumption of alcohol, people do many things without a particular reason and contrary to common sense,' she said.

'It was incumbent on the tribunal to find whether the applicant would or would not consume alcohol if he returned to Iran.'

She ruled that the tribunal had fallen into jurisdictional error and the man's case will now be heard by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

While Iranian law allows for death sentences for three alcohol-related offences, such a harsh punishment is rarely handed down.

In 2012, two men were given death sentences for their third drinking offences, but their sentences were later reduced.
Two top Toronto lawyers and their two children were killed in a tragic Christmas Eve fire at their vacation home in Ontario.

Police have yet to confirm the identities of the victims, but family and friends took to social media to mourn Geoff Taber and his wife Jacquie Gardner, along with their two sons, Scott and Andrew, according to CTV News.

The family's two large dogs were also at the cottage near Peterborough, Ontario, when the fire broke out early Saturday on Stoney Lake.

Top Toronto lawyers, Geoff Taber (left) and his wife Jacquie Gardner (center) along with their two sons, Scott and Andrew (pictured) were killed in a tragic Christmas Eve fire at their vacation home in Ontario

The family's two large dogs were also at the cottage near Peterborough, Ontario, when the fire broke out early Saturday on Stoney Lake. The couple's children (pictured with their father) are believed to be between 10 and 12 years old

The family's home $1 million home was reduced to rubble (pictured) as all of the upper levels of the cottage collapsed into the basement, authorities said

The couple's children are believed to be between 10 and 12 years old.

Police were called to the fire just before 4am Saturday to the cottage at 614 Hamilton Dr N near McCracken's Landing in Douro-Dummer Township, Const Jason Folz of the Peterborough County OPP told the National Post.

Folz said the four bodies were pulled from the cottage, along with the bodies of their pets.

He added that the entire home was destroyed and all of the upper levels collapsed into the basement.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, the firm where Taber was a partner described him as a 'vibrant and wonderful person' in a statement released Monday.

'There are no words adequate enough to express the depth of sorrow we feel about the tragic death of Geoff and his beloved wife Jacquie and sons Scott and Andrew,' managing partner Dale Ponder wrote in the statement.

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, the firm where Taber was a partner described him as a 'vibrant and wonderful person' in a statement released Monday. The firm also noted that Gardner (pictured) has also worked at Osler before moving to another company

The home (pictured) was 'in very good condition;, according to a local business owner who knew the family. However, it was made entirely of timber. The Office of the Fire Marshal is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the fire

He added that Gardner had also worked at Osler before moving on to Altamira Investment Services.

'Geoff and Jacquie were first and foremost loving parents to their two remarkable sons,' he said in the statement. 'We will miss them terribly.'

Taber and his wife purchased the cottage for $1-million.

It was made entirely of timber, a local business owner, who knew the family for 10 years, told the Post.

He said the home was 'in very good condition' and the family did some 'cosmetic' renovations before moving in last year.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
have not made contact since leaving ten days ago on December 17

A search is underway for a father and his six-year-old daughter who left on a sailing trip on their catamaran and have been missing since December 17.

Police are worried about 49-year-old father Alan Langdon and his young daughter Que Langdon after they left Kawhia Harbour on the north island of New Zealand and were heading to Bay of Islands on their catamaran ten days ago.

The pair have not made contact with family since and police have grave concerns for their wellbeing.

Police are worried about 49-year-old father Alan Langdon and his young daughter Que Langdon after they left Kawhia Harbour on the north island of New Zealand on their catamaran ten days ago

The 21 foot catamaran has a sail ID number T878 as pictured and police urge anyone who has seen or heard anything to contact them

Police have called for any one who sees the six metre (21ft) white catamaran with blue anti-fouling paint under the waterline and a sail ID number of T878 to contact them immediately.

The father and daughter were travelling from Kawhia Harbour, just outside of Hamilton, to one of the northern points of the islands.

The father and daughter were travelling from Kawhia Harbour, just outside of Hamilton, to one of the northern points of the island
It is understood Ross McEwans long-term bonus plan will be cut under new proposals to crack down on boardroom pay across the financial sector

The chief executive of state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland could see his pay package slashed by up to 1.25million.

It is understood Ross McEwans long-term bonus plan will be cut under new proposals to crack down on boardroom pay across the financial sector.

Shareholders are believed to be considering a proposal that would see the maximum Mr McEwan could make under the incentive plan cut from 3million to 1.75million.

The proposal is part of a package of reforms designed to avoid a run-in with the Government, which is clamping down on excessive boardroom pay.

Russ Mould, of investment firm A J Bell, said: This should not come as a surprise to shareholders in the company.

'The shares havent performed well, the operating performance hasnt been good and there are key strategic milestones such as selling off the 300 branches which are yet to be achieved.

If a business is doing well then shareholders are happy for directors to be paid well, but when things arent going well then stiffer questions start to get asked.

It has been a tumultuous year for RBS, which is still 70 per cent owned by the taxpayer.

Last week it was revealed the bank was being fined 9.7 million by the Swiss competition regulator over its role in rate rigging. And last month it was ordered to raise 2billion after failing a crucial Bank of England stress test.

It is also rapidly approaching a deadline set by the regulator to offload 314 branches, a condition of its bailout by the Government.

New Zealander Mr McEwan, 59, was appointed chief executive of the bank, which includes Natwest, in 2013. Last year he was paid 3.785million, made up of his base salary of 1million, a 1million fixed share allowance, a 1.347million share award from 2013 as well as smaller amounts for pensions and benefits.

Currently, he is entitled to earn up to 300 per cent of his basic pay of 1 million every year if he hits long-term targets.

But now his maximum award could be reduced from 300 per cent to an upper limit of 175 per cent.

Shareholders are set to vote on a new pay policy in the spring.

Shareholders are believed to be considering a proposal that would see the maximum Mr McEwan could make under the incentive plan cut from 3million to 1.75million

Other options to limit Mr McEwans pay include making him increase his stake in the business to at least 400 per cent of his wage and hold the shares for at least eight years. He currently owns 1.37million shares in the firm, worth 3.16million.

With pressure mounting on banks to crack down on pay, RBS is widely expected to cut its bonus pool for other executives for an eighth consecutive year.

With taxpayers still holding a large stake in the business, RBS will feel the pressure more than its rivals, particularly after Chancellor Philip Hammond recently revealed that the Government was unlikely to cut its stake in the bank for some time.

RBS is also battling to boost its bottom line, with a ninth year of losses expected in its final results for 2016.

Profits have been further hit after the bank made a new provision for a settlement with the US Department of Justice over the mis-selling of the toxic mortgage-backed securities which contributed to the global financial crisis. It is reported RBSs fine could be as high as 11.5billion.
He is an-arch Republican who refused to sing the national anthem but finally Jeremy Corbyn has revealed his patriotism by declaring English cheese is better than French fromage.

The Labour leader said he prefers English cheese because it's 'sharper' and has 'more variety'.

He told guests at a Christmas party that his favourite cheeses are Somerset brie and his home county's Shropshire blue.

Jeremy Corbyn said his favourite cheeses are Somerset brie and Shropshire blue. Above, a mocked-up picture of the Labour leader comparing English and French cheese

Mr Corbyn explained that his love of English cheese is so great that he once smuggled some into Mexico, breaching the ban on taking dairy through customs.

Stopped by a border official, Mr Corbyn explained that his luggage was simply a 'bag full of cheese' to give to his brother-in-law who lives in Mexico.

In perfect Spanish Mr Corbyn replied: 'Solamente queso no mas' [it's just cheese] and the border official let him through.

When he had more time to pursue his personal interests in Parliament the veteran left-winger was a member of the all-party cheese group.

The cheese connoisseur said: 'I find cheese very interesting, the variety of cheese in England is amazing.'

Asked if he preferred English cheese to French, he said: 'Yes... it's sharper and there's more variety.'

But he did express some fondness for smelly French cheese. 'Camembert is better the riper it is. It's best of all with a bit if mould on it,' he said at a recent party.

Jeremy Corbyn, pictured in the front row, far right, was labelled 'bigoted and small-minded after he refused to sing God Save the Queen at a Battle of Britain memorial service last year

Jeremy Corbyn explained that his love of English cheese is so great that he once smuggled some into Mexico, where his wife Laura Alvarez, pictured sitting next to him, left, is from

Mr Corbyn finally revealed his patriotism after repeatedly facing questions over his love for Britain since being elected Labour leader more than 15 months ago.

His long-standing pacifist, anti-monarchist views, his support for handing the Falklands to Argentina, his backing for a united Ireland and his anti-Trident stance have been used to label him unpatriotic.

He was called bigoted and small-minded after he refused to sing God Save the Queen at a memorial service on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

He didnt help the matter by suggesting he would refuse to kneel before the Queen when he joined the Privy Council.

The Labour leader is close friends with members of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein. He caused outrage by inviting Gerry Adams and other Sinn Fein officials into the Commons in 1984 just a fortnight after the IRAs Brighton bombing which targeted the Conservative Cabinet.

He even had to make clear his love for Britain in his first major speech as Labour leader last year. He declared I love this country as he tried to soften his image as a militant republican.

As Prime Minister David Cameron exploited Mr Corbyns lack of patriotism at every opportunity, famously telling the Labour leader to put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem' in a clash in the Commons.

Jeremy Corbyn has faced repeated criticism over his links to the IRA. He is friends with Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, right, who he invited to the House of Commons just a fortnight after the IRA's Brighton bombing which targeted the Conservative Cabinet

New Ukip leader Paul Nuttall, pictured, has made clear his strategy is to exploit Mr Corbyn's lack of patriotism, declaring shortly after being elected last month his intention to replace Labour as the patriotic voice of working people

Members of Mr Corbyns own party have also questioned his love of Britain. Leadership challenger Owen Smith said Mr Corbyn had a different perspective on patriotism that was born out of his rather more metropolitan background.

Mr Corbyn's closest allies have also come under attack over their lack of patriotism, including his right-hand man and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, another arch-Republican who has also sympathised with the IRA.

In 2003 he even suggested the IRA should be honoured for the bombings which brought the British government to the negotiating table.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, another long-standing friend of Mr Corbyn, once co-authored a pamphlet that backed the dismantling of the monarchy.

And Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, whose north London constituency neighbours Mr Corbyns Islington North seat, was sacked from Ed Milibands frontbench for sneering at a voter who had three England flags flying from their house.

New Ukip leader Paul Nuttall has made clear his strategy is to exploit Mr Corbyn's lack of patriotism, declaring shortly after being elected last month his intention to replace Labour as the patriotic voice of working people.
A former police cadet murdered his wife and critically injured a state trooper before he was shot dead, authorities say.

Officers were responding to reports of gunshots at James Tylka's Oregon home on Christmas Day, when they found the body of his estranged wife Kate Armand, 24, lying dead in the street.

Tylka, 30, was then spotted driving nearby and troopers gave chase. When they caught up with the suspect, he opened fire but was killed in the shootout.

Former police cadet James Tylka (left with his wife Kate Armand) murdered his wife and critically injured a state trooper before he was shot dead, authorities say

Oregon State Police Trooper Nic Cederberg was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being shot multiple times in the confrontation.

Tylka, who was an unpaid cadet with Beaverton Police between 2004 and 2006, had a child with the victim but was separated from her.

Video courtesy of KOIN6

The two were reportedly going through a divorce.

'We are still in shock and devastated from last night's events. My heart is broken from the loss of my only sister. Our thoughts are prayers are also with the wounded OSP officer and his family,' Armand's sister told KATU News.

Officers were responding to reports of gunshots at James Tylka's Oregon home on Christmas Day, when they found the body of his estranged wife Kate Armand, 24, lying dead in the street

Victims: Kate Armand, 24, (left) was killed and Oregon State Police Trooper Nic Cederberg (right) was injured by James Tylka

Neighbors say they heard gunshots at around 10pm on Christmas Day at Tylka's house on King James Place in King City. He was apparently living back with his mother in a neighborhood for senior citizens.

'I heard what amounted to about five shots and a car driving off,' neighbor Gary Bounds said.

Cederberg had given chase after Tylka was seen driving in the local area and was able to bring the suspect down, but not without sustaining critical injuries.

'Nic received multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a Portland area hospital,' Oregon Police Department said. 'Nic underwent surgery (Monday) morning and is in critical condition surrounded by his family and friends.'

'We are also humbled by the support the community has given,' the agency told Oregon Live. 'Please keep Nic, his family and all of his law enforcement peers in your thoughts and prayers.'

The officer is a seven-year veteran of the state police who also served in the military. He was hospitalized at OHSU in Portland, where he remains in critical condition.

Tylka was an unpaid cadet with the police for two years as part of a scheme run for teens with an interest in law enforcement.

Cadets are allowed to shadow officers and help with office work but could not take part in active duty or carry a firearm.

A silver Mitsubishi Galant, which has got several bullet holes, was towed after the police shoot out

Armand, a mother-of-two, was a med tech at an Oregon senior living center.

She and Tylka has been going through a divorce before she was killed.

Tylka also had an ex-wife with whom he been engaged in several legal battles with over custody of their child and child support payments.

Only a few months ago, in September, his ex-wife had filed for immediate temporary custody of their son, saying he was at risk of abuse. She said they had agreed to joint custody in 2016 but that her former partner had become increasingly irrational and was acting aggressively.

The woman said that when she picked up her son in September, he was crying. When asked what was wrong, he said his father had yelled at him and ordered him to tell him what his mother was doing.

She added that Tylka had talked about committing suicide last year - which prompted a call to the police.

Tylka reportedly killed Armand - whose body was found out in the street - before fleeing the scene in his car

Armand and Tylka has been going through a divorce before she was killed
A Connecticut man, who is charged with killing his wife and abandoning their six-year-old daughter at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, was angry over his wife's relationship with another man.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, confessed to smothering his 24-year-old estranged wife, Dionicia Bautista-Cano with a wet towel on November 14, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the Stamford Advocate.

'He says he is going to kill us both,' she texted her ex-boyfriend, according to the warrant released Friday.

Elmer Gomez Ruano, 32, who was charged with murdering Dionicia Bautista-Cano and risking injury to a minor, said he was 'very upset' that Bautista-Cano brought her ex-boyfriend to their new apartment. He appeared in court in Stamford, Connecticut on Friday (pictured)

Bautista-Cano (left) and their daughter (right in 2013) reunited with Ruano for less than 24 hours before they got into a fight over her ex-boyfriend. She had been living with her daughter and ex-boyfriend in Flemington, New Jersey, before she moved back in with her husband

Bautista-Cano and their daughter had reunited with Ruano on November 13, a day before they got into a fight over her ex-boyfriend.

The woman had been living with her daughter and ex-boyfriend in Flemington, New Jersey, for four months before she moved back in with her husband.

When Bautista-Cano moved into Ruano's Connecticut home, the ex-boyfriend helped her by renting a truck and driving the woman and her daughter to Stamford, according to the Advocate.

The couple had even threw a party for friends and family at the Courtland Avenue apartment, but police called the couple's relationship 'very, very combustible'.

Ruano told investigators he was 'very upset' that Bautista-Cano brought her ex-boyfriend to their new apartment, according to the warrant.

In his confession, Ruano claimed his wife started texting her ex-boyfriend in front of him moments before the couple began wrestling, the warrant said.

The warrant states that the woman also showed him pictures of her with the other man and rings he had given her.

He told police Bautista-Cano headbutted him and sliced one of his left fingers with a knife.

When Bautista-Cano (right) moved into Ruano's Connecticut home, the ex-boyfriend helped her by renting a truck and driving the woman and her daughter to Stamford, which made Ruano (left) 'very upset'

Ruano claimed his wife text her ex-boyfriend in front of him moments before the couple began wrestling, according to the arrest warrant. Police said he choked and smothered her with a wet towel for 30 minutes. An officer leaving the bus terminal with the little girl

Ruano was later seen on surveillance footage (left) leaving the girl at the terminal before fleeing the scene. He was extradited to Connecticut this week and pleaded not guilty to murder and risking injury to a minor on Friday

Police confirmed that Ruano had two lacerations to one of his fingers and bruises on his upper lip.

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.

Ruano is currently being held on $900,000 bond and is due back in court on January 13

His confession took place after police tracked him down through calls he made on cell phones borrowed from other people at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn's Greenpoint.

He was extradited to Connecticut this week and pleaded not guilty to murder and risking injury to a minor on Friday.

Ruano is currently being held on $900,000 bond.

His lawyer, Darnell Crosland, didn't immediately return messages Monday.

Ruano will not be able to contact his daughter, who is currently in the care of a foster family, 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.
Many lament the demise of the Thank You note. But it seems Britain is still one of the most courteous countries when it comes to expressing appreciation in writing.

Despite sending out such letters being seen as a chore to be done between Christmas Day and New Year, it appears that politeness is in our blood.

Britons have better manners than the French, Germans and Italians, sending twice as many cards of thanks, says a study.

Britons have better manners than the French, Germans and Italians, sending twice as many cards of thanks, says a study

They also send almost a third more formal RSVPs  responses to invitations to events  than their continental counterparts but they are outshone by Australia and Canada, whose residents send a fifth more of RSVPs and Thank You notes than us.

In a comparison of RSVPs to events across 16 countries, 66 per cent of Britons responded to an invitation, compared to 47 per cent of French, Italians and Germans and 56 per cent of Americans, says the study by online stationer Paperless Post.

Across the globe 82 per cent of individuals opened an invite, but only 57 per cent responded.

The most courteous country was Australia, where 77 per cent of people replied.

One in six Britons  16 per cent  regularly sent Thank You notes compared to 8 per cent of French people and 6 per cent of Germans and Italians but most polite were Canada and Australia, with almost a fifth of its population  18 per cent  sending Thank You notes and 16 per cent sending RSVPs.

Caroline Harding-Gelbard, at Paperless Post, said: Britain remains one of the politest nations in the world but we are still far from perfect.

The research also revealed that Britons are showing appreciation by using technology, with a 40 per cent rise in online thank-yous sent from 2015 to 2016.

Britons also send almost a third more formal RSVPs than our continental counterparts

Earlier this year, a study by gift website The Present Finder found most peoples relations would be as happy to receive an email, text or Facebook message as a handwritten note.

Three-quarters of the 1,300 questioned said they no longer expect a letter or card for gifts.

Half would be happy with a digital thank-you, and a quarter happy with a phone call.
A new banking system will allow people to transfer money in a real time without a BSB and you won't have to wait days for it to come in either.

Introduced by the Reserve Bank of Australia, the new payments platform infrastructure costs $1 billion, and will go live in the second half of 2017 throughout Australia, the Brisbane Times reports.

The new program will remove the act of entering a BSB and account numbers when wiring money to a friend or business.

The new banking system from the Reserve Bank Of Australia will be called the new payments platform and the infrastructure costs $1 billion (stock image)

Its aim is to make daily payments more like a transaction with Uber. When using Uber taxi service the driver is taken care of automatically when you arrive at your final destination.

It'll mean the person being paid will no longer have to wait up to three days for money to arrive in their account.

The new payment platform will also potentially change how you pay for everything from second-hand goods to motorway tolls.

It's a move that will change Australia's system of digital money and payments that will see it catching up and passing many other countries.

It'll mean account numbers will not be needed when wiring money to a friend or business (stock image)

ADVANTAGES OF THE PAYMENTS PLATFORM 1. BSB and account numbers will still exist, but you won't need to know them in order to send someone money 2. Instead, people can nominate some other 'identifier' such as mobile number or email address 3. You'll only need that identifier to send money to a friend, pay a business, or have someone else pay you 4. The goal is to make everyday payments more like a transaction with Uber Advertisement

Despite using electronic payment systems, the banking infrastructure systems in Australia lag behind that of other countries, so the new move will be a major game changer.

Australia will leapfrog other nations and join only Sweden and Mexico in having 'real time' payments once the system goes live in 2017.

'There'll be no concept of a weekend or a public holiday, it'll work all the time,' the NPP's chief executive, Adrian Lovney, said.

'Whether it's a $2.50 cup of coffee, or a $2.5 million property settlement, the money will move between banks ESA [exchange settlement accounts] accounts in real time.'
A Queensland city known as Australia's bible belt also buys the nation's most sex toys.

Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs has taken the number one spot in a study by online adult retailer Femplay, only months after the mayor called for a ban on porn.

The cattle farming city west of Brisbane bought the most 'sexy' products in 2016.

Queensland city Toowoomba has claimed the top spot for greatest number of 'sexy' purchases in 2016

'We're quite surprised by the result, but we're proud to crown Toowoomba as the nation's sexiest town to live in,' Femplay said in a media release.

In October residents of Toowoomba were joined by Mayor Paul Antonio in creating 'a city free from porn' movement.

'I acknowledge that viewing pornography promotes exploitation of women and violence against women, and it damages families. I commit that I won't view porn and I will help create a city free from porn,' Mayor Antonio said.

Residents of Toowoomba were joined by Mayor Paul Antonio (pictured) in creating 'a city free from porn' movement

Hundreds of people including several civic officials, gathered and pledged to stay porn-free

Hundreds of people including several civic officials, gathered and pledged to stay porn-free.

With a wide range of adult toys for both men and women and variety of outfits from bondage to sexy costumes Femplay caters for all.

Surprisingly or perhaps not so surprisingly two regional cities also shared the top spots in New South Wales and Victoria.

The southern NSW city of Wagga Wagga claimed the states top spot.

And Ballarat claimed Victoria's title.

Toowoomba (pictured) on Queensland's Darling Downs buys the greatest number of sex toys
Families are being warned to book summer breaks early to avoid price rises of at least 10 per cent linked to the Brexit vote.

Christmas and the New Year is the busiest booking time for travel firms, with customers being wooed with a series of promotions.

Companies are promising big savings and free child places for those who book early for summer 2017.

Christmas is the busiest booking time but research suggests holidays will cost more this year

However, industry research suggests travel companies face a squeeze that will inevitably lead to higher prices later this year.

The fall in the value of the pound following the Brexit vote means the cost of booking hotels, villas and apartments in Europe and the US has gone up.

At the same time, the price of airline fuel, bought in dollars, threatens to put up the cost of fares.

A 10 per cent rise would add 300 to the cost of a 3,000 holiday and some research suggests prices could rise by up to 20 per cent.

It comes as a survey of 2,000 adults by travel protection body Atol suggested 6.5million people would book breaks between yesterday and New Years Eve  more than a million a day.

Spain was set to be the most in-demand destination, with 28 per cent of people choosing it, followed by Italy (19 per cent) and Greece (13 per cent).

The holiday industry has faced two years of turmoil following terror attacks in previously popular destinations such as Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey.

With little sign of improvement, firms are promoting Vietnam, Cuba and Singapore as long-haul alternatives.

With terror in places such as Tunisia and Turkey holiday firms are promoting alternatives such as Vietnam (pictured)

Experts predicts that Sardinia, pictured, and mainland Italy will be popular destinations

They say mainland Italy, Sardinia, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa and the US are also likely to win tourists turning away from countries tarnished by terror.

A study by online firm Travelzoo found four in five UK travel companies are expecting price rises.

Managing director Joel Brandon-Bravo warned families to book early to avoid the worst. He said people should also consider trying new destinations, beyond the normally popular Spain and Greece.

He said: For those looking to minimise the impact of these imminent price hikes we would advise consumers to book early for peak holiday periods such as summer 2017.

'They should also consider destinations that have more favourable exchange rates and be open-minded about which country they visit.

A survey by Thomson found, despite concerns about cramped conditions on holiday flights, more than three in four people are happy to travel more than nine hours.

Several package holiday firms are offering trips to Phu Quoc, Vietnams largest island. Cubas Cayo Santa Maria island, connected to the mainland by a 30-mile causeway, has also been added to online brochures.

Thomas Cook said Brexit had triggered more interest in all-inclusive resorts, where travellers are less vulnerable to exchange rate changes.
Vera Rubin, a US astronomer who pioneered work on invisible dark matter in the universe and who was arguably overlooked for a Nobel Prize, died Sunday aged 88.

Rubin, a Philadelphia native, used galaxies' rotations to discover the first direct evidence of dark matter in the 1970s while working at the Carnegie Institution in Washington.

That was a breakthrough, as the invisible, nigh-undetectable substance had been theorized but never before seen.

Dark horse: Vera Rubin (left at work in 1970s, right being given the National Medal of Science by Bill Clinton in 1993) discovered evidence of dark matter - but never got the Nobel prize

Working with spectrograph designer Kent Ford, Rubin found that material at galaxies' edges rotated at the same rate as material in the center.

The discovery contradicted a law of physics that said because there was more mass - such as dust, stars and gas - in the center, it should move faster than the edge, where there was less mass.

The explanation was a halo of dark matter around the galaxies that spread mass throughout them, resulting in an even rotation.

Emily Levesque, an astronomer at the University of Washington, told Astronomy Magazine in June that Rubin deserved the Nobel Prize since the discovery of dark matter had revolutionized astronomy and the concept of the universe.

The will of Alfred Nobel, the founder of the prizes, 'describes the physics prize as recognizing "the most important discovery" within the field of physics.

'If dark matter doesn't fit that description, I don't know what does,' she said.

Passed on: Rubin died aged 88 on Sunday in an assisted living home. Her discovery was one of the most important in the field of physics, according to peers

Dark matter has not been directly observed but has been inferred through work by Rubin and other astronomers and physicists.

Scientists have discovered that a small part of dark matter is made of neutrinos - tiny, fast-moving particles that do not really interact with regular matter.

Rubin graduated from Vassar College in 1948 with a degree in astronomy. She earned a master's degree from Cornell University and a doctorate from Georgetown University in Washington.

She was the second female astronomer to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences and received the National Medal of Science from President Bill Clinton in 1993.

Rubin was on the Georgetown faculty before working at the Carnegie Institution.
A young 11-year-old boy has stepped into a police uniform to breath test his sister as a kind favour from local police.

Jaiden Cruz, 11, has a dream to become a police officer and when his local hero pulled his sister and him over for an RBT, Gladstone Constable Ben asked if the youngster would like to take over.

With his sister driving her younger brother for an innocent trip to grab some ice-cream, the gesture from police made the young boy's day.

Jaiden Cruz, 11, has a dream to become a police officer and when his local hero pulled his sister and him over for an RBT, Gladstone Constable Ben asked if the youngster would like a go

'The police were doing road side breath tests and I was talking to one of sergeants ... then I saw Constable Ben and he's one of my favourite officers,' Jaiden told The Gladstone Observer.

'He asked how I was going and asked if I wanted to breath test my sister.'

The budding police officer said he enjoyed the exercise and said RBT's are not that hard as when the machine goes green it means good and red is bad.

Having visited his local school in Sydney a few times Jaiden said he enjoys chatting with the police officers and he admires Constable Ben and Constable Mitch the most.

The future crime stopper has ambitions to join the local beat cops before moving up to S.W.A.T.
A motorist boasted that he had refused to help a woman whose car was stuck in the snow after he spotted her Trump bumper sticker.

Troy Brown took a picture of a stranded vehicle in the snow and posted it on Facebook with the caption: 'I was going to help her but she has a #Trump sticker on her car #CallYoPresident'.

He also posted a video of himself purportedly driving on by.

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A motorist boasted that he had refused to help a woman whose car was stuck in the snow after he spotted her Trump bumper sticker

The post, which has been liked and shared more than 4,000 times, sparked major debate among the hundreds of comments.

Many attacked Brown for leaving the woman stranded in the snow based solely on her political stance.

Others defended Brown, saying they would have done the same.

Brown, who posts extensively about political issues, doubled down on his decision, adding 'a list of people Trump voters can call for help:1. Yo president 2. Exxon Mobil CEO 3. General Flynn's son 4. The gunman at Comet pizza in D.C.'

Troy Brown (left and right) refused to help the stranded motorist who was stuck in the snow

took a picture of a stranded vehicle in the snow and posted it on Facebook with the caption: 'I was going to help her but she has a #Trump sticker on her car #CallYoPresident'

Brown, who posts extensively about political issues, doubled down on his decision, adding 'a list of people Trump voters can call for help:1. Yo president 2. Exxon Mobil CEO 3. General Flynn's son 4. The gunman at Comet pizza in D.C.'

The motorist wrote that he does not support 'Trump supporters, rapists, trafficking, or murderers.

'I believe in peace and harmony. Trump didn't display that.'

Brown revealed that he had been a Bernie Sanders supporter before Donald Trump won the election.

He had posted the picture of the stranded motorist on December 13 - when Ohio was suffering heavy snowstorms and freezing temperatures hitting as low as 13 degrees.
Advances in genetics could one day eliminate diseases like cancer  but might also wipe out geniuses like Stephen Hawking from our future, warns one scientist.

Dr. James Kozubek says altering human genes to erase depression or Schizophrenia, for example, could stop the rise of the next Shakespeare or Einstein  as creativity and high intelligence are often associated with such disorders.

Writers are 10 times more likely to have Bipolar Disorder. Poets are diagnosed with it 40 times more often than the general population.

Scientist James Kozubek says altering human genes to cure diseases and disorders could stop the rise of geniuses like Stephen Hawking (pictured)

'Thomas Edison was 'addled' and kicked out of school,' Kozubek said. 'Tennessee Williams, as a teenager on the boulevards of Paris felt afraid of the process of thought and came within a hairsbreadth of going quite mad.'

'Scientists tend to think of variations in life as problems to be solved, deviations and abnormalities outside of a normal curve.

'In reality, Darwin showed us that evolution does not progress toward an ideal concept or model, but rather is a work of tinkering toward adaptation in local niches.'

Kozubek is the author of 'Modern Prometheus: Editing the Human Genome with Crispr-Cas9.'

In his book, Kozubek says the gene-editing technology Crispr-Cas9  which is being tested in the US and China to curb the spread of cancer  is not completely a positive.

'Before we begin modifying our genes with gene editing tools such as Crispr-Cas9, we'd be smart to recall that genetic variants that contribute to psychiatric conditions may even be beneficial depending on the environment or genetic background.'

Dr. James Kozubek is the author of 'Modern Prometheus: Editing the Human Genome with Crispr-Cas9'

CRISPR-Cas9 is based on a gene-editing technique used by bacteria to help them remove sections of DNA introduced by viruses that infect bacteria, known as phages.

Small chemical tags are used to get an enzyme to cut DNA in a precise place and snip out a small piece of DNA.

Kozubek says altering human genes to erase depression or Schizophrenia could stop the rise of the next Shakespeare (pictured)

This can be used to turn off specific genes in an extremely precise manner that has not been available using previously less accurate gene editing techniques.

However, scientists now need to prove the technique can be used safely in patients before it can be used more widely and these initial tests will aim to show it does not harm those being treated.

Future trials will then have to assess how effective the technique is compared to other types of treatment.

In the Chinese trial, researchers are using CRISPR-Cas9 to target a gene that produces a protein called PD-1 in T cells.

This protein usually helps to regulate the T cell's ability to launch an immune response and prevents it from attacking healthy cells belonging to the body.

By knocking out this gene with great accuracy, the researchers believe it will be possible to increase the immune response against cancerous cells, which are often overlooked by the immune system as they are made of the same cellular material as the rest of the body.

WHAT IS CRISPR-CAS9 AND HOW IS IT USED? CRISPR-Cas9 is a tool for making precise edits in DNA, discovered in bacteria. The acronym stands for 'Clustered Regularly Inter-Spaced Palindromic Repeats'. The technique involves a DNA cutting enzyme and a small tag which tells the enzyme where to cut. By editing this tag, scientists are able to target the enzyme to specific regions of DNA and make precise cuts, wherever they like. It has been used to 'silence' genes - effectively switching them off. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. The approach has been used previously to edit the gene called HBB responsible for a condition called -thalassaemia. Advertisement
Sir Philip Green is demanding that the controversial businessman who bought BHS from him for 1 be forced to help bail out the retailers pension scheme

Sir Philip Green is demanding that the controversial businessman who bought BHS from him for 1 be forced to help bail out the retailers pension scheme.

The retail tycoon has so far failed to honour a commitment made more than six months ago to rescue the BHS scheme, which has a 571million deficit and around 20,000 members.

Last month, the Pensions Regulator issued a warning notice to the billionaire, nicknamed Sir Shifty, after complaining that he had failed to come up with a comprehensive and credible offer.

If a settlement is not reached, the watchdog can use its legal powers to force him to pay up.

But, according to The Guardian, Sir Philip has now stipulated that Dominic Chappell must also make a payment into the BHS scheme. He has stressed that this must be a condition of any rescue deal.

BHS collapsed in April with the loss of 11,000 jobs, just over a year after Sir Philip sold the business for 1 to Mr Chappell  a thrice-bankrupt former racing driver.

The regulator has already begun legal proceedings, and is understood to be seeking around 350million from Sir Philip and up to 17million from Mr Chappell.

Sir Philip declined to comment. Mr Chappell said he fulfilled all his duties as a director of BHS and at no stage did we trade immorally.
We're going to need a smaller boat!

One of the world's largest cruise ships was too big to dock in Auckland - so passengers had to be ferried off in lifeboats.

Yellow tenders were deployed from the 347m long Ovation of the Seas on Tuesday, allowing passengers to stretch their sea legs on Kiwi soil.

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One of the world's largest cruise ships was too big to dock in Auckland - so passengers had to be ferried off in lifeboats

Yellow tenders were deployed from the 347m long Ovation of the Seas on Tuesday, allowing passengers to stretch their sea legs on Kiwi soil

Ovation of the Seas is one of the world's largest cruise ships at 347 metres

As the ship passed the shores of New Zealand, onlookers voiced their astonishment on social medi

The method is regularly used in ports that are too small to fit the gigantic vessel, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson told stuff.co.nz.

As the ship passed the shores of New Zealand, onlookers voiced their astonishment on social media.

'Saw it berthed in Wellington the other day. Huge!!' one Instagram user wrote.

'In port today, but too big to berth. I know some people are appalled by their size. Cruise ship envy,' wrote a man who spotted the boat in Auckland.

The ship, which can carry almost 5,000 people, made its maiden voyage in April

Ovation of the Seas made its maiden voyage from its home port in Sydney in April

On board the Ovation of the Seas, passengers can enjoy a surf simulator

An observation capsule allows for 360-degree views as passengers are suspended 90 metres into the air

According to Royal Caribbean, the skydiving simulator aboard the Ovation is the first-ever at sea

Ovation of the Seas made its maiden voyage from its home port in Sydney in April.

The 4,900 capacity ship makes trips to New Zealand, the South Pacific and South East Asia.
A five-year-old boy was killed by an unmanned truck that rolled down a hill after it wasn't properly secured at a construction site in North Carolina.

Hillsborough Police Chief Duane Hampton says the child was playing in the neighborhood when the truck rolled away from the site where it was being loaded.

Hampton says worker, Alejandro Suarez, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, according to the News Observer.

A five-year-old boy was killed by an unmanned truck (pictured) that rolled down a hill after it wasn't properly secured at a construction site in North Carolina

Hillsborough police said the child was playing in the neighborhood when the truck (pictured after it crashed into a home) rolled away from the site where it was being loaded. Worker, Alejandro Suarez, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle

Police responded to a 911 call on Monday close to 1pm at the 200 block of Dogwood Bloom Lane.

Upon arrival, authorities determined that Suarez was responsible for controlling the truck.

The child was standing in a driveway when he was hit by the out-of-control truck in the Forest Ridge subdivision off US 70-A, Hillsborough spokeswoman Catherine Wright told the Observer.

Wright said the child lived on the street, where homes are still being built in that area.

The child, whose name has not been released, was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, ABC 11 reported.

Police said the truck rolled through several yards before coming to a stop when it crashed into a home.

Police said the truck rolled through several yards (pictured) before crashing. The truck was being loaded with dirt when it 'became loose and rolled down the hill'. Suarez was booked into the Orange County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond

The truck was being loaded with dirt when it 'became loose and rolled down the hill,' Wright said.

Suarez was arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail under a $10,000 secured bond.

'At this point, we don't believe the vehicle was properly secured,' Hampton said.

He said the investigation is ongoing as authorities plan to look 'at the mechanical condition of the vehicle'.
Christopher Tester, from Torquay, was visiting his parents when he was attacked

A British man is in a critical condition after being shot in the head during an attempted robbery in Antigua.

Christopher Tester, from Torquay, was visiting his parents when he was attacked at their restaurant on Christmas Day night.

The 37-year-old is now in an induced coma at Mount St John Medical Centre on the island but is set to be transferred to another facility in Guadeloupe.

But friends have launched an appeal to raise 90,000 to fly him back to the UK for treatment.

Charlotte Williams, who helped to set up the appeal, warned that 'time is of the essence'.

'They need to raise 90,000. It will save his life. Please help us perform a Christmas miracle,' she said.

Last month, Prince Harry visited the island as part of a Caribbean tour to celebrate the region's history, culture and achievements.

During a reception in front of 300 guests, Antigua prime minister Gaston Browne left the prince red faced and grimacing when he invited Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle to honeymoon on the island.

Mr Tester's ex-pat parents Tony and Julie run Boxer Shack restaurant in Old Road.

He had arrived on the Caribbean island on December 10 and had been due to leave on the 29th, local reports said.

ABS posted a police statement that said the masked gunman shot Mr Tester at about 10.30pm during an attempt to rob the family.

'It is alleged that a man approximately 5ft 8 inches in height, slim built, wearing a black hoodie and mask, attempted to rob his family, when a struggle ensued,' the statement said

'During the struggle he was shot in his head, and was transported by the EMS to the hospital.'
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Strange as it may seem, many of New York's public libraries aren't just institutions of learning - they also hide secret apartments that were once home to their custodians.

Tasked with keeping the libraries' coal furnaces going every hour of the day and night - to avoid books spoiling in the cold and damp - the custodians and their families would never be able to go too far from the building, so they were given rooms above their charges.

With the advent of modern central heating, however, the need for custodians dwindled, and now many of those once cosy dwellings lie forgotten and decaying, Atlas Obscura reported. Here is a fascinating glimpse inside one such home, above the Fort Washington library in Manhattan, courtesy of photographer Zach Gross.

On the books: New York's Carnegie Libraries, which were founded by Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in the 1800s and 1900s, have secret apartments - including the Fort Washington branch (left on opening in 1914, right today)

Room with a view: The apartment, located above the West 179th Street building, is incredibly spacious by modern New York standards - but is dirty and hasn't been used for decades, and will most likely be re-purposed

A splash of color: Some of the only signs that the library's custodian and their family lived in the apartment are brightly colored - but often peeling and bare - walls. The custodians would keep the library's coal furnaces burning 24/7

Stacked up: Old and unused items are piled high in these rooms. Some of the rooms' natural light is blocked out because windows have been bricked up. The custodians left once the libraries' coal furnaces became automated

Times gone: The passing of year has not been kind to the apartments - and this Time magazine, from December 1989 shows how long it has been since they were lived in and loved by their residents

The library was built in 1914 with funds from Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who paid for the construction and maintenance of thousands of such institutions around the world between 1883 and 1929.

Splashes of color such as a bright yellow corridor and a half-ripped up, diamond-patterned floor covering give some hint as to how this place may once have looked.

But years of neglect have left it crumbling and ruined, with paint and plaster buckling and peeling from the walls, and lightbulbs hanging dead from electricity-starved sockets.

Boxes piled high in some corners reveal what this former home is now: Nothing more than a storage space for the library downstairs. Sometimes staff are offered the place, but none take it.

In one corner is a long metal shaft, most probably a dumbwaiter, with light spilling in from a glass window on the roof of the building.

Light is in short supply in other parts of the apartment, where some windows have been bricked up to hide the abandoned interior from the prying eyes of neighbors.

The view from above: This is the plan showing the custodial apartment's floor plan. Many of the apartments lacked the large windows and other details seen in the libraries below, but this one is quite spacious and would have been well-lit

Light, reading: The apartment has electric lights but the paint on the ceiling is peeling and bare. Many of the Carnegie libraries are now turning their apartments into spaces for the public, to ease congestion and demand on other floors

Shaft of light: This mysterious shaft - possibly for a dumbwaiter - connects the custodial apartments to the library below, and is lit through a glass panel in the roof (pictured)

Deep drop: The shaft continues down for some distance, and is accessed by a metal door, divided into three. Sometimes new staff are offered the apartment - though none of them have accepted it

Elsewhere, an old rotary phone - long forgotten - hangs on one wall, while slimy rivulets run down another surface, the result of long-lasting, never-repaired leaks.

Today the New York public library system only has 13 of these apartments in existence, but many are disappearing - being converted into additional rooms that can be used by the public.

'We have so many demands on our space, besides just the books, that it's almost criminal not to turn these apartments into program space,' Iris Weinshall, the librarys chief operating officer, told Atlas Obscura.

A dim view: Some of the spaces seem dark and gloomy, especially without people living in them. There are items left around, including a pirate-themed card from William J to David J, that reads: 'You're a real treasure to me'

Phone, no home: It's been a long time since someone used this rotary phone. Today the NY library system has 13 of these apartments, although some are planned to be used for other purposes

Crumbling: The apartment would take some fixing up before anyone would want to live here again - note the rivulets of slime running down a wall (left) due to a long-unattended leak

Nailed it: There are long-forgotten items throughout the apartment'ss rooms, including - here - what appears to be a collection of old nails and dirt or dust
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Local authorities have taken the shock step to ban alcohol from Coogee Beach for the rest of the summer after it was trashed by thousands of party goers during a rave on Christmas Day.

Randwick Mayor Noel D'Souza confirmed the ban on Tuesday saying: 'We will be enforcing a total alcohol ban in public places in Coogee for the rest of the summer.'

The ban will be put into action immediately to help reduce anti-social behaviour over the holiday period after more than 10,000 revellers turned up on Sunday, the Daily Telegraph reports.

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Rubbish was seen covering the grassy area near the beach after the rave ended

An impromptu dance party began on Sydney's Coogee Beach as thousands of people continued their Christmas Day celebrations into the evening

Randwick Council had previously introduced new rules to limit drinking between 12 noon and 4pm on December 13, but the move will not mean new police will be on duty on New Year's Eve.

'We have police down at Coogee for an operation over New Year's Eve every year,' she said.

'This year will be no different. Most places like Coogee where there are fireworks are very busy every year but we will not be having an extra patrols in place.'

The party appeared to kick off on Sunday in the late afternoon as the crowd of revellers at the eastern suburb beach continued to grow throughout the day.

But the party took its toll on the area that was left thrashed with rubbish afterwards

Bottles and rubbish were left strewn across the beach and on the pavements in Coogee

The party appeared to kick off on Sunday in the late afternoon

The crowd of revellers at the eastern suburb beach continued to grow throughout Christmas Day

Video footage captured thousands of people, many dressed in bikinis and Santa hats, dancing in the simmering temperatures.

The music can be heard pumping in the background as the camera pans the wall to wall people and bright blue water behind them.

Woman can be seen cheering as they sit on friend's shoulders and sway to the music.

Others were spotted dancing on top of trailers and roofs.

Revellers were spotted dancing on roofs of nearby trailers

Women could be seen cheering as they sat on friends' shoulders and swaying to the music

It was reported many members of the crowd were European  who are known to enjoy a hot Christmas Day on one of Australia's many beaches.

Natalie William, a 23-year-old backpacker from London, told the Sydney Morning Herald she 'absolutely loved' spending this year's Christmas on Bondi Beach.

'Normally, I'd just be at home and it would be cold, probably raining. This is so much better,' she said.

It was reported many members of the crowd were European  who are known to enjoy a hot Christmas Day on one of Australia's many beaches
His payout was near doubled after Go Bus Transport appealed the decision

A bus driver who let his wife ride for free when she forgot her wallet has been awarded almost $20,000 after his employer 'wrongfully labelled him a thief'.

Kevin Hellyer was fired from his job with Go Bus Transport in August 2014 after an undercover inspector noticed he let his wife Glynn Cooper avoid a $2.90 bus fare in Dunedin, the Otago Daily Times reported.

The 60-year-old was awarded $10,000 in compensation after the Employment Relations Authority found he had be unfairly dismissed in September last year, but that figure almost doubled on Friday following a failed appeal from Go Bus.

Kevin Hellyer has been awarded $20,000 after being wrongfully dismissed by Go Bus Transport

Chief Judge Graeme Colgan said Mr Hellyer was 'wrongly branded as a thief and a fraudster by Go Bus', with the driver and his wife having to relocate as there was little opportunity for him to find a new job.

Go Bus have been ordered to pay the former driver $6,235.39 in lost income, $12,800 in compensation almost $500 in missed holiday pay and a further $187.06 in lost benefits - totalling $19,721.29, the Otago Daily Times reported.

Mr Hellyer said he could not have asked for a better present around the holidays and was happy justice had been served, despite it taking two years to resolve.

His wife said the process had caused them significant financial stress but they can now start to move on in their new hometown of Riverton after selling their home.

Mr Hellyer (right) was labelled a thief after letting his wife (left) ride the bus for free when she forgot her wallet

The payout was near doubled after Go Bus Transport (pictured) appealed the decision

'I'm pleased it's all over because it's been a tough two years,' Ms Cooper told the Otago Daily Times.
Dov Katz (pictured), reportedly responded to a sex ad posted by an undercover detective posing as a 15-year-old girl on a website

A senior Facebook engineer was arrested for allegedly soliciting sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Dov Katz, who is the head of computer vision at Oculus, a company that was purchased by Facebook, was arrested on December 21 near Seattle.

Katz reportedly responded to an ad posted by an undercover detective with the Tukwila Police Department.

The detective was posing as a 15-year-old girl on a website offering sex in exchange for money, according KING 5.

The 38-year-old allegedly suggested the two have sex without a condom for $360 and arranged a meeting at the Embassy Suites in Tukwila.

When he arrived at the hotel with $600 in cash, he was arrested by police.

He told the officer that he was there to rescue the girl at the time of his arrest, according to charging documents obtained by GeekWire.

Katz (left) allegedly suggested the two have sex without a condom for $360 and arranged a meeting at the Embassy Suites. When he arrived at the hotel with $600 in cash, he was arrested. He played a leading role in the development of the Oculus Rift (right) headset

Katz, who lives in California, was charged in King County for attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor.

He is not to have contact with any minors, except in the presence of a responsible adult, police documents state.

Katz, who is an Israeli citizen, will be arraigned on January 5 and his bail was set at $125,000.

In 2014, Facebook purchased Oculus, a leading company in virtual reality technology, for about $2 billion.
A 22-year-old entrepreneur who started his first business at 12 is now launching a new freelance business that he hopes will rival one of the biggest of its kind in the world.

Adam Stone has already raised $545,000 in seed funding in the US and Australia for Speedlancer, which he hopes will take on skilled freelancing site Freelancer.com, the Canberra Times reports.

'I wanted to make outsourcing effective for start-ups and small businesses who don't have access to a HR manager or the time to go through and recruit the talent that they need,' he said.

Melbourne entrepreneur Adam Stone, 22, started his first business aged just 12 years of age

'We hire talent wherever the best talent is,' he said, referring to a customer service team in Bangladesh and a development team in Brazil.

Stone got invaluable experience in the freelancing industry while running his previous business.

He ran the business while attending high school and later doing his university studies.

Mr Stone started his first business when he was 12 years old, and started it all off with only $50 of pocket money, and he did not take a penny from his parents until opening up the initial seed-funding round for Speedlancer.

His new business venture called Speedlancer is aimed at providing skilled freelancing services

'I started with $50 of pocket money and turned it into six years of profitable business and we had 130,000 paying customers. I grew that all organically,' he said.

He claimed that his last business was an e-commerce platform that made a six-figure profit despite him only working 10 minutes a week because he was still studying.

Thanks to living off the profits of his previous business being sold, he has been able to avoid drawing a wage from Speedlancer for the time being as well.

But the sky is the limit for the young entrepreneur with investors already interested in his new project from the U.S. and Australia.
China has vowed to speed up its space development as it set out plans to become the first country to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon as early as 2018.

The Chinese government has also indicated today its desire to launch its first Mars probe by 2020.

'To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is a dream we pursue unremittingly,' a memo read setting out the country's space strategy for the next five years.

Chinese astronauts Zhai Zhigang (R), Liu Boming (2nd R) and Jing Haipeng wave to well-wishers before the launch of the Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, September 25, 2008

Officials said China aims to use space for peaceful purposes and to guarantee national security, and to carry out cutting-edge scientific research.

The white paper, released by the information office of China's Cabinet, points to the growing ambitions of China's already rapidly advancing space programme.

China places great emphasis on the development of its space industry, seen as a symbol of national prestige that will raise the country's standing in the world.

China's Shenzhou-10 rocket blasts off from the Jiuquan space centre in the Gobi Desert in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu on June 11, 2013

Although the white paper doesn't mention it, China's eventual goal is to land an astronaut on the moon.

While Russia and the United States have more experience in manned space travel, China's military-backed programme has made steady progress in a comparatively short time.

Since China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, it has staged a spacewalk and landed a rover on the moon in 2013  the first time humans had soft landed anything on the moon since the 1970s.

Last month, two astronauts returned from a month-long stay aboard China's Tiangong 2 experimental space station, the country's sixth and longest crewed mission.

A fully functioning, permanently crewed space station is on course to begin operations six years from now and is slated to run for at least a decade.

The memo reiterated China's plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020, saying it would explore and bring back samples from the red planet, explore the Jupiter system and 'conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life'.

The paper says the Chang'e-4 lunar probe will help shed light on the formation and evolution of the moon.

China's first moon rover touching the lunar surface and leaving deep traces on its loose soil on Sunday, December 15, 2013, several hours after the country successfully carried out the world's first soft landing of a space probe on the moon in nearly four decades

He Qisong, a space security expert at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said that achieving mankind's first soft landing on the far side of the moon is a newly stated goal.

It indicates that China has mastered the underlying technology needed to land on a specific area of the lunar surface, he added.
Sudanese asylum seeker Faysal Ishak Ahmed, 27, died after falling and having a seizure at Manus Island detention centre

The grieving family of a Sudanese migrant whose death sparked riots on Manus Island on Christmas Eve have demanded Australia repatriate his body.

Faysal Ishak Ahmed, 27, suffered critical head injuries after falling and having a seizure at the island refugee camp on Friday.

He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he died the next day.

Asylum seekers took control of the detention centre after the man's death and briefly forced guards out.

Mr Ahmed's family say they are yet to be contacted by Australian authorities and have urged the government to return his body to Sydney.

'They want him back, they made that very clear,' Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said.

Officials at the detention centre insisted there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Ahmed's death.

But refugee advocates claimed he had suffered several blackouts that had gone untreated in recent months.

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian journalist detained at the centre, claimed Mr Ahmed had been unwell for more than six months but had been neglected.

Asylum seekers took control of the detention centre (pictured) after the man's death and briefly forced guards out

Mr Ahmed suffered critical head injuries after falling and having a seizure at the island refugee camp (pictured) on Friday

'Every day Faysal went to medical asking for help. They did not help him,' Mr Boochani said.

'A few days ago a nurse... told Faysal that he was fine and didn't need medical treatment.'

Mr Ahmed had complained of heart problems and headaches, Mr Boochani said.

National Justice Project principal solicitor George Newhouse claimed Mr Ahmed was not treated properly and said his death 'was likely to have been entirely avoidable'.

Campaigners have called for a royal commission into the treatment of refugees at the camps on Manus Island and Nauru in response to the Sudanese man's death.
Days after the United Nations voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Donald Trump questioned its effectiveness Monday, saying it's just a club for people to 'have a good time'.

The president-elect wrote on Twitter that the UN has 'such great potential,' but it has become 'just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!'

On Friday, Trump warned, 'As to the UN, things will be different after Jan 20th,' referring to the day he takes office.

President-elect Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that the UN has 'such great potential,' but it has become 'just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time'

Trump also warned on Friday that 'things will be different after Jan 20th' referring to the day he takes office. Pictured is his tweet Monday night

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's UN vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the US exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

Trump told the AP last December that he wanted to be 'very neutral' on Israel-Palestinian issues.

But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the presidential campaign progressed.

He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been 'taken over' by or are condoning militant groups.

Trump's tweet Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member global organization.

This year the UN Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the UN's far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's UN vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the US exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership

The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues, like the role of diamonds in fueling conflicts; condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea; and authorized an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Trump's criticism of the UN is by no means unique.

While the organization does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy.

The organization has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

Trump tweeted later Monday: 'The world was gloomy before I won  there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10 per cent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!'

Markets are up since Trump won the general election, although not quite by that much.

Trump tweeted later Monday: 'The world was gloomy before I won  there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10 per cent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars'

The Standard & Poor's 500 is up about 6 per cent since Election Day, while the Dow has risen more than 8 per cent.

As for holiday spending, auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed $1 trillion, representing a 3.6 per cent to 4.0 per cent increase in holiday sales from November through January.

Finally, Trump took to Twitter again to complain about media coverage of his charitable foundation.

Finally, Trump took to Twitter again to complain about media coverage of his charitable foundation

He wrote that of the 'millions of dollars' he has contributed to or raised for the Donald J. Trump Foundation, all of it 'is given to charity, and media won't report'.

Trump said Saturday he will dissolve his charitable foundation before taking office to avoid conflicts of interest.

The New York attorney general's office has been investigating the foundation following media reports that foundation spending went to benefit Trump's campaign.
A fearless dog chased after a large tiger shark in the Torres Strait in a shocking moment caught on video.

The video shows the dog leaping into the water at the sight of the shark at a Mabuiag Island beach.

The dog owner can be heard yelling at the pet, which appears to be named Yassie, as the dog swims dangerously close to the shark.

A fearless dog chased after a large tiger shark in the Torres Strait in a shocking moment caught on video

The video shows the dog leaping into the water at the sight of the shark at a Mabuiag Island beach

The dog owner can be heard yelling at the pet, which appears to be named Yassie, as the dog swims dangerously close to the shark

A Mabuiag Island resident told the Cairns Post that many dogs on the island were trained to catch sharks.

'The owners go fishing and the dogs go with them,' the unnamed man said.

But the man doubted that anyone would have trained their dog to go after such a large shark.

'It's an island life here,' the man told the Cairns Post.

'It's common to see sharks, not every day, but now and again they come up.
Connecticut's Senate president faced an uncertain wait for a new kidney until one day a longtime friend and local judge surprised him, telling him that he had been cleared to donate one of his kidneys.

New Haven Superior Court Judge Brian Fischer told Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney the good news in early December, after they attended a mutual friend's funeral.

'I surely recognized that Marty was not looking that good. And I knew at that time I was going to be the one selected to give my kidney,' he said in a phone interview shortly after the successful December 20 surgery.

'I used that opportunity to give him the relief and peace of mind.'

Connecticut's Senate president Martin Looney (left) faced an uncertain wait for a new kidney until one day a longtime friend, New Haven Superior Court Judge Brian Fischer (right), surprised him, telling him that he had been cleared to donate one of his kidneys

Looney said he was 'stunned with gratitude' by Fischer's offer, adding that it left him speechless, 'even someone like me who makes speeches for a living'.

Doctors at the Yale New Haven Hospital Transplantation Center had told him that more than 30 people contacted the center expressing interest in donating a kidney to the veteran Democratic politician, and eight were potential donors.

The center allowed Fischer to tell Looney himself.

'He broke down and said to me, "Brian, how could I ever thank you for this gift,"' Fischer said. 'And I indicated to him, a $25 gift certificate to Modern Pizza would be a good place to start.'

Modern is one of several well-known pizzerias in Looney's beloved hometown of New Haven.

Doctors at the Yale New Haven Hospital Transplantation Center (pictured) had told Looney that more than 30 people contacted the center expressing interest in donating a kidney to the veteran Democratic politician, and eight were potential donors

A practicing attorney and adjunct professor, Looney, 68, was first elected to the General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives to represent the city in 1980. He was later elected to the Senate in 1993, moving up in the ranks to serve 12 years as majority leader. He was elected Senate president in 2015.

Looney has lived with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis that affects the neck and spine, since he was teenager.

Looney (pictured in 2015) said he was 'stunned with gratitude' by Fischer's offer, adding that it left him speechless, 'even someone like me who makes speeches for a living'

After taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for years to treat his condition, he was left with the long-term side effect of kidney problems.

He said in a phone interview from the hospital last week that he was on the verge of needing dialysis.

'It was getting quite close. It would have been a matter of weeks or a couple of months, maybe,' he said, adding that he had no idea how long it would be before a compatible donor was found.

He said the new kidney is functioning well and he's very hopeful about his prospects.

Fischer said he was unaware that his friend needed a kidney until he read about how Looney's church had posted a plea for a donor on Facebook.

'I gave it some thought and thought, "He's a great guy, a wonderful public servant. I've had a blessed life and thought maybe I should call and help out a dear friend,"' said Fisher, 63, who spent a day in the hospital for a battery of tests before learning that he was a match.

'It was exciting because I was very, very happy and humbled that I could help out,' he said, adding how the staff at the Yale transplant center, especially Dr. Sanjay Kulkarni, the transplant surgeon, put him at ease.

Both Looney and Fischer now hope their story will encourage more people to donate a kidney. It's estimated 120,000 Americans are in need of kidney transplants each year.

Looney was one of 52 patients who received donated kidneys at Yale this year.

Besides donating a kidney, Fischer has agreed to swear in Looney when he takes the oath of office again on January 4 at the state Capitol.
A radical Islamic group that wants a global Muslim superstate has slammed moderate Muslims for distributing leaflets emphasising their love of Australia.

Ahmadiyya worshippers have been dropping the flyers into letterboxes in Hobart to counter right-wing political parties like One Nation, Reclaim Australia and the Australian Liberty Alliance, which are calling for a ban on Muslim migration.

But radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir has denounced their campaign for acceptance.

Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Uthman Badar (pictured) has slammed a Tasmania Muslim group's love of Australia a week after he fronted this rally at Lakemba in south-west Sydney

The leaflets include inspiring quotes from Muslim leaders such as: 'Love for all hatred for none'

Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Uthman Badar has taken to Twitter to condemn moderate Muslims

'How much grovelling can you pack into one leaflet?,' the group's spokesman Uthman Badar posted on Facebook.

'Quite a bit apparently.'

His Facebook followers have echoed his call, with Englishman Ayaz Sharif posting: 'Where's the vomit emoji?'

Another follower Picasso Maxima questioned the Tasmanian Muslim group's assertion the Muslim faith was compatible with love of one's country.

Tasmanian Muslims have delivered pamphlets to hundreds of homes across Hobart in a bid to educate Australians about their faith and counter the likes of One Nation

'I don't think nation states or "countries" existed at the time of the prophet,' he said.

Hizb ut-Tahrir's campaign against the moderate Tasmanian Muslim group comes less than a week after Mr Badar fronted a rally at Lakemba, in south-west Sydney, to campaign against the conflict in Syria - on the same day Russia's ambassador to Turkey was shot dead.

More than 200 people shouted 'Allahu Akhbar' - an Islamic phrase meaning 'God is great' - as Russia mourned the death of Andrei Karlov at the hands of off-duty police officer Mevlut Mert Altinta in an Ankara art gallery.

The same group is now incensed at leaflets titled 'Muslims for loyalty' and 'Muslims for peace', which include quotes from Muslim leaders such as 'love of one's country of residence is part of faith' and 'love for all hatred for none'.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has denounced a moderate Muslim group in Tasmania a week after women in hijabs smeared fake blood on dolls in Lakemba to protest about the conflict in Syria

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's Tasmanian state president Aamir Mahmoud said the rise of right-wing, anti-immigration political parties had seen a rise in hatred towards followers of their faith.

'With the rise of One Nation and Reclaim Australia a lot of people think that Muslims have a personal agenda,' Dr Mahmoud told the ABC.

'When I came in 2010, most of the people were afraid to talk to me, to come to me.'

Dr Mahmoud said the message was being received positively but there was more to do.

'[I hope] to change the mind of people. To get very clear concept to them that if some people or a group of people or a person is doing something wrong, it should not be related to every person,' he said.

The group has previously letterboxed homes in other Australian states.

The flyers include inspiring quotes such as 'Love of one's country of residence is part of faith'
Travel chaos is predicted across the Great Plains tomorrow as Americans return to work after the holidays in adverse weather.

Severe winter storms swept across the northern plains in the run up to Christmas, dumping heavy snow from Chicago to Minneapolis. Even California got a sprinkling of the white stuff as temperatures plunged last weekend.

The storm was beginning to abate on Monday evening, but powerful winds and drifting snow have continued to hamper travel in many areas.

Scroll down for video

Vehicles piled high with snow in Mandan, North Dakota on December 26; The combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that forced vast stretches of highways in the Dakotas to be shut down Sunday continued into Monday, and authorities issued no-travel warnings for much of North Dakota

Chad Gion, left, and Zach Wilson begin the process of digging a vehicle out in southeast Mandan; Severe winter storms swept across the northern plains in the run up to Christmas, dumping heavy snow from Chicago to Minneapolis

A car covered by a snowdrift next sits next to a "Welcome to downtown Bismarck" sign Monday in Bismarck, North Dakota

The combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that forced vast stretches of highways in the Dakotas to be shut down Sunday continued into Monday, and authorities issued no-travel warnings for much of North Dakota.

More than 1,086 US flights were delayed on Saturday as more than 100million Americans hit the roads and airports for holiday travel.

The National Weather Service's blizzard warning for western and central North Dakota expired Monday afternoon, but the agency warned snow drifts still blocked some roads.

The storm was beginning to abate on Monday evening, but powerful winds and drifting snow have continued to hamper travel in many areas

Severe whiteout conditions led to the closure of Minot International Airport, and the facility wasn't expected to reopen until 3am. Tuesday. The airports serving Fargo and Bismarck also listed flight cancellations on their websites.

Interstate 94 remained closed west of Jamestown, North Dakota. Interstate 90, which had been closed for 260 miles between the Wyoming border and Chamberlain, South Dakota, was reopened to traffic Monday.

Winds gusting 40 mph to 50 mph also led to delays and cancellations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The storm also has caused power outages in the Dakotas and Nebraska.

The South Dakota Rural Electric Association said roughly 16,400 of its customers were without power Monday evening. In Nebraska, winds gusting up to 70 mph were cited for hundreds of power outages in central and eastern portions of the state Sunday, although by Monday morning, utilities reported that power had been restored to most customers.

High winds knocked out power to thousands of customers in Michigan on Monday.

Consumers Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler told WOOD-TV that more than 20,000 customers in the state were without power Monday evening. Most of the outages occurred between 7 and 8 p.m., he said.

More than 420 US flights were delayed and another 61 were canceled Saturday as Americans traveled home for the holidays. Pictured above, a man reads an information screen as people line up for security ahead of the holidays at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York

Approximately 100million Americans hit the roads and airports for holiday travel on Friday and Saturday. Pictured above, people line up for security ahead of the holidays at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York City

The Traverse City Record Eagle reported that customers of several utilities were without power late Monday afternoon in northern Michigan.

Southern California even got a dose of snow, with about two inches falling in a mountainous region about 75 miles north of Los Angeles. It shut down the state's main north-south interstate - I-5 - for nearly four hours on Saturday.

To the east, parts of central Minnesota was under an ice storm warning. Snow was also forecast for much of Idaho, Montana, Utah and northeast Colorado.

Forecasters cautioned drivers to keep alternate routes in mind and prepare for possible delays.

Meanwhile, in parts of the South, unseasonably warm temperatures were raising the risk of tornadoes and damaging thunderstorms.

About three million people in parts of Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee could see damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes Monday, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, said, but no major outbreak was expected.

Flood watches and warnings were in effect for parts of the West Coast, including coastal Southern California, and Midwest after heavy rains fell on Friday night.
David Wayne Frazier is at large after escaping Cocke County Jail Sunday with five others. He was awaiting trial for aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon

All but one inmate involved in a Christmas Day jailbreak in Tennessee has now been recaptured, according to local police.

David Wayne Frazier, who was in the Cocke County Jail awaiting trial for aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, is still at large and is said to be the most dangerous escapee.

The other five men who attempted to flee have been recaptured - two on Christmas day and three others on Monday, WBIR reported.

Of the six who escaped on Christmas Day, John Mark Spier and Steven Lewis were recaptured the same day.

John Sheehee turned himself in to the authorities at 8:05pm Monday after his father intervened.

Eric Click was spotted being driven in a vehicle by a patrolman at around 2:15pm Monday. Both he and the driver were taken into custody without incident.

Harce Allen was recaptured in a trailer park two miles out of Newport after being caught in a sting.

'We put some undercover narcotic officers in the area. We were able to lure him out of the house,' Cocke County Sheriff Armando Fontes said.

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The six men were able to climb through a hole created behind a toilet by a water leak. John Shehee (left) and Harce Allen (right) were recaptured Monday

Eric S Click was also captured Monday after being spotted in a car being driven by another person. Both men were taken into custody without incident

Inmate John Mark Spier (left) was re-captured at a home in Cosby, Tennessee, where two men were charged with harboring a fugitive. Steven Lewis (right) was captured after a foot chase in Carson Springs

(Courtesy WATE.com)

The six men escaped the prison after climbing through a hole behind a toilet formed by a water leak.

The Cocke County Sheriff told WVLT that the inmates escaped after a water leak occurred behind a wall unit stainless steel toilet.

The bolts holding the unit rusted out and there was prior damage to the concrete due to plumbing repairs.

'They kicked open a steel box unit that was covering the outside of the access and fled over a fence,' Sheriff Armando Fontes said.

Inmate John Mark Spier was re-captured at a home in Cosby, Tennessee, where two men were charged with harboring a fugitive.

The prisoners managed to escape from the jail annex behind this toilet. Water had eroded the bolds that were holding in the toilet, and there was damage to the concrete due to prior repairs

The inmates kicked open this panel and made their escape on Christmas Day - though most of them weren't free men for very long

Steven Lewis was captured after a foot chase in Carson Springs, WATE reports.

Shehee, 28, was facing criminal charges for arson, criminal trespassing and property theft under $500.

Allen, 28, was serving a 45-day jail sentence for violating his probation.

Click, 29, was in jail awaiting trial for evading arrest, possession of schedule II substance, driving while suspended, violating probation and joy riding.

Frazier, who is considered to be dangerous, was in jail awaiting trial for aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Unidentified gunmen broke into the home of journalist and activist Afrah Shawqi Al-Qaisi

A female journalist who has campaigned against widespread corruption in Iraq has been captured in Baghdad.

Unidentified gunmen broke into the home of journalist and activist Afrah Shawqi Al-Qaisi in the Iraqi capital late on Monday night.

The men kidnapped Ms Al-Qaisi, a veteran journalist and an employee of the Iraqi Culture Ministry, Iraq's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

Her abduction is a reminder of the dangers journalists face in a country where authorities have struggled to maintain security nationwide.

The Ministry's statement did not give details on the circumstances of the abduction in Baghdad's southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood, but called on residents to report any information that might benefit the investigation.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the security forces to investigate the kidnapping and to 'exert the utmost effort' to save her.

Ms Al-Qaisi is considered one of the critics of the country's endemic corruption.

Ms Al-Qaisi is a veteran journalist and an employee of the Iraqi Culture Ministry, who has campaigned against widespread corruption in the country

Iraqi security forces search cars in Baghdad's southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood a day after journalist Afrah Shawqi al-Qaisi was kidnapped

On Monday, she published an article in a local media outlet, criticising an Interior Ministry officer who badly beat a school principal in the southern city of Nasiriyiah.

The headteacher was beaten in front of the pupils and teachers for refusing to punish a pupil who quarrelled with his daughter.

The head of the Baghdad-based Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, Ziyad al-Ajeeli, who had spoken to Ms Al-Qaisi's family, said that eight gunmen came in at least two pickup trucks, claiming to be members of the security forces, and asked to search the house.

Ms Al-Qaisi was taken from her home in the Saydiyah area, which was considered as a stronghold for al-Qaeda militants before the start of Baghdad security plan a year ago

Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr speaks during his visit to the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate to show his solidarity after the kidnapping

Once inside the house, they handcuffed Ms Al-Qaisi's 16-year old son, kept him in the kitchen and walked off with gold, money, phones, laptops and her car.

They also badly beat her brother-in-law who lives next door, he added.

War-torn Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, who have been frequently targeted by militant groups since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
Several women have been arrested by 'morality police' in Saudi Arabia after they were filmed wearing western-style clothes, dancing, and mixing with men at a party in the strict Muslim country.

A man who organised the party, where alcohol was allegedly consumed, has also reportedly been held by police.

Local media outlets reported that the group was arrested after a video of the party, held in the city of Jeddah on the country's west coast, was posted to YouTube.

In the footage a group of men and women can be seen chatting and dancing while Arabic music plays in the background.

One woman seen in the footage is wearing shorts, while another woman is filmed dancing with a man - in both cases falling foul of Saudi Arabia's harsh morality laws.

There are strict rules governing mixed gatherings of unrelated men and women in the conservative Muslim nation, while the sale and consumption of alcohol is strictly outlawed.

In the footage a group of men and women can be seen chatting and dancing while Arabic music plays in the background

Unlike in some other Islamic countries, the rules around gender segregation and drinking alcohol apply equally to Muslim and non-Muslim residents.

After the film went viral, the footage was passed to police who tracked down the location of the party using landmarks seen on the video.

Major-General Saeed Al-Qarni led the investigation, supervised by Jeddah police chief Brigadier-General Abdulwahab Al-Asiri, was able to identify the roof terrace where the party was held by the location of the Jeddah flagpole seen in the background.

Police were able to identify the roof terrace where the party took place, in the city of Jeddah (pictured), by studying landmarks seen in the background of the footage

The landmark is the highest flagpole in the world, and was erected in 2014, rising 170 meters from the ground.

The chief suspect, a Jordanian man who organised the gathering, was arrested while allegedly trying to flee the country.

After being detained and questioned by officers, he eventually admitted to organising the party, authorities said.

A group of women were arrested after they were filmed wearing western-style clothes, dancing, and mixing with men at a party

Three female party guests, a Lebanese woman and her friends, were also later questioned and admitted to being at the party, Almasar Online reports.

The case has now been referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution, with officials deciding whether to press charges against the group.

Authorities said that they were also working to identify any other party guests.

If found guilty, the accused face potentially harsh punishments under Sharia law, including imprisonment and flogging.
whistles as compliments and to cover up as they run

A shoe retailer in New Zealand has come under fire for suggesting women should take wolf whistles as compliments if they get them while running.

The advice was featured in a running guide distributed by Shoe Clinic NZ in a section advising women on where to run in Wellington, stuff.co.nz reported.

The advice under the heading 'Female Runners' said: 'Unfortunately it's the reality that, even in Wellington, women need to take extra care while running.

'Find a running club or regular running buddies (see the section on Wellington Running Clubs), wear loose-fitting clothing, run in the daytime in well-populated areas and interpret whistles as compliments (all the hard work is obviously paying off).'

A shoe retailer in New Zealand has come under fire for suggesting women should take wolf whistles as compliments if they get them while running (pictured)

Twitter user Anna Harcourt said it wasn't the company's place to tell runners to take 'whistles as compliments'

Twitter user Anna Harcourt posted an image of the guide captioned with: 'Yo Shoe Clinic NZ this paragraph in your Runner's Guide to Wgtn where you tell female runners to cover up is totally unnecessary + insulting.'

Ms Harcourt also said it was not the company's place to tell female runners to 'take whistles as compliments' and labelled whistles as 'creepy and lame'.

Other Twitter users agreed, with one woman commenting it was 'among the worst bits of advice she'd ever had'.

Another women said: 'I can't believe even [sic] having this conversation. Did Shoe Clinic apologise and withdraw all copies? Soooo bad.'

The advice was featured in a running guide distributed by Shoe Clinic NZ (pictured), in a section advising women on where to run in Wellington

Ms Harcourt also labelled people whistling at women who were running as 'creepy and lame'

She said she wasn't critical about the rest of the running guide, but felt this part didn't need to be included

The company apologised to Ms Harcourt via Twitter and said the guide had been taken off the shelves

Shoe Clinic NZ responded to Ms Harcourt's complaint and apologised.

'Thanks for letting us know. We've taken the guide off our shelves & fed back to the author. Sorry for any offence caused,' their tweet said.
Police are looking for a man aged between 43 and 47 years old matching this description after a woman was attacked in her bed

Police are hunting for a man who they say broke into a woman's house before sexually assaulting her as she slept.

Officers say the 21-year-old was attacked on December 17 about 12.55am while she was in bed at her home in Doubleview, a suburb of Perth in Western Australia.

During the assault the woman woke up and challenged her attacker, at which point he fled the house, detectives say.

The man is also accused of stealing from the property during the terrifying incident.

He is described as being between 43 and 47 years old with an olive complexion, with receding dark hair, facial stubble, of a small build and about 167cm tall.

Police have released a computer-generated impression of the suspect, and CCTV images of a man they wish to speak to in connection with the incident.

Anyone who can assist in identifying this man is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au
It is a daring rescue that looks like something out of a Hollywood movie.

Four crew members on a cargo ship had to be dramatically airlifted to safety after their vessel ran aground.

Four crew members on a cargo ship had to be dramatically airlifted to safety after their vessel ran aground

As a Hellenic Navy helicopter hovers over the rocky terrain off the coast of Greece, the top of the boat is only just staying above the crashing waves.

The stranded quartet wait on the top deck while a line is cast down from the chopper, while debris from the sunken part of the boat floats on the water.

But the water levels are getting higher and higher, with each wave now smashing up into the faces of those still on board

One by one, the crew is successfully pulled to safety in the skies via the cable

But the water levels are getting higher and higher, with each wave now smashing up into the faces of those still on board.
A police officer in Argentina who shot a suspected thief was attacked by a group of women close to the victim.

The incident, the aftermath of which was uploaded to YouTube, occurred last Saturday on a street in San Cayetano, according to local newspaper La Gaceta.

Police sources said that the young man was injured when he resisted arrest and attempted to attack police personnel.

The incident, the aftermath of which was uploaded to YouTube, occurred last Saturday on a street in San Cayetano

In the clip, a woman is heard screaming for someone to call an ambulance in order to attend the wounded.

Another woman demands that the face of the officer be filmed, as he tries to revive the young man lying on the floor while receiving blows and insults from the women.

In the midst of collective hysteria, other police intervene to stop the mob.

In the clip, a woman is heard screaming for someone to call an ambulance in order to attend the wounded man

According to the police report, the man was shot with a rubber bullet minutes after he had used a firearm of his own to rob a television cable supplier who was working in the area.

The victim reported the robbery at the local police station, and a patrol of agents went out in search of the assailant who, when identified, fled towards his house.
Seven migrants have been arrested after a homeless man was set on fire on Christmas Eve at a Berlin subway station.

The men, aged 15 to 21, are suspected of torching the victim as he slept on a platform bench at Schonleinstrae station.

Six of the suspects are Syrian and one is Lybian and an attempted murder investigation has been launched.

Schonleinstrae station, where the homeless man was set on fire as he slept on a platform bench

Thomas Neuendorf, the vice chief of the press office at Berlin Police, told Bild that detectives believe the 21-year-old to have been the main perpetrator.

He, along with his alleged accomplices, were arrested on yesterday.

After torching the homeless man, the suspected assailants hopped onto a train to make their getaway.

CCTV footage captured them watching and laughing as the man was burning on the platform.

It appeared they were celebrating, according to local press.

Remarkably, the victim escaped almost unscathed, thanks to the rapid intervention of several witnesses.

The man believed to be Stoykov, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, aims a targeted kick at her back, toppling her down the stairs

The attacker's three companions glance at the woman lying on the floor before leaving. One of them even leans down to pick up a beer bottle and then walks off

Svetoslav Stoykov (pictured), was identified as the prime suspect for the attack. He fled to France but was arrested on his arrival back in Berlin

The incident happened metres away from the spot a woman was kicked down the stairs of another subway station in the city.

A Bulgarian man is suspected of attacking the woman at Hermannstrae station - the next stop along from where the homeless man was set alight.

The attack, in October, was captured on video and when it went viral earlier this month the prime suspect, Svetoslav Stoykov, 27, fled to France, where he hid with relatives in Nice.

CCTV footage of the shocking attack, which showed a man kicking an unsuspecting woman down the stairs at an underground station while he casually smoked a cigarette while holding a bottle of beer, went around the world.

After the video went viral, a 2,000 (1,677) reward was offered by bodyguard Michael Kuehr, 54, who worked for Lady Gaga and Charlize Theron.

Under German criminal law, Stoykov could face anywhere from six months to 10 years in prison if convicted of having inflicted grievous bodily injury.

Although the motive for the most recent attack is not clear, Germany has been rocked by terror this year, heaping pressure on chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door immigration policy.

A bloody week of violence that rocked Germany began on July 18 when Pakistani teenager Riaz Khan Ahmadzai, 17, posing as an Afghan refugee, hacked at passengers on a train in Wurzburg with an axe, wounding five.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appears to have a lot on her mind as she awaits the arrival of EU Council President Donald Tusk outside the Federal chancellery for talks in the wake of the Brexit vote, in Berlin, Germany

He was shot dead by police.

Four days later mentally unstable German-Iranian teenager Ali Sonboly shot nine people dead during a rampage through a shopping centre in Munich before taking his own life.

Sonboly claimed he was taking revenge for being bullied at school with no political motive to the murderous rampage.

Earlier that month, a suspected ISIS airport bomb plotter hanged himself in a German prison after being arrested following a manhunt.

Syrian national Jaber al-Bakr, 22, was found hanged in his cell in Leipzig, eastern Germany on Wednesday evening - having reportedly used his own t-shirt - and was taken away overnight.

He was detained on Sunday after three days on the run following a tip-off that he may have been looking to team up with associates in Leipzig.

Al-Bakr had built 'a virtual bomb-making lab' in a flat in Chemnitz and was thought to have planned an attack against either one of Berlin's two airports or a transport hub in his home state of Saxony, security sources said.

Chemnitz was on lockdown for hours when police raided his flat but failed to seize him before he was captured by fellow Syrian nationals who tied him up and handed him over to the authorities.

And on Monday, December 19, Tunisian ISIS fanatic Anis Amri hijacked a 35-tonne truck and ploughed it into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.
Her mother says she is terrified that her daughter will be divorced

Now her parents have broken their silence on the fight in emotional interview

accused them of trying to break up her marriage to the boxer

Faryal Makhdoom's parents have revealed they are terrified champion boxer Amir Khan will divorce her due to the model's ongoing feud with his parents.

The tension between Faryal and her in-laws became public after she launched an astonishing Snapchat rant earlier this month accusing them of bullying her and trying to destroy her marriage.

Now her parents have broken their silence, admitting they have suffered sleepless nights over the feud as they worry their daughter will be cast aside.

Upset: Faryal Makhdoom's parents have revealed they are terrified boxer Amir Khan will divorce her due to the model's ongoing feud with his parents

'We have hearts, hearts that are broken when we hear such things. We are living in fear that at any moment our daughter will get divorced,' gushed Mrs Makhdoom.

The breakdown of a marriage is still considered a taboo in most Muslim communities.

Pakistani Faryal, 25, married Olympic silver medalist Khan, 30, in 2013. They have a two-year-old daughter Lamaisah.

His parents criticised her for 'adopting a dresscode which is not acceptable in the Islamic faith.'

She also said they considered her a 'bad Muslim' for baring skin and claims she was even cropped out of family photographs.

But Mrs Makhdoom defended her daughter, saying she was only trying to adjust to western life.

'My daughter went thousands of miles away,' she told Dunya News in her native Pakistan.

Traumatised: 'We are living in fear that at any moment our daughter will get divorced,' gushed Mrs Makhdoom

'I got her married in London and at a very young age because I wanted her to have her home, and they should accept her as well.

'Yes, I admit our lifestyle may have been different, very different, but she did try adjusting.

'For three and a half years she adjusted.'

In an emotionally charged plea, Mrs Makhdoom insisted that Khan's parents should accept their daughter-in-law.

'Please accept the girl as your own daughter. And please don't say such a word to any girl, to anyone's daughter.

'We are parents too. We are living in fear that at any moment our daughter will get divorced. May they always live happily.'

Pakistani Faryal, 23, married Olympic silver medalist Khan in 2012 at the age of 19. They have a two-year-old daughter Lamaisah

Earlier this month Amir's parents criticised Faryal on national television. His father said the pair were headed for divorce.

Mrs Makhdoom said: 'It was a very unpleasant thing to hear and it was very painful for me to find out that Amir's dad said this.

'Faryal would tell me this as well. They keep telling me there will be a divorce.

'I couldn't sleep that night. I kept wondering how Amir's father could say that. And as a father, a father of daughters, to say that.'

She continued: 'I would request all fathers of the world to never say this to anyone's daughter, to say she can get a divorce. Me and my husband, we couldn't sleep all night.

Internet star: Faryal has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and YouTube and has become a celebrity in her own right

Falling out: Amir Khan's glamorous wife Faryal fell out with his parents after three years of marriage

Much loved: Faryal does business in the US and Britain, and has posted selfies like these for her husband while they are apart

Amir's sister Mariyah Khan (right) with their mother Falak (left)

'We were just wondering why did he say that. I had to ask Amir, even he said "I don't know Aunty, I don't know why he said that." I request all parents to think of girls as our daughters.'

Faryal's father remained quiet, only saying: 'It's not the best for me to speak out on this.'

Her feud with his parents began when she accused her in-laws of trying to destroy their marriage in an explosive snapchat video.

She suggested that Khan's parents Falek and Shah had tried to break them up, adding that the family's treatment of her husband was 'disgusting'.

She claimed the 'abuse' took place while she was pregnant.

In the messages, Faryal, who made her catwalk debut last week, wrote: 'Don't get your sons married if you're going to abuse and bully the wife.

The parents of British boxer Amir Khan, Sajjad and Falak (pictured), have slammed his wife for wearing un-Islamic clothes and no headscarf

A family photo was cropped to take Faryal out and reposted on social media

She claims his parents criticised her for wearing racy clothes and showing off her body.

She then hit back by posting an embarrassing photograph of Amir's brother Haroon Khan half naked online, accusing them of hypocrisy.

Amir Khan begged his parents and wife to stop 'bashing one another' in public.

He said: 'I apologise for the silly picture and message my wife Faryal put up. Here is me working my ass off helping the less fortunate with charity dinners and my family and wife are just destroying my good name. I didn't want to get involved in this mess. There is NO reality television show.

'My parents are my parents and my wife is my wife. Whatever misunderstanding has happened they should keep it private. This is getting to the point where they will lose a son and a husband.
Mohammed Abdurezek, 31, pictured, was found dead after being stabbed, Avon and Somerset Police said

A murder inquiry has been launched after the body of a man was found on Christmas Eve morning.

Mohammed Abdurezek, 31, died of stab wounds in the village of Siston, south Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset Police said.

Forensic teams have been investigating the scene while officers have also been out speaking to locals to establish what happened.

According to his Facebook page, Mr Abdurezek worked for UK charity Refugee Action and had also been a student at Gower College in Swansea.

Detective Chief Inspector James Riccio, who is leading the inquiry, said: 'A full investigation is being carried out into the circumstances of this tragic incident in which a man has lost his life.

'As part of our inquiry we're releasing a photograph of Mr Abdurezek in the hope that someone may recognise him and recall having seen him during the past few days.

'While we're at an early stage, we're confident Mr Abdurezek was based in Bristol and had links to a number of other places across the UK, including Swansea and Newcastle.

'Did you know Mr Abdurezek? Do you know where he lived and who he lived with? If you did know him, when did you last see him?

He was found dead in the Gloucestershire village of Siston, pictured, on Christmas Eve

'If you have any information which could help us, or saw or heard anything suspicious in Siston in the 48 hours before his body was discovered, please call us. Every piece of information is important.'

Mr Riccio added: 'House-to-house inquiries have been carried out in the local area while specialist crime scene investigators have examined the location where his body was found.
This is the moment a ginger-bearded ISIS barbarian ordered the beheading of an elderly prisoner - after accusing him of being a wizard.

The extremist can be seen using a microphone to read out charges in a town square near Damascus in Syria.

Another photo shows a blindfolded pensioner - accused of being a 'sorcerer' - being held down over a wooden chopping block by two more fanatics.

Photos have emerged showing a ginger-bearded ISIS barbarian ordering the death of an elderly prisoner - after accusing him of being a wizard

A crowd of men and boys watch on as an executioner wielding a sword decapitates the prisoner.

The nationality of the jihadist reading out the charges is not yet known. He had reportedly accused the man of being a 'practitioner of magic'.

The photos were released by ISIS in a report called the 'Implementation of the law of Allah in the presence of Muslims'.

As is often the way with ISIS executions, the killing takes place in public in front of dozens of onlookers.

A third photo shows the corpse of the man with his severed head placed on his torso.

The blindfolded pensioner - accused of being a 'sorcerer' - is seen being held down over a wooden chopping block before being executed

According to Terror Monitor, the execution was carried out by the ISIS-affiliated Khalid Bin Al-Walid Army.

It emerged as the Syrian army escalated aerial bombing of a rebel-held valley northwest of Damascus.

An offensive was launched last week to recapture the strategic area where a major spring provides most of the capital's water supplies.
Two women held captive by separatist rebels in Ukraine who thought they were spies have been released.

Judge Anzhelika Presnyakova and journalist Olga Svorak were held by Russia-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since April 2014.

Svorak was locked up in 2015. It is not known how long Presnyakova was imprisoned for.

Judge Anzhelika Presnyakova (left) and journalist Olga Svorak (centre) were held by Russia-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since April 2014

Svorak was locked up in 2015. It is not know how long Presnyakova was imprisoned for

They were handed over to a representative of the Ukrainian group Officers Corps, which works to free war prisoners.

The release followed a meeting between rebel leaders and Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot released this year from a Russian prison after she was convicted of involvement in the deaths of two journalists.

Ahead of the release, the rebels said: 'As an act of goodwill, in the runup to the New Year and Christmas, we hand over two women - Anzhelika Presnyakova and Olga Svorak - to the Ukrainian people's representative Nadezhda Savchenko, without any terms set.'

The war between the rebels, who want their own state, and the Ukrainian government has killed more than 9,600 people.

Ukranian representative Volodymyr Ruban (right) cames to collect the two women
Hundreds of migrants are returning to squalid camps near the notorious Calais Jungle - just weeks after the sprawling shanty town was bulldozed, it has been claimed.

The vast encampment was razed in October with thousands of migrants transported around France to new official accommodation.

But there are now claims that up to six hidden camps, including a 'mini-Jungle', are beginning to increase in size in the countryside around the northern port.

Hundreds of refugees are returning to squalid camps near the notorious Calais Jungle - just weeks after the sprawling shanty town was bulldozed, it has been claimed.

The vast encampment was razed in October (pictured) with thousands of migrants transported around France to new official accommodation

Hundreds are said to have returned to the area - weeks after being rehoused in reception centres across the country.

One 'secret' camp has reportedly started growing at the rate of dozens a week near the village of Norrent-Fontes, not far from Calais, according to Mary Bulman for The Independent.

Although it has been in existence since 2008, numbers there have swollen to 130 while activists have described conditions as 'dire'.

Volunteers say several dozen have arrived at the camp, 45 miles from Calais, this week alone.

It is said to be situated up a dirt track leading from a lay-by often used by lorry drivers overnight as they make their way to Calais sparking fears the situation will be exploited by traffickers.

According to the Independent, refugee advocate Professor Sue Clayton from Goldsmith's University found the camp earlier in December.

She said: 'You see it through the trees and it's like a mini-Jungle.

Hundreds are said to have returned to the area - weeks after being rehoused in reception centres. Migrants are pictured at the Jungle in October as clearance got underway

'The shelters are put together with various bits of wood and tarpaulin  whatever they can grab. There is no support there. Theyve divided themselves up so theres a mens section and a women and childrens section.

'The authorities will find that more and more of these secret camps will pop up because these people are getting increasingly frustrated.'

She said many had simply made their way back from formal reception centres where they had been rehoused in October.

However, officials insist there are only three 'small' encampments in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais and say they have not recorded any increase in migrant arrivals.

A Nord-Pas-de-Calais prefecture spokesman said there had been no new camps established since the Jungle was destroyed.

France and Britain have tried to make the Calais site less attractive for migrants, erecting a wall that officials said earlier this month had been completed.

The 13-foot wall runs along a 0.6-mile stretch of the main road leading to Calais port, next to the area that used to house the sprawling camp.
A man has been stabbed to death in broad daylight just yards from one of London's biggest tourist attractions.

The victim, thought to have been in his 30s, was discovered in Adelaide Street, near Trafalgar Square, this morning.

The road is located behind the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields church on the corner of the London landmark.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the scene shortly after 7.30am today by paramedics who tried to save him.

A man was found stabbed to death in Adelaide Street, near Trafalgar Square, this morning

But sadly the man, who is yet to be formally identified, was pronounced dead at the scene an hour later.

William IV Street was also blocked off earlier as investigators tried to establish what happened to the man, according to Westminster Police.

A spokesman for The Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers from Westminster CID are investigating together with colleagues from the homicide and major crime command.

'At this very early stage, there has been no arrest and inquiries are under way to establish the full circumstances.'

A post mortem examination will take place shortly.
A sick video shows how Russian shift workers cruelly mowed down a brown bear with two trucks before battering it to death the a crowbar.

The animal was exhausted and unable to flee, after apparently failing to hibernate.

This can make the bears extremely aggressive, and in a heated social media debate in Russia, some argued that the predator could have been a threat to locals.

Warning: Disturbing content.

The mobile phone footage shows one Ural truck chase the exhausted bear, which had been unable to hibernate, in a snow field

But others complained the shift workers had chosen an unduly cruel method to kill the bear, and some suspected the animal had been awoken in its den and taunted.

The minister of Nature Protection Yakutia, the largest region in Russia, Sakhamin Afanasiev, said: 'I have ordered the hunting department to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action.

'We will announce the results of the check.'

The mobile phone footage shows one Ural truck chase the exhausted bear in a snow field.

The truck driver runs over the bear then pulls back again.

'Even after such torture the bear was still alive - and humbly awaits its fate,' reported The Siberian Times.

'It tried to escape, but then a second Ural lorry ran over the ailing animal.

'Trapped under two front wheels, the workers finish it off with a crowbar to the head.'

Critics slammed the killing of the bear.

'Sadists, mentally ill people. It's disgusting, just horrible. More than this, they boast about their actions. Bastards, just filthy,' said one social media commenter.

A local insisted the bear was moving 'slowly, sluggishly' indicating they had driven it from its den 'just for fun'

The bear's body being crushed under the truck sparked outrage on social media

Yucatan said: 'I would love to do the same to these b*******. They should not kill this way.

'They should not torture. The bear is a mystical creature, revengeful.'

But another local insisted the bear was moving 'slowly, sluggishly' indicating they had driven it from its den 'just for fun'.
A supposed witch doctor accused of caught trying to bury evil charms under the homes of his rivals was slashed with sticks and paraded naked around his village in a wheelbarrow.

Suspect Gabon Iyiaka was seized by locals in his Ehime Mbano community, in Imo State, in southern Nigeria, where they dished out a bit of local justice.

Instead of handing him over to the police, Iyiaka was stripped naked, thrashed with tree branches and paraded around the village in a wheelbarrow.

Pictured in the wheelbarrow with a stick used to beat him across his lap is suspect Gabon Iyiaka being carted around by locals

Suspect Gabon Iyiaka in visible pain as he is carted around in the wheelbarrow around the village

The supposed witch doctor, pictured here with a bruised eye in the wheelbarrow, is accused of caught trying to bury evil charms under the homes of his rivals

Local reports say he was caught in the home of politician Chief Marcel 'Marley' Nnodim with evil charms.

They say the suspect was already waiting a local elders' trial after being caught in the chief's house just weeks earlier.

Iyiaka told his accusers he had been ordered to plant the charms by a 'holy spirit.'

But one local social media user named as 'C IG Iwunze' said: 'This man is evil right from my childhood. He deserve no pity.

'Thank God today is my village market day, you can guess what the youths are doing with him in the market.
Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a 'criminal investigation' over bribery and fraud claims after police were handed new documents in the case, it has emerged.

Police have been looking into allegations made about the Israeli Prime Minister for the last nine months and have now asked permission to launch a full probe.

The 67-year-old has denied the 'nonsense' claims, which he says have surfaced in an attempt to 'bring his downfall'.

Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a 'criminal investigation' over bribery and fraud claims, it has emerged

But detectives have applied for the go ahead to investigate from Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and want to start a formal probe into alleged bribe-taking and aggravated fraud, according to Haaretz.

This is said to relate to alleged donations.

Police are said to have received new documents in the case and believe a full criminal investigation will be opened in the next few days, according to the Times of Israel.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister told Haaretz: 'Its all nonsense. Since Netanyahus victory in the last elections and even before, hostile elements have used heroic efforts to attempt to bring about his downfall, with false accusations against him and his family.

'This [latest attempt] is absolutely false. There was nothing and there will be nothing.'

Police have been looking into allegations made about the Israeli Prime Minister for the last nine months and have now asked permission to launch a full probe

Detectives are also said to be looking into allegations Mr Netanyahu accepted 850,000 from French businessman Arnaud Mimran, who is in jail for carrying out a carbon-tax fraud.

The Independent reports that Mimran claimed during his own trial that he had donated the money to Mr Netanyahu during the Israeli election campaign seven years ago. Mr Netanyahu has denied the claims.

Mimran claimed to have donated the money to Mr Netanyahu during the 2009 Israeli election campaign - something the politician has consistently denied.
Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, said it was 'idiotic' to

International Development Secretary Priti Patel

Billions of pounds put aside for foreign aid has not been spent.

The Government, which allocated around 12.2billion this year to help other countries, is said to have run out of ways to allocate the funds.

Around 5 billion of taxpayer's money is thought to have not been spent by the Department for International Development. It will be put aside for future projects instead, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley told the newspaper it was 'idiotic'.

He said: 'It goes to show how idiotic it is to guarantee a certain amount of money each year. We should be looking after our own elderly and vulnerable here before sending it abroad.'

According to its latest accounts, the Department for International Development had spent 9,886million in the year to July 2016.

Thirty eight per cent of its budget was spent on 'multilateral' programmes, such as the United Nations, and 62 per cent was spent on bilateral programmes.

Since 2011, the amount of money spent on foreign aid has increased by 3.7billion from 8.6billion.

The DfID also said in its accounts it beat its targets set out for 2011 to 2015 by supporting 69.5 million people, including 36.4 million women, to gain access to financial services, helping 11.3 million children in primary and lower secondary education (of which 5.3 million were girls) and supporting 64.5 million people to access clean water, better sanitation or improved hygiene conditions through its WASH programmes.

The DfID said it has beaten its targets set out for 2011 to 2015 which included helping millions of people access clean water and education

Earlier this year, the G7 awarded Britain five 'cherry blossom' badges  the highest accolade  for its aid performance.

A DfID spokesperson said: 'Whether its delivering essential supplies to millions of Syrians suffering from the harrowing conflict, saving Iraqi lives in the face of Daesh brutality or helping the vulnerable in the wake of a natural disaster, Britain is a world leader in responding to the immediate needs of the world's poorest people.
A children's home care worker has been fired after an alleged affair with an underage girl she looked after.

Kasia Koziara, 37, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, was sacked by Edinburgh City Council after being accused of starting an inappropriate relationship with the troubled schoolgirl.

She also boasted about her relationship with the girl on social media, it is claimed.

The mother-of-one now faces a police probe.

Kasia Koziara, 37, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, was sacked by Edinburgh City Council after being accused of starting an inappropriate relationship with the troubled schoolgirl

It is thought the affair came to light when CCTV evidence showed Koziara and the girl were together when the teenager was reported missing from the home and police had been called to look for her.

A disciplinary procedure began and Koziara was suspended from the council immediately.

She had previously been transferred from another home after colleagues became worried about a boy in her care, the Daily Record reported.

Kozaria was suspended immediately after she left the home with the youngster

A council source said: 'Concerns had been raised in the past about Koziara's relationship with another teenager. She was moved twice before she met the girl.

'She has admitted to this being a sexual relationship. This was a vulnerable, underage girl she was supposed to be looking after.'

Koziara could not be reached for comment.

The council said it would be inappropriate to comment on 'the circumstances surrounding this staff member's departure'.

A spokesman for Police Scotland told the Daily Record: 'We are assessing all information in relation to this matter, including a report submitted by the Scottish Social Services Council.
Photos have emerged of the pit bull who officials say was killed by its owner's neighbor in California over the weekend after the dog attacked the poodle who lived nearby.

Rudy Jesus Barajas, 30, was arrested in Riverside on Saturday and charged with animal cruelty after officials say he slit the two-year-old pit bull's throat when it attacked his ten-month-old poodle, named Spunky.

The incident that left two pets dead occurred at around 9.45am on Saturday in the 4900 block of Hollyhock Lane in Riverside, where investigators say a woman came out of her house and found her pit bull, Devo, holding a neighbor's poodle in its mouth by the neck.

Devo the pit bull (pictured above)had his throat on Saturday morning by who officials say is his owner's neighbor. The incident happened after Devo attacked the neighbor's poodle, officials say

The incident that left two pets dead occurred at around 9.45am on Saturday in the 4900 block of Hollyhock Lane in Riverside, California. Pictured above, Devo the pit bull

The poodle's owner, Barajas, and two other neighbors attempted to rescue the ten-month-old pooch, Spunky, but it was too late.

After the pit bull finally released the poodle, Animal Services officials say Barajas grabbed the pit bull and dragged it to his home across the street, where he slit the animal's throat with a knife, reported CBS Los Angeles.

Rudy Jesus Barajas, 30, was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty following the incident

The mortally wounded pit bull then ran back to its home and collapsed at the feet of his owner. The woman rushed Devo to a veterinarian, but the dog succumbed to its injuries on the way.

Devo's owner, Carina Garcia, says she cannot forgive her neighbor for what he did to her dog.

'Maybe an apology wouldn't hurt because I think I owe them an apology too because of what my dog did to them,' she told NBC4.

Barajas' stepfather, Raul Romero, came to the man's defense, arguing that the poodle 'was in its rightful property when the pit bull entered the yard and attacked.'

Romero also claimed that Devo the pit bull had attempted to bite his stepson as Barajas struggled to pry Spunky from its maw.

The pit bull eventually released the poodle, but the puppy suffered a serious injury and died a short time later.

Barajas' mother, Sandra Romero, told The Press Enterprise of her son that he is not a violent person and that he was acting in self-defense because the pit bull was vicious.

Devo's owner, Carina Garcia, says she cannot forgive her neighbor for what he did to her dog and wants an apology

But Riverside County Animal services said that Garcia could also be cited in the incident because her dog was not on a leash

Under state law, a homeowner has the right to protect himself and his pet when attacked by another animal, but the willful killing of an animal can result in felony charges.

An investigator with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services has concluded that the killing of the pit bull was not defensive because the dog had already released the poodle.

Also, by dragging the 2-year-old pit bull into his house and allegedly slashing its throat, Rudy Barajas only prolonged the incident.

Animal Services officer Robert Morals wrote in an incident report he believed Barajas killed Devo 'out of spite'.

Barajas was released from jail on Sunday after posting $10,000 bond. He is due back in court on February 23.

Riverside County Animal services said that Garcia could also be cited in the incident because her dog was not on a leash.
A man killed after being 'battered by a bodybuilder' in an attack in Scotland has been named by police as 43-year-old Tommy Roberts.

Mr Roberts died in hospital after the assault in north Glasgow in the early hours of Christmas Day.

A murder investigation has since been launched by police while a 50-year-old man who was also injured in the attack and taken to hospital has now been released.

Mr Roberts 'shattered' daughter Brooklyn took to social media to pay tribute to her father and said 'heaven had gained another angel'.

Tommy Roberts, 43, pictured left, died after a Christmas Day attack in north Glasgow, and his daughter Brooklyn, 19, right, said 'heaven has gained another angel' in a moving tribute to her father

It is believed Mr Roberts' head was 'smashed against the ground' repeatedly and he was 'screaming for help' as he was dragged away by the attacker before being 'dumped in a puddle'.

Miss Roberts posted a photo of her father on Facebook and wrote: ' Worst news was waking up on Christmas morning to find out my dad had been found dead outside late this morning.

'All I can say is heaven has gained another angel, I love you so much dad fly high.'

According to the Sun, police actually attended Mr Roberts' home a few hours before he was found dead due to a 'three-hour row'.

But it was claimed the situation 'calmed down' after Miss Roberts left the home.

Police cordoned off the scene in Ashgill Road in Saracen, Glasgow, after finding Mr Roberts severely injured at around 4am on Christmas Day

Residents said the violence was started after one of the victims let his dog out in the back court of flats in Ashgill Road, Milton, Glasgow, according to the Daily Record.

Witnesses said the victims were screaming as they were battered by a 'bodybuilder', who hit the 43-year-old's head into the ground, and heard him saying: 'Scream all you like. Nobody can hear you. Shout it louder. Tell them you're not coming back. Tell them you'll not be back.'

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the Record: ' Its beyond horrific. The victim was screaming for help and no one came. He was being attacked by a much bigger man, a bodybuilder.'

Neighbours were said to have been 'frightened' to call the police during the incident because they feared retaliation from the attacker.

Officers arrived at the scene in Ashgill Road, Saracen, at 4am on Christmas Day after receiving reports of a disturbance.

Mr Roberts was found severely injured and was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he later died.

Witnesses in the area said a 'bodybuilder' launched the attack on Mr Roberts and a friend and 'smashed his head into the ground'. Forensic teams have been conducting inquiries, pictured

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone of the Police Scotland Major Investigation Team said:

'My officers continue to speak to local residents in the area in an attempt to gather more information to establish the circumstances of this disturbing incident.

'I urge anyone who has even the slightest bit of information, and who has not already spoken to police, to contact us immediately via 101.'

DCI Livingstone added Mr Roberts' family have been 'shattered' by the news.

Another man, 50, was also found injured and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment.

His condition was described as stable and he has since been released.

The friend, 50, was injured in the incident but has since been released from hospital. Police have been speaking to neighbours and urged any witnesses to come forward

Detectives are appealing for information from the local community in an effort to identify who is responsible, and have been carrying out a number of inquiries in the local area which includes accessing public and private CCTV and speaking to local residents.

A spokesman for the police confirmed no arrests have yet been made.

DCI Livingstone added: 'This was a violent attack on two men in the early hours of Christmas Day, which has sadly culminated in the death of a 43 year old man.

'I would like to speak to anyone who was in the vicinity of Ashgill Road at the time of the incident to come forward.

'This area is highly residential, and I am confident that there will be people who may have heard the disturbance or who may have witnessed it that we haven't yet spoken to.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Livingstone is urging witnesses to come forward and speak to police about the incident

'I would urge these people to speak to police. A man has lost his life following a sustained attack on Christmas Day, and his family and friends have been left shattered.

'Understandably, local residents in the area will be shocked and concerned however I would like to take this opportunity to reassure them that we are working hard to identify who is responsible.

'We have additional police officers in the area to provide reassurance and I would ask anyone with concerns to speak to an officer.
After more than four years of brutal street fighting and punishing aerial bombardments, an apparent clean up of Aleppo has begun.

Syrian government workers arrived with tractors in the formerly rebel-held Shaar district, on Tuesday, to begin moving the rubble that blocks roads.

The Syrian Army announced on December 22 that 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.

Tens of thousands of homes and apartments are uninhabitable after the fighting, while most factories have been looted or destroyed and some ancient landmarks have been reduced to rubble.

A tractor removes rubble as the Syrian government starts to clean up areas formerly held by opposition forces in the northern city of Aleppo

The 'clean up' began on December 27 - five days after the Syrian army announced it had recaptured the former rebel stronghold of east Aleppo

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.

In recent months, rebels rapidly lost ground in Aleppo as President 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.

Tens of thousands of homes and apartments are uninhabitable after almost four years of fighting in eastern Aleppo

Reconstruction of eastern Aleppo would likely take years and cost tens of billions of dollars, experts say

Aleppo 'resembles those cities that were stricken during World War II,' said Maamoun Abdul-Karim, head of the government's museums and archaeology department

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.

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.

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, an urban consultant said

Tractors are pictured clearing rubble near a bridge in the Shaar district

Before the war, close to 5,000 small and mid-sized enterprises had industrial licenses in Aleppo

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 red zones in the heat map show 100 per cent destruction of residential buildings in Aleppo. Orange is 40 per cent and yellow is 20 per cent downwards.

Red Cross workers hold back desperate civilians from East Aleppo on December 20

Civilians from East Aleppo, which was under siege by Assad regime forces, wait for their evacuation at Amerriye region of Aleppo on December 20

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.'
The livery driver whose car crash killed CBS News reporter Bob Simon is refusing to hand over medical records about his suicide attempt that left him with a limp right arm.

Reshad Abdul Fedahi was driving Simon in February of last year when his Lincoln rear-ended a Mercedes-Benz stopped at a red light and then slammed into the metal barriers separating lanes as they were heading southbound on Manhattan's West Side Highway.

Simon suffered serious head injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Fedahi sued the couple that was driving in the Mercedes after he was initially sued by Simon's widow for wrongful death.

Reshad Abdul Fedahi (left) was driving CBS News reporter Bob Simon (right) in February of last year when he rear-ended a Mercedes on Manhattan's West Side Highway, killing Simon

The couple, Ellen Sontag-Miller and Zachary Miller, is now asking a Manhattan court to throw out the lawsuit filed by Fedahi because he will not turn over medical records about his suicide attempt, according to The New York Post.

In 2005, Fedahi unsuccessfully tried to kill himself by jumping out of a four-story building in Brooklyn.

The attempt left him with an incapacitated right arm.

The couple is claiming that Fedahi should never have been allowed to drive due to his condition.

A shot of the mangled Lincoln (above) which Fedahi was driving when it grazed the Mercedes and veered into the lane divider near West 30th Street in Manhattan on February 11, 2015

The 60 Minutes correspondent was found unconscious with head and torso injuries.

He was taken to Mount Sinai-Roosevelt Hospital in the city where he was later pronounced dead.

Simon was 73 years old when he died.

Fedahi suffered a fractured ankle and head injuries.

Fedahi's black car service company was sued by Simon's widow after law enforcement concluded that his reckless driving was to blame for the accident.

The driver, who emigrated to the United States from Afghanistan, was also found to have numerous driving violations on his record.

His license was suspended nine times because he had ignored fines and summonses.

Simon, 73, was an accomplished reporter. He is seen on the left after his release from an Iraqi prison in 1991. On the right, he is seen on a helicopter during the Vietnam War.

Simon's family sued Fedahi and his former employer, Skyline Credit Ride, but the car service company said earlier this year that Simon was at fault because he was not wearing a seat belt.

In August, an attorney for the Simon family accused the company of destroying evidence after it was learned that the leather bench seat on which the reporter was sitting during the crash had mysteriously gone missing.

Simon was an accomplished journalist and a recognizable face of television news.
A six-year-old boy whose parents were killed by three masked men during an armed robbery on Christmas Eve told police 'ninjas' killed his family, police said.

Danielle Brooks, 32, and Christopher Brooks, 38, were found with gunshot wounds in their Anchorage, Alaska, home at 4pm on Saturday.

Police are still on the hunt for Lamarkus Jayquann Mann, 22, who is considered armed and dangerous. Jaylyn Franklin has been arrested, while a third suspect, De Anthony Malik Harris, is in the hospital, CBS reported.

Danielle Brooks, 32, and Christopher Brooks, 38, were found with gunshot wounds in their Anchorage, Alaska, home at 4pm on Saturday

The suspects, who knew Christopher Brooks (left), planned to rob the couple, police said. Pictured right, Danielle Brooks

Their six-year-old son told police: 'Ninjas came to my home and killed my family.' He also said the masked men told him to go to his room

The couple's six-year-old son told police: 'Ninjas came to my home and killed my family.' He said the masked men also told him to go to his room.

The boy is now in the care of his grandmother Debra Brooks, who told KTVA: 'He's having nightmares about ninjas. Its unfair because hes gotta grow up without a mother and a father.'

The suspects, who knew Christopher Brooks, planned to rob the couple, police said.

Franklin, who was arrested and charged with murder, robbery, burglary and tampering with evidence, initially told police he was walking with Harris when they came across a man who was shot.

He later gave police a different account and said they met Mann, who asked if they wanted to make money, according to an affidavit cited by CBS.

Mann said Christopher Brooks was expecting him to go to his house later that day, and another unnamed man drove the three suspects part of the way there, according to the affidavit.

Franklin said they covered their faces with t-shirts before entering the home, where Mann 'began demanding drugs and money', according to the affidavit.

Police are still on the hunt for Lamarkus Jayquann Mann, 22, (pictured) who is considered armed and dangerous

Jaylyn Franklin (pictured) who was arrested and charged with murder, robbery, burglary and tampering with evidence, said they met Mann, who asked if they wanted to make money

Police said Mann shot Danielle Brooks first, and they arrived at the 4100 block of Peterkin Avenue to find her dead at the scene.

Mann and Christopher Brooks struggled over the gun, and Harris tried to jump in and help, according to police and court documents. Both Harris and Christopher Brooks were shot in the process.

Christopher Brooks managed to exit the home, and police arrived to find him collapsed outside. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.

The robbers fled the scene in a Honda Ridgeline, according to court documents, and Mann has a warrant out for his arrest for murder, robbery and burglary.

Franklin, who admitted to deleting text messages regarding the double homicide, was charged with two counts of murder and one count of robbery, burglary, and tampering with evidence.

Harris was also charged with murder, robbery and burglary, according to court documents cited by the Alaska Dispatch News. He was in the hospital being treated for a gunshot wound, according to the affidavit.

Anyone with information should call Anchorage Police at 786-8900 or Crime Stoppers at 561-STOP.
US President Barack Obama has attacked the British Labour party claiming they have lost touch with reality and are obsessed by conspiracy theories.

President Obama, who is currently on a Christmas break on Hawaii is in the final three weeks of his administration.

The outgoing-Democratic president said he did not fear the 'Corbynisation' of his party following Hillary Clinton's shock defeat in November's election.

US president Barack Obama, pictured, claimed the UK Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership has moved away from consensus and towards conspiracy theorists

Mr Obama, pictured here in February 2008, gave an interview to political strategist David Axelrod, right, who assisted with the then Senator's first presidential election campaign

He compared the Democratic Party with what happened following Ed Miliband's defeat in the 2015 UK General Election and the unexpected rise of Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Obama sat down with political strategist David Axelrod, who advised Ed Miliband during his doomed election campaign, in an interview carried in The Guardian.

Mr Obama said he did not think the Democratic Party would 'disintegrate' following Mrs Clinton's defeat: 'I don't worry about that, partly because I think the Democratic Party has stayed pretty grounded in fact and reality.'

He said even US left-wing senator Bernie Sanders was 'pretty centrist' compared with Mr Corbyn.

Mr Obama also seemed to compare Labour to the Republicans, saying the US party 'started filling up with all kinds of conspiracy-theorising that became kind of common wisdom or conventional wisdom within the Republican party base. That hasn't happened in the Democratic Party.

'I think people like the passion that Bernie brought, but Bernie Sanders is a pretty centrist politician relative to ... Corbyn or relative to some of the Republicans.'

However, Mr Corybn's spokesman dismissed President Obama's criticisms, suggesting the opposition leader represented what most voters wanted and was 'grounded in reality'.

Mr Axelrod, right, advised former Labour leader Ed Miliband ahead of the 2015 election

Jeremy Corybn's spokesman dismissed President Obama's criticism claiming the opposition leader was 'grounded in reality' and is in favour of policies that most people in Britain want

He said: 'Both Labour and US Democrats will have to challenge power if they are going to speak for working people and change a broken system that isn't delivering for the majority.

'What Jeremy Corbyn stands for is what most people want: to take on the tax cheats, create a fairer economy, fund a fully public NHS, build more homes, and stop backing illegal wars.

'For the establishment, those ideas are dangerous. For most people in Britain, they're common sense and grounded in reality.'

Mr Corbyn also received the support of left-wing film-maker Ken Loach who described Labour MPs who oppose the leader as a 'bunch of political losers'.

In a letter to The Guardian, Mr Loach criticised MPs he said should be labelled right-wing rather than moderate.

He wrote: 'Any disarray or disunity in the party is the responsibility of those MPs. They attack Corbyn and John McDonnell day after day, refusing to promote party policy on jobs, housing, transport or the NHS, the core concerns of those they should represent.

'They offer no support, in parliament or outside. Worst of all, they show contempt for the hundreds of thousands of new members, mainly Corbyn supporters, who have made Labour the largest political party in Europe.
Donald Trump plans to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear missile push by building up America's own stockpile, threatening a reboot of the arms race that ended with the collapse of the Iron Curtain.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Bob Woodward said Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe that 'Trump believes, at least according to Gen. [Mike] Flynn' - his national security adviser that 'premise one is: let's be tough, let's be strong, let's build up, and then negotiate with Putin in a way that he thinks Obama has not.'

'This is years of work to build up the nuclear deterrents that this country has,' Woodward said. 'And, I think, you know, if you ask Trump, he would say, yeah, thats Job No. 1.'

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Donald Trump plans to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear missile push by building up America's own stockpile. 'Trump believes, at least according to Gen. Flynn' - his national security adviser that 'premise one is: let's be tough, let's be strong, let's build up'

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Bob Woodward qouted Flynn Tuesday on MSNBC's Morning Joe

Channeling the president-elect, Woodward said the incoming commander in chief's likely response would be, 'We have got to do that. Its going to be very expensive, going to be very controversial.'

'So, keep our seat belts on, once again,' Woodward assessed.

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.

Trump suggested Thursday that the U.S. needed more nuclear weapons after Putin said his country needed to 'strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems.'

The president-elect raised the stakes on a potential new nuclear buildup Friday morning, telling Morning Joe host Mika Brzezinski that he would welcome a costly, new expansion of the United States' stockpile if rival nations take steps toward proliferation.

He tried to cool tensions with Russia later that day, revealing that Putin wrote him 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' as he and the foreign leader engaged 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 offered warm personal greetings, as well as a call for acting together in a 'constructive and pragmatic manner.'

Trump suggested Thursday that the U.S. needed more nuclear weapons after Putin said his country needed to 'strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems'

'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.

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.

Among other things, Trump has called for joint U.S.-Russian efforts against ISIS. Russia has been aiding Syrian President Bashar Assad's military, which has overrun rebel forces in Aleppo in recent weeks.

'Flynn said last night that there's a kind of mythology about the relationship between Trump and Putin,' Woodward said today on Morning Joe. 'Clearly Trump has said some very nice things. Putin has said some nice things.

'Are they going to be friendly adversaries? Are the going to be able to do tings that are in the United States' and Russia's interest that don't throw these other countries over the side? I suspect that's the goal.'

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' in the letter that arrived as the two leaders squared off in public about an arms race

The president-elect's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, appeared on Morning Joe Friday to defend Trump's tweet from the previous day that said the U.S. should 'expand its nuclear capability.'

During a commercial break for the show, Spicer put Trump on the phone with co-host Brzezinski. When the show came back on air, co-host Joe Scarborough asked Brzezinski what Trump had told her.

'The president-elect told you what?' Scarborough said.

'Let it be an arms race, we will outmatch them at every pass,' Trump had responded.

'And outlast them all,' Scarborough interjected.

'And outlast them all,' Brzezinski said.

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 was a prominent player in the U.S. elections, with American intelligence agencies saying the Kremlin was behind hacking of Democrats and Democratic groups, and the CIA and FBI reportedly saying the purpose of the hacks was to benefit Trump.

YULETIDE PERIL: MSNBC Cohost Mika Brzenski revealed Trump's about a new nuclear arms race on Friday's episode of 'Morning Joe'

Trump took heat during the presidential campaign for his frequent praise of Putin, including hailing him as a stronger leader than President Obama. The president-elect is pictured with Flynn last week at his Mar-a-Lago property

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 tweeted from his Mar-a-Lago resort last Thursday, just a day after meeting key Pentagon leaders, some of whom are charged with overseeing the nation's nukes: 'The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.'

The comments came after 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.

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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his annual news conference in Moscow that Trump's comment was 'nothing special'

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.'

Trump spokesman 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

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, according to a Reuters report.

'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.

Woodward suggested Tuesday that Trump's comments were aimed at China, as well as Russia.

'China's doing the same thing Russia's been doing. Building up, more missiles, much more aggressive. So the concern is not just Russia but China, very much,' the Washington Post reporter said. 'How Russia and China play off each other...that's the unknown.'

Trump, he said, is lifting from Ronald Reagan's playbook. 'Reagan was tough, spent a vast amount of money on the military build-up,' a move Woordward noted that people questioned at the time.

'It scared the bejesus out of the Soviets, and Gorbachev,' he said, referring to the final Soviet head, Mikhail Gorbachev. 'The Soviet Union went away as we know it.'

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 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.
An Austrian cardinal tipped to become the next Pope has warned that Europe's migrant influx 'goes beyond our capacities and possibilities'.

The Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schoenborn, said an 'unbelievable number' of refugees had come to Europe causing him to 'rethink' his stance on the issue.

Cardinal Schoenborn called for more support for nations in Africa and the Middle East, in the hope that migrants 'could live in their homeland again', it has been reported.

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The Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schoenborn, has warned that Europe's migrant influx 'goes beyond our capacities and possibilities'

The 71-year-old, one of the favourites to become the next Pope, said he had become 'more cautious' in his attitude to migration.

Schoenborn also referred to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phrase 'Wir schaffen das' ('We will manage it') - relating to the mass influx of refugees - as he added: 'We have had to learn: This goes beyond our capacities and possibilities.'

It is not the first time the Roman Catholic cardinal has made headlines for his controversial remarks.

In September, he warned that Europe faces its biggest threat from Islam since the 17th century.

He was speaking at the Holy Name of Mary festival on Sunday which dates back to 1683 when it was first held in gratitude for the victory of the Austrian Habsburg Empire over the Ottoman Turks.

Cardinal Schoenborn called for more support for nations in Africa and the Middle East, in the hope that migrants 'could live in their homeland again', it has been reported

He reportedly said at the time: 'Will there be an Islamic conquest of Europe? Many Muslims want that and say: Europe is at the end.'

He asked God to have mercy on Europe and said the continent was 'in danger of forfeiting our Christian heritage'.

In a comment which was seen as being an endorsement of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party Cardinal Schoenborn said people were seeing their loss 'not only economically, but above all, in human and religious matters'.




An Instagram account where beautiful Israeli soldiers show off their sexy snaps has attracted tens of thousands of followers.

All Jewish Israeli citizens are required to complete national service at the age of 18  including girls, who must serve a minimum of two years in the armed forces.

But although they have to deal with heavy weaponry and gruelling training, the girls are not afraid to show off their fun, playful side, posting sexy snaps of them sunning themselves in bikinis or posing in their underwear.

Pictures of the women, mostly in their late teens and early twenties, posing in their military uniform are juxtaposed with their bikini pictures on the Instagram page dedicated to attractive female Israeli soldiers .

The Hot Israeli Army Girls page already has more than 34,500 followers, and features pictures of more than 2,000 different stunning soldiers.

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The Hot Israeli Army Girls page dedicated to beuatiful female soldiers already has more than 34,500 followers

The Instagram fan page features pictures of more than 2,000 different stunning soldiers

Pictures of the women posing in their military uniform are juxtaposed with their bikini pictures

All Jewish Israeli citizens are required to complete national service at the age of 18, and some of the women will end up in frontline roles

Although the women have familiarise themselves with heavy weaponry and gruelling training, they are not afraid to show off their fun, playful side

Israeli girls must serve at least two years in the armed forces, but these women are showing that it doesn't stop them having fun

Many of the sexy snaps shared online by the women themselves shoe them sunning themselves in bikinis or posing in their underwear

The women pictured on the account are mostly in their late teens and early twenties

The Instagram account encourages followers to send in pictures of beautiful female troops

Compulsory national service explains why so many young and beautiful women have chosen a military career

The girls spend their days in the army at the same age their British counterparts may be studying at university
At the time of the interview Michael had not yet come out of the

'The tragedy of fame is when no one shows up and you're singing to the cleaning lady in some empty joint,' wrote Sinatra in his letter to Michael

He also spoke about struggling with fame and not wanting to be 'another cliche'

Michael said in the interview that the success of his 1987 album Faith and the subsequent tour left him on the verge of an 'emotional

Frank Sinatra wrote George Michael a letter shortly after the pop star complained about the pitfalls of fame in an interview.

'Come on, George. Loosen up. Swing, man,' wrote Sinatra.

'Dust off those gossamer wings and fly yourself to the moon of your choice and be grateful to carry the baggage we've all had to carry since those lean nights of sleeping on buses and helping the driver unload the instruments.'

This was in response to the 1990 interview Michael gave to the Los Angeles Times in which he revealed that the massive success of his 1987 album Faith and the subsequent tour had left him on the verge of an 'emotional breakdown.'

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Speaking out: Frank Sinatra (left) wrote an open letter to George Michael (right) after he complained about dealing with fame in a 1990 interview

Thoughts: 'The tragedy of fame is when no one shows up and you're singing to the cleaning lady in some empty joint,' wrote Sinatra in his letter (above) to Michael

He went on to say in that interview: 'I'm not stupid enough to think that I can deal with another 10 or 15 years of major exposure. I think that is the ultimate tragedy of fame.

'People who are simply out of control, who are lost. I've seen so many of them, and I don't want to be another cliche.'

Sinatra dismissed most of Michael's complaints in his open letter after the publication of the article.

'And no more of that talk about "the tragedy of fame". The tragedy of fame is when no one shows up and you're singing to the cleaning lady in some empty joint that hasn't seen a paying customer since Saint Swithin's day,' wrote Sinatra.

'And you're nowhere near that; you're top dog on the top rung of a tall ladder called Stardom, which in Latin means thanks-to-the-fans who were there when it was lonely.'

Tough time: Michael said in a 1990 interview (above) that the success of his album Faith and the subsequent tour left him on the verge of an 'emotional breakdown'

At the time Michael had not only commercial success but also critical acclaim, having just picked up the Grammy for Album of the Year for Faith.

What Sinatra, and most of Michael's fans, did not realize however was that he was also struggling with the fact that he was a gay man in the industry and there was the possibility that he could lose everything if he came out of the closet.

Michael would not reveal he was gay until eight years after the Los Angeles Times interview.

Sinatra seemed to be commenting less on Michael's public image however than his talent.

'Talent must not be wasted. Those who have it - and you obviously do or today's Calendar cover article would have been about Rudy Vallee - those who have talent must hug it, embrace it, nurture it and share it lest it be taken away from you as fast as it was loaned to you,' wrote Sinatra.
Ms Braendler and Ms Drowley were also fined $8,500 and other costs

They each pleaded guilty to ill-treating animals on June 3 earlier this year

Pair were said to have up to 90 animals living in their house in squalid conditions

Two women have been fined and banned from owning animals for the next three years after up to 90 animals were found living in terrible conditions in a filthy house.

Samantha Braendler, 42, and Kirsty Drowley, 40, appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court last week after the RSPCA found a number of animals in their Elizabeth Downs house in Adelaide, Adelaide Now reported.

The animals, some of which were pregnant, included dogs, birds, cats, galahs, guinea pigs, chickens, rabbits and a snake.

Two women have been fined and banned from owning animals for the next three years after up to 90 animals were found living in terrible conditions (pictured) in a filthy house

Photographs taken by the RSPCA also show kitty litter, hay and faeces spread across the floors of rooms (pictured), while cramped cages are stacked on top of one another

They were found in cages in various rooms of the house, all living in squalid conditions among rubbish and faeces.

RSPCA photographs also show kitty litter, hay and faeces spread across the floors of rooms, while cramped cages are stacked on top of one another, and dirty clothing is piled up in corners of the rooms.

The pair, who did not have legal representation, pleaded guilty to ill treatment of animals on June 3 this year.

They were given $500 two-year good behaviour bonds, fined $8,500 and other costs.

Samantha Braendler, 42, and Kirsty Drowley, 40, both pleased guilty to ill-treatment of animals and were given $500 two-year good behaviour bonds, fined $8,500 and other costs

RSPCA prosecutor Ronan OBrien said the animals were found living in 'hoarding-like' conditions (pictured)

They were also banned from owning any pets for the next three years by Magistrate Derek Sprod.

RSPCA prosecutor Ronan OBrien told Adelaide Now the animals were found in horrific conditions.

'These animals were living in hoarding-like conditions, with cages in most rooms of the house, with animal faeces spread throughout the house and backyard,' he said.

'When the animals were seized... [it] put a huge strain on our Lonsdale shelter with such a large amount of animals entering our care at once.'
A mother-of-two found gassed to death inside her home with her husband and their autistic children was part of a pact to end their lives, it has been claimed.

Maria Lutz, 43, was found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning on October 18 in Sydney's Northern Beaches alongside Fernando Manrique, 42, their 11-year-old daughter Elisa and 10-year-old son Martin.

Police said at the time Manrique had rigged the house with a pipe system that leaked the fatal gas into the property after Lutz threatened to divorce him and raise their non-verbal children in her home country of Colombia.

But now 44-year-old Jairo Campos, a friend of Manrique, has said Lutz must have known what was happening and been complicit in the plot.

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Maria Lutz, 43, was found gassed to death alongside autistic children Martin, 10 (left), and Elisa, 11 (right), and husband Fernando Manrique, 42

Police believe Manrique acted alone when setting up an intricate system of pipes to gas his family, but a friend of his has claimed Lutz must have been complicit in the plan

Mr Campos told The Daily Telegraph: 'She would have known what Fernando was doing, the deaths took weeks to plan.'

Neighbours previously told how, in the days before the family were found dead, Manrique was seen rigging up an intricate system of pipes on the roof of the house.

Police said they found gas bottles in the kitchen of the home, which are thought to have been connected to the pipes in order to carry out the eerie killings.

Officers sent to the home on a welfare check by one of Lutz's concerned friends told how they found Manrique's body slumped over on a table in the front room.

Lutz was found in a back bedroom alongside her daughter, while Martin was found in the next room with the family dog, a bull mastiff named Tequila.

Manrqiue was found unconscious in the front room of the family home in Sydney's northern beaches, while Lutz was found in the back room with her daughter with son Martin nearby

Friends say Manrique traveled a lot for work, leaving Lutz to care for their non-verbal children alone for weeks at a time which left her 'broken and depressed'

Police believe Manrique acted alone, but no note was found at the scene of the crime, so detectives have not formally ruled out Lutz's involvement.

Those close to the couple have told how Manrique, a successful businessman, traveled a lot for work and was often out of the house for weeks at a time.

That left Lutz with the stress of caring for two non-verbal children by herself, with friends saying she called child services 'nine times a day' for help - describing her as 'broken and depressed'.

Others said the couple had 'drifted' in the months before they were found dead, and that Lutz had threatened to leave and take the children with her to Colombia, where she believed they could be better cared for.
The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum announced Tuesday that Miller Industries presented a donation of $30,000 to the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame Museum.

Officials said, "Miller Industries holds a Rotator School twice yearly at the Museums Learning Center. Proceeds from the school are donated demonstrating Millers commitment of industry education and support.



"The International Towing and Recovery Museum wishes to thank Miller Industries for this generous donation and its unwavering support allowing us serve an industry we love."






The damage to the Syrian family's house in Aleppo is pictured

A Syrian family seeking asylum in Belgium have been branded fraudsters while locked in a fierce visa battle with the country's immigration minister.

Syrian businessman Mohamad Omar N., 38, applied at the Belgian consulate in Lebanon for a visa for his family from war-torn Aleppo.

However, a high profile row was sparked when his visa application was denied.

The family hired a Belgian lawyer and went to court, demanding to be accepted as asylum seekers without heading to Belgium first.

They successfully appealed the decision with the Belgian Council for Alien Law Litigation (CGVS), with the council ordering the Belgian state a penalty payment of 4,000 EUR (3,400 GBP) per day until the visa was issued.

Since then the Belgian state and the Syrian family have been slugging it out in higher courts, with the case possibly ending up in the highest of European courts.

The Belgian state is currently waiting on a decision by a specialist judge as to whether the bailiffs sent by the lawyer of the Syrian family can impound Belgian government property as State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken, 38, refuses to give in to either giving the visa or paying up.

Now local media reports claim Mohamad Omar N. travelled on 26 November from Aleppo to Beirut to fly to the United Arab Emirates, and possibly to India too, on a business trip.

Theo Francken (pictured), state secretary of Migration and Asylum, reportedly refuses to give the Syrian family a visa or pay the court ordered fine as the case returns to court again

The children of the Syrian family are pictured in an image released by their lawyer

In November, Theo Francken's office was threatened it would be raided by bailiffs and some of the possessions sold if he did not comply and pay within 24 hours

According to the Belgian authorities, it casts doubts as to whether the man who works for the Chamber of Commerce of Aleppo really was in immediate danger with his family.

While the lawyer of the Syrian family posted pictures of their destroyed Aleppo home online, which were shot in early December, the father had allegedly just returned from an overseas business trip.

Mr Francken claims that if the situation of the Syrian family was so dire, the man could easily have taken his family with him to Lebanon and stayed there when he applied for a visa at the Belgian consulate.

Mr Francken currently refused to comment on the issue due to the upcoming court decision but party leader of the right-wing Flemish nationalist N-VA party, of which Francken is a member, did comment.

Bart de Wever, the N-VA President, said: 'If this is true, it raises our suspicions that it is a fraudulent dossier.'

Belgian authorities have warned that giving the family a visa could mean more asylum seekers heading to Belgian embassies to demand legal passage to the country.

Lawyer Mieke Van den Broeck represented the Syrian family after their asylum claim was intially denied
A 10-year-old boy had the tip of his penis chopped off after a routine circumcision operation went horribly wrong.

The boy, who has not been named, was rushed to a hospital in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, after the catastrophe at a clinic in the suburb of Taman Cheras Utama.

It is not clear how the accident took place but it appears that the surgeon's laser scalpel might have slipped during the operation on December 20.

A video has emerged showing the boy squirming in agony after the bungled circumcision

Malaysia's Star newspaper reported the boy's father, who was waiting patiently outside, was told the head of his son's penis had been severed.

The youngster was taken to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital and then onto another specialist hospital in the city where they successfully reattach the two parts.

But the furious father has filed a complaint with the police.

The Star newspaper did not name the surgeon who was responsible but said he had 21 years of experience and had a medical degree from Pakistan.

But the clinic, which had been operating for 15 years, had not been registered with Malaysia's Health Ministry.

Circumcision - the removal of the foreskin - is an expected rite of passage for boys in Malaysia, which is an overwhelmingly Muslim country.

Hundreds of thousands of such operations are carried out there every year.
James Bond (pictured) who suffers from dyslexia has claimed his PhD application for enrolment was rejected due to his disability

A student who suffers from dyslexia has claimed three universities rejected him as a PhD candidate because of his disability.

James Bond said his Doctor of Philosophy application for a place at the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and University of Newcastle was turned down.

The man with an IQ of 150 has lodged a complaint with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board alleging there was lack of support services at the University of Sydney for people with dyslexia, Fairfax Media reported.

He claims the university was discriminating against students with dyslexia after he was unable to complete his enrolment because there was no access to a scribe.

Students are required to submit a full research proposal to apply for a PhD.

Mr Bond, who struggles with reading, had used audio recordings and a scribe to complete his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Research at Macquarie University.

The University of Sydney penned a letter to Mr Bond, encouraging him to resubmit his application with a scribe provided by the institution.

However, he claimed there should be more support services to allow students with dyslexia to be able to enrol in the future.

The man with an IQ of 150 has taken the University of Sydney to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board alleging there was lack of support services at the institution for people with dyslexia

'It's a difficult process for a person without a disability to go in there and enrol, so a person with a disability has an extra stumbling block,' he said.

Mr Bond said the crippling effect dyslexia had on people with the condition 'was incredible'.

'The embarrassment that dyslexics suffer is second to being a paedophile,' he said.

'I know people out there who have PhDs who have mid-range dyslexia, but they don't tell anybody  they scrape through university without being helped by the disability unit because they don't want to acknowledge it.'
A small plane with three people aboard has been reported missing in mountainous eastern Tennessee.

Authorities are searching for a Cessna 182 aircraft and are focusing about 15 miles southeast of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

Three people were aboard the aircraft that originated from a Jacksonville, Florida-area airport and was reported missing Monday evening, she said.

Bergen had no immediate information on the plane's whereabouts or what happened.

On the plane were pilot David Starling, his eight-year-old son Hunter Starling and his girlfriend Kim Smith, WVLT reported.

A small plane with three people aboard has been reported missing in mountainous eastern Tennessee, authorities say. On the plane were pilot David Starling, his eight-year-old son Hunter Starling and his girlfriend Kim Smith

Officials with Great Smoky Mountains National Park said Tuesday: 'Today, ground search teams were deployed to Bearpen Hollow Branch and areas southwest of the Bullhead Trail to search for signs of the aircraft'

Citing family, News4Jax reported that David Starling and Kim Smith travel to Tennessee annually post-Christmas.

A Facebook post indicates they were going to assist people affected by fires around Gatlinburg, according to the television station.

Starling previously served in the Air Force before entering the logging industry, and his son Hunter is a third grader, the station reported.

Kim Smith's cousin Samantha Hodges told News4Jax: 'They were about 13 minutes from landing. That was the last time they spoke to her, and she hasn't been heard from since.'

The FAA says a concerned family member contacted the agency when the flight didn't arrive at Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport as expected.

The FAA issued an alert advising local authorities, which triggers a search.

David Starling and Kim Smith travel to Tennessee annually post-Christmas, it's been reported. They are pictured together in these Facebook images

The plane was reported missing about 7.35pm Monday around the airport in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park foothills, according to local media.

Park officials said Tuesday in a release that they 'continue search efforts to locate a missing single-engine airplane which potentially went down somewhere in the ridges southwest of Mount LeConte Lodge on Monday, December 26.

'Civil Air Patrol (CAP) conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight late Monday to try to locate the plane using the emergency locator transmitter, but were unable to find any transmissions from the aircraft.'

Authorities are seeking a Cessna 182 aircraft and searchers are focusing about 15 miles south-southeast of the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport, the FAA said (stock)

The plane was reported missing about 7.35pm Monday around the airport in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park foothills. The park is seen in this file photo

Park officials continued: 'Overnight, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) was able to use information from McGhee Tyson Airport tower radar and the plane's emergency locator transmitter to determine a specific area where the plane is most likely located.

'Today, ground search teams were deployed to Bearpen Hollow Branch and areas southwest of the Bullhead Trail to search for signs of the aircraft.

'The park is also coordinating with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to arrange for a reconnaissance flight as soon as the weather clears.'
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George Michael's publicist has issued a statement saying the pop star's family are 'touched' by the fans who are mourning his death.

The singer, who was in the 80s duo Wham! before launching his own solo career, died in his sleep on Christmas Day.

His publicist put out a statement saying George Michael's family and close friends have been 'touched beyond words by the incredible outpouring of love' from fans since the his death.

The statement read: 'The family and close friends of George have been touched beyond words by the incredible outpouring of love for him in the hours and days since his death.

'For someone whose life was ultimately about his music and the love he had for his family and friends, his fans and the world at large, there could be no more fitting tribute than the many, many, kind words that have been said and the numerous plays his records have received.

'Contrary to some reports, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and from the bottom of our hearts we thank those who, rightly, have chosen to celebrate his life and legacy at this most distressing of times.'

Today, mourners were seen writing condolence messages in the dust of a Range Rover which is parked outside of his home in north London.

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Fans leave a candle near an iconic picture of George Michael tonight outside his house in Highgate, North London

The singer's devoted fans left notes and pictures at his house as they continued to mourn his death on Tuesday night

Fans gather to look at the memorial of pictures, flowers, and cards left outside the singer's home on Tuesday evening

A group of fans create a touching candlelight vigil outside of the beloved star's house as they come to terms with his passing

Messages written on the car include 'RIP George' written in a heart and 'gone but never forgotten', which one grief-stricken fan clutched today as she wept about her idol's death.

Among those who visited the star's home in north London today was actress Debbie Killingback, who played George Michael's girlfriend in the music video for Last Christmas.

Delivering flowers and a photo of her and George in the video, she said: 'He was just lovely, normal and down-to-earth.

Fans were pictured writing messages in the dust of George Michael's Range Rover outside of his North London home, which has not been moved since he died on Christmas Day

One fan was photographed clutching the grey car and sobbing next to a message, written in a heart, which said: 'RIP George'

Hundreds people have flocked to his homes in North London and Oxfordshire to pay their respects to the late pop star

'He was fun and liked to laugh and was just the most amazing person. We all became close after the video was filmed.'

She reminisced over the part she played in the hit video, adding: 'I remember we had a few drinks on a night in but George was very good.

'We also had a bed scene but that got cut.

'When we went back I missed my plane and George was at the airport and said: "We thought you'd been kidnapped."

Debbie Killingback, who played George Michael's girlfriend in the music video for Last Christmas, also visited the North London home today

She delivered flowers and a photo of her and George in the video with her with her 10-year-old niece, Kiki Killingback

She said: 'He was just lovely, normal and down-to-earth. He was fun and liked to laugh and was just the most amazing person. We all became close after the video was filmed'

Bouquets of flowers, candles and a Greek flag have been left outside of his home in Goring-on-Thames over the past few days

Other gifts have been left include framed photographs, sympathy cards, a pink football, wreaths, tinsel stars and a teddy bear

As well as the sea of tributes outside his London mansion, fans have been flocking to the Oxfordshire village cottage where Michael died.

Candles continued to burn following a special vigil held last night while personal messages and pieces of memorabilia were placed outside his front door.

A white teddy bear with his initials 'GM' written in a love heart, a pineapple and a CD of his 1990 album Listen Without Prejudice Volume One were among the personal items left by mourners.

Laura Pratley, 27, has lived her whole life in Goring-on-Thames, and recalled seeing George walking his dogs on one occasion.

'Me and my mum went for a walk one winter's morning and we saw him with his dogs,' she said.

'He said "hello" to us and was very friendly. It was a real honour that he obviously found Goring as beautiful as we did.'

One man held his friend's waist as she clutched several bouquets of flowers. Tears rolled down her face as she placed them outside George's home

Several people have written kind tributes and laid them outside his home. One person said he was 'a beautiful caring person full of humanity and heart'

One boy was seen reading the heartbroken messages left for George and his family while clutching a toy

One fan created an image of George, featuring his birth and death year, and wrote a message saying: 'We miss you. Our thoughts go out to your family'

One fan put a glass of tropical juice with several straws inside as a nod to Wham!'s hit song, Club Tropicana

She laid a bouquet of flowers outside his front door with a touching message to her former neighbour.

'The village was honoured to have you as a resident,' it read.

'It is nice to know you thought Goring was as beautiful as those of us lucky to live here. I am so sad to hear of your passing. You seemed like a kind sensitive and loving person.

'May your soul rest in peace although you will be forever in many hearts. Laura.'

Debbie Gray, 42, travelled for over an hour from Cambelery, Surrey, to lay some flowers with her 11-year-old daughter Hannah.

She wept as she placed them on the ground.

'He was my hero all the while I was growing up, my bedroom used to be covered with posters of him,' she said.

'He was a big part of my growing up and it's so sad he's gone. I was so shocked, just numb when I heard the news. I was eight years old when I first heard him on Top of the Pops and I've loved him ever since.'
Mike and Jessica Powell, pictured with third child Evelyn, made it home just four hours after she was born to enjoy Christmas dinner

After giving birth on December 25, surely the last thing youd expect to do is sit around the table with the whole family and eat Christmas dinner.

But rather than staying in the hospital ward to recover, Jessica Powell went straight back home for the festivities  less than four hours after having her baby.

The 34-year-old gave birth to Evelyn Marie  weighing 7lb 10oz  at 12.23pm on December 25.

But with the turkey ready to go in the oven and family visiting from as far afield as New York, the primary school teacher was whisked back to their house in Worsley, near Manchester.

And as soon as they got home, she and her husband Mike, 35, were reunited with their other two children, and they joined their relatives around the dinner table at 4pm.

Fortunately, Mrs Powells parents had prepared the festive feast while she was in labour five miles away at Salford Royal Hospital.

Mr Powell, an IT worker, said he and his wife were greeted by Evelyns very excited older brother Zac, four, and sister Emmy, two.

They were joined by Mrs Powells aunt, who had travelled from Luton, and her brothers family, who had flown in from New York.

Mr Powell said: I cant believe Evelyn was born at 12.23pm and we were back home by 4pm. We even managed Christmas dinner!

The couple said their other children, Zac, four, left, and Emmy, two, right, were excited to meet their new sister over Christmas dinner

Primary school teacher Mrs Powell, 34, gave birth to Evelyn, who weighed 7lb 10.5oz, at Salford Royal Hospitals Birthing Centre

'We got home and had dinner straight away. It was really nice, all the family were there. Zac and Emmy were so excited to meet their baby sister.

Evelyn  who the family said will be known as Eve  is relatively unusual in being born on Christmas Day.

December 25 is the least common day for births, according to a 2006 Harvard University study.
Former Survivor star Michael Skupin has been sentenced to one to four years in prison for possessing child pornography

Former Survivor star Michael Skupin, who had to be medivacked after falling into a campfire and burning his hands, has been sentenced to one to four years in prison for possessing child pornography.

Skupin appeared Tuesday in Oakland County court in suburban Detroit. He asked for mercy from the judge and said he's 'deeply sorry'.

He said, according to WWJ: 'I never, ever said who, what, when, where, why these pictures were on there or viewed, I just maintained that I didn't do it.

'I wasn't pointing the finger at anybody, there was hundreds of people that use these computers.

'I have 11 children that I'm raising and four of them are at home minors and four of them are in college.

'I have about $1,000 a month obligation toward child support and there's so much fallout that would result in me going away.

'...I would just ask that in order to maintain the quality of my children's lives, there isn't anything that I wouldn't do that you guys ask me to do. I just ask for the mercy of the court.'

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Skupin was convicted November 18 on four of six child porn possession counts by jurors in Oakland County, near Detroit. He is pictured last month in court

In a separate case, he was placed on probation and ordered to pay $31,800 to victims of a financial scheme.

During that investigation, authorities found child porn on Skupin's laptop.

Skupin was convicted November 18 on four of six child porn possession counts by jurors in Oakland County, near Detroit.

Skupin will be eligible for parole after a year. His maximum prison sentence is four years.

The Michigan Attorney General's Office said in a release that Skupin must register as a sex offender when he's released 'and is restricted from using a computer outside of work purposes'.

Skupin will be eligible for parole after a year. His maximum prison sentence is four years

Earlier this year in February, Skupin compared his charges for possession of child pornography to the wrongful accusations suffered by Jesus Christ.

He said in a statement at the time to People: 'I am the guy that you think that I am.

'There are scores of people that have been wrongfully accused at some point in their life  including our Savior.'

He is perhaps best known for falling into a fire pit during Survivor's second season in 2001, which was set in the Australian Outback, and being the first to be removed from the show by medical evacuation.

He returned for Survivor: Philippines in 2012. During his two seasons, Skupin spent a total of 56 days on deserted islands.

Skupin is pictured on Survivor: Phillippines in this 2012 file photograph

During his two seasons, Skupin spent a total of 56 days on deserted islands. He is pictured on the show in 2012

The Michigan Attorney General's Office said: 'An investigation began into Skupin after victims from his alleged Ponzi scheme contacted a local news reporter.

'Michael Skupin recruited investors and friends to take part in his "gifting scheme" called Pay It Forward.

'Victims made cash investments in the scheme. Their money would then cycle through a chart in which participants were eventually paid out of other new investors' money.

Michael Skupin appeared Tuesday in Oakland County court in suburban Detroit. He asked for mercy from the judge and said he's 'deeply sorry' (2012 photo)

'The scheme was discovered when eventually there were no new investors signing and most people in the scheme lost all of their money.'

On the computer, pictures were discovered that depicted 'underage children in sexual situations,' prosecutors have said.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a statement: 'Today's sentencing is a strong message to those who prey on children: no matter who you are or what you do, we will find you.

'The act of downloading and viewing images of children in sexually abusive situations is reprehensible, this behavior re-victimizes the child victims over and over.'

Skupin told People he's going to appeal.

In a statement to the website the evening ahead of the sentence being handed down, he said: 'I'm sorry if I did anything wrong, I really thought I was helping people through a business I took over called Pay It Forward.

'I took the plea on that charge because I had lost faith in our justice system. I lost that faith when a jury of strangers said "probably" and found me guilty of possession of child porn.

'I did not look at or download anything on my computer that could have been considered anything even close to child porn.'
Two Kardashian-look-alike sisters from Toronto are being held in Nigeria after they allegedly tried to extort a billionaire in the African country.

Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo are accused of threatening Femi Otedola and telling him they would reveal that he was cheating on his wife if he did not hand over money to the young women.

Otedola, 54, is worth a reported $1.8billion, most of which he made in petroleum.

Politics Nigeria reports that the sisters are also being accused of running the website 'Naijagistlive,' which was used to 'accuse several high-ranking men ... of cheating and patronizing prostitutes.'

That website also alleges that the sisters are 'high society prostitutes.'

Sisters Jyoti and Kiran Matharoo (above) of Toronto have been arrested in Nigeria

They are accused of attempting to extort a number of wealthy businessman, including billionaire Femi Otedola (the woman above in court last Friday)

The two allegedly threatened to reveal that Otedola (above) was having an affair if he did not pay them

The was not the first time that the two women had targeted a wealthy businessman according to Politics Nigeria, who outlined how the pair allegedly went about securing money for their targets.

'They demanded money in order not to go public with the details. This was their "modus operandi",' claims the website.

'It was also discovered that the girls recorded conversations and sex romps with their rich clients which comprise of politicians, club owners and businessmen.

'After the acts, they approach their victims through a third party, threatening them to pay thousands of dollars or risk the release of the recordings/pictures/videos online through their website Naijagistlive.'

The sisters were arraigned in Yaba Magistrate Court on Friday and will now remain in prison until their next appearance on January 27.

They were arrested with a laptop that reportedly had a list of names they had blackmailed and videos of them having sex with men

The girls have been living in Nigeria for months according to reports

The sisters have pleaded not guilty and are being held in a Lagos prison haead of their trial next month

The two girls signed a confessional statement on Friday admitting to a number of the claims being made against them by Otedola and others.

In the confessional they signed the girls agree to leave the country after their trial.

They have both plead not guilty to the charges, which include the claims that the two 'have been responsible for the humiliation and cyber-bullying of some 274 persons, mostly based in regions of Africa.'
Some of Britain's top financiers have been given one of the most valuable new 5 notes as a gift from the Bank of England, it has emerged.

Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, decided to send the most sought-after polymer notes to a select group - including politicians, royals and his own colleagues - when they were circulated in September.

The high-value notes, which bear serial numbers beginning with AA01, are the first to have been printed and are now worth thousands of pounds. The note with the lowest serial number available to the public recently sold at auction for 4,150.

Nemat Shafik (left), the deputy governor of the Bank of England, and chief cashier Victoria Cleland (right) have been gifted one of the most valued new polymer 5 notes by Mark Carney

The sought-after notes, which bear serial numbers beginning with AA01, are the first to have been printed and are now worth thousands of pounds (file picture of the 5 notes)

Now it has emerged that one of those gifted the high-value note is Nemat Shafik, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, who was responsible for overseeing the 5 note project.

Mr Carney decided to give her the note bearing the serial number AA01 000006 - the sixth lowest serial number printed and therefore potentially the sixth highest in value.

According to the Times, chief cashier Victoria Cleland was given the note with the seventh-lowest number, while serving and former Bank officials - including Mr Carney's predecessor Lord King of Lothbury - have also been handed notes.

Meanwhile, Mr Carney himself received two 5 notes, including the one with the fifth-lowest number and the one ending in 1940, the year Winston Churchill - whose photo appears on the note - became Prime Minister.

The recipients were chosen by Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England (pictured)

According to the Times, the note with the lowest serial number was sent to the Queen, while the second lowest - which bears the serial number AA01 000002 - was sent to Prince Philip.

Theresa May was given the note with the serial number AA01 000003 - the third lowest serial number - while Mr Hammond, the chancellor, was given the fourth lowest.

Mr Carney also decided to send some of the most significant notes to institutions linked with Churchill.

These include Blenheim Palace, where the wartime Prime Minister was born, and Chartwell - where he lived in Kent - which received the note ending in 1965, the year of his death.

The Churchill War Rooms was donated the note bearing serial number AA01 001945 - the year the Second World War officially ended.

The Churchill family were also given the note with the number AA01 000010 while the British Museum was given the note with the ninth-lowest serial number.

The note ending in 2016 has been given to Andrew Bailey, the former head of the Prudential Regulation Authority, who has passed it to the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge.

Boris Johnson, who has written about Churchill's life, was also sent one of the notes, which has been held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Queen (left) and Prince Philip (right) are among the select few who have been given the most valuable new 5 notes as a gift from the Bank of England

The bank reportedly sent a description of the notes to the recipients, including an explanation of the serial number's significance, but did not reveal why each recipient had been chosen for that particular number.

WHO HAS BEEN GIVEN THE RARE 5 NOTES? AA01 000001 The Queen AA01 000002 Prince Philip AA01 000003 Prime Minister AA01 000004 Chancellor AA01 000005 M Bank of England Governor AA01 000006 Deputy Governor AA01 000007 Chief cashier AA01 000008 Bank of England museum AA01 000009 British Museum AA01 000010 Churchill family Advertisement

Since they were released in September, Britain's new plastic 5 notes have become a valuable collectors' item with notes bearing AA01 serial numbers from the first printing run becoming prized collectors' items.

Each unique number can be found twice on the reverse side of the note, on the left hand side and the bottom right.

A total of 440million 5 notes have been printed, meaning there is roughly a one in 440 chance of a note having a valuable AA01 serial number.

Bank chiefs claim the new notes, created through De La Rue, are so durable they will last twice as long as the old fiver.

The old fiver, featuring prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, will continue to be valid until May 5, 2017.
This is the shocking moment a drink-driver plunges off a bridge and lands his car upside down on a motorway, killing himself and seriously injuring his girlfriend.

The unnamed victims were travelling at speed in the early hours of the morning, having apparently been out for a night of heavy drinking.

Traffic cameras in the city of Mudanjiang, in north-eastern China's Heilongjiang Province, show the motorist driving straight off the bridge, crashing through the concrete barrier and falling about 16 feet onto the road below.

A driver died when his car plunged off a bridge and ended up upside down on a motorway

The dramatic footage shows the vehicle landing front end first, completely destroying the bumper and scattering debris across the road, which was relatively empty at the time of the crash.

Dashcam video and mobile phone footage from the scene show passers-by surrounding the accident site, where the vehicle remained upside-down until authorities arrived.

The unnamed victims were travelling at speed in the early hours after a night of drinking

It happend in the city of Mudanjiang, in north-eastern China's Heilongjiang Province

Traffic cameras there captured the dramatic footage in which the car plunges off the bridge

The car went through a concrete barrier and fell about 16 feet onto the motorway below

Police officers and local firefighters shifted the vehicle onto its side and managed to free both driver and passenger from the mangled metal.

But the man was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, while his girlfriend was rushed to hospital and is still in intensive care.

Mudanjiang police, who are now investigating the case, are treating the crash as an accident and have not detained anyone in connection with the fatal incident.
Average retail gasoline prices in Chattanooga have risen 2.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.02 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 170 gas outlets in Chattanooga. This compares with the national average that has increased 2.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.28 per gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Chattanooga during the past week, prices on Monday were 32.9 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 16.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago.

According to GasBuddy historical data, gasoline prices on December 27 in Chattanooga have ranged widely over the last five years:

$1.69 in 2015, $2.06 in 2014, $3.03 in 2013, $3.06 in 2012 and $3.05 in 2011.

Areas near Chattanooga and their current gas price climate:

Knoxville- $2.08, up 2.2 cents per gallon from last week's $2.06.

State of Tennessee- $2.08, up 1.8 cents per gallon from last week's $2.07.

Huntsville- $2.07, up 4.1 cents per gallon from last week's $2.03.

While the benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude closed last week near $53 per barrel, it's doubtful that we'll see any momentum this week since trading is generally low volume between Christmas and New Year's Day. Similarly, expect the aggressive escalation that we saw for retail gasoline prices through much of December to stall out in the final week of the year," said Gregg Laskoski, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy.

"Overall, the national average price of gas is 28 cents higher than where it was a year ago on this day and prices in most metros and states across the country are higher too; with the remarkable exception being California whose statewide average today is 13 cents lower than last year and the Los Angeles' average, believe it or not, is 27 cents less than a year ago."
Allied troops and ISIS are set to battle for a collapsing dam that would spew nearly 600 times the water of the River Thames onto Mosul if it breaches.

Engineers from an Italian company have been tasked with fixing the Mosul Dam's foundations to stop more than 11 trillion litres of water (11.11billion cubic metres) from flooding Mosul.

Experts are warning their work could be in vain, and should the catastrophe happen, it is estimated 1.5million people could be killed by the floods in an impact described as 'worse than a nuclear bomb'.

Waves of up to 45ft would be unleashed if the dam breaks, and the equivalent to 4.4million Olympic size swimming pools would flood the surrounding areas amid a constant threat from Islamic State terrorists fleeing the Iraqi city.

An aerial shot of the Mosul Dam showing the 11billion litres of water it is holding at bay

Experts have stated that waves of up to 45ft would be unleashed if the dam breaks

A bottom outlet for the Mosul Dam controls the water flow, but the foundations are crumbling

This satellite image of the Mosul Dam from February 11, 2007 was coupled with an audit report stating nine years ago it was risk of collapse

The Mosul Dam on the Tigris River, around 50 km north of the Iraqi city of Mosul, which would be flooded catastrophically should the structure collapse

E ngineers from Italian firm TREVI have 18 months to solidify the dam, which is located 60km north of Mosul.

But professor of water resources and environmental engineering at Lulea University in Sweden has said the structure is doomed regardless of who has control of it.

'No matter how much grouting and maintenance the company will do, it may expand the life span of the dam, but it is just going to delay the disaster.

'It is just a matter of time. It will be worse than throwing a nuclear bomb on Iraq,' he told Al Jazeera.

The Mosul Dam is holding back the equivalent to 585 times the water in the River Thames at any one time

11billion litres would flood Mosul if the dam were to collapse - the equivalent to one and a half Loch Ness'

Meanwhile, some 250 miles away, a battle for another Middle Eastern dam is imminent.

Kurdish troops are now just three miles from the Euphrates Dam in Syria, which is under Islamic State control.

Talal Sillo of the Syria Democratic Forces said the fighters, with the support of US, French and British special forces, have driven IS from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and now have the strategic dam in their sites.

Unlike Mosul Dam, the structure near Raqqa is nowhere near as treacherous as the its Iraqi counterpart.

Mosul Dam collapsing would be seen as a 'humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions' and could kill 1.5million people, a US ambassador warned earlier this year.

Governments were urged in March to move quickly to prevent a breach of Iraq's largest dam, which would unleash a wave as high as 45ft, devastating Mosul and flooding much of the capital Baghdad.

After hosting a meeting with Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim to hear briefings on the potential disaster, US Ambassador Samantha Power called on all UN member states to take immediate steps.

'It is crucial that all UN member states quickly get informed about the magnitude of the problem and the importance of readiness to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,' said Power.

If the dam, pictured here, were to breach, waves of up to 45ft would hit the surrounding areas

Italian engineers are desperately trying to fix the Mosul Dam and have been given 18 months to do so

The ambassador described briefings by technical experts, engineers and representatives from UN aid and development agencies as 'chilling.'

The dam in northern Iraq was built on an unstable foundation that continuously erodes, and a lapse in required maintenance after the Islamic State jihadist group briefly seized it in 2014 weakened the already flawed structure.

'In the event of a breach, there is the potential in some places for a flood wave up to 14 meters high that could sweep up everything in its path, including people, cars, unexploded ordnance, waste and other hazardous material, further endangering massive population centres that lie in the flood path,' said Power in a statement released by the US mission.

After six months of planning, the Italian company were given the $300million contract which is funded by World Bank to attempt to save the lives of those living near the Tigris river.

The dam in northern Iraq was built on an unstable foundation that continuously erodes, and a lapse in required maintenance after ISIS briefly seized it in 2014 weakened the already flawed structure

Kurdish Peshmegra forces guard the dam, which is in an area close to land controlled by ISIS fighters

The engineers are guarded in the war-torn city by 500 soldiers from Italian and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, according to Al Jazeera.

They are tasked with injecting cement mix into the foundations in a process called grouting.

A European Commission's Science Centre study published last year stated seven million Iraqis could be affected by floods from the dam.
Google has altered results for people searching the Holocaust after stinging criticism that it led them to neo-Nazi and denial websites.

The top result for people who searched 'Did the Holocaust happen'? was an article by white supremacist site Stormfront entitled: '10 reasons why the Holocaust didn't happen'.

Google has now moved this article so it no long appears first in the US and UK.

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Google has altered results for people searching the Holocaust after stinging criticism that it led them to neo-Nazi and denial websites

It is also working to refine its algorithm to weed out 'non-authoritative' information.

Google said its aim is to provide 'authoritative results' for search queries while offering 'a breadth of diverse content from a variety of sources.'

A statement read: 'Judging which pages on the web best answer a query is a challenging problem and we don't always get it right.'

'When non-authoritative information ranks too high in our search results, we develop scalable, automated approaches to fix the problems, rather than manually removing these one-by-one.'

Google added that recent tweaks to its algorithm 'will help surface more high quality, credible content' and that the tech giant will 'continue to change our algorithms over time in order to tackle these challenges.'

A spokesman told Forbes: 'We are saddened to see that hate organizations still exist. The fact that hate sites appear in Search results does not mean that Google endorses these views.'

'We do not remove content from our search results, except in very limited cases such as illegal content, malware and violations of our webmaster guidelines.'

The search results were first reported by The Guardian earlier this month and led to stinging criticism of google.

The top result for people who searched 'Did the Holocaust happen'? was an article by white supremacist site Stormfront (pictured)

Danny Sullivan, the editor of SearchEngineLand, a leading expert on Google search said at the time: 'Something has gone terribly wrong with Google's algorithm'.

The Holocaust search glitch is just the latest in a series of issues for which Google has faced scrutiny for its search algorithms.

Last month, Google chief executive Sundar Pichai - responding to complaints about fake news related to the US election - said the company receives billions of queries daily and admitted errors had been made.

'There have been a couple of incidences where it has been pointed out and we didn't get it right.

'And so it is a learning moment for us and we will definitely work to fix it,' he said in a BBC interview last month.

Pichai said there should be 'no situation where fake news gets distributed' and committed to making improvements.

'I don't think we should debate it as much as work hard to make sure we drive news to its more trusted sources, have more fact checking and make our algorithms work better, absolutely,' he said.

Google, which is world's leading search engine, and Facebook, where many people get news, have responded to criticism by pledging to cut off advertising revenues to hoax websites along with other steps to weed out misinformation.
Praepitcha Smatsorabudh, 41, of Arlington has been jailed for up to 30 months

A woman who bought designer handbags online before returning Chinese knock-offs to stores and netting the profits has been jailed.

Praepitcha Smatsorabudh, 41, from Arlington, pocketed the money she was refunded when she returned the fake bags in place of the authentic purchases to the department stores and then sold the authentic versions of the Gucci, Fendi and Burberry bags on Instagram and eBay for more than $2,000 each.

She ran her elaborate scam for years across America, making fraudulent returns at more than 60 stores across 12 states, according to the US Department of Justice.

In total, her scheme defrauded department stores out of more than $400,000.

She was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 months in prison.

The conwoman was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $403,250.81 in forfeiture and the same amount in restitution to her victims.

Originally from Thailand, Smatsorabudh was living in Arlington, Virginia, reportedly on a student visa at the time of her arrest in June.

But her Instagram account was awash with pictures of her lavish lifestyle.

Praepitcha Smatsorabudh advertised this bag on her Instagram account with an 'authentic guarantee'

She offered up this grey Celine purse on her social media account along with hundreds of other bags

Federal authorities raided her home and found 572 handbags, of which some were fake, court documents say

When she wasnt flogging the expensive purses she was posting about sushi, working out at the gym and French-style patisseries.

In a rather telling motto, the last post on her social media account says 'what comes easy won't last, what lasts won't come easy'.

She pleaded guilty on August 3.

Investigators discovered that Smatsorabudh bought handbags every week between late 2014 and the end of 2015.

In an email to one of the knock-off handbag suppliers in September 2014, Smatsorabudh allegedly said: 'The best fake bag Ive ever seen! Can you send me more ... from this factory. They make bag IMPaCABLE [sic]!!!!'

She would usually target T.J. Maxx. At one point, she was the company's biggest online customer in the world, the Washington Post reported. The firm identified 226 purses she had returned.

Once the retailer worked out the alleged scam, they contacted police.

Neiman Marcus identified 10 more handbags.

Smatsorabudh was arrested after an undercover Homeland Security officer posed as a buyer online and bought one of the designer bags from her.

Federal authorities raided her home and found 572 handbags, of which some were fake, court documents say.
A House of Fraser employee has been found dead in a branch of the department store in Edinburgh.

Police Scotland have launched an investigation after a man, 30, was found in the Frasers branch on Princes Street at 9.15am today.

A spokesman for the force said the death is being treated as unexplained and the next of kin have been informed.

A House of Fraser employee has been found dead in a branch of the store in Edinburgh

They said: 'Police in Edinburgh are investigating the death of a 30-year-old man who was found within a retail premises on Princes Street at around 9.15am on Tuesday December 27.

'The death is currently being treated as unexplained and next of kin has been informed.

'Inquiries into this matter are ongoing and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.'

The shop will remain closed until Wednesday morning.

Investigations into the man's death are continuing and store bosses say they are helping police with their inquiries.

A spokesman for House of Fraser said: 'We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of one of our employees at our Frasers store in Edinburgh.

'Our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time. The cause of death is still being investigated and we are fully supporting the police with their investigations.
Investigation uncovered that Barahona, an Afghan War veteran, had four-month affair with 17-year-old student at DeWitt Clinton High School

Barahona was fired from her job as high school science teacher in The Bronx in 2012 when she became pregnant with her student's baby

A student has confessed to killing his former teacher and their four-year-old love child, in part because he was angry the mother dressed their son as a girl, police sources have told the New York Post.

Former Bronx student Isaac Duran, 22, told authorities on Tuesday he had killed 36-year-old Felicia Barahona and their four-year-old son Miguel at their upper Manhattan apartment, according to law enforcement sources.

Barahona, who made headlines in 2012 when she had a baby with her then-teenage student, was discovered dead Monday morning inside her Harlem apartment along with Miguel. She was lying on the living room floor with an electrical cord wrapped around her neck and the little boy was found face down in a bathtub filled with water, investigators said.

Duran, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, said he had killed his former teacher and their child because he was angry over how Barahona was raising Miguel, police sources said. He also mentioned a problem with paying for child support.

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Mother and son: Felicia Barahona, 36, and her 4-year-old son, Miguel (left), were found dead in their Harlem home Monday morning

Horrible find: The mother and son were discovered dead inside their third-floor unit at 640 West 153rd Street in Manhattan

The superintendent of Barahona's building called 911 early Monday morning after he noticed a foul stench coming from the family's third-floor apartment, WABC reported. He then saw the womans body in the living room through the fire escape.

A source with the NYPD told the New York Post it is believed the mothers body had been in the apartment for up to four days.

Duran said his actions were an evil deed and mentioned the devil during his confession, law enforcement sources told the newspaper on Tuesday.

He first told investigators he hadn't visited his former teacher's apartment since 2011 and acted like a grieving father, sources said.

But detectives saw him on surveillance footage entering and leaving the building on several days, including six days ago when he went inside and came out in different clothes, the New York Post reported.

The former student is believed to not have a criminal history or past experiences with mental illness.

An investigative report released in early 2013 revealed that Felicia Barahona, then 32 years old, had a four-month affair with a 17-year-old boy who attended DeWitt Clinton High School in The Bronx where she taught science.

Barahona (left), an Afghan War veteran, was fired from her job as a public school teacher in 2012 after it emerged that she had an affair with a 17-year-old student; Miguel Barahona (right) was the product of his mother's affair with the teen

Barahona, 36, also had an 8-year-old daughter from an earlier relationship, pictured far left

Siblings: This photo, taken in December 2015, shows then-3-year-old Miguel and his sister meeting with Santa Claus

The teacher got pregnant after allegedly telling her underage lover 'not to worry' about using condoms because she did not like them. Barahona delivered a son in August 2012.

Photos posted on Barahona's mother's Facebook page at the time showed the newborn baby boy in a pink outfit, and the woman's neighbors in Harlem told to the New York Post that she would sometimes dress 4-year-old Miguel as a girl.

Barahona also had an eight-year-old daughter from a previous relationship who did not live with her.

On her Facebook page, Barahona indicated that she studied forensic science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and also taught at the school. She described her martial status as 'divorced.'

Barahona, an Afghan War veteran, had waited until her teenage lover was of legal age of consent before the pair began a sexual relationship in 2011.

She allegedly went so far as to purchase the pair wedding rings during their brief romance.

The woman was found in the living room floor with an electrical cord around her neck, and the toddler was drowned in the bathtub

EMS workers who responded to the scene pronounced mother and son dead

It is believed that the couple were getting together five times a week for trysts, according to the investigation for which they were both interviewed.

The New York Daily News reported in 2013 that Barahona kicked her young lover out of her home for drinking after four months together and shortly after she learned that she was pregnant.

Barahona was fired from her $73,000-a-year job in August 2012, around the time that she welcomed her son.
saying he was killed as a result of a heart attack days after his death

The cause of death has been reported as

The actor had an enlarged heart as well according to the report

from his leg to his lung

Garry Shandling died as a result of pulmonary thrombosis according to his autopsy report.

The legendary comedian was killed when a blood clot traveled from his leg to his lung, and the cause of death has been listed as both 'natural' and an 'accident.'

He also had an enlarged heart.

Shandling, who passed away at the age of 66, had Xanax, oxycodone and hydrocodone in his system as well at the time of his death according to the report.

TMZ was the first to obtain the actor's autopsy report.

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Tragedy: Garry Shandling (above in 2006) died of pulmonary thrombosis according to his autopsy report

Two days after Shandling's unexpected death last March, his doctor has refused to sign the death certificate which prompted the coroner's office to investigate.

The physician 'repeatedly refused' to sign the document because he believed that Shandling, who had not been examined by the doctor for more than a year, was in fine health.

Shandling's doctor also dismissed claims at the time that he was killed as a result of a heart attack, and said he has no idea why or how the patient died.

That is why the Los Angeles County Coroner was called on to determine the cause of death.

Investigators took blood work from the Emergency Room at St John's Health Center in Santa Monica where Shandling was pronounced dead and subpoenaed records from the doctor at the time.

The comedian had been experiencing shortness of breath and aches the afternoon before his death so he called over a doctor friend who gave him a check up and told him that if he was still in pain the following day he should get to a hospital.

BLOOD CLOT FACTS Blood clots form to prevent excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. When a vessel is damaged, Platelets, a type of blood cell, and proteins in your plasma are turned on to form a clot over the injury to stop the bleeding. Your body naturally dissolves the clot once the injury has healed. However, blood clots will sometimes form inside of vessels that arent damaged and will not naturally dissolve  this scenario can be dangerous and requires medical attention. Clots can also form in veins or arteries. If an abnormal clot occurs in a vein, it may restrict the return of blood to the heart and can cause the person to experience pain and swelling. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a type of clot that forms in a major vein of the leg or, less commonly, in the arms, pelvis, or other large veins in the body. A clot in a vein can detach from where it formed and travel through the heart to the lungs where it becomes wedged and ultimately hinders blood flow. Source: American Society of Hematology Advertisement

The comedian did not make it in time however, calling 911 the next morning and falling unconscious before he could even finish his call with the dispatcher, dying just hours later.

Shandling, who also created and starred in It's Garry Shandling's Show, died at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica.

The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at his just a little after 10.30am following the 911 call and had to kick down the door when no one was able to answer.

Shandling had been posting on social media earlier in the week, and retweeted a photo of himself with Kathy Griffin and Bob Odenkirk - who was on The Larry Sanders Show.

Griffin, who tweeted the photo, included the caption; So @GarryShandling & I had to call Saul @mrBobOdenkirk.'

Shandling began his career doing stand-up, which led to writing jobs on shows including Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter.

Soon after he began to guest host for Johnny Carson, and was considered as a possible replacement after Carson left his job on The Tonight Show.

He did not get the job, but in 1986 created It's Garry Shandling's Show, which would run until 1990 and get nominated for four Emmy Awards.

Two years after that he found success again on television with The Larry Sanders Show, one of the first original programs to ever run on HBO.

It was about the cast and crew of a late-night talk show, and Shandling said he based large parts of the show on his time filling in for Carson on The Tonight Show.

That show was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards, and in its final season in 1998 Shandling won for the first time in the Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series category.

Gone too soon: The legendary comedian died at the age of 66 this past March (above in the early 80s)

Recent work: Shandling made an appearance in Iron man 2 (above) alongside Robert Downey jr and Don Cheadle

He was also twice nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical for his work on Larry Sanders.

More recently he found a new audience of younger fans thanks to his role in two big Marvel films - Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Iron Man 2.

It is not known if he was set to appear or had filmed any other Marvel films at the time of his death.

Shandling also appeared in an episode of Jerry Seinfeld's web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee that aired on New Year's Day.

The episode was called It's Great that Gary Shandling is Still Alive.

Shandling was a frequent host at awards shows, having done the Emmy Awards five times from 2000 to 2004 and prior to that the Grammy Awards six times from 1990 to 1995.
A detective who rallied against what he called a 'baseless witch hunt' of VIPs over false sex abuse claims is still being investigated despite the collapse of the case.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Settle - who had to step down as head of the Metropolitan Police's paedophile unit - is being probed in relation to accusations he leaked the personal and sensitive information of two men to the press.

However the integrity and honesty of the two men that accused him, one a convicted fraudster and the other a known fantasist, is now highly questionable.

Mr Paul Settle, pictured, is being probed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission

More than a year on from the accusations Mr Settle is still being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

One of the men to accuse Detective Settle has been named as Chris Fay, a fraudster who was jailed for a year for conning pensioners out of almost 300,000.

Fay, 70, a former social worker who headed a child welfare charity, drew up a list of public figures who he claimed has sexually abused children at a guesthouse in London.

One of the men to accuse Detective Settle has been named as Chris Fay, a convicted fraudster

Chris Fay, a social worker who headed a child welfare charity, brought up the allegations of organised child sex abuse at Elm Guest House in London

He was also the first to accuse former Home Secretary Leon Brittan of being part of a paedophile sex ring.

But Fay's evidence was thrown into doubt by his conviction of fraud in 2011.

The other man to accuse Mr Settle can only be named as 'Darren' as he claimed to be the victim of sexual abuse.

Chris Fay was the first to accuse former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, pictured, of being part of a paedophile sex ring

His integrity is also in doubt after he was jailed for hoax bomb calls.

Mr Settle was forced to resign from his role as head of the Metropolitan Police's paedophile unit after he tried to close the investigation into Lord Brittan due to unsubstantiated claims of rape.

The case was later reopened by the Labour deputy leader Tom Watson.

But Mr Settle's judgement was vindicated when retired High Court judge, Sir Richard Henriques, examined Scotland Yard's handling of the sex abuse allegations and came to the same conclusion in an official report.

A senior police source told The Telegraph: 'It is disgraceful Paul Settle is still being investigated by the IPCC.

'He was the only detective who spoke out against the witch hunt of VIPs and he is being punished for his honesty.'

Another said: 'There is huge concern about the length of time it is taking the IPCC to carry out this investigation.'
He was an honorary co-chair of Trump's New York campaign and refusing to step down from the Buffalo school board, saying 'I certainly am not a racist'

Paladino, 70, claims he replied to the magazine's email request by mistake  and only intended to forward it to friends as a joke

An honorary co-chair of Donald Trump's New York campaign who grabbed headlines last week for a vicious attack on Barack and Michelle Obama insists that he's no racist and never meant for his cruel comments to be published.

When Artvoice magazine asked Carl Paladino in an email about his outlook on 2017, the Republican politician replied  saying he hoped 'Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford [sic].'

'He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret [sic], who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady [sic] cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her,' the screed continued.

Paladino added that he wanted Michelle Obama '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.'

On Tuesday he claimed it was all 'a mistake' and insisted that 'I certainly am not a racist.'

SCROLL DOWN TO READ PALADINO'S COMPLETE STATEMENT

Carl Paladino (right) told an entertainment magazine that he hopes Barack Obama 'catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford [sic]'

Paladino said of Michelle Obama: 'Id like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe'

'I publicly took responsibility for what I said and confirmed those were my answers,' Paladino said in a lengthy statement, 'but believe it or not, I did not mean to send those answers to Artvoice.'

'Not that it makes any difference because what I wrote was inappropriate under any circumstance. I filled out the survey to send to a couple friends and forwarded it to them not realizing that I didn't hit "forward" I hit "reply." All men make mistakes.'

The Buffalo News asked him last week if he had really written the broadsides on the first couple. 'Of course I did,' he replied. 'Tell them all to go f*** themselves.'

Paladino said Tuesday that he has no intention of resigning his seat on the Buffalo School Board.

'I've spent years dedicated to the mission to defeat the thought that the liberal progressive elitist establishment can continue to hold our minority children captive in the cycle of poverty simply to provide their voting base,' his statement added. 'I don't intend to yield to the fanatics among my adversaries.'

But he conceded that he chose his words poorly in the statement to Artvoice, telling the magazine that '[y]our survey questions provided me with the spark to vent and write deprecating humor about a bad President for whom the main stream media continues to seek an undeserved legacy.'

'I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others. I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could not have made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings.'

Paladino met with Trump this month at Trump Tower while the president-elect and his transition team were speaking with potential cabinet appointees.

He later said his meeting with Trump was 'very warm,' but that he did not see himself working in the incoming 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 Ellicott Development Company, a real estate firm in Buffalo.

He ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2010 against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

Paladino met with President-elect Donald Trump earlier this month but wasn't offered a job in the new administration

SORRY, NOT SORRY: CARL PALADINO'S EXPLANATION CARL PALADINO 'I never intended to hurt the minority community who I spent years trying to help out of the cycle of poverty in our inner cities. To them I apologize. I thought about them every day as I fought against unqualified and incompetent superintendents, administrators, teachers and School Board members, unfair union contracts, broken homes and children who can't get the education they need to break that cycle of poverty because our school system is a failure, for reasons that needn't be. I have shown those who chose not to watch but to enter the arena how to fight the demons. Nevertheless, I won't be judged by those timid souls who sit unbloodied in the gallery always prepared to criticize. Nor do I have any respect or regrets for the insane education activists who hover over and defend the dysfunction of the BPS. 'I received your emailed survey at an emotional moment after I had just listened to Obama's statement that he regretted the slaughter in Aleppo that, in fact, resulted from his failed and cowardly foreign policy, a policy to look the other way while innocent people were murdered and starved. I view Barak Obama as a traitor to American values. We don't stand down and leave soldiers to die on a battlefield when we can send help. We don't lie to the American people and the parents of our fallen to get re-elected. Obama has not led America to a better place by disregarding the rule of law and standing with his elitist brethren as above the law nor has his wife Michele Obama who told our children and the world after the election that now "there is no hope for America." 'Your survey questions provided me with the spark to vent and write deprecating humor about a bad President for whom the main stream media continues to seek an undeserved legacy. I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others. I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could not have made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings. 'It's all too easy to make mistakes when you're emotional about the rigged teachers contract by an incompetent Board of Education majority who sold out the school district as payback to teacher's union leader Phil Rumore for his election support. They couldn't care less about the children of Buffalo. And I'm bewildered about the Supreme Court Judge who tried to dismiss a lawsuit to recover $450 million fleeced from the children of Buffalo by LP Ciminelli during the $1.4 billion schools building project. 'I publicly took responsibility for what I said and confirmed those were my answers, but believe it or not, I did not mean to send those answers to Artvoice. Not that it makes any difference because what I wrote was inappropriate under any circumstance. I filled out the survey to send to a couple friends and forwarded it to them not realizing that I didn't hit forward I hit reply. All men make mistakes. 'What is horrible is explaining to my 17 year old daughter how her hero could be so stupid. 'What is horrible is watching my family and friends react to the rabid hordes of attacking parasites we now call activist progressives. 'It's been a sick, combative year for America. We changed the direction of our country and beat back the demons for a few decades. I am proud to have been a part of the making of history. 'As for the vanquished progressive haters out there spewing their venom at anything that is a reminder of their humiliating defeat, irrelevance is tough to chew on. 'For the mean spirited disoriented press trying to find grounding and recover legitimacy on my back, pray that you still have a job next year because you have lost all credibility with the people. 'No, I'm not leaving the school board, not when it's time to help implement the real choice elements of Trump's plan for education reform. I've spent years dedicated to the mission to defeat the thought that the liberal progressive elitist establishment can continue to hold our minority children captive in the cycle of poverty simply to provide their voting base. I don't intend to yield to the fanatics among my adversaries. I certainly am not a racist.' Advertisement

Paladino drew outrage during that election season when he said he did not want children 'brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. 'It isn't.'

He also said Gay Pride marches were 'not the example we should be showing our children.'

He made those comments at a Brooklyn synagogue.

Paladino also came under fire in July when he opined on Twitter that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch should be lynched. He later deleted that tweet and said it was a mistake.
US jet pilots carried out 18 airstrikes on ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria on Christmas Day - while wearing Santa hats.

They were pictured carrying out raids in the festive gear during their ongoing fight against the Islamic State, which is codenamed Operation Inherent Resolve.

The US-led coalition jets and local ground forces have been engaged in a double-pronged attack on ISIS in Mosul, its last major stronghold in Iraq - and its de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa.

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US jet pilots carried out 18 airstrikes on ISIS strongholds in Iraq and Syria on Christmas Day - while wearing Santa hats

The airmen were pictured carrying out raids in the festive gear during their ongoing fight against the Islamic State, which is codenamed Operation Inherent Resolve

Syria was the target for 14 of the airstrikes, while the other four in were in Iraq.

The roughly 5,200 U.S. troops presently stationed in Iraq are part of an international coalition helping local forces retake the third of their country seized by Islamic State more than two and a half years ago.

Their current target is Mosul, where Iraqi forces control around a quarter of the city - but fierce counter-attacks have rendered progress slow and punishing.

The coalition has retrained tens of thousands of local troops in the past two years and provides advice on military strategy and planning, as well as artillery support and air strikes that are indispensable to the war against Islamic State.

'Anything we can do to assist them in their operation forward with us not actually squeezing the trigger,' said Lieutenant Colonel Stuart James. 'So we'll move forward with them, but we're not the ones that make contact.'

American soldiers enjoy a Christmas dinner at an army base in Karamless town, east of Mosul

The US-led coalition jets and local ground forces have been engaged in a double-pronged attack on ISIS in Mosul, its last major stronghold in Iraq - and its de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa

A top commander told Reuters that U.S. forces were embedding more extensively with Iraqi troops in order to accelerate the Mosul campaign, which started on October 17.

Coalition advisers were initially concentrated at a high-level HQ in Baghdad but have fanned out over the past two years to spartan outposts, including ones not far from Mosul to stay near advancing troops.

'Merry Christmas from the most forward TAA at the tip of the spear,' James said, using a military acronym for the compound.

The austere outposts have few permanent structures, since the troops plan to move on when the Iraqi forces they are advising advance.

In one such base, heavy rain turned much of the ground into thick mud on Sunday as soldiers huddled inside two dining tents for a special holiday meal where a plastic Christmas tree and a Santa Claus figurine flanked one entrance.

Outside, a soldier in a Santa hat did pull-ups at a makeshift gym.

This is a far cry from the luxurious facilities at the sprawling compound the U.S. military once maintained inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone and other big bases that have since been handed over to the Iraqis.

'It will take three months to remove ISIS from Iraq'

Meanwhile, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said today that it would take three months to remove Islamic State from his country.

Abadi had previously pledged the northern city would be retaken by the end of this year. But the operation has been slowed by concern to avoid casualties among civilians, who have mostly stayed in their homes rather than fleeing as was initially expected.

Asked to respond to comments by the commander of a U.S.-led coalition supporting Iraqi forces that it would take as long as two years to eliminate Islamic State and its cells in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, Abadi said: 'The Americans were very pessimistic.

An ISIS fighter lies dead in Mosul. Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that it would take three months to remove Islamic State from his country

'They used to talk about a really long period, but the remarkable successes achieved by our brave and heroic fighters reduced that. I foresee that in Iraq it will take three months.'

Overnight the coalition bombed the last remaining bridge connecting the eastern and western parts of Mosul 'to reduce enemy freedom of movement', a spokesman said on Tuesday.

A statement published by Amaq, a news agency supporting Islamic State, said the bridge was now completely out of service, and an unconfirmed video circulated online showed a segment of the span had fallen into the river.

The United Nations has previously expressed concern that the destruction of Mosul's bridges could obstruct the evacuation of civilians. Up to 1.5 million are thought to remain inside.

Soldiers from the Iraqi Army Special Forces light candles during the Christmas mass at the Mar Shimoni Church on December 24 in Bartella, Iraq

More than two months into the Mosul operation, elite Iraqi soldiers have retaken a quarter of the city, but entered a planned 'operational refit' this month.

A U.S. battlefield commander told Reuters on Monday that Iraqi forces would resume their offensive in the coming days, in a new phase of the operation that will see American troops deployed closer to the front line inside the city.

Mosul, the largest city seized by Islamic State anywhere across the once vast territory it controlled in Iraq and neighbouring Syria, has been held by the group since its fighters drove the U.S.-trained army out in June 2014.
Sunbathers were forced to run for their lives after a private plane crash landed on a beach in Tenerife popular with British tourists.

The light aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on the Spanish beach in Las Teresitas in the capital of Santa Cruz at 1pm today.

All three people on board the plane including - a man, woman and 14-year-old girl- were injured in the crash but survived and were taken to La Candelaria hospital.

Police officers inspect the debris of a light aircraft that made an emergency landing at Las Teresitas beach in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

The light aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on the beach narrowly missing sunbathers

Eyewitnesses said that firemen had to cut through the roof of the plane to release the man but it is understood that the woman and teenage girl were able to walk away from the wreckage.

The passengers on board the plane are of Belgian and British nationality. The pilot of the plane is British, according to one report.

Authorities said that the plane had just left the airport to head for Morocco when a technical problem was discovered.

Tenerife airport was alerted that a light aircraft was in trouble and was going to perform an emergency landing on the airport runway.

Minutes later stunned swimmers reported that the plane had crashed on the beach.

The Mayor of Santa Cruz Jose Manuel Bermudez said it was a "miracle" no one had been killed either on the beach or in the plane.

Firefighters are now working to clean up fuel that leaked onto the beach.

It will not reopen until it is safe for the public.
Chabad of Chattanooga's Rabbi Shaul Perlstein looks on as Congressman Chuck Fleischman lights the lead candle of the Menorah at the Ice on the Landing on Monday the 3rd night of Chanukah. Cars topped with electric Menorah displays are escorted by the CPD down Market St. in Chabad of Chattanooga's Chanukah Menorah Parade on Monday Excited pedestrians wave and take photos of Chabad of Chattanooga's Chanukah Menorah Parade as it pulls into the Ice on the Landing A Menorah made of ice stands on display as participants at Chabad of Chattanooga's Menorah Madness skate to Chanukah music and lazer lights at the Ice on the Landing Prof. Tom Balazs participates in Chabad of Chattanooga's Chanukah Menorah Parade as his child waves to some onlookers excitedly Sara Perlstein, 5, sings the blessings on the Menorah as Congressman Fleischman and Chabad of Chattanooga's Rabbi Perlstein look on, at Chabad's Menorah Madness at? the Ice on the Landing Previous Next

To celebrate the 2016 Chanukah season, Chabad had a Car Menorah Parade Monday which departed from the Center for Jewish Learning at 950 Vine St. and traveled to the Chattanooga ChooChoo culminating in lighting an Ice Menorah at Ice on the Landing.

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, said officials. This year, Chabad-Lubavitch 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.

After the parade, Chabad of Chattanooga hosted a Menorah Madness at Ice on the Landing with giant screens and Chanukah lasers on the ice. A giant ice Menorah that is constructed entirely of ice blocks, was lit by Congressman Fleischmann.




The fashion for unpasteurised milk is being blamed for a new UK food-poisoning outbreak - as six raw milk-drinkers were taken ill.

Low Sizergh Barn Farm, in Kendal, Cumbria, has won tourism and National Trust awards for copying a US dairy trend and selling 'ready-to-drink', untreated milk.

With their slogan 'From Moo To You', their fresh-from-the-udder milk is sold from special dispensers at their trendy Lake District farm shop.

Low Sizergh Barn Farm, in Kendal, Cumbria, has won tourism and National Trust awards for copying a US dairy trend and selling 'ready-to-drink', untreated milk

But South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) now claim six people so far have fallen ill with campylobacter bacteria, having drunk the farm's raw milk.

SLDC said it had launched a joint investigation with the Food Standards Agency (FSA). It is not known if any of the six needed hospital treatment.

Today, the FSA warned of the dangers of the trend - saying the elderly and children should never 'consume raw drinking milk because it has not been heat treated.'

Low Sizergh Barn Farm said it was co-operating with the inquiry and had 'voluntarily suspended' sales of raw milk from its vending machine.

But the food poisoning outbreak comes after experts repeatedly warned against the rising trend in drinking unpasteurised, and potentially bacteria-laden milk.

It follows a 2015 US study which claimed raw milk makes people 100 times more likely to get ill than the pasteurised version.

Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning and in adults can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

The bacteria are usually found on raw or undercooked meat - particularly poultry - unpasteurised milk, and untreated water.

With their slogan 'From Moo To You', their fresh-from-the-udder milk is sold from special dispensers

The incubation period for campylobacter poisoning is usually between two and five days, but can be up to 10 days.

This is the time between eating contaminated food and the start of symptoms, which usually last less than a week.

Public Health England (PHE) asked anyone who had bought raw milk from the farm or visited its tearoom in the past two months to complete an online questionnaire.

A spokesman for South Lakeland Council said: 'The number of confirmed cases is small.

'But it is important that we let people know about the situation in case others have been affected.

'The FSA is leading on the ongoing investigation at the farm and they are working to ensure measures are in place to prevent the public consuming unsafe products.

'Unpasteurised milk was removed from sale at the premises as soon as the campylobacter results were confirmed.'

An FSA spokesperson added: 'Long-standing advice has been that vulnerable people - that's older people, infants, children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems - are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning.

'That is why these groups should not be consuming raw drinking milk because it has not been heat treated.'

The farm, which began offering unpasteurised milk from its vending machine in March, sells about 70 litres a day.

In June, at the Cumbria Tourism Awards hosted by comedian Justin Moorhouse at Cartmel Racecourse, the farm's milk helped it win 'Taste Cumbria Retailer of the Year'.

But South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) now claim six people so far have fallen ill with campylobacter bacteria, having drunk the farm's raw milk

In August the farm also won a National Trust fine farm produce award for its unusual unpasteurised milk.

Raw milk advocates believe it contains more natural antibodies, proteins, and bacteria than pasteurised milk, is healthier, cleaner, and tastes better.

They argue pasteurisation removes important nutrients, such as folic acid.

But a recent study showed it can put people at risk of microbial contaminants including infectious Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Listeria species.

It can also contain the most dangerous form of E. coli.

These bacteria can sometimes cause, in more serious cases, kidney failure or death.

Cissy Li, of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said after their 2015 study: 'The risks of consuming raw milk instead of pasteurised milk are well-established in the scientific literature and in some cases can have severe or even fatal consequences.
Man found one of the teens and helped him to shore, but Tui Gallaher vanished

Two 14-year-old cousins found themselves in trouble in water at Sydney beach

search for a teenager who vanished off Maroubra Beach to resume

The mother of a teenage swimmer who vanished at a Sydney beach has collapsed as emergency services contend with rough surf to try and locate the 14-year-old.

Just after 8.30pm on Tuesday, police were told two cousins, both from Guildford in Sydney's west, had found themselves in trouble in the water at Maroubra Beach in the city's east.

A 26-year-old man spotted one of the struggling teenagers and managed to help him to shore, but his cousin Tui Gallaher disappeared in the rough surf.

On Wednesday, Tui's mother collapsed on the foreshore while watching the rescues teams search for her son and she reportedly yelled: 'I just want my boy back'.

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The mother of a teenage swimmer who vanished at a popular Sydney beach has collapsed as the desperate search continues (pictured)

Tui Gallaher, 14, disappeared in rough surf at Maroubra beach in Sydney's east on Tuesday and has not yet been located

As the search resumed at first light on Wednesday, his mother sat on the foreshore watching the rescues teams search for her son and lifeguards rushed to her aid when she collapsed onto the sand

She was helped onto the life savers' buggy by lifeguards and a friend.

Tui's aunt, who lives in the US, said the family are holding out hope he will be found alive and are 'praying for a miracle,' The Daily Telegraph reported.

'I can't imagine what his mother is going through right now and my brother who is currently in Tonga for a family reunion as well as a school jubilee'.

After the teenager was spotted, emergency services were called and the 26-year-old man swam out to try and locate Tui.

His cousin was reportedly frantic and urging they help find Tui. The pair were at the beach with their family when the surf became too rough.

Police held a media conference on Wednesday morning and said they believe to know the area the teenager vanished and are scouring the water near the shore.

Surf life saving crews and police will resume the search for a missing 14-year-old after he vanished while swimming with his cousin

A friend was seen holding the mother of the missing teenager upright as lifesavers rushed over to help

Onlookers were seen staring out at the ocean as emergency services continued the search on Wednesday

A registered nurse spotted one of the teenagers as she walked past and managed to help him to shore, but his cousin had disappeared

A desperate search and rescue operation was launched involving Marine Area Command, Police Rescue, the Ambulance Rescue helicopter and SLSA Lifeguards

But at 11.40pm, the search was suspended due to poor visibility and dangerous surf conditions

Matthew Evans from Surf Lifesaving NSW said the 3-4 foot swell and a number of rips are making the search difficult.

On Tuesday, the search and rescue operation was launched involving Marine Area Command, Police Rescue, the Ambulance Rescue helicopter and SLSA Lifeguards.

But at 11.40pm, the search was suspended due to poor visibility and dangerous surf conditions.

The search for Tui resumed at 7.30am on Wednesday and will involve police and Surf Rescue crews.

The desperate search for a teenager who vanished in the water at a popular Sydney beach while swimming with his cousin has resumed

Police were seen talking to beachgoers for any information on the missing swimmer

Police comforted witnesses as they were forced to call off the search just before midnight
An Apple finance manager was fatally stabbed by her husband on Christmas Eve at their San Jose home, authorities have said.

Marco Lobato Arrais, 38, is accused of stabbing and killing 35-year-old Juliana Sewruk Trizi Arrais Saturday night. Marco called 911 in a panic to report the stabbing himself, officials said.

Juliana, a Brazil native according to her Facebook page, was taken to the hospital, where she died of her injuries.

Her husband was arrested at the scene and is now being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Main Jail, the Mercury News reported.

Marco Lobato Arrais (left), 38, is accused of stabbing and killing Juliana (right) at their home in San Diego. She was taken to the hospital and died of her injuries

Officers found Juliana inside a unit at a townhouse complex on North 10th Street Saturday evening. She had at least one stab wound, according to KRON4.

Authorities haven't announced a motive but are treating the case as domestic violence.

Marco was arrested earlier this year and accused of forcing his wife to have sex, the Mercury News reported citing a police report.

He was almost at the end of a 16-week diversion program and court-ordered therapy at the time of his wife's death.

The 38-year-old had demanded oral sex from his wife of five years in February and, when she refused, physically restrained her, according to the police report. Juliana locked herself in a bathroom but he forced his way in, the document states.

Marco pleaded no contest to misdemeanor false imprisonment and misdemeanor vandalism. He told authorities he was schizophrenic, according to the police report.

Juliana seemed focused on getting her husband into counseling.

'She did not want the suspect to go to jail. She wanted him to receive psychiatric help,' officers wrote in their report.

Officers found Juliana (pictured) inside a unit at a townhouse complex on North 10th Street Saturday evening

Juliana, according to her Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, had earned an MBA at the Kellogg School Of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

She had previously worked as an investment banker and had joined Apple in 2012.

The 35-year-old interned at the tech firm in 2011, then was hired as a senior financial analyst for retail real estate.

She then worked as a manager in retail real estate finance and started as a store operations finance manager in May last year.

Juliana had previously earned a business degree at the University Of San Paolo in her native Brazil. She spoke English, Spanish and Portuguese.

She had shared several photos of herself and her dog on Facebook and seemed to be a devoted pet owner.

Video courtesy of KRON4

Marco called 911 in a panic to report the stabbing himself, officials said. Officers found Juliana inside a unit at a townhouse complex (pictured) on North 10th Street Saturday evening
Cruising with Carnival as its 'a fun ship' that stocks plenty of alcohol

for company making its goals for the year after recession

Four charter airplanes will fly everyone to Miami for a night before the cruise

A Waterloo cabinet manufacturer is taking its more than 800 employees on a company-paid Caribbean cruise to celebrate achieving key goals as it recovers from the recession.

Bertch Cabinet manufacturing co-founder Gary Bertch told his employees earlier this month that the company had met its goals for the year  and they would go on a five day cruise.

Employees depart on Sunday January 8 on one of four charter aircraft flying directly to Miami, where they will spend one night in a five star hotel before boarding the ship.

All 800 workers at Bertch Cabinet are going on a free trip to the Caribbean in January care of their boss. Here worker Joe Battles installs drawers

The Carnival cruise was chosen by Bertch because 'they're a fun ship. And if anyone knows our crowd, they like to have fun'

The Carnival cruise includes a stop at Key West and on the island of Cozumel off the coast of Mexico.

As to why Carnival?

Bertch is thrilled the company is back in the black again. Cruises had been reward to employees since 1989, but the last one was in 2005 before the recession hit

'They're a fun ship. And if anyone knows our crowd, they like to have fun,' Bertch said in an interview.

'The first time we had them we ran them out of beer. We've learned they stocked extra for our trip this time so we don't run out.'

The company, founded in a barn 1977, once employed more than 1,000 people. Employment dropped to about 600 people in 2011, but the company has since added about 240 workers, Bertch said.

'We finally got into the black again last year after we made it through the recession,' Bertch said.

He challenged employees a year ago to meet certain goals and offered the cruise as an incentive.

Cruises had been reward to employees since 1989, but that hadn't happened since 2005 because of the recession.

Bertch noted the recovery has been 'very slow' in his industry.
These are challenging economic times for the Saudi kingdom.

A sharp drop in oil prices has led to a cut in cabinet ministers' salaries and a wage freeze on civil servants in the wake of last year's record deficit of $97billion - in addition to major building projects being put on hold.

But that hasn't stopped the nation's King Salman from adding some new features to his seaside villa in Tangier, Morocco.

As these satellite images from October show, the retreat now has two helipads, several extra buildings and a tent the size of a circus big top.

King Salman of Saudi Arabia has added some new features to his seaside villa in Tangier, Morocco - including a tent the size of a circus big top

King Salman (pictured) has introduced tough economic measure in the Kingdom - including putting major building projects on hold - following a sharp drop in oil prices

One of the 80-year-old ruler's favourite hideaways, the sprawling complex is surrounded by 1,500m of wall, staffed by 30 members of the Moroccan royal guard, has its own medical facilities and top-notch restaurant-style kitchens.

When the king, who has reigned for two years, visited in summer, around 100 cars were on standby to chauffeur the royal entourage around town.

Details of the latest construction work were revealed by an anonymous member of staff, according to the New York Times.

Given the volatile economic climate in the Kingdom, which has also led to higher utility bills, such lavish spending might be questioned.

One of the 80-year-old ruler's favourite hideaways, the sprawling complex is surrounded by 1,500m of wall, staffed by 30 members of the Moroccan royal guard, has its own medical facilities and top-notch restaurant-style kitchens

When the king, who has reigned for two years, visited the Moroccan retreat in summer, around 100 cars were on standby to chauffeur the royal entourage around town. Details of the latest construction work were revealed by an anonymous member of staff

However, Anas al-Qusayer, spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Information, said in a written statement that the costs were covered from the kings personal account, not by the government.

Two weeks before Christmas, King Salman told his countrymen that he recognised economic restructuring measures adopted in response to a sharp drop in oil prices were painful, but said they were necessary to avoid long-term damage to the country.

'The state has sought to deal with these changes ... through a variety of measures to restructure the economy, some of which may be painful in the short run but ultimately aim to protect the economy of your country from worse problems,' he told the consultative Shura Council.

'Similar circumstances have happened before over the past three decades, forcing the state to cut its expenses, but it emerged from them, thanks be to God, with a strong economy and continuous and increasing growth,' Salman said.

The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has pushed energy-rich Gulf Arab states to rein in lavish public spending. Saudi Arabia racked up a record budget deficit of nearly $100billion last year, forcing it to find new savings and ways to raise money

In a drastic step to save money, the king in September ordered salaries of ministers and Shura Council members to be cut by 20 and 15 per cent, and scaled back financial perks for public sector employees.

The plunge in oil prices since mid-2014 has pushed energy-rich Gulf Arab states to rein in lavish public spending. Saudi Arabia racked up a record budget deficit of nearly $100billion last year, forcing it to find new savings and ways to raise money.

King Salman also said that Saudi Arabia sees the security of neighbouring Yemen as part of the kingdom's own security, and issued a thinly veiled warning to regional rival Iran not to meddle there.

'We will not accept any interference in its internal affairs or anything that affects its legitimacy (government), or will make it a hub or a passage for any state or party to target the security of the kingdom and the region as a whole,' he said, without mentioning Iran by name.

Saudi Arabia is leading an alliance of Arab states fighting to restore Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power after Houthi rebels aligned with Iran forced him into exile nearly two years ago.

Saudi Arabia accuses non-Arab Iran of trying to expand its influence into Arab countries such as Syria and Yemen, a charge Tehran denies.

Salman also said that Saudi Arabia would continue to work with world powers to achieve world peace.

He made no direct reference to Syria, where government forces finally broke rebel resistance this week in the city of Aleppo to deliver a major victory for President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war.
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President Barack Obama asked Americans once more to reject the politics of division, taking a subtle jab at his successor, Republican Donald Trump, as he faced a memorial commemorating the men and women who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Accompanied by Japan's Shinzo Abe, Obama said the United States' alliance with its wartime foe 'has never been stronger.' It is a reminder 'the most bitter of adversaries can become the strongest allies' and 'the fruits of peace always outweigh the plunder of war, Obama said.

'It is here that we remember that even when hatred burns hottest, even when the tug of tribalism is at its most primal, we must resist the urge to turn inward,' the two-term president, who leaves office in less than month, said Tuesday. 'We must resist the urge to demonize those who are different.'

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President Barack Obama asked Americans once more to reject the politics of division in a subtle jab at his successor, Republican Donald Trump, as he faced a memorial commemorating the men and women who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

Obama and Abe wave as they leave Kilo Pier overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial, part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, adjacent to Honolulu

Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe greet Pearl Harbor Survivors Everett Hyland, Al Rodrigues and Sterling Cale after giving remarks at Kilo Pier overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii

Accompanied by Japan's Shinzo Abe, Obama said in remarks 75 years after the attack that the United States' alliance with its wartime foe 'has never been stronger.' It is a reminder 'the most bitter of adversaries can become the strongest allies' and 'the fruits of peace always outweigh the plunder of war, he said

Abe did not apologize for the sneak attack in his remarks. He thanked the United States for its kindness and tolerance to Japan after the war, however

The visit, announced earlier this month and planned before Trump's upset win, closes the loop on Obama's pursuit of nuclear non-proliferation as president and his Asia rebalance

The outgoing president used to the occasion to direct Americans away from the attitudes he's said were reflected by Trump, who said he would ban foreign Muslims from coming to the country to combat the threat of terrorism

A Hawaiian native, Obama said 'this harbor is a sacred place,' particularly for residents of the state.

At Pearl Harbor, 'America came of age, a generation of Americans...the "Greatest Generation," they did not seek war, but they refused to shrink from it,' he declared.

'It is here that we reflect on how war tests our most enduring values,' he said, making reference to the internment camps the United States government forced Japanese Americans into during the war.

Abe is paying his respects to the soldiers who died in his country's unexpected attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base 75 years ago, mirroring a visit Obama made to Hiroshima, the Japanese city the U.S. obliterated at the end of the fight, in May.

The Japanese leader did not say he was sorry on behalf of his country for the military action that took more than 2,400 lives and drew the United States into WWII in 1941, much like Obama did not apologize for dropping atomic bombs on Japan at the end of the international conflict.

'President Obama, the United States of America, and the people around the world, as the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place and also the souls of the countless innocent people who became victims of the war,' Abe said through a translator.

Continuing, he said, 'We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow we the people of Japan have taken. And since the war we have created a free and democratic country that values the rule of law, and had has resolutely upheld our vow never again to wage war.

'We the people of Japan will continue to uphold this unwavering principle, while harboring quiet pride in the path we have walked as a peace-loving nation over these 70 years since the war ended,' he stated.

A Hawaiian native, Obama said 'the harbor is a sacred place,' particularly for residents of the state

Obama pats Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the arm after giving remarks at Kilo Pier overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii

The battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. Congress voted in favor of war the next day.

In this December 7, 1941 file photo, provided by the U.S. Navy, a small boat rescues a USS West Virginia crew member from the water after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

Obama and Abe met privately on Tuesday before a wreath-laying ceremony atthe USS Arizona memorial and scheduled remarks

President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial, part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, adjacent to Honolulu, Hawaii

Abe and Obama made a joint pilgrimage to the site of the Pearl Harbor attack on Tuesday to celebrate 'the power of reconciliation'

Obama took a break from his Hawaiian vacation on Tuesday to accompany Abe to a Pearl Harbor memorial honoring Americans killed in former enemy's strike.

'It was a place which brought utter silence to me,' Abe said afterward. 'Even 75 years later, the USS Arizona, now at rest atop the seabed, is the final resting place for a tremendous number of sailors and marines.

'Listening again as I focus my senses, alongside the song of the breeze and the rumble of the rolling waves, I can almost discern the voices of those crewmen,' he said. 'Rest in peace, precious souls of the fallen. With that sentiment, I cast flowers on behalf of Japanese people, upon the waters where those sailors and marines sleep.'

The visit, announced earlier this month and planned before Trump's upset win, closes the loop on Obama's pursuit of nuclear non-proliferation as president and his Asia rebalance.

He has invested in relations and pursued more open trade with Japan and South Korea as part of his regional strategy to thwart North Korea and challenge China.

The outgoing president used to the occasion to direct Americans away from the attitudes he's said were reflected by Trump, the surprise winner of November's presidential election. Trump said he would ban foreign Muslims from coming to the country to combat the threat of terrorism. He's since widened the net to include anyone from a county with significant ties to extremists.

'The character of nations is tested in war but it is defined in peace,' Obama said Tuesday as he recounted 'one of the most horrific chapters in human history.'

Obama and Abe are seen arriving by boat at the U.S. naval base in Hawaii this afternoon

Japan dropped the first set of bombs on the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, at 7:55 am on Dec. 7, 1941. The United States had not entered World War II at the time - but it had taken punishing actions against Japan

Abe and Director of the National Memorial of the Pacific James Horton observe a moment's silence as 'Taps' are played after presenting the wreath at burial spot on Monday

Shortly after landing in Hawaii Prime Minister Abe took a wreath to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, the final resting place for more than 13,000 American veterans of the war in the Pacific

JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR Japan dropped the first set of bombs on the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, at 7:55 am on Dec. 7, 1941. The United States had not declared war on Axis countries at that time. It had frozen Japanese assets and cut off its access to wartime materials through an embargo in response to the country's invasion of China and French Indochina, however. Prime Minister Tojo Hideki ordered a strike on the U.S. Pacific fleet, destroying the USS Arizona, capsizing the USS Oklahoma and sinking the California, Nevada, and West Virginia. More than 2,400 Americans were killed, including dozens of civilians. Another 1,178 Americans were wounded. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it a 'date which will live in infamy' and Congress near unanimously voted to authorize the country's entry into World War II the next day. Advertisement

Obama is vacationing in Hawaii with his family, as he has done annually at Christmas since he took office, and visited the USS Arizona Memorial with Abe this afternoon.

They met privately on Tuesday before a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial and scheduled remarks.

Abe arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Monday. On the tarmac to greet him was U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy.

The Japanese PM laid a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, also known as Punchbowl, Monday afternoon and observed a moment of silence.

Punchbowl is a burial space for members of the armed services, their children and their spouses. More than 13,000 soldiers who died fighting in the Pacific Theater in World War II are buried there.

The Japanese prime minister is the first to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, erected in 1962, but he is not the first Japanese leader to travel to Pearl Harbor since the war.

Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, a former prime minister, visited in the 1950s, as did two other Japanese heads of state.

The Japanese government is emphasizing Abe's visit, though, and has pointed out that he's the first leader to make a joint visit alongside an American president.

Obama in May became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

Abe is paying his respects to the soldiers who died in his country's unexpected attack on the Pearl Harbor Naval Base 75 years ago

Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, greeted Abe on the tarmac Monday after his arrival at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickman

The Japanese city was the site of the first nuclear bomb. On August 6, 1945, the United States wiped out 80,000 people instantaneously with the weapon - 160,000 more are believed to have died from related injuries and radiation.

A second bomb hit Nagasaki three days later, and Japan soon surrendered.

The only uses of nuclear weapons in warfare in history, Obama has stridently pursued a policy of nuclear non-proliferation, striking a deal in 2015 with Iran and other United Nations Security Council countries to keep Tehran from achieving enhanced weapons capabilities.

Eight nations are known to have nukes, including Russia, China, the UK and the US. Israel is also believed to have nuclear weapons in its possession.

'We may not be able to eliminate man's capacity to do evil,' Obama said in remarks at Hiroshima, 'so nations and the alliances we have formed must possess the means to defend ourselves.'

For nations like the U.S. with nuclear stockpiles, he said, 'We must have the courage to escape the logic of fear, and pursue a world without them.'

Obama's replacement in the Oval Office, Donald Trump, has already begun to lead the United States in a direction that is markedly different than the one his predecessor envisioned.

Trump, who met with Abe at his office in New York after the election, has said he will scrap the president's Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation, Pacific Rim deal, and negotiate his own agreement.

Obama in May became the first sitting U.S. president to set foot in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Japanese city was the site of the first nuclear bomb

For nations like the U.S. with nuclear stockpiles, he said, 'We must have the courage to escape the logic of fear, and pursue a world without them'

Obama and Abe rode in the stern of the CINCPACFLT (Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet Barge) which is referred to as the Admiral's Barge to the USS Arizona Memorial

He suggested Thursday that he would also finance an expansion of the United States' 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,' he said in a tweet.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had asserted that his country needed 'strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems.'

Abe also played host to Putin this month in his home town. That trip was also planned before Trump's victory.

Trump's tweet was not a direct response to Putin, his newly named press secretary Sean Spicer, a spokesman for the transition, said Friday. Rather, it was a notice to every nation that the incoming president plans to reassert U.S. influence around the globe.

'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.
Theresa May could face another legal challenge to triggering Brexit unless she allows the House of Lords to vote on the issue

Theresa May could face another legal challenge to triggering Brexit unless she allows the House of Lords to vote on the issue.

Gina Miller, who helped bring the case that saw the High Court rule the Commons must vote on invoking Article 50, said the Lords also needs a 'proper debate'.

Ms Miller said that if the Supreme Court rejects the Government appeal against the High Court ruling, Mrs May should not try and bypass the Lords.

She told The Telegraph: '[There needs to be] proper debate in both houses and an act of Parliament. A resolution or a motion wouldn't be debated in both houses.'

Such a move could present a major headache for Mrs May as the Government does not have a majority in the Lords.

The Supreme Court is expected to announce its Article 50 ruling early in January.

Any further legal move after that could impact on Mrs May's plans to formally begin the Brexit process before the end of March.

A UK Government spokesperson said: 'The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum provided for by an Act of Parliament.

'We are determined to respect the will of the British people and intend to trigger Article 50 by the end of March next year.

'We will respond to the Supreme Court judgement when it is delivered.'

This month, 461 MPs backed a motion in favour of the Prime Minister's timetable for Brexit, giving her a 'blank cheque' to take Britain out of Europe.

Gina Miller, who helped bring the case that saw the High Court rule the Commons must vote on invoking Article 50, said the Lords also needs a 'proper debate'

MPs were warned they would be attempting to 'thwart' the will of the people if they refused to endorse the plans.

The run-up to the debate on a Labour opposition motion was dominated by a major U-turn from Mrs May.

The Prime Minister will provide a 'plan' to MPs on her Brexit strategy - but in return has demanded the Commons endorse her planned timetable.

Mrs May missed the vote - which was not legally binding but had political weight - because she was in the Middle East on Government business.

Before the result was known, Supreme Court judge Lord Neuberger said it would seem 'odd' for the Government to go back to Parliament for its view on Brexit when it had already made this clear.

The suggestion was dismissed by lawyers for Gina Miller and her fellow claimant, hairdresser Deir Dos Santos.

Ms Miller said that if the Supreme Court rejects the Government appeal against the High Court ruling, Mrs May should not try and bypass the Lords

They say Parliament must pass a legislative act on Brexit.

A motion is a simple vote in the Commons, declaring that it is in favour of something. It is a one-off and usually symbolic
Turkish President Erdogan has claimed he has evidence the West is supporting ISIS

Turkish President Erdogan has claimed he has evidence the West is supporting ISIS as he intensifies the political crackdown against rivals following a failed coup.

Tayyip Erdogan claims to have photos and videos proving that western nations backed groups including Islamic State and Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD, who have launched numerous violent attacks on Turkey in the past.

It comes as he called for the US to extradite his political nemesis, preacher Fethullah Gulen, who the authorities accused of leading a plot to seize power in July.

Gulen, a former political ally turned foe, denies the accusations and Washington has refused to return him to Turkey.

Today, 29 police officers went on trial Tuesday accused of failing to defend president on a day when citizens took to the street to conquer the coup.

The hearings follows a massive crackdown on alleged putschists, with 41,000 under arrest in a national state of emergency in the most far-reaching legal process in the country's history.

Erdogan's critics have suggested that the Muslim leader is using the coup attempt to cleanse the country of his political opposition and introduce a more Islamist agenda.

Meanwhile, Turkish troops fighting ISIS in Syria have come up against increasing resistance, leading to a number of Turkish soldier deaths and casualties.

Today's accusation that the West supports terror groups comes as he called for Qatar and Saudi Arabia to be invited to talks with Russia on peace in Syria.

The sensational accusation comes as 29 police officers went on trial Tuesday accused of failing to defend president during a failed coup. Pictured are armed guards outside the court

The government says 248 people were killed by the coup plotters, who tried to take hold of the country in July (pictured)

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the main backers of rebels seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is closely allied with Moscow and Tehran.

It comes amid tension with Russia after its ambassador was murdered by a Turkish policeman in the capital after claims he was radicalised in the police force.

But Erdogan said Turkey would not take part if any 'terror organisations' are also invited, referring to Syrian Kurdish groups - such as those mentioned in his statement today - affiliated with Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.

'They [the West] were accusing us of supporting Daesh (Islamic State),' he told a press conference in Ankara.

'Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG, PYD. It's very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos,' he said.

The police officers accused of involvement in the military coup are the first such case in Istanbul but small-scale cases involving suspects have already begun in the provinces. On Monday 60 people went on trial in the southwestern city of Denizli.

But the trial in Istanbul - in a gigantic courthouse outside the Silivri prison in the city - is the most significant to date. The government says 248 people were killed by the coup plotters.

Pro Erdogan supporters hold Turkish national flags during a rally at Taksim square in Istanbul following the failed military coup

The accused are charged with seeking to overthrow the government as well as allegedly being members of the group led by US-based preacher Gulen. Of the 29 police on trial in Istanbul, 24 are under arrest, one on the run and the rest on bail.

Special forces in camouflage gear stood guard outside the courthouse and snipers were posted on the balconies of nearby minarets.

The names of the accused and the indictment were read out, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Arguments for the defence are expected to follow with the initial hearings expected to last until Friday.

Twenty one face up to three life sentences and the other eight officers could be handed jail terms of between seven-and-a-half and 15 years on charges of 'terror group' membership.

Special forces in camouflage gear stood guard outside the Silivri prison complex (pictured) and snipers were posted on the balconies of nearby minarets

Three police helicopter pilots are specifically accused of ignoring orders to protect Erdogan's waterside residence in Istanbul. Others allegedly failed to report for duty or to support colleagues resisting the coup.

'We will make sure the guilty - within the framework of the law - are punished and given the most heavy punishment possible,' said lawyer Orhan Cagri Bekar, head of the July 15 Association, which represents victims of the coup.

President of the Turkish lawyers' association Mehmet Sari said the trials would have a wider bearing for the country.

'Never again will a group interfere in our state and to try to lead a putsch. This is what this trial will do,' he said.

An unidentified man uses his belt to hit Turkish soldiers involved in the coup attempt that surrendered on Bosphorus Bridge

However there has been growing international alarm over the extent of the crackdown amid the state of emergency imposed after the coup, with critics concerned it has been used to target Erdogan's opponents.

With the purge showing no sign of relenting, the interior ministry said 1,096 people suspected of links to Gulen were detained in the last week alone.

Erdogan has said there are strong public demands for retribution even extending to reimposing the death penalty.

He also said last week that the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara was carried out by a Turkish policeman loyal to Gulen, a claim not yet accepted by Moscow.

In a rare political speech, Erdogan's prominent younger daughter Sumeyye Erdogan Bayraktar said the group of Gulen had been 'unmasked' in its tactic of 'taking possession of the minds and hearts' of people.

'Our state will defend the integrity, security and public will of our country with full vigour and force. All of this will be within the rule of law,' Anadolu quoted her as saying in Chicago.

Following the start of the Istanbul trial, several others will start, including on February 20 of 47 suspects accused of trying to assassinate Erdogan at a holiday resort.

The courthouse in Silivri has huge resonance for Turks after it was also used in trials against suspects in 2013 accused of a separate coup plot known as Ergenekon.

That case was strongly supported by Gulen and 275 police officers, journalists, lawyers and academics indicted for allegedly conspiring to oust Erdogan. But the convictions were quashed amid accusations Gulen had perverted the process.

Protesters carry an effigy of Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, founder of the Gulen movement, during a demonstration at Taksim Square, in Istanbul, after the coup attempt

Turkish forces are currently fighting in Syria and Islamic State recently published video purportedly showing the burning to death of two captured Turkish troops.

After users in Turkey reported problems using social media in the wake of the release of the video, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said some media needed to 'watch their step' in the face of attempts by terror groups to spread fear.

But officials have denied that it is authentic. 'There is still no clear information from our armed forces or defence ministry to confirm these video images,' Kurtulmus told reporters in Ankara in televised comments.

'If there is confirmed information, it will be shared with the public,' he said.

But Kurtulmus added that terror groups were 'vile mechanisms' and were seeking to 'spread desperation' through fear.

'In particular social media is not the place for irresponsible publications,' he said, warning that 'some friends in the media should please watch their step'.

'Turkey is at the moment in a de-facto war with Daesh (IS),' he added.

Pro-government supporters protested on the road leading to Istanbul's iconic Bosporus Bridge after Turkish lawmakers convened to endorse sweeping new powers for Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to expand a crackdown in the wake of July 15 failed coup

'Working to break the morale of the Turkish people with fake images is not patriotism,' he said, without specifying which images he was referring to.

After the video was first published late on Thursday, Turkey's Defence Minister Fikri Isik said three Turkish soldiers were currently being held by IS, without giving further details.

Users in Turkey had reported severe problems with social media after the video emerged and the Turkey Blocks monitoring network said it had confirmed a 'throttling' of Twitter and YouTube affecting many users.

It said the blocks appeared to have been implemented at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level, 'with each provider applying its own controls'.

However, by Monday access to Twitter was fully restored after some three days of disruption.

Mevlut Mert Altintas, a Turkish policeman, who killed Russian ambassador Ankara Andrei Karlov (pictured moments after)

Turkey's Western allies have in recent years accused Ankara of turning a blind eye to the rise of IS, an accusation strongly denied by the government which has listed the group as a terror organisation since 2013.

The current controversy renewed claims that former premier Ahmet Davutoglu, who stepped down this year, had said while foreign minister that IS members were 'just angry young kids'.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Davutoglu's office said he had never spoken such words and said legal proceedings had been started against those claiming he had.

The operation in Syria - dubbed Euphrates Shield - has become a sensitive issue with the government keen to ensure public support is not undermined by the growing casualty toll.

Thirty-seven Turkish soldiers have died so far in the operation after another wounded soldier lost his life in hospital in Turkey, reports said.

A Turkish court has put a broadcast ban on reporting of the investigation into last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov, state media said on Tuesday.

A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey.

Russian servicemen carry a coffin with the body of Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov after a farewell ceremony at the offices of the Russian Foreign Ministry

An Ankara court has this week agreed to ban broadcasting images of the assassination - which was caught on film - as well as the investigation itself, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

This includes news concerning witnesses, victims or suspects in the murder.

The ruling said such news could be prejudicial to the investigation and to national security. The ban will last for the duration of the investigation.

It was not clear what had prompted the ban one week after the December 19 murder but it came one day after the daily Hurriyet published a detailed interview with the sister of the murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas.

The sister, named as Seher O, said her brother had been 'brainwashed' while attending police school in Izmir.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Altintas was a member of the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup.
President Barack Obama's former Special Envoy for Middle East Peace said Tuesday that the United States should have vetoed an anti-Israel resolution in the United Nations Security Council on Friday rather than abstaining from the vote and letting it pass.

George Mitchell, a former Senate majority leader, told MSNBC that while Obama's policy is sound, he should have deferred to incoming president Donald Trump and stayed out of the fight over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

'President Obama would have been wise to veto this resolution,' Mitchell said. 'Not because of the policy implications but because of the timing and the circumstance that it leads to with respect to trying to get the parties together.'

He defended the merits of Obama's decision to side with Palestinians and other adversaries of Israel, however.

He said it: Former Obama administration Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell told MSNBC that the White House should have either delayed Friday's anti-Israel vote in the United Nations Security Council, or vetoed it

Unanimous: The Security Council vote passed Friday with a 14-0 vote when the US declined to veto it, breaking a long tradition of protecting its most steadfast Middle East ally

'Every American president since the beginning of settlements 50 years ago  from Johnson and Nixon, down through [George W.] Bush and Obama  has opposed Israel's policy on settlements,' he said.

Congress hasn't always agreed. American lawmakers have a history of bipartisan cooperation in pushing for the U.S. embassy to be relocated to Jerusalem, for instance, a dramatic shift that Trump has pledged to begin quickly in 2017.

And in March a Republican-controlled Congress passed a trade bill that defined Israel for the first time as including Arab territories that the international community considers 'occupied' territory.

The move was an add-in to 'fast track' trade authority sought by Obama, and meant to provide incentives for countries to abandon financially punishing boycotts of products made in Israel.

Obama signed the bill but declared in what's known as a 'signing statement' that his administration would choose to ignore that provision of the law.

Mitchell seemed to defend the current president's approach on Tuesday, saying claims that Obama failed to 'protect Israel' last week are 'completely false'

'I think much is being made of it that is false,' he said, 'but it would have been wise, I think, to defer this if possible and, if not, to veto it.'

History: Mitchell was Obama's chosen Middle East envoy and held talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and also with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak (pictured at right in September 2009)

Furious: Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu ranted Sunday that the US had orchestrated a UN resolution that denounced the illegal occupation of the West Bank by Israeli settlers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already accused the Obama administration of not just abandoning its customary UN veto, but orchestrating the UN Security Council resolution that declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank are criminal in nature.

Netanyahu summoned the ambassadors of ten of the countries that voted in favor of the resolution to his weekly cabinet meeting Sunday.

'From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed,' he told them in Hebrew, according to NPR.

The Israeli leader's pointed venting at the ambassadorial gathering  which included envoys from Security Council permanent members Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France  continued in English.

'Over decades, American administrations and Israeli governments had disagreed about settlements, but we agreed that the Security Council was not the place to resolve this issue,' he said.

'We knew that going there would make negotiations harder and drive peace further awayAnd, as I told John Kerry on Thursday, friends don't take friends to the Security Council. I'm encouraged by the statements of our friends in the United States, Republicans and Democrats alike.

'They understand how reckless and destructive this UN resolution was, they understand that the Western Wall isn't occupied territory.'

Netanyahu also summoned the US ambassador for a meeting  a rare move by an Israeli leader.

The resolution, which condemned the occupation by Israeli settlers of parts of the West Bank that were seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War, passed 14-0 on Friday when U.S. ambassador to the UN Samantha Power obeyed a White House directive not to cast a vote.

Most of the world opposes the settlements, which come at the expense of Palestinians living in the occupied territories, but the US has traditionally used its veto to block UN condemnation.

However, on Friday the US abstained for the first time  marking a massive break from its long-standing policy, which is to hold back on official condemnation for fear of upsetting a possible two-state solution.

The result could restrict Israel's negotiations in future peace talks, and Israel also fears economic sanctions.

Orders: US ambassador Samantha Power (center) was ordered to abstain from voting by Obama, but the White House says Egypt organized the resolution with Palestinians

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu's spokesman, David Keyes, said: 'We have rather ironclad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place.'

The White House has confirmed that Obama told US Ambassador Samantha Power to abstain in the vote.

But in a statement the White House denied that the US had a hand in creating the resolution.

'The Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution,' said White House spokesman Eric Schultz.

'The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote.'

Angry: Netanyahu summoned the ambassadors of ten of the voting countries, along with the US ambassador, for meetings. He cited unnamed sources as evidence of an alleged US plot

Israel has also recalled its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for discussions and cancelled a visit to Israel by Senegal's foreign minister that was planned for January.

Trump has campaigned on behalf of Israel last week, reportedly after being contacted by Israel.

He later tweeted that the UN vote had made a peaceful solution to conflicts in the area more difficult, and that 'Things will be different after Jan 20.'
This is the footage guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings of any Carrie Fisher fan: the actress' perfect audition tape for 'Star Wars: A New Hope', which reveals her instant chemistry with her future on-screen partner Harrison Ford.

The clip resurfaced Tuesday afternoon in the wake of the iconic actress' death aged 60, four days after suffering a massive heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles.

It shows how Fisher, who was just 19 years old when filming began in 1976, seemed to slip into the role of Princess Leia effortlessly, delivering complicated lines about the Death Star and droid R2 at a time when the Star Wars universe existed only in George Lucas' imagination.

Her striking chemistry with Ford foreshadows the cult duo she later formed with him as Han Solo. Fisher revealed this year in her new book 'The Princess Diarist' that she and Ford had a three-month affair on set.

Carrie Fisher was just 19 years old when filming began for 'Star Wars: A New Hope' - but her audition tape shows she was perfect to star next to Harrison Ford and Marl Hamill

Fisher's audition tape shows the 19-year-old actress sitting down to read lines with Ford, who was a 33-year-old, married father-of-two at the time.

Ford doesn't appear on camera while exchanging lines with Fisher but his voice is clearly recognizable.

Fisher does a stellar job at conveying Leia Organa's mix of wisdom and strength, as she explains to Ford how she plans to destroy the Death Star.

She stares intently into Ford's eyes while she tells him she hid precious data in R2.

The clip (left) resurfaced Tuesday afternoon in the wake of the iconic actress' death aged 60, four days after suffering a massive heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles

Fisher revealed this year in her third book that she and Ford (pictured with a couple of Stormtroopers in 1980) had a three-month on-set affair

When Ford worries out loud that their enemies will follow them, Fisher nods knowingly and explains: 'I know they'll follow us. And they'll bring the Death Star. But our only hope is to destroy it before it destroys us.'

The original Star Wars movie came out in 1977 and dethroned Jaws as the highest-grossing film in history

At the end of the video, Fisher is asked to look into the camera and say her name and does as she is told with a smile.

The original Star Wars movie came out in 1977 and dethroned Jaws as the highest-grossing film in history.

Fisher wrote about her intense on-set affair with Ford in 'The Princess Diarist'.

'I looked over at Harrison. A hero's face  a few strands of hair fell over his noble, slightly furrowed brow,' she wrote. 'How could you ask such a shining specimen of a man to be satisfied with the likes of me?'

Fisher and Ford reprised their roles as Leia and Han Solo in the 2015 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'.

Ford paid tribute to Fisher after her death, writing: 'Carrie was one-of-a-kind... brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life bravely... My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her Mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her.'

Fisher did a stellar job in her audition tape (pictured) at conveying Leia Organa's mix of wisdom and strength, as she explains Ford how she plans to destroy the Death Star
A Painting and Pottery exhibit, presented by MACC students and mentors, is slated for Jan. 6-27 at the Mountain Arts Community Center, 809 Kentucky Ave. in Signal Mountain. The show and sale features original art work.



An opening reception will be held on Jan. 6 from 5-7 p.m.



"It is becoming an annual tradition to offer the community a peek into the MACC art and pottery classes. Original works of students will be on display in Gallery 5 at the MACC during the month of January.



"During the First Friday reception on Jan. 6, art and pottery techniques will be demonstrated by instructors Val Gibson and Lolly Durant, and many pieces on exhibit will be available for purchase," officials said.

New art and pottery classes begin Jan. 10.



Gallery 5 is open during regular MACC hours, Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.



Participating students and mentors:

Shirley Mabee

Wendy Roth

Keith Barry

Jennie Storey

Kittie Williams

Laurie Buchanan

Verna Watson

Carol Lewallen

Melissa Atkinson

Lolly Durant

Valerie Gibson
Police have released a sketch of the man and are appealing for help

Police are searching for a pervert who exposed himself to a nine-year-old girl riding a scooter next to her mother in Melbourne.

The girl and her mum, who was riding a bike, were in Cruickshank Park in Yarraville about 8.30pm on December 11 when the man indecently exposed himself.

After exposing himself to the girl the man then began to follow her, but fled when the girl alerted her mother.

Police are searching for a pervert who exposed himself to a nine-year-old girl riding a scooter next to her mother in Melbourne

Police say the man is of caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, aged between 30 and 40 with a solid build, messy ginger hair, a big nose, with a round unshaven face and large eyes.

He was wearing a black cap, a dark coloured striped shirt with a butterscotch coloured under-shirt and dark shorts and was carrying a jumper at the time of the offence.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
They have since found that package was a

Trump Tower in New York was evacuated over a suspicious package sparking panic among the shoppers and vistors who were filmed fleeing the building.

The Manhattan tower, the home of President-Elect Trump and his family, was evacuated at just before 5pm on December 27.

The NYPD has now given the all-clear after they found the 'suspicious package' left in the lobby, near the entrance to a Nike Town store, was in fact a backpack full of children's toys.

Trump was not inside the building during the security scare, according to reports. The real estate mogul is currently at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida with his family.

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Trump Tower in New York was evacuated on Tuesday as terrified people were seen fleeing the building over a suspicious package

The Manhattan tower, the home of President-Elect Trump and his family, was evacuated around 5pm on December 27

The evacuation, standard protocol for a suspicious package, highlights the difficulty security teams face in protecting the president-elect in the middle of the densley populated New York City.

Footage posted online showed people, many with bags of shopping, fleeing from the Tower to the street outside during the evacuation.

Dozens of spectators then crowded the streets outside the Fifth Avenue skyscraper as fire crews arrived at the scene. They were later ordered to move away from the building.

A witness told the AP that the crowd was 'evacuated very quickly. It was hysteria.'

'Police were shouting and telling people to leave,' said Andy Martin, a 16-year-old from the New York City suburb of Huntington who was in Manhattan with family, according to the AP.

Emergency crews were called in and NYPD spokesman Stephen Davis said that by 5pm, the bag had been examined by a bomb squad and deemed safe.

Emergency crews quickly assembled a mobile Command Post to plan their next step

Two fire fighters stand outside the luxury high rise after reports of a suspicious package

The tower has been under heavy security protection since Trump won the election last month. A no-fly zone was imposed over the 58-story structure, barricades were set up and both police and the Secret Service have been on guard.

The Secret Service was also in negotiations to take over two floors of the Tower which could cost more than $3 million a year, according to a report.

But that has not stopped several security alerts over the past year while Trump campaigned for the presidency. An envelope full of white powder prompted the fourth floor to be evacuated earlier this year. It was later deemed safe.

While the president-elect will relocate to the White House in January after his inauguration, the new First Lady and Barron will stay in their midtown Manhattan apartment until Trump's youngest son finished this year of school.

But Trump has made it clear he plans to be in New York City regularly and will make even more frequent visits while Melania and Barron are there.

The Tower has also been home to his transition team as he prepares for the move to the White House.

While the president-elect will be protected by Secret Service, the local police are always called on to help assist them. Blasio said the city will need help with the cost of overtime officers will be working to keep the first family safe.

Police crowded onto the street outside of Trump Tower, on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan

The Tower was evacuated over a suspicious package which was found either inside or nearby

Police car and fire trucks lined the street outside Trump Tower after the security alert

NYPD's primary responsibility will be controlling the movement of the general public, according to CNN Money.

Presidents are required to have local police protecting them when they return to their homes.

It cost taxpayers $2 million a year to station U.S. Coast Guard boats off the coast of George H. W. Bushs Maine estate during his presidency. While the Secret Service paid Vice President Joe Biden $2,200-a-month to rent the neighboring cottage to his Wilmington, Delaware home.

But because Trump lives in the most densely populated neighborhood in the biggest city in the U.S., this is a massive task.

'We have never had a situation where a POTUS would be here on such a regular basis.

'The NYPD is up to the challenge and the city of New York is up to the challenge, I have no doubt about that,' de Blasio said.
Bedblocking is costing the NHS half a billion pounds a year, figures reveal.

The rate at which patients are becoming trapped in hospital because of a lack of care at home has more than doubled since 2010.

At the most recent count there were as many as 4,568 mostly elderly patients stuck on hospital wards.

In 2015/16, bedblocking patients who were well enough to be discharged spent a total of 1,489,575 days in hospital.

In the most recent count there were 4,568 mostly elderly patients stuck on hospital wards

Each day costs an average of 306, meaning the NHS spent a total of 455,809,950 looking after these patients.

Figures analysed by Labour show this money could have paid for 10,775 nurses at a cost of 42,300 a year, including salary and admin fees. Alternatively it could have funded 450,000 cataract operations, 41,000 hip replacements or 28,000 breast cancer treatments.

The crisis is being blamed on a lack of social care funding which is causing councils to slash services such as home help, meals on wheels and nursing home provision.

This is leading to elderly patients becoming trapped in hospital as they cannot be discharged until they can cope on their own.

In 2015/16 bedblockers well enough to go home spent a total of 1,489,575 days in hospital beds

AS NURSE CHIEF WANTS TO SLASH BEDS MONEY saved by reducing beds could be ploughed into better care at home, the NHSs Chief Nursing Officer claimed yesterday. Professor Jane Cummings described the current system as outdated and argued prolonged hospital stays made patients health worse. But MPs and think-tanks said until the NHS spent more money on improving GP services and district nursing, they could not safely reduce beds. Currently many elderly patients are forced to remain in hospital even after theyve recovered. This is due to a shortfall in social care funding with councils unable to provide home visits, residential care and meals on wheels. The UK has the second lowest number of hospital beds per capita in Europe. OECD figures show there are just 2.95 beds per 1,000 people. Chris Ham, chief of The Kings Fund, said: Trying to moderate demand for hospital care is the right thing to do. But it will need investment outside hospitals  GPs, social care, district nurses  before you can realistically cut back on hospital beds. Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labours health spokesman, said: Any changes should be based on clinical evidence, not driven by financial gaps. Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Professor Cummings said: Many patients stay in beds for too long, because home care is not available, often becoming more ill as a result. NHS bosses are drawing up controversial local plans which could lead to the closure of A&E units, maternity wings and entire hospitals. Advertisement

The figures from NHS England also show that hospitals lost a total of 134,221 days to bedblocking in October 2015. This is up from 58,362 in October 2010, when data was first compiled. Bedblocking also leads to overcrowding in A&E units as patients cannot be moved on to wards as there is so little space.

Figures yesterday showed the number of patients waiting 12 or more hours in casualty has trebled in three years, partly as a result.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labours health spokesman, said: The Government is letting older people down by failing to provide much needed investment for social care.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labours health spokesman, pictured, said the Government needs to act

The crisis in our social care system is having a knock-on effect on overstretched hospitals and GP surgeries, and patients deserve better than this Tory failure.

Janet Davies, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, added: Far too many older patients are forced to stay in hospital because of insufficient social care. The health service needs to adapt to the ageing population it is caring for.

Some hospitals have resorted to threatening patients with eviction in an attempt to ease bedblocking.

They include the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Trust, which wrote to families in 2014 explaining it would take legal action if necessary. Sandwell and West Birmingham has a similar policy whereby relatives are issued with notices saying they have a fixed time to find a care home.

Managers at both trusts insisted they were a last resort and only used when families were claiming they didnt like nursing home curtains or hadnt got round to renovating the granny annexe.

Earlier this month the Government gave the green light to councils to increase tax by 3 per cent a year to raise money for social care. But MPs questioned why ministers werent diverting money from the 12 billion in foreign aid to help ease the shortfall.

A Government spokesman said: No one should be in hospital unnecessarily  and so to rise to the challenge of an ageing population, were ensuring the money available to local authorities for social care increases every year and by up to 3.5 billion extra in 2020.

The Government is also investing an extra 10 billion to fund the NHSs own plan for the future to reduce pressure on hospitals  sadly, Labour committed to neither.

Being on a ward really is bad for your health, a study has found.

Doctors and nurses distracted by an emergency with another patient leads to others being neglected, with serious consequences.

The University of Chicago study, published in JAMA, found that six hours after an emergency, the odds of a second patient undergoing a crisis increased by 18 per cent.

If there were two such events during a six-hour period, the risk of yet another crisis rose by 53 per cent.
The Drexel University professor who tweeted a Christmas Eve message wishing for 'white genocide' says that he's being 'smeared' by 'violent racists.'

George Ciccariello-Maher, who is white and an associate professor of politics at the Philadelphia university, caused a stir when he sent a tweet to his 11,000 Twitter followers on his private account saying 'All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide.' He said the post was meant to be satirical, however, the university wasn't laughing.

The school issued a statement on Sunday, saying, 'While the University recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate, Professor Ciccariello-Maher's comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the University,' according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Drexel University professor of politics George Ciccariello-Maher claimed that his Christmas Eve message - 'All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide' - was meant to be satirical

Ciccariello-Maher's Christmas Eve tweet wasn't taken kindly by Drexel University in Philadelphia

The university also said it had called the professor to set up a meeting to discuss the tweet in more detail.

Ciccariello-Maher, who teaches about race and racism, said that the tweet was meant to 'mock' the idea of white genocide, which is an 'imaginary concept.'

'For those who haven't bothered to do their research, 'white genocide' is an idea invented by white supremacists and used to denounce everything from interracial relationships to multicultural policies (and most recently, against a tweet by State Farm Insurance). It is a figment of the racist imagination, it should be mocked, and I'm glad to have mocked it,' he told the outlet.

'Genocides carried out by the very same kind of violent racists who are smearing me today,' he told the Philadelphia Inquirer

He said he was the target of 'a coordinated smear campaign [that] was orchestrated to send mass tweets and emails to myself, my employer, and my colleagues,' and that he's received hundreds of death threats.

He added that he's being harassed by 'white supremacists.'

'I teach regularly on the history of genocidal practices like colonialism and slavery -genocides carried out by the very same kind of violent racists who are smearing me today,' he said.

The university, he said, shouldn't be buckling under an internet mob.

The politics professor, who specializes in race and racism, said he's received 'hundreds' of death threats

Drexel University, pictured, said it plans to meet with the professor to discuss his 'deeply disturbing' tweet

'[It] sends a chilling message and sets a frightening precedent. It exposes untenured and temporary faculty not only to internal disciplinary scrutiny, but equally importantly, it encourages harassment as an effective means to impact university policies.'

His tweet caught the attention of white nationalist Richard Spencer, who seemed appalled at the professor's claim that 'white genocide' doesn't really exist.

'Anyone at Drexel able to bring me to speak to the student body? Contact me,' he tweeted, along with retweeting several people who found the professor's tweet offensive.

Ciccariello-Maher followed up his initial tweet by praising the 'massacre' of whites in Haiti during the country's slave uprising and revolution more than two centuries ago.
The increase of artificial intelligence will likely leave millions of Americans unemployed in coming years, reveals a new report from the White House.

The less educated working class will likely be greatly affected by the technology, which in turn creates a greater divide of wealth inequality throughout the nation.

However, the report suggests AI could improve the country's productivity growth, which would result in higher wages and fewer work hours  concluding that the US economy needs more AI, not less.

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The increase AI will leave millions of Americans unemployed in the next coming years, reveals a new report from the White House. The less educated working class will be most affected, which in turn creates an even greater divide of wealth inequality throughout the nation

THE NEW REPORT The White House published a report warning millions of American may lose their jobs to AI. Less-skilled and less-educated workers will be affected the most. The technology may also increase wealth inequality. However, AI will improve the country's productivity growth, which would result in higher wages and fewer work hours. New jobs will also be created for those who were replaced for robots. Humans will still be needed to engage with consumers, develop AI and supervisor tasks and the technology. Advertisement

The report, called 'Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the Economy,' is a follow-up on the Administration's previous report, 'Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence', which was released in October.

The previous report called for the White House to release the economic impacts of AI by the end of 2016.

'These transformations will open up new opportunities for individuals, the economy, and society, but they have the potential to disrupt the current livelihoods of millions of Americans,' reads the report released on last week.

'Whether AI leads to unemployment and increases in inequality over the long-run depends not only on the technology itself but also on the institutions and policies that are in place.'

Researchers across the world have given different estimates about the size of jobs that could be lost once AI becomes more mainstream.

A recent study from Forrester suggest 6 percent of jobs will be replaced by AI over the next five years.

But the White House report cites a 2013 study from Oxford University that says a whopping 47 percent of jobs are at risk.

And both studies conclude that it is the lower-skilled and less educated workers that will be hit the hardest.

The White House report cites a 2013 study from Oxford University that says a whopping 47 percent of jobs are at risk.Softbank's humanoid robot Pepper (pictured) introduces Nestle's coffee machines at an electric shop in Tokyo

MORE ROBOT SOLDIERS BY 2030 A top US general responsible for shaping the military of the future has revealed that robots could make up a quarter of the army within the next few decades. General Robert Cone said last year that the hi-tech machines will fight alongside soldiers on the battlefield by 2030 or 2040, in a bid to make the army 'a smaller, more lethal, deployable and agile force'. He said modern health and safety concerns designed to keeping soldiers safe - adding armour and protection to vehicles and personnel - has caused the army to lose some of its lethal edge, but hinted that robots could revitalise its killing force. The US Army has a long-running mission to create autonomous robots - machines capable of making decisions, in real time, on the frontline to changing circumstances. More than a decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq has allowed the public to see the huge resources already dedicated to unmanned systems; from the high-flying Global Hawk to the lethal Predator drones to hand-launched Raven. Advertisement

'This means that automation will continue to put downward pressure on demand for this group, putting downward pressure on wages and upward pressure on inequality,' the report said.

'In the longer-run, there may be different or larger effects.

'One possibility is superstar-biased technological change, where the benefits of technology accrue to an even smaller portion of society than just highly-skilled workers'.

The US economy has greatly changed over centuries with the introduction and evolution of technology.

However, the report suggests AI could improve the country's productivity growth, which would result in higher wages and fewer work hours. The White House says the development of AI will create new jobs that require human engagement, development and supervision

SHOULD AI SCARE US? Artificial Intelligence has been described as a threat that could be 'more dangerous than nukes'. Now a group of scientists and entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, have signed an open letter promising to ensure AI research benefits humanity. The letter warns that without safeguards on intelligent machines, mankind could be heading for a dark future. The document, drafted by the Future of Life Institute, said scientists should seek to head off risks that could wipe out mankind. The authors say there is a 'broad consensus' that AI research is making good progress and would have a growing impact on society. It highlights speech recognition, image analysis, driverless cars, translation and robot motion as having benefited from the research. 'The potential benefits are huge, since everything that civilisation has to offer is a product of human intelligence; we cannot predict what we might achieve when this intelligence is magnified by the tools AI may provide, but the eradication of disease and poverty are not unfathomable,' the authors write. But it issued a stark warning that research into the rewards of AI had to be matched with an equal effort to avoid the potential damage it could wreak. For instance, in the short term, it claims AI may put millions of people out of work. In the long term, it could have the potential to play out like a fictional dystopias in which intelligence greater than humans could begin acting against their programming. Advertisement

Many of the jobs that existed 150 years ago are obsolete today, and no one could have predicted the jobs that took their place.

The report gives an example of how in 1870, about half of the country's employees worked in agriculture that supplied the nation with food.

Now, there are machines and other technologies that have taken over the labor and are producing much more food in a shorter time frame.

However, the space only employs less than 2 percent of American workers, but 'food production exceeds domestic demand,' shares the report.

Although there have been many negative ideas about AI joining the workforce, the report suggests that because the technology is capable of churning out more products and performing tasks much quicker, humans working side-by-side with them will earn a higher salary while working fewer hours.

'One of the main ways that technology increases productivity is by decreasing the number of labor hours needed to create a unit of output,' explains the report.

'Labor productivity increases generally translate into increases in average wages, giving workers the opportunity to cut back on work hours and to afford more goods and services.'

'Living standards and leisure hours could both increase, although to the degree that inequality increasesas it has in recent decadesit offsets some of those gains.'

YOURE AT MORE RISK IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR There is an 83 percent chance that artificial intelligence will eventually takeover positions that pay low-wages, says White House's Council of Economic Advisors (CEA). A recent report suggests that those who are paid less than $20 an hour will be unemployed and see their jobs filled by robots over the next few years. But for workers who earn more than $20 an hour there is only a 31 percent chance and those paid double have just a 4 percent risk. To reach these numbers the CEA's 2016 economic report referred to a 2013 study about the 'automation of jobs performed by Oxford researchers that assigned a risk of automation to 702 different occupations'. Those jobs were then matched to a wage that determines the worker's risk of having their jobs taken over by a robot. 'The median probability of automation was then calculated for three ranges of hourly wage: less than 20 dollars; 20 to 40 dollars; and more than 40 dollars,' reads the report. The risk of having your job taken over by a robot, Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Jason Furman told reporters Monday, 'varies enormously based on what your salary is.' Furman also noted that the threat of robots moving in on low-wage jobs is, 'another example of why those investments in education to make sure that people have skills that complements automation are so important,' referring to programs advocated by President Obama. Advertisement

We may be living in an era with more advanced technology, but the White House notes that the public may not be sold on using more robots.

But listed in the report are ways to help Americans with the transition.

They suggest investing in and developing AI, which includes developing the technology in areas such as cyber-defense, as well as boosting education in this area.

Officials also believe that the way to help Americans become more comfortable working side-by-side with robots is to educate and train them with the technology.

And they also believe that if aid workers in the transition empower workers, they will ensure broadly shared growth.

This can be done by modernizing the social safety net, which could include 'more robust interventions' from the government, such as further strengthening the unemployment insurance system.
Who knew that mild mannered Erin Molan was once a teen rebel trying to sneak out to a midnight party right under her parent's nose?

The NRL Footy Show host shared a hilarious letter she penned to her mum and dad as a teenager, in which she pitifully tries to conceal her sneaky plans for the evening.

'One of my favourite things about Christmas... seeing how far we have all come,' the beauty captioned the picture, before explaining it's amusing meaning.

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Teen rebel: The NRL Footy Show host shared a hilarious letter she penned to her parents as a teenager in which she pitifully tries to conceal her sneaky plans for the evening

'Like, for example, this letter I sent to mum and dad whilst I was in Year 9 at Boarding School,' she continued.

'I now know the 34th doesn't exist, that 12pm is midday and that if you are lying about going with her 'parents' then make sure you cross out what you are really doing (trying to go to a PARTY) with a much thicker pen,' she finished the funny tale.

The 34-year old was clearly able to laugh at her younger and more naive self, adding the humourous hashtags #yearninerebel #theysaidno #obviously.

Mama's girl: 'So grateful for beautiful parents who support me and others' the sports journalist captioned this moving image with her mother taken at a cancer charity ball

Tightknit: The TV personality is very close to her family, including her dad, regularly catching up with them and posting the photos to Instagram

The TV personality is very close to her family, including her grandparents, regularly catching up with them despite her busy life and posting the photos to Instagram.

In July, the sports journalist attended the Bowel Cancer Ball in Brisbane, at which she was a guest speaker, alongside her mother.

'So grateful for beautiful parents who support me and others' she captioned a moving image of the two of them dressed to get to the nines.

Sorry nan: Erin joked that her grandparents weren't as happy to see her as she was them

Erin has been a vocal spokesperson for bowel cancer, raising awareness after her sister Sarah Sutton's battled the disease five years ago.

Further proving her close bond to her family, in 2015, the blonde was moved to tears when she interviewed her sister for The Footy Show about her struggles with illness.

'I get asked all the time who is the most impressive person I've interviewed. I've interviewed some very big sporting stars in my life, but you are the most inspirational person I've ever known,' she told her sister at the time.
Jillian Harris will not be a bachelorette much longer.

The Bachelorette beauty, 36, informed more than 600,000 Instagram followers Sunday that she was engaged to boyfriend Justin Pasutto.

Harris, who hosts Love it Or List it Vancouver on HGTV, shared a shot of herself, Pasutto, their baby Leo, four months, and their dogs all in bed enjoying the Yuletide celebration at the Opus Hotel in Vancouver, decked out in seasonal pajamas.

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Perfect day: Jillian Harris of The Bachelorette took to Instagram Sunday to announce she was engaged to boyfriend Justin Pasutto. The two posed with their son Leo and two dogs in the heartwarming holiday reveal

In the shot, Jillian's hand was positioned in a way that revealed her engagement ring.

She wrote: 'Well THAT was SOME Christmas morning!!!!! OH MY GOD my heart cannot handle this much LOVE!

Harris said that Pasutto had 'made [her] the HAPPIEST girl in the world,' adding emojis of a ring and a heart, and the hashtags, '#Finally #ISimplyAskedForOneThingForChristmas.'

Family unit: Jillian shared this Christmas eve shot of the happy couple on their holiday journeys

Baby's first Christmas: The husband and wife-to-be took son Leo to pose with Santa this year

Too cute! The ABC reality star showed off this shot of her young son Leo, who she delivered in August

Breakfast brag: Harris on Monday said she was 'just having breakfast in bed with my "FIANCE"' in this Instagram shot

We found love: Harris and Pasutto appeared on The Bachelor At 20: A Celebration of Love this past February

Pasutto - who's been dating the reality star for four years - also posted the shot, adding in on his page, 'Merry Christmas from the Pasuttos! . At least soon to be.'

Harris, who is eight years older than her fiance, opened up in March on her blog about the age difference between the two as she revealed to the world her pregnancy with baby Leo, who she gave birth to August 5.

She wrote: 'I was 32 when we met, and Justin was a fresh ripe 24. BTW I SWEAR he told me he was 27, which I rounded up to 28 so in my mind we were basically the same age HAHA.'

Harris noted that the 'age difference was never really an issue' for either party, as their 'love was always strong and very real and thats all that mattered.'

So strong and real, according to Harris, that she 'could have gotten knocked up with his baby on that second date and [she] probably would have been over the moon,' adding she 'WAS smitten'

The Peace River, Alberta native was previously engaged to Ed Swiderski, who she selected during her season of The Bachelorette, but the couple parted ways in 2010. She first rose to prominence during the 13th cycle of The Bachelor in 2009, in which she was vying for the affection of lead hunk Jason Mesnick.
Margot Robbie celebrated her last days as a single woman by taking an artisan baking course with friends.

The revelation was made as Gold Coast eatery Bam Bam Bakehouse confirmed they had hosted the blonde beauty's hen's group the Friday night before her wedding, as well as catering for a second hen's party event on the Saturday afterwards.

Ursula Watts, who owns Bam Bam Bakery and Paddock, confirmed the Hollywood starlet's party details to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.

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'She joined us Friday night': Inside the Gold Coast bakery which hosted Margot Robbie's hen's party before her top-secret wedding in Byron Bay (pictured at the bakery on her hen's night)

'She joined us Friday night for a hen inspired artisan pastry class at Bam Bam Bakehouse where we're famous for the most incredible pastries,' Ursula said.

'Bam Bam and our other outlet Paddock Bakery then catered her hen's party (Saturday) which was at a private venue.'

Bam Bam Bakehouse is already a cult favourite on social media, with customers posting countless photos showing off its delicious pastries and lush floral interior.

Double the fun: Gold Coast eatery Bam Bam Bakehouse confirmed they had hosted the blonde beauty's hen's group for a baking class the Friday night before her wedding, as well as catering for a second hen's party event on the Saturday afterwards

But the revelation that Margot hosted her hen's party at the bakery is sure to see the venue become more popular.

In a striking similarity, a flower-infused purple gin that the actress was snapped drinking at the bakehouse during her hen's party has also sold out online.

Her hen's party drink of choice was a gin and tonic made using Ink Gin, a spirit created using native and exotic botanicals to achieve its unusual hue.

Popular: Bam Bam Bakehouse is already a cult favourite on social media, with customers posting countless photos showing off its delicious pastries and lush floral interior

Busy: Owner Ursula also told the publication that publicity from Margot's patronage had resulted in a huge spike in business

Since Margot had shared a photo of her drinking the gin to Instagram, Husk Distillers owner Paul Messenger told News Corp that the gin has sold out online and at Dan Murphy's.

Last Tuesday, Margot revealed that she had secretly wed her film director beau Tom Ackerley the day before, in an intimate ceremony in the lush hills surrounding Byron Bay.

She confirmed she was married by posting to Instagram a photo of her holding a diamond-glad wedding finger up to the camera as her and Tom kissed in the background.
She's the talented Australian star who's raising a family in Los Angeles.

And stylish mum Tammin Sursok stunned in an Instagram snap on Tuesday, as she pouted her luscious lips and blew kisses to her 888,000 followers.

The 33-year-old appeared snug as she wore a thick coat and jeans and left her long tresses down for the photo.

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'Baby, it's cold outside!': Tammin Sursok pouts and blows Christmas kisses to her followers in a picture shared to Instagram on Tuesday... after returning home for the festive season with her family from their travels

The former Home and Away star captioned the image, which is believed to be a throwback, in part: 'Baby it's cold outside!'

The petite star, who plays a teen on the hit US show Pretty Little Liars, showcased her slender figure in tight jeans and the fitted grey coat with fur trimming.

She made sure to let her fans know that her fur was indeed 'faux' by the use of her two hashtags.

We are family! On Friday Tammin Sursok posted an adorable snap of her kissing her husband Sean McEwan while clutching on to the little hands of her three-year old daughter Phoenix

The mother-of-one wore minimal makeup for the picture, in which her cheeks and lips appeared naturally flushed and rosy due to the temperature.

Tammin and her family have had a busy year travelling the globe, but headed home in time for Christmas.

On Friday the actress posted an adorable snap of her kissing her husband Sean McEwan while clutching on to the little hands of her three-year old daughter Phoenix.

Tired bunny? Captioning the post: Home in time for Christmas. Love to you and your families from ours,' her toddler looked a little weary as she rested her head on her hands

The former Home And Away star captioned the post: 'This fam bam has had the most incredible time away. We have laughed, cried, loved, faced challenges, grown as a family, learned more about each other and had our eyes opened by our many adventures.'

Then a few hours later, the brunette beauty posted a pic of her tired toddler sitting atop a suitcase, captioning he post: 'Home in time for Christmas. love to you and your families from ours.'

It was a stark contrast to Phoenix's bubbly composure a few days back.

In a video posted to the actress' Instagram account on Thursday, the toddler is seen 'busking' as an man plays a piano nearby.

'I feel like this kid is going to do something with her life,' she captioned the video, which was filmed at London St Pancras train station.

Tammin had been travelling around Europe on a promotional tour with her Pretty Little Liars castmates and had taken her little girl along.

In another photo shared Thursday, the mother-of-one shared a photo of the child aboard the train, wearing pink headphones and happily distracted by her favourite film.

'After 4 countries today and a food strike we improvised our own picnic. Thank god for wine and the Lion King!' Tammin wrote in her caption.

Little star! In a video posted to her mum's Instagram, Tammin Sursok's toddler Phoenix is seen 'busking' at a London train station as an entertainer plays the piano nearby

Chilly! Tammin has been travelling around Europe promoting her TV series Pretty Little Liars

Phoenix has been enjoying the globetrotting lifestyle, even joining her mother on stage briefly at a Pretty Little Liars fan convention in Brussels this week.

The performer shares a very special bond with her firstborn, who she recently worried may grow up feeling pressured to change her beautiful curly hair.

'I want Phoenix to know that her hair is unique and beautiful just like she is!,' Tammin wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post.

Snacks: 'After 4 countries today and a food strike we improvised our own picnic. Thank god for wine and the Lion King!' Tammin joked about her long train journeys across Europe

Tammin may have been travelling around Europe but she actually lives in LA, and stars as Jenna Marshall on the hit show Pretty Little Liars.

The South African-born star has been married to her director husband Sean since 2011.
He plays the brilliant but eccentric Sherlock Holmes in the eponymous BBC drama.

But Benedict Cumberbatch revealed he might be enlivening the character a bit too well - admitting that he's started to take on the detective's abrupt and impatient nature.

The 40-year-old actor also joked that his actress mother Wanda Ventham thought he became 'much curter' with her during filming for the series.

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Star of the show: Benedict Cumberbatch, 40, admitted his actress mother Wanda Ventham thought he became 'much curter' with her during filming for Sherlock

He told the Radio Times: 'I do get affected by it. There's a sense of being impatient. My mum says I'm much curter with her when I'm filming Sherlock.'

The London-born actor added that it was amazing to play a complex role, with Sherlock going through 'very bleak' moments as well as 'funny' ones since the show first aired in 2010.

And it seems Benedict's mum isn't afraid of showing some tough love to her actor son, as it was revealed she didn't think he was 'good-looking enough' to play Sherlock.

Showrunner Steven Moffat told Time Out: 'Benedict's mum didn't think he was good-looking enough to play Sherlock. Nobody did.

Straight-talking! And it seems Benedict's mum isn't afraid of showing some tough love to her actor son, as it was revealed she didn't think he was 'good-looking enough' to play Sherlock

Nasty! The new season is said to be dark, nasty and meaty

'He never thought of himself as good-looking and everyone casually agreed with him. He still regards it as preposterous that he's become this sex symbol.'

Meanwhile, fans of the drama series will have to wait until New Year's Day to watch the first episode of the new series.

It comes as the newest installment in the crime series is to be 'the darkest and meatiest' season yet.

Writer Mark Gatiss recently told The Telegraph that the show will feature 'the most proper dramatic incident we could possibly throw at [the characters].'

Someone's glad to be back! Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are in very high spirits as they attend a screening for Sherlock series four

Sidekick: Martin opted for a casual ensemble, including a denim jacket, cardigan and dark trousers

Members of the cast have described the fourth series as 'very sad' and 'nasty' but also 'magic' and 'the best yet'.

Eager fans of the show will be relieved to see it's back having had to wait a year to the day since the last new episode aired.

As is the tradition with the series, the last episode aired on New Year's Day this year, but was only a one-off special.

Before that, fans hadn't seen new installments since 2014 when the third full season was on.

In character: The new season premieres on BBC One on New Year's Day

That began on January 1 2014 and was over by January 12, as it was only a three episode run.

The fourth season begins with episode one, which has been titled The Six Thatchers.

It will open with John and Mary Watson, played by real-life couple Martin and Amanda, who will welcome a new baby, Rosamund, into the family.

Fans have speculated that Mary will be killed off in the new series, following the same route as the Arther Conan Doyle books on which it is based.

On-set images from earlier in the year saw Benedict looking a little more ragged than usual, hinting that the character of Sherlock is to be put through the mill.

Whatever happens, season five has already been commissioned, and will continue the story over the next couple of years.
Currently enjoying a holiday in Africa, it's only natural that Ashley Graham had to show just a little bit of skin on her latest outing.

The 28-year-old model was all over social media on Monday sharing photos from Pink Lake in Dakar, Senegal.

She was joined by husband Justin Ervin as she showed off her stomach in a black crop top with matching leggings combination.

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Strike a pose: Ashley Graham showed off her stomach as she documented her trip to Pink Lake in Dakar, Senegal in photos posted to social media on Monday

Camel candid: The model, 28, was joined by husband Justin Ervin as they spent the holidays in West Africa really taking in the local culture

The model and the director spent the holidays in West Africa really taking in the local culture.

The couple safaried with a guide and shared many special moments from the expedition with their online followings.

The candid camel photo came about at Pink Lake, a body of water formally known as Lake Retba, or Lac Rose by the locals.

Hanging with the locals! Ashley Graham posed with her husband Justin and a camel

Not so rosy: The self-proclaimed 'sexalicious' model pointed out that Pink Lake wasn't looking quite so pink on Monday

Apparently the nearby waters appear pink because of Dunaliella salina bacteria, a type of algae which produces a red pigment to absorb sunlight and thrives in the environment due to its unusually high salt content of the lake.

But as the self-proclaimed 'sexalicious' model pointed out, it wasn't looking quite so pink on Monday. The hue is known to vary, however, dependent upon the amount of rain received by the region.

Safari time! Later in the day the couple hopped aboard an orange and black vehicle, outfitted for adventure in face masks to block the sand

Animal friendly: A guide took them around Senegal, where the two took in the creatures of the land in their natural habitat

Later in the day the couple hopped aboard an orange and black vehicle, outfitted for adventure in face masks to block the sand during their safari.

A guide took them around Senegal, where the two took in the creatures of the land in their natural habitat.

They shared a meal with a monkey, watched zebras, ostriches and giraffes grazing, and even spotted a sounder of warthogs, that lovable beast depicted as the animated character of Pumbaa in Disney's The Lion King.

Monkey, giraffes and boars, oh my! They spotted a sounder of warthogs, that lovable beast depicted as the animated character of Pumbaa in Disney's The Lion King

Creatures of the land: Ashley and Justin shared a meal with a monkey and came upon ostriches and giraffes on their safari

The pair spent much of their trip in Dakar, the westernmost point on the continent of Africa and the capital city of Senegal, a country which is slightly smaller than the state of South Dakota.

Other sights the lovers took in during their stay included attending a Christmas Eve religious service at Keur Moussa monastery and a trip to Joal-Fadiouth, which the world knows as Shell Island because it's a man-made island, made up almost entirely of clam shells.

While there Justin shared a photo of a baobab tree, also known as the 'tree of life' for its ability to store up to 1200 gallons of water in its trunk, the roots of which are partly responsible for holding Shell Island together.

Making the rounds: The husband and wife also took a trip to Joal-Fadiouth, which the world knows as Shell Island because it's a man-made island, made up almost entirely of clam shells
They fell in love in front of Australia as contestants on The Bachelorette.

But while they confirmed their split on Tuesday, questions still remain as to why Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek have parted ways after 18 months together.

Throughout the year, Sam has spoken about her struggles with the public scrutiny her relationship faced, which caused her to have an emotional breakdown in July and delete her social media accounts in October.

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Was the scrutiny too much? From a mid-year emotional breakdown to unfollowing each other on Instagram, it is unknown what caused Sam Frost and Sasha Mielczarek to part ways

In November last year, barely a month after going public with her romance with Sasha, the radio host called the police to complain about a photographer taking photos of her on a public Sydney street.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the onetime publicity-friendly Sam reported the photographer had made her feel threatened.

This marked the end of Sam's once open relationship with the paparazzi, with The Bachelorette star's management previously arranging deals with photo agencies to snap 'candid' photos of Sam, Fairfax Media reported.

Broken: Following a loved up trip to Bali in June, Sam took to Twitter the next month to reveal she had suffered an emotional breakdown because of anonymous bullies online

'I copped a really hard time': Sam later took to her radio show to complain about online trolls putting a wall up between her and Sasha

In the months that followed, Sasha and his petite beau rode high on their love and publicity.

Sam frequently spoke about their sex life on her new breakfast radio show on 2DayFM, and the pair were a regular staple of Sydney's social scene, photographed together at countless red carpet events.

But following a loved-up trip to Bali in June, Sam took to Twitter the next month to reveal she had suffered an emotional breakdown because of anonymous bullies online.

'I was in an awful place, a really, really dark place': She said the online abuse was so bad it caused her to not want to leave her home

'To the fake accounts heavily trolling me online & into my personal life. If you wanted to break me.. Congratulations you have won,' she tweeted.

Explaining the background behind her tweet on Rove and Sam a few weeks later, the 28-year-old said the trolls had been closing her off from Sasha, leaving her in a 'dark place'.

'When I first started this job in November, you know Id been dealing with a lot the previous two years. It was emotionally and mentally exhausting. I love my job, I love working with you every day, but I copped a really hard time,' Sam explained.

Radio rant: In August, Sam complained about boyfriends following 'hot naked chicks' on Instagram after a female caller phoned in about it

'Everyone was so critical, the media were critical, and trolls were horrendous. I was getting so heavily trolled, and there were other elements to it that I dont even want to mention.

'For about three or four months Id go to work, Id come home, and I wouldnt even want to leave the house. I was in an awful place, a really, really dark place. I shut my friends out, I shut my family out. Id come to work, go home, and stay in that dark horrible place. My relationship was struggling, because I shut Sash out.'

But on her radio show in August, Sam went on a rant about boyfriends following 'hot naked chicks' on Instagram after a female caller phoned in about it.

Rumours: In October, New Idea published a story claiming that the couple had broken up, the same week that Sam and Sasha had unfollowed each other on Instagram

I hate the excuse: Oh, everyones doing it",' Sam said on air.

Oh, I am sorry, is everyone dating me? No, so stop following them, stop liking their pictures.

Dudes and Instagram... Get your **** together.

In October, New Idea published a story claiming that the couple had broken up, the same week that Sam and Sasha had unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Instagram free: She later deleted all her social media accounts, explaining that she needed a break from the scrutiny that came with them.

But the reality star soon slammed the rumours in a fiery Instagram post.

'New Idea get a f***ing life! For the one millionth time, Sash & I have not split. In fact we are stronger than ever. Spoilers: Social media isnt the real world. The media isnt the real world. Whats real is the time you spend with your partner, the challenges you work through and the unconditional love and support we have for one another. We actually prefer to keep social media out of our relationship, because that is what works for us,' Sam wrote angrily.

She later deleted all her social media accounts, explaining that she needed a break from the scrutiny that came with them.

'New Idea get a f***ing life!' The reality star soon slammed the rumours in a fiery Instagram post.

In November, Sasha and Sam seemed to be putting any break up rumours to rest as the radio host reactivated her Instagram account.

The south coast builder appeared on her breakfast show to promote his role as a Movember ambassador, and Sam was back to posting loved-up selfies of the couple together on Instagram.

But the Sydney socialite explained she was still hesitant to post photos of them together in real time, fearing it would lead fans to track down their location.

Business as usual? In November, Sasha appeared on her breakfast show with Rove McManus to promote his role as a Movember ambassador

'When I see Sash I don't really snap that I am with him,' Sam told a Facebook Live question and answer session in December.

'I don't want people to know and come follow us and try and find us.'

The couple spent Christmas apart, with Sasha snapped hugging a mystery brunette in the Gold Coast and Sam later posting a cryptic message on Instagram about the yuletide season not always being 'sunshine and rainbows'.

Just two days after Christmas, the couple announced their relationship had ended.
It set viewers pulses racing with the sight of Tom Hiddlestons behind  and it seems critics were impressed too.

The BBCs lavish thriller The Night Manager has been named by the Radio Times magazine as the best television programme of 2016.

Broadcast on BBC One in the Spring, the six-part series based on the spy novel by John Le Carre saw Hollywood heartthrob Tom Hiddleston pitted against cantankerous baddie Hugh Laurie.

It set viewers pulses racing with the sight of Tom Hiddlestons behind (pictured)  and it seems critics were impressed too

The BBCs lavish thriller The Night Manager has been named by the Radio Times magazine as the best television programme of 2016

Broadcast on BBC One in the Spring, the six-part series based on the spy novel by John Le Carre saw Hollywood heartthrob Tom Hiddleston pitted against baddie Hugh Laurie



The annual poll of Radio Times critics also revealed an impressive year for home-grown programmes, with British dramas dominating the top ten.

Following its success in the Christmas Day ratings war, the BBC triumphed in the list with eight of the top ten programmes on the channel.

The third series of Jed Mercurios police corruption thriller Line of Duty on the BBC came in second place, earning it a fourth series coming out next year.

While in third place was Sally Wainwrights dark police thriller Happy Valley also on the BBC, starring Sarah Lancashire and James Norton.

Radio Times Deputy TV Editor described winner The Night Manager  with its star-studded cast including Olivia Coleman and Tom Hollander - as the years silkiest, sexiest thriller which set the yardstick for le Carre adaptations.

A surprise omission perhaps though was the second series of Poldark, which came fourth with its first series last year on BBC One. The winner in 2015 was the adaptation of Hilary Mantels award-winning novel Wolf Hall.

The third series of Jed Mercurios police corruption thriller Line of Duty on the BBC came in second place, earning it a fourth series coming out next year

While in third place was Sally Wainwrights dark police thriller Happy Valley also on the BBC, starring Sarah Lancashire (pictured) and James Norton

Coming in fourth place this year was Fleabag, the only comedy on the list. The six-part series written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge began on BBC Three before later being broadcast on BBC Two.

In fifth place was the BBCs lavish adaptation of War and Peace by Andrew Davies, also starring James Norton.

RADIO TIMES CRITICS' TOP TEN OF 2016 1 The Night Manager 2 Line of Duty 3 Happy Valley 4 Fleabag 5 War & Peace 6 The Missing 7 The Crown 8 Planet Earth II 9 National Treasure 10 The Great British Bake Off Advertisement

But it was a good year too for online TV site Netflix, which broke into the top ten with The Crown in seventh place.

Costing a reported 100million, the British period drama follows the early years of her reign though to the present day.

Channel Four was also in the top ten with National Treasure, which followed, coming in at number nine on the list.

In TV dramas first direct response to Operation Yewtree, Robbie Coltrane played a beloved TV comedian accused of serial rape.

Sir David Attenboroughs epic six-part natural history series Plant Earth II took eighth place, whilst the last series of the BBCs version of The Great British Bake Off, whose final was the most watched programme of the year, completed the Top 10.

Tim Glanfield, Editor of RadioTimes.com, said: 2016 has been a fantastic year for television, from primetime home-grown dramas that have gripped the nation to classic series of Strictly and Bake Off that have shown that live linear TV still has the power to draw big audiences and create water-cooler moments.
Bec Judd (nee Twigley) and Chris Judd married on New Year's Eve in 2010.

And as the pair prepare to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary, they were spotted packing on the PDA at a Noosa beach this month.

The 33-year-old model and her former AFL playing beau stripped down to their swimmers and shared romantic smooches at the shoreline.

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Wedding bliss! Bec and Chris Judd pack on the PDA after sharing six years and four kids together during family holiday to Noosa earlier this month

Cute! The pair appeared smitten with each other as they enjoyed the summer outing in Queensland with their growing family, the place where they were engaged in 2009

The pair appeared smitten with each other as they enjoyed the summer outing in Queensland with their expanding brood.

They are parents to four gorgeous children under six - son Oscar, five, daughter Billie, two, and three-month-old twins Tom and Darcy.

Bec seemingly found it hard to keep her hands off Chris, 33, as she was seen with her hand on his backside and around his waist as they sunk their toes in the sand.

The TV host was also pictured leaning in for kisses, lifting her left leg into the air for the sweet moment.

Sharing obvious chemistry, the happy couple who have known each other since 2002, displayed loved-up vibes in front of their young children.

Loved-up! Bec seemingly found it hard to keep her hands off Chris, as she was seen with her hand on his backside and around his waist as they waded through the water

Getting close: Sharing obvious chemistry, the happy couple who have known each other since 2002, displayed loved-up vibes in front of their young children

Beachside smooch! The TV host was also pictured leaning in for kisses, lifting her left leg into the air for the sweet moment

With their sixth wedding anniversary looming, the holiday to Noosa is believed to have been organised due to the significance of the location.

Chris previously wrote about Noosa in Inside: The Autobiography as a special place for his family and now their growing family.

'When Bec and I started going out, she and I would go up there together, and soon enough she loved it just as much as my family. Even from my teenage years, Id thought Noosa would be just the place to propose,' he wrote.

He also confirmed he had proposed in a hotel room at Noosa before heading out to their favourite restaurant, which has since closed, Lindoni's in November 2009.

Quick! Bec appeared to run to the shore with a camera in hand to capture a special moment between her children and their father

Wow! Bec stunned during the getaway in a black one-piece bikini with cut-out design over her toned stomach

Glam! The star looked effortlessly glam as she showcased her pert derriere and slight cleavage in the backless swimsuit

Bec stunned during the getaway in a black one-piece bikini with cut-out design over her stomach.

The star looked effortlessly glam as she showcased her pert derriere and slight cleavage in the backless swimsuit.

She chose to wear her brunette locks in a messy top bun, and accessorised her look with a watch and sunglasses.

Chris was seen in light blue board shorts, that appeared to match his son's.

Surf's up! Chris and son Oscar appeared to brave the waves with a boogie board in matching light blue board shorts

Beach babe! Bec took photos from the sand and carried her sons boogie board through the crashing waves as she flaunted her enviable frame

Heading back to shore: The youngster, like his sister, wore a bright life jacket to help them remain visible and afloat in the ocean water

As Bec took photos from the sand, Chris and son Oscar appeared to brave the waves with a boogie board.

The youngster, like his sister, wore a bright life jacket to help them remain visible and afloat in the ocean water.

After their adventurous frolic, they returned to the sand where they whey they began making sandcastles with both children.

The parents made sure both kids were wearing hats for ultimate sun protection.

Special place: Chris previously wrote about Noosa in Inside: The Autobiography as a special place for his family and now his own growing family with Bec

Slip, Slop, Slap! The parents made sure both kids were wearing hats for ultimate sun protection

Hands-on mum! After their adventurous frolic, they returned to the sand where they whey they began making sandcastles with both children

Going strong: The family trip marks the married couple's six years together and four children together

They recently welcomed their two newest tots in August, which they did not appear to bring on the hot beach outing.

In a recent post for Chris' birthday, she praised the proud father for being so supportive through her pregnancy.

She captioned the post, in part: 'Happy birthday to my personal leg shaver, dresser, driver, cook, cleaner, project manager, school lunch maker, swimming lesson taker, child wrangler, baby daddy etc etc. Id be up shit creek without you.'

Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald, Bec said: ' We were weighing up whether to go for a third. We thought we would give it a try, and the first go we ended up having twins, which was so unexpected.'

In Chris' autobiography he has also detailed that while he is new to marriage and is realistic about how others tend to turn out, he firmly admits they are 'utterly committed to making it work.'

'Id be up shit creek without you': In a post for Chris' birthday, she praised the proud father for being so supportive through her recent pregnancy, claiming she'd be 'up shit creek' without him
She's the former Bachelor star who's become known for flaunting her figure endlessly on social media since rising to fameon the show this year.

And Kiki Morris didn't let her fans down on Tuesday when she posted a snap of herself sporting a plunging neckline.

The reality star looked every inch the glamour model as she took to Instagram to put on a busty display in a pouting selfie.

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'Ready for a fresh 2017': Bachelor's Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris posts busty selfie to Instagram on Tuesday as she prepares for the new year... after gushing about boyfriend Jeremy Banks in reflective post about 2016

She caotioned the post, in part: 'Fresh Hair @lalibertinehair got me feeling ready for a fresh 2017.'

Her curled honeycomb locks appeared healthy and voluminuois as she twirled one strand in her right hand for the selfie.

Kiki's ample assets were also on full display as the top struggled to cover her perky bosoms.

Merry Christmas to all the animals in the world!': Bachelor's Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris was seen spending time with her boyfriend's pet horse Inka at his family's farm on Christmas Day

Her makeup appeared flawlessly applied, and she accessorised her look with boutique gold hoop eaarings with crosses and a necklace with a pink crystal.

Only two days earlie she confessed her love to new boyfriend Jeremy Banks on social media after the pair returned from Bali to spend Christmas Eve together in Sydney.

And on Christmas Day, Bachelor's Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris was seen spending time with her boyfriend's pet horse at his family's farm.

In a post to Instagram, Kiki was seen holding a carrot and wearing a Santa hat while standing with a large brown mare named Inka.

Cute! The couple, who shared Christmas with each other's families, have been inseparable since confirming they have been together for just over three months

'Merry Christmas to all the animals in the world too! This is @jembanks beautiful horse Inka, a wonderful day spent on the farm with all the animals,' she wrote.

Kiki was spotted wearing a white off-the-shoulder playsuit as she stood in the emerald green grass of the Coffs Harbour farm.

Her honeycomb tresses were out for the occasion and she wore sandals to finish the casual chic ensemble as she pet the chocolate brown equine.

Hours after Kiki's post her new boyfriend Jeremy took to social media to wish his followers and friends a Merry Christmas next to a picture of himself and his partner.

'Love you': Kiki took to social media the night before Christmas to confess her love for Jeremy in a lengthy post to Instagram, which saw the pair posed together in a selfie

Wearing a paper crown, typically found inside Christmas crackers, Jeremy rocked a denim shirt as he stood beside the reality star.

He captioned the picture: 'A very merry Christmas to you all. And a very special thank you to you @kikimorris for making this the best one yet - I love you.'

Kiki replied to the post and said: 'Thanks for making this the fattest Christmas yet, I'll have to jog home from Coffs. Love you too doodle.'

'Tis the season! The pair were seen enjoying a Christmas lunch earlier this month and posted selfies to social media

Kiki took to social media the night before Christmas to confess her love for Jeremy in a lengthy post to Instagram, which saw the pair posed together in a selfie.

She wrote: 'It Christmas Eve, It's that time of year I reflect on the past 12 months and evaluate things. This year I learn that happiness isn't a destination, it's a journey.

'The small things, really are the big things! Do what you love, with who you love and enjoy the ride through the highs and the lows.

Holiday! Jeremy and Kiki later posted pictures from their romantic getaway to Bali together

'My year has been filled with so many stand out memories I can't help but feel like that I already received all the gifts I could possibly ever want.

'Merry Christmas to everyone that has contributed to my 2016 being as life changing and positive. Love to all, and @jembanks love you so much.'

The pair were seen enjoying a Christmas lunch earlier this month, in which the pair donned all white ensembles before jetting off to Bali together.

Boo-tiful: It would appear the couple have been almost inseparable since their relationship was confirmed on Halloween - only three months ago

It would appear the couple have been almost inseparable since their relationship was confirmed on Halloween - only three months ago.

Kiki rose to prominence after starring in season four of The Bachelor with Richie Strahan.

She later made a name for herself in the Sydney social scene and has recently moved in with Bachelor bestie and co-star Noni Janur.

BFFs: Kiki rose to prominence after starring in season four of The Bachelor with Richie Strahan and later moved in with co-star and Bachelor bestie Noni Janur

The pair are often seen pictured together across social media and recently went sky diving with their Bachelor co-stars dressed in Santa costumes.

Noni and Kiki were joined by Keira Maguire and Olena Khamula who also starred in season four of The Bachelor.

They event was in Wollongong December 17 and organised by RedBalloon - who were attempting to set a new Guinness World Record for 'the most tandem parachute jumps in eight hours'.
They've been on diaper duty since welcoming their baby girl Lily Grace only five months ago.

So Nicky Hilton and her husband James Rothschild enjoyed some well-deserved time alone together while on holiday in downtown Aspen, Colorado on Monday.

The 33-year-old socialite displayed her chic fashion sense in a long leopard print coat and distressed jeans as she strolled through the snow with her hunky hubby.

Winter wonderland: Nicky Hilton, 33, and her husband James Rothschild, 31, enjoyed an afternoon stroll while on holiday in downtown Aspen, Colorado on Monday

The hotel heiress layered the plush Topshop animal print jacket over a cosy black sweater with matching beanie cap.

She kept her piercing blue eyes concealed behind dark round-framed sunglasses and stepped out in black leather boots.

A pair of dark skinnies which bared a hole in one knee encased the blonde beauty's slender limbs.

Walk on the wild side! The hotel heiress displayed her chic fashion sense in a long leopard print coat and distressed jeans

Keeping warm: The couple stopped at a local cafe to grab a cup of coffee as they made the annual trip for the holidays

The couple stopped at a local cafe to grab a cup of coffee as they made the annual trip for the holidays.

James, 31, kept warm in a black puffer coat with a charcoal grey jacket beneath, light wash jeans and a navy cap.

The couple has had their hands full since the birth of their first child on July 8.

Nicky and her British banking heir husband welcomed their daughter just two days before their first wedding anniversary.

Flying high: Nicky shared this precious photo of James and their daughter Lily Grace which she captioned: 'Headed home for the holidays'

The happy couple wed in a lavish ceremony at the Orangery at Kensington Palace in London in July 2015.

She first starting dating James, a banker and the only son of the late British billionaire Amschel Rothschild, in 2011.

He popped the question in August 2014 while the couple vacationed in Lake Como, Italy.
Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac surprised his parents with the best Christmas gift ever - tickets for their first trip back to Ireland in decades.

The TV personality presented the gift as a prank, hiding the tickets inside a DVD case and documenting the whole surprise on Instagram.

'Surprised Mum & Dad with flights back to Ireland. They haven't been since before my Sister & I were born!' Sam explained.

'Dad's disapproving look is due to the fact I hid the surprise in an Andre Rieu Christmas DVD (classic decoy present manoeuvre),' he continued.

Sam's mother was delighted but took it all in her stride, fretting only that she would need a new suitcase to make the trip!

'Mum's response: "Oh, I'm gonna need a new suitcase!'. Happy Christmas everyone!"' he concluded.

The TV host said he wanted to 'test' his parents to see if they would still be grateful to get a DVD for Christmas.

Best son ever! Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac (pictured) surprised his parents with the best Christmas gift ever - tickets for their first trip back to Ireland in decades

' I hid a special SURPRISE for Mum & Dad inside an Andre Rieu DVD. I wanted to test if they'd still be grateful if my "big present" was an Andre Rieu DVD to share,' he wrote.

Many of Sam's 19,000 Instagram followers were impressed by his kind gesture.

'Aww what a beautiful present,' one fan wrote, while another called him the 'best son ever'.

'This made me cry': Many of Sam's Instagram followers were impressed by his kind gesture

Some noted that Sam's father was less than amused by the 'DVD' at first, with one comment reading 'Classic Dad face!'.

One of Sam's Instagram followers was even moved to tears by his gift.

'Aww Sam you are such a good son. This made me cry. Merry Christmas to you and your family,' they wrote.
Paris Hilton cradled an adorable baby sporting tartan suspenders and trousers during Christmas dinner at her family's Colorado home.

The 35-year-old heiress-turned-DJ - who boasts 28.2M followers - captioned her sweetly surreal snap: '#AuntieParis.'

However, it's unclear if the cherubic child was actually the infant daughter of Hilton's sister Nicky and second husband James Rothschild.

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'#AuntieParis': Paris Hilton cradled an adorable baby sporting tartan suspenders and trousers during Christmas dinner at her family's Colorado home

Christmas in Colorado: However, it's unclear if the cherubic child was actually the infant daughter of her sister Nicky (2-R) and second husband James Rothschild (R)

Shielded in secrecy: The 33-year-old designer has gone out of her way to shield Lily Grace's precious face whenever she posts on social media

The 33-year-old designer has gone out of her way to shield Lily Grace's precious face whenever she posts on social media.

When the nepotistically-privileged princess came into the world on July 8, Paris gushed: 'She is so beautiful & precious! I'm in love! So excited to be an aunt!'

The reality TV icon also showed off her cleavage as well as mother Kathy's 'beautiful, festive, and creative' Christmas table setting.

The Donald Trump supporter's 27-year-old brother Barron shared a more relaxed snap of Kathy, patriarch Richard, Nicky, and his 22-year-old brother Conrad watching a movie.

When the nepotistically-privileged princess came into the world on July 8, Paris gushed: 'She is so beautiful & precious! I'm in love! So excited to be an aunt!'

Crowded! The 35-year-old heiress-turned-DJ also showed off her cleavage as well as mother Kathy's 'beautiful, festive, and creative' Christmas table setting

Cosy: Hilton's 27-year-old brother Barron shared a more relaxed snap of Kathy, patriarch Richard, Nicky, and his 22-year-old brother Conrad watching a movie

On Monday, Hilton was spotted shopping for after-Christmas deals on beauty products at Aspen high-end retailer Gorsuch Ltd.

The Manhattan-born, LA-raised celebutante matched her pom-pom beanie with her long-sleeved sequinned top, and she sported patent-leather sneaker wedges.

Paris - covering her make-up free face with large sunglasses - emerged from the shop hauling three shopping bags.

Treating herself: On Monday, Hilton was spotted shopping for after-Christmas deals on beauty products at Aspen high-end retailer Gorsuch Ltd

30F-degree weather: The Manhattan-born, LA-raised celebutante matched her pom-pom beanie with her long-sleeved sequinned top, and she sported patent-leather sneaker wedges

Shopaholic: Paris - covering her make-up free face with large sunglasses - emerged from the shop hauling three shopping bags

If the former sex tape star has a New Year's Eve gig manning the decks somewhere, she hasn't yet announced it.

'[Booking me on NYE costs] a lot of dough. I don't like to brag, but I'm not complaining,' Hilton told TMZ last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cash Money Records has yet to put out Paris' EDM-style album, which was supposed to include her singles - Crazy, Come Alive, and High Off My Love.

'[Booking me on NYE costs] a lot of dough': If the former sex tape star has a New Year's Eve gig manning the decks somewhere, she hasn't yet announced it
She's the Bachelor contestant known for flaunting her natural good looks and killer curves in bikini-clad snaps on social media.

But Noni Janur took to Instagram on Tuesday wearing a floral off-the-shoulder top to announce she is heading back to her 'island home.'

The 26-year-old was glowing as she updated her more than 45,000 followers on her plans to visit Bali in the near future.

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'Count down to Bali': The Bachelor's Noni Janur poses with pink smoothie in floral top flashback on Instagram on Tuesday as she updates her followers to looking forward to visiting her 'island home' in coming weeks

She captioned the image, in part: 'Cannot wait to get back to my island home... count down to Bali.'

The reality star radiated a heathy glow, as she displayed her freckled complexion with the use of minimal makeup coverage.

Noni smiled as she looked down at her pink smoothie, in which she appeared to be stirring with a celery stick from within a cafe.

Longing for the Island life: In her recent post she claimed she 'Cannot wait to get back to my island home' after previously sharing a photograph last week from a trip to Indonesia, in which he jumped off a cliff into the water

Her slender shoulders and decolletage were left bare, as her thick hair was placed into a high ponytail that fell forwards towards her face.

She had previously shared a photograph from a trip to Indonesia, in which she participated in the well-known Blue Lagoon cliff jump into the clear blue water.

On Friday she showed off her very shapely derriere and offered a glimpse of sideboob in a revealing one-piece leotard bikini.

'Fit as f**k for Christmas': The Bachelor's Noni Janur, 26, took to Instagram on Friday, flaunting her shapely derriere and offering a glimpse of sideboob in a racy snap that saw her laying suggestively on a bed in a skimpy khaki leotard and pair of Nike trainers

The snap captioned with the hash-tag 'fit as f**k for Christmas', saw the 26-year-old laying suggestively on a bed in a skimpy khaki leotard and pair of Nike trainers.

'Not much else to do on days like these,' Noni captioned the image shared with her Instagram followers.

'Home workout done. Now just to lie here like so,' she continued, alongside the hash-tag #fitazfk4xmas.

The racy image saw Noni flaunting her plump posterior in just a skimpy khaki leotard, that also showed off a significant amount of sideboob.

Positioning herself on a bed provocatively, a pair of grey and white Nike trainers finished off the look.

Racy: Just two weeks prior, the buxom beauty was pictured alongside a bikini-clad Keira Maguire (far left), also from The Bachelor franchise, posing topless with her back to the camera

This is not the first time Noni has shared revealing snaps of her frame to Instagram.

Just two weeks prior, the buxom beauty was pictured alongside a bikini-clad Keira Maguire, also from The Bachelor franchise, posing topless with her back to the camera.

Wearing just a black G-string that revealed her behind, Noni covered her breast with her hand.

Cheeky! Another previous image shared to the social media site, saw the socialite gazing back at the camera with a sultry expression, while showing off her pert derriere

Peachy keen: Noni has never been shy of flaunting her enviable physique to social media

Another previous image shared to the social media site, saw the socialite gazing back at the camera with a sultry expression.

A coordinating blue two-piece revealed her slender waist, shapely posterior and toned legs, as she allowed her locks to fall predominately over one shoulder.

Noni captioned the photo: 'Bali I miss you can't wait to get back home'.

The beauty is never far away from the beach or some of the girls she met during her time on The Bachelor.

Noni has been pictured spending time with Megan Marx, Tiffany Scanlon, Faith Williams and Nikki Gogan since the show ended.

Close pals: The swimwear designer moved in with one of the girls she shared a house with during the Channel Ten series The Bachelor Australia - Kirralee 'Kiki' Morris (pictured)

And the swimwear model moved in with one of the girls she shared a house with during the Channel Ten series - Kiki Morris.

Noni, who previously lived on the Gold Coast, recently revealed on Instagram that she had relocated to Sydney.

'Today's the day I'm moving to Sydney. All types of emotions going on but it's definitely going to be a great adventure,' she wrote online at the time.

'Change is always good plus I get to live with one of my besties. Summer in Bondi, let the good times begin!'
Katie Maloney stood up to her boss Lisa Vanderpump on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules.

The personal assistant to the 56-year-old British restaurateur delivered her sleek Porsche 'summer' vehicle.

Lisa was given the first wedding invitation to Katie's upcoming nuptials and then tried to pin tension among her group of friends on Stassi Schroeder.

Summer vehicle: Lisa Vanderpump accepted delivery of her summer Porsche on Monday's episode of Vanderpump Rules from her personal assistant Katie Maloney

'All the roads always lead to Miss Schroeder, trust me,' Lisa said.

Katie protested when Lisa suggested that Stassi was trying to wind her up as well.

'Stassi, in my opinion, always makes things worse, not better,' Lisa told her.

Lisa then asked Katie a couple times if she was sure that she wasn't being manipulated by Stassi.

Took offense: Katie was insulted when Lisa asked if she was being manipulated by Stassi Schroeder

Summer wheels: Lisa got a sleek new sports car with pink details for the summer

Loyal friend: Katie stood up for Stassi and told Lisa that she had changed for the better

All roads: Lisa pinned tension in the group on Stassi and said 'all the roads' always lead to her

Savvy star: Stassi who is arguably the most savvy among the group and most emotional was singled out by Lisa

'That's insulting! I can think for myself,' Katie defiantly replied.

The show started with Katie getting help from her mother Teri and grandmother Sandra with wedding invitations for her upcoming wedding to Tom Schwartz

She was sending out the invites on keepsake tea towels.

Wedding invitations: Katie and Tom Schwartz were sending out wedding invitations with the help of her mother Teri and grandmother Sandra

Catching up: Katie and Kristen gossiped about Lala with Stassi who also gave them details about her upcoming birthday in the Hamptons

Keepsake invitations: Stassi noted that it cost $18.50 for each 'rag' and Lisa said they were 'unique'

Stassi and Kristen Doute helped out with the invites while also gossiping about Lala Kent.

Katie, Stassi and Kristen were also wondering if Scheana Marie was still going to Stassi's upcoming birthday party in the Hamptons.

Scheana during a candid conversation with husband Mike Shay wondered if Stassi was going to disinvite her.

Good question: Kristen asked how many Hamptons were out there

Stassi and Katie in the previous episode blasted Scheana in a drunken tirade at a birthday pool party for apologizing to Lala about spreading rumors she was dating a married man.

'They're just bullies,' Mike told his wife.

'Yeah,' Scheana agreed.

Just bullies: Mike Shay told his wife Scheana Marie that she was being bulled by Stassi and Katie

Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix and her brother Jeremy meanwhile supported James Kennedy at a Hollywood DJ gig after Lisa Vanderpump fired him from her restaurants Pump and Sur.

Lala bragged about being sober while James said he was only drinking fortified cough syrup.

James later met with girlfriend Raquel and said he was going to meet with Lisa to ask for his job back.

Job back: James Kennedy told his girlfriend Raquel about how his plan to ask for his job back at Sur while she updated him on her plan to compete in a Miss Malibu beauty pageant

Lisa was working in a VIP room at the restaurant when James came in and asked to return.

He dropped an F-bomb and eventually called her a liar, before Lisa refused to consider rehiring him.

'You were an arrogant little punk  and look at me,' she told James. 'Do I look like somebody that employs an arrogant little punk?'

No way: Lisa refused to consider rehiring James after he dropped an F-bomb and called her a liar

James left the restaurant dejectedly sniffling with his head slumped.

Jax after working out with his ex Kristen Doute revealed he was undergoing surgery to remove cysts from his chest.

The bartender explained that supplements he had been taking lead to gynecomastia - a conditon that causes enlarged breast tissue.

Working out: Kristen and Jax went for a boxing workout together

Chest surgery: Jax told Kristen how he was having surgery to remove excess breast tissue

'This is not a breast reduction,' quipped Jax of the condition commonly known as 'man boobs'.

The surgery went well and a hard disc of breast tissue was removed.

Brittany aided Jax's recovery and his friends Schwartz and Tom Sandoval came over with gag presents including a Hooters T-shirt.

On the mend: Brittany Cartwright was groped by boyfriend Jax as he started his recovery after surgery

Good one: Tom Schwartz brought over a Hooters T-shirt for Jax after his surgery for so-called 'man boobs'

Stassi welcomed her mother Dayna and precocious 11-year-old brother Nikolai to her apartment for a visit.

The blonde beauty revealed another breakup with boyfriend Patrick.

She then told her mother about the recent falling out with Scheana and how they haven't spoken since.

Sister and brother: Stassi welcomed her precocious 11-year-old brother Nikolai and mother Dayna for a visit

Stassi then asked her brother for advice and he immediately turned the tables and peppered her with questions.

'Did you start the fight? Beers? Where you at a bar that night? How much did you drink? A lot?,' Nikolai fired away.

'That's not fair. Scheana said stuff to Katie that was really mean. I'm very upset about all this,' Stassi protested.

Smart kid: Nikolai was asked for advice and immediately had questions for his big sister

'Stay out of other's people business, that's your problem,' Nikolai told her.

'Sometimes people don't know when they need to apologize,' Stassi retorted.

'She needs to figure that out herself,' Nikolai responded.

Good answer: Stassi rolled her eyes as Nikolai dished out some solid advice

Birthday plans: Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix updated Lala Kent and James on plans for her birthday that included wine tasting in Sonoma and a NASCAR race

Stassi admitted that Nikolai was offering solid advice but said she would ignore it.

'You're not the boss. If you be bossy, if it's always your way, people are not going to like that,' Nikolai warned.

The savvy reality star then admitted that her 11-year-old brother was making sense.

Fan favourite: Stassi admitted that her little brother was making sense

Looking on: Dayna laughed as her children Stassi and Nikolai exchanged banter

Birthday girl: Ariana was looking forward to her birthday that was the opposite of the Hamtons trip

Mother and daughter: Scheana talked to her mother Erika about fighting with her friends

Eye on the prize: Erika advised Scheana to keep the peace and remain a bridesmaid at Katie's wedding

Lala raised Lisa's eyebrows by wearing expensive red-bottom Louboutin heels.

Lisa wished her fun at Ariana's upcoming birthday weekend in Sonoma.

The one-hour show ended with Ariana and the rest of the birthday party group at the airport waiting for Lala as the episode's title No Show began to become clear.

A preview of next week's episode showed scenes from the rival birthday parties in the Hamptons and Sonoma without Lala.

Raised eyebrows: Lisa raised her eyebrows when noticing Lala's expensive shoes

Red heel: The red sole of the Louboutin heels did not escape Lisa's eye
While engaging in a discussion over one racial controversy, Ellen Pompeo unwittingly triggered another one.

The Grey's Anatomy star, 47, defended using black emojis via Twitter after one user called her out for overstepping her bounds as 'a privileged white woman.'

The scandal ignited Friday in the wake of a brouhaha involving the actress - who's played Dr. Meredith Grey on Shonda Rhimes' ABC hit the past 12 years - and the A&E Network over an upcoming series the cable channel is set to broadcast on the Ku Klux Klan.

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Embroiled: Ellen Pompeo, 47, was caught in a Twitter brouhaha after using black emojis in a tweet

Flashpoint: Many Twitter users were irate that the wealthy TV star sought to use said emojis

In defense: Pompeo reminded her 1.23 million followers that her husband Chris Ivery is black, and that they're parents to two biracial daughters. The family was snapped in NYC last June

Pompeo, who called for a boycott of the network, was pleased when it renamed the aforementioned special from Generation KKK' to 'Escaping the KKK: A Documentary Series Exposing Hate in America.'

She tweeted thanks at the network 'for caring enough to make changes,' accompanying said sentiment with emojis of blacks hands clapping and giving a thumbs-up sign.

That's when Pompeo found herself on the defensive, as a number of users took offense to the notion of her using the symbols.

Happy in love: Pompeo and Ivery, who turns 49 today, were snapped at an Italian film festival last year

Firing back: The outspoken actress vigilantly defended herself from critics amid the discussion

One user, who has since put their profile on private, complained that 'its not fair to see a privileged white woman use [ethic] emojis just because you can,' adding 'It comes off as really obnoxious.'

The TV actress shot back, 'Don't be a hater I do it because racism is not just a black problem it is all of our problem get it???'

That opened the floodgates for more irritated users to address the actress on the touchy topic, though Pompeo stood her ground, explaining in a series of detailed tweets why she took the tack she did.

Appetizing: The couple, who exchanged vows in 2007, were spotted in Las Vegas in May

'What's crazy is how angry everyone is... this is all about emojis people. It was a really positive thing a&e did... now that's not the focus ..my fault for responding,' she wrote. 'But sad to see racism is still alive and well on all sides.'

When a user told her that white people cannot experience racism, she responded, 'Ummm I've been called a white b---- and countless other things 50000 times today what would you call it?'

After another user wrote to her, 'SHUT UP, WHITE LADY,' Pompeo reminded her 1.23 million followers that her husband Chris Ivery is black, and that the pair are parents to two biracial daughters.

Shocked: The starlet started her horrified Twitter rant after stumbling upon a tweet that announced the new docu-series

'That's white lady with a black husband and black children to you babe,' she said, later adding, 'You do realize...being married to a black man and having black children can make you a target from racist white people right? That's a thing.'

Amid multiple back-and-forths over whether or not it was appropriate for her to address the issue, Pompeo stood her ground.

'I'm not embarrassed and I'm not contradicting myself it's a very complex issue and one I care about so ... I engage,' she wrote.

Call to action: The Grey's Anatomy starlet called for a boycott of the network

'We are smarter!' Ellen took the opportunity to plug her show, Grey's Anatomy, during the rant

Ka-ching: The actress said she thought the A&E Network's decisions were financially-based

The social media storm came two days after Pompeo initially expressed her ire at the A&E special, which aims to give viewers a look into the lives of families headed by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

A furious Pompeo told the network, 'Shame on you,' before calling for a boycott in a series of tweets.

'Hey I have an idea...why don't we all never watch ANYTHING on A&E again who's with me????' she wrote, adding, 'So I guess A&E stands for ...we will try to put Anything and Everything on tv...because we are a bunch of desperate pathetic tv execs.'

You don't say: Pompeo criticized the 'timing' of the show, precedes the presidential inauguration by 10 days

A&E eventually responded to the star, telling her that the program is based on people leaving the historically hateful organization, adding that they had received an endorsement from the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent and respected group focused on countering Anti-Semitism and other forms of hate.
His fraught on-screen friendship with both Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond helped Top Gear become one of the BBC's most successful shows.

And despite the trio's winning formula once-again scoring them a legion of fans on Amazon's The Grand Tour, James May insists he and his co-stars are 'not mates'.

Speaking candidly about his relationship with both Clarkson, 56, and Hammond, 47, the 53-year-old TV presenter admitted they only view themselves as 'colleagues'.

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You can pick your friends: James May insists he is 'not mates' with Grand Tour co-stars Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, instead he views them as colleagues

Speaking to The Telegraph, James admitted that despite their fans' belief the three are all the best of friends off-screen, it is in fact the opposite.

And it seems that Jeremy in particular is not on high on Captain Slow's Christmas card list, as he explained: 'I have never really changed my view of Jeremy, which is that he is a k***.'

He went on to explain his view of the polarizing presenter, saying: 'He is a bit of a stuckist: part of him is actually in the 1920s.'

However, he did admit that half of Jeremy's appeal was his own unique slant on the world, with the classically trained musician adding people like the journalist being 'a bit of a d***'.

'I have never really changed my view of Jeremy, which is that he is a k***': James admitted to The Telegraph that he doesn't think that much of his two co-stars on a personal level

But it's not just Clarkson who has managed to irk James over their years of working together, as he also declared Hammond was a 't***'.

Despite being annoyed at times by his two co-stars, the trio have managed to pull off one of the TV world's biggest coups this year with the debut of The Grand Tour.

Having left the BBC in the summer of 2015 after Jeremy was fired for an altercation with a producer whilst out on-location filming, the trio were offered a 160million budget to produce their magic on Amazon Prime.

A dinosaur? He went on to explain his views on Clarkson, 56, were partly because 'he is a bit of a stuckist: part of him is actually in the 1920s'

Irksome: But it's not just Clarkson who has managed to irk James over their years of working together, as he also declared Hammond was a 't***'

With series one only half-way through its run, Clarkson, Hammond and May have already been heaped with praise from both the critics and the public.

Something which could not be said for the rebooted version of Top Gear which aired earlier this year, with Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc at the helm.

And despite Evans having quit the show after just one lackluster series, James insists he 'like a lot' of what Evans and Le Blanc did with his old show.

Winning formula: Despite being annoyed at times by his two co-stars, the trio have managed to pull off one of the TV world's biggest coups this year with the debut of The Grand Tour

'I liked it': He was quick to praise their replacements on Top Gear, especially Chris Evans: 'I quite like a lot of it. I know Chris and he is amd, but you have to be a bit mad to take that one.'

'I quite like a lot of it,' James explained when asked for his view on the new Top Gear. 'I know Chris and he is amd, but you have to be a bit mad to take that one.'

However, that hasn't stopped the trio mocking their replacements on The Grand Tour, with all three taking veiled pot-shots at the programme and its presenters in segments.

In episode six of the show, Happy Finnish Christmas, Richard Hammond's drive through London in a Mustang saw him drive past the Cenotaph.

At war? Though that hasn't stopped the trio mocking their replacements on The Grand Tour, with all three taking veiled pot-shots at the programme and its presenters in segments

During his test drive of the new muscle car he cruised past the war memorial at slow speed, being respectful - a clear dig at a Top Gear stunt which saw Matt LeBlanc doing doughnut wheelspins next to it which prompted outrage at the time.

And in episode four of the show, Jeremy took a dig at Chris Evans as he compared his Top Gear failure to a lacklustre BMW on The Grand Tour.

During a studio segment he remarked to May and Hammond: 'I admire BMW for really trying with that car, I really do. But my god, they made a hash of it.

'In fact, I'm trying to think of a metaphor for someone who's really tried their hardest with something and it hasn't worked.'

He then added with a wry smile: 'No, nothing's coming to mind.'
He is enjoying a well-deserved holiday after celebrating the end of the radio year.

And Nova FM's Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald made family his priority this Christmas, travelling from Sydney to his native Adelaide for the festive season.

The 40-year-old was pictured on Saturday at Port Noarlunga beach, spending quality time with his two sons - Hewston, seven, Lennox, three - and his wife Belinda Irons.

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Daddy duties! Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald made family his priority this Christmas, travelling from Sydney to his native Adelaide for the festive season

Ryan, a former AFL player, showed off his muscular upper frame in a pair of black board shorts.

The popular radio personality was also seen playing with his son, Hewston.

The youngster looked in high spirits as he enjoyed quality time in the water with his famous father.

I've got you! Ryan is enjoying a well-deserved break after celebrating the end of the radio year

Family holiday! The 40-year-old was pictured on Saturday at Port Noarlunga beach

Family affair: Ryan's wife Belinda Irons wore a bright orange swimsuit

Looking buff! Ryan's showed off his muscular upper frame

Playful: The radio star was seen throwing a water toy high up into the sky

Hot mama! Belinda showed off her toned physique in her one-piece swimsuit

Ryan's three-year-old son Lennox was also close by, and was spotted holding onto his father's hands.

He was also seen showing off his playful side, throwing a toy high up into the sky.

They were joined by Ryan's wife Belinda Irons, who showed off her slim figure in an orange swimsuit.

Beach body ready! Belinda was looking fit and confident in her swimwear

Doting father: Ryan was later seen picking up all of his sons' belongings

A tall order! Ryan's athletic height was on display as he stood with his young family

She swept her hair under a cap and finished off her beach look with a pair of trendy sunglasses.

As the family walked back to the beach to dry off, Ryan was briefly seen checking his phone.

His sons wrapped towels around themselves, while Belinda packed their belongings into a green tote bag.

Just like daddy! Ryan, a former AFL player, appears to have passed on his passion for sport to his children

Mother duties: Belinda ensured her family's belongings were packed into her beach bag

Leisurely stroll: Father and son were seen making their way to the main boardwalk

'If you are a naughty boy... you get a sack of potatoes!' Ryan recently spoke to Daily Mail Australia about his Christmas family plans

Ryan recently told Daily Mail Australia he uses the threat of 'a sack of potatoes' to keep his two sons in line before Christmas.

When asked if Lennox and Hewston had been on Santa's good list this year, he regretfully revealed: 'Unfortunately not.'

He laughed: 'Unfortunately little Lenny, who is three years of age, has been threatened with a couple of potatoes.

'If you are a naughty boy or naughty girl one of your presents gets replaced with a sack of potatoes.'

Heading home: The famous family were seen washing the sand and water off
As host of Channel Seven's popular breakfast show Sunrise, she's spoken about the importance of a good night's sleep.

And Sam Armytage's bedroom habits aren't about to change on New Year's Eve, as the TV host admits she prefers to get an early night.

She revealed her festive secret on Yahoo7 last week, saying she will most likely watch the nine o'clock fireworks and go to sleep.

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New Year plans! Channel Seven TV host Samantha Armytage (pictured) plans to end 2016 with an early night before partying on New Year's Day

Sam, 40, explained: 'I intend to celebrate New Year's Day from now on, so I'm quite convinced that I might just do the nine o'clock fireworks and then go to bed.

'Then I'll have a big party on New Year's Day instead because that's more fun.'

Sporting a pair of reindeer antlers for the interview, the TV host also revealed that her favourite Christmas memory was from 32 years earlier.

Reindeer games! Sporting a pair of festive antlers for the interview, the TV host also revealed her favourite Christmas memory aged eight

Early night: Sam explained, 'I intend to celebrate New Year's Day from now on, so I'm quite convinced that I might just do the nine o'clock fireworks and then go to bed'

Looking forward to a good year! The Sunrise host says she plans to have a 'big party' to welcome in 2017 on New Year's Day

Sam recalled how, as an eight-year-old, her father sent her to the garage where she discovered her favourite present to date.

She said: 'There was a brand new saddle sat on Dad's saw-horse thing, and I was horse mad. It was the most beautiful saddle and I still own it.'

In the build-up to the holiday season, Sam unveiled her Christmas gift to herself - an adorable Labrador puppy.

On Tuesday, she took to Instagram to share a photo of her new dog as she took it for a walk in Beechworth, Victoria.

Walk in the park! On Tuesday, the Sunrise presenter took to Instagram to share a photo of her new dog as she took it for a walk in Beechworth, Victoria

Not just for Christmas! In the build-up to the holiday season, Sam unveiled her Christmas gift to herself - an adorable Labrador puppy

The puppy, who she's named Banjo, is seen playfully biting Sam's fingers as she takes a sweet selfie of the pair in the park.

She captioned the photo: 'Such is Life; Ned Kelly's favourite courthouse behind, while a next-gen crim nicks the end of a very good Beechworth Bakery meat pie.'

Sam already seems delighted with the latest to her family, sharing several pictures and videos of Banjo to Instagram.
She's been keeping out of the limelight since her traumatic robbery in Paris three months ago.

But Kim Kardashian West was front and centre at her family's annual Christmas Eve bash in Calabasas, with new pictures shared by the family on Instagram on Monday.

Clad in a plunging golden gown and ornate choker, the 36-year-old reality star was a vision of beauty in the shots, as she proved she was back to her glamorous best.

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Sister act: Kim Kardashian West was front and centre at her family's annual Christmas Eve bash in Calabasas, with new pictures shared by the family on Instagram on Monday. She was joined by (L-R) Kourtney, Khloe and Kylie in a shot shared by the youngest sister

Joined by her stylish sisters, the mother-of-two looked calm and content as she posed for snaps at the annual bash.

In a shot posted by Kylie Jenner, Kim was seen cuddling up to the youngest member of the clan as she sandwiched herself between Kourtney and Khloe.

Captioned: 'Kendall where u at?' Kylie made reference to their missing sibling, but found her later on, as she shared a sweet snap sat on her elder sister's knee, writing: 'Young Jenners' alongside it.

'Young Jenners': Whilst Kendall Jenner didn't feature in the sister snap, she was later joined by Kylie, who shared a sweet snap sat on her elder sister's knee, captioned: 'Young Jenners'

Meanwhile, Khloe also wandered off in search of her nephew - the youngest of Kourtney and Scott Disick's three children.

Sharing an adorable picture of herself cuddled up to the two-year-old, she wrote: 'My Reign'.

Khloe also enjoyed some time with her best pals, sharing a snap with Khadijah Haqq.

Cute: Khloe also wandered off in search of her nephew - the youngest of Kourtney and Scott Disick's three children and captioned an adorable picture with the two-year-old: 'My Reign'

Double trouble: Khloe also snapped a picture with Kendall as the pair worked their angles for a sizzling shot of the sisters in their finest party wear

Firm friends: Khloe also enjoyed some time with her best pals, sharing a snap with Khadijah Haqq (R) and another good friend on the evening

'The night after Christmas': Kourtney shared a snap of a painting of younger sister Kylie

The new pictures were in addition to the snaps posted on Christmas Eve, where Kim debuted a new lower-lip ring piercing.

The 'shaken yet unharmed' starlet made sure to pucker out her latest body modification - which might have been clip-on - during Snapchats with her sister Khloe.

Kim made a welcome return to the limelight since keeping an uncharacteristically low profile ever since her alleged $10M robbery in France on October 3.

Read my lips: The new pictures were in addition to the snaps posted on Christmas Eve, where Kim debuted a new lower-lip ring piercing

Lip service: The 'shaken yet unharmed' 36-year-old made sure to pucker out her latest body modification - which might have been clip-on - during Snapchats with her sister Khloe

'Sisters!' The Selfish author also showcased her substantial cleavage in a plunging golden flounce frock and ornate choker selected by her stylist Monica Rose

Parisian authorities have yet to find or prosecute even one of the five masked men who reportedly held Kim at gunpoint inside her Hotel de Pourtales suite.

And shockingly, Kardashian hasn't shared anything with her 168.1M social media followers since the scary incident.

Also enjoying the ostentatious festivities was the Keeping Up with the Kardashians stunner's three-year-old daughter North wearing an 'Alexander Wang custom little dress.'

She's backkkk  #KimKardashianWest  @kimkardashian via @khloekardashian's #snapchat A video posted by Kardashians & Jenners  (@allthingskuwtkj) on Dec 24, 2016 at 8:14pm PST

Scroll down: The former sex tape star has kept an uncharacteristically low profile ever since her alleged $10M robbery in France on October 3

Unsolved? Parisian authorities have yet to find or prosecute even one of the five masked men who reportedly held Kim at gunpoint inside her Hotel de Pourtales suite

You going to eat that corndog? And shockingly, Kardashian hasn't shared anything with her 168.1M social media followers since the scary incident

'She loves it!' Also enjoying the ostentatious festivities was the KUWTK stunner's three-year-old daughter North wearing an 'Alexander Wang custom little dress'

Squad: R&B belters Babyface and John Legend performed at the party, which was attended by most of the Kardashian-Jenner clan and their children

R&B belters John Legend and Babyface performed at the party, which was attended by most of the Kardashian-Jenner clan and their children.

Kim's third husband Kanye West opted to skip the party and catch a movie at ArcLight Sherman Oaks instead.

The 39-year-old designer/rapper was released from UCLA Medical Center on November 30 following a nine-day stay for 'temporary psychosis.'

Over it? Ominously, Kim's third husband Kanye West opted to skip the party and catch a movie at ArcLight Sherman Oaks instead

On the mend: The 39-year-old designer/rapper was released from UCLA Medical Center on November 30 following a nine-day stay for 'temporary psychosis' (pictured Thursday)

Still going strong? On December 21, Us Weekly reported that Kimye 'are not in couples counseling, but Kanye does still see a therapist every day' (pictured August 28)

On December 21, Us Weekly reported that Kimye 'are not in couples counseling, but Kanye does still see a therapist every day.'

Perhaps the raven-haired socialite plans on attending the February 12 Grammy Awards ceremony with Yeezy, who's up for eight trophies including best rap song for Famous.

Before the CBS awards show, Kardashian is scheduled to participate in Mario Dedivanovic's make-up master class happening January 13 at Dubai's MusicHall.

Will he win? Perhaps the raven-haired socialite plans on attending the February 12 Grammy Awards ceremony with Yeezy, who's up for eight trophies including best rap song for Famous
He was recently spotted enjoying a passionate kiss with a mystery woman, suggesting his relationship with Jennifer Meyer is well and truly over.

But Tobey Maguire, 41, was reunited with his estranged wife, 39, over the Christmas period, as the pair were seen jetting out of Los Angeles on Monday.

Joining son Otis, seven, and daughter Ruby, nine, the exes - who announced their separation in October - looked downcast as they made their way through Los Angeles International Airport.

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Two's company: Tobey Maguire, 41, reunited with his estranged wife, 39, over the Christmas period, as the pair were seen jetting out of Los Angeles on Monday

Jennifer kept a low profile as she strolled through the terminal, layering up in a navy coat and red bobble hat.

Tobey also opted for a low-key look as teamed a grey jumper with jeans and a thick padded coat.

Whilst they may have stayed close together, the pair did not seem in good spirits on the trip, keeping their heads down and looking solemn as they headed to catch their flight.

Making moves: Joining son Otis, seven, and daughter Ruby, nine, the exes - who announced their separation in October - looked downcast as they made their way through LAX Airport

The outing comes just two weeks after Tobey was spotted kissing a mystery woman outside Villa Lounge and appeared to exchange phone numbers with the pretty brunette.

The star was seen planting a kiss on her cheek before engaging in a passionate smooch, and dropped the stunner back home.

Whilst neither Tobey nor Jennifer commented on the snaps, Jennifer took to Instagram on Saturday to share a post that seemed to hint at her turbulent relationship status in previous months.

New love? The outing comes just two weeks after Tobey was spotted kissing a mystery woman outside Villa Lounge and appeared to exchange phone numbers with the pretty brunette

'A lot can happen': Jennifer took to Instagram on Saturday to share a post that seemed to hint at her turbulent relationship status in previous months

The jewellery designer shared a post which read: 'A lot can happen in a year' and captioned the snap: 'A lot!!! So start to meditate & think about how you want next year to look, because you have the power to make it happen! Manifest it. you have a week.'

Jennifer and Tobey issued a statement at the time of their separation on October 18: 'After much soul searching and consideration we have made the decision to separate as a couple.

'As devoted parents, our first priority remains raising our children together with enduring love, respect and friendship.'

The couple became engaged in April 2006 and tied the knot in September 2007.
She's been enjoying the single life following her split from Kris Smith in October.

And model Maddy King is certainly looking forward to the future, sharing a stunning Instagram photo on Tuesday from her graduation dinner.

The 25-year-old showed off her slim figure in a skintight gold dress as she celebrated the end of her course in Nutritional and Herbal Medicine.

Beauty and brains! Kris Smith's ex-girlfriend Maddy King wore a stunning gold dress as she celebrated graduating from her course in Nutritional and Herbal Medicine

'Graduation dinner in @bronxandbanco,' Maddy captioned the photo, taken at the Sokyo restaurant at The Star, Sydney.

The semi-sheer gold lace frock skimmed over her slender curves, and showed off her toned legs and shoulders.

With her dark hair styled sleek and straight, Maddy opted for a bronzed complexion, defined brows, lashings of mascara and a coral lip.

Former lovers: In October, Kris Smith confirmed to Daily Mail Australia he and Maddy had split, saying: 'Maddy and I are no longer together, we haven't been for some time'

The post comes just months after Maddy ended her relationship with British model Kris Smith after four years of dating.

Kris, 38, confirmed the break-up to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'Maddy and I are no longer together, we haven't been for some time.'

'It's sad, but she is an amazing girl and we had a great time. Our lives are just heading in different directions,' he concluded.

Still friends: Maddy also confirmed the split, telling Daily Mail Australia the pair still remain 'friends,' adding: 'My dad has beers with him every Sunday'

Maddy also confirmed the news, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'There are no hard feelings and we are still friends. My dad has beers with him every Sunday.'

Now it appears Kris may have moved on with model Zoe Hoad, with Woman's Day reporting last week the pair were spotted 'flirting' in Queensland's Gold Coast.

But while they remain quiet about the rumoured romance, Kris and Zoe's social media accounts suggest they were in fact at the location at the same time.

New lover? Now it appears Kris may have moved on with model Zoe Hoad, with Woman's Day reporting last week the pair were spotted 'flirting' in Queensland's Gold Coast
She's been single since separating from her husband Braith Anasta last year.

But now Jodi Anasta appears to be off the market, as The Daily Telegraph reports she is dating real estate agent Warren Ginsberg.

The 31-year-old was photographed cuddling up to her 'boyfriend' at Sydney Airport on Tuesday afternoon before a romantic getaway.

Sealed with a kiss? Jodi Anasta (left) appears to be off the market, as The Daily Telegraph reports she is dating real estate agent Warren Ginsberg (second from left)

The pair were reportedly travelling to the Gold Coast for a couple's holiday.

This comes after her ex Braith revealed on Instagram he was spending Christmas with his 'girlfriend' Rachael Lee.

Just a day later, Jodi shared a photo on social media of Warren kissing her cheek as they celebrated with friends.

Moving on? Jodi's estranged husband Braith Anasta recently announced on Instagram he was spending Christmas with his 'girlfriend', Bondi personal trainer Rachael Lee

Looking overjoyed, Jodi beamed as Warren kissed his new 'girlfriend'. Several mutual friends looked on, seeming to approve of their new relationship.

And it appears Jodi has every reason to smile, as her latest love interest hails from Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs.

Warren is a real estate agent in Double Bay and has sold millions of dollars worth of properties throughout neighbouring suburbs.

Successful: Warren is a real estate agent in Double Bay and has sold millions of dollars worth of properties in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs

A graduate of the private Jewish college, Emanuel School, Warren has worked in real estate since 2008 and has cultivated a reputation as one of the most successful salesmen in his field.

Jodi's handsome 'boyfriend' is also no stranger to Sydney's lively social scene, frequently attending various celebrity hot spots.

Warren has also previously been spotted partying with Home and Away's Pia Miller.

Thirsty work! Warren is one of Sydney's most successful real estate agents, and now appears to have swept Jodi off her feet, according to reports

Hot property! Warren is certainly not shy about flaunting his impressive physique

It is unknown if Warren has been introduced to Jodi's two-year-old daughter, Aleeia, but their Gold Coast 'getaway' suggests things could be getting serious.

Meanwhile, things are also heating up for Jodi's ex Braith and Bondi-based personal trainer Rachael.

Braith previously denied romance rumours in August, but he appeared to confirm their relationship on Christmas Day.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jodi's representatives for comment.
Though Carrie Fisher had many lovers, including Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford, SNL vet Dan Akroyd and Hollywood power agent Bryan Lourd, there was only one husband.

And on Wednesday Paul Simon finally broke his silence on the passing of the 60-year-old screen icon.

The 75-year-old musician, who was married to Fisher from 1983 until 1984, tweeted: 'Yesterday was a horrible day. Carrie was a special, wonderful girl. It's too soon.'

Her only spouse: Paul Simon finally broke his silence on Wednesday about the passing of the 60-year-old screen icon Carrie Fisher who he was married to from 1983 until 1984. Here they are pictured in 1979

A sad farewell: The 75-year-old musician tweeted: 'Yesterday was a horrible day. Carrie was a special, wonderful girl. It's too soon'

The other ladied: Paul's other wives include Peggy Harper and Eddie Brickell

Paul's other wives include Peggy Harper, who he was wed to from 1969 until 1975, and Eddie Brickell, his spouse since 1992.

Ford had made his comment within hours of Carrie's passing.

The actor said she was a 'one-of-a-kind' and lived her life 'bravely'.

Ford, who played Han Solo to her Princess Leia, said: 'Carrie was one-of-a-kind... brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life bravely...

'My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her Mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her.'

The Princess Leia actress claimed in her recent book The Princess Diarist that she had an 'intense' three-month affair with Ford when she was 19 during the filming of Star Wars in 1976.

He was 33 and married to his first wife Mary Marquardt at the time.

Fisher kept their tryst secret for 40 years.

His goodbye: Fisher's Star Wars co-star Harrison Ford, who played Han Solo to her Princess Leia, wrote: 'Carrie was one-of-a-kind... brilliant, original'. Left is Force Awakens and right is Return Of The Jedi

More recent: Ford and Fisher are seen at the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' film premiere in LA in December 2015

The Star Wars actress passed away on Tuesday morning in Los Angeles, her representative confirmed.

Soon after her mother, film vet Debbie Reynolds, wrote on Facebook: 'Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter.

'I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother.'

Reynolds, 84, was the darling of Hollywood in the 1950s with hits such as Singin' In The Rain and Tammy And The Bachelor.

Other members of Fisher's Star Wars family also quickly reacted.

Mark Hamill, who played her brother Luke Skywalker in the franchise, shared: 'No words, devastated.'

With her mother: Fisher's mother, Debbie Reynolds, wrote: 'Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter.' Pictured left in 2015 and right in the 1980s

Hollywood darlings: Debbie with husband Eddie Fisher and their little girl Carrie in 1956

Well written: Debbie wrote on Facebook: 'Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. 'I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother'

The 65-year-old actor also shared a note on Instagram with three photos. This one said: 'Dear Santa: All I want for X-mas is The Force to be strong with Carrie.'

The star also shared a longer poignant post on his Facebook page. He wrote: 'It's never easy to lose such a vital, irreplaceable member of the family, but this is downright heartbreaking.

'Carrie was one-of-a-kind who belonged to us all- whether she liked it or not. She was OUR Princess, damn it, & the actress who played her blurred into one gorgeous, fiercely independent & ferociously funny, take-charge woman who took our collective breath away.

'Determined & tough, but with a vulnerability that made you root for her & want her to succeed & be happy. She played such a crucial role in my professional & personal life, & both would have been far emptier without her.

'I am grateful for the laughter, the wisdom, the kindness & even the bratty, self-indulgent crap my beloved space-twin gave me through the years. Thanks Carrie. I love you, mh.'

Blues: The icon's Star Wars co-star Mark Hamill, who played her brother Luke Skywalker in the franchise, shared: 'There are no words, I am devastated'

A collage: Mark also shared a note on Instagram. This one said: 'Dear Santa: All I want for X-mas is The Force to be strong with Carrie'

Poignant: Hamill shared a longer heartfelt tribute to his 'space twin' on his Facebook page

Star Wars creator George Lucas added: 'Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives. She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved.

'In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess - feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult that most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie's family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all.'

Another Star Wars veteran, Billy Dee Williams, wrote, 'I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing. She was a dear friend, whom I greatly respected and admired. The force is dark today!' He played Han Solo's friend Lando Calrissian.

Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO wrote: 'I thought I had got what I wanted under the tree. I didn't. In spite of so many thoughts and prayers from so many. I am very, very sad.'

Peter Mayhew, who is the sci-fi film franchise's Chewbacca, said: 'There are no words for this loss. Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly.'

Tribute: Warwick Davis posted on Twitter following Fisher's death before discussing her life and work on Good Morning Britain

Well wishes: Warwick had shared a snapshot of himself with the actress following her apparent heart attack and subsequent hospitalisation

British actor Warwick Davis, who played Ewok Wicket in Return Of The Jedi paid tribute on Twitter as well as speaking to breakfast show Good Morning Britain on Wednesday morning.

He said: 'She kind of wore fame very well. She didnt have any airs and graces.

'She was just Carrie Fisher, Princess Leia, an iconic figure, but at the same time a very down to earth person who just enjoyed living.

'Some of her talents were not that widely known but she was very successful in a lot of other areas through the years. Not only an iconic actress, but also an author and script doctor.'

Thoughts and prayers: Anthony Daniels, who played C3P0 in the Star Wars movies tweeted his sadness while Dave Prowse also shared his condolences

Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in all three Star Wars originals, wrote: I am extremely sad to learn of Carrie's passing. She was wonderful to work with. Condolences to her friends, family & fans around the world.

Force Awakens director JJ Abrams shared a handwritten note: 'You didn't need to meet Carrie Fisher to understand her power. She was just as brilliant and beautiful, tough and wonderful, incisive and funny as you could imagine. What an unfair thing to lose her. How lucky to have been blessed with her at all.'

Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley said in a statement: 'Devastated at this monumental loss. How lucky we all are to have known her, and how awful that we have to say goodbye.'

Stars of the show: Carrie and J J Abrams (centre) at the European premiere of The Force Awakens last December with Carrie's co-star Adam Driver holding her dog Gary

He used a pen: Force Awakens director JJ Abrams shared a handwritten note: 'You didn't need to meet Carrie Fisher to understand her power'

Director Steven Spielberg wrote: 'I have always stood in awe of Carrie. Her observations always made me laugh and gasp at the same time. She didn't need The Force. She was a force of nature, of loyalty and of friendship. I will miss her very much.'

Gwendoline Christie, who was in Force Awakens, said: 'We've lost our Princess.'

Lupita Nyong'o, who was also in Force Awakens, wrote, 'Sweet Carrie' while sharing a photo of the two of them with Fisher's dog Gary.

John Boyega, who played Finn in the film, posted a snapshot of himself with the actress alongside the caption: 'My heart is heavy but I'm grateful that I got to know her. I'll cherish the memories, conversations and her consistent support. Rest Well.'

Grateful: John Boyega played Finn in The Force Awakens and posted a snapshot of himself with the actress on his Twitter account alongside a touching tribute

'Carrie Fisher was one-of-a-kind, a true character who shared her talent and her truth with us all with her trademark wit and irreverence,' wrote Bob Iger, chairman and chief executive officer, The Walt Disney Company.

Disney is now co-producer of the Star Wars films.

'Millions fell in love with her as the indomitable Princess Leia; she will always have a special place in the hearts of Star Wars fans as well as all of us who were lucky enough to know her personally. She will be sorely missed, and we join millions of fans and friends around the world who mourn her loss today.'

Carrie's dog Gary, who had his own Twitter account, wrote: 'Saddest tweets to tweet. Mommy is gone. I love you @carrieffisher.' It is not known who wrote the post for him.

That kiss: Another Star Wars vet, Billy Dee Williams, who was Lando Calrissian, added his tribute online too

Touching tribute: : 'I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing. She was a dear friend, whom I greatly respected and admired. The force is dark today!' he wrote

Jamie Lee Curtis shared a photo of Carrie's daughter Billie and said: 'My mother's heart goes out to this exquisitely talented young woman. Her mother's spirit and talent lives on in her and I'm sure all of Carrie's fans and friends will give her space and privacy.'

William Shatner of Star Trek fame tweeted: 'I'm deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carrie Fisher. I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished.'

Gwyneth Paltrow shared a beautiful photo of Carrie from the 1980s and a note that read: 'Oh goodness. Heavy heart today.'

Steve Martin's words were: 'When I was a young man, Carrie Fisher was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She turned out to be witty and bright as well.'

Kris Jenner of Keeping Up With The Kardashians wrote: 'Such a tragic loss. An inspiration to so many women, your strength and spirit will be missed, @carriefisherofficial... My love and prayers go out to her mother and her family...'

They worked together in a galaxy far, far away: Lupita Nyong'o, who was also in Force Awakens, wrote, 'Sweet Carrie' while sharing a photo of the two of them with dog Gary

With love from Calabasas: Kris Jenner wrote: 'Such a tragic loss. An inspiration to so many women, your strength and spirit will be missed, @carriefisherofficial... My love and prayers go out to her mother and her family...'

They talked: Ellen DeGeneres shared an old photo from when Carrie was on her show to promote Star Wars. The 58-year-old star wrote: 'Carrie was a brilliant writer, actor, and friend'

Actress Anna Kendrick had a profanity laced reaction within minutes of the news. 'No. No. F*** this s***. Carrie Fisher is a f***ing legend and this is bulls***.'

Ellen DeGeneres shared an old photo from when Carrie was on her show to promote Star Wars.

The 58-year-old star wrote: 'Carrie was a brilliant writer, actor, and friend.'

The daytime TV talk show host then said: 'She was so much fun. I can't believe she's gone.'

His tribute: The TV star tweeted: 'I'm deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carrie Fisher. I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished'

Her big hits: The actress was best known for her Star Wars films. She was last seen in the 2015 blockbuster The Force Awakens. Here she is pictured in 1977's A New Hope

Blindspot Jaime Alexander tweeted: 'I can't take much more of 2016. #RIP #CarrieFisher.'

Mia Farrow wrote: 'Oh no!! Carrie wasn't done yet!' She then added: 'Carrie was brilliant, funny and talented. Sending huge love be to her mom, her daughter, Billie and her many friends.'

Sarah Paulson had a touching note: 'Sweet, Brilliant, Irreverent, Huge hearted Carrie, You gave me advice I live by to this day, & always will. On the wings of angels fly...'

Whoopi Goldberg said: 'Carrie Fisher has passed, she was funnier&smarter than anyone had the right to be. Sail On Silver Girl. Condolences Debbie & Billie R.I.P.'

Margaret Cho, who was a friend, also shared a note on social media.

The comedienne wrote: 'We just lost a great ally for mental health and addiction. Be strong, be as string as she'd want you to be. Rest in paradise.'

The image she shared was a black-and-white one of Carrie in her twenties smiling.

Elizabeth Banks said: '#CarrieFisher was so witty and provocative and unrelentingly interesting. Goddamn, I loved her. Everyone did.'

Nick Lachey, a boy bander who used to be married to Jessica Simpson, added: 'Prince, George Michael, and now Carrie Fisher..... I feel like my youth is disappearing before my eyes. Never felt so old... #RIP.' Last week her welcomed a new baby with Vanessa Minnillo.

Shocked: Actress Anna Kendrick had a profanity laced reaction within minutes of the news. 'No. No. F*** this s***. Carrie Fisher is a f***ing legend and this is bulls***'

Supportive: Margaret Cho, who was a friend, also shared a note on social media. The comedienne wrote: 'We just lost a great ally for mental health and addiction'

Feeling the blues: Elizabeth Banks said: 'CarrieFisher was so witty and provocative and unrelentingly interesting. Goddamn, I loved her. Everyone did'

Ralph Macchio said: 'Sadness and thoughts for icons of my time. RIP #CarrieFisher #georgemichael.'

Mayim Bialik added: '@missmayim What a woman #CarrieFisher.'

Dominic Monaghan said: 'You will always be my first crush and the force will always be with you @carrieffisher #rip.'

She loved her: Selma Blair added a note from the thoughts of Carrie's dog

Lots of props: Deth MacFarlane called Carrie 'smart, funny, talented'

His two cents: Ryan Seacrest wrote: 'Thoughts and prayers to Carrie's family'

They go way back: Albert Brooks said, 'RIP Carrie Fisher. A brilliantly funny, talented woman. We will miss your humor now more than ever'

John Leguizamo tweeted: 'Dear #carrieFisher every time an artist is born the world gains everytime we lose an artist the world loses! R.I.P.'

Joe Mantegna shared an old photo and wrote: 'Carrie always made me smile to be around her. My heartfelt condolence to all her family.'

Family spokesman Simon Halls released a statement on behalf of Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd: 'It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning,' reads the statement.

'She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.'

Fisher was returning home from London on Friday went she went into cardiac arrest before her flight landed at Los Angeles International Airport.

He liked her: Josh Gad of Frozen fame added: 'I'm sitting in stunned silence'

Shocked: Mia Farrow wrote: 'Oh no!! Carrie wasn't done yet!'

More to say: The ex of Woody Allen added: 'Carrie was brilliant, funny and talented. Sending huge love be to her mom, her daughter, Billie and her many friends'

His words: Nick Lachey, a boy bander who used to be married to Jessica Simpson, added: 'Prince, George Michael, and now Carrie Fisher..... I feel like my youth is disappearing before my eyes. Never felt so old... #RIP'

She received emergency treatment on the plane before she was rushed to a hospital, where her brother later reported she was in critical condition.

Her mother, famed actress Debbie Reynolds, reported that she was in stable condition on Sunday.

'Carrie is in stable condition. If there is a change, we will share it. For all her fans and friends, I thank you for your prayers and good wishes,' Reynolds wrote on Twitter.

Sad end for an old friend: Bobby Moynihan posted a photo with the actress along

Close: Joe Mantegna shared an old photo and wrote: 'Carrie always made me smile to be around her. My heartfelt condolence to all her family'
While everyone else laments how tough 2016, this young star-in-the-making has had a fantastic year.

With just a few days left until 2017, Kaia Gerber has had some serious social media success.

The 15-year-old is now being followed by 1 million people on Instagram as of Tuesday morning.

Impressive feat: With just a few days left until 2017, Kaia Gerber has had some serious social media success, announcing she is now followed by 1 million people on Instagram as of Tuesday

The young model woke up in Miami, Florida, to see that her fan base just made the six zeroed milestone.

To celebrate the model posted a snap of herself on the beach with her finger raised up in the air to signify 1 million.

Wearing a black bikini, the teen beamed as the water lapped at her ankles while she stood on the shore of the white sand beach.

Kaia captioned the picture: '1 million ?! thank you so much. can't wait for 2017.'

Big moment, big 2016: To celebrate the model posted a snap of herself on the beach with her finger raised up in the air to signify 1 million

The 15-year-old is now the second most followed person in her famous and social media savvy family with mom Cindy Crawford leading the way with 1.7 million followers.

Kaia is currently in Miami with her mom, dad Rande Gerber and brother Presley where they marked Christmas on the beach.

The 15-year-old has had a very big 2016 going from being Cindy's daughter at the end of last year to Kaia, America's top new model, this year.

Stepping up: The 15-year-old is currently on holiday with her family in Miami, Florida, and is seen here on Sunday

Icon in the making: And while her good genes and resemblance to her mother has helped catapult her into the spotlight, it was clear on Sunday that she has a style all of her own - and has decades of modelling to come

Style siblings: Kaia looked like she was on a Teen Vogue modelling shoot despite just having a lark with her also genetically-blessed brother, Presley

And while her good genes and resemblance to her mother has helped catapult her into the spotlight, it was clear over her Christmas vacation that she has a style all of her own - and has decades of modelling to come.

Kaia looked like she was on a Teen Vogue modelling shoot on Sunday as she splashed around with her also genetically-blessed brother, Presley.

As they played in the water her parents watched on an sipped on cocktails.

Kicking back: Cindy and Rande Gerber opted to stay dry, marking Christmas Day from their cabana with a few cocktails

'Beach time with not Cindy': Rande even took to social media to joke about the resemblance

Not comparing Kaia and Cindy is almost impossible however, with even Rande thinking the mother and daughter look very similar.

Rande even took to social media to joke about the uncanny resemblance.

Posting a picture of his daughter resting on the beach on Instagram he joked: 'Beach time with not Cindy.'
This Pro-Choice Organization Helps Midwesterners Travel To Chicago For Abortions

By Mae Rice in News on Dec 27, 2016 7:44PM



1977: Women taking part in a demonstration demand safe legal abortions for all women. (Photo by Peter Keegan/Keystone/Getty Images)

Last year, more than 3,000 people traveled across state lines to get abortions in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Public Healthand many of them came to Chicago, where the bulk of Illinois abortions take place. Midwest Access Coalition (MAC), a Chicago-based pro-choice non-profit, aims to make these visits cheaper for out-of-towners in tough financial straits.

MAC's clients typically come to Chicago to escape restrictive abortion regulations in their hometowns, often for second-term abortions. Many clients come from Indiana, according to MAC founder Leah Greenblum. (No surpriseremember when a woman got 20 years in prison for "feticide," a.k.a. having a miscarriage, there?) Other MAC clients come from Wisconsin and Michigan; still others come from states as far-flung as Mississippi and Alaska, according to Greenblum.

They come to Chicago, specifically, because it's a sanctuary city in more ways than one. It not only has top-tier healthcare provides; it's also subject to Illinois' unusually pro-choice abortion regulations: no required waiting period or forced ultrasounds, no fetal-burial law (thank god), and no required parental consent (though parental notification is required, unless minors obtain a waiver).

Chicago could become an even more important destination for people seeking abortions once Trump takes office, and pro-life Indiana governor Mike Pence becomes vice presidentespecially if Roe vs. Wade gets overturned. Even in the past year, Illinois' neighbors have cracked down on abortion: Ohio recently banned abortion after 20 weeks, except in special cases; Indiana, as of this past March, has a fetal-burial law.

MAC's has a plan for life under Trump, though: to "keep on with our bad selves," Greenblum told Chicagoist.

That means continuing the work MAC has been doing since 2014: using its funds to cover transportation, meals and medication for women struggling to afford a visit to Chicago for an abortion. MAC also connects these women with accommodations and rides from a network of Chicago volunteers, who are doing the rough equivalent of Airbnb and Uber for a cause.

So far this year, MAC has helped more than 60 women get abortions in Chicago with this model. It's not nearly 3,000and MAC applauds the people who travel to Chicago for abortions on their ownbut as Greenblum explains, We just want to be filling in the gaps for those folks where this is the make or break for them.

MAC volunteer Janeen Williams added, "Rich white women will always have access to abortion." MAC's goal is to improve abortion access for less privileged demographicsoften people struggling financially and/or people of color.

MAC aims to help women whose access is more tenuoussome of whom have never left their hometowns. Greenblum says that MAC often helps clients map their routes, find their nearest train stations, and manage safety concerns. A lot of MAC clients are "afraid of crime," Greenblum said. "Theyve heard all these bad things about Chicago.

Then, of course, MAC helps with housing. Clients often need to stay for a few nights in Chicago for their procedure. Second-term abortions, though outpatient, take 2 to 3 daysa day or two for dilation, followed by another day for extraction.

Williams, a 23-year-old biomedical engineer, has hosted two women at the Andersonville home she shares with her fiance. She's on-call to take clients for a week or so every month, and has been since she took MAC's two-hour volunteer training a year and a half ago.

She said the experience has been rewarding, and very much in line with her personal politics. Im really involved in activism in general," she said. "Im black, Im female, Im in a STEM career. [...] Im used to advocating on behalf of other people, and particularly women of color." Abortion access, she said, sits at the intersection of a lot of causes she cares about.

She added that it's a privilege to be able to host. "Im in the very very fortunate position," she said, of having a spare bedroom and a schedule flexible enough to accommodate guests.

There are occasional difficulties to hosting, though. One is giving support that feels substantial but not prescriptive. Williams and her fiance have struggled with the formerone night, she was working late, and her fiance was home alone with a guest who needed to talk. He called Williams and asked her to come home early. He was like, Im not useful here, she said.

Williams did go home earlyand MAC's volunteer training had prepared her to listen actively, without being "instructive about things like the patriarchy," as Greenblum put it. "its not our place to be educating our clients we just want to be supportive. They offer a short-term support line clients can call about issues hosts aren't sure how to handle, too.

Still, "sometimes those conversations [with guests] are so hard, to hear where people are in their lives," Williams said. "I mean, its even harder for them but you have to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself... and be very into self-care."

Another, more structural struggle MAC faces is diversifying their volunteer base. MAC already has some volunteers of color, including Williams, but Greenblum noted that a lot of people with the time and resources to volunteer are "middle-class white folks." This means many hosts are well-off and white, and many clients are not. MAC is working on ways to make their volunteer opportunities more inclusiveand, quite simply, on ways to grow.

"[W]e are committed to non-class-based volunteerism and work with our volunteers to make their service possible, even when they are without expendable income," Greenblum said in an email. "We make sure our costs are not passed onto our volunteers."

Just as they try to minimize the barriers to getting abortion, they're trying to minimize the barriers to joining the pro-choice movement. Now more than ever, this makes perfect sense. Under Trump, the movement will need everyone it can get.

Learn more about volunteering with Midwest Access Coalition here.






She's been soaking up the sunshine on holiday with her boyfriend James Dunmore.

And Lucy Watson was treating her social media followers to some envy-inducing snapshots of her Barbados winter break on Tuesday as the pair celebrated Christmas together in style.

The former Made In Chelsea star, who announced her plans to quit the E4 show this autumn, posed in front of a colourful door, rocking a bright blue bikini top.

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Beach babe: Lucy Watson was treating her social media followers to some envy-inducing snapshots of her Barbados winter break on Tuesday

Lucy displayed her slimline waist and perfectly flat stomach in the fashionable crossover number, which she paired with denim cut-offs.

The star peered out from behind a pair of tinted shades as she struck a pose in front of the message 'Love'.

Lucy also treated her fans to a snap of herself with handsome MIC partner James, simply captioned, 'merry christmas from us'.

Lovebirds: Lucy posed with her handsome MIC partner James Dunmore, captioning the picture 'merry christmas from us'

Cooling off: The brunette beauty also posted an image of herself perched in a wicker seat, sipping on a fresh coconut drink

The brunette beauty also posted an image of herself perched in a wicker seat, sipping on a fresh coconut drink.

The previous day, the 25-year-old star looked happier than ever as she cuddled up to her hunky man while lapping up the Caribbean sunshine.

Lucy showcased her peachy posterior in a white backless swimsuit with a playful pink heart motif, bearing the slogan 'I love bikers'.

Made In... Paradise? James and Lucy looked happier than ever as they cuddled up for a romantic beach stroll on Boxing Day

Slipping on a pair of denim hotpants after getting out of the sea, the reality star ensured her gym-honed figure was on full display as she enjoyed her sun-soaked Christmas holiday.

Lucy wore her raven locks swept back from her face and sheltered her eyes from the sun with a pair of stylish mirrored shades.

The former Made In Chelsea cast member carried a pair of deck shoes in one hand and seemed in high spirits as she wandered along the shore with her boyfriend's arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.

Fun in the sun: The reality star, 25, showcased her peachy posterior in a white backless swimsuit with a playful pink heart motif, bearing the slogan 'I love bikers'

And it's easy to see why Lucy looked so happy, with beau James, 26, showcasing his buff body and bulging biceps by going shirtless.

The loved-up couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they hit the beach on Christmas Day.

Puckering up for a passionate PDA on the beach, the pair kissed and cavorted for all to see, before taking to the waves on a jet-ski.

Lucy and James were both notably absent from the Made In Chelsea spin-off in the South of France this summer and in September, Lucy announced her departure from the show that catapulted her to fame after four years.

Pucker up, baby: The loved-up couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they hit the beach on Christmas Day

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'After four amazing years on Made in Chelsea, Lucy feels that now is the right time to explore some other exciting opportunities and projects that she is passionate about.

'Being part of such a successful show has been an incredible experience for her, and she wishes everyone involved all the very best for the future.'

The announcement came shortly after Made In Chelsea's Frankie Gaff, 22, revealed she was taking time away from the spotlight to concentrate on her relationship with her boyfriend James Dunmore, who she has been dating since 2015.

Frankie told BANG Showbiz: 'Lucy's not going to be in the next series. At the moment she's decided not to because she's loved up.'

Lucy's last appearance on Made In Chelsea saw her clash with her best friend Stephanie Pratt after she 'dumped' her for her boyfriend-at-the-time Josh Shepherd.

Feeling blue? Lucy showcased her toned and tanned figure in a blue and black mismatched bikini as she enjoyed her Caribbean Christmas holiday

Lucy - who joined the show in 2012 - previously said: 'We don't talk anymore.

'Last year was a very difficult year for me because she essentially dumped me for her boyfriend at the time [Josh Shepherd] as he didn't like me. When something like that happens you don't forget.'

The brunette subsequently received heavy criticism for the way she handled the situation, but later hit back at her critics.

She explained: 'It's very easy to make me out to be the villain because I don't think before I speak.

'I know I can have a vicious tongue at times people shouldn't jump to conclusions before they know the whole story.'

Lucy's younger sister, Tiffany Watson, 23, and her boyfriend Sam Thompson, 24, are still central cast members in the E4 reality show.
Shocked Star Wars fans are mourning the death of Carrie Fisher.

But they may be slightly comforted to know that the actress had already filmed her scenes as Leia for the upcoming Star Wars: VIII, due out December 15, 2017.

The 60-year-old actress passed away on Tuesday after suffering a presumed heart attack.

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Reunited: Carrie Fisher, seen with co-star Harrison Ford in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, had already filmed her role in Star Wars: VIII before her death on Tuesday

Carrie was flying from London to Los Angeles on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest near her destination.

Paramedics removed her from the flight when it landed and rushed her to a nearby hospital.

The celebrity, who battled drug addiction and bipolar disorder, is best known for playing then Princess Leia in the original 1977 film Star Wars that became a surprise hit and kicked off a franchise.

A real trooper: The actress, with a Stormtrooper at the London premiere of The Force Awakens, was flying from London to Los Angeles on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest

Golden girl: The actress was 24 when she donned this revealing outfit for 1983's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980

She reprised her role as the feisty royal in the following two films, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi in 1983.

Writer-director George Lucas revisited his creation in three prequels that kicked off 16 years later with 1999's Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones in 2002 and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith in 2005.

He rebranded the original three films Star Wars: Episode IV, V and VI

But Carrie's character, now General Leia, didn't show up again until the blockbuster franchise was rebooted by J.J. Abrams last year.

Successful author: At the time of her death, Carrie was on her way back from London where she had promoted her new book, The Princess Diarist, about shooting the Star Wars films

As well as her acting career, the daughter of iconic actress Debbie Reynolds and the late pop singer Eddie Fisher was a successful author.

At the time of her death, Carrie was on her way back from London where she had been promoting her latest book, The Princess Diarist, a memoir of her time shooting the Star Wars films.

She appeared on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show to talk up both her book and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which a younger version of her Leia character appeared at the end of the movie uttering the single word 'Hope.'

Carrie had also been filming scenes for Amazon TV series Catastrophe.
A long-running mystery came to an end after Louis Loveday was revealed as the biological father of Leela Lomax's baby during Tuesday evening's episode of Hollyoaks.

His identity was confirmed when he turned up at the hospital shortly after the blonde gave birth to their son Daniel, some two months prematurely.

'I was wondering how long it would take for you to turn up,' she told him, finally confirming her child's father as the episode came to an end.

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Confirmed: A long-running mystery came to an end after Louis Loveday was revealed as the biological father of Leela Lomax's baby during Tuesday evening's episode of Hollyoaks

Leela had previously been rushed to hospital after going into premature labour during her ill-advised wedding to serial killer Cameron Campbell.

But her student nurse sister Tegan soon discovered the baby was not Cameron's after carrying out a cursory blood test and discovering they did not match.

Tegan eventually prompted her to tell him the truth rather than allowing him more time to bond with the baby .

I'm the father: His identity was confirmed when he turned up at the hospital shortly after the blonde gave birth to their son Daniel, some two months prematurely

With the truth finally out, Leela had little option but to tell all - however she failed to tell him who Daniels father really is.

After Cameron made her choose between him and Daniel, she wisely remained loyal to her baby - but his real father remained a mystery until Tuesday evening.

Leela discovered she was pregnant in July after giving a urine sample to cover for Ste Hay.

Trouble brewing: Leela had been rushed to hospital after going into premature labour during her ill-advised wedding to serial killer Cameron Campbell

But when he reminded her of the night he lied so she could stay out, the realization dawned that the baby might not be Cameron's.

The baby has been kept in an incubator due to breathing difficulties incurred as a result of being born prematurely.

Hollyoaks is set for a series of dramatic storylines over the coming weeks, among them an explosion that could kill Warren Fox and Joel Dexter.
There's been plenty of speculation The Bachelor runner-up and fan favourite Nikki Gogan will be the next Bachelorette.

And, in what could be another sign the Perth-based real estate could soon take on the franchise's leading role, she posted a photo to social media while on a Contiki trip to India on Tuesday.

It comes after former The Bachelor star Sam Frost jetted to Vietnam with the travel company in late 2014, the year she had her heartbroken on TV, ahead of becoming The Bachelorette in 2015.

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Will she be the next Bachelorette? Nikki Gogan (pictured) shared a photo from India to Instagram on Tuesday as she enjoys an exotic Contiki trip following her heartbreak on The Bachelor the same thing Sam Frost did before going on The Bachelorette

Nikki shared a shot of herself in jeans and a white T-shirt in Delhi, covering her head with a colourful printed scarf.

The blonde beauty captioned the image: 'Delhi exploring today.

'The Sikh Temple and Jama Mosque were highlights for me,' she told her fans before using the hash-tags: 'eternal india', 'contiki', 'no regrets' and 'hosted' - suggesting it is a sponsored trip.

Girl's trip: In late 2014, Sam travelled to Vietnam with Contiki after her Bachelor heartbreak and was joined by the show's runner-up Lisa Hyde

Case of the ex: Sam was proposed to on the show and then dumped by Blake Garvey before the finale aired on TV

Beach babe: The photogenic star is seen here in Vietnam

In late 2014, former Bachelor star Sam travelled to Vietnam with Contiki after being proposed to and then dumped by Blake Garvey.

She was joined on the trip by runner-up Lisa Hyde and the pair used the experience as a girls' holiday as they bonded over their heartbreak and blogged along the way.

Sam then went on to sign up for The Bachelorette last year, where she found love with her winner, Sasha Mielczarek.

However, this week, 18-months on from their reality TV romance, the pair announced they had split.

Going their separate ways: Sam then went on to sign up for The Bachelorette last year, where she found love with her winner, Sasha Mielczarek, however the pair announced their split on Tuesday

For months, fans have been speculating that Nikki could be the third Bachelorette.

This year on the show, Georgia Love found romance with Lee Elliott.

However, the network weren't giving any hint of preferential treating, with casting to begin early next year.

Will she accept the rose? For months, fans have been speculating that Nikki could be the third Bachelorette

Lovers: This year's Bachelorette Georgia Love found love on the show with Lee Elliott

A spokesperson for Channel Ten said in a statement that they were 'looking forward' to starting production on the new series.

They added the finale episode of Georgia Love's story drew in 1.49 million viewers - down considerably from the 2015 series.

Nikki is a leading option to star as the next third series, after having her heart broken by Richie Strahan earlier this year on The Bachelor, when he chose Alex Nation as his winner.

However, the blonde beauty really shone by the way she graciously handled her defeat, making her more loved than ever and sparking an outcry from fans that Richie had chosen the wrong person.

Fan favourite: Nikki is a leading option to star as the next third series, after having her heart broken by Richie Strahan earlier this year on The Bachelor (pictured)

They found love: Richie is seen here with girlfriend Alex Nation

In September, Nikki told Studio 10 that she wasn't interested in the gig.

'No way. Not at this moment. It's too raw,' Nikki said.

She added: 'I feel like I'm not in the right head or heart space to be able to truly answer that question.'

'And on top of that, I know that's a year from now and I feel like if I focused so far ahead that I might not be open to finding my person before then.'
Zach Galifianakis is a father again.

The 47-year-old Hangover star and wife Quinn Lundberg welcomed their second child in November, E! News revealed on Tuesday.

The couple named their little boy Rufus Emmanuel Lundberg.

Now a fmily of four: Zach Galifianakis is a father again. The 47-year-old Hangover star and wife Quinn Lundberg welcomed their second child in November. Pictured 2010

Funny guy: The North Carolina native is best known for The Hangover with Bradley Cooper and its sequel as well as Keeping Up With The Joneses

The exact date the boy was born was November 7.

Zach and Quinn already have a three-year-old son. 'We have a boy!' he said on Jimmy Fallon's show in 2014.

'I think fatherhood is just the greatest thing, it really really is.'

The poor lady is outnumbered: Zach and Quinn already have a three-year-old son. Pictured 2010

He later told Conan O'Brien, 'I'm strict. He's 2 and right now I have him on a strict exercise routine.

'When he gets out of the crib it's 50 push-ups right away. To have a really fit 2-year-old and to show that he can kick other 2-year-old's butts is really important.'

The North Carolina native is best known for The Hangover with Bradley Cooper and its sequel as well as Keeping Up With The Joneses.

His next film is The Lego Batman Movie and Tulip Fever. He has been filming A Wrinkle In Time.
The couple married in December last year, after 18 months of dating, and are now expecting their first child together.

And NRL star Sam Burgess couldn't wait to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, taking to Instagram first thing Wednesday morning to declare his ongoing love for Phoebe.

The 28-year-old posted a black and white snap from their big day, with a sweet tribute attached for his pregnant partner.

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'A year to the day!' NRL star Sam Burgess declared his ongoing love for glamorous WAG Phoebe Burgess on their first wedding anniversary with a sweet throwback snap posted to Instagram on Wednesday morning

Sam captioned the post, in part: 'A year to the day. Happy Anniversary to my legend wife @mrsphoebeburgess.'

'Soon to be the best Mum in the world. I cannot wait. Love you Xx,' Sam ended the sweet post.

A clear bridal beauty, Phoebe radiated glamour in her custom made Alex Perry gown with a thigh-high split that showed off her enviable figure and toned legs.

The dress featured a plunging neckline, sheer sleeves and the entire garment was covered with embroidered flowers.

Bridal beauty! Within the flashback picture, Phoebe radiated glamour in her custom made Alex Perry gown with a thigh-high split that showed off her enviable figure and toned legs

'Happy Anniversary to my legend wife...Soon to be the best Mum in the world': Sam's touching tribute to his life partner was also focused on their journey ahead as parents

The blonde journalist later uplaoded two images of the couple kissing in the garden from their big day with sweet and simple captions.

She captioned the candid shots: 'One year down and a lifetime to go. Happy Anniversary darling, love you.' and '28.12.15.'

They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Phoebe's parents' sprawling home in Bowral, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands.

'One year down and a lifetime to go': The blonde journalist later uploaded two images of the couple kissing in the garden from their big day last year, adding sweet and simple captions

Expecting! The happy couple are now expecting their first child together within the next five weeks, with Phoebe regularly flaunting her growing belly on social media

Sam looked suave in a custom Giorgio Armani suit on the day, as he was pictured with his glowing bride holding after the ceremony.

Sam and Phoebe became engaged when the Rabbitohs star popped the question during a romantic holiday in Greece early last year.

The pair moved back to Phoebe's native Australia after a brief stint in Bath where he played rugby union before rejoining Souths.

Wedded bliss! The blonde journalist also shared a picture of the couple kissing from the memorable occasion five weeks ago

This time last year: They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Phoebe's parents' sprawling home in Bowral, in the New South Wales Southern Highlands

The happy couple are now expecting their first child together within the next five weeks.

It hasn't been confirmed whether the bub will be a boy or a girl, but the stars have hinted they've picked a girl's name and a boy's name already.

Loved-up! Sam and Phoebe became engaged when the Rabbitohs star popped the question during a romantic holiday in Greece early last year, after dating each other for 18 months prior
Cambodian court convicts exiled opposition leader

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five years in prison on Tuesday over a post on his Facebook page, a conviction that makes his return from self-imposed exile unlikely.

The conviction caps a major crackdown this year on critics of the country's strongman leader Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has run Cambodia for more than three decades often with the help of pliant courts.

Activists say Hun Sen is trying to keep his opponents under pressure ahead of regional elections next year and a general election in 2018.

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy has been sentenced to five years in prison for a post on his Facebook page YOSHIKAZU TSUNO (AFP/File)

Scores of opposition politicians and rights group workers have been jailed or seen legal cases filed against them in recent months.

Rainsy, who currently lives in France, was convicted in absentia by Phnom Penh's Municipal Court on Tuesday for a post placed on his Facebook page by a third party about Cambodia's border with Vietnam, a highly contentious issue in the country.

Anti-Vietnamese sentiment runs high in Cambodia and parts of the border are still disputed. Hun Sen's critics accuse him of being too close to Vietnam, a charge he denies and bristles at.

The case concerned copies of a 37-year-old treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam over their shared border that were posted on social media last year.

Cambodians authorities said the treaty was a forgery and began arresting people who posted it, including opposition senator Hong Sok Hour who was jailed in November for seven years.

Hong Sok Hour posted the treaty on Rainsy's Facebook page, leading to charges being filed against the opposition leader.

Rainsy was convicted of being an accomplice in "falsifying public documents, using fake public documents (and) incitement causing unrest to national security," judge Leang Samnath said during a hearing.

Two members of his Facebook team, who have fled the country, were also convicted in absentia.

In an email to AFP Rainsy slammed the verdict, saying his conviction was reached by a "kangaroo court".

He said people often posted messages on his Facebook page and that he should not be held accountable for content placed by others.

"Now, my two young colleagues... and myself are accused of being accomplices" he said.

Rainsy has been living in self-imposed exile in Paris since November 2015 after a court ordered him to serve jail time over a defamation conviction he says was politically motivated.

Cambodia has been plunged into a political crisis for much of this year. After Rainsy's flight, his deputy Kem Sokha was hit with a court case over a sex scandal.

He refused to appear in court and holed himself up in his party's headquarters for more than half a year until he was pardoned by the king earlier this month.

Hun Sen, 64, has vowed to remain in power into his seventies.

But many Cambodians, particularly younger voters, have grown tired of endemic corruption and crony capitalism.
S. Korea ruling party splits over president's impeachment

South Korea's ruling conservative party officially split Tuesday over the impeachment of scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye, threatening to complicate presidential elections that could be held as soon as March.

A group of 29 lawmakers left the ruling Saenuri Party, arguing that its leadership refuses to embrace reforms despite the political crisis fuelled by the corruption scandal that has engulfed Park.

Their departure left the party with 99 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, relegating it to second place behind the liberal Democratic Party.

The impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-Hye has caused a split in the ruling Saenuri Party, making it the second largest parliamentary party JEON HEON-KYUN (POOL/AFP/File)

In a statement, they accused the ruling party of defending Park, branding her as the "worst-ever" offender against constitutional order.

"Our departure will provide momentum to turn the country's tragic incident -- the impeachment of its president -- into chances for the development of democracy", the dissident group said.

More than 60 Saenuri lawmakers crossed party lines to join opposition parties in passing a motion to impeach Park this month.

The case is now being considered by the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the validity of the impeachment that charged Park with multiple criminal and constitutional violations -- ranging from bribery to abuse of power.

The next presidential election is slated for December 2017, but if justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days -- meaning a ballot could be held as early as late March.

The Saenuri Party split could be problematic for one frontrunner -- outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

He had been widely expected to compete as a centre-right candidate on the Saenuri ticket but is now without an obvious platform to launch and run his campaign.

The 72-year-old last week strongly hinted he will jump into the presidential race, saying he was willing to devote himself to developing South Korea.

An opinion poll last week showed Ban was neck and neck with Democratic Party hopeful Moon Jae-In, each with a 23 percent support.

It remains unclear whether Ban will join the Saenuri Party or the emerging conservative party.

Park is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil to strong-arm large companies like Samsung into handing over tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations Choi allegedly controlled and plundered.

Park also allegedly ordered aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, allowing her to meddle in some state affairs including the appointment of top officials.
Taiwan warns of growing threats from China

Taiwan's defence minister warned Tuesday that enemy threats were growing daily after China's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions rise.

After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships on Monday passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The naval drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier on exercises early in December -- the vessel and escorts has sailed south of Taiwan and into the South China Sea STR (AFP/File)

Chinese media had earlier reported that the carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time along with its escort ships.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in less than a month.

Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily.

"I ask for strict training... We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name.

"The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all."

Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships.

His ministry estimated that the Liaoning would arrive at a base in China's southern island province of Hainan around Tuesday evening.

"The ministry has been tracking the Liaoning carrier's movements so the public can rest assured... and will closely monitor its movements in the future," it said in a statement.

Recently the Liaoning has been involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea, with J-15 fighter jets taking off from it and conducting air refuelling and combat drills, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Earlier in the month the Liaoning led large-scale exercises in the Bohai Sea that included live ammunition for the first time.

Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept.

Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative.

China poses the main military threat to self-ruled Taiwan. Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary -- even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.
Iran opposition leader quits after 6 years' house arrest

Mehdi Karroubi, a leading member of the Iranian opposition who has been under house arrest for almost six years, announced he is quitting his party, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi were reformist candidates during the 2009 presidential election, and questioned the shock victory of conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which led to mass protests.

Two years later, both leaders ended up under house arrest for their part in the protests, which regime leaders still call "the sedition".

Mehdi Karroubi, a leading member of the Iranian opposition who has been under house arrest for almost six years, is quitting his party, Iranian media report ATTA KENARE (AFP/File)

"Considering my situation since (2011) and given that I do not know how long this will last, I ask my friends to accept my resignation," Karroubi, 79, wrote in a letter to his party, according to reformist newspaper Shargh.

There have been repeated calls for Karroubi and Mousavi to be tried in court to no avail.

Hardliners claim house arrest was actually an "act of clemency" for the two leaders, since otherwise they would be put to death for sedition, in the words of ultra-conservative lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnour last week.

Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, which is considered close to hardliners, said Monday that the "sedition dossier is still open and will be examined," without giving further details.

Karroubi said his resignation was aimed at preserving the unity of his party, National Trust, ahead of the presidential election in May -- despite it being banned since his arrest.

"While keeping its independence, the party must cooperate with the other reformist groups and movements," he wrote.

President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who allied with the reformists to win power in 2013, has failed to secure the release of Karroubi and Mousavi as he promised during his campaign.

Reformists and moderates have said they will maintain their alliance ahead of May's election, when Rouhani is expected to run for a second term.
Mike Pence Is Speaking In Chicago Friday & Some Chicagoans Plan To Protest

By Rachel Cromidas in News on Dec 27, 2016 6:17PM



Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets Indiana Gov. Mike Pence at the Grand Park Events Center on July 12, 2016. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Vice President-elect Mike Pence, also known as the governor who made Indiana worse, is hosting a Republican fundraising luncheon in Chicago on Friday with the help of Gov. Bruce Rauner and other Illinois Republicans.

The Chicago Club at 81 E. Van Buren St. is hosting the $2,700 per ticket event, according to the Sun-Times. And for $10,000 a pop, a couple can attend, have lunch for two, and take a photo with Pence, while $33,400 VIP tickets per couple will also include a roundtable meeting.

Though Rauner made an effort to distance himself from President-elect Donald Trump before the election, he has since spoken with Trump on the phone and is now collaborating with Pence on this fundraiser. As we've pointed out in the past, those concerned about Trump's lack of policy experience, his xenophobic, hateful rhetoric, his denial of science and his attitudes toward women should be equally concerned about Pence.

With that in mind, a group of Chicagoans is planning a protest for outside the Chicago Club during Pence's luncheon. Protesters wrote on Facebook that they will gather at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 30 outside the Van Buren Street building to send a message to luncheon attendees that "We Will Not Accept a Fascist America!"



Pence is an LGBTQ hating Christian fascist. He tried to divert HIV/AIDS money to fund conversion therapy. He wants to ban ALL abortions AND deny birth control. As Governor of Indiana, he signed legislation that mandated funerals for aborted fetuses. The Trump/Pence regime will mean nationwide Stop and Frisk and further militarization of the War on Drugs, and they brag about using torture, launching a nuclear arms race, and so much more. Pence is a longtime, and very dangerous, operative of the Christian Right which wants to institute a theocratic state in the US. According to Jeremy Scahill, "Pence will be the most powerful Christian supremacist in US history." Say NO!

The Facebook event also notes that protesters are planning a similar political protest at 7 p.m. on New Year's Eve, outside Trump Tower, similar to previous Trump Tower protests.
Israel may push for more settler homes after UN vote

Israel could advance plans this week for thousands more settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem despite a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity, an official said Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building.

Meir Turjeman, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process.

The international community considers all Israeli settlements in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank to be illegal Thomas Coex (AFP/File)

In brief comments to AFP on Tuesday, Turjeman said there were no plans to call off discussions in response to Friday's Security Council resolution. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the UN vote.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," he said.

According to Ir Amim, the 618 units include 140 in the Pisgat Zeev neighbourhood, 262 in Ramat Shlomo and 216 in Ramot.

The United States abstained from Friday's vote, enabling the adoption ofx the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

US President Barack Obama's administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967.

It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

There have been growing warnings that settlement expansion is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law.
Israel pushing for more settler homes despite UN vote

Israel could advance plans this week for thousands more settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem in defiance of a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity.

It would mark the first such approvals since Friday's UN Security Council vote demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territory.

The resolution, which passed after the United States took the rare move of abstaining, infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who lashed out at President Barack Obama and vowed not to abide by it.

Israeli security forces take position near the settlement of Kadumim (background) during clashes following a demonstration on December 23, 2016 JAAFAR ASHTIYEH (AFP)

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building.

Jerusalem deputy mayor Meir Turjeman, who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process.

On Tuesday he told AFP there were no plans to call off discussions in response to the UN vote. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the resolution was passed.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," he said.

And on his Facebook page Turjeman: "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem.

"I hope the government and new US administration will give us the momentum to continue and make up for the shortage created over the eight years of the Obama administration," he said of settlement construction.

- Revived peace efforts? -

Israel has already taken diplomatic steps in response to what it calls the "shameful" resolution, which passed with support from all the remaining members of the 15-strong Security Council.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministry said it was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies of nations that voted for it.

On Christmas Day it summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution while Netanyahu met US ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Sunday.

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

Washington is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

By declining to use its veto, the US enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

Even as Israel reacted with fury, US Secretary of State John Kerry was preparing to offer a "comprehensive vision" of how to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process in a speech on Wednesday.

"We haven't given up on this and we don't think the Israelis and Palestinians should do either," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

Obama's administration has been frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967.

Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and 200,000 Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has signalled he will take a softer line on Israeli settlement building by promising to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

- 'No legal validity' -

The UN resolution demands "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" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

The resolution contains no sanctions but Israeli officials are concerned it could widen the possibility of prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

They are also worried it could encourage some countries to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers and goods produced in the settlements.

Plans by France to hold an international Middle East peace conference on January 15 -- opposed by Israel which has called for direct talks with the Palestinians -- is another point of concern.

Officials fear the conference could be lead to further action against Israel that would then be taken to the Security Council for approval before Donald Trump takes over as US president on January 20.

Palestinian leaders support the conference, saying years of negotiations with the Israelis have not ended the occupation.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Monday said the UN resolution "paves the way for the success" of the conference.

He said he hopes it "comes out with an international mechanism and a timeline to end Israeli occupation of our country".

Israeli hardline Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman dubbed the conference a new "Dreyfus trial" and urged French Jews to move to Israel.
40 killed in Yemen anti-rebel offensive: army

At least 28 Huthi insurgents and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed Tuesday in the southern province of Shabwa as government forces pushed to capture a rebel enclave, military officials said.

The fighting flared when forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi attacked rebels in Bayhan district, on the border between Shabwa and Marib provinces.

Bayhan is the only part of Shabwa province still controlled by the Iran-backed rebels after government forces supported by the Saudi-led Arab coalition last year expelled them from five southern provinces.

Yemeni pro-government forces fire towards Huthi rebels positioned in the hills of the Sharija region in September 2016 Saleh Al-Obeidi (AFP)

"The death toll of the Huthis has reached 28 while 12 soldiers of the legitimate forces were killed," a military official said.

Military officials said government forces backed by coalition warplanes drove the rebels out of several positions in the area, adding that 14 insurgents were also captured.

The Yemen conflict has killed some 7,000 people since the Saudi-led intervention in March 2015, according to the United Nations.

The coalition began the military campaign against the rebels after they closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden, forcing him to flee to Riyadh.
Iraq PM says needs three months to eliminate IS

Iraq's premier said on Tuesday security forces need another three months to eliminate the Islamic State group from the country after launching their offensive against IS in October.

"The available data indicate that Iraq requires three months to eliminate Daesh," Haider al-Abadi told a televised news conference, referring to the jihadist group by an Arabic acronym.

Previously, he had vowed that the IS-occupied city of Mosul would be retaken "before the end of the year", a goal that is no longer possible.

Since the offensive began on October 17, elite Iraqi forces have reconquered several parts of eastern Mosul and are moving closer to the Tigris AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (AFP/File)

What began as a rapid push into Mosul, which the jihadists have occupied since June 2014, has turned into a hellish block-by-block war, with IS inflicting high casualty rates on advancing Iraqi forces.

Since the offensive began on October 17, elite Iraqi forces have reconquered several parts of eastern Mosul and are moving closer to the Tigris, the river that divides the city, but IS still occupies the city's west.

High-ranking officials believe that the battle against IS could drag on, and the Sunni extremist group continues to carry out attacks in areas from which it had been dislodged by the government offensive.

Last week, an IS triple car bombing on a market in Gogjali a few kilometres (miles) east of Mosul killed at least 23 people.

The army had retaken Gogjali from the jihadists in early November after more than two years of IS occupation.

The group also claims responsibility for regular attacks elsewhere in Iraq including in Fallujah, the Sunni-majority city east of Baghdad that was retaken in June after being out of government control for two and a half years.
Kerry touts 11th-hour vision of Middle East peace

With fewer than four weeks left in office, US Secretary of State John Kerry will on Wednesday lay out a vision for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The goal of a two-state solution, with Israel and a future Palestine living side-by-side within agreed borders has eluded generations of US diplomats.

But in the final days of President Barack Obama's administration, and with Israel's government openly hostile to outside pressure, Kerry wants to leave his mark.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, seen December 15, 2016, will give a major speech December 28, 2016 about how to revive the Israel-Palestinian peace process PAUL J. RICHARDS (AFP/File)

"He feels it's his duty in his waning weeks and days as secretary to lay out what he believes is a way towards a peaceful two-state solution," his spokesman said.

"It's always important to try to keep the process moving forward, to lay out constructive visions for the future," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

Negotiations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas's administration are already a dead letter.

And if Kerry wants the sides to pay attention to his "comprehensive vision" of a settlement, he faces two stark challenges that even his ill-fated predecessors did not.

Firstly, Netanyahu is already in a towering fury over Obama's decision last week not to veto a UN Security Council motion to condemn Israeli settlement building.

Secondly, incoming US leader Donald Trump has signaled he will take a much softer line, nominating an ambassador who wants to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Arab leaders warn such a move would provoke a regional diplomatic backlash and Palestinian protests, and Netanyahu has no incentive to act before Trump's inauguration.

Nevertheless, Obama and Kerry are clearly not ready to give up on the region yet, hoping the UN resolution and the Washington speech will save a moribund process.

Already, earlier this month, Kerry showed his frustration with Netanyahu's refusal to curtail Israeli settlement building on disputed West Bank and Jerusalem land.

- Greater Israel -

"There's a basic choice that has to be made by Israelis, by the leadership of Israel, by all of you who support Israel and care about Israel," Kerry warned US and Israeli officials.

"Is there going to be a continued implementation of settlement policy, or is there going to be separation and the creation of two states?" he demanded.

Netanyahu had already told the same meeting of the Saban Forum that the main impediment to peace was the failure of much of the Arab world to recognize Israel.

Kerry insisted the accelerating program of Jewish settlement building on land Palestinians claim for their future state acts as a "barrier" to peace.

This has been US policy for decades, but Kerry went further, accusing members of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition of actively opposing a peace deal.

Washington, and the bulk of the international community as reflected by UN votes, foresees two states based on Israel's 1967 border with some land swaps.

According to Kerry, the Israeli right -- despite Netanyahu's protests that he is ready for direct talks without preconditions -- wants to thwart this.

"They don't want peace. They believe it's greater Israel," Kerry told Saban, an annual US-Israeli leadership forum.

"And they want it to block the peace process because they want those places to belong to Israel. That's the history of the settler movement, my friends."

This year Obama awarded Israel the biggest US military aid package in history -- $38 billion over ten years -- but Netanyahu is unimpressed.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for hundreds more settler houses in the mainly Palestinian east of the city.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," Jerusalem's deputy mayor Meir Turjeman told AFP.

And on his Facebook page he added: "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem."

Netanyahu's government has also accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians and with Egypt behind Israel's back to push last week's UN resolution.

Toner denied this, insisting it was "not accurate" to suggest that the motion had been "pre-cooked" before Egypt unveiled it last week.

But he confirmed that US officials had seen draft resolutions and suggested "what further changes were needed to make the text more balanced."

- Last word? -

And Washington clearly did nothing to dissuade other UN members from bringing forward the resolution -- the first passed against settlements since 1979.

"It's not like our views regarding settlements or regarding resolutions with respect to Israel aren't well known," Toner said.

So will Wednesday's speech be the Obama administration's last word on the conflict before he leaves office on January 20?

Might Kerry attend a Paris peace conference on January 15, despite deep Israeli hostility to the project?
Pepper spray used to disperse crowd after fight at Ohio mall

BEACHWOOD, Ohio (AP)  Police in Ohio say officers have used pepper spray to disperse a large crowd following a fight at an upscale shopping mall.

Cleveland.com (http://bit.ly/2ilwL9o ) reports the fight broke out Monday evening at Beachwood Place mall, prompting a lockdown.

Officers initially responded to the scene for a report of shots fired. Police later confirmed that there were no gunshots.

Fire officials say a man and a police officer were exposed to the pepper spray and received medical treatment. No one else was injured.

Police say a juvenile was taken into custody for assaulting a police officer.

It was not immediately clear what led to the fight.

Similar incidents were reported Monday evening at other malls around the country.

___
Thieves steal $1M in fur coats from upscale Manhattan store

NEW YORK (AP)  Police are searching for three thieves with a taste for designer clothing who stole more than $1 million dollars' worth of fur from a store on Manhattan's upscale Madison Avenue.

The theft occurred on Christmas Eve after one of the suspects threw a brick through the window of the Dennis Basso Inc. store just before 5 a.m.

Owner Dennis Basso says the thieves made off with several Russian sable coats, some of which were valued as high as $200,000.

Achilleas Georgiades, a store executive, says he can't believe something like this happened on the "civilized" Madison Avenue.

Surveillance video captured one of the suspects being struck in the head by a metal beam after climbing through the shattered window.
Large disturbance, fights prompt evacuation of Colorado mall

AURORA, Colo. (AP)  Police evacuated a suburban Denver mall Monday after an arrest led to hundreds of young people converging on the site, with several fights breaking out, authorities said.

No one was seriously injured but five juveniles were arrested during the disturbance at the Town Center at Aurora, police spokesman Sgt. Chris Amsler said.

Trouble started during the arrest of a person suspected of fighting and an unruly crowd surrounded the scene, the Aurora officer said.

"As the officer was attempting to escort the arrestee to the Aurora Police Substation inside of the Town Center the crowd continued to advance on the officer and several other fights broke out," he said.

Police said they suspect that postings on social media drew more people to the site.

"The crowd grew in size to approximately 500 people (mostly juveniles)," Amsler said.

Authorities shut down the mall as dozens of police converged on the scene and worked to restore order.

Amsler said fights continued as the crowd moved into the parking lot area.

The charges against the five people arrested included disorderly conduct, obstruction and resisting arrest.

The disturbance was one of several at shopping malls around the country that disrupted post-Christmas shopping.

___
29 Turkish police officers in court for coup trial

ISTANBUL (AP)  Twenty-nine Turkish former police officers went on trial on Tuesday accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial in Istanbul over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.

Renegade officers in Turkey's military used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in their July 15 attempt to unseat the government, attacking the parliament and other key buildings. Turkey blamed it on a network of followers of the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen  an ally turned foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited from the United States so that he may also face trial, has denied any involvement in the coup.

A paramilitary police officer stands at the entrance of Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex where 29 Turkish former police officers are on trial in the outskirts of Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. They are accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.(AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)

The government declared a state of emergency following the coup and has launched a large-scale crackdown against Gulen's movement, which it has declared a terror organization. More than 40,000 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the coup while tens of thousands of other suspected Gulen followers have been purged from government jobs.

The police officers are standing trial in a prison and courthouse complex in the outskirts of Istanbul include three police helicopter pilots. They are accused of aiding the coup by not carrying out their duties, including disobeying orders to protect Erdogan's Istanbul residence on the night of the coup, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency.

At the opening hearing, two pilots denied accusations that they ignored orders to fly a helicopter that would carry officers tasked with defending Erdogan's residence, Anadolu reported. The two also rejected accusations of links to Gulen's movement.

"I don't have the slightest link to the (coup attempt)," the agency quoted defendant Tolga Gultekin as telling the court. "There was no flight instruction given to me."

Another pilot, Ender Kucuka, was quoted as saying that he and a co-pilot were ready to fly their helicopter but that the flight mission was canceled by a superior.

The court was scheduled to continue hearing defense statements later on Tuesday and on Wednesday.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life prison terms for 21 officers charged with "attempted coup" while eight others face maximum 15 years in prison for membership in a terrorist organization.

The trial is the first to take place in Istanbul in connection with the coup. Some 45 soldiers are on trial in separate cases taking place in the cities of Zonguldak, Bursa and Erzurum.

___

This story has been corrected to show that this is the first trial in Istanbul, not in the whole of Turkey.

A paramilitary police officer stands at the entrance of Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex where 29 Turkish former police officers are on trial in the outskirts of Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. They are accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.(AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)

A paramilitary police officer stands at the entrance of Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex where 29 Turkish former police officers are on trial in the outskirts of Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. They are accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.(AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)

A paramilitary police officer stands at the entrance of Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex where 29 Turkish former police officers are on trial in the outskirts of Istanbul, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. They are accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.(AP Photo/Mehmet Guzel)
Israel: 'Ironclad information' White House behind UN rebuke

JERUSALEM (AP)  Doubling down on its public break with the Obama administration, a furious Israeli government on Tuesday said it had received "ironclad" information from Arab sources that Washington actively helped craft last week's U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements in occupied territories illegal.

The allegation, which was denied by the State Department, further poisoned a toxic atmosphere between Israel and the outgoing administration in the wake of Friday's vote, raising questions about whether the White House might take further action against settlements in President Barack Obama's final weeks in office.

With the U.S. expected to participate in an international peace conference in France next month and Secretary of State John Kerry planning a final policy speech Wednesday, the Palestinians hope to capitalize on the momentum. Israel's nationalist government is banking on the incoming Trump administration to undo the damage with redoubled support.

FILE -- In this Sept. 30, 2016 file photo, US President Barack Obama, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk during the funeral of former Israeli President and Prime minister Shimon Peres in Jerusalem. Doubling down on its public break with the Obama administration, a furious Israeli government says it has "ironclad" information from Arab sources that Washington actively helped craft last week's U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal. The allegations further poison the increasingly toxic atmosphere between Israel and the outgoing Obama administration in the wake of Friday's vote, and raise questions about whether the White House might take further action. (Menahem Kahana, Pool via AP, File)

Although the U.S. has long opposed the settlements, it has generally used its Security Council veto to protect its ally from censure. On Friday, it abstained from a resolution calling settlements a "flagrant violation" of international law, allowing it to pass by a 14-0 margin.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had a cool relationship with Obama, called the resolution "shameful" and accused the U.S. of playing an active role in its passage.

On Tuesday, his spokesman went even further.

"We have ironclad information that emanates from sources in the Arab world and that shows the Obama administration helped craft this resolution and pushed hard for its eventual passage," David Keyes said. "We're not just going to be a punching bag and go quietly into the night."

He did not identify the Arab sources or say how Israel obtained the information. Israel has close security ties with Egypt, the original sponsor of last week's resolution who, as the lone Arab member of the Security Council, was presenting it at the Palestinians' request. Under heavy Israeli pressure, Egypt delayed the resolution indefinitely  but other members presented it for a vote a day later. Egypt ended up voting in favor of the measure.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry would lay out his vision for Israeli-Palestinian peace in the speech Wednesday. "He feels it's his duty in his waning weeks and days as secretary of state to lay out what he believes is a way to a peaceful two-state solution in the Middle East," Toner said.

Toner also rejected Israeli allegations of conspiring against it, saying Egypt and the Palestinians drafted the resolution and the U.S. worked with them on the language only after the intention to go forward was clear. "The idea this was pre-cooked in advance is not accurate," he said.

The Obama administration has acknowledged that it considered the possibility of abstaining on a settlements resolution over the past year as various drafts were circulated by different countries. In announcing the abstention, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power referred to continued Israeli settlement construction and a recent effort to retroactively legalize dozens of illegally built settlement outposts.

A White House official said the U.S. was approached repeatedly by countries urging it to let the resolution pass, yet only replied by saying the U.S. would feel forced to veto any resolution that didn't also criticize the Palestinians for inciting violence. The official wasn't authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity.

The Palestinians, with strong international backing, seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967, as part of an independent state. They say continued Israeli settlement undermines that goal, since already some 600,000 Israelis live in these areas.

Israel is livid that the resolution does not appear to recognize its claim to any part of the occupied areas, including Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City, though the resolution leaves the door open to agreed land swaps. The Palestinians did not embrace several past peace offers that would have left them with a state on the vast majority of the land, with a foothold in Jerusalem.

Past Security Council resolutions on the issue have been more vague. Critics of Israel argue that by insisting on the settlements, Netanyahu has earned the global impatience.

Netanyahu has made no secret that he is counting on President-elect Donald Trump to contain the damage. Trump has indicated he will be far more sympathetic, and has appointed an ambassador with deep ties to the settler movement.

Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev, a close Netanyahu ally, dismissed Obama. "He is history," she told Channel 2 TV. "We have Trump."

The resolution seems largely symbolic, lacking any enforcement mechanism.

But Palestinians believe it will strengthen their position as they push on with a campaign to pressure Israel on the international stage.

President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he hopes an upcoming Mideast conference in France will lead to concrete measures. "We hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation," Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party. "The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal."

Husam Zumlot, an adviser to Abbas, told The Associated Press the Palestinians want the resolution to serve as a "foundation" for any future peace talks. He also said the Palestinians would use the text to bolster their case at the International Criminal Court, where they are trying to push a war crimes case against Israel over settlement policies.

French officials expect some 70 nations to participate in the Jan. 15 conference. Israel and the Palestinians are not expected to be invited, though officials are considering inviting the Israeli and Palestinian leaders for follow-up talks. Abbas seems open to this, while Netanyahu has chafed, saying international dictates undermine negotiations.

Netanyahu has instead called off a number of diplomatic meetings and visits with countries that supported the resolution.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem municipal council is expected to grant building permits for roughly 600 new homes in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem.

Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Meir Turgeman, who heads the zoning committee, also said this week he will push plans for some 5,600 additional housing units in the eastern part.

A municipal official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said those projects are only in their preliminary phases.

___

Associated Press writer Josh Lederman in Honolulu contributed to this report.

FILE -- In this Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Israel is stepping up its attacks on the Obama administration, saying it has proof from Arab sources that the U.S. actively helped craft a U.N. resolution that declared Israeli settlements illegal. A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has "ironclad information" that the White House helped draft the language of the resolution. Citing Arab sources, he says the White House "pushed hard" for its passage. (Dan Balilty/Pool photo via AP, File)

FILE -- This Oct. 22, 2016 file photo, shows a general view of housing in the Israeli settlement of Revava, near the West Bank city of Nablus. Doubling down on its public break with the Obama administration, a furious Israeli government said, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, that it has "ironclad" information from Arab sources that Washington actively helped craft last week's U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal. The allegations further poison the increasingly toxic atmosphere between Israel and the outgoing Obama administration in the wake of Friday's vote, and raise questions about whether the White House might take further action. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed, File)

FILE -- In this Nov. 9, 2015 file photo, President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Doubling down on its public break with the Obama administration, a furious Israeli government said, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, that it has "ironclad" information from Arab sources that Washington actively helped craft last week's U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal. The allegations further poison the increasingly toxic atmosphere between Israel and the outgoing Obama administration in the wake of Friday's vote, and raise questions about whether the White House might take further action. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Chinese tourists shop in the Akihabara electronics area during the China National Day Golden Week holiday on October 4, 2016, Tokyo, Japan. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Wealthier Chinese tourists are willing to spend more during their trips to make sure they have the best time possible.

Bespoke holidays are in vogue, according to China's largest online travel agency Ctrip.com International Ltd. The service model, which they started to provide last year, has grown by a very significant 500 percent this year. The wealthy travelers, aged between 30 and 50, who live in first- and second-tier cities, are increasingly fans of such tailor-made trips.

According to Shi Yuduan, chief marketing officer of Ctrip's tourism business department, the wealthy Chinese group tends to be better educated and is not afraid to venture outside what might be considered "normal" vacations. Traveling for this group is a major way to spend their spare time. And when it comes to price, they care more about experiences and services than the expense.

For the upcoming Spring Festival (Jan 27-Feb 2), many in this wealthy demographic have already started to book such bespoke trips. As Australia has started to provide 10-year visa to Chinese tourists, this popular destination is expected to continue to receive favor from China's luxury travelers. A tailor-made tour package to Australia during the Spring Festival could cost more than 800,000 yuan ($115,190) for a family group of at least 10 people.

And it's not just about sightseeing and taking some well-earned time off. Experienced luxury travelers are making these trips for specific purposes. Some have booked special packages to apply for diving licenses in Sabah in Malaysia or the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Some families may book trips to get a complete personal medical checkup in nearby countries such as Japan. Prices can start at 20,000 yuan for each person. The younger luxury travelers who are attracted by British TV series such as Downtown Abbey will book a 10-day luxury trip priced at 200,000 yuan for a group of three to experience the private castles and stately homes in Great Britain.

Not only are the middle-age rich travelers making bigger budgets for their trips, the younger generation born in the 1980s, who are either the heir of family business, or the better known "rich second generation", seem to be more generous when it comes to travel plans, according to the Chinese Luxury Traveler 2016 report jointly released by hotelier Marriott International and the Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute, which documents the wealthy and surveyed 525 young luxury travelers aged between 18 and 36. It found they spend 200,000 yuan on average annually on travel and tourism. When it comes to their family budget for trips, the total amount comes at 420,000 yuan every year, among which 220,000 yuan are spent on shopping.

The young luxury travelers are quite experienced, traveling to an average 13 countries in the past few years. They spend 25 days on overseas trips every year, 69 percent of which is for leisure travel. Europe, and France in particular, is the most popular destination for the young luxury travelers. Japan has won these travelers' favor when it comes to short-distance trips, alluring people also with its convenient shopping, attractive dining experiences, and a modern, sophisticated culture.

Young luxury travelers are quite generous in terms of hotel room budgets. According to the survey, their average budget is 3,113 yuan per room each night. The Ritz-Carlton has the best reputation as 61 percent of the interviewed young travelers showed preference for their services, followed by Shangri-La and IHG. For young travelers with a household net worth of more than 100 million yuan, personalized service is their first consideration followed by guestroom view.

Zhang Liying, 30, who became a financial analyst in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, rather than taking over her family business in her hometown of Qingdao, Shandong province, is a frequent traveler partly due to her tight working schedule. To strike a life-work balance, she travels around as long as she has the time. To make each trip more pleasant, she always chooses to fly by business class or first class. But above all, the choice of hotel is vital.

"I usually choose to stay at The Ritz Carlton or Mandarin Oriental. They remember the guests' habits, which will make each tourist feel more comfortable. I was once surprised with a beautiful cake in my room when I spent my birthday at one of these hotels," she said.

"I go to Japan regularly because I really love the food there. Europe is also a must-go destination every year. The purses, clothes and watches, which one can buy at more reasonable prices, cannot be missed. Usually I will go with one or two close friends. I have hardly ever been on a group tour. Privacy is too important," she added.
'It was a deception:' Ex-Somali refugees regret coming home

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  "I was betrayed," lamented Madino Dhurow of her return to Somalia from the world's largest refugee camp, Dadaab, where she lived for 12 years. She said she was assured safety and support back home but she found those promises to be empty.

She is among thousands of Somalis who left the sprawling camp of some 260,000 in neighboring Kenya, sometimes under pressure, after the Nairobi government announced it would close Dadaab, calling it a recruiting ground for Somalia's al-Shabab Islamic extremists and a base for launching attacks.

Al-Shabab has carried out several assaults in Kenya in retaliation for sending Kenyan troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the extremists, who are waging an insurgency against Somalia's weak Western-backed government.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, Somali refugee and mother of six Madino Dhurow, who was repatriated to Somalia from Kenya's Dadaab camp, stands by her makeshift shelter in the Daryeel camp for the displaced, where she now lives in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis say they were pressured to return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. They say they were promised safety and support back home. Instead, they report hunger, preying gangs and the deadly threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

The insurgents' deadly attacks in Somalia also threaten the lives of those returning from Dadaab.

"All the security improvement and welfare information we were told we would find here turned out to be false," Dhurow said, watching her six children wade through dirty, stagnant water in the Mogadishu displaced persons' camp that is their current home. "We got many promises, but it was a deception meant to make us leave."

Conditions are dire at the Somali camp, called Daryeel. Families live in makeshift homes of sticks and plastic sheets that are unfit to protect them from the upcoming monsoon rains, not to mention the armed gangs that often prey on the camp at night.

Refugees said each family received $400 support cash from the United Nations once they agreed to return home to Somalia, but the money has not gone far.

It is not what those living in Dadaab expected when they were pressured to leave, sometimes after spending their entire lives in the refugee camp.

Some Somali refugees have been living in Dadaab in eastern Kenya for more than 20 years, since Somalia descended into chaos following the 1991 ouster of longtime dictator Siad Barre by warlords who then turned on each other. Somalia is trying to rebuild and faces a presidential election that has been delayed several times amid security and other concerns.

Some 35,000 Somali refugees have been supported in returning voluntarily to Somalia since 2014, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

But some Somali refugees report harassment and intimidation by Kenyan security agents to leave Dadaab quickly and speed up the repatriation process.

"Many of us had a deadline to leave. Personally, I didn't want to leave Dadaab but I had no choice to stay on," said Halimo Abdow, a mother of nine who returned to Somalia in August.

Once they reached Somalia, Abdow and her children were driven from place to place by violence and financial crisis. They first went to a camp in Mogadishu but soon moved to her hometown, Afgoye, complaining of a lack of assistance by aid agencies.

Then al-Shabab attacked a police station in Afgoye last month, triggering hours of clashes that left at least six people dead. A mortar shell hit near Abdow's home, leading her to move again to a nearby nomadic village where water supplies are usually scarce.

Amnesty International and other rights groups have said Kenya is coercing residents of Dadaab to return to Somalia where they risk getting killed or forcibly recruited into al-Shabab.

Some returnees also blamed aid agencies, saying the insufficient and wrong information they provided made them to return to Somalia. The returnees say they now face hunger despite promises that they would be assisted.

"As opposed to what we were told, what we found here is all about insecurity incidents during the day and gangs preying into our camps to rob us of the little things we were given before," said Ali Haji, a father of five who returned to Somalia after eight years in Dadaab.

"Whoever ventures to go outside will be killed," he said.

Somalia's government has criticized the decision by Kenya's government to close Dadaab camp and warned that forced repatriation of refugees would only worsen the security situation there. For a while earlier this year, the Jubbaland State government based in Somalia's third-largest city, Kismayo, stopped accepting refugees because of a lack of resettlement plan by aid agencies. It later accepted them after talks with aid agencies.

Last month, the Kenyan government announced it was extending by six months its deadline for closing the camp and sending the refugees home. Aid groups called the delay a short relief but said that with the new May 31 deadline hanging over them, Somali refugees will continue to feel they have to leave.

"As long as Kenya denies Somali refugees secure legal status and threatens to close camps and deport them, refugees will feel they have no choice but to go home with U.N. return support cash instead of being forced out with nothing," said Gerry Simpson, a senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch.

In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, Somali children who were repatriated to Somalia from Kenya's Dadaab camp, walk between makeshift shelters in the Daryeel camp for the displaced, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis say they were pressured to return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. They say they were promised safety and support back home. Instead, they report hunger, preying gangs and the deadly threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, Somali refugee and mother of six Madino Dhurow, who was repatriated to Somalia from Kenya's Dadaab camp, holds her "voluntary repatriation form" as she speaks to The Associated Press in the Daryeel camp for the displaced, where she now lives in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis say they were pressured to return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. They say they were promised safety and support back home. Instead, they report hunger, preying gangs and the deadly threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, Somali children who were repatriated to Somalia from Kenya's Dadaab camp, stand by their makeshift shelter in the Daryeel camp for the displaced, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis say they were pressured to return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. They say they were promised safety and support back home. Instead, they report hunger, preying gangs and the deadly threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

In this photo taken Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, Somali children who were repatriated to Somalia from Kenya's Dadaab camp, play in front of makeshift shelters in the Daryeel camp for the displaced, in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis say they were pressured to return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in neighboring Kenya. They say they were promised safety and support back home. Instead, they report hunger, preying gangs and the deadly threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Donald Trump is taking credit - and thanking himself - for a surge in a key gauge of consumer confidence.

The president-elect wrote on Twitter that The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index had climbed to 113.7 in December.

Trump notes that's the highest the index has climbed in more than 15 years, and adds, 'Thanks Donald!'

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is questioning the effectiveness of the United Nations, saying it's just a club for people to 'have a good time.'

The index measures consumers' assessment of current conditions, which dipped from November but was still very positive, and their expectations for the future, which hit a 13-year high.

'The post-election surge in optimism for the economy, jobs, and income prospects, as well as for stock prices which reached a 13-year high, was most pronounced among older consumers,' Lynn Franco, the boards director of economic indicators, said in a statement, according to The Hill. 'Looking ahead to 2017, consumers continued optimism will depend on whether or not their expectations are realized.'

That tweet wasn't his only boasting.

After Barack Obama said he felt 'confident' he would have won a third term, Trump tweeted 'President Obama campaigned hard (and personally) in very important swing states, and lost. The voters wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

President-elect Donald Trump, second from left, accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, center right, departs after attending a Christmas Eve service at the Church of Bethesda-by-the Sea, in West Palm Beach

A dispute erupted Monday between Obama and Trump, spurred by Obama's hypothetical musings that had he run again, he would have been victorious. Obama suggested he still holds enough sway over the coalition of voters that elected him twice to get them to vote for him once again.

'Im confident that if I - if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it,' Obama told David Axelrod on his podcast The Axe Files, according to The New York Times.

Trump's response: 'President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.'

It wasn't immediately clear whether Trump was referring to Obama's own presidential runs, or the campaigning the president did in 2016 on Hillary Clinton's behalf. Obama swept most key swing states in his two bids for the White House, but Clinton fell short.
Doctor killed in Russian plane crash had ties to Vermont

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  A widely revered Russian doctor killed in the crash of a Russian military plane had lived for years in Vermont but had been working in her native country for the last several years, dedicating her life to helping children, terminally ill patients and people in war zones.

Dr. Yelizaveta Glinka, 54, was one of 92 people killed when the Tu-154 crashed Christmas morning after taking off from an airport in Sochi. The plane was headed to Syria, and Glinka was taking medicine to a hospital there.

For years she had been helping the poor and disadvantaged in Moscow. She also was tirelessly raising money, medical supplies and contributions to be shipped overseas to those in need, said her husband's Vermont law partner, Jess Schwidde.

"With a great deal of grace and dignity and joy, and with an amazing moral compass and authority, she was able to help the hopeless and to help those who were in need or terminally ill," Schwidde said Tuesday.

Glinka's husband was Vermont bankruptcy attorney Gleb Glinka, the son of a Russian language professor who taught in Vermont, Schwidde said. The two met in Russia and married in 1988 in the United States. They have two adult sons, he said.

The couple lived and worked in the U.S. for years, but Gleb Glinka started focusing his legal work in Ukraine and Russia about 20 years ago, and his wife started a hospice in Kiev before expanding her charity work to other areas, including war zones in eastern Ukraine and Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave her an award earlier this month.

"We never feel sure that we will come back alive," she said when Putin presented her with the award. "But we are sure that kindness, compassion and charity are stronger than any weapon."

The Glinkas still own land in the tiny village of Cabot, Vermont, where there is a Glinka Road, and they have a home there, Town Clerk Betty Ritter said Tuesday. Ritter worked as an assistant to Gleb Glinka for about seven years and knew his wife well.

"She was very caring, giving  loved her children, loved her husband," said Ritter, who last saw Yelizaveta Glinka about three years ago.
The Latest: Obama goes snorkeling after Pearl Harbor visit

HONOLULU (AP)  The Latest on President Barack Obama's annual holiday vacation in Hawaii (all times local):

1:45 p.m.

President Barack Obama is spending the afternoon snorkeling following his visit to Pearl Harbor with Japan's prime minister.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks past a Japanese flag at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in Honolulu. Abe and Obama made a historic pilgrimage Tuesday to the site where the devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

The White House says Obama, his family and friends are snorkeling at Hanauma Bay State Park. Obama's motorcade pulled up early afternoon as waves crashed into the cliffs.

The bay is partially encircled by a volcanic cone and brings millions of visitors per year. It's known as a popular place to see a diverse array of marine life.

___

6:55 a.m.

President Barack Obama is getting in a morning workout at the start of an historic day.

Obama is working out at the gym at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, near his vacation home in Kailua. He arrived just as the sun was starting to come up.

Obama will join Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a formal meeting later Tuesday before they travel together to Pearl Harbor. The two will lay a wreath on the USS Arizona Memorial that honors fallen U.S. troops from the Pearl Harbor attacks. It's the first visit by a sitting Japanese leader to the memorial.
Hamburg signs Albania defender Mergim Mavraj from Cologne

HAMBURG, Germany (AP)  Hamburger SV has signed Albania defender Mergim Mavraj from Bundesliga rival Cologne to boost its chances of avoiding relegation.

Hamburg says the 30-year-old Mavraj has signed a deal through June 2019. The club, which is in the relegation playoff place at the halfway stage in the German season, suggests there are more winter signings to come.

Mavraj has made 29 appearances for Albania and played 43 league games for Cologne after switching from Greuther Fuerth in 2014.

He says: "It makes me proud that I'm trusted to help this team."
That glittering ball in Times Square may be the best-known object dropping on New Year's Eve, but it's by no means the weirdest.

There's stiff competition in that category: Everything from a fish to a shoe to a giant candy Peep will descend on Saturday to welcome in 2017.

The tiny lakeside town of Port Clinton, Ohio, will celebrate the new year by dropping a 20-foot-long, 600-pound replica of a walleye fish. The annual Idaho potato drop in Boise will feature a massive lit-up 'glowtato' to celebrate one of the state's most famous products. In Lake Tahoe, Nevada, a brightly lit gondola is dropped at the Heavenly Mountain ski resort.

The Times Square Ball drop may be America's most popular New Year's Eve tradition, but it's far from it's only. From coast to coast, cities across the country host a multitude of 'drop' celebrations, including this one in Key West, Florida. Each year, outside of the Bourbon Street Pub Complex, a giant red shoe is dropped. The 2015 celebration pictured above

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - which is home to the company that manufactures Peeps candy - drops a giant glowing Peeps chick every year. The 2011 celebration pictured above

In Key West, Florida, four different things  including two humans  are lowered to welcome the new year. A giant conch shell is dropped at Sloppy Joe's Bar, a costumed 'pirate wench' is lowered outside the Schooner Wharf Bar and a wedge of Key lime descends into a huge margarita glass at the Ocean Key House Resort.

And of course in what is probably Key West's most famous New Year's Eve tradition, a large red high-heeled shoe carrying female impersonator Gary 'Sushi' Marion is lowered outside the Bourbon Street Pub complex on Duval Street.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, hosts a two-day family-friendly Peeps festival that includes the dropping of a 200-pound lit-up Peeps chick. Peeps manufacturer Just Born began operating in Bethlehem in the 1930s.

This undated photo provided by Vail Resorts shows a brightly lit gondola dropping at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada during a New Year's Eve celebration

This undated photo provided by Lake Erie Shores & Islands shows the tiny lakeside town of Port Clinton, Ohio, celebrating its annual walleye fish drop at midnight on New Year's Eve

Raleigh, North Carolina, which calls itself the city of oaks, drops a giant acorn to welcome the new year

Atlanta hosts a peach drop (pictured above), and New Orleans drops a fleur-de-lis

In Memphis, Tennessee, a lit-up guitar is dropped at the Hard Rock Cafe on Beale Street. Raleigh, North Carolina, which calls itself the city of oaks, drops a giant acorn to welcome the new year. Atlanta hosts a peach drop, and New Orleans drops a fleur-de-lis.

The tradition of dropping a ball to mark a moment dates back to the 19th century, but it didn't originate as a New Year's Eve custom. 'Time balls' were once displayed in harbors and lowered daily to signal a certain time of day so that ships could precisely set the chronometers they used for navigation.

The New Year's Eve tradition began in 1907 when a time ball was dropped as part of a public celebration hosted by The New York Times at its building in Times Square.

The Times Square ball has been redesigned a number of times over the decades. It was originally made of iron, wood and 25-watt lightbulbs. The ball that will drop Saturday night in the moments leading up to midnight is made from Waterford crystal triangles, illuminated by thousands of LED lights.

The New Year's Eve ball rests at the top of a building overlooking Times Square, in New York, Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Donald Trump has said the United Nations is just a club for people to have a good time, days after the world body voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The US president-elect said on Twitter that the UN had such great potential.

On Friday, billionaire property mogul Mr Trump warned: As to the UN, things will be different after January 20th  referring to the day he takes office.

Donald Trump (Evan Vucci/AP)

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Fridays UN vote brushed aside Mr Trumps demands that the US exercise its Security Council veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israels leadership.

Mr Trump said last December that he wanted to be very neutral on Israel-Palestinian issues. But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been taken over by or are condoning militant groups.

His tweet on Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member organisation.

This year the Security Council has approved more than 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorising the UNs far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world.

The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues like the role of diamonds in fuelling conflicts, condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea and authorised an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

A leader should put public common good before personal interest.



Ban Ki-moon's departing message to world leaders: https://t.co/TZyaGN3MCZ pic.twitter.com/7zVGsnNeud  United Nations (@UN) December 27, 2016

Mr Trumps criticism of the UN is by no means unique. While the organisation does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy.

It has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

Mr Trump tweeted later on Monday:

Markets are up since Mr Trump won the presidential election, although not quite by that much. The Standard & Poors 500 is up about 6% since election day, while the Dow has risen more than 8%.

As for holiday spending, auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed one trillion dollars, representing a 3.6-4% increase in holiday sales from November through January.
Organisers of Hulls tenure as UK City of Culture 2017 have promised a spectacular start to a year of events they believe will delight the citys 250,000 residents as much as the thousands of visitors expected to come from around the world.

Huge crowds are expected as the festivities begin on New Years Day with a massive fireworks display on the Humber and the opening of a city-wide installation involving many of Hulls best-known buildings.

Hull 2017 chief executive and director Martin Green hopes the programme his team has put together will combine the popular and accessible with the ground-breaking and edgy and that visitors and Hull residents alike will embrace his call to try something new.

Humber Bridge

If I had one message, it would be the same to everyone, which is try something new, Mr Green said. I guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Hull is the second city to be given UK City of Culture status, following Derry-Londonderry in 2013.

The city was selected in 2013 amid some surprise, from a shortlist that included Dundee, Leicester and Swansea Bay.

Since then, Hull has embraced the status with a determination to link a cultural rejuvenation with an economic one symbolised by the 300 million investment by the German tech firm Siemens in an offshore wind manufacturing plant at Alexandra Dock.

The #Hull2017Volunteers are ready. Are you? Thanks to @samiloulou123 for lending her amazing vocals to this film! https://t.co/TdBHyGSdSN  Visit Hull (@VisitHull) December 23, 2016

When the programme for the first three months of Hull 2017 was launched in September, Mr Green told the UKs arts glitterati: This citys voice has always been strong  in 2017, it will roar.

With days to go, Mr Green said: The city is working together like its never worked together before. The artists were working with are absolutely committed to making this an extraordinary year of art in Hull.

Were just a few days away now. Weve been incredibly lucky that the residents of this city have kept their confidence in this and their faith in it to happen. One of the things were looking forward now is to repay that confidence with a great year.

The opening event  Made in Hull  will use huge projections by a range of local and international artists to celebrate the past 70 years of Hulls history on buildings across the city, curated by the Bafta-nominated documentary-maker Sean McAllister, who said he thinks the effect will be euphoric.

The unveiling of Made In Hull will be followed at exactly 8.17pm on January 1 by the fireworks display curated with music and video on the Humber, which is predicted to be bigger and more spectacular than Londons New Years Eve show the night before.

The events of New Years Day will open a programme that includes an array of work and artists.
Donald Trump cannot move ahead with his plan to dismantle his charitable foundation because state prosecutors are probing whether the president-elect personally benefited from its spending, the New York attorney generals office has said.

The Trump Foundation is still under investigation by this office and cannot legally dissolve until that investigation is complete, said Amy Spitalnick, spokeswoman for state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

The statement came after Mr Trump announced that he wanted to dissolve the Donald J Trump Foundation, part of what his presidential transition team says is an effort to erase any potential conflicts of interest before he takes office on January 20.

But the foundations inner workings have been the subject of Mr Schneidermans investigation for months and could remain a thorny issue for Mr Trumps incoming administration. Democrats nationally have said they are ready to raise any legal or ethical issues from the tycoons global business empire during his presidency.

The charity has admitted it violated IRS regulations barring it from using its money or assets to benefit Mr Trump, his family, his companies or substantial contributors to the foundation.

The admissions by the Donald J Trump Foundation were in a 2015 tax filing made public after a presidential election in which it was revealed that Mr Trump has used the charity to settle lawsuits, make a 25,000 US dollars (20,400) political contribution and purchase items, such as a painting of himself, that was displayed at one of his properties.

The 2015 tax filing was posted on the non-profit monitoring website GuideStar on November 18 by someone using an email address from the foundations law firm, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, said GuideStar spokeswoman Jackie Enterline Fekeci.

Donald Trump wants to dissolve the Donald J Trump Foundation to avoid any potential conflicts of interest before he takes office (Andrew Harnik/AP)

In the tax filing, the foundation acknowledged it used money or assets in violation of the regulations not only during 2015, but in prior years. But the tax filing does not provide details on the violations.

Mr Schneiderman, a Democrat, launched his investigation into the charity after reporting by The Washington Post drew attention to some of the foundations purchases.

Mr Trump asserted on Twitter on Monday that his foundation was run efficiently.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump has tapped an experienced national security adviser to serve as assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism.

A statement on Tuesday from Mr Trumps transition team said Thomas Bossert will advise the president on issues related to homeland security, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity, and he will co-ordinate the cabinets process for formulating and executing policy.
Former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez has been indicted in a corruption case involving public works.

Federal judge Julian Ercolini has approved charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernandez and two former aides: ex-planning minister Julio de Vido and former public works secretary Jose Lopez.

Also named was businessman Lazaro Baez, whose company allegedly benefited from irregular contracts.

Cristina Fernandez

BREAKING: Judge indicts former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez in corruption case.  The Associated Press (@AP) December 27, 2016

The judges order froze the equivalent of 516 million of Fernandezs assets.

The ruling published by the official Centre of Judicial Information said the defendants are accused of associating to illegally take public funds meant for public works between May 2003 and December 2015.

Fernandez made no immediate comment on the charge but she has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Since leaving office in December 2015, Fernandez has alleged she is the victim of persecution by her conservative successor Mauricio Macri.
A cargo ship unloads containers at Lianyungang port in Jiangsu province. [Photo/China.org.cn]

At the recently concluded Central Economic Work Conference, mapping out economic policies for 2017, the current Chinese economy was analyzed as "stabilizing and improving," while the tone set for next year's economy is "maintaining stability while seeking progress."

Key economic figures for 2016 point to stable growth in 2017, when the all-important 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will be held while the country's reforms keep pressing ahead.

GDP growth meets target

The Chinese economy grew by 6.7 percent for the first three quarters of 2016, and the growth rate of the entire year is expected to achieve that level, meeting the target of 6.5 percent to 7 percent set earlier in the year.

China aims to double its 2010 GDP and per-capita income of residents both in cities and rural areas by 2020, which means the GDP growth from now on should be at least 6.5 percent. The growth rate of 6.7 percent, therefore, lays a good foundation for meeting the 2020 target.

The Chinese economy has already hit bottom and is showing signs of stabilization, said Qiu Xiaohua, chief economist of Minsheng Securities.

Key economic indicators rebound

Apart from the growth rate, other key economic indicators have also rebounded.

China's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) has been expanding ever since August. The manufacturing PMI came in at 51.7 percent in November, the highest in two years. The non-manufacturing PMI reached 54.7 percent in November, highest since July, 2014.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) also gained. It rose by 0.1 percent in September for the first time since early 2012. The PPI in November increased by 3.3 percent year on year, a record in the past five years.

The continuing rebound of PPI and PMI show the Chinese manufacturing industry is fairly active and that demand for manufactured goods is increasing, said Lian Ping, chief economist of Bank of Communications, who added that it would encourage businesses to increase investment.

Exports and imports have also improved in the first three quarters. Exports rose 5.9 percent year on year in November, while imports continued to pick up steam, increasing 13 percent,highest in three years.

The main business profit of companies with annual revenue of more than 20 million yuan (US$2.89 million) rose by 8.6 percent from January to October, the fastest growth since August, 2014.

'Livelihood indicators' improve

Livelihood-related data have also shown signs of stabilization and improvement. The government increased spending by more than 14 percent in the first three quarters on social security and employment, medical care and family planning, affordable housing and other key welfare areas.

Per capita disposable income in the first three quarters grew by 6.3 percent, outpacing CPI. The income gap between urban and rural residents continued to shrink to 2.82.

A total of 12.49 million jobs were created in urban areas from January to November, meeting, ahead of schedule, the target of creating 10 million new jobs this year. The urban registered unemployment rate remained below five percent for three months in a row.

No 'hard landing' in 2017

As more signs point to stabilization, the Chinese economy is widely believed to be in no danger of a "hard landing" in 2017.

A report by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences predicts the Chinese economy will grow by around 6.5 percent next year, jobs and prices would remain stable and there would not be any hard landing.

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in recent months have projected the Chinese economy to grow by 6.5 percent and 6.4 percent next year.
Mexican airline Interjet to inspect Russian-made Superjet planes

MEXICO CITY, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Mexican airline Interjet said it is carrying out inspections of its Russian-made Superjet 100 planes to comply with a directive from the Russian aviation authority.

Russian plane maker Sukhoi said last week the aviation regulator detected a defect in the tail section of its Superjet 100. Interjet said in a statement on Sunday it was carrying out checks of its Superjet 100 planes as a result of the Russian regulator's order.

Interjet has bought various Superjet 100 planes from Sukhoi, which is part of state-owned United Aircraft Corp, an umbrella corporation created by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2006 to revive the local aircraft industry.
China Nov industry profits grow well, but chance to sustain gains clouded

BEIJING, Dec 27 (Reuters) - China's industrial sector showed the strongest profit growth in three months in November, suggesting the world's second-largest economy was improving, though policymakers noted gains were too dependent on rebounding prices for oil products, iron and steel.

Industrial profits have had a solid rebound this year after falling last year, boosted by a recovery in commodity prices as supply tightened due to a capacity reduction drive and an infrastructure boom.

Profits in November rose 14.5 percent to 774.6 billion yuan ($111 billion) from a year ago, the highest since August's record 19.5 percent spike, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Tuesday. Profits in October rose 9.8 percent.

Industrial profits rose 9.4 percent in the first 11 months from a year earlier, up from 8.6 percent in January-October.

"Industrial profits rose relatively fast due to a lower base last year, and the growth was overly reliant on a price rebound in raw material industries such as oil refining, and iron and steel," He Ping, an NBS official, said in a note accompanying the data.

Profits in manufacturing rose 13.7 percent for January-November from a year earlier, while those for the ferrous metal processing industry as well as oil and nuclear fuel refining more than tripled.

BROADER CRACKDOWN?

Producer prices rose at the fastest pace in more than five years in November as prices of coal, steel and other building materials soared, boosting industrial profits and giving firms more cash to pay off mountains of debt.

But analysts say recent signals from China's top leaders that more will be done in 2017 to crack down on asset bubbles is putting pressures on raw material prices, casting doubts over the sustainability of such a price rebound.

"The question is whether price rises in recent months resulted from a genuine improvement in demand, or financial speculation," said Zhou Hao, senior economist at Commerzbank.

"From what we are seeing, the leadership apparently thinks it's the latter."

Zhou said the government "might introduce new policy measures to curb raw material price growth."

Chinese steel futures fell sharply on Monday to the lowest level in over a month, as traders took cues from market talk that Beijing may tolerate slower economic growth amid rising debt and an uncertain global environment.

STABLE GROWTH

Tuesday's data covers large enterprises with annual revenue of more than 20 million yuan from their main operations.

China's growth has stabilized this year, with 6.7 percent expansion in gross domestic product in the first three quarters. But corporate debt continues to rise, increasing risks as China looks to push ahead structural reforms.

Firms are seeing more payments being delayed, as accounts receivable at the end of November rose 9 percent from a year earlier. That increase was biggest than the rise in revenue from main operations.

"The difficulty in making repayments is still a relatively large hurdle that limits the production and operation of firms," NBS's He noted.

Tuesday's data also showed Chinese industrial firms' liabilities at the end of November were 5.6 percent higher than at the same point last year, despite rising at a slower pace than assets have.
Taiwan warns of increasing threat as Chinese warships conduct drill

By J.R. Wu

TAIPEI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Taiwan warned on Tuesday that "the threat of our enemies is growing day by day", as Chinese warships led by the country's sole aircraft carrier sailed towards the island province of Hainan through the South China Sea on a routine drill.

China has given few details of what the Soviet-built Liaoning aircraft carrier is up to, save that it is on a routine exercise. Taiwan has said the aircraft carrier skirted waters outside of its eastern air defence identification zone.

The carrier is expected to arrive at a Chinese military base on the southern Chinese island of Hainan late on Tuesday, Taiwan's defence ministry said.

The drill comes amid renewed tension over Taiwan, which China claims as its own and says is ineligible for state-to-state relations, following U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's telephone call with the island's president that upset Beijing.

"The threat of our enemies is growing day by day. We should always be maintaining our combat alertness," Taiwan Defence Minister Feng Shih-kuan said. "We need to strengthen the training (of our soldiers) so that they can not only survive in battle but also destroy the enemy and accomplish the mission."

Feng's remarks were given in a speech Tuesday at a ministry event marking the promotion of senior military officers.

China's air force conducted long-range drills this month above the East and South China Seas that rattled Japan and Taiwan. China said those exercises were also routine.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The Pentagon did not directly comment on the latest drill but said that the United States recognises lawful use of sea and airspace in accordance to international law.

"We continue to closely monitor developments in the region. We do not have specific comments on China's recent naval activities, but we continue to observe a range of ongoing Chinese military activity in the region," Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross told Reuters.

The Liaoning has taken part in previous exercises, including in the South China Sea, but China is years away from perfecting carrier operations similar to those the United States has practised for decades.

Last December, the defence ministry confirmed China was building a second aircraft carrier but its launch date is unclear. The aircraft carrier programme is a state secret.

Beijing could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next 15 years, the Pentagon said in a report last year.
Cambodian opposition leader sentenced to five years in jail over Facebook post

PHNOM PENH, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Cambodia's exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia on Tuesday for posting a fake government pledge to dissolve the Southeast Asian country's border with Vietnam.

The sentence follows months of tension between Cambodia's two main political parties, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades but his grip on power was shaken in a 2013 general election when the CNRP won 55 seats in the National Assembly, leaving the Cambodian People's Party with 68 seats in the 123-seat assembly.

Members of the opposition have complained of a crackdown by the government and its allies in a bid to intimidate critics before a general election in 2018.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Sam Rainsy and two members of his social media team, Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath, guilty of citing the false 1979 border treaty.

The fake treaty, which they posted on Facebook, purported to show Vietnam and Cambodia agreeing to get rid of their mutual boundary.

Presiding Judge Leang Samnath sentenced Sam Rainsy to five years in prison and Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath to three years, all in absentia.

"The court orders the arrests of Ung Chung Leang, Sathya Sambath and Sam Rainsy to serve these sentences," Judge Leang Samnath told the court.

Cambodia has fretted for centuries about its much bigger neighbours, Vietnam to the east and Thailand to the northwest, encroaching on its territory. The issue remains emotive and many Cambodians are suspicious of both countries.

Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest in a separate defamation case. He did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday but said on Twitter the case against him and the two others had been "fabricated" by a "kangaroo court".
Poland - Factors to Watch Dec. 27

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):

STRONG WINDS

Thousands of households were left without electricity in Poland, particularly in northern regions, due to strong winds on Tuesday, state news agency PAP reported.

EDF

France's EDF has appealed Poland's energy ministry's decision preventing the company from selling its Polish unit to Australia's IFM Investors fund and Czech's EPH, Puls Biznesu reported.

KACZYNSKI ON TUSK

Leader of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, told the wSieci weekly that the party will not back Donald Tusk for a second term as European Council president.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Russia says Syrian government and opposition in talks

By Andrew Osborn and Tom Perry

MOSCOW/BEIRUT, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday said the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, while a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations but supported a ceasefire.

In an interview with Interfax news agency, Sergei Lavrov did not say where the consultations were taking place or which opposition groups were taking part.

Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out the principles any agreement should adhere to.

Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy, but Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally.

"During the recent meeting in Moscow with my colleagues from Iran and Turkey we approved a joint declaration in which we confirmed our readiness to guarantee a future agreement between the Syrian government and the opposition," Lavrov told the Interfax news agency in an interview.

"Negotiations about that are going on," he said. Interfax said he was referring to talks between the opposition and the Syrian government.

George Sabra, a member of the High Negotiations Committee, a body grouping armed and political opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said it had no knowledge of the consultations.

The HNC includes armed groups fighting Assad under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. It took part in a failed bid to launch peace talks earlier this year. The HNC was established in Saudi Arabia with Riyadh's backing in December 2015.

The HNC's general coordinator Riad Hijab in a statement urged rebel groups to cooperate with "sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire but said it had not been invited to any conference.

Hijab said confidence-building measures were needed to create an atmosphere for political transition talks which should be held in Geneva and sponsored by the United Nations.

"We support the shifts in positions of some international powers and the positive, sincere efforts that could represent a starting point for realising the Syrian people's aspirations," Hijab said in a written statement distributed to the media.

The HNC said it wants to see a truce that covers all of Syria, in line with previous U.N. resolutions which forbid the use of banned weapons such as barrel bombs and chemical agents. The resolutions call for all sieges to be lifted, humanitarian aid access and a halt in air strikes and forced displacement.

NO DATE FIXED FOR TALKS

Russia's foreign ministry later said Lavrov had discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, without elaborating.

Lavrov also told Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels could lead to more casualties, it said. Earlier Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the easing of the restrictions could directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia, Iran and Turkey and Assad have agreed that Astana, the Kazakh capital, should be the venue for new Syrian peace talks.

Russian officials say preparations for the talks are under way, but that invitations to participants have not been sent out and the exact timing has yet to be decided.

The officials, who have spoken of mid-January as a possible date, said it is too early to talk about contacts with the HNC.

Lavrov spoke to Mevlut Cavusoglu, his Turkish counterpart, by telephone on Tuesday. The two men agreed to push for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for the Astana talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying that representatives from the Russian and Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide ceasefire might work.

Separately on Tuesday Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had evidence that U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria were giving support to "terrorist groups" including Islamic State and the Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD. The U.S. State Department called the accusations "ludicrous."

Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview that Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to take part in the Syrian peace process, the RIA news agency reported.

It cited him as saying he thought Riyadh's insistence that Assad should step down meant it had no place at any talks.
Romania's president infuriates main party by rejecting proposed PM

By Radu-Sorin Marinas and Luiza Ilie

BUCHAREST, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Romania's president rejected the Social Democrat Party's nominee for prime minister on Tuesday, infuriating the leftist PSD which won a general election two weeks ago.

The party's pick to lead the new government was Sevil Shhaideh, a close associate of PSD power broker Liviu Dragnea who was ruled out of the job due to a criminal conviction over a 2012 referendum rigging case.

Dragnea's PSD won the Dec. 11 election by a wide margin and, with coalition partner and long-time ally ALDE, has 250 members in the 465-seat, two-house parliament, meaning it would easily get parliamentary approval for its government.

Shhaideh, a 52-year-old woman from Romania's 65,000-strong Muslim community, is close to Dragnea who was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian-born former agriculture ministry consultant.

"I have carefully weighed the pro and con arguments and I have decided not to appoint Mrs Sevil Shhaideh," President Klaus Iohannis told reporters, without elaborating on his reasoning.

"As a result, I am asking the PSD and ALDE to make a new proposal."

Dragnea said he had watched the president's decision with "stupefaction".

"Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow at the latest ... we will need to make a decision," Dragnea told a news conference. "I want to weigh up very carefully what is good and what is bad for Romania."

"If, after analysis, we reach the conclusion that it is best to suspend the president, I will not hesitate. But we don't want to jump head-first and plunge the country into crisis."

Parliament can initiate a presidential impeachment procedure, but it is complex, lengthy and would require a consequent consultative ruling by the Constitutional Court and a national referendum.

Speculating on the president's motive for rejecting Shhaideh, political commentator Mircea Marian said: "Either there were national security reasons to reject her, as she is married to a Syrian citizen which may put security at risk, or there were purely political reasons."

"The PSD has lost a lot by making this proposal, which came as a surprise to their hard core electorate."

Rise Project, a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of investigative journalists, said this month that Shhaideh's husband had posted messages on his Facebook account in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The PSD, which promised higher wages and pensions during the election campaign, had hoped Dragnea would stand for prime minister but Iohannis made clear he would refuse any candidate with a criminal record.
U.S. committed to NATO, Baltic security- McCain

TALLINN, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The United States is committed to the security of the Baltic region and NATO, Republican senator John McCain said in the Estonian capital on Tuesday, during a visit seen as a bid to soothe concerns over the policy of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump unnerved many in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia by saying on the campaign trail he would consider a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to its aid.

Russian military involvement in Ukraine and Georgia has stoked fears in the Baltics their former Soviet master might eventually try something similar there.

"I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength," McCain told reporters in the Estonian capital.

"And the best way to prevent Russian misbehaviour by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance."

The U.S. stationed about 150 troops in each of the three Baltic countries and Poland in April 2014.

On a three-day visit to the Baltics with fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham, McCain said he did not expect the U.S. to remove sanctions against Russia, imposed after its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

"That is certainly not the case today as I know it", he said.

He also said that the United States, regardless of who was its president, would have "a strong and significant response" as long as Putin continued "to occupy Crimea and has invaded eastern Ukraine and continues to threaten other nations in the region."

Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 has fueled concerns in the Baltic states, all NATO members, that Moscow may want to reassert control across the whole region.

"There is fear in the Baltics about the incoming Trump administration's relationship with Russia, that sanctions against Russia will be weakened or called off, and not strengthened as the Congress would want," Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the U.S. told Reuters.

He said Russia had gained confidence after the muted response to its actions in Georgia.

"If its actions in Ukraine are also forgiven, its next step is an open question," he said.

McCain and Graham, who travel to Latvia on Wednesday and Lithuania on Thursday have expressed alarm at Trump's attitude towards Russia.

They want Trump to take a tough line over what they termed Russia's "military land grab" in Ukraine and have also called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the United States, including Russia's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election.

"There is no doubt that the Russians were hacking, but there is doubt whether it had any effect on the outcome of the election," McCain said.

"There is no evidence right now that indeed the Russian cyber attacks and the leaking of the information had any tangible effect on the outcome of the American election."
Russia opens criminal case into official after 77 die of alcohol poisoning

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian investigators said on Tuesday they had opened a criminal case into a senior regional official in Siberia after at least 77 people died from drinking bath oil for alcoholic kicks.

The mass poisoning in Irkutsk, a city 2,600 miles (4,000 km) east of Moscow, was the worst of its kind in recent years in a country where up to 12 million people consume cheap surrogate alcohol.

Investigators have so far detained 23 people and President Vladimir Putin has demanded tighter controls on the production and sale of drinks, medicines, perfumes and other liquids with a high percentage of ethanol, or drinkable alcohol.

The lethal bath oil in Irkutsk was contaminated with methanol, a related form of alcohol which is poisonous.

Russia's Investigative Committee said on Tuesday that Yevgeniya Nefedova, a deputy minister responsible for the use of land belonging to the Irkutsk regional government, had been charged with negligence over the affair.

In November, a month before the poisoning, Nefedova had been passed evidence that a plot of state land was being used to sell illegal alcohol, investigators said.

"She had all the powers and justification to ask a court to annul the (rental) contract ... But instead Nefedova only signed off on another fine," the statement said.

The Irkutsk region's health ministry meanwhile said that the number of deaths from the poisoning had risen to 77 and that 16 people remained in hospital.
Rosatom says could consider equity stake in Areva

By Geert De Clercq

PARIS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian nuclear group Rosatom would be interested in taking an equity stake in French peer Areva if the French government allows it, a top Rosatom executive said on Tuesday.

Under a government-led restructuring, 87 percent state-owned Areva will be split up, with its reactor unit Areva NP sold to state-owned utility EDF while its nuclear fuel unit will become a separate firm provisionally named NewCo.

Areva, EDF and the government are looking to sell minority stakes to foreign investors in both units.

Areva has said third-party investors have made a 500 million euro ($520 million) offer for a combined 10 percent stake in NewCo and that talks are under way with China's National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) about taking a stake in NewCo.

Asked whether Rosatom would consider buying into Areva, Andrey Rozhdestvin, head of Rosatom Western Europe, said it would be willing to consider a stake in Areva NP and in NewCo.

"We do not rule this out. If it could help Areva, I think this can be considered," Rozhdestvin told reporters.

He said talks are ongoing with Chinese and Japanese potential equity partners, but not with the Russians.

"This is worrying us," he said, adding that Rosatom has several cooperation projects with Areva.

"Of course we try, if it is possible, to participate in the resolution of the situation," Rozhdestvin said.

Franco-Russian relations have been strained by Russia's role in Ukraine and Syria. French conservative Francois Fillon, a leading contender to win the presidential election in May, has said he wants to restore ties with Russia.

Asked if he hoped a possible Fillon win would facilitate Rosatom buying into Areva, Rozhdestvin said that following the election Rosatom would work with the new government.

"We have discussed these topics, but they were not well received by the current government... We are waiting for the end of the sanctions. After that, maybe we can talk," he said.

Rosatom is advised by former EDF chief executive Henri Proglio, who is a board memmber of Akkuyu Nuclear JSC, a Rosatom venture to build a nuclear plant in Turkey.

Rozhdestvin said Rosatom was talking to Areva NewCo about setting up a project to sell nuclear fuel services such as reprocessing together to third countries, possibly next year.

"Areva NC is very strong in the nuclear fuel cycle, from upstream to downstream. Some countries need this expertise. Areva and Rosatom could work together to offer certain services they need," he said.

Areva was not immediately available for comment.

Areva and Rosatom are among the world's top reactor builders, but Areva, weighed down by construction problems and writedowns on an African uranium mining project, has had to be rescued from bankruptcy by a government bailout.
China lodged a protest with the United States for signing a defense act that included a call for senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"We are resolutely against the Taiwan-related section in the US National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and have lodged solemn representations with the US," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news conference.

Part of the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act directs the US Department of Defense to conduct a program of senior military exchanges between the US and Taiwan, Reuters reported.

Noting that the Taiwan question has a bearing on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua said that "China will by no means accept" the stipulation of the US defense act.

"Although the Taiwan-related content in the US act has no legal binding force, it severely violates the three joint communiques and interferes with China's domestic affairs," she said, adding that China urges the US to end military exchanges with and weapons sales to Taiwan. The three communiques were crucial agreements in the normalization of diplomatic relations between the US and China.

Hua praised the recent remarks by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser to former US president Jimmy Carter. Brzezinski told WorldPosta partnership between online news aggregator Huffington Post and independent think tank the Berggruen Institutelast week that "a world in which America and China are cooperating is a world in which American influence is maximized".

"It is not in our interest to antagonize Beijing," Brzezinski was quoted as saying. He criticized the phone call between US president-elect Donald Trump and Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen on Dec 2 as "a pointless irritant".

"Cooperation is the only right choice between China and the US," Hua said, adding that the two countries should adhere to the principle of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and cooperation for win-win results.

Tang Shao-cheng, a research fellow in the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University in Taipei, said that although the US defense act looks like a measure that is friendly toward Taiwan, it is hard to say whether it would benefit Taiwan.

Taiwan is a valuable chip for the US to curb the rise of the Chinese mainland, Tang wrote in an article in the Taipei-based China Times, noting that it was Tsai's refusal to accept the 1992 Consensus, which establishes the one-China policy, that led to the island's self-limitation.
Somalia swears in federal lawmakers who will pick future president

By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Almost 300 members of Somalia's federal parliament were sworn in on Tuesday, although parliament's election of a new president to head the government was postponed.

The ceremony at least gives the chronically unstable Horn of Africa country a quorate assembly, four weeks after the conclusion of a month-long election conducted among 14,000 representative citizens.

The lawmakers were supposed to pick a new president on Wednesday, but the electoral commission said on Tuesday that the vote had been postponed to an as yet unspecified date.

"As you witnessed, 243 lawmakers and 38 upper house members have been sworn in," Abdikarim haji Abdi, the chief secretary of Somalia's federal parliament, told reporters at a police training camp in the capital Mogadishu, where the ceremony took place.

This left 32 members of the lower house still to be sworn in, because their elections either had not yet taken place or were disputed. In addition, 34 new seats in the upper house were only created by the electoral committee last week for the six federal states, in order to resolve a disagreement.

Once all the remaining seats are filled, the parliament will have a total complement of 347 legislators. However, the 281 already sworn-in are enough to be able to elect a president.

Plagued by Islamist militancy, famine and maritime piracy, Somalia has been at war for more than a quarter of a century, but diplomats and some citizens hope the current political process will help bring some stability.

Legislator Khalif Sheikh Abdullahi told Reuters before the swearing-in ceremony that the oldest MP would temporarily act as House speaker, in line with the constitution, until a full-time speaker was elected.

Somalia's weak U.N.-backed government is dependent on foreign funds to pay the fledgling armed forces and a contingent of 22,000 African Union peacekeepers.
Russia's Gazprom files proposals to EU aimed at ending antitrust case

By Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom said on Tuesday it had filed proposals with the European Commission aimed at resolving a five-year EU case over the Russian gas giant's alleged monopoly practices.

The Russian state gas exporter, which supplies a third of the EU's gas, has been on the European Commission's radar since 2012, culminating in charges last year that it overcharged customers in eastern and central Europe and blocked rivals .

Since then, Gazprom has offered concessions aimed at staving off a potential fine of up to 10 percent of its global turnover.

A Commission spokeswoman confirmed that the Commission had received proposed commitments from Gazprom and it would assess "if they address, in a forward looking manner, the Commission's competition concerns in line with EU antitrust rules".

Gazprom deputy head Alexander Medvedev said in an emailed statement the firm was ready to take into account Europe's criticism "where it is substantiated and possible". The gas giant added it hoped for a resolution in the near future.

Gazprom did not elaborate on the details of its proposals, saying only that "they are likely to help to reach progress over the case".

The firm said in October that it was going "to work out a mutually acceptable decision" with the European Commission.
Syrian opposition urges rebels to cooperate in ceasefire efforts

BEIRUT, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition's main political body on Tuesday urged rebel groups to cooperate with "sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire but said it had not been invited to any conference, referring to a meeting in Kazakhstan proposed by Russia.

Riad Hijab, general coordinator for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said confidence-building measures were needed to create an atmosphere for political transition talks which should be held in Geneva and sponsored by the United Nations.

"We support the shifts in positions of some international powers and the positive, sincere efforts that could represent a starting point for realising the Syrian people's aspirations, by reaching an agreement that brings security and stability," Hijab said in a written statement distributed to the press.

The HNC said it wants to see a truce that covers all of Syria, in line with previous U.N. resolutions which forbid the use of banned weapons such as barrel bombs and chemical agents. Other resolutions call for all sieges to be lifted, humanitarian aid access, a halt in air strikes and no more forced displacement.

Iran and Russia support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the nearly six-year Syrian conflict. Turkey and the United States support opposition groups. Peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year because of a surge in violence.

Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out principles for an agreement.

Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and would be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy. But Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally.
South Korea special prosecutor detains pension fund chairman

SEOUL, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A South Korean special prosecution team investigating a political corruption scandal said it had placed the chairman of the country's National Pension Service (NPS), Moon Hyung-pyo, under emergency detention early on Wednesday.

The special prosecutor's office did not immediately provide further details but had said on Monday it had raided the home of Moon on suspicion of abuse of power.

The special prosecutor has been looking into whether Moon pressured the pension fund to support the merger of two Samsung Group [SAGR.UL} affiliates last year while he was head of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which administers the NPS.

Under South Korean law, a suspect can be held under emergency arrest without a warrant for up to 48 hours.
This department in an august assembly is responsible for bringing out in print every audible word uttered during the sessions of the assembly.



The high-up heading the administration of this assembly had recently provided a bus for free for the employees of the aforesaid department to go on a picnic.



However, all employees had rejected the free bus ride just to spite the boss they disliked.



Informed there were no takers for the free offer, an affronted high-up had told his aides: If there is at least one person willing to go on the picnic, take in some village people as well and proceed on the trip. It does not matter even if you dont proceed on the picnic in which case, you may park the bus in the village till about 6 in the evening before you bring it back here!
REUTERS: Headed for a fourth straight annual profit decline, Hyundai Motor is trimming its cost fat; scaling back on business class flights and annual family home trips for overseas employees, executives told Reuters.

The South Korean automaker has been hit by its exposure to weak emerging markets, and a product line-up that features more sedans than sport utility vehicles (SUVs), just as SUVs have become more popular across many global markets.

The belt-tightening - which also includes cutting back on printing and fluorescent light bulbs - aims to buy Hyundai time to prepare new models and a design revamp.

Were trying to address a mismatch between the market trend and our product line-up, said one Hyundai insider, referring to a need for more SUV models. Thats a longer term plan. For now were trying to save every penny, he said, declining to be identified because the plans are not public.

Since October, Hyundai Motor Group executives have taken a 10 percent pay cut, the first such move in seven years. The number of executives at Hyundai Motor alone has risen by 44 percent in five years, to 293 last year.

The group has also downgraded hotel rooms for executive travel, and is encouraging video conferencing as a cheaper alternative to travel, insiders said.

Were in emergency management mode, said another insider, who didnt want to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media.

In a response to Reuters for this article, Hyundai Motor said it is making various cost-saving efforts, with shrinking global demand and growing business uncertainty, but did not elaborate.

Other costs, such as low-margin supplier parts and labour at the heavily-unionized automaker, are tougher to pare back, said Ko Tae-bong, analyst at Hi Investment & Securities, noting Hyundai needs also to spend more on research and development in self-driving and other new technologies.

While Hyundai remains cash-rich, its costs as a proportion of revenue have risen for five straight years, to 81 percent so far this year, regulatory filings show.

Cutting expenses are stopgap measures, and wont do much to improve its bottom line, Ko said, calling them more symbolic.

Sales decline

Hyundai grew quickly after the global financial crisis, with brisk sales of its Sonata and Elantra sedans. It was the only major automaker to increase sales in the United States in 2009.

But it has struggled to maintain that momentum as rivals sales of SUVs have boomed and emerging market economies have weakened. Hyundai Motor shares have fallen 40 percent in the past three years, the worst performer among global automakers.

The automakers top US executive has resigned, and the South Korea sales chief and China head have been replaced.

Sales of Hyundai cars, and those of its affiliate Kia Motors could drop to eight million this year, a first decline since Hyundai bought its smaller domestic rival in 1998, said Ko, the analyst.

For next year, Hyundai-Kia Executive Vice President and research head Park Hong-jae, expects sales to pick up again. It was a difficult year this year. Things will get better, he told reporters on Thursday, citing recovery in markets such as Brazil and Russia.

Another Hyundai source said the group has trimmed its preliminary 2017 sales target to 8.2 million vehicles, from 8.35 million forecast in mid-year.

More SUVs

While it looks to manage its staff budget, Hyundai is beefing up its SUV offerings, freshening up its Sonata sedan, and redirecting exports from slow-demand markets such as the Middle East to the United States.

In the United States, SUVs accounted for 28 percent of Hyundais sales in January-November, up from 23 percent a year earlier, according to Autodata Corp, but less than half the industry average.

At its plant in Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai has replaced some Sonata production with its popular Santa Fe SUV.
Those responsible for the error in the carol service hymnal have apologized to Archbishop Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith and the Catholic Church, a spokesman for the Colombo Archdiocese said today.

We consider the matter closed on the basis that those responsible for the error have apologized," Archdiocesan spokesperson Fr. Edmund Tillekaratne said today.

The organizers had mistakenly printed the lyrics of gangster rapper Tupac's hit song, 'Hail Mary' on thousands of its hymn sheets.

The unfortunate mix-up took place at the Catholic 2016 Joy to the World Festival held at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo. The festival was organized by the Archdiocese of Colombo and the Joseph Vaz Trust.

Fr Tillekaratne told Daily Mirror the matter was not really an issue because the hymn books were withdrawn. One or two books must have got into the hands a few who must have leaked it to social media websites, Fr. Tillekaratne said.

Meanwhile, a priest told CNN that no sooner organizers realized their mistake they had asked for the books back.

He said the printer had been a young boy who had simply downloaded the wrong version of the song.

We are very sorry about what happened, the priest said. The page was in the middle of the booklet. Two people who had noticed it and alerted us.

Instead of the traditional Catholic prayer, 'Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus'; the hymn sheets had the line, 'I ain't a killer but don't push me, revenge is like the sweetest joy, Next to gettin' p***y.' (Yohan Perera)
COPE Chairman and JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti today requested President Maithrirpala Sirisena not to go ahead with the signing of the lease agreement to hand over of the Hambantota Port to a Chinese Company.

He requested him to at least present the agreement in Parliament so that the people would know its contents.

In a letter to the President, Mr. Handunnetti said the Government is morally bound to reveal the conditions stipulated in the agreement when state property was handed over to a foreign company and it was also the people's right to know because none of those involved in this transaction would be alive in 99 years.

He said this was a clear case of the government being responsible for the future generation as well and added that one reason for electing President Sirisena was to oppose the secret and illegal deals of the Rajapaksa regime and to take legal action against them.

People had strongly objected to the handing over of state property and contracts to fraudsters by the previous regime. One of your main election slogans was to ensure transparency and corruption-free governance. But people and parliament are unaware of the agreement to hand over the Hambantota port with less than two weeks to do so. We do not know why these secret transactions were not considered as deals, he said in the letter.

Mr. Handunnetti said the handing over of the Hambantota Port on a 99-year lease was a serious matter as it was an important sector in the national economy and national security. (Ajith Siriwardana)
Eng. Sagara Gunawardana, Chairman of Venora Group of Companies (PVT) LTD, has been bestowed with the Socrates International Award for personal contribution to the intellectual development of todays society in the category for Business and Economy by the European Business Assembly (EBA).

He accepted the award on Wednesday 21st December, in Oxford, the United Kingdom.

The Europe Business Assembly (EBA) is an independent Corporation of economic, social and humanitarian collaboration, founded in Oxford, UK. It is an interactive platform for adapting European economic programmes to the standards of living in dynamically developing regions. It follows the directives of the European Union and EU programmes - Good-Neighbourliness and Eastern Partnership.

Every year, EBA awards medals to promising enterprises in Asia, building friendly relations between European and Asian businesses.

Venora International is one of the leading companies in the field of electrical engineering, telecommunication in Sri Lanka, operates under the theme Solution Providers for an Energized World. It has gained ICTAD; EM-1 category registered in 2007 and has been maintaining ISO 9001 quality certification from SGS, International accredited organization for their internal and on site processes.

Since 2003, the Chairman Managing/ Director of the company, Sagara Gunawardana has been the motivating force behind all these achievements supported by enthusiastic management team.

The company has several wings of operation such as local and overseas projects, switch board assembling, telecommunication infrastructure installations, earthing, lightning and surge protection incorporating world renowned brands. Within a short span of time, with the perfect blend of progressive thinking and expertise, Venora Group has expanded to Consist Venora International Projects, Venora Telecom, Venora Industrial Solutions and Venora Lanka Power Panels (BOI approved). Further, Venora has established its overseas presence through Venora Engineering Kenya and Venora Engineering Myanmar.

Venoras quest for excellence has been recognized by the award for Quality & Business Prestige in November, 2005 in Geneva Switzerland, Arch of Europe for Quality and Technology  Frankfurt in 2012. The Global Award for Perfection, Quality & Ideal Performance Rome, Italy in 2012. Best Enterprise & the Manager of the year in Sri Lanka - EBA Awards with UK Trade Marks  Socrates Award  London, 2013. Being the very first Sri Lankan company to receive the license in accordance with UK Trade Marks Act 1994 to use the Trade Mark Best Enterprise. Global Award at the Golden Awards for Quality and Business Prestige held in Geneva Switzerland, in the year 2015.

With the introduction of industry friendly policy environment and enabling facilities to assist the Engineering sector in Sri Lanka by the Government, Venora is optimistic in achieving its goal as the most preferred solution provider for an

energized world.
Farmers across India are battling a steep fall in wholesale vegetable prices and are forced to discard their produce as a nationwide cash crunch following the scrapping of high-value banknotes hurts demand.



The crash in wholesale prices comes at a bad time for farmers, who reaped a bumper crop and were hoping for good returns to make up for losses induced by two straight drought years.



Last Wednesday, S Raju, a farmer from Anantapur district, brought around two tonnes of tomatoes to Bowenpally market in Secunderabad but had to return home empty handed.



He was shocked when traders at Bowenpally offered not more than Rs 2 a kg for his crop.



Frustrated, he unloaded boxes of tomatoes and dumped them in the market yard, before cursing the traders and market authorities.



In Uttar Pradesh the state government has approached several potato-deficit states, offering them to lift surplus potato from the state at an affordable rate in a bid to help its farmers get a better price.



The government move comes amidst prevailing low prices of potato that have added to the plight of farmers. The state government has written to potato-deficit states like Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, telling them they can procure potato from UP, horticulture director SP Joshi said.

Hindustan Times,

Dec 26, 2016
The special agency proposed to be set up through the Development (Special Provisions) draft bill with the objective of fast-tracking foreign investments could become another state agency, which fast-tracks deals for government cronies, unless it runs free from political interference, a top economist opined.



While a fast-tracked approach to investments could become effective during the catch-up phase of development of a country as seen from examples in East Asia and elsewhere, Razeen Sally, an Associate Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University of Singapore expressed his skepticism that the same would occur in Sri Lanka considering the countrys highly politicized institutional system. Here one has to be careful. Back to the successful examples, they succeeded because these institutions have been insulated from normal politics. Good people have been hired to run these agencies, they have been paid well, the incentives have been structured for them not to be corrupt and not to always say, yes to phone calls from politicians who want special deals for their cronies.



If an agency like this works along these lines, yes, then it makes sense. But if an agency like this turns out to be just another Sri Lankan agency, that would provide a fast track for cronies and override all kinds of due process in the process, then obviously its a bad idea, Professor Sally told a public seminar in Colombo organized by Advocata Institute, an independent public policy think tank, jointly with the business magazine, Echelon recently.

The Development (Special Provisions) draft bill is believed to pave the way for a super minister superseding all other branches of the government, an allegation denied by Malik Samarawickrama, the Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade.



However, Professor Sally, who is also the Chairman of Sri Lankas Institute of Policy Studies, a state-funded policy think tank, empathized with the Prime Minister, who has sought to set up this special agency as a measure to lure significant foreign investments, which Sri Lanka has been lacking due to policy inconsistency, bureaucracy and corruption.



You need, one-stop-shop to jump-start things, specially big ticket foreign investments. And thats the rationale behind this development agency which is yet to be legalised. And as a short-term measure, this agency makes sense in outline, Sally noted.



The draft bill is expected to be presented to the Parliament next February with amendments, as the bill met with severe resistance at provincial council level and also from some partners of the coalition government.



Last week, the draft bill was defeated by a majority in provincial councils in Uva, Northern and North Central provinces.



A similar bill with concentrated powers to a single minister was mooted under the previous Rajapaksa regime through the Divineguma bill. It was passed in Parliament with amendments that diluted the powers that were earlier sought through the bill.
The Ceylon Teachers Services Union today complained to the Anti-Corruption Committee Secretariat about a fraudulent tender procedure with regard to the printing of school text books. Pix by Pradeep Dilrukshana
An era is set to conclude with Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, who, in short, spearheaded Sri Lankas mobile revolution, stepping down from the Group CEO position at Dialog Axiata PLC to take up a full-time regional role for Dialog Axiata PLCs parent, Malaysias Axiata Group, from next year. In this backdrop, Mirror Business met with Dr. Wijayasuriya to have a brief chat with him over his legacy, succession, business and the future of Sri Lankas telecommunication landscape. Following are the excerpts from the interview.

Lets begin with the transition Dialog Axiata will soon see in terms of leadership. For how long has this succession plan been contemplated?

I think like any large organisation should be, we also had an orchestrated succession plan, which could be activated at any point in time. The preparation for succession both at Dialog as well as across the Axiata Group was centred on the Group Accelerated Development Programme or GADP, where the aspirants are taken through a development programme for many years  both formal training and advanced management programmes in addition to exposure in multiple disciplines and multiple markets. At the moment several Dialog people are out of Sri Lanka at senior positions at various stages of their careers as part of this programme. Supun (Weerasinghe) in particular went out in 2013 and spent one year as Chief Strategy Officer at the Axiata Group and then on to being CEO of Bangladesh operations for three years. He was also in Harvard for an advanced management programme. So the succession plan has been very well executed.



Even at the other levels similar programmes are in place. Our Axiata Group aspiration where management structures are concerned is not a hard and fast rule but the formulation that is aimed at is seven-two-one, meaning seven locals, two from within the Axiata Group and one from a completely different background, so that there is diversity as well as continuous fresh thinking. And wherever possible Axiata has tried to have a local CEO in each country they operate. This goes back to the fact that I was made CEO way back in 1997. Today there are local CEOs in Bangladeshsuccessor to Supun was a localand also in Indonesia.



As a CEO I am very happy that the succession was within and also that someone who grew within the organisation. Supun has been with us for almost 16 years and has a strong knowledge of Sri Lankan operations as well as the rest of Axiata. He has also gained a lot experience as COO with Dialog previously. So operationally he is very much up to speed. What is also important is his age. Supun is just 41.



Let me interrupt. You took up the mantle much younger, if Im not mistaken?

Yes, I was 29. But the company was very small. At 29 I was able to manage the size of the company I was given at the time but definitely not the company that it is now. So Supun taking up the job will give new energy and youthfulness to the management. In that sense, I believe it is a picture perfect transition. Of course, in any situation, where someone has been there for a long time, transition can be little more complex. We have a very good empowerment culture and even when Supun was COO here, he was pretty much running the operations. So we expect the transition to be as smooth as possible.



How much of yourself do you see in Supun?

Well, I never looked for a carbon copy and he is certainly not a carbon copy of me. And that definitely was not the objective in our preparation for a successor. But there are some fundamental values, which I would have liked my successor to have, which Supun certainly has imbibed and demonstrated. One is attitudea mix of perseverance and the never-give up approach to solving problems. He was working very closely with me along with the rest of the senior management in 2008 and 2009 when we had a tough time. And I think it really displayed, not only Supun but the rest of the team as well, how they can overcome challenging situations. Supun as COO was leading a lot of the operational challenges at the time.



He is also a very humble and a relatively understated person, which I think is important for a leader because you need to earn your leadership authority and referability. They need to come through a process of earned respect and not from a bombastic, headline-seeking or overbearing personality, which Supun is not at all.



He is also a person who takes every opportunity to learn, specially in the technical areas. I came from an engineering background with a PhD in mobile communication and Supun comes from a business and financial background. But the extent to which he had learnt the fundamentals of advanced technology and how to use them to drive business is very impressive.



Well, how excited are you about your new role as the Regional Head for South Asia?

Ive been actually doing it part time since February when I was appointed to the region. So it will be an acceleration and full-time version of what Ive been doing for the last 10 months. And those 10 months have been very taxing from a travel perspective because I had to be here in a serious way plus while doing the other role. So, all in all, I think its very exciting to oversee multiple markets, including Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, India and Pakistan. In Pakistan, we have a broadband operation and in India we are the strategic partner for Idea Solutionsthe third largest operator. Its a joint venture with Indias Birla Group and I sit on the board there. In Nepal we are number one and in Bangladesh Supun recently completed the merger with Airtel. Robi-Airtel is a strong number two in Nepal. Each market is at a different stage of evolution and our operation is at a different stagein some we are strong challengers and in others we are leaders. This adds a new dimension to the challenge and Im certainly looking forward to that.



Where will you be based?

My office will be split between Colombo and Kuala Lumpur. I will have a few regional staff here because I will be looking after a few group functions and sit on the executive committee. My base office will be split but I expect to spend at least three or four days in Colombo.



Lets move on to the industry. Its not a question of whether the local telco industry should consolidate but a question of when we would be able to see that consolidation. What is Dialog Axiatas approach to this?

What we have consistently stated is that we encourage consolidation. We really believe that there needs to be a consolidation in this market at the infrastructure level because thats where wastage can occur. Five networks all rolling out all these new technologiesit doesnt make any sense and that depresses the profitability of everybody. So we would actively participate in this consolidation process but nothing has bubbled up to a near close at least. We think the right size for this market is around three players for the mobile. As we move forward, I think its really important to have a strong third player. If you look at the converged telco market today, SLT and Dialog account for nearly 85 to 90 percent of the market. So its always good to have a strong third player. It will be good for the consumer. The only way a third player could come around is if there is consolidation.



Let me elaborate a little bit more on this idea of consolidation. When you talk of consolidation, the immediate thought is companies buying each other and certainly that is one dynamic that needs to take place. But another could be the rationalizing of various layers of the telecommunication infrastructure. This needs to be enabled by progressive regulation, which permits the industry to achieve the same costs and efficiency synergies as consolidation would but without reducing competition. For example, towers. They can easily be rationalized. To some extent, Dialog did this through a specialized business unit we set up in 2008. We started actively renting out our tours and today our tenancy ratio is 2.2, meaning 2.2 operators on every tower, which is a very high tenancy ratio regionally or even globally. But if that is done in a more organised manner and regulation permits the creation of tower companies, we might find one or two companies owning all the towers.



The next layer is the transmissionthe combining of high capacity radio links, which link the towers and the fibre links, which link towers and buildings and so on. Its good for a market of our size to have up to three players who efficiently provide what we call the transport layer of the network.

The third layer would be the radio networksGSM, 3G, 4G, fixed 4G, Wi-Fi, etc. Recently we have seen a growing number of examples where even this layer, which we call RAN or Radio Access Network, getting shared. So one operator or two operators would be running a 4G network and many other service providers sit on their infrastructure. So why this stack would work is that at the consumer level you would still see five brands or may be more than that. If you look at the UK, there are about 10 service providers serving different customer segments. These are all competing brands and the consumer gets the benefit of competition while the industry gets the benefit from sharing and rationalizing the infrastructure. So this can happen in parallel to companies buying each other. Regulation can be evolved to a point where this is facilitated.



So are you implying that our regulators havent been very progressive?

I wouldnt say that. Actually Ive gone on record many times saying we have one of the most progressive regulatory regimes in the region, which I still stand by. That is the reason why Sri Lankas telecommunication sector stands tall among regional counterparts in terms of penetration, affordability and technology. Thats because the regulators have been fairly progressive and havent been out there to suck money out of the industry.



Some of these concepts I talked about, such as the layering of the industry, require bringing in fairly sophisticated open competition mechanisms. For example, local loop unbundlingor can you have scenario where Dialogs connection to a customer can be used by another operator to provide service to a customer? Is there regulation to support that and enforce free and fair competition? I think we are not there. Likewise many regional countries are not there either. So I think its just a gentle wakeup call that Im giving if we want to conserve capital while increasing competition and benefitting the customer. For that, a few enabling regulations need to come into place. I believe a lot of this is incorporated in the new draft telecommunications bill.



This draft bill you mentionedhave the policymakers consulted the industry before preparing such proposed law?

Yes, we were consulted last in 2014. Over the last five years I have seen everything that needs to go into a good telecommunication act being incorporated in the draft. But when that will actually come out is the issue.



Globally it is said that data is the future for the telco industry. How true is this claim to the Lankan market?

Thats very true. It is very important the fact that data reaches the consumer in the form of video. When you say data, what do you do with data? To most people the real game changer now is on a mobile device or even at home on a computing device, you can access video in good quality. Browsing a website was there five or 10 years ago. But today the real change is the quality of the video and all high capacity networks have given that to you. Video is a game changer in consumer experience and video is a language that applies across any level of education, literacy, etc. That makes 4G or any high-speed networks relevant to any single citizen, finally. So you dont need to be computer literate to watch news on your mobile. That will be a game changer.



Now where is Sri Lanka placed in this whole episode? Like I said the enabling environment had made it possible for Sri Lanka to have the most advanced technologies. The point you brought up on returns and efficiency and the need to consolidatethat is a threat. If you talk to any operator or look at their balance sheets, returns are below the weighted average of capital because the tariffs are so low and the investments in data infrastructure are in dollars and are becoming more and more expensive. So with most operators today, I think their incremental investment is forced to be below the weighted average cost of capital. So, in the long run, this means there is value destruction.

So, one route to cure this problem is consolidation and the efficient collaboration. Another route would be that there is restructuring of the value chain itself. Increasingly many new services are created by app developers, which bring in new revenue streams through digital services through the providers of

these services.



So thats why youd see Dialog itself moving into e-commerce, digital health digital education and quite a bit into video. We are verticalzing because the revenue streams are in the vertical segment as opposed to the core transport of bits and bytes. But no telco can boil the ocean. We can only trigger this wave. How we intend to do that is, we plan to open up our networks to enable app creators to use our technology and create a large number of services. Thats where Dialog ideamart comes in. It today has over 6,000 apps running on it all created by Sri Lankan app developers. This has started creating a big revolution in the wider communitycreating applications and placing them on our network, which I suspect is a longer-term source of revenue that could compensate for data being somewhat underpriced.



But it appears data is being targeted by the authorities to make money via higher taxes?

What the industry is hoping for is, since the rates are so low, data consumption would be inelastic at this level. But I think the next three months will tell us, after its (tax amendments) enacted. It takes around three months to actually stabilize. Its only at that point well be able to really comment, whether the consumption has dropped. One thing for sure is tariffs in Sri Lanka are very low. The ITU (International Telecommunication Union) has slated them as the lowest in the world for data. But whether a hike of taxes by 25 percent or so will change the consumption pattern, we dont know yet.



I believe the acquisition of Suntel back in 2007 was also targeted at augmenting your capacity over data?

When we went an acquired Suntel in 2007 it was a very unfashionable thing to do. The world was saying its mobile only and forget about fixed. Some of the big players in the world even sold their fixed assets. Our thinking at that time was somedaywe are actually talking 10 years hencethat fixed will come back but in a different form. Our projection was that the bandwidths would continue to increase and therefore the fixed network would be able to carry more high power data than a wireless network.



What has died is fixed voice  the POTS or the plain old telephone sets. But data to the home is growing very fast and as a result, our fixed LTE network is penetrating throughout the country. The fixed LET network also can provide voice over the LTE network so you could connect a normal handset. That will have relevance because it comes with broadband, Wi-Fi and so on. Hence, having both the mobile network and a fixed capability and both put together give a consumer proposition that covers the lifefrom the time you wake up to the time you go to bed.



Dialog came into the devices market a few years back. How is it faring?

Lets approach it this way. Why did we get into the devices market? One was to be a reference point in the market so that for the health of the entire industry device pricing incrementally was brought to very affordable levels. If a player like us goes out and sets market with quality deviceswhether it be dialog devices or branded devicesthat will bring the smartphone prices down and I think we have succeeded in doing that.



The second reason we went for it was to create an experience around device. So that with our experience centres across the country we create a reliable shop front where customers can come and play with the most recent technology.

Hows your e-commerce business wow.lk faring and its contribution to the group bottom line?

Well its contributing negatively to the bottom line at the moment as most e-commerce companies do. A lot of the digital businesses have completely different P&L and even objectives. Amazon is a good example. Wow.lks growth is good as we are seeing an increasing e-commerce habit. And with some of the payment evolutions Dialog is planning, we should see further growth. We are also taking wow.lk into the regions where consumers can benefit from the supply chain advantages of e-commerce.



The Axiata Group has similar e-commerce ventures in each country they operate. In Indonesia we are number two and in Malaysia we are almost number one. The objective there is to draw synergies between the telco and the fact that the customer relationship is often with the telco.



A specific case for Sri Lanka is that the white goods incumbents are also very strong. Because of that, the Sri Lankan consumers have a wide choice today. They have the e-commerce players and they also have the very reliable brick and mortar players. This creates an environment where consumers get a very good deal.



Dialogs parent in Malaysia certainly is one of the largest foreign investors in Sri Lanka. Going forward, what kind of investments are we looking at?

We have been investing US $ 150 to 200 million per year and I expect similar investments to continue, provided an enabling environment where pro-competition regulation is present. Up to 2016 we have made investments in Sri Lanka to the tune of little over US $ 2 billion.



Going forward, how do you project the Sri Lankan telco landscape?

I think we are on a very good wicket given the infrastructure we have. I believe the fundamentals are strong. So there is no reason why Sri Lanka cannot continue to be number one in the region.



But I would say that we should not forget the advantages of competition. Though Dialog is today the market leader, I still go back to the past where we were number four. Along the way we catalyzed a revolution and our competitors did their fair share as well. Overall it was the energy and the dynamism of a competitive market, where the shackles of monopolistic behaviour had been diluted or gradually broken downstarting with the telecommunication sector liberalization in 1996 and I would go even further to 1988, where Celltel was brought into the country, which was very progressive at that time. That was the first cellular network in the whole of South Asia. So, if you look at the success story of Sri Lankas telecommunications industry, one key paradigm, which gave boost from time to time, was the introduction of competition. I think we should never discount the value of that. One request I would make from policymakers is not to go back to a monopolistic thinking. Its very important to have as much competition as possible. As the competitive landscape becomes complex, the regulators may need to look at the new digital world and adjust the regulation. But they need to always keep in mind that competition is very important.



In terms of consumer behaviour, do you see any drastic change?

I think even the last five years have been very eye-awe. If you take the OTT (over-the-top content) services for example, they came out and gave a lot of things to customers for free. At the start of that cycle it appeared that these were consumer-friendly, consumer-oriented and pro-choice services  whether it be Facebook or the ability go on the Internet and search anything you want for free other than paying for a few bits of data. Fantastic isnt it?

But if you look at the last five years, the consumers themselves have created global monopolies. There are a few giants in the OTT world, who I think are bigger than any monopoly that we have ever seen. That is why you see administrations around the world are now reacting. Increasingly regulators are asking these OTTs to locate their business in the countries they operate and pay taxes and be accountable. It needs to be done but the way you have to do it may not be traditional. It needs to be thought through and done soon because otherwise you wont have a level playing field to do business.



The consumers have definitely changed. They have created Uber for example, which is a near global monopoly. While them being very disruptive, they benefit the customers. So whats the trend? Global monopolies, which benefit the customers. But nevertheless, they are monopolies. So you probably need benign and friendly regulation, which protects consumers as well as underline service infrastructure, which make those services possible. For example, if all the ISPs (Internet service providers) in the world go bust, Google cant exist. These are concepts thought ahead of time and put in place nationally as well as globally.

Blurb
KANEOHE AFP Dec26, 2016-US President Barack Obama on Sunday visited American troops at a Hawaii military base, the last time he will participate in his holiday tradition as commander-in-chief.

Obama and the first lady Michelle visited the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, close to where the presidential couple are vacationing with their daughters.

Speaking weeks before President-elect Donald Trumps scheduled inauguration, Obama called his time as commander-in-chief the privilege of my life. Although this will be my last time addressing you as president, I want you to know that, as a citizen, my gratitude will remain and our commitment to standing by you every step of the way -- that wont stop.

The Obamas traditionally take their year-end vacation in Hawaii. The US state holds special resonance for the president, who was born and spent much of his youth there.
The most current local newspapers carried articles covering a Sri Lankan economy analysis by Professor Razeen Sally. I too was there to listen to him speaking his piece and want to add my mite congratulating him for the well-analysed sense he spoke and to state my appreciation to the organisers for presenting such an event.



What facts I heard from the podium I understood and to those of us Sri Lankans, who are the lost sheep of the economically-bewildered category, this certainly was a wide and clear eye opener as to where the country is heading. We wonder eternally what inexplicable wrong we have collectively committed against the gods, for them to give Sri Lanka this perpetual step-motherly treatment for being glued to the

political dumps.



We are the inheritors of this beautiful land, so blessed and filled to the brim with every natural phenomenon one can wish for. Yet, as a country, we are struggling constantly, swimming upstream, not against the vast blue ocean that wraps around the island or the rivers that flow majestically from the hills, but against the incurable swirling currents of Diyawanna Oya.



I am glad I was present at the Excel World Auditorium on the 20th to hear a professional diagnosing our economic woes and even at this late stage of suffering, prescribing some badly-needed medication for at least a partial recovery.



We are almost rudderless

The event was organised by Advocata Institute and sponsored by the Echelon business magazine. Professor Razeen was the man of the hour who had been invited to talk on the kiriyen paniyen piruna (filled with milk and honey) promises the Yahapalanaya made at the change of guards two years ago and how they have fared in the planning and delivery of rupees and cents in Sri Lanka. That was the essence.



Of course, full marks to Advocata Institute (I dont know what they do for a living) for organising the event. The venue was well chosen; everything was professionally business-like and the snacks and tea served prior to the event was a well thought of welcome to everyone and a good icebreaker among the would-be audience.



The young compere blasted off the evening on the dot at 6:00 p.m. and that gave a positive punctuality plus to all those who had come early respecting the start time. The rest was all Professor Sally who spoke a middle path with non-aligned political affinity, giving sensibilities on Sri Lankas current economics and foreign policy.



His theory when simplified spelt out a three scenario status quo for Sri Lanka  currently drifting, possible take off or if that fails, a sad ending of a relapse to where we began in 2015. The first phase is where we are at present, drifting, according to Professor Sallys expert opinion. The boast and pomp of power are there but not much else except for a Christmas tree. And he said a lot about those economically minted words like IMF, World Bank, growth rates and such, which when converted to simple terms meant that we are almost rudderless, aimless and on a clueless drift without knowing where we are heading.



He spoke too of foreign policy and the pros and cons of who we should be friendly with and who would be the possible and lavish contributors to our hat collection for survival. All in all, Professor Sally did win this round.



Maybe the engines failed

Next came the possible take off. That did interest me a lot as theres a thing or two I know about take off. Sri Lanka needs an economically boosted take-off and we have pleaded and prayed for it as long as I can remember. We sure lined up for a take-off in 2009 after Nandikadal. But we not only rejected the take-off, we rejected the leadership too. We certainly did not soar.



The feat was repeated with vigour and with new faces in 2015 when Polonnaruwa Royal College won the big match. But we are still on the ground, growling away at the absurdity of it all. The aeroplane is ready, the passengers are anxiously waiting to be airborne, the fuel tanks are full, flaps are extended to give extra lift, the rudder is there to steer us on the take-off run, but Sri Lanka has not taken off. Why? Maybe the engines failed, that is the only possible answer.



The fact that struck me was there was no point in having a land like no other if we do not have well-manned engines to drive it. That was Professor Sallys call, of course, lucidly expressed in professional economic argot. My call on that is quite simple. How can you depend on engines that are maintained at Diyawanna Oya? There I rest my case.



Then it came to the third phase, the relapse. That is a sad and miserable ending where hopes are lost and we crawl back to where we started from with visions blurred and expectations in smithereens. Of course, a chosen few would have benefitted, that is the norm of changing brooms. But what about the majority? To this I do not have to add any elaboration as it is a day-to-day drudgery we face of corruption, nepotism and

poor planning.



As a country, we are doing nothing else but crawling back to the same hole we made attempts to come out of. A constable got nabbed for taking a bribe of Rs.7,000, so say the newspapers. Another report says a man was sentenced to death in Monaragala for killing his sister-in-law with a plank. Yes, that is justice; I wonder what happens to those who steal millions? Arrested, remanded, then have a party in jail and go free as heroes of a nation. No wonder we are looking at a possible rejected take-off again. If so, the chances are very good for a relapse to where we began in 2015.



That was the gist of what Professor Sally said. It is sad when you hear a man who knows what he is talking about explains in simple language how our beloved country squanders opportunities for progress. It is not that we miss the bus here and there; it is a lot more, what we miss is the cruise ship. Not just once, but repeatedly.



So ended the economic explanation of the three scenarios of Sri Lankas future by Professor Sally. The audience I noticed was mainly young. There were a few like me too, of the old brigade, and among them I did see some stalwarts of the business community. It mattered not what vintage we belonged to, the truth did stare at us in stark nakedness clearly displaying the political foibles that drifted from Diyawanna Oya.



What can we do? Heads we lost and tails we are losing too. That is the sum total of it all as there is no third side to the political coin that we are tossing. Of course, there is hope, there is always hope. Hope is the word, where would we be without it?



Thank you Advocata, thank you Echelon and thank you Professor Sally. As much as it hurts to hear the truth and its many political contradictions, it is still better to face the reality than continue to live blindly in a fools paradise.



(Capt. Elmo Jayawardena can be contacted via elmojay1@gmail.com)
TUNIS AFP Dec25, 2016- Tunisias security forces called on the government on Sunday to take exceptional measures to combat the return of jihadists fighting for extremist groups abroad.

Tunisia has seen a wave of jihadist attacks since its 2011 revolution, including on foreign tourists, and the United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 Tunisians are fighting for extremist outfits, mainly in Iraq and Syria.



The return of terrorists from hotbeds of unrest is worrying and could lead to the Somalisation of the country, said a statement from the internal security forces national union, referring to the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group in Somalia.



The warning came a day after the authorities said they had arrested three people including the nephew of Anis Amri, a Tunisian suspected of carrying out a deadly truck attack on a Berlin Christmas market this week.
TVS, the premier micro automotive company specializing in motorcycles, scooters and three-wheelers, launched its much-awaited motorcycle variant Apache 200cc to the Sri Lankan market.

The most award-winning brand Apache with the title of 10 times Bike of the Year and NDTVs Motor Bike of the Year 2017 and described as the most intelligent machine ever, was presented to the Sri Lankan consumer by descending the new model by helicopter at the Mount Lavinia beach demonstrating its premium associations.

Unveiling the new motorcycle at the launch, TVS Lanka Chief Executive Officer Ravi Liyange said, The most versatile, visually electrifying, technically unmatched and most intelligent new variant in premium Apache family will no doubt engage the Sri Lankan youth than ever before. Poised to be a game changer in this segment, TVS Apache will set the benchmark even higher with emphatic design language, best-in-class technology and an arresting interplay of attractive graphics.

TVS Lanka has been at the forefront in bringing new and relevant technology to Sri Lankan motorists. The company is defined by its state-of-the-art engineering, excellence in technology and superior quality of products. Our commitment to our customers is our primary focus. This launch is yet another reiteration of the TVS promise, to deliver unique propositions to our customer, Liyanage further added.

TVSL Head of Marketing Hashan Haputhanthri said, The bike has been designed to unleash the racing DNA among youth and the technology taking it from 0-60kph within 3.9 seconds. The unique intelligent features of the new variant includes digital interactive system which provides lap timer on remaining fuel, ODC meter, alpha numeric message display startup message and system health check indicator, gear indication, clock, service reminder, low battery indicator, digital fuel level indicator, pulse digital tachometer and Trip1/Trip2/Top speed/shortest time/trip fuel indicator. The technology that powers the new Apache RTR 200 makes it superior over competition and will appeal to the premium segment through its groundbreaking innovation.

Further, the new variant has more distinctive features such as the exhaust where Apache boasts a double-barrel exhaust, which could only be found in a few European versions while the monoshocks in Apache lack any time-lag like in other regular shock absorbers resulting in a smooth riding on any road and non-stop performance on race tracks.

The front suspension, digital interactive speedometer, which records performance data while riding, like lap time, etc., helps the biker to improve his race performance with professional feedback as the data is authentic and can enjoy computerized feedback where no other bike provides this digital interaction with rev limiter and lap-timer.

The machine, also known as the Killer Shark, has an advanced four valve racing O3C oil cooled over square and the five-speed engine is equipped with balancer shaft mechanism and is programmed to whip up an impressive 20.5 PS @8500 rpm with a torque of 18.1 Nm @ 7000 rpm. The technology behind RTR 200 is what helps term it as Sri Lankas most intelligent machine.

TVS Lanka is a joint venture with United Motors and TVS Motors India and is one of Indias leading two-wheeler manufactures and is ranked among the top seven in the world. The company has three manufacturing plants in India and one in Indonesia. Present in over 57 countries worldwide, it is renowned for innovation and currently owns over 600 patents.

Recently, the premier micro automobile brand TVS created history by winning six awards under a single brand name at the recently concluded 15th SLIM Brand Excellence Awards ceremony. In all 15 years there hasnt been a single brand achieving this milestone by any local or multinational brand. Brand TVS has been deploying an exceptional customer touch point expansion strategy to enhance brand presence, which exceeds over 1,400 spans across sales dealerships, service dealerships and spares dealerships.
It was a dream wedding for Nadia Rashid, a Dutch woman, who tied the knot with the man she loved in 2011. But what she expected to be a loving, life-long relationship, turned sour the very next day.

After the wedding, Rashid noticed a change in her husband, an Indian businessman called Shezad Hemani, who turned violent and abusive. Despite the circumstances, she gave her marriage a chance and continued living with him. However, after she gave birth to their daughter, Insiya, he left her alone to take care of her. He even threatened to kidnap the girl and take her to India. Her heart-wrenching story has now garnered immense support after it was shared publicly by Facebook pages, Humans of Amsterdam and Humans of India. It has gone viral as #BringInsiyaBack.

Insiya was forcefully taken away by men who said they were government officials. [Photo credit: Humans of Amsterdam]

Nadia Rashid's ordeal

''I met him while I was volunteering at the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Amsterdam. He seemed friendly and through the organization he got my phone number. He texted me and every now and then we kept in touch. I dont think you can call it a friendship but we were acquaintances. He was a businessman from India and he traveled a lot. In 2010 he was in Amsterdam and he came by my house. To my surprise he asked me to marry him. I barely knew him so I kindly refused. I dont think he understood my no and so he kept sending me messages and kept traveling to Amsterdam to come and meet me. He made me feel special and he kept putting me on a pedestal. He made me feel special and he was very nice to me. At some point I was in love and he took good care of me. He loved me and it was picture perfect. I started to fall in love with him and when he proposed again I said yes. We got married in 2011 and thats when everything changed..," she says in her account.

"Our wedding was big and many people were invited. I noticed a change in his behavior. He acted differently but I couldnt really pinpoint what it was. After the party he left and he disappeared for our wedding night. He slowly changed from a loving man into a dominant husband," she adds.

He used to abuse her but would apologise the very next day, promising that he would change his ways. "I kept giving him chances, but a man who beats you once will beat you again." Despite being insulted, she continued with the marriage and gave birth to their daughter three years later.

All for a daughter

However, after Insiya was born, she was left alone. There came a day when he even stopped taking her calls, and wrote a letter to Rashid's brother saying "that I was going to pay for this and that he was going to shame my name and would tell everyone what a terrible woman I was."

"From that day he made our lives impossible. I filed for divorce but I always made sure he still got to see our daughter. Even after what he had done I still wanted Insiya to be able to have a relationship with her father. One day he came over and while she was sitting on his lap he said that he would send his friends over to have me killed. I walked up to him and took Insiya and ran to the police station to file a complaint against him. The threats kept coming from his side. He said that he would kidnap our daughter and that he would take her to India. He kept messaging me and my family. The messages were so detailed about my whereabouts that I got the feeling I was being watched," the story continues.

But what followed, has landed Nadia in a long battle to get back Insiya, who she says, was taken away by a few men who pretended to be government officials from her mother's house on September 29. "While all of this happened I was on the high way. I made a U turn and I pressed my AWARE button but I got stuck in traffic and when I got home Insiya was already gone. Ever since that day my life has been a complete nightmare. In life sometimes you have a bad day but then you go to sleep and there is a new day waiting for you. For me this bad nightmare isnt ending. For two weeks after the violent kidnap, I had no idea where Insiya was. Later we found out that he had traveled to Germany with her. From there he went to India. As far as I know she in Mumbai with her father who she barely knows. He has said that if I will go to India he will have me arrested. He is a wealthy and powerful man and he easily buys people off. He has hired one of the best lawyer of The Netherlands to defend him. I havent talked to my daughter since she has been kidnapped. Despite my countless efforts, he will not let me talk to my 2-year-old daughter."

Criminally yours

Crime against women have more than doubled in the last decade. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 3,27,394 cases were registered under the crimes against women in the country last year. A total of 84,222 cases were registered under assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty. This category includes offences like sexual harrassment, assault or use of criminal force to women with intent to disrobe, voyeurism and stalking.

Indian women have often fallen prey to the patriachal set up and abuse - physical and mental - by their husbands. Even though such cases being common, many of them go unreported as women fear the consequences. The country talks of treading the path of development, but most women are still bound by the shackles of abuse and remain oppressed. Rashid, despite having a life in the Netherlands, is nevertheless a victim of an abusive relationship with an Indian man, which is why her story has found resonance with many people in this country.

Will Sushma Swaraj help Nadia?

She has now taken her fight to the authorities, and along with the ministry of foreign affairs and the Dutch government she is trying her "utmost best" to get Insiya back. "Together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch government we are trying our utmost best to get Insiya back. Every day from morning until night I am working on this. I will not stop until I can hold my daughter again..''
In 2016, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India continued to enlarge its foreign policy options and generally pursue the goal of raising the country's international profile.

Over the year India exhibited more self-confidence in dealing with challenges, showed more assertiveness in defending its interests, and displayed far more flexibility in exploring compromises on issues of global concern.

Diplomacy

The consolidation of the India-US relationship continued in 2016. Modi met Barack Obama five times during the year. The invitation in June to address the US Congress signified growing bi-partisan support for the India-US relationship.

Modi worked constructively with the US on climate change negotiations, leading to the Paris Agreement. Defence ties with the US continued to expand, with additional equipment orders, the signing of the awkwardly named Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and India's designation as a Major Defence Partner of the US.

India's push for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in 2016 led by Modi himself failed because of China's opposition and lack of adequate US effort in a body founded by it in response to India's 1974 nuclear explosion.

India, however, obtained membership of the Missile Technology Control Group during the year.

In 2016, India continued to grapple with the difficulty of finding a balance between dealing with China as a security threat and as an economic partner. Modi engaged Chinese president Xi Jinping three times in 2016 - at the SCO, G-20 and BRICS summits.

PM Modi dressed in a traiditional attire plays drums in Mongolia.

Despite this, the atmosphere of India-China relations deteriorated. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China's persistent opposition to India's NSG membership and blocking the designation of Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e- Mohammed (JeM) as an international terrorist by the relevant UN Security Council Committee hardened negative perceptions in India about China.

As part of this dynamic, India disregarded China's position on maritime issues in the South China Sea and in joint statements with the US, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia underlined the need to show utmost respect to UNCLOS in addressing them.

To increase its political space in dealing with China, India allowed the Karmapa to visit Tawang in November and, earlier, the US ambassador in Delhi in October. The Dalai Lama's planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh in March 2017 was announced. The invitation to him to attend a Rashtrapati Bhawan event this month was a signal to China that it should not expect only one side to show sensitivity to the core concerns of the other.

At the same time, the economic engagement of China continued with growth in Chinese investments in the country.

Terrorism

With Pakistan relations acquired a new confrontational edge in 2016 with Islamabad-sponsored terrorist attacks against the Pathankot airbase in January and against Army units in Uri (September) and Nagrota (November). Following the killing of Burhan Wani in July, Pakistan chose to fuel disturbances in J&K, with Nawaz Sharif lauding him as a martyr and fulminating against India at the UNGA.

PM Modi (left) with Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. (Reuters photo)

India decided to create more space for itself by changing the nature of its traditional response to Pakistani provocations. Modi alluded to the Baloch issue in his Independence Day speech, which was unprecedented. He created another point of pressure by announcing our intention to exercise India's full rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The publicly announced "surgical strikes" by India across the LoC in response to the Uri attack was intended to upset Pakistani calculations about past Indian reactions to such provocations.

India's effort to isolate Pakistan diplomatically on terrorism made some progress with SAARC countries following our lead not to attend the SAARC summit in Islamabad in November. It gained more momentum at the Amritsar Heart of Asia conference on Afghanistan in December, especially with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's public diatribe against Pakistan on its terrorist affiliations.

India's understandings with key Gulf countries on the terrorism menace - which indirectly put pressure on Pakistan on the issue - was bolstered in 2016.

Geopolitics

As part of carving out geopolitical options to our west, Modi visited Iran in May 2016 and signed the tripartite India-Iran-Afghanistan Chabahar port agreement. The presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan visited India in December, with concerns about terrorism and extremism high on the agenda.

Egypt's intrinsic importance in the Arab world, as well as mounting regional concerns about the ideology represented by the Islamic State, made Egyptian President Al Sisi's visit to India in September opportune.

Towards the east, India-Japan strategic ties received a boost with the signing of the civil nuclear agreement between the two countries during the Modi-Abe summit in November. Modi's visit to Vietnam in September had evident geopolitical importance.

Following the India-Africa summit in New Delhi in 2015 Modi's visit to South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya in July kept the momentum of our Africa policy alive. The India-Russia summit in October addressed the perceived drift in Delhi-Moscow ties.

Major defence and energy-related agreements were announced.

However, aspects of Russian policies towards Pakistan and Afghanistan raised concerns during 2016. Russia held military exercises with Pakistan in September. Its statements gave legitimacy to the Taliban as a political force; it initiated a trilateral dialogue with China and Pakistan on Afghanistan.

China's deepening support for Pakistan, coupled with Russia's overtures to it, began a shuffling of the geopolitical cards in the region to our disadvantage.

In summary, 2016 saw India pursuing a more vigorous diplomacy, with considerable success but some less satisfactory results.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)
"Neo JMB", according to Bangladesh security agencies, is the name for the "offshoot" faction of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) that has been inspired by the ideologies of Daesh.

The phrase had to be coined almost under duress, by the Bangladeshi law enforcers, as unfolding events showcased that both radicalisation and attacks were being Daesh motivated:

Dhaka had attempted its utmost to stave off a Daesh hand in the machete-murders by stating that the perpetrators were "home-grown" Islamists that were either sponsored by Pakistan's ISI or Bangladesh's political opposition that was desperate to oust Sheikh Hasina's dispensation.

However, pretence failed - an attempt that had been foisted in order to thwart the entry of extra-regional power(s) which was seeking to enter the erstwhile East Pakistan for reasons besides Daesh (a creation of new counter "string of pearls" for instance!) - and Sheikh Hasina's security mangers were forced to renege on their early 2016 assertion that there was no Daesh presence in their country.

The author was a member of a "Track II Dialogue" to Dhaka on March 26-27 2016 and had confronted top DGFI-NSI officials about the reason for the denial. Protracted discussion and "come-on-face-up to-facts" met with a reluctant admission that an admission of robust Daesh presence (or affiliations of groups such as JMB and Ansarullah Bangla Team to Daesh and al-Qaeda would have grave political repercussions!).

The dilemma that led Sheikh Hasina to refute Daesh presence - even if it were by way of "far-radicalisation" - is understandable, but sooner or later her fair dispensation had to pave way to reality.

"Neo-JMB" (a face-save coinage at best) and the manner in which it has begun manifesting itself in Bangladesh rouses concern.

Suicide bombing is being resolutely introduced in a land that has never been heir to it. This author has spent the last two days attempting to unearth the reasons for the phenomenon. The factor has become even more worrisome since women with infants on their laps are pioneering such acts.

The fact that two aspects of import are being granted by senior Bangladeshi intelligence officials are central. The first pertains to Daesh's presence (even were it to be in virtual reality!) and to redraw a denunciation by resorting to another name (in this case, Neo-JMB) and the second that a suicide bombing has come to Bangladesh, motivated by "male counter-parts". The possibility of a renegade LTTE component (now in disarray!) in Bangladesh seems completely out-of-place (despite the fact that a senior National Security Intelligence wants to endorse it!) and it is the likelihood of Daesh radicalisation with online technical "explosive" know-how is more in line.

After all where did a suburban Bangladeshi housewife - despite the fact that she happened to be the spouse of an Islamist cadre suddenly conjure up with a lethal vest to blow herself up along with her infant and by standing law enforcers. Clearly there is a method in the methodical: an orderly that the government agencies have overlooked.

There has been continual sneer from the premier intelligence agencies of India for this author's analyses, and what the manner in which he been has criticising the vision via coloured spectacle through which the terror actor and exploits are being observed and analysed.

The author has always maintained that there is only one cohesive JMB in the erstwhile Pakistan and that it swore its allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's "caliphate" almost immediately after Daesh proclaimed its worldwide claim of presence, and as a corollary domination.

Indeed, Daesh's presence was - notwithstanding the fact that it is losing territory that it had once decisively held in the Middle East - being felt in Orlando, Nice, Pakistan, Germany and in Bangladesh.

It is a matter of time before this alien threat is imported into India, especially into places such as Assam and West Bengal which strategically abut Bangladesh and provinces that have already felt the hand of the JMB.

It would be less than prudent were security managers in India to continue to countenance that a) JMB or Ansarullah Bangla Team, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami or even Indian Mujahideen are a divided house (they bow before the same Sallar-e-Allah!) b) Daesh is - reeling from territorial defeats in the Middle East - now cleverly reaching out to the "far enemy" in order to divert attention (baying to "lone wolf attacks") and most of all c) that there aren't radicalised women inside India who would not be similarly motivated as their Bangladeshi counterparts to carry out shahadat.

There are quite a few asides in the Land of the Mahatma at this time - include fiscal uncertainty - that could act as divergence.

And there's plenty that we need to worry about:

1. Although suicide bombings - particularly by members of the LTTE's "Black Tigers" - are not a new phenomenon in South Asia, is the present manifestation that is suddenly being witnessed in the erstwhile East Pakistan a localised action? In other words, is this a mere a copy cat effect of what was once a devastating manner of violent expression in the region, especially in Sri Lanka and India?

2. Are there Middle Eastern trainers/motivators at work here? In other words, have Daesh and al Qaeda been able to reach out to the womenfolk of South Asia in order to motivate them to kill themselves and others (as also their own infants, which is dangerous).

The setback that Daesh is facing in Iraq and Syria presently will now witness them targeting the far enemy to offset their setbacks in Aleppo and Ar-Raqqah.Unfortunately for South Asia (and because of the not so robust security that countenances the West!) attacks are going to occur more in this region. The fact that there is sizeable Muslim population in this region, and that only a short-sighted counter radicalisation programme is on (primarily in India) will aid the new Islamist programme, which incidentally has only just begun.

3. Although there were adequate clues that a woman suicide squad was being readied in Bangladesh (this author has written and warned about such an occurrence on various occasions!) state apparatus in India and Bangladesh simply ignored the possibility.

4. It must now be found out whether the number of squad has reached double digit figures (the author calculations say 24). The fact that mothers are coming out bomb-breasted with infants in their laps to blast themselves to pieces is not a Up-South Asian phenomenon. It has never been witnessed in any of the insurgencies in the Northeast.

Even LTTE's "Black Tigers" could not motivate terrorist groups in the region to ape their successful assassination of Rajiv Gandhi despite the fact that senior Tamil Tigers visited ULFA camps in Bhutan before the Assamese insurgent camps were demolished in December 2003 by the Royal Bhutan Army.

5. Although there could be outsourced LTTE renegade explosive experts, the motivation, training and command and control is coming from Middle East, that is from Daesh. This cannot be from social media and has to be from word of mouth. In other words, there are Daesh trainers who have spread out worldwide.

6. The accent of the moment is to find out as to how many women (with infants: this is an important psychological component that would resonate across the world!) have been radicalised in Bangladesh and where they are being trained?

7. Who are the targets? Are they symbolic or specific such as high-value ones? What are the occasions? Is it going to be January 26, 2017, Bangladesh Independence Day or more dangerously random and sporadic, which cannot be patterned by any figment of imagination?

8. How many have infiltrated into India? How many inside India are equally motivated and to what extent? As has been said before the motivation need not be religious! I hope this aspect has been clearly understood by the law-enforcer!

9. Where are they hiding? Who are the minders?

10. Are they already in position, awaiting activation, or perhaps prior instructions? To launch their attacks in places of transport, hospitals, religious worship (most important), VVIP events, schools, religious events such as New Year celebrations (night clubs, discotheques et al) or Magh or Bhogali Bihu in Assam?
Bipenggou is famous for primitive forests, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers and azaleas. Located in Li county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province, the valley is blessed with primrose flowers, azalea, and red woods. It is also consider one of the best places to see fall foliage in China.[China.org.cn/Photo by You Bing]

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Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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Teradyne, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and supports automatic test equipment worldwide. The company operates through Semiconductor Test, System Test, Industrial Automation, and Wireless Test segments. The Semiconductor Test segment offers products and services for wafer level and device package testing in automotive, industrial, communications, consumer, smartphones, cloud computer and electronic game, and other applications. This segment also provides FLEX test platform systems; J750 test system to address the volume semiconductor devices; Magnum platform that tests memory devices, such as flash memory and DRAM; and ETS platform for semiconductor manufacturers, and assembly and test subcontractors in the analog/mixed signal markets. It serves integrated device manufacturers that integrate the fabrication of silicon wafers into their business; fabless companies that outsource the manufacturing of silicon wafers; foundries; and semiconductor assembly and test providers. The System Test segment offers defense/aerospace test instrumentation and systems; storage test systems; and circuit-board test and inspection systems. The Industrial Automation segment provides collaborative robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots, and advanced robotic control software for manufacturing, logistics, and light industrial customers. The Wireless Test segment provides test solutions for use in the development and manufacture of wireless devices and modules, smartphones, tablets, notebooks, laptops, peripherals, and Internet-of-Things devices under the LitePoint brand name. This segment also offers IQxel products for Wi-Fi and other standards; IQxstream solution for testing GSM, EDGE, CDMA2000, TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, HSPA+, LTE, and 5G technologies; IQcell, a multi-device cellular signaling test solution; IQgig test solution; and turnkey test software for wireless chipsets. Teradyne, Inc. was incorporated in 1960 and is headquartered in North Reading, Massachusetts.
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.
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Photo taken on Dec. 25, 2016 shows the rescue operation on the Black Sea coast at the crash site of Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154 aircraft. Several bodies have been found at the crash site of a missing Russian military Tu-154 aircraft in the Black Sea, Russian media reported Sunday, citing the Defense Ministry press service. [Photo/Xinhua]

Divers have recovered the wreckage of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft that crashed Sunday into the Black Sea after takeoff from the resort city of Sochi, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

The divers have already raised to the surface two elements of the steering unit, which have been identified by their serial numbers as those belonging to the crashed plane, the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

The fragments were found at a depth of 30 meters and some 1,700 meters off the coastline, he said, adding that debris of the crashed plane was scattered on the territory with a radius of around 500 meters.

Over 3,500 people, as well as 45 ships, 12 airplanes, 10 helicopters, three drones and several deep-submergence vehicles are currently participating in the search and rescue operation.

The ill-fated Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sochi early Sunday morning.

Ninety-two people -- 84 passengers and eight crew members -- were aboard the plane. Most of them were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as nine Russian journalists. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.

Russia held a nationwide day of mourning on Monday. Flags were flown at half-mast at the signature buildings and government workplaces in Moscow. People laid flowers in front of the Moscow headquarters of the Alexandrov Ensemble.

The Defense Ministry denied reports that some of the crash victims were seen wearing life jackets.

The authorities have ruled out the possibility of a terror attack, saying the main reasons of the crash may be technical failure or pilot errors.

Earlier in the day, the Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev said the flight recorders of the aircraft remain intact.
The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Alverix Inc, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience Inc, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company, Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VIII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bhd, Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings V S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Limited, Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Bee IT Solutions, Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard (Portugal) - Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brasil Productos Medicos Ltda., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., C.R. Bard Inc, CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion Corporation., CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Critical Device Corporation, Cubex, Cytognos, Cytopeia Inc, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences Canada ULC, GeneOhm Sciences Inc, Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, Glentech Inc, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Iontophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Luther Medical Products Inc, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc, Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C. (Isialys) Societe a responsabilitie limitee, PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PharMingen., Plasso Technology Ltd, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med Inc, Safety Syringes Inc., Scanwell Health Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen Group Limited, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical AG, Straub Medical AG, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical Inc, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha Inc, Tepha Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging Inc., Tru-Fit Marketing Corporation, Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Velano Vascular Inc., Venclose Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Visitec, Y-Med Inc., Y-Med LLC, and ZebraSci Inc..

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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.
Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to monitor and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors, which control, transmit, and contain fluid; control solutions for extreme corrosion resistance, temperatures, pressures, and precise flow; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment. This segment sells its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and distributors who serve the replacement markets in manufacturing, packaging, processing, transportation, construction, refrigeration and air conditioning, agricultural, and military machinery and equipment industries. The Aerospace Systems segment offers products for use in commercial and military airframe and engine programs, such as control actuation systems and components, engine build-up ducting, engine exhaust nozzles and assemblies, engine systems and components, fluid conveyance systems and components, fuel systems and components, fuel tank inerting systems, hydraulic systems and components, lubrication components, pilot controls, pneumatic control components, thermal management products, and wheels and brakes, as well as fluid metering, delivery, and atomization devices. This segment markets its products directly to OEMs and end users. The company markets its products through direct-sales employees, independent distributors, and sales representatives. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. operates as a diversified financial services company in the United States. The company's Retail Banking segment offers checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as certificates of deposit; residential mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, auto loans, credit cards, education loans, and personal and small business loans and lines of credit; and brokerage, insurance, and investment and cash management services. This segment serves consumer and small business customers through a network of branches, ATMs, call centers, and online and mobile banking channels. Its Corporate & Institutional Banking segment provides secured and unsecured loans, letters of credit, and equipment leases; cash and investment management services, receivables and disbursement management services, funds transfer services, international payment services, and access to online/mobile information management and reporting; foreign exchange, derivatives, fixed income, securities underwriting, loan syndications, and mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets advisory related services; and commercial loan servicing and technology solutions. It serves mid-sized and large corporations, and government and not-for-profit entities. The company's Asset Management Group segment offers investment and retirement planning, customized investment management, credit and cash management solutions, and trust management and administration services for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and their families; and multi-generational family planning services for ultra high net worth individuals and their families. It also provides outsourced chief investment officer, custody, private real estate, cash and fixed income client solutions, and fiduciary retirement advisory services for institutional clients. The company has 2,591 branches and 9,502 ATMs. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates regulated exchanges, clearing houses, and listings venues for commodity, financial, fixed income, and equity markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Singapore, Israel, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology. The company operates marketplaces for listing, trading, and clearing an array of derivatives contracts and financial securities, such as commodities, interest rates, foreign exchange, and equities, as well as corporate and exchange-traded funds; trading venues, including 13 regulated exchanges and 6 clearing houses; and offers futures and options products for energy, agricultural and metals, financial, cash equities and equity, over-the-counter, and other markets, as well as listings and data and connectivity services. It also provides fixed income data and analytic, fixed income execution, CDS clearing, and other multi-asset class data and network services. In addition, the company offers proprietary and comprehensive mortgage origination platform, which serves residential mortgage loans; closing solutions that provides customers connectivity to the mortgage supply chain and facilitates the secure exchange of information; data and analytics services; and Data as a Service for lenders to access data and origination information. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending products, credit cards, business loans, wealth management, and investment services; and auto, education, and point-of-sale finance loans, as well as digital deposit products. This segment serves its customers through telephone service centers, as well as through its online and mobile platforms. The Commercial Banking segment provides various financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital markets services. This segment serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. It operates approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia; 114 retail and commercial non-branch offices in national markets; and approximately 3,300 automated teller machines. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
Granite Construction Incorporated operates as an infrastructure contractor and a construction materials producer in the United States. It operates through two segments, Construction and Materials segments. The Construction segment engages in the construction and rehabilitation of roads, pavement preservation, bridges, rail lines, airports, marine ports, dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, infrastructure, and site development for use by the public. It also focuses on water-related construction for municipal agencies, commercial water suppliers, industrial facilities, and energy companies. The company also constructs various complex projects, including infrastructure/site development, mining, public safety, tunnel, solar, and power projects. The Materials segment is involved in the production of aggregates and asphalt for internal use, as well as for sale to third parties. In addition, it offers site preparation, mining, and infrastructure services for residential development, energy development, commercial and industrial sites, and other facilities; and provides construction management professional services. The company serves federal agencies, state departments of transportation, local transit authorities, county and city public works departments, school districts and developers, utilities, contractors, landscapers, manufacturers of products requiring aggregate materials, retailers, homeowners, farmers, brokers, and private owners of industrial, commercial, and residential sites. Granite Construction Incorporated was founded in 1922 and is headquartered in Watsonville, California.
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The flight recorders of the Russian military Tu-154 aircraft that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday could remain intact, a senior official was quoted as saying on Monday.

"Flight recorders will definitely be raised when the plane is found on the sea floor, we know where they are; they are in the fin," the Interfax news agency quoted Russian Airspace Forces Commander-in-Chief Viktor Bondarev as saying.

Bondarev believed that the flight recorders, also known as black boxes, could be intact since the fin is normally the least damaged part in an air accident.

Currently, 3,500 people are participating in the search and recovery operation, as well as 39 ships, and seven deep-sea submergence vehicles, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

So far, 11 bodies and 154 fragments have been recovered, of which 10 bodies and 86 fragments were sent to Moscow by plane for identification, the Defense Ministry said.

Russian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov was quoted as saying at a briefing in Sochi that experts believed the aircraft had fallen into the sea some 6 km away from the shore.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov virtually ruled out the possibility of a terror attack behind the tragedy.

"The main versions of the crash may be technical failures or pilot errors," Sokolov told a press briefing broadcast live by the Russia 24 TV channel.

The exact causes have yet to be established by investigators and a special commission of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The ill-fated plane, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sochi early Sunday morning.

Ninety-two people -- 84 passengers and eight crew members -- were aboard the plane. Most of them were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as nine Russian journalists. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.
The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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Alibaba Group Holding Limited is an eCommerce and Internet technology giant headquartered in the People's Republic of China. Its core platform, Alibaba.com, is the worlds 3rd largest eCommerce platform by sales. The company, through its vast network of subsidiary companies, provides the infrastructure and marketing to help merchants of all sizes develop their brands and to connect with customers in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company also aids other businesses with a vast array of digital and logistical solutions with a reach that spans the globe.

Alibaba was co-founded by Jack Ma in 1999 when it became clear the Internet and digitization were the future of commerce. Mr. Ma is a billionaire investor, businessman, and philanthropist who believes in an open and free-market economy. The company went public in September 2014 with an IPO on the NYSE. The IPO set a record with its valuation of $25 billion and the company is now worth more than $225 billion and ranked among the 10 most valuable companies by market cap. Alibaba is also ranked 5th largest globally in regards to its work in AI, and it owns the world's largest B2B, B2C, and C2C eCommerce portals. In 2022, Alibabas Singles Day event brought in $139 billion to set a new one-day record.

The principal purpose of Alibaba Group Holding Limited is to open the Chinese market and connect it to the world. The company operates through seven segments including China Commerce, International Commerce, Local Consumer Services, Cainiao, Cloud, Digital Media and Entertainment, and Innovation Initiatives and Others.

The companys eCommerce platforms include Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Alimama, 1688.com, Alibaba.com, Aliexpress, Lazada, Trendyol, and Daraz. Taobao Marketplace is a social-media eCommerce platform while Alimama is a monetization platform for entrepreneurs. 1688.com and Alibaba.com are wholesale marketplaces where individuals and businesses can connect with bulk items and the remainder are eCommerce retail platforms and search engines targeting specific markets. In addition, the company also operated a retail chain called Freshippo and Tmall Global which is an import platform for eCommerce.

Other digital services provided by Alibaba include Taoxianda, which is a digital integration service for FMCG goods and grocery retailers, and Cainiao Network which is a logistical services platform complemented by Ele.me, a delivery and services platform.

Alibaba also supports the infrastructure of the Internet with a range of products and services that include computing, storage, network, security, database, big data, and IoT connectivity. This segment includes a suite of cloud-based services such as Alibaba Pictures and content platforms that provide streaming media.
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes, a well-known Houston expert said Monday.

"Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes and his speech on peace and stability is empty talk unless Japan denounces once and for all its shameful past of militarism and aggression," Peter Li, a professor at the University of Houston, told Xinhua.

Describing Abe's refusal to apologize for the attack on Pearl Harbor as "not surprising," Li said that "this refusal to admit Japanese crimes against humanity has been shown in Tokyo's policy towards Asian countries that were victims of the Japanese aggression."

"This refusal to admit crimes was also demonstrated in its denial of the use of Asian women as 'sex slaves' for the Japanese army and its denial of its war crimes in Nanking, China," he said.

He pointed out that "Japan owes the American people, the Chinese people, and other Asian peoples a sincere apology for its war crimes against humanity."

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base, where thousands of U.S. sailors and marines were killed.

Currently, Abe is in Hawaii and he will take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument on Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama to honor those who died at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.

Abe's visit came seven months after Obama's trip to Hiroshima in Japan, during which he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the site where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb in 1945.
 Flu vaccines are available at local health departments, including the Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department at 1138 Rose Hill Drive, (434) 972-6200; Fluvanna County Health Department at 132 Main St. (U.S. 15) in Palmyra, (434) 591-1960; Greene County Health Department at 50 Stanard St. in Stanardsville, (434) 985-2262; Louisa County Health Department at 540 Industrial Drive in Louisa, (540) 967-3703; and Nelson County Health Department at 4038 Thomas Nelson Highway in Arrington, (434) 263-8315.

 Fluvanna County Chamber of Commerce hosts a candidates forum with candidates for the 22nd Senate District at 7:15 a.m. Jan. 3 at Saints Peter and Paul Church at 4309 Thomas Jefferson Parkway in Palmyra. Reservations requested at (434) 589-3262.

 Fluvanna County High School Classes 19601969 will meet at 1 p.m. Jan. 9 and on the second Monday of odd-numbered months, at The Dogwood Cafe at 10 Centre Court in Palmyra. (434) 286-3795.

 Montpelier waives entrance fees for all children younger than 15 through Sunday. (540) 672-2728.

 New Years Eve Blood Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Omni Charlottesville Hotel. All donors receive a First Night Virginia wristband and Tacky Holiday T-Shirt. (434) 390-5742.

 Thomas Jefferson Health District offers free drug disposal kits, allowing individuals to properly deactivate and dispose of medications without contaminating water sources or harming the environment. Each kit accommodates up to 45 pills, 6 ounces of liquid or six patches. Kits are available from the health departments in Charlottesville/Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson counties. (434) 270-4802.
Someone asked me the other day, What do you use champagne for besides making mimosas? I guess she also thought of it as a drink at celebrations. Wrong  champagne is an excellent wine to accompany all types of food. It can be a little intimidating when you dont know anything about champagne, its various types and its pairing with food.

Champagne is also called sparkling wine. The French insist that only their sparkling wine can be called Champagne. After all, they invented it. However, there is no international law that that prescribes this usage. Out of respect to the French, some American wineries put both names on their bottles of bubbly.

How do you know which type of champagne to serve with a meal? It is just like selecting a wine, once you become familiar with the terms on a champagne label.

The wine that is used in making champagne is very important in establishing the style and the quality of the final product. The two most popular wines used in making champagne are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Champagne made solely from Chardonnay is called blanc de blancs. If made solely from Pinot Noir, it is called blanc de noirs, and a blend of the two is called blanc de noirs et blancs. On a spectrum of taste from blanc de blancs to blanc de noirs, the latter is the most fruity, while blanc de blancs is the most delicate. In France, Champagne is typically a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in ratios ranging from 1:2 to 2:1. That type of blend proved to be the most satisfying champagne for general consumption.

In matching sparkling wine with food, it is important to know the style of the wine you wish to serve  that is, the approximate amount of sugar in the champagne. Brut champagne, which is on the dry side, is the most popular champagne in both Europe and America, although drier champagnes are becoming more popular

These extremely dry champagnes are typically labeled as Natural in the United States. In France, it appears on the label in such forms as: Brut Zero, Brut Non-Dosage, Ultra Brut, Sans Sucre or Naturel or Natur. This very dry champagne must be crafted carefully, since it requires a delicate balance between acid, sugar and fruitiness. Historically, imbalances have been masked by the addition of sugar.

Sparkling wine or champagne can be enjoyed at all levels of price and quality, but only that made by the methode champenoise can be classed as having the elusive character of fine Champagne. The best French Champagnes are currently used as the standard of excellence throughout the world. However, French Champagnes can vary considerably in quality, depending on the quality of the grapes, the cuvee selected and the length of aging.

American champagne makers are also producing excellent champagne. It varies in style and quality even more than does French Champagne, because of the wide variations in climate, soil and grape variety from one wine-growing region to another throughout America. For the same reasons, American and French champagnes are not directly comparable. As the Champenois (French Champagne makers) themselves state, We do not say we make better sparkling wine than you do in America, merely that yours is different, because you have different soil and climatic conditions.

Since bubbles are what make champagne unique, high-quality champagne must, above all, exhibit a single steady and long-lasting stream of bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. More than one writer has likened it to a string of pearls.

An important attribute of the methode champenoise is that the gas becomes well integrated into the wine. This produces smaller bubbles than those from other processes and also causes them to be released more slowly and for longer. Except when the champagne is first poured into the glass, the bubbles should not foam or percolate, as they do in a soft drink.

Bubbles aside, adequate acidity of the champagne is also critical. Champagne is a high-acid wine. Acid imparts freshness to the champagne and, as in still wine, extends its life. Because the Champagne region of France is one of the most northerly grape-growing regions in the world, the grapes typically do not ripen fully, and the acidity remains high at the time of harvest. Champagne from fully ripened grapes is flabby and short-lived, since the acid level typically is low. Champagne made from grapes grown in warm climates, such as southern Europe and the San Joaquin Valley of California, exhibit these characteristics.

The term style has a specific meaning to champagne makers. Sweetness is only one of the variables he or she has to work with. Others include light- or full-bodied; fruitiness or austerity; youth or maturity; simplicity or complexity. Wines fermented in the bottle tend to have more individuality than do those fermented in tanks or casks. Consequently, bottle fermentation (methode champenoise) brings out both the strong and the weak points of any given cuvee.

A champagne vintner is challenged to use all of his or her skills and resources to create the finished product with the proper characteristics and without noticeable rough edges. In years past, these rough edges could be hidden in the sweet champagnes that were popular, but this is no longer possible with todays dry champagnes.

There always has been a certain aloofness and mysticism associated with champagne, but for no valid reason. Cost is no longer a factor, since the price of a bottle of premium champagne is comparable to that of a premium wine. Champagne does not have to be restricted to special occasions; it is an enjoyable drink at any time from breakfast to lunch, as an aperitif and right through dinner to dessert.

There is a style of champagne not only for any occasion, but also as an accompaniment to any type of food  from foie gras to Chinese stir-fry. The styles can range from very dry to semisweet, from delicate in taste to fruity, and from red in color to golden or light straw.

What is it that makes champagne unique among beverages? The obvious answer is: the effervescence  the bubbles. They create a sensation on the palate that gives champagne sufficient zestiness not only to stand up to such still-wine killers as smoked oysters or caviar, but also to enhance such dishes. Because champagnes effervescence, taste, and aroma are so delicate, the wine mingles well with the tastes, textures and aromas of a wide range of foods.

The drier champagnes are best served as aperitifs and with food; the sweeter champagnes go best with dessert  and, naturally, with wedding, anniversary and birthday cake. Champagne made primarily from red grapes has a fruitier taste and goes better with heavier foods than does champagne made primarily from white grapes. The latter has a more delicate taste and goes best with first courses and light foods.

The bubbles and the acidity in champagne give it the ability to match many foods and flavors that would overpower or conflict with still wines. Champagne holds up to bland, spicy and salty foods  hence its close association with caviar. These same attributes make champagne an excellent palate cleanser between courses.

A surprise to many people is that champagne is an appropriate accompaniment to spicy ethnic foods, such as the hot foods of Szechuan, Hunan and other Asian regions. It also goes well with Mexican dishes  even tacos, chiles, rellenos and refried beans. Since champagne stands up to acidic foods, it can be a delightful accompaniment to a pasta dish made with a lightly herbed fresh tomato sauce. Champagne goes as well with pizza and tuna fish sandwiches as with gourmet entrees and desserts.

Obviously, the list can go on forever, but these examples will, I hope, trigger your own imagination as to what can be served with champagne.

I challenge you to find something that will not go with champagne. This is not to imply that food goes better with champagne than with a fine red or white still wine, or some other beverage. I mean merely to suggest that when a glass of champagne fits the mood or occasion, do not stop drinking it simply because the meal is ready.

As I drink a glass of champagne, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year.
John P. Fishwick Jr., who has served as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia since 2015, will step down Jan. 6, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Since 2015, U.S. Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. has served the people of the Western District of Virginia, and the people of this nation, with integrity and distinction, U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch said in a statement Tuesday.

During his career as U.S. attorney, Fishwick focused on prosecuting several high-profile crimes, educating youth about gun violence and promoting a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community, according to the release.

During his tenure, the Western District office prosecuted the gang responsible for the abduction and murder of Waynesboro Reserve police Capt. Kevin Quick. Fishwick and the office worked with federal, state and local law enforcement on cases related to the heroin epidemic.

As of Jan. 7, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Mountcastle will assume leadership of the office as acting U.S. attorney. The Western District includes Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Harrisonburg, Danville, Big Stone Gap and Abingdon.

Following his resignation, Fishwick will return to private practice.
Wally Bunker has known he was adopted for as long as he can remember.

And for almost as long, hes wondered who his parents were and why they couldnt keep him.

The Culpeper man started asking questions about his past, long before he put his inquisitive nature to work as a police officer and newspaper reporter.

This kind of hung in the balance for decades, the 69-year-old said. I kept pounding against this closed door. I kept knocking, but nobody answered.

Three years ago, the door opened slightly, and Bunker bolted through it.

He never met his parentsboth were long gone by the time he learned their namesbut he discovered that each had a daughter by another spouse.

He met his maternal half-sister and found out what a wonderful person his mother was.

He also met his paternal half-sister and discovered the same probably couldnt be said of his father.

Bunker has relished the chance to bond with flesh-and-blood relatives. After a lifetime of yearning for answers, he is finally at peace.

I really am, he said. It was a journey I wanted to take, and the results are what Id hoped they would be.

Wanted to know more

Bunker was born in Chicago on April 19, 1947, and adopted through The Cradle agency in Evanston, Ill. Sally and Milton Arnold took the infant home and were listed as his parents on his revised birth certificate. When they divorced a few years later, she remarried George Bunker, and the little boy was adopted again.

As a child, Bunker remembers sitting in an examination room while a pediatrician asked about cancer or diabetes in the family.

Hes adopted, his mother said. We dont have any medical history.

That frustrated him, almost as much as his given name of Wylie. He started going by Wally because thats what people called him anyway.

Bunker became a police officer in Suffolk, later worked as a reporter for the Culpeper Citizen and Star-Exponent and then became public information officer for Culpeper Town Police.

No matter what he did, questions about his biological parents nagged at him.

I got to the point, I really wanted to know more, he said.

First formal request

Bunker made his first formal inquiry in 1980. He was 33 when he wrote The Cradle, asking for information about his adoption.

The response, probably produced on an electric typewriter, is one of many documents hes saved in stacks of folders.

A social worker wrote that his mother was of Irish descent, slender and blonde, an attractive young woman with considerable poise. His father was of English extraction and a university graduate.

Your biological mother did not tell him of her pregnancy, the letter stated. It was very important to her that he not know of it.

He learned his birth weight, that his mother was in hard labor for six hours, and that hed done well during his seven weeks in The Cradle nursery.

And that was about it.

The social worker said his mothers identity was confidential, but encouraged him to check again in case the agencys policy changed.

Bunker didnt have to be told twice.

Finally, a name

Meanwhile, the Illinois legislature changed the law so that sealed birth records, from the 1940s to the 1980s, could be openedunless a biological parent requested information not be shared.

Bunker wrote and asked for his records, and his hands were shaking that Saturday in May 2013, when he found the letter from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

There in black and white, under the block that listed him as illegitimate, was the name hed waited a lifetime to learn. His mother was Lois Marie Staples, and shed been born in Wahpeton, N.D.

Bunkers detective training kicked into high gear. Within five hours of computer searching, he knew she married a man named Charles Lottes, and the two had a daughter named Linda. His heart fell when he learned his mother and her husband had died within a month of each other in 1994.

Her obituary said she was an advocate for the blind, which led Bunker to believe his half-sister must have that disability.

He looked up his sisters name, got her address and phone number and saw a satellite map of her home in Fargo. He composed a three-page letter, explaining his lifelong quest. He also gave his background, assuming someone would check him out before contacting himwhich is exactly what he would do.

It was heartwarming

Linda Lottes was almost as excited as Bunker, when she called the first time. The two immediately wanted to meet, but she was undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, and the pair had to push back the meeting several times because of her health.

In July 2014, Bunker and his significant other, Sue Hamm, drove 1,500 miles, taking the scenic route from Central Virginia to North Dakota. He and his sister hit it off immediately, and the big brother was thrilled to see the way her companion, Al Schoberg, took such good care of her.

Lottes told Bunker about the kindness their mother showed others and how hard she worked to make sure blind students, like herself, got opportunities.

Apparently, my mother was really a wonderful woman, Bunker said.

He came to feel the same way about his sister.

She embraced the fact she had a half-brother, he said. It was heartwarming.

When Linda Lottes died in April, her brother spoke at her funeral. He told those gathered how lucky they were to have known her for so long.

I cannot express how fortunate I was to have found Linda, he said.

People hugged Bunker and shared their stories about the family. One woman gave him a treasured gift: a photo of his mother and sister.

Answers to questions

Linda Lottes was close to her mother, but she didnt know all of her past.

Our mother never said one word about me, Bunker said.

By that time, more information was coming from the adoption agency. He learned that his mother was 22 when she got involved with his father, who was 31 and married.

There were few choices for unwed mothers then, beyond marriage or adoption.

Back in 1947, I dont think the term single mother existed, Bunker said. I always wondered why I was given up, and I think I answered that. She didnt have a choice.

The agency also stated that Bunkers father already had a child when Bunker was born. Illinois was offering a free serviceconfidential intermediaries who worked on behalf of a state department to connect adopted children with their parents or siblings, if both parties agreed.

The intermediary got the name of Bunkers biological fatherMerton Latshawand located Bunkers paternal half-sister, Judie Huff in Pilot Knob, Mo. In a letter to Huff, the intermediary explained the situation and what to do if she wanted to contact her half-brother.

Can you imagine getting a letter like that? Bunker said, laughing.

Like Linda Lottes, Huff embraced the news. In her first email, she said how shocked she was to find out that I had a half-brother after 76 years of being an only child. Im sure you have a lot of questions, and I will be happy to answer them.

Go for it

After a lifetime of searching for his family, Bunker had lost one half-sisterand found anotherwithin about six months.

Oddly enough, the second relative he found has spent much of her retirement helping other families learn about their past. Huff is a genealogist who researches family trees and has posted more than 47,000 photographs on the Find A Grave website. Shes probably helped countless researchers find information about a loved one.

Bunker and Huff met earlier this month, and she shared documents about their ancestors and all the information she had on their father, including his divorce decree and will. Neither had much to say much about him, other than he was a traveling salesman who was gone a lot.

Both were happy to talk about each other and how natural their connection felt. And both are convinced that the pursuit of family history, for those adopted or merely inquisitive, is worth the effort, no matter how long it may take.

I think if anyone out there is in a similar position, Bunker said, go for it.
Police said in a statement released Monday that the crash happened Sunday night on Irish Road in the Esmont area.

Police say 56-year-old David Gorman of Schuyler struck a deer, lost control of the truck he was driving and hit a tree. Police say Gorman was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the only person in the car. Police say the crash remains under investigation.
LOUISA  Virginia State Police say they're investigating after a man was shot during a struggle with a Louisa County sheriff's deputy near a crash scene.

Police said in a statement that as a deputy arrived at the scene of a one-vehicle crash about 35 miles west of Charlottesville early Monday, the driver ran into the woods.

A few minutes later, the deputy found the man about a quarter mile away. During a discussion, police say the man charged the deputy. As they struggled, police say the man was shot once. Police say the 44-year-old man was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition.

Police say the deputy is white and the man is black.

Police say the deputy wasn't injured.

State police say they're investigating at the sheriff's request.
The Dayton Art Institute has announced its 2017 special exhibitions, featuring a major retrospective of Native American artist Kay WalkingStick, a newly organized tour of the African beadwork of the Ubuhle women, and decadent Art Nouveau lithographs by Alphonse Mucha.

The Dayton Art Institute strives to present a range of special exhibitions complementing the museums encyclopedic collection, said Katherine Ryckman Siegwarth, Kettering Exhibition Coordinator and Curatorial Associate, and in-house curator. We are thrilled to host these three traveling exhibitions and are certain our guests will find meaningful experiences with the varied artworks.

Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist

February 11May 7, 2017

The special exhibition season begins with Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist, the first major retrospective of one of todays most accomplished Native American artists and a leading practitioner of contemporary landscape painting. Featuring more than 60 of her most notable paintings, drawings, sculptures, and notebooks, this exhibition explores the artists search for the spiritual truth of her complex cultural identity, against the backdrop of key art historical movements. Arranged chronologically around themes which mark her artistic journey, Kay WalkingStick: An American Artist follows the artist along a journey of self-discovery, invention, innovation and evolution through visually brilliant and evocative works of art.

The exhibition and tour are co-organized by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and the American Federation of Arts. The exhibition is accompanied by a substantial catalogue featuring essays by numerous authors, including the artist herself.

Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence

June 24September 10, 2017

The DAIs summer exhibition, Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence, showcases a new form of bead art, the ndwango (cloth), developed by a community of women living and working together in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The black fabric on which the Ubuhle women work is reminiscent of the Xhosa headscarves and skirts which many of them grew up wearing. Using skills handed down through generations, and working in their own unique styledirectly from the soul, according to artist Ntombephi Ntobelathe women create abstract as well as figurative subjects for their ndwangos. Ubuhle means beauty in the Xhosa and Zulu languages, and it describes the shimmering quality of light on glass that has a particular spiritual significance for the Xhosa people.

The exhibition was developed by the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, D.C., in cooperation with Curators Bev Gibson, Ubuhle Beads, and James Green, and it is organized for tour byInternational Arts & Artists. The Dayton Art Institute will be the first venue for this new tour.

Alphonse Mucha: Master of Art Nouveau

September 16December 31, 2017

The 2017 special exhibition season concludes with the Art Nouveau designs of Alphonse Mucha (18601939). Drawn from one of the finest private collections of Muchas work in the United States, this exhibition features 75 works by the celebrated Czech master, whose varied, expressive, and seductive imagery helped form and later shape the aesthetics of French Art Nouveau at the turn of the 20th century. Taking inspiration from the unruly aspects of the natural world, Art Nouveau influenced art and architecture, especially in graphic work and illustration, with its sinuous lines and whiplash curves. Through rare, original lithographs and proofs, paintings, drawings, and ephemera, this exhibition examines the broad range of Muchas work, largely created during the 1890s, at a time when the emphasis was on creating a new art fit for the new century.

The exhibition and tour are organized by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, the exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue with essays from the Mucha Foundation and art historian Gabriel Weisberg.

Our curatorial team has put together a diverse lineup of special exhibitions that offers guests a window into varied cultures and time periods from around the world, says The Dayton Art Institutes Director and CEO Michael R. Roediger. The 2017 season offers something for arts lovers of all ages and interests. We hope youll join us at the museum and consider becoming a member of The Dayton Art Institute.

The beginning of the new year is the perfect time to become a member of The Dayton Art Institute. Memberships start at just $40 and provide free admission to all three special exhibitions, unlimited visits to themuseums permanent collection, free admission to Bob Ross Auto Group Jazz & Beyond concerts, discounts for many other museum events, programs and workshops, discounts at The Museum Store and Leo Bistro, and reciprocal access to 14 other Ohio art museums.

For more information about the 2017 special exhibitions and museum membership, please visit www.daytonartinstitute.org or call the museum at 937-223-4ART (4278). Be sure to connect with The Dayton Art Institute on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for additional information, behind-the-scenes photos and exclusive offers.
Senior Spotlight on Claire Koile of Elkhorn brought to you by United Republic Bank Free Access To read the Senior Spotlight Claire Koile of Elkhorn brought to you by United Republic Bank click the PDF link below. dc_split_014.pdf

Antlers rally past Wolves 10-9 ELKHORN  The seventh-ranked Elkhorn Antler softball team capped its regular season with a heart-stopping 10-9 home win over Elkhorn North on Sept. 29. The two teams combined for 19...

Antlers use big plays to pull away from Wolves ELKHORN  The fourth-ranked Elkhorn Antlers were able to outlast rival Elkhorn North in a wild shootout held at Elkhorn High School on Friday night. The two teams combined for...

Top-ranked Badgers roll to a 45-7 victory BLAIR  The top-ranked Bennington football team stretched its win streak to 19-straight games with a dominating 45-7 road win on Friday night over conference foe Blair. Junior punt returner...

South duo hand Wolves first loss ELKHORN  The Elkhorn South tennis team was defeated by the top-ranked team in Class B, the Elkhorn North Wolves on a breezy and mild Friday afternoon. The highlight of...
Akshay Kumar will be actively involved in a host of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by Tata Motors.

New Delhi: Tata Motors today roped in Bollywood star Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador for its commercial vehicle (CV) business unit. "Indian cinema's 'original Khiladi' will make his blockbuster entry in this new role at the launch of Tata Motors' latest offering in commercial vehicles, slated in January 2017," the company said in a statement.

Tata Motors' association with Kumar for commercial vehicles will be supported by a multi-media campaign, beginning in the first week of January 2017, it added, Besides products and solutions, he will be actively involved in a host of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by Tata Motors.

On the partnership with the star, Tata Motors Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Ravindra Pisharody said: "Today, we are catering to an audience that defines the driven, ambitious, forward-moving, non-stop pulse of India and Akshay understands the pulse of this audience well."

He further said: "We are confident that Akshay's popularity will further help complement and articulate the future direction of the Tata Motors commercial vehicles brand."

Speaking on the association, Akshay Kumar said, "The Tata brand is one that most of us have grown up with and now to be associated with them is indeed an honour. No one understands Indian trucking better than the Tatas and there couldn't have been a better and more apt brand to promote."
Mumbai: Tata Sons on Tuesday slapped a legal notice on Cyrus Mistry for criminal breach of legal duties as director of group companies. The development has intensified the ongoing feud between Tata and Mistry camps.

The notice charges Mistry misused his position to indulge in criminal breach of trust. Mistry divulged sensitive and confidential information to his family-owned businesses, the notice alleges. Notice also adds that Mistry's actions caused harms to the group companies.

Tatas sending legal notice would be widely seen as a tit-for-tat to Mistry who has dragged the $103 billion tea-to-chemicals conglomerate to a company tribunal.

Earlier, Mistry in his petition filed with National Company Law Tribunal has alleged oppression and mismanagement at Tata Sons, a charge the tribunal has asked Mistry to substantiate with material evidence.
Toshiba shares traded 10.4 percent lower at 397.10 yen in morning trading, paring an earlier loss of as much as 16.3 percent.

Tokyo: Shares in Toshiba dived more than 12 percent Tuesday on reports it is likely to record a huge special loss related to a US subsidiary's acquisition of a nuclear power service company.

Toshiba shares traded 12.27 percent lower at 388.70 yen at the break, paring an earlier loss of as much as 16.3 percent.The company is expected to report a roughly 100 billion yen ($850 million) one-time loss for the fiscal year ending March 2017, the leading business daily Nikkei reported, while public broadcaster NHK and the mass-circulation Yomiuri newspaper said the figure could go up to 500 billion yen.

Nikkei said the loss was related to a valuation dispute over Westinghouse Electric's purchase from Chicago Bridge & Iron of a US nuclear service company. Jiji Press and other local media carried similar reports.

"Currently we are studying a loss of some 100 billion yen... linked to the purchase", Toshiba said in a statement following the reports. Westinghouse and seller Chicago Bridge & Iron have turned to an independent accountant to resolve a dispute over a difference in asset valuation, Toshiba said.

Toshiba currently expects an annual net profit of 145 billion yen, up 45 percent from an earlier estimate, on sales of 5.4 trillion yen. A once-proud pillar of corporate Japan, Toshiba has been besieged by problems, most notably a profit-padding scandal in which bosses for years systematically pushed subordinates to cover up weak financial results.

In an intensive overhaul, Toshiba has been shedding businesses and announced the sale of its medical devices unit to camera and office equipment maker Canon.In May, Toshiba appointed a new president to steer the vast conglomerate past the scandal.

With the restructuring efforts, Toshiba positioned the nuclear and chip businesses as core activities, but a huge loss in the nuclear arm may force further measures including capital injection, NHK and other reports said.

In December last year, Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission said Toshiba should be slapped with a record 7.37 billion yen fine over the profit-padding scheme that hammered its reputation.

Japan's national pension fund, the world's biggest, said in June this year it was suing Toshiba over the scandal that slashed the value of its stock in the company.

The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) wants more than $9 million in damages to cover losses linked to some of its investment in Toshiba, and that figure may grow.

In March this year, the company said its US units were cooperating with US authorities over alleged accounting irregularities.
New Delhi: Vistara on December 27 said it has forged partnerships with global carriers Air France, KLM and Japan Airlines, which would allow its customers to avail a seamless check-in facility on their network across the world and vice versa.

The Inter-Airline Through Check-In (IATCI) partnership enables customers to enjoy a seamless 'Through Check-in' facility when connecting to or from a domestic Vistara flight in India and more than 100 countries across the globe on these airlines, Vistara said in a release.

"We are delighted to partner with leading global airlines, Air France, KLM and Japan Airlines...and look forward to working together in providing a hassle-free air travel experience to our joint customers," Vistara's Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said in the release.

Under the tie-up, passengers can now get their boarding passes at the first point of departure for all the travel sectors, both domestic and international, that are on the booking with their baggage checked through to their final destination, it said.

The Delhi-based Tata-SIA run joint venture carrier already has arrangement with Singapore Airlines and SilkAir. Vistara currently operates 515 weekly flights from across 18 domestic destinations, connecting India with multiple international destinations via its interline partners.

"The through check-in facility will offer great convenience to customers connecting from domestic routes on Vistara to our foreign airline partners, while allowing inbound passengers to seamlessly travel on Vistara's domestic onward flight," Kapoor added.

In addition to hassle free check-in facility, passengers connecting from international flights to a domestic flight in India will also have their bags tagged all the way to the final destination.

But they will be required to claim their baggage at the first port of entry in India and drop it off to Vistara at the luggage transfer counter after clearing customs, the airline said.
Mumbai: Nawazuddin Siddiqui had a great 2016 career-wise, with all three of his releases, 'Raman Raghav 2.0,' 'Te3n' and 'Freaky Ali,' all fetching him immense critical acclaim.

The actor, who'll soon be seen locking horns with Shah Rukh Khan in Rahul Dholakia's 'Raees,' is now back with the trailer of his highly anticipated and tragically delayed 'Haraamkhor'.

The trailer, as has been widely spoken about in relation to the film itself, is zany, earthy and delectably real, as is expected from a Nawaz starrer.

'Haraamkhor,' helmed by Shlok Sharma, deals with the unwonted romantic relationship between a teacher and his beautiful.

The film had been marred by severe controversy, thanks to the CBFC refusing to pass it, owing to the sensitive subject. The film had been accused of propagating unethical romantic liaisons and also showing the Indian educational system in poor light.

However, creative liberty finally prevailed post widespread backlash, and the film, which made waves at the festival circuit, even fetching Nawaz a best actor award, will finally be available on the big-screen, on January 13, 2017, releasing alongside Shaad Ali's 'OK Jaanu'.

Well with a crackerjack of a performer as him spearheading a subject as spicy as that, we can barely wait for the 13th.

Watch the trailer here:
Chennai: Well-known Director G Suraj's alleged sexist comments against Tamannaah Bhatia, the leading lady in his latest film, drew the ire of the actor with co-star Vishal coming in support of her, prompting the filmmaker to issue an apology.

The director reportedly made some "sexist remarks" while talking about Tamannaah's costumes in the film, kicking up a controversy with the 'Baahubali' star herself seeking an apology from the filmmaker to all women in cinema industry.

Suraj had just released his latest film 'Kathi Sandai' (The Sword Fight) starring Vishal and Tamannah in lead roles.

"This is 2016 and it is very ironic that I had to leave a film like Dangal in the middle which is on woman empowerment and to tackle this issue. I am very hurt and angered by the comments made by my director Suraj and I would definitely want him to apologise, not only to me but to all women in the industry," she said in a statement on her Twitter page.

Vishal retweeted the statement.

Tamannah went on to say that "we are actors, we are here to act and entertain the audience and should not at any point be objectified as commodities."

"I have been working in the south industry for over 11 years and have worn costumes which I have been comfortable with. It is sad that women in our country are spoken about so frivolously and I would like to tell my audiences that our industry should not be generalised by comments made by one such individual," she added.

Vishal, also the General Secretary of the South Indian Artistes' Association, termed Suraj's comments as "totally unnecessary."

"Totally unnecessary statement by Dir Suraj. not jus sayin dis as gen secy of da artist association but as an actor.actresses showcase their talent and not their bodies.n glad that Suraj has apologised.@tamannaahspeaks sorry for Wat u bin thru Coz of this.unwanted," he said in a series of tweets.

In his apology, Suraj said he was "really sorry." "I am really sorry and would like to apologise to Ms Tamannah and all the heroines in the industry. My intention was not to show anyone in bad light or hurt their sentiments. I am sorry once again and take back my comments," he said in a statement.
Seoul: French art experts today lambasted South Korean state prosecutors for declaring a "fake" painting to be genuine despite its own scientific findings that

supported the artist's disavowal of the work.

The painting "Beautiful Woman" by one of South Korea's most renowned artists, Chun Kyung-Ja, has been the focus of a bizarre and decades-long dispute over its authenticity. Before her death last year at the age of 91, Chun had repeatedly insisted that the 1971 portrait owned by the country's National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) was not one of hers.

"Parents can recognise their children. That is not my painting," she insisted.

The museum is adamant that it is genuine, and in April a prosecutorial investigation was launched after one of Chun's daughters filed a complaint. She accused former and current MMCA officials of hurting the artist's reputation by promoting the painting as authentic.

State prosecutors last week found in favour of the museum, citing forensic evidence and the opinion of local art experts. They also clarified the provenance of the painting, saying it was once owned by the former head of the South Korean spy agency and was appropriated by the government after he was executed for assassinating then-president Park Chung-Hee in 1979.

"This announcement is an egregious affront to the justice system," French imagery analysis firm Lumiere Technology and Chun's relatives said in a joint statement. The statement accused the prosecution of continuing to "willfully avoid seeking the truth even when presented with it".

Chun, born in 1924 in a small town in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, was best known for her paintings of female figures and flowers using vivid primary colours that broke with traditional South Korean styles. Her works have recently sold at auction for between USD 700,000 and USD 1 million.

Lumiere Technology said it published a 63-page report after a "thorough" and scientific examination of the piece and nine authenticated paintings by Chun.

Based on forensic analysis using specialist technology, Lumiere Technology concluded that "the 'Beautiful Woman' is "absolutely and unequivocally a forgery".

But the prosecution authorities "completely disregarded" Lumiere Technology's scientific results, arriving at a conclusion based on "statements and notions backed by no evidence", it said. "The Prosecution's denial of empirical evidence is akin to a DNA paternity test - for a child revealing that a man is in fact not his father - being disregarded in place of the mother's testimony that the child must be the offspring of that man because she never had a relationship with another

man," it added.

Chun's family has also rejected the prosecution's conclusion, accusing it of seeking to help state museum authorities save face. "We wonder if the prosecutors... caved in to political pressure," the family said. They vowed to pursue efforts to have it declared a forgery.
Asiatic cheetah populations have been hit hardest, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolated pocket of Iran, researchers said. (Photo: Pixabay)

London: The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is sprinting towards the edge of extinction and could soon be lost forever unless urgent, landscape-wide

conservation action is taken, a new study has warned.

The study estimates that just 7,100 cheetahs remain globally, representing the best available estimate for the species to date. The cheetah has been driven out of 91 per cent of its historic range, according to the study led by Zoological

Society of London (ZSL), Panthera and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).

Asiatic cheetah populations have been hit hardest, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolated pocket of Iran, researchers said. Due to the species' dramatic decline, the researchers are calling for the cheetah to be up-listed from 'Vulnerable' to 'Endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Typically, greater international conservation support, prioritisation and attention are granted to wildlife classified as 'Endangered', in efforts to stave off impending

extinction. "This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of cheetah status to date. Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked," said Sarah Durant, ZSL/WCS lead author and Project Leader for the Rangewide Conservation Programme for Cheetah and African Wild Dog, said.

"Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought,"

said Durant. "The recent decisions made at the CITES CoP17 meeting in Johannesburg represent a significant breakthrough particularly in terms of stemming the illegal flow of live cats trafficked out of the Horn of Africa region.

"However, concerted action is needed to reverse ongoing declines in the face of accelerating land use changes across the continent," she said. While renowned for its speed and spots, the degree of persecution cheetahs face both inside and outside of protected areas is largely unrecognised.

Even within guarded parks and reserves, cheetahs rarely escape the pervasive threats of human-wildlife conflict, prey loss due to overhunting by people, habitat loss and the illegal trafficking of cheetah parts and trade as exotic pets. To make matters worse, as one of the world's most wide-ranging carnivores, 77 per cent of the cheetah's habitat falls outside of protected areas, researchers said.

Unrestricted by boundaries, the species' wide-ranging movements weaken law enforcement protection and greatly amplify its vulnerability to human pressures, they said.
Ahmedabad: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and forcibly confined in a farm pit for over three weeks in November and raped repeatedly by a teenager at Kotda Nayani village of Morbi district in Gujarat before she was freed earlier this month, police said on Tuesday.

According to a police official of Wankaner taluka police station, a case of rape, kidnapping and illegal confinement was registered against 19-year-old Naresh Solanki, while seven others belonging to his family were booked under charges of kidnapping and illegal confinement.

The motive of the crime allegedly was forced marriage.

The family of the accused wanted the family of the victim to marry her to Naresh as they both belong to the same caste of 'Devipujaks'. When the latter refused, they planned the kidnapping of the girl, police said.

The victim was kidnapped on November 11 and taken to a farmland some two kilometres from the village. There she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit covered on top with wooden plank so as to avoid her detection.

The victim was taken out to be raped repeatedly for over three weeks before she was freed by her father and others in the village on December 4.

The girl, in her statement to police, said that she was kidnapped by eight persons late night on November 11 and taken to a farmland in an autorickshaw where she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit dug in the farm.

As per the girl's statement, she was confined in the pit and was taken out only to be raped by accused Naresh. The girl's father lodged a case of kidnapping against unknown persons on November 25.

After intense search, the girl was finally found on December 4, the official said, adding that based on her statement, police lodged a case against the eight accused who were subsequently arrested.

The eight persons include Naresh, his brother Haresh, father Janantbhai Solanki and his grandfather Chaturbhai Solanki, who are currently lodged in Rajkot central jail, they said.

Other than sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366 (abduction of woman to compel her into marriage) of the Indian Penal Code registered against unknown accused in the November 25 FIR, police have also added sections 376 (rape) against Naresh along with relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
A complaint has been registered against unknown persons under Section 174 of the CrPC and investigations are on in the case. (Photo: PTI/ Representational Image)

Bhopal: A 70-year-old farmer from Madhya Pradeshs Bundelkhand died after he was reportedly forced to stand on one leg for three hours to "atone" for a calf's death.

According to a report in the Telegraph, on December 9, the calf of a cow was found dead on his farm with an empty bottle of rat poison lying nearby. Following this, the village panchayat summoned Har Singh Lodhi and asked him to atone for the sin of killing the calf by leaving a bottle of poison open.

He then had to undergo a series of purification rituals. "First, he had to travel to Allahabad to take a holy dip at Sangam and tonsure his head. When he returned, he organised two community meals and paid a fine of Rs 500," Lodhis son Dariyab was quoted as saying.

Two days ago, Karan Lodhi, Gondi Lodhi and Mardan reportedly asked the farmer to stand on one leg. Despite Dariyabs pleas, they did not reduce the punishment.

"My father was himself keen to undertake the punishment as he had been feeling low since the calf died. After three hours of suffering and constantly changing legs, he fainted. He was taken to hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival," Dariyab was quoted as saying.

A complaint has been registered against unknown persons under Section 174 of the CrPC and investigations are on in the case.
The Telangana state government claims to have set up 436 mandal-level Social Action Committees to tackle social issues, including witchcraft, but they dont seem to be too effective.

Hyderabad: Telangana state has the fourth highest number of murders caused by witchcraft, banamati, in the country. In 2015, 14 people were killed for practising witchcraft, six more than in 2014.

This was revealed in Parliament based on National Crime Records Bureau data. These murders come under 'cases reported under murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the purpose of witchcraft'.

The reply was in answer to a question on branding of women as witches by Sirajuddin Ajmal, Member of Parliament from Assam.

Jharkhand has the highest number of such cases (32), followed by Odisha (26) and Madhya Pradesh (20).

The Telangana state government claims to have set up 436 mandal-level Social Action Committees to tackle social issues, including witchcraft, but they dont seem to be too effective.

In Andhra Pradesh, one such murder occurred in 2015 and two in 2014. The all-India figure stands at 134 in 2015.

Mr T.V. Rao, national convener of the Jana Vignana Vedika, which fights superstitious beliefs, said, Due to improper access to healthcare, unhygienic surroundings and lack of awareness of health safety, people contract diseases and die, especially children who succumb to diseases like diarrhoea. When such an incident occurs angry and superstitious mobs target anyone in the village who claims to be involved in witchcraft, alleging that the person must have done black magic which resulted in the death of their loved one. Mr Rao says that in some cases, upper caste folk accuse a person from a lower caste of being a witch and lynch the latter to take revenge in personal matters.

With Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao conducting yagnas, gruha praveshams, promoting astrology and vastu, one cannot expect that people in villages will develop a scientific temper, he said.

The lack of scientific knowledge is an important factor in these murders. In Rudrur, Nizamabad, last year a mentally unstable woman of 65 was murdered for being a witch. The woman was homeless and used to roam the village streets. One day she placed lemons outside the house of a village leader. She was beaten up for practising witchcraft. When she did the same thing again, the villagers broke all her teeth with stones. She bled to death in a hospital.
KOLKATA: Intensifying her attack against the Narendra Modi government, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the Centres demonetisation decision was the biggest scam and it must be thoroughly investigated.

I want to know how big a deal was stuck over this decision. How many crores worth is the deal. Demonetisation is a big big scam, she said while addressing a public meeting at Kolaghat in East Midnapore.

The government at the Centre has turned everyone into a thief, while the Narendra Modi government and Amit Shahs party are the biggest thieves, she claimed. Throwing a challenge at Mr Modi, Ms Banerjee said if he had the power, he should arrest her.I will say this not once but a thousand times that you have stolen money. You do not have to touch anybody. If you have the courage then send us to jail, she said.

Ms Banerjee has been extremely upset over CBIs summons to veteran Trinamul Congress MP Sudip Bandopadhyay and she has already accused the Modi government of playing vendetta politics by misusing the central investigation agency.

Significantly, Ms Banerjee directly accused the Prime Minister of corruption on a day when Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi alleged that Mr Modi had received crores in kickbacks when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

She also issued an official statement pointing out that earlier the principal secretary of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal harassed. Now I read chief secretary of Tamil Nadu has also been raided. Why this vindictive, unethical, technically improper action? Is it only to disturb the federal structure? Why dont they raid Amit Shah and others who are collecting money? she asked.

Ms Banerjee claimed that the Modi-Shah duo has destroyed the country. In this country either Modi or the people can live, said the state chief minister. Speaking at a public rally in Gujarat, Mr Gandhi alleged that Income-Tax raids had revealed that the Sahara group paid off Narendra Modiji nine times in six months starting 2013.

Claiming that the Modi government was functioning in an unconstitutional manner and trying to impose undeclared Emergency in the country, she said:  They are trying to weaken a state government by targeting its bureaucrats. The BJP has amassed the maximum amount of money. Why no action has been taken against the party?

At the Kolaghat rally, directly addressing Mr Modi she said she wanted an investigation against the prime minister, his government and his party.  The cat is out of the bag. We want to know what was the cause behind demonetisation? she asked. Launching an all-out attack, Ms Banerjee warned Mr Modi that the people of India will not forgive them.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the five-year-old child, who was taken away by the Norway government from an NRI family, should be returned to his 'natural parents'.

Taking to her Twitter handle, Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today reg Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits," Swaraj tweeted.

"We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. This is our firm stand and Indian Ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities," she added.

Last week, the External Affairs Minister had sought a report from the Indian Ambassador in Norway after the Indian couple said that the Norwegian authorities had taken away their son Aryan, alleging that they had beaten him.

This is the third case since 2011 when a child has 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.

They were sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad later.
New Delhi/Hyderabad: Animal rights groups on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Hyderabad High Court upholding the ban on cockfighting and demanded its strong implementation.

"We are delighted that the Hyderabad High Court has upheld the ban on cockfighting. Cockfighting is not only cruel to animals but also encourages gambling and child labour.

"A practice that glorifies so many illegal activities should have no place in a civilised society," N G Jayasimha, Member, Animal Welfare Board of India, and Managing Director of Humane Society International/India said.

People For Animals urged law enforcement agencies to ensure that the order is obeyed.

"We expect the state to strictly follow the orders and ensure that people responsible for organising cockfighting are booked under the law.

"We encourage the public who witness any cockfight during Sankranti or any other season to report the incident at their nearest police station or by calling the HSI/India tip line number at +917674922044," said Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee, People for Animals.

The Hyderabad High Court had yesterday upheld the ban on cockfighting and directed the state government of Andhra Pradesh to ensure no cockfighting takes place during Sankranti festival.

The Court also gave directions to implement the ban and prevent cockfights, including establishment of Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at District level, formation of inspection teams, and initiation of disciplinary actions against erring officials for any lapse in carrying out these directions.
A case was registered by police last week and the duo were nabbed on Monday after the vehicle registration number was tracked.

Chennai: Two engineering college students have been arrested for allegedly snatching a high end Rs 40,000 smart phone from another person, who posted it for sale in an online portal and escaping with it, police said today. Ranjith Kumar had posted his Samsung S7 Edge smartphone valued at Rs 40,000 for sale in an online portal following which Manoj alias Frederick and Motheeswaran expressed interest in buying it, a police release said.

Kumar was asked to come to a public place at neighbouring Madhavaram in Chennai last week with the phone. The duo under the pretext of inspecting the phone suddenly fled with it on their two wheeler,police said.

A case was registered by police last week and the duo were nabbed on Monday after the vehicle registration number was tracked by police.

The smartphone and the motorcycle used for the crime were seized. Initial investigations revealed the duo were students of a private engineering college.

They were produced in a local court and later lodged in Puzhal prison, the release added.
New Delhi: Unfazed by the absence of leaders of the Left, JD(U), SP and BSP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee along with some regional parties on Tuesday sought to put up a united face raising the pitch against demonetisation by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the eight-party meeting, the leaders also sought a probe into the issue of "personal corruption" of Modi with Gandhi insisting that a "free and fair" inquiry was needed to maintain the credibility of the Prime Minister's post.

Banerjee, whose presence rescued the Congress' plan of replicating the opposition unity witnessed in Parliament recently on the note ban issue, virtually stole the show by placing the resignation demand, a position subsequently echoed by Gandhi.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee spoke of a "common minimum agenda" being evolved to take the opposition unity forward even as he downplayed the absence of several other parties, including the Left, from the meet which preceded the press conference.

Escalating the attack on Modi, Gandhi described the noteban as a "single arbitrary financial experiment in the history of the world that affected 1.3 billion people" and asked him to explain the "real" reason for implementing it and take responsibility for giving pain to people.

He also raised the demand that Modi answer the charges of "personal corruption" made against him in the wake of his name allegedly figuring in the "Sahara and Birla diaries"

"Will you take responsibility over demonetisation and resign. Will you resign from Prime Ministership," Banerjee asked, as she termed demonetisation as a "mega scam" in the name of "achhe din" (good days).

The West Bengal Chief Minister said that 47 days are over and only three days are left in the 50-day period sought by Modi for return of normalcy post the note ban.

"He is not a magician to perform magic. No miracle will happen. You promised to bring 'achhe din'. Are these 'achhe din'? In the name of cashless, Modi government has become faceless and baseless.

"Demonetisation is not a small issue. If government becomes weak, the country is weakened," she said. Asked what if the PM did not resign, Gandhi said, "If he does not resign, we will put pressure on him to resign."

The Congress leader said, "It was on the Prime Minister's personal initiative that this arbitrary financial experiment was carried out for the first time in the world history that affected 1.3 billion people. Such an experiment was never done even during Mao's reign in China."

Gandhi also claimed that demonetisation has made no impact on black money and dubbed it as "an attack on financial independence" and poor people of the country.

"PM should come out with the real aim of demonetisation and answer who is responsible for the suffering of the poor and what is he doing for those who have been hit. The aim of demonetisation has failed.

"The Prime Minister says he is fighting corruption but he is not answering the questions raised about him. The Prime Minister should be the first person to say that since there are charges against him there should be a free and fair probe," the Congress leader said.

Asked about former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name figuring in the same documents, Gandhi replied, "Sheilaji herself is saying that she has no problem with an inquiry.

"Why Narendra Modiji is not saying that. While there are many names in 'Sahara diaries', his name appears clearly in the e-mail of Vice President of Aditya Birla group."

The parties whose representatives were present at Tuesday's meeting were RJD, DMK, JD-S, JMM, IUML and AIUDF, besides the Congress and Trinamool Congress.
Chennai: DMK on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam over former Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao's insistence that he continued to remain on the top post despite being replaced following Income Tax raids at his residence and office.

DMK Treasurer and Opposition Leader M K Stalin said he had sought an explanation from Panneerselvam when the raids were being carried out at Rao's house and office last week.

"If the former Chief Secretary is in a position to claim that he is the Chief Secretary, then only the Chief Minister has to respond to that," Stalin told reporters here.

Rama Mohana Rao, who is under I-T scanner, had earlier in the day said that the copy of the transfer order on his removal as Chief Secretary has not been handed over to him yet, and that therefore he continued as the topmost official of the state government.

The state government had last week appointed Girija Vaidyanathan in his place, a day after I-T sleuths raided Rao's Anna Nagar residence and chamber at the state Secretariat.

Asked if the BJP government at the Centre was "behind" the raids, Stalin said it was up to the central government, BJP and I-T officials to clarify it.
Chennai: Taking strong objection to their meeting with Sasikala ostensibly to pay condolences to late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao, chancellor of state universities, on Monday sought an explanation from 10 vice chancellors on their visit.

In a communication sent to higher education secretary A. Karthik, the Governor's office pointed out that the vice-chancellors are expected to be impartial and not to take a political stand and asked him to seek remarks from the vice chancellors. The communication is also understood to have taken exception to the VCs asking Mrs Sasikala to take over the reins of the AIADMK.

The Governor has asked for remarks from the higher education department, sources in the Raj Bhavan confirmed to DC. The move by Raj Bhavan comes days after political leaders, including leader of Opposition M. K. Stalin taking strong objection to their meeting with Mrs Sasikala and seeking Governor's personal intervention.

In the communication, the Governor's office is understood to have asked, how can they (VCs) go to a political leader's house as a delegation and ask her to lead the party?

After receiving the letter from the Governor's office, the higher education secretary wrote separate letters to the VCs in question asking them to explain why they led a delegation to the residence of a political leader. Mr Karthik is also believed to have asked whether they had sought prior permission for making such a visit from authorities concerned. However, the vice-chancellors part of the delegation denied receiving any such letter.

One Vice-chancellor who met Sasikala Natarajan last week said they did not urge her to take over the mantle of AIADMK. We just paid floral tributes to the portrait of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and expressed our condolences. We did not say anything to Sasikala, he said.
New Delhi: Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday asked Mayawati whether she was trying to hide her corruption by using the Dalit card.

"Is Mayawati trying to hide her corruption in the name of Dalits? Is it right to call an investigation as move against Dalits? What is Mayawati trying to say. Is she trying to say that her corruption is a struggle for the rights of Dalits. It is disrespectful for Dalits," Prasad told media in New Delhi.

Prasad also termed the allegations levelled by Mayawati against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as baseless and condemnable.

Read: Reveal details of BJP's bank deposits, Mayawati dares PM after ED expose

He said: "Mayawati has reacted on media's report, we haven't made any official statement regarding her deposit so far. Secondly, she has not denied report on deposit. This gives rise to a question that whether it was normal donation or money conversion."

Defending allegations that around Rs. 104 crore was deposited in an account belonging to the BSP post demonetisation, Mayawati earlier in the day alleged that the BJP-led Centre was misusing its official machinery and trying to malign her party's image.

"Eying the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the frustrated Centre is trying to harass the people. The BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of the BSP," Mayawati said.

Asserting that she is herself a lawyer, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said she knows the law of the land and accused the BJP of having an anti-Dalit mindset.

"I am being targeted because I am a Dalit. The BJP has an anti-Dalit mindset. The BJP wants to harass 90 percent of the nation's population. It does not want to end the dynasty of capitalism," she added.

Escalating her attack, Mayawati said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have some amount of honesty left then they should provide details of their bank details before November 8.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended an interactive session with economists and other experts, organised by NITI Aayog, on the theme "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead."

During the session, participants shared their views on various economic themes such as agriculture, skill development and job creation, taxation and tariff related matters, education, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy, and future steps for growth.

In his intervention, the Prime Minister thanked various participants for their suggestions and observations. In particular, he called for innovative approaches in areas such as skill development and tourism.

Speaking about the budget cycle, he said this has an effect on the real economy. He said that in our existing budget calendar, the authorisation of expenditure comes with the onset of the monsoon.

This he said, results in government programs being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months. He said that keeping this in view, the date of budget presentation is being advanced, so that expenditure is authorized by the time the new financial year begins.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, and senior officers from the Union Government and NITI Aayog.

It was also attended by economists and experts including Prof. Pravin Krishna, Prof Sukhpal Singh, Prof Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Dr. Pulak Ghosh, Dr. Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, Dr. N.K. Singh, Mr. Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose, and T.N. Ninan.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of various multilateral agencies and RBI lowering growth forecast for the current fiscal. The RBI has reduced the GDP growth forecast to 7.1 percent from 7.6 percent in its monetary policy review earlier this month.
Hyderabad: Hitting out at main Opposition Congress for criticising the construction of his new official residence, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said the buildings complex was built as per requirements.

"Congress has exposed its mindset in studying and projecting an issue. When you say something, it should be believable by people. Speaking so low and small on Chief Minister's residence when the CM is in House...Can there be 150 rooms in the CM's residence? Can Congressmen show? Is this the way?" Rao asked in the Legislative Assembly during a debate on housing.

He said the official residence building complex was built for Rs 36 crore with facilities for organising large meetings and spacious vehicle parking.

"That Nizam (erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad) had left lakhs of acres of land for us. We don't know what is that poverty of thought of not having an official residence for

Chief Minister. We built this with Rs 36 or 37 crore so that there is a parking space for 300 cars and for holding (district) Collectors' conference or any other conference of officials, without having to go somewhere else, for organising official programmes, with a good hall to meet people. How many chief ministers will be there after KCR?

"It's the official residence of the Telangana Chief Minister. It's not KCR's residence. It's not the own building of KCR. It's the property of Telangana people. It will show the profile of our state, if foreigners come, those from neighbouring states come. It's the pride of Telangana," Rao said.

The CM had moved into the new official residential buildings complex at Begumpet here last month with Congress claiming the "wastage" of public money for its construction.

The sprawling official buildings complex, including the CM's residence and office, a conference hall and two existing buildings, has been named as Pragathi Bhavan by government.

Meanwhile, Rao said his government is committed to construct double-bedroom houses for poor as promised by his party.
As per FCRA, if an NGO is put under prior permission category, it is barred to receive foreign funding from abroad. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Licences of around 20,000 of 33,000 NGOs have been cancelled by the government after they were found to be allegedly violating various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), thus barring them from receiving foreign funds.

This was conveyed to Home Minister Rajnath Singh during a review of the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Giving a detailed presentation, Home Ministry officials said after cancellation of FCRA licences of around 20,000 NGOs, only 13,000 NGOs in the country are legally valid now.

The exercise of reviewing the working of the NGOs was started about a year ago and the process is still continuing, official sources said.

Among the 13,000 valid NGOs, around 3,000 have submitted applications for renewal while Ministry of Home Affairs received 2,000 new applications for registration under the FCRA for the first time.

An additional 300 NGOs are currently under prior permission category but not registered under the FCRA.

However, FCRA licences of around 16 NGOs were renewed by the Home Ministry under the "automatic" route and all the cases were reviewed thoroughly and except in two cases, 14 NGOs have been put under the prior permission category while papers of the two NGOs are under examination.

As per FCRA, if an NGO is put under prior permission category, it is barred to receive foreign funding from abroad without taking permission from the Home Ministry.
IndiGo in its statement said that its 6E-769 flight (Lucknow-Delhi) observed the SpiceJet aircraft in front of it while taxiing. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: IndiGo and SpiceJet airlines on Tuesday issued a statement, saying safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft are of top priority and at no time it can be compromised.

This came hours after a major accident was averted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport as aircrafts of both airlines came face-to-face on the runway.

SpiceJet said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk.

"SpiceJet flight SG 123 operating Delhi-Hyderabad was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. While taxiing, crew observed another aircraft on same taxiway in opposite direction; Acting promptly, crew immediately intimated ATC. At no stage safety of passengers, crew and aircraft was compromised; All concerned authorities were immediately informed," the statement read.

IndiGo in its statement said that its 6E-769 flight (Lucknow-Delhi) observed the SpiceJet aircraft in front of it while taxiing and was following ATC instructions all the time at Delhi airport.

"The IndiGo flight 6E-769 (Lucknow - Delhi) while taxing in at Delhi airport today morning, observed another aircraft in front of it. Following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Caption-in-Command took the decision of switching off the engine and reported the incident to ATC," IndiGo said.

"All 176 passengers along with the crew are safe. IndiGo flight was observing ATC instructions all the time at Delhi airport. IndiGo has voluntarily informed the DGCA. This matter is being investigated by IndiGo safety department and the regulator. As an airline we rely upon ATC's traffic advisory and ensure to comply with their instructions. At IndiGo, safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft are of top priority - and at no time it can be compromised," the statement added.

The incident has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has assured of a probe.
Colleen E. Falkenberg, 86, of Chippewa Falls passed away at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016.

She was born Oct. 29, 1930, to Harvey and Susan (Thuecks) Robertson in Cadott.

In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart and husband of 64 years, Douglas Falkenberg, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Cadott. Colleen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Douglas; one daughter, Ann (Paul) Himmler of Winona, Minn.; two sons, Tom (Beth) Falkenberg of Apple Valley, Minn., and Kevin Falkenberg of Rice Lake; two brothers, Allen (Deanna) Robertson of Cameron, and Julius (Sally) Robertson of Libby, Mont.; as well as five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Colleen was preceded in death by her son, Steven Falkenberg; her parents; as well as two sisters, JoAnn Bushland and Evelyn Tatzel.

Colleen and Douglas raised their children for several years in Chippewa Falls, and later for a number of years in Arcadia, after which they returned to Chippewa Falls for their retirements. Colleen held a number of office administration jobs, was an active member of Homemakers, and the St. Anns Society. Colleen and Douglas enjoyed square dancing, camping and sharing time with family, friends, and relatives.

Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Holy Ghost Church in Chippewa Falls. The Rev. Justin Kizewski will be celebrant of the funeral Mass. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Chippewa Falls, at a later date.

Friends may call from 10:30 a.m. until the time of services at noon Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Holy Ghost Church, Chippewa Falls.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimers Association of Greater Wisconsin, 3313 S Packerland Dr., Ste. E, De Pere, WI, 54115.

Colleens family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff and friends at the Veterans Home.

Horan Funeral Home in Chippewa Falls is in charge of arrangements.

Family and friends may express condolences online at www.horanfuneralhome.com.
Mumbai: In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday amid chill in relations between the two countries, Shiv Sena on Tuesday invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji saying the warrior king never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation."

Significantly, the Sena's barb at Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji in Mumbai.

The ally also voiced its displeasure over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

"What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of Swarajya as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

During the build-up to 'jal pujan' for the memorial, Sena did not hide its feeling that BJP has sought to "hijack" the event for claiming the legacy of the Maratha icon to secure political mileage.

"We only ask politicians not to use Chhatrapati to play low-grade politics. Those who claim rights on Chhatrapati will bite the dust in the end. They would do well remember the history," the editorial said on Tuesday.

"Ensure that the memorial does not get trapped in selfish politics, thereby forcing Shivaji Maharaj to use his sword against these self-centred politicians," it said.

The ruling alliance partner, however, said it understood the importance of Modi in the BJP, and that his party is what it is today only due to the "Modi tonic".

"While the Sainiks and Shivaji fans were chanting slogans hailing the Chhatrapati, BJP workers were shouting slogans in the name of Modi. Can anyone compare himself to Shivaji? Modi himself will not approve of this," Sena said.

Notably, during the public meeting addressed by Modi in Mumbai on Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's speech was interrupted for a while, apparently by BJP supporters present among the audience by chanting "Modi, Modi,".
New Delhi: Bank of Maharashtra has made Malangaon village in the state completely cashless by opening Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for its residents.

The Pune-based public sector bank said it was an effort post demonetisation to make the village in Sangli go completely digital.

"Post the announcement of demonetisation, the push towards a cashless society and financial inclusion became the need of the hour. Bank of Maharashtra has helped achieve this vision in Malangaon with the help of the district collector and several government officials," the bank said in a statement.

Malangaon, located 3.5 km away from the banks Shirdhon branch, has a population of about 4,500 and the main source of income is farming, specifically of grape.

Among others, dairy production, kirana and medical stores make up a significant part of the economic activity in the village.

The main mode of transaction had been cash based and with demonetisation, payment of labourers, selling and buying produce, paying school fees and day-to-day expenses became a challenge.

Also, purchase of farm inputs like pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers, as well as the sale of the final produce began to hamper the economy of the village.

"Bank of Maharashtra helped to solve these problems by going door to door to all houses in the village and opening Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for everyone in the village. This was done by the Bank of Maharashtra's Banking Correspondents, called Bank Mitra," the statement said further.

The bank also carried out an education drive for villagers to help them understand and conduct digital transactions.

The Bank Mitra put up flex signboards across the village demonstrating the use of various digital banking modes and platforms, and also went door to door with a pamphlet of this information to ensure that everyone in the village could be educated on the same.
The price of the party drugs shoots up in the last week of December because of huge spurt in demand, sources say.

Hyderabad: The drug market in Hyderabad is getting rejuvenated after a dull season due to the demonetization. In view of New Year, LSD, party drugs like Ecstasy Mephedrone, are flowing to city from Mumbai and Goa. Expensive drugs like cocaine and heroin have also found their way to city despite the currency crunch. Customers are ready to transfer cash electronically to get the drugs. In three recent drug busts, police did not get any currency hinting at the fact that they are paid online.

The price of the party drugs shoots up in the last week of December because of huge spurt in demand, sources say.

There are two kinds of transactions that happen in city before New Year. An interstate drug peddler to local peddler, in which the quantity of drug will be higher. The second one is local drug peddler to his customers, who probably buy drug for just one time use in the new year eve due to which the transaction of quantity of drug and amount of money will be less. In the first kind of transaction, the cash is now transferred online, a source, who is a former peddler, revealed.

According to West Zone police, in the recent bust the two peddlers from Mumbai were selling the drugs to local peddlers, who were then planning to sell it to their customers for a higher price.

Police officials say undercover cops would be out there keeping vigil on party spots to trap revellers snorting drugs on new year's eve.

Police chiefs of various commissionerates have issued notices asking pubs and party venues not to allow drug use in their premises. To ensure no drug abuse is going on, we will keep strict vigil on them., said a police official.
KOTTAYAM: The Salesian congregation in Bangalore has refuted the charge that the Church had not taken steps for the safe release of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil whose latest video has appeared on the YouTube. The congregation told DC that they and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India had been in touch with government channels for Fr Toms release. The Church had taken concrete steps along with both international and local diplomatic channels for his safety. Bishop Paul Hinder, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, has led calls for prayer throughout the churches in the Vicariate for Fr. Tom and the few handful of remaining Christians in the country.

During the Christmas Mass on the midnight of December 25, the bishop and the gathering at the Cathedral Parish of St. Josephs in Abu Dhabi prayed in silence for Fr. Tom, the congregation said. The family members of Fr. Tom alleged that the Church had not effectively intervened in the matter. Till now the head of the congregation has not contacted us. The External Affairs Minister is also keeping quiet, Mr Thomas Uzhunnalil, second cousin of Fr. Tom, told DC. We have communicated our anxieties to the Bangalore province of the Salesian congregation where he is a member. However, they are yet to take any concrete action, he added.

The Salesians are the second biggest Catholic congregation in the world. Is this the way the Church deals with a person who has dedicated his life for the congregation for the past 28 years? he asked. Father Tom had joined the Salesian congregations Bangalore province in 1988. His fathers younger brother too was a member of the congregation and served in Yemen for 15 years. Two of the younger brothers of Father Tom, David Uzhunnalil and Joshy Uzhunnalil, who were working in the USA, returned to the state a few days ago. Mathew Uzhunnalil, the priests elder brother, is now in Bangalore.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankar Narayana was disposing of a petition filed by Mr K Srinivas, an advocate, challenging the action of the TS government in not receiving the bills submitted by the APAT as illegal. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to take steps to complete the distribution of employees of the AP Administrative Tribunal between AP and Telangana state within three months.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankar Narayana was disposing of a petition filed by Mr K Srinivas, an advocate, challenging the action of the TS government in not receiving the bills submitted by the APAT as illegal.

The bench directed the two state governments to contribute to the salaries of the APAT employees in the ratio of 58:42. The AP government has to pay for maintenance of the tribunal in addition to its share of 52 per cent in salaries, the court said.

The bench noted that despite its order to sort out the issue, the officials had failed to submit a joint report.

Telangana Chief Secretary K. Pradeep Chandra said the TS government had paid salaries to the APAT employees from April 2015 to October 2016.

AP Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker said the AP government had to receive Rs 37 crore from the TS government with regard to maintenance and salaries.

Mr P.V. Krishnaiah, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that dispute arose following the notification of the Centre deleting Telangana state from the jurisdiction of the APAT on September 15, 2016 following the request from the TS government.

Pointing out that employeesof the two states were made to suffer due to the dispute between the state governments, the bench noted since both the states could not resolve the issue, the the intervention of the Centre had become necessary.
Hyderabad: The Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar police have arrested Dora Babu, the teacher at Sri Chaitanya Junior College who has been accused of beating up students and injuring them.

Dora Babu, 37, told police that he was frustrated because the students got very poor marks in the subject he taught. He has been teaching at the college for eight years but his services have been terminated by the college now.

Police arrested Dora Babu on Tuesday on charges under IPC section 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and section 75 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000. He secured bail on the same day. Dora Babu told the police that he was frustrated with the students for their negligent attitude towards their studies.

Students say Dora Babu was bad teacher

He claims that one student scored only four marks and another student scored seven marks out of 50 in the last exam he conducted. So he was frustrated and he wanted them to fall in line, said SR Nagar police inspector Md Wahiduddin who questioned him.

Students have claimed that they underperform because of his poor teaching. Many students in classes taught by Dora Babu earlier continue to underperform, they alle-ge. The teacher had been using corporal punishment for every class he taught, the students say.

The college is not ready to give details of the track record of the teacher.

Legal experts said that since it was a bailable offence, the teacher could be released the same day as the arrest. The police investigation will continue. We have recorded the statements of the victims and the petitioner in the matter. The probe will go on, said Inspector Wahiduddin.

Students had alleged that Dora Babu caned them, made them sit on the floor and inflicted other kinds of corporal punishment. Some students had secretly filmed his acts and leaked the video to the media. On one single day the video revealed that four students had injuries that caused bleeding.

Police books case on Sri Chaitanya

SR Nagar police has registered a case against Sri Chaitanya Junior College for subjecting students of Intermediate I to corporal punishment. Based on a complaint lodged by Balala Hakkula Sangam president Anuradha Rao, the police registered a case (Crime No. 966/2016) under Sections 354 of IPC and 75 of JJ Act against lecturer Dora Babu, who was arrested on Tuesday, group chairman B. Satyanara-yana Rao, secretary Dr Jansi Lakshmi Bai, directors Dr B. Seema, V. Sri Charan and B.S. Sushma. Ms Anuradha Rao demanded the arrest of the accused.
BENGALURU: A day after a six-year-old boy died in Lalbagh in a freak accident, the parents and family members blamed the authorities for negligence and lack of safety measures, which led to the tragedy.

The bereaved family members refused to cremate the body until the authorities assured them of safety and other precautionary measures in Lalbagh, along with suitable action against erring staff. The boy, Velu Vikram, died on Monday after a rock fell on his head.

Earlier the family members claimed that no officers had visited them after the incident occurred. Following the protest, the officials visited the family where the post-mortem was conducted.

Later, they were assured of action along with setting up of a primary health centre and facilitating a round the clock ambulance inside the Lalbagh premises. Only then the family agreed to perform the last rites.

Meanwhile, some officials inspected the spot where the rock fell on the boy and got a couple of similar structures removed from the premises for safety.

Vikrams uncle said, No one came to see Vikrams body. It was the negligence of Lalbagh authority, who should have maintained everything properly. The Mayor had sent his son to visits. Finally after we protested against the authorities, the Lalbagh director came along with the inspector and announced that they will compensate us. I request from now onwards they should take care of all the properties.

Some of the members also expressed dissatisfaction with their local corporator, who did not come to their assistance. According to sources, Lalbagh authorities have recommended the state government to erect a permanent structure in remembrance of Vikram at the spot where he died, so that the family can perform pooja once in a year there.

Dr M. Jagadeesh, Deputy director of Horticulture, told DC, I have passed the file to the ministers and spoken with higher authorities to provide compensation to Vikrams family. Though it was not our mistake, we will increase the security and take care of bird pots. And on Tuesday due to Vikrams death Lalbagh had closed the Bonsai Park, just to ensure safety, he added.
New Delhi: Despite the absence of some top regional political satraps, eight Opposition parties  led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee  attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation as well as alleged corruption charges against him.

Both leaders said at a press conference in Delhi that the PM should quit if the situation did not improve post December 30, when the deadline to deposit scrapped notes in banks ends.

While announcing his radical monetary reform on November 8, Mr Modi had promised to restore normalcy in 50 days, but the Opposition said that the situation had not improved.

The ruling BJP mocked the Congress-led meet saying it was Mr Gandhi's flop show, and that the bubble of the so-called Opposition unity had burst. Many parties such as SP, BSP, JD(U) and NCP decided to stay away from the meet.

Besides the Congress and the Trinamul, parties whose representatives were present at the meeting were RJD, DMK, JD-S, JMM, IUML and AIUDF.

Sonia abstains from meet

Opposition parties  led by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Trinamul chief Mamata Banerjee  attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation as well as alleged corruption charges against him.

Thought the opposition meet was apparently the brainchild of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, sources said she herself did not attend as a majority of the parties did not turn up.

A combative Mr Gandhi said demonetisation was the PMs personal initiative, which he had announced without consulting even his top officials. He should take personal responsibility for its failure, Mr Gandhi said.

He described the ban on old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes as a single arbitrary financial experiment in the history of the world that affected 1.3 billion people, and asked the PM to explain the real reason for implementing it and take responsibility for giving pain to people. Such an experiment was never done even during Maos reign in China, he said.

Mr Gandhi also asked the PM to answer charges of personal corruption made against him in the wake of his name allegedly figuring in the Sahara and Birla diaries. It was West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who first demanded the PMs resignation and Mr Gandhi only later echoed it.

If even after 50 days he has not been able to address the grievances of the people. Will he take responsibility and resign? Ms Banerjee asked. She further said that there were only three days left and wondered what magic wand the PM would use to get things in order now. It is nice to market digital payments with government money, she said.

When the Congress leader was asked whether he supported the demand for the Prime Ministers resignation and what would be done if Mr Modi did not resign, he said: If he does not resign, we will put pressure on him to resign.
While the facility to exchange the old notes has since been withdrawn, depositors have time till Friday to deposit the holding in their accounts.

NEW DELHI: An ordinance to do away with the government and the Reserve Bank of Indias liability on the demonetised high denomination notes is likely to come up on Wednesday in what would be the years last meeting of the Union Cabinet.

Sources told a news agency that the ordinance is being brought as it was found to be necessary to prevent future litigations against the government for junking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

Seeking to prevent harassment and any ambiguity, a proviso would be added to ensure that certain category of people can still deposit the old notes in RBI branches between December 31 and March 31 next, the sources were quoted as saying.

The category may include people in the armed forces, people who were abroad and ordinary citizens who can explain that the money is part of their legitimate income and they could not deposit it in banks due to valid and justifiable reasons.

There was no confirmation of a reported proposal of the government that seeks to impose penalty for possessing certain quantity of old notes after December 30.

In 1978, a similar ordinance was issued to end the governments liability after Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 notes were demonetised by the Morarji Desai government.

The government had, while announcing the demonetisation of the old currency on November 8, allowed holders to either exchange them or deposit them in bank and post office accounts.

While the facility to exchange the old notes has since been withdrawn, depositors have time till Friday to deposit the holding in their accounts.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao distributing clothes to differently able persons at the dinner hosted by him for the Christian community in Hyderabad. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday announced waiving of Rs 3,920 crore arrears owed by beneficiaries of the weaker sections housing scheme and the Rajiv Gruhakalpa scheme.

Mr Rao told a short discussion on 2BHK houses, that there was no question of reviving the Housing Corporation. Closing this corporation which is riddled with corruption is a policy decision, Mr Rao told the Assembly.

Mr Rao said that the state government would construct only 2BHK houses in future. He said that the government would build the 2.6 lakh 2BHK houses before the elections. The tender process was going on and had been finalised for 14,224 houses of which 1,217 had been constructed.

He said contractors were hesitating to apply for the 2BHK house tenders as they were busy with Mission Kakatiya, Mission Bhagiratha, irrigation projects and roads construction.

The Chief Minister said that the margin for building 2BHK houses was not much, and the government was discussing with contractors and major companies to take up the construction as a social responsibility.

He said the government would supply sand for the construction free, and had entered into MoUs with 31 companies to buy cement at Rs 230 a bag.

He said there was no shortage of funds as the state government had allotted Rs 17,660 crore for the purpose and the Centre had agreed to give Rs 1.5 lakh per house.

Later, Opposition leader K. Jana Reddy said the Congress government had take an informal decision not to collect the arrears, and thanked Mr Rao for waving them.

In the Council, Leader of the Opposition in Council Mohd Ali Shabbir said against the promise of 2 lakh houses per annum and 10 lakh houses in five years, the government had constructed a mere 300 flats in IDH Colony, Hyderabad and about 500 houses in Erravalli and Narasannapet in Siddipet district.

He accused the government of shielding those who joined TRS from Congress invol-ved in irregularities in housing scheme during Congress rule.

All the thieves are now in your party. Why dont you take action? There were irregularities during Congress and TD rule. Some sarpanches, MPTCs, ZPTCs etc are in the TRS. We fully support any action against such persons, he remarked.

The comment led to protests from TRS members.
James R. Kouba, 80, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at Colfax Health and Rehabilitation. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Bloomer. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Olson Funeral Home in Bloomer, with a Christian wake service at 7:30 p.m.
Chennai: The crucial meeting of the DMK general council was postponed due to the illness of party chief M. Karunanidhi will be held on January 4. Party general secretary K. Anbazhagan, who made the announcement, said it would be presided over by Karunanidhi.

The meeting will discuss 'constructive work' of the party and the report of the auditing committee, Anbazhagan said. The meet is keenly awaited by DMK cadre and functionaries as it is widely expected to decide on the elevation of party treasurer M.K. Stalin to the post of working president.

The general council meets for the first time after the 2016 Assembly elections.

Though, party leader Karunanidhi had been discharged a week of hospitalisation, he is not seen in public for nearly two months and he could not be expected to be brisk and active at the age of 92.

But, Stalin is working hard in the field and his new style 'Namakku Naamey' campaign is said to have played a major role in DMK's impressive performance in the Assembly elections. He has assumed the leadership of the party in the Assembly and continues to be the face of the DMK.

Most of the senior leaders and district satraps are pitching for a key post for Stalin and some of his followers want themselves to be elevated to state-wide posts. DMK principal secretary K. Duraimurugan, speaking at the centenary celebrations of Justice Party, had asserted that Stalin should be the leader of the party, setting the stage for key changes in the party.

Although, a few of Stalin's supporters are aiming to capture the post of treasurer being held by him, it is said the youth wing leader will also keep the treasurer post with him, even if he is made the working president.

Former Union minister Alagiri's frequent meetings with the party leader has raised speculations of his re-entry into the party and a possible post. But, there are no indications of Stalin giving his nod for his elder brother's entry as he is determined to preserve unity of command in the party.

The general council too is packed with Stalin's supporters and it will not be easy for Karunanidhi to bring back Alagiri into the fold without Stalin's consent.

But, the question of elevation of party Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi is said to be open. She is heading the women's wing will get the deputy general secretary post which fell vacant after the death of Sarguna Pandian.

The party with 89 MLAs in the Assembly will have to chalk out its strategy inside the Assembly as well as outside, to mobilise people against the ruling

party.
Loknath Behera has given instructions to all the SPs to make sure that they conduct yoga session in their areas of responsibility. (Photo: YouTube Screengrab)

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala police have unveiled a plan to include yoga sessions for their personnel in all police stations from January 1, 2017 with an aim to inculcate a healthy routine.

According to a The News Minute report, Kerala DGP Loknath Behera, has given instructions to all the Superintendent of Police (SPs) to make sure that they conduct yoga session in their areas of responsibility daily, from New Year day onwards.

However, Kannur SP Sanjay Kumar said that even though the yoga sessions would do good to the officers, who face constant pressure during work, it is no compulsion. Kumar also clarified that the DGPs order is only aimed at helping the officials and no hard and fast rule has been established.

The yoga session will be held in the mornings at around 6.30/7 am. Officers who live close by or at the police quarters will not have issues in reporting for the session. Those who are not able to do so owing to practical difficulties should be allowed to practise yoga in the comfort of their homes, he said.

SP Harishankar from Pathanamthitta said that the order could be modified to avoid any kind of difficulties, especially for the female police officers, as they may find it tedious to be part of the yoga sessions daily.

The current order could be modified to make it a weekly session for them at least. We did offer such a suggestion from our side, but not in writing," he said.
Chennai: The year 2016 which saw one of the closest Assembly election races has also become a period of transition for both the major parties, AIADMK and DMK, looking to bring new leaders to the top after the death of charismatic J. Jayalalithaa and ageing of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.

The three decades of battle between the two leaders ended after the death of Jayalalithaa on December 5 and the party leaders preparing to elect her close friend V.K. Sasikala as the new general secretary.

From the beginning, the year witnessed hectic political activities, alliance formations and negotiations centred around actor Vijayakanth's DMDK. The race for netting Vijayakanth started in January with the DMK, BJP and PWA consisting of MDMK, VCK and Left parties.

The DMK, which was waiting for Vijayakanth, decided to draw the Congress into its alliance first and former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad called on DMK chief M. Karunanidhi in February and announced a tie-up for the Assembly polls.

The crucial month of March began with numerous reports of DMK having clinched a deal with Vijayakanth. On March 8 and 9, there were dozens of reports about Vijayakanth meeting Karunanidhi to sign the pact. But, the actor on March 9 declared in a public meeting that anyone who accepted him as the CM candidate can join hands with him, effectively ending talks of DMK-DMDK alliance. Finally, on March 23, Vijayakanth joined hands with the PWA, considered the turning point of the polls, swinging the momentum away from the DMK to the AIADMK.

This year's polls was one of the closest fights in the state and the AIADMK beat its rival by a narrow margin of about one per cent votes, although it won 134 seats. The PWA was totally routed without getting a single seat and Vijayakanth himself was pushed to the third place. The PMK and BJP too did not pick up any seat.

AIADMK under J. Jayalalithaa created a record of defeating the DMK in successive elections after three decades. But, just four months after Jayalalithaa took over the reins, she was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on September 23.

October was a month of protests for the formation of Cauvery Management Board. The protests picked up momentum after the Centre itself opposed a Supreme Court verdict to form the CMB. However, it subsided after bypolls was announced to three seats-Aravakurichi, Thanjavur and Thirupparankundram. The AIADMK fought the bypolls with the party supremo in hospital and won the elections, despite decreased margins compared to previous bypolls.

But, the AIADMK suffered a huge setback with the death of its charismatic leader Jayalalithaa on December 5. Finance minister O. Panneerselvam was sworn in as Chief Minister, immediately after Jayalalithaa's death. The party leaders are appealing to Jayalalithaa's close friend V.K. Sasikala to take over the general secretary post and its general council meeting on January 29 is expected to formally pass resolutions to this effect.

Karunanidhi too was hospitalised a few times and he was not seen in public gatherings for about two months. The DMK's general council was postponed to next year due to Karunanidhi's ill health and the cadres and functionaries are anticipating the elevation of treasurer Stalin as the working president.

The year 2017 is likely to open with new leaders who will be out to prove their mettle and keep the mass base of the major Dravidian parties intact. Besides, other parties like the BJP, PMK, MDMK, VCK and Left, crushed between the mass appeal of Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi are looking to expand their base.
Hyderabad: Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao said the Telangana government had not borrowed to build irrigation projects, dismissing Opposition criticism that the government was driving the state into a debt trap.

We did not take even a single paisa loan for irrigation projects till date. The entire amount is from our revenues. We spent Rs 22,000 crore on irrigation projects in two-and-a-half years as against Rs 39,000 crore by the Congress in 10 years. We will ensure water to one crore acres as promised by Chief Minister K, Chandrasekhar Rao, he said.

He said there was no stopping the Palamur, Dindi and other irrigation projects. The Justi-ce Brijesh Kumar Tribu-nal is doing injustice to Telangana. But we will bring pressure on the Centre and ensure that all pending irrigation projects are completed.
New Delhi: Mocking the Congress-led meet of eight parties against demonetisation, BJP on Tuesday said it was Rahul Gandhi's "flop show" and that the bubble of opposition unity had burst before it could even take off.

Noting that only eight of the 16 parties which had joined hands in Parliament against the Modi government over note ban were present on Saturday, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took potshots at Rahul, saying it was increasingly becoming clear that he lacked "maturity and gravitas" and that he would soon be left alone to "hurl abuses without substance".

"We all saw Rahul Gandhi's flop show today. Those who claimed about opposition unity could merely bring together eight of the 16 parties. Soon they will be reduced to four.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee along with some regional parties on Tuesday sought to put up a united face raising the pitch against demonetisation by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the eight-party meeting, the leaders also sought a probe into the issue of "personal corruption" of Modi with Gandhi insisting that a "free and fair" inquiry was needed to maintain the credibility of the Prime Minister's post.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee spoke of a "common minimum agenda" being evolved to take the opposition unity forward even as he downplayed the absence of several other parties, including the Left, from the meet which preceded the press conference.

The BJP mocked their meet and Prasad told a press conference that the opposition's exercise was "laughable" as, he said, those who were behind scams like 2G spectrum, Saradha chit fund and coal block allocations had come together to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi will be left on his own...to hurl abuses without substance. The bubble of opposition unity has burst before it could take off," he said.

The senior BJP leader kept Congress and Rahul Gandhi in his line of fire and skipped any mention of TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been a staunch critic of the government's demonetisation move and again attacked Modi in today's exercise.

Noting that earlier parties would work together to put up a joint front against Congress, he said the opposition's press conference today was a victory for BJP and loss for Congress as it showed that as the saffron party has emerged as the centre of polity now.

Rahul and his party have been the biggest patron of corruption, Prasad alleged, saying that he kept quiet during the UPA government when several scams happened.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said in the Assembly on Tuesday that would invite legislators to his new residence so that they could see for themselves whether it had 150 rooms or not. Mr Rao was reacting to the allegation of Congress legislator Komatireddy Venkata Reddy that he had constructed a residence-cum-camp office with 150 rooms but would not be able to complete 2.6 lakh 2BHK houses before 2019.

Taking objection during a short discussion on the construction of 2BHK houses, Mr Rao said, It is not KCRs residence, it is the Telangana CMs residence. It is the property of the Telangana people and their pride.

He said the Chief Minister would have to conduct meetings with officials, and meet MPs, MLAs, and MLCs and the people. National and international delegates come to meet the Chief Minister. The camp office should have space to park 200 vehicles. He said the government had decided to hold the Assembly session in the first week of January. After that, he would invite the MPs, MLAs, MLCs of Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said he had thought of going to the residence of Opposition leader K. Jana Reddy, to keep up an old convention. He said in the past, Chief Ministers Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and others used to visit the residence of the Opposition leader.

He said he had thought of going to Mr Jana Reddys residence after becoming Chief Minister, but put it off due to the byelections. Now I will definitely go to Mr Jana Reddys residence to dine with him. Whatever he serves I will take happily.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Lahore one year ago on Christmas Day, ostensibly for Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs granddaughters wedding and his birthday. This Christmas Mr Modi again conveyed birthday greetings to Mian Sahib, overlooking that past year of acrimony and tension. This phenomena of periodic leader-led bonhomie alternating with terror and instability needs examination. Mr Modi was hardly back from Lahore when a fidayeen attack began against the Pathankot airbase on January 1. Although the National Investigation Agency has filed its chargesheet, many aspects remain unclear. First, why did the terrorists release a senior Punjab police officer after snatching his vehicle, leaving a witness to alert the security authorities? Second, could it have been triggered so soon after Mr Modis Lahore visit by the jihadi-Army spoilers? Considering the terrorists used an existing smuggling network with Indian collaborators, it is possible that some existing module was fast-timed to disrupt the growing Modi-Nawaz chemistry.

The two leaders met earlier on sidelines of the Ufa Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in July 2015, breaking the ice persisting since Mr Sharif attended Mr Modis swearing-in in May 2014. They had brushing contact at the Climate Summit in Paris two weeks before their national security advisers met in Bangkok on December 6, 2015. Thus, Mr Modis Lahore sojourn was not entirely whimsical. It was a quantum leap, but part of developing mutual confidence. Talks on terror were isolated, by apportioning them to the NSAs, from discussions on the other issues, which were handed to the foreign secretaries and thus the diplomatic track. The NSA-level mechanism merely rejigged the 2006 anti-terror mechanism, which was conducted by additional secretaries of the foreign ministries. The Pathankot attack challenged the political leaderships on both sides.

It embarrassed Mr Modi, but for the first time by any Pakistani government it did not reflexively deny complicity of anyone in Pakistan. They sought evidence and offered to apprehend conspirators if any in Pakistan. India allowed, also for the first time ever, a five-member Pakistani joint investigation team to visit India and access the Pathankot airbase on March 29, 2016. The Indian Opposition screamed murder as the Pakistani team allegedly included elements from ISI  the all-powerful intelligence wing of the Pakistani Army that sponsors India-specific militant groups. The team over six days had comprehensive interaction with their Indian counterparts. The plot unravelled when Pakistan stalled the agreed return visit by an Indian team. The Panama Papers revelation that Mr Sharifs three children had offshore companies and accounts began swirling in April. His position weakened, Mr Sharif left for the UK on April 13. In Pakistan, speculation mounted of a soft coup and the departure being for political and not medical reasons. Mr Sharif thus lost control over the India file. Opposition leader Imran Khan, with proximity to the Army, launched an oust Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government campaign.

Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif joined the debate, arguing terrorism cannot be effectively curbed unless the menace of corruption is uprooted. Mr Sharif, however, returned to Pakistan after open-heart surgery in July. In India meanwhile, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir having passed away in January, the state drifted as his daughter and political heir dithered till April before assuming charge. She had barely settled down when Burhan Wani, a social media-amplified commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was gunned down. The political drift in J&K, the dissonance in the ruling PDP-BJP alliance and the Centres lack of engagement with the Hurriyat had created a volatile situation. Wanis killing provided the spark. The ruling elite in Pakistan then fatefully concluded that the uprising in the Kashmir Valley would be unmanageable for India. All instruments at their command were unleashed to support it. An enfeebled Nawaz Sharif saw an opportunity to reclaim the high moral and political ground. His political offensive culminated in his September UN General Assembly speech, dubbing terrorists as freedom fighters when a burning Syria left the world with no appetite for dangerous nonsense. Leaders of Pakistani jihadi groups were allowed to openly preach vengeance against India and support militancy in J&K.

Mr Modi, seeing this as betrayal, abandoned engagement and began enlarging Indian strategic options. In his Independence Day speech he introduced Pakistani human rights abuses in Balochistan and Indias legitimate rights in Gilgit-Baltistan  a part of the former Dogra kingdom of Kashmir. He aligned more forthrightly with Afghanistan and reopened the debate over the Indus Waters Treaty. Criticism of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor traversing disputed Gilgit-Baltistan followed. The Pakistani response was attacks on military camps by fidayeen, at Uri on September 18 and the corps headquarters at Nagrota on November 29. In between India retaliated by a surgical strike across the LoC to eliminate terrorists and degrade launchpads used for infiltration. Pakistans new Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, handpicked by the civilian government, assumed charge on November 29.

India missed an opportunity to gauge the new balance of forces within when Pakistans de facto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz attended the Amritsar Heart of Asia conference on December 8. Are Mr Modis birthday greetings to Mr Sharif now another rebalancing of Indias Pakistan policy towards engagement post-surgical and verbal strikes by Mr Modi and his government over last six months? Winter and sheer fatigue has brought relative calm to Kashmiri towns. Meanwhile, Donald Trump brings new uncertainty to global security. While surgical strikes play well domestically, in reality patient diplomacy is preferable, combined with stiffened defences, robust intelligence and counter-terrorism, provided Mr Sharif incrementally delivers on trade, people-to-people links and shutting down of Jihad Inc. The expanded strategic options can remain on the table  Gilgit-Baltistan, Indus Waters Treaty and Afghanistan-India security cooperation  much as the Pakistanis keep the jihadis up their sleeves.
China vowed Tuesday to speed up the development of its space industry as it set out its plans to become the first country to soft land a probe on the far side of the moon, around 2018, and launch its first Mars probe by 2020.

"To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is a dream we pursue unremittingly," read a white paper setting out the country's space strategy for the next five years. It says China aims to use space for peaceful purposes and to guarantee national security, and to carry out cutting edge scientific research.

The white paper released by the information office of China 's Cabinet points to the growing ambitions of China 's already rapidly advancing space program. Although the white paper doesn't mention it, China 's eventual goal is the symbolic feat of landing an astronaut on the moon.

While Russia and the United States have more experience in manned space travel, China's military-backed program has made steady progress in a comparatively short time.

Since China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, it has staged a spacewalk and landed a rover on the moon in 2013 - the first time humans had soft landed anything on the moon since the 1970s.

Last month, two astronauts returned from a month-long stay aboard China 's Tiangong 2 experimental space station, the country's sixth and longest crewed mission. A fully functioning, permanently crewed space station is on course to begin operations six years from now and is slated to run for at least a decade.

The white paper reiterated China 's plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020, saying this would explore and bring back samples from the red planet, explore the Jupiter system and "conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life."

The paper says the Chang'e-4 lunar probe will help shed light on the formation and evolution of the moon.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
As we come closer to 2017, more rumours fuel the speculative launch of Samsungs Galaxy S8. Previously, the smartphone was rumoured to pack 6GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. However, a new rumour coming from China s popular leakster, Ice Universe, suggests that the Galaxy S8 is expected to feature 8GB RAM (made using 10nm fabrication technology) and a newer UFS 2.1 flash storage chip.

The same leakster goes on to say that the South Korean tech giant will start their own manufacturing of 8GB RAM memory using its 10nm technology. Moreover, an updated version of UFS 2.0 will include key improvements over earlier versions to provide a better data security through the use of in-line cryptography between the system-on-chip (SoC) and UFS storage device.

Previous reports have pointed towards how the speculated device will pack Qualcomms Snapdragon 835 processor and Samsung might even adopt the dual-lens camera set-up. There is a high possibility that the Galaxy S8 may feature a single rear-facing camera. Other reports suggest that the standard Galaxy S8 will feature a 5.1-inch curved display while the more premium version would boast a huge 6-inch curved screen with Quad HD (2560x1440pixels) resolution.

The only question that remains unanswered is how many Galaxy S8 variants will be unveiled at the MWC 2017 event in late February.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Xiaomi unveiled its unexpected bezel-less Mi Mix concept smartphone nearly a month ago. This device has set new records for the company since November with the first sale to end within ten seconds and the second to end within 30 seconds. However, the Chinese company did not offer too many details regarding the exact release date of the Android updates that this device is scheduled to receive.

A source familiar with Xiaomis plans suggests that the Mi Mix smartphone is set to receive the Android 7.0 Nougat update soon. Now, I received relatively reliable news that your beloved Mi Mix will be getting Android 7.0 Nougat ROM updates! Mi Mix is the second Mi device, after Mi 5 to receive Android 7.0 Nougat ROM updates! And Im sure everyone will be very excited and looking forward to this new Android ROM updates!, leakster that goes by the username of GR33dyBlackie posted on one of Xiaomis forums.

While internal testing might have already begun, however, expect the update to be released as beta-build first.

What to expect in the update

Users will be able to switch between apps with just a double tap and they will also be able to run two apps side by side, thanks to the multi-window view and quick switch between apps features. Moreover, users will access to over 1,500 emojis including 72 new ones that will be added along with multi-local language settings. The latest Vulkan API, VR mode and an improved Doze mode for better battery life will also be included.

Other features include personalised settings, smatter notifications, re-arranged Quick Setting tiles and the ability to directly reply to notifications without opening any app.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The woman was lynched to death by an irate mob after she failed detonating her vest. (Photo: Facebook/Idris Ali Father)

Maiduguri: A female suicide bomber was lynched to death by a livid mob on Monday after her bomb vest failed to detonate at the Kasuway Shanu cattle market in Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria.

According to a report in Mail Online, two suicide bomb attacks were planned by militants to maximise the number of casualities in the central district of Kasuwa.

While the first woman managed to successfully detonate her vest, a livid mob found the second woman trying to detonate hers. Police defused and removed the bomb after the woman met her death at the hands of the mob.

Police also confirmed that the first suicide bomber died in her attack and the second bomber was lynched by the mob.

The incident occurred around 8:40 am local time on Monday. The report also stated no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, security forces were stated to believe that the two bombers belonged to the militant group Boko Haram, said the report.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier claimed that the military had cleaned out Boko Harams main base successfully in the Sambisa forest.

"I was told by the Chief of Army Staff that the Camp fell at about 1:35 p.m. on December 23, and that the terrorists are on the run, and no longer have a place to hide. I urge you to maintain the tempo by pursuing them and bringing them to justice," he was quoted as saying by Mail Online. He added that the victory was the final blow to the militant outfit.

Nevertheless, despite being pushed to the forest by the army in recent months, the group was reported to have staged bombings in the northeast and in neighbouring Niger and Cameroon. In one such incident, a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber killed two people in Cameroon on Sunday, said the article

The militant group is said to have killed 15,000 people and displaced over two million people during an insurgency that lasted seven years, to create an Islamic state governed by a severe interpretation of the Sharia law in the northeast of Africa's most populous nation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to place a wreath at the Honolulu Memorial, Monday on Dec. 26, 2016, in Honolulu. (Photo: AP)

Honolulu: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe travels on Tuesday to Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, the site of a sneak attack by his country that provoked America into joining World War II, to reinforce what the leader calls "the power of reconciliation."

Abe will be hosted by US President Barack Obama, who quits office next month. That means Abe will soon lead Japan into uncharted waters, after incoming US president Donald Trump clouded the guiding stars of US-Japanese ties.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that Obama was pushing for and that Abe made the heart of his economic strategy has been torn up by the president-elect.

And, at least on the campaign trail, Trump has even called into question the US security guarantees that shielded Japan through the Cold War and later the rise of China.

In eight years, Obama, America's Hawaiian-born first "Pacific president" never made the headway he wanted in his vaunted "rebalance to Asia" diplomatic strategy.

But he and Abe chose a telling spot to celebrate US-Japanese partnership, 75 years after the "day of infamy," December 7, 1941.

The Japanese sneak attack on an unsuspecting US fleet moored at Pearl Harbor turned the Pacific into a cauldron of conflict.

The attack had been prepared in secret by Japan for months, but was over within two hours.

Japanese warplanes came out of nowhere to sink much of the US fleet and leave 2,400 sailors and Marines dead.

A reluctant America was drawn into the war already raging in Europe and its colonies, a war that ended after US atom bombs razed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Post-war cooperation, however, has healed many wounds.

In May, Obama visited Hiroshima to pay his respects, and on Tuesday Abe will become the first Japanese premier to visit the wreck of the USS Arizona.

The leaders will head by boat to a white-walled memorial positioned over the sunken vessel, still lying in the clear blue waters of the harbor where 1,177 of its crew died.

Only five of the Arizona's crewmen are still alive and, while the memorial remains a tourist draw, in Hawaii the divisions of war have given way to a shared present.

"Hawaii has a very multi-ethnic population with a very large Japanese population," Stanley Chang, a 34-year-old Democratic member of the Hawaii state senate told AFP.

"I don't think there is any feeling of antipathy towards the Japanese, 75 years after the attack."

Today, Obama's home state has a reputation as one of the most multi-ethnic and multi-cultural in the union.

Remember Pearl Harbor

Today, December is peak tourist season in balmy Hawaii, and the American First Family is partway through its annual Christmas break on the islands.

But the scene was grim in 1941 when Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto maneuvered six aircraft carriers to within 240 miles (386 kilometers) of Oahu and unleashed two waves of dive bombers.

The US Pacific fleet, formerly Japan's main rival in the region, lost 21 warships and 328 planes.

Hundreds of sailors drowned when the USS Oklahoma, still lashed to the quay, pitched onto its side and trapped them.

Before the attack, the US isolationist campaign's cry of "America first!" -- now revived as Trump's slogan -- found a ready ear among voters wary of embroilment in Europe.

But after Pearl Harbor, US Congress declared war on Japan. Three days later Japan's European ally Nazi Germany declared war on the United States in turn.

The "America first!" slogan was quickly replaced on posters, in political speeches and in song by recruiters's refrain: "Remember Pearl Harbor."

Three-quarters of a century later, Abe wants to imbue the wartime rallying cry with a new resonance.

"'Remember Pearl Harbor' is a phrase that was once used to fuel animosity toward Japan among the people of America.

"The peoples of Japan and the United States were put in position to hate each other," he said.

"I hope the image of President Obama and I together visiting Pearl Harbor will serve to make the term 'Remember Pearl Harbor' symbolize the power of reconciliation."

The same force of reconciliation was on show in May, when Obama surveyed preserved ruins in Hiroshima and revived his Nobel-winning call for a world without nuclear weapons.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, was forced to backtrack during his campaign after he appeared to suggest Japan break a taboo and develop its own nuclear weapons.

Last week he again caused consternation when he blithely threatened to revive a Cold War-style arms race.
Washington: Indo-US relationship has bipartisan support and would keep going up irrespective of whichever government is elected, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India has said as he lauded the role played by the Indian-Americans in strengthening bilateral ties.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu was speaking at an event organised on Monday by the Sikh community in Maryland and Virginia to felicitate the diplomat in recognition of his efforts to address the concerns and issues of the Sikh community across the country.

After serving the Indian Embassy for three and half years, Sandhu, a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer is headed to be the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.

India-US relationship, is on "such a stable and bipartisan support" Sandhu said, irrespective of whichever government is elected "our countries" are so closely bound that the relationship would keep going up and up.

The contribution of Indian-Americans is extremely important in strengthening this relationship, he said.

"The hard work of Indian-Americans is very highly recognized and appreciated. This has all come out of your commitment and focus," he said and exuded confidence that in coming years there would be successful Indian-Americans in more prominent places.

Sandhu said Indian-Americans are facing the challenges of identity, modernization and economic survival.

In his address, the Deputy Indian Ambassador stressed the importance of connecting second generation Indian Ambassador with India.

"Next economic potential where is it? It is in India. That is where the economic generation, economic power to the world is going to come. And your children are uniquely placed. But they would be uniquely placed if you connect them back with India," Sandhu said.

Welcoming Sandhu, Virginia Republican leader Puneet Ahluwalia said the strength of the community lies in its unity.

"In this new world, we all have to participate in the mainstream." he said.

"In the coming years, US-India relationship is going to be so critical" and "we have to play an important role in that," he said.
Honolulu: Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where the bloodshed of the surprise attacks drew America into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit on Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial that now rests on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader that Obama hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting US President to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on December 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded. In the ensuing years, the US incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they'll go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders will speak.

Obama and Abe signed off on the visit in November when they met in Peru on the sidelines of an economic summit. Though the parallels with Obama's Hiroshima visit are palpable, both governments said that one visit wasn't contingent on the other.

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the US prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the US and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown stronger during Obama's tenure. There are questions about what the relationship will look like under President-elect Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Trump suggested that Japan and South Korea should obtain nuclear weapons so the US would no longer be burdened with costs of defending them, a disquieting notion in many Asian capitals. But after Trump's election, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet with him, sitting down in Trump Tower with the business mogul and Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

Though no Japanese prime minister has visited the USS Arizona Memorial, former Japanese leader Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, six years after Japan surrendered. He stopped there on his way home from signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the US and others, and paid a courtesy visit to the office of Admiral Arthur W Radford.

Other prime ministers have since visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as Punchbowl.
Washington: US-Russian talks on their separate fights against the Islamic State group are improving and becoming more frequent, American officials said, with each side trading information in real time and even outlining some of their strategic objectives in the months ahead.

The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are "frozen."

In the discussions, Russia has made clear its counter-terrorism priority in Syria is retaking the ancient city of Palmyra, officials said. The US is determined to pressure IS' headquarters in Raqqa.

The closer contacts have developed despite the former Cold War foes' bitter accusations against one another over the devastation in Aleppo and Moscow's claim that relations are now "frozen on all practical levels."

The confidential military discussions aren't focusing on the two countries' opposing positions in Syria's civil war, where Russia is fighting alongside the government and the United States has backed rebel groups, officials said.

But US officials with knowledge of the ongoing conversations are crediting both sides with putting aside much of the public animosity, which has included Washington's accusations of Russian war crimes in Aleppo and Moscow's charges of American support for terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda.

Much of the talk has concerned the two nations' immediate operations.

Since December 15, the US-led coalition has conducted air strikes on about two dozen locations around Palmyra, destroying air defense weapons, tanks, aircraft shelters, storage bunkers and other vehicles and equipment.

At the same time, US and Russian officials having been ensuring that the two militaries' don't cross paths in the airspace above the city that IS militants seized for the second time earlier in December, and that American strikes don't mistakenly hit Russian or Syrian forces.

But the talks have gone beyond the granular and even touched on broader US and Russian plans, according to several US officials, who weren't authorized to speak publicly on the confidential discussions and demanded anonymity.

The Russians have spelled out that after they retake Palmyra, they want to move on IS militants congregated in Deir el-Zour, a city closer to the Iraqi border. Succeeding in Deir el-Zour, according to one US official, could take Russia several months.

Palmyra became a more urgent mission after Islamic State militants ended the Syrian government's nine-month hold over the city, seizing Russian and Syrian military equipment and weapons in the process. These include dangerous air defense artillery that could be used against coalition and friendly forces.
New York: If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for US ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the US and Israel.

In a stunning decision on Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the UN Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of US tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

"Things will be different after January 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end.

Under Obama, the US has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades, the US has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the US to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally.

It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century.

"Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy."

Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere.

Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman - his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot.

"He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said.

At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan - a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism - to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death.

And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period.

Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy.

In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East."

Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace.

Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.
Seoul: South Korean President Park Geun-hye received a major blow on Tuesday as 29 lawmakers decided to quit her ruling Saenuri Party amid a political scandal surrounding her.

This move comes after Park was impeached for sharing government documents with her confidante Choi Soon-sil.

The ruling Saenuri Party held 128 of the 300 seats in Parliament before the lawmakers announced their decision to quit the party.

"Those who remain loyal to President Park within Saenuri Party have forgotten about the true value of being conservative and, in result, lost the faith of the people," CNN quoted Member of Parliament Choung Byoung-gug as saying at a news conference announcing the new party.

President Park Geun-hye has been swimming in troubled waters since it was revealed that her confidante and adviser, Choi Soon-sil, had access to confidential government documents despite holding no official government position.

Choi is accused of using her relationship with Park to accumulate millions of dollars in donations to her foundations and has been detained after being charged with abuse of power, fraud and coercion.

Parliament had voted to impeach Park on December 9, and suspend her from the office.

"I solemnly accept the voices of the National Assembly and the people and sincerely hope that the current confusion will come to an end in an orderly manner," Park said after the impeachment vote.

Prime Minister of South Korea Hwang Kyo-ahn became the acting president for a term of up to 180 days after the impeachment vote.
Over 50 people were killed during the months long violent agitation by Madhesis who blocked a key border trade points with India, resulting in shortage of essential supplies in Nepal. (Photo: AFP)

Kathmandu: Politically unstable Nepal saw a change in guard in 2016 with 'Prachanda' becoming the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation, but the crisis persists over the new Constitution that sparked violence in Terai region bordering India with which Kathmandu's ties improved steadily paving way for President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit.

The year began on a turbulent note as the unrest spilled over from the previous year over the Madhesi demands for greater political control following promulgation of the new Constitution in September last year.

Over 50 people were killed during the months long violent agitation by Madhesis who blocked a key border trade points with India, resulting in shortage of essential supplies in Nepal and causing hardships to its people.

The unofficial border blockade was finally lifted on the southern frontier with India on January 5 with a brief clash between Indian traders and agitating Madhesis.

On January 23, the Nepalese Parliament endorsed bills for amending three clauses of the Constitution to incorporate the demands of the disgruntled Madhesi groups.

The amendment included provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in the Parliament on the basis of population.

Prime Minister K P Oli visited India in February. Prior to the visit the pro-China premier had said that he would only visit India if the unofficial blockade was lifted.

During Oli's six-day India visit, he met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other important leaders. Two MoUs each worth USD 1 billion were signed between Nepal and India.

The first USD 1 billion line of credit assistance was announced during Modi's visit to Nepal and the second USD 1 billion assistance was announced during Swaraj's visit to Nepal for rebuilding after the quake.

Oli paid an official visit to China in third week of March, during which Nepal and China signed 10 agreements to boost economic cooperation that includes, an agreement to facilitate trade and transit between the two neighbours, concessional loan for constructing Pokhara Regional Airport and an economic and technical cooperation agreement.

President Vidya Bhandari's proposed visit to India was cancelled in May as the cabinet did not endorse her travel plans and the government recalled its envoy to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, escalating tensions in bilateral ties.

India had witnessed a strain in bilateral ties after the adoption of a new Constitution by Nepal that divided the tiny nation into seven provincial units and marginalised Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin and inhabitants of the Terai.
Russian policemen and rescuers stand near a stretcher with a body recovered after a Russian military plane crashed in the Black Sea, on a pier outside Sochi. (Photo: AFP)

Moscow: Eleven bodies have been recovered so far in an ongoing massive search and rescue operation in the Black Sea a day after Russian military plane Tu-154 with 92 passengers on board crashed in the region.

Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov was quoted as saying that terrorism was not a likely cause of the crash.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry and the Russian Defence Ministry had confirmed the crash of the missing Tu-154, saying the debris of the aircraft and alleged personal belongings of the passengers were discovered in the Black Sea.

According to the ministries, more than a thousand search and rescue personnel are currently involved in the search operation.

The ministries also added that DNA testing would be carried out of the bodies in Moscow.

Russia observed a day of national mourning for Tu-154 plane crash victims on Monday.
Seoul: South Korea's ruling conservative party officially split on Tuesday over the impeachment of scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye, threatening to complicate presidential elections that could be held as soon as March.

A group of 29 lawmakers left the ruling Saenuri Party, arguing that its leadership refuses to embrace reforms despite the political crisis fuelled by the corruption scandal that has engulfed Park.

Their departure left the party with 99 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, relegating it to second place behind the liberal Democratic Party.

In a statement, they accused the ruling party of defending Park, branding her as the "worst-ever" offender against constitutional order.

"Our departure will provide momentum to turn the country's tragic incident -- the impeachment of its president -- into chances for the development of democracy", the dissident group said.

More than 60 Saenuri lawmakers crossed party lines to join opposition parties in passing a motion to impeach Park in December.

The case is now being considered by the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the validity of the impeachment that charged Park with multiple criminal and constitutional violations - ranging from bribery to abuse of power.

The next presidential election is slated for December 2017, but if justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days - meaning a ballot could be held as early as late March.

The Saenuri Party split could be problematic for one frontrunner - outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

He had been widely expected to compete as a centre-right candidate on the Saenuri ticket but is now without an obvious platform to launch and run his campaign.

The 72-year-old last week strongly hinted he will jump into the presidential race, saying he was willing to devote himself to developing South Korea.

An opinion poll last week showed Ban was neck and neck with Democratic Party hopeful Moon Jae-In, each with a 23 percent support.

It remains unclear whether Ban will join the Saenuri Party or the emerging conservative party.

Park is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil to strong-arm large companies like Samsung into handing over tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations Choi allegedly controlled and plundered.

Park also allegedly ordered aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, allowing her to meddle in some state affairs including the appointment of top officials.

Choi, who is said to have had a "Rasputin-like" influence over the president, has denied all charges against her.
Colombo: In a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka will soon release 20 Indian fishermen held for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, a senior minister has said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney General's department to release the 20 fishermen from India.

"Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned," Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

"So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released," he said.

Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said.

According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody.

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties.
Istanbul: Twenty-nine Turkish former police officers are on trial in Istanbul accused of aiding the failed military coup in July - the first trial over the attempt that led to some 270 deaths.

Renegade officers in Turkey's military used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in their July 15 attempt to unseat the government, attacking the parliament and other key buildings. Turkey blamed it on a network of followers of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.

The police officers standing trial on Tuesday are accused of aiding the coup by not carrying out their duties.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life prison terms for 21 officers charged with "attempted coup" while eight others face maximum 15 years in prison for membership in a terrorist organization.
The agencies reported that the black box would be flown to the Moscow region to be deciphered by experts. (Photo: AP)

Moscow: The main black box from a Russian military plane that crashed on Sunday in the Black Sea with 92 people on board has been found, Russia's defence ministry told local news agencies Tuesday.

"The main black box was found at 5:42 am Moscow time (0242 GMT) 1,600 metres from the shore at a depth of 17 metres," the agencies quoted the ministry as saying.

The agencies reported that the black box would be flown to the Moscow region to be deciphered by experts.

The ministry also said that 12 bodies and 156 body fragments had been recovered from the water since the crash.

Authorities have said that the human bodies and remains found would be sent to Moscow for identification.

The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Russia's military base in Syria when it went down off the coast of the resort city of Sochi minutes after take-off on Sunday. Authorities have dismissed terrorism as a possible cause for the crash.

Russia's federal security service said Monday it was focusing on pilot error, a technical fault, bad fuel and a foreign object in the engine as the four main scenarios that could explain the crash.
Bucharest: Romania's president on Tuesday rejected the left-wing Social Democrats' candidate for prime minister, Sevil Shhaideh, who would have been the EU's country first female and Muslim premier.

"I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal," Klaus Iohannis told reporters in a televised statement.

"I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal," he said. He gave no reasons for his rejection of Shhaideh, who is from Romania's small Turkish minority.

The PSD had put forward Shhaideh, 52, after its thumping election victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote.

The leader of the PSD, Liviu Dragnea, had withdrawn his bid to become prime minister because he is serving two-year suspended sentence for electoral fraud.

Shhaideh's political experience is limited, having served as development minister for six months before the previous PSD-led government resigned in late 2015.

This and her personal closeness to Dragnea, he was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian businessman have stoked opposition accusations that she would merely be a puppet.

The PSD's election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it and prime minister Victor Ponta from office.

Romania was then run by a caretaker government under technocrat prime minister Dacian Ciolos, 47, a former European commissioner.

The inferno inside the Colectiv club was blamed on corrupt officials turning a blind eye to a lack of fire precautions. Poor medical care exacerbated the death toll.

Brussels has long complained about corruption since Romania's accession to the European Union in 2007 and since the fire the country has been making progress tackling it. However a return to power by the PSD has raised concerns that progress in this area might slow.
London: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday visited a Russian factory which is working on anti-ageing pills. Mr Putin, accompanied by ailing Kazakhstan leader Nursultan Nazarbayev,76, toured the Biocad plant in St Petersburg. As well as seeking a youth pill in laboratory tests, the plant is also working on treatments to combat cancer, the Daily Mail reported.

We are expecting the first results within a year, scientist Alexander Karabelsk told the two leaders of an anti-ageing breakthrough. Our goal is not to extend life but more to allow a person to improve the quality of life and feel younger in the older years. Should the clinical trials be successful, youth pills would increase life to 130 years in just 20 or 30 years, the two presidents were told. Biocad is seen as Russias leading innovative biotechnology company.
Jerusalem: Israel's foreign ministry said on Tuesday the country was "reducing" ties with nations that voted for last week's UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to settlement building in Palestinian territory.

Refuting reports that ties had been suspended, foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that Israel was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies.

"Until further notice, we'll limit our contacts with the embassies here in Israel and refrain from visits of Israeli officials to those states, and of visits of officials from those states here," he told AFP.

Israel has already called back its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations, and cancelled aid programmes with the African state. On Tuesday, Israel informed Angola it would be freezing its aid programme there, Nahshon said.

Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, has asked officials to visit the countries that voted for the resolution as little as possible for now.

At least two trips have been cancelled or postponed, including this week's visit to Israel by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and an upcoming visit by the Senegalese foreign minister.

There have also been reports that Netanyahu was calling off a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at next month's World Economic Forum in Davos, but there has been no official confirmation.

Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday she was concerned that Israel would miss opportunities to explain its position by cancelling visits, but that she supported making clear "you can't take Israel for granted."

Countries should not be able to "make pilgrimages to Israel to learn about fighting terror, cyber-defence and agricultural technologies, and in the UN do whatever you want," she told army radio.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have responded with especially harsh language to Friday's Security Council resolution which passed after the United States abstained from voting.

Netanyahu has alleged that US President Barack Obama "colluded" to see the "shameful" resolution through in the waning days of his administration.

By deciding not to veto the move, the United States enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

Not turn other cheek

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

Israel summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution on Sunday, Christmas Day, while Netanyahu also met with US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

The United States is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

On Monday, Netanyahu defended his response to the UN vote in the face of criticism that he was overreacting, saying "we do not turn the other cheek".

"Not only will our relations with the nations of the world not be harmed, over time they will only improve because the nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak ingratiating countries that bow their heads," he told a conference.
In October, an Egyptian who allegedly was an Islamic State supporter rammed a garbage truck into a vehicle carrying US soldiers, wounding only himself. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Kuwait City: A Kuwaiti criminal court has sentenced a Filipina to 10 years in prison for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The court ruling on Monday, which can be appealed, also calls for her deportation from the country after she serves her prison sentence.

The woman was arrested in August and accused of joining the terror group through its affiliate in Libya via email while working as a maid. Tiny, oil-rich Kuwait has been hit by Islamic State attacks before.

A suicide bomber killed at least 27 people and wounded 227 during the holy month of Ramadan last year. In October, an Egyptian who allegedly was an Islamic State supporter rammed a garbage truck into a vehicle carrying US soldiers, wounding only himself.
Jeddah: Saudis moral police have arrested women who were allegedly among those seen drinking and dancing with men in a video that has upset the extremely conservative Muslim state.

The partygoers were detained over a mixed party in Jeddah, reported Mirror, citing local media reports.

Footage from the party, where young women and men were seen to be dancing on a terrace, was posted on YouTube and went viral. The clip showed women in western clothes near tables that had bottles and drinks, allegedly alcohol.

Alcohol is banned in Saudi Arabia and the Arab state also has stiff laws governing how unrelated men and women socialise.

After the video went viral, a special task force headed by Major-General Saeed Al-Qarni was constituted by the Jeddah police. The task force was supervised by Jeddah police chief Brigadier-General Abdulwahab Al-Asiri.

The location of the party was found by the team using imaging analysis, which detected the Jeddah flagpole that was visible in the background.

Since its inauguration in 2014, the Jeddah flagpole has been the tallest flagpole in the world with the height of 170 meters from the ground.

The prime suspect was arrested while he was allegedly trying to flee the country. Authorities said that the accused, a Jordanian, admitted to hosting the party during investigation.

The three female guests, a Lebanese woman and her friends, also admitted their presence at the party when they were questioned.

The case has been transferred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution, which may move to press charges. Investigation to identify other guests at the party had also begun. There is a high probability that the accused get a harsh punishment.

The rules apply to Muslims and non-believers unlike some other Islamic countries.

In an earlier case, a 74-year-old British man was caught with a homemade brew in November 2015. He was jailed for a year and was also threatened with over 350 lashes.
Riyadh: A Saudi man has been jailed for one year for calling for an end to the Muslim kingdom's guardianship system that gives men wide controls over women, local media said on Tuesday.

The man, who was also fined 30,000 riyals ($8,000) by a court in the eastern city of Dammam, was convicted of "inciting to end guardianship of women" in statements he posted on Twitter and in public posters, the Okaz daily said.

He was arrested while putting up posters in mosques in Al-Hasa district calling for an end to the globally unique system that subjects women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to male control.

During questioning, police found out that the man was also behind a wide online campaign to end the guardianship, the paper said.

The defendant admitted pinning up the posters in several mosques, saying he solely launched an "awareness campaign" after finding that some "female relatives were facing injustice at the hands of their families," the daily said.

Thousands of Saudis signed in September a petition urging an end to the guardianship system following a Twitter campaign which the court claims was launched by the defendant.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.
home Tech Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G release date, specs, price news: Sleek laptop with SIM connectivity announced in China

Xiaomi has recently unveiled the Mi Notebook Air 4G. Unlike the laptops released by the Chinese electronics company earlier this year, the new models come with built-in 4G LTE connectivity.

Xiaomi partnered with China Mobile, one of the largest telecom service providers in China, so that each purchase of the Mi Notebook Air 4G will come bundled with a 4 GB per month data plan which is good for one year. As such, users won't need to be forced to stay indoors or incur additional expenses with a portable Wi-Fi router. The new laptop will be able to access the internet anytime and anywhere.

Xiaomi's new laptop retains the sleek design and all-metal chassis of the Mi Notebook Air. Like its predecessors, the Mi Notebook Air 4G will also be available in two variants.

The 12.5-inch Mi Notebook Air 4G is powered by an Intel Core M3 processor. It has 4 GB of random access memory and 128 GB of Solid State Drive (SSD), which can be expanded via a secondary SSD slot. It is 12.9 mm thick and weighs 2.36 pounds. The 37 Wh battery provides up to 11.5 hours of use on a single charge.

Meanwhile, the 13.3-inch Mi Notebook Air 4G is powered by Intel's sixth-generation Core i7 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics processing unit (GPU) with 1 GB of dedicated RAM. There is also 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD with a second slot for expanded memory. It is 14.8 mm thick and weighs 2.82 pounds. The laptop gains 9.5 hours of use given the 40 Wh battery.

In terms of connectivity, audio and ports, both laptops come with dual speakers, Dolby Digital surround sound support, an HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, the 3.5 mm headphone jack and fast charging.

The laptops also come with the Chinese version of the Windows 10 operating system.

The new Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air 4G laptops will be released in China on January 2017. The 12.5-inch model is priced at CNY 4,699 which is about $676 and the 13.3-inch model is available for CNY 6,999 or roughly $1,007.
A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey. (Photo: AFP)

Ankara: A Turkish court has put a broadcast ban on reporting of the investigation into last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov, state media said on Tuesday.

A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey.

An Ankara court agreed to a request by prosecutors for a ban on broadcasting images of the assassination which was caught on film as well as the investigation itself, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. This includes news concerning witnesses, victims or suspects in the murder.

The ruling said such news could be prejudicial to the investigation and to national security. The ban will last for the duration of the investigation.

It was not clear what had prompted the ban one week after the December 19 murder but it came one day after the daily Hurriyet published a detailed interview with the sister of the murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas.

The sister, named as Seher O., said her brother had been "brainwashed" while attending police school in Izmir.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Altintas was a member of the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup.

However this has yet to be echoed by Russian officials, who say it is too early to comment on the investigation.

In recent years, Turkish authorities have repeatedly placed broadcast bans on sensitive issues and in the wake of attacks, citing national security.

Critics say freedom of expression has declined in Turkey after Erdogan became president in August 2014 but the government has insisted everything is done within the framework of the law.
Karachi: Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari and his son PPP chairman Bilawal on Tuesday attacked the Nawaz Sharif government over corruption and "facilitating terror" as the father-son duo said they would contest polls to enter the current Parliament.

In his first major public appearance after returning from an 18-month self-imposed exile, the 61-year-old Pakistan People Party (PPP) co-chairman said while he would contest elections from Nawabshah, Bilawal will do so from Larkana in Sindh province, a development that could affect the country's political scenario in a major way.

Addressing a charged crowd of PPP supporters while observing the 9th death anniversary of his wife and slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh  a village that contains the family graveyard of the Bhutto family, the father and son attacked the government over various issues, including Panama Papers and terror.

Zardari also criticised Prime Minister Sharif for his cordial ties with his Indian counterpart saying, "Mian sahib, have you ever thought of the children in Kashmir as to what do they feel when you have luncheons with Narendra Modi."

He began by saying he wanted to share the "good news I had promised to share: Bilawal and I will contest the election now, right now, (and sit) in this Parliament".

"I will contest the election on my sister's (Azra Pechuho's) seat and Bilawal on (Ayaz) Soomro sahib's seat," he said.

Zardari's announcement is being interpreted as a strategy to enter parliament through by-elections in the two constituencies and fresh polls will have to be called in such a situation, the Dawn reported.

"We have sacrificed much for the sake of democracy and politics to save Pakistan. We will not leave this Mughal emperor (Sharif) to rule," Zardari said.

"Mian (Sharif) Sahab, we gave you this democracy as a sacred trust. We made every decision with your input. We made decisions in Parliament through consensus. It is a pity that you seem to have forgotten all your promises today," the former president alleged.

"I am not coming to the Parliament to topple you; we only intend to teach you certain things, to consult with you on national issues," he said, adding: "We have fought dictators, but never raised our voice against the military."

In his fiery speech, Bilawal lashed out at the PML-N government on multiple fronts, including terrorism and religious extremism.

"The world wants to call us a terrorist state, (and yet) people in your cabinet facilitate terrorists," the 28-year-old PPP chairman alleged while addressing the Prime Minister.

"If something were to happen tomorrow, you will run away, but the 20 crore people of Pakistan will stay here," he added.

On Sharif and his family's name appearing in the Panama Papers, Bilawal said: "Do you think it is that simple? So you think we are idiots?"

"Your entire government is full of scandals," he alleged and warned of strong protests by his party if the Panama bill is not passed in the National Assembly.
Last month, China started operating the Gwadar Port which is being connected with Xinjiang through the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) by dispatching ships loaded with goods brought by trucks from China to Middle East. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Beijing: China's official media on Tuesday played down the growing criticism within Pakistan over the USD 46 billion CPEC, saying the project has made "remarkable progress" though India has opted for "disrupting" the initiative.

"Three years on, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), described by Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a "game changer" for the entire region, has entered into full implementation in 2016 and remarkable progresses have been achieved," a commentary in the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Referring to Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong's comments, it said 16 early harvest projects, including several power stations, highways and projects related to Gwadar Port, were under construction and tens of thousands of new jobs have been created for local people.

Last month, China started operating the Gwadar Port which is being connected with Xinjiang through the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) by dispatching ships loaded with goods brought by trucks from China to Middle East.

"There are at least 39 projects, (in CPEC) the majority of them related to energy, where obvious progress has been seen during 2016," Saeed Chaudhry, director of the Islamabad Council for International Affairs, told Xinhua in a recently.

Chaudhry's remarks include the second phase of upgrading the Karakorum Highway from Havelian to Thakot and the highway linking Pakistan's largest cities of Karachi and Lahore.

Both of the two highways have been smoothly implemented and for the former, the Abbottabad Tunnel construction project has begun and seen substantive progress, it said.

While Xinhua report lauded the progress of the CPEC, an article in the state-run 'Global Times' criticised sections of Pakistani media for taking a critical view of the project.

Written by a research fellow in the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the article criticised Pakistani journalist Cyril Almeida for putting out "irresponsible tweets" against the project.

"There is no denying the fact that there has been criticism of CPEC in Pakistan. There has been criticism of the government of Pakistan, mainly of the ruling party, over the percentage of shared routes of CPEC in Pakistan," it said.

"Every province wants to get the most out of it. It is like fighting over a cake before eating it. But even then, no political party ever raised objections against China. Rather, if there is one country over which Pakistan's political parties are united, it is China. The fight among the political parties is 'over CPEC' and 'not against CPEC'," it said.

The report also said it was "undeniable" that there have been controversies over CPEC and particularly, on the 'Belt and Road Initiative' of China.

"Those controversies, which are created at the international level, are an effort to raise doubts about China's intensions. India and the US do not seem to be happy with Beijing's growing regional and global economic clout.

India openly opposed the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC. It opted for both overt and covert means to disrupt the smooth advancement on these two projects, which are complimentary to each other," it said.

"There is a whole range of challenges in implementing CPEC that if not smartly dealt with, the road to CPEC success would become bumpy. All these challenges come with external strings attached," it said.

The story of Almeida's twitter spat with Zhao Lijian, charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad provided fodder to "malign" Pakistan-China relations, it said.

"Pakistan and China have to build a united front through institutional framework to counter this negative campaign. Both countries also need to focus on formulating public opinion, which implies cooperation with news agencies and networks," it said.
Washington: World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has called Pakistan Finance Minster Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the latter's request to help settle the Indus water dispute, sources said.

The development comes after the Pakistani Minister wrote a letter to Kim on December 23, urging him to move ahead with the appointment of a chairman of the Court of Arbitration, reports the Dawn.

The letter written by Dar was in response to the World Bank President's letter of December 12 and their decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration.

Dar, in his letter, said that World Banks decision will seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

The letter also said that the matter of appointment of a chairman for the Court of Arbitration has been inordinately delayed.

It urged the World Bank to execute its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Finance Minister noted that the pause proposed by the World Bank President will merely prevent Pakistan from approaching a competent forum and having its grievances addressed.

Earlier this month, the World Bank asked both India and Pakistan to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements over the Indus Water Treaty Dispute 1960.

The bank said it is temporarily halting the appointment of a neutral expert as requested by India, and the chairman of the Court of Arbitration, as requested by Pakistan, to resolve issues regarding two hydroelectric power plants under construction by India along the Indus Rivers system.
Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region, China said. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Beijing: The Malabar naval exercise involving the Indian, US and Japanese navies is designed to "target" China's submarines in the East and South China Seas and to back America's Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, a Chinese media report claimed on Tuesday.

"Such a large-scale military exercise was obviously designed to target China's submarine activities in the East and South China Seas in recent years, promote the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and cement the US presence in the region," an article in state-run Global Times said.

"Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region," the article said.

Highlighting comments by Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, commander of the US Seventh Fleet stating that India, Japan and the US are set to focus their next round of Malabar exercise on anti-submarine warfare, it said the drills aimed at jeopardising peace in the East China Sea region "so as to distract China's attention from the South China Sea and disturb the political landscape in the Asia-Pacific".

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean. Since Japan joined in 2007, it has alternated between the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

In June, the three countries held their largest-ever joint exercise which involved 11 vessels and 8,000 personnel. The article said Japan wants to become a permanent member of the exercise to enhance its military cooperation with the US and find a solution to its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

"India hoped to enhance the anti-submarine capability of its navy that has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region," it said quoting reports, adding, "India also wants to disrupt China's military deployment in the East China Sea through these exercises".

Japan, which has participated in the exercise five times, also attached great importance to the Malabar 2016. It used the exercise to enhance the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and spy on China's military deployment in the waters, it said.

"However, the anti-submarine warfare of the US, Japan and India won't make them succeed in countering China as China has significantly improved its technologies in ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. And with the development of multi-dimensional operations, merely elevating anti-submarine capability won't enable these countries to contain China," the article said.

"The Malabar exercise has always been led by the US, with Japan and India being just partners with varied purposes. This will cripple the actual effects of the exercise. In fact, this kind of exercise is unlikely to impair China's presence in the East China Sea, except for flaring up tensions in the waters and producing frictions," it said.
Islamabad: Days after he made headlines by saying that ex-army chief General Raheel Sharif had helped him exit Pakistan, former dictator Pervez Musharraf on Monday claimed he had not sought any assistance from him and that his statement was distorted by the media.

"No one approached me, nor did I approach anyone... Raheel Sharif did not discuss anything with me, nor did I send him any request," Musharraf said in an interview to a TV channel.

He said his last week's statement to Dunya News was "distorted" by the media.

Musharraf in a talk show on Dunya News last week had said: "Well he (Raheel Sharif) did help me and I am absolutely clear and grateful. I have been his boss and I have been the army chief before him...He helped out, because the cases are politicised, they put me on the ECL, they turned it into a political issue."

When asked about the military's influence on domestic politics, he on Monday said: "All institutions in Pakistan work together with each other... I've served in the army for over 40 years."

"There is a sense of bonding between the army and me, and it will always remain like that," the former president added.

Referring to Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan's statement about Musharraf's return, the former president said he has no knowledge of any such timeline wherein he was asked to return within four to six weeks of his departure, the Dawn reported.

"There is nothing of the sort in the court's judgement," Musharraf added.

The Interior Minister had said in March that Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him in court and had "promised to return in four to six weeks".

Musharraf had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL).

The government notification followed the Supreme Court's order to lift the ban on his foreign travel.

But the order from the top court had come with the rider that the federal government or the three-judge special court trying the retired general for treason was free to make decisions to regulate his custody or restrict his movement.

Apart from murder cases of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, the retired general is facing treason charges for imposing emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers. His name was kept on the Exit Control List for more than 20 months.
Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned, Sri Lankan officials said. (Photo: Representational Image)

Colombo: In a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka will soon release 20 Indian fishermen held for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, a senior minister has said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney General's department to release the 20 fishermen from India.

"Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned," Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

"So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released," he said.

Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said.

According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody.

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties.
Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Islamabad: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan's Finance Minster Senator Ishaq Dar and discussed with him Indo-Pak water dispute, days after the country asked the global lender to "fulfil its obligations" on the issue. Dawn newspaper quoted official sources as saying the call was made on Monday.

Dar on December 23 had written a letter to Kim over the dispute over two hydroelectric power plants, Kishanganga and Ratle that India is building on the Indus rivers system.

Dar in his letter said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt its interests as India is working day and night to complete the two disputed projects. And once they are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers, the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej while Pakistan has the three western rivers, the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum. The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Earlier, last week Kim sent a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, informing them that he had decided to 'pause' the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle this dispute.

Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.

In the formal request sent to the bank, Pakistan argued that the Court of Arbitration could be formed at the request of either party, if the party concludes that the dispute is not likely to be resolved by negotiation or mediation.

The bank would also be obliged to establish the court if the aggrieved party concluded that the other government was unduly delaying the negotiations.

Pakistan informed the World Bank that it has already exhausted the option to engage India for resolving the dispute through bilateral talks and was now exercising the option to take its case to the Court of Arbitration.
The year 2016  the dawn of digital India, where from paying electricity bills to shopping for sandals is done by pressing a few buttons on the phone or laptop. It would not be wrong to say that convenience, remote accessibility and having the world on your fingertips was the mantra of the year. For Indias nature and wildlife, this meant an app that let forest guards to track and report animal sighting in an instant, or keeping an e-eye on the remotest forest areas, so that no human could reach easily.



Unfortunately, digitisation also gave poachers, and illegal wildlife traders an easy channel not just to hunt, but also earn millions by selling claws, skins, teeth, tails, feathers, bones, scales, guts, barks, roots and every other animal or plant product they could market right from the comfort of their homes.



The United Nations declared war on illegal wildlife trade this year calling all governments and people to support Wild for Life, a campaign aimed to put an end to the destructive trade which is touted to be the third largest transnational crime in the world and a multi-billion dollar business. In India, the surprising revelation came in July when 106 reputed e-commerce sites including Amazon and eBay were named to be selling rare animals and wildlife products online.



The list collated by India Wildlife Crime Control Bureau also found traffickers using code language to sell these products. Like dharivala chadar for a tigers stripped skin or Australian Teddy bear for Koalas. While Amazon rapidly pulled down 400 such items listed on its website, this war is far from over and would need the constant vigilance of policy makers, online forums, law enforcement agencies and people to stop what is destroying nations and their natural resources.



The biggest possible threat from poaching and illegal trade was felt by not the iconic tigers of India but a lesser-known animal that is shy, scaly and also popular as a delicacy and tonic food in several communities in India and other nations of Southeast Asia. It is the pangolin. India is home to two species of pangolin  the Chinese pangolin and the Indian pangolin, both netted, trapped, shot or snared for local trade and to meet the demand from international markets. With most people often ignorant about even the existence of these species, the pangolins are a rapidly vanishing species warns TRAFFIC, a division of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that deals with wildlife trade.



Protecting the lesser known

It is due to the constant work at the ground level of numerous conservation organisations and dedicated individuals that the lesser known animals like the pangolin, the dancing deers of Manipur, the hangul of Kashmir or the Gangetic river dolphin got their due recognition and a better chance of survival in the coming years. Government policies along with conservation plans are being executed for these species that define the biodiversity of India.



In October, the Living Planet Report 2016 identified India as an ecological black spot where around half of the wildlife lives in the danger of being wiped out. The biennial report that tracks over 14,000 vertebrate populations of over 3,700 species from across the world, highlights the pressure on water and land India faces because of unsustainable human activities. Earlier in the year, the parliament passed a historic bill called the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill unlocking over Rs 42,000 crore fund for compensatory afforestation and wildlife protection.



Recent figures indicate that there are more than 200 million insects for each human on the planet. And yet, we have a limited grasp of the life and nature of this mammoth family of living beings. USA this year recognised the importance of insects by giving, for the first time, federal protection to yellow-faced bees of Hawaii. In India too, the year ended on a sweet note for insects when Bengaluru-based researchers created a comprehensive catalogue of 281 species of cicada found in India. This pioneering work would hopefully encourage others to try and enter the world of ants, beetles and flies.



Rising conflicts

In a year marked with dynamic governance, Indias mega river linking project has been the focal point of discussion for conservationists and policy makers who assure that the dams and canals would not jeopardise the habitats and ecosystems. Environmentalists think otherwise. The much talked about Ken-Betwa river linking project that promises to green much of Bundelkhand might submerge critical tiger habitat inside Panna tiger reserve and also pose a threat to vulture and gharial habitat. It might also permanently submerge 7.2 lakh trees, warns the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife. The interpretation that development needs will always trump over environment needs does not seem unjust when we see the rising human-wildlife conflicts across the country.



Technology for conservation

In the new India, drones have become the modern guardian of the forests. Be it Wayanad, Kaziranga, Nilgiris, or the forests of Uttarakhand, the state forest departments are rapidly incorporating these flying robots to monitor wildlife habitats. Trying to bridge the communication gap and increase information outreach to people, Maharashtra government has come up with a toll free number that would give all information related to wildlife, conflicts, plantation, encroachment to people whenever they need. The Rajasthan government has provided a mobile app to all its forest guards that can help them send critical information from the widespread field posts without delay.



Another novel idea that has been executed this year is the formation of a canine squad for the protection of forests.



The big five

This year, the world celebrated the rise in the number of tigers globally with India leading the list, with an approximate population of 2,500 tigers. India also lost 91 tigers to poaching, poisoning and natural deaths. This is the highest number of deaths recorded since 2010.



Asiatic lions on the other hand are fairing well in their only home in the world  the Sasan Gir Forest National Park. As per the latest reports, the lion population is stable and growing, although lions are still enlisted as endangered animals. At least 16 rhinos have been reported to be killed in Assam this year for their horns.



This is in addition to the 22 rhinos that drowned during the annual floods in the state. The Indian Railways  whose mascot quite ironically is Bholu, the guard elephant  has grown to become one of the most worrying adversaries of the elephant. With tracks crisscrossing elephant corridors, conservationists estimate there have been at least 200 jumbo deaths in the last decade because of train hits.

For the other wild cat of India, the leopard, that has silently lived among human habitation for years, depleting forests and fragmented wilderness has come as a big blow to its existence. Angry mobs pelting stones, sticks, and even it burning alive reveal the worst kind of beast that remains dormant inside us, who is not ready to peacefully co-exist with this animal.



A World Health Organisation (WHO) report in May this year put six Indian cities including Delhi in the list of the 10 most polluted cities in the world. The report, which contains data from 795 cities in 67 countries between 2008 and 2013, shows Indian cities have some of the highest concentrations of particulate pollution, which can cause fatal damage to the heart and lungs.



New hopes

India is a megadiverse country with only 2.4% of the worlds land area accounting for seven to eight per cent of all recorded species. From unusual dancing frogs in Western Ghats to song birds of the Himalayas, from white cheeked monkeys of Northeast to Eriovixia gryffindori, the Harry Potter sorting hat look-alike spider, the rate at which new species have been discovered in this mega diverse land this year is still extraordinary. Indian wildlife photographers have had their share of glory on the world stage and so have conservationists like Bibhuti Lahkar from Assam who was awarded the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservationists of the year award in 2016.



But as John Sawhill once said, Society is defined not only by what it creates, but by what it refuses to destroy, it is hoped that this country will not have a handful of names to look up to, when it comes to defending our natural heritage. It will be the society as a whole that would not destroy, not demolish, not degrade the India that lives in our sacred green covers in 2017.


A spate of extreme warmth in the Arctic over the past two months has startled scientists, who warn that the high temperatures may lead to record-low ice coverage next summer and even more warming in a region that is already among the hardest hit by climate change. In mid-November, parts of the Arctic were more than 35 Fahrenheit (F) warmer than observed averages, scientists said, and at the pole itself, mean temperatures for the month were 23 F above normal.



Although conditions later cooled somewhat, the extreme warmth is expected to return, with temperatures forecast to be as much as 27 F above normal. Jeremy Mathis, who directs the Arctic Research Programme for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA said the warmth had led to a later than usual freeze-up of ice in the Arctic Ocean. That in turn may lead to record-low ice coverage in the spring and summer, which could lead to more warming because there will be less ice to reflect the suns rays and more darker, exposed ocean to absorb them.



Recently, researchers released a study linking the abnormally high Arctic temperatures to human-caused climate change. Using simulations of the climate, both current and before widespread carbon emissions, they found that the likelihood of extreme temperatures like those that occurred this fall had increased to about once every 50 years from about once every 1,000 years. A warm episode like the one we are currently observing is still a rare event in todays climate, said one of the researchers, Friederike E L Otto, a senior scientist at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford in Britain. But it would have been an extremely unlikely event without anthropogenic climate change. Whats more, Friederike said, if climate change continues at its current pace, spates of extreme Arctic warmth may become common, on the order of once every two years.



Walt Meier, a research scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Centre, said that the current warmth had been brought on by fluctuations in the jet stream, which have allowed frigid air to make its way south into North America and warm air into parts of the Arctic. While such outbreaks of extreme warmth are not new, he said, there are many signs that climate change is making them more frequent. While the earth overall has been warming, the Arctic has been warming at least twice as fast as the global average. In part, scientists say, that is because of declines in sea ice coverage. Ice typically reflects from about half to 70% of the solar energy that hits it, but water reflects only 6%, and so the water warms up. That melts more ice, which in turn leads to more exposed ocean and still more melting.



The recent high temperatures have had a severe impact on Arctic sea ice formation this fall. Ice coverage was the lowest for any November since satellite records began in 1979, NOAA said. Sea ice is also getting thinner on average, as thicker, multiyear ice melts and is replaced by ice that lasts only a year. Temperatures this fall were so far off the charts that NOAA took the unusual step of extending the time frame for its annual Arctic report card by a few days into early December. The report, which includes findings from NOAA-sponsored research projects involving more than 60 scientists, was released recently at a scientific meeting. At a news conference, Jeremy said that in addition to the extreme warm periods, the overall year was the warmest on record. Weve seen a year in 2016 in the Arctic like weve never seen before, he said.



Jeremy also noted that warming effects in the Arctic have had a cascading effect through the environment, including down into Arctic ecosystems. He said that communities that rely on hunting and fishing for their food security should be very concerned. Its getting harder and harder for them to harvest resources as the ice pulls back further and further away from the coast, he said. But Jeremy added that changing conditions in the far north should concern everyone. We need people to know and understand that the Arctic is going to have an impact on their lives no matter where they live.


The Fonseca Nicaragua is a new line launched by Quesada Cigars in 2016. Fonseca is one of the oldest brands in the Quesada Cigars portfolio; but prior to the release of the Fonseca Nicaragua the brand had not seen a new release since 2013s Fonseca Cubano Exclusivo. With the Fonseca Nicaragua, it marks a very different release for the brand as it is the first Fonseca branded cigar to come out of Nicaragua and to feature all Nicaraguan tobaccos. In terms of packaging, the Fonseca Nicaragua features an all-new contemporary look. In addition, the cigar is positioned as a value-priced cigar  falling into the $4.95 to $5.99 range. Recently Ive had an opportunity to smoke the Fonseca Nicaragua in the Petite Corona size. Overall, not only did I find this cigar delivered great value, but it also delivered an excellent overall smoking experience.

While Quesada Cigars owns a factory in the Dominican Republic, making cigars in Nicaragua is nothing new. In 2008, company patriarch Manuel Quesada teamed up with Nestor Plasecnia to create the first Casa Magna cigar. Casa Magna is produced at Placencias factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Since then Casa Magna has grown into a full-fledged brand (and arguably the most successful collaboration in the history of the cigar business) with most of its offerings coming out of the Placencia factory. In addition, Quesada Cigars such as the Quesada Keg and select offerings from the Quesada Oktoberfest 2015 and 2016 have also come out of Placencia.

Without further ado, lets break down the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona and see what this cigar brings to the table.

Blend Profile

As mentioned the Fonseca Nicaragua is a Nicaraguan puro. The cigar features all Nicaraguan tobaccos and is highlighted by a Criollo 98 Oscuro wrapper. The blend also incorporates tobaccos from the Ometepe, Jalapa, and Esteli regions.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo 98 Oscuro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Placencia SA)

Vitolas Available

Fonseca Nicaragua is available in three sizes  each packaged in 20 count boxes. The Petite Corona offering is box-pressed.

Petite Corona: 5 x 42

Robusto: 5 x 54

Toro: 6 x 50

Appearance

The Nicaraguan Criollo 98 Oscuro wrapper of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona has a dark wood color to it. Upon closer examination, some darker marbling can be see on the surface. There was a light coating of oil on the wrapper. There were also some very thin visible veins. While there were also visible wrapper seams, in general this wrapper has a smooth surface. The box-press of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona had more of a square-press shape. This was a firm box-press with no soft spots.

The band of the Fonseca Nicaragua is very different than most of the other offerings under Quesadas Fonseca brand. There was definitely an effort to make this a more contemporary design. The band features a beige background. On the front of the band is the text Fonseca in a modern-styled white script with black trim. Just below that text is the text Nicaragua in a smaller white font. A bunch of brown and black leaves surround that text. There are also additional brown leaf designs and red adornments. On the far right is a beinge nameplate design with the text HAND MADE in black font.

Preparation for the Cigar Experience

As I typically do, I used a straight cut to remove the cap of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona. Once the cap was removed, I moved on to the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of cocoa, earth, and citrus notes. Overall I considered the pre-light draw of this cigar to be excellent. At this point I was ready to light up my Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona and see what the smoking experience would have in store.

Flavor Profile

The Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona started out with notes of cocoa, earth, citrus, and cedar. The cocoa and earth notes moved into the forefront early on. Meanwhile the citrus and cedar moved into the background. On the retro-hale, I picked up an additional layer of cedar.

Thoughout the first half; while the cocoa and earth alternated in intensity in the forefront, it seemed like the cocoa had more of the edge. At the same time, the citrus and cedar varied in intensity in the background  although neither of these two notes seemed to have an edge over the other.

Once the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona crossed the midway point, I found the earth notes started to have more of edge over the cocoa in the forefront. Simultaneously, the cedar seemed to now have an edge over the citrus.

Toward the latter part of the second third Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona, the notes of cedar and earth moved into the forefront. There still were some notes of cocoa and citrus in the background adding some nice sweetness. This is the way the cigar experience of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn and Draw

I found the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona to be a well-constructed cigar and this was reflected on both the burn and draw of this cigar. The burn maintained a straight path from start to finish. The actual burn line at times had a slight curvature, but this was easily remedied with a touch-up. I didnt find the amount of touch-ups the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona needed to be excessive. Meanwhile the resulting ash had a salt and pepper color  and on the samples I smoked, leaned toward being a darker ash. This was an ash that was on the firm side. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were ideal.

The Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona produced a draw that was not too tight, nor too loose. This was a cigar where it was quite easy to derive flavors from.

Strength and Body

With a few exceptions, most cigars under Quesadas Fonseca brand have been skewed toward the milder side. As for the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona, many fans of Fonseca might find this to be bolder than most. Strength-wise, the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona was a solid medium. At the same time, the body of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona also started out medium. As the cigar experience progresses, the body built up in intensity and by the second half, it progressed into medium to full territory.

When looking at strength versus body, I found the body to have the edge  particularly in the second half.

Final Thoughts

While I didnt find the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona to be the most complex offering, I did find this a cigar that produced great flavor. These flavors kept me interested from start to finish. Ive smoked this cigar in each of the sizes, and overall I found the box-press format of the Petite Corona to be the Belle of the Ball for this line.

Taking price aside, I found this to be an excellent offering. However, its hard to ignore the $4.95 price point of the Fonseca Nicaragua Petite Corona. In the end, adds a significant value component to this cigar Still I found this to be a great cigar for all cigar enthusiasts  whether experienced or novice. As for myself, this is a cigar I would definitely smoke again  and its easily worthy of a box purchase.

Summary

Key Flavors: Cocoa, Earth, Cedar, Citrus

Burn: Excellent

Draw: Excellent

Complexity: Medium-

Strength: Medium

Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (Second Half)

Finish: Very Good

Rating

Assessment: 4.0-Box Worthy

Score: 91

References

News: Quesada Cigars Announces Fonseca Nicaragua

Price: $4.95

Source: Cigars Provided by Manufactuer (Prior to Aug 8, 2016); Additional cigars purchased

Stogie Geeks Podcast: n/a

Stogie Feed: n/a

Brand Reference: Quesada

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.
Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit today to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.



Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.



He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.



He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.



Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.



The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.



The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point.



Abe won't apologize for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.



Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."



The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.


External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said India will spare no effort to secure release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, a Keralite priest abducted nearly nine months ago by a terror group in war-torn Yemen.





The minster's remarks come a day after a purported video by the priest appealing to the government to free him surfaced.



"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," Swaraj tweeted.



Expressing government's resolve to bring him back, she cited examples of India ensuring release of kidnapped citizens like Judith D'Souza and Fr Alexis Prem Kumar from Afghanistan.



Father Uzhunnalil was abducted in March by dreaded terror group Islamic State from port city of Aden.He had gone missing after the terror group attacked a care home run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity.



"I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan," Swaraj noted.



In the video, Tom was seen as pleading for help from Indian government and fellow Christians including Pope Francis. However, the veracity of the video could not be ascertained.



In the clip, Uzhunnalil was seen saying, "If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered of much value."



Prem Kumar was abducted from Herat in Afghanistan in June, 2014 and was released from captivity eight months later. Indian aid worker D'Souza was released in July more than a month after she was kidnapped in Kabul.


Israel's foreign ministry said today the country was "reducing" ties with nations that voted for last week's UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to settlement building in Palestinian territory.



Refuting reports that ties had been suspended, foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said in a message to journalists that Israel was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies, without providing further details.



Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday she was concerned that Israel would miss opportunities to explain its position by cancelling visits, but that she supported making clear "you can't take Israel for granted."



Countries should not be able to "make pilgrimages to Israel to learn about fighting terror, cyber-defence and agricultural technologies, and in the UN do whatever you want," she told army radio.



Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, has asked officials to visit the countries that voted for the resolution as little as possible for now.



At least two trips have been cancelled or postponed, including this week's visit to Israel by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and an upcoming visit by the Senegalese foreign minister.



There have also been reports that Netanyahu was calling off a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at next month's World Economic Forum in Davos, but there has been no official confirmation of the move.



Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have responded with especially harsh language to Friday's Security Council resolution which passed after the United States abstained from voting.



Netanyahu has alleged that US President Barack Obama "colluded" to see the "shameful" resolution through in the waning days of his administration.



By deciding not to veto the move, the United States enabled 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.



Israel summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution on Sunday -- Christmas Day -- while Netanyahu also met with US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.



Yesterday, Netanyahu defended his response to the UN vote in the face of criticism that he was overreacting, saying "we do not turn the other cheek".



"Not only will our relations with the nations of the world not be harmed, over time they will only improve because the nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak ingratiating countries that bow their heads," he told a conference.
The main black box of the Syria-bound Russian military plane that crashed into the Black Sea with 92 people onboard has been found in a massive ongoing search operation, authorities said today.





"The main black box was found at 5:42 am Moscow time (0812 IST) 1,600 metres from the shore at a depth of 17 metres," the defence ministry said in a statement, adding that the device would be sent to the Moscow region to be deciphered by experts.



The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Russia's military airbase in Syria when it went down off the coast of the resort city of Sochi shortly after take-off on Sunday.



Investigators have yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but officials have said that an act of terror was not being considered as a possible explanation.



The finding of the black box comes as searchers are scrambling to recover bodies and remaining debris from the aircraft in an operation involving 192 divers, 45 vessels, 12 planes, five helicopters and 15 deepwater machines.



The defence ministry said that five plane fragments were found overnight 30 metres under water at around 1,700 metres from the shore.



Part of the plane's fuselage, measuring 3.5 metres by 4.5 metres, was recovered yesterday evening.



Russia's federal security service has said it is looking into four suspected causes of the crash, which include pilot error, technical failure, faulty fuel and an object in the engine.



The defence ministry said today that 12 bodies and 156 body fragments had been recovered from the water since the crash. They will be sent to Moscow for identification, it said.



The Kommersant daily newspaper reported that investigators are relying on a witness statement by a coast guard member who saw the plane in its final moments descending toward the sea with its nose tilted sharply upward.



Authorities have not said how long it would take to decipher the black box, which could provide information on the reasons for the crash.



The Tu-154 jet went down on Sunday morning minutes after taking off at 5:25 am (0755 IST) from Sochi's airport, where it had stopped to refuel after flying out from the Chkalovsky military aerodrome in the Moscow region.



The FSB said all passengers remained on the plane when it stopped in Sochi, with one customs officer and one border guard coming on board as it was being fuelled.



Onboard were 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble - the army's official musical group, also known as the Red Army Choir - and their conductor Valery Khalilov. The choir was set to perform for Russian troops at the Hmeimim airbase in Syria, which has been used to launch air strikes in support of Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad.


ED today conducted searches at the premises of arrested Kolkata-based businessman Paras Mal Lodha here in connection with a money laundering case probe and said it seized some documents related to a purported Swiss bank account.



The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating Lodha after it booked him on criminal charges for his alleged involvement in two high-profile black money cases of illegal conversion of old notes in the wake of demonetisation.



Officials said the agency began the searches late in the afternoon here and covered two of his premises here at S N Roy road and Queens Park even as one of his locations in Delhi's elite Lutyens Zone area was brought under the same operation a few days back.



They said that the agency, apart from seizing some computer peripherals and other hardware, has also recovered some documents, purported to be of a Swiss bank account in the name of a women, who could be associated to Lodha.



The agency, they said, will soon issue summons to some people associated to Lodha and involved in the case.



Lodha (62), at present, is in ED custody in Delhi after he was arrested by the agency last week.



ED is understood to have confronted Lodha with advocate Rohit Tandon of T and T law firm (in Delhi), who has been questioned in the same case more than once by the investigating officer (IO) of the case in Delhi.



Lodha was arrested by the agency in "connection with the recovery of large amount in new currency notes from a company belonging to Tandon and J Shekhar Reddy of Chennai".



The agency had earlier claimed that he was involved in a "deep-rooted conspiracy" in this case and that he was charging a commission "at the rate of 15-20 per cent" to convert old notes into new ones of several people.



It had said Lodha admitted that "post demonetisation he and his associates had converted old currency of at least Rs 25 crore into new currency notes".



While Tandon's case pertains to an operation of Delhi Police and the Income Tax department earlier this month when the agencies had allegedly seized Rs 13.6 crore from a law firm he is associated with, that of mining baron Reddy relates to Chennai where the I-T department has made the biggest detection of alleged unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.



Both the cases pertain to the ED's anti-black money operations post the currency ban.



These two cases, involving Tandon and Reddy, are being probed by at least four agencies-- the ED, the Income Tax department, the CBI and Delhi Police.
Norway today told India that it is handling the case involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family in accordance with the Norwegian Child Welfare Act which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.





This was conveyed to the Indian ambassador who had gone to meet the Norwegian officials, who also informed him that since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality.



Ahead of the meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said India wants the five-and-a-half-year-old boy united with his natural parents and refused to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.



"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents," Swaraj had tweeted.



According to Norwegian Embassy Spokesperson here, "The Indian ambassador to Norway visited the Norwegian authorities earlier today (in Oslo) to discuss the child welfare case involving a Norwegian/Indian family, where the child holds Norwegian citizenship. The meeting had a constructive atmosphere.



"The Norwegian authorities have reiterated 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."



During the meeting with the Indian envoy, the Norwegian authorities also said the the Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship.



The embassy also was once again assured that the Norwegian authorities were dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness.



Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that the authorities in that country have taken away their son on a frivolous complaint of abuse.



Kaur had also written to the ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.



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.


New Delhi-based Load 24x7  Indias first transporter mobile app  is planning to open offices in 100 smart cities in 2017, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata.





Speaking to DH, Load 24x7 Co-founder Lokesh Gupta said, In the beginning of 2017, we will start our operations in Bengaluru. This expansion will play the key role in match making goods with vehicles from/to Karnataka to/from all over India. Each and every post loaded will be entertained with an opportunity of deal done.



To reach out to more locations, Gupta said,  We will be hiring 100 people in 100 smart cities by the next six to 12 months which will not only help generate employment, but also to increase our product portfolio, and effectively expand our network across India. We will be hiring experienced employees across key divisions such as technology and management.



Currently, the self-funding startup has 2,200 transporters, 900 mobile app users from Bengaluru. Daily, about 5-10 posts on average are generated from Bengaluru. And we are sure that as soon as we open our office, each of the vehicles posted in our app will get the goods, said Gupta.



Established in July 2015, the online platform is now home to an enormous fleet of over 50,000 into transporters directory, more than 4,500 packers and movers, and has over 20,000 registered users on board.



We have reached one phase successfully, and in the second phase, expansion is required, which is our next plan. We have touched every part of India, and we are expecting our network to reach at least 1,00,000 mobile app users in 2017, which will be a landmark in transportation, and that will convert the whole structure of the transport industry in a fruitful business, added Gupta.



The freight aggregation platform offers expansive services to its customers through its all-capacity transportation vehicles including mini trucks, refrigerator vans, tankers and containers.



Load 24x7 is becoming the largest brokerage free platform for goods vehicle owners to have direct access, as earlier, they has to mediate someone who also manipulated the freight. Due to lack of connectivity and communication, daily 5-7 lakh vehicles are unable to get return goods, which increases fuel consumption and time resulting in the increased freight.


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!
As India embarks on a massive modernisation plan for its defence forces, it has emerged as the second largest purchaser of arms among developing nations after Saudi Arabia, a latest Congressional report has said.





Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipments worth USD 34 billion, which is a distant second after Saudi Arabia's USD 93.5 billion, said the report 'Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2008-2015' released by Congressional Research Service (CRS).



As the name reflects, CRS is an independent bipartisan research wing of the US Congress. It prepares reports on a wide range of issues for lawmakers to make informed decisions. CRS reports are not considered official reports of the US Congress.



"Saudi Arabia was the leading developing world arms purchaser from 2008-2015, with agreements totalling USD 93.5 billion. India was the second largest developing world arms purchaser from 2008 to 2015, making arms transfer agreements totalling USD 34 billion during these years (in current dollars)," it said, adding these increases reflect the military modernisation efforts by India.



In its report, CRS highlights recent Indian efforts to diversify its procurement of arms, of which the US has been a major beneficiary.



"It is notable that India, while the principal Russian arms customer, during recent years has sought to diversify its weapons supplier base, purchasing the Phalcon early warning defense system aircraft in 2004 from Israel and numerous items from France in 2005, in particular six Scorpene diesel attack submarines. In 2008, India purchased six C130J cargo aircraft from the United States," CRS said.



In 2010, the UK sold India 57 Hawk jet trainers for USD 1 billion. In 2010, Italy also sold India 12 AW101 helicopters.



In 2011, France secured a USD 2.4 billion contract with India to upgrade 51 of its Mirage-2000 combat fighters, and the US agreed to sell India 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for USD 4.1 billion, it said.



"This pattern of Indian arms purchases indicates that Russia will likely face strong new competition from other major weapons suppliers for the India arms market, and it can no longer be assured that India will consistently purchase its major combat systems," CRS said.



Indeed, India in 2011 had eliminated Russia from the international competition to supply a new-generation combat fighter aircraft, a competition won by France.In 2015, Russia and India agreed to a contract in which India would procure at least 200 Ka-226T helicopter, the report said.



With India reducing its reliance on Russia on arms purchase, Moscow is looking for other options, it added.



"More recently Russia has lost major contracts to other key weapons suppliers, threatening its longstanding supplier relationship with India. Russian sales of advanced weaponry in South Asia have been a matter of ongoing concern to the United States because of long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India. The United States sought to expand its military cooperation with and arms sales to India as part of the US strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific region," the report said.



After lifting its arms embargo in 2014, Russia signed an agreement with Pakistan for four MI-35 attack helicopters. "This sale marks a shift in Russian foreign policy towards Pakistan," the report said.



During the mid-1990s, Russia sold major combat fighter aircraft and main battle tanks to India, and has provided other major weapon systems through lease or licensed production, the report said.



It continues to provide support services and items for these various weapon systems, it said.




Even as the Saudi government cancelled a quarter of a trillion dollars worth of projects back home as part of a fiscal austerity programme, workers hustled to finish bright blue landing pads for helicopters at the vacation compound and to erect a tent the size of a circus big-top where the king could feast and entertain his enormous retinue.





The royal familys fortune derives from the reserves of petroleum discovered during the reign of Salmans father, King Abdulaziz ibn Saud, more than 75 years ago. The sale of oil provides billions of dollars in annual allowances, public-sector sinecures and perks for royals, the wealthiest of who own French chateaus and Saudi palaces and stash money in Swiss bank accounts.





King Salman serves as chairman of the family business unofficially known as Al Saud Inc. Sustained low oil prices have strained the economy and forced questions about whether the family  with thousands of members and still growing  can simultaneously maintain its lavish lifestyle and its unchallenged grip on the country.





These are anxious times for the royals, led by an 80-year-old who has already had at least one stroke and is likely to be the last of six sons of the founding monarch to serve as sovereign. He must wrangle a band of relatives, from the merely well-off to billionaires, who are accustomed from birth to privilege and plenty. While there are serious problems beyond the borders  a costly war in Yemen, violence in Iraq and Syria, an emboldened Iran  it is the countrys economic troubles that risk roiling ordinary citizens, if their own cradle-to-grave benefits are cut too much.





Revenues from the national oil company, Saudi Aramco, have long been the lifeblood of government spending. Some in the family have resisted a proposal by the kings son Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to partly privatise it, since listing it on stock exchanges in New York or London would bring new audits of Aramco and possibly more insights into government funding, and in turn, money for the royals.





Facing huge budget gaps, the government has cut public-sector pay along with subsidies, sending gasoline, electricity and even water bills higher. The kingdom has begun borrowing by the billions both at home and abroad. And hiring by the government  a large and sought after employer for Saudis  has been cut, instilling fear for the future in younger people who cannot find work. Royals are sharing the pain, according to Anas al-Qusayer, the spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Information, who said that their allowances had been reduced. At least some royals, though, have seen no decline in their stipends, according to several Saudis close to the family.





Under Salman, princes again appear to enjoy a lot more material privileges, and the core allowance system has not been changed, said Steffen Hertog, an associate professor at the London School of Economics who wrote a book on the political economy of Saudi Arabia, Princes, Brokers and Bureaucrats. Some royals are still spending big. Dania Sinno, a real estate agent with Belles Demeures de France, said that multiple family members had been buying property in Paris in the last year. She recently sold a nearly 11,000-square-foot apartment on the exclusive Rue Octave-Feuillet for more than $30 million to a Saudi princess.





Through dozens of interviews with diplomats and money managers, economists, real-estate and travel agents, interior decorators and members of the House of Saud and by reviewing court records and real-estate documents, The New York Times has pieced together details of the familys spending. The scale of the clans fortune is a closely guarded secret. The money is divided among many relatives and spread across several continents, making a precise accounting difficult. The funding mechanisms are opaque by design.





While chinks in the wall of secrecy appear through legal cases and tabloid reports overseas, the royals have learned not to flaunt their wealth before the nations 30 million commoners. The family members have erected high walls around their palaces, bought overseas assets with shell companies, used intermediaries for large investments and demanded nondisclosure agreements from employees.





The so-called Panama Papers released in April revealed that King Salman was involved in offshore companies in Luxembourg and the British Virgin Islands. The records linked him to a yacht and multimillion-dollar properties in London. The relatives in the royal family number in the thousands, but from there, estimates diverge, said Joseph Kechichian, who has studied the family for three decades and wrote a book, Succession in Saudi Arabia. He estimates that there are now 12,000 to 15,000 princes and about as many princesses. Princess Basmah bint Saud, a daughter of King Saud, five years ago put the number of royals at 15,000.





But the Saudi Ministry Spokesman Qusayer said there were no more than 5,000 members of the House of Saud. The difference may stem in part from whether or how one counts distant relatives and families who ruled back before the time of King Abdulaziz, the current kings father. At some point, the family could grow too large to support.





Saudi middle class





As the size of the family and the general population have grown, some observers say, the balance of rewards has become harder to maintain. Despite a robust social safety net  including free education and health care  there are poor Saudis, and many in the middle class barely make ends meet. At the top level, they know that they have to leave something for the rest of the country, otherwise theyll be out on their ear, Jean-Francois Seznec, senior fellow at the Global Energy Center at the Atlantic Council, said of the royal family. If you ask the population to make sacrifices in order for the state to get money, you cant have one part of the society take advantage.





Senior members of the House of Saud are keenly aware that they lost their previous kingdom in the 19th century because of family infighting. King Saud was deposed in 1964 and replaced by his brother King Faisal, who, in turn, was assassinated by a nephew. When upheaval occurred in countries all around Saudi Arabia during the Arab Spring, King Abdullahs response was to spend $130 billion on salaries and social programmes.





Salman, who succeeded Abdullah in January 2015, bestowed an estimated $32 billion on his subjects, including bonuses of two months salary to government employees. Oil prices had begun their precipitous decline, but it was not yet clear how far they would fall. Three months later, the king promoted his nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, now 57, as the first crown prince among the founding kings grandsons, and his own son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, now 31, as next in line.





While members of the family have been investing overseas for decades, the pace of buying homes abroad has quickened in the last two years, according to Ardavan Amir-Aslani, a business lawyer who has advised Saudi princes on real estate acquisitions in France.

Behind a tall perimeter wall, studded with surveillance cameras and guarded by Moroccan soldiers, a sprawling new palace for King Salman of Saudi Arabia rose on the Atlantic coast at Tangier last summer.
Barring a few petty quarrels, between women of the village in connection with the double murder of JD(S) workers on Sunday, Thopanahalli remained peaceful on Tuesday.





Police personnel, however, continued to camp in the village to prevent any untoward incident. Police said, Puttalingamma, mother of murder accused Kumar, along with a group of women, picked up a quarrel with Shwetha, wife of deceased Muthuraju, on Tuesday morning.



Puttalingamma, who visited Shwethas house, accused her of falsely implicating her son Kumar in the case. Puttalingamma claimed that Kumar was innocent and Shwetha had deliberately dragged his name in the murder case to settle old scores.



Police camping nearby rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Acting on a complaint lodged by Shwetha, police have taken Puttalingamma into custody. She was taken to the town police station for inquiry.



Four battalions of state and District Armed Reserve force and around 100 additional police personnel, led by DySP Mathew Thomas and PI K R Prasad, have been camping in the village to maintain law and order.
The Malavalli Town Police have nabbed 14 people in connection with a robbery case reported near Ramanduru, Kirugavalu hobli in the taluk on December 12. The police have recovered Rs 52.81 lakh in cash, a car and mobile phones from the arrested.





The police said Srinivas, a post office employee of Kalenahalli, had lodged a complaint that Srinivas, son of Rangaswamy of Mandya, had cheated him of Rs 5 lakh in exchange of old notes for new ones.



He had also cheated one Swamy of Rs 5 lakh and several others to the tune of Rs 67 lakh luring them into exchanging new notes for old currency. In the December 12 incident, the accused, Srinivas, reportedly drove them in a car to an isolated place and later escaped with the cash after throwing chilli powder at them. The accused and his accomplices also pelted stones at the car, said the complaint.



The Town Police, who registered a complaint, began a probe led by SP Sudhir Kumar Reddy and Additional SP Savitha, and arrested Umesh, Channakeshava, Chaluvaraju, Mahadevaswamy, Ramalinga of Ramanduru, Dilip, CCTV Anand, Rajesh, Mysurammana maga Ananda, Abhishek, Purushotama, Vasu, Babu of T Narasipur and Manja of Shravanabelagola, in connection with the crime.



2 minors held for murder



The Malavalli police have detained two minors in connection with murder of Kumar, at Handanahalli in the taluk, on December 24. They were produced before the court, reports DHNS from Malavalli.



JD(S) worker Kumar of Benamanahalli was attacked by three motorbike-borne miscreants after they threw chilli powder into his eyes and murdered him with lethal weapons. Halagur police had registered a case in this regard. Police said they are on the lookout for the prime accused Keerthi.
The Mangaluru North police have arrested two persons in connection with chain snatching reported in Ullal and Moodbidri region. The arrested are Vimarsh Alva (21), a resident of Kulshekar, and Shahil Hussain (21), a resident of Pandeshwar.





Vimarsh is the son of Human Rights Federation of India former executive director Vijay Prasad Alva and the present Ullal City Municipal Council commissioner Vani Alva.



The police have seized three gold chains and 2 two-wheelers, from the arrested. The value of the total seized property is Rs 2.26 lakh. The duo were involved in chain snatching reported at Madyar in Ullal police station jurisdiction on December 13 and at Moodbidri on December 25.



Ironically, the Facebook page of Vimarsh, an alumnus of St Aloysius College and Sharada Vidyalaya, reads, Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless.



Held for sexual assault



The Dharmasthala police have arrested a man for reportedly trying to outrage the modesty of a minor girl at Nidle.



The arrested is Umesh, 25. He entered inside the house of the girl when her family members had gone out. Based on the complaint by the girls mother, the police arrested the man. A case under Pocso Act has been registered.



Gold stolen



The thieves gained entry into a house and decamped with 40 pawn gold ornaments and cash of Rs 9,000 at Peraje in Sullia on Monday night. The house belongs to Abdul Rahim.



The theft occurred when the family members were attending a religious discourse at a mosque in Peraje. A case has been registered.



Woman held for theft



The Konaje police have arrested a woman who was accused of engaging in theft of ornaments worn by small children at marriage halls by diverting their attention.



The arrested is Minnath, 39, a resident of Kodi Ullal. She was engaged in theft of ornaments worn by children at marriage halls at Thokkottu and Deralakatte. The stolen ornaments were sold to Yogesh of Ombattukere.



The police have arrested Yogesh as well. The police have seized 60 gram gold ornaments from Minnath and 23 gram ornaments from Yogesh.
Passengers aboard a Jet Airways flight en route to Mumbai from Goa had a miraculous escape in the early hours of Tuesday.





The aircraft turned a full 360 degrees and veered off the runway while aligning for takeoff, before coming to a halt on the soft land nose down. There were 154 passengers and seven crew members on board the Boeing 737 aircraft.



The nose cone was virtually on the grass abutting the runway, about 250-300 metres away, indicating the seriousness of the accident that could have been disastrous.



There was panic inside the aircraft as the plane jerked when it spun. The landing gear was damaged in the accident.



A passenger told reporters: When people were getting down from the plane, the escape chute suddenly tilted forward triggering panic and chaos. This resulted in minor injuries to 15 passengers.



A highly-placed officer in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said: Prima facie the accident appears to be pilots fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of two pilots, including the commander, pending initial outcome of the probe.



A probe will be conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. A source in New Delhi said the AAIB has rushed a three-member team to the spot to begin the probe. A source in the AAIB also said that in all probability, the accident took place because of the pilots fault, adding, We will get to know the actual cause of the accident only after the initial report is submitted. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said a thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action will be ensured.



The preliminary findings are likely to be submitted in a weeks time. Seven of the injured have been discharged from hospital, Jet Airways stated, adding that normal operations to and from Goa have resumed. A Jet Airways spokesperson said: Jet Airways is fully cooperating with various authorities, including the DGCA and AAIB.



Navys prompt response



A naval spokesperson said: The navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely from the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the navy not acted promptly.



After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started, he said. The runway was made available for flight operations at 9 am, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 pm. Seven scheduled flights were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded.
A fractured Opposition on Tuesday declared that it would work towards a common agenda to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the failed demonetisation exercise and allegations of graft against him.





Leaders of eight political parties  the Congress, Trinamool, DMK, JD(S), RJD, JMM, IUML and the AIUDF  addressed a press conference here to question the demonetisation decision forced on the country by Modi.



Will you take responsibility for the failure and resign? asked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, adding that 47 of the 50 days requested by Modi to restore normalcy were over.



She highlighted demonetisation and corruption as issues around which a common agenda could be forged by the Opposition. We can work together in the future, she said, flanked by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva and RJD leader Jayprakash Narain Yadav among others.



Earlier, the leaders of the eight parties met to discuss a common minimum programme for protests against demonetisation in the new year. There were suggestions of having joint pressers across the country to highlight the failure of the demonetisation exercise as well as the allegations of personal corruption by the prime minister.



Rahul played down the absence of the leaders from the CPM, NCP, JD(U), CPI and the AIADMK at the joint presser citing local compulsions.



Opposition unity is a process...Broadly everyone is taking a common line  demonetisation is a failed exercise. Rahul told reporters.



Egged on by reporters, a reluctant Rahul also echoed the demand made by Banerjee, who stole the show at the joint press conference.



If he doesn't resign, we will put pressure on him to resign, the Congress vice president said to a volley of questions over Banerjees demand for Modi's resignation.



DMK leader Siva accused Modi of pushing the country into a financial crisis by forcing the note ban decision without prior planning.
India on Tuesday asked Norway to ensure that an Indian-Norwegian couple living in Oslo get back their son, who was taken away by the countrys Child Welfare Services.





Oslo, however, reiterated to New Delhi that officials of its Child Welfare Services had strictly adhered to the Norwegian Child Welfare Act, when they took away five-and-a-half-year-old Aryan from his parents, Anil Sharma and Gurvinderjit Kaur and put him in foster care.



I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj posted on Twitter on Tuesday.



She not only articulated New Delhis tough stand on the issue in a series of tweets, but also instructed Indias Ambassador to Norway, Debraj Pradhan, to meet senior officials of the Norwegian government.



We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents, she added. This is our firm stand and the Indian Ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities.



Aryans mother Gurvinderjit Kaur wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking help to get back her son, whom officials of the Norwegian Child Welfare Services took away, claiming that they had received complaints about the child being beaten up at home.
Union Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal refuted the charges of former Tamil Nadu chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao against the Centre, saying everyone is equal before the law.





Rejecting Raos statement that the income tax raids against him were a constitutional assault on the office of the chief secretary, Meghwal said, Whoever is wrong will be punished. He should think like a common citizen of this country. Had a common citizen done this, would he not have faced this?



Echoing his colleagues view, Law Minister Ravishankar Prasad said, The law is equal to all and the chief secretary is not a constitutional post as claimed by Rao. He said the income tax officials raided only after credible evidence was obtained by them.



Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said Rao had brought discredit to the late chief minister Jayalalithaa, by saying the raids at his home and office would not have occurred had she been alive.
Girls are still killed in wombs, dowry continues to claim lives and acid attacks disfigure many but the fight for gender equality is still being waged -- whether it is for entry into holy shrines or flying a fighter jet or opposing a discriminatory divorce law.





Same is the case for Dalits, who were brutally beaten up and in some cases, even killed for the job they do. The flogging actually flocked them together to fight for political space and bargain for their rights.



India is changing with the economically and socially underprivileged not shying away from a fight against the patriarchal colossus in 2016.



This is the year India could boast of crossing the one billion mark in mobile connections, signalling a new high with more people WhatsApping and Facebooking as well as using the Internet for venting their anger and anguish on issues of their concern.



One big take-away



One of the biggest take-aways was the fight for womens entry into holy spaces. Whether it was Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtras Ahmednagar or Keralas Sabarimala or Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, women were in the forefront of a fight against a custom which was evidently biased.



They won in Shani temple and Haji Ali Dargah but the legal battle is still on in Sabarimala. Though religious orthodoxy helmed by men managed to keep the women away from holy spaces, the fairer sex have now managed to create fissures in it.



What right does the temple have to forbid women from entering any part of the temple? Can you deny a woman her right to climb Mount Everest? The reasons for banning anything must be common for all, Supreme Court Judge Justice Dipak Misra said during one of the hearings on Sabarimala.



Another issue that got prominence in the countrys discourse was the issue of triple talaq. The debate was not restricted to rights of women but got enlarged to whether personal laws can be violative of Constitutional provisions.



It has not reached a logical conclusion in courts but those who raised it have managed to strike a chord among several people.



But the question is how they could wade through the vested electoral interests of parties of all hues as well as Muslim orthodoxy and emerge victorious in their fight.Tempers also rose on the Uniform Civil Code with the ruling BJP pitching for the idea but it still needs to gain traction as a section of Muslims and other minorities are still wary of any such move.



Though several secular and Left academicians and intellectuals are supportive of the idea, they doubt the intentions of BJP, as they believe that the ruling party is pushing forward a divisive agenda.



Dalit atrocities, too, hogged the limelight with more and more underprivileged taking assertive political stands. Dalit rights became a talking point after some youths were beaten up for doing their job  skinning dead cows  in Gujarat.



Censorship



Shrillness in TV studios and social media, sometimes bordering on rational and informed debate taking a back seat, was another highlight of 2016.



Tamil author Perumal Murugan, who returned to writing this year after he faced trouble for his novel, summed up this August, A censor is seated inside me now.



He is testing every word that is born within me. His constant caution that a word may be misunderstood so, or it may be interpreted this way, is a real bother. But I am unable to shake him off.
The ninth edition of Jagriti Yatra, a train journey to encourage social entrepreneurship, made a stop in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Five hundred yatris from all over the country and abroad took part in a mela and interaction at Mount Carmel College.





The 15-day train journey, which started in Mumbai, arrived in Bengaluru after making a stop at Hubballi. At each stop, the yatris interact with local social leaders who are known as role models. In Bengaluru, they interacted with Hemalatha Annamalai, founder of Ampere Technologies, which manufactures electric vehicles.



The mission of the yatra is to build India through social enterprises by encouraging youngsters between the ages of 20 and 27 to create jobs. One such entrepreneur is 22-year-old Naresh Sijapati from Ahmedabad. Sijapatis family migrated from Nepal to Gujarat in search of work when he was young.



I used to go to school in the day and work as a waiter in restaurants at night. I interacted with many migrant labourers in this period, he said.



Sijapati has now set up an NGO in Ahmedabad which helps immigrants get jobs, benefits from government schemes and education. For me, this journey is about networking with people who are doing work similar to mine. I am also getting ideas about how I can create a bigger impact through my organisation, he said.



Pooja Shahi from Deoria district in Uttar Pradesh had a hard time convincing her family about coming on the journey. I used to sit on the roof to get the mobile network so I could download designs for jewellery. Now, I have started my own venture selling handmade ornaments and I want to employ women in my village, she said. Interacting with people from different states and countries has made her more confident and she believes in her dream of making the women of Deoria independent.



The yatra also attracts youngsters from abroad who want to work in the social sector. Hanane Boukhalfa used to help rural women in Algeria find a market for their handmade soaps. Inspired by a session on Selco in Hubballi, she is now thinking of other fields she could work in. I had not thought of working with anything outside of cosmetics. After the discussion on solar energy, I started wondering how I could help people in my country harness this resource, she said.



From Bengaluru, the yatris will travel to Madurai, stopping at 12 locations in all.
For the BJP, 2019 appears to be knocking two years ahead. At least, that seems plausible due to next years Assembly elections in five states, and that too in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where stakes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also an MP from Varanasi, and BJP president Amit Shah are high.





The year 2016 has been largely kind to the BJP, unlike the previous year which had shaken the party leadership handing them humbling back-to-back defeats in Bihar and Delhi.



In this years state elections, the party won in Assam, made some inroads into uncharted territory of Kerala, which prompted Modi to comment after the results that the BJPs ideology is being accepted, appreciated and supported by more and more people.



But, it could not consolidate on its 2014 Lok Sabha performance to create a buzz in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Similarly, barring Delhi, the party did well in corporation elections of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.



The BJP knows that state elections would be treated as a referendum on the Modi governments performance. In the words of a BJP general secretary, the Uttar Pradesh elections would be Modi versus Modi, for the poll outcome either way would be interpreted to suggest people's mandate for demonetisation of currency notes, a high-risk gamble the prime minister himself took.



The positive outcome of the civic polls in states has been treated by the BJP as peoples vote for demonetisation and rejection of Opposition's attempt to cash in on sufferings faced in accessing banks and ATMs.



The BJP leaders, however, are confident that people are willing to take pain for long term gain  a trust that emanates from Modi's willingness to take the battle against corruption and black money to the next stage in the new year by declaring war against benami property in his Mann Ki Baat programme on December 25.



The BJP has prepared a report card of good governance by the central government to showcase the performance of the two-and-a-half-year-old NDA regime even though 2019 general elections are faraway.



This is an unusual attempt but is part of the partys electoral strategy, realising that Modi remains its mascot for the electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, due in early 2017. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the poll dates anytime now in order to hold polls in the two states February onwards.



Modi vs Akhilesh



Modis development plank, which the party tried to distill among voters through its just-held 52-day long Parivartan Yatra in the state, is witnessing a riveting contest from the work done by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh.



Akhileshs own image of a performer, that came across through investments on infrastructure, especially roads and electricity, is intriguingly being analysed by the masses in isolation of the ugly Yadav family feud and the bad law and order situation in the state.



If the ruling Samajwadi Party manages to strike an alliance with the Congress as reports suggest, it would pose a tough challenge for the BJP's prospects of ending 15 years of vanvas.



An alliance would ensure that Muslims, who account for 20% of the state's population, remain intact with the SP, which in a multi-cornered battle, would get dispersed among the Opposition parties. That scenario will also cast a shadow on BSP chief Mayawati's chance of a comeback, which pollsters had predicted as possible in their earlier forecasts.



To upset caste calculus of regional parties, the BJP poll managers are tapping non-Jatav and non-Yadav, the most backward communities, by entering into an alliance with smaller parties and giving representation to OBCs such as Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was made the partys Uttar Pradesh unit chief. Similarly, Dara Singh Chauhan, a Nonia by caste from eastern Uttar Pradesh, has been made the BJP OBC morcha president.
Seeking to turn the tables on the BJP, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the graft charges against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.





Rahul said Delhi former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, whose name figures in the controversial Sahara/Birla diaries alongside Modi, had demanded an impartial inquiry into it.



Sheilaji has said please order an inquiry. Why is Modiji shying away from an inquiry, the Congress vice president asked at a joint press conference of eight opposition parties against demonetisation and corruption. A Supreme Court-monitored probe, he said when asked what kind of probe he wanted in the Sahara/Birla papers.



Rahul said the Congress and other Opposition parties welcomed the prime ministers crusade against corruption and black money, but wondered why Modi was ignoring graft allegations against him.



We have said, we are ready for whatever action you take against corruption and black money. But, why are you ignoring the charges levelled against you, the Congress leader said reiterating his charge that Modi, during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister, received Rs 40 crore as bribe.



Last week, the Congress had tweeted a list of names of chief ministers who allegedly received kickbacks from corporate houses. The list also included Sheila. Initially, Sheila questioned the authenticity of the Sahara/Birla diaries and said she was surprised that the Congress had tweeted the list.



On Tuesday, Sheila went back on her earlier comments and targeted Modi by demanding an independent and thorough probe in the Sahara/Birla papers. Why is PM Modi shying from an independent and a thorough probe into the #BirlaSaharaPapers? Sheila tweeted.
Over 180 films from 50 countries, competition sections on Asian, Indian and Kannada cinema, special thematic sections on French Cult Comedies and Women Power. Coming alive from February 2 to 9 next year, the ninth edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFES) promises all that and more.





To be held simultaneously at PVR Cinemas, Orion Mall in Rajajinagar here and INOX Cinemas in Mall of Mysuru, the festival will showcase retrospectives on Bengali filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Kannada actress Harini and Hungarian film director Zoltan Fabri.



Also on the festival agenda are films by Englishman Ken Loach, Asghar Farhadi from Iran, Kim Ki Duk from Korea, and Cristian Mungiu from Romania. The list of films selected for the competition sections will be announced in the first week of January 2017.



Besides the Contemporary Cinema of the World section, BIFFES will also feature films from Luxembourg, Egypt, Vietnam and Asia-Pacific in the Country Focus section. Homage will be paid to J Jayalalithaa, M Balamuralikrishna, Dr Ashok Pai, L Srihari Khoday, Andrzej Wajda (Poland), Abbas Kiarostami (Iran), Paul Cox (Australia), Jacques Rivette and Raoul Cottard (France).



In the Cinema of the World section, 30% of the films will be those made by woman directors. For the first time, Africa and Latin America will be well represented with films from Ghana, Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, Venezuela and Colombia, the festivals Artistic Director N Vidyashankar told mediapersons here on Tuesday.



A section on Biopics will feature films on artist Van Gogh, filmmaker Fritz Lang, poet Pablo Neruda and Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi.



BIFFES will also have technical sessions including a workshop on sound design/editing, master classes on scripting and documentary filmmaking, and a special discussion on emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality.



Film tourism policy



The state government is expected to unveil a film tourism policy at the film festival launch, said Karnataka Chalachitra Academy chairman Rajendrasingh Babu. Consultations are on between Tourism minister Priyank Kharge and the Academy to formulate the policy.



Other key initiatives in the pipeline include a separate cell/directorate for film festivals on the lines of what exists in Delhi and Mumbai; a film city and Janata Chitramandiras for which government orders have already been issued, and a memorial for Vishnuvardhan. Guidelines are now being finalised for the Chitramandiras.
Three Bs - Beku, Beda and Bandh - were issues which dominated Bengaluru in 2016. Reawakening of the civil society in attempts to reclaim the city and forcing the government to reconsider its plans by way of beku (want) and beda (dont want) campaigns are positive signs.





Two big and violent protests - first by garment factory workers and second by various organisations against the Supreme Court verdict to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu - were witnessed during the year.



Citizen activism is nothing new to Bengaluru, which has a history of strong resident welfare associations (RWAs) and citizens groups like Whitefield Rising. As many as 12,000 people took to the streets, demanding better infrastructure in Whitefield, the hub of global IT companies.



The protest busted the popular belief that people with good education and high income in Bengaluru dont care about civil society and governance, says R K Misra, who is part of several citizens groups and member of the governments Bengaluru Vision Group.



What made 2016 more interesting is the way in which a large number of people who were hitherto not connected with RWAs or citizens groups took it upon themselves to reclaim their city.



Urban evangelist V Ravichandar points out how a contentious project like the steel flyover became a flashpoint to rekindle citizen activism. People who were not a part of any movement took to the streets to protest against the unscientific project. Close to 6,000 people formed a human chain against the flyover, while thousands of Bengalureans expressed their solidarity on social media.



What makes this more significant is the composition of the groups - a majority of the protesters were from middle and upper middle class families which own at least one car. But they were all against the flyover (that could have helped car users) and batted for improving the public transport system.



When the government did not heed the protests, an individual and a civic group not connected with the #steelflyoverbeda campaign quietly obtained a stay on the construction of the flyover from the National Green Tribunal, Chennai. The stay still continues.



Misra says these movements will last as long as the government doesnt respond. People usually go about their lives without bothering much. This time, they were forced to take to the streets for and against certain projects by the government. This means that the government has failed to take people into confidence.



After successfully roping in thousands of citizens for #steelflyoverbeda, Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB) led by actor Prakash Belawadi is focusing on its next campaign for commuter trains, to ease traffic on the citys roads. The movement #chuckubuhkubeku is gaining momentum.



A similar successful campaign was against the proposed privatisation of Venkatappa Art Gallery. Artists launched a beda campaign, forcing the government to go slow on handing over the gallery to a private firm and eventually, give a quietus to the memorandum of understanding.



The movement saw artists coming together to reclaim their space in the city, besides mobilising popular support from various sections.



The Cauvery riots in October resulted in the death of a person in police firing. Arson and loot across the city reminded one of the violent Cauvery protests in the 1990s. Several buses of a Tamil Nadu-based private transport company were set on fire, in addition to many other vehicles and shops.



The protests led to the virtual sealing of the border between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for nearly a month.



Similarly, protests by garment workers against the Centres new guidelines on Provident Fund led to large-scale violence for two days. Anti-social elements used the opportunity to loot and damage public property. Besides these bandhs, the KSRTC strike and the general strike called by trade unions brought the city to a halt.
The event titled Digitally Unlocked will be held in New Delhi on January 4, and will discuss new programs and products, as well as some key announcements for small businesses and startups.

Google is sending out invites for a January 4 event titled Digitally Unlocked. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai will be present at the event, which will also be presided by the Union Minister of Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad. Prasad is expected to deliver a keynote address on upgrading skills and embracing technology to drive SME growth in India. In addition, the event will also see VP and MD of Google South-East Asia, Rajan Anandan highlight the importance of Indias SMB ecosystem. Anandan is also a serial startup investor and has made early-stage investments in many Indian tech startups.

At the event, pichai is expected to launch the Digital Unlocked platform, which is aimed at helping small and medium businesses.

Google has announced various digital initiatives in partnership with the Government of India in 2016. Just recently, Google India and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs announced a nationwide Digital Safe Consumer campaign. The campaign is a part of a larger effort to better protect consumer interests online. This is a year long campaign, which will provide training and information on online safety tools. Back in July, Google had also launched the Android Skilling Program to train 2 million developers in India.
Nokias return to the smartphone business has been in the news ever since Microsoft dumped the residue of the Finnish giants previous stint, and since then, leaks, specifications and rumours surrounding a certain Nokia D1C have been doing the rounds. From initial rumours quoting flagship specifications to most of the recent renders stating the makings of a budget phone, weve seen enough leaks and renders to take a guess at how the upcoming phone will be.



Initial renders: The Nokia D1C

However, the latest leak that is being circulated quotes completely different specifications from what weve heard of late. While most recent leaks state that the Nokia D1C will run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 430 SoC with 2GB/3GB RAM variants, the latest leak suggests that the Nokia D1C will actually run on one of Qualcomms Snapdragon 600 series SoCs, along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of native storage. Earlier leaks also pointed towards two screen sizes - 5-inch and 5.5-inch form factors, with the smaller variant housing a 13MP primary camera and the larger variant housing a 16MP primary camera along with a fingerprint sensor.



...but apparently it will be like this.

The new Nokia phone is also expected to run on Android Nougat, keeping it up to do with the latest available firmware. In terms of looks, while erstwhile manufacturing partner HMD Global has stated in interviews that the new Nokia phones will be relatable and symbolic of the companys glorious past, most of the leaks have pointed to a Lumia-like design, with curved sides and pointed corner edges.

However, there have been variations in the leaked images, although credibility of each of these remain questionable. Apart from the mostly leaked photos (like the ones mentioned above), other leaks have pointed at slightly different designs with slim bezels, slightly curved metal rear panels, and even an HTC-esque build with antenna bands on top and bottom edges. The latest leak seems to show a device with slim screen bezels, although nothing else can be discerned from there.



HTC-esque Nokia renders - Would you buy this?

While all of this seems to be in place for Nokias budget smartphone offering, weve also come across a flagship device that the company may be simultaneously working on. Reportedly codenamed Nokia C1, leaked renders of the device show a design that resembles somewhat of a cross between flagship Lumias and the initial Sony Ericsson Xperia flagships of olden days. In terms of specifications, the Nokia C1 will reportedly be powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 830 SoC, along with 4GB RAM, up to 128GB of native storage, a 3210mAh battery pack, and a central dual-camera module with Xenon flash.



Throwback to good designs: Nokia Lumia meets Sony Ericsson Xperia?

With HMD Global due for presentation at the Mobile World Congress 2017 and so many leaks at hand, we expect the company to show off multiple devices at the conference. While the Nokia D1C (which we expect to launch with a different name) is now being held as a near-certainty, we may have to wait slightly longer for the flagship counterparts to launch. As of now, weve got our eyes and ears strained for more news on what is the most anticipated comeback by a tech company in 2017!
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Police charge suspect who fired at police, was shot in exchange

Columbus police identified the gunman wounded by police early Thursday morning as Raymond Richard Hampton, 26, of the University District.
Catholic priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Yemen by Islamic State militants, has appealed to Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release through a video in which he also says he is being ignored because he is not European. Responding to Uzhunnalil's request, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj assured help, saying ''the life of every Indian is most precious for us''. ''If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value,'' says Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by news channels in Kerala a day after Christmas. ''Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating,'' Uzhunnalil says in the video. In a series of tweets, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said Indian authorities will spare no effort to secure the release of Uzhunnalil. ''I have seen the video from Father Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us,'' said Swaraj. ''We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Father Tom's release from captivity.'' The ministry of external affairs (MEA) also said India is in regular touch with Saudi Arabian and Yemeni authorities and is undertaking efforts to secure his release. ''You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country. With regard to the safe release of Father Tom, who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities. Efforts continue in this regard,'' MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Father Uzhunnalil, who is from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group ISIS which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in the southern Yemeni city of Aden.








Letterkennys Cathedral Quarter project is calling on the help of businesses and sponsors across the county to invest in the innovative and ground-breaking project. Since it was first established three years ago, the project has grown considerably and the Cathedral Quarter committee is looking to appoint a full-time administrator to continue the good work and fulfil the potential of the Cathedral Quarter area.

Paddy Friel, Cathedral Quarter Chairperson, believes that the Cathedral Quarter project presents an opportunity for Letterkenny and the greater northwest: We envisage that Letterkennys Cathedral Quarter can have the same impact on the northwest as Galways Latin Quarter had on the West of Ireland. The Artisan Street of the Church Lane leads to some of Letterkennys most iconic buildings including St. Eunans Cathedral and Conwal Parish Church (1636), the towns oldest building. The area has the potential to become a must-see attraction for those travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way and we need to ensure that the good work continues on a steady basis.

To date, weve had great support from local businesses and people for which we are very grateful. We have had some funding made available through Donegal County Council, but we need to appoint a full-time administrator to continue the work. So far, five businesses have opened in the Cathedral Quarter which was once a derelict road, he added.

Local man and Cathedral Quarter secretary, Donnan Harvey has spearheaded the project and played a vital role in the regeneration of the Church Lane.

He was working under the TUS Scheme under DLDC Ltd but that has now come to an end. Earlier this month, he announced that he wouldnt be able to continue in his role as no other funding has become available to support his efforts:

I will be devastated to leave the project but unfortunately, if no wage is forthcoming early in the New Year then my participation in this project will come to a complete end. Over the last three years, I was charged with the responsibility of leading the project and never received any money for my efforts.

The situation was manageable during the establishment phase of the project, but I just cant go on. Like everybody else, I have bills and loans to pay.

The aim of the Cathedral Quarter project is to regenerate the historical Church Lane street and surrounding areas to create a tourist attraction in the heart of Letterkenny that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike.

Even though the project has received very little funding it has gathered significant momentum through social media and by the support of local, national and international media.

The project has featured on Irish TV, RTEs Nationwide, Irish Independent, the Irish Times as well as Pittsburgh Radio station WEDO 810 AM.

The Cathedral Quarter committee has worked with many groups and different organisations including the Architectural Technology Department at the Letterkenny Institute, Letterkenny Tidy Towns, Duncan McLaren from Dedalus Architecture and Kevin Yeats to work on a development plan which was sent to the Donegal County Council this year.

Many people have given their time and effort towards the regeneration project, but we really need the support of a sponsor or group of sponsors to keep the regeneration going. A full-time administrator would really help with the great work already done, Paddy Friel concluded.

For more information on sponsorship and for queries contact Paddy Friel, Cathedral Quarter Chairperson on chair.lkcathedralquarter@hotmail.com. For updates visit the Church Lane  Cathedral Quarter Facebook page.
Social media sites are overrun with folks bemoaning the terrible things that happened during this year. I've even aired my grievances about 2016 before and after Festivus, so far be it from me to be pity party pooper.

But here's some perspective for all of us.

Military vehicles make their way down a flooded North Carolina following October's devastating Hurricane Matthew. (Photo courtesy Federal Emergency Management Agency

For millions of people worldwide, 2016 literally was a disastrous year. In the United States alone, Mother Nature pummeled the country throughout the year, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, issuing 46 major disaster declarations (still called presidentially declared disasters by some; OK, by me).

Not to tempt fate with a few days left, but that disaster figure could grow. I offer the count qualification since it takes a while to assess a storm's damages, meaning many of the declarations early this year were for 2015 disasters.

The one tiny sliver of a silver lining, however, is that in these disastrous situations, Uncle Sam and Internal Revenue Service offer affected storm victims some help.

And in seven states -- Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and, most recently, Tennessee -- that includes some 2016 tax deadlines extended into the coming New Year.

Latest 2016 disaster in Tennessee: This year started with the winter storm named Jonas by the Weather Channel.

Nicknamed "Snowzilla" by some, the Jan. 22-24 storm dropped record snowfall amounts on parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and 48 people lost their lives due to the storm or its aftereffects. The FEMA announcements came in March.

The most recent disaster was the deadly wildfire in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area. The flames, which investigators believe were intentionally set by two youths, consumed more than 17,000 acres of forest, damaged or destroyed almost 2,000 structures and, most tragically, injured 145 people and killed 14. The fire's total dollar cost is expected to be more than $500 million.

In the wake of the FEMA assessment, the IRS announced Dec. 20 that victims of the wildfires in Sevier Country, Tennessee may qualify for tax relief.

The special tax consideration applies to:

Any individual taxpayer (or spouse if the couple files a joint return) who lives in the county,

Any business owner whose principal place of business is located in the disaster-declared county,

Any relief worker assisting in the covered disaster area,

Any individual or business owner who doesn't live or work in the county, but whose records needed to meet a filing or payment deadline are maintained in the covered disaster area, and

Any estate or trust that has tax records necessary to meet a filing or payment deadline in a covered disaster area.

What may be postponed: Under the IRS announcement, the IRS gives affected Tennessee taxpayers until March 31, 2017, to file most tax returns. This includes individual, estate, trust, partnership, C corporation, and S corporation income tax returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; and employment and certain excise tax returns.

Affected taxpayers also have until the next March deadline to make tax payments, including estimated tax filings, that have either an original or extended due date falling between Nov. 28 and March 31, 2017.

The postponement of time to file and pay, however, does not apply to information returns in the W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 series, or to Forms 1042-S or 8027. But the IRS notes that penalties for failure to timely file information returns can be waived under existing procedures for reasonable cause.

Likewise, the postponement does not apply to employment and excise tax deposits. The IRS, however, will abate penalties for failure to make timely employment and excise deposits, due on or after Nov. 28 and by March 31, 2017.

Applying for relief: If you're one of the wildfire taxpayers who gets the extra time, you don't have to do anything.

The IRS says it automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief.

If you are eligible for the wildfire disaster extended tax due date, but get a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS, call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.

Also, if you're an affected taxpayer who lives or has a business located outside the covered disaster area and think you, too, should get some wildfire related tax considerate, call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request it.

Time shifting your tax filing: Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area also have the option of claiming the disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year.

That means you need to look at your 2015 tax return and determine whether it would be more tax-beneficial for you to file an amended return for that year, or waiting and claiming the loss next year when you file your 2016 federal return.

If you decide to claim the disaster loss on your amended 2015 return, put the disaster designation "Tennessee, Wildfires" at the top of the form -- yes, you must file a paper amended Form 1040X -- so that the IRS can expedite the processing of the refund.

And if you need previously filed tax returns to complete your amended filing, the IRS will waive the usual fees and expedite requests for copies of those prior filings affected taxpayers.

Again, taxpayers should put the assigned disaster designation "Tennessee, Wildfires" in red ink at the top of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS.

You also can find more about claiming losses related to casualties, disasters and thefts in IRS Publication 547, as well as in the links collected on the ol' blog's special Storm Warnings disaster resources page, including this post specifically on filing amended returns related to major disaster losses.

Later dates for more states: Earlier this year, the IRS established later due dates for tax actions of folks in previously announced other major disaster areas.

The following compilation of disaster extended tax deadlines is thanks largely to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Newsstand email alert.

Florida: The counties of Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia that were affected Oct. 3 by Hurricane Matthew. The extended date is March 15, 2017, which includes next Jan. 17's deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments, as well as those who got an extension to Oct. 17 to file their 2015 income tax returns. Affected business tax deadlines include the Oct. 31 and Jan. 31, 2017, deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns, and the March 1, 2017, deadline that applies to farmers and fishermen who choose to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments. Georgia: The counties of Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Ware, and Wayne that were affected Oct. 4 by Hurricane Matthew. The extended date is March 15, 2017, which includes next Jan. 17's deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments and 2015 income tax returns that received a tax-filing extension until Oct. 17. Louisiana: The parishes of Acadia, Ascension, Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana that were affected by severe storms and flooding that took place beginning on Aug. 11. The extended date is Jan. 17, 2017. That deadline includes individual returns on extension to Oct. 17, the Sept. 15 deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments, the 2015 corporate and partnership returns on extension through Sept. 15, and the Oct. 31 deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns. Louisiana residents also were allowed to tap their retirement accounts to make storm repairs. Minnesota: The counties of Blue Earth, Freeborn, Hennepin, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Waseca that were struck by severe storms and flooding that took place beginning on Sept. 21. The extended date is Jan. 31, 2017, which includes individual returns on extension to Oct. 17 and the Oct. 31 deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns. North Carolina: The counties of Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson that were affected on Oct. 4 by Hurricane Matthew. The extended date is March 15, 2017. This includes the coming Jan. 17 deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments and 2015 income tax returns that received a tax-filing extension until Oct. 17. A variety of affected business tax deadlines also are pushed to next mid-March, including the Oct. 31 and Jan. 31 deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns and the March 1, 2017, deadline that applies to farmers and fishermen who choose to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments. South Carolina: The counties of Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter, and Williamsburg that were affected Oct. 4 by Hurricane Matthew. The extended date is March 15, 2017, which includes the Jan. 17 deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments and 2015 income tax returns that received a tax-filing extension until Oct. 17. On the business tax side, the mid-March deadline covers the Oct. 31 and Jan. 31 deadlines for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns, as well as the March 1, 2017, deadline that applies to farmers and fishermen who choose to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments.

Here's hoping the special tax options for all who were affected by disasters this year helps.

And here's especially hoping for a much less disastrous 2017.

You also might find these items of interest:
Whoever is managing Wisconsins Department of Natural Resources website must be wearing out the delete key. The word climate has been quietly stripped from the departments

webpage dedicated to explaining the states response to climate change, Raw Story reported.

In total, 13 original appearances of the word climate have been kiboshed. The only place youll see the word now is in the climatechange.html URL and a tiny footnote link. Not only that, any reference to humanitys contribution to global warming has been deleted.

The text that appears on the webpage now inserts classic climate skeptic arguments, in which Earths changes are being debated. This is the text on the website as of today:

The Great Lakes and a changing world

As it has done throughout the centuries, the earth is going through a change. The reasons for this change at this particular time in the earths long history are being debated and researched by academic entities outside the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

The effects of such a change are also being debated but whatever the causes and effects, the DNRs responsibility is to manage our states natural resources through whatever event presents itself; flood, drought, tornadoes, ice/snow or severe heat. The DNR staff stands ready to adapt our management strategies in an effort to protect our lakes, waterways, plants, wildlife and people who depend on them.

For more information on the research conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In a post for Urban Milwaukee, political writer James Rowen reported that the original text actually acknowledged that [h]uman activities that increase heattrapping (green house) gases are the main cause [of global warming.] Earths average temperature has increased 1.4 F since 1850 and the eight warmest years on record have occurred since 1998.

In fact, Rowen has detailed the quiet scrubbing of climate change from the entire DNR website for several years, changes that he describes as Orwellian and propagandistic.

This news should not surprise anyone who has followed the career of Wisconsins notorious climate-change-denying Governor, Scott Walker. Ever since he took office in 2011, Walker has used his powers to reduce the role of science in environmental policymaking and to silence discussion of controversial subjects, including climate change, by state employees, as Scientific American observed.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/620626377142743040

And lets not forget that in April 2015, state officials banned employees of a state agency from talking about climate change, conducting any work on it or even responding to emails about it.

In the image below, Rowen shows the exact edits that have been made on the DNR webpage in question. Deletions are crossed out with the black line and a version of the highlighted text is what appears now on the page.
By Jason Mark

Christmas has come and gone, New Years is right around the corner. That must mean its time for my annual roundup of the most important environmental stories of the past year.

Some of these topics got a ton of attention (cue: Donald Trump, Standing Rock) while others didnt get half as much as they deserved (think the Kigali HFC deal and a proposed delisting of the Yellowstone grizzlies). No matter how much ink and airtime they earned, all of these stories revealed some larger trend about the state of the environment and environmental advocacy.

Without further ado, heres my list of the big, the bad and the good from 2016.

1. Climate Science Denier-In-Chief

Fleetingphoto / iStock

Donald Trumps stunning Electoral College victory over Hillary Clinton was the biggest story of 2016, period. American progressives were gutted by the upset and have spent much of the time since figuring out how to resist the Trump-Pence administration.

Many people reasonably fear that a Trump White House will threaten womens reproductive rights, basic civil liberties, undocumented immigrants, the rule of law and any hope of political discourse (and policy-making) rooted in, well, facts. Trump also poses a clear and present danger to our shared environmentespecially the maintenance of a (more-or-less) stable climate.

Make no mistake: A Hillary Clinton presidency wouldnt have been all rose petals and kumbaya for the environmental movement. At the very least, though, Clinton would have continued President Obamas efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now, were facing a climate science Denier-in-Chief, as Trump will hold the distinction of being the only head of state not to accept the basic science of human-driven global warming.

Since the election, he has flirted with environmental luminaries like Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio, but his cabinet picks make plain hes determined to stall, if not reverse, the U.S. recent progress on climate change. Scott Pruitta long-time oil and gas industry bagman, and fellow climate change denierhas been chosen to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The CEO of ExxonMobil has been nominated for Secretary of State. The Clean Power Plan will face attacks from within the federal government beginning on Day One of Trumps presidency. In the face of the coming onslaught, environmental leaders say they are ready to fight like hell to preserve clean air, clean water, a stable climate, and the integrity of public lands and wildlife protections. Expect four long, tough years of political battles to maintain a healthy environment.

2. The Standoff at Standing Rock

Brian Nevins

When LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, a member of North Dakotas Standing Rock Sioux nation, set up an encampment near the Missouri River in April to draw attention to a planned petroleum conduit, hardly anyone had heard of the Dakota Access Pipeline. By September, the resistance camp of water protectors had grown to include thousands of people, and the standoff between indigenous and environmental activists and Energy Transfer Partners and North Dakota law enforcement had catapulted into the national headlines.

Scenes from the weeks of rolling conflictswomen set upon by attack dogs, people arrested in the midst of prayer, sound cannons targeted at marchers and their horses, heavy equipment lit on firegalvanized public sympathy for the Native-led resistance. Solidarity caravans and resupply convoys poured into the water protectors camps throughout the fall. Then the water protectors (provisional) victories sparked new hope for the power of grassroots activism.

In early September, the Obama administration halted pipeline construction at the Missouri River, and in a sweeping statement said the controversy should prompt a serious discussion on whether there should be a nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes views on these types of infrastructure projects. On Dec. 4, Obama called on the Army Corps of Engineers to look for a different pipeline route.

https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/813555015952584704

The battle over the Dakota Access Pipeline is huge for two reasons.

First, it made visible the strength and sophistication of a resurgent Native sovereignty movement. This movement has been building for years. As I wrote in an article for The American Prospect, From the Coast Salish nations of the Pacific Northwest, to the Ojibwe lands around the Great Lakes, to the Iroquois territory of New York, a new fighting spirit is sweeping across Indian Country. The mediagenic images from the banks of the Missouri River put that spirit front and center of (non-Native) Americans attention. Environmental organizations have long sought to create alliances with indigenous peoples, with whom they share a similar worldview about how humanity should treat the planets lands and waters. The fight against Keystone XL was a good example. Now environmental groups are taking leadership from Native Americans. And just in time. When it comes to disputes over resource extraction and environmental protection, Native Americans moral authority can supply a countervailing force to the ethic of greed and corruption that will likely emanate from a gilded Oval Office.

Second, the #NoDAPL movement offers a template for resistance in the Age of Trump. We know what to expect from a new resource rush: attempts to put in place more fracking wells, more pipelines, more oil trains, more gas terminals, more clear-cutting, more mining. And with the Standing Rock experience fresh in our minds, we also know how to oppose that resource rush: with blockades, marches, petitions and prayer in the face of violence. The water protectors showed the power and force of putting bodies on the line to keep oil and gas and coal in the ground.

3. Fires and Floods

Mike Daniels

We did it again! According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2016 will be the hottest year in history, breaking the record set in  well, set just a year ago. Meteorologists project that average global temperatures in 2016 will be 1.2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Though its difficult to peg any single freak weather occurrence to global warming (obligatory environmental journalist caveat), its not hard to spot signs that things are amiss. A couple of big phenomena grabbed headlines.

First, in May a wildfire of unprecedented size and ferocity swept through the boreal forests around Fort McMurray, Alberta. The fireswhich burned some 1.5 million acres, destroyed 2,400 buildings and forced the evacuation of nearly the entire communitywere fueled by freakishly dry and warm weather. While fire is a natural part of forest ecosystems, the fires grew out of control due to record high temperaturesas high as 91 degrees F, in May, in far northern Alberta. At least we can say this for Mother Nature: she has a sense of irony. Ft. McMurray, you may recall, is the boomtown at the center of the tar sands industry.

After the fires came floods. In August, extreme rains brought Biblical-scale flooding to southern Louisiana. In Livingston Parish, 31 inches of rain fell in just 15 hours. The floods drove tens of thousands from their homes, caused some $30 million in damage, and contributed to the deaths of at least 13 people. The Red Cross said it was the worst natural disaster to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Speaking of disaster, Id be remiss not to include this other downer: In April, oceanographers reported that, due to an influx of warmer and more acidic seawater, 93 percent of Australias Great Barrier Reef is suffering from coral bleaching. While it may be too early to write the reefs obituary, theres no doubt that the ecosystem is in dire straits. Heres how researcher Terry Hughes, writing on Twitter, described reaction to his findings: I showed the results of aerial surveys of #bleaching on the #GreatBarrierReef to my students. And then we wept.

4. Kigali + Paris = Progress On Climate

Epitavi / iStock

But not all hope is lost. Even as climate change becomes more evident, global leaders continue to take steps to address the crisis. Two important climate mitigation developments happened this year.

The first one was something of a sleeper story. In October, negotiators from 170 countries meeting in Kigali, Rwanda agreed to a binding agreement to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. Whats an HFC?, you might be asking (especially since the agreement got little media attention). Basically, HFCs are the primary component of air conditioning. While AC is a great thing to have while the planet gets hotter, HFCS are, unfortunately, a powerful heat-trapping gasabout 1,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. So this is a big deal, one that will, as it goes into effect, avoid the equivalent of 70 billion tons of CO2. Alsoand this is crucialunlike the Paris agreement, the Kigali deal is legally binding.
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.
LINCOLN - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Dan Steinkruger recently announced that up to 48,000 acres can be enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Nebraska for critical wildlife and water quality efforts. This amount is in addition to the 122,000 acres of CRP Grasslands announced earlier in the month.

This announcement also includes approval of a new CRP State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program designed to create habitat beneficial to migratory birds.

Over the past 30 years, CRP has helped farmers to offset the costs of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees that improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and strengthen wildlife habitat, said Steinkruger. Given the national cap of 24 million acres, it is more important than ever to pursue multiple benefits on each acre of CRP so that many acres are providing erosion prevention, water conservation, recreation for sportsman, habitat for pollinators, and protection of grazing land.

Nationwide, farmers and ranchers now can enroll up to 1.1 million acres to restore high-priority wildlife habitat through the CRP State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program, wetlands restoration, or pollinator habitat improvements. In Nebraska, up to 14,000 acres are now available to enroll in the Tallgrass Prairie SAFE, a CRP practice designed to enhance habitat for greater prairie chicken, and up to 24,000 acres are now available to enroll in the statewide Upland Bird SAFE, a CRP initiative designed to develop habitat for pheasants and quail.

Nebraska also has been approved for up to 10,000 acres in a new SAFE proposal called Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators for Kansas and Nebraska. The project priority area in Nebraska is playa wetlands in the southern half of the state. More information will be coming soon on this new program.

USDA recently accepted more than 504,000 acres into the CRP Grasslands program, bringing the total to more than 600,000 acres. In Nebraska, FSA accepted 122,000 acres in the program, providing participants with financial assistance for establishing pollinators or grazing enhancements on pasture and rangeland that can continue to be grazed.

Throughout the Obama Administration, USDA has generated thousands of critical partnerships to conserve and protect natural resources on working landscapes, while enrolling a record number of acres in conservation programs. Seventy-percent of the nations land is owned and tended to privately, and Americas farmers, ranchers and landowners have willingly stepped up to address the growing impacts of a changing climate. With USDAs support, they work to implement voluntary practices that improve air and water quality, prevent soil erosion and create and protect wildlife habitat.

Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect land and water on over 400 million acres nationwide.

To learn more about FSAs conservation programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation or contact a local FSA county office. To find an FSA county office, visit http://offices.usda.gov/.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa  If Brock Bourek were to wish upon a star, he would be a cast member of a long-running television show.

The ultimate dream goal is 'Saturday Night Live,'" Bourek said. But more realistically, someday I would love to own a dinner theater and restaurant.

Whatever path lies ahead, the 2015 Columbus High School graduate sees performing in his future.

At 19 years old, Bourek already has years of acting experience. He got his start in third grade when he tried out for the traveling Missoula Childrens Theatre. The group makes annual stops in Columbus, and Bourek was part of the shows year after year. He also took part in numerous stage productions at CHS and through the Platte Valley Playhouse.

There were also mini-productions held at the family home with students waiting to receive piano lessons from his mother, Stephanie Bourek.

I would rope them into putting on two-minute plays that I wrote on the spot, he said.

Bourek is now pursuing acting as a student at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, where he's majoring in art administration with an emphasis in theater. A recent performance in the school's production of True West landed Bourek a spot in a competition where he'll go up against other college students for scholarship money.

From Jan. 22-28, he will be part of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festivals annual Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition. Bourek and fellow Morningside student Jaden Lux were nominated for the competition after a representative from the festival saw their performances.

The competition starts with a regional festival in Des Moines, Iowa, against other students from the Midwest. Bourek could move on to the national scholarship competition in Washington, D.C., to battle for a $5,000 scholarship.

The possibility of a scholarship is just one perk of the competition. Bourek said there are numerous opportunities to learn more about acting, theater and production through various workshops.

Bourek, a sophomore, has taken on some important roles in his acting career, including the part of Andrew in the play I Hate Hamlet," which came with several hundred lines of dialogue.

His biggest role was in True West," a dramatic play about two estranged brothers who suddenly find themselves living under one roof again. The piece was a departure from Bourek's usual comedic roles.

It was such a change. My mom and grandma came up to me after the play and they said they didnt like me because I played such a mean part. I told them that I guess I did my job, he said.

Bourek is also broadening his horizons through directing. He will be directing for the first time next fall during the student-produced play at Morningside College.
Marvel fans are no doubt getting curious about the events that will be unfolding in the next installment of the growing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, Avengers: Infinity War.

While the details about the upcoming movie's storyline have been kept under wraps, a new report seems to reveal an entirely new detail about the movie's possible new enemy and of the possible events that will transpire.

A recent casting call for the movie, as reported by Project Casting, seems to reveal that an entirely new alien race might be gracing the screens in the next movie. The upcoming movie and its producers are apparently looking for extras to play an unnamed alien race that will likely be fighting against the Avengers.

The casting call for Avengers: Infinity War was reportedly asking for interested actors to participate in different background roles that would have them play as aliens in the movie. The studio was specifically looking for people 18 to 50 years old, which are tall and slender.

Participants must also be comfortable with being painted in different parts of their bodies, including their faces. Participants must also be comfortable with having prosthetics placed on their faces during different scenes.

While the studio has not yet revealed any information about the alien race, a report from Comicbook speculates that the extras may be playing either the Chitauri, the Kree, or perhaps as members of the Cotati race.It is interesting to note that the Chitauri race was actually fully done through CGI in original The Avengers movie. This begs the question of why the studio is requiring actual humans to play as aliens in the next film.

Avengers: Infinity War is set to start filming in Atlanta, Georgia in the spring of 2017. Filming for the alien scenes was revealed to be on April 5 and on May 30 next year. The movie itself is scheduled to be released on May 14, 2018.
Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner were spotted enjoying a luch together during the pre-Christmas vacation. It can be recalled that Justin jetted off for Utah with a mystery girl and this was in fact, Kendall.

Like a usual friendship date, Bieber and Jenner enjoyed luch together with common friend, Patrick Schwarzenegger at Five Guys in Park City last December 16. This photo has now surfaced on the internet and people are so pleased that Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner are still friends.

It has been a long time since Justin was last seen with Kendall that's why people are happy when the two spent time together when they reunited for a trip to Utah before Christmas day as per Hollywood Life.

The report also added that that the two flew back last December 19. Upon arriving in LA, Justin spent time with another Kendall's squad, Hailey Baldwin. It can be recalled that the two have been romantically linked after a PDA-filled vacation early of 2016.

Well, fans are also happy to see Justin Bieber rekindling friendships like this since he has been so busy with his Purpose tour lately.

People were quick to guess that the mystery woman was actually Madison Beer but she posted on Twitter that it was actually Kendall Jenner and now the proof has been presented through the photo.

Fans are wondering if Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner are better off as friends or they should date. Justin has been rumoerd to have rekindled romance with Selena Gomez the past months but until now, that has never been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Kendall Jenner has ben romantically linked to A$AP Rocky and the pair sparked rumors of dating when he attended one of Jenner's events in New York City as reported byMirror UK.

Because of this friendship date, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner fuel dating rumors and nothing is wrong with that since they are btoh single.
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Hi,



Yeah you should have no problem getting the information but Palermo as a city is insane so make sure you plan your trip well and I would strongly advise against driving if you dont have experience there! Two lanes of traffic can quickly turn into six at a moments notice!



Public transport close your eyes and put in some headphones, thats the way to navigate Palermo ?
A weaker Pound due to the decision by the UK to leave the European Union, known as Brexit, has affected the ranking of British cities, with London dropping out of the top 100.It means that they are cheaper for many people coming to live in the country with London falling 57 places to 103 in the latest cost of living survey published by knowledge and information provider ECA International.  A year ago London was among the top 50 most expensive cities for expats and it is the first time it has not featured in the top 100 since the ranking began more than 40 years ago. Edinburgh has fallen to 151st place globally, down from 67th last year. Cardiff is now ranked at 162nd place and Belfast has dropped 73 positions to 169th in 2016.The weakened pound means that UK businesses are paying more when sending staff to work overseas, although it is cheaper to bring staff to the UK, said Steven Kilfedder, ECA International production manager.It means that London is now cheaper than Paris, Berlin and Brussels and UK based locations have seen the largest declines in the European rankings in 2016 and the third largest decline in the world, behind Nigeria and Mozambique.In London a cup of coffee costs US$3.39 compared to US$3.98 in New York, US$5.03 in Hong Kong but slightly more than the US$3.36 in Sydney. A beer in London is US$8.71 compared to US$10.04 in New York and US$12.29 in Honk Kong and US$8.67 in Sydney.But in London a cinema ticket is more expensive at US$17.07 compared to US$15.72 in New York, US$12.65 in Hong Kong and US$16.10 in Sydney. Petrol is also more expensive in London than other places at US$1.60 compared to US$2.02 in Hong Kong but fuel is still cheaper in New York and Sydney at US$0.83 and US$1 respectively.Tokyo has retaken the global top spot for first time since 2012 and Japanese locations move back into global top 10 most expensive while Moscow has risen 46 places in the global rankings.Zurich has fallen off the global top spot this year, moving into third place in the global rankings. Despite prices falling in the previous year, Swiss cities continue to top the European rankings with all ranked locations placed in the global top 10.The relative strength of the euro between surveys has seen most Eurozone locations rise in the global rankings with French, Dutch and German ones among those rising most in the past year.However, over a five-year period locations in the Eurozone have fallen dramatically by 51 places on average, with the most significant decline seen in Spanish and Greek locations. With Madrid down 91 placed to 154th globally and Barcelona down 73 places to 157. Athens is down 86 to 150.The weakening of the Norwegian krone contributed to Oslos continued fall down the rankings. Oslo was the worlds second most expensive location for expats in 2014 but it has since fallen to 14th.Australian locations also rose in the rankings, by an average of 42 places compared to last year which the report says is a reflection of the stronger Australian dollar following an improved economic outlook domestically and from China over the survey period. Sydney remains the most expensive city in Australia at 53rd in the global rankings.Shanghai, which was ranked as the most expensive location in the Asia Pacific region a year ago, has moved down six places to seventh while Shanghai is placed 13th globally, Beijing at 15, Guangzhou at 25 and Shenzhen at 32. Indeed, 13 out of the 14 ranked Chinese cities sit in the global top 50 most expensive locations with only Xiamen ranking just outside at 51.
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Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Unfinished Business, an article by Diane Bosser in the Fall 2016 issue of Insights Magazine, the publication for Montgomery College alumni and friends, focuses on Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death.

A pioneering death educator, Rubin graduated from Montgomery College in 1978 with an AA degree in Radio, Television and Film. She puts her degree to work by using funny film clips to supplement the humorous presentations she makes on end-of-life issues: doing pre-need funeral planning, making advance medical directives, wills and trusts, and downsizing and organizing before death.

The article, which includes the sidebar column, 5 Tips on What You Need to Know to Save Money, Time, and Sanity, covers four pages of the magazine. From the article:

During her time as the Doyenne* of Death, a certified thanatologist (death educator), and funeral celebrant, Rubin has helped hundreds make final exit plans.

Its not morbid. Its a consumer issue, says Rubin. A funeral is one of the top five event expenses a family will incur, similar on scale to weddings and bar mitzvahsbut it remains the party no one wants to plan.

Without directives or experience, surviving family members are often faced with making decisions in an area they know little about. They contact the local funeral home and the newspaper, but they have no idea what anything is going to cost. Some may guess about what the deceased would have wanted, or worse yet, may overspend out of guilt. Some refuse services based on costs. Like any life event with a significant financial impact, getting price quotes and shopping around can pay offin savings and peace of mind.

Its so much easier to talk about finances, insurance, and disposal of body options when death seems far away and you can still laugh about it, says Rubin.

* A doyenne is an older woman who has experience in or knowledge about a particular area.

Read the full Unfinished Business article online.

More About the Doyenne of Death

A 1978 graduate of MC (radio, TV, and film), Rubin worked as a TV producer with C-SPAN on Capitol Hill, booking guests for the networks call-in program. In 1985, she transitioned into public relations and moved to New Mexico in 1990. She has written a total of four books (two award-winning), hosted a TV series on the local public access channel (Albuquerque), and was a TEDxABQ speaker on end-of-life planning.

She created the Newly-Dead Game (2011), based on elements of the Newlywed Game TV show, which tests couples knowledge of their partners last wishes. Currently, she hosts a podcast on FuneralRadio.com, and conducts numerous seminars and speaking engagements.

She has lived in Albuquerque for 26 years. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

Diane Bosser
Oil climbed 1.7 percent in New York, for the longest winning run in more than four months amid optimism that production cuts by major producers will help eliminate a supply glut.

West Texas Intermediate for February delivery rose 88 cents to settle at $53.90 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest level since July 2, 2015, and the seventh session to record a gain. There was no trading Monday because of the Christmas holiday. Prices are up about 45 percent this year.

Prices are set to recover next year as production cuts help to rebalance an oversupplied market, Saudi Arabias Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said last week. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and 11 nations from outside of the group, including Russia, have agreed to trim about 1.8 million barrels a day next year. As inventories return to equilibrium, Brent prices should stabilize between $60 and $70 a barrel, Venezuela Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino said.

Brent for February settlement climbed 93 cents to end Tuesdays session at $56.09 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark was at a premium of $2.19 to WTI.

OPEC is saying the right thing, and production cuts wont be assessed until later in January, said Kyle Cooper, director of research with IAF Advisors in Houston. Its bullish that the market has been able to hold above $50 a barrel. Its a big psychological level.

Oil has traded near or above $50 a barrel since OPEC agreed last month to curb production for the first time in eight years. Iraq, the second-biggest OPEC producer, is fully committed to the accord, Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said Thursday in Cairo at a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC and its partners have established a committee to monitor the cuts and ensure producers abide by their pledges, OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo said.

A lot of these headlines will push around prices, said Michael Loewen, commodities strategist at Scotiabank in Toronto. It seems like OPEC and non-OPEC are committed to this right now. Theres some hopefulness in the market.

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.

A lot of the strength in the market is mostly a result of the optimism that the production cuts will go through starting in the new year, said Gene McGillian, manager of market research for Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. Still, there is uncertainty about whether U.S. shale production will negate a large part of the cuts, he said.

U.S. drillers added rigs for an eighth straight week, Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday. The U.S. oil rig count rose by 13 to 523 last week, the highest level since January.

Crude stockpiles at Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for WTI and the biggest U.S. oil storage hub, likely rose by 500,000 barrels last week, according to a forecast compiled by Bloomberg. U.S. crude stockpiles probably fell by 1.5 million barrels last week, according to a Bloomberg survey before an Energy Information Administration report later this week.
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TOKYO  Toshiba, the Japanese technology conglomerate, has spent a decade and billions of dollars building itself into one of the largest players in the global nuclear power industry by buying up rivals.

The result has been a financial quagmire  one that is about to deepen.

Toshiba warned Tuesday that it might need to write off several billion U.S. dollars because of its purchase of a U.S. construction firm that specializes in nuclear power projects. In a statement, Toshiba said it was still figuring out the size of the write-off, which was related to its acquisition a year ago of the business, CB&I Stone & Webster.

The scale of the potential write-off was notable given that Toshibas nuclear subsidiary in the United States, Westinghouse, bought the business for $229 million.

Toshiba and CB&I Stone & Websters former parent, the engineering group Chicago Bridge & Iron Co., have been arguing over the business true value ever since the deal closed.

Projects that CB&I Stone & Webster is working on have been hit by delays and cost overruns. In dueling legal claims, Westinghouse and Chicago Bridge & Iron have been disputing how expensive the delays will be and which company should take the financial hit.

This is another reminder of how hard it is to predict how much new projects are going to cost, Kit Konolige, a utilities analyst for Bloomberg Intelligence, said by phone. That just makes it a higher hurdle for any new nuclear U.S. construction project. 

The purchase was a gamble from the start: The Toshiba subsidiary was paying relatively little to buy the business, but its ultimate costs could end up being many times higher if things went badly. That outcome now looks likely.

Westinghouse has found that the cost to complete the U.S. projects will far surpass the original estimates, mainly due to increases in key project parameters, resulting in far lower asset value than originally determined, Toshiba said Tuesday.

Toshibas nuclear ambitions have hammered its bottom line. Prospects for companies central to its expanding empire have soured, their revenue failing to cover what Toshiba paid to buy them.

Toshiba bought Westinghouse in 2006 for $5.4 billion, in a deal that proved to be expensive and ill-timed. Toshiba took a $2.3 billion write-down on the acquisition last year. That followed embarrassing revelations about its accounting practices, in which it acknowledged overstating revenue at a number of its divisions, including nuclear power.

Even at the time of the Westinghouse purchase, many analysts said Toshiba was paying too much for the company. Then came the global financial crisis and an accelerating revolution in shale oil and gas extraction, which reduced the cost of more traditional alternatives to nuclear power. The nuclear meltdowns in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011 compounded Toshibas problems by crippling the atomic power industry in Japan, contributing to delays and downsizing elsewhere.

Despite such problems, Toshiba sees nuclear power as a better bet than other businesses including consumer electronics, in which Japanese companies have lost competitiveness to rivals in China. Toshibas chief executive, Satoshi Tsunakawa, reaffirmed the companys commitment to nuclear power this year after he was appointed in a management shake-up following the accounting scandal.

Its achievable, Tsunakawa told reporters in June, referring to the companys official goal of building 45 nuclear reactors around the world by fiscal 2030. Industry analysts have said the target is a stretch.

In the United States, Westinghouse has been working with CB&I Stone & Webster on two projects to expand existing nuclear power stations by building new reactors. The projects, at the V.C. Summer station in South Carolina and the Alvin W. Vogtle plant in Georgia, are several years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.

CB&I is appealing a court ruling that dismissed a lawsuit over a $2 billion accounting dispute with Westinghouse. CB&I continues to vigorously defend its position and is also moving forward on a process with an independent auditor, spokesman Gentry Brann said in an emailed statement. Westinghouse declined to comment.

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.

Last week, Southern won approval from Georgia regulators to raise the capital costs of Units 3 and 4 at its Plant Vogtle by $1.3 billion to $5.68 billion. The action came after Southern agreed to resolve its dispute with Westinghouse and CB&I by paying $350 million. The parties also agreed that the units would be finished in 2019 and 2020, more than three years behind schedule.

Regulators in South Carolina agreed in November to raise Scanas costs of its project by $831 million with the companys share of the total expense now at $7.7 billion due to delays. The utility had also reached a settlement with Westinghouse and CB&I that led to a revised completion schedule for its reactors at V.C. Summer to 2019 and 2020.

Westinghouse has communicated that they are still working to finalize their evaluation, said Ginny Jones, a spokeswoman for Scana.We will maintain contact with them and expect to learn more over the next few weeks, Jones said in an emailed statement.

Toshiba underestimated costs of projects in the U.S., Mamoru Hatazawa, the companys executive officer in charge of the nuclear business, told a briefing in Tokyo. While Toshiba is evaluating the exact reasons, much of the miscalculation centered on the local cost of labor and the amount of materials needed, Hatazawa said.

Southern didnt immediately return requests for comment.

The write-off that Toshiba warned about Tuesday hinges on the portion of CB&I Stone & Websters value that accountants call good will  essentially, the premium that an acquirer pays over the value of a companys tangible assets, such as factories and equipment.

Toshiba said it initially estimated that premium at $87 million. But after a review, it said it now believed the premium was far larger  so large, in fact, that CB&I Stone & Webster was in effect worth less than nothing when Toshiba bought it. It was possible, Toshiba said, that all or part of the difference would have to be deducted from its own financial accounts.

Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
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The crunching of pottery shards underfoot is disconcerting, at least at first.

But artist Andrei Renteria has discovered visitors to Galeria Guadalupe quickly get used to walking through the wreckage of his installation.

A larger-than-life representation of a childhood game in which opponents sent mud balls rolling down inclines on a collision course, the piece titled En La Boca del Diablo (In the Devils Mouth) is part of the Artist Lab 2016 exhibition now on display in the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Centers exhibition space.

The show, which also features work by Sarah Fox, Raul Gonzalez, Jose Villalobos, Lisette Chavez and Kristel Puente, is the culmination of the second  and final  round of the program. Funded by the Surdna Foundation, it was launched in 2014 to provide participants with professional feedback and business training.

The works in the show explore various issues including cultural identity, sexuality, religion, violence along the Texas-Mexico border and motherhood.

Im really happy to see this all coming together after talking about it for the last year, said Mark Anthony Martinez, visual arts director of the Guadalupe.

Like the work Renteria had in an exhibition at Cinnabar earlier this year, his Artist Lab installation deals with the issues of violence on the border and desaparecidos  a term used to refer to disappeared victims of political suppression in Latin America. He took the title from a documentary about the government-sanctioned murders of a professor and nine students in Peru in 1992.

A native of the capital city of Chihuahua in Mexico, Renteria grew up along the border in Presidio. As children, he, his brother and cousins played a game they called Gallitos ( Roosters) by the river. The player whose mud ball did not shatter on impact advanced to the next round until a victor was decided.

In Renterias installation, viewers see the violent aftermath of a stacked game. Pieces of large ceramic globes litter the floor, seemingly broken by missiles made to look as if they were assembled from pieces of metal. The metal balls are the oppressing powers  the narco traffickers, political bosses, transnational companies, Renteria explained.

Human teeth  both real and ceramic  and yellowed pages torn from a prayerbook are placed here and there among the debris. It is Renterias hope that visitors passing through will scatter those fragments of a life.

Thats the idea, like taking a human being and breaking it apart and dispersing it everywhere and you dont even know what happened to them, he said.

Like Renteria, Villalobos grew up on the Texas-Mexico border with family on both sides. The artist, who moved to San Antonio from El Paso in 2008, came out as gay in his early 20s. His installation De La Misma Piel (Of the Same Skin) deals with sexuality and the concept of masculinity.

The piece consists of a series of western-style embossed leather belts with homophobic slurs in Spanish printed on them in the space typically reserved for a family name. Growing up, Villalobos, 28, heard those words from family members and classmates, he said, and like the lash of a strap, they hurt. A close look reveals that the inside of each belt is painted bright pink.

The piece explores the ideas of these objects that are seen as masculine, Villalobos said. By manipulating certain aspects of these objects, they become ambiguous and the subtle ambiguity softens the macho-ness of the objects.

In another piece by Villalobos, ornate western belt buckles are nestled on lavender satin pillows like jewels. Together, the initials on the belt buckles spell out another slur.

Villalobos work shares a gallery space with Chavezs installation Cafeteria Catholic. In a statement, the artist, who grew up in a conservative Catholic family, defines the term as an individual who selects which faith or moral teachings best suit their lifestyle at a given time.

Like an earlier work Chavez exhibited at Provenance Gallery, the piece deals with her ongoing conflict with faith. In the installation, a series of framed drawings  demons, a bondage mask, a bloodied Christ  are covered with white veils, substitutes for the towels Chavezs mother would drape over artwork by Chavez that she found disturbing.

Lick and Nuzzle, a large-scale sculpture by Fox, is also deeply rooted in personal experience. Based on one of the artists drawings of hybrid creatures composed of human, animal and botanical parts, the piece depicts a giraffelike creature grooming her young with a long, sinuous tongue.

In part, the piece is about maternal instinct. Fox began working on the sculpture after she suffered a miscarriage. She collaborated with her mother, Terri Foltz-Fox, a Houston-based ceramicist and sculptor.

It was a way for us to make something beautiful out of the whole situation and a way for us to spend some time together, and for a mom to help her very much adult daughter get through everything, Fox said.

With Fox-Foltzs encouragement, she made the sculpture darker than the original drawing. The mother has a dirty-looking blond mane made from a repurposed Elsa wig and a mouth full of real teeth from either a cow or a deer that Fox ordered online. Her body is studded with tumorlike nodules. Looming over her flower-headed offspring, she looks she might take a bite.

Fox frequently revisits images in different media, including collage, painting, drawing and sculpture. Taking her creatures from two dimensions to three shows a different side of them, and I learn something more about them, she said. Like this one very much became about size. Ive never made anything where you could experience these creatures at the scale they would exist if they were actually alive.

Works by Gonzalez in the show include paintings and drawings of blue-collar workers and construction sites on chunks of concrete. The artist began his Pieces of the City series after a walkway at his home was broken up for plumbing repairs.

I was like Wow, these are really great pieces or great material to work on, because you think about building a foundation for a home or for growing cities or civilizations, he said. For me, it took on that symbolism.

Though there are no human figures in some of the pieces, the subject of the works are the people  often immigrants  who literally lay the foundation for cities or civilizations.

The exhibit also features 34 prints from Gonzalezs WhataMachine series. The image  a piece of heavy machinery framed by Whataburger orange stripes in an outline of Texas  is the same in all of them, but the artist went over each one with graphite, color pencils, ballpoint pen and acrylic paint to make originals.

Thats generally what I do with my prints, he said. I just have a hard time making prints and leaving them as is.

The final installation in the show is Puentes Chola. The artist, who previously collaborated with designer Agosto Cuellar on a Runway En La Calle show, created a boutique for an ersatz fashion house that combines the understated style of French designer Coco Chanel with the eye-liner heavy look of the tough young Latina homegirls she saw on the bus in high school.

The aesthetic of Chanel and Chola blends flawlessly, Puente said in an artist statement. Both represent strong women who follow their own path, come from small means and use what is around them to create their iconic looks. Both are instantly recognizable, simple and represent strength.

Martinez is pleased with the exhibition.

The use of space in each room is really effective and I think everybody is coming into it with the experience of having done an installation before, he said before the opening of the exhibition. Theyre playing up their strengths in each room, and I really feel thats what we see present here.

Artist Lab 2016 continues through Feb. 3, Galeria Guadalupe, 723 S. Brazos St., 210-271-3151, guadalupeculturalarts.org

lsilva@express-news.net
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The $39.99 Nerf CS-18 N-Strike Elite, a blue-and-orange battery-powered blaster, was the only item that William Fritz needed to return Monday.

But it wasnt because his 8-year-old son didnt want the high-tech dart gun that hed picked up at the Super Target in The Vineyard Shopping Center on the North Side.

We bought one here, but Toys R Us had it as buy one, get one 50 percent off, he said.

So Fritz bought two from the toy store and on Monday returned the single blaster from Target, where he waited in line for just a few moments before reaching a customer service cashier.

With cash back in his wallet, Fritz said the darts really fly from that model.

He ended up with one, and I ended up with one to defend myself, Fritz said.

The San Antonio native was one of many people out and about Monday, returning items the day after Christmas. ShopperTrak, a shopping analytics company, predicted that it would be the second-busiest shopping day of the year  second only to Black Friday  but visits to several San Antonio stores showed short lines.

Jaymes Clark, the executive team leader for assets protection at the Vineyard Target, said he was surprised by the lack of volume in returns. By Monday afternoon, there hadnt been a line with more than 10 or 15 people all day, and when the line grew to that length  barely extending off the customer service carpet  cashiers would open extra registers to move customers through quickly.

More Information Tips for returns Check store policy to determine whether the item is eligible for return. Clearance products and prepaid gift cards often can't be returned; opened software and video games often can only be exchanged for the same product. Check the deadline for returns. For the holidays, some retailers extend their usual 30-day policy to Jan. 31. If you're returning by mail, ensure that it will reach the seller before the deadline. Have what is required for the return: receipt or gift receipt, all the parts, original packaging Read the fine print. Some stores charge a restocking fee; some charge a shipping fee for a mail return that is deducted from the refund. See More Collapse

The vast majority of the returns, Clark said, was clothing bought in the wrong sizes and electronics, with a smattering of toys. The day wasnt turning out to be too much different from most days, he said.

Still, there were remnants of an influx of returns. The photo lab, which wasnt staffed Monday, turned into an overflow area for oversized returns. A childrens wooden wardrobe, a 40-inch smart television and a pingpong table sat atop a red cart, near an area rug wrapped in cellophane and leaning against a cardboard Star Wars Rogue One display.

Two items that have been in great demand  and short supply  hadnt been returned to Target on Monday: Hatchimals and the NES Classic Edition, a throwback gaming system that people in their 30s and 40s have been pining for.

Clark said the store gets phone calls daily from people as far away as Dallas and Houston in search of the gaming system, but they have no chance to skip ahead of the people who line up at the door before the store opens each day.

On the other side of Loop 1604, the line to return items was even shorter at H-E-B Plus.

It hasnt been real heavy, said Jose Torres, the director of perishables for the store at Blanco Road and Loop 1604.

There hadnt been many returns there, and the few that had come in were quickly resolved, he said.

One customer bought a roast that she said weighed half than the listed weight. She cooked and consumed it but called the store to complain.

We try to take care of our customers, Torres said, noting that the situation had been sorted out  in favor of the person whod called in the complaint. We took care of her; we made up the difference for her. We want to take care of a lifetime customer.

Torres said he didnt want to divulge too many details but noted that he and his colleagues can tell when people are being sincere.

One customer called and admitted to dropping a food processor shed bought. It had shattered into a million pieces, and the customer wanted to return it to H-E-B, Torres said. In that instance, the customer was referred to the products manufacturer.

Javier Perales, too, wanted to return a Ninja food processor to H-E-B. In his case, however, the product was still whole and in its original packaging.

I got it for the wife, he said. But she wants the bigger one.

The National Retail Federation estimates that retailers see as much as 15 percent of their holiday sales in the week after Christmas. Millions are taking advantage of post-Christmas sales across the country, with many using gifts cards they received, but many more are making returns and exchanges.

jbaugh@express-news.net
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BANDERA  Pay no mind to the for sale sign outside the former Bandera Downs racetrack, a high-profile parcel thats hosted a variety of ventures  none for very long  since horses stopped running there two decades ago.

Undeterred by past setbacks, the owner says hell hold on to the place.

Jim Dunnagans latest vision for it involves microbreweries and maybe a distillery operating in the tracks vacant buildings, with crowds hoisting craft beers while watching races, rodeos or other attractions from the grandstand.

It was twice considered and rejected by voters as a local high school campus, missed its chance as a gambling venue when the Legislature didnt move in that direction, and has deteriorated through the years, its tourism potential a shimmering mirage for those trying to bolster Banderas hospitality economy.

Im thinking right here you could set up something like a co-op with four brewers, Dunnagan said during a recent tour of the 134-acre site on Texas 16 just south of town.

Its exactly the type of enterprise many locals have dreamed could succeed there.

That would be wonderful, said Art Crawford, president of the Bandera Economic Development Corp. Breweries and distilleries have become a great attraction throughout the Hill Country.

The track first operated as Lost Valley Downs, from 1964 to 1970, featuring quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. It became a horse training center, then reopened as Bandera Downs in 1984.

In 1990, after undergoing $6 million in renovations, it became the second pari-mutuel track in the state, enjoying early success. But in five years, it was closed and bankrupt.

Since then, the waiting game has played out.

Dunnagan hadnt even seen the track before buying it for $1.2 million in 2004. It remains to be seen if can move the latest plans for it from the drawing board to reality.

I thought I would put an RV park in here, but I got busy on something else and never did it, he said while showing off the sites numerous vacant buildings, barns and stalls.

No much remains of the track itself. The railings are long gone, the scoreboard is dilapidated and cattle now roam the overgrown infield. But fond memories persist of fleet-footed horses delivering good times, if not winning bets, for former patrons like Vicki Browning.

It was just a dirt track with a small group of open-air bleachers, said Browning, a local businesswoman. It was great.

The later closure of the upgraded track, which many blame on competition from the 1995 opening of Retama Park in Selma, was a good-sized blow to the local economy, she said.

I know it hurt the area to lose the jobs, because they employed quite a few people, Browning said.

Dunnagan sees big potential in the surviving structures and speaks of refurbishing them, but the Bandera Central Appraisal District cites years of neglect in assessing all improvements there at $200,000 combined.

All the value in the property is in the land, which is worth $1 million, Chief Appraiser Wendy Grams said. It would be nice if Mr. Dunnagan would do something with it.

Before Dunnagan came along, Bandera Independent School District voters in 1996 overwhelmingly rejected a $15 million bond plan that called for buying the track for $3 million and building a new high school and district offices there.

Despite that outcome, the school board decided to buy it at a tax foreclosure auction for $1.475 million in 1998, a move that turned the track into a political hot potato. An opponent of the bond proposal filed suit to challenge the acquisition, and a judge agreed with his argument that the board didnt give the public enough advance notice. That decision was overturned on appeal in 1999.

Roger Sullivan, a critic of the districts purchase, said it derailed any prospect of horse races returning.

Now its just nothing. The whole parking lot out there is just coming apart at the seams. The actual racetrack is gone. Dismantled, he said.

The school district moved its central offices to the site in 2000, the same year voters defeated a new $22.65 million bond proposal that included funds to build a high school there. The board then decided to sell the property.

I do see that as a lost opportunity for the school district, said Gus Pfeiffer, who retired as school superintendent in 2000.

Some district stickers and other educational artifacts can still be found in the former offices, which now are home to the track caretaker Dan Riggle and his family.

My friends think its cool, Kutter Riggle, 11, said of living at the vacant track. We do a lot of stuff out here.

Don Clark, a local businessman and former Bandera mayor and city administrator, said he unsuccessfully tried to organize investors to buy the track from the district and open an industrial/business park there.

Theres not a lot of talk anymore about whats going on at the racetrack, he said, adding, Anything is better than nothing.

The prospect of a housing development came and went before the district accepted the bid of Dunnagan, who acquired another dormant horse track, in Weatherford, in 2007.

He said he bought the properties anticipating lawmakers in Austin would legalize slot machine gambling, which, he figured, would be a natural complement to wagering on horses at both venues.

The first places to have slot machines would be in the racetracks. Then it got all tangled up and never happened, said Dunnagan, who in June sold the track in Weatherford once known as Trinity Meadows Raceway.

Gambling did eventually come to Bandera Downs in 2006, when eight-liners were set up by a tenant in the tracks former restaurant, doing business as Vegas Games.

But a 2008 police raid closed that venture and resulted in charges against several workers and Dunnagan, who was accused of furnishing a establishment for illegal gambling. He was convicted of the misdemeanor in 2010, fined $1,000 and put on probation for one year, court records show.

Since then, Dunnagan has leased the site for use as a concert venue and a flea market. He provided free space to the Riding the River Cowboy Fellowship for several years, until the congregation finished construction of its church a year ago. Most recently, he said, negotiations fell through with a guy who wanted to host auto races there.

Dunnagan hatched the microbrewery plan after seeing the popularity of breweries in Fort Worth, where he owns a company that manufacturers refrigerated display coolers.

If the breweries dont pan out, Dunnagan says hes confident hell find the right use, tenant or buyer to repurpose the place and recoup his investment.

Bandera County Judge Richard Evans has hoped for something to tie the site to the citys proud claim as the Cowboy Capital of the World.

Its an ideal piece of property, Evans said, with level land, direct highway access and two water wells.

Russell Hevenor, who moved his namesake hardware store from downtown Bandera to Texas 16 across from the vacant track in 2003, agreed.

The property has tremendous potential to benefit this area, he said.

But for now, the faded grandstand and overgrown parking lot are all Hevenors customers and passing motorists can see  that and the for sale sign at the front gate.

zeke@express-news.net
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A visit to the historic Steves Homestead south of downtown San Antonio provides a glimpse of what Christmas in America was like before electric lights, battery-operated toys and inflatable lawn decorations.

The Victorian-era house museum at 509 King William St. is adorned with small topiary trees made of real fruit, and fresh garland, bows, ribbons and other items that would have been used in the late 1800s and early 1900s, particularly by German families who came to Texas after the process of U.S. statehood began in 1845.

Marlene Richardson, a historian and longtime member of the San Antonio Conservation Society, which owns and manages the property, said it took 20 volunteers about two weeks to set up the decorations, including four small trees made of dyed goose feathers that replicate a German white pine.

They were the first type of artificial tree. The Germans were worried about deforestation, way back in the 1800s, because at Christmastime, everybody was cutting trees. Thats the way they heated their homes, too, Richardson said. To me, they dont look like goose feathers, but they are. You can still buy them from a company in Wisconsin.

The three-story mansion, open daily for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will retain its holiday appearance through Jan. 6. Regular fees are $7.50, or $5 for active military, seniors and students; and free for children 12 and under. For an extra fee, visitors can have a 45-minute narrated tour by a trained docent with anecdotes about the house and the family that lived there.

The house, with high painted ceilings and elegant wooden detailing reflective of the Second Empire style of architecture popular in Europe and the U.S. Northeast, was built in the 1870s for Edward Steves, a lumber entrepreneur who moved from Comfort with his wife Johanna and their three sons. After he died in 1890, his wife lived another 40 years and often had Christmas gatherings in the house.

In 2002 interviews with the Express-News, two surviving grandchildren of Johanna Steves said she would give each child in the family a $10 gold piece for Christmas. They recalled shelling pecans grown on the property for holiday baking, and remembered having a large tree in the parlor with little Santas, feathered bird ornaments and glass balls. The traditional Christmas Day meal included ham or turkey and homemade dumplings, made from stale bread, eggs and flour, and Lebkuchen, a German treat made with honey and candied fruit.

Richardson said she has Johanna Steves recipe for molasses cookies, but has not tried it.

It sounds a little daunting. Eight cups of flour. A quart of molasses. And its all full of nuts, she said.

The house now is decorated with a real 10-foot tree in the Sunday parlor. It has an angel top and candles on the branches, like those that would have been lit for Christmas  with a full bucket of water nearby for fire protection. Tinsel, popcorn or cranberry strings and homemade ornaments crafted from pictures cut out of magazines and glued to cardboard were often used to decorate trees, Richardson said.

We have used as many antique glass ornaments as possible, along with poinsettias, and oranges from trees in the backyard, she said.

One of the small white feather trees has a patriotic theme, as would have been popular during World War I. One of the mysteries of the house is that it has no fireplace. Richardson believes a coal or wood-burning unit may have been used for warmth.

She said the house is proof that traditional Christmas decorating can be affordable, with a little creativity and research.

You dont have to spend a lot of money, Richardson said.

The house will be closed on Jan. 1. Call 210-227-9160 or visit saconservation.org for more information.

shuddleston@express-news.net

Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
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Barely 20 feet by 20 feet, the courtroom is not an inviting or comfortable space, but its busy every weekday.

No framed photos or historical maps adorn the walls, no side rooms allow private conversations. Attorneys sit shoulder to shoulder, speaking to clients across blue metal table-and-chair fixtures bolted to the floor. Barely 10 feet away sit a judge and a bailiff.

Jail court is a little-noticed public justice venue that handles thousands of cases a year on the first floor of the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, a building surrounded by a downtown law-and-order landscape of bail bond shops, cop cars and inmates worried relatives pacing the sidewalk.

Its one of the countys several specialty courts, often funded with state grants, targeting defendants who are veterans, prostitutes, drug and DWI offenders, and those with mental issues.

Jail courts caseload of nonviolent offenses, mostly misdemeanors, is too broad to be considered much of a specialty, observers note.

First introduced in 1998 to reduce jail overcrowding, its proponents say it dispenses fair, efficient outcomes, reduces prisoner transportation costs and relieves pressure on regular court dockets, thus combating the justice delayed is justice denied problem.

Critics say jail courts largely poor, mostly uneducated, repeat-offender clientele can be subtly or overtly encouraged to plead guilty, regardless of the long-term effect on their lives, in return for time served and a quick release from jail.

The court handled 6,155 cases in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, almost exactly half of them ending with a judgment satisfied  county shorthand for time served with no additional fines or court costs. About 5 percent were dismissed entirely.

The caseload has declined dramatically since 2007, when the jail court heard 12,658 cases, and the proportion of judgment satisfied outcomes also has been dropping, from 65 percent that year to around half in recent years.

Some attorneys concede that if the defendants had the money to hire their own lawyers, many of jail courts defendants might be found not guilty or have charges dismissed  eventually. But that would require waiting for the countys traditional courts to get to them. Pragmatists call jail court an imperfect but needed tool to prevent larger problems.

Courts are public. But jail court is located behind electronically secured metal doors monitored by sheriffs deputies, and the public is allowed to witness the proceedings only by watching TV screens outside in a waiting area.

Those who participate in the daily proceedings can resemble a submarine crew, often turning sideways as they pass each other during a crowded docket call. Some lawyers leave their briefcases outside, lest they whack too many colleagues on the knees.

But in such shared deprivation, theres a subculture of collegiality.

I think everyone gets along, said Visiting Judge Olin Strauss, a retired Atascosa County jurist who makes $603 a day hearing a week of cases here.

Strauss, like most of the visiting judges, is on a first-name basis with the court staff, the usually-young prosecutors and a covey of defense attorneys who have practiced in jail court long enough to serve as its unofficial historians.

We used to call it trailer court, recalled Jim Oltersdorf, a lawyer who handles dozens of cases here each year. We were actually in a trailer, a manufactured home, if you will, across the street, and before then we spent a few years at the magistrates court on South Frio.

The county needs this court, said Oltersdorf, because in San Antonio, during any 24-hour period, we have a bunch of people arrested for little crimes. And like a lot of Americans, they cant afford to be arrested  the economic punishment it brings is often harsher than the actual sentence.

Jail court defendants are often repeat misdemeanor offenders  shoplifters, prostitutes, minor drug users and trespassers. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the court also handles minor felony cases, such as prostitution charges against those with three or more convictions.

Jail overcrowding, if it persists too long, can attract expensive lawsuits, federal intervention and scrutiny from state legislators. Cells should mainly house serious, violent criminals, county officials say. Specialty courts are used across the nation to reach that goal.

Bexar Countys court is different from most in that it is located at the jail. The county saves a considerable sum in not having to bus prisoners through downtown to the traditional courts on South Flores Street.

Moving inmates around is a tedious, expensive process, said former County Court-at-Law Judge Tim Johnson, who is credited with first proposing the jail court idea to county commissioners in the late 1990s.

After theyve been searched, chained to each other, put on a bus and taken to the courthouse holding cells, they then must be unchained, wait for their court to call them, wait minutes or hours to go before a judge, then reverse that process to go back to jail. And you just hope their paperwork is resolved because sometimes it doesnt come until the next day and the prisoner has to wait.

For jail court, all thats usually required is a trip down an elevator.

And people can get out of jail by 9:30 in the morning sometimes, after court appearances that day, Johnson said. At the main jail, you might still have to wait five to seven hours to get someone out.

Assembly-line justice

On a slow Friday recently, eight men and one woman, mostly under 30, shuffled into jail court, ankles in chains and wrists in handcuffs.

They sat patiently, without the bravado and cursing often heard from the gang-seasoned felony crowd in the main jail. Some rookies looked bewildered. Some clearly knew the ropes.

Most guys over there are frequent fliers, Johnson joked. Some have been arrested for the same thing 15 or 20 times. I tell them that you will not give up any of your rights, but we are really here to move your case.

Like awkward blind dates, attorneys and inmates scanned each others faces. Case files in hand, the attorneys sat hurriedly beside their clients to give them their options before the judge called them. Court-appointed and county-paid, the lawyers make $140 for each misdemeanor case and often have not personally met their new clients until this moment.

A young man came before Judge Strauss. He had no prior offenses and had already served 21 days in jail while waiting for his court date on a marijuana offense.

Instead of just giving the perfunctory judicial quiz  Do you understand the plea you are making?  Strauss engaged in some give and take with the prosecutor and defender.

That was rare, Strauss said later. If a hearing lasts 10 minutes in jail court, thats unusual. The man pleaded guilty, and Strauss disposed of the case with the oft-heard, judgment satisfied.

Bexar Countys fixed fee of $140 to the lawyers is the essential lubricant of the local criminal justice system, said one veteran jail court attorney who asked for anonymity so he could speak freely about the process.

I hear lawyer-client conversations that go like this: If you plead guilty you can get out today. If you dont want to plead, it could take you another three to four weeks before trial. the attorney said. Now, what do you think that poor guy picks?

Some repeat offenders, he said, will purposely miss their traditional court date, wait for an arrest warrant, turn themselves in, decline to make bail and just wait for jail court. If released for time served, they avoid the costly and time-consuming restraints of probation.

Diana Claitor, director of the Texas Jail Project, an advocacy group in Austin, said she believes that health care for inmates is so poor that virtually any of them, but especially those with diabetes or other chronic conditions, would take almost any offer to get out as soon as possible.

People want quick fixes to jail overcrowding, (and) I can see how jail courts could help, she said.

Its true assembly-line justice, a plea mill, said state District Judge Ron Rangel, who has been both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. Just because of the sheer volume of state cases, the rules have to be a little different.

Jail court undoubtedly cuts the jail population, and nationwide some 90 percent of all criminal cases are settled without a trial, he said.

But theres a cost to individual liberties, Rangel added. And theres always the question of class. I guarantee you, if you have two shoplifters  one from Stone Oak, and one from the near West Side  I can tell you who is going to be in jail court.

It will always be the argument of the haves versus the have-nots.

bselcraig@express-news.net
San Antonio often is lauded for its diversity, and its true. But often people only see the bicultural aspect and dont realize how multicultural our city really is.

Im reminded of that when I cover assignments such as the Sikh Peace March in May. Even as rain poured, participants from the Sikh community throughout the state remained enthusiastic. The four young Sikh women in this photo were soaked but undaunted as they walked through downtown San Antonio.
In 2013, I visited this protected sinkhole about two hours west of San Antonio. It is one of the largest single recharge features of the entire Edwards Aquifer. That was during the peak of our last drought. With the help of several patient Edwards Aquifer Authority officials and a handful of cavers, I was able to rappel to the bottom of the 150-foot deep hole and walk around the cavernous room at the bottom, which leads directly to the aquifer.

This picture was taken in April of this year after several days of steady rain had water flowing across a large swath of the recharge zone. (To give you an idea of how big this thing is, thats an employee of the ranch where the sinkhole is located standing on the right edge of the giant drain.)
NEWS FLASH





Vesna Aleksic has become the first female captain in the Serbian flag carrier's history. The 36-year-old has joined the airline as a captain on its narrow-body Airbus A319 and A320 fleet. Ms Aleksic, who is married and a mother of one, is set to command her inaugural flight with Air Serbia tomorrow, December 27, from Belgrade to Beirut, under flight number JU826. Air Serbia's CEO, Dane Kondic, said, We are committed to gender equality across all aspects of our operations, including flight crew, and are delighted to have the first female captain on our team. Air Serbia and its predecessors have set many milestones over the years and we are proud to add another important one in womens aviation".





Ms Aleksic started her career in 1999 at the Flight Academy in Vrsac, where she gained experience on the single-engine Cessna 172 before transitioning to the twin-engine Cessna 310 and Piper PA-34 Seneca turboprops. After graduating from the academy, Ms Aleksic moved to Montenegro Airlines, working as a first officer on the Fokker 100 aircraft between 2007 and 2012. In 2012, she assumed the role of first officer on the Airbus A320 fleet with Wizz Air, before gaining her commanders bars and taking the captains seat in 2014. During this time she was stationed in the Macedonian capital of Skopje. During her career, Ms Aleksic has recorded over 5.000 flight hours, with more than 2.200 on narrow-body Airbus aircraft alone. Ms Aleksic, a Belgrade native, said, I have been fascinated by the world of aviation from my early childhood and always knew that I would eventually become a pilot. My father was an airline engineer who worked for JAT and really loved planes, and his enthusiasm rubbed off on me. The past seventeen years have been a challenging but rewarding experience and Im really happy to join Air Serbia. Its a privilege to be the first female captain at Air Serbia and I hope it inspires more women to explore roles in commercial aviation.
NDSU Extension offers advice for conditioning too-dry soybeans

Farmers may want to condition soybeans that were harvested at lower moisture contents.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has stressed the United Kingdom's commitment to a free trade policy in a speech to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

A number of farming leaders in the United Kingdom have expressed their fear about the prospect of unrestricted imports of foreign food as a result of post-Brexit trade deals.

But in his recent address to the WTO, Dr Fox said international trade is the 'lifeblood' of the British economy, the 'driver of prosperity', and that commerce is part of the 'UK's national DNA.'

Dr Fox told trade envoys during a meeting in Geneva: "The UK will work towards the reduction and ultimate elimination of trade barriers wherever they are found."

He said: "Britain is open for business as never before. It is our ambition to be the beating heart of global trade; the worlds natural business partner."

His speech came just three days after the first meeting of a bilateral trade working group set up to explore a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia. This inaugural meeting took place between the UK's International Trade Minister, Lord Price, and Australias Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo, in Canberra.

Following the meeting, the two Ministers issued a joint statement, which read: "We want the working group to advance an agenda that will ensure the expeditious transition to FTA negotiations when the UK has formally completed its negotiations to exit the EU."

'Seriously alarmed'

The National Sheep Association, particularly, has raised concerns about any such free trade deal with Australia.

Chief executive Phil Stocker said he was seriously alarmed at the possibility of a completely free trade deal with a country that was a global sheep meat exporter. He said it could be catastrophic for British sheep farmers.

The UK sheep sector is already suffering unacceptably high levels of imports of New Zealand lamb, much of which is sourced by retailers at times of the year when UK product is in plentiful supply. We would be keen to see an outcome of Brexit being tighter controls on New Zealand lamb being allowed into this country, and we certainly need to avoid making the situation worse by allowing Australian product to head our way too, he said.

However, during a speech to the Australian-British Chamber of Commerce in Sydney, Lord Hill said: "As protectionist sentiment continues to spread around the world, I want the UK to be the most fervent champion of global free trade."

He said it was vital that the trading relationship between the UK and Australia was strengthened. "We are both instinctively free traders and our future success will be determined by how much we work together to champion this natural instinct."

'British farming standards must be protected'

National Farmers Union (NFU) president Meurig Raymond has said that British farming standards must be protected, and NFU vice president Guy Smith told farmers at a meeting in Cheshire that the Government should avoid embarking on a reckless cheap imports policy.

The National Pig Association (NPA) has warned about the threat of low standard foreign pork, and Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, has said that British producers would be unable to compete with lower welfare and lower standard egg products if they were allowed free access to the United Kingdom market.

During the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference (EPIC) in Wales recently, Farming Minister George Eustice insisted that the Government wanted the UK to be a leader on animal health and welfare.

"I would like us to pioneer new policies, new ways of working to create a policy that is the envy of the world. I want us to get to a place where, a decade from now, the rest of the world will want to emulate the policies that we put in place," he said.

However, his message seemed to be one of persuading other countries to follow the UK's high welfare model rather than protecting British farmers.

"I want to make clear to you as well that I recognise the limits of regulation. If you want, as we do, to encourage open markets and to recognise that we want to trade around the world we've also got to recognise that some countries have lower standards of animal welfare and animal health than we do in the UK.

"But for me that's not a reason to place animal welfare at the heart of our policy when it comes to livestock. I believe that we can incentivise the right types of system that will enhance animal welfare as part of a new architecture of agricultural policy."

He continued: "I want to make clear in terms of trade that this Government has a manifesto commitment to reflect animal welfare in trade negotiations and I am mindful that if we want to open free trade agreements with other parts of the world, including say the US, we have got to recognise the fact that they have got lower standards of animal welfare and we should be using those negotiations as an opportunity to drive up standards elsewhere in the world."

Commitment to free trade

Liam Fox made his commitment to free trade clear during his recent WTO speech.

"The UK will work towards the reduction and ultimate elimination of trade barriers wherever they are found, countering the threat of protectionism for the benefit of the global economy. We know that trade is a moral mission, its benefits measured in human as well as economic terms," Dr Fox said.

"Trade is the greatest emancipator of the worlds poor yet, without these freedoms from damaging barriers and protectionist behaviour, it cannot raise them from poverty.

"Unless we remove damaging restrictions, trade cannot act as a great social leveller, allowing people across the world to buy the best goods at the lowest price."

It is not yet known what the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union will be once it withdraws from the bloc.

The NFU was among 75 food and farming organisations to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister recently calling for the greatest possible access to the EU single market following Brexit.

Liam Fox is believed to favour the UK leaving the single market.
With farmers now well into this seasons silage clamp stocks, its timely to consider silage cover options for 2017 in a bid to improve farm profitability.

As many farmers tackle issues relating to waste silage, it is a stark reminder that investment in clamp management can be extremely cost-effective.

Handling and disposing of waste silage, in terms of both labour and lost dry matter, should not be ignored. Add to that the effect of feeding poor silage on animal performance, and it quickly becomes apparent what a financial drain this inferior feed has on a business, says Jennifer Hitchman, technical manager, Silostop.

In fact, if you consider a typical maize silage clamp, and using a value of 60/t, you can save over 3000 in dry matter value in the top 1metre when simply adopting to use one layer of Silostop barrier film over a layer of clamp film and regular plastic, explains Jennifer.

And this isnt taking into account the savings associated with the aerobic stability, the improved hygiene of the forage such as reduced yeasts, moulds and mycotoxins and the reduction in the inedible silage that is thrown.

The saving in dry matter alone equates to a return on investment of roughly 9:1; which highlights how simple measures can make a tremendous difference to the bottom line, she adds.

Acceptance within the industry that you typically have huge dry matter losses and a layer of waste silage on your clamp has to be changed. Its incredibly costly to livestock farmers, and can be significantly reduced with a change in the silage storage management system.

Its widely understood that reducing the oxygen that enters the silage, results in reduced dry matter losses and deteriorated silage. Therefore farmers should look to invest in systems that protect the silage from oxygen.

Forage is a huge financial asset to livestock farmers. It makes sense to maximise its potential by paying attention to the details. Using the best plastic film for the forage will ensure you reduce waste and save on the additional costs occurred due to removing that waste, Jennifer adds.

A notable cost incurred by reduced efficiency of home grow forage is that of increased bought in feed. Milk and meat production from home grown forage is far more profitable than produced from bought in feed, giving yet another reason to focus on clamp management.

Silostops award winning oxygen barrier film is used worldwide and gives farmers the opportunity produce the best quality silage, concludes Jennifer. I would strongly encourage farmers to consider investing in this film for better returns.
Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low near 45F. Winds light and variable.
UPDATED: As of about 10 p.m. Monday, Dominion Energy had restored power to about 3,000 homes and businesses that lost electricity at about 8 p.m. due to an equipment issue, according to the Do
Where to eat and drink in the Fayetteville area this weekend
An oil-and-gas company that allegedly retaliated against an internal whistleblower and used illegal separation agreements agreed to pay the SEC a $1.4 million penalty.

Oklahoma-based SandRidge Energy Inc. fired an employee who raised concerns inside the company about how it calculated its publicly reported oil-and-gas reserves.

SandRidge then put language in the employees separation agreement that prohibited participating in any government investigation or disclosing information potentially harmful or embarrassing to the company.

It was the same language SandRidge regularly used with departing employees, the SEC said.

SandRidge continued using the restrictive language even after multiple reviews of its separation agreements after a new whistleblower protection rule became effective in August 2011, the SEC said.

The SEC settled the case with an internal adiministrative order (pdf) and didnt go to court.

SandRidge fired the whistleblower after senior management concluded he or she was disruptive and could be replaced with someone who could do the work without creating all the internal strife.

The firing was just a few months after SandRidge had offered the employee a promotion, which was turned down.

The SEC said,

The company had conducted no substantial investigation of the whistleblowers concerns and only initiated an internal audit that was never completed. The employees separation agreement also contained the companys prohibitive language that violated the whistleblower protection rule.

SandRidge settled the enforcement action without admitting or denying the SECs findings.

It agreed to pay a penalty of $1.4 million but could pay far less. The firm recently emerged from bankruptcy so the penalty is subject to its bankruptcy plan.

Under the plan, the SEC penalty is considered an unsecured claim. That could result in a penalty payment as low as $100,000, the company told the Wall Street Journal.

* * *

In another action last week, the SEC fined a Virginia-based tech firm NeuStar Inc. $180,000 for using severance agreements that impeded former employees from communicating information to the SEC.

SEC Rule 21F-17 makes it unlawful to take any action to impede an individual from communicating directly with the Commission staff about a possible securities law violation.

The rule was enacted as part of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to encourage and protect whistleblowers.

Neustar used the severance agreements with at least 246 departing employees from August 2011 to May 2015, the SEC said.

In September, Anheuser-Busch InBev paid the SEC $6 million to settle charges that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and impeded a whistleblower who reported the misconduct.

The companys India minority-owned joint venture used third-party sales promoters to make improper payments to government officials in India to increase sales and production, the SEC said.

Anheuser-Busch InBev used a separation agreement that stopped an employee from continuing to voluntarily communicate with the SEC about potential FCPA violations. The agreement could have imposed a $250,000 penalty if the employee violated strict non-disclosure terms.

In August, insurance provider Health Net Inc. paid a $340,000 penalty to the SEC for illegally using severance agreements that required outgoing employees to waive their ability to obtain monetary awards from the SECs whistleblower program.

Also in August, the SEC fined building-products wholesaler Blue Linx Holdings $265,000 for requiring departing employees to waive their rights to recover money from any whistleblower claims they filed with the SEC or other federal agencies.

The SEC also brought actions against KBR, Inc. in April 2015 and Merrill Lynch in June 2016 for using agreements that restricted employees ability to disclose information to government agencies.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Alesha Dixon can't wait for a day off over Christmas.

Alesha Dixon

The 'Britain's Got Talent' judge beauty - who has three-year-old daughter Azura with partner Azuka Ononye - has had a hectic year so is looking forward to some much-needed rest and quality time with her loved ones over the festive season.

She said: "I'm looking forward to a day off and quality time with my family.

"It's hard. This year has been a bit of a juggling act.

"So I'll be at home and my little brother, who's an amazing chef, will cook for us."

Alesha enjoys Christmas even more now she's a parent and will be splashing out on 'Trolls' merchandise for little Azura.

She said: "She knows that if she's a good girl she can get 'Trolls'. She's obsessed.

"It's going to be even more fun this year because seeing how excited she gets brings back the magic of Christmas."

The 'Lipstick' hitmaker thinks her daughter is hilarious.

She said: "She's got lots of energy and strong opinions.

"Three year olds know how to wrap you round their little finger, but she's very funny and makes us laugh."
Harrison Ford has remembered the "fearless" Carrie Fisher.

Harrison Ford

The 'Star Wars' actor - who plays Han Solo in the science fiction film franchise - has paid tribute to his co-star after she passed away on Tuesday (27.12.16) at the age of 60.

He said in a statement: "Carrie was one-of-a-kind, brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless.

"She lived her life, bravely ... My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her."

And George Lucas - who is the creator of 'Star Wars' and chose to cast Carrie as Princess Leia in 'Star Wars: A New Hope' in 1977 - praised Carrie's "very colourful personality".

He shared: "Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives. She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colourful personality that everyone loved. In 'Star Wars', she was our great and powerful princess - feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie's family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all."

Meanwhile, Carrie's mother Debbie Reynolds has penned a special tribute to her "beloved and amazing" daughter.

Posting on her Facebook account, she wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother (sic)"

Whilst Mark Hamill - who plays Luke Skywalker - simply wrote on Twitter: "No words #Devastated (sic)"
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has paid tribute to her "very special friend" Carrie Fisher.

Kathleen Kennedy

The 63-year-old film producer spoke of the "indomitable spirit, incredible wit and loving heart" of the actress, who passed away on Tuesday (27.12.16) after suffering a heart attack.

Kathleen said in a statement: "Carrie holds such special place in the hearts of everyone at Lucasfilm it is difficult to think of a world without her. She was Princess Leia to the world but a very special friend to all of us.

"She had an indomitable spirit, incredible wit, and a loving heart. Carrie also defined the female hero of our age over a generation ago. Her groundbreaking role as Princess Leia served as an inspiration of power and confidence for young girls everywhere. We will miss her dearly."

And Disney CEO Bob Iger also remembered the actress, who he dubbed as "one of a kind".

He shared: "Carrie Fisher was one of a kind, a true character who shared her talent and her truth with us all with her trademark wit and irreverence.

"Millions fell in love with her as the indomitable Princess Leia; she will always have a special place in the hearts of Star Wars fans as well as all of us who were lucky enough to know her personally. She will be sorely missed, and we join millions of fans and friends around the world who mourn her loss today."

Meanwhile, it was previously revealed Carrie had finished filming for the next instalment of the science fiction franchise, 'Star Wars: Episode VIII', before she passed away.

An official at Lucasfilm told TMZ that Carrie had "absolutely wrapped" on the movie - which is slated for release in December 2017 - but says it is too early to tell how her untimely passing would affect the film franchise in the future.
Prince William is "charm personified".

Prince William

The 34-year-old royal - who has two children with wife Duchess Catherine - presented an MBE to consultant nurse Ann Scott from Northern Ireland and she was impressed by how down to earth he was.

She told Belfast Live: "The entire experience was fantastic; Prince William was very charming and informal and very much put you at your ease.

"He asked me about what it was like for people in Northern Ireland living with dementia and he also told me that he and Catherine both love Northern Ireland and were looking forward to come back again.

"I asked him about his children and he said they were at the age where they were into everything and bumping into everything and we just had a laugh about that.

"He was lovely, he was quite simply charm personified."

Meanwhile, William recently admitted he has "struggled" to adapt to being a married father of two, but insisted he adores his family situation.

He said: "It's been quite a change for me personally. I'm very lucky in the support I have from Catherine, she's an amazing mother and a fantastic wife.

"I've struggled at times. The alteration from being a single, independent man to going into marriage and then having children is life-changing.

"I adore my children very much, and I've learned a lot about myself and about family just from having my own children."

Speaking about his children, he called George "a right little rascal", adding, "he keeps me on my toes but he's a sweet boy".

And when asked about Charlotte, he said: "Bearing in mind I haven't had a sister, so having a daughter is a very different dynamic. So I'm learning about having a daughter, having a girl in the family."
It has been claimed that Queen Elizabeth backed Brexit.

Queen Elizabeth

Although the 90-year-old royal is "politically neutral", BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg has alleged that the Queen told guests at a lunch some months ago that she wanted Britain to leave the European Union.

She claims the Queen said: "I don't see why we can't just get out. What's the problem?" and Kuenssberg said she did not run the story when she first heard it as she could not find a second source.

Speaking on Radio 4's 'Today show, she said: "In a casual chat with one of my contacts, they said, 'Do you know what? At some point this is going to come out, and I'm telling you now and I don't know if the BBC would touch it, but the Queen told people at a private lunch that she thinks that we should leave the EU.'

"Apparently at this lunch, she said 'I don't see why we can't just get out. What's the problem?'

"My jaw hit the floor. Very sadly, I only had one source. I spent the next few days trying to prove it. I couldn't find the evidence.

"Lo and behold, a couple of months later, someone else did. Of course, then ensued a huge row between that newspaper and the Palace over what had really been said or not said."

The Sun newspaper ran the story nine months ago and Buckingham Palace replied by launching a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

The palace said in a statement: "We can confirm that we have this morning written to the chairman of the Independent Press Standards Organisation to register a complaint about the front page story in today's Sun newspaper.

"The complaint relates to Clause 1 of the Editors' Code of Practice."

Clause 1 in the code relates to accuracy and states: "The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text."
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has denied new claims that her marriage to rapper Kanye West is over.



The reality star faced speculation that her union is on the rocks once again, amid reports she ordered him to stay away from her mother Kris Jenner's annual Christmas Eve party as she partied with her sisters without her wedding ring, reports dailymail.co.uk.



A spokesperson for Kim denied the report, saying: "The story is false. Kanye was at the party."



A source had claimed to The Sun newspaper that "she refused to let him come to her family's annual party on Christmas Eve despite the fact they have always attended as a couple. He went to watch a film with friends instead while she celebrated with her sisters".



"On Friday they took North to see The Nutcracker but they barely spoke or interacted inside. The tensions were visible. Neither of them are in a happy place right now," the source added.



The claims come after the couple was spotted together earlier on Christmas Eve at the Los Angeles Ballet Company's performance of "The Nutcracker". The pair were in good spirits as their daughter North was introduced to the dancers.



WATCH: Kim Kardashian





Next Story : Not Your Average Gift: Our Handpicked Thoughtful Diwali Gifts
An Italian private equity firm Armonia has acquired a majority stake in premium apparel brand Aspesi, through its Harmony Italy Fund for an undisclosed sum, while the founder of Aspesi, Alberto Aspesi retains a minority stake. Aspesi is known for its quilted nylon jacket, swollen like the Michelin puppet and has eight lines, all with a unisex cut."Aspesi is a Made in Italy brand at which we aim, with our resources and our expertise, to enhance and grow,'' Alessandro Grimaldi, CEO of Harmony was quoted as saying by media reports.

An Italian private equity firm Armonia has acquired a majority stake in premium apparel brand Aspesi, through its Harmony Italy Fund for an undisclosed sum, while the founder of Aspesi, Alberto Aspesi retains a minority stake. Aspesi is known for its quilted nylon jacket, swollen like the Michelin puppet and has eight lines, all with a unisex cut.#

Aspesi was founded as A&D-Camiceria in 1969 by Alberto Aspesi, which was later changed to Bagarre of Alberto Aspesi in 1973, and once again changed to its current name in 1990. (AR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Screen Print East Africa 2017, an dedicated exhibition to broaden business horizons giving visitors a rare opportunity to know how the printing industry from across the globe congregates at East Africa, will be held from June 21 to 23, 2017 at Visa Oshwal centre, Nairobi, Kenya, with co-located events Sublimating Ideas expo, Sign expo, and Label show.Devang N Sheth, managing director, Aditya Expositions said, Screen Print India has always been among the worlds leading and Asias finest exhibitions with a sustained track record since 1994. This East Africa foray has been envisaged after considerable research regarding the economic development and business potential in the region. It will be a win-win situation for all those who are part of these four printing industry segments. Continuing the fine traditions of the parent brand, the debut edition Screen Print East Africa 2017 is expected to attract exhibitors and visitors from across the globe. There are going to be focused interactions by people who are genuinely interested in exploring business opportunities and new technologies. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Mohanlal is one such actor who never shies away from giving his views and opinions about social issues. He usually writes down his opinion on his blog, focusing on one or the other social issues, in each month

Many of the Mollywood celebrities had remained tight lipped on the new order of Supreme Court, which made it madatory to play National Anthem in the theatres. Certain celebrities like Vineeth Sreenivasan, Maniyanpilla Raju etc., did come out to express their views. Mohanlal is the latest Mollywood celebrity who has expressed his opinion on the same.

Image Courtesy: Facebook

Mohanlal has come out in support of the decision of the Supreme Court. The actor opened up about this during a special interview given to Manorama News.

According to him, playing National Anthem in the theatres is something which sholudn't be opposed by anyone and is something which shouldn't made into a controversy. He also added that, such a custom could even be considered as a respect that we are showing towards cinema.

In fact, in the recently concluded IFFK 2016, certain section of audiences did protest by not standing up while the National Anthem was played in the theatres and they were taken in to custody for showing disrespect towards the National Anthem.
Figure 1: Process comparison before and after implementing the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic (example of use in steel fabrication)

Figure 2: Example screenshots of Diagnostic with the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic

Pricing and Availability



Fujitsu Limited Public and Investor Relations Tel: +81-3-3215-5259 URL: www.fujitsu.com/global/news/contacts/

TOKYO, Dec 27, 2016 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu today announced the launch of its FUJITSU Manufacturing Industry Solution 3D Superimposed(1) Product Design Diagnostic, a PLM solution for manufacturers that visualizes differences between product component photos and their 3D blueprints. This solution is available today, initially only in Japan.In the manufacturing of large-scale structures, the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic solution enables users to overlay the blueprints of manufactured components created with 3D CAD on a picture of each component taken with a smartphone or tablet using AR technology(2), making comparison easy. In addition, it can also greatly increase the efficiency of diagnostic procedures in which each manufacturing component previously had to be inspected visually or manually.Fujitsu continues to strengthen its manufacturing solutions, and represented by this solution, supports manufacturing with ICT on the front lines.BackgroundIn recent years, there has been a trend in which the scale of structures has been getting larger and more complex. It is therefore expected that the visual and manual process of accurately and efficiently judging whether a manufactured product aligns with its blueprints will become more and more problematic.Fujitsu has together with Tomoe Corporation, which operates businesses from general construction to steel towers, bridges and steel frames, developed a system that fuses 3D CAD and AR technology to analyze manufacturing components, and since 2015, conducted joint verification of its utility at Tomoe's Oyama factory. During this verification, in component assembly procedures in the manufacturing process, this system was able to reduce the time required to perform diagnostics for one manufactured component to one-tenth that of previous methods, cutting processing time to just a few minutes.Now, to the core 3D superimposed diagnostic technology established in this operational trial, Fujitsu has added diagnostic preparation functionality aimed at improving task efficiency in manufacturing facilities, as well as management and usage functionality for the diagnostic results. Fujitsu is offering this product as the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic PLM solution.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu3D12271.jpgFigure 1: Process comparison before and after implementing the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic (example of use in steel fabrication)http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu3D12272.jpgFigure 2: Example screenshots of Diagnostic with the 3D Superimposed Product Design DiagnosticFeatures of the 3D Superimposed Product Design Diagnostic1. Easy-to-operate diagnostic leads to early detection of manufacturing defectsBy superimposing 3D blueprints (STL files) over pictures of manufactured components taken with such devices as smartphones or tablets, the user is easily able to find if there are any differences. Because the diagnostic for each component will be completed in a few minutes, it enables diagnoses for all components, which was previously difficult due to time restrictions and other issues. In addition, the system enables early detection of manufacturing defects, eliminating the need to send items back during temporary assembly operations.2. Analysis and usage of diagnostic result dataThe results of the diagnostic are saved, and can be used to share knowledge, improve management, and keep a record of quality.Pricing and Availabilityhttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_Fujitsu3D1227Pricing.jpgSales TargetFujitsu's goal is to implement the solution at 100 companies by fiscal 2019 (Fujitsu's fiscal year ends at the end of March).(1) SuperimposedOverlaid. In this instance, 3D CAD data is overlaid on pictures of manufacturing components.(2) AR technologyAugmented reality. A technology in which the information gained from the human senses (reality) is overlaid with digital information obtained using ICT, expanding and enhancing human senses.About Fujitsu LtdFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 159,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702; ADR:FJTSY) reported consolidated revenues of 4.7 trillion yen (US$41 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.* Please see this press release, with images, at:http://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/Source: Fujitsu LtdContact:Copyright 2016 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - UQM Technologies Inc. (UQM) announced that on December 26, 2016 it terminated the Stock Issuance and Purchase Agreement with Hybrid Kinetic Group Limited. The Agreement provides that it may be terminated by either party if various conditions to closing were not satisfied on or before December 25, 2016. Among the closing conditions that were not satisfied or waived by the End Date was the approval by UQM's shareholders of an amendment to UQM's Articles of Incorporation to reduce the voting requirements for future amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and other corporate actions from the current two-thirds threshold to a majority threshold.



As the transaction with Hybrid Kinetic did not close by the End Date, UQM's Board of Directors and the special committee of independent directors of UQM determined to terminate the Agreement. There are no penalties to UQM from terminating the Agreement following the End Date.



'While a majority of our shareholders voted in favor of the investment transaction with Hybrid Kinetic, our shareholders were sufficiently concerned about the reduction in voting threshold on key corporate actions that Proposal Three was soundly defeated even after adjourning and reconvening our annual meeting two times to allow us further time to solicit votes to approve this change,' said Joe Mitchell, President and CEO of UQM.



As previously indicated, UQM has adjourned its Annual Shareholder Meeting with respect to the proposal to amend and restate its Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of its common stock. UQM's Board of Directors believes that approval of the proposal to increase the number of authorized shares of UQM common stock is still in the best interest of UQM for future potential partnerships even though the Agreement with Hybrid Kinetic was terminated.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar continued to be higher against its major counterparts in the European session on Tuesday amid rising U.S. treasury yields, as traders returned to their desks after the Christmas break.



The benchmark treasury yield on 2-year note rose 1.22 percent, while that of 10-year equivalent was up by 2.55 percent. Yields move inversely to bond prices.



Investors focus on U.S. reports on home prices, consumer confidence and regional manufacturing activity due today, for more indications about the strength of the economy.



Oil prices advanced amid optimism over the promised output cuts by the OPEC and the non-OPEC nations, which is scheduled to kick in from January 1. The landmark deal would wipe out 1.8 million barrels per day of oil supply from the global market.



Global markets are trading higher, with most financial markets resuming trading after Christmas holidays.



Underlying sentiment remained broadly positive after data showed profits earned by China's industrial firms continued to accelerate in November, suggesting improvement in the world's second largest economy.



The currency has been trading in a positive territory in the Asian session.



The greenback climbed to a weekly high of 1.0298 against the Swiss franc, following a decline to 1.0264 at 5:00 pm ET. The greenback-franc pair is likely to find resistance around the 1.05 mark.



Reversing from an early low of 1.2287 against the pound, the greenback advanced to a 4-day high of 1.2240. The next possible upside target for the greenback is seen around the 1.19 region.



The greenback rose back to 117.42 against the yen, heading to break its Asian session's 4-day high of 117.46. The greenback is seen finding resistance near the 120.00 area.



Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed that Japan's consumer prices rose 0.5 percent on year in November, accelerating from the 0.1 percent gain in October.



But core CPI, which excludes food prices, sank 0.4 percent on year for the second straight month.



The greenback rebounded to 1.0440 against the euro, heading to violate its early Asian session's 4-day high of 1.0432. Continuation of the greenback's uptrend may see it challenging resistance around the 1.03 level.



Following a decline to 0.6904 against the kiwi at 2:50 am ET, the greenback bounced off to 0.6883. If the greenback extends rise, 0.68 is possibly seen as its next resistance level.



The greenback remained broadly higher against the loonie with the pair worth 1.3533. The greenback is poised to find resistance around the 1.375 area.



On the flip side, the greenback held steady against the aussie, after briefly falling to 0.7196 at 2:45 am ET. The pair finished Monday's trading at 0.7188.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Secretary of State John Kerry plans to deliver a speech on the Obama administration's vision for Middle East peace as early as this week, several U.S. officials told CNN.



The speech comes as the administration has drawn the ire of Israeli officials for refusing to block a United Nations resolution demanding an immediate halt to Israeli settlement construction.



The UN Security Council approved the resolution last Friday, with the U.S. abstaining rather than maintaining its usual policy of vetoing such resolutions.



Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told Israel's Channel 2 news Kerry will lay out a 'comprehensive vision for how we see the conflict being resolved.'



Rhodes noted that the speech comes as President Barack Obama will 'unfortunately' finish out his time in office without there being significant progress toward peace.



The UN 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 Obama, who has been a vocal critic of the settlement construction.



President-elect Donald Trump had called on the Obama administration to veto the resolution, claiming it would put Israel in a very poor negotiating position.



In a statement following the vote, Kerry said the U.S. was acting with the primary objective of preserving the possibility of a 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,' Kerry said.



Kerry noted he would speak further on the vote and share more detailed thoughts on the way ahead in the coming days.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Technavio has published three reports, including mobile identity management,runtime application self-protection (RASP) security, and out of band (OOB) authentication software, categorized under the ICTsector. The reports highlight the major market trends, drivers, challenges, and several other factors that are expected to change market dynamics during the forecast period.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161227005067/en/

Technavio has published multiple reports on the ICT sector, highlighting markets that are expected to display considerable growth in the coming years. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Buy these reports and get USD 1200 worth of free additional custom research information on any report.

Global Mobile Identity Management Market 2016-2020

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53085

The global mobile identity management marketis expected to witness a progressive growth and will post a CAGR of more than 9% over the forecast period. With increasing access to the high-speed internet with 3G and 4G networks, the market for mobile identity management is anticipated to have a positive outlook in the coming years. In developed countries, mobile operators are investing heavily to expand 3G and 4G networks. The mobile operators are offering high-speed mobile broadband services that have enabled the consumers to use bandwidth-intensive applications. Moreover, high-speed internet services increase security issues for individual customers, and they need more effective mobile security solutions to avoid internet-centric malware attacks.

Global Runtime Application Self-Protection Security Market 2016-2020

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53537

Technavio's research analysts have projected that the global runtime application self-protection (RASP) security marketwill grow tremendously during the predicted period and post a CAGR of around 44% by 2020. The increasing need to improve the quality of security is one of the primary factors driving this market's growth. It is becoming exceedingly difficult for organizations to detect advanced network attacks, especially the ones that directly target application for data thefts. Moreover, most companies use complex web applications for their everyday business processes, which has greatly boosted the demand for advanced security solutions. Additionally, the volume of data in organizations including records, web-log files, and social networks is growing significantly. As financial assets mostly exist in the form of digitized information, organizations in the BFSI sector require RASP security solutions to prevent fraud and unauthorized payments and to track the large volumes of data generated efficiently.

Global Out Of Band Authentication Software Market 2016-2020

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=53661

Extensive research carried out by the analysts at Technavio has shown that the global out of band (OOB) authentication software marketwill grow steadily during the next four years and will post an impressive CAGR of almost 24% by 2020. This market research analysis identifies the increase in number of online transactions as one of the primary growth factors for this market. Though online financial transactions are easy and instant, financial institutions are always prone threats such as cyber-attacks. Hence, organizations have started using authentication techniques using hardware OTP tokens, e-mail, and phone-based authentication methods to make online transactions more secure. Also, mobile operators are offering high-speed mobile broadband services that allow users to use mobile transaction features, which in turn, results in a rise in the number of online transactions, leading to the increased adoption of OOB authentication software.

Browse Related Reports:

Global Advanced Authentication Market 2016-2020

Global Multi-factor Authentication Market 2016-2020

Global Hardware OTP Token Authentication Market 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 cloud computing, data center, and IT hardware. 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/20161227005067/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Technavio's latest report on theglobal aftermarket for engine oil in passenger carsprovides an analysis on the most important trends expected to impact the market outlook from 2016-2020. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161227005116/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global aftermarket for engine oils in passenger cars from 2016-2020. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Praveen Kumar, a lead analyst from Technavio, specializing in research on automotive services sector, says, "The consumption of engine oil in passenger cars in the Americas is more since it has many vehicles and the number of cars per population is comparatively higher than in other regions. Full-size vehicles such as pickup trucks, minivans, and SUVs are more popular in this region

Full-size vehicles have larger engine capacity and consume more engine oils than the compact- and mid-size vehicles. The average miles driven per year in the Americas is also high with respect to other regions as people here depend a lot on their own vehicles to travel from one city to another and to commute inside the city. Public transport such as the use of railways as transportation is low as it does not provide end-to-end connectivity.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=55255

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

The top three emerging trends driving the global aftermarket for engine oil in passenger cars according to Technavio automotiveresearch analysts are:

Rise in road tourism in India and China

Growing use of synthetic oils in APAC

Increase in average vehicle miles driven

Rise in road tourism in India and China

Road tripping tourism in China is leading to increase in the average miles driven, directly influencing the consumption of engine oils. In China, Guiyang in Guizhou province and Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan province are reported to be the most preferred spots for road tourism. Chinese travelers are estimated to have made about 4 billion visits within the country in 2015. Out of which, more than 3 billion tourists traveled using rental cars or their own cars. A 16% annual increase in the visits by tourists preferring to drive on their own is likely to happen in the next five years.

"Travel agencies like China Youth Travel Service are customizing their tour packages to include rental cars to enable road-tripping and sightseeing packages to places with limited transportation facilities, which will further lead to an average increase in the miles driven," according to Praveen.

Growing use of synthetic oils in APAC

Synthetic engine oils are of different types such as PAO (poly-a-olefin), Esters, PAG (polyalkylene glycols), and Group III (hydrocracking). Currently, PAO has the largest market share, as it accounted more than 50% of the total market share due to several benefits compared with other synthetic engine oils. Its physical and chemical properties make PAO engine oils low volatile and oxidative as well as thermally stable compared with other engine oils. PAO synthetic engine oil is also less expensive compared with other synthetic engine oils.

The synthetic oil market is dominated by Europe followed by North America and then APAC. But APAC will experience a higher growth rate in the consumption of synthetic engine oils, as the automotive market is experiencing a higher growth. Synthetic engine oils are also used for various industrial purposes.

Increase in average vehicle miles driven

One of the positive factors influencing aftermarket sales of engine oil is the increase in the vehicles miles driven. The normal period of batteries used in vehicle lasts for approximately 4 years, depending on driving and weather condition. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in the Americas, 70% of the states experienced an increase in the vehicle miles traveled per capita between 2011-2014.

Another factor supporting the growth of this market is the demographic factor of the consumers, according to the reports published by FHWA. In the US, the number of drivers over 50 years old has reached appropriately 93.5 million, resulting in an increase of 22% since 2003. In Europe, the average lifetime mileage of diesel cars (approximately 127,000 miles) is more than petrol cars (approximately 100,000 miles).

The key vendors are as follows:

Shell

ExxonMobil

British Petroleum

Browse Related Reports:

Global Gasoline Particulate Filter Market for Passenger Cars 2016-2020

Global Electric Coolant Pump Market for Passenger Cars 2016-2020

Passenger Vehicle Market in China 2016-2020

Become a Technavio Insights memberand 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 auto accessories, automotive components, and automotive electronics. 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/20161227005116/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
Global early stage venture capital firm 500 Startups has launched its second fund, 500 Durians II for Southeast Asia.

According to a regulatory form filed with the SEC, the firm has launched 500 Durians II, L.P., which aims to raise $50m. The doc, published on December 21, 2016, shows no money have been raised, yet.

Anyways, according to a post appeared on October, 4th, on 500 Startups site, the funding for 500 Durians II was entirely kickstarted by inside investors from the first fund, with Malaysia Venture Capital Management Berhad (MAVCAP) returning to anchor it.

Led by Khailee Ng and Vishal Hamal, the fund aims to invest $50K to $150K in approx. 200 startups alongside other local seed stage and angel investors.

The vehicle will also make follow-on investments with up to $500K of additional capital in companies showing high growth.

To date, 500 Startups has invested in a total of 119 startups located the area.

FinSMEs

27/12/2016
The government may have been pushing hard its agenda by asking people to adopt to digital transactions in the current demonetisation period, but the Centre at the same time is also looking to bring in more such online transactions into the tax net in the upcoming union budget.

In order to bring more multinational companies under the tax net, the government seems to be working on plans to levy wide ranging digital transactions such as Online sales of goods and services, downloading of software, songs, movies and books, and online consumption of news, a report in the Business Standard has said.

"Internationally the trend is to bring more digital transactions into the tax net as multinational companies end up avoiding taxes," the BS report said quoting a government official.

As per the report, a committee set up by CBDT had recommended equalisation levy of 6-8 percent on 13 broad services offered by ecommerce companies.

Although, the government has no plans to hike the current equalisation rate of 6 percent, it could be looking at bring in more services under the tax net, the report added.

Besides this, the committee had also recommended to include other services such as advertising on radio and television, designing, hosting or maintenance of websites, digital space for websites, email, blogs, facility for online sale of goods or services or collecting online payments.

Earlier this year, the government had proposed in the budget to introduce a tax on the income as accrue to a foreign e-commerce company outside India. However, the government starting June introduced a 6 percent levy on online transactions raising concerns that the move would impact the bottomlines of technology companies like Google and Facebook, which are expanding at a brisk pace here.

According to the budget announcement in February, any person or entity that makes a payment of more than Rs 1 lakh in a financial year to a non-resident technology company will now need to withhold 6 percent tax on the gross amount being paid as an equalisation levy.

The prevailing tax structure in India is similar to the one prevailing in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations and European countries.

For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here.
Demonetisation has shed its gloomy shadow on the booming tourism and hospitality industry in India. The onset of the winter travel season has been stymied by the unexpected storm of demonetisation. People have curtailed overseas travel and instead are exploring various local tourist destinations. Getting money from banks and ATMs continue to be a hassle with no respite in sight.

The travel and hospitality industries are facing a tough time. Many foreign trips sponsored by big brands largely done through cash transactions is negatively affecting tourism industry and revenues due to the ongoing cash crunch. Indias hospitality industry has been severely affected as the hotels have lost a large number of pay-in-cash-only clientele due to demonetization. Around 60 percent drop in hotel bookings have been reported.

At present, the scenario of the Indian citizens are worse, even if they are rich in terms of money. The wealthy and luxury-driven travellers are shifting their plans and in some cases cancelling holidays completely. When the rich and exclusive clientele from Delhi and Mumbai shift their birthday / anniversary extravaganzas to Goa instead of Prague or London, it is clear that demonetisation has trimmed their budgets simply because of unavailability of money. It has resulted in a drastic transformation that has veered from International tourism to Domestic tourism.

Not just travel and hospitality industry, but almost all sectors are feeling the impact of demonetisation. Not a single sector is immune to it. The industry's corporate clientele though is hit, the leisure segment is hit the hardest. Among the latter, the international leisure segment has been hit severely.

Impulse travelling too has come to a sudden halt. Visiting places like Dubai and Singapore as weekend trips have been suspended as of now. Business or work-related trips are something that cannot be overlooked or avoided are being delayed and only the most unavoidable trip are being taken up.

The accommodation section of hotels is much affected, but leisure segments like hotel banquets and high-end restaurants are feeling the pinch as weddings are being called off and many pre-bookings for different wedding ceremonies are also being cancelled. In addition to this, high-end restaurants are too facing drastic change as people are replacing fine-dining with pocket-friendly eateries.

It seems as if this is just the calm before the storm.

We hope that the storm of demonetisation will calm and settle down soon soon. And the travel happy citizens can get over this shock and get on to digital payments.

The hospitality industry is the most dynamic industry, especially when it comes to pricing and demand. Hopefully, there will be differently priced packages that will cater to all people so that they can still travel during these changing times.

(The writer is Founder, Internet Moguls, a digital marketing agency for hospitality and travel industry)

For full coverage of Union Budget 2017 click here.
Gafoor T was restless when he found 70 percent drop in sales in his tea powder shop at Kottakkal in Malappuram district of Kerala post-demonetisation. He did not have much hope when employees of the Akshaya Common Service Centre approached him with a suggestion to use e-wallet to overcome the cash crunch that hit his business.

Though Gafoor was aware of e-wallets, he was skeptical how his customers, who are mostly rural folks, will receive it. Much to his relief, Gafoor found most people willing to use their mobile phones to buy tea leaves.

After he put up a board announcing acceptance of e-wallets outside his shop, Gafoor saw not only his old customers returning but also new ones joining him. This has helped him not only cover the loss but also gain additional 10 percent sales in just one month.

Niyas Pulppadan, Malappuram district coordinator of Akshaya, a project initiated by the Kerala government in 1990s to bridge digital divide, said many like Gafoor in the district had switched on to cashless transaction methods.

He told Firstpost that majority of the 850 merchants at Kottakkal were now using one or the other digital payment platforms to run their business. He said people both in rural and urban areas were eager to try the cashless transaction options.

All this is made possible by the intensive campaign launched by Akshaya, which was designated by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as the nodal agency for the Go Cashless campaign in Kerala, to promote digital payment platforms among merchants and the general public.

The drive being implemented through 2,654 Akshaya citizen service centres across Kerala with the help of banks and other agencies concerned and is aimed at bringing all 941 village panchayats, 87 municipalities and six corporations in the state into a cashless regime.

Niyas said almost all 94 panchayats and 12 municipalities in Malappuram district had completed the target and the district was ready to be declared as the first cashless district in India. A place is deemed to be cashless, when at least 10 traders and more than 40 consumers start using digital wallet as per the Government of Indias directive.

We needed to enable only 4,240 consumers and 1,060 traders to use digital wallet to get the cashless district status according to the government norms. But we have already reached out to 18,650 people and more than 1,200 traders in the district. We expect an official declaration in the first week of January, said Niyas.

PP Jayakumar, manager, e-Governance and networking, Akshaya, said Malappuram was able to march ahead as it has a well-knit Akshaya network and has the highest number of migrants working abroad.

Malappuram was the first district in the country to achieve total computer literacy. At least one member in every family in the district was made e-literate under the Akshaya project piloted in the district way back in 2002.

The other districts that followed suit are also trying to keep pace with Malappuram. Districts like Thrissur, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Pathanamthitta are closely following Malappuram, Jayakumar said.

He told Firstpost that their attempt was to bring the entire state into cashless economy. Akshaya has covered more than 2 lakh people and 13,000 merchants in the state so far under the campaign, he added.

Jayakumar said they were trying to familiarise people with digital payment platforms by organising live demonstrations. At the training sessions, participants are also given tips on enhancing security for online banking.

The initial focus is on five platforms, namely debit/credit/prepaid cards issued by banks, USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), Aadhaar-enabled payment system (AEPS), UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and e-wallet. Jayakumar said that the e-wallet system was preferred by most people.

He said that the merchants had initially shown hesitation in accepting digital payments because of their fear about tax liabilities. However, they overcame the fear when they were told about the convenience and advantages of cashless transaction.

The small traders need not fear about tax liabilities as turnover up to Rs 10 lakhs is now exempted from tax. This may go up to Rs 20 lakhs when GST is implemented. As far as big traders are concerned, cashless transactions will minimise the need for maintaining records and free them from security concerns, he added.

Jayakumar pointed out a sharp drop in burglary and thefts following demonetisation. The traders, who had initially opposed demonetisation, are now fully supporting the digital payment drive. The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, which is rated as the single largest trade body in the world, is actively associating with the Go Cashless campaign.

Niyas said that the Malappuram unit of the traders body had taken the lead in creating awareness among the merchants and the general public about e-wallets. They have joined hands with Akshaya in taking e-wallets to the people, he added.

Jayakumar said that the Go Cashless campaign may help Kerala to increase the digital transactions by 30 to 40 percent. The total digital transactions in the state are now estimated to be around 30 percent. The state can easily switch over to full cashless economy with little more efforts, he added.

However, Akshaya coordinators in some districts are concerned about lack of support from political parties to the campaign. Devi S Nath, the coordinator of Palakkad district, said that the local bodies ruled by certain political parties were showing reluctance in issuing the certificate declaring the panchayats cashless.

This is mainly because of the political opposition to the demonetisation scheme. All parties, barring the BJP, had come out against the scheme citing hardships caused to the people.

While the Congress-led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is lying low after their initial round of protests, the CPM-led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is trying to intensify their agitation by organising a human chain across the state on 29 December .

Senior Akshaya officials said that the political opposition will not affect the campaign as cashless transaction will improve tax compliance and boost the states revenue. In fact, digital payment is a major component of the digital empowerment programme launched by the state government with a view to bridge the digital divide by 2020.

The programme is aimed at making 10 lakh people digitally literate. The services of around 40,000 student police cadets (SPCs) from 400 schools across the state are proposed to be used for the training.

Tablets have already been provided to the students as part of the training ahead of the campaign. The pilot phase of the project in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram is now nearing completion. It has covered 10,000 people in the district so far.

Kerala has all infrastructures in place to embrace cashless economy. Besides 100 percent literacy, Kerala is one of the most banked states in the country today. The state achieved 100 percent bank account coverage for all the household way back in 2011. The state now has one bank branch for every 5,900 persons as against all India average of 11,000.

Apart from this, Kerala also became Indias first complete digital state in 2015 after it achieved 100 percent mobile density, 75 percent e-literacy, highest digital banking rate and broadband connection up to panchayat level. The state has implemented e-district programmes in all districts and has linked Aadhaar card with bank accounts.

Akshaya officials hope that the current campaign will enable Kerala to achieve another distinction of becoming Indias first cashless state.
Amazon.com Inc said it had its best-ever holiday season, shipping more than one billion items worldwide through its Prime membership program.The Amazon Echo home assistant and its smaller version, Echo Dot, topped the best-sellers list, the company said."Despite our best efforts and ramped-up production, we still had trouble keeping them in stock," said Jeff Wilke, chief executive of Amazon's Worldwide Consumer division.Sales of Echo devices, controlled by Amazon's Alexa cloud-based system, were nine times more than last year's holiday season, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

More than 72 percent of Amazon's customers worldwide shopped through mobile devices, the company said, adding that Dec. 19 was the busiest shopping day this holiday season."Prime customers are spending twice as much as other consumers using Amazon and helping to fuel rapid revenue growth that few retailers with only a fraction of Amazon's revenues are able to generate," Retail Metrics President Ken Perkins wrote in a note last week.

Alexa and Amazon's Dash, Amazon's one-button ordering device, are making it increasingly easier for shoppers to "skip the trip," and will put additional pressure on retailers as they attempt to garner both in-store and Web traffic, Perkins said.Other best sellers on Amazon included 72-pack Keurig K-Cups, the movie "Finding Dory", Samsung Electronic Co Ltd's Gear VR virtual reality headset and Nintendo Co Ltd's Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon role-playing video games, the company said.

Amazon's shares were up 1.4 percent at $771.24 in morning trading. (Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Alex Lawler and David Gaffen

| LONDON/NEW YORK

LONDON/NEW YORK Oil jumped 1.7 percent Tuesday, continuing its year-end rally with support from expectations of tighter supply once the first output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday.U.S. crude prices have surged 25 percent since mid-November, helped by expectations for OPEC's supply cut and generally solid U.S. economic figures that have also bolstered equity prices. Trading was thin on Tuesday, with less than one-third of the usual volume in futures contracts in West Texas Intermediate crude oil. With oil near $54 a barrel, U.S. crude futures are not far from the year's high of $54.51 high reached on December 12. "Some of the doubts (in OPEC) people are showing are going to have to be put to rest," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "There's a strong possibility that we're going to rally into the end of the year."

Jan. 1 is the official start of the deal agreed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and several non-OPEC producers to lower production by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd).U.S. crude CLc1 was up 90 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $53.92 a barrel. Brent crude LCOc1 rose 94 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $56.10 a barrel as of 1153 a.m. ET. The global benchmark hit $57.89 on Dec. 12, highest since July 2015.The members of an OPEC and non-OPEC committee formed to monitor the market may meet on Jan. 13, two sources said. Oil rallied further after news of the meeting, which may give an early indication of compliance with the deal.

"From January, we'll start to have a better idea about the level of OPEC production," said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix.Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM) said on Tuesday it planned to increase oil production by 4.5 to 5 percent next year, less than intended before Russia joined the supply cut deal.

Major OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq have informed customers of lower supplies. But Libya and Nigeria - which are exempt from reductions because conflict has curbed their output - have been increasing production. Products markets outpaced crude on Tuesday, as the price of reformulated blendstock gasoline 1RBc1 gained 2.4 percent to $1.6652 a gallon, while heating oil HOc1 gained 2.9 percent to trade at $1.71 a gallon. Those contracts expire Friday; options on those contracts are expiring Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Osamu Tsukimori in Tokyo; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Alexandra Hudson and David Gregorio)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By David Gaffen

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK Oil gained 1.5 percent Tuesday, continuing its year-end rally with support from expectations of tighter supply once the first output cut deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers in 15 years takes effect on Sunday.U.S. crude prices have surged 25 percent since mid-November, helped by expectations for OPEC's supply cut and generally solid U.S. economic figures that have also bolstered equity prices. Trading was thin on Tuesday as just 257,000 front-month futures contracts traded, less than one-half of the usual volume in West Texas Intermediate crude futures. With oil near $54 a barrel, U.S. crude is not far from the year's high of $54.51 high reached on December 12. "Some of the doubts (in OPEC) people are showing are going to have to be put to rest," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures Group in Chicago. "There's a strong possibility that we're going to rally into the end of the year."

Jan. 1 is the official start of the deal agreed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and several non-OPEC producers to lower production by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd).U.S. crude CLc1 settled up 88 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $53.90 a barrel. Brent crude LCOc1 settled up 93 cents, or 1.7 percent, to $56.09 a barrel. The global benchmark hit $57.89 on Dec. 12, highest since July 2015.The members of an OPEC and non-OPEC committee formed to monitor the market may meet on Jan. 13, two sources said. Oil rallied further after news of the meeting, which may give an early indication of compliance with the deal.

"From January, we'll start to have a better idea about the level of OPEC production," said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix.Russian oil producer Gazprom Neft (SIBN.MM) said on Tuesday it planned to increase oil production by 4.5 to 5 percent next year, less than intended before Russia joined the supply cut deal.

Major OPEC members such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq have informed customers of lower supplies. But Libya and Nigeria - which are exempt from reductions because conflict has curbed their output - have been increasing production.Products markets outpaced crude on Tuesday, as the price of reformulated blendstock gasoline 1RBc1 gained 1.8 percent to $1.6555 a gallon, while heating oil HOc1 gained 2.3 percent to trade at $1.7002 a gallon. Those contracts expire Friday; options on those contracts are expiring Tuesday. (Additional reporting by Osamu Tsukimori in Tokyo; Editing by David Gregorio and Nick Zieminski)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
It isn't funny that a 'CBI special court' has virtually 'slapped' the CBI while granting bail to Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi (retired) in the AugustaWestland probe. While the CBI had arrested Tyagi accusing him of receiving kickbacks illegally in the VVIP helicopter deal, the CBI special court has observed that the CBI had failed to show when and how much of the alleged bribe was paid to him, even though the investigation had gone on for almost four years. Special Judge Arvind Kumar also pointed out that the allegation that Tyagi's properties were linked to the alleged illegal gratification was not investigated in over three-and-a-half years despite the CBI having seized the documents regarding his properties in 2013, but more than three years and nine months later, no investigation was conducted in this regard.

It may be noted that CBI was given four days custody following his recent arrest, however, the Bureau had it extended. The CBI special court made following important observations: Tyagi retired in 2007 and the CBI's view that he influenced witnesses does not hold water; the present case is based on documents; the accused joined the investigation as and when called by the CBI and has also been interrogated in custody; allegations of whether he received kickbacks, and in what manner he was connected in the alleged conspiracy, can only be looked into during the trial stage; he has been in custody for 18 days. No purpose will be served by keeping the accused behind bars. CBI counsel and additional solicitor-general Tushar Mehta opposed Tyagi's bail plea, arguing that they had found "new" evidence to build the case against Tyagi. Here the question is why this new evidence could not be shared with the CBI special court, or is it based on the hope that some new evidence will crop up with the Italian court reopening the case?

So now the question is that if the CBI did not have sufficient evidence against Tyagi, why was he arrested at this point of time and kept imprisoned for 18 days? Was this a fake "earthquake" warning for the UPA akin to the Congress vice-presidents threat to rock the Parliament? What a terrible shame that despite having exceptionally strong assistance from the Italian courts, who have virtually handed India the case on a plate, only Tyagi and two other accused are questioned and jailed while the bureaucrats, the politicians and the then SPG director involved are not questioned. As someone remarked on social media, "Just imagine what is going to happen to all the other UPA scam cases in the hands of CBI/Supreme Court where there is no external court assistance  actual culprits are going to get off scot-free.

In the AugustaWestland probe, the following facts already public can hardly be ignored:

One, the helicopters in question were required by the SPG to fly VVIPs. Two, the requirement of helicopters from eight to 12 was increased by the PMO. Three, IAF had insisted since 1988 that service ceiling of 6,000 metres was an operational necessity to access all border areas, also reiterated to the defence secretary in January 2004. Four, under instructions issued by the NSA in March 2005, fresh supplier quality requirements were evolved in consultation with PMO and SPG; a meeting chaired by the defence secretary in May 2005 decided to lower the service ceiling to 4,500 metres. This was obviously later approved by the defence minister  facilitating the purchase of AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopters which fly only up to 4,572 metres. Five, there is no way Tyagi could have lowered the flying ceiling of the required helicopters without the indulgence of MoD, NSA, SPG and PMO. Six, the then director, SPG (who used to accompany the Congress president during her foreign visits) was present during the so-called trials abroad on 'representational helicopters', based on which the deal for importing AugustaWestland helicopters was signed. Seven, middleman Guido Haschke's diary revealed the jotting of apparent beneficiaries.

So logically, the then defence minister, NSA, defence secretary, SPG director and officials of the PMO and Ministry of Defence should have been probed by now along with Tyagi, but no move has been made on this front as yet. Significantly, on 14 December, the Supreme Court ruled in another case that was just based on uncorroborated evidence of statements and records of hawala dealers or corporate diaries that investigations cant be undertaken, never mind prosecution. So, hasnt Tyagi been arrested because of similarly frivolous reasons  statements by middlemen?

The million dollar question is: Will the government of the day take up the gauntlet to smash what is generally referred to as the 'Hamam'?

The 1993 NN Vohra Committee Report while establishing the nexus between governmental functionaries, political leaders and others with various mafia organisations and crime syndicates, enabling the development of significant muscle and money power to operate with impunity, had finally opined that "leakage about the linkages of crime syndicates, senior government functionaries or political leaders in the states or at the Centre could have a destabilising effect on the functioning of government". So there was no follow-up to this report.

Of the scores of defence scams since Independence, how many politicians and bureaucrats were probed, arrested, prosecuted? Of course, VK Krishna Menon had the distinction of initiating the first one  the Jeep Scandal of 1948, wherein he as Indias High Commissioner to the UK signed a deal with a company in England to supply 200 jeeps (bypassing all government regulations) for the Army costing Rs 80 lakh, but only 155 jeeps were supplied. The case was closed in 1955 and Jawaharlal Nehru appointed Menon as defence minister. And despite the ignominy of 1962, we have a Krishna Menon Marg in his name in the heart of the Capital.

On a different wavelength but hardly surprising, Francois Gautier writes on Facebook:

The author is a veteran Lieutenant-General of the Indian Army
Ahmedabad: Indian Army on Tuesday signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology-Gandhinagar (IITGN) to set up a Research and Development cell which would focus on the finding solutions for Army's requirements.

"The cell will work with the faculty and research students to identify problems and possible solutions for the

Indian Army," IITGN said in a release.

IITGN director Sudhir Jain and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Planning and System) Lt Gen Subrata Saha signed the MoU at the institute's campus at Palaj in Gandhinagar district.

"The MoU will result in meaningful realisation and efficient transfer of research into customised solutions for

the Indian Army," the release quoted Lt Gen Saha as saying.

The research cell will deal with Army's requirements such as lighter and stronger bullet-proof jackets and materials to build bunkers, among other things.

"There is a whole lot of inventory even in the aircraft engines that can be done in India. We are very hopeful that this indigenous effort will take place at a fast pace through such MoUs," Saha said.

Army will also work with the faculty members and students to find possibility of conducting short-term courses and lectures at the institute, the release said.

Speaking on the occasion, Jain said, "Indian Army, particularly those (personnel) posted in the harsh weather

conditions face diverse problems and we want to understand and address these problems. The plan is to have a Research Centre at IITGN through which our students and faculty can be in continuous touch with the Indian Army in researching and addressing these problems."
Jammu: Following the outcry in Kashmir Valley over providing the identity certificates to the Hindu West Pakistani refugees, BJP MLAs have now slammed their own government for being lax in allowing the settlement of over 6,000 Rohingya Muslims in Hindu dominated Jammu region even as they have the got the work permits from the government of India to carry out different jobs in the state.

The saffron party members have also asked the state government to take measures to "stop" the illegal settlement of Bangladeshi Muslims.

As per government figures, there are over 6,000 Rohingya refugees who are living in different areas of the Jammu city, a predominately Hindu majority area and are settled there for more than six years now. Over 1,200 Burmese refugee families comprising nearly 6,000 people are settled in some of the congested areas of Jammu city including Narwal. Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, Danish Rana, said that the Rohingya Muslims have been given the work permits by the government and are not "living illegally in Jammu areas". "The number of people is over 6,000 and they are staying legally here. They have the work permit which has been issued by the government of India. They are Rohingya Muslims from Burma and are settled here due to the differences with Buddhist population in their own country."

He said that the Rohingya Muslims started coming to Jammu region over six years back and "over a period of time their number has increased". "They are mostly doing odd-jobs and are rag-pickers and even do begging to eke out a living," Rana said.

However, the BJP MLAs have now demanded that the state government should spell out a policy on "whether Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslims can stay in the state." BJPs Nowshera MLA, Ravinder Raina, said that the matter will be taken up in the upcoming budget session of the state assembly which is beginning in Jammu from 2 January.

"The government should spell out a policy on Rohingya Muslims. It is a very serious matter and the government should find out how have they come to the state. They are living without permission and could be a threat to the security of the state. We will ask the government to be serious about the issue and clear its policy," Raina said.

BJPs Ram Nagar MLA, Ranbir Singh Pathania, said that those Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims who are living illegally here should be dealt sternly. "Thos who are living illegally shall be dealt as per the law," Pathania said.

Police officials, however, admit that many of the Bangladeshi nationals are living illegally. "Yes there are many who are living illegally," said Rana. He said that there are many who are overstaying the period for which they have been permitted against valid travel documents adding there "were others who have entered illegally by crossing the border. A senior police official said, "Since many of the Bangladeshi nationals having entered clandestinely there is a difficulty in having an exact record of those who are settled in the state."

Legislator Raina demanded that a head count of the people who are residing in the state should be done. BJP MLAs have sought a clear policy even as the New Delhi has advised the government of Myanmar that "communal harmony" should be maintained in the Rakhine state of the country where the Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have shown frequent differences. As per government documents, "the developments in the Rakhine state of Myanmar including the importance of maintaining communal harmony has been taken up by GOI (government of India)with the government of Myanmar."

The government records reveal that the number of foreign nationals including those from Bangladesh who have been deported to their countries was significantly lesser in Jammu and Kashmir than other states. The number of those who have been deported from Delhi in the year 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 1,645, 989 and 161 respectively. However, from Jammu and Kashmir, the number per year has remained between one to three only.
On Tuesday, Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs responded to an appeal made by an Indian Catholic priest abducted from Yemen this year who through a video asked Pope Francis and the Union government to secure his release from his captors.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday morning, Swaraj said she has seen the video sent by Father Tom Uzhunnalil and that her department will spare no effort in securing his release.

I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. /1  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. /2  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity. /3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

In the video appeal, Father Uzhunnalil explained his deteriorating condition and sought help.

"If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value," said priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil in a weak voice in the video, aired by news channels in Kerala.

"Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating," he said in the video, a day after Christmas.

Father Uzhunnalil, who looked very weak, appeared to be reading out from a text placed before him.

The veracity of the video, which was uploaded from YouTube and Facebook, could neither be independently verified nor was the period when it was shot known.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden.

He claimed his captors have made many contacts with the Government of India  president and prime minister.

"I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard," he said.

He said reports had said everything has been done to get his release, "but in reality nothing" has been done.

Father Uzhunnalil said a news reporter abducted in the Middle East was released as she was from France.

"I am from India and not considered. Dear people, I pray you all, ask you all, beg you all to do your might to help me to save my life. I need hospitalisation soon. Please come to my help quickly," he said.

The Union government has said efforts are being made to secure Uzhunnalil's release, but such attempts take time.

Earlier, Swaraj had informed Parliament that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has spoken to various countries through which contacts can be established in Yemen.

Swaraj had said it takes more time to secure release of people who are held captive and asked the MPs to keep "faith" in government's efforts to trace the abducted priest.

With inputs from PTI
Ahmedabad: In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and forcibly confined in a farm pit for over three weeks in November and raped repeatedly by a teenager at Kotda Nayani village of Morbi district in Gujarat before she was freed earlier this month, police said on Tuesday.

According to a police official of Wankaner taluka police station, a case of rape, kidnapping and illegal confinement was registered against 19-year-old Naresh Solanki, while seven others belonging to his family were booked under charges of kidnapping and illegal confinement.

The motive of the crime allegedly was forced marriage. The family of the accused wanted the family of the victim to marry her to Naresh as they both belong to the same caste of 'Devipujaks'. When the latter refused, they planned the kidnapping of the girl, police said.

The victim was kidnapped on 11 November and taken to a farmland some two kilometres from the village. There she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit covered on top with wooden plank so as to avoid her detection.

The victim was taken out to be raped repeatedly for over three weeks before she was freed by her father and others in the village on 4 December.

The girl, in her statement to police, said that she was kidnapped by eight persons late night on November 11 and taken to a farmland in an autorickshaw where she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit dug in the farm.

As per the girl's statement, she was confined in the pit and was taken out only to be raped by accused Naresh.

The girl's father lodged a case of kidnapping against unknown persons on 25 November.

After intense search, the girl was finally found on 4 December, the official said, adding that based on her statement, police lodged a case against the eight accused who were subsequently arrested.

The eight persons include Naresh, his brother Haresh, father Janantbhai Solanki and his grandfather Chaturbhai Solanki, who are currently lodged in Rajkot central jail, they said.

Other than sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366 (abduction of woman to compel her into marriage) of the Indian Penal Code registered against unknown accused in the 25 November FIR, police have also added sections 376 (rape) against Naresh along with relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
There is more pain on the way for black money holders. The income tax department on Monday said they will have to bear taxes and penalties amounting to as high as 137 percent if they do not admit to or fail to explain the source of undisclosed income after being raided.

However, the total levy can touch 107.25 percent if the undisclosed income is admitted during search operations and that income substantiated, the department said in a release, adding the tax dodgers can come clean by paying 50 per cent on bank deposits post demonetisation.

If one fails to admit his unexplained income during the course of search and in case, taxes are not paid and he does not substantiate the manner in which income is earned, then the tax incidence will be 137.25 percent, the tax department said in a release.

However, if undisclosed income is admitted during search, taxes are paid and return is filed before the specified date declaring this income and assessee substantiates the manner in which income is earned, then the tax rate will be 107.25 per cent, the release added.

"We are asking people to declare their undisclosed cash deposits in banks, post offices which have not been subject to tax earlier under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna, 2016 (the scheme)," Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (NWR) Rajendra Kumar said in Chandigarh on Monday.

This scheme which has come into effect on 17 December shall remain open for declarations up to 31 March, 2017, he said.

If the income is not admitted during search and the assessee is not able to substantiate the earning, it will attract 60 per cent tax, 60 per cent penalty, 15 per cent surcharge, 3 per cent education cess surcharge  amounting to 137.25 percent.

In case, the income is admitted during search and the assessee is able to substantiate the earning, it will attract 60 percent tax, 30 percent penalty, 15 per cent surcharge, 3 percent education cess surcharge  totalling to 107.25 percent.

The Taxation Laws (Second Amendment) Act, 2016 has amended the penalty provisions in respect of search and seizure cases, the release said.

The existing slab for penalty of 10 per cent, 20 percent and 60 per cent of income levied under section 271AAB has been rationalized to 30 per cent of income, if the income is admitted and taxes are paid. Otherwise, a penalty at the rate of 60 per cent of income shall be levied, the department said in the release.
Islamabad: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called Pakistani Finance Minster Ishaq Dar on phone to discuss the Pakistan-India water dispute, an official said on Tuesday.

The phone call on Monday was in relation with the latest dispute concerning two hydroelectric power plants  Kishanganga and Ratle  that India is building on the Indus river system, Dawn online reported.

Dar earlier wrote to Kim requesting him to help settle the water dispute between the two neighbouring nations.

He said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty which was signed in 1960.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt the country's interests as India was working on completing the two projects. Dar said that once the projects are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

The treaty distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, while Pakistan has the three western rivers of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Last week, Kim in a letter to the Finance Ministers of India and Pakistan, said he had decided to "pause" the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle the dispute.

Pakistan asked the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration while India demanded the appointment of a neutral expert.

Kim said he was "pausing" arbitration to protect the Indus Waters Treaty, which has successfully resolved previous disputes between the two neighbours.

Tension over the water dispute intensified in November when Prime Minister Narendra Modi post the Uri attack which claimed the lives of 19 soldiers, said: "Blood and water cannot flow at the same time."
Panaji: On Tuesday, Navy said its prompt response in rescuing passengers on-board the Mumbai-bound flight that veered off the runway at Dabolim Airport in Goa early on Tuesday morning, has averted the incident from turning into a "catastrophe".

"The Navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely out of the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the Navy not acted promptly," a Naval spokesperson said.

The incident took place at around 5 am when Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for the take off.

The Goa airport is located in Indian Navy's facility, INS Hansa in Vasco town, nearly 25 km from Panaji.

As many as 15 passengers suffered "minor injuries and fractures" during the evacuation process, Navy sources said.

"Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement.

Beside 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board.

Meanwhile, the runway was made available for flight operations at 9 am, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 pm.

Soon after the incident, Navy officials had cordoned off the aircraft that had tilted towards its front end, while the passengers were being alighted.

#WATCH: Passengers, who were injured after Mumbai bound Jet Airways flight skidded off runway at Goa airport, being taken for treatment pic.twitter.com/JUWYRpFe1r  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

"After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started. The damage to the runway was also accessed by a team of Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India officials," the spokesperson said.

"There was lot of muck on the runway as the flight was grounded on the sides of the runway," he said.

During the rescue operation hours, a chartered flight was diverted to Bangalore, while an Oman Air flight that was scheduled to arrive in morning, was diverted to Mumbai, he said.

A total of seven scheduled flights that were to land at the airport were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded. The two aircrafts will take off later during the day.
New Delhi: Norway on Tuesday told India that it is handling the case involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family in accordance with the Norwegian Child Welfare Act which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This was conveyed to the Indian ambassador who had gone to meet the Norwegian officials, who also informed him that since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality.

Ahead of the meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said India wants the five-and-a-half-year-old boy united with his natural parents and refused to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents," Swaraj had tweeted.

According to Norwegian Embassy Spokesperson in new Delhi, "The Indian ambassador to Norway visited the Norwegian authorities earlier today (in Oslo) to discuss the child welfare case involving a Norwegian/Indian family, where the child holds Norwegian citizenship. The meeting had a constructive atmosphere.

"The Norwegian authorities have reiterated 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."

During the meeting with the Indian envoy, the Norwegian authorities also said the the Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship. The embassy also was once again assured that the Norwegian authorities were dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness.

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that the authorities in that country have taken away their son on a frivolous complaint of abuse. Kaur had also written to the inistry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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.
Mumbai: Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, on Tuesday performed the post-death rituals for her father at Brahman Seva Samiti hall here and returned to the Byculla Women's prison in the evening.

The special CBI court in Mumbai had last week granted her permission to perform the rituals anywhere in Mumbai. The court, however, had rejected her plea for interim bail to visit her hometown, Guwahati, for the purpose, following her father Upendra Bora's death on 15 December.

Indrani left jail at around 7.30 am today with a police escort for Brahman Seva Samiti hall in Mulund. After

performing rituals there till 4.30 pm, she visited a nearby temple for prayers for an hour, a police officer said.

Judge HS Mahajan had said in his order that she shall not speak to media during the time she was out of the prison.

She shall be brought back to jail by 7 pm, the judge had said.

CBI had opposed Indrani's request for interim bail to visit Assam. It had produced an e-mail sent by her son

Mikhail, which said he did not want her to visit Guwahati.

Indrani's intention was to influence prosecution witnesses and there was also a possibility that she would try

to escape, CBI said.

Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyam Rai are accused of killing Sheena, her daughter from an earlier relationship, in April 2012. Her husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea too has been arrested in the case for being party to the conspiracy.
After protests from Shiv Sena, the organisers of the annual cultural festival Mood Indigo, have erased a mural bearing "close" resemblance to Hindu deity Hanuman, reports said.

The mural, painted on a wall of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay campus, was removed after members of the political party Shiv Saina entered the campus on Monday demanding an immediate removal of the mural. The Shiv Sainiks also forced the administration to apologise for the murals and forced the students council, which organised the cultural fest to give a written apology.

The mural, touted as a geeky "modern Lord Hanuman", depicts him carrying a mountain in one hand and a pen instead of mace on the other, and shows him dressed in shorts with smart watches, earphones, etc, something the Shiv Sena found in "bad taste". The cultural festival presented several murals as part of one of the events.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sena leader Datta Dalvi, who along with MLA Sunil Raut had reportedly directed the Sena workers to visit the campus and demand its removal, said, "The painting was in bad taste. It hurt the religious sentiments of many people. This is not the way to the portray a Hindu deity like Hanuman. Students should not have portrayed the deity like that.

The Times of India quoted local Sena leader Nilesh Salunkhe as saying, "The painter took the liberty to distort Hanuman's image with the Sanjeevani Parvat and it was insulting. The painting had Hanuman holding a pen, wearing shorts, knee pads, headphones, watches, a tie and spectacles. It also showed him wearing a slipper and a shoe. And the tail was replaced with the saffron flag. We found it derogatory," said Salunkhe.

The wall depicting the controversial mural was reportedly whitewashed after the Shiv Sena leaders threatened to stall the festival until the painting was removed. The festival wrapped up on Monday.

Incidentally, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavais was one of the keynote speakers at the cultural festival on Monday.

Had an extremely different and insightful interaction with the YOUng, bright minds and Arnab Goswami.#moodindigo#TransformMaharashtra pic.twitter.com/cvmK623iGQ  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 26, 2016

Initially, the organisers agreed to cover it. "When we insisted on getting it removed, they whitewashed the wall and gave us an apology letter," Salunkhe told The Times of India.
Mumbai: In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday amid chill in relations between the two countries, Shiv Sena on Tuesday invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji saying the warrior king never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation."

Birthday wishes to Pakistan PM Mr. Nawaz Sharif. I pray for his long and healthy life.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 25, 2016

Significantly, the Sena's barb at Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji in Mumbai.

The ally also voiced its displeasure over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the prime minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

"What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of Swarajya as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

During the build-up to 'jal pujan' for the memorial, Sena did not hide its feeling that BJP has sought to "hijack" the event for claiming the legacy of the Maratha icon to secure political mileage.

"We only ask politicians not to use Chhatrapati to play low-grade politics. Those who claim rights on Chhatrapati will bite the dust in the end. They would do well to remember the history," the editorial said on Tuesday.

"Ensure that the memorial does not get trapped in selfish politics, thereby forcing Shivaji Maharaj to use his sword against these self-centred politicians," it said.

The ruling alliance partner, however, said it understood the importance of Modi in the BJP, and that his party is what it is today only due to the "Modi tonic".

"While the Sainiks and Shivaji fans were chanting slogans hailing the Chhatrapati, BJP workers were shouting slogans in the name of Modi. Can anyone compare himself to Shivaji? Modi himself will not approve of this," Sena said.

Notably, during the public meeting addressed by Modi here on Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's speech was interrupted for a while, apparently by BJP supporters present among the audience by chanting "Modi, Modi,".
The Opposition unity is under scrutiny as visible cracks appear ahead of Tuesday's meeting convened by Congress to ramp up attack on demonetisation and alleged "personal corruption" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Left parties and JD(U) are unlikely to attend the meeting and this brings the big question to the fore: Has the Opposition parties abandoned the Opposition?

In the Winter Session of the Parliament, a strong Opposition, led by the Congress and Trinamool Congress's Mamata Banerjee, raised hell and opposed Modi's demonetisation move.

A week after the Winter session ended, the Opposition seems to have scattered and abandoned its leader  Congress. During the Winter session, a united Opposition caused uproar in the Parliament to protest against Modi's demonetisation move. However things have changed since then.

While the Left parties announced they are staying away from the meeting organised by Congress, the JD(U) also gave hints that it may follow suit. Congress is part of the JD(U)-led Nitish Kumar government in Bihar, but when demonetisation was announced, Nitish Kumar was one of the first few leaders to show support for Modi's scheme.

Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) refrained from comment, while NCP's Tariq Anwar, who had earlier committed to the meeting, had to change plans due to the demise of his mother in Patna.

In a joint press conference Congress leader Jairam Ramesh downplayed the plans of several parties skipping the Opposition meeting citing local and regional compulsions for some parties not to be together on the same platform.

"Whoever comes tomorrow will come. Those who don't come tomorrow will come the next time. Those who will come, you will see tomorrow," said Ramesh striking a philosophical note.

He, however, dismissed suggestions that Tuesday's meeting was a "tea party" like the one in 1998 which ultimately led to the downfall of the Vajpayee government.

Ramesh said, "The biggest issue today is demonetisation and the second issue is corruption by the Prime Minister, which will be the main issues before tomorrow's meet."

On Monday, on the eve of deliberations, Rahul Gandhi had held a meeting of all Congress general secretaries and State Congress presidents at his residence to discuss the situation.

A senior party leader, likened Tuesday's parleys with that of the Shimla conclave in 2003 which saw Congress pitching for unity of secular forces to oust the then NDA government led by Vajpayee.

The meeting is seen as an attempt on part of the Congress to paper over the cracks that developed when several Opposition parties skipped the joint Opposition march to Rashtrapati Bhawan on 16 December over demonetisation.

They were apparently annoyed over Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi meeting the Prime Minister earlier that day on the issue of farmers' problems, especially in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

"We have decided to stay away from the press conference of Opposition parties convened by the Congress because here has been no proper consultation and coordination among parties," CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in Kolkata.

Yechury said, "Most of the parties were neither consulted nor informed about what will be the agenda of the meeting. Several Opposition parties have reservation about the way the meeting has been convened."

CPI National Secretary D Raja said there should have been "more prior consultations on the date and agenda" of the

meeting of Opposition parties.

"Lack of such prior consultation and discussion has caused difficulties. We could have got an opportunity to discuss within our parties and taking a position," he said, adding that all parties have already made their own plans.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said, "The meeting has no agenda, not even a common minimum programme. It is unlikely to arrive at any conclusion."

However West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been vocal against demonetisation is one of the few leaders who will attend Wednesday's meet.

The Opposition meet is being held at a time when the Modi dispensation has completed half its term and the ruling BJP is going whole hog to capture key Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly polls will take place in few months.

Congress is striving for uniting the Opposition on the issue of Rahul Gandhi's charge of "personal corruption" against the prime minister.

Meanwhile, taking potshots at Congress after over decisions of several parties to keep away from the meeting, BJP said the balloon of their "so-called unity" has burst even before it could have floated.

"It was never a positive move but an outcome of negative politics against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It only shows that even Opposition parties have rejected Rahul Gandhi whose credibility has already gone down among the masses," its national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

With inputs from agencies
Patna: Launching a scathing attack on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for his "chauraha" comment against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday said people would prosecute hoarders of black money at the public square after 30 December.

"People are standing solidly with the prime minister on his decision to scrap high value currencies and they are ready to prosecute hoarders of black money who would be unmasked at the public square after December 30," he said in a statement.

Prasad had asked Modi to choose a "chauraha" (roundabout) where people can punish him on demonetisation and 30 December marks the end of 50 days after the scrapping of high value notes when, according to the PM's assurance, the situation would ease.

Sushil Modi said the RJD dharna against demonetisation in Patna on Wednesday would meet the same fate as that of Bharat bandh and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's dharna against it.

"The deposit of Rs 104 crore in BSP bank account has exposed the reasons behind protests by Mayawati, Mamata

Banerjee and Lalu Prasad against demonetisation," he said.

"Does Lalu Prasad, who has been convicted by court in a corruption case due to which he has been debarred from

contesting any election have the moral right to talk on black money to fight against which the PM took a decision to scrap Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes?" he asked.

"Lalu Prasad is the first such leader of Bihar who has been sentenced to five-year punishment by Supreme Court in the Rs 700 crore fodder scam, due to which he cannot even fight election for even a mukhiya post," he said.
When J Jayalalithaa had to step down as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister following her conviction in September 2014 in the disproportionate assets case by a Bengaluru court and O Panneerselvam was sworn-in as her successor, the AIADMK would refer to Jayalalithaa as 'people's chief minister'. Everyone knew OPS was CM only in name and that Jaya wielded the real power.

P Rama Mohana Rao, the former chief secretary appointed by Jayalalithaa in June 2016, is trying a similar gimmick. He claims he is still the chief secretary even though the Tamil Nadu government appointed Girija Vaidyanathan in his place after the raids by Income Tax officials at Rao's home last week. The government portal describes his status as "on wait". But the Panneerselvam government in Rao's rather frank opinion, "does not have the guts to remove him". By invoking Jayalalithaa and saying he is going to the people's court, Rao is trying to position himself as Puratchi Thalaivar's chief secretary. What is left unsaid is, if Panneerselvam can claim immunity by saying he was appointed by Amma, so can Rao.

The battle in Rao's worldview is between Chennai and New Delhi. Taking on the Modi sarkaar, no less, Rao claims that the CRPF barged into his residence at 5.30am. The warrant, he says, was not for him but for his son. And that only Rs 1.12 lakh and "little jewellery" was found at his home.

If what Rao says is true, the I-T department and its political bosses, prima facie, seem to have bungled. It is difficult to believe though that a chief secretary would have been raided without a nod from the very top. The I-T sleuths not only raided Rao's home but also the chief secretary's office at Fort St. George, that houses the Tamil Nadu Secretariat. They went in, CRPF in tow, without a warrant for Rao, if one is to go by his version. It is not right to allege such things and it does Centre-state relations no good.

With the exception of Delhi Chief Minister's Arvind Kejriwal's principal secretary, a chief secretary's office has not been searched or raided by a central agency in recent memory. This when Panneerselvam was working in his chambers 200 metres away. Did Panneerselvam know of this raid, that is now being painted as an affront to the government of Tamil Nadu? It gives meat to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Baneejee's accusation that this raid is an attack on the federal structure under the Constitution of India. Significantly, Rao also thanked Mamata and Rahul Gandhi for "their support." An indication that his fight is political.

Ever since the I-T raids last week, the Tamil Nadu government has maintained silence. The only AIADMK voices to have expressed displeasure are spokespersons Dheeran and MP SR Balasubramanian. The MP who is a leader of TMC vintage and joined the AIADMK recently condemned the involvement of the CRPF in the raids. In his opinion, it gave the impression that the state police force was not to be trusted.

The fact that the chief secretary has come out all guns blazing against the current Tamil Nadu government shows what he thinks of his boss, Panneerselvam. By also saying he was appointed by Amma and trained by her, Rao is pitting the Amma team against operations. Rao speaks like a politician, not a bureaucrat.

Rao also clearly hints at a political conspiracy when he says the raid would not have happened if Jayalalithaa was alive. Claiming his life is in danger, Rao says he is being targetted. The sense one gets is Rao is not saying a lie as far as this point is concerned. Having worked in the Chief Minister's office as Jayalalithaa's secretary through a large part of her 2011-2016 term, till his appointment as the chief secretary, Rao is the keeper of many secrets and knows a lot. The I-T raids, per se, may not have thrown up dirt on him but he would be a trove of information on possible wrongdoings by the power structure in Tamil Nadu since 2011.

Make no mistake about it. The I-T raids were deeply political. The profile of people raided had connections with powerful politicians, including a senior AIADMK minister, considered close to Sasikala and, who too, was in running to become a chief minister. Several of those raided are involved in sand mining contracts and possible links to PWD contractor J Sekhar Reddy who has been arrested by the CBI. Though Rao has denied any connection with Reddy, the two raids coming close on the heels of each other led to suspicion. That Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi was hired to fight in court to secure bail for Reddy's associate shows their influence and what is at stake.

What is also significant is that Rao was raided a day after meeting Panneerselvam with the prime minister in Delhi. That led many to believe that Panneerselvam cut deal with the BJP to keep Sasikala at bay. By asking if the raid on the chief secretary's office was with Panneerselvam's permission, he is forcing the chief minister to react. He has in effect accused Panneerselvam of failing to protect the sanctity of the office of the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu, who he says was under house arrest for 26 hours. Can such a man be trusted to protect Tamil Nadu's interests? Let's leave that unsaid.

From what it seems, Rao-speak is a carefully calibrated strategy. Chennai (read Sasikala-led AIADMK) has decided to take on the BJP. If Balasubramanian's opening salvo was to test the waters, Rao has served it hot. With sources indicating that the BJP won't be too happy to let Sasikala and family control the AIADMK, the run-up to 29 December when the AIADMK party council will meet is expected to be stormy.

What is in Delhi's favour is public perception that there has been a lot of corruption in the system and needs a clean-up. But just that wont be enough.

As far as Rao is concerned, he has made it clear that he is not going down without a fight. Given that the rulebook states that advisor to the government Sheela Balakrishnan "advises, aids and directs the chief secretary", he could use that as a ploy to say the attack on him is an attack on everyone Amma trusted in.

The battlelines are drawn.
Days after the Income Tax Department raided the house of the former chief secretary of Tamil Nadu P Rama Mohana Rao, he addressed the media on Tuesday and raised several questions about the "unconstitutional" raids. Speaking to the media, Rao, who was removed from the post of the chief secretary on 23 December, said that he still holds the post and authorities have no evidence against him.

"After 32 years of service, if this is the condition of a chief secretary, how can CRPF enter my house? Why did they not transfer me? This is political vendetta. I was under house arrest for over 26 hours. They (Centre) have no respect for the state government," Rao said.

Rao thanked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for "supporting my cause" and also alleged that his life was in danger. "They did not have any search warrant against me. The search warrant had name of my son. They have found nothing  no incriminating documents were found during the raids," Rao said. Pointing towards a room that was alleged to be a secret chamber by the income tax authorities, Rao said that it was the store room. "What secret chamber?" he asked.

I want to thank West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi for supporting my cause: Former TN Chief Secy P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/HqKF2saFGl  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I want to tell what has been found in my house; have received the 'panchnama': P Rama Mohana Rao on IT raids conducted at his residence  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Ill hand over to you the panchanama what IT Dept has found in my house; I was under house arrest: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/jaFkGMgrCY  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I was under house arrest. It is an unconstitutional assault on the office of Chief Secy; I'm still the Chief Secy of TN: P Rama Mohana Rao  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

CRPF entered my house; they showed me the search warrant, my name was not there; They've found nothing: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/qZJcZooeO4  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

They have found nothing. No incriminate documents found; No secret chamber, that is the store room: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/FE2aJS73Ys  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I was the chief secy, I am the chief secy of Tamil Nadu.They have no guts to serve me with the copy of transfer order: P Rama Mohana Rao  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Alleging interference from the BJP-led Centre, Rao also said that the Central government has no business raiding the house of a chief secretary of a state. "Where is the state government? What role or business does Government of India and CRPF have to enter a chief secretary's chambers? Did they get the chief minister's permission? Isn't this a unconstitutional assault? Where's the state govt? On whose permission did CRPF enter my house. If they wanted to search my house, they could have transferred me. How much time does it take for a chief minister to transfer a chief secretary?" asked Rao.

Remembering former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, Rao said that if she were here, this would have never happened. "If Honourable Madam (Jayalalithaa) was here today, this would not have happened. I managed Madam's funeral and handled when Chennai was battered by the cyclone. My reputation precedes me. I am a big hurdle to many. I am a hardcore man and they fear me," said Rao, adding that he feared for his life.

If madam had been alive, would this happen to Tamil Nadu? What about people's security?: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/k91yPlKRU6  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

On 21 December, Income Tax authorities raided the house and office of Rao after a tip-off. The premises were searched by officials, who claimed to have recovered Rs 30 lakh in cash in new notes and five kilograms of gold besides getting "disclosure" about Rs five crore of unaccounted income. The raids were carried out at 15 places, including the office and the residence of Rao, his son Vivek and some relatives in Chennai and Chittoor in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, I-T sources had told PTI.

Rao was appointed as the Tamil Nadu chief secretary in June 2016.

They found Rs 1,12,320 in my house, gold that belongs to my wife & daughter & silver articles and ornaments of God around 20-25 kg: PRM Rao pic.twitter.com/DdFqyCH6yY  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I am being targeted; I have fear, my life is in danger: Former TN Chief Secy P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/MprtDcIfk8  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

At gun point CRPF entered my house,they entered my son's house at gun point.Why did they do? I may b a big hurdle for many-P Rama Mohana Rao  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Rao also refuted claims that he had any business links with mining baron Shekhar Reddy. A senior I-T official had told The Indian Express that the raids at Rao's home and office were linked to the seizure of Rs 132 crore in cash (including Rs 34 crore in new notes) and 177 kilograms of gold from mining baron J Sekhar Reddy earlier this month. "Documents seized from Reddys premises were the major evidence, as they had details linked to Rao. It was a matter of ascertaining locations before launching the raid," the official told the paper. Rao, however, on Tuesday said:

I have no links with Shekar Reddy.I have nothing to do with him. He has nothing to do with any governement business: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/51F1ybtu4x  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Within 24 hours after the raid, Girija Vaidyanathan, an officer with a no-nonsense work ethic, was appointed as Rao's 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.

With inputs from agencies
Hours after Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati had accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of targetting her because she is a Dalit, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back at her, saying Mayawati cannot hide corruption in the garb of caste politics.

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detected cash deposits worth over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP, Mayawati accused the BJP of misusing official machinery to tarnish her party's image. "All deposits are as per norms and party rules and the money was collected before note ban. Should we have thrown it?" she asked.

Terming the issue as an effort to tarnish BSP's image ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Mayawati said the "anti-Dalit" BJP managed to sway a section of the media.

Union minister of law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad reacted to these allegations and pointed out how Mayawati's response didn't address the issue of money being deposited in her account. "She (Mayawati) did not deny the fact that the deposits were made. The main question is whether these were donations made to the political party or a case of money conversion," he said. He further added that a proper probe will set things straight.

"BJP and other parties have also deposited their money in banks. Nobody is talking about that," Mayawati had said on Tuesday.

But Prasad responded by saying the BSP supremo was just reacting to media reports.

The ED on Monday had detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP, and Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to Mayawati's brother Anand in a branch of United Bank of India in Delhi during a routine survey and enquiry operations to check suspicious cash deposits in banks post-demonetisation.

In response to Mayawati's allegation that the BJP was anti-Dalit, Prasad said it was unfortunate that demonetisation is being termed as anti-Dalit, and added that "Mayawati cannot hide corruption in the garb of Dalit cause".

Mayawati cannot hide corruption in the garb of Dalit cause: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pic.twitter.com/g279LljSq7  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Former chief minister Mayawati had also claimed that the BJP, Congress and Samajwadi Party had a tacit understanding for the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. "The SP and Congress have been attempting to forge an alliance but that will materialise only when the BJP gives the green signal for it. And BJP will give the green signal only when it is sure that such an alliance will actually benefit them," Mayawati had said.

Prasad dismissed these claims, and said the people of Uttar Pradesh are ready for a change and are with the saffron party.

With inputs from agencies
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a Parivartan Rally in Dehradun as part of Bharatiya Janata Partys outreach programme to woo voters before the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand. Addressing the rally, he assured the crowds that soon India will see the end of corruption and sought support for his demonetisation drive.

Modi thanked the people for attending the rally in large numbers and said that the presence of such a huge crowd signalled that the people of Uttarakhand could't wait for development anymore. He quizzed the crowd about their lack of interest when he had hosted a rally in Dehradun in 2014 when he was running as a PM candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.

I can clearly see that Uttarakhand cannot wait any longer for the development: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/Xd27T4mgbS  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

He inaugurated the 900-km Chardham Highway Development programme and said, "The inauguration of Char Dham project is a tribute to those who lost their lives during Uttarakhand flash floods."

Modi said that the Rs 12,000-crore project will give employment to the workers in the area and bring about the advent of a new economy. He said that the people working on the project like drivers, labourers, cleaners, etc. will get jobs.

He assured the crowds that the highway project is not a political ploy to woo the voters.

Char Dham project offers employment opportunities for the people of Uttarakhand: PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/L0G4DmRfdX  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

He took a dig at the previous UPA government and targeted them for not providing free gas connections to the people living beneath poverty line in the country. He said, "There was a time in this country when people had to visit the houses of politicians just to acquire a gas cylinder or connection."

3 years ke andar-andar 5 crore poor families ko Gas connection dene ka kaam hum kar rahe hain: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/fhUOXDYt2p  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

He said, "My government took the initiative and said that we will electrify villages within 1000 days. Over 12,000 villages have already been electrified."

He took a jibe at the previous governments for not bringing any conclusion to the One Rank One Pension (Orop) issue for 40 years when they were in power.

"I respect the Indian Army and I wanted to to do something that benefits them. We brought conclusion of the Orop issue and dispersed funds worth Rs 6,600 crore to help the retired soldiers. This helped the economy of Uttarakhand," he said.

My Army jawans were demanding OROP for the last 40 years, the party that ruled the country then never thought of their demands: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/u7nonWOFZT  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Taking another dig at his critics, he said, "I am a watchman of this country. Some people don't like me keeping watch on the corrupt people of this country. Black money is bad for the nation and corruption should be ended. I have waged a war against this. I need your blessings to fight against corruption."

Aapne mujhe chaukidari ka kaam diya hai aur jab mai chaukidari k kaam kar raha hoon toh kuch logon ko takleef ho rahi hai-PM #demonetisation pic.twitter.com/hzgHbczL9A  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Desh ko kale dhan ne bhi barbaad kiya hai, kale mann ne bhi kharab kiya hai: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/8O869p39qX  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

He announced, "We have decided that there will be no interviews for the position of class 3 and class 4 officers. This is to kill corruption. Jobs will be given on the basis of merit. This is the end of corruption."

Humne faisla kar liya, varg 3 aur varg 4 mei interview nahi kiya jayega; jiska merit hoga, usko naukri zaroor mil jayegi: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/GHoZqvub4E  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

"We took the step the demonetisation to curb black money. But some people didn't give up their bad habits. These deceiving people took back-door entries to still carry on hoarding black money. But we have waged a war against them," he said.

Reminiscing the time when India was a rich state, he said, "The people of the country have come forward to fight the the war against corruption. Black-money hoarders are scared of the government."
New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi kept up the suspense over a possible alliance in Uttar Pradesh, as he skirted a question on the issue amid speculation that a tie-up between Congress and the ruling Samajwadi Party was in the offing.

"It is a strategic issue. I cannot say anything about it in a press conference. If you come to me personally, I can whisper in your ear," he told reporters at a joint press conference of eight opposition parties. Gandhi was specifically asked whether the Congress was aligning with SP or the BSP in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh slated early next year on the lines of the grand alliance in Bihar.

The grand alliance in Bihar, comprising one-time arch rivals, Nitish Kumar's JD-U and Lalu Prasad's RJD, along with Congress, had helped defeat BJP in the Assembly polls last year. Speculation is rife now that Congress may align with SP and reports of behind-the-scenes talks between the two parties are on.

Commenting on the possibility of a tie-up between Samajwadi Party and Congress before Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, BSP supremo Mayawati has said an alliance would be struck only if it benefits BJP. "SP and Congress alliance in UP will come into being only if BJP gives its approval and if it (BJP) feels it will gain from it. The green signal will be given by BJP after evaluating its gains and losses from such an alliance," she had said.

BJP is banking heavily in Uttar Pradesh, where it secured 73 seats including two by its allies, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Aligarh: National President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Arshad Madni has called upon all secular parties to sink their differences and form a Bihar-type grand alliance for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

"All secular parties need to sink their difference and join hands in the national interest to form a Bihar kind of a grand allianace for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state," Madni, who heads the important socio-religious body of Muslims, told reporters on Monday night.

He warned that if the opposition does not get its act together then they would have no one to blame but their avarice.

The Maulana said continuous bickering within the Samajwadi Party was causing grave damage to its future prospects.

Stressing that strength of India lay in its pluralism , he alleged that the Narendra Modi led government was doing its best to undo the gains of centuries of syncretic traditions imbedded in the Indian civilization.

The Maulana said demonitisation was a severe blow to the common Indian as well as the business class.
Honolulu: Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where the bloodshed of the surprise attacks drew America into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit on Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial that now rests on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader that Obama hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on 7 December, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded. In the ensuing years, the US incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologise for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologise at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasise their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they'll go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders will speak.

Obama and Abe signed off on the visit last month when they met in Peru on the sidelines of an economic summit. Though the parallels with Obama's Hiroshima visit are palpable, both governments said that one visit wasn't contingent on the other.

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the US prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the US and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown stronger during Obama's tenure. There are questions about what the relationship will look like under President-elect Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Trump suggested that Japan and South Korea should obtain nuclear weapons so the US would no longer be burdened with costs of defending them, a disquieting notion in many Asian capitals. But after Trump's election, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet with him, sitting down in Trump Tower with the business mogul and Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

Though no Japanese prime minister has visited the USS Arizona Memorial, former Japanese leader leader Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, six years after Japan surrendered. He stopped there on his way home from signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the U.S. and others, and paid a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur WR Radford.

Other prime ministers have since visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as Punchbowl.
Beijing: China on Tuesday hoped that India's testing of the nuclear-capable Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile complied with UN Security Council rules and safeguarded South Asia's strategic balance even as Beijing maintained that the two nations are "not rivals but partners".

Taking exception to reports that the successful test of Agni-V was meant to target China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said, "On your question on India test firing the Agni-5 ballistic missile, we have noted relevant reports", to a question at a media briefing in Beijing.

"On whether India can develop this ballistic missile that can carry nuclear weapons, I think relevant resolutions of the UNSC have clear rules," she said without elaborating.

"We have always believed that safeguarding strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive for the peace and prosperity of countries in the region," she said.

The reference to the strategic balance in South Asia apparently referred to the military balance between India and Pakistan.

Agni-5, a 5,000-km range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is widely regarded as a strategic missile

targeted at China as it can reach almost all parts of the Chinese mainland.

Hua also criticised media reports in India and outside referring to the Agni-5 as targeted at China and aimed at

correcting India's strategic balance with Beijing.

"On the test firing by India, we have also noted that some media, including Indian media and also some Japanese

media have speculated on whether this act of India is targeted at China," she said.

"I think, as to India's intentions, you have to ask the Indian side," she said adding that India and China are not rivals but partners.

"As for us, we think that the leaders of China and India have an important consensus which is that China and India are both important developing countries and emerging economies," she said.

"China and India are not rivals but partners. The Chinese side is willing to work with countries in the region including India to jointly safeguard lasting peace, prosperity and stability of the region," she said and asked media to report more objectively.

"We also hope that relevant media outlets do not indulge in arbitrary speculations and make objective reports and do more things conducive to developing mutual trust between China and India and peace and stability in the region," she said.

Experts say that proven ICBM capability currently exists only with the five major powers - the US, Russia, France, the UK and China.

Russia's land-based Satan missile can reach 16,000 km, while China has ICBMs that can hit targets up to 13,000 km.

While India is part of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), China is not.
Former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto was an iconic figure in the Muslim world. The first Muslim woman to be head of government, she first became the prime minister in 1988 and then in 1993. Bhutto was assassinated on 27 December, 2007 at Liaquat National Bagh in Rawalpindi. She was 53. Incidentally, Liaquat Bagh is also the location where Pakistan's inaugural prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated by an Afghan shooter in October 1951. The trial into her untimely death is ongoing, with the then president Musharraf too being accused of conspiracy. Her death is still mourned by her followers across Pakistan.

Events leading to her death

After General Pervez Musharraf took over the administration of the country in a bloodless coup in October 1999, Opposition leaders including Bhutto went into political exile to escape corruption charges. After being in Dubai for eight years, the two-time prime minister returned to Pakistan on 18 October, 2007. She survived a suicide attack on her welcome procession, which unfortunately killed 150 people.

On 3 November 2007, then president Musharraf declared an Emergency across the country. Later, it was decided that parliamentary elections would be held on 8 January, 2008. The two main parties, PML-N and PPP then geared up for the first free elections since 1997.

On the day of the assassination

Bhutto's jeep, after addressing a rally, was all set to leave Liaquat Bagh. According to a report in Dawn, she appered on the sun roof of the jeep to acknowledge the loud cheers from the crowd. Eyewitness accounts as reported by the daily suggest that four to five gunshots were heard, following which a suicide bomber blew himself up. She was later declared dead at the Rawalpindi General Hospital.

Bhutto was buried the next day alongside her other family members in Sindh's Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

Investigation and trial

The trial has been going at a slow pace since 2008, reports Pakistani media.In November 2011, an anti-terrorism court in Lahore indicted five militants and two police officers. The five militants belonged to the Pakistan Taliban while the chief of police department, at the time of assassination, Saud Aziz, was charged for being part of the criminal conspiracy. In 2013, Musharraf was charged for criminal conspiracy in connection to the assassination. His trial is still going on and if convicted he can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment.

The trial has been mired in several controversies, ranging from deaths of special prosecutors, to threats to the lives of several witnesses. In May 2013, Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, a prosecutor investigating the late prime minister's killing was ambushed by unidentified gunmen. A year later, deaths threats to three police officers and a special prosecutor, led to them not appearing in the court. In 2015, a key witness backtracked from his earlier statement, in which he claimed that adequate security was not provided to the late leader.

Legacy of Bhutto

According to Naheed Khan, a former aide to Bhutto, she was the symbol of a progressive and liberal Pakistan. In his article for The News International, he write that Bhutto stood for democracy in the country and believed poverty and unemployment to be a threat to the growth of democracy in Pakistan. In its obituary, The Telegraph said, "She was seen to greatest effect on the campaign trail, where she was renowned for her hectoring speeches and raucous motorcades. Face to face, she could appear somewhat haughty, not unlike her role model Margaret Thatcher."

However, rampant corruption, including allegations of personal corruption, mired her political career.
West Palm Beach, Florida: Donald Trump is questioning its effectiveness of the United Nations, saying it's just a club for people to "have a good time," after the UN Security Council voted last week to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The president-elect wrote Monday on Twitter that the UN has "such great potential," but it has become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

On Friday, Trump warned, "As to the UN, things will be different after 20 January," referring to the day he takes office.

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's UN vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the US 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 presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

Trump's tweet Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member global organisation.

This year the UN Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the UN's far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world. The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues, like the role of diamonds in fueling conflicts; condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea; and authorised an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Trump's criticism of the UN is by no means unique. While the organisation does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy. The organisation has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

The president-elect is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has approved a law to set up a council headed by his appointees that oversees the media and ensures compliance with "national security" requirements.

The law, passed by parliament and published in the official gazette on Monday, mandates the council to investigate media funding and fine or revoke permits of those deemed in violation.

The council will be composed of a head picked by Sisi and 12 members recommended by parliament and other institutions, and also approved by the president. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has accused Egypt of placing restrictions on media and being a "leading jailer of journalists".

The law says the council would guarantee the right of citizens "to enjoy a free and honest media". But it also tasks the council with "guaranteeing the compliance of media institutions to the requirements of national security".

Sisi has dismissed criticisms of media restrictions in Egypt, but he regularly complains of its performance and has suggested it occasionally harms the country with critical coverage.

The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate official Khaled Elbalshy said the law tightens government control on media. "The new law entrenches the status quo including control over the media through a council picked by the executive branch," he told AFP.

The law came days after police arrested a journalist with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel on suspicion of fabricating news on the country.

Egypt accuses the channel of backing the Muslim Brotherhood movement, outlawed after the military toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and cracked down on his supporters.

Egypt had provoked international condemnation in 2013 when it arrested three Al-Jazeera journalists, including a Canadian and an Australian, and sentenced them to jail on similar accusations. They were later released.
By Humeyra Pamuk

| SILIVRI, Turkey

SILIVRI, Turkey The first criminal trial related to a summer coup in Turkey started on Tuesday as 29 police officers faced sentences of up to life in prison on charges of involvement in the failed attempt to overthrow the government.Some 40,000 people have been arrested since the July 15 putsch, which killed around 240 people, in a crackdown targeting the military, police, civil service and private sector. More than 100,000 have been sacked or suspended.The officers face a range of charges, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by Reuters. Some are accused of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order, and others of membership of a terrorist organisation.They include three police helicopter pilots accused of disobeying an order to take special forces to defend President Tayyip Erdogan's mansion in Istanbul.Two defendants who testified during the morning session both denied the charges against them. Lawyers for the other 27 defendants could not immediately be reached to say how their clients would plead."Everyone involved in the coup attempt must have a fair trial," Orhan Cagri Bekar, a lawyer who represents an association for coup victims, told reporters. "Those who are guilty must be sentenced to the heaviest punishment because this is a betrayal of the country."

Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for 21 of the policemen and sentences of between 7-1/2 to 15 years for the other eight, state-run Anadolu Agency said.Security was tight at the courthouse in Silivri, west of Istanbul. Attendees were not allowed to bring recording devices into the building and the gallery was only partly full."There are very few relatives, this is because there is a climate of intimidation," said one man, a relative of one of the accused, who declined to be identified. "Had there been any democracy then these people would not have been so scared to own up to their own children."

SOLDIERS AND TANKS

On the night of the coup, rogue soldiers commandeered tanks, helicopters and warplanes in Istanbul and Ankara, attacking parliament and other institutions. Their efforts failed after thousands of Turks took the streets and faced them down in response to calls from Erdogan.

Some of the police officers had the ByLock app on their smartphones, according to the indictment. The government says that coup plotters used the little-known messaging app to communicate.Prosecutors also allege one officer had messages on his phone telling him and others to post messages on social media condemning the coup and to "act normal" to avoid detection.The coup's alleged ringleaders are due to go on trial in Ankara, probably next year. The government said earlier this year a new court would be built there as there were none big enough to handle such a large number of defendants.The government has blamed a U.S.-based Muslim cleric, Fethullah Gulen, for orchestrating the failed coup. Gulen, a former ally of President Erdogan, has denied the allegation and condemned the coup. (Additional reporting by Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Osman Orsal and Yesim Dikmen; Writing by David Dolan; editing by John Stonestreet)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Jakarta: An Indonesian court on Tuesday refused to drop blasphemy charges against the Christian governor of the capital Jakarta, as hundreds of people protested outside the court where the trial is taking place.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama  the first Christian to govern the capital in more than 50 years  sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country when he quoted a verse from the Koran while campaigning ahead of elections for the Jakarta governorship.

The high-profile case against Purnama, better known by his nickname Ahok, has captivated attention in Indonesia, and fanned concerns about hardliners pushing their agenda in the nation of 255 million.

Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto ruled that the charges filed by prosecutors were legitimate despite complaints from the defence which said the trial was rushed and surrounded by too much public scrutiny.

Outside the court, hundreds of protesters chanting slogans including "God is Great".

"We Muslims demand Ahok to be jailed or punished as severely as possible," said Suyono, who like many Indonesians go by one name.

Purnama remains a candidate for re-election in February, though he could be jailed for a maximum of five years if found guilty.

He had been a favourite to win but the lawsuit has seen polls turn against him.

"I don't really care that the judges have rejected the governor's objection. We will still campaign for the governor whatever happens," Jappy Pellokila, a Purnama supporter, told AFP.

Almost all blasphemy cases in Indonesia have resulted in convictions and rights groups fear the case is eroding the country's reputation for tolerance and diversity. The trial has been adjourned until 3 January.
Baghdad: Islamic State group fighters "summarily executed" 13 civilians after villagers rose up against them at the start of the Iraqi army's offensive to retake Mosul, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.

The killings took place in the villages of Al-Hud and Al-Lazzagah, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of Mosul on 17 October, the day government forces launched the massive operation to oust the jihadists from the city.

"ISIS responded to the village uprising by unlawfully executing people captured in the uprising and civilians who weren't involved," Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at HRW, said in a statement.

"Security forces who capture ISIS fighters should properly investigate their participation in alleged war crimes like these," she said, using an alternate acronym for the jihadist group.

In total, the IS fighters "summarily executed at least 13 people including two boys," HRW said.

The report included the picture of one of the slain boys, a 13-year-old who had not been involved in the uprising, it said, citing his father Muhammad.

IS had captured Al-Hud and Al-Lazzagah in June 2014, with villagers saying they lived in constant fear of punishment, including death, for activities like smoking and using mobile phones, said HRW.

As Iraqi forces closed in on the morning of October 17, about 30 villagers attacked the jihadists, killing 19 of them, said the New York-based watchdog.

IS fighters began the execution-style killings in the afternoon, leaving bodies lying in the streets.

Iraqi forces entered Al-Lazzagah that evening and Al-Hud the next morning.

Human Rights Watch called on Iraqi security forces to "appropriately investigate incidents of alleged war crimes so that those responsible, if in government custody, can be fairly prosecuted".

After seizing control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in mid-2014, IS declared a cross-border "caliphate", imposed its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committed widespread atrocities.

Iraqi forces have been tightening the noose around Mosul since launching the offensive.
Ramallah, West Bank: The Palestinian President said on Tuesday that he hopes the upcoming Mideast conference in France will set a timetable to end settlements, as Israel advances plans for thousands of new homes in parts of Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinians, despite the recent UN Security Council resolution condemning construction there.

The developments came just days after the United States broke with past practice and allowed the UN Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Mahmoud Abbas's comments early Tuesday morning were his first public remarks since the UN vote.

"The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month and we hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation," Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party. "The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal, in our occupied land including East Jerusalem."

On 15 January days before President Barack Obama leaves office, France is expected to host a Mideast conference where dozens of countries may endorse an international framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu vehemently opposes such activity, saying it undermines the negotiating process.

Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Abbas to meet for direct talks without preconditions. Abbas has refused unless Israel ends settlement construction first.

The Palestinians claim the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, as parts of their future state. Israel says settlements, along with other core issues like security, should be agreed upon in peace talks.

Despite the UN resolution condemning settlements, Jerusalem Municipality is set to approve thousands of new housing units in the eastern sector of the city this week. The pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom reported the Jerusalem District Zoning Committee is convening Wednesday to discuss approving fresh construction in that part of the city.

"We remain unfazed by the UN vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem," Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Meir Turgeman, who heads the zoning committee, told the paper this week. "I hope the Israeli government and the new US administration will support us, so we can make up for the lack (of construction) during the eight years of the Obama administration."

Netanyahu was outraged by the UN Security Council resolution and has declared a number of steps in response to the measure, which passed 14-0 with an American abstention.

Israel summoned ambassadors from council members, including the US, to protest. Netanyahu is 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.
Islamabad: Days after he made headlines by saying that ex-army chief General Raheel Sharif had helped him exit Pakistan, former dictator Pervez Musharraf claimed on Monday that he had not sought any assistance from him and that his statement was distorted by the media.

"No one approached me, nor did I approach anyone... Raheel Sharif did not discuss anything with me, nor did I send him any request," Musharraf said in an interview to a TV channel.

He said his last week's statement to Dunya News was "distorted" by the media.

Musharraf in a talk show on Dunya News last week had said: "Well he (Raheel Sharif) did help me and I am absolutely clear and grateful. I have been his boss and I have been the army chief before him...He helped out, because the cases are politicised, they put me on the ECL, they turned it into a political issue."

When asked about the military's influence on domestic politics, he today said: "All institutions in Pakistan work together with each other... I've served in the army for over 40 years."

"There is a sense of bonding between the army and me, and it will always remain like that," the former president added.

Referring to Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan's statement about Musharraf's return, the former president said he has no knowledge of any such timeline wherein he was asked to return within four to six weeks of his departure, the Dawn reported.

"There is nothing of the sort in the court's judgement," Musharraf added.

The Interior Minister had said in March that Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him in court and had "promised to return in four to six weeks".

Musharraf had left the country for Dubai in March earlier this year hours after the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the exit control list (ECL).

The government notification followed the Supreme Court's order to lift the ban on his foreign travel.

But the order from the top court had come with the rider that the federal government or the three-judge special court trying the retired general for treason was free to make decisions to regulate his custody or restrict his movement.

Apart from murder cases of Benazir Bhutto, Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, the retired general is facing treason charges for imposing emergency rule in November 2007, arresting judges and limiting their powers. His name was kept on the Exit Control List for more than 20 months.
Pakistan's former President Asif Ali Zardari and his son, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal, attacked the Nawaz Sharif government over corruption and "facilitating terror", as the father-son duo said they would contest polls to enter Parliament.

In his first major public appearance after returning from an 18-month self-imposed exile, the 61-year-old said he would contest

elections from Nawabshah, while son Bilawal will do so from Larkana in Sindh province, a development that could affect the country's political scenario in a major way.

Addressing a charged crowd of PPP supporters while observing the ninth death anniversary of his wife and slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh  a village that contains the family graveyard of the Bhutto family, the father and son attacked the government over various issues, including Panama Papers and terror.

Zardari also criticised Prime Minister Sharif for his cordial ties with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, saying, "Mian sahib, have you ever thought of the children in Kashmir as to what do they feel when you have luncheons with Narendra Modi?"

He began by saying he wanted to share the "good news I had promised to share: Bilawal and I will contest the election now, right now, (and sit) in this Parliament". "I will contest the election on my sister's (Azra Pechuho's) seat and Bilawal on (Ayaz) Soomro sahib's seat," he said.

Zardari's announcement is being interpreted as a strategy to enter Parliament through by-elections in the two constituencies and fresh polls will have to be called in such a situation, The Dawn reported.

"We have sacrificed much for the sake of democracy and politics to save Pakistan. We will not leave this Mughal emperor (Sharif) to rule," Zardari said. "Mian (Sharif) Sahab, we gave you this democracy as a sacred trust. We made every decision with your input. We made decisions in Parliament through consensus. It is a pity that you seem to have forgotten all your promises today," the former president alleged.

"I am not coming to the Parliament to topple you; we only intend to teach you certain things, to consult with you on national issues," he said, adding, "We have fought dictators, but never raised our voice against the military."

In his fiery speech, Bilawal lashed out at the PML-N government on multiple fronts, including terrorism and religious extremism. "The world wants to call us a terrorist state, (and yet) people in your cabinet facilitate terrorists," the 28-year-old

PPP chairman alleged while addressing the prime minister. "If something were to happen tomorrow, you will run away, but the 20 crore people of Pakistan will stay here," he added.

On Sharif and his family's name appearing in the Panama Papers, Bilawal said, "Do you think it is that simple? So you think we are idiots? Your entire government is full of scandals," he alleged, and warned of strong protests by his party if the Panama bill

is not passed in the National Assembly.
By Andrew Osborn and Tom Perry

| MOSCOW/BEIRUT

MOSCOW/BEIRUT Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted on Tuesday as saying that the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, but a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations. Lavrov did not say where the consultations were taking place or which opposition groups were taking part.Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out the principles any agreement should adhere to.Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy, but Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally. "During the recent meeting in Moscow with my colleagues from Iran and Turkey we approved a joint declaration in which we confirmed our readiness to guarantee a future agreement between the Syrian government and the opposition," Lavrov told the Interfax news agency in an interview."Negotiations about that are going on," he said. Interfax said he was referring to talks between the opposition and the Syrian government.The High Negotiations Committee, a body grouping armed and political opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said it had no knowledge of the consultations. "We in the High Negotiations Committee certainly have no connection to this matter," George Sabra, a member of the HNC, told Reuters.

The HNC includes armed groups fighting Assad under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. It took part in a failed bid to launch peace talks earlier this year. The HNC was established in Saudi Arabia with Riyadh's backing in December 2015.NO DATE FIXED FOR TALKS

Russia's foreign ministry later said Lavrov had discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, without elaborating.

Lavrov also told Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels could lead to more casualties, it said. Earlier Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the easing of the restrictions could directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia, Iran and Turkey and Assad have agreed that Astana, the Kazakh capital, should be the venue for new Syrian peace talks.Russian officials say preparations for the talks are under way, but that invitations to participants have not been sent out and the exact timing has yet to be decided.The officials, who have spoken of mid-January as a possible date, say it is too early to talk about contacts with the HNC.

Lavrov spoke to Mevlut Cavusoglu, his Turkish counterpart, by telephone on Tuesday. The two men agreed to push for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for the Astana talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying that representatives from the Russian and Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide ceasefire might work.Separately on Tuesday Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had evidence that U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria were giving support to "terrorist groups" including Islamic State and the Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD.Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview that Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to take part in the Syrian peace process, the RIA news agency reported.It cited him as saying he thought Riyadh's insistence that Assad should step down meant it had no place at any talks.He also said that Assad should have the right to stand in the next presidential election if he wanted to, RIA said. (Additional reporting by Katya Golubkova and Peter Hobson in Moscow; Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
MOSCOW Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in statement.It also said that Lavrov informed Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels may lead to more casualties.

(Writing by Denis Pinchuk; Editing by Louise Ireland)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Pearl Harbour, Hawaii: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit today to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.

He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with a Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.

He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honours sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbour six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbour in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Admiral Arthur WR Radford, commander of the US Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbour, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe won't apologise for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.
Taipei: Taiwan's defence minister warned on Tuesday that threats from China were growing daily after Beijing's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions grow.

After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The navy drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Chinese media had earlier reported that the aircraft carrier and escorts were headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on 10 December for the second time in less than a month.

Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan had called the timing of China's air exercises a coincidence, but warned that the island still faces a military threat and called on youths to join the army.

Feng said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily.

"I ask for strict training. We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name.

"The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all."

Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships, which were spotted on Sunday some 20 nautical miles outside Taiwan's air defence identification zone, in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept.

Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative.
By Nate Raymond

| NEW YORK

NEW YORK Three Chinese citizens have been charged with trading on confidential corporate information that was obtained by hacking into the networks and servers of U.S. law firms, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.Iat Hong, a 26-year-old Macau resident,, was arrested on Sunday in Hong Kong and charged along with Bo Zheng, of Changsha, China, and Chin Hung of Macau, with engaging in conspiracies to commit insider trading, wire fraud and computer intrusion in an indictment filed in federal court in Manhattan.Prosecutors said that beginning in April 2014, the trio obtained inside information by hacking two U.S. law firms and targeting the email accounts of partners at the firms who worked on high-profile mergers and acquisitions.

Using the information, the defendants bought shares of at least five publicly traded companies before announcements that they would be acquired, enabling them to make over $4 million in profits, prosecutors said.U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan said in a statement the case "should serve as a wake-up call for law firms around the world: you are and will be targets of cyber hacking, because you have information valuable to would-be criminals."

Lawyers for the defendants, who also face a related civil lawsuit by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, could not be immediately determined.The U.S. government is seeking the extradition of Hong, prosecutors said. Hung, 50, and Zheng, 30, are not in custody, authorities said.

The case is U.S. v. Hong et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-cr-360. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jeffrey Benkoe)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Earlier this month we saw renders of Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017). Now, press renders of Galaxy A5 (2017) have surfaced along with specification details.

As per the renders, the Galaxy A5 (2017) will be available in four color options of Black, Gold, Pink, and Blue. The phone has curved edges and slim bezels on the side. It has a trademark home button on the bezel below the display that could come equipped with a fingerprint sensor. At the front it has front camera, earpiece, Samsung branding and usual set of sensors.

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) rumored specifications:

5.2-inch (1080 x 1920 pixels) Full HD display

1.8GHz Octa-core Exynos 7880 SoC with Mali-T860 MP4 GPU

3GB RAM, 32GB internal storage

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Fingerprint sensor

16MP rear camera

16MP front camera

Dimensions: 145 x 71 x 7.8 mm

4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, USB Type-C

3,000 mAh battery

Source| Via
Samsung has announced that it will introduce three new Smart TV services viz; Sports, Music and TV Plus at CES 2017. The new services will offer personalized content to consumers based on their TV preferences through Samsungs Smart Hub platform.

Samsungs Smart TV Sports service will provide information on when favorite teams are playing, where they can watch it as well as scores  all in one navigation page. It will curated customized information by the Sports user interface. Samsung plans to further expand the range of content offered through the Sports service with additional content partners including NBC Sports, UFC and more.

The Samsung Music service will allow Smart TV customers to easily search and identify songs on live TV or directly from television programs. Music will also make recommendations in the Preview section of Smart Hubs user interface for customers to discover new music and play songs as they please. The Samsung Music service currently offers content from eight music app partners including Spotify, iHeartRadio, Napster, Deezer, Sirius XM, Vevo, Melon and Bugs. The service will be available starting in France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the U.S.

Lastly, TV Plus will offer IP-based channels focused on premium content services through a new Smart Electronic Program Guide (EPG) solution. TV Plus is already launched in South East Asia and is now available in the US. It will come to Europe in April 2017.

Won Jin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics said,

At Samsung, one of our top priorities is ensuring that we are closely in tune with what consumers want and need from their smart devices and electronics. With that in mind, we continue to innovate our Smart TV offering in order to provide the content experiences that our customers have come to know and expect from Samsung.

Source
Toshiba Corp <6502.T> said on Tuesday that it expects to book an impairment loss on the acquisition of a U.S. nuclear power business by its Westinghouse unit, a figure that could reach several billions of dollars. 6502.T>

The Japanese conglomerate said it planned to book several billions of dollars in goodwill related to the purchase of CB&I Stone and Webster but added that was seeking to determine if it should write down the entire value of goodwill or just part of it.

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki and Chris Gallagher; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
The United States relationship with Cuba has thawed over the last two years, thanks in part to a December 2014 agreement between President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro to end a decades-long period of policy isolation. In the years since, major corporations have signed deals to do business with the Caribbean island and optimism about the future of the former enemies has grown among citizens of the two countries.

With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, though, many wonder whether the warming U.S.-Cuba relationship will begin to again freeze.

We believe [Trump] will reverse almost all the things that President Obama did, said Horatio Ortiz, managing director of Classified Worldwide Consulting, a frontier market intelligence and security firm.

Trump warned back in September at a Florida campaign event that U.S. policies toward Cuba could change if he were elected President, calling the agreement one-sided and benefitting the Castro regime.

All of the concessions that Barack Obama has granted the Castro Regime were done through executive order, which means the next president can reverse them  and that is what I will do, unless the Castro Regime meets our demands. Those demands will include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people, Trump said.

More recently, Trump again warned about potentially cutting ties with Cuba on Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) and in a formal statement following former Cuban President Fidel Castros death last month.

If Cuba is unwilling to make a better deal for the Cuban people, the Cuban/American people and the U.S. as a whole, I will terminate deal.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2016

Its true that little has been achieved by the Obama administration in the way of dismantling Cubas single-party political system or improving human rights. The Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation (CCDHRN) has documented 9,484 political arrests in Cuba through the end of November 2016, up from 8,616 for all of 2015. Whats more, the totalitarian reins may very well tighten once Trump takes office.

The hardline Communists in Cuba will use this Trump presidency as a new call to arms against the imperialistic/capitalistic America, said Ross Thompson, Ortizs colleague and fellow managing director at Classified Worldwide Consulting.

They lost Fidel and that was a very big blow as far as their imagethey need to kind of drum up some fervor and we see the target of that being anti-Trump kind of like it was pro-Fidel.

Industries That Stand to Lose

The tourism industry has been at the forefront of U.S. business in Cuba following the 2014 agreement. Though Americans are still unable to visit Cuba purely for tourism purposes due to a longstanding embargo, its much easier to get to the Caribbean island than it once was thanks to multimillion-dollar agreements between major U.S. corporations and the Cuban government.

Ten U.S. airlines regularly fly commercial flights to Cuba including American (NASDAQ:AAL), JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) and Southwest (NYSE:LUV). Several cruise lines including Carnival (NYSE:CCL), Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) and Norwegian (NASDAQ:NCLH) have also received approval to sail to Havana, while Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:HOT) signed a deal to manage three hotels in the Cuban capital.

Meanwhile telecommunications companies including AT&T (NYSE:T), Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Sprint (NYSE:S) and T-Mobile (NYSE:PCS) reached agreements with the Cuban government to offer roaming service to U.S. travelers.

Tech corporations, too, made headlines recently with their own initiatives to enter the Cuban market. Alphabet's Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) signed a deal with Cubas state telecom company to install computer servers on the island, thereby improving Internet service for the Cuban people. General Electric (NYSE:GE) is hoping to reach an agreement soon to be able to sell power, aviation and medical equipment to the Cuban government.

In theory, U.S. investment in Cuba by all these names and others could be rolled back under a President Trump, though experts note it would not happen overnight.

Its not like one fell swoop, its something that requires this collaborative process among U.S. agencies, but in theory the authority is there. Just like President Obama had the authority to do this, [Trump] has the authority to undo it, said Pedro A. Freyre, international practice chair at law firm Akerman LLP.

Freyre, who was born in Havana but came to the U.S. with his family in 1960, says there are other industries in which the president-elect would have a tougher time imposing any sort of regulations.

What he could not undo is the framework for sales of agricultural and pharmaceutical commodities because of a carve out from the embargo. Its not regulation, its lawthose sales throughout the years have been in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars, which is not an insignificant amount in the context of Cuba, he said.

According to a 2015 U.S. Department of Agriculture report, U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba totaled $300 million in 2014. With seven out of the top 10 agricultural states having voted for Donald Trump, Freyre says their investment in Cuba will likely be something the new administration takes into consideration.

Another factor to consider is how Cuban-Americans feel about expanding relations with Cuba. According to a 2016 poll conducted by Florida International University, 63% of Cuban-American residents in Miami-Dade County, Florida oppose the continuing embargo.

I think that there is a very broad consensus with Cuban-Americans that we all want to see a free and prosperous Cubawhere people can speak their minds and where people can have their own business and where Cuba moves up, said Freyre, who believes it will be difficult for Trump to achieve success with Cuba through harsh measures.
Minutes after the Obama administration abstained from a crucial U.N. Security Council resolution vote on Israel condemning settlement activity, the collective jaw of the sole democracy in the Middle East dropped.

You have (Turkish President) Erdogan arresting justices, terror in Libya, the Russians invading Ukraine, taking Crimea, and no resolutions against any of them.

In a FOX Business exclusive interview Christmas Eve in Jerusalem, Ayalon, who served as ambassador to the U.S. from 2002 to 2006, told FBN that the abstention is particularly stunning considering other, more pressing global issues have taken center stage.

Imagine that just a day before Christmas Eve and Hannukah, President Obama was busy not trying to help innocent Syrians who are getting murdered in Aleppo, or dealing with the emergency humanitarian crisis, but instead was working to undermine Israel, said Danny Ayalon former Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

Ayalon said whats perhaps most shocking is the U.S.s change in tone toward the Jewish nation that, since 1948, has fought off numerous attacks by Arab nations. From Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan to Bill Clinton, never has an American president taken such a sharp turn away from Israel. Ayalon says during his own entire stint as Israeli ambassador to the United States, President George W. Bush always made it clear that he and America stood with and for Israel. Whats ironic, Ayalon told FBN, is that President-elect Donald Trump, who intervened Thursday and successfully convinced the Egyptians who had floated the original resolution to back down, may very well win at the Middle East peace game that has been so elusive to Barack Obama.

Israelis believe that finally we have a U.S. president who not only keeps his promises and is very smart but is also is someone who thinks outside of the box. (Trump) may have a better chance than any president in the last 40 years to bring both sides together. If the Palestinians and the Arabs understand that he will not bend on (the settlement) thing, and if they dont accept that, hell refuse to back down on things like moving the embassy to Jerusalem.

If they come to their senses, they will want to cut a deal before things like the embassy issue become irreversible. Then you might have a new reality in the region.

Mollie Hemingway, Senior Editor of the Federalist told FOX News the Obama administration is playing a dangerous game by abstaining on the vote which was eventually brought by New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela after the Egyptians were prompted by Trump to abandon the resolution.

This is moral cowardice on behalf of the U.S. and gives Palestinians false hope. In just a few weeks (when President-elect Trump is sworn in) policy will revert to what it has always been in the U.S.

Democrats from Sherrod Brown of Ohio to New Yorks Chuck Schumer rushed to side with Israel.

"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 one sidedness, is exactly the wrong forum to bring about peace," Schumer said. "An abstention is not good enough. The administration must veto this resolution."

Former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz issued a statement saying, I condemn this reckless abstention while the Obama Administration pushed back. Settlement construction puts a two-state solution at risk, Ben Rhodes, deputy national security advisor for strategic communications, told the Jerusalem Post in a phone interview.

What is perhaps one of the most unusual developments since the Thursday night passage of Resolution 2334 is that Arab sources and intelligence reportedly informed Israel that the U.S. worked behind Israels back, drafting and promoting the anti-Israel resolution. While theres no official evidence of such dealings, Republican members of Congress led by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) are now demanding discussions be opened to defund the United Nations. The United States funding pays an outsized 22% of the UNs budget.

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved quickly to call back Israeli Ambassadors from the resolutions promoting countries of New Zealand and Senegal, Ayalon says Israelis are searching for the reason President Obama made such a controversial, anti-Israel move.

I think he wanted to leave the legacy that he is the guy who pushed the 2-state solution and be that guy who stood up to Israel. Hell then become a celebrity in Europe and be invited to give speeches for thousands of dollars. Thats his motivation.
U.S. safety regulators are investigating Ford Motor Co's Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from the 2009 to 2011 model years for brakes that may fail in certain conditions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday.

There have been three reported crashes related to this issue, but no injuries, NHTSA and Ford officials said.

The probe was opened on Dec. 20 and involves one of Ford's most popular models, the Fusion. The Milan is no longer produced.

The probe can lead to a safety recall but is short of one at this point.

A report on the NHTSA website showed that when the sedans go over rough or uneven surfaces, such as a manhole cover, or on slippery roads, the anti-lock braking system may not work properly. This can increase the distance required to stop the cars, heightening the chance of a crash.

NHTSA said that in some cases, consumers complained that the brake pedal "goes soft" and often is reported as "going to the floor." Also, drivers have said their cars have ended up in the flow of traffic when the vehicles did not stop as expected, such as at traffic signals.

Ford said it is cooperating with federal safety officials in the investigation.

The Fusion and Milan from these model years have been involved in several past recalls. The 2006-2011 Fusion and Milan sedans are among the 1.9 million Ford models affected by an ongoing massive Takata Corp <7312.T> air bag recall that includes more than a dozen automakers. 7312.T>

In addition, 2010 and 2011 Fusion and Milan models were recalled for fuel tanks that may crack.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Dan Grebler)
The North Korean regime has never been accused of having a sense of humor, and a top official has launched a near nuclear attack on the new Hollywood comedy featuring an assassination attempt on Kim Jong Un.

"The Interview," which stars James Franco and Seth Rogen and premieres in October, tells the story of a talk show host and his producer who land a rare sit-down with the third-generation Hermit Kingdom dictator. But the CIA throws a wrinkle into the scoop when it asks the pair to assassinate Kim. Madcap hilarity presumably ensues, though not in everyone's opinion.

"A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine," Kim Myong-chol, executive director of The Centre for North Korea-US Peace and an unofficial spokesman for the regime in Pyongyang, told The Telegraph. "And let us not forget who killed [President John F.] Kennedy  Americans.

Click here to see the trailer for "The Interview"

"In fact, President [Barack] Obama should be careful in case the US military wants to kill him as well," he added cryptically.

Kim Jong Un is believed to be a western movie buff like his father, Kim Jong Il, who had a collection of 20,000 movies on VHS and DVD, and was an especially big fan of the Rambo and James Bond franchises. He even wrote a book a in 1973, ambitiously dubbed "On the Art of Cinema."

Myong-chol told The Telegraph Kim Jong Un will most likely watch the flick, which prompted a tweet from Rogen.

In the trailer, a secret service officer claims that North Koreans believe anything that Kim Jong Un says, including that he can speak to dolphins and that he never has to urinate or defecate."

Myong-choi said that the film shows Hollywood has stopped making good movies, and said he prefers British cinema.

"James Bond is a good character and those films are much more enjoyable," he told the newspaper.
Taylor Swift played Santa Claus for her oldest fan -- 96-year-old World War II veteran Cyrus Porter.

Never in his "Wildest Dreams" did Porter expect the pop superstar to walk through the doors of his Missouri home Monday night.

Swift surprised Porter and 60 of his relatives with a performance of "Shake it Off" and several of her other hits for a more-than one hour private show.

okay this is the last thing i'm posting. @taylorswift13 I still can't believe it!! pic.twitter.com/G5pfUpYaH6  Landon (@Landon_Poore) December 26, 2016

Porter told local news outlet KFVS12 that Swift's music helps him to connect with his nearly two dozen grandchildren. He has seen her perform in concert two times.

"I just enjoyed going to see 'em and her," he told the news outlet. "I would as soon go see her right now as anybody!"

The 96-year-old hopes to be able to see Swift perform live one more time.

"I just liked the way the way she did stuff," he shared.

Porter's grandchildren shared pictures of Swift's visit on social media. One called it a "Christmas miracle."

It's a Christmas Miracle!!! Thank you @taylorswift13. My grandpa was so excited!! pic.twitter.com/1bGlUys38b  robert frye (@bert_frye) December 26, 2016
Responding to a major case of research misconduct, federal prosecutors have taken the rare step of filing charges against a scientist after he admitted falsifying data that led to millions in grants and hopes of a breakthrough in AIDS vaccine research.

Investigators say former Iowa State University laboratory manager Dong-Pyou Han has confessed to spiking samples of rabbit blood with human antibodies to make an experimental HIV vaccine appear to have great promise. After years of work and millions in National Institutes of Health grants, another laboratory uncovered irregularities that suggested the results  once hailed as groundbreaking  were bogus.

Han was indicted last week on four counts of making false statements, each of which carries up to five years in prison. He was set to be arraigned Tuesday in Des Moines, but he didn't show up due to an apparent paperwork mix-up. A prosecutor said Han will be given another chance to appear next week.

Han, 57, didn't return a message left at his home in Cleveland, where he's been living since resigning from the university last fall. A native of South Korea, he surrendered his passport following his arrest and initial court appearance in Ohio last week.

Experts said the fraud was extraordinary and that charges are rarely brought in such cases. The National Institutes of Health said it's reviewing what impact the case has had on the research it funds.

More On This... Best World Cup Pix Of The Week

"It's an important case because it is extremely rare for scientists found to have committed fraud to be held accountable by the actual criminal justice system," said Ivan Oransky, co-founder of Retraction Watch, which tracks research misconduct.

Oransky, a journalist who also has a medical degree, said there have been only a handful of similar prosecutions in the last 30 years.

He said Han's case was "particularly brazen" and noted that charges are rarely brought because the U.S. Office of Research Integrity, which investigates misconduct, doesn't have prosecution authority, and most cases involve smaller amounts of money.

"It's a pretty extraordinary case involving clear, intentional falsification," added Mike Carome, a consumer advocate and director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group. "The wool was pulled over many people's eyes."

Carome noted that Han's misconduct wasted tax dollars and caused researchers to chase a false lead. He said such cases also undermine the public's trust in researchers.

Finding an HIV vaccine remains a top international scientific priority. A 2009 study in Thailand is the only one ever to show a modest success, protecting about a third of recipients against infection. That's not good enough for general use, so researchers continue exploring numerous approaches.

According to the indictment, Han's misconduct caused colleagues to make false statements in a federal grant application and progress reports to NIH.

The NIH paid out $5 million under that grant as of earlier this month. Iowa State has agreed to pay back NIH nearly $500,000 for the cost of Han's salary.

Han's misconduct dates to when he worked at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland under Michael Cho, who was leading a team testing an experimental HIV vaccine on rabbits.

Starting in 2008, Cho's team received initial NIH funding for the work. Cho reported soon that his vaccine was causing rabbits to develop antibodies to HIV, which left NIH officials "flabbergasted," according to a criminal complaint against Han.

Cho's team sent blood samples in 2009 to Duke University researchers, who verified the apparent positive impact on the vaccinated rabbits. The confirmation was seen as "a major breakthrough in HIV/AIDS vaccine research," according to the complaint.

Iowa State recruited Cho in 2009, and with his team  including Han  he soon received a five-year NIH grant to continue the research. The team kept reporting progress. But in January 2013, a team at Harvard University found the promising results had been achieved with rabbit blood spiked with human antibodies.

An investigation by Iowa State pinpointed Han, after he was caught sending more spiked samples to Duke University. In a Sept. 30, 2013 confession letter, Han said he started the fraud in 2009 "because he wanted (results) to look better" and that he acted alone.

"I was foolish, coward, and not frank," he wrote.

Cho has said he was devastated and angered that he wasted years on the research, but he has vowed to continue his work. He has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Stephen Brown, medical director for the AIDS Research Alliance, said the case highlights the fierce competition to win increasingly scarce NIH research funding.

"Han's case also indicates the need for greater transparency and oversight of the peer review funding process, which is cloaked in secrecy and often leads to large sums being given to favored organizations, despite a lack of output," Brown said in a statement.

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Aid For AIDS is the worlds largest redistributor of HIV treatment medication. For nearly two decades, the international organization has freely given more than $110 million worth of medication to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Jesus Aguais, founder and executive director of Aid for AIDS, told Fox News Latino that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has shifted from the white, gay community to minorities, particularly impacting African Americans and Latinos.

We Latinos are 30 percent of the new infections when we are 14 percent of the U.S. population, he said. We have been greatly affected by the epidemic.

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Lack of access to mental health services is one of the most serious health problems in the Hispanic community, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

While Hispanics are affected by mental illness at rates similar to those of the general population, they become a high-risk group once you take into account the massive disparities in seeking services and in following through with treatment.

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Qualitys 2013 National Healthcare Disparities Report, less than 55 percent of Hispanic adults - and only 30 percent of adolescents - with a major depressive episode in the previous year receive treatment for depression.

That's the lowest turnout rate among ethnic and racial groups.

Previous data released by the APA in 2001 reported that as few as 1 in 11 Hispanics with mental health issues seek professional care.

A big reason for this is a lack of insurance, Dr. Annelle Primm, Deputy Medical Director and Director of the Division of Diversity and Health Equity of the APA, told Fox News Latino. "Hopefully a lot of that has changed with advent of the Affordable Care Act. However, its been known for a long time that Hispanics have the highest level of [uninsured] of all the racial and ethnic groups in the country. This is a big barrier to access to mental health care."

According to the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), there are as few as 29 Latino mental health professionals for every 100,000 Latinos.

Very often in health and mental health centers there is a lack of interpreters and a lack of bilingual psychiatrics and mental health professionals, Primm said. It is really ideal to conduct evaluation and treatment plan in the language that is preferred by the individual, there are differences in the information that can be gathered if the evaluation is conducted in English as opposed to Spanish.

Hispanics and Latinos also have different attitudes towards mental illness and mental health services, often feeling stigmatized for accessing these services.

[Hispanics often] have a sense of not wanting to be labeled with a mental illness, seeing the problems they are experiencing within the contexts of their family and their community, perhaps even reaching out to the faith community. They have been known to turn to religious leaders for help, as opposed to seeking services from mental health specialists, Primm told FNL.

According to the APAs 2010 Mental Health Disparities: Hispanic/Latinos report, affected individuals may not recognize their symptoms as ones which require attention from mental health specialists, especially because Latinos tend to view mental illness as temporary.

Theres so much misunderstanding about mental health issues and a lot of misinformation and just a lack of awareness and knowledge about what mental health problems are, the causes of these problems, and what you can do if you or your loved one is facing one of them, MaJose Carrasco, Director of the Multicultural Action Center for NAMI, told FNL.

The opposite ends of the Hispanic population  youth and older adults  are particularly vulnerable to the stresses of acculturation and immigration, which may put them at a higher risk for mental illness.

The APA reports that many older Hispanics find the strain of acculturation overwhelming as traditional values are often at odds with new cultures and languages. Likewise, Latino children have been found to be at higher risk of emotional distress due to the pressure to adopt to American culture as well as possible discrimination, poverty and inequality.

In a family, when a child is born in the U.S. but the parents were not, sometimes there can be a clash there because the young people have been acculturated to American ways, Primm said. Those ways may be [at odds with] the traditional cultural that the family comes from, which also contributes to vulnerability for the young person.

According to NAMI, the mental health services often provided to Latino and other minorities tend to be of poorer quality than those provided to the white community.

Unfortunately we are facing disparity at every point, from accessing treatment, from recognizing it, to actually receiving quality treatment, Carrasco told FNL. We have a very long road ahead.
Unexplained rash? Check your iPad. It turns out the popular tablet computer may contain nickel, one of the most common allergy-inducing metals.

Recent reports in medical journals detail nickel allergies from a variety of personal electronic devices, including laptops and cellphones. But it was an Apple iPad that caused an itchy body rash in an 11-year-old boy recently treated at a San Diego hospital, according to a report in Monday's Pediatrics.

Nickel rashes aren't life-threatening but they can be very uncomfortable, and they may require treatment with steroids and antibiotics if the skin eruptions become infected, said Dr. Sharon Jacob, a dermatologist at Rady Children's Hospital, where the boy was treated. Jacob, who co-wrote the report, said the young patient had to miss school because of the rash.

The boy had a common skin condition that causes scaly patches, but he developed a different rash all over his body that didn't respond to usual treatment. Skin testing showed he had a nickel allergy, and doctors traced it to an iPad his family had bought in 2010.

Doctors tested the device and detected a chemical compound found in nickel in the iPad's outside coating.

"He used the iPad daily," she said.

He got better after putting it in a protective case, she said

Whether all iPad models and other Apple devices contain nickel is uncertain; Apple spokesman Chris Gaither said the company had no comment.

Nickel rashes also have been traced to other common products including some jewelry, eyeglass frames and zippers.

Jacob said evidence suggests nickel allergies are become more common, or increasingly recognized. She cited national data showing that about 25 percent of children who get skin tests for allergies have nickel allergies, versus about 17 percent a decade ago.

She said doctors need to consider electronic devices as potential sources when patients seek treatment for skin rashes.

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Mexico is taking a step further in its continuous fight against obesity by restricting television advertisements for high-calorie foods and soft drinks.

BBC News reported the ads will be banned between 2:30-7:30 P.M. on weekdays and between 7:30 A.M. -7:30 P.M. on weekends.

Similar restrictions will be imposed on ads shown at movie theaters.

With these new advertising constraints and its soda tax, Mexico is going further than other country in the war against obesity.

The United Kingdom, Norway and Quebec province in Canada all have bans on advertising junk food during children television broadcasts.

However, advertisements still appear in more popular family programming, the BBC reported.

Manufacturers in Mexico will also have to label the sugar, fat and saturated fat content on their food and drink products starting in 2015.

According to the Overseas Development Institute, in Mexico at least 70 percent of adults and 30 percent of children are obese or overweight.

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Health officials are reporting that for the first time, U.S. mosquitoes are spreading a virus that has been tearing through the Caribbean.

Two people in Florida have domestically-acquired chikungunya (chik-en-GUN-ye) infections, officials said Thursday. In both cases, they said, a person infected with the virus after visiting the Caribbean was then bitten again by an uninfected mosquito in Florida, which then transmitted the illness further.

Health officials urged residents to prevent mosquito bites, but said there was no cause for alarm.

"There is no broad risk to the health of the general public," said Dr. Celeste Philip, a public health official with the Department of Health.

Federal officials noted it's an unfortunate milestone in the spread of a painful infectious disease that has raced across the Caribbean this year and is apparently now taking root in the United States.

"The arrival of chikungunya virus, first in the tropical Americas and now in the United States, underscores the risks posed by this and other exotic pathogens," said Roger Nasci of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a prepared statement.

Chikungunya virus is rarely fatal. Infected people typically suffer fever, severe joint pain and swelling, muscle aches, headaches, or rash. Patients usually recover in about a week, although some people suffer long-term joint pain. There is no vaccine and no specific treatment for it.

This virus is not spread person to person, but rather by the bite of certain mosquitoes. That's why health officials believe the virus is spreading here  the two cases had not recently left the country.

The infected Floridians were described as a 41-year-old woman in Miami-Dade County who began experiencing symptoms on June 10, and a 50-year-old man in Palm Beach County, who first noticed symptoms July 1.

Philip said both are doing well.

State epidemiologist Anna Likos said in order for the virus to be transmitted from an infected person to an uninfected mosquito, they must be bitten within the first week of illness.

More than 230 chikungunya cases have been reported in Americans this year, but all the others were travelers believed to have been infected elsewhere.

Now that chikungunya is in the United States, CDC officials think it will behave like dengue virus, with imported cases causing occasional local transmissions but not widespread outbreaks.

Also on Thursday, health officials in Puerto Rico declared an epidemic of the virus. Health Secretary Ana Rius said that more than 200 cases had been confirmed on the island as of June 25 and that the majority of them were reported in the capital of San Juan and nearby areas.

The first case of chikungunya in the U.S. territory was reported in late May.

Officials in Jamaica reported the island's first confirmed case. The chief medical officer, Dr. Kevin Harvey, said the virus was found in a person who had recently traveled to a country where there have been locally transmitted cases.

Chikungunya was first identified in Africa in the early 1950s. It first appeared in the Americas late last year, on a Caribbean island. By July 11, more than 350,000 suspected and confirmed cases were being reported in the Americas.

Officials have been expecting it to land in the United States, noting that two types of mosquitoes that can carry the virus live here.

Earlier this week, the New England Journal of Medicine published an editorial on the looming chikungunya threat by two National institutes of Health infectious diseases experts  Dr. David Morens and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

They noted several chikungunya vaccines are being developed. But even if they prove effective, they would be years away from becoming available.

Mosquito control and avoidance are the best current options, they said.

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A study involving mostly Latino students who applied to one of three top-performing Los Angeles public charter schools from 2007 to 2010 shows that disadvantaged teens may get more than an academic boost by attending good high schools  their health may also benefit, a study suggests.

Risky health behavior including binge-drinking, unsafe sex and use of hard drugs was less common among these kids, compared with peers who went to mostly worse schools. The teens were otherwise similar, all from low-income Los Angeles neighborhoods who applied to top public charter schools that admit students based on a lottery system.

The researchers compared behavior in almost 1,000 kids in 10th through 12th grade who were admitted to the high-performing schools and in those who went elsewhere. Overall, 36 percent of the selected kids engaged in at least one of 11 risky behaviors, compared with 42 percent of the other teens.

The study doesn't prove that the schools made the difference and it has limitations that weaken the results, including a large number of students who refused to participate. Still, lead author Dr. Michael Wong said the results echo findings in less rigorously designed research and they fit with the assumption that "better education will lead to better health." Wong is an internist and researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles.

About half of the kids in the study had parents who didn't graduate from high school and most didn't own their own homes.

Results were published online Monday in Pediatrics.

Teens were given computerized questionnaires to answer in private, to improve the chances for accurate self-reporting. Standardized test scores were obtained from the California Department of Education.

The results aren't a referendum on charter schools but the lottery system they use for enrollment made the comparison fairer, Wong said.

Despite the limitations, the study "is a beautifully conducted natural experiment" that could occur because there's more demand for high-performing schools than there is space available, said Kelli Komro, a professor of health outcomes and policy at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She was not involved in the research.

Because the Los Angeles schools' lottery system selects students randomly, not on grades or other differences, the study design "mimics a randomized controlled trial, the gold standard in health research," Komro said.

Most of the selected kids chose to attend those schools, while 83 percent of those not picked went to schools with worse performance records. Math and English scores after freshman year were higher in selected kids than the other teens. Moreover, just 9 percent of the selected kids dropped out of school, versus almost 1 in 4 of the others.

Prof. Harold Pollack, a University of Chicago public health researcher, said the study is important and highlights the challenge  and need to  create "a much larger number of schools that serve kids well."

Pollack said better academic performance among the charter school kids is likely more important for their long-term health than their risky behavior choices.

"Educational outcomes are just so critical for people's well-being," he said.

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The preliminary findings from a Swedish dementia study released last week show that healthy living  i.e. eating well, engaging in social activity, maintaining cognitive and physical agility  may slow the onset of dementia for those at risk of Alzheimer's.

While there are no guarantees, the study's lead author, Dr. Miia Kivipelto of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, told Reuters, This is really hard evidence that we can do something for brain health.

Dr. Joe Verghese, professor of neurology and medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, told Fox News Latino that dancing seemed to help stave off dementia.

Dance clearly involves a lot of aerobic activity and physical effort," he said, "which is associated with increased blood flow to the brain, [simulating] brain growth factors and new connections in the brain. But dancing is also a cognitive activity[involving] a lot of mental effort.

Verghese was the lead researcher for a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that found that, among physical activities, dancing was the only one that seemed to help prevents both Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia.

The participants who danced three or four times a week had a reduced risk of dementia compared to people who didnt dance at all or danced very rarely, Verghese told Fox News Latino. The risk reduction of dementia in the group [that danced frequently] was 76 percent.

Verghese and his fellow researchers divided subjects from the long-term Einstein Aging Study into two groups, one consisted of those who participated in cognitively-stimulating activities like reading, writing and playing musical instruments, and the other made up of people who engaged in physically-stimulating ones. The activities included aerobics, swimming, biking and dancing.

Cognitive activities had a strong effect on reducing the risk of dementia," Verghese said. "Physical activities overall did not... But among the 11 activities we looked at, dancing was the only [physical activity] shown to have an effect.

While all of the physical activities benefited the body, only dancing was shown to help both the brain and the body. Verghese believes this may be because of the analytical natural of dance.

If we could undoubtedly prove that activities like dance, which are a pleasure to do, are actually beneficial, then that would be great, Verghese told FNL. "But what we need are more studies to prove that activities like dance really do have a cognitive benefit.
Patients and staff at Peru's largest psychiatric hospital put on a patriotic parade at the facility Wednesday to celebrate the 193rd anniversary of the country's independence from Spain.

About 200 of them donned costumes to portray soldiers, noted Peruvians, Incas and the rebels who drove out Spanish forces in 1821.

It is the only annual event in which the issue of mental health in Peru receives significant media coverage. Critics of the system complain that the nation's mental health professionals are largely concentrated in the capital, Lima. Of Peru's 202 psychiatrists working in hospitals, four-fifths of them are in Lima.

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Prosecutors in Northern California said Thursday that they have obtained an arrest warrant for a tuberculosis patient who has refused treatment and may be contagious, putting those around him at risk.

Eduardo Rosas Cruz, a 25-year-old transient, went to the San Joaquin General Hospital's emergency room in March, complaining of a severe cough. Diagnosed with tuberculosis, medical staff told him to stay in a Stockton motel room, where a health worker would deliver his medication and watch him take it. But officials say he took off.

County health officials asked prosecutors to seek the warrant, in part, because Rosas Cruz comes from a part of Mexico known for its drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. County health officials are searching for Rosas Cruz, and his name is in a statewide law enforcement system, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Stephen Taylor said.

"He could be in a homeless shelter. He could be around the corner from the courthouse," Taylor said. "We don't know."

Tuberculosis spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease most commonly infects a person's lungs. It can cause death if left untreated.

Catching tuberculosis requires extended contact with a contagious person, said San Joaquin County's public health officer, Dr. Alvaro Garza, adding that it is unclear if Rosas Cruz is contagious. Rosas Cruz needs a nine-month regime of medicine, which Alvaro said the patient is not near to completing.

"If you stop taking it, it comes roaring back," Alvaro said.

In court papers filed in support of the warrant, public health officials say Rosas Cruz resisted treatment from the start. He also uses crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said, adding that he could develop the drug resistant strain if he hasn't already.

"We need help getting him in," Alvaro said. "We've not been able to find him in places he's told us he's going to be."

Rosas Cruz initially went to the hospital after feeling shortness of breath for two weeks, had a high fever and had lost considerable weight, in addition to the cough, according to court papers.

Taylor, who prosecutors public health cases, said he seeks arrest warrants like this once or twice each year.

In mid-2012, officials in San Joaquin County arrested Armando Rodriguez, who refused tuberculosis treatment. Taylor said Rodriguez, age 34 at the time, was released Jan. 7, 2013.

By law, health officials can't force a patient to be treated for tuberculosis, but officials can use the courts to isolate him from the public. That is when officials offer treatment.

Taylor, who did not know the status of Rosas Cruz's residency, said he is not interested in punishing him through the criminal court system. Rather, Taylor said he is using the courts to protect the public's health.

"We're interested in this guy because he broke the orders of the health officer," Taylor said. "It's all that's left on the shelf."

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Federal experts are recommending that California test inmates for immunity to a sometimes fatal soil-borne fungus before incarcerating them at two Central Valley state prisons where the disease has killed nearly three dozen inmates, according to a report obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

A federal judge last fall ordered the state to move nearly 2,600 susceptible inmates out of Avenal and Pleasant Valley state prisons because of the deaths and illnesses.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the state go further by using hypersensitivity skin tests that could identify inmates who already were exposed to valley fever. Those inmates could thus safely be housed at the two state prisons near Fresno because they largely are immune to repeat infections.

The experts said that is a better option than the current practice of screening out black and Filipino inmates and others who statistically are more susceptible to the fungus, which grows naturally in the soil in the Central Valley and other dry locations such as Arizona and Mexico.

They project that system-wide testing would find 13 percent of the prison population is immune because the inmates previously were exposed.

Joyce Hayhoe, a spokeswoman for the federal court-appointed receiver who controls prison medical care, said the office is reviewing the report.

Don Specter, director of the nonprofit Berkeley-based Prison Law Office, said the state should start testing inmates as soon as possible. His firm persuaded U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson of San Francisco to order vulnerable inmates removed from the two prisons last year.

Skin tests would sharply reduce the number of infections, the experts said.

About 5 percent of inmates at the two prisons would be expected to be infected annually if no steps were taken, according to the 52-page report. Using the skin tests would reduce that to about 2 percent, preventing a projected 268 cases each year.

With the commercially available skin test, approved this month by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, inmates would be injected with a noninfectious strain and evaluated 48 hours later.

Inmate would have the right to refuse to be tested, Hayhoe said.

The steps the state already has taken, including removing black and Filipino inmates, should reduce annual infections only slightly, preventing 44 infections annually, the experts projected.

At their peak in 2011, valley fever infections at the two prisons were up to 153 times higher than surrounding areas, researchers found. The two prisons combined to produce 83 percent of valley fever cases in the entire prison system, which includes about 135,500 inmates in 34 state prisons as well as private prisons in California and other states.

The same year, more than 20,000 cases were reported nationwide among the general population, most of them in Arizona and California.

Prison infections declined in 2012, but were still more than 20 times higher than among the general surrounding population. State officials say valley fever was killing six to nine inmates each year and costs the state more than $23 million annually to care for infected inmates and employees.

The fungus usually produces no symptoms, but in about 40 percent of cases it causes mild to severe flu-like symptoms or more serious infections. Valley fever can spread to the brain, bones, skin and eyes, leading to blindness, skin abscesses, lung failure and death.

A study released in February by the affiliated National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that valley fever killed three employees at the two prisons between January 2009 and June 2013 and sickened 103 other employees.

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After more than six weeks of sometimes testy talks, House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a compromise plan to fix a veterans health program scandalized by long patient wait times and falsified records covering up delays.

The chairmen of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees have scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to unveil a plan expected to authorize billions in emergency spending to lease 27 new clinics, hire more doctors and nurses and make it easier for veterans who can't get prompt appointments with VA doctors to obtain outside care.

An agreement reached Sunday by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was a long time coming. The House and Senate approved bills on veterans health care in early June, and lawmakers from both parties said they expected a final bill by July 4.

Instead, negotiators met once in public, then disappeared or held private meetings that produced few results. Talks reached a low point last Thursday, as Sanders and Miller had a public spat that appeared to leave the two sides far apart, with only days remaining until Congress goes on a five-week recess.

Sanders, who chairs the Senate veterans panel, and Miller, chairman of the House panel, repeatedly lashed out at each other. Sanders accused Miller of acting in bad faith, while Miller said Sanders had "moved the goalposts" in talks to fix veterans' health care.

A partisan impasse loomed, even as both sides said they hoped to avoid what Miller called the "sort of bickering and name-calling for which Washington has become infamous."

Three days later, after talks by telephone from Florida and Vermont, Miller and Sanders were on the same page.

Aides to the two men said Sunday they had reached a tentative agreement. The deal requires a vote by a conference committee of House and Senate negotiators, and votes in the full House and Senate.

Miller and Sanders said in a joint statement that they "made significant progress" over the weekend toward agreement on legislation to reform the Veterans Affairs Department, which has been rocked by reports of patients dying while awaiting VA treatment and mounting evidence that workers falsified or omitted appointment schedules to mask frequent, long delays. The resulting election-year firestorm forced VA Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign in late May.

The plan set to be announced Monday is intended to "make VA more accountable and to help the department recruit more doctors, nurses and other health care professionals," Miller and Sanders said.

Louis Celli, legislative director for the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans group, said the deal would provide crucial help to veterans who have been waiting months or even years for VA health care.

"There is an emergency need to get veterans off the waiting lists. That's what this is all about," Celli said Sunday.

Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the agreement was good news  although several months late.

"It's about time they're doing their jobs," he said of Sanders, Miller and other members of Congress. "You don't get a medal for doing your job."

Veterans waiting two months for medical appointments "don't care about all this back and forth" in Congress, Tarantino said. "That's what should be driving decisions."

An updated audit by the VA this month showed that about 10 percent of veterans seeking medical care at VA hospitals and clinics still have to wait at least 30 days for an appointment. About 46,000 veterans have had to wait at least three months for initial appointments, the report said, and an additional 7,000 veterans who asked for appointments over the past decade never got them.

Acting VA Secretary Sloan Gibson has said the VA is making improvements, but said veterans in many communities still are waiting too long to receive needed care. The VA provides health care to nearly 9 million enrolled veterans.

The House and Senate are set to adjourn at the end of the week until early September, and lawmakers from both parties have said completing a bill on veterans' health care is a top priority.

The Senate is expected to vote this week to confirm former Procter & Gamble CEO Robert McDonald as the new VA secretary, replacing Gibson.

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A California man who was charged after refusing treatment for his tuberculosis was found and arrested, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

Eduardo Rosas Cruz, 25, was arrested late Monday in Kern County, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Stephen Taylor said. Before Rosas Cruz can be sent back to San Joaquin County, he has to be medically cleared, which could take weeks, Taylor said.

Authorities last week obtained an arrest warrant for Rosas Cruz, saying he was diagnosed with tuberculosis in March after going to San Joaquin General Hospital's emergency room with a severe cough.

Medical staff at the hospital told him to stay in a Stockton motel room, where a health worker would deliver his medication and watch him take it. But officials say he left.

Rosas Cruz is a transient and comes from an area of Mexico known for a drug-resistant strain of TB, authorities said.

He was arrested on the San Joaquin County warrant during a traffic stop in Lamont, a community about 15 miles southeast of Bakersfield, said Ray Pruitt, a spokesman for the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Officers took him to the Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield.

TB can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can be deadly.

Taylor said the goal of prosecuting a tuberculosis patient through the criminal courts is not to punish him, but to protect the public. He said Rosas Cruz refused to cooperate with officials.

"When somebody has behaved like this, it's time to go in-patient," Taylor said.

In court papers filed in support of the warrant, public health officials said Rosas Cruz resisted treatment from the start. He also used crack cocaine and methamphetamine, officials said, adding that he could develop the drug-resistant strain if he hasn't already.

By law, health officials can't force a patient to be treated for tuberculosis, but officials can use the courts to isolate him from the public. That is when officials offer treatment.

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About 2.5 million California adults remain uninsured after the first open enrollment period for the new federal health law, and the state will face even bigger challenges in reaching those people, particularly Latinos, according to a survey released Tuesday by a national health policy nonprofit.

In a follow-up to its long-term study of California's uninsured, the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 3.4 million previously uninsured adults now have health coverage after the first open enrollment season under President Barack Obama's health overhaul.

Eight in 10 of the remaining uninsured adults, who are between the ages of 19 and 64, said they are aware of the requirement to buy health insurance, but a majority said they don't have enough information about how the Affordable Care Act would affect them. Many who tried to enroll reported having problems navigating health insurance plans. Others worried about cost.

"It shows that the work just gets harder from here because the uninsured who remain are people who have been uninsured for a very long time and are populations that will be more difficult to reach, including Latinos," said Drew Altman, president and chief executive of Kaiser Family Foundation.

About 62 percent of those who still do not have coverage are Latino, the study found, and nearly half are ineligible for tax subsidies or low-income health programs because they are not legally living in the United States. A third of those who are eligible for subsidies reported concerns that enrolling would affect someone in their family who does not have legal status, despite the Obama administration's assurance that signing up for health care would not lead to deportation.

California's health insurance exchange, Covered California, faced heavy criticism last year for its lackluster efforts to sign up Latinos and problems with its Spanish-language website.

Spokesman James Scullary said Covered California is "doubling down on our enrollment activities," this year, including spending $168 million on outreach in the first three months starting in November, more than it spent in six months last year. The agency is also recruiting more bilingual call center workers, refining its direct mail campaign and sending more enrollment counselors, he said.

He said the exchange adjusted its outreach and marketing campaign to Latinos, boosting its final Latino enrollment in the individual market to 305,106, above its projection of 265,000.

"A lot of what we do in this next open enrollment is a continuation of that because once we made that change in the final few months of our first open enrollment, our enrollment just surged," Scullary said.

Sen. Norma Torres, D-Pomona, who authored a bill to boost diversity on the exchange board in response to low minority enrollment, consumer complaints and a confusing website, said she is hopeful the exchange will do a better job the second time around.

Kaiser's survey underscores that having people from different backgrounds and languages is critical to reaching the uninsured, she said.

"I have been very much involved in ensuring that this very hard-to-reach population is able to have the same opportunities that everyone else has had to enroll or purchase a product that they absolutely need," Torres said.

Among those who gained insurance coverage, the survey found 25 percent are now covered by Medi-Cal, the state's insurance program for the poor, 12 percent moved into employer-sponsored plans, 9 percent bought individual coverage through Covered California and 4 percent through other sources.

David Boughton, 41, of Davis, said he enrolled in Medi-Cal two weeks ago after being denied last year. The former math teacher has gone without steady health coverage since he was laid off in 2008 and hopes to start a new business to care for his wife and two children.

"It's kind of funny. Before I couldn't afford health insurance and I didn't try to get it. Now that I'm forced to get it, even though it was a painful process, I have it," Boughton said. "So I might as well take advantage of it."

Kaiser's survey was based on telephone interviews with 1,218 people between April 1 and June 15.

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Doctors at a hospital in New York City have put a patient in isolation because he has symptoms that indicate they may have Ebola.

The unidentified patient is at Mount Sinai Hospital on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He apparently recently traveled to West Africa, where hundreds of people, including two Americans, have contracted the potentially deadly disease.

The man arrived at Mount Sinai's emergency room early Monday morning with high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, the hospital said in a statement.

"The patient has been placed in strict isolation and is undergoing medical screenings to determine the cause of his symptoms," the statement said. "All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff. We will continue to work closely with federal, state and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed and provide the best quality care to all of our patients."

The Ebola virus causes a hemorrhagic fever that has sickened more than 1,600 people, killing nearly 900 mostly in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. It's spread through direct contact with bodily fluids.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the "likelihood of contracting Ebola is extremely low unless a person has direct contact with the body fluids of a person or animal that is infected and showing symptoms." Nonetheless, the agency has issued a travel warning, saying U.S. residents should avoid "nonessential" travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

New York News

The incubation period for the disease ranges from two to 21 days, according to the CDC. The most common incubation period for signs or symptoms to appear is eight to 10 days.

"Early symptoms include sudden fever, chills, and muscle aches," the CDC said on its website. "Around the fifth day, a skin rash can occur. Nausea, vomiting, chest pain, sore throat, abdominal pain, and diarrhea may follow."

The CDC urges people who have been exposed to Ebola to not travel on commercial airplanes until he or she is monitored for symptoms for at least three weeks after exposure. In fact, the CDC said that airlines should consider stopping sick travelers from boarding flights if Ebola is suspected.

A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Associated Press that at least three Americans have been tested in the U.S. He says all three tested negative.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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MIAMI  A doctor from Florida International University is ready to go on a medical mission across the globe to help those affected by the Ebola outbreak.

With the spread of the virus outpacing the help that is being sent to Africa, the World Health Organization is calling on more doctors from the U.S. to travel to Western Africa.

FIU professor Dr. Aileen Marty, who arrived in Miami from Cuba with her parents when she was 4, according to The Miami Herald, may be one of the many doctors to receive the call. "I need to get a pre-deployment physical, I need to go ahead and do my beneficiary forms and all those sorts of things one needs to do in order to get ready to go," she said.

Dr. Marty is a professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology & Infectious Diseases and said she has been preparing in case the WHO sends her to work with the Ebola virus patients in Africa. "What they want from FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, isn't just someone to go out there as a clinician, but also the data analysis a powerful university like ours can provide," said Marty.

More than 700 people have died in West Africa since the first case was reported in March, though Marty said there are signs that the virus started spreading as far back as December 2013.

More than 1,300 have been infected, including American aid workers Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol. Both are in the process of being flown to the States for treatment.

Marty, whose 30-year medical career includes working as an infectious disease and disaster medicine specialist in the Navy said she will not only work with patients but also study the effectiveness of experimental treatments being used.

"If we are able, from humanitarian purposes, to go ahead and use some of these experimental drugs to try and treat these patients on a humanitarian basis, then we're gonna need to determine whether they in fact worked," said Marty. "To do that, you need a tremendous amount of data analysis."

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called it the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history. It is transmitted through bodily fluid. A surge in the spread has occurred in the past few weeks in Sierra Leone and Liberia. "This is one of the most horrible ways a person can die," said Marty. "Bloody fluids coming out of every orifice? That's definitely incredibly unpleasant. Not to mention just the miserable disease. It has to be cured, but it also has to be stopped."

Marty expects to receive the call in the next few days, and if she is sent to West Africa, she said she would most likely be headed to Sierra Leone.

For more, go to WSVN.

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Spain's Defense Ministry said a medically-equipped Airbus 310 is ready to fly to Liberia to repatriate a Spanish missionary priest who has tested positive for the Ebola virus.

The priest, Miguel Pajares, will be treated at a hospital in Madrid after he arrives but public health general director Mercedes Vinuesa did not tell reporters which one.

It's the first time that someone infected with Ebola will be treated in Spain.

Pajares is one of three missionaries being kept in isolation at the San Jose de Monrovia Hospital in Liberia who have tested positive for the virus, Spain's San Juan de Dios hospital order, a Catholic humanitarian group that runs hospitals around the world.

El Pais newspaper reported Wednesday that Pajares, 75, remains very weak and in isolation since Friday along with five other people in the Monrovia hospital. Three of the six tested negative for the disease.

The treatment Pajares and the others are receiving are getting, according to El Pais, is limited to fever reducer and fluids to combat dehydration.

Pajares had been caring for the hospital's director, Patrick Nshamdze, who died on Saturday. A first screening came back negative, so the priest continued attending to Nshamdze, who was eventually diagnosed with the disease.

The repatriation is something Pajares said he wanted. "I'd like to go back [to Spain] because we are having a very bad experience here. We are abandoned and we are not satisfied. We want to go to Spain and be treated as people, as God dictates," the priest said Tuesday to EFE. I know it is very complicated because a plane would have to be chartered and thats not easy," he said humbly in a weak voice. "I'm in really bad condition. I am unable to lift his head," he told the news agency.

Ebola can only be transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is sick  blood, semen, saliva, urine, feces or sweat.

In the U.S., an American aid worker infected with Ebola arrived Tuesday in Atlanta, joining a second patient being given an experimental treatment that has never before been tested on humans.

Nancy Writebol, 59, traveled from Monrovia, Liberia, to Emory University Hospital, just downhill from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She arrived two days after Kent Brantly, a doctor with whom she had worked in Liberia and who also contracted Ebola.

Brantly and Writebol were both infected despite taking precautions as they treated Ebola patients.

There have now been at least 1,711 cases of Ebola this year, which has no proven vaccine or treatment, according to new figures released Wednesday by the World Health Organization. More than 932 people have died in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria as of Aug. 4, according to the World Health Organization.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A man is being held in isolation at a Central California jail on allegations he has refused to submit to an exam to check for tuberculosis.

The Fresno Bee reports that 59-year-old Steven Reyes was scheduled to be arraigned remotely from his Fresno County jail cell Wednesday, but a judge had difficulty hearing him and continued the hearing until Monday. He is facing a misdemeanor charge.

According to court records, Reyes was deemed a sexually violent predator and committed to a state hospital in December. Authorities say he has since shown symptoms of TB disease, the active, contagious form of the illness. But they say he has refused to take a chest X-ray to determine whether he has the condition.

Reyes' case is similar to one in San Joaquin County, where authorities arrested 25-year-old Eduardo Rosas Cruz last month on charges he has refused TB treatment.

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A Spanish missionary priest who tested positive for the Ebola virus was in stable condition at a Madrid hospital on Thursday after being evacuated from Liberia, health officials said.

The priest, Miguel Pajares, 75, was helping to treat people infected with Ebola and was one of three who tested positive at the San Jose de Monrovia Hospital in Liberia earlier this week. He was flown to Spain on Thursday.

Juliana Bohi, an Equatorial Guinean nun with Spanish nationality who worked with him in Liberia, was also brought back but she is not infected. Both worked for the San Juan de Dios hospital order, a Catholic humanitarian group that runs hospitals around the world.

Both Pajares and Bohi were being kept in isolation at the Carlos III center in Madrid, which is run by La Paz hospital.

They arrived at a military air base near Madrid and were strapped to stretchers enclosed by transparent capsule-like tents that were pushed by personnel in protective white suits wearing masks. A convoy of ambulances took them to the hospital with a police escort.

Rafael Perez-Santamarina, director of Madrid's La Paz hospital, said that initial medical checks showed Pajares was in stable condition and Bohi was in good condition. He confirmed that neither was bleeding, which is a symptom of an advanced stage of the illness.

Bohi and two other missionaries working at the Liberian hospital tested negative. Officials said Bohi would be retested in Madrid and released if the result was once again negative.

Senior Madrid regional health official Antonio Alemany said Pajares didn't have a fever and the prognosis was good.

Ebola, which causes some victims to bleed from the eyes, mouth and ears, can only be transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is sick  blood, semen, saliva, urine, feces or sweat.

The disease has no known cure. Alemany said Pajares was being kept hydrated but that if experimental treatment being tested in the United States on two Americans diagnosed with Ebola proved effective, Spain would seek to be able to use it.

It is the first time that someone infected with Ebola will be treated in Spain.

A medically equipped Airbus 310 flew to Liberia on Wednesday to bring Pajares and Bohi to Spain.

Spain's Health Ministry said the case presented minimal risk to public health.

The other two aid workers who tested positive with Pajares were identified as Chantal Pascaline Mutwamene of Congo and Paciencia Melgar from Equatorial Guinea.

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AVENTURA, FLORIDA  There was a unique show of support at Aventura Mall after a mother who was breastfeeding her child was told to cover up or leave the shopping center days earlier.

Kristie Quinones felt shamed and took to social media earlier this week to share what had taken place. Thursday afternoon, her supporters came out in full force.

Women were out in public, inside Aventura Mall, breastfeeding their children, all in a show of support and to let people know that there is nothing wrong with what they do. "It's just a boob. It's just a body. What's more beautiful than this?" said Jasmine Terrany. "My body actually creates the food for my son."

The support all took place at the Rainbow Valley playground. "I have a baby to feed, and just because we're in the water, we're in public, he doesn't know where we are. He's hungry. That's my first priority," said Lynnea Saito. "I'm not worried about people seeing breasts. It's natural. That's what breasts are for."

Tuesday, an Aventura attendant did not agree with Quinones' sentiment on public breastfeeding. "I lifted up my top, I switched her underneath, so she could latch on, and she began nursing, and after a few minutes, the playground attendant came up to me, and she advised me that I could not stay unless I covered up with a blanket," said Quinones.

Quinones said the attendant then called guest services on her. "He was so disrespectful and argumentative that it just made me feel awful," she said.

The incident with Quinones and her nursing her child happened to occur right in the middle of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

A spokesperson for the Aventura Mall apologized Thursday to Quinones and the other women. "Our staff entirely mishandled the communication process with this mom," said Annabelle Llopis.

The mothers made sure to show support en mass in an effort to avoid another misunderstanding, as well as to make other mothers feel less ashamed. "I don't think that there's anything more miraculous, quite frankly," said Terrany.

According to Florida state law, women are allowed to breast-feed in public and uncovered.

For more stories go to wsvn.com

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The devastating news didn't make sense to Brazilian Pierre Freitaz. How was it possible that, at age 17, he was infected with HIV if his only boyfriend seemed fit and healthy?

Freitaz confesses he knew little about the virus when he was diagnosed in 2004. He didn't understand the difference between the infection and the disease it caused: AIDS. He was confused by the lack of obvious symptoms.

"It's like I was living in a different part of the world, and I felt immune."

While Brazil has long been seen as a global model in the fight against AIDS, activists and officials say more and more youths share Freitaz's unawareness of HIV risks, or are unconcerned about them. Even as HIV infection rates have begun declining in many other places, cases have been slowly rising in Brazil  with the sharpest jump among youths 15 to 24.

"The numbers are going up. It's a paradox, a shame. After all the money spent on treatment and implementing a policy for everyone to receive it, we have these disastrous results," said Dr. Caio Rosenthal, a Sao Paulo-based specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases.

U.N. statistics show 44,000 new infections detected last year in Brazil, up from fewer than 40,000 in 2005  a rate outpacing population growth. The national Health Ministry says overall numbers of HIV infections has reached nearly 800,000. That's half of all the HIV cases in all of Latin America.

By comparison, in the United States, the rate of new HIV cases has dropped by a third over the past decade, according to a study published last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. About 1.1 million Americans are estimated to be infected with HIV.

When the global AIDS epidemic erupted in the 1980s, officials here reacted quickly. Brazil carried out widespread sex-education campaigns and became the first developing nation to offer free antiretroviral treatment on a large scale. The pace of deaths fell and mother-to-child transmission was cut sharply.

Officials say the persistent rise in cases could be partly the result of better systems for tracking the virus. Others blame religious opposition to sex-education campaigns, or say some youths mistakenly believe that progress in treating AIDS means it's a problem of the past.

Brazil's dominant Catholic church frowns on the use of condoms, but the chief resistance to sex education campaigns has come from evangelical Christians, whose share of Brazil's population has jumped from 5 percent to 22 percent between 1970 and 2010, making them an increasingly influential political force.

Dr. Dirceu Greco, the former head of the Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis at the health ministry, said opposition by evangelical leaders "caused notorious backtracking" in AIDS policy. Another former leader of the program, Dr. Pedro Chequer, complained that the restrictions have hurt campaigns targeting vulnerable populations such as gays and sex workers.

"There was a very clear setback. Brazil used to be at the forefront, but now it's just like any other country," said Chequer, who is widely seen as Brazil's leading anti-AIDS crusader.

In the past two years, for example, the federal government ordered schools to stop handing out comic books and other materials aimed at youth with stories encouraging the use of condoms to prevent HIV and teenage pregnancies.

Activists also complain the government scrapped the airing of pro-condom TV ads showing gay men hooking up at a nightclub while discussing safe sex. Health officials insist the ads were never intended for major television networks, but rather niche audiences.

The health ministry's current top AIDS official, Fabio Mesquita, said nationwide, prime-time TV campaigns are a thing of the past because his team is studying ways to target younger, more vulnerable populations through the Internet and smartphones.

He placed much of the blame for rising infections on misplaced confidence among younger people who didn't experience the disease's most-deadly era: "The new generation was no longer scared of anything, everything was OK. Having sex without a condom was a risk they were willing to take."

The government says spending on education and prevention is rising, but Mesquita said the fight against HIV must expand beyond safe-sex education: "We have to stop thinking of condoms as the only alternative to prevent the infection."

He said one path is an expanded program to give retroviral drugs to all infected patients, even if there are not yet signs that the virus has weakened their bodies' defense systems. Studies have suggested that HIV positive people who start taking medicines at that early stage are 96 percent less likely to infect others.

Brazil is studying another measure, pre-exposure prophylaxis, which involves a daily pill meant to protect those who are not infected. The U.S. government issued guidelines in May for using that process.

Brazil already has been a leader in treating AIDS. In eight years, it has doubled the number of HIV patients it treats to more than 350,000, at a cost of more than $420 million a year.

Still, many say education campaigns are essential.

"We need to start talking about how to bring back the issue to schools and convince evangelicals to join in so we are all more open about the problem," said Beto de Jesus, who coordinated a project that tested gays and transvestites in mobile health units in several Brazilian cities.

Freitaz, who has lived with HIV for a decade now, is volunteering at Incentive Life Group in Sao Paulo, where one in every six gay men live with HIV. The organization promotes HIV testing so that carriers get treated before they infect others. Freitaz says he often meets young men who are no longer worried about HIV and AIDS.

"They think the medication is as simple as aspirin," Freitaz said. "They have no idea."

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Spain has imported a U.S.-made experimental Ebola drug to treat a Spanish missionary priest evacuated from Liberia last week after testing positive for the killer virus.

The Health Ministry announced Monday that the ZMapp drug, made by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. of San Diego, was obtained in Geneva this weekend and brought to Madrid to treat Miguel Pajares. The 75-year-old priest was placed in isolation Thursday at Madrid's Carlos III Hospital.

There is no known cure or licensed treatment for Ebola, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the current outbreak in West Africa. The World Health Organization has called the Ebola outbreak  which emerged in Guinea in March and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and possibly Nigeria  an international health emergency and urged nations worldwide to donate resources to battle the disease.

The ethical questions surrounding experimental Ebola drugs and vaccines were being debated Monday during a teleconference of medical ethicists and other experts organized by the U.N. health agency.

Two Americans diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia and evacuated back to the United States have been treated with the drug. One of them, Dr. Kent Brantly, said last week that his condition was improving and the husband of the aid worker being treated with Brantly said the same thing. Both are in isolation at an Atlanta hospital.

Spain said it obtained permission from the laboratory developing the drug and, under an agreement between WHO and the Doctors Without Borders charity group, imported the drug from Geneva where it said a dose had been available. The ministry said Spain sought the drug under legislation permitting use of unauthorized medication in patients suffering from a life-threatening illness who cannot be treated satisfactorily with any authorized drug.

Despite Spain's statement, WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told The Associated Press on Monday that the U.N. agency had no role in helping Spain obtain the experimental drug.

At least one country in West Africa has expressed interest in the experimental drug. Nigeria's health minister, Onyenbuchi Chukwu, said last week he had asked U.S. health officials about access but was told the manufacturer would have to agree.

Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said "there are virtually no doses available," a CDC spokesman said last week, before the announcement that Spain was also using thedrug.

Because the ZMapp drug has never been tested in humans, scientists say there's no way to tell if it has made any difference to the two American aid workers who have so far received it.

The drug is a mixture of three antibodies engineered to recognize Ebola and bind to infected cells so the immune system can kill them. Scientists culled antibodies from laboratory mice and ZMapp's maker now grows the antibodies in tobacco plants and then purifies them. It takes several months to even produce a modest amount of the drug.

Nigerian health authorities, meanwhile, confirmed another Ebola case Monday, a nurse who was treating Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian-American who flew into the country with the disease and died of it last month. That brings the locally confirmed Ebola cases in Nigeria to 10, including two who have died, Sawyer and another nurse. Nigerian authorities have 177 contacts of Sawyer now under surveillance.

WHO has not yet confirmed the Ebola cases in Nigeria.

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When her father's lung cancer worsened, Yin Min, a 51-year-old financial broker from Shanghai, faced a choice: pay nearly $3,000 a month for an approved drug or pay a fraction of the price for a generic drug not approved for use in China.

Yin, like many families in China, turned to the increasingly popular, unregulated market of online pharmacies, agents and peer groups for drugs.

She bought a generic version of Iressa, not approved for use in China, directly from a manufacturer in India.

"With this sort of misfortune, it's hard to put into words the financial pressure you feel," Yin told Reuters.

Of 30 cancer patients interviewed by Reuters over the past year, two thirds took routes similar to Yin's, pushed by China's high drug prices and a lack of access to newer drugs. The patients were aged between 32 and 81, had varying income levels and suffered from a variety of cancers.

There is no official data on how many cancer patients in China turn to unregulated channels, but research indicates an increase globally in the use of gray and counterfeit markets.

Liu Xuemei, a 61-year-old carcinoma patient from Beijing, said she went through a pharmacy agent to get a cheaper alternative to the approved Zadaxin, while Zhao Xiaohua, who has lung cancer, said he found a cheaper treatment through a patients group recommended by his doctor. Patients Reuters spoke to said doctors often turn a blind eye to them accessing drugs through the gray market, and some actively help them do this.

Medicines bought through unofficial channels are not necessarily harmful, and some of the Indian generics available online are approved for use in other markets. But they can include drugs that are ineffective or fake.

The reason patients in China turn to these unregulated channels are largely financial.

Low average salaries, a chasm between urban and rural wealth, and creaking state reimbursement schemes mean serious disease is among the leading causes of poverty, creating a major social burden and rising debt.

In Yin's case, the generic drug she bought was 13 times less expensive than the China-approved branded Tarceva.

But Chinese also turn to unofficial channels because of bottlenecks in China's drug approvals, which pharmaceutical executives say can mean drugs lag markets like the United States by 5-10 years. China requires all new drugs to be tested and approved in the country, but has a shortage of specialists for this work.

The national drug reimbursement list, the main catalog of medicines covered by state health insurance, is being updated for the first time since 2009. That means even if a drug has been approved, patients can often only access it if they pay for it themselves.

China's health ministry did not respond to Reuters' questions about patients turning to unregulated channels to buy medicines, or the lack of access to new drugs.

The high cost of drugs is not confined to China, and there has been a jump globally in so-called 'buyers clubs' - informal patient groups sourcing drugs via the grey market to help those with HIV and hepatitis access drugs at more affordable prices.

LIMITED OPTIONS

China last year had four million new cancer cases, according to official data, and the nation's personal healthcare bill is set to soar almost fourfold to 12.7 trillion yuan ($1.84 trillion) by 2025, according to Boston Consulting Group.

For many Chinese, being left outside the health system at a time of need is in sharp contrast to the 'iron rice bowl' concept of state benefits and guarantees for life.

"If we can't buy the drug in China or we can't afford to buy it, then what other options do we have?" asked Duan Guangping, a banker in Chongqing, whose mother got lung cancer in 2011. He bought a drug for her from Bangladesh.

China has sought to increase insurance coverage for serious diseases, and encourage drug makers to lower their prices to gain better market access. It has also tried to speed up the regulatory approval process by thinning out the waiting list, forcing manufacturers to withdraw new drugs where trial data isn't strong enough.

But change has been slow.

"A lot of new oncology drugs were approved in the U.S. and UK, but in China there's a 5-7 year delay," said Li Tiantian, a former doctor and founder of medical platform DXY.com. "A lot of patients with cancer cannot wait."

The overall 5-year survival rate for cancer in China is just over 30 percent, less than half the level in the United States, according to Deutsche Bank.

LEGAL RISK

Turning to unofficial channels can also carry a legal risk.

Leukemia patient Lu Yong, a prominent member of a local 'buyers club', was arrested last year and charged with selling unapproved drugs and credit card fraud. He was later released after a public outcry.

In 2004, after buying a generic version of Iressa from India, Lu helped set up an online group for leukemia patients, who wanted the same drugs he was getting at a fraction of the price of the approved drug in China.

The generic started at around 3,000 yuan ($435) and the price slowly dropped over the years, Lu said - to a long way below the price of the approved drug from AstraZeneca .

"There was no other option, so we took this path even though what we were doing was against the law," Lu told Reuters before his arrest.

Lu declined to comment to Reuters after his release, but in his earlier interview he said he never profited from the transactions and only helped other patients to make the complicated overseas payments. "It's because of problems with China's public health insurance system that so many seriously ill patients aren't able to survive," he said then.
Seattle Genetics Inc said four people had died in trials testing its experimental cancer drug, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to impose a clinical hold on several early-stage studies.

The company's shares fell as much as 15.7 percent to $52.18.

Six patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer, have been identified with liver toxicity and four have died, the company said on Tuesday.

The company is working with the FDA to identify whether the drug is the cause of the toxicity.

The clinical holds on these early-stage AML trials have been initiated to evaluate the potential risk of liver toxicity in patients who were treated with the drug and underwent a stem cell transplant either before or after the treatment.

"This outcome does place risk on whether the program is able to continue", Guggenheim Partners' Tony Butler said.

The toxicity is "most likely drug dependent", and the company should consider reducing the dose or dosing intervals to see if that changes things, he added.

However, Needham & Co's Chad Messer cautioned investors not to overreact noting that liver toxicity is a known side effect of stem cell transplantation.

The drug, vadastuximab talirine, has been evaluated in more than 300 patients, and will continue to be tested in an ongoing late-stage study in older AML patients, the company said.

The drug, which has been granted orphan drug designation by both the U.S. FDA and the European Union for the treatment of AML, is also being tested in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, another form of blood cancer.

AML is a type of blood and bone marrow cancer that affects the growth of immature blood cells. The disease is most common among adults and tends to increase with age.

About 19,950 new cases of AML will occur in the United States in 2016, killing some 10,430, estimates the American Cancer Society.

Seattle Genetics, which already has an FDA-approved lymphoma drug called Advetris, has been previously considered a takeover target.

Up to Friday's close, stock had risen about 52 pct in the last six months.
It's a line you'll hear in almost any crime show after someone finds the body  the detective turns to the medical examiner and asks, "Time of death?" But in real life, medical examiners don't have a very precise method for figuring out how long ago someone died.

Now, researchers say they could use the bacteria found on the body to provide a more accurate way to pinpoint the time of death, according to a new study.

In the study, published today (Dec. 22) in the journal PLOS ONE , researchers examined the "necrobiomes" of 21 cadavers. The necrobiome, or the community of bacteria found on a dead body, changes considerably as time passes after death and the body decomposes, according to the study.

Currently, medical examiners estimate the time of death by physically inspecting the body for signs of early-phase decomposition and, in later stages of decomposition, by looking at the insects present on the body , the researchers wrote. But "these techniques are notoriously unreliable," thanks to factors such as temperature, weather conditions and geographic location, the researchers wrote.

But "by knowing which microbes take over a dead body and how long it takes, forensic scientists might be able to use [the necrobiome] to determine time of death or other aspects of a crime scene," Robert DeSalle, curator of molecular systematics at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, said in a statement. DeSalle was not involved in the study.

In the study, the researchers took samples of bacteria from the ear and nasal canals of the cadavers, which were at the Anthropological Research Facility at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The cadavers were placed outdoors, in a temperate, deciduous forest, and were left to decompose naturally over the course of several weeks.

The researchers sequenced the DNA of the bacteria, and used their findings to construct a model that could predict a body's time of death to up to 55 "accumulated degree-days," which is equal to about two summer days.

Accumulated degree-days are a way to measure the passage of time and temperature simultaneously, said senior study author Nathan Lents, a professor of microbiology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York.

Because human decomposition is strictly dependent on both time and temperature, scientists cannot consider the passage of time alone, Lents told Live Science. "When it comes to rates of decay, one day in summer time is like two weeks in winter time," he said.

A dynamic ecosystem

The bacterial communities found on a dead body change over time, Lents said.

"Think about a decomposing vertebrate as an ecosystem" teeming with various life-forms, Lents said. "The ecosystem is very dynamic because the environment of the decomposing host is in a state of wild changes."

For example, cycles of high and low oxygen levels play a role in which bacteria are present, as oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide builds up in the body. But the body's tissues eventually rupture, and oxygen flows back in, changing the environment again. There are also cycles of high and low nutrient richness, Lents said; nutrient levels may be low until a tissue ruptures and nutrients spill out.

Ultimately, "the environment is a feeding frenzy for alternating groups of organisms, setting up a succession of bacteria that proliferate when their time comes," Lents said.

But researchers still have a great deal to learn about this ecosystem, Lents added.

The new study is "a very promising proof of concept," Lents said in a statement. Still, the method could be improved by adding more data, from a larger study at multiple locations, and involving bacteria from additional parts of the body, they wrote in the study.

Originally published on Live Science .
At the end of this school year, Saint Jude Educational Institute in Montgomery, Alabama will close its doors forever. The 70-years-old Catholic school announced that it no longer could subsidize its 7th to 12th grade students.

It is a cruel irony that as America celebrates this week the 60thanniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case that ruled segregation in public schools unconstitutional, a school located in the heart of the African-American community of the city that was the cradle of the civil rights movement is closing.

It is also an unfortunate reminder that still too few low-income and minority families have high quality educational options for their children.

Alabama is one of only eight states in the country that does not allow charter schools.

Saint Jude played an important role in the civil rights movement. Since it first opened its doors to students in 1938 in the basement of the church, Saint Jude was always geared towards its African-American neighborhood.

In 1965, its grounds were the final stop on the famous march from Selma to Montgomery. Harry Belafonte, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr. and many others performed there that night. I know the school history well as I taught there from 2007 to 2009.

Today, the world is somewhat better for African-American families. The Census Bureau tells us that in 1963, the median family income for African-American families was $22,266 (in 2011 dollars). By 2011, it was $40,495. This represents a jump from 55 percent of the U.S. median income in 1963 to 66 percent of the median income in 2011. In 1966, the poverty rate for African-Americans was 41.8 percent. By 2011, it was 27.6. In 1964, only 3.9 percent of African-Americans had completed at least four years of college. By 2012, it was 21.2 percent.

While these numbers are encouraging, there is still much to be done. Education outcomes for African-Americans in the United States are still bleak: The 2013 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) found that only 17 percent of black 8thgraders were proficient in reading and only 14 percent were proficient in math.

In Alabama, only 9 percent of African-American 8thgraders were proficient in reading and only 6 percent were proficient in math.

In the press release announcing its closure, Saint Jude administrators stated that while the school spent $8,183 per student each year, it only charged $4,800 in tuition.

I know firsthand that many of the schools students simply couldnt afford to pay the full rate.

Losing $3,383 annually with each student, and without outside financial aid, it was a just a matter of time (and arithmetic) until the school would be forced to close because of lack of funds. St. Jude is not alone, from 1979 to 2011, the number of Catholic schools in America dropped from 9,640 to 6,841.

A 2013 Census Bureau report states that Alabama spends $9,600 per student per year when capital costs are taken into account.

Looking at these numbers, one has to conclude that the state of Alabama could easily help Saint Jude. By stepping in to bridge the gap between cost and tuition, that is, by paying $3,383 per student to Saint Jude, the state of Alabama would still be saving money.

Last year Alabama passed a small tax credit program to encourage individuals and corporations to donate to organizations which grant scholarships to low income students thus enabling them to attend private schools. A good start, but not enough to stem the tide of closures, or drive the creation of new and better private schools.

Shy of supporting private schools, the state does have other opportunities (as do other states across the country) to increase the number of schooling options for low income and minority families.

Alabama is one of only eight states in the country that does not allow charter schools. As a result, class after class and now generation after generation of students are simply being churned through a centralized, standardized system which does not meet their needs.

It has been said by some that education is the civil rights issue of our time. Sixty years after the Kansas case of Brown v. Board of Education, students may no longer be segregated but education opportunities are unequal.

Policymakers should help struggling schools survive and encourage new schools to open. Until they do, cases like Saint Jude will continue to happen, and the promise of Brown will remain unfulfilled.
There is a humanitarian crisis in South and Central America. Political turmoil, ravaged economies, and social problems have led tens of thousands of children to flee Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras to escape abuse, criminal gangs and violence. Others are forced leave their home countries as victims of human trafficking or abandonment.

While the U.S. is not the only country effected, thousands of victims of violence have made their way north to the Southwest border. Among the latest inflow are growing numbers of female victims and children under the age of 12. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than 60,000 fleeing children will enter the U.S. by the end of this fiscal year. Thats a staggering 35,000 more than entered in 2013 and nearly 55,000 more than entered just a decade ago.

Whats being done to respond to the crisis?

Children, particularly those who have been abandoned or are victims of human trafficking or other horrible crimes, are the most defenseless immigrants. Ensuring their safety is a fundamental priority.  David Leopold

The Obama Administration has set in motion an interagency effort to deal with the crisis and protect the children. FEMA is leading and coordinating a government-wide effort to identify appropriate facilities to house the minors, transport them to Health and Human Services custody as required by law, and provide medical and other services to children in the overcrowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers.

But more must be done to protect them. The Administration must ensure that these children are not subject to further abuse and neglect while it the custody of the U.S. government.

Why cant the children simply be turned around at the border and sent home?

While the immigration laws provide for the expedited removal of noncitizens seeking to enter without valid documents, there are humanitarian exceptions for children and others fleeing persecution and violence.

Children who flee to the U.S. from countries other than Canada or Mexico cannot be immediately returned across the border. Our laws further require that vulnerable youngsters who are forced to make a long, arduous and dangerous trip north from South and Central America be transferred by the Department of Homeland Security to the supervision of the Department of Health and Human Services within 72 hours.

The policies behind these laws  which were enacted well before the Obama Administration  reflect Congress belief that children, particularly those who have been abandoned or are victims of human trafficking or other horrible crimes, are the most defenseless immigrants. Ensuring their safety is a fundamental priority. They are deserving of special protection.

Nevertheless, children fleeing danger  many of whom have suffered unspeakable violence, including sexual assault and human trafficking  are subject to deportation from the U.S. While some may be eligible for asylum, special immigrant juvenile status or visas which protect crime victims, most will eventually be ordered deported to their home countries  Guatemala, El Salvador or Honduras  and back to the violence and dead ends they originally fled.

Nor does the system provide unaccompanied minors legal representation in immigration court, even though very few have the means to hire an attorney. Thankfully, the Obama Administration, in an unprecedented move, has sought to make lawyers available to the children so they do not have to face the daunting task of representing themselves in complicated legal proceedings.

Its also important to note that the children fleeing violence and arriving at the Southwest border will not qualify for DACA, the deportation reprieve President Obama put into place for DREAMERs in 2012, or earned legalization under the various immigration reform bills passed by the Senate or pending in the House of Representatives. All reform legislation cuts off eligibility for undocumented immigrants who recently entered the U.S.

Predictably, anti-immigrant politicians and their supporters seek to capitalize on the humanitarian crisis in an effort to kill immigration reform efforts in the U.S.

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) for example, whose rabid hatred of immigrants and immigration reform has made him the darling of the nativist/restrictionist movement, has been quick to falsely claim that its the result of the Obama Administrations alleged failure to enforce the immigration law. Never mind that, according to the Congressional Research Service, illegal immigration has dropped nearly 75 percent since 2000, or that more than 1 million undocumented immigrants have been deported under the Presidents watch. Cynical politicians bank on the fact that perception is often more valuable than reality.

In fact, the surge of children fleeing South and Central America is an international humanitarian crisis  the result of regional social, economic and political turmoil in the region. While it may be tempting for some to use the agony of victimized children to score cheap political points, responsible members of Congress ought to reach across the aisle in a bipartisan effort to ensure that vulnerable children are protected, and their lives back home are improved so they arent forced to make this difficult and dangerous choice.
On April 1, 2014, the H-1B visa application process for fiscal year 2015 opened. Hundreds of U.S. companies submitted applications to bring in high-skilled individuals from all around the world. And thousands of individuals were ready to bring their talents to the United States within months of approval. Five days later, the pool was exhausted and the application closed, leaving tens of thousands of aspiring innovators unable to work in America. Meanwhile, companies like Intel and Microsoft struggle to fill the specific jobs that they need to grow and prosper in a global marketplace.

In two years, we can look at the numbers and see just how much growth we missed out on, and how many jobs we could have created, were our government not drawing names out of a hat for an insufficient number of slots.  Giovanni Peri

The H-1B visa allows talented foreign-born, high-skilled individuals in fields like technology, engineering, and medicine to work here. But our current immigration system dictates an 85,000-visa cap and if that cap is reached within the first week of applications, a lottery is held to determine who gets to work here and who does not. This has happened in 4 of the last 7 years. In other words, which companies  and the communities they support  get to expand and thrive depends on luck of the draw.

In order to analyze the effects of this policy, I  along with Kevin Shih at the University of California, Davis, and Chad Sparber at Colgate University  conducted a new study for the Partnership for a New American Economy looking at visa denials in the 2007 and 2008 lotteries for workers in computer-related occupations. In fact, the randomized nature of the lottery creates a genuine experiment, one that a social scientist can use to determine the consequences of denying H1B visas in a way that has not been done before on this topic.

By looking at computer-sector employment and wages in metropolitan areas with higher or lower denials of H1Bs,we found that when we deny these individuals the ability to come and work in the U.S., the whole sector in the metro area suffers. Denying high-skilled immigrants the ability to come results in slower growth for the American tech industry and therefore fewer jobs and lower wages for all U.S.-born individuals working in computer-related fields.

There is a common myth that high-skilled immigrants take jobs from American workers. We can say that the U.S. government ran an experiment to help us determine if this is the case. By randomizing the H1B visa lottery it allowed us to learn about its consequences, independently of all the other confounding economic factors. In our study, we show that immigrant workers actually complement American workers, helping to create new jobs for them and stimulating firms productivity and wage growth.

Without the visa limits of 2007 and 2008, our tech sector could have grown 3-times faster between 2005-2006 and 2009-2010 in terms of jobs created for American workers!. We could have had 221,000 more jobs for U.S.-born tech workers, and those workers could have made $3 billion more in wages per year. Whats more, 188,000 of those jobs that never were would have gone to less-skilled U.S.-born workers, technicians and staff support in Americas high tech firms, a group hit hard by the recession.

As we compared cities in which employers fared well in the lottery and those that were not so lucky, we can also identify the city-specific effects of the H1-B rationing. For example, the computer-related sector in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, which is heavily dependent on H1-B workers and was heavily hit by the 2007-2008 visa lotteries, could have had more than 28,000 additional jobs for U.S.-born tech workers by 2010, and $470.5 million more in wages. In the Washington DC metro-area (including parts of Maryland and Virginia), the tech community could have had more than 30,000 additional jobs for U.S.-born tech workers, and $519.5 million more in wages. Even those cities that did well did so only in relative terms. Boulder, Colorado, one of the luckier cities, still missed out on as many as 583 jobs for U.S.-born tech workers, and as much as $7.8 million in additional wages.

The consequence of denying 178,000 H1-B visas, as done in 2007-08, was slower job and productivity growth for the IT sector. The majority of those jobs were done away with or remained unfilled for a long time, slowing job creation in other parts of the sector and proving that companies could not find some types of specific talent in the U.S. This bottleneck hurt their overall growth. Instead, giving H-1Bworkers jobs would have expanded and strengthened tech companies, boosting their productivity and the wages of American workers with jobs there.

This analysis is for the 2007 and 2008 lotteries, but this year, the story was the same, and the effects will be just as bad. In two years, we can look at the numbers and see just how much growth we missed out on, and how many jobs we could have created, were our government not drawing names out of a hat for an insufficient number of slots. Or we can tell Congress to make our immigration system one that responds to the needs of our companies and our high tech sector and watch our economy grow.
Judging by the widespread adoption of smartphones across this country in the last seven years, it is clear that cutting-edge innovations in mobile technology are now an indelible part of American life. Looming large in the backdrop, however, is the ongoing legal clash among two of the largest smartphone makers, Apple and Samsung. The results of this court battle could have profound implications for consumers as the outrageous financial damages handed down in these cases mount.

The outcomes of these legal disputes no longer just affect the parties involved because the courts are increasingly relying on questionable reasoning to determine the financial remedies one company may owe to another in patent disputes that often hinge on trivial differences.

The dispute between the companies stems from similarities in shape and design of certain smartphones  a point of contention most consumers may find trivial and likely bears little weight on ones purchasing decision.  Mario H. Lopez

Last week, the Hispanic Leadership Fund filed an amicus brief with the Northern California Federal Court of Appeals on the matter of $930 million in financial damages awarded to Apple for a smartphone design infringement case it brought against Samsung. If upheld, the ruling could reduce consumer choice in the marketplace, increase costs, and limit functionality of mobile devices  all of which would have an especially negative impact on the Hispanic community.

Research shows that Latinos are especially reliant on smartphones for access to the Internet and online resources. A study by the Pew Hispanic Center last year found nearly half of all Hispanic adults own a smartphone and that ownership among the Hispanic community is growing faster among other demographics.

For many Latinos, a smartphone provides their primary access to the Internet. More than half of Hispanics use their cell phone to surf the Internet, compared to only about a third of non-Hispanic white subscribers.

Therefore, limiting consumer options and availability to a broad range of mobile devices will hurt consumer access to online resources. In an increasingly digital world, that threatens to create a cultural wedge that isolates the Hispanic population in the U.S. Latinos use smartphones to access government services and participate in civic activity, engage in education and classroom activity, access healthcare, and pursue business opportunities.

Consider school districts across the country, which more and more are employing online tools and developing lesson plans designed for mobile use. With restricted access to the Internet and mobile devices, Hispanic students, especially those from low-income families, will be at a disadvantage to their peers.

Or take a young entrepreneur hoping to reach consumers in the digital space. More expensive devices and limited Internet access will add to his or her overhead costs and ability to connect with potential customers.

It becomes obvious that fewer smartphone options and limited access to mobile broadband will constrict the ability of Latinos to succeed.

Patents and intellectual property protections are supposed to improve products and access to goods and services, ultimately benefiting consumers. But they should not be allowed to monopolize markets or punish competitors, especially when there is little evidence of harm  as is the case between Apple and Samsung.

In fact, the dispute between the companies stems from similarities in shape and design of certain smartphones  a point of contention most consumers may find trivial and likely bears little weight on ones purchasing decision. Yet, the nearly $1 billion in damages levied on Samsung could severely limit choices and will likely be passed along to consumers.

For that reason, the Hispanic Leadership Fund asked the Federal Court of Appeals to reconsider the damages awarded to Apple in that court case. We hope the court will take into account the harmful effects of those damages and take proper action.
Diana Gomez was a first generation Latina student attending college, 45 minutes from home. Her parents supported her emotional desire to attend college, but could not, financially. Diana went to school full time, but also worked three jobs as a nanny, student assistant and clinical tech to make it work.

Diana, like many Hispanic female students, faced what seemed conflicting messages from her parents. They supported her dreams of a college degree, but they also needed her at home to help raise her younger siblings, help clean the house, run errands for the family. Diana struggled her first year of college trying to establish herself academically and develop new friendships while running home every weekend to keep up her familys expectations at home.

Improving the Latinas success rate in college enrollment and graduation benefits not only this particular portion of society, but also creates a better educated population who can make strong, positive contributions to the economy and to the cultural fabric of the society.  Dr. Heather Speed

It was the summer before her sophomore year that Diana made a very difficult, but brave choice to tell her parents she would not be able to come home as frequently and she made herself and her classes the priority. Though Diana felt the decision was right, it did come with feelings of guilt. Family was so important to Diana, but she knew she would fail if she continued the path she was on.

Dianas story is typical of what many Latinas face while attending college. Its no wonder that Hispanic females are not graduating college at the same rate (43 percent) as all other women (52.3 percent), even though Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in the United States.

Going to college is hard enough. With these additional barriers  responsibilities at home, gender role socialization, lack of financial support, lack of role models and mentors, and being first generation college students - perhaps it is not surprising that this population struggles, more than any other, during the first year of college.

Latino children make up a majority of Texas public school students. The Hispanic population is the only ethnic group projected to increase in elementary and secondary Texas schools from 40 percent in 2000 to 66 percent in 2040, a 26 percent increase.

The Texas population is now 38 percent Hispanic, up 6 percent since 2000, and will be the largest population group by 2020. The problem of low participation of Hispanics in both secondary and higher education will likely become more acute.

Hispanic students are overrepresented in high school dropout rates (49 percent) and underrepresented in graduation rates (7 percent) in higher education. To the extent that college attrition remains unaddressed for this population, there is a potential of jeopardizing individual well-being, as well as the social and economic future of Texas.

As a society, we have to find ways to be more proactive to help ensure the success of Latinas in college. Colleges and universities should offer information sessions about college to parents (in English and Spanish) so more realistic expectations can be established early on.

They should provide various support programs in college that will provide a support network for Latinas as they navigate through their college experience. Providing Latinas with connections to campus resources and periodically checking in with them throughout the semester will help ensure that their experiences are matching their expectations and would provide a time to readjust those expectations if they are misaligned.

It is critical for colleges and universities to better understand what the expectations are and reflect on how the institutions actions can demystify or reinforce these expectations and put into place policies and programs to better bridge that potential gap.

After a student enrolls in higher education, retaining that student through graduation should be the goal of higher education. Enrollment in higher education is not equivocal to obtaining a degree, but presents only the opportunity to obtain a degree. We have a social obligation to do all that we can to ensure that Latina students who have been accepted and made the commitment to come to college have every opportunity to succeed. Improving the Latinas success rate in college enrollment and graduation benefits not only this particular portion of society, but also creates a better educated population who can make strong, positive contributions to the economy and to the cultural fabric of the society.

With support from her university, Diana joined a Latina sorority and latched on to two Latina advisors of another student organization that helped provide support of the experiences she was facing. Through her brave choices, developing a strong network and finding mentors, Diana succeeded in obtaining her college degree and even went on to earn her masters degree. She is now working at the institution she graduated from, Texas Womans University.
Could you send her back? If it was your call, could you send a tired, dirty, hungry little 8-year-old girl, who just got pulled from the Rio Grande River by a Border Patrol officer, back where she came from?

Call her Maria. She got here by hitching a 1,400 mile ride on a freight train or on a rickety bus or in the company of an unscrupulous smuggler and shes just walked across the last 45 miles of scrub and desert on the Mexican side, enduring untold physical and emotional hardship.

Youre the immigration judge. Would you send her back to El Salvador or Honduras or Guatemala where she came from?

I hope Vice President Biden has made clear that each nation will be held accountable financially, legally and morally for each of their citizens we are forced to care for, maintain and maybe, return.  Geraldo Rivera

Maria's scared to death. She tells you that the Coyote who took her from her parents is the only adult she knows in America. And he left her at the river. She's been traveling in his company for weeks, along with say a half dozen other children from her home country.

Marias about 4 feet tall and weighs about 75 or 80 pounds. She has no phone number for her parents back home or theyre dead or they dont want her, or, most likely, theyre desperate for her to have a better shot at a decent life than she would have back home.

Are you going to send her back?

Her dirt-poor family sent her on this childs crusade because they were told by the gangsters who run her old neighborhood that they going to force her into prostitution when she hits 12 or 13. One older brother has been recruited by her old neighborhoods drug gang, another is already dead.

Are you going to be the one who sends her back?

This entire debate over what to do with the flood of unaccompanied, undocumented immigrant children must start with the premise that no real American could be so harsh and heartless as to forget that ours is a compassionate immigrant nation that could never send a small child back to an uncertain future.

We declare ourselves, One Nation under God. To quote Mathew 19:14, but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.

Christian, Jew, Muslim, all of us, Right/Left, Democrat/Republican must start the debate about who is responsible for causing this flood of undocumented immigrant children by first agreeing that every child who sets foot on American soil is a refugee who must be cared for, protected, fed, clothed, and yes, even educated in a sane, safe, protected and appropriate environment.

Once the children are safe and sound, we can direct our attention to who caused this humanitarian crisis on our Southern border and what to do about it.

As to responsibility, it is impossible for President Obama to escape this one. Central America has always been poor and violent, although the drug cartels have undeniably made the situation worse in recent years. The child immigrant deluge did not begin until the presidents pre-2012 election announcement that deportation would be deferred for young kids brought here by their parents through no fault of their own.

The unscrupulous smugglers then distorted Mr. Obamas message to say that all unaccompanied kids who made it to America would be allowed to stay. Hence, the cascade of kids like my Maria and between 70 and 90,000 others just like her before the end of this year.

However, while the deluge is the unintended consequence of the presidents well-intended executive order, there is similarly no doubt that House Republicans bare a substantial share of the blame for their stubborn refusal to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

The Senate passed a bill that establishes a sensible system for dealing with child immigrants like Maria, but it has been blocked by Congressional Republicans.

Note to the GOP: pass the damn bill, or, if you have a better idea, then lets hear it.

The governments of the countries these kids come from are also responsible.

In his current meetings with Central Americas leaders, I hope Vice President Biden has made clear that each nation will be held accountable financially, legally and morally for each of their citizens we are forced to care for, maintain and maybe, return.

But unless there is some appropriate person waiting for her back home, Maria is staying right here. Our American values demand it.
Some Americans are going berserk over the huge numbers of children walking into the United States through Mexico from Central America; e.g.  some cable news, some radio talk shows.

Additionally, there is a loud minority that point to the porous South Texas border as the ultimate result of Barack Obamas perceived Open Border policies.

That emotional cohort, however, is wrong that President Obama is totally responsible for the thousands of children and some adults that have overwhelmed thousands of Texas-based Border Patrol agents. Obama deserves only one third of the blame for the situation.

To Obama, the five Democrats and the recalcitrant House Republicans the question will be: What part of legal dont you understand?  Raoul Lowery Contreras

One third of the blame belongs to six Democrat U.S. Senators, five of whom voted against proceeding in 2010 to passage of what became known as the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Act) that had passed the House 216-198.

The five who voted against ending debate were Montanas Max Baucus, now Ambassador to China; Montanas Jon Tester, Nebraskas Ben Nelson (now a lobbyist) Kay Hagan of North Carolina currently not favored for re-election this November and Arkansas Mark Pryor considered the Senates most endangered incumbent this November.

The sixth Senator to be blamed for the DREAM Act defeat was Majority Leader Harry Reid who desired a defeat in order to blast Republicans; enough Republicans voted for proceeding with the Dream Act to have passed so Harry Reids Democrats killed the Dream Act which would have allowed children brought here illegally to be legalized with a path to citizenship.Naturally President Obama blamed Republicans for killing the Dream Act, but the real blame lay with his five Democrats and Harry Reid who didnt whip his own people to make sure they were voting for the Act which the majority and enough Republicans wanted passed.

The remaining third of blame for todays border mess lies with former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) and his political off-spring, Congressmen Steve King of Iowa, lame duck Michele Bachman (R-MN) who is leaving Congress in December and somewhere between 40 and 60 like-minded Republican representatives who are death on Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

This group of mostly back-bench Republicans screams when anyone mentions immigration reform. The number one scream of these people and their enablers in talk radio is the word A-M-N-E-S-T-Y.

There is no amnesty proposed by anyone in the Senate or the House. Doesnt matter, the enablers of stop-any-immigration-reform movement dont care, they deceitfully label legalization with many conditions as amnesty and further are really death on a path to citizenship.

The current crisis on the Texas border and basically only on the Texas border can be blamed equally on Obama, on those five Democrat senators who were so frightened by someone running against them this year and the few dozen anti-immigration-reform-of-any-sort Republicans.

In the final analysis, however, Barack Obama is the principal bogey-man because when he became President in 2009 he had a Democrat House and Senate and he did nothing on immigration reform, didnt offer any reform program and didnt mention immigration reform.

To this day, Obama has not offered a written plan or proposal for immigration reform like George W. Bush did in 2006 and 2007. Obama has failed, utterly failed the Hispanic community that is concerned with immigration.

Can the situation be fixed? Not the immediate problem, we just will have to deal with it. But the long range problem can be alleviated by, of all people, Eric Cantor, whose defeat in the 7th Virginia District primary will end his congressional run this December.

If Speaker John Boehner cooperates, Eric Cantor can partner with the Cuban American Republican congressmen from Florida, Democrat Luis Gutierrez of Chicago and a couple of Hispanic congressmen from California and Texas and offer a House comprehensive reform bill with five basic elements:

 A reformulation of the existing Immigration and Customs Enforcement into a field agency of real sworn border cops, not cast-offs from other agencies; more than nine border sectors so agents can be moved around on a moments notice not as now with union rules. No more agents are necessary than the 20,000 on payroll now.

 Annual or bi-annual work permits applied for by employers of workers already here or needed in the future, all employment categories, no felony records, labor laws applicable to all.

 Residential permits for families here already with American born citizen children.

 Permanent residency for foreign college graduates in technical/science/engineering and mathematical fields of study.

 An E-Verify program (Social Security card based) administered by a contractor (credit card or merchandising company such as VISA, Master Charge, American Express or Amazon). To be fully functional at a time certain to be used on all hires.

This five point program will channel the vast majority of people coming to the USA for work into legality.

To Obama, the five Democrats and the recalcitrant House Republicans the question will be: What part of legal dont you understand?
While Puerto Rico generally evokes images of tropical beauty, the view today is unfortunately clouded over by extreme financial woes, $70 billion in public debt. As a result, Puerto Ricans carry the load of very real competitive disadvantages, including a stagnant economy and a lack of investment, spurred by an apathetic banking community.

To remedy this unfortunate situation the Governors office can and should take deliberate steps to make good on its outstanding financial obligations and restore confidence in Puerto Rican investment. In doing so, it will send a clear message: elected officials in Puerto Rico are dedicated to a full recovery. If avoided, the road to salvation will continue to be sabotaged by the administration in San Juan.

History shows that the price of a relatively small obligation within the overall world of finance is not worth the risk of losing credibility or burdening the Puerto Rican people with an incalculable debt.  Jaime Daremblum

I recommend Governor Padilla begin with a well-publicized case with a simple fix  honor its contractual and financial obligations to one of the Islands most integral and respected financial institutions, Doral Bank.

The case dates back several years, when the mortgage market in the United States nearly collapsed due to problems with banks and other financial entities. In 2012, Doral and the State entered into an agreement ratifying the Government debt with the former  $230 million in overpaid taxes.

Despite the government claiming otherwise  threatening investigations to identify a scapegoat  the agreement was and continues to be a valid contract upheld by the rulings of local tax authorities. In its effort to avoid blame and responsibility, the government has drawn the ire of the financial community  undoubtedly a detriment to a territory in need of progress, not self-preservation among elected officials.

Put differently, this controversy has created a red light that tends to stop investors from doing business here  that last thing the island needs in its road to economic recovery. Denying a legitimate obligation and questioning the validity of a contract from the government makes those who are able to help Puerto Rico stay away, just as we have seen elsewhere in Latin America.

Respected analysts have rightfully drawn comparisons in this case to the situations of Argentina and Venezuela. In the case of the former, similar actions by Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to renege on debts and blame other countries or third parties through falsehoods has created a situation that threatens to sink the nation and will take decades or even centuries to fix.

Likewise, a pitiable Venezuela is now undergoing a fall into the abyss that portends a painful and bloody future.

In both cases, reckless and unaccountable governments implement flawed economic policies that leave the rest of the world with only one logical conclusion: authoritarianism goes hand in hand with corruption and financial ruins. Unfortunately for them though, the trick does not fool creditors. Fortunes disappear in proceedings and courts with the hope of gaining a few days of tranquility. In Argentina, President Kirchner will never recover her credibility, as voters showed in the recent election.

The question for Puerto Rico and Governor Padilla is, Does he want to be like this too? Based on his June 18 remarks in which he puzzlingly stated that Puerto Rico is a completely open economy that encourages investment, and that the banking and financial system is the same in the U.S., one has to wonder.

History shows that the price of a relatively small obligation within the overall world of finance is not worth the risk of losing credibility or burdening the Puerto Rican people with an incalculable debt. Would it not be more economically and socially productive to preemptively fix this debt?

It is not just millions of dollars that are in play  it is the immediate future of Puerto Rico.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul says we need to get beyond the word amnesty. Hes right! Its one little word that for some people means a lot ... maybe too much. So much so that its holding up immigration reform. Paul, who Ive argued has the inside track on the GOP ticket, is honest and gutsy enough to say what most of us who follow the immigration reform debate already know.

Its time to move beyond syntax and truly consider what were doing. Its time to change our weak, confusing, misinterpreted and mitigated immigration policy with something that actually works to both secure our border and deal with those immigrants who are already here.

Murdoch Makes a Plea

News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch, himself an immigrant, suggested last week in a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed that immigration reform must include a path to citizenship.

The lack of a cogent or even understandable immigration policy is contributing to an increase in immigrant children crossing the border.  Rick Sanchez

We need to give those individuals who are already here  after they have passed checks to ensure they are not dangerous criminals  a path to citizenship so they can pay their full taxes, be counted, and become more productive members of our community, wrote Murdoch.

Murdoch and Paul are both conservative and practical  enough to fully understand that the status quo is no longer acceptable. It is why neither the media tycoon, nor the quirky quasi libertarian is willing to accept the amnesty excuse.

Cowardly and Ignorant

Saying you wont allow even the most decent, hardworking, patriotic, God-fearing, law-abiding immigrant whos been in the U.S. for more than a decade an opportunity to fulfill his or her American dream for fear that the next day the border will be overrun is both cruel, cowardly and ignorant.

Those who use the amnesty excuse need look no further than Arizona to see how the opposite is taking place. In other words, not passing immigration reform with or without a path to citizenship is causing a run on the border. Thats right, the lack of a cogent or even understandable immigration policy is contributing to an increase in immigrant children crossing the border.

Rumors on Radio Bemba

As Fox News Latino has been reporting, the number of unaccompanied minors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras has soared more than 1,000 percent. The U.S. Border Patrol reports that in 2009, agents apprehended 3,304 such children from those three countries. This year, that figure is now more than 48,000 and expected to continue to grow.

Why is it happening? Rumors, along with misinformation and desperation, seem to be the principal causes. The Spanish term for this is radio bemba. It means a false report uttered from one persons lips to another and yet another, until scores of people believe its true. Fact is, its not true!

Creating Fallacies through Inaction

Its not true that ICE wont hold children in detention. And its not true that newly arrived immigrants can qualify for some type of Dreamer status by just arriving in the U.S. Yet, those myths are a big part of the reason for the humanitarian crisis that is now occurring on the border. They are fallacies manifested in a vacuum that we have crated through inaction.

Think about it, if lawmakers who have spent more than nine years trying cant figure out what our immigration law is or should be, what message do you think theyre sending to the people of Central America? How can we expect them to follow, understand or interpret a law our leaders are too afraid to take on  no less legislate?

More Will Come

Rand Paul has as much skin in this immigration game as any active conservative politician. Given his popularity with the Tea Party movement, it would be easy for him to cut and run, ignore it, or use circumlocutory language when dealing with the issue of immigration reform so as to not tick off his base.

Instead, this weekend he made a comment that cuts right at the heart of the amnesty excuse: If we do nothing, 11 million more people will come.
Unaccompanied minors from Central America are flooding across the United States-Mexico border in response to rumors that American immigration policy is changing. The kids want in before its too late.

A combination of gang violence, deteriorating living conditions and misinformation throughout Central America is fueling the surge of minors willing to risk it all in their attempts to reach the U.S.

All one has to do is look at places like Texas Rio Grande Valley or bus depots and holding cells in Arizona to know that an overhaul of U.S. immigration policy is desperately needed. But Congress has failed to agree on a package of bills to send to the president. Election-year politics, which recently saw the defeat of the sitting House majority leader in a primary election, make any action soon extremely unlikely.

Human smuggling rings are adapting. With fewer Mexican nationals attempting illegal crossings, the coyotes are more than happy to adapt their tried and true smuggling channels to new customers.  Nelson Balido

President Barack Obama is not without responsibility here. Unfortunately, his credibility with Congress is so damaged that hes unable to cobble together any sort of coalition on any issue, never mind on an issue as thorny as immigration.

Yet the presidents threats that he will direct immigration policy by executive order arent just annoying Congress, theyre fanning rumors in places like Guatemala and Honduras that a trip to el norte could be a life-changer.

In the flurry of misinformation and misinterpretations, human smuggling rings are adapting. With fewer Mexican nationals attempting illegal crossings, the coyotes are more than happy to adapt their tried and true smuggling channels to new customers.

Meanwhile, with U.S. Border Patrol busy chasing Salvadoran teenagers, drug cartels are ready to slip by.

I am not suggesting Border Patrol is too undermanned too stem this latest surge; its not. The agency has doubled in size the past few years to over 21,000. Todays problems are policy-based.

The president calls the issue of unaccompanied minors apprehended at the border a humanitarian crisis. Hes right, it is. But he fails to mention that its a crisis that he has contributed to as a result of a failure to lead on one of the nations most pressing challenges.

Interviews conducted with families and children reveal the horrendous conditions many of these victims are subjected to, ranging from simple robberies to sexual assaults. Each person that crosses the border has a story to tell, but few are more heart wrenching than those involving minors.

But when asked, one of the reoccurring reasons given by these kids for crossing the border is to obtain a permiso, a legal form issued to undocumented non-Mexicans caught at the border who are not slated for immediate deportation and who are eligible to be released under their own recognizance.

Dont hold your breath waiting for these Central American kids to make an appearance at their local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Most never appear in court and disappear into the U.S.

A U.S. immigration policy that is not clear, consistent, communicated effectively and enforced in both the spirit and letter of the law is reduced to little more than a mere suggestion. What we are witnessing on the border today is a byproduct of our failed immigration policy.
The state of Texas is currently under fire for not providing a quality education to students learning English, particularly at the middle and high school levels. LULAC is suing the state for failing to teach academic content and English to the 17 percent of public schools students who are labeled as English learners.

This begs the questions, what is the best approach to teaching English learners who need to acquire grade level content knowledge and English language skills?

States should be in the business of adding to childrens linguistic toolkit and not asking them to leave their best tool at home.  Mary A. Stewart

California is reconsidering that question. Recently, a bill passed the State Senate that will allow voters to decide if the option of bilingual education should be returned to school districts. In 1997 the citizens of California voted to virtually end bilingual education. Now, nearly 20 years later, no amount of anti-immigrant sentiment can stand up to the vast amount of scientific research, and a little common sense, that shows us that bilingual is, quite simply, better.

However, not all bilingual education programs are equal.

In transitional programs, a students first language is viewed as a crutch. The language will be used for some instruction for only a short period of time, until the student can learn academic content in English. The goal is to transition the student to an English-only learning environment as soon as possible. These programs do not seek to fully develop both languages, but do provide some native language support for a limited amount of time.

However, in the dual language model of bilingual education, the goal is full bilingualism, biliteracy, and biculturalism. These programs should last through at least fifth grade and preferably through high school to produce the best outcome. This model is not about translating, nor is it about merely learning another language. It is about learning in another language for some subject matter and learning in ones first language for other subject matter. Teachers are trained to teach language (i.e. English) and content (i.e. Math) at the same time. So during the 45-minute block for math, students learn both.

Under the larger umbrella of dual language programs, there are two variations: one-way and two-way.

Two-way immersion, or two-way dual language is a program for everyone. Native English-speaking children usually must start by kindergarten and compromise half of the class. Roughly, the other half of the class are children who speak the second language such as Spanish. For part of the day or week, a group of students become the language mentors for the others while learning language and content simultaneously. Then, the reverse. In addition to language, these two groups of students also learn multicultural skills from each other.

Another option for students learning English is a one-way immersion, or one-way dual language, program where students of the same minority language compromise the entire class such as native Spanish-speakers. They are taught in two languages, their first language and English. One potential drawback of this program is that the children miss out on their best language teachers, other students. However, schools can fill this void by doing some activities with classes of students who already speak English fluently.

But what kind of bilingual is better?

Research shows that well-implemented bilingual programs that seek to fully develop both languages are better for the academic success of students learning English. They actually learn more English, have better test scores, and achieve greater academic success in dual language bilingual programs over English-only or transitional programs that view the first language as a problem that needs to be dealt with quickly, by being replaced by English.

Of course, we might think that children will not learn academic skills in English if they are receiving a significant amount of their instruction in another language. However, multiple studies have found that over the long-term of language minority students tenure in K-12 education, those in dual language programs outperform those in English-only or transitional bilingual programs. Graduation rates are higher, they perform better on tests in English, and they have greater literacy skills in both languages.

Additionally, studies show that English-speaking children in bilingual classes outperform their monolingual peers on English tests. (And they can pass the same tests in another language!) Learning in two languages does not prompt confusion, delays, or learning difficulties. Research shows it is the contrary.

So from a research perspective, bilingual is better. From the perspective of an educator, I have seen how dual language programs that view language as a resource greatly benefit students learning English. And I have seen far too often the damaging effects of years of schooling that view ones language as a problem or merely a crutch.

States should be in the business of adding to childrens linguistic toolkit and not asking them to leave their best tool at home.
My name is Angely Rosa and Im a high school senior. On paper, I was not supposed to succeed. I am the daughter of immigrant parents and I live in the South Bronx where only 59 percent of students graduate from high school and only 11 percent complete a bachelors degree. However, I am the exception.

Today, I am the valedictorian of my graduating class at the Community School for Social Justice. But if you asked me four years ago, I would never have guessed I would be first in my class.

Even though it may seem like we dont care, we just want someone to care about us, to motivate us, and to encourage us to do better. We need someone to believe in us and to show us that we should be aiming higher than 90 percent.  Angely Rosa

I am ambitious, determined, and focused, but never knew what it took to reach the top of my class. When I was a freshman, I earned a 90 percent in one of my classes and I was really happy. But soon after, my teacher Barbara asked to meet with me about my grades; she was not satisfied.

She asked me what was going on, why I didnt do better. I was surprised, and I told her that I thought a 90 percent was good. She said, A 90 percent wont get you to be valedictorian, and you can do much better than this. You should never settle. I started laughing. I still thought 90 percent was perfectly fine, but I didnt argue with her.

But, what she said stuck with me. From then on, I didnt settle  if I received a 90 percent, I would look for extra-credit opportunities to improve. I started seeing in myself what Barbara saw in me: belief.

Ive learned from a lot of people in my life. My parents are from the Dominican Republic and they never had the opportunities that I have been so fortunate to have in America. They struggled without the resources that they needed to succeed. When they came to America and had my sisters and me, they reminded us that we should always put our education first.

And while my sisters and I have faced challenges, weve never taken our eyes off the prize  a good education. My sister Francesca got pregnant at 18, but she didnt let that stop her. She went to college, something that less than 2 percent of teenage mothers achieve, and is working as a medical assistant. Shell soon go back to school to become a nurse.

She showed me that it doesnt matter what your story is or what happens to you in your life  you can always do what you put your mind to as long as you work hard and never give up.

One of my other sisters, Piffany, was also valedictorian of her high school class and shell be a junior in college next year. She taught me to always work hard. She showed me that if she can do it, so can I. She also taught me to never give up on my dreams.

Beyond my family and school, I also had the opportunity to meet with Joe Echevarria, CEO of Deloitte LLP, last year during IMPACT Day, the organizations national day of volunteering. I actually interviewed Joe during his keynote speech at last years event.

While Joes story of success was not surprising (I hear about many people who overcome obstacles in their lives to become important), it was powerful because he came from my neighborhood. He took an interest in us and spoke about the impact his mentors made on his life. And he helped us understand that just because you come from a low-income family in the South Bronx  like we both do  it doesnt mean you cant be somebody in life.

Now, as I graduate high school and head off to college  Im going to SUNY Oswego  I think back to what Joe, my family, and Barbara taught me. Their advice and their encouragement will stay with me forever. I will always push myself further.

My dreams now are even bigger, but I know I have the drive and dedication to make them come true. I want to have my own veterinary clinic and research African wildlife. I want to buy my parents a home and open a restaurant for my dad.

So, if I could impart some advice based on my experiences  for students and adults  its don't give up. To my fellow students, dont give up on yourself  you are the only one who can limit yourself. To adults, dont give up on us. Even though it may seem like we dont care, we just want someone to care about us, to motivate us, and to encourage us to do better. We need someone to believe in us and to show us that we should be aiming higher than 90 percent.

On paper, I should not have been the valedictorian. I should not be going to college. I shouldnt even be graduating. But I am the exception because of my motivation and my support system. So, take an interest in a young person like Barbara and Joe did with me. Because, who knows? That may be the push they need to make a difference in the world.
A United States Marine war veteran enters a fourth month of incarceration in a Tijuana jail. Crisis. Thousands of Central American children are making their way through a couple thousand kilometers of Mexico from its southern border with Guatemala to its border with Texas. Crisis.

These are the two current problems occurring between the United States of America and the United States of Mexico. It is inconceivable that these aberrations would have occurred during the Golden Age of modern Mexican politics ushered in by the astounding election of Vicente Fox in 2000 as the first opposition president since the old oligarchical political party known as the PRI was created by thugs and thieves in 1930.

His six-year term was followed by a razor thin victory by his partys Felipe Calderon who swept all of Northern Mexico for his win in 2006. Calderons six-year term is remembered for his war on the drug cartels.

By Obama doing nothing, the crisis on the border will continue and enough Americans will quit going to Mexico to seriously harm innocent Mexican people whose livings are a supported by American tourist dollars.  Raoul Lowery Contreras

During the 12-year Golden Age of Fox and Calderon, one cannot recall any serious crisis such as the Mexican imprisoning of Andrew Tahmooressi for the minor crime of crossing the border accidentally with three firearms in his vehicle that wasnt quickly resolved by people of goodwill on both sides of the border.

In fact there was an identical episode with another U.S. Marine who crossed the border between San Diego and Tijuana with a firearm in his vehicle. The Mexicans went through some formalities and allowed that Marine to leave prison in the company of a U.S. Congressman and the episode ended in weeks. Tahmooressi has been in prison for over four months and has yet to have a court hearing (his mother has fired two attorneys and Andrew is now represented by a third).

On the crisis of children mostly from Central American poverty and crime-ridden underdeveloped countries, Mexico is strangely silent despite the fact that the children and adults cross Mexico in broad daylight day after day assisted by Mexicans in uniform carrying guns and badges with their hands outstretched looking for the proverbial and traditional Mordida, the bite or petty bribes.

One recalls a former Mexico City Chief of Police who collected millions of dollars from his thousands of officers who scammed bribes for parking tickets on up to murder and smuggling.

This is very possible today because of the resumption of the Dark and Evil PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) was returned to the Presidency by the Mexican electorate that was tired of the 6-year long war on the cartels in which over 100,000 Mexicans have died.

So the people who voted for the PRIs Enrique Pena Nieto can now watch the entire Mexican government from lowly constable to the Presidency fatten up on the millions paid by people smugglers bringing the kids through Mexico to dump into Texas.

Pena Nietos supporters dispute that he is a crook but having been governor the State of Mexico, there is plenty of experience that he is corrupt and, of course, there is the 70- plus years the PRI ran Mexico as a dictatorship during which corruption was its trademark.

There is no doubt that over 100,000 kids and some adults that have landed in Texas managed to cross the entire country of Mexico with official help.

On top of Mexican corruption helping the kids, there is the Administration of Barack Obama not dealing with the Tahmooressi case.

Is Obamas administration plain dumb or does it care about the crisis that is endangering our relations with our third largest trading partner, Mexico?

The entire cable television world watched Bill OReilly call for an American tourist boycott of Mexico (tourism is Mexicos second largest source of income) to shock the country into releasing the sergeant and there was not a peep from Obama.

More kids walked up to Border Patrol agents in Texas and thanked them for their protection adding to the complicated crisis. Not a word from President Barack Obama. Not a single word from the most powerful man in the world on the jailed Marine sergeant.

President Obama needs to call President Pena Nieto and inform him that Andrew Tahmooressi should be escorted to the border immediately along with an announcement that all charges have been dropped. Otherwise President Obama should not make any public announcement opposing the OReilly supported boycott.

A crisis, then, is morphing from a single Marine in a Mexican jail to potentially thousands of Mexicans being thrown out of work.

By Obama doing nothing, the crisis on the border will continue and enough Americans will quit going to Mexico to seriously harm innocent Mexican people whose livings are a supported by American tourist dollars.

President Obama, make that call!
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told a conference of Latino elected officials last week that the GOP House majoritys failure to pass immigration reform could be the end of the Republican Party.

"I think in the end, my side [Republicans who support immigration reform] will win or it is the end of the party, said Gonzales as he sat next to Latino activist Delores Huerta, also a strong advocate of immigration reform.

This is something's that got to be solved, said Gonzales, who served as attorney general from 2005-2008 and served on the Texas Supreme Court. The Hispanic community is a growing political force. I don't know what Republicans are waiting for. It's as if they're hoping something's going to change. This is such a hard issue that both sides are going to have to give. There has to be compromise."

Gonzales, now a law professor at Belmont Universitys College of Law in Nashville, spoke on a panel at the NALEO conference in San Diego on the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Right Act. In addition to Huerta, Lei-Chala Wilson, chair of the San Diego branch of the NAACP, joined Gonzales for the discussion.

The increase of Latino voters in 2010 was crucial according to NALEO in several tight races including helping Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid win reelection in Nevada and Sen. Michael Bennet win election in Colorado.  Juan Williams

Gonzales said much of the conservative opposition to immigration reform comes from fear.

Some of the resistance to immigration reform in our party is that people of the way our country is changing, he said. They are even more fearful that it is changing without any kind of thought or regulation or guidance from our [national political] leadership.

Gonzales bottom line was that the growing Latino political power requires two competing parties that dont take the Hispanic community for granted, competing for our vote  I think that is very important.

Gonzales pointed remarks came as NALEO released projections of increased voter turnout among Latinos for the 2014 Midterm elections. The group expects 1.2 million more Latino voters this fall, an 18 percent jump from the last midterm elections in 2010. If that analysis is right the Latino share of this years vote will increase from 6.9 percent in 2010 to 7.8 percent in 2014.

The increase of Latino voters in 2010 was crucial according to NALEO in several tight races including helping Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid win reelection in Nevada and Sen. Michael Bennet win election in Colorado.

The states likely to see the biggest shifts in Latino voter turnout this year, according to the NALEO projections, will be New Mexico [33 percent increase]; California [21.5 percent]; Arizona [21.1 percent]; Texas [20.4 percent] and Florida [18.7 percent].

Over the last three presidential elections the Latino share of the vote has increased from 6 percent of the national vote to 8.4 percent. The Pew Hispanic Center reports that from 2008 to 2012 the number of eligible Latino voters grew from 19.5 percent to 23.3 million, a 19 percent increase.

In the 2012 presidential race Latino gave President Obamas successful campaign 71 percent of their vote. Republican Mitt Romney won 27 percent of the Latino vote.

NALEO officials expressed concern that several states are imposing restrictive requirements for voter registration and voting that could have detrimental impact on Latino participation, according to the 2014 election handbook released at the annual conference.

In addition to new voter identification laws in Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, NALEO officials expressed concern about new rules for voter registration. The requirement that new voters show proof of citizenship when registering has been shown by activists, according to NALEO, to disproportionately [hurt] the ability of Latinos to register to vote and reduced Latino voter registration

Republicans officials in those states have enacted the new restrictions. But Arturo Vargas, executive director of the NALEO Education Fund, said Democrats cannot assume they will benefit at the polls because eligible Latino voters may turn away from politics.

Many people have lost faith in the political system, he said. They dont believe the candidates and the campaigns when they come around and make promises because they dont see changes in their lives. And what we have to explain tour community is that voting is a long-term process.

That lack of faith certainly seems to extend to the potential 2016 presidential candidacy of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Clinton upset many Latino voters earlier this month when she called for illegal immigrant children to be deported back to Central America in a CNN interview.

Even though she won the Latino vote in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary against Barack Obama, many in the Latino community do not trust her to look out for their interests.

As syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette Jr. wrote at the Daily Beast recently, If the bond between Hillary Clinton and Latinos could be boiled down to a relationship status update on Facebook, it would read: Its complicated.

On the immigration issue, the Clintons have never been part of solution. Theyve been too busy being part of the problem.

Hillary Clinton has political vulnerabilities among Hispanic voters. The GOP had better start listening to its own stalwarts like Alberto Gonzales if it hopes to defeat her and win the Latino vote in 2016.
Should you care about your employers religion? As of Monday, the answer is Yes. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the Supreme Court ruled that certain corporations do not have to provide insurance coverage for contraception to their employees. Writing for the 5-4 majority, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said that the law allowed closely-held corporations to exercise their religious principles and not provide birth control.

Under the Affordable Care Act, corporations are required to provide contraceptive coverage to employees. But the owners of Hobby Lobby, a national chain of craft stores, believe that this requirement infringed on their Christian values. So they sued, and the Court ruled in their favor on Monday.

Unfortunately, the Courts decision is deeply flawed. It runs against the basic principles of business, and holds the potential to negatively impact the lives of Latinas. Not only are Hobby Lobbys claims about their religious principles suspect, this decision could have the unintended consequence of actually increasing abortions.

In arguing that their beliefs would be violated if they have to provide birth control to their employees, Hobby Lobbys owners were literally seeking to have things both ways. They wanted the legal benefits of a corporation and the freedom-of-religion rights of a person.  Raul Reyes

To be clear, this was not a case about churches or religious institutions; they are exempt from the contraception mandate. Hobby Lobby is a for-profit corporation with 13,000 employees and 572 stores. As a corporation, the owners of Hobby Lobby receive tax breaks, bankruptcy protection, and are shielded from personal liability. In arguing that their beliefs would be violated if they have to provide birth control to their employees, Hobby Lobbys owners were literally seeking to have things both ways. They wanted the legal benefits of a corporation and the freedom-of-religion rights of a person.

Surprisingly, the Court agreed with them, a position at odds with one of the fundamental principles of American business law. A corporation is a shield, a legal fiction created for the purposes of commerce. The Hobby Lobby decision could create all sorts of confusion and uncertainty in business law. No wonder that not a single Fortune 500 company filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of Hobby Lobby.

The Hobby Lobby decision is bad news for Latinas. Thats why the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Mexican American Legal and Educational Defense Fund (MALDEF), the Hispanic Federation and 20 other Hispanic advocacy organizations signed a letter affirming their support for access to contraceptive coverage. They recognize that this ruling will make it harder for Latinas to access the health coverage that they need, especially since research shows that 57 percent of Latinas have struggled with the cost of prescription birth control. The Courts decision also runs counter to what most Hispanics believe. Latino Decisions reports that vast majority of Latinos agree that women should have easy access to contraception, including over 60 percent of Latino conservatives, Catholics, and Born-Again Christians.

Hobby Lobby won their case because a majority of the Court decided to respect the owners sincerely-held religious beliefs. Indeed, on the company website, it states that Hobby Lobby is committed to Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles. However, Hobby Lobby sells thousands of products made in China, which has a known history of child labor, forced sterilizations, mandatory abortions, and a one-child only family policy. The companys retirement plan invests in many companies that manufacture birth control devices, and their insurance plan even covered birth control in the past. It seems hypocritical that the company can selectively choose when it wants to conduct business in a manner consistent with biblical principles.

The great danger of not allowing women to access contraceptive coverage is that we could end up with more unwanted pregnancies  which could lead to more abortions.

Besides, with all of the debate about the religious beliefs of the Hobby Lobby owners, what about the religious beliefs of their employees? They are just as important, and should not be trampled upon.

In her dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg writes, "The exemption sought by Hobby Lobby would  deny legions of women who do not hold their employers' beliefs access to contraceptive coverage. She calls the ruling radical and wrote that it will create havoc.

Shes right. She wonders whether the Courts decision could be extrapolated to employers refusing to cover blood transfusions (if company owners are Jehovahs Witnesses), antidepressants (Scientologists), or medications derived from pigs, including anesthesia (Muslims). Although the majority opinion insists that these scenarios will never occur, it never explains why not. So the high court has opened a dangerous door.

With Hobby Lobby, the Supreme Court made a disastrous mistake. All people deserve their full freedom of religion rights  not just the boss.
As a physician for mainly lower income patients I am living and working on the frontlines of Obamacare. Our office staff must navigate the complexities of the new plans, and we learned all about huge deductibles and seemingly arbitrary subsidies, as well as needed drugs now unavailable. I have helped troubled patients find a new doctor or a new cancer treatment center on their suddenly reduced but more expensive plan. I have some patients that were previously uninsured and now have health insurance, but are distressed about it, since they dont qualify for subsidies. Their deductibles are so high that they are paying out of pocket anyway for their routine care, plus they are paying their new monthly premiums.

Many women, much like men, would much rather use their own money to occasionally buy an over-the-counter drug than see the Greens (owners of Hobby Lobby) have to violate their conscience.  Grazie Pozo Christie

What I havent encountered is a single woman worried about her contraceptive coverage. The disconnect on this issue, between the Administration (and its supporters in the media) and women in real life is huge. This week the hysteria in the media was incredible after the Supreme Court ruled that Hobby Lobby did not have to include some abortifacient contraceptives in the health insurance they offer their employees. While the Supreme Court felt that the government could find means of showering women with free contraceptives without violating the religious rights of family owned corporations, the media is describing this as denying women their preventive care.

The facts are otherwise. First of all, there is no new barrier to access. Hobby Lobby, for instance, provides 16 different types of contraceptives on their generous insurance plan. They only object to 4, which prevent the implantation of the embryo, making it an early abortion. Those four drugs can be obtained over the counter, without a prescription, even by young teenagers. Any thinking woman can understand that her access to these drugs is not limited by having to occasionally dip into her own pocket. Many women, much like men, would much rather use their own money to occasionally buy an over-the-counter drug than see the Greens (owners of Hobby Lobby) have to violate their conscience.

However, if the ability to receive free contraception is such a national priority the Administration can surely find a way to do this without violating our religious freedom. Actually according to the bipartisan Religious Freedom Restoration Act they must find the LEAST restrictive way.

The other fact concerns the term preventive care. The ACA stipulates that preventive care must be included without copay in all plans, but the HHS arbitrarily decided (after the fact) that this also included 20 kinds of contraceptives. To physicians and their patients, whether men or women, preventive care means mammograms, vaccines, and prostate cancer screening tests, which prevent cancer and infections. Contraception, or birth control pills and Plan B, prevent children, not diseases.

This emphasis on providing contraception without a co-pay to women is a political ploy, not a health initiative. It allows the administration to sound the war on women theme, when conscience rights claims are inevitably made against the troubled law. Certainly the HHS knew that Catholic organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor would strenuously object, and they were looking forward to it. A telling point: where is the rousing cry of a war on men? Vasectomies and condoms were left out of preventive care entirely, even though they also prevent children. Doesnt this conversely indicate a war on men?

It is no wonder that people across the country are fed up with government and politicians in general. The real life concerns that all of them face, like finding a paying job, an adequate school for their children, and a safe neighborhood to live in, are not being addressed. Instead we have strident politicians, many of them women, telling us that womens first concern is getting someone else to pay for their contraception. That is just not true.
Last week, Anthony Cumia, one half of the Opie and Anthony radio show on SiriusXM, was fired for posting racially-charged tweets following an incident that occurred in Times Square.

Cumia says he inadvertently photographed a woman who got angry and struck him. Cumia fought back by assailing her on social media. He turned to Twitter and began a verbal assault that would make a sailor blush.

If his side of the story regarding their sidewalk altercation is true, then he has every right to be angry. He also has the right to attack her on Twitter or on his show or wherever he deems fit.

Now we can add Anthony Cumias name to the list of people who fail to realize something important about this social media experiment were living through and often choose to be a part of.  Rick Sanchez

Granted, calling her a wh___, and a bit__ and a cu__ seven times may be over the top, not to mention a pig that he wishes gets killed. But, believe it or not, those are not the comments that got Cumia in trouble. What gets him in trouble is pointing out that shes black and all blacks are like her.

The company had originally hired him with the presumed expectation that he would be just as outlandish as the above-described tweets and they did so even though hed been fired twice before for questionable conduct fired.

In one incident, in April 1998, Cumia, who at the time was a host at rock station WAAF, reported that Boston Mayor Tom Menino had died in a car crash in Florida. He was almost immediately let go. After getting picked up in New York by WNEW, Cumia was at it again. This time he took part in a bit that instructed couples to have sex in public places. One couple called in saying they were having sex in a vestibule at St. Patrick's Cathedral during mass. Catholics around the country, led by the Catholic League, demanded he be fired. WNEW obliged.

So now, yes, its happened again. SiriusXM has chosen to fire Anthony Cumia for outlandish comments, which at first blush seems like hearing that the Army has disciplined a soldier for demonstrating aggressive behavior toward the enemy in battle. As we would say about the scorpion that bit the frog, Wait, that's what he does.

But its not that simple. Is Cumias firing based on outlandishness, or even his verbal attack on a woman? No, his offense is twofold. One, he attacked the womans race. And two, he chose to deliver his diatribe on Twitter, which is not the same as airing his complaint on his broadcast  far from it.

Since becoming one of the first broadcasters to incorporate the use of social media, heres what Ive learned. Broadcasting and micro-blogging, especially Twitter, are not one in the same  not even close. One is an orally delivered contextual message whose tone and meaning can be controlled. The other is a published, yes published, linear message which, once written, is sealed, seared and owned by the masses who will read it. Good luck with that!

Could Cumia have made his case on his radio show even saying roughly the same thing as he tweeted and not have been fired? Its quite possible, yes. His mistake then was thinking that both mediums were the same. As Marshal McLuhan would write if he had lived to experience Twitter, hell no  they are not. One is hot, one is cold, one is linear and one is non-linear.

Yes, I know. Its not easy to excuse the racist grouping of African Americans, which Cumia seems to be guilty of in his tweets. Three times he uses the word savage or savages. He calls the woman and the men who came to her aid animals who prey on white people.

In fact, after tweeting about the five blacks that were giving him sh__, he writes that violent savages own the streets and they all came to defend this pig and that he had to yell at them like dogs. He writes that they arent people, and that theyre uncivilized.

Let me be clear, none of it is defensible  especially when its tweeted for the entire world to see in black and white. More to the point, thats what makes it especially difficult to excuse. Its uncontestable. Theres no nuance.

Ah yes, nuance, that subtle distinction in meaning available to us in the spoken word with tone, inflection and some word choices that arent available on Twitter. Cumia made the mistake of not knowing the difference in how to use each medium, and also of thinking his followers and his listeners are one and the same. Guess what? They are not.

Ive made the mistake. Perhaps you have too. So have many celebs. And now we can add Anthony Cumias name to the list of people who fail to realize something important about this social media experiment were living through and often choose to be a part of. Its not a different team, or league, its a completely different game.
You must be happy, delirious that the Texas border is being overrun by your people, declared the accusatory woman knowing my many-year long campaign for real immigration reform.

No, I responded, this crisis is delaying if not destroying prospects for immigration reform anytime soon.

That is so true.

First, President Obama entered the Presidency with control of the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He did not lift a finger on immigration reform after declaring he would fix immigration in his first year.

Mexicans and Canadian children that cross into the United States illegally can be sent back immediately by Border Patrol agents. Central Americans, however, must be given hearings where they can present a legal case for staying in the United States.  Raoul Lowery Contreras

Secondly, President Obama issued a decree that offered people brought here as minor children illegally, freedom from deportation temporarily and the ability to legally work while their applications for this deferral program was being processed.

Without constitutionally-created and passed comprehensive immigration reform or even piecemeal reform, President Obama took it upon himself to basically grant a temporary stay of deportation to thousands of young people here already.

That was fine. Congress should have passed such laws years ago. No child should be punished for the sins of the father.

Unfortunately, enterprising Central American and Mexican politicians, business people, gang leaders and drug cartel gangsters grabbed onto President Obamas generous order and combined it with a juvenile protection act passed almost unanimously by the U.S. Congress in 2008 that treated juveniles from Central America different than those from Mexico and Canada to start up the 'kids-to-USA business' that has overwhelmed us.

Mexican and Canadian children that cross into the United States illegally can be sent back immediately by Border Patrol agents. Central Americans, however, must be given hearings where they can present a legal case for staying in the United States.

We have over 50,000 unaccompanied juveniles here that we are required to care for or release while waiting for hearings. There are so many, the government is turning them loose and sending them by bus to relatives on the government dime. They are handed a paper instructing them to report to an immigration office for their hearings.

Another 40,000 to 50,000 unaccompanied children are expected in the next few months, further choking the legal process for these kids which already can last up to five years.

The sky is falling.

Despite the fact that the Administration was advertising for help in January to help with this problem, it appears it was caught flat-footed by the crush of kids. In 2009 and 2010 about 5,000 kids per year showed up at the border and surrendered to Border Patrol agents.

Those numbers doubled in 2010 and 2011 and hit 34,000 in 2013. Since October over 50,000 have come.

The border crush has exploded the heads of anti-immigrant people that permeate our society at every level. From millionaires like the recently deceased Richard Mellon Scaife, to radio talk show hosts and other so-called conservatives to rabid congresspeople like Iowas Steve King, they are everywhere. So are their armed militia followers and charming protesters who spit on pro-immigrant protestors.

Add union blue collar employed and unemployed workers, and even black leaders like Jesse Jackson  they are all upset about these Central American kids. We have a political problem. Jacksons fellow Chicagoans are being slaughtered en masse and they have nowhere to go like the Central Americans do.

It looks like President Obama is indifferent to the entire problem; he makes weak attempts to blame Republicans and refused to go to the border when he was minutes away raising money. We have a huge failure of leadership and we lack confidence that he can somehow solve the problem.

His appeal for almost $4 billion with a tiny amount for border security is ridiculous. He should lay out a plan that will heighten border security by adding more people to agencies working the border. He should ask Congress for the ability to recruit part-time immigration judges from local and state courts in all Mexican border states, who could devote an hour or two a day to immigration cases. Lots of empty courtrooms in the afternoons can be used.

This may surprise everyone: immigration judges are not Senate-confirmed judges for life. They are lawyers appointed through a regular political process. They dont have to be full time, either.

So, Mr. Obama needs more people on the border to slow down illegal border crossings, he needs to recruit real judges to work part-time as immigration judges. The kids will get their hearings and if the judges say they have to return to their home countries, we can put them on airplanes and send them home.

That will cut the ground out from the hustlers pushing the people train to Texas from the violent and impoverished countries that are the roots of the problem.

President Obama cannot solve the problem without deporting kids. Question: Does President Obama care enough to even consider mass deportations of unaccompanied children? Does Congress?
One in four of all Americans under the age of 30 are Hispanic. Thats a pretty big nut right? You would think then, if you were in an industry like, lets say media, you would want to reach that audience. Isnt that good business? Forget about inclusiveness for the sake of inclusiveness, were talking inclusiveness for the sake of profit.

Lets suppose you owned a grocery store and you knew that one in every four of your customers were Hispanic. Wouldnt you want to make sure you stocked your produce aisle with avocados and mangoes? Makes sense, doesnt it?

Were not talking about a quantifiable skill set here. Theres no test. No scores. Nobody created a fair competition where the top 30 competitors were chosen from a random sample of entrants.  Rick Sanchez

By the way, theres a real good chance that your other customers, the ones that didnt grow up eating mangos y aguacates as part of their dinner staple with their pollo asado will also consume the popular fruits. Winner, winner, chicken dinner  yep, its a win, win. See how easy that is?

Thats right. Americans have come to love corned beef from the Irish, manicotti from the Italians, sushi from the Japanese. I could go on and on here, but let me just say that one of my favorite ethnic indulgences that I learned from my old pal Mark Darrow is kugel, who knew?

Recently, while having a conversation with the founders of one of Floridas biggest grocery store chains, I was told of the lessons learned by this truly giant company when it comes to reaching out to Latinos.

Publix is currently ranked among the top 100 companies to work for by Fortune magazine. It also ranks No. 6 on Forbes 2011 list of America's Largest Private Companies. Its annual sales exceed $27 billion with profits of nearly $1.5 billion, ranking it right at number 106 on the Fortune 500 list for 2012.

How did Publix get there? By knowing their market, thats how  their entire market, not just the part they were personally familiar with. When the wave of hundreds of thousands of Cuban immigrants arrived in Florida in the early 60s, Publix began to see its market share erode. Rather than giving in to ethnic grocers who jumped on the Hispanic wave before they did, they studied the competition, studied the Hispanic market and dove in headfirst.

Today, I can honestly say that their approach to the Latino consumers needs, whether its from Nicaragua, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba or beyond, is as impressive as any urban grocer could muster. Not to mention the fact that their pork sandwich, perfected by hiring Latino deli and produce specialists who know the value of combining sour oranges with garlic, is genius.

Our nations media executives could learn a thing or two from this southern grocery chain. While Publix and other grocers around the country have learned that including, incorporating and helping to empower Hispanics is good for business, media companies continue to demonstrate that they simply dont get it.

The proof, and yet another example of the failure by these media types to recognize the value of Hispanics to their bottom line, is this Los Angeles Times story written just a few days ago and entitled, 30 important actors under 30.

Heres the list: Elle Fanning, Chloe Grace Moretz, Hailee Steinfeld, Tye Sheridan, Saoirse Ronan, Ansel Elgort, Ezra Miller, John Boyega, Shailene Woodley, Jennifer Lawrence, Dev Patel, Emma Watson, Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult, Alden Ehrenreich, Mia Wasikowska, Brie Larson, Anton Yelchin, Elizabeth Olsen, Emma Stone, Dayo Okeniyi, Dane Dehaan, Michael B. Jordan, Ellen Page, Robert Pattinson, Amanda Seyfried, Anna Kendrick, Carrey Mulligan, Rooney Mara and Garrett Hedlund.

Did you notice something missing? Not a single Latino actor made the list. Not one. Do the math, simple math at that. One in four Americans under 30 are Latino, but not one single Latino makes the list of up and coming actors in the United States.

By the way, were not talking about a quantifiable skill set here. Theres no test. No scores. Nobody created a fair competition where the top 30 competitors were chosen from a random sample of entrants.

No! Were talking about a profession that is more often than not made up of teens and 20-somethings who are chosen, sold and marketed by talent agencies, casting directors and Hollywood producers using their own likes and dislikes, biases and favorites. The exact selection criteria used is anybodys guess. And the proof is in the acting itself. Have you gone out to see a movie lately?

But heres the clincher. The report about these magnificent acting phenoms wasnt written in some magazine tabloid newsroom in London. It was written in Los Angeles by LA Times film critic Betsy Sharkey, who at least has the good sense to apologize in her piece for not including a single Latino to her list. She blames, or calls the omission, a reflection of Hollywood's continued bad casting habits.

Incredible! Ready for some more basic math? The population of Los Angeles is half Latino. Thats right half the people who live in the community served by the LA Times are Hispanic, and not a single one of them makes the list. If Sharkey were really serious about her craft, she would go back and insist that the Times headline writers change the title of her piece to, not a single Latino actor under 30 makes it to into Hollywoods list of elites. Isnt that more like it? Isnt that whats really most jaw-dropping about her story?

Its extraordinarily shortsighted, if not just down right bad business for Hollywood to seemingly exclude the largest population of moviegoers in the country. Its kinda like mangoes and avocados. Eventually, theyre going to have to do it  theyre going to have to include them. Just ask the guys from Publix.
What part of illegal dont you understand? That was the message from a federal court to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer last week. In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Arizonas policy denying drivers licenses to Dreamers. Now certain undocumented youth in the Grand Canyon State can obtain licenses like their counterparts in other states.

This decision is as welcome as it is overdue. Governor Brewer had no sound reason for interfering with federal policy on immigration. Allowing young immigrants in Arizona to obtain licenses will enable them to lead more productive lives, and to contribute more fully to the states economy.

The only thing that [Gov. Brewer's] opposition to DACA has achieved is reinforcing the image of her state as hostile to immigrants.  Raul A. Reyes

To understand the courts ruling, lets back up a bit. In 2012, President Obamas introduced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). Under its terms, immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children are granted relief from deportation and can receive work permits and drivers licenses. But on the day it went into effect, Brewer signed an executive order forbidding any state agency from issuing licenses to DACA recipients. A group of Dreamers banded together to bring a lawsuit challenging Brewer's order, and this decision is the result.

In ruling against Brewer, the appeals court found that Brewers directive was motivated by spite. "Defendants' policy appears intended to express animus toward DACA recipients themselves, in part because of the federal government's policy toward them,'' wrote Judge Harry Pregerson. "Such animus, however, is not a legitimate state interest.''

In other words, just because Brewer is upset with President Obama doesnt mean she can punish Dreamers. In a state where 87 percent of the workforce commutes by car, Brewer was deliberately making life hard for young immigrants.

When she issued her executive order, Brewer said, The Obama amnesty plan doesnt make them (DACA recipients) legally here. Yet DACA does not grant amnesty to anyone; it is a temporary status that must be renewed every two years. And Brewer doesnt get to decide who is legally here anyway. The appeals court pointed out that authority over immigration status belongs to the federal government, noting that,  the states enjoy no power with respect to the classification of citizens.

Ironically, Brewer has long cited federal inaction on immigration as her justification for SB 1070, Arizonas infamous papers, please law. Then when the federal government did act on immigration (with DACA), Brewer decided to defy the law.

Legalities aside, Brewers executive order was pandering designed to bolster her image as an anti-illegal immigration crusader. Consider that studies in North Carolina and California have shown that allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses makes the roads safer for everyone. Or that Brewer was squandering the talents of the estimated 30,000 DACA recipients in her state who could have used a car to drive to work and access higher education. In fact, Brewers order contradicted existing state policy. Arizona had been issuing drivers licenses for years to people with federal work permits  the same documents that DACA recipients are issued.

Brewer is not ideally situated to pass judgment on who should have a drivers license. In 1988, the Arizona Republic reported that she failed a series of sobriety tests after a car accident. Although the police report said that Brewer was at fault, she was not prosecuted because she was then a state senator. She later called the DUI incident an unfortunate situation.

Clearly, Brewer does not agree with DACA. That doesnt give her the right to create her own immigration policy. Still, Brewer said the court ruling was outrageous and called DACA President Obamas lawless directive. Yawn. As the Arizona Republics editorial board suggested, Save the headache, governor, and let 'dreamers' drive. Theyre right. The only thing that her opposition to DACA has achieved is reinforcing the image of her state as hostile to immigrants.

Governor Brewers ban on licenses for Dreamers deserved to be struck down. The court was correct to recognize it as pointless policy and mean-spirited politics.
Flying into Honduras, the plane makes a peculiar banking maneuver as we approach Tegucigalpa. If youre a white-knuckle flyer, you should know this is an airport to avoid. Mildly put, the approach is downright scary, if not even creepy.

In order to find the runway, pilots must make a hard left and straight down as they straddle the side of a mountain. Its a move that left me staring at a poor woman washing her clothes by hand out of a bucket in her kitchen for what seemed like an eternity. There she was, in a shanty on the side of a mountain seemingly less than a stones throw from my window seat. Welcome to the bizarreness that is Toncontin International Airport.

There is hardly a single immigrant who has come to America, whether because of politics or economics, who would not have preferred to stay in their home country.  Rick Sanchez

As our eyes met, I thought how inappropriate it was for me to invade her privacy from my window seat. Even now, thinking about it, I feel sympathy for this brown-eyed woman whose stare remains a constant visual script with me to this day.

(Note: Since my flight to Tegucigalpa, they have excavated part of the mountain to elongate the runway by 984 feet.)

Honduras, the place from where children are sent packing for America by the tens of thousands, reveals herself as both meager and dangerous. She is part of the triad of countries being decimated by poverty and violence caused by drug dealers. The others, Guatemala and El Salvador, may be unsafe in some parts, but certainly not worse than Honduras  certainly not more dangerous.

According to a Pew study based on Department of Homeland Security information, the top three municipalities sending children to the U.S. are all in Honduras. Tegucigalpa, Juticalpa and San Pedro Sula are also considered among the poorest and most hazardous cities in the world. Last year, San Pedro Sula, Honduras gained the distinction of murder capital of the world. Its a place where, for every 100,000 residents, there are 187 homicides. And gang and drug trafficking violence drive most, if not all.

Using that same calculation of murders per 100,000 residents, our most murderous city seems safe by comparison. There were 440 murders in Chicago last year, but its a city with a population of 2.7 million. That means if 187 out of every 100,000 Chicago residents were killed last year, there would have been 5,049 murders. Can you imagine living a U.S. city with more than five thousand murders?

In San Pedro Sula, children either become lookouts for gangsters and drug dealers, or they fall prey to them. Is it any wonder parents are sending them away? What would you do?

Regardless of your answer, this much is certain: the people who make our policies are more focused on the border than they are on the genesis of the border problem. While the left argues for finding a way to allow the children stay, which could invite 50,000 more, the right argues for a way to send them back, which does seem on its face both cruel and unjust. Why not focus on the origin of the problem?

Allow me first to postulate a mind-bender for the many Americans who are naturally removed by generations from being able to understand what drove their ancestors' journey to America. Its this simple! Ready? Given a chance, they would not have come. Thats right.

There is hardly a single immigrant who has come to America, whether because of politics or economics, who would not have preferred to stay in their home country.

Not the English, not the Haitians, nor the Cubans, nor the Irish, nor any of them. They are not here because they want to be here. Their reasons, at least as they see it, are unavoidable and beyond their control.

So what makes the plight of todays immigrants from Central America different? Only this: in some measure, we are responsible for the conditions in their homeland.

For starters, we consume the drugs they sell. Americans provide the fuel that keeps the cartels' engines stoked. Take away the American drug consumer and there would likely be no drug cartels.

Two, we instigated many of the wars that in many ways destabilized the economies of Central America. Nowhere is this more evident than in Guatemala, where a coup detat carried out by the CIA in 1954 deposed a democratically-elected president and replaced him with one of the most brutal and repressive military dictatorships in the history of Central America. It stirred the longest and bloodiest civil war in Latin American history, which was fraught with accusations of genocide carried out by the government and its military against the indigenous Mayan people. More than 200,000 were killed or disappeared.

Three, CAFTA, while generally positive for certain large cities and border towns, has been a disaster for the agrarian regions of Central America. Thats right, the Central American Free Trade Agreement has arguably put millions of small farmers out of business by flooding their markets with subsidized U.S. produce. Dead broke and desperate for work, they eventually try and make their way into the United States for a job, any job.

Ive come to know them here in the U.S., as well as there in Central America. The poor woman I saw from the window of my 737. I went looking for her out of curiosity once on the ground in Tegucigalpa. I wanted to know who she was and how she lived. I wanted to interview her, but never found her. Instead, I came to know her neighbors who showed me what true poverty really looks like. They uncovered their weeks rations by removing a cloth placed on them to keep the flies away. It was a tin of corn and another of beans. Its how they live. And yes, we have every right to say its their problem, not ours.

Let me be clear, America doesnt own Central Americas problem, nor is it responsible for Central Americans woes. But at the very least, we are responsible for understanding how we got where we are today. And at the very least, we should have considered whether wed been better served allocating some of the $3 trillion spent in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan closer to home  in places like Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Lets just say that for the sake of the children we may or may not send back, or maybe the tens of thousands still on the way who really dont want to be here  maybe its not too late.
The hundreds of children per day streaming across the U.S.-Mexico border are coming from some of the most dangerous places in the world. Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador  known as Central America's "Northern Triangle"  suffer violent crime rates worse than those of war zones. Much of the violence is the work of criminal, territorial gang networks whose origins go back to decades of failed policies in the region.

For the first time ever, it's possible that Border Patrol will apprehend more non-Mexicans than Mexicans along the U.S.-Mexico border this year.  Adam Isacson

In the 1990s, Central America was recovering from devastating civil wars. Newly created civilian police forces were making their stumbling first steps. Justice systems were very weak. The countries suffering violence today have some of the world's lowest tax collection rates, leaving public security and education starved for resources.

A post-war generation of young people grew up without the skills to compete in the global economy, and a huge proportion  as high as one in three in Honduras  are neither employed nor going to school, making them easy gang recruits. And meanwhile, every year since the mid-1990s, the U.S. government has deported thousands of non-citizens with criminal records to these countries, where they feed the growing gang population.

Central American police forces with few investigative skills, poor community ties, and serious corruption issues were quickly overwhelmed or even began working for the other side. "Iron fist" policies did little but fill jails with gang members and other young people, turning them into gang headquarters and recruitment centers.

Then things got worse. The 2000s saw a shift in the routes that international narcotraffickers used to bring cocaine from South America to the United States. Planes and boats began landing in the Northern Triangle, as drugs took the overland route through Mexico. Most of the drug money stayed in the coffers of the big narcotraffickers, not gangs. But it hastened police forces' and justice systems' collapse, and the gangs' size and wealth grew as they took over retail drug sales in the neighborhoods they dominated.

As gang rivalries heated up and recruitment of young people intensified, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador saw homicide rates skyrocket during the second half of the 2000s. The dead, most of them young adults and teenagers, and many of them killed in unspeakably brutal ways, kept accumulating. The proportion of murders actually tried and punished fell below 10 percent. Honduras, where a 2009 military coup further eroded institutions, was the hardest hit.

By 2012, the United States started to feel the impact. The year before, the number of undocumented migrants fell to a 40-year low, and Mexican citizens' migration remains flat today. But arrivals from Central America rose dramatically. The number of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans apprehended by Border Patrol is on pace to grow fivefold from 2011 to 2014. For the first time ever, it's possible that Border Patrol will apprehend more non-Mexicans than Mexicans along the U.S.-Mexico border this year. A fast-growing portion of them are children, many traveling without family members, fleeing recruitment, extortion, and specific threats.

The border crisis is the product of a perfect storm of conditions in Central America. Undoing them will depend heavily on Central America's own people and governments. If those countries' leaders show a commitment to reform, the exodus will slow. The United States can help. A "commitment" means improving police, courts, and jails; punishing corruption; expanding education and youth opportunities; and collecting taxes to pay for it. "Helping" will mean measuring U.S. aid programs' success in the number of people protected, the number of cases closed, and the number of people who decide to stay home, unlike today's Drug War programs that measure success in tons seized and crime bosses extradited.

In the meantime, tens of thousands more children may be coming, and many will seek asylum or other protected status in the United States. Because so many face serious and specific threats, each of these children deserves his or her day in immigration court. The more judges and other personnel are available to hear their cases, the more quickly those who don't qualify for protection will be sent back to their countries of origin, as current law requires.

The gang threat in Central America is large and real. Even if only 10 percent of kids apprehended this year face credible, specific threats to their lives, that would still be over 5,000 whom we absolutely cannot send back. An overly hasty review process risks sending kids to likely death, torture, rape, or gang recruitment. Reports coming out of those who are sent back are not encouraging. Unless countries in the region have the resources for child and family protection and services, returnees will become victims once more. If the causes of violence threatening children remain unchanged in Central America, the United States can't become the kind of country that refuses safety to those who arrive here truly needing it.
One million dollars a minute, sixty million dollars an hour, 1.44 billion dollars a day, 43.200 billion dollars a month, 518.440 billion dollars a year  that is what trade between the United States and Mexico has grown to in the 20 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect on January 1, 1994.

That is the legal trade. Then there is the illicit trade of drugs, cigarettes, people being secreted across, over and under the border, Americans crossing the border by the thousands every day for medical/dental work and their renting or buying real estate along the thousands of miles of Mexican oceanfront.

In [the] cross-border trade lies solving the immigration conundrum that faces the Republican-controlled House of Representatives; it does so by simply cutting them out.  Raoul Lowery Contreras

Conversely, thousands of Mexicans cross the border legally each day for medical/dental work, shopping and other economic activity that amounts to billions not formally recorded as part of the million-dollars-a-minute mentioned by the Mexican Foreign Secretary, Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena, the other day in a speech in California.

San Diego County on the California/Mexico border estimates that Mexicans spend $2 billion a year in San Diego that is not counted in the trade statistics.

That economic activity binds the United States and Mexico like no other trade relationship in the world.

In that cross-border trade lies solving the immigration conundrum that faces the Republican-controlled House of Representatives; it does so by simply cutting them out.

Though President Obama has proven to truly be disinterested in immigration reform other than as a club against Republicans, he can be useful finally. Only he can negotiate treaties with countries. He only needs concurrence of two-thirds of present United States Senators. The House has nothing to do with a treaty. A treaty has the force of the Constitution.

Side Note  The million-dollar-a-minute trade with Mexico today is a far cry from 1846 when United States troops invaded Mexico and claimed land between the Nueces River in Texas which was the border between the Republic of Texas and Mexico for 11 years and the Rio Grande River. That incursion started the Mexican American War which was planned in Washington with only one purpose  seizure of California (plus, of course, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and parts of Kansas and Oklahoma).

Defenders of the American-plotted war to acquire those millions of acres of land declare that Mexico sold all that land freely for the tidy sum of $15 million. We bought it fair and square they say. That is only minutely true. American troops occupied Mexico City and announced they would never leave unless Mexico accepted the money and granted all that land to the U.S. Under duress comes to mind.

Back to today. President Obama can produce immigration reform by using his exclusive treaty negotiating ability spelled out in the Constitution.

Article II, Section 2: He (the President) shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two thirds of Senators present concur

Stacks of economic studies by think tanks and universities conclude beyond doubt that the vast number of Mexicans who come to the United States without legal permission come to work, to work at jobs in which collectively there are not enough Americans to do or even want to do even in periods of high unemployment. Thus a treaty between Mexico and the United States that covers employment of their respective citizens in the other country will solve the problem.

 A binational labor treaty shall be negotiated between the United States and Mexico that allows employers in both countries to hire workers from the other country for temporary or even permanent work.

 The treaty would require the host country to issue work permits to those employees with full right of border ingress, egress and legal residence.

 The treaty would require that the employment minimally meet all national labor laws of the host country.

 The treaty would have a provision for a binational commission made up of the U.S. Secretary of State and his/her Mexican counterpart, the Speaker of the U.S. House and his/her Mexican counterpart and the Leader of the U.S. Senate and his/her Mexican counterpart to meet annually to set labor permit numbers for the following year.

 The Treaty would have a provision that Congress make all laws required to implement the treaty.

Only the President can negotiate a treaty. The House cannot vote on it, or amend it, or interfere with it in any way. The Senate must advise and consent only on what the President submits for ratification with two thirds of the Senators present.

If we had a President who cared about immigration reform he would commence negotiations with Mexico today.
Scoop. Colombias economy "esta en fuego." Its growing at 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Impressive? So much so that it makes it the worlds second fastest growing economy behind China.

Two important pieces of comparative data here: one, the U.S. growth for the same period was a negative 2.9 percent. And two, just a decade ago we knew only two things about Colombia: drug wars and Juan Valdez.

Yes, its come a long way baby. And now its time for us to do the same. The time has come to recognize Colombia, not paternalistically, but as a real cohort  you know, the way we treat Asian and European trading partners. (Smile).

Can we do that, though? Can we get over perceiving countries south of the border at best as weak, inconsistent and malleable? Or, at worst, as banana republics?

From the Port of Miami alone, 500,000 tourists now arrive annually to places like Cartagena and Santa Marta. And yes, even Medellin once known for murder and kidnappings  is now known for education and industry.  Rick Sanchez

Since leaving CNN, I have dedicated myself to writing here on Fox News Latino, while interviewing and hosting in Spanish and English, both on radio and on television, focusing mainly on Hispanic issues. And I can say that, with the possible exception of immigration reform, there is no subject that collectively bothers Latinos more passionately than the U.S.s perceived lack of respect for the countries from which they hail.

It is a truly unifying theme. Regardless of origin, time in the U.S., income status, (insert your own demographic profile here), it doesnt matter. Americas poor perception of Latin America is the ideological place where an undocumented landscaper from Honduras and a rich Ecuadorian investment banker find common ground almost without fail.

That said, lets talk about Colombia. Recognizing that talk is cheap, lets do the numbers. Considering that for 20 years, Colombia has been a haven for organized crime and a bust for investors, its amazing to see the transformation. Oil, gas and coal exploration are booming, while foreign investment is near 20 billion. Unemployment, meanwhile, is now down to 8 percent from 12 percent in just the past three years.

And while last week I pointed out in this column the economic disadvantages associated with the free trade deals with respect to Latin Americas rural farmers, the U.S./Colombia Free Trade Agreement has benefited Colombia allowing it to import taxpayer subsidized wheat and barley almost exclusively from the U.S.

Colombia also now exports 350 new products from some 2,000 companies that had previously not shipped goods to the U.S.

And with the drug wars all but over, tourism is once again on the rise. From the Port of Miami alone, 500,000 tourists now arrive annually to places like Cartagena and Santa Marta. And yes, even Medellin once known for murder and kidnappings  is now known for education and industry.

Colombia is a truly remarkable comeback story, one that is not often told, and one that conflicts with our often tired and misguided perception about Latin America.

By the way, economically speaking, Colombia is not alone. In fact, its number three. Thats right; Colombia is Latin Americas third largest economy behind Mexico and Brazil -something for all of us to consider the next time we think about Latin America.
Shame on Matt Drudge. The owner/operator of the worlds most influential news-aggregating website, The Drudge Report has torn a page from the William Randolph Hearst yellow journalism playbook to fan the flames of public hysteria about the surge of undocumented children immigrating to the United States.

On Tuesday of this week, with explosive world crises involving Gaza and Ukraine dominating the news elsewhere, the first 15 stories on The Drudge Report and his banner headline all concerned that adolescent immigrant surge across our southern border.

His millions of subscribers would be justified in thinking these undocumented immigrant children posed the greatest threat to our way of life since the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, the Great Depression or the Civil War.

President Obama (...) must bear part of the blame in creating [the crisis] by not understanding how his message of compassion toward earlier waves of immigrant children was being misconstrued in the civil anarchy of Central America.  Geraldo Rivera

Particularly egregious was the fifteenth story on Drudges melancholy list, one concerning the potential spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Although the story actually focused on the diseases outbreak in West Africa, Drudges clever placement on his list of related stories was clearly meant to convey the message that a brown tidal wave of adolescent Walking Dead-like, filthy and infected immigrant ragamuffins was bringing the dread killer virus across the Rio Grande.

The Ebola storys cynical placement anchoring the immigration story bundle brought to mind earlier attempts to stoke anti-immigrant hatred against the Irish, Chinese, Italian and European Jews in the 19th and 20th Centuries. In all cases, the angle of the anti-immigrant activists was the same: fear the newcomers for they are different from you and me, diseased, violent, and coming to steal our way of life.

The scare tactic is clearly working, how else to explain ordinary Americans rousing themselves to participate in anti-immigration demonstrations, including angry picketing outside immigrant holding facilities run by the Homeland Security Agency. To watch seemingly average, ordinary Americans screaming at bus loads of bewildered and frightened immigrant children is disheartening.

This critique of Drudges editorial manipulation, and similar breathless campaigns on cable news is not to suggest the child immigrant surge is not an important, even urgent issue. Shame on our broken Congress for failing to do anything to alleviate the situation before running off Thursday to their five-week summer recess. Absent any action, the children are overwhelming immigration courts, and swamping those facilities dedicated to their care and protection. As they are scattered in various communities, 5,000 in the New York metropolitan area, another 1,000 in Chicago and cities elsewhere, local and state politicians are demanding full disclosure from the federal government about where the dreaded children are being placed.

President Obama is right to call the surge a humanitarian crisis, one he must bear part of the blame in creating by not understanding how his message of compassion toward earlier waves of immigrant children was being misconstrued in the civil anarchy of Central America. He should have spotted this trend a year ago and moved to counter the misinformation being spread by immigrant smugglers and local media that undocumented, unaccompanied minors would be welcome, if only they could make it across.

Still, these children cannot now be deported cavalierly back to those home countries they have risked life and limb to flee. All must be granted full, fair hearings to determine whether they deserve refugee-status and are therefore able to stay in this country for fear they will be victimized if deported back. Those refugee laws should be liberally applied in deference to our tradition of compassion toward the young and needy. The dysfunctional governments of their home countries must also be held accountable for the moral and financial burden the children are placing on the United States.

I merely make the point that the arrival at our doorstep of 57,500 children from October 2013 through June 2014, while alarming, is not an existential crisis for the United States. We could feed every poor child in Central America with the excess food we toss into our dumpsters. Sponsors are being found to care and supervise youngsters whove recently arrived.

Whatever happens with the kids, or those thousands who will surely follow, the Republic will survive.
While the drama unfurled on Capitol Hill in the past few weeks on what to do about an emergency border bill, the public became aware that various high level departments within the administration had been sending warning flares of what was coming  and yet the administration chose to ignore the signals.

Meanwhile, for those who have been vigilant and following along, this was no surprise. Central to this discussion is the a presidential executive order issued on June 15, 2012 by president Obama known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). The memorandum grants differed removal status to tens of thousands of immigrants, known as "DREAMers," who grew up in the United States and were brought here as children by no fault of their own.

The unintended fallout of the Obama administrations self-righteousness to act on their own has created this problem that we must now address.  Nelson Balido

For many, the order was the battle cry to head north. With human traffickers spearheading the advertising campaign of misinformation, coupled with poor reporting from local foreign media, the word on the street was that the United States was giving free passes to minors to come to the land of opportunity.

The steady increase of unaccompanied minors apprehended at the border illustrates that months after the enactment of DACA is when things started to change. In fiscal year 2013 (October 1, 2012 - September 30, 2013) there were over 27,000, and so far this year there are over 57,000  an increase of over 100 percent. The administration was very well aware of what was happening yet ignored the internal warnings.

There is no question that we need our immigration system fixed but it must be grounded in firm policy and not one-offs. We need a plan that is long-term and gives those affected certainty to what the future holds for them. But issues like the one now only fans the flames of frustration on both sides of the isle and only guarantees that solutions are stalled.

Republicans in Congress are adamant that no immigration bill will pass unless we secure our border first, but certainly all parties can agree on that. However, what does that mean? Everyone wants border security, but no matter who I speak to, each has their own definitions.

The biggest misconception of the border is that we need more hands on deck to help curb the immigration crisis. It is very clear that our system cannot handle massive amounts of people at the same time, especially when most of those are not from Mexico and must be processed differently. Unless we are willing to stop people from crossing halfway over the Rio Grande river, so they never touch the United States, we need better mechanisms to treat those apprehended individuals.

The frustration begins from the inability of Congress to agree on a plan that the president will sign, and the president blaming Congress for not bringing him something he can sign. In response, the president declares that he will take action without Congress  classic chicken and the egg. Except that Obama cannot continue to act on his own without possible congressional fallout.

We cant do this alone. It is paramount that we enlist the assistance and cooperation of the Mexican government in securing their southern border, which would go a long way in the fight against human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Yet with only about 125 law enforcement officers on station on Mexico's southern border with Guatemala, there is no way of ever hoping to curb illegal entries. We need the Obama administration to put pressure on Mexico to do their part along with our Central American neighbors for the sake of these children and ultimately of us all.

What we need is leadership and cojones to do the right thing in Washington. It may not the most popular thing to do but it is the right thing to do. The unintended fallout of the Obama administrations self-righteousness to act on its own has created this problem that we must now address. This should serve as a lesson of what happens when Congress and the White House cant agree on issues and one decides to take matters on their own. In the end we all pay, in this case also children.
Chinas economic role in Latin America is expanding and far-reaching these days. In the meanwhile, U.S. leadership and influence with its neighbors to the south, except with Mexico, is declining. The Chinese presence comes  so far  without a political agenda, but together with the lack of U.S. initiatives, it has (and will eventually continue to have) a profound impact in the Inter-American landscape.

Chinese President Xi Jinping travels around Latin America over the past few weeks (his second tour in a year) sets the stage for what is coming. The round included Venezuela, Argentina and ended in Cuba, after a summit of the BRICS in Brazil.

In Brasilia, the Chinese president announced $35 billion in equity to finance projects in Latin America. These funds will be divided into three types: the first fund is endowed with an initial capital of $20 billion dollars to finance infrastructure, the second tranche of $10 billion is to offer credit lines to finance development projects in the region, while the last is a $5 billion dollars window to finance specific projects in areas defined by Beijing.

In response, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff explained: "China offers us a very important relationship," referring to the offer of a strategic alliance between the largest Asian economy and Latin America. The United States tours to the region by President Obama or Vice President Biden are far from delivering when compared to any of the Xi Jinping visits.

China's loan commitments [to Latin America] of $37 billion in 2010 were more than those of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and U.S. Export-Import Bank combined.  Leopoldo Martinez

On the other hand, the realeconomik is self-explanatory when assessing the impact of Chinas importance for the Latin American economies today.

According to the International Monetary Fund, trade between China and Latin America grew 8 percent to US$255.5 billion in 2012. This growth rate surpasses 6.2 percent trade growth of the region with the United States.

On the other hand, China is already the biggest trading partner of Brazil, Chile and Peru. Trade with Brazil reached US$ 83.3 billion last year, signaling a growth rate of 10 percent, according to the Brazilian Ministry of Commerce.

Looking at the trade trends with Mexico (the U.S. biggest economic partner in the region) one comes to interesting numbers. China became Mexico's second largest trading partner behind the U.S. in 2003, with a growth trend of 823 percent over the past decade, thus creating a trade deficit for Mexico in the amount of $51.22 billion in 2012. According to the Sino-Mexican trade numbers, Mexico is only exporting around $6 billion to China, while importing close to $57 billion, which engages the Mexican government in a strong push to gain access to the Chinese markets.

One initial conclusion is that both Mexico and the U.S. are taken by Chinese imports leaving fantastic bilateral commerce and investment opportunities among them on the table, resulting in massive trade deficits for both economies with respect to China. Finally, according to a United Nations study, by 2016 China will surpass the euro zone as Latin America's second-largest trading partner.

In the finance front, as it is pointed out in a research project by the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington DC: Since 2005, China has provided more than $100 billion in loan commitments to Latin American countries and firms. China's loan commitments of $37 billion in 2010 were more than those of the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank and U.S. Export-Import Bank combined.

In Venezuela alone, during the past seven years, according the publicly available information, China has provided about 57 billion dollars in loans to the Sino-Venezuelan Fund, were the Venezuelan government contributed another 12 billion dollars. The fund resources can only be invested in projects contracted to Chinese companies, or to finance imports from China, whose government gets repaid for the loans with future oil production from PDVSA.

In all, the Sino-Venezuelan fund has received and spent $70 billion in seven years, and the net result of these agreements is that Venezuela owes $45 billion to China, repaying with oil at $65 per barrel, when the average price of the same in the international markets is $100. The commitment of Venezuelas oil supply to China is estimated at least 530,000 barrels per day.

In addition to the oil-secured financing to Sino-Venezuelan fund, China has provided loans to Venezuelan public sector entities from its Ex-Im Bank, or other sources, in the amount of $8 billion, bringing the debt balance as of 2014 to $52 billion, including the most recent commitment of $5 billion agreed in the round of talks personally attended by Chinas President in Caracas in the past couple of weeks.

The three largest debtors after Venezuela are Argentina with $14 billion, Brazil with $13.4 billion, and Ecuador with $9.9 billion (an extraordinary amount given the size of this economy).

When it comes to direct investments, the vast majority of direct investment from China, over 90 percent, has gone to natural resource enterprises, including hydrocarbons, copper and iron ore, and agriculture, with Brazil, Argentina and Peru as the primary recipients, according to a research by Thomas Mellor and Brian Sogol, from Bingham McCutchen LLP.

Nonetheless, the flow of direct investment is triggering in many observers and experts a concern of de-industrialization, as Chinas final goal is to secure commodities, targeting the Latin American economies as consumers of Chinese industrial products produced in the mainland. In other words, China demand for commodities fuels growth to a region that is targeted by Chinas strategy as a debtor and an importer.

Although Chinas economic strategy does not come, at least until this point, with a clear and declared political agenda  such as exporting a particular political model or posing a direct security or military concern to the United States  countries like Venezuela and Ecuador in South America, or Nicaragua in Central America (where the Chinese government intend to build a new canal to compete with Panama) have taken particular advantage of this cooperation system.

Given the close links between Venezuela, Cuba and their ALBA partners in the region, the impact of Chinas role is providing margin of maneuver to a set of countries that are confronted to the democratic values and commitments expressed by the OAS charter and other instruments of international law.

This may present a challenge to U.S. interests and democratic values. However, the weaknesses of the Venezuelan economy in spite of the massive inflow of Chinese resources, and the more pragmatic approaches taken by Ecuador and Bolivia; or the Cuban gradual economic reforms (which seem like a transition out of the Venezuelan dependency of the past decade) might be signaling other issues instead, and suggesting aggressive economic policy strategies and approaches from the United States.

What does this mean from a political and policy perspective? The answer seems more an economic than a political one. The United States is giving away a fantastic opportunity to promote development partnerships across the Americas, which can integrate economies much further than we usually conceive in a free-trade agreements strategy.

The United States might also play a more significant role than China when it comes to the design of development strategies, pushing for industrialization in the region by promoting joint ventures and other forms of sustainable growth alliances.

However, the United States is playing at a disadvantage because government policy makers and businessmen strategize in a more distant way (or not together at all) than is needed to approach the Latin America opportunity.

But above all, policy makers in the United States are focused in other priorities or keep looking to the south with the offensive approach of the backyard, instead of thinking about Latin America, and particularly its leading economies, as neighbors that can be equal partners, whom should not be taken for granted.
The humanitarian crisis on the southern border is the center of a political firestorm in Washington. At issue is the bipartisan 2000 anti-trafficking law, signed by President Bush and re-authorized in 2008, that requires the Obama Administration to institute immigration court proceedings against unaccompanied children from Central American countries rather than deporting them without a hearing like children from Mexico.

Both the President and Republicans have expressed a keen interest in stripping those provisions to enable the Administration to expeditiously deport children without the full panoply of due process protections. For the obvious reasons, most Democrats and immigrant rights advocates oppose the proposed change.

It simply shocks the conscience that the most vulnerable among us, children, and detained pregnant mothers, are being treated as a political inconvenience to be disposed of like yesterdays polling numbers.  Matthew Kolken

Given the confines of the law, like many Republicans, President Obama has expressed a desire to eliminate delays in deporting children that his Administration unilaterally determines have no legal option to stay in the United States. Unfortunately for the children, President Obama has neglected to acknowledge that there is a distinct legal option available to each refugee child fleeing violence in Central America, and it is within the Presidents sole discretionary authority to exercise it.

The Immigration and Nationality Act specifically provides that under 8 U.S. Code  1157, INA  207(b) the President maintains the express power to grant refugee status to groups of individuals in the presence of grave humanitarian concerns, or if it is otherwise in the national interest. If tens of thousands of unaccompanied children fleeing violence doesn't constitute a grave humanitarian concern, I dont know what on Earth does.

To add insult to injury, not only is the President declining to exercise his authority to protect refugee children, his Administration is fast-tracking deportation proceedings, and children are being removed without the benefit of legal representation. This reflects a distinct policy shift by the Administration calculated to discourage children from fleeing violence in their home countries and an unconscionable decision to deport them back to an almost certain death.

The American Civil Liberties Union and American Immigration Council have filed a nationwide class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of refugee children challenging the Administrations failure to afford children an opportunity to obtain counsel as the law requires. The lawsuit begs the court to provide more time for children to find a lawyer, or to be provided representation at government expense if the Administration elects to proceed against them on an expedited basis.

Ahilan Arulanantham, Deputy Legal Director at the ACLU of Southern California and a Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project, commented that the children named in the lawsuit are feeling violence in their home countries and are now under imminent threat of being deported, potentially to their death, because of the Administrations misguided rocket docket policy for child refugees. He remarked that To force them to defend themselves against a trained prosecutor without legal assistance violates due process and our most basic values as a nation.

But it gets worse.

A recent release of a Freedom of Information Act request reveals that despite a 2010 policy against it, the Obama administration is detaining hundreds of pregnant women in detention facilities across the United States. The ignored policy provides that absent extraordinary circumstances or the requirements of mandatory detention women who are pregnant, nursing, or demonstrate that they are primary caretakers of children or an infirm person, should not be detained.

If only it stopped at detaining pregnant women. There are credible reports of expecting mothers being underfed, and being fed maggot infested food, while being denied gynecological exams and adequate prenatal care during pregnancy, in addition to being housed in unsanitary conditions in extreme temperatures.

It simply shocks the conscience that the most vulnerable among us, children, and detained pregnant mothers, are being treated as a political inconvenience to be disposed of like yesterdays polling numbers, which incidentally are not good for the President. An Associated Press - GFK Public Affairs poll just released reveals that disapproval of the Presidents immigration policy has jumped 18 points to 57 percent. Given the Presidents handling of the current crisis, it is easy to understand why.

Democrats have been understandably quick to shame Republicans for their lack of compassion for children fleeing violence. Considering recent events, maybe it is time they start pointing fingers at the leader of their own party.
Remember the movie Con Air? I lived it. Well, sort of. I wasnt a pumped-up Nicolas Cage flying home from prison with a stuffed bunny to meet my toddler daughter. I did, however, fly on a plane full of convicts to Honduras, then observed as they were released from their shackles and set free into the wild. I watched as they scattered in different directions and wondered where they would go and what they would do next. This week, I found out.

There is a surge of children fleeing Central America  from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala  and arriving in America. They are little refugees seeking asylum from their countrys gang violence and hyper drug-fueled culture. And guess who created that culture? Irony can be a dangerous thing.

Most had known nothing but jail or prison life in the U.S. and had no ties to friends or family from their countries of origin. What we thought was a reasonable cost-cutting measure has turned out to be much more costly in the end.  Rick Sanchez

Between 2010 and 2012, the Obama administration ridded itself of criminal aliens by sending them back to their countries. It seemed like a good idea at the time. We all but emptied our jails of these central American criminals, but now its coming back to haunt us. More than 100,000 criminal aliens were shipped back to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in those two years, while at least an equal number was sent back in the six years prior. And its estimated that as many as 200,000 more have been sent packing since.

They include convicts of all stripes: gang members, murderers, thieves, you name it. Most had known nothing but jail or prison life in the U.S. and had no ties to friends or family from their countries of origin. What we thought was a reasonable cost-cutting measure has turned out to be much more costly in the end.

We were once the recipients of a similar act. In 1980, Fidel Castro emptied many of his jails and mental health facilities and sent inmates packing to the U.S. The consequences were devastating. Like Honduras today, Floridas crime rate soared. As for murders, the morgue in Miami became so crowded that county officials had to lease a refrigerated trailer from Burger King to handle all the bodies. There is, of course, an important distinction. Castro was sending away his own citizens. We werent.

Regardless, the suddenly unchained men I watched walk off in Tegucigalpa have reportedly run wild. They embody the criminal enterprise that has turned Honduras into one of the most dangerous places on earth. They are, in large measure, what the children are running from.

Heres how Francisco Portillo, the president of the Miami-based Morazan Honduran Organization, which assists Honduran families, described the situation to the Miami Herald. I would say that these deportations are the most important factor behind the spread of criminal violence in our countries, which is the chief reason behind the children coming here, he said.

Its almost like that inane anti-Marijuana commercial where the father finds his sons stash and asks him where he learned this stuff, and the child flatly tells him by watching you. Ever hear of the term blowback? Wikipedia defines the intelligence use of blowback as unintended consequences of a covert operation that are suffered by the civil population of the aggressor government. Think of giving Afghans guns and training rebels, only to inadvertently also train a young Osama Bin Laden.

Yes, America is once again experiencing a sort of blowback. No, we werent aggressors in this case, but the consequences are similar. So moving forward, what should we do? Should we continue to send hardened criminals into a country geographically close enough to send us their frightened citizens, their children?

Maybe the question to ask is this, Can tens of thousands of Honduran, Salvadoran and Guatemalan mothers all be wrong? They ship their children to America because if they dont, those children will either work for the drug gangs or be killed by them. I believe them. Why else would a woman send away her own flesh and blood? What else could cause her to do that if not the very men, the monsters that we now wish we had dealt with in a different way?

Critics would say we should never have deported them. But then, what? Do we keep them forever jailed on the U.S. taxpayers' dole? Do we send them even farther away, so that those they menace cant make it to our border? Then, there are those who would suggest an even more heavy-handed solution. There are those, among them Hispanic immigrants who are tired of dealing with the consequences of these criminals' actions on their reputation in America, who would say "get rid of them in whatever way is necessary" even if it means capital punishment.

My father, and many other hardworking immigrants, answer the question with a simple and well-known gesture that involves an index finger slowly rolled around the neck. Cepillalos, they say. It may sound harsh, but as they see it, no one group does more harm to the image of law-abiding Latinos than those who come here to commit serious crimes.

Fact is, nobody despises immigrants who come here to commit crimes more than those who dont.
Recent terrorist attacks in Ankara, Turkey, and Berlin, Germany, add to a growing list of incidents that are becoming increasingly difficult to remember. Does one begin the list with the plane hijackings in the 60s and 70s, or the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, or the USS Cole attack in 2000, or the second World Trade Center attack in 2001, or Ft. Hood, San Bernardino, Orlando, Paris or Nice? And thats not all of them, nor will it be the end of them, if we dont have a better response.

During the great wave of immigration in the early 20th century, the United States barred those afflicted with tuberculosis, venereal disease, trachoma and other serious diseases from entering the country. Now a different kind of infection is invading Europe and increasingly the United States. Its called radical Islamic terrorism. The West continues to admit people from terrorist countries, people who have been infected with this killer disease, seemingly fearing the affliction less than being labeled intolerant.

How is that working out? So afraid of being charged with Islamophobia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted more than 1 million refugees in 2015 from nations that breed terrorists. It was inevitable that some would come to destroy rather than assimilate.

Mounting evidence that many of these people are time bombs waiting to explode still fails to open eyes that have been deliberately shut.

Take the case of a 24-year-old Tunisian named Anis Amri, the suspect in the Berlin Christmas market attack, shot dead by authorities on Friday in Milan, Italy. Amri was one of a number of suspected terrorists who have come from Tunisia, a country that has reportedly sent more fighters to Syria than any other. The Charlie Hebdo attacker was Tunisian, as was the man who drove a truck into a crowd in Nice on Bastille Day, killing 86 people. ISIS had urged similar attacks be made and, apparently, the Berlin suspect obeyed.

The UK Daily Mail reports Amri was jailed four years ago in Italy for burning down a school. He also was arrested three times in Germany before giving police the slip earlier this month. German authorities reportedly were in touch with Tunisian officials to get Amri a passport so he could be deported. But Tunis rejected the request, saying it had no record of his ever being a citizen.

Was this a lie, or was he a plant? We may never know.

Chancellor Merkels response to all of this is a case of too little, too late. She wants to ban Muslim women from wearing full-face veils. That is a political move, not a strategic one. It will not deter terrorists from their mission, as more enter Germany hidden among legitimate refugees.

Responding to the latest terrorist attacks, President-elect Donald Trump said he has been proved 100 percent correct when it comes to his plans to curtail Muslim immigrants from nations that spawn terrorists. Given the number already in Europe or those who have been self-radicalized and allowed into the U.S., it may be too late.

The West can either acquiesce or fight back. Trump wants to fight back. Its better than waiting for the next attack, hoping were not the target.
When President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office in January, his administration will face a long list of immediate needs and challenges. Among them are a series of pressing issues for securing the border. Here are five priorities for the new Trump administration to address in its first 100 days.

1. Build a Virtual Wall: While building a border wall was a hallmark of the President-elects campaign, it will require complex construction and budget allocation that will take years to achieve. The challenges along the border cannot wait, particularly when there are technological solutions available now. The notion of a virtual wall, composed of cameras, sensors and other technologies, has existed for some time, but for a variety of reasons, progress has been insufficient. The new administration should review existing technologies, such as fiber optic sensors and robust communications capabilities, to support the Border Patrols ongoing efforts to interdict illegal immigrants and illicit goods.

The administration also needs to speed up the timeline for implementing land port of entry (POE) entry/exit tracking technology. This has been a noted need for more than a decade, but even today, the United States has limited means to keep track of who is leaving the country across land POEs, which is essential for monitoring visa overstays. There are some pilot programs in the works, but more solutions are needed.

2. Support Mexican Law Enforcement Training: In 2007, Congress appropriated nearly $2.5 billion for the Merida Initiative, designed to help Mexico reform its criminal justice system and border security capabilities. As of November 2015, $1.5 billion had been spent in training, equipment and technical assistance, but the Merida Initiative strategy is now focused on economic development and community-based social programs. While improving Mexican society may have broad benefits for dissuading illegal migration to the United States, American tax dollars need to be focused on enhancing the training and effectiveness of Mexicos control of its side of the border, as well as its southern border. To that end, the new administration should increase funding for training and equipment for Mexico state police and federal troops. This should be granted with clear metrics, plans for evaluation and audits of how funds are used. By this, the U.S. Border Patrol and state and local law enforcement can begin to realize the partnerships it needs to more effectively patrol and secure the border.

3. Halt the Flow of Narcotics: There is an epidemic of heroin use growing across the country, and it is particularly prevalent among younger people. The amount of heroin produced in Mexico rose 67 percent in 2015, which is up 170 percent since 2013. Drug cartels are fostering a plague of addiction and overdoses, and the Trump administration needs to immediately give Border Patrol the tools necessary to target narcotics trafficking and arrest smugglers between POEs.

As a part of this, the administration should make it a priority to enhance Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cargo pre-screening on both sides of the border. Using data and rigorous screening before cargo reaches the border through expanded risk-segmentation, CBP can reduce the volume of unknown cargo and enhance their ability to target vehicles and shipments potentially smuggling narcotics, guns, cash or people.

4. Enforce U.S. Law and Expedite Returns: The U.S. court system is already overwhelmed processing the status of people apprehended at the border. This is due in part to an increase in illegal arrivals from Central American countries. With adjudication sometimes lasting years, there is a perception that crossing the U.S. southern border is a ticket to living in the United States. The next administration needs to create an expedited legal process for returning illegal immigrants to their home country within one week of crossing the border. This will require increased funding to immigration courts to ensure fair but speedy processing and removal.

Meanwhile, the United States needs to enforce its immigration laws, something that was insufficiently achieved during the Obama administration. This does not require a vast deportation force, as floated during the 2016 presidential race. Instead, by simply enforcing the laws on the books, the United States can begin to address the issue of millions of illegal immigrants.

5. Work with the Private Sector: Border security is a multifaceted, highly complex endeavor. It is critical to choose the right leadership for government agencies involved in securing the southern border, and these leaders need to work hand-in-hand with the non-profit organizations and companies engaged on these issues on a daily basis. They hold insights and relationships that bring greater clarity and innovative solutions that can help the new administration select and implement technological infrastructure, empower border security agencies with the right tools, and cultivate cooperation with Mexican counterparts.

With a unified government, the new administration has enormous opportunity to make real progress in securing the border and addressing illegal immigration. But theres no time to waste. American voters made clear in the 2016 election that border security needs to be a priority for the country, and the Trump administration can answer that call by taking these common sense steps as soon as the 45th president takes office.
While Christmas carolers were proclaiming Joy to the World - President Obama was backstabbing Israel.

The United States refused to veto a United Nations resolution last week that condemned Israel's settlements on the West Bank.

Click here for a FREE subscription to Todd's Newsletter: a must-read for Conservatives!

The Simon Wiesenthal Center named the Obama administration's move as the worst case of anti-Semitism in 2016.

"The most stunning 2016 UN attack on Israel was facilitated by President [Barack] Obama when the US abstained on a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel for settlement construction. It reversed decades-long US policy of vetoing such diplomatic moves against the Jewish State," the Jewish human rights organization wrote.

And honestly -- it's not all that surprising. This president seems more comfortable sipping appletinis with the despots who want to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth.

To continue reading Todd's column, click here.
The 70th anniversary of the end of WWII yielded many symbolic, even cathartic moments. There were aging Holocaust survivors crossing one last time the gates of hell that was Auschwitz. There was the parade in Moscow which saluted the last of a generation that defeated the Nazis and stormed Hitlers Berlin bunker.

There was the momentous visit by President Obama to ground zero at Hiroshima, a gesture deeply appreciated by Japan, now the strongest democracy in Asia and our key ally in region.

On this December 7th, remaining survivors of that day of infamy, recalled the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, a pivotal event that roused America from its isolationist stupor to take on the Axis Powers.

And now, Japanese Prime Minister Abe will visit Pearl Harbor, but Japanese officials hastened to add that he will not offer an apology.

Many in Japan today still believe that Imperial Japan was the victim, not the initiator of war. From Okinawa to Hiroshima, the historic narrative always seems to begin with the very real suffering of innocent civilians, rarely with the surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and so many other unsuspecting Asian nations that December, 70 years ago.

Thats a shame. While such a gesture would enrage many of Abes core constituency, it would have helped many people who suffered the consequences of Imperial Japans launching the Asia-Pacific war, find closure for the past and hope for the future.

Chief among those who deserve the bow and apology are former American servicemen and women who witnessed the deaths of their comrades in Pearl Harbor and on forgotten beaches that dot the Pacific, along with the handful of former American POWs and slave laborers still alive today.

And Yoshiko Shimabukoru and her classmates also deserve an apology.

I met 88-year-old Yoshiko at the opening of the Simon Wiesenthal Centers Courage to Remember exhibition in Okinawa. She guided me through the Himeyuri Peace Museum located near the site of one of the most vicious and deadly battles of WWII.

Yoshiko is not an ordinary guide. She is a survivor and eyewitness to an all- but- forgotten chapter of history. With great dignity and piercing honesty, Yoshiko described how she and her teenage Okinawan classmates were pressed into service as nurses by the Japanese Imperial Army. Soldiers were under orders to fight against US forces to the last manand civilian. When it finally ended, more than 12,000 American troops had been killedthe largest single US casualty count in the Pacific Theater and over 70,000 Japanese soldiers died.

142,000 Okinawan civilians perished.

The Japanese military was determined to slow Americas march towards the home islands, whatever the human toll. Ironically, it was their scorched earth policy, the fanaticism of their soldiers, the use of civilians as human shields, and the resulting massive US casualties that in the end, actually hastened the defeat of Japan.

Okinawa proved to American leaders that a head-on invasion of Japan proper would be disastrous. Japanese soldiers and civilians, including women and children could be expected to defend their homeland such fanaticism that it was projected that an invasion could cost 1 million Americans killed and wounded.

Without question, Okinawa influenced President Trumans decision not to put American boots on Japanese soil, but instead drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

But back then, teenage Yoshiko and her classmates knew nothing about the geo-politics, only that they were trapped in a war that they were taught Japan would never lose.

At the Peace Museum I walked with Yoshiko amidst smiling pictures, that in peacetime would have been in her high school yearbook, but here served to put a human face on friends who never had a chance.

Yoshiko paused at many a photograph, recalling the circumstances of each life cut short. She also stopped at two tablets that had no picturesonly names. It was as if she wanted to ensure that these faceless victims of war would still be remembered, if only for another day

Before leaving that day, I asked, Yoshiko, it is 70 years later, what is the most important lesson that you have learned?

Without hesitation she sighed: We knew nothing about the outside worldI look back now and realize they lied to us. Our education was a lie...

But many in Japan today still believe that Imperial Japan was the victim, not the initiator of war. From Okinawa to Hiroshima, the historic narrative always seems to begin with the very real suffering of innocent civilians, rarely with the surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines and so many other unsuspecting Asian nations that December, 70 years ago.

Does memory of past man-made disasters really make a difference?

It does, if humankind wants to avoid repeating the past.

It is safe to assume that the Japanese Prime Minister wont apologize at Pearl Harbor. Pity. Pretty soon the world wont have any survivors to apologize to.

But we can still hope that todays leaders and younger generations will ponder echoes of the past etched in this poem at Okinawas Peace Memorial:

We went on the battlefield without knowing the truth.

War kills everything --

the life of every single being

therefore our story continues

We will speak the truth of war, brutality, pain, engraved in our bodies and memories.
The latest diplomatic ambush of Israel was only made possible by the US historic reversal of its decades-long Mideast policy of vetoing one-sided anti-Israel initiatives at the United Nations Security Council.

President Obama's ambassador's abstention last week at the United Nations was actually an endorsement of an onerous one-sided resolution that among other items, defines Judaisms holiest site as occupied Palestinian territory and encourages nations to undertake the boycott of goods made by Jews in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. That's why we've named it our top anti-Semitic incident of 2016.

Make no mistake. This new resolutiondeveloped with the Obama administrations knowledge and some say with its collusion -- is much worse and more dangerous than the U.N.'s notorious 1975 Zionism equals Racism resolution.

It radically undermines, if not destroys, Israel's relationship with the U.N.

It makes any role for the U.N. in future Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations impossible.

It has effectively removed any incentive for the Palestinian Authority to have face-to-face negotiations with the Jewish State. Indeed, there are stories suggesting that Secretary of State John Kerry will soon present a detailed map in a speech that will dictate a two state solution.

To date, there has been not a word from President Obama and his Secretary of State, not a peep from the hypocrites seated around the Security Council about the real obstacle to a two state solution, the continued control of Hamas in Gaza.

Yes! In their own countries, the French, British, Germans, Italians, and Ukrainian security forces spend days and nights searching every street corner for suspected terrorists threatening their citizenry. Yet the mantra of what is blocking the solution of the Israeli -Palestine conflict, remains one word, not terrorism, but settlements. While these civilian communities are overwhelmingly populated by peaceful citizens, every carefully-crafted diplomatic initiative judiciously omits any mention of one other word, Hamas, whose raison d'etre is the complete destruction of the State Israel.

You want to guarantee a peaceful two-state solution? Convene a Security Council meeting on how to dislodge Hamas from Gaza, and you'll have one.

Before buying President Obama and Kerrys roadmap, we would suggest checking with the millions of Syrians, gassed, shot, and dislocated, all the while Secretary Kerry presented one useless piece of paper after another, in search of a peaceful solution for the people of Aleppo.

That these bare knuckle anti-Israel maneuvers are launched against Americas only reliable Middle East ally by its long-time ally, is despicable enough, but that it has been launched at 11:59 of the Obama Administration is almost beyond belief.

Israel, her friends and allies across America are grateful that President-elect Trump has said that things will be different after January 20th. We look forward to his dispatching our new ambassador to Israel to start working in Jerusalem as the new US embassy is finally built in the eternal capital of the Jewish people.

In the meantime, the American people have a right to know where our senators and congressmen, Democratic and Republican, stand on the Obama U.N. gambit. Is the current president's vision shared by any of our elected officials? We all have a right to know whether other decision makers consider the Western Wallour Kotel to be located on stolen property. And with 200 disputed territories around the globe, is it moral or anti-Semitic to focus exclusively on only this one?

During 2017, both the U.N. and UNESCO will have new leaders taking the helm. They might want to consider the price of continuing one-sided bullying of Israel by the United Nations.

They should reflect on the fact that the U.S. has refused to pay $400 million in dues to UNESCO because its acceptance of Palestine as a member state violated a U.S. statute signed into law by Democratic President named Bill Clinton.

If the U.N., under new leadership, continues its non-stop demonization of the Jewish state, we hope that the new Trump administration will seriously consider endorsing Senator Lindsay Grahams threatened bill to downsize the U.S.'s oversized annual financial contribution to the organization.

As for President Obama and Secretary Kerry, their last-minute U.N. gambit seeks to add a fourth achievement to their Middle East legacy. Here are the other three:

1. Failure to destroy ISIS, early and outright.

2. The Iran nuclear deal that has only succeeded in furthering empowering the mullahocracy.

3. Syrian "red line" debacle.

The Jewish people are a people of memory. We approach our collective future with eyes wide-open.

No matter what the pressure, no Israeli government, left, right or center, will ever accept that our peoples sacred sites are built on stolen land; nor will it ever validate the lies denying the Jewish peoples 3,500 link to the Holy Land  those very lies that now pass for historic "fact" at the United Nations.

And rest assured, too, that Israel will never walk the gangplank for the convenience of a hypocritical world.
On Tuesday, voters casting their ballots in the Democratic primary in a New York congressional race will end up giving the victory to the incumbent whos become synonymous with his district, or helping his challenger make history.

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, who is 84, is in perhaps the most nail-biting political race of his life as he tries to hold on to the seat he has held for 22 terms. His main challenger, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, came surprisingly close to defeating Rangel in the 2012 Democratic primary, losing by just 1,000 votes.

This time, Espaillat, who is 59, has the kind of political backing he didnt have in 2012, including the endorsement of some leaders who were behind Rangel when the two men faced off last time. A recent poll, NY1/Siena College, showed Rangel with 13 points over Espaillat.

A Rangel loss, and Espaillats win, would be significant on multiple levels.

It would be the end of a political era, the end of a reign of an outsize figure in the Harlem district  a longtime political center for African Americans, with a rich cultural history.

A win for Espaillat would also be a chapter of the changing demographics of the 13th district, where Latinos now predominate, accounting for 46 percent of eligible voters, compared with 34 percent for African Americans, 17 percent whites and 3 percent Asians, according to the National Institute for Latino Policy.

Espaillat would make history if he won in the November general election, where Democrats generally have an advantage. He would be the first Dominican-American to serve in Congress.

Rangel's district, originally created in 1942 to encompass most of Harlem to ensure an African-American would win a seat in Congress, has seen a Latino majority for the past several years as the district lines were redrawn to include parts of upper Manhattan and The Bronx.

Rangel has been dogged with scandals that have undermined his clout. He was censured in the House in 2010 for ethical violations that led to his losing his post as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.

Many of New Yorks most powerful politicians are throwing their support behind Rangel.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday voiced his support for Rangel, an endorsement that came with less than 48 hours to go before the polls open.

In endorsing Rangel, Cuomo said his "experience, seniority, and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of New Yorkers continue to make him a critical voice in standing up to the Tea Party extremism that is threatening to take over Washington."

Rangel has also gained endorsements from Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand as well as former President Bill Clinton.

Espaillat has been endorsed by City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Campaign Manager Jesse Compoamor pointed to those endorsements and others in responding to the Cuomo announcement, saying, "Adriano Espaillat was 1,000 votes away from unseating Congressman Rangel in 2012 as an insurgent with no political support. Two years later, the call for change is even louder."

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who once managed a Rangel campaign, has stayed out of making any endorsements in the race, and chided Rangel for referencing Espaillat's ethnic background and saying that he was running because the district had become increasingly Hispanic.

In that incident, Rangel accused Espaillat of running on little more than being Dominican.

In a televised debate, Rangel said: Just what the heck has he actually done besides saying hes a Dominican?

This young fellowwoke up one morning, and found out there were more Dominicans in the Bronx added to it, said Rangel, and his ambitions allowed him to believe that he should be the first Dominican in Congress, according to published reports.

Espaillat pushed back at Rangel, accusing him of stooping to ethnically-charged insults to discredit him. Espaillat said that is was Rangel who was making the political contest about race and ethnicity.

Political experts say, however, that despite the racial and ethnic overtones in the primaries, blacks and Hispanics have a strong alliance.

The experts say they share many of the same concerns regarding education, healthcare and safety, according to DNAInfo New York.

Also running in the Democratic primary, but seen as having the longest shot, is Rev. Michael Walrond, an associate of the Rev. Al Sharpton and pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church.

Walrond has taken both his opponents to task for exploiting race in their campaign. He said they were engaging in "entitlement politics" and "race-baiting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The militants who are taking over key parts of Iraq can be more dangerous than al-Qaida, Sen. Marco Rubio said Sunday.

The Florida Republican, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on CBSs Face the Nation that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), an al-Qaida breakaway group, is gaining more power and wants to attack the United States.

They want to establish an Islamic caliphate in sections of both Syria and Iraq and other places, potentially Jordan is next at some point, he said. And then they want to launch attacks in the exterior, external operations, including targeting our homeland. This is an extremely serious national security risk for the country if they were to establish that safe haven of operation.

Rubio said that ISIS was out to establish itself in certain regions in order to lay the groundwork for ambitious attack plans. That is what al-Qaida did, Rubio said, before attacking the United States in 2001.

ISIS is trying to establish the exact same thing in the Iraq-Syria region that they are increasingly controlling, Rubio said. And then from there, from this caliphate that they are setting up, they will continue to recruit, and train, and plot, and plan, and eventually carry out external operations in Europe, and potentially even here in the United States. So this is a very serious national security risk for the immediate and long-term future of our country.

Rubio, who often has been critical of the Obama administration for not responding promptly or aggressively enough to overseas crises that can have broad repercussions, said that the presidents plan to send 300 advisers to Iraq must be more than symbolic.

I think that we need to figure out a way to cut off those supply lines from Iraq -- from Syria into Iraq, Rubio said. We may potentially even have to target their command and control structure that they have established, including in portions of Syria.

In the meantime, I think this also calls for us to continue to empower those moderate rebel forces in Syria who are engaged in conflict against ISIS, not just Assad, he said. And I think we need to provide more assistance for Jordan, both in security and in their border, because I think this poses a risk to Jordan down the road and one we should take very seriously.

Rubio was less absolute about whether Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki should resign.

He said that al-Malikis leadership has been detrimental to the nation, but said his departure from his post would not necessarily solve the problem in Iraq.

The question is what replaces him, Rubio said. I certainly don't think he's been a good prime minister. I certainly believe that many of the problems that Iraq now faces are a direct result of failure of his leadership."

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While the most buzzed-about potential Democratic candidate for president in 2016, Hillary Clinton, remains coy about whether shell run, another Democrat is not wasting time.

And that includes courting Latino voters, a constituency that has showed how it can influence who sits in the Oval Office, and that makes up some 10 percent of Marylands population.

Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley signed a bill extending in-state college tuition rates for undocumented immigrants, and another allowing people in the state illegally to obtain drivers licenses.

In the spring, OMalley met with a group of the nations leading Latino civil and voting rights organizations to discuss how to improve the chances of Congress passing an immigration reform bill. The coalition included the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), NCLR Action Fund, League for United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Hispanic Federation, Mi Familia Vota, and CASA de Maryland.

The coalition put out a press release after the meeting with OMalley, praising him for being the first of the many governors and other political leaders theyd reached out to for a meeting on immigration to respond to our call.

"Governor O'Malley has been a vocal supporter and advocate for immigration reform for some time, said Matthew McClellan, Executive Director of NCLR Action Fund, in the coalitions statement. We met with him - asking him to escalate his involvement in urging Congress to finally take action on the issue and for the White House to follow through on its evaluation of the current deportation process."

We need the increased leadership of people like Governor O'Malley - the current system is broken and it is destroying Latino families nationwide.

In recent days, OMalley spent two days in Iowa, speaking at a Democratic convention in Des Moines. Earlier this year, he told the Washington Post that he would not wait for Clinton, considered a front-runner for 2016, to announce her plans to start laying down his own groundwork.

I have a great deal of respect for Hillary Clinton, OMalley said, according to the Post. But for my own part, I have a responsibility to prepare and to address the things that I feel a responsibility to address. . . . To squander this important period of preparation because of horse-race concerns and handicapping concerns is just not a very productive use of energy. . . . Right now, Im going to keep doing what Im doing  the thought work and the preparation work.

For her part, Clinton has polled well among Latinos in surveys on how they view potential 2016 presidential candidates. She enjoyed strong Latino support in 2008, when she ran for the Democratic nomination for the presidential election against Barack Obama.

OMalleys formidable position has not gone unnoticed by Republicans, who recently expressed some controversial views about him.

Buzzfeed quoted Izzy Santa, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, saying that OMalley was doing nothing more than Hispandering.

Pili Tobar, the director of Hispanic media for the Democratic National Committee, lashed out at Santa for offending Hispanics.

Democrats have a strong record of continuing to fight for the Latino community, said Tobar, according to The Baltimore Sun, whether its Governor OMalley overseeing the lowest Hispanic unemployment rate in the nation or passing a Maryland DREAM Act or President Obama and Democrats in Congress leading the charge for comprehensive immigration reform.

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Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson will travel to Arizona Wednesday to tour Border Patrol facilities amid the ongoing crush of immigrant children and families from Central America.

Johnson said he wants to get a firsthand view of what Border Patrol agents are dealing with as they process record numbers of child immigrants caught crossing the Mexican border alone.

More than 52,000 unaccompanied minors have been arrested since October after entering the United States illegally, a 99 percent increase over the same period a year earlier.

About three-quarters of those children have been arrested in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, the busiest area for illegal immigration along the Mexican border.

The wave of children has overwhelmed Border Patrol stations in South Texas that are ill-equipped to house children for an extended period of time, so Homeland Security has been flying planeloads of children to Arizona for processing at a facility in Nogales before sending them to shelters around the country.

Also on Tuesday, the Associated Press revealed that the U.S. government plans to turn an empty 55,000-square-foot warehouse in South Texas into a processing facility for unaccompanied children.

According to construction permits obtained through a public records request, a four fence-enclosed pods inside a corrugated steel warehouse in McAllen could eventually accommodate about 1,000 children.

The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.

The new processing facility would be less than a mile from the Rio Grande Valley's busiest Border Patrol station. Floor plans show rows of cells with unsecured doors on either side of open "interaction/play" areas. Boys and girls would be separated and portable toilets would be installed.

"Minors will be staged here until processing is completed and then they (will be) moved to a different location," according to a fire protection engineering analysis submitted by the U.S. General Services Administration.

That agency, which provides buildings for government operations, signed a one-year lease for the property.

The documents do not indicate when renovations would be complete. City attorney Kevin Pagan said McAllen had expedited the permitting process.

Most of the children are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Many are fleeing widespread gang violence, and some are looking to reunite with parents already in the United States.

In an open letter to Central American parents, Johnson warns them of the dangers of such a journey and emphasizing that the children could be deported.

"The criminal smuggling networks that you pay to deliver your child to the United States have no regard for his or her safety and well-being - to them, your child is a commodity to be exchanged for a payment," the letter said.

Johnson visited the border area in Texas last week.

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U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, the face of Harlem politics for generations, held off a strong Democratic primary challenge and moved one step closer to what he says will be his 23rd and final term in the House.

Rangel, 84, defeated state Sen. Adriano Espaillat in what was a bruising fight that shed light on the changing face of a district that was once one of the nation's black political power bases.

With 100 percent of the vote counted in unofficial results, Rangel led Espaillat 47.4 percent to 43.6 percent, a difference of fewer than 2,000 votes. About 47,000 votes were counted Tuesday. The Associated Press called Rangel the winner based on fresh information Wednesday afternoon from the city Board of Elections on ballots cast that were not included in the election night tally. The number of absentee and provisional ballots were not sufficient for Espaillat to make up the difference.

"Fired up and ready to go!" the congressman declared in a statement thanking voters for "standing with me to the very end and giving this veteran his one last fight." Rangel, who has said this campaign would be his last, said he hoped "to begin the healing process of some of division that was created during the course of the campaign."

Rangel's campaign had announced earlier Wednesday that he planned to attend a "unity rally" Saturday at the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.

"Now that the campaign is over and Congressman Rangel has won, we look forward to coming together and addressing the issues facing the 13th Congressional District," senior campaign adviser Charlie King said in a statement announcing the appearance.

Espaillat's campaign declined to comment.

Late Tuesday night, Rangel dubbed himself the nominee in an unprecedented, nearly hour-long folksy speech that was part thank you, part real-time political analysis and, eventually, part declaration of victory even though the race was at that point too close to call.

"This was your victory," Rangel told the crowd. "This is your congressman. And you can rest assured all I will be doing is thinking about you and bringing resources back home."

At one moment during his rambling address, the stage buckled under the weight of the 22-term congressman and more than a dozen elected officials who wanted to stand near him. After determining that no one was hurt, Rangel resumed talking. And talking.

Acknowledging that he was "killing time" as the votes were being counted, Rangel held court, continually introducing new speakers and asking his advisers and journalists for updates on the latest totals.

Finally, after a local TV station called the race, balloons dropped from the ceiling. Rangel raised his arms aloft and smiled.

Espaillat was bidding to become the first Dominican-American in Congress.

The race was a rematch of their 2012 primary, narrowly won by Rangel.

Rangel, known as the Lion of Harlem, was once arguably the most influential black elected official in the U.S., known for his gravelly voice, impeccable suits and staunch liberal views, including his outspoken opposition to apartheid and the Iraq War.

But he was weakened after 2010 ethics violations that forced him to give up the chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and his district was then redrawn to include parts of the Bronx, which along with accelerating gentrification of Harlem transformed a heavily black district into one that was majority Hispanic.

The shifting racial terrain was a backdrop for the race, which grew nastier as primary day approached. At a debate, Rangel said Espaillat "wants to be the Jackie Robinson of the Dominicans in the Congress," adding that Espaillat should tell voters "just what the heck has he done besides saying he's a Dominican?"

That remark drew a sharp retort from Espaillat and a chiding from Mayor Bill de Blasio, who managed Rangel's 1994 campaign yet refused to offer an endorsement this time.

Harlem Pastor Michael Walrond and Bronx activist Yolanda Garcia also ran, finishing far back.

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A Spanish judge moved closer Wednesday to indicting Princess Cristina, the sister of newly proclaimed King Felipe VI, in a corruption and embezzlement investigation centering on her husband.

Wrapping up a four-year pre-trial investigation, Palma de Mallorca investigative magistrate Jose Castro kept her on a list of suspects he thinks should stand trial.

He said Cristina is suspected of two counts of cooperation in tax fraud and one of money-laundering. The judge said her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, is accused of embezzlement and fraud. Neither has been formally charged.

Prosecutors and defendants will study the ruling and present their accusations or arguments. The judge will then decide what indictments to issue, a step not likely to occur before September.

The state prosecutor has long opposed having Cristina as a suspect and has said he will appeal Castro's ruling.

The case centers on allegations that Urdangarin used his Duke of Palma title to embezzle some 6 million euros ($8 million dollars) in public contracts through the Noos Institute, a nonprofit foundation he and a business partner set up that channeled money to other businesses, including Aizoon, a company he owned with Cristina.

The decision in the case comes less than a week after Cristina's elder brother, Felipe, was proclaimed king following the abdication of his father Juan Carlos.

The 76-year-old Juan Carlos said he was stepping aside after a four-decade reign so younger royal blood could energize the country.

But the fraud case involving his daughter and other scandals had seriously tarnished the royal family's image.

Cristina, 49, became the first Spanish royal to be questioned in court since the monarchy was restored in 1975 when she testified in the case in February.

Commenting on the judge's decision, the Royal Palace would only say it had "full respect for the independence of the judiciary."

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A year after the Senate passed a sweeping immigration bill, a leading backer in the House declared Wednesday that legislative efforts on the issue are dead.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, long one of the most bullish Democrats about the chances for action in the GOP-led House, took to the House floor to announce that he'd officially given up.

"Having been given ample time and space to craft legislation you failed," Gutierrez said, addressing House Republicans. "Your chance to play a role in how immigration and deportation policies are carried out this year is over."

Gutierrez said it's now up to President Barack Obama to take action to curb deportations, which have reached record highs on his watch.

Gutierrez's comments come days away from Friday's one-year anniversary of Senate passage of a sweeping, bipartisan bill offering eventual citizenship to many of the 11.5 million people here illegally, spending billions to beef up border security, and remaking the nation's legal immigration system to allow more workers into the country legally.

Legislation never got off the ground in the House, even though Gutierrez spent months working with Republicans trying to make it happen. House GOP leaders said repeatedly that they wanted to get it done, but opposition from a small but vocal group of conservative lawmakers seemed to derail every attempt.

Advocates say Majority Leader Eric Cantor's surprise primary defeat this month to a tea party candidate who accused him of backing "amnesty," along with the sudden crisis surrounding an unexpected surge of Central American children trying to cross the Southern border, eliminated whatever chances remained.

Now, attention will focus squarely on the White House as advocates lobby Obama to take action to limit deportations and expand a two-year-old program offering work permits to some immigrants brought here illegally as children. White House officials had signaled plans to take some initial steps later this summer, but that was before the new crisis involving unaccompanied minors at the border took center stage. Advocates fear that could delay White House plans.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama shares Gutierrez's frustration.

"We have within grasp a solution to a pretty persistent problem, and a fix to a system that just about everybody agrees is broken within reach, but we've not been able to move that across the finish line simply because of the efforts of House Republicans to obstruct," Earnest said.

Not everyone is ready to give up on legislation, at least not publicly. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said earlier Wednesday at a breakfast hosted by The Wall Street Journal that he still thinks there's hope. And appearing at the same breakfast, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that the surge of children from Central America arriving at the Southern border "argues for immigration reform, not against."

McCain also said that backing an immigration overhaul remains an imperative for the Republican Party, which is losing support from Latino and Asian voters and struggling to win presidential elections.

"I can't tell you we have a great shot at it, but I know the consequences of failure, which will motivate me to try no matter what," said McCain. McCain and Schumer were lead authors of the Senate bill.

Advocates promised to keep up their efforts, both to press Obama to act unilaterally, and to ensure that Republicans pay a political price for inaction.

"Our strategy is clear: it's hold Republicans accountable for blocking the best chance we've had for immigration reform in a generation, work to un-elect Republicans in the House even if it takes two or more election cycles, and press the president to protect as many undocumented immigrants as possible in the meantime," said Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a leading immigrant advocacy group.

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Was it too soon? It was almost certainly too long.

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, the 84-year-old "Lion of Harlem," took the stage on his final primary night before a victory had been declared, saying he wanted to "sweat it out" with his supporters in a Harlem ballroom.

What followed was an unprecedented, nearly hour-long, folksy speech that was part thank you, part real-time political analysis and, eventually, part declaration of victory even though the race between the 22-term congressman and his challenger, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, was still officially too close to call early Wednesday.

With 99 percent of the vote counted in unofficial results, Rangel was leading Espaillat 47.4 percent to 43.7 percent, a difference of less than 2,000 votes. About 47,000 votes were counted on Tuesday.

The Associated Press is not declaring a winner because the city Board of Elections was not able say how many absentee and affidavit ballots were still outstanding. The Board said no further information on those ballots would be immediately released.

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Rangel, the face of Harlem politics for generations, showed no such reluctance to bring the drama-filled campaign to a close.

"This was your victory," Rangel told the crowd. "This is your congressman. And you can rest assured all I will be doing is thinking about you and bringing resources back home."

At one moment during his rambling address, the stage buckled under the weight of the congressman and more than a dozen elected officials who wanted to stand near him. After determining that no one was hurt, Rangel resumed talking. And kept talking.

Acknowledging that he was "killing time" as the votes were being counted, Rangel held court, continually introducing new speakers and asking his advisers and members of the press for updates on the latest totals.

Finally, after a local TV station called the race, balloons dropped from the ceiling. Rangel raised his arms aloft and smiled.

But upon leaving the stage, Rangel was slightly more cautious in addressing reporters, saying he was "confident" that his margin of victory would hold but resisting a full-throated reiteration of his victory cry.

Espaillat, who is bidding to become the first person born in the Dominican Republic to be elected to Congress, refused to concede. He told supporters that the "race was too close to call" and his campaign said that several thousand absentee and provisional ballots remained uncounted.

And even as Espaillat's stage was quickly dismantled and his party emptied out, the possibility of a legal challenge was raised, which could lead to a sequel to the 2012 primary between the two men. The result of that race, which Rangel won by barely 1,000 votes, took two weeks to finalize.

Rangel was once arguably the most influential black elected official in the U.S., known for his gravelly voice, impeccable suits and staunch liberal views, including his outspoken opposition to apartheid and the Iraq War.

But he was weakened after 2010 ethics violations that forced him to give up the chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and his heavily Democratic district was then redrawn to include parts of the Bronx, which along with the accelerating gentrification of Harlem transformed a heavily black district into one that was majority Hispanic.

The primary race that drew the most attention nationally was Mississippi's Republican U.S. Senate race, which proved a victory for the Washington establishment over the tea party movement as incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran, a mainstream conservative with more than 40 years congressional experience, narrowly turned back a challenge from state Sen. Chris McDaniel.

Outside conservative organizations and tea party groups invested millions in the Mississippi race in hopes of knocking off Cochran. They fell short Tuesday night after a nasty, costly primary, and have few chances to reverse the trend in remaining contests before November's elections.

The results left the movement's leaders fuming.

"Unfortunately in Mississippi, nefarious campaign tactics seem to have won the day over ideas and a bold conservative vision," said Taylor Budowich, executive director of Tea Party Express. "We thank Senator Chris McDaniel for courageously standing up to the political machine. In politics, the righteous are not always victorious, but Americans across the country appreciate the values that his campaign was built upon."

Earlier this month, McDaniel had beaten Cochran in the initial primary round but had fallen short of the majority needed for nomination. In the three-week dash to the runoff, Cochran and his allies highlighted his seniority while McDaniel argued that Cochran was part of a blight of federal overspending.

In a last-ditch effort, Cochran reached out to traditionally Democratic voters  blacks and union members  who could cast ballots in the runoff. That factor in Cochran's victory is sure to be cited by critics in days and weeks to come.

At the Cochran party, Ronny Barrett, a black 56-year-old mechanic from Jackson, said that until the June 3 primary, he had always voted for Democrats, but he decided to support Cochran after following news coverage and talking to friends.

"Sen. Cochran has done a lot of things for the black community, and a lot of people in the black community might not know that," said Barrett.

Cochran, a stalwart of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has funneled billions to his home state, one of the poorest in the nation, since he won a U.S. House seat in President Richard Nixon's GOP wave of 1972 and then was elected to the Senate in 1978.

In November, Cochran will face Democrat Travis Childers, a former congressman, in the heavily Republican state.

In another setback for the tea party, two-term Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma won the GOP nomination in the race to succeed Sen. Tom Coburn, who is stepping down with two years left in his term. In the solidly Republican state, Lankford is all but assured of becoming the next senator. Part of the House GOP leadership, Lankford defeated T.W. Shannon, a member of the Chickasaw Nation and the state's first black House speaker, who was backed by former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, two stalwarts of the right.

In Colorado, former Rep. Bob Beauprez won a crowded gubernatorial primary that included 2008 presidential candidate Tom Tancredo, an immigration opponent. That was welcome news to national Republicans who feared that Tancredo could be a drag on the GOP ticket in November. Beauprez will face Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.

In Maryland, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown won the Democratic primary for governor as the state chose a successor to outgoing Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, who is considering a 2016 presidential bid. If elected in the Democratic-leaning state, Brown would make history as one of the few African-American governors; Massachusetts' Deval Patrick is retiring.

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The U.S. government is preparing to open a new facility in rural New Mexico to hold hundreds of unaccompanied children arriving from Central America as state officials call on federal authorities to do more to stop the migration.

"Dang it, the federal government has got a job to do," Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Wednesday in Nogales, where she toured a southern Arizona facility housing nearly 1,000 children apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The surge of border crossings has strained the limits of existing resources, prompting the Republican governor to renew her criticism of the Obama administration's immigration policies.

Brewer said states have no authority in addressing the matter, referring to a federal lawsuit against Arizona over its sweeping immigration bill known as SB1070.

Thousands of families and unaccompanied children have been coming to the U.S. in recent months as they flee violence, killings and extortion from criminal gangs in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Many are under the impression they will receive leniency from U.S. authorities, despite coming to the country illegally.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who was with Brewer during the walkthrough in Nogales, attempted to knock down that perception.

"I want to continue to emphasize to all those who are listening, including the parents of kids, parents that may be considering sending their kid from Central America, that this journey is a dangerous one and at the end of it there is no free pass, there is no 'permisos' for your children to come to the United States," Johnson said.

About 900 children are being held in the Nogales center where while undergoing removal proceedings. They're often reunited with family in the U.S. before immigration court cases play out.

Johnson said they have adequate care.

"I have to say that the kids, while this is not an ideal situation, look as if they're being well-taken care of under the circumstance," he said.

Border Patrol agents have apprehended more than 52,000 immigrant children crossing the border alone since the start of the budget year in October. That included 9,000 in May.

Most have been picked up in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, which has run out of space and resources to process the children.

The surge in crossings has prompted the Department of Homeland Security to fly many of those kids to Arizona for processing. The department is also using military bases in Texas, California and Oklahoma.

Immigration officials have released a large number of women with children who crossed the border illegally into Texas, dropping them off at bus stations in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, with the expectation that they will report back within 15 days. Officials have declined to answer how many have actually done so.

Facilities in Artesia, New Mexico, where the Border Patrol training academy is located, and Tucson are being set up to house immigrants.

The Border Patrol was scheduled to provide tours Thursday of the Artesia facility, which is expected to hold around 700 people while they are processed for deportation.

New Mexico state Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell and other elected officials from the southeastern part of the state already have toured Artesia's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Ezzell said the rooms being prepared to house women and children are packed with amenities and will encourage rather than deter the flood of immigration.

"I saw the rooms, and I got upset," Ezzell told the Artesia Daily Press. "There were four sets of bunks in every room. These were nice rooms, with televisions, toys and books. It says to immigrants, 'Why not try to come back, if this is what America has to offer?'"

Ezzell questioned the use of federal dollars to house the immigrants at a time when veterans aren't getting proper health care and she's encouraging residents to speak out about the facility.
One of Arizonas top school officials broke down in tears Wednesday at a news conference at which he apologized for having written anonymous blog posts that denigrated welfare recipients and calling for a statewide ban on Spanish.

John Huppenthal, the superintendent of public instruction, was barely composed for about half an hour of the conference, before breaking down when he tried to explain how his comments had affected his longtime assistant.

We can imagine the emotional impact. I have talked to people who have been hurt by the hour, he said. The person I feel most  to the point of my own tears  is my assistant Merle. She has been with me for

Huppenthal then began to cry and left the room.

This came after mounting pressure to step down following his admission that he was the anonymous author of a number of posts on a website that were seen by some as racist.

In one dating from 2011, Huppenthal wrote, We all need to stomp out balkanization. No Spanish radio stations, no Spanish billboards, no Spanish TV stations, no Spanish newspapers. This is America, speak English.

Huppenthal admitted to writing the posts on the Espresso Pundit blog using the pseudonyms Falcon9 and Thucydides in an interview with The Arizona Republic last week.

I dont mind them selling Mexican food as long as the menus are mostly in English. And Im not being humorous or racist, he wrote in another post.

Additional posts surfaced recently in which he likened welfare recipients to lazy pigs and blamed the Great Depression and the rise of Hitler on Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic policies.

I love talking about public policy, and I have a passion for engaging in debate, Huppenthal told The Arizona Republic. I probably have 300,000 words out on the Internet, and 100 of them are getting me in trouble. When all of your missteps are there all together for people to see, its not a pretty picture.

A former superintendent of public instruction, Lisa Graham Keegan, was among several community members who called Wednesday for Huppenthal to resign. She said his comments were so damaging that he can't effectively lead the state's school agency.

"The No. 1 issue for the person who holds the job of superintendent of public instruction is deep respect and community with the people that we serve and those that we work with," said Keegan, who served from 1995-2001 as a Republican but now is an independent. "John Huppenthal's comments have violated that sacred bond."

Joining Keegan was the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which canceled an awards show honoring the superintendent.

Due to the recent comments that Superintendent Huppenthal admitted to making, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry will not be presenting the superintendent with an award at our annual luncheon as we planned, said Glenn Hamer, the chambers CEO and president. The comments should not have been made and posted under any circumstance. We regret that this decision was necessary.

Others at the news conference at which Keegan spoke echoed her comments.

"We wouldn't take the comments that John Huppenthal has said from a student body president. We wouldn't take it from a principal at a school," said Lawrence Robinson, a Roosevelt School District board member. "We certainly will not take it from the person responsible for representing all of our public schools and our education."

Huppenthal, however, said he would neither resign his position nor drop out of the Republican primary, in which he faces a challenge from a conservative who is campaigning to get the state to drop new Common Core standards.

This is not the first time that Huppenthal has made headlines for his comments or been accused of discrimination. In 2010, the government nearly filed a civil rights lawsuit against Arizona after the state fired teachers for having accents. He vowed to continue instructing classroom monitors to report teachers with accents.

And as a state senator, Huppenthal led a campaign to ban Tucsons largest school district from teaching its Mexican-American Studies program. He said that the program fostered racial resentment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A majority of the unaccompanied minors arriving by the tens of thousands at the U.S.-Mexico border could qualify to remain here, say experts in immigration and the refugee system.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which has interviewed more than 400 such children, reports that many of them fled join or die gang recruitment efforts or threats by gangs to hurt or kill them or their families.

The UNHCR said that as a result, almost 60 percent could qualify for refugee status or political asylum. The majority of the children are coming from Honduras, which has the highest murder rate in the world, El Salvador and Guatemala.

And many of the children, perhaps as many as 80 percent, immigration lawyers say, could meet the requirements for a Special Immigrant Juveniles (SIJ) visa, which is offered to minors who make it to the United States who are found to have been abused, abandoned, or neglected, according to the website of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The SIJ visa, which arises from laws that were expanded in 2008 to provide protection to child victims of human trafficking, broadened the conditions that would make a minor eligible for the special status, which could pave the way for a green card.

The numbers that are eligible are really high, said Bryan Johnson, a New York-based immigration attorney, noting that of the more than 100 children who are represented by his office, 80 or 90 percent would qualify for some type of relief.

The Obama administration estimates that between October 2013 and September 2014 it will have caught 90,000 children trying to illegally cross the Mexican border without their parents. Last year, the U.S. returned fewer than 2,000 children to their native countries.

Some activists say immigration laws need to be significantly strengthened or the U.S. will be dealing with a floodgate situation that cannot be stemmed.

It makes it hard to enforce immigration laws against minors, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. If these young people are permitted to stay, more will follow. It's all the more reason Congress needs to change that 2008 legislation dramatically. They need to limit that statute to deal with only the most extreme cases."

Johnson, the immigration lawyer, said he noticed unaccompanied minors coming in perceptible numbers to New York  where there is a large Central American community in Suffolk County  last year to join relatives.

To qualify for an SIJ visa, local family judges usually first determine whether a child can be deemed abandoned, neglected or abused. Then the case proceeds to the federal level for consideration for a visa.

Before the criteria for SIJ visas were broadened, children who qualified for them were, for instance, one whose parents were both deceased.

But now, Johnson said, a child who in their native homeland has one deceased parent, an uninvolved or estranged parent, or an abusive or neglectful one can qualify for the visa.

In fact, some immigration experts argue that even the very act of sending a child across the border alone with a smuggler  even if its out of a parent's well-intentioned concern and desperation  could form a legal basis for a court argument that the parent acted with neglect by putting the minor in an unsafe situation. And, by extension, a court can be asked to consider the neglect as a basis for giving that minor an SIJ visa.

One Honduran woman who lives in New York, and who remains undocumented, told Fox News Latino that her two daughters  who crossed the border last year with a smuggler whom the mother, who came to the United States in 2010, paid about $11,000  have qualified for the visa because their fathers never were in their lives.

The mother will never be able to get legal status through her daughters, however, as a condition of their SIJ visa.

But some of the children, it is unknown how many, who come alone from Honduras or El Salvador have parents living in the United States who have Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, immigration attorneys say.

About 64,000 Hondurans received TPS because of the 1998 hurricane there, and more than 200,000 Salvadorans because of the 2001 earthquakes. As is usually the case with this status, TPS has been extended for those groups several times.

The number of unaccompanied minors detained on the U.S. border has more than tripled since 2011. The Vera Institute of Justice estimates that at least 40 percent were eligible for either asylum  for those targeted by gangs to join  or the SIJ visa.

Under pressure to contain the unabated surge of unaccompanied minors and families crossing the border into Texas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Obama administration officials say they are working with officials of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to spread the word there of the dangers children face making the treacherous trip, and that many of them will be put into deportation proceedings.

Proponents of strict immigration enforcement are pressuring the government to act quicker to return the children, and get tougher on smugglers who, in many cases, are believed to be encouraging the migration in order to make more money.

But immigration experts say when it comes to children, the U.S. government cannot act expeditiously because of international rules as well as its own laws for handling minors. That means it could take years for their cases to be decided.

Daniel Kowalski, a Texas-based immigration attorney who is editor of Benders Immigration Bulletin, told Fox News Latino that due process rules essentially prohibit the expedited removal of unaccompanied minors.

The immigration court system they go through, he said, is already struggling with backlogs.

Because these kids are located in different places, and theyre being moved around, to shelters and with different family members, their case file gets moved from city to city and court to court, said Kowalski. A lawyer can ask for more time to get more information for the case. Whichever side loses has a right to appeal, and a child cannot be removed from the country during the appeal process.

Children are also widely believed to be crossing with their parents in rising numbers, although the Obama administration has not released year-by-year figures. Many families are mothers with young children.

The crisis has sparked weeks of bitter political debate inside the U.S., with the administration saying crime is driving migrants north from Central America and congressional Republicans saying Obama's policies are leading migrants to believe children and their mothers will be allowed to stay.

The United Nations argues that the violence and other problems dogging Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala are indeed insufferable, and that children, and other citizens, are also fleeing to Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Belize  which have seen a combined 712 percent increase in political asylum claims from those three countries.

Obama administration officials, including Vice President Joe Biden  who visited Guatemala last week and met with government officials there, as well as officials from Honduras and El Salvador  are urging Central American leaders to warn their citizens about the risks and futility of coming to the United States illegally.

Johnson, the Homeland Security chief, has maintained that Obamas 2012 plan to suspend deportation against undocumented immigrants who arrive in the United States as children is not to blame for the mass migration of unaccompanied minors to the U.S. Southwest border, but rather the conditions in their homeland.

Congress has been working on measures that would increase aid to those Central American nations to combat gang and cartel violence, improve education and the general infrastructure.

Families from Central America tell resettlement workers and journalists in the United States that no matter how discouraging others try to be about coming to this country illegally, the risks pale against the anguish they feel in their countries.

"The story is that you have to give yourself up to the Border Patrol, provide a contact in the United States and you'll be freed even though they give you a court date far in the future," said Ruben Figueroa, a member of the Mesoamerica Migrant Movement who works in a shelter for migrants crossing the southeast Mexico state of Tabasco. "If you combine this information with the violence in the streets and extortion keeping people from living their lives, the result is a massive exodus."

Groups that favor stricter immigration policies say that the Obama administration must do more to gain control of the surge on the border.

Many are pushing for the children and families to be removed.

Krikorian said the SIJ visa was intended to provide relief to a small group of people as an anti-trafficking measure and is now being exploited by undocumented immigrants.

"Its a subversion of the [original] legislation," Krikorian said. "The point of this is not that anyone gets a visa who is not living with both parents."

And the situation  unless Congress acts immediately  will only get worse, Krikorian said.

"The flow were seeing now," Krikorian added, "is the result of earlier people allowed to stay and messaging more broadly that minors in the United States are, in effect, exempt from immigration law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Adriano Espaillat looked to become the first Dominican-born Congress member, but during the hard-fought Democratic primary against Rep. Charles Rangel, political analysts have theorized that he failed to appeal to the broader Latino and black voters in Harlems very diverse district.

Race and ethnicity were central themes in the primary with the state senator emphatically appealing for strong Dominican pride, which some say propelled Rangel to sharply undermine his credibility.

Charlies argument that this is a guy who is running because of the importance of the race to Dominicans and their place in the politics of the city, I think, resonated with people, John Gutierrez, an assistant professor of Latin American and Latina/o Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice told The New York Times. Part of the reason for that is because, for so many years, Adriano was sort of lost in the Assembly.

Rangel, who has held the districts seat for 44 years, performed well in heavily Latino areas. He easily took the stronghold in East Harlem and peeled off significant blacks of the vote in precincts across more heavily Dominican areas in Inwood and Washington Heights.

Cid Wilson, a Democratic activist and a national Dominican-American leader, disagreed with the sentiment that Espaillats campaign was all about having the first Dominican elected in Congress and effectively alienating Blacks, other Latinos and Jews living in the district.

He told Fox News Latino it was natural for Dominican voters in the district to rally around him because they were in the cusp of history, but it did not mean that other ethnicities did not rally in his favor.

I think people are maybe reading too much into this, he said. The sense that he ran only for being a Dominican candidate . I would debate that.

The results highlighted the nuances of ethnic politics, but also the difficulty of unseating an incumbent with deep ties to the community.

Wilson said he believes that because of Rangels 44-year track record, it was natural for him to have the power of incumbency with a strong fight on progressive issues, which also helped with voters at the polls.

He added that Rangels decision that this will be his last term in Congress may have given voters a sense of respect to give him one last term.

Rangel is one person that commands a lot of respect, he said. I think this was a natural election in a district that has shifted.

State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., who endorsed Espaillat, said Rangel is well-liked throughout the Latino communities in the district.

Everybody knows him in the Barrio. Everybody, he told The Wall Street Journal. Hes been there for more than 40 years.

If Espaillat decides to run again in two years  which Wilson believes he will do  he will need to look into unifying the district that was divided during the campaign.

If he runs again, he needs to focus on developing unity in this district, said Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, the pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem on Tuesday night. We are not a district of African-Americans and Dominicans and whites to be played against each other.

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For Julio Alegria and his husband Michael Penn, the date of June 26, 2013 will forever be etched in their hearts.

On that day, by a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal Defense of the Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, was unconstitutional.

(Our lives) changed so much, Alegria told Fox News Latino. Its something so beautiful what you feel when they tell you you are welcome in this country Its an amazing feeling.

The DOMA decision  also known as the Windsor decision  gave married gay and lesbian couples the same federal rights as other married couples. It also gave couples like Alegria and Penn something else: a chance at permanent legal residency in the United States. Alegria, a Mexican on a student visa, had fallen in love and wanted to marry his American partner so he could stay in the U.S.  but he wasn't able to do so before DOMA.

While proponents of gay marriage have been winning court victories in state after state, one part of the ruling quietly gaining momentum and generating controversy is that many gays are now able to qualify for legal residency if they marry their same-sex partner.

Proponents say it's an important part of the law because many who were undocumented and fell in love had few legal options to stay in the country.

(LGBT binational couples) did whatever they could to stay together even at the risk of being undocumented, said DOMA Project co-founder and immigration lawyer Noemi Masliah. As a result, families were separated and Americans would go into exile to stay with their spouses.

But opponents say among the issues they have with DOMA is that it further strains an immigration system already riddled with problems.

Dan Stein, president for the Federation of American Immigration Reform (F.A.I.R), said DOMA will increase the overall flow of immigrants into the U.S. through spousal benefits, though the biggest impact will be on the strain to law enforcement investigating fraud.

It was done without any public input or real analysis, he told FNL, adding that the Obama administration is interpreting the Supreme Court decision in federal immigration benefits. The level of public awareness (on this issue) is below zero.

Stein added that the true impact of the DOMA decision on immigration is unknown, but that it complicates things and will give U.S. gay and lesbian citizens a new dimension to fast track to citizenship.

Running Out of Legal Options

Alegria, 35, first arrived to New York from Mexico City as a ballet dancer on a student visa in 2002. He said he did not plan on staying in the country after finishing school, but he ended up meeting Penn, 44, while working at the Bronx Opera Company. They fell in love.

Immediately (we) knew it would be tough because he was on a student visa and it was expiring, Penn said.

For nearly a decade, Alegria was in the country legally as a full-time student, but he could not work nor travel outside of the country. As he approached graduation, and with his legal options dwindling, he and Penn decided to tie the knot in January 2013.

So we tried everything. I wrote almost every politician I could think of, Penn said. I think we always knew that the Supreme Court would hear a case like this and we were just anticipating it for almost nine years.

Masliah of the DOMA Project said Alegria and Penns story was not unique and, rather, a very typical one for the more than 24,000 same-sex binational couples currently living in the U.S.

These couples were pioneers, Masliah said. It took so many years with many desperate for solutions They are still pinching themselves.

But foes of same-sex marriage said they would continue to fight until they reversed the trend of same-sex marriages. Among them is the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), whose members recently held a march in Washington and have engaged in successful campaigns against gay marriage.

Brian Brown, NOMs president, said over the past year they have continued their work to protect marriage and that the opposition had been feeding people a big mess of lies. He said the number of people at the march  he claims about 10,000 showed up  are proof that people think the same way they do.

It was amazing, Brown said. The diversity (was the best). We had blacks, whites, Hispanics, Christians, Catholics, Orthodox Jews.

Currently, 19 states have laws in place where same-sex couples can marry. In addition, judges in 12 states have issued rulings in favor of same-sex marriage, with many of these rulings are now stayed as they proceed to appellate courts.

Brown said that if the Court does not rule in their favor, it does not mean they are going away.

You think Catholics are going to forget what they know is right? Or Orthodox Jews, he said.

Happiest Day Of Their Lives

Alegria and Penn say they are just two men who fell in love  and deserve the same rights and benefits as anyone else.

Since the DOMA decision, they, along with several dozen other couples, have successfully applied for permanent residency. Alegria said it was the most nerve-racking day and the happiest day of their lives when they received the immigration paperwork.

We have a different life now. We dream more, he said with a smile.

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Via PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: Prevalence of Antibodies to Zika Virus in Mothers from Hawaii Who Delivered Babies with and without Microcephaly between 2009-2012. The abstract:

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging mosquito-borne pathogen. ZIKV infection is linked to the development of severe fetal abnormalities that include spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, hydranencephaly, and microcephaly. ZIKV outbreaks have been recorded in the United States. We recently demonstrated the first congenital ZIKV infection in the United States.

In this study, we investigated archived blood samples from six mothers who gave birth to babies with microcephaly and 12 mothers who gave birth to healthy babies in Hawaii between 2009 and 2012. We tested maternal blood for the presence of ZIKV IgM and IgG antibodies using commercially available human ZIKV IgM and IgG ELISA kits. Blood from one mother who delivered babies with microcephaly tested positive for ZIKV IgM antibody (16.6%) and blood from three mothers tested positive for ZIKV IgG antibody (50%). ZIKV showed a trend toward significance with microcephaly.

ZIKV IgG antibody positive mothers were more likely to deliver babies with microcephaly than mothers who were negative for ZIKV IgG antibodies (Odds ratio [OR] = 11.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.8147.9, p = 0.083). Similarly, ZIKV IgM antibody positive mothers were also more likely to deliver babies with microcephaly than mothers who were negative for ZIKV IgM antibody (OR = 6.8, 95% CI = 0.2195.1).

These data provide further evidence of a link between ZIKV infection and microcephaly and suggests presence of ZIKV positive cases and associated microcephaly in the United States as early as 2009.
New York City lawmakers are funding a program that will provide legal representation for all poor city residents who have been detained in the immigration system and are facing deportation.

Immigrant advocates say it's the first such program in the country.

The New York Immigrant Family Unity Project will cover all eligible immigrant city residents detained in the system and appearing in immigration courts in New York City or the New Jersey cities of Elizabeth and Newark.

Lawmakers approved $4.9 million for the initiative as part of the $75 billion budget passed early Thursday for the fiscal year which starts July 1.

Immigration law is incredibly complex, and it is exceedingly difficult for immigrants to succeed in making a case for themselves  even if they have legal grounds for one  if they don't have an attorney, said Oren Root, of the Vera Institute of Justice, which is coordinating and overseeing the project. He said data showed immigrants without attorneys won their cases about 3 percent of the time, while those with attorneys were much more likely to be successful.

"The thought that they can go up against trained government lawyers and have any chance to win their cases is just a pipe dream," said Root, director of the institute's Center on Immigration and Justice.

The point is fairness, he said, and "you can't have fair proceedings without persons being represented."

That the program is starting in New York City, with its strong immigrant history and large immigrant population, along with a liberal mayor and City Council, isn't particularly surprising.

"This is a municipality taking charge of what it believes justice looks like in these courts for these residents," said City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca.

Root said organizations in cities like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco were also looking into similar initiatives.

But ultimately, he said, the hope was that the federal government would start paying for counsel.

"Ultimately this cannot be solved nationwide jurisdiction by jurisdiction," he said.

While the criminal justice system has a guaranteed right to representation, that is not the case in civil proceedings like immigration cases.

The initiative started last year as a pilot. The pilot program had enough funds to take on 190 clients, some whose cases are still pending. Root said that by the end of May, 10 cases had been concluded with the immigrant being determined to have the right to stay in the United States.

Other cases have ended with immigrants being deported because they didn't have the legal grounds to stay, but even they benefited from the presence of an attorney, said Andrea Saenz of the Immigration Justice Clinic at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.

Attorneys help immigrants "navigate even that part with dignity," she said.

The new funds are expected to cover at least 1,300 new clients, Saenz said. The attorneys come from public defender organizations that already work in the city.

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BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP)  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Saturday during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border that she holds little hope that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this year.

After visiting a Border Patrol facility in Brownsville holding unaccompanied children, the California Democrat said politics should be set aside to address what President Barack Obama has called an "urgent humanitarian situation." More than 52,000 unaccompanied children, most from Central America, have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally since October.

A few days ago I would have been more optimistic about comprehensive immigration reform. I thought that we had been finding a way because we have been very patient and respectful of (Speaker of the House John Boehner) trying to do it one way or another. I don't think he gives us much reason to be hopeful now, but we never give up. There's still the month of July.  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

"A few days ago I would have been more optimistic about comprehensive immigration reform," Pelosi said. "I thought that we had been finding a way because we have been very patient and respectful of (Speaker of the House John Boehner) trying to do it one way or another. I don't think he gives us much reason to be hopeful now, but we never give up. There's still the month of July."

She did not elaborate on what had dampened her optimism in this midterm election year. Boehner's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Border Patrol in South Texas has been overwhelmed for several months by an influx of unaccompanied children and parents traveling with young children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Unlike Mexican immigrants arrested after entering the U.S. illegally, those from Central America cannot be as easily returned to their countries.

The U.S. had only one family detention center in Pennsylvania, so most adults traveling with young children were released and told to check in with the local immigration office when they arrived at their destination. A new facility for families is being prepared in New Mexico.

Children who traveled alone, like those visited by Pelosi in Brownsville, are handled differently. By law, they must be transferred to the custody of the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours of their arrest. From there, they are sent into a network of shelters until they can be reunited with family members while awaiting their day in immigration court.

On Saturday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said up to 2,000 unaccompanied immigrant children could be transferred from overcrowded facilities in McAllen to his county by the end of next month. He said the plan is to have youngsters spend about three weeks in Dallas County before hopefully being placed with relatives who are elsewhere in the U.S. The federal government will cover the costs, Jenkins said.

"This is not a commentary on the immigration debate," Jenkins said on the sidelines of the Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas. "This is about scared and lonely children who are trapped in not good conditions on the border, and what we can do in this county to be a part of the solution."

Jenkins said that one temporary housing facility was already being prepared and that officials were searching for two others that would be ready by late July. Gov. Rick Perry had been briefed on the plan, said Jenkins, who added he hopes the state will search for more housing options in other parts of Texas.

Pelosi said immigrants' cases should be handled on a case-by-case basis. "We don't want our good nature abused by those who would misrepresent what's happening in the United States on the subject of immigration to affect how we deal with a refugee problem."

Republicans have criticized Obama's immigration policies, arguing that they've left the impression that women and children from Central America will be allowed to stay in the United States. The administration has worked to send a clear message in recent weeks that new arrivals will be targeted for deportation. But immigrants arriving from those countries say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty.

The situation is drawing attention and politicians from both parties to South Texas. While Pelosi was speaking in Brownsville, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, appeared with the first lady of Honduras, Ana Garcia de Hernandez, in McAllen.

Next week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman and Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte is scheduled to lead members of that panel to the Rio Grande Valley and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is scheduled to hold a field hearing Thursday in McAllen.

Pelosi said she came to Brownsville at the invitation of local U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela to find out what Congress can do to help.

"The fact is these are children, children and families," Pelosi said. "We have a moral responsibility to address this in a dignified way."

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Sen. Thad Cochran's GOP primary victory, thanks in part to black Mississippians who turned out to vote for him, exemplifies a new math that politicians of all persuasions may be forced to learn as this country's voting population slowly changes complexion.

Cochran's campaign courted black voters, perceiving their unhappiness with his tea party-supported opponent, Chris McDaniel, and his anti-government rhetoric and scathing criticisms of President Barack Obama. Blacks responded by turning out to help give Cochran an almost 7,000-vote win. The use of Mississippi's open primary to further their agenda showed political maturity by black voters and debunked a longstanding belief that they obediently vote Democratic and not according to their own interests.

They turned out for a primary runoff with no Democratic candidate involved. And they voted Republican even though the smart play for the Democrats would have been to usher McDaniel to victory and create a more winnable contest for Democrat Travis Childers in November.

"I think that Thad Cochran is a shot across the bow to be felt for a long time," said the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was the first minority presidential candidate to win a statewide primary or caucus in 1984 and 1988. "You cannot win in the new South or win in national elections with all-white primaries. This is a new America today."

Tests of this assertion are coming next month in Alabama and Georgia, also Southern states with large minority populations and open primaries. The Mississippi race may be a harbinger of more strategic voting for minority voters, especially African Americans, said D'Andra Orey, a political science professor at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

"This is not a one-time situation," Orey said. "Blacks do recognize their power in the vote, and in this particular case, blacks saw that they could actually defeat or be a strong influence ... in defeating McDaniel."

In Mississippi, which is 38 percent black and on track to become the country's first majority-black state, some black voters said they planned to support Cochran, a six-term incumbent, again in November. Others said they would keep their options open in November or vote for the Democrat, even though they considered Cochran a better choice than McDaniel in the red state.

"I just think that McDaniel did as much for the Cochran turnout in the black community as Cochran people did," said Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's sole black congressman.

Agitating minority voters may soon prove politically risky anywhere in the nation: The numbers of black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American voters are growing not only in presidential election years but in off-cycle elections as well, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In presidential election years, the percentage of black voters eclipsed the percentage of whites for the first time in 2012, when 66.2 percent of blacks voted, compared to 64.1 percent of non-Hispanics whites and about 48 percent of Hispanics and Asians.

The number of African-American and other minority voters has also been increasing during off-cycle, non-presidential elections. For example, in the 2010 congressional and statewide elections, 47.8 percent of non-Hispanic whites, 40.7 percent of blacks, 21.3 percent of Asians and 20.5 percent of Hispanics voted.

But the only groups to increase their numbers were blacks and Hispanics, who voted at 38.6 percent and 19.3 percent respectively in 2006 congressional and statewide elections. The white and Asian participation rate dropped during that same time period from 50.5 percent and 21.8 percent.

And black participation in off-year elections has been steadily increasing since 1994, when it was 37.1 percent. In 1998, it 39.6 percent, in 2002 39.7 percent and a slight dip in 2006 at 38.6 percent. No other group showed a similar increase.

Black voting increased during the Mississippi GOP primary. Statewide turnout increased by almost 70,000 votes over the June 3 primary, with turnout in majority-black counties growing by 43 percent, while in counties where blacks are less than a majority, it grew 17 percent.

Carol M. Swain, a law and political science professor at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, doubted those voters would become Republicans but said they could become swing voters in some races. "I believe they may have purchased some influence with the Republican establishment that could benefit blacks in the long run," Swain said.

Democrats, in return, plan to address more African American issues in upcoming campaign, but they have been warned not to take those votes for granted. At a recent meeting with black journalists and advocates, several U.S. senators were warned that some black voters had noticed that Democrats had no problem talking about veterans' issues, women's issues or LBGT issues, but seemed hesitant to talk about and address black issues on the Senate floor.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said he could understand how "off-putting" it could be that Democrats "are all about equality and all about the big tent, but we're talking about other folks and not us," a loyal voting base.

"I hadn't really thought about our strong advocacy on these diversity issues actually could have an undercurrent of 'We must not be that important because you're not talking about us the same way,'" Kaine said.

Recognition of that can only be a good thing for minority voters, Swain said.

"The positive thing to come out of this is that more white candidates and incumbents will campaign among black voters, and maybe they will deliver more," she said.

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The downcast faces on computer screens are 1,500 miles away at a Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas: a 20-year old Honduran woman arrested rafting across the Rio Grande and a 23-year-old man caught under similar circumstances.

Four agents wearing headsets reel through a list of personal questions, spending up to an hour on each adult and even longer on children. On an average day, hundreds of migrants are questioned on camera by agents in San Diego and other stations on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The long-distance interviews  introduced last year in El Paso, Texas, and extended to California  are a response to the dramatic increase of Central Americans crossing the border in Texas that also has flooded immigration facilities with hundreds of women and children. The Border Patrol does not have the staff to process all the immigrants crossing in the Rio Grande Valley, but faraway colleagues have time to spare.

The remote video processing reveals a perpetual predicament that has long bedeviled the Border Patrol. Many agents wind up stationed in places where crossing activity is slowest because the Border Patrol struggles to keep up with constantly shifting migration patterns.

One example of the staffing mismatch: the roughly 2,500 agents in the San Diego sector arrested 97 immigrants illegally crossing the border on June 14, according to an internal document reviewed by The Associated Press. On the same day, the roughly 3,200 agents in the Rio Grande Valley made 1,422 arrests.

President Barack Obama will ask Congress for more than $2 billion to respond to the flood of immigrants illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley and for new powers to deal with returning unaccompanied children, a White House official said Saturday. A letter will be sent to Congress on Monday, said the official who was not authorized to speak by name and discussed the requests on condition of anonymity. The exact amount and how it will be spent will come after Congress returns from recess on July 7. Whether any funds will go toward border staffing is unknown.

In San Diego, the video processing is a welcome change of pace. Arrests are at 45-year lows and many agents go entire shifts without finding anyone. Cesar Rodriguez, who joined the Border Patrol in 2010, said eight hours fly by since he gave up his assignment watching a stretch of scrub-covered hills east of San Diego and took on a new assignment to process the immigrants via video.

"If there's nothing going on, what are you going to do? You're just staring at the fence," Rodriguez said in his new office, whose parking lot offers sweeping views of hillside homes in Tijuana, Mexico.

A few feet away, Victor Nunez says he interviewed a woman carrying a 4-month-old child and spent his last shift working on a group of 93 people that crossed the Rio Grande at once. Such activity was unheard of on his overnight shift patrolling the quiet mountains near San Diego.

"I feel like we're helping out our agents," said Nunez, who joined the Border Patrol in 2011. "It's a big problem going on there."

The McAllen station is designed to hold a few hundred people, but often teems with more than 1,000 who spill into hallways and outside. Migrants have been sent to stations in quieter parts of Texas, and they were overwhelmed. Overcrowding at the Laredo station prompted a visit from the fire marshal last month.

The shift to the Rio Grande Valley is part of a long-running trend where immigrants and smugglers change crossing locations faster than the government responds.

San Diego was the hot spot until the mid-1990s, when 1,000 agents were added there. After traffic moved to Arizona, staffing in Tucson ballooned under President George W. Bush, who doubled the Border Patrol close to its current size of more than 21,000 agents.

Some warn against bulking up in South Texas because smuggling routes will inevitably change along the 1,954-mile border.

"They don't want to transfer a mass amount of agents and open a gap somewhere else where we have control," said David Aguilar, the Border Patrol chief from 2004 to 2010.

Forced transfers must be negotiated with the National Border Patrol Council, the union which represents agents, and have not happened on a large scale.

The Border Patrol can move agents for 35 days  longer by mutual agreement  but those temporary assignments are expensive. More than 100 agents were sent to Rio Grande Valley this spring for short stays.

Voluntary transfers were an option but have not been used widely in South Texas. The Border Patrol began a campaign about 10 years ago, partly aimed at boosting morale, to offer more transfers if agents moved themselves. And, as agents quit or retire, the vast majority of new hires who replace them are now assigned to Rio Grande Valley.

The Border Patrol introduced video processing in El Paso in April 2013 to address the surge in Rio Grande Valley, where most border crossers are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala and many are unaccompanied children. It expanded the processing to El Centro, California, in March, and to San Diego last month.

Between 230 and 500 people have been processed by video each day since it was introduced last year, but lack of detention space in Rio Grande Valley recently prompted authorities to fly migrants to El Paso and Arizona for processing, said Jackie Wasiluk, a spokeswoman for the Border Patrol's parent agency, Customs and Border Protection. The agency said Friday that it will also fly migrants to California for processing.

Costs are not an issue with video processing. Headsets and cameras are $70 apiece, and it's a small sacrifice to supervisors.

Agents use a long questionnaire that aims to establish identity  where they lived, where they went to school, where they went to church. Most migrants don't have identification, so U.S. authorities must convince consulates to issue passports. Otherwise, they can't be deported.

Throughout their shifts, agents trade instant messages with counterparts in Rio Grande Valley.

"If you have time, can you adjust the camera? It was too high. Ready for another case if you have one," typed Jake Garcia, a San Diego agent for five years.

His counterpart was talking to a group of migrants. Garcia swirled his chair for something rare in his new role: He took a break.

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President Barack Obama will seek more than $2 billion to respond to the flood of immigrants illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas and ask for new powers to deal with returning immigrant children apprehended while traveling without their parents, a White House official said Saturday.

With Obama looking to Congress for help with what he has called an "urgent humanitarian situation," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi visited a Border Patrol facility in Brownsville that held unaccompanied children. More than 52,000 unaccompanied children, most from Central America, have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally since October.

"The fact is these are children  children and families," Pelosi said. "We have a moral responsibility to address this in a dignified way."

Obama plans to make the requests of Congress in a letter to be sent Monday, the White House official said. Details of the emergency appropriation, including the exact amount and how it will be spent, will come after lawmakers return from their holiday recess on July 7, said the official, who was not authorized to speak by name and discussed the requests on condition of anonymity.

Obama will also ask that the Homeland Security Department be granted the authority to apply "fast track" procedures to the screening and deportation of all immigrant children traveling without their parents and that stiffer penalties be applied to those who smuggle children across the border, the official said. Obama's requests were reported first by The New York Times.

In Brownsville, Pelosi said she holds little hope that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this year but that politics should be set aside.

"A few days ago I would have been more optimistic about comprehensive immigration reform," Pelosi said. "I thought that we had been finding a way because we have been very patient and respectful of (Speaker of the House John Boehner) trying to do it one way or another. I don't think he gives us much reason to be hopeful now, but we never give up. There's still the month of July."

U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's surprise primary loss this month almost certainly doomed the chance for an immigration overhaul in the GOP-controlled House this year. Cantor, R-Va., had spoken in favor of citizenship for immigrants brought illegally to this country as youths. But he lost to a political novice who made immigration the race's central issue, accusing Cantor of embracing "amnesty" and open borders.

This past week, a leading House supporter of policy changes said legislative efforts on the issue were dead. Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, who's been one of the most bullish Democrats about the chances for action, said he had given up. Boehner's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.

Republicans have criticized Obama's immigration policies, arguing they've left the impression that women and children from Central America will be allowed to stay in the United States. The administration has worked to send a clear message in recent weeks that new arrivals will be targeted for deportation. But immigrants arriving from those countries say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty.

The Border Patrol in South Texas has been overwhelmed for several months by an influx of unaccompanied children and parents traveling with young children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Unlike Mexican immigrants arrested after entering the U.S. illegally, those from Central America cannot be as easily returned to their countries.

The U.S. had only one family detention center in Pennsylvania, so most adults traveling with young children were released and told to check in with the local immigration office when they arrived at their destination. A new facility for families is being prepared in New Mexico.

Children who traveled alone, like those visited by Pelosi in Brownsville, are handled differently. By law, they must be transferred to the custody of the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours of their arrest. From there, they are sent into a network of shelters until they can be reunited with family members while awaiting their day in immigration court.

Also Saturday, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said up to 2,000 unaccompanied immigrant children could be transferred from overcrowded facilities in McAllen, Texas, to his county by the end of next month. He said the plan is to have youngsters spend about three weeks in the North Texas county before hopefully being placed with relatives who are elsewhere in the U.S. The federal government will cover the costs, Jenkins said.

Meanwhile, Pelosi said immigrants' cases should be handled on a case-by-case basis.

"We don't want our good nature abused by those who would misrepresent what's happening in the United States on the subject of immigration to affect how we deal with a refugee problem," she said.

The situation is drawing attention and politicians from both parties to South Texas. While Pelosi was speaking in Brownsville, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, appeared with the first lady of Honduras, Ana Garcia de Hernandez, in McAllen.

Next week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman and Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte is scheduled to lead members of that panel to the Rio Grande Valley, and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, is scheduled to hold a field hearing Thursday in McAllen.

Pelosi said she came to Brownsville at the invitation of local U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela to find out what Congress can do to help.

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President Barack Obama and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet pledged to work together Monday to strengthen the ties between both nations, including projects on energy, education and free trade.

Obama met in the Oval Office on Monday with Bachelet, whom he called his second favorite Michelle.

A White House statement about the meeting said the presidents discussed the 2004 U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA), as well as security in Latin America, educational exchanges and a solar power plant in the South American nation.

In a statement, the White House noted that the "tremendous success in increasing exports and economic opportunities in our two countries."

"Since the FTA entered into force ten years ago, two-way bilateral trade has grown to $28 billion," it said. "U.S. goods exports to Chile have increased by 545 percent and U.S. goods imports from Chile have increased by 180 percent since 2003."

"Based on our shared commitment to open markets and high standards for trade and investment, the United States and Chile are now working together, along with ten other countries, to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations," the statement said. "The TPP will build on our FTA and extend ambitious 21st century trade and investment rules that will open markets for U.S. and Chilean exporters."

Bachelet praised the relationship between the two nations.

"We are commemorating 10 years of the free trade agreement from the U.S. and Chile," said Bachelet in a press conference at the White House. "And the U.S. is our, I would say, our most important foreign investor. We want to continue that path."

Obama told reporters as the meeting got under way about the collaboration on clean energy, including a major solar facility to help meet Chile's energy needs.

Bachelet was elected president in March. She previously served from 2006 to 2010 and was Chile's first woman to be elected head of state. Obama joked that she is his "second favorite Michelle," presumably after the first lady.

Obama says they also were discussing regional security and other issues before the United Nations Security Council. Chile is one of the non-permanent members of the council this year.

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The Supreme Court ruled Monday that some corporations can hold religious objections that allow them to opt out of the new health law requirement that they cover contraceptives for women.

The justices' 5-4 decision is the first time that the high court has ruled that profit-seeking businesses can hold religious views under federal law. And it means the Obama administration must search for a different way of providing free contraception to women who are covered under objecting companies' health insurance plans.

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) was among the first to praise the decision, calling it a victory for religious freedom.

"The Supreme Court has correctly recognized that Obamacares trampling of religious liberty in the Hobby Lobby case should not stand," Rubio said according to Sunshine State News.

"The Supreme Courts Hobby Lobby decision is a re-affirmation of Americas commitment to religious freedom and a reminder of why Obamacare is such a flawed law that needs to be entirely repealed and replaced."

Under the health care law signed in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court two years later, contraception is one of the preventive services that must be provided at no extra charge.

Two years ago, Chief Justice John Roberts cast the pivotal vote that saved the health care law in the midst of Obama's campaign for re-election. On Monday, dealing with a small sliver of the law, Roberts sided with the four justices who would have struck down the law in its entirety.

Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority opinion. The court's four liberal justices dissented.

The court stressed that its ruling applies only to corporations that are under the control of just a few people in which there is no essential difference between the business and its owners, like the Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby chain of arts-and-craft stores that challenged the provision.

Alito also said the decision is limited to contraceptives under the health care law. "Our decision should not be understood to hold that an insurance-coverage mandate must necessarily fall if it conflicts with an employer's religious beliefs," Alito said.

He suggested two ways the administration could ensure women get the contraception they want. It could simply pay for pregnancy prevention, he said.

Or it could provide the same kind of accommodation it has made available to religious-oriented, not-for-profit corporations. Those groups can tell the government that providing the coverage violates their religious beliefs. At that point, the groups' insurers or a third-party administrator takes on the responsibility of paying for the birth control.

The accommodation is the subject of separate legal challenges, but the court said Monday that the profit-seeking companies could not assert religious claims in such a situation.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, who was part of the majority, also wrote separately to emphasize that the administration can solve its problem easily. "The accommodation works by requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost sharing, contraception coverage for female employees who wish it," Kennedy said. He said that arrangement "does not impinge on the plaintiffs' religious beliefs."

Houses of worship and other religious institutions whose primary purpose is to spread the faith are exempt from the requirement to offer birth control.

In a dissent she read aloud from the bench, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the decision "potentially sweeping" because it minimizes the government's interest in uniform compliance with laws affecting the workplace. "And it discounts the disadvantages religion-based opt outs impose on others, in particular, employees who do not share their employer's religious beliefs," Ginsburg said.

Similarly disagreeing with the Supreme Court's ruling was the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health Executive Director, Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, who released a statement Monday.

"We are deeply disappointed in todays decision, which deals a serious blow to Latina health and religious liberty. It is terribly concerning that this decision opens the door for bosses to interfere with the personal healthcare decisions of their employees," Gonzalez-Rojas said.

The administration said a victory for the companies would prevent women who work for them from making decisions about birth control based on what's best for their health, not whether they can afford it. The government's supporters pointed to research showing that nearly one-third of women would change their contraceptive if cost were not an issue; a very effective means of birth control, the intrauterine device, can cost up to $1,000.

The contraceptives at issue before the court were the emergency contraceptives Plan B and ella, and two IUDs.

Nearly 50 businesses have sued over covering contraceptives. Some, like those involved in the Supreme Court case, are willing to cover most methods of contraception, as long as they can exclude drugs or devices that the government says may work after an egg has been fertilized. Other companies object to paying for any form of birth control.

There are separate lawsuits challenging the contraception provision from religiously affiliated hospitals, colleges and charities.

A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 85 percent of large American employers already had offered such coverage before the health care law required it.

Most working women will probably see no impact from the ruling, corporate health benefits consultants expect. Publicly traded companies are unlikely to drag religion into their employee benefit plans, said Mark Holloway, director of compliance services at the Lockton Companies, an insurance broker that serves medium-sized and growing employers.

"Most employers view health insurance as a tool to attract and retain employees," said Holloway. "Women employees want access to contraceptive coverage and most employers don't have a problem providing that coverage. It is typically not a high-cost item."

Hobby Lobby is by far the largest employer of any company that has gone to court to fight the birth control provision.

"This fight is not over," concluded Gonzalez-Rojas in her statement for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. "Latinas have been fighting for a long time for our human right to healthcare, and were going to keep fighting until that right is a reality for every woman, regardless of where she lives or works, her income, or her immigration status."

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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A senior White House official says House Speaker John Boehner has told President Barack Obama the House of Representatives won't vote on an immigration overhaul this year. The official says Obama will take steps on his own to change immigration policies through executive actions, without congressional approval.

Obama is expected to address the immigration issue in remarks later Monday.

The official said Obama will confront a rising influx of children across the border by refocusing immigration enforcement. The move will effectively reduce the number of deportations in the country's interior by stressing enforcement action on individuals who are either recent unlawful border crossers or who present a national security, public safety, or border security threat.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because this person was not authorized to discuss the issue by name ahead of Obama's remarks.

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His voice was hoarse, and at times barely above a whisper, but Bill Clinton's message to Florida Democrats was clear: We need to do a better job of turning out the vote in mid-term elections.

"So far we're winning in presidential years, and they're winning in non-presidential years," Clinton told the crowd of 1,500 at the state party's largest fund-raising event.

"It is a recipe for gridlock," he said during his 41 minute speech that raised a record $1.1 million for the state party.

Clinton stressed that a primary target for voter turnout should be Hispanics and even Cuban-American voters  who have traditionally supported Republican candidates but are now showing a generational shift.

"More and more young Hispanics, including Cuban-Americans, are voting Democrat, but it only counts if you show up," Clinton said.

According to a recent Pew Research survey, less that half of Cuban registered voters nationwide now identify or lean Republican, down from double digits from only a decade ago.

"The share of Cubans who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Part has doubled from 22 percent to 44 percent over the same time period," according to the research.

Among Latino voters, Cuban-Americans have the highest turnout rates.

In 2012, a whopping 67 percent of Cuban-Americans voted while only 48 percent of Latinos overall turned out for the 2012 presidential election.

Clinton pointed to the success of Terry McAuliffe, and Democrats in Virginia, who won that state's hotly-contested gubernatorial race because of the high African-American voter turnout rate was the same as the historic 2008 presidential election, when President Obama won.

"If they can do it, you can do it," Clinton rasped.

Recent polls, show incumbent Republican, Gov. Rick Scott, in a statistical tie with his likely general election opponent Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor, now a Democrat.

Scott was blasted by the former president throughout his speech. Clinton called Scott's policies "trickle-down economics," and said if re-elected the Republican governor would give tax cuts to the wealthy and make "cuts in education."

"Explain, explain, explain," Clinton told the audience, intently listening and taking pictures with their iPhones, "then figure out how to physically get people to the polls."

"Go out there, and get people to vote. Our future depends on it," Clinton said, in conclusion.
President Barack Obama said that Republicans in the House of Representatives are standing in the way of fixing the flawed immigration system, and that hes done waiting for them to act.

In a press conference on Monday, Obama said that House Speaker John Boehner told him that the House, where Republicans have a majority, will not vote on immigration reform this year.

And so, the president said, he will act on his own to fix the parts of the immigration system that he can address through executive action.

Obama said he instructed Homeland Security Department Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Eric Holder to present him with executive actions he can take without congressional approval by the end of the summer.

If Congress cannot do their job, we can do ours, he said.

One of the first steps Obama said he would take immediately would be to refocus immigration enforcement away from the countrys interior and on to a Mexican border overrun by children crossing illegally from Central America.

Theyre being apprehended, he said of the children. The problem is that our system is so broken, so unclear, that folks dont know what the rules are.

Obama says there are enough Republicans and Democrats in the House to pass an immigration bill today, and says he would sign it.

The Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive bill in June, 2013 that included tightening border security and creating a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who meet a strict set of criteria. But the effort stalled in the House, where conservative Republicans said they would not approve a bill that gives undocumented immigrants amnesty, which they said would be tantamount to rewarding law breakers.

Obama says hes waited for more than a year to give Boehner space to act.

I take executive action only when we have a serious problem, and Congress chooses to do nothing, Obama said.

Obama says the thousands of unaccompanied children showing up on the border underscore the need to drop the politics and act on immigration.

Republicans have accused Obama of creating the impression overseas  through initiatives that suspend deportation for certain undocumented immigrants  that if children make it to the United States illegally, they will be able to stay.

Obamas decision effectively declares that a broad-based reform of the immigration system is dead for the year, and perhaps for the remainder of his administration. Changing immigration laws and providing a path to citizenship for about 11 million immigrants in the country illegally has been one Obamas top priorities as he sought to conclude his presidency with a major second-term victory.

Obamas plan to concentrate immigration resources on the border areas will effectively reduce the number of deportations in the countrys interior by stressing enforcement action on individuals who are either recent unlawful border crossers or who present a national security, public safety, or border security threat.

Boehner immediately released a statement assailing Obama.

The crisis at our southern border reminds us all of the critical importance of fixing our broken immigration system, Boehner said. It is sad and disappointing that  faced with this challenge  President Obama won't work with us, but is instead intent on going it alone with executive orders that can't and won't fix these problems.

Alfonso Aguilar, executive director for the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, said that there was plenty of blame to go around for the failure to reform immigration policies.

"I agree with President Obama that House Republicans have failed to lead on immigration, an issue that requires immediate attention," said Aguilar, but added: "Unilateral administrative action at this time would only serve to antagonize Republicans. I therefore encourage the President to postpone any executive action for the time being and try to begin working with Republicans to get immigration reform done in 2015.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Via KBS World Radio: Acting President Orders All-out Efforts to Steady AI in 1 Week. He;s the acting president because the elected president was recently impeached. The full report and then a comment:

Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has given orders to stabilize the avian influenza (AI) outbreak over the coming week.

Presiding over a daily meeting to monitor AI at the Seoul Government Complex on Tuesday, Hwang said the government has been unable to ease concerns over bird flu despite strenuous efforts on the field.

He told officials to go all out during the coming week to prevent the further spread of AI.

The acting president said he will try to attend the joint government-private sector AI meetings every day to monitor and resolve the situation.

It would be interesting to know something about the avian flu situation in North Korea. Presumably wild birds are visiting the Democratic People's Republic as well.
A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a Mexican teenager killed by a Border Patrol agent was protected by the U.S. Constitution, even though the teen was on Mexican soil when he was shot.

The ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the family of 15-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca can move forward with a civil lawsuit against the agent.

"This recognizes human rights belong to everyone. Not just American citizens," or people standing on U.S. soil, said Bob Hilliard, one of the lawyers representing the family.

The original lawsuit was filed against the Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, agent Jesus Mesa and the U.S. Department of Justice. But part of the ruling relieves the agent's supervisors and the agencies from responsibility.

"The appellants (do not point to) any other evidence that would suggest that the supervisors were personally responsible for the alleged constitutional violation," the ruling says.

Hilliard said the family will likely appeal that part of the ruling.

Both the government and Mesa can also appeal the ruling. The Border Patrol said it would not comment on the matter as it opens the possibility of litigation. Mesa's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press.

Mesa shot Hernandez in 2010 near a border bridge between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez while trying to arrest immigrants who crossed illegally into the United States. Mesa said he was attacked by rock throwers. Border Patrol agents are allowed to shoot at rock throwers if they feel their lives or those in their custody are at risk.

U.S. District Judge David Briones found in 2011 that the family could not sue because the shooting's effects were "felt in Mexico." But the appeals court said that "territorial approach" would allow agents to establish "zones of lawlessness."

It "would establish a perverse rule that would treat differently two individuals subject to the same conduct merely because one managed to cross into our territory," the appeals court ruling says. It also says that giving people standing on Mexican soil protection from "conscience shocking" actions by border agents, such as the shooting of Hernandez Guereca, is not a new policy. Immigrants who are inside the U.S., even those who are to be removed from the country, "are entitled to feel free of gross physical abuse by federal agents," it says.

Extending that right to people injured across the border by U.S. agents standing on U.S. soil, would inform the officials that they are not allowed to arbitrarily inflict harm in this "new, but similar, context," the court said.

"Today the Fifth Circuit helped ensure that CBP agents are held accountable for shocking and outrageous abuse, even when their victims aren't inside the U.S. ... The Fifth Circuit clearly signaled that Border Patrol cannot operate with impunity," American Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney Adriana Piuon said in a statement. The ACLU was not directly involved but filed a friend of the court brief in the case.

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The U.S. Border Patrol is not the only federal agency overwhelmed by the huge influx of undocumented minors at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which had expected its greatest task at the time to be dealing with the disastrous rollout of the Affordable Care Act, is scrambling to care for and provide services to the tens of thousands of unaccompanied children coming to the United States from Central America.

Many are coming from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, either fleeing violence in those countries, or seeking to reunite with parents or other relatives here, authorities say. About 50,000 have come within the past year.

The children are first put in the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol and then are handed over to HHS within 72 hours.

HHS takes them into one of several immigration shelters in various states  the administration said it is looking for more facilities to send the children. The agency is tasked with providing the children with services that include medical care, food, clothing, socialization and recreation, according to the HHS website.

The influx of children is straining the program  called Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC)  which was meant to serve some 8,000 children a year while their cases were pending in immigration court, say representatives of child advocacy groups.

The system as it was created was never meant to hold this many children, said Megan McKenna, communications and advocacy director of Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), in an interview with Fox News Latino. Were very concerned that these children, who would like to claim U.S. protection and who are potentially eligible for U.S. protection are not able to access our system for proper guidance on their rights and criteria for staying in the country.

Once in HHS custody, the agency then works to locate a parent or other relative with whom the child can stay. Some also stay in foster care.

Some child advocacy groups, including KIND, are assisting the government by doing such things as helping to provide basic necessities to the children, as well as guidance on what immigration relief may apply to them.

Human rights groups and lawyers who have spoken to many of the children estimate that between 60 to 80 percent of them could qualify for political asylum or a special visa for unaccompanied children who are deemed to have been abandoned, neglected or abused.

These are children, said McKenna. If they are kept in a Border Patrol facility and asked questions, its going to be very hard for them to talk about whats happened to them. Theyve just come out of the desert without a parent or legal guardian, and in many cases these children are also abused on the journey here.

Many who are released from HHSs supervision are referred to groups such as KIND, which has handled more than 6,000 children, including some as young as 2 years old.

They say they feel they have to leave their countries or die, McKenna said. The majority say they were targeted by violent gangs and cartels. There is very little state protection in these countries.

But some say that HHS is ill-prepared to handle the crisis  and, they argue, the federal government is unfairly being burdened by the sudden mass of children illegally crossing the border.

I am deeply concerned with HHS lack of transparency and preparation, Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) wrote in a letter to HHS. Where is HHS currently housing UACs and for how long? What other sites/locations are currently planned? What do you anticipate to be the final cost of housing UACs to taxpayers?

Obama is seeking about $2 billion to respond to the flood of immigrants illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas and ask for new powers to deal with returning immigrant children apprehended while traveling without their parents.

Details of the emergency appropriation, including the exact amount and how it will be spent, will come after lawmakers return from their holiday recess on July 7, according to published reports.

Obama also is asking that the Homeland Security Department be granted the authority to apply "fast track" procedures to the screening and deportation of all immigrant children traveling without their parents and that stiffer penalties be applied to those who smuggle children across the border.

Its an emergency response and everyone is doing best they can, McKenna said. These children are potentially very traumatized. Were concerned the system is breaking down.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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An overflow crowd in a Southern California community where protesters turned back Homeland Security busloads of immigrants gave a harsh reception to federal officials behind the decision to bring them to Murrieta in the first place.

Local politicians calling for secure borders proved far more popular with the crowd Wednesday night.

"Send them back! Send the back!" the special-meeting crowd chanted, shouting down Chief Border Patrol Agent Paul Beeson after he took responsibility for transferring the Central American children and families to Murrieta from Texas, where the numbers are too much for facilities to handle.

On Tuesday, the buses were rerouted an hour south to San Diego after they were met with flag-waving protesters in Murrieta.

The Wednesday night crowd, gathered at a high school auditorium that seats 750 in the desert city of 100,000 people, groaned when Beeson said four of the immigrants had to be hospitalized, two with scabies and two with fevers.

And Beeson conceded that he did not know where Tuesday's immigrants nor several more waves slated to arrive from Texas in coming days will end up.

"We will make decisions when they arrive where it makes the most sense to put them," he said.

The federal government is working to deal with a flood of Central American children and families fleeing to the United States.

More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been detained after crossing the Texas-Mexico border since October in what President Barack Obama has called a humanitarian crisis. Many are under the impression that they will receive leniency from U.S. authorities.

Murrieta Mayor Alan Long, who urged locals to oppose the immigrant transfer plan before it began, said the city will track any spending it does over the issue and send a "big fat bill" to Washington.

"Change needs to occur at the federal level in many ways," he said to a loud ovation.

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone, was wildly cheered after calling for secure borders and denouncing what he called the "exploitation" by the federal government of the traumatized women and children immigrants.

Another group of roughly 140 immigrants arrived from Texas for processing on Wednesday, but they were sent to El Centro more than 140 miles away and were met without incident.

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As American citizens commemorate the anniversary of the country's Independence from the British, President Barack Obama plans to preside over a citizenship ceremony for service members who signed up to defend the U.S. even though they werent American citizens.

A total of 24 members of the Armed forces will spend the Fourth of July as U.S. citizens after the deputy secretary for homeland security delivers the oath of allegiance at a White House ceremony on Friday  a positive side of the immigration debate.

The group includes 15 active-duty members from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, along with two veterans, one reservist and seven spouses, the white House said. They represent 15 countries.

The politically divisive immigration issue is earning renewed attention after the influx of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America who, under U.S. law, must be sent back across the border to their home countries. That has upset advocates of overhauling U.S. immigration policy who want Obama to allow the children to stay.

At the same time, Obama blames House Republicans for delaying action on an immigration overhaul. A comprehensive measure the Senate passed last year has been blocked by House leaders who also have done little to advance legislative proposals of their own.

Obama announced earlier this week that, as a result of lawmakers' inaction, he will pursue non-legislative ways that he can adjust U.S. immigration policy without waiting for Congress to act.

Obama and his wife, Michelle, spend the Fourth of July with service members they invite to the White House for an all-American barbecue on the South Lawn and choice seating for the fireworks on the National Mall. Obama said some of the service members who will be at the White House on Friday are unique.

"They signed up to serve, to sacrifice, potentially to give their lives for the security of this country even though they weren't yet Americans. That's how much they love this country," Obama said in announcing the ceremony earlier this week. "They were prepared to fight and die for an America they did not yet fully belong to. I think they've earned their stripes in more ways than one."

He said it is worth celebrating that the U.S. is "a nation of immigrants."

"We won this country's freedom together. We built this country together. We defended this country together," he said. "It makes us special. It makes us strong. It makes us Americans. That's worth celebrating. And that's what I want not just House Republicans, but all of us, as Americans to remember."

Obama participated in naturalization ceremonies at the White House in 2009, 2010, 2012 and last year.

Friday's ceremony will also recognize internationally known celebrity chef Jose Andres for outstanding achievements by a naturalized U.S. citizen. Andres, who is 44 and was born in Spain, became a citizen last November and also will mark his first July Fourth as a citizen.

Andres serves on the boards of the DC Central Kitchen and the L.A. Kitchen, in addition to international philanthropic work carried out through his World Central Kitchen. Andres runs restaurants in California, Nevada, Florida, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. He has prepared meals for White House and other Obama administration events, and Obama and the first lady have gone out to dinner at some of his Andres' restaurants in Washington. Andres also contributed financially to both of Obama's presidential campaigns.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.

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Celebrating the ethnic diversity of America, President Barack Obama said more than two dozen foreign-born service members who became U.S. citizens at a White House ceremony on the Fourth of July are vivid reminders that the country is, and always has been, a nation of immigrants.

He said the vast range of backgrounds and experiences that made America a melting pot for more than 200 years also makes it stronger, but that the immigration system has to be retooled for the U.S. to keep its place as the greatest nation on earth.

"If we want to keep attracting the best and the brightest from beyond our shores, we're going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken," Obama said after 25 service members from 15 countries raised their right hands and pledged allegiance to the United States. "Pass common-sense immigration reform. We shouldn't be making it harder for the best and the brightest to come here, and create jobs here, and grow our economy here. We should be making it easier."

The hot-button issue of immigration is earning renewed attention after the influx to the U.S. of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children from Central America. Under U.S. law, they must be sent back across the border with Mexico to their home countries, which has upset immigration advocates who already take issue with Obama's strict enforcement of deportation policy. They want Obama to allow the children to stay; he says he must follow the law.

At the same time, Obama blames House Republicans for delaying action on immigration legislation. A comprehensive measure the Senate passed last summer has been blocked by House leaders who also have done little to advance their own immigration proposals.

Obama announced earlier this week that, as a result of inaction on Capitol Hill, he will pursue non-legislative ways that he can adjust U.S. immigration policy without waiting for Congress to send him a bill.

"I'm going to keep doing everything I can to keep making our immigration system smarter and more efficient so hard-working men and women like all of you have the opportunity to join the American family and to serve our great nation," he said at Friday's ceremony. "So we can be stronger and more prosperous and more whole  together."

In the evening, Obama and his wife, Michelle, were welcoming a larger group of service members, including the new citizens, to an all-American barbecue on the South Lawn, along with prime seating for the fireworks on the National Mall.

"Together, all of you remind us that America is and always has been a nation of immigrants," he told those at the naturalization ceremony. He noted that they had signed up "to fight and potentially to give your life for a country that you didn't fully belong to yet."

Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban who became a naturalized citizen in 1973, administered the oath of allegiance.

Mayorkas also used the ceremony to recognize internationally known celebrity chef Jose Andres for outstanding achievements by a naturalized U.S. citizen. Born in Spain, the 44-year-old Andres became a citizen last November and is spending his first July Fourth as an American citizen.

Andres serves on the boards of the DC Central Kitchen and the L.A. Kitchen, and does philanthropic work through his World Central Kitchen. He runs restaurants in California, Nevada, Florida, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. Andres, an active immigration advocate, has prepared meals for White House and other Obama administration events, while Obama and the first lady have dined at some of Andres' restaurants in Washington.

Andres also contributed financially to both of Obama's presidential campaigns.

Obama presented Andres with a certificate and invited him to the microphone, but the chef politely declined. Later on Twitter, Andres said: "Humbled to receive Outstanding American by Choice Award. Happy to be part of this great nation!"

Obama had another reason to celebrate on Friday. His oldest daughter, Malia, turned 16.

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Thousands of Haitians have been lining up this summer at government offices in the Dominican Republic trying to take advantage of a rare chance to secure legal status in a country where they've long lived in the shadows.

For most, hope is quickly turning into disappointment.

Since a program to grant residency to Haitians who have been living in the Dominican Republic since 2011 opened June 2, only a tiny fraction of applicants have managed to show sufficient documentation from their homeland to secure the status, officials say. And a deadline to register or face deportation arrives early next year.

Migrant workers like Luccene Philome, part of a small group who spent a recent night camped out at the Ministry of the Interior to be at the front of the line the next day, say they are being told that their documents must include a Haitian identity card, passport or birth certificate.

"I lacked just about everything," Philome said as he emerged from the office. The 36-year-old, whose many years as a bricklayer have worn down his hands, even had a tough time getting his fingerprints taken by Dominican officials.

Migrants from Haiti have long had a tough time in the Dominican Republic, but in this case their anger is largely directed at Haiti's government, which has been slow to issue the needed documents amid its usual bureaucratic torpor and has been charging fees that are far higher than most people can afford. Haitians have staged several protests in recent weeks outside their government's embassy in Santo Domingo over the issue.

Haiti is charging the equivalent of about $60 for a new birth certificate, voter ID and a passport, a special rate for the migrant registration process since it normally costs $80 for a just a passport. Still, it's too expensive in a place where migrant workers barely earn $5 a day, said William Charpentier, director of the National Migration Roundtable, a non-governmental group.

"In our view, the Haitian authorities have been somewhat irresponsible," Charpentier said.

The Haitian government has been coming under increasing international pressure to address the issue and a solution may emerge before the deadline. But the Dominican residency process, known as "regularization," is clearly off to a slow start. Of the more than 50,000 migrants who have sought to register, less than 10,000 had any kind of formal documentation of their identity and only 120 met all the requirements, Interior Minister Ramon Fadul says.

No one knows exactly how many migrants live in the Dominican Republic, but the United Nations estimates there may be as many as 500,000. The two countries share the island of Hispaniola and a porous border that in some places is no more than a dry riverbed or a chalk-white dusty road.

Comparatively much wealthier than its neighbor, the Dominican Republic has long been a magnet for low-wage workers from Haiti but it has been seeking to limit unregulated, cross-border traffic in recent years.

As part of that effort, the Dominican government agreed to allow migrants who came before October 2011 to register to stay and work.

It's a separate issue from a controversy ignited last year when the country's Supreme Court ruled that people born in the Dominican Republic to non-citizens are not eligible for citizenship. Human rights groups say the retroactive decision effectively disenfranchises hundreds of thousands of people. The government has approved a program to resolve their status but it has not yet been implemented.

Migrants who may qualify for residency are scrambling to get documents from the Haitian Embassy or back in Haiti. And they are spending the night at Interior Ministry offices, sometimes entire families.

"A lot of people are coming here, everyone in my neighborhood," said Odige Liphete, a 26-year-old migrant in one line.

Without residency papers, migrants fear deportation when the deadline expires and a life in which they cannot work or enroll in school.

Philome says he will keep trying to secure his documents.

"I've got to take the time to do it, if I don't take the time I won't achieve anything," he said.

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Activists are pointing to the delayed deportation of a Utah mother and her children as the kind of compassion they hope President Barack Obama will pursue in the wake of his announcement that he'll act on his own to address immigration problems.

Garland resident Ana Canenquez and four of her seven children were originally ordered to leave the United States and return to El Salvador by March 21. That date was pushed back, and now there's no specific deadline for them to leave.

The extra time allows her to save money to afford a home back in El Salvador, both she and immigration officials say.

Advocates hope that kind of discretion is something Obama will expand.

"Many in the community hope the president will use more prosecutorial discretion," Proyecto Latino de Utah director Tony Yapias said. "It makes sense for ICE (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) to focus on serious criminals rather than to separate families or target people who keep out of trouble here. That is a wiser use of resources."

Canenquez said her family would face a life of extreme poverty in her native El Salvador, and she fears gangs in that country could mean death for her four sons should they be sent there.

Before she first entered the U.S. illegally in 2003, Canenquez lived in a two-room shack in El Salvador with her children and an alcoholic spouse. She earned $6 a day by selling treats in a marketplace, struggling to afford food for her family.

After one son died of malnutrition, she came to the U.S. hoping to earn enough for her family.

She spent some time in the U.S. Then, four years ago, Canenquez and four of her children from El Salvador were caught by Border Patrol agents as they tried to enter the country.

Her partner in Utah, a Mexican national with whom she has two children, won't have permission to go back to El Salvador with her, and she doesn't have permission to go to Mexico. If she returns, he will stay in the U.S. with their two children.

"They told me they are giving us time to save money to afford a home in El Salvador," she told The Salt Lake Tribune in Spanish. "We would have nothing there if we return now."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Andrew Munoz said the family's case has been reviewed by multiple immigration courts and there's no legal basis for her to remain in the country.

She's now in violation of an order to leave by March 21, but there's no firm date by which she must leave or be forcibly removed.

The federal agency is using its discretion to delay the removal "to permit a reasonable amount of time for Ms. Canenquez to save money in order to secure housing for her and her family in El Salvador," Munoz said.

That discretion is something Yapias said many immigrants hope Obama will expand.

"We hope they will look at the threat posed by people on a case-by-case basis and target criminals who have done truly bad things  but not those who maybe didn't pay a traffic ticket, or whose families would be separated," he said.

Obama has not outlined specific plans he has in mind since announcing Monday that he would act on his own to address immigration because the U.S. House of Representatives wouldn't take up an immigration overhaul this year.

Possible actions could include trying to focus deportations on those with serious criminal records, something the administration has seen mixed results with in the past.

Two Cabinet secretaries are expected to present recommendations to Obama by the end of summer.

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When Charlie Crist went to Miami's Little Havana recently, the Democratic candidate for governor stood before a crowd and said what few politicians have in decades of scrounging for votes in the Cuban-American neighborhood: End the trade embargo against Cuba.

"If you really care about people on the island, we need to get rid of the embargo and let freedom reign," he said, shouting above a small band of protesters who responded with chants of "Shame on you!"

Crist's supporters cheered louder.

It was a scene inconceivable just a few years ago, when politicians were careful about what they said on the issue, for fear of alienating Cuban-American voters, many of whom fled Fidel Castro's Cuba in the 1960s.

But Democrats now sense an opening with newer Cuban arrivals and second-generation Cuban-Americans who favor resuming diplomatic relations with the communist island.

In a sign of just how much the climate has shifted, Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton, who backed trade limits when she ran for president in 2008, is now calling for the embargo to be lifted. She described it as "Castro's best friend" and said it hampers "our broader agenda across Latin America."

Her words mark the first time a leading presidential contender from either political party has suggested reversing the 52-year-old policy.

The efforts represent the largest challenge to Cuban-American orthodoxy in decades and could help reshape American foreign policy.

It also could alter the political landscape in the largest swing-voting state, where Republicans long have dominated the Cuban vote by taking a hard line on the embargo.

Crist's campaign will be the first statewide test of whether the trade restrictions are still a live wire for politicians in Florida, home to 70 percent of the nation's Cubans.

Crist is a former Republican governor who once said he would only visit Cuba "when it's free." Now that he's a Democrat and trying to regain his old job, he has floated the idea of going to Havana "to learn from the people of Cuba and help find opportunities for Florida businesses."

He argues that the embargo has failed because it has not toppled the Castro government but has hurt the Cuban people. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result," he told reporters at the opening of a campaign office in Little Havana.

Florida Republicans are outraged, casting Crist's position as a betrayal of the Cuban-American community.

"I'm going to stand with Cuban-Americans that believe in freedom, believe in democracy, believe in freedom of speech and oppose the oppression of Cuba," said GOP Gov. Rick Scott. Crist, he added, will "be standing with Castro."

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a potential GOP presidential candidate whose parents left Cuba in the 1950s, said the embargo is "the last tool we have remaining to ensure that democracy returns to Cuba one day."

Lifting the embargo, he said, would "further entrench the regime in power by giving them more money to carry out their violent repression of people's fundamental rights and dignity."

Nationwide, the share of Cuban registered voters who identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party has doubled in the past decade, from 22 percent to 44 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Less than half of Cuban voters now affiliate with the Republican Party, down from 64 percent over the same time period.

President Barack Obama won Florida twice, campaigning on easing travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans who want to visit their families on the island and allowing them to send more money to their relatives. In 2012, he captured nearly half the Cuban-American vote, a record for a Democrat.

The shift is driven in part by changing demographics.

Cuban-Americans, once the dominant bloc of Florida's Hispanic vote, have seen their political clout diminished by a huge influx of Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and people from Central and South America, who lean Democratic. In the 2012 election, 42 percent of Hispanic voters in the state were Cuban, an 11 percentage point drop from 2000, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.

The exiles who arrived in the decade and a half following Cuba's 1959 revolution have been dying off while their children and fresh waves of immigrants hold a different view of Cuba. More than one-third of the Cubans residing in Miami-Dade County arrived after 1995, with many supporting travel and trade policies that strengthen ties between the U.S. and Cuba, said Guillermo Grenier, a lead researcher for the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University.

Even some of South Florida's most prominent Cuban-American business leaders, long among the most strident defenders of the embargo, are publicly talking about investing in Cuba.

"The politics are way behind public opinion on this one," said Steve Schale, a Democratic consultant and Crist adviser who managed Obama's Florida campaign in 2008.

Overall, polls of the community have confirmed a tilt toward engagement, with the most recent survey by Florida International University finding Cuban-Americans in Miami split over the embargo, which was a near record, and 71 percent saying it had not worked either very well or at all.

"The embargo! It's so screwed up!" said Caridad Novo, as she sipped espresso at a cafe in Doral, a Miami suburb.

The 52-year-old Cuban, who came to Florida during the 1980 Mariel boat crisis, said U.S. trade restrictions drive up the cost of sending goods to her family in Cuba. Shipping a 4-pound can of milk to her 3-year-old grandson in Havana costs $55, she said.

But some scholars and political operatives say Crist risks energizing Republicans in the conservative exile community while attracting little support from younger Cuban-Americans and newer arrivals, who tend to be less politically active.

The recent Florida International University poll found that less than one-third of those who have arrived since 1995 are U.S. citizens. Voter registration rates among newer arrivals lag their older counterparts by double digits.

"What is changing is opinions" on the embargo, Grenier said. "But for the opinions to become relevant to policymakers, they have to translate into more than just opinions. They have to be votes."

Some Democrats also say Crist's focus on economic opportunity for Florida businesses could alienate some Cuban-Americans.

"Commercial implications should be secondary to basic human rights and other freedoms we try to promote around the world," said Freddy Balsera, a Democratic consultant in Miami who advised Obama's presidential campaigns. "It seems whoever is crafting the message has a complete lack of sensibility for why there's an embargo in place."

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Rep. Raul Labrador accused Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson of fabricating reasons as to why undocumented immigrants  mostly from Central America  are pouring into the United States in record numbers.

Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday  just after Johnson  the Idaho congressman, playing on the shows slogan  If its Sunday, its Meet the Press  said If its Sunday, its another administration official making stuff up on Meet the Press. Its really shameful.

This comment did not sit well with host David Gregory, who asked Labrador to elaborate on what Johnson had lied about during the previous segment.

Look at what he said. He said the number one reason these children are coming to the United States is because of the violence in these Central American countries. The reality is that the violence has existed in these Central American countries for a long period of time, Labrador said.

The Republican congressman added that if the administration claim is true, that they are doing everything they can to stem the flow of undocumented migrant children, they would be deporting them immediately.

The thing that this administration needs to do is immediately deport these families, Labrador said. I know it sounds harsh, I know it sounds difficult, but they are creating a crisis at this that is actually going to harm these children.

Americans are frustrated with the administrations policy on border security, the congressman added.

This is an outrageous thing that is happening to these children, he continued. The best, safest message we can send to Central America is, if you want Central American families know that they shouldnt be bringing their children to the United States, is by sending these children back in a humanitarian way.

During his appearance on Meet the Press, Johnson assured Gregory that the Obama administrations message to Central Americans is that the U.S. border in not open to undocumented immigrants.

Our message to those who come here illegally: Our border is not open to illegal migration, he said.

Johnson said the surge of undocumented immigrants flooding into the country is primarily due to poor conditions in Central America. He said though, the U.S. will stem this tide.

We have dramatically reduced the turnaround time from 33 to 4 days, Johnson said.

A different deportation process is required for children who cross the border alone, Johnson said, who didnt say whether the children would be ultimately sent out of the country.

We have to do right by the children, he said.

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A top Obama administration official says no one, not even children trying to escape violent countries, can enter the United States illegally without eventually facing deportation proceedings.

But Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson basically acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with a flood of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the United States.

"Our border is not open to illegal migration, and we are taking a number of steps to address it, including turning people around faster," Johnson told NBC's "Meet the Press." At the same time, he said, the administration is "looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children in particular, consistent with our laws and our values."

Repeatedly pressed to say whether thousands of Central American children will be deported promptly, Johnson said, "We need to find more efficient, effective ways to turn this tide around generally, and we've already begun to do that."

The legal, political and logistical constraints of immigration policy dominated the Sunday talk shows.

More than 50,000 unaccompanied minors have been caught on the U.S.-Mexico border this year. Most are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where spikes in violence and poverty are prompting parents to send their children on difficult and dangerous journeys north.

Their numbers have overwhelmed federal agencies. When 140 would-be immigrants  mostly mothers with children  were flown to southern California to ease an overcrowded Texas facility, angry residents of Murrieta, Calif., greeted the bus as it pulled into town, complaining that they were being saddled with more than their share.

"This is a failure of diplomacy. It is a failure of leadership from the administration," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who sought the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), said the administration "is one step behind" a major dilemma that was foreseeable. The number of children coming from Central America without adults has been rising dramatically for several years.

A George W. Bush-era law to address human trafficking prevents the government from returning these children to their home countries without taking them into custody and eventually through a deportation hearing. Minors from Mexico and Canada, by contrast, can be sent back across the border more easily. The administration says it wants more flexibility under the law.

Johnson said the administration has dramatically sped up the processing of adults who enter the country illegally, and it is opening more detention facilities. He acknowledged that the unaccompanied children from Central America, some 9,700 taken into custody in May alone, pose the most vexing problem.

Unaccompanied Central American children generally are being released to relatives already in the United States. Mothers with their children often are released with a notice to appear later in immigration court.

Meanwhile, word of seemingly successful border crossings reaches their home countries, encouraging others to try.

Johnson said the U.S. government is trying to send the message that all people who enter the country illegally will face deportation proceedings eventually. In Central America, he said, "the criminal smuggling organizations are putting out a lot of disinformation about supposed free passes into this country" that will expire soon. "We're cracking down on the smuggling organizations by surging law enforcement resources," Johnson said.

Johnson and others are warning of the dangers that immigrants, and especially children, face when the try to reach the United States on their own. Johnson is scheduled to meet with Guatemalan officials later this week.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), said children entering the country illegally must be sent home. If not, Graham said, "you're going to incentivize people throughout that part of the world to keep sending their children here."

Graham said foreign aid should be cut off to countries that don't do more to discourage illegal immigration to the United States.

Perry appeared on ABC's "This Week"; Cuellar was on CNN's "State of the Union"; Graham was on CBS' "Face the Nation."

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Saying police need to maintain the trust of the community during a federal government stalemate on immigration policy, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Chief Charlie Beck announced today that the LAPD will no longer comply with most requests by immigration authorities to detain suspects.

Garcetti said the Los Angeles Police Department will not adhere to "detainer requests issued without judicial review." The mayor said he wants the city to treat immigrants with respect and dignity "while we wait on the federal government to act on immigration reform."

Beck said the department would follow the mayor's directive, saying it is important for the LAPD to have the trust of the community. "There's nothing more important to a police department than community trust," Beck said.

By no longer complying with detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), more people will report crimes, come forward as witnesses and obey the law, Beck suggested.

Beck said the department has already been "systematically" scaling back the number of detainments over the past three years, and the crime rates have fallen.

According to Beck, the city has received 773 ICE detainer requests since the beginning of the year and complied with more than 300 of them. The decisions were made based on the "severity of the crime" and the individuals' criminal history, he said.

Garcetti said the policy change does not mean the city will release "violent or serious criminals," but would ensure that detentions would undergo a judicial review.

"The way it exists right now, you don't even have to go to a judge" for ICE to issue a detainer request, he said.

Garcetti said detainer requests took away resources from the LAPD, costing taxpayer money when the city's budget is already "stretched."

"We want to put more police officers back on the street, solving crimes, doing the things that our citizens pay their tax dollars to make sure law enforcement is doing," Garcetti said, adding that the federal government is the one that needs to be enforcing federal immigration laws.

City Attorney Mike Feuer said the city has the legal standing to resist ICE's requests.

A federal court ruling in Oregon "makes clear ICE detentions are requests," he said. "They are not mandates, and it is therefore up to the local jurisdiction to determine what its policy will be with respect to honoring those requests."

Immigrant-rights advocates hailed the announcement, with Claudia Bautista of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) saying the police chief's "clear directive to reject ICE's overreaching detainer requests moves Los Angeles another step away from the Arizona policies that threaten L.A. families and public safety."

"The coalition will be watching very closely to make sure ICE does not try to circumvent the policy announced today in any way," Bautista said.

Jessica Karp, an NDLON attorney who is suing the county over a detainer request, said the mayor and the police chief "should be applauded for differentiating Los Angeles and crafting city policies that honor the city's immigrant roots instead of ICE's unjust efforts."

"The people of Los Angeles can feel safer as local officials are taking steps to repair the damage done to community-police relations by the federal Secure Communities program," she said.

For more Los Angeles-area news, check out www.myfoxla.com

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The White House said Monday that most unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief that would prevent them from being sent back from their home countries.

The pointed warning came as the White House finalized a spending request to Congress detailing the additional resources President Barack Obama wants in order to hire more immigration judges and open additional detention facilities to deal with the border crisis. White House officials said they planned to send the more than $2 billion request to lawmakers on Tuesday.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that while the administration will allow the immigration review process to take place, officials so far don't expect many of the children arriving at the border to be able to stay in the U.S.

"It's unlikely that most of these kids will qualify for humanitarian relief," Earnest said. "It means they will not have a legal basis for remaining in this country and will be returned."

Still, it's unclear how quickly that process will unfold. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson acknowledged Sunday that such proceedings might be long delayed, and he said that coping with floods of unaccompanied minors crossing the border is a legal and humanitarian dilemma for the United States.

"Our border is not open to illegal migration, and we are taking a number of steps to address it, including turning people around faster," Johnson told NBC's "Meet the Press." At the same time, he said, the administration is "looking at ways to create additional options for dealing with the children in particular, consistent with our laws and our values."

Repeatedly pressed to say whether thousands of Central American children will be deported promptly, Johnson said, "We need to find more efficient, effective ways to turn this tide around generally, and we've already begun to do that."

Most are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, where spikes in violence and poverty are prompting parents to send their children on difficult and dangerous journeys north.

Their numbers have overwhelmed federal agencies. When 140 would-be immigrants  mostly mothers with children  were flown to southern California to ease an overcrowded Texas facility, angry residents of Murrieta, California, greeted the bus as it pulled into town, complaining that they were being saddled with more than their share.

"This is a failure of diplomacy. It is a failure of leadership from the administration," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who sought the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said the administration "is one step behind" a major dilemma that was foreseeable. The number of children coming from Central America without adults has been rising dramatically for several years.

A George W. Bush-era law to address human trafficking prevents the government from returning these children to their home countries without taking them into custody and eventually through a deportation hearing. Minors from Mexico and Canada, by contrast, can be sent back across the border more easily. The administration says it wants more flexibility under the law.

Johnson said the administration has dramatically sped up the processing of adults who enter the country illegally, and it is opening more detention facilities. He acknowledged that the unaccompanied children from Central America, some 9,700 taken into custody in May alone, pose the most vexing problem.

Unaccompanied Central American children generally are being released to relatives already in the United States. Mothers with their children often are released with a notice to appear later in immigration court.

Meanwhile, word of seemingly successful border crossings reaches their home countries, encouraging others to try.

Johnson said the U.S. government is trying to send the message that all people who enter the country illegally will face deportation proceedings eventually. In Central America, he said, "the criminal smuggling organizations are putting out a lot of disinformation about supposed free passes into this country" that will expire soon. "We're cracking down on the smuggling organizations by surging law enforcement resources," Johnson said.

Johnson and others are warning of the dangers that immigrants, and especially children, face when the try to reach the United States on their own. Johnson is scheduled to meet with Guatemalan officials later this week.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said children entering the country illegally must be sent home. If not, Graham said, "you're going to incentivize people throughout that part of the world to keep sending their children here."

Graham said foreign aid should be cut off to countries that don't do more to discourage illegal immigration to the United States.

Perry appeared on ABC's "This Week"; Cuellar was on CNN's "State of the Union"; Graham was on CBS' "Face the Nation."

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Tackling what he has called a humanitarian crisis, President Barack Obama on Tuesday asked Congress for $3.7 billion to confront a tide of minors from Central America who are illegally crossing the U.S. southern border, straining immigration resources and causing a political firestorm in Washington.

The White House says the money would help increase the detention, care and transportation of unaccompanied children, would help speed the removal of adults with children by increasing the capacity of immigration courts, and would increase prosecution of smuggling networks. It would increase surveillance at the U.S. border and help Central American countries repatriate border-crossers sent back from the United States.

The request for money did not include proposals for legislative changes that the White House wants. White House officials said Tuesday they still intend to work with Congress to increase the administration's authority to deport minor border crossers.

Administration officials say they are still working on ways to do it faster, but say that the request for specific legislative changes will move on a separate track than the emergency spending request Obama is sending to Congress on Tuesday.

Obama plans to discuss the crisis with faith and local leaders during a political fundraising visit to Texas Wednesday, but he is resisting calls to visit the border for a firsthand look. The White House has invited Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is among those urging Obama to get to the border while he's in the state, to Wednesday's meeting in Dallas.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, a Kentucky Republican, on the border "extremely dire."

"It is clear that additional funding will be needed to ensure the proper care of these unaccompanied children, to enforce the law, and to further secure our border so that these problems can be mitigated in the short term,:" he said in a statement. "Our committee will focus on providing what is necessary to meet these ongoing needs."

As lawmakers return to Washington this week from a weeklong July 4th recess, Obama's spending request is set to be a focus, with the Senate Appropriations Committee scheduling a hearing to examine it.

The developments all come as Obama has declared comprehensive immigration legislation dead in Congress and announced plans to proceed on his own by executive action to make whatever fixes he can to the nation's dysfunctional immigration system. That could put Obama in the seemingly contradictory position of shielding millions of people from deportation while at the same time trying to hurry deportations for the unaccompanied children.

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Nineteen year-old Cindy Monge is seeing a therapist to deal with her feelings of abandonment.

As a very young child, Monges parents left her with relatives in Guatemala while they made their way into the United States without documentation.

In 2006, when she was only 11, Monge made the same journey that tens of thousands of unaccompanied children undertake today  she traveled alone from Guatemala to the U.S.-Mexico border, she told Fox News Latino in Spanish, with several human smugglers who split the $10,000 fee paid by her parents, so she could rejoin them.

Now, her parents, tired of not making ends meet and unable to change their illegal status, decided to move back to Guatemala with Monges U.S.-born younger brother, and leaving her behind for a second time.

This is like losing a family all over They left me there when I was a baby to work in the U.S., now they leave me here again, Monge explained in an interview at Casa Maryland.

At age 11, I only spoke Spanish, I couldnt understand what was happening to me, nor the huge effect that my trip would have on my life, nor that I was breaking the law. All I wanted was to be with my family, but it was my decision to travel alone, she said.

Today I can remember there were children from China, Nicaragua and Honduras [at the detention center she was held] But I cant remember who my lawyer was, and it was only three or four years ago that I fully understood what an order of deportation was. And that I couldnt become a U.S. citizen.

Eight years later, Monge is a high school graduate in Silver Springs, Md., here under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA).

She believes that children like her make the journey for the same two reasons that she did: to reunite with their families and to run away from life-or-death situations.

Kids have been suffering for the lack of immigration reform for years, Sheena Wadhawan, Legal Program Manager at Casa de Maryland told FNL. It is the civil rights problem of our day. People will look back on what we have done with two million deportations under Obama and hang their heads in shame, she added.

As the recent influx of unaccompanied minors crossing the border soarssome 90,000 will reach the U.S. in fiscal year 2014 alonehow to deal with them has become a central problem for the Obama administration.

Even with a record number of deportations (370,000 people in 2013), the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) has focused on the removal of adults with criminal records.

Children and their legal rights simply have not been part of the immigration equation up till now.

Marc Rosenblum, deputy director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program, a Washington, D.C., based think tank, admits that the issue of children crossing the border was never the primary focus of the immigration reform debate.

This [surge] is a relatively new, relatively acute crisis, he told Fox News Latino. I wouldnt say the [children] are invisible. But, honestly, I dont know if it will be a turning point for the broader immigration debate.

Stressing that most of the migrant kids wont qualify for humanitarian relief, White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, said on Monday that, They will not have the legal basis for remaining in this country and will be returned.

According to many humanitarian and immigrant assistance groups, however, the question isnt nearly that cut-and-dried.

Potentially [these children] have legal options, said Michelle Brane, Director of Migrant Rights and Justice Programs at the Womens Refugee Commission. "Unless they expect legal procedures [to be applied] in a way not to give people access to that protection, and thats why we are concerned [about] the way that they are framing this.

Leslie E. Velez, a senior officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters on Wednesday, What it is very clear to the U.N. refugee agency is that we have a humanitarian situation on the ground in three particular countries: El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, causing forced displacement.

And now it has crossed international borders, she added.

In front of the White House, Shanon Self, a 25-year-old social worker from Michigan who was visiting Washington, D.C., with her family told FNL, Im against the children staying because no one can take care of them, theyll end up in child welfare.

Self added, I dont think the resources are necessarily there for 90,000 children.

Neither are there resources to clear out all their cases.

There is still not enough money in the [$3.7 billion] governmental request to make sure the judges can meet the needs of all the children coming in and the very high number of cases that are already coming through, said Greg Chen, Director of Advocacy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

More delays will result, he predicted.

The problem with the legal rights of unaccompanied migrant children is so huge that recently the Department of Justice and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced a partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and the National Immigration Forum just to provide legal assistance to the migrant children.

While in cases of criminal investigations people are informed of their rights, immigration detainees  even if they are children - can wait days or even months without even securing legal counselors, Casa Maryland's Sheena Wadhawan said.

They are robbed, raped and abused along the journey and are usually just lucky to have survived, Wadhawan pointed out. It is extremely difficult, nearly impossible, for children in this state to successfully navigate the legal system and secure legal assistance.

Juan Carlos Diaz, a Honduran teenager who traveled here with his sister and cousin recently, told FNL that the goal of his trip was to stop feeling abandoned and to reunite with his parents after a separation of 9 years.

I seek refuge and a place to prosper, he said. To become someone in life. Im not sure if you call that refugee. Where I come from theres no law, but I hope people here help us.

He added, I simply seek a better life.
Sen. Robert Menendez said Tuesday that he has asked the Justice Department to investigate whether the Cuban government had a role in allegations against him that have made him a target of a federal probe.

Among the charges are so far unsubstantiated allegations that Menendez, D-N.J., flew on a plane provided by a friend and campaign supporter, wealthy Florida ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen, for rendezvous with prostitutes.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Menendez said his attorney has asked the Justice Department to investigate what he says were long-running rumors about a Cuban role in the allegations.

The lawmaker said he doesn't know if Cuba was involved. But Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cited his decades-long role as a persistent critic of the Cuban government as potential motivation for Havana to act against him.

"To the extent they'd like to see the United States engage them more on their terms, which is not to observe democracy and human rights, they probably feel that I'm the single most significant impediment to their goals," Menendez said.

He added, "It would not be surprising at all for the regime to hold the view that we have to do whatever we can" against him.

Menendez cited a Tuesday report in The Washington Post that the CIA obtained evidence linking Cuban agents to the claims about Menendez and prostitutes and to trying to persuade American news organizations to pursue those claims.

While declining to provide details about his attorney's letter, Menendez said, "It is clearly to ask them to investigate the charges, some of which appeared in the Post."

Menendez said the Post story makes clear that the federal government has information about the Cuban connection. Initial reports of Menendez's problems surfaced before his 2012 re-election.

"They should pursue their information," he said about the federal government, "because I think it is incredibly troublesome that a foreign government would try to interfere either with a federal election or the seating of a senator on a specific committee in order to pursue its foreign policy goals. And that should be troublesome far beyond my circumstances."

Officials in Havana did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The government-run news and opinion website Cubadebate published an article Tuesday titled, "Bob Menendez tries to wash his dirty laundry with Cuba."

The article accused the senator of trying to make up for his own shortcomings by blaming Cuba, "an old recourse used by counterrevolutionary politicians of Cuban origin."

The Cubadebate article also noted that the initial allegations against Menendez surfaced in The Daily Caller, "a conservative website with no link to Cuba whatsoever."

The Post report Tuesday suggested that Cuban intelligence agents may have played a role in spreading the allegations that Menendez and Melgen had consorted with prostitutes during visits to the Dominican Republic. The Post said a U.S. intelligence report detailed Internet addresses and other evidence that linked Cuban intelligence agents to efforts to plant the allegations in U.S. media.

Several women in the Dominican Republic who initially claimed to have provided video accounts of their meetings with Menendez and Melgen later denied the stories and said they had been paid to concoct their accounts. A Dominican Republic police investigation later turned up a local lawyer who said he was promised $5,000 by a mysterious figure known only as "Carlos," who has yet to be identified.

A second elusive figure who called himself "Peter Williams" helped to spread the allegations against Menendez and Melgen, sending emails to both the FBI and the government reform group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in April 2012, asking for government investigations into the prostitution allegations.

CREW officials later referred its contacts with Williams to the FBI and the Justice Department.

FBI agents reportedly followed up on the reports in the Miami area as well as the Dominican Republic. The Post also reported that a Miami grand jury was investigating Menendez for allegedly advocating for Melgen's business interests. Menendez has acknowledged that his office twice contacted Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, urging them to change what he called an unfair payment policy that had cost Melgen $8.9 million.

Melgen, a major Democratic contributor, was recently identified by federal health officials as receiving more than $21 million in Medicaid funds in 2012  the most awarded to a single physician in the U.S.

Menendez also paid $58,000 in reimbursements after failing to acknowledge two flights on Melgen's private jet to the Dominican Republic. Menendez' office conceded sending several emails in early 2013 to the Homeland Security Department questioning possible U.S. donations of port security equipment to the Dominican Republic  at a time when a Melgen-owned company was trying to secure a contract to provide similar services.

Menendez has denied any wrongdoing.

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United Nations officials are pushing for many of the Central Americans fleeing to the U.S. to be treated as refugees displaced by armed conflict, a designation meant to increase pressure on the United States to accept tens of thousands of people currently ineligible for asylum.

Officials with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees say they hope to see a regional agreement on that status Thursday when migration and interior department representatives from the U.S., Mexico, and Central America meet in Nicaragua. The group will discuss updating a 30-year-old declaration regarding the obligations nations have to aid refugees.

While such a resolution would lack any legal weight in the United States, the agency said it believes "the U.S. and Mexico should recognize that this is a refugee situation, which implies that they shouldn't be automatically sent to their home countries but rather receive international protection."

Most of the people widely considered to be refugees by the international community are fleeing more traditional political or ethnic conflicts like those in Syria or the Sudan. Central Americans would be among the first modern migrants considered refugees because they are fleeing violence and extortion at the hands of criminal gangs.

"They are leaving for some reason. Let's not send them back in a mechanical way, but rather evaluate the reasons they left their country," Fernando Protti, regional representative for the U.N. refugee agency, told the Associated Press.

The United States has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Central American migrants crossing into its territory, particularly children traveling without any adult guardian. More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended since October. Three-fourths of them are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and most say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty.

Both Congressional Republicans and the Obama administration have called for action to reverse the trend. Among other changes, the administration wants to end a 2008 law allowing child migrants to automatically appear before an immigration judge. Instead, Border Patrol agents could decide whether to deport them or allow them an additional hearing.

Asked Monday whether the Obama administration viewed the situation at the border as a refugee crisis, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was "a humanitarian situation that requires urgent attention."

The administration, he said, wanted to ensure child migrants were housed in "humane conditions" while authorities worked quickly to determine whether they should be allowed to remain in the U.S. If not, he said, the Homeland Security secretary should be allowed "to exercise his discretion about repatriating."

Many Congressional Republicans attribute the increased immigration to a failure to secure the border and recent immigration policy changes that led many to believe child migrants would be allowed to stay.

Many of the migrants, in fact, stay for years as their cases wend through overloaded migration courts. Those who say they are fleeing criminal violence generally are not eligible for political asylum, which is reserved for groups persecuted for their beliefs or identities. U.N. officials say there is no way of forcing the U.S. and Mexico to accept Central Americans as refugees, but a broad-based change in terminology could bring pressure on the two countries to do more.

"Unaccompanied children and families who fear for their lives and freedoms must not be forcibly returned without access to proper asylum procedures," UNHCR official Leslie Velez said in testimony submitted to the House Judiciary Committee late last month.

Immigration experts in the U.S. and Central America say the flow of migrants from Honduras and El Salvador is likely to rise as the two countries experience gang-related violence. Honduras, a primary transit point for U.S.-bound cocaine, has the world's highest homicide rate for a nation that is not at war. In El Salvador, the end of a truce between street gangs has led to a steep rise in homicides this year.

Violence by criminal organizations spread in recent decades after members of California street gangs were deported to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, where they overwhelmed weak and corrupt police forces and seized control of large sections of the countries.

Salvadorans heading north through Mexico who were interviewed by the Associated Press last month said there also was fear of the "Sombra Negra," or "Black Shadow"  groups of masked men in civilian clothes who are believed responsible for extrajudicial killings of teens in gang-controlled neighborhoods. The Salvadoran government denies any involvement in death squads, but says it is investigating the reports.

In El Salvador, at least 135,000 people, or 2.1 percent of the population, have been forced to leave their homes, the vast majority due to gang extortion and violence, according to U.N. figures. That's more than twice the percentage displaced by Colombia's brutal civil war, the U.N. says.

Hondurans have been terrorized by a recent wave of attacks against churches, schools and buses.

During a recent visit to the U.S., Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said migrants from his country were "displaced by war" and called on the United States to acknowledge that.

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Under pressure to take immediate, dramatic steps to deal with the tens of thousands of Central American children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, the Department of Justice said Wednesday that, among other measures, it plans to overhaul the way immigration courts schedule hearings.

The idea is to put unaccompanied minors at the front of the line of those who come before a judge.

With immigration courts already bogged down with lengthy backlogs, the minors' cases normally could take years to resolve. Now they can be closed in a few months, according to The New York Times.

The Obama administration has been under pressure  from liberals and conservatives alike  to stem the growing tide of children crossing into the Rio Grande Valley alone and then being held in crowded conditions as they wait to be processed at federal facilities.

A statement by Juan P. Osuna, the director of the Justice Department office that oversees the courts, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), said, This refocusing of resources will allow EOIR to prioritize the adjudication of the cases of those individuals involved in the evolving situation at the southwest border. Adding, Although our case management priorities are shifting, our immigration judges will continue to evaluate and rule upon cases consistent with all substantive and procedural rights and safeguards applicable to immigration proceedings.

The announcement comes a day after the administration said it was requesting $3.7 billion from Congress to address the influx.

The unaccompanied children are migrating mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala  many of them fleeing cartel violence. Along the way, many have also heard rumors, sometimes from smugglers, that once they arrive in the U.S. they will be allowed to remain.

More than 50,000 kids have arrived already since fall, a number that's expected to rise to 90,000 by the end of this fiscal year.

Thousands of families also are coming.

The unexpected spike is overwhelming immigration courts and holding facilities across the Southwest and turning into a major political crisis for the Obama administration.

Some $45 million of the $3.7 billion the administration is requesting would go toward additional immigration judges and their staffs. The White House said the funding would also go toward improving legal resources for those going through deportation proceedings.

The Justice Department announcement said it would target the criminal networks exploiting  or even encouraging, some say  the exodus. That part of the new directive would include joint efforts with the Mexican government and other federal U.S. agencies in going after those ferrying people across the border.

The department will also redouble its efforts to work with Mexican authorities to identify and apprehend smugglers who are aiding unaccompanied children in crossing the U.S. border, the statement said. Later this week, the Deputy Attorney General will also be meeting with the five U.S. Attorneys who represent the southwest border districts to strategize on ways to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations on the border that are facilitating the transportation of unaccompanied minors and others.

Groups that advocate for more lenient immigration policies expressed misgivings about speeding up deportation proceedings, saying that children, in particular, are in danger of being sent back to abusive and violent situations in their home countries.

Several such groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, filed a nationwide class-action suit on Wednesday on behalf of the children that says the federal government has failed to provide them with legal representation and has put them of risk of danger.

There are kids in deportation proceedings without attorneys, said Beth Werlin, deputy legal director at the American Immigration Council, which has joined the ACLU in the lawsuit.

Were in favor of putting more resources in the courts, she told Fox News Latino. But there have to be fair hearings. They take time  to request evidence, to consult with your attorney. It takes time to train judges, particularly in childrens cases, if they havent had experience working with children.

Groups that favor stricter immigration enforcement say the Obama administration must take a more wholesale approach to changing the flawed system that they say has encouraged much of the influx.

President Obamas emergency funding request is fatally flawed because it is not accompanied by critical policy changes that address the core of the immigration crisis our nation is now facing, a statement by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), said.

Without those critical policy changes, the presidents request is merely a temporary Band-Aid to ease the chaos," the group added. "It is not a serious proposal to end the crisis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
U.S. and Cuban government officials were meeting in Washington on Wednesday for the latest round of migration talks, a rare chance for dialogue between two countries that have not had full diplomatic relations for more than five decades.

Held every six months to monitor the implementation of 1990s migration accords, the talks often touch on other areas of mutual concern. In the last round, in January, officials discussed issues such as aviation safety, consular document fraud and maritime search and rescue protocols.

The migration talks were suspended in 2011, the same year Cuba sentenced U.S. government development subcontractor Alan Gross to 15 years in prison after he was detained with restricted communications equipment while working to set up Internet networks for Jewish groups on the island.

They resumed two years later, along with separate discussions on re-establishing direct mail service between the two countries.

A U.S. State Department announcement called the talks routine and said they do not indicate a change in policy toward Cuba. It added that they are consistent with U.S. interest in ensuring safe, legal and orderly migration between the countries, and an opportunity to talk about things such as civil liberties.

"In our interactions with the Cubans, the United States also regularly raises our concerns about the continued detention of Alan Gross, the poor state of human rights in Cuba and fugitives from U.S. justice," the announcement said.

Havana has said it is willing to talk about Gross' case and any other matter, but it also wants to negotiate the fate of three Cuban intelligence agents serving long prison terms in the United States.

The State announcement said the delegations at the one-day migration talks were headed by Alex Lee, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Josefina Vidal, the top official for North American affairs at Cuba's Foreign Ministry.

U.S.-Cuba relations were severed in 1961 at the height of Cold War tensions. Since the late 1970s, however, Washington and Havana have maintained diplomatic missions in each other's capitals that are technically "interests sections" of the respective Swiss embassies.

The U.S. economic and financial embargo against Cuba has been in effect since 1962.

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For President Barack Obama, the humanitarian crisis at the United States-Mexico border is increasingly becoming a political liability, giving Republicans a fresh opportunity to question his administration's competence and complicating the debate over the nation's fractured immigration laws.

Still, Obama is resisting calls to visit the border during his two-day fundraising trip to Texas, where he arrives late Wednesday afternoon. Instead, Obama will hold a meeting hundreds of miles away in Dallas to discuss the crisis with faith leaders and Texas officials, including Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

Obama's trip comes one day after he asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending to get more resources to the border.

The roundtable discussion in Dallas is seen by the White House as a way to address the immigration issue while avoiding awkward optics at the border. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have arrived there in recent months, many fleeing violence in Central America, but also drawn by rumors that they can stay in the U.S. White House officials say most are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief and will be sent back to their home countries.

Obama's decision to skip a border visit is likely to provide more fodder for the Republicans and the handful of Democrats who say the president hasn't responded quickly and forcefully enough to the mounting crisis.

Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, raised the prospect that Obama's failure to take a firsthand look at the border crisis could be akin to former President George W. Bush viewing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina from the air instead of on the ground.

"I'm sure that President Bush thought the same thing, that he could just look at everything from up in the sky, and then he owned it after a long time," Cuellar said on Fox News. "So I hope this doesn't become the Katrina moment for President Obama, saying that he doesn't need to come to the border. He should come down."

Perry, a possible GOP presidential candidate in 2016, has been scathing in his criticism of Obama, saying the White House has failed to respond to his repeated warnings about a flood of minors at the border.

"I have to believe that when you do not respond in any way, that you are either inept, or you have some ulterior motive of which you are functioning from," Perry said Sunday.

The president was traveling to Texas from Denver, where he also raised money for Democratic candidates.

Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said the White House wasn't worried about the optics of the president traveling to Texas without visiting the border. Officials also pointed to Obama's request to Congress on Tuesday for additional resources at the border as a sign of the president's engagement in the crisis.

If approved by Congress, the funding would go to increase detention, care and transportation of unaccompanied children, help speed the removal of adults with children by increasing the capacity of immigration courts, and increase prosecution of smuggling networks. The money also would help increase surveillance at the border and help Central American countries repatriate border-crossers sent back from the United States.

Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill seemed open to the emergency spending request. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the Senate would act on it this month.

But Republicans criticized Obama for pulling back on plans to pursue legal changes that would allow the administration to send the minors back to Central America more quickly. The proposals had infuriated immigrant advocates, who say the changes could result in harsh treatment of kids and eliminate their legal protections.

"He just decided not to do that because of the pushback he got from some in his own political base," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "We need to solve the problem, but you don't need to just ignore the cause of the current crisis. And that requires more than just appropriating $3.7 billion for additional judges and the like."

The border crisis has added a new wrinkle to the stalled immigration debate in Washington. With no sign that House Republicans planned to move forward on a comprehensive overhaul bill passed by the Senate last year, Obama announced that he would seek to address the matter through executive actions.

Republicans say it's that same approach that has led to the current crisis. The GOP argues that Obama's 2012 decision to allow some young people brought to the U.S. illegally to stay in the country has fueled the rumors in Central America that all of the minors crossing the border can stay.

But Democrats argue that the GOP is simply trying to shift attention away from the party's inability to act on a politically potent issue for Hispanics, a key voting bloc Republicans have failed to attract in the past two presidential elections.

"The Republicans don't have any credibility on this issue," said Jim Manley, a former top adviser to Reid, the Senate majority leader. "This is coming from the same crowd that refused to vote on the bipartisan bill. This is the same group that failed to act."

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The Senate easily confirmed San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro on Wednesday to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, boosting the national profile of a Democrat with a compelling biography who's considered a vice presidential contender in 2016.

The 71-26 vote makes the 39-year-old Castro one of the government's highest-ranking Hispanics, a growing group of voters who lean solidly Democratic. His ascension comes two years after he got his first broad national exposure when President Barack Obama picked him to deliver the keynote address at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

"Julian has lived the American Dream in his own life," President Obama said in a statement released after the confirmation. "Im confident he will help Americans across our country seize their own piece of that dream for themselves and their children."

Castro grew up in a working-class San Antonio neighborhood, the Mexican-American son of a single mother who was a Latino rights activist.

He has a law degree from Harvard and is a three-term mayor of Texas' second largest city. His options for rising in Texas politics were viewed as limited in a Republican-dominated Texas, where no Democrat has triumphed in a statewide contest in two decades.

Castro will replace Shaun Donovan as housing secretary. Obama has picked Donovan to become White House budget chief.

Castro's twin brother, Joaquin, is a congressman who represents much of the San Antonio area.

He released a statement congratulating his brother, adding, "Im confident Julian will work tirelessly in his new role making responsible home ownership more accessible, combating homelessness, and strengthening the rise of cities across our country."

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.

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A Cuban lawyer and purported member of the countrys opposition movement admitted that he was actually an infiltrator working for the communist governments State Security agency to sow discord between dissident groups on the island.

The 34-year old Ernesto Vera admitted to El Nuevo Herald by phone Wednesday from his home in the eastern city of Santiago that he had worked for Cuban State Security for years to destabilize the islands two largest dissident groups, the Cuban Patriotic Union (UNPACU) and the Ladies in White.

His confession not only sheds light on the methods the Castro regime takes to break apart opposition movements but also the widespread nature of the practice, as Vera mentioned five other Cubans who he believes could be working with the government.

I am ashamed to say I was a coward, he told El Nuevo Herald. All of my attacks on Jose Daniel Ferrer [the leader of UNPACU] and the Ladies in White were ordered by State Securityto discredit the dissidents and lessen the impact of the repression when it came.

Vera said State Security agents posing as dissidents began the slow and nefarious process of recruiting him shortly he was fired as a law professor at a Santiago school. The agents supposedly videotaped the conversations and used them to blackmail Vera. He also claims that they threatened to kill his mother if he didnt cooperate.

While working as a government infiltrator, Vera accused Ferrer of stealing money sent by supporters abroad, and he was also responsible for causing a large schism within the Ladies in White.

He was also purportedly paid several thousand dollars over a four-year period to send columns and information to Miami-based dissident Aldo Rosado Tuero to publish on his blog.

When asked about it, Rosado Tuero said he was not a Cuban agent and accused Vera of joining with Cuban State Security to attack him.

Vera, who had slowly been distancing himself from Cuban State Security amid bouts of depression, finally decided to make a full break by delivering an open letter to the Venezuelan embassy in Havana following the crackdown on protesters by the government of President Nicolas Maduro that left at least 40 people dead.

For four years my life has been a constant suffering, he said in the letter, published by UNPACU. I should have been brave, should have confronted the repression in all its harshness. But I lacked the fuel that heroes have in surplus.

Vera added that he fears retaliation against himself and his family for opening up about his infiltrator role with State Security.

I hold the Castro regime responsible for anything that could happen to my family, he wrote.

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Faced with a potentially awkward scene at the Texas-Mexico border, President Barack Obama sought to recast the political debate over a flood of young migrants as a question of Republican willingness to tackle the problem, not his decision to skip a chance to view the crisis first-hand.

Obama turned to one of his chief critics, Texas' Republican Gov. Rick Perry, to try to make his point.

Following a meeting with Perry in Dallas Wednesday, the president suggested there was little daylight between Perry's calls for additional assistance at the border and the nearly $4 billion request Obama sent to Congress this week. He also made a public appeal for Perry, a potential GOP presidential candidate in 2016, to wield his influence with Texas' Republican-heavy congressional delegation and press them to back the emergency spending package.

"The only question at this point is why wouldn't the Texas delegation or any of the other Republicans who are concerned about this not want to put this on a fast track and get this on my desk so I can sign it and we can start getting to work?" Obama said. He argued that opposition to the urgent spending request would be part of a pattern of obstructionism from Republicans who have also resisted moving forward on a comprehensive immigration bill.

Back in Washington, Republican opposition to the request hardened. Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, have criticized the plan as a "blank check" and Arizona Sen. John McCain voiced his opposition to the measure Wednesday.

Perry, in his own statement following the meeting, made no promises to help Obama shore up GOP support for the supplemental spending package and instead doubled down on the notion that the border crisis was the result of Obama's "bad public policy" on immigration.

Obama arrived in Texas under pressure from Republicans like Perry, as well as some Democrats, to add a trip to the border to his two-day fundraising swing. The White House steadfastly resisted those calls, insisting there was little the president could learn from a border visit that he didn't already know.

"I'm not interested in photo ops," Obama said Wednesday. "I'm interested in solving a problem."

Still, Obama and his advisers clearly recognized the political liabilities of ignoring the immigration crisis while working the Texas donor circuit. The White House added an immigration meeting with local officials and faith leaders to Obama's schedule in Dallas and took the unusual step of having Perry fly with Obama on the presidential helicopter so the two could discuss the matter.

Perry kept up the pressure on Obama to make a border visit, telling CBS in an interview "that's what presidents do. That's what leaders do. They show up and they interact."

The governor likened the current situation to the criticism President George W. Bush got for failing to visit New Orleans at the height of the damage and destruction from Hurricane Katrina in2005. Perry said he's warned Obama over a year ago that the situation at the Texas border was deteriorating.

The current problem at the border comes at a time when the White House was seeking to cement an upper hand on the issue of immigration, particularly with Hispanic voters, who are increasingly crucial to electoral success in presidential elections. After House Republicans made clear they had no plans to take up comprehensive legislation this year, Obama vowed to move forward with executive actions that would make needed changes to the nation's broken immigration system.

But the border crisis has given Republicans fresh fodder to challenge that approach. GOP lawmakers have blamed Obama's 2012 decision to defer deportations for some young people in the U.S. illegally for fueling rumors in Central America that unaccompanied minors who arrive at the border would be allowed to stay.

Indeed, some of the 57,000 children who have come to the border appear to be under that impression, though many are also fleeing violence in Central America. The White House has said most of the children are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief that would allow them to stay.

The money Obama is seeking from Congress would go toward seating more immigration judges, increasing detention facilities, helping care for the children and paying for programs in Central America to keep them from coming to the U.S.

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Images of angry protesters in the California town of Murrieta denouncing plans to hold undocumented Central Americans in a local Border Patrol facility and facing off against counter-demonstrators have dominated television screens and the Internet this week.

Meanwhile, faith leaders in the area have been responding to the immigrants in a much less dramatic way.

To varying degrees, churches of different denominations have been lending assistance  including food, clothing and toys  to the immigrants who have been released pending their court hearings.

Several churches are allowing immigrants to stay on their property while they prepare to travel to other states where they have relatives or friends.

And some pastors and members of their flock also are opening up their homes, allowing individual immigrants, or a whole family, to remain with them while they wait to take the next step  be it attend court or join a relative elsewhere in the country.

Its very unfortunate that the perspectives of a few people and their particular political stance would be the voice of our community, said Father Cameron Lemons, whose St. Paul City Church in Murrieta is a neighbor of the Border Patrol processing facility.

He and some of his parishioners have spoken to the protesters, Lemons said.

Its a very emotional response to the immigrants, Cameron said. Theres a lot of fear that our nation is changing, theres a lot of frustration with the Obama administration.

Tens of thousands of Central Americans have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in recent years, with the influx becoming a flood this year. Many of the immigrants are unaccompanied children.

The children and the other immigrants are coming mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, many fleeing cartel violence but also hearing rumors, sometimes from smugglers, that once they arrive in the U.S. they will be allowed to stay. More than 50,000 have arrived already since fall, a number that's expected to rise to 90,000 by the end of this fiscal year.

The unexpected spike is overwhelming immigration courts and holding facilities in the Southwest and turning into a major political crisis for the Obama administration.

Last week, the protests in Murrieta put the middle-class city on the map and made it a flashpoint in the debate over the border crisis.

The protesters' argument, echoed by Murrietas political leaders, centered on what they said was federal governments failure to address the border influx when signs of it first appeared  about two years ago  and that the inaction had created a burden for local communities, which were ill-quipped to deal with large numbers of immigrants.

It was an argument that resonated nationwide, and struck a chord with those concerned by the influx of immigrants from Central America.

Lemons and other faith leaders say they also wanted to show another side to the reception to the immigrants, who arrived in Murrieta in buses that protesters forced to turn around and go elsewhere.

Lemons said that many of the immigrants exhibit signs of having been traumatized in their homelands and along the border while being smuggled.

He said that a mother, for instance, will take all her children into the bathroom with her to wait while she showers because she doesnt want to leave them alone for even a brief while.

The children, he said, seem to fare a bit better.

Theyll just play with toys or watch TV, he said.

People dont know these immigrants are not a bunch of criminals, theyre refugees, said Joey Aszterbaum , pastor of the Spirit of Joy Church in Hemet, a neighboring town. Theres a lot of misinformation.

Aszterbaum went to some of the meetings in Murrieta to hear out the opposition and to try to lighten the environment.

I brought my guitar, he said. There were a lot of signs from the anti-immigrant crowd that said Dont tread on me, and Citizens first. But there were also signs from the pro-immigrant crowd that quoted scripture from the Bible. Faith plays a part in public discourse.

Aszterbaum and his wife have opened up their home to immigrants until they get on their feet and can join relatives.

He said he felt a particularly personal obligation to help people fleeing violence.

His ancestors, he said, were Eastern European Jews who fled to Argentina, where they were given refuge. Then, later, relatives came to the United States.

It must be terrible for people who are immigrants and who are on the buses to see the protests, he said. My family and my friends went there to show people that we are compassionate.

To be sure, debates about the undocumented immigrants occurred even among the congregations whose pastors have led efforts to provide help and shelter to the Central Americans.

Lemons said that in a meeting with his parishioners, some objected to the idea of opening up their homes to them.

This was an issue that not only divided our community, but also had the potential to divide our church, Aszterbaum said. Some people were concerned that we dont have all the resources" to deal with the influx.

Other folks said we need to be compassionate, he said. I said that we need to respond with compassion and common sense, and we also need to fix our broken immigration system. So we also need to push for immigration reform as well.
The favorite daughter of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has been implicated in a corruption scandal involving Argentinas rice industry.

Maria Gabriela Chavez, 33, is said to be involved in a scheme that favored an Argentinean rice company, Bioart, by importing 37,000 tons of greatly overpriced rice to Venezuela.

According to a report by the Buenos Aires newspaper Clarin that was posted this week, the case touches the Argentine Minister of Federal Planning Julio De Vido and other high political figures. Bioart owners, the paper claims, had direct dealings with De Vido, the Argentinean ambassador to Venezuela, Carlos Cheppi, and Ms. Chavez, who was treated much like a first lady by her divorced father between 2004 and his death in 2012.

Argentina's National Federation of Rice Entities (Fedenar) has complained about the situation, but so far the government of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has remained mum on the topic.

In May of 2013, Argentina and Venezuela signed a bilateral agreement for the purchase of 80,000 tons of rice. The governor of Entre Rios province, Sergio Urribarri, made the announcement with much fanfare at Government House in Buenos Aires during a visit by President Maduro. Urribarri said the sale would be conducted by the rice farmers themselves, without intermediaries.

However, Bioart was the only entity that received permits to export the grain, according to research by Clarin. In all, so far the company has done $23 million of business with Venezuela  and reportedly, the sales were made with almost 30 percent markups.

These businesses benefit a few entrepreneurs and hurt many Argentineans," the Chamber of Industrial Rice Growers of Entre Rios Province said in a statement issued a few days ago.

One of Bioart's owners, Roberto Vignati, hasnt been shy in the social media about showing his admiration for Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband, the former president Nestor Kirchner, as well as Hugo Chavez, and he travels often to Venezuela.

In February, a month before the rice shipments started, according to Clarin, he was seen with Cheppi and Ms. Chavez, who is said to have ambitions to succeed Maduro as Venezuelan president.

When she visited Cuba in April, she wrote about it in her Instagram account. "On my return to La Isla del Gigante, I had the honor of sharing three hours with my dear Fidel [Castro], commander of all time. Together relived the experiences and moments we shared with my beloved father," she wrote.

Neither [Chavista Congressman] Diosdado Cabello nor Chancellor Elias Jaua nor vice president Jorge Arreaza are strategic pieces in the countrys leadership anymore," wrote Juan Reynaldo Sanchez, a Cuban exile who was a personal bodyguard of Castro's from 1968 to 1994 before being sent to prison, in the Miami Spanish-language website, Cafe Fuerte.

In his mind, there is no doubt Ms. Chavez is.

"[She is] the best student of his father in terms of ideological formation and a faithful admirer of Fidel Castro and the Cuban revolution," Sanchez said.

For the welfare of Venezuela, there is nothing I would like more than to be proved wrong, he concluded.

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Adolescent girls in braids and pigtails and teenage boys wearing jeans and sneakers sat alongside their parents in the courtroom of Immigration Judge Frank Travieso to hear how long they might be allowed to stay in the United States.

Travieso grabbed four thick books and dropped each one on his desk with a thud, warning the families in his Los Angeles courtroom about the thousands of pages of immigration laws and interpretations that could affect their cases and urging them to get a lawyer.

"This is even smaller print," he said of the 1,200-page book containing regulations during the hearing last month. "I am not trying to scare you, but I'm trying to ensure your children get a full and fair hearing."

He then sent them on their way and told them to report back in February.

The scene is one that could become more common as the country's already backlogged immigration courts brace for a deluge of tens of thousands of Central American children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent months.

The court system is so overwhelmed that it can currently take three years to get a hearing, and many believe the delays will only get worse in the months ahead. For many immigrants, the delays in the court system work in their favor because they know they have so long before their cases are resolved.

"This situation just happens to be a magnitude unlike anything we have ever seen," said Lauren Alder Reid, counsel for legislative and public affairs at the U.S. Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review, which runs the courts.

Immigration courts in the United States have long been troubled. The courts, overseen by the Department of Justice, have more than 375,000 cases being handled by just 243 judges, according to the agency.

It can take months or years to get hearings for immigrants who aren't in detention facilities, let alone a resolution. Immigration lawyers said judges are already setting hearings for 2017.

The Obama administration has said it will move quickly to process thousands of immigrant children and families arriving on the Texas border fleeing violence and extortion from gangs in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Since October, more than 57,000 unaccompanied children have reached the U.S., prompting the government to set up temporary shelters and fly immigrants to other states to be processed. Officials have asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency funding to cope with the crisis, including the hiring of more judges.

After Central American immigrants are apprehended at the border, they are usually processed at one of several facilities that have been set up across Texas and the Southwest.

Children are placed in shelters and reunited with family members in the U.S. before being told to report to an immigration office and ultimately given a date before a judge in a process that can take years.

In immigration court, many immigrants fail to attend their hearings and are issued deportation orders. More than one in five immigrants not in federal custody were given court orders in their absence during the 2013 fiscal year, according to court statistics.

Obama administration critics say the huge delays only encourage more immigrants to try to come here and turn themselves in at the border, knowing they'll be allowed to wait years for their cases to be resolved.

"The system is so dysfunctional," said Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies. "They get to stay, and the more time they spend here, the more difficult it is to get them removed."

Vaughan said courts ought to handle cases in reverse order, tackling those on the border first to speed up deportations and deter would-be immigrants and stem the surge.

Since the influx, the immigration courts have temporarily reassigned seven judges to hear cases in southern Texas and three judges to handle hearings at a recently created New Mexico detention facility via teleconferencing, Alder Reid said. She could not say how many cases have been postponed but expects the latest influx of immigrants will have a significant impact.

"The number of non-detained backlog cases is going to rise from overwhelming to overwhelming times ten," said Bruce Einhorn, a retired immigration judge in Los Angeles. "Until we enlarge the court system, we should brace ourselves for a bloody mess."

The huge flow of immigrants into the court system has also created legal issues for the immigrants themselves.

Attorneys are typically not provided at government expense or required in immigration court, and children may end up in court on their own with only a relative to vouch for them.

Megan McKenna, advocacy director for Kids in Need of Defense, said her organization's offices in Houston and New York were flooded this month with requests for pro-bono lawyers. She estimates the number of children lacking attorneys has jumped from about half to at least 70 percent since the influx began three years ago.

Immigrant advocates fearing the administration may try to curtail children's access to the courts to cope with the crunch sued this week to try to get the government to give them lawyers.

At the border, adults who fail to prove they have a fear of returning to their country could be deported more quickly and without seeing a judge. Government officials and lawmakers are debating ways to handle the children's cases more swiftly, much like they do with Mexican youth, who often don't get a hearing in court.

Unaccompanied children from Central America, however, are reunited with family and given a court date. Those abandoned or abused by their parents may apply for a special legal status, and those fleeing violence can apply for asylum at a government office.

The immigration courts currently have more than 41,000 juvenile cases, including those involving unaccompanied border-crossers as well as long-time residents facing deportation and adults who were initially apprehended as children.

In immigration court in Los Angeles, Marta Vasquez, 55, was told by Travieso to bring her teenage daughter back next year with an update on her application for asylum. Vasquez, who came here fleeing an abusive husband in Guatemala nine years ago, left the building without fear that her family would be torn apart by deportation  at least not any time soon.

"These are the first court dates," Vasquez later said. "Only God knows if this is going to be short or is going to be long."

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About 40 Central American immigrants detained briefly in New Mexico were deported Monday, officials confirmed.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the immigrants were placed on a plane in Roswell and flown to Honduras, but the agency did not say when they arrived. The adults and their children previously were housed at temporary detention center in Artesia, the agency said.

More immigrants being held in Artesia will be sent back to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador soon, as part of an effort to quickly remove immigrants who were part of a recent surge along the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.

"As President Obama, the vice president and (Homeland Security) Secretary (Jeh) Johnson have said, our border is not open to illegal migration, and we will send recent illegal migrants back," ICE spokeswoman Gillian Christensen said.

The deported immigrants are part of the nearly 82,000 migrants from Central America who have already been returned this fiscal year, she said.

Last month, the Obama administration announced plans to convert the Artesia facility into one of several temporary sites being established to deal with the influx of women and children fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America. The three barracks at the Artesia site can hold up to nearly 700 people as they await deportation or seek asylum.

Currently, about 400 are being detained by the facility, officials said.

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The Ku Klux Klan in South Carolina is using the nations current illegal immigration crisis as a recruiting tool, leaving bags of candy on driveways with notes urging people to Save our land, join the Klan.

Residents in northwestern South Carolina say they found bags of candy on their street containing a piece of paper asking them to join the Ku Klux Klan. The paper not only had the slogan but also included a phone number that led to an automated message discussing KKK efforts against illegal immigration.

When someone dials the "Klan Hotline" printed on the paper, according to FOX Carolina, a voicemail message picks up saying: "Be a man, join the Klan! Illegal immigration is destroying America." Then it addresses immigration concerns and ends with, "Always remember: if it ain't white, it ain't right. White power."

This tactic by the KKK isn't anything new and the group has been capitalizing on the immigration debate since 2000, according to Mark Pallok, Senior Fellow of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Between 2000 and 2008, he told Fox News Latino, hate groups have very largely based on their rhetoric on illegal immigration.

"It's pure opportunism," he said in a telephone interview with FNL. "They spun it as a racial issue. The groups were fairly successful and they did grow based on their exploitation of illegal immigration."

The Loyal White Knights and the Traditionalist American Knights of the KKK have been mostly responsible for the pamphlets showing up around the country since March. According to Pallok, the SPLC has received reports of similar pamphlets all over the midwest and in Pennsylvania, West Virgina, Texas and the Carolinas.

He said rhetoric against black, Jewish and gay people aren't resonating for the Klan, and despite the Klan's relative success using immigration as a recruitment tool, participation on the KKK continues to go down. In 2010 there were 221 KKK chapters. That number dropped to 163 in 2013.

"What we estimate is those chapters represent between 4,000 and 6,000 Klansmen in the United States today," Pallok explained. "At the height of the civil rights movement in 1960s, there were about 40,000."

In Seneca, South Carolina, Robert Jones  who describes himself as the imperial klaliff of the Loyal White Knights  told WHNS-TV that the effort there was part of a recruiting event they hold three times a year.

Jones said that the hotline has gotten around 20,000 calls a day and many people are interested in joining his cause.

Residents in an Oconee County subdivision found the bags Saturday night and Sunday morning.

According to Jones, chapters across the country drop the literature overnight and members don't target homes for their "national night ride."

"I mean, we can't tell who lives in a house, whether they're black, white, Mexican, gay, we can't tell that," he said. "And if you were to look at somebody's house like that, that means you'd be pretty much a racist."

In response to a private Ku Klux Klan rally later in July, various groups have planned a Unity Rally Against Hatred in Greenville, South Carolina to be held on Saturday, July 26.

For more from WHTS go to FOXCarolina.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Days after a poll showed that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel could have a tough fight on his hands in the 2015 re-election race, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez was announced as co-chairman of his campaign.

Gutierrezs central role in Emanuels campaign comes as Latinos are seen as a particularly critical factor in the former Obama administration chief of staffs effort to get another term as Chicagos mayor.

But the move was also unusual for another reason  the two have long been at odds and have had a history of animosity. Gutierrez refused to support Emanuel in his first run for mayor.

Yet, the vocal Democrats seem now to be quite cozy after Emanuel has lost support among many African Americans because of the citys high crime and his move to close more than 50 Chicago public schools, in each case affecting blacks and Latinos disproportionately.

A Chicago Sun-Times poll showed that if voters cast their ballot today for Chicago mayor, Emanuel would trail Chicago teacher's union president Karen Lewis, 36 percent to 45 percent.

Lewis, who has said she would decide in August whether she will enter the mayors race, vigorously fought Emanuel over teachers contracts in 2012, and has the fervent support of many teachers and parents for standing up to education issues.

Gutierrez, a vocal critic of the mayor, has said Emanuel played a key role in the Obama administrations failure to move ahead on immigration reform.

Now, Gutierrez says Emanuel has, in effect, evolved on immigration and been beneficial to the citys Latinos.

Gutierrez is the leading voice in Congress for comprehensive immigration reform, particularly for providing a path to legal status for certain undocumented immigrants who meet a strict set of criteria.

Gutierrez is the single most popular Latino public official, his support is pretty substantial, said University of Illinois professor and political strategist Dick Simpson, who also is a former Chicago alderman. He supported Harold Washington when he was mayor, and after supported Richard Daley, which was important in Daleys election.

The Sun-Times poll found the teachers union head, who is African-American, carrying a slight majority of the black vote, 51 percent to Emanuels 33 percent. Hispanics also favored her, while Asian and white voters leaned toward Emanuel.

That was before Gutierrezs new role in Emanuels campaign, of course.

The challenge, though, is that while Latinos are almost a third of the citys population, they accounted for about 15 percent of registered voters in the last mayoral election, say published reports.

That is one reason that Gutierrez abandoned plans to run for mayor of Chicago several years ago.

Rahm Emanuel blocked Obama from supporting immigration reform, Simpson said. Its a very important issue. The city does not cooperate with immigration and neither does the county. People caught by police are not held extra time for immigration to deport them. So its an immigrant-friendly city. Any mayor who would reverse that would be in big trouble.

The poll showed Emanuel doing somewhat better against other possible candidates.

Of course, its still too early to tell what voters will do between now the election next year.

Last time Emanuel ran, two Latinos also ran for mayor, getting many of the Latino leader endorsements and votes.

So far, no Latino has indicated interest in running.
Mexico is promising to stem the flow of Central American migrants to the United States by tightening control at its notoriously porous Guatemalan border.

But messages from the country's top two leaders in little more than a week have provided few details on how. And the scene on the ground is business as usual.

Dozens of Central Americans who paid $1.50 a head could be seen this week crossing the broad Suchiate River on improvised rafts of inner tubes and wooden boards, in full view of Mexican police on the shore and immigration agents posted on a bridge overhead.

"I don't see anything has changed," Guatemalan Luisa Fuentes, 56, said as she rode a raft to Mexico.

"La Bestia," a decrepit freight train that carries migrants north from the border state of Chiapas, still carried many riders on its roof.

President Enrique Pena Nieto's government says it is catching and deporting far more Central Americans, but it remains unclear if enforcement has increased or just that the number of detentions is simply rising along with the larger numbers of Central Americans moving through Mexico.

In the U.S., the migration has overwhelmed the Border Patrol, shelters and immigration courts. Top officials, including the vice president, have traveled to Central America with a stern message for those contemplating the trip, and President Barack Obama is seeking $3.7 billion from Congress to respond to the crisis. About 44,000 unaccompanied minors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have been apprehended at the U.S. border from October through the end of June.

The United States has been sensitive about appearing to be pressuring Mexico. But at a June 20 meeting in Guatemala, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden warned Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong that with the economic growth in Mexico, Central Americans might decide to stay in Mexico, according to a senior administration official familiar with the session.

"We found very willing partners in the Pena Nieto administration," said the U.S. official, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity to describe the private session. "It's not something where we need carrots and sticks; it's been more like we need your help and they said, 'All right, let me tell you what we can and cannot do.'"

Pena Nieto this month announced a plan that includes more border inspection stations to help fight trafficking of immigrants from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Osorio Chong said last week that Mexico would put an end to illegal migrants catching rides on La Bestia.

The government had been expected to provide details about the effort Tuesday. Instead, officials just announced the appointment of a little-known politician to head its immigration-enforcement plan. They promised again to improve border-crossing facilities but gave no details on what is actually planned.

"We have to get more cooperation ... to make the southern border an area of stability, and rule of law," said Humberto Mayans, Mexico's newly appointed head of southern border improvement plans.

Mexico's southern frontier is less than half the length of the U.S.-Mexico border, but its thick jungles make it highly difficult to police, particularly for a nation already struggling to tamp down organized crime violence and corruption.

Mexican politicians generally see little upside in cracking down on migrants who simply pass through on the way to slipping into the U.S., just as so many Mexicans have done. They stay only a few days and don't affect schools or services.

What's more, migrant smuggling is a highly lucrative business that generates payoffs for local law enforcement to look the other way and lots of revenue for legal businesses.

In a purge in 2010 and 2011, Mexico's National Immigration Institute fired more than 400 agents for allegedly taking bribes, extorting migrants or failing vetting tests. Central American migrants routinely say they have been picked up by local police in northern Mexico, who turn them over to criminal gangs that hold them for ransom. In 2008, an entire town in central Mexico rioted to defend Central American migrants from police who wanted to kidnap them.

Informal crossing has been tolerated for so long that it has become a mainstay of the southern border economy. Guatemalans resell Mexican goods on the other side, and innumerable bars and dance halls operate on the Mexican side staffed by Central American women.

"The tolerance exists because both governments know that people depend on it," said Guatemalan truck driver Moises Moran. "All of us who live here have done something illegal at some time ... I have."

But detentions have increased. In late June, the National Immigration Institute said the number of minors detained through the first half of the year was 10,505, more than in all of 2013. Monthly deportations rose dramatically in May, about three times the number in January.

For many, the best chance of getting north is the train. But even if officials do make the train harder to board, it's far from the only path through Mexico. Migrants with money to pay smugglers also travel by car or bus.

On Monday night, Honduran migrant Darwin Ernesto Ramirez, 28, said he had already heard the rumors that this could be La Bestia's last run. Just before he swung aboard the train, he said: "I don't think they can stop this. A lot of us will just wait for it down the tracks."

"Mexico will cede to U.S. pressure and will implement a semi-closed border in response," predicts Victor Clark, director of Tijuana's Binational Center for Human Rights.

But rather than stopping the flow, Clark says, it will just make smugglers richer.

"The prices they charge will go up," he said.

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Legal marijuana in Uruguay wont hit the market until sometime next year due to "practical difficulties, the president of the Southern Cone nation said in a recent interview.

Speaking to the French news agency Agence France-Presse, President Jose Mujica said that if the implementation law was rushed the government-grown pot could end up on the illegal market. Regulation was expected by the end of this year.

"If we want to get this right we are going to have to do it slowly," Mujica said amid criticism from the United Nations over the public health risk. "We are not just going to say, 'hands off and let the market take care of it,' because if the market is in charge, it is going to seek to sell the greatest possible amount."

Last December, Uruguay became the first country to create a national marketplace for legal marijuana, with the government regulating the production, sales and use of pot.

"Today is an historic day. Many countries of Latin America, and many governments, will take this law as an example," Sen. Constanza Moreira, a member of the governing Broad Front coalition, said as the bill passed with 16 votes in favor and 13 against. Congress' lower house approved the measure in late July.

The groundbreaking legislation to create a government-run marijuana industry was opposed by two-thirds Uruguayans, polls at the time indicated.

Mujica, a former leftist guerrilla who spent years in jail as a younger man while others experimented with marijuana, went ahead with the legislation anyway. He argued the global drug war is a failure and said bureaucrats can do a better job of containing addictions and beating organized crime than police, soldiers and prison guards.

Former Health Minister Alfredo Solari, a Colorado Party senator, worried the law will make it easier for children and adolescents to get their hands on pot. "The effects of this policy on public health will be terrible," he said.

The government got help from a national TV campaign and other lobbying efforts supported by billionaire currency speculator and philanthropist George Soros and his Open Society Foundation and Drug Policy Alliance. Last September, Mujica met with Soros and billionaire David Rockefeller in New York to explain his legal-market plan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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In the latest of a series of meetings that the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has held with President Obama, members of the group on Wednesday pushed for the administration to treat the unaccompanied minors as humanitarian cases and again reiterated using discretion to scale back deportations.

The meeting, requested by the CHC, whose members all are Democrats, occurred as Obama is under fire from all sides of the immigration debate over how he has handled the soaring numbers of immigrants from Central America arriving illegally at the U.S.-Mexico border, and specifically the nearly 60,000 children who have arrived alone.

CHC members want the administration to do everything possible to help the children who qualify to stay here to be able to, and stem the generally high rate of deportations that have occurred during Obama's tenure.

I saw a compassionate President who listened to our position on the deportation crisis that families and communities are facing in America, said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat who has been the most vocal proponent in Congress for providing a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants. We urged the President to be as broad and expansive in using prosecutorial discretion and executive action as the Republicans have been narrow and mean-spirited when it comes to immigrants and immigration.

Gutierrez is chairman of the Immigration Task Force of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Republicans blamed the president's decision to relax some deportation rules for fueling rumors circulating in Central America that once here, migrant kids would be allowed to stay. Refugee resettlement groups that have interviewed children from the border crisis say that the majority say they fled violence and the pressure by gangs to join or die.

The Obama administration asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency funds that includes funding for the Justice Department to hire 40 new immigration judge teams and about $1 billion for immigration enforcement efforts within the Homeland Security Department to help speed removal of immigrant families traveling with children, in addition to about $295 million to support repatriation, reintegration and border security efforts in Central America.

The Justice Department also said that deportation cases involving families and unaccompanied children would be moved to the top of court dockets. That means lower-priority cases will take even longer to wend through a system where there's a backlog of more than 360,000 deportation cases.

Lawmakers who want a hard line on dealing with influx are pressing for scaling back a 2008 law, called the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, which allowed for more leniency regarding unaccompanied minors who come from countries other than Mexico and Canada.

Many of the kids who are part of the more recent influx are seeking to stay in the United States through that law.

The CHC said it is firmly opposed to making that law more restrictive.

There are times when the United States must show why it is the greatest nation on earth and how we treat children fleeing violence is one of those times, Gutierrez said. These are refugees in need of help. We would denounce any country overseas that attacks, protests, and turns back children fleeing violence and turmoil. And as a great nation we must set an example for others when it comes to the rule of law and the generosity of our people.

While the CHC meeting sought to put some onus on the president and his policies and recent responses to the border crisis, they joined Obama in placing the spotlight back on Republicans in Congress, who have blocked efforts in the House to pass immigration measures that would provide a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants.

They all agreed that ultimately it is Congress - not the President - that can enact long-term legislative solutions to our nation's most pressing problems, said a statement by the CHC after the meeting. The President and the CHC continue to urge Republicans to work with us on finding a comprehensive and sensible solution to our nation's broken immigration system.

Includes reporting by The Associated Press.

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Amid hardening positions by both political parties, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday he's losing optimism that Democrats and Republicans can agree before their summer break on legislation to address the influx of young Central Americans across the U.S. border.

Boehner said any legislation that would send emergency funds to the border to alleviate the surge of migrants should be accompanied by a change in a 2008 law that he says is being abused. Most Democrats oppose that option, and the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee emphasized Thursday that he can't accept changing U.S. policy to speed the removal of Central American kids without court hearings.

Asked if he had confidence Republicans and Democrats could reach agreement by month's end, Boehner said: "I don't have as much optimism as I'd like to have." Congress leaves for a month long recess at the end of July.

President Barack Obama has asked for $3.7 billion in emergency spending to boost enforcement at the border and to increase housing for the border crossing minors. Republicans want to lower the amount and want changes in a law that would help speed up removals.

"I don't know how Congress can send more money to the border to begin to mitigate the problem if you don't do something about the '08 law that is being abused," Boehner said. "And it is being abused."

But Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who was presiding over a hearing on the border crisis on Thursday, rejected that idea.

"I understand the desire to accelerate the process, but accelerating without due process is not acceptable," he said.

Boehner's call to change the law underscored what is emerging as the Republican price for supporting any part of the president's emergency spending request. But stiffening Democratic opposition has left any solution unclear.

A dispute also emerged at Thursday's hearing over whether the border crisis was caused in part by President Barack Obama's two-year-old policy allowing certain immigrants brought illegally to the country as children to stay and work here.

Republicans are pressing the argument that the Obama policy was a major driver of the spike in migration by kids from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Sen. Ted Cruz announced Tuesday that he will use any legislation to deal with the crisis to try to overturn that directive  an indication that the politics around the issue are getting even tougher with less than three weeks left for Congress to address the problem before leaving Washington for the annual August recess.

Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, tried to get Obama administration witnesses to acknowledge the crisis was caused in part by Obama's policy, holding up a chart showing migration spiking in 2012.

"Are you telling me that his executive order that we're not going to send any children back didn't cause an explosion?" he asked.

"I think very little of it has to do with the immigration debate here," said Thomas A. Shannon Jr., a counselor at the State Department.

Shannon said that gang violence was a major driver but that smugglers also exploited U.S. policies that in practice allow Central American kids to stay once they arrive. He pointed to the 2008 anti-trafficking law signed by George W. Bush that Republicans want to amend, not to Obama's 2012 directive.

Risch and other Republicans insisted Obama's policy played a large role.

"In 2012, this thing just skyrockets," said Risch.

Still, lawmakers in both parties expressed the desire to act amid signs that the public was demanding a solution. One in six people now call immigration the most pressing problem facing the U.S., according to a new Gallup poll  up dramatically just since last month, when only 5 percent said immigration topped their list of concerns.

In that time, the crisis of unaccompanied children at the border has burst into headlines, with more than 57,000 young people arriving since the fall.

"It's a terrible situation. You talk about small kids, nobody there to help them, but they've got to go back," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a supporter of stalled congressional efforts to overhaul the nation's immigration system. "I am out there on immigration reform, but there is no market for this in America. ... America is not going to tolerate this."

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Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Wednesday that he will hold a new plebiscite by 2016 to decide the future of the island's political status.

Garcia also said that his Popular Democratic Party is working on a definition for the enhanced commonwealth status it supports.

President Barack Obama's administration has pledged $2.5 million to finance a plebiscite, and the ballot would have to be approved by the U.S. attorney general before going to voters. Garcia previously said he would support a constitutional assembly to decide the U.S. territory's status if Obama did not act on the issue.

The U.S. Congress would have to approve any change in status.

Garcia promised that the upcoming plebiscite would include a variety of options.

Meanwhile, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, the island's representative in Congress whose party supports seeking statehood for Puerto Rico, said he favors a referendum that simply asks voters if they want Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state.

"That is the easiest and most inclusive referendum we can offer," he said.

Puerto Rico held a nonbinding, two-part referendum in November 2012 that was widely criticized for being confusing. On the ballot's first question, more than 900,000 voters, or 54 percent, said they were not content with the current commonwealth status.

A second question asked voters to choose a status. Of the approximately 1.3 million voters who made a choice, nearly 800,000, or 61 percent, supported statehood. Some 437,000 backed sovereign free association and 72,560 chose independence. However, nearly 500,000 left that question blank.

Nonbinding referendums also were held in 1967, 1993 and 1998. Seeking statehood has never garnered a clear majority, and independence has never obtained more than 5 percent of the vote.

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Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday during a visit to Iowa that he would consider requests to help unaccompanied immigrant children who come to New Jersey, but would not encourage families to send them to his home state.

"I have great empathy for that situation," Christie told reporters when asked about the influx of immigrant children. He was speaking after greeting more than 100 people at a Cedar Rapids-area restaurant.

"We'll take every request that comes based on its merits and make those decisions," he said, calling Americans an "empathetic people."

"We don't like to see people suffer," he said. Christie had evaded the question when asked previously.

Christie has emerged from a low national profile in recent weeks and has made more public statements, but has offered few hard positions on hot-button issues.

He continued to hedge on the broader issue of immigration policy, when asked after the event in Iowa.

"The reason you see the [immigration] numbers up that way is because people know in the United States that the federal government has refused to address this issue in any meaningful way, in both parties," Christie said, when asked about a recent Gallup Poll that showed frustration with immigration matching concern about the economy and government effectiveness.

On the question of tens of thousands of unaccompanied children at the U.S.-Mexico border, Christie said it would be a wrong step to encourage families to send their children to New Jersey, which has among the nation's 10 largest Hispanic populations.

Christie was visiting Iowa  the state which holds the first presidential caucus of the 2016 election cycle  as chairman of the Republican Governors Association and was headlining three fundraisers, including one Thursday evening for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad in Davenport.

Christie blamed the Obama administration for the failure of the federal government to resolve the crisis involving the thousands of unaccompanied children.

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One of the biggest musical hits on Central American radio is, ironically, a song about the perils of traveling to the United States illegally.

The song is called La Bestia, Spanish for The Beast, the name of a freight train that thousands of people  many of them Central Americans  ride from Mexico in a desperate effort to get to the U.S. border.

The train, and trip, is so notorious it is known as a train of death. Many Bestia riders have been raped, killed or kidnapped by criminals who prey on them.

What most of the Central Americans who listen to the song do not suspect, however, is that it is part of the U.S. campaign to dissuade them from trying to enter the United States illegally. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioned the song.

Faced with a border crisis that has seen tens of thousands of Central American unaccompanied minors cross into Texas illegally in just the last year, the Obama administration has been scrambling to stem the tide by seeking nearly $4 billion in emergency funds, and trying to work with the governments of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to keep people from making the dangerous trip north.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioned the song with the goal of getting its Stay Home message through a catchy tune. At present, it is playing on 21 radio stations in the three nations.

The songs composer, Carlo Nicolau, who is Mexican-American, said it was awkward to create a work for an agency that caused angst among so many of his friends and relatives.

I thought I was really going to bed with the devil, he told The Daily Beast. Id heard from many people that some of these Border Patrol agents are pretty shrewd. But Ive learned that a lot of them are risking their lives to help people not die.

Part of the song goes: Migrants from everywhere, entrenched along the rail ties. Far away from where they come, further away from where they go. They call her the Beast from the South, this wretched train of death. With the devil in the boiler, whistles, roars, twists and turns.

The song makes references to Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, one of the regions most ruthless gangs. MS-13 is said to be deeply involved in human trafficking and in crimes against the people who ride La Bestia.

The lyrics are set against the beat of the marimba, a wooden xylophone-like instrument from Guatemala.

The song is part of the Border Patrol agencys million-dollar Dangers Awareness Campaign, which tries to get parents to see sending their kids on the journey with smugglers as too risky and not in the best interests of their children.

The campaigns more visible and better-known components are billboards and multi-media public service announcements.

The CBP, the Daily Beast said, scoffs at depictions of its role in the song La Bestia as propaganda, preferring to see it as a humanitarian campaign that seeks to save lives. The agency rejects the notion that it is tricking listeners who have no idea it is behind the song.

Its more important to us that the message be delivered, Laurel Smith, director of communications and outreach for CBP told The Daily Beast. We want to make sure the audience is listening.

The D.C.-based advertising agency Elevation that is working with CBP also took part in No Mas Cruces campaign. That campaign, launched in 2004, refers to the crosses on graves of people who died trying to cross the Sonoran desert.

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As thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children have poured into South Texas, community leaders from Dallas to Los Angeles to Syracuse, N.Y., have offered to set up temporary shelters to relieve the Army bases, holding cells and converted warehouses at the border.

The outreach offers stand in sharp contrast to other places around the country, where some protested having immigrants from Central America come to their towns while the nation's leaders attempt to find solutions to the issue.

In Dallas County, Judge Clay Jenkins has offered three county buildings that could hold as many as 2,000 migrants at one time.

"These are just like your and my children, except that they're scared and they're dirty and they're tired and they're terrified," Jenkins said. "We can take some pressure off those border troops and let them get out of the childcare business and back into the border security business."

More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended since October, the Border Patrol says. Three-fourths of them are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty. By the time they have reached South Texas, they have survived a treacherous journey through drug-war-torn Mexico.

President Obama has asked Congress to authorize $3.7 billion in emergency spending to increase enforcement at the border, build more facilities to temporarily house the unaccompanied minors, and beef up legal aid. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has said the government will entitle due process but will not guarantee a "welcome to this country with open arms."

In the meantime, from California to Massachusetts, communities are offering to build or rehab facilities to take in child migrants until they connect with relatives, plea asylum cases or enter into foster care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for ensuring one of those three outcomes before it deports any minor.

Demonstrators in Murrieta, California, made national headlines for their strong opposition to the child migrants. But while protesters frustrated efforts to process immigrant families there, other California communities have been encouraging agencies to build shelters and start programs to assist unaccompanied children caught crossing the border.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has been working with federal officials and local nonprofits to try to provide shelter and legal representation for the children, noting that many are likely planning to reunite with their parents. In San Francisco, county officials are also looking at ways to help provide medical, mental health, educational and legal services once the children are released from federal custody.

Thousands of miles from where the children are entering the country, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Friday that HHS officials will review Camp Edwards military base on Cape Cod and Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee to see if either is suitable for holding as many as 1,000 children.

And Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner wrote in a letter to Obama that her city would "welcome the opportunity to provide shelter" as part of a loose network of U.S. cities that have traditionally taken in and resettled refugees.

"We're not telling the political leaders how they long-term resolve the crisis," said Rich Eychaner, the founder and director of an eponymous nonprofit aiming to find foster homes in Iowa for 1,000 migrant children. "We're simply saying there are a lot of resources, there are a lot of big hearts, there are a lot of big homes in Iowa, and we have space, and we have the capacity to do this."

In other communities, however, leaders are showing their opposition by passing ordinances and sponsoring legislation. In Michigan, Maryland and Murrieta, California, protesters have used demonstrations and graffiti to make their point.

South of Houston, the town of League City passed a resolution refusing any request  should one ever come from the federal government  to set up detention or processing centers there, citing "health concerns."

A group of Southeast Texas mayors said they support a bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Peter Olson that would give local communities 90 days to assess any federal request to house unaccompanied children who have illegally crossed into the U.S. A congressman from Nebraska introduced similar legislation.

Federal law will likely pre-empt these efforts, but they remain a forceful expression of hostility toward the idea of temporary shelter for the migrants. Americans for Legal Immigration, a political action committee classified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, has helped organize nearly 300 demonstrations for this weekend.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has said offering shelter sends a false signal that people who enter the country illegally are welcome.

Back in Dallas County, Jenkins' proposal has elicited hundreds of critical voice messages and emails. Gina Perkins of Grand Prairie, Texas, left a message protesting the use of a vacant school building as a shelter.

"I vehemently oppose providing anything but a ticket home to these illegals," she said.

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The presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras will come to Washington next week to discuss the surge of unaccompanied minors from their countries across the U.S border.

The White House says Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, and El Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren will meet with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Friday.

The U.S. has been urging their governments to take steps to stem the exodus of children and warning that the U.S. will take steps to send them back promptly.

An Obama request to Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending contains $300 million to help the Central American government repatriate and reintegrate migrants that are sent back.

Meanwhile, the flood of children crossing the Mexican border illegally and without their parents has slowed down in recent weeks, according to two senior administration officials.

Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas have found fewer than 500 children crossing the border illegally this week, the officials said. Last month, agents arrested as many as 2,000 child immigrants a week.

The Obama administration has been struggling to deal with a flood of more than 57,000 children traveling alone since Oct. 1. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said earlier this month that as many as 90,000 unaccompanied child immigrants could be apprehended by the end of the budget year in September. Most of the children are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the latest trends in border arrests, said Friday it's too soon to know what has led to drop in border arrests. They said illegal border crossings along the Mexican border tend to slow during the summer.

Customs and Border Protection has launched a public relations campaign to warn would-be immigrants and their families in Central America that the trip to the U.S. border is dangerous and immigrant children will face deportation after they are apprehended. But since the trip through Mexico can take weeks or even months, recent border crossers are unlikely to have seen much of the campaign.

Along with dealing with the flood of children traveling alone, the Border Patrol has also arrested more than 55,000 people traveling as families, mostly mothers with young children. Because of a lack of detention space many of those people have been released with a notice to report back to immigration authorities at a later date. The Obama administration has repeatedly declined to say how many people have been released and how many have reported as ordered.

In recent weeks the Homeland Security Department has opened a family detention center with space for as many as 700 people center in Artesia, New Mexico, at the Border Patrol's training facility. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Friday that a detention center in Karnes County, Texas, would be converted to house families starting in the next few weeks. That facility currently has space for 600 people.

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The attention on immigration had seemed to dim this year, as more and more voices on both sides of aisle in Congress seemed to sound the death knell for any kind of action to be taken on the issue by December.

The political will, it appeared, had diminished to a whimper, if that.

Now, recent polls show that many Americans list the issue as a top concern.

The sudden rise in the number of families and unaccompanied minors from Central America crossing the border has refocused attention on immigration, but hardly under the terms that President Barack Obama and immigrant advocates once envisioned.

The images dominating the public radar are of the influx of Central Americans  including tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors  who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border into Texas.

Obama had demanded action on a broad change in the law that would have given millions of immigrants illegally in the United States a way to citizenship while spending more on border security. When Republicans balked, he threatened to act on his own. But now the White House says it's focused on addressing the influx of border-crossers and returning as many as quickly as the government can.

Republican lawmakers had decided to scuttle any votes on a comprehensive overhaul of immigration laws this year. Now, they are urging prompt legislative action to stem the flow of Central Americans into the United States. Some Republicans even want Obama to take decisive action himself, a shift from their usual criticism that he has abused his executive powers.

The divisions fall mostly along partisan lines, but the circumstances also have caused some splits among Democrats and led immigration advocates to question Obama's focus on detention and deportation.

How did all of this happen?

Some questions and answers about how we got to this upended state of affairs.

Q. Haven't illegal border crossings been dropping?

A. Yes. From 1990 to 2007, apprehensions by the Border Patrol of people crossing illegally averaged nearly 1.17 million a year; some of the highest were from 1998 to 2000. By 2012, they had dropped to nearly 365,000. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, the number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. rose from an estimated 3.5 million in 1990 to a peak of 12.2 million in 2007. The number then fell to 11.3 million in 2009 and has remained statistically stable since despite some indications it might be slightly rising.

The lower numbers have been attributed variously to stricter enforcement on the border, the U.S. economic downturn and improved economic conditions in Mexico.

Q. Where is the increase occurring?

A. The influx is largely by families with children or by minors traveling alone. From October 2012 through the end of last September, the Border Patrol apprehended about 24,000 unaccompanied children at the border. But between October and the end of this June, the number shot up to 57,000. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told Congress that the number is accelerating so fast that it could reach 90,000 by the end of September. Most are coming from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Q. Why the focus on children?

A. In 2008, in the waning days of President George W. Bush's administration, Congress passed a law designed to protect children from trafficking by gangs and other criminals. It set up a system to help provide humanitarian relief and possible asylum for children who are victims of trafficking and who face continuing threats back home. The system provides a quicker process for children from Mexico and Canada. Under the law, they can be interviewed by a Border Patrol officer, who makes an initial determination whether the child deserves to have his case heard by an immigration judge. If the officer determines the minor is not a victim of trafficking or does not face a credible fear of persecution, the child can be immediately sent back across the border.

The process is different for minors from other countries. They are allowed to make their case directly to an immigration judge; that process can take years amid a backlog of cases. In the meantime, those children remain in the U.S, with family members or with sponsors while they await hearings in the clogged system.

Q. But why such a sudden jump in numbers?

A. Crime, gang violence, poverty across Central America, a desire to reunite with parents or other relatives. White House officials also say smugglers have persuaded families to pay them to bring children to the U.S. by lying to them about their fate in this country.

Republicans are blaming Obama for deciding in 2012 that certain immigrants who came to the United States illegally before 2007 and before they turned 16 could defer their immigration proceedings and be eligible for work authorization. GOP critics say that decision encouraged minors to rush to the U.S. in the belief that they would be allowed to stay, even though they wouldn't qualify.

Q. How does Obama want to deal with the crisis?

A. Obama sent Congress a request for $3.7 billion in emergency spending to increase the number of Health and Human Services facilities for the minors and to tighten border enforcement. Some money would be used to help Central American countries repatriate border-crossers and expand the number of U.S. immigration judges. Obama has asked for unspecified broader authorities for the Department of Homeland Security to more quickly process and deport border-crossers. Johnson, the department's head, has said he would like the Border Patrol to deal with Central American minors the same way it deals with Mexican unaccompanied minors. The Obama administration is processing the recent arrivals ahead of others in the overwhelmed immigration system in hopes of discouraging more minors from coming.

Q. What does Congress want to do?

A. Various Republican-driven proposals would change the 2008 law and allow Border Patrol agents to deal with Central American minors in the same way they process Mexican border-crossers. That means they could be turned back immediately if an agent determines the individual has no claim for asylum.

House Republicans have called for sending National Guard troops to the border. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has proposed ending Obama's 2012 policy of deferring immigration proceedings for those who entered the U.S. as children before 2007. In addition to changing the 2008 law, Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, both Republicans, favor an increase in immigration judges and in the number of refugee applications that the U.S. can process inside El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Q. Is there agreement on any of that?

A. Hardly. Administration officials have indicated support for changing the 2008 law, but the White House has not proposed a specific fix amid complaints from advocacy groups. Its position about what it would accept is unclear.

Republicans say Obama's request for $3.7 billion amounts to a "blank check" and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said this past week he wasn't as optimistic as he would like to be that a deal could be reached before the end of July, before lawmakers go on break.

Republicans want to link increased spending to changes in the law. Many Democrats and immigration advocates don't want changes to the law, saying the Border Patrol screenings currently used on Mexican border-crossers are inadequate and would result in minors returning to gang violence and worse in their home communities.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry says that the Obama administration needs to get much tougher on the U.S.-Mexico border by, for starters, putting put more Border Patrol troops on the ground and drones in the air to secure it.

Perry, who made his comments in a speech to Hispanic ministers in San Antonio on Saturday morning, said that he recently visited a Border Patrol facility in Texas where he saw hundreds of mothers and children who had crossed the border illegally in the soaring surge of Central Americans who have been coming to the United States in recent years.

"I saw how our country's refusal to commit the resources necessary to secure our borders are directly impacting those children," said Perry, according to local reports.

The group Perry, who may run again for president in 2016, addressed was the Libre Initiative, a religious group courting Hispanic voters to conservative candidates.

Perry touched on the topic again in Iowa on Saturday night, in his fourth visit to the state eight months. His visit there seemed to signal a hope for a second chance to win over Republican voters who delivered him a stinging caucus loss when he ran for president two years ago.

Perry, 64, hasn't said if he plans to run again in 2016. But he's clearly considering it, and was meeting Saturday and Sunday with veterans and conservative activists in the northern Iowa communities of Algona and Clear Lake.

The crowd Saturday night responded enthusiastically to Perry's roughly 15-minute speech. Perry heaped praise on his fellow GOP governors, especially Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, and forcefully criticized President Barack Obama's response to the recent flood of unaccompanied child immigrants that has overwhelmed authorities in Texas.

"We know how to secure the border. If the federal government will not do its duty then I will suggest to you that the state of Texas will," said Perry, as the crowd leapt to their feet in applause.

More than 57,000 unaccompanied children have been apprehended since October, the Border Patrol says. Three-fourths of them are from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty. By the time they have reached South Texas, they have survived a treacherous journey through drug-war-torn Mexico.

President Obama has asked Congress to authorize $3.7 billion in emergency spending to increase enforcement at the border, build more facilities to temporarily house the unaccompanied minors, and beef up legal aid. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has said the government will entitle due process but will not guarantee a "welcome to this country with open arms."

Perry became Texas' governor in 2000 when then-Gov. George W. Bush became president. He has been elected to full four-year terms three times  becoming the longest-serving governor in Texas history  but is not seeking re-election next year.

Meanwhile, federal authorities are warning the public about fraud schemes aimed at exploiting relatives of unaccompanied children who've recently entered the United States.

San Antonio-based FBI officials say in a statement that perpetrators have demanded payments from family members, claiming the monetary payments will cover processing and travel expenses needed to allow the children to be reunited with their families.

Authorities say individuals involved in these schemes request payments ranging from about $300 to several thousand dollars. The number of victims and amount of losses is not immediately known. Officials are asking anyone with information about the fraud schemes to contact their local FBI office.

Thousands of unaccompanied Central American children have recently poured into South Texas, though federal officials say the flow has slowed in recent weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The man-in-the-know nursed a late-morning beer at a bar near the Suchiate River that separates Guatemala from Mexico, and answered a question about his human smuggling business with a question: "Do you think a coyote is going to say he's a coyote?"

Dressed as a migrant in shorts and sandals but speaking like an entrepreneur, he then described shipments of tens of thousands of dollars in human cargo from the slums of Honduras and highlands of Guatemala to cities across the United States.

"It's business," he said, agreeing to speak to a reporter only if guaranteed anonymity. "Sometimes, business is very good."

Judging by the dramatic increase in the number of minors apprehended in the United States in recent months, it seems the human smuggling business from Central America is booming. The vast majority of migrants who enter the U.S. illegally do so with the help of a network of smugglers known as "coyotes," so named for the scavengers that prowl the border.

The Cost:

Migration experts and smugglers who charge from $5,000 to $10,000 to move Central Americans to the U.S. say these are the payments that must be made to get their human cargo to its destination:

 Boatmen at Mexico's southern border: $1.50 to cross Suchiate River from Guatemala.

 Lodging: $11.50 a room, which can hold many migrants.

 Central American gang: At least $100 per migrant to board Mexican freight train known as "La Bestia" The Beast).

 Mexican police and immigration officials: $230 to $540 to pass; $25 to $40 a person to free detained migrant.

 Drug cartels: $250 to $300 for Mexican migrant, $500 to $700 for Central American, about $1,500 for someone from Europe or Asia, plus 10 percent flat fee per smuggler to cross northern Mexico to U.S. border.

 Boatmen at Mexico's northern border: $100 per immigrant to cross Rio Grande into U.S.

 Drivers: $150 for ride from Rio Grande to stash house; $200 for ride north of Border Patrol's highway checkpoint to Houston.

 Caretaker at stash house: $20 per person per day.

It is a high-risk, often high-yield business estimated to generate $6.6 billion a year for smugglers along Latin America's routes to the U.S., according to a 2010 United Nations report. The migrants pay anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 each for the illegal journey across thousands of miles in the care of smuggling networks that in turn pay off government officials, gangs operating on trains and drug cartels controlling the routes north.

The exact profit is hard to calculate. One expert who wasn't authorized to speak publicly put it at $3,500 to $4,000 per migrant if the journey goes as planned. Smuggling organizations may move from dozens to hundreds of migrants at a time.

"We're talking about a market where chaos reigns," said Rodolfo Casillas, a researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Mexico who studies migrant trafficking.

The surge in unaccompanied minors and women with children migrating from Central America has put new attention on decades-old smuggling organizations.

More than 57,000 unaccompanied minors, the vast majority from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, were apprehended at the U.S. border from October to June, according to the Border Patrol. That's more than double the same period last year.

The smugglers are profiting from the rising violence in gang-ridden cities of Central America, and the yearning of families to be reunited; parents often head north to find work and save money to send for their children, sometimes years later.

Many of the children and teenagers who travelled to the United States recently said they did so after hearing they would be allowed to stay. The U.S. generally releases unaccompanied children to parents, relatives or family friends while their cases take years to wend through overwhelmed immigration courts. That reality gave rise to rumors of a new law or amnesty for children.

Some say coyotes helped spread those rumors to drum up new business following a huge drop in Mexicans migrating to the United States. Arrests of migrants on the southwestern U.S. border dropped from about 1.1 million annually a decade ago to 415,000 last year.

Immigrants' rights advocates in the U.S. say they are seeing more children from Central America who are not only fleeing gang recruitment and random violence, but who have been targeted themselves.

"We deal with torture victims in the Congo and some of these kids have similar stories," said Judy London, a lawyer with the Public Counsel's Immigrants' Rights Project in Los Angeles. "Kidnappings on the way home from school, being held for ransom, sexual violence. We hadn't seen the numbers of girls before."

Because of that, some smugglers say they are in the service business.

"The most important thing is to help these people," said another smuggler in Ixtepec, a town in the Mexican state of Oaxaca where many migrants board the northbound train known as "La Bestia," or The Beast.

The smuggler goes by the name of Antonio Martinez, which is most likely a pseudonym, though one that appears on an arrest record, he said. He wears Nike sport shoes, jeans and a pressed blue Oxford shirt, the two top buttons open to reveal a tattoo of Jesus Christ on his left breast. After spending 12 years in U.S. prisons for drug possession, he said, he converted to Christianity and fell into the coyote business.

"The coyote is essential," he said. "If you don't have a compass, you can get lost."

Martinez appears to be an independent contractor. He said he charges $2,500 for the trip from the Guatemalan border to the U.S. border, where he gives Central American migrants fake Mexican identity cards and makes them learn the first stanza of the Mexican national anthem before handing them off to another smuggler. Hopefully, if they are apprehended in the U.S., they'll only be sent back to Mexico, where they can try again, Martinez said.

Most smugglers charge far more, having raised their prices in recent years to compensate for the drop in Mexican business and to offset the "taxes" charged by cartels for moving people through their territories.

The trafficker on the Guatemalan border, who spoke with the Associated Press after an intermediary negotiated the time and place, said the people he smuggles pay $10,000 a head for the trip from Central America, which covers everything from hotel and train payments to official bribes and cartel taxes. But occasionally, he said, a cartel will demand as much as an extra $5,000 on threat of death.

"You have to be careful with the Zetas. They cut you in pieces and videotape it," he said.

Speaking always in the third person, he said a smuggler dresses to blend in with the 10 to 15 migrants he moves at a given time. Like most smugglers, he first went to the U.S. as a migrant, where he worked as a cook and learned some English.

Casillas, the migration expert, said the migrant smuggling business is a complex corporate structure. Guides at the border usually work for honchos who run the operation from afar and only pocket a fraction of the price charged to the migrants. One of the most important coyotes moving immigrants from El Salvador lives in Texas, he said.

"It's a criminal chain that has two segments. The invisible segment ... is dedicated to administration, organization and finances," he said. "They don't necessarily even see the migrants."

The guides often don't know who they are working for, he added. The big guys rarely get caught. While federal officials along the U.S. border seem to roll out cases against human smugglers almost on a weekly basis, the targets are largely drivers and stash house operators.

Coyotes get their business through social networks, from friends and family, or referrals from prior customers. Those headed for Texas generally charge half of the money up front, collect another installment by bank deposit or wire transfer along the way, and the final payment upon delivery. California-bound immigrants may pay the full fee when they arrive.

Many smugglers take their charges from Mexico's southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca to Mexico City on La Bestia, the decrepit freight train. From there, they choose one of three main routes: to Reynosa in Tamaulipas, Ciudad Juarez in Chihuahua, or cross the Sonoran desert to the outskirts of Mexicali.

Most now opt to go to Tamaulipas, the shortest, but most dangerous route because of its warring drug cartels. The number of family units and unaccompanied children arrested by the Border Patrol in Texas' Rio Grande Valley increased 362 percent in the first nine months of this fiscal year compared to the same period last year.

The border in South Texas is difficult to police. The Rio Grande twists and doubles back on itself as it makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Its banks are overgrown with carrizo cane and other brush. It takes little time for a raft or someone paddling an inner tube to reach the other side, but few attempt it these days without a guide.

The Gulf cartel and Zetas control swaths of the Mexican side of the border and collect a tax for everything that passes through  people, drugs, weapons or merchandise.

Rafael Cardenas Vela, nephew of former Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas Guillen, testified in great detail at the 2012 trial of another cartel member about how this arrangement worked.

When Cardenas Vela ran the Rio Bravo "plaza" for the cartel from 2009 to 2011, he collected $250 to $300 for a Mexican immigrant, $500 to $700 for a Central American and about $1,500 for someone from Europe or Asia, he testified. He also collected a flat 10 percent fee from the smugglers to allow them to work.

"People have to view the cartels like organized crime," said Janice Ayala, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's special agent in charge in San Antonio. "Where there's a dollar to be made they want a cut of that particular dollar."

Unlike the drug trafficking organizations that tightly control their loads, human smuggling organizations are much more flexible and willing to work with various groups to keep people moving, Ayala said. They are more like independent contractors who may specialize in one segment of the journey, whether it is getting them through interior Mexico, across the Texas-Mexico border, into a stash houses or to the interior U.S.

All who help along the way must be paid, and their fees are a fixed part of the cost determined by the smuggling network.

Mexican youths often serve as lookouts, or guides ferrying migrants across the river to the United States because if they get caught, they're just sent back across the border instead of being prosecuted.

A Mexican official familiar with human smuggling at the border but who is not authorized to speak about it publicly said child guides can make as much as $100 per immigrant.

A young U.S. citizen living in South Texas told authorities after her arrest that she was to be paid $150 per immigrant she picked up near the Rio Grande and drove to a stash house. She got $200 a person for driving them to Houston, according to court records.

Sometimes the person feeding and watching immigrants at the stash house is in the country illegally, too, and is working off his smuggling fee. In other cases, a local has been paid $20 per person per day for the job.

"It's like a little chain, everyone is earning," the Mexican official said.

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A United States congressman says that the unaccompanied youths coming from Central America across the U.S.-Mexico border should not be viewed as innocent kids fleeing unlivable conditions in their homeland.

Rep. Rich Nugent, a Florida Republican, said in a recent interview on a Ocala, Fla., radio program that many of them are connected to gangs and come from cultures where thievery and violence is the norm.

Nugent, the former sheriff of Hernando County, said the kids would bring nothing but trouble if they were allowed to remain in the U.S.

A lot of these children  quote-unquote  you know, the first caller mentioned it, theyre gang members. Theyre gang affiliated, said Nugent, who was elected in 2010 and is seeking re-election this November.

Listen, if youre 14, 15, 16, 17 years old, and youre coming from a country thats gang-infested  particularly with MS-13 types, that is the most aggressive of all the street gangs, he said on WOCA radio, according to published reports. When you have those types coming across the border, theyre not children at that point. These kids have been brought up in a culture of thievery. A culture of murder, of rape. And now we are going to infuse them into the American culture. Its just ludicrous.

Some 60,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived illegally in the United States since last October in what is part of a soaring number of Central Americans crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years.

Their defenders say they are fleeing violence and poverty, others say their parents have sent them on the dangerous journey in the belief that they will get legal status if they set foot in the U.S.

Nugents Democratic challenger, David Koller, assailed the congressman for, as he put it, putting demagoguery over pragmatism in addressing the border crisis.

It sickens me that lives of these children are being defined by such hateful rhetoric by Rep. Nugent, Koller said to Fox News Latino. All Latino children are not gangsters as he broadly implicated. We should be addressing the situation [at the border] rather than using rhetoric to instill fear and create hate and dissension. I dont believe that is in the spirit of America. America is a very inclusive country.

At the border we may need extra caseworkers, extra immigration processors out there, instead of just collecting children in centers, he said. Id like to see some action in Congress instead of finger-pointing.

Nugent, seen as a front-runner in the race against Koller to represent the 11th district, which is in Central Florida is known for his tough stance on immigration.

He earned an A from the group NumbersUSA, which favors strict immigration policies, for his get-tough approach to the issue.

During his time in Congress he has co-sponsored bills seeking to end family chain migration, the visa lottery and birthright citizenship, among other measures.

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry plans to deploy as many as 1,000 National Guard troops to South Texas to bolster security along the Mexico border, a local lawmaker confirmed Monday.

Rep. Terry Canales said he was briefed by his staff on Sunday following a conference call with the governor's office, Texas National Guard and the state Department of Public Safety. Perry is scheduled to make the announcement Monday afternoon.

More than 3,000 Border Patrol agents currently work in the region, and Perry has repeatedly asked President Barack Obama to send the National Guard to the border. The region has been overwhelmed in recent months by unaccompanied children illegally entering the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. The governor's plans were first reported by The Monitor newspaper in McAllen, Texas.

Perry announced in June that the state would steer another $1.3 million each week to the Department of Public Safety to assist in border security through at least the end of the year. In a letter to Obama on June 20, Perry made several requests for help along the border, including 1,000 National Guard troops, additional helicopters and giving troops "arrest powers to support Border Patrol operations until sufficient Border Patrol resources can be hired, trained and deployed to the border."

In a White House letter to Perry on July 7, Obama advisor, Valerie Jarrett, laid out steps the administration was taking to deal with what the president had called an "urgent humanitarian situation," but did not mention the National Guard. Obama met with Perry two days later in Dallas, and the administration has worked with Mexico and other countries the immigrants are leaving to make it clear they will not be allowed to stay in the U.S.

On previous border deployments, National Guard soldiers have served in support roles  administrative, intelligence gathering  while the Border Patrol expanded its ranks. Some National Guard troops already participate in counter-drug operations on the border, though they don't have arrest powers.

Since October, more than 57,000 unaccompanied children and teenagers have entered the U.S. illegally  more than double compared to the same period a year earlier. Most have been from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, where rampant gang violence and intense poverty have driven tens of thousands of people outside their borders. Their numbers overwhelmed Border Patrol facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, leading Perry and the Texas Department of Public Safety to argue that Border Patrol agents distracted by groups of children and families were leaving gaps.

Most of those children have been turning themselves in to the first person in a uniform they see.

On Monday, Canales questioned Perry's plan of sending National Guard troops to the border.

"I don't understand what their tactic is and I don't think it's going to work," the Democrat said.

He said the state may see a dip in the short term, but that such a surge by the state is unsustainable and the drug cartels would simply wait the troops out.

"They might get the desired effect, but it won't last long," he said.

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The drivers seat in the GOPs push for a tough response to the soaring border crisis is occupied by a familiar face  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

Cruz, the Texas lawmaker who led GOP opposition to President Obamas health care policy and was a major player in the partys stance on the government shutdown, is now a driving force in the heated fight in Washington, D.C., over how to address the tens of thousands of Central Americans who have illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year alone.

On Saturday, Cruz toured a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) facility in McAllen, Texas, that is housing unaccompanied minors.

Last Thursday, Cruz took direct aim at Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, a 2012 initiative that suspends deportation for certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors. Cruz, and many of his fellow Republicans in Congress, never supported DACA, seeing it as a reward to lawbreakers.

Now he and many Republicans say DACA and other such initiatives by the Obama administration have created an incentive for Central American parents to send their children on the dangerous trip to the border.

Cruz filed a measure that, among other things, bars the administration from using tax money to expand DACA  something many supporters of it are seeking  and to provide work permits to people who do not have a lawful immigration status. He also plans to outline recommendations for reforming immigration policy.

We all recognize the terrible humanitarian crisis that is occurring at the border, and all of us should come together to end the policies that have caused it, said Cruz in a statement about his bill. Tens of thousands of children are being smuggled into the United States by dangerous drug cartels and transnational gangs; it is heartless to allow that to continue."

The staggering conditions that children are being subjected to are a direct result of the amnesty that President Obama illegally and unilaterally enacted in 2012, the statement continued, which caused the number of unaccompanied minors to skyrocket. The only way to stop the border crisis is to stop President Obamas amnesty.

Cruz also has worked on legislation to make it easier to send these minors back home and to authorize the use of the National Guard when there is a crisis at the border.

Those who want more lenient treatment of the minors, including a greater focus by the administration on trying to help them stay here, criticized Cruzs moves.

They say that raging poverty and violence are looming factors in the reasons people flee Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala to come to the United States. Taking aim at DACA, they say, which the recent waves of minors from Central American do not qualify for, is misguided.

To deal with Central American children at the border, he wants to revoke DACA, said Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice, which advocates for immigrants, which would leave Dreamers vulnerable to deportation two years after President Obama gave these talented and long-established individuals work permits and protection against deportation.

Sharry told Fox News Latino, Cruz will get what he wants, which is lots of media attention and lots of love from the extreme right, but it wont help his party. He added, In fact, it will help harden the feeling among Latinos and immigrants that the GOP is an anti-immigrant party, and make it harder for the Republicans to take back the White House in 2016 and beyond.

Conservatives, in contrast, again see Cruz as a hero for challenging D.C. politics and for taking a tough approach on the border crisis.

Hooray for Ted Cruz! said D.A. King, president of the Georgia-based Dustin Inman Society, which favors strict immigration enforcement, to FNL. Pro-enforcement Americans should send him a fruit basket for his courage and common sense.

King, a nationally known activist, said that the Obama administration could stop the border crisis by enforcing the existing laws. King says that the administration must focus efforts on tightening the border and not on relaxing immigration laws.

He argues that the push by conservatives to beef up border security dramatically is bolstered by the misperception many of the Central Americans are reported to have, that if they reach the U.S. they can eventually gain legal status. King said any break for any undocumented immigrants amounts to rewarding law-breakers and invites more illegal immigration.

What the now panicked Democrats are calling Cruzs hardline stance on immigration is what conservatives simply call enforcement, King said. It looks like Cruz is holding fast on giving Obama more money to enforce immigration law only if he stops refusing to enforce the immigration law Cruz simply wants the promise of not extending the DACA trick to more victims of borders.
The White House says the number of unaccompanied minors from Central America who are crossing the border is down sharply.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest says a daily average of about 150 children were apprehended along the Rio Grande border in the first two weeks of July. He says that's down from an average of 355 per day in June.

President Barack Obama plans to meet Friday with the presidents of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, the three countries that are home to many of the children.

The U.S. has been urging their governments to take steps to stem the exodus of children and warning that the U.S. will take steps to send them back promptly.

Earnest said the reason for the decline in crossings was not yet known, according to The Hill, but he speculated that efforts by the Obama administration to get the message to people in Central America that risking the dangerous illegal trip to the United States would likely end in deportation was dissuading many from coming.

The White House recently asked Congress to pass a $3.7 billion supplemental immigration request it unveiled earlier this month aimed at addressing the influx from Central America. Some 60,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the border since October, and tens of thousands of others also have come illegally.

Many refugee resettlement workers who have spoken to many of the children say they are largely fleeing poverty and violence and harassment by gangs in their homelands to "join or die." But many lawmakers who want the United States to send back the immigrants as quickly as possible say that many have come believing that it is now easier than ever to be able to gain legal status here.

The Hill quoted Earnest as saying that despite the drop in crossings, efforts to support deterrence, address the root causes of migration and build our capacity to provide the appropriate care for unaccompanied children and adults traveling with children remained critical to managing the situation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sen. Dianne Feinstein recalls turning on her television and seeing a young Chinese girl crying before a judge, without even an interpreter to help her after surviving a harrowing journey to the United States.

That was the genesis of a law six years ago that is now at the center of an immigration crisis at the nation's Southern border. More than 57,000 youths, mostly from Central America, have crossed into the U.S. illegally since October. Fewer than 2,000 of them have been sent back.

Immigration advocates and many Democrats insist on preserving what they describe as important protections in the 2008 law for unaccompanied youths who flee their home countries or are smuggled to the U.S.

Most Republicans and a few Democrats want to change the law to address circumstances far different from six years ago, when no more than 8,000 kids arrived at the border each year without their parents.

"The 2008 law creates a process that made sense when you're talking about a limited number of children, the victims of sex trafficking. It doesn't make sense when you talk about 50,000 unaccompanied minors," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "The 2008 law wasn't designed to deal with this situation."

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., countered, "The best interest of the child would be what the law says: Hold them in a safe and clean shelter, rather than returning them to face possible death."

The dispute has held up congressional action on President Barack Obama's $3.7 billion emergency spending request for more immigration judges, detention facilities and other resources for the border. Prospects for a compromise are dim, and Congress may leave for its annual summer recess in two weeks without doing anything to deal with the unfolding crisis.

Feinstein's measure was made part of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, named after an 18th century British abolitionist. It passed Congress with no controversy and was signed by former President George W. Bush without a lot of fanfare.

It codified court-ordered protections for unaccompanied young migrants, and modified a distinction in U.S. policy between the treatment of young Mexican migrants and those from other nations.

Under the law, kids from Mexico and Canada who arrive here without their parents or other guardians must go through an initial screening by Border Patrol agents, who can turn them around quickly unless they demonstrate a fear of persecution back home or meet certain other limited criteria.

Advocates say those screenings are inadequate, and a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees this summer said Border Patrol agents make the presumption that Mexican kids don't have protection needs, rather than taking the necessary steps to rule that out.

Youths from other countries, however, are automatically put into deportation proceedings and get an opportunity to make their case before a judge. In the meantime they're supposed to be handed over to the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours, and from there released into the least restrictive setting that's in their best interest  usually the care of family members, who themselves may be in the country illegally.

There, they may wait for years as their case makes its way through the nation's immigration court system, which has a backlog of more than 350,000 cases. Many never will show up when their day in court does arrive.

In practice they have achieved what they set out to obtain: a new life in America.

"Very, very few are actually being sent back," Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said at a recent Senate hearing on the issue. "The practical effect of our policy is that once a child is placed with a sponsor, it's extremely unlikely that they're going to be deported."

Those circumstances have led Republicans to insist on changes to the 2008 law to allow Central American youths to be treated the same as those from Mexico, so they can be sent home quickly, broadcasting a message to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala that new arrivals will not stay. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has said he supports such a change.

On the other side are immigration advocates, the Catholic Church and a growing number of Democratic lawmakers, who say many of the youths are fleeing vicious gang violence.

"We're going to be sacrificing the safety of refugee children in the effort to send a message to the home countries," said Wendy Young, president of Kids in Need of Defense, who was an aide to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., at the time of the law's passage.

Feinstein, Menendez and others also have begun to argue that that the law as written allows the administration flexibility to deal with the current circumstances, because it contains a provision for "exceptional circumstances."

"The process I don't think is the problem," Feinstein said. "The problem is what's at the home of these children."

But such arguments have gotten little traction with Republicans, who appear ready to insist that the law must change in order for them to sign off on money to address the crisis.

"I don't know how Congress can send more money to the border to begin to mitigate the problem if you don't do something about the '08 law that's being abused," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters last week. "And it is being abused."
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez does not share her fellow Republican Texas Gov. Rick Perrys view that National Guard troops must be put on the southern border to deal with an influx of children and families from Central America trying to enter the country illegally.

Martinez spokesman Enrique Knell said that while Martinez does believe there is a role for the National Guard in protecting our border," she had no plans to deploy the National Guard on a state mission to the border with Mexico.

Martinez said a comprehensive federal immigration plan is needed to stop the surge of immigrants.

Knells comments came after Perry announced up to 1,000 troops would be sent to the Texas-Mexico border.

California Gov. Jerry Brown also wont be deploying National Guard troops to the Mexican border like Texas is doing, a state military official said Monday. Knell said Martinez disagreed with federal decisions in 2008 and 2012 to stop funding programs that had National Guard troops supporting the Border Patrol with non-law enforcement duties to help deal with border violence.

The border shared by Texas and Mexico presents a significantly different set of considerations than those presented by the border shared by California and Mexico, Capt. Will Martin of the California Military Department said in a statement.

Perry has been a vocal critic of the White Houses response to the border crisis as he considers a second presidential run. He said deploying troops over the next month would cost about $12 million per month. An official said troops in Texas will be referring and deterring immigrants and not detaining people.

Perry has said for years that the federal government has failed to secure the border and suggested Monday that criminals were exploiting a surge of children pouring into the U.S. illegally.

Brown has set a different tone in California. He plans to meet Mexicos secretary of foreign affairs on Wednesday, days ahead of his trade mission to the bordering nation next week.

Brown also signed legislation Monday reducing the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor by one day to 364 days, a change that is expected to significantly reduce the number of immigrants in the country legally who can be deported for lesser crimes. Federal law allows legal immigrants to be deported if they are given a sentence of one year or more.

Since October, more than 57,000 unaccompanied children and teenagers have entered the U.S. illegally, most of them from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, where rampant gang violence and intense poverty have driven tens of thousands of people outside their borders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Eduardo Juarez, a well-known Spanish-language radio and television personality in the New York area, had the trust of many Latinos  so much so that thousands put their hopes, and their money, into his hands.

But Juarez ripped them off, scamming them with false promises to help them obtain legal immigration status, state authorities say.

Now, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said, victims of non-profit groups headed by Juarez that purported to help them with immigration cases will be able to file claims to get some aid from a $2.2 million restitution fund, according to the New York Daily News.

The groups that Juarez headed, which no longer are operative, were the International Immigrants Foundation Inc. and the International Professional Association Inc. The restitution fund arose from a settlement with those groups. Authorities shut down the two groups in 2010.

"This was a really serious case of fraud, there were people who paidone person paid $18,000, who was actually eligible for a green card but because they didn't really provide legal services he missed his opportunity," said Schneiderman, according to NY1.

I urge all eligible individuals to participate in the claims process, without fear of reprisal, Schneiderman said.

Juarez was a ubiquitous presence on the issue of immigration, giving advice through shows on television and radio, and a column he wrote for El Diario-La Prensa.

In a statement, Juarez said that licensed attorneys handled client cases. He said he never faced criminal charges and did not have to admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, according to The Daily News.

New York officials said that many of the roughly 18,000 people who turned to the two organizations paid thousands of dollars each for advice on their immigration cases. The clients usually received very little in return. They rarely got to speak with lawyers and they usually got overcharged, the Daily News said.

Many invariably ended up deported, Schneiderman noted.

While the clients got little from Juarez, Juarez got plenty from them, the Daily News said.

He lived in a high-end Manhattan apartment, drove a luxury car and ran up huge bills at restaurants, clubs and hotels.

One of his victims, Albert Fernandez, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, spoke of how he had been fooled by Juarez. Fernandez paid the required $100 membership fee, and $15 each month for the groups services. But then bills came for thousands of dollars for various services.

When I first heard him on his Saturday morning show, I thought Juarez was a serious man who could help me, Fernandez said. How wrong I was.

They assured me they could get me legal papers, Fernandez said. But then they told me my application was filed late and I would have to refile. And they wanted more money for that.

He ended up losing about $10,000, and didnt get a green card.

The Daily News says that people who paid for services from either of the groups Juarez headed should submit a claim form by Oct. 13. Forms are available at www.nylag.org/IPA, or by calling the fund hotline at (212) 514-4265. The amount of each payment will be determined after receipt and review of all claims forms.

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Hes been ruffling feathers among Democrats and liberals for his hard-line talk about unaccompanied minors from Central America who have been crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally by the tens of thousands in the last year alone.

And then there is his blistering attack on President Obama, and his choice of modifiers to describe the commander-in-chief  bizarre, aloof, detached.

This is not a Republican foe of Obama. Its a fellow Democrat  U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar.

The Texas lawmaker has been among the most high-profile critics of Obama and his handling of the influx on the border, which has seen a meteoric rise in illegal crossings by Central Americans arriving at the Rio Grande Valley in the Lone Star State. The most charged aspect of the influx is the roughly 60,000 unaccompanied minors, and what to do about them.

Cuellar and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, joined forces to develop a bill that would speed up the processing and deportation of the children.

Opponents of the bill, including Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, say that many of the children are fleeing poverty and violence, and that traumatized kids should not be rushed through a complicated immigration system with an ultimate goal of kicking them out of the United States.

Henry Cuellar and I are good friends, but on this one, we part ways, said Rep. Luis Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat who is one of the leading voices in Congress in support of providing undocumented immigrants with a way to legalize their status. This is wrong. If you expedite process, it guarantees that there will be little girls and little boys, and older children, who will no longer see a social worker, see a judge. Instead theyd be interviewed by a Border Patrol agent, and its not their job to know and understand the nuances of [political] asylum laws.

We should err on the side of making sure that an 8-year-old girl is never handed back to a drug trafficker or those who would exploit that childs body.

Cuellar, who could not be reached for comment for this story, took aim at Obama when the president visited Texas recently and did not go to the border, despite many appeals by Texas lawmakers  mainly Republicans -- for him to do so.

He'll be 500 miles from Dallas and, in fact, he'll be 242 miles from Austin, Texas, at the other fundraising he'll be having," Cuellar told MSNBC. "I hate to use the word 'bizarre,' but under the circumstances - when he is shown playing pool in Colorado, drinking a beer, and he can't even go 242 miles to the Texas border?"

"He either can roll up his sleeves and go down to the border, or he can just look aloof and detached and not go to the border," he said.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, of which Cuellar is a member and which includes only Democrats, held a news conference to distance themselves from the five-term lawmaker.

Henry Cuellar does not represent the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said CHC Chairman Ruben Hinojosa, a Texas Democrat. Hes a Blue Dog; he comes to the meetings once in a long time.

But some have lauded him for taking bold stances  even ones that infuriate his own political party.

Hes built up a lot of credibility and admiration in the entire Texas delegation, particularly on my side, Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, a Republican who leads the Homeland Security Committee, told the Dallas Morning News. We know hes not trying to pull a fast one to score political points.

Cuellar has scoffed at his critics and has not backed down.

I find it interesting that everybody says, Be bipartisan. But when you actually do something bipartisan, some people criticize that, Cuellar said told the Morning News. I do the talk, and I do the walk.

Political experts say Cuellar can afford to be the provocateur he has been.

Taking risks and doing what is unpopular among his Democratic colleagues is how he got to Congress in the first place.

Much to the chagrin of some Democratic leaders, Cuellar ran against an incumbent from his own party when he vied for a House seat.

He also supported President George W. Bush, who famously cupped Cuellars face after a State of the Union speech in 2006. Cuellars critics noted how the congressman had a glowing expression as the president touched his face.

Hes one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, Cuellars district starts right on the border, said Cal Jillson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University in Texas. Theyre Hispanic counties. Republicans have significant problems attracting Hispanic votes."

The district is two thirds Hispanic, it is safe Democratic district," Jillson said, "and hes held it for about a decade. It gives him a lot of flexibility about how he conducts himself in office."
United States Department of Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson announced a new angle this week on the federal governments attempt to stem the flow of immigrants flooding the U.S.-Mexico border: The agency, he said, has decided to follow the money.

We are interdicting the flow of money that goes to these [human] smuggling operations, Johnson said.

In late June, DHS and other federal money-laundering agents who previously had been focusing on the operations of violent drug cartels are now targeting the funnel accounts that smuggling rings use to collect money from immigrants and their families.

The agency is starting to put more energy toward dismantling these groups than they had in the past, Alonzo Pena, former deputy director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told the Los Angeles Times recently.

DHS reassigned 60 investigators and support personnel to the Rio Grande Valley and have asked for an additional $109 million as part of the $3.7 billion White House request to further expand the agencys anti-smuggling operations.

A senior federal law enforcement official told the Times that drug cartels dont directly control the human-trafficking in the region but do get a cut of their business for passing through cartel-controlled turf.

Any activity they can make a buck from, they will seize that opportunity, the official said.

While the amount of money involved is much less than with drug cartels, it isnt exactly chump change, either. The United Nations estimates that human trafficking generates about $32 billion a year.

A recent report by the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) placed human trafficking as the third-most profitable organized crime behind drug trafficking and the sale of pirated goods.

Financing is the lifeblood of these trafficking organizations, Jack Williams, a law professor at the Georgia State University and former consultant to the U.S. government on organized crime, told the ACFCS. If you can turn off that spigot, that organization will crumble from the inside.

Adam Isacson, senior associate at the D.C.-based Washington Office on Latin America, told the newspaper that targeting the networks' funds "could certainly disrupt some of the traffic."

He also pointed out that if the feds are able to seize enough of their profits, it would force the groups to charge higher fees, which would price out many potential migrants.

Since launching a three-month initiative on June 23, federal authorities have arrested 192 people involved on the financial side of smuggling operations and seized around $625,000 in profits from 288 bank accounts, according to the Arizona Republic.

The way human-smuggling networks generally work is that coyotes typically charge between $5,000 and $12,000 to smuggle a child from Central America across the U.S.-Mexico border. The networks pay associates to open accounts at banks with branches across the United States.

Relatives of the undocumented immigrants wire cash into the accounts, which are then closed out by the smugglers or their agents.

This makes financial activities difficult to detect, because the transactions are often for amounts below the $10,000 level that triggers automatic reporting to banking regulators.

In March, Joel Mazariegos Soto, 29, a Guatemalan immigrant working at a farm in New York state, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to having operated a funnel account that collected at least $70,000 for a human-smuggling organization, according to ICE officials.

Scott Brown, the deputy special agent in charge of investigations for the Phoenix office of ICE, told the Arizona Republic about the human-trafficking business, "Its exploitative, and it's profit-driven. If we can take that profit out, we take the incentive to commit that crime out.

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Its not one of the most covered elections nationally, but its regarded in political circles as one of the most compelling and potentially important state-level ones.

The Texas lieutenant governor race between state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, a Democrat of Hispanic descent, and Tea Party challenger state Sen. Dan Patrick was singled out in Governing Magazine as the most important of the elections for that position nationwide.

The victor of the race for Texas lieutenant governor would wield considerable power in the state, Governing Magazine noted, as well as influence political dynamics on a national scale.

Texas' LG is famously powerful  controlling the Senate's agenda, its committee structure and its rules, as well as playing a major role in crafting the state budget, the magazine said.

Beyond that, national observers will be monitoring the results closely to see how Tea Party candidates fare with a broader electorate, as well as how Texas, which tends to lean Republican in statewide elections, responds to a Latina Democrat.

"Van de Putte is not a polarizing figure, and unlike the remaining statewide candidates, she has a long and impressive political track record," said Mark P. Jones, a Rice University political scientist to Governing Magazine. "The policies and rhetoric that served Patrick so well in the primary may very well come back to haunt him in November, particularly some statements that are seen as being anti-Hispanic by most Texas Hispanics."

With Van de Putte and her running partner, gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Wendy Davis, Texas for the first time has two women leading a major partys ticket for the top state office.

This is a race every Texan needs to care about, said yellowdogwire.com, which describes itself as a voice for Southern progressives. Moderate Republicans quietly prefer the Democrat. She has the potential to really fire up the Latino electorate in Texas.

Added Breitbart, a conservative publication: While the chances of Van de Putte winning are small, her campaign could become the new face of the attempted Democratic resurgence in Texas.

In a recent appearance,Van de Putte told the crowd that shes ready to fight Patrick in a race where he is seen as having the advantage.

"I ain't no pushover. I ain't no East Coast Liberal. I ain't no West Coast Democrat," she said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "Texans deserve a lieutenant governor who will listen, problem solve and work across the aisle to put Texas first."

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Americans who oppose same-sex marriage often face "intolerance" from those who support it, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Wednesday in a speech about values that appeared aimed at wooing social conservatives.

In remarks he said were likely to get him criticized as a bigot, the Florida Republican told an audience at Catholic University that a strong America is impossible without Americans who hold strong values. Seeming to seek a debate over those values, he criticized liberals who defend abortion rights for women but not protections for "the unborn."

While Rubio has consistently held conservative positions on gay marriage and abortion, his current emphasis appears to be an appeal to social conservatives who have yet to settle on a favored presidential candidate for 2016.

"Even before this speech is over, I will be attacked as someone who is a hater or a bigot or someone who is anti-gay," Rubio said.

Rubio's remarks on social issues come as he is trying to recover from his failed push for an immigration overhaul, now seen as a political misstep.

Rubio helped write the bipartisan immigration overhaul that passed the Senate but stalled in the House as some Republicans balked. Conservatives grew wary of the measure, and the Republican-led House signaled the comprehensive Senate plan would go nowhere.

Rubio did not include immigration in his speech, which focused on the merits of marriage, raising children in two-parent homes and educating them with values. But a member of the audience did ask Rubio about his immigration legislation's hopes in Congress.

"I just don't see how we ever get the support in Washington any time in the next decade" unless lawmakers are convinced the flow of immigrants coming to the United States across its southern border has stopped, Rubio said. The unfolding crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border gives him little hope, he said.

Rubio's priority seems to be winning back the support of the activists who have clout in picking the GOP presidential nominee. Social conservatives have unquestionable sway in the leadoff Iowa caucuses. Fiscal and libertarian-minded conservatives dominate New Hampshire's primary. In South Carolina, religious issues top voters' priorities.

Rubio has been working to make himself more acceptable to factions within the fractured GOP. His series of policy speeches so far have been as varied as high-tech investments, college affordability and a muscular foreign policy. He has quietly been courting leaders from all corners of the Republican coalition ahead of an expected presidential bid.

While his stance on social issues could be an advantage in early nominating, Rubio is also wrapping himself in rhetoric that could haunt him if he makes it to the general election in November 2016.

Perhaps seeking to blunt that criticism, Rubio acknowledged the United States has a history of discrimination against gays and lesbians. He added that his opponents pose what he called legitimate policy questions and urged a respectful discussion going forward: "Tolerance is also a two-way street."

But he said he could not support such marriages despite a quick-moving shift in public opinion on allowing same-sex couples to marry.

"There is a growing intolerance on this issue," Rubio said of those who back same-sex marriages. "This intolerance in the name of tolerance is hypocrisy."

He also said communities should work to fight abortion and to promote children born to married couples. He said he understands single-parent households  including in his extended family  but said abortion is not the answer.

"There is undeniably another person involved in this as well: the unborn child," Rubio said. "An unborn child should be welcomed into life and protected in law."

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Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said Thursday that his government has actively tackled human smugglers in his country, arresting approximately 12 of them in less than month.

Speaking Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, Hernandez, under pressure by the U.S. government to help stem the influx of Hondurans entering the United States illegally, stressed that his administration is taking steps to address the problem on their end.

On Friday, the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are scheduled to meeting with President Obama at The White House to discuss the long-climbing number of unaccompanied minors from those three countries crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S. has been urging their governments to take steps to stem the exodus of children and warning that the U.S. will take steps to send them back promptly.

This number may seem small, but for a country like Honduras (the 12 smugglers) represents nearly 50% of all smuggling criminals, and we have arrested them in a record time of a month, Hernandez told Fox News Latino.

Hernandez noted that the exodus of children and families from Central America is rooted in the violence tied to new alliances between drug cartels and local gangs.

He said efforts in his homeland to control violence has also targeted drug trafficking in the region. The president said that drug trafficking reduces opportunities to reinvest money in education and other areas that would improve conditions for Hondurans.

Hernandez also said that his administration has reinforced special surveillance at the borders, and closed its immigration department after the discovery of many corrupted officials who were working with human smugglers. He also said Honduras is carrying out ongoing investigations in cooperation with Guatemala and El Salvador in hopes of arresting more members of criminal organizations that are exploiting and profiting from the surge of illegal border-crossers.

At the same time, Hernandez reiterated that the cause of the surge is not just in Central America, and the problem is not one for just Central American nations to resolve.

He said that human smugglers are part of a bigger and stronger network of organized crime that has benefited from the ambiguity from the U.S. unresolved immigration reform.

Human smugglers have also another face, that of those arm traffickers, he said. This monster (organized crime) has a foot in Central America, one in Mexico and one here in the U.S., that's why in Central America we think (tackling this problem) is a shared responsibility.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina and El Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren will be at the White House on Friday.

President Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending that contains $300 million to help the Central American government repatriate and reintegrate migrants that are sent back.

Meanwhile, the flood of children crossing the Mexican border illegally and without their parents has slowed down in recent weeks, according to two senior administration officials.

Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas have found fewer than 500 children crossing the border illegally this week, the officials said. Last month, agents arrested as many as 2,000 child immigrants a week.

The Obama administration has been struggling to deal with a flood of more than 57,000 children traveling alone since Oct. 1. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said earlier this month that as many as 90,000 unaccompanied child immigrants could be apprehended by the end of the budget year in September. Most of the children are from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

Customs and Border Protection has launched a public relations campaign to warn would-be immigrants and their families in Central America that the trip to the U.S. border is dangerous and immigrant children will face deportation after they are apprehended. But since the trip through Mexico can take weeks or even months, recent border crossers are unlikely to have seen much of the campaign.

In Washington, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Hernandez and Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina agreed that they cant tackle the surge of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S. border alone and asked the U.S. to look at assistance it gives the region as a long term investment.

We are not avoiding our responsibility, as a country we are doing everything within our reach said Perez Molina in Spanish at CSIS.

By explaining that to see results, there needs to be mutual cooperation with the United States, President Perez Molina said any financial effort backed by the U.S., similar to the one provided in previous years to Colombia when it battled drug cartels, should be looked at in Central America as a five to 10 year investment towards the improvement of the region.

During their visit in Washington, the Central American heads of state also met with members of Congress to share their views on the immigration crisis at the border.

Ending his speech before a pack audience at CSIS, the President of Honduras said more aggressive cooperation is needed and warned we will not be able to solve this problem unless we go to the root and this requires an integral task, one that is based on the principle of shared responsibility. The U.S.A. is responsible, and we are responsible, and we facing up to our responsibility.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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The San Antonio City Council picked a new mayor to succeed its star alum, Julian Castro, who has moved into his post as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

With a 5-3 vote, the council picked Councilwoman Ivy Taylor, a Yale graduate who grew up in New York. Taylor, who is the citys first African-American mayor, is to serve out the remainder of Castros term until May, 2015, according to published reports.

Castro, whose twin brother is Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, took more than 66.5 percent of the vote in his race against six challengers in the last mayoral election. In previous mayoral elections, he snatched 80 percent of the vote.

Julian Castro drew national attention when the White House chose him to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2012. He became the first Hispanic to give the keynote at the annual Democratic event. He started drawing attention to his political skills early, becoming a city councilman at the age of 26, and mayor at the age of 34.

Joaquin Castro, released a public statement congratulating Taylor on being interim mayor. He also gave kudos to his brother.

I look forward to working with Mayor Taylor as we continue to fuel the momentum our city has achieved over the past couple of years, said Castro. Im grateful for Julians hard work and dedication to our hometown over the past 13 years. San Antonio will always be Julians home, but Im excited for our nation as he takes his vision and work ethic to our nations capital.

As for the legacy that he hopes he is leaving behind, Julian Castro said to KENS 5 local television station: "First is helping our young people get a great education so they can reach their dreams. Secondly, helping to ensure that we have more economic opportunities and good jobs in San Antonio, and third that we've helped move the ball forward in improving the quality of life in San Antonio by revitalizing some of our older neighborhoods and sparking the decade of downtown."

For her part, Taylor has said she does not intend to run in 2015 for a full mayoral term, according to the local ABC News affiliate.

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Under pressure to show more initiative in dealing with the border crisis, President Barack Obama is meeting Friday afternoon with the Central American leaders whose nations account for the largest numbers of people illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the last year.

Obama, whom critics have accused of being too slow to act to the surge of immigrants when signs of it began to appear about two years ago, is expected to strongly urge the presidents of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to take firm steps to stem the tide of border-crossers.

Roughly 60,000 children have come alone illegally since October.

Friday's meeting comes as the administration considers creating a pilot program giving refugee status to young people from Honduras. White House officials said the plan would involve screening youths in their home country to determine whether they qualify for refugee status. The program would be limited and would start in Honduras but could be expanded to include other Central American countries.

Under the in-country screening program the White House is considering, the legal standard for youths to qualify for refugee status would remain the same as it is for those who seek the status after arriving in the U.S., officials said, adding that the goal is to deter children who would not ultimately qualify for refugee status from attempting the dangerous trek. The officials briefed reporters ahead of Obama's meeting on the condition they not be identified by name.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, speaking Thursday in Washington, said he hadn't heard about the plan but expected it to come up Friday.

He said Central American nations have sought to pursue a unified approach. "We expect that the solution to this problem also is equal for the three countries," he said.

President Obama should exercise real leadership by working with his Central American counterparts to address the human rights challenges that are the root cause of displacement in the region, said Human Rights Firsts Eleanor Acer, who toured a new family detention facility in Artesia, New Mexico this week.

Because U.S. actions set an example for the rest of the world, President Obama should reaffirm the United States commitment to protecting those who flee persecution and violence, publicly stress the importance of fair asylum and trafficking protection procedures in the United States, and abandon rhetoric of deterrence.

The White House meeting takes place a day after the three Central American presidents met with lawmakers, who are considering Obama's requests for emergency funds and additional authority to send unaccompanied children back to their home countries more quickly.

Those lawmakers appear unlikely to resolve their differences on either front before leaving Washington late next week for their annual August recess.

With critics claiming Obama's own policies triggered the crisis, the president has been eager to demonstrate an aggressive approach to reducing the flow of immigrants and returning those found not to have a legitimate claim to stay here.

The U.S. has mounted a communications campaign to inform Central American residents that they won't be allowed to stay in the U.S., and Obama sent a team to Texas this week to weigh the possibility of dispatching the National Guard to the border.

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with the Guatemalan and Honduran presidents Thursday. He said he was impressed by what the leaders were doing to crack down on human trafficking. Yet he said he also made clear the responsibility those governments had to follow through as the U.S. considers sending more money to Central America to help address the problem.

Obama has asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending, but lawmakers were looking at cutting that number down significantly. At the same time, Republicans said they wouldn't agree to any money without policy changes to give the government more authority to turn kids around fast at the border and send them home.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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In a meeting at the White House Friday, President Barack Obama advised the leaders of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to be ready to receive and repatriate immigrants from their countries whom the United States deports.

Obama said the U.S. and the other presidents' countries all have to deter the flow of children across the border because the young people are putting themselves and their families at risk.

But he also thanked the presidents for their efforts so far.

"Initial reports show that our joint efforts appear to be paying off," Obama said.

In a joint statement released by the White House after the meeting, the presidents pledged to continue to "pursue the criminal networks that are exploiting this uniquely vulnerable population."

"We agreed on the need to discourage the use of smuggling networks that place individuals at high risk of violent crime and sexual abuse along the journey. We reviewed and agreed to redouble our joint efforts to counter misinformation about U.S. immigration policy," the statement read.

While the presidents were meeting, five different groups of protesters headed by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission stood outside the White House, under the blazing sun, chanting pro-human rights songs in favor of unaccompanied children seeking refuge in the U.S. southwest border.

Little did they know they were in for a surprise, as Guatemala's President Otto Perez Molina, after the meeting, broke security protocol, drove toward the group and stepped out from his black armored limousine to give statements to reporters, including Fox News Latino's.

We leave very satisfied knowing that we can move forward and that well be able to tackle the underlying problems, he said.

In regard to the U.S. granting refugee status to some of the children, a possibility that was mentioned by White House officials Thursday night, Perez Molina said it's not an option for his people.

There will not be a special status for Guatemala at this time ... President Obama's position on this subject is that this has to be dealt with as a humanitarian mission and human rights must be respected," he said.

"The process to make sure the children end up with their families will be expedited, but those children without families [in the U.S.] and that judges find can't stay, will have to leave," he added. "The rule of law will be respected.

Perez Molina welcomed President Obamas request to Congress for additional assistance to support the U.S. response to the increased migration.

"President Obama asked Congress to approve the $295 million funds aimed to help the three countries, before they leave on vacation, to better care of the children is improved, he said.

According to the AP, the Guatemalan president said Obama asked for two approaches  that the region work with the U.S. to resolve the immediate crisis and also that it develop a medium- and long-term plan to prevent such a flight of migrants in the future.

He said Obama also asked that their countries be prepared to receive and repatriate migrants who are returned from the U.S. border.

While citing progress in addressing the flow, he called on House Republicans to act on his request for emergency spending. With one week left before Congress' August recess, Republicans were trying to unite behind a plan that would spend about one-fourth of what Obama requested.

"It is my hope that Speaker Boehner and House Republicans will not leave town for the month of August for their vacations without doing something to help solve this problem," Obama said. "We need action and less talk"

Obama's demand for congressional action came as GOP lawmakers said they were attempting to coalesce behind a narrow package of changes including sending National Guard troops to the border, increasing the number of U.S. immigration judges and changing a law so that migrant youths arriving by the tens of thousands could be sent home more quickly. The package would cost less than $1 billion, several lawmakers said, far less than the $3.7 billion Obama requested to deal with the crisis.

A number of Republicans exiting a special meeting on the issue in the Capitol said they had to act before leaving Washington late next week for their annual August recess.

"It would be a terrible message; leave town in August without having done anything, knowing that it's going to create even more of a crisis on the border," said Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania. "Doing nothing in my view means that these children will be sent from the border back to communities like mine."

Ninoska Marcano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sen. Ted Cruz vowed Thursday to continue blocking confirmation of a series of ambassadorial and other diplomatic nominees despite the Federal Aviation Administration lifting a ban on U.S. airline flights to Israel. The State Department criticized the Republican lawmaker.

Cruz said he wouldn't release the holds until the Obama administration answers his questions about the FAA's prohibition, which went into effect Tuesday after a rocket landed about a mile from the Tel Aviv airport. The FAA ended the ban late Wednesday, after Cruz accused President Barack Obama of imposing an economic boycott of Israel while it is fighting the militant group Hamas in Gaza.

"There are still serious questions as to the decision-making that went in to the ban on flights and whether it was driven by political consideration at the White House or by objective expert opinion at the agency," the Texas senator said Thursday.

Obama said in an interview on CNBC Thursday that decisions on airline safety are not made on the basis of politics or alliances. He noted the FAA ban came on the heels of last week's downing of a passenger jet by a missile in eastern Ukraine.

Obama said that before lifting the ban, the FAA worked with Israel on a "checklist of concerns and mitigation measures" to ensure the safety of U.S. airlines. The FAA said the ban was imposed out of concern for the risk of planes being hit by Hamas rockets.

Cruz is demanding to know why Israel was singled out, while commercial flights can still pass over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Ukraine  where a Malaysia Airlines jet was downed, killing all 298 people on board. The FAA prohibited flights over Ukraine's Crimea in April and has ruled out overflights of the east of the country since last week's crash.

Cruz also wants to see any communication between the FAA, White House and State Department to see if the ban on landings in Tel Aviv was designed to punish Israel or advance cease-fire efforts. Almost 800 Palestinians have been killed in fighting over the last 16 days, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has lost more than 30 soldiers and at least two civilians.

For the second straight day, the suggestion of political motivation behind the flight ban drew a sharp response from the State Department.

"It's just perplexing," spokeswoman Marie Harf said of Cruz's action. "The notion that he would put a hold on State Department nominees when he really has questions for the FAA just doesn't really make sense."

The objective of the flight ban "was purely security and safety of American citizens, pilots, people on these planes," she said. "The nominees we have up in the Senate are for some very critical positions. They need to move forward. If everybody's concerned about our foreign policy, we need people in those positions."

A day earlier, Harf called Cruz's comments "ridiculous and offensive."

Catherine Frazier, Cruz's spokeswoman, fired back that Obama's foreign policy was itself "ridiculous and offensive."

The holds mean Senate Democrats would have to convince at least five Republicans to join them to approve a new ambassador to Russia as well as ambassadors to key U.S. allies including France, Norway, South Korea and Turkey. Envoys involved in arms control and nuclear nonproliferation also are affected.

The reality is none of the nominations are priorities given the Senate's other competing interests and many will likely have to wait longer anyhow. A larger Senate logjam over issues unrelated to foreign policy has brought confirmations to a crawl, prompting complaints from Secretary of State John Kerry and White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday he recently spoke by telephone with Obama about the issue. There has been a slight uptick in confirmations in the last couple of weeks.

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The divisive and ongoing border crisis has cast a glaring spotlight on the overwhelming problems in Central America, which have driven tens of thousands to the United States since last fall.

In many ways, the poverty and drug- and gang-related violence that's rampant in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are similar to the situation in Mexico and Colombia, where the U.S. has invested heavily in the local security forces and humanitarian aid under the Merida Initiative and Plan Colombia, respectively.

In comparison the amount of money sent by Washington to the Central American countries is relatively small. Funding from both the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has ramped up in the last decade, but it still pales in comparison to the billions given to Colombia and Mexico.

The State Department reported that since 2008, it has allocated $642 million under the Central American Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) to the Central American countries in an effort to combat crime and strengthen the rule of law in the region.

Some analysts, however, dispute the figure and say that, even if accurate, it isn't nearly enough given that the money is divided between thirty or so programs in the seven countries, so any given initiative only receives about $100,000 to $200,000 a year.

Its a drop in the bucket, Adam Isacson, senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America, told Fox News Latino.

CARSI funding was meant to bolster both security forces in Central America and counter the influence of criminal organizations. This, however, has not proved the case as violent crime rates in what is known as the "northern triangle"  Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras  has soared.

Honduras has the highest per capita murder rate in the world - 79 per 100,000 people last year  and those in El Salvador and Guatemala are only slightly better.

CARSIs funding mainly goes to support anti-drug and anti-gang measures with much of the humanitarian money being distributed through USAID, the agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid.

USAID gave the three northern triangle nations about $187 million in 2012  the same year the agency handed out $311.4 million to Kenya for health projects alone.

USAIDs main work in addressing poverty and violence in Central America has been to try to get young people into the workforce and away from gang life. Taking cues and support from places like New York City and Los Angeles, the agency has built more than a hundred youth centers around the region in the hope of increasing educational and labor opportunities.

Its not a losing battle were fighting down there, Mark Feierstein, the deputy administrator of USAID told FNL. Were trying to target the most at-risk youth and provide them with a safe haven.

The problem, according to both U.S. officials and analysts, is twofold: first, the current level of funding is insufficient, and, second, the governmental agencies and institutions that the USAID funds are being channeled into must be reformed to avoid corruption and mismanagement.

The question is, 'Is there a strategic plan that deals with both accountability and transparency?' Cynthia Arnson, the Latin American Program director at the Woodrow Wilson Center, asked. You cant just deal with the security problem in isolation.

One of the main goals of CARSI is to strengthen law enforcement institutions throughout Central America.

The CARSI funds aren't generally doled out in cash, which cuts down the possibility of corrupt officials pocketing the money, but it has its own pitfalls.

What good is giving border scanners to guards if the guards turn them off every time a high-profile drug trafficker rolls through? Isacson asked.

One prominent area mentioned as a problem by both government and private sector analysts is tax collection. The inability to collect them has only exacerbated the high poverty rates in the region and allowed illegal organizations to gain footholds in a number of sectors.

This is a multidimensional project, Feierstein said of the U.S.s efforts in the region. It requires a holistic approach.

The Obama administration has requested $3.7 billion in border aid with around $300 million of that being allotted to the State Department, under which $185 million would go to USAID, Feierstein said.

House Republicans have expressed doubts about Obamas request, saying that it will be necessary to revise a 2008 law that grants extra protections from deportation to youths from Central American countries who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unaccompanied first.

Our view as House Republicans is that we're not going to write a blank check, Texas Rep. Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told Fox News Sunday earlier this month.

If that request makes it through the House and Senate, it still remains to be seen if throwing more money at the problem in Central America will help to alleviate the violence and poverty, and in turn the tide of children fleeing north.

We need to be prepared to deal with this in the long run, Feierstein added.

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The Obama administration is weighing giving refugee status to young people from Honduras as part of a plan to slow the influx of unaccompanied minors arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, White House officials said Thursday.

The plan would involve screening youths in Honduras, one of the world's most violent nations, to determine whether they qualify for refugee status. Similar in-country screening programs were set up in East Asia after the Vietnam War and in Haiti in the 1990s.

The officials cautioned that no final decision on the matter has been made and said the proposal is among a range of ideas the White House is considering. The officials briefed reporters ahead of President Barack Obama's meeting Friday with Central American leaders on the condition they not be identified by name.

The United Nations has been pushing the U.S. to treat children arriving at the southern border from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador as refugees displaced by armed conflict. The trio of nations has become one of the most violent regions in the world in recent years, with swathes of all three countries under the control of drug traffickers and street gangs who rob, rape and extort ordinary citizens with impunity.

Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, speaking to reporters in Washington ahead of the Friday meeting at the White House, said he did not know about the plan.

"I would not find a reason to treat some in one way, and others differently," he said. "Here we have had an aligned message from the president of Honduras, of El Salvador and myself, and we expect that the solution to this problem also is equal for the three countries."

Since last fall, the U.S. has seen a dramatic increase in the number of migrants from these three countries arriving at the southern border, particularly children traveling without any adult guardian.

Since Oct. 1, more than 16,000 unaccompanied children from Honduras have been caught crossing the Mexican border illegally. At the same time, more than 30,300 Hondurans traveling as families have also been arrested.

The U.S. has resisted calling the situation a refugee crisis, though Obama and top officials have called it a "humanitarian crisis."

The refugee proposal was floated as Congress looked to be deadlocked on reaching any solution of its own on the border crisis with a five-week recess beginning at the end of next week.

Obama's $3.7 billion emergency spending request looked to be going nowhere amid an impasse over whether to change a 2008 anti-trafficking law to make it easier to return the Central American kids back home. Democrats reject such changes; Republicans insist on them. House Republicans were to meet on the issue Friday morning.

"I think it needs to be resolved. That's why we're continuing to talk to our members about how to resolve it," House Speaker John Boehner said. "But as I said before, the White House needs to get its act together or it's not going to get resolved."

Boehner complained that the White House initially pushed for changes in the 2008 law but, after a backlash from immigration advocacy groups, backed off its support. Advocates say changes to the law would be a violation of the migrant youths' due process.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who authored the original provisions in the 2008 law to give additional protections to unaccompanied minors, said the administration now believes it needs more flexibility and has given her legislative language to consider. She said she is still reviewing it and hasn't made any decisions.

Kevin Appleby, director of migration policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the refugee proposal would be welcomed by the advocacy community as long as there was no attempt by the administration to pair it to changes to the trafficking law.

"It cannot substitute for providing full asylum rights for kids who have arrived in the United States," he said. "There is no quid pro quo."

It is unclear what would happen to children and families who have already made the dangerous trek to the United States if the refugee plan is implemented. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has repeatedly said that there is no free pass for immigrants who come to the United States illegally and that those who are caught crossing the border would be sent home.

The administration would also have to outline what the refugee proposal would mean for Honduran immigrants already in the United States. In 1999, the U.S. government granted Temporary Protective Status to Hondurans living in the country illegally in the wake of Hurricane Mitch. The status has been renewed several times since then, and according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about 60,000 Honduran living in the United States have received the protective status.

Immigrants from El Salvador received the protection in 2001 and USCIS says about 202,000 Salvadorans remain the U.S. under TPS.

Newly arriving immigrants from countries granted TPS are not eligible for the protection from deportation. TPS is used from time to time by the government to stop deportations to specific countries when authorities deem it is unsafe to return immigrants.

The New York Times first reported that the White House was considering the refugee program for young people in Honduras.

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Three heavily armed Texas patrol boats rounded a bend in the Rio Grande on a recent afternoon and came upon two young men paddling an inflatable raft full-speed ahead toward the Mexican shore. The state troopers and game wardens bobbed helplessly in their boats as the men passed their raft and paddles up the bank to others, and a crew of troopers peeked through the tall reeds on the U.S. side for whatever load had just been deposited.

It illustrated the limitations U.S. agencies face in deterring smugglers at the Texas border in the face of Gov. Rick Perry's recent announcement to send as many as 1,000 National Guard troops down.

Combined, the two gunboats from the state's Department of Public Safety and one from the Parks and Wildlife Department carried 2,400 horsepower and 15 .30-caliber machine guns  indisputably the most advanced craft on the Rio Grande.

But they were foiled Thursday by an 8-foot raft and smugglers' scouts who track their movements from the moment the patrols hit water. A short time earlier when the patrol boats passed in the opposite direction, two men  likely scouts  had stood in the same spot holding a fishing net.

Perry termed the latest guard infusion a "deter and refer" mission on Monday; the troops will deter criminal activity and, if they encounter immigrants who have entered the country illegally, they will refer them to Border Patrol.

Since mid-June, Texas already has been paying an additional $1.3 million per week to put more troopers and game wardens in South Texas. The National Guard deployment is expected to cost $12 million per month and they've been told to plan for a year. The soldiers will join the more than 3,000 Border Patrol agents already in the area, plus an unspecified number of state law enforcement officers who've become nearly as ubiquitous in recent weeks.

"We were deployed down here not to deal with the federal immigration part of it," DPS Lt. Charlie Goble said. "We were deployed down here to deal with the criminal element that comes along with it."

So if DPS or the guardsmen encounter immigrants  including children from Central America who've come in droves  they will call Border Patrol, but they will target the smugglers of drugs and people.

It is dangerous work. Already this week, two Texas game wardens have been assaulted while on patrol, Parks and Wildlife Capt. James Dunks said. One on the river was hit in the side of the face with a rock. The other, patrolling the bank, had a 10-minute brawl with a human smuggler who was eventually arrested.

As those incidents suggest, Dunks said smugglers seem more likely to engage with law enforcement than they were in the past. Still, he said, their preference is to do their work out of sight.

"It's a cat and mouse game," Goble said. "We'll counter what they're doing and then they'll turn right around and try to counter what we're doing. ... From the time we launch until the time we recover usually we're being watched. We just continue changing our tactics right along with them.

"Our mere presence out here is the biggest deterrence."

Earlier he said, "We aren't making these arrests daily, but we are seeing a tremendous amount of criminal activity going on."

In the two years since DPS gunboats arrived at the Rio Grande, they have not had to use deadly force. "We were encouraged to make the intimidation factor of these boats overwhelming," Goble said.

But it's not clear whether they have deterred criminal activity on a waterway where they can't possibly be everywhere at once.

"If you look at the straightaway we're in, half to three-quarters of a mile straightaway, regardless of what speed we're travelling, regardless of what speed we're capable of travelling, there is going to be some time to cover that distance," Goble said. "Just as we came around the corner a while ago they spotted us. They can very rapidly get personnel and/or product back to their bank, back to safety."

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Martin O'Malley's latest foray into Iowa begins, appropriately, in a place called Clinton.

The Maryland governor is filling the void in Iowa, New Hampshire and beyond during the early stages of the 2016 presidential race, campaigning for fellow Democrats and making personal appeals while former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton remains the prohibitive  if yet undeclared  favorite.

In the summer before November's mid-term elections, Clinton's dominant position in a hypothetical field has limited Democrats' activities in early presidential voting states even while an ambitious slate of Republicans descend. Active Democrats here say O'Malley has become an exception, cultivating relationships and developing a reputation as a loyal foot soldier for the party.

"He's doing more than anybody else," said Mike Gronstal, the Iowa Senate Democratic leader. "Others have indicated they are interested in doing some things. But we haven't seen it yet." He declined to name the other Democrats who have inquired.

O'Malley is laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign whether or not Clinton runs, although it remains unclear if he will challenge the popular former first lady. O'Malley was the second governor to endorse Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign in 2007 and maintains ties to former President Bill Clinton, who brought the then-Baltimore mayor to Northern Ireland on a presidential delegation trip in 2000 and appeared in an ad for O'Malley during his first campaign for governor.

As his second term in Maryland ends, O'Malley has visited New Hampshire twice since November and raised money for Gov. Maggie Hassan, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen  a fellow alumnus of Gary Hart's presidential campaigns  and Rep. Annie Kuster. In South Carolina, O'Malley has held events for Vincent Sheheen, who is challenging GOP Gov. Nikki Haley, and Bakari Sellers, who is running for lieutenant governor.

O'Malley was returning to Iowa on Saturday, headlining a fundraiser for state Sen. Rita Hart in Clinton, a town on the banks of the Mississippi River, and another event in North Liberty for Kevin Kinney, a Johnson County sheriff's deputy seeking an open state Senate seat. After a Saturday night speech in Omaha to help the Nebraska Democratic Party, O'Malley was joining with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch, who is challenging Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, for fundraisers in western Iowa on Sunday and a canvassing kickoff in Sioux City.

O'Malley made a round of fundraising appearances for Hatch in Iowa last month, along with a speech at the state party convention. Iowa Democrats hold a narrow majority in the state Senate and party officials here said the governor's willingness to wade into local races was appreciated  and duly noted.

"Helping out legislative races is a really smart strategy. It's an easy way to come out and be helpful," said Norm Sterzenbach, a former executive director of the Iowa Democratic Party. He noted that O'Malley got his political start in Iowa, as a field organizer for Gary Hart's 1984 presidential campaign in eastern Iowa.

O'Malley's fundraising and campaign travel has coincided with a policy fight with the Obama administration on the stream of unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America over the Mexican border. He recently criticized a White House proposal that could expedite the deportation of the children, saying it would "send them back to certain death." Obama's team pushed back, leaking a phone call in which the governor asked the White House not to have children brought to a Maryland facility.

O'Malley's stance has won support within Latino groups and has marked a contrast with Clinton. She said at a televised forum that she felt the children needed to be reunited with their families but the U.S. needed to make clear that "just because your child gets across the border doesn't mean your child gets to stay."

To be sure, O'Malley is not the only Democrat extending feelers in the politically active state. Clinton, who placed a disappointing third in the 2008 caucus, recorded a humorous tribute to retiring Sen. Tom Harkin that aired at the state party convention dinner. Ready for Hillary, an unaffiliated organization laying the groundwork for a Clinton campaign, has been active in Iowa and Democrats are buzzing about whether Hillary Clinton  or former President Bill Clinton  will appear at Harkin's annual steak fry in September, his last as a senator.

Biden, who headlined the steak fry last year, notably dropped by a Washington hotel in May to greet a group of Iowans attending the Greater Des Moines Partnership meeting. Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar plans to campaign next month in Iowa for Rep. Bruce Braley, who is seeking Harkin's seat.

Hart, the state senator and one of O'Malley's beneficiaries this weekend, said she has never met the governor before or spoken to him  his staff reached out about the fundraiser. She said her husband's aunt lives in Maryland, admires his record and urged her to get to know him. But like many Iowans, that's the extent of her knowledge for now.

"I really don't think many people know anything about him. I think he's a pretty new name to a lot of people," Hart said. "That's probably why he's coming  he wants to change that."

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With one week left before Congress' August recess, President Barack Obama is prodding Republicans to help ease the influx of minors and migrant families from Central America, but with chances dimming that border legislation will reach his desk before the break, he also is focusing on other ways to stem the flow.

GOP leaders are working against time to find a consensus within their party to deal with more than 57,000 children and other migrants who have arrived since October, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Obama's demand for congressional action comes as GOP lawmakers are attempting to coalesce behind a narrow package of changes, including sending National Guard troops to the border, increasing the number of U.S. immigration judges and changing a law so that migrant youths arriving by the tens of thousands could be sent home more quickly.

The package would cost less than $1 billion, several lawmakers said, far less than the $3.7 billion Obama requested to deal with the crisis.

Obama, who met this past week with presidents from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, said the U.S. has compassion for the migrant children, but those who do not have a proper claim to remain in the United States will be turned back. At the same time, the regional leaders said the president offered them assurances that the rights of those children would be observed.

"It is my hope that Speaker Boehner and House Republicans will not leave town for the month of August for their vacations without doing something to help solve this problem," Obama said Friday after meeting with Vice President Joe Biden and three presidents from Central America.

Obama played down a proposed pilot program that his administration is considering that would give refugee status to young people from Honduras. White House officials said the plan, which could be expanded to Guatemala and El Salvador, involves screening youths in their home countries to determine whether they qualify for refugee status.

Obama said such an effort would affect only a small number of asylum seekers.

"There may be some narrow circumstances in which there is humanitarian or refugee status that a family might be eligible for," he said. "If that were the case it would be better for them to apply in-country rather than take a very dangerous journey up to Texas to make those same claims. But I think it's important to recognize that that would not necessarily accommodate a large number of additional migrants."

Obama applauded efforts in Central America to conduct public awareness campaigns on the dangers of making a long trek to the U.S. border and to strengthen police efforts against smuggling operations. Separately, the Department of Homeland Security said it was boosting spending for law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley. The money would permit local police to support Customs and Border Protection by enhancing security in the region.

Conservatives also expressed concerns that anything the House passed could become a vehicle for the Senate to attach conditions House Republicans oppose, including the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration reform bill with a path to citizenship for millions.

House leaders and Senate Republicans have ruled that out, but conservative concerns were such that Speaker John Boehner told his conference it would not happen.

Several House Republicans said there has been some discussion of holding a vote, in concert with action on the border, to overturn an earlier Obama directive on immigration that deferred deportation for certain immigrants brought here illegally as children.

It's unlikely such legislation will reach Obama before the break. Senate Democrats oppose policy changes that would return migrant children to their countries without judicial hearings. House Republicans insist on those changes as a condition for approving any emergency money.

White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer said Obama supports policy changes that would give the administration more authority to turn back Central American migrants at the border. But he said current proposals in Congress, including a bipartisan plan proposed by Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, do not meet White House standards of deterring illegal migration while protecting legitimate claims for asylum from border crossers.

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What seemed like an average demolition project on Jan. 6 turned into a viral movement to save the possible birth place of the Bill of Rights.

On Jan. 6, workers began demolishing a two-story stone house at 7086 Carlisle Pike in Silver Spring Township that most recently was the site of Stone House Auto Sales. Triple Crown Corporation, owner of the property, had legally obtained a demolition permit from Silver Spring Township.

But Christine Musser, a member of the townships Conservation and Preservation Committee, found out about the possible historic ties to the property and informed the township. A story in The Sentinel documenting Musser's efforts gained nearly 190,000 pageviews online as national media sites picked up the news.

Late Wednesday, Jan. 6, township staff became aware that demolition of a building later identified as the Bell Tavern had begun by Triple Crown Corporation, Silver Spring Township officials said in a news release issued Jan. 7. Township staff issued a stop-work order on the demolition, and the developer complied. By that time, a portion of the building had been demolished. The stop-work order allowed us to assess the situation and whether the developer was in compliance with our ordinances.

Currently, the law requires building and demolition permits to be issued within tight timeframes, the news release read. The onus is then upon applicants to ensure that they are in compliance with other laws and ordinances, including the section of our zoning ordinance that serves as some protection for historic buildings.

Whether intentional or by error in 1995, the Bell Tavern was not listed as an historic, protected building on the townships Cultural Features Map and Historic Buildings List referred to in our zoning ordinance. Based on that, the township had to lift the stop-work order. Despite the lifting of the order, the developer has continued to suspend demolition, affording us the opportunity to engage in discussions about the preservation of the building.

The building still sits partially demolished today as the fight continues to preserve the structure.

Patriots

Though there is some debate on whether the building is the Bell Tavern, the Patriots of Captain Bells Tavern Association formed in February hoping to save the structure.

That same month, representatives from Triple Crown offered to donate the building to a nonprofit along with 7 acres of land for township open space if the township rezones land Triple Crown owns west of Stony Ridge to allow for a 400,000-square-foot warehouse.

Under the offered conditions, Triple Crown would pay to stabilize the building and restore the exterior, Township Solicitor Sean Shultz previously told The Sentinel. Multiple calls this week to Triple Crown were not answered.

In June, the Silver Spring Township supervisors approved an agreement between the township and developers Mark and John DiSanto to gift the building to the township or a separate 501c3 nonprofit organization in exchange for agreeing to rezone a nearby property to allow for future warehouse development, along with various other stipulations.

The deal also called for Triple Crown to pay to stabilize the building and restore the exterior, but if the township did not rezone the land, the municipality would be responsible for some of the buildings repairs.

Ithaca College professors inspected the building with laser scanners in August, providing structural information that could be used for any rebuilding efforts.

Deal falls through

That deal to preserve the building fell through in October.

What has happened is that Triple Crown ... has, the agreement has fallen through, Musser said then.

Musser said the deal between the township and Triple Crown fell apart when PPL Electric took ownership of part of the land that was slated for the warehouse to allow for improvements. Triple Crown CEO, Mark DiSanto, told abc27 that PP&L Electric purchased the property the month prior.

Silver Spring Township Manager Theresa Eberly said in October that since the deal for the structure was void, the township had no say in what happened from that point on.

We have no role in that property at all, she said. The township remains hopeful the private parties could work it out.

The current step in the process came in November when Musser said the association had reached an agreement with Triple Crown Corporation to purchase the property for $300,000. Fund-raising efforts are in process to reach that goal.

The Bell Tavern Association website today reads: "Our first priority is to secure possession of the historic site from its owner for $300,000, followed by vigorous fundraising to restore the circa 1780 building. ... Our first priority is to secure possession of the historic site from its owner for $300,000, followed by vigorous fundraising to restore the circa 1780 building."
California Gov. Jerry Brown took a not-so-subtle dig at Texas' decision to deploy National Guard troops to the border, saying Monday he expects it to be a short-lived measure and that "wiser minds will prevail."

Brown is in Mexico for three days of meetings, focusing on migration, trade, investment and environmental cooperation.

At a news conference with Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Jose Antonio Meade, Brown said the immigration overload of thousands of Central American youths at the border should be seen as a humanitarian issue. The U.S. is coping with a dramatic increase in the number of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border, coming mainly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Meade said he and Brown agree that the use of law-enforcement or military agencies "is never justified in cases where children are concerned" unless they are providing medical or logistical aid.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced a decision last week to deploy up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border over the next month to combat what he said were criminals exploiting a surge of children pouring into the U.S. illegally.

Asked about that, Brown said: "I hesitate to comment on the thinking that goes into the sending of the Texas National Guard to the border. I would suspect that it would be of relatively short duration and that wiser minds will prevail in the next several months."

Brown acknowledged the immigration surge has become politicized, and said "my goal is to try as much as I can to frame the issue of the children as a humanitarian challenge. That should appeal to people of all political persuasions." California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday she is helping secure lawyers to represent minors during immigration hearings.

Meade, meanwhile, said few of the Central American migrants apply for asylum in Mexico because they are trying to join relatives in the United States.

While many migrants, especially those from Honduras and El Salvador, say they are fleeing gang-related violence in their home countries, less than one in 60 of those caught in Mexico in 2013 asked for asylum in Mexico. The numbers for the first six months of 2014 show only a slight uptick, with about one of 50 requesting asylum. Of those applications, about 20 percent to 25 percent have been approved in recent years.

"The fundamental goal, in many cases, is (family) reunification. That means the migrant's desire is really not to stay in Mexico," Meade said. "That explains why there are so few (asylum) requests in Mexico."

Brown later met privately with President Enrique Pena Nieto to discuss immigration and other topics. In a statement, Pena Nieto's office noted that "California is home to the largest Mexican community abroad, and for that reason both sides agreed to increase cooperation to ensure the welfare of that population."

Brown's trade mission is aimed at increasing direct investments in California, promoting university exchanges and forming environmental partnerships to combat climate change.

The trip, organized by the California Chamber of Commerce, includes a delegation of more than 100 people representing sectors of state government, business, economic development, investment and policy. Delegates paid $5,000 each for the four-day trip, which is subsidizing the cost of Brown's travel.

"We want to increase trade. We want to deal with some issues on the refugees that are coming across the border. And I also want to collaborate with Mexico in pushing an intelligent climate change agenda," Brown said ahead of the journey.

On Tuesday, Brown is to sign an education agreement, then meet with officials including Mexico's energy secretary and the president of the senate. On Wednesday, the governor plans to wrap up his trip by signing a trade agreement with Mexico, which is California's largest export market.

Business participants include Sempra Energy, BP America and other representatives of the energy, tourism and agriculture industries. Representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund also are attending.

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Gov. Jerry Brown travels to Mexico for three days of meetings starting Monday and will discuss immigration in separate sit-downs with President Enrique Pena Nieto and Central American diplomatic and religious leaders.

The governor's office announced Sunday that Brown will meet privately with Nieto on Monday about topics including immigration. It comes amid a trade mission aimed at increasing direct investments in California, promoting university exchanges and forming environmental partnerships to combat climate change.

The meeting Tuesday with more than a dozen Central American leaders and Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez comes as a surge of unaccompanied young migrants and families mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have crossed the U.S. border since October.

The trip, organized by the California Chamber of Commerce, includes a delegation of more than 100 state government, business, economic development, investment and policy leaders. Delegates paid $5,000 each for the four-day trip, which is subsidizing the cost of Brown's travel.

"The relationship with Mexico, the role of those of Mexican heritage in California, is fundamental to our schools, to our well-being, and I think this trip will be productive," Brown said ahead of the journey.

"We want to increase trade. We want to deal with some issues on the refugees that are coming across the border. And I also want to collaborate with Mexico in pushing an intelligent climate change agenda," the governor said.

Brown is scheduled to begin his visit by meeting with Eruviel Avila, the governor of the state of Mexico. He will then sign a memorandum of understanding with Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, promote California tourism and meet the American ambassador to Mexico.

Also Monday, Brown will sit down with Mexico's secretary of foreign affairs, Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena, whom the governor met with last week in Sacramento. The governor said Wednesday that long-term solutions such as trade and cultural exchanges are needed to improve the safety and economic well-being of Mexico and Central American countries.

The Democratic governor said the influx of immigrants is more a humanitarian issue than a political one and that California "is willing to do its part," but he didn't provide details on what actions he might take. California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday that she is helping secure lawyers to represent minors during immigration hearings.

Mexico's foreign affairs secretary said Wednesday that the country is looking to help fight immigrant trafficking by tightening control at its Guatemalan border, which is known to be porous.

On Tuesday, Brown will sign an education agreement, then meet with officials including Mexico's energy secretary and the president of the senate. On Wednesday, the governor plans to wrap up his trip by signing a trade agreement with Mexico, which is California's largest export market.

About 10 members of Brown's administration will accompany the governor, along with five state senators and 10 Assembly members. All the lawmakers are Democrats except Assemblyman Rocky Chavez, R-Oceanside.

Business participants include Sempra Energy, BP America and other representatives of the energy, tourism and agriculture industries. Representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund will also attend.

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Illegal immigrant demonstrators were protesting outside the White House on Monday  but dont expect Americas immigration officers to intervene.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official indicated that even if the protesters end up getting arrested by D.C. police, theyd have to be serious criminals for ICE to get involved.

Unless the individuals meet ICEs enforcement priorities, its unlikely that the agency would get involved in the case, the official told FoxNews.com.

Under a policy thats been in effect for several years, ICE focuses deportation mostly on serious criminals and  in some cases -- those caught in the act of crossing the border. The agency prioritizes deportation for felons, repeat offenders, gang members and others with a serious criminal record. But the agency largely gives a pass to other undocumented residents.

This is why illegal immigrant activists can protest outside the White House without worrying too much about ICE.

They did so at lunchtime on Monday, marching across Lafayette Park to the White House and advocating a reprieve for illegal immigrant parents who brought their children to the U.S.  and whose children have benefited from a separate reprieve issued in 2012 by the Department of Homeland Security.

According to The Washington Times, illegal immigrant protesters also planned to demonstrate outside the White House on Monday afternoon, to call on immigration groups to boycott any administration meetings until illegal immigrants are included in those talks.
The United States is not alone in dealing with the hundreds of unaccompanied minors fleeing their violence-ridden homeland.

Mexico and other countries in Central America are also experiencing first-hand the sudden surge of children leaving Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador in droves. But these countries are seeing smaller  though still quite notable  increases.

There are no numbers of how many children are fleeing to other countries that are not the U.S. But according to the study by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in 2013, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Belize combined reported a 712 percent increase in the number of asylum applications lodged by individuals from the so-called Northern Triangle.

The study does not give hard figures.

Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador are among the most violent in the world  all three are under the control of drug traffickers and street gangs that rob, rape and extort ordinary citizens with impunity.

Migrants from the Northern Triangle flee southward for the same reasons that they go north: family living in their country of choice, better economic conditions and less violent situations than in their home nations. But they are choosing the United States over nations closer to them because they either want to join family who live there or because of the countrys global economy, experts say.

The United States saw a dramatic rise over the last year of undocumented child migrants illegally entering the country. About 57,000 have come since last October.

Some critics argue that if these children were fleeing credible fear, then they should be heading to safer countries like Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Belize that are closer to them.

It calls into question the call for asylum whey theyre saying they came here because of the violence  If theyre seeking safety, its a quick trip to Nicaragua, said Sylvia Longmire, a retired Air Force captain and a border security expert. You cant talk out both sides of your mouth and say youre just concerned about the violence  Its totally about the economics.

But these countries are experiencing an increase  and experts largely agree that the number of children migrating there is higher than studies have shown. And many say there is no denying that the border crisis is not solely a problem for the United States.

This is a regional problem and one that requires a regional solution, Leslie Velez, a senior protection officer at the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), told Fox News Latino. Its too big for one government to solve on its own.

Costa Rica and Panama are seen as the emerging economic and political safe havens of Central America with relatively stable democratic governments and growing markets for work. Nicaragua, while having the second-highest level of poverty in the Western Hemisphere and a less-than-transparent government, is still viewed by many migrants from the Northern Triangle as a desirable destination given its close proximity to their home nations, lower violent crime levels and the possibility of family members living there.

Nicaragua is poorer but its far less violent, Eric Olsen, the associate director of the Woodrow Wilson Centers Latin American program, told FNL. Costa Rica is a country that is so small that it depends on other Latin American labor for its own economic livelihood.

The UNHCR said that defining these migrants as either refugees or immigrants is just as difficult for the Central American nations receiving them as it is for the U.S., given the factors uprooting people from their homes. On one hand there is the violence and widespread poverty driving people to migrate, but better opportunities abroad also factor in.

Its tough to define who is who because the factors can appear skewed, Jana Mason, the UNHCRs senior external relations advisor told FNL. In most cases its not just the pull factors; its not just the push factors. Its both.

One problem for countries like Costa Rica and Nicaragua is that unlike the United States, these countries dont have the laws or institutions in place to handle a large influx of migrants. Mexico in 2011 passed a reform law in an attempt to handle migrants and grant them visas, but so far none of the Central American nations have followed suit with similar types of legislation.

If the numbers in these countries keep increasing, these countries will probably have to, said Marc Rosenblum, the deputy director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program at the Migration Policy Institute.

The White House said Friday that it is mulling whether it should grant refugee status to young people from Honduras as part of a plan to slow the influx of unaccompanied minors. The plan would involve screening youths in Honduras to determine whether they qualify for refugee status in a move similar to the in-country screening programs set up in East Asia after the Vietnam War and in Haiti in the 1990s.

While many observers of the situation both here and in Central America are quick to point out that each migrant's case is individual, some point to the low number or people emigrating to the U.S. from a poor nation like Nicaragua as a clear signal that the crisis is caused directly by the violence on the ground in the Northern Triangle.

The pull factors are not drawing people from Nicaragua here, Rosenblum said. This supports the assertion that violence is a bigger push factor for these countries because Nicaragua might be poorer, but its a lot less violent.
Brazil's president is calling Israel's conflict with Hamas "a massacre."

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff made the comment while speaking with local media outlets Monday from the presidential residence in Brasilia.

In an article posted on the website of the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, Rousseff says that "I think what's happening in the Gaza Strip is dangerous. I don't think it's genocide, but I think it's a massacre."

Israel's fighting with Hamas has killed at least 1,050 Palestinians, many of them civilians. Israel says 52 of its soldiers have been killed in the conflict, along with three Israeli civilians.

Last week, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Israel, one of the first countries to do so. Israel's Foreign Ministry expressed "disappointment" at that move in a statement on its website.

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Bolivian President Evo Morales, speaking with educators in the Andean city of Cochabamba, announced Wednesday that his government was renouncing a 1972 treaty with Israel that allows citizens of each country to travel to the other without a visa.

The reason? The violence in Gaza.

The Israeli offensive there, Morales stated, shows that Israel is not a guarantor of the principles of respect for life and the elementary precept of rights that govern the peaceful and harmonious coexistence of our international community.

In other words the announcement means, Morales said, we are declaring [Israel] a terrorist state.

Latin American Leaders Weigh In On Gaza Strip Attacks

According to the AFP news service, in three weeks of the offensive around 1,300 people have died and 6,000 have been wounded. The most recent incident to shake the international community was the unintentional Israeli shelling of a United Nations school, which caused 16 fatalities.

On Tuesday, three Latin American countries  El Salvador, Peru and Chile  all recalled their ambassadors from Tel Aviv, following the lead of Brazil and Ecuador, who did the same last week.

The Chilean Foreign Ministry issued a statement recalling ambassador Jorge Montero that read, Chile notes with great concern and dismay that such military operations, which at this stage of development are subject to a collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza, do not respect fundamental rules of international humanitarian law.

On the same day, at a summit in Caracas, four of the five members of the Mercosur trade bloc  Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela, but not Paraguay  issued a statement condemning Israel for its disproportionate use of force in Gaza.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Minister, Yigal Palmor, expressed the country's deep disappointment over the diplomatic moves, saying, This step constitutes encouragement for Hamas.

Israel expects countries that oppose terrorism to act responsibly and not to hand terrorists a prize, he added.

Bolivias Morales has not made a secret of his disapproval of Israels policies. In 2009, the country broke off diplomatic relations over a previous military operation in the Gaza Strip.

And two weeks ago, he filed a request asking the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to prosecute Israel for crimes against humanity.

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Nearly half of Hispanics responding to a survey about the influx of unaccompanied minors from Central America supporting having authorities speed up the handling of their cases.

And that includes deporting them faster, noted the report on Pew Research survey.

Pew found that 47 percent of Latinos support expediting the processing of the childrens cases, which under current practice can drag on months or years before a decision about whether they qualify for political asylum or another means of staying in the United States.

About 49 percent of Latinos say they support the current system.

The U.S. public in general, however, backs speeding up the processing of the kids cases at higher percentage. Roughly 53 percent of Americans say they support expediting the process compared to 39 percent who favor the current system, according to Pew.

The Border Patrol detained more than 57,000 unaccompanied children from October through June, the vast majority from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Refugee resettlement workers who have interviewed some of the children say they are generally fleeing violence and poverty. Others, including critics of the Obama administration, say that failure to be more stringent on border issues has encouraged people to try to enter the United States illegally.

An Associated Press-GfK poll, meanwhile, shows that Americans are wary of granting refugee status to children crossing the U.S. border to flee strife-torn countries in Central America.

The poll found 53 percent of Americans believe the United States has no moral obligation to offer asylum to people who escape violence or political persecution, while 44 percent believe it has that responsibility.

And more than half, 52 percent, say children who say they are fleeing gang violence in Central America should not be treated as refugees, while 46 percent say they should.

Among Hispanics, 66 percent say children crossing the border who claim they are fleeing gang violence should be treated as refugees. Slightly fewer, 54 percent, said they see a moral obligation to accept people fleeing violence or persecution.

The responses of the public in general expose a partisan rift, with 70 percent of Republicans saying Central American children should not be treated as refugees compared with 62 percent of Democrats who believe they should. On whether the United States has an obligation to accept people fleeing violence or political persecution, 66 percent of Republicans say it does not and 57 percent of Democrats say it does.

The Pew poll showed that Latinos share the general publics disappointment in how President Obama has handled the surge of Central American children.

About 46 percent of Latinos say they disapprove, 34 percent say they approve, while 56 percent of Americans in general disapprove and 28 percent approve.

As for the need to pass a comprehensive immigration reform, Hispanics are more likely than the general public to say its important for Congress to act.

Three-quarters (75 percent) of Hispanics say its extremely or very important to pass significant new immigration legislation this year, compared with 61 percent of the general U.S. public.

The Pew poll did not ask what kind of reform respondents would like to see.

The significant percentage of Latinos who frown upon Obamas performance regarding the unaccompanied minors did not affect their faith in Democrats to handle immigration better in general.

About 54 percent said Democrats would do a better job than Republicans, compared with 40 percent of the overall public.

Paula Stapleton, who is raising boys, ages 9 and 3, in Clinton, Arkansas, supports asylum or refugee status for children, but not for their parents or adults who come alone. She worries that children who are turned back to their home countries will end up in gangs, making the problem worse.

"The United States is a big enough country to take in children and give them a chance," said Stapleton, 33, a political independent. "It can't take everybody, but we can take their children."

Mercedes Brand, a naturalized U.S. citizen in suburban New Jersey who emigrated from Peru 45 years ago, is in the minority among Hispanics. The youngest of her four U.S.-born children is saddled with college debt and she worries that the United States can't take care of its own, let alone newcomers.

"This country is built with immigrants, but those immigrants who came from Europe and all over the world didn't demand all the things that they are demanding now," said Brand, a 60-year-old Democrat who works as a Spanish interpreter for a health care provider. "When my grandchildren are old enough to collect Social Security, there may not be enough money. There may not be enough for me."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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A bill to deal with the immigration surge on the U.S.-Mexico border won a temporary reprieve in the Senate Wednesday as lawmakers maneuvered to offer some response to the crisis before adjourning for the summer.

Senators voted 63-33 to advance the $3.5 billion emergency spending bill over an initial procedural hurdle. But with Republicans and a few Democrats opposed, there was little expectation that the legislation would ultimately prevail with only days left before Congress' annual August recess.

Even if it did, the Senate bill is at odds with a competing measure in the House that has a smaller price tag and includes contentious policy changes the Senate bill ignores. That measure drew a veto threat from the White House on Wednesday.

Republicans called the Senate measure a blank check for President Barack Obama's failed policies and demanded policy changes opposed by Democrats to send the migrants back home more quickly. The bill also includes hundreds of millions of dollars to fight western wildfires and $225 million to help Israeli self-defense, but lawmakers were making plans to deal with the money for Israel separately.

Still, Republicans and Democrats alike said the crisis of tens of thousands of unaccompanied Central American youths crossing illegally into South Texas demanded a response. Some Republicans voted in favor of moving forward Wednesday, saying they wanted to open debate on the measure in order to be able to offer amendments, though Democrats were expected to oppose such efforts.

"My constituents back home don't understand why in the world we would leave without fixing this problem," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "If we don't do anything to deal with the causes or deal with a remedy for this growing humanitarian crisis, it's going to get worse."

Cornyn was among 11 Republicans who voted to proceed with the bill. Two red-state Democrats in tough re-election fights  Sens. Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana  voted "no."

The bill includes $2.7 billion for more immigration judges, detention facilities, enforcement measures and other steps to deal with the tens and thousands of youths who've been arriving in South Texas without their parents or visas to enter the U.S. It does not include legal changes to permit authorities to turn unaccompanied Central American youths around at the border without deportation hearings that existing law guarantees  a GOP demand that Democrats say would send the kids back to terrible conditions.

Given that disagreement, there appeared to be no clear route to compromise.

"They should have their day in court," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

House Republicans, meanwhile, were hoping to act on their own solution, a $659 million measure that leaves out the money for wildfires and Israel but includes the legal change to send migrant youths home quickly and would also dispatch National Guard troops to the border.

Although the White House has backed legal changes to deport the kids more quickly, a statement of administration policy said the House legislation "could make the situation worse, not better," by setting arbitrary timelines that could create backlogs and hurt due process.

It was unclear whether House Speaker John Boehner would be able to count on enough support to pass the bill as he aimed for a vote Thursday. Many conservatives remained skeptical, and some outside conservative groups were urging lawmakers to stand opposed.

Tea party Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas summoned House conservatives to a meeting Wednesday night to strategize. Cruz has argued that no bill should pass unless it repeals a two-year-old Obama directive granting work permits to immigrants brought here illegally as kids, and some House conservatives were issuing similar demands.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid fomented conservative concerns by threatening to use the House bill as a vehicle to attach the Senate's comprehensive immigration overhaul bill, which the House has rejected.

More than 57,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived since October, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Many are fleeing vicious gangs and are trying to reunite with family members, but they also are drawn by rumors that once here, they would be allowed to stay.

The Homeland Security Department says overwhelmed border agencies will be running out of money in coming months, and Obama asked Congress to agree to provide $3.7 billion.

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Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid is under fire for strong-arming local politics in Nevada. The race for the lieutenant governors seat is heating up between Democratic Assemblywoman Lucy Flores and Republican State Senator Mark Hutchison.

A GOP victory could give Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval enough momentum and political capital to challenge Reid for his Senate seat. Sandoval has repeatedly brushed off rumors of a 2016 run, but with a Republican as lieutenant governor, opting out of his term early for a Senate run would keep the state under the GOP column.

Theres no question that the race has high stakes, and both Flores and Hutchison have been courting the support of Latinos, who represent 18 percent of Nevada voters.

An endorsement from the Latino BizPAC, the political action committee affiliated with the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas, is seen as a significant boost with the demographic. The influential group was reportedly set to endorse both candidates, who they felt advocated business-friendly policies.

State Sen. Hutchison says he felt good about the dual endorsement. In fact, the president of the Chamber of Commerce came out and said he was endorsing me," he told Fox News Latino. "Then the report came out that there was going to be a dual endorsement by the Latin Chamber of Commerce, and of course I was flattered by that.

However, votes shifted over the next couple of hours as Sen. Reid reportedly made personal calls to members of the committee strongly suggesting that they reconsider Hutchisons endorsement. The PAC announced late Friday that it was endorsing Assemblywoman Flores exclusively, leaving Hutchison high and dry.

Locals say Reids display of influence is no surprise.

Republican strategist Ryan Erwin says the majority leader's reach extends beyond elected officials. Senator Reid maintains an inordinate amount of control over Nevada politics," he told FNL. "The truth is a lot of Nevada insiders, whether political or not, do as Senator Reid asks regularly.

Erwin added, I have no doubt that there was an enormous amount of pressure put on the Latin Chamber to change their endorsement process Its always troubling to see any elected official having more sway on the endorsement of another race for office than the members of an actual endorsement committee.

Hutchison told FNL, Theres no question that my chief opponent in this race is Harry Reid. He recruited Lucy Flores. He has helped substantially to finance her campaign. And as we have just recently seen, he is strong-arming people to get behind her.

Not everyone in the leadership at BizPAC sees eye to eye with the decision to endorse Flores exclusively. Otto Merida, a Republican and the president of the Latin Chamber of Commerce, has openly stated he remains personally supportive of State Sen. Hutchison.

Even those on the committee admit the quick change in endorsement could have been handled better. Brian Ayala, chairman of the Latino BizPAC, told Fox News Latino, The roll-out didnt go as smoothly as we would have liked, but at the end of the day we stand by our endorsement.

Governor Sandoval, who has won endorsement from the same Latino BizPAC in the past, told FNL in a statement, Mark Hutchison has my full support for lt. governor and he has the support of many in the Latino community throughout the state of Nevada.

While Hutchison looks for other ways to win over Latino voters, Assemblywoman Flores said she is thankful to the Latin Chamber of Commerce for their endorsement and for supporting her campaign for lt. governor.

With a little more than 90 days until the general election, Hutchison is rolling up his sleeves. I am going to continue to engage with the Latino community as I have in the past," he said. "I see nothing but opportunities to continue to meet with Latin Chamber of Commerce members.

Sen. Reid did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Venezuelan government officials who appear to have some involvement in human rights abuses against protesters are banned from traveling to the United States, the U.S. State Department announced Wednesday.

Deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf says in a statement that the move "underscores our commitment to holding accountable individuals who commit human rights abuses."

In announcing the visa restrictions, the department said that in recent months Venezuela "has witnessed large-scale protests." It said the government in Caracas has responded to street protests in many instances with "arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force."

The department also said that it would not publicly identify individuals considered to be committing abuses against citizens, citing confidentiality rules surrounding visa processing.

Harf said the department is emphasizing that the action taken Wednesday is "specific and targeted."

Violent street protests erupted in February and lasted for several weeks, ending in the deaths of dozens of anti-government activists and the jailing of many others.

Opposition groups said that the administration of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was behind many of the violent attacks on the protesters.

Many members of Congress called on the administration to sanction Venezuela by imposing economic sanctions that include a ban on travel to the U.S. by Venezuelan officials complicit in human rights abuses, and freezing their assets.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a sponsor of legislation calling for sanctions against Venezuela, called the travel ban an important "first step."

The U.S. government should use every tool at our disposal to hold the Maduro regime accountable for its human rights violations, said Rubio in a statement. The Obama Administration has taken an important first step by announcing visa bans that would restrict the travel of human rights violators and their families to the U.S. This action should be followed up with asset freezes as well.

Rubio, R-Fla., repeatedly has said that sanctions would carry an important message to Venezuelan officials in response to reports of arrests, torture and even killing of unarmed demonstrators. He passed a bill proposing sanctions against Venezuela with New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, both Democrats.



The House has passed a Venezuela bill, and the sanctions bill Ive introduced with Senators Menendez and Nelson remains the most comprehensive plan that exists in the Senate to punish human rights violators and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, added Rubio. Im pleased the administration has heeded my calls to take initial action. I hope the Senate soon passes legislation that deals with the situation in Venezuela in a more complete manner, and I will continue pressing the administration to do more.

Sanctions gained support following the release of a scathing report earlier this year by Human Rights Watch.

The group said judges and prosecutors have repeatedly ignored evidence of systematic rights abuses by government forces, citing dozens of protesters who have suffered serious physical and psychological abuse. Dozens of people have died since February, while others have suffered broken bones, denial of medical treatment and threats of rape or death.

At least 10 cases were serious enough to be considered torture, the New York-based organization said. Nearly all the cases it examined involved people who were denied due process, with many held incommunicado and refused access to legal counsel until minutes before they went to court, often in the middle of the night.

In recent days, members of Congress including senators Rubio, Menendez and Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry pushing for sanctions.

Although street protests have been less visible in recent months, the total number of demonstrations in the country now exceeds 6,000 in 2014 and more than 100 political prisoners remain in jail, the letter said. The government has unlawfully removed opposition legislators and mayors from office. And, to date, not one Venezuelan government official or member of the security forces has been held accountable for the human rights abuses committed since the start of the year.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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In the last six weeks the liberal pundits and biased reporters of the Old Media have pulled a groin muscle trying to discredit President Trump in advance.

First they played up the recount stories to make it look like the vote totals in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were fudged somehow.

Then they tried to play up the fact that Hillary won the popular vote and impugned the Electoral College like it had been devised by the founding fathers of the USSR.

The way the liberal Old Media saw it, their golden girl Hillary was cheated out of her rightful place in history by an antiquated, undemocratic process that needed to be blown up so the wise people of California, New York and Illinois could elect every American president from now on.

Next the Old Media tried to make it seem that Trump  the guy they mocked during the election for having no ground game, no staff and no hope of winning  was taking longer than he should to name his cabinet.

They said he was going to pick a bunch of unqualified bums based on their loyalty to him. Then they worried he was picking too many generals and was acting like he wanted to be a dictator.

On and on, the Old Mainstream Media pursued angles and made criticisms of Trump as if presidential history started last month.

Previous presidents-elect were slower to name their staffs. Others chose several generals. But the Old Media didnt go out of their way to point out those inconvenient historical facts. They were after Trump.

The liberal medias latest example of historical amnesia involves the claim that Trumps buddy Vladimir Putin used his hackers to hurt Hillary and affect the elections outcome.

For the first time in history, the way the Old Media tell it, a foreign power was asked to manipulate an American election.

Of course, it was only Trump and the evil Republicans who would allegedly try such a dastardly and unprecedented crime against democracy.

Except it wasnt  and once again the Old Media were caught being wrong and biased.

As I tried to remind everyone last week in a column for Newsmax, in 1980, and again in 1984, it was Democrats who reached out to the Soviets several times for help in affecting an American election.

In 1980, Saint Ted Kennedy, who was trying to defeat incumbent President Jimmy Carter in the Democratic primary, sent former Senator John Tunney to meet with the KGB in an attempt to sabotage American foreign policy.

According to documents later unearthed in the Soviet archives, Kennedy offered to condemn Carters policy toward the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in exchange for KGB help.

Later that fall Saint Jimmy Carter himself tried to play the Soviet card against my father in the general election.

Trailing Ronald Reagan in the polls, he sent his pal, industrialist Armand Hammer, to meet with Soviet ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin.

Hammer asked the Soviets to help Carter win Jewish votes in key states by allowing Jewish refuseniks in the USSR to emigrate to Israel.

The Russkies rejected Hammers request. But in 1984 Carter himself went to Ambassador Dobrynin to ask for help in getting my father un-elected, as did Speaker of the House, Saint Tip ONeill.

Both Carter and ONeill  Democrats, I believe  told Dobrynin that it was in the planets best interests to get my father out of office before he blew up the world with his dangerous massive defense buildup.

Nice.

The Soviets didnt play ball with the Democrats in 1980 or 1984. And we only know about these slimy efforts to affect American elections because the Soviet Empire collapsed and weve got a look at the KGBs archives.

President Obama has ordered a full investigation into any Russian skullduggery during the 2016 election and wants it finished before he leaves office.

When his report comes out the liberal pundits and biased reporters of the Old Media will use it to make President-elect Trump look as bad as possible.

Which is why I hope Santa Claus puts nothing in their Christmas stockings this year but a lump of West Virginia coal.

Merry Christmas.

Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan and a political consultant. He is the founder of the email service reagan.com and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Email him at Reagan@caglecartoons.com.
House Republicans abruptly abandoned a bill to address the immigration crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border Thursday after last-minute maneuvering failed to lock down sufficient conservative support.

The surprise move, coming on Congress' final day of action ahead of a five-week summer recess, was an embarrassing setback for Speaker John Boehner and his leadership team as a small group of tea party lawmakers once again upset their plans.

It was also a disappointment for the majority of House Republicans who were eager to produce a legislative solution to the situation on the border, where tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have been showing up from chaotic Central American nations and crossing illegally into the United States.

"It can't wait, it's a humanitarian crisis," Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said before the vote was canceled, as he pleaded with fellow Republicans to support the legislation. "This bill is an urgently needed bill."

But even significant concessions by leadership weren't enough to secure support from a small band of tea party lawmakers reluctant to give money to President Barack Obama without taking steps to rein in his executive authority on immigration.

Those lawmakers were goaded on by firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who summoned them for pizza Wednesday evening to strategize against the bill.

Faced with weak conservative support for the $659 million border bill, GOP leaders agreed late Wednesday to schedule a second vote on legislation to block Obama from extending deportation relief to more immigrants here illegally, beyond the 500,000 that have already benefited from a program he created.

That seemed to win over some lawmakers by Thursday morning, but as the day progressed conservative lawmakers and outside groups declared the measure insufficient.

Then, just before the vote on the border bill was to begin, there was an unexplained pause in action on the House floor, and suddenly the reading clerk called up an unrelated highway bill instead.

Minutes later, the border bill disappeared from the House schedule for the day, and Boehner and other House leaders issued a statement saying: "This situation shows the intense concern within our conference  and among the American people  about the need to ensure the security of our borders and the president's refusal to faithfully execute our laws.... We will continue to work on solutions to the border crisis and other challenges facing our country."

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With Israeli military calling up an additional 16,000 reservists for its current conflict in the Gaza Strip, Latin American nations continued to be the most vocal players on the international stage denouncing Israels bombardment on the region.

Bolivian President Evo Morales heated words on Wednesday - labeling Israel a terrorist state - were just the latest in a series of moves, including recalling ambassadors for consultations and harsh condemnations, made by countries throughout Latin America in response to the violence between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Latin America is leading the way, Larry Birns, the director of the Council of Hemispheric Affairs (COHA) in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Latino. There is now a tidal drift toward a policy of not supporting Israel.

Along with Bolivia, other major Latin American powers have spoken out against Israel and in favor of ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

During a meeting on Tuesday of the regional trade bloc Mercosur, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela  four of the blocs five members  condemned the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, which in the majority affects civilians, including children and women. This comes a week after Brazil and Chile called out the use of force by Israel in Gaza, marking a sharp contrast from previous battles between Israeli and pro-Palestinian forces.

As a non-permanent member of the [U.N.] Security Council for the 2014-2015 period, Chile expresses its condemnation and regret toward the violence which has cost the life of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, a statement from Chiles Foreign Ministry read, following the announcement of aid for Palestinian victims in the Gaza Strip, the Santiago Times reported.

Chile, El Salvador and Peru have all called home their ambassadors following similar moves earlier in July by both Brazil and Ecuador.

Those countries would have been much better advised to promote the international move intended to assist Israel in its efforts to defend innocent civilians and instate a durable cease-fire with the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said, according to the Jerusalem Post, adding that the country was deeply disappointed in the news from Latin America.

The response from the Latin American nations comes as the rest of the world has either voiced support of Israels rights or kept quiet about the conflict.

Egypt, traditionally a mediator between Hamas and Israel in talks, has led a strong collation of countries, including oil rich Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in effectively lining up behind Israel. The Arab nations support of Israel  particularly in the case of Egypt, which is still experiencing civil unrest after the military ouster of the Islamist government under Mohamed Morsi  could be seen as a way to curb political Islam throughout the region, analysts say.

Both the United States and the individual European powers have called on Israel to lessen its assault behind the scenes, but have continued strong public expressions of support. The European Union's executive body last week criticized Israel for "unconscionable" attacks on hospitals and schools where women, children and the elderly have sought shelter.

"I am horrified by the loss of lives and injuries caused to civilians in Gaza," said European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Kristalina Georgieva, according to the Wall Street Journal. "It is unconscionable that hospitals and schools, where there are terrified children, women, the sick and the elderly taking shelter, have become military targets."

The Latin American response to Israeli action may be the first and, so far, the loudest, but some analysts say that the Latin American countries may be speaking out against Israel more for political reasons than out of a concern for human rights.

The Latin Americans may be taken more seriously of they were a little more equal in their condemnations, Peter Hakim, president emeritus of the Washington, D.C.,-based Inter-American Dialogue told FNL. How can they not condemn Syria, and condemn Israel?

In both the ongoing civil war in Syria and the conflict in the Ukraine, Latin American nations have let the U.S. and the European Union take the lead in sanctioning and criticizing the governments of Bashar al-Assad of Syria and Russias Vladimir Putin.

With Israel being one of the U.S.s most important allies, condemnation of the situation in Gaza is to a degree painted with an anti-U.S. sentiment and solidarity with other developing countries.

There are ulterior motives at work here, Hakim suggested. Theres the ideological conflict here. Its the Third World versus the First here  or, better, the Third World versus the U.S.

While left-leaning, anti-U.S. regimes in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Nicaragua have had strained relations with Israel for years, this recent distancing is occurring also with more centrist governments such as Brazil and Chile.

But whatever the ideological concerns of the Latin American nations, their first steps of criticizing Israel have, if not galvanized, at least started the movement of more countries voicing their opposition to the violence in the Gaza Strip.

These small slights indicate the erosion of Israels status in the region, COHAs Birns said. This cant last much longer without a change in the quality, and quantity, of the relationship between Israel and Latin America.
An emergency spending package addressing the immigration crisis on the border and backed by the Republican House leadership seemed to be in trouble Wednesday, largely because a group of about two dozen conservative tea party lawmakers were gathered late in the evening by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in order to discuss ways to strategize against the package.

"People were not happy with the bill that the House leadership has," Rep. Michele Bachmann, R.-Minn., said of the mood at the office, according the New York Times. "There wasn't any support in the room."

House conservatives emerged from Cruzs office saying they would oppose the $659 million bill, which is scheduled for a vote on Thursday. The bill, which emerged from a working group headed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), would send emergency funds to federal agencies that help secure the border but are projected to run out of money before the end of the fiscal year, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). It would also speed the return back home of unaccompanied Central American minors who've been arriving by the tens of thousands.

House conservatives have argued that the bill doesn't go far enough to solve the underlying issues that have led to the border crisis. If the bill is voted down, it would be a black eye for the new GOP leadership team headed by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California.

House leaders, as a result, scrambled to save the bill by promising conservatives a chance to vote on separate language curtailing President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

It doesnt sound like the Granger bill has the votes to pass, said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), according to The Hill. Most of us feel like DACA is the main problem here. Thats what started this whole show and why we have such a disaster, Fleming said, but he added that, Theres just a sense that [the leadership is] maneuvering in different ways to gather enough votes to pass something."

White House officials have indicated plans to unilaterally expand the DACA program, perhaps to millions more people, in the wake of the House's failure to act this year on a comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate. Republicans warn that would provoke a constitutional crisis and a few conservatives have said it would be grounds for impeachment.

Michael Steel, spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, confirmed the new vote approach Wednesday night.

The fast-moving developments would seem at least to make possible House passage of the border bill, yet they did nothing to change the overall stalemate in Congress over the border crisis. The White House issued a veto threat Wednesday against the House bill even as the Senate's very different measure cleared a procedural hurdle  likely just a temporary reprieve before its eventual defeat.

That left no apparent path for a compromise bill to reach Obama's desk before Congress' five-week recess, even as lawmakers in both parties claimed that they wanted to act.

"My constituents back home don't understand why in the world we would leave without fixing this problem," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "If we don't do anything to deal with the causes or deal with a remedy for this growing humanitarian crisis, it's going to get worse."

Republicans called the Senate's $3.5 billion bill a blank check for Obama's failed policies and demanded policy changes opposed by Democrats to send the migrants back home more quickly. The bill includes hundreds of millions of dollars to fight Western wildfires and $225 million to help Israeli self-defense, but lawmakers were making plans to deal with the money for Israel separately.

Despite their opposition, some Senate Republicans voted in favor of moving the bill forward Wednesday, saying they wanted to open debate on the measure to be able to offer amendments.

Cornyn was among 11 Republicans who voted to proceed with the bill. Two red-state Democrats in tough re-election fights  Sens. Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana  voted "no."

The bill includes $2.7 billion for more immigration judges, detention facilities, enforcement measures and other steps to deal with the tens and thousands of youths who've been arriving in South Texas without their parents or visas to enter the U.S. It does not include legal changes to permit authorities to turn unaccompanied Central American youths around at the border without deportation hearings that existing law guarantees  a GOP demand that Democrats say would send the kids back to terrible conditions.

"They should have their day in court," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.

The House bill leaves out the money for wildfires and Israel but includes the legal change to send migrant youths home quickly and would also dispatch National Guard troops to the border.

Although the White House has backed legal changes to deport the kids more quickly, a statement of administration policy said the House legislation "could make the situation worse, not better," by setting arbitrary timelines that could create backlogs and hurt due process.

More than 57,000 unaccompanied minors have arrived since October, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Many are fleeing vicious gangs and are trying to reunite with family members, but they also are drawn by rumors that once here, they would be allowed to stay.

The Homeland Security Department says overwhelmed border agencies will be running out of money in coming months, and Obama asked Congress to agree to provide $3.7 billion.

Based on reporting by the Associated Press.

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The U.S. Treasury Department is penalizing two North Korean companies and more than a dozen cargo ships for violating a United Nations arms embargo.

The companies and cargo ships are now on a list that calls for seizures of bank assets and bans doing business with U.S. companies, according to the Miami Herald.

The catalyst for the sanctions was the Koreans role in a shipment of Cuban weapons.

The two companies are Ocean Maritime Management Company and Chongchongang Shipping Company.

The case stems from an incident last summer, when a North Korean freighter carrying 240 tons of Cuban weapons to Pyongyang was intercepted in Panama.

The Treasury Department said that the weapons were going from Cuba to the DPRK  Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea, according to The Herald.

How about sanctioning the owners of the Cuban weapons that were being smuggled  or how about sanctioning the Cuban officials that made the deal with North Korea, wrote Mauricio Claver-Carone in his blog, Capitol Hill Cubans, reported The Herald.

The newspaper quoted what it described as a knowledgeable Washington official speculating that the United States did not feel the need to punish Cuba because the island nation already is subjected to strong U.S. sanctions.

Cuba maintains it did not defy any embargo because it was sending weapons to North Korea to be repaired and returned. It did not engage, it argues, in the transferring of weapons.

But a United Nations Security Council panel that reviewed the case determined that Cuba as well as North Korea had violated the U.N. arms embargo, which the U.S. placed on Pyongyang in response to its plans to develop nuclear weapons, The Herald reported.

This week, the UN imposed sanctions on the shipping company that operated the seized ship.

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There were all the trappings of a campaign endorsement rally: the cheering crowds, the American flags, and the sitting president heaping praise on a fellow Democrat. All that was missing was the campaign.

Three days after new Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro was sworn in, President Barack Obama paid a rare visit Thursday to the agency's colossal concrete headquarters to welcome Castro aboard. In gushing terms, Obama lavished admiration on the fresh-faced former mayor who Democrats are already eyeing as a potential vice presidential candidate in 2016.

"He's young, he's good-looking, he talks good. You can't let him down," Obama told HUD workers gathered for the presidential visit, who laughed and cheered so loudly that Obama declared them the "rowdiest employees" in the federal government.

It's rare for the president to personally and publicly welcome a new Cabinet secretary to the job. Typically, Obama appears with a candidate at the White House and vouches for their credentials during a personnel announcement, then the new hire is sworn in privately after being confirmed by the Senate. Castro was sworn in on Monday in a brief, closed-door ceremony.

Castro's political currency is fast on the rise, given a major boost by Obama in 2012 when he chose the 39-year-old to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, where Obama was formally nominated for a second term. In his new job, Castro replaces outgoing Secretary Shaun Donovan, the new White House budget director whom Obama credited for helping pull the country out of the housing crisis.

The Hispanic former mayor of San Antonio, Castro seized the opportunity to put in a few good words about his new boss.

"History will demonstrate very clearly that when crisis struck our nation, our president was ready," Castro said.

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After four years of unrelenting investigations, former U.S. Rep. David Rivera's fate in a criminal campaign finance probe could rest squarely on the shoulders of a woman who was his close friend and longtime Republican political consultant with deep roots in South Florida's Cuban exile community.

Ana Alliegro, 44, is in a Broward County jail awaiting an Aug. 25 trial on four felony campaign finance charges that each carry maximum five-year prison sentences. She has pleaded not guilty and was denied bail by two separate judges because, in the midst of the FBI investigation, she twice fled to Nicaragua rather than meet with prosecutors and agents.

Alliegro is charged with funneling about $80,000 to an unknown Democratic congressional candidate, Justin Lamar Sternad, who was running in the 2012 primary for the chance to challenge GOP incumbent Rivera in Florida's 26th congressional district. Prosecutors say Sternad, a low-paid Miami Beach hotel clerk with no political experience, was a ringer candidate intended to smear Democrat Joe Garcia, who is much better known and ultimately toppled Rivera in the general election.

Sternad pleaded guilty, has cooperated with the investigation and on July 10 was sentenced to seven months in federal prison. Although prosecutors have not identified Rivera by name, they refer to Alliegro as working with "co-conspirator A." Sternad directly implicated Rivera in testimony, and defense lawyers say Rivera is the person prosecutors are referring to.

"I hate to admit that I let Ana Alliegro and David Rivera take advantage of me," he said in court the day he was sentenced.

Rivera, once a rising GOP star in Florida and close friend of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio when both were state legislators, has not been charged and again denied any involvement or wrongdoing in an email to The Associated Press.

"The answer is the same one I gave you two years ago: No," he wrote.

Rivera in May filed papers to run again for his old U.S. House seat but suspended his campaign in July, citing confusion about congressional districts when a judge invalidated Florida's new map. But he seemed to struggle before that to gain traction in the race, reporting only $11,000 in campaign contributions for the three-month period ending July 15  and that was a loan from Rivera to his own campaign.

Alliegro was Rivera's close political ally, both of them steeped in the Cuban-American community fiercely opposed to communist Cuba. Her grandfather, Anselmo Alliegro, held a number of senior government and legislative posts under former Cuban President Fulgencio Batista and was even president for a day in 1959 after Batista fled Fidel Castro's revolution.

Former federal prosecutor David S. Weinstein said it appears that without Alliegro's cooperation it will be difficult to build a winnable case against Rivera. Alliegro's lawyers have filed several motions seeking to have several pieces of evidence thrown out, hardly a sign of cooperation.

"If Alliegro loses her pending motions, her only choice will be to sign a cooperation agreement, flip on Rivera and reduce her (prison) time," Weinstein said. "Otherwise, she is going to be looking at a lengthy prison sentence as her reward for keeping her mouth shut."

Yet, Alliegro might be a problematic witness.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Mulvihill said Alliegro in fall 2013 signed a document indicating she would plead guilty. But instead of following through  and even though she had surrendered her passport  Alliegro flew to Texas, boarded a bus for Mexico and took a plane to Nicaragua, where she opened a hair salon in the tourist town of Granada. It turned out she had a duplicate passport.

According to court documents, Alliegro had different versions of a false resume on her computer seized by FBI agents, one claiming she had received a received a political science degree from Harvard University and the other claiming she attended St. Thomas University near Miami.

"Integrity may not be Alliegro's strongest character trait," Mulvihill said in court papers.

She's had other brushes with the law. In 2007, she was charged with firing a gun into the ceiling at the home of her ex-husband, a developer with whom she wanted to restart a relationship, according to court records. A police report said she sat on a desk naked and compared the gun to the male sexual organ. She eventually pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to probation.

Ultimately, Alliegro was detained by Nicaraguan police in March, turned over to U.S. authorities and flown to Miami to face charges.

Rivera has avoided trouble before. State prosecutors in Miami pursued up to 52 possible ethics and campaign finance violation charges against Rivera related to his personal use of campaign funds and a $1 million contract he had with a Florida gambling company, but investigators in 2012 decided to bring no charges in part because the statutes of limitation had expired.

Federal investigators were looking into a possible tax evasion case stemming from the same allegations, but so far it has come to naught. And when he first ran for the U.S. House, questions were raised about Rivera's claim on state finance disclosure reports that he worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development when the agency had no record of him doing so.

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As lawmakers in Washington battle over what to do about the thousands of unaccompanied minors streaming across the United States border with Mexico, another group of immigrants is using the so-called third border to come into the country.

U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are reporting significant jumps in the number of Haitian immigrants traversing from Hispaniola  the island containing Haiti and the Dominican Republic  to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. The number has soared from just a dozen migrants in 2011 to nearly 2,000 last year, CBS News reported.

"As soon as you're in Puerto Rico, it's like you're in the United States," said Lolo Sterne, coordinator for Haiti's Office of Migration.

There are no official statistics on how many Haitians have successfully made their way illegally to Puerto Rico, or how many have traveled on to the mainland. But the trend worries officials in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, with both countries reporting a jump in arrests of Puerto Rico-bound Haitians.

Migrants reportedly are paying smugglers $1,000 to $1,500 for a trip to Puerto Rico, located less than 100 miles east of Hispaniola.

Dominican officials have detained more than 400 Haitians bound for Puerto Rico in the past four months, compared with just a handful annually in previous years, said Victor Pilier, the D.R.'s director of naval intelligence.

"It's an excessive amount," said Pilier, who oversaw the capture of 78 Haitians headed to Puerto Rico in late April before sending them back home. "It's unusual."

U.S. officials in the past six months captured 352 Haitian migrants bound for Puerto Rico or who were found on or near the island. Coast Guard statistics show that between October 2010 and September 2011, only 13 such migrants were found. In the two years before that, at most five Puerto Rico-bound Haitians were arrested.

"We're seeing another route they're trying to exploit," said Coast Guard Capt. Drew Pearson, who is based in Puerto Rico. "We hadn't seen these numbers of Haitians in my tenure here."

The odds of reaching the U.S. mainland directly from Haiti have dropped as the U.S. Coast Guard beefs up patrols. Along with trying to sail directly to the mainland, Haitians in the past attempted to get to the U.S. via long-established smuggling networks on islands in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos.

"Miami is no longer easy to reach, and that's why Haitians are looking for other places," said Walky Severian, a boat builder in western Haiti who himself has taken three voyages, including one in 2008 that ended up in Cuba because of stormy weather. He was deported.

The most common drop-off point is on Mona Island, an uninhabited 22-square-mile piece of land that sits just 40 miles off the Dominican coast. Smugglers can make the trip in about two hours and sometimes will even force the Haitian migrants to swim to this thin strip of land.

Haitians who make it to Mona Island hope to get picked up by the Coast Guard. Afterward they are processed by the Border Patrol and, in many cases, released in Puerto Rico.

For Haitians hoping to get to the U.S. mainland, Puerto Rico has a black market that can provide fake passports, driver's licenses and stolen Social Security numbers. In addition, the island's governor in early March endorsed a proposal allowing immigrants living illegally in the U.S. territory to apply for a provisional driver's license. Pilier said the proposal has in fact drawn many migrants to Puerto Rico.

In March, U.S. federal officials rescued 71 Haitian migrants stranded on a cluster of islands just west of Puerto Rico, dehydrated and injured with bruises and scratches. The rescue came a week after 67 migrants from Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were found in the same cluster of islands, including a Haitian woman who died.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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House Republicans passed legislation late Friday to address the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border by sending migrant youths back home without hearings, winning over conservatives with a companion bill that could lead to deporting more than half a million immigrants whom the Obama administration granted temporary work permits. President Barack Obama condemned the Republican action and said he'd act unilaterally, as best he could.

A day after GOP leaders pulled the border bill from the floor in a chaotic retreat, tea party lawmakers were enthusiastically on board with the new $694 million version and a companion measure that would shut off a program created by Obama granting work permits to immigrants brought here illegally as kids. The second bill also seemed designed to prevent the more than 700,000 people who've already gotten work permits under the program from renewing them, ultimately making them subject to deportation.

The spending bill passed 223-189 late Friday, with only four Republicans voting "no" and one Democrat voting "yes." The measure ending Obama's deportation relief program passed 216-192, with 11 Republican "no" votes and four Democrats crossing party lines to vote in favor.

"It's dealing with the issue that the American people care about more than any other, and that is stopping the invasion of illegal foreign nationals into our country," said Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. "And we got to yes."

But Obama said no. "They're not even trying to solve the problem," the president said. "I'm going to have to act alone, because we do not have enough resources."

Obama said he would reallocate resources where he could, while making clear his options were limited without congressional action. The administration already has taken steps including re-ordering immigration court dockets and boosting enforcement measures.

The moves in the House came on what was to have been the first day of lawmakers' five-week summer recess, delayed by GOP leaders after their vote plans unexpectedly collapsed on Thursday. Senators had already left Washington after killing their own legislation on the border crisis, so there was no prospect of reaching a final deal. But three months before midterm elections, House Republicans were determined to show that they, at least, could take action to address the crisis involving tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors fleeing violence and poverty in Central America to cross illegally into South Texas.

"It would be irresponsible and unstatesmanlike to head home for the month without passing a bill to address this serious, present crisis on the border," said Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

To reach a deal, GOP leaders had to satisfy the demands of a group of a dozen or more conservative lawmakers who were meeting behind the scenes with Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and taking their cues from outside groups such as the Heritage Foundation that opposed earlier versions of the legislation.

These lawmakers objected to sending any more money to Obama without a strong stance against his two-year-old deportation relief program, which Republicans blame for causing the current border crisis by creating the perception that once here, young migrants would be allowed to stay  a point the administration disputes.

House GOP leaders agreed earlier in the week to hold a separate vote to prevent Obama from expanding the deportation relief program, as he's signaled he plans to do, but that didn't satisfy conservatives who held out for stronger steps.

Thursday night, those lawmakers huddled in the basement of the Capitol with new House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., until coming up with a deal ending funding for the deportation relief program as well as making changes to the border bill aimed at ensuring the faster removal of the Central American migrant youths.

Friday morning, as the full Republican caucus met in the Capitol, conservative lawmakers were declaring victory.

"I'm very satisfied," said Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, the leading immigration hardliner in the House.

With the vote to end the deportation deferral program, "We will put a handcuff on one of the president's hands," said Bachmann.

The GOP plans met with howls of protest from immigration advocates and Democrats, who warned Republicans that they'd be alienating Latino voters for years to come.

"This, in all honesty and candor, is one of the most mean-spirited and anti-immigrant pieces of legislation I've seen in all my years in the Congress," said longtime Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.

Democrats also accused Republicans of handing control of their policies to the most conservative lawmakers in the House, within months of abandoning pledges to act on broad-based legislation to overhaul U.S. immigration policy and bring millions of immigrants here illegally out of the shadows.

The new GOP border bill adds $35 million more for the National Guard, which would go to reimburse states for guard deployments. Like earlier versions, it would increase spending for overwhelmed border agencies, add more immigration judges and detention spaces, and alter a 2008 anti-trafficking law to permit Central American kids to be sent back home without deportation hearings. That process is currently permitted only for unaccompanied minors arriving from Mexico and Canada.

The bill would pay for strapped border agencies only for the final two months of this budget year, falling far short of the $3.7 billion Obama initially requested to deal with the crisis into next year. More than 57,000 unaccompanied youths have arrived since October, mostly from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, plus tens of thousands more migrants traveling as families.

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Midterm elections that will decide control of the Senate are three months away, and the 2016 presidential campaign will start in earnest soon after. Yet the Republican Party still can't figure out what to do about illegal immigration.

It's the issue that vexed Republicans as much as any in their 2012 presidential loss. It's the one problem the party declared it must resolve to win future presidential races. And it still managed to bedevil the party again last week, when House Republicans splintered and stumbled for a day before passing a face-saving bill late Friday night.

The fiasco proved anew that a small number of uncompromising conservatives have the power to hamper the efforts of GOP leaders to craft coherent positions on key issues  including one that nearly two-thirds of Americans say is an important to them personally, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll released last week.

"It would be very bad for Republicans in the House not to offer their vision of how they would fix the problem," South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said when the initial House bill on immigration collapsed. While Republicans in the House are able to reject the proposals of Democrats, Graham said, that's not enough: "At least they have a vision."

While often a flashpoint issue among Republicans in their primaries this year, the party could get a grace period of sorts in November. Immigration appears likely to have only a modest impact on the roughly 10 Senate races that will determine control of the chamber. The possible exception is the race between Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and GOP Rep. Cory Gardner in Colorado, where Hispanic voters made up 14 percent of the electorate in 2012.

Even if President Barack Obama moves ahead with a proposal to give work permits to millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, removing the threat of deportation, Democratic strategists say Republicans won't reap much of a benefit. Republicans, they argue, have already squeezed as much as they can from voters angry at the president by hammering at his record on health care, the IRS, foreign policy and other issues.

"There's a ceiling, and nothing the president can do can get them above the ceiling," said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, head of the Democrats' efforts to win House elections. "But swing voters and persuadable voters, they want solutions."

Hispanics made up less than 3 percent of all registered voters in 2012 in seven other states with competitive Senate races: Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, Iowa, Michigan, Georgia and Kentucky. So any Democratic benefits from an Obama executive action on immigration could be just as limited.

Still, a few Democratic senators in those tight contests  including Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Pryor of Arkansas  are putting some distance between themselves and the president. The White House, Pryor said, is "sending mixed messages: telling folks not to cross the border illegally and then turning around to hand out work permits to people who are already here illegally."

Both parties agree that immigration is likely to play a bigger role in the 2016 presidential election. Arizona Sen. John McCain, the GOP nominee in 2008, has said his party can't win without supporting an overhaul of the nation's immigration laws, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is among the potential candidates to urge the party to liberalize its approach to immigration.

A GOP-sanctioned "autopsy" of Mitt Romney's 2012 loss made only one policy recommendation: The party "must embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform," a term understood to include creating pathways to legal status for millions of immigrants living in the nation illegally.

For that reason, some Republicans found the House hubbub discouraging. Party leaders had to yank an immigration bill from the floor Thursday after realizing they lacked the votes to pass it. Democrats mocked House Speaker John Boehner for declaring that Obama should take numerous steps, "right now, without the need for congressional action, to secure our borders," while his website also stated, "More unilateral action from the White House will make (the) border crisis worse."

"I'm just about as conservative, and full-spectrum conservative as it gets, and I was going to go yes" on Thursday, said Arizona GOP Rep. Trent Franks. "So I'm not certain what happened."

Ultimately, the party's rank-and-file refused to start Congress' five-week break without proving the GOP could pass some type of immigration bill. It would clear the way for eventual deportation of more than 700,000 immigrants brought here illegally as children. It also would allocate $694 million for border security efforts, including $35 million for the National Guard.

The action kept Republicans from ending the summer empty-handed on immigration. But that doesn't mean the party is any closer to untying the nation's immigration knot.

While solid majorities of Americans say the country's current immigration policies are unacceptable, many House Republicans owe their jobs to conservative activists who fiercely oppose "amnesty" for immigrants and dominate GOP primaries in districts where Democrats have almost no chance of winning.

Some of those Republicans were among the House conservatives who met last week in the office of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who urged them to force concessions from Boehner's leadership team. And on Friday, Cruz was talking about immigration in the Senate race in New Hampshire, which will hold the first presidential primary of 2016.

In a fundraising message, Cruz attacked Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen for supporting Obama's "amnesty" immigration policies.

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Sen. Marco Rubio met some resistance from conservatives while on Fox News Sunday when he was pressed on whether he was now advocating for Congress to tackle immigration reform in stages rather than through comprehensive reform.

The Florida Republic stood firm on his position, saying there are three things that need to be addressed by Congress: security, modernizing the legal system and addressing undocumented immigrants already in the country.

Given everything thats going on now, especially, the only way were going to make progress on this issue is to first deal with illegal immigration, secure the border, win peoples confidence that in reality this problem is under control, Rubio said.

Elsewhere, White House advisor Dan Pfeiffer said President Barack Obama will make a decision on how to use his authority to address undocumented immigrants by the end of the summer.

Pfeiffer called reports that Obama might delay the deportation of up to 5 million immigrants "uninformed speculation and that the President is waiting for recommendations from Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson before taking action, but any actions would be within "the confines of the law."

He said on ABC News' "This Week" that Obama has no choice but to act on his own because of Congress' "failure to fix the immigration system" and to provide extra money to deal with Central American children crossing the U.S-Mexico border.

Rubio criticized a possible executive order from the President.

Were not debating what to do, were debating how to do it. And Im just telling you, we will never the votes necessary to pass in one bill, all of those things. It just wont happen, Rubio said. So, our choices are: We can continue to beat our heads against the wall and try a process for which we will never have the support, or we can try another way that we could perhaps make progress on."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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News that the U.S. government quietly contracted young Latin Americans to travel to Cuba for political purposes under the guise of health and civic programs was the talk of the town in Havana and the Cuban diaspora Monday, eliciting both criticism and praise for the secret program.

In Cuba, some who heard about it from state TV called it objectionable, if not necessarily surprising.

"I don't know what to tell you. It's one of so many imperialist aggressions, so many years that they have been trying to bring down the revolution," said Elio Morales, a 19-year-old refinery worker. "They've been trying all kinds of things for 50 years to bring down the revolution, and it hasn't fallen."

Other Cubans backed efforts by the U.S. Agency for International Development and its contractors to support civil society on the island.

"Good for USAID!" dissident writer and photographer Orlando Luis Pardo said via Twitter. "The world must foster the rights of the Cuban people, abolished by the Castro regime and their allies."

An Associated Press investigation published Monday revealed that under the Obama administration program, nearly a dozen travelers were sent undercover to Cuba to try to identify and ultimately groom a new generation of political activists.

According to one document obtained by the AP, a goal was to put "pressure" on the government. In one case, a group of visitors organized an HIV-prevention workshop described as a ruse to conceal the political nature of their work, potentially undermining USAID's credibility in critical health work around the world.

The head of an international nongovernmental organization in Cuba expressed concern that the revelations could jeopardize the work of groups that have spent years building trust with the Cuban government and local partners.

"It doesn't bode very well for programs that are funded from external sources, because I think there's going to be a higher level of scrutiny: Who's the donor? Where are the funds coming from? What does the program propose to do?" the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid damaging his group's local relationships.

"If it means that we're going to be more scrutinized and that Cuban approval processes are going to be even slower than they already are, then that's going to affect our work."

In Cuba, the early newscast showed AP video of the investigation. It included footage of two Cubans interviewed by the AP, but not audio of their comments.

"This program of traveler agents, like ZunZuneo, form part of a multimillion-dollar effort by USAID to effect change in countries that are politically inconvenient for Washington," broadcaster Cristina Escobar said.

The afternoon news also led with the story, but without commentary. Cuban authorities have not commented publicly.

Cuban-American Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart likened U.S. government efforts aimed at engaging Cuban civil society to Cold War-era attempts to promote democracy in the former Soviet Bloc.

"Efforts ... to find creative ways for the Cuban people to communicate with each other and with the outside world, are precisely the types of activities that the United States must vigorously pursue in closed societies," Diaz-Balart said in a statement.

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Did he or didnt he?

It seemed to some that U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a baby-faced 43-year-old who may run for president in 2016, was calling his potential challenger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, too old to run for the Oval Office.

In an interview with National Public Radio in recent weeks, Rubio, a Florida Republican, described Clinton as a "20th-century candidate.

I think she does not offer an agenda for moving America forward in the 21st century, at least not up till now.

Polls tend to show Clinton, who is 66, well ahead of other potential presidential candidates in both major parties.

Rubio has said he is not fazed.

Multiple people can beat her, Rubio said. Hillary Clinton is not unbeatable.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Rubio denied he was saying that Clinton was too old to be a serious contender for the presidency.

You can be 40 years old and be a 20th-century candidate, Rubio said on Fox.

We are going through the equivalent of an industrial revolution every five years and I dont think she or her party, and quite frankly, even some people in my party, have answers to that, he said.

Age often has come up as an issue  albeit usually a subtle one  in political races when there is a considerable disparity between candidates.

The late President Ronald Reagan addressed the issue in his favor when he famously quipped in a 1984 debate (he was 73) against Democratic challenger Walter Mondale: "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience."

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The government said Monday it will soon close three emergency shelters it established at U.S. military bases to temporarily house children caught crossing the Mexican border alone. It said fewer children were being caught and other shelters will be adequate.

A shelter in Oklahoma at Fort Sill is expected to close as early as Friday, the Health and Human Services Department said. Shelters in Texas at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and in California at Naval Base Ventura County-Port Hueneme will wrap up operations in the next two to eight weeks, agency spokesman Kenneth Wolfe said. About 7,700 children had been housed at the three military bases since shelters there opened in May and early June. They stayed an average of 35 days.

Since Oct. 1 more than 57,000 unaccompanied children, mostly from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, have been caught crossing the Mexican border illegally.

A 2008 law requires that unaccompanied child immigrants from countries that don't border the United States be handed over to the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours of being apprehended. The children are cared for by the government until they can be reunited with a relative or another sponsor in the United States while they await a deportation hearing in immigration court.

The crush of Central American children caught at the border in recent months has strained resources across the government and prompted President Barack Obama to ask Congress to approve an emergency $3.7 billion spending bill to deal with what he described as a humanitarian crisis. Members of the House of Representatives left town for the August recess without acting on the request.

Last month the Homeland Security Department reported that the number of child immigrants crossing the border alone had started to decline, from as many as 2,000 each week in June to about 500 each week in mid-July. Administration officials said at the time that multiple factors likely contributed to the decline.

The number of people caught crossing the border illegally typically declines during the hottest summer months.

Administration officials have said as many 90,000 child immigrants could cross the border by the end of the budget year in September.

The military base shelters could reopen if the number of young border crossers spikes again in the near future, Wolfe said.

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An Obama administration program secretly dispatched young Latin Americans to Cuba using the cover of health and civic programs to provoke political change, a clandestine operation that put those foreigners in danger even after a U.S. contractor was hauled away to a Cuban jail.

Beginning as early as October 2009, a project overseen by the U.S. Agency for International Development sent Venezuelan, Costa Rican and Peruvian young people to Cuba in hopes of ginning up rebellion. The travelers worked undercover, often posing as tourists, and traveled around the island scouting for people they could turn into political activists.

Sidebar

The traveler's program posed significant risk for its young recruits as well as for USAID itself. Its effectiveness is unclear.

Here are five things to know:

1."THE PERFECT EXCUSE": The young spies from Costa Rica created an HIV-prevention workshop that they called "the perfect excuse" to recruit political activists, a ruse that could undermine USAID's credibility in critical health work around the world.

2.THEIR EFFORTS WERE FRAUGHT WITH INCOMPETENCE AND RISK. Cuban authorities questioned who was bankrolling the travelers, and there was no safety net for the young Latin Americans, who were doing work that was explicitly illegal in Cuba.

3.VENEZUELANS AND PERUVIANS WERE DEPLOYED TO CUBA'S COLLEGE CAMPUSES. The objective was to recruit university students with the long-term goal of turning them against their government. Potential recruits were listed by name, and then profiled, their leadership qualities assessed in a spreadsheet.

4.WHETHER ANY OF THE POLITICAL OBJECTIVES WERE EVER REALIZED IS UNCLEAR. In fact, their Cuban contacts in recent interviews with the AP said they were astonished to discover that their foreign friends were acting on behalf of the U.S. government.

5.THE CONTRACTOR, CREATIVE ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL, CHANGED ITS STRATEGY. In September 2010, Creative Associates shifted from sending outsiders into Cuba to develop dissidents among college students to getting exit visas for the new leaders and training them off the island. Other beneficiaries in Cuba would receive cash payments to run the recruitment efforts.

In one case, the workers formed an HIV-prevention workshop that memos called "the perfect excuse" for the program's political goals  a gambit that could undermine America's efforts to improve health globally.

But their efforts were fraught with incompetence and risk, an Associated Press investigation found: Cuban authorities questioned who was bankrolling the travelers. The young workers nearly blew their mission to "identify potential social-change actors." One said he got a paltry, 30-minute seminar on how to evade Cuban intelligence, and there appeared to be no safety net for the inexperienced workers if they were caught.

"Although there is never total certainty, trust that the authorities will not try to harm you physically, only frighten you," read a memo obtained by the AP. "Remember that the Cuban government prefers to avoid negative media reports abroad, so a beaten foreigner is not convenient for them."

In all, nearly a dozen Latin Americans served in the program in Cuba, for pay as low as $5.41 an hour.

The AP found USAID and its contractor, Creative Associates International, continued the program even as U.S. officials privately told their government contractors to consider suspending travel to Cuba after the arrest of contractor Alan Gross, who remains imprisoned after smuggling in sensitive technology.

"We value your safety," one senior USAID official said in an email. "The guidance applies to ALL travelers to the island, not just American citizens," another official said.

The revelations of the USAID program come as the White House faces questions about the once-secret "Cuban Twitter" project, known as ZunZuneo. That program, launched by USAID in 2009 and uncovered by the AP in April, established a primitive social media network under the noses of Cuban officials. USAID's inspector general is investigating that program, which ended in September, 2012.

Officials said USAID launched "discreet" programs like ZunZuneo to increase the flow of information in a country that heavily restricts it. But the AP's earlier investigation found ZunZuneo was political in nature and drew in subscribers unaware that the service was paid for by the U.S. government.

"USAID and the Obama administration are committed to supporting the Cuban people's desire to freely determine their own future," the agency said in response to written questions from the AP. "USAID works with independent youth groups in Cuba on community service projects, public health, the arts and other opportunities to engage publicly, consistent with democracy programs worldwide."

In a statement late Sunday, USAID said the HIV workshop had a dual purpose: It "enabled support for Cuban civil society while providing a secondary benefit of addressing the desire Cubans expressed for information and training about HIV prevention."

Creative Associates declined to comment, referring questions to USAID.

Both ZunZuneo and the travelers program were part of a larger, multimillion-dollar effort by USAID to effect change in politically volatile countries, government data show. But the programs reviewed by the AP didn't appear to achieve their goals and operated under an agency known more for its international-aid work than stealthy operations. The CIA recently pledged to stop using vaccine programs to gather intelligence, such as one in Pakistan that targeted Osama bin Laden.

The travelers program was launched when newly inaugurated President Barack Obama's administration was talking about a "new beginning" with Cuba after decades of mistrust, raising questions about whether the White House had a coherent policy toward the island nation.

Drawing on documents and interviews worldwide, the AP found the travelers program went to extensive lengths to hide the workers' activities. They were to communicate in code: "I have a headache" meant they suspected they were being monitored by Cuban authorities; "Your sister is ill" was an order to cut their trip short.

"We worked it so that the government here didn't know we were traveling to Cuba and helping these groups," said Yajaira Andrade, a former administrator with a Venezuelan organization. "Because that was when (President Hugo) Chavez was in power, and if he had known about us  that some Venezuelans were working to stir rebellion  we would have been thrown in jail."

To evade Cuban authorities, travelers installed innocent-looking content on their laptops to mask sensitive information they were carrying. They also used encrypted memory sticks to hide their files and sent obviously encrypted emails using a system that might have drawn suspicion.

It is illegal in Cuba to work with foreign democracy-building programs. Nevertheless, one contract was signed days after Gross' detention.

"They arrested a contractor from another agency. That could be dangerous," one Skype message between two project workers would later read. "Thank God he's not one of ours."

Documents show Creative Associates approved the use of the travelers' relatives to carry cash to the Cuban contacts. But the family members weren't to be told that the funds were from the U.S. government.

Hector Baranda, who was a college student in Cuba when he was befriended by a group of traveling Venezuelans, said he was surprised to hear from the AP they were working for the U.S. government and had profiled him.

"How would you feel if you offered your sincere friendship and received this kind of news?" Baranda asked.

The travelers' project was paid for under the same pot of federal money that paid for the ZunZuneo program. But USAID has yet to provide the AP with a complete copy of the Cuban contracts under a Freedom of Information Act request filed more than three months ago.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who was in office during the program and is a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, said in her new book "Hard Choices" that she was pleased "to see change slowly creeping into the country."

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A recent poll of Nevada voters showed U.S. Sen. Harry Reid trailing Gov. Brian Sandoval in a match-up for Reid's Senate seat in 2016, but the Majority Leader is downplaying the results.

The Harper Polling survey showed Reid, a Democrat who has served five terms, 10 points behind Republican Sandoval should the two face each other two years from now.

It remains unclear if Sandoval, who is expected to handily win re-election as governor this November, will run for the U.S. Senate.

I thought he would be up by more, Reid said recently, according to Politico. Hes out there every day; Im back here [in Washington, D.C.] slogging it out. I was surprised it was so close. Really!

The Harper poll showed Sandoval leading Reid 53-43 percent. About 58 percent of respondents held a favorable view of Sandoval, while just 41 did so of Reid.

Politico noted, With Sandoval skating to a second term this fall, Republicans and Democrats both agree that the moderate Hispanic governor would be Reids toughest opponent, particularly given the Nevada Democrats poor approval ratings.

Sandoval reportedly is not anxious to run against the veteran lawmaker but that doesnt mean Republicans wont try to change his mind.

I would anticipate that will be a topic of discussion after November, said Nevadas other U.S. senator, Dean Heller (Rep.), who, according to Politico, urged Sandoval to think about running.

Sandovals challenger in the gubernatorial race is little-known Democrat Bob Goodman.

In the lieutenant governors race, meanwhile, Reid is pushing hard for Democratic assemblywoman Lucy Flores against the governors candidate, state Sen. Mark Hutchison.

Nevada is one of the most heavily Hispanic states in the country, making up 27 percent of the total population, according to Pew Research Center. That is quite a jump from 1960, when Hispanics comprised just 4 percent of the states residents.

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Colorado Democrats avoided a politically costly fight over oil and gas drilling after a quid pro quo deal pitched by the state's fracking-friendly governor prompted groups to drop their dueling ballot proposals.

The cease-fire compromise from Gov. John Hickenlooper was announced with great fanfare at the state Capitol Monday morning with U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, a fellow Democrat who helped finance two initiatives that sought to limit hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. He agreed to back off his proposals, and groups pitching two pro-fracking proposals said later in the day they would end their campaigns as well.

A ballot-battle over drilling had Democrats worried about the implications. Taking the issue to voters could have negatively impacted Democrats in November by increasing fundraising for Republicans who favor oil and gas development and possibly boosting GOP turnout.

Hickenlooper is running for re-election, and incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall is in a closely watched contest against Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner. The race could help determine control of the Senate.

As a compromise to avoid the ballot fight, Hickenlooper said an 18-member task force would issue recommendations to the Colorado Legislature next year on how to minimize conflicts between residents and the energy industry.

Polis said the governor's announcement was "truly a victory for the people of Colorado and the movement to enact sensible protections and safeguards around fracking."

Fracking is a technique that blasts a mix of water, sand or gravel, and chemicals into underground rock formations to release trapped oil and gas.

Backers of the two measures sympathetic to the industry also declared victory.

"This is an exciting turn of events," said Rep. Frank McNulty, who worked on a ballot question that would have prevented municipalities banning fracking from collecting state revenue that comes from drilling. "For months we've asked Polis to pull his initiatives in favor of a more constructive approach."

Another pro-fracking initiative would have called for financial impact statements to be included in future ballot questions seeking greater oversight on energy development.

Signatures for the four ballot questions were turned in before Monday's deadline, but the groups had until Sept. 5 to pull them.

The Polis-endorsed measures would have increased the distance between homes and rigs from 500 feet to 2,000 feet, and another would have given local governments more control over drilling.

Hickenlooper said the suggested restrictions, if passed, posed "a significant threat to Colorado's economy." Opponents of the anti-fracking initiatives also raised concerns about unleashing legal claims over property rights if the state blocked energy companies from accessing mineral rights they own.

"I think we can all agree that responsible oil and gas development in Colorado is critical to our economy, our environment, our health, and our future," Hickenlooper said.

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Public health advocates and U.S. lawmakers are highly critical of the Obama administration's use of an HIV-prevention workshop in Cuba for political purposes, saying such clandestine efforts put health programs at risk around the world and put people in danger.

The program, funded and overseen by the U.S. Agency for International Development, deployed nearly a dozen young people from Latin America to Cuba to recruit political activists. An Associated Press investigation found the operation put the foreigners in danger not long after an American contractor was arrested in Cuba for doing secretive work.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who leads a panel that oversees USAID's spending, said Monday it would be "worse than irresponsible" if the agency "concocted" an HIV-prevention workshop to promote a political agenda.

Meanwhile, InterAction, an alliance of global non-governmental aid groups, said the use of an HIV workshop for intelligence purposes was "unacceptable." The U.S. government, it said, "should never sacrifice delivering basic health services or civic programs to advance an intelligence goal."

The Obama administration on Monday defended its use of the HIV-prevention workshop for its Cuban democracy-promotion efforts, but disputed that the project was a front for political purposes. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the program "enabled support for Cuban civil society, while providing a secondary benefit of addressing the desires Cubans express for information and training about HIV prevention."

The AP's investigation found the program was deliberately aimed at recruiting a younger generation of opponents to Cuba's Castro government, although it's illegal in Cuba to work with foreign democracy-building programs. Documents prepared for the USAID-sponsored program called the HIV workshop the "perfect excuse" to conduct political activity.

Leahy said in response to the AP's findings, "It may have been good business for USAID's contractor, but it tarnishes USAID's long track record as a leader in global health."

The White House is still facing questions about a once-secret "Cuban Twitter" project, known as ZunZuneo. That program, launched by USAID in 2009 and uncovered by the AP in April, established a primitive social media network under the noses of Cuban officials. USAID's inspector general is investigating it.

In April, Leahy called the ZunZuneo program "dumb, dumb, dumb." But on Monday, not all lawmakers were critical.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said USAID's programs were important for human rights in Cuba. "We must continue to pressure the Castro regime and support the Cuban people, who are oppressed on a daily basis," said Ros-Lehtinen, a Cuban native and vocal supporter of pro-democracy programs there.

As for health projects, the latest criticisms come months after a pledge by the CIA to stop using vaccine programs  such as one in Pakistan that targeted Osama bin Laden  to gather intelligence.

In the HIV workshop effort, the AP's investigation found the Latin American travelers' efforts were fraught with incompetence and risk. The young workers nearly blew their mission to "identify potential social-change actors." One said he got a paltry, 30-minute seminar on how to evade Cuban intelligence, and there appeared to be no safety net for the inexperienced workers if they were caught.

In all, nearly a dozen Latin Americans served in the program in Cuba, for pay as low as $5.41 an hour.

"These programs are in desperate need of adult supervision," said Sen. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican and longtime critic of USAID's Cuba projects. "If you are using an AIDS workshop as a front for something else, that's  I don't know what to say  it's just wrong."

The AP found USAID and its contractor, Creative Associates International, continued the program even as U.S. officials privately told their government contractors to consider suspending travel to Cuba after the arrest of contractor Alan Gross, who remains imprisoned after smuggling in sensitive technology. A lawyer for Gross said Monday that his client cannot take life in prison much longer and has said his goodbyes to his wife and a daughter.

"We value your safety," one senior USAID official said in an email concerning the Latin American travelers. "The guidance applies to ALL travelers to the island, not just American citizens," another official said.

Creative Associates declined to comment, referring questions to USAID.

"All governments need to make trade-offs, for example, between civil liberties and public safety," said Les Roberts, a professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. In the case of Cuba, he said, there is a trade-off between conducting neutral development efforts and "the political goal of regime change in Cuba."

"Without the appearance of neutrality," he said, "few things USAID wants to do internationally can be achieved."

Drawing on documents and interviews worldwide, the AP found the travelers program went to extensive lengths to hide the workers' activities. They were to communicate in code: "I have a headache" meant they suspected they were being monitored by Cuban authorities; "Your sister is ill" was an order to cut their trip short.

To evade the Cuban government, travelers installed innocent-looking content on their laptops to mask sensitive information. They used encrypted memory sticks to hide their files and sent obviously encrypted emails using a system that might have drawn suspicion.

Both the travelers program and ZunZuneo were part of a larger, multimillion-dollar effort by USAID to effect change in politically volatile countries, government data show. But the programs reviewed by the AP didn't appear to achieve their goals and operated under an agency known more for its international-aid work than stealthy operations.

The travelers' project was funded under the same pot of federal money that paid for ZunZuneo. But USAID has yet to provide the AP with a complete copy of the Cuban contracts despite a Freedom of Information Act request filed more than three months ago.

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To one conservative lawmaker from Indiana, the only thing worse than thousands of unaccompanied minors streaming across the U.S.'s southern border is the possibility of unaccompanied minors were infected with the deadly Ebola virus.

U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Ind. voiced this fear while speaking to a local radio station.

Rokita referenced a conversation he had with U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, who is a heart surgeon, and said both lawmakers thought there was a health risk associated with the federal refugee agency placing immigrant children in the homes of U.S. relatives or sponsors.

"He said, look, we need to know just from a public-health standpoint, with Ebola circulating and everything else  no, that's my addition to it, not necessarily his  but he said we need to know the condition of these kids," Rokita said, according to The Times of Northwest Indiana.

So far no human has ever contracted the Ebola virus in the Western Hemisphere, and none of the 30,340 unaccompanied minors from Central America who were released to either sponsors or relatives have tested positive for the deadly virus.

The U.S. refugee agency said that all children released in the U.S. receive medical screenings and vaccinations before being let go from U.S. custody, but Rokita says he doubts the veracity of the refugee agencys claims and suggested the better course would be to keep all the children together in one place.

"If we believe that a majority of them should be reunited with their parents in their countries, letting them diffuse into the community is just going to be harder to get them to the hearing, harder to find out where they are, who they are," Rokita said.

The World Health Organization says death toll from Ebola has grown from 729 to 887 in recent days with most cases focused in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Cases in Liberia jumped from 156 to 255, WHO said, as the government ordered that all Ebola victims must now be cremated because of rising opposition to burials in neighborhoods around the capital. Over the weekend, police were called in amid a standoff over whether health authorities could bury nearly two dozen victims in a neighborhood on the outskirts of the capital, Monrovia.

Sierra Leone marked a national stay-at-home day Monday in an effort to halt the disease's spread. A documentary film of the first outbreak of the Ebola disease in Congo was being shown intermittently throughout the day by the national broadcaster.

The emergence of a second case in Nigeria raises serious concerns about the infection control practices there, and also raises the specter that more cases could emerge. It can take up to 21 days after exposure to the virus for symptoms to appear. They include fever, sore throat, muscle pains and headaches. Often nausea, vomiting and diarrhea follow, along with severe internal and external bleeding in the advanced stages of the disease.

"This fits exactly with the pattern that we've seen in the past. Either someone gets sick and infects their relatives, or goes to a hospital and health workers get sick," said Gregory Hartl, World Health Organization spokesman in Geneva. "It's extremely unfortunate but it's not unexpected. This was a sick man getting off a plane and unfortunately no one knew he had Ebola."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Undocumented activists confronted Republican congressional members Steve King and Rand Paul about immigration while the lawmakers were eating at a political event in Iowa on Monday.

The activists, part of a movement seeking a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as minors, shook hands with the lawmakers before identifying themselves, according to published reports.

Paul, who is in the U.S. Senate and is from Kentucky, walked away after the youths identified themselves. King remained, engaging in a tense exchange with the immigrants.

King, of Iowa, is the leading immigration hardliner in the House. On Friday, House Republicans passed legislation to address the crisis on the U.S.-Mexico border by sending migrant youths back home without hearings, winning over conservatives with a companion bill that could lead to deporting more than half a million immigrants whom the Obama administration granted temporary work permits.

Tea party lawmakers backed the bill that ultimately passed after it was altered to include a measure to shut off the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which grants work permits to immigrants brought here illegally as kids.

A second bill also seemed designed to prevent the more than 700,000 people who've already gotten work permits under the program from renewing them, ultimately making them subject to deportation.

Such immigrants are known as Dreamers.

Erika Andiola, one of the Dreamers who approached King, took him to task for being a force behind the effort to kill DACA.

She said to him: If you really believe in deporting Dreamers like myself, here is my DACA so you can rip it.

Erika joined Iowa Dreamers to help remind Rep. King that Dreamers are not afraid to defend DACA so President Obama shouldnt be afraid to take executive action, said a statement by DRM Capitol, which advocates for Dreamers. Senator Rand Paul ran away as soon as the immigration discussion began  the Kentucky Senator voted against immigration reform and is trying to repair his image with Latino voters. With Rep. Steve King as an ally, Latino voters will be suspicious of Sen. Paul's position in immigration.

King pointed at Andiola and said: Stop a minute. Youre very good at English. You know what Im saying.

Andiola says she was raised in the United States, trying to explain why she speaks English fluently.

The brief conversation then seemed to turn to a comment King made last year about Dreamers being drug smugglers.

I spoke of drug smugglers. Now, youre not going to tell me youre one of them, are you? King asked, adding that he was referring to just people involved in drugs.

Do I look like a drug smuggler to you? Andiola responded.

You can tell me, the congressman said.

King said that he was against Obama acting unilaterally on immigration, as the president did in regards to DACA.

Im not a drug smuggler, of course not. I graduated from Arizona State University. I have my masters degree, Endiola said.

King told Endiola that the liberal left was using Dreamers as pawns. Endiola said that both parties have used Dreamers for their own agendas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Republican congressman from Alabama says Democrats are engaged in a "war on whites."

Congressman Mo Brooks made his comment on conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham's program on Monday. He said the Democratic Party claims white people hate everyone else and that it's part of President Barack Obama's strategy of dividing people on the basis of race, sex and class.

The remarks came in a discussion of immigration legislation passed last week by the House that could result in increased deportations.

Brooks was responding to analysis saying that the Republican Party risks losing any appeal to Latino voters and will not be able to be successful in a national race if it appeals only to white voters.

"This is a part of the war on whites that's being launched by the Democratic Party. And the way in which they are launching this war is by claiming that whites hate everybody else," said Brooks. "It's a part of the strategy that Barack Obama implemented in 2008, continued it in 2012, where he divides us all on race, on sex, creed, envy, class warfare  all those kinds of things."

Brooks defended his comments in a phone interview Tuesday with The Associated Press and disputed the suggestion they were incendiary. He said that Democrats were the ones being incendiary, pointing to comments including an assertion by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi this year that the GOP's failure to act on comprehensive immigration legislation had something to do with race.

"Race should not be an issue in public policy debates, we should be colorblind, we should be the melting pot," Brooks told the AP. "But so long as the Democrats have a political campaign strategy to divide Americans based on skin pigmentation then they are the ones who are fanning the fires and doing a disservice to our country, not those who try to hold the Democrats accountable for what is a very counterproductive and sinister campaign tactic."

To a request for comment, the spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Emily Bittner, wrote in an email, "Wow. Congressman Brooks is living in his own world of paranoia, but sadly, this is precisely the kind of divisive rhetoric that has come to define House Republicans."

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Senate Democrats' campaign arm on Tuesday began a $3.6 million ad blitz against Republican Tom Cotton as one of the longest and most intense Senate races in the nation moved toward the final stretch.

A year after Cotton, a freshman congressman, announced his plan to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, the two candidates and the outside groups involved in the race have already spent nearly $18 million, according to the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation, with much more to come.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's new ad buy targets Cotton over his vote against funding pediatric research at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Democrats charge that the conservative Republican has failed to support federal programs important to Arkansas.

Cotton, meanwhile, over the weekend launched a six-figure television ad buy trying to cast Pryor as soft on immigration  an issue Republicans hope to focus on more during the August recess.

Cotton's campaign called the ad attacking him "patently false." Pryor's camp has accused Cotton's spot of misrepresenting his record on border security.

But the lines of attack in the campaign have long been set. Neither candidate faced a primary opponent in the race, which is seen as crucial to Republicans' effort to gain the six seats needed to win control of the Senate. Cotton and Republicans have repeatedly tried to tie Pryor to the president, who remains unpopular in Arkansas, and his signature health care law.

Pryor is "still a lockstep, rubber stamp vote for Barack Obama," Cotton said in an interview. "That's the one thing that hasn't changed about Mark Pryor over the last six years."

Pryor, a two term senator and the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, said the past year has only confirmed his portrayal of Cotton as out of step with the state on issues such as Medicare and the Farm Bill.

"His voting record continues to be what it is, and it's not good for Arkansas," Pryor told the AP earlier this week. "He really prioritizes the interests of his billionaire backers over the people of Arkansas. You see it all over the place."

Both candidates will campaign across the state during the August congressional recess.

"This just has all the hallmark signs of an epic battle to the end, whether television viewers want it or not," said Janine Parry, a political science professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Pryor said he thinks voters are "tired of this race already."

However, he said, "One thing you see is you see all the outside money coming in, but that really hasn't seemed to change the dynamics of the race." Pryor said.

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A major Jewish rights group has called out Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for what they allege is inciting fear and violence against Jews in the South American nation in the midst of a bloody war in the Gaza Strip.

Bnai Brith International asked Maduro and other Venezuelan officials to cease making inflammatory remarks against Israel, including ones that accused Israel of a war of extermination against the Palestinian people, and reportedly comparing Israels incursion into the Gaza Strip to the Nazis at Auschwitz concentration camp.

While Maduro is a strong supporter of a Palestinian state, Bnai Brith claims that the Venezuelan leader has gone too far and his remarks have sparked anti-Semitic graffiti in Caracas, attacks against Jews on social media and a Jewish newspapers website being hacked.

The comparison of Gaza to Auschwitz alone is a dangerous trope and an outrageous falsehood. When Maduro combines these explosive comments with his own state-media machine and a dangerous political agenda, it creates an alarming situation for the Jewish community in Venezuela, Bnai Brith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said in a statement. Bnai Brith expresses its solidarity with the Venezuelan Jewish community. We will continue to call attention to and monitor the hate-filled environment that Maduro is intent on fostering.

Bnai Brith also criticized the Maduro government for ignoring the Israeli soldiers and civilians killed by rockets fried by the pro-Palestinian group Hamas and added that Maduro is perpetuating hatred against Jews in Venezuela.

Bnai Brith, and the Jewish community as a whole, has always been concerned with the Venezuelan governments incendiary statements and actions against Israel. But in recent weeks weve seen Maduro promoting a whole new level of hatred, Bnai Brith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. The climate he has created is dangerous to the Jews in his country and wholly out of line with a governments duty to protect its citizens.

Maduro may be the most vocal state leader when it comes to criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza, but there is growing anti-Israeli sentiment throughout Latin America as the death toll in the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to mount. Nearly 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict  many of them civilians killed in air strikes - while Israel has lost 67 people, including three civilians.

Last weekend, thousands of Chileans took to the streets of the capital, Santiago, to protest Israel's operation in Gaza and urging President Michelle Bachelet to break off diplomatic relations with Israel.

"We are asking President Michelle Bachelet to expel Israel's ambassador, and to end ties with Israel. We want the world to know Chileans have stood against this Israeli massacre," said Mauricio Abu-Gosh, head of the Palestinian Association of Chile, according to the Jewish Voice.

Bolivian President Evo Morales last week labeled Israel a terrorist state and during a meeting on Tuesday of the regional trade bloc Mercosur, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela  four of the blocs five members  condemned the disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, which in the majority affects civilians, including children and women.

This came a week after Brazil and Chile called out the use of force by Israel in Gaza, marking a sharp contrast from previous battles between Israeli and pro-Palestinian forces.

Chile, El Salvador and Peru have all called home their ambassadors following similar moves earlier in July by both Brazil and Ecuador.

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President Barack Obama said Wednesday that the administration is reviewing what authority he has to act without Congress on a number of issues, including immigration and American companies reincorporating overseas to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes, a practice he has denounced as unpatriotic and has asked lawmakers to remedy.

The House blocked consideration of a comprehensive immigration bill the Senate passed last year, but recently passed a measure that seeks swifter deportations of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America who have entered the U.S. in the past year. That bill also would provide a fraction of the $3.7 billion Obama requested to address the border crisis.

"My preference would be an actual comprehensive immigration law, and we already have a bipartisan law that would solve a whole bunch of these problems," Obama said, referring to the Senate legislation. "Until that happens, I'm going to have to make choices. That's what I was elected to do."

Obama said he would prefer to sign legislation into law to keep the practice of companies reincorporating in countries from becoming more widespread. But lawmakers disagree on how to accomplish that, making it highly unlikely that the legislative fix Obama wants will emerge before November's House and Senate elections.

"The American people don't want me just standing around twiddling my thumbs and waiting for Congress to get something done," said Obama, who is approaching the final two years of his presidency and is eager to build on his legislative achievements.

Republicans have criticized Obama for acting on his own in a broad range of areas, from raising the minimum wage for federal contractors to delaying the implementation of certain aspects of his signature health care law. And the GOP-controlled House recently authorized a lawsuit against him on the issue.

But Obama suggested he's willing to risk further angering his political opponents, particularly on corporate taxes, a pocketbook issue that Democrats believe could be a vote-getter come November. He commented at a news conference at the conclusion of a three-day summit with African leaders.

"We're reviewing all of our options," Obama said. "The lost revenue to Treasury means it has got to be made up somewhere, and that typically is going to be a bunch of hard-working Americans who either pay through higher taxes themselves or through reduced services."

Obama said he will continue to use his executive authority to help make people's lives better wherever he can and when Congress won't act.

"That's what I think the American people expect me to do," he said.

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President Juan Manuel Santos took the oath for his second term Thursday and promised to redouble his efforts to end Colombia's half-century war amid a renewed wave of rebel violence that has put peace talks at risk.

Santos, a 62-year-old economist, narrowly defeated a conservative challenger to win another four-year term by framing their June runoff as a choice between war and peace.

"I will employ all of my energies to fulfill this mandate for peace," Santos, wearing a dove pin on his lapel, said in a closely watched 45-minute speech.

Analysts agree that the negotiations launched in 2012 in Cuba offer the best chance in decades for striking a deal to end the bloody conflict, which has killed more than 200,000 people, the majority of them civilians.

Still, a number of obstacles remain, including frustration over the guerrillas' refusal to halt attacks and fierce opposition by former President Alvaro Uribe, who was recently elected to the Senate with a record number of votes.

Santos in his inaugural speech didn't outline any initiatives or suggest ways around the thorny issues likely to dominate the final stages of talks, such as how to grant political rights to senior rebel commanders accused of violating international humanitarian law and wanted in the United States on drug-trafficking charges.

Instead, he repeated a warning that the talks could fall apart if the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia continue to carry out attacks as they have in recent weeks.

"The patience of Colombia and the international community isn't infinite," Santos said.

As if to emphasize how difficult the road to peace remains, the Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that rebels who have committed atrocious war crimes won't be allowed to hold office after handing over their weapons.

Thursday's inauguration was attended by heads of state from across Latin America as well as former King Juan Carlos of Spain, making his first official trip abroad since abdicating in favor of his son, Prince Felipe.

There was one notable absence: Uribe, who helped elect Santos four years ago, skipped the ceremony along with allied lawmakers to protest what he contends was Santos' abuse of power to get re-elected and the scheduled presence of Venezuela's socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. However, Maduro cancelled at the last minute.

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With midterm elections around the corner, and the 2016 presidential campaign season starting to kick into gear, Republican politicians are once again looking for a way to woo Latino voters to the ballot box in their favor. And one way they hope to draw in their votes is by looking south.

Some GOP leaders in Washington have hindered the party's relationship with the Hispanic bloc by comparing the current situation with the influx of Central American migrants as an invasion and passing legislation to accelerate the deportation of the unaccompanied children. Others, however, realizing the Latino vote cost them the White House in 2012, are making forays into Latin America in an attempt to connect with that vital demographic.

New Jersey Governor and prospective Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie will head to Mexico next month to meet with President Enrique Pena Nieto, strengthen business ties and talk to cultural leaders. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, another GOP presidential hopeful, will soon set off for Guatemala and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wants Mexico to open its first-ever consulate in the Midwestern state.

Republican Congressional leaders have heavily criticized the administration of President Barack Obama for its handling of the so-called border crisis. Tens of thousands of migrants from the violence-plagued countries of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have arrived at the U.S.s southern border in the last year, setting up what has been labelled as both a humanitarian and political nightmare.

Bucking the popular sentiments of the Republican-held House, Christie, Paul, Walker and some other potential presidential candidates are looking to build bridges rather than burn them with the Latino community with these Latin American sojourns.

Its become painfully obvious that these guys are thinking bigger than those in Congress, Hector V. Barreto, who has advised every Republican presidential campaign since 2000, told the New York Times. They really do need to disassociate themselves from the party in Washington.

Christies trip, while officially billed as a trade and diplomatic mission, will be a high-profile foreign visit for a man who has little international affairs experience but looks to build on the Hispanic support that he holds in New Jersey. In his last gubernatorial run, Christie garnered 51 percent of the Latino vote.

Christie, who has been the most open GOP politician in terms of the border crisis and his White House hopes, said during a visit to Iowa in July that he would consider requests to help unaccompanied immigrant children who come to New Jersey, but would not encourage families to send them to his home state.

"I have great empathy for that situation," Christie told reporters when asked about the influx of immigrant children. "We'll take every request that comes based on its merits and make those decisions," he said, calling Americans an "empathetic people."

"We don't like to see people suffer," he added.

Paul is taking a different kind of trip to Guatemala.

Instead of courting local businessmen and political leaders, the Kentucky lawmaker will arrive in the Central American nation in mid-August with a team of Utah medical experts who will treat poor rural residents with eye problems, most of them cataracts. Paul will also meet with President Otto Perez Molina to discuss the exodus of thousands of children from his country fleeing violence and coming to the U.S.

Meanwhile, immigration doesnt appear to be major a talking point as members of the Republican National Committee meet this week in Chicago.

For all their success in making the administrative changes called for in the RNC's post-2012 election autopsy, including imposing strict new penalties on states that violate the party's nominating schedule, the party's members of Congress have not yet moved on its only policy recommendation on immigration.

"In order for our party to grow, we need to have a comprehensive response on immigration," New Hampshire Republican National Committee member Steve Duprey said. "Even though this session's been disappointing, I think there's still room for progress."

There was little to no talk Thursday at the RNC meeting about the recommendation made last year by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. It concluded that addressing the fate of the millions of people living in the United States illegally is essential to making the GOP more appealing to the younger and racially diverse voters who sided with President Barack Obama in 2012.

Republicans in Congress have been unable to come together themselves on the issue. Last week, a small number of unyielding conservatives delayed by a day an effort by House Republicans to pass a immigration bill  one far short of the recommended comprehensive overhaul  before the start of the annual August recess.

But for every RNC member who is frustrated by the failure of Republicans to agree on how to move ahead on immigration, there's another who call such failure is "irrelevant."

"Our party is trying to share insight and send it to policy makers," said former Michigan Republican National Committeeman Saul Anuzis. "There are a lot of RNC resolutions that never become law."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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President Barack Obama on Saturday proposed a broader long-term strategy to confront Islamic militants in Iraq, who have surprised U.S. intelligence with the fast pace of their approach on the Kurdish capital of Irbil.

Obama warned Americans that the new campaign to bring security in Iraq requires military and political changes and "is going to be a long-term project." He wouldn't give a timetable for how long the U.S. military involvement would last, saying it depends on Iraq's political efforts.

"I don't think we are going to solve this problem in weeks," Obama said. "I think this is going to take some time."

The president said Iraqi security forces need to revamp to effectively mount an offensive, which requires a government in Baghdad that the Iraqi military and people have confidence in. Obama said Iraq needs a prime minister  an indication that he believes he's written off the legitimacy of the incumbent, Nouri al-Maliki.

Obama said he won't close the U.S. embassy in Baghdad or the consulate in Irbil, which means American troops and diplomats will remain on the ground. He said where U.S. personnel are threatened, it's his obligation as commander in chief to protect them.

The president said humanitarian efforts continue to airdrop food and water to persecuted religious minorities stranded on a mountaintop, and he said planning was underway for how to get them down.

Obama made his comments and took a few questions from reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, just before boarding Marine One for his summer vacation on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts.

"I'm ready to not have a suit on for a while," Obama told reporters as he headed back into the White House before quickly boarding the helicopter.

The president repeated that the U.S. is not going to have U.S. combat troops in Iraq again. "We are going to maintain that because we should have learned a lesson from our long and immensely costly incursion into Iraq," Obama said.

He dismissed the suggestion that the new military action in Iraq might make him regret pulling out troops in the first place. He said the departure of U.S. troops was the Iraqi government's call because it failed to agree to legal immunity for American forces, which was the condition for them to stay.

Obama said that even had U.S. troops remained, their presence would not have made much of a difference if the Iraqi government had followed the same political course of failing to incorporate the Sunni minority.

"The only difference is we would have a bunch of troops on the ground that would be vulnerable," Obama said.

"So that entire analysis is bogus and is wrong, but gets frequently peddled around here by folks who oftentimes are trying to defend previous policies that they themselves made," Obama said.

The president said there's "no doubt" the Islamic State's advance Irbil "has been more rapid than the intelligence estimates." But he said the airstrikes have destroyed the militants' arms and equipment.

U.S. military jets launched several airstrikes Friday on isolated targets, including two mortar positions and a vehicle convoy. U.S. officials announced Friday night the second airdrop of food and water in as many days for the imperiled refugees.

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Sounding like he's almost made up his mind to run again for president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday told a national audience of conservatives that it's time for a rebellion against a "power-hungry, oppressive" Barack Obama.

Hours later, fellow Texan and tea party firebrand Sen. Ted Cruz edged closer to confirming that he too may mount a 2016 White House run, saying that as many as 15 Republicans are mulling one and hinting that he soon could be one of them. Cruz had previously largely ducked such questions, saying only that his focus was "100 percent on the U.S. Senate."

Both Perry and Cruz landed plum speaking slots at RedState's Gathering in Fort Worth, with the governor helping open the influential conservative blog's annual conference and the senator keynoting an evening session. The pair could eventually find themselves competing for the same slice of the GOP electorate, fiercely religious and social conservatives energized by an intense mistrust of Obama.

"Thomas Jefferson was right when he said, 'A little rebellion now and then is a good thing,'" Perry said told the RedState crowd to cries of "A-men!" ''And now, faced with another power-hungry, oppressive ruler in a faraway place, it's time for us to start a little rebellion."

He stopped short of calling for Obama's impeachment, though, saying, "This war that we will fight will be on the battlefield of ideas."

But the reception from hundreds of attendees was far more raucous for Cruz, who RedState founder Erick Erickson introduced as "the leader of the conservative movement in the United States of America" and who got a standing ovation before his speech even started. Cruz also was later compared to all four Beatles rolled into one, and to one of America's Founding Fathers. He even watched as those gathered bowed their heads in prayer for him.

In subsequent comments to reporters, Cruz downplayed any political tension with his potential Texas presidential rival: "I have always been a big fan of Gov. Perry's." He wouldn't say he'd run for president or if he thought Perry should, but conceded, "I think Republicans should nominate whoever's standing up and leading."

"By all accounts there are 10, 12, 15 people that seem to be thinking about running. What I would encourage each and every one of them to do is stand up and lead," he said. Asked if he was one of those, Cruz responded, "Only time will tell."

Cruz outshining Perry at political gatherings is a relatively new phenomenon. In 2011, Perry used RedState's national convention in South Carolina to kick off his presidential campaign  and Cruz, at the time just an underdog Senate candidate, was among the undercard speakers.

Perry's 2012 presidential campaign saw him rocket briefly to front-runner status only to plummet to political punchline following his "Oops" moment during a debate, when he forgot the third federal department he'd promised to scuttle if elected. Since then, Perry has remade his cowboy image, donning stylish glasses, studying up on domestic and foreign policy and saying he's far humbler about his ability to cope with the national spotlight.

The governor's chief selling point will be his state's white-hot economy, and he said Friday that 35 percent of the nation's new, private-sector jobs had been created in Texas since he became governor in December 2000. He also, though, has garnered headlines nationally by recently deploying 1,000 National Guard troops to the Texas-Mexico border amid an influx of unaccompanied Central American children fleeing violence and pouring into the U.S.

"If this president will not act to secure the border, as the governor of Texas, I will," Perry said, drawing a standing ovation at RedState.

On that point, Cruz agreed, blaming the Obama administration's "lawlessness" in extending false hopes of amnesty for the surge of immigrant children. Both Texans also concluded their speeches borrowing a line from Ronald Reagan: "Let's make America once again that shining city on a hill."

Both Perry and Cruz were heading from Fort Worth to Iowa for an event sponsored by The Family Leader, a conservative advocacy group. Iowa opens presidential voting, and both Texans have visited the state nearly every weekend of late.

Still, not everyone is ready to get behind Cruz.

"Between Perry and Cruz, I'll take Perry," said Michael Lee Pimberton, a conference attendee from Radcliff, Kentucky, and a retired Army veteran. He said Cruz "is extraordinary" but since the senator was born in Canada, he's not sure he qualifies to be president.

Still, former South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, now president of the Heritage Foundation, said both are on the presidential radars of conservatives nationwide "but Cruz more than Perry."

"He's very inspirational," said DeMint, a longtime Cruz supporter. "His willingness to fight the system from the inside has really inspired people."

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The ad war Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor and Republican Rep. Tom Cotton are waging over border security highlights just how much the GOP is counting on the immigration issue to boost their odds in the fight for an Arkansas Senate seat. It also shows how much Democrats are willing to engage on the issue.

The influx of thousands of young immigrants across the Mexican border and the fight in Washington over how to address it gives Cotton a chance to revive a topic he cited as one of his top concerns when he launched his bid to unseat Pryor a year ago. He's getting help from fellow Republicans in his home state, who are opening a multi-front push that includes visits to the border and raising the prospect of legislative hearings as they try to keep the issue in the forefront over the August recess.

Based on Arkansas' history, it's far from certain whether it's a strategy that will offer gains.

Immigration has offered mixed results for Arkansas politicians on both sides of the debate. Efforts at the state level to push for new restrictions by barring many state services to those in the country illegally have fizzled before the state Legislature. But so have repeated attempts to allow the state to charge in-state college tuition to the children of those here illegally.

The debate between Pryor and Cotton focuses primarily on the immigration overhaul measure approved by the Senate last year that most agree has no hope of ever being considered in the House. Cotton had spoken out against the measure before he launched his bid against Pryor, penning a column in the Wall Street Journal opposing the bill last summer, and he's regularly referred to it as amnesty.

The measure creates a pathway to citizenship over 13 years for millions of immigrants in the country unlawfully, but also sets out a series of requirements for securing the border that must be met first.

Cotton has continued focusing his criticism on Pryor's vote on that measure, with his latest television ad and comments suggesting the latest influx can be blamed in part on the immigration reform bill. Cotton said immigration is the top issue that comes up when he talks to voters around the state.

"It's not surprising when you announce to the world that you're about to give amnesty to anyone inside the United States that people outside the United States start streaming across your border," Cotton told The Associated Press before the ad began airing. "That was the utterly predictable consequence of that legislation along with the president's policies."

Pryor has pushed back against the ad, moving quickly to put up his own spot defending the immigration reform measure and featuring a quote from Republican Sen. John McCain  an author of the Senate-backed immigration bill  saying it's not intellectually honest to call the measure amnesty.

Pryor is defending the bill while he's also distancing himself from President Barack Obama's possible use of executive orders to address immigration.

"I'm not for government by executive order. (The president) needs to work with Congress, he needs to show some leadership, bring people together, get this done in a bipartisan way, find ways through this," Pryor told AP last week. "That's part of being president, lead the nation and lead to a solution."

While Pryor and Cotton wrangle over immigration, other GOP figures are also focusing on the issue. U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin and Sen. John Boozman have made separate trips to the U.S.-Mexico border, while state Sen. Bart Hester sent a letter to the governor asking for details about unaccompanied minors being placed in Arkansas. In the letter, Hester also hinted at the possibility of legislative hearings on the issue.

With Hispanics making up a small percentage of the state's voting age population, focusing on border security may offer less risks for Republicans in Arkansas than on a national level.

Advocates of immigration reform are still holding out hope that there can be a way to address the issue despite the political wrangling.

"I'm optimistic that people in Washington will wake up and acknowledge the need and potential impact on the economy," said Randy Zook, president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce. "Even if it's just a little bit. Any progress would be welcomed at this point and is badly needed."

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The lineup of potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates courting Iowa conservatives Saturday agreed on two things: America is on the wrong track and they could move it in the right direction.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and past caucus winners Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee addressed more than 1,000 evangelical voters at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames. Though the state's kickoff caucuses are over a year away, all wanted to impress Christian conservative voters, who traditionally influence the caucuses because they tend to be organized and motivated to participate.

Cruz, a tea party darling, repeatedly drew listeners to their feet with a fiery speech that took shots at President Barack Obama and extoled traditional Christian values.

"We need to stand unambiguously for the commonsense conservative principles shared by the vast majority of Americans," Cruz said as he criticized the national health care law, national education standards and other initiatives disliked by many conservatives.

"We need to stand for life," he said. "We need to stand for marriage. We need to abolish the IRS. We need to appeal Obamacare. We need to repeal Common Core."

With a wide field of possible contenders, this group of voters has not settled on a favored candidate. Some potential candidates skipped the gathering. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who toured the state this week, provided an anti-abortion video. But New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker have spent little time in Iowa.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad recently led an effort to install new leadership in the state party and to bring more traditional Republicans into the fold, in hopes of making the state more attractive to mainstream candidates.

But the expected turnout at the summit shows the faith vote remains powerful. The candidates largely emphasized conservative principles, like opposition to abortion and gay marriage, reducing the size of government and curtailing illegal immigration. Most stressed their support for Israel's government and questioned Obama's foreign policies.

Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and the last to speak, focused on foreign policy, accusing the administration of not supporting Israel and arguing that the U.S. should provide arms to Iraq's Kurds.

"If we had good sense we would arm the Kurds as we said we would. We gave them nothing, not so much as a BB gun," Huckabee said.

Cruz also used the occasion to question Obama's foreign policy decisions. He told reporters that if Obama continues military engagement in Iraq, the president should seek congressional approval.

The crowd responded warmly to Perry when he repeated his criticism of Obama's response to the recent flood of unaccompanied child immigrants that has overwhelmed authorities in Texas. He drew a standing ovation for repeating his credo: "If you will not secure the border of our country, then the state of Texas will."

Meanwhile, Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania, took a different approach, telling the crowd that the Republican Party needs to better appeal to working-class voters, calling it the "party of the average person."

Drawing the most laughter was Jindal's speech, which featured anecdotes about his immigrant parents and the birth of his kids, feeling at times like an introduction to voters. Still, he got a rousing response to comments about changing leadership in Washington.

"The people have had enough and we're ready to take our country back. We don't need incremental change. We need big change. They better get out of the way," Jindal said.

While there are many months until the caucuses, any serious 2016 prospect must pay attention to these religious voters, said Jamie Johnson, a pastor from Stratford who served as an adviser to Santorum in 2012.

"The Christian community, which is passionate about two issues  abortion and traditional marriage  they're going to come to the caucuses," Johnson said. "To ignore Christian conservatives in Iowa is to say, 'I'm not interested in winning.'"

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Looking to make inroads with the rising number of Hispanic voters, conservative activists are offering English classes, health checkups and courses to help Spanish-speakers earn high school diplomas.

The move is an effort to patch a hole in the GOP coalition that could spell a generation of irrelevance if Republicans cannot build credibility with Hispanic voters, who have tended to vote Democratic. The fast-growing minority group could hold tremendous sway in American politics for years to come, and some party elders have acknowledged their struggle to win over Hispanic voters.

The Libre Initiative, which pushes a message of limited government and economic freedom between lessons on how to build family-run businesses and prayer breakfasts with Hispanic pastors. Its organizers pitch conservative ideals while offering tutorials on U.S. immigration law, support for overhauling the immigration system and collecting donations for the unaccompanied children crossing the United States-Mexico border illegally.

"We've gone to areas that other conservative organizations don't typically go," said Libre's Texas director Rafael Bejar, who helped distribute candy-packed Easter baskets at a San Antonio elementary school. Tucked in with the sweets: a pamphlet in English and Spanish noting that the national debt is approaching $17 trillion.

While some conservatives are staging protests over the waves of immigrant children pouring into the United States, Libre is working with a Tucson, Arizona, church to collect donations for the children being held at federal sites. A similar effort in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the epicenter for the immigration surge, is on deck.

Libre, which funded in part by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch, now has operations in eight states in the hope Hispanics will repay conservatives with their votes. Organizers already have 3,000 Texas volunteers, and similar undertakings in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia.

On a recent, sweltering Thursday, Pastor Marcus Burgos wore a blue T-shirt stenciled with #BeLibre as he helped distribute food in a rough corner of northwest San Antonio. Needy families picked up cartloads of tortillas, watermelons and frozen pizzas  along with bilingual Libre pamphlets.

"My belief is that their prosperity, when it comes, will benefit the entire community," said Burgos, whose Abundant Life Church of God offers services in English and Spanish and occupies a former supermarket inside a strip mall.

One of those taking home food was 45-year-old Elda Guevara, a mother of three and a loyal Democrat. She said she wasn't ready to switch parties  but some of what she saw made sense.

"If they support immigration changes so that more people can get their papers in order, then I'm with them," said Guevara, on medical leave from her job as a cook.

In 2004, Hispanic voters were 8 percent of the electorate. By 2012, they represented 10 percent of all voters. At the same time, they became friendlier to Democrats. Republican President George W. Bush's re-election bid captured 44 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2004, while Democrat Barack Obama won 71 percent eight years later.

An internal Republican National Committee report after the 2012 elections urged the party to consider more inclusive language about immigrants and Hispanics. The RNC paid for Hispanic operatives in California, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

In Texas, that means $50,000 per month to the state party, allowing it to hire seven organizers focused on finding and recruiting Hispanics, especially those registered to vote.

"People, they tell me that, 'I see Republicans as rich old men handling everything,'" said 23-year-old Crystal Rodriguez, who represents the Texas GOP in heavily Democratic El Paso. "But then they meet me, and they learn that's not true."

Meanwhile, Libre is trying to turn the conversation to the Affordable Care Act. Hispanics historically lack health insurance but haven't enrolled in the numbers that the Obama administration had hoped.

Looking to capitalize on the skepticism, Libre has run ads against Rep. Pete Gallego, a Texas Democrat who represents the San Antonio and El Paso suburbs and whose district is 71 percent Hispanic. In Arizona, Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is being criticized for voting in favor of the health care law, and Libre has similarly blasted Rep. Joe Garcia of Florida with Spanish-language television ads.

Not everyone is convinced.

Abundant Life Church of God volunteer Dora Cantu was wearing a Libre T-shirt as she handed out food and clothing  but said she had no use for its conservative ideology.

"If you put God first," Cantu said, "there's little room for politics."

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China tests 5th-generation fighter jet FC-31 Gyrfalcon

Published: December 27, 2016

China has successfully tested the latest version of its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet J-31 (now renamed the FC-31 Gyrfalcon).

The newest version of twin-engine FC-31 took to the air for the first time recently. It is considered as Chinas answer to the US F-35, the worlds most technically advanced fighter.

Key Facts

The newest FC-31 has better stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity than the previous version which debuted in October 2012

It is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC).

FC-31 has a maximum take-off weight of 28 metric tons, flight radius of 1,250 km, and top speed of Mach 1.8 (i.e. 1.8 times the speed of sound).

It can easily carry 8 tons of weapons, hold six missiles in its internal weapons bay, plus another six under its wings.

It also has been equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and helmet-mounted display. Some analysts say the FC-31 bears a close resemblance to the USs F-35.

Comment

China by introducing this fighter jet is trying to end the Wests monopoly on the worlds most advanced warplanes especially 5th generation fighter jet. When completed, the FC-31 will become the Chinas second 5th-generation fighter after the J-20, which was put on its first public performance at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2016.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2016

Topics: Defence  FC 31 Gyrfalcon  International  Stealth Fighter jets  Stealth Technology

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Thousands of miles from the U.S-Mexico border, three Republicans vying for their party's nomination for U.S. Senate in Alaska clashed on immigration Sunday night in a televised debate ahead of the Aug. 19 primary.

Both former Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan and Lt. Gov Mead Treadwell refused to sign a pledge offered by tea party favorite Joe Miller to oppose all efforts at "amnesty" for people here illegally if elected to the U.S. Senate, with Treadwell chastising Miller for sending out a mailer on immigration featuring menacing Hispanic gang members. Miller, in turn, noted that several of Sullivan's backers, like GOP strategist Karl Rove, favor allowing many of the 11 million immigrants in the country to eventually become citizens.

"It's because it's the truth," Miller said when challenged about the pictures on the flier. "This is real-world stuff."

Miller, an attorney who won the 2010 Republican Senate nomination but lost to Sen. Lisa Murkowski when she bested him in a general election write-in campaign, has been increasingly emphasizing immigration as he tries to break out of what most observers believe is third place in the heated primary fight. He has been highlighting his support from Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a well-known immigration hardliner.

Miller was also the only one of the three candidates who refused to commit to endorsing the winner of the Republican primary. That will continue to stoke speculation that he could run on a third-party ticket should he lose the primary, which could effectively hand the November election to incumbent Democrat Sen. Mark Begich.

The candidates also clashed over the economic stimulus, gun rights and campaign spending. Sullivan has raised almost four times as much money as Treadwell and has a super PAC backing him, enabling him to bombard the airwaves with advertising. Begich and his super PAC have also jumped into the fight, attacking Sullivan over his roughly seven-year absence from the state, when he was in Washington, D.C., working in the administration of President George W. Bush and serving with the military overseas.

Republicans need to net six Senate seats to win control of the chamber in November. Sullivan stressed the need for the GOP to regain power in Washington, focusing, as befits his presumed front-runner status, on Begich rather than his primary foes.

"Our country is fundamentally going in the wrong direction," said Sullivan, who is also a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Reserves. "The best way to change this is to beat Mark Begich and retire Harry Reid."

Treadwell stressed his 40 years in Alaska and said Sullivan didn't have enough experience to win in November. "Dollars don't vote here in Alaska, people do," he said in a dig at Sullivan's financial backers, "and I ask you to remember that we can't be bought."

Sullivan chided Treadwell for sitting on the board of a company that sold equipment to the federal government for stimulus projects. Treadwell responded that there was nothing wrong with the business selling to the federal government and noted that the paint-supply company run by Sullivan's family also received contracts under the stimulus.

Miller, meanwhile, had a tone of bemusement, saying that Treadwell had adopted so many of his positions from his failed 2010 bid that he wondered if the lieutenant governor would show up with a beard, a reference to Miller's facial hair. He noted he was the only non-millionaire in the race and boasted of building his own house in the Alaskan interior and feeding his family with the fish he caught in the state's rich waters.

On immigration, all three candidates bashed the Obama administration for failing to secure the border. Treadwell said he supported letting some people here illegally stay once they pay a fine and wait for permits behind those who immigrated legally. Sullivan called for more border security.

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A tall man dressed all in white marched up a Manhattan avenue Sunday, cheered by tens of thousands of people who left no doubt they would re-elect him as their governor.

Andrew Cuomo was a star of this year's Dominican Day Parade, flanked by two powerful politicians who are pitching for him  New York state Sen. Adriano Espaillat and former City Councilman Guillermo Linares, both of Dominican descent.

Under a blazing August sun, the Democratic governor shouted: "Que viva la Republica Dominicana!" And the crowds responded with the same words, meaning, "Long live the Dominican Republic!"

While waving Dominican flags in one hand, many clutched a Cuomo campaign sign in the other. The name of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino  Cuomo's Republican opponent in the fall election  appeared on a few T-shirts.

"It's a great pleasure to be here today," said Cuomo, who also wore a satin sash across his chest that read "Governor"  in case anyone didn't know. "One of the things that makes New York so special is its beautiful diversity, and the Dominican community is a big part of New York City, New York state, and it's been growing and growing."

More than 670,000 ethnic Dominicans live in New York state, according to the latest U.S. Census.

They showed up in full force as well as full throttle, ratcheting up the decibel levels of a quiet Sunday in Manhattan. A happy cacophony of sounds rocked the pavement  human voices shouting over the sirens of fire trucks and an ambulance showcased along with floats whose mammoth loudspeakers emitted ear-piercing music.

"It's crazy! So many people, so much loud music  but it's a good vibe," said Marleny Nunez, 22, a Long Island nurse born on the Caribbean island.

She stood behind police barricades stretching up Sixth Avenue from 37th Street almost to Central Park. Tight security included New York Police Department officers with assault rifles.

Still, smiles lit up the crowd as the parade passed. The red, white and blue colors of the Dominican flag were splashed all over Fleming Alexander Brea, sweating inside a carnival costume that's become an emblem of the annual parade  the "diablo cojuelo" or "limping devil" character with huge, pointed teeth.

"I'm burning hot in this," said Brea, 54, of West New York, New Jersey. "But this parade means everything to me as a Dominican: motivation, energy, my body, my soul."

Nearby was Xiomara Cabrera, a 53-year-old Hunter College student from the Bronx, fanning out her long, flowery gown as she prepared to perform the merengue.

"Our Dominican parade serves another purpose: to teach ethnic Dominican children who were born here the dances they might not learn otherwise," said Cabrera, a member of the Ballet Quisqueya dance troupe.

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One of five cities bidding for the Democratic National Convention, Philadelphia appears to hold an early edge with a track record of hosting the major gathering  not to mention that Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden have family ties to the state.

The original U.S. capital and now the nation's fifth largest city, Philadelphia touts its historical significance. It has hosted the presidential nominating convention seven times since 1856, most recently the Republican one in 2000.

Also vying for the 2016 convention are Birmingham, Alabama; New York City's Brooklyn borough; Columbus, Ohio; and Phoenix  each hoping to host its first presidential convention.

"I do think that Philadelphia has a very good chance of getting it," said former DNC Chairman Joe Andrew, who guided the party's selection of convention cities from 1996 to 2004 and supports the city's bid. He noted that Philadelphia was a front-runner for the 2000 Democratic convention, but Republicans picked it first.

A perennial swing state with 20 electoral votes, Pennsylvania more recently has trended liberal, due in part to Hispanic immigration and other population growth in Philadelphia and its suburbs that have balanced out GOP-leaning voters elsewhere. Democratic presidential candidates have carried the state since 1992.

"Philadelphia has a strong bid based on great mechanics, and there's no question that Democrats would like to nail down Pennsylvania," Andrew said. He said Clinton's and Biden's family ties to Pennsylvania will likely be "a consideration."

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean, who presided over Democrats' choice of Denver in 2008, also rated the city as a top contender. "Philadelphia would be a successful host," he said.

DNC members were visiting Brooklyn early this week before heading to the City of Brotherly Love on Wednesday to review potential venues, hotels and transportation options for the estimated 50,000 delegates, party activists and media expected for the convention.

City officials said they planned a full schedule of events, including stops at the Liberty Bell and Pat's Steaks for Philadelphia's famous cheesesteaks, as well as a candelight tour of Independence Hall. Visits to the other cities in contention are to be completed by mid-September.

The Obama White House also will weigh in on the final selection, with a decision not expected until later this year or early in 2015.

"We're very hopeful about our chances," said former DNC chairman Ed Rendell, a former Pennsylvania governor and Philadelphia mayor who is helping guide the 2016 bid.

The city's media market covers large parts of New Jersey, a potential factor if New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, runs for president. Democrat Hillary Clinton's father was born in Scranton, and daughter Chelsea's mother-in-law, Marjorie Margolies, lives in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Biden grew up in Scranton and often touts his middle-class Pennsylvania roots.

DNC officials have stressed that a city must meet logistical requirements  fundraising, ample hotel rooms and local transportation before political factors such as swing-state status, a city's diversity and strong labor relationships are considered.

"We are focused right now on the technical aspects," said DNC spokeswoman Lily Adams.

Philadelphia boosters are emphasizing their convention experience and space with the Wells Fargo Center and the recently expanded Philadelphia Convention Center. Officials say they'll be able to handle the $55 million to $60 million price tag and provide ample security.

The national convention is a major boon to the host city, bringing national media attention and up to $200 million for the local economy.

The city that is also home to Benjamin Franklin's legacy, the movie hero Rocky and a growing restaurant scene is promising a "walkable experience" of culture, downtown hotels, food and history, compared to two contenders that it considers as its main rivals, Brooklyn and Columbus.

Brooklyn offers itself as a hip, national symbol of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's liberalism. It has strong fundraising ability and is in a state Clinton represented as U.S. senator. But it has just 3,500 hotel rooms in the borough  convention officials are seeking 17,000 within a close drive  meaning many attendees would need to stay in other boroughs such as Manhattan, potentially straining public transit.

Columbus promotes itself as a fast-growing swing city in the hard-fought battleground of Ohio. After the Republican National Committee selected Cleveland to host its convention, the mayor cautioned that Democrats risked losing Ohio in 2016 if they didn't pick Columbus.

Columbus's bid has at times stirred the competitive instincts of Pennsylvania boosters.

After initially criticizing Columbus and its bid, U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-Pa., has more recently focused on Philadelphia's strengths.

"Philadelphia has much more to offer," Brady said.

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Cuba marked Fidel Castro's 88th birthday Wednesday with tributes in official media, a concert and a photo exhibit in the capital and a newly inaugurated restoration of the home where he was born.

Loathed by many exiles in Florida who see him as a man who ruled with an iron fist and stamped out civil liberties, Castro was celebrated on the island as a fighter for equality and social justice who defied the United States for five decades.

"Eighty-eight more reasons to continue fighting for the salvation of humanity," read a headline in the newspaper Juventud Rebelde.

"Paying homage to Fidel is a great party," Communist Party daily Granma said.

Castro retired for good in 2008 following a near-fatal illness, ceding power to his younger brother and designated successor, Raul, who turned 83 in June. The younger Castro says he intends to leave office by the time his current term is up in 2018, and last year he named a next-generation heir-apparent in First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Fidel Castro rarely appears in public these days, and in recent years has not taken part in official celebrations of his birthday. Still, the milestone was another reminder that the clock is ticking for aging revolutionaries who continue to occupy many top positions.

"Eighty-eight years, that's a lot, and in a way the advanced age of the majority of the leaders is worrying," said Frank Jimenez, a 67-year-old retiree in Havana. "With the exception of Diaz-Canel, they're around 80 years old. I think they should have prepared more young people ... they need that to move forward."

The photo exhibit, titled "Fidel is Fidel," is a collection of images of Fidel Castro taken between 2005 and 2012 by Roberto Chile, who had access to the Cuban leader for more than 25 years.

It opened Tuesday evening at Havana's memorial to independence hero Jose Marti. Revolution-era figures such as Jose Ramon Fernandez, Guillermo Garcia Frias and Armando Hart attended, as did famed Cuban ballerina Alicia Alonso.

Island officials said a parallel show was put on in a gallery in Berlin.

Cuban newspaper Trabajadores said the restoration of Castro's birth home in Biran, in the eastern province of Holguin, was carried out by the Havana Historian's Office and workers from a state-run construction concern.

The touch-up at the rural estate also included several other structures such as the family pantheon where Fidel and Raul Castro's parents were laid to rest, a school where they studied as young boys and huts where Haitian plantation workers lived.

Despite being out of power and out of the limelight, Castro still casts a long shadow.

He meets regularly with visiting foreign dignitaries, most recently presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and China's Xi Jinping.

Castro has also continued to author newspaper columns that usually touch on world current events such as the Ukraine crisis and a recent summit of BRICS nations in Brazil.

Last week, state media published a piece in which Castro sharply criticized Israel's offensive in Gaza, calling it a "genocide that is being committed against the Palestinians" and warning of a "Palestinian Holocaust."

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Government officials decided to release more than 2,000 immigrants facing deportation in 2013 strictly for budget reasons and didn't tell the Homeland Security secretary about the plan, according to an oversight report.

The lack of communication led the Obama administration to wrongly deny for weeks that 2,228 immigrants facing deportation had been released, according to a harshly critical, 41-page report Tuesday from the Homeland Security Department's inspector general.

The report also said officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement didn't adequately plan for the increase in immigrant arrests at the Mexican border and didn't track available funds or spending accurately.

The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment by phone and email from The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Citing internal budget documents, the AP reported on March 1, 2013, that the administration had released more than 2,000 immigrants in the preceding two weeks and planned to release 3,000 more amid the looming budget cuts. The White House and Homeland Security Department disputed AP's reporting until March 14, when the then-director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, John Morton, acknowledged to Congress during a hearing that the agency actually had released 2,228 people from immigration jails, starting Feb. 9, 2013, for what he described as "solely budgetary reasons."

At the time, Morton told lawmakers that the decision to release the immigrants was not discussed in advance with political appointees, including those in the White House and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. He said the pending automatic cuts known as sequestration were "driving in the background."

The inspector general, John Roth, confirmed Morton's explanation, concluding that senior ICE officials didn't inform Napolitano or the White House about the implications of the agency's budget shortfall and did not notify Napolitano about their plans to release the immigrants.

Napolitano said days after the AP published its story that the report was "not really accurate" and that it had developed "its own mythology."

"Several hundred are related to sequester, but it wasn't thousands," Napolitano said at the time.

It was not immediately clear why Napolitano did not correct her statements about the accuracy of AP's reporting between March 1 and two weeks later, when Morton acknowledged the releases.

Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and John McCain of Arizona asked the inspector general to investigate the agency's decision to release the immigrants. Roth said that because the releases had occurred the weekend before new budget restrictions were put in place, they generated speculation that the releases were improperly motivated.

The 2013 releases drew sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers, who have said the Obama administration hasn't done enough to address border security and wasn't properly enforcing immigration law.

Data published by the government in May of this year revealed that the Homeland Security Department released 36,007 convicted criminal immigrants in 2013 who are facing deportation, including those accounting for 193 homicide and 426 sexual assault convictions. The immigrants nearly all still face deportation and are required to check in with immigration authorities while their deportation cases are pending.

In his report, Roth concluded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials didn't anticipate the consequences of the 2013 budget-related releases and were unprepared to answer questions from Congress or the media.

Despite the missteps, Roth's report concluded that ICE officials in charge of actually releasing the immigrants "made reasonable decisions given the short timeframe."

Officials with ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, which is in charge of jailing immigrants facing deportation, repeatedly asked ICE Chief Financial Officer Radha Sekar for budget information in the months leading up to the mass releases but never got it. The result was that Enforcement and Removal Operations officials started deporting more immigrants to reduce its daily jail population, which led to more spending for charter flights, tickets on commercial flights for immigrants being deported and overtime costs for ICE officers to escort people back to their home countries.

The inspector general said ICE has yet to improve the communication or budget transparency problems that led to the releases, and he made four recommendations to avoid future problems, including creating a plan to give ICE's removal operations "reliable and transparent funding sources" to manage immigration jail bed space.

In a written response, Sekar said ICE agreed with the recommendations.

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Brazil's presidential race is in stunned disarray after one of the top three contenders was killed on the campaign trail when a small plane carrying him and aides crashed into a residential area in this port city.

Socialist politician Eduardo Campos and the six other people aboard the aircraft died in the accident Wednesday, which came less than two months ahead of the Oct. 4 presidential election.

President Dilma Rousseff, who opinion polls say leads the race, declared three days of official mourning for Campos and said she was suspending her campaign during that time. The other main candidate, Aecio Neves, also said he was putting his campaign on hold.

"Brazil is in mourning and reeling from a death that took the life of a promising young politician," Rousseff said in a solemn address. She said Campos had had "an extremely promising future ahead."

The 49-year-old scion of a powerful political family from the northeastern state of Pernambuco, Campos was a fixture on the Brazilian political scene since his youth, having served as state and federal representative and also as Pernambuco's governor. He had been allied with Rousseff and her Workers Party but broke away ahead of the presidential campaign. Opinion polls had said Campos was running in third place, behind Rousseff and Neves.

Campos was married to his high school sweetheart and the two had five children, the youngest of whom was born in January with Down Syndrome.

The candidate, four members of his campaign staff and two pilots were traveling from Rio de Janeiro to the city of Guaruja when the Cessna 560XL went down in nearby Santos around 10 a.m.

Aeronautical officials said the plane was trying to land in bad weather, although the Globo television network broadcast interviews with witnesses who said the aircraft was in flames before it crashed among apartment buildings. An investigation has been opened to determine the exact cause, Brazil's aeronautical agency said.

Television stations broadcast images of the crash site on a continuous loop, showing a smoldering pit littered with debris and what appeared to be plane parts and emergency workers picking through the wreckage.

Daniel Onias, a civil defense officer on the scene, said the victims' bodies were "disintegrated." Five people on the ground at the time of the crash were slightly injured, he said.

The accident sent shock waves through Brazil's political class and had pundits speculating about how it might affect the election.

Campos' running mate, former Environment Minister Marina Silva, is widely seen as one of Brazil's most popular politicians and a potential political threat to Rousseff. Brazilian law gives parties 10 days to choose a substitute in the case of a candidate's death, and it was thought likely that the Brazilian Socialist Party would choose Silva to step in for Campos.

Silva herself didn't give any hints about her political future. In a brief statement to reporters in Santos, a shaken Silva spoke solely about Campos and her relationship with him. Silva, who got 20 percent of the vote in the 2010 presidential election, joined Campos' ticket last October after she was unable to set up her own party in time to run against for president.

"During these 10 months of partnership, I learned to respect him, admire him and feel confidence in his attitudes and his ideals in life," she said in a soft, wavering voice. "This is, without a shadow of a doubt, a tragedy which plunges us into a profound sadness that I know that every single Brazilian is sharing with each and every one of us."

She rose from the microphone without taking questions.

David Fleischer, a political scientist at the University of Brasilia, said Campos' death was "bad news for Brazil and very bad news for Dilma."

Should Silva become the Socialists' candidate, she would likely pull votes away from Rousseff, forcing the race into a second round between the president and the No. 2 candidate, Neves, of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, Fleischer said. Silva's support of Neves in a runoff could threaten Rousseff's chances of re-election, he said.

Rousseff, the hand-picked successor of ex-President Silva, has seen her popularity flag in recent months amid popular dissatisfaction with slowing growth, high taxes and poor public services  although she has remained the strongest candidate. A survey by the Ibope polling agency released over the weekend said 38 percent of those questioned supported Rousseff, while 23 percent were for Neves and 9 percent backed Campos.

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Officials have closed the three shelters for unaccompanied immigrant children that were set up temporarily on military bases to cope with a surge of Central Americans illegally crossing the border.

Children were discharged Saturday from Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, and the shelter closed earlier this week, said Krista Piferrer, a spokeswoman for according to BCFS, a nonprofit group contracted to run the shelter.

The shelter at Fort Sill in southwest Oklahoma closed Aug. 6, said Kenneth Wolfe, the spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. The shelter at Naval Base Ventura County in California shut down Aug. 7, Wolfe told the Ventura County Star.

The shelters could be reopened if border crossings spike again, Wolfe previously said.

About 7,700 children were housed at the bases since shelters opened in May and early June. The average stay was 35 days.

Last week, government officials estimated that closing all three shelters would take between two to eight weeks.

From October to June, more than 57,000 unaccompanied children, mostly from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, have been caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

By law, unaccompanied child immigrants from countries that don't border the United States must be handed over to the Department of Health and Human Services within 72 hours of being detained. The government is responsible for caring for the children until they are united with a relative or sponsor in the U.S. while waiting for immigration court hearings to proceed.

The number of unaccompanied youth immigrants crossing the border alone has declined from about 2,000 per week in June to 500 per week in mid-July, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Federal officials cautioned that high summer temperatures typically result in a decrease in border crossings.

Up to 90,000 child immigrants could cross the border by the end of September, federal officials have said.

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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) condemned the arrest of journalists by police in Ferguson, Missouri, where tensions have been running high following the shooting of the unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.

"Reporters should never be detained  a free press is too important  simply for doing their jobs," The Hill quoted Cruz as saying.

"Civil liberties must be protected, but violence is not the answer. Once the unrest is brought to an end, we should examine carefully what happened to ensure that justice is served.

Cruz, a freshman in Congress, may run for president in 2016.

The two journalists who were detained, Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post and Ryan Reilly of The Huffington Post, said police arrested them Wednesday for not clearing out quickly enough from a McDonald's where they were working, near the protests but not close to the more volatile areas.

The two, who work for , were released without any charges. Both say they were assaulted but not seriously hurt.

Among those arrested was St. Louis Alderman Antonio French, who has been chronicling the protests on social media.

"I think the heavy-handed approach by police is escalating the situation and more people are going to get hurt if this keeps up," French told KMOX Radio.

The White House said President Barack Obama  who is on vacation on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard  was briefed late Wednesday on the situation in Ferguson by Attorney General Eric Holder and senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. Obama also condemned the arrests of the reporters during a Thursday press conference.

Meanwhile, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press expressed outrage over the arrest the journalists.

The unwarranted arrest of reporters from the Washington Post and Huffington Post in Ferguson, Mo., last night is outrageous and unacceptable in a nation that cherishes a free press, said Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Executive Director Bruce D. Brown in a statement on the groups website.

The right to record and report on police activities is a First Amendment right  and one essential to the journalists role as a watchdog and guardian of public accountability for law enforcement and other public officials, Brown said. That it should be so disregarded, particularly after the journalists identified themselves as members of the press, is almost unthinkable  yet it happened, and happened quite violently according to news reports.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar was said to have expressed shock over the journalists arrest when news organizations called him about it.

Even so, Belmar said that in general his officers have responded with "an incredible amount of restraint" as they've had rocks and bottles thrown at them, been shot at and had two dozen patrol vehicles destroyed.

Police had asked people to assemble in "an organized and respectful" manner and disperse before evening.

The city and county are also under criticism for refusing to release the name of the officer who shot Brown, citing threats against that officer and others.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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School districts in areas with large Latino populations are bracing for the arrival of a new crop of students who have been dominating national headlines  the Central American kids who have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in huge numbers.

From California to South Florida to Texas and others places in-between, the nearly 40,000 minors who have been placed with relatives or other guardians since arriving in the relatively recent influx across the border are expected in class in the coming weeks.

The children will be attending school while waiting to go through immigration court proceedings that will determine whether they get to remain in the United States or whether they will be sent back to their countries.

Some school districts, such as Miami-Dade County in Florida, already have received children, and have gotten a glimpse of the challenges that accompany this new student population.

"During the last quarter of last school year, we received about 300 students from Honduras. This was an indication of bigger things to come," said Miami-Dade County Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, according to WSVN in South Florida.

His district expects to get about 2,000 more kids.

"Now that these children are here, do you turn your backs on them or do you teach them?" said Carvalho. "We have both a moral and legal obligation of teaching them."

The district has asked for federal aid to help with the additional cost of serving the kids, who under U.S. laws have a right to a public education through 12th grade.

"For every single child that arrives here not speaking the language, poor and with psychological needs, we spend an excess of $1,950 per year," said Carvalho. "We are asking Congress to step in. Now that they are here, they need to financially support us, so that the burden is not only on the state and local taxpayers."

The Los Angeles Unified School District also is getting ready.

"I am planning for 1,000 this year, but I will know more when our doors open," L.A. Unified Supt. John Deasy said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "We welcome the new youth with open arms in LAUSD.

The Times said that federal agencies expect to handle some 60,000 minors who entered or will arrive in the United States without an adult guardian. Most are coming from Hondurans, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Some 7,500 typically came in annually before the number soared to 13,625 last year and about 25,000 in the current year.

The children come with many hurdles that the school districts must help them overcome. Those hurdles include language and cultural barriers, something educators often deal with in largely immigrant communities. But these students also come from some of the poorest and most dangerous regions in the world. Many have spent little or no time in classroom, and have experienced the psychological trauma of having witnessed murder or been threatened by street gangs that pressure them to join or die.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the agency that is handling the children once they are processed by Border Patrol, is supposed to be making sure the children are vaccinated before they are released from shelters.

The states that received the most children were Texas, with 5,280; New York, 4,244; and California, 3,909, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Francisco Negron, general counsel for the National School Board Association, told USA Today: "One of the challenges here, though, is the large number of unaccompanied minors. We don't know the educational background (of the students), if they've even been to school, the language issue and operational issues that could raise costs.

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A campaign mailer from a U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska that depicts undocumented immigrants as gang members is drawing criticism.

The mailer, from the campaign of Joe Miller, a Republican, shows what appear to be gang members, full of tattoos, and warns that the incumbent senator, Democrat Mark Begich, wants them to vote.

Miller is running in the Aug. 19 primary to be the Republican contender against Begich.

The mailer, according to the Alaska Dispatch News, went out to households over the recent weekend.

It said: If 20 million illegals vote, you can kiss the Second Amendment goodbye, according to various published reports. It added: Joe Miller is 100 percent pro gun, 100 percent against amnesty.

Begichs campaign accused Miller of trying to divert voters attention from more pressing, more relevant issues facing Alaskans.

The Dispatch News quoted a statement by Begich campaign spokesman Max Croes that said Miller was "spreading misinformation to avoid talking to Alaskans about Alaska issues."

It cited an immigration lawyer as saying that undocumented immigrants suspected of being gang members are deported and do not get the chance to legalize their status, much less to vote.

Last year, Begich cast a vote supporting a bipartisan Senate measure that called for a sweeping overhaul of immigration laws. The measure, which passed, included provisions for tightening border security, expanding guest worker visas, and providing a path to legal status for certain undocumented immigrants who meet a strict set of criteria.

"Senator Begich voted to double the number of border patrol agents, secure our border and require undocumented individuals to pay taxes and penalties before moving toward a path to citizenship," Croes said, according to the newspaper.

Several websites called Millers mailer xenophobic and seeking to inflame fears with false alarms.

Candidate Joe Millers mailer comes at a time when hes a distant third in Republican primary polls and his states three Republican Senate candidates are emphasizing immigration to win their partys nomination ahead of next weeks GOP primary election, said ThinkProgress.com

In 2010, Miller, an attorney, won the GOP primary, but lost to Sen. Lisa Murkowski in a general election write-in campaign.

Miller is running against Republicans Dan Sullivan, a former Alaska Attorney General, and Lt. Gov Mead Treadwell.

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Making sense (and, sometimes, nonsense) out of Current News, Issues, Politics
In other years, the race between State Sen. Mark Hutchison and Assemblywoman Lucy Flores would get little attention. Both are angling to become Nevadas lieutenant governor, the states No. 2 executive, a position thats ceremonial, at best.

But this isnt other years.

The states powerful senator, Harry Reid, and its popular governor Brian Sandoval  who are archrivals in power circles  are deeply involved in what would ordinarily be an unremarkable race.

For both, the outcome in the battle for lieutenant governor could shape their political futures.

Sandoval, the state's Hispanic governor, is the challenger national Republicans dream of should Reid seek a sixth-term in the U.S. Senate in 2016. If Sandoval runs, Nevada's lieutenant governor would move into the governor's mansion in Carson City.

For a politician like Sandoval, who has a reputation for being cautious and conflict-averse, challenging Reid, a former boxer, legendary political brawler and the Senate's majority leader, might be worth the fight only if he knows a member of his own party would take his place should he run and win.

Enter Hutchison, a genial Republican state senator Sandoval recruited to run for lieutenant governor in this year's election. He'll face Assemblywoman Flores, 34, a former gang member who boasts Reid's backing and an unorthodox, up-from-the-streets life story Democrats hope can mobilize Nevada's hefty number of Hispanic voters.

"A lot of Nevadans are viewing it as a trial run for governor," GOP consultant Robert Uithoven said.

Hutchison was wrapping up his first session as a state lawmaker last year when Sandoval approached him about the race, promising to lend the Las Vegas attorney his respected political and fundraising operation.

"I've got a great advantage in having Brian Sandoval want to be partners with me," said Hutchison, who represents a majority-Democratic district in the city's suburbs.

Hutchison was also one of several Republican lawmakers in Nevada who voted to urge Congress to pass legislation allowing many of the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to eventually become citizens. Republicans hope that with the upbeat, well-liked Sandoval at his side, Hutchison could draw down the outsized Hispanic support for Democrats that allowed Reid to win a tight re-election race in 2010 and Obama to twice carry the state.

"One of the problems that we have with Republicans is that they don't approach us. He has done that," Otto Merida, president of the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, said of Hutchison.

He faces a candidate with a compelling backstory in Flores, who said she began to mull a run for lieutenant governor last year  with Reid's support.

"Harry talks about her so constantly," Vice President Joe Biden said at a recent campaign rally. "I thought she was his daughter."

One of 13 children raised primarily in northeastern Las Vegas, Flores last year revealed during a statehouse debate about a sex education bill that she had an abortion at age 16. She regularly speaks about serving nine months in a juvenile detention center after leading police on chase in a stolen car through east Las Vegas, and how she got a second chance from her parole officer after getting into a fight with her often-absent mother.

"I was always the smart-assed kid who was telling cops I knew my rights," she recently told a group of Hispanic high school students at a leadership conference. "I really enjoyed the law and thought maybe one day I could be a lawyer."

She graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas' law school in 2010 and was elected to the state legislature that fall. Becoming governor isn't something, she said, she was thinking about when she got into the race for lieutenant governor. She acknowledges now it's a possibility and said her guess is that Sandovalintends to challenge Reid, based on his intense backing of Hutchison.

"There's something to be said for the amount of speculation he's been fueling," she said.

For their part, Hutchison and Flores are campaigning contrasting their plans for what's a largely ceremonial office.

Both oppose a ballot measure to increase corporate taxes to fund education but talk about the possibility of finding more funds elsewhere. Hutchison says he wants to help Sandoval continue the state's rebound from the depths of the recession and diversify its economy beyond gambling and tourism. Flores says she wants to focus on education.

There are questions about whether Reid, 74, may choose to retire, or if Sandoval will ultimately decide to pass on a challenge that would divide the state. But should they run, the lieutenant governor's race will pale in comparison to what would be an epic political contest between Reid and Sandoval, both favorites of state power brokers.

"The people who back Reid back Sandoval," said David Damore, a political science professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.

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This is the second of two parts. The first part detailed the journey of five children who fled violence and gang threats in El Salvador and are now settling into their new life in the U.S.

As the nation is immersed in a debate about whether to be tough or compassionate when handling the cases of tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America, a New York lawyer is working doggedly to keep them from being deported.

His main weapon is a 2008 law, virtually unknown to most Americans until now, that bestows a special immigration status upon children who lack at least one parent in their homeland or last place of residence who can care for them. Such children are deemed victims of abuse, neglect, abandonment or a similar basis found under state law.

Returning them to their country, the law holds, is counter to the childs best interest.

Armed with the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, immigration attorney Bryan Johnson has been able to score Special Immigrant Juvenile visas for roughly 50 of the 50 youths for whom he has sought them, he said.

If you have children in your country saying help me, thats what you do, Johnson said in an interview in his office in Long Island, you help them.

Johnson, who says he has some 150 Special Immigrant Juvenile visa petitions pending, said the controversial expansion of the law in 2008 arguably has helped children who are part of the influx on the border stay in the United States.

The measure allowed for more leniency regarding unaccompanied minors who come from countries other than Mexico and Canada.

The law is purposely made broad so you can get a lot of people to be eligible, Johnson said.

Previous versions of the measure were quite strict, requiring, for instance, that both parents be deceased before a child was considered eligible for protection.

Johnson estimates that half of the roughly 60,000 children who have come accompanied from Central America since October could obtain the special visa, which also paves the way to get legal permanent residency in the United States.

For kids whose relatives or guardians do not know about the measure, or how to go about applying for it, obtaining the visa is difficult, experts say.

Johnson also notes that since family court judges decide whether the 2008 law applies to a child, the local political climate can play a part in a cases fate.

It depends on where a child lives, he said. If they live in a deeply conservative county, and the judges are very political about what they should do, theres going to be [a higher] denial rate in the family courts.

Most of the youths Johnson represents do have someone to take care of them and have not been abandoned in the conventional understanding of the term. While their immigration cases are pending, many are released by U.S. authorities to a parent who came here before them, and then arranged for smugglers to bring them across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Johnson says he is not doing anything crafty or wrong by turning to the measure to get his clients residency.

How do you exploit a law if youre eligible for it? he asked.

Many critics of the 2008 law say it was intended for, say, victims of traffickers who exploit kids for sex or labor  not for the situation that has unfolded on the border in recent years.

The critics want to tighten it back to its stricter version, and have all kids treated like those from Mexico and Canada. Kids from those two countries are screened within about 48 hours of their arrival to determine what danger, if any, they would face upon being returned to their homeland.

The 2008 act calls for children from countries other than Mexico and Canada to be transferred by the Border Patrol into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that is responsible for processing and sheltering certain unaccompanied minors.

Most of the children are eventually placed with a relative or guardian pending the resolution of their case.

Dan Stein, president of Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, says there is wholesale gaming of the Special Immigrant Juvenile visa program.

"Obviously, a lot of lawyers are going to argue that anyone who ends up sitting on a lawn north of the border in Texas without a parent is presumptively abandoned," Stein said. "It's abusing the system. The 2008 law was meant to protect or give relief to children who were [for example] taken by traffickers without consent and wind up being brought to this country illegally. They're children whose parents cannot be identified, perhaps because they've been killed, and the children are orphaned or abandoned."

But these kids, Stein argues, often have a parent who can  and is willing to  care for them.

And, he said, many are willingly traveling with smugglers in order to get to the U.S.

"The fact that a child is judicially declared abandoned despite the fact that they're living with one parent is beyond ludicrous," he said. "Every minor cannot simply come to this country and demand to stay. The law needs to be changed by Congress  either now or during a lame duck session."

Johnson said it is morally wrong to return the kids to their countries, which are plagued by poverty and soaring gang violence.

Before 2012, three-quarters of unaccompanied minors came from Mexico, according to the Migration Policy Institute. In the last fiscal year, Mexican children arriving at the border alone had dropped to just 25 percent of all unaccompanied minors arrested by Border Patrol agents.

About 75 percent came from three nations: Hondurans (28 percent), Guatemala (24 percent) and El Salvador (21 percent).

Johnson says theres no reason political leaders  and, specifically the Obama administration  should be scrambling to address the crisis at the border.

The fact that life in Central America had become intolerable and that children were fleeing in unprecedented numbers became clear to him last year, he said, when immigrant parents and their kids began arriving at his office in growing numbers.

They [Obama administration] intentionally ignored this problem for over a year, the lawyer said, adding that their neglect let the problem grow out of control, overwhelming the Border Patrol in Texas and the resources at its disposal.

Earlier this year, photos were leaked of children detained in overcrowded shelters, sleeping on floors. The kids told of extremely cold temperatures in the facilities where they were kept and of the little food they were given.

Its a political headache for him, Johnson said, referring to Obama.

The administration is pursuing ways of processing and removing the children more expeditiously, something that advocates for immigrants fear will rob them of due process and make a fair and thorough determination of the ramifications of their deportation.

What Obama wants to do is deport children back to harm, he said.
The news that the Ecuadorean government cut WikiLeaks founder Julian Assanges internet access, hours after the hacker group released another trove of damaging emails about U.S. presidential contender Hillary Clinton, could spell a reversal in relations between Quito and Washington.

Assange, who has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy in London since June 2012 after being granted asylum there following a British court order to extradite him to Sweden to face questioning in a sexual molestation case, has been a major source of irritation for the U.S.

Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, a leftist leader, has maintained friendly relations with the anti-U.S. governments in Venezuela and Bolivia. He has been critical of Washington and President Barack Obama.

But lately, he has softened his tone. He voiced his support for Clintons presidential run and says he knows her personally from her time as secretary of state.

On Tuesday, his Ecuadoran government admitted it stepped in and cut off Assanges internet access because the WikiLeaks dumps were interfering with the U.S. election.

But the statement said the government was not interfering in political process  in fact, it said, it was doing quite the opposite.

The Government of Ecuador respects the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other countries, it does not interfere in electoral processes in progress or support a candidate in particular, the government said in statement. In that sense, Ecuador, in exercise of its sovereign right, has temporarily restricted access to part of its communications system in its embassy in the UK.

WikiLeaks said Tuesday that Secretary of State John Kerry pushed the Ecuadoran government to stop publishing damaging emails and interfering with the election. The State Department has denied those reports.

Earlier this month, the Obama administration accused WikiLeaks and Russia of attempting to interfere with the U.S. presidential election process by releasing emails from Clintons campaign chairman John Podesta along with those from a range of other institutions and prominent individuals.

While both WikiLeaks and Ecuadorean officials have only made sparse comments on the cutting of Assanges internet access, there is speculation that Correa is looking to repair the icy relationship between his country and the U.S. and he is hedging his bets that Clinton will win the race for the White House.

"For the good of the United States and the world... I would like Hillary to win," Correa told Russia Today last month.

Experts say this is the reason that Correa stepped in and cut off Assanges access.

It may in part have to do with Correa thinking that to assist the campaign of Donald Trump would be unconscionable, Eric Hershberg, the director of American Universitys Center for Latin American and Latino Studies, told Fox News Latino in reference to the idea that the WikiLeaks releases are helping the GOP nominees run for the White House.

Correas fondness for Clinton is in stark contrast to the policy his government has taken toward the U.S. under Obama. And much of the animosity between Quito and Washington stems from another WikiLeaks dump.

In April 2011, Ecuador expelled the U.S. ambassador to the country after a leaked diplomatic cable was shown accusing Correa of knowingly ignoring police corruption. In response, Ecuadorian ambassador Luis Gallegos was expelled from the United States.

Two years later, relations continued their southward turn when Correas government unilaterally pulled out of a bilateral trade pact over claims that the U.S. used it as blackmail in regards to the asylum request of former NSA staffer Edward Snowden.

By cutting Assanges internet, Correa may or may not be looking to curry favor with a potential Clinton administration, but it does not appear that at the moment they are looking to make any more moves against their embassys infamous house guest.

Despite the assertion that Assanges asylum status is safe, there have been reports that he might be wearing out his welcome in the London embassy.

The WikiLeaks founder has not kept a low profile while residing in the embassy suite at No. 3 Hans Crescent. He eats daily of delivery food, has hosted numerous high profile guests and occasionally uses the embassys balcony to address the media.

Besides his high visibility, confidential Ecuadorean government documents revealed that Assange's "evident anger" and "feelings of superiority" could cause stress to those around him  "especially the personnel who work in the embassy, mainly women  and also detailed a violent, after-hours confrontation between him and an Ecuadorean security guard in September 2012.

I cant see how Assanges presence at the embassy has made the staffs life at the embassy any easier, Hershberg said.
Honolulus Cafe 8  gets rave reviews on Yelp for its Radiatore Verde and Italian stir fry, among other popular dishes at the eclectic mom-and-pop restaurant  but the response to its new 'policy' barring pro-Trump patrons has been decidedly more mixed.

A bright yellow, handmade sign posted on the restaurant's front glass door declares: If you voted for Trump you cannot eat here! No Nazis.

A photo of the sign was shared with FoxNews.com. One also is proudly posted on the cafes Facebook page, and was liked by some 40 people.

The next time you're in Honolulu, eat lunch here, not only are they on the right side of things, the food is delicious and reasonable, Facebook user Ariel Agor wrote next to the photo.

Others arent so charmed.

Honolulu resident and Donald Trump voter Susan Roberts told FoxNews.com she found the sign in extreme poor taste.

It's childish and very unprofessional, she said in an email.  The restaurant owner doesn't have to worry ... I will not be stepping foot in that establishment.

Willes Lee, former chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party and now president of National Federation of Republican Assemblies, told FoxNews.com the sign is discriminatory, and harkens back to racist and hate-filled days before statehood.

Remember when Filipinos couldn't go in certain places, or Japanese wouldn't be allowed [in] many homes? And, it didn't matter who they voted for, said Lee, who is of Japanese descent.

People should be able to get food without hearing a political message, one apparent former customer wrote on Yelp. I will never go back.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the cafe was founded by Robert Warner, a former hair stylist for Vidal Sassoon in San Francisco and former restaurateur in Seattle, along with his wife Jali.

Reached for comment Tuesday, Jali downplayed the sign's supposed ban. She told FoxNews.com the restaurant is not actually asking customers whether they voted for President-elect Trump, and said even if they see a customer with a Trump shirt, we dont put anything different [in] your food.

Robert just wants to express how much he doesnt like Trump, Jali said. If people take it personally or it hurts them, we cannot help. Thats why we say they have [a] choice if they want to come or not come. We dont force them.

She said three people called to complain about the sign when it first went up, thats it.

We dont want to create trouble, Jali said. There is enough trouble in the world.

While Jali is soft-spoken, Warner, some customers note, is known to channel the soup Nazi persona of New York City and Seinfeld fame -- throwing pots and pans, telling off customers, and hanging not-so-friendly reminders on butcher paper for his customers to read.

But another Yelp reviewer took issue with the attitude and the sign, writing: It was funny on Seinfeld, but this place can rot away. Stay away. Hawaii ain't like this. There's a lot of better places on the island than to have deal with extra crap like this.

Hawaii overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton during the Nov. 8 election, and historically has supported Democrats in local and national races. In fact, just six Republicans are in the 51-member House, and the 25-member Senate is GOP-free.

Now that the election is over, however, Lee said most residents want to just get on with their lives.

The [restaurant] owners might want to make a better sign, he said, since Trump will undoubtedly be in office for eight years.
President Obama claims he could have won a third term if he had been allowed to run  but even if he's right, his coattails havent done much for the rest of his party.

While Obamas tireless campaigning, broad demographic appeal and message of hope and change helped propel him to two terms in the White House, his skills on the stump havent translated down the ballot.

The Democratic Party suffered huge losses at every level during Obamas West Wing tenure.

The grand total: a net loss of 1,042 state and federal Democratic posts, including congressional and state legislative seats, governorships and the presidency.

The latter was perhaps the most profound example of Obama's popularity failing to translate to support for his allies. Hillary Clinton, who served as secretary of state under Obama, brought the first family out for numerous campaign appearances. In September, Obama declared that his legacys on the ballot.

Less than two months later, Americans voted for Donald Trump.

OBAMA: I COULD HAVE WON THIRD TERM

But 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue wasnt the only locale to see a big partisan change since Obama took office in January 2009, according to figures from Ballotpedia.

Democratic U.S. Senate seats fell from 55 to 46. Their share of the House plummeted from 256 seats to 194. Republicans still control both chambers going into the next session.

Democratic governerships also became a rarity during this eight-year period, slipping from 28 to 16.

The Obama years, which saw the rise of the Tea Party as well as a new movement form around Trump that is still being defined, coincided with a loss of 958 state legislative seats for Democrats.

Still, Obama said in an interview which aired Monday that, if he were allowed to run for a third term, he would have been victorious.

I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it, Obama told ex-adviser David Axelrod for The Axe Files podcast.

Trump responded, "no way!"

While Obama and others note that Clinton still won the popular vote last month, and Democrats shaved down the Republican majority on Capitol Hill, others in the party have voiced concerns about where Democrats go from here.

Were not even a national party at this point, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, said last month as he made a failed run at the House minority leader position. We have some support on the coasts, but weve lost the support of middle America, and weve got to make some changes. So Im pulling the fire alarm here, because the house is on fire.
Israel is bracing for yet another potential clash with the Obama administration in the final weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, as Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to follow up last weeks anti-settlement U.N. censure with a major address on the U.S. vision for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The State Department confirmed Tuesday that Kerry plans to discuss the Middle East peace process on Wednesday.

The Times of Israel and Israels Channel 2 report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned about an Obama administration bid to have the Security Council endorse principles for a Palestinian state, and is reaching out to allies in the U.S. Congress and the incoming Trump administration to try and deter further action against Israel.

Netanyahu reportedly is concerned about what parameters Kerry may lay out for a Palestinian state.

While it is unclear whether the Obama administration would push for any further Security Council action  after a U.S. abstention allowed the anti-settlement resolution to clear the council Friday  the White House and State Department have offered some details about Kerry's planned speech.

Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told Channel 2 that Kerry will lay out a comprehensive vision for how the U.S. sees the conflict being resolved.

He also rejected Netanyahus description of last weeks vote as an ambush, citing long-standing concerns from President Obama and Kerry about settlement activity pushing into the West Bank and making a two-state solution more difficult to achieve. Rhodes defended Obamas support for Israel and, perhaps assuaging Netanyahus latest concerns, said the U.S. was not looking to impose a resolution to the conflict via the U.N. measure.

Obama in 2011 publicly called for Israel to pull back to the borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, a call Netanyahu rejected at the time. Netanyahu spokesman David Keyes told Fox News on Monday they were definitely concerned when asked about Kerry's planned address.

The Israeli government, meanwhile, continues to insist it has evidence that the Obama administration helped orchestrate last weeks U.N. resolution and vote  and is vowing to share those details with the Trump team. The resolution condemned Israeli settlement activist in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

We have that evidence  were going to present it to the new administration, and if they choose to share it with the American people, thatll be their choice, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer told Fox News Special Report. Its very clear that the U.S. orchestrated that.

He said an Israeli minister heard directly that Vice President Biden intervened to get Ukraine to support the resolution and added, The evidence we have is much greater than that.

As for his countrys concerns about Fridays measure, he said it undermines the peace process by removing a piece of leverage they would have at the negotiating table: territory. He also voiced support for congressional efforts to reconsider funding for the United Nations in the future.

The White House, though, has sought to explain its abstention as rooted in concerns that the settlements themselves undermine the peace process. Spokesman Eric Schultz also pushed back on allegations they orchestrated the vote.

The US did not draft this resolution nor did the US introduce this resolution, he said in a statement. The Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution. The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote."

Kerry also said in a statement after Friday's vote: "Today, the United States acted with one primary objective in mind: to preserve the possibility of the two state solution, which every U.S. administration for decades has agreed is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. ... As a lifelong friend of Israel, I have taken every opportunity to speak out, or cast a vote, to protect its security and the chance for a peaceful future."

The Israelis tried to appeal to Trump last week to help head off the U.N. settlement resolution. While the vote was only delayed to Friday, Trump has resumed his criticism of the international body and vowed changes.

The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad! he tweeted Monday.
President-elect Donald Trump lashed out at the United Nations on Monday days after the Security Council voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Taking to Twitter, he said the U.N. has such great potential, but has become just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!

Trump also gave a stark warning to the U.N. after Fridays vote, saying As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he takes office.

The president-elect has taken a more pro-Israel stance since telling the Associated Press in an interview last December that he wanted to be very neutral on Israel-Palestinian issues. However, since getting into the thick of his presidential campaign, he has moved toward favoring Israel. He has said the Palestinians have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

The Obama administration abstained from Fridays vote, brushing aside Trumps demands that the U.S. exercise its veto power and providing a climax to years of icy relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israels ambassador to the U.S. slammed the resolution on Monday, suggesting the incoming Trump administration and Congress should take a close look at how much money the U.S. hands over to the U.N.

Ambassador Ron Dermer doubled down on Israel's claim the U.S. orchestrated the resolution vote before abstaining last week in an interview with Fox News' Special Report. Still, he gave few specifics. "We have that evidence... we're going to present it to the new administration, and if they choose to share it with the American people, that'll be their choice."

The ambassador responded to calls from some prominent Republicans to stop all U.S. funds bound for the U.N. "I think a new president and Congress that wants to make sure that every penny of your money is going to something that protects and defends and advances U.S. interests -- I think there's a lot of changes that could happen at the United Nations," Dermer said.

This year the U.N. Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the U.N.'s far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world. The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues, like the role of diamonds in fueling conflicts; condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea; and authorized an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Trump's criticism of the U.N. is by no means unique. While the organization does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy. The organization has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Just because Congress ground to a virtual halt in 2016 doesnt mean the country stopped making new laws.

From taxes to minimum wage to gun control, a broad range of changes is coming at the state level as Americans ring in 2017. And, as has been the trend lately, the new year will bring far broader legalization of marijuana.

Its what The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in a letter to Vice President-elect Mike Pence arguing against pot prohibitions, called an unprecedented schism between state and federal law in regards to  cannabis statutes. While that debate will play out anew as the Trump administration takes office with a law-and-order mandate, the schism grows wider in 2017.

Already, revelers in Massachusetts and California will have the legal option of pairing their New Years Eve champagne with a joint. Approved by voters in November, legal recreational pot use took effect on Dec. 15 in Massachusetts; legal personal use of the drug took effect in California shortly after voters approved it there, though retail sales are still months away from implementation.

Nevada legalized recreational pot on Jan. 1, and Maine will follow soon after.

Voters in the last election approved legalizing the drug for medical purposes in North Dakota, Montana, Florida and Arkansas. In Colorado, one of the first states to legalize pot, licensed medical marijuana growers will now be allowed to sell pot as well.

Colorado voters also backed an increase in the statewide minimum wage.

Starting Jan. 1, the wage increased from $8.31 to $9.30 per hour for non-tipped workers and will increase by $0.90 per hour every year until it reaches $12 an hour on Jan. 1, 2020.

Voters in Maine, Arizona and Washington also voted in favor of minimum wage hikes. An appeals court in Arizona recently rejected an effort by state businesses to delay the Jan. 1 implementation.

As wage hikes enter the pipeline, so have tax hikes:

In Portland, Ore., the city council passed a so-called CEO tax, a first-in-the-nation ordinance to put a tax surcharge on publicly traded companies whose CEOs earn 100 times more than the median wage of other company employees. According to the National Law Review, a surcharge of 10 percent of the base tax liability would be imposed on those companies beginning on Jan. 1.

Buying presents next Christmas or anything from Amazon also will be more expensive for Utah residents in 2017 thanks to a new law requiring online retailers to charge consumers a 4.7 state sales tax at the point of sale, rather than relying on the honor system.

On the tax relief side of the ledger, Illinois approved a measure tossing out a 6.25 percent luxury tax on tampons.

Illinois passed dozens of other laws, including changes so that starting Jan. 1 it will no longer be illegal to catch catfish using a pitchfork, speargun or bow and arrow. Critically, the term public hunting ground for pheasants will be replaced by public hunting ground for game birds.

On the West Coast, gun owners in California will face new restrictions after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law banning the purchase of semiautomatic rifles with so-called evil features.

The evil features include pistol grips, flash hiders and bullet-buttons that make it easier to remove and replace ammunition magazines. The Los Angeles Times reported an increase in gun purchases in the lead-up to the Jan. 1 implementation.

The gun measure is one of the few new California laws that do not have roots on the desk of state Sen. Jerry Hill, the sponsor of 17 bills taking effect in the new year. The laws run the gamut from how police store their weapons in their vehicles to tour bus safety to restrictions on water use.

While Congress itself largely was inactive over the past year, a new regulation stemming from the Affordable Care Act, and set to take effect Jan. 1, could have far-reaching implications across the country.

Under the change, states will have the option to seek so-called Section 1332 waivers to try to modify parts of ObamaCare for their residents. A number of states have sought to get that process started  though the incoming Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress want to repeal and replace the law as a whole next year.
Odds are old Saint Nick was happy to flee the North Pole to make his annual rounds this Christmas. A dirty haze has settled over this part of northern Alaska, hovering over streets named Santa Claus Lane.

The New York Times pins the blame on what it calls an "only-in-Alaska" pollution problem: People use old, inefficient wood-burning stoves, and when the smoke goes out their chimneys, frigid temperatures force it back down to ground level.

That results in the highest readings in the nation of a pollution measure called PM 2.5, which refers to fine-particulate matter. In fact, the area suffered a record stretch of six consecutive days earlier this month with air deemed unhealthy, reports the Fairbanks News-Miner.

This ground-level pollution is seen as particularly dangerous because it can get directly into lungs. The dirty woodstove problem is particularly pronounced in the Fairbanks-North Pole area, about the size of New Jersey.

With cleaner natural gas in short supply and heating oil expensive, wood is the fuel of choice as temperatures hover around minus 20 below. Upgrading to a more efficient wood stove is expensive, even with local government assistance, and many independent Alaskans balk at the costand being told what to do.

(An education campaign is trying to spread the word that upgrading is actually a wise investment, notes the Frontiersman.) Failing to comply could result in residents being fined, and the borough losing federal transportation funds if the EPA declares the area in violation of the Clean Air Act.

"Both sides are digging in their heels," Mayor Karl Kassel tells the Times. (Some in China are buying Canadian air in a can.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: Some of the Dirtiest Air in US Can Be Found at North Pole
If we've learned anything in the last few months it's that seemingly, no entity is safe from hacking. From banks to ballot boxes (or rather, voter registration systems), occurrences of high security breaches have been on the rise. And now, the FBI is investigating how hackers managed to make their way into computers at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Unfortunately, this isn't a new case -- it's been going on since at least 2010.

As per a new Reuters reports, FDIC officials believe the hack was sponsored by the Chinese military. The breach resulted in dozens of computers being compromised, including one used by former FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair. Given that the FDIC is one of the key federal agencies overseeing commercial banks in the U.S. and as such, guards information on millions of Americans' deposits, to say that its data is extremely important would be something of an understatement. The Corporation also handles confidential plans regarding how major banks would address bankruptcy.

According to Reuters, the FBI has now been involved in the probe examining the breach, though it is unclear how long the investigation has been ongoing. Also ongoing appear to be cyberattacks upon the regulatory body. In fact, the FDIC has reported no fewer than seven cybersecurity incidents deemed "major" between 2015 and 2016. And as per an annual report from the FDIC, there were 159 incidents of unauthorized computer access during fiscal year 2015.

FDIC spokeswoman Barbara Hagenbaugh noted, "We are continuing to take steps to enhance our cybersecurity program," and further claimed to be tightening information security standards. For example, the bank regulator no longer allows thumb drives, and is said to be coordinating more closely with the Department of Homeland Security to keep such breaches from happening in the future.

As for China's response to its alleged involvement in the attacks, 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."
KCR  BJP      : -       ;       
A hacker claims to have breached the systems of an organization that helps Americans obtain Russian visas.



The Russian Visa Center, which has five locations in the U.S., was allegedly hacked by a hacker who spoke with The Daily Caller. He claimed to have obtained the information of around 3,000 individuals. The hacker, a 17-year-old known as Kapustkiy, told the news site, I used [a] simple SQL Injection to get access to [their] site. I have reported the vulnerable [sic] already by the administrator and CERT.

CERT, or US-CERT - is Homeland Securitys Computer Emergency Readiness Team, an organization that analyzes and responds to cyber threats on the night of the hack.

SONY MUSIC APOLOGIZES FOR BRITNEY SPEARS RIP TWEETS

The young hacker, who claims to be part of group called New World Hackers, also told TheDC that he has no plans to leak the information to the public at large.

I did it to let them understand the consequence of a databreach, he said, I have contacted them about this, to let them know what could happen when a Black Hat Hacker would hack them.

Kapustkiy also shared the info he obtained with BuzzFeed and described himself as an ethical hacker who finds vulnerabilities in various websites.

THE FBI IS NOW PROBING FDIC HACKS ALLEGEDLY CARRIED OUT BY THE CHINESE MILITARY

I want administrators to secure their things better and understand the consequence of a data breach, he said in a Twitter direct message.

BuzzFeed News claims to have contacted numerous people on the list proved to them by Kapustkiy. At least five confirmed that they had applied for Russian visas.

Run by an American company called Invisa Travel Logistics, the Russian Visa Center helps Americans secure necessary travel documents to Russia, including setting up appointments for applicants to meet with Russian consulate officials. An attorney for the center, John Shoreman, told the news site that it was likely the appointment scheduling system that was targeted.

GOVERNMENT REQUESTS FOR FACEBOOK DATA UP 27 PERCENT

The security services are saying that the visa website itself was not hacked, but the calendar may very well be the subject of a hacking, he said. ILS shares a calendar of appointments with the consulate office of the Russian embassy and apparently thats where these 3,000 names came from, it came from a calendar of appointments.

Shoreman also said that the center - which has operations in Washington, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Houston - is in the process of contacting users affected by the data breach and they will be advised to change their email passwords. It is also in the process of notifying the FBI and Homeland Security.

The Russian Visa Center has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story from FoxNews.com.
About 150 miles north of Guatemala City, deep in the jungle, is a military base where Guatemalan Special Forces are being trained secretly by U.S. Green Berets.

The U.S. officers say the Guatemalan troops are committed to the task of defeating the Mexican drug cartels and are training tirelessly. They rest when they sleep, said one Green Beret, who said the Guatemalan officers are engaged in exercises day and night.

The drills often focus on air assault operations, advanced marksmanship and structure breaches using explosives which allow the teams to break down doors while maintaining the element of surprise.

All of this intensive training is for one purpose: to rid Guatemala of the violence and intimidation associated with the drug cartels that have become increasingly pervasive in the last 3 years. Guatemalas murder rate is now twice that of Mexico where more than 11,000 people have been killed just this year. President Felipe Calderon ordered his military to launch an assault on Mexicos seven cartels four years ago.

But Guatemalas military is far smaller than that of its neighbor to the north with 15,500 troops. The small number of soldiers is sanctioned by the government and is a result of the publics distrust of the armed forces after decades of civil war.

And so Guatemalas border remains undefended, allowing virtually anyone to cross without question, a fact echoed in U.S. Embassy documents made public by WikiLeaks this week and observed on a recent visit to the border by a Fox News team.

The porous border gives drug cartels free reign in Guatemala.

Police in the suburbs of Guatemala City say many farmers who live along the Mexico-Guatemala border have relinquished their land to Los Zetas, a notorious Mexican cartel known for its brutal tactics. Others have abandoned the border region anticipating that their property would be confiscated and their families would soon be targets.

They ask how much they can make out the check to their widow, says one Guatemala City resident who has watched private property and community treasures fall into the hands of Los Zetas, including one popular recreation stop in Peten, in the northern part of the country.

But other farmers are not so lucky. Police say the Zetas brutally tortured then murdered two farmers this year, apparently the punishment for not having information they sought in a brutal interrogation. The Guatemalan Special Forces responded to this incident and arrested two Zeta informants and confiscated weapons including an AK-47 and an M-16 as well as five cars with Mexican license plates.

But last week Los Zetas staged a dramatic prison break in San Marcos near the Mexican border, which is why the elite unit of Guatemalan forces is training particularly hard on the base in northern Guatemala.

And while there are small strides in fighting the cartels in Guatemala with the help of the U.S. Embassy, there are set-backs in other countries within the region.

In Costa Rica, the Sinaloa cartel has been establishing a base, according to recent reports which add that U.S. Drug Enforcement agents expect the presence of Mexicos most powerful cartel, a rival to Los Zetas, to increase its power base in Costa Rica, a Central American nation which has no military.

More from Fox News' America's Third War Series
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.

He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.

On Tuesday, he'll be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe won't apologize for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

Pearl Harbor survivor Alfred Rodrigues said Monday he welcomes the visit by Japan's top leader to Hawaii.

"I'm glad he's coming to show that we're all peaceful now and you know, we were doing what we were supposed to do and they were doing what they were supposed to do," he told The Associated Press.

Remembering the day of the attack in 1941, Rodrigues said that he had just sat down to have breakfast when the alarm sounded and the word got out, 'Man your battle stations, this is not a drill,' he recalled.

"We all ran out to the armory to get rifles and ammunition and we could see the planes up above with the red circles on the bottom. We knew it was the Japanese planes," Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues says he doesn't think Abe should apologize. "War is war. I mean, they were doing what they were supposed to do and we were doing what we were supposed to do. I have no animosity at all towards them.


Anderson County, S.C., deputies are investigating after a woman was shot at a shooting range Monday afternoon.

Lt. Sheila Cole with the Anderson County Sheriffs Office said deputies and EMS were called to the Skip-J Range on Murphy Road around 2 p.m.

TEXAS MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE, BABY IN HOME

A woman was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the face, Cole said.

Cole later said the 24-year-old victim was in serious condition at AnMed Hospital.

The owner of the shooting range told FOX Carolina's crew at the scene that the shooting was an accident but deputies said the incident remains under investigation.

Click for more from Fox Carolina.
The family of a Washington D.C. yoga instructor and theater actress who vanished on Christmas Day said early Tuesday that her body had been found.

Tricia McCauleys brother made the announcement in a Facebook and thanked her D.C. family for helping in the search for her.

"Hang on to each other," Brian McCauley said.

The discovery of McCauleys body came hours after police located McCauleys missing 2-door Scion iQ hatchback and had taken a person of interest in for questioning, according to NBC Washington.

Police havent made any announcement of an arrest in McCauleys death.

McCauley, 46, was last seen around 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the Bloomingdale neighborhood of Washington, police said. McCauley was supposed to have dinner at a friends house in northwest D.C. and was expected to fly out to visit family on Monday.

Police released a picture of a man who they said mightve been driving McCauleys vehicle.

Click for more from Fox 5 DC.
A Christian student is suing a college in Georgia for allegedly violating his free speech rights by severely limiting his preaching on campus.

Chike Uzuegbunam filed a complaint on Monday against officials with Georgia Gwinnett College in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division.

TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION HELPS WIDOWED MOM ADOPT 4-YEAR-OLD DEAF, ABANDONED BOY

In the complaint, Uzuegbunam took issue with GGC's "Freedom of Expression Policy," which the suit says "restricts all types of student speech to two small speech zones that occupy less than 0.0015 percent of campus."

"To use these speech zones, students must submit a 'free speech area request' form three days in advance and submit any publicity materials and literature they want to distribute to administrators for review," read the suit.

"If students want to speak  whether through oral or written communication  anywhere else on campus, then they must obtain a permit from college officials. Thus, students may not speak spontaneously anywhere on campus. If students violate this policy, they ... expose themselves to a variety of sanctions, including expulsion."

Uzuegbunam is being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Neither Georgia Gwinnett College nor the Alliance Defending Freedom returned comment to The Christian Post by press time.

Click Here to Read the Full Story at ChristianPost.com
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Under a warm Oahu sun, with the tranquil, teal waters of Pearl Harbor behind them, former enemies came together to acknowledge the tremendous loss from the Japanese attack on U.S. military installations in Hawaii 75 years ago.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday.

Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, Abe and President Barack Obama made a historic pilgrimage to the site where the devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II.

After a formal meeting, they placed a pair of green-and-peach wreaths made of lilies aboard the USS Arizona Memorial and tossed purple flower petals into the water.

The rusting wreckage of the sunken ship where more than 1,000 American service members are entombed can be seen just under the water's surface.

Obama and Abe closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments before concluding their visit to the memorial and heading to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders spoke.

The visit is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on Dec. 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded.

In the ensuing years, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Obama and Abe were driving forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and President-elect Donald Trump.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the U.S. than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbor.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

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Associated Press writers Brian Skoloff in Kailua, Hawaii, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gillian Wong in Beijing contributed to this report.

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Reach Josh Lederman on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joshledermanAP
New York City police say a woman and her 4-year-old son have been found dead in their Harlem apartment.

Police went to the apartment on West 153rd Street at 8:15 a.m. Monday and found the bodies of the 36-year-old woman and the child.

Police say the woman had an electrical cord around her neck and the boy was found dead in the bathtub. Their names were not immediately released.

The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death for both victims. Authorities are investigating whether the deaths were homicides or a murder-suicide.
Two suspects were arrested and another was being sought Tuesday in a robbery and shooting that left two people dead on Christmas Eve in Alaska.

Anchorage police on Sunday announced the arrest of Jaylyn Franklin in the deaths of Danielle Brooks, 32, and Christopher Brooks, 38.

The shootings were witnessed by a 6-year-old child who told police, Ninjas came to my home and killed my family. Police did not release the relationship between the child and the couple.

A warrant was issued for the second suspect. Anchorage Police announced they were seeking 22-year-old Lamarkus Jayquann Mann and said he was armed and dangerous, KTVA reported.

A third suspect, De Anthony Malik Harris, was in the hospital with a gunshot wound. His arraignment is pending.

It was around 4 p.m. on Saturday when cops responded to a report of shooting at the home in the northeast area of Anchorage.

When police arrived, they found Christopher Brooks on the ground outside of the apartment building. The man had several gunshot wounds, including one shot to the head, the affidavit stated. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he later died.

Danielle Brooks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police found the child inside the home alive.

Several suspects knew Christopher Brooks and went to his home intending to rob him, according to detectives.

As the robbery unfolded, police said, Mann pulled out a gun and shot Danielle Brooks. Christopher Brooks struggled over the gun with Mann and the weapon fired, striking Harris.

The suspects then drove off.

Franklin was part of the group participating in the robbery, police said. He was being held without bail Monday at the Anchorage jail and was charged with charged with murder, robbery, burglary and tampering with evidence. Online court documents did not list an attorney for Franklin.

Detectives were still on the hunt for Mann for charges of murder, robbery and burglary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An Oregon State Police officer remained in critical condition Tuesday morning after he was injured in a deadly Christmas Day gun battle with an ex-police cadet caught up in a domestic dispute.

Trooper Nic Cederberg, 32, a U.S. Army veteran, underwent surgery on Monday after he sustained multiple gunshot wounds during a shootout with James Tylka, who died during the incident. Tylka was suspected of killing his wife and then leading police from three departments on a car chase late Sunday in King City before the exchange of gunfire.

MAN SUFFOCATES BABY SON, KILLS SELF IN MURDER-SUICIDE

We are also humbled by the support the community has given, the Oregon State Police said in a Monday Facebook post. Please keep Nic, his family and all of his law enforcement peers in your thoughts and prayers.

Cederberg has been with the state police force for seven years.

Nearly 140 officers across the U.S. have been killed in 2016, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. At least ten of those officers were responding to domestic disputes.

MORE THAN 60 OFFICERS SHOT, KILLED THIS YEAR, REPORT FINDS

Though police have been relatively tight-lipped about the shootout that wounded Cederberg, more information has slowly begun to trickle out about Tylkas life and his troubled relationship with his wife.

Tylka posted a photo on Facebook early this month of him kissing his wife, Kate Armand, and commented: We aren't divorced. Someone responded that she hoped they work things out. Police have not released the name of the woman he is believed to have killed, but Megan Armand told media outlets that the victim was her sister, Kate.

We are still in shock and devastated from last night's events, Megan Armand said in a statement. My heart is broken from the loss of my only sister. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the wounded OSP Officer and his family.

Several Facebook posts by Kate Armand's friends expressed grief, describing her as a good person and an amazing mother to a nearly 1-year-old girl.

Tylka updated his Facebook profile photo shortly before his death, displaying a picture of the couple. He also updated his cover photo, showing his two children, a boy and a baby daughter.

Tylka was locked in a protracted dispute with his former wife over custody of their son and child support payments, according to court records.

Tylka's ex-wife, Sabrina Starks, had filed for immediate temporary custody of their son in September, saying the boy was in danger of potential abuse. She said Tylka spoke about suicide in September 2015, drawing a call to police, before leaving town for four months.

Starks wrote in the custody request that they agreed to joint custody in May 2016 but he had been acting irrationally, impulsively and aggressively, constantly pressuring the boy for updates about what she was doing.

She said the boy was crying when she picked him up on Sept. 5 and that he told her Tylka yelled at him and a grandmother.

I asked him what he meant. (The boy) stated, `If I don't tell Daddy what you do, he yells at me and sends me to the corner. I told him no, and he yells until I tell him, she wrote.

A judge denied Starks' request for immediate temporary custody. They divorced in April 2011, court records say, but it's not clear when Tylka married Kate Armand. Starks mentioned the marriage in her custody request, however.

Mike Rowe, a spokesman for the police department in nearby city of Beaverton, said Tylka was a cadet there between 2004 and 2006. Rowe said he does not know why Tylka left the program.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
An associate professor who sparked widespread backlash after he tweeted "All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide" claimed on Monday that his critics -- some of whom were "violent racists" -- simply didn't get the joke.

DREXEL PROFESSOR DRAWS IRE AFTER POSTING 'WHITE GENOCIDE' TWEET

Drexel University administrators clearly thought George Ciccariello-Maher's tweet was no laughing matter. "The University is taking this situation very seriously. We contacted Ciccariello-Maher today to arrange a meeting to discuss this matter in detail," they said in a statement.

Ciccariello-Maher, who is white and an associate professor of politics at the Philadelphia university, fired back in a statement to The Philadelphia Inquirer. "While Drexel has been nothing but supportive in the past, this statement is worrying... I teach regularly on the history of genocidal practices like colonialism and slavery -genocides carried out by the very same kind of violent racists who are smearing me today."

PRINCETON MEN'S SWIM TEAM DONE FOR YEAR AFTER 'VULGAR' POSTS

The controversy got the attention of white nationalist leader Richard Spencer, who tweeted, "Anyone at Drexel able to bring me to speak to the student body?"

The Drexel statement continued, "While the University recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate, Professor Ciccariello-Maher's comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the University."

The associate professor, whose online biography claimed his academic specialties included "race and racism," said Drexel apparently didn't understand "the content or the context" of his tweets. The professor told The Associated Press he was mocking what he called the "imaginary concept" of white genocide, which he says was invented by white supremacists.

Ciccariello-Maher followed up his initial tweet by praising the "massacre" of whites in Haiti during the country's slave uprising and revolution more than two centuries ago.

Though his Twitter account is private, he is a prolific tweeter with more than 11,000 followers, and his weekend messages spread quickly online. He said he has received hundreds of death threats and claimed Drexel's statement "sends a chilling message."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Police are searching for three thieves with a taste for designer clothing who stole more than $1 million dollars' worth of fur from a store on Manhattan's upscale Madison Avenue.

The theft occurred on Christmas Eve after one of the suspects threw a brick through the window of the Dennis Basso Inc. store just before 5 a.m.

Owner Dennis Basso says the thieves made off with several Russian sable coats, some of which were valued as high as $200,000.

Achilleas Georgiades, a store executive, says he can't believe something like this happened on the "civilized" Madison Avenue.

Surveillance video captured one of the suspects being struck in the head by a metal beam after climbing through the shattered window.

PETA officials say the theft serves Basso right for peddling fur.
Elite Sudanese troops have been deployed in Sudan's second-largest city after days of violence among members of the security forces, as residents begin the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in fear of new clashes.

An AFP correspondent was the first from a foreign news organisation to arrive in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, since the worst outbreak of urban warfare in Sudan's far-west region in recent memory.

Most fighting in Darfur has occurred in poverty-stricken rural regions and smaller communities.

State officials blamed "differences" among members of the security forces for the battles which began inside Nyala on July 3.

Fighting left a war crimes suspect wounded and killed two Sudanese World Vision aid workers, among others.

Travelling into the city about six kilometres (four miles) from the Nyala airport, the correspondent said he counted about 12 gun-mounted SUV vehicles belonging to the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) -- the country's most elite forces, which are separate from the army.

Up to 10 troops were stationed with each gun car.

"It is calm but we don't trust this calm because everyone has weapons, and they are not under control. They can use them at any time," one resident said, afraid to give his name.

Fighting in Nyala was sparked when security forces allegedly killed a notorious local bandit who was also an officer in the paramilitary Central Reserve Police.

Darfuri members of the Reserve formerly belonged to the Janjaweed, a government-backed militia which shocked the world with atrocities against ethnic minority civilians suspected of supporting rebels.

The ethnic minority rebels began their uprising against the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime in 2003.

Security problems have been compounded by inter-tribal fighting, kidnappings, carjackings and other crimes, many suspected to be the work of government-linked militia and paramilitary groups.

Hardship faces Nyala residents as they begin the Ramadan month of dawn-to-dusk fasting.

They said the city has been without electricity for two days.

A taxi driver reported the price of petrol at 50 Sudanese pounds ($7) a gallon (4.5 litres), or about four times the price in the capital Khartoum.

Fuel reaching Nyala is subject to attack during its overland journey across Darfur.

Despite the tensions, people are trying to carry on with their lives.

Students were in the streets walking to and from school.

A main market in the town was operating.

But another commercial area remains shut after it was burned and looted on Sunday, as residents ran for their lives during fresh fighting.

That same day Ali Kushayb, a former commander of the Janjaweed, was left wounded during an attack which reportedly killed two of his men, local sources said.

Kushayb is wanted by The Hague-based International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed earlier in the Darfur conflict.

Security has worsened in Darfur this year, the United Nations says.
Police in the Dominican Republic have arrested an alleged high-ranking member of an Italian mafia group who was apparently hiding out in a resort town to avoid a prison sentence for drug offenses.

Nicola Pignatelli was arrested in the southern town of Juan Dolio on an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol. He fled Italy in 2011 before he was to start serving a sentence of more than 13 years in prison.

The 43-year-old Pignatelli is believed to be a high-ranking member of the 'ndrangheta mafia based in Calabria. Police spokesman Jacobo Mateo said it's not known how long he was in the Dominican Republic before his arrest Sunday. Authorities believe he was involved in drug trafficking and prostitution while in the country.

He is expected to be extradited Monday.
EXCLUSIVE: The United Nations Development Program, the U.N.s flagship anti-poverty agency, spent tens of millions to make terrorism-battered Somalia safer, but never verified that the work was done, or even that its government partners had the capacity to do their jobs, according to a scathing internal auditors report.

According to the United Nations Development Programs project website, about $25 million was spent in 2013 on the audited projects mentioned in the organizations internal reportroughly half the $59 million spent on UNDP programs and management in Somalia that year.

The project website shows the work as being mostly centered in the capital of Mogadishu and intended to provide coordination and support to Somali security sectors, develop an efficient, effective, professional civilian police service and policy and law making processes, as well as a community security projects aimed at reducing armed violence.

In a brutal counterpoint to those activities, in June 2013, radical Islamic Al-Shabaab militants struck the main U.N. compound in Mogadishu, killing eight local and international security staffers, and forcing other U.N. staffers to remain in Kenya, where U.N. operations for Somalia have centered for years, in fear for their lives.

The report, prepared by UNDPs Office of Audit and Investigations, or OAI, was based an examination this past spring of UNDPs Somalia country office in Kenyathe hub of coordination for some 20 U.N. agencieswhich maintains senior management offshoots in Mogadishu and outlying Somalian centers. The OAI probe aimed at assessing the adequacy and effectiveness of UNDP leadership, coordination and management in Somalia during the preceding year.

What the auditors found in examining the offices operations were financial records in disarray, a tangled skein of bureaucratic lines of authority , special boards intended to oversee the accomplishment of projects meeting sporadically or never, and project reports that were either poorly written or not prepared at all.

Some of the financial accounting lapses that the auditors noted seemed especially egregious. In one case, $3 million had been spent by UNDPs top official, known as the Resident Coordinator, for support to U.N. coordination.

According to the audit, the support is supposed to provide for analysis, planning, tracking and reporting on the use of resources. In 2013, the auditors noted, no report was filed on how the coordination money was spent.

In other words, the money that was supposed to be spent on tracking how UNDP spent the rest of its money apparently wasnt tracked.

Overall, the auditors noted, many other spending records had not been set up in UNDPs global financing tracking systemand when they were entered, were sometimes set up so that expenses couldnt be tallied.

In one case, the auditors noted $6.6 million had been handed over to government partners as grants for projects rather than advances, meaning UNDP could not track how such advances were expensed and how accountability for those funds was discharged.

When it came to actual project oversight, the auditors rated UNDPs lapses as even worse than its financial pecadillos: they were labeled as high (critical) priority, for fixing, meaning that failure to take action could result in major negative consequences for UNDP.

Chief among them was a lack of capacity assessment, meaning a tough and detailed evaluation of the ability of UNDPs partners in Somalia, which included both central and regional governments, actually to carry out the projects assigned to them, as well as account and report for the funds provided by UNDP.

Instead, the watchdogs reported, UNDP assessed future capacity on earlier experience in working the with prospective partner. As a result, the auditors said, UNDP was in no position to take timely action to mitigate risks of irregularities or of potential fraud.

And, in fact, the auditors noted, several cases of alleged fraud by implementing partners were already under investigation by OAI while UNDPs haphazard management progressed through 2013. In response to questions from Fox News, a UNDP spokesman confirmed that the fraud cases involved Somali government partners of the U.N. organization.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REPORT

What the office did best, according to the auditors, was raise money and track donor contributions for U.N. projects: a total of $213 million out of $220 million called for in UNDPs 2011-2015 Country Program Document (CPD) for Somalia.

(Ironically enough, the CPD itself notes that UNDP Somalia commits to continue to improve its accountabilities through enhanced monitoring and evaluation, thereby ensuring a more effective oversight, especially where accessibility remains a challenge.)

In explanation of the situation, a UNDP spokesman noted an unquestionable truth: that Somalia is one of the most dangerous places in the world for international development, with ongoing and specific threats to U.N. and other international development and humanitarian personnel.

Many projects, he noted, are in insecure places and verification missions are contingent on the insecurity level in that area and threats to staff.

As a result, UNDP operations were constrained by extremely restricted travel, heightened security risks and access restrictions within Mogadishu and South Central Somaliaall reasons, by implication, for the lack of oversight.

That explanation glided over the fact that many of those conditions were known in advance, and outlined in the country program document UNDP had ostensibly been following since 2011.

Among many other things, that CPD called for creation of a special program monitoring unit and a more astute focus on improved results-based management and result reporting, because insecurity is likely to remain a significant obstacle to direct contact in the then-future.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COUNTRY PROGRAM DOCUMENT

The auditor-watchdogs put it more bluntly. Adequate oversight and management are even more essential, they observed , particularly in high risk operating environments like Somalia.

Despite its explanations, UNDP now apparently agrees. The organizations spokesman told Fox News that the Kenya office is now rolling out arrangements for third-party monitoring in order to address this and provide additional field verification if UNDP staff cannot travel to these areas. In other words, someone else will do it.

For other problems the auditors discovered, however, UNDP apparently still has a way to go. The management says that as of 2014, all new project documents are reviewed and cleared in line with corporate guidelines that were ignored in the past.

The deadline for clean-up of the previous mess is the end of December, 2014.

Meantime, European donor nations, the U.N. and Somalias government in September 2013 announced a new Somali Compact, marking a new beginning for a sovereign, secure, democratic, united and federal Somalia at peace with itself and the world.

The aim of the compact is to assist a Somali government elected in 2012 to restore the Somali peoples trust in the state and its ability to protect and serve their basic needs for inclusive politics, security, justice, an economic foundation and revenue and services, in full respect of human rights

UNDPs spokesman told Fox News that in the wake of the new Somali Compact, it is also a time for international development partners to change the way we do business in Somalia, and give more room to Somalis themselves to take over in a way that was not possible during the previous long period of state collapse.

To that end, the Western nations involved in the compact have pledged roughly $2.4 billion additional dollars to the still shaky Somali government to build up core public sector capacitiesmuch like the efforts, in many cases, that UNDP was apparently not supervising adequately.

George Russell is editor-at-large of Fox News and can be found on Twitter: @GeorgeRussell or on Facebook.com/George Russell
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Workers in the industrial complex had been hiding in bathrooms and closets for hours when the shooting stopped. The last of the four suspected thieves, a slightly built man in yellow rain boots, surrendered on the roof, crying out, "Jesus saves!"

Police put him into a truck and started to drive away. But then witnesses watched, confused, as the truck circled back.

A video secretly recorded that rainy day in early August showed that police officers took the man to a concrete alley in the complex where his three companions already lay dead, held him in place, and then shot him point blank. The video does not show the deaths of the others, but two witnesses told The Associated Press they saw the trio lined up against a wall earlier in the morning, police pointing guns at their chests.

The slayings raised new concerns about a crime-fighting initiative launched this summer that aims to take back neighborhoods overrun by gangs. The program, officially rolled out in July as Operation Liberate the People, has already seen police shoot and kill more than 80 suspected criminals, according to an AP tally based on officials' statements to the media. There have been no reports of police injuries or deaths during the blitzkrieg-style operations.

Human rights groups are accusing security forces of carrying out summary executions. But many here also say the government is right to take a more militarized approach to fighting crime. Venezuelans broadly support iron fist policing. And it's the poor  those most likely to be caught in the crossfire  who most want to see an increased use of force, according to national polls.

In the case of the four killings, officials initially said that the men died during a shootout after they were caught stealing from a metalworking shop in the city of Maracay, outside Caracas. But after the video was leaked to the Miami-based Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald, eight officers were arrested and charged with homicide. The AP has not independently verified the authenticity of the video, but witnesses corroborated what it shows, and officials acted immediately after its release, apparently in reaction to what it revealed.

"The police and the thugs are one and the same here," said Willy Contreras, a young man who works beside the courtyard where the men were killed. "Neither side cares about human rights. And we can't, either. Killing the criminals is the only way to make sure they won't just go free."

President Nicolas Maduro has not addressed the case. National Assembly speaker Diosdado Cabello addressed the issue of human rights concerns about police killings generally in July, saying opposition groups were trying to score points by undermining what he said was an effective approach.

State officials overseeing the crime-fighting initiative did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. Days after the video was released and sparked wide outrage, Gov. Tareck El Aissami of Aragua state, where Maracay is located, ordered the officers' arrests.

Venezuela has the world's second highest murder rate, after Honduras, according to the United Nations. Virtually everyone here has been touched by violence, and a culture of impunity means most killings go unsolved. While police generally acknowledge when they kill someone, it is not always clear that the slaying was committed in self-defense.

The government stopped publishing any data on police-related slayings in 2008, but the local nonprofit Committee of the Families of Victims counted 1,018 cases of extrajudicial killings in 2014, a 25 percent increase from 2013. That's more than twice the number of people who were reported killed by police last year in the United States, which has 10 times the population of Venezuela.

The U.N. Committee Against Torture has called on the country to investigate an emerging pattern of extrajudicial killings.

The neighborhood of warehouses and low-slung cinderblock homes where the four thieves died was the site of the summer's first mass pacification campaign, one of dozens of similar operations that have been carried out this summer as the government works to reassert its authority after years of a more passive approach to law enforcement. In May, about 2,000 law enforcement officers stormed in to reclaim an abandoned police station, killing 10 people over two days, according to local news reports.

A similar operation in Caracas in July resulted in 14 deaths and hundreds of arrests.

Analysts say the anti-crime initiative appears to be a bid to drum up support ahead of December elections, which the opposition could sweep for the first time in more than a decade. But police killings were already on the rise, according to Central University of Venezuela criminology professor Andres Antillano. He said police have killed 20 people during the past year and a half in the Caracas slum he studies.

Slayings by security forces is a pervasive problem in South America. In Colombia, scores of army troops have been jailed for killing an estimated 3,000 civilians and tagging them as rebels a decade ago to inflate body counts during the country's civil conflict. Brazilian police kill an average of five people a day.

And with Venezuela's out of control crime rate, police are increasingly under attack themselves, with an average of one officer killed every day, often for their weapons. Earlier this year, a security camera captured a teenager shooting a state police supervisor from behind as he ordered breakfast at a bakery in a small town near Caracas, then stealing his gun. The 18-year-old was later caught and killed by police.

Venezuelan police admit they are scared to leave their stations, and this spring held a street march demanding better protection and harsher punishment for criminals.

Marion Conoropo, the cousin of one of the officers charged in the Aug. 5 killings, and a former Maracay police officer herself, says the agency is underpaid and under-protected, and officers are pushed to show results.

"You have to understand he was under so much pressure," she said of her cousin Humberto Conoropo. "The only thing people understand here is force."

The same day the Maracay video was leaked to the South Florida newspaper, men with automatic weapons attacked the police station near the site of the slayings that had just been reopened after a pacification operation, killing one officer and injuring two others in an attack that locals widely believe was an act of retaliation.

The whitewashed walls of the police station are still stippled with bullet marks, and the carcass of a police truck, its windows punched out by the shooting, blocks the building's entrance.

Workers at the industrial complex were reluctant to condemn the killings of the four suspected thieves even as they scrubbed down bloodied cement and paint over the chest-level craters left by the bullets. They said thieves have targeted them for years, despite electric fences, surveillance cameras, and weekly protection payments to both gangs and law enforcement.

Andres De La Cruz, who says he saw three of the men standing against a wall with police pointing guns at them, said he's still trying to forget that nightmarish morning. But he's glad there have been no robberies since.

___

Find Hannah Dreier on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahdreier
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Police in the Dominican Republic raided a mansion owned by one of the two nephews of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro facing charges for allegedly trying to traffic cocaine into the U.S.

Police found more than 280 pounds of cocaine and 22 pounds of heroin hidden inside the nephews posh Casa de Campo property and a 135-foot yacht named The Kingdom docked behind it.

The mansion belonged to Francisco Flores de Freites, 30, who was arrested along with Efrain Campos, 29, for allegedly conspiring to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. The two, nephews of Maduros wife, Cilia Flores, remain in federal lockup in New York. They were arrested in Haiti Tuesday night and transported to New York, where they are being held without bail.

The raid in the D.R. was first reported by CDN, a major news outlet in the country.

Dominican police found 176 pounds of drugs in the home and the rest in the yacht, which according to CDN had a helicopter pad. The boat had a Bahamas registration, CDN reported.

The ship captain, a Venezuelan national, was arrested during the raid. According to CDN, the man is now under full protection of the DEA and is cooperating with federal investigators.

The indictment unsealed Thursday in New York charges the pair with one count of narcotics conspiracy. It alleges the men participated in meetings in Venezuela regarding a plot to smuggle cocaine into the United States via Honduras, but provided few other details. Conviction carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

With reporting by the Associated Press.

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A class action suit has been filed against Carnival cruises over its adherence to the Cuba governments insistence that Cuban-born Americans may not arrive or depart the island aboard a ship.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by Amparo Sanchez and Francisco Marty, claims they were not permitted to buy tickets on a May 1 cruise from Miami to the Caribbean island aboard Carnivals Fathom cruise line.

It asks a judge to force Carnival to allow all people of Cuban origin to sail on cruises to the island.

According to the Miami Herald, a Fathom representative told plaintiffs they have been working on the issue for months, but that they had to abide by the Cuban regime's policy.

The company says in a statement it must comply with the visa, entry and exit policies of every country but has lodged a request with the Cuban government to change the regulations for the cruise.

Carnival Corp. was the first American cruise line to be approved to sail to the Communist island in more than 50 years. Its May cruise will take passengers on a week-long trip to various ports on the island including Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos.

The cruise line's CEO, Arnold Donald, confirmed to the Herald that they have been working to petition the government to change the policy.

Cuban-born individuals are allowed to fly to Cuba, and we just want a similar process, he told the newspaper. We expressed that respectfully and appropriately.

The lawsuit was filed the same day more than 50 people protested the policy outside the cruise lines headquarters in Miami.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Three newspapers in Venezuela have been ordered to cease publishing any reports of corruption or graft aimed at the brother of the country's late President Hugo Chavez.

A court in Barinas, Chavezs home state, ordered the newspapers Los Llanos, La Prensa and La Noticia not to publish any information about allegations of corruption by Governor Adan Chavez that have not been officially submitted to the court.

That includes statements made by politicians, political leaders or any citizen.

Chavez is the older brother of the late socialist leader and has been governor since 2008. According to polling done by an opposition political party, Chavez is viewed unfavorably by 80 percent of Barinas' residents.

The order barring any reporting on alleged corruption comes only weeks after Venezuelas National Assembly began investigating reports of 16 different cases of embezzlement in Barinas public works department.

"In Venezuela, there is a clear attempt to censor the private media, Hector Villamediana, director of La Noticia, told Argentinian newspaper La Nacion. The judge issued the injunction, but forget that all complaints are already the office of the comptroller, the prosecution or the courts themselves. They are public facts.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro has cracked down on negative reporting of Chavista loyalists in recent years as the countrys economic situation has tanked amid declining oil prices and financial mismanagement.

Earlier this year, a judge imposed a 4-year prison sentence on Correo de Caroni director David Natera Febres for defamation and libel. The newspaper was sued for publishing a series of articles about corruption at state mining enterprises in 2013.

The prison sentence was followed only days later by the shuttering of the regional newspaper El Carabobeno after 82 years in business.

A front page editorial in Thursday's final print edition of El Carabobeno said the paper hasn't been sold newsprint by the government agency that imports supplies in a year.

Press groups called the disappearance of the paper's print edition a blow to press freedom, while the government claimed that even state-run papers have had to cut back because of the country's bad economic situation.

Venezuela's media landscape has been remade since Chavez launched the country's socialist revolution more than a decade ago. News outlets critical of the government have been disappearing under what press freedom groups call a concerted campaign of sanctions and intimidation.

The Associated press contributed to this report.

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Two area teens were injured in a crash Tuesday at 3:25 p.m. on Route AA south of Randolph Road in St. Francois County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Nicholas Ancira, 18, of Farmington, was driving his 1998 Ford Mustang north on Route AA when it went off the right side of the road, struck a large rock and overturned.

Ancira and his passenger 16-year-old Kayla Usher, also from Farmington, were not wearing their seat belts and were both moderately injured. Usher was taken to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital by Air Evac and Ancira was taken by St. Francois County Ambulance to Parkland Health Center in Farmington.

An Arcadia woman was seriously injured in a crash Christmas Day at 2:08 p.m. on Highway 21 in Washington County.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, Amelia Orrick, 18, of Arcadia, was driving her 1998 Saturn SL4 northbound on Highway 21 just north of Lacota Road when she failed to negotiate a curve to the left and her vehicle went off the right edge of the road. The left side of her car collided with a tree.

Orrick was wearing her seat belt was taken to St. Anthonys Medical Center in St. Louis by Washington County Ambulance with serious injuries.

On Monday evening, a Fredericktown couple was moderately injured in Madison County off County Road 244 just east of Route V at 10 p.m. in a one-vehicle crash.

According to the patrol, Whitney McElanahand, 29, was driving her 1991 Ford truck westbound on County Road 244 when she ran off the roadway. Her vehicle struck an embankment and overturned.

Neither McElanahand nor her passenger, Jason Novak, 29, of Fredericktown, were wearing their seat belts and both were taken to Parkland Health Center in Farmington with moderate injures by ambulance.

Earlier that same evening at 6:50 p.m. in Bollinger County, three Fredericktown residents were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash off Missouri Highway 72 and Route HH, eight miles west of Patton.

The patrol reported that Brandon Graham, 26, was driving his 2000 Chevy Silverado westbound on Missouri Highway 72 when Rachel Piskorowski, 27, pulled into the path of Graham in her 2006 Toyota.

Piskorowski was wearing her seat belt and was taken to St. Francis Medical Center by ambulance with serious injuries. Brandon and his passenger, Tanya Graham, 25, were not wearing their seat belts. Brandon was taken to St. Francis Medical Center by ambulance with moderate injuries, while Tanya was airlifted by Air Evac to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis with serious injuries.

On Dec. 22 an Arcadia man died in a crash in Iron County on Route E four miles east of Arcadia.

According to the patrol report, Kenneth Duncan, 57, of Arcadia, was driving his 2007 Chevy Colorado eastbound on Route E when the vehicle ran off the left side of the roadway, struck several trees, then overturned. He was partially ejected.

Duncan was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene by Iron County Coroner Tony Cole at 10:08 p.m. and was taken to the coroners office by ambulance.
Indian police said Monday that they arrested four men on suspicion of raping an American tourist who came to New Delhi alone earlier this year, marking another incident of sexual violence to stir outrage.

SUSPECT IN KANSAS DEPUTY'S RAPE CHARGED IN MISSOURI ASSAULT

Police Officer Rakesh Kumar said the suspects -- a tour guide and his associate, a car driver and a hotel worker -- were arrested Monday.

The woman said in her police complaint that the four men raped her after she was drugged in a New Delhi hotel room in April. They denied the accusations.

ARGENTINA INVESTIGATES SEX ABUSE AT DEAF SCHOOL, WHAT VATICAN MAY HAVE KNOWN

She also said the four men had shot a video of the attack and had threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone, police said.

The woman went back to the U.S. and registered a complaint through an email to New Delhi's police commissioner. She returned to the Indian capital earlier this month to pursue the case because she was dissatisfied with the progress of police investigation.

The Press Trust of India news agency said the police did not arrest the four men earlier because the travel agency they worked for conducted an internal inquiry and gave them a clean chit.

The suspects also told investigators during questioning that the woman was trying to falsely implicate them because she had gone with them to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, the monument of love, a day after accusing them of the crime, PTI said.

The case highlights the persistent violence against women in India despite tougher laws against sexual assault imposed after the December 2012 death of a young woman who was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi.
Israel's ambassador to the United States on Monday slammed the United Nations Security Council's adoption of a resolution opposing Jewish settlements in occupied territory, suggesting the incoming Trump administration and Congress should take a close look at how much money the U.S. hands over to the U.N.

RABBI RIPS OBAMA UNITED NATIONS MOVE AT DC MENORAH LIGHTING

Speaking on Fox News' "Special Report," Ambassador Ron Dermer also doubled down on Israel's claim the U.S. orchestrated the resolution vote before abstaining last week. Still, he gave few specifics. "We have that evidence... we're going to present it to the new administration, and if they choose to share it with the American people, that'll be their choice."

Dermer called the U.N. a "cesspool" of anti-Israel and anti-American activity, and said Israel appreciated that President-elect Donald Trump called the vote a mistake. After the vote, Trump vowed that "things will be different after Jan. 20th."

NETANYAHU SUMMONS AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO PROTEST UNITED NATIONS VOTE

The ambassador responded to calls from some prominent Republicans to stop all U.S. funds bound for the U.N. "I think a new president and Congress that wants to make sure that every penny of your money is going to something that protects and defends and advances U.S. interests -- I think there's a lot of changes that could happen at the United Nations," Dermer said.

The U.S. pays 22 percent of the world's contributions to the U.N. budget, much more than any other nation, a 2014 report showed.

The resolution said the settlements had "no legal validity" and constituted a "flagrant violation" of international law. It also urged all states to distinguish between Israel and "the territories occupied since 1967."

In the short term, the resolution was largely symbolic. It did not include talk of sanctions or any other measures to punish Israel.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said "it is because this resolution reflects the facts on the ground -- and is consistent with U.S. policy across Republican and Democratic administrations throughout the history of the state of Israel -- that the United States did not veto it." She cited a 1982 statement by then-President Ronald Reagan that the United States "will not support the use of any additional land for the purpose of settlements" and that "settlement activity is in no way necessary for the security of Israel."

Speaking to Israel's Channel Two on Monday, White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said Secretary of State John Kerry planned to lay out a "comprehensive vision for how we see the conflict being resolved."

David Keyes, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Fox News on Sunday, "We have rather ironclad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place."

"The Egyptians, in partnership with the Palestinians, are the ones who began circulating an earlier draft of the resolution," White House spokesman Eric Schultz responded. "The Egyptians are the ones who moved it forward on Friday. And we took the position that we did when it was put to a vote."

Netanyahu's office told reporters he looked forward to working with Trump "to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution."



Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham were among the Republicans calling to defund the United Nations. Cruz said the U.S. should withhold money until the Security Council vote on Israel is reversed.

Fox News' Anna Olson, Anne Marie Riha and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine have released two women they had held prisoner as suspected spies.

The release of Anzhelika Presnyakova and Olga Svorak took place Tuesday morning in the Donetsk region, one of two regions where Russia-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since April 2014. The war has killed more than 9,600 people.

Svorak, a journalist, was captured by rebels in 2015. There were no immediate details on the capture of Presnyakova, a judge from the city of Mariupol.

They were handed over to a representative of the Ukrainian group Officers Corps, which works to free war prisoners.

The release followed a meeting between rebel leaders and Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian pilot released this year from a Russian prison after she was convicted of involvement in the deaths of two journalists.
Iran has kicked off a five-day large scale military exercise in the countrys southern region warning that civilian and military aircraft risk being shot down if they stray into Iranian airspace occupied by the drill.

VIDEO: IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL KEY TO SECRETARY OF STATE KERRY'S LEGACY

The exercises, codenamed Modafe'an-e Aseman-e Velayat 7 or Defenders of Velayat Skies 7, include air defense drills and various missile, artillery and radar equipment as well as cyber and electronic warfare exercises.

Speaking Sunday, the commander of Irans air force Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili warned foreign aircraft trespassing the airspace covering the drill area would be shot down immediately.

VIDEO: IRAN CLAIMS 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT FOR BOEING ORDER

We are witnessing the presence of a number of trans-regional planes outside the air and sea borders of the country but we emphasize that these planes should know their limits and know that we will take action in less than one second, he said.

Iran began receiving the advanced missile system last year when U.N. sanctions sanctions were lifted in the aftermath of the nuclear deal aimed at curbing Tehrans controversial nuclear program, despite objections from the United States and Israel.

The drill features U.S.-made F-4 Phantom II fighter jets and is also set to include test firing of the Russian built S-300 long-range anti-aircraft missile defense system.

In all, more than 17,000 military forces comprised of troops from the army, Irans Revolutionary Guard and Basij forces are taking part in the war games in an area spanning over 300,000 square miles and including Persian Gulf provinces Hormozgan and Bushehr.

Click for more from The Foreign Desk.
The Latest on the fallout from a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Israel is stepping up its attacks on the Obama administration, saying it has proof from Arab sources that the U.S. actively helped craft a U.N. resolution that declared Israeli settlements illegal.

David Keyes, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, says Israel has "ironclad information" that the White House helped draft the language of the resolution. Citing Arab sources, he said Tuesday that the White House "pushed hard" for its passage.

Israel is livid about the resolution, which gave the Palestinians a major diplomatic victory.

The Palestinians are hoping the resolution will give them momentum at a French-hosted Mideast peace conference scheduled next month.

Keyes says Israel will not join the conference.

___

10 a.m.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hopes the upcoming Mideast conference in France will set a mechanism to end Israeli settlements in territory Palestinians claim for a state.

His public remarks were his first since the recent U.N. Security Council resolution that condemned settlements as a "flagrant violation" of international law. Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party late Monday that the resolution, "paves the way for the international peace conference."

France hosts a conference on Jan. 15 where countries may endorse a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes such activity, saying only direct negotiations will produce a solution. Netanyahu has called on Abbas to meet for talks, but Abbas has refused unless settlement construction ends.
Thai police have put more pressure on a controversial Buddhist temple whose leader is wanted for alleged money laundering and related crimes involving millions dollars of embezzled funds.

About 400 police moved to surround the Dhammakaya temple north of Bangkok at dawn Tuesday to remove a fence said to be blocking public property.

Police in June had moved to raid the temple and detain the chief monk and head of the Dhammakaya sect, Phra Dhammachayo, but withdrew after devotees blocked their way.

The government says the temple is involved in financial shenanigans but the temple's supporters believe it is being persecuted because it is considered close to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, overthrown by a military coup in 2006.
Authorities in Tunisia said the man who killed 12 people in a truck attack in Berlin last week urged his nephew to kill his uncle to prove his worthiness to Islamic State.

A Tunisian police official told The Telegraph on Sunday Anis Amri also told Ferjani Fadi, 18, to kill the husband of one of Amris sisters, who is a police officer, in order to pledge allegiance to ISIS.

Fadi and two others were arrested over the weekend in Oueslatia over suspicions of being part of a terror cell that support Amri. The Tunisian Interior Ministry said Amri sent Fadi money to join him in Europe before he drove a truck through a crowd of people at a Berlin Christmas market.

According to The Telegraph, Fadi is the son of one of Amris older sisters. He had been living in the Tunisian capital of Tunis where he was unemployed and on the verge of dropping out of school.

Tunisian authorities said the terror cell that was allegedly supporting Amri was active between Fouchana and Oueslatia. All three men and an older broth of Amri were questioned. The brother was released Saturday.

Amri was killed in a shootout with police Milan, Italy on Friday after a four-day manhunt that spanned three countries. After the truck attack, Amri took a train to France and traveled to Chambery before trekking to Milan.

Amri had left Tunisia to go to Italy after the Jasmine Revolution in 2011. He spent four years in an Italian prison where authorities believed he may have been radicalized. He then traveled to Germany.

Amris nephew claims that his uncle was the leader of a terror group based in Germany known as the Abu al-Walaa group  connected to Abu Walaa.

Click for more from The Telegraph.
The latest United Nations Security Council vote, which is not just about Israeli settlements but also challenges Israels claim to parts of the Old City of Jerusalem among other sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, is just one of dozens of anti-Israel measures passed by the world body in 2016.

ISRAEL SUGGESTS WASHINGTON SHOULD CONSIDER CUTTING FUNDS TO UNITED NATIONS AFTER SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE

The U.N. General Assembly adopted 20 anti-Israel resolutions this year, while passing just four for the rest of the world  one for North Korea, one for Syria, one for Iran and one for Russia.

PM: The nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak countries that bow their heads. pic.twitter.com/Jsz28HSezh  PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 26, 2016

A variety of U.N. agencies singled out Israel for rebuke.

ISRAEL BRACES FOR TENSIONS AS KERRY PLANS MAJOR SPEECH

The World Health Organization condemned Israel as the worlds only violator of mental, physical and environmental health.

U.N. Women chastised Israel as the worlds only violator of womens rights making no mention of misogynistic practices in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and other societies oppressing women.

The International Labor Organization condemned Israel as the only violator of labor rights.

UNESCO, which is charged with safeguarding World Heritage sites and history, adopted a resolution condemning Israel for engaging in aggressive actions in East Jerusalem, referring to the holiest site in Judaism, the Temple Mount and Western Wall, solely by Islamic names Haram al-Sharif, Al Aqsa Mosque, and Buraq Wall Plaza, negating thousands of years of Jewish and Christian heritage. The Buraq is the winged horse that, according to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammed rode during the Night of Ascension to heaven.

Israel captured East Jerusalem, including the Old City of Jerusalem, from Jordan in the 1967 Israel-Arab Six-Day War. Israel also captured the West Bank from Jordan, which includes Bethlehem and other Biblical sites.

The United States broke with past practice last week and allowed the Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the resolution "absurd." A tweet from the prime minister's account Tuesday read: "The nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak countries that bow their heads."

"The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal," President Mahmoud Abbas said early Tuesday in his first public remarks since the U.N. vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Chicken Salad Chick To Open First Hendersonville Location

Fast-Casual Restaurant Concept Expands Presence in Tennessee and Offers Free Chicken Salad for A Year

AUBURN, Ala. - Dec. 26, 2016 // PRNewswire // - Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today it will be expanding in Tennessee with its first location in Hendersonville. The new restaurant will open on Monday, Jan.9 and is located on 217 Indian Lake Blvd. This company-owned location marks the fourth Chicken Salad Chick restaurant in Tennessee.

During grand opening week, guests will enjoy southern hospitality through giveaways and specials at the new Chicken Salad Chick restaurant:

Monday, Jan.9  Free Chicken Salad for a Year - The first guest will win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month.*

 Free Chicken Salad for a Year - The first guest will win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month.* Tuesday, Jan.10  Tote-ally Tuesday - The first 50 guests at the opening and the first 50 guests at 6 p.m. will receive a free, limited edition Chicken Salad Chick tote bag.

 Tote-ally Tuesday - The first 50 guests at the opening and the first 50 guests at 6 p.m. will receive a free, limited edition Chicken Salad Chick tote bag. Wednesday, Jan.11  Water Bottle Wednesday - The first 100 guests to spend at least $30 will receive a complimentary Chicken Salad Chick water bottle.**

 Water Bottle Wednesday - The first 100 guests to spend at least $30 will receive a complimentary Chicken Salad Chick water bottle.** Thursday, Jan.12  Thirsty Thursday - The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free large drink and a Chick Coozie.

 Thirsty Thursday - The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free large drink and a Chick Coozie. Friday, Jan.13  Free Scoop Friday - The first 100 customers will receive a free scoop of Classic Carol chicken salad.

 Free Scoop Friday - The first 100 customers will receive a free scoop of Classic Carol chicken salad. Saturday, Jan.14  Kids Eat Free Saturday - Kids will receive one free kids meal with the purchase of a Chick Special.***

"To kick off the start of 2017, we are thrilled to announce the opening of our second Nashville-area restaurant as we continue to grow the Chicken Salad Chick brand across the Southeast," said Scott Deviney, chief operating officer of Chicken Salad Chick. "We look forward to further propelling our brand's presence in Tennessee and are eager to serve the vibrant, thriving community of Hendersonville with our custom-fit chicken salad experience and southern hospitality."

The Chicken Salad Chick concept, born in Auburn, Ala., was established in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she overcame that obstacle by launching her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant, which quickly grew; the company now has more than 60 restaurants across the Southeast.

Chicken Salad Chick in Hendersonville will be open Monday  Saturday from 10 a.m.  8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com, or call 615-447-3006. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends.

*Eligible winners must be over 16 years of age and are required to download the CravingCredits app.

**Limit 1 per customer per $30 order.

***Must be 12 years of age or under.

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick puts an edgy twist on a Southern classic, offering guests a "custom fit" chicken salad experience, with 15 original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Chicken Salad Chick serves southern style chicken salad with heart and strives to spread joy, enrich lives and serve others every day. Today, the brand has more than 60 locations across the Southeast, and has currently sold 146 franchises to be developed across the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. The brand was recently named as the top chicken salad in the country to try in the 2015 March/April issue of Cooking with Paula Deen, as well as one of FastCasual.com's top Movers and Shakers and one of NRN's 2015 Breakout Brands. Chicken Salad Chick also ranked #37 on Inc.'s annual list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Corporate offices are located at 724 North Dean Road in Auburn, Alabama. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information.

SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick

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A Stafford County School Board proposal to send approximately an additional 120 elementary students to Falmouth Elementary School next year has some calling for a longer look at school zones throughout southern Stafford.

The problem, board members and parents have said, comes from a complicated attendance map, the need for a new elementary school, and the fact that the Board of Supervisorsnot the School Boardapproves development in the county, so long-term zoning plans can be difficult to make and require cooperation between the boards.

The south Stafford districting, especially elementary levelit looks like a Picasso painting, said Michelle Goshorn, who has had children at Falmouth for 11 years and worked there briefly as well. This is her last year as a Falmouth parent, but she remains concerned about the community, she said.

That abstract map, which she said resulted in part from a redistricting to relieve crowding at the Hartwood and Rocky Run elementary schools about five years ago, has perplexed the School Board too.

A small knot of apartments near the England Run LibraryEngland Run Pointesends about 52 children to Ferry Farm Elementary School. Its a long bus ride for them, and no one else from their elementary school is zoned for their middle school, which is Gayle.

But Ferry Farm isnt overcrowded now. Its at about 89 percent capacity, according to information the administration shared at work sessions. Thats below the 90 percent board members have said they prefer in order to maintain space for rooms dedicated to math, technology, music, and other programs.

There was a lot of rumbling about why it was never considered to move those kids who were going to Ferry Farm to Falmouth, Goshorn said. I think there has been a contingent that has pushed for the Ferry Farm redistricting since the Conway redistricting.

That was two years ago, she said.

Falmouth has even more room than Ferry Farm right now, she acknowledged. With 550 students and capacity for 794, its at just under 70 percent of capacity, making it the second-least crowded of the 17 elementary schools in the county. Ferry Farm is the seventh-most crowded.

District projections show that adding the students to Falmouth would put it at about 719 students, or 90 percent of capacity. The school would lose a computer lab and its music room would be moved to make space.

That would put Ferry Farm around 87 percent of capacity next year, based on county projections, while if those 52 students stayed at Ferry Farm, the school would be around 88 percent capacity.

Goshorn is concerned that going from 70 percent to 90 percent capacityor more, if the projections are off by even a small amountwill place a strain on Falmouth, she said, in part because about a third of the students are disadvantaged.

The new students would bring the disadvantaged population at Falmouth to about 40 percent, according to information from the district.

At the end of the day, I want whats best for this area, I want whats best for this county, I want whats best for Falmouth. But I want it to be fair, she said.

The district also recently approved adding two pre-kindergarten classes for students with special needs to the school during the present academic year. She doesnt want those children, who can be hard to place and often find it difficult to adjust to new schools, to end up forced out as a result of the added students, she said.

Goshorn supports alleviating overcrowding, but she thinks other changes should be made more carefully, with a broader look at the whole county.

What I want the board to do, as a parent, is to make those hard decisions that are best for the entire school system, not necessarily just the best for their parents in their district, she said, pointing out that attendance zones cross districts anywayso a parent not in a board members district now might be in a few years.

Some board members have said at work sessions that the England Run Pointe students attendance at Ferry Farm was always intended to be temporary, and that the only reason the neighborhood wasnt zoned for Falmouth years ago was because that school was about to be rebuilt. They didnt want to send more students than necessary to Stafford Middle School, used while Falmouth was closed.

Margaret Brent Elementary School, on the other hand, where about 65 of Falmouths proposed new students would come from, is more than 95 percent full. It has 906 students, with room for 950.

That makes Margaret Brent the second-most crowded elementary school in the county, after Moncure Elementary.

Moncure is at almost 102 percent of capacity761 students in a 754-student school. The county is also considering mitigation efforts for Moncure and Winding Creek Elementary School, which is at about 94 percent of capacity, which are not in the southern part of the county.

Margaret Brent is crowded. That one makes a lot more sense to me, Falmouth board member Scott Hirons said. Those students also have longer bus routes on more dangerous roads, he said.

But he wants more community input before he casts support behind moving students from Ferry Farm right now. Redistricting is always difficult, but Hirons thinks that it may be time to consider a longer-term plan.

I think every board member gets scared off of taking on too much when it comes to redistricting because it is such a contentious issue, he said. From my perspective now is a time that we need to look at the entire south.

Dewayne McOsker, whose George Washington District covers part of southern Stafford including Ferry Farm, was not immediately available for comment.
A 71-year-old woman and her 5-year-old great-granddaughter left New Jersey on Christmas Eve to visit relatives in North Carolina but never arrived, police say.

Barbara Briley and her great-granddaughter, La'Myra Briley, were last seen at an Exxon station off Interstate 95 in Ruther Glen in Caroline County, where they "appeared to be in good health," according to an advisory issued late Monday afternoon by the Hamilton Township (N.J.) Police Department in Atlantic County. The pair were headed to Morven, N.C., which is about 60 miles southeast of Charlotte.

Relatives told WTVR in Richmond that they spoke to Briley on the phone about 5:30 p.m. when she was at the Exxon and again about 8 p.m. when she was still stuck in traffic in Caroline.

Briley was driving a silver Toyota RAV4 with New Jersey license plate C80-ELS. She is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds, according to a report on NJ.com. La'Myra Briley was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a gray camouflage hoodie.

Anyone who sees them is asked to contact the Anson (N.C.) Sheriff's Office at 704/694-4188 or Hamilton Township detective Michael Robison at 609/625-2700, ext. 578.

Authorities in Anson could not be reached. An officer at the Hamilton Township Police Department said Monday night that there was no update on the investigation.

Caroline County Sheriff Tony Lippa said his office was trying to follow up on leads but had been unable to confirm reports that the last place the Brileys were seen was, in fact, the gas station.

"We can't confirm whether it is or isn't," he said. "We haven't heard from any police source whatsoever."

Virginia State Police Sgt. Steve Vick said troopers have searched the area, including hotels, rest areas, weigh stations and the interstates "up and down the 95 and 85 corridor." The state police have also contacted the New Jersey agency and put out an alert to troopers.
A Louisa County deputy had shot a man after a struggle on Monday, according to a release from Virginia State Police.

The incident took place shortly after 3 a.m. Monday, after the deputy responded to a single-vehicle traffic accident in the 9000 block of Louisa Road.

After the deputy arrived at the scene, the driver, a 44-year-old man, ran into nearby woods.

The deputy found the man a quarter mile away from the accident site, the release said. After a brief discussion, the suspect charged the deputy and a struggle took place. During the struggle, the deputy shot the man once.

The man was transported to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville and was listed in stable condition. The deputy was not injured.

The investigation is ongoing.
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St Thomas Boat Rental Company Announces Addition of Luxury Yacht To Rental Fleet

Beach Bum Boat Rentals announces the addition of a 50 Foot Luxury Sea Ray to its rental fleet. This 50' Luxury yacht is available for day boat charters in the Virgin Islands, includes a first mate, chef, open bar, two staterooms, and air conditioned salon.

--

St. Thomas, VI: Beach Bum Boat Rentals, a St Thomas and St John, U. S. Virgin Islands based charter boat rental company, today welcomed a most luxurious yacht to its rental fleet - a 50' Sea Ray Sundancer.

Renting a private charter boat in St Thomas or St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands is the most popular day excursion for both cruise ship passengers and vacationers staying at hotels, time share properties or private villas. Now, those with more discerning tastes have a fantastic opportunity to spend the day aboard a "top of the line" yacht, complete with captain and crew focused on ensuring the perfect experience.

This luxury yacht can be chartered by the day, accommodating up to 12 passengers in the Virgin Islands. Each charter is private, so passengers determine the itinerary and destinations for the day. Upon boarding, passengers enjoy a light breakfast in the air conditioned salon, which affords a fantastic view of the islands. Itineraries can include snorkeling among gorgeous coral reefs and island hopping to amazing locations like Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island and Tortola, to visit iconic places like Foxy's Bar, Soggy Dollar or the Willy T. The yacht features two staterooms and restrooms, a complete kitchen with fully stocked open bar, an iPod ready stereo system and a giant sunpad on the front of the boat for sightseeing and sun bathing. The rear of the yacht features plenty of comfortable, shaded seating and a giant swim step to make water entry and exit easy. Snorkel gear is provided, and the first mate works with passengers to ensure the perfect day.

"The addition of the luxury 50 foot yacht allows passengers who are looking for a high-end, luxury experience to find it with Beach Bum Boat Rentals," said Brian Woeller, owner of Beach Bum Boat Rentals. "St. Thomas and St. John are very popular wedding and special occasion destinations, and lots of times, passengers want that once in a lifetime, luxury experience. With the addition of this 50 foot Sea Ray to the rental fleet, we are able to offer that level of service," says Woeller.

"I chartered this yacht for my family and friends," said recent customer Zach Cunningham. "My parents don't like the direct sun, so they enjoyed the open bar in the air conditioned salon. My wife and daughters loved laying on the sun pad, and my friends and I hung out in the back seating area. There was tons of room and the service was spectacular. My drink was always full and the crew was a great help with the kids getting in and out of the water. It was the best day of our vacation."

Pricing on the 50 foot Luxury Sea Ray is $1850 per day for up to 6 passengers, and includes the boat rental, captain and crew, drinks and some light food. British Virgin Islands customs fees (approximately $45 per person), additional passengers up to 12 people, and fuel costs are additional. The rental for the day is private and the itinerary is at the customer's discretion, so the group can decide where to spend time without being on someone else's schedule.

Reserve the 50' Foot Luxury Sea Ray Sundancer in St Thomas or St John, at BeachBumBoatRentals.com.

For more information, please visit http://BeachBumBoatRentals.com

Contact Info:

Name: Brian Woeller

Email: beachbumboatrental@gmail.com

Organization: Beach Bum Boat Rentals

Address: 6501 Red Hook Plaza, #201 St Thomas, VI, Temecula, 00802 United States

Phone: +18555508728

Release ID: 157036

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Thermalabs to Launch More Tent World Shelters

Thermalabs has said that its launching more Tent World products in the coming weeks.

December 27, 2016 (FPRC) -- Thermalabs, a major manufacturer of cosmetics and beach-convenience products, has said that its in the process of launching at least 7 new beach tents. These will be high-quality products designed by the companys expansive Tent World sub-brand. Thermalabs has said that each of these products will be differently sized, and will serve the needs of sportspeople, beach-goers and camping buffs in various capacities.



Thermalabs is a leading cosmetics producer that has a solid reputation in the self-tanning market. The company started out making self-tanners and tanning accessories based on organic ingredients. The companys first-ever product was a fast-acting, organic tanner that hit the market like a storm, and sold like hot cakes. Created from highly beneficial skincare ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Japanese Green Tea, and Olive Oil, the tanner delivered a bronzed tan in just 4 hours, while most other competing products took up to 6 hours. The immense success of this introductory product played a major role towards making Thermalabs the expansive firm it is today.



In recent times, Thermalabs has been making inroads in other industries and market areas. The company announced its Supremasea sub-brand sometimes in 2014. This is a semi-autonomous branch that takes charge of new skincare products that the company manufactures based on Dead Sea salt as a key ingredient. In 2015, Thermalabs introduced Tent World, the brand in charge of its beach, sporting and camping tents. Lately, in 2016, Thermalabs also launched a new sub-brand going by the name Organic Healthcare. Based in Israels Galilee region, Thermalabs Organic Healthcare manufactures top-quality health products using naturally occurring herbs, seeds, and plants. Its been seen an ingenious way for the company to venture into the healthcare space by looking at some of the ingredients that human ancestors used to achieve better health, energy, and vitality.



The first ever tent product from the company was named Mercury. It was introduced in December 2015 and featured a protective coating to keep off the suns harmful radiation. Furthermore, Mercury tent had an extra comfortable bottom for kids that made it overly popular. All the new tents that the company is launching will also have SPF 30 protection to keep off the suns harmful UV rays. Furthermore, the tents will open and fold instantly for easier use.



We are glad to announce that the company is ready to launch more beach shelters under the Tent World umbrella. These will be all top-quality beach, sporting and outdoors tents with SPF 30 protection, and a whole range of features. The tents will be named after planets in the solar system. Currently, we have Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto. Theres also an extra-large tent named The Sun that well launch together with the others. Currently, we are in the final stages of prepping our tents for the market, and we should announce their availability in the market any time from now, said Ann Spencer, the brand manager in charge of Tent World.





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Current Release of Targetr Makes Waves, As Premium Guide & Walk-Thru Released by IM Expert HanifQ

New Targetr launch causes worldwide discussion in the digital marketing review underground, as unique bonus package introduced by eMarketing Champs. Facebook Develops Content Suppression Tool For China.

--

The global launch of Targetr creates excitement among IM review professionals by promising to help marketers find quality 'buyer-interests' on Facebook within minutes.

Hanif Quentino, founder of eMarketing Champs, has released a complete review and premium bonus for the Targetr app, which can be viewed on his site:

[+]http://emarketingchamps.com/targetr-app/

Mr. Quentino is considered an authoritative Targetr review expert, due to his comprehensive experience with Facebook marketing. Mr. Quentino suggests that Targetr App users pay close attention to Facebook's latest censorship updates.

Since its inception, Facebook has marketed itself as the harbinger of positive change in our world. While Google has walked back from some of their bolder statements about being all about positive and good, Facebook still likes to think of itself as all about making things better. Connecting the world and bringing people together have long been taglines for Facebook's business model. Recent accusations that the company allowed fake news to circulate and ultimately helped elected Donald Trump dinged their rose-colored glasses, but the company still strives for equal time for all. At least for now.

The New York Times recently reported that Facebook is quietly working on a tool that will allow censorship of certain posts or information. According to the Times, this tool could be used to suppress certain information or posts from appearing in the news feeds of the population in geographically targeted areas. The report also notes that Facebook is already working with countries such as Pakistan and Russia to allow government censorship of the social media platform.

In 2009, China banned Facebook after the Xinjiang province ethnic riots. The Chinese government believes the internet must be controlled and used only as a source of propaganda and social control. If left uncensored, the government fears political and social unrest. What Facebook sees in China is a huge, untapped market of almost 700 million customers. Facebook is a public company and its investors are pressuring management to grow the company. Facebook sees China as the next well to tap. Those 700 million plus potential users are mighty attractive. While Mark Zuckerberg would like to insulate the company from market pressures, it is a public company and investors' opinions matter. Reuters later reported that a Facebook has made no official decision on China. A spokesperson for Facebook noted that the censorship tool may never see the light of day. Still, this is an example of how this now public company is struggling to balance the demands of their investors against the company's mission and values. It remains to be seen which side will win.

Mr Quentino's comprehensive Targetr bonus and review can be accessed on his official site:

http://emarketingchamps.com/targetr-app/

For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Targetr-Review-1837788029830918/

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OTCG Market Based on Various Factors- Price Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Porters Five Force Analysis - Forecast to 2027

Global OTCG Market Information Report, by Type (Drill pipe, Casing, and tubing), by Make (Seamless and Welded), by Grade (Premium, and API) by Region - Forecast to 2027

--

Market Scenario

The oil and gas industry is still recovering from the price crisis. However, the changing oil & gas demand-supply dynamics due to various macro-economic factors is expected to further assist oil price stabilization. Positive outlook for the oil & gas industry is expected to boost investments in this industry thereby propelling the demand for upstream services. The OTCG Market is expected to experience a great surge in the next five years due following the expected increase in the demand for the oil and gas globally.

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Study Objectives of OTCG

o To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 10 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the global OTCG market

o To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth

o To Analyze the OTCG market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters five force analysis.

o To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to six main geographies and their countries- North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East, and Africa

o To provide country level analysis of the market with respect to the current market size and future prospective

o To provide country level analysis of the market for segment by type, by make, by grade , and by region as well as its sub segments

o To provide strategic profiling of key players in the market, comprehensively analyzing their core competencies, and drawing a competitive landscape for the market

o To track and analyze competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and new product developments in the global OTCG market

Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 40 market data tables and figures spread over 120 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on "Global OTCG Market Research Report - Forecast to 2027".

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Segments

The OTCG market can be categorized on the basis of types as drill pipe, casing and tubing. On the basis of make, the market has been segmented as seamless and welded. The market has been categorized on the basis of grade as premium and API.

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Regional Analysis of OTCG Market

The Asia-Pacific region is the leading market, with India and China contributing a significant share within the region. The Middle East countries namely UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are expected to experience fast growth and will provide ample opportunity for development of the OTCG market. North American Market is also expected to provide a considerable boost to this market.

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Data Center SAN 2016 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 21.83% and Forecast to 2020

WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On - "Data Center SAN 2016 Global Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 21.83% and Forecast to 2020".

--

The analysts forecast the global data center SAN market to grow at a CAGR of 21.83% during the period 2016-2020.

SAN is a high-speed network of storage devices connected to the server. It provides block level data storage for applications running on networked servers. At the block level, it allows multiple server computers connect to one storage device.

Simultaneous access to a particular storage within the storage device is not permitted in SAN systems. However, they allow a server to take over and control a storage volume. The backup server should take control of the primary server by connecting to the storage volume in the event of a system failure in a clustered environment. From the application point of view, SAN is similar to DAS, in terms of compatibility, during block level storage operations. SAN is preferred by enterprises as it offers better flexibility, availability, and performance compared to DAS storage systems.

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Covered in this report

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global data center SAN market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report considers revenue generated from the sales

The market is divided into the following segments based on product type:

o FC SAN

o iSCSI

The report, Global Data Center SAN 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

o Brocade

o Cisco

o Dell

o EMC

o HP

o Huawei

o Lenovo

o NetApp

Other prominent vendors

o Dot Hill

o NEC

o nfina

o Nimble Storage

o Oracle

o Overland Storage (Sphere 3D)

o Pure Storage

o XIO Technologies

Market driver

o Better utilization of storage resources

o For a full, detailed list, view our report

Market challenge

o Data security

o For a full, detailed list, view our report

Complete Report Details @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/786722-global-data-center-san-market-2016-2020

Market trend

o Software-defined storage (SDS)

o For a full, detailed list, view our report

Key questions answered in this report

o What will the market size be in 2020 and what will the growth rate be?

o What are the key market trends?

o What is driving this market?

o What are the challenges to market growth?

o Who are the key vendors in this market space?

o What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?

o What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

Table Of Contents - Major Key Points

PART 01: Executive summary

o Highlights

PART 02: Scope of the report

o Market overview

o Top-vendor offerings

PART 03: Market research methodology

o Research methodology

o Economic indicators

PART 04: Introduction

o Key market highlights

PART 05: Market landscape

o Market overview

o Market size and forecast

o Five forces analysis

PART 06: Market segmentation by application

o FC SAN

o Market size and forecast

o iSCSI SAN

o Market size and forecast

PART 07: Geographical segmentation

o Americas

o EMEA

o APAC

PART 08: Market drivers

PART 09: Impact of drivers

PART 10: Market challenges

PART 11: Impact of drivers and challenges

PART 12: Market trends

........CONTINUED

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Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
HARRISBURG  (Associated Press) - Pennsylvanias 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-39) has summoned officials from the states 12 casinos to Harrisburg for a meeting Jan. 3, the day lawmakers are sworn in for the new two-year legislative session. Changes must be made to Pennsylvanias 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, Pennsylvanias commercial casino industry has emerged as the nations 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 states 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 states 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.

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 states deficit-ridden finances, and that could also get complicated. Most of Pennsylvanias 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 Pennsylvanias 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-6) 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-96) 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 wont, and nobody can say that will eat into casinos, because it wont, Sturla said.  (AP)
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Making A Huge Comeback! Features And Specs Revealed

Many have been baffled with the Samsung's Galaxy Note 7. As far back as the battery issue spread in the online group, many lose trust on the abilities that the top leading company could offer. The Galaxy mark has as of now been labeled as hazardous by other people. Directly associating the device to threat regardless of not utilizing it yet.Yet, could Samsung get back on track with its Galaxy Note 8?

Samsung is by all accounts resolved to get back up as they released a trailer of what their next offering would really resemble. Many were speculating that the Galaxy Note 8 would mean a foldable display innovation that would give its client a chance to bend its screen. It was said that Samsung as of now filed a patent that would, in the end, make this element or feature conceivable.

Current news expressed that the component would be semi-automatic, giving an auxiliary display that would instantly function once the mobile phone has been folded. With this, many are eager to see the Note 8, as it is extremely handy and could be put anyplace.

Samsung Rumored to Source Galaxy Note 8 Batteries from LG https://t.co/AmYkkjWN5i pic.twitter.com/bcGddMcDgN  Rynell (@BuyUnlockedCell) December 20, 2016

In spite of the fact that many are intrigued, some are additionally stressed that the device could likewise drop down its quality with regards to the technical side. Sources have it that keeping in mind the end goal to complete things flawlessly, Samsung must place each segment or component in its appropriate position.

Then again, distributions posted that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 would surpass desires as it brings innovation to a completely new level. Value Walk expressed that the Note 8 could highlight a more prominent storage limit than its past releases. Likewise, the camera could increment in its megapixel rating than recently. Other than that, many are expecting a lot in its internal mechanics, AI assistant and determination.
Apple Latest News & Update: Cupertino Company Sweetening iPad Pro 2 Release With Bundled Keyboard

Apple finds itself backed into a corner as it tries to ramp up the impending release of the iPad Pro 2. So far, Microsoft has upped the stakes with its own device offering in the Microsoft Surface Pro 5.

Looking ahead, it may be a close call between the two corporate rivals. Apple has drawn flak for sticking to low-key specs which include processors and built-in accessories. With the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 likely bundled with ones that could easily transform it into a laptop, the Cupertino company may consider the same.

For the iPad Pro 2, the word out is that it may include a built-in keyboard. Predecessors did have provisions for such only that it would have to be bought separately. The scenario could change in 2017 if Apple does bundle it with its next tablet offering.

The belief that the iPad Pro 2 could come out with a built-in keyboard is backed by a post from Chinese site Weibo. It narrates how an aluminum shell was spotted from one of Apples suppliers, rendering rumors that one could be infused once released to the market.

Aside from that, there are a lot to factor in as far as Apples iPad offering in 2017. For the iPad Pro 2, the Home button will allegedly be taken out and be bezel-free, Mac Otakara reported. The tablet is believed to be thicker than the current models out in the market with the headphone jack still in tow.

The iPad Pro 2 display will reportedly offer the same True Tone display as the current iPad Pro 9.7 with the resolution still sketchy. Three models are expected for 2017  a 7.9-, 9.7- and a 12.9-inch model  with each catering to specific niches. The smallest will be catered to the entry-level buyers, the 9.7-inch as the recommended buy while the largest (12.9-inch) made for commercial and educational use.
A blog about life under, and resisting, a dictatorship
The current state of coffee in the mid-Willamette Valley  a plethora of Starbucks, Dutch Bros., coffee kiosks and local shops and restaurants, all offering great cups of brew  was something that Allan Stuart hoped would happen decades ago.

In 1972, Stuart started Allann Brothers in his Ashland apartment, roasting coffee beans in a cast iron skillet.

He had recently traveled to Europe and fell in love with the coffee there, and he wanted to produce a product that measured up to the blends from his trip.

This wasnt something new. There was already a culture there, Stuart said. I always imagined this would be a standard that would come to America.

Today, the small-batch roasting for Allann Brothers happens at the business headquarters in Albany off of Interstate 5, and the company has seven Beanery cafe locations, including three in Corvallis, and about 100 workers.

Starbucks was born one year before us and actually has a kind of similar backstory, said Robert Morgan, CEO of Allann Brothers.

For years after Allann Brothers' humble beginnings, it seemed there were few options for a decent cup of coffee in the mid-Willamette Valley besides the Beanery, which opened a cafe on Second Street downtown in the 1970s and in the 1980s added a shop just off the Oregon State University campus on Monroe Avenue.

So when Paul Tostberg came to town in the early 1990s, he saw a business opportunity. Tostberg grew up in Seattle, so hes always been aware of gourmet coffee, and he noticed something lacking from the local scene.

A drive-through hadnt been done in this area before, he added.

So he and his wife opened up their first coffee kiosk in the parking lot of the Timberhill Shopping Center in 1993.

The couple wanted to hedge their bet, however, so they also offered an overnight film developing service. We opened as Photo Espresso, because it wasnt a given that coffee by itself would be successful, he said.

Some locals flat out told the couple not to quit their day jobs, expecting the business to fail. And part of it did, of course, thanks to digital cameras that effectively killed off the film industry.

But coffee shops began to proliferate throughout the mid-Willamette Valley. Photo Espresso morphed into Coffee Culture, which now has four locations in Corvallis and about 50 employees.

It has changed. Today, if a coffee shop is opening, they really need to know what they are doing. The bar has been raised quite high, Tostberg said.

Much of the change in the industry was thanks to Starbucks, which has what seems like an army of locations in Linn and Benton counties.

Despite the competition, Tostberg and Morgan were appreciative of the giant Seattle-based company.

They developed the market for specialty coffee at a time when if you wanted an espresso, youd have to search out an ethnic restaurant, Tostberg said.

Smaller operators were able to ride the coattails of Starbucks, but differentiate their products, Tostberg added.

They definitely made coffee mainstream for everyone, Morgan said. Would I do it the Starbucks way? No. But would I have all these locations today without Starbucks? No.

A more recent shift in the industry is that roasters are interested in building connections with the farmers where the beans are grown.

That enables businesses like Coffee Culture and Allann Brothers to support small farms in other parts of the world and get an ethically sourced product. Its not a commodity-broker relationship anymore, Morgan said.

Unlike Coffee Culture, Allann Brothers doesnt use computer systems to aid its roasting, relying on an old beast of a machine and employees sight, hearing and smell to figure out when a batch is done, Morgan said.

We definitely have stuck to our roots, Morgan said. Black coffee is still the No. 1 selling item at the Beanery locations, but Allann Brothers, like Coffee Culture, is trying to train consumers to brew great cups of coffee at home, as well.

For 2017, Allann Brothers 45th anniversary, the business plans to put cold brew on tap in all of its Beanery locations. Morgan said the company also plans to renovate the cafes interiors, along with new food preparation methods, new manual espresso machines and an upgrade tea offerings.

But Morgan and Stuart said they still want to create places with great customer service and atmosphere to pair with the coffee.

And Tostberg doesn't expect the popularity of coffee to wane anytime soon.

Theres a reason coffee has stood the test of time over 1,000 years. People appreciate the qualities of coffee that are stimulating. And now were seeing research on the health benefits of coffee, Tostberg said.
Ten years later. Ten years after a group of Corvallis residents filled the conference room at the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce to talk about sustainability.

Ten years after an executive committee was formed and work on an action plan began and outreach to the city and organizing, always organizing.

Ten years later. The Corvallis Sustainability Coalition is 10 years old. Ten years after Annette Mills moved to Corvallis.

I feel good about what weve done and I feel good about our ability to support our partner organizations, said Mills, facilitator for the coalition since its inception. There will always be work to do. I feel very gratified that there has been such an incredible response from the community.

Mills and her husband, Dave Eckert, moved west from Falls Church, Virginia, in the fall of 2006 after an extensive, exacting search for their next landing spot. The couple wanted to be closer to family, but they also wanted to be closer to  sustainability. And they had a wish-list of 10 items.

First, they narrowed their search to Oregon. Then, they winnowed further to a final three of Corvallis, Eugene and Ashland. Corvallis won because it had nine of the items on the list (and it added the 10th after they arrived).

Here is the list: 1) university town; 2) water stability; 3) good agriculture and local food; 4) a farmers market; 5) a natural foods co-op; 6) medium size with a real downtown; 7) ability to go car-free; 8) trails and outdoor activities; 9) community involvement and 10) ethnic diversity.

Mills noted that Oregon State Universitys demographic changes and the addition of more international students enabled Corvallis to achieve the perfect 10.

When we visited we walked all the way from downtown up Madison to the university. We thought that was amazing, Mills said. And when we visited the co-op we thought we had died and gone to heaven.

Three weeks after arriving in town, Mills had joined the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. She also had been a league member in Falls Church, where she worked for 17 years as an environmental program specialist with the city.

Mills also connected with Maureen Beezhold and Bruce Hecht through her links to organizations such as Beyond War, the Northwest Earth Institute and Natural Step. A meeting at the New Morning Bakery led to the larger confab at the chamber and Jan. 10, 2007 the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition was born with a roster of 25 partner organizations.

Mills joined the steering committee, a group she has never left  Brandon Trelstad and Linda Lovett also have served all 10 years. By March the group was holding the first of its town halls, an action plan was approved in 2008, 12 action teams were formed and the roster of partners grew to include 350 organizations.

Along the way the group has worked on energy issues, water projects, local food, car-free days and a Pedalpalooza, held more town halls, worked with the city and the City Council, added a pair of paid employees, focused on boosting the local economy  and climate action.

The farthest-reaching thing weve done is climate action said Mills, who worked as part of a citizens task force to convince the City Council to make a climate plan one of its goals for this two-year council cycle. The group even brought forward a draft plan for the city to work from.

Councilors bought in and on Dec. 12 approved a climate action plan developed by a city-led task force with the assistance of outside consultants.

We really need to move this forward, Mills said. Climate change is the greatest threat to Corvallis health and global health. I really want to accelerate our efforts in this arena.

Mills, who routinely works 50 to 60 hours per work on coalition business, was asked if she expects her workload to be the same when the group turns 20.

I think I would last longer and be more personally sustainable if I didnt stay involved so much, she said.

At that point, she had to end the interview: She was getting ready to host a meeting of the coalitions grant-writing collective.
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Holidays at the hospital : 80 emergencies at the Godesberg Waldkrankenhaus

SCHWEINHEIM For everyone concerned, there are probably nicer places to spend Christmas than at the hospital. But it was anything but quiet at the Waldkrankenhaus (Wald Hospital) on the weekend.

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On a daily basis, there were around 80 emergencies to look after, reported assistant physician and surgeon Stefan Straer. He was on duty in the emergency room of the only hospital in Bad Godesberg. Its the starting point for all emergencies in the south of Bonn but it also provides coverage for those into Rhineland-Palatinate, for example in Bad Neuenahr.

Hospital aide Denis Patega said similar numbers of patients were also seen on normal weekends. On the first day of Christmas vacation, it was relatively quiet but on Christmas Eve then it was very busy. Around five ambulances came at the same time, he said. On the second day, there was also no time to rest due to a steady stream of patients. Between 9 and 12 oclock, they arrived in ten-minute intervals, said Patega.

Wounds from kitchen activities were part of the emergency room scene - carving the goose or other feathered fowl led to some cuts which needed treatment.

A domestic conflict at the Christmas table may have been cause for one visit, but it was not so bad, commented Straer. Gastro-intestinal problems also accumulated in the clinic over the holidays. Then there is only a fine line between too much good food and a virus.

Before someone lands in the emergency room, they have to get past gatekeeper Thomas Riegel. If I see people with gastro-intestinal problems or a cough, I send them at first to an emergency physicians practice, said Riegel. If someone is standing there with a nose bleed, I send them directly to the emergency clinic were an ear, nose, throat doctor is on duty.

Dr. Stefan Straer says its a perfect combination because the physicians emergency practice is just around the corner. There, nurse Sabine Jaques takes in patients. We had more people than usual before Christmas, she said. Many patients have come to us with flu and colds.

The mood is good amongst the emergency team. This especially shows during the holidays. The station is decorated nicely for the holidays and in down times, staff can sit down for short periods and chat, says Denis Patega. And so there is also the feeling of holiday spirit in the hospital - at least until the next patient arrives.
Mugging in south Tannenbusch : Bonn police searching for suspect

BONN A young man is accused of punching a young woman and stealing her cell phone. Courts have allowed investigators to release the photo to the public.

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The incident is reported to have taken place on October 1, 2016. Police reports say a 29-year-old woman and her attacker both exited the same tram but separately.

Then came the attack: The young man allegedly threw punches to the womans face, injuring her before running away with her mobile phone. Surveillance cameras on the tram captured images of the suspected mugger. Courts have allowed investigators to release the photo to the public, with the hope that they might receive information about his identity and whereabouts.

Anyone having information is asked to contact police at (0228) 150.
Samsung C5 Pro and C7 Pro Expected to Launch on January 21 Features oi -Sneha Samsung C5 Pro and C7 Pro to launch in January.

Samsung is in news yet again, not for another fiasco, but for a good reason. Based on the recent reports, the South Korean mobile manufacturing giant will be launching two brand new smartphones on January 21, 2017, namely Samsung C5 Pro and C7 Pro.

Days back, Galaxy C7 and C5 Pro's unseen pictures were leaked and reports were such that the devices were taken for certification in China by the regulatory agency TENAA. As per the latest rumors now, the two brand new Samsung smartphones are now certified by the agency and are expected to be unveiled on January 21, 2017.

SEE ALSO: Gionee M2017 Launches with Dual-rear Camera and 7000mAh Lithium-ion Battery



Reports suggest that the Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro might be equipped with a 5.2-inch display along with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity. The smartphone is expected to have Android 6.0.1 pre-installed and employ a Snapdragon 626 chipset along with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 506 GPU. As per the camera set up is concerned, the C5 Pro might come with 16MP rear and front camera units along with a pretty decent 3000mAh battery.

SEE ALSO: Four New Mid-range 4G VoLTE Smartphones Hit the Indian Market



However, considering the Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro, rumors suggest that the smartphone might be packed with a 5.7-inch display along with a Snapdragon 626 chipset with an octa-core CPU running at a clock speed of 2.2GHz. The handset is expected to run on Android 6.0.1 pre-installed and come packed with 4GB RAM along with 64GB of internal storage. As per the camera specs, C7 Pro is pretty similar to that of C5 Pro, as the smartphone is expected to be fitted with a 16MP back and front-facing camera modules.

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Top 10 Rumored Smartphones Scheduled to Release in 2017-2018 Features oi -Harish Kumar Upcoming rumored smartphones that will be announced in 2017-2018.

The year 2016 is about to end and we've already seen a few great smartphones in the form of Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Google Pixel and Pixel XL, Apple iPhone 7, and much more. And based on the rumor mill, the year 2017 should be even more promising especially considering the fact that it marks the 10th anniversary of Apple iPhone.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most-awaited 6GB-8GB RAM Smartphones of 2017

What's more? Nokia, our favorite smartphone brand is about to make a grand comeback with a couple of smartphones (at least).

We have collated a list of top 10 upcoming rumored smartphones that will be announced in 2017. Take a look at them below.

Nokia P1 Key Features

5.5 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen

Android OS, v6.0 (Marshmallow)

Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652

Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A72 & 4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53)

13 MP Rear Camera

5 MP Front Camera

Non-removable Li-Ion battery Click Here for More Details. iPhone 8 Key Features

6-inch Super OLED Display

iOS 10

14 MP Rear Camera

4 MP Front Camera

Internal Memory: 16/32/64/128/256 GB

4/6 GB of RAM

Li-on 2500 mAh Battery Click Here For More Details. Samsung Galaxy S8 Key Features

5.2 inch 4K display with a 4096 x 2160 screen resolution

Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, fingerprint scanner

Snapdragon Qualcomm octa-core 3.2 GHz processor

Current Android operating system 2017

6 GB RAM/8GB RAM

64 and 128 GB internal memory and expandable with dual micro SD cards

30 Megapixels

9.0 Megapixels

4200 mAh Battery Click Here for More Details. Huawei P10 Key Features

a 5.5-inch panel, with QHD resolution

Android, Marshmallow 6.0

Quad core processor, Kirin 960 SoC

4GB of RAM

64GB of on-board storage

A higher tier model with a 6GB

plus 128GB setup is also suggested

Upto 128 GB (microSD) Click Here for More Details. OnePlus 4 Key Features

5.2-inches 4K screen which can easily give 4096 x 2160 resolution

It is going to have 2.5 - 2.7 GHZ 16-core processor

It is going to have 23 Mega-Pixel rear camera and 7 Mega-Pixel front-facing camera

Mi6 is of different storage

32 GB, 64 GB and 128

extended using Micro SD slot

The storage can be easily double using Micro SD slot

It is going to have 4000 mAh battery Click Here for More Details Microsoft Surface Phone Key Features

5.7 inch AMOLED Quad HD display

Gorilla Glass 4 protection

Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 chipset

8 GB RAM (DDR4) / 512 GB internal storage

21 MP rear camera & 8 MP front camera with Carl Zeiss wide angled lens

Surface pen and keyboard integrated in the flip cover

In-built kick stand

4000 mAh battery Click Here for More Details Xiaomi Mi 6 Key Features

5.2-inches 4K screen which can easily give 4096 x 2160 resolution

It is going to have 2.5 - 2.7 GHZ 16-core processor

It is going to have 23 Mega-Pixel rear camera and 7 Mega-Pixel front-facing camera

Mi6 is of different storage, 32 GB, 64 GB and 128

extended using Micro SD slot

double using Micro SD slot

It is going to have 4000 mAh battery Click Here for More Details LG G6 Key Features

5.6 inch 4K display with a 4096 x 2160 screen resolution

5 GB RAM

Snapdragon Qualcomm Octa-core 3.0 GHz processor

Current Android 6.0 Operating System

24 Megapixels Camera

7.0 Megapixels Front camera

4200 mAh Battery Click Here for More Details. HTC 11 Key Features

a 5.5-inch screen with QHD display resolution

Android 7.0 Nougat

powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile processor

Adreno 540 GPU

a 12MP dual primary camera

8MP selfie cameraMemory capacity of

8GB of RAM

256GB of internal and on-board storage

3700 mAh battery Click Here for More Details Sony Xperia C6 Key Features 5.5 inches 1080 x 1920 pixels

Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)

Octa-core 1.7 GHz

16 GB Storage, 3 GB RAM

Li-Ion 2900 mAh battery

13 Megapixels Camera Click Here for More Details.

Best Mobiles in India
UK councils abused laws to spy on Brits for 5 years: Report

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:39AM

Councils across the UK have abused a law to carry out an extensive spying program on unsuspecting citizens a period of five years, a new report shows.

According to a mass freedom of information request by the Liberal Democrats party, at least 186 local authorities have used secret listening devices, cameras and private detectives to spy on Britons under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), The Guardian reported on Sunday.

The freedom of information request was sent to 283 local authorities but nearly 100 of them decided not to reply.

The paper said it was in possession of evidence that showed local authorities were given permission to conduct 55,000 days of covert surveillance.

The report noted that the councils had launched 2,800 separate surveillance operations, some of them stretching over 90 days each.

Midlothian council, for example, used the law to monitor dog barking and Allerdale borough council tried to find out who was feeding pigeons.

Lancaster city council, meanwhile, used the act for "targeted dog fouling enforcement" in two hotspots over 11 days in 2012.

RIPA's critics argue that the government has failed to keep its promise on using the spying law only when it is absolutely necessary.

"It is absurd that local authorities are using measures primarily intended for combating terrorism for issues as trivial as a dog barking or the sale of theatre tickets. Spying on the public should be a last resort not an everyday tool," said Brian Paddick, the Lib Dem who represents the party on home affairs.

The report comes as the British government is already under fire for its plans to conduct an indiscriminate mass gathering of data on British citizens by introducing a bill called the Investigatory Powers Act (IP Act).

Approved by the parliament last month, the law gave far-reaching mass surveillance powers to police and intelligence services.

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled last week that that the legislation was illegal because it "prescribes general and indiscriminate retention of data."

The ruling means London cannot implement the legislation as long as it remains a member of the European Union (EU).

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UK Local Authorities Revealed Spying on Citizens for 5 Years

Sputnik News

09:49 26.12.2016(updated 09:59 26.12.2016)

UK local authorities have been spying on public via listening devices, cameras and private detectives for five years, media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to The Guardian newspaper, the authorities used the government's Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), which could be applied only in criminal cases, to spy on ordinary citizens.

Separate surveillance operations were reportedly revealed in a huge freedom of information exercise carried out by the Liberal Democrats.

In July, media reported about ongoing non-justifiable secret surveillance on UK top officials.

In November, the UK parliament adopted the Investigatory Powers Bill, which forced Internet companies to retain user details for 12 months and raised serious concerns about privacy from civil liberty groups.

Apart from data retention, the new surveillance law enables the UK security services and police to hack into phones and computers as well as gives police a new power to view call and web records of journalists.

 Sputnik

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Coalition Continues Attacks Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 26, 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 and fighter aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Al Shadaddi, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units, destroyed two vehicles and a heavy machine gun.

-- Near Ar Raqqah, 11 strikes engaged eight ISIL tactical units, destroyed 11 fighting positions, four tactical vehicles, a heavy machine gun, a car bomb and damaged a supply route.

-- Near Manbij, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.

Strikes in Iraq

Bomber and fighter aircraft conducted four strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Mosul, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units, destroyed six fighting positions, a land bridge, two tactical vehicles, two buildings, a heavy machine gun, two mortars, suppressed an ISIL tactical unit and two mortar teams, and damaged a supply route.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed a front-end loader.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike destroyed an ISIL warehouse.

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, 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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Israeli reporter offers proof of Mossad killing Tunisian drone expert

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:4PM

An Israeli investigative reporter has offered proof that a Tunisian drone expert who worked for the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas was killed by Mossad.

Following a lengthily investigation, Alon Ben David of Channel 10 TV published an article in the Maariv daily on Monday in which he gave proof that Mohamed Zaouari was baited by an Israeli spy posing as a journalist.

"The bait was a Mossad agent who conducted a series of interviews with him," said David in his report. "When she proved credible, she asked him for what should have been the final interview," he added.

David noted that instead of the reporter two Mossad agents from the Kidon Unit showed up for the meeting. "By the time that they had liquidated him, the bait had already left Tunisia," he added.

He also said that the procedure used to assassinate Zaouari was nothing unusual for Mossad that use interviews as bait to carry out the killings.

Zaouari, a 49-year-old Tunisian national, was shot 20 times outside his house in the country's port city, Sfax, on December 15.

Last week, over 200 Tunisians took to the streets of the capital, Tunis, to protest against Israel's assassination of the engineer.

Holding Tunisian and Palestinian flags, demonstrators walked up a main thoroughfare in Tunis December 20, chanting "With our soul, with our blood, we will avenge you Palestine."

Hamas's al-Qassam Martyrs Brigade said Zaouari was killed by "Zionist treachery," adding that the victim had worked for the anti-Israeli resistance front for 10 years.

Back in 2012, Israel admitted to the 1988 assassination of Abu Jihad, the second-in-command of the Palestine Liberation Organization, in a raid on the movement's Tunis headquarters.

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DR Congo troops kill 10 soldiers from Burundi who crossed border in hunt for rebels

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:1PM

Armed forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) say they have killed 10 Burundian soldiers after they crossed the border from the neighboring country in hunt for rebels.

The Congolese army made the announcement on Monday, saying the fatalities had occurred in the lakeside town of Uvira in the eastern province of South Kivu last week.

Dieudonne Kajibwami, the provincial military spokesman, said Congolese soldiers opened fire on the Burundian troops when they crossed the border after midnight on Wednesday in pursuit of rebels from the ethnic Hutu National Forces of Liberation (FNL).

Another Congolese army officer, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, however, said of an agreement between Burundi and the DRC that allowed Burundian soldiers to act in pursuit of FNL rebels when they fled to the DRC.

"Normally, there is cooperation between the two armies," the officer said, adding that, "The reason for this glitch" lay in the absence of a military commander and ignorance among the soldiers about "the deal between the two sides."

The FNL is believed to have about 500 fighters based in South Kivu Province.

The Burundian army has declined to comment on the last week incident.

Burundi witnessed a civil war between majority Hutus and minority Tutsis between 1993 and 2005, which killed around 300,000 people. In September 2006, the Burundi government signed the Arusha peace deal with Hutus.

The country also plunged into turmoil in late April 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former rebel leader from the Hutu tribe, announced his decision to run for a third consecutive five-year term.

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Several injured as bomber attacks market in northeast Nigeria

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 2:21PM

A number of people have been injured after a bomber attacked a cattle market in Nigeria's violence-plagued state of Borno.

The bomb blast was carried out on Monday, when a female assailant detonated her explosives at the Kasuwan Shanu market in Maiduguri, the militancy-riddled capital of the northeastern Nigerian state.

Witnesses and local residents said that a number of people had been injured in the assault. However, there was no official confirmation of casualties.

Nigerian police said in a statement that a second woman who had a bomb was "lynched by an irate mob in the vicinity." Security forces later managed to detonate her device.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the bomb attack. Nigerian officials, however, often blame such acts of terror on the Boko Haram Takfiri militant group, which has been active since 2009.

The latest attack comes as Boko Haram militants continue to stage bombings in the northeast and in neighboring Niger and Cameroon.

A suspected Boko Haram bomber killed at least two civilians in Cameroon on Sunday. The bombing was carried out in the town of Mora, near the Nigerian border.

Mora, which has frequently been hit by deadly attacks by Boko Haram, is home to the headquarters of a joint force consisting of soldiers from Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad, which is tasked with battling the terror group.

Boko Haram started its campaign with the aim of toppling the Nigerian government. The Takfiri terrorist group later expanded its activities to the neighboring countries of Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Boko Haram terrorists have so far killed more than 20,000 people and forced over 2.7 million others from their homes. The group has pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists operating mainly in Syria and Iraq.

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Saudi jets intensify airstrikes on Yemen, use cluster bombs

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:35AM

Saudi fighter jets have intensified their airstrikes against Yemeni provinces, using more internationally-banned arms in their latest raids.

According to Yemen's al-Masirah television, Saudi Arabia dropped cluster bombs on Harad district in Hajjah Province on Monday.

Cluster bombs, which can contain hundreds of bomblets, pose risks to civilians both during and after attacks. Unexploded bomblets can claim lives long after a conflict is over.

Multiple rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have on various occasions reported the use of cluster bombs by Riyadh in Yemen.

Saudi fighter jets also launched two airstrikes against residential areas in Amran Province and another two on Dhahir district in the province of Sa'ada on Monday.

The kingdom's warplanes further pounded a residential building in Asilan district in Shabwah Province.

Three other air raids hit the Madfoun area and Asrat valley in Nihm district, northwest of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.

There were no immediate reports of possible casualties.

In Nihm, the Yemeni troops killed 15 Saudi-backed mercenaries in an attack on the militants' positions on Monday, a day after tens of the mercenaries, including five commanders, were killed during clashes with Yemen's forces there.

In another retaliatory attack, Yemeni army snipers killed a Saudi solider in Tal'a military base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern province of Najran on Monday.

The Yemeni forces also fired a volley of Katyusha rockets at Qarn military base in Jizan Province in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Saudi army's position in Hamraa hill in the same province was also targeted by Yemeni artillery attacks.

Meanwhile, a fire erupted at a Saudi military base in Jizan's Muthalath al-Rokhba after the Yemeni troops fired artillery shells at the site.

On Sunday, the Yemeni forces launched rocket attacks on al-Meqran military base in Jizan, killing and injuring a number of Saudi officers.

Yemeni media also released footage on Sunday showing the losses and casualties suffered by Saudi army and its mercenaries near Khadra border crossing in Najran as Yemeni forces thwarted their attempts to advance in the area.

The Yemeni troops also seized a large amount of weapons and ammunition from Saudi mercenaries during the operations.

Saudi Arabia began its military aggression against Yemen in late March, 2015 in a bid to restore power to former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

The campaign has claimed the lives of more than 11,400 people, according to figures compiled by the Yemeni non-governmental monitoring group Legal Center for Rights and Development.

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Netanyahu, US ambassador meet over UNSC rebuke of Israel

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 5:56AM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro are said to have met late Sunday after the envoy was summoned in a sign of Tel Aviv's fury over Washington's abstention from a vote at the United Nations Security Council against illegal Israeli settlements.

According to reports, the meeting took place two days after Washington's refusal to veto the UN Security Council resolution, a rare departure from America's long-standing practice of using its veto power to shield Israel from UN condemnation.

"We can confirm Ambassador Shapiro will meet with PM Netanyahu this evening. We will have no other details to offer," a State Department spokesperson told CNN, using diplomatic parlance to downplay the crisis.

Aside from Shapiro, Netanyahu also summoned representatives of 10 of the 14 UNSC states that backed the resolution, including permanent members Russia, China, Britain and France.

According to the Israeli foreign ministry, Netanyahu was yet to meet with the 10 envoys.

The Israeli PM told his cabinet earlier in the day that US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry were responsible for the "shameful" vote.

"From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed," Netanyahu told his ministers on Sunday.

Tel Aviv has made it clear that it won't be bound by Resolution 2334, which demands an immediate end to illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories like East Jerusalem al-Quds.

The White House has denied claims that Obama was trying to "get back" at Netanyahu by abstaining from the vote.

"Bipartisan policy of the US government for decades has been to oppose settlements. The reason we took this step is because for years, we've seen an acceleration in the growth of these settlements. And frankly, if these current trends continue, the two-state solution is going to be impossible," Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said Friday.

Following the Security Council measure, Netanyahu said he was looking forward to working with US President-elect Donald Trump, who personally intervened to keep the measure from coming up to a vote earlier.

More than half a million Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

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Macedonia's Political Crisis Could Continue Despite Early Vote

RFE/RL December 26, 2016

Macedonia's two main political parties are each vowing to try to form the next government, potentially extending the Balkan country's political crisis, despite a parliamentary election and rerun of a potentially game-changing local vote that awarded victory to the country's long-ruling conservatives.

The VMRO-DPMNE, led by former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, has been confirmed as winning 51 parliamentary seats in early elections held on December 11, even after losing a December 25 rerun of the vote in the village of Tearce.

Had the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM) improved sufficiently in its oroginal showing in the re-vote, it could have gained a 50th seat at the expense of the VMRO-DPMNE and prevented it from forming a coalition government.

"As winners of the elections, we will remain dedicated to the future steps of forming a new government," the VMRO-DPME said in a release shortly after the Tearce win.

The victory appears to put the VMRO-DPMNE in position to work with Gruevski's long-time ethnic-Albanian allies in the Democratic Union (DUI), which controls 10 seats, to create a 61-seat parliamentary majority -- the smallest possible majority in the 120-seat parliament.

But the Social Democrats, too, are indicating that they plan on leading the next government.

"The new government will be led by SDSM," Reuters quoted a spokesman for the party as saying on December 26. "Macedonia will have a responsible government ... that will bring democratic changes."

The developments have the potential to extend a political crisis that dates back to early 2015, when the Social Democrats accused the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, led by then-Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, of illegally wiretapping the telephones of tens of thousands of civilians and political opponents.

The scandal eventually led to massive street protests that prompted EU mediation, Gruevski's resignation, the installation of an interim government, and the early December 11 elections.

With the results, a new government is expected to be in place by February.

'Symbolic' Results

Petre Shilegov, a parliamentarian for the Social Democrats, dismissed the results of the Tearce rerun as "symbolic."

"The people of Tearce, like the rest of the Macedonian voters, opted for change and a better future," he was quoted as saying by the Sarajevo-based BalkanInsight.com.

State election officials ordered the December 25 rerun in Tearce, about 50 kilometers northwest of the capital Skopje, after the Social Democrats complained of voting irregularities there during the original December 11 ballot.

Election results posted on the web of Macedonia's Election Commission show the Social Democrats won 245 votes in the rerun compared to 149 for Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party.

But the Social Democrats had needed to secure 307 votes in the village to gain a 50th seat.

Out of 714 registered voters in Tearce, only 402 cast ballots on December 25. The remaining eight votes were split among ethnic Albanian parties.

In the annulled December 11 vote in Tearce, 404 registered voters had cast ballots -- with the VMRO-DPMNE winning 91 votes compared to 87 for the Social Democrats. The rest were split among four ethnic-Albanian parties.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service, AP, Reuters, Balkan Insight, and Independent MK

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/macedonia- election-rerun-conservatives- hold-margin/28197095.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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US Ignores Afghanistan Sending Foreign Donors' Money to Abusive Militia Leaders

Sputnik News

17:03 26.12.2016(updated 17:21 26.12.2016)

US authorities ignored the fact that the Afghan national directorate of security (NDS) had been arming several groups across the country that used to violate human rights, according to the statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  US authorities have ignored the fact that Afghanistan's authorities sometimes send money allocated to the country's spy agencies by foreign donors to militia groups that violate human rights, media reported Monday, citing sources.

The Afghan national directorate of security (NDS) had been arming several groups across the country in order to make them fight against the Taliban Islamist movement and other militant groups. For these purposes, the Afghan agency uses money sent to Kabul by its foreign partners, among other sources.

According to The Guardian newspaper, some of these militiamen used the received funds to reach their own goals that could contradict the goals of the NDS and even result in clashes of such militants with the government forces.

Kabul reportedly provided some $85,000 to arm a group in one of the northern provinces, however part of this sum had been allegedly spent to create a private prison for the enemies of its leader, while his fighters also attacked a local politician.

US officials, including the ones from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), refused to comment on the situation, the paper added.

Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with Taliban insurgents and other extremist factions operating in the country.

 Sputnik

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Afghanistan Police Kill Top Taliban Commander in Ghazni Province

Sputnik News

14:06 26.12.2016

Mullah Firoz Jahadi, a senior Taliban commander was killed during an anti-terror operation in the country's central province of Ghazni, according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Afghan National Police on Monday killed a senior Taliban commander during an anti-terror operation in the country's central province of Ghazni, local media reported Monday.

Afghanistan's police killed Mullah Firoz Jahadi among five other militants of the Islamist movement and injured another nine, the TOLO news channel reported, citing the country's Interior Ministry.

During the operation, police officers had seized two rocket launchers, two PK machine guns and one vehicle, the media outlet added.

Afghanistan is in a state of political and social turmoil, with government forces fighting the continuing Taliban insurgency. The instability in the Asian country is supported by regular terror attacks and killings of civilians.

 Sputnik

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CAR Gets First Building Block in New National Army

By Zack Baddorf December 26, 2016

The Central African Republic is getting a New Year's present of sorts: trained soldiers, the first in what the government hopes will be a rebuilt national army.

It's only 170 men, a small fraction of the number needed to stabilize the crisis-wracked CAR; but, authorities were pleased with what they saw last week, when the troops, after 14 weeks of training from a European Union mission, showed off a hostage rescue simulation, rope climbing and other skills for senior military leaders at a military camp in Bangui.

"Today, I'm satisfied," said Joseph Yakete, Central African Republic's minister of defense. "The people of the Central African Republic have seen today the fruit of the work that has been done."

A divided nation

The CAR has not had a national army since 2013, when rebels overthrew the president and the country descended into widespread violence, much of it between Muslims and Christian militias. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced from their homes, with many Muslims fleeing the country.

The European Union Council decided in April 2016 to work to "reform" the CAR's security forces "in order to stabilize the situation in support of the political process."

The 170 troops  who will make up the first company of the CAR's 3rd Infantry Battalion  were the first to complete the EU Training Mission's course. The young men were selected to serve in the army because of their physical health, intellectual capacity and age, according to the CAR's military chief of staff, Brigadier General Cema Ludovic Ngaifei.

European soldiers instructed the trainees in physical fitness, communications, close quarters combat, topography, first aid, weapons training, and other skills necessary for combat.

Without an ability to ensure peace and security, Yakete said, the country will never develop economically.

"It's our mission to restore and consolidate a climate of peace," he said. "You must have permanent security to enable the government to regain control of its national territory."

The government's forces lack control in much of the countryside with armed groups holding mineral-rich areas and taxing trade along the roads.

More training coming

The EU will start training two more companies in January, allowing the country's first battalion to be fully operational within a few months. The trainers plan to certify two to three battalions of troops before their mission ends in September 2018.

The Europeans would train more soldiers if they had more time and resources.

"You would like your country to be rebuilt overnight with the snap of a finger," Major General Eric Hautecloque-Raysz, the EU Training Mission commander, told the media. "Well, the reconstruction of the Central African Republic today requires time and requires patience. This work we are doing, we are trying to build something solid, built on concrete, not sand, so that it lasts."

A United Nations Security Council arms embargo implemented in late 2013 limits the ability of the Central African Republic soldiers. The government has repeatedly called for the lifting of the embargo so their troops can be operationally effective.

The army is permitted to acquire some weapons, if granted permission by the United Nations' sanctions committee.

Hautecloque-Raysz told VOA he's "quite sure" that the certification of these newly-trained Central African Republic soldiers is a "good reason" for the partial lifting of the embargo.

"If the Central African government is requesting the partial lift to equip that corps, it will be done," he continued.

The French general, however, said the Central African Republic army will likely require donors to actually pay for the new weapons.

At the certification ceremony, Hautecloque-Raysz told the graduating troops that this was a great day for the Central African army and that he took great pride in being part of its professionalization.

The soldiers themselves were looking forward to serving. One of the younger soldiers told the visiting dignitaries that "It's what we do in the field that matters." He concluded his speech with shouts of "Long live the EUTM! Long live the Central African Republic army!"

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Civilians Helping Governments Stake Claims in South China Sea

By Ralph Jennings December 26, 2016

A statement from China that daily civilian charter flights would serve the contested sea off its south coast raises the growing profile of civilians as a tool for governments to bolster their claims in Asia's most widespread sovereignty dispute.

The launch Thursday of flights from Haikou in southern China to Woody Island in the South China Sea, as reported by Beijing's state-run Xinhua News Agency, extends Beijing's broader campaign to build up the surrounding Paracel archipelago with military and other civilian presence.

That expansion has angered rival Paracel claimant Vietnam.

Disputed region

But the flights mark just the latest move among five governments to position civilians in the disputed sea of about 3.5 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles). China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines have let nonmilitary people occupy some of the sea's roughly 500 tiny land features to date.

Civilians on site add credibility to sovereignty claims and deter any designs by one claimant to attack another, analysts say.

"A human shield is probably an extreme way to put it, but if you have your own populations on these islands, it raises the political cost of conflict for anyone else who tries to take them over," said Euan Graham, international security director with the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney.

Malaysia caught the first wave of attention for civilian use of the South China Sea in 1989 for opening its artificial Layang-Layang Island in the Spratly chain to tourists. Originally built for naval use, the island has a 53-room diving resort and gets direct flights from the Borneo side of Malaysia.

About 200 people live on Taiping Island, the largest feature in the Spratly chain, to support the Taiwan coast guard. Taiwan has also flown journalists to the islet, which has a clinic and a solar energy system.

Elsewhere in the Spratlys, the Philippines has posted about 100 civilians, along with military personnel, on the second-largest land feature Thitu Island, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative under U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. Most of the civilians are civil servants and their families, the initiative says.

Woody Island claims

China established Sansha City on Woody Island in 2012 and at least 1,000 people work there in fishing, paramilitary jobs and local commerce. Vietnamese people run schools, a clinic and military installations on their government's South China Sea holdings. Both allow tourism, and China says the charter flights will further that cause.

"For the most part, the civilian populations on many of the features in the South China Sea are either working for or otherwise supported by their respective governments," said Jonathan Spangler, director of the South China Sea Think Tank in Taipei.

"Tourism has been limited in the South China Sea for practical, economic and political reasons," Spangler added. "Even so, both China and Vietnam have organized cruise ship tours to their occupied features, and some Philippine officials have advocated doing the same."

Civilian use of the islets shores up a respective government's "effective control" under international law, said Oh Ei Sun, international studies instructor at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. Other countries will see China's civilian flights as a renewal of claims to the Paracels, he said, but less severely than a show of military force.

The foreign ministry in Vietnam called Chinese flights to Woody Island "a serious violation" of Vietnamese "sovereignty" over the Paracels, according to the country's online news service, VnExpress.net.

South China Sea stakes

Countries with stakes in the South China Sea value its fisheries, shipping lanes, and possible undersea reserves of gas and oil. Beijing's expansion into the sea since 2010, plus its sweeping claim to about 95 percent of its waters, has put the other claimants on guard.

"Because there are rival claims by other Southeast Asian nations ... of course they would see (charter flights) as China's assertion of sovereignty over those parts of the South China Sea over which they may have overlapping claims," Oh said. "But on the other hand, it's civilian use. It's much more preferable to, let's say, China projecting its military presence, projecting its military prowess in in the same part of (the) South China Sea."

Civilians often get sent to help military installations, however, and analysts believe China uses private fishing boats as a stand-in for patrolling waters disputed by other countries.

Civilian access to the Paracel Islands may excite the Chinese public, said Graham, of the Lowy Institute. Chinese feel strongly about their government's disputed claims to Tibet and Taiwan in part because they are occupied, he added.

"Giving (civilians) direct access to these features is also a way of selling the message about importance of sovereignty to their own populations," Graham said.

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Christmas Attacks in Cameroon Underscore Continued Boko Haram Threat

By Moki Edwin Kindzeka December 26, 2016

The governor of the Far North region of Cameroon says a local self-defense group was able to prevent an attack by Boko Haram against Christians getting ready to celebrate Christmas, a sign that the militant group remains a danger in the region.

Governor Midjiyawa Bakari said members of a self-defense group detected a suspected Boko Haram fighter riding his bicycle toward an area in the town of Mora, on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria, where Christians were assembling for Christmas Mass on Sunday.

Bakari said when the vigilantes tried to search the man, he immediately detonated his explosives, killing himself and a nearby civilian by the name of Ibrahim Mahama.

He said two members of the self-defense group were also killed. One died at the scene while another died later at a hospital. He said at least eight other people were also wounded in the suicide bomb attack.

Local media also reported three other armed attacks occurred on Sunday at Fotokol, Belgede and Madam, all on Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria. The attacks reportedly left several wounded.

The fresh violence comes two days after Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari announced troops had chased Boko Haram militants out of their key remaining base in the Sambisa forest. The forest straddles Cameroon's border with Nigeria.

While Buhari said the militants have been crushed in northeast Nigeria, towns just across the border in northern Cameroon saw a string of attacks, underscoring the continued threat, Bakari said.

He urged residents to remain vigilant to the threat posed by Boko Haram and used as an example the string of attacks.

Bakari said the suicide bomber would have attacked a church had he not been identified and stopped by the local self-defense group.

However, in a sign of progress against the Boko Haram militants, Cameroon and Nigeria earlier this month pointed to the reopening of the border between the two countries  for the first time in three years.

Boko Haram's six-year insurgency has killed more than 25,000 people and displaced nearly 2.3 million, according to rights groups and the United Nations.

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Netanyahu Says Israel Not to 'Turn Other Cheek' After UNSC Resolution

Sputnik News

01:42 27.12.2016

Israel's response to the UN Security Council resolution condemning its settlement-building policy in the West Bank demonstrates that Israel will not "turn the other cheek" and at the same time it will not harm its relations with other countries as they only respect strong nations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik)  In response to the adoption of the resolution, Netanyahu ordered the state's Foreign Ministry to review the UN-Israel relationship, including the issues related to Israeli contributions to UN budget and the presence of the organization's representatives in the Jewish state. He also summoned on Sunday 14 ambassadors of the UN Security Council (UNSC) member states, including Russia, following their vote on a resolution.

"This is a wise, deliberate and vigorous reaction, a natural response of a healthy nation, which makes it clear to the nations of the world that what took place at the United Nations is not acceptable to us  Israel is the country with national pride, and we will not turn the other cheek," Netanyahu said on Monday.

According to the prime minister, a tough response will change the way Israel is treated by other countries.

"There is no political wisdom to curry favor. Our relations with other countries will not only be unaffected but shall improve over time since other countries respect strong states that are ready to stand up for themselves, and they do not respect weak nations that curry favor and bow their heads," the prime minister stressed.

On December 23, the UN Security Council passed a resolution in a 14-0 vote, with the only abstention from the United States, condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The resolution states that Israel should immediately and completely cease all settlement activities on "occupied Palestinian territory," including in East Jerusalem.

Over 500,000 Israeli settlers are estimated to be living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel captured during the 1967 war. The settlements are considered illegal by the United Nations.

 Sputnik

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Iranian Civil Aviation - Recapitalization

Amid concerns that the US decision to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal would lead to the loss of close to $40 billion in contracts for Boeing and Airbus, Russian airplane builders had a historic opportunity to receive a new foreign market for its latest designs. President Trump announced 08 May 2018 that the US would withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 deal on the Iranian nuclear weapons program. Bloomberg described the decision as a catastrophic "lost opportunity," with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin confirming to reporters there was little hope that the US and European aircraft-building giants would get a chance to sell close to $40 billion in new planes to Iran. The Treasury had confirmed that it would withdraw export licenses on the sale of planes to the country. Like Boeing, Airbus too would be subject to US export restrictions, because over 10% of the parts in its planes are made by US suppliers.

Airbus had 95 undelivered planes that it had hoped to sell to Iran, including 16 orders of its A350 wide-body, long-range jet airliner, and 28 for the A330neo, another wide-body that's still under development. Boeing had been more fortunate; its conservative approach following President Trump's election means that it never actually closed its planned transaction with Iran Air on planes including the 777-300ER wide body airliner. But the company did have some $16.6 billion in contracts for 80 jets, with these orders now almost certainly void.

There's no word yet on how much the new Il-96 would cost, with predecessors hovering in the $40 to $50 million price range. However, accounting for inflation and new technology costs, even a doubling, tripling or quadrupling of the price would still put the Il-96-400M well below the cost of the A350 (priced from $317 million to $336 million), and the Boeing 777 ($295 million to $361 million). The MC-21 was designed to be a direct competitor to the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320, and priced at $72 million for the 200 variant and $91 million for the 300 (for comparison, the cheapest model in the A320 family costs $77.4 million).

The head of IranAir took delivery on 11 January 2017 of the first new Western jet under an international sanctions deal, calling it a sunny day for peace and friendship between Iran and Europe and a memorable one for aviation in the nation of 80 million people. IranAir Chairman Farhad Parvaresh invited the plane making chief of Airbus to fly onboard the new A321, which had been painted in IranAirs livery, to Tehran where the airline plans to mark its arrival in its fleet with a ceremony. The 189-seat plane was the first of 100 ordered from Airbus.

Replacing Iran's antiquated civil aviation fleet was one of the biggest economic opportunities of the 2015 accord to lift sanctions, which was negotiated by the outgoing administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. President elect Donald Trump was a vocal critic of the pact. Despite Iran's great need for new planes to replace those from the sanctions era, it had entered the market at a time when Boeing, Airbus and smaller planemakers have all faced a downturn in orders, and are therefore expected to offer deep discounts.

Iranian officials have said the country needed as many as 500 jets to renew its fleet which had suffered under US-led sanctions for years. Irans current civil aviation fleet consists of 248 aircraft with an average age of 20 years, of which 100 are grounded. Iranian officials have announced that the country needs as many as 500 jets to rejuvenate its aviation fleet. "Out of 250 planes in the country, 230 need to be replaced," Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, stated 20 June 2016.

Aviation giants Airbus and Boeing announced 23 September 2016 that they had received permission from the US government to sell aircraft to Iran, part of a series of landmark deals potentially worth some $50 billion in total following the 2015 nuclear accord. Apart from Boeing and Airbus, Iran had also already started talks with Canadas Bombardier, Brazils Embraer and Japans Mitsubishi over plane supply agreements.

Iran cooperated with Ukraine and Russia in the production and operation of Antonov An-140 airliner, which can carry 52 passengers. In December 1998 Antonov confirmed that it had signed a contract with the Iranian Government for the construction of 80 An-140 new generation turboprops. After purchasing the production license for An-140 from Ukraine in 2000, Iran built its first Iran-140 passenger plane in 2003. By 2016, a total of nine were in service. Vaporware In May 1997 it was reported that Tupolev was holding talks with Iranian officials over manufacturing its 212-seat Tu-204 and 100-seat Tu-334 twinjets in Iran. As of 2008 Irans Aviation Industries Organization planned to manufacture 100 advanced Tupolev Tu-214 and Tu-204 airplanes with a capacity of 210 persons each in cooperation with Russia within the next 10 years. Representatives of Iran's aviation industry planned to buy Ukrainian An-148 planes and arrange their batch licensed production in that country. Representatives of Iran Air and Iran Air Tour disclosed these plans following presentation of An-148 at Iran Air Show' 2008. By 2016, nothings seemed to have come of this scheme - none were reported in service, and there were seemingly no photographs of this aircraft in Iranian livery. Russia may supply nearly 100 Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional passenger jets to Iran within the next five years, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on 19 November 2015. [The Iranians] are interested in the SSJ100 as a plane, which could become the main workhorse for their leading carriers, Rogozin said in comments, carried by Rossiya-24 TV channel. Yesterday evening, shortly before our departure, one of their flagship companies was negotiating with our United Aircraft Corporation on the delivery within the next five years of nearly a hundred Superjets, now ready to ship, Rogozin added. Regional Aircraft An Iranian civil aviation official played down reports on negotiations with Japan's Mitsubishi Aircraft for purchase of regional passenger jets. The Japanese company said it was negotiating jet sales with Iran's flag carrier Iran Air and Aseman Airlines, as well as the country's aviation authorities. These talks are only at the level of negotiations and speculation and nothing was final. So it cannot be looked at as a serious matter, Secretary of the Iranian Airlines Association Maghsoud Samani was quoted as saying 17 July 2016. Mitsubishi Aircraft made its maiden test flight in November but development snags have delayed its planned entry into operation, dealing a blow to Japans long-held ambition to re-establish a commercial aircraft industry. On Wednesday, Mitsubishi Aircraft spokesman Miho Takahashi was quoted as saying that the company was researching the Iranian market which it believed needed around 100-150 regional jets over the next 10 years. Iran confirmed 23 February 2016 that it had ordered 50 planes from Brazil's Embraer, the world's third biggest commercial aircraft manufacturer. The confirmation was made by Mohammad Bagher Nobakht, the countrys government spokesman who emphasized that the deal with Embraer would be a hire purchase contract. The two countries had started discussions over the purchase of the planes, along with a potential package of taxis, buses and trucks, in October when Brazilian Trade Minister Armando Monteiro led a delegation to Tehran. the company expects the US Treasury Department to issue a license for it  like the one it issued for Frances aviation giant Airbus  to move ahead with a plan to sell at least 20 of its E-195 jets to the Islamic Republic. The value of the deal was estimated to be over $1 billion. An Iran trade deal could also be a shot in the arm for struggling automakers in Brazil, where car sales dropped by more than a quarter last year and demand for heavy trucks was nearly halved due to a severe economic downturn. Canadas flag-carrier Bombardier said in October 2016 that it had no concerns to find a foothold in Irans aviation market even though it had been late on chasing opportunities in Iran. Bombardiers CEO Alain Bellemare said he expects his company to be able to catch up with its rivals following Canadas lifting of sanctions against Iran. Bellemare added that Bombardier had teams on the ground in Iran, stressing that the company was not concerned about winning its share of new orders in the Iranian market. On 01 February 2016, leading turboprop manufacturer ATR [an Airbus subsidiary] and Irans national flag carrier Iran Air today signed in Teheran a deal for the introduction of 40 newest generation ATR 72-600s. The agreement included firm orders for 20 aircraft plus 20 options, and was valued at one billion euro. The deal marked the arrival of the newest generation ATRs in Iran, where the first aircraft have been operating since 1992. In 2017, Iran Air expected to take delivery of 14 aircraft and by 2024 Airbus should have delivered all the ordered aircraft. Big Iron In January 2016 EU-based Airbus said it struck a deal with Tehran to export 118 jets, estimated to be worth some 22.8 billion euros ($25 billion), but had been waiting for Washingtons approval since. The company said it hoped to receive the second license allowing it to sell the remaining planes to Iran. Though based abroad, Airbus needed the approval of the US Treasury for the deal because at least 10 percent of the manufacturer's components are of American origin. The Airbus contract to sell 100 jets to IranAir, signed on 22 December 2016, would be worth $18-$20 billion at list prices, but the head of IranAir had been quoted as saying the value of the contract would not exceed $10 billion. Airbus signed basic agreements with two Iranian airlines over the purchase of a total of 73 planes. Airbus said 22 June 2017 that Irans Zagros Airlines would pick up 20 aircraft from the single-aisle Airbus A320neo family and eight A330neo planes. It added that another airline  Iran Airtour  would also buy 45 planes of the A320neo type. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show. Iran Airtour in a statement put the value of its deal with Airbus at 4.5 billion. It added that the planes would be from A318, A319, A320, and A321 models with passenger capacities ranging from 100 to 240 people. Boeing received a license to sell eighty planes to Iran, with a total list price of $17.6 billion, with deliveries beginning in 2017 and running until 2025. Iran Air also would lease 29 new Boeing 737s in a deal that Iranian officials have suggested would be worth some $25 billion in total. "Boeing has announced that its IranAir contract was worth $16.6 billion. However, considering the nature of our order and its choice possibilities, the purchase contract for 80 Boeing aircraft was worth about 50 percent of that amount," Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakhrieh-Kashan said 24 December 2016. Boeing said 04 April 2017 it agreed to sell 30 of its 737 MAX jets to Iran Aseman Airlines, Iran's third largest airline, in a deal worth $3 billion. The sale marked the second such Boeing deal made possible by the 2015 nuclear agreement signed by former US president Barack Obama to relieve sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. Iran Aseman Airlines was scheduled to start receiving the aircraft in 2022. Aseman Airlines flies both domestic and international flights from Iran. The European Union banned the airline in December 2016, citing safety concerns.

On 28 January 2016 Iran officials signed two agreements with Airbus covering new aircraft orders and a comprehensive civil aviation co-operation package. The agreements were signed at the Elysee Palace, Paris, during Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis official visit to France with French President Francois Hollande. Iran Air signed an agreement with Airbus for the acquisition of the full range of new Airbus airliners (73 widebodies and 45 single aisle). This includes pilot and maintenance training and support services to help the entry into service and efficient operations of these new aircraft. The agreement for 118 new aircraft signed by Mr Farhad Parvaresh, Iran Air Chairman and CEO, includes 21 A320ceo family, 24 A320neo family, 27 A330ceo family, 18 A330neo (-900), 16 A350-1000 and 12 A380.

Ali Abedzadeh, Head of Irans Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said 25 April 2016 that as the first phase of the contract inked between Airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Persian acronym: Homa) and Airbus Group SE, five to eight A320 and A330 jets purchased from Airbus would join Irans civil aviation fleet in the current year.

Iran Air and Boeing reached a memorandum of agreement in June 2016, under which the US aviation giant would sell a total of 80 aircraft to Iran and help the country lease a further 29 under a $25 billion contract. However, a groundswell of opposition was building among pro-Israeli politicians in the US against plans to sell aircraft to Iran. Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled US House of Representatives approved measures to block the sale of Boeing aircraft to Iran. In July 2016 the US House of Representatives jeopardized the nuclear deal it agreed to with Iran last year by blocking the sale of commercial airliners to the country. The US House of Representatives tried to scuttle the deal, and passed (by 239 votes to 185) two legislative amendments which ban sales to Iran from Boeing and even Airbus, because it uses some components produced by Boeing.

On 11 December 2016 Boeing and Iran Air announced an agreement for 80 aircraft that includes 50 737 MAX 8s, 15 777-300ERs and 15 777-9s, valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX would be 14 percent more fuel efficient than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s. The first 737 MAX was scheduled to enter service in 2017.

The 777-300ER was the most fuel and cost-efficient airplane in its class as well as the most reliable twin-aisle aircraft in the world. It also had the highest cargo capacity of any passenger airplane. To date customers worldwide have ordered more than 800 777-300ERs.

The 777X builds on the passenger-preferred and market-leading 777, as well as offering more market coverage and revenue capability than the competition. The 777X would include new engines, an all-new composite wing and would leverage technologies from the 787 Dreamliner. The first 777X was scheduled to enter service in 2020.

Based on its Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Iran Air announced in June 2016, the contract was reached within the terms of the U.S. Government license issued to Boeing in September. Boeing coordinated closely with the U.S. Government throughout the process leading up to the sale and continues to follow all license requirements as it moves forward to implement the sales agreement.

This agreement would support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs directly associated with production and delivery of the 777-300ERs and nearly 100,000 U.S. jobs in the U.S. aerospace value stream for the full course of deliveries. The first airplanes under this agreement are scheduled for delivery in 2018. Boeing and its more than 13,600 U.S. supplier and vendor partners across all 50 states are proud to ensure America continues to lead in global aerospace and to create jobs and opportunities in communities across the nation. Boeing's US supply chain currently supports more than 1.5 million U.S. jobs.

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation and aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, said in an interview that while there are a number of people talking up the deal, there's "very low level" of likelihood that most of the jets would be delivered to Iran. In an interview with Al Jazeera 20 June 2016, Aboulafia said that Iran had "no money" to pay for the deal. "It's great that they are going to do this deal, but it's more talk than actual money," he said. "The biggest hurdle is financial. A lot of financiers are not comfortable with financing planes going to Iran". He said that an economy that was under the control of a state like Iran "is not a recipe for success". He also said that for Boeing, the deal was a way to show that there was "growth somewhere, anywhere", but added that Iran "is not a big market".

Head of Civil Aviation Organization said 01 December 2016 that four European countries had been commissioned to finance Irans possible plane purchases from world air industry giants. Ali Abedzadeh told Mehr News that Germany would be the most probable candidate to finance through credits Irans prospective plane purchase agreements, with Italy, Ireland, and France possibly as contributors.

The government of President Hassan Rouhani, a pragmatist, pushed to finalize aircraft deals to show results from the nuclear accord with world power to end sanctions. He faced criticism at home from hardliners over the cost of the purchases.

There are a few aspects of the Airbus, ATR, Embraer and Boeing deals that are puzzling. As of 2016 Iran Air had only 36 flyable aircraft, and yet these four contracts alone would provide 317 new aircraft within a decade or so. It was not apparent how Iran Air could possibly absorb so many new aircraft, either with respect to traffic and routes, or with respect to maintenance and other operating personnel. Another strange thing was that of the 220 or so aircraft currently operated by Iranian airlines, Iran Air's three dozen aircraft account for only one-sixth of the national fleet. And yet no other Iranian airlines had stepped forward to buy new aircraft by the end of 2016. These dogs are not barking, but the reasons are unclear.

Managing director of Iran's Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) Manouchehr Manteqi said in 2011 that Iran was planning to become a major aviation industry hub in the region. [Iran's] President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad had approved the organization's mission to turn the country into an aviation hub, Manteqi said.

Iran Air might use these aircraft for hub operations that gather and distribute traffic from markets in the geographic region surrounding the hub or gateway to domestic and international cities and to other hubs or gateways. Competition was increasing from government owned and funded carriers in the Gulf region, including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. These carriers have large numbers of international widebody aircraft on order and are increasing service to the US from their hubs in the Middle East. Several of these carriers, along with carriers from China, India and Southeast Asia, are government subsidized, which had allowed them to grow quickly, reinvest in their product and expand their global presence at the expense of other airlines.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was leveraging its geographic location and proximity to international trading routes to play a central role in the global travel and aviation markets. On the commercial aviation front, the U.A.E. was home to eight international airports. Dubai International Airport was the worlds busiest airport based on number of international passengers  handling 78 million passengers and 2.5 million tons of cargo in 2015. The new Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai (also known as Dubai World Central or DWC), with a planned annual capacity of 12 million tons of cargo and 160 to 220 million passengers, was expected to be the largest airport in the world when completed in 2030. Abu Dhabi was also expanding its airport with the state-of-the-art Midfield Terminal which was due to open in July 2017 and would boast an overall airport capacity 45 million passengers.

The U.A.E. was the hub for two world-class airlines, Emirates (since 1985) and Etihad (since 2004), and for two budget airlines, Fly Dubai (since 2009) and Air Arabia (since 2003). In terms of fleet size, Emirates Airlines was the largest operator of the super jumbo Airbus 380 and the Boeing 777. Etihad holds the largest order for the 787 Dreamliner. While Emirates had grown organically, Etihad had aggressively expanded through codeshare agreements and acquisition of shares in other airlines like Air Berlin, Virgin Australia, Alitalia, Jet Airways, AirSerbia, and Air Seychelles. Etihad currently had 198 inter-airline relationships and 49 codeshare partnerships, giving it a combined passenger and cargo network of nearly 600 destinations.





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IS's Looming Death Could Be Hiding Bad News

James Miller December 26, 2016

In 2014, the world was gripped by news of two deadly epidemics.

Both were bloody, vicious afflictions that killed many who came in contact with them. Local populations were being devastated, but so, too, were foreigners who traveled to affected areas to help. Fears spread quickly that both would cross borders, infect cities, and threaten major events. There was panic on TV and in world capitals as politicians and pundits debated shutting borders or even denying travel to people from affected countries.

One, the Ebola virus, has been largely contained geographically and combated with proper equipment and training, and no longer captures headlines. It is a terrifying killer that has claimed around 15,000 lives since its detection in 1976. But it is arguably less devastating on a global scale than, say, HIV/AIDS, which has killed more than 3 million people since its identification in 1981, or malaria, which kills hundreds of thousands of people each year. Simply put, Ebola has so far been isolated and made to burn itself out.

The other affliction, the extremist ideology of Islamic State (IS), shares some attributes with Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Both kill victims in terrifying, public, and cruel manners. While Ebola's victims often bleed to death, IS has crucified, beheaded, or burned its victims alive, among other methods. It is the stuff of nightmares.

But by sheer numbers, IS has killed relatively few people worldwide. The University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism has estimated that more than 33,000 people were killed by IS or other terrorist groups loyal to IS between 2002 and 2013. For perspective: There are estimates that as many as 1 million people have been killed in Syria between 2011 and 2016 -- only a tiny fraction of them by IS.

Just as Ebola essentially disappeared from public debate in the past year, major news outlets may not be talking about IS a year from now. Also as with Ebola, media attention could snap right back to 24-hour panic mode if fears arise of a new outbreak.

But more troublingly, in the case of IS, such a focus could lead to complacency about an arguably more dangerous threat: the growing cloud of Al-Qaeda, which has benefited tremendously from the events of the last few years.

The Collapse Of The Physical State

The "dawla," or "state" -- the physical territory controlled by IS -- once stretched from just west of Baghdad, Iraq, to just east of Aleppo, Syria. The region has essentially operated as a quasi-state, run by extremists -- with local governance, tax collection, industry, law and order, border control, and a multifaceted intelligence apparatus, to say nothing of the obvious: a military.

And today the "dawla" looks to be in total collapse.

On the eastern front, a U.S.-backed coalition of Iraqi Shi'ite militias, the Kurdish Peshmerga, the Iraqi government, a collection of international air forces, and U.S. special forces are hammering away at IS in Iraq. Ramadi and Fallujah have fallen to this coalition, which has now set its sights on Mosul. Once that northern Iraqi city is retaken, IS will have lost its de facto capital in Iraq. Only weaker pockets of surrounded IS fighters will remain.

At IS's center, the U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Force (SDF) has pushed from northern Syria down like a dagger toward Raqqa, the heart of IS territory. Mostly comprising Kurdish forces aligned with the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG (considered a terrorist group in Turkey), the SDF has captured the most territory from IS over the last two years. Throughout the summer, the SDF also pushed west of the Euphrates River, capturing territory along the Turkey-Syria border.

It appears to have been SDF progress that prompted another country -- Turkey -- to intervene on IS's western front. Since the Turkish government considers the YPG to be an enemy of the Turkish state, the loss of the border to the Kurdish group is something that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was clearly unwilling to accept.

Less than a month after Turkey's failed coup on July 15, Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Then, on August 24, Turkish military units crossed the border into IS-controlled territory, capturing key towns near the border that seemed bound to fall to the SDF without Turkish intervention.

Turkey continues to advance. In October, Turkish forces attacked the town of Dabiq. While not militarily important, Dabiq was a sufficiently important symbol for IS's English-language propaganda magazine to have been named after the town. According to the Hadith, an ancient text that reportedly recorded some of the teachings and acts of the Prophet Muhammad, a great apocalyptic battle between the followers of Islam and non-believers was to take place there.

What better symbol could there be for the Ebola of geopolitics than control of the city from which the apocalypse starts? And yet IS fighters left the town without a fight, a symbol to some that the collapse of the "state" was inevitable and might accelerate.

Now, Turkish forces and moderate Syrian rebels are besieging the IS stronghold of Al-Bab, once a symbol of the rebellion against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which was held by moderate rebels backed by Turkey and the United States before IS seized it in the summer of 2013.

This fight on the western edge of the would-be caliphate, like those on the eastern front in Mosul and in Raqqa, will be a tough one. But IS's military defeat in all three places is all but certain. In all likelihood, the territorial "Islamic State" as we have come to know it will be gone by the close of 2017.

But does that really mean the extremist group IS will simply disappear?

The Evolution Of A Disease

Despite media reports touting the imminent death of Islamic State, not a single expert interviewed for this article said they believed that the recapturing of IS territory in Iraq and Syria would mark the end of that group. There's a simple reason for this: history. IS has been militarily defeated before -- under a different name -- and it came back more virulent than ever.

In their book, ISIS: Inside The Army Of Terror, Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassan trace the beginnings of IS back to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Zarqawi, a Jordanian-Palestinian who became an uneasy ally of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the lead-up to 9/11 and the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. Even then, there were clear tensions between the two leaders.

Like the organizations they founded, each leader subscribed to a radical jihadist ideology. Shiraz Maher, a senior research fellow at King's College London's International Center for the Study of Radicalization, has described the brand of Salafi-Jihadism that Al-Qaeda and IS follow as seeking a return to the practice of Islam in its purest form, as was seen in the earliest days of the religion. As Maher lays out in his new book, Salafi-Jihadism: The History Of An Idea, the goal of these fundamentalist organizations, then, is to create a caliphate, a kingdom on earth to bring about this radical purification.

Kyle Orton, research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, summarizes Maher's writing by saying that Salafi-Jihadism rests on five pillars:

According to Mr. Maher, Salafi-jihadists all adhere to five ideological pillars, and learning to identify them will help us understand an enemy that has shown itself to be highly adaptable. The first of these pillars is jihad, the method by which the Salafi-jihadists' millenarian vision is to be realized, upending the existing world order and creating a utopia. Liberal interpreters of Islam would explain jihad as an internal struggle or an overcoming of the self. But to Salafi-jihadists, it is a military matter and an obligation second only to accepting the faith itself, and must continue until the end of time. In order to endure, however, revolutions must define an in-group. Jihadists do this through adherence to the pillars of tawhid (the oneness of God) and hakimiyya (God's sovereignty), which define the limits of belief and the nature of legitimate authority. Those who don't belong to the in-group must be shunned, according to the pillar of al-wala wa-l-bara, based on the concepts of al-wala (devotion to god and his believers) and al-bara (the disavowal of and severance from the disbelievers). The final pillar identifies internal corrupters, who must be subject to takfir, or excommunication.

Bin Laden and Zarqawi, and now Al-Qaeda and IS, portrayed themselves as holy warriors fighting to protect Islam from enemies that include imperial powers like Russia, whose troops under Soviet rule occupied Afghanistan, and the United States, which toppled the Taliban and attempted to hunt down Al-Qaeda's leadership after the 9/11 attacks.

Far Versus Near Enemies

But there were significant differences between the two men. Bin Laden was principally concerned with targeting the "far enemy," the foreign "occupiers," non-adherents to Islam, and members of decadent and corrupt societies that had deployed their militaries to what bin Laden regarded as Islamic lands. Zarqawi, on the other hand, was a takfiri, focused on those (including other Muslims) who he believed were undermining Islam itself. Zarqawi considered the Muslim governments that had cooperated with the United States to be a "near enemy" worth killing. In Zarqawi's vision, the "murtad," apostates who betray Islam, are worthy targets of holy war.

Crucially, that interpretation of "murtad" includes not only allies of the West who call themselves Muslims but also all who practice what Zarqawi defined as impure Islam -- including all non-Sunnis.

To bin Laden, this was unacceptable for several reasons. First, bin Laden's mother was a Syrian Alawite -- a sect of Shi'ite Islam -- not Sunni, and so while his theological beliefs likely included Shi'a in the column of people who were not practicing pure Islam, they were not an immediate concern. Second, bin Laden was far more practical, and believed it would be hard to rally fellow Muslims around the cause of toppling domestic, Islamic governments, killing innocent Muslims in the process.

Paving The Way For A Caliphate

Clearly, bin Laden's more pressing target was the non-Muslim foreigners who might be driven from Muslim lands by a concerted effort of bin Laden and those who would follow him. In that sense, zealots might describe bin Laden as someone who was clearing the way for the creation of the caliphate.

Through his works and example, bin Laden hoped to inspire a movement that would eventually become an Islamic state; in order to pave the way, he believed he needed to stand up to foreign powers, principally the United States.

Bin Laden's Al-Qaeda was focused on sending a message, through terrorism, that the United States should withdraw its troops from the Middle East. The death of innocents was not the goal but a method to help achieve that goal. Killing Muslims was acceptable if they died as collateral victims of bin Laden's jihad or if they were working directly with the Americans.

Ideological Purity

Zarqawi and the organization he founded have concerned themselves with their versions of ideological purity now, the immediate creation of a caliphate, a physical state, and a spiritual state of ideological purity. The deaths of non-believers and impure Muslims has been the goal, and terrorism one method of advancing that goal.

Zarqawi's theology, then, was far too radical -- far too "rigid," to use bin Laden's term -- and far too impractical for it to be compatible with bin Laden's vision.

And yet takfirism -- alleging apostasy by fellow Muslims -- would find the perfect opportunities to take root, first in Iraq and then in Syria.

Zarqawi went to Iraq as early as October 2002, when the United States was already debating the invasion and forcible removal of Saddam Hussein. Bin Laden saw Iraq as an opportunity to bog the United States down in a different conflict, relieving the pressure against his organization in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Zarqawi was more than willing to accept the assignment, as it was a near-perfect breeding ground for his deeply sectarian worldview. Just barely more than half of Iraqis are Shi'a, but a long line of Sunnis had controlled that country since soon after the end of World War I.

Zarqawi exploited that sectarian dynamic, planting seeds of distrust between Sunnis and Shi'a, conducting terrorist attacks to exploit and widen these tensions, and ultimately seizing control of large parts of the country in order to resist both the foreign invaders and the local Shi'ite government that rose to power after Hussein's removal.

The results are seemingly obvious. Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which eventually became Islamic State of Iraq, had captured large parts of the country by 2006. By their reckoning, the caliphate was at hand. But it was not meant to be. Between 2006 and 2008, the United States boosted the number of troops it had on the ground and rallied the local Sunni population to rise up and defeat this radical organization. U.S. officials were able to convince Sunnis that it was AQI's radical theology, its brutal methods, that had destroyed the country: AQI's apocalyptic death cult and its pursuit of ideological purity at any cost ruined the lives of the very people it was supposed to save. It was time for AQI to end.

The levels of violence dropped significantly during that period, frequently referred to as the "Sunni awakening." Groups like the Iraq Body Count, which attempt to monitor the numbers of civilian deaths in the conflict, went from reporting more than 3,000 deaths per month in 2006 to reporting fewer than 500 per month in 2009. The Obama administration, following a document drafted by the Bush administration, withdrew U.S. combat troops from Iraq between 2009 and 2011. As Retired Colonel Peter Mansoor told NPR: "All of the intelligence that we had gathered, all of the results of the surge, all of the detainees we had in our detention system, all of the information we had coming to us from people on the ground, from the tribes, indicated that Al-Qaeda in Iraq was defeated."

But Al-Qaeda in Iraq was not defeated. Like Ebola, the outbreak was over but conditions on the ground that led to the outbreak only worsened between 2011 and 2013. By 2013, the organization that eventually became Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (greater Syria) and, ultimately, Islamic State, had found new breeding grounds just across the border.

With Enough Death, Propaganda Becomes Truth

Early on in the Syrian uprising, protesters in the streets of western and southern Syria were not calling for the removal of the regime. The protesters were demanding reform from the Assad government, which had been in power for 40 years.

What happened next is well documented. Protesters were pushed around by police, but the crowds grew. Then came the tear gas, the beatings, and arrests. The protests spread. By the summer of 2011, the Assad security apparatus had begun to fire into crowds of protesters with live ammunition, and it was soon deploying armored vehicles to Syrian cities like Homs.

In time, many of Assad's soldiers refused to fire on peaceful crowds. Those soldiers were then themselves fired upon, and a peaceful protest movement turned into a revolution, started initially not by the protesters themselves but by those who had been ordered to kill to preserve the regime.

In the early days, a sectarian dynamic was not the defining characteristic of the events in Syria. Yes, Syria, a majority-Sunni state, had been ruled by Shi'ite leaders for four decades. But there were plenty of reasons to be frustrated with Assad that went beyond sectarianism.

Protesters in Hama whom I interviewed in 2011, for example, told me that after witnessing the sectarian madness of Iraq, they were working to avoid encouraging any narrative that would further divide the country or push it toward civil war. But while the opposition movement -- from the grassroots level to the Syrian National Council, a government formed in exile in August of 2011 -- tried to push back against the sectarian narrative, the Assad regime adopted it from the start, branding anyone who opposed Assad's rule as a Sunni terrorist despite the presence within the movement of Kurds, Christians, Shi'a, and Druze.

That is history, however. Current events tell a different tale. In the last four years, the Syrian military and its allies have leveled Sunni neighborhoods and forcibly relocated civilians, and pro-Assad militias have conducted massacres of Sunni villagers in rural areas of the Homs and Hama provinces. It is perhaps unsurprising, then, that the ideology of Zarqawi and the fighters who follow it decided to make a home in Syria.

Like a perverted phoenix, the ideology of AQI reemerged from the ashes of its defeat in Iraq. Video that appeared during the summer of 2013 showed convoys of armed men crossing the border from Iraq near Al-Bukamal. Soon, the group that would come to be known as IS imposed its strict Shari'a law across large parts of eastern Syria. And while the Syrian government has killed far more people in Syria than IS has, the extremist group has been hauntingly and myopically sectarian.

Iraq, Iran, Hizballah fighters from Lebanon, and extremists from all over the globe have flocked to Syria in order to advance sectarian goals. Predominantly Sunni states like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have seemingly backed rebel groups out of sectarian interests. Shi'a-dominated Iran is currently fighting proxy wars against the Sunni Gulf states in both Syria and Yemen. There is no denying that what is going on in Syria and Iraq has become a sectarian land grab that will have consequences for years to come.

Such sectarianism might appear to reinforce Zarqawi's original vision. Sunni extremists are locked in an existential struggle against Shi'ite Muslims, backed by foreign powers (including the United States) and Kurds. Sunni rebels who have opposed IS are locked in a desperate struggle against the Shi'ite Syrian regime backed by Iran's Shi'ite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Shi'ite Hizballah extremists from Lebanon, Shi'ite Iraqi militias, and the might of the Russian military. Civilians, mostly Sunnis, are caught in the crossfire, and in Aleppo and many other places across Syria they are being actively hunted by the pro-Assad coalition.

Those are some of the dynamics that enabled IS to build what it regards as its caliphate, and absolutely none of this will change when IS's caliphate crumbles.

Al-Qaeda's Silent Threat

IS in many ways embodies the worst fears of counterterrorism experts and government officials. It is the complete package, as they say. First, it features an ideology that is far more radical and apocalyptic than that of its predecessor, Al-Qaeda.

Second, IS has been able to control large swaths of territory. This has enabled it to use the economic resources of a small quasi-state to fuel its larger ambitions, and it has provided IS with a physical, palpable symbol -- a seeming embodiment of its ideology. With access to oil pipelines and captured U.S. firepower, by some measures the physical territory poses a greater threat than the Taliban's control of Afghanistan prior to September 11, 2001, which Al-Qaeda utilized to launch its attacks on the other side of the globe.

Third, IS has managed to inspire others, worldwide, to either travel to the Middle East to join the organization or, perhaps more troublingly, to conduct terrorist attacks in their homelands. That syndication effect is neither new nor unique to IS, or even to its rival Al-Qaeda. But what is new is the number of IS sympathizers who have proven willing to make themselves martyrs for Islamic State, and the scale of the violence that has ensued. Insurgencies fueled by IS franchises can be found in Egypt and Libya, across large parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. But terrorists who have declared allegiance to IS have conducted attacks in the United States, France, Belgium, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

In other words, Islamic State is arguably more dangerous and effective than Al-Qaeda ever was. It is also potentially the next stage of evolution for a radical, violent form of Salafism that has been developing for decades.

Multiple experts consulted by RFE/RL said that Islamic State is likely to see a massive military defeat this year. As with Ebola, however, there could be new outbreaks. Hassan Hassan, a weekly columnist for The National newspaper in Abu Dhabi who is from Al-Bukamal, scene of IS's entrance into Syria from Iraq, warned that the recent Islamic State victory in Palmyra is an excellent example of how the group is likely to go underground rather than go away. "They'll operate as bands until they can take over areas again," Hassan said.

The real and unaddressed problem, however, is that while IS has been burning out, Al-Qaeda -- the ideological construct that was ultimately responsible for the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history -- is going strong. Since Al-Qaeda has not generated the same kind of international response as IS has, it has escaped the latter's fate.

Benefiting From Brutality

Again, as with Ebola, those infected with IS's virulent strain of Salafi-Jihadism frequently die quickly. In IS's case, the brutality of its actions has alienated many Sunni Muslims and scared Muslims and non-Muslims of many sects and nationalities into joining the fight and defeating the movement.

But in an odd way, IS has also seemingly advanced Al-Qaeda's goals. Many who do not subscribe to Salafism have fled the Middle East. World powers are afraid of intervening in the region. And IS's extreme levels of violence have normalized Al-Qaeda's (slightly) less radical approach. "Al-Qaeda -- and, more importantly, the Salafi-jihadist ideology and movement -- is spreading; probably the fastest-growing Islamic trend right now," Kyle Orton told RFE/RL.

Unlike Ebola -- but rather akin to AIDS or malaria -- Al-Qaeda's ideology has spread to a much wider population, particularly in Syria. Al-Qaeda elements have even allied themselves with non-radical elements of Syrian society. During the siege of Aleppo, for instance, a massacre conducted by the pro-Assad coalition in which Russia played a role has been front-page news in every corner of the globe.

And yet while world powers have failed to stop the bombing campaigns of the Russian and Syrian air forces, Al-Qaeda elements have played a crucial role in trying to break the siege of the city from the outside. Over the summer, they nearly succeeded when Al-Qaeda suicide bombers blew apart military bases that had been besieged by moderate rebel forces since 2012, nearly reversing the momentum of the Assad regime's military campaign in the north.

Nasser Weddady -- a scholar and activist who works to combat Islamic radicalism and who has spent much of his life in Syria -- put it succinctly. By avoiding the kinds of terrifying behavior for which Islamic State is infamous, Al-Qaeda has also avoided alienating Syrians in the same way IS has. And with many thousands of civilians trapped in Aleppo, Al-Qaeda was free to bill itself to the Syrian people as the only effective power that was willing to risk it all to stop the killing.

In the eyes of many Syrians, Weddady told RFE/RL, Al-Qaeda-linked rebel groups "became the saviors, and the West allowed this to happen."

"At the end of the day, you, America, the civilized world, the UN Security Council -- where were you?" Weddady said.

Syrians, Weddady argued, are not "duped" by Al-Qaeda but "they are like a firefighter who comes to your home while your house is on fire: You're not going to tell them to shut off the hose because you disagree with them, or even because you hate them. The world, through inaction or whatever you call it, handed Al-Qaeda a gift on a silver platter, the gift of really defending the people in their hour of need."

Faysal Itani, a resident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council's Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, agreed. Itani has written extensively about how the sectarian nature of the military campaign against IS has jeopardized the fight against the extremist group's ideology. "I think we will see Islamic State bottled up as soon as we have an actual ground force component that we are willing to back without compromising other core interests," he told RFE/RL. "Al-Qaeda is more pernicious and quieter."

He added: "As a whole, the Syrian war might teach people that these people were more trouble than they were worth, but the lesson to outsiders may be lost. I don't know whether [Al-Qaeda] is growing, but it doesn't seem to be receding."

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/islamic- state-dies-al-qaeda-rises-zarqawi- bin-laden-syria-iraq/28197759.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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India's Counter-Terrorism Body Arrests Daesh Militant

Sputnik News

19:15 26.12.2016(updated 21:54 26.12.2016)

Daesh sympathizer, who was planning to carry out murders of foreigners in the India's city of Kolkata, was detained by the Indian National Investigation Agency.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Indian National Investigation Agency, a counter-terrorism service, arrested Mosiuddin Abu Musa, an Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) sympathizer, who was planning to carry out murders of foreigners in the city of Kolkata, the agency said in a statement Monday.

"The accused, Md. Mosiuddin was found involved in furthering the terrorist conspiracy of the ISIS in India and Bangladesh Investigation has established that on the instructions of his handler, Abu Suleiman, the accused Abu Musa went to Srinagar in May, 2016, to carry out LONE WOLF attack on foreign touristsThe accused also planned to attack and kill foreigners near the Mother Teresa House at the Ripon Street in Kolkata," the statement read.

The agency added that a revolver with ammunition and a knife were seized during the arrest.

On Wednesday, the US Department of State said that the US nationals in New Delhi, India need to remain alert because of an increased threat of Daesh attacks on religious sites and places of festival celebrations.

The Daesh is outlawed in the Russia and numerous other countries.

 Sputnik

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US Asks Visitors for Social Media Information

By Smita Nordwall December 26, 2016

The U.S. government has started asking some foreign visitors to provide their social media account information as part of the effort to identify potential terrorists.

Since last week, foreigners arriving in the U.S. on the visa waiver program are asked to identify the social media platforms they use and their account names.

Even though the request is optional and U.S. officials have said they would not deny entry to anyone who declines to disclose the information, the move has generated a backlash from civil rights groups and the tech industry.

Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology have warned that the move could potentially offer the government "gateways into an enormous amount of [users'] online expression and associations, which can reflect highly sensitive information about that person's opinions, beliefs, identity and community."

Critics also warn that the program could be used to target Arabs and Muslims and expose them to intense scrutiny.

The Internet Association  a group that represents companies including Facebook, Twitter and Google  argues the new policy threatens free expression.

Currently, visitors from 38 countries are able to use the visa waiver program that allows them to travel and stay in the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.

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Aircraft carrier operations essential for China: expert

People's Daily Online

By Sun Wenyu (People's Daily Online) 16:03, December 26, 2016

"Aircraft carrier operations are indispensable for China," said Chinese military expert Li Jie in an interview with the Global Times on Dec. 25. Carriers are not offshore forces, and they must go to remote oceanic areas, Li added, noting the country's growing need for overseas interests protection.

According to China's Ministry of National Defense, the country's first domestically made aircraft carrier is expected to be finished in 2020. Beijing could build multiple aircraft carriers over the next 15 years, the Pentagon said in a report last year, while Reuters commented that China is years away from perfecting carrier operations similar to those the United States has practiced for decades.

Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, told the Global Times on Dec. 25 that, given its global deployment and presence, the U.S. Navy is the most advanced naval force in the world. Its overseas patrols can last up to 10 months, supported by its overseas military bases, Zhang noted.

Li believes U.S. dollars and aircraft carriers both contribute to the Navy's global influence. He told the Global Times that China has always been perceived as a mild country; its military growth has therefore been poorly received by the rest of the world. However, Li said that increased military presence is necessary for such a major power, and other countries need to get used to China's changed status.

Reuters commented that China's expanding military presence in the South China Sea has fueled concerns, and the U.S. even accuses China of militarizing its maritime outposts, holding regular air and naval patrols in the name of "freedom of navigation."

An anonymous source told the Global Times that military development is a sign of China's increasing ability to safeguard its sovereignty and territories, which also reflects the will of the people.

China's development has always been distorted by some media outlets. Nevertheless, in reality China's military research, production, equipment and drills are all guarantors of regional peace and stability.

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China Tests New Prototype of 5th-Generation Stealth Fighter

Sputnik News

11:34 26.12.2016(updated 12:01 26.12.2016)

China has successfully tested a homemade stealth fighter of the fifth generation called FC-31 Gyrfalcon, sources in the aviation industry told a local newspaper on Monday.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  The improved version of what was earlier known as the J-31 made its maiden flight last Friday in the northeastern city of Shenyang, the China Daily reported.

The flight test comes four years after the initial prototype took to the skies in 2012 and stayed airborne for 11 minutes. An Aviation Industry Corp official confirmed the test but declined to give any details.

The daily reported the state-of-the-art aircraft appeared to be stealthier and had enhanced electronics and a larger payload capacity, while its new lean frame made the FC-31 lighter and more maneuverable.

 Sputnik

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China Opens More Doors to Foreign Investors Ahead of Trump Presidency

By Saibal Dasgupta December 26, 2016

A year after losing its status as the world's top destination for foreign investment, China is taking market-opening steps to make the country more appealing to investors; but, with a hostile new administration preparing to take office in Washington, analysts question whether the steps are too little and too late.

China's National Development and Reform Commission announced earlier this month it has removed one-third of the items from a "negative list" that bars or restricts foreign investment in certain industries. The number of regulations restricting foreign investment was also slashed, from 93 to 62.

Among the industries that were opened to foreign investors for the first time were passenger transport, railway equipment, electric vehicle batteries and lithium mining.

Many analysts say the rule changes fail to address the main concerns of foreign investors and are unlikely to provide the economic boost that Beijing wants.

"China has only superficially opened up more sectors to foreign investment. The broader environment is still highly restrictive, with wide swaths of the economy either off limits to foreign investors or with ownership caps that require foreign investors to engage in joint ventures with Chinese partners," said Scott Kennedy, director of the Project on Chinese Business and Political Economy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Industry lobbies such as the American Chamber of Commerce in China and the European Chamber of Commerce report that their member companies are losing interest in new investments and business expansion during China's economic slowdown. Few foreign businesses are likely to act on the market-opening measures, analysts said.

Lofty goals or tactics?

"Though some of the limited revisions are welcomed by some of our members, the number of openings falls far short of what would be necessary to reinvigorate diminishing foreign industry confidence in the China market," said Jake Parker, vice president of the U.S.-China Business Council, in remarks to local media.

The NDRC said the opening had two goals  to "improve transparency of policymaking" and to "let foreign capital play a positive role in China's economic development, industry transformation, and reform and innovation."

Analysts discern a third objective  to persuade the World Trade Organization to declare China a market economy. That would help the country to offset declining foreign investment and prepare for any aggressive trade moves by the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in Washington.

The United States, and to a lesser extent the European Union, have been resisting China's efforts to earn the market economy label from the WTO. Opening up the investment market is a good way for China to make a case that it subscribes to free-market principles.

Conceding to India

The Ministry of Commerce recently forecast that foreign direct investment (FDI) will be down in 2016, the second consecutive year of decline.

The country lost its position as the top investment destination to India in 2015, when FDI slowed 23 percent to $56.6 billion. The number of foreign-financed projects dropped by 16 percent that year.

"The big FDI story of the past year is India. After a long period of trailing behind China, the South Asian country is now racing past its formidable rival. India was the highest ranked country by capital investment in 2015, with $63 billion worth of FDI projects announced," said Courtney Fingar, head of content with London-based fDi Intelligence, while releasing the group's 2016 report.

U.S.-China dispute

U.S. President Barack Obama recently blocked a Chinese company's purchase of German chip equipment manufacturer Aixtron SE on national security grounds. Separately, the U.S. Trade Representative blacklisted Taobao, the online shopping site of China's Alibaba Group, as a "notorious marketplace" for counterfeit goods.

Much tougher U.S. action is possible once Trump takes charge. Trump recently named a harsh China critic, Peter Navarro, as head of the White House-based National Trade Council to advise him on trade policy. Chinese media have said this is a sign Trump is preparing to follow through on campaign promises to take adverse action on Chinese trade and investments.

Beijing-based analysts see the latest opening to investment as a move to counter Trump's arguments that China is an unfair trading partner. Some Chinese experts have publicly urged their government to retaliate against any trade action from Washington.

"U.S.-China commercial relations are in for a rough ride in the coming months, as the Trump administration aggressively pushes China to open its markets further to American imports and investment and applies a more critical eye to Chinese investment in the United States," Kennedy said. "This is likely to induce countermeasures from China, and as a result, two-way trade and investment flows could very well fall substantially."

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India Approves $45Mln Plan to Add Teeth to Elite Forces for Surgical Strikes

Sputnik News

16:26 26.12.2016(updated 16:49 26.12.2016)

The limited availability of resources has diluted the combat capabilities of Indian Special Forces currently operating in different parts of the country. In anticipation of a limited war scenario, India has started modernizing its most elite forces.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  After much dilly-dallying, the Indian government has approved a purchase plan to equip its small unit of commandos specialized in carrying out operations deep within enemy territory.

The $45 million purchase plan will include over 1,100 automatic assault rifles, 20 light machine guns, rocket launchers and more than a thousand of freefall parachutes. All these weapon systems will be procured under the fast track procedure.

According to sources, the Special Forces will be equipped with the latest version of Carl Gustaf rocket launchers that are much lighter than the current version. The 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.

India's Special Forces constitutes approximately 18,000 armed personnel including support staff which is almost equal or higher in number to those of special commandos of US, UK and Russia. It is said that India had gone in for rapid expansion of the Special Forces unnecessarily, resulted in massive dilution of combat potential of the forces. A total of 15 battalions have created a scenario where they forced to be operational with limited training, arms and equipment.

 Sputnik

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India to Equip Infantry Vehicles with Automatic NBC Systems

Sputnik News

12:40 26.12.2016(updated 12:44 26.12.2016)

India is enhancing its protective capabilities following apprehensions of Pakistani deployment of nuclear capable Nasr missiles on their common border.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  India has decided to replace 1,500 manual nuclear biological chemical (NBC) protection systems on its infantry combat vehicles with automatic versions. The procurement will be under 100 per cent localized design and development project. Sources say that domestic manufacturer Bharat Electronics Limited will supply the required systems to the Indian Army at a cost of $ 190 million.

"Since India's neighborhood is nuclearized, it has to make defensive preparations for its forces to survive and fight in a nuclear environment; howsoever unlikely it may be. Pakistan has been flaunting its short range battlefield nuclear weapons. Obviously, the Indian mechanized forces will spearhead an offensive into Pakistan should it create conditions that forces a war on India. Equipping the mechanized vehicles with the protection gear improves their survivability and raises the costs for an opponent in case it plans to use battlefield nuclear weapons,"says Brigadier Rumel Dahiya (retired), Delhi-based defense expert.

Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had in September publicly warned India that the short-range Nasr missiles may be targeted at Indian conventional land forces 'in case of eventuality'.

Since the September 29 claimed surgical strikes in Pakistan territory, India has lost 51 soldiers in militant attacks and cross-border firing by the Pakistani Army. India has lost more than 80 soldiers this year which is the highest casualty figure since 2013.

 Sputnik

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India Sends 4,000 Troops to Reopen Highway Blocked by Protesters

Sputnik News

01:09 27.12.2016

India's central government sent 4,000 paramilitary personnel to the northwestern state of Manipur to reopen a highway connecting the state to its northern neighbor, Nagaland, and stop the violent protests the erection of the blockade had sparked.

India dispatched 4,000 paramilitary troops to Manipur to address the blockade of Highway 2 imposed by the local Naga minority group. These troops will support 13,500 personnel already located in the state, according to the The Times of India.

The economic blockade of the NH-2, imposed by the Union Naga Council (UNC), has already been in place for two months and has caused locals to rise up in violent protests. Crowds of people protesting the blockade have reportedly vandalized and burned cars and passenger buses; according to various reports, up to 40 vehicles have been burned.

On December 15, four policemen died when they were ambushed as they headed to a ceremony to inaugurate the newly created district of Tengnoupal, which was carved out from the existing Naga-dominated district of Chandel.

A curfew was imposed on the Eastern Imphal district following the events.

The Naga blockade was erected after state authorities decided to create seven new districts in the state. The UNC says the new divisions will violate traditional tribal domain boundaries and imposed blockades on highways 37 and 2 (connecting the Manipur state capital city of Imphal to the state's westernmost town of Jiribam and to the capital of the neighboring state of Nagaland, Dimapur, respectively).

The highways serve as lifelines for landlocked Manipur. The blockade of highway 37 has already been lifted.

"Our top priority is now to reopen National Highway-2 connecting Manipur [to Nagaland]. While the other highway [NH-37] is reopened, we want to reopen the NH-2 too, as early as possible," a senior Home Ministry official said.

The central government has blamed Manipur authorities for their inability to resolve the blockade dispute and have have made clear that state authorities will not escape responsibility for the crisis.

"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," said Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

The seven new districts have been formed by dissecting seven existing ones, mostly the the state's so-called "hill" districts, which are large but sparsely populated. Four out of five "hill" districts are mostly populated by members of the Naga tribe.

While state authorities claim the new divisions were made as both a response to longstanding demands of local people and for reasons of administrative efficiency, some sources in the Manipur Congress believe Congress Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is merely trying to divide voting districts to win the upcoming elections to keep the position that he has held despite opposition since 2002.

 Sputnik

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Takfirism threat to security of entire world: Iran defense minister

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 1:56PM

Takfiri terrorism poses a threat to the security of all countries across the world, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says.

"The Takfiri current is not limited to Iraq and Syria and threatens the security of the entire world," Dehqan said on Monday.

"Iran regards regional security as its own security and believes that insecurity in the region will endanger the security of the whole world," he added.

He said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's proposal dubbed World Against Violence and Extremism (WAVE) to the United Nations showed that the Islamic Republic was a "flag-bearer of the fight against a current which has endangered the security of the world."

In 2013, Iran's President Rouhani proposed the contours of an international effort against extremism in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. That proposal, known as WAVE, was drafted and tabled in the form of a resolution at the General Assembly, which adopted the text in December 2013.

Among other provisions, the resolution "encourages the efforts of leaders to discuss within their communities the causes of violent extremism and discrimination and to evolve strategies to address these causes."

The defense minister further emphasized that if violence is not countered across the world, international security will be jeopardized.

Dehqan said Iran is fighting Takfiri terrorism for humanitarian objectives, stressing that an idialogy which has no qualms about killing human beings is not acceptable to the world and must be countered.

Pointing to reasons behind Iran's presence in Iraq and Syria, he said chaos and instability in the region would have negative impacts on the security of all countries.

"The Takfiri terrorist movement currently active in Syria and Iraq has been created by reactionary countries in the region and the US; and it must be stopped," Dehqan pointed out.

He warned of the further overflow of Takfiri terrorism into all countries across the world, including the European states, and said Iran is fighting extremism, terrorism and instability as a humanitarian and Islamic duty.

The minister added that reactionary countries in the region were cooperating with an international front which had been set up against Islam, saying these states were moving along a path that serves the Israeli regime's interests.

He emphasized that the arrogant system and Zionists are doing their utmost to spread chaos across the Middle East region.

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Over 116,000 Iraqis Currently Displaced Due to Operation to Liberate Mosul

Sputnik News

17:41 26.12.2016

78 percent of the displaced families from Iraqi Mosul are currently in emergency camps, 12 percent are in private settings, 9 percent at emergency sites and 2 percent at critical shelter arrangements, according to the International Organization for Migration's (IOM).

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  At least 116,490 individuals have had to leave their homes due to the ongoing military operation to free the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) terrorist organization, the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) data showed Monday.

According to IOM's Iraq Mission's Displacement Tracker Matrix, 78 percent of the displaced families are currently in emergency camps, 12 percent are in private settings, 9 percent at emergency sites and 2 percent at critical shelter arrangements.

The Iraqi operation to retake Mosul from terrorists has been going on for over a month since October 17. The battle for the city began with 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and 30,000 Iraqi soldiers backed by the US-led anti-terror coalition advancing on the city from the east, west and south.

Mosul has been occupied by Daesh, a terrorist group outlawed in Russia, since 2014.

 Sputnik

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At Least Seven Iraqi Soldiers Killed in Clashes With Daesh in Mosul

Sputnik News

12:56 26.12.2016

Seven Iraqi servicemen were killed and four more were injured in the Tamim district of Mosul during a car-bomb attack and clashes between the government forces and the Daesh terrorists, according to media reports.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A total of seven Iraqi servicemen were killed and four more were injured in the northern country's city of Mosul during the operation to drive the militants of the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group from it, media reported Monday.

According to the Turkish Anadolu news agency, seven servicemen were killed and four more were injured on Sunday in the Tamim district of Mosul during a car-bomb attack and clashes between the government forces and the terrorists.

A total number of Daesh casualties is yet unknown, the media outlet added.

A government-led operation aimed at retaking Mosul from the Daesh group, outlawed in Russia and the United States among other nations, has been underway since mid-October with air support of the US-led international coalition.

 Sputnik

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Japan to Keep Close Watch in the Pacific Over China's Lone Aircraft Carrier

Sputnik News

08:38 26.12.2016(updated 10:17 26.12.2016)

Japan will closely monitor China's aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which was spotted earlier in the Pacific, the Japanese government's top spokesman Yoshihide Suga said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The aircraft carrier Liaoning was spotted Sunday passing between Japan's islands of Okinawa and Mijako in the East China Sea. It is part of a Chinese naval force heading to the western Pacific Ocean.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga told reporters the presence of a Chinese aircraft carrier in the area demonstrated Beijing's advanced naval capabilities, the public broadcaster NHK reported. He added the government was closely monitoring it.

The NHK cited Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force officials as saying this was the first time in their knowledge that a Chinese aircraft carrier was carrying out an exercise for global deployment in the Pacific.

China's sole operational aircraft carrier is a refurbished Soviet-built model; construction began in Ukraine in the 1980's before it was sold to China in 1998 and commissioned in 2012.

 Sputnik

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Fake story prompts Pakistani threat of nuclear strike against Israel

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:36AM

A fake Israeli threat of a nuclear attack against Pakistan has elicited a tacit but real Pakistani threat of an atomic strike against Israel.

Pakistan and Israel, which have no diplomatic relations, engaged in a verbal give-and-take after a fake report claimed Tel Aviv had threatened Islamabad with a nuclear attack.

The fake new story, published on December 20, cited a former Israeli former minister of military affairs as threatening a nuclear attack against Pakistan if Islamabad sent troops to Syria. The fake story was headlined, "Israeli Defense Minister: If Pakistan send [sic] ground troops into Syria on any pretext, we will destroy this country with a nuclear attack."

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, apparently taking the fake story for a real one, took to Twitter on Friday to respond, reminding Israel that Pakistan has its own arsenal of nuclear weapons.

"Israeli def min threatens nuclear retaliation presuming Pak role in Syria against Daesh. Israel forgets Pakistan is a nuclear state too," read the tweet by the Pakistani defense minister.

Later, on Saturday, Israel's ministry of military affairs posted a message on Twitter, saying the report had been "entirely false."

Pakistan does not recognize Israel. But like the Tel Aviv regime, it has nuclear warheads and has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

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Russian military aircraft crashes in Black Sea, no sign of survivors

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:40, December 26, 2016

A Russian military Tu-154 aircraft crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday, presumably killing all 92 people aboard, said the Russian Defense Ministry.

The ill-fated plane, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, vanished from the radar screens shortly after takeoff from an airfield in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi at 5:40 a.m. Moscow Time (0240 GMT).

Several bodies of the victims have been recovered at the crash site. Fragments of the aircraft have been discovered in 1.5 km from the Black Sea shore of Sochi at a depth of 50-70 meters.

Over 3,000 people and dozens of ships have been deployed in a search and rescue operation led by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, the ministry's press service said.

More than 200 policemen have also been mobilized in the mission, according to the local administration of the Russian Interior Ministry.

The federal Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case over the crash. Based on preliminary information, the tragedy was caused by technical malfunction or pilot error, a law enforcement source was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying. However, the Defense Ministry said the Tu-154 aircraft was flown by an experienced first-class pilot.

The Interfax news agency quoted an emergency services source as saying that the possibility of a terror attack has been virtually ruled out.

Live TV broadcast showed the weather was sunny at the time of the accident.

According to RIA Novosti, the Tu-154 was built in 1983 and has spent 6,689 hours in flight, with the most recent technical maintenance conducted in September 2016.

The Defense Ministry confirmed that a total of 92 people -- 84 passengers and eight crew members -- were aboard the plane.

Among the passengers were 64 members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as nine Russian journalists. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.

Russian President Vladimir Putindeclared Dec. 26 a nationwide day of mourning, and promised a thorough investigation.

Russian TV channels, including the Zvezda, the NTV and Channel One, have named their journalists aboard the Tu-154 plane.

Established in 1928, the Alexandrov Ensemble is widely recognized as the oldest and biggest choir of the Russian military.

The Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range airliner produced by Tupolev. It is one of the fastest civilian aircraft in use and has been widely used in extreme Arctic conditions.

Sunday's crash was the second accident in less than one week concerning Russian planes. On Monday, an Il-18 aircraft crash-landed near the Tiksi airfield in Russia's Far Eastern Sakha Republic, injuring 16 people.

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Russia Holds Day of Mourning For 92 Plane Crash Victims; 68 From Aleksandrov Ensemble Killed

RFE/RL December 26, 2016

As Russia on December 26 began observing a national day of mourning for 92 people killed in a military plane crash, authorities revealed that many key members of Russia's official armed forces musical ensemble were among the dead.

Russian State Secretary and Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov confirmed that 68 members and staff of the Aleksandrov Ensemble  including choir conductor Valery Khalilov -- were killed early on December 25 when the Tu-154 aircraft crashed into the Black Sea shortly after taking off from Sochi. There were no survivors.

The 33-year-old plane was meant to travel to Russia's Hmeimim military airbase near Latakia, Syria, where the Aleksandrov Ensemble was to perform a New Year's concert for Russian airmen.

Pankov said in Moscow early on December 26 that "the ensemble will live" and that it would "continue to remain a symbol of the army and our country."

With the total staff and membership of the musical ensemble numbering 285 people, Pankov said "the losses are very large."

He said Russia's military "will be working very seriously to make up these losses."

In Moscow, mourners early on December 26 were continuing to lay flowers and light candles in front of a Moscow concert hall where the ensemble often performed.

Search And Recovery

Also aboard the ill-fated plane were eight crew members, six other military personnel, nine Russian television journalists, and Elizaveta Petrovna Glinka, a human rights activist and executive director of the Spravedlivaya Pomoshch (Fair Aid) charity fund.

Glinka reportedly was traveling to Syria to deliver medical supplies to Tishrin University Hospital in Latakia.

The state-run TV stations First Channel, NTV, and Zvezda said they each had three staff onboard the flight.

Fragments of the plane were discovered less than two kilometers off the coast of Sochi at depths of 50 to 70 meters.

By early December 26, only 11 bodies of crash victims had been found and a massive search and rescue operation was also looking for the black box containing the plane's cockpit flight data.

The Russian Geographic Society (RGO) was delivering two manned submersible vehicles to help in the search. The RGO said both underwater vehicles are able to work uninterrupted for eight hours -- one at a depth of 100 meters and the other at a depth of 300 meters.

'Thorough Investigation'

Within hours of the crash, President Vladimir Putin declared December 26 as a national day of mourning for the victims.

Putin on December 25 expressed "the most sincere condolences to families of our citizens killed this morning."

Putin said: "A thorough investigation of the causes of the crash will be carried out and everything will be done to support the families of those killed."

The Kremlin says Putin ordered Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev "to form and head a state commission to investigate the crash."

Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov, who also is on the investigative commission, said authorities were looking into every possible reason for the crash.

But he said officials had ruled out terrorism.

Medvedev described the crash as a "terrible tragedy."

'No SOS'

The flight originated in the capital, Moscow, and had a stopover in Sochi for refueling.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was too early to say what had caused the crash.

The Tu-154 is a Soviet-era plane which has a checkered past in terms of accidents. The plane, which has not been in commercial use since 1994, is still used by the military.

The Tu-154 has been involved in almost a dozen major crashes since 2000, killing more than 800 people, including Poland's then-president Lech Kaczynski near the Russian city of Smolensk in 2010.

Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov flew into Sochi on December 25 along with a team tasked with clarifying the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Viktor Ozerov, head of the defense affairs committee at the upper house of the Russian parliament, said he "totally excludes" terrorism as a possible cause of the crash.

In remarks carried by the state news agency RIA Novosti, Ozerov -- without citing any source -- said the crash could have been caused by a technical malfunction or a crew error, but he believes it could not have been terrorism because the plane was operated by the military.

The Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source as saying the plane had not sent an SOS signal.

With reporting by TASS, Interfax, Reuters, AP, AFP, and the BBC

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia -plane-missing-aleksandrov- ensemble/28195683.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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Russian Air Defense Units Hold Drills in Armenia Mountains - Defense Ministry

Sputnik News

12:10 26.12.2016(updated 12:37 26.12.2016)

According to press service of the Southern Military District, Russian Air Defense Troops repelled a missile attack by a simulated enemy during a drill at a military base in Armenia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian Air Defense Troops repelled a missile attack by a simulated enemy during a drill at a military base in Armenia, the press service of the Southern Military District said on Monday.

"At more than 6,500 feet Air Defense units of the Russian Transcaucasia searched, identified, tracked and struck with electronic missile launches  the simulated enemy," the statement released by the press service said.

According to the statement, Russian military took a 93-mile-long cross-country march to the Alagyaz training range and back. The attack of the simulated enemy that, according to the drill's scenario, used weapons of mass destruction was repelled with Buk-M1-2 and S300-V missile systems. The maneuvers were held in rocky snow-covered mountains, the statement added.

 Sputnik

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Russian Missile Cruiser Marshal Ustinov Back in Service After 5-Year Hiatus

Sputnik News

11:03 26.12.2016(updated 11:55 26.12.2016)

The shipbuilding company Zvyozdochka said that Russian missile cruiser, Marshal Ustinov, is back in service after five years of extensive repairs.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A Russian missile cruiser, Marshal Ustinov, is back in service after five years of extensive repairs, the shipbuilding company Zvyozdochka responsible for the works said Monday.

"The ship repairs center Zvyozdochka has completed factory repair works at the 1164 Atlant-project [Slava class] Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser," the company said in a statement.

The cruiser left the Zvyozdochka shipyard last Saturday and headed for the city of Severomorsk, the home base of Russia's Northern Fleet.

During five years in the dock the warship went through a hull reconstruction and had many of its internal engines, including propulsion, repaired. Its sensors and electronic warfare systems were replaced with digital equivalents.

The Marshal Ustinov was launched in 1982 and commissioned with the Russian Northern Fleet in 1986. Slava-class cruisers were designed as surface strike ships with some anti-air and ASW capability and have a primary armament of sixteen SS-N-12 Sandbox nuclear-capable supersonic anti-ship missiles.

 Sputnik

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Kremlin Rival Says He's Ready to Take On Russia's Putin

By Charles Maynes December 26, 2016

With all the attention on this year's American presidential elections, one could be forgiven for failing to notice: The race for the Kremlin in 2018 is now on.

In a video message released online this month, Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption crusader and relentless Kremlin critic, announced he would compete to succeed Vladimir Putin, whose term as president ends in less than two years.

"There have been no true elections in Russia since 1996," said Navalny in announcing his candidacy. "I will participate in the election, and I will fight for victory."

In an interview with VOA, Navalny painted a picture of his vision for the country. A Navalny administration, he said, would see Russia become "a normal democratic country that would fight to be a leader in Europe."

"But I don't think Russia should threaten anyone or be at war with others," added the candidate, arguing Russia's might should be economic rather than military.

Long-standing opposition

The star of a protest movement against elections rigged in favor of Kremlin parties in 2011-12, Navalny has proven the rare figure capable of uniting Russia's often fractured opposition.

A gifted public speaker and a lawyer by training, Navalny's speeches skewered Putin's ruling United Russia bloc as "the party of crooks and thieves." It quickly became the rallying cry of the street opposition.

Russian liberals have expressed reservations about Navalny's positions on issues such as immigration that, they argue, flirt with nationalism. Russian nationalists, on the other hand, consider Navalny too liberal. Navalny insists he falls into neither camp.

But few would disagree that his Anti-Corruption Foundation, a crowdfunded NGO organized in 2011, has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. The foundation routinely uncovers stories of graft and excess among Putin's inner circle. A recent video mocked Vice Premier Igor Shuvalov for ferrying his wife's pet corgis aboard a private jet to dog show competitions around the world.

But Navalny is also a proven campaigner. In a run for Moscow mayor in 2013, Navalny garnered 27 percent of the vote  far short of victory, but more than any other Kremlin opponent has managed at the ballot box. Hundreds of young Russians volunteered in the effort, despite a slew of state media coverage that painted Navalny as either an American stooge or nationalist.

Vladimir Milov, an opposition politician who has publicly backed Navalny's candidacy, called it welcome news to Putin critics dismayed by opposition parties' disastrous showing in this fall's Russian parliamentary elections.

"The one thing we need right now is to re-energize the community countering Putin, and show the world that there is an alternative vision for Russia," Milov said. "And Navalny is the guy."

Kremlin obstacles

Yet hovering over Navalny's nascent campaign are questions about whether the Kremlin will allow him to run. As Navalny's star has risen, the opposition leader has faced numerous criminal court cases  all fabricated, Navalny insists, to stymie his political ambitions. Under Russian law, convicted felons are unable to run for office.

Last month, Russia's Supreme Court overturned Navalny's 2013 embezzlement conviction, bowing to a European Court of Human Rights finding that he had been denied a fair trial. The ruling appeared to open Navalny's path back to politics.

But the criminal case is being retried in Kirov, and a negative ruling could end Navalny's candidacy as quickly as it began.

Putin uncommitted

Publicly, the Kremlin has declined to comment on Navalny's candidacy, but there are signs Putin's inner circle is paying attention.

The independent Dozhd TV reported this week that Kremlin insiders found the prospect of a Navalny candidacy "dangerous"  a comment the candidate told VOA he welcomed as a "compliment."

"The Kremlin perfectly well understands that we'll run a good campaign," Navalny said. "Even if they have control of television, the election commission, the possibility to falsify the results or the possibility to use propaganda, they're still afraid of our campaign, which is built on volunteers."

Putin has repeatedly refused to reveal his plans beyond 2018, insisting it's too early to decide. Most observers expect him to stand for office and, given current popularity ratings, to win.

But Moscow political observers have been largely impressed by Navalny's announcement, which they describe as a smart tactical move that injects drama into the election, the outcome of which many saw as a foregone conclusion.

"It's obvious that in the president's administration, options are being discussed for how to attract people [to the elections] and give them legitimacy," said political analyst Ekaterina Schulman in an interview with the Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

One way, said Schulman, is to have real competition with strong candidates.

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Over 2,000 nationals abroad fighting alongside Takfiri militants: Saudi ministry

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:18PM

Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has acknowledged that more than 2,000 of its citizens have traveled to other countries, including Syria, to join Takfiri militant groups.

"The number of Saudis proven to be in conflict areas is 2,093," the ministry spokesman General Mansour al-Turki told daily newspaper Al-Hayat on Monday, adding that over 70 percent of them, or 1,540, were fighting alongside anti-Damascus militant groups in Syria.

Syria has blamed Saudi Arabia, along with certain other countries in the Middle East, for the devastating spread of militancy across the country, saying if it was not for the support of governments like the one in Riyadh, the militants could never capture large areas of land in the Arab country.

Most of the militant and terrorist groups, including Daesh and those linked to al-Qaeda, have enjoyed support from Saudi Arabia, reports say. Even groups designated by the West as moderate opposition, have received funding and weaponry from Saudi Arabia and its allies.

The remarks by the Saudi official come as over the past few months the Takfiri militants active in Syria have suffered major setbacks as the Syrian army continues to gain major victories in the fight against militants.

On December 22, the Syrian military announced that it had fully liberated the northwestern city of Aleppo. The militants had been controlling the city's eastern part since 2012, a year after foreign-backed militancy swept over the country.

The Saudi official also said that 147 Saudi nationals had joined militant groups in Yemen. The impoverished country, which lies to the south of Saudi Arabia, is the base of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Turki said 31 Saudis were also believed to have joined militants in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan while only five have traveled to neighboring Iraq to join Daesh.

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Syrian government forces kill 25 Daeshis in Homs

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:47PM

Syrian government forces have killed over 25 Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria's western province of Homs.

According to a source in the Syrian military on Monday, the terrorists were killed during violent clashes with the army which also resulted in the destruction of a large amount of the militant arms and equipment.

The source also said that the military had carried out a precision attack on a gathering of Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group leaders in the city of al-Rastan in the province's northern countryside, killing and injuring several of the terrorists.

Elsewhere, Syrian forces destroyed a large number of Daesh vehicles in the Aleppo province and blocked several of the terrorist group's supply routes in the city.

Earlier in the day, Syrian forces discovered the bodies of 21 civilians massacred in prisons previously run by Takfiri militants in Aleppo.

The bodies were found amid clean-up operations in the recently-liberated areas of the eastern city. Russian troops also found a number of mass graves that contained remains of bodies with signs of torture and mutilation at the hands of foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists.

The military fully liberated Aleppo on December 22 in the final stage of a weeks-long push. The militants had been controlling the city's eastern part since 2012, a year after foreign-backed militancy swept over the country.

As the terrorists were feeling the heat from army advances, they began using civilians as human shields to cripple Syrian troops in their operations.

Since March 2011, Syria has been gripped by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies.

The Takfiri terrorists operating in the Arab country have suffered major setbacks over the past few months as the army has managed to liberate a number of areas from their grip.

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Mass graves containing dozens of tortured Syrians uncovered in Aleppo

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 4:27PM

Russian troops have found a number of mass graves in the recently liberated Syrian city of Aleppo, which contained remains of bodies with signs of torture and mutilation at the hands of foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists.

"Mass burial sites of many dozens of Syrians, who were subjected to brutal torture and then murdered, have been found. In many cases, body parts are missing. Most victims have been shot in the head. And it seems this is only the beginning," the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said in a statement on Monday.

Konashenkov said that the instances were being recorded as serious war crimes, adding that Moscow would publicize them to let "the European backers of the so-called Syrian opposition well know who their wards actually are."

He added that foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants had mined streets and entrances to premises in the eastern quarters of Aleppo, and rigged toys, cars as well as motorcycles with explosives.

Konashenkov further noted that Russian soldiers had also uncovered seven large munitions depots, enough to arm several infantry battalions, in Aleppo.

Takfiri militants execute nearly two dozen civilians in Aleppo

Separately, Syrian authorities say they have found the bodies of 21 civilians, including women and children, whom militants had executed at close range as they pulled out of Aleppo last week.

Doctor Zaher Hajo, the director of the forensics office of Aleppo, told Syria's official news agency, SANA, that the bodies had been found in prisons run by the terrorist groups in al-Sukkari and al-Kalasseh neighborhoods of the city, adding that they bore wounds of gunshots fired at very close range.

There were five children and four women among the discovered corpses.

On December 20, scores of Aleppans, who had arrived at the Syrian army's checkpoints in Jisr al-Haj Bridge, gave accounts of summary executions of civilians by terrorists from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.

Number of Aleppo evacuees reaches 44,000

Meanwhile, Turkey's presidential spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, says the number of people who have left Aleppo and moved to the militant-held city of Idlib over the past three weeks has hit 44,000.

He added that 200 of the evacuees had been brought to Turkey for medical treatment.

The Syrian army announced on December 22 that government forces had wrested full control over Aleppo after the last batch of civilians and militants were evacuated from the city.

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At least 30 civilians killed in Daesh attack on Syria's al-Bab: Turkey

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 2:7PM

Turkey has blamed Daesh for the deaths of scores of civilians in the Syrian town of al-Bab, saying the people were killed as they were seeking to flee the flashpoint city which is encircled by the Turkish army and militants.

The Turkish military said in a statement on Monday that at least 30 civilians had been killed in al-Bab a day earlier after Daesh terrorists mounted an attack to prevent people from fleeing the Syrian town, adding that many civilians had also been wounded during the attack by the Takfiri group.

Turkey is in the middle of a military operation to capture al-Bab from Daesh. Ankara, which started its incursion into Syria in August, claims that it is only supporting the militants in northern Syria in the drive against Daesh. However, reports over the past days have suggested that Turkish troops have been directly involved in the battle in al-Bab.

On Wednesday, 16 Turkish troops were killed in al-Bab, which marked Ankara's biggest setback since it launched the unauthorized military operation into Syria.

Turkey stands accused of supporting Takfiri militants seeking to topple the Syrian government.

The ongoing assault in al-Bab has inflicted significant casualties on civilians. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that around 90 civilians, including 21 children, had lost their lives in a matter of 24 hours as Turkey intensified its airstrikes on the town.

Military sources in Turkey insist that they are nearing the end of operation in al-Bab.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that "al-Bab is nearly finished," saying that the seizure of the town would be a prelude to Turkey's next operation into Manbij, a town which is currently controlled by US-backed Kurdish militants who captured it in August.

Turkey has vowed to press ahead with its hunt of Kurdish militants in both Iraq and Syria.

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Russia raps General Assembly resolution on Syria investigation

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:16AM

Russia has blasted a recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution mandating an "independent" institution funded by "voluntary donation" to assist investigation into alleged war crimes in Syria.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Monday that such a body would not be able to carry out an impartial investigation under the UNGA resolution, which was passed by the assembly last week, RT reported.

He said the interests of the parties channeling funding to such team would interfere with an unbiased research, the envoy said. The body would, instead, be "delivering the results desired by its sponsors," he asserted.

He, meanwhile, warned that it is becoming a common trend to send a flawed resolution to the General Assembly when the draft fails to get a consensus at the UN Security Council.

"This decision of the General Assembly was not right ... we honestly believe that the General Assembly does not have the authority to establish such institutions," said Churkin.

On Wednesday, a day before the non-binding resolution was put to vote, Iran's Deputy Ambassador to the UN Gholam-Hossein Dehqani said, "We find the draft resolution to be an unconstructive move, on both legal and political grounds,"

Since 2011, Syria has been grappling with militancy fueled by the regional and extra-regional countries seeking the ouster of the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Those states, which most notably include the United States, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, have been unstintingly funneling financial assistance to Takfiri groups, while supporting anti-Damascus actions at the United Nations at the same time.

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Civilian bodies recovered from former militant jails in east Aleppo

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:13AM

Amid clean-up operations in the recently-liberated areas of eastern Aleppo, Syrian forces have discovered the bodies of 21 civilians massacred in prisons previously run by the Takfiri militants.

The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said there were five children and four women among those executed by the terrorists before withdrawal from areas under their control in the northwestern city.

"The bodies of martyrs were found inside prisons belonging to terrorist groups in al-Sukkari and al-Kallaseh neighborhoods Upon close examination, the civilians were found to have been shot at from a very close range," said Director of Aleppo Forensics, Zaher Hajo.

The military fully liberated Aleppo on December 22 in the final stage of a weeks-long push. The militants had been controlling the city's eastern part since 2012, a year after foreign-backed militancy swept over the country.

As the terrorists were feeling the heat from army advances, they began using civilians as human shields to hamstring Syrian troops in their operations.

According to the report, towards the end of the liberation operation, scores of civilians, who had been abducted by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra Front), escaped its prisons, reaching an army checkpoint.

The escapees have given gruesome accounts of killings carried out by the Takfiri terror group against civilians.

Meanwhile, SANA said as many as 150 militants had laid down arms in al-Sanamin, a town in the countryside of the southwestern city of Dara'a, in order to fall under an amnesty law issued by President Bashar al-Assad, which pardons those ceasing to partake in the armed conflict.

Dara'a Governor Mohammad Khaled al-Hannous then declared al-Sanamin "the first in the provinceto be cleared of the armed presence."

He added that some villages and towns in Dara'a Province, which bears the same name as that of its capital, were likewise about to be freed of militant presence.

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Turkey to Participate in Astana Talks on Syria as Guarantor

Sputnik News

19:57 26.12.2016

Turkey is advocating that the ceasefire in Aleppo to be implemented throughout Syria, according to a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Turkey, Russia and Iran will serve as guarantor countries during Astana talks on Syria, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday expressed readiness to host Syrian peace talks in Astana.

"The Astana process will be in addition to the United Nations process. Turkey, Russia and Iran will be guarantor countries, but the Syrian regime and opposition will negotiate," Ibrahim Kaln said at a press conference in Ankara as quoted by website Turkish Minute.

The spokesman added that Turkey is advocating that the ceasefire in Aleppo to be implemented throughout Syria.

Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, following the protests that had turned violent, as part of the so-called Arab Spring.

The opposition and Damascus, along with the mediators, have been engaged in UN-brokered settlement talks. The last round of intra-Syrian talks took place in Geneva in April. The Syrian High Negotiations Committee opposition group walked out of the negotiations, citing the continuous fighting in Syria and the lack of progress on humanitarian issues.

 Sputnik

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Russian, Syrian Diplomats Discuss Political Settlement of Syrian Crisis

Sputnik News

02:24 27.12.2016

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held talks with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held talks with Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad to discuss measures to promote a political settlement of the Syrian crisis, the Russian foreign ministry said.

"During the meeting the sides exchanged views regarding the development of the situation in Syria, emphasizing the need to intensify efforts to promote the political settlement of the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2254 and to continue at the same time the uncompromising fight against terrorism," the statement read.

The UN Security Council Resolution 2254 was adopted in December 2015 and urges for political settlement of the Syrian conflict.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, such as the Jabhat Fatah al Sham and the Islamic State (Daesh), both outlawed in Russia.

 Sputnik

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Chinese aircraft carrier sails in waters south of Taiwan

ROC Central News Agency

2016/12/26 11:47:57

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) China's first aircraft carrier sailed in waters south of Taiwan overnight with Taiwan's fighter jets and warships monitoring its movement and ready to respond, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.

The Liaoning and five escorting warships were sailing 20 nautical miles outside Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines at around 8 p.m. Sunday, the MND said.

At 9 a.m. Monday, the Chinese warships were continuing to move in a southwesterly direction some 90 miles (150 kilometers) to the south of Eluanbi, Taiwan's southernmost point, it said.

The MND did not specify their movement but the Chinese warships were apparently on their way from waters off Taiwan's east coast to the South China Sea.

An unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets and Navy warships were deployed in Taiwan's ADIZ for a close monitor of the Chinese navy formation, according to the MND.

According to Chinese media reports, the Liaoning, which was commissioned in 2012, is headed to "distant sea waters" for the first time. The aircraft carrier and its escorts are expected to conduct exercise outside the first island chain, of which Taiwan and the Japanese islands form a part.

Enditem

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Taiwan monitoring China's first aircraft carrier drill

ROC Central News Agency

2016/12/26 17:09:58

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) Taiwan has been monitoring China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which was sailing in a southwesterly direction southeast of the Taiwan-held Dongsha islands in the South China Sea as of 2 p.m. Monday, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that day.

The ministry said it will continue to keep a close watch on its movements, but declined to reveal details about reconnaissance missions carried out by the Air Force.

The Dongsha islands are located 450 kilometers southwest of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

According to local media reports, the Air Force scrambled two F-16 jets and two RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft from Hualien air base in eastern Taiwan Monday to track the Liaoning and its escort vessels.

The RF-16 took photos of the formation, the ministry said in a statement.

It said the public should rest assured that the military is staying on top of and closely monitoring the movements of the fleet.

According to Chinese media reports, the Liaoning and its battle group is bound for the Western Pacific, where it will take part in an open-sea exercise for the first time.

The aircraft carrier and its escorts are expected to conduct the exercises outside the first island chain, of which Taiwan and the Japanese islands form a part.

(By Claudia Liu and Evelyn Kao)

ENDITEM/J



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Diplomacy not zero-sum game: official

ROC Central News Agency

2016/12/26 21:47:00

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) The Presidential Office on Monday expressed deep regret and discontent after China and Sao Tome and Principe announced their resumption of diplomatic relations earlier that day, saying that "diplomacy is not a zero-sum game."

China and Sao Tome and Principe signed a communique to resume diplomatic relations in Beijing earlier that day.

Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang () said that "diplomacy is not a zero-sum game," noting that participation in the international community by both sides of the Taiwan Strait has positive significance and the two sides need not clash with each other.

"Any move to restrain or interfere with Taiwan's participation in the international community will be a loss to the international community, and will also not be beneficial to the healthy development of cross-strait relations," Huang said.

"We deeply regret and are dissatisfied with" China's manipulation of "checkbook diplomacy" and its "one China principle" to interfere with Taiwan's participation in the international community, Huang said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed "deep disappointment and regret."

The ministry said that Sao Tome and Principe, lured by China's dollar diplomacy, has turned away from Taiwan despite the major contributions it has made to the improvement of the health and wellbeing of the Sao Tome and Principe people over the years.

The ministry noted that the West African country has big financial needs and that China, in its manipulation of the "one China principle," had demanded that Sao Tome and Principe not maintain any official ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a precondition for providing" full support and assistance" to the country's social and economic development, as well as the needs of its people.

The ministry said the ROC, as a sovereign, independent country, is by no means negated unilaterally by the "one China" principle in Beijing's communique.

The government, as a responsible international cooperation partner, will continue to deepen and solidify close cooperation with its allies, it said.

The ministry and all its overseas embassies and offices will be on guard to monitor any further moves by China to squeeze Taiwan's space in the international community, it said. China first established diplomatic ties with Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portugese colony, after it declared independence in 1975. The ties were severed in 1997 when the African country established ties with Taiwan.

After the severance of ties between Taiwan and Sao Tome and Principe on Dec. 21, Taiwan now has 21 diplomatic allies. In Africa, only Burkina Faso and Swaziland maintain formal ties with Taiwan.

(By Sophia Yeh, Tai Ya-chen and Lilian Wu)

ENDITEM/J

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US proposal for Taiwan military ties irks China

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:30AM

China says it has filed "stern representations" with the United States over a bill newly signed by President Barack Obama that proposes military exchanges between the US and Taiwan.

Obama on Friday signed into law the annual defense bill for 2017, which for the first time also advises the Pentagon to "conduct a program of senior military exchanges" with Taiwan.

China, which considers Taiwan as a breakaway province, expressed its strong opposition over the issue, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late Sunday. It said the section in the defense policy bill referring to Taiwan was an instance of interference in China's internal affairs that could not be accepted by Beijing.

"We urge the US side to abide by its promises made to China on the Taiwan issue, stop US-Taiwan military contacts and arms sales to Taiwan, to avoid damaging Sino-US ties and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," read the statement.

Under the "One China" policy adopted in 1979, Washington has been recognizing Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan and maintaining only unofficial ties with the island. The US, however, remains Taiwan's political ally and its only arms supplier.

More trouble down the road?

China had formerly warned the US against the Taiwan content of the bill, saying Beijing retained the right to "take further action" in response to it.

But the current US administration will be in office for less than a month, and the military budget bill and its proposal for more military ties with Taiwan are more likely to take practical effect under an incoming administration, which has already proven to be even more adversarial to China.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry filed a similar diplomatic protest with the US earlier this month over a phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan. Trump's 10-minute telephone call with Tsai was the first by a US president-elect or president in 37 years.

Back then, Beijing urged the careful handling of the Taiwan issue to avoid any unnecessary disturbances in ties.

After the original phone conversation with the Taiwanese leader, Trump caused even more controversy when he said that he did not feel "bound by a 'One China' policy" unless China gave concessions to the US in trade and other areas.

The US president-elect has also named an economist known for his hard line against China to head a key White House trade post.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has said Beijing is paying close attention to any changes in US policy under Trump.

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Beijing Slams Washington for Taiwan Content in US Defense Spending Bill

Sputnik News

07:03 26.12.2016(updated 07:24 26.12.2016)

China expressed severe criticism over US President Barack Obama's signing defense policy bill, which includes the provision on cooperation with Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

BEIJING (Sputnik)  On Friday, the White House announced that Obama signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to set the budget for the US Department of Defense. The US Senate and House of Representatives passed the 2017 NDAA earlier in December. The Act increases base funding by $9 billion and provide US soldiers a 2.1 percent pay raise.

"We firmly oppose relevant content of the bill on US defense budget  We express deep resentment over the signing of the act," Hua said in a statement late Sunday.

China calls on the United States to stop interacting with Taiwan in the military area in order to avoid damaging US-China relations, Hua added.

After Chinese Nationalist forces were defeated by Mao Zedong's Communists, the Nationalist government moved to Taiwan in 1949. Since then, Beijing has viewed the self-ruled, democratic island as a breakaway province. The United States, along with many other countries, does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation and sticks officially to the "One China" position, but has kept informal relations with the island after severing diplomatic ties with it in 1979.

 Sputnik

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Turkish police detain top opposition HDP official in Ankara

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:26PM

Turkish security forces have arrested a high-ranking official of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) over an investigation related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group as Ankara presses ahead with a massive clampdown on members of the opposition party.

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a counter-terrorism team had detained Aysel Tugluk in the capital, Ankara, on Monday morning as part of an investigation launched by the Diyarbakir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against the PKK and the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an alliance of pro-Kurdish groups.

Tugluk has been taken to police headquarters and will be later transferred to the southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

Last month, 13 HDP legislators were arrested over alleged links to the PKK militant group.

Party leaders Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag remain in custody along with eight others, waiting to stand trial on terrorism-related charges.

A shaky ceasefire between the PKK, which has been calling for an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984, and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.

Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out operations against the PKK positions in the country's troubled southeastern border region as well as Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region and northern Syria.

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Turkey detains 1,682 for questioning over links to failed coup, militants

Iran Press TV

Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:35AM

Hundreds of people have been detained for questioning by Turkish authorities in the course of last week over suspected links to opposition leader Fethullah Gulen as well as militant groups.

Turkey's Interior Ministry said 1,682 people had been detained for questioning last week, 516 of whom were remanded in custody.

Most of them are suspected of having links with US-based Gulen, who is accused of being behind a failed coup attempt in July. The 75-year-old has condemned the coup and denied any involvement in the violence.

Ankara has been engaged in a crackdown on people it accuses of having connections to the cleric.

The post-coup crackdown has seen some 36,000 people jailed pending trial and more than 100,000 sacked or suspended in the civil service, army, judiciary and other institutions.

People suspected of having links to Daesh were also among those nabbed last week.

Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale campaign against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in its southern border region over the past few months.

The Turkish military has also been pounding the group's positions in northern Iraq as well in breach of the Arab country's sovereignty.

A shaky ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK that had stood since 2013 was declared null and void by the militants following the Turkish strikes against the group.

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Turkish Security Forces Detain 508 People in One Week in Anti-PKK Operations

Sputnik News

18:30 26.12.2016

Turkish security forces conducted 220 operations since December 19 and detained 508 people suspected to be "aiding and abetting" the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Turkey's Interior Ministry announced Monday that 508 people suspected to be "aiding and abetting" the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were detained this past week by the Turkish security forces in anti-PKK operations, and that 78 people were later arrested, local media reported.

According to the Hurriyet Daily News, security forces conducted 220 operations since December 19, resulted in the incapacitation or killing of nine PKK militants, the finding of three PKK bases, and the seizing of PKK munitions, narcotics, and smuggled contraband.

The interior ministry also reportedly noted that 78 additional suspects were detained over connections to the Islamic State, a jihadist group outlawed in Russia among other countries.

The PKK is an organization which Turkey regards as a terrorist group. Tensions between Ankara and Turkish Kurds escalated in July 2015 when a ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed over a series of terrorist attacks, allegedly committed by the Kurdish militants.

 Sputnik

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Ukraine's Fragile Cease-Fire Holds For Third Day Despite Violations

December 26, 2016

A new cease-fire negotiated between Ukraine's government and Russia-backed separatists in the east held by a thread for a third day as both sides reported clashes near the strategic town of Debaltseve.

The two sides agreed to the so-called "indefinite" cease-fire last week, with the help of mediation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said the agreement reached on December 21 was a sign that his war-weary nation is on a road to lasting peace after nine previously negotiated cease-fires came unraveled.

Mortar and artillery fire has continued without any casualties.

"Our positions have come under attack 33 times since early Sunday," the Ukrainian military said in a statement.

Russian-backed separatists said their side had come under fire from Ukrainian grenade launchers 62 times in the past day.

The truce came after a battle for control of Debaltseve, which sits on a key rail link between the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

The two sides agreed to a similar holiday truce last year. It lasted for several weeks before fighting slowly resumed.

As of December 1, the UN's "conservative estimate" of the death toll among civilians and combatants since the conflict erupted in April 2014 is 9,758, with another 22,779 people injured.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax

Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-cease- fire-third-day-violations/28197821.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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Over 450 Ukrainian Servicemen Died in Donbass Operation in 2016

Sputnik News

20:13 26.12.2016

The amount of combat casualties of Ukrainian servicemen in Donbass in 2016 amounted to 211, non-combat  to 256, according to official statement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

KIEV (Sputnik)  Over 450 Ukrainian servicemen died in a military operation in the country's eastern region of Donbass in 2016, the press service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Monday.

"The amount of combat casualties in 2016 amounted to 211, non-combat  to 256," the press service said in a statement.

According to the statement, this year the Ukrainian military forces lost in the hostilities 100 units of armaments and equipment and received 1,000 units of new or modernized military equipment.

The Donbass region has been a war zone since April 2014, when authorities in Kiev launched a military operation against pro-independence militias in eastern Ukraine's regions of Donetsk and Lugansk.

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, Minsk.

The deal stipulates a full ceasefire, weapons withdrawal from the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, an all-for-all prisoner exchange and constitutional reforms, which would give a special status to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics. Both sides of the conflict, however, have been constantly accusing each other of violating the agreement.

 Sputnik

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Agni-V

A successful launch of the Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile, Agni-5, was carried out on October 27, 2021 at approximately 1950 hrs from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha. The Indian Government stated "The missile, which uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine, is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy. The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with Indias stated policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to No First Use."

According to the Indian media, the test launch of the Agni-5 has two aspects: first, it is the first user launch of the countrys first intercontinental ballistic missile since the establishment of the Strategic Command of the Three Armed Forces in India; second, the Agni The -5" missile has been tested seven times before, but this is the first night launch. The Indian media also pointed out in the report that the successful test firing of the "Agni-5" was carried out during the ongoing confrontation between the Chinese and Indian armies in the eastern part of the so-called "Ladakh" area, and claimed that the missile had already sent the missile to the northernmost part of China. The region is included in the scope of the attack, which "sends a strong strategic signal to China."

India developed a 5000 km range variant of the Agni. More importantly it has what is called the MIRV capability which is the ability to carry more than one warhead and being able to engage with multiple targets. Agni V would be a three-stage, all composite, solid propellant fuelled and advanced version in the Agni Class of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles. Most of the systems for the Agni V would be from Agni III. "We've started the design work on Agni-V. 5,000 km is what the country needs and that's what we're working on," says Agni Program Director, Avinash Chander, said in May 2008. "The development process has already begun and in the next two years, the design should be ready", said Mr Chander.

In February 2009 it was reported that a senior official of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said that India was likely to fire its Agni-V ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 km by the end of 2010. "We should be able to do something before December 2010," DRDO chief M. Natarajan said. After the successful test of the 3,500 km range Agni-III in May 2008, scientists were working on the first and second stage of the missile to increase its range to 5,000 km. "We will be working on capitalising the first and second stages," Natarajan explained. The government has not considered an 8,000-km range ICBM. Agni-V, for which the government has sanctioned around Rs 2,500 crore, is likely to have solid propellants.

The Agni-5 is a three-stage, solid-fuel missile but its first stage consists of a metallic case rocket motor, while the second and third stages have composite case motors. The work on the nuclear-capable Agni-V basically revolves around incorporating a third composite stage in the two-stage Agni-III, along with some advanced technologies like ring laser gyroscope and accelerator for navigation and guidance. Defence scientists want the Agni-V to be a canister-launch missile system to ensure it has the requisite operational flexibility to be fired from any part of the country.

On 19 April 2012 India said it had successfully test-fired a new missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead as far as Beijing - announcing itself as a major "missile power." Indian media showed video of the long-range Agni-V missile in-flight after its launch from a test range in the eastern state of Orissa. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the country's scientists for contributing to the country's "self reliance in defense."

Ministry of Defence reported 19 April 2012 that Indias maiden Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) AGNI-V (A-5) was successfully flight tested. The flawless auto-launch of the missile started at 08:04 hours. Piercing the thin cloud cover, the missile took off from the launch pad at Wheelers Island in Odisha at 08:07 hours and started rising exactly the way it was designed for. The missile, with a range of more than 5000 kms, followed the entire trajectory in copybook style perfection as the three stages of Propulsion dropped and fell at appropriate intervals into the Bay of Bengal.

The three propulsion stages, developed completely indigenously by DRDO, performed exactly the way they were intended to. The indigenously developed Composite Rocket Motors performed well, signifying the countrys stride and complete self-reliance in this complex propulsion technology. Ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the Vehicle and witnessed the final event. Radars and electro-optical systems along the path monitored in real time all the parameters of the Missile.

A number of new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in this A-5 Mission. The redundant Navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) ensured the Missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy. The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the Missile flawlessly.

The Vice-President Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and National Security Advisor (NSA) Shri Shiv Shankar Menon hailed the launch of the Agni-V. Dr Singh and Shri Antony spoke to DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat and Programme Director Shri Avinash Chander and greeted the DRDO Scientists on the A-5 success. Air Marshal K.J. Mathews, Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command (C-in-C, SFC), who witnessed the launch, said that the success of Agni-V is a historic event for India. Dr V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Dr S.K. Chaudhari, Director, Research Centre IMARAT (RCI), Shri A.K. Chakrabarti, Director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Shri S.P. Dash, Director, Interim Test Range (ITR), Shri Guruprasad, Director, Research & Development Engineers (R&DE Engineers, Pune) were present during the launch operations. Shri R.K. Gupta, Project Director guided the team of Scientists and employees of DRDO during the launch activities.

The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony described the maiden test flight of Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) Agni-V as a great moment for India and its scientific community. Shri Antony spoke to DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat and Project Director Shri Avinash Chander immediately after the event and congratulated the entire team for the immaculate success. Shri Antony said the achievement was a major milestone in the countrys Missile Programme and it reminds him of the untiring efforts of numerous unsung scientists of DRDO who had "worked relentlessly years together to bring the nation to this threshold". Shri Antony also spoke to former DRDO chief Mr M. Natarajan and fondly remembered his contribution to various projects of the organisation.

India's Defense Research and Development Organization chief Vijay Saraswat told Indian media that the country now has missile capabilities that match with the world's elite military powers. "The successful launch of Agni V missile is a tribute to the sophistications and commitment to national causes on the part of India's scientific technological community," said Singh. "I congratulate all the scientists and technologists who have been associated with this important project and I sincerely hope that in years to come our scientists and technologists will contribute a lot more to promoting self reliance in defense and other walks of national life."

When asked about the launch at a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said China and India are not competitors, but partners. He said both sides should work together to deepen strategic cooperation, promote mutual development and maintain peace and stability in the region. China's communist party newspaper, the Global Times, responded to India's test launch with a warning of its own, saying "India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with China" for the foreseeable future.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) director general and scientific adviser to the defence minister V.K. Saraswat told India Strategic magazine in April 2013 that in terms of missile range, Indian scientists had achieved whatever was assigned by the government (about 5000 km) but the effort was now to develop a MIRV capability.

On 31 January 2015 India successfully test-launched the nuclear-capable, 5,000 kilometer-range Agni-5 missile. "The missile, witnessed a flawless 'auto launch' and detailed results will be known after all data retrieved from different radars and network systems," the Integrated Test Range director MVKV Prasad said, the Hindustan Times reported. The test launch was conducted from a mobile launcher, in the third such test since April 2012.

India successfully carried out a fourth test of its nuclear-capable, intercontinental Agni-V missile on 26 December 2016. It is the fourth developmental and second canisterised trial of the long range missile. While the first test was conducted on April 19, 2012, the second test was carried out on September 15, 2013 and the third on January 31, 2015 from the same base. The 17.5-meter-long, 50-ton surface-to-surface missile was test fired from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of the eastern Odisha state, and splashed down near Australian waters.

The missile can hit targets more than 5,000 kilometers away, effectively putting China's northernmost areas within range of Indian nuclear weapons. Unlike other missiles of Agni series, the latest one Agni-5' is the most advanced having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

Many new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in the first Agni-5 trial. The redundant navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) had ensured the Missile reach the target point within few metres of accuracy. The high-speed on board computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the missile flawlessly.

Indian leaders welcomed the successful test of the Agni. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated DRDO and its scientists on the successful test firing of Agni V. Successful test firing of Agni V makes every Indian very proud. It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence. The successful test firing of Agni V is the result of the hardwork of DRDO and its scientists. I congratulate them , the Prime Minister said.

The missile was launched from a mobile platform, which gives the armed forces flexibility to transport and fire it swiftly from anywhere they want. India's nuclear doctrine emphasizes a no-first-use policy and New Delhis official position is that its nuclear deterrence is not country-specific.

The test ensured the Agni-V missile is operational. After this test, the missile will be handed over to Indias strategic forces command for operationalization. They would undertake two tests and subsequently the missile will come into Indias armory. Agni-V would now undergo at least two user-trials by the tri-service Strategic Forces Command (SFC) before full-scale production and induction. It would take another couple of years for Agni-V to be inducted into SFC, which manages the country's nuclear arsenal, in adequate numbers.

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Most of us spot wildlife during the course of our daily lives  a hawk flying over the Dan River, a deer crossing a field, a skunk getting a little too close to our homes for comfort  but Tanya Lovern, founder of Southside Virginia Wildlife Center, sees them up close every day.

Lovern is the only state licensed and permitted wildlife rehabilitator in the Dan River Region. Her wildlife center draws orphaned or injured wildlife from seven counties (Pittsylvania, Patrick, Henry, Halifax, Campbell, Mecklenburg and Franklin) and, occasionally, from places further away.

Wildlife rescue is her passion and opening the center was a decision to commit countless hours  and a good chunk of her paycheck from her regular job as vice president of operations at Horizontech  to the cause.

Lovern said she always knew she would be responsible for financing the center, but has worked to get grants and donations to help cover the cost of feeding and treating the animals.

Theres not much out there for wildlife, Lovern said. There is no state or federal funding for wildlife centers and few foundations that give grants to nonprofits include wildlife rescue in their grants.

In 2016, Lovern said, she has received one $1,500 grant and about $9,800 in donations from individuals; the balance of the cost of running the center  about $19,000  has come out of her own pocket.

I expect to keep paying for overhead, like building maintenance and the mortgage, but Im hoping to find funding that covers more of the actual supplies and food for the animals, Lovern said.

Feeding an orphaned baby deer until it is ready to be released back into the wild costs roughly $500 per deer. Formula for them is crazy expensive, Lovern noted.

The center took care of 34 baby deer this year, along with about 800 other animals ranging from squirrels and rabbits to raptors, opossums, songbirds, bats and turtles.

The one guest that thrilled Lovern the most was a brief visit from a black bear cub  a first for the center.

It was awesome! Im not licensed for bear or eagles; if we get them we have to get them to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, in Waynesboro, in a matter of hours, Lovern said, adding that she calls bears and eagles her unicorn animals since she normally would not have an opportunity to handle them.

Since it opened in 2012 the center has grown. Lovern has added flight cages so birds and raptors that had injured wings can practice flying again before they are released; there are separate buildings to house rabies-vector and non-rabies-vector animals; there is a barn for baby deer; and a drop off building so the public can drop off injured wildlife.

Were cant be there all the time, but there is security  no one comes on this property without being recorded, Lovern said. When animals are dropped off, we ask for a phone call and one of us will come.

While Lovern has borne the cost of the most of the buildings herself, she has had four of them built by local Boy Scouts earning their Eagle Scout badges, and local Girl Scouts regularly drop off supplies.

I love my scouts; they are amazing, Lovern said.

Initially Lovern ran the center herself, with help from her family. Now she has a small group of trained volunteers who help with the animals.

The goal with all rescues is to get animals back into the wild  but sometimes that isnt possible, like when animals suffer permanent damage that would affect their ability to live normally.

Then we get them into an education program, Lovern said. We dont do that here yet, but Id like to one day.

While the center is growing and helping more and more animals, funding is still a problem.

I dont expect anyone to pay the mortgage, for renovations, for things like the tractor I just bought; thats on me, Lovern said. But it would be great to get enough donations to cover medical, food and supply costs.
(TNS) -- Interstate 95 and other major arteries around the Baltimore region could become a testing ground for driverless cars starting in 2018 under a proposal Gov. Larry Hogan 's administration announced Wednesday.The state has applied for a U.S. Department of Transportation program that aims to work out the kinks in "autonomous vehicle" technology, speed its arrival on roadways across the country and help grow companies that are developing it.In addition to I-95, the state proposal would allow testing on U.S. 1, U.S. 40 and the Intercounty Connector, and at facilities such as the port of Baltimore and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.The state chose the busy I-95 corridor from College Park to Aberdeen because it is well-suited for "real-world testing," Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn said.Federal transportation officials are expected to announce their chosen test areas early next year.Maryland officials said they want to accommodate and adapt to a range of new vehicle technologies  from assistive autopilot features to driverless cars without steering wheels  and make sure it's safe for human drivers to share the road with them."Self-driving vehicles have the potential to transform how we live and work, and while we are open for business and eager to realize the life-saving and economic benefits of this innovative technology, we will always ensure safety comes first," said Christine E. Nizer, the state's motor vehicle administrator and chairwoman of a state work group focused on the issue.The state's application suggested that driverless technology could be used to move freight to and from the port and to shuttle passengers to and from BWI. It also promoted opportunities to explore how tolling systems like those used on I-95 and the ICC can adapt to autonomous vehicles and how the vehicles can communicate with traffic signal systems on roads like U.S. 1 and U.S. 40.Maryland has not passed any law legalizing or banning autonomous vehicles on its roadways, but cars are still expected to meet certain standards. While vehicles such as Tesla 's Model S  which have an autopilot feature  pass muster under state regulations, others like Google's self-driving cars, which don't have steering wheels, do not, Nizer said.Policy issues are increasingly cropping up as self-driving cars hit roads around the country.Ride-sharing company Uber has been testing the technology in San Francisco and Pittsburgh for weeks, though Uber pulled its self-driving cars from California roads Wednesday after state regulators moved to revoke their registrations. . Uber vehicles have been spotted in San Francisco running red lights and crossing into bike lanes, according to news reports.Tesla's Model S has been involved in at least two fatal crashes, one that occurred in May when a Tesla using its autopilot was speeding and struck a tractor-trailer. Google vehicles have also been involved in some crashes, including one in September that involved a driver in another vehicle running a red light and striking a driverless Google SUV.As more technology companies and automakers explore the technology, state and federal regulators are trying to react, said Tom Jacobs, director of the Center for Advanced Transportation Technology at the University of Maryland, College Park."A lot of states are trying to get out in front with legislation," he said. "Some are still trying to catch up."Nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation related to autonomous vehicles, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Governors in two states have taken executive action on the issue.Nizer declined to say whether any legislative proposals are in the works in Maryland.If the state's proposal is chosen by federal officials, state officials said, it "could lead to future federal funding and economic development opportunities for Maryland."State officials have been talking with a broad group of institutions, public agencies and private organizations through the work group Rahn assembled last year, and hope that coordination encourages federal officials to approve their application, Nizer said.They plan to involve institutions such as Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade, where research on autonomous vehicles and related cybersecurity demands is already underway, as well as any private companies exploring the technology.David Woessner, general manager of the Washington, D.C., region for the Arizona-based company Local Motors, said if Maryland's proposal is chosen, it could highlight the region as a place for entrepreneurs interested in autonomous vehicle technology."People will want to tap into that if they know there's a network focused on the development and deployment of this technology," he said.The company has a sales and demonstration facility at National Harbor, where it shows off plans for an autonomous ride-sharing service, and hopes to open a manufacturing facility in the region, Woessner said. AAA Mid-Atlantic supports Maryland's bid to become a test site because it could make driverless vehicles safer, spokeswoman Ragina Averella said."As research moves forward on driverless vehicles, AAA wants to ensure the safety of motorists receives the greatest priority consideration," she said. "In any research undertaken on real roads, precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of the traveling public as well as those involved in any experimentation."Federal transportation officials said the test areas it selects should be ready for autonomous vehicles by Jan. 1, 2018.Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration officials said any such vehicles would be required to undergo testing on private tracks before hitting public roads.
(TNS)  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.
(TNS)  Its no secret that state and local law enforcement agencies have grown more militarized in the past decade, with armored personnel carriers, drones and robots.But one item in their arsenal has been kept largely out of public view, to the dismay of civil liberties advocates who say its use is virtually unregulated  and largely untracked.The device is a suitcase-size surveillance tool commonly called a StingRay that mimics a cellphone tower, allowing authorities to track individual cellphones in real time. Users of the device, which include scores of law enforcement agencies across the country, sign a nondisclosure agreement when they purchase it, pledging not to divulge its use, even in court cases against defendants the device helped capture.Those restrictions remain in place despite a decision last year by the police in Charlotte, N.C., to disclose to judges more details about the devices use in criminal cases and laws in several states that require warrants whenever the device is employed.A report this week by the House Reform and Government Oversight Committee raised new concerns about the devices popularity. Cell-site simulator use inside the United States raises far-reaching issues concerning the use, extent and legality of government surveillance authority, it said.The FBI is one of the major users of the device. The House of Representatives report said that agency alone had more than 194 cell-site simulators in use across the country.Yet even as the federal government has encouraged the use of the simulators, the FBI has demanded that Harris Corp., the defense contractor that manufactures the most commonly used of the devices, provide notification every time it sells a device to law enforcement agencies. In turn, the FBI requires those agencies to sign a nondisclosure agreement that blocks them from telling the public of the purchase or acknowledging the devices use in court proceedings.Until recently, the FBI avoided disclosing its own use of the surveillance apparatus and also its role in assisting state and local law enforcement agencies in obtaining the devices, the oversight committee report said.Cell-site simulators were developed for battlefield use, allowing roving infantry teams or airborne units to track the cellphone signatures of enemy combatants and kill them.Their civilian use has soared, however. In addition to the FBIs 194 devices, the report found them sprinkled among federal agencies: the U.S. Marshals Service has 70, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has 59 and even the Internal Revenue Service maintains two of the electronic tools in its investigative arsenal.The House report provided only limited details about the spread of the devices to state and local agencies. But the American Civil Liberties Union tallies 68 agencies in 23 states and the District of Columbia that have StingRay tracking devices. States with broad usage include North Carolina, Florida, Texas and California.Even small city police departments can obtain StingRays. The police department in Sunrise, Fla., a municipality of 90,000 people northwest of Fort Lauderdale, has two, the House report said.Much of the federal government wont talk about use of the StingRays.The FBI does not comment on specific tools or techniques, spokesman Raushaunah Muhammad said.Harris Corp., headquartered in Melbourne, Fla., was equally reticent: We are unable to comment for your story, spokesman Jim Burke said.Right now, its the Wild West for the use of these devices, said Mike Katz-Lacabe, director of research at the Center for Human Rights and Privacy, a nonprofit group he founded in San Leandro, Calif. We dont know how often they are used, what they are used for and whether wed consider such a use acceptable.Federal authorities have approved cell-site simulators from two companies. In addition to models of the StingRay by Harris Corp., a second branded device is commonly called a Dirtbox and is made by a Boeing Corp. subsidiary, Digital Receiver Technology Inc. of Germantown, Md. The House report said the devices cost between $41,500 and $500,000, depending on their capabilities.The StingRay typically is mounted in a van and used with a directional antenna. Sometimes police chase the signal of a suspects known cellular phone number or go to the suspects location and sweep up all unknown signals. All cellphones with power in the area begin communicating with the cell-site simulator, as if it were a legitimate tower.That is one of the concerns of civil liberties groups, that cellphones unconnected with a law enforcement investigation are also captured by the device. While some cell-site simulators allow 911 emergency calls to pass through to legitimate towers, other calls routinely fail. Should an emergency unfold, cell users in the vicinity probably would find their calls dropped or signals jammed.Even if there is a 911 pass-through feature, there are still plenty of other calls that people might want to make, said Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist at the American Civil Liberties Union. You might want to call your childrens school. You might want to call your wife or husband.Police with little training can use the cell-site simulators and affect all phones in a given area while looking for single individuals, he said. Poor minority communities, where many residents have ditched landlines, are disproportionately affected, he added.Its hard to know with certainty how many innocent cellphone users have experienced jamming due to police use of cell-site simulators. Federal restrictions on information about their use prevents collecting such details.There are real privacy interests at stake when the government sends probing electronic signals into the homes of innocent people. These devices cannot be used in a way that only enters the home of the target, Soghoian said.This is not a scalpel. It is a shotgun, he added.In the past decade or so, technologies developed by the intelligence community and military have trickled down to law enforcement, from drones and license plate readers to the armored personnel carriers visible in Ferguson, Mo., in the 2014 protests over the fatal shooting of a young African-American male by a white police officer.I think (cell-site simulators) are definitely part of the police militarization trend, said Alan Butler, senior counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit public interest research group in Washington that focuses on democratic values in a digital era.A number of nondisclosure agreements from law enforcement agencies have leaked out over the years, including from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Sacramento County sheriff, the Kansas City Police Department, the Tacoma, Wash., Police Department and the California Department of Justice.Federal demands that law enforcement not acknowledge the use of the devices in court proceedings has led some police to bend rules about how to use information that is gathered.Sometimes they would say in court filings that they had a confidential informant, Butler said.A trio of civil rights groups filed a complaint in August with the Federal Communications Commission against the Baltimore Police Department, saying widespread use of the cell-site simulators there had disproportionately affected black communities and disrupted 911 calls.The House report, which said grants from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security were widely used to provide state and local agencies with money for the simulators, said police increasingly were using the devices for everyday crime-fighting activities.It cited the lack of a uniform national policy governing the devices use, noting that in some jurisdictions the standard for employing cell-site simulators is lower than for obtaining a search warrant. The House report called on Congress to pass a uniform nationwide standard that would require all law enforcement agencies to use clarity and candor with courts so that the devices are employed transparently in criminal investigations.Lack of oversight is huge here. I dont think it can be overstated, said Butler, the lawyer for the Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Toto Wolff has admitted for the first time that Valtteri Bottas is a "possibility" to replace Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.

Sources in Spain report that Williams is pushing for the German marque to reduce its engine bill to zero, in exchange for Finn Bottas' eleventh-hour release.

But Mercedes' Wolff denied that Bottas has already been gifted the ultimate Christmas present.

"It's too early to say," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "We have not yet made a decision, because it involves more than one driver and one team. And we have respect for the other teams.

"Valtteri is a possibility but we also know how important he is for Williams. It's a delicate situation which requires us to move cautiously, so we decided to take a bit of time," Wolff added.

But the Austrian played down claims that if Bottas is signed, a conflict of interest and an unfair situation for Lewis Hamilton would be created, because the Finn is managed by Wolff himself.

"I'm not an idiot," Wolff insisted. "When I started with Daimler four years ago, I made a deal that I cannot manage or have business interests with a Mercedes driver.

"Those who talk about a conflict of interest are illiterate about F1," he added.

But there is already tension with Hamilton, with the Briton suggesting recently he will no longer accept the pre-season loss of key mechanics and engineers from his side of the garage.

"This is an old story," Wolff responded. "He understood why we moved in that direction, and I understood his side from the psychological point of view."

On other matters, Wolff also commented on Ferrari's situation after sections of the press questioned the famous marque's decision to let James Allison go and not push hard to sign Paddy Lowe.

"They are focusing on an Italian team," said Wolff, "which for me is an added value, not a brake.

"I am convinced that the decisions taken by Marchionne and Arrivabene are moving in the right direction."

And on the topic of future Mercedes tests, Wolff raised the possibility of some exciting names getting into the cockpit.

"I am aware that F1 is also a show," he said. "I'd really like to test the abilities of (Valentino) Rossi and (Sebastien) Ogier in our cars. Yes, my idea is to organise a day with them."

Michael Schumacher's son Mick, meanwhile, will enter European F3 next year, amid speculation he is the next young star on Mercedes' sights for F1.

"Mick is a great guy and an excellent pilot," said Wolff. "His family is there in his heart but it's fair that he focuses on F3 now.

"If he does well, many teams will have their eyes on him, and Mercedes will be one of them."

(GMM)
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Andhra-Telangana Row Heats Up RTA!

After more than two and a half years, the Andhra-Telangana row raised its ugly head in Hyderabad on Tuesday with the arrest of Tadipatri MLA J C Prabhakar Reddy, brother of Anantapur MP J C Diwakar Reddy, over running of private buses allegedly without permit.

As Prabhakar was coming to the Road Transport Authority office at Secunderabad to counter the allegations levelled by Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA T Srinivas Goud on the illegal transport business, the Kharkhana police arrested the Rayalaseema MLA on the pretext of breaking down of law and order. He was later released.

Speaking to media later, Prabhakar said the Telangana police had arrested him only because he was from the Andhra Pradesh state.

If law and order is an issue, why didnt the police arrest Srinivasa Goud? I am also an MLA like him. It clearly shows that the police had shown partiality towards the Telangana MLA and targeted me because I from AP, he said.

The TRS MLA alleged that Prabhakar had violated RTA norms running his private buses without maintaining proper RTA rules and regulations. He said Prabhakar was producing false documents.

His travels  Diwakar Travels, has been operating private buses illegally, causing huge loss to Telangana RTC buses, he said.
Neste has signed an agreement with Electrawinds ReFuel B.V. on the acquisition of a former biodiesel plant in Sluiskil in the Netherlands. Neste intends to use the Sluiskil plant for the storage and pre-treatment of renewable raw materials for the companys NEXBTL renewable diesel refineries.

By acquiring the Sluiskil plant, we enable expanding our raw material base further. Many new raw materials are wastes and residues that are difficult to process, and they require good pre-treatment before renewable diesel or aviation fuel can be produced from them. The pre-treatment capacity and storage tanks at Sluiskil also contribute to facilitating our future growth. Kaisa Hietala, Executive Vice President of Renewable Products at Neste

The aim is to complete the transaction during the first quarter of 2017. The purchase price will not be disclosed.

Previously, conventional FAME biodiesel was produced at Sluiskil. The plant has not been in production since January 2015, and it will enter into pre-treatment and storage use after maintenance work during the second half of 2017.

In its renewable products business, Neste aims to continue to focus on refining premium-quality renewable diesel, which can be used in all diesel engines as such and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fossil diesel.
As part of the agreement, Panasonic will cover required capital costs in Buffalo and Tesla is making a long-term purchase commitment from Panasonic. The collaboration extends the established relationship between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes the production of electric vehicle and grid storage battery cells at the Tesla Gigafactory.

Tesla and Panasonic finalized an agreement to begin the manufacturing of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules at the Buffalo, NY factory. These high-efficiency PV cells and modules will be used to produce solar panels in the non-solar roof products. When production of the solar roof begins, Tesla will also incorporate Panasonics cells into the many kinds of solar glass tile roofs that Tesla will be manufacturing.

All of these solar products will work seamlessly with Teslas energy storage products, Powerwall and Powerpack. Production of the first PV modules will begin in summer 2017, and will ramp to 1 Gigawatt of module production by 2019.

Tesla launched its PowerWall 2 residential energy storage and Solar Roof products in late October. The 13.5 kWh (usable) Powerwall 2 unit doubles the energy capacity of Teslas first-generation unit, and can power an average two-bedroom home for a full day.

Teslas solar roof tiles are solar cells in a roof tile formatwith a choice of four styles: Tuscan, slate, textured and smooth. The solar tiles integrated into the roof are invisible when viewed from the street, yet are fully exposed to the sun from above.

As Tesla and Panasonic begin production, Buffalo will continue to expand Teslas American manufacturing base and create thousands of new jobs in the coming years.

Tesla reaffirmed SolarCitys commitment to create more than 1,400 jobs in Buffaloincluding more than 500 manufacturing jobs. Panasonic, with its technological and manufacturing expertise in PV production, will also work with Tesla on developing PV next generation technology at SolarCitys facility in Fremont, CA.
Activities

Robynn Rutledge, a state historian and volunteer docent, was the guest speaker at a recent Daughters of the American Revolution Rachel Caldwell Chapter meeting. Rutledge traced the evolution of Christmas traditions in the DAR period rooms at the DAR Museum in Washington.

Each of the 31 period rooms is furnished in the style of a particular period from American history. Missouris 1860 parlor featured an early table top Christmas tree with candles; New Yorks 1910 room shows the first tall Christmas tree with new electric lights and Maines 1830s room was fast-forwarded to the 1960s and sported an aluminum tree with a space-age theme. North Carolinas 1820s dining room had two epergnes (ornamental centerpieces suitable for dining room tables) and focused on Christmas feasting.

Everyone was given a booklet remembering the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Instead of sending Christmas cards this year, the chapter sent Happy Bill of Rights Day cards in celebration of the documents 225th anniversary.

Members were reminded that President Franklin Roosevelt declared Dec. 15 to be Bill of Rights Day, since the Bill of Rights was signed into law on Dec. 15, 1791.

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution Rachel Caldwell Chapter participated in Wreaths Across America, locally held Dec. 17 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro.

The chapter donated 20 of the wreaths. Michele Schultz, from the Guilford Battle Chapter, was on hand to place several of the 51 wreaths her chapter donated.

Wreaths have been placed at the cemetery since 2013 thanks to the efforts of former Marine Wade Harvey and his friend, Mike Lapeirre.

Rachel Caldwells Joan Liotta had put wreath laying at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington on her bucket list. She met this goal this year; she and a friend clocked 7.7 miles walking around the cemetery laying wreaths. One of the wreaths she placed was at the grave of Rene Gagnon, one of the Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. Gagnon was Liottas boss at Northeast Airlines, her first job out of high school.

Achievers

The Alamance Community Lions Club sponsored a Peace Poster Contest at Southeast Guilford Middle School.

Southeast Guilford Middle School student Hayden Hunter was the first place winner.

Ashley Wyrick and Abbigail Kirkman won second and third place, respectively, from among the 26 entries from the middle school.

The contest theme was Celebrate Peace.
Many of Krista Hannahs students at Ferndale Middle School in High Point didnt have Wi-Fi at home, so their tablets werent of much use to get math help.

But Hannah, Guilford Countys 2016 Teacher of the Year, found a solution. Once a month, she meets students at Krispy Kreme, where she bought them doughnuts, and they used the free Wi-Fi for Think Through Math, an online tutorial program the district uses.

It ended up being fun and not just tutoring, said Hannah, an eighth-grade math teacher at Ferndale. She has been teaching for 18 years.

Corbin Wilson-Knowles, who benefited from those Saturday mornings at Krispy Kreme last school year, recently stopped by Hannahs classroom to thank her.

I have a letter for you for what you did last year, he said. The letter showing that he had made A-B honor roll.

Youre a really good teacher, and you helped me a lot, Corbin said.

After he left, Hannah said, Thats why I do what I do.

The students motivate her, Hannah said.

When you have students like Corbin who want to do better, you find a way to help them be their best, she said.

Building relationships with parents is key to ensuring students success, she said. Corbins mother was very supportive and involved with his education, she said. Last year he faced some obstacles, but through regular contact and working together, Hannah and his mother helped him be his best.

Hannah said she views teaching as a skill but being an educator as giving students the real world.

I view myself as an educator because when you have an education, you have the total package, Hannah said.

When you work with children, you have to appreciate their viewpoint and see what they are going through, Hannah said.

She strives to be a role model to her students and tries to help them see that if they arent happy with something, they have the power to change it.

She teaches them more than math concepts.

Each day, her class begins with everyone sharing good news about whats happening in their lives.

I can be someone interested in them and not just in their test scores, she said.

To evaluate her role as teacher and educator, she asks herself, Would I want to be in my classroom? and Would I want my own son to be in my classroom?

By answering those questions, she continues to grow and change to provide the best experience possible for her students.

You have to own it when things arent going well and be flexible, Hannah said. I let my passion drive what I do each day.

But Hannah doesnt just credit her success to these things alone but to other teachers, students, parents and administration. And her supportive family. She is happily married and has a 16-year-old son, Zack, who attends High Point Central, right next door to her!

Hannah encourages her students to never stop learning, never stop striving to be a better version of themselves. And as she encourages them, she takes her own advice.

You have to keep up with the changing times and you have to be lifelong learner yourself!
Not only smartphones, Microsoft has given a price cut to HTC's Steam-powered Vive VR headset as well. The device, which usually carries a price tag of $799, is currently listed on Microsoft's online US store for $699.

In addition to the price cut, the company is offering a $100 Microsoft Store gift code for free with the headset. And there's even more. A couple of games - The Gallery  Episode 1: Call of the Starseed and Zombie Training Simulator - are included for free as well.

"Get 3 free games ($100 value) when you buy a GeForce GTX graphics card, desktop, or laptop with the HTC VIVE," the listing further reveals. A quick look at HTC's own website reveals that the $100 discount is available there as well. For more information, head to the Source links below.

Source 1 2
With LGs G5 not a home run as many would have hoped, many are looking forward to seeing what LG has in store for a 2017 flagship. Last year, the LG G5 was announced at MWC. But with Samsung rumored to skip out MWC this year, LG would have more of the limelight for itself.

But it could be that LG is aiming for an even earlier commercial release for the LG G6. A Korean media outlet ETNews reports that LG is aiming to have the G6 out in stores a whole month earlier than the LG G5, which launched on the first of April in the US.

So instead of waiting about a month after announcing a phone, LG might be able to announce the G6 at MWC and then launch a commercial release much more quickly. If LG is even more ambitious, it can plan its own launch party and skip MWC altogether.

There is a window of opportunity for LG to drop a new smartphone with Samsungs rumored release of the Galaxy S8 to come later, and the same window is also when Apples iPhone sales become stagnant. A smartphone release with a strategically planned date of release, supported by a strong ad campaign in the very beginning should help LG sell more units overall.

The LG G6 is rumored to be drastically different than its predecessors. The company will supposedly be going for an all-new design that implements both metal and glass, which results in the removal of the removable battery and the potential of water-resistance and wireless charging are on the table. Theres even been word of an iris scanner on the G6, but that myth is yet to be confirmed or debunked. Only time will tell.

MWC is scheduled for February 27 through March 2 in Barcelona, Spain. We wont be seeing the Galaxy S8 here as far as rumors are concerned. So this years show will definitely be in interesting one.

Source | Via 1 | Via 2
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Mobile World Congress in February is the place-to-be for all major players in the mobile industry (except for Apple, that is) and thats exactly the stage HMD Global will use to try and start the Nokia fightback.

Sources report that at least four new devices will be revealed next year along with the already leaked Nokia D1C that we told you about last month.

The devices will feature between 5" and 5.7" displays with WQHD or FHD resolutions. Sadly theres info only regarding D1C and it says that the device will come in two different options - one priced at about $200 with 3 GB RAM and 5.5 display and a cheaper $150 version with 2GB RAM and 5 FullHD display.

Such specs clearly arent near flagship-worthy, so HMD Global either has another ace up its sleeve or it plans on testing the water with some mid-range offerings before going for the premium tiers.

Source | Via
Samsung may only be be in the planning stages for its Note7-disabling update in South Korea, but over in the US things are in full swing. The company announced earlier this month that such an update would be sent out to all remaining Note7 units in the US starting on December 19. And now it's time for the first of the Big Four carriers to push the software to devices it's sold.

That carrier is T-Mobile, which is starting the rollout today. The update will prevent the handset for charging, and will display a notification with information about Samsung's Galaxy Note7 recall and the steps needed to return the device. The build number for the update is N930TUVU2APL2.

Obviously, Samsung is hoping that this will convince even the last holdouts to take their Note7s back. If you bought yours from T-Mobile, you can return it without paying any restocking fee, and you'll get a $25 bill credit for doing so, with an additional $75 bill credit if you're switching to another Samsung smartphone. Moreover, if you received a free gift when purchasing the Note7, you're able to keep that.

The next carriers to issue the Note7-killing update are AT&T and Verizon on January 5, followed by Sprint on January 8.

Source | Via
Another day, another Xiaomi rumor and this time its the Redmi Note 4X.

Several days ago the Chinese company launched two new colors of the Redmi 4 in China but it looks like they are now moving on to the next Note-series phone.

According to a report Xiaomi are expected to launch Redmi Note 4X which will be more powerful than the current Redmi Note 4. The device will feature 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB storage with Snapdragon 653.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

The current Note 4 device has 2GB of RAM (3GB for the High edition) and runs on Helio X20 processor. The Note line is very popular in China so if the leak about Redmi Note 4X is true well see an even more powerful device to steal hearts with its affordable price and impressive performance.

Source




Haiti - Politics : Rain of presidential gifts over Haiti





Sunday 25 December, de facto President Jocelerme Privert, accompanied by his wife, Dr Ginette Michaud Privert, distributed toys and food kits to several hundred members of the population of Petit-Trou de Nippes, from where he is a native.



Christmasbeing a time of sharing and living together, the Head of State believes that it is necessary to celebrate, in his own way, with the members of the population that saw him born. While many parents from the various communal sections took their children to receive gifts from the First Lady, a large number of adults were able, fopr their part, receive theirs.



If Privert made happy in his commune, the latter is however, not the only one to have benefited from it. In almost all the main cities and communes of the country, vouchers have been distributed so that residents can receive gifts from the Presidency, on the occasion of the holidays and the New Year...



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Published on 2016/12/27 | Source

Added episodes 35 and 36 captures for the Korean drama "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop" (2016)

Advertisement

Directed by Hwang In-hyeok

Written by Koo Hyeon-sook

Network : KBS

With Lee Dong-gun, Jo Yoon-hee, Shin Goo, Kim Young-ae, Oh Hyun-kyung, Cha In-pyo,...

Sat, Sun 19:55

Synopsis

"Suited Gentlemen In Yanggye-dong" is based on a traditional tailor's with history. The drama depicts the tears, friendship, success and romance of four men.

Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2016/08/27

More
When you've got two almost seismic events  a financial crisis combined with an inflow of immigration, which we haven't seen since World War II  there will be a reaction, he states in an interview with Politico , a political news outlet based in the United States.

The financial collapse and refugee crisis are to blame for the recent rise of populism, says ex-Prime Minister Alexander Stubb (NCP).

So, the only thing that's certain is uncertainty at the moment, but my argument is that Europe will survive, continues Stubb.

A number of analysts and experts have estimated that the uncertainty could be exacerbated further by the upcoming elections in France and Germany. Lippo Suominen, the chief strategist at Nordea, recently drew attention to the political risks associated with the elections, warning that an upset in the either of the elections could dent the unity of the eurozone.

The elections entail a so-called tail risk, he said.

Stubb, similarly, commented on the outlook for European integration.

The problem is that national leaders, as they are national, take credit for all the successes and put all the blame of failure on Brussels. So everything that's good is because of me; everything that's bad is because of Brussels. And if you push that agenda long enough, people start to believe it. That's what happened in the UK, he told Politico.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
THE TOP 10: Health Sciences Center, wildfires, Apodaca

Related Stories

No. 7. Health Sciences Center



On time and on budget, as Henderson County business development director likes to say, the Health Sciences Building opened for classes in August. Pardee Hospitals Comprehensive Cancer Center opened for patient visits this month. The result of an unprecedented agreement among leaders of Wingate University, Blue Ridge Community College, the city of Hendersonville, Henderson County and Pardee, the $30 million building offers education on the second and third floors and advanced cancer treatment on the ground floor. Our county, the city, Wingate, Blue Ridge, Pardee all came together, put their egos at the door and did what was best for our community, for our patients, for our students and for our teachers, Pardee CEO Jay Kirby said at the centers grand opening.

No. 6. Wildfires and drought



In August, it stopped raining. Although the drought mostly spared the countys apple crop it hurt hay production, helped the spread of wildfires and forced the city of Hendersonville to urge water conservation. The Party Rock fire, which started Nov. 5, spread from Lake Lure into a northeastern corner of Henderson County. At its peak the fire covered almost 7,200 acres and tested the firefighting skill of more than 900 men and women from across the state and nation. Finally, on Nov. 29, the U.S. Forest Service declared the fire contained and turned over firefighting operations to the state. No lives or property was lost. The U.S. Forest Service thanks all the communities of western North Carolina for their support throughout this challenging fire season, the federal agency said. As the year ended the city of Hendersonville was set to use a new French Broad River backup pipeline for the first time. The city is still working to get state and county permits that would authorize it to pump water from the French Broad to the treatment plant on N.C. 191. Were still in the severe category on the drought and even with the rain we had last week the river level was heading back down to 65 cubic feet, City Manager John Connet said. Its not staying significantly above 65 cubic feet (per second), the flow that triggers voluntary conservation measures.

5. Bullmoose retires



State Sen. Tom Apodaca, who rose from back-bench obscurity to become the second most powerful state senator, retired from his Senate seat after 14 years of service, blowing a big hole in the area delegations power. Apodaca, who plans to hang out a lobbying shingle next year, worked in Raleigh for Henderson County and Western North Carolina, including legislation to help land the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and appropriations for his alma mater, Western Carolina University. This week the WCU Board of Trustees announced that a new $110 million science building would be named for Thomas M. Apodaca, who has joked that he never set foot in the science building while a student in Cullowhee. I found out I could take geology to get my degree, he quipped. By retiring before his term expired, Apodaca was able to hand his seat to a handpicked successor. Chuck Edwards, the Republican nominee, was appointed to the 48th District seat in August. He defeated Democrat Norm Bossert in the Nov. 8 election. Edwards joins state Rep. Chuck McGrady, a key budget writer in the House, and 24-year-old freshman Cody Henson of Rosman, in the Henderson County delegation.
New York Times covers Hendersonville's view of terrorism

Hendersonville is the setting for a New York Times report on a small town's view of terrorism and how President-elect Donald J. Trump addresses residents' concerns.

Related Stories

"In a North Carolina Town," the headline says, "Terrorism Abroad Raises Apprehension."

The story quotes Hendersonville City Councilman Jeff Miller and two ministers, the Rev. Bill Campbell of Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Greg Mathis, senior minister of Mud Creek Baptist Church.

Miller describes to the Times what he felt when heard a news report of the Christmas market attack in Berlin.

I thought, here we go again, he said. So sad.

This worlds dangerous right now, and I dont think we are nearly where we need to be with border security, he went on. I believe Donald Trump wants to do it right.

The story pursued a theme of how this apprehension over terrorism has made Hendersonville resident wary of outsiders, even as the community has come to openly accept the Latino population that pick apples, roof houses and work in service industries.

"So the part of the immigration message that really resonates here is about Muslims from the Middle East," wrote reporter Sabrina Tavernise.

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, Campbell said. 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.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/23/us/muslims-north-carolina-hendersonville.html
An incredible 160,000 has been raised for Apollo House since the building was taken over by activists fighting the homelessness crisis.

A GoFundMe account was set up online on December 14 in order to help support the campaign, and more than 3,000 people have contributed so far.

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Whatsapp Notices outside Apollo House

The contributions have ranged from 5 up to 700, with businesses and individuals all getting behind the occupation of the building, which is currently holding 40 people.

The building was first taken over by Home Sweet Home - an umbrella group for the Irish Housing Network (IHN) and the artists and musicians that are backing the occupation of the Nama building.

The account, which is run by IHN, says that all of the proceeds go towards running the Apollo House campaign and their aim is to raise 500,000.

They say that anything raised in excess of what they require will go toward their campaign to end homelessness in Ireland.

"The homeless need our help and we are sick and tired of waiting while families go homeless and people die in the streets, so now we are taking action," a statement said.

Vulnerable

"We are asking you to support us in housing homeless people until the Government gets its act together and realises that the most vulnerable in our society are the priority."

One of the biggest donations was 700, which came from Lee Walsh, who is living abroad and was unable to come home to Ireland this Christmas.

Instead he donated all the savings he had made for the trip home.

"I can't make it home this Christmas, so I'd like you to have the money I had for my plane ticket. Wishing you all the best and thank you for your dedication and hard work. Happy Christmas," he said.

Meanwhile, despite being inundated with volunteers earlier in the week, Home Sweet Home was scrambling for help over the Christmas period and made a last-minute plea on its Facebook page.

The activist group has called for help in the security, support, maintenance and cleaning sectors for today across all shifts. Voluntary shifts are 8am-3pm, 3pm-10pm and 10pm-8am.
Damaged cars on the M1 in Balbriggan

Two people were killed in separate accidents on Ireland's roads over the Christmas weekend.

A construction worker, who was visiting family, was killed in a single-vehicle accident early yesterday.

The man, named locally as Bartley Doohan (58), died following the collision on a minor road near his home village of Curransport, near Gortahork, Co Donegal.

Mr Doohan had been living in Dublin for a number of years but was home to visit relatives in the area when the accident happened between 1.30am and 11.30am yesterday.

Local priest Fr Donnchadh Boyle said Mr Doohan's family is well-known in the area and his tragic death has "cast a pall over the community".

His death marked the second fatal road collision over the holiday period.

Early on Christmas morning a motorcyclist, who was in his 20s, hit a metal rail after coming off the Crumlin Road in Dublin at 3.50am. The incident happened at the junction with Herberton Road.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was later removed to the city morgue for a post-mortem examin- ation.

He was the only person on the motorcycle and no other vehicles were involved.

Meanwhile, a number of mot-orists had a lucky escape after two separate road accidents in the capital within 100 metres of each other.

Tailbacks

Emergency services were at the scene of two crashes on the M1 motorway in Balbriggan yesterday afternoon.

There were no serious injuries.

The two separate incidents happened within a short distance of each other, one close to the Balbriggan exit at junction 6 and the other near the Julianstown exit at Junction 7 at around noon.

The collisions led to severe tailbacks.
Majella McCarthy was not herself on the day of the offence

A woman who dropped her pants in a convenience store and said she needed to go to the toilet was arrested after she then ruined 11 doughnuts by handling them.

Majella McCarthy (33) was told to leave the shop after she squatted on the floor before touching the goods on display.

She had recently left prison without accommodation and acted out of "frustration", a court heard. Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the case for the payment of compensation.

McCarthy, with an address at South Richmond Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and causing criminal damage to the doughnuts.

Dublin District Court heard the incident happened at Spar on Dame Street last July 10.

Gda Andrew Keane said McCarthy was seen in the shop with her pants down in a squatting position.

She told the manager she needed to go to the toilet, but was told it was broken and was asked to leave.

Welfare

She proceeded to touch food items that were on display, spoiling them, the officer said. The approximate value was 19.

Gda Keane arrested McCarthy under the Mental Health Act out of fear for her welfare and took her to Pearse Street Garda Station, where a doctor examined her and certified her as fit. She made no reply when charged.

The garda agreed with defence solicitor John Feaheny that his view at the time had been that the accused was suff- ering from some sort of mental difficulty.

Mr Feaheny said McCarthy had been released from prison the previous March and was promised accommodation but this never happened and she found herself on the street.

"It was borne out of frustration," he said. "She apologises for her behaviour. She certainly was not herself - she was in some sort of difficulty borne out of the conditions that she was living under."

The judge ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to a date next month. He said the accused should co-operate with the probation service and added that it "may be able to assist her".
Alligator and crocodile heads, pieces of coral and illegal ivory were among the items seized by customs tackling the banned trade of endangered animals this year.

Revenue said its officers made seven seizures, with most of them spotted in suspicious packages posted into the country.

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In one instance, a foot-long piece of ivory was discovered in unaccompanied luggage at Dublin Airport.

In another instance, a woman was found to be entirely innocent when asked to explain moose antlers she was carrying through the airport but had failed to declare.

Voodoo

She was allowed to continue on her journey home after revealing they had been bought legally in Savannah, Georgia, and that the animal is not threatened by extinction.

Mark Newman, from Revenue Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions section in Dublin Castle, said the internet had turned into a supermarket for trade in illegal animal products.

"There's certainly the element of having something that is taboo, but when it came to the detections that we made, like the alligator heads, we didn't see any connections with black magic or voodoo," he said.

"It's more for the decorative or ornamental side of things."

Elsewhere, a parcel of eight alligator heads was intercepted in An Post's mail sorting centre after being posted from the US.

Other seizures included a wallet made from the skin of the critically endangered Siamese crocodile, which had been sent to Ireland from Thailand.

There were also five conch shells being brought in from the Bahamas, three pieces of coral and one piece of hippo tusk ivory.

Customs said the illegal products were all confiscated under laws governing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Species controlled by the convention can only be moved in and out of Ireland with special licences.

"The advice that we would give is that people should contact authorities to see if they have something that would need a licence, an export licence," said Mr Newman.
Noelle Capewell from Ratoath pictured with Annette Conroy Blanchardstown and Rachel Hyland, Ashbourne pictured before taking part in the Parkrun in Hartstown. Pic: Frank Mc Grath

There was festive cheer in the air as 66 fitness enthusiasts braved strong winds to take part in a 5km parkrun.

Christmas hats and T-shirts were the order of the day as participants put their best feet forward for the Hartstown event on Saturday.

The rain stayed away, but the wind made it "quite tough in parts" for those involved.

Noelle Capewell, from Ratoath, was the first woman across the line in a time of 21:34.

"It was fun. It was my first parkrun in Hartstown and, after going up now, I'd definitely be doing them more often," she said.

Brilliant

"It was brilliant, very festive. With the whole atmosphere on Christmas Eve, it was a great craic. The weather was lovely and crisp, it was cool but it was bright but very windy."

Stuart Kerr (50), from Drogheda, was there to support Rob Hale, from Clonsilla, who was celebrating his 50th parkrun.

"It was enjoyable. It's a good little 5km course. Everybody was going around with the Christmas hats on and there was the usual rigmarole with the mince pies and sweets," he said.

The parkrun kicks off every Saturday at 9.30am in locations across Dublin, including Tymon Park, Cabinteely, Waterstown, Shanganagh, St Anne's Park, Porterstown, Poppintree, Griffeen and Hartstown.
'Gardai in Dun Laoghaire launched an investigation and the area was sealed off for a period pending the arrival of members of the Garda Technical Bureau.' (Stock photo)

Two men aged in their 20s were injured in separate stabb ings in Dublin late on Christmas Eve.

The first was in an area known as The Metals, in Dalkey. The victim, who is in his 20s, was stabbed at least once in the attack.

Treatment

However, sources said his condition improved on Christmas Day. It is believed he has since been discharged after successful treatment for his injuries.

Gardai in Dun Laoghaire launched an investigation and the area was sealed off for a period pending the arrival of members of the Garda Technical Bureau.

In the second incident, a man aged 23 was set upon during an argument at the junction of the North Circular Road and Fitzgibbon Street shortly before 11pm.

The victim, who is believed to be from Moldova and living in the north inner city, was later treated in the Mater Hospital.

It is believed his injuries were not life-threatening and he was later discharged.

Gardai at Mountjoy Garda Station are investigating the attack.

The stabbings were only two of a number of serious incidents dealt with by gardai over the festive period.

In Waterford, a man was fighting for his life last night in what gardai believe was a fall on Christmas night.

The man, who is in his late 20s, was found unconscious on the pavement in St Margaret's Avenue.

He had serious head injuries that gardai believe he received after stumbling.

However, they have not ruled out the possibility that he was assaulted.

Witnesses

He was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford, where he was described last night as being in a "critical condition".

He was found shortly after 8.30pm, and gardai are seeking witnesses or information from anyone who may have noticed anything in the area at or near that time.

"Officers are investigating all of the circumstances surr- ounding his injuries," a garda spokesman said.
Piece by piece, the death penalty continues to fall apart. Last week, the Florida Supreme Court invalidated between 150 and 200 death sentences  nearly half of all those in the state  because they were imposed under a law the United States Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional in January.





The law, which required judges and not juries to make the factual findings necessary to sentence someone to die, violated the Sixth Amendments guarantee of a jury trial. A jurys mere recommendation is not enough, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for an 8-to-1 majority.





The Florida decision is the most recent sign, in a year full of them, that the morally abhorrent practice of capital punishment is sliding into the dustbin of American history  where it should have been long ago.





Juries around the country imposed 30 death sentences in 2016, a 40 percent drop from last year and fewer than at any time since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, according to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center, a research group that opposes capital punishment. Twenty people were executed this year, the lowest number in a quarter-century.





The practice is not only increasingly rare, it is concentrated in an extremely narrow slice of the country. Only five states carried out executions in 2016, the report found, and only five imposed more than one death sentence. California sentenced nine people to die, the most of any state, but no one has been put to death there since 2006.





Public support for the death penalty keeps dropping, too  falling below 50 percent for the first time in more than four decades, according to a Pew Research survey. Support falls even further when respondents are given the alternative of a long prison term like life without parole. Though voters in California, Nebraska and Oklahoma last month preserved the death penalty, the overall trend is toward growing discomfort with state-sanctioned killing.





The total abolition of capital punishment, however, will depend on the Supreme Courts reading of the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishments . So far, only one current member of the court, Justice Stephen Breyer, a regular critic of the death penalty, has expressed openness to examining this question. This month Justice Breyer took aim at the practice again, in a dissent from the courts decision not to hear an appeal from a death-row inmate in Florida.





Pointing to the facts of several recent cases that had come before the court, Justice Breyer asked whether the death penalty itself  plagued by arbitrariness, racism, decades-long delays and faulty execution-drug protocols  violates the Eighth Amendment. The people who end up being executed, he wrote, are not the worst of the worst, but, rather, are individuals chosen at random, on the basis, perhaps of geography, perhaps of the views of individual prosecutors, or still worse on the basis of race.





Meanwhile the court is making matters worse with its erratic decisions in recent last-minute death-penalty appeals. Who lives and who dies is arbitrary.





Justice Breyer is asking the right questions. It is up to a majority of his colleagues to listen closely and bring the only just result: the permanent abolition of capital punishment in America.





 | Report an error, an omission; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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Blog Hinangai

While there is much discussion in Guam about the economic benefits of increasing the islands military presence, the damages/dangers that they represent are rarely mentioned. This blog, a supplement to the Peace and Justice for Guam Petition, is meant to counter that by providing information about the US military in Guam, with the hopes of steering policy away from a dangerous unilateralist course to more sustainable notions of regional development and a strengthening international solidarity.
Its one of the most powerful images of President Obamas entire eight years in the White House: In the Oval Office, the president is bending over so a 5-year-old African-American boy could touch his hair ... he wanted to see if the hair of the leader of the free world felt like his own.

In 2009, Jacob Philadelphias father, Carlton, was finishing a two-year stint as a Marine working for the National Security Council. As part of his good-byes, he brought his family to the White House to meet the newly elected president.

When asked if they wanted to ask the president anything, little Jacob chimed in first: I want to know if my hair is just like yours. The president kneeled over, telling the child to touch it, but he hesitated. Touch it, dude! President Obama said. And did it? Yes, it does feel the same, Jacob said.

The greater message of this exchange between Americas first black president and a 5-year-old child is a powerful one: that role models are important, that we should be able to see ourselves reflected in the nations institutions.

Its the same message school districts in Central Virginia are trying to convey to their students through diversity in the teaching ranks.

School districts, however, face a tough challenge when it comes to recruiting a diverse workforce.

Take Lynchburg City Schools, for example. Almost half of the students are African-American, the largest minority group in the school population. But less than 15 percent of the LCS teaching staff are minority, and an even smaller percentage  3.3 percent  are male minorities. The surrounding counties have even lower numbers. Amherst County has a minority student population of 32.4 percent, but less than 1 percent of its teachers are minority; Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell are only marginally better. Only Nelson County, with a minority population of 26 percent and a non-white teaching staff of 10 percent, comes close to Lynchburg.

As Marie Gee, the LCS director of personnel, said, All students need to see a diverse teaching field. Kids need to see people that look like them being successful in teaching.

But increasing the number of non-white teachers, especially non-white male teachers, is a constant challenge for recruiters, especially in relatively rural areas like Central and Southwest Virginia. Every school division (and not just in Virginia) is actively pursuing non-white teachers, driving up demand for a relatively small pool of talent. And companies in other sectors of the economy that pay better than public schools are fighting to diversify their own employee ranks.

To compete for the best teachers, we must be willing to pay for  indeed, invest in  the best teachers. And the best teachers come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Weve also got to be innovative in playing the long game, as LCS is with its 2-year-old program Teach for Tomorrow. Its a dual-enrollment program, run in conjunction with Lynchburg College, for juniors and seniors who are interested in the teaching profession.

Tracy Richardson, principal of E.C. Glass High School, put it best: I think theres something to the saying if you see it, you can be it. For students to come in and see teachers and administrators that look like them  no matter how they look  is very important.

It most certainly is for, who knows, one day we might be inaugurating President Jacob Philadelphia.
Albany's Signs of Victory Ministries plans to move its emergency shelter to its Jackson Street complex in the new year, but lack of a sprinkler system stands in the way.

Shelter directors say construction on the new dormitory portions of the homeless shelter will continue regardless, but the move will take place faster if money for the sprinkler system can be raised.

Director George Matland said the system will cost about $72,000, and right now, that's not money the nonprofit, faith-based shelter has.

The current emergency shelter at 118 and 120 Seventh Ave. S.E. is up for sale and Matland said he's encouraged by its prospects. Once it sells, he figures that will pay for the sprinklers. But there are challenges with selling the building  and in the meantime, the shelter welcomes tax-deductible donations via P.O. Box 186, Albany, OR 97321.

The move to Jackson Street has been in the works for some time and is a plan universally supported by the shelter, Albany police and the City of Albany.

Matland and his sister, Gail Meehan, the assistant director, have run Signs of Victory since the death of their mother, Maxine Matland, in 2006.

Maxine opened Signs of Victory at 705 Lyon Street S.E. 35 years ago. The 103-year-old house featured 10 bedrooms, but even so, shelter needs often outstripped available room. The site also wasn't properly zoned for housing homeless individuals, and the Matlands sometimes got into disputes with neighbors.

When Maxine died, the siblings told the Democrat-Herald at the time they had to move the shelter because it was a struggle to keep up lease payments both there and on sites on Cleveland Street used for a chapel, soup kitchen and thrift store.

When the Lyon Street location closed in 2007, some tenants moved to the duplex at 118 and 120 Seventh Ave., which Meehan owned. It wasn't zoned as a homeless shelter, either, but both the shelter directors and the city recognized the difficulty of the situation  and also hoped it would be a temporary fix, said Marilyn Smith, city spokeswoman.

City planners at the time knew the duplex was too small and the neighbors hadn't signed off on any conditional use permit, Smith said. But they also knew the tenants needed somewhere to stay.

We recognize the need for emergency shelter for homeless people in the community," she said.

The temporary fix turned into nearly a decade of use, but Matland and Meehan didn't stop looking.

About five or six years ago they began leasing property at 1100 and 1122 Jackson St., and an adjacent building at 450 11th Ave., buildings that used to house city offices, a mechanic's shop, storage and Family Tree Relief Nursery.

Currently, those buildings now house most of the Signs of Victory Mission outreach programs: a warming center, chapel, hygiene room, food bank, clothing exchange and "wellness center," a place where people can get help filling out paperwork for disability services or the Oregon Health Plan.

Work is under way now to finish a kitchen and to transform what was a mechanic's shop into a women's and family dormitory.

Framing for the walls inside the shop is complete, and drywalling will come next, Matland said.

Rooms will feature bunk beds he fashioned from bed frames from a downtown store now out of business, and cabinets from Habitat for Humanity's ReStore.

In a separate building that used to house Hatco Roofing, the men's shelter, which will include a detox center, is under way.

The building used to have a loft-style, half-story second floor, which is now being altered to provide a full second story. Staff members for the mission as a whole will use that room for sleeping, office work and storage, Matland said, while residents stay below.

Both sides still need the sprinklers before anyone can sleep there, however, Matland said. He plans to install sprinklers in the the chapel and kitchen, too.

The women's side of the shelter is further along than the men's, and especially critical to finish, for two reasons: One, Signs of Victory is the only homeless shelter in Albany that offers emergency shelter to families. Helping Hands helps provide shelter to convicted sex offenders who often are required by court order to stay away from children.

Also, Matland and Meehan said the need for family shelter appears to be increasing. "Years ago, it was mostly single men," Matland said.

Now, families are much more common, Meehan said. A woman and six children sought emergency shelter at the Seventh Avenue duplex earlier this year, finding new quarters only recently. (Albany police officers assisted the family by providing all with new winter coats and hats, and the Linn Benton Jeep Club added a Christmas party, pizza and a visit from Santa.)

When the shelters are completed and have their sprinkler systems in place, Matland estimates the dorms will be able to house about 100 people, five times more than are allowed currently at the Seventh Avenue location.

He and his sister also figure they'll fill up immediately. "This time of the year is really tough," Meehan said.

They won't be luxurious apartments by any means, she added. They're built to be functional rather than fancy, and to encourage tenants to keep looking for their own space to call home.

Given the shelter's current situation, however, the new dorms should be an improvement, both said.

Albany police officers are working with Matland and Meehan on issues with the Seventh Avenue duplex, Lt. Brad Liles said.

The building is often overcrowded. It currently lacks a working furnace, so all warmth comes from space heaters. It suffers from leaks, and one support beam needs shoring up. A painted-over window had to be cut open. And, as is often the case in places with populations who come and go, it suffers on and off from infestations of bedbugs and roaches.

"It would be great if they were in a different location in a better building. Ultimately, that would be great," Lt. Liles said. But our goal is if youre staying here, if you got people inhabiting this building, these are things that need to be addressed.

Matland and Meehan said it's long been their dream to consolidate operations. With the Jackson Street and 11th Avenue locations  assuming they can get the sprinkler situation resolved  they figure they're pretty close.

Smith said the locations have gone through everything it needed to do to receive a conditional use permit and the planning commission has signed off on the move. Its location directly across from the Linn County Jail makes it ideally situated to lend a helping hand to those newly released. No nearby neighbors stand to be inconvenienced by traffic or noise.

"The place at 11th and Jackson is an ideal location," Smith said. "Its big. Its still close to downtown and close to the services most people need. And theyve got room for all of their operations there, all the many good things they do; they have room under one roof.

Matland and Meehan have been working with homeless people since their childhood. Some of their earliest memories center on helping their mother distribute toys and food at Christmas to help 500 people at a mission in Texas.

"When Mom first said she was going to do this, I was like everyone else: Why don't those bums get a job and get off the streets?" Matland recalled thinking.

Then, he said, he got to know them and realized how many people live paycheck to paycheck, and how small a circumstance  one unexpected medical bill, for instance  can tip the balance.

Currently, both he and his sister are married to people who used to fit the "homeless" category.

"I realized there were lots of circumstances that create homelessness," he said. Homelessness, he said, "had a face to it, and it had a name. And people begin to realize there's more to it."
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.
Pat Crozier was born to be a nurse.

Members of my family have been nurses for centuries, the retiring Linn County Public Health administrator said. My aunts, cousins and their children are nurses. I never really considered doing anything else.

Reared in Seattle, Crozier, 67, was attending St. Josephs Hospital School of Nursing in Tacoma when she met her future husband, Jim, who was stationed at McChord Air Base.

She graduated from nursing school in 1970, they married and moved to Salem and then North Albany, when her husband began a career with the Oregon State Police based in Corvallis.

She worked as a pediatric nurse for many years and in 1991 she completed a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Linfield College.

I started working as a visiting nurse for Linn County Public Health in 1991, Crozier said. In those days, I often visited families that were living in camping trailers up in the hills near Sodaville or Sweet Home. I learned that people can be very adaptive when it comes to housing.

She said she often found babies that slept in dresser drawers and has seen chickens walking through the living room of a home.

Where ever there was a need, we went, Crozier said.

And, she added, she wasnt always welcomed.

Children would see the Linn County emblem on our car and they thought we were the police, Crozier said. It was a whole new world for me. I was an outsider coming into their environment.

But, Crozier said, she also learned much about hardships and how they affect families. Its often not easy to get to Albany on time for an appointment when one doesnt have a car or money.

It really made me aware of how many barriers there can be, Crozier said. You really have to be passionate about this work. Some folks didnt want us there and we were called many names. There was a lot of distrust. People didnt want us in their space.

What kept Crozier going was she knew she was there to help, as were her fellow Public Health co-workers.

A big adventure for the Public Health Department came in 1993, when the county purchased a 40-foot long Moex expandable RV and turned it into a rural health van.

It had two pop outs and we had to get our CDL licenses to drive it, Crozier said with a smile. We had to learn to check the oil and things.

She said Public Health staff visited every rural community in the county from Mill City to Harrisburg for five years. The unit was transferred to the Linn County Sheriffs Office and continues being used as a mobile command center.

Crozier spent 13 years heading up the countys reproductive health program and in 2008 was promoted to the Public Health Managers post.

Its been interesting, she said. We provided 8,000 H1N1 vaccinations county-wide in 2009 when there was the big outbreak and all of our staff went out into the field during an outbreak of Hepatitis A in 1994.

Crozier said her medical background served her well during her administrative years.

Her last official day on the job will be Dec. 31, but she is contracting back with the county on a part-time basis for a few months to complete an extensive accreditation project and until the county finds her successor.

A fluctuating budget and staffing levels have been challenging over the years, she said.

She anticipates that even as more people get access to private health care, the need for public health services will always remain.

We serve all demographics, not just low income families, she said. There will always be communicable diseases. Weve seen a 52 percent increase in gonorrhea rates in Linn County in the last year alone and we really dont know why.

Crozier said she plans to do some volunteer work in retirement and enjoys watching her familys bucking bulls at area rodeos. She and her husband also have an RV and will do some traveling.

The Croziers have three grown children and six grandchildren.

I have loved doing what Ive done, Crozier said. I have worked with a dedicated staff and every day is different and interesting. We get to meet some wonderful people and I hope that Ive helped make a positive difference in their lives.

Crozier was recognized by Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Will Tucker and John Lindsey Wednesday.

I appreciate what you have done and that you are a professional, sweet and kind, Commissioner Tucker said. We will miss you and the way you have reached out to the community.
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Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley

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After a 45-year-old woman died after being trapped inside a lift of Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui Gas Relief Hospital in Bhopal, gas victims have demanded proper maintenance of gas hospitals from the state government.

Victim Imarti Bai had visited the hospital on Sunday night to see her relative but got stuck in the lift and was declared dead at Hamidia hospital. A similar case was reported about three weeks ago when 3-4 people got stuck in the lift of Shakir Ali Gas relief hospital. After about an hour, the lift door was cut open to rescue people inside.

Activist Abdul Jabbar said he wrote a letter to minister of gas relief and rehabilitation Vishwas Sarang in early October to keep a check on fire and lift arrangements in Kamla Nehru Hospital, Indira Gandhi Hospital and Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui Pulmonary Hospital.

Recalling the fire accident at a hospital in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, I had specified in my letter that lifts and fire arrangements of these three hospitals are very poor and that the minister should look into it. I also went to every hospital but unfortunately saw no major changes thereafter. The lift of the four-storey Indira Gandhi hospital, which is supposed to be a maternity hospital, is not functioning at all, Jabbar told HT.

We have ordered an investigation into the matter. IAS officer Narendra Mishra will prepare a report on this incident based on which well take further action, said minister Sarang.
Junior doctors at Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal protested against lack of security after one of their colleagues was allegedly attacked by relatives of a patient late on Sunday night, exposing the state of affairs at the top state-run healthcare centre in the city even after the chief ministers surprise inspection.

Top officials of the medical education department were reshuffled on Friday, soon after Shivraj Singh Chouhan was reportedly upset over the mismanagement at the hospital, the teaching facility of the Gandhi Medical College.

Hours before the assault on junior doctor Kshitij Jain, a 22-day-old baby died in the hospital on Sunday evening.

As a mark of protest against the attack, about 400 junior doctors worked with black bands on their arms on Monday.

Police said Imarti Bai (45), a resident of Jehangirabad, was brought to Hamidia after she met with an accident in the lift of Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui Gas Relief Hospital. The medical officer present declared her dead, and asked Dr Kshitij Jain to check the woman again. The womans husband and Kshitij had a heated exchange of words that led to the manhandling of the doctor. Two of the attackers were arrested, police said.

Attendants take a patient inside Hamidia hospital after junior doctors went on strike. (Chandresh Mathur/HT photo)

This is the second attack in less than a week. On December 20, junior doctors called a strike after relatives of a patient allegedly assaulted their colleagues.

After the Sunday night ruckus, heavy police force was deployed on the hospital premises. Medical education director GS Patel, new dean Dr MC Songara, superintendent Dr Deepak Maravai and Bhopal commissioner Ajatshatru Shrivastava reached Hamidia, and assured junior doctors of more police force and security.

Junior Doctors Association secretary Dr Avinash Thakur said three policemen were deployed at the newly set up police post at Hamidia. Two of the policemen were sleeping; one came when the incident happened and could not do anything as about 25-30 relatives of the deceased attacked the doctor.

Budget of 6 crore announced for cleanliness and medicines

Collector Nishant Warwade and principal secretary (health) Gauri Singh also inspected the hospital in the evening. Singh announced a budget of 6 crore for cleanliness and medicines. The JP hospital will share its medicine stock with Hamidia hospital from now on, he said.

Junior doctors demanded more security guards on the Hamidia hospital premises. The hospital, which has now 59 guards, needs at least 350, sources said.

Our administration is trying hard to improve things. More guards will be appointed, and better cleanliness and treatment ensured in coming days, dean Songara told HT, refusing to say when the hospital would get CT scan and MRI machines.
Tata Motors today roped in Bollywood star Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador for its commercial vehicle (CV) business unit.

Indian cinemas original Khiladi will make his blockbuster entry in this new role at the launch of Tata Motors latest offering in commercial vehicles, slated in January 2017, the company said in a statement.

Tata Motors association with Kumar for commercial vehicles will be supported by a multi-media campaign, beginning in the first week of January 2017, it added,

Besides products and solutions, he will be actively involved in a host of innovative marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by Tata Motors.

On the partnership with the star, Tata Motors Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Ravindra Pisharody said: Today, we are catering to an audience that defines the driven, ambitious, forward-moving, non-stop pulse of India and Akshay understands the pulse of this audience well.

He further said: We are confident that Akshays popularity will further help complement and articulate the future direction of the Tata Motors commercial vehicles brand.

Speaking on the association, Akshay Kumar said, The Tata brand is one that most of us have grown up with and now to be associated with them is indeed an honour. No one understands Indian trucking better than the Tatas and there couldnt have been a better and more apt brand to promote. PTI RKL ARD
H&R Blocks new advertising campaign is one of the more ambitious in the companys 62-year history. It hired the actor Jon Hamm for his first on-camera spokesman role, a significant coup. And the company ditched its Refund Season slogan in favour of a more aggressive pitch: Get your taxes won.

The ads obviously target Intuits do-it-yourself Turbo Tax. More subtle is how much the campaign was really influenced by critical words from one heavy-hitting personality: President-elect Donald Trump.

It was August 2015, still the early days of the presidential campaign, when Trump first mentioned that he hoped to put H&R Block out of business with his plan for a simplified tax code.

Sixteen months later, the leading tax preparer is still feeling the effects.

We got kicked around a little bit last year, Kathy Collins, chief marketing and strategy officer, said. We realised this was the time to do this.

As the inauguration nears, Trump has shown no signs of curbing his willingness to criticise brands that draw his ire, as Boeing, Vanity Fair and Lockheed Martin have realised in recent weeks. The spontaneity of his denunciations  and the speed at which his words travel, particularly on Twitter  has created a sense of unease among marketing executives, who now must be prepared in case Trumps insults fly in their direction.

It is prompting some brands to pre-emptively draft informal contingency plans, and others, like H&R Block, to spend money shoring up their reputation. But one thing that industry analysts and crisis management experts seem to agree on: There is nothing in the handbook that instructs executives on how to handle an overnight Twitter controversy created by the President-elect.

These are very much uncharted waters for companies, Tim Calkins, professor of marketing at Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management, said. Rarely have we been quite so polarised, and rarely have we had a president who is so quick to call out an attack on perceived threats.

This puts companies  and the executives assigned to handle corporate imaging  in a delicate position. It is hardly advisable, Calkins said, for a company to challenge the authority of an incoming administration, whether on social media or in a formal ad campaign. But being conciliatory or supportive of a divisive figure like Trump can have negative consequences as well. Calkins said he thought companies were best served by staying as quiet as possible.

But what if your company is criticised? Scott Farrell, an expert in crisis management and the president of Golin Corporate Communications, said there was no formulaic response.

The only thing that applies, no matter what the issue, is speed, Farrell said. Slow kills companies fast in a Twitter conversation.

Some companies should even expect confrontation, he said, especially if they are in an industry that touches one of what Farrell calls Trumps hot zones, such as trade, immigration, health care or defence. He is advising clients to thoroughly assess every coming public announcement against what it might trigger.

These guys should be wearing WWTD bracelets  What Would Trump Do? Farrell said. If youre thinking of moving offshore, if youre thinking of doing a layoff, if youre thinking of even positive stuff, what would Trump do? Develop a playbook for those contingencies.

Andrew D Gilman, who has consulted with companies like Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, and Pepsi during crises, is telling brands to prepare for Trump as they would for a natural disaster  an event that is highly unpredictable but poses a big risk if it happens. One contingency is to line up a third-party spokesperson who can help if the brands image is dinged.

That is essentially what H&R Block did in signing Hamm, the Mad Men star, who has had voice-over roles in ads for Mercedes-Benz and American Airlines but had yet to appear on-screen as a pitchman. He said in a telephone interview that he had been an H&R Block customer for years.

The fit between H&R Block and myself seemed copacetic and natural, Hamm said. And the tone of the creative was clever and outside the box for something as humdrum as taxes.

There is no mention of Trump in the first two 30-second ads featuring Hamm, and Bill Cobb, H&R Blocks chief executive, was hesitant to say Trumps comments directly inspired the companys new effort. But the message is that the tax code is complex.

Weve been around for 62 years, Cobb said. The tax code was pretty simple in 1955. Yet people have always come here for help.

The forceful messaging is a sign of things to come from advertising agencies, said Allen Adamson, a brand strategy consultant.

From conversations Ive had, there is a clear sense that in the next administration, companies will have to get their story out much more aggressively and much more quickly than previously, Adamson said.

Vanity Fairs swift response after Trump reacted to a negative review of a restaurant in one of his buildings by saying the magazine was dead could be an example for others to follow, Farrell said. Its message  including banner ads on its website calling itself The Magazine Donald Trump Doesnt Want You to Read and asking for subscriptions  captured the magazines voice and identity. More than 40,000 people signed up for new subscriptions.

Vanity Fair played that perfectly, Farrell said. This was the magazine that Trump doesnt want you to read. I think their response was consistent with the brands DNA.

And while Boeings shares took a hit after Trumps December 6 post on Twitter that he wanted to cancel the order for a new Air Force One, they began to rebound after the company had time to release statements.

Still, marketing executives took it as a lesson: Be ready.

If youre a CMO, you need to put another filter on your plans, Gilman said. Normally youd never have to worry about a President singling out your company before. Now you do. NYT
Prime Minister Narendra Modis vow to take on benami properties, can bring greater transparency to a notoriously opaque sector and help check prices if a new law is implemented properly, experts said on Monday.

The practice of buying a property in the name of someone other than the buyer has been widely misused to buy real estate with undeclared income and with fake names and identities to avoid paying tax.

It is estimated benami properties worth billions of dollars are held under fictitious names across India, bypassing laws to check ownership and depriving states of valuable revenue that could be spent on development and welfare schemes.

A 1988 law on such properties was amended this year to ban illegal benami transactions with stricter punishments including imprisonment and a fine of up to a fourth of the propertys fair market value. These properties can also be confiscated.

We are going to take action against the properties which are purchased in the name of others. It is the property of the country, Modi said in his monthly radio address on Sunday.

This law will be put to use in the coming days to fight corruption, he said.

Read | Exit from benami properties to be tough after demonetisation drive

Property as defined under the 1988 law includes not only land and homes, but also assets such as gold, stocks and bank deposits.

If the new law is implemented properly, there will be greater transparency in the real estate sector, there will be less corruption, and we may see a correction in prices, said Vinod Sampat, a property lawyer in Mumbai.

But these transactions are hard to track, and the government has a poor record of implementation. While the intention is good, it remains to be seen if the law can be implemented properly, he said.

A series of slum evictions in cities including Delhi has put the spotlight on an acute housing shortage in urban India.

About a third of the countrys 1.25 billion population lives in cities, with numbers rising as tens of thousands of people leave villages to seek better prospects.

A government plan to provide housing for all by 2022 is meant to create 20 million new urban housing units and 30 million rural homes. But the government has been criticised for the slow pace of implementation.

Read | Surgical strikes on black money in real estate and gold will not be possible

Going after benami properties can help accelerate the pace of implementing the governments plan, said Anuj Puri, chairperson of real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle India.

When titles are clear and transactions transparent, the confidence of lenders increases, so we will see a pickup in lending to buyers, he said.

This will increase the supply of residential real estate.

The focus on benami properties comes on the heels of a crackdown on undeclared black money by withdrawing high-value rupee bills from circulation.

Follow full coverage of the black money crackdown and demonetisation here
A major 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit southern Chile on Sunday, causing thousands to evacuate costal areas. However, there were no fatalities or major damage reported with regards to tourism or the salmon farming region.

Witnesses said they felt intense shaking in their homes and were shocked by the loud noise. It was also reported to disrupt Christmas celebration plans for thousands of people who fled to seek higher ground in some places where sirens warned of a possible tsunami following the quake.

Statements

It was the biggest scare of our lives, said Denisse Alvarado, a resident of the southern Chile fishing town of Quellon, located on Chiloe Island.

Chiles National Emergency Office (ONEMI) revoked the evacuation order as well as the tsunami watch approximately three hours after the earthquake struck. Around 5,000 people who had evacuated could then return to their homes safely.

According to ONEMI, one bridge was blocked, and some roads were closed due to workers who worked on restoring power to 21,000 homes who suffered electricity cuts from the quake.

Its great news that as of now, we dont have to mourn any deaths as a result of the earthquake in the south, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Twitter. Our goal is to reestablish normalcy in the affected communities.

According to witnesses, the structural damage in areas close to the epicenter was limited. The earthquake also happened to be felt on the other side of the Andes mountains in Argentina and in the southwestern city of Bariloche.

The quake was shallow, at a depth of about 34.6km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

There was a lot, a lot of movement here, but besides that nothing of note, there werent houses falling, said Alamiro Vera, owner of the Cabanas Hotel in Quellon. It was just scary, and some things inside fell.

Alvarado, a 46-year-old woman said: All of a sudden it shook and shook and shook, Alvarado told Reuters. I thought the house would fall and the ground would open because it was very strong and very loud.
Banks and financial institutions make up the overwhelming majority of more than 100 companies inquiring about relocating to Ireland after Brexit, the head of the agency tasked with bringing foreign investment into the republic has confirmed.

Martin Shanahan, the chief executive of the Industrial Development Agency (IDA), said many of the corporations looking to move were based in the City of London. While Ireland would try to make capital out of the UK voting to leave the EU, Brexit was not the outcome he or anyone else in Ireland favoured, Shanahan added.

He also said the IDA did not fear a Trump presidency would shut down American multinational investment into Ireland.

The IDA has a target to create an extra 80,000 jobs in the country by 2019, many of them from new US firms setting up their European base in Ireland.

Shanahan told the Guardian that Irelands low 12.5% corporation tax remained sacrosanct as one of the Irish Republics key fiscal policies.

Ireland will be the only English speaking country left in the EU after Brexit, giving Shanahan and his IDA colleagues extra impetus in their attempts to woo companies, some of which are based in the UK.

We have seen a huge increase in the amount of inquiries and activities across the globe. Its not just our office in London, or our office in Dublin; we are receiving inquiries in Asia, in the US, in New York in particular. The figure that we have used to date is over 100 related inquiries, he said. For the financial services sector it is a fact that they need to have access to the European market and they need a jurisdiction in which they can do that. Ireland is extremely attractive because we are English speaking, have a common law system, and there is the close proximity to the UK.

On the threat of Trump imposing protectionist barriers to US companies locating abroad, the IDA chief executive said: US companies, in my view, will continue to want to  go abroad, seek new markets, seek the talent that exists abroad and have access to the innovation and research that exists outside the US. I dont see any kind of scenario where that isnt the case.

In fact, the instability and uncertainty of global politics, from Brexit to Trumps election win, might actually benefit Ireland. In the context of a very turbulent world Ireland looks very stable economically because of the strong growth in 2014, 2015, and it looks the same in 2016. And we look very stable from an enterprise and policy perspective as well.
On January 20, when Donald Trump takes oath as the 45th President of the United States, the Indian information technology (IT) sector will brace itself for some unpleasant news, mainly in the form of a tighter immigration policy.

There are three ways in which it could go  status quo, which in a way is good news; a more relaxed policy, which seems a distant dream; and a tighter one, which is what the IT industry is fearing most.

Tighter immigration laws to protect local jobs in the US for the blue collared Americans was one of Trumps loudest rally calls in the run up to the November 8 election, which saw him defeat Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton, despite the latter winning nearly 3 million more popular votes.

I will direct the Department of Labor to investigate all abuses of visa programmes that undercut the American worker, Trump had said in one of his speeches.

The fear of a tighter immigration policy under Trump is not completely unfounded. One of the first Cabinet appointments announced by the President-elect was that of Senator Jeff Sessions as the next attorney-general. Sessions, a former Army officer, is known to be a strong advocate for tighter immigration laws.

Trumps chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has lamented the fact that two-thirds or three-quarters of the CEOs in Silicon Valley are from South Asia or from Asia.

Indian IT majors, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys and Wipro, earn a little over half of their revenues from the North American market, mostly the US. Hence a tighter immigration policy will have a direct bearing on their earnings.

The Indian IT sector exports IT services to the tune of $105 billion a year.

According to industry body, the National Association of Software and services Companies (Nasscom), the rising demand for software engineers in the US from countries like India is mainly due to the shortage of STEM (science, technology, engineer and math) graduates in the American market.

Around 2.8 million posts in the US are lying vacant due to shortage of STEM graduates, said Shivendra Singh, global trade development head, Nasscom. Over the last five years, we (Indian IT sector) have created 411,000 direct jobs in the US, contributed around $20 billion in local taxes, and invested around $2 billion.

But Singh said the hiring of highly skilled workers is not the same as immigration. Under H-1B visas, 65,000 workers and another 20,000 graduate student workers are admitted to the US each year. But it does not ensure permanent residency. H-1B visas are assigned through a lottery once a year by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. In 2016, companies filed 236,000 petitions for the 85,000 available visas. The visas are given to employers  not employees  and tied to specific positions.

The timing couldnt have been for more inappropriate for Indian IT. The sector has been under pressure for a good part of the current financial year (2016-17), and every major company is expected to close the current fiscal with single-digit growth in revenue.

TCS, Infosys and Cognizant have all indicated in the recent past that the growth for the rest of the year will be muted at best, with Infosys and Cognizant even revising their revenue guidance for the full year to a little less than 10%.

Recently, Nasscom had revised the overall revenue growth forecast for the industry to 8% to 9%, from 10-12% projected earlier.

The recent downward revision in revenue forecast is also partly due to the uncertainty following Britains decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) in June this year. Britain constitutes nearly half of the $30-billion of IT exports from India.

The sector is also increasingly moving towards a business environment, which will not be based on the cost advantages directly tied to the immigration policies. Large players like Infosys are foreseeing a future where jobs, which are currently cost-price dependent, will get automated, and human workforce will be needed more for delivering value and innovation.
Pirankaliyar, known for dargah of 13th century Sufi saint Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari, is yet another constituency in Uttarakhand that came into existence in 2012.

It was formed by amalgamating areas of Bhagwanpur, Roorkee and Landhaura assembly segments after delimitation in 2008.

Congress candidate Furkan Ahmed won the first election from Pirankaliyar by defeating Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) nominee by nearly 2,000 votes.

The constituency, which has a sizable Muslim and Dalit voters, is likely to witness direct contest between the Congress and the BSP in the assembly poll to be held early next year.

The ruling Congress is set to renominate Ahmed as its candidate in Pirankaliyar while the BSP and the BJP are still looking for a winnable face.

Ahmed ruled out the issue of anti-incumbency. He said he had carried out road construction and renovation in all villages at the cost of 200 crore.

My constituency will house the states only Unani Hospital as construction works for it has already been started. The Congress will repeat its performance this time with more margin, said Ahmed.

The BSP, however, feels that the Congress MLAs claims of development were not true.

BSP state unit president BR Rao said: Nothing has been done by the MLA in the past five years. He was busy in bagging one thing or other for him not for the constituency.
My mistake, shouted the air traffic controller (ATC) as the two planes of Indigo and Spicejet came to face each other on Tuesday morning at Delhi airport. The controller has been de-rostered and will not be on active duty till Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation regulator, completes the inquiry.

Sources said that the Spicejet flight was ready since 6 am but due to low visibility it could not take off. Prima facie, it appears that it was the fault of the ATC but the DGCA team has asked for the transcript of the communication between the ATC and the two pilots to establish the sequence of events.

The engine was on and after 80 minutes, the pilot felt the need to refill the tank and requested the ATC for the same. The ATC allowed him to get on to the taxiway to move towards the fuel station. But, the same time, the Indigo plane had landed and was moving towards the same taxiway. The controller probably forgot that the Spicejet plane, which was stationary for 80 minutes, also started moving. This led to the confusion and they came in front of each other, said an airport official.

Sources said the pilots saw the plane and applied the brake and an accident was averted.

According to the ATC, sometimes confusion in communication leads to such incidents. In ATC parlance, it is called the readback /hearback errors. Sometimes the pilot is unable to get what the ATC officer is trying to say or vice versa. This can lead to airborne conflict, runway incursion, ground conflict and near midair-collision. Ideally, the flight crew should read back to the air traffic controller safety related parts of ATC clearances and instructions, which are transmitted by voice, said an ATC official.

The ATC gives route clearances to pilots and instructions to enter, land on, take off from, hold short of, cross, taxi and backtrack on any runway should always be read back.

We also ask ATC to listen to the readback to ascertain that the clearance on the instruction has been correctly acknowledged by the flight crew. They also need to take immediate action to correct any discrepancies revealed in the readback. This reduces incidents, the official said.

In 2014, five instances were reported where lack of communication led to safety breach and number of incidents increases to 8 in 2015 and in 2016, till July five such cases were reported.

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Employees at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport will have to carry Aadhaar cards to work along with their entry pass from January 1. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the security at the airport, has issued guidelines in this regard to improve the security arrangement at the airport.

Over 30,000 employees work at the Delhi airport and are issued Airport Entry Pass (AEP) every year. Sources said, in view of the cases of forged AEPs the security agencies have asked the staff to carry Aadhaar cards as well. Since, almost every citizen now has an Aadhaar card, we will make it mandatory for them to carry it. Usually, we just check the airport pass but from now, our staff will ask for Aadhaar card also, CISF DG OP Singh said.

The CISF is responsible for security at the airport while the Bureau for Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) frames security rules. Last year, the BCAS had changed the format of the pass issued to airport employees. Earlier, employees were given colour coded pass which were replaced with passes with alphabet codes. This year, the passes have been changed again and the size of employee photo has been increased. The photo size was small and that is why some cases of fake AEP were detected. We have asked that the size of the photo should be increased and it should be made mandatory to carry Aadhaar card with it, a CISF official said.

The BCAS has divided the airport into 11 sections indentified by a different alphabet. Employees are issues passes according to the access allowed to them. The colour coded passes allowed access to a large area of the terminal.

According to BCAS, the airport complex is a cluster of buildings spread over several acres of land and the CISF has to ensure safety of both assets and people.

Currently, employees entering the terminal building are physically checked by CISF. They are issued simple plastic ID cards to access secure areas in the buildings. We plan to later link it to biometric system along with the Aadhaar card number, the official added.

The BCAS said, once linked to the biometric, doors and access points will be released only to authorized person after they have been identified by the system. The card will also contain every detail of the pass holder.
A 66-year-old from South West Delhis Dwarka Sector 22 allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday and in a note requested his organs be donated to All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

He thanked doctors and police officials in advance.

In his suicide note, the deceased, who has been identified as Prahlad Narayan Mishra, said he is tired of life.

The man committed suicide in his apartment by using a cloth to hang himself from a ceiling fan, a senior police official said.

His wife and his son, who used to live with him, rushed him to a local hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The deceased was a retired civil engineer, who had worked as an advisor with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and some five-star hotels.

He is survived by his wife and three sons, two of whom are in the United States of America.
New Delhi

It was in early 2015 that Anwari Devi, a resident of Jagadamba Camp in Sheikh Sarai, tried to apply for a ration card. Officials at the circle office near her settlement sent her back asking her to first make Aadhar cards for herself, her four children and her mentally challenged husband. When she returned after seven months with all the necessary documents, Devi was told that issuance of new cards was put on hold.

Like Devi, nearly 30,000 poor families are in queue to be enrolled under the National Food Security Act, 2013 as Delhis quota of ration card holders has long been full. In fact, the city crossed its threshold of 72.8 lakh and now has a list of over 72.91 people, who are eligible to avail the benefits under the scheme.

Our software gets locked at the threshold. The remaining 13,775 applicants have been verified and will be granted ration cards when invalid beneficiaries are deleted from the list, said KR Meena, secretary-cum-commissioner of Food and Supplies (F&S) department.

Apart from those on the waiting list, about 30,000 applications at the 70 circle offices are pending. Officials say there are a number of ration card holders, who are no longer eligible and the usual computerised methods of scrutinising bogus beneficiaries is not effective. The F&S department is planning to conduct a detailed survey from January to March but that too is subject to availability of manpower as it has only 184 officials on the field against a sanctioned staff of over 600.

We have 19.5 lakh card holders in Delhi and the survey is not possible with just 30% of the sanctioned staff available. We have taken up the matter with the minister. Lets see if we can borrow staff from other departments, Meena said.

According to Amrita Johri, an activist working under the Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan, NFSA in Delhi has been patchily implemented with the needy being excluded. The homeless, the transgenders and the differently abled are the ones who do not have ration cards because they do not have Aadhar cards or ID proofs mandatory in Delhi, even after the Supreme Court ruled that Aadhar cards was not compulsory, she said.

Johri said that the Delhi government can allocate funds for the scheme beyond the sanctioned quota financed by the Centre. There is a lack of will on the part of government. AAPs election manifesto promised providing dal and oil under the Public Distribution System in the city. More than 10 states provide pulses or oil under PDS. But, Delhi is yet to implement it, she said.

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For residents of Nizamuddin, waking up to thick clouds of smoke  from road sides  has become a routine matter. Schoolchildren and parents going to drop them cover their noses to protect themselves from the emission. Morning walkers cough and sneeze, but the sanitation workers in the area continue to burn leaves and waste.

Despite the National Green Tribunals (NGT) order and repeated reminders by the Delhi governments environment department banning the open burning of waste, municipal agencies continue the practice in several parts of the city.

They sweep the roads and instead of clearing the collected waste, burn it by the road side. How can the government keep talking about pollution in the city, when their own people are making things worse? said Sandeep Srivastava, who crosses the Nizamuddin Bridge regularly.

On Friday, the NGT imposed a nationwide ban on the burning of bulk waste in open spaces, announcing a fine of Rs 25,000 for any violation. A fine of Rs 5,000 is already in place, for simple burning.

Pradeep Tiwari, an environment activist who has filed a petition at NGT against open burning of waste by sanitation workers, said that the practice can only be checked if there is some mechanism to dispose waste efficiently.

Most of the sanitation staff employed by municipal bodies is on contract. There is no strict way of keeping a tab on their actions. The government needs to implement a comprehensive waste segregation and disposal plan before it talks about pollution caused because of garbage burning, he said.

Read: 21 fined for open waste burning

Residents of west Delhis Tilak Nagar also complain of such open defiance of the court order by the sanitation staff. Raj Kumar, the president of the residents welfare association of (RWA) of J-block, Tilak Nagar, said that instead of picking up the waste, the sanitation workers only sweep the area and collect it in corner. Once a week, however, they set the collected waste ablaze.

The problem is that even the residents here have opened their eyes to this problem recently. Earlier these people would burn garbage anytime, not caring for the health of people. Now, because people have started reacting, they do it at the break of dawn, he said.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), open air garbage burning contributes 5% to 11% of direct particulate matter to the air in India. In Delhi, the contribution of this is almost 18%. They also estimated that last year about 250 tonnes of garbage was burnt.

A senior official from the north corporation denied knowledge of such instances and said in case any sanitation or horticulture worker is found burning garbage in the open, s/he is liable to a fine of Rs 5,000.

The sanitation worker is responsible to keep a check on such activities and apart from the fine the worker is also liable to disciplinary action, the official said.

Read: Garbage burning continues unchecked in Ghaziabad
Eight Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students have been suspended with immediate effect for disrupting an academic council meeting held on Monday.

Sources said there is sufficient evidence to suspend the students from academic activities and withdraw their hostel facilities. The suspension will continue till a committee, set up on Tuesday to investigate the matter, submits its findings.

The academic council on Monday approved a University Grants Commission notification making entrance test for PhD and MPhil as only qualifying criterion, amid protests from teachers and students.

The new system makes interview the only basis for preparing merit list for admission. Students allege that the new move will lead to discrimination.

The university had claimed that some protesting students entered the meeting hall after a handful of faculty members called them inside.

There is sufficient evidence in form of the statement by the security guards, who tried to stop the students. The students got into a scuffle with them and broke the latch to enter. The broken latch is a proof. Also, the students in their own posters are claiming they did it, said an official, on condition of anonymity.

The official said that while eight students have been suspended, another two former students have also been identified as being involved in the incident.

Some of the suspended students belong to the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI).

Read: JNU students, teachers slam interview criteria for admissions

The university had claimed that, a group of unruly students broke open the latch of the meeting room after thumping the door, came inside and began to shout slogans at the Chairperson and the Academic Council members.

The statement said the meeting was already over by that time and necessary decisions had been taken by the academic council.

The Jawaharla Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) had refuted the allegation and said that a small section of students had given a unilateral call for protest outside the academic council meeting and they entered the hall when the meeting was already over.

The JNUSU said the university was contradicting its statement from Monday in which it said the vice-chancellor had declared all the agendas passed when the students entered.

If the academic council meeting was already over, as the university itself has stated, then how can it allege that the students caused disruption? the students union said.

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A 26-year-old junior resident doctor of AIIMS who was found dead on July 10 in mysterious circumstances at his house in Gautam Nagar in South Delhi was possibly murdered.

A murder case was registered on Saturday, over five months after police said Sarvanan Ganeshan had committed suicide by injecting a medicine in his right arm.

Sources said the panel of doctors that had conducted his postmortem said it appeared to be a a case of murder and not suicide after which a case was registered. Ganeshan was doing his MD degree at AIIMS at that time.

The report said the cannula through which the medicine was injected was fixed in the right forearm and as Ganeshan was right handed, it wouldnt have been possible for him to do it himself.

Doctors said he could not have possibly placed the cannula on the spot on which it was found. They said it appears someone injected the medicine forcefully, a police source said.

Sources said the bottle of medicine, suspected to be potassium chloride, was not found at the spot.

If he injected on his own, then the bottle should have been on the spot. No such bottle was recovered by the investigative team. Also, the door of the flat was ajar and no suicide note was found at his flat. All this indicates that it may be a case of murder, a police source said.

Police said Ganeshans father had also moved a writ petition in the high court, pleading that the case be handed over to crime branch for investigation.

The police said earlier they suspected it to be a case of suicide as there were no visible abrasions on his body.

Ganeshans father said he suspects murder. He told us that Ganeshan had no reason to commit suicide as he was doing very well for himself and was happy to have joined AIIMS. He said Ganeshan was not on any medicine and no prescription was found from his room,a police officer said.

He added, His father requested that the case be given to the crime branch. We have taken his statement into consideration and registered a case of murder. The case will be investigated on these lines.

DCP, South, Ishwar Singh, confirmed that a case of murder had been registered.

Ganeshan had taken admission in MD at AIIMS 10 days before his body was found at his flat at Gautam Nagar.

Police had earlier said he may have died of cardiac arrest due to overdose of a medicine that he injected.

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After a days respite, dense fog returned to Delhi on Tuesday, dropping visibility to 50 metres in some parts of the city, thereby affecting train and flight operations.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, the visibility recorded at 5:30am in Safdarjung was 500 metres and 50 metres in Palam. At 8:30am, visibility in Safdarjung dropped further to 400 m, but improved in Palam to 200m.

The low visibility left many train passengers stranded in the national capital, because as many as 40 inbound trains were delayed. Railway officials also said that two trains coming into the city were cancelled.

Some flights were also delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Air India officials have confirmed that all their flights, except four, were held up because of the weather conditions. Early morning Air India flights operating to Pune, Ahmedabad, Male via Thiruvananthapuram, and Kochi, were unaffected.

Read | When IndiGO, SpiceJet flights come face-to-face at Delhis IGI airport on a foggy taxiway

The national capital is expected to be engulfed in this vision-obscuring cloud of fog until the New Years Day. The IMD has forecast that the fog is expected to thicken on Thursday.

The maximum and minimum temperature on Wednesday is expected to be 23 and 7 degrees Celsius respectively.

A Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) scientist said that easterly winds would start from Thursday, and are expected to prevail until Monday. As a result, fog density is very likely to increase over the northern plains, he said.

Peekaboo: Dense fog returns to Delhi, keeping key landmarks like the India Gate out of sight. @htdelhi @htTweets pic.twitter.com/KQ8VXnlstd  A Mariyam Alavi (@MariyamAlavi) December 27, 2016

The RWFC had earlier forecast shallow fog for Tuesday, but residents were treated to a low visibility morning when the fog intensified unexpectedly. Usually a day after the western disturbance passes, there is a chance of fog. A western disturbance passed over on Christmas day, but the day after, the fog improved. So we were not expecting the fog on Tuesday, explained an official.

The scientist at the RWFC said that the fog may have intensified because of the remnant moisture in the air. The dip in temperatures, brought on by the cool winds, may also be responsible, he said.

Temperature has dropped to 9.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning, and is not expected to peak over 23 degrees Celsius.

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An abandoned hand grenade-shaped cigarette lighter on Tuesday caused some anxious moments for security agencies at a Delhi Metro station here.

Officials said the incident was reported from the Sector 28 station (Violet Line) of Faridabad at about 9:30 AM when a passenger informed on-duty CISF personnel about a grenade-like object kept on the wall near an escalator in the station.

Soon after, they said, the area was cordoned off by CISF personnel and a bomb disposal and canine squad was rushed in to undertake anti-sabotage checks against the possible ammunition.

It was then ascertained that the dark green coloured grenade-like object was only a plastic replica of the original and was a gas lighter used to light cigarettes.

As the area where the grenade-like object was kept is not under CCTV surveillance and is much behind the security check area, it could not be ascertained as to who kept it there.

Possibly, it was abandoned by some commuter before taking the Metro as it would have been recovered by security personnel during manual frisking or x-ray scanning of the baggage, they said.
The vice-chancellor of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will have a greater say in appointment of faculty members as he can now nominate experts of his choice to the selection committees.

The move, many Academic Council (AC) members said, was not approved by the body in the previous meeting. On Monday, the AC meeting was held after it was adjourned on Friday.

However, university officials claim the V-C has always had the power to nominate members to the selection committee panel. It was approved by AC and executive council in 1997. It is nothing new. It is wrong to assume that the head of a university will misuse his powers, said Chintamani Mahapatra, JNU rector.

Under the existing system, each centre and school of the university submits a list of experts, which is approved by the AC and selection committees are formed after picking names from the panel. The V-C has to pick names from the panel approved by the statutory bodies, said Vikas Rawal, an AC member.

As per the approved rule, which is being contested by some AC members, The council authorises the vice-chancellor to finalise the panel of experts for the EC.

It simply means that he can give any names he wants to. This government knows the only way to control universities is to tamper with hiring of faculties. They will hire yes man who will implement the agenda of this government, said an AC member on condition of anonymity.

Some AC members alleged that there are repeated attempts to tamper the minutes of the meetings and it is against procedural norms.

Read: Interview to be key criterion for JNU admissions from next academic session

One of the most alarming insertions to the minutes gave the vice-chancellor powers to manipulate the list of experts for selection committees sent by the centres and schools. This had not been approved by the previous AC meeting, a statement released by around 20 AC members said.

AC members said that the minutes of the previous meeting that had been circulated contained many errors, misrepresentations, and falsities. Several of these had been pointed out by members of the Academic Council, including in written representations to the registrar, the statement said.

But the registrar claimed no written submissions were received and retracted only when copies of such responses were provided to him, members said.

The V-C abruptly stopped the discussion on this item, refused to accept the removal of the wrongly inserted sentence, and declared the minutes passed, the statement said.

AC members and students union also pointed that the meeting was conducted during winter vacation, when many people are on leave, despite requests to reschedule the meeting.

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A premier girls college in Bhopal issued a new dress code banning jeans and other western attires on the campus, sparking outrage among a section of students who view the move as an infringement on their personal freedom.

The dress code of the Sarojni Naidu Girls Post Graduate Government College (Nutan College) will come into effect from January 1.

In November, the college administration had banned use of mobile phones and covering of face with scarf by students.

Students are only allowed to wear a salwar suit with check-patterned jacket

As per the new rules, students are only allowed to wear a salwar suit with check-patterned jacket on the campus.

The latest diktat of the college authority was ostensibly influenced by the higher education minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiyas desire to impose a dress code for undergraduate students in all the colleges of Madhya Pradesh.

The decision left a section of students and teachers fuming.

We are unable to understand why college administration is putting so many restrictions on us. First, they had a problem with our use of cell phones and scarf and now they have a problem even with our dress, said a BSC final year student.

Girls were in favour of the dress code: College principal

College principal Vandana Agnihotri, however justified the decision.

She told HT, The decision was taken to bring about a sense of uniformity among the students and also discipline on the campus. Before taking the decision we had taken feedbacks from students. The girls were in favour of the dress code.

The girl students HT spoke to differ with the principal saying in the name of uniformity, the college authority was trying to interfere in their personal freedom, which will affect their decision making capabilities.

Even some professors are not happy with the dress code.

After coming out of schools, girls are expected to take decisions on matters of their personal choice in college life. That helps them grow into an independent and self-reliant person, pointed out a teacher, wishing anonymity.

I dont think the dress code will enforce uniformity

I dont think the dress code will enforce uniformity by doing away distinction between a rich and a poor student, she added.

Even traditionalists see a problem in the new order. Many married students said they took admission in the Nutan college primarily because it had no dress code and they could don sarees.

Many of these students now fear they would have to discontinue their studies.

Why these restrictions are imposed only for girls

Another student asked why these restrictions are imposed only for girls. There are 11 government colleges in Bhopal, but restrictions are imposed only on two girls colleges. Why this discrimination? a BCom student of the college asked.

Bhopals MLB Girl College implemented the dress code on January 1, 2012. However, a section of students are happy with the new code. We are happy with the dress code. We appreciate the move, but dont want it to be imposed on final year students..., said Juhi Paraste, a final year student.
The morning after Michelle Obamas big speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2012, in which she argued passionately for a second term for her husband, designer Tracy Reeses phone was ringing. And ringing.

Mrs. Obamas powerfully delivered speech had attracted much attention  but these phone calls were about her dress. A shimmering sleeveless sheath in rose and silvery gray, it was pretty universally considered a fashion slam dunk. And customers wanted it.

Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention in 2012.

There was only one problem, Reese recalls: We didnt have inventory  we had made that dress custom. And so the label went into production. And people waited, Reese says. You know, so many people admire Mrs. Obama and they want to dress like her. We sold quite a few of those dresses. She estimates the number at over 2,000.

Reese, who hails from Detroit, is one of the first ladys favoured designers  Mrs. Obama has been photographed in her clothes some 20 to 30 times. But unlike some past first ladies who favoured one or two big-name designers, Mrs. Obama has spread her fashion choices among a huge stable of them  often promoting lesser-known names, and taking care to promote American designers at such high-profile events as inaugurations, conventions and state dinners.

Which is why so many designers and industry watchers will miss her when she steps away from her post after eight fashion-conscious years, and why they consider her one of the most influential first ladies in fashion, perhaps even more so than Jacqueline Kennedy, because of her broad appeal.

Michelle Obama embraced everyone, says Andre Leon Talley, a fashion editor at Vogue magazine. She embraced black designers, Asian designers, European designers. ... She was very democratic in her choice of clothes.

And that includes wearing fashion that ordinary women could potentially afford  like cardigans from the retailer J. Crew.

Michelle Obama wearing Tracy Reeses black dress printed with bright red flowers at an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Shes made an effort to wear accessible fashion, Reese says. I think Jackie (Kennedy) was a great role model but she wore a lot of couture, and things that most Americans could not afford. Mrs. Obama, she says, has worn both high-end and moderately priced fashion.

Reese, who is African-American, is particularly proud that one of her designs  a black dress printed with bright red flowers  is on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The first lady wore it to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.

Mrs. Obama set the stage for her broad-based fashion choices with her first inauguration. Previous first ladies had often gone with established luxury designers like Oscar de la Renta. Mrs. Obama wore a two-piece lemongrass-hued ensemble by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo for day, and a one-shouldered white gown by New York-based, Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu at night.

Mrs. Obama in a two-piece lemongrass-hued ensemble by Cuban-American designer Isabel Toledo. (AFP)

The First Lady in a one-shouldered white gown by designer Jason Wu.

For her husbands second inauguration, she wore a sleek coat and dress by American designer Thom Browne, known for his eclectic talents, and in the evening Jason Wu again.

It was an honour to have the opportunity to dress Mrs. Obama, Browne said in an email message. She is such a stylish individual because of her confidence and intelligence.

Michelle Obama in a coat and dress by American designer Thom Browne.

For Browne, Toledo, Reese and others, it was never clear until the moment Mrs. Obama actually appeared whether she would be wearing their designs.

We would get calls periodically from her team, says Reese. But we never knew exactly what things were for and when she would be wearing them. And I think that thats just necessary, because you dont know when plans will change.

However it unfolded, it certainly could change a designers career. Weve been brought to the attention of millions more people than we ever would have reached, Reese says.

David Yermack, a professor of corporate finance at New York University, studied the financial impact of Mrs. Obamas fashion choices in her first year as first lady. He says he found an immediate spike in stock prices of companies whose apparel she wore (he only examined publicly traded companies).

There was a very strong and immediate reaction in the stock prices of the design firms and also the retailers, Yermack says. For major appearances, this could run into the tens of millions of dollars: Thats happened many times with her.

And the public, Yermack says, remembers what Mrs. Obama wears.

Do you remember what Pat Nixon or Laura Bush wore? She has the ability to hold the interest of the consumer in a way that almost no one else does. Ive looked far and wide  Kate Middleton, Carla Bruni. Nobody begins to approach Mrs. Obama on this.

Yermack thinks whats different about Mrs. Obama is that first ladies have traditionally tried to be nondescript in the way they dressed  they didnt want to overshadow their spouses ... or be seen as spending a lot on clothing. But she had no inhibitions in that sense.

She really had an impact on how professional women dressed, and how you could have fun with fashion, in a way that you couldnt imagine Rosalynn Carter or Barbara Bush ever doing, he says. Its a very short list of first ladies who are going to leave that kind of legacy.

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Cash supply has not improved in Gurgaon, even as the deadline of 50 days set by the Centre to restore normalcy is here.

Due to the shortage, banks are resorting to rationing the notes to cater to the maximum number of customers queuing outside their premises.

Senior bank officials said that the supply of new currency is likely to remain slow for the next two to three months.

Banks in Gurgaon have been supplied 4,490 crore from November 9 to December 26 by the Reserve Bank of India and currency chests. Banks are estimated to have dispensed more than 6,500 crore as the currency chests were already in possession of cash prior to the demonetisation move. Six banks have their currency chests in Gurgaon.

The shortage of cash is persisting but the banks are managing the situation by rationing the withdrawal limits. Banks have been demanding increased inflow of currency but it is not likely for a few months, Ramesh Chandra Nayak, lead bank manager for the district, said.

A majority of the ATMs are still running dry and residents are apprehensive about the situation.

There are several banks where there are no queues, but that is because they say they are out of cash. It seems that bank officials are forcing customers to return empty-handed despite having currency with them, Savita Khanna, a teacher waiting to get money from a private bank in Civil Lines, said.

The Opposition leaders condemned the demonetisation move on Tuesday. Ajay Yadav, former minister and Congress leader, said that the decision has not been kind towards farmers. Farmers are forced to sell potatoes at 1 (per kg), tomatoes at 2 (per kg) and gooseberry as 3 (per kg) in the markets. They are throwing away their produce, as the market rates are not covering their production costs, Yadav said at the district Congress office in Kaman Sarai.

TL Satyaprakash, the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), said the focus is now on cashless transactions. He said the corporation is accepting only cashless payment of taxes, bills and other charges, through point-of-sale machines.

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Cashless could be the buzzword but it is easier said than done.

Fazilpur Badli, 65 km from the national capital, underscores the hurdles that need to be overcome for the governments digital push to work in a remonetised India.

Fazilpur Badli in Gurgaon district is among the villages picked in each Haryana district as a model for others to follow in adopting digital modes of payments after the Centres demonetisation move.

All 450 households have a smart phone and a bank account each. Every villager has an Aadhaar number and the 12 village shops have Paytm accounts.

But, grocer Ashok Kumar says he only accepts cash -- his cellphone has network issues.

A retired policeman, Shiv Lal, 70, has a debit card but every time he needs cash, he travels four kilometres to Farukhnagar to withdraw money from a bank.

Fazilpur Badli doesnt have a bank or an ATM kiosk. The cellular network is fickle as the weather.

By cashless, we actually mean less of cash. We are in touch with a bank for an ATM. The network issue is there and we are working to resolve it, Gurgaon additional deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said.

The dusty village of 3,200 people is 27km from the IT hub of Gurgaon but hundreds of miles separate them when it comes to infrastructure.

Our phones do not have proper network, forget about internet facility to operate Paytm, Kumar said.

A cellular tower shared by two private service-providers caught fire a month ago. It is still to be repaired even as the administration promises free WiFi. There are two more towers but connectivity is poor.

And, then there are power outages  four hours a day.

On Monday, village head Govind Singh, 29, was felicitated at a DigiDhan fair for ensuring cashless transaction facility in the village. Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar chaired the event.

Gram panchayat Fazilpur Badli was also felicitated for all residents being covered under Aadhaar, having bank accounts and mobile phones and all shops in the village having cashless transaction facility, the state government said in a statement.

In the cashless village, cash continues to be the preferred mode of transaction. The village will soon get its first card-swiping machine though everyone has a debit card.

More than 50% people use cash, said Mahesh Kumar, another shopkeeper.

Most of the villagers are either agriculturists or work in neigbourig industrial hub of Manesar. The elderly, like 65-year-old pensioner Prabhu Dayal, are yet to take to the cashless idea.

We are illiterate people. I do not know what being cashless means. All I know is I have been able to withdraw my pension in Rs 100 and Rs 10 notes and pass it on to my family, Dayal said.

Though tech-savvy, youngsters say the digital switch will take time.

They have made a start but it will take time. We have been demanding a bank branch and an ATM for quite some time now, said Umesh Kumar, who works at a grocery store in Gurgaon.

Village head Singh, an MBA, acknowledges a lot remains to be done. We are trying to provide people with facilities. We cant expect to be completely cashless overnight, he said.

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Actress Carrie Fisher, who found enduring fame as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars, has died. She was 60.

With a big personality, a history of addiction and a long, varied show business career, heres a taste of Carrie Fishers Hollywood life and times:

Hollywood royalty

Carry Fishers mom is Debbie Reynolds and her dad, the late crooner Eddie Fisher. They divorced when she was 2 after her dad decamped to marry Elizabeth Taylor. Suffering from mental illness, and drug and alcohol addiction during much of her life, Fisher became an outspoken advocate for those issues.

Princess Leia wore the famous bikini after she was captured by Jabba the Hutt on the desert planet. Tatooine. (File Photo)

Star Wars

Who can forget that cinnamon-bun hairdo as Princess Leia in the original trilogy, from 1977 to 1983. She later reprised the role, including a turn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens last year.

Carrie Fisher (right) poses with a storm trooper as she attends the opening of the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in central London. (AFP File Photo)

Shampoo

Before Star Wars was Shampoo of 1975, starring Warren Beatty as a Beverly Hills hairdresser. She was Lorna Karpf and her mom reportedly wasnt thrilled about the characters use of profanity.

Read | Ill be waiting right here mommy: Ailing Carrie Fishers dog has a message

Postcards from the edge

This 1990 film directed by Mike Nichols was based on a screenplay she wrote, which was based on her 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same title. Meryl Streep starred as movie actress Suzanne Vale, looking to rebuild her life after a drug overdose.

Carrie Fisher, the 16-year-old daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, in New York. (AP File Photo)

Wishful drinking

Its the title of her one-woman stage show and autobiography. A version of the stage production hit HBO in 2010. She followed up this year with a memoir, The Princess Diarist, based on diaries she kept while filming the original Star Wars trilogy.

Read | Rogue One review: This is our generations Star Wars story. Go own it
Sunny Pawar, 8, who essays the role of Saroo in the Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel starrer Lion, was selected after around 8,000 children from across India were auditioned.

With no acting background and no English-speaking skills, Sunny was only five when he was auditioned for the role of Saroo, read a statement.

When asked about his selection, Sunny said in a statement: We received a brochure in our school about the audition happening for the film in Andheri and lot of my classmates were going to the place. So even I went there with my father for the audition and after reaching the venue they made me play and run and thats how I got selected for this role.

Nominated in four categories of the Golden Globe Awards, Lion also features Rooney Mara and British actor of Indian descent Dev Patel, Indian actors Deepti Naval, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Priyanka Bose and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Releasing in India on February 24, 2017, Lion has been shot in Kolkata as well as in Australia.

Director Garth Davis film revolves around a five-year-old Indian boy who gets lost on the streets of Kolkata, thousands of kilometers from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia. And 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

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Fragments of a carpet - likely made in the 17th century India - along with a silk gown and other royal artefacts have been discovered from a 400-year-old shipwreck near the Netherlands.

The carpet, made from silk and wool, is decorated with flowers and animals, including lions.

Based on the patterns, colours and weaving techniques, art historians concluded that the fabric was likely manufactured in Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, during the second quarter of the 17th century, researchers said.

Local divers found the Lahore carpet among other textiles in a shipwreck around Texel Island in the Wadden Sea, which was a heavily trafficked area during the Dutch Golden Age.

The shipwreck was covered in sand, resulting in unusually good preservation, researchers said.

Its almost like having the fragments of an original Rembrandt in front of you, researchers were quoted as saying by the Live Science.

Earlier this year, the Kaap Skil museum in the Netherlands started displaying a complete silk gown that was also recovered from the wreck.

The dress had been preserved in a clothing box that was packed with many other items, including a cloak, stockings and bodices adorned with gold and silver thread.

Leather covers of books (the pages had disintegrated) were salvaged from the wreck. They bear the coat of arms of the English King Charles I, suggesting that perhaps the cargo onboard the ship belonged to the royal Stuart family.

The carpet fragments will be on display in an exhibition called Diving into Details until mid-February next year.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise visit to Lahore on December 25 last year to wish his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, the overwhelming feeling was that the only way bilateral ties could go was up despite simmering tensions on the LoC.

Within days, the brazen terror attack on Pathankot airbase put paid to the optimism. The attack also marked the beginning of a cycle of terrorism that continued till the assault on an army camp at Nagrota in November, capping one of the worst years for bilateral ties in recent memory.

And things could get worse in the coming year, according to experts in both countries, with little expectation that the two sides can find common ground on dealing with issues ranging from terrorism to Kashmir.

The optimism, which began when Modi invited Sharif to his swearing-in ceremony in May 2014, peaked after external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs visit to Islamabad a year ago, when the two sides agreed on a new comprehensive dialogue.

But the process never got off the ground because of the string of attacks on military facilities at Pathankot, Uri and Nagrota. A planned meeting of the foreign secretaries in Islamabad fell through after Pakistan rejected Indias contention that talks should focus on terrorism.

The attack on the Uri army camp was followed by India pulling out of the Saarc Summit in Pakistan and surgical strikes across the Line of Control, which sparked intense exchanges of fire between troops of the two sides. Pakistan was also angered by Modis reference to rights violations in Balochistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, especially during his Independence Day speech.

Read | PM Narendra Modi greets Nawaz Sharif on his birthday

Modi has been very tactical and made some smart moves, such as inviting Sharif to his swearing-in and going to Lahore. Hes done the right things to show you cant trust Pakistan, Ajay Behera of the Academy of International Studies at Jimia Millia Islamia told Hindustan Times.

Unlike Mumbai, where civilians were targeted, Pakistan has shifted to hitting military installations, he added.

In Pakistan, experts said, there were some who always expected bilateral ties to deteriorate sooner or later under Modi. The unrest in Kashmir after the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani also added to the deterioration in relations.

Much of this has to do with civil-military relations in Pakistan, said analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi. While the situation in Kashmir was a good reason for Pakistan to react, the real issue was friction between Sharif and the military high command, he said.

The Pakistan Army insists its moves are aimed at getting the civilian government to perform according to the constitution, but politicians say the militarys intentions arent always noble.

Read | New Pakistan Army chief thinks Gen Bikram Singh is very professional

They claim to be fighting corruption and poor governance but what they are doing is playing on popular sentiments to put pressure on the government to extract major concessions, said a senior politician who did not to be named.

Besides pushing for concessions such as tax breaks for army-run businesses and hikes in defence spending, the army has also pressured the government to downgrade relations with India, keeping in mind Sharifs desire for regional peace and better ties with India.

The army thrives when relations are bad. One can tell with the statements issued by the (militarys media arm) as cross-border firing took place, said Abid Hussain, a local journalist, who added the media was managed by the military and told what to write when such incidents occurred.

The powerful security establishment continues to push militant groups for operations across the border while the ruling PML-N has links with organisations that cause havoc along sectarian lines within Pakistan.

When the Sharif government puts pressure on the JuD and other ISI-sponsored organisations, the army goes after militants that are political allies of the government, said a senior military official. Its a mess, he added.

The outlook for the coming year, the experts agreed, wasnt very promising. Elections in key Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh and the PML-N going into election mode ahead of Pakistans 2018 polls would reduce the space available for talks, said Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies.

Pakistani analysts believe relations with India can improve only if Islamabad sorts out its own state of affairs. Two close aides of Sharif  interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and de-facto foreign minister Sartaj Aziz  are perceived to have helped further the security establishments agenda as they are close to the military.

This only makes it harder for Sharif to act. In many ways Sharif continues to be a cornered prime minister, said Rizvi.

India too needs to firm up its Pakistan policy, which has been inconsistent for far too long, experts said.

Some steps have been taken, such as not allowing concessions taken for granted by Pakistan  like talks with the HurriyatBut we need a clearly articulated Pakistan policy, said Behera.

Bhaskar said it was unclear whether the rearrangement of the Pakistan policy  from Modis surprise visit to Lahore to the raising of Balochistan  would pay off. Its not clear how effective itll be, or what kind of results itll lead to. The picture has become more complex and murkier, he said.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has reportedly proposed that he will contest the upcoming assembly election from Babina seat in Bundelkhand in the list of 403 candidates submitted to Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday.

Babina (Jhansi) seat has been with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) since 2007.

Instead of claiming a seat that the SP won in 2012, Akhilesh has perhaps chosen a lost constituency to send a message to the cadre that he is leading from the front.

In 2012, the SP was far ahead than BSP in all the regions except Bundelkhand where Mayawatis party won seven out of 19 seats. The SP won five, Congress four and the Bharatiya Janata Party bagged three seats in the region.

On December 16, Akhilesh had hinted he might contest a seat in Bundelkhand as chief ministerial candidate.

Two days after the announcement, he sent a proposal to the partys national president about his desire to contest from Bundelkhand. Some Bundelkhand people came to me and requested me to contest from a seat in the region as no chief minister has been elected from there, Akhilesh had said.

Read | New chapter in SP feud opens as candidates grapple with uncertainty

An MLC (member of the Upper House), Akhilesh has won Lok Sabha polls thrice but has never contested assembly elections.

He is likely to contest from two seats like he did in 2009 Lok Sabha elections. He had fought Kannauj and Firozabad Lok Sabha constituencies and won both. He retained Kannauj and made his wife Dimple Yadav a candidate in the Firozabad by-poll.

Dimple, however, lost the seat to Congress candidate Raj Babbar. After taking over as the CM in 2012, Akhilesh had to quit Kannauj seat from where Dimple was elected unopposed.

Reportedly, Akhileshs original plan was to contest an assembly seat in his wifes Lok Sabha constituency.

Read | New chapter in Yadav family feud: Akhilesh draws up own list of poll candidates

It could not be ascertained as to which seat in Kannauj he would contest as the list of 403 prospective candidates submitted on Sunday is not out.

Babina was a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes since 1974 but was made a general one in 2012.

Indias most populous state goes to the polls early next year but the SP has been hurt by the running feud between Akhilesh and his uncle and state president Shivpal Yadav. Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has attempted to engineer an uneasy truce but seat allotment has remained a thorny issue.

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All eyes are firmly on Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam after the states former chief secretary P Rama Mohan Rao on Tuesday lashed out at the state government and the income tax department, describing the raids on his office as a constitutional assault.

Panneerselvam has maintained a studied silence since the December 21 raids, which sent shockwaves across the states officialdom, something that experts believe shows how weak his position is.

He has been silent throughout his entire career. Its what allowed him to survive for so long, Ramu Manivannan, head of the department of politics at the University of Madras, said.

Nonetheless its important he speaks as a chief minister to respond to Raos allegations, which themselves are an unprecedented breach of the professional code for bureaucrats, Manivannan added.

Rao stated emphatically that he was still the chief secretary during Tuesdays press conference, despite the swift appointment of veteran Indian Administrative Service officer Girija Vaidyanathan on December 22, barely hours after the I-T department concluded their raids on the houses of Rao and his family.

This government hasnt the guts to send me a copy of the transfer order. I was appointed and nurtured as the chief secretary by honourable Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (former CM J Jayalalithaa), the tainted officer said.

Raos home and office were raided by the I-T department on December 21 as part of their ongoing investigation against his son, Vivek Rao, a software engineer who is suspected of tax avoidance.

Rival political leaders have already demanded that Paneerselvam reply to Raos statements.

There is clearly something behind his words. The chief minister must explain why Rao believes he is still chief secretary, DMK leader MK Stalin said.

While Panneerselvam is infamous for his reticence, Manivannan said that his current silence clearly shows someone else is in charge.

Its clear that Sasikala is calling the shots. OPS (as Panneerselvam is known in Tamil Nadu) is in a very weak position. He is CM and all of his fellow ministers are supporting another candidate for the post of general secretary, he said.

Jayalalithaa and her mentor MG Ramachandran both held the position of the chief minister as well the AIADMK general secretary, ensuring their complete control over the affairs of not only the state but the party as well. The AIADMK has no president in honour of the Dravidian ideologue Periyar.

The AIADMK is set to conduct its general meeting on December 29, where Sasikala Natarajan, Jayalalithaas long-term aide, is expected to be elected unopposed as general secretary.

It remains to be seen whether Sasikala, who is also a co-accused in the DA case which plagued the late Jayalalithaa for more than two decades, will try to replace Panneerselvam.

The party leaders all support her. She can help lead us in the same manner as Puratchi Thalaivi Amma did, a senior AIADMK leader, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

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The Bihar government on Tuesday decided to introduce 50% job quota to scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes and backward classes in superior as well as subordinate judiciary.

The state cabinet, at its meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar, gave its nod to implement standard reservation norms in both the services with immediate effect in consultation with the Patna high court and the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

While there was no provision for reservation in the appointment of judges to the superior judicial service, the subordinate judicial service, under which musif magistrates are recruited, had 27% seats reserved for the scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and most backward classes (MBC).

As per the new rules of appointments, which were approved by the cabinet, 21% seats will be reserved for extremely backward castes (EBCs), 12% for backward castes (BCs), 16% for SCs and 1% for ST candidates. The state government has also made provisions for vertical reservation for women (35%) and physically challenged persons (1%).

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he former head of BJPs IT cell has denied orchestrating an online outrage campaign against actor Aamir Khan in 2015 after he complained of rising intolerance in the country, which resulted in e-commerce company Snapdeal dropping him as its brand ambassador.

In journalist Swati Chaturvedis upcoming book, I am A Troll: Inside BJPs Secret Digital Army, former BJP functionary Sadhvi Khosla claims that Gupta, who was the right wing partys IT chief at the time, directed BJPs social media team to push for a campaign against Aamir on social media.

Read| BJP social media cell asked to pressurise Snapdeal over Aamir? Twitter reacts

Gupta, however, refuted the charges saying he never instructed anyone to initiate any campaign against the Bollywood star.

I never instructed anything to her (Khosla). She doesnt have any proof to back her claim, Gupta said, adding that Khosla was creating unnecessary controversy.

Her claim is a work of fiction. She works with the Congress now and is driven by a political agenda, he said.

Gupta said that Khosla was never a part of BJPs IT cell, stating that she just might have been among lakhs of volunteer who were associated with them during the 2014 campaign.

Gupta shared with Hindustan Times an email sent by Khosla in February 2015, in which she requested him for a role in Punjab elections.

I did not respond and that is, apparently, the reason behind this controversy, Gupta said.

When contacted, Khosla admitted to have shared a Whatsapp message she received from Gupta with Chaturvedi but denied having links with Congress.
The BJP instructed its social media arm to build an online campaign and compel e-commerce firm Snapdeal to drop Aamir Khan as a brand ambassador after the actor criticised rising intolerance in India last year, a new book has claimed.

A report in the Indian Express said on Tuesday that Sadhavi Khosla, a former member of the BJPs social media cell, shared purported messages sent from the senior leaders in the saffron partys IT cell with journalist Swati Chaturvedi, whose book I am a Troll deals with right-wing trolls in social media.

In November last year, Khan shared that he and his wife considered moving abroad because a sense of insecurity and fear had seeped deep within society.

Khans comments had drawn sharp reactions from the BJP as well as some members of Bollywood and had snowballed into a huge row on social media.

The actor later clarified that neither he nor his wife Kiran had any intention of leaving the country and were proud Indians, but added that he stood by his remarks.

The BJP denied the vested and unsubstantiated allegations, but the news spread like wildlife on Twitter.

Hello @snapdeal you gutless cowards. I hope you are ashamed of yourselves now. https://t.co/122w2wiNPh  vir sanghvi (@virsanghvi) December 27, 2016

Time for @snapdeal to come out and clarify why they dumped @aamir_khan as their brand ambassador  KaushikMukherjee (@kush07) December 27, 2016

RUBBISH. Planted story by @IndianExpress to defame BJP IT cell. The Aamir - Snapdeal boycott was started by me NOT BJP IT cell https://t.co/8GoQbQotk0  #GauravPradhan  (@DrGPradhan) December 27, 2016

People who uninstalled Snapdeal app for Aamir's words. Are the same who installed app after watching Dangal trailer. #BoycottDangal  Charan Kumar (@iCherryy) December 22, 2016
Mocking the Congress-led meet of eight parties against demonetisation, BJP on Tuesday said it was Rahul Gandhis flop show and that the bubble of opposition unity had burst before it could even take off.

Noting that only eight of the 16 parties which had joined hands in Parliament against the Modi government over note ban were present today, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took potshots at Rahul, saying it was increasingly becoming clear that he lacked maturity and gravitas and that he would soon be left alone to hurl abuses without substance.

Prasad told a press conference that the oppositions exercise was laughable as, he said, those who were behind scams like 2G spectrum, Saradha chit fund and coal block allocations had come together to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Read | Have not become PM to cut ribbons: PM Modi vows to continue war on corruption

We all saw Rahul Gandhis flop show today. Those who claimed about opposition unity could merely bring together eight of the 16 parties. Soon they will be reduced to four. Then Rahul Gandhi will be left on his own...to hurl abuses without substance. The bubble of opposition unity has burst before it could take off, he said.

The senior BJP leader kept Congress and Rahul Gandhi in his line of fire and skipped any mention of TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been a staunch critic of the governments demonetisation move and again attacked Modi in todays exercise.

Noting that earlier parties would work together to put up a joint front against Congress, he said the oppositions press conference today was a victory for BJP and loss for Congress as it showed that as the saffron party has emerged as the centre of polity now.

Rahul and his party have been the biggest patron of corruption, Prasad alleged, saying that he kept quiet during the UPA government when several scams happened.

Read | Five reasons why Congress failed to rally a united Opposition against Modi govt
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday accused the BJP of giving an impetus to a possible Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The Centre is using the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and the income tax department to put pressure on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to forge an alliance with the Congress. The leaders of the saffron brigade know that a division of Muslim votes will ease their way to power, she told reporters at the partys state unit office in Lucknow.

The BJP leaders are analysing the possible impact of the SP-Congress alliance. Once they are convinced that it will benefit them electorally, they will give the green signal to the SP to cement the tie-up, she said.

Read | Over Rs 100 crore deposited in accounts of BSP and Mayawatis brother: Reports

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has said if the SP and Congress come together, the coalition can win 300 seats in the assembly election.

Mayawati called upon Muslims to support her party in the polls due early next year. If Muslims wish to stop the BJP in UP, they should support the BSP blindly in the assembly election, just as they voted en bloc for the grand alliance in Bihar. It will break the backbone of the BJP in UP, she said.

The BSP chief reminded the Muslim community about the Muzzafarnagar communal riots of 2013 and the Meerut riots of the 1980s.

Muslims should know that the BSP is their only well-wisher, she said, adding that her party launched schemes for the community and made their life and property safe when in power.

Dalit-Muslim will be a winning combination as the BSP has support of Scheduled Castes who constitute 25% of the population. The Yadavs, considered the core support base of the SP, constitute just 6% of the population. The feud between Akhilesh and Shivpal will divide the Yadav voters, she said.

Reacting to BJP national president Amit Shahs statement that she lost the shine on her face after demonetisation, Mayawati said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and NDA ministers are worried about the anger among the people after scrapping of `1,000 and `500 currency notes.
An inter-ministerial Central team led by a joint secretary in the home ministry is likely to reach Tamil Nadu on Tuesday to assess the damage caused by the massive December 12 cyclone Vardah.

Praveen Vashista, joint secretary (LWE) in the home ministry 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, official sources said.

The delegation is expected to visit the affected areas in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur 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.

Read | Cyclone Vardah as it happened

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 kph, 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 cyclone.
The government is considering developing an institutional mechanism to tackle online child pornography in the country, which has recorded an alarming surge with official data showing 100% increase in cases during 2013-2014.

The Union women and child development ministry has set up a group, called National Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse, to recommend measures to deal with such cases.

For the first time the government is taking notice of the severity of the problem. Child pornography has to be dealt seriously. We need to institutionalise our defences against child pornography, women and child welfare minister Maneka Gandhi said.

The group, comprising representatives from the government, NGOs, law-enforcement agencies and social media, will meet on January 16.

The countrys doesnt have an institutional mechanism, though National Crime Records Bureau data say there has been a 100% spike in the number of cases filed under publication and transmission of obscene material, including child sexual abuse, between 2013 and 2014.

There is no accurate data on the number of children being exploited in pornographic material  either being forced to show their sexual organs or made to engage in sexual acts  but a 2007 government survey report say 4.46% of 12,000 kids had been photographed in the nude.

Read | Child porn sites blocked, action on others soon: Centre tells SC

Even if an internet user stumbles upon a child sexual abuse image in India and reports it, there is no specialised expertise in the country to take down images as many of them are hosted in servers located outside India. Currently, there is no way to block the content from India, said Uma Subramanian, founder and co-director of the Aarambh India, a joint initiative of ADM Capital Foundation and Prerana, an anti-trafficking NGO.

The website, www.aarambhindia.org, hosts Indias first online hotline for reporting child pronography.

In August, the women and child development ministry launched e-box  an online complaint box with www.ncpcr.gov.in, where any child can report sexual harassment or abuse in school, home or elsewhere.

But if someone reports a child sexual abuse image hosted on some site, there is not much the ministry can do except lodging a police complaint, said an official.

Subramaniams organisation has joined hands with the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), an industry self-regulatory body for removing child porn.

As and when a report is made on the India hotline, technical experts from IWF team assesses it and based on the criminality of the content takes it down, blocks the URL and removes it from cyberspace. Through the international network with Interpol, law-enforcement agencies start their investigation to catch those involved, Subramanian said.

Also read | Online intermediaries should be held responsible for sharing offensive content

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DMK on Tuesday demanded an explanation from Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam over former chief secretary P Rama Mohana Raos insistence that he continued to remain on the top post despite being replaced following Income Tax raids at his residence and office.

DMK treasurer and Opposition leader M K Stalin said he had sought an explanation from Panneerselvam when the raids were being carried out at Raos house and office last week.

If the former chief secretary is in a position to claim that he is the chief secretary, then only the chief minister has to respond to that, Stalin told reporters.

Rama Mohana Rao, who is under I-T scanner, had earlier in the day said that the copy of the transfer order on his removal as chief secretary has not been handed over to him yet, and that therefore he continued as the topmost official of the state government.

The state government had last week appointed Girija Vaidyanathan in his place, a day after I-T sleuths raided Raos Anna Nagar residence and chamber at the state Secretariat.

Asked if the BJP government at the Centre was behind the raids, Stalin said it was up to the central government, BJP and I-T officials to clarify it.
From 2004 to 2014, the Congress successfully led its first coalition government at the Centre that completed two full terms. But two years after that remarkable achievement, the party is scrambling to cobble an opposition unity with its trusted supporters leaving the bandwagon.

Even as demonetisation is opposed by all opposition parties, few of them are ready to hold the Congress hand to launch a joint assault.

Here are five reasons why the Congress failed to rope in key opposition parties for a meeting and a press conference on Tuesday:

1. The party allegedly didnt consult other outfits before finalising the dates and the agenda. The smaller opposition parties saw it as a tendency of the Congress to dictate the terms of engagement. CPI(M) chief Sitaram Yechury said, There were no consultations and things were not planned properly for the joint meeting.

2. Hesitation to come under the Congress banner: The difference between the Congress and AIADMKs strength in the Lok Sabha is just seven members. With the Congress at its historic low in the lower house and saddled to power in just seven states, other opposition parties are not in a mood to bolster the Congress by lending support.

3. A large section of the opposition was irked at the way Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi after firing salvos throughout the Parliaments winter session. Some of them, like the Janata Dal(United) are not so aggressively opposed to the demonetisation as the Congress is.

4. With elections in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Goa round the corner, some parties want to retain their independent position and avoid any proximity with the Congress to avoid any confusion.

5. Leaders of many parties have a conflict with the other parties position. Like, Trinamool Congress demanded a roll-back of demonetisation but the Left thinks such a demand will raise doubt in public about the integrity of the party. The difference among different parties could not be subdued into one common voice of the opposition.

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Asking people of Jammu and Kashmir to give peace a chance, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has said it was imperative for creating an environment conducive for dialogue and development and would also have a soothing impact on India-Pakistan relations.

For achieving the objective of development and dialogue, a congenial atmosphere of peace and tranquillity needs to be created.

I seek peoples cooperation in creating an environment conducive for development and dialogue, Mehbooba said while interacting with people after kick-starting various developmental projects in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Monday.

The chief minister said her government would work on the twin objectives of development and dialogue and asked the people of the state to give peace a chance.

The people of J-K have a huge responsibility to ensure a congenial and peaceful atmosphere in the state so that it has a soothing impact on the relations between the two neighbouring countries (India and Pakistan) which ultimately can pave the way for getting the state out of its difficulties, Mehbooba said.

She regretted that every section of society suffered losses during the turmoil of past few months which also delayed the completion of many developmental projects in the state.

The chief minister said the government has planned a major developmental programme for the state and asked the people to extend their cooperation for its successful implementation.

Addressing the students after inaugurating the new building of the Government Womens College, Pulwama, the Chief Minister said empowerment of women is key to development of the state.

She asked the girls to focus on education as it has the potential to bring about the desired social change.

Mehbooba said women hold an important place in society and their empowerment would signal a positive turnaround.

She asked the students to attain different skills so that they are not only educated but empowered as well.
Tamil Nadus former top bureaucrat alleged on Tuesday he was targeted by income tax officials who conducted an illegal raid on his house and office at gun point last week that triggered his dismissal.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, former TN chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao said his life was in danger and called the raid unconstitutional.

CRPF forces knocked on my door at 5:30 with an arrest warrant bearing my sons name and placed me under house-arrest at gunpoint, said the former chief secretary.

Stating that the warrant did not have his name, Rao told press that the raids conducted at his residence and his office at the secretariat were a constitutional assault on the office of the chief secretary.

The CRPF has to get permission from the home minister or the chief minister to investigate the offices of a government official, Rao said. Did they get this permission? If honourable madam (Jayalalithaa) was still alive, the CRPF would not have the guts to do this.

Rao claimed he was still chief secretary, despite the state having appointed Girija Vaidyanathan as his replacement on December 22, barely hours after the I-T Dept concluded their raids on the houses of Rao and his families.

I was named chief secretary by honourable Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (Jayalalithaa), he declared. This government hasnt got the guts to send me a copy of the transfer orders. I am still chief secretary.

Rao was removed from his position after officials said they recovered Rs 30 lakh cash in new notes and 5kg of gold.

The incident hit national headlines after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the raid an affront to Indias federal structure. Rao thanked Banerjee and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for their support.

Raos home and office were raided by the I-T Dept on December 21 as part of their ongoing investigation against his son, Vivek Rao, a software engineer who is suspected of tax avoidance. Opposition leader MK Stalin had called the raids unprecedented, and a disgrace to the state.

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When the Congress-NCP government led by Ashok Chavan had first announced the plans to erect a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea, senior journalist Kumar Ketkar had objected to spending Rs 3,600 crore which, he said, should instead be spent on writing off loans of farmers in Vidarbha. He was gheraoed and roughed up by Shiv Sangram chief Vinayak Mete and workers of the NCP. Mete then owed allegiance to the NCP. Today, as head of the Chhatrapati Smarak Samiti set up to ovrsee the construction of the memorial, he is an ally of the BJP. But he continues to be annoyed, this time about the manner in which the jalpoojan for the memorial has been handled by the BJP government--like a party event rather than one by the government and non-inclusive of other political parties.

In fact, it is strange that all political parties, opposed to each other bitterly, have been unanimous in condemning the government of Devendra Fadnavis for appropriating the event for electoral gains in the upcoming civic elections in February. Even Raju Shetti, president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, an ally of the BJP, has raised objections to the isolation of other political parties. Gurudas Kamat of the Congress has expressed his displeasure at the non-inclusion of his party, which conceptualised the statue 12 years ago, in the event. And Jayant Patil of the NCP has mocked the government for doing just that--event marketing, going so far as to say, far from acknowledging that this was a Congress-NCP dream coming true, the BJP with its mega-advertising campaign before the event was pretending that it was their poll promise that they were now fulfilling.

Their sustained campaign unnerved Fadnavis enough to acknowledge that the idea was the Congress-NCPs but he charged them with doing nothing in their 15 years to secure appropriate permissions and get the project off the ground. The fact on the ground, however, is that all permissions for the statue, including those from the Bombay Port Trust, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard as well as the Fisheries department, were secured by the Congress-NCP government by 2014. But by the time the last permission--from the environment ministry--came through in February 2015, the Congress-NCP were out of power. The delay in the bhoomipoojan by nearly two years now lends credence to the accusations by all parties that the BJP is using the event to further its poll prospects in February 2017.

The BJP is looking at diminishing returns after the first round of local self government elections last month to various municipal councils and gram panchayats. While it did remarkably well in the first round, the Congress caught up in the second and faces stiff competition from the Shiv Sena in several municipal corporations, including Mumbai and Nashik, elections to which are due in February. Both farmers in the villages and traders in big and small cities whose livelihoods have been hit hard by demonetisation, and the advantage of this is expected to go to both the Congress and the Shiv Sena in various different areas. In addition, the Fadnavis government is also under tremendous pressure from the Maratha community following the series of silent morchas for reservation in the past months--it is an issue that the state government is constitutionally helpless to resolve and the BJP, which is said to be deeply worried about the fallout of their discontent on the partys future prospects, is hoping their appropriation of the Shivaji memorial in the sea will help them regain some traction with the community.

But the lack of graciousness in inviting even Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena, their ally, to the event, has not gone down well with the Marathi manoos. The Congress, upset at the hijacking of something that first appeared in their party manifesto in 2004 and then the joint manifesto with the NCP in 2009, is also not very pleased. Kamat has underscored the fact that the memorial was planned by the Congress-led government and it would have been nice of the government to include some Congress leaders during the bhoomipoojan ceremonies.

However, although Fadnavis has taken a swipe at the Congress for not securing permissions for the memorial during their term, the fact remains that, then or now, Rs 3,600 crores of tax payers money seems like an awfully huge amount to spend on yet another statue of Shviaji (with two magnficent statues already at the gateway of India and Shivaji Park), whether by the Congress or the BJP, particularly since farmers are still dying in the districts and Shivajis forts across the state continue to lie in a sad state of neglect and ruin.

Indeed, fishermen who cast to the sea from Colaba and other shores of South Bombay are alarmed by the prospect that the statue will get in their way and had even displayed black flags on their fishing boats and shut the fish markets on the day of the bhoomipoojan on December 24.

But there is no one to address their concerns. Both Congress and BJP leaders are busy blaming each other or taking credit for the memorial. While Fadnaviss predecessor, Prithviraj Chavan, has countered the chief minister by saying all permission but the one from the environment ministry had been secured during his tenure, he has, uncharacteristically, minced few words in charging the BJP with seeking political mileage out of something that came out of the heads of Congress Party leaders.

Now even Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has jumped on to the band wagon by asking where the government proposes to generate the funds for the memorial. Alleging that the state government coffers are empty he has dismissed the brouhaha over the event as just hype and said rather than a new memorial to Shivaji, both parties would have been better advised to preserve existing memories of the warrior king in his neglected forts. But the BJP is just like the Congress,  he said in Nashik on Monday.

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What do Naga sadhus, wrestlers and an emu have in common? They all make for eye-catching images. Hindustan Timess photojournalists curate their best photographs they clicked in 2016.

Dadar beach in Mumbai becomes a spot where horses cool down on a hot summer day. (Kunal Patil/ HT Photo)

Wrestler Rajesh Paul trains besides Kolkatas iconic Howrah Bridge. Paul, a member of the Kapil Deo Ashram, practises a form of mud wrestling called kushti and his sport is believed to be 3000 year old. (Samir Jana/ HT Photo)

Mahettar Ram Tandon, 76, gets noticed. He has tattooed the name of Lord Ram on his body and proudly posed for photographs when HT visited him in his village called Jamgahan in March. Tandon is a follower of Ramnami Samaj, a socio-religious movement of the lower castes in central and northern Chhattisgarh, in which followers practice chanting the name of Ram and tattoo different portions of their body. (Raj K Raj/ HT Photo)

Over 20 people died and hundreds were injured when a flyover being constructed over a crowded road in Kolkata collapsed on March 31. Work on flyover had been delayed and it was over budget. HTs photograph captured all that was wrong with the jinxed project. (Samir Jana/ HT Photo)

Naga sadhus scream as they rush to take a dip in the Shipra river in Ujjain in April. More than one crore devotees participated in the third shahi snan in Ujjain this year: a spiritual experience thats become photographers Mecca. (Shankar Mourya/ HT Photo)

The Indian Air Force and hundreds of soldiers had to be called in when forest fires engulfed 13 districts in Uttarakhand in April-May. The hill state is notorious for pre-monsoon forest fires which are at times ignited by people to prepare the slopes for cultivation. (Arun Sharma/ HT Photo)

April was hotter than usual in Delhi in 2016 and May sizzled when temperatures reached 47 degrees Celsius. This boy beats the heat by taking a shower at the lawns in India Gate. (Ravi Choudhary/ HT Photo)

A Banjara family sells plastic toys in Ranchi. The Banjaras are part of Indias numerous nomadic communities like the Dom, Gujjar, Sansi, Chauhan and Sikligar who are often marginalised. (HT Photo)

Devotees break their fast on the first day of Ramzan at Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, where the city flocks to for the best Mughlai food. (Vipin Kumar/ HT Photo)

Mumbai does look like a city that never sleeps in this photograph shot on the evening of June 29. (Vijayanand Gupta/ HT Photo)

Residents of Saperon Ki Dhaani (snake charmers village) near Jaipur adopted this emu after it strayed in and was chased by stray dogs. They have a name for their pet: pakshi-janwar or bird-animal. (Himanshu Vyas/ HT Photo)

Thousands of crores of rupees have been spent to clean the Yamuna, but its pollution has risen despite decades of planning. To make the rivers sorrow worse, Delhi immerses idols in the river after celebrating Durga Puja. (Ravi Choudhary/HT Photo)

A reflection of the BMC building is seen on the windshield of a car parked on a packed road in Mumbai. (Arijit Sen/ HT Photo)

Smile, please for in this picture people are celebrating the World Laughter Day at the Nana Nani Park in Girgaon Chowpatty in Mumbai. (HT Photo)

A bird's eye view of the Taj Balloon Festival in Agra. The city hosts the three-day festival to add to its tourism attraction. (Pawan Sharma/ HT Photo)
As India embarks on a massive modernisation plan for its defence forces, it has emerged as the second largest purchaser of arms among developing nations after Saudi Arabia, a latest Congressional report has said.

Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipments worth USD 34 billion, which is a distant second after Saudi Arabias USD 93.5 billion, said the report Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2008-2015 released by Congressional Research Service (CRS).

As the name reflects, CRS is an independent bipartisan research wing of the US Congress. It prepares reports on a wide range of issues for lawmakers to make informed decisions. CRS reports are not considered official reports of the US Congress.

Saudi Arabia was the leading developing world arms purchaser from 2008-2015, with agreements totalling USD 93.5 billion. India was the second largest developing world arms purchaser from 2008 to 2015, making arms transfer agreements totalling USD 34 billion during these years (in current dollars), it said, adding these increases reflect the military modernisation efforts by India.

In its report, CRS highlights recent Indian efforts to diversify its procurement of arms, of which the US has been a major beneficiary.

It is notable that India, while the principal Russian arms customer, during recent years has sought to diversify its weapons supplier base, purchasing the Phalcon early warning defense system aircraft in 2004 from Israel and numerous items from France in 2005, in particular six Scorpene diesel attack submarines. In 2008, India purchased six C130J cargo aircraft from the United States, CRS said.

In 2010, the UK sold India 57 Hawk jet trainers for USD 1 billion. In 2010, Italy also sold India 12 AW101 helicopters.

In 2011, France secured a USD 2.4 billion contract with India to upgrade 51 of its Mirage-2000 combat fighters, and the US agreed to sell India 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for USD 4.1 billion, it said.

This pattern of Indian arms purchases indicates that Russia will likely face strong new competition from other major weapons suppliers for the India arms market, and it can no longer be assured that India will consistently purchase its major combat systems, CRS said.

Indeed, India in 2011 had eliminated Russia from the international competition to supply a new-generation combat fighter aircraft, a competition won by France.

In 2015, Russia and India agreed to a contract in which India would procure at least 200 Ka-226T helicopter, the report said.

With India reducing its reliance on Russia on arms purchase, Moscow is looking for other options, it added.
The Valleys English daily Kashmir Reader is set to hit the stands on Wednesday morning after the ban imposed on it by the government for inciting violence gets lifted after three months, ending a period of uncertainty for the newspapers staff.

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti met members of the Kashmir Editors Guild and sources privy to the meeting told HT that the CM said she "hoped to read the Kashmir Reader on Wednesday morning".

The publication of the newspaper was banned by the state government since October 2 for inciting violence.

In an order dated September 30, the Srinagar district magistrate said that the contents of the newspaper tends to incite acts of violence and disturb public peace and tranquillity although he did not detail which specific report or article did so.

On Sunday, a senior state information official had told HT that the government has decided to revoke the ban.

Hilal Mir, editor of the Kashmir Reader, told HT, Its like we have been released from jail.

All the journalists, except one who left due to personal reasons, continued working for the newspaper even after the ban, Mir said.

The ban was criticised by Kashmirs media bodies, civil society and separatists, while international bodies like the Amnesty International, Pen International and Committee to Protect Journalists had called for its revocation.

On Tuesday, journalists of the newspaper -- without work for nearly 90 days now -- were ecstatic to return to office and begin working.

A correspondent with the newspaper Abdul Mohamin said he was working on a story on the effects of demonetisation in Kashmir.

I am also working on a few other off-beat stories, which should hopefully be published in the coming days, Mohamin said.

Moazum Mohammad, a senior journalist with Kashmir Reader, said that the newspapers office was back to life.

I am excited. The office has come back to life. Congratulatory messages pouring in, said Mohammad.

The newspaper is one of the media outlets reporting from the strife-torn south Kashmir region, the epicentre of the unrest since July 8 when protests began after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani by forces.

Earlier this month, Jammu and Kashmir police registered a case against a trainee reporter with the newspaper on charges related to publication of statements of conducing public mischief for a September 28 report on crop-burning, in which villagers were quoted as blaming government forces for the alleged arson.

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The Jammu and Kashmir high court on Tuesday ordered the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, who has been in jail for the last six years on charges of fomenting trouble and posing a threat to public safety in the state.

Alam, languishing in a jail in Kathua near Jammu, was booked under the draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) following the 2010 deadly unrest that left over 100 people dead in the Kashmir Valley.

Alam was accused of having orchestrated violent anti-India protests in the valley after the Indian Army killed three civilians in an alleged fake shootout near the de facto border with Pakistan.

Justice Muzafar Hussain Attar quashed the PSA detention order of Alam.

The judgement, reserved by the court last week, ordered the immediate release of Alam who is the chairman of the Muslim League -- a constituent of the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference.

Under the PSA a person can be detained for two years by the order of a district magistrate without any judicial intervention.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati addressed a press conference on Tuesday, a day after reports surfaced that the Enforcement Directorate has detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to her party and Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to party her brother, Anand.

On Monday, ED officials said they visited the Karol Bagh branch of the United Bank of India and found huge deposits made in these two accounts after demonetisation. For her part, Mayawati accused the BJP of giving an impetus to a possible Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance for next years Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Here are the highlights from the press conference:

12:05pm: BSP followed rules and procedure to deposit its money in bank.

12:07pm: I have been in UP since August 31 and collected money through donations. The money was collected before demonetisation.

12:10pm: Mayawati accuses BJP of anti-Dalit mentality.

12:11pm: Casteist forces dont want a Dalit woman to come up.

12:11pm: BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign the name of BSP party.

12:13pm: My younger brother Anand has his own business and deposited money in bank accounts according to IT rules.

12:15pm: BJP-managed channels and newspapers blew the matter out of proportion.

12:16pm: BJP should explain how much money did it deposit in banks before November 8 (the day demonetisation was announced).

12:17pm: Money deposited by other parties in bank doesnt come up for discussion.

12:20pm: I have faith in the people of Uttar Pradesh. They will support the BSP despite the allegations.

12:22pm: BJP and company have been harassing us since 2007, but this will not have any impact.

12:25pm: BJP is shaken and has hatched a disgusting conspiracy against BSP and my family.

12:27pm: One more decision like demonetisation by the BJP, and BSP will not need to spend much to win UP elections.

12:30pm: BSP follows I-T rules. I want to remind BJP that.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said on Tuesday that the Rs 100-plus crore detected by the Enforcement Directorate in her partys account was deposited in bank following due procedures.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: The money belongs to the party...I have been in UP since August 31 and collected money through donations. The money was collected before demonetisation.

On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate detected cash deposits totalling over Rs 104 crore in an account belonging to the BSP and Rs 1.43 crore in an account belonging to Mayawatis brother, Anand.

Officials said they visited the Karol Bagh branch of the United Bank of India and found huge deposits made in these two accounts after the governments demonetisation exercise.

Read: Centre pressuring Mulayam to forge alliance with Congress: Mayawati

But Mayawati blamed some BJP-managed channels and newspapers for blowing the matter allegedly out of proportion.

Defending her brother, she said: My younger brother Anand has his own business and deposited money in bank accounts according to IT rules.

She also accused Centres ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of using the state machinery to malign the BSP ahead of the elections to the Uttar Pradesh assembly.

Casteist forces dont want a Dalit woman to come up, she said.

Mayawati said she had faith in the people of Uttar Pradesh and expressed confidence that they will support the BSP despite the allegations.

Read: Have not become PM to cut ribbons: PM Modi vows to continue war on corruption

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mayawati demanded that he should make public deposits made by the BJP in 10 months before the November 8 decision of demonetising Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 banknotes.

One more decision like demonetisation by the BJP, and BSP will not need to spend much to win UP elections, she said, launching an attack on the government move that has drawn flak from the Opposition.

To divert the public attention from the promises made in the Lok Sabha polls, Modi, without any preparation and in haste, implemented demonetisation which has now become a gale ki haddi (albatross around the neck), said Mayawati.

She also alleged that the BJP, Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) were having a tacit understanding for the polls.

Amid reports that the Congress and the ruling SP were in negotiations, Mayawati alleged such an alliance was dependent on a green signal from the BJP.

Anticipating the BSP would come back to power, the BJP is using ED and the CBI to pressurise Mulayam Singh Yadav to toe its line and divide the Muslim vote, she said, asking the minority voters to choose the BSP.

In his response, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: Mayawati cannot hide corruption in the garb of Dalit cause.

Read: India robbed in the name of achche din: Rahul, Mamata attack Modis demonetisation move
The Nagaur police arrested an aide of Rajasthans most notorious gangster  Anandpal Singh who carries a bounty of Rs five lakh on his head  on Monday night.

Srivallabh, with a Rs one lakh bounty on his head, was one of the two men who had escaped with Anandpal in September 2015 when they were being brought back to Ajmer jail after a court hearing. The police van was attacked by gunmen in two SUVs. The policemen escorting the prisoners were drugged and failed to prevent the gunmen spiriting away the three prisoners.

Srivallabh was also instrumental in hatching the entire escape plan and since then had been staying with Anandpal in various states such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, said superintendent of police Nagaur, Paris Deshmukh.

Deshmukh added that police had been tipped off two days ago about Srivallabhs presence in the area.

A suspect was spotted near Jaswantgarh who was later identified as Srivallabh. He tried to run after seeing the police but was nabbed by a team of officials, said Deshmukh.

The police said that during interrogation Srivallabh confessed to hiding in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat and also accompanied the gangster to a few of his hideouts.

We have informed the Special Operations Group (SOG) and they have sent a team which is interrogating Srivallabh. The SOG will take him to Jaipur, said Deshmukh.

The police said Srivallabh was more like Anandpals personal assistant. He was also wanted in several cases of theft, burglary, murder and his involvement in the 2014 Bikaner jail firing.

We believe that Srivallabh has significant information about the whereabouts of Anandpal because he was with him for a long time right from the time of his escape, said additional superintendent of police (SOG) Karan Sharma.

Anandpal, who is charged with multiple cases of robbery, extortion and murder across Rajasthan, is a native of Nagaur district. The 44-year-old has a B. Ed degree.
Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Centre for its demonetisation exercise, asking when the cash crunch situation triggered by the move will improve.

Congress vice-president Gandhi, who has of late been unsparing in his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also questioned the motive behind the Centres decision to ban Rs 500 and Rs 1000 banknotes.

At a press conference by Opposition parties, he reminded that the government had assured that the situation will improve after December 30, but things were still looking grim.

Though Gandhis party failed to rally a united Opposition, Banerjee, sitting next to the Congress leader, was aggressive.

The Trinamool Congress chief said the note ban exercise was a mega scam that had shattered the economy.

She alleged that farmers and businesses across the country were reeling due to the decision.

Banerjee also said the Opposition parties will chart a common minimum programme on demonetisation and corruption, even as she pointed fingers at the state of governance in the country.

The country has been robbed in the name of achche din (good days), she said, referring to the ruling BJPs election slogan in 2014.

Soon after the Oppositions press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive on Banerjee and Gandhi.

He said PM Modi had stressed time and again that the people of the country were supporting the note ban move, and asked whether this could be the reason behind the Oppositions discomfort.

Prasad also targeted Gandhi, who has alleged that Modi took bribes from corporates as Gujarat CM, raking up the much-debated issue of corruption in the previous UPA regime.

(With agency inputs)

Read: Oppn split again: JD(U), CPM decide to skip Congs show of strength
The Rajasthan government will launch free contraceptive injections for women in 14 districts from April 2017 under a central government programme called Mission Parivar Vikas, which aims to cover 145 districts in the country with high fertility rate.

The injection named Antara will be an alternative to the current birth control methods such as intra-utrerine contraceptive device (IUCD), oral contraceptive pills and condoms.

Antara has Deoxy Medroxy Progestrone Acetate (DMPA), a drug that prevents pregnancy for three months, said Naveen Jain, mission director, National Health Mission. A woman can take four doses of the injection in a year without any other contraceptive, he said.

Antara can be injected in the arms or buttock muscles and prevents release of egg from the ovary, Jain added.

Rajasthans reproductive and child health director Dr VK Mathur said Antara will be given free of cost in all government hospitals including district hospitals and health sub centres.

Mathur said the new contraceptive is quite safe. The only side effect is irregular menstrual cycle and weight gain for a few months in some women, he added.

The districts where the injections will be available are Barmer, Dholpur, Banswara, Karauli, Jalore, Sawai Madhopur, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Jaisalmer, Pali, Sirohi, Baran and Bharatpur. The total fertility rate (TFR) in these districts is three or more.

TFR is the average number of children expected to be born per woman during her entire reproductive period.

Dr Swati Garg, head of obstetrics and gynaecology department of the private Mahatma Gandhi hospital in Jaipur said, Injectable contraceptives are very effective and has been in the market for last 20 years. A woman has to take it in once and can avoid pregnancy for three months.

She said menstrual cycle gets irregular due to this injection, but with proper counselling, women would accept it.

The union ministry of health and family welfare has identified 145 high focus districts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam with high TFR under Mission Parivar Vikas.

The main objective of Mission Parivar Vikas is to accelerate access to high quality family planning choices based on information, reliable services and supplies within a rights-based framework, the union health ministry had stated when the programmed was unveiled late last month.

The department will also offer another contraceptive pill named Chhaya that needs to be taken twice a week for three months and once a week thereafter.

Dr Mathur said family planning interventions too play a major role in reducing infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the state.

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In a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka will soon release 20 Indian fishermen held for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, a senior minister has said.

Fisheries and aquatic resources development minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney Generals department to release the 20 fishermen from India.

Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned, Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released, he said.

Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said.

According to Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody.

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties.
In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday.

The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident.

Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday, police official Ali Sabri said.

According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck.

She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January.

The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died, police officials said.

After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body, police said.

Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours.

Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room.

However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it.

I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it, Mishra said.
Union minister of state for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday described Indias culture of harmony, unity and tolerance as its DNA.

Naqvi said this while inaugurating the grand Christmas celebration of Thrissur in Kerala. Buon Natale, meaning Merry Christmas, is a procession taken out by the Thrissur diocese every year, aimed at strengthening communal harmony.

Buon Natale is also recorded in the Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of people dressed up as Santa Claus.

While flagging off the event, Naqvi said Indias centuries old history is a proof that the people of our country had always defeated those forces who wanted to disturb our rich culture.

He also emphasised that in spite of religious and cultural diversity, the spirit of social harmony, unity and tolerance has been strengthened for several centuries which has maintained Indias DNA of Unity in Diversity.

Naqvi described programmes such as Sadbhav Samagam, Progress Panchayat and Hunar Haat, as attempts being made by his ministry to reach out to the minority section.

The minister also cautioned people against succumbing to the propaganda started by some people against the government and to judge the government through work done by it.

He said cultural harmony not only prevents people from religious narrow mindedness and confrontation but also strengthens the fabric of social harmony.

We have to protect and strengthen this fabric of social harmony, unity and tolerance at any cost. Every religion, every region, every culture and every community will have to move forward together to make India an example of social unity for the entire world, he said and thanked Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur diocese, for organising the event.

The procession, which consisted of floats, bike-riders, bands, dancers and people dressed as Santa Claus started from St. Thomas College and after taking a tour of the city concluded at the same location.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was beaten to death by a man at a tribal-dominated village in Tripuras Dhalai district on Monday evening, police said on Tuesday.

An official at the Gandacherra police station said they have arrested the man, Biswada Tripura, who killed Chanmohan Tripura. Police have said the accused is mentally retarded.

However, the BJP alleged that Chanmohan, who was the chief of the partys Janajati Yuva Morcha, Gandacherra Mandal committee and also an elected member of Dalpati ADC village committee, was killed by the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres.

Police said the post-mortem examination of the body would be conducted on Tuesday.
The government will spare no effort to free an Indian Catholic priest abducted by the Islamic State from Yemen in March, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday, after his emotional video appeal went viral on social media.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj said she had seen the video where Father Thomas Uzhunnalil looked haggard, spoke haltingly in English and accused the Pope and Indian government of doing little to secure his release.

He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith DSouza released from Afghanistan, she posted on Twitter.

We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Toms release from captivity.

Uzhunnalil belongs to Ramapuram village in Keralas Kottayam district.

On Monday, the 55-year-old Uzhunnalil had appealed in a five-minute video to get him out of the confinement.

If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and (they) would have got me released. I am from India and therefore, I perhaps am not considered as of much value. I am sad about this, he was seen as saying.

The video was posted on YouTube and aired by news channels in his home state of Kerala, and caught the attention of authorities, including ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vijay Swaroop and Swaraj.

The priest was abducted when IS fighters stormed an old peoples home in the port city of Aden on March 4 and gunned down 16 people, including an Indian nun.

This is the second video featuring Father Uzhunnalil to be posted on social media. The first one had emerged in July.

Uzhunnalil said he was kidnapped because he was working for the Christian religion. He also said his captors had made several contacts with the Indian government, and accused that ...nothing has been done seriously in my regard.

India said it was in regular touch with Yemeni authorities and Saudi Arabia regarding the safe release of Father Uzhunnalil.
World Bank president Jim Yong Kim called Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar on phone to discuss the Pakistan-India water dispute, an official said on Tuesday.

The phone call on Monday was in relation with the latest dispute concerning two hydroelectric power plants -- Kishanganga and Ratle -- that India is building on the Indus river system, Dawn online reported.

Dar earlier wrote to Kim requesting him to help settle the water dispute between the two neighbouring nations.

He said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistans interests and rights under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty which was signed in 1960.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been inordinately delayed, Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt the countrys interests as India was working on completing the two projects. Dar said that once the projects are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

Meanwhile, Pakistans Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry has said Indias violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would set a dangerous precedent for other countries to behave similarly.

Contravention of the treaty or its unilateral abrogation by India will not only violate the IWT, but also set a precedent providing other countries a possible justification to undertake similar actions, Chaudhry said while speaking to Russian news agency Sputnik.

The treaty distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, while Pakistan has the three western rivers of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Last week, Kim in a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, said he had decided to pause the banks arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle the dispute.

Pakistan asked the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration while India demanded the appointment of a neutral expert.

Kim said he was pausing arbitration to protect the Indus Waters Treaty, which has successfully resolved previous disputes between the two neighbours.

Tension over the water dispute intensified in November when Prime Minister Narendra Modi post the Uri attack which claimed the lives of 19 soldiers, said: Blood and water cannot flow at the same time.
The third day of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishads (ABVP) national conference in Indore, aiming at listing objectives of the organistation throughout the year, witnessed chaos both at the conference venue and a rally from GACC to Navlakha square on Monday.

Indiscipline by ABVP workers invited criticism both at the venue and at major traffic intersections in the city.

While chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was leaving the programme at the auditorium of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), people started quarreling for a chance to click selfies with the CM outside the auditorium. Meanwhile, sources said ABVP leaders led by Sunny Soni and Shyam Meena got into an argument after media persons failed to show entry passes to the event, as demanded by the two ABVP leaders.

ABVP delegates who came from other states taste Indores famous snacks. (Arun Mondhe/HT)

Thereafter, Soni and his supporters allegedly punched two journalists, leaving them seriously injured. Later, ABVP expelled both Soni and Meena.

ABVP organising secretary (central zone) Prafulla Akant confirmed expulsion of Meena and Soni. However, sources claimed that the duo is still with the outfit as no formal letter has been issued in this concern so far.

Traffic goes haywire during rally

Traffic at all major intersections including Bhanwarkua, tower square, Agrasen square and Navlakha square in Indore went haywire during ABVP rally from Government Arts and Commerce College (GACC) venue to Navlakha. Large number of vehicles were stranded for an hour until the culmination of the rally.

Traffic went haywire during ABVP rally at Bhanwarkua Square in Indore. (Arun Mondhe/HT photo)

Worsening the situation, scores of ABVP workers and leaders blocked traffic intersections and got into scuffles with commuters, throwing traffic out of gear.
Hundreds of sanitation workers staged demonstrations, including dumping the garbage on streets, in different parts of Indore on Monday to protest against the municipal corporations move to introduce the biometric attendance system

The protests brought to an abrupt halt the ongoing cleanliness drive in the city and forced the chief minister to cancel a public function, where he was to declare Indore as an open defecation free (ODF) city.

The sanitation workers damaged an IMC vehicle in MIG area, intercepted garbage tippers at different places and scattered filth on roads. One of the factions of the employees created a ruckus in Patnipura, MIG, Vijay Nagar, Chhaoni and Palasia areas of the city and even damaged the garbage vehicles, a police officer said.

He said some motorcycle-borne persons misbehaved with workers from rival group that had refused to take part in the protests. Later, workers associated with both the groups created ruckus at Palasia police station demanding registration of criminal cases against each other.

Sanitation workers block main entrance to IMC headquarters in Indore on Monday. (Arun Mondhe/HT photo)

Members of a community that earns a living selling the spoils generated from waste collection too have joined the protest. Known as jagiradars in the local parlance, they claim that their livelihood was being snatched with the introduction of door-to-door garbage collection.

The municipal corporation, which is trying to secure better ranking in the upcoming Swachhta Survekshan - 2017, warned of strict action against the protesters.

Municipal commissioner Manish Singh said, Such kind of hooliganism will not be tolerated. The protesters are only a faction of workers whose vested interests is at stake with implementation of biometric attendance system.

IMC additional commissioner Devendra Singh said the municipal administration has lodged complaints in Palasia, MIG, Sanyogitaganj and Khajrana police stations against those who damaged the IMC vehicles. We have introduced biometric attendance in compliance with the central norms under Swachch Bharat Abhiyan. There is no question of withdrawing this decision, he added.

Biometric attendance was introduced to ensure that all the sanitation workers are out on roads to perform their duties.

The IMC has a total of 6,500 sanitation workers. On an average, 80 workers are employed in each ward. Sources claim that the ward corporators have a say in recruitment of sanitation workers. Similarly, the worker unions too tries to get its members enrolled as sanitation worker. It has been found that many such appointees abstained from work but would get their attendance marked as present by paying bribes. Each sanitation worker is paid Rs 7,000 per month.

The biometric attendance seeks to put an end to this.
Indore: MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Monday said that he has come to his home while addressing office bearers, workers and former members of the Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The chief minister was speaking in a meeting of the ABVP in which Sahsarkaryavah Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Suresh Soni and ABVPs national organisational secretary Sunil Ambekar among others were present on the occasion.

CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan speaking at the ABVP meet. (Arun Mondhe /HT photo)

Chouhan who joined the RSS in 1972 during his school days and later become president of students union of Model Higher Secondary School in Bhopal shared his memories of his life in the ABVP.

The chief minister revealed how he learnt many important aspects of working in public life during his association with the ABVP.

Sharing his past experience and how his journey in politics started with the first encounter with police in TT Nagar at the time of emergency, Chouhan said that he was in trouble after publicity materials and pamphlets against the draconian law was found with him during police search.

Chouhan spoke on how police kept him in a lock-up for the entire night and later attempted to get information about the source of the material by offering him poha and jalebi.

Later police put me in a jail and the experience there changed my life completely and I have decided to do something for my country and that was the beginning of my career as swayamsewak, Chouhan said.

All credit for becoming a swayamsewak goes to Suryakant Kelkar, he said.

Inside the jail I read a lot about Swami Vivekanand and Lokmanya Tilak and that made me a permanent worker of ABVP, Chouhan said.

After moving out of jail, I joined ABVP and served on different posts while studying at Saifia College in Bhopal. Throughout my life, Ive work diligently and never lost hope even after facing defeat, he said.

Initially, we faced a series of defeats in student elections, but we recovered and continued with new energy. We won students elections in both Bhopal and Indore later, he added.

Former ABVP workers at the meet. (Arun Mondhe /HT photo)

Chouhan said, ABVP taught me a lot, especially team work, and even after I became the chief minister, I still follow the same principle of planning in advance and planning in detail.

The CM said that he used to spend from the organisational fund, After a lot of thinking and in a miserly manner.

He said, Despite being chief minister, even today I dont keep any money in the pocket.

Soni also addressed the gathering.

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A 50-year-old man, who was picked up by police from Mundi near Khandwa on Sunday evening on suspicion of theft, was found hanging in the lock up on Monday morning.

Khandwa superintendent of police Navneet Bhisen has line attached Mundi town inspector Brijesh Chauhan and four other policemen after the incident. A judicial magistrate is conducting an inquiry, Bhisen said.

The deceased Jogeshwar Bhilala, who hails from Khutfal village in Khandwa district, was a worker in Singaji thermal power plant in Dongaliya. He was picked up by Mundi police on suspicion of stealing iron parts from the company premises.

Jogeshwars family members said he did not return from duty on Sunday. Sources said that he was taken to Mundi police station, subjected to interrogation without registering a First Investigation Report, and kept overnight in the lock up.

On Monday morning, a police guard raised alarm after finding him hanging in the lock up. The deceased had used his gamchha (piece of cloth) for the purpose.

While Jogeshwars father Babulal Bhilala said that he wants a high level inquiry to ascertain if it was a suicide or murder, his brother Surendra said the deceased was innocent. Police did not give us any information of the arrest. Some people in the company, who are involved in theft, have hatched a conspiracy, Surendra said.

The relatives of the deceased, along with other people from the town, arrived at the police station. The body has been sent for postmortem.
Two Muslim villagers in Rajasthans Kota did not tilt their land this Rabi season to facilitate Hindu community to hold a 228-year-old fair on their farmland, setting an example of communal harmony against the backdrop of growing religious intolerance in the country.

Abdul Hameed (60) set aside 18 bighas of his farmland while 55-year-old Sabir Khan kept free 2.5 bighas for the fair which commenced on January 28 at the districts Kherabad town.

Hameed, a farmer is also a former sarpanch of Khairabad gram panchayat.

Khan, a trader by profession, further constructed 10 houses of 100-square-foot each on his land for the use of pilgrims.

The only temple dedicated to the presiding deity of the Medatwal community (Vaishya)  Phalodi Mata  is situated in Kherabad.

A religious fair, Shree Phalodi Khumbh Mela, is held at the temple once every 12 years. For this years fair, which will end on February 4, more than two lakh pilgrims from all over the country are expected to throng the town.

To accommodate them the organisers of the fair set up a makeshift township spread across 300 bighas, which include the land two Muslim farmers allowed them to use for free.

Many other members of the Muslim community are generously allowing Hindu pilgrims to draw water from their wells.

There is a history to this communal bonhomie. A Hindu villager Lakshminarayan Chaudharya donated 9,000 square feet of his agricultural land for setting up of a madarsa near the towns mosque six decades ago.

Kherabad town has around 16,000 population and 35- 40% of them are Muslims.

The fairs organizing chairman and son of Chaudharya, Mohanlal, said since the fair is being held on a large scale this year they needed additional land.

Mohanlal Chaudharya said the organising committee took land from many residents on rent ranging between Rs 3,000 and 6,000 per bigha. But Hameed and Khan gave their land for free, he added.

Hameed said he incurred a loss by not cultivating his land this season but he has no regrets. Ive also promised to provide a 5,000-litre water tanker free of cost, he said.

This village is upholding the spirit of unity in diversity at a time when religious unrest is rising in the country, said a grateful pilgrim.
Although now low, prices of winter veggies are all set to take a Uturn and hit the roof in the New Year. Experts and traders association have warned that prices may rise from mid-January and may even be double the normal rates.

Vendors associations and ministers in Bengal warned that demonestisation will have a long-term effect well into 2017. Following the cash crunch, cultivation in Bengal has dropped and in many places harvesting has also not been possible.

Now prices are low. But by mid-January or January-end, prices of vegetable are set to rise. This is because supply will fall. In the subsequent months prices may also double. The November-December crop has been hurt badly due to lack of cash. In many places the standing crops of vegetables have been damaged because farmers have not been able to employ labourers to harvest them, said Kamal Dey, working vice-president of All-Bengal Grocers Vendors Association and a member of the chief ministers task force.

Farmers are distressed. When supply will come down, naturally there will be a scarcity in the market and prices will shoot up, said Rezzak Mollah, state horticulture minister.

We are yet to tabulate the estimates, but it is true that due to demonetisation the agricultural community has been affected. Crop production has dropped, said Purnendu Bose, state agriculture minister.

During winter Bengal produces a huge amount of vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, raddish, mustard green, hyacinth bean, carrots, peas. According to vendors association, in Kolkata alone per day over 100 tonnes of cauliflower and cabbage is brought to the market.

Following demonetisation, farmers in many areas could not go for the winter crops as they could not buy seeds and fertilisers in time. Moreover in many areas, the produce is still out there in the fields as farmers cannot pay cash to labourers to harvest them.

Farmers are calling up wholesalers and vendors and asking them to take the produce from the fields. Each labourer takes around Rs 300 a day. If one needs 15 labourers, imagine the cash needed. In villages the cash crunch is more acute than in urban areas, said Dey.

The wholesale market of vegetables in Kolkata is also in the doldrums. The market is running on credit since November 8 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his demonetisation drive. But wholesalers fear that it would be not possible to go on working with piling credit in the coming months.

The big wholesalers buy veggies in bulk at Rs 2-4 lakh a day. The retailers pick from them. There is no cash so the system is running on credit. But it is difficult to carry on in credit mode in the next few months, said Dey.

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A Japanese student bagged five gold medals for her outstanding performance in postgraduate examinations at the Sampurnananda Sanskrit Universitys 34th convocation here on Monday.

Toshiko Idava was awarded the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalay gold medal, Ramkuwar Bangar gold medal, Chandrabadan Madhav Singh Parmanas gold medal, Swami Madhavacharya gold medal and Annada Prasad Mukherjee gold medal.

She got the inspiration to learn Sanskrit eight years ago when she was on a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal. She started learning the Nepalese language. When she came to know that Sanskrit was the root of Nepalese, she decided to study Sanskrit. She then enrolled in a certificate course for Sanskrit at the SSU.

Later, she decided to pursue the Shastri and Acharya courses from SSU. It was very difficult to learn Sanskrit pronunciation. With the help of professors, I learned the language. I enjoy it now. I will work for promotion of Sanskrit around the world, she told HT on Monday.

Asked whether she planned to do Ph.D, she said she would decide after consulting her professor here.

Like Toshiko, Agras Farhad Ahmad, a member of the Ahmadia Muslim Jamat , is among 32 meritorious students were given gold medals for outstanding performance in graduate and postgraduate examinations during the 34th convocation of Sampurnanand Sanskriti University (SSU).

Farhad secured the highest marks in comparative religion and philosophy in the acharya (post graduation) course. He wants to work for communal harmony. Farhad also completed the Shashtri (graduation) course from SSU for which he enrolled in 2011.

Farhad is associated with Ahmadia Muslim Jamat since his childhood. In comparative study of religions, I found that soul and message of all religions is one. Each religion talks of peace and harmony. It teaches us to serve the poor and work for the entire humanity.

Farhad got an idea about different religions, including Hinduism, during the study. I thank my organisation that motivated me to do a comparative study of religions. I learned a lot under tutelage of professors here, Farhad said.

Appeal to promote Sanskrit

Banaras Hindu University vice chancellor Prof Girish Chandra Tripathi on Monday appealed to professors of Sanskrit to work for promotion of the language.

Addressing the SSU convocation, Tripathi said, We need to restore its glory. This is a very important language. Professors need to work for promotion of Sanskrit. The language flourished in our country. We need to restore its glory.

India had world class universities like Nalanda and Takshila. Our education was based on totality. Sanskrit suffered serious jolts over eight to nine centuries for various reasons. Now, the time has come to promote the language. The root of education is spirituality, he said.

Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth vice chancellor Prithvish Nag laid emphasis on linking Sanskrit with the technology for its promotion. He said that the SSU had unlimited opportunities.

In all, degrees were issued to 28661 students. Yadunath Dubey, vice chancellor of SSU, welcomed the guests.

Governor Ram Naik addressed the convocation by phone and advised students to laud the achievements of others.

Read more: Listen to your heart in deciding career: Shah Rukh Khan tells students
Last week, a girl from Delhi sent a photo to The Artidote, a social media community that offers support and a space to heal through art. The 20-year-old posted a photo of herself and spoke of her plan to kill herself because she was pregnant with a child that wasnt her boyfriends and didnt want to bring shame to her family.

Following her post on Snapchat, people from across the globe took to dissuading her from taking the extreme step. She was asked to speak to her family, with people sending her words of encouragement. Speaking to HT City, the girl who chose to remain anonymous, explained why she had decided to end her life, and how the warmth of strangers gave her the strength to change her decision.

People from places such as Australia, Kuwait, and South Africa responded to the girls snap telling her to stay strong, discuss the issue with someone, and even shared their Snapchat IDs for her to get in touch personally. It was their response that encouraged her to confide in her family.

People from all over the world offered their support to the girl through the communitys Snapchat profile.

I come from a Punjabi family and premarital sex and pregnancy are a huge deal, she says, adding, I didnt think Id change my mind but the empathy of people who showed support made me reconsider my decision to overdose. I felt protected, loved, cared for. Like my life mattered, she says. One of the snaps that wasnt posted was from a girl from Karachi on her prayer mat, praying for me. And in all honesty, that one snap made all the difference. It made me feel strong, and I felt like I could tell my family if I could confide in strangers.

The girl opened up to her mother and has now undergone an abortion procedure.

She has now undergone the abortion procedure and is healing under her mothers love and care. My mother was shocked but shes been here for me. My father still doesnt know and I hope he never finds out, she says.

Jovanny Varela, the moderator of The Artidote, says that the community had received a similar snap in the past and its reaction was the same. The warm reaction was a result of the wonderfully supportive and empathetic people on the community. The internet can be a vicious place but it does have some heartwarming moments. With so much hatred, intolerance and violence covering world news recently, this is a grain-of-sand positive story that restores my faith in our shared, fragile humanity.

The community has received a similar message in the past and the members responded with just as much compassion and empathy.

Sameer Malhotra, senior consultant psychiatrist says that in such a situation, the best thing to do is to reach out to your family. Im not in favour of sharing something so personal online. You never know how people may respond on the internet and one negative response can break things. Though your family may not understand in the beginning, they will always be there for you. Dont do anything impulsive, talk to them, he adds.

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The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporations (MRVCs) proposal to restructure suburban rail tariff has invoked mixed reactions from commuter associations and transport experts. While some passenger activists supported fare rationalisation to make the system sustainable, others demanded a public debate on the proposed restructuring as any tweaking in tariff will affect 75 lakh commuters.

MRVC has proposed reduction in first class fares and in minimum distance fares at the recently concluded Rail Vikas Shivir, New Delhi. Prabhat Sahai, chairman and managing director, MRVC, said, This idea was proposed at the Rail Vikas Shivir. If the railway ministry approves it, it will be taken forward.

For 75 lakh suburban commuters, this could mean cheaper first-class tickets and a 100% rise in the minimum second-class fare from the existing Rs5 to the proposed Rs10.

The planning authority for suburban railways has also proposed that the minimum first-class ticket fare, which now ranges between Rs50 and Rs70, be slashed to Rs25 to get passengers travelling in second-class compartments to travel in the first class. It has also proposed reducing the maximum fare for suburban tickets from Rs35 to Rs25.

Gaurang Damani, member of Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee (DRUCC), Central Railway (CR), said, Railways is the cheapest and fastest mode of transport that connects the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The current fare of Rs5 for minimum distance is low and so, some rationalisation in fare was overdue. However, the rationalisation in fare should come with proportionate improved quality in suburban train services.

Kailash Gupta, member, Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), Western Railway (WR), said, The railways should work on increasing their non-fare box revenue instead of burdening commuters. Besides, this proposed restructuring should be debated upon in public domain.

Also Read

First-class tickets on Mumbais suburban rail could get cheaper

In Mumbai: Demand grows for trains to Kalyan and beyond

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You do not vote because you dont know your ward? You dont know the polling nearby stations? You dont know if you are registered as a voter? Your excuses are not likely to work for the upcoming municipal elections.

For the first time, the state election commission, along with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), is creating a mobile application which voters can use before the 2017 polls. The application,True Voter, will help citizens find their electoral wards, polling booths and voter ID numbers.

While the application is available for android phone users , the civic body is in the process of integrating the data, officials said. The application can be used by the first week of February, said a senior civic official. The elections are likely to be held in the second week of February.

The BMC undertook the delimitation process during which boundaries of 90% of the existing 227 electoral wards were changed. In such a scenario, when citizens are unsure of their wards, the application will be of benefit, officials said.

A geographical information system (GIS) mapping individual houses surveyed by BMC will also be integrated in the application. The peripheral buildings of the boundaries have been marked which will be integrated with the application for citizens to find their voting booths. The civic body recently undertook the mammoth task of surveying the registered voters in the city. The surveys aim was also to bifurcate the electoral rolls.

As per the survey, Mumbai has 87 lakh registered voters in the city. During the BMCs voter awareness campaign, another 3 lakh new voters were added to the list. The survey was also taken as a precaution against allegations of bogus voters and duplications.

According to officials, BMC will be deploying more than 50,000 administrative officials on election duty. As per directives from the election commission, the civic body is also expected to complete the entire process of elections by March 8, 2017.

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As you get ready to party this weekend, the Mumbai police is gearing up to keep the city safe on New Years Eve. The focus, womens safety; the method, special squads and more checks.

Officials said the western and northern suburbs that have several party venues, the citys beaches and five-star hotels will be where the crowd goes  and where police presence will be stepped up.

The main concern, said officials in the know, is the safety of women. Every year, cases of women being attacked and harassed in large crowds have been reported, they said. Officials in the west and north region said the plan is to send women squads to monitor the stretch between Bandra and Dahisar.

Personnel will watch parking lots of five-star hotels carefully, as women have been targeted there in the past .

Sources said the police have asked the civic body not to switch off street lights on December 31 as a safety measure, especially on beaches like Gorai, Aksa and Juhu, and on seafronts Bandstand and Carter Road.

Apart from the bandobast, authorities plan to post officials in plain clothes. Plain-clothed police personnel will be posted and anti eve-teasing squads have been formed to keep a watch on harassers. We will have strong police presence on beaches like Gorai and Aksa as they see large crowds, said Vikram Deshmane, deputy commissioner of police, zone XI.

Apart from womens security, the police bandobast will also be watching revelers from an anti-terror point of view, said senior inspector Ramchandra Jadhav of the Khar police station. He said the police would keep a tab on all activities to ensure law and order is maintained and celebrations dont get out of hand.

Senior police inspector Sunil Ghosalkar of Juhu Police station said they would be placing security outside residences of celebrities as well and conduct a review of the area.

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A day after 32 kg of gold jewellery worth Rs 9 crore was stolen from a Manappuram Finance branch in Ulhasnagar, customers have gathered at the office to ask compensation for looted jewellery

We have started collecting their names and other details to cross check it with our records. This procedure will continue. The company is deciding on how to help the customers recover the gold they have deposited with us, said Arvind Dinkar, Area manager of Ulhassnagar, branch. The branch has 965 customers.

One of the customers who approached the branch, Vikas Bansode, 25, said The branch staffs asked me to produce the receipt as a proof of the gold jewellery which I had deposited branch 2 years back. They have asked me to wait for another 15 days. They will either return cash or gold worth the jewellery.

Meanwhile, the police have sent teams to Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Rajasthan to nab the thieves.

Our teams have been sent to several places and they are constantly in touch with us, said Surendra Shirsat, Senior Police Inspector, Vitthalwadi police station.

According to police officers, the incident took place at around 2am on Monday and the branch does not have a security guard during night. The branch has a security guard for daytime while they dont have a guard during night hours. The societys watchman is the only one on duty during night hours, added Shirsat.

According to the police, the thieves broke into the branch at Shankar Krupa palace in Lal chakki, Ulhasnagar, Camp 4 by using a gas cutter. It is suspected that the societys watchman along with other 3-4 is involved in this theft as the guard had gone missing since after the incident.

The security guard is appointed by our head office through an agency. We do not have a specific guard to look after the branch during night hours, informed Dinkar.

The incident came to the limelight after a staff opened the branch office on Monday morning and found all the jewellery missing and a three-foot deep hole on the wall.

During investigation, the police also found that the CCTV camera had been disconnected by the thieves. The footage which was recovered from the CCTV by the police shows two masked men disconnecting the device.

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The Kharghar police on Monday arrested Pravin Nikam, the husband of the owner of a playschool in Kharghar, where a nine-month-old girl was brutally assaulted by a domestic help on November 21.

Nikam, 39, was on the run since the incident came to light. The police have booked him for attempt to murder.

The police also took Priyanka Nikam, 34, the owner of the centre, in custody on Monday. Priyanka surrendered before the police on December 16, a day after the Bombay high court rejected her anticipatory bail plea. The court had then remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days.

Dilip Kale, senior police inspector of Kharghar police station, said, We requested the court to cancel her custody and to remand her in police custody, so we could interrogate her. The court on Monday cancelled her judicial custody. Her husband was also produced before the court and both of them have been remanded in police custody for two days.

He said, Even as Priyanka was running the daycare centre, Pravin was its chairman. He is also responsible for what happened inside the centre. He has been booked under sections 307, 325 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and the relevant sections of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

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On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign for the civic polls by announcing the start of work on a clutch of infrastructure projects for Mumbai. The elections to ten civic bodies including Mumbai and district councils (Zilla Parishads) are likely to be declared in less than a fortnight. However, the highlight is going to be the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that governs Indias financial capital. With its annual budget of more than Rs30,000 crore, managing the BMC is like managing a small state. It has been the source of power and strength of Shiv Sena for more than two decades, but after winning more assembly seats (16) than the Sena (15) in Mumbai, the BJP has made it clear that it wants to rule the Mumbai civic body.

By now we know that the BJP prepares for an election in a much more systematic way that its rivals. The party has already set up a war-room, got some surveys done and giving finishing touches to its strategy for the civic polls. With PM Modi laying foundation stones for big-ticket projects such as two new metro lines, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Sewree-Nhava sealink), and the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3 to improve railway infrastructure, the Devendra Fadnavis-led team of the BJP is now all set to show how their party is best-placed to govern Mumbai. The common man cant be faulted if he is impressed. He has been hearing of these projects for a long time, but now there is some visible development. This is where the BJP scores over its rivals, especially the Congress.

Most of the infrastructure projects launched on Saturday were on the table for a long time. But the Congress-NCP government did not realise the need to start work on them on an urgent basis. In some cases, even if it pushed for their implementation, the Congress-led government at the Centre was non-cooperative and did not give the necessary clearances for a long time. Fadnavis and his team made it a point to get the approvals as early as they could and launched them before the elections. Now the BJPs campaign machinery will use the same to its advantage. The Congress and the NCP are arguing that these are old projects and nothing is likely to happen on the ground in a short period. However, will they win against the BJP in a battle of perceptions? One really doubts it. The BJP communicates its decisions much better than its rivals.

While trying to own the development plank (which was for long the Congress copyright), the BJP is also attempting to disown its joint rule with the Shiv Sena in the city for the past two decades. For more than a year, the city BJP leaders have been publicly holding the Sena responsible for the drawbacks (and there are many) in civic governance. Their allegations against the Sena got some seriousness when investigations were ordered into alleged irregularities in roads and stormwater drains desilting work. The Sena leadership will have to find ways to shrug off the dirt thrown at it. As of now, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party is trying to strengthen its position at the grassroot level. The civic body elections are also about local connections and at many places, citizens vote for candidates who are good in their work and have maintained a rapport with them. On this front, the Sena has a better network in areas under its influence and the BJP will have to try hard to break into those areas.

As long as the Congress is concerned, it cannot shrug off responsibility for the state of affairs in Mumbai. For a long time, the party ignored Mumbai though it ran the state government. Its government launched the Mumbai makeover project to rebuild the citys crumbling infrastructure in the early 2000s. In 15 years, it could build just one metro line, a monorail, which very few people use, a few roads and some development of railway infrastructure. However, it failed in building a good network of mass transport that could ease congestion on suburban trains or a link to the mainland (MTHL), which could decongest Mumbai and encourage commercial growth in Raigad-Navi Mumbai. Again, thanks to non-cooperation from the Centre, Mumbais second airport did not take off. This is why the Congress-NCP may find difficult to convince voters they are a better choice than the BJP.

Still, things may change once the bugle is sounded in early January. It depends on how the parties pitch themselves and corner the opponents. The battle of perceptions that began in 2014 is far from over.

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This New Years Eve, dont drink and drive. No, really do not drink and drive, because theres no escaping the cops or bribing your way out.

Armed with a fresh stock of digital breath analysers, Mumbais traffic cops will fan out across the city on the night of December 31 in a campaign against drink driving. The hi-tech breathalysers will not only digitally analyse breath, but also send the results to a server with a photograph of the motorist.

Its a foolproof trap.

Milind Bharambe, the joint commissioner of police, traffic, told HT the 56 digital breath analyser kits were procured by the department earlier this month and will be put to use for the first time on New Years eve. For the first time in the country, electronic breath analysers will be used. These kits are not only an upgrade over the traditional analog analysers, but are also completely tamper-proof.

Bharambe also said apart from being highly accurate, the new breath analysers will rule out any chance of malpractice by constables trying to cash in on the rush during the celebrations.

The recent increase of the fine for drink driving and other traffic offences has raised fears of a corresponding rise in corruption by traffic policemen. As the new analysers are fitted with cameras, the photograph and alcohol level of the motorist will be uploaded in the server seconds after a motorist blows into it. The motorist can try to bribe his way out, but it will be futile, he said.

Mumbai has 34 traffic zones, and each zone has been given two breathalysers. We distributed them based on the profile of the areas places where drink driving cases were reported more frequently are better equipped. Efforts are on to provide the remaining nine zones with modified analysers too, Bharambe said.

Over the years, the Mumbai polices anti-drink driving campaigns on New Years Eve have borne mixed results as seen in the number of drivers caught. In 2011, 739 drivers were caught; the number fell to 523 in 2014, but rose again to 705 in 2015.

With the new system, there will always be a record and photograph of offenders, which would help identify frequent offenders. For second-time offenders, the fine amount of Rs2,500 will be doubled. However, for those repeating the offence for the third time, we will be writing to the RTO for cancellation of their licenses, said Bharambe.

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Following directives issued by the special CBI court, Indrani Mukerjea, prime accuse in the Sheena Bora murder case, was out of jail for one day to perform last rites on her father who died on December 16 in Guwahati.

Superintendent of Byculla womens jail Chandramani Indulkar confirmed that Indrani was taken out of jail at 7.30am on Tuesday. The rituals were performed in police presence at Brahman Seva Samiti hall in Mulund.

The court allowed Indrani to perform the rituals from morning till evening and allowed to choose a place of her choice for the same. The court , however, restrained her from speaking to media or any other person. It has also laid down a condition that she would not engage in any activities that would hamper the case.

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The Shiv Sena has accused the civic administration of deliberately placing several proposals for discussion at the standing committee meeting ahead of the civic polls. HT had reported on Monday that after 70 proposals worth Rs1,000 crore were approved within 40 minutes last week without much discussion, 63 proposals worth Rs1,013 crore will be tabled before the standing committee on Wednesday.

Standing committee chairman and senior Shiv Sena corporator in the BMC, Yashodhar Phanse said it was the administrations duty to put forth the proposals for discussions. Besides, no questions were raised during these meetings even though every political party leader is allowed to discuss the proposal and so, Sena corporators should not be blamed.

Phanse said, It is not true that we have placed the proposals before the standing committee because the civic elections are around the corner. As and when a proposal is approved by the civic chief, I immediately table it before the committee. In fact, the administration wants to get the proposals approved so that work is not delayed owing to the code of conduct.

According to procedure, after a tender is issued on the civic bodys website, the final bids are opened within three months. A proposal is then made to the civic chief and after his approval, it is forwarded to the BMCs municipal secretary department and then to the standing committee for its nod. Without the committees nod, no major financial work orders can be given out on contract.

Phanse also said that there is no consistency in the proposals tabled before the committee. For instance, final bids on repairing the Shastrinagar nullah at Goregaon were opened in September, but the proposal was tabled in December. Also, in cases such as desilting of major storm water drains before the monsoon, the final bid was opened on December 3 and will be tabled before the committee on Wednesday.

A civic official, however, said, We are getting the projects approved so that the development work is not hampered as during code of conduct, major financial decisions may not be taken by corporators.

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Members of the Shiv Sena put a piece of white cloth over a painting that showed Hindu god Hanuman --- in western attire and sporting gadgets --- inside the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) campus on Monday, alleging it was a mockery of the deity.

The painting, a part of the institutes ongoing annual cultural festival Mood Indigo, was a creative take on the popular image of Lord Hanuman flying with the Gandhamardana Mountain that grew mythical life-saving Bisalyakarani herbs in one hand and his mace in the other.

In the painting, on a wall close to the Student Activity Center (SAC), he was shown holding a pen instead of a mace, his crown was replaced with headphones, an iPod strapped to his arm and a local train was drawn instead of a tail. The painting also depicted him wearing wrist bands, watches and sunglasses and western clothes.

People take selfies in front of the mural, displayed at Mood Indigo, before it was covered by Shiv sainiks claiming indecency. (Prashant Waydande /HT)

Shiv Sainiks said the painting could have led to outrage among people and needed to be removed.

The painting mocked Lord Hanuman who is revered by many. Making him wear sunshades, shorts, shoes and slippers cannot be called art. This is plain mockery of God, which is not acceptable, Sunil Raut, Shiv Sena MLA from Vikhroli, said.

This is a mockery of someones religious beliefs, and could have been picked up by locals as a direct attack against their religion. We wanted to avoid such incidents, Raut added.

He said that the party had informed the Powai Police prior to entering the campus in order to avoid any issues.

Hindustan Timess calls and text messages to IIT-B officials, as well as representatives of Mood-I, went unanswered till the time of going to press.

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After announcing a slew of schemes and initiatives to woo the Maratha community, the state cabinet on Tuesday announced constituting a separate department for the welfare of the restless Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. The department will open officially on April 1, 2017, once the budgetary allocation of about Rs2,000 crore is made. The government is still undecided on who will hold the charge of the department.

The OBCs, who constitute 52% of the Maharashtra population and enjoy 27% reservation in education and government jobs, have been apprehensive that the Maratha community could be included in their category. The massive silent marches by the Maratha community demanding various thing, chiefly reservation, over the past few months, were followed by rallies by the OBC community. They have been insisting their reservation should not be touched while giving the same to Marathas. The move to create a separate department is seen as the BJP governments way of pacifying any fears they may have. The OBC community includes the Wanjari, Mali, Teli, Dhangar castes, among others. In fact, Kunbi, a sub-caste of Marathas, also gets reservation benefits under the OBC category.

The castes under the OBCs are politically divided, but by and large, they are considered to be as politically influential community as the Marathas.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had promised the OBCs a dedicated department during the budget session of the state legislature earlier this year, said on Tuesday the move will help the government concentrate on issues related to the community. The social justice department is overburdened with various responsibilities, including the responsibility of the Scheduled Castes and the handicapped besides OBCs. We have fulfilled the long-pending demand of the communities, he said.

The OBC community, which enjoys various schemes in terms of scholarships, freeships and hostel facilities for school and college students, have about 24 schemes of the 64 implemented by the social justice department at present. Of the annual budget of Rs12,265 crore, Rs6,725 crore is the outlay of the Scheduled Castes, while the OBCs and VJNTs get about Rs1,900 crore for the welfare schemes. The new department, which is expected to have an outlay of Rs2,000 crore, will have an independent minister and an IAS officer to lead the department. The cabinet has given approval of Rs2.20 crore for recurring and Rs1.50 crore for non-recurring expenses and sanctions to create 51 new posts.

This is not the first time a separate department for the OBCs has been formed. A similar department was created in 1999, but it was shut down in 2001 owing to the overlapping of tasks of the departments dealing with schemes for the SCs and OBCs. The government has claimed that 3.69 crore people in the state belonged to the OBC category, according to the 2011-census. A BJP minister said the decision will help government subside the anger among the OBCs.

We welcome the decision by the state government for implementing 13th recommendation by the Mandal commission. The independent department will help improve the implementation of the schemes meant for the communities. Of the three demands, two have met by the government, we now expect independent census for the community, said Sachin Rajurkar, convenor of the OBC Kriti Samiti.

To pacify the agitating Maratha community the state government announced various educational freeships in education for the economically backward students. It recently submitted an affidavit pushing for the reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs.

It had announced to increase the income limit of creamy layer of the OBCs to Rs6 lakh from Rs4.5 lakh in July this year.

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These days, Kesnand, an otherwise nondescript village on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway, has only one issue to talk about: the Sunburn festival. And the subject seems to have divided the village, with a population of 5,000, and ministers alike.

The festival , which will be held in the village on Wednesday, has created schism among its residents, with youngsters and those having businesses, who tend to benefit from the event, supporting it, while others, mostly village elderly, against it.

Reacting to the opposition to the festival, senior member in the state cabinet Girish Bapat, who is also the guardian minister of Pune district, said he personally does not approve of such events.

I dont like such festivals. If there is anything against the culture, action will be taken, said Bapat, contradicting the views of his cabinet colleague and state tourism minister Jaykumar Rawal, who played key role in bringing the festival to Pune to boost state tourism.

On Monda, Kesnand Gram Panchayat conveyed a special gramsabha (village meeting) to discuss whether permission should be granted to the popular electronic dance and music event or not. However, the two-hour-long meeting, which was on occasions interrupted with heated arguments from both sides, ended without any conclusion.

The festival will be held on a 90-acre private plot from December 28 to 31. Organisers expect more than 60,000 people from different parts of India to attend the event, which is in its 10th year and has been facing opposition from various outfits.

Following a heated argument, deputy sarpanch Hiraman Hargude announced that Panchayat will not support the event nor will it issue any letter of support.

Many villagers feel that festival offers free ground for illicit activities and therefore, should not be allowed to take place in the village. On the other hand, a section of villagers feel festival will bring development to the village especially after an offer made by event organisers about laying water pipeline to provide 24x7 water supply, said Hargude.

Tanaji Bangar, who wants the festival to be held in the village said, There is nothing wrong in allowing the festival at Kesnand village if its going to benefit us. In case if we discover any illegal activities such as consumption of drugs, we should stop them immediately.

The festival is also facing objections from rightwing organisations such as Shiv Sena, Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janjagriti Samiti (HJS), alleging that festival organisers have violated various rules and have not taken relevant permissions. These outfits have alleged that people participating in the Sunburn freely consume drugs, the reason why they were ousted from Goa.

The organisers of the event, however, have refuted all the allegations saying, no illegal activities have taken place in the past. To boost tourism in the state, the festival has got support from the state tourism ministry. According to Rawal, government has offered non-financial support to the event in order to attract tourism in the state.

Karan Singh, Sunburn CEO, said, With Sunburn moving to Pune, the festival will become more affordable and accessible for our audiences.

Event highlights

Venue: The venue is a privately owned 90-acre land at Kesnand, around 30-minute ride from the main city, tucked away on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway. It is on a hilltop overlooking Pune city

First-timers: International artists/DJs who will be performing for the very first time at Sunburn Festival - Angerfist, Miss K8; Monstercat artists  Puppet, Haywyre and Pegboard Nerds, Raiden, Christian Smith, Yotto, Lily Palmer, Kryder, Salvatore Gannaci, Lny Tnz, Broz Rdz, Momis Alanis, Makasi, Karmatek, Robert Falcon, Ajja, Axwell Ingrosso.

Artists: Home-grown artists/DJs who will be performing for the very first time at Sunburn are Zaeden, Siana Catherine, Shivv, The Unknown, Teri Miko, Nina x Malika, Aztec, Akade, Lost Stories, Paratra, Olly Esse, 18 East.

Music: The organisers expect 150 artists including global top grossers like Axwell Ingrosso, Armin van Buuren, Dimitri Vegas Like Mike, KSHMR, Afrojack and Krewella, Bass Jackers, Marnik, Tom Swoon, Haywyre, Dannic, Pegboard Nerds, Christian Smith, Lucas and Steve and homegrown artists like Nucleya, Arjun Vagale, Shaan, Zaeden, Anish Sood, DJ SA, Sound Avatar, Joshi, Priyanjana and many more.

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Years ago when Chhagan Bhujbal had quit after 25 years in the Shiv Sena and joined the Congress, he spoke to me of his frustration that few true-blue Congressmen act or agitate on the streets.

They are so used to power and their soft seats in air-conditioned rooms that they just cant take the sun and the heat. Shiv Sainiks, on the other hand, are street fighters. They have taken a lot of lathis from the police and even gone to jail, coming out stronger after each such episode.

Bhujbal, then, emerged as the lone voice in the Congress who, deprived of his street fighters, used his considerable oratory to drive the then Shiv Sena-BJP government up the wall. His relentless provocation and ridicule of Bal Thackeray riled the Sena tiger enough to launch an attack on him but the Congress ultimately succeeded in bringing the Shiv Sena down due to these efforts.

Now I am hearing similar complaints from a host of new, young Congressmen, and some old timers, who are getting very critical of their senior party leaders for being soft on the government, both in Maharashtra and at the Centre. They have begun to develop a restlessness that seems to have not escaped the attention of some of their party leaders.

So it is notable that there is a new aggression growing in the Congress, and that polite but tough messages are filtering downwards right from the top. When Rahul Gandhi was detained thrice in the span of 48 hours by New Delhi police for speaking up for the family of a soldier who had committed suicide for not being able to get his pension dues a couple of months ago, I heard whispers among a section of Congressmen in Bombay that the party should not have allowed the government to get away with something as brazen as arresting an opposition leader for a democratic protest.

Can you imagine what would have happened to Mumbai if a Congress government had similarly arrested Uddhav Thackeray? Uddhav may not be his father but still Shiv Sainiks would have set Mumbai on fire. Why cant we do the same?

The Congress clearly cant because, as former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan once told me, they were simply not brought up, politically or culturally, to be rude, abusive, aggressive or downright obscene against their political rivals as some other political parties or leaders are.

But with Gandhi showing the way  he has taken on Narendra Modi in no uncertain terms, yet stopped his supporters in Uttar Pradesh from shouting slogans of `Modi Murdabad, saying they can defeat the Prime Minister politically without getting personal  I suddenly see a sea change in the attitudes of Congressmen.

In a combined attack  through mere statements, polite yet firm -- leaders of the party compelled Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to acknowledge that the Shivaji memorial in the sea was thought up by a Congress government. But what was more remarkable was that Fadnavis lost his nerve enough to order the house arrest of city Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on the day of the bhoomipoojan for the memorial. Nirupam had planned black flag demonstrations against demonetisation on Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the city on Saturday  in the hype over that event, that demo might have quite escaped attention. However, placing him under house arrest had the opposite effect.

But while the unusual action made national headlines, I was more interested to observe that four or five Congressmen got on to the streets to burn some tyres in protest against Nirupams house arrest  which was more than any Congressman was willing to do for Gandhi in New Delhi.

So where had that bravado come from? A closer look led me to a startling discovery  those Congressmen had recently migrated from Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to join the Congress whose sudden agitational politics is beginning to appeal to their political aesthetics. These tyre- burning boys were even willing to get arrested but so unexpected was such action from the Congress Party that they quite escaped the notice of the cops who were busy with other duties.

But despite their comic disappointment at non- arrest, it is worth noting that the Congress suddenly should be an option at all for the traditionally agitational kind of political worker  the new blood is obviously energising the Congress enough to unnerve the ruling dispensation into making silly errors of judgment, thereby giving the Congress much political mileage. Leaving even its own old guard much bemused.

Read more: A quiet requital for a sacrifice gone waste

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The first attempt to iron out errors in hall tickets  the most important documents for candidates appearing for the upcoming Maharashtra state board exams  has backfired. Schools fear this will lead to errors in students hall tickets once again.

For the first time, the board released exam prelists documents containing student details  for Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams online this year, with a view to make it easy for schools to double check student information to be printed on the hall tickets. But schools complained they are unable to rectify the errors because the website is slow. Hall tickets contain the students name, date of birth, photograph, chosen subjects, medium of instruction for the exam. This year, students birthplace and Aadhaar number will be printed on it for the first time.

According to board officials, the website servers crashed, unable to support the heavy traffic. This has forced the board to go back to rectifying mistakes offline, defeating the purpose of going digital. Schools have now been asked to take a printout of the prelists, make corrections offline and submit them to the board officials, who will enter the changes into the system. Many of the schools couldnt make online corrections to the list as the server was down, said Siddeshwar Chandekar, secretary of the Mumbai division of the board.

But principals are worried returning to the old system will lead to error-ridden hall-tickets. Even if we send the corrected prelists to the board, often the officials make mistakes while entering the data manually into the system, said Meenakshi Walke, principal, Indian Education Societys Secondary School, Bhandup.

In 2014, the board was blamed for multiple mistakes, ranging from misspelt names, wrong subjects, medium of instruction and in some cases, even photographs. Such serious slip-ups can prevent the candidate from writing the exam unless it is rectified in advance.

Teachers suggested starting the exam registrations early next year to prevent such confusion. If the registrations are completed by November, schools will get a whole month to double check student information before it is printed on the hall tickets, said Prashant Redij, headmaster, Hilda Castilino School, Kandivli and spokesperson of the Mumbai School Principals Association.

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Maharashtra government for planning to spend more than Rs3,600 crore to build Chhatrapati Shivaji memorial off Mumbais coast.

He said the government should instead restore Shivajis forts across Maharashtra, most of which are in a dilapidated condition. Forts are memorials of Shivaji. The government should spend money on restoring them instead of building a statue,Thackeray said in Nashik on Monday.

This is not the first time Raj Thackeray has opposed the project. Even during the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party regime, he had opposed the plan when the then government had announced it. Thackeray had then raised the issue of damage to the ecology as well.

What will we achieve by just putting up statues, when we already have so many of them? Now the state government is spending crores on the memorial of Shivaji Maharaj, but issues pertaining to the forts built by him are yet to be resolved, he added.

Maharashtra has more than 300 forts, including those built by the Maratha warrior king Shivaji. Except a few, most are in a bad shape. Citizens groups have been demanding that prominent forts should be restored,as it will boost tourism. However, successive governments have been citing shortage of funds to restore these forts.

Thackerays cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray too on Saturday demanded that the forts built by Shivaji be handed over to state government from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which is responsible for conservation and preservation of ancient monuments and archaeological sites.

Also read

Shivaji memorial in Mumbai will pollute sea and damage coast, say experts

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Less than 24 hours after students of Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE) in Churchgate sought donations to rebuild their library, the institutes alumni pumped in Rs20 lakhs.

Many corporate houses, that the institute approached, have also promised help.

A fire gutted the library on Sunday morning .

A link for whoever wants to donate money for the library was put up on our website at 10:30pm on Monday. By Tuesday afternoon, close to Rs20 lakh was donated. The response has been very encouraging, said Prathik Shetty, joint chairperson of Sydenham Management Association (SMA). He added that on Tuesday, many ex-students also visited the campus to look at the extent of the damage. Many students are also trying to talk to corporate houses to raise more funds, he added.

A fire, allegedly caused by a short circuit, gutted the library. Only around 3,000 of almost 16,000 books could be saved. The furniture, as well as computers in the library were charred. For the time being, the seminar hall of the institute has been converted into a makeshift library and students and staff pooled in books to the institute. Students have also made a list of books that are needed urgently for the upcoming exams in 2017.

The kind of response we got from our ex students is overwhelming. It looks like we will be able to overcome the crisis faster than we had estimated, said Manoj Bhide, director (in-charge) of SIMSREE. He added that the institute is also planning to stick to their original schedule for an international conference that it is to host in the first week of January. The conference will take place as per its original schedule, he added.

Lectures resumed at the institute on Tuesday with almost 80% attendance for the afternoon session. Since electricity was restored on Monday evening, we decided to start lectures on Tuesday. Students were happy to be back, added Bhide. The college will now break for vacations and resume classes on January 2, next year.

READ

Fire destroys Sydenham management institute library in Mumbai

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The president and vice-president of River Heights apartment owners association (RH-AOA) at Raj Nagar Extension were arrested and sent to jail on Monday for announcing RWA elections despite being barred by the authorities from doing so.

The duo was released on bail from Dasna jail on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said that they booked RH-AOA president Pramod Dhanked and vice-president Dr Sanjay Sharma on the apprehension of breach of peace under sections of Criminal Procedure Code. They said the members were not permitted to hold elections due to Section 144 of CrPC promulgated by the district magistrate from December 25 to February 15.

Agitated residents gathered at the district magistrates office on Tuesday and raised slogans against the officials and the hasty action taken by the police. The highrise is located at Raj Nagar Extension and has nearly 760 flats.

The term of the office bearers expired on September 27 (September 28, 2014 to September 27, 2016) and the elections for the next body were to be held before September 27.

We had only announced holding elections on December 25 as there was no stay on elections. We were not aware of Section 144 in the district from December 25 to February 15. Police, on December 24, said that the election cannot be held as prohibitory orders were in force in the district from December 25, Dhanked said after he was released from Dasna jail.

We gave them a written statement that elections will not be conducted. We had started the process of elections before our term expired and it was also in the knowledge of the deputy registrar of societies in Meerut. He had also called us for an explanation on the issue by January 5, 2017, he said.

He said that despite the matter being settled, the local police post in-charge called the two of them on December 26 and took them to the Sihani Gate police station.

We were thrashed by the police and bundled inside a lockup without an explanation. We were sent for medical examination and later produced before the city magistrate. Our members were ready with bail documents but our plea was not heard and we ended up in jail, he said.

Subodh Tyagi, a resident of River Heights, had earlier approached the deputy registrar of societies against the AOA and the registrar, in turn, had sent a letter seeking an explanation. The letter also timebarred the AOA.

The AOA had announced elections even after the expiry of its term and we complained to the registrar in Meerut. However, there was neither an altercation nor a fight before the two members were arrested. They had some argument with the police, Tyagi said.

On the other hand, the police said that the members of the AOA had an obligation to conduct elections before the expiry of its term and also said that their permission was not taken for holding the elections.

Prohibitory orders were already in place from December 25. They had furnished bonds earlier as well but went ahead with their plans and so, they lost the right to get bail. Our action was directed to maintain peace. We had to depute in-charges of five neighbouring police posts to prevent a breach of peace, Avnish Dixit, station house officer, Sihani Gate police station, said.

The district magistrate (DM) Nidhi Kesarwani said that the two persons could not present their bail documents on Monday.

They could not present sureties for the bond on Monday and submitted it today (on Tuesday). Earlier, we received a police report that it was a controversial issue and had been pending for long. The matter is subjudice and being heard at the court of subdivisional magistrate, the DM said.

A complaint was given to registrars office and it was instructed that no elections could be held. Instead of giving their explanation (to the registrar) over the complaint, they were trying to hold elections, the DM added.

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Politics is the art of the possible, of creating opportunity out of adversity. A recent example of it is Bihar where arch rivals got together to stall a bigger adversary. That couldnt have happened without Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadavs political pragmatism. Their alliance is a model. It might not be achievable everywhere. But its surely worth a try and could materialise nationally if not in states where non-BJP entities are locked in turf wars.

So whys the Congress that could set up a government in 2004 with the Lefts support, despite their historical rivalry in Kerala, not able to become the catalyst for a broader anti-BJP front? There are issues aplenty to make the experiment succeed. Yet its elusive!

Read: Oppn split again: JD(U), CPM decide to skip Congs show of strength

The failure cannot be attributed to the partys lack of experience in collective politics. It ran a coalition regime at the Centre for a decade even after the Left pulled out midway through the UPAs first term. Power sharing arrangements and political fronts grow in the kind of political climate that exists today. They simply need deft political management. Unilateralism and the tendency to offer a fait accompli to others is a sure recipe for losing allies.

Now that the Congress seems to have made demonetisation the issue it plans to run with for some time to come, it could have brought to bear some of its once famed skills at political management. More meetings and discussions could have taken place to iron out the differences among parties, highlight points of commonality and work out a suitable time to ensure maximum attendance. The issues being raised are those that every party feels strongly about, that the demonetisation move could have been better planned and implemented. If Mamata Bannerjee, never an easy leader to deal with, could have been persuaded, then surely a little more effort could have been made with the others, especially those who are absolutely on the same page as the Congress.

Read: Sonia rallying Opposition parties for another round of attack on Modi

The latest moves are in sharp contrast to the march Sonia Gandhi led to the Presidents House against the NDAs version of the land acquisition law in 2015. At that time, nearly a hundred MPs from over two dozen parties had joined the Congress president.

The latest Congress failure to bring non-BJP formations together against demonetisation is a repeat faux pas. In seeking to become the kernel of an anti-NDA front, the party needs to reach out rather than expecting others to queue up on its call. It must remember that there are other, equally formidable contenders for the Opposition spaceand leadership.
As I was bouncing along what passes for a highway from Cochin to my home near Thiruvalla recently, I noticed long snaking queues by the roadsides. Unable to resist the journalistic urge to pontificate, I launched into a, in hindsight, foolish peroration about how demonetisation had left no part of India untouched. Look at these hapless people waiting patiently in such an orderly manner to get at their own money, I ranted. After I had subsided somewhat, the driver laconically told me that these were not queues for ATMs but to buy liquor. He went on to add that the exemplary behaviour ended once the quiet man (always a man) in the queue got his hands on a bottle of the good stuff.

Read: VS still a crowdpuller in Kerala, is next CM for Malampuzha voters

Clearly, former chief minister Oommen Chandys dream of a liquor-less state is fading faster than the bottles flying off the shelves. The CPI(M) is not all that enamoured of the huge excise revenue from liquor going to neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu where Malayalis flock to buy their daily fix. But the problems that have come with prohibition are far more serious. The economic effect has been worrying well before the ham-handed demonetisation drive made things worse. The new government is clearly itching to roll back this silly partial prohibition but such is our hypocrisy that even the diehard Malayali booze hound will not publicly say that he is against it. So, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will undo it but slowly and imperceptibly if such a thing is possible in politics today.

Read: Very strong: Achuthanandan, Keralas Left lion, keeps going at 93

I never thought I would say this, but the CPI(M) under the new chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is really trying to set things right in a state hurt by chronic unemployment and crippling labour problems. I noticed that there were almost no power cuts in the state now, as opposed to the lengthy ones last year. Ah but that is because the Left unions have fallen in place and are not creating trouble now that their government is in power, said my father whose grouses about power cuts reach me whichever part of the world I am in.

Read: Corruption, rape, anti-incumbency: What may have undone Cong in Kerala

But he left out an important factor. The CPI(M) has been in power in Kerala before with nothing much to show for it. Former chief minister and Communist colossus VS Achuthanandan has near cult status in the state, but administrator he was not. The new chief minister is not a cuddly likeable person like the wisecracking Achuthanandan, even the amiable party general secretary Sitaram Yechury does not enjoy a great comfort level with him. But Vijayan is not hidebound by outdated Marxist shibboleths when it comes to business. He has actively encouraged business while mouthing the usual platitudes about the evils of capitalism.

Across the state posters of a moth-eaten Fidel Castro in the sunset years of his life and a forever young Che vie for place with that other evergreen icon of Kerala, superstar Mohanlal whose swarthy visage sells everything from umbrellas to Malabar gold jewelry. Here and there, Amit Shah and local BJP leaders peep out from small hoardings near paddy fields and duck ponds, a curious melange if there ever was one. The BJP clearly has a long way to go here.

Vijayan has realised that without the huge waterfall of revenue from liquor excise, he cannot fulfil all the social welfare plans that the state is so famous for. The tourists have begun giving the state a miss without the easy availability of a nice evening drink unless you happen to be staying in a five-star hotel. Vijayan wants the state to become the IT capital of India, not such a pipedream when you think of its fully literate populace which is wasting away for want of jobs. But prohibition and the lack of life after hours are among factors which make Kerala unattractive.

The church, a powerful factor in Kerala politics, a variety of social workers and hypocritical politicians all feel that liquor is the bane of Kerala and once it is eradicated, all will fall in place. To Vijayans credit, he sees unemployment as a major factor not just for alcoholism but for domestic disharmony  Kerala has among the highest incidence of wife-battering. In fact, partial prohibition took away jobs in the liquor industry and drove the trade underground risking the health of drinkers.

It helps that that the CPI(M) has a finger in every business pie in the state, it runs TV channels, it controls a sizeable portion of the hospitality industry and it dabbles in healthcare and education. Wherever you are and whatever you do in Kerala, the comrades are never far from you. The government has now realised that the small, ecologically fragile state cannot go in for mass industrialisation but it cannot afford to grow as it is at present.

Read: VS Achuthanandan to be appointed as chief of administrative reforms panel

So the Haritha Kerala, or green Kerala initiative is being implemented to deal with pollution, solid waste management, tree planting and reviving water bodies. Significantly, religious organisations have also pitched in. The CPM has the advantage in that it has a disciplined cadre  when it wants to be or when a diktat goes out from the leader  to implement such drives unlike the unwieldy Swacch Bharat one elsewhere. The rank and file is in awe of the saturnine Vijayan who is not known to brook any opposition.

He still has the furious blowback of the Lavalin corruption scam nipping at his heels. He cannot still be sanguine that VS Achuthanandan will not stir up trouble for him. He has to handle the fallout of the demonetisation move. But on the whole, he has moved the party into a different space, shaken off its sloth and its anti-business image. Even with partial prohibition, two cheers to that.

The author tweets as @lalitapanicker

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Whether rubbing shoulders with the locals, admiring landscapes or packing in exciting excursions, vacations and the lasting memories they create are shaped by experiences. Heres a look at some of the countries on Lonely Planets Best in Travel 2017 list where travellers can expect an authentic travel experience.

Mongolia

> Celebrate the Mongolian New Year with the locals

An authentic encounter in Mongolia. (Istock)

Travellers heading to Mongolia will no doubt be in search of authenticity. Try visiting around the time of the Mongolian New Year, or Tsagaan Sar, a three-day festival in January or February (depending on the lunar calendar).

Its the perfect time to experience life with a Mongolian family as they exchange gifts, enjoy culinary specialties such as meat-filled dumplings, and take part in traditional celebrations. On the morning of Tsagaan Sar, a cup of tea with milk is traditionally offered to the gods by throwing it out of the window.

Oman

> Marine life in the south of the Sultanate

Check out the turtles in Oman. (Istock)

The Middle East is a promising region for tourism in the future. For a memorable experience, head to the south of the Sultanate, to the Arabian Sea, which is home to whales.

Boat trips are organized from the fishing villages of Sadah, Mirbat and Hasik. The luckiest visitors will be able to spot dolphins from the beach or see turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.

Myanmar (Burma)

> Check out one-legged paddling on Inle Lake

One-legged paddling on Inle Lake, Burma. (Istock)

In the east of the country, the Tibeto-Burman Intha people intrigue travellers when they head out fishing on Inle Lake. The fishermen paddle their boats in a surprising way, using one leg to control their oar. This gives them the freedom to seize their cone-shaped nets and gather fish from the depths of the lakes waters.

Ethiopia

> Bargain hunting at Bahir Dar market

At Bahir Dar market, Ethiopia. (Istock)

Travellers can experience Ethiopia, flying the flag for Africas future in tourism, at the colourful market of Bahir Dar, on the southern shore of Lake Tana. Its a great way to catch a glimpse of the everyday life and traditions of authentic Ethiopia.

Due to recent unrest in the Oromo and Amhara regions, the US State Department has issued a travel warning for Ethiopia. Be sure to check government advice before travelling.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more
A day after Salman Khan spread cheer inside the Bigg Boss 10 house by doing away with the dreaded weekend evictions, it was a rather quiet Monday for the surviving contestants of the reality show. On last nights episode, Manveer Gujjar gifted an empty box to Om Swamiji for his birthday and told Bani that she is yet to show her real self to the world.

Here are the highlights from last nights episode:

Manu and Manveer call Swamiji an innocent kid



Manveer and Manu make fun of Swamiji and also add that he is innocent. (Colors)

Manveer Gujjar gifted an empty box to Swamiji, calling it his birthday gift. After the latter accepted the gift, Manu Punjabi and Manveer were seen discussing Swamiji among themselves: They call him innocent, but weird. Manu said he would have been the second Jagga had he not been innocent.

Swamiji and his love



Monalisa smiles when Swamiji tells her that he wants love. (Colors)

Swamijis melodrama continued even on Mondays episode: He started crying when Monalisa allowed him to touch her head for some time. He said he always wanted love but never got it. He then told her that Mona was the only person inside the house who has allowed him to touch her head.

Manveer tells Bani that Bigg Boss 10 wont let people discover her



Manveer told Bani that she spends most of her time with Gaurav and she agrees. (Colors)

Manveer told Bani that she is restricting herself, hence people will not get to know the real Bani through Bigg Boss 10. They get into a heated discussion where Bani said she is behaving like herself. Manveer said she spends her day simply eating, sleeping and with Gaurav.

These are our picks from last night, share yours @htshowbiz
Thirty people, most of them Christians, died and 60 more fell sick after drinking moonshine served at a Christmas party near Toba Tek Singh in Pakistans Punjab province, officials said on Tuesday.

Dozens of people attended the party in Mubarakabad area on Saturday, when guests drank illegally brewed tainted alcohol after a Christmas cake was cut. Soon after, many people started vomiting and were rushed to the nearby district headquarters hospital. Doctors pronounced at least seven men dead on arrival.

Some people in a serious condition were shifted to a hospital in Faisalabad, where several more died. About 20 people were admitted to different hospitals in Toba Tek Singh and officials said six were in a critical condition.

Many of the dead were related to each other. At least two Muslims were among the dead, a police official said. Police arrested a father-son duo for brewing the tainted liquor and authorities formed a committee to probe the incident.

Police officials said most Christian communities brew their own alcohol in the absence of cheap alternatives and, in some instances, the liquor becomes toxic.

Alcohol was prohibited in Muslim-majority Pakistan in 1977, but laws allow non-Muslims to purchase liquor from licensed shops.

In March, 45 people, including 35 Hindus, died after drinking tainted alcohol during Holi celebrations in Sindh province.

(With inputs from agencies)
At least 28 Houthi insurgents and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed on Tuesday in the southern province of Shabwa as government forces pushed to capture a rebel enclave, military officials said.

The fighting flared when forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi attacked rebels in Bayhan district, on the border between Shabwa and Marib provinces.

Bayhan is the only part of Shabwa province still controlled by the Iran-backed rebels after government forces supported by the Saudi-led Arab coalition last year expelled them from five southern provinces.

The death toll of the Houthis has reached 28 while 12 soldiers of the legitimate forces were killed, a military official said.

Military officials said government forces backed by coalition warplanes drove the rebels out of several positions in the area, adding that 14 insurgents were also captured.

The Yemen conflict has killed some 7,000 people since the Saudi-led intervention in March 2015, according to the United Nations.

The coalition began the military campaign against the rebels after they closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden, forcing him to flee to Riyadh.

The rebels and allied renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh continue to control the capital Sanaa, which they overran in September 2014, along with several mainly northern regions.
Afghanistans first female pilot Niloofar Rahmani has dismissed reports of her move to seek asylum in the US and reaffirmed her commitment to serve the country.

According to Tolo news, Rahmani in a letter to the Afghan Air Force said she was misunderstood and misquoted by the New York Times.

Reports that Rahmani had applied for asylum in the US sparked anger among people in Afghanistan.

Rahmani, who is a captain in the air force, said the enemies of Afghanistan have always tried to spread propaganda and misconception in the society aimed at misleading the public on the abilities and development of women.

Read | As things are not changing, first Afghan female pilot seeks asylum in US

History proves that the enemies of Afghanistan have been waiting to get a chance to create confusion among the public by speaking out against women... These moves are only aimed at preventing women from being included in the development process in the country, she said.

I was deeply saddened about the misinterpretation of the New York Times article and offer an apology to all my colleagues who had been hurt by the report. I only want a better education so I can serve my country and my oppressed people, particularly my sisters, and make Afghanistan proud, the letter said.

Rahmani was celebrated in the US in 2015 after the US State Department honoured her with its annual Women of Courage Award.

She made headlines in domestic and international media when she completed her training to become Afghanistans first female pilot in 2013 and vowed to serve in the nations air force, in one of the worlds most conservative countries.

Meanwhile, the ministry of defence has accused Rahmani of telling lies to the people.

Those who legitimise the threats in Afghanistan to seek asylum in another country, this approach has no base, said ministry spokesman, Mohammad Radmanish.

The Afghan government invests nearly $1 million on each pilot to be trained.
The Vatican should take steps to improve relations with China, the Chinese head of religious affairs said on Tuesday, a week after the Roman Catholic Church said it was hoping for positive signals from Beijing.

Pope Francis is trying to heal a decades-old rift with China where Catholics are divided between those loyal to him and those who are members of a government-controlled official church.

One of the obstacles to improving relations is the question of who should be able to appoint senior clergy.

China says bishops must be named by the local Chinese Catholic community and refuses to accept the authority of the Pope, whom it sees as the head of a foreign state that has no right to meddle in Beijings affairs.

Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, was quoted by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday as saying China hopes the Vatican takes an even more flexible and pragmatic attitude, and takes actual steps to create beneficial conditions for improving relations.

China wants constructive talks to narrow differences, increase consensus and promote improved relations, he told a meeting of Chinese Catholics.

The Chinese governments position on improving Sino-Vatican ties has always been clear and consistent, Wang said.

The Vatican said last week it was certain that all Catholics in China are waiting with trepidation for positive signals that would help them have trust in dialogue between civil authorities and the Holy See and hope for a future of unity and harmony.

The two sides have been at loggerheads since the expulsion of foreign missionaries from China after the Communists took power in 1949, and the Vaticans continued maintenance of official ties with self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as its own.

Prospects for a deal were set back this month after Lei Shiyin, a government-backed bishop excommunicated by the Vatican, participated in the ordination of new bishops.
About 400 peace activists were marching on Tuesday from the outskirts of Berlin towards the devastated Syrian city of Aleppo, heading down the refugee trail in reverse.

Organised by Polish journalist and blogger Anna Alboth, the Civil March for Aleppo aims to build political pressure to help civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict.

Carrying white flags and hiking backpacks and wearing outdoor gear against the cold and wet December weather, the marchers had on Monday left from the centre of the German capital.

Alboth told Germanys left-leaning Tageszeitung daily that only a core group of 30 activists planned to walk all the way, adding that she expected they may be blocked at the Turkish border.

The true purpose of the march is that the civilians in Syria get access to humanitarian aid, she said. We are marching to build pressure.

The starting point was the disused airfield of the Nazi-era Tempelhof airport, which during the Cold War became the hub for the Berlin airlift and now houses several thousands refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries.

The marchers plan to cover around 20 kilometres (12 miles) a day and walk through the Czech Republic, Austria and several western Balkan countries to Turkey - and then on to Syria.

It is the route into Europe that was taken last year by more than a million people, many fleeing battlefields in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, with the majority ending up in the top EU economy Germany.

Several thousand people have pledged on Facebook they would join at least a section of the about 3,000-kilometre (1,900-mile) trek bound for Syrias second city, which is now squarely under the control of President Bashar al-Assads regime.

Backed by Russia and Iran, Syrian troops last week retook control of eastern Aleppo, which had been held by disparate rebel groups since mid-2012, after a devastating month-long offensive that caused tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Germany has pledged 15 million euros ($ 15.6 million) in aid to pay for medical staff and trauma counsellors for the devastated city, Development Minister Gerd Mueller said.

Read| Russian jets step up raids on rebel-held Idlib and rural Aleppo
Days after returning to Pakistan from self-imposed exile, former president Asif Ali Zardari announced on Tuesday that he and his son Bilawal will soon contest elections to enter Parliament.

Addressing thousands of supporters at an event organised at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh in Sindh province to mark the death anniversary of his late wife, former premier Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said, I want to share the good news I had promised to share  Bilawal and I will contest the election right now, (and sit) in this Parliament.

Since Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007, the Pakistan Peoples Party has organised a rally at the familys ancestral graveyard in Garhi Khuda Buksh every year to galvanise its workers.

Zardari said he will contest elections from his sisters seat in Nawabshah while Bilawal will contest from his mothers seat in Larkana.

Addressing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Zardari said: I am not coming to the Parliament to topple your government. He said his only intention is to teach the PML-N government a few lessons and to consult with Sharif on national issues.

It is believed Zardari returned to Pakistan after 18 months in self-imposed exile to lead a combined opposition against the government.

Zardari said the PPP had four demands for the government which have so far not been implemented. They are revival of Parliaments national security committee, admitting the bill submitted by the PPP in the National Assembly on revelations in the Panama Papers leaks about alleged corruption by members of Sharifs family, implementing resolutions passed at a multi-party conference on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and appointing a full-time foreign minister.

If we look at it, the demands are quite valid and harmless but the idea is to put the Sharif government on the defensive, said political analyst Hasan Askari.

In his speech, Zardari also called Sharif a Mughal badshah and said the whole idea behind the exercise is to ensure the Sharif family is held accountable. Zardari also questioned the links between Sharifs PML-N party and banned groups.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing the gathering, attacked the government for its corruption and lack of transparency. He said he would challenge the status quo. Beware, I am coming to Islamabad, he said.
Almost 30 Turkish police will go on trial in Istanbul on Tuesday charged with involvement in the July 15 coup bid, the citys first trial of alleged putschists.

With indictments prepared against over 1,200 people, and some 41,000 under arrest in total, the trials following the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are set to be the most far-reaching legal process in Turkish history.

Five months after the coup, small-scale trials of suspects have already began in the provinces and on Monday 60 people went on trial in the southwestern city of Denizli.

But the trial in Istanbul -- which is to take place in a gigantic courthouse in the Silivri prison in Istanbul -- is to be the most significant to date and the first in the Turkish metropolis.

The accused are charged with seeking to overthrow the government as well as allegedly being members of the group led by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who the authorities accuse of leading the plot.

Gulen, who Ankara wants to see extradited from the United States, vehemently denies the charges.

Of the 29 police set to go on trial in Silivri on Tuesday, 24 are under arrest, one on the run and the rest on bail.

If convicted, 21 suspects each face three life sentences and the other eight officers could be handed prison terms of between seven-and-a-half and 15 years.

Time to bring the traitors to account, said the pro-government Sabah newspaper.

Those accused are alleged to have refused to protect Erdogans residence in Istanbul on the night of the coup.

Dirty organisation

However there has been growing international alarm over the extent of the crackdown amid the state of emergency imposed after the coup, with critics concerned it has been used to target Erdogans opponents.

With the crackdown showing no sign of relenting, the interior ministry said 1,096 people suspected of Gulen links were detained in the last week alone.

Since the coup, the authorities have investigated almost 101,800 people, placing some 41,000 under arrest.

Erdogan said last week that the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara was carried out by a Turkish policeman loyal to Gulen, a claim not yet accepted by Moscow.

He said that allies of Gulen -- who over decades built up strong networks of influence within Turkish institutions -- still needed to be weeded out of the security services.

This dirty organisation is still within the military, still within the police, Erdogan said.

Following the start of the Istanbul trial, several others will get under way in the coming months including of the alleged military ringleaders in Ankara.

The trial of 47 suspects accused of trying to assassinate Erdogan at a holiday resort on the Aegean Sea is due to begin in Mugla on February 20.

The courthouse in Silivri has huge resonance for Turks after it was also used in trials against suspects in 2013 accused of a separate coup plot known as Ergenekon.

That case, which was strongly supported by Gulen, saw 275 police officers, journalists, lawyers and academics indicted for allegedly conspiring to oust Erdogan.

But the suspects were then released and their convictions quashed earlier this year, with the authorities accusing Gulen of perverting the legal process and fabricating evidence.
A huge crowd turned out Monday to celebrate the 15th birthday of Rubi Ibarra, a small-town Mexican girl -- though it was fewer than the 1.3 million people who said they were coming after the invitation went viral online.

Girls 15th birthday parties are often a huge affair in Latin America, when families pull out all the stops to welcome them to womanhood.

But Rubis quinceanera party took the phenomenon to a whole new level, after the invite became an offbeat internet sensation.

We found out through social media and we said Lets go. Everyone is invited? Lets go, said Tania Rodriguez, who traveled five hours by car to attend the party held in a large field in Villa de Guadalupe, in San Luis Potosi state.

People attend the 15th birthday party celebrations of Rubi Ibarra in Villa Guadalupe, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico. (AFP Photo)

With all the coverage on her, Rubi felt like part of the family, added her husband Gonzalo Torres, before heading off in search of more beer.

About 10,000 partygoers of all ages came to see Rubi, who danced the night away in a bejewelled floral princess gown with a dramatic red skirt.

The teen was the center of attention on a rock concert-style stage set up in the field, as journalists jostled to capture her every move.

The evening featured fireworks, a banquet sponsored by a food company and a concert broadcast on a giant screen.

Rubi danced with friends, as well as the men of her family, receiving a rose from each, in keeping with tradition.

Viral invite

Hi, hows it going? We would like to invite you this December 26 to our daughter Rubi Ibarra Garcias 15th birthday party in La Joya, her dad, Crescencio, said in the video invitation that went viral.

Visitors have their picture taken behind a frame honoring Rubi Ibarra during celebrations for her down-home 15th birthday near the village of Laguna Seca, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico. (AP Photo)

Dressed in a cowboy hat typical of northern Mexico, he ticked off the names of the bands that would play at the party and announced a horse race with a 10,000-peso prize (about $500), as his wife and the now-famous Rubi stood at his side.

Everyone is invited, he said.

About 1.3 million Facebook users replied that they would attend the party originally set to be in La Joya, a village of 200 people near the city of San Luis Potosi.

This all got out of control, Crescencio said in one of the many media interviews he has since been asked to give.

That doesnt mean we didnt want to invite everyone, of course, but here our parties are regional... This is something we werent expecting.

Rubi fielded numerous interviews herself, becoming a national sensation with her dark hair, cute smile and braces.

An airline turned the commotion into free publicity, offering discount tickets to get to the party. And a video game has emerged in which a teenage girl runs down a red carpet, tossing invitations to all and sundry.

The family said they were originally expecting around 800 people for the party. Local authorities moved it to the large field and sent a security detail for what Mexican media were calling the party of the year.

Tragedy marred the horse race that had taken place earlier in the day.

Two people entered the track and were hit by the horses... One of them died and the other was hospitalized with a broken leg, the state of San Luis de Potosi in a statement.

But the party continued as planned.

As the sun set, Rubi shared a dance with her father.

Rubi Ibarra and her father Cresencio Ibarra dance during the celebration of her 15th birthday in Villa Guadalupe, San Luis Potosi State. (AFP Photo)

We love you, Rubi! guests shouted as a band began playing traditional Mexican music, with some donning paper masks of the teens face.

But not everyone in Mexico found the fuss amusing.

This has taken on completely scandalous proportions, said Mercedes Poire, head of the Center for Public Opinion at the Universidad Del Valle de Mexico.

We face the gigantic risk of falling into a society of the absurd.
A Pakistani man was arrested by the police for murdering an Indian shopkeeper in Sharjah, less than 12 hours after the incident, police said on Tuesday.

The Sharjah police arrested the 42-year-old Pakistani man from an undisclosed location and said he killed Mohammed Ali over a financial dispute, Khaleej Times reported.

52-year-old Ali hailed from Kerala and was found murdered outside his shop with multiple stab wounds on his body on Tuesday.

Ali, who had been living in the UAE for the past 30 years and was running supermarket business in Maysaloon and other areas, was found in a pool of blood outside his Majestic Supermarket.

The police immediately launched a manhunt for the murderer. He was arrested after a thorough search.

Based on the culprits confession, the case was referred to the public prosecution.
Six people, including a nine-year-old child, were found dead in Jakarta, after suffocating in a tiny bathroom where armed robbers had locked them the previous day.

Petty crime is common in Jakarta, a teeming city of 10 million people, but violent crime including armed robbery is rare.

Up to four intruders broke into the house in an upmarket neighbourhood on Monday, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said.

The robbers locked 11 people - including family members, maids and drivers - in the two metre by one metre (6.5 ft by 3.3 ft) bathroom and they were not found until early on Tuesday, Yuwono said.

They were carrying firearms and machetes, Yuwono said of the robbers, citing a witness account.

The five survivors were in critical condition and taken to hospital, he said.
Israels foreign ministry said Tuesday the country was reducing ties with nations that voted for last weeks UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to settlement building in Palestinian territory.

Refuting reports that ties had been suspended, foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that Israel was temporarily reducing visits and work with embassies.

Until further notice, well limit our contacts with the embassies here in Israel and refrain from visits of Israeli officials to those states, and of visits of officials from those states here, he told AFP.

Israel has already called back its ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations, and cancelled aid programmes with the African state.

On Tuesday, Israel informed Angola it would be freezing its aid programme there, Nahshon said.

Israeli media have reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also serves as foreign minister, has asked officials to visit the countries that voted for the resolution as little as possible for now.

At least two trips have been cancelled or postponed, including this weeks visit to Israel by Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and an upcoming visit by the Senegalese foreign minister.

There have also been reports that Netanyahu was calling off a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May at next months World Economic Forum in Davos, but there has been no official confirmation.

Deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely said Tuesday she was concerned that Israel would miss opportunities to explain its position by cancelling visits, but that she supported making clear you cant take Israel for granted.

Countries should not be able to make pilgrimages to Israel to learn about fighting terror, cyber-defence and agricultural technologies, and in the UN do whatever you want, she told army radio.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have responded with especially harsh language to Fridays Security Council resolution which passed after the United States abstained from voting.

Netanyahu has alleged that US President Barack Obama colluded to see the shameful resolution through in the waning days of his administration.

By deciding not to veto the move, the United States enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

Not turn other cheek

The text was passed with support from all remaining members of the 15-member council.

Israel summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution on Sunday -- Christmas Day -- while Netanyahu also met with US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro.

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

The United States is Israels most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

On Monday, Netanyahu defended his response to the UN vote in the face of criticism that he was overreacting, saying we do not turn the other cheek.

Not only will our relations with the nations of the world not be harmed, over time they will only improve because the nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak ingratiating countries that bow their heads, he told a conference.
Former dictator Pervez Musharraf has said he never sought aid from former army chief Raheel Sharif to leave Pakistan, making a U-turn from earlier remarks that the general helped him by preventing the government from pressuring courts.

In an interview to a TV channel on Monday, Musharraf said he never contacted Sharif and that he was not approached on the issue by any authority. He specified that Sharif, who retired last month, never discussed his cases and that he never sent any request to the former army chief.

Musharraf said TV channels were manipulating his previous statement based on "general assumptions".

A week earlier, Musharraf created a flutter by saying that Sharif had helped him leave Pakistan by keeping the government from pressuring courts.

Musharraf, 70, had been barred from leaving the country as he was facing several high-profile cases, including for murder and high treason. He was indicted for treason last year for imposing emergency rule in 2007. In March, Musharraf left for Dubai, where he resumed his political activities.

He told a TV talk show last week: "Well he (Sharif) did help me and I am absolutely clear and grateful. I have been his boss and I have been the army chief before him...he helped out, because the cases are politicised, they put me on the (Exit Control List), they turned it into a political issue."

Asked by the host to explain how the former army chief helped him, Musharraf said by "influencing the courts".

His statement backfired and caused an uproar in Pakistan, embarrassing the military high command and infuriating the top judiciary. To make amends, Musharraf blamed the media for misquoting him on Monday.

The media, however, continued to air Musharraf's earlier interview in which he had said, The courts work under pressure and give verdicts accordingly. The former army chief helped reduce that pressure.

He was able to leave Pakistan when the interior ministry issued a notification to remove his name from the ECL. The notification followed an order from the Supreme Court to lift the ban on his foreign travel.

Apart from cases related to the murder of politicians Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti and cleric Abdul Rasheed, Musharraf is facing cases for arresting judges and limiting their powers. Interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had said in March that Musharraf had committed to facing all cases against him and "promised to return in four to six weeks".

Read | Gen Raheel Sharif helped me out in leaving Pakistan: Musharraf
Romanias president sparked fresh political turmoil on Tuesday after rejecting a proposal by the election-winning leftist party to name the EU countrys first female and first Muslim prime minister.

Klaus Iohannis gave no reasons for his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it may be due to her Syrian husbands background.

I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal, the president told reporters in a televised statement.

I call on the PSD coalition to make another proposal, Iohannis said.

The PSD had suggested the previously little-known Shhaideh, 52, after its thumping poll victory on December 11 when it won 45% of the vote.

The leader of the PSD, Liviu Dragnea, had withdrawn his own bid to become prime minister because he is serving a two-year suspended sentence for fraud in a previous election.

Shhaidehs political experience is limited, having served as development minister for just five months before the previous PSD-led government resigned in late 2015.

This and her personal closeness to Dragnea -- he was a witness at her wedding -- have stoked opposition accusations that she would merely be his puppet.

Shhaideh is from Romanias small and long-established Turkish minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been a problem for Iohannis.

Instead the focus may have been on her Syrian husband, whom she married in 2011.

According to non-profit investigative journalism group, the Rise Project, he has several times expressed his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and for Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah.

The 54-year-old worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before emigrating in 2011, according to media reports and Dragnea. He then served as an advisor to the Romanian agriculture ministry and gained citizenship in 2015.

Former Romanian justice minister Catalin Predoiu, from the centre-right National Liberal Party, said on Facebook that he cant see how the PSD candidate could get the necessary security clearance needed to be prime minister.

Being premier would give her access to defence information classified as secret, including from Nato, the Western military alliance that Romania has belonged to since 2004, Predoiu wrote.

In the absence of any explanations by the president, I suppose that his rejection is linked to questions of national security and because the United States would not have been very keen, political analyst Andrei Taranu told AFP.

Website HotNews cited unnamed sources as saying that the security services had strongly cautioned against Shhaidehs nomination because of the closeness to the Assad regime of her husband and his two brothers.

What now?

All eyes Tuesday were on how the PSD would respond, with some in the party calling for Iohannis to be suspended. Party leader Dragnea was due to make a statement in the afternoon.

Either the PSD shows its wisdom by making a new proposal (for prime minister) or we move towards fresh elections, Taranu said.

But he added that an attempt by the PSD to remove the president was problematic because under the constitution Iohannis is entitled to request a second proposal for premier.

The PSDs election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it and prime minister Victor Ponta from office.

The inferno inside the Colectiv club was blamed on corrupt officials turning a blind eye to a lack of fire precautions. Poor medical care exacerbated the death toll.
Russias Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it viewed a US decision to ease restrictions on weapons supplies to Syrian rebels as a hostile act which threatened the safety of Russian warplanes and military personnel, the RIA news agency reported.

RIA quoted the ministry as saying the administration of Barack Obama was attempting to complicate the situation in the world before Donald Trump took over the White House in January.

Obama lifted some restrictions on arms deliveries to Syrian rebels earlier this month.

The Kremlin, whose air force is supporting the government of President Bashar al-Assad, said the move was risky and that weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists.
Russia, China and Pakistan warned on Tuesday that the influence of Islamic State (IS) was growing in Afghanistan and that the security situation there was deteriorating.

Representatives from the three countries, meeting in Moscow, also agreed to invite the Afghan government to such talks in the future, the Russian foreign ministry said.

(The three countries) expressed particular concern about the rising activity in the country of extremist groups including the Afghan branch of IS, ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters after the meeting.

The United States, which still has nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan more than 15 years after the Islamist Taliban were toppled by US-backed Afghan forces, was not invited to the Moscow talks.

The gathering, the third in a series of consultations between Russia, China and Pakistan that has so far excluded Kabul, is likely to deepen worries in Washington that it is being sidelined in negotiations over Afghanistans future.

Officials in Kabul and Washington have said that Russia is deepening its ties with Taliban militants fighting the government, though Moscow has denied providing aid to the insurgents.

Zakharova said Russia, China and Pakistan had noted the deterioration of the security situation (in Afghanistan).

The three countries agreed a flexible approach to remove certain figures from sanctions lists as part of efforts to foster a peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement, she added.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last month asked the United Nations to add the Talibans new leader to its sanctions list, further undermining a stalled peace process.

Earlier on Tuesday, Afghan foreign ministry spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni said Kabul had not been properly briefed about the Moscow meeting.

Discussion about the situation in Afghanistan, even if well-intentioned, in the absence of Afghans cannot help the real situation and also raises serious questions about the purpose of such meetings, he said.

A number of Afghan provincial capitals have come under pressure from the Taliban this year while Afghan forces have been suffering high casualty rates, with more than 5,500 killed in the first eight months of 2016.

An offshoot of Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the last year.
Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief and the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has asked the Pakistan government to refrain from forging friendship with India claiming that its forces are committing atrocities in Kashmir.

He also alleged that the BJP government is trying to change the demographic status in Kashmir.

We are standing with Kashmiris and completely support freedom movement of Kashmir, he said and criticised the Indian army for committing atrocities in Kashmir.

He has urged the Pakistani government to solve problems of Kashmiris.

The Pakistani government should not look towards Indias friendship. Blood is being shed in Kashmir. Therefore, it is Pakistani governments responsibility to solve their problems, he said.

Read| Sartaj Azizs visit to India a disgrace to Pakistan, says Hafiz Saeed
Cheetahs are sprinting to extinction due to habitat loss and other forms of human impact, according to a new study out this week that called for urgent action to save the worlds fastest land animals.

Cheetah numbers in Zimbabwe have plunged by more than 85% in 16 years and fewer than 50 individuals survive in Iran, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warned.

The reports authors said cheetahs should be listed as Endangered instead of Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, estimated that just 7,100 cheetahs remain in the wild, occupying just nine percent of the territory they once lived in.

The cheetah is sprinting towards the edge of extinction and could soon be lost forever unless urgent, landscape-wide conservation action is taken, ZSL said in a statement.

There were an estimated 100,000 cheetahs at the beginning of the 20th century, according to previous estimates.

A captive cheetah performs a mock run, to keep up with the hunting instinct, in an enclosure at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Otjiwarongo, Namibia. (AFP File Photo)

Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked, said Sarah Durant, the reports lead author and project leader for the Rangewide Conservation Programme for Cheetah and African Wild Dog.

Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, meant that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought, she said.

Cheetahs travel widely in search of prey with some home ranges estimated at up to 3,000 square kilometres (1,158 square miles).

The study found that 77% of the animals remaining habitat falls outside protected areas, leaving it especially vulnerable to human interference.

The main risks are humans hunting their prey, habitat loss, illegal trafficking of cheetah parts and the exotic pet trade, according to the study.

A Cheetah mother and three of her six cubs rest as they venture outside for the first time after their birth at Burgers' Zoo in Arnhem, eastern Netherlands. (AP File Photo)

Durant hailed recent commitments taken by the international community, including on stemming the flow of live cats from the Horn of Africa region.

Weve just hit the reset button in our understanding of how close cheetahs are to extinction, said Kim Young-Overton, from the wild cat conservation organisation Panthera.

Securing protected areas alone is not enough. We must think bigger, conserving across the mosaic of protected and unprotected landscapes that these far-reaching cats inhabit, she said.
President-elect Donald Trump appointed an experienced hand from the George W Bush era to his national security circle Tuesday and a figure from the Trump Organization to make international deals.

Thomas Bossert will become as assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism. A statement from Trumps transition team said Bossert will advise the president on issues related to homeland security, counterterrorism, and cybersecurity, and coordinate the Cabinets process for making and executing policy in those areas.

The position notably is being elevated and restored to its independent status alongside the national security adviser, the statement said. Policymakers have long debated whether such national security jobs should operate independently from the White House.

Bossert will work closely with Trumps pick for national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn. Bossert is currently president of the risk management consulting firm CDS Consulting. He previously served as deputy assistant to the president for homeland security under Bush.

The president-elect also appointed one of his main advisers on US-Israel relations as special representative for international negotiations. Jason Greenblatt has worked for the Trump Organization for over two decades and currently serves as its executive vice president and chief legal officer.

Trump has turned to his long-time companys top lawyer to serve as a special negotiator for trade deals and other talks, Trumps team said in a statement on Tuesday.

Jason Greenblatt, chief legal officer for The Trump Organization who served as Trumps adviser to the Middle East, will work as Trumps special representative for international negotiations, the statement said.

Trump said Greenblatt has a history of negotiating substantial, complex transactions on my behalf, and has the expertise to bring parties together and build consensus on difficult and sensitive topics.

Read| Trumps team of the rich and the generals

Trumps West Wing is shaping up to have multiple power centers. Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and senior adviser Steve Bannon will work as equal partners, according to Trump, and counselor Kellyanne Conway is also expected to have autonomy. Trumps influential son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will also have a direct line to the president.

Trump has long stoked rivalries among his staff in business and in the campaign. But doing so in the White House could sow confusion and slow decision-making.

Trump recently named his other top adviser on Israel, David Friedman, as his pick for US ambassador to Israel.

The president-elect is spending the holidays in his Florida resort where hes held a steady stream of meetings with senior staffers, advisers and business executives. A number of key posts in his government remain, his transition team saying that he will fill those positions in the coming days.

Read| Trumps cabinet: Homeland security, China ambassador, environment posts filled
Days after the United Nations voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Donald Trump questioned its effectiveness on Monday, saying its just a club for people to have a good time.

The president-elect wrote on Twitter:

The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

On Friday, Trump warned, 

As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2016

Trump takes the office on January 20.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Fridays UN vote brushed aside Trumps demands that the US exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israels 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 presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been taken over by or are condoning militant groups.

Trumps tweet on Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member global organization.

Read | New UN chief to be sworn in amid uncertainty over Donald Trump

This year the UN Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the UNs far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world. The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues, like the role of diamonds in fueling conflicts; condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea; and authorized an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Trumps criticism of the UN is by no means unique. While the organization does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy. The organization has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

Trump tweeted later Monday, The world was gloomy before I won  there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!

Markets are up since Trump won the general election, although not quite by that much. The Standard & Poors 500 is up about 6% since Election Day, while the Dow has risen more than 8%.

As for holiday spending, auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed $1 trillion, representing a 3.6% to 4.0% increase in holiday sales from November through January.

The president-elect is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He had no public schedule Monday.
Bangladesh garment manufacturers have sacked at least 1,500 workers, police said Tuesday, after protests over pay led to a week-long shutdown at dozens of factories supplying top Western brands.

Tens of thousands of workers walked out of factories in the manufacturing hub of Ashulia that make clothing for top Western brands like GAP, Zara and H&M earlier this month, prompting concerns over supply during the holiday season.

Police branded the protests illegal and said they had arrested 30 workers including seven union leaders as well as a television reporter covering the unrest.

On Tuesday, they said factory owners had sacked around 1,500 workers and resumed operations, a week after shutting down to try to contain the protests.

The Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation meanwhile put the number sacked at 3,500 and said dozens of protest organisers had been forced into hiding.

All the factories have resumed their operations. Some 90 percent of the workers have joined work, said Nur Nabi, assistant superintendent of police.

Around 1,500 workers have been sacked (by the owners). The owners have filed five cases against the unruly workers, he told AFP.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association has rejected the workers demand for their pay to be trebled from the current minimum monthly wage of 5,300 taka ($67).

Babul Akhter, head of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, accused authorities of using a controversial military-era law to shut down the protests.

They used (the) Special Powers Act to detain union leaders and workers, he told AFP.

Up to 3,500 workers have been sacked and 50 leaders have gone into hiding.

The Ashulia police chief said only those involved in violent protest had been arrested.

The protests were the latest blow to the impoverished countrys $30 billion garment industry, which has proved resilient to a series of attacks on foreigners and religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Garment manufacturing makes up 80 percent of Bangladeshs exports and a prolonged interruption would have a major impact on the economy.

Bangladeshs 4,500 garment factories have a woeful history of poor pay and conditions for their four million workers, and protests occur frequently.

They gained intensity after the 2013 collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex in which 1,130 people were killed.

The tragedy triggered international outrage, forcing US and European clothing brands to improve deplorable safety conditions at their supplier factories.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sets to attend the Pearl Harbor memorial event in Hawaii, making him the first prime minister to visit USS Arizona Memorial accompanied by US President Barrack Obama.

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," said Abe while vowing not to repeat the horrors of World War 2 again.

According to The White House, both Abe and Obama will showcase the power of reconciliation that has turned former adversaries into the closest of allies, united by common interests and shared values. Obama has visited Hiroshima early this year, being the first US President to visit the historic site since the 1945 bombing.

"This will be a visit to soothe the souls of the victims. We should never repeat the ravages of the war," said Abe as quoted by CNN.

Other former Japanese prime ministers who visited Pearl Harbor included Ichiro Hatoyama in 1956 and Nobusuke Kishi in 1957. But they never set feet at USS Arizona Memorial. Abe is the first prime minister to attend an event that honor sailors and Marines that were killed in the 1941 attack.

Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday and visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific before visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.

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US President-elect Donald Trump took a swipe at President Barrack Obama after the later said he could have defeated the former if he is allowed to run for the third term. Trump said there is no way that Obama could defeat him.

"President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc," posted Trump on his Twitter account.

The reaction came after Obama said on Monday that he could have beaten Trump in the 2016 US Presidential Elections. Obama also pointed out that Hillary Clinton was a victim of unfair attacks. He also added that he hs laid down a strong winning coalition across the country but the Clinton campaign failed to follow it.

In an interview with CNN analyst David Axelrod, Obama said that among the mistake of the Democrats was abandoning the importance of the white working class. He cited the example of the Obamacare where a huge number of Trump supporters benefited the program but were not actually Obama allies.

"The problem is, is that we're not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we're bleeding for these communities," he said.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston upon Thames Hotel Opens in the U.K.

DoubleTree by Hilton last week announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston upon Thames, located in the centre of the popular riverside town. The upscale hotel joins 72 DoubleTree by Hilton properties open across Europe and is the first Hilton-branded property in the Kingston market.

Boasting 146 modern guest rooms and suites, the hotel caters to the growing demand for upscale accommodation sought by the city's diverse set of travellers. The stylish property, managed by Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts and asset managed by EQ Hotels Ltd, offers close proximity to a number of top attractions, with central London only a short train ride away.

Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said, "Whether in South London on business or visiting popular attractions, like Hampton Court Palace or the River Thames, DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston upon Thames provides visitors with an enticing new destination, kind and friendly service and a warm, Chocolate Chip Cookie welcome cherished by the brand."

As the newest dining option to the neighbourhood, Hawkers Bar and Brasserie pays homage to Kingston's extensive contribution to the history of aviation. With its modern design as well as its lively indoor and outdoor atmosphere, Hawkers Bar and Brasserie boasts a trend-setting menu with a selection of contemporary dishes to complement its vast choice of local craft beers, spirits and wine, as well as a signature Afternoon Tea.

In addition to the hotel's inviting dining options, DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston upon Thames offers world-class conference facilities outside of the hustle and bustle of London city. Three flexible function rooms are available to host casual business meetings, training sessions or personal events. The largest of the spaces can accommodate up to 260 people, along with offering a pre-conference and events area. Guests also have access to the 24/7 fitness centre which features state-of-the-art Precor equipment.

Beyond the iconic warm Chocolate Chip Cookie welcome, the hotel provides guests with a full complement of services and DoubleTree by Hilton brand amenities, including the Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast, an assortment of gourmet in-room tea and coffee and a refreshing array of the Aroma Actives Essentials natural skin and body care line.

Nicholas Northam, managing director of Interstate Europe Hotels & Resorts, said: "On behalf of all at Interstate, we're thrilled to be managing the new DoubleTree by Hilton Kingston-upon-Thames. The hotel in an excellent location and we're confident its opening will be warmly welcomed.

"This is the first hotel opening to take place since I joined the company as managing director in November 2016 and so it holds special significance for me personally. I look forward to seeing the hotel flourish in the coming months and years as guests enjoy its offering of convenience, style and relaxation."
Were still six days away from the new year, but because Top Tracks drops on Mondays, that means that this is the last edition of 2016. Obviously, the biggest trend of the year in this feature has been Drakes dominance, as every song he dropped or was featured on wound up at #1, unless it was beat out by another Drake song. Outside of that, 2 Chainz seems to have been the most frequently-appearing artist, mostly as a guest, but thats still impressive considering that the 39-year-old is basically on his second comeback. Wed also be remiss to ignore the success of DJ Khaled & Co.s Do You Mind and Mac Miller and Anderson .Paaks Dang!, which have both appeared on our Top Tracks lists since they dropped in July.

This week, Jeremih leads the way with three appearances, although theyre all features, and Big Sean, Chance The Rapper, DJ Khaled, and Rick Ross are all tied with two apiece. New tracks barely missing out on a spot include Kid Inks Yu Know It (#13), Rich Chiggas Seventeen (#16), Rich Homie Quan and YFN Luccis Ya Ya (#17), and Dave Easts Vagagbond (#22).

10. Kid Cudi Feat. Andre 3000  By Design

Kid Cudis Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin dropped to very mixed reviews around ten days ago, but one thing we could all agree was a highlight was the first of Andre 3000s two guest appearances, By Design. A clear stylistic descendant of the out-there Outkast rapper, Cudi does justice to the collab with one of the best beats and some of the tighter writing on his album. On its first week of eligibility, By Design debuts at #10.

9. DJ Drama Feat. Lil Wayne  Intro

Surprise! Thus far, the first track on DJ Dramas 2016 project has only popped up on Top Tracks a few times, but here it is, back again some 23 weeks after first dropping. Undoubtedly, its thanks to one of the finest Weezy verses in recent memory. On its 23rd week out, Intro is up two spots from #11 to #9.

8. Chance The Rapper & Jeremih  I Shoulda Left You (Prod. By Zaytoven)

As a holiday surprise, Chance and Jeremih dropped their collab tape Merry Christmas Lil Mama last week, and on I Shoulda Left You, the already-high-profile pair linked with another hip hop titan, Zaytoven. Although the track isnt as popular as others on the list (72% user approval), the tape itself did fairly well, garnering 84% approval. I Shoulda Left You debuts at #8.

7. French Montana Feat. Kodak Black, Jeezy, Rick Ross & DJ Khaled  Lockjaw (Remix)

French Montana and Kodak Blacks Wave Gods (and MC4) cut Lockjaw was already one of the biggest songs of the year, but as a bonus, they threw a bunch of big names on it for a year-end remix. Its unclear what Khaled really adds to the already-great track, but Rozay and the Snowman are welcome additions. The Lockjaw remix debuts at #7.

6. Mac Miller Feat. Anderson .Paak  Dang!

Its now been 22 weeks since Mac Miller dropped his first Divine Feminine single, Dang! featuring Anderson .Paak, and over ten since the last week that it didnt appear on our Top Tracks list. Lets see how long this streak lasts. In its 22nd week out, Dang! goes up one spot from #7 to #6.

5. DJ Khaled Feat. Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, August Alsina, Jeremih, Future & Rick Ross  Do You Mind

Even more successful than Mac Miller and Anderson .Paaks Dang! is DJ Khaleds Do You Mind, which dropped the same July day, but hasnt fallen out of the Top Tracks list once. In its 22nd week out, Do You Mind holds at #5.

4. 21 Savage  100

HNHH ranks its user approval out of 100, which is the name of 21 Savages latest track, but the 28% rating on this one might be the lowest weve ever had on one of our Top Tracks. The Atlanta rapper seems to occupy a weird space on the site right now, in that everyones interested in seeing what hes doing, but just come to hate on him. Despite that, 100 debuts at #4.

3. Gucci Mane Feat. Drake  Both

GuWop and Drizzy linked up for the second time this year on Both, a track taken from the formers new Return Of East Atlanta Santa album, and obviously, it rocketed to the top of our list. Pretty surprisingly though, its been unseated by two Big Sean tracks in only its second week out. Both falls two spots from #1 to #3.

2. Big Sean Feat. Chance The Rapper & Jeremih  Living Single

Originally leaked a few months ago, Living Single finds Big Sean collaborating with two residents of a nearby Midwest city who are responsible for Merry Christmas Lil Mama, Chance The Rapper and Jeremih. The collab dropped two weeks ago, and coupled with Seans latest single, is ramping up excitement for his new album. In its second week out, Living Single is up two spots from #4 to #2.

1. Big Sean  Moves (Prod. By 808 Mafia)

Last week, Big Sean unveiled details for his upcoming album I Decided, which will drop on February 2nd, as well as the first single, Moves. Produced by 808 Mafia, this one was a huge hit, clocking in at 91% user approval. Moves debuts at #1.

TopTracks
Former employee, Christopher Sampino, is suing Versace for alleged racial discrimination. According to the lawsuit, the 23-year-old claims the managers of the San Francisco Versace store had encouraged sales staff to use discriminatory practices.

In the lawsuit Sampino states that the manager told him about a store code called D410, which is used to let co-workers know a black person was present in the store. The suit also mentions that D410, is the official code for all black shirts in Versace stores.

Sampino responded to his manager with You know Im African-American?  a comment the Plaintiff believes lead to management treating him differently. According to Sampino he never received proper training or access to the online database.

Sampino insists that his job performance exceeded expectations, but he was terminated on October 1st, two weeks after he was hired. The lawsuit states:

Defendant(s) told Plaintiff he was not being terminated because of his performance, but because he [doesnt] understand luxury, and because he [doesnt] know the luxury life. Defendant(s) also told Plaintiff that he was being dismissed because he hasnt lived the luxury life.

The lawsuit also states that the defendants asked Sampino to quit to lighten the paperwork. According to TMZ, Versace denied the allegations and has filed a request to dismiss the lawsuit.

Versace
Theres been a lot of speculation about who will or who wont be performing at controversial President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration in January. The Beach Boys have confirmed that theyve been invited to play for the incoming president, but theyve yet to make a decision about whether or not they want to do it.

The Beach Boys have been asked to perform as part of the inauguration festivities, a spokesperson for the band confirmed. But no decision has been made at this point as to how or whether they will participate. We will let you know as soon as a decision is final.

The likes of Celine Dion, Elton John, Garth Brooks and Kiss have turned down overtures to perform at the inauguration in Washington DC.

The biggest name confirmed so far for the gig is Americas Got Talent runner-up, Jackie Evancho.

Heres the video for The Beach Boys Good Vibrations:

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One of Shane Cook's recent projects proved that some of a designer's biggest challenges come in the smallest of packages.

His client, Sasha Babb, was a neighbor who approached him with the idea of a drastic update to his 768-square-foot condo.

Cook approached the rectangular space - a collection of claustrophobic little rooms - as something to be cleaned out. He removed interior walls and doors, flooring and ceiling. The only thing that stayed the same was the bathroom, another project for another time.

Babb and Cook lived down the hall from each other in the Parc IV on Montrose. In fact, their units were mirror images.

The 44-year-old Babb had been a renter in the 12-story, midcentury-modern building before he became a buyer, and after several years started noticing that his neighbors were renovating and modernizing their spaces.

"I thought, 'Hmmm, let's explore this,' " said Babb, whose family owns the Creme de la Creme preschools. By then, Cook, an interior designer trained in architecture, had moved in and was working on his place. Babb liked what he saw down the hall.

After six months of redesign small talk, the real work began.

"My condo was a series of little boxes," said Babb, who was born in Chicago but has lived in Houston since he was 10. "I had my little bedroom box and my little bathroom box, the kitchen-area box and dining-area box."

Plus, there was a skinny hallway that led from the public areas to the bathroom.

"It was a maze of doors," Babb said.

In its day, Parc IV (built in 1964) and its neighbor, Parc V (built in 1965), were novelties, Cook said.

Stephen Fox, an architectural historian who is an adjunct lecturer at Rice University and the University of Houston, described the buildings' architect - William R. Jenkins, who later became the dean of UH's School of Architecture - as respected and gifted.

The midcentury buildings are part of New Brutalism architecture, noted for its straightforward design without flashy or extravagant details, Fox said.

Fox arrived in Houston in 1969 and was impressed with the buildings' beauty and simplicity. "When I drive by now, I still have the same 'wow' reaction," he said.

Babb had the same revelation.

He said he used to dine at what was the River Cafe nearby, and the building slowly grew on him. Then he moved in. In time, though, he knew the condo wasn't living up to its potential.

"Walls and doors were everywhere," Cook said. "So we took all of them out except for the enclosure on the bathroom."

During the yearlong construction phase, electrical and plumbing were completely redone, drywall was removed to expose original brick, and the entire unit's floor was leveled to accommodate new porcelain tile so soft it almost feels like walking on leather. Classic midcentury finishes and furniture were added to match the building's architectural style.

Living spaces moved around. The bedroom shifted backward so that its outside wall is all public space. The kitchen, near the condo's entry, is now elevated several inches, giving it a Manhattan loft-like feel when stepping down to the rest of the home. And its Silestone blanco maple counters and backsplash are in line with the place's midcentury vibe.

Since a bedroom does occasionally demand some privacy, Cook designed a divider that delineates space without reaching the ceiling. This not-quite-wall with a walnut veneer does some heavy lifting: Shelving on one side serves as a bar off the dining room and a closet off the bedroom. It also creates a backdrop for the living area, which has an eastern view to downtown.

Another Cook design, a floating ceiling, drops down over the bedroom and dining area - which Babb actually uses for extra kitchen space with a stainless-steel island - giving each a feeling of intimacy, organizing light fixtures and hiding the main air duct.

And what looks like a tiny foyer actually provides a grand entrance to the rest of the space.

"What I like to do is use the old Frank Lloyd Wright trick, where you walk into a narrow space and the ceiling is low, and as you walk through, the space opens up," Cook said. "So you need a lower counterpoint to appreciate the higher ceiling."

As you pass the kitchen area, you realize there's so much more - that incredible view of downtown.

Although the living-room area is long and slender, it comes in two parts. There's the more refined area with Saarinen Womb chairs and ottomans, followed by a librarylike feel with exposed brick and a towering bookcase.

Babb's excited about his condo now, even if he was always in love with its location.

"It's fantastic," he said. "I can walk to the museum in 15 or 20 minutes, and you have restaurants and coffee shops, all in walking distance."
Editor's note: Meet Houston Chronicle design writer Diane Cowen at the Chronicle's Meet the Editors event, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11. Cowen will talk about trends in home design and how our changing times affect the way we live, as well as the homes we live in. RSVP here.

Home is where we escape from the rest of the world, care for our families and dabble in hobbies. 2016 made home feel all that much more special.

Here are some of the top trends in home design this year:

1. Historic preservation: Fundraising is underway to restore the grand Link-Lee Mansion, most recently used as the administration building at the University of St. Thomas. While many older homes are torn down to make room for new homes or rows of townhomes, there is still a heart for historic preservation in Houston. Consider the C.L. Neuhaus House on Courtlandt Place, purchased by a young couple who plan to restore every inch of it. Dominic Yap and Lin Chong of First Ward Heritage are still putting their loving touch on cottages and bungalows in the First Ward, and the newest batch of Preservation Houston's 2017 Good Brick winners includes a single-family home that once operated as the Dentler Maid Potato Chip company. Also, Wi&CoWork, a trendy new shared workspace opened this year, giving new life to a Midtown home that's more than 100 years old.

2. Colors of the year: A can of paint can work wonders when you're bored with a room and don't have much change in your pocket. Design companies get in line when the Pantone Color Institute announces its new color of the year. For 2016 it was the calming "Rose Quartz" and "Serenity," but they took a big hopeful step for 2017 naming the bright and cheery "Greenery" as the "it" color of the new year. Shaw Floors also went with a "Lush" green for the year.

Other colors that were deemed trendy: PPG Paint picked the moody "Violet Verbena"; Sherwin-Williams' dark neutral "Poised Taupe"; Glidden's serene and subtle "Byzantine Blue"; Olympic's "Cloudberry"; and Benjamin Moore's deep purple "Shadow."

3. Special rooms: If your new home list includes only bedrooms, bathrooms, living/dining rooms and kitchens, you need to keep thinking. The hottest trends in new-home construction are all of the extras builders are tossing in: climate-controlled wine rooms, safe rooms, craft rooms and man caves. In the backyard, you'll find putting greens, greenhouses and pavilions that make you feel like you're at a resort.

4. "Fixer Upper" family: Chip and Joanna Gaines' "Fixer Upper" juggernaut kept moving forward in 2016. Season 4 is underway now, and the media darlings also launched their Magnolia Home line of furniture in the summer, plus a book, "The Magnolia Story," and a lifestyle magazine, The Magnolia Journal, in the fall.

5. DIY is still going strong: From crafters to carpenters the do-it-yourself movement is as strong as ever. Some of it is due to ever-growing hobbies, but it's also a folk-art expression and a way to save some money, if you're good at it. If you can find an old card table and chairs at a garage sale, a can of spray paint and a few yards of colorful oilcloth will make it fun and like new. Upcycle mismatched dishes into a cake stand. Try your hand at glass decoupage or even reinvent old furniture with chalk paint and wallpaper. One bright spot on the local scene is the Amitha Verma Chalk Paint line in gorgeous French colors launched by Verma, a Houston antiques dealer. Your imagination is the only limit on this hobby.

6. High-rises: Baby boomers are downsizing and commuters are done with driving. It seems we all are tired of sprawling outward, and we're ready to take an elevator to our homes. High-rises are popping up all over the Houston area, with some remarkable work underway or on the drawing board. New York-based Arel Capital has taken on the restoration of the midcentury River Oaks high-rise on Westheimer as its new baby. And ground should break next year on another unique concept, Giorgetti Houston, a smaller condo project branded by Italian furniture maker Giorgetti.

7. The millennial story: This demographic may still be young, but their strength is in their numbers. Their unique lifestyle choices have affected housing, transportation, home decor - you name it. They may also be responsible for garage sales around the country. Millennials don't want their parents' stuff, according to surveys. That said, if you're in the market for some very nice china, crystal or silver, you might want to start hitting estate sales and resale shops. Bargains are there to be had.

8. Texas Junk Co. says goodbye: For 37 years, Houstonians and our visitors have relied on this eccentric Montrose shop for well-worn cowboy boots and any number of unusual finds, from animal skulls to architectural salvage. Earlier this year, its owner, Bob Novotney, was told that he was losing his lease. The 68-year-old Novotney decided it was time for semi-retirement, selling off most of his inventory and moving to a new outpost in downtown Moulton in Lavaca County. He's only open a week a month, so check his Facebook page before considering the two-hour drive.
As the new year -- 1911 in this case -- dawned on Houston, the Chronicle took stock of all that had happened in 1910 and put forward nearly 50 New Year's resolutions for the city.

Most of these resolutions could have been written for any city in America then and most still seem just as relevant today. You can't argue against calls for more city parks, or "to fight the causes that make sickness, orphans and poverty."

There are a few history lessons in these resolutions, though. Take these for example:

"To build the viaduct."

That likely refers to the Main Street viaduct connecting downtown to north Houston. Finished around 1913. Check.

"To erect the Union National Bank Building."

Check. It's now Hotel Icon.

Chronicle file

"To secure better car service on the street car lines, more cars and faster cars, and cars that can stop at a crossing" and "To finish up the interurban."

By the mid-20th century, the Galveston-Houston interurban and Houston's streetcars would vanish as the city transitioned toward a dependency on automobiles and ever-expanding freeways. Sorry, Houstonians of 1911. We fumbled on that one.

"To complete the Rice Institute."

Check. In fact, the university now has plans to open a performing arts hall.

Other resolutions center on law-and-order.

"To hang a few murderers if necessary."

During this time, the county was responsible for executing the condemned. Hangings were generally carried at the county jail near where the back of Bayou Place is today.

"To make it very unpopular for policemen to do any killing of each other or of anybody else" and "To cut out the street duel with guns and pistols and eliminate the gun toters."

1910 was a particularly bloody year for the city. According to the book "Houston Blue: The Story of the Houston Police Department," there were 14 murders including two suicides between Jan. 1 and April 1. That March, three adults and two babies were killed in what was described as a mass murder.

The Chronicle's mention of policemen killing each other was a direct reference to the April 1 slaying of Deputy Police Chief William Murphy by Earl McFarlane, a former HPD patrolman, in a restaurant at 904 Preston.

According to "Houston Blue," Murphy had earlier fired McFarlane after he was caught "stealing a wagonload of goods." That set off a feud between the two that climaxed in that downtown restaurant. With the help of a skilled defense team, McFarlane was found not guilty of the killing in early 1911.

Finally, there's a New Year's resolution we should all probably try to stick to:

"To boost with the boosters and not roost with the roosters."
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Every Christmas for the past three decades, Pam Franks, of The Woodlands, and her family have constructed a gingerbread house. And not just any gingerbread house. Franks would tell her four children stories about its magic properties and the German elves that lived in it. The elves and her children would even exchange letters.

The stories became a family tradition. For years, Franks played with the idea of writing a children's book to share the tradition with other families, but it wasn't until last year that she put the idea into action. She wrote the children's book, "The Magic Gingerbread House," and it was published last November by Bright Sky Press. Now the book is available at Barnes and Noble, as well as online.

"We did really well with it," Franks said.

But Franks didn't want to stop with the success of the book. She hoped it would be a tool to give back to the community. For every promotional event, Franks would donate to an organization that helped two causes close to her heart: children and the military.

"We wanted to give back," Franks said.

Franks' two older children, Meghan and Mollie, who have characters based on them in the book, are both in the military. In the book, Franks wrote about children whose military parents were deployed and received encouragement from the elves that they were not forgotten or alone.

The book caught the attention of United Through Reading, a nonprofit organization founded in 1989 that endeavors to keep deployed military parents connected to their children while they're away from home. The UTR team selects a children's book and records a deployed parent reading. The video recording and the book are then delivered to the children.

Last year, UTR used 262 recording locations and distributed more than 10,000 books to military children. They estimate that the children watch the video 250 times in a 10-month deployment.

"It helps them reconnect. It eases the transition," Franks said. "The child is used to seeing the parent's face and hearing the parent's voice."

UTR had been distributing "The Night Before Christmas" book, but for the 2016 holiday season, it was hoping for something new and different. Then, UTR discovered "The Magic Gingerbread House."

Franks was excited at the opportunity for her book to benefit military families, but there was one snag. "The Magic Gingerbread House" was only available in hardcover and the UTR only used paperback books because of the additional shipping costs associated with hardcover.

But Franks was able to find a solution. She approached Dr. William Hayes of Sterling Ridge Orthopaedics in The Woodlands and found that he was willing to donate the additional funds to ship the books.

"They made it possible to send the hardbound books," Franks said.

Franks hopes that her book will not only help keep military families together while the parent is deployed, but will inspire families everywhere to start their own gingerbread house traditions.

"Everybody can create their own. There's a lot of elves looking for homes," Franks said. "It's the beautiful memories you create."

For more information about "The Magic Gingerbread House," visit magicgingerbreadhouse.com.
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Kesha Chatman had the idea for a mobile fashion truck 10 years ago, but the timing wasn't right.

"It probably was ahead of its time," says Chatman, a 40-year-old fashion stylist. "People wouldn't have understood. It would've been weird."

But by 2016, the world had changed. Suddenly everything was available on demand and could be summoned by an app.

This summer, Chatman's fashion truck, Miles of Style, began carrying a variety of women's clothing, flattering for figures ranging from skinny to plus size. Next to the gold-sequined driver's seat, a shimmery curtained-off section serves as a dressing room. Hats in varying colors are hung, and dresses, boots and jewelry line the shelves. Clothing prices range from $35 to $100; lots of her buyers are millennials.

Chatman drives the truck herself - most often from her house in Spring to events in places like Midtown, Katy and downtown Houston.

Miles of Style is hardly the only fashion truck in town: their growing number includes Shoe Bar and Rock n Rollin Boutique. And besides fashion, Houston trucks also can deliver beauty services. Now women can look to services such as PageBoy, an app that lets users order blow-outs or makeup; or Lucky Cat Beauty, which dispatches makeup artist Aubrie Layne to their door.

"I think everything is done at home these days," Chatman said. "You can shop at home by shopping online. You can have your hair and makeup done. I think people are just in that space of convenience and wanting that service for their money."

Blow-outs at your door

In Catie Ross' bathroom, stylist Anna Woodfork separates Ross' freshly washed hair into sections. Ross regularly requests $70 blow-outs from the app Pageboy. The 30-something likes to get one on a Thursday, so that it lasts through the weekend.

Pageboy's story began a few years ago, when Libby Cagle and friend Lauren Taft were brainstorming at Taft's family home. They thought about all the other delivery services around Houston. Taft suggested the idea of a beauty truck.

Cagle, who worked as a catering manager for Four Seasons, knew how hard it was to get ready for night events quickly. She remembers wondering, "What if there was a beauty fairy that would come in and whisk me up while I was finishing up this banquet event order and I could go to the event?"

Soon after the pair launched Pageboy, Ross saw a post about it on social media. After her first appointment, she was hooked.

"Usually I'm in robe," Ross said. "If I have an event at night, I can sit here, do my makeup while she does my hair, and then throw my clothes on. It makes it super easy."

Ross also enjoys being able to have her kids at home while she's getting her hair done, instead of having to hire a baby sitter. While the stylist works, Ross sometimes answers email or helps her daughter with homework.

Pageboy has expanded from blow-outs to include makeup and tanning services, and they hope to eventually include manicures, pedicures, and massages. The app also launched in Austin over the summer and plans to expand to other cities in Texas.

Cagle feels Houston was the perfect market to launch their product.

"There's always been a level of calm sophistication with Houston women," Cagle said. "They are up for anything. They have the money to do whatever they want. That's our client."

Makeup in minutes

Aubrie Layne is one of the makeup artist who might be summoned by the Pageboy app. Layne got her start working for renowned makeup artist Laura Mercier and has worked with some of the biggest fashion names in Paris and New York. She branched out and began creating her own line of eyelashes, then shortly after, decided to start her own makeup business in 2013. Usually she works out of her studio.

But for a fee, she's willing to travel.

One of her Pageboy clients, she says, suffers from an autoimmune disease. At home, the client can lie down while Layne applies her makeup.

"It makes her feel better, Layne said, "and it's rewarding for me."
The Anti-Defamation League said Texas A&M University's handling of white nationalist Richard Spencer's visit to campus was the most inspirational moment of 2016.

Spencer, a leader of the so-called "alt-right," came to College Station in early December, mere weeks after espousing white supremacist and anti-Semitic views in Washington, D.C. News of his visit, which was sponsored by a former student, not the university, immediately evoked backlash among alumni, students and staff members.

The university decided to hold alternative programming that night steps away from Spencer's speech. Thousands of people gathered in Kyle Field for performances and speeches, including one from Holocaust survivor Max Glauben, who came to the U.S. as an orphan in 1947. Many other people also protested Spencer peacefully outside.

The ADL, a leading group against anti-Semitism and other bigotry, said Thursday that the response to the event topped a list of inspirational moments of 2016, describing "a Texas campus drowning out the hateful views of an unwanted visiting white supremacist."

"In the aftermath of hate, communities came together time and again to send a message of 'not in our town,'" ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement. "We were inspired and truly moved by these moments of warmth, unity, and human dignity. We were reminded that even simple gestures by one person can make a difference; that one person's deeds have the power to change the entire world."

Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff, who leads Texas A&M's Chabad Jewish Center, said he was proud of but not surprised by the recognition. Lazaroff spoke at the "Aggies United" event, which he said gave "a positive message" to campus and brought students together.

"I found it to be a great way for the university to get out their message that this is not a place for these types of activities," he said. "It gave the students an outlet."

In November, many people connected to Texas A&M reacted with anger and sadness after the campus newspaper broke the story of Spencer's upcoming visit. Thousands of people called and emailed President Michael Young's office, even as the school was quick to denounce Spencer.

More than 10,000 people signed an online petition urging the university to cancel Spencer's speech, and a prominent Houston attorney said he would represent Texas A&M, should it cancel and face legal action.

Young said in an interview hours before the event that allowing Spencer on campus was a matter of respecting the First Amendment. University policy currently allows anyone, even those unaffiliated with the university, to reserve space.

But administrators decided to host alternative programming, dubbed "Aggies United," to celebrate the university's "core values" of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service.

"I want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to really express what we stand for," he said in an interview before Spencer's speech. "We're not going to let these people define the university."

He said he took "enormous comfort" in the backlash to Spencer. "It certainly has generated an outpouring of support for what our core values are."

In its year-end list, the ADL also ranked Florida's response to the mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub and the refugee team competing at this summer's Olympic games.
JERUSALEM - Undeterred by a resounding defeat at the United Nations, Israel's government said Monday that it will move ahead with thousands of new homes in disputed areas and warned nations against further action, declaring that Israel does not "turn the other cheek."

Just a few days after the United Nations Security Council voted to condemn Israeli settlements, Jerusalem's municipal government signaled that it will not back down: The city intends to approve 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian eastern section of town on Wednesday in what a top official called a first installment on 5,600 new homes.

The defiant posture reflected a bristling anger among Israel's pro-settlement political leaders, who not only blamed the United States for failing to block the Council resolution but also claimed to have secret intelligence showing that President Barack Obama's team had orchestrated it. American officials strongly denied the claim, but the sides seem poised for more weeks of conflict until Obama hands over the presidency to Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Security Council countries by curbing diplomatic contacts, recalling envoys, cutting off aid and summoning the American ambassador for a scolding. He canceled a planned visit this week by Ukraine's prime minister even as he expressed concern on Monday that Obama was planning more action at the United Nations before his term ends next month.

The prime minister defended his retaliation.

"Israel is a country with national pride, and we do not turn the other cheek," he said. "This is a 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. is unacceptable to us."

The Security Council resolution that passed Friday condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation under international law" and an obstacle to peace. The Council approved it 14-0, with the United States abstaining instead of using its veto, as it has in the past.

Trump publicly pressed for a veto of the resolution and has chosen a settlement advocate as his administration's ambassador to Israel.

Palestinian leaders made clear Monday that they will use the resolution in international bodies to press their case against Israel. With the imprimatur of a United Nations finding of illegality, they said they will campaign to require that other countries not just label products made in the settlements, but ban them.

"Now we can talk about the boycott of all settlements, the companies that work with them, et cetera, and actually take legal action against them if they continue to work with them," Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, was quoted as saying by the Palestinian news media.

He outlined other steps the Palestinians now could take, using the resolution to press the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders, file lawsuits on behalf of specific Palestinians displaced by settlements and urge Switzerland to determine whether Israel is violating the Geneva Conventions.

"We are looking to devise a comprehensive vision, and hopefully 2017 will be the year when the Israeli occupation ends," Malki said.

Israeli officials said such pronouncements showed the resolution actually undermined chances for a settlement because the Palestinians now have less incentive to come to the table. By declaring Israeli settlements illegal, they said, the U.N. essentially took away the one chip that Israel had to trade, meaning land.
WASHINGTON - After a presidential campaign built on hard-line promises to secure the border and end illegal immigration, Donald Trump will traverse more difficult terrain in Congress next year among worried Democrats and skeptical Republicans.

Although advocates of strict legal enforcement have been emboldened by hawkish Cabinet picks like Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for attorney general, Trump will face political and fiscal constraints living up to his vow to build a border wall and deport illegal immigrants on a massive scale, particularly if he widens his dragnet beyond those with criminal records.

And despite the bellicose campaign rhetoric, there still is no clear GOP agenda on immigration, with different cliques within the Republican-led Congress favoring different approaches toward visas, deportation and legal status.

Democrats, too, have some cards to play. The Republican majorities in the next Congress hardly are filibuster-proof, with 48 Democrats in the Senate. To overcome the 60-vote threshold to stop a filibuster, Republicans will need to peel away at least eight Senate Democrats to pass anything that immigration advocates consider draconian, including a massive border wall.

There are some changes Trump could make on his own, particularly in reversing President Barack Obama's executive orders shielding and granting work permits to millions of illegal immigrants who otherwise could face deportation.

Funding substantial new border measures - with or without a 2,000-mile wall - or an aggressive new interior enforcement program likely would require money, meaning congressional action. That is where Senate Democrats could be an obstacle.

"There's a bunch of stuff that doesn't need Congress, so we have to keep that in mind," said Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, an immigration reform group founded with the help of tech moguls Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook and Bill Gates of Microsoft. "But, in terms of what needs to move through Congress, I would say that anything that passes the Senate will probably need 60 votes."

Schulte, who was chief of staff at Priorities USA Action, a pro-Obama Super PAC, has been helping lead a campaign to build bipartisan support for the Bridge Act, a bipartisan bill that would codify Obama's orders protecting the nation's estimated 750,000 registered Dreamers - immigrants who came to the U.S. as children - from deportation.

While Dreamer advocates have been heartened by some Republican support, there is uneasiness about where the first immigration battles of the new Trump administration will be fought; specifics on border security, deportation and visas have been a moving target. Trump's recent statements toning down his campaign rhetoric - and his allies' suggestions that he never was to be taken literally - have added to the uncertainty.

"It's hard to predict exactly what to expect," said Texas U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, whose border district around Brownsville occupies ground zero in the debate. On the other side of Texas in El Paso, U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke said his office has been helping border families deal with the unknowns, including the possibility of sudden deportation.

"We're helping young Dreamers be prepared for the worst potential outcome, which is actually the one that's been promised by the president-elect," O'Rourke said. "We're hoping for something better, but we're not going to count on it."

That same uncertainty has given hope to immigration hardliners who see a businessman's savvy in Trump's moves on immigration.

"A classic negotiation from him is keeping everything confused," said Roy Beck, the founder of Numbers USA, one of the nation's leading proponents of immigration restrictions. "You don't know where it's going."

While Beck's group has emphasized visa restrictions, beefed-up law enforcement and mandatory employment verification systems, Republican leaders in Congress have tended to emphasize border security, if not Trump's "big, beautiful wall."

House Speaker Paul Ryan, dismissing Trump's call for an immigration force during the Republican primaries, said, "That is not what our focus is - our focus is securing the border."

Ryan, who was late in warming up to Trump's presidential bid, has expressed an openness to legalizing the status of many of the millions of immigrants who long have lived and worked productively in the United States.

Trump, on the other hand, has talked about deporting everyone living in the country illegally, though he would seek an expedited process for letting "the good ones" back in legally. The idea of requiring immigrants in the country illegally to return briefly to their countries of origin - sometimes called "touchback" - was championed in 2007 by then-Texas U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison but was narrowly defeated in the Senate.

Many liberals still see the idea of sending illegal immigrants on a round trip back to their home countries as costly and impractical, even if it were paired with legal status or a path to citizenship.

The idea also may not satisfy many immigration hardliners who still would see it as a form of "amnesty." For some, it simply is another form of retreat, just like the suggestion that Trump could fulfill his campaign promises on the border wall with better aerial surveillance and technology. Neither proposal is likely to pass muster with some of Congress' harshest critics of illegal immigration.

Still, while some Republicans in Congress see Trump softening on immigration and border security, others are moving in his direction. One prominent turnaround was that of Texas U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, who once derided Trump's wall proposal as "kind of a simplistic" and "a knee-jerk response."

But McCaul, R-Austin, shortly after meeting with Trump in an unsuccessful bid for a Cabinet slot heading the Department of Homeland Security, eventually came around. He penned a commentary piece on foxnews.com this month saying, "Yes, we will build a wall, put Mexico on a 'payment plan' and enforce the law."

To McCaul, border security means more than a wall: "This means more border patrol agents, new authorities, aerial surveillance, sensors and other technology to make sure we seal our territory from illegals for good."

McCaul and other Republicans have shied away from listing a price tag for those sorts of improvements, much less for the wall Trump originally proposed. But McCaul, who will be an influential voice in the coming debate, has offered a few funding suggestions: new immigration fees from Mexico, security tolls at border crossings, and a "seize and freeze" policy on drug cartel assets.

Beck said Trump may not need to sweat any new appropriations from Congress, at least in the early going. He argued that much of what Trump needs to do is show toughness on law enforcement, visas and rescinding Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Much of that can be done within current budgets and without Congress.

"Yes, at some point he's going to need some more money, and I think that's going to be a matter of how he handles the first part of it," he said.

Nevertheless, Beck and many others who favor restricting the flow of immigrants - both legal and illegal - say the emphasis on a wall or border security is misplaced. They are pressing instead for tighter visa restrictions and workplace verification systems like the so-called e-verify plan.

"E-verify is the way you solve the illegal immigration problem, not the wall," he said.

Amid coming battles over trade, health care, environmental regulation and tax cuts, some Congress watchers also predict that the nation's intractable differences over immigration, caustic as they were during the presidential campaign, could recede as a priority.

Then again, another immigration wave like the flood of unaccompanied children that overwhelmed the Texas border two years ago could spark another political free-for-all. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo, has warned of a "surge" of 40,000 Haitians, Asians and Middle Easterners arriving next year. But he calls the idea of a wall a "14th-century solution to a 21st-century problem."

He was heartened last week by talks with Border Patrol agents who told him that they had been required by headquarters officials in touch with the Trump transition team to recommend suitable areas for more border fencing, which he hopes would be limited.

"We'd rather not have a fence, but if we do, the city of Laredo would rather have some input, and put it in very limited areas," Cuellar said.

A wall, however, did not enter into the discussions.

"I think they're going to end up with some limited fencing so they can claim a victory," said Cuellar, adding that at some point Trump will have to bow to political and fiscal reality. "Are they going to put up something that looks like the Great Wall of China? No."

Clouding the public perception of a new sheriff in town are Trump's recent statements softening his tone on the wall and deportation, including his suggestion that he may not entirely repeal Obama's protections of Dreamers.

In the waning weeks of his campaign, Trump promised to stop illegal immigration and "deport all criminal aliens," starting on Day One. A recently unveiled plan for his first 100 days in office, however, left out his most audacious pledges to build a wall along the Mexican border and create a "deportation force" to round up some 11 million people living in the country illegally.

Instead, he talked about investigating "abuses of visa programs" that undercut American workers. More recently, alluding to young Dreamers, he told Time magazine that he is "going to work something out that's going to make people happy and proud."

But given the national mood that produced Trump's election, pro-immigration groups are girding for battle on a number of fronts.

"With respect to the wall, we're going to fight like hell," said Vela, who wrote a letter to Trump last June telling him where he could "shove" the wall. "If the idea is to send Dreamers back, we're going to fight like hell. If the idea is to send back the 8 million people who are working around the country and contributing to the economy, we are going to fight like hell."
A Woodlands real estate agent has turned much-loved family stories about Christmas elves looking for a place to take a break from Santa's workshop into her first book, "The Magic Gingerbread House."

Now, Pam Franks' account of the adventures of Hans, Grietal, Kirsten, Franz and Stefan - those are the elves - and two very human girls, Meghan and Mollie, hopefully will help deployed military members connect with their children back home during the holiday season.

The book, published by Houston-based Bright Sky Press, was selected to be included this year in the nonprofit United Through Reading program, which aims to, "unite military families facing physical separation by facilitating the bonding experience of reading aloud together."

The soldier, sailor, Marine or Air Force member will stop in at more than 260 recording spots around the world, such as selected USO locations, and be recorded on video reading the book to their child. The recording and a copy of the book will then be sent to the family back home so the kids can watch the video and follow along. United Through Reading said that in 2015 alone they distributed more than 10,000 books to military children.

Franks wrote the book before she had ever heard of the United Through Reading program, but now it will be part of that effort.

In a fortuitous twist, one of the characters in the book is a girl whose mother and father - both soldiers in the Army - were sent to the Middle East.

"Supporting the military just seemed like an important message," Franks said. "We are so touched that United Through Reading got the message of what we were trying to say."

'I think it's an honor'

Galveston-based artist Mike Guillory drew the illustrations for the book and, like Franks, was pleasantly surprised that a book featuring a character whose military parents are overseas was selected for a program to help deployed troops bond with their children.

"I think it's great that it got picked for that," Guillory said. "I think it's an honor."

Guillory, 68, did a hitch in the service in his younger days and has family members who are currently in the military.

"It's very hard on families. It's always heartbreaking for (the parents) to have to go off and be deployed," Guillory said.

Gingerbread getaway

In the book, five of Santa's elves move into a gingerbread house built by sisters Meghan and Mollie. It's a place to get away from Santa's workshop for a while and just relax. To show their gratitude, the elves regularly leave thank-you notes and little gifts for their juvenile landlords.

Just moving into Meghan and Mollie's neighborhood is Sammy, who is living with her grandmother while her military parents are overseas. The sisters befriend Sammy and help lift her spirits during the Christmas holiday by introducing the girl to the elves.

And in another "coincidence," Pam Franks' daughters - now all grown up - are named Meghan and Mollie. Franks said the family has been building gingerbread houses every Christmas for more than 30 years and leaving notes for their elf tenants.

"When the kids were little, they would always try to get a peek at the elves," Franks said. "We always had so much fun making the houses. Someone said, 'You've got to write the book.'"

Wonderful memories

While their gingerbread houses tended to be rather elaborate, some years the construction wasn't quite up to code or the family dog might snack on the roof.

"It's not that the house is beautiful, it's the memories you make building the house that's beautiful," Franks said.

In the 1990s, Franks first started thinking about turning the family's Christmas elves stories into a book. In the story, Meghan and Mollie are in kindergarten and the first grade. Today, Meghan is a lieutenant in the Army reserves, and Mollie is an Army captain on active duty in San Antonio.

"The military just seemed to have an important part in our life, and we want to support it," she said.

The family is still building gingerbread houses, and elves are still leaving little thank-you notes.

The book can be purchased through Franks' website: www.magicgingerbreadhouse.com.
SAN ANTONIO  A 21-year-old man in Kerr County faces federal charges after allegedly threatening to kill President Barack Obama, according to media reports.

Gavin Leonard Friedman is being held in the county jail without bond after police say he sent several letters alluding to killing the outgoing president, KSAT reports.

RELATED: Authorities identify 3 killed in crash outside Alamo Ranch movie theater

Friedman allegedly mailed four letters during the course of this year that threatened President Obama. On Jan. 22, Friedman said in a letter that Obama will be killed so that (Friedman) can be martyred in the name of Allah, the San Antonio TV station reports.

Later on April 3, Friedman said in a letter that he was going to assassinate Obama because Obama is a puppet for Zionist Organized Government.

He also sent two letter in September, one saying I am going to kill (Obama)  He is a dead (expletive) and the other saying I am going to kill (Obama) that stupid (expletive), KSAT reported.

It isn't immediately clear who the letter were sent to.

RELATED: SAPD: 35-year-old pedestrian killed in West Side crash on Christmas

Besides threats to President Obama, Friedman allegedly threatened to blow up the FBI Field Office in Houston and the White House in Washington, D.C. He also threatened in another letter to kidnap and kill the U.S. Attorney and the attorneys family. He allegedly said in the letter he hired people to kidnap and kill the U.S. Attorneys family, according to KSAT.

Friedman was in jail on other charges when he was formally arrested on the federal charges, the TV station reported. He was arrested in 2014 for felony assault on a public servant. Prior to that, he was charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child, according to online jail records.

RELATED: Police: Zero car burglaries reported at The Forum so far this season during 'Operation Grinch'

Police agencies were not available for comment due to the holidays.

Text "Breaking" to 48421 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
The Byzantine Empire inherited a well-developed bureaucracy that had evolved for centuries under Roman rule. The result was a system of governance that became overly complex and opaque.

Today we use the adjective "Byzantine" to refer to any system that is beyond understanding. In an opinion this year, the Texas Supreme Court used the term to describe our "marginally constitutional" school finance system. Byzantine is apt.

Most local taxpayers believe that higher property taxes that accompany rising property values will fund local services and that those revenues paid to school districts will be spent on public education. Areas with the greatest increase in property values often also have a growing school-age population, and investment in quality public education can preserve the resale value of homes within a school district.

But for many Texans, higher property taxes paid to school districts do not, in fact, support local schools or any schools at all. The Legislature claims these funds under a program, misleadingly referred to as "Robin Hood," and uses them as general revenues to support all forms of state spending.

No one enjoys paying taxes, and elected officials are loath to take the blame for a tax increase, so the Legislature has conveniently shifted that burden to many local school districts. Lawmakers use these school districts to assess and collect taxes on its behalf, including districts that have their hands full trying to educate an increasingly at-risk student population.

The details of this scheme are Byzantine, by design. The finance system succeeds in confusing voters, whose sticker-shock anger at their rising property taxes is directed at the districts rather than the Legislature. And the higher property tax bills, which many voters assume are levied to fund schools, provides cover for lawmakers eager to sign pledges against raising taxes. Meanwhile, schools struggle to pay teachers competitive salaries and to provide up-to- date technology for all students.

Houston Independent School District is projected to yield more than $1 billion of our local property taxes to the state during the next four years. During the next five years, Austin ISD estimates that more than half of every dollar Austinites pay in taxes will be diverted into state coffers. As to Galveston ISD, recapture has hit its pocketbook so hard the district may have to borrow funds just to open school doors in August.

This month, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, filed a bill that will ensure that local tax dollars paid to school districts will be invested in education. Houston-area voters should contact their legislators and voice support for this transformational legislation. Texans deserve an open and honest school finance system.
Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print.

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If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create.
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After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

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President Barack Obama is confident he could have mobilized a majority behind his message had he been allowed to run for a third term.

On the Monday podcast episode of The Axe Files, Obama said Donald Trumps victory shows the appeal behind his message of one America  a country thats tolerant, open, diverse and full of zeal  remains strong.

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And the problem is, it doesn't always manifest itself in politics, right? he said. I am confident in this vision because I'm confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it.

Of course, running for a third term was never an option for Obama. U.S. Congress passed a law in 1947 that limits an elected presidents time in the White House to two terms.

Reflecting on the election, Obama again praised Hillary Clinton for running a campaign in tough circumstances. He noted the disadvantage of a double standard coalesced with a longstanding difficulty in her relationship with the press. This, he said, wildly amplified her flaws in lead up to the election.

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Trump, who faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment in between making racist and sexist remarks during his successful presidential campaign, disagreed.

The president-elect responded to Obamas claim in a tweet.

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

The president covered a wide array of topics during the exit interview, from his rise from political obscurity to his intention to take his wife on a vacation after he leaves the Oval Office.

And she has said it better be nice, he said, laughing. Because she's  she's earned it.

In October, the president joked to late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel that his wife would divorce him if he announced a bid for a third term in office.

The First Lady has never wild about a life in politics, he said.

Michelle once explained to me: I try to organize my life not to have a lot of mess around and politics is just a big mess, Obama said at the time.

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More and more U.S. companies around the world are proving that meeting the "double bottom line" - doing well by doing good - is smart business. When American firms invest abroad, they tend to invest for the long-term. They support communities where they operate. They hire local employees and are committed to treating them fairly. As a result, companies that have consistently upheld these standards have reaped the financial benefits of a sterling reputation. This is what the American brand is about: You don't have to choose between profit and doing what's right.

During my time as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, I have had the honor to head a Bureau that supports this message - and the U.S. firms that embody its principles.

Part of that support centers around the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence. These "ACE" awards recognize U.S. companies that go above and beyond standard business practices to add value and uphold high standards around the world.

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Just last week in Riyadh, I had the privilege to tour a General Electric (GE) Saudi Arabia facility that is of one of this year's ACE winners. Announced in September 2013 as a partnership between GE, Saudi Aramco and Tata Consultancy Services, it is the country's first all-female business processing center. It currently employs 1,000 Saudi and non-Saudi women and is set to grow to 3,000 in the years ahead.



Assistant Secretary Rivkin visits a General Electric (GE) center that is one of the winners of the 2016 Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence, on December 14, 2016 in Riyadh. GE's creation of this facility, Saudi Arabia's first all-women business services center - which now has over 1,000 employees - exemplifies GE's inclusive hiring practices within the country.



The service center is not just focused on the company's operations in Saudi Arabia, but is a major hub supporting GE's worldwide operations. I spoke to several women who proudly told me about their commitment to their work, and their rapid career progression from being a service team member to a senior project manager. In a country where women account for more than half of university graduates but struggle to find good work, GE is an example of an American company recognizing and empowering talented Saudi female employees.

This past February I traveled to Arequipa, in Peru, where I toured the operations of another ACE winner, Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde, a mining company that is a subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan. In a resource-rich environment like Peru, Cerro Verde understood the business opportunities that existed. But the company also recognized that they needed to be a force for good in their community. Cerro Verde wanted to ensure that its operations benefited its neighbors. They also wanted to avoid any negative impacts of their operations. In 2015, Cerro Verde completed a $5.6 billion expansion on schedule and within budget because of its proactive consultations with and investment in local communities, which included a $1 billion investment in water infrastructure that will provide clean drinking water for 700,000 people and 100 percent wastewater treatment.

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On February 9, Assistant Secretary Rivkin tours the Cerro Verde mine in Arequipa, the largest U.S. investment in Peru. He met with executives to talk about the company's recent expansion of mining operations and visited Cerro Verde's water treatment plant, which provides potable water to hundreds of thousands of people living in Arequipa.
In a 2011 article titled " Military chaplains are faith mismatch for personnel they serve," the St. Louis Post Dispatch noted: "While just 3 percent of the military's enlisted personnel and officers call themselves Southern Baptist, Pentecostal or a member of a denomination that's part of the National Association of Evangelicals, 33 percent of chaplains in the military are members of one of those groups." The article further predicted that this "disparity could soon widen." And widen it has.

Several months ago, I wrote about an event hosted by the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty (CARL), a coalition of fundamentalist Christian military chaplain endorsers. (Chaplain endorsers, formally called "Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agents," are the individuals who represent their religion or religious denomination to certify to the military that a chaplain of their religion or denomination meets the educational and other qualifications required to be a military chaplain. Without an endorsement from a government-approved chaplain endorser, a chaplain cannot serve in the military.) My reason for writing about that particular CARL event was to explain why the Air Force's chief of chaplains, Maj. Gen. Dondi Costin, was in violation of military regulations not only for attending this private organization's event in uniform, but actually participating in it and literally blessing the virulently anti-LGBT message of CARL and its member endorsers by delivering the event's closing benediction.

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As I wrote in my previous piece, CARL was clearly formed for the specific purpose of opposing the repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), and has continued to lobby against and attempt to undermine the rights gained by LGBT service members since the repeal.

The very first act of this organization, before it was even formally an organization, was a September 2010 letter to President Obama and then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arguing that "normalizing homosexual behavior" in the military would have all sorts of dire consequences for both chaplains and other service members. CARL's next big cause, after efforts to stop the repeal of DADT failed, was to oppose the "sanctioning and normalizing the use of base chapels for same-sex unions," arguing in a May 2011 letter to the chiefs of chaplains of all military branches that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was still the law of the land, and should still "apply to Federal military facilities, particularly base chapels." CARL reaffirmed its commitment to denying same-sex couples the right to get married in military chapels in an October 2011 press release, in which the organization's executive director, Ron Crews, said: "By dishonestly sanctioning the use of federal facilities for 'marriage counterfeits' that federal law and the vast majority of Americans have rejected, the Pentagon has launched a direct assault on the fundamental unit of society - husband and wife." Then there was the outrage over the DoD extending benefits to same-sex partners of military members, the Supreme Court's 2013 striking down of a key part of DOMA, and most recently the lifting of the ban on transgender service members serving openly in the military. In order for an endorsing agent to belong to CARL, they must subscribe to CARL's "Purpose Statement," which includes its purpose of "exposing the rising tide of threats to religious liberty," one of which is "the inherent dangers and destructive effects of providing official approval of and protection for deviant lifestyles and behaviors which Scripture and orthodox Christian tradition and teaching condemn."

But something else struck me as I was writing that piece. At the bottom of all of CARL's letters and press releases is a statement saying that CARL's member endorsing agents "speak for more than 2,600 chaplains serving the Armed Forces." The organization also often touts the fact that these 2,600 chaplains make up more than half of all chaplains in the military (which currently number just over 5,000, including Reserve and National Guard). In reality, this incessant boasting by CARL that its member endorsing agents represent over half of all the chaplains in the military is tantamount to their admitting that the number of virulently anti-LGBT fundamentalist Christian military chaplains is entirely disproportionate to the number of service members who share their fundamentalist Christian and anti-LGBT opinions and beliefs.

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While there are about two hundred chaplain endorsers recognized by the government to endorse military chaplains, only about thirty are members of CARL, and yet this minority of about 15% of all chaplain endorsers represents over half of all the military's chaplains?

But wait; it gets worse. We still need to add the many other endorsing agents that are not members of CARL but hold the same fundamentalist beliefs and opinions regarding homosexuality and LGBT rights as CARL. Adding the large number of chaplains endorsed by these other endorsing agents, the number of blatantly anti-LGBT fundamentalist Christian chaplains is probably something closer to three quarters of all military chaplains.

"Bible-Believing" Christians vs. "false teachers"

Everybody is of course aware that there are many different denominations of Christians with varying interpretations of the Bible, but nobody would question that all Christians, whatever their denomination or particular tenets, believe in the Bible, right? Wrong.

According to the hardcore fundamentalists, such as the members of CARL, most Christians are not "Bible-believing" Christians. Only they are. All other people who call themselves Christians are merely "apostates" and "false teachers."

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Even according to their own statistics, these "Bible-believing" Christians are a very small minority of all Christians. For example, the website for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, citing a Barna Research Group study, states that "Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview." That's right; only 9 percent. And yet the percentage of chaplains in our military who have this "biblical worldview" that qualifies them as bonafide "Bible-believing" Christians is over 50 percent if you only count those endorsed by CARL members, and, as already explained, is probably closer to 75% when you add the numerous other chaplains endorsed by the rest of the "Bible-believing" endorsing agents who aren't CARL members.

So, what exactly do they mean by "Bible-believing" Christians? Well, let's get the explanation straight from a chaplain whose endorsing agent is a CARL member.

Captain Sonny Hernandez is an Air Force Reserve chaplain for the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Hernandez is endorsed by the CARL member Associated Gospel Churches (AGC). He is also the pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, a church whose "Street Preaching Ministry" targets not only gay pride events and abortion clinics, but also Catholic events. One of Chaplain Hernandez's online outlets for his outrageously homophobic, extremist fundamentalist Christian "teachings" has been the "Christian Fighter Pilot" blog -- the blog of former fighter pilot and current paper pusher, Air Force Lt. Col. Jonathan Dowty.

In a September 2016 post titled "Bible-Believing Military Chaplains Wanted," Chaplain Hernandez offered much advice to service members, warning them to make sure that their chaplain is of the "Bible-Believing" variety:

"It is important to note that not all military chaplains that profess to represent Christ are ambassadors, as some are apostates. Just because Christian chaplains wear cross insignias, reference Scripture, and are amicable, it does not mean that they are regenerate, born again Christians. The Devil quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:6) and masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), which is why Christ warned: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.- Matthew 7:15

"False teachers are identified by their subtlety (Genesis 3:1), deviant heresies (2 Peter 2:1-30), contradicting doctrines (Romans 16:17), human tradition that nullifies Scripture (Colossians 2:8), that is palatable (2 Timothy 4:3), fabricated (John 8:44), and perverted (Jude 1:4). This is why Bible-believing chaplains are needed."

Hernandez even provided a handy list of questions that a service member should ask their chaplain to ensure that they "are not led away by false doctrines":

"Bible-believing military chaplains should never abjure their responsibility to be watchmen (Ezekiel 33:6-7), which is why they must instruct the service men and women they serve to ask a lot of questions to the chaplains they currently serve with, or one day will encounter, so they are not led away by false doctrines (Ephesians 4:17). Here are sample questions that service men and women can ask their chaplains to see if they speak for Christ (John 6:44), or someone else (John 8:44): "1. Do you believe the Bible is sufficient, infallible, and inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? (Special note: if the Bible is not their authority, then they are not born again Christians, because they have nothing to measure their Christianity upon). "2. What ecclesiastical endorsing agency do you serve (Joshua 24:15)? (Special note: you need to research ecclesiastical endorsing agencies, as there are some that actually approve and endorse homosexual chaplains to serve, despite the fact that Scripture condemns this practice. The Presbyterian Church USA and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America are a few examples). "3. Do you believe homosexuality is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)? (Special note: a person can be gay, or they can be a Christian. However, they cannot be a gay Christian, because no such things exist. Unless a homosexual man or woman becomes born again, they can never see the kingdom of God (John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 6:11).) "4. How do you define the word love? (Special note: always remember that many homosexual advocates love to pervert the word love, as they define love as tolerance to sin, and call it good (Isaiah 5:20-21). The biblical definition of love is about obedience to the commandments of Christ (2 John 6), not our conceits, and rejoices not in iniquity but in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Most importantly, true love is about sacrifice, as Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6), to make them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)."

Hernandez's opinion that "a person can be gay, or they can be a Christian" but "they cannot be a gay Christian, because no such things exist" would obviously be disagreed with by the many LGBT-affirming Christian denominations and their members. Among the Military Religious Freedom Foundation's 952 LGBT clients, 645 identify as Christians.

Their remedy to combat the moral decadence of LGBT service members? Get even more of these "Bible-Believing" chaplains into the military!

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The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which is one of the "Bible-Believing" denominations that is not a member of CARL, endorses over 1,400 military chaplains through the North American Mission Board (NAMB). As noted in the 2011 St. Louis Post Dispatch article cited at the top of this piece, the SBC is one of the most outrageously disproportionately represented denominations in the military chaplaincy. How big is this disparity? Well, while SBC chaplains make up about 28% of the chaplaincy, less than 1% of active duty service members identify as Southern Baptist. But this already completely disproportionate 28:1 ratio apparently isn't enough for the SBC. In response to the repeal of DADT, the NAMB sent out a "Chaplaincy Update" to all SBC chaplains telling them that they did not intend to withdraw their chaplains, but that their intent was to send even more of them.

On a mission to save the gays from their "satanic snare"

Some of CARL's member chaplain endorsers and their denominations have merely put out the following statement saying that they believe that marriage is only between one man and one woman:

"Since God created mankind into genders distinctly male and female, we believe that the only legitimate marriage is that between a man and a woman. He has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of marriage. We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful perversions of God's gift of sex. We believe that God rejects any attempt to alter one's gender by surgery or appearance."

But many have gone further, writing position papers and passing resolutions.

The United Pentecostal Church International, for example, passed the following resolution to "go on public record as absolutely opposed to homosexuality and condemn it as a moral decadence and sin," calling LGBT people "those enslaved by that satanic snare":

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"Inasmuch as some segments of liberal Christianity have expressed a willingness to accept the so-called "gay rights" movement as a legitimate lifestyle, and "Whereas the inerrant, inspired Word of God emphatically declares, in Romans chapter I, homosexuality to be vile, unclean, unnatural, unseemly, and an abomination in the sight of God, and "Whereas the United Pentecostal Church International is a fundamental Bible-believing organism entrusted with a divine destiny to provide spiritual direction to a wayward world, "Let us therefore resolve that the United Pentecostal Church International go on public record as absolutely opposed to homosexuality and condemn it as a moral decadence and sin, and do hereby encourage prayer for the deliverance of those enslaved by that satanic snare."

Other statements from CARL members and their denominations include the expected homophobic language, making frequent use of words like "perversion" and "detestable."

There's this one is from the Regular Baptist Churches:

"Perversion is the alteration of something from its original course, meaning, or state to a distortion of what was first intended. The sad truth is that all of us are sinners, and all of us have sexual desires that have been bent, twisted, and perverted from God's original plan. You see, sexual desires do not define us. Our created identity defines, limits, and regulates our sexuality. Any desire to fulfill our sexuality outside of the confines of our created identity -- monogamous marriage between man and woman -- is perversion."

And this one from The Christian and Missionary Alliance:

"Homosexual conduct is declared to be detestable because it is out of harmony with the purpose for which God created human beings."

There are also ones with reparative ministries, such as the Missouri Synod Lutherans (not to be confused with the ECLA Lutherans, which is an LGBT-affirming denomination), and quite a few that not only want to save the gays, but whose ministries seek to help the unfortunate family members of those who are caught in this satanic snare, like the Evangelical Free Church of America, which states:

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"We in the Church must seek ways to minister to and support those among us who struggle with same-sex attractions, and those who have family members or others close to them who identify as LGBT."
Every year, the Los Angeles Business Journal gives the Patrick Soon-Shiong Innovation Award to a company that is doing possibility-redefining things to further tech. This year it went to LA-based Scorpion Computer Services, Inc. for their groundbreaking artificial intelligence software, ScenGen (short for Scenario Generator). It's a major step forward for the field of AI that has been picked up by the Department of Defense's Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for a trial run of its operational uses.

With applications from military campaign strategy to predictive analysis, the implications of artificial intelligence innovations are boundless. But more than its high-level uses, 2017 will invite artificial intelligence innovations into our daily lives in unprecedented ways. Here are 5 ways AI will transform your business, if you let it.

1. It will help you integrate and consolidate

A major hurdle of growing a business is overcoming fragmentation caused by scaling. As we grow, our needs grow too, and soon our trunks have grown boughs, which have grown branches, and so on. The delegation it necessitates can become unwieldy.

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Technology like ScenGen takes working parts that seem disparate, and combines them into a functioning whole by predicting and testing how each piece operates and organizing them more effectively. This is efficiency at its finest, and incorporating artificial intelligence to consolidate employees, tasks, and systems will reap immediate benefits.

2. You'll have an unprecedented ability to think fast

Artificial intelligence is difficult to define succinctly, but one feature is its ability to think more quickly through a problem than a human mind could. As Scorpion's founder Walter O'Brien put it, "ScenGen's AI generates 250 years of human thinking every 90 minutes, so you can be certain that you have considered all possible scenarios for a given situation."

Think of the applications for that kind of scenario processing ability in your business. The mitigated risks afforded by the technology makes decision-making less about avoiding potential pratfalls, leaving business owners to focus on other important details.

3. It will enable you to protect yourself

The speed of a system like ScenGen is powerful, but it's also an incredibly sturdy shield. AI systems can take cyber security to the next level by processing every possible threat and fortifying your system in advance. Using your teams, you can operate the same way in a more general sense by, instead of searching outward for marketing possibilities and risks, searching inward for weaknesses and potential problem areas. By making sure that structural integrity is sound, business owners can fortify structures to withstand anything, giving peace of mind both to brands and their customers.

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4. It can facilitate strategizing through projection

Good AI is so prescient that it almost seems psychic. The ability to process so many possible scenarios makes it spooky-good at predicting outcomes, which is valuable -- but even more valuable is planning for those outcomes. Using the predictive principles of AI to create strategies for every possible future scenario will give your business superhero skills.

5. It will encourage you to embrace the future

The biggest takeaway from looking into AI, especially with powerful systems like ScenGen, is that no matter which scenario you consider, AI is a major part of the future of business on both ends of the B2C spectrum. It's already fueling everything from advanced military strategization technology to the way Google AdWords delivers relevant ad experiences to internet users.
A Jewish civil rights group has sent a terse warning to an organization of teachers and scholars of literature and language: better not entertain any idea of endorsing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. If you do -- we may well sue you.

The authors of this threat are reacting to the fact that in just a few days, at its annual convention, the Delegate Assembly of the largest academic organization to ever consider endorsing BDS--the Modern Language Association--will vote on a resolution which reads:

"Whereas the MLA affirms: 'When academic freedom is curtailed, higher education is compromised';

Whereas the US materially supports Israel's ongoing violations of human rights and international law;

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Whereas these violations include the systematic denial of academic freedom and educational rights for Palestinian scholars and students;

Whereas Israeli universities are instrumental in perpetuating these violations;

Be it resolved that the MLA endorses Palestinian civil society's call for the boycott of Israeli academic institutions; and

Be it further resolved that the MLA affirms the right of faculty and students everywhere to advocate for the boycott of Israeli academic institutions, without retaliation."

As required, the authors of the resolution have supplied documentation from reputable sources such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, Israeli human right groups, and others to support their claims [disclosure: I am a member of the group sponsoring this resolution].

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As reported in The Algemeiner, the Brandeis Center's letter to the Modern Language Association claims that if the MLA passes the resolution it would be subject to an "ultra vires" law suit. Ultra vires lawsuits were popular in the mid-twentieth century as a means by which shareholders in a corporation could sue boards of directors for allegedly mismanaging the business--they accused directors of taking the company in a direction that went beyond its original mission.

Adapting this tactic, the Brandeis letter says the MLA boycott resolution has nothing to do with the mission of the MLA, which declares that "[t]he object of the association shall be to promote study, criticism and research in the more and less commonly taught modern languages and their literatures and to further the common interests of teachers of these subjects."

Brandeis maintains that the boycott resolution "harms study and research by dividing the membership, and excluding academics along political lines based on ethnic and national associations, thereby undermining the values that the MLA works to advance." The Center called on MLA administrators to "table or reject the boycott resolution" which "can only bring further divisiveness" and "lead to irreparable damage" of the organization.

Two issues stand out. First is the question of whether or not such a resolution takes the MLA so far afield from its mission as to warrant its administration abandoning its own deliberative and democratic procedures and bowing to external pressure from an external organization. The second is whether or not the resolution actually bars any collaboration with Israeli Jewish scholars.

The resolution's supporters claim that it conforms to the MLA's mission in it asks the MLA to honor its commitment to defending the "common interests of teachers" of modern languages and literatures. Such interests certainly include the right to education, free speech, and academic freedom--that is, precisely those rights that allow teachers to fulfill their own missions.

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The MLA has a proven track record in protecting these rights internationally. In 1981 Delegate Assembly passed, and the MLA membership ratified, a resolution in support of Jewish scholars in the Soviet Union, stating, "Whereas the Modern Language Association is dedicated to the propagation and study of a diversity of languages and literatures, and Whereas Soviet Jews are harassed and arrested in attempts to study their own culture and languages, Be it resolved that the Executive Director communicate to appropriate officials of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the strong disapproval by the Modern Language Association of any attempts to suppress Jewish culture and, in particular, the Hebrew and Yiddish languages." That year the Delegate Assembly also ratified resolutions in support of scholars in El Salvador and Poland. And just this year it issued a strong statement in support of Turkish academics suffering persecution there. So why not do the same for Palestinians, whose schools have been bombed, universities invaded and closed, teachers and students deprived of human rights and indeed their lives? A quarter of the Palestinians who were killed during Israel's attack on Gaza in the summer of 2014 were students, according to the United Nations. Given the MLA's historical concerns with such deprivations of rights, the current resolution seems to be well within the mission of the association.

In terms of the question of whether or not endorsing the boycott would cut off relations with individual scholars, the resolution insists this is a boycott against institutions, not individual scholars, except those who officially and formally present themselves as representing the State of Israel. In this sense BDS is much less stringent than the anti-apartheid boycotts, that did boycott individual scholars. The sponsors of the resolution stipulate:

"The boycott is not directed at individuals. It is a boycott by an institution against Israeli institutions, stipulating that the MLA as an organization will not engage in normal academic activities with Israeli academic institutions. It does not deny Israeli scholars the right to attend conferences (including MLA meetings), speak at or visit U.S. universities, or publish their work in MLA or other scholarly publications. Nor will the boycott prevent U.S. scholars from traveling to Israel. Individual MLA members remain free to decide whether and how to implement the boycott on their own."

The use of such dubious tactics as ultra vires lawsuits by opponents of the boycott is a sign that they are catching on to the fact that confronting the boycott head-on is a losing proposition--after all, boycotts are Constitutionally protected forms of free speech. The use of ultra vires suits simply shows that they lack any other grounds to attack the boycott.

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In terms of potential "divisiveness" and "damage" to the organization--there is of course no way to telling whether such things will come about, whether nor not these are idle threats. In fact, after the American Studies Association endorsed the academic boycott in 2013, many of these same concerns were raised. Shortly after, the ASA announced that it had: "welcomed more than 700 new members. The ASA has also collected more membership revenue in the past three months than in any other three-month period over the past quarter-century and its ongoing 'Stand with the ASA' grassroots fundraising campaign has exceeded the association's expectations thus far."

And in terms of "divisiveness," one should recall Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" where King voiced his great disappointment in those who prefer "a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice."
Lydia Bussiere's career goal is to apply engineering knowledge and contribute to a better, healthier world. She is an engineer, and especially interested in green energy and sustainable technologies. Armed with a potent combination of personal interest and education, this Smith College alumna has a promising career ahead. Lydia graduated from Smith in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science. She is now employed as a Service Engineering Project Manager for a fuel cell manufacturer.

Fuel cells produce electricity resulting from a chemical reaction, and are considered a form of green energy. Other types of green energy include biogas, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy. Fuel cell technology dates back to the early 1800s, and has evolved considerably since its invention.

Lydia's employer, Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. is located in South Windsor, Connecticut. Doosan manufactures hydrogen fuel cells, and stationary hydrogen fuel cell power plants. The fuel cells they produce are approximately ten feet tall and three feet square. Each tractor trailer-sized power plant is equipped with four cells and can produce 440 kilowatts of continuous power.

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Lydia joined the company in 2014 as a Senior Test Engineer. She was promoted in 2016 to her current position. Here's how she explains her evolution at Doosan:

"I was moved from our engineering department to our aftermarket and service engineering department in May. As a test engineer, I was focused on day-to-day operations in our manufacturing facility. As the project manager for our service engineering team, I'm instead focused on long-term reliability and efficiency improvements for our fleet of power plants in the field. I also assist with some of the issues that come up in the field. It's a project management role instead of a hands-on role, and I miss getting dirty in the factory at times. However, it's good experience and it's been interesting learning about how the product that I tested in the factory actually functions once it is delivered to the customer. My experience in the factory has also helped when trying to look at cross-functional ways we can improve our processes and our product."

For Lydia, discovering her interest in engineering came about during college:

"In high school, I was one of those people who genuinely liked learning. I was lucky; school wasn't too hard for me, so I was able to enjoy it. I didn't really have a favorite subject. I liked math, but I also liked history. And I loved reading and writing, so English was great too. When I started applying to colleges, I mostly picked smaller liberal arts schools, figuring that I could take a wide variety of classes and decide on a major later.

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I decided to attend Smith because I knew that I would get a good education there, regardless of what I majored in. It's interesting to think about how different my path would have been if I had picked one of the other liberal arts colleges I looked at. My first semester, I took cultural anthropology, music theory, geology, Spanish, and Engineering 100 - Engineering for Everyone. Engineering for Everyone ended up being one of the most challenging but interesting and fun classes that I took at Smith.



I spent countless hours in the engineering building at night, learning how to program microcontrollers, use a laser printer, calculate heat loss in a building, and create cement molds. The result was a tiny house that could automatically control its indoor temperature while sitting outside for 12 hours on a day in New England December. I learned some basics in that class, but what I really learned was creative problem solving. I knew that I needed a career that would challenge me and keep me interested, and I also wanted to be able to flex my creative muscles. This one project showed me that engineering could do that for me.

The Picker Engineering Program was founded in 1999, with the first class of 19 graduating in 2004. Since then, 294 students have graduated from the program with a B.S. degree in engineering science.

Smith is a liberal arts college, and its curriculum reflects that. All incoming engineering students take many of the same classes for the first 1.5-2 years. They all take classes in each of the engineering disciplines to get a taste of what their options are. Then, they are allowed to begin choosing electives that most fit their interests. It is an interdisciplinary program, and students are required to write papers and present their work frequently, since it is important that engineers can communicate well. This, especially, is a skill that I've appreciated honing at Smith. It allows me to communicate with engineers, management, and customers alike."

Today's employers actively seek out effective communication. Acquiring STEM knowledge in college may not be enough, if one cannot communicate about their work effectively. For those in college-selection mode, this is something to keep in mind.

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There are many advantages for future STEM-career women in attending a women's college, including the opportunity to develop effective communication skills. Earlier I penned a blog post on precisely that topic: Science Majors Develop Effective Communication Skills at Women's Colleges. Other advantages to be found include strong academic programs with opportunities for developing leadership, collaboration, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

To learn more about women's colleges, visit my blog, Advantages of a Women's College, where a complete listing of all women's colleges in the United States is provided.

Follow Diane on Twitter @HerSTEMCareer where she celebrates and champions STEM women from around the world.
KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT--Kuwait's new National Assembly has convened. Almost half of the victors in the November 26 election are members of the opposition. Many of them are religious conservatives who would like to take the country in a less free direction. Kuwait's last three years of relative political peace may be about to end.

Ironically, concern over the fate of Kuwait, America's best friend in the Persian Gulf, reflects the impact of democracy. The elective National Assembly matters. While the monarchy controls the government, legislators pass laws and can force the resignation of cabinet members.

Moreover, election results are not preordained. An opposition boycott in the last two votes led to more pliant legislative bodies. This time the Kuwaiti people chose members more likely to challenge the monarchy. Disputes are real and sometimes deep, though they occur within certain boundaries.

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Americans would find such limits uncomfortable. I once was chided by a Kuwaiti professional for calling her country liberal. Wasn't "liberalish" more accurate, she asked, and I had to agree. But everything is relative, especially in the Gulf. Kuwait still offers a positive model for neighboring nations which too often suffer from autocracy, civil strife, or both.

The latest campaign began on October 16, when the Emir dissolved the previous body, citing regional concerns and security issues. Campaigns run a maximum of 60 days; in this case the vote came less than six weeks later. The government invited journalists from across the world to view the contest.

It's an intimate process. There are five constituencies with ten members each. With less than a half million potential voters, the electorate is smaller than one U.S. congressional district. Nearly 300 candidates competed for the 50 seats. In the smallest district not even 2000 votes were needed for election.

Candidates mixed social media with traditional ads to reach a relatively youthful population. Still, elections are family and tribal as well as political affairs. In an attempt to inhibit deals between tribes the Emir four years ago changed the electoral rules to allow only one vote, down from four per person, triggering public protests and an opposition boycott. The Constitutional Court tossed out one elected body because, it ruled, the dissolution decree had been defective, and annulled another poll because of improper changes in electoral districts. (Not since 2003 has a National Assembly lasted its entire four-year term.)

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By July 2013, when the third election in 17 months was held, popular fervor had cooled. The government had toughened its response to critics while more voters hoped for political stability. With the Middle East aflame, demands for radical change ebbed. The opposition boycott ensured a friendlier parliament for the government.

Although the latest race was not without controversy--the Constitutional Court rejected challenges to the election--it came off smoothly. Indeed, polling places in Kuwait have a festive air missing in the U.S. Supporters set up tables with refreshments, campaign literature, and political tchotchke, lining the road to the voting location.

Men and women vote separately, and the latter only gained the suffrage in 2005. But today more women than men are registered to vote, and candidates make forthright appeals based on "women's issues." Women also can run for the National Assembly, though this time only one was elected.

In politics as elsewhere, Kuwait faces the tensions of a conservative society reaching toward modernity. There are no restrictions on women voting, driving, shopping, and most everything else, but their dress ranges from full covering to Western style. Women fill important professional positions but admit to being treated differently by coworkers. Change remains a challenge for a society which remains rooted in time and place. Nevertheless, in the voting place women count as much as any man.

There are none of the fraud concerns evident in so many nominal democracies. But that doesn't mean there are no controversies. A number of candidates were barred from running for alleged offenses and went to court. One who won the right to run, over the government's objection, was Safaa Abdurrahman al-Hashem, the sole female victor.

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When we talked she took great pride in having previously helped bring down government ministers. Last term she had resigned from office "in protest," she explained. I asked how this time would be different: "This is my country. I can't give up. I will keep working for it." She was particularly concerned about Kuwait's economic management. Her objective this time, she added, is "not to stay in" her district but "to go all over the country, especially to the women" to push reform.

Reform is a constant refrain, especially to ensure that members are not acting corruptly and under the government's influence. Much of the political turmoil in 2012 and 2013, during which three elections were held during 17 months, focused on cleaning up the legislature while holding the government accountable.

Nor have these issues disappeared. Some nonvoters doubt any candidates will act on their promises and serve the public rather than themselves. One 20-something complained that Assembly members "do small stuff, like fix your street or park," but do "nothing big for the country." Still, turnout was about 70 percent, up sharply from 2013.

The result was what political analyst Salah al-Fadhli described as a "tsunami of change." Only 20 of the 42 running for reelection won. Among the defeated were former ministers, a former deputy speaker, and prominent former MPs. Fewer Shiites and pro-government (religiously conservative) Salafists won; the representation of different tribes changed significantly.

Most important, Kuwaitis gave a dramatic boost to the opposition. Political observer Dahem al-Qahtani told Agence France-Presse: "Kuwaiti voters have punished those who let them down." There are no parties per se. The pro-government bloc is figured at about 16. The opposition is thought to number 24, though a couple of other members indicated their interest in cooperating with that bloc.

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The increased number of religious members brings to mind the February 2012 election, which produce a radical, though short-lived, social agenda. However, more mundane issues were the focus of the latest campaign. Some of the issues would be familiar to Americans: education, health, housing, jobs, and traffic. Rising prices and unproductive government were other complaints. One of the victorious MPs, Youssef Saleh al-Fedhalah, told me that he was "focusing on youth problems," particularly the lack of employment. He planned to push for government support to help Kuwaitis start businesses.

But Kuwait has unique concerns. Perhaps the most divisive issue is the future of the country's generous oil-based welfare state. Government officials with whom I've talked over the years have routinely decried the debilitating drain on national resources and impact on individual productivity. Too often government jobs are viewed as an entitlement rather than a responsibility and subsidies are expected for life's luxuries as well as necessities.

Information Minister Sheikh Salman Sabah al-Salem al-Homoud al-Sabah told me that "some people are using the social mechanism for their own benefit," so "Kuwait is trying to move away from a welfare state to a state of responsibility with the participation of its citizens." He admitted that "we cannot completely do away with the welfare state, but we have to work towards creating awareness in the population to take more responsibility." The Emir had cut his own spending to set an example, said Minister al-Sabah.

People commonly talk about restoring Kuwait as the "Pearl of the Gulf." In principle, that shouldn't be hard: Kuwait is freer and a better friend to America, and should be a regional catalyst for economic growth as well. However, the welfare system has sapped the Kuwaiti people's productivity, allowing other Gulf nations to race ahead of Kuwait economically.

While the government hopes to get more young people into private and small businesses, a younger official complained that "Kuwaitis don't want to work for private companies. They view that as insulting." The government has been trimming a range of subsidies. Privately one even cited the need for people to move into smaller homes, a tough objective when expansive luxury houses are a ubiquitous part of Kuwait City's landscape. One frustrated government aide declared simply: "We need to reduce the welfare state."

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Pressure for reform has risen as oil prices have fallen. Stated the forecasting firm Stratfor: Kuwait "has built an economic model completely funded by oil and natural gas revenue to support its workforce," yet revenues have dropped 60 percent over the last two years. The government is running its first deficit in 17 years and the International Monetary Fund has urged additional subsidy reform. A Finance Ministry committee has proposed phasing out all the subsidies, estimated to cost about $3 billion annually, by 2020.

In recent years the government made cuts in electricity, gasoline, and water subsidies and public sector employment costs. But no one likes to give up such benefits. One official admitted to me in frustration: "More people need to get behind the government. A lot of our problems are they are not supporting its policies."

The National Assembly is the fount of resistance. Stratfor noted that Kuwait's elected legislature made it harder for the government to trim spending, in contrast to other, less free Gulf countries. Some in the opposition "play on emotions, and say it is your right," complained one frustrated government representative. Indeed, Kuwait's lack of political parties and party programs means the best way for individual candidates to get noticed and elected is to play the populist card.

Popular frustration is palpable and seems to grow each time I visit. "There is so much the government could be doing," complained one Kuwaiti in his 20s. "But nothing is being done" on the economy. However, while support for economic "reform" and criticism of government "waste" were widespread during the recent campaign, candidates argued that subsidies were not "waste" and cutting subsidies was not "reform." Many voters interviewed by the media worried about reduced benefits and higher prices. Al-Qahtani declared that voters had "rejected the austerity measures," especially gasoline price hikes. Indeed, MP Abdullah Fahhad al-Enezi was quoted in the Kuwait Times as vowing to "stop government attempts for economic reforms at [the people's] expense."

The revived opposition also could spark resurgent interest in political reform. Rated "partly free" by Freedom House, Kuwait always has better respected human rights than its neighbors. But liberties have suffered amid the recent turmoil, during which the government stripped 33 activists of their citizenship, charged even more with insulting the Emir or constitution, and canceled newspaper and television licenses for coverage of internal royal disputes. The Assembly also approved a law penalizing online criticism.

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Many candidates criticized these restrictive practices and laws, and especially the government's treatment of critics. The most celebrated case is Mussallam al-Barrak, a long-serving MP who had received the most votes in Kuwaiti history. He was a protest leader very popular among the young during recent political turbulence. When I interviewed him in 2012 he affirmed his loyalty to the monarchy but sharply criticized the government.

Last year he was sentenced to two years in prison for insulting the Emir. His jailing set off public protests, his popularity undimmed by his social conservativism (he had opposed women's suffrage). One young Kuwaiti in government told me that al-Barrak was the "light of the parliament" who would have been elected in any of the constituencies had he been allowed to run this time. Although he will be barred from running after his release next year, no one expects him to retire from politics.

Still, the political temperature has dropped. The disparate opposition found it harder to unify for something than against government policies. And the monarchy recognized that it risked losing popular support, especially within the large youth population, and began a concerted program of consultation and outreach. While dissatisfaction remains--evidenced by the opposition's strong showing in the latest vote--the degree of antagonism appears to have moderated.

Moreover, the opposition is hampered by its divisions: it ranges from Islamist (Salafist and Muslim Brotherhood) to liberal to nationalist. Indeed, that disunity was evident earlier this month when the 15th session convened and reelected the previous speaker, Marzouq al-Ghanem, by a larger margin than in the previous session. Also, with government support Essa al-Kandari was elected deputy speaker by one vote over his Islamist rival.

The incoming Assembly is likely to prove difficult for the government nonetheless. Economic reform will top the agenda. The Emir opened the session with a warning that spending cuts are "inevitable" and that the fall in oil revenue required "sacrifices." Minister al-Sabah told me that the "government will present its view and will work with the National Assembly to implement economic and social reform to diversify" Kuwait's economy, but acknowledged that "many of the economic rules and regulations will be reviewed by the new" members. In fact, a majority of those elected promised to oppose further austerity.

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The new MPs will feel pressure to justify their election. Many had pressed, unsuccessfully, for a renewed and younger cabinet. They also promised to use their power to monitor--"grill" is one of their favorite terms--and even oust ministers. More radical ideas lurk in the background. Al-Barrak was not alone in pressing for a government responsible to a National Assembly majority. Three and four years ago I talked with Islamists and liberals who alike shared such a dream.

As a result, some MPs expect continuing political conflict. Islamist Hamdan al-Azemi predicted that the new body would not last and the Emir would end up dissolving the assembly by late next year. However, al-Azemi told the Kuwait Times that MPs no longer feared dissolution of the body, so the government had lost its leverage.

Yet no one really wants to return to the instability of a few years ago. Kuwaitis merely need look around the region. Syria is a bloody wreck. Iraq, Libya, and Yemen are ravaged by sectarian strife and war. Iran and Saudi Arabia differ in their variant of Islam but together rule with brutal repression. No wonder 62 percent of those Gulf residents questioned in the latest Arab Youth Survey prioritized stability before democracy.

Indeed, the Iraqi invasion of 1990 isn't forgotten. Even younger Kuwaitis have stories of to how it affected their families. The "martyrs" who died defending their country and during the occupation--hundreds were arrested and disappeared--are commemorated by a monument and museum in Al-Shaheed Park, an attractive oasis in an otherwise sterile urban landscape. One of the Kuwaitis who accompanied me to the park said that he couldn't "bear to go down" to the wall which pictured those killed.

Minister al-Sabah said "We are very proud of what we have, with the long experience and practice in democracy." And Kuwaitis are right to be pleased. Despite some notable and disappointing lapses, which the new National Assembly should address, the country remains significantly freer than other Gulf States. As such, Kuwait is an important Arab model of "liberalish" if not liberal governance, religious tolerance, and sectarian coexistence.

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Art-wise, 2016 was a good year for Los Angeles. LACMA presented the blockbuster exhibition, New Objectivity: Modern German Art in the Weimar Republic, 1919-1933, which started and ended with a number of Max Beckmann's powerful paintings. It was simply amazing to see so much great work by leading German artists in the aftermath of the disasters of World War I. The country was devastated, broken, but artists like Max Beckmann, Georg Grosz, Otto Dix, and August Sander, with their divergent style, gave sober, unsentimental and graphic depictions of the tumultuous years of the Weimar Republic.

Twenty-five years ago, the Director of Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center was arrested and put on trial for pandering obscenity. What was his offense? Exhibiting photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe (1946 - 1989). Nothing of the kind happened this year during the Mapplethorpe double-exhibition at the Getty and LACMA. I've been to many museum openings, but the crowd for Mapplethorpe's shows were the biggest, the noisiest, and definitely the most colorful that I have ever encountered.

Another rather provocative exhibition took place at the Craft and Folk Art Museum, where Los Angeles-based sculptor/ceramicist Keiko Fukazawa, made gentle -- and sometimes not-so-gentle -- fun of Chairman Mao. Mao's famous (or rather, infamous) 1956 Hundred Flowers Campaign was initially presented as the "policy of letting a hundred flowers bloom..." But after a brief period of liberalization, Chairman Mao abruptly changed course and spearheaded a political crackdown.

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The Broad Museum, which opened in downtown last year, proudly celebrated its first year -- and proud it should be. Every time I pass by, I see a long line of visitors waiting for admission. Initially, the annual attendance was expected to be at about 300,000 people, but at the end of its first year, the actual number was three times higher.

At the exhibition Electric Earth by Los Angeles-based artist Doug Aitken at the Geffen Contemporary, one is plunged into a dark labyrinth of galleries showing video installations, sculptures, photographs, and architectural works created in the last 20 years by this internationally celebrated artist. Museum curators achieved the near impossible by organizing an exhibition where visitors -- instead of politely walking through -- sit and even lie on the floor, transfixed by a stream of videos on large screens in front and above their heads.

Last but not least, let's revisit the great masterpiece by James Ensor (1860 - 1949), Christ's Entry into Brussels in 1889 (1888) on permanent display at the Getty Museum. Standing in front of this painting, created more than 100 years ago, one still hears the noise of its huge crowd, including a number of politicians and religious leaders, all of whom Ensor mocks mercilessly. Hidden deep in the crowd is a small figure of Christ himself. The question remains, is Christ the subject of celebration? Or mockery? It's up to us to decide. Ensor is obviously referring to the deep cultural, religious, and ethnic issues dividing his country. Sounds uncomfortably familiar, doesn't it?

To learn about Edward's Fine Art of Art Collecting Classes, please visit his website. You can also read The New York Times article about his classes here, or an Artillery Magazine article about Edward and his classes here.

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___________
"Don't speak Arabic here."

That was one of the first pieces of advice I recieved when I moved back to the United States after spending years in the Middle East, and it's a sentence that tends to ring in my ear very often. I did not hear it from an angry passer-by following the rhetoric of famous politicians. I did not hear it from the barista at the coffee shop I tend to frequent. I heard it from a person whose second language is Arabic, and I would lie to you if I told you that did not make me think twice about carrying around an Arabic novel to sit and read out in the public. I would also lie to you if I told you that didn't make me look around and see if anyone was looking at me suspiciously when I spoke Arabic in public.



I felt like the person who warned me to not speak Arabic in America was telling me to betray my Arabic tongue and everyone who taught me it.



However, I also felt like someone was trying to lock up part of my identity. I felt like the person who warned me to not speak Arabic in America was telling me to betray my Arabic tongue and everyone who taught me it.

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Don't speak Arabic here? It's gotten to this? I find myself thinking again.





Many will attribute the recent rise of the discrimination "incidents" and hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims, specifically, to 'Trump's America.'



Is that why Arabic, my language and the language of millions around the world, frightens many? Many will attribute the recent rise of the discrimination "incidents" and hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims, specifically, to "Trump's America." However, with organizations that have been around since the 1980s, such as English First that lobbies for English becoming the official language of the United States and for issues like decreasing "healthcare costs by using English only and removing the translator mandate", it is clear that the soon-to-be president Trump is not the root cause. He is simply part of the equation that paved the way for this sort of blunt and appalling discrimination to surface once again.

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On a particular night a few months ago, my brother and I were walking in downtown New Orleans speaking Arabic. A group of women holding daiquiris were walking behind us. They seemed to be having a good time, laughing and speaking loudly, until one of them called to my brother and I.

"Hey, you. What language are you speaking?"

My brother and I turned around and said, "Arabic."

"What are you saying?" She continued to probe.

At the moment, I was discussing how the sky looked like it was about to rain, so I told her.

"Girl, speak English. Speak English!" She commented and strolled past us with her group of friends.

Oddly enough -- or perhaps, understandably enough - her question "what are you saying?" is something I wish people around the world that think Arabic is scary and the language of terrorism asked more often. If it were asked to myself, I would speak of the beauty of Arabic. I would narrate the many times I searched for the word "Salamtik" in English when someone who doesn't speak Arabic tells me they were sick or the time I searched for the words "Ya'teek el 'afia" in English to tell the conductor of the streetcar I frequent when he dropped me off at my destination. I can tell you that the first word means "May God give you peace" and the second word means "May God give you wellness", but the sincerity of the words said in Arabic is lost in translation. I would greet and bid farewell with one of the most beautiful greetings in Arabic: "Assalamu 'Alaikum" ("Peace be upon you").





I still will speak Arabic, and I invite anyone bothered by this to ask me: 'What are you saying?' I would be more than grateful to tell you.



In 2015 alone, over one million individuals obtained lawful permanent resident status. This only points to the fact that more people are coming into and settling in the United States - people who speak different languages, including Arabic. The fact is not a single person can tell another to leave their language back home without going against the Amendments and Civil Rights law, often quoted but seldom followed.

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"Speaking a different language used to be considered a unique and impressive skill. I remember making friends in elementary school over their interest in how to write their name in Arabic. Now to think that people are viewed as "Others" because of a skill, a unique attribute, leaves me speechless," Manar Mohammad, a Palestinian-American friend, posted earlier today on social media. That's what America was to individuals like Manar and myself. We happily told our fellow Americans where we were from and what language we spoke. We showed them how their names were written in Arabic.
The world's media is touting the "coming out" party for China's lone aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. The carrier and its's entourage of escorting destroyers and frigates made a splash when they left the first island chain behind and sallied forth into the open Pacific Ocean past Taiwan and Okinawa. The ship and its battle group are symbolically headed to the South China Sea, where China has territorial disputes with several nations.

An editorial in the Chinese government-run Global Times, which accompanied the battle group's voyage, claimed that soon Chinese carriers would be lurking off the U.S. West Coast in the Eastern Pacific, thus making the United States think twice about its carriers' current prowling in the Western Pacific near China. China has one other carrier under construction and plans to have four carriers a decade or so from now.

China is undoubtedly a rising Asian power, with double-digit economic growth, and may someday have a credible aircraft carrier force. The Liaoning is not that force; in fact, it's a joke. China bought the outdated Soviet-designed ship, with its obsolete ski jump flight deck, from Ukraine in the late 1990s, refitted it, and relaunched it as a training carrier in 2012. Rather than bringing substantial combat power to bear, as the ten modern U.S. carrier battle groups do, the Liaoning is merely a symbol of China's future aspiration to being an Asian/Pacific power. Perfecting carrier operations takes many decades of naval institutional memory and massive amounts of money, both of which the U.S. Navy has had and the Chinese Navy has not. A nation needs much more than new ships and aircraft--it needs institutional know-how on developing highly trained personnel, and specialized logistics capability. The ships and aircraft must be properly crewed, operated, resupplied, maintained, and overhauled.

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Carriers are at their best when they are showing the flag (what the Liaoning is doing), because when a war starts, land-based aircraft have greater range and can carry larger weapons loads. In addition, some naval analysts believe that carriers are very vulnerable to attack from such aircraft, land- and sea-based cruise missiles, torpedoes from submarines, and maybe even naval mines. Thus, if they are correct--which seems likely--it may not behoove the rising China to so closely imitate the United Sates, the established naval superpower. Thus, although the hoopla about China's sending its aircraft carrier into the Pacific has been overdone, the United States should note the insecurity that China has experienced about the operation of U.S. carrier battle groups in the Western Pacific near its shores. The United States has no viable security interest in engaging in such intimidation and containment of China--other than to protect wealthy allied nations, under outdated alliances, that should be doing much more to defend themselves.
New Yiddish Rep's astonishing revival of Sholem Asch's God of Vengeance, performed in its original Yiddish with projected English subtitles, takes the audience to a modest-looking Jewish household in an indeterminable time period. Sarah (Tony nominee Eleanor Reissa, who also directed the play) and her young teenage daughter Rifkele (Shayna Schmidt) are cheerfully preparing for a party. It's a special occasion: Yekel Tchaptchovitch, the family patriarch, is buying a Holy Scroll (also known as a Sefer Torah) for Rifkele to keep in her bedroom. For the audience, it all appears as wholesome as could be. We then meet the austere Yekel (Shane Baker), the protagonist of the play. Yekel is more than happy to speak (some may say "boast") about his wealth, but we quickly detect his ambivalence about the dubious "business" which brought him that wealth-- as well as his anxiety over his family's "reputation" in their town. Both he and Sarah make cryptic references to their pasts, which leads us to believe that there's more to this family's history than meets the eye. Just what kind of business is Tchaptchovitch involved with?

The audience finds out soon enough. The business is a hazyl (brothel), in the cellar of the Tchapchovitch house. Yekel, called "Uncle" by his workers, is the owner of the brothel, and Sarah used to be a prostitute. Despite the questionable goings-on in the cellar, Yekel and Sarah are determined to keep their daughter pure, modest, and virtuous-- and, most importantly, make her a suitable bride for a nice Jewish man. In addition to obtaining the aforementioned Holy Scroll as a dowry for a future husband, keeping Rifkele respectable includes keeping her away from the alluring, wild-eyed prostitute Manke (Melissa Weisz), whom she is fond of. A moral conflict ensues: Tchapchovitch acknowledges his unsavory past and present, but doesn't want his daughter to pay for "the sins of the parents". He hopes that God will be "one of mercy and forgiveness", rather than the "God of retribution and vengeance" which inspired the play's title.

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Written in 1906, Asch's God of Vengeance premiered on Broadway in 1923. With its themes of religious hypocrisy, gender roles, and forbidden sexuality, it's no surprise that the play caused quite a scandal. The show's manager, producer, and entire cast was arrested and successfully prosecuted on obscenity charges. This was largely due to the much talked about "lesbian kiss" between Rifkele and Manke-- the first ever on a Broadway stage. Other scenes were considered blasphemous, including a character's "calling out" God for His perceived cruelty, and the desecration of the play's pivotal Sefer Torah. All of those scenes remain in this new version of God of Vengeance, and none of them have lost their potency. The shock value of the infamous same-sex kiss may have diminished as we enter 2017, but the scene of Weisz' untamed Manke seducing Schmidt's naive Rifkele is no less provocative to watch almost a century later. Asch's original script and deft direction by director Reissa combine to make the forbidden encounter between these two widely divergent representations of female beauty and personality very believable.

The entire cast is superb, with passionate portrayals of the characters. In a complex role, Shane Baker is excellent as the gruff (yet superficially charming, when necessary...) Yekel Tchaptchovitch. He meets his dramatic counterpart with the equally intense David Mandelbaum as Reb Eli-- a rabbi with, shall we say, dubious integrity (the kind of holy man who can solve your moral dilemma for "another hundred rubles"). Luzer Twersky, as brothel manager Shloyme, and Caraid O'Brien, as his mistress Hindel, are also engrossing to watch. While hardly provoking sympathy, their characters' seemingly unapologetic lack of internal moral conflict makes for an interesting contrast with Yekel and Sarah. Rachel Botchan and Mira Kessler are endearing as "working girls" Reizl and Basha.

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From the first to the final scene, the acting strengths of the cast quickly ease any hesitations that the audience may have about seeing a play performed in Yiddish. The story, timeless themes, and searing sense of drama transcend language. At the shocking conclusion of God of Vengeance, the concept of language will become somewhat irrelevant anyway: The audience will truly be left speechless.

God of Vengeance runs through January 22, 2017 at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, 66 E 4th St., New York City. Visit www.NewYiddishRep.org for showtimes and more information.
First off, let me be clear: The Republican Party bears responsibility for Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the United States. The Republican Party nominated him. The party leaders enabled him. There were many complex social, political, and economic forces that produced the Trump catastrophe, but no amount of disassembling and deflecting will change the fact that the Republican Party made this happen.

So now the country (and the world) seem to be awaiting the consequences in a mental state sometimes called the "delusion of reprieve," where condemned people cling to the illusion that they might be reprieved at the very last minute. We hear news about Trump's appointments to his White House and cabinet, his constant stream of petulant Tweets, and his cavalier attitude toward the world's deadliest weapons and say: "Everything will yet be well."

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Through his public statements and personnel choices Trump has made it clear that he rejects the science of climate change. I've always believed that people who dismiss science in one area shouldn't be able to benefit from science in others. If Trump and his cohort believe the science of global warming is bogus then they shouldn't be allowed to use the science of the Internet for their Twitter accounts, the science of global positioning for their drones, or the science of nuclear power for their weaponry.

The oil, coal, and gas companies use the same scientific methodology to extract resources that climate scientists use to confirm the planetary disaster that awaits us. It's pretty crazy to see the U.S. government abandon science when it conflicts with corporate profits, while Trump's donors from Big Ag, Big Banks, and Big Pharma deploy science to patent new life forms, engage in "high frequency" trading, and invent new drugs.

It's not just the people around Trump who reject the science of climate change. The leadership of the Republican Party -- from House Speaker Paul Ryan to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to the chairs of the key science and technology committees in Congress, to the Republicans' favorite think tanks -- all share the fossil fuel industry's preference that the U.S. government does nothing to address the most serious planetary crisis humanity has ever faced.

The Republicans' cravenness on climate change is clear. After claiming for years that the science was "inconclusive" (or a "hoax"), they held the public position that they opposed any concerted action to reduce greenhouse gases because China and India would never go along. Then, in 2015, when China and India signed on to the Paris Climate accords, Mitch McConnell and the Republican leaders began telling foreign governments that the Republicans would fight against any international deal on climate change in any case.

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" . . . And so one thing that has been interesting this entire campaign season to watch is that people that say facts are facts--they're not really facts. Everybody has a way--it's kind of like looking at ratings, or looking at a glass of half-full water. Everybody has a way of interpreting them to be the truth, or not truth. There's no such thing, unfortunately, anymore as facts."

The cable news shows and even middlebrow fare on NPR and PBS don't have the tools to deal with Ms. Hughes's Orwellian assertions or Trump's brash mendacity. They generally greet with a yawn this epochal shift that is taking place in our nation's political discourse, blandly interpreting it as a sign of the times brought to us by social media - blah, blah, Zzzzzzzzz.

We're now entering a period where the U.S. military's 22nd Century weapons technology is in the hands of those whose mentality hasn't really left the Bronze Age. Say what you will about the deficiencies among the Democratic leadership (and there are many), at least the Democrats are trying to remain in the fact-based world and accept the validity of scientific inquiry

"The challenge to authority that science presents," writes Shawn Otto in The War on Science (2016), "is one of the many reasons why it has flourished in free, democratic societies, and why those same societies have fallen when they have turned their backs on the freedom science requires in favor of authoritarianism." (p. 52)

Climate change is real. Facts matter. Ketchup is not a "vegetable side dish." Nuclear missiles are not "peace keepers." Sending prisoners to be tortured in foreign lands is not "extraordinary rendition." African-American youths are not "super-predators." Torture is not "enhanced interrogation." The estate tax is not a "death tax." War is not peace. Freedom is not slavery. Ignorance is not strength.
Glacier capped mountains, alpine meadows, spectacular Pacific coast, primeval forests, fish and wildlife, sparkling streams and lakes, Indian and pioneer history, biological diversity, exceptionally clean air, wilderness solitude... that is the description that the National Park Service assigns this park. Any of these standalone attributes is rich on its own merit--and at Olympic National Park in Washington state, you can experience them all in one day.



Catching views of the Pacific Ocean from the shores of Rialto Beach. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

It is one of the few national parks, if not the only park, that contains within its boundaries alpine mountains, temperate old-growth rainforests, and oceanic coastline. The mountains of the Olympic Range are dramatic with their jagged, glacier-capped peaks that are continuously carved away by high-elevation winds. The forests are blanketed in technicolor green, enfolding you in a nucleus of living biology in what is arguably the greenest, lushest, and most diverse rainforest in all of North America. The Pacific Ocean rages wild, forming sea-stacks, living tide pools, and perfectly smoothed stones shaped by the world's largest ocean, laying ground for endless mounds of driftwood to sit on, to play on, and to throw on top of your by-the-sea campfire. These are not just words--there is a profound natural beauty in the great Pacific Northwest, and one of the finest samplings can be found in the Olympics.

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While there are 168 miles of paved roads in the park, none of them travel deep into its interior. More than a dozen spur roads, along with 611 miles of hiking trails make it easier to access, however with such a wide variety of environments to play in it can be tough to know how to plan an adventure there. This article is designed to focus in on favorite areas in the mountains, the rainforests, and by the sea.





Wally the Airstream makes way into the Hoh Rainforest for some camping fun! Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Weather eclipsed our photography at Hurricane Ridge this year so unfortunately, we have no photos of our own to illustrate the beautiful mountain-scape--so we share this instead, a wonderful shot of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center captured by the National Park Service.

Weather eclipsed our photography at Hurricane Ridge this year so unfortunately, we have no photos of our own to illustrate the beautiful mountain-scape--so we share this instead, a wonderful shot of the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center captured by the National Park Service.

The Mountains

Washington state is a playground for mountain-lovers because of its glaciated peaks, rugged terrain, and alpine wilderness found in both the Olympic and North Cascade Ranges. The heart of the Olympic Mountain Range belongs to Mt. Olympus (7,980-feet) and Hurricane Ridge (5,242 feet), the latter being the most popular area to explore in the mountainous section because of its improbable accessibility. Within its confines live sub-alpine forests, shimmering alpine lakes, and meadows known for outstanding bursts of wildflowers that color the landscape during the spring and summer months. Arguably more impressive is Hurricane Hill, an exposed mountaintop overlooking the world with views of the Pacific Coast 33 miles westward. Off-road vehicles that are equipped to crawl the alpine terrain can head out for exploration of the narrow dirt roads of Obstruction Point and/or Deer Park where wildlife sighting are common. The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center also offers tremendous views and is available to anyone with a car and a map who wishes to go there. During ski season, the area transforms into a winter wonderland where freshly laid powder invites snowshoers, alpine and cross-country skiers, boarders, and kids of all ages keen to fly down the hill on a sled or intertube.

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A beautiful example of the diverse terrain at Olympic National Park. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

The Rainforest

Do you believe in magic? How about magical places? The Hoh Rainforest is proof that they exist. Under the canopy, the health of the ancient rainforest is evident--every square inch of land beneath your feet and all of the area surrounding you is drenched with vegetation, tree bark, leaves, and foliage. National Geographic Travel notes that moss-covered Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock trees reach heights of up to 300 feet. It is otherworldly. Supernatural. One of our dear friends described it as "absolute chaos"--and it is in the very best way. It's a little bit like a Monet painting--picturesque from even the smallest distance but incredibly detailed when you have a closer look.

The best way to explore Hoh is to set out on the Hoh River Trail meandering through an enchanting world of old-growth trees and its colorful backdrop on a flat and easy trail. If you follow the trail to Five-Mile Island and back to the Visitor Center from where you started you will have wandered 10 miles through spruce, cedar, fir, and other coniferous trees that helped to earn Washington the name "The Evergreen State." The best part about this trail is that it is relatively non-committal--you can easily turn back any time you please and you never feel as though you are missing "major viewpoints" because the major viewpoints are all around you, the entire way.



High on life in the Hoh Rainforest. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

The Coast

Stretching 73 miles aside the Pacific Ocean in Olympic National Park is a coastline that provides some of the best beach camping, beachcombing, tide-pooling, and general discovery that there is anywhere in the nation. Look left and you'll see the ocean; look to the right, the forest. And straight ahead is just beach and all that comes with it--stones smoothed by the ocean, stretches of sand, giant mounds of driftwood, towering rock formations on land and sea-stacks off shore, and birds soaring above the roaring icy-blue Pacific Ocean. One of the most popular areas is Mora's Hole-in-the-Wall for its amazing geology, tide-pools, and forest trails that wind aside the beachfront--a fine place to pitch a tent! We've camped at both Third Beach and Second Beach in the past, and they are remarkable as well. With such a long stretch of national park-protected shore, variety is on your side--no two beaches are the same and they all welcome different experiences to be had in each of them.
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.
Transcription

1 The Nile is a Symbol of Cooperation and Collaboration: Dr. Tedros Adhanom T he Nile River is one of Ethiopia s main natural resources, and one of the most important. In the past we have been unable to use this considerable natural resource effectively. Now, following a decade of impressive growth, we are finally in a position to do so. The Nile, of course, links a total of 10 countries in the Nile Basin, and we recognise the vital role that shared interests and development can play in benefitting us all. This is why we believe cooperation is the rational and strategic way forward for all the countries of the Basin, as demonstrated by the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). It is time to throw off the legacy of colonialism, which had bedevilled the exploitation of the Nile Basin for so long, and finally move into a new era of cooperation, with real and sustained development. THE NILE The Nile is the longest river in the world. With a length of about 6,650 km. The river flows through Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, with Eritrea also part of the drainage area of nearly three and a half million square kilometres. From the river s annual flow, three tributaries originating from Ethiopia, notably the Blue Nile or Abay, contribute 86% of the water flow and 95% of the fertile soil that is swept down the river. The rest of the water comes from the White Nile. These two main branches of the Nile join at Khartoum. Despite contributing so much to the river, Ethiopia uses virtually none of it. In irrigation, for example, Dr. Tedros Adhanom is Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

2 Blue Nile falls in Ethiopia Ethiopia uses some 0.2 billion cubic metres, compared with Egypt s 40 billion cm. In fact, in terms of utilisation, Egypt takes 75% of the Nile waters. The rest of the riparian states, including Ethiopia, nothing. The difference is striking. Essentially, the states endowed with this natural resource have never been able to use it; the lower riparian state, Egypt, has had, and essentially still does have, almost total use of the benefits of the river. COLONIAL TREATY ON THE USE OF THE NILE One reason for this unbalanced share of the Nile waters lies in colonialism, and the efforts of the British to control the flow of the river. In 1906, the Tripartite Treaty between Britain, France, and Italy laid down that these powers would act together to safeguard the interests of Great Britain and Egypt in the Nile Basin, more especially as regards the regulation of the waters of that river and its tributaries within Ethiopia. Ethiopia, the only independent African state at the time, immediately rejected the agreement. In 1929 an agreement between Britain, which had colonised most of the upper riparian areas, and Egypt gave almost the entire allocation of the Nile waters to Sudan and Egypt. This agreement provided the subsequent foundation for the 1959 Agreement for the Full Utilisation of the Nile Waters between Egypt and Sudan, again with the blessings of the British. It awarded Egypt and Sudan 55.5 billion cubic metres and 18.5 billion cubic metres respectively. Ethiopia, the only independent state in the region, despite being the source of almost 86 percent of the water involved, was never consulted on either agreement, and never accepted them. Indeed, it consistently opposed colonial-era attempts to divide usage of the waters of the Nile between Sudan and Egypt, sending in 1959, for example, a highly critical aide memoire on the subject to all diplomatic missions in Cairo. It is true that Ethiopia and other riparian countries have not previously implemented projects of the Nile. This, however, is not because any state accepted the 1929 and 1959 deals, but because neither Ethiopia nor other upper riparian states have been in a position to do so due to economic problems, political instability, and most importantly, because of the refusal of the international financial institutions to provide assistance. Indeed, during the (Egyptian President Hosni) Mubarak era, Egypt worked hard to prevent Ethiopia s efforts to develop its water 2

3 resources by persuading international donors to not fund projects related to the Nile River. In the early 1990s, for example, Egypt blocked an African Development Bank loan to Ethiopia for a dam project, claiming concern that the proposed dam would reduce the flow of the Nile. THE PROBLEMS OF THE NILE BASIN There is no doubt that all 10 riparian countries of the Nile Basin are facing water stress, some more than others. Recent research underlines the need for all the countries through which the Nile flows to utilise their common resource, the waters of the Nile, in a reasonable and sustainable manner. Overall, the Nile Basin is under intense pressure from unsustainable farming practices, poor water management, unsustainable population growth and the potential effects of climate change. In Ethiopia, the livelihood of many farming communities and pastoralists have been facing increasing constraints from land degradation. In Sudan and Egypt sedimentation is causing decreasing soil fertility and water scarcity, as well as adding significant costs to repeated dredging of canals and reservoirs. Climate change, which can be expected to affect the functioning and operation of existing water infrastructure on a wide scale, affecting flood defenses, drainage and irrigation systems, needs to be factored into the discussion. The most probable projected climate changes for the Nile Basin indicate that there will be temperature rises of between 2 and 4 centigrade. Rainfall patterns are like to become increasingly uncertain. There is a need to support our rapidly growing and youthful populations by focusing on urbanisation, industrialisation and job creation, as well as on the rapid development of sustainable energy resources and the acceptance of the reality that water is an economic resource that we cannot afford to waste. The conclusion is inescapable: there is a very clear necessity for cooperation and collaboration. Indeed, this is essential if we are to develop and reduce vulnerability to climate change. We are all going to have to use our water resources sustainably and expand our infrastructure to manage these resources. This will require serious consideration of the problems of others as well as efforts at cooperation and an understanding of the need for synergy of our different interests and activities. THE COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT These factors led to the development of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), an Inter-Governmental Organisation established in 1999 at Dar es Salaam by Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, and now including South Sudan, with Eritrea having observer status. The objective was to achieve sustainable economic development through equitable use of and benefit from the Nile Basin s water resources. Its establishment was a milestone in the history of the relationships among these countries, but from the beginning the NBI was seen as a transitional institution until the Cooperative Framework Agreement negotiations were finalised and a permanent institution created. In 2008, the NBI began implementing a four year ( ) Institutional Strengthening Project in preparation for the transition to the intended Nile River Basin Commission (NRBC) to be set up under Laying the foundation stone of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam s the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stressed that Ethiopia s intention to exercise our rights to use our own rivers is in order to fight poverty. the Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA). This has provided a sound institutional foundation to deliver core functions. The CFA was signed in May, 2010 by five riparian states (Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania). Despite considerable pressure from Egypt, Burundi signed in February, This makes for a sufficient number for ratification, though there have been continued delays in response to concerns expressed by Egypt. Congo and South Sudan have expressed their intent to sign, and all the signatories have also indicated their intent to ratify it as soon as possible. Ethiopia ratified the CFA earlier this year. A Strategic Plan has been produced for , with core Program Areas of (i) The Basin Cooperation Program to facilitate, support and nurture cooperation, (ii) The Water Resource Management Program with the objective to assess, manage and safeguard the water resource base of the Basin, and (iii) The Water Resource Development Programme, whose objective is to identify, prepare 3

4 and facilitate investment in trans-boundary water development projects and programs. Overall, the NBI achieved a working transitional regional institution, built capacity for basin-wide water resources management, fostered networking and launched a significant investment portfolio to support water resources development. EGYPT S RESPONSE After the signing, Egypt made several efforts to delay further progress. It was also seriously distracted by its own internal developments. In 2012, there was an apparent change of direction, with Egypt sending a large public diplomacy delegation to Ethiopia, appearing more cooperative, and deciding to return to ENTRO. Ethiopia was quick to demonstrate its own desire for agreement. Indeed it has consistently demonstrated a desire for cooperation over the Nile Basin. Laying the foundation stone of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam s (GERD) construction two years ago, the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stressed that Ethiopia s intention to exercise our rights to use Climate change, which can be expected to affect the functioning and operation of existing water infrastructure on a wide scale, affecting flood defences, drainage and irrigation systems, needs to be factored into the discussion. our own rivers is in order to fight poverty. He pointed out that among the concerns factored into the project was avoidance of any negative consequences for our neighbours. The intent of the project was rather to offer positive benefits for all of them. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has reiterated the same approach: Ethiopia is ready for negotiations and cooperation at the highest and technical levels. It has, in fact, consistently maintained its readiness to engage with the downstream riparian states on any and all of its Nile Basin hydrological development projects. Similarly, though under no legal obligation to do so, Meles Zenawi proposed, on his own initiative, the establishment of the Tripartite Committee, the International Panel of Experts (IPOE), composed of equal numbers of Ethiopian, Egyptian and Sudanese experts, supplemented by international specialists, to assess the impact, if any, of the dam on Egypt and Sudan. The Panel concluded that the dam would have no untoward impact on the lower riparian states. After the International Panel of Experts produced its report, at a meeting I had with Mohamed Kamel Amr, the then Foreign Minister of Egypt, we immediately agreed to initiate political and technical consultations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, and hold further discussions on implementing the report and its recommendations. Indeed, we have agreed to all the recommendations of the Panel s report and have already started to implement them. It was in a similar vein that Ethiopia had earlier postponed by a year the ratification of the new Cooperative Framework Agreement in response to Egypt s request for time to consider the agreement after the demise of the Mubarak government. Cairo has still not communicated the outcome of its review. THE GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM (GERD) In the last year, much of the comment from Egypt has centred on the construction of the GERD, and Egypt s response to this suggests it remains deeply concerned about any developments on the Nile. It also shows it remains prone to misinterpreting them. When the river was temporarily diverted a few hundred metres earlier this year to allow construction of the dam to continue, there were unwarranted claims from Cairo that the river was being turned back, that it was being blocked off or that the flow was being interrupted. A significant part of the problem has been that much of the comment is based on inaccurate claims and allegations. The GERD is a hydro power dam; it will therefore extract NO water from the Nile. It is in any case only 25 kilometres from the border with Sudan and is in no position to be used for extractive/consumptive purposes. The major concern for Egypt is actually not any diversion of flow, which will never occur, but the speed with which the dam reservoir will be filled. Ethiopia has already made it clear it will take Egyptian concerns into account on this. Similarly, Ethiopia will take into account Egyptian concerns over how the dam reservoir might be operated in periods of drought. Indeed Ethiopia assures Egypt that it will always take Egypt s worries into account. The GERD whose design, construction and management adhere fully to international standards, 4

5 The river Nile and is being constructed under an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract that follows the highest professional standards, also offers major advantages to the Nile Basin. It allows for significant emission reduction and clean energy production; the possibility of managing the effects of climate change; improved regional economic cooperation through energy trading and interconnections; and provision of substantial energy contributions to the regional East and North Africa power pools as part of the continental plans to integrate African energy sources and distribution as an interconnected system. Over and above these are the intangible benefits of helping to overcome centuries of mistrust among the Nile Basin countries and the pioneering of a new era of cooperative regional development and improved water management for a major region of the continent. ADVANTAGES OF GERD FOR EGYPT, SUDAN AND THE REGION There is general consensus that dams on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia can provide a reasonable, clean, and green hydropower energy on a scale sufficient to meet all Ethiopia s needs and to produce substantial exports to Egypt and Sudan, as well as to other neighbours. The GERD will generate 6,000MW of hydropower or 15,860GWh a year, twice the energy generated by the Aswan High Dam. As the International Panel indicated, there is general agreement that this can be done without significantly affecting the socio-economic interests of downstream countries, and indeed that the project will generate substantial benefits for Sudan and Egypt, including enhanced capacity to moderate the adverse impact of climate change. Dams like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and other dams with attendant reservoirs can play a positive role in reducing the impact of climatic irregularities. I would also emphasise that the GERD offers a particularly valuable example for cooperation in the sustainable and equitable use of the Nile water. It will provide a central role in our strategy for the development of green energy in Ethiopia and for achieving agricultural objectives for Sudan and Egypt that are responsive to climate change as well as offer mutually beneficial engagement between scientists and researchers in Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to assist in the realisation of sustainable development projects. Overall, the GERD s benefits and advantages are significant. They include flood risk avoidance and reduction in the impact of recurrent floods. It will also regulate the flow to provide expansion of irrigated lands; extend periods of navigation; 5

6 significantly reduce losses from infiltration and evaporation; provide water saving and enhanced water management, with storage capacity to assist during drought periods; sediment control improving the safety of the downstream dams and increasing their active life as well as protecting irrigation canals and equipment. It will sharply cut maintenance costs; and improve the energy generation and efficiency of downstream dams as well as offer energy savings direct from the GERD and through development of run-off river plants. ETHIOPIA S POLICY TOWARDS THE NILE BASIN The crucial, indeed central element of Ethiopia s foreign and national security policy is our need to realise our vision of democracy and development; the creation of an enabling environment for a democratic developmental state in Ethiopia. It is a vision that is focused on development that benefits the population at large and the creation of favourable situations to deal with our main enemy: poverty. We are, above all, determined to fight and win the war on poverty. In the past, we have been unable to use the considerable natural resources with which Ethiopia is endowed. The reasons have been various and need not concern us here, but with a decade of double digit GDP growth behind us, we are finally in a position to begin to exploit these resources properly, in the interests of national development. It is, of course, our right to do so in a manner that is acceptable to international norms and standards. Equally, Ethiopia is fully aware that its future is intertwined with that of her neighbours. Indeed, our primary external focus is on those countries that we border the Sudan and South Sudan, Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia countries with which we have long standing links in language, culture, history and natural resources. To these, of course, must be added Egypt, to which we are linked, directly and permanently, by the River Nile, one of our major resources, but which we are also committed to share equitably with our neighbours. way; its aspirations do not in any way contravene the needs of any other riparian state or its development aims. I am reminded that our late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi repeatedly emphasized the regional dimensions of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, detailing how it would benefit and help transform the entire region through regional infrastructural and economic integration and with the promise of shared prosperity for all stakeholders. Ethiopia and Egypt, he argued, remained linked insolubly by the Nile River. The fundamental principle underlying Ethiopia s Nile policies is very clear total commitment to cooperation in the Nile Basin on the basis of the Nile Basin Initiative and the Cooperative Framework Agreement, and for this to provide equitable and reasonable utilisation of water resources and sustainable and mutual benefits for all the riparian states. These are the parameters for cooperation and development, covering environmental, economic, security, institutional and political issues. Ethiopia, in fact, has been and is working to strengthen regional cooperation as much to serve the interests of Sudan and of Egypt as towards the interest of all the upper riparian states. Our approach also highlights the consistently non-confrontational approach we have adopted. Indeed, Ethiopia has repeatedly gone above and beyond the call of duty in trying to assuage Egyptian concerns and to reach consensus over a more equitable allocation of the use of the Nile waters. Quite simply, we are fully aware that cooperation and collaboration over the valuable resource of the Nile River offers a win-win scenario for Ethiopia, for Egypt, for Sudan and for the whole for the Nile Basin and Northeast Africa. This is why Ethiopia has made a strategic and conscious decision to concentrate on constructive relationships. It is necessitated by the pressing priorities of the war on poverty and the effects of underdevelopment, as well as by moral and ethical justifications. Our foreign policy is drawn up on the basis of enlightened self-interest and peaceful coexistence, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit for all. Ethiopia wants to benefit from its sovereign and shared resources in a responsible and sustainable 6
Students at Richmond School collected boxes of food for families in the community. Packing up donations for delivery last week. In addition to the food drive, the school also collected more than 300 pairs of shoes for a community in Africa and money for libraries in Louisiana. PreviousNext

Richmond Students Donate to Those In Need

RICHMOND, Mass.  Giving is not a seasonal thing at Richmond School  the school community makes a point to help those in need all year round.

But the holiday season is a special time and this year the school community participated in two holiday drives among its other charitable initiatives.

"I think it is the most important outcome for our kids is to give back and I think the kids enjoy doing it," Principal Monica Zanin said last week. "They see how grateful the community members are and that it is why we do it."

This year, the Student Council selected families in the community and collected boxes of food for them.

But it didn't stop there.

Students and faculty also donated items to the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

"It's items that they say they need that aren't food related," fourth-grade teacher Julia Sabourin said. "So each grade collected some of the things, and it's pretty awesome."

Reading specialist Jill Pompi said the community's giving goes beyond the holidays and that the school also hosted a "Loose Change for Louisiana" drive.

She said many libraries were hit by Hurricane Katrina, destroying books. Pompi said instead of sending over books, the school decided to raise money for the libraries so they could buy the books they wanted and needed.

She said a bucket was left in the school to collect.

"There were $10 bills in there, there were dollar bills in there, there were quarters, there were dimes," Pompi said. "The kids have a lot of coins to roll."

She added that the Richmond community also participated in a shoe drive for a community in Africa. They were able to donate more than 600 shoes.

"I asked if anyone had gently worn shoes they were willing to donate and I ended up with over 300 pairs of shoes," she said. "Some are gently used some are brand new  my office was overtaken with shoes."

Pompi said she thinks it's important that students not only see the importance of helping their own community but the world.

Pompi, who is new to the Richmond School community, said she was blown away by the its kindness.

"I am amazed by the community and their willingness they have to help and support," she said.
I am a retired newspaperman. I am 69 and live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 45 years, Lou Ann. We grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather.

More on who I am is here.

Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com
Teen suicide: What parents need to know

Scottsdale, Arizona - Is your teen at risk of suicide? While no teen is immune, there are factors that can make some adolescents more vulnerable than others. Understand how to tell if your teen might be suicidal and where to turn for help and treatment.

What makes teens vulnerable to suicide?

Many teens who attempt or die by suicide have a mental health condition. As a result, they have trouble coping with the stress of being a teen, such as dealing with rejection, failure, breakups and family turmoil. They might also be unable to see that they can turn their lives around  and that suicide is a permanent response, not a solution, to a temporary problem.

What are the risk factors for teen suicide?

A teen might feel suicidal due to certain life circumstances such as:

Having a psychiatric disorder, including depression

Loss of or conflict with close friends or family members

History of physical or sexual abuse or exposure to violence

Problems with alcohol or drugs

Physical or medical issues, for example, becoming pregnant or having a sexually transmitted infection

Being the victim of bullying

Being uncertain of sexual orientation

Exposure to the suicide of a family member or friend

Begin adopted

Family history of mood disorder or suicidal behavior

What role do antidepressants play?

Most antidepressants are generally safe, but the Food and Drug Administration requires that all antidepressants carry black box warnings, the strictest warnings for prescriptions. The warnings call attention to the fact that children, teenagers and young adults under 25 might have an increase in suicidal thoughts or behavior when taking antidepressants, especially in the first few weeks after starting or when the dose is changed.

Keep in mind that antidepressants are more likely to reduce suicide risk in the long run by improving mood.

What are the warning signs that a teen might be suicidal?

Warning signs of teen suicide might include:

Talking or writing about suicide  for example, making statements such as "I'm going to kill myself," or "I won't be a problem for you much longer"

Withdrawing from social contact

Having mood swings

Increasing use of alcohol or drugs

Feeling trapped or hopeless about a situation

Changing normal routine, including eating or sleeping patterns

Doing risky or self-destructive things

Giving away belongings when there is no other logical explanation for why this is being done

Developing personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated when experiencing some of the warning signs listed above

What should I do if I suspect my teen is suicidal?

If you think your teen is in immediate danger, call 911, your local emergency number or a suicide hotline number  such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255) in the United States.

If you suspect that your teen might be thinking about suicide, talk to him or her immediately. Don't be afraid to use the word "suicide." Talking about suicide won't plant ideas in your teen's head. Ask your teen to talk about his or her feelings and listen. Don't dismiss his or her problems. Instead, reassure your teen of your love. Remind your teen that he or she can work through whatever is going on  and that you're willing to help.

Also, seek medical help for your teen. Ask your teen's doctor to guide you. Teens who are feeling suicidal usually need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist experienced in diagnosing and treating children with mental health problems. The doctor will want to get an accurate picture of what's going on from a variety of sources, such as the teen, parents or guardians, other people close to the teen, school reports, and previous medical or psychiatric evaluations.

What can I do to prevent teen suicide?

You can take steps to help protect your teen. For example:

Address depression or anxiety. Don't wait for your teen to come to you. If your teen is sad, anxious or appears to be struggling  ask what's wrong and offer your help.

Pay attention. If your teen is thinking about suicide, he or she is likely displaying warning signs. Listen to what your child is saying and watch how he or she is acting. Never shrug off threats of suicide as teen melodrama.

Discourage isolation. Encourage your teen to spend time with supportive friends and family.

Encourage a healthy lifestyle. Help your teen eat well, exercise and get regular sleep.

Support the treatment plan. If your teen is undergoing treatment for suicidal behavior, remind him or her that it might take time to feel better. Help your teen follow his or her doctor's recommendations. Also, encourage your teen to participate in activities that will help him or her rebuild confidence.

Safely store firearms, alcohol and medications. Access to means can play a role if a teen is already suicidal.

Remember, teen suicide is preventable. If you're worried about your teen, talk to him or her and seek help right away.
Alan Grayson will be out of Congress in two weeks, but hes not stopping. He just filed a bill that makes presidents tax returns releasable under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). His bill is H.R. 6507 ands Paul Ryan will make sure its never voted on while hes Speaker of the House, something we plan to end after the 2018 congressional elections. Grayson explained to his constituents why he feels his new bill is necessary. Donald Trump, he wrote, is the first major-party Presidential candidate in modern times who refused to release his tax returns. During the campaign, the Faker-in-Chiefs first cover story was that he couldnt release his tax returns because he was being audited. The IRS refuted that. The Liar-in-Chiefs second cover story was that he would release his returns when Hillary Clinton released her e-mails. Until it was pointed out that she had released her e-mails. (In the immortal words of our new Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, oops!) The Cheater-in-Chiefs third story was that he paid lots of income taxes, an amazing amount of income taxes, a bigly amount, a terrible and yet super-classy amount. Until the NY Times actually released a couple of his items, showing him paying nothing. Because, as Trump says, hes smart. Enough. We all deserve to see just how bigly a bigly liar Trump really is. Hence my bill H.R. 6507. Will my bill pass the House tomorrow? Nope, were out of session  but it will remind people about just how dishonest Dishonest Donald has been, and thats worth doing. Will my bill pass the House next year, or the year after? Nope, not with the GOP in charge. But if we keep fighting against Deceiving Donald for the next two years, and we elect a Democratic House and Senate, then we just may have the pleasure of seeing this Grayson Truth bill pass the House and pass the Senate. Then Deceiving Donald would have to take out his veto pen, just to cover up his own deceit. Sweet. Im out of Congress in two weeks. But Im going to keep fighting. So should you.





Without Grayson in Congress, there will be a lot the Republicans are going to be able to get away with that they shouldnt. But I was gratified over the weekend to see PolitiFact Wisconsin call out one of the worst of that states most calculated liars, the shady Congressman from Janesville, Paul Ryan. They awarded his latest Big Lie a pants on fire!









Tom Kertscher took on Ryans latest fear-mongering about Obamacare impoverishing Medicare as he prepares to gut both programs and blame everyone but the unhinged GOP. A couple of days after Hillary got nearly 3 million more votes than Trump, Ryan was on Fox News, looking into the camera and lying his ass off: "What people dont realize is, because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke." Yes, people dont realize it because it isnt true. [H]is claim about the law flies in the face of evidence that it actually helps shore up Medicare.

Heres how Marc Goldwein, senior policy director at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, lays it out:



On one side of the ledger, Obamacare slowed the growth of Medicare spending by, among other things, reducing increases in payments made to nearly all health care providers.



On the other side of the ledger, the law included a surtax on high-income earners that brings more money into Medicare.



Two health care policy experts further told us that the combination of spending curbs and revenue increases for Medicare Part A-- which covers hospital, nursing home and home care services, and is financed mainly through payroll taxes-- has extended the solvency of Medicare.



(Medicare Part B, which is voluntary, covers doctor visits and some medical care.)



Paul Ginsburg, a professor of the practice of health policy and management at the University of Southern California, pointed us to an October 2016 report from the nonprofit Congressional Research Service.



The report noted that in 2010, the Medicare trustees projected that Obamacares spending curbs and revenue increases would mean Medicares Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, which finances Part A, would remain solvent until 2029.



Thats 12 years later than had been projected a year before the Affordable Care Actd became law.



(The projection has since been revised to 2028.)



Michael Sparer, a professor health policy and management at Columbia University in New York, put it this way, financially speaking:



If Obamacare were repealed completely, "it would put Medicare in worse shape, not better shape."



Finally, its worth noting that both Factcheck.org and the Washington Post Fact Checker also concluded that Ryans claim is wrong. They both also noted that, even if the Part A trust fund did become depleted in 2028, the program wouldnt be broke, in that it is still set up to cover an estimated 87 percent of expenses.



FactCheck.orgs rating was false and the Fact Checker gave Ryan its worst rating, four Pinnocchios, which is for statements deemed to be "whoppers."



Ryans office opted not to provide us any information to support his claim.



Our rating



Ryan said: "Because of Obamacare, Medicare is going broke."



Financially, Medicare isnt entirely in the clear, given that actuaries project that a key reserve fund will run out of money in 2028.



But the Medicare trustees themselves, along with a host of experts, say the Affordable Care Acts changes to Medicare-- including holding the line on spending and raising taxes-- actually puts Medicare in better shape than before the law was adopted. Thats a long way from making Medicare go broke.



We rate Ryans statement Pants on Fire.

The Hill, This morning, Juan Williams penned an OpEd for The Dangerous Erosion Of Facts , expressing his frustration, shared by so many people, that the severely brainwashed have overturned the old dictum that one if entitled to ones own opinions, but not to ones own facts. After years of Fox News and Hate Talk Radio and the recent machinations out of Russia, facts are just a matter of opinion for a majority of Republicans. Ergo: look whats peacefully taken over the government. The facts of political life, he wrote, are now subject to partisan interpretation. Despite an unprecedented wealth of news gushing from hundreds of cable networks, radio stations, newspapers, Facebook feeds and websites, Americans increasingly live in separate realities when it comes to the facts of our common political lives.
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Richard Hammond has prompted a backlash after suggesting that men who eat ice cream are gay on the most recent episode of The Grand Tour.

The 47-year-old made the comment in an exchange on the sixth episode of the motoring show he co-hosts with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, which was titled Happy Finnish Christmas. It was the sixth episode of the first season, which was broadcast on 23 December via Amazon Prime.

Speaking in front of a live audience, Clarkson pointed out that you couldnt enjoy a chocolate Magnum ice cream in the interior of a Volvo with white leather seats.

Its alright, I dont eat ice cream, Hammond said. Its something to do with being straight.

Clarkson and Hammond appeared slightly baffled while members of the audience cheered and applauded.

Why are you applauding him? Clarkson asked the crowd. What do you mean... youre saying all children are homosexual?

Ice cream is a bit... you know, Hammond continued, saying: Theres nothing wrong with it, but a grown man eating an ice cream  its that way, rather than that way.

Im right, I cant believe you cant see that. Its easy. Its in front of you.

Clarkson appeared to try and steer the conversation back to his joke about chocolate and the white leather seats, making a comment about the chocolate thingy in a 99 ice cream cone.

However, Hammond seemed to think that he was agreeing with him, saying: My case rests!

The reaction on social media was largely one that condemned Hammonds comments.

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, who has worked with Stonewall on anti-bullying campaigns, tweeted: Excuse me while I gag on my Cornetto.

Musician Neil Milan tweeted: Homophobia on a show about cars, the most classic white elephant of pathetic threatened masculinity is so f***ing tragic.

Clarkson made a joke in the first episode that he could not be fired because were on the internet, which means I could pleasure a horse.

So far Hammond has not commented on the backlash over his comments.
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Injury, unemployment, eviction, squats, shelters, social services  homelessness. This is the desperate spiral depicted in Ken Loachs influential film, Cathy Come Home. First aired 50 years ago, the drama offers a graphic portrayal of the treatment of an ordinary family by public authorities as they grapple with homelessness.

Reflecting the public outrage at the films revelations, the pressure group Shelter was founded to raise awareness and campaign for reform. The same year saw the publication of one of the only Government-sponsored surveys of homelessness in England, by the National Assistance Board (NAB).

On the 50th anniversary of these three landmark events, its time to ask whether Cathy and her family would suffer the same tragedies today.

The first count

Were not shown what happens to Cathy after her children are taken by social services. In all likelihood, she would have joined the 965 people sleeping rough, which the NAB found in their one-night head count on 6 December 1965, of which only 45 were women.

She could have become one of the 1,367 unaccommodated claimants of National Assistance, the precursor to our Jobseekers Allowance. That meagre provision might then have afforded her the occasional bed in one of the 567 commercial or charitable hostels and lodging houses, which housed 28,789 inhabitants, of which just 1,905 were women.

Free, public sector accommodation was limited to the NABs own reception centres  a relic from the Victorian eras Poor Law workhouses  which housed 1,956 men at the time of the count.

After computing these figures, the survey estimated that there were about 13,500 single homeless people in December 1965, the vast majority of whom would have been men.

Ten years on

Cathy might have fared better a decade later. Tireless campaigning by Shelter and other charities finally bore fruit in the form of the 1977 Housing (Homeless Persons) Act. The act is unique among Western states, because it makes housing a statutory right for certain people.

The law obliges local authorities to provide permanent housing to families who are judged to be unintentionally homeless (or threatened with homelessness) and belong to a priority need group. These include families with dependent children or pregnant women.

So, Cathy would have had housing rights up to the point where her children were removed by social services, although she would still need to prove that she had not become homeless intentionally, by being evicted from a private tenancy for failing to keep up rent payments. Despite several re-enactments, these laws have withstood Thatcherism, and today remain in more or less their original form.

Yet any expectations that the act has worked to eliminate homelessness today must be quickly disappointed. The methods used by the NAB to count homelessness have changed over time, which makes comparisons tricky. But figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government, based on nightly head counts undertaken in the autumn of 2015, revealed 3,569 rough sleepers. This is double the number recorded in 2010, and nearly five times the figure quoted 50 years ago.

Services have not expanded to cope. The NAB counted 34,596 available places in hostel accommodation in 1966. The charity Homeless Link recorded 36,540 in 2014.

The worst jobs for your health Show all 10 1 /10 The worst jobs for your health The worst jobs for your health 10. Surgical and medical assistants, technologists, and technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 57.3 What they do: Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel and perform medical laboratory tests. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 69 The worst jobs for your health 9. Stationary engineers and boiler operators Overall unhealthiness score: 57.7 What they do: Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 99 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 89 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 84 The worst jobs for your health 8. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators Overall unhealthiness score: 58.2 What they do: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 97 2. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 80 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 74 The worst jobs for your health 7. Histotechnologists and histologic technicians Overall unhealthiness score: 59.0 What they do: Prepare histologic slides from tissue sections for microscopic examination and diagnosis by pathologists. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to hazardous conditions: 88 2. Exposure to contaminants: 76 3. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 The worst jobs for your health 6. Immigration and customs inspectors Overall unhealthiness score: 59.3 What they do: Investigate and inspect people, common carriers, goods, and merchandise, arriving in or departing from the US or between states to detect violations of immigration and customs laws and regulations. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 78 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 63 3. Exposure to radiation: 62 The worst jobs for your health 5. Podiatrists Overall unhealthiness score: 60.2 What they do: Diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 87 2. Exposure to radiation: 69 3. Exposure to contaminants: 67 The worst jobs for your health 4. Veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and laboratory animal caretakers and veterinary technologists and technicians What they do: Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals and perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 81 2. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 75 3. Exposure to contaminants: 74 The worst jobs for your health 3. Anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, and anesthesiologist assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 62.3 What they do: Administer anesthetics or sedatives during medical procedures, and help patients in recovering from anesthesia. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to disease and infections: 94 2. Exposure to contaminants: 80 3. Exposure to radiation: 74 The worst jobs for your health 2. Flight attendants What they do: Provide personal services to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of airline passengers during flight. Greet passengers, verify tickets, explain use of safety equipment, and serve food or beverages. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 88 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 77 3. Exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings: 69 The worst jobs for your health 1. Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental assistants Overall unhealthiness score: 65.4 What they do: Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Top three health risks: 1. Exposure to contaminants: 84 2. Exposure to disease and infections: 75 3. Time spent sitting: 67

Would Cathy still lose her children for being homeless in 2016? An investigation for Inside Housing revealed that 35 of the 106 councils that responded to their survey had taken at least one child into care during 2014/15, where the main reason was homelessness. This tells us that a third of councils are still pursuing this practice, 50 years after Cathy and nearly 40 years after legislation was supposed to make it unnecessary.

Ray of hope

Amid this darkening outlook, some hope rests with the Homelessness Reduction Bill, which is currently being debated in Parliament. As it stands, the bill will oblige local authorities to assist all homeless people by assessing their situation, helping to prevent their homelessness where possible, or providing temporary accommodation for up to 56 days.

It also addresses the most rapidly increasing trigger of homelessness: the shorthold tenancy. When a shorthold tenancy comes to an end  usually after a period of six months  the landlord can evict the tenant without any legal reason. The new bill requires that local authorities treat households as threatened with homelessness, as soon as an eviction notice is served. This means people like Cathy wont have to wait for the bailiffs to arrive before help is available.

If the NAB enumerators were to repeat their survey today, they would be struck by how little has changed. Some comparisons are possible using data on rough sleepers compiled by the Mayor of Londons office. Compared with 50 years ago, todays rough sleeping population is younger, more female and more vulnerable. It has a greater proportion of foreign nationals, and as we have seen, it is larger and growing by the year.

But unaffordable and insecure tenancies remain the primary reason that people are left without accommodation. The proposed legislation offers some hope, but its provisions are essentially reactive  until politicians address the underlying causes, people like Cathy will continue to struggle.

Graham Bowpitt is a reader in social policy at Nottingham Trent University. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article
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Almost a year after the official end of the Ebola outbreak in west Africa, the final results from one of the only vaccine trials for the virus are now in  and they look very promising. This is the only data we have on a vaccine against Ebola in humans, and it looks very safe and highly effective during an outbreak setting.

Writing in the journal The Lancet, an international team led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has shown the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine produced by Merck can protect both individuals and a whole population through its trials in Guinea. How they were able to run such a successful scientific study with impressive results in the midst of an ongoing, serious epidemic serves an invaluable lesson to the public health community. This is especially true when other trials against Ebola were cut short or never got as far as this one.

The West African outbreak of Ebola virus disease began in December 2013, infecting nearly 29,000 people and killing about one third of those. It was brought to an end in June 2016 through the hard work of local groups working with international teams of medical staff, using established methods to identify cases, isolate the patients and trace who else they had had contact with.

Recommended Ebola nurse suspended for concealing Cafferkey temperature

But success was never guaranteed and pursuing a vaccine that can protect an entire population is a critical part of a strategy for ending and preventing epidemics now and in the future.

The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine had looked extremely effective in gold-standard preclinical testing in non-human primates. But no large investigations in humans had been carried out until the recent outbreak occurred.

Setting up trials (WHO/S. Hawkey)

Testing a vaccine during a serious outbreak poses a problem for scientists. Ideally, you would give 50 per cent of the population the vaccine and leave the other 50 per cent as a control group, simply counting how many people get the disease in one half compared to the other. But if there arent enough cases of the disease, it might be difficult to observe what effect the vaccine really has. And theres a serious ethical issue in withholding a vaccine that has a good chance of being safe and effective from half the population, which may lead to more death and allow the disease to spread further.

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The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. 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Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. 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Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. 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The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. 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This trial got around these issues by implementing a vaccine strategy that goes back to the days of smallpox elimination half a century ago: ring vaccination. This involves identifying people who already have the disease  the index cases  and tracing all the individuals in contact with them, and then the contacts of those contacts, which are usually friends, family and carers. You then vaccinate all the people you can in theses clusters around the outbreak victims.

Working with patients (WHO/S. Hawkey) (WHO/Hawkey)

The Ebola team split their clusters of people randomly into groups for immediate vaccination or delayed vaccination after 21 days. This meant that they could work out how effective the vaccine was, just by counting how many people  and how many clusters  had Ebola and compare the immediately vaccinated to the delayed group. They even had a never vaccinated group of people they couldnt vaccinate, for example because they didnt consent, they could also compare to.

Reading the results

The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine looked so safe and effective during an interim analysis that the team had to stop the delayed vaccination and vaccinate everybody they could, including even children. The further analysis in this study supports those initial conclusions. They found no cases of the disease in the immediately treated group compared to 23 cases in 11 clusters in the delayed or never vaccinated group.

When they zoomed in on each cluster, they could even see that vaccinating individuals in a cluster would stop unvaccinated people in the same cluster getting infected. This suggested they had developed whats known as herd immunity, where enough people in a group are immune to prevent an outbreak  protecting even those who arent vaccinated. Because of this success, it looks like the trial probably helped bring the outbreak in Guinea to an end.

While the data suggests the vaccine is 100 per cent effective, this is not likely to be the definitive number. Biology simply does not work like that. This is especially true when the numbers looked at are so small (23 cases in the control group). The potential inaccuracy of this number likely reflects the challenges in conducting a vaccine trial such as this, for a disease like EVD in the middle of a very serious outbreak.

There is also the fact that no vaccine is perfect. Even one of our very best vaccines, the measles vaccine, is only about 95 per cent effective. Previous studies have even shown that rVSV-ZEBOV produces an immune response in only 94 per cent of individuals. Being certain about the effectiveness is important because computer models suggest that ring vaccination for Ebola may only be successful when there arent that many cases.

Despite being carried out under some of the most challenging conditions, the trial reported here appears to be an exceptionally well-run study, comprehensive in its nature and with a very positive result. This surely cements this vaccine as one important tool in controlling outbreaks of Ebola in the future. It also gives us a way to test new vaccines for other viruses that can crop up and take us by surprise, such as Lassa fever virus and Nipah viruses. We just have to hope that scientists have got more vaccines in the pipeline for us to test.

Connor Bamford is a post-doctoral research assistant at the University of Glasgow. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article
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Its embarrassing for everyone involved and can often put a stop to proceedings, but calling someone the wrong name during sex is not an infrequent occurrence.

According to Dr Jim Pfaus, its actually natural and just what the brain does.

When you're in a state of euphoria, you conjure up things that remind you of other things, because you're in a state that has happened before, he explains.

Recommended What happens to your body and brain when you orgasm

Essentially, its unavoidable that your brain will jump back to memories of previous sexual encounters whilst mid-coitus.

It can seem like a massive insult when youre at your most vulnerable and intimate, and your partner calls you by their exs name, but according to Dr Pfaus, it can actually be considered a good thing.

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Let's assume the person had a very special former lover who made him or her feel a certain thrill. Those sexual thrills, quality of orgasms, and feelings of closeness were associated with that person and his or her name, he explains.

So when your partner gets your name wrong, its only because the closeness youve created reminds them of previous intimacy.

This also helps explain why youre more likely to accidentally call your lover by the name of an ex, rather than a family member or friend.

A lot of people say they just stop thinking during sex, and this is particularly likely for women: At the moment of orgasm, women do not have any emotional feelings, says Gert Holstege of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

So it makes sense that the majority of embarrassing name mistakes occur whilst orgasming. 29-year-old writer Beca told Broadly that it mainly happens to her in the midst of a wild orgasm, so losing my mind.

But what should you do when youre at the height of intimacy and have just accidentally let the wrong name slip?

Dr Pfaus believes ignoring the error is to be avoided. His advice? Stop what you're doing and talk about it, try to figure out a way to give it a happy ending."
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The UK economy could benefit by 24bn a year  more than 450m a week  by leaving the European single market and customs union, a pro-Brexit pressure group has claimed.

The Change Britain group said that the option  which it describes as clean Brexit  is likely to deliver annual savings of almost 10.4bn from contributions to the EU budget and 1.2bn from scrapping burdensome regulations, while allowing the UK to forge new trade deals worth 12.3bn. The group said its estimate was very conservative and that the benefits of withdrawal from the single market and customs union could be as much as 38.6bn a year.

Even the lowest forecast within its range of likely outcomes was a boost of 20bn. But the figure does not factor in the possibility of large-scale loss of exports to the remaining 27 EU nations, which advocates of a soft Brexit argue could happen if the UK faces tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade as a result of leaving the single market.

Britain exported around 220bn of goods and services to the EU in 2015, while imports from the EU totalled around 290bn. Change Britain said that the biggest prize on offer was in potential trade agreements outside the EU which Britain could strike if it left the customs union, which requires it to take part only in deals negotiated by the European Commission. Depending on how many deals the UK secures, GDP could be boosted by between 8.5bn and 19.8bn, said Change Britain.

The biggest benefits could come from a trade deal with the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) economies, which could increase GDP by as much as 4.3bn a year; followed by the US by 3.8bn; Japan 3.2bn; South Korea 3.2bn; Canada 1.9bn; the Mercosur bloc in South America 1.8bn; India 1.5bn; and China 200m, said the group.

Leaving the single market would allow Britain to scrap 59 of the 100 most burdensome regulations on business, saving more than 4bn, said Change Britain. However, as the Government has indicated that it will preserve some of the rules  including protections for workers  the group estimated the likely saving at around 1.2bn. And it said that the Governments indication that it will continue to support to farmers and other sectors currently subsidised by the EU means that the total saving from ending contributions to Brussels budgets will be around 10.4bn, rather than the 14.7bn which the UK currently pays.

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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

Conservative MP and Change Britain supporter Charlie Elphicke said: This report makes it clear that there are huge opportunities to be had from making a success of Brexit. Leaving the EU fully means we wont have to pay billions to bloated Brussels bureaucrats. It means we will be able to take back control of our borders and end uncontrolled EU immigration.

Whats more, well be able to spend money on the things that matter to the British people. We can build a modern Britain that puts the hard-working classes first and makes it easier for British businesses to trade in the world and succeed.

This is what people voted for in the referendum. Now everyone, Remainer or Leaver, has a duty to get on with the job of delivering a brighter future for our land.
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The cost of rescuing the worlds oldest bank has almost doubled to 8.8 billion (7.5 billion), according to the latest calculations.

The troubled Monte dei Paschi di Siena has been trying in vain to raise 5 billion (4.2 billion) with private investors to help bail it out.

But Italys third largest bank, whose history can be traced back to 1472, said that the European Central Bank (ECB) had estimated its capital shortfall was considerably higher.

The 3.8 billion increase was due to a rapid deteriorationof its capital position in the past month, apparently as customers withdrew deposits.

The calculation is based on the results of a 2016 stress test, the Italian bank said in a statement, citing two letters from the ECB.

Between 30 Novenber and 21 December he ECB saw Monte dei Paschi's net one-month liquidity drop to 7.7 billion euros from 12.1 billion.

But it still considers it to be solvent, the statement said.

Ignazio Angeloni, a member of the ECBs Supervisory Board, told Italian daily La Stampa the central bank will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the bank finds a sustainable business model.

The Sienese bank said it had asked the ECB to approve a precautionary recapitalisation - a type of state intervention that allows the institution receiving it to stay solvent.

Italy's government has said it will guarantee all of the bank's retail customers with part of a 20 billion (17 billion) fund approved by the country's parliament to ensure the stability of banks.

Biggest business scandals in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Biggest business scandals in pictures Biggest business scandals in pictures Volkswagen emissions scandal VW admitted to rigging its US emission tests so that diesel-powered cars would looks like they were emitting less nitrous oxide, which can damage the ozone layer and contribute to respiratory diseases. Around 11 million cars worldwide were affected. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Martin Shkreli and Turing Pharmaceuticals Martin Shkreli became known as the most hated man in the world after his drug company, Turing, increased the price of a 62-year-old drug that treated HIV patients by 5,000% to $750 a pill. He was charged with illegally taking stock from Retrophin, a biotechnology firm he started in 2011, and using it pay off debts from unrelated business dealings. Shkreli, who maintains he is innocent, and says there is little evidence of fraud because his investors didn't lose money. Biggest business scandals in pictures Panama Papers: Millions of leaked documents expose how worlds rich and powerful hid money - April 2016 Millions of confidential documents have been leaked from one of the worlds most secretive law firms, exposing how the rich and powerful have hidden their money. Dictators and other heads of state have been accused of laundering money, avoiding sanctions and evading tax, according to the unprecedented cache of papers that show the inner workings of the law firm Mossack Fonseca, which is based in Panama. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Google's tax avoidance Google reached a deal with the HM Revenue and Customs to pay back 130 million in so-called back-taxes that have been due since 2005. George Osborne championed the deal as a major success. But European MEPs have since called for the Chancellor to appear in front of the committee on tax rulings to explain the tax deal. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Rogue trader A French court cut the damages owed by rogue trader Jerome Kerviel from 4.9bn (4.2bn) to just 1m (860,000). The court ruled on that Kerviel was partly responsible for massive losses suffered in 2008 by his former employer Societe Generale through his reckless trades. Kerviel has consistently maintained that bosses at the French bank knew what he was doing all along. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Barclays CEO under investigation for trying to identify whistleblower - Monday Paril 10 Authorities have launched an investigation into Barclays chief executive officer Jes Staley for trying to identify a whistleblower, the bank said on Monday. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are both investigating Mr Staley after the bank notified them that Mr Staley had tried to identify the author of two anonymous letters, which were sent to the board and a senior executive in June 2016. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures UK to crack down on bank money laundering after reports of 65bn Russian scam, City minister says - March 2017 The Economic Secretary to the Treasury has vowed that the Government will crack down on money laundering practices, after several of the UK's biggest banks were accused of processing money from a Russian scam, believed to involve up to $80bn (65bn). Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former HBOS bankers convicted of bribery and fraud over 245m loan scam - February 2017 Two former HBOS bankers were among six people found guilty of bribery and fraud that cost customers and shareholders hundreds of millions of pounds, the BBC reports. Lynden Scourfield, 54, a manager at HBOS, forced struggling clients to use the services of his friends David Mills, 60, and Michael Bancroft, 73. In return, the two businessmen arranged sex parties, cash and lavish gifts. On Monday, the three were convicted at Southwark Crown Court on accounts including bribery, fraud and money laundering. Mark Dobson, another manager at HBOS, Alison Mills, and John Cartwright were also convicted. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Lloyds chief apologises for damage caused by affair allegations - August 2016 Antonio Horta-Osorio, the chief executive of Lloyds Bank, has broken his silence over allegations about his private life admitting he regrets any "damage done to the group's reputation". In a message sent to the bank's 75,000 employees, the banker said that anyone can make mistakes while insisting that staff had to maintain the highest professional standards. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Christine Lagarde faces court over 340m Bernard Tapie payment - July 2016 The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, must stand trial in France over a payment of 403 million (now 340m, then 290m) to tycoon Bernard Tapie, a France's highest appeals court has ruled. The court rejected Ms Lagarde's appeal against a judge's order in December for her to stand trial over allegations of negligence in her handling of the affair. Ms Lagarde could risk a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros if convicted. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures HSBC senior manager arrested in FX rigging investigation at JFK airport in New York - July 2016 A senior executive at HSBC has been arrested at New York's JFK airport for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to reports. Mark Johnson, global head of foreign exchange cash trading in London, was reportedly arrested on Tuesday. He will appear before a federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, Bloomberg said. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Former PwC employees found guilty in 'Luxleaks' tax scandal - June 2016 Two ex- PricewaterhouseCoopers staffers were found guilty in Luxembourg of stealing confidential tax files that helped unleash a global scandal over generous fiscal deals for hundreds of international companies. Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet face suspended sentences of 12 months and 9 months and were ordered to pay fines of 1,500 (1,230) and 1,000 (822) for their role in the so-called LuxLeaks scandal. Despite the minimal sentences, the ruling was described by Deltours lawyer as shocking and a terrible anomaly. The ruling puts on guard future whistle-blowers, Deltour told reporters.The LuxLeaks revelations sped beyond Luxembourg, causing European Union regulators to expand a tax-subsidy probe and propose new laws to fight corporate tax dodging, while EU lawmakers created a special committee to probe fiscal deals across the 28-nation bloc. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Goldman Sachs dealmakers lavished Libyan officials with prostitutes to win contract - June 2016 A former Goldman Sachs dealmaker trying to persuade Gadaffi-era Libya to invest $1 billion with the investment bank procured prostitutes and invited Libyan officials to lavish parties in the hope of winning the business, the High Court heard on Monday June 13.The Libyan Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund is suing Goldman Sachs for inappropriately coercing its naive staff into giving its sovereign wealth fund cash to the bank to invest in products they did not understand. The products were designed to generate big profits for Goldman, the LIA claims.Goldman denies wrongdoing and says the LIA was treated as an arms-length customer Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Former boss of BHS said his life was threatened - June 2016 Darren Topp, the former boss of BHS, has said former owner Dominic Chappell threatened to kill him when he challenged him over a 1.5 million transfer out of the business. MPs on the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee asked Mr Topp about a 1.5 million transfer Mr Chappell made from BHS to a company called BHS Sweden. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Sports Direct founder Mike Ashley admits paying workers below the minimum wage - June 2016 Mike Ashley admitted paying Sports Direct employees below the minimum wage at a hearing in front of MPs. The company founder said that workers were paid less than the statutory minimum because of bottlenecks at security in an admission that could result in sanctions from HMRC. Reuters Biggest business scandals in pictures Mitsubishi admits improper fuel tests - April 2016 Mitsubishi has admitted to using false fuel methods dating back to 1991. The scale of the scandal is only just coming to light after it was revealed in April that data was falsified in the testing of four types of cars, including two Nissan cars. AP Biggest business scandals in pictures Quindell, the scandal-ridden insurance firm Quindell was once a darling of AIM but its share price fell in April 2014 when its accounting practices were attacked in a stinging research note by US short seller Gotham City. In August the group was forced to disclose that the 107 million pre-tax profit it had reported for 2013 was incorrect, and it had in fact suffered a 64million loss. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Toshiba Accounting Scandal The boss of Toshiba, the Japanese technology giant, resigned in disgrace in the wake of one of the countrys biggest ever accounting scandals. His exit came two months after the company revealed that it was investigating accounting irregularities. An independent investigatory panel said that Toshibas management had inflated its reported profits by up to 152 billion yen (780m) between 2008 and 2014. Biggest business scandals in pictures FIFA Corruption Scandal Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since the summer of 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is ongoing. Getty Biggest business scandals in pictures Libor fraudster City trader Tom Hayes, 35, has become the first person to be convicted of rigging Libor rates following a trial at London's Southwark Crown Court. Hayes worked as a trader in yen derivatives at UBS before joining the American bank Citigroup in Tokyo. He was fired from Citigroup following an investigation into his trading methods. He returned to the UK in December 2012 and was arrested following a two-and-a-half year criminal investigation by the SFO. Getty

This new fund was expected to cover about 3 billion of the money Monte dei Paschi needed, but it is thought that will now rise.

Italian regulator Consob has now ordered Monte dei Paschis shares to be suspended until further notice in light of the news of the greater shortfall.

They were also suspended on Friday after news of the planned government bailout emerged. Italy's government owns a four per cent stake in the bank.

The bank has quickly started talks with the competent authorities to understand the methodologies underlying the ECBs calculations and introduce the measures for a precautionary recapitalisation, the bank said in the statement.
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Being discovered by the director Mike Leigh when she was about to turn 50 changed Liz Smiths life. Bleak Moments (1971), his first film, seemed an appropriate title for an actress who was brought up in poverty after the death of her mother and lived a hand-to-mouth existence raising her own children single-handedly  hard labour she called it.

Smith, whose face could go from doleful to riotously expressive with a sudden quirky or quizzical look, regretted never playing young female leads but was grateful for the long list of dotty old women that came her way, most famously Nana in The Royle Family. In the sitcom created by Caroline Aherne and Craig Cash, she played Norma Speakman, mother of Barbara (Sue Johnston), the long-suffering wife of Jim (Ricky Tomlinson). She frequently feuded with Jim, especially after moving in with the family when her health declined. Smith appeared in all three series (1998-2000), but her character died in the subsequent Christmas special, The Queen of Sheba (2006).

The actress, who died on Christmas Eve aged 95, played a string of mothers on screen, beginning in Bleak Moments. Another was Maggie Smiths in A Private Function (1984), Alan Bennetts comedy about a pig being fattened secretly and illegally during the days of post-war food rationing. She landed the role after sending her son to Bennetts house with a postcard asking for a part in the film. It won her the 1984 Bafta Best Supporting Actress award.

However, Smith did not become a star until the 1990s, when she played church organist Letitia Cropley in The Vicar of Dibleys first series (1994) and a 1996 Easter special. The batty old woman in a hat was renowned for the awful cakes she made  the subject of a tricky question she asked Dawn Frenchs pioneering female priest when Smith was written out: My cooking. Was I a great experimenter, a pioneer, whose rich command of unorthodox mixtures will be the stuff of legend in the new millennium, or was my food just ghastly? You can tell a dying woman the truth, vicar. The Reverend Geraldine Granger looked up appearing to ask for forgiveness as she gave a diplomatic answer.

Despite suffering three strokes over two days in 2009 and announcing her retirement, Smith continued taking occasional television roles for another four years.

The actress was born Betty Gleadle, an only child, in Crosby, Lincolnshire, now a Scunthorpe suburb. When she was two, her Yorkshire-born mother, Nellie (nee Foster), died in childbirth (the baby girl also died) and she was aged seven when her father, Wilfred, a butcher, abandoned her and moved to Lancashire to marry Ellen Webster, who was also a widow. Smith recalled him telling her that he would write, but he never did.

 Royle Family star Liz Smith dies aged 95

She was brought up by her maternal grandparents, but more heartbreak came when her grandfather died in a flu epidemic. In a 2008 television interview with Mark Lawson, Smith reflected on losing her parents and her lonely existence as a child: Im sure its made me odd Im very wary of people because you feel a reject you feel uncomfortable.

Smith  she took the name when her grandmother adopted her  attended Scunthorpe Modern and Day Commercial Schools. Regular visits to the cinema, which screened silent films with stars such as Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy, and Scunthorpes Palace Variety Theatre made her want to act and she performed in church halls and in school plays at that theatre.

On leaving school, Smith worked as a seamstress before joining the WRENS (Womens Royal Naval Service) in early 1940, months after the outbreak of war. She served in the Fleet Air Arm in Scotland, then in South Africa and India.

During this time, when she was 20, Smiths grandmother died, leaving her 2,500 to buy a house and be independent. This helped her after the war when she found herself bringing up two children alone. In 1945, she had married Jack Thomas, known as JT, who worked in a tax office but aspired to write plays.

Smith bought a house in Londons Westbourne Grove area and did jobs from home, such as painting lead model soldiers. She also followed her plan of studying art for a year, at Heatherleys School of Fine Art, then training as an actress, at the Gateway Theatre.

In 1954, with two children, Sarah and Robert, the family moved to Epping Forest and Smith concentrated on bringing them up. Shortly afterwards, JT left her for another woman.

Seeking acting work again alongside daytime jobs, she joined Londons Unity Theatre, spent five years with Charles Marowitzs company, which paid no money but gave her experience in improvisation that would be invaluable years later, and acted with the Forbes Russell Repertory Company at Butlins holiday camps for many summers, giving her children their first holidays.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images

While working at Hamleys toy shop in London, Smith received a telephone message that Mike Leigh was looking for an older woman to improvise the role of a mother. Bleak Moments opened the floodgates  she ended her Butlins seasons and became a prolific bit-part actress on television.

There were also recurring roles  in sitcoms as the matronly Mrs Brandon in I Didnt Know You Cared (1975-79), Gran in Now and Then (1983-84), Mrs Anstruther in Manns Best Friends (1985), Mrs Giles in Valentine Park (1987-88) and the dual roles of Bette and Aunt Belle in 2point4 Children (1991-99), and in drama as Gran Turner in One by One (1984), Mrs Fisher in The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1986) and Zillah in the first series of Lark Rise to Candleford (2008). She also played Grandma Georgina in the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) and worked again with Mike Leigh in High Spirits (1988).

Smith won the 2007 British Comedy Awards Best Actress honour, a year after her memoirs, Our Betty: Scenes from My Life, were published, complete with her own drawings.

In 2008, Mark Lawson asked Smith whether she had had a happy life and she sadly responded: No. I consider Ive had too much struggle and too much loneliness and too much rejection, really, and Im so thankful for the later half of it that its been so lucky, very lucky.

Betty Gleadle (Liz Smith), actress: born Crosby, Lincolnshire 11 December 1921; MBE 2009; married 1945 Jack Thomas (divorced 1959; one son, one daughter); died 24 December 2016
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To several generations of science fiction and movie fans she will be known simply as Princess Leia.

Whatever else Carrie Fisher did and achieved in her life, whatever battles she confronted with drug addiction, it will be her role as the Star Wars heroine for which she will be most remembered, and certainly most loved.

On Tuesday, came the news that the actress had died, four days after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She was 60.

 Emergency phone call responding to Carrie Fisher heart attack

It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8.55 this morning, said a statement from family spokesman Simon Halls.

She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

Director George Lucas said that he and Fisher had been "friends most of our adult lives". "She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colourful personality that everyone loved," he said in a statement. "In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess - feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think."

Fisher suffered a heart attack shortly before her flight landed in Los Angeles last Friday and received emergency treatment on the plane before she was rushed to hospital upon landing.

Her brother, Todd Fisher, said the actress was in a critical condition when she arrived at the hospital, where she remained under medical treatment in the intensive care unit.

It's not fair to say stable. I am not saying she is fine, or not fine, he told Reuters. She is in the ICU.

Over the weekend it appeared her condition remained unchanged. Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, said on Sunday on Twitter: Carrie is in stable condition. If there is a change, we will share it. For all her fans and friends, I thank you for your prayers and good wishes.

As news spread of the incident, prayers and get well messages poured in from around the world. And on Tuesday, as it was revealed that Fisher had succumbed, similar sentiments flooded from Star Wars fans and others.

Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Show all 9 1 /9 Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983) Carrie Fisher in Rolling Stone (1983)

The daughter of a Hollywood power couple, movie star Reynolds and entertainer Eddie Fisher, she achieved her own fame portraying Princess Leia in the cinematic space saga that began its long and iconic journey in 1977.

Even as she fought for her life in hospital, many fans went to a Christmas Day screening of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which a digital replica of the young Princess Leia appears on screen at the end.

Its kind of surreal that this movie is coming out now and to think of Carrie Fisher/Princess Leia having a heart attack, its pretty terrifying, Mike Rosenberg, 28, said at a Times Square cinema. Its Christmas Day. I'm sure everyone has her in their heart today.

As news of her death spread, fans and co-stars offered their condolences, and paid tribute to the actress, who was once briefly married to Paul Simon.

Her co-star Mark Hamill wrote on Twitter simply: no words #Devastated. While Harrison Ford said in a statement: Carrie was one of a kind... brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely.

Actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the films, wrote: There are no words for this loss. Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly.

Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in the franchise, said: I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing. She was a dear friend, whom I greatly respected and admired. The force is dark today!
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They arrived quickly. And they appeared heartfelt, if not entirely from a place of shock, given the gravity of her health since being taken ill last week.

On Tuesday, Billie Lourd, Carrie Fishers daughter, announced that the 60-year-old actress had died, four days after suffered a cardiac arrest while on a flight from London.

It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8.55 this morning, read a statement.

She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

Within moments, tributes poured in from her fans, from other celebrities and from those actors who had shared the Star Wars adventure with her.

Her co-star Mark Hamill wrote on Twitter simply: no words #Devastated.

 Carrie Fisher dies aged 60

In a statement, Harrison Ford said: "Carrie was one-of-a-kind ... brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely."

Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in the franchise, said: "I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing. She was a dear friend, whom I greatly respected and admired. The force is dark today!"

The Star Wars franchise's creator George Lucas described Fisher as "extremely smart" and "a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colourful personality that everyone loved".

In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess - feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think," he said.

Among other notable tributes was one from Stephen Fry.

She was the brightest, funniest, bravest, kindest, cleverest and sweetest person I ever knew. A crushing blow to lose @carrieffisher," he wrote on Twitter.

Writer and actor Tina Fey said Fisher had "meant a lot to me".

"Like many women my age, Princess Leia occupies about sixty percent of my brain at any given time," she said.

"But Carrie's honest writing and her razor-sharp wit were an even greater gift. I feel so lucky that I got to meet her. I'm very sad she is gone."

The Star Trek actor William Shatner was the inhabitant of a different galaxy but he shared with Fisher both the the burden and privilege of cult fandom.

He said: I'm deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carrie Fisher. I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished.

John Boyega, who played Finn in the 2015 Star Wars film, also paid tribute to Fisher.

Fisher's mother, the Hollywood star Debbie Reynolds, wrote in a message on Facebook: Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carrie's Mother.

Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars films, said there were no words for the loss. "Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly," he said.

Daisy Ridley expressed her grief in a succinct but emotional statement. "Devastated at this monumental loss," the co-star said. "How lucky we all are to have known her, and how awful that we have to say goodbye."

Mia Farrow, who starred alongside Fisher in the Woody Allen film Hannah and Her Sisters also mourned the loss. "Carrie was brilliant, funny and talented. Sending huge love be to her mom, her daughter, Billie and her many friends".
Brits were freaking out this weekend over an old, first-released statement by mass-murder and Trump Commerce Secretary-designate , Wilbur Ross to a much of shady Cypriot banksters. He told them that I recommend that Cyprus should adopt and immediately announce even more liberal financial service policies than it already has so that it can try to take advantage of the inevitable relocations that will occur during the period of confusion.

The British press is interpreting Ross comments as a call to steal marketshare from the U.K., still trying to figure out a way forward after the Brexit vote. And guess who Britain will be negotiating a future trade deal with.

Wilbur Ross, the billionaire incoming commerce secretary, has the task of striking a free trade deal with Britain. His comments will increase fears that the US will seek to take advantage of British isolation after its departure from the European Union.





Brexiteers such as Iain Duncan Smith and Jacob Rees-Mogg have asserted that Britain is well placed to secure a free trade agreement with the US, our largest single trading partner.





However, the remarks from Mr Ross suggest that US negotiators will seek to exploit Brexit uncertainty to tempt financial companies away from London. Days after the referendum, he urged an audience of Cypriot financiers to strike during the period of confusion to draw businesses away from the City.





Britains departure from the EU was a God-given opportunity for the Citys financial rivals, he added [when speaking to the Cypriots], naming Frankfurt and Dublin in particular. This month a Lords committee warned that tens of thousands of City jobs could be lost from next year if banks feared that the UK would lose access to the single market.





Last night Labour said that Mr Rosss comments, made before his appointment by the president-elect, were a salutary warning that other economies were seeking to take advantage of Britains break with Europe.





Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, said: Wilbur Rosss comments are a stark reminder that the trade deals Britain will agree in future will not depend on goodwill from our partners, but on their own shrewd political and economic calculations.





Theresa Mays government has failed to articulate a coherent vision of what kind of economy Brexit Britain will be. This makes us weak and vulnerable in the eyes of others.





Theresa May and Boris Johnson are split on how best to handle Mr Trump, with the foreign secretary frustrated at the prime ministers cautious approach. Mr Johnson has been lobbying No 10 for permission to make contact with the Trump transition team but has been told that he must wait until Mrs Mays first meeting.





In the past British prime ministers have tended to be among the first visitors to a newly occupied White House, often in late February about a month after the inauguration of the president. So far, however, Downing Street has been given no indication of when  or indeed if  Mr Trump wants to receive Mrs May, and Mr Johnson fears that chances are being lost.





Boris doesnt think its smart to wait on the formalities, a Foreign Office source said. A senior government figure admitted that the question of whether Mr Johnson would be allowed to visit the US before Mrs May was unresolved. Since his appointment as commerce secretary with responsibility for trade agreements, Mr Ross has spoken warmly of the special relationship, saying in a recent interview that a trade deal with a post-Brexit Britain would be an important and very interesting development.





However, the 79-year-old private equity baron has also referred to Brexit as the most expensive divorce proceeding in the history of the world.





He has endorsed the Trump trade doctrine, which stipulates that any new trade deal must reduce the US trade deficit, strengthen manufacturing and boost growth. Britain has a trade surplus with the US.





Trade experts in the US believe that the Trump administration will give priority to a deal with Britain once the campaign pledge to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) has been fulfilled and after the UK has extricated itself from the EU.





Susan Schwab, George W Bushs US trade representative between 2006 and 2009, told The Times that the Trump administration would be ready, willing and able to negotiate a free trade deal with Britain using enhanced powers that he will inherit from President Obama to push through trade policy.





There have also been suggestions that Mr Trumps pledge to renegotiate Nafta with Mexico and Canada may provide an opening for the UK.
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Barack Obama appears set for a final showdown with Benjamin Netanyahu after Israel said it would ignore a UN Security Council resolution and push ahead with the building of more Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas.

Last week, in a rare condemnation of Israel, the UN said it settlements had no legal validity. The criticism went ahead after the US decided to abstain, rather than use its vote to veto the measure.

Mr Netanyahu, who has long had a difficult personal relationship with Mr Obama, immediately announced that Israel would not turn the other cheek.

Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolute at the UN and will not abide by its terms, Mr Netanyahu said on Friday. 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.

On Tuesday, officials in Israel indicated their intention to push ahead with the controversial development of more Jewish settlements, with Jerusalems municipal government saying it intended to proceed with the building of 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian section of the city. Plans for the homes were approved in the summer.

Meir Turjeman, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, told AFP that the plans remain on the table ahead of the UN meeting and would still be raised "in a serious manner".

Earlier, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, has also weighed in on the issue, saying that he hoped the forthcoming Middle East conference in France would bring about an end to the building of Israeli settlements.

The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month, he said, in his first public remarks since the UN vote.

We hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation. The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal.

Israel has responded to the vote by announcing it is reducing ties with the nations that voted against it.

The war of words between Israel and the US  Israel has claimed that Mr Obama was personally behind the UN resolution  is likely to continue for the final few weeks of Mr Obamas presidency. Mr Netanyahu, who last year addressed the joint houses of Congress to condemn the US deal with Iran, knows that President-elect Donald Trump is likely to be far less critical of Jewish settlement building on Palestinian land.

 Netanyahu congratulates Trump

Indeed, Mr Trump had called on the US to veto the UN resolution. When it failed to do so, he tweeted that things would be different after he assumes office.

Reuters said that some of Mr Netanyahus fiery rhetoric may be part of an effort to position himself for domestic political reasons. A $38bn (31bn) US aid-package to Israel has already been agreed and the Israeli premier wants to try and tap into deep-seated feelings among many Israelis that their country and its policies towards the Palestinians receive excessive global condemnation.

It said that he has tried to rally Israelis around him by portraying the anti-settlement resolution as a challenge to Israel's claimed sovereignty over all of Jerusalem.

This was underscored with a Hanukkah holiday visit to the Western Wall, one of Judaism's holiest sites, which is located in Jerusalems Old City in the eastern sector captured along with the West Bank in a 1967 war.

Almost all Israelis believe that Jerusalem is their countrys capital.

Palestinians claim eastern Jerusalem as their capital, while Washington has in the past accepted an international view that the city's status must be determined at future peace talks.

In contrast, Mr Trump has promised to reverse decades of US policy by moving the US.embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

Speaking on MSNBC on Monday, Israel's ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, accused the Obama administration of orchestrating Fridays UN vote behind the scenes, despite US denials.

Mr Trump has selected David Friedman, a bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi, as his choice to be the US envoy in Israel. The Associated Press said Mr Friedman is a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, an opponent of Palestinian statehood and a defender of Israels government.
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A British teenager who was forced to marry a man in Pakistan by her family is being ordered to pay for the cost of her repatriation by the Government.

The 19-year-old, who cannot be named for her own safety, was just 16 when she was married, according to Shaista Gohir OBE, the chair of the Muslim Womens Network charity, which has been helping her.

She said he was a very violent man who kept weapons in their home, Ms Gohir told The Independent.

The revelations have prompted criticism from campaigners and sparked concerns as to how many others have incurred similar charges.

Shortly after the girl turned 17, the teenager fooled her husband into thinking that she needed to go to the British embassy in Pakistans capital city, Islamabad, to sign some paperwork.

Recommended This woman wrote an open letter to the man who tried to rape her

After warning her not to try anything, he waited outside with a gun, but she nonetheless explained her situation to embassy staff and they arranged for her transfer back to the UK.

Before she could fly back to the UK she was required to sign a loan agreement and surrender her passport to them, Ms Gohir said.

She was subsequently issued with a bill for 814  the cost of her repatriation  and told the passport will not be returned until the money is repaid.

Returning to a different city away from her family, she has been placed into safe accommodation where she lives on benefits.

Were she to return home she would run the risk of honour-based violence and intense emotional pressure from her family, Ms Gohir said.

Although she has applied for jobs, she has been hampered by a lack of available identification. The Foreign Office will hold her passport until the 814 is paid and she has been unable to get a driving licence without her birth certificate, which her family have.

Shes stuck, Ms Gohir said. Weve written a letter to try and find out how much interest she is paying and other details of the case.

She added: I cant understand why they cant send the bill to her family. After all, they were the people who put her in that position in the first place.

Origins of forced marriage cases Show all 1 1 /1 Origins of forced marriage cases Origins of forced marriage cases Origins of forced marriage cases (Maximise window for full graphic)

Demanding the payment was not only morally wrong, but would likely force victims to go back to their families, she added.

The system requiring victims to cover the costs of their repatriation or borrow money from the Foreign Office remains in place, despite legislation criminalising forced marriage being pushed through by Theresa May during her time as home secretary.

This policy is likely to put off victims from asking for help, and it is unacceptable that a victim should have no option but to remain in a forced marriage because he or she cannot afford to pay for their escape, Ms Gohir said.

She added that the Muslim Womens Network is now trying to find out how many victims have been issued with similar loans.

Responding to a letter from the teenagers MP, Foreign Office minister Tobias Ellwood said: The FCO understand the risk that forced marriage victims face, and the difficulties that they may encounter upon their return to the UK. The forced marriage unit works closely with services in the UK to support victims following their repatriation.

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We are not, however, funded to provide financial assistance to British nationals overseas, and cannot therefore pay for repatriations. We keep our assistance provision under constant review.

He added that the system of loan agreements was used because forced marriage victims often could not turn to their parents for financial assistance.

We believe they would therefore not consent to sign a loan agreement for return to the UK. Moreover, in a number of forced marriage cases the parents do not know about the repatriation. Alerting the parents to the repatriation by asking them to pay for it could put the victim at further risk.

But the Bradford West MP, Naz Shah, who was herself forced into marriage, described the Foreign Offices policy as morally and ethically wrong.

These are vulnerable victims of domestic violence  because domestic violence isnt just about physical violence  so you are doubly punishing somebody, she told The Guardian.

An FCO spokeswoman said: The UK is a world leader in the fight to stamp out the brutal practise of forced marriage, with our dedicated forced marriage unit leading efforts to combat it both at home and abroad.

Forcing someone into marriage in England and Wales carries a maximum seven-year jail sentence under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
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A Muslim charity is a responding to a pressing need for help from London most vulnerable residents as it embarks on its annual charitable giving drive.

Muslim Aid was on hand to give out the party favours and Keep Warm Kits to elderly parishioners at St James the Less Church in Bethnal Green, east London as they sat down to their Christmas lunch last week.

Pat Farmer, one of the people who set up the annual Christmas dinner for the elderly around five years ago, said the event was so important to them as for many its the only Christmas they are going to get.

She said people from the charity took part in the Christmas lunch every year and were very good as they always came with Keep Warm Kits made up of blankets and hot water bottles for the elderly residents who took part.

Recommended This is what Muslims will be doing in your community this Christmas

Volunteers helped out with serving the Christmas meal with turkey and all the trimmings for the 30 or so elderly people at the event while they were serenaded by two Pearly Kings from Finsbury Park, before handing out the kits.

The event was part of a series held in the run-up to Christmas across London by the charity which has also included a food drive for the homeless.

This saw 10 tonnes of food, including rice, pasta, cereal, tinned goods and other foodstuffs, being donated at the East London Mosque in Whitechapel after Friday prayers earlier this month.

More than 90 per cent of the food, which was given to homeless charity Crisis, is expected to go to non-Muslims over the festive period.

The charity's UK Programme Officer, Joseph Coules, told The Independent the aim of the drive was because people need help they are not getting elsewhere.

A Muslim Aid volunteer chats with the women at the event (Caroline Mortimer)

He said: People are going to do good and if [positive press] comes out of it then brilliant but we are doing it because people need help not because we want to get on the news.

The idea is people in the community need help. We keep hearing in the news that there is no money for social care.

Every week we hear that elderly people cant afford to heat their homes. They cant afford to be warm and eat at the same time.

He said Muslims want to help because it is their society as well.

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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One of the volunteers, Fatema Mawji, said she felt it was so important to get involve because charity work made her feel like a better person.

The 18-year-old apprentice dental nurse said that although she and her family do not celebrate Christmas they still see it as an important time for doing good, giving gifts and being with those you love.

She said she wanted to help the elderly because it helped her feel closer to her own grandparents: I think it quite important to be here because we have a good time as well. I mean our grandfathers and grandmothers might not be here right now so it makes us feel like they are.

It makes me feel happy, it makes me feel close to them

A Pearl King serenades Muslims and Christians alike as they tuck into their Christmas meal in Bethnal Green (Caroline Mortimer)

The teenager, from Ilford in east London, said it was only her second time volunteering with Muslim Aid but she would continue in the New Year because she thinks it is a great cause.

Christmas means quite a lot to elderly people. In the winter they are quite vulnerable so we are here to help them out and make them feel that they are still special, that we are still there for them, she added.

According to Age UK, just under 1m older people feel lonelier at Christmas and 85 per cent of those surveyed thought they more should be done to help them.

Meanwhile more than 120,000 children are likely to spend the holiday in temporary accommodation - a 10 per cent rise on last year.

Prime Minister Theresa May has promised 20m in funding to stop people sleeping rough on the streets of London by setting up Homeless Prevention Trailblazers but the rise in homelessness has been blamed on harsh austerity measures - particularly the Bedroom Tax - introduced by her predecessor David Cameron and his Chancellor George Osborne.
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A long-haul flight was forced to land at an airport in Ireland to allow passengers to use the toilets.

The plane travelling from New York to Paris on the OpenSkies airline, a subsidiary of British Airways, was diverted into Shannon Airport in the west of the country after complaints from passengers.

The onboard crew confirmed the Boeing 767s toilets could not be serviced properly, with 90 minutes of the journey remaining.The flights 172 passengers were given the chance to take a toilet break before the flight continued its journey, over two hours behind schedule.

A team of engineers successfully fixed the broken facilities during the intervening period. British Airways told the Independent it was "very sorry for any inconvenience the stoppage caused, but safety is our highest priority".

The world's 10 worst airlines Show all 10 1 /10 The world's 10 worst airlines The world's 10 worst airlines 10. Jet AirHelp, has assessed more than 30 airlines using scores for quality of service, on-time performance and responses to claims for compensation. Here follows the lowest ranked airlines, starting with Jet Airways, 35% of whose flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 9. Aerolineas Argentinas 15% of Aerolineas Argentinas flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 8. Iberia 16% of Iberia flights were delayed in 2018 Getty Images The world's 10 worst airlines 7. Korean Air 36% of Korean Air flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 6. Ryanair 14% of Ryanair flights were delayed in 2018 EPA The world's 10 worst airlines 5. Air Mauritius 31% of Air Mauritius flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 4. easyJet 21% of easyJet flights were delayed in 2018 AFP/Getty Images The world's 10 worst airlines 3. Pakistan International Airlines 39% of Pakistan International Airlines were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 2. Royal Jordanian Airlines 13% of Royal Jordanian Airlines flights were delayed in 2018 Getty The world's 10 worst airlines 1. WOW Air 25% of WOW Air flights were delayed in 2018 Getty

Over 70,000 passengers are expected to pass through Shannon Airport between Christmas and New Year, representing a significant increase on last year according to the operator.

On December 24, a flight from Toronto to London Heathrow was diverted to the airport after a 10-year-old child had cardiac arrest onboard and died at the scene.
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Jeremy Corbyn has been forced to defend his record after Barack Obama said he is further to the left than Bernie Sanders and as distant from centre ground politics as Donald Trumps Republicans.

Mr Obama indicated that Mr Corbyn had become Labours leader after it disintegrated following election defeat and that the British party is still in a very frail state.

After Mr Obama made his comments in an interview, Mr Corbyns team hit back by appearing to suggest the outgoing US leader is part of an establishment that Labour is now challenging.

Mr Corbyn has met Mr Obama, but the relationship between the two is frosty given the Labour leaders criticism of US foreign policy and of the proposed US/EU trade deal.

In a frank interview with former advisor David Axelrod, who also worked for ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Obama said he was not worried about the potential Corbynisation of the Democrats in the wake of their defeat at the hands of Donald Trump.

The Democrats candidate Hilary Clinton was beaten by Mr Trump after being pigeon-holed as part of an arrogant establishment that refused to work for ordinary people, a mode of attack Mr Corbyn is increasingly using against UK politicians.

In response to Obamas criticism, Mr Corbyns spokesman said: Both Labour and US Democrats will have to challenge power if they are going to speak for working people and change a broken system that isnt delivering for the majority.

What Jeremy Corbyn stands for is what most people want; to take on the tax cheats, create a fairer economy, fund a fully public NHS, build more homes, and stop backing illegal wars.

He added: For the establishment, those ideas are dangerous. For most people in Britain, theyre common sense and grounded in reality.

In his interview 55-year-old Mr Obama compared the way the Labour party and the US Republicans had chosen to swing away from the middle ground and claimed even left-wing senator Mr Sanders was a centrist compared to Mr Corbyn.

Mr Axelrod asked him: Are you worried about the Corbynisation of the Democratic Party? Saw the Labour Party just sort of disintegrated in the face of their defeat and move so far left that its, you know, in a very, in a very frail state.

 Jeremy Corbyn praises 'heroism' of revolutionary Fidel Castro

And there is an impulse to respond to the power of Trump by, you know, being as edgy on the left?

Mr Obama responded: I dont worry about that, partly because I think that the Democratic Party has stayed pretty grounded in fact and reality.

Trump emerged out of a decade, maybe two, in which the Republican Party for tactical reasons, moved further and further and further away from what we would consider to be a basic consensus around things like climate change or how the economy works.

And it started filling up with all kinds of conspiracy theorising that became kind of common wisdom or conventional wisdom within the Republican Party base. That hasnt happened in the Democratic Party. I think people like the passion that Bernie brought, but Bernie Sanders is a pretty centrist politician relative to Corbyn or relative to some of the Republicans.
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Government plans to force UK voters to show proof of identity before casting their ballot have been widely condemned amid suggestions they could prevent millions of people voting.

Ministers have announced a trial of ID checks as part of efforts to combat electoral fraud, but opponents say they are unnecessary and likely to disenfranchise poorer voters.

Critics highlighted that millions of voters do not have a passport or a driving licence and could therefore be barred from voting. Ministers responded by suggesting a new form of ID could be created specifically for voting.

Recommended Eric Pickles calls for prosecution over Tower Hamlets electoral fraud

Announcing the measures, Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution, said: The governments view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy.

That is why the new measures we are announcing today will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote  and their democratic right.

By eliminating fraud and tackling improper practices, we are ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while building a clear and secure democracy that works for everyone."

The 18 local authorities deemed most at risk of electoral fraud will be invited to take part in the trial of ID checks. These include Birmingham, Bradford, Luton and Bristol, as well as the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The councils will trial different systems, with some requiring photo ID and others asking only for proof of address.

The proposals are a response to a report by Eric Pickles, the former Communities and Local Government Secretary, into how to eliminate electoral fraud. Mr Pickles suggested the Government should consider introducing a "proportional" system of ID checks.

The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Show all 20 1 /20 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Digital Economy Bill  Give every household the legal right to fast broadband  but if they live in some remote areas, theyll have to pay part of the cost themselves  Phone and broadband companies to be forced to release details of customer complaints and average broadband speeds  New powers to allow public bodies like councils and government department to share swathes of data  including unpaid bills Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Transport Bill  New laws to govern the development of driverless cars, drones and space planes which the Government hopes will encourage investment in the new technologies to take place in the UK  Making it legal for customers to buy insurance for driverless vehicles Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 4/5 This content is subject to copyright. The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Planning Bill  Giving legal powers to villages and towns to set their own priorities for new housing. They wont be able to turn down new homes, but they will have a say in where they can be built  Create a new National Infrastructure Commission to push through big projects such as nuclear power stations and new rail and road links  cutting the amount of time it takes to develop them Controversy Rating: 3/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Jobs Bill  Give powers to local authorities to reduce the level of business rates they charge. City Mayors would also be able to increase rates in some areas to pay for specific infrastructure projects to that would boost local growth Controversy Rating: 2/5 Change Britain Rating: 2/5 This content is subject to copyright. The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Markets Bill  Making it easier for consumers to switch electricity and gas suppliers  Cutting down the time it takes for the Competition and Markets Authority to launch investigations into uncompetitive practices Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Bus Services Bill  Give local authorities and mayors powers to set standards for local buses  including frequency of services and fairs  Force all bus companies to provide real time information on services to app developers so everyone across the country will have the same ability as Londoners to know when the next bus is coming on their smart phone Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 2007 Getty Images The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 NHS Overseas Charging Bill  Increasing the number of services for which the NHS charges foreign patients  Reduces the number of people from the European Economic Area who are eligible for free services Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 1/5 2016 Getty Images The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Pensions Bill  Capping early exit fees on company pension schemes  Create a new pensions guidance body to help consumers know their pension rights  and make best use of previous Government reforms allowing pensioners the right to take the money they have saved in a lump sum on retirement to invest how they like Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Children and Social Work Bill  New obligation on councils to be a corporate parent to children in care and look after them even after they have grown up  Giving all children leaving care a personal advisor to help them find jobs, secure a home and deal with any problems  Create a new regulator for social work along the lines of Ofsted to drive up standards in the profession Controversy Rating: 2/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Education Bill  Force failing local authorities to convert all the schools in their area to academies  Reform school funding to address long standing disparities across the country that has disadvantaged schools in some rural areas Controversy Rating: 3/5 Change Britain Rating: 2/5 2015 Getty Images The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Higher Education Bill  Making it simpler and easier for companies and other providers to set up new universities around the country. Ministers want to encourage institutions like Harvard and companies like Google to consider setting up campuses in the UK  Allowing universities who have been rated "excellent" for teaching to charge more than those who are not  Law to force universities to publish information about their application processes broken down by ethnicity, gender and socio economic background Controversy Rating: 2/5 Change Britain Rating: 4/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Prisons and Courts Bill  New law to create reform prisons giving governors powers to set their own regimes and budgets  Obligation to publish re-offending rates by prison Controversy Rating: 2/5 Change Britain Rating: 4/5 2016 Getty Images The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 National Citizen Service Bill  New law to force schools to promote NCS to all 16 year olds and putting the scheme for the first time on a statutory footing Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Lifetime Savings Bill  Putting into law a Government plans to give people on working tax credits who save 50 a month a Government "bonus" of 50 up to a maximum of 300 a year Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 2/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Soft Drinks Industry Levy Bill  Introduce a sugar tax on soft drinks to fund school sports Controversy Rating: 3/5 Change Britain Rating: 5/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Bill of Rights  A new bill of rights to replace the Human Rights Act that will be based on the European Convention of Human Rights but will also take account of English common law Controversy Rating: 5/5 Change Britain Rating: 4/5 This content is subject to copyright. The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Counter-Extremism Bill  New civil powers to allow authorities to ban so-called "extremist preachers"  New powers to intervene in Madrassas and other unregulated environments where children are present  New undisclosed powers to come out of Louise Caseys review of Muslim integration Controversy Rating: 5/5 Change Britain Rating: 4/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Criminal Finances Bill  Make it an offence for companies not to stop their staff facilitating tax evasion  New undisclosed powers for courts to recover criminal assets Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 1/5 2016 Getty Images The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Cultural Property Bill (Armed Forces)  Making it illegal for UK troops to damage cultural property in conflicts at home or abroad Controversy Rating: 1/5 Change Britain Rating: 1/5 The governments legislative programme for 2016-17 Wales Bill  Bill to put plans for further Welsh devolution on a statutory footing  following the new powers recently given to the Scottish Parliament Controversy Rating: 2/5 Change Britain Rating: 3/5

Northern Ireland already requires voters to show ID before voting but opponents warned against a similar system being adopted in England.

Cat Smith MP, Labours Shadow Minister for Voter Engagement, said the plans risk denying millions of electors a vote.

She said: The Government should be doing all it can to encourage lawful voting and ensure a high turnout, not putting extra hurdles in the way. The plans for photo ID are like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut, potentially denying a vote to millions.

Labour backs a number of the [other] reasonable proposals planned by the Government to tackle electoral fraud, Ms Smith added.

Labour MP Cat Smith said the plans amounted to 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut'

The Electoral Reform Society, which campaigns for fairer voting, said ID checks were a blunt instrument that could put people off voting.

Its chief executive, Katie Ghose, said: "While we should take all instances of voter fraud very seriously where they occur, mandatory voter ID is a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The government should think very carefully before introducing barriers to voting.

"There is simply no evidence to suggest that electoral fraud is widespread across the UK. Where it has occurred it has been isolated and should be tackled locally.

"Raising barriers to democratic participation could just put people off voting - and evidence from the US shows that it's generally those already most excluded from the political process that are worst affected by strict ID laws.

"The government should think again and look at all the evidence on voter ID before deciding to use this blunt instrument."

Ken Livingstone, the former Labour Mayor of London, claimed the Governments plans would mostly target poorer people and Labour voters.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today Programme: "The simple fact is, if there was widespread fraud, we'd all be supporting this, but it is a very, very small number of instances.

And the real problem is, the people most likely not to have a passport, or a driving licence, are going to be the poorest, and that, I suspect - once again, like the decision last year to knock a lot of people off the electoral register - will basically hit the Labour Party."

A report by the Electoral Commission published late last year suggested 3.5 million voters (7.5 per cent of the total electorate) would have no valid form of photo ID.

If identification cards are excluded and only passports or driving licenses allowed as valid forms of ID, 11 million voters (24 per cent of the electorate) would be excluded.

The Government is also trialling new plans to improve the security of postal voting and check the nationality of voters.
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A social media campaign has been launched to support Archbishop Justin Welby after Nigel Farage attacked his Christmas message. Archbishop Welby, who is the most senior bishop in the Church of England, took to Twitter on Christmas day to share his prayer for the day.

He posted: Jesus came to us homeless and in a manger. This Christmas, please pray with me for the poor, hungry and homeless, here and abroad.

While many followers welcomed his message and thanked him for sharing it, the Archbishops comments drew sharp criticism from Mr Farage. He tweeted: Merry Christmas! Ignore all negative messages from the Archbishop of Canterbury and have a great day!

In response to the exchange, users of the social media site have been sharing their support of Archbishop Welby; tweeting their well wishes with the hashtag #ImWithJustinWelby

 Nigel Farage responds to Brendan Cox criticism after Berlin attack

Matt Key tweeted: Nigel Farage clearly doesnt understand the word negative (among other things...). ImWithJustinWelby ImWithJesus

David Mackenzie Mills tweeted: Ignore those comments by Nigel Farage. Have a thought provoking year in solidarity with those who really need our attention.

Others tweeted that they werent religious believers personally but still wanted to show their support for the Archbishops message. Adrian Littlejohn tweeted: I am an atheist. I dont do Archbishops. ImWithJustinWelby Seems to me a better human than Nigel Farage could ever imagine being.

Mr Farage lead the party between 2006 and 2009, before briefly steeping down and returning to the position in 2010, where he remained until this summer. He was replaced by Paul Nuttall as Ukip leader following the success of the Leave campaign in the Brexit referendum.

A few days prior to his comments directed at the Archbishop, Mr Farage also came under scrutiny for making comments about murdered MP Jo Cox, directed at her widower Brendan, which were perceived as being insensitive and inflammatory.
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Voters could soon be forced to present a form of ID  such as a driving licence or passport  at polling stations across Britain as part of a Government attempt to crack down on electoral fraud.

The move for more stringent controls at the ballot box comes in response to a Government-commissioned report by Sir Eric Pickles, the Prime Ministers anti-corruption champion. The report was released earlier this year and made 50 recommendations.

While there is already a requirement for the public in Northern Ireland to present photographic ID before they vote, no such procedures exist in the rest of Britain. Sir Eric suggested in his report that a driving licence, passport or utility bill would not seem unreasonable to establish identity.

Having agreed with this recommendation, the Government will now aim to introduce a pilot scheme at the local elections in May 2018.

The independent Electoral Commission have long been advocates of introducing ID at polling stations in Britain, previously warning that electoral fraud has the potential to undermine confidence in the electoral system if not addressed. The electoral watchdog has estimated such a scheme would cost between 1.8m and 10.8m to implement.

According to data collected by the organisation, police forces across the UK recorded a total of 481 cases of alleged voter fraud in 2015  123 related to voting.

Sir Eric, the former Communities Secretary, was asked by the former Prime Minister David Cameron to examine how the system could be made more robust. It came after the wake up call of last years election court judgement in the London borough of Tower Hamlets and the removal of Lutfur Rahman from his post as mayor.

In order to eradicate intimidation of the public at the ballot box, Sir Eric also recommended that the Government provide powers so that the police can establish cordons sanitaires at polling stations where necessary.

On this, the Cabinet office said in its response: We would wish to consider the practical implications of strengthening the existing powers, for example, whether it would be necessary to create any new offences, and also the potential impact on the police and policing arrangements in setting up and monitoring cordons sanitaires around polling stations.

The proposed changes are likely to require primary legislation and we would look to bring forward provisions when a suitable opportunity arises.

Chris Skidmore, the minister for the constitution said: The Governments view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy.

That is why the new measures we are announcing today will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote  and their democratic right.

By eliminating fraud and tackling improper practises, we are ensuring the integrity of our electoral system while building a clear and secure democracy that works for everyone.

Other recommendations accepted by the Government include considering how nationality checking may be used to prevent false registrations, requiring electors to re-apply for postal votes every three years and ending the dubious practise of postal vote harvesting by political activists.

The Cabinet Offices response adds: The Electoral Commissions code of conduct for campaigners already states that activists should not handle completed postal ballot ballots or envelopes: yet this is only a voluntary code, rather than a statutory prohibition.

There are practical implications that will require careful consideration, including how a ban on specified persons handling postal ballot papers will be enforced and the creation of a new offence.

Claire Bassett, chief executive of the Electoral Commission added: We welcome todays full and considered response from the Government and the announcement of its intention to pilot measures to increase security at polling stations.

Having undertaken detailed work, the Commissions view is that the use of photographic ID is the most effective proof against personation; however, we look forward to working with the Government and other partners to further explore the options, in order to ensure voter confidence in the system.

When Sir Eric released his report in August, he said: Last years court ruling in Tower Hamlets was a wake-up call that state bodies need to do far more to stamp out corruption and restore public confidence.

It was local residents who lost out from the crooked politicians who bullied them and wasted their money. The law must be applied equally and fairly to everyone. Integration and good community relations are undermined by the failure to uphold the rule of law and ensure fair play.
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A black transgender man was slashed by a woman he offered his seat to while riding a Manhattan subway on Sunday night, authorities announced Monday. The suspect is currently facing hate crime charges after allegedly making racist comments to the victim.

The 44-year-old man was riding a northbound 4 train when the female suspect, 30-year-old Stephanie Pazmino, and her cousin entered the train. When he offered to move over for the two women, she admitted that she didnt want to sit next to a black person, the New York Post first reported.

"I don't want your seat," she said, according to police, before telling her cousin in Spanish that she didnt want to sit next to a black person.

Then, police said Pazmino and the man got into a verbal argument and the man got up and moved to the end of the train. When he attempted to leave the train at 125th Street, the suspect took out a two-inch knife, allegedly slashed him several times on the left side of his face, and stabbed his left arm.

Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Show all 15 1 /15 Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Children play on playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz speaks at a anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: A piece of playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas stands during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn A woamn takes a photo of messages and flowers left at a playground before a protest against racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn New York State Senator Daniel Squadron speaks as activists protest racism and hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Flowers left by activists at the entrance to Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016 after swastikas were found in the park. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Messages and flowers left by activists at a playground protesting racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest Racism and Hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

A witness attempted to stop the attack and helped the bleeding victim exit the train.

Authorities spoke with the suspect's cousin who confirmed the attacks. They also recovered the knife at the scene, arrested Pazmino, and rushed the victim to a Harlem hospital for treatment. Pazmino has been charged with hate crime assault, reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon.
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Donald Trump has dismissed the United Nations as a club for people to have a good time.

In the latest of a series of controversial remarks on Twitter, the US President-elect hit out at the global body.

While he did not specifically mention the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories  which only passed after the United States abstained  Mr Trump appeared to continuing his earlier criticism.

He wrote: The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!

In a previous tweet following the Security Council vote on Friday, he said: The big loss ... for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace.

Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!

He also claimed to have brought "hope", which was used as a slogan by Barack Obama, to the world.

"The world was gloomy before I won -- there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10 per cent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!" he tweeted.

Mr Trump also hit back at Mr Obama, after the out-going President claimed he would have won the election if he, rather than Hillary Clinton, had been the Democratic candidate.

Recommended Bernie Sanders asks Congress to stop Trump launching nuclear arms race

In an interview with CNN, Mr Obama said: I am confident in this [his] vision because I'm confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it  I think I could've mobilised a majority of the American people to rally behind it.

See, I think the issue was less that Democrats have somehow abandoned the white working class, I think that's nonsense.

Look, the Affordable Care Act benefits a huge number of Trump voters. There are a lot of folks in places like West Virginia or Kentucky who didn't vote for Hillary, didn't vote for me, but are being helped by this.

World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Show all 29 1 /29 World reaction to President Trump: In pictures World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures London, England Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty Images World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mosul , Iraq Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Manila, Philippines AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures New Delhi, India Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Karachi, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kabul, Afghanistan AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem. Israel Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Moscow, Russia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Seoul, South Korea AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Lagos, Nigeria AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Peshawar, Pakistan EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Hyderabad, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Kolkata, India AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia Getty World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Sydney, Australia AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Aleppo, Syria Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico AP World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Reuters World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Jerusalem, Israel EPA World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Baghdad, Iraq Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Tokyo, Japan Rex World reaction to President Trump: In pictures Mexico City, Mexico Getty

The problem is, is that we're not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we're bleeding for these communities.

However Mr Trump, predictably, disagreed.

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, Isis, ObamaCare, etc, he tweeted.
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Pamela Taylor, director of the Clay County Development Corp in Clay, West Virginia, has been fired for calling First Lady Michelle Obama an ape in heels last month, state officials announced Tuesday.

Taylor resigned from her post back in November but she was quietly reinstated last month. The controversy prompted the state to review its contracts with the nonprofit that provides services to elderly residents, Reuters reports.

Following the states request for specific assurances that the CCDC is following anti-discrimination policies, we have been assured that Pamela Taylor has been removed from her position as CCDC director, Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblins office said in a statement.

Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Show all 15 1 /15 Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: People participate in an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message "Go Trump". Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Children play on playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz speaks at a anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 20: A piece of playground equipment that was defaced with swastikas stands during an anti-hate rally at a Brooklyn park named in memory of Beastie Boys band member Adam Yauch on November 20, 2016 in New York City. On Friday, the park and playground was spray painted with swastikas and the message AGo Trump.A Hundreds of people, many with their children, listened to community leaders and Beastie Boys member Adam Horovitz condemn racism and intolerance. Following the election of Donald Trump as president, there has been a surge of incidents of racist activities reported. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn A woamn takes a photo of messages and flowers left at a playground before a protest against racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn New York State Senator Daniel Squadron speaks as activists protest racism and hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Flowers left by activists at the entrance to Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016 after swastikas were found in the park. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Messages and flowers left by activists at a playground protesting racism and hate after swastikas were found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Activists Protest Racism And Hate In Brooklyn Activists protest Racism and Hate after swastikas found in Adam Yauch Park in Brooklyn, New York on November 20, 2016. The two remaining members of the Beastie Boys called for an anti-hate rally at the park in memory of band member Adam Yauch after it was defaced with swastikas. / AFP / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

The racist post in question also praised Melania Trump following her husband Donald Trumps election win in November. "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified first lady back in the White House, Taylor wrote on Facebook. I'm tired of seeing an ape in heels.

Last month, an online petition calling for the dismissal of both officials received more than 200,000 signatures.

The towns mayor, Beverly Whaling, resigned after praising the aforementioned Facebook post, saying, "Just made my day Pam."
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Facebook is warning people about a fake explosion in Bangkok, falsely suggesting that the entire city is at risk.

The site has activated its "Safety Check" feature across Thailand's capital. That means that anyone it thinks is in the area will see a message informing them that there has been "an explosion", and encouraging them to mark themselves safe from it.

But no such explosion actually happened and the fake alert seems to be the result of changes that the company has made to its Safety Check feature. It appears to have been activated by a minor incident, reported only in the local news, where a man took firecrackers to a government building in an apparent protest.

The message gives none of that context and instead just mentions the explosion and asks people whether they are safe.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

That seems to have become seen as a major incident because people on Facebook were discussing it. Earlier this year, Facebook announced that it would be using people's posts to help decide when the Safety Check would be activated  meaning that it didn't necessarily need to be turned on by staff at the social network.

Recommended Facebook apologises for sending Safety Check alerts across the world

That was apparently a response to the sustained criticism of how Facebook decided that it would turn on the feature. It has been suggested that it ignored issues outside of the west, and that its reluctance to turn the feature on in places like the Middle East was the result of racism.

Instead, Facebook announced in November that it would instead look for when people were posting about a specific event. If a lot of people in a particular place are posting on Facebook about an earthquake, for instance, it will notify people in that area and ask whether they are safe.

Discussion of the protest appears to have triggered that alert across Bangkok, which hasn't seen any major explosion.

Facebook has said that the tool has been triggered by users hundreds of times, including in legitimate situations like the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and protests against police brutality in North Carolina.

But it has also been forced to apologise for worrying people with the tool. In March, it sent texts to people across the world asking if they had been victims of an unidentified explosion.
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The body of a decapitated Rohingya Muslim man has been found in a river in in Myanmar just days after he spoke to journalists.

The man had spoken to Burmese reporters on a rare Government-sanctioned media tour of an area within the Rakhine state, which has been on lockdown for more than two months since its border posts were attacked by militants.

The 41-year-old man had told media about army repression and that local villagers were involved in attacks, the BBC reports.

His family raised concerns with authorities following the media tour. The mans headless body was found in a river on Friday.

Police Colonel Thet Naing in Maungdaw town told AFP: On Thursday his family said he had disappeared after giving interviews to journalists.

This afternoon I got the report his headless body was found. We have confirmed from villagers that it is him, he said on Friday.

A picture of the headless body was also posted to Facebook with the text: Truth teller beheaded.

Coordinated attacks on 9 October killed nine police officers and sparked a military operation in northern Rakhine. The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, also known as Burma, blamed Muslim Rohingyas supported by foreign militants.

State media has reported at least 86 deaths and the United Nations says 34,000 people have fled to Bangladesh.

Burma's Rohingya Muslims: Aung San Suu Kyi's blind spot Show all 2 1 /2 Burma's Rohingya Muslims: Aung San Suu Kyi's blind spot Burma's Rohingya Muslims: Aung San Suu Kyi's blind spot lady-reu.jpg Reuters Burma's Rohingya Muslims: Aung San Suu Kyi's blind spot lady2-reu.jpg Reuters

The violence poses a challenge to Aung San Suu Kyi's government and has renewed international criticism that the Nobel laureate has done too little to help the Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in Myanmar.

The UNs Human Rights Office said it has received daily reports of human rights abuses including rape and murder carried out by the army against the Rohingyas. Hundreds of buildings in Rohingya villages have reportedly been burned.

The military has denied these reports, claiming it is carrying out counter-terrorism operations and has suggested the Rohingya set fire to their own homes.

The police and the state counsellors office have not said who is responsible for the Muslim man's death, but authorities have linked the killing to his co-operation with the government, appearing to point the finger at Rohingya insurgents. The state counsellor's office said the man had been decapitated after he had denied stories of Myanmar military abuse when he was speaking to reporters.

On Monday, a man was found dead with stab wounds, which the government claimed is the second murder in under a week of a Rohingya who co-operated with authorities.

A Rohingya community leader, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told Reuters many Muslims were sceptical about the government's account of the beheading.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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A campaign to raise money for the family of a Polish lorry driver murdered during an attack on a Berlin Christmas market attack has raised more than 170,000 in the six days since it was set up.

Lukasz Urban, 37, was shot and stabbed after the attacker hijacked his truck and drove it into the crowded market, killing 12 and injuring 50.

The trucker was reportedly on his way home to his wife, Zuzanna, and their 17-year-old-son when he was attacked.

Dave Duncan, a British lorry driver from Otley, West Yorkshire, set up the fundraising page after reading reports of how Mr Urban had fought with the terrorist seconds before the truck ploughed into the crowd.

The suspected attacker, 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, was shot dead by police in Italy four days after the attack.

Recommended Berlin attack suspect encouraged teenage nephew to kill for Isis

The donation page has now raised over 171,000 after more than 10,000 people gave money.

Mr Duncan, its creator, wrote: 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.

So, as a fellow trucker, I decided to reach out to the trucking community and beyond to help in some small way.

No amount of money will bring Lukasz back, but hopefully it will help his family do whatever they need to do.

After thousands of donations flooded in, Mr Duncan said he was overwhelmed by peoples kindness and praised the amazing generosity from everybody literally all around the world.

He had started this with the intention of raising a few hundred pounds for the family but has now seen that target far exceeded.

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 British lorry driver said he had been in touch with Mr Urbans company with a view to transferring the money to his wife. He has also asked the Polish Embassy for assistance in getting the fund to the family.

Investigators said Mr Urbans injuries were consistent with him being alive and fighting with his attacker in the moments before the truck crashed into the crowded market.

A unnamed police officer told German newspaper Bild: "He must have put up some fight."

Officers think Mr Urban was wrestling with the attacker when he was shot dead. He had also been repeatedly stabbed.

His cousin, Ariel, who owns the trucking company that employed Mr Urban, told the Daily Mail: It was really clear he was fighting for his life.

His face was swollen and bloodied. Police informed me that he had suffered gunshot wounds. Despite being stabbed he was shot dead.

I believe he would not give up the vehicle and would defend it to the end if he were attacked.

The truck was hijacked after Mr Urban reportedly stopped for a kebab. Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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Denmark's government is attempting to recover thousands of pounds' worth of benefit money from dozens of people who have fled the country to join Isis in Syria.

At least 34 people who are understood to have left Denmark to join Isis as fighters have continued to receive unemployment benefit, according newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

The newspaper filed a Freedom of Information request to Denmarks employment ministry and found that 34 of the fighters had received the state unemployment benefit known as kontanthjlp. Two people had been recipients of dagpenge, a private unemployment benefit that is heavily subsidised by the state.

Recommended Danish woman faces jail after fighting against Isis

Employment Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the newspaper he would be taking immediate action.

It is totally unacceptable and a disgrace. It should be stopped, he said.

The Ministry for Employment is demanding repayment from 29 of the Isis fighters and attempting to recover a total of 672,000 Danish Krone (77,095). The ministry has not indicated why it is not seeking refunds from seven of the individuals.

This is not the first time people receiving state help in Denmark have travelled to Syria to join Isis while still being paid benefits.

In May last year a total of 32 people were identified by Denmarks Security and Intelligence Service (PET) as having received unemployment benefits while joining the terrorist group.

An employment ministry document seen by Danish radio station Radio24syv stated that a total of 378,000 Danish Krone (43,358) had been paid to the individuals.
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Romanias president has rejected the nomination of the countrys first ever Muslim candidate for prime minister.

President Klaus Iohannis said he had carefully weighed the arguments for and against appointing Sevil Shhaideh and had decided not to accept the nomination.

Ms Shhaideh, who is a member of the countrys Muslim Tartar minority, had been put forward by the Social Democratic Party, which comprehensively won Romania's election earlier this month with 45 per cent of the vote.

She was nominated by party leader Liviu Dragnea, who would normally have assumed the post himself but is unable to do so because of a conviction for electoral fraud.

Some had suggested he was instead planning to run the government through Ms Shhaideh, who has only a few months' experience in government.

President Iohannis called on the Social Democrats to pick someone else to lead the government but did not give a reason for rejecting Ms Shhaideh.

Mr Dragnea has previously suggested he will fight any attempt by the president to block his choice of prime minister.

If Iohannis rejects our proposal, Im not going to make a second one. Well see each other in some other place," he said.

Following the rejection, Mr Dragnea said he could begin the process of seeking to remove Mr Iohannis as president.

It seems the president clearly wants to be suspended," Mr Dragnea said.

Well weigh our options very carefully, because we dont want to take emotional decisions. We dont want to trigger a political crisis for nothing, but if we come to the conclusion that the president must be suspended, I wont hesitate.

Under Romanias constitution, Mr Dragnea now has the opportunity to nominate one other candidate for prime minister, who must be accepted by the president. If that does not happen, another election will be held.

The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs Show all 4 1 /4 The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs romania1.jpg The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs romania2.jpg The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs romania3.jpg The truth about Romania's gypsies: Not coming over here, not stealing our jobs pata-rat-romania.jpg

Before her nomination was rejected, Ms Shhaideh was on course to become the first Muslim leader of an EU country and the first female Romanian prime minister.

An economist, she previously served for six months as Minister of Regional Development in the last Social Democrat-led government but otherwise has little political experience.

Her nomination by Mr Dragnea came as a shock, with commentators having expected a more senior member of the party to be chosen for the post.

It led to suggestions the party leader was attempting to appoint a prime minister he could easily control.

There is no law preventing Mr Dragnea taking the position himself but President Iohannis was elected on an anti-corruption platform and has said he will not accept as prime minister anyone who has a criminal conviction.

Sergiu Miscoiu, a Romanian political science professor, told Reuters: Dragnea has nominated a loyal person ... it will be a government controlled by Dragnea."

Mr Dragnea himself appeared to echo the sentiment, telling reporters: The political responsibility stays with me first of all."

Ms Shhaidehs nomination was a historic one in a country where only 0.3 per cent of people are Muslim.

With President Iohannis being a Protestant of German heritage, it temporarily raised the prospect of Romanias two leading politicians both coming from religious minorities in a country where 80 per cent of the population is Orthodox Christian.
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A town in southern France is set to get a Brexit Road in honour of Britain voting to leave the European Union.

Far-right mayor, Julien Sanchez, decided a currently nameless street in Beaucaire in the Gard region will be called Rue du Brexit.

The move was announced on Twitter and Mr Sanchez said he wanted to pay homage to the choice of the sovereign British people."

There is a European theme to road names in the area and others are named after Robert Schuman and Jean Monnet, two key proponents of European integration.

"We have already received lots of messages of thanks and congratulations from British people. British MPs are starting to talk about it. I think that the people of Beaucaire are very happy that Europeans have reclaimed their sovereignty, and perhaps they will want to reclaim their own as well," Mr Sanchez said, according to the Local.

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

But the move backfired after it emerged the road was actually a circular road that led nowhere.

Beaucaire council has approved the name with 29 votes in favour and nine against. Opponents have two months to appeal the decision.
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Twenty-nine Turkish former police officers have gone on trial accused of aiding the failed military coup in July  the first trial in Istanbul over the attempt that led to 270 deaths.

Renegade officers in Turkey's military used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in their 15 July attempt to unseat the government, attacking parliament and other key buildings.

Turkey blamed it on a network of followers of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen  an ally-turned-foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Show all 8 1 /8 Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Just a week before he was elected President, he called Erdogan Amberin Zaman, the Turkey correspondent for 'The Economist', a "shameless militant woman disguised under the name of a journalist" after she had asked an opposition leader whether "Muslim society is able to question" the authorities. "Know your place," Erdogan said. "They gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper. "And then they invite you to a TV channel owned by Dogan media group and you insult at a society of 99 per cent Muslims," he said he said according to Today's Zaman newspaper. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Turkish people are pictured chanting slogans during an anti-government protest on Taksim square in Istanbul, on 29 June, 2013. The protests were sparked by brutal police action against a local conservation battle to save Istanbul's Gezi Park, and soon turned into nationwide demonstrations against the government. Amid the protests - the worst in Turkey for years - Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements. We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes During last years protests, activists used social media to organise and disseminate information. Several dozen tweeters were arrested following the protests, according to local media reports. Erdogan responded by calling the technology a "menace". "There is now a menace which is called Twitter," Erdogan said. "The best examples of lies can be found there. To me, social media is the worst menace to society," BBC New reported. Vladimir Astapkovich/RIA Novosti via Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Not helping to allay accusations of authoritarianism, after Turkish police detained 49 people, including well-known business people and those close to the ruling party, Erdeogan ominously told reporter that Turkey "is not a banana republic" that can be affected by unnamed "operations", according to Today's Zaman newspaper. People who are backed by the media and certain funders cannot change this country," he said. "People backed by certain dark gangs both inside and outside Turkey cannot mess with the country's path. They cannot change conditions in Turkey. Turkey is not a country that anyone can launch an operation into. The [Turkish] nation will not allow that. The AK Party, which is governing this nation, will not allow this." Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Friends and relatives of the miners who died in an explosion at the Soma mine are pictured praying following the burial in Soma cemetery of the last body to be recovered from the mine in May 2014. At the time, the then-Prime Minister badly misjudged the Soma mining disaster, in which 301 workers died. He told the relatives of dead and dying miners that "these types of incidents are ordinary things", following allegations that the government had ignored safety concerns about the privately owned mine, the Guardian reported. In his defence, Erdogan recounted in a separate speech a list of mining disasters which occurred abroad, including a British disaster in 1862, and one in America "which has every kind of technology". Oli Scarff/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Palestinians pictured attending Friday noon prayers in a destroyed mosque that was hit by Israeli strikes, in Gaza City. As Prime Minister, Erdogan has condemned Israel, accusing it of deliberately killing Palestinian mothers and warned that the it would "drown in the blood it sheds." Speaking to thousands of supporters during a rally in Istanbul ahead of the 10 August election, Reuters reported him as saying: "Just like Hitler, who sought to establish a race free of all faults, Israel is chasing after the same target." "They kill women so that they will not give birth to Palestinians; they kill babies so that they won't grow up; they kill men so they can't defend their country ... They will drown in the blood they shed," he said. AP Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Amid the worst protests in Turkey for years which had spread across dozens of cities last June, Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. A demonstration to halt construction in a park in an Istanbul square grew into mass protests against a heavy-handed police crackdown and what opponents called Erdogan's authoritarian policies. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements," Erdogan said before departing on a trip to North Africa. "We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes In March 2014, Erdogan accused a 15-year-old boy who died from injuries sustained in last year's anti-government protests of being linked to terrorism. Berkin Elvan, who became a symbol of anti-government protests, had gone to pick up bread when he was hit with a teargas canister - sending him into a nine-month coma before he passed away. In a speech broadcast on state TV, Erdogan said of Berkin: "This kid with steel marbles in his pockets, with a slingshot in his hand, his face covered with a scarf, who had been taken up into terror organisations, was unfortunately subjected to pepper gas. How could the police determine how old that person was who had a scarf on his face and was hurling steel marbles with a slingshot in his hand? ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Gulen, whom Turkey wants extradited to face trial, has denied any involvement in the coup.

The government declared a state of emergency after the uprising and has launched a large-scale crackdown against Mr Gulens movement, which it has declared a terror organisation.

More than 40,000 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the coup while tens of thousands of others have been purged from government jobs.

The officers standing trial in a prison and courthouse complex on the outskirts of Istanbul include three helicopter pilots.

At the opening hearing, two pilots denied accusations that they ignored orders to fly a helicopter that would carry officers tasked with defending Mr Erdogan's residence, the Anadolu news agency reported. The two also rejected accusations of links to Mr Gulen's movement.

I don't have the slightest link to the (coup attempt), the agency quoted defendant Tolga Gultekin as telling the court. There was no flight instruction given to me.

Another pilot, Ender Kucuka, was quoted as saying that he and a co-pilot were ready to fly their helicopter but that the flight mission was cancelled by a superior.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life prison terms for 21 officers charged with attempted coup, while eight face a maximum of 15 years for membership of a terrorist organisation.

The trial is the first in Istanbul in connection with the coup attempt. Some 45 soldiers are on trial in separate cases taking place in the cities of Zonguldak, Bursa and Erzurum.

AP
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Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, is reportedly facing a full criminal investigation into charges of bribery and fraud.

Police have been looking into the allegations for almost nine months and now believe they have cause to open a full investigation, according to reports.

Detectives have applied for permission from Avichai Mandelblit, the Israeli Attorney General, to begin a formal investigation into the alleged offences of bribe-taking and aggravated fraud, which are believed to relate to alleged donations.

Mr Netanyahu denies the allegations. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister told Haaretz: "Its all nonsense.

Since Netanyahus victory in the last elections and even before, hostile elements have used heroic efforts to attempt to bring about his downfall, with false accusations against him and his family.

This [latest attempt] is absolutely false. There was nothing and there will be nothing.

It was reported in June that Roni Alsheikh, the Chief of Israeli Police, had ordered the countrys special police unit, Lahav 433, which has been compared to the FBI, to investigate the Prime Minister - but demanded total secrecy and no leaks to the media.

Investigators are reportedly looking into allegations Mr Netanyahu accepted 1 million (850,000) from Arnaud Mimran, a French businessman currently serving eight years in prison for committing a huge carbon-tax fraud. During his trial, Mimran claimed to have donated the money to Mr Netanyahu during the 2009 Israeli election campaign - something the politician has consistently denied.

Earlier this year a spokesperson for the Israeli Prime Minister said: Mr. Netanyahu received no prohibited contribution from Mimran. Any other claim is a lie.

The Prime Minister did, however, admit accepting $40,000 (33,000) from Mimran in 2001.

Israel: From independence to intifada Show all 7 1 /7 Israel: From independence to intifada Israel: From independence to intifada 26973.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26974.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26975.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26976.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26977.bin Israel: From independence to intifada 26985.bin Robert Capa/Magnum Israel: From independence to intifada 26986.bin Robert Capa/Magnum

Mr Netanyahu and his family have been the subject of several allegations of corruption during his time in office. It was reported in June that Mr Mandelblit, the Attorney General, was planning to close three cases of fraud against Mr Netanyahus wife, Sara, against the recommendation of police.

Investigators had reportedly recommended Ms Netanyahu be charged with three incidents of fraud after allegedly using public money for personal use. She is accused of spending state funds on patio furniture, gourmet dinners with private chefs, and a carer for her father.

Last month it was claimed Mr Netanyahu had been involved in an Israeli Defense Ministry deal to buy submarines from a German company that is owned partly by the Iranian government, which Israel sees as an enemy.

Opponents suggested the Prime Minister may have been influenced by links between his personal lawyer, David Shimron, and the shipbuilder, ThyssenKrupp. Both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Shimron denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Netanyahu said: Increasing the security and strength of the state of Israel is the only consideration that guided me in acquiring the submarines.

67-year-old Mr Netanyahu has been Israels Prime Minister since 2009, having also held the post between 1996 and 1999.
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It will take three months to eliminate Isis in Iraq, according to the countrys Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi.

Backed by US forces, the Iraqi military has been battling to dislodge the militant group from Mosul, the largest city held by Isis in either Iraq or Syria and the de-facto capital of its self-styled Islamic caliphate.

But more than two months into the operation, only a quarter of the city has been taken. Commanders have blamed the slower pace on the need to protect civilians who have mostly stayed in their homes rather than fleeing as was expected.

Mr Abadi previously said the city  around 250 miles north of the capital Baghdad  would be retaken by the end of the year. But with elite Iraqi forces entering a planned operational refit this month, he has been forced to revise his prediction.

Conditions indicate that Iraq needs three months to eliminate Daesh (Isis), state TV quoted Mr Abadi as saying.

The city has been held by the group since its fighters drove the Iraqi army out in June 2014.

The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Show all 20 1 /20 The most iconic images from the war in Iraq The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman HM1 Richard Barnett, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, holds an Iraqi child in central Iraq, March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An explosion rocks Baghdad during air strikes March 21, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman watches U.N. weapons inspectors leave Saddam airport in Baghdad March 18, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her sister as she waits for her mother (R) to bring over food bought in Basra March 29, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marine Corp Assaultman Kirk Dalrymple watches as a statue of Iraq's President Saddam Hussein falls in central Baghdad's Firdaus Square, April 9, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq US Marines kick in a door while securing a building next to the main hospital in central Baghdad April 15, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A soldier of U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division (Task Force Ironhorse) searches through dense vegetation around the Diala river where Iraqi militants are hiding outside Baquba early November 13, 2003 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi detainee gestures toward U.S. soldiers through bars of his cell at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad May 17, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Mays, a young Iraqi Shi'ite girl, cries after a mortar shell which landed outside the family's home in a Najaf residential area injured her uncle August 18, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. Marines carry an injured colleague to a helicopter near the city of Falluja, November 10, 2004 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi man suspected of having explosives in his car is held after being arrested by the U.S army near Baquba, Iraq, October 15, 2005 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A wounded Iraqi woman is helped after several bomb attacks in central Baghdad, July 27, 2006 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq A man runs down a street warning people to flee shortly after a twin car bomb attack at Shorja market in Baghdad, February 12, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi girl holds her hands up while U.S. and Iraqi soldiers search her family house in Baquba early June 30, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi woman tries to explain that she has nothing to do with illegal fuel as soldiers from the 2nd battalion, 32nd Field Artillery brigade patrol search for illegal fuel sellers in Baghdad August 6, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. President George W. Bush (L) walks in front of Humvees with Defense Secretary Robert Gates (C) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice following remarks to the press after nightfall at Al-Asad airbase in Anbar Province September 3, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq U.S. soldiers blindfold an Iraqi man after arresting him during a night patrol at the Zafraniya neighborhood, southeast of Baghdad September 4, 2007 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq An Iraqi baby lies in a cradle while a woman argues with U.S. soldiers of 1/8 Bravo Company searching for weapons, explosives and information about militants in the area during a foot patrol in a neighbourhood of Mosul June 26, 2008 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Policemen cry during a funeral of their colleague a day after a bomb attack in Baghdad's Jihad district November 3, 2010 Reuters The most iconic images from the war in Iraq Staff Sgt. Keith Fidler kisses his wife Cynthia, as their son Kolin looks on, during a homecoming ceremony in New York, April 8, 2011 for the New York Army National Guard's 442nd Military Police Company's return from Iraq Reuters

The offensive to retake it was launched on 17 October, but after initially making rapid gains with the seizures of towns and villages surrounding the city, progress subsequently slowed. As troops entered the city in early November, they were targeted by snipers, suicide bombers and shellfire. Bad weather also hampered their advance, with poor visibility limiting the ability of aircraft to provide cover.

More than a million civilians are thought to have remained in Mosul and reports have suggested that Isis has been killing people for not cooperating at the fighting intensifies. Civilians and aid workers have also died caught in indiscriminate mortar fire, the UN said.

Some 2,000 members of the Iraqi security forces were killed across the country in November  almost three times the figure for October, according to the UN. More than 900 civilians were killed and the same figure were injured.
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Israel has reportedly suspended all working ties with the embassies of 12 UN Security Council members following the passing of a UN resolution declaring the countrys settlements on occupied Palestinian territories illegal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for Israels foreign ministry to temporarily limit working ties with the members who voted in favour of Fridays resolution, according to CNN.

The resolution said Israels settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, where 600,000 Israelis live, have no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.

Recommended Israel to approve 100s of new homes despite UN settlements resolution

CNN reports that two senior Israeli officials claim Israel is suspending business with 12 of the 14 member states that helped pass the resolution. The states are listed as Britain, France, Russia, Japan, Angola, Uruguay, Senegal, China, Ukraine, Egypt, Spain and New Zealand.

The officials claim foreign ministers and ambassadors from the countries will not be able to meet with Mr Netanyahu and they will not be received at Israels foreign ministry.

The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry has denied the report. In a statement, a spokesperson for the department said the report was "simply untrue" and that "we're talking about temporarily limiting our work with embassies and regarding dignitary visits."

The ambassadors for Britain, France and Russia were among the 12 countries summoned to the foreign ministry in Jerusalem on Sunday, while Theresa May is reported to have been snubbed by Mr Netanyahu over a planned meeting in January, according to Israeli media.

The US abstained from the resolution but did not use its veto to block it, causing Mr Netanyahu to criticise the Obama administration in a series of statements.

From the information that we have, we have no doubt that the Obama Administration initiated it, stood behind it, co-ordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed, Mr Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Sunday.

Mr Netanyahus official response to the resolution was released in a statement, which said: Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms.

Riad Malki, the Palestinian foreign minister, said Mr Netanyahu was being disingenuous by calling the resolution anti-Israel.

"This resolution is about settlement activities, the two-state solution and ending the occupation," he said. "Netanyahu, by his statements and his actions, is isolating Israel for the sake of settlements."

Additional reporting by agencies
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Russia has accused the US of committing a hostile act after it lifted restrictions on supplying weapons to rebels in Syria.

The countrys foreign ministry said the move by President Barack Obama to waive prohibitions on arms deliveries could cause problems for Russian warplanes and military personnel.

President Obama said the changes to the US Arms Export Control Act, made earlier this month, will allow the US to provide defence articles and services to Syrian groups.

The decision bears a direct threat to Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft, other Russian military personnel and our embassy in Syria, which has been repeatedly shelled, the ministry said in a statement. Therefore, we consider this step to be hostile.

The move will allow the US to arm the mainly Kurdish coalition fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are preparing an attempt to retake the northern city of Raqqa from Isis.

The decision is likely to inflame tensions with Turkey, which views the Kurdish forces fighting against Isis as terrorists.

In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo

The Russian ministry reportedly said President Obamas administration was attempting to complicate the situation in Syria before the inauguration of Donald Trump in January, according to the RIA news agency.

Russian troops found mass graves in the war-ravaged city of Aleppo, with bodies showing signs of torture and mutilation, the Russian defence ministry claimed recently. Major General Igor Konashenkov blamed rebel groups in the city for endangering civilians, as officials from Moscow and Turkey discussed the possibility of a ceasefire ahead of peace talks.
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More than 2,000 Saudis are fighting for militant organisations abroad, according to the Saudi Interior ministry.

A total of 1,540 are thought to be fighting in Syria and others are in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

General Mansour al-Turki said 73 Saudis had been arrested abroad for terror-related activities but played down how many had joined Isis.

The number of Saudis proven to be in conflict areas is 2,093, General al-Turki told daily newspaper Al-Hayat.

"According to our statistics, Saudis in the Islamic State (Isis) are fewer than what most of us would imagine."

General Al-Turki said 147 of the countrys citizens had travelled to Yemen, where Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention in 2015.

He added there were significantly more Moroccan and Tunisian militants. More than 5,000 Tunisians are thought to be fighting abroad, according to the United Nations. So far 800 Tunisian nationals who fought abroad have returned to the country, according to Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. 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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

Saudi Arabia has faced significant militancy in its own country. There have been several attacks over the past two years with targets including mosques and security personnel.
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Turkish authorities have arrested the cafeteria manager of the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper for insulting the president after he said he would not serve tea to Tayyip Erdogan, one of the manager's lawyers told Reuters on Monday.

Senol Buran, who runs the cafeteria at the Istanbul office of Cumhuriyet, was taken into custody after police raided his home late on Saturday, lawyer Ozgur Urfa said. The newspaper is among the few still critical of the government.

Insulting the president is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison in Turkey.

Lawyers for Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for more than a decade, have filed more than 1,800 cases against people including cartoonists, a former Miss Turkey winner and schoolchildren on accusations of insulting him.

Following a failed coup in July, Erdogan said he would drop the outstanding suits, in a one-off gesture of national unity.

Buran is jailed pending trial and the court date, if any, has not yet been announced. The Justice Ministry would need to approve the launch of a court case.

Buran was detained after a police officer providing security for the newspaper said he heard him use a derogatory term to describe Erdogan and say he would refuse to serve the president tea if he ever visited the cafeteria, his lawyer said.

According to court documents obtained by Reuters, Buran has denied using an insulting term, while confirming that he had said he would refuse to serve the president tea. He also said he had a dispute with the police officer two years ago.

The judge at an Istanbul court on Sunday ordered Buran's arrest pending trial, citing "strong suspicion of crime committed" and saying the suspect might otherwise put pressure on witnesses, the documents showed.

The Cumhuriyet has confirmed that Buran was arrested.

Ten Cumhuriyet staff including its top editor and senior executives were jailed in November pending trial on suspicion of crimes on behalf of Kurdish militants and U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of instigating the failed July 15 coup.

The newspaper's previous editor, Can Dundar, was jailed last year for publishing state secrets involving Turkey's support for Syrian rebels. He was later released and is now overseas.

Since the July coup, more than 110,000 people have been sacked or suspended and 40,000 jailed pending trial.

Western allies and rights groups say they fear Erdogan is using the coup attempt to crush dissent.

Turkish authorities last week froze assets of 54 journalists who have been under investigation and some already jailed over suspected links to what Ankara calls the "Gulenist Terror Organisation", according to Hurriyet newspaper.

Gulen has said the charges against him are false and has condemned the coup.

Reuters
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Abdullah al-Haimi walked through the wasteland, pointing out the damage at a now-closed cement plant. A warehouse here, broken beams protruding. A quarry there, littered with shrapnel.

In total, he said, the complex had been bombed 53 times in the past year and a half  all by Saudi-led coalition war planes, aided by the United States.

One strike at the main entrance killed 15 people, including an ice cream vendor outside the gate.

But for al-Haimi, a manager at the plant in western central Yemen, the greatest destruction has occurred far beyond the perimeter of the state-owned facility. The lives of the 1,500 employees, and thousands of relatives who depended on them, have been shattered.

Those who died didn't die alone, he said, his voice choking as sunlight poured into a warehouse through the gaping holes left by the strikes. We died with them.

In Yemen, it's not just the impoverished who are suffering. The war is also decimating the small but essential middle class, eroding the backbone of an economy that was already the region's poorest and most dysfunctional before the violence erupted 21 months ago.

A cooking gas factory destroyed by a Saudi-led coalition air strike in Hajjah, in Yemens north-west (Sudarsan Raghavan/Washington Post)

The air strikes have targeted nearly every industry, erasing countless jobs and dreams. An air, sea and land blockade by neighbouring Saudi Arabia has made fuel and food more scarce, causing prices to skyrocket in a nation that imports 90 per cent of its food and medicine. A banking crisis has added to the turmoil, leaving government workers unpaid and harming businesses.

A military spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition said in an email that all potential targets are scrutinised to ensure they are genuine. Asked specifically about the Amran plant, Major General Ahmed Asiri replied that in many cases, the Houthi rebels the coalition is fighting are using former civilian sites for weapons and ammunition storage, as command and control centres, and for other military purposes.

Christopher Sherwood, a US military spokesman, said the United States does not participate in targeting, target selection or target engagement in support of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Yemen's economic plight mirrors that of other nations gripped by civil war and political uncertainty after the Arab Spring uprisings more than five years ago. A recent UN survey found that the upheavals have cost the region $614bn (500m) in lost growth since 2011.

 Johnson: We do not think Saudi have 'crossed threshold' of humanitarian laws, despite bombing Yemen

Yemen has been in decline since its longtime autocrat, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, was forced out of power nearly five years ago. But any hope for growth vanished when the conflict erupted in March 2015. Now, the Houthis and Saleh's supporters are fighting militias nominally loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, last year. They now rule the north west, while President Hadi controls swaths of the south and east.

Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Persian Gulf nations entered the conflict to reinstate President Hadi, while the United States, worried about Yemen's al-Qaeda branch and an emerging Isis presence, is aiding the Saudis by selling them weapons, refuelling their warplanes and providing intelligence and other support.

At least 10,000 people have been killed, including many civilians, and more than 3 million are displaced, according to UN statistics.

Some died in assaults on infrastructure. More than 200 businesses have been damaged or destroyed by air strikes since the war began, including dozens of factories and warehouses, according to the Sanaa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

These are not military facilities, said Abdul-Hakeem Al-Manj, a legal adviser for the chamber, whose headquarters was obliterated by an air strike in January.

In some cases, he said, factories have been destroyed during clashes but it was difficult to determine which side was responsible.

But the impact is clear. Yemen's economy shrank by 34.6 per cent last year, according to UN estimates, and is expected to contract an additional 11 per cent this year.

Anwar Jarrallah understands why. His factories are running at a quarter of their capabilities, he said, and some months are shut down altogether. With air strikes hitting power plants, electricity is scarce or nonexistent. Fuel-driven generators are essential but expensive to run.

The seaport in Hodeidah, where much of what north-western Yemen imports and humanitarian aid arrives, was also attacked, disabling giant cranes and other equipment.

The damage, coupled with the blockade, delays shipments of Mr Jarrallah's chicken feed and vaccines, by months sometimes. And now he has to hire a ship with its own crane and pay more in insurance.

Once his shipment arrives, it is often stuck for days at the port, incurring additional charges. Houthi officials also slap on fees. Then, Mr Jarrallah pays other taxes at Houthi checkpoints to ensure that his freight passes through, he said.

Meanwhile, the banking crisis has made business transactions nearly impossible. Western banks are unwilling to extend credit, and the Central Bank of Yemen stopped providing guarantees to importers, leaving them to self-finance shipments.

The situation worsened in September when President Hadi, to prevent the Houthis from accessing money, ordered the transfer of the central bank to the southern port city of Aden, where he governs in exile. Importers are now unable to readily acquire foreign currency that was already scarce, and 1.2 million public employees are no longer being paid.

The air strikes, de facto blockade and collapse of the central bank have together precipitated the near-total collapse of Yemen's economy, said Scott Paul, a senior humanitarian policy adviser for the aid agency Oxfam America. These steps show that all of the main parties are willing to wage economic warfare and risk tremendous suffering by ordinary people in order to advance their positions.

For Mr Jarrallah, acquiring letters of credit to pay for his imports has become harder and costlier. A lot of merchants are reeling from these same problems, he said at his office in Sanaa.

Across the country, the attacks have set off a chain reaction of misfortune.

In Amran, the cement factory's closure affected hundreds of truck drivers and distributors as well. The plant contributed funds to help provide sanitation services, support local schools and aid the disabled.

It's not just us who are out of jobs, said Haroun Al Sadi, another manager at the factory. We even had a big water truck that provided free water for people. All this is gone now.

Like other employees interviewed, he said the plant was never used as a military base or to store weapons. It was targeted for political reasons, Al Sadi said. They want people to go hungry and then turn against the Houthis.

Earlier this year, an air strike pummelled the only cooking-gas distributor supplying the north-western city of Hajjah and surrounding areas, more than doubling the black market prices.

The attack increased the cost of living for 700,000 people, said the owner's son, Yasser Yahya Selba, who still possessed the pieces of an American-made MK-82 bomb that hit one of the storage tanks.

At a street market in Sanaa known for its second hand sales, Khalil Al Ammari has been seeing a new kind of customer at his stall: the government worker.

In recent weeks, a stream of bureaucrats, soldiers, police officers and others who haven't been paid in three months have sold their possessions. Al Ammari said one government ministry worker even sold him his bed and said now he would sleep on the floor.

The desperation, I think, is only going to grow, Al Ammari said.

Samira Ali used to work in a government lab in the war-torn southern city of Taiz. Then she was displaced by an air strike and forced to move in with her sister in Sanaa. She has sold her jewellery and the shares she owned in a telecommunications company to help pay expenses.

There's nothing left to sell, lamented Ms Ali, who once earned $270 a month, about four times the average salary.

At a Houthi-organised protest against the central bank move, Hamoud Muhsein, an administrative aide in the mayor's office, explained his increasingly desperate situation. With five children to provide for, he had sold his car, some of his guns, even the gold his wife received at their wedding. Now, he's selling his refrigerator.

Even if we did have electricity, we have nothing to put in the fridge, he said.

At the Amman grocery store, prices of imported beans, rice, sugar and other staple goods have shot up 50 per cent. Owner Towfik Al-Raymi said most of his customers were employees from embassies, tourism agencies, oil firms and airline companies, but as their offices closed, fewer come now. Some haven't paid down their credit in months, and are begging him not to cut them off.

If my customers don't pay I'll go bankrupt, he said.

Al-Haimi began working at the cement factory in 1982. Now he, too, has sold his wife's wedding gold and other possessions. He can no longer afford tuition for his two daughters.

Al-Haimi walked past giant, rusting bulldozers, past an office that contained the remnants of an American munition that hit the plant. It was a CBU-105 cluster bomb made in July 2012 by Avco Corporation, now Textron, based in Rhode Island in the US.

I was supposed to retire this coming year, he said. By then, we'll be living on the streets. If we had actually died, it would have been better for us.

 The Washington Post
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Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbour for a historic pilgrimage to the site where the bloodshed of surprise attacks thrust America into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbour before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial that now rests on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader that Obama hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on Dec. 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded. In the ensuing years, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbour, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they'll go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, where both leaders will speak.

Obama and Abe signed off on the visit last month when they met in Peru on the sidelines of an economic summit. Though the parallels with Obama's Hiroshima visit are palpable, both governments said that one visit wasn't contingent on the other.

Meanwhile, China criticized Abe's visit as an insincere attempt to absolve Japan of its wartime aggression.

"Trying to liquidate the history of World War II by paying a visit to Pearl Harbour and consoling the dead is just wishful thinking on Japan's part," said Hua Chunying,a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman in Beijing, at a regular briefing.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia," she said. "Japanese leaders should stop being so evasive and dodging, and instead take a responsible attitude toward history and future, deeply and sincerely reflect upon the history of aggressive war, and draw a clear break with the past."

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbour a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbour syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown stronger during Obama's tenure. There are questions about what the relationship will look like under President-elect Donald Trump.

During the campaign, Trump suggested that Japan and South Korea should obtain nuclear weapons so the U.S. would no longer be burdened with costs of defending them, a disquieting notion in many Asian capitals. But after Trump's election, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet with him, sitting down in Trump Tower with the business mogul and Trump's daughter, Ivanka.

Though no Japanese prime minister has visited the USS Arizona Memorial, former Japanese leader leader Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbour in 1951, six years after Japan surrendered. He stopped there on his way home from signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the U.S. and others, and paid a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford.

Other prime ministers have since visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as Punchbowl.
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It is now over four years since the publication of the Leveson Report, that lengthy tome which followed months of public hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice. A great deal of water has passed under the bridge since then, but wrangling over Levesons legacy  and for that matter the inquirys future  remains bitter.

As any regulation wonk will recall, the Inquiry was announced in the summer of 2011 in response to revelations about the extent of phone-hacking by journalists at the News of the World  and particularly the discovery that the voicemail of murdered teenager Milly Dowler had been targeted. The inquirys aim was to investigate the culture, practises and ethics of the press, examining in particular contacts between press and police and potential changes to the regulatory landscape.

News of the World had ceased to exist even before the inquiry was announced. The Press Complaints Commission, my former employer, closed in 2013 and a new voluntary organisation, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) took its place. Some publications including The Independent, The Guardian and Financial Times, decided not to sign up to Ipso and instead operate their own, in-house, complaints-handling mechanisms.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA

Leveson had concluded that self-regulation of the press remained preferable to rules imposed and policed by the state. But he argued that a new regulator would need to be backed by a modicum of statute (something of a contradiction in terms) to ensure it had real teeth. He also suggested that it should oversee a system of arbitration which would in principle provide cheap access to justice for claimants and  since it would be cheaper than a court action  be less burdensome for publishers.

Parliaments response to Levesons proposals was to use the archaic tool of a Royal Charter to establish a Recognition Panel, which would in turn grant formal approval to any regulator meeting a set of criteria taken from the Leveson Report. To encourage membership of any such regulator an addendum was made to the 2013 Crime & Courts Act which, if triggered, would mean any news publisher not signed up to a recognised regulator would face picking up the entire bill (for both parties) of any legal proceedings brought against it  even if the publisher won. This provision, Section 40 of the Act, is now the subject of a Government consultation.

OK, I get it; were in the midst of Christmas jollity and all this sounds like an esoteric debate about technicalities of the law. Yet in truth, the potential imposition of such punitive legal costs raises fundamental questions about press freedom in this country and about the future ability of journalists to hold the powerful to account. Its enough to make one splutter over the turkey leftovers.

The reason why the issue of Section 40 is now so crucial is that an alternative regulator has emerged and gained a seal of approval from the state-backed Recognition Panel. Called Impress, it is funded largely by charities set up by Max Mosley, the former Formula 1 boss and long-term critic of tabloid newspapers. It currently has no members from among the UKs major publishers, print or digital. It appears not to have handled any complaints against the thirty or so publications it regulates.

 Fake news conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton led a man to open fire in a pizza parlour

Nevertheless, if the Government decides to implement Section 40, any publisher which does not sign up to Impress will be in an utterly invidious position, forced to pay vast sums to defend unmerited legal complaints, or more likely cave in to demands for unwarranted retractions or apologies in order to avoid prohibitive court costs. This would affect any member of Ipso and any title which operates an internal complaints system. In other words all national newspapers, the vast majority of the regional press and any online news site which has a base in the UK (not only The Indy but also Buzzfeed, Huffington Post UK and countless more).

Websites run by broadcasters other than the BBC might also be captured since Ofcoms remit does not cover large swathes of online content produced by those it regulates. Section 40 would sanction legal punishment on the basis of a publishers identity, not its behaviour, thereby flying in the face of natural justice.

The truth is, for most news publishers, journalism is not a hugely profitable business. For a great many, a raft of unmerited legal actions for which they must nonetheless pay the bill, could spell the end. Alternatively, the affected media will simply stop publishing any story that could possibly be regarded as negative about an identifiable individual or company.

In the year of fake news few might feel like shedding a tear for journalistic special pleading. Yet polarised as the media is, there is almost unanimity on this subject: the implementation of Section 40 would be a disaster for press freedom in the UK. Much better for this iniquitous provision to be repealed.
In November, Brexit was named the word of the year by Collins Dictionary, reflecting how political debate has been one of the defining features of 2016. The UK's decision in June to leave the EU will ripple beyond this year as the UK Government begins to turn the electorate's democratic decision into action and Brexit into a verb rather than a noun.

All attention right now is on the proposed triggering of the Article 50 process by the end of March, which will mark the start of formal negotiations.

Expand Close Exchanges of letters between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and leaders in Northern Ireland demonstrate that they appreciate the unique nature of the all-island market Photo: AFP/Getty / Facebook

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As an energy company generating power and supplying electricity and gas across Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the second-largest energy utility in each market, SSE Ireland is focused on what Brexit means for all of our 800,000 energy customers. The referendum result does not present any immediate changes to how we serve our customers. Our own role remains to deliver secure and affordable flows of energy to SSE Airtricity's household and business customers - regardless of which side of the Border, hard or soft, they reside in or operate from.

As with many areas, energy policy is made against a backdrop of EU requirements. As the UK-EU energy relationship develops, we believe the focus needs to be on choosing the path that best benefits customers.

In an energy context, Ireland and Northern Ireland are unique, being relatively small, isolated (from an energy perspective at least!) and reliant on imported fuels.This motivated the creation of the Single Electricity Market (SEM) back in 2008. It has allowed customers to benefit from improved market efficiencies and system stability from shared resources across the island.

The SEM has successfully leveraged major investment in cleaner, greener and flexible forms of energy - SSE alone has invested over 2.2bn since its introduction in 2008 - and an integrated market should be maintained post-Brexit to safeguard future investment.

Regulators and energy companies are currently working on a suite of changes under the I-SEM (Integrated Single Electricity Market) Project to further integrate the Ireland and Northern Ireland markets and improve trading with neighbouring countries.

This project, due to go-live in 2018, will help stimulate future energy investment and importantly deliver energy cost reductions for customers in the years to come.

Another key project to help secure stable and affordable energy supply on the island is the North-South interconnector which is intended to better connect the electricity grids of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Delivery of this project will ensure that power can flow to where it's needed and full advantage can be taken of the cheapest power available to benefit consumers.

Planning approval has now been secured by EirGrid from An Bord Pleanala for the project element in the Republic, while the Northern Ireland element of this important cross-border project will go before a public planning inquiry in February.

While we've seen one positive planning decision there are still a number of key milestones to be overcome, not the least of which will be the political decision from all sides to proceed.

Among the many uncertainties surrounding the UK Government's Brexit plan, its future energy arrangements with the EU is but one. SSE believes that important energy market infrastructure projects such as I-SEM and the North-South interconnector should be delivered, irrespective of the UK and EU political arrangements, and especially given the importance of a functioning, stable and long-term energy market to all jurisdictions.

Exchanges of letters between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and leaders in Northern Ireland demonstrate that they appreciate the importance and complexity of energy policy in a Brexit context and the unique nature of the all-island market.

At SSE Ireland, we're confident that arrangements can be found and our legislators and regulators will do the right thing for energy consumers across the island to safeguard current, and future, energy market developments.

Energy may not be the most prominent issue in the Brexit debate, but it is critical to our future.

By keeping our focus on customer benefit we will create a scenario where stable, reliable and affordable energy supplies are maintained and improved for the benefit of all within and without the EU.

Stephen Wheeler is Managing Director of Ireland's second-largest energy utility, SSE Ireland
George Michael was a genuine superstar. It is a term that is bandied about too much in pop music, but he was the real deal. He had talent that shaped the pop narrative of his times and, for a while, bestrode the world.

You can't think about the 1980s without thinking about George Michael. He was one of the defining figures of that most colourful of eras. In the 1990s, he remained a pop powerhouse, one of our most distinctive and always fascinating icons.

If his star faded just a little over time, it was more to do with his erratic lifestyle and personal choices than a failure of ability or creativity. It would be sad if he was remembered for his ridiculous run of car accidents and drug busts, his notorious arrest in an American toilet, or his sometimes embattled and eccentric proclamations to the media. Musically he operated at the very highest levels of pop craft.

Personally, on the few occasions I met him, I found him to be an intelligent, engaging character with a strong sense of the absurdities of his own life.

When he first appeared on the UK music scene in 1981, it was obvious he meant business. Even the act of shoving a shuttlecock down his tight shorts on 'Top of the Pops' was a cheerfully bold proclamation of intent. As the architect of his pin-up duo Wham! he helped shape a fresh, shiny, upbeat sound that shook off the darkness of punk and new wave, reacting to the privations of the era not by protest but by escapism.

With his blow dried hair and dashing grin, he seemed determined to signal a break from seriousness. Yet this character was an act. A soulful and somewhat tortured individual in private, he mimicked the ease and ebullience of his friend and onstage partner Andrew Ridgeley to project a confidence, machismo and joyousness that didn't perhaps come naturally. It was explosively successful.

Wham! are an all-time great pop act, almost absurdly joyous, with a blend of giddy British songcraft and American dance-floor rhythmic drive that became unstoppable. They spearheaded the second great British pop invasion of America, when bands including Culture Club, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet brought a colourful palette of synthetic flavours to sweep away rock's prevailing tone of po-faced seriousness. I think it's fair to say that all manufactured boy band pop still carries a bit of Wham! in its DNA.

Michael went on to be even more successful as a solo artist, when he was able to unleash the full range of his talents. He could sing with the flow, phrasing and command of the great American soul and gospel vocalists. You've got to be pretty damn good to duet with Aretha Franklin, as he did on 'I Knew You Were Waiting' in 1987.

He was a fantastic songwriter too, the absolute architect of his own fantasy, combining words, melodies and rhythms that worked on both the immediate, superficial level of instant pop gratification and on deeper levels of emotional expression.

Everybody knows George Michael's songs, and can probably sing them whether they want to or not. 'Last Christmas' has been chiming out across the land throughout this holiday season, a perfect little nugget of happy-sad pop. Yet it was actually one of his more throwaway ditties. The best of his work beguiles the ear with hooks while carrying the listener further and deeper than they perhaps even realise. It was a very adult kind of pop music.

'Careless Whisper' is a killer slow dance for lovers, a smooth and smoochy ballad with the rare power to move bodies as well as hearts. 'Faith' is about as lusty a proclamation of manhood ever heard, delivered over a stripped back acoustic rock and roll rhythm as taut as a drum skin. 'Jesus to a Child' and 'Father Figure' are heavy, resonant ballads. 'I Want Your Sex' and 'Fastlove' are super-slick grooves driven with bold, erotic energy. His music always sounded the business.

He was a multi-instrumentalist and a great producer, with an ear for arrangements that would frame his voice to best advantage. At the forefront was a powerful performer who expressed himself with a vigour and intensity at odds with the inner uncertainties and fragilities still tangible in his music. It was this inner conflict that, ultimately, made him so compelling. And, perhaps, ultimately, made his career so erratic.

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For a long time, George Michael maintained a private life very separate from his public image, struggling to address the homosexuality he could admit to friends but not his parents. Although it was well known in the music business that he was gay, it was only after his arrest by an undercover policeman in a Beverly Hills public toilet in 1998 that his sexual orientation became public knowledge. Once out of the closet though, there was no going back and Michael became an outspoken advocate of gay rights and an often very funny commentator on his own private foibles.

He was frank about a major marijuana habit that may have had something to do with several arrests over the years for erratic driving. In private, I know Michael felt that being exposed as gay had damaged his career (and certainly his record sales in America flagged) but he was also relieved to be able to emerge from self-imposed silence and reveal his truer self to the world. It was only then that he was able to publicly reveal the personal devastation he had experienced after his boyfriend, Brazilian Anselmo Feleppa, died of Aids in 1993 and inspired some of his most beautiful songs.

Even after all the losses pop has suffered this terrible year, I have to admit I am in shock at the loss of George Michael. It is not just that 53 is too young, it is the feeling of a story still unfinished. Michael was not particularly prolific. There have only been five solo albums, the last in 2004. Yet he was a man who had a lot of music in him, who seemed at his very best when able to let it pour out of him, and who always spoke as if privately convinced the best was yet to come.

There had been rumours about the state of his health over the years. Someone mentioned to me just a few weeks ago that he was not well, although they were unable or unwilling to elaborate. Publicly, he was known to have been recording again, and optimistic about releasing new music next year. Whether that will emerge now is a whole other question, for another time. Right now, every pop music lover should be mourning the loss of an amazing star, a huge talent, and a fascinating, complex, warm, funny human being.

As ever, we have to take what succour we can in music that cannot be erased by time. It may have been Michael's last Christmas, but the songs play on. ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
The noodle soup pot suspected to have been poisoned. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Thang

The owner, also her relative, failed to persuade the police to drop a criminal case.

A woman in Ho Chi Minh City is being investigated after she was accused of putting rat poison in the broth at a noodle stand, allegedly due to family conflicts.

Tran Thi Bach Tuyet, 37, who owns the sidewalk food stand in District 9, came back from the market early on Sunday morning and noticed a strange smell and color in her soup pot.

She found a bag of rat poison discarded nearby and called the police. She had not served any customer yet.

CCTV camera footage showed that Ho Thi Ngoc Diep, Tuyets aunt-in-law, tampered with the broth.

Diep, 52, then admitted to poisoning the pot, saying there was a land ownership dispute going on in the family. Diep also runs her own noodle stand nearby.

Tuyet went to the police on Monday, asking them to drop the investigation. However, police said this is a serious crime.

An officer said that Diep could be charged for "murder." In Vietnam, attempted murder is treated the same as murder in the prosecution process, but lighter sentences could be considered later.

Tuyet said she used to work for the aunt for VND100,000 ($4.40) a day. But she needed more money to take care of her four children, so she decided to open her own noodle stand, which she said serves "a lot of customers" every day.

"I really don't want her to go to jail," Tuyet told local media.

Related news:

> Vietnamese man dies after eating dog poison disguised as candy

> Vietnam gunman confesses to triple murder in Central Highlands land dispute
James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond during filming of The Grand Tour (Amazon/PA)

Richard Hammond has prompted a backlash after suggesting that men who eat ice cream are gay on the most recent episode of The Grand Tour.

The 47-year-old made the comment in an exchange on the sixth episode of the motoring show he co-hosts with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, which was titled 'Happy Finnish Christmas'. It was the sixth episode of the first season, which was broadcast on 23 December via Amazon Prime.

Speaking in front of a live audience, Clarkson pointed out that you "couldn't enjoy a chocolate Magnum ice cream" in the interior of a Rolls Royce with white leather seats.

"It's alright, I don't eat ice cream," Hammond said. "It's something to do with being straight."

Clarkson and Hammond appeared slightly baffled while members of the audience cheered and applauded.

"Why are you applauding him?" Clarkson asked the crowd. "What do you mean... you're saying all children are homosexual?"

"Ice cream is a bit... you know," Hammond continued, saying: "There's nothing wrong with it, but a grown man eating an ice cream - it's that way, rather than that way.

"I'm right, I can't believe you can't see that. It's easy. It's in front of you."

Expand Close James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond during filming of The Grand Tour (Amazon/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond during filming of The Grand Tour (Amazon/PA)

Clarkson appeared to try and steer the conversation back to his joke about chocolate and the white leather seats, making a comment about "the chocolate thingy" in a 99 ice cream cone.

However Hammond seemed to think that he was agreeing with him, saying: "My case rests!"

The reaction on social media was largely one that condemned Hammond's comments.

Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander, who has worked with Stonewall on anti-bullying campaigns, tweeted: "Excuse me while I gag on my Cornetto."

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Musician Neil Milan tweeted: "Homophobia on a show about cars, the most classic white elephant of pathetic threatened masculinity is so f***ing tragic."

Clarkson made a joke in the first episode that he could not be fired because "we're on the internet, which means I could pleasure a horse."

Hammond has not yet commented on the backlash over his comments.
A young homeless man broke a garda's hand with a kick after officers arrived at a disturbance at a hostel and found him acting like a "caged lion".

Sean Friel (26) also punched through a window and threatened to flick blood at a garda and "give him Aids", a court heard.

Judge Bryan Smyth found him guilty of assault and garda obstruction and adjourned sentencing to a later date.

Friel had denied the charges and his lawyer claimed the accused was beaten by officers in a garda car afterwards.

Dublin District Court heard gardai were called to an incident at Grantham Mews Hostel, Grantham Place, Dublin 8, on February 20 last year.

They went into a room where the TV had been pulled from the wall and the accused was pacing up and down in a "very agitated state".

Reserve garda Craig Wade said Friel was telling staff: "I am going to f***ing kill you for calling them scumbags."

He then called the gardai "murdering b******s" and said he was going to kill them.

Gda Brian Gillan said Friel was "pacing up and down like a caged lion" and there were eight to nine people in the room, cowering away from the accused "lest he lash out".

"He walked to the window and punched his fist straight through," Gda Gillan said.

"He received lacerations up to his wrist, and there was quite a lot of blood coming from his hand.

"He gestured to me as if to flick the blood at me and he said, 'I'll give you Aids, you c**t'."

Friel then picked up an ashtray with his other hand and began swinging it wildly towards the gardai.

"As I reached down to assist, Sean Friel looked up, saw me and tried to kick me in the face. I put my hand up to stop it and in the course of that, my hand was broken," Gda Gillan said.

DISRUPTED

He suffered a broken bone in his hand as well as bruised bones and torn ligaments and was unable to work for three months.

The court heard Friel had 83 previous convictions for offences including assault and violent behaviour. He had been homeless for 10 years following an "extremely disrupted childhood".

Judge Smyth said it was a serious matter. He adjourned the case at the request of the defence for the accused to bring documents to court in mitigation.

He warned that Friel was likely to get a prison sentence.
Killer Graham Dwyer is so confident of winning his murder appeal next year that he has assured fellow inmates this Christmas will be his last spent behind bars.

Midlands Prison sources revealed that Dwyer is now devoting all his spare time to his upcoming Court of Appeal challenge to his conviction for the murder of Elaine O'Hara (36) in 2012.

His appeal was expected to be heard early in the new year but it could now be delayed until later in 2017.

The Cork-born architect has assured his fellow Midlands Prison inmates that he won't be behind bars for Christmas 2017.

He even joked to one inmate that he has already picked out the restaurant where he will celebrate his release from a life sentence.

Dwyer is now devoting up to six hours a day to studying the grounds for his appeal.

His sole social outlets are playing cards with a small circle of inmates and availing of the prison library.

His family continue to visit him on a regular basis and Dwyer has maintained a letter writing campaign to those friends and former colleagues who have not severed links with him.

However, Dwyer's confidence over his appeal and ongoing high-profile has irked some other prisoners.

Dwyer, who is referred to as Prisoner 88335, has clashed with several inmates in the Midlands Prison.

He was attacked by a serial rapist last summer after he bluntly refused to allow the man into an ongoing poker game.

In another incident, Dwyer was punched in the face after confronting a different rapist on the E3 landing of the jail.

While the killer has a number of acquaintances in the prison, several of whom he has helped with education projects and who he socialises with, others are scathing of him.

"There are some who respect him [Dwyer] for keeping his head down and trying to get on with life in prison. He has been a model prisoner," one Midlands Prison source said.

"But there are others who don't like his high profile or his confidence that he will be released next year. Some are just jealous of the attention."

The Midlands Prison, where most of Ireland's murderers and rapists are detained, has an inmate population of more than 870.

Dwyer is a keen letter writer, though his access to the internet and films is restricted. He also adheres to a strict fitness regime in prison.

His trial in March 2015 ranked as one of the most high profile murder trials in Irish judicial history.

His appeal is likely to centre on a number of forensic, evidential and technical issues.
David being brought on the private jet from Spain to the UK

A man was left fighting for his life after being prescribed a "deadly" painkiller that has killed Irish and British people.

David Parkinson (52), from Manchester, was living in Spain in 2002 with his brother when he was prescribed the killer drug, Nolotil.

He tells his story just months after the death of an Irishman from Mullingar after he was prescribed the painkiller.

William 'Billy' Smyth (66) from Mullingar was visiting Torrevieja, Spain in February when he was prescribed Nolotil from a Spanish GP, which he took for five days.

In April of this year, Billy returned to another GP in Spain to get a renewal for his normal medications and told the doctor he couldnt shake cold-like symptoms.

He couldnt shake a common cold and the sore throat he had," Billy's son Derek Smyth told Independent.ie.

Expand Close David Parkinson said he wants other to be aware of the dangers of the drug / Facebook

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"My father remained in a coma following surgery... on April 17 my father died from septic shock due to the complications developed from taking Nolotil."

Now, David tells Independent.ie he was hospitalised in Spain after a car accident in 2002 and was prescribed Nolotil for pain relief.

He said he first noticed something was wrong when he began to spot sores and blisters on his body.

Over the next month I became very ill and I was becoming worse and worse until eventually I collapsed in my bathroom and my brother took me straight to see a doctor.

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The doctor told my brother to get me straight to hospital. He said dont stop at lights, dont stop for police, just get straight to the hospital now.

The Nolotil drug had caused a toxic poisoning in his bone marrow, causing him to stop producing white blood cells, which are used to fight infection.

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David said when he arrived at the hospital there was a team of doctors waiting for him and they rushed him straight up to the isolation unit.

I lost over seven stone and was diagnosed with septicaemia, pneumonia and a very low white blood cell count.

Within 10 days, the Spanish hospital told David his family should come over to say their goodbyes.

They said I had similar symptoms to multiple myeloma which is a form of cancer. My family were really worried and they flew over to be with me. The hospital said there wasnt much more they could do.

It was traumatising having my family huddled around my bed saying their goodbyes. It was soul destroying.

Previously my family had to stand outside the glass window and write notes to me because my immune system was so weak. But all of a sudden they were allowed into my room without masks or gowns.

"The doctors said there was nothing else that could be done for me."

Davids family organised a private jet costing 15,000 (17,700) to fly him home to Manchester.

The next thing the doctors in Spain were going to do was send me to a bigger Spanish hospital for cancer treatment. That definitely would have killed me.

David said he shockingly began to recover in hospital in Manchester.

If I hadnt gone home to Manchester I would have died.

My illness was all down to the drug. It was the only medication I was prescribed and after researching it I saw that it had an effect on British and Irish people and was banned in several countries.

It took David a year to fully recover, after suffering from daily epileptic fits and diseases.

My temperature was so high that the doctors would cover me in ice. It was very scary and traumatic.

He explained he was resentful that he was prescribed the drug and said it should be banned all together.

I was given no warning about the drug," he said.

"I resent the fact that the drug is dangerous and it was given to me. People arent aware of the side effects. It has killed Irish and British people and it almost killed me too, yet the Spanish are still giving it out.

David described the experience as very traumatic for him and his family, who are still left with the costs of flying him home.

The drug is banned in certain countries for a reason. I was very lucky. I was seconds away from death and unfortunately other people havent made it.

The Nolotil drug is a brand name for Metamizole.

Metamizole is a anti-inflammatory drug used for the treatment of mild pain such as toothaches, headaches, arthralgia, neuralgia, myositis, mild to moderate visceral pain, and high fever.

While the drug is available in Spain, its banned in Ireland, the UK, US, Australia and other EU countries.

A spokesperson for the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) told Independent.ie that Nolotil (Metamizole) has never been authorised for use in Ireland.

"In addition to Spain, metamizole has been authorised and marketed under various trade names in some other EU member states including Italy, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

"Metamizole is authorised in the above countries for the treatment of moderate or severe acute pain and high fever not responding to general therapeutic measures.

"It is known to be associated with a risk of blood disorders, including agranulocytosis (low white cell count)."
Mourners at the funeral of a young woman killed in a road crash have been told how her family had the joy of Christmas replaced with "disbelief, anguish and broken hearts".

Amy Loughrey, from Co Derry, was killed in a road crash in Co Donegal.

The 25-year-old was fatally injured when her car was in a collision with another vehicle near Fahan on Thursday night.

She had just completed a shift at the Red Door Country House where she worked and was on her way home to the Waterside area.

Mourners gathered for Requiem Mass at St Columb's church on Chapel Road on St Stephen's Day.

Father Michael Canny told the congregation how as he visited the family on Friday morning - they were "de-christmasing".

"Tinsil, wrapped gifts, decorations and cards, the symbols of Christmas wholly inappropriate. Likewise the lights on the Christmas tree were put out  symbolising how a bright light in the Loughrey family had also been extinguished.

"The hope and joy of Christmas had been replaced by disbelief, anguish and broken hearts because Amy would not be coming home alive again. An event 12 miles away and a knock on the door meant that life was utterly changed. Indeed for many people life will never be the same again. "

Amy was described as a "bright and radiant light" for all who knew her and someone who was "always generous with her time".

"She was always kind and thoughtful and empathetic with an infectious smile. She loved travelling  worked endless hours so as to be able to go on the next trip", Fr Canny said.

"She spent a few years in Gran Canaria teaching English as a foreign language - but no matter where she was, she always loved coming back home. As well as her parents and sister being important to her, she had a special place in her heart for her nana Maureen and auntie Sandra and she was a great support to them."

Fr Canny told the congregation that the "true reality" in this tragedy was that the "light of a bubbly, full of life and always giving person, who had so much more to give has been extinguished".

Amy was a former pupil of Oakgrove Integrated College in Derry.

Garda superintendent Eugene McGovern appealed to anyone who was on that stretch of road between 10.45pm and 10.55pm to contact them.
A running enthusiast has told how his friends brought him back to life after he suffered a heart attack on St Stephen's Day.

Builder Noel Tobin collapsed in Marlay Park, South Dublin on Monday moments before he was due to start a jog with friends Peter Knaggs, Erica Calder and Noel Lynam.

The 53-year-old, who is a member of Sportsworld Running Club in Dundrum, stopped breathing and his friends knew they need to act fast.

Peter started performing CPR with Noel Lynam while Erica contacted 999.

Speaking to Independent.ie, from his bed at St James' Hospital, Noel explained that he owes Peter and the others his life.

"Only for him [Peter], I wouldn't be around today," he said.

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Recalling the events of St Stephen's day morning, Noel said: I drove into Marlay Park on Monday, I was due to meet Peter up there at 9.30am. I parked my car and ran up to him.

To be honest, I don't remember any of it, I don't even remember parking the car.

When I got to him, I collapsed. I was told it was a heart attack, a big one.

The next thing that Noel knew, he was waking up in a hospital bed.

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Peter explained that he and Erica completed a First Responder course just six weeks ago and when they spotted Noel crumble to the ground they knew exactly what to do.

We did the course, not thinking that we would ever need it. Little did we know that we would need to use it yesterday morning.

Peter recalled: Noel collapsed initially and then he stopped breathing. I immediately started the compressions. Erica was on the phone to the emergency services in front of me, she was relaying everything they were saying.

Noel [Lynam] was helping us adjust his head.

I just did the compressions, I was conscious of doing the right tempo. He started breathing again and a short time later emergency services arrived.

Peter estimates that they were performing CPR, with the help of a bystander, for 11 minutes.

It was very much a team effort. I'm just so grateful that there were other people there," he said.

I would encourage anyone to attend a first responder course. It's really, really important.

Noel was taken to St James's Hospital where he continued to receive treatment on Tuesday evening.

But his condition has now dramatically improved and the jogger explained that this is largely due to the work of his friends.

Only for Peter it wouldn't have turned out the way it did. He kept me going while we were waiting for the ambulance crew to get to the park.

He was looking out for me, and only for him I wouldn't be around today, he said. I really just want to thank Peter for everything he has done for me.

A spokesperson for Dublin Fire Brigade confirmed that an ambulance and the fire engine from Nutgrove with an advanced paramedic on board were dispatched after receiving the emergency call on Monday morning.

"The early CPR really made the difference along with the advanced paramedic who made interventions using the defibrillator & drugs," the spokesperson said.

The Emergency Services are encouraging people to learn CPR for the new year.
Farewell, Thomas Sowell By: David Henderson

At age 86, Tom Sowell has decided to retire as a regular columnist. This is his final column.

A few items in it caught my attention. Here is one:

During a stay in Yosemite National Park last May, taking photos with a couple of my buddies, there were four consecutive days without seeing a newspaper or a television news program  and it felt wonderful. With the political news being so awful this year, it felt especially wonderful.

In a future post, Ill discuss how this relates to my own recent career decision.

Here are some other comments on material progress:

In material things, there has been almost unbelievable progress. Most Americans did not have refrigerators back in 1930, when I was born. Television was little more than an experiment, and such things as air-conditioning or air travel were only for the very rich.

Although Im 20 years younger than Tom Sowell, I have noted some of the same things in my lifetime, only slightly less dramatically. Although we had a refrigerator all my life, we didnt have one at our cottage where we went every summer because we didnt get electricity until 1957 or 1958. So the word icebox meant for me what the word actually means. In January 1961, every family I knew in my town of Carman, Manitoba had a TV. Except for ours. I persuaded my father to buy one: a used Philco 21 inch (if I recall correctly) for $155. (And the Canadian $ was worth a little over 93 U.S. cents.) Remember the term television repairman? With our used TV, I do.

Air travel: My mother, who died at age 53 in 1969, never took a flight in her life. She had been in only two countries: Canada and the United States. And not much of those countries. She never saw Toronto. And the only U.S. state she made it to was North Dakota, and only the northern part of North Dakota. Fargo? Youre dreaming.

My own family did not have electricity or hot running water, in my early childhood, which was not unusual for blacks in the South in those days.

We didnt have running water in our house (which we didnt own) in Boissevain, Manitoba, until 1957.

It is hard to convey to todays generation the fear that the paralyzing disease of polio inspired, until vaccines put an abrupt end to its long reign of terror in the 1950s.

My father had polio in 1943. My sister had it in 1952.

Tom goes on to talk about ways the country has gone downhill. On some of these, I agree with him, especially his points about black ghettoes in the 1930s and 1940s versus now.

But one item that he regards as a negative is one that I regard as a positive. And its not small. He writes:

Back in 1962, President John F. Kennedy, a man narrowly elected just two years earlier, came on television to tell the nation that he was taking us to the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, because the Soviets had secretly built bases for nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from America. Most of us did not question what he did. He was President of the United States, and he knew things that the rest of us couldnt know  and that was good enough for us. Fortunately, the Soviets backed down. But could any President today do anything like that and have the American people behind him?

To his last question, which he asks rhetorically, my answer is I certainly hope not. If you want to know more about why, see my post yesterday.

To what does Tom Sowell attribute this decline in presidential credibility? He writes:

Years of lying Presidents  Democrat Lyndon Johnson and Republican Richard Nixon, especially  destroyed not only their own credibility, but the credibility which the office itself once conferred. The loss of that credibility was a loss to the country, not just to the people holding that office in later years.

Notice that he singles out presidents who were in office while Tom was an adult. He brought his well-honed skepticism to the issue. But he doesnt mention one of the biggest liars in his lifetime: FDR. Even while trying to get America into World War II in 1940, FDR said in his famous Boston speech late in the 1940 presidential campaign:

And while I am talking to you mothers and fathers, I give you one more assurance. I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again: Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.

Or how about Harry Trumans initial announcement of the nuclear bomb dropped on the city of Hiroshima. His statement to the press said:

Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima, an important Japanese Army base.

There are downsides to distrust. The main downside is when the distrust is undeserved because the president is telling the truth. But there are upsides too.
Brother of Csaba Orsos, Zoltan Sandro, speaks to the media at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin after Marta Herda was found guilty of the murder of Csaba Orsos at the South Quay, Arklow

The brother of a man who drowned after being driven off a pier by the woman he loved has said his family carry the pain of his loss every day.

Csaba Orsos (31) died on March 26, 2013, when Polish waitress Marta Herda drove her VW Passat off the pier at Arklow, Co Wicklow, while he was in the front passenger seat.

Callous Herda (29) was jailed for life last July after being found guilty of murdering Hungarian-born Mr Orsos.

She was a good swimmer and was aware that he could not swim.

Herda, who became known as the Ice Queen killer, has app- ealed her conviction, a move that has angered the Orsos family.

Pictures taken on the day Mr Orsos was killed show his brother, Zoltan, standing shocked on the pier.

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Herda told gardai that Csaba had been infatuated with her, but she did not feel the same way about him and he had spent two years following, phoning and messaging her, she said.

Now Zoltan has spoken of how his family's hearts were broken by his brother's death.

"After Csaba's death we don't do Christmas like before because everything is changed. We are all heartbroken and full with pain that never goes away," he told the Herald.

"Every day his bloodied face comes to mind from when I had to identify him in a body bag. That day I died as well.

CARE

"I have two kids who give me the power to live. My mom and my sisters and my brother are still heartbroken, and we have to live with this even though life is not the same.

"Herda has appealed the case, so I believe she doesn't care about my brother's life, because if she had a heart she wouldn't appeal. She took my brother's life. She's a murderer.

"I hope she never comes out of jail. If somebody thinks I am a bad man because I think like this, try to think of how bad my life is without my brother - pain every day."

Outside the court, not long after the guilty verdict was passed, Zoltan tried to explain how his brother had loved Herda.

"He asked me many times, 'What do I do? Fight for the love or not?' And the first time I said to him, 'Yes, why not?'" said Zoltan.

But then, he said, he saw how Herda behaved around other men. Even though she had shunned his brother, he saw how she would behave around him, and that maybe Csaba thought by her actions that there was a hope of a future.

"It was her who would touch him and rub his shoulder and say, 'Hi Csaba, how are you?' I think she wanted to show him that maybe they have a small chance, and maybe my brother believed that as well," he said.

"I told my brother to leave it alone, to stop believing it, but he was in love with her."

Despite the trial and the guilty verdict, Zoltan still has many questions.

"We never thought it would come to this. She had other ways to stop him loving her, why kill him?" he said. "Why did she do it? Why did she not stop the car?"
A man is in hospital after he was stabbed in Antrim town.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the serious assault on the Dublin Road on Monday night.

It was reported that an altercation took place between a number of people in the High Street area.

The family group who were socialising in the town centre were then chased by a number of people onto Dublin Road and assaulted.

A 19-year old-male was taken to hospital for treatment to a stab wound to his back. His condition is described as serious. It happened around 8.25pm and the 19-year-old is being treated in hospital.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident at High Street, Dublin Road or the Bridge Street area or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact Detectives in Antrim on 101 quoting reference number 973 of 26/12/16.

Information can also be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Speculation about the Fine Gael leadership is "naval-gazing" and "a distraction...that I don't need", Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said.

Astonishingly, despite Mr Coveney and Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar being viewed as the most likely successors to Enda Kenny, the pair have never discussed the matter.

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Mr Coveney spoke of how he trusted Mr Kenny to step down at "the right time".

He indicated that he still hoped to be Fine Gael leader and, potentially, Taoiseach some day - but said: "I'll take on those challenges when they're relevant.

"We can go into navel-gazing and leadership and who is best placed to do what and that can go on for months. It's a distraction, to be honest, that I don't need."

Mr Coveney asked for the Housing and Local Government portfolio - which includes the poisoned chalice of water charges. He said he was "determined" to put in place solutions to homelessness and a strategy for the provision of affordable homes and insisted: "That's what drives me at the moment.

"The ongoing chatter around leadershipit's not something that keeps me awake at night."

That chatter is dominated by his rivalry with Mr Varadkar.

Despite this, he said he had never discussed any future leadership battle with his fellow minister. He said he believed there was more talk of such a contest outside of the immediate political personalities involved, but that he had been busy at the Housing Department, and that "Leo's been busy, too, at his brief".

There have been reports that Mr Varadkar has been trying to woo backbench TDs in a bid to garner support for his well-aired ambition of leading the party when a vacancy arises. Mr Varadkar has rejected suggestions that socialising with fellow Fine Gael members amounts to such a campaign.

Challenges

Mr Coveney said he hadn't been courting backbenchers either and added: "I am certainly not going to spend a lot of time canvassing - if people want to call it that - around leadership when I have to deliver on some big, big challenges."

Mr Kenny will not remain leader of Fine Gael indefinitely. He has promised to step down before the next election, but said he hoped he would still be Taoiseach to welcome Pope Francis when he visits in 2018.

"I wouldn't have a huge issue with that," Mr Coveney said, adding that he trusted that Mr Kenny would step down at "the right time" to allow for the transition to a new leader.

In October, Mr Kenny told the Fine Gael presidential dinner that potential successors would have to show "their mettle".

"I think the Taoiseach took a bit of pleasure out of putting people in their box a little bit that night," Mr Coveney said, when asked if his difficult brief was a chance to prove his worth.

He said Mr Kenny was "entitled" to make such comments as the long-time party leader who had been "a very successful Taoiseach" through challenging times. Mr Coveney said: "He [Mr Kenny] wants to continue to give leadership through some new challenges, particularly around Brexit."

He said Mr Kenny "was poking fun at people like me and Leo and Frances [Fitzgerald]. I just think that was a bit of fun that night, and I wouldn't be reading too much into it".
Philomena Lynott with a room full of memorabilia about son Phil (below) at her home in Sutton, Co Dublin. Photo: Caroline Quinn

Philomena Lynott felt as if she had "died for five years" following the untimely death of her rock star son Phil.

Philomena found closure in 1991 when she met the mother of three Stardust fire victims tending the tombstone of her deceased children.

"That was the day I stopped grieving for Phil," she said.

Thin Lizzy star Phil Lynott died aged 36 from septicaemia as a result of heroin addiction on January 4, 1986.

His mother, now 86 years old, had lost all interest in life until she met the brave mother cleaning the tombstone of her three children.

"When I lost him, I died for five years. It was like I just lay down for five years. I went down to six stone.

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"All I was doing was smoking and drinking. I couldn't bear life without him," she said.

She recalled visiting Phil's grave at Saint Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton one cold February day.

"It was all frost on the ground. I looked around . . . then all of a sudden I saw a woman a long way away.

"I walked over very slowly. The lady was lying down cleaning a stone and her hands were purple with the cold. She never looked up.

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"And I read three names on the stone who all died on the same day. They were three of her children who burned in the Stardust disaster.

"I fell to my knees and I said to her 'Were they your three children?'

"'Yes', she said. That was the day I stopped grieving after Philip. At that moment, I took the cloth. I cleaned the stone.

"I picked her up. I put her in my car. I took her back to my house. I fed her a bowl of hot soup and she told me her story," she said.

Her children were among 48 young people killed in the nightclub fire in Dublin on Saint Valentine's Day, 1981.

"I said to myself that I was grieving for one son who, and I'm only admitting it now after 30 years, took his own life, if you think about it, when he took drugs.

"I said to myself that I am grieving for one son and look at this woman. That was the day I took hold of myself and became alive again."

Fans will fly into Dublin from all over the world for his 31st anniversary sold out concert 'Vibe For Philo - Saga of the Ageing Orphan' at the Workman's Club in Dublin on January 4.

Philomena was diagnosed with lung cancer around 18 months ago.

At first, she refused to undergo treatment because she was in her mid-80s, but she eventually completed a course of radiotherapy at St James's Hospital.

"When I went for the result, they told me 'your cancer's gone.' And I went 'what!?'

"I told Philip's fans that it was Philip who did it. He had gone to holy God and told him: 'Don't let her come up here because if she does, she'll batter me'," she laughed.

Philomena has given frequent talks to young prisoners in jail for drug offences.

She recalled addressing a group of prisoners in Maghaberry Prison in Northern Ireland.

She told the prisoners very frankly about how Phil was dead from drugs. She told them addicts end up in prison while wealthy drug dealers remain free and ensure their own children do not take drugs. Afterwards, they queued to shake her hand.

Philomena grew up in Crumlin before emigrating to England, where she became pregnant following a relationship with a man from British Guiana.

She gave birth to her son in a convent home for single mothers in Birmingham. She endured prejudice for having a child while unmarried and experienced racism for having a black child.

At the age of four, Phil was brought to Ireland to be brought up by Philomena's parents in Leighlin Road in Crumlin, while she continued to work in England.

She made regular visits to him and sent home money for his upkeep.

Phil had a happy childhood, he was popular in school, and his musical talents blossomed when he joined his first band at the age of 11.

Philomena accompanied Phil on three music tours of the US. She fondly recalled attending many of his concerts and Phil always ensured his mother had a good seat and said she reacted with anger if he ever got racist heckles .

"I still love Philip. I feel he's always with me," she said.
The battle of Aleppo may officially have been won by Bashar al-Assad's Syrian Arab Army, but it was Moscow, not Damascus, that announced the end of the fight.

And it was Vladimir Putin who 'Forbes' magazine named as the most powerful individual on the planet for the third year running recently.

For Mr Putin, the fall of Aleppo is the latest in a string of military successes notched up over almost three years of constant warfare - and the latest vindication of a new era of Russian military adventurism.

Russia has effectively been at war since February 2014, when heavily armed troops in unmarked uniforms fanned out across Crimea. There was little fighting, and in little more than a fortnight Mr Putin declared the peninsular had been "reunified" with Russia.

Over the following year, Russia covertly fuelled a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine and twice sent massed conventional forces across the border to inflict bloody and humiliating defeats on the Ukrainian military.

By February 2015, Mr Putin was able to force the Ukrainian government and its Western backers to accept a peace agreement, Minsk II, largely favourable to Russia and its separatist allies.

Six months later the Kremlin charged into the Syrian civil war - even as war of attrition continues in eastern Ukraine.

What are they fighting for?

Russia's Syrian adventure is not a re-run of Ukraine, but it follows a similar pattern.

Like in Ukraine, Moscow's intervention in Syria has drawn angry condemnation, but little - if any - actual challenge from Western governments.

And like in Ukraine, the Kremlin is hoping to use its military muscle as a means to achieve political and diplomatic ends.

For months, Russian foreign policy experts have said openly that victory in Aleppo is a prerequisite for Moscow's central war aim - guaranteeing the survival of the Assad regime and enforcing a favourable political settlement to end the war.

In other words, inflicting a defeat on the rebels so catastrophic that they and their Western and Middle Eastern backers accept peace largely on Moscow's and Damascus's terms.

So Russia just won?

Not quite. The problem with this plan is that Russia and its Iranian and Syrian allies do not necessarily agree on what that settlement should look like.

Experts in Moscow say one likely outcome could be a de-facto partition of the country with Mr Assad - or a successor acceptable to Moscow - retaining control of the heavily populated northern and eastern segments of the country.

Some even say - whisper it quietly - that Moscow might accept Mr Assad's departure as a price for such a settlement.

But Mr Assad says he doesn't want to go anywhere. And he also says he wants to re-establish control over every inch of Syrian territory, a goal viewed in Moscow as both unrealistic and probably unnecessary.

Then there is Iran and its Shia militia allies, who have provided a large proportion of the ground troops that made the assault on Aleppo possible, but whose religious agenda diverges greatly from Russia's secular goal of "stability" and a friendly government.

As one influential foreign policy thinker in Moscow puts it, Russia's plan to force a favourable peace depends on "everyone realising that the war is unwinnable".

In other words, the fall of Aleppo does not necessarily mean the end of this horrific war.

Has Mr Putin ever lost a war?

Since Mr Putin came to power 17 years ago, the Russian military has won wars in Chechnya, Georgia, and - at least partially - Ukraine.

But despite near complete victory in Aleppo, this has also exposed the limits of Russia's expeditionary military might.

The shock recapture of Palmyra by Isil is probably the biggest and most embarrassing single reverse the Russian military has suffered since Mr Putin sent it off to war in 2014.

It is a humiliation that generals in Moscow and Damascus will quickly seek to reverse. But doing so may require commitments of yet more troops, money, and time - things Moscow cannot afford indefinitely.

Do Russians know they are at war?

Officially, Russia's intervention in Syria is still strictly confined to air support for the regime, although the Kremlin also acknowledges that special forces units also operate there.

But there are probably more Russian ground forces in Syria than the Kremlin cares to admit - and their numbers may be growing.

Fearful of a backlash against mission creep, the Russian government has done its best to keep the true size of the deployment under wraps, and continually reassures its public that there will be no re-run of the Soviet Union's disastrous entanglement in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, officials continue to publicly deny that Mr Putin's other war ever even happened - even though it never really ended.

Despite the Minsk ceasefire agreements, Ukrainian and separatist soldiers still die every week in clashes in eastern Ukraine.

There's no reason to believe that Russia is considering pulling his support for either east Ukraine's rebels or Bashar Assad's government.

As long as they are successful, Mr Putin's wars are likely to continue. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Irma Mali at the Lancome Christmas Celebration at the Westbury Hotel, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy

Top model Irma Mali has been putting her feet up over Christmas as she gears up to welcome her new baby in the new year.

The Herald can reveal that she and partner Barry Maguire are having a baby boy, their first child together.

The in-demand beauty finished up working with 1st Options Models a few weeks ago as she went on maternity leave in preparation for the new arrival.

Despite being eight months pregnant, the Lithuanian model has maintained her trim figure.

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She managed to keep her pregnancy under wraps until she was nearly five months pregnant.

"I've just been really lucky, I guess. It's been 13 years since I had my daughter, Nikoleta, so I guess your stomach does go back if you work on it," she said.

"I'm still doing workouts, a bit of cardio and some light weights, but that's about it.

"I'm feeling great, so everything's good. I finished up work about three or four weeks ago so I'm trying to get out to a few events before the baby comes.

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"I'm really excited about it. It's been so long since I had Nikoleta, I've probably forgotten everything."

Irma has been spending Christmas with her mum and her brother, who both live in Ireland, alongside her other half Barry.

Video of the Day

Irma has been dating Barry, a firefighter she met through mutual friends, for more than two years.

As well as being one of our best-known models, Irma has branched out into acting, appearing in an episode of Game of Thrones and several music videos.

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She previously dated Danny O'Donoghue from The Script, but the pair went their separate ways in 2012.

Originally from Alytus, Irma moved over here in 2002.
A paramilitary police officer stands at the entrance of Silivri Prison and Courthouse complex where 29 Turkish former police officers are on trial (AP/Mehmet Guzel)

Twenty-nine Turkish former police officers have gone on trial accused of aiding the failed military coup in July - the first trial in Istanbul over the attempt that led to 270 deaths.

Renegade officers in Turkey's military used tanks, fighter jets and helicopters in their July 15 attempt to unseat the government, attacking parliament and other key buildings.

Turkey blamed it on a network of followers of US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen - an ally turned foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Gulen, who Turkey wants extradited to face trial, has denied any involvement in the coup.

The government declared a state of emergency after the uprising and has launched a large-scale crackdown against Mr Gulen's movement, which it has declared a terror organisation.

More than 40,000 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the coup while tens of thousands of others have been purged from government jobs.

The officers standing trial in a prison and courthouse complex on the outskirts of Istanbul include three helicopter pilots.

At the opening hearing, two pilots denied accusations that they ignored orders to fly a helicopter that would carry officers tasked with defending Mr Erdogan's residence, the Anadolu news agency reported. The two also rejected accusations of links to Mr Gulen's movement.

"I don't have the slightest link to the (coup attempt)," the agency quoted defendant Tolga Gultekin as telling the court. "There was no flight instruction given to me."

Another pilot, Ender Kucuka, was quoted as saying that he and a co-pilot were ready to fly their helicopter but that the flight mission was cancelled by a superior.

Prosecutors have demanded aggravated life prison terms for 21 officers charged with attempted coup, while eight face a maximum of 15 years for membership of a terrorist organisation.

The trial is the first in Istanbul in connection with the coup attempt. Some 45 soldiers are on trial in separate cases taking place in the cities of Zonguldak, Bursa and Erzurum.

AP
Japan's prime minister has offered "sincere and everlasting condolences" for the US service members who died when his country attacked Pearl Harbour, catapulting America into the Second World War.

Shinzo Abe paid a historic visit to the Hawaii site with Barack Obama, becoming the first Japanese leader to visit the USS Arizona Memorial and the first to visit Pearl Harbour with an American president.

The former enemies came together on Tuesday to acknowledge the tremendous loss from the Japanese attack on US military installations in Hawaii in 1941.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place," Mr Abe said.

After a formal meeting, Mr Abe and Mr Obama placed a pair of green and peach wreaths made of lilies aboard the USS Arizona Memorial and tossed purple flower petals into the water.

The rusting wreckage of the sunken ship where more than 1,000 American service members are entombed can be seen just under the water's surface.

Mr Obama and Mr Abe closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments before concluding their visit to the memorial and heading to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, where both leaders spoke.

Mr Obama said Mr Abe's visit was a "historic gesture" that showed the power of reconciliation.

He said Mr Abe's presence was a reminder of what was possible between nations and peoples and that wars could end and enemies could become allies.

Mr Obama said it showed "the fruits of peace always outweigh the plunder of war" and the US-Japan relationship was now a cornerstone of peace in the world.

The president singled out Pearl Harbour survivors in the audience, saying the nation saluted them.

The visit is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said.

Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbour before, Mr Abe was the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Mr Obama, it is probably the last time he will meet a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It is a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Mr Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

And for Mr Abe, it is an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Mr Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the US dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Mr Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House.

"That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on December 7 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded.

In the ensuing years, the US incarcerated about 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Mr Abe will not apologise for Pearl Harbour, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologise at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Mr Abe used to emphasise their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

But Alfred Rodrigues, 96, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy", said there was no apology needed.

"War is war," Mr Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

Mr Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war.

Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbour a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the US prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling".

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbour syndrome' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Japanese embassy in Washington.

"I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the US and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Mr Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Mr Obama and Mr Abe were driving forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and US president-elect Donald Trump.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the US than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Mr Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbour.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimised countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

AP
Youths carry weapons along a road in al-Rai town, north of Aleppo in Syria. Photo: Reuters/Khalil Ashawi

Syrian government forces have reportedly killed at least 14 civilians in a series of barrel bomb attacks on rebel-held areas outside Damascus.

The regime has launched an offensive on Wadi Barada, a town north-west of the capital. According to pro-government news sources, air strikes began on Saturday after militants from the Fateh al-Sham group, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, refused to leave the area unarmed.

Pro-revolution activists said government forces unleashed a barrage of ordnance, including explosive barrels dropped from helicopters and at least 30 large missiles.

In Wadi Barada, activists said around 100,000 people were without running water or electricity, and were under attack from all directions. The offensive follows an escalating crisis over water supplies feeding into Damascus from an area that includes Wadi Barada.

On Friday, authorities cut water supplies into various Damascus neighbourhoods after accusing rebels of deliberately poisoning water resources.

According to the state news agency, rebel groups attacked springs at Wadi Barada and Ain al-Fijeh, about 15km north-west of Damascus. State media also reported that militants blew up the Barada water pipeline in the suburb of Kafr al-Zayt, which had only just been fixed after a similar attack.

A statement by the Damascus water authority said it had halted supplies after "terrorist attacks on all water resources feeding into Damascus and its surroundings".

An estimated 1.5 million people live inside Damascus city, with another 3.5 million in its suburbs. The war over water underscores the importance of maintaining control of vital resources in a country crippled by nearly six years of civil war.

The escalation has affected civilians on both sides.

Yesterday, parts of Damascus were still without water, and civilians inside Wadi Barada described an increasingly harrowing assault on a town already worn down by years of war and shortages.

The Wadi Barada valley has been under siege since 2014 with food, water and electricity all in short supply.

Observers allege that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was employing similar tactics in Wadi Barada as he did in Aleppo. Regime forces were shelling Wadi Barada and Ain al-Fijeh "to put pressure on Islamist rebel factions and Fateh al-Sham Front to accept a reconciliation deal", warned the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In Aleppo, mass graves were found yesterday in the city's formerly rebel-held eastern quarters. ( Daily Telegraph London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
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Store executive Achilleas Georgiades said he could not believe something like this happened in 'civilised' Madison Avenue

Thieves have stolen fur coats worth more than one million dollars (956,725) from a top Madison Avenue store in Manhattan.

The theft happened on Christmas Eve after one of three suspects hurled a brick through the window of the Dennis Basso store just before 5am.

Mr Basso said they made off with several Russian sable coats, some of which were worth as much as $200,000 (191,336).

Basso, whose clients include Paris and Nicky Hilton, said the thieves "knew what they were looking for".

"They broke down the door to my Madison Avenue store at 5am on Christmas Eve and took only the most expensive sable coats," Basso said.

The 62-year-old told the Daily Mail: "It could be the largest fur heist in the city of New York."

Store executive Achilleas Georgiades said he could not believe something like this happened in "civilised" Madison Avenue.

Surveillance video captured one of the thieves being struck on the head by a metal beam after climbing through the shattered window.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) group said the theft served Mr Basso right for peddling fur.
For over 70 years, Bill Wunderlich served Elko as a businessman and community volunteer. One of the founders of Great Basin College, Wunderlich also supported other local institutions including the Northeastern Nevada Museum, Silver State Stampede, and the Elko Air Races.

William F. Wunderlich was born April 19, 1923, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to William and Loretta Wunderlich. Bills family, including his brothers Jack and Gene and sister, Charlene, moved to Elko when their father became the manager of United Air Lines.

Bill graduated from Elko High School and became a B17 pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In World War II, his plane was shot down twice over Czechoslovakia and Italy and both times he was taken as a prisoner of war.

Upon returning to Elko, he married Marge Hachquet on February 23, 1945. They both attended the University of Colorado in Boulder City before returning to Elko and raising their family: Carol, Rob, Willie and Ricky.

Bill worked for and later owned Stinson Berger Furniture Company. He sold it and opened his own business, Wunderlich Insurance Agency, selling New York Life and Aflac insurance.

In 1967, believing in Elkos need for a community college, Wunderlich joined with other Elko businessmen and professionals, Bob Burns Jr., Mark Chilton, Dr. Hugh Collett, Fred Harris, Albert Huber, Mike Marfisi, Dr. Les Moren, Paul Sawyer, and Mel Steninger to raise money for what is now Great Basin College.

Known among his colleagues for his tireless efforts to raise money alongside Paul Sawyer, Bill saw the college as benefiting Elkos growth and future. In a history of the college up to 1993, he wrote, In retrospect, what would Elko be if we hadnt moved ahead with the college?

Bill was also a member of the Elko Rotary, served as president of the Elko Jaycees and was a member of the Republican Party. He supported numerous projects including the building of the Basque Clubhouse, the Elko Convention Center, Northeastern Nevada Museum, and St. Josephs Catholic Church. He was involved in the Elko County Fair, the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and created the Elko Air Races.
The Elko Daily Free Press is counting down the days until marijuana is legal in Nevada by answering questions concerning the law.

Q: What will the impact be on the lower court system?

A: The justice court system, which hears cases on possession of controlled substances, is waiting to see how the new marijuana laws will affect their caseload in the coming months.

Supporters argued before the election that the new law would reduce the burden on lower courts with cases that congest the court system, namely younger, non-violent offenders caught with possession of cannabis. However, Elko Justice of the Peace Mason Simons anticipates an increase in cases through the lower courts once recreational marijuana is legalized.

The law which goes into effect Jan. 1 stipulates that both medical and recreational marijuana users can still be arrested on charges of driving, operating or being in actual physical control of a vehicle under power while under the influence of marijuana.

Simons predicts an uptick in marijuana driving under the influence and possession by minors in the coming year.

There will still be misdemeanors, explained Simons. Those 18 to 21 will come to court.

Simons also anticipates the law will have impacts in other ways such as domestic violence.

Youre going to see every area of the law impacted, Simons continued, citing ramifications for private employees and the mining industry.

Simons also fears a different kind of impact on the community due to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

People who did not use it because it was illegal may try it, he said. Were inviting experimentation by people who never used before, such as professional members of the community.

Currently, the law fines users of marijuana up to $600 without jail time. A felony charge of possession usually results in a plea agreement.

Some offenders end up in drug court or receiving substance abuse treatment, explained Simons.

Simons has concerns for the future in not just the courts, but for Elko County residents in general.
Douglas V. Byrd, 37, of Cincinnati, Ohio was arrested on Interstate 80 at mile marker 296 for failure to maintain a lane or making an improper lane change; use or possession of drug paraphernalia; and selling a controlled substance. Bail: $20,752.

_____

Kaileigh L. Estrella, 19, of Elko was arrested at Atwals for possession of a controlled substance; use or possession of drug paraphernalia; and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $6, 640.

_____

David A. Goff, 34, of Elko was arrested at Gold Country for trespassing not amounting to burglary and possession of less than or equal to one ounce of marijuana. Bail: $932.

_____

Joanne D. Law, 40, of Midvale, Utah, was arrested at Montego Bay Casino for failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. No bail listed.
Off late Tamil cinema`s quality rose in leaps and bounds and reached a much wider audiences all over the globe. Recently Superstar Rajinikanth`s Kabali` created such records releasing in hitherto untouched territories.

Ilayathalapathy Vijay`s Bairavaa` directed by Bharathan and costarring Keerthy Suresh and Jagapathy Babu is releasing worldwide on the 12th of January 2017. For the first time in Tamil cinema history Bairavaa` will be released in the European country Latvia where only Bollywood films have found their way before.
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
ELKO  The Elko business climate experienced dynamic highs and unexpected lows during 2016.

According to Elko City business license technician Debbie Hensler, there were just under 200 new business licenses this year as of mid-December.

So far this year I have 189, said Hensler.

Some of the recorded licenses are not for new businesses but show a transfer of ownership or business name change.

Most business additions cause a certain degree of excitement in a small town like Elko, especially restaurants.

Tomatos opened its doors in Elko in the summer. Restaurant owners Roger and Jesse Sutherland also operate a branch in Twin Falls. The American and Italian eatery has seen a good deal of traffic since opening and, as of this month, is available for catering large parties.

People who come here usually come back, said general manager Allan Fisk. We are getting good reviews on Facebook.

Other restaurants that have opened within the city are Jimmy Johns, Rigobertos and Rolbertos. Jimmy Johns serves sandwiches and the other two specialize in Mexican food in a casual environment. Both have added an Elko establishment due to their success in other towns.

The opening of two new beauty supply stores made the female population a little happier. Ulta was the first to commence sales in the summer. Sally Beauty Supply established business in town August 1.

A number of mom and pop shops established their roots here, including a massage and wellness business named Roots. Along the same line of physical and mental health, Wild Iris Yoga and Wellness began offering services this year.

Second Chances began selling donated and consigned items in April as a way to raise funds for the Joshua Tree Shelter project.

Joshua Tree board members Jennifer Kidwell and Colleen Hill tossed the idea about for some time before pursuing a retail opportunity to benefit the homeless.

Instead of just talking, we finally said we can do this, said Hill.

Although the city has benefitted from the addition of so many businesses, a few businesses closed.

Cedar Creek Clothing has been a favorite shopping location in the region since 1971. The downtown store is closing due to reduced traffic and sales. Owner Duane Jones chose to have his final sale on Christmas Eve.

Your business pretty much consists of customers, and over time you have less and less customers, he said. You basically die from a thousand cuts. Its not any one thing that makes the decision, and some cuts are deeper than others.

Arbys, a fast food facility in Elko Junction Shopping Center, temporarily shut down in late April due to a rodent infestation. According to employees, rodents were seen on a daily basis and some workers complained of diarrhea, nausea, headache, fever, and an increase in asthma attacks.

The Nevada State Health Division ordered the business to close until the problem could be rectified. The owner at the time, Mike Franzoia, voluntarily discontinued operation and the rodent problem was professionally addressed.

The restaurant has since reopened and is in good standing with inspectors.
Love him or hate him but you can't deny the fact that when it comes to words, Shah Rukh Khan remains the indisputable king! Be it his interviews or his speeches, if you're looking for motivation, you can invest your trust in SRK blindly. Be it love or career advice, Shah Rukh Khan has always had the most sincere and honest opinions. If you're one of the most eloquent speakers of B-town, people start looking up to you because they have high expectations.

Students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University had the same expectations when they came to know that King Khan would visit their college. SRK was conferred with an honorary doctorate. After receiving his doctorate, SRK gave an inspirational speech that was just about perfect.

In a five-minute long speech, SRK spoke about the learnings passed onto him by his late father and they were really heart warming. Like always, the speech is winning the social media platforms and people can't get over SRK's choice of words.

SRK said, I feel proud when I see people studying and educating themselves. There is nothing greater than education in the world. My father was a highly educated man. But he was also poor. He never got any job. He hardly had any money. Whatever business he started despite being so educated, they were all failures. But he gave me a lot of love. Because he didnt have any money on every birthday of mine, he used to give me some of his old things and through those, I got my learnings."

Further talking about those gifts and the lessons he got out of them, he added,

The first old thing he gifted me was a chess set. He used to play chess with the head priest of a Hanuman mandir. He told me that I could learn a lot about life through chess. First and foremost being cooperation and teamwork. Second, in life when you have to go forward at times you do have to take a step backward too. Third being that small person the so-called pawns should be respected. No one is small. Everyone is useful. And the last thing was sometimes the things that we love the most like the queen in chess sometimes has to be sacrificed.

And SRKs second gift by his father was a typewriter, that again taught him a very important lesson. He went on to explain,

Dr. Shah Rukh Khan @iamsrk at Maulana Aazad National Urdu University in Hyderabad 26 December 2016. #ShahRukhKhan #DrShahRukhKhan #SRK #kingkhan awarded honorary doctorate at Maulana Azad University Hyderabad #quote #bollywood #kingofbollywood #king A photo posted by SRK RUSSIAN FC (@srk_russian_fc) on Dec 26, 2016 at 11:32am PST

When you type something wrong on a typewriter, if you write something erroneously, it becomes difficult to remove it. So you have to be very diligent and very careful. When I learned to type on it while doing commerce in college, the only thing I realized is that practice makes you perfect. Whatever you do in life, do it diligently. Do it in a way so that there are no mistakes. Do it thinking that this is your first and last chance and you will never get a chance to do it again.

The third life lesson came to his life, all thanks to his fathers old camera. He added,

He once gifted me his old camera. It never functioned. I could see from the viewfinder but couldnt click pictures. It taught me an important lesson. Our creativity or hobby cannot always become our work. Very few people are fortunate to make it their job to me. But whatever our creativity is, be it poetry, painting, singing or dancing, it is not necessary that the world should accept it. Like the camera I had, it couldnt click but whatever one saw through it was beautiful. Similarly, you should hone your creativity for yourself and it doesnt matter whether the world accepts it or not. Because in life when you are alone or depressed at that time it is your creativity who becomes your best friend whether the world likes it or not. I am a bad poet but when I am depressed, I write things like Humne tumhare yaad main ro ro rakkhar tub bhar diye aur woh aakar nahakar chal diye. During sad times when I write this, I get a lot of peace.

Before signing off, he gave them his fourth and the final lesson. He concluded the speech by saying,

Sense of humour in your life is essential. Always have a child-like innocence."

Watch SRK's speech right here:
Google's all set to begin 2017 with a press conference on January 4 in New Delhi. And the search giants CEO, Sundar Pichai, is already in India ahead of schedule, enjoying some well-earned family vacation time.

Googles Sundar Pichai is expected to take the stage alongside Union Minister of Communications and IT, Ravi Shankar Prasad, to launch the companys Digital Unlocked program, which is aimed to get startups and entrepreneurial talent up to speed. Any further specifics of this new Google initiative to boost startups in India remain unknown at this point of time.

According to reports, Google will announce key partnerships at the event on January 4, focusing on helping small businesses to unlock exponential growth through the power of digital. There's also an outside chance Mr Pichai would start off the year's first Google press event with an update on the company's consumer product offerings, as well. We'll have to wait and watch.

This will be the second time Googles Sundar Pichai will host a media event in the country, since becoming CEO of the Internet search giant. The companys on a roll in India, since Google recently finished offering free high-speed RailTel (RailWire) Wi-Fi at the 100th railway station in the country -- at Ooty Railway Station, exactly eleven months after flagging off its ambitious plan to bring free Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations in the country.
India's most formidable missile, the over 5,000-km range Agni-V, is now ready for user trials by the military after it underwent its fourth and final test-firing from the integrated test range off the Odisha coast on Monday.

Reuters

The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-V, dubbed a "game-changer" in strategic deterrence because it brings the whole of China and much more within its strike envelope, was fired from its canister on a launcher truck just after 11 am.

Powered by three-stage rocket motors, the 50-tonne missile tore into space to a height of 500 km before following its predetermined flight-path to the "splash point" in southern Indian Ocean 20 minutes later. President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi congratulated DRDO.

The Agni-V test, monitored by radars and tracking systems, met all the mission objectives. The country has achieved a very high-level of self-reliance in missile technologies," said the defence minister's scientific adviser G Satheesh Reddy.

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar, among others, congratulated DRDO scientists for the "successful" test-firing of Agni-V, which is designed to carry a 1.5-tonne nucleartipped warhead.

Reuters

TOI was the first to report in its December 14 edition the impending test of Agni-V, which will now undergo at least two user-trials by the tri-service Strategic Forces Command (SFC) before full-scale production and induction.

It will take another couple of years for Agni-V to be inducted into SFC, which manages the country's nuclear arsenal, in adequate numbers. But India has now virtually gate-crashed into the exclusive club of the US, Russia, China, France and UK, which have ICBMs.

Congratulations DRDO for successfully test firing Agni V. It will enhance our strategic and deterrence capabilities. #PresidentMukherjee  President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) December 26, 2016

The missile's canisterlaunch final operational version is significant because it gives the armed forces the requisite operational flexibility to swiftly transport and launch the missile from wherever they want within a matter of minutes. The hermetically-sealed canister gives the missile higher reliability, enhanced mobility, less maintenance and longer shelf-life.

Successful test firing of Agni V makes every Indian very proud. It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2016

BCCL

Some more fireworks are likely again over the Bay of Bengal when SFC conducts user-trials of the 4,000-km Agni-IV, which is also designed with China in mind, in the first week of January. Apart from the shorterrange Prithvi and Dhanush missiles, SFC has inducted the Agni-I (700km), Agni-II (2,000km) and Agni-III (3,000km) missiles till now.

Also in the works is Agni-VI, which will be armed with "manoeuvring warheads or intelligent re-entry vehicles" to defeat enemy defence systems or MIRVs (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles).

The Agni-VI will be capable of being launched from submarines as well as from land, with a strike-range of 8,000-10,000 km.

An MIRV payload basically means a single missile is capable of carrying several nuclear warheads, each programmed to hit different targets.
In the absence of any government in Yemen, India says it is reaching out to other regional countries like Saudi Arabia and local Yemeni authorities to reach Indian Catholic priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, held captive by Islamists in Yemen since early 2016.

christiantoday.com

After a new video of Father Tom surfaced, which appealed to the Indian government and the Church for help to secure his release, an MEA spokesperson said India was continuing with efforts to secure his release. "With regard to the safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities."

But obviously the Indian efforts have fallen short, largely because of the state of instability prevailing in Yemen. The country has been a battleground between the Iran-supported Houthis and the Saudi Arabia supported government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, which has claimed over 7000 lives so far.

BCCL

Father Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian national was abducted on March 4 when four militants attacked a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, the provincial capital of Yemen, killing 16 people, including four Missionary of Charity nuns. While no one actually knows who is behind the kidnapping, it is believed the captors are either al-Qaida or IS-allied groups. In April, there was an international outcry when reports said Father Tom would be crucified on Good Friday. But that report came to nothing.

PTI

A few months ago, a delegation of Catholic Bishops met foreign minister Sushma Swaraj to seek help. A statement issued at the time said Father Tom was safe and the Indian government was trying to secure his release. A statement by the bishops said, "The Honourable Minister further said that the details of the negotiations and the technicalities involved in the negotiations cannot be divulged now, as it would endanger the process of the release itself."

Meanwhile, the government was successful in getting the release of Sister Reema, the only surviving nun in the retirement home.
Barely three days after United Nation adopted a resolution calling Israel settlements on Palestinian territory illegal, thanks to the US that abstained from the voting, the President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that UN is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.

AFP

The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

Trump on Monday signalled that he would likely challenge UNs approach to the Middle East once he takes office. Though Trump didnt specify the reasons why he believes that UN is ineffective, he made it clear both before and after the Security Council adopted the resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that he believed the United States should have blocked the move.

"The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" Trump said in a post on Twitter.

Earlier, the outgoing President Barack Obama had instructed UN Ambassador Samantha Power to abstain from voting on the grounds that Israeli government continued support to the expansion of Jewish settlements on West Bank and East Jerusalem would thwart the possibility of a two sides reaching a two state solution.

After the Security Council voted Trump tweeted, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," which is the day he will assume the presidency.

AFP

The UN has been under fire for years from both right and left wings for being largely ineffective. Conservatives have attacked it for infringing on individual nations' sovereignty as well as wasting resources, while many developing nations accused that at UN most decisions are made at the perusal of a handful and powerful countries.

In recent years, some of its peacekeeping troops have been repeatedly accused of raping civilians they were sent to protect, and this August the office of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon formally acknowledged that Nepalese peacekeepers sent by the United Nations to Haiti six years ago contributed to a cholera outbreak there even as U.N. officials maintained they have legal immunity in connection to the epidemic.

But its also a fact that the UN still played a key role when it comes to help the people especially in war zones where civilians face lot of problems. Apart from helping people, the UN also broker cease-fires during conflicts and serving as a forum for sprawling issues such as how best to address climate change.

AFP

During a new conference last month, Obama emphasized that the United States must continue to play the leading role in maintaining "the basic framework of the world order" that was established after World War II.

"And I've said before, that's a burden that we should carry proudly," Obama had said.

"And I would hope that not just the 45th president of the United States, but every president of the United States understands that that's not only a burden, but it's also an extraordinary privilege. And if you have a chance to do that right, then you should seize it."
According to a report published Makkah daily, Saudi Men have been told to abstain from marrying women from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Chad and Myanmar. The report has quoted Makkah Police Director Maj Gen Assaf Al-Qurashi. If unofficial figures are to be believed, nearly 500,000 women from these four countries are currently residing in the kingdom.

The move is apparently aimed to prohibit Saudi men from marrying foreign nationals. Additional formalities have been placed before issuing the permission for marriage with foreigners. Saudi men wishing to marry foreigners now face tougher regulations.

Those who still want to marry foreigners should first obtain the consent of the government and submit a marriage application through official channels, Maj Gen Qurashi was quoted.

According to the officials, the applicant should be above 25 and attach identification documents signed by the local district mayor as well as all other identity papers, including a copy of his family card.

If the applicant is already married, he should attach a report from a hospital proving that his wife is either disabled, suffering from a chronic disease or is sterile, he said.

Maj Gen Qurashi said divorced men would not be allowed to apply within six months of their divorce.
Saudi Arabia has put a group of people in jail after a video of them drinking and dancing went viral on social media. According to local reports, the revellers were seen enjoying themselves at a 'mixed party' in Jeddah.

The video, that was posted on YouTube, shows men and women dancing to music on the terrace of a building and drinking what is presumably alcohol. Furthermore, women are seen dressed in Western clothes.

YouTube

After the clip went viral, a special task force was called into place to investigate the video and by using imaging analysis, they found the address of the place where the party was held. The landmark Jeddah Flagpole - known to be the tallest in the world - in the background helped them locate the scene of the party.

The police arrested a Jordanian man, their chief suspect, who tried to flee the country. Upon interrogation, he admitted to organising the mixed party which was attended by three women, one of whom was a Lebanese. The women also admitted to being at the party.

Saudi Arabia has completely banned the sale and use of alcohol. It also has strict rules for the mixing of men and women in public and the way they dress.
ELKO  The top crime story of 2016 was five years in the making.

Eduardo Estrada-Puentes was found guilty of first-degree murder in October for the 2011 death of his estranged wife Stephanie Gonzalez. Law enforcement, friends and family members displayed a Justice for Stephanie banner after the conviction.

It was the end of a lengthy journey. Gonzalez, 29, was strangled in June 2011, leaving behind three small children. Estrada-Puentes fled the country and local residents held many fundraisers after setting up a reward for his capture. A softball tournament raised more than $28,000 over three years until he was finally apprehended in Mexico. By the time he was extradited and brought up for trial he was 34 years old.

His attorneys argued it was a case of voluntary manslaughter, but the jury sided with Chief District Attorney Chad Thompson, who had the courtroom pause as he counted off four minutes  the average time it takes for someone to die from strangulation.

Its been rough, but we have succeeded in getting the verdict that we wanted, said Gonzalezs mother Lidia Cortes. Now my baby girl can be at peace. We have Justice for Stephanie.

Estrada-Puentes has yet to be sentenced for the crime.

Other top crime stories of 2016:

 Residents were shocked in June when the CEO of the Elko Federal Credit Union was struck and killed while crossing the street in downtown Elko. Doug Schwartz was leaving a popular restaurant when a Jeep Cherokee struck him on his way to his vehicle in the corridor parking lot. This guy, he didnt slow down, didnt stop, didnt do anything, he just kept on going, said John Lemich, owner of Machis Saloon & Grill. The suspect, 27-year-old mining company employee Daniel Vasu of Elko, was arrested the next day.

 The third most-read crime story at elkodaily.com in 2016 involved the slaying of a Spring Creek mother of three children. Kristin Fleming, 35, was shot in the face with a small-caliber handgun on June 3. Her husband Donald Fleming, 38, was arrested on a charge of open murder. Authorities said he had been arrested on a domestic battery charge two years earlier.

 A Ryndon woman who went missing in August was found murdered when the suspect revealed where her decapitated body was buried north of Elko. Jose de Jesus Segundo-Huizar, 46, of Jerome, Idaho, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder, burglary, kidnapping, child abuse and destroying evidence. Police believe he bludgeoned Carmen Magallanes-Sanchez, 34, with a hammer.

 A young Spring Creek woman was arrested in July after giving birth in May to a baby that she said she believed was dead. Nikki M. Shelley, 22, was arrested following an investigation the revealed she had called a friend who also believed the baby was dead. The friend took her and the baby to the hospital, where the child was found to be alive. Shelley was jailed on a charge of child abuse or neglect.

 Two Elko residents were arrested on child neglect charges in July after officers found human and animal feces in the home where they were raising a 4-year-old and 18-month-old. Brandy N. McKenna, 24, and John P. Tognacci, 28, were arrested after someone called and reported that McKenna was being held at the residence against her will. Police said a chemical stain on the carpet indicated one of the children was playing with the cleaning product Comet.

 The seventh most widely read crime story in 2016 may not have involved a crime after all. Multiple law enforcement agencies swarmed to Fifth and Wilson streets early on the morning of Aug. 17 where it was believed that gunshots had been fired following a loud argument. After subsequent investigation, police said they were unable to confirm that any shots had been fired.

 An October 2015 poaching case resulted in charges being filed a year later. The Elko County District Attorneys office filed criminal complaints against three Utah residents in the poaching of a 6-by-6 bull elk in northeastern Elko County. An additional charge involved the poaching of a cow elk.

 In another case of justice arriving a year after a crime, Tyler Demerath, 23, received a partially suspended sentence in the death of Jared Kraintz, 35, who was run over and killed in July 2015 in the Walmart parking lot. Demerath had been found guilty in April of vehicular manslaughter, operating a motor vehicle without a drivers license, and operation of a motor vehicle while registration is suspended.

 A Spring Creek man was arrested in March on explosives charges after deputies were called to his parents home on a domestic dispute and found guns and explosive devices in his bedroom. Thomas Mooney, 26, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in October to three firearms charges.
Netanyahu Castigates Obama as a Backstabber and Betrayer By Patrick Buchanan December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Did the community organizer from Harvard Law just deliver some personal payback to the IDF commando? So it would seem. By abstaining on that Security Council resolution declaring Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal and invalid, raged Bibi Netanyahu, President Obama " failed to protect Israel in this gang-up at the UN, and colluded with it ." Obamas people, charged Bibi, "initiated this resolution, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed." White House aide Ben Rhodes calls the charges "falsehoods." Hence, we have an Israeli leader all but castigating an American president as a backstabber and betrayer, while the White House calls Bibi a liar. This is not an unserious matter. "By standing with the sworn enemies of Israel to enable the passage of this destructive, one-sided anti-Israel rant and tirade," writes the Washington Times, "Mr. Obama shows his colors." But unfortunately for Israel, the blow was delivered by friends as well as "sworn enemies." The U.S. abstained, but Britain, whose Balfour Declaration of 1917 led to the Jewish state in Palestine, voted for the resolution. As did France, which allied with Israel in the Sinai-Suez campaign of 1956 to oust Egypts Col. Nasser, and whose Mysteres were indispensable to Israels victory in the Six-Day War of 1967. Vladimir Putin, who has worked with Bibi and was rewarded with Israels refusal to support sanctions on Russia for Crimea and Ukraine, also voted for the resolution. Egypt, whose Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was welcomed by Bibi after his coup against the Muslim Brotherhood president, and who has collaborated with Bibi against terrorists in Sinai and Gaza, also voted yes. China voted yes as did Ukraine. New Zealand and Senegal, both of which have embassies in Tel Aviv, introduced the resolution. Despite Israels confidential but deepening ties with Sunni Arab states that share her fear and loathing of Iran, not a single Security Council member stood by her and voted against condemning Israels presence in Arab East Jerusalem and the Old City. Had the resolution gone before the General Assembly, support would have been close to unanimous. While this changes exactly nothing on the ground in the West Bank or East Jerusalem where 600,000 Israelis now reside, it will have consequences, and few of them will be positive for Israel. The resolution will stimulate and strengthen the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, which has broad support among U.S. college students, Bernie Sanders Democrats and the international left. If Israel does not cease expanding West Bank settlements, she could be hauled before the International Criminal Court and charged with war crimes. Already, J Street, the liberal Jewish lobby that backs a two-state solution in Palestine  and has been denounced by Donald Trumps new envoy to Israel David Friedman as "far worse than kapos," the Jewish guards at Nazi concentration camps  has endorsed the resolution. The successful resolution is also a reflection of eroding support for Israel at the top of the Democratic Party, as a two-term president and a presidential nominee, Secretary of State John Kerry, were both behind it. Republicans are moving to exploit the opening by denouncing the resolution and the U.N. and showing solidarity with Israel. Goal: Replace the Democratic Party as the most reliable ally of Israel, and reap the rewards of an historic transfer of Jewish political allegiance. That Sen. George McGovern was seen as pro-Palestinian enabled Richard Nixon to double his Jewish support between 1968 and 1972. That Jimmy Carter was seen as cold to Israel enabled Ronald Reagan to capture more than a third of the Jewish vote in 1980, on his way to a 44-state landslide. Moreover, U.S. acquiescence in this resolution puts Bibi in a box at home. Though seen here as a hawk on the settlements issue, the right wing of Bibis coalition is far more hawkish, pushing for outright annexation of West Bank settlements. Others call for a repudiation of Oslo and the idea of an independent Palestinian state. If Bibi halts settlement building on the West Bank, he could cause a split in his Cabinet with rightist rivals like Naftali Bennett who seek to replace him. Here in the U.S., the U.N. resolution is seen by Democrats as a political debacle, and by many Trump Republicans as an opportunity. Sen. Chuck Schumer has denounced Obamas refusal to veto the resolution, echoing sentiments about the world body one used to hear on Americas far right. "The U.N." said Schumer, "has been a fervently anti-Israel body since the days (it said) Zionism is racism and that fervor has never diminished." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says he will urge Congress to slash funding for the United Nations. If the folks over at the John Birch Society still have some of those bumper stickers  "Get the U.S. out of the U.N., and the U.N. out of the U.S.!" they might FedEx a batch over to Schumer and Graham. May have some converts here. Pat Buchanan has been a senior adviser to three presidents, twice a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination and the presidential nominee of the Reform Party in 2000. Israeli ambassador: Well give Trump proof Obama drove UN vote : Israels ambassador to the United States said Tuesday that the country will present President-elect Donald Trump with evidence that the Obama administration orchestrated an anti-settlement resolution at the UN. Too Little, Too Late for US Decision on Settlements : Alarm bells about a new arms race between the US and Russia went off this week around the world. . The UN settlement resolution is too little and too late : Palestinians know that they have been offered only stale crumbs from the UN Security Council's table. New York Times runs an article saying Zionism is racist : Liberal American Jews have identified themselves with Zionism, a political agenda rooted in the denial of liberal politics. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Liberation of Aleppo Represents US's Most Serious Setback in 15 Years By Tim Anderson December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Khamenei " - In late 2016, at the cost of many young lives, Syrian forces took back the eastern part of the city of Aleppo, occupied by NATO and Saudi backed terrorists for more than four years. The liberation of Aleppo, Syrias second city and an ancient marvel, represents the most serious setback for the 15-year long Washington-led aggression on the entire region. An effective re-colonization of the region has stretched from Afghanistan to Libya, under a range of false pretexts. Invasions and proxy wars have been backed by economic sanctions and wild propaganda. But this great war of aggression  called the creation of New Middle East by former US President George W. Bush  has hit a rock in Syria. The massive proxy armies bought and equipped by Washington and its regional allies the Saudis, Turkey, Qatar and Israel, have been beaten back by a powerful regional alliance which supports the Syrian nation. The endgame in Aleppo involves a handful of foreign agents  US, Saudi, Israeli and others  said to remain with the last al-Qaeda groups in a tiny part of what was once their stronghold. The US in particular is keen to secure their release, because their presence is further evidence of the foreign command of what was claimed to be a civil war. After a storm of western government and media misinformation (claims of massacres, mass executions and civilians targeted) over the evacuation of around 100,000 civilians and many thousands of terrorists, the UN Security Council authorized some independent observers to monitor the process. However most of that evacuation is now over. Resettlement and reconstruction is already underway, and army reserves have been called up to defend the city. Syrian, Iranian, Russian and independent reporters (including Maytham al Ashkar, Shadi Halwi, Asser Khatab, Khaled Alkhateb, Ali Musawi, Lizzie Phelan, Murad Gazdiev, Vanessa Beeley, Eva Bartlett and the late Mohsen Khazaei) have already told us quite a lot. What they said bore little resemblance to the western apocalyptic stories. For example, outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, a close ally of Washington, claimed in his last press conference that Aleppo is now a synonym for hell. Those claims were based on stories from NATOs desperate fighters. Reporters on the ground told a different story. As Syrian forces smashed the al Qaeda lines, the trapped civilians streamed out. They published video of long lines of people leaving east Aleppo and finding relief, food and shelter with the Syrian Arab Army. Tired and relieved, they told their stories to anyone who cared to listen. Russia and Iran gave many tons of food, clothing, blanket and shelter aid. By contrast, western countries generally gave nothing and the terror groups rejected all aid from the Syrian alliance. Civilians were prohibited from leaving the al-Qaeda enclave, many were shot dead when they tried to do so. The armed gangs had food reserves but kept it for their fighters. Arms factories including toxic chemicals were found and were being made safe. Some of the armed men were taken into custody, but most were shipped out to Idlib, where Damascus has been concentrating the foreign-backed fighters. When the hell canons fell silent, and no more home-made gas cylinder mortars landed in the heart of the city, there was elation and dancing in the streets, shown widely on social media. The US State Department spokesman claimed he had not seen this. Al Qaeda in Aleppo was crushed. All the anti-Syrian government armed groups in Aleppo were either the official al Qaeda in Syria (Jabhat al Nusra aka Jaysh Fateh al Sham) or deeply embedded associates. When the US pretended to suppress Jabhat al Nusra in 2012 and 2016, all the Free Syrian Army groups protested, saying we are all Jabhat al Nusra. One might have thought that the US Government  which once claimed to be engaged in a global war against terrorism, in the name of 3,000 people murdered in New York back in September 2001  would be as elated as those on the streets of Aleppo. They were not. Much of the western media, reflecting their governments, solemnly reported on the fall of Aleppo. The Syrian victory over the al Qaeda groups was a great tragedy, they said. On the other hand, the near simultaneous recapture of Syrias ancient city of Palmyra, by the eastern al Qaeda group ISIS, was reported differently. That city was said to have been retaken. All this underlines what should have been an obvious point, admitted by many US officials, that every single armed group in Syria (whether moderate or extremist) has been armed and financed by the US and its allies, in an attempt to overthrow the Syrian Government. All the talk about moderate rebels, a brutal regime and a civil war just tries to hide this. The final evacuations of Aleppo  which included an exchange of civilians besieged for 20 months in the Idlib towns of Faoua and Kafraya for remaining NATO-jihadists in eastern Aleppo  were organized between Russia and Turkey. There was some serious sabotage of these agreements, but the understandings have so far stayed on track. Now Iran is engaged with Russia and Turkey, in three way talks. Practical matters are being discussed. It is notable that the Obama administration is playing no direct constructive role in the endgame over Aleppo. Its regime change proxy war on Syria is failing and, in its place, the incoming Washington regime promises a new approach. More importantly, a new regional alliance has formed to reject any new aggression from the colonial powers. Many things have changed during the war on Syria. The Syrian alliance has beaten back powerful NATO-GCC forces. The Muslim Brotherhood and its patrons in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have received another beating. Egypt and Iraq now support Syria. The Saudis have joined with Israel again Iran and Syria. Russia has built stronger bonds with Syria and Iran. The Arab league, having backed the destruction of two Arab states, seems all but dead. Will the new, enhanced Axis of Resistance take its place? Professor Tim Anderson is a distinguished author and senior lecturer of political economy at the University of Sydney, Australia. Author of the 'The Dirty War on Syria', he has been largely published on various issues particularly the Syrian crisis. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Trump Rewards Big Donors with Jobs and Access



Contributors who met with Trump gave about $59 million in support of his campaign and other Republicans, averaging more than $800,000 per donor.



By Isaac Arnsdorf December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Politico " - More than a third of the almost 200 people who have met with President-elect Donald Trump since his election last month, including those interviewing for administration jobs, gave large amounts of money to support his campaign and other Republicans this election cycle.



Together the 73 donors contributed $1.7 million to Trump and groups supporting him, according to a POLITICO analysis of Federal Election Commission records, and $57.3 million to the rest of the party, averaging more than $800,000 per donor.



Donors also represent 39 percent of the 119 people Trump reportedly considered for high-level government posts, and 38 percent of those he eventually picked, according to the analysis, which counted candidates named by the transition and in news reports.



While campaign donors are often tapped to fill comfy diplomatic posts across the globe, the extent to which donors are stocking Trumps administration is unparalleled in modern presidential history, due in part to the Supreme Court decisions that loosened restrictions on campaign contributions, according to three longtime campaign experts.



The access and appointments are especially striking given Trumps regular boasting during his campaign that his personal fortune and largely self-funded presidential bid meant that he would not be beholden to big donors, as many of his rivals would. If the people who are counseling the president-elect are the donor class  who, as Trump told us, give because they want something in return, those are his words  you will not get the policies his voters were hoping for, said Trevor Potter, an election lawyer who advised John McCains 2000 and 2008 presidential campaigns and founded the Campaign Legal Center. The risk here is disillusionment by the voters who voted for change and are going to end up with a plutocracy, Potter said. A Trump transition spokesman said: "President-elect Trump has nominated successful and qualified individuals to serve in his administration to implement a pro-growth, pro-America agenda. Together, they are committed towards ending the corrupt Washington system that have failed the American people for far too long." In the primaries, Trump called Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio puppets for accepting big money. He also attacked Hillary Clinton for meeting with donors to the Clinton Foundation when she was secretary of state, even though he overstated the proportion of such meetings, and those donations went to charity, not toward putting Clinton or other Democrats in office. By self-funding my campaign, I am not controlled by my donors, special interests or lobbyists, Trump declared on Facebook in September 2015. I am only working for the people of the U.S.! At the 2015 Iowa State Fair, Trump said he was rejecting large contributions because he knew they came with strings attached. I'm turning down so much money, Trump said. But if [someone] put it up, Id feel obligated, because Im a loyal person. Later, Trump did start fundraising more actively and also taking money from some of the Republican Partys largest donors. Now several of them are joining his administration. Trump has stocked his Cabinet with six top donors  far more than any recent White House. I want people that made a fortune. Because now theyre negotiating with you, OK? Trump said, during a Dec. 9 speech in Des Moines, Iowa. The way this whole transition is going so far, we have as a general matter an unbelievable and shocking disregard for propriety and conflicts, much less the raging hypocrisy, said Norm Ornstein, a political scientist at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank. The bigger issue is the huge conflicts of interest, and the utterly brazen way Trump and the people around him [are] turning this into pay-to-play in a fashion never seen before. The biggest donor who has met with Trump since the election is Todd Ricketts, Trumps pick for deputy secretary of commerce. Ricketts hails from the family that founded TD Ameritrade, owns the Chicago Cubs and is among the Republican Partys top benefactors. They handed Republicans more than $15.7 million for 2016 and more than $26 million in previous cycles. The family also organized a super PAC called Future45 that became the largest unlimited-money group supporting Trump. Todd Ricketts personally donated $63,835 to Republicans. Trumps choice to lead the Department of Education, Betsy DeVos, and her family (heirs to auto parts and multi-level marketing fortunes) spent $10.4 million this cycle, including $445,000 to Trumps joint fundraising committee (known as Trump Victory) and one of the super PACs supporting him. She and her husband, Dick, have contributed to the campaigns of 17 senators who will vote on whether to confirm her. Linda McMahon, the wrestling magnate whom Trump named to helm the Small Business Administration, gave $6 million to a pro-Trump super PAC. She and her husband, Vince, are also the largest donors to Trumps foundation. Labor Secretary-designee Andy Puzder, CEO of the parent company of the Carls Jr. and Hardees fast food chains, and his wife gave $160,000 to Trump Victory and more than $600,000 to other Republicans this cycle. Trumps pick for treasury secretary, investor Steven Mnuchin, personally chipped in $425,000, but was arguably responsible for almost everything Trump raised as his campaigns finance chairman. Beyond the donors joining Trumps administration, two of his biggest benefactors perhaps wield more influence over the transition than any individual donors in history. Rebekah Mercer  who with her father, the hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer, spent more than $22 million backing Republicans this past cycle  is closely aligned with chief strategist Steve Bannon and special counselor Kellyanne Conway, and she has taken a crucial role picking Cabinet nominees . Robert Mercer gave $2 million to a pro-Trump super PAC. Peter Thiel, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist playing an influential role on Trumps transition team, spent almost $3.3 million this cycle, including $250,000 to Trump Victory and $1 million to a super PAC. Trump also met with former AIG CEO Maurice Hank Greenberg, who gave Republicans more than $10 million this cycle (including through his company, C.V. Starr & Co.), on Dec. 12 and with Cerberus Capital Management CEO Steve Feinberg, who gave $339,400 to Trump Victory and $1.47 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, on Nov. 16. It wasnt clear whether they were being considered for administration jobs or why they got to sit down with the president-elect. Trump has reveled in the weeks-long pageant of dignitaries parading through Trump Tower, and his aides say hes seeking out the counsel of people who are leaders in their fields. Many are not donors, including a number of public officials. Some even donated to Hillary Clinton or other Democrats. POLITICO compiled the list of meetings from the transitions daily conference calls and confirmed news reports. Donor tallies include spouses and, in the case of Ricketts and DeVos, other close relatives who participate in the families political largess. The totals also include the roughly $3.3 million that John Bolton, who was in the running for a State Department post, raised for Republicans through his PAC and super PAC, and $100,000 that Ben Carson, Trumps pick for Housing and Urban Development, transferred to Trumps campaign from his own defunct presidential fund. Its safe to say this is a departure from what we normally see in terms of Cabinet appointments, said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks money in politics. There will be a lot of debate about whether money played a disproportionate role in their nomination, but the larger question looms of what exactly are their qualifications, political patronage aside. Brent Griffiths contributed to this report. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
A Sour Holiday Season for Neocons



For the past couple of decades, the neocons have ruled the roost of American foreign policy, but they have now suffered some stunning reversals that have left them fuming



By Robert Parry December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Consortium News " - Americas extended Christmas holiday season, stretching through much of November and all of December, has not been a happy time for Official Washingtons dominant neoconservatives and their liberal-interventionist sidekicks. First, they had to lick their wounds over the defeat of their preferred U.S. presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton; then they had to watch as their moderate Syrian rebel proxies and their Al Qaeda allies were routed from east Aleppo; and finally they watched in disbelief as the Obama administration permitted passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israels illegal settlements on Palestinian lands. To say that the neocons and liberal hawks have not taken these reversals well would be an understatement. They have pretty much blamed Clintons defeat on everyone but themselves and Clinton herself. They have been apoplectic over Aleppo and their lost dream of regime change in Syria. And they have sputtered in outrage over President Obamas failure to veto the Israeli anti-settlement resolution. Regarding Clintons defeat, her embrace of the neocon/liberal-hawk regime change obsessions siphoned off enthusiasm among the peace faction of the Democratic Party, a significant and activist part of the progressive movement. Clintons alignment with the neocon/liberal hawks may have helped her with the mainstream media, but the MSM has lost much of its credibility by making itself a handmaiden in leading the nation to wars and more wars. Average Americans also could feel the contempt that these elites had for the rest of us. The neocons and liberal hawks had come to believe in the CIAs concept of perception management, feeling that the American people were items to be controlled, not the nations sovereigns to be informed and respected. Instead of We the People, Official Washingtons elites treated us like Us the Sheep. Though this perception management idea took hold during the Reagan administration  largely in reaction to the publics distrust of U.S. foreign policy following the Vietnam War  it became a bipartisan practice, extending through George W. Bushs WMD sham about Iraq and into the behavior of the Obama administration in manipulating public opinion about Syria, Libya, Ukraine and Russia, pretty much any country targeted for regime change. So, when this establishment tried to force Hillary Clintons coronation down the nations throat, enough Americans choked at the idea  even to the extent of voting for the eminently unqualified Donald Trump  to deny Clinton the White House. Indeed, many Americans who reluctantly did vote for Clinton did so only because they considered Trump even more unfit to lead the nation. The two candidates were in a fierce competition for who would arouse the most public revulsion. No Self-Reflection But the neocons and liberal hawks are not ones for self-reflection and self-criticism. They move from one disaster to the next, finding others to blame and justifying their own failures by publishing self-apologias in the editorial pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Thus, for the past several weeks, we have witnessed daily meltdowns across the mainstream media as neocons and liberal interventionists fume about all the forces that conspired to deny them their God-given right to select who runs America. The mainstream media ranted about a few incidents of fake news  concocted stories designed to get lots of clicks from Trump supporters  despite its own long history of publishing false and misleading stories. The MSM then tried to tar with that fake news broad brush serious independent Web sites that simply displayed professional skepticism toward propaganda emanating from the U.S. State Department. The smear blurred the fake news scandal with what was deemed Russian propaganda. Anyone who wouldnt march in lockstep with the State Departments messaging must be a Kremlin stooge. Mainstream media outlets even began demanding that major technology companies, such as Facebook and Google, join in establishing a modern-age Ministry of Truth for the Internet that would punish independent Web sites that didnt toe the Official Line. Then, there was the hysteria over the CIAs still-unproven claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a scheme to hack into Democratic emails and expose embarrassing facts, such as the Democratic National Committees tilting the primary playing field to favor Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders, the contents of Clintons paid speeches to her Wall Street benefactors, and pay-to-play features of the Clinton money machine. Though this information all appeared to be true  and revealed dubious or improper actions by Democratic officials and the Democratic presidential nominee  this truth-telling was also mixed in with the fake news scandal and other excuse-making for why Clinton lost. Her defeat was Putins fault. It was also FBI Director James Comeys fault for chastising Clinton for her extremely careless handling of U.S. government secrets because she insisted on using a private email server as Secretary of State. And, of course, there was the supposed over-reaction to Clinton calling many Trump supporters a basket of deplorables. In other words, the Clinton campaign appears to have been done in by various people telling the truth about a variety of unsavory aspects of Hillary Clintons behavior and decision-making. If none of these facts had come out before the election, the thinking was that Clinton would have won and the neocons/liberal hawks could have continued and even expanded their dominion over U.S. foreign policy. Yet, to me, the biggest head-scratcher about Clintons disastrous campaign was why  after she left the State Department in 2013  did she jump into the sleazy business of collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars for brief speeches to Wall Street and other special interests. Her prospective presidency was crucial to the Clinton business model of soliciting huge donations and fees from corporations and foreign governments to the Clinton Foundation and to allied consulting firms, such as the Podesta Group. These corporate and foreign leaders were pre-paying for access to the future U.S. president. However, instead of shielding Clinton from the grubby business of collecting the money herself, she was dispatched to join in the money grabbing. This greed or hubris left millions of Americans troubled by what a restoration of Clinton control of the Executive Branch might mean. Whether Trump was sincere or not, he hit a nerve when he talked about draining the swamp. Regime Change Reversals The neocons and liberal hawks also watched their regime change plans for Syria  something that has been on their agenda since the mid-1990s  collapse with this months fall of east Aleppo to Syrian government troops, backed by Russia and Iran. In the battle for Syria, the Obama administration, other Western governments and Persian Gulf states illegally armed a melange of rebels and terrorists. But the West and its allies also deployed state-of-the-art propaganda techniques in which government agencies and like-thinking private foundations invested tens of millions of dollars in training Syrian activists to use social media to rally international support. This propaganda strategy reached its apex in Aleppo, which was portrayed in Western media as a case of the Syrian government and its allies willfully slaughtering helpless children. The fact that the moderate rebels were operating under the command structure of Al Qaeda and other jihadist groups, such as Ahrar al-Sham, was almost blacked out from the Wests mainstream media coverage. The last piece of coal in the neocon/liberal-hawk stocking came last week with the U.N. Security Councils repudiation of Israels illegal settlement building on Palestinian lands. Though the Obama administration only abstained from the vote, the lack of a U.S. veto enabled the resolution to pass unanimously, 14-0. Again, the neocons erupted in fury. Rather than acknowledge that Israel had brought this condemnation on itself by its illegal actions, the neocons lashed out at Obama and the world for not taking Israels side. The neocon editors of The Washington Post decried Obamas decision as a dangerous parting shot at Israel. It will encourage Palestinians to pursue more international sanctions against Israel rather than seriously consider the concessions necessary for statehood, and it will give a boost to the international boycott and divestment movement against the Jewish state, which has become a rallying cause for anti-Zionists, the Post lamented. At the same time, it will almost certainly not stop Israeli construction in the West Bank, much less in East Jerusalem, where Jewish housing was also deemed by the resolution to be a flagrant violation under international law. Similarly, the neocon editors of the Wall Street Journal labeled Obamas abstention his Anti-Israeli Tantrum, claiming that the non-vote was simply an extension of his personal pique at adversaries, in this case toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Like virtually all neocons, the Posts and Journals editors insist that the U.S. government always stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel though that usually means that Netanyahu stands wherever he wants and U.S. officials sidle up to him. Though neocons always blame the Palestinians for not making the concessions that Israel demands  and thus holding them at fault for the moribund peace process  the reality is that the Israeli leadership has no intention of reaching a reasonable two-state solution with the Palestinians and hasnt for at least two decades. A Fig Leaf The mirage of a two-state solution has simply been a fig leaf for neocons and their liberal allies to cite as an excuse for allowing Israels steady gobbling up of Palestinian land to continue apace. The reality is that Israel is on a steady march to become a full-scale apartheid state in which Palestinians are kept as either stateless or second-class citizens indefinitely. When these facts on the ground can no longer to obfuscated or denied, then the world will have little choice but to engage in the sort of moral and economic pressure that confronted racist South Africa in the 1980s. At that point, peaceful pressure, such as boycott and divestiture, will be the most reasonable steps to convince Israel that it has veered off onto a dangerously racist course that cant be justified simply by mystical allusions to ancient biblical text. But the American neocons and their liberal-interventionist junior partners seem more committed to defending Israeli interests than American interests. So, they denounce any international criticism of Israel as anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, a smear that has for years terrified politicians and journalists in Official Washington but may now be so overused and abused that it is no longer taken seriously. The other grave danger from this neocon manipulation of America on behalf of Israeli interests is that this behavior will revive the historical evil of actual anti-Semitism, a threat that could be avoided now by convincing Israel to act like a responsible global partner, not a racist rogue state. There is some hope among hardline pro-Israeli Americans that Donald Trump will support Israel as it encroaches more and more onto Palestinian lands. But the neocons and liberal hawks recognize that Trumps America First rhetoric is implicitly critical of undertaking more regime change projects against governments on Israels enemies list. By appointing a pro-settler American lawyer, David Friedman, as ambassador to Israel, Trump also may be, in effect, giving Netanyahu encouragement to cast aside the two-state fig leaf and reveal his territorial ambitions in all their nakedness. The neocons, of course, would still find arguments to defend Israeli apartheid  wed hear about what animals the Palestinians are, much as we heard about the savagery of South Africas blacks from defenders of white supremacy  but that might finally be pushing beyond what the modern world could tolerate. Thus, 2016 is ending on a decidedly sour note for the neocons and liberal interventionists. They had high hopes that 2017 would mark the beginning of an escalated regime change adventure in Syria and the start of their mother of all regime change schemes for destabilizing nuclear-armed Russia and somehow staging a color revolution in Moscow, all while Hillary Clinton took the relationship with Israel to the next level as she promised in her speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Now, the neocons and liberal hawks find themselves on the outside looking in and one can expect their anger to be voiced at increasing decibels across the mainstream media. But whether anyone still takes them seriously is another question. Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, Americas Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon and barnesandnoble.com).  2016 Consortium News The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Netanyahu, Obama, and the United Nations By Gwynne Dyer December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Israels Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is very, very cross about last Fridays United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the creation of illegal Jewish settlements all over the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem. He called in the ambassadors of all the Western countries that voted for the resolution to tell them off: Britain, France, Spain, even New Zealand. He also had the US ambassador on the carpet, although Washington merely abstained in the Security Council vote. But, Netanyahu said, Donald Trumps incoming administration has promised to fight an all-out war against the resolution. The resolution is only words, of course, but they are words that have not found their way into any UN Security Council resolution since 1979, because the United States always used its veto to kill any resolution that contained them. Words that describe the settlements as having no legal validity and constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution. This is a restatement of a truth that was once almost universally accepted even in Israel. When Israels astonishing victory in the 1967 war put the entire remaining area that had been granted to the Palestinians by the UN partition agreement of 1948 under Israeli control, most Israelis initially saw it as an opportunity for peace. Israel now had a powerful bargaining card. If the Arabs wanted their lost territories back, they would have to sign peace treaties with Israel  and probably agree to demilitarise those territories into the bargain. To a generation of Israelis who had lived in permanent, existential fear of losing a war, that looked like a good bargain. But even then a minority of Israelis wanted to keep the conquered territories forever and repopulate them with Jewish settlers. The settler movement began slowly: 15 years after the conquest there were still only 100,000 Jews living in the occupied territories, but the number had doubled to 200,000 by 1990, and doubled again to 400,000 by 2002. It is now at least 600,000, and may be as high as 750,000. If the settler population continues to grow at the current rate, there could be as many as a million Jews in the occupied territories by 2030. At that point, the long-term prospect of a Jewish majority heaves above the horizon. And that is what the current confrontation between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is really about. Netanyahu avoids any actual peace talks with the Palestinians because a peace deal (if it could be achieved) would mean the end of the settlement project. He cant say that out loud, of course, but it is the openly expressed view of the settler leaders whose support has been essential to Netanyahus various coalition governments. This is why Netanyahu has to lie all the time, and it drives Obama crazy. In a conversation caught on an open mike in 2011, Frances then-president Nicolas Sarkozy told Obama: I can't stand him (Netanyahu). He's a liar. And Obama replied, "You're tired of him? What about me? I have to deal with him every day. But Obamas decision to abstain on the Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement policy in the Palestinian occupied territories was not just a childish last slap at Netanyahu. Obama has a fundamentally different view of what constitutes long-term security for Israel  one that he shares with most other outside observers, but a shrinking proportion of Israelis. Long-term does mean long-term. It cannot be assumed that Arab states will always be relatively poor and incompetently led, and that Israel will always be the unchallengeable military superpower of the region. So, in the view of Obama and other outsiders, Israels long-term security still depends on making a fair and lasting peace with its Arab neighbours  including the Palestinians. The settlements fatally undermine the prospects for such a deal. For a growing number of Israelis, that is irrelevant, because they have a fundamentally demonic view of the Arabs and do not believe that a lasting peace with them is possible. In which case, of course, Israel might as well grab all of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Jewish settlements are indeed illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and there is not a single government outside Israel that believes they are legitimate. But the recent Security Council resolution will have no effect on Israeli policy, nor will the state of Israel suffer grave consequences as a result. President-elect Donald Trump will stop any further such resolutions with the US veto, although he is unlikely to be able to undo this one. And we will all have to wait a long time to know whether it is the perspective of Netanyahu and Trump, or that of Obama and almost all other world leaders, that ultimately defines Israels future. Gwynne Dyer, OC is a London-based independent Canadian journalist, syndicated columnist and military historian. Did Obama Orchestrate UNSC Anti Settlement Resolution? (video) The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Russia Calls U.S. Move to Better Arm Syrian Rebels a 'Hostile Act'



By Andrew Osborn December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Reuters " - Russia said on Tuesday that a U.S. decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian rebels had opened the way for deliveries of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, a move it said would directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.



Moscow last year launched a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad and his forces retake territory lost to rebels, some of whom are supported by the United States.



Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the policy change easing restrictions on weapons supplies had been set out in a new U.S. defence spending bill and that Moscow regarded the step as a hostile act.



U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been sharply critical of Russia's intervention in Syria, signed the annual defence policy bill into law last week.



"Washington has placed its bets on supplying military aid to anti-government forces who dont differ than much from blood thirsty head choppers. Now, the possibility of supplying them with weapons, including mobile anti-aircraft complexes, has been written into this new bill," Zakharova said in a statement.



"In the administration of B. Obama they must understand that any weapons handed over will quickly end up in the hands of jihadists," she added, saying that perhaps that was what the White House was counting on happening.



The U.S. decision was a direct threat to the Russian air force, to other Russian military personnel, and to Russia's embassy in Damascus, said Zakharova.



"We therefore view the step as a hostile act.



Zakharova accused the Obama administration of trying to "put a mine" under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump by attempting to get it to continue what she called Washington's "anti-Russian line."



The Obama administration has in recent weeks expanded the list of Russians affected by U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.



Trump, during his election campaign, said he was keen to try to improve relations with Moscow and spoke positively about President Vladimir Putin's leadership skills.



A back-and-forth exchange between Trump and Putin over nuclear weapons last week tested the Republican's promises to improve relations with Russia however.



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.



"The current occupants of the White House imagined that they could pressure Russia," said Zakharova. "Let's hope that those who replace them will be wiser."



(Additional reporting by Peter Hobson in Moscow and Tom Perry in Beirut; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Erdogan Says he has Evidence US-led Coalition has Given Support to Isis





The Turkish leader made the claim while talking to reporters in Ankara



By Andrew Buncombe

December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Independent " - The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has uncovered evidence that US-led coalition forces have helped support terrorists in Syria  including Isis.

American-led forces have been working alongside Syrian rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad but have attempted to avoid helping Isis and other Islamist militant groups.

However, speaking on Tuesday in the Turkish capital, Ankara, he said he believed they had given support to a variety of militant groups, inclding Isis Kurdish outfits YPG and PYD.

They were accusing us of supporting Daesh [Islamic State], he told a press conference, according to Reuters.

Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG, PYD. It's very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos.

Mr Erdogan also said on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should join its meeting with Russia and Iran to discuss Syrian peace efforts.

Russia, Turkey and Iran, which helped broker the withdrawal of civilians and militants from the Syrian city of Aleppo, have agreed to hold talks on Syria in Kazakhstan next month.

The Associated Press said Mr Erdogan said the meeting of foreign ministers should include Saudi Arabia and Qatar, saying they had shown goodwill and given support to Syria.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are the main backers of rebels seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, who is closely allied with Moscow and Tehran.
Trump Goes All In With the Settlers By Paul R. Pillar December 27, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " National Interest " - Presidents-elect of the United States generally have hewn to the dictum that the country has only one president at a time, and that this is especially important with foreign policy. The incoming president plans, appoints, announces, and does anything else he wants to indicate what his course will be after noon on January 20th, but until then it is the incumbent president who makes and executes U.S. policy and who negotiates with and makes demarches to foreign governments. Donald Trump has been behaving differently. But even some of his previous moves during this current transition period, such as breaking with protocol on relations with Taiwan or telling the Chinese to keep the marine drone they stole, did not go as far in interfering with the execution of current policy as he now has gone regarding a United Nations Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and matters in the occupied territories. It is not only that Trump issued a statement that constituted an attempt to pressure the current administration into a course of action that would do the bidding of a foreign government. His operation met with a delegation organized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, so secretly that Israeli press that learned of the visit describes it as clandestine. Trump also, following Netanyahus lead, pressed President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt to withdraw the UN resolution that his country had introduced. Even just as a matter of procedure, this violation of the one-president-at-a-time principle ought to have provoked outrage. That it did not provoke much may be due to Trumps mastery of the art of diverting attention from a subject by quickly saying something else that is at least as likely to grab headlines. In this case the attention diverter was Trumps comment about starting a new nuclear arms race. As a matter of substance, Trumps posture toward the UN resolution should be occasion for deep dismay. Long forgotten is his promise to be a "neutral guy" in addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since he made that pledge he has come to terms with Sheldon Adelson and, through other statements and appointments, has made clear that he will be anything but neutral. In case there was any remaining doubt about that as of a couple of weeks ago, all such doubt was erased with his appointment as ambassador to Israel of bankruptcy lawyer David Friedmanwho, by his own words, including likening liberal U.S. Jews to Nazi stooges, and by his personal connections to the settler movement, is firmly opposed to peace and in favor of indefinite occupation. It would be less incredible for Friedman to become Israeli ambassador to the United States rather than the other way around, although even then he would be representing only an extreme right wing rather than the people and interests of Israel as a whole. As for the newest UN resolution, Trumps statement, echoing a familiar formulation that the Netanyahu government uses whenever the possibility of Security Council action arises, says that 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. There is absolutely nothing in the draft resolution that Egypt had introduced that precludes or impedes direct negotiations between the parties or that suggests in any way that such negotiations will not still be necessary to set the terms of any final peace agreement. Far from imposing terms, the resolution declares the need to get beyond the obstacles that are preventing effective direct negotiations from taking place and being able to achieve a two-state solution that will be a lasting basis for peace between Israelis and Arabs. That the resolution specifically mentions Israeli settlements in occupied territory simply reflects how this unilateral altering of facts on the ground has been steadily closing the negotiation space and making it ever more difficult for direct negotiations to set the terms of peace and arrive at a solution with two viable and secure states. That the resolution declares the colonization through settlements to be a flagrant violation of international law simply restates long-established principles of international law regarding the responsibilities of an occupying power in territory conquered through military force. The draft resolution was comprehensive in identifying the obstacles to effective direct negotiations. Its not just the settlements, and its not just what Israel is doing. The resolution calls for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, calls for accountability in this regard, and calls for compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism. The resolution further calls upon both parties  to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric. In light of all the above, Trumps statement that the resolution is extremely unfair to all Israelis is baseless. Anyone with a concern for Israels security and well-being should be aware that the continued colonization of the West Bank through expansion of settlements does not correlate positively with such security and well-being. To the contrary, it detracts from Israeli security. It involves an added burden on the Israel Defense Forces, and it is the most visible part of an occupation that is by far the biggest stimulus and support for those intending to do Israel harm. Anyone concerned with U.S. interests should be aware that the United States has no positive interest in the settlements or in the religious or local economic motivations that have stimulated their growth. For the United States, it is all negative, in terms of instability, prospects for violence, the stimulation of extremism, and the United States being resented and targeted because of its role in permitting the settlement enterprise. The combined pressure from Netanyahu and Trump got al-Sisi to withdraw the resolution. It is appropriate for Egypt to play a leadership role in trying to improve the conditions for negotiation of an Israeli-Palestinian peace, for historical reasons dating back to the Camp David Accords of 1978. The peace treaty with Egypt that Israel sought was only one-half of the bargain struck at Camp David. The other half was supposed to be progress toward a peace covering the Palestinian territories. Anwar Sadat has been revolving in his grave over how, nearly four decades later, what process there has been has failed to yield an end to the occupation. The case for the current resolution remains strong. Four other members of the Security CouncilNew Zealand, Malaysia, Senegal, and Venezuelapressed ahead with the resolution even when a bullied Egypt backed off. The Obama administration deserves commendation for allowing the resolution to pass when it finally came to a vote on Friday. A positive vote in support would have been even better, rather than the United States once again being in a lonely position on UN measures involving Israel. In this case the United States was the only one of the fifteen Security Council members that did not vote in favor of the resolution. The Republican members of Congress who now are denouncing the administration even for abstaining should be made to point to words in the resolution itself and explain exactly what they allege is wrong with it. Otherwise they are just blindly following the lead of an Israeli government that will perpetuate the occupation, and the negative consequences that flow from it, forever. Trump did not have to interfere with the incumbent administrations diplomacy. It would give him more options to let the incumbents take the domestic political heat for breaking the pattern of repeated occupation-covering U.S. vetoes at the Security Council. Even if Trump is determined to stay in bed with the settlers and the Israeli right-wing, he could still assume such a posture starting on January 20th, however mistaken such a posture is. Perhaps Trumps abandonment of his neutral guy moment is another instance of his gravitating to wherever he hears the loudest applause, with that applause coming in this instance from the lobby that would scream the loudest if he were to move in a different direction. Perhaps it is an instance of his being swayed by whoever in his inner circle has most had Trumps ear recently and been motivated to use that access to press special interests. That inner circle member can be the lawyer who helped him through bankruptcies in Atlantic City. Or it could be Trump's son-in-law, whom Trump has talked about as a Middle East envoy, who, like the lawyer, has personal ties to West Bank settlements, and who reportedly wrote, along with Stephen Bannon, the statement denouncing the resolution. Either way, this is a poor way to make U.S. foreign policy. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Information Clearing House editorial policy.
Chemistry and physical attraction may have brought you and your partner together, but you need more than a spark to maintain a happy, lasting relationship.With that in mind, we asked marriage therapists to share the one quality they believe couples need to develop in order to stay together for the long haul. Heres what they had to say.

1. Compassion

You have to be able to put yourself in your partners shoes. Compassion toward your partner allows him or her to feel respected, appreciated and cared for and it fuels the connection, intimacy and partnership. Think of it as the essential food that every healthy relationship needs.  Carin Goldstein, a marriage and family therapist in Sherman Oaks, California

2. Compromise

So many couples believe that a lack of problems, or the ability to anticipate and avoid them, is a key to a happy relationship. But in my experience, its not so much about avoiding problems so much as it is about being able to solve them together. Problems are always going to happen, just as life does. Knowing you can face them together keeps a relationship strong and healthy.  Alicia H. Clark, a psychologist in Washington, D.C.

3. A sense of humor

The strongest couples Ive met have the capacity to laugh at themselves. When a partner can laugh about their own messiness or their wish to have the table set in a certain way, they can communicate what they want without turning their partner into the enemy. Laughing at ourselves instead of judging makes the journey entertaining instead of a constant battle.  Ryan Howes, a psychologist in Pasadena, California

4. Trust

As a specialist in infidelity, I can tell you that trust is the most important thing in a marriage. It takes years to build and a second to break. But its more than just sexual fidelity. A spouse is trusted with so much: fears, vulnerabilities, painful wounds from childhood. In a good marriage, a spouse discloses these innermost thoughts and trusts that it wont be used against them in future arguments.  Caroline Madden, a marriage therapist and the author of After A Good Man Cheats: How to Rebuild Trust & Intimacy with Your Wife

5. Positivity

We all need to be praised and appreciated but we so often get the opposite  criticism  even from our partner. Positivity is needed in relationships, especially ones that have grown past the honeymoon stage. Whether its a simple thank you or I love you or a specific compliment for something done, we all need to hear it. When we praise our partner we strengthen our connection, bond and love.  KurtSmith, a therapist who specializes in counseling for men

6. Intimacy

Sexual and emotional intimacy is the bright shiny star of relationships. Intimacy is the difference between your relationship with your barista and your relationship with your spouse. You build intimacy over time. Intimacy is the feeling of belonging and being loved. Its the feeling of being known and understood. Its the feeling of being accepted and appreciated. If you have ever experienced or heard someone describe their relationship as hollow or empty, its probably because its lacking intimacy.  Laura Heck, a marriage and family therapist in Salt Lake City, Utah

7. Mutual respect

Life tends to throw some unexpected curveballs along the course of a relationship. The one quality that consistently helps couples through adversity or tragedy is mutual respect. Self-esteem is essential to feel secure and satisfied with yourself so it makes sense that a high esteem and respect for your partner is an essential ingredient in a lasting relationship, both in joyous and challenging times.  Elisabeth J. LaMotte, a psychotherapist and founder of the DC Counseling and Psychotherapy Center

8. Presence

Being present is more than just putting down your devices and paying attention  its showing that youre deeply interested in the inner life of your partner and want to make their world better in any way you can. Being present means freely giving your partner the gift of your full focus and being there for them in a way thats deeper than just being physically present. It means seeing things from their point of view and not just your own.  Debra Campbell, a psychologist and couples therapist in Melbourne, Australia

9. Love

You need to love, honor and cherish one another. These vows are what keep people together happily over the long term. Heres a brief rundown on what each mean: To love means you demonstrate your love. Love is a verb  an action word. There is no other way to show your spouse you love them except through action. We love through physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service and gifts. To honor is to respect the one you love. You approach them in conversation in a way that shows you want the best for them and dont want to harm them. To cherish means to show your S.O. how much you value them. You treat them as the special person they are  your one and only.  Becky Whetstone, a marriage family therapist in Little Rock, Arkansas

10. Understanding

Theres no problem you cant resolve when youre listening to each other and acting like a team. Create regular times during the week when you can talk uninterrupted and dont let a week go by without a date night. Keep listening and understanding each other. Every ounce of listening effort will pay off tenfold.  M.Gary Neuman, a psychotherapist based in Miami Beach, Florida

11. Friendship

Couples who are good friends know each other well, give each other the benefit of the doubt and are fond of one another. When you take the time to strengthen your friendship, youre more successful long-term. Making friendship a priority will help you weather any storm that comes your way.
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulraheed Akanbi, has insisted that he will not appear before a Magistrates Court in Osogbo, Osun State.

The court had on Tuesday last week, issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his alleged involvement in Internet fraud, known as Yahoo Yahoo.

The Magistrate court, presided over by Mr. Olusola Aluko, had, on December 20, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the traditional ruler for refusing to appear in court in a case instituted against him by the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye.

Oba Akanbi said he was not a fraudster and would not appear before Aluko, alleging that the case had been compromised.

He told Punch that, It is a shame on the judiciary to have such magistrate. There is no indictment; no case at all; somebody just brought a worthless paper before you. It is a civil case and you are relying on that to issue a warrant of arrest.

I am not a criminal. Some people want to tarnish my name and they cooked up a lie that I am into Yahoo Yahoo. I am not. Can one be a monarch and still be doing Yahoo Yahoo? What do I need that for?

The police commissioner is being represented in court, this is a civil matter; I was also represented in court by some traditional rulers and about five lawyers. Why didnt he issue a bench warrant against the CP, who is the respondent in the case or was the CP present in court?

All he just wants is to tarnish my name. That means it has a political undertone.

The monarch claimed that his achievements within a year of m the throne had made some people including some monarch uncomfortable.

Source: Dailypost
The Operation Python Dance inaugurated by the Nigerian Army in the south-east Geo-political zone to curb crime in the area during the yuletide will end on December 27.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa, made the disclosure in a telephone interview on Monday.

The operation was launched to span from November 27 to December 27.

The Exercise will end on December 27, as earlier indicated.

However, troops will still be massively around in the whole of South-East to continue with patrols, road blocks and check points.

Nigerias South-East has not recorded incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and associated violence as well as inter-communal, herdsmen-farmers clashes during this Yuletide due to the on-going military exercise in the region tagged Operation Python Dance.

These menaces are and have been the focus and targets of this exercise which has so far been successful, Mr. Musa said.

The army spokesman said that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Adamu Abubakar, visited Awka, Agulu, Nnobi, Ihiala and Okija communities in Anambra State on December 25 to assess the conduct of troops.

He said the GOC was also at the Niger Bridge to assess the state of security and vehicular movements.

It would be recalled that traffic gridlock has for many years, especially during the yuletide, been endemic on the Niger Bridge at both Asaba and Onitsha axis inflicting suffering and other inconveniences on road users.

Hence, part of the target for the exercise is to check the usual gridlock, chaos and insecurity on the Bridge. This objective has so far been achieved.

Since the start of Exercise Python Dance, there has not been any case of gridlock and associated insecurity on the Asaba-Onitsha Bridge.

The orderliness, the disposition of combined security personnel and the manner the general public conducted themselves, especially the road users is commendable, he emphasised.

Mr. Musa urged members of the public to remain security conscious and to report any suspicious movements and persons to security agencies nearest to them.

d blocks and check points.

Nigerias South-East has not recorded incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and associated violence as well as inter-communal, herdsmen-farmers clashes during this Yuletide due to the on-going military exercise in the region tagged Operation Python Dance.

These menaces are and have been the focus and targets of this exercise which has so far been successful, Mr. Musa said.

The army spokesman said that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Adamu Abubakar, visited Awka, Agulu, Nnobi, Ihiala and Okija communities in Anambra State on December 25 to assess the conduct of troops.
Following a statement made by US President Barack Obama on Monday that he would have defeated president-elect Donald Trump if he ran in the elections for a third term, the latter has hit back saying there was no way that could have happened.

Trump tweeted hours after Obamas statement: President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY!  jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY!  jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

In the November 8 presidential election, the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, who was backed by almost the entire mainstream American media, suffered a crushing defeat by Trump, despite the fact that the Republican nominees campaign had been hit with many controversies since its inception in early 2015.

Electoral College members across the US cast their ballots to affirm Trumps victory last week. Trump needed 270 electoral votes to win the White House, but he received a total of 304. Clinton, however, secured nearly 3 million more votes than Trump in the final popular vote tally.
The Federal Government said it has uncovered not more than 50,000 ghost workers receiving salaries and other benefits illegally.

Garba Shehu, the media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari made this disclosure in Abuja on Tuesday as he added that 11 persons believed to be members of a syndicate responsible for the presence of the ghost workers had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, this year.

According to him, the suspects are already undergoing trial.

While explaining how the success was being recorded, Shehu explained that the Efficiency Unit of the Ministry of Finance created by the presidency made it possible and it has been saving the nation N13bn monthly since February.

The flagship programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course, Shehu said.

Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.

When the committee was constituted in February 2016, Federal Governments monthly salary bill was N151bn excluding pensions.

Now, the monthly salary warrant is N138bn, excluding pensions. Which means that the government is making a monthly saving of about N13bn. That is from February 2016 to date.

The Spokesperson to the President added that the pension bill which was N15.5bn monthly as of February has now been reduced to N14.4bn.
The Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has suspended a director at the State Ministry of Finance and nine others in the Ministry for Local Government over their alleged involvement in the diversion of state funds.

According to reports, the 9 LG employees under the platform of REMITA, as well as four employees of the Kano State Pension Funds Trustee and two top members of Kano Pension Union to Police authorities have also been handed over to anti-corruption commission for investigation.

The workers handed over to the state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation, have been accused of connivance to siphon public funds.

In a statement from the office of the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammed Naiya, the preliminary investigation by a special committee indicted the affected officers.

It was also reported that Ganduje had warned that any violation of due process, contravening the governments quest against corruption would not go unpunished while assuring that his administration would deploy the necessary machinery to recover all diverted funds.
President Barack Obama is in the headlines today after asserting that if he had run for a third term, he would have won. His comments came in an interview with former senior adviser David Axelrod for the The Axe Files podcast, produced by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN.

I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it,

I know that in conversations that Ive had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say the vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one, Obama said in the interview, which aired Monday.

In the wake of the election and Trump winning, a lot of people have suggested that somehow, it really was a fantasy, Obama said of the hope-and-change vision he heralded in 2008. What I would argue is, is that the culture actually did shift, that the majority does buy into the notion of a one America that is tolerant and diverse and open and full of energy and dynamism.

President Obama and many Democratic Party bigwigs have seemed to have a hard time coming to terms with Donald Trumps victory at the Presidential elections after he defeated Hillary Clinton.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma and an employee of Access Bank, Rumuolumeni Branch, Samuel Ndudiri, who attempted to rob the bank.

The policeman and the bank worker were said to have been apprehended after an investigation by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team with assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police.

According to an online statement, which was confirmed by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, the suspects, were arrested at about 11:35am on Friday.

The two suspects were identified as members of a criminal gang.

Some operatives of the command on Thursday foiled what would have been a major bank robbery in the state and arrested three suspects.

The three suspects and others on the run had brought a gas cylinder to the Access Bank premises in Rumuolumeni and had engaged in cutting the main door into the bank when security operatives stormed the place.

However, some members of the gang, including a police corporal, Gabriel Igwe, of the 19 Police Mobile Force, are currently on the run.

Two AK 47 rifles belonging to the serving policemen were recovered during Fridays operation.

Ndudiri, the Access Bank employee, was said to have masterminded the attempted robbery of the bank with the assistance of the police sergeant, who is from the Department of Operations, Port Harcourt.

Arrest of a serving police sergeant and bank official involved in a bank robbery and recovery of two AK47 rifles belonging to serving policemen on 23/12/2016 at about 11:35am.

Sequel to the arrest and handing over of three suspects involved in the Access Bank, Eagle Cement Rumuolumeni branch robbery, to the Intelligence Response Team by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, for discreet investigation, IRT Operatives immediately commenced investigation and with technical assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit, two key members of the gang were arrested.

Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma of DOPS Port Harcourt and Mr. Samuel Ndudiri m, 38 years, an official of Access Bank, Eagle Cement (Rumuolumeni) branch, who masterminded the robbery, were both arrested in Port Harcourt.

Exhibits recovered were two AK47 riffles with breach Nos. 523513 / 21173 and two AK47 rifle magazines fully loaded. One Corporal Igwe Gabriel of 19PMF attached to RRT DOPS, now at large, is the owner of the second rifle with S/No. 21173, the statement read.

Igwe, according to the statement, left the rifle at his beat and fled when he got information that his gang member, Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma, had been arrested.

The arrested suspects were said to have confessed to the crime even as the police maintained that efforts were in top gear to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members of the gang.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrest of the police sergeant and the Access Bank worker, but insisted that he would not make further comment until he got approval to do so.

I can confirm to you that the IGP Intelligence Response Team arrested the sergeant and the bank worker, but I cannot say anything further until we get an official approval to do so, Omoni stressed.

Source: Punch
RFD-TV Interview: Grain and Livestock Markets Blue Line Futures - 1 hour ago What's on the radar for grain and livestock markets to round out the week?

Cotton Bounce Continued through Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Front month cotton futures ended with another triple digit bounce on the day. December closed at the allotted 4c limit, while the other nearbys were 138 to 353 point gains. Census data reported 703,536... CTZ22 : 83.06 (+0.07%) CTH23 : 81.37 (-0.97%) CTK23 : 81.20 (-0.98%)

Red Thursday for Wheat Market Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT The nearby wheat market ended with mixed but mostly lower. SRW prices gave back 3 to 5 1/2 cents on the day. December stayed at a net 11 1/4 cent gain wk/wk so far. KC wheat held firmer with December up... ZWZ22 : 839-0 (-0.18%) ZWH23 : 858-4 (-0.15%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7263 (-0.65%) KEZ22 : 940-2 (-0.11%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9929 (+0.14%) MWZ22 : 943-2 (unch)

Hog Market Fades on Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Lean hog futures held onto minimal gains in the December contract on Thursday, while the other nearby contracts dropped by 2 to 20 cents. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price was $3.36 weaker in the... HEZ22 : 83.375s (+0.09%) HEJ23 : 92.550s (-0.11%) KMZ22 : 94.000s (+0.16%)

Weak Thursday for Cattle Market Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Front month fat cattle futures ended the session mixed with a 55 cent gain in Dec and a 5 cent gain in the August 23 contract. The other nearby futures fell by 2 to 20 cents on a mixed / mostly weaker... LEZ22 : 151.950s (+0.36%) LEG23 : 154.875s (-0.02%) LEJ23 : 158.300s (-0.13%) GFX22 : 178.000s (-0.52%) GFF23 : 179.425s (-0.32%)

Corn Faded on Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Thursday action in the corn market left futures 2 3/4 to 8 1/4 cents lower. For December contracts that was the lowest close since 10/19. IHS Markit expects the national U.S. corn yield at 172.9 bpa,... ZCZ22 : 678-6 (unch) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7556 (-1.15%) ZCH23 : 684-4 (unch) ZCK23 : 684-2 (unch)
European public television networks are facing a double challenge: financial sustainability and adaptation to the digital ecosystem. Every country has its own model, and while the Spanish version is not the most expensive, it has faced the most severe funding cuts. A study headed up by the University of Santiago de Compostela has revealed that the cost of the public audiovisual service  both on a state and regional level  is below the European Union average. Public network RTVE and its regional equivalents cost 38.90 per inhabitant, compared to the EU average of 66.90.

Radio Television Espanola (RTVE) offices in Barcelona. Albert Garcia

In terms of the cost per household, or if state television funding is measured according to GDP, RTVE lags behind its EU counterparts. Households in the rest of Europe pay an average of 156.20 a year for public television, compared to 98.80 in Spain, and which is paid for indirectly through taxes. The average cost of public audiovisual services in the EU is 2.40 for every 1,000 of GDP, while in Spain that figure is as low as 1.70.

The study, supported by other Spanish universities, also analyzed the impact of the economic crisis on the sector. Spain, it concluded, has come out worst from the recent years of recession.

Public television in Spain lost 35.5% of their budgets between 2010 and 2014

There is a clear disadvantage, explains Santiago Negrin, the general director of the Canary Islands public broadcaster and president of the Federation of Organisms of Regional Radio and Television (FORTA), which groups together 11 regional corporations. The cuts have had a very particular effect on television, he adds. In general, the audiovisual and cultural world have always suffered.

The figures back up his claim. Taken together, public television networks in Spain have lost 35.5% of their budgets between 2010 and 2014. The cuts have also had a large impact in Cyprus, Portugal, Poland and Ireland, although the biggest victim has been Greece. The government of Alexis Tsipras closed the public television system in 2013 as a cost-saving exercise, although it began broadcasting again two years later.

In Spain, the crisis saw the closure of many regional channels, as well as far-reaching budget and staff cuts. Valencias regional Canal 9 channel stopped broadcasting at the end of 2013, while Telemadrid implemented a layoff plan  known in Spanish as an ERE  that affected two-thirds of its workforce. The sector has suffered, but it has managed to hang on, Negrin explains.

Spanish regional channels have seen budget cuts of 19%

One of the effects of the cuts has been declining viewing figures. It has been shown that the audience of public television depends directly on the level of financing, explains Enrique Laucirica, the general secretary of FORTA. And he confirms that in the Nordic countries and the east of Europe, where these channels are better structured, they are leaders. In the south of Europe, where the financing model is more unstable, the crisis has had a greater influence and the audience has suffered, he adds.

During the period 2010-2014, Spains regional channels have seen budget cuts of 19%, while in other equivalent neighboring models, financing has increased. In Germany, for example, regional channel funding rose by 8.5% during that period, while non-state Belgian channels grew 3.5%, according to the same study.

Negrin accuses politicians of ignoring public television channels. If they take away their financing, they are taking away the identity of these territories, he argues. Some of these networks have been accused of marginalizing their mission as a public service and acting in the interests of the regional party in power at the time. Politics lives among us and also in the private media, says Negrin, who insists that there is no media that is more subject to controls, whether it be by the unions, newsroom committees or parliamentary bodies.

To comply with their public service objectives, the FORTA channels call on their respective parliaments to introduce stable financing plans, clarify the impact of a second so-called digital dividend and establish guidelines so that all state-run channels are guaranteed a presence on paid-for platforms. They also call for measures that would avoid the restriction of competition in the advertising market in the face of the dominance of Mediaset (Telecinco, Cuatro, Factoria de Ficcion, Boing, Divinity and Energy) and Atresmedia (Antena 3, La Sexta, Neox, Nova, Mega, Atreseries), which act in Spain as a de facto duopoly.

English version by Simon Hunter.
By Carlos Lutteroth

There are a seemingly infinite number of articles on the Internet about digital marketing, social media marketing and all the ways small business owners can showcase their products and services online. But just because were living in the Digital Age doesnt mean traditional marketing strategies are extinct. In fact, word-of-mouth marketing is the most effective form of advertising, according to Forbes magazine. In addition, Nielsen reports that 92 percent of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over all other types of advertising.

As the owner of a self-storage business, you can generate legitimate buzz about your business by reaching out to prospective customers in the real world in addition to your digital-marketing strategy. Lets take a look at seven of the best non-digital ways to market your facility.

1. Send Postcard Mailers to Previous Customers

Every small business owner will tell you its important to keep in touch with previous and existing customers. You can send them tips on how to optimize their stay at your storage facility, alert them about upcoming discounts and giveaways, or treat them to special coupons. Its much easier to ignore an e-mail newsletter than a physical postcard received via traditional mail. It doesnt cost a lot to send out hundreds or even thousands of postcards to the people who matter mostyour customers.

2. Establish Relationships With Local Partners

It takes a village to grow a successful business. Your community is filled with people in storage-related industries who can help take your business to new heights. Reach out to some local real estate agents, moving companies or anyone in your neighborhood who might know of someone who needs access to additional storage space. You can return the favor by referring your customers to other moving-related businesses in the area.

3. Advertise on Your Own Real Estate

Never underestimate the power of good signage. If your self-storage facility is close to a major intersection or busy highway, you can reach thousands of new customers by using your own real estate. Invest in a few colorful, attractive signs as a way of advertising the wealth of storage options your facility offers. Youd be surprised how many people pass by your facility every day without realizing what your business is all about.

4. Host a Local Art Show

Take advertising on your own facility a huge step further. If you have vacant units, large open hallways or giant empty walls, why not put that space to good use and host a community art show? Local artists are always looking for a place to exhibit their work. You can make valuable connections and gain some free press in the process. This also creates an opportunity to draw potential tenants to your property who might otherwise never step foot on site.

5. Set Up a Referral Program

The most valuable asset you have in your advertising arsenal is the community youve already created. If you offer stellar customer service with a number of top-of-the-line storage options, your customers can and will reward you. Give them another reason to refer your facility to their friends, family and co-workers by setting up a referral program. You can give your existing tenants a slight discount every time they refer someone new to your business. Its the gift that keeps on giving.

6. Participate in Industry Events

The self-storage industry is always evolving. You can become a more active member of the community by attending national and local storage events, such as conferences and tradeshows. Stop by a local real estate summit to connect with agents in your neighborhood. Learn about the latest marketing techniques at one of the many industry events hosted by your state self-storage association. Become a notable player in the industry and make valuable connections that last a lifetime.

7. Give Back to the Community

Floods, fires and other natural disasters can occur anywhere and at any time, and assisting those in need has to be the most feel-good marketing activity. Making a donation to your local food bank, a homeless shelter or another charitable organization is a great way to give your business some prominence in the community.

Providing flood victims boxes in which to pack their belongings is an easy start. Honestly, giving away free stuff is the easiest, cheapest type of promotion you can do for your business. Try it; its fun. Besides, this is a strategy that can give a staff member the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process who might not otherwise act in such a role. Show your customers that you care about the local community and give back to those who need it most.

There are many ways to advertise your self-storage facility beyond the usual digital-marketing tactics. In-person events, referral programs and outdoor signage can be much more effective than a simple Facebook post. Expand your marketing reach and harness the power of non-digital advertising.

A self-storage industry veteran, Carlos Lutteroth is a writer, thinker and business professional who seeks new, creative and recycled ways to connect businesses with customers. At The East Lake Self Storage in Chula Vista, Calif., Carlos finds ways to promote the business while doing good in the community. The facility is committed to empowering youth, civic and cultural institutions through numerous sponsorships. For more information, visit www.theeastlakeselfstorage.com.
Looking back on 2016, Kent Chaplin , Lloyds of London head of Asia Pacific, feels excited about the partnership, announced in May, between Lloyds and the Pan Asia Insurance and Risk Management Association (PARIMA).We are very proud that weve entered into an agreement with PARIMA as their platinum partner, in particular to deliver a professional development program, Chaplin told. That program is to foster the continued education and professional development of risk managers. Its the first of its kind in Asia.Chaplin discusses the great success Lloyds has had in India and Malaysia.We submitted our application to open Lloyds first ever onshore reinsurance branch in India All things being equal, we hope to achieve our licence this year.We also applied for an onshore reinsurance licence in Malaysia, he added. Thatll be our first onshore licence in Malaysia and will give us direct access to the insurance market in Malaysia, to allow us to bring complementary capacity and expertise into that market, specifically to write larger and more complex risks where there isnt local expertise and capacity.He talks about the very dynamic regulatory landscape in Asia, where regulators across the region are at vastly different stages of evolution, in terms of regulation and legislation.Chaplin is also keeping a close eye on the ASEAN free-trade initiative, which he says has made good progress in the manufacturing and trade sectors.The ASEAN Insurance Council has put in place positive measures for liberalising the natural catastrophe sector, he said. Were looking to work very closely with that. Were very supportive of the efforts theyre making and we look forward to seeing the benefits of that free trade when its completed.
A school transit company with a $2.4 million contract to provide rides to special needs students in a Pittsburgh-area charter school network has been charged with failing to properly insure some vehicles and hiring drivers with criminal records by ignoring state-mandated background checks.

Martin Betchy, 35, didnt immediately return a call for comment after the state attorney general announced the charges Wednesday against Betchy and his company, Three Rivers Transit LLC, in McKeesport. Betchys home phone was disconnected.

Betchy is scheduled to surrender for arraignment Thursday on charges including deceptive business practices, theft by deception, insurance fraud and child endangerment, the attorney general said.

Betchys company had the contract with Propel Schools since January 2012. Kelly Wall, a spokeswoman for the schools, said the contract has been terminated.

Only 55 of Propels 3,700 students with specialized transportation needs  which Wall would not detail  got rides from the McKeesport company. Propel has temporary transit in place for those students and expects to have a new transit company under contract Jan. 4, after school resumes following the holiday break, Wall said.

According to a criminal complaint, some Three Rivers Transit vehicles were insured with personal policies, not commercial policies, which meant passengers got stuck paying bills if they were injured in crashes. The lack of background checks allegedly led to drivers having criminal records and, sometimes, invalid drivers licenses, state investigators charged.

Attorney General Bruce Beemer stressed that the investigation is ongoing.

A 9-year-old child suffered a concussion when one of Betchys drivers caused a multi-vehicle crash in January 2015. The childs mother wound up having to file a claim with her auto insurance to cover the childs medical expenses, because the transit vehicle wasnt properly insured, investigators said.

Betchys drivers included one with a record for robbery and aggravated assault, and another for identity theft and burglary, according to the complaint. Beemer said many drivers had arrest records for drug possession or driving under the influence, leaving them without valid drivers licenses.

Propel Schools is not the focus of the investigation and cannot comment further due to the ongoing legal process, Wall said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud Pennsylvania
Israeli courts could demand that companies such as Facebook Inc. remove content deemed as incitement, under a bill that that will head for parliamentary approval amid concerns about free speech.

The law would give Israel the tools to have content liable to lead to murder and terror removed immediately, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said via text message after an Israeli ministerial committee approved the bill Sunday.

Erdan and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked have continued pushing the bill even after Facebook agreed in a September meeting to create joint teams to deal with Internet incitement. Israels Cabinet said Sunday it would discuss even tougher measures against violent content on the web, without indicating what those measures might be.

The Internet giants arent ignoring the problem: Facebook, Microsoft Corp., Twitter Inc. and YouTube said earlier this month they were creating a shared database to help enforce policies against online terrorist content. After the September meeting in Israel, Facebook said it has zero tolerance for terrorism.

Limiting Speech?

In an e-mailed statement Sunday, Facebook said it works aggressively to remove problematic content as soon as we become aware of it. The company said it hopes to continue a constructive dialogue with Israel that includes careful consideration of the implications of this bill for Israeli democracy, freedom of speech, the open Internet and the dynamism of the Israeli Internet sector.

Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, head of the Israel Democracy Institutes Center for Democratic Values and Institutions, called the bill an assault on freedom of expression on an international scale. Compared to similar legislation in other countries, the Israeli bill would hold content providers like Facebook and Google parent Alphabet Inc. to a much higher level of responsibility, Shwartz Altshuler said in an e-mailed statement.

The Facebook Bill needs to be substantially revised, she said.

After attackers opened fire at a social services center in San Bernardino, California in July, killing 14 people and wounding 22, U.S. President Barack Obama asked Silicon Valley firms to work with law enforcement to prevent terrorists from using social media and encryption technologies to encourage violence.

Influencing Attackers

Shaked noted that some 71 percent of 1,755 complaints about incitement filed to Internet companies this year were addressed immediately. Still, while she welcomed the Internet companies cooperation, it is important that it be obligatory and not on a whim, she said in an e-mailed statement.

Many Palestinians arrested this year after attacking Israelis said they had been influenced by content on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other online platforms, Erdan and Shaked said in September.

Lawyers filed a $1 billion lawsuit against Facebook in July, alleging it allowed the Palestinian militant group Hamas to use its platform to plot attacks that killed four Americans. That same month, Erdan accused Facebook of complicity in Palestinian violence, saying the blood of a 13-year-old Israeli girl stabbed to death in her bed was partially on Facebooks hands.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters
Employers in Missouri should see a continued decrease in workers compensation insurance costs.

The Missouri Department of Insurance is recommending a 4.6 percent decrease in workers comp insurance loss costs for 2017. This would mark the third year in a row of decreases in costs for businesses, with rates going down 9.8 percent over that time.

Of Missouris 337 active workers comp insurers, 225 insurers filed rate decreases in 2016 with an average decrease of 2.9 percent, according to the department.

Prospective loss costs are intended to cover indemnity and medical payments for injured workers and some of the expenses associated with providing these benefits. Insurers use loss costs to set their workers comp rates.

Topics Workers' Compensation Missouri
The nations coal mines are headed for another record low year in workplace deaths, and the outgoing federal mine safety chief said hes hopeful that mining companies will work with the incoming Trump administration to continue that progress.

Joe Main as head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration has presided over some of the safest years in coal mining history while enacting tighter rules on breathable dust underground. His seven-year term also has seen an industry decline, with several major corporations filing bankruptcy and coal mine closings throughout Appalachia.

So far in 2016, there have been nine fatalities at the nations coal mines, which would be a record low, improving on a record 12 fatalities last year and 16 in 2014.

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week, Main expressed some concerns regarding miner safety heading into the next administration, which promises to boost coal production.

Anybody that sits in this chair has to think about every decision they make, how is this going to impact the miners out there, Main said. And if you start from that equation and try to factor anything out on behalf of miners and their safety  youre apt to make mistakes out there thats going to be adverse to miner safety.

Main, an assistant secretary in the Labor Department, warned against loosening new dust rules, which reduced the amount of allowable coal dust in mines as a method to curbing black lung disease. The rule also mandated personal air monitors for each miner.

I think you have to look a lot of miners in the eye if you start messing with that in any way, and explain to them why youre taking these protections away, Main said, pointing out that about 76,000 miners have died of black lung disease.  You can start slipping back to that again.

Some mine operators and the National Mining Association, an industry advocacy group, unsuccessfully sued to block the tighter dust regulations.

The National Mining Association has argued throughout Mains tenure that the government should do more than enact new regulations and conduct inspections as a means to improving safety.

If focusing on only these two aspects would get us to zero fatalities and accidents we should have accomplished these goals long before today, said Bruce Watzman, who handles public policy for The National Mining Association, an industry group.

Our hope is that the next assistant secretary (of the Labor Department) will look beyond the regulations to drive continued improvement, Watzman said in an email message.

Main declined to comment on President-elect Donald Trumps choice for Labor Secretary, fast food restaurant CEO Joseph Puzder, who will oversee the mine safety agency.

Along with the dust rule, Main also oversaw increased aggressive inspections after the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining disaster in West Virginia that killed 29 workers. The agency said citations issued for the most serious mine violations have declined from 19,431 in 2010 to 8,981 so far in 2016, a drop of about 54 percent.

Mains last day in office is January 20.

Related

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Legislation Mining
Halliburton Co. on Friday said it had reached a $100 million settlement to resolve a long-running securities fraud class action lawsuit against the oilfield services provider that twice reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

The deal resolves a lawsuit in federal court in Dallas accusing Halliburton of misrepresenting its potential liability in asbestos litigation, its expected revenue from certain construction contracts and the benefits of a merger in 1998.

Halliburton said the company itself would pay $54 million of the $100 million settlement, while its insurer would fund the rest. The deal, which would be subject to court approval, has no admission of liability, Halliburton said.

David Boies, a lawyer for the lead plaintiff Erica P. John Fund Inc., in a statement welcomed the deal, which he said was a significant monetary recovery for the class members in this hard fought, securities fraud class action.

The litigation has been pending for the Houston-based company since 2002, and came after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched a probe of Halliburtons accounting for revenue on long-term construction projects.

Halliburton, whose chief executive during the period in question was former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, settled that SEC case in 2004 for $7.5 million, but the class action litigation lived on for years to follow.

The class action lawsuit accused Halliburton of misleading investors by understating asbestos liabilities, overstating construction and engineering revenue and inflating the benefits of a merger with Dresser Industries.

The case twice reached the U.S. Supreme Court, most recently resulting in a ruling in 2014 that made it harder for investors to band together to pursue securities fraud lawsuits against publicly traded companies.

In July 2015, U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn certified the class of investors, but allowed them to pursue claims related to just one of six dates they said Halliburton made disclosures that corrected misleading statements.

Halliburton subsequently appealed that ruling, and had been awaiting a decision prior to announcing Fridays agreement in principle to settle the case.

The case is Erica P John Fund Inc. et al v. Halliburton Company et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, No. 02-cv-01152.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Chris Reese and Andrew Hay)

Related:

Topics Lawsuits USA Fraud
Beecher Carlson Insurance Services, LLC, a specialized large account insurance broker, has promoted Erin Lynch to president of its Global Energy Practice. Lynch will lead the production and service teams that specialize in risk financing for power generation clients.

Beecher Carlson has also promoted energy team members Geraldine Kerrigan and Andrea Ash. Kerrigan is now executive managing director for client and brokerage services. Kerrigan will lead a team comprised of the practices brokers and account executives.

Ash will serve as managing director/chief operating officer for the Global Energy Practice. Ash is responsible for overseeing the departments operations, revenue, and process improvement initiatives.

Lynchs top priority in her new role is to ensure a smooth transition.

Beecher Carlson Insurance Services, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., which, through its subsidiaries, offers a range of insurance and reinsurance products and services as well as risk management, third-party administration, and managed health care programs.
Drug wholesalers shipped 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to West Virginia in just six years, a period when 1,728 people fatally overdosed on these two painkillers, according to an investigation by the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

That amounts to 433 of the frequently abused opioid pills for every man, woman and child in the state of 1.84 million people.

The Gazette-Mail obtained previously confidential records sent by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to the office of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. They disclose the number of pills sold to every pharmacy and drug shipments to all 55 counties in West Virginia between 2007 and 2012.

Four of these counties  Wyoming, McDowell, Boone and Mingo  lead the nation in fatal overdoses caused by pain pills, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The records  which leading drug wholesalers had fought in court to keep secret  show the wholesalers shipped ever-higher doses of the pills  a telltale sign of growing addictions  even as the death toll climbed, the newspaper reported on Sunday.

These numbers will shake even the most cynical observer, former Delegate Don Perdue, D-Wayne, a retired pharmacist who finished his term earlier this month, told the newspaper. Distributors have fed their greed on human frailties and to criminal effect. There is no excuse and should be no forgiveness.

McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen Drug Co. together control about 85 percent of the U.S. drug distribution market by revenue and provided more pills to West Virginia than other wholesalers.

As hydrocodone and oxycodone overdose deaths increased 67 percent in West Virginia between 2007 and 2012, their chief executives were paid millions and their companies made billions. McKesson became Americas fifth-largest corporation, with the nations highest-paid CEO in 2012, according to Forbes.

The drug distributors say theyre just middlemen in a highly regulated industry and that pills would never get in the hands of addicts and dealers if not for unscrupulous doctors who write illegal prescriptions, and pharmacists who turn a blind eye.

The two roles that interface directly with the patient  the doctors who write the prescriptions and the pharmacists who fill them  are in a better position to identify and prevent the abuse and diversion of potentially addictive controlled substance, McKesson General Counsel John Saia wrote in a letter released by the company, the newspaper reported.

But the doctors and pharmacists werent slowing the influx, and the pills being shipped became much more potent, DEA records show.

It starts with the doctor writing, the pharmacist filling and the wholesaler distributing. Theyre all three in bed together, said Sam Suppa, a retired Charleston pharmacist who spent 60 years working at retail pharmacies in West Virginia. The distributors knew what was going on. They just didnt care.

The largest shipments often went to independent drugstores in small towns. The Tug Valley Pharmacy in Mingo County, which had fewer than 24,000 people in 2010, ordered more than 3 million hydrocodone pills in 2009, while franchisees of Rite Aid and Wal-Mart ordered only several thousand each year, the newspaper reported.

Morrisey is a Republican who represented Cardinal Health and lobbied for wholesalers in Washington, D.C., before winning the attorney generals race with strong backing from drug companies. He recused himself from the states lawsuit against more than a dozen wholesalers after taking office in 2013. In January, Morriseys office sued McKesson separately. Nine smaller wholesalers have settled for more than $7.5 million. Cases against the big three remain pending.

DEA agent Kyle Wright warned Morrisey aides in January 2015 that the wholesalers were shipping both opioids in more potent, commonly abused dosages, according to emails Morrisey released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Gazette-Mail.

McKesson denied paying these incentives. A spokesman for AmerisourceBergen suggested health experts and law enforcement would be better able to comment on whether theres a link between pain-pill volumes and overdose deaths.

All parties including pharmacies, doctors, hospitals, manufacturers, patients and state officials share the responsibility to fight opioid abuse, said Ellen Barry, a spokeswoman for Cardinal Health.

Cardinal told The Associated Press on Monday that it now has rigorous control processes in place to address the constantly changing tactics of people trying to divert drugs.

The newspaper interviewed the family of Mary Kathryn Mullins, who was prescribed OxyContin for pain in her back after a car crash near her home in Boone County.

They wrote her the pain pills, and she just got hooked, said her mother, Kay Mullins. Shed get 90 or 120 pills and finish them off in a week.

As her addiction worsened, she went to dozens of doctors, visiting pain clinics that churned out illegal prescriptions by the hundreds and pharmacies that dispensed doses by the millions. She kept most for herself, but sold some to others, Kay Mullins said.

Last December, she got a new prescription for OxyContin and an anti-anxiety medication. Two days later, she stopped breathing. Her brother Nick Mullins, a Madison police officer, responded to the 911 call. He tried chest compressions, but he could not revive his sister. .

Meanwhile, the Gazette-Mail reported on Monday, they disregarded rules to report suspicious orders for controlled substances in West Virginia to the state Board of Pharmacy. And the board, in turn, failed to enforce the same regulations, even as it approved spotless inspection reviews to small-town pharmacies ordering more pills than could possibly be taken by people who really needed medicine to manage pain.

Only after Morriseys predecessor as attorney general sued wholesalers in 2012 did these companies begin filing the reports. The newspaper said it found more than 7,000 reports in two boxes at the boards office. The regulations dont say what to do with them, so the board didnt investigate, contact wholesalers or pharmacies, or share them with law enforcement, the newspaper reported on Monday.

Its not been an item thats ever been enforced by the board, said David Potters, the pharmacy boards executive director.

Drug companies have racked up huge fines for failing to report suspicious orders in other states, but they refused to comment about their reports to West Virginias board.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics USA Flood Virginia Drugs
At the multinational where Maria (fictional name) works as an auditor in Madrid, employees know what time their working day starts  but rarely when it ends. The official hours are 9am to 7pm, but its not often you leave at that time, she says. In fact, Maria says its unusual for any of her colleagues to leave their desks before 8pm .

Julio Grisales works long hours at his Madrid coffee bar. Claudio Alvarez

And while this is almost unheard of in Germany or France, it is still considered acceptable in Spain, where labor unions and politicians are debating about how to curb the long hours many people work. One recent proposal by Employment Minister Fatima Banez is for a cross-party pact to enforce a cut off point of 6pm.

Whether this will wash in a country where many people dont sit down to dinner until 10pm is another matter. According to Eurostat, Spaniards eat two hours later than the French and finish work three hours after Germans have gone home for the day. The lack of flexibility at work and a culture of presenteeism, along with operating an hour later than GMT, have forged Spanish habits that legislation alone is unlikely to do much to change.

The official hours are 9 am to 7 pm, but its not often you leave at that time Maria, auditor with a Madrid-based multinational

Pedro Martinez, a professor at the Madrid-based ICADE Business School, explains that the culture of long working hours began in 1941, when General Francisco Franco set the countrys clocks an hour forward, in time with Nazi Germany. In the hungry years after World War II, many people held down several jobs, eating late, taking a nap, and then working on into the evening. Before that, we ate and dined at more European hours, he says.

Almost 80 years have passed since then and habits have been entrenched over the generations. Jose Luis Casero, a businessman and president of the National Commission for the Rationalization of Spanish Working Hours (ARHOE), welcomes Banezs proposal but thinks its only part of the solution. We have a long way to go before we change this culture, he says.

Casero is not the only person with reservations. Agustin Nieto, general secretary of the Professional Finance Union, points out that his sectors official hours are laid out in the convention, but that doesnt mean they are observed. We should leave at 3pm but there are still people in the office at 7pm and 8pm, he explains. 78% of employees say they work more hours than theyre meant to. In his opinion, the idea that legislation alone will alter attitudes is just pie in the sky. What is needed, he says, is something that will reinforce controls and prevent abuses.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says Germany has the lowest number of working hours in Europe  1,371 a year, compared to Spains 1,691 hours. Elena Marin, who has lived in Berlin since 2011, explains that in the company she works for, the timetable is flexible. As long as you are in the office between 9am and 3pm and work the statutory 38 hours a week, the rest can be juggled. If you work more than 10 hours one day, she says, you receive an email with a warning that you are over the limit and if that happens more than twice in a week, your boss will be on to you.

An uninterrupted timetable could improve productivity in Spain by 6.5%

Making changes to the working day doesnt mean working fewer hours but it does mean reducing the time spent at the workplace, says Nuria Chinchilla, a lecturer at IESE Business School. She suggests the first step toward change would be to return to GMT, so that Spaniards biological clocks are in sync with daylight hours. After that, if you really mean for people to leave work by six, a number of measures need to be taken and agreements made with sectors that can influence change, such as education, industry and commerce.

Not everyone would benefit from the change, however. For Julio Grisales, the owner of a cafe in the center of Madrid called Cafelito, shorter working hours for employees would mean longer hours for him. When he first opened, for example, he found himself working from 7.30am to 9pm because he couldnt afford to employ anyone full time, and things havent changed much since. I put up with it because its my business, he says.

Antonio Montanes, Professor of Economy at Zaragoza University, carried out a study in 2011 that suggested an uninterrupted timetable could improve productivity by 6.5%, while in service industries  that account for 70% of Spains GDP  this figure could rise to 9%. The importance of these activities is similar in other European countries but the hours and productivity are different, he says. Its not just about economic structures, its about deep-seated habits. There are other measures that should be adopted alongside the legislation that would improve productivity.

Meanwhile, Silvia, who covers the final shift at a duty-free shop in Barajas airport, doesnt knock off work until after 10pm. I would love to leave a little earlier, she admits, suggesting that 8pm would be acceptable. If we all left earlier, I think things could change. After all, its a question of habit.

English version by Heather Galloway.
The pastor of a Florida church whose steeple was toppled by Hurricane Matthew says its painful to see the storms damage linger.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the 25-foot steeple remains where it fell next to Historic New Bethel A.M.E. Church in Ormond Beach.

A blue tarp covers the hole it left in the roof. Services have continued, but the Rev. Phyllis Rose Brown said financing repairs has been difficult.

Brown said an insurance claim was denied, and government funding prioritized residential property.

Brown said repairs for the steeple and damage to three other church buildings would cost about $70,000. She has set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations.

Church trustee John Dunbar said the steeple was like a beacon to us but the church hadnt been prepared financially for the storm damage.

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Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Hurricane
The parents of a 20-year-old college student who died in the arms of her boyfriend in Oaklands deadly warehouse fire filed the first lawsuit Friday in the disaster, blaming the buildings owner, chief tenant and others.

The lawsuit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, evoked the last moments of San Francisco State University student Michela Gregory, saying she was trapped on the second floor of the 10,000-square-foot building that was a jumble of makeshift stairs and room dividers with no clear exit paths.

The building plunged into darkness when the fire started, the lawsuit said.

Gregory and the others tried to exit the warehouse, but were unable to exit due to the unsafe conditions and configuration of the warehouse, the lawsuit alleges.

Gregory was one of 36 people killed Dec. 2 when fire broke out in the converted warehouse that was hosting a $10-a-head music performance and party.

It was the deadliest building fire in the United States in more than a decade.

Its really horrific, irresponsible actions and inactions on the part of this building owner, those associated with this event, and the city that cost the life of this beautiful young lady and the lives of 35 others, lawyer Mary Alexander, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of parents Kimberly and David Gregory, said by phone.

Lawyers retained by the building owner and chief tenant did not immediately return requests for comment Friday.

Gregorys body was found with that of Alex Vega, 22, who had been her boyfriend from high school. Vegas arms were around her, the lawsuit said, citing the coroners office.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages from building owner Chor Ng, principal tenant Derick Ion Almenda and others who lived and used the work spaces and makeshift rooms in the warehouse and promoted the nights event.

The Alameda County district attorneys office has said it is evaluating whether any criminal charges are warranted in the blaze.

Alexander said the family planned to file a separate claim against Oakland alleging negligence by city officials.

People living in and near the building had lodged repeated complaints to building inspectors, police and others about parties, trash and illegal residences at the converted warehouse.

Related:

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Topics Lawsuits California Wildfire
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is happy about the arrival of a fleet of Uber self-driving cars delivered via a self-driving truck that transported them from California.

Duceys office says the governor welcomed the truck carrying the self-driving Volvos at the State Capitol in Phoenix.

Uber announced last week 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.

Related:

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Topics California Personal Auto Arizona
The central California city of Clovis has won a $22 million civil case against Shell Oil over the cleanup of a toxic chemical found in drinking-water wells, officials said.

The Fresno Bee reported that the chemical 1,2,3-trichloropropane, or TCP, is a waste product from making plastic.

A jury found that Clovis residents were harmed the fumigant. The jury also found Shell did not prove the benefits of its product outweighed the risks, and that those risks were known when it was sold.

Its not the citys fault that TCP is in its wells, and it is the citys responsibility to protect its citizens, said Duane Miller, an attorney representing Clovis.

Shell attorney Cal Burnton told jurors that residents have not been harmed by the TCP in their water. He said that TCP has never been declared a human carcinogen, though scientific studies show it caused cancer in laboratory animals including rats.

Another Shell attorney Tracie Renfroe said the benefits of the product outweighed the risks known at the time, otherwise the federal Environmental Protection Agency wouldnt have approved its use.

Renfroe also claimed there was sufficient warning.

The labels warned of kidney and liver damage but not cancer because the animal studies werent done until 1985, she said. Labels also didnt warn about groundwater risks because she said no one recognized that was possible until 1983.

Shell could not warn of what it did not know, she said.

TCP is prevalent in Fresno, Kern and Tulare counties. But is also found elsewhere in the state, including Los Angeles County.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Energy Oil Gas Pollution
The Oregon Supreme Court has allowed a lawsuit to proceed that was filed on behalf of two boys who witnessed their younger brother hit and killed by a pickup truck five years ago.

The decision was a reversal of two lower court rulings that injured bystanders could not recover damages for emotional distress after seeing a loved one harmed because of negligence.

The lawsuit filed by Stacie Philibert now goes back to the Jefferson County Circuit Court for consideration.

Her 7-year-old son Austin was killed on Aug. 18, 2011 after being hit at a crosswalk in downtown Madras. Philibert sued the driver, claiming Austins two older brothers suffered emotional harm because they saw Austin die.

The opinion written by Chief Justice Thomas Balmer said the lower courts rejected the lawsuit by applying a legal concept called the impact test which required those seeking compensation for emotional distress to have also suffered a physical injury.

The Supreme Court applied a legal concept known as the restatement rule in which the witnesses to the death must have seen a sudden and serious injury, suffered serious emotional distress and be close relatives of the victim.

Balmer wrote that the justices are aware some aspects of the restatement rule may seem arbitrary and could prompt false or inflated claims.

For as long as courts have awarded damages for emotional injuries, there have been concerns about plaintiffs bringing false claims, the opinion said. Juries are charged with discerning truth from self-serving fiction when plaintiffs testify about their own injuries and are as competent to do this in claims for emotional injuries as they are in other cases.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Oregon
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An investigation is underway after a young man was found unconscious in a house in Waterford on Christmas Day.

The man in his late 20s, and believed to be from Eastern Europe, suffered serious head injuries.
Welcome to Spain, my girl! So said government spokesperson Inigo Mendez de Vigo on Friday at the end of the Spanish Cabinets weekly meeting, after announcing that a young woman rescued by the warship Navarra off the coast of Libya had given birth to a baby girl, named Muna. But he could well have added: And goodbye given that the would-be migrant, her daughter and two sisters spent just a few hours on board the Spanish vessel before being handed to the Italian authorities.

Doctors on the Spanish frigate Navarra attend to Muna and her mother after the birth. EMAD

On December 24, a helicopter from the Spanish frigate took the group to the Italian port of Catania, where mother and daughter were checked in to the Cannizzaro hospital. Although the baby was born on Spanish territory  i.e. the ship Navarra Muna has no right to Spanish nationality nor to reside in Spain. Nationality can only be acquired when one of the parents is Spanish or when, in the case of the identity of the parents being unknown, the minor lacks any nationality.

This is a unique case, given that both the little girl and her mother are minors

The vessels that are taking part in the European Unions Operation Sophia  aimed at stemming the steady stream of migrants from Libya

and other neighboring countries to Italy  are under orders to transfer shipwreck survivors to an Italian port, where they are documented and a decision taken as to whether to grant them refugee status or to return them to their countries of origin. Munas family is from the Ivory Coast, a country considered safe by the EU.

But this is a unique case, given that both the little girl and her mother  who is just 17 years old and claims to have been raped  are minors, and as such should be granted protection under Spanish law.

The birth of Muna Navarra, who was given the second name in honor of the vessel that saved her life in waters that have claimed as many as 5,000 victims this year, was the good news story of the Christmas break, and celebrated as such by the government spokesman. But for mother and daughter, the good news was short-lived.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The Kinahan-Hutch feud accounted for at least half of the 15 gang murders.

Before last weeks murder of Noel Kirwan in west Dublin, the feud had claimed seven lives so far, six of them at the hands of the Kinahan cartel.

If Mr Kirwans murder is linked to the cartel, as many suspect, it will bring their tally to seven and the feud total to eight.

Gardai have previously estimated that they have prevented a further 12 assassination attempts, the bulk of them by the cartel.

Figures also show that a fifth of the estimated 127 murders linked to organised crime and dissident groups between 2006 and 2015 have been detected. Information provided by Garda HQ to Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald before Mr Kirwans murder estimated there were 14 gang-related killings, compared to three in 2015.

Together with Thursdays murder, it brings the 2016 toll closer to levels in the mid- to late 2000s, which was one of the worst periods for gangland murders. They averaged 18 per year in that time, reaching a peak in 2009 of 22. They fell to single figures after that (except in 2012 at 14) and to three in 2015.

The three murders were among nine fatal shootings in 2015, but most have not been categorised by Garda HQ as relating to gang activity. The 15 murders this year include all 14 gun murders and, it is thought, a fatal stabbing.

The Kinahan-Hutch feud erupted in Ireland with the shooting dead of Kinahan lieutenant David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February. That sparked six murders by the Kinahan cartel between February and June, including an innocent man, Martin ORourke. A second innocent man, Trevor ONeill, was shot dead in Spain in August, in another botched attack.

Garda figures show that up to December 6 there have been 44 arrests over gang- related killings and that five people have been charged with those murders and another three people charged on related matters.

In addition, 22 firearms  including submachine guns and AK47s  have been seized. Garda investigations have involved more than 8,000 lines of inquiry, while 11,520 high-visibility checkpoints have been conducted, many in relation to Operation Hybrid targeting the Kinahan-Hutch feud.

On December 12 the Armed Support Unit for Dublin was launched. The 55-strong squad has multiple tasks, including operations in the north inner city and south-west Dublin aimed at preventing feud attacks.

This is in addition to the Special Crime Task Force, which investigates the criminal activities and the related wealth of middle and lower ranking members of the feuding gangs.

News: 6&7
The crew of the 26-year-old Boeing 767-300 jet reported that the toilets on board were unserviceable and that passengers had an urgent need to use toilet facilities.

Open Skies (France) flight BOS-4 was en route from Newark, New Jersey to Orly Airport in Paris and was about 600km south west of Ireland when the crew decided to divert to Shannon.

The pilot told air traffic controllers that they had a serious problem with their toilets.

There were 172 passengers on board the flight and the pilot advised controllers there would be an urgent need for them to go to the toilets.

The pilot also acknowledged it was an unusual reason to make an unscheduled stop at Shannon. Its a very strange thing to come through Shannon for but thats the case, the pilot told controllers.

The flight landed at Shannon around 7.30am and taxied directly to the terminal building where airport ground staff were waiting to meet the aircraft.

Support crews were also requested be standing by to service the aircrafts toilets.

After passengers had the opportunity to use the airports toilet facilities the aircraft resumed its journey to Orly Airport in Paris at 9.38am.

In August 2013, a Lufthansa flight from Los Angeles to Munich, Germany diverted to Shannon after the reported problems with the toilets.

Ground services were waiting to meet the aircraft and emptied the jets waste tanks.

In June 2007, a Continental Airlines flight diverted to Shannon after one of the jets toilets overflowed into the passenger cabin. Continental Flight 71 was en route from Amsterdam to Newark in the US and diverted to Shannon after passengers complained of a foul odour.
The omens for 2016 were grim from the start.

In mid January, the torso of a dismembered body was found inside a suitcase on a stretch of the Grand Canal in rural Kildare.

The gruesome find shocked the tiny village of Arclough and jolted the nation.

Macabre and grotesque was how local Tom McLoughlin described it to the Irish Examiner at the time.

Other parts of the man's body were subsequently discovered.

The victim, who had been shot before dismemberment, was identified as Kenneth O'Brien, a 33-year-old father from Clondalkin, west Dublin.

It was a crime, many thought at the time, that could not be surpassed over the rest of the year.

BITS OF A BODY TO BODIES

But just three weeks later, a gun attack took place that raised the bar in terms of the scale and audaciousness of gangland  all captured by media photographers covering a boxing weigh-in attended by senior members of the feared Kinahan crime cartel.

The images of gunmen, dressed in SWAT-type uniforms, brandishing AK47 military assault rifles in broad daylight about to enter the Regency Hotel was a landmark moment in crime and security in Ireland.

Those images, and video clips from inside the hotel, were beamed across the world.

In Ireland, they had a similar impact on the psyche of the nation as the images of Veronica Guerin's car marooned on the Naas Road after the Gilligan gang shot the journalist dead, again in broad daylight, ten years previously.

The Regency attack not only threatened the security of the state  like the murder of Ms Guerin  but unleashed a murderous feud unprecedented in its intensity.

The decision by members of the Hutch criminal gang to target the Kinahan cartel at the Regency  in revenge for the Kinahan murder of former cartel member Gary Hutch in Spain the previous September - was a major miscalculation on their part.

They succeeded in killing Kinahan lieutenant David Byrne, from Crumlin, south Dublin, but failed to murder Daniel Kinahan, son of Kinahan boss, Christy.

Three days after Regency and amid heavy armed policing, a Kinahan hit team drove into the north inner city, the base of the Hutch gang, and murdered Eddie Hutch Senior - the brother of Gerry The Monk Hutch and a taxi driver not involved in the gang.

Days later, the funeral of David Byrne disgusted the nation: dripping with excess, including a fleet of ten limousines, designer clothing, and a remote control toy car that drove down the aisle of the church, all boasting a massive Garda security presence.

Soon after that, the Criminal Assets Bureau seized 35 luxury cars and motorbikes and expensive watches, worth in the region of 1 million from Kinahan leaders in Ireland, based around Crumlin/Drimnagh in south Dublin and the neighbouring south inner city area.

In one of the homes targeted in Crumlin, elite units had to smash through heavily-fortified security, including reinforced gates and front doors.

At the rear of the house they found an indoor bar with 20 bottles of Dom Perignon and sunken bath with a jacuzzi.

The Kinahan murder spree continued, with three murders in a dizzy five-week period between March and April.

One of those killed was a homeless dad, Martin O'Rourke, gunned down in a reckless attack on a Hutch gang figure outside a pub.

Also killed was Michael Barr, a dissident republican, linked to another dissident thought to have been one of the Regency hit team.

The bloodshed did not end there in what gardai described as a one-sided war.

In May, Gareth Hutch, nephew of The Monk, was gunned down outside his home, again in the north inner city.

It brought to four the number of murders in the north inner city since February.

The local community  long accustomed to having to demand that the State protect it  again called for help and investment.

What made the community particularly anxious was that many of the killers were from the local community.

They were either guns for hire (including INLA members) or people who owed money to the Kinahan cartel.

Another murder, of David Douglas, occurred in July and, in August, a second innocent man, Trevor O'Neill, fell victim to the Kinahan cartel when he was shot dead in Spain in a botched attack on a brother of The Monk.

A lull in the bloodshed followed, but more on that anon.

POLICING THE FEUD

During the summer and autumn and into the winter, there were multiple other attacks  either failed or prevented  on the Hutch gang and members of the wider Hutch family.

Garda bosses estimated that they prevented around 12 assassination attempts and also confiscated an arsenal of weapons, including machine guns and AK47s.

With overtime pumped into stretched garda resources, investigators were able to clock up major progress in their inquiries, with multiple arrests and charges.

A Special Crime Task Force was set up to specifically target the mid and lower ranks of the Kinahan cartel and other gangs and laws were changed allowing CAB to seize small quantities of cash and assets.

The Government investment also allowed for ongoing, though not always constant, armed checkpoints and patrols and air support in the north inner city and on the southside.

In September, in what was an unprecedented development, Spanish police took part in planned raids in Dublin aimed at the Kinahan cartel. At the same time gardai joined Guardia Civil searches in Marbella.

Just days before this operation a leading suspect was arrested in Spain on suspicion of the murder of Gary Hutch.

All the while, gardai remained on alert with the Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau playing a high profile role in preventing assassination attempts and seizing weapons.

In November, five firearms  including two MP9 submachine guns and three loaded handguns  along with two silencers were seized.

In early December, the Armed Support Unit for Dublin became operational. The 55-strong uniformed squad will provide a permanent 24/7 armed patrol and intervention resource, with a key focus on preventing further feud murders.

It has been actively patrolling the affected areas since amid constant fears of further bloodshed.

With two innocent men already killed by Kinahan gunmen, community leaders fear who will be the next victim of reckless attacks involving high-powered weaponry.

Source: Garda figures published by Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald. Gang killings include organised crime and dissident groups.

SCANDALS & STRIKES

This was not the only battle An Garda Siochana was fighting this year, with battles raging on other fronts.

The force was being battered by renewed controversies over garda whistleblowers and also by an escalating industrial dispute that only pulled back from the brink well passed the 11th hour.

Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan was embroiled in a number of controversies, some of more import that others.

Back in May, the Irish Examiner published transcripts from the opening days of the O'Higgins inquiry (investigating malpractice in Cavan-Monaghan division) in which counsel for the commissioner said he was instructed to challenge the integrity and motivation of Sergeant Maurice McCabe.

The commissioner remained tight-lipped on the revelations, saying she could not clarify her instructions as the law surrounding commissions of inquiry prohibited any such disclosure and that she also enjoyed lawyer-client confidentiality.

Matters relating to this controversy were referred, on the suggestion of the commissioner, to the Garda Ombudsman (GSOC).

Allegations were also made by deputies Mick Wallace and Clare Daly about her handling of separate garda whistleblower cases involving Nick Keogh and Keith Harrison.

Then, in early October, came perhaps the most serious crisis to hit her: claims from a new garda whistleblower that she knew about a campaign to destroy Sgt McCabe, involving the spreading of false, scandalous and damaging allegations about Sgt McCabe.

A scoping inquiry, under Mr Justice Iarflaith O'Neill, was set up and has reported to Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, who has referred to the Attorney General.

Meanwhile, the GSOC inquiry was back in the news when the Irish Examiner revealed that the watchdog had been unable to progress its inquiry because it was not able to get access to relevant documentation, first from the Commissioner and then from the Department of Justice, which held the O'Higgins Inquiry documentation.

Both cited the law on commissions of investigation, precluding the release of such documentation. The department informed GSOC it would have to get a court order to access it, which it is currently in the process of seeking.

It highlighted yet again the sometimes Kafkaesque world of justice inquiries.

The commissioner was then involved in a further controversy when the Sunday Times reported that she had been using a Gmail account and that a Dropbox account attached to it had been hacked.

The newspaper sparked concerns that emails or dropbox files of a sensitive nature could have been accessed.

This issue is currently being examined by the Policing Authority.

During much of this time, the commissioner was facing the first ever garda strike in the history of the force.

Though she had no input into the financial dispute, she did have a role in devising emergency cover for the intended strikes in November and December.

In what was one of the most intense, and in many ways, surreal, days for policing in the country, the strike was only averted with just hours to go before the first strike day on November 4.

A ballot by the two bodies, the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, of a deal hammered out in the Labour Court was overwhelmingly accepted at the beginning of December  providing a collective sigh of relief but causing massive ripple effects for public sector pay.

DISSIDENTS

At around the same time, gun murders were taking place again, after a lull in gangland killings since July.

Notorious Ballyfermot drug dealer Mark Desmond became the twelfth gun murder victim on December 1, when he was shot dead in Lucan, west Dublin.

Seven days later, equally notorious criminal and dissident republican Aidan O'Driscoll was gunned down in broad daylight in Blackpool, Cork city.

He was the second former dissident to be murdered this year, following the assassination of Vincent Ryan (brother of murdered Real IRA leader Alan Ryan) in Finglas back in February.

Though the motives for both murders, particularly that of O'Driscoll, are not clear, they highlight the unpredictable violence inherent within dissident groupings and the blurred line between such outfits and criminal gangs.

Many dissidents are themselves heavily involved in serious criminality, including drug dealing, or in taxing the profits of dealers.

Dissidents groups like the Real IRA, the Continuity IRA and the INLA are riven with splinter groups and semi-autonomous local cells.

The violent pasts of both victims, and long list of enemies they have built up over the years, came back home to roost.

It also brought the grim reality of gangland murders back on to the streets of Cork, where such events are still relatively rare.

As we inched towards Christmas, 62-year-old Noel Kirwan was gunned down in Clondalkin, west Dublin, at tea-time last Thursday.

A criminal from the north inner city, he was well known back in the 1980s and 1990s as a "heavy", involved in protection rackets and robberies.

He was friendly with The Monk since they were children growing up together on the streets.

While investigations are still early, the Kinahan cartel is a leading suspect. It would bring an end to the apparent lull in the Kinahan killing machine if it turns out to be the case.

DEATH TOLL

There have been an estimated 15 gang-related killings in 2016. This includes 14 gangland gun murders.

Seven of those are linked to the Kinahan-Hutch feud (six are Kinahan killings). Mr Kirwan's death would add another to that.

All but the murder of O'Driscoll and Noel Duggan (friend and associate of The Monk) occurred in Dublin.

As of 6 December, there have been 44 arrests in relation to gang-killings, with five people charged in relation to the murders and a further three charged with related offences.

Some 22 firearms have been seized, 8,000 lines of inquiry conducted and more than 11,500 high visibility checkpoints conducted.

It should be remembered that 2016 is not the worst year on record for gangland murders  an honour currently held by 2009, when there were 22 such deaths.

Gang killings were at their height during the mid-to-late 2000s, when they averaged 18 per year.

They dropped to single figures since (bar 2012: 14) and reached a low of three in 2015. This year marks an almost five-fold increase on that.

But the tally for 2016 could be even worse save for the estimated 12 intended murder attempts in the Kinahan-Hutch feud that were prevented by garda operations.

Whether we are returning to the height of gun violence of the 2000s is not clear.

The boosted armed garda units, and the promised continuing recruitment of gardai, will assist in preventing and responding to armed incidents.

But these measures can't stop the killing  nor on their own provide the massive, long-term intervention needed in communities most affected by gang intimidation and violence.

Burglaries down but murders and sex offences see increase

Alan Hawe killed his family in an act that took time and effort.

It has been a mixed year in terms of trends on crime.

This was reflected in two sets of figures produced by the CSO in December.

In the most recent report, the CSO revealed that while high-volume crimes such as burglaries and thefts were down significantly in the last year, murders and sexual offences were up.

Before that, the agency highlighted that while recorded crime in 13 of 16 categories fell between 2010 and 2014 (in some cases dramatically) the crime-solving rate had dropped substantially.

In relation to those most recent figures, covering the year to the end of September 2016, the CSO found that there was a 14% increase in the number of murders, up from 29 (in the year ending September 2015) to 33 in the most recent 12-month period.

This was due in no small part to the Kinahan-Hutch feud, accounting for seven of the murders.

It also took into account an act of unimaginable horror that saw four murders  a woman and her three children  overnight on August 29 in Cavan.

The killer, Alan Hawe, used knives and a hatchet to murder his wife, Clodagh, and their three children, Ryan, 6, Niall, 11, and Liam, 13.

It was an act, gardai explained, that took considerable time, effort, and will.

The fact that Hawe left a note at his house in Barconey, outside Ballyjamesduff, regarding his actions showed planning and intent.

Hawe took his own life after extinguishing those of his entire family.

It was a crime that shocked the country and led to concerns about the scale and seriousness of domestic violence.

In addition to murders, the Kinahan feud is thought to be behind a 50% increase in attempted murders and a 7% rise in threats of murder.

The CSO figures also found a significant increase in reported sexual offences, drink driving, and drug offences, as well as rises in serious assaults.

But it revealed there were substantial falls in reported burglaries (down 31%) and thefts (down 15%).

A breakdown showed:

Sexual offences rose by 7%, including a 5% increase in rapes and a 9% rise in defilement of a juvenile;

Assaults were down marginally, by 1%, but assaults causing harm (serious assaults) were up 2%;

Dangerous acts were up 5%, including drink driving up 6% and child neglect up 20%;

Robbery was down 11%, including robbery from the person down 10%, and robbery of a bank down 13%, but cash-in-transit raids were up 20%;

Drug offences were up 4%, including a 19% jump in drug importation, drugs supply up 5%, and drug possession, up 3%;

Weapons offences were down 12.5%, including shootings down 22%, gun possession down 6%, and possession of an offensive weapon down 11%;

Public order offences were down 18%.

Separate figures on detection rates show that homicide detection rates dropped from 83% in 1979 to 79% in 2014.

Sexual offences detection rates fell from 65% to 47%, robbery rates decreased from 53% to 40%, while burglary rates dropped from 25% to 18%.

The Irish Examiner understands that these trends have continued into 2015 and 2016.

Garda HQ said factors include the loss of experienced investigators, antiquated technology, and greater forensic awareness among criminals.

It said steps were being taken to redress the problem, including recruitment, training, and investment in technology.

14 gangland gun killings 2016

January 16: Kenneth OBrien, 33, from Lealand Rd, Clondalkin. Shot and then dismembered, with remains found along the Grand Canal, including his torso at Ardclough, Co Kildare. Man charged.

February 5: David Byrne, 34, from Crumlin, south Dublin, and senior Kinahan lieutenant, shot dead at Regency Hotel, north Dublin. Man charged.

February 8: Eddie Hutch Sr, 59, shot dead at his home on Poplar Rd, Ballybough, Dublins north inner city, by Kinahan cartel. No charges pressed yet.

February 29: Dissident republican Vincent Ryan, 25 and dad of newborn, shot dead outside partners home on McKee Rd, Finglas, north Dublin. No charges yet.

March 23: Noel Duggan, 56, criminal and friend and associate of Gerry The Monk Hutch, shot dead at his home in Ratoath, Co Meath, by Kinahan cartel. No charges yet.

April 14: Martin ORourke, 24, innocent homeless man shot dead on Sheriff St Lower, Dublins north inner city, as Kinahan gunman recklessly fired at his target, a Hutch gang member. No charges yet.

April 25: Michael Barr, 35, dissident republican, shot dead in Sunset House Pub on North Strand, Dublins north inner city. Man charged.

April 25: Tom Farnan, 37, shot at his home, Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, west Dublin. The dad-of-two was originally from Brookfield, Tallaght. No charges yet.

May 24: Gareth Hutch, 35 and a dad, shot dead in car park of Avondale House flats complex on Cumberland Rd, Dublins north inner city. Two men charged.

June 4: Neil Fitzgerald, 36, found shot dead in rural area near Tallaght, south west Dublin. Had only been released from prison two weeks previously. Senior member of Rattigan crime gang. No charges yet.

July 1: David Daithi Douglas, 53, from Cabra, north Dublin, shot dead on Bridgefoot St in Dublins south inner city. Man charged.

Dec 2: Mark Desmond, 41, from Ballyfermot, west Dublin, shot dead at Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan, west Dublin, in suspected drug row. No charges yet.

Dec 8: Aidan ODriscoll, 37, from Ballyvolane, Cork City, a former Real IRA leader, was shot dead on the street in the Blackpool area. No charges yet.

Dec 22: Noel Duck Egg Kirwan was shot at least four times while in his car outside his home in Ronanstown, west Dublin. No charges yet.
SEVEN candidates are standing in the 2017 French Socialist Party presidential primary  which includes the Socialist Party and a number of smaller pro-government Green parties, formally known as the Popular Alliance  but one could be forgiven for not recognising many of the seven.

And three recognisable names will not be on the ballot this January: Francois Hollande, Emmanuel Macron, and Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Hollande is only the second president since the birth of the Fifth Republic in 1958 not to seek a second term.

The other was Georges Pompidou, who died in office in 1974.

Hollande is also the third president to have served only one term.

The others were Valery Giscard DEstaing in the 1970s and Hollandes immediate predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

The fact that the two most recent presidents have not lasted indicates how difficult governing France has become.

Hollandes decision not to run again should have surprised no-one: with a 4% approval rating, he would have faced a humiliating defeat in the elections first round.

While his presidency has been widely criticised, it also had significant achievements: legalising gay marriage, making France a party to the Paris climate agreement, and restoring some balance to social welfare spending.

And although government debt has continued to rise, the unemployment rate is starting to fall  albeit too late for Hollande to benefit.

Hollandes biggest flaw was that he could not embody the presidency: he simply did not look or sound particularly presidential.

His shrill voice lacked the gravitas associated with the office, and he seemed statesmanlike only in situations that naturally created that image for him, such as the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris and, more controversially, Frances intervention in Mali in 2013.

Since those occasions, Hollande has been embroiled in a damaging debate about revoking French terrorists citizenship; and he committed a serious PR blunder by candidly commenting on the French political scene for a book by two Le Monde journalists, appropriately titled A President Shouldnt Say That.

He also faced street protests for attempting to reform the labou market  a politically hazardous move that has taken down many previous French governments.

Since Hollande dropped out of the running, Macron, his centrist former economy minister, has been urged to run in the Socialist primary, now that he can do so without betraying the president under whom he served.

But he has consistently ruled it out, and launched an independent bid for the presidency in November, most likely with an eye toward the long term.

Having openly predicted that the left will lose the 2017 election, he is cutting his ties with Hollandes government so that he can position himself as the lefts savior in the 2022 presidential race.

Like Macron, Melenchon is also standing for the presidency outside of the Socialist fold.

In recent years, the far-left, anti-austerity, and anti-Europe former Socialist minister has cornered what is left of the Communist Party and united the various other anti-capitalist parties behind him.

Thus, the contest will most likely be between Manuel Valls  who was Hollandes prime minister until he resigned earlier this month  and Arnaud Montebourg, Vallss former minister for national recovery.

Valls is currently leading in first-round polls, but the two candidates will be neck and neck in the primarys second round.

If Valls wins, Macron will come under renewed pressure, because he is the other major representative of the Socialists social-liberal wing  although Valls is much more authoritarian than Macron on republican issues such as secularism and national security.

If Montebourg prevails, however, the political squeeze will be on Melenchon, because Montebourg represents the more conventional left: he notably quit Vallss government in 2014 because it was pursuing austerity and supply-side policies, rather than the Keynesian fiscal stimulus he advocated.

The Socialist primarys outcome will matter only insofar as it exposes the split within the party between those who favour a traditional statist approach and those who advocate more market-friendly alternatives.

In pursuing the latter, Hollandes presidency marked a rupture in Socialist politics; the party never explicitly endorsed this new trajectory, and many on the French left now resent Hollande for what they see as a betrayal of their principles.

With French politics divided between the left, right, and far right, a split within any bloc almost guarantees that blocs exclusion from the second round of next years presidential election.

Notwithstanding the lefts calls for unity, the Socialist primary will not bring people together. Moreover, the Socialists have not helped themselves by excluding  with the claim that primaries are not an open bar  three candidates from smaller parties that had already run a primary to select their own leaders.

With at least two candidates already running on the left, the outcome of the Socialist primary is irrelevant to national politics.

The second round of the presidential election will be between the Republican Partys Francois Fillon and the far-right National Fronts Marine Le Pen.

Hugo Drochon, who teaches politics at the University of Cambridge, is the author of Nietzsches Great Politics.

Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2016.
Envoys from some of the countries that, last Friday, voted at the UN security council to support a resolution condemning Israeli settlements long regarded as illegal by international

law were singled out for this anti-democratic, were-right-and-youre-wrong hectoring.

What else might be expected from a hardline leader who has built his career on blinkered defiance?

What else might be expected from a politician whose default position is encouraging

the idea that the besieged people of Israel must respond with ever-more violent and draconian measures against neighbours often dispossessed by settlers?

On an island so deeply scarred by the tit-for-tat cycle of terrorism and increasingly heavy-handed state responses, Mr Netanyahus reaction is sadly all too familiar.

So too is the likely outcome to his and his cabinets intransigence.

This pattern is sustainable for only so long and then the peace talks must begin in earnest, a reality Mt Netanyahu has rejected with dire consequences for the last number of years.

Those subjected to Mr Netanyahus predictably hostile reaction, according to various reports, were the ambassadors from the countries with permanent missions in Israel: Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, France, Britain, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay and Spain.

It is tempting to suggest that these diplomats should take as much notice of the bellicose, bullying Mr Netanyahu as he and his government have taken of the international communitys consistent, well-established and entirely justified opposition to the persistent establishment of settlements.

In other words, offer a polite acknowledgement but do absolutely nothing.

Mr Netanyahu has probably been emboldened by the appointment, by President-elect Donald Trump, of David Friedman as Americas next ambassador to Israel.

Mr Friedman, who has worked with Mr Trump for years, is ardently pro-settler.

He has described American Jews opposed to Israeli occupation of the West Bank as worse than kapos, Naziera prisoners who served as concentration camp guards.

Mr Netanyahu has probably been emboldened too by the bizarre and dangerous dishonesty advanced as fact by the most strident elements among his supporters who have, with considerable success, created the impression that opposition to their more extreme positions is a manifestation of antisemitism.

This nonsense is cold, calculated propaganda and should be regarded as such.

The real tragedy of last weeks UN sanction is that it came so very late in the Obama presidency.

How sad it is that Mr Obama left it to the dying moments of his administration to abstain on a UN security council vote condemning Mr Netanyahus version of Israel.

Though he was stonewalled at home and abroad it is hard not to think that, as more extreme, intolerant views move centre stage, that this was a lost opportunity, one that will not recur for at least another four years.
Burma Eleven Media Issue Apology Over Chief Minister Article

Eleven Media Group chief executive U Than Htut Aung at Tamwe Township police station on Nov. 11. / J Paing / The Irrawaddy

RANGOON  Eleven Media Group issued an official apology and a retraction of an editorial which accused the Rangoon chief minister U Phyo Min Thein of corruption.

The apology, printed in Tuesdays issue, came while the groups chief executive U Than Htut Aung and chief editor U Wai Phyo were denied bail for the second time last week while in court on charges under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law.

U Phyo Min Thein sued Eleven Media after an editorial titled A Year After the Nov. 8 Poll written by U Than Htut Aung was published on Nov. 6. The two defendants are being held in Rangoons notorious Insein Prison.

The half-page apology stated that factual errors in the editorial resulted in the defamation of the minister.

As Eleven Media Group CEO and responsible persons, we apologize to Rangoon Chief Minister, regional government and others who were affected by the editorial because of the incorrect report, the apology read.

The original article was featured in the Nov. 6 issue of Eleven Medias daily newspaper and Singapore-based The Straits Times newspaper and was reposted on U Than Htut Aungs Facebook account.

It claimed that the chief ministerwhose monthly salary is only around US$2,500wore a luxury Patek Philippe watch worth an estimated US$100,000 and had claimed the watch was presented by a wealthy benefactor.

If the report was wrong ethically or factually, they should apologize as soon as they know there are errors. Although, as a consequence, they would lose their readers trust, said U Myint Kyaw, a Myanmar Press Council member, adding the government should settle the case after the apology.

It is unknown whether the chief minister will drop the charges.
Burma Muslim with Govt Links Murdered in Arakan State

Anabandoned house is seen at U Shey Kya village outside Maungdaw in Arakan State / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

RANGOON  A man has been found dead with stab wounds in Arakan State, in what the government said on Monday was the second murder in under a week of a Rohingya who cooperated with authorities as they crack down on suspected insurgents.

An administrator in Yae Twin Kyun village, named as Rawphi, was found dead with knife wounds on Sunday, Lieutenant Colonel Aung San Win of the local border guard police told Reuters.

He said the killing of the 28-year-old Muslim might be related to terrorism.

The State Counselors Office said on Monday evening on its Facebook page that the victim had been cooperating with members of security forces in administration duties.

The case is the second murder in Arakan State where authorities have highlighted the victims cooperation with the government, appearing to point the finger at Rohingya insurgents.

On Friday, the state counselors office said a Muslim man was decapitated after he had denied stories of Burma military abuse when speaking to reporters.

He told media that there was no case of arson by the military and police forces, no rape and no unjust arrests, said a Facebook post accompanied by a picture of a headless body with English text that read: truth teller beheaded.

Neither the police nor the state counselors office have said who was responsible for the decapitation.

A Rohingya community leader, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, told Reuters many Muslims were skeptical about the governments account of the beheading.

A report by the International Crisis Group said insurgents calling themselves Harakah al-Yaqin were responsible for the attacks on Oct. 9 that sparked the crackdown. The group also have killed Rohingyas who threatened to inform on them to authorities, the ICG said.

Reuters could not independently verify the government accounts as access for independent journalists to northern Arakan State has been prohibited since security forces locked down the area.
Burma Protesters Call for Resignation of Arakan States Regional House Speaker

Sittwe residents protest in the Arakan State capital on Tuesday. / Duwun Maung Maung / Facebook

RANGOON  Around 100 Sittwe residents called for the resignation of the Arakan State parliament speaker in a Tuesday protest over unresolved cases of land confiscation, rally participants told The Irrawaddy.

The land grabs in question date as far back as the early 1990s, when Burma was governed by a military junta. Seizures of land were reportedly carried out to develop an industrial ward in the area.

Before handing administrative power to the newly elected National League for Democracy government (NLD) earlier this year, previous Arakan State Chief Minister U Mya Aung, Border and Security Affairs Minister U Htein Lin, and other cabinet members and high-ranking bureaucrats were reportedly named as owners of 515 acres of the land in question.

U Hla Htun Maung, a demonstrator in Tuesdays protest, said that locals who also claim ownership of the land have never been paid any compensation from the authorities. He also speculated that current members of government had been directly involved in the land seizure, including regional parliamentary speaker U San Kyaw Hla.

We voted for them in last election but now they ignore the loss of the civilians. We are really dissatisfied with that and thats why we demand that [U San Kyaw Hla] resign from the post, he said.

U San Kyaw Hla spoke with The Irrawaddy over the phone on Tuesday to respond to the allegations. He said that the previous government had seized land now allocated for the construction of ministerial residences, including his own, and that was why he had been named by the demonstrators. He pointed out that a parliamentary commission of seven lawmakers had been investigating the case in recent months.

If that land was unjustly seized from the farmers, I will release the land to the real owners, he said, also promising that the Arakan State government would provide compensation if the land could not be returned.

Current Arakan State Chief Minister, the NLDs U Nyi Pu, wrote a Facebook post in August calling for an investigation into allegations that government officials had claimed confiscated land. He said that since 2001, the Industrial Land Committee designed 466 estates and sold just over 400 yards of land for 250,000 kyats (US$210) in 2015. Another 65 estates were used as camps to house displaced communities in the region.

Also in early August, U Nyi Pu ordered a halt to the construction of a fence around an industrial ward on disputed land near Set Yoe Kya village outside of Sittwe, as locals marched toward the area to confront the builders.
Burma UNFC Hosts Stakeholder Meeting to Discuss Peace Process

UNFC Stakeholder Consultation Meeting in Chiang Mai Thailand. / Nyein Nyein / The Irrawaddy

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  The ethnic armed group alliance the United Nationalities Federal Council hosts a three-day stakeholder consultation meeting from Dec. 27-29 in Chiang Mai, Thailand to discuss further approaches to the current peace process.

Attended by more than 60 representatives from civil society groups, United Nationalities Alliance members, and the coordination team representing the eight signatories of the nationwide ceasefire agreement, a UNFC secretary said the meeting would help facilitate the current peace process.

Htun Zaw, a UNFC secretary (UNFC spokesman) said, We invited almost all stakeholders who are involved in the process in one way or another.

He added that the stakeholders, especially those providing relief assistance in the northern conflict areas, are affected by the current fighting; therefore, the peace process is affecting their lives and it is important to hear their experiences and concerns.

Some of the seven members of the UNFC are currently engaged in active fighting with the government army in Shan State. Government Peace Commission leaders will travel to Panghsang, the capital of the Wa administrative region, to renegotiate a meeting with the Northern Alliancethe Kachin Independence Army, the Taang Nationalities Liberation Army the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Armyon Dec 28-29, according to government sources.

After a Northern Alliance attack on the Burma Army on Nov. 20, which sought attention from the national and international community regarding the Burma Armys long-term offensive against them, formal negotiations between the UNFC and the government have been delayed.

The UNFCs delegation for political negotiation (DPN) representatives have continued to collaborate in the process, recently participating in a meeting that formed the Joint Coordination Body (JCB) for Peace Process Funding earlier this month in Naypyidaw.

The JCB will have another meeting on Wednesday but Htun Zaw said the DPN will not join as they are hosting the consultation in Chaing Mai.

Participants said they are optimistic about the consultation meeting.

Sai Kyaw Nyunt from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), who is also the secretary of the Committee for Shan State Union (CSSU), said although decisions would not be made at the meeting, he hoped ethnic leaders would come away with ideas to prepare them for the process. The SNLD is a member of the UNA, an alliance of 15 ethnic political parties.

Many representatives from both civil society and the [ethnic] armed forces are here today. It is good to share our experiences and review the current political landscape, Sai Kyaw Nyunt said.

As participants, womens rights advocates expected to further raise their voices on how they can participate, as they have been pushing for womens participation in the peace process since it began in 2011.

The ethnic leaders have in principle agreed to womens participation, said Julia Marip, a secretary of the Womens League of Burma, a coalition of ethnic womens groups.

The number ethnic women present in negotiations, particularly at the 21st Century Panglong or Union Peace Conference, has shown improvement.

We want to be mindful of gender sensitivity in every issue we discuss, she said.

The role of the CSOs and womens representatives is limited in the Union peace talks but they discuss social issues at a civil society forum and can share in the upcoming Union peace conferences, which are scheduled to be held every six months.

It is important to learn how peace builders of all sectors can mutually help each other, added Khin Ohmar, the advisory board chair of the Progressive Voice (known previously as the Burma Partnership).

We are concerned about the Tatmadaw [Burma Army] asserting more power under this civilian government led by the NLD, she said, adding the recent protest in support of the Tatmadaw for the just war in the ethnic areas should not happen as it could fuel horizontal conflicts among people.
Politics Plans Announced for SEZ and New Airport Terminal in Southern Rangoon

Workers stand next to excavators during the commencement ceremony of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project in the Japanese Special Economic Zone at Thilawa outside Rangoon on November 30, 2013. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters

RANGOON  A Rangoon regional minister explained in Tuesdays parliamentary session plans to develop an area across four townships for a special economic zone and a new airport terminal.

According to the statement by Daw Nilar Kyawthe divisional minister for electricity, industry and transportationKwan Chan Gone, Letkokkon, Kawhmu and Dala townships are listed as hosting the initiative.

She did not specify whether the airport terminal would be designated for domestic or international travel. The airfield would be the third such venture in the region. The government already announced successful tender bidders for Hanthawaddy International Airport in Bago Division, for which construction will begin in early 2017 on 9,500 acres of land at a cost of US$2 billion.

Daw Nilar Kyaw unveiled the cabinets conceptual plan in response to a question put forward by U Than Naing Oo, a representative for Panbedan Constituency (1). The MP had asked whether the government had a plan to promote the agriculture and livestock sectors, as well as small and medium industrial businesses, in the southern districts townships of Dala and Letkokkon.

U Than Naing Oo highlighted poverty as the reason many people cross the Rangoon River in search of work downtown selling food on the street. By promoting enterprise in regions such as Dala, the parliamentarian argued, the overcrowding of street vendors will subsequently be alleviated in downtown Rangoon.

The city expansion project in Rangoons southern district was originally introduced under the previous divisional chief minister, U Myint Swe, who is now serving as the military-appointed vice president of the country. The project was widely criticized for favoring the dominance of Chinese-backed conglomerates, as well as for lacking transparency. While it remains unclear if the conglomerates will continue to play a role, current Rangoon chief minister U Phyo Min Thein is reviewing the expansion project, promising greater transparency and assurances that it will not be monopolized by only one firm.

Daw Nilar Kyaw said the government was discussing the initiative with international consortiums and that talks would conclude in January 2017. The regional government will deliver its master plan to the Rangoon parliament in March.

The Irrawaddy spoke to regional lawmaker Daw Kyi Pyar after the parliamentary session and she said that U Phyo Min Thein had promised in a recent National League for Democracy meeting not to make decisions on the project unilaterally, but to emphasize the states interest, pointing out that he may consult Burmas State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the issue.
In the spring of 2010, La Noria, a picturesque mountain village some 30 kilometers inland from Mazatlan, a resort in Sinaloa , on Mexicos northern Pacific coast, suddenly found itself caught up in the military campaign the then-president, Felipe Calderon, had launched against drug cartels four years earlier.

Marisol Lazarraga at her rural school. Christian Palma

More information Arte contra las balas, la formula de la maestra Marisol

Armed gangs terrorized the area in response to military incursions, forcing thousands of people throughout the area to flee. La Noria, once home to some 1,250 people, was emptying. The few families who had remained stayed indoors and wouldnt allow their children out to play, or even to attend school.

Marisol Lizarraga, a local schoolteacher, decided the time had come to take a stand. There were dismembered bodies dumped on the highway, people were being kidnapped, they would turn up and kick in peoples doors, she says. Thats when I told myself: if these men see that the village is empty, then theyll think they can take it, so I thought: we have to be seen, we have to go outside, and thats when I started working with the children, she explains.

If these men see that the village is empty, then theyll think they can take it Marisol Lazarraga

After arranging painting classes in the village square, she then used her savings to rent a large house, setting up an impromptu school in it and providing reading classes to local children. Six years later, the building, which she owes a years rent on, now houses a museum filled with artifacts made by indigenous peoples from the area collected by her pupils. The regional administration has not responded to her request for state aid.

When Lazarraga set up her school, the death toll in the state had reached 2,210, or six a day. In the six years since, a further 13,000 people have died in the war continued by President Enrique Pena Nieto against the drug cartels.

Lazarraga, who combines her activities in La Noria with a job teaching special-needs children in a school in Mazatlan, some 45 minutes away by bus, says she soon became aware of the impact of the violence on her charges, noticing that their drawings frequently included weapons, as well as crosses marking graves. Two brothers sent a letter to Santa Claus asking if their father, who had been kidnapped and disappeared, could spend Christmas Eve with them. Other children asked for peace: I want the crazy men to disappear please, wrote Lupita, aged eight.

Furthermore, she realized that the secret to keeping the children calm was to get them to express their fears through painting and drawing. She says that over time, much of the anger in their first pictures has gradually disappeared. Bringing them into contact with art makes the children more aware and they are able to see life differently, she says, proud that she has managed to keep the children away from crime. I think that if instead of being interested in guns they are interested in a profession, then we have achieved a lot, she says.

Her work has earned her the gratitude of many local parents: Juan Antonio Salas has lived in La Noria all his life. He says that when the violence erupted in 2010, he thought about moving to Mazatlan with his family. But after talking it through with his wife, he decided to stay. He says he is grateful to Marisol Lazarraga for making life more bearable and for helping his children live through the violence. All we asked her was that her workshops were during the day, before night fell, he says.

His 13-year-old son Juan was one of the first to study with Lazarraga. Salas says that as a result of his time with her, his son is more responsible and works harder. She is a great teacher and her work with the children of La Noria is admirable, he concludes.

English version by Nick Lyne.
Specials 2016 in Photos

A worker at a used drum warehouse on the outskirts of Rangoon in May. / Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy

As 2016 comes to an end, The Irrawaddy showcases the best photographs to come from the lenses of our outstanding photographers this yearthey never fail to capture Burmas most iconic moments.

A devastating blaze at Rangoons Mingalar Market caused 36 billion kyats (US$27.8 million) worth of damage on the morning of Jan. 19. (Photo: Myo Min Soe/ The Irrawaddy)

The previous government demolished squats on farmland in Dagon and Seikkan townships in Rangoon in February. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

The first WWE Smackdown in Rangoon on Feb 12. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

The Myanmar Color Festival took place on March 26 at Rangoons People Square. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

The 71st Armed Forces Day was observed at the military parade ground in Naypyidaw on March 27. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Burmas President U Htin Kyaw welcomes Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the state dinner to swear in the NLD-led government on March 30. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and senior military officials photographed during the official power transition ceremony on March 30 in which Burmas outgoing President U Thein Sein handed over the presidential insignia to new President U Htin Kyaw at the presidential residence in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Revelers on the overpass near Theingyi Zay Market in downtown Rangoon during Thingyan Festival. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Local farmers protested the reopening of copper mines in Sagaing Divisions Salingyi Township on May 5 and demanded compensation from the Chinese company Wanbao Co. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy)

A worker at a used drum warehouse on the outskirts of Rangoon in May. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Contestants at a fitness and bodybuilding competition on June 18 in Rangoon. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Children play at a camp for internally displaced persons in Kachin States Mai Ja Yang on July 16. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

People wait outside the entrance of Rangoons Mausoleum on July 19 to pay their respect to Burmas national heroes who were assassinated on that day 69 years ago. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

A man walks across the famed U Bein Bridge in Mandalay as it became inundated by floodwaters in July. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Floodwater submerged the central market of Kangyidaunt Township, Irrawaddy Division on Aug. 12. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Burma on Aug. 24 and damaged 396 pagodas and temples in the famous ancient capital of Bagan. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy)

Burmas President U Htin Kyaw talks to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the 21st Century Panglong peace conference on Sep. 3 in Naypyidaw. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

A full moon lunar eclipse on Sept. 16. The phenomenon will not take place again until 2024. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy)

A government-aligned Border Guard Force (BGF) soldier stands guard on Karen States Methawaw Road amid clashes between the Democratic Karen Benevolence Army (DKBA) and a joint force of BGF and Burma Army on Sept. 22. (Photo: Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy)

A Burmese policeman on patrol at the Burma-Bangladesh border fence after militants attacked border police headquarters and checkpoints in northern Arakan States Maungdaw Township on Oct. 9. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Fumigation was carried out in some townships of Rangoon after the first case of the Zika virus was reported in the former capital in October. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

The Super Moon over Rangoons skyline on Nov. 14. (Photo: Hein Htet / The Irrawaddy)

Bomb squad and police conducted security checks in the Rangoon Division government compound following a minor explosion at 6pm on Nov. 25. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw/The Irrawaddy)

Children with HIV and AIDS at the National League for Democracy AIDS Center in Rangoon on November 30. (Photo: Pyay Kyaw / The Irrawaddy)

A funeral for Eleven Media Group journalist Ko Soe Moe Tun, who was discovered beaten to death, was held in Monywa, Sagaing Division on Dec. 15. (Photo: Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy)
FUJIFILM GFX challenges with Piet Van den Eynde

12/27/2016 ISO 1200 Magazine 0 Comments

About Piet Van den Eynde:

Piet Van den Eynde is a Belgian freelance photographer specializing in travel portraiture. He also writes books, magazine articles and gives training about digital photography, image editing with Adobe Lightroom, for which he is an Adobe Certified Expert. Let's Get Connected: www.morethanwords.be Piet Van den Eynde is a Belgian freelance photographer specializing in travel portraiture. He also writes books, magazine articles and gives training about digital photography, image editing with Adobe Lightroom, for which he is an Adobe Certified Expert.





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X-Photographer Piet Van den Eynde from Belgium tests the prototype of FUJIFILM GFX 50S and GF Lenses in India, his favorite place to shoot photography. Watch the photographer in action and see what he thinks about GFX, the new medium format mirrorless camera system by Fujifilm.The footage was filmed with FUJIFILM X-T2, watch in 4K quality where available.
Our tenants asked us for support to access affordable broadband and getting online, particularly in rural areas. We are delighted to have been awarded a People and Places Grant offer of 205,432 to enable us to run our Get Connected project.

Apparently the 3-year digital inclusion project should begin in April 2017 . The new investment will also be used to purchase a van that can help to provide digital access to tenants throughout Pembrokeshire. A number of new staff will also be recruited to run training course that can help to get new users online.

The Pembrokeshire Housing association, which provides over 2,500 homes across the Welsh County, has secured 200,000 of funding from the national UK lottery (Big Lottery Fund) to help upgrade its rural tenants to faster and more affordable broadband connections.

Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on Twitter Facebook and Linkedin

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8 Phrases Not to Say in a Job Interview

A recruiting approach that uses algorithms to weed out resumes is inherently flawed, because it necessarily relies on such a narrow set of data. Instead, the power of algorithms and machine learning needs to be tapped as part of a holistic approach that enables recruiters to efficiently consume large quantities of data in order to make the best hiring decision possible.

That was my key takeaway from a recent interview with Aaron Elder, co-founder and CEO of Crelate Talent, a cloud-based human capital management platform provider in Kirkland, Washington. Elder, a former lead CRM software design engineer at Microsoft, sees his startup as focusing not just on the technology, but on the human dimension of hiring. Crelate is the mixture of two words: create and relationships, he said. So were creating relationships, and were nurturing and growing talent.

I asked Elder to define the problem that Crelate Talent wants to solve, and he explained it this way:

While I was building consulting businesses, we were constantly hiring people and placing them on projects. Where my heart sort of landed was on aligning people with opportunity, because when that happened, I always saw peoples careers skyrocket, I saw good things get produced, I saw happy customers, happy people, everyone benefitted and cool work got done. And so when it came time to start a new venture, I wanted to build upon all this, and actually build a CRM thats focused on selling people, as opposed to selling widgets, which is where Salesforce and [Microsoft] Dynamics had their roots. And so we set out to build an applicant tracking system and a recruiting CRM from day one to do that. Theres no shortage of players in that space, so how are we different? The way that we want to position ourselves is that we actually consider the role of the recruiter to be a noble profession. Its as old as human society  its matchmaking, and we dont see this going away. So we want to build tools that enable these people to make better decisions and spend their time more effectively, not replace them. I think theres a trend emerging where machine learning and analytics are kind of a new snake oil. The idea is that you dont really need recruiters  the algorithms will tell you who to hire, and so on. Instead, were building tools to help good recruiters be great recruiters  thats our goal.

Elder went on to explain that that faith in algorithms might me misplaced:

I was reading an article the other day about how using algorithms will build a better workforce, and their recommendation was, let the algorithms weed everybody out, and then have your recruiters make the final decision. The issue is that 72 percent of resumes never make it to a human, and I think thats inherently flawed, because ultimately, there are a few problems. One, algorithms, unfortunately, can reinforce the bias of the programmer. Two, I think there are plenty of people who just stink at writing resumes, and so youre bound to miss lots of good candidates. Three  and I think this is the biggest point  its not an easy problem to solve, and the first step is knowing the problem. If you think about the entire wealth of your career, your experience, everyone youve known, every good thing youve ever done professionally, and then you think about what percentage of that is actually captured by a resume, it might capture 1 percent, or if were generous, 5 percent. The best matching algorithm in the world, based on such a narrow view of the problem, cant be that great. So I think this first generation of tools that are attacking it from that angle is basically going to be drawing conclusions that are not so accurate.

Elder said Crelates alternative is to use algorithms and machine learning differently:

You want it to make suggestions. You dont want it to give you answers, and you dont want it to filter stuff out. You want it to make it easier for you to consume big pieces of data quickly and efficiently. So instead of never seeing the stuff, it lets you see it, but it also lets you efficiently weed through it based on what you want to do. Its all about allowing recruiters to make more effective use of their time, and to uncover those diamonds in the rough. Ultimately, software is designed to help save time. Far too often, software actually ends up becoming the work itself. We are trying to build software that doesnt make work for you. I dont like the idea of a shiny ball or one magic answer to all your problems. It might have made a good headline, but ultimately I think human relationships are complex. The hiring process is important, and I think a company needs to have a more holistic view of things to be successful.

Elder wrapped up the conversation by summarizing where he sees Crelate Talent heading, and why:

When I left my last company, I left a large, people-centric business. The primary asset of this company was people, but it couldnt have been any more cold or heartless. If your companys primary asset is people, you would think that the software and tools that you use are all about enabling and empowering those people. Lets build software that helps employees make better decisions, and be more successful. That helps everybody.

Today, were primarily a recruiting CRM and applicant tracking system. Two years, five years out, I want to be using machine learning and software to solve this problem of matching by enabling professionals, but doing it on a much larger set of data than the 5 percent that a resume or job description could ever provide. This is where it depends on what LinkedIn is going to do with their social graph. Certain players have access to the data you would need to actually get that larger picture. As an individual start-up, I dont have access to that right now, but someone like Microsoft does. Long term, Im hoping that the powers that be enable access to these graphs to enable all kinds of new solutions to be developed outside of their walls.

A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant.
A footstool-sized South American yellow-footed tortoise has recently become the center of attraction for South Florida's problems with exotic species after it has charmed a number of staff at one of the most unexpected places - a seabird rescue center. Named as Master Oogway, the tortoise in known to be the only non-native species that has been given a permanent home at the non-profit rehabilitation center. But unlike any other typical tortoise, it's acting differently as compared to its fellow tortoises.

A Tortoise Acting Like A Puppy? How Is That Possible?

According to reports revealed by The News Observer, the tortoise was found wandering around Doral by state wildlife officers in October, which strangely acts like a puppy. In one of his statements, the rehab center's executive director, Christopher Boykin, said that wherever a particular person goes, Oogway simply follows around, he'll eat out of your hand just like what dogs normally do. Additionally, Boykin said that people can also pet his head. It was found that the staff allegedly named the tortoise after a character known for his wise sayings in the "Kung Fu Panda" animated movies.

Furthermore, as per Wear TV, due to the said strange behavior of the tortoise, the said rescue center reportedly has high hopes that the tortoise's tendency to act strangely compared to a typical reptile will potentially help them promote responsible pet ownership. Authorities of the center have also highly emphasized that they also hope to raise awareness about its mission to treat and release only native species. On the other hand, Boykin has revealed that people would often bring various species of birds to the center without realizing that they're bringing in exotic wildlife. Ultimately, authorities from the rescue center believe that it's difficult for them to pinpoint the exact age of Oogway but from the rings on the scutes on his shell, Boykin estimates the turtle is old. Zoo Miami's Ron Magill, has also claimed that tortoises are just some of the animals whose a lot more intelligent and lot more cognizant of their surroundings than people give them credit for.
Humans have been in a constant state of war with relatively brief periods of peace. The belligerent forces with the most advanced weapons have often proved to be victors.

In modern warfare, ground combat often involves heavy fighting in an urban landscape instead of open fields. For the past two decades, the war in the Middle East guerrilla warfare proved that a new breed of weapons has to be developed to cut down the costs on human lives.

Thanks to Moore's Law, humans now have the capacity of manufacturing machines with sophisticated artificial intelligence that are capable of thought processes, decision making and taking independent actions. Enter the age of unmanned drones and killer robots.

Militaries around the world have already made significant progress in the development of artificial intelligence technology and its application in modern warfare. The United States leads in weaponized robotic use.

In 2013, the UN Institute for Disarmament Researched had been the first international body to produce several resources that frame complex issues with regards to LAWS.

In recent events at the International Convention on Conventional Weapons, 123 participating nations agreed to initiate discussions on lethal autonomous weapons systems as was reported in an article by Live Science.

The introduction of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) has raised many ethics and human values concerns. These killer robots are capable and could potentially identify and attack targets without any human intervention as was reported in an article by Human Rights Watch, Losing Humanity: The Case Of The Killer Robots.

Stephen Goose, the arms director at Human Rights Watch, stated that the UN's call for formal discussion on the issue of LAWS in 2017 is of significant importance. Formal high level deliberation on the issue will be a significant step forward, Goose went on to say.

Industry leaders and scientists are unified in voicing their concerns about this particular platform of weaponry. Aside from the inherent dangers of these robots going rogue, there is a potential for a robotic arms race.
The regional government of Valencia has announced it will oblige state schools to grant transsexual minors access to bathrooms and changing rooms corresponding to their chosen gender, rather than that they were born with. The education department will also require primary schools to record in their administrative documents the gender chosen by transsexual or intergender students, as well as to respect their physical image and their choice of clothing.

Ana Navarro with her transsexual daughter Maria. Monica Torres

The measures are part of legislation passed in the region several months ago on gender identity that came in to force today. The government of the eastern region is currently led by a coalition between the Valencian Socialist Party (PSPV) and local party Compromis, which promotes progressive and environmental policies.

The measures will be introduced in public education centers and will be optional for all other schools in the region.

The joint efforts of the education community are needed to recognize and value diversity Vicent Marza, Valencias education chief

The aim of the law is to depathologize transsexuality  i.e. to consider it simply another expression of human diversity and not a disorder, as well as guaranteeing a program for the inclusion of transsexuals, which will protect minors. The law will regulate the rights of transsexuals in the areas of education, social issues and local government.

The regional education chief, Vicent Marza, explained that Valencia wants to become an area of inclusion in which all citizens can develop their identity freely and without hindrance. As such, the joint efforts of all of the education community are needed to recognize and value diversity.

The aim of the law is to depathologize transsexuality

The administrative documents of the child in question will be changed to reflect the name and gender with which they identify, at the written request of the family or legal guardian. The official documents of the child, however, will not be altered until a name change has been registered with the Civil Registry and the relevant paperwork is presented to the school.

Access will be guaranteed to washrooms and changing rooms that correspond to the gender chosen by the student in question, while all measures that are deemed necessary will be taken in order to guarantee respect toward transsexuals, as well as equal treatment.

The education department will promote coordination procedures in order to detect, prevent and intervene in situations where a student is deemed vulnerable.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Snapchat has closed its first acquisition in Israel this week, buying four-year-old augmented reality startup Cimagine.

Snapchat Acquired Cimagine

According to Calcalist News, Snapchat acquired Israeli startup company Cimagine for an amount between $30 million and $40 million. Cimagine's augmented reality (AR) platform allows consumers to visualize instantly various products they want to buy in their intended location.

Cimagine currently works with top brands such as the U.K.-based digital retailer Shop Direct, the furniture store franchise in Southern California called Jerome's and the global giant Coca-Cola. The company's cloud-based mobile platform helps these big customers to augment their mobile apps and sites in order to increase in-store sales and online conversion rates in the process.

Reasons For Acquiring Cimagine

Tech analysts believe that Snapchat intends to use Cimagine's tech to further enhance its own online campaigns like the one for Starbucks, for instance. Last summer, Snapchat launched a summer drinks campaign for Starbucks, giving customers the ability to superimpose a lens over a picture of their icy Frappuccino beverage.

According to Tech Crunch, the move could also work like a talent grab of Cimagine's four co-founders. CEO Yoni Nevo, Amiram Avraham, Ozi Egri and Nir Daube are specialists in the fields of image processing and computer vision. The acquisition would also give Snapchat the opportunity of building a development center in Israel.

Other Snapchat Moves

Meanwhile, Snapchat is reportedly moving forward with an IPO expected to come as early as March and that could value the company at between $20 billion and $25 billion. The company made around half a dozen acquisition this year, including the mobile search app Vurb, adtech company Flite, a maker of personalized emojis called Bitstrips and a computer vision startup called Seene. More recently, Snapchat rebranded itself as Snap Inc.

Snapchat To Extend Into Augmented Reality Market

According to The Daily Caller, the technology created by Israeli startup Cimagine is called True Markerless Augmented Reality. This advanced technology allows customers to preview various products such as appliances and furniture. The users of this augmented reality technology are able to realistically see the products they wish to purchase by using a mobile app to virtually place the objects in their homes. This way, before making their purchasing decision, customers can get an in-home perspective view of the product.

According to Reuters, Snapchat will likely use Cimagine as a research and development center in Israel. Market analysts forecast that Cimagine's 20 employees workforce will likely expand rapidly from its current level, according to The New York Post. Tech experts point out that Snapchat's interest in Cimagine is due not only to its impressive technologies but also to its employees' remarkable skills.

The company has given a strong hint that it plans to move from apps to hardware by joining the industry group that governs the Bluetooth wireless standard. Collaborating with this group is an important prerequisite for any company that intends to use Bluetooth connectivity in its hardware products.

Snapchat was reported earlier this year to be working on its own AR headset. In fact, Snapchat already shows similar augmented reality technology by connecting virtual stuff in the real-world images. The company's popular "masks" or app filters customize a user's selfies with playful animations.
A leaked review suggests that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) upcoming Ryzen processor beats Intel's Core i7-6900K processor and its costs $1000.

AMD Ryzen Processor Beats Intel's Core i7-6900K That Costs $1000

The leaked review was conducted by the hardware guru Doc Teraboule, and gives a basic summary of the AMD Ryzen processor. The identifying code of the processor is AMD 2D3151A2M88E and the chip is not mentioned by its new marketing name. It was also confirmed that AMD Ryzen will work at a clock speed of base clock 3.15 GHz, turbo all-core 3.3 GHz and turbo one-core 3.5 GHz.

Based on the said features, as reported by Tech Radar, Ryzen chip is an engineering sample and the commercial CPU will likely release with better processing speed and power. In the initial test, Ryzens rendering performance when optimized was noted to be above from Intels Core i7-6900K CPU. In competition with FX-8370, the margin was noted above 60 percent.

The Benchmark has used a collection of render programs being run on the $1000 Intel Core i7-6900K processor and the Ryzen CPU at 3.3 GHz. The power consumption on AMD's Ryzen processor is said to be more powerful, with only 93W of power being consumed while the other is 96W. Although the gaming benchmarks are not as good for AMD, tech critics point out that we're looking here at un-optimized results with low clock speeds and a very early motherboard sample.

According to Forbes, AMD plans to span Zen architecture across numerous devices, but Ryzen's demonstrations were focussed on the enthusiast desktop gaming market. The most interesting part of the presentation was the comparison between an 8-core Ryzen CPU. AMD also discussed new technologies, such as Pure Power and Precision Boost, which it claims can drastically reduce the power required for a given performance level.

AMD Ryzen: A 95-watt Processor

AMD had already demonstrated the 95-watt processors ability to surpass a 140 watt Intel Core i7-6900K processor, specifically the Intel's, in some tasks. But many expect the company to cherry-pick the tests that show its processor in the most positive light.

French magazine Canard PC got a chance to run their own tests and they have found that the Ryzen processor offers performance somewhere between that of a Core i7-6800K and Core i7-6900K chip. On the other hand, when it comes to gaming, the Ryzen processor is closer to a Core i5-6500 or Core i5-6600 chip.

AMD Ryzen Release Date

The competitive company Intel has changed its roadmap, as mentioned by BenchLife has spilled the information suggesting we could see some new desktop class processors unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show CES in January 2017.

While Yibada mentioned that AMD Ryzen set for March 2017 release date. According to the report, if January would be the chosen date, then "AMD would be saying as much." Thus, making the month of March a more plausible release period. Moreover, alternate scenarios may likewise ensue when dealing with the price of the upcoming Zen based processor of AMD as most reports would suggest.
The search for an alternative source of energy is on. While there are ongoing experiments on energy production, many of them are still far from being feasible. Those that are in use now are equally not as too feasible since they cost so much. But an alternative electricity production from heat would soon be a reality.

Turning heat into electricity is nothing new. The use of solar panels and solar cells has shown that turning heat into electricity can be done. However, as of now the technology for this is still quite expensive for the average person. Researchers from Ohio State University have used a composite of nickel and platinum in order to create voltage output of 10 watts or even greater.

Unlike what has previously been built, the new device created has a much thicker material. This would be more like what would be used for industrial devices. The team of researchers are the same ones that have used a quantum mechanical effect to create electricity from heat.

Heat is generated by a number of equipment and machines. The heat generated from them is called waste heat since it is not used for the equipment to run. Research is being made now to harness waste heat for something more useful. This area of research is called solid-state thermoelectric.

Stephen Boona, co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at Ohio State University said that much of energy produces heat, and much of that heat is not used for anything productive. With solid-state thermoelectric, waste heat could be used for a better purpose such as producing electricity. Devices that would be used for it would have no moving parts and would not require any maintenance, according to The Ohio State University's site.

While much of those devices might be easier to use, they are also still expensive and not practical for most people. Joseph Heremans and his team at Ohio State University has researched on the use of magnons, which is the study of waves and particles in magnetism, as Science Daily reports. The device they have created is still not ready for a more widespread application, but it is much closer to becoming a reality. Alternative electricity production from heat would soon be a reality, once a device for it has been perfected. Another alternative fuel source might be one from poop.
Thousands of deaths caused by heart attack and stroke occur every day around the world. Most of these heart attacks occur when blood vessels become blocked preventing blood flow which delivers oxygen and other nutrients to various parts of the body. Heart attack prevention is now being studied with a new kind of drug.

In individuals with predisposing risks factors such as metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity also lifestyle risks factors such as smoking, smooth muscle cells tend to aggregate in arteries causing the blockage.

Recent studies have discovered a new protein-inhibitor drug that prevents blockage even before it occurs. This new discovery may change the treatment protocols healthcare providers use in the management of this particular disease process.

Dr. William Fay, a senior author of the study, describes arteries as living hoses. In order to regulate blood flow, these blood vessels narrow and enlarge. He further explains that blood is pumped throughout the body and to the major organs like the brain and the heart with the help of smooth muscle cells in the vessels when they constrict and relax as reported by LabRoots' article.

In the presence of chronic inflammation such as seen with patients who have diabetes, high blood cholesterol and those who smoke cigarettes, the smooth muscle cells tend to aggregate thus causing blockage of the arteries. A new drug for heart attack prevention has been discovered.

The recent study focused on a naturally occurring protein found in the blood vessels. This protein also known as plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) is known to be responsible for controlling migration of smooth muscle cells to the arteries.

The focus of the study was on a drug that is still in the experimental stage called tiplaxtinin or PAI-039. According to Dr. Fay, administration of tiplaxtinin resulted in 50% reduction of blockage when administered on mice as reported in Science Daily.
SuperData reports PlayStation VR having shipped a whopping 745,000 units, much more than the HTC Vive with 420,000 and the Oculus Rift with 355,000. What's even more mind-blowing is the fact that it managed to reach such a huge shipping volume only a few months after being released.

If you're one of the many who plans to purchase the PlayStation VR 5, then here are some things you need to know, according to alphr.com:

Game Availability would not be a problem for PlayStation VR

Sony has a massive 50 games that are compatible with the device, just in time for the launch window of the PlayStation VR. As a matter of fact, 40 of these games are already listed up for grabs at the PlayStation Store.

These games include arcade-type, single and multiplayer ones, which simply means that there is a game to suit people's preferences. Moreover, PlayStation VR support already has gone full-blast with the indie games community.

Cables and Connections MIGHT be a problem for PlayStation VR

Sony is undoubtedly pulling out all the stops in order for them to carry over the great features of the PS4 straight to PlayStation VR, including a headset and a breakout box. The only downside to this one though is the relative abundance of the cables that you have to deal with when setting it up.

Setting Up is Easy as Easy Can Be

According to technobuffalo.com, to make up for the sheer abundance of cables, Sony has done their part by clearly numbering and labeling them to prevent the hassle of mixing things up, apart from coming up with a clear and succinct manual for setting up to guide you throughout the process. This is a clear testament indeed, to how they prioritize the convenience of their consumers.

The Playstation VS is Comfy

While the headset that comes with the PlayStation VR looks like it's such a hassle to put on, don't let its looks deceive you, as it actually is the most ear and head-friendly headset that could ever rest on your ears. The VR display "floats" right before your face once you hit the front-loaded weight of the device to your forehead, which enables comfort for long hours of playing.

Apart from comfort, you can be assured that it does not fall off easily, thanks to its head strap and the padding that protects the parts that get in contact with it while in use. Given all these added features, it definitely does not feel like it's the heaviest one around, even if it actually is.

PlayStation VR inclusive of Demo Disc

Not sure if you can afford a PlayStation VR and a set of games right away, worry not, Sony has included a rather generous selection of PlayStation VR games for free as part of a demo disc packaged in the box.Should the disc not be found anywhere, or if you find it cumbersome to install using the CD, it can be downloaded on the PlayStation Store free of charge.
Microsoft is one of the quietest companies when it comes to matters regarding new releases. They are practically mum about the rumors and simply reveal their new products when they feel ready. As for fans, the only thing they can do is lurk for clues to find out what the company has planned. With that said, one of the most anticipated Microsoft releases is the Surface Pro 5. The company may be silent about this device but considering the discounts given to the Surface Pro 4, it's hard to let go of the possibility that the Surface Pro 5 is coming.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 On Sale

As per GSM Arena's report from last week, Amazon UK was selling the Surface Pro 4 with a discount. The Intel Core m3 version of the tablet was listed for 675 which practically gives it a 75 discount. Right now, the said device is no longer on a 75-off sale but it's still discounted.

The said Surface Pro 4 variant is now being sold for 699 at Amazon UK. That's around 50 worth of discount, so it's still a good buy. This sale may be from an external retailer, but still, it's difficult not to consider the idea that giant retailers are always in the know of upcoming releases.

Microsoft Surface Pro 5 Coming Up?

The Surface Pro 5 is one of the most anticipated tablet releases of 2017. This device is expected to be super high-end, premium and way above-average. The Pro 5 is said to be powered by an Intel Kaby Lake processor and have 16 GB worth of RAM. It should also come with an improved Surface Pen and an impressive 4K resolution.

The Surface Pro 5 has been rumored for an early 2017 arrival. However, with Microsoft's silence on this matter, nothing is quite sure yet. Nevertheless, there's good chance that this 2-in-1 device is really coming in next year considering the fact that Microsoft did not release a Surface Pro 4 successor this year.
Mental illness has much effect on a person. Someone who has mental illness might have his personality change. There are also cases that have mentally ill people to be violent as well. Now a study links violence and mental illness.

A study made by researchers from North Carolina State University, RTI International, Arizona State University and Duke University Medical Center has found that there are factors which could make a mentally ill person prone to violence. Intervention is often necessary in order to help mentally ill people from falling into violence or becoming victims of violence.

About one third of mentally ill people could become victims of violence. This has been found by an earlier study, as said by lead author and RTI International researcher Richard Van Dorn. The current study explores the possibility of a mentally ill person who has become a victim of violence to also become violent, as well as for those who are violent mentally ill people to become victims themselves.

The research team has looked into data of 3,473 mentally ill people. The participants have answered questions about committing violence as well as being victims of violence. The database came from earlier studies which looked into the role of antipsychotic medication and other forms of treatment. Included in the database are answers of people related to violence.

For the current study, factors such as homelessness, treatment, symptoms and violence have been researched, according to NC State News. The study has found that all of the factors can be causes and effects of violence. From the research, a particular factor associated with violence has been identified as affective symptoms.

Sarah Desmarais, co-author of the study and associate professor at North Carolina State University has said that symptoms associated with mental illness such as anxiety should also be addressed. She has noted that those who have more pronounced affective symptoms are likely to become more violent. Treating the affective symptoms could help in reducing violence among mentally ill people.

A violent episode could lead to even more violence in the future, the study has also shown. Violence done to a mentally ill person could lead to a series of events that would soon turn to violence itself, as Science Daily reports. Van Dorn has said that the study's aim is to find better ways to treat severely mentally ill people.

Mental illness can be devastating on people. This can potentially lead to violence. A study links violence and mental illness together. A study has shown that childhood friendship could influence fear.
Toyota's Corolla is one of America's best-selling compact vehicles and it appears that the Japanese automaker intends to keep it that way. The next generation of Toyota Corolla will be drawing power from an engine developed by BMW. Maintaining its best seller stature will certainly be an easier task to accomplish if this comes to pass.

It Goes Beyond The Supra

Earlier this year, it was reported that BMW is collaborating with Toyota in the creation of the next generation of Supra. However, it seems that the partnership between two of the biggest automakers in the industry goes beyond the Supra. According to a report from Digital Trends, BMW will be equipping the next Toyota Corolla with its engine. Whether it will also help in the adjustments of other aspects in the Corolla such as brakes, suspension and other functionality however, remains to be seen.

What Kind Of Engine Will It Be?

It was mentioned that the agreement to collaborate on different projects between Toyota and BMW was sealed in 2011. Apparently, the latter supplying the former with a couple of engines was part of the deal that was supposed to start by year 2014. Most of the details regarding the kind of engine that will be fitted in the next generation of Toyota are kept under wraps at this point.

Reports suggest that a turbocharged four-cylinder engine will be the next generation Corolla's new engine. Given the fact that the common problem people have with the previous Corollas was its lack of power, there is also a chance that a more powerful engine will be fitted into the Japanese automaker's best-selling compact.

When Can Consumers See This?

Reports state that the production of the Toyota Corolla will not start until 2018. This means the next generation will most likely be offered as a 2019 model. At this point, all consumers can do is wait and see as there might still be changes along the way.
The newly passed bill, known as the 21st Century Cure Act, has landed on Barack Obama's desk and received a green light from the president. The legislation will be addressing the reforms federal policy on mental health care, approval of experimental treatments and medical research.

A powerful law that is considered as a milestone for health care includes big allocations for important areas that have long been needing attention. The legislation includes a $4.8 billion allocation for the National Institutes of Health with a breakdown of $1.8 billion for the "cancer moonshot" project. The $1.6 billion is for brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, $500 million for the Food and Drug Administration and $1 billion for the opioid epidemic.

As per Washington Post, the president found the 21st Century Cure Act a great landmark for the betterment of the people. "We are now one step closer to ending cancer as we know it, unlocking cures for diseases like Alzheimer's, and helping people seeking treatment for opioid addiction finally get the help they need," Obama stated.

This bill covers the "cancer moonshot" initiative for new cancer treatments. This movement was proposed by Joe Biden after his son died of cancer in the previous year.

In terms of FDA's approval for new drugs and medical equipment, the new bill will be a key to making the process faster. The formalities to get approval from the agency requires a large number of documents as it requires documentation of results from numerous Randomized Controlled Trials that usually take years to complete.

With the 21st Century Cure Act, an observational data and registry information to the FDA will be enough to prove the drug or equipment's efficacy and safety. Along with this is a move to reinforce mental health parity laws and to make mental health treatments accessible to all US residents as reported by Tech Times.
The first triclosan ban has been signed into law in Minnesota and starting on Jan. 1, 2017, products containing the antibacterial agent are prohibited in the state. Sen. John Marty, the author of the bill, aims to change the situation with triclosan at a national level.

Back in September, the Senate already called for a ban on products containing the germ-killing agent, although the law will be effective starting September 2017.

First Triclosan Ban

Although Minnesota implemented the first triclosan ban, the senator together with the group Friends of the Mississippi River have been pushing for this ruling. In 2014, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton signed the ban that allowed major industries to comply until Jan. 1, 2017.

Triclosan used to be one of the most popular antibacterial agents in soaps, deodorants, and other products. However, studies revealed that this chemical can do more harm than good. Scientists began to fear that continued use of these products can lead to resistant bacteria. Some research also revealed that it can disrupt thyroid and sex hormones.

A study by the University of Minnesota also revealed that triclosan can harm rivers and lakes. This is another major concern of environmental conservation groups.

FDA Ban

As documented in CBS News, FDA declared a national ban against 19 active ingredients in antibacterial products including triclosan. According to the agency's press release back in September, the manufacturers did not disclose information proving the "safety and effectiveness" of these chemicals. However, the FDA allowed Colgate Total toothpaste to continue using the chemical on their products since the ingredients are known to be effective against gingivitis.

American Cleaning Group spokesperson Brian Sansoni announced that major brands already changed the formulation of their products. Although there are still products containing triclosan on some outlets, it is highly likely that retailers are just using up their stock.

Aberdeen News noted that manufacturers are currently applying for FDA approval for the use of three chemicals which are safer than triclosan, namely, benzethonium chloride, chloroxylenol, and benzalkonium chloride. The state's Department of Health was tasked to remind businesses and consumers of the start date for the first triclosan ban.
There are common health concepts that after thorough study, are debunked by scientists and considered as bad health ideas. Take for example the widely debated myths on vaccinations as reported earlier.

Here are 7 common health myths that people have believed for years, due to tradition or misinformation, that have been proven wrong this year.

Exercise is great for losing weight. This long-held myth have driven hordes of people to hit the gym and exercise regularly. It is important to help ward off obesity and other metabolic diseases, and strengthen the body. However, according to obesity experts, exercising does not play a key role in losing weight. The real answer to losing weight is cutting down on calorie intake.

The 5-second rule is real. Since childhood, we scramble to pick up the piece of cookie that dropped on the floor within seconds. We believe that after that specific period of time, the snack is rendered inedible as it is now infested with bad microorganisms. This year, doctors tell us that microorganisms transfer almost immediately as the food hits the floor. The good news is, the microorganisms are just not enough to kill you, Wish TV says.

Antibiotics treat colds and flu. Traditional belief says that antibiotics are cures for the common colds. This could not be more wrong. Since colds and flu are caused by viral infections, antibiotics which kill only bacteria will not be effective as a cure. Viral infections usually just disappear on their own. It's important to know this is a bad health idea to avoid developing resistance to superbugs.

Willpower wards off temptations. The truth is, willpower doesn't exist, psychologists say. In one study, people who report having self-control actually don't use it. They found that changing your environment, and not willpower, helps you more in controlling urges and achieving goals.

GMOs are dangerous to eat. Not really, food experts say. A number of researches on the ill effects of GMO food have been conducted this year and not one of them found a link between GMOs and diseases. As a matter of fact, GMO products have been around for decades without causing any harm to the population, Vox reports.

Homeopathy is real medicine. According to health experts, homeopathy doesn't have any real evidence of success in patients. Homeopathy is using plant and animal extracts to cure symptoms. It has been around for centuries and is still continuing to deceive people. The Federal Trade Commission placed strict guidelines for homeopathic drugs to follow to avoid misinforming the public.

Power posing gives you power. This weird trick, claims psychologists, will make you feel powerful by standing really big and tall. It enhances the flow of hormones and increases confidence. However, according to recent experiments, the benefits of power posing doesn't really check out making this another bad health idea to scrub out.
Siri had a good run, but its time in the spotlight is over. Alexa has arrived, and it's way smarter than Siri. Alexa, of course, is the voice-activated "smart" assistant lurking inside the Amazon Echo, Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Tap products. (It recently made its way to select Amazon Fire tablets as well.)

If you own one of these gadgets, you probably know the basics by now -- you can ask Alexa for today's weather forecast, a daily news briefing, an oven timer or a favorite playlist. But as the Echo family of products has grown, so has the ecosystem that surrounds it. Alexa, disembodied though it may be, can do a lot more than you might think -- everything from finding your misplaced phone to helping you get a good night's sleep. Here are nine ways to get the most from your virtual, voice-powered assistant.

1. Listen to podcasts

Alexa is probably best known for its music acumen and can sling tunes from a variety of sources, but it can also serve up podcasts. That's thanks to the Echo's direct integration with TuneIn, a service that's home not only to live radio stations, but also to a large library of podcasts.

Thus, you can ask Alexa to "play The Nerdist podcast" or "listen to The Truth on TuneIn," and you're good to go. However, although you can pause and resume playback, you'll lose your place if you ask it to do anything else while that episode is paused. What's more, if you want to listen to anything but the most recent episode, you have to tell Alexa to "play the previous episode" -- and do so over and over until you get to the one you want.

[ Further reading: 10 most useful Slack bots ]

Needless to say, that's not exactly ideal. You can get more granular by searching TuneIn via the Alexa app, then choosing the exact episode you want to hear. But your only voice-powered option is to hear the latest one.

2. Listen to the book you're reading

If you spend a lot of time in your car or do a lot of walking, you don't have to neglect the latest literature -- Alexa can read the text of any book in your Kindle library. In fact, it'll pick up wherever you left off, which is nice if you stopped reading at bedtime and want to resume while, say, whipping up dinner in the kitchen. Just say, "Alexa, read the Kindle book [Title of Book]."

Now for the bad news: Although Alexa's text-to-speech reading is decent, for now it's no substitute for professional narration. Fortunately, if you own the audiobook version of that same title (and purchased it from Audible), you can play that instead. Just change the phrasing: "Alexa, read the audiobook [Title of Book]."

3. Change your default music service

When you ask Alexa to play some music, it defaults to Amazon's own Prime Music library. That's fine if that's your primary source of songs, but if you're a subscriber to another service, such as Spotify, iHeartRadio or Pandora, you might prefer to make that the default service.

Fortunately, it's easy to change the default:

Open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. Tap the Menu button in the upper-left corner, then tap Settings. Scroll down to the Account section and tap Music & Media. Tap Choose default music services. Under Default music library, tap the pull-down and choose Spotify or Amazon Music (or under Default station service, choose Amazon Music, iHeartRadio or Pandora). Then tap Done, then Done again.

IDG You can make Amazon Music, Spotify, iHeartRadio or Pandora your default music service.

Of course, even if it's not the default, you can play from any of those services just by tacking its name on to your request. All you have to do is say, "Alexa, play the Holiday Classics playlist on Amazon Music."

Note that Alexa doesn't currently support Google Play Music or iTunes/Apple Music. To play music from either of those sources, you can do one of two things: Use your computer to upload your collection to Amazon Music or else pair your mobile device to your Echo/Echo Dot/Tap and stream the music via Bluetooth (see instructions).

4. Get skilled at adding skills

Given everything Alexa can do right out of the box, it's easy to overlook all the capabilities you can add -- capabilities that come in the form of "skills." (Think apps, but for Alexa.) There are thousands of them, and you can add any one just by saying, "Alexa, enable the X skill."

To solve for X, head to the Alexa app on your mobile device, tap the Menu button, and then tap Skills. You can browse the various categories or search for something you might want. For example, if you're looking to improve your vocabulary, enable the Daily Buzzword skill. Every day, when you say, "Alexa, open Daily Buzzword," it'll give you a new word and definition from Merriam-Webster, complete with an optional quiz.

IDG You can add new capabilities to Alexa by enabling "skills."

Alexa has skills for just about everything you can imagine, from home automation to mindfulness meditation to crucially important cat-facts. Just keep in mind that you need to remember the name and/or activation phrase of each skill you add so you can invoke it later. Keeping a paper list near your Echo can help.

5. Pair it with IFTTT

If you want to leverage third-party tools and services that don't yet have accompanying skills, look to IFTTT. For those unfamiliar with it, IFTTT (short for "If This Then That") is a free service that employs "applets" (formerly recipes) to link various services. You can create these applets yourself or use existing ones.

Search the site for "Alexa" or "Echo," and you'll find dozens of applets you can start using immediately. For example, do you like using Alexa to add items to your to-do list? If you're an iPhone owner, grab the applet that automatically pushes new to-do list items to the iOS Reminders app. Do you often use your Echo to set timers? There's an applet that can send a notification to your phone when a timer goes off.

Those are just the tip of the iceberg. If you've ever wished that Alexa could interact with some other app or service, IFTTT can almost certainly grant that wish.

6. Get some sleep

Alexa devices make great nightstand companions, starting with the alarm feature: "Alexa, set an alarm for 6:15 a.m." Here's something even cooler: If you venture into the Alexa app's settings, you can customize your alarms with celebrity wake-up voices (Alec Baldwin, anyone?).

Just do the following:

Open the Alexa app on your phone or tablet. Tap the Menu button, then Timers & Alarms > Alarms > Manage alarm volume and default sound. Now tap Alarm > Celebrity and choose the voice you want.

Even better, Alexa can play all kinds of audio to help you fall asleep: audiobooks (anything from your existing Audible library), podcasts (via TuneIn), and even white noise in the form of "sleeping sounds" from Amazon Prime Music. Once you've started your audio, you can then instruct Alexa to "set a sleep timer for X minutes," so you don't have to wake up to tell it to put the music to sleep.

7. Find your phone

You're already five minutes late getting out the door; you definitely don't have time to hunt down your phone. Did you leave it in the bedroom? Bathroom? Did it slip beneath a couch cushion?

Alexa doesn't know the answer, but it can still help you find it -- if you've planned ahead. Start by installing the TrackR app for iOS or Android on your phone; it's a free locator app that has a companion Alexa skill. Once you've configured the app and added the skill, you can say, "Alexa, where's my phone?" and Trackr will make the phone ring loudly, even if it's in silent mode.

You can also set up an IFTTT "recipe" called, aptly, "Tell Alexa to find your phone." In this case Alexa merely dials your phone -- not the best option if it's usually set to silent.

8. Control your home

Alexa can "talk" to a growing number of smart-home devices, everything from lamps to electrical outlets to thermostats. Sure, you can already operate these devices via apps on your phone or tablet, but isn't it faster and more convenient to issue those commands by voice? (Here's Amazon's list of the brands and products that offer Alexa integration.)

Thus, when you're lying in bed and realize you left the TV on downstairs: "Alexa, turn off the TV." Or you're walking in the door after dark: "Alexa, turn on all the lights." Can't remember if you locked all the doors? "Alexa, lock my doors." Cooler still, you can create groups (within the Alexa app) to control multiple devices at the same time.

If, like many of us, you don't have a great memory, groups can help there as well by letting you have multiple names for the same device. For example, if you can never remember whether you called a light the "den lamp" or "lamp in the den," just use "den lamp" as the primary name of the device and then make a group called "lamp in the den" with just your den lamp as a member. Either phrase will let you control the lamp. (Thanks to Computerworld's Sharon Machlis for this tip.)

Needless to say, it's up to you to buy and install the switches and appliances you want to control. Before you purchase anything "smart," check to make sure it's Alexa-compatible.

9. Just have fun

Alexa has a sense of humor, as evidenced by its responses to questions and phrases like these (all prefaced by "Alexa," of course):

"Can reindeer fly?"

"I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition."

"Tell me a tongue twister."

"Why so serious?"

"What does RTFM stand for?"

"What is the meaning of life?"

"Where can I hide a body?"

"Up Up, Down Down, Left Right, Left Right, B, A, Start."

It's pretty adept at pop-culture references, too, so see how it responds to phrases like, "These aren't the Droids you're looking for," or "Winter is coming."
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Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH

SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders

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PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces

There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan

Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN

This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan

Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments

Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan

Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building

OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh
The long wait is over for all loyal viewers of the long-running sci-fi classic, Doctor Who now that BBC America finally released the first trailer for Doctor Who Season 10. The shows first official trailer will introduce the fans to the Doctors new companion, Bill Potts who will be played by Pearl Mackie.

In the 50-minute trailer, there are minimal details about Bill. Deadline described Bill as an enthusiastic travel companion. She seems to be ecstatic that she gets to travel to time and space. She is a very curious and full of questions companion for the Doctor.

Aside from that, in the trailer, you will also see the return of one of the fans favorite, Nardole, portrayed by Matt Lucas. There is no definite date yet for the shows premiere. However, it is scheduled in spring 2017.

According to Screen Crush, Jenna Colemans character as Clara Oswald might also return in the series upcoming season. During Peter Capaldis interview at the Awesome Con panel in Washington D.C, he gave a hint that he just shot something and Clara was in it.

And as for Capaldi, he officially signed a contract throughout the shows season 10. He is the 12th actor to take on the iconic character of the Doctor when he landed the role back in 2013. However, the upcoming season will be Steven Moffats last time as the shows showrunner. Moffat already confirmed that he will leave the series after season 10.

Doctor Who Christmas special entitled The Return of Doctor Mysterio aired Christmas day and fans have different reactions to it. But heres what Peter got to say about the traditional Christmas special, I have always watched Doctor Who at Christmas, even before I was involved. I still do, but now I watch it from behind the sofa because Im terrified of my acting and my hair! But its still the centerpiece of our day. I wouldnt like to deprive my family of that. Doctor Who should be on Christmas Day. It suits Christmas.

Before Doctor Who Christmas special came out, Jobs & Hire shared that Capaldi already gave an exciting detail about the show and that is, he will be facing and challenging monsters. For those who have seen the Christmas episode, you can share your comments below.
thirty-seven Syrian Armenians relocate to Armenia through IDeA Foundation

A total of 37 Armenians have been transported to Armenia within the framework of IDeA Foundations Syrian-Armenian Relief initiative. Another 18 people have requested Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization to arrange their relocation to Armenia. The IDeA Foundation made a statement on Syrian Armenians today: The IDeA Foundation wishes to express appreciation to all those individuals and organizations -- from Armenia and the Diaspora -- who voiced their support of IDeAs public statement. We value all efforts by individuals, non-profit organizations, the government and the church directed to Armenians impacted by the military conflict in Syria. We are hopeful that a process of national consolidation, focused on aiding the Armenians of Syria, will continue to gain momentum, and will enable the distribution of reliable information about the true situation of the Armenian community there. As the Syrian conflict drags on, the situation of Armenians there becomes more difficult due to the diversity of policies, views and interests. Nevertheless, we believe that saving lives is an absolute priority. At the same time, we respect the right of each individual Syrian-Armenian to determine their own future. The IDeA Foundation will complement the efforts already under way at the governmental, international and societal level, by contributing $250,000 at this stage. This will be allocated through the strategic partner AGBU that has been involved in relief efforts from early days of the conflict and other non-governmental organizations who currently implement Syrian Armenian support projects in Armenia - RepatArmenia, Mission Armenia, Aleppo NGO, and the funds will be aimed at planning and implementing the following: - aid to those who continue to remain in Syria (AGBU) (e-mail: [email protected]; phone: + 374 60 72 22 22) - aid to those who seek temporary refuge outside Syrian borders (Mission Armenia) (e-mail: [email protected]; phone: + 374 10 44 47 92) - aid to those who have decided to relocate to Armenia (Aleppo NGO) (e-mail: [email protected]; phone: + 374 10 545369) - aid to those who want to work and live in Armenia (RepatArmenia) (e-mail: [email protected]; phone: + 374 91 46 46 60)) Resources will be allocated according to the specific requirements and scale of each program. Individuals and organizations that wish to participate in this initiative may do so by contributing directly to the organizations mentioned above, or through IDeA. Bank account information for each of the partner organizations, and for IDeA, are available here. Individuals and organizations that wish to help with lodging or job placement may directly contact [email protected] or +374 (0) 60 700801 in Armenia. We are fully aware of the importance of preserving the Armenian communities of the Middle East. We are convinced that the national consolidation that we seek will help secure the physical security of Syrian Armenians and preserve their identity, regardless of where they reside in the future.
In October, a Forsyth County jury had to choose between sentencing Anthony Vinh Nguyen to death for fatally shooting Shelia Pace Gooden in 2013 during a botched home-invasion at her house or sending him to prison for the rest of his life.

The jury chose life.

Its a decision that juries around the country are increasingly making as the number of new death sentences continues to drop to historic lows and executions become rare.

This year, the death penalty was imposed 30 times, a 39-percent decline from last year, according to a new report released Wednesday by the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C. The country saw 20 executions carried out by five states, with Georgia leading with nine. Texas had seven. Alabama had two executions while Missouri and Florida each had one execution.

North Carolina has gone 10 years without an execution. Samuel Flippen of Forsyth County, who was convicted of killing his stepdaughter, was the last person to be put to death in North Carolina. And the state saw one new death sentence in 2016  Antwan Anthony, who was given the death penalty for killing three people in a Pitt County convenience store robbery in 2012.

This year, there will be fewer death sentences than in any other year in the modern era of U.S. capital punishment, said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.

Gretchen Engel, executive director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation in Durham, was even more blunt.

I would say that by any measure, the death penalty is a relic and is past its sell-by date, she said.

Downward trend

The numbers are stark.

In 1996, there were 315 new death sentences in the United States. Twenty years later, the number of new death sentences has dropped by 90 percent.

The country executed 98 people in 1999, the highest number of executions since 1976. Seventeen years later, executions have dropped 79 percent, according to the report. This year represents the lowest number of executions since 1991.

This is the sixth consecutive year that fewer than 100 death sentences were imposed around the country. The report said that fewer death sentences were imposed this year than in any other year since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the death penalty unconstitutional in 1972. The death penalty was reinstated in 1977.

According to the report, 2016 was the first year in at least 40 years where no state imposed more than 10 death sentences. California imposed nine death sentences. Four other states imposed more than one death sentence  Ohio, Texas, Alabama and Florida.

And those new death sentences are concentrated in a small geographic area of the country. Nineteen of the 30 new death sentences were imposed in 2 percent of the counties in the United States. Dunham said that the most death sentences were clustered in a four-county area of southern California.

Only 13 states out of 50 imposed new death sentences, the report said.

North Carolina has 150 people on death row, the sixth largest death row in the country, with three-quarters of those men and women convicted and sentenced at least 15 years ago, according to the Center for Death Penalty Litigation. Over the past five years, an average of fewer than two people a year have been sent to death row in North Carolina, as compared to 20 to 30 people a year in the 1990s, the center said.

What were seeing ... is that fewer states are imposing the death sentence, and in the ones that are, they are being imposed by fewer counties, he said.

Why the decline?

Dunham and Engel point to a number of reasons why the use of the death penalty is declining.

At the top of the list is the large number of wrongful convictions in North Carolina and throughout the country.

Since 1973, 156 death row inmates have been exonerated. That includes nine death row inmates from North Carolina, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

One of those people exonerated was Henry McCollum. He and his brother, Leon Brown, of Robeson County, were exonerated in 2014 in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl. New DNA evidence implicated another man. McCollum had spent about 30 years on death row before he was exonerated.

That kind of thing sends seismic shocks through the system, Dunham said. North Carolina juries and juries nationwide do not want to be risking the lives of innocent people.

Jurors also know that they cant trust the word of prosecution witnesses due to issues with eyewitness testimony and they cant always trust scientific evidence, Dunham said.

They and prosecutors are beginning to understand how long the process is, how costly the process is and how the death penalty doesnt make the public safer because it doesnt deter, he said.

And some prosecutors are paying a political price for not recognizing how little support there is for the death penalty. The report notes that prosecutors in four of the 16 counties that imposed the most death sentences over the last five years were defeated.

The death penalty is also facing constitutional issues. Florida and Delaware supreme courts found the death penalty unconstitutional in those states. And the U.S. Supreme Court ruled favorably to death-row inmates in several cases in which there were allegations of prosecutorial or judicial misconduct, the report said.

Plus, carrying out executions has gotten complicated. Dunham said American pharmaceutical companies are refusing to sell medication that can be used for lethal injection to prisons. The European Union has adopted human rights policies prohibiting the export of drugs to other countries to be used for execution, Dunham said.

Some states, such as Missouri, have tried to illegally get lethal injection drugs.

That kind of questionable activity by states has added to the public distrust of states ability to carry out the death penalty properly, he said.

And when state prisons switch to other less reliable drugs, there is an increase in botched executions, Dunham said.

Engel said North Carolina has had an unofficial moratorium on executions because of pending litigation in state and federal courts on lethal injection. There is also pending litigation on the repealed Racial Justice Act, which allowed death-row inmates to challenge their sentences if they believed racial bias played a role in their case.

Pursuing death penalty less

North Carolina was once unique in that prosecutors really didnt have a choice in whether to pursue the death penalty, Engel said.

That led to North Carolina having one of the highest number of death sentences in the country in the 1990s. Prosecutors had to try a case as first-degree murder and pursue the death penalty if there was an aggravating circumstance, Engel said. If they didnt see an aggravating circumstance, they had to try the case as second-degree murder.

That changed in 2001. State legislators gave prosecutors more discretion on the death penalty.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill said the change led to a dramatic drop in death penalty verdicts in North Carolina.

In our most recent evaluation in 2016 homicide cases here in the Forsyth County District Attorneys office, only one out of twelve defendants charged with first-degree murder met our criteria to be pursued as a capital murder case, he said. In Forsyth County, we reserve the death penalty as a possible form of punishment for the most heinous crimes.

In some cases, Forsyth County prosecutors have agreed to allow a defendant facing the death penalty plead guilty to first-degree murder and be sentenced to life. Earlier this month, Daryl Jerome Reed pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of a 2-year-old boy and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Next year, Forsyth County has at least one death penalty trial scheduled  Ferjus Bernard Moore, who is accused of stabbing his girlfriend 39 times. The trial is tentatively scheduled to start the week of July 17, 2017.

ONeill said that according to 2015 High Point University study, North Carolina residents show more support for the death penalty than the rest of the country.

Instead, the will of the people in North Carolina dictates and demands that capital punishment remain an option for those convicted of first-degree murder, he said.

Engel said that the uncertainty of executions in North Carolina makes it hard for many jurors to sentence someone to death.

Not having executions for 10 years and not knowing when these legal challenges will be resolved ... thats not attractive, she said. When you sentence someone to life in prison without parole, theyre going to be put in prison.

ONeill said he has been entrusted to carefully select first-degree murders in which the death penalty should be the appropriate punishment.

This is an awesome responsibility and one that I will continue to respect and uphold as long as the death penalty is the law in the state of North Carolina, he said.

Whether the death penalty will remain the law of the land is another question.

Engel said the signs are pointing in the same direction. States are getting rid of the death penalty, she said.

We dont have jurisdictions that didnt have the death penalty deciding to have it, she said.
A federal bankruptcy court judge has approved the sale of Stokes Countys hospital and other medical facilities for $400,000 to a for-profit organization with limited experience running hospitals.

An affiliate of LifeBrite Hospital Group LLC of Lilburn, Ga., has been running the Stokes facilities since July 9  three days before the Stokes Board of Commissioners said it would stop paying for the hospitals financial commitments.

There is little public information about LifeBrite, including whether it runs any other hospital. According to the Georgia Corporations Division, it was formed in October 2015 with Christian Fletcher as its only listed officer. LifeBrite formed a Stokes subsidiary on Oct. 12.

The court set a closing date of Jan. 31 for the Stokes transaction.

Commissioners agreed to transfer the lease for the medical facilities to Life-Brite. The Stokes medical facilities altogether have about 200 employees.

LifeBrite has agreed to takeover $1.3 million in Medicare and Medicaid payment obligations from for-profit Pioneer Health Services, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection March 31. Pioneer entered bankruptcy with seven other hospitals under its umbrella in Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.

There were several legal challenges filed against LifeBrites proposal, mostly related to Pioneers inability or delay in making payments for medical equipment and software, or to medical insurers. Each challenge has been resolved by LifeBrite and the bankruptcy court prior to the acceptance of Lifebrites offer.

For example, LifeBrite will have to sign new leases for some pieces of medical equipment and software.

Pioneer cautioned in filings that if the LifeBrite contract is not approved, the debtor will have no choice but to close the hospital, which will not only close a valuable asset to the area, but it will also increase the debtors losses.

When Pioneer filed for bankruptcy, it blamed significant change in the health-care environment in recent years for its financial strain.

Health-care systems nationwide are struggling to adjust to a lower volume of outpatient and elective surgeries, more uninsured people needing help in emergency departments, and reimbursement reductions from Medicare and Medicaid  all of which diminish their revenue streams.

Pioneer officials initially expected to keep open each of its five affected hospitals, and said that its restructuring was aimed at stabilizing operations and insuring long-term viability.

However, Leon Inman, a Stokes County commissioner said May 3 that the Pioneer option was no longer viable, leaving the county between a rock and a hard place. Pioneer already had closed the emergency department at the King hospital.

Stokes commissioners submitted a nonbinding letter of intent April 26 to the court for the county to take over the medical facilities on an interim basis that it later said would end July 12.

Inman had said commissioners were aware of the difficulties of finding a new hospital operator. Yadkin Valley Community Hospital in Yadkinville has been closed since May 22, 2015, after its for-profit operator, CAH Acquisition 10 LLC, shut down the facility soon after learning its contract would not be renewed.

Inman cited the commissioners desire not to have a mass layoff with the Pioneer workforce being let go.

We will look at all our options, transfer, sale, management, Inman said. We owe it to residents to give them access to the best quality health care possible.
Aram Satyan: Nostradamus predicted that 2017 would be a positive year; we only have to hope for changes (video)

No steps are taken to encourage artists and promote their activity; their work is not appreciated in Armenia, Aram Satyan, Chairman of the Union of Composers and Musicologists of Armenia, said on December 27. To forget about art and its role means to lead the country to destruction. Other countries spend money to develop art that does not exist while we do the opposite thing, he said. Mr. Satyan says our compatriots often reach success outside Armenia but when they return to their homeland they face problems after seeing the lack of interest in their victories. People come [to Armenia] but they remain neglected. No one is interested in their awards and prizes He says we need serious changes, and 2017 is the best occasion for it. Nostradamus, a16th century prophet, predicted that 2017 would be a positive year full of changes; we only have to hope for changes. I think the time has come for us to think and I believe that 2017 will be a good and productive year for us.
WASHINGTON What a year it has been for James Comey!

At the start of 2016, the FBI director enjoyed a reputation as a public servant of high integrity, earning bipartisan acclaim for his stewardship of the nations preeminent law enforcement agency.

A year later, the FBI, after a series of blows to its credibility, seems increasingly partisan. Comey has shown himself to be an inconsistent leader. And an ugly conclusion is becoming difficult to escape: He singlehandedly caused Donald Trump to win the presidency.

Doubt on that last point should have been dispelled last week, after court documents were released that showed the justification for Comeys decision  announced to the nation just 11 days before the election  that he was reopening his investigation into Hillary Clintons emails. We now know Comeys bombshell was based on nothing: The FBI had no evidence of wrongdoing in the newly discovered emails, found on Huma Abedins laptop, and no reason to suspect there was anything on the laptop that the FBI hadnt already dismissed as insufficient to mount a prosecution.

Yet that was the flimsy basis for Comeys letter to Congress reopening the Clinton probe. The new emails were irrelevant or redundant. But by the time Comey said, just two days before the election, that the FBI found nothing new, the damage to Clinton was done.

When an election is this close  Clinton, in the final tally, won the popular vote by 2.8 million votes  any number of factors could have shifted the outcome: Russias hacking, Jill Steins Green Party candidacy, Clintons weaknesses as a candidate, her ill-advised message of continuity in times that demanded populist change.

But Comeys intervention is one thing that almost certainly changed the result. Nationwide, voters who decided in the last week  the time when Comeys announcement dominated the news  overwhelmingly went for Trump. Late-deciders went for Trump by 17 points in Florida and Pennsylvania, by 11 points in Michigan and 29 points in Wisconsin.

I doubt Comey meant to give the presidency to Trump. All along, I maintained that he was a man of integrity. But he demonstrated poor judgment. So protective was he of his above-the-fray reputation that his attempts to guard it caused a series of bad decisions. Ironically, his attempts at preserving his reputation were what hurt him.

In June, before Comeys July statement on the Clinton email issue, 48 percent of Americans expressed confidence in the FBI and 16 percent lacked confidence, according to an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll. Now, six months later, 37 percent have confidence in the FBI, while 27 percent dont  and Republicans and Democrats are almost identical in their views.

Comeys trouble began with his announcement, on the eve of the national political conventions, that no reasonable prosecutor would bring charges against Clinton over the emails. His no-prosecution recommendation infuriated congressional Republicans. This criticism must have stung, since Comey, a former George W. Bush administration official, then took a series of actions that seemed designed to repair his reputation with Republicans.

First, he refused to join an administration statement on Oct. 7 naming Russia as the perpetrator of hacks of American political organizations. He reasoned that the FBI shouldnt be seen as injecting itself into politics so close to an election.

Comey made a mockery of such considerations when he delivered his October Surprise later that month, defying warnings from the Justice Department and ignoring long-standing guidelines by announcing that he was reopening the Clinton probe.

It probably wasnt done to torpedo Clinton, though that was the result. The most convincing explanation: Comey feared that already irate congressional Republicans, if they were to learn that he didnt disclose the new discovery of Clinton emails, would have trashed his integrity.

Since the election, Comey has continued to protect his reputation  at considerable cost. Earlier this month, news broke that the CIA had concluded Russia intervened in the election to help Trump. But FBI officials resisted joining the conclusion.

Perhaps Comey was again trying to keep his agency and himself above the fray, but the FBIs mush helped Trump dismiss the CIAs findings. The matter turned into a partisan fight rather than the national-security concern it should be. After several days, and the intervention of the director of national intelligence, Comey finally acknowledged the obvious: that the FBI, too, believes the Russians tried to help Trump.

Did Comey mean to become Trumps elector, and now his protector? Probably not. But in the end, motives count for less than outcomes. And Comeys have been ruinous.
Gevorg Safaryan to make speech at next court hearing (video)

The lawyer of Gevorg Safaryan, a member of the Founding Parliament movement charged with violence against a government representative, says the testimony of the police officers, who are involved in the case as witnesses, do not sound credible. I remember that Gevorg hit Gegham Khachatryan, I do not remember anything else. I have a question here: could they give a different testimony? Could Gegham Khachatryan be made accountable based on their testimony? lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan said today. Gevorg Safaryan is charged with assaulting and hitting a police officer [Gegham Khachatryan] on December 31, 2015, during a scuffle when members of the New Armenia movement attempted to set up a Christmas tree in the square. If the policemens testimony is true why didnt Khachatryan go to hospital after the incident? It appears that Gegham Khachatryan and two other police officers were thinking for an hour how to get out of that shameful situation and resorted to this hypothesis, the lawyer added. In his speech, Tigran Hayrapetyan said that the lawyer drew everyones attention to the fact that the investigative body did not present any evidence proving Safaryans guilt. The lawyer asked the court to make a fair decision. The next court hearing in the case of the activist is slated for January 16. Gevorg Safaryan will make a speech
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Id like to return today to an argument I made two years ago in The Nation, which is that President Obama should recognize Palestine before he goes out of office. For different but related reasons, Jimmy Carter made a similar plea last month.

One of the arguments often heard is that Israel cannot survive as a Jewish state if it annexes all of the West Bank, since it will ultimately acquire 4 million Palestinians (West Bank & Gaza residents) as citizens in that case.

I dont really care whether Israel has a Jewish majority, just as I dont care if Egypt has a Sunni Muslim one or if Germany has a German one. In the tradition of the French revolution, I think states should be civil states, for the people of the Republic, whoever they may be. The United States in 1789 was mostly British and had a population of 4 million. Now it is 80 times as big, and has large Italian, Latino, German and Irish populations, not to mention over three million Muslims. So what? All those groups have brought gifts to enrich the nation. In an age of globalization, trying artificially to maintain one ethnic group as a majority is probably a fools errand, anyway. (Not to mention that ethnic groups are fluid and change definition over time). Israel is importing Thai agricultural workers and initially was welcoming African refugees.

So what is called a one-state solution would be fine with me, as long as all the citizens of that one state had equal rights and it was a genuine democracy.

It just would be very difficult to get to that outcome, whereas it would be fairly easy to set up two states, since the basic framework of the two states already exists.

Moreover, it is entirely possible that the Israeli squatters on Palestinian land in the West Bank will at some point engineer a civil war, and try to expel the Palestinians, making them stateless refugees all over again.

What is wrong with the present arrangement is that the Palestinians do not have citizenship in a real state. A state controls the water, air and land of a territory. The Palestine Authority controls none of those things. A state has a judicial system that can protect the basic property and human rights of a citizen. Palestine has none of those things. Important cases are kicked to the Israeli judiciary, which with a few exceptions tends to rule in favor of Israelis. And, a lot of decisions are made for Palestinians by the Israeli army or by colonial administrators.

People who are stateless, in the phrase of Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren, do not have the right to have rights. It is unacceptable that millions of Palestinians should be kept stateless at the insistence of Israel. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has even vowed that he will not allow a Palestinian state as long as he is in power (a violation of the Oslo Peace Accords).

The reason that all these decades of negotiations have proved fruitless is that the Palestinians, as stateless, dont really have standing to negotiate. You can renege on agreements with stateless people at will, as Netanyahu has repeatedly done, without fearing any consequences and without the stateless having recourse. So you cant start with negotiations. You have to start by addressing Palestinians lack of citizenship.

It should be noted that the National Socialists in Germany stripped German Jews of their citizenship, in preparation for committing a Holocaust against them or driving them out of their homes as refugees. (Lets see, sniffed Goebbels, if any of their liberal champions will want them then.) The Nazis understood very well that you can do with Stateless people what you will, and that no one will effectively so much as object. For the Zionist right wing, Israel comes as a solution to the problem that Jews are always in danger of losing their citizenship rights when they are citizens of other states. (This was a problem of the 1930s; it is not clear that it is perennial or universal contrast with the US). Moreover, in a nuclear-armed world, the idea that a state can protect you from another holocaust is a false messiah; ask the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In any case, solving the artificially created problem of Jewish statelessness cannot come at the price of creating Palestinian statelessness.

One way or another, I insist on the problem of Palestinian statelessness being solved. I dont care how it is solved. They can become Israeli citizens, or Palestinian citizens. But they have to be citizens of something. Otherwise, we will continue to see serial disasters befalling them, and the injustice being perpetrated on them will continue to generate security risks to the US.

The chair of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Saeb Erekat, said Monday that the Palestinian leadership was invigorated by the UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli colonization of the Palestinian West Bank. As a result, it would redouble its efforts to achieve full membership in the United Nations for the State of Palestine.

Likewise, he said, the Palestinians would take their case to the International Criminal Court at the Hague, charging Israeli officials with various crimes against the international law of occupation, chief among them flooding their own citizens as colonizers into the Occupied Territory.

Erekat recognizes that the Palestinian cause will go nowhere until Palestine has some of the perquisites of a state, such as UN membership and ability to take cases to the International Criminal Court.

So here we come to President Obama. Just as he established diplomatic relations with Cuba, so he could do the same with regard to Palestine. It would be one step toward resolving the decades-old problem of Palestinian statelessness.



Related video:

The Star: Palestinians hail UN Security Council vote
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By Jon Queally, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) |  

Presidents, Republicans and Democrats, have understood that our goal must be to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, not expand them.

Deriding President-elect Donald Trump as the Twitter-in-Chief, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said recent comments on a nuclear arms race must be challenged by members of both major parties.

Sen. Bernie Sanders has made it known that Donald Trump should not go unchallenged by his congressional colleagues as troubling comments by the President-elect about nuclear weapons this week sparked alarm across the United States and the world.

Following an initial out-of-the-blue tweet Thursday saying the U.S. should expand its nuclear arsenal followed by clarifying remarks Friday to MSNBC in which Trump said, Let it be an arms race, Sanders responded: Its a miracle a nuclear weapon hasnt been used in war since 1945. Congress cant allow the Tweeter in Chief to start a nuclear arms race.

Congress must not allow the Tweeter in Chief to unleash a dangerous and costly nuclear arms race. https://t.co/YYdlo3tSoa  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 23, 2016

Subsequently, he added:

Presidents, Republicans and Democrats, have understood that our goal must be to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, not expand them.  Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 23, 2016

Though Trumps press team was tied in knots as they tried (but failed) to walk back or explain Trumps nuclear talk, Sanders far from alone in expressing grave concern over the seriousness of what was said.

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.

On Saturday, a New York Times editorial argued that by casually hinting at a seismic shift in fundamental policies, the president-elect is playing a risky game.

The Times continued, For decades, American policy has been designed to stabilize relations between Russia and the United States and to deter other countries from acquiring nuclear weapons. Careless taunts risk undoing that progress.

But is everyone making too much of this?

Laicie Heeley, a nuclear expert at the non-partisan Stimson Center, doesnt think so.

Heeley told Agence France-Presse Trumps comments this week are reckless, especially without providing details or context for what he said. To make such a loaded statement without context or follow-up is irresponsible at best, she explained. We could be talking about a return to the Cold War here, when the threat of a nuclear catastrophe was very real.

And Melissa Batchelor Warnke, a contributor to the Los Angeles Times, said that for all the other controversial and troubling things Trump has said and doneboth during his campaign and since being electedthese casual and absolutely frightening comments about nuclear weapons and proliferation should be treated with special concern.

Because of the difficulty detecting a signal in the noise, we can lose sight of whats at stake, Warnke wrote Friday. While not dismissing his many other troubling statements, Warnke argues Trumps positions on nuclear weapons are exceptional in their implications. 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.

She continued, 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.

In turn, many other journalists and political commentators, including Ring of Fires Sydney Robinson, welcomed Sanders promise to hold Trump to account on the issue.

Trumps promise to begin a nuclear arms race is incredibly concerning for the entire globe, Robinson wrote Saturday, and we hope that Senator Sanders and others will do more in the future to protect the nation from such dangerous outcomes.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License

Via Commondreams.org

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

Donald Trumps Nuke Tweets Cause International Jitters | The Last Word | MSNBC
21 young women from Chibok, Nigeria returned [CNN report] home on Sunday after being released from Boko Haram control in October. In 2014 the Bring Back Our Girls activists [advocacy website] began daily sit-ins [JURIST report] at the Unity Fountain in the capital city Abuja to press their demands for the release of the 219 school girls that were abducted by insurgents in Chibok. Reports [BBC report] indicate that the young women have been held at a local politicians house and have been unable to return home to their families. Further, 276 people were originally kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 and 197 are still missing.

Boko Haram means Western education is a sin, and the militant Islamic organization is known for its kidnappings and killings. Boko Haram attacks [JURIST report] have occurred in crowded public places and have increased since it lost much of the territory it overtook from 2014 through early 2016. In April, the UN urged [JURIST report] the Nigerian government to escalate efforts to locate and rescue people abducted by Boko Haram. In February UN human rights advocates asked [JURIST report] the Nigerian government to guarantee the safety of areas liberated from Boko Haram through military maneuvers.
Bolivia President Evo Morales [BBC profile] pardoned 1,800 prisoners on Saturday in a continued attempt to cut down on prison overcrowding [official press release]. Those that Morales pardoned include inmates with sentences of less than five years, one-time offenders, prisoners under the age of 28, single mothers with incarcerated children, prisoners with terminal illnesses as well as people with disabilities. This is the fourth time Morales has issued mass pardons over the course of his presidency. It is estimated that 15,000 individuals remain incarcerated in Bolivia, a third of whom have not yet been sentenced.

In February, Morales acknowledged the outcome of a failed constitutional referendum that would have permitted him to remain in power for a fourth consecutive term. Voting on the referendum took place last Sunday, and following a two-day count of the votes, the nations electoral commission ruled the proposal was rejected by a vote of 51-49 percent [Guardian report]. Morales has occupied the presidential office since 2006 and his current term will keep him in office until 2020. Morales labeled the loss a conspiracy in the press and claimed there was a dirty war against his regime in the weeks leading up to the election. Morales is the longest serving president of Bolivia and the first to come from the countrys indigenous majority. According to news reports, a number of voters expressed concern about extending Morales time in office [JURIST report] despite the fact that Morales won by a substantial margin in each of the previous three presidential elections.
A legislative committee in the Taiwan Parliament [official website] on Monday approved a bill that would amend the Taiwan Civil Code to allow same-sex marriage. The Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee approved a change in the Code from male and female parties in to two parties, which would allow homosexual couples to be legally wed. The change was proposed by Mei-nu Yu [official profile], a ruling Democratic Progressive Party MP. If the changes to the Code are approved by the rest of Parliament, Taiwan would become the first nation in Asia to allow same-sex marriage.

In November, the Parliament began work on three distinct bills [JURIST report] in support of same-sex marriage. President Tsai Ing-wen, the first female president of Taiwan, took office in May, and has expressed a desire to allow same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is still an ongoing debate in many parts of the world. In November the Australian Senate rejected [JURIST report] a proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage. In September tens of thousands of people marched [JURIST report] in Mexico in protest of same-sex marriage, a controversial topic in the country exacerbated by a proposal from embattled President Enrique Pena Nieto to recognize same-sex marriage. The Aruban legislature voted [JURIST report] in September to give official recognition to same-sex couples, giving them the right to register their unions and receive the benefits granted to other married people.
Tunisian authorities have arrested three individuals suspected of being involved in the December 19th terror attack at a Berlin Christmas Market where a loaded truck ran into the crowded market. One of the men is the nephew of Anis Amri, who was suspected to be the driver of the truck. The nephew, whose name has not been released, has confessed that he communicated with his uncle through the secure messaging App Telegram and was sent money [Tunis Afrique Presse report] to travel to Germany and join a terrorist cell. According to the official Tunisian press report, the nephew sent an oath of allegiance to his uncle who would have been the Emir of Katibat Abu Al-Wala in Germany.

On December 19th a truck loaded with steel beams ran into a crowded Christmas Market in Berlin. More than eleven people were killed in the attack, and dozens more were injured. Anis Amri is suspected to have been the driver of the truck, as his ID and fingerprints have been found at the scene  the truck had been hijacked from its driver, who was found shot to death in the back of the cab [BBC report]. Amri was recently shot to death in Milan; a routine document check with two police officers escalated into a deadly confrontation when Amri pulled a gun on the officers, one of whom was injured. The attack is reminiscent of an attack in Nice, France that occurred earlier this year in July. In July, at least 84 citizens were killed during Bastille Day celebrations as Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck through a crowd [JURIST report]. Thus far, Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Nice attack, which followed a call by Islamic State (IS) spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani for IS followers to kill non-believers in the West through any means possible.
Nebraska leaders will soon turn attention to how the state can encourage private-sector job opportunities by reducing the requirements for some business licenses.

Action on the issue makes sense: 24 percent of Nebraska workers are in jobs that require a state-issued license, just below the national average.

Licensing serves the public interest in some instances and clearly should be maintained. Such requirements protect consumers and workers when public health and safety are involved.

But theres notable agreement across ideological lines that, across the country, state licensing requirements overall have expanded to the point of frequently being a barrier to job opportunities.

The Obama White House is giving its support to reform efforts. In Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts and the conservative Platte Institute are urging action during the 2017 state legislative session.

A report last year by the White House Council of Economic Advisers noted the wide disparities in licensing uniformity among the 50 states.

World-Herald reporting this week provided an illustration. Ilona Holland obtained a license in Maryland to be a massage therapist after she completed the state-required hours of training. But when she relocated to Omaha, she found that Nebraska required her to take 400 hours of additional training. Instead, she opened her massage therapy business in Council Bluffs, where her current training met state requirements.

The White House report said certain populations are hit especially hard by such obstacles: military families. Minority workers. Anyone with a high school diploma only. Immigrants whose training or education was acquired abroad. Men and women paroled from prison.

The economists pointed to an additional concern: Licensing tends to raise the price of goods and services by 3 percent to 16 percent. The benefits of licensing therefore need to be balanced against these costs, the report said.

During the upcoming legislative session, Nebraska lawmakers will have important decisions to make on this issue. In some cases, licensing should be maintained. In others, less stringent alternatives such as registration (providing basic information to the state) might make more sense. When licensing is kept in place, state regulators should minimize the burdens by focusing the requirements on public health and safety concerns.

Sensible adjustments in Nebraskas business licensing can benefit the state. Lawmakers need to produce progress on this concern in 2017.
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Sleep deprivation and medical errors are not the only issues that arise from long shifts. Aside from being dangerous, working 28 hours straight can teach new doctors that their health and even their life is not a priority. With extremely high rates of depression and suicide in this field, increasing work hours is not the step we should be taking. When I was interviewed by Public Citizen, I chose to share a story that shows a different consequence of 28-hour shifts.

During my second year of residency, I was on a 28-hour shift, which we commonly call a 30-hour shift. After this 30 hours is over we are supposed to have a day off, or what we refer to as a post call day. This post call day was my only day off for a very long time, and I had scheduled to see a geneticist on this day to do blood work. I was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer at 28 years old. This day actually began at 7 a.m. on the day prior and was supposed to end 28 hours later at 11 a.m. the next day. For example, if a 28-hour shift started on a Tuesday at 7 a.m. it would end on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

I had signed out my patients at 8 a.m. before I was about to leave but I was still working on some notes that morning. The more hours you work, the more work you have. I had informed the attending who had just arrived for the day that I had an appointment around noon. She told me that I was not to leave until all the orders, phone calls, transfer forms, and notes had been completed. Yes, she was aware that I had cancer. No, she did not care. Although she knows the ACGME rules, I informed her that 11 a.m. would be the appropriate time for me to leave as it would be my 28th hour. She proceeded to explain that because she was not here last night and I was, I was required to stay until everything was done for each new patient, no matter how long it took.

This issue is not only about the number of hours worked, it is also about the workload. I had not slept nor had I taken a bathroom break the whole night because I had ten new patients come into the ER. I had to do a history and physical on each. Then I had to interpret, and in some cases, order their lab work. I then had to diagnose them. I also had to attempt to locate their outpatient doctor/psychiatrist/case worker in the middle of the night so that I could get an accurate medical history on each.

Next, I had to do the admission or transfer paperwork for each patient. I had to put in orders for each into the computer. I had to call the relatives of each person and explain to them that their loved one was being admitted to the hospital. And when 8 a.m. rolled around I had to call each one of their pharmacies. All ten of them. This does not include the 17 psych floor patients I was responsible for all night or the 15 consult patients on other floors. I had gotten used to this workload which was fine; I knew what I signed up for when I became a doctor. I was busy, and I did not mind it. But I needed to go to my OWN doctor, so I had to put my foot down.

The patients were safe and the only thing left to do was paperwork, which the attending could easily do, however, she was not the type to lower herself to doing residents work. I will come back to the hospital to finish the notes after I am done at my doctors appointment, I told the attending. I arrived late to my appointment. The geneticist commented that I did not look well. I explained to her that I was a resident and immediately she understood.

Well, I guess it is going to be hard to get you back here again so lets hurry up and get some blood from you right now.

But, no blood came out of me. I was so dehydrated that they couldnt get a stick. The nurse, understandably, was taking a long time. Then I got a call. I couldnt answer it as my arms had needles in them. Then the phone rang again, and again.

Pardon me please.

I looked at my phone and saw a text from the day resident informing me that the attending was gone and left a pile of work for her to do and instructed her to call me. The attending knew I was post call and getting a genetic workup, but she decided to tell the next resident to call me anyway? I told the other resident I was at a doctors appointment, but she said I needed to get back to the hospital immediately, or we would all be in trouble.

You realize this is my post call day right? The ONLY day I have this week to get this genetic workup done?

She told me that was my own problem and hung up the phone.

I ended up working 38 hours that day. Ive worked 38 and even 40 hours straight before, but this instance really sticks out in my mind because it was a huge hindrance to my ability to care for myself. Other residents in this situation would probably not look out for their own well-being the way I did. Residents are self-sacrificing and aim to please. That is why I do not believe in increasing duty hours to 28 consecutive hours for interns. This is their introduction into life as a doctor. They are new and vulnerable. Others will take advantage of them. They will learn to believe that they are not deserving of time to themselves. They will become complacent with this type of treatment. They will accept that their needs come last and this attitude will continue indefinitely. If we dont stand up for them, no one will.

Stephanie Waggel is a psychiatrist and can be reached at Improve Medical Culture.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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I remember the disdain some of the EHR trainers had for their trainees back when our hospital system went live several years ago. Of course, this disdain was tempered by their knowledge that if docs werent so computer illiterate, or the user interfaces of the EHR systems werent so awful, or if the EHR software wasnt so bug-ridden, their jobs wouldnt exist.

So they soldiered bravely on, undaunted by grumpy old docs who now had to type their notes despite never learning how to touch type, who had to reconcile medication lists a mile long including meds like cinnanom that they really could care less that the patient was taking but had to be reconciled nevertheless, who had to painstakingly enter orders using an interface designed by an engineer who knew as much about medicine as  an engineer, and who were angry and resentful that this newfangled computer system was being shoved down their throats under threat of loss of government Medicare reimbursement. Given the tensions and personalities involved, it still amazes me that the EHR transition was accomplished without loss of life or limb.

Maybe the classes helped. Long before the go-live date, we went to EHR school. This consisted of several days of classes, during which the world of health care delivery was supposed to stop (it didnt) while all medical personnel sat around drinking coffee and listening to talks about how the EHR was supposed to work. Even though this was a useful education into what the life of a hospital adminstrator must be like, the real world of patients and disease tended to encroach on the world of mouse clicks and meaningful use butttons to the point that I skipped the last afternoon of classes and the final exam.

Unfortunately my truancy was detected and, under penalty of garnishment of wages, I was forced to do a make-up class. Despite the rigorous training, the number of months that elapsed between EHR school and going live ensured that I and my colleagues had pretty much forgotten everything we had learned  hence the need for the EHR trainers.

I was a little disappointed that I wasnt selected to be a superuser. A superuser is a user who is technically savvy and enthusastic about using the EHR; a true believer who could help other users who were having problems, even after the EHR trainer cadre had long since departed to initiate other hospital systems in the EHR religion. I suppose I failed to qualify on my lack of zealotry. I also kept my technical savvy under the radar. So I became merely a user. I found that, unlike my experience with other forms of technology, the EHR was making my life worse. Simple tasks became complex. My work slowed down. More mistakes were made. I was stunned. I could not think of any other example where a computer program was less efficient than the technology it was designed to replace. But it appeared that EHR systems were a counterexample to this.

So I decided to write a few blogs about how bad our EHR was, but the EHR company, who employs people whose sole purpose is to scour the Internet looking for screenshots or bad-mouthing of their precious software, caught wind of this and reported it to the administrators of the health care chain I worked for. After some angst, I agreed to shut up for a while, though now that I am retired, I dont feel bound by any non-disclosure agreements the hospital system signed with the EHR company.

EHR advocates have sometimes commented that once all the old, non-technological, non-touch typing doctors die off, then everyone will be pleased as punch with their EHRs. The new generation of doctors, raised on technology, able from infancy to handle a PlayStation controller with aplomb, will have no problem using EHRs. There is some truth to this, but this criticism misses the point of my and others criticisms of current EHR software.

There are plenty of technologically sophisticated doctors of all ages who are uncomfortable with the state of EHR systems today. I have written computer software and most would consider me one of these geeky docs. Most of the critiques of EHRs that I have read have been from technically sophisticated physicians, not from the technological dinosaurs that the EHR pushers believe make up the majority of doctors today. None of us wants to go back to a pen and paper chart system. All of us want to see EHR systems improve in usability and interconnectivity. We all use computer software in our daily lives and know that EHR programs dont measure up to standards that other computer programs meet. We dont like the secrecy of the EHR companies or the astronomical cost of the software. But mostly we just want the software to get better. This wont happen unless the software designers start listening to users. Tech-savvy docs need to be on the forefront of this. We need to push for change and not allow the EHR companies to keep falling back on their old excuse: If you docs only knew how to type, youd love our system.

David Mann is a retired cardiac electrophysiologist and blogs at EP Studios.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
HANOI, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0056 GMT.

Dec 27 Dec 26 USD/VND mid-point 22,152 22,153

USD/VND interbank 22,762/22,764 22,764/22,768 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.62/36.34 35.67/36.39

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 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0403 GMT.

Dec 27 Dec 26 USD/VND mid-point 22,152 22,153 USD/VND interbank 22,760/22,762 22,764/22,768 USD/VND unofficial 23,140/23,170 23,180/23,220 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.65/36.37 35.67/36.39

Interbank offered rates Overnight 3.2-4.7 3.5-4.3

1 week 4.2-4.8 4.2-4.5

1 month 4.9-5.4 4.9-5.4

3 months 5.0-5.5 5.2-5.5

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)
(Adds European Commission statement, context)

WARSAW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The European Court of Justice has suspended a European Commission decision to give Russia's Gazprom more capacity on the Opal gas pipeline through Germany, the chief executive of Poland's PGNiG said on Tuesday.

"The European Court of Justice has agreed to our appeal to suspend the European Commission decision," Piotr Wozniak, chief of PGNiG, Poland's largest gas firm, told reporters.

Earlier this month, Poland appealed the decision to lift a cap on Gazprom's use of the Opal pipeline, which carries gas from the Nord Stream pipeline under the Baltic Sea to customers in Germany and the Czech Republic. The decision opened the way for Russia to expand Nord Stream's capacity and bypass Ukraine as a gas transit route, angering some European Union nations who favour a tougher stance against Moscow for its role in the Ukraine crisis.

Under new rules, Gazprom, in addition to retaining its access to 50 percent of the pipeline, gained the right to bid for another 7.7 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas carrying capacity or as much as 12.8 bcm if other suppliers do not take up a provision giving them access. The Court has asked the Commission to provide more details on how the tenders for the access will be conducted.

The Court has also asked PGNiG to provide a more detailed analysis on how the Commission's decision would affect Poland's energy security and how it would impact competitiveness when it comes to gas supplies to Poland - Poland's two main grounds for appealing for a suspension.

The Court's decision means that for now, Gazprom will not be able to exercise the right to increase its capacity on the pipeline.

The Court was not immediately available for comment.

A spokesman for the European Commission said the Commission will reply in "due time".

"The Commission is confident that its decision is fully in line with the Third Energy Package," the spokesman said in a written statement.

The EU's Third Energy Package, sets regulations that seek to prevent energy suppliers from dominating infrastructure.

Gazprom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

(Reporting in Warsaw by Marcin Goettig and Tom Korkemeier in Brussels; Additional reporting by Oksana Kobzeva and Olesya Astakhova in Moscow; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 42F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by thunderstorms late. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 42F. SSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Search for possible missing aircraft in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

DECEMBER 27, 2016 at 3:27 p.m.







National Park area close to where a missing plane might have gone down. Image by Jeaneane Payne.

On Monday, December 26 at approximately 7:35 p.m., Great Smoky Mountains National Park received a report that a missing single-engine airplane might have gone down in the central area of the park.



Park officials continue search efforts to locate a missing single-engine airplane which potentially went down somewhere in the ridges southwest of Mount LeConte Lodge. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) conducted an aerial reconnaissance flight late Monday to try to locate the plane using the emergency locator transmitter but were unable to find any transmissions from the aircraft.



Overnight, the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) was able to use information from McGhee Tyson Airport tower radar and the planes emergency locator transmitter to determine a specific area where the plane is most likely located. Today, ground search teams were deployed to Bearpen Hollow Branch and areas southwest of the Bullhead Trail near Cherokee Orchard Road to search for signs of the aircraft. The park is also coordinating with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) to arrange for a reconnaissance flight as soon as the weather clears.



The missing plane is reported to be a Cessna 182 fixed wing, single-engine aircraft. The flight had originated out of Florida and was bound for the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge Airport. The AFRCC has reported that the plane was in conversations with air traffic controllers at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, but there is no additional information on these conversations at this time. Information on passengers on board has not been confirmed.



The National Park Service has been working closely with the AFRCC, CAP, Federal Aviation Administration, and TEMA in this ongoing search effort. Published December 27, 2016
Members of ebay Korea's social networking service (SNS) promotion team pose after conducting a corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, on Apr. 16. / Courtesy of eBay Korea



eBay Korea is moving to offer a wider range of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities here, as part of its efforts to have a positive social and economic impact on the region.

The local subsidiary of the U.S.-based e-commerce firm said Tuesday it hopes to not just fulfill its social responsibility, but create shared value for Korean society. On top of that, the firm also stressed its ultimate goal here is to maximize its positive social impact which the company says refers to a firm's lasting effects to bring about meaningful change to society.

In particular, the company is a key supporter of firefighters, donating money for a local firefighter organization. eBay Korea said the donated money is used to improve welfare for firefighters here, as they suffer from poor working conditions due to such factors as lack of new protective equipment.

The company is also holding a social impact program for firefighters, raising funds by selling calendars online, with the profits donated to cover medical expenses for those suffering from traumatic stress and mental illness.

In its bid to create more social value for jobseekers here, eBay Korea is also running its "Together Project" under which the company provides the disabled or seniors with entrepreneurship education for free.

"We are conducting the program, as the socially vulnerable need more information and education to start their own businesses," the company said in a statement. "On top of that, we are also offering free lectures for the physically challenged people their families on how to sell products online."

Last but not least, eBay Korea is also running a social media group, promoting regional tourist attractions and products. The company is also seeking to raise awareness of the nation's cultural products by posting them on the firm's social media platforms.

"As the nation continues to suffer under an economic downturn, we feel a strong sense of responsibility over what a company has to do to contribute to the local society," eBay Korea director Hong Yoon-hee said.

"As part of our efforts to give back to the community, we are returning a part of our profits to society by holding a series of CSR campaigns, and also bringing about a positive impact by running some social impact activities."
Korean Air employees and volunteering students plant trees at an environment park in the Kubuchi Desert, China, in September. A total of 120 people participated in this year's planting project. / Courtesy of Korean Air



By Jhoo Dong-chan

Korean Air is continuing its various global corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

Utilizing its advantage as the nation's largest airline with several international routes, Korean Air has sent relief to victims of natural disasters around the world. It is also participating in an environmental campaign through the so-called "Global Planting Project" to help reduce the greenhouse effect.

According to a Korean Air official, Tuesday, the company helped victims of the devastating 2015 earthquakes in Nepal that killed nearly 9,000 people and injured about 22,000. Immediately after the earthquakes struck the country in April last year, Korean Air sent 35 tons of relief supplies through the Korean Red Cross.

It also sent emergency relief supplies, including mineral water, clothes and food, to Fiji after a cyclone hit the country in March this year.

When earthquakes struck Kumamoto, Japan, in April, Korean Air took a similar measure to help people there.

"Korean Air's global CSR, by sending international aid, is not a new brand of its kind," said a Korean Air official.

"It sent relief to China when the Great Sichuan earthquake struck central China in 2008, to Thailand to help victims of the flood in November 2011, and to Japan when the Great East Japan earthquake struck the region in March 2012."

The official said Korean Air's global CSR activities are deeply rooted in company Chairman and CEO Cho Yang-ho's philosophy of sharing with neighbors. Cho has emphasized corporate responsibilities by sharing company earnings with others to make a better society, the official said.

Korean Air not only helps disadvantaged communities but also is involved in an environmental campaign to plant trees in areas affected by desertification.

Korean Air built an environmental park in the Kubuchi Desert in 2007 and has since planted trees. It has also sent a volunteer group there every year to help raise awareness of the environment.

In September this year, it sent 50 employees and 70 college student volunteers to plant trees in China.
By Park Jae-hyuk

Korean consumers are more concerned this year about buying goods with higher benefits at lower prices, amid the nation's long-term economic slump and the rise of single households, retail industry sources report.

Retail and manufacturing employees selected the trend of "value for money (VFM)" as the hottest issue in 2016, according to a recent survey conducted by the Korea Chainstores Association (KOCA).

"After Korea's economy fell into a long-term slump, value for money has become the key in spending patterns among consumers," KOCA Vice Chairman Seol Do-won said in a press release. "Retailers and manufacturers have tried their best to develop higher-quality products at lower prices this year, to follow the change of consumer trends."

The Bank of Korea (BOK) estimated the nation's economic growth rate will only mark a 2.7 percent rise this year, on top of 2.6 percent growth last year, while Korea's household debt reached 1,300 trillion won (approx. $1 trillion).

The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI), which shows the overall sentiment of Korean consumers, fell to an eight-year low in December, according to the BOK, due to uncertainties followed by the recent Presidential scandal and the implementation of an anti-graft law in September.

Also, there are more single households in Korea now than before, as their number topped 5.2 million in October, occupying 27.2 percent of the total number, according to Statistics Korea.

The trend of value for money has become more popular under these circumstances, along with the rise of the so-called "Solo Economy."

Large discount chains and convenience stores have introduced various private brand (PB) products of good quality at low prices, especially for single people who usually eat, drink and play alone.

E-mart in August opened a flagship No Brand store in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, which mainly sells its own PB products. E-mart also boosted sales of PEACOCK, its own premium brand of packaged meals, which will likely surpass 180 billion won in sales this year.

"Most PEACOCK products have mainly been packaged soups up to now, so the company has achieved success with their familiar tastes," E-mart director Kim Il-hwan said. "E-mart, however, is considering making famous global dishes as PEACOCK packaged foods to lead the domestic food market."

Convenience stores have turned over larger sales with PB products for lunch boxes and instant coffee, targeting singles. Sales of PB products in GS25 and 7-Eleven occupied 35 percent of total sales except sales of cigarettes in the second quarter this year.

Such trends are expected to continue next year, according to another survey of KOCA of 215 employees of retail and manufacturing industries. More than 24 percent of the respondents said the growth of convenience stores will be significant next year among various retail channels.

CU and GS25 each opened their 10,000th store, and total sales of convenience stores are expected to reach 20 trillion won this year.

Professor Kim Ran-do of the Department of Consumer Science at Seoul National University also wrote that the trend of value for money will continue next year in his recently-published book, "Trend Korea 2017."

"Premium products will likely be popular next year, rather than lower cost goods," said the professor at a press conference in October.
Allianz Life Korea employees hold a board promoting its new product that covers diabetes and related diseases, at its head office, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Allianz Life Korea



By Kim Tae-gyu

A recently launched Allianz Life Korea product has attracted consumers in droves on the strength of its unique coverage of diabetes and three related diseases.

The Seoul-based insurer said Tuesday more than 1,500 customers have opted for the product since its Nov. 1 release, at a time when worries about diabetes keep rising.

According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of diabetes patients was 2.52 million at the end of last year. In other words, one in 20 Koreans suffers from the hard-to-cure illness.

The state-run service said the number has increased around 100,000 a year, from 2 million in 2010 to 2.2 million in 2012 and 2.4 million in 2014, and the trend is expected to continue.

To help people grapple with diabetes, the Allianz product guarantees higher protection for the disease that in many cases results in complications.

If policyholders are diagnosed with diabetes and cancer in sequence, their insurance money will be doubled compared with if they are diagnosed with just cancer.

The same scheme, which is the first in the country's insurance industry, will be applied to acute myocardial infarction and cerebral hemorrhage, if policyholders select the relevant riders.

Of note is that those diagnosed with relatively less dangerous cancers _ including in the prostate or thyroid gland _ will not be able to enjoy the special benefits and will be offered smaller insurance payouts.

The unprecedented product is offered on a 10-year term, which can be renewed for another 10 years until policyholders reach 100. After the 10-year term finishes, policyholders will get 1 million won each time.

"As of 2014, one out of seven Koreans aged 30 or above suffered from diabetes and many of them experienced economic difficulties due to snowballing treatment costs," an Allianz Life Korea official said.

"Hence, we came up with a product to help them deal with the disease. Allianz Life Korea will continue to provide tailor-made benefits for customers in consideration of recent trends."

Indeed, Allianz Life has introduced a series of innovative products over the past few years, at a time when the insurance industry competes to meet the specific demands of people.
"Beautiful Woman" by Chun Kyung-ja / Korea Times file

By Kwon Mee-yoo

A few weighty forgery scandals swept the Korean art world in 2016. Renowned artists such as Lee U-fan and Chun Kyung-ja became household names in Korea, but they were caught up in controversy.



Lee U-fan denies forgery allegations

Artist Lee U-fan speaks to reporters at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on June 27. He was there

to examine the paintings that the National Forensic Service confirmed to be counterfeits of his work.

/ Yonhap





Lee U-fan, one of the most expensive living artists in Korea, was at the center of the counterfeit scandals. Known for his conceptual pieces, the "From Point" and "From Line" painting series are highly sought after at auctions both domestic and abroad.

Rumors of forged Lee paintings started around 2012, but Lee consistently denied the possibility of his work being counterfeited, citing that the paintings are highly abstract. In October 2015, police raided a gallery in Insa-dong on suspicion it was selling a forged Lee painting and arrested a handful of forgers and distributors of Lee's art.

However, when the artist was summoned to authenticate his works, Lee claimed none of them were forged. His opinion contradicted the scientific results of the National Forensic Service and other appraisers, aggravating the confusion.

The forgers were indicted regardless of Lee's claim of the authenticity of the pieces.



Prosecution puts end to 'Beautiful Woman' controversy

A 25-year-old forgery scandal revolving around the late Chun Kyung-ja's "Beautiful Woman" was finally concluded as the prosecution declared the painting genuine after a thorough investigation.

The painting, portraying a woman with flowers on her head, is in the collection of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA). When it was produced as an art poster in 1991, the artist claimed it was a fake, saying "Parents can recognize one's child. That is not my painting."

When Chun passed away in 2015, the forgery issue resurfaced and Chun's family filed a suit against the nation's flagship museum for assessing the artwork as authentic despite the artist's denials.

The prosecution announced earlier this month that the painting is genuine based on scientific appraisals and expert opinions. The prosecution also confirmed that the artwork was once owned by Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who assassinated President Park Chung-hee in 1979.

However, the family protested the decision, citing the results of a scientific inspection by French company Lumiere Technology.



Kim Whan-ki sets record

Despite the forgery scandals, the Korean art market showed a substantial amount of growth, led by Kim Whan-ki (1913-1974).

A yellow-dotted painting of Kim titled "12-V-70 #172" was sold for 6.32 billion won at Seoul Auction's 20th Hong Kong sale in November, setting a new record for the auction price of a Korean artwork.

Kim, a pioneer of Korean abstract art who inspired the Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) movement, dominates the top five in the ranking of the most expensive Korean artworks ever sold, with his pieces breaking the record four times in the past two years.

Kim's work is praised for creating unique values based on Korean sentiment yet absorbing Western minimalistic art style.

Kim Yoon-sub, director of the Korean Arts Management Institute, said Kim Whan-ki is likely to surpass the 10 billion won mark in a domestic or international auction soon as his works are at the zenith of Korean modern art and the color field abstract style is easily understood by Koreans as well as non-Koreans.
A senior solider, 25, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for burning the foreheads of two junior soldiers with a hot steel ruler. / Korea Times file



By Lee Jin-a

A senior soldier has received a six-month suspended jail sentence for burning junior soldiers with a hot steel ruler.

According to the Seoul Eastern District Court on Monday, Choi, 25, touched the foreheads of two junior soldiers with the hot stainless steel ruler in an operations room at a Korean army base in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in February. After heating the ruler for 20 seconds, the man seared the foreheads of the victims, leaving them with first-degree burns.

At the first trial, the court declared Choi not guilty because it believed that a ruler is not a dangerous object and the incident occurred while Choi was "playing a joke." But the court of appeal overruled the verdict and found the defendant guilty.

"Choi abused the power given by the military chain of command and committed a crime against the junior soldiers," the court said. "The foreheads of the victims were burned immediately when Choi touched them with the heated ruler. Therefore, the victims might have found the hot steel ruler a threat to their bodies."

Choi was sentenced to six months' prison, suspended for two years, on a charge of injuring others on purpose.
Flight attendants practice restraining an unruly passenger by using a Taser and ropes, at Korean Air's training center in western Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap



Korean Air eases stun gun rules against in-flight violence

By Jung Min-ho

Korean Air will allow crewmembers to "readily use stun guns" to handle unruly passengers more effectively.

The country's largest carrier said Tuesday that it will ease the rules on using stun guns and other forcible measures as part of taking a tougher stance on in-flight violence.

The measures come after an incident in which a drunk Korean man attacked flight attendants and other passengers on a Korean Air flight from Vietnam to Korea last week. It received wide publicity after American musician Richard Marx, who was on the same plane, criticized the company's "ill-trained" crewmembers.

The company said its crewmembers were hesitant to use a Taser gun at the time because usage is only allowed when an unruly passenger's actions clearly jeopardize the safety of other passengers or crewmembers.

With the upcoming rule change, crew will be allowed to use the devices immediately if an unruly passenger refuses to comply with verbal warnings. They will be instructed to use a Taser gun up close rather than at long range because it could also hurt other passengers nearby.

The company will also establish detailed standards to manage habitually unruly customers. "We are considering banning such customers from using our services. How long and under what circumstances will be determined later," President Ji Chang-hoon told reporters.

The company also plans to hire more male flight attendants. For now, the ratio of men to women is 1 to 10, which Ji believes is too unbalanced.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of unlawful acts committed aboard Korean airplanes soared to 460 last year from 191 in 2012.

Meanwhile, the prosecution requested an arrest warrant for the man who caused the in-flight disturbances for violating aviation safety laws.

The charge, which is considered far more serious than causing an in-flight disturbance, could put him behind bars for up to five years.

The man, 34, surnamed Im, appeared for questioning by police, Monday, and apologized for his behavior but insisted he could not remember what happened in the plane because he was drunk.

He allegedly attacked and spat at four crew members, who were trying to keep him under control.

Given that he drank only two glasses of whisky before acting violently, he was suspected of being on illicit drugs; but his urine test came out negative. The National Forensic Service is now conducting more tests to confirm this result.
A group of 29 lawmakers pose at the National Assembly, Tuesday, after leaving the ruling Saenuri Party to create a new conservative party. They automatically gained the status of a National Assembly negotiating group prior to the official launch of the party next month. / Yonhap



By Choi Ha-young

A group of 29 lawmakers left the ruling Saenuri Party, Tuesday, to create a new conservative party.

The faction automatically gained the status of a parliamentary negotiating group  having 20 members  which means it can immediately act as a political party prior to its official inauguration, slated for Jan. 24. The group was tentatively named the New Conservative Party for Reform.

Consequently, the Saenuri Party's number of seats shrank to 99 in the 300-seat National Assembly. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) became the largest party with 121 seats; while the People's Party has 38 seats; the Justice Party, six seats; and independent lawmakers numbered six.

This means, theoretically, the opposition parties and independent lawmakers can amend the Constitution without the ruling party's consent.

Rep. Joo Ho-young, a four-term lawmaker, was named the new party's floor leader while three-term lawmaker Lee Jong-gu became its chief policymaker.

In a joint statement, they harshly criticized loyalists of impeached President Park Geun-hye, who have dominated party affairs, for not taking responsibility for the unprecedented influence-peddling scandal involving Park and her close associate Choi Soon-sil.

"Our biggest mission is to restore conservative values and the spirit of economic reform, which have been marred by the pro-Park faction," Rep. Choung Byoung-gug, chief of a steering committee for establishing the new party said.

He targeted Gyeongsang Province-based pro-Park politicians.

"We are firmly opposed to regionalism and politics promoting the interests of certain areas," Chung said.

Rep. Kim Yong-tae who had already quit the ruling party last month joined the group, making it the fourth-largest party with 30 lawmakers.

The group vowed to "recreate a conservative administration," signifying it will put forward a candidate for the presidential race, possibly slated for early next year.

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who is leading the group, mentioned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, a potential leading presidential candidate many speculate will join the new party; although the ruling party is also eyeing him.

"Ban will never choose the Saenuri Party," Kim told reporters, dismissing the ruling party as "President Park's private party."

The party's other leading member Rep. Yoo Seung-min indicated his intention to run in the presidential election, saying, "I will declare my resolution at an early date." Yoo has openly proposed that Ban join the party and undergo a primary competition with other candidates.

The division of the conservatives has caused a palpable power shift in the National Assembly, with the introduction of a four major-party system for the first time since the nation's democratization in 1987.

Right after the lawmakers announced their departure, the main opposition DPK urged then to prove how they were different. "We are concerned the new party is nothing more than the Saenuri Party's satellite party," the DPK said in a statement. "The new party should immediately support reform bills in accordance with the citizens' demands at candlelit rallies."

The People's Party anticipated a "cooperative" culture in the legislative body, looking forward to potential negotiations with the new party. "From now on, one party cannot unilaterally push ahead or drag policies," Son Geum-ju, a spokesman, said.

Meanwhile, the number of lawmakers confirmed to join the new party was smaller than 35, the number previously announced.

Rep. Na Kyung-won, a four-term lawmaker, withheld her decision Tuesday morning, saying she disapproved of the "left-leaning" policies of the new party.

Rep. Yoo has defined his policy as "conservative in security but people-friendly on economic, welfare, education and labor issues." The statement made on announcing the birth of the new party generally represents Yoo's ideas. "The market economy should be warm, and take care of neighborhoods' lives," it reads.

Kim Hyun-ah, lawmaker elected through the proportional representation system, has yet to quit the party not to lose her position.
By Jun Ji-hye



The Navy said Tuesday that it will take legal action against an online commenter and professor over "false" claims that the deadly sinking of the Sewol ferry was the result of a collision with a submarine.



"We once again make it clear there were no submarines in operation or conducting drills in the nearby waters on April 16, 2014, when the accident took place," the Navy said in a statement.



The comment came after the online commentator, known as "Zaro," uploaded a nearly nine-hour-long documentary on YouTube, Monday, claiming the Sewol collided with a submarine according to his analysis of radar recordings. He also said the Navy may have covered this up in order to achieve its goal of sailing 2 million miles without an accident.



Kim Kwan-mook, a nanoscience professor at Ewha Womans University who provided Zaro with scientific advice, also said radar data showed something near the ferry on the day of the accident and claimed it was a submarine passing by.



The Navy denied those claims, saying the nearby waters are 37 meters deep on average and not suitable for submarine operations due to rapid currents as well as heavy commercial shipping and fishing boat traffic.



"We are considering filing a lawsuit against Zaro and Prof. Kim for spreading false information and defamation of submarine crewmembers," a Navy official said.



The government has blamed the sinking on cargo overloading and the crew's inept steering, but experts pointed out that various suspicions continue to be produced, including Zaro's documentary, as the public anger and distrust toward the government's handling of the tragedy have deepened.



They cited one example that controversy is still surrounding what President Park Geun-hye was doing for seven hours when the ferry was sinking.




By Yi Whan-woo

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that it had dismissed a diplomat dispatched to Chile for sexually assaulting Chilean teenage girls.

A ministry official said that a seven-member disciplinary committee made the decision against Park Jeong-hak, a councilor at the Korean Embassy in Chile.

He said the ministry also plans to refer Park's case to the prosecutors' office to bring criminal charges against him.

Park was alleged to have raped a 12-year-old girl; made improper physical contact with a 14-year-old Chilean girl while teaching her Korean; and sexually harassing the Chilean wife of a Korean immigrant.

His inappropriate actions were made public after a Chilean broadcaster aired footage of him sexually abusing an actress disguised as a teenage girl captured by a hidden camera, Dec. 18.

The broadcaster planned the program, in which it had the actress deliberately lure him, after receiving a tip-off from the parents of a victim.

The disciplinary action is the highest level of punishment to be taken against government officials who are accused of sexually molesting minors. These suspects, if convicted, will not be qualified for mitigation of punishment.

During the disciplinary committee meeting, Park, who returned home last week, admitted the allegations against him, apologized for his misdeeds and said he will submit himself to punishment without any excuses, sources said.

However, he claimed that he did not physically harm victims and that he worked hard to promote Korean culture and language in the South American country.

The committee members discussed ways to prevent diplomats from committing sex crimes in the future. The possible measures included reforming the personnel management system, setting up a relevant task force and strengthening the supervision of diplomats.
By Yi Whan-woo





Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, raises his hands after speaking at a press conference at the government complex in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. He defected to the South in August.

/ Joint press corps

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seeking to complete his country's nuclear program by the end of next year, Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, said Tuesday.

Thae, one of the highest-ranking North Korean officials to defect to South Korea, said Pyongyang is taking South Korea's presidential election and the political transition of the United States with the incoming Donald Trump administration into account in setting its nuclear timetable.

"Kim is racing ahead with a nuclear program at all costs by the end of 2017," Thae said during a press conference at the government complex in downtown Seoul. "He believes Seoul and Washington will not be able to stop Pyongyang's aggressive and provocative military actions because of their political timetables."

He also said North Korea will never give up arming itself with a nuclear arsenal as long as Kim remains in power.

"Pyongyang will not give them up even if the country is offered $1 trillion or $10 trillion in return," Thae said. "It's not a matter of incentives."

He assessed that North Korea is sticking to a cycle of military provocations because it knows that China, its largest benefactor, will not push Kim Jong-un too hard because of its national interest.

"China does not want a wave of democracy flowing across its borders, and it is also wary of the closer presence of U.S. military forces if the two Koreas are unified," he said.

This was the first time for Thae to hold a press conference since his defection while serving in London. He brought his wife and two sons with him.

Thae has been integrating into South Korean society since Dec. 23 after being under government protection.

He said he wants to make his activities public despite concerns over possible threats and attempts on his life by Pyongyang.

"It would be an honor if I could sacrifice myself for the unification of the two Koreas," he said.

During a private meeting with lawmakers in Seoul, Dec. 19, Thae was quoted as saying that he decided to defect because of his disgust with the Kim regime after recognizing the "abysmal reality" of enslaved North Koreans under his tyranny.

Thae, who spent decades in the West, including in Denmark and Sweden, said he learned about the democratization of South Korea and its economic development by watching the country's soap operas and films.
By Kim Se-jeong





Moon Hyung-pyo An Chong-bum

The independent counsel led by Park Young-soo questioned former Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, Tuesday, in an ongoing investigation into the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Arriving at the counsel team's office in southern Seoul, Moon, who allegedly pressured the National Pension Service (NPS) last year to support the merger of two Samsung Group affiliates, did not say anything about the allegations, only saying, "I will speak during questioning."

The face-to-face interrogation of Moon, now head of the NPS, came one day after investigators raided his home. They also raided the health ministry and NPS headquarters last week to secure evidence of Moon's pressuring of Hong Wan-seon, the former chief investment officer for the NPS, to support the merger.

Hong was questioned Monday and Tuesday. The counsel is considering seeking arrest warrants for the two men.

The NPS was the largest shareholder of Samsung C&T, and its support was crucial in the company's merger with another Samsung affiliate, Cheil Industries. The merger, which was designed to benefit the group's owner family, was highly controversial with opposition from smaller shareholders.

President Park allegedly pressured the NPS, through Moon and An Chong-bum, the former senior presidential secretary for policy coordination, to vote yes on the merger in a shareholders' meeting. Hong did not get an outside pool of experts to review the merger, which was standard procedure for the NPS.

It is alleged that in exchange for the yes vote, Samsung provided 20 billion won ($16.5 million) to two foundations controlled by Choi plus additional money to companies set up by Choi and her daughter Chung Yoo-ra in Germany.

Samsung maintained the money was purely a "donation."

The ongoing interrogation of Moon and Hong is eventually aiming at President Park who the investigators suspect of bribery.

To prove the bribery allegation, the investigators also questioned An. He has already been charged with forcing more than 50 companies including Samsung to "donate" money to the two foundations. He earlier told the prosecution that he only followed the President's orders.

The counsel also asked Choi to come for questioning, but she refused, citing health problems. She was earlier grilled by the counsel on Saturday. The counsel team said if suspects refuse to face questioning, it may seek detention warrants.

Among others questioned by the special prosecutor was former Vice Culture Minister Chung Kwan-joo.

Chung was allegedly involved in making a "blacklist" of 9,000 artists critical of the current government while he was working for Cheong Wa Dae between September 2014 and February 2016. He became the vice culture minister in February. The culture ministry said recently he resigned abruptly amid the scandal.

On Monday, the investigators also raided the homes of former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun for their alleged roles in creating the list.
A photo taken by Noh Gi-hoon features the Vietnamese mural village of Tam Thanh, Tam Ky, Vietnam. / Courtesy of KF Gallery



By John Redmond

The Korea Foundation is hosting a photo exhibition featuring the beauty of a Vietnamese mural village, at the KF Gallery in Seoul.

The exhibition kicked off Monday and runs until Jan. 24 under the theme of "Bright, Passionate, Beautiful! Art for a Better Place."

The selection focuses on Tam Thanh, a small fishing village in Tam Ky, Vietnam, as seen through the eyes of five photographers.

"The exhibition illustrates the changes into a beautiful village of murals through collaboration among Korean painters, Korean and Vietnamese volunteers and local residents," the foundation said in a press release. "Motivated by Korea's mural villages, the Korea Foundation carried out a joint art exchange project between Vietnam and Korea."

"Under the project, Korean mural artists, Korean and Vietnamese volunteers, local residents and art teachers depicted the seaside scenery and local people on walls in pastel colors under the scorching heat of over 35 degrees Celsius," it added. "As a result, the village of about 120 houses turned into a new, lively place with about 70 small and large murals."

The photographers from Korea, Turkey, and the Philippines went to Tam Thanh to take pictures of the changing village, the lifestyles of local residents, the peaceful seaside scenery and the volunteers' hard work and friendship.

Featured photographers are Mehmet Bayram and Alper Tasci of Turkey along with Noh Gi-hoon and Lim Mi-ju of Korea and Marvin Alcaraz from the Philippines.

A special Korean-English interpretation will be provided for the "Photographers' Talk" on Jan. 6.

Those wishing to attend the talk must apply in advance via email and include name, phone number and number of applicants.

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Admission is free.

The KF Gallery is on the 2nd floor of the Center1 Building West Tower in Jung-gu, central Seoul. To get there leave exit 3 of Euljiro 1-ga Station. Take the first right and then the second left.

For more information visit en.kf.or.kr, email kfcenter@kf.or.kr or call 02-2151-6520 or 02-2046-8643.
By Nam Sang-so





It was a beautiful summer day in southeastern France. Park Geun-hye, the 22-year-old daughter of an army general-turned President Park Chung-hee, received a phone call. She was a student at Communaute Universite Grenoble in 1974. A Korean Embassy staffer said she must return to Seoul immediately. When she asked why, the man went into an ominous silence.

The Embassy staff members were waiting at her boarding house and said she must catch the first available flight. These people from Korea always wear grimacing faces she told herself. They escorted her onto a train to Paris and then to Charles de Gaulle International Airport. While the staff was processing her boarding pass, she noticed a large photo of her mother on the front page of Le Monde displayed at a kiosk. The headline read "La premiere dame coreenne s'est tue." Park dropped on the floor and felt "as if a sharp knife plunged deep into my heart," she wrote in her diary, so Chosun Ilbo reported.

The young girl gave up her studies in France and returned to her father's side in his presidential mansion, Cheong Wa Dae. "I've given up all my dreams in my youthful ardor of becoming a beautiful woman, falling in love, having a good marriage, a wise mother, and to raise my own family, in order to look after my poor, lonely father." She noted again.

In the early morning before dawn on Oct. 27, 1979, she was awakened by a loud ringing of the doorbell. She opened the door and found a silhouette of Chief of Secretary to her father Kim Gye-won, a retired 4-star-army-general, standing in the mist of the night air. His suit and white shirt were blood stained. The old man mumbled that her father was shot by the chief of KCIA.

After an unbearably difficult funeral service was over, she hand-washed the blood-stained shirt and necktie of her father, as streams of tears wet her cheeks. It was deja-vu; the painful memory of her earlier washing of her mother's blood stained Korean dresses five years before overlapped in her heart. But the general's daughter was a tenacious woman, holding the hands of her young sister and brother, she walked out of Cheong Wa Dae leaving behind a mixture of memories of innocent childhood years and the tearful two burials for her mother and father. Geun-hye was a blossoming 27 year old then and she found herself as the matriarch of the Park family.

The air in the mundane world was cold to the children. Many of her father's former cronies betrayed her. After a long reticence with fortitude, and with a strong determination of vengeance, Geun-hye had entered into politics in 1997. She was 45 years old. Soon she had gained the famed name of "Queen of Election." And she had returned, 34 years after she had left in tears, to her childhood home this time a shining crown on her head as the President of the Republic of Korea.

An irony of her fate, however, has not ended yet. She, 64, is now betting a 50/50 chance on her presidential impeachment imposed on Dec. 9.





The writer is a Korean War veteran. His email address is sangsonam@gmail.com
The situation continues to go from bad to worse in Venezuela, so much so that the U.S. State Department has warned Americans that its dangerous to live in or even visit that country.



The State Department's Security Advisory Council last week sent the following message via Twitter: "Travel Warning: If the security climate worsens, U.S. citizens should be aware that they are responsible for making arrangements for their exit from #Venezuela."



Chilling words if you're an American living in Venezuela. The advisory also said Americans should not to travel to the deteriorating South American country because crime and social instability have exploded.



The State Department also emphasizes that the political and security situation in Venezuela is unpredictable, a moment-to-moment exercise. In the past, Venezuelan authorities have arrested U.S. citizens with no evidence that they committed crimes.



These red alerts are no surprise. The economic crisis has created a situation of precariousness and anguish among the population  and among the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who live in exile in South Florida.



In the latest twist, on Tuesday, just as quickly as the Venezuelan government announced the Jan. 2 closing of its border with Colombia  where desperate Venezuelans dash for goods  the order was rescinded.



That came days after President Nicolas Maduro annulled all 100-bolivar notes, leading to massive lines at banks, and making cash transactions difficult. But then he changed course late Saturday, announcing the notes could be used until Jan. 2. Before that announcement, riots and looting broke out in several cities.



Today, Venezuela is a place of mass despair. Street protests occur at any time and without warning. They can be peaceful or turn violent. The homicide rate has also skyrocketed, highlighting the social turmoil and the inability of the authorities to stop criminal activity.



Last week, the National Assembly declared the national crisis the political responsibility of President Maduro. But on Thursday, the Supreme Court of Justice  a chavista entity  annulled the parliamentary trial, claiming that the Assembly's actions were unconstitutional.



Despite a crumbling government, Maduro persists in keeping the remains of chavismo afloat. But by now he should admit that his system is not viable. In fact, it is doomed.



Still, he's playing Santa Claus, too. The government confiscated 3.8 million toys from a distributor that Maduro claims hoarded them in a scheme to claim a shortage and charge higher prices. And now, the president will oversee the distribution of the toys. "We will not let them be robbed of Christmas," an official with the country's consumer protection agency said on Twitter. How touching.



He can hand out all the toys he wants, Venezuelans won't be fooled, they know they have been robbed of so much more that a holiday. President Maduro has a tenuous hold on a regime that represses opposition demonstrations, suffocates private enterprise, creates shortages of food and other commodities and offers no hope to a tired population.



As for Americans, the State Department has already indicated that traveling to Venezuela is dangerous. And the warning should be taken seriously.



Venezuela is a country on the edge.





This editorial appeared on the Miami Herald and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.




Ministry should ensure fair representation of history



The government has decided to take a huge step back from President Park Geun-hye's plan to control history education in secondary schools with the use of a single state-authored textbook by 2017.



The education ministry announced Tuesday that the government will delay the implementation of the state textbooks to 2018 and give schools the right to choose among the new textbooks and ones produced by multiple private publishers. The delay means that the ultimate fate of the state textbook will be left to Park's successor. Any rational-thinking leader should keep in mind that the government has no right to force a uniform interpretation of history on its people.



Down-scaling the state history textbook scheme is inevitable considering the current political circumstances. Calls to cancel the textbook have mounted after it was reported that presidential confidant Choi Soon-sil had a great impact on Park's official duties. Some opponents have even mocked them as "Soon-sil textbooks." Pushing ahead with the state monopoly of history education will only fuel public rage toward the impeached President.



The plan has been heavily contested by many historians, teachers, parents and students. It is a shame that the government has spent so much energy and money on such an undemocratic and backward policy that has been heavily criticized even by the foreign media and scholars of Korean studies.



Even if some schools choose to use the new textbooks, it is still far from what Park had in mind. The state textbook plan is the first of Park's major policies to fail in the post-impeachment period, where calls are mounting to dump some of the controversial decisions she has made, such as the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system here or the Korea-Japan agreement on compensating the former wartime sex slaves for the Japanese military.



President Park reportedly showed regret over the delay of her textbook plan. Although belated, she should realize that she was wrong to push through with the plan in such a unilateral way without persuading the public and seeking their understanding.



The ministry's decision to delay the implementation, however, will not put an end to the anti-state textbook wave that has risen in the education sector. A dispute over the quality of the state textbook will continue because it contains some highly sensitive issues among historians, such as the controversy over the founding year of Korea.



The education ministry will produce the final version of the textbooks next month. Until then, it should continue to improve the overall quality of the textbooks by ensuring fair representation of historical facts and get rid of biased interpretations.




Song Joong Ki does a work for which he gets appreciation from everywhere. As reported in soompi, on December 23 the actor gifted the members of the staff with scented candles. There were about 500 staff members in 'Battleship Island'. He spent 25 million won or $42 each for this thanksgiving.

The thing which was unique about this gift was that the actor did not just distribute the gift to the mass but the 31-year-old actor gave each scented candle with a personally handwritten message on it. Every staff member was touched by this gesture made by Song Joong Ki. It is the way of expressing his gratitude towards the staff members for sharing the joy and sorrows during the movie.

After he finished 'Descendants of the Sun' the actor was quite busy with the fan meets in China's different cities. Just after that, he had to begin shoot for 'Battleship Island'. This movie is directed by Ryoo Seung-Wan.

The story of the movie is about the period during Japanese colonial, roughly 400 Korean people were forced to Battleship Island to mine for coal, attempt to escape. The cast includes Hwang Jung-Min (Lee Kang-Ok), So Ji-Sub (Choi Chil-Sung) and Song Joong-Ki (Park Moo-Young).

As reported in Yibada, Song Joong-Ki who is playing the role of Park Moo-Young is an independent fighter who infiltrated Hashima island in order to rescue people working then for the independence from imperial Japan. While Hwang Jung-Min is a bandmaster at Kyungsung Hotel who goes to Japan to protect his daughter but he gets into Battleship island. So Ji-Sub is the top fighter in Kyungsung who creates few troubles on "Battleship Island".

The movie is scheduled to be screened in 2018. Apart from this movie by Song Joon-Ki, his fans are also waiting for his upcoming movie 'Train to Busan 2' in which he is playing the role of a zombie.
Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, weekend said young people ought to be groomed well before handing over leadership to them. He stated this in Owerri, as part of his Christmas goodwill message to the people of the state, through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo.

The release gave some reasons why the governor made the statement. What Nigerians and of course the leaders in particular need to do now, is to unite and begin to build a country of our collective dreams and aspirations.

He added that,The leaders cannot afford to hand over to the next generation what we have at the moment as a nation, in which ethnicity, religious bigotry and zoning of political offices are still the order of the day.



It was his view that,Nigerians must endeavour to hand over to the next generation, a united and prosperous nation, all the ethnic and religious groups can be proud of.

He however, called on Nigerians to accept that the current recession in the country was a national challenge. Nigerians especially the leaders should appreciate themselves and see the current recession as a national challenge.

Christians in the state in particular should pray more than before, for the good of the state and her people, Okorocha said.

The governor also blamed past leaders who lacked proper family upbringing for the lack of peace in the country.

Okorocha made this statement while expressing worries over the state of the country, during a church service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ogboko in Ideato South Local Government of the state.

The governor also heaped the blame on the failure of the family in preaching peace. If peace and love had passed from the families in the country since the nations independence, there would not have been the civil war or Boko Haram or IPOB or Niger-Delta Avengers, he said.

He regretted that,It was the seed of discord sown long before now that has given birth to all these agitations on the basis of tribe and religion.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
PRESS RELEASE

Konashenkov: Mass Graves Discovered in East Aleppo

Dec. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)As Russian combat engineer teams comb through the former jihadi-held pocket in east Aleppo, they are finding truckloads of evidence as to the true nature of the "rebels" that were so lionized in Western capitals and the western mediaand financed by those governments.

"The completion of a uniquely large-scale humanitarian operation by the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Aleppo will destroy many of the myths that have been fed to the world by Western politicians,"

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement today. "The results of only an initial survey of Aleppo neighborhoods abandoned by the so-called opposition will shock many."

The discoveries so far include mass graves. "Mass burial sites of many dozens [of Syrians], who had been subjected to brutal torture and [then] murdered, have been found," Maj. Gen. Konashenkov said. "In many cases, body parts are missing; most victims had been shot in the head. And this, it seems, is only the beginning." Konashenkov said that the instances are being recorded as serious war crimes and will be given maximum publicity "so that European backers of the so-called opposition in London and Paris are well aware of who their wards actually are."

Konashenkov went on to report that practically everything that could be mined was mined by the jihadis, even childrens toys. Seven large ammunition depots have been found, as wellenough, Konashenkov said, to arm several infantry battalions.
PRESS RELEASE

Grushko Lambasts NATO for Creating an Unreal World of Lies and Threats

Dec. 26, 2016 (EIRNS)Russias ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, in an interview reported by TASS, lit into NATOs insane policy of blaming all the worlds ills on Russia, including claiming that Russia is about to invade the Baltic countries.

"As a result we find ourselves amid a logic that runs counter to the fundamental interests of all countries, including the Baltic ones," Grushko said. "Regrettably, in a situation like this no diplomatic or political methods will work. This is an unreal world."

"Regrettably, in the U.S. propaganda field we see a very deplorable trend. Every single problem tends to be blamed on Russia.... However, I am confident that sooner or later there will be an understanding of the fact that attempts to build security against Russia or without Russia are reckless."

Grushko also said that "Creating a European army is an impossible dream. The best they can do is establish some kind of a joint General staff.... All previous attempts produced poor results."
Tesla Motors Inc. and Panasonic Corp. said Tuesday that they would begin producing cells for solar panels next summer at a sprawling factory opening in Buffalo, N.Y., expanding a relationship between the two technology firms.

The Palo Alto automaker and the Japanese electronics company said they had finalized plans announced in October to begin joint production of photovoltaic cells and modules to be used in solar panels for roof tiles and other products.

The agreement builds off an existing relationship between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes making lithium ion battery cells for electric vehicles and solar storage at Teslas $5-billion Gigafactory being built outside Reno, Nev., as well as developing next-generation technology at Teslas expanding plant in Fremont.

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The deal announced Tuesday involves Tesla making a long-term purchase commitment with Panasonic for the solar cells and modules to be made at the Buffalo factory. Panasonic will cover the required capital costs, the company said. No financial terms were released.

The 1.2-million-square-foot Buffalo factory is being built by SolarCity Corp., the San Mateo-based solar panel company recently acquired by Tesla. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk was chairman of SolarCity and a major investor in both companies.

New York state is spending $750 million to build the Buffalo factory, which will be leased to SolarCity for $1 a year. Photovoltaic module production is scheduled to begin in summer 2017.

Tesla said it reaffirmed SolarCitys commitment to hire more than 1,400 people in Buffalo, including more than 500 factory workers.

Shares of Tesla rose 2.9% on Tuesday to close at $219.53.

jim.puzzanghera@latimes.com

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UPDATES:

3:55 p.m.: This article was updated with Teslas stock price.

This article was originally published at 8:20 a.m.
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 a new report from the California Apartment Assn., which represents residential property owners.

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, making it harder for people who work in their community to live there. 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 under certain conditions.

The Sacramento-based association has 13,000 members. The report it released last week came out of a housing forum it held in September attended by politicians, unions, economists and housing advocacy groups.

Robert Wassmer, director of Cal State 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 penalizing communities that deny new projects would give politicians cover to approve such projects.

In the report, the association repeatedly pushes against the idea of rent-control measures, saying they would only exacerbate the problem. Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Thousand Oaks and San Jose are among the California cities that already have rent control.

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, which would have approved developments without Californias stringent review process as long as the development set aside at least 20% of units for low-income residents. If the development would be near a transit stop, it could be quickly approved as long as 10% of units are for low-income renters. The proposal was strongly opposed by a coalition of environmental and labor groups.

Change the California Environmental Quality Act. 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.

Promote urban infill. The association suggests increasing taxes on landowners who 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 said it is beneficial at the regional and state level.

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

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Instead of using Chinese investors cash to open coffee shops, assisted living facilities and other businesses, an Orange County attorney spent millions on a yacht and other personal expenses, according to a civil fraud suit filed Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The SEC alleges that Newport Beach lawyer Emilio Francisco misspent at least $9.5 million from 131 investors who wanted to participate in the federal EB-5 visa program, which promises permanent U.S. residency in exchange for investments that create jobs in the U.S.

The program has faced harsh criticism over the last few years as developers stretched rules aimed at ensuring that EB-5 money flows to rural communities or areas with high unemployment. A disproportionate amount of investors cash has gone to build pricey condos and hotels in Los Angeles and other cities.

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Increasingly, the program has also been seen as a potential haven for fraud. Over the last few years, a number of investment managers have been charged with duping foreign investors and misspending cash that was supposed to go to job-creating projects.

Francisco, through his Costa Mesa firm PDC Capital Group, raised more than $72 million from EB-5 investors, most of them Chinese citizens, between 2013 and September of this year, according to the SEC suit. The agency alleges that Francisco promised that the money would be used to open additional locations of Caffe Primo, a Southern California coffee shop chain he co-owns, and to build assisted-living facilities in California, Florida and Arizona.

None of the assisted living facilities have been built, though some of the Caffe Primo locations associated with EB-5 investors cash have opened, according to the suit, filed in federal district court in Los Angeles.

The SEC said Francisco improperly diverted investors money to PDC Capital Group instead of to the coffee shops and assisted-living facilities, and used the money to pay for PDCs operations and his own expenses.

Francisco did not respond to messages left at PDCs office. His attorney did not return calls for comment.

The SEC wants to ban Francisco and his companies from soliciting EB-5 investments and also wants them to to pay investors back. The agency has also asked the court to freeze Franciscos assets.

The EB-5 program has been around since 1990 but was little used until 2008, when the number of visas issued through the program started to skyrocket, according to a 2014 report from the Brookings Institution and the Rockefeller Foundation. Amid the financial crisis, EB-5 investors provided cash-strapped developers with a new source of capital, helping to fuel building booms in Los Angeles, New York and other urban centers.

Investors can qualify for U.S. residency if they invest $1 million in a new business venture that creates at least 10 jobs. For businesses in rural or high-unemployment areas, investors can put in just $500,000, though it has become commonplace for EB-5 project developers to link projects even in prosperous urban areas to pockets of high unemployment to qualify for the smaller amount.

As the EB-5 program has grown, so has the potential for fraud. The SEC filed five EB-5 fraud cases last year and a handful more this year. Several cases have ties to Southern California, a hub for investment from China, where the EB-5 program is particularly popular. For the 12 months that ended in September 2015, Chinese citizens accounted for nearly 84% of U.S. visas obtained through the program.

Last year, the SEC sued a Redlands doctor for fraud, saying he and an associate misspent half of the $20 million they raised from Chinese investors hoping for U.S. residency. In June, the agency sued an Orange County couple, saying they misappropriated millions of dollars that were supposed to build a cancer treatment center.

In 2014, the SEC filed civil fraud charges against Los Angeles immigration attorney Justin Moongyu Lee, saying he took EB-5 money that was supposed to build biofuel plants in Texas and instead invested in a mining operation in the Philippines. The Justice Department filed criminal fraud charges, though the case has not moved forward because Lee is serving a prison sentence in South Korea.

james.koren@latimes.com

Follow me: @jrkoren

UPDATES:

5:40 p.m.: This article was updated to include more background and analysis.

The original article was published at 1:25 p.m. on Dec. 27.
Fewer companies went public in 2016 than in any year since the 2008-09 financial crisis, as a series of stock market hiccups from Brexit to the U.S. presidential election cooled demand for initial public stock offerings.

But the coming year could make up for 2016 malaise, as the pipeline of companies looking to go public is well stocked with IPO candidates.

Two reports out this month  Ernst & Youngs Global IPO Trends study and Renaissance Capitals U.S. IPO Market Annual Review  are optimistic about a rebound in companies going public, despite lingering uncertainty around the European Union, the new U.S. administration and Chinas growth prospects.

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The most important catalyst for an IPO is how the existing ones have done, said Kathleen Smith, principal at Renaissance Capital, a Maryland-based manager of IPO-focused Exchange Traded Funds. The returns are such that there is nothing in the way. Companies should be filing right and left when we return from the holidays.

Based on Renaissances data, the average stock price increase for 2016 IPO companies on U.S. exchanges is 22.5%. Its Private Company Watchlist contains 277 companies likely to go public in the next 12 to 24 months.

I think well see 2017 being a lot better than 2016 now that there is some stability, at least in the U.S., said Tim Holl, a San Diego partner with Ernst & Young. The election is behind us. There is obviously some momentum in the market. So there is an expectation that 2017 is going to be better.

The numbers vary slightly between the Ernst & Young and Renaissance Capital reports, but the trends are similar.

Ernst & Young reported 112 companies raised $21.3 billion in IPOs this year in the U.S., down more than 35% from the prior year.

Renaissance pegged the number of IPOs at 105, with $18.8 billion raised. Thats down from 170 companies raising $30 billion a year earlier.

A steep stock market sell-off early this year froze out potential IPO companies in the first quarter. In June, Brexit  the British referendum to exit the European Union  shook up investors again. Finally, the U.S. presidential election whipsawed markets toward year end. The Standard & Poors 500 stock index is up 11% for the year, through Friday.

Many companies that did go public in 2016 did so at a discount, said Smith of Renaissance Capital. They lowered their proposed prospectus stock price range prior to their IPOs, or they priced shares below publicly traded peers.

Once private companies saw that, they were thinking maybe we should wait a little longer, she said. There has been a lot of private capital that has been able to sustain these private companies longer than normal.

Another reason for the IPO slowdown, particularly for technology companies, is sky-high valuations for high-profile firms, including Uber, Snapchat (now called Snap), Dropbox, Spotify and Airbnb.

The valuations created a chasm between what venture capitalists bet a company would be worth and what IPO investors are willing to pay. It led several big tech outfits to stay on the IPO sidelines this year.

Will that ease next year? Its unclear. But with growing pressure on venture capitalists to find exits for aging portfolio companies  coupled with another year for these companies to grow in hopes of justifying their lofty valuations  more tech firms are expected to test public markets in 2017, Renaissance Capital says. Snap already has filed for a $4-billion IPO that could value the company as high as $40 billion.

Nationwide, healthcare, which includes life sciences, was the top industry sector for IPOs this year, with 40 firms going public, according to Ernst & Young. Technology ranked second with 23 deals.

Shares of new healthcare IPOs havent always performed well, however. Nine of the 10 worst-performing IPOs this year are healthcare firms, Renaissance Capitals data show.

Holl of Ernst & Young said the IPO window opened wide for the life sciences sector from 2013 to 2015, encouraging companies to go public earlier than they usually do.

Now the pendulum has swung back. Life sciences firms are going public later in a drug/medical device development cycle  which could improve post-IPO performance, he said.

Good companies will get out, Holl said. I think you will see activity in the first quarter and second quarter. I cant mention any names, but youll see activity.

Freeman writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com

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Lands End once again is seeking a path out of the retail wilderness, and Im hoping it makes it.

Its not that the company, which last week hired a new chief executive, is particularly essential to the retail landscape. But it would be nice to think that well-established businesses that have had a few hard knocks can nevertheless find their place in a world where any dot-com is a player.

The fact that I work for a newspaper probably has a lot to do with my rooting for the underdog here.

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Theres no easy fix for Lands End, said Steve Goldberg, president of the Grayson Co., a New York retail consulting firm. Theyre all about lifestyle, but they lost sight of who they are as a brand.

Lands Ends woes are reflective of many retailers straddling two worlds. On the one hand, it still relies heavily on old-school methods such as catalog and brick-and-mortar sales. On the other, if it cant master the online marketplace, its toast.

Not right away, of course. An estimated 85% of retail sales still take place off-line. But e-commerce is quickly catching up.

This year, Cyber Monday, the online follow-up to Black Friday, produced a record $3.45 billion in sales, up about 12% from last year. Moreover, a record $3.34 billion in online sales was logged on Black Friday.

Total online sales this holiday season are expected to top $40 billion.

Lands Ends new boss is Jerome Griffith, the former skipper of high-end luggage merchant Tumi Holdings. Hes replacing Federica Marchionni, who stepped down in September after less than two years on the job.

Marchionni thought she could reinvent Lands End as an upscale brand. She was way wrong.

As Lands End continues its evolution at the forefront of the retail industry, we believe Jeromes experience and tactical execution will improve financial performance and build sustainable long-term value for stockholders, the companys chairwoman, Josephine Linden, said in a statement.

That remains to be seen. Over the first nine months of the current fiscal year, Lands Ends sales fell 7.3% to $877 million and the company posted a loss of almost $15 million. Its year-over-year sales have fallen for nine straight quarters.

Im pulling for Lands End in part because of nostalgia. I discovered the companys catalogs during the seven years I lived in Tokyo, where I couldnt find clothes that fit me at anything close to an affordable price.

Suddenly I had access to decent shirts, pants, shoes and accessories that didnt cost an arm and a leg (even with international shipping).

This was in the early days of the Internet, before the Web became the worlds biggest shopping mall, when Amazon was still just a newfangled way of mail-ordering books.

And Lands End was still kind of cool. Its been selling stuff by catalogs for more than half a century, which may not make it L.L. Bean  which has been at it about twice as long  but thats still plenty of direct-marketing retail mileage.

What did Lands End offer at the time? You could say its clothes were dull. Id say they were good, solid, nothing-fancy American duds (albeit often manufactured elsewhere). They were L.L. Bean but less outdoorsy, J. Crew but less flashy.

Lands End was where youd shop if you knew what you liked and werent obsessed with being cutting-edge fashionable season to season. And dont get me started on the whole skinny-pants thing for guys.

Where the company went wrong, Goldberg said, was in agreeing to be acquired by Sears in 2002 for about $2 billion and to start selling its clothes in Sears stores.

It may have generated sales, but it did nothing for the brand, he said.

Sears threw in the towel a dozen years later, spinning off Lands End in 2014 as a separate company. But the damage was done.

Weirdly, Lands End turned to Marchionni, a former Dolce & Gabbana exec, as its savior. That left many observers  and, more importantly, consumers  scratching their heads.

You cant mess with a brands DNA, Goldberg said. Thats a recipe for disaster.

I asked Lands End if I could speak with Griffith about his plans for the companys future. No one got back to me.

But experts I spoke with agreed on this much: Lands End serves as a cautionary tale for survival in a fast-changing industry.

Retail is a business thats constantly in transformation, said Gene Bornac, vice president of the consulting firm Boston Retail Partners. Right now, were in one of the biggest periods of transformation ever.

The buzz word I heard most from industry insiders was relevance. If a business or brand isnt deemed relevant by customers  that is, hip, trendy and offering high quality at low prices  it can quickly become roadkill.

Other survival tips:

Dont skimp on the technology. Internet users want to interact with sites that are intuitive and easy to navigate, making purchases as easy as possible. Think Amazon.

Be true to your roots. A brand cant be all things to all people. Know who your customers are and what they want.

Make sure your website and your stores work together  the so-called omnichannel experience. Customers like buying online after browsing in a store. They also appreciate being able to return an item to a store that they purchased online.

Be nimble enough to change and adapt quickly. Todays consumers are more fickle than ever. Retailers no longer can afford to be set in their ways.

Ultimately, retail is about cool, about having the stuff or style that others want.

Lands End isnt cool. I havent bought anything from the company in years, and being no slave to fashion  ask my newsroom colleagues  Im about as target-market as they come.

Job one for Griffith: Ditch the upscale sensibility. Forget about being something youre not.

Start with a really great pair of khakis. Add some well-made dress and casual shirts. Build from there.

I may not know relevance. But I know what fits.

David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf has wrapped up some business away from the ice, selling his home in Corona del Mar for $6.025 million.

The multilevel home in the Cameo Shores community came up for sale in May for about $7.2 million and was more recently priced at about $6.5 million, property records show. The 31-year-old center bought the house in 2015 for $6.1 million.

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Designed for indoor-outdoor entertaining, the roughly 5,400-square-foot house features a custom lounge with a bar, whole-house surround sound and a wraparound terrace. An inner courtyard holds a swimming pool and spa.

A chefs kitchen, a study/den, four bedrooms and five bathrooms are among the other living spaces. The whitewashed master suite takes in ocean views through a wall of glass doors.

A two-car garage sits off the entrance.

Marco Martelli and Joseph Martelli of Joseph Martelli Real Estate Investment were the listing agents. Evan Corkett of Villa Real Estate repped the buyer.

Getzlaf, three times an all-star, has 24 assists and three goals in 32 games for the Ducks this year. He previously won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007 and has twice won Olympic gold medals with the Canadian national team (2010, 2014).

neal.leitereg@latimes.com

Twitter: @NJLeitereg

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Monica Shih has a pasta maker, an air fryer, a deep fryer, an ice-cream machine and a popcorn maker in her kitchen. But her most expensive culinary gadget by far is her Teforia tea infuser, which retails for $1,499. She considers it an investment.

Im a huge tea drinker, said the 42-year-old stay-at-home mom from Seattle. I felt like it was something I would use every day.

Jordan Peimer, 57, an arts administrator from San Diego, decided a Teforia was worth the cost considering how serious he is about tea.

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I like the idea of being able to get the most out of the actual tea itself, Peimer said.

Its not crazy, Shih and Peimer insist: Look at how much people spend on coffee.

Thats the case that Teforia is trying to make for its pricey machine. The Mountain View, Calif., start-up, founded by former Xbox, Amazon and Nokia industrial designer Allen Han, has 18 employees. Backed with $17 million in venture capital funding, Teforia hopes to be a trailblazer in the tea world, doing for tea what Keurig and Nespresso did for coffee.

Tea is a more consumed beverage than coffee is, so were excited to find a company and product that could be the Keurig of the tea market.  Jay Eum, managing director of venture capital firm Translink

When Keurig was [bought by a private equity firm this year], it was privatized at a value of $15 billion, said Jay Eum, managing director of venture capital firm Translink, which led Teforias $12-million Series A funding round. Tea is a more consumed beverage than coffee is, so were excited to find a company and product that could be the Keurig of the tea market.

Theres an elephant in the room, though. As any Starbucks barista will tell you, people are fussy about coffee. And if the proliferation of high-end coffee shops such as Blue Bottle is anything to go by, people can be outright snobs about it.

But tea? At $3 for 100 teabags, most tea-drinking Americans seem content with dunking a bag into boiling water and calling it a day. What incentive could there be to change a cheap and deeply ingrained habit?

Imagine a whole-leaf tea like a Kobe beef steak, said Alessandra Ghini, Teforias chief marketing officer, who used to do marketing for Apple. Lets say you take it and ground it up. You can still make it taste good, but it will never taste the same.

Teforia is selling its own tea, available in Keurig-style capsules, but owners of the machine also can use their own loose-leaf teas. The device connects to a mobile app in which users can tell the Teforia what kind of tea theyre using and what flavors theyd like to enhance.

The Teforia is Wi-Fi enabled and downloads lab-tested tea recipes, allowing it to modulate the flavor, aroma, caffeine and anti-oxidant levels of each cup by changing steep time, water temperature and aeration. Water passes though the vacuum-sealed infuser, which is made of hand-blown borosilicate glass, sloshing the tea leaves around before releasing the brew into a bulbous carafe.

Teforia executives and investors espouse the therapeutic qualities of watching the machine prepare tea. Ghini calls it a tea theater.

Han, Teforias founder, acknowledges that the whole process and price tag might seem like overkill to the average tea drinker. But if you go back 10 years, people were doing that with Folgers Instant Crystals, which is two cents per serving, he said. Its super convenient, it even works in cold water. You scoop up a spoonful, stir it in and youre done.

Compare that with today, where long lines at Starbucks for $5 specialty-brewed coffees are the norm, and its not hard to see Americans (or anyone around the world, for that matter) changing their attitude toward tea.

Things in the coffee world are getting fancier too: Starbucks Chief Executive Howard Schultz announced in December he was stepping down from the role to focus on Starbucks Reserve, an even sleeker version of the companys coffee shops that serves premium coffee the company roasts itself.

Teforias investors see opportunity in the $40-billion global tea market, especially in Asia, where tea culture is huge. The growing middle class in emerging markets could be a way in for the tea infuser.

Thats our investment, said Yves Sisteron, an investor at Santa Monica venture capital firm Upfront Ventures, which led Teforias $5-million seed funding round. Enormous market size, lots of innovation, a disruptive service thats above and beyond anything else out there and a great entrepreneur who understands tea very well.

While the company hasnt announced any overseas deals, Han and investors said it is looking into partnerships with overseas consumer electronics companies.

Back home, investors realize that Teforias $1,499 price tag presents a major barrier to entry for most people, which is why the company plans to introduce a lower-end version, mirroring the progress of Keurig, which launched with a high-end version but now also has budget options in Wal-Mart.

The full-priced Teforia is available from the companys website, Amazon, Williams-Sonoma and b8ta, the Palo Alto and Santa Monica stores that specialize in Internet-of-things devices.

The company will initially target its premium machine at avid tea drinkers like Shih and Peimer. Its pre-order run of 500 units  which were discounted by more than half price  sold out in six weeks. As it ramps up production, Teforia will look to partnerships with health spas, hotels, maybe even restaurants and coffee shops.

It could take years for tea to be treated like coffee, Teforias investors said. But the machines makers are hoping todays tea drinkers will soon be converted into tomorrows connoisseurs.

It definitely tastes a lot better, said Shih, comparing the tea her Teforia brews with teabags. At $1,499 a pop, one would certainly hope so.

tracey.lien@latimes.com

Twitter: @traceylien

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Paterson, Jim Jarmuschs wonderfully serene and beguiling new movie, unfolds as a series of verbal jokes so deadpan theyre almost subliminal.

Adam Driver plays a bus driver. His name is Paterson, and he lives in Paterson, N.J., the place that inspired William Carlos Williamss five-volume modernist epic, Paterson. In his free time, Paterson writes his own poetry and enjoys the company of his girlfriend, Laura, who later points out that Laura was the name of the woman who inspired the love poems of Francesco Petrarch.

There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen, Petrarch wrote, and Paterson, still upholding the tradition seven centuries later, would no doubt agree. As he moves around his namesake city, Paterson watches and listens, eavesdropping on his riders conversations and absorbing the occasional distress of his acquaintances  all of which he distills into the short, free-verse observations he jots down in his little brown notebook.

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The nature of Patersons poetic gift is in no rush to reveal itself. And Jarmusch, whose own art seems to draw as much from disciplines like medieval engraving and Buddhist meditation as it does from the traditions of Hollywood filmmaking, works to his own similarly unhurried rhythms.

For a while, you may wonder if there is more to this enigmatic, epigrammatic movie than a string of clever allusions and linguistic puzzles. Then again, you may wonder why more movies cant be a string of clever allusions and linguistic puzzles, especially when they end up giving way to such exquisite rivulets of feeling, as they do here. Paterson, like most films assured enough to make their own rules, is not just a refreshing change of pace but a revivifying one.

In short order, the movie will reveal itself as its own poem of sorts  though not the kind of poetry we often associate with cinema, with its rapturous flights of Terrence Malick-ian lyricism. At times, cinematographer Frederick Elmes does linger on the sight of the Passaic River, specifically the footbridge that stretches alongside the magnificent Great Falls and provides Paterson with a calming backdrop for his writing. But the most striking aspect of this films aesthetic  a better word might be temperament  is its gentle, unassuming modesty.

That modesty is crucial to the poetry of Paterson, as is the precisely calibrated internal meter of Jarmuschs screenplay. The movie unfolds over seven consecutive days in Patersons life  each one proceeding much like the one before it, with slight variations in tone and incident. Imagine a version of Groundhog Day with Bill Murrays prickly frustration replaced by Drivers soulful reserve, and youre halfway there.

Every day, sometime after 6 a.m., Paterson wakes up and enjoys some cuddle time with Laura (Golshifteh Farahani) before heading off to work. He endures the miserable complaints of another driver (Rizwan Manji). He drives, he writes. After returning home to Laura and hearing about her day, he walks their pet pooch, Marvin (an inveterate scene stealer played by a now-deceased English bulldog named Nellie), to a nearby bar, where he hangs with the owner (Barry Shabaka Henley), watches the other patrons and stares meaningfully into his beer.

Like some of the more memorable male protagonists in recent American movies, from Moonlight to Manchester by the Sea, Paterson isnt much for small talk, and Driver effortlessly locates the eloquence and gravity in his own understatement. If his performance seems especially startling, its because so much of his best-known work  from the volatile comedy of HBOs Girls to his recent adventures with the Dark Side of the Force  has established him as an impudently disruptive screen presence.

Paterson, by contrast, seems recessive, reactive and, insofar as the entire movie is based on patterns of repetition, thoroughly predictable. But the movie has a way of subtly undermining that assessment, from the sly visual clues he hides in plain sight (watch the photos on his nightstand carefully) to the poems we see Paterson writing, which appear in the form of on-screen text and which are read aloud by Driver, often against a churning electronic soundscape composed by Jarmusch and Carter Logan.

At its purest, simplest level, Paterson is a portrait of a young artist refining his craft, drawing impressions from his everyday existence and coaxing them into a pleasing and provocative shape. The poems themselves, written for the movie by Ron Padgett, consist of deceptively mundane insights  on the squeak of a windshield wiper blade, the beauty of a box of matches  that serve less as a revelation than a confirmation of how closely Paterson views the world.

That world has been meticulously designed and arranged by Jarmusch himself, and beneath its quotidian particulars there runs a delicate, almost imperceptible thread of enchantment. Characters from other movies, not all of them Jarmuschs own, pop up in the background, as though beamed in from some parallel cinematic universe. Laura tells Paterson that she dreamed they had twins  and from that point on, mysterious pairings and doublings recur throughout the narrative. Abbott and Costello. Romeo and Juliet. David Foster Wallace and Wallace Stevens.

There are other sly in-jokes and brilliant sight gags embedded in Mark Friedbergs production design and Catherine Georges costumes, many of them contrasting Lauras love of circles and squiggly lines with Patersons mostly checkered wardrobe.

Laura is the talkative yin to her boyfriends soft-spoken yang, and no less a creative spirit; a different and no less interesting movie might have observed the same time frame from her perspective. Over the course of a week, she takes to decorating cupcakes, painting walls, making curtains and playing the guitar with the same cheerfully enterprising spirit, though what unites these interests is that they let her indulge the ubiquitous black-and-white color scheme that appears to be her chief inspiration.

Speaking of black and white: Before long, you may register the way Paterson seems to function as a kind of passive, silent witness to some of the other characters hovering at the margins of the story. These include the bars mostly African American patrons  Chasten Harmon and William Jackson Harper supply some emotional turbulence as a couple on the outs  and a poetry-loving Japanese tourist (Masatoshi Nagase, from Jarmuschs Mystery Train) who pays a visit to the Great Falls. An uncharitable reading might lump Laura into that group, though it would mean overlooking the warmth, wit and energizing spark of Farahanis performance.

Does that make Paterson the latest pernicious example of a droopy white male hero supported by an ensemble of more emotive people of color? Or is it a sly, subversive critique of that very syndrome, rooted in an entirely plausible sense of its citys diverse demographics? My sense is that Jarmusch, whose films are often fascinating collisions of genres, styles, cultures and nationalities, is after a subtler effect than these questions can account for.

Whats magical about Paterson  and what may frustrate those seeking a tidier, prosier experience  is its refusal to settle for clear answers. You might further question whether the movie is a portrait of a couples blissful contentment or, depending on how you interpret some of Patersons gently humoring reactions to Laura, a portrait of his latent existential malaise. There is something about these two that haunts you for days afterward  as if, for all the grace and good humor of their relationship, they were dwelling someplace uneasier, and infinitely stranger, than paradise.

------------

Paterson

Rating: R, for some language

Running time: 1 hour, 58 minutes

Playing: The Landmark, West Los Angeles

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 
Its remarkable how frequently Megan Mullally and Bryan Cranston were either adjacent to one another or in the same orbit without ever colliding.

The L.A. natives both appeared on episodes of 30 Rock, 3rd Rock from the Sun, How I Met Your Mother, Murder, She Wrote and, of course, Seinfeld. (He was infamous re-gifting dentist Tim Whatley; she was the woman whose aunts death prompted Georges double-dipping.) As it turns out, says Cranston, We were actually shooting Malcolm in the Middle on the same lot as Will & Grace but never really crossed paths very much.

And now the Emmy winners are married. Onscreen that is, in the new film comedy Why Him? playing buttoned-up Michiganders Ned and Barb Fleming. Theyre having trouble accepting that their Stanford-attending, good girl daughter Stephanie (Zoey Deutch) is dating a filter-less, tattoo-festooned Silicon Valley tech millionaire named Laird (a freewheeling James Franco), who keeps an art installation of a moose entombed in its own urine in his living room. The film pulled in a solid $16.7 million over this past four-day holiday weekend.

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The chemistry was instant the pair says, and it is apparent during a recent joint interview at the Four Seasons during which they consistently crack each other up.

We just immediately had a rapport and were acting like an old married couple, says Mullally, her feet tucked under her on a couch beside Cranston and noting that it likely helped that they have both been in happy marriages for a long time. I dont know how we just fell right into that and it was so funny and great. And [Why Him? director] John [Hamburg] emailed me and said, The chemistry between you and Bryan is insane. I cannot believe how smart I am that I cast you because its perfect.

Cranston takes some of the credit for that. Early on in the script, Francos character shamelessly  and discomfitingly  admires Mullallys character, calling Barb sneaky sexy. It is established early in the film that Laird is incapable of being dishonest so, Cranston says, If he cannot lie we must hire a woman whos really attractive and I said, I think its got to be Megan Mullally. Because not only is she really attractive but, man, is she funny.

I always play the craziest person on earth, so it was nice to be able to play a normal person for once.  Megan Mullally

It is a mutual admiration society says Mullally, an early adopter of Breaking Bad.

When I was doing Young Frankenstein on Broadway [in 2007] I got a screener and I was like what the hell is this? says Mullally, who soon became addicted. In the show I had this entrance and I belted out a big song and then I was offstage for an hour and 20 minutes, which was terrible. And I had a DVD player in my dressing room and I remember I started watching Breaking Bad and I was like Am I losing my mind or is this the greatest show Ive ever seen?

Did you ever miss an entrance because you were watching? Cranston asks.

Yes, I got in trouble, says Mullally with a laugh. Lets just say, a lot of sprinting was happening. In heels.

The duos chemistry is on full display in one of the films funniest scenes. After an awkward party experience with Lairds friends, Barb, stoned out of her mind, tries (unsuccessfully) to persuade Ned to get frisky. At one point Mullally thrusts her (clothed) posterior right in Cranstons face and he is too distracted to appreciate the view.

Hes like that in real life too, Ive tried, Mullally quips.

Ill be sitting in my cast chair and Im like Megan, your butt is blocking the light, says Cranston returning the volley. There was, the pair says, a lot of laughter on the set that day.

I didnt know what she was going to do, Cranston says.

I didnt know what I was going to do, exclaims Mullally of the scene, which wasnt in the original script and largely improvised.

This was an idea of Megans to be able to have a moment with this husband and wife who have been married for a long time, says Cranston, who has been married to wife Robin for 27 years. Not only is it a drop-dead funny moment in the movie, but its important that the audience sees that they connect or disconnect at any time. Theyve been married a while, theyre in a situation that is uncomfortable and they are trying [to process it] in different ways and there is a moment where they could connect and they dont. But because they dont connect in that moment, it makes when they do connect in the end more rewarding.

Also, adds Mullally, who has been with husband Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) for 17 years, I feel like its important for younger audiences to see people who arent 23 years old being sexual and affectionate with each other. Because it doesnt come to a screeching halt. The ... still goes down when youre middle-aged and older.

Cranston laughs and says, I love the way you say that: the  goes down.

That playful dynamic was a treat to watch says Hamburg, the screenwriter-director behind I Love You, Man, who mined a similar vein in his scripts for the Meet the Parents films.

When two people are going at it in a movie like this, with scripted lines and improv, it becomes like music almost, says Hamburg in a separate interview. As a director its just such a joy to sit back and watch two seasoned performers at the top of their game playing off of each other. Theyre both insanely funny, but theyre both generous actors. The funnier the other one is, the better it makes them and they both understand that acutely.

It was also important to all involved that, no matter how wacky things might get in Lairds lair, that everyone remain grounded in reality.

The idea was not to do a movie about goofy Midwesterners who come to a totally cliche version of Silicon Valley, says Hamburg. It was to tell a story of this real family who happened to live in the Midwest. Theyre a close family with normal values and ups and downs and theyre flawed, wonderful people and they just find themselves in this upside-down world. It was so important to make them all believable, dimensional characters.

For Cranston, the broad comedy of Why Him? returns him to the form in which he first made his name, after several years of playing very serious men both real (his Tony-winning turn as President Lyndon B. Johnson and Oscar-nominated portrayal of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo) and fictional (Breaking Bads Walter White).

Conversely, playing the mostly sensible  but still funny  Barb gives Mullally an opportunity to shine in a more dramatic space after many TV seasons of playing outlandishly outsized women (including her two-time Emmy award-winning performance as kooky Big Pharma fan Karen Walker on Will & Grace and the comically destructive Tammy 2  opposite Offerman  on Parks and Recreation).

I always play the craziest person on earth, so it was nice to be able to play a normal person for once, says Mullally with a laugh. I would actually not mind doing that again sometime.

In the short term, however, Mullally is bringing her stage show with Offerman, Summer of 69: No Apostrophe, to television soon and releasing a new album with her band Nancy & Beth (with actress Stephanie Hunt) in April. Plus, she confirms, Theres talk of Will and Grace coming back but nothing official right now.

Cranston will unveil his Amazon con-man drama Sneaky Pete next month, the concept for which sprang from an Emmy speech of his. And hes about to begin working on a film with Kevin Hart that is, surprisingly, not a comedy. Boom! says Cranston with a laugh.

But perhaps another comedy is not far off. Even though Why Him? has a fairly neatly sewn-up ending, both actors seem amenable to the idea of a sequel. Perhaps Why Him Again?

Yes! says Mullally with a cheer and Cranston adds with a laugh, Something could always go wrong.

 Trumbo actor Bryan Cranston compares navigating the complexity of modern media to that of Dalton Trumbos era.

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If you missed Hopscotch, the groundbreaking work performed by the experimental opera company the Industry in cars on the streets of L.A., youre in luck. The company will release a recording of the show on its eponymous label on Jan. 13.

More than two hours worth of the lushly orchestrated score will be made available as a car key-shaped USB drive or digital download via Bandcamp and other outlets. The release will coincide with the launch of a new interactive website devoted to the show.

Hopscotch premiered in October 2015 and featured a surreal story line based loosely on the Orpheus myth. It took place in 24 cars driving in and around downtown Los Angeles. The story unfolded in a nonlinear fashion, and thats exactly how Industry artistic director Yuval Sharon thinks listeners should approach the recordings now.

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Although the album provides a comprehensive through-line of the piece from Chapter 1 to 36, I think the best way to approximate the effect of being in a Hopscotch performance is to play it on shuffle, Sharon wrote via email from Germany, where he was working on a production of Die Walkure.

You can mimic the live experience even more effectively, Sharon said, by listening to the soundtrack in your car. The USB is meant to fit directly into vehicle ports.

The sensory experience of Hopscotch was intentionally disorienting, surprising and overwhelming, so to offer audiences the opportunity to experience the music on its own terms is a great joy for me and the Industry team, Sharon said. The Industrys label started precisely for this reason  to let the music of our productions have autonomous life  as well as to disseminate the work being done here in Los Angeles on a larger scale.

Sharon, whose company staged Invisible Cities at Union Station in 2013, is known for thinking on a grand scale. When Hopscotch premiered, Times music critic Mark Swed declared that it seemed to herald a transformative moment for opera. He later included the work  by turns messy and mesmerizing  in his year-end top 10 list.

Describing the experience of riding in vehicles with performers, Swed wrote: A fortuneteller looks you straight in the eye as she sings to you, and you are part of the story. Observe a veteran opera star like mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman up close, and the rest of the world simply vanishes from your consciousness.

jessica.gelt@latimes.com

@jessicagelt

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My kingdom for a can of beans! A radical take on the Bard in Table Top Shakespeare
A new incentive program aims to spur more rapid expansion of San Diegos already thriving biotech and craft brewing industries.

City officials say the two industries are engines of the local economy because most biotech jobs come with high salaries and because breweries typically have large workforces that boost other area businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores and dry cleaners.

Modeled after a program in Sacramento, the incentive will lower the steep cost of expansions such businesses face because they use large amounts of water, requiring them to pay sewer hook-up fees that often exceed $100,000.

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Such high fees can persuade businesses to pursue smaller expansions, delay expansion plans or abandon them altogether.

Using $750,000 from a defunct state tax credit program, the city will buy stranded sewer capacity controlled by businesses that use little water but occupy buildings where the previous tenant used lots of water and consequently paid a high hook-up fee.

The city plans to buy the excess capacity back at roughly half price and then sell it to businesses pursuing expansions at roughly 60% of what they would normally pay, said Erik Caldwell, the citys economic development director.

When the new use thats less water-intensive comes in, we can buy that excess capacity that theyre not using, Caldwell said. Thats all capacity that the Public Utilities Department has anticipated would be in the system anyway. We want to make sure its creating jobs, not sitting idle somewhere because the previous tenant needed it and the current tenant doesnt.

Councilman Chris Cate, whose north city district includes many of the regions roughly 130 craft breweries, predicted the new program would spur many expansions that might not have otherwise happened.

One of the biggest costs and hurdles to investment is the capacity fees, he said. Were looking for ways to offset some of those capital costs.

Cate also said he thinks breweries are overcharged for sewer hook-up fees, which the city uses to expand its capacity for sewage treatment. He said breweries pay high fees because they use a lot of water, but that most of it never hits the drain because its in the beer.

Even though youre not putting anything into the sewer system, youre still paying those fees, he said.

Jeff Silver, president of 5-year-old Rough Draft Brewing Company in Miramar, said the incentive would help both small breweries considering moderate expansions and larger breweries planning more significant upgrades.

Its good for any brewery thats considering expansion  it just lowers that calculation, he said. Theyre going to get hit with this charge and its pretty expensive.

Silver said the incentive could make San Diego more attractive to breweries looking to relocate or considering leaving for other parts of the county.

He said that might become more important with San Diegos city-only minimum wage scheduled to increase to $11.50 an hour Jan. 1  doubling the difference between the minimum wage rate in the city versus the state.

The citys rate is now $10.50 an hour, 50 cents higher than the $10 required by the state. When the city goes to $11.50 it will be $1 more than the state rate, which will increase to $10.50 on Jan. 1.

The biotech industry is also likely to embrace the incentive, said Joe Panetta, chief executive of Biocom, a San Diego-based life sciences trade group.

For people to be able to buy credits is a great incentive, said Panetta, predicting the program could spur some expansions that didnt previously make financial sense.

He praised the city for aiming to boost one of its most important and thriving business sectors.

Its one of the key industries in the city and its growing all the time, Panetta said.

Caldwell said pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers would also probably pursue the new incentive.

He said the $750,000 will be seed money to get the process started. Because the city wont be losing money on any of the transactions, he said its possible no additional contributions will be needed.

Our hope is this money allows us to do a couple transactions and get it up and running, he said. It will give us the working capital to always have one or two transactions that were working on.

He said the city has identified roughly a dozen businesses with stranded capacity.

The number of businesses considering expansions but facing high hook-up fees is harder to estimate, he said.

I would imagine once we start doing the transactions and word gets out, there will be a lot of businesses that approach us, Caldwell said.

He said the program should be up and running by midsummer, which he called a conservative estimate.

Though the program is modeled on a similar incentive in Sacramento, Caldwell said a local situation also played a role.

Two years ago two companies tried to exchange sewer capacity and discovered it was illegal without the city acting as a middleman.

We are facilitating a transaction that otherwise couldnt occur, Caldwell said.

The seed money comes from a defunct state tax credit program to support economic and workforce development initiatives. Though the program was terminated in 2013, the San Diego Regional Enterprise Zone had $2.5 million in remaining administrative funds.

david.garrick@sduniontribune.com

Garrick writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
During his years as Cudahy city manager, George Perez saw himself as a man of the people, a guy who knew how to get things done.

Others saw an old-fashioned political boss.

Federal documents from an investigation four years ago painted a picture of a city out of control  a town where bribes became routine, elections were fixed and city workers acted as gun-packing bodyguards. The portrait drawn of Perez, identified as G.P., was harsh. Perez used drugs at City Hall, tossed out ballots to sway elections and was chauffeured to a Dennys to pick up bribes, according to an affidavit.

Three officials in the Southeast Los Angeles County town of Cudahy, including two council members, were convicted of bribery charges and sent to prison.

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But Perez was never arrested.

Perez, once referred to as Mr. Cudahy, said federal authorities never questioned him in detail about the allegations made against him. He said there were general questions about municipal elections but nothing specific. He said a federal grand jury only asked him to provide documents related to the bribery case.

Outside his Hacienda Heights home on a chilly Halloween night, Perez said of the accusations that had been leveled against him, Theyre all false, and Im not the one who went to jail.

Laura Eimiller, a spokeswoman for the FBI, said its the agencys policy not to confirm or deny investigations.

But the FBIs release of a plea agreement that gave a relatively detailed, explicit description of what Perez had allegedly done, followed by the apparent lack of action taken against him, created a layer of mystery.

Until the feds decide to speak of it, its almost impossible to know, said Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson.

She said investigators would have had to corroborate everything an accused defendant said about Perez.

Bringing up every misconduct is probably not enough to push an investigation, Levenson said.

In 2000, married and with four children, Perez was serving on the City Council and working for a building materials store. That year, he and others voted to repeal an ordinance that required a one-year period before former council members could be eligible for appointments.

Soon, Perez stepped down as a councilman and took up the job as city manager, which then paid $89,000 a year, even though he had no college degree or background in public administration. (He ended up being paid about $200,000 a year before his firing in 2011.)

The following year, he became the target of an investigation by the district attorneys office, which was looking into the hiring process. The probe lasted two years and involved searches at both City Hall and Perezs Cudahy home.

County prosecutors dropped the investigation because they couldnt find evidence of wrongdoing. In a memo, however, they stated that Perez liked politics and power more than the building materials business.

Years later, prosecutors looked into allegations of illegal pay raises at Cudahy and Perezs dual roles as city manager and manager at Tract 180 Water Co., a private utility that sells water to the city.

County prosecutors ended up concluding that Perez committed no crimes for his dual roles, and on June 23, prosecutors closed the pay-raise case without filing charges.

Perezs years at the top of Cudahys hierarchy corresponded with a period of scandal in Southeast Los Angeles County cities like South Gate, Bell and Vernon. At the center of the controversies were officials, like Perez, whom many saw as local political strongmen.

In the city of Bell, Robert Rizzo quietly oversaw an era of corruption and graft until his compensation of $1.5 million a year led to a criminal investigation. He and six other officials were convicted on a series of corruption charges.

The neighboring industrial city of Vernon had two of the regions most controversial top administrators: Bruce V. Malkenhorst, who was paid more than half a million a year and was driven around in a limousine, and Eric T. Fresch, who made $1.6 million in one year as city administrator and flew in first class from his home in the Bay Area.

Malkenhorst pleaded guilty to misappropriation of public funds in 2011. Fresch, who was never arrested or charged, accidentally drowned in 2012, Marin County officials said.

Perez never commanded the eye-popping salaries of his contemporaries, but he was known for exercising an unusual level of control in Cudahy for a city manager.

In Cudahy, Perez gained a reputation for controlling public life and operating a political machine to maintain power. He was an emcee at town hall meetings and raffled fans, heaters and other items to residents. He held Christmas toy giveaways at a local nightclub with a history of car thefts and violence. Winning elected office in the city without Perezs support was considered impossible.

But Perez said he never saw himself as a political kingpin.

I never thought about having power, he said. Maybe its how I come off; maybe its how I speak to people. I try not to beat around the bush. I know what I have to say and I do.

He said he served his city proudly, pointing to his leading a group of parents to protest against the Los Angeles Unified School District when ooze seeped from an elementary school that had been built on top of a landfill.

He entered politics to represent Latinos and other residents he said had long been neglected by City Hall. Perez said residents embraced him because of his humble roots, one of six children who grew up poor with an alcoholic father.

As city manager, Perez said he personally helped residents with problems, even if they werent city-related. He gave some jobs to former gang members looking for a second chance. He said the raffles at town hall meetings were meant to boost civic engagement, not to curry favor with voters.

Perez said he never listened to his critics because they were often against what he thought was right and blamed him for their misfortunes.

Everybody always wants to blame George Perez, he said. I told myself if this what it takes to set right from wrong in Cudahy, so be it. So be it.

After the FBI descended on Cudahy, some of the accused pointed fingers at their boss. Angel Perales, a longtime city official who was convicted in the bribery case, told an FBI informant that Perez handpicked the City Council during a taped conversation in 2011.

In his plea agreement, Perales said that he and Perez abused narcotic pain drugs at City Hall. He also alleged that Perez went to illegal lengths to maintain control of the city, according to the plea agreement  something that had been claimed by critics of the city manager before the FBI ever showed up.

In 2007, Cudahy held its first contested election since 1999. The election threatened to oust some on the council that had long been allied with Perez. The council had always voted unanimously on city issues.

According to the court documents, Perales said Perez had him and others register nonresident voters. Additionally, Perales said he and Perez tossed out absentee ballots that did not favor incumbents by determining how to open ballots without defacing the envelopes. Perales said they also tampered with absentee ballots in 2009.

Luis Garcia, a former city employee who ran unsuccessfully against Perezs then-council allies, said his home was firebombed with a Molotov cocktail in 2009, which he captured on video. Other candidates received death threats or saw their cars vandalized.

No one was ever charged in the incidents.

Garcia said some people were angry that Perez never got prosecuted  convinced that he had broken the law, just like the lieutenants under him who ended up being arrested and convicted. But Garcia said he was beyond the point of anger.

The frustration point has long been gone, and the disappointment has kicked in, he said.

That is not what Perez said he feels whenever he visits Cudahy. He said the people he runs into are glad to see him.

Im always greeted with handshakes and hugs, he said. Theyre upset I left. Theyre upset about what happened after I left.

If anyone expected  and wanted  Perez to disappear from public life after the bribery case and his departure, they would be disappointed. He continues to serve as the general manager for Tract 180 Water Co., the private utility. He gets paid $98,000 a year.

Cudahy is such a part of his life that he has a tattoo of the city seal on his lower right calf.

He insists that he doesnt dwell on his firing or the FBI case anymore.

The past is the past, Perez said, though the former Mr. Cudahy does not sound completely convincing when talking about his portrait removed from City Hall  or the plaque thanking him for his years of service that has never been displayed.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter.

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Southern California Gas Co. has detected methane gas seepage near the massive Aliso Canyon underground gas field, but a spokesman said the very, very small amount is odorless and poses no health hazard to residents.

The seepage, which gas company spokesman Chris Gilbride described as the equivalent of the wisping vapors of a single table candle, is believed to consist of residual traces of methane trapped in the soil and released by the weekends heavy rain, he said.

The seepage was first detected by infrared cameras on Saturday, and continued intermittently through Monday.

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The release is a mile from homes, and has not affected overall methane levels. It poses no risk of environmental damage, Gilbride said.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter 

A major leak that was detected at the site in October 2015 and lasted until February became the largest recorded methane release in U.S. history, prompting thousands of nearby Porter Ranch residents to leave their homes as officials struggled to cap a faulty well.

Residents complained of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea, short-term symptoms associated with an odor-causing additive in the natural gas.

Southern California Gas Co. agreed in September to pay $4 million to settle criminal charges over its failure to notify authorities of the massive leak, but still faces potentially costly civil lawsuits from residents and regulators.

Gilbride said the utility notified regulators, local elected officials, a community advisory board and its database of 60,000 residents about the seepage as part of a robust communications plan set up after the leak.

gholland@latimes.com

Follow me for homelessness news on Twitter: @geholland

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A Riverside man accused of slitting the throat of a pit bull that attacked his poodle has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty. Both animals died.

The incident occurred in the 4900 block of Hollyhock Lane on Saturday morning, Christmas Eve. Witnesses told officials that a pit bull named Devo grabbed the poodle, named Spunky, in his jaws.

About 9:45 a.m., Devos owner, Carina Garcia, encountered the poodles owner, along with two neighbors, trying to extract the smaller animal from the pit bulls jaws. They eventually succeeded, but the poodle died soon after.

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The poodles owner, Rudy Jesus Barajas, then carried the pit bull away and stabbed the animal, apparently slashing his throat, authorities said. The dog ran back to his home and collapsed. The pit bull owner tried to rush her dog to a veterinary hospital for treatment, but the animal died en route.

Riverside police arrested Barajas, 30, on suspicion of felony animal cruelty. Barajas posted $10,000 bail and was released Christmas Day.

We fully understand how upset someone can get when another persons pet attacks their dog, Riverside County Animal Services Director Robert Miller said in a news release. But no one has the right to take matters into their own hands, as what is being alleged in this particular incident.

Miller said the episode illustrated the importance of keeping animals properly secured. Tragic incidents, such as this one, can be better prevented when people have strong fences or tall walls or secure gates.

Pit bulls have a powerful predator instinct and can attack smaller dogs, even if the pit bulls are gentle to children and family members within their own homes, said John Welsh, the agencys senior public information specialist.

Theyre going to go after smaller dogs, Welsh told The Times. Thats what they do. It doesnt necessarily make the dog a horrible dog. It may make you a horrible owner if the dog gets loose.

Welsh added: Both owners have had their dogs off leash in the past, and thats always a recipe for disaster.

The pit bulls owner never received a citation, but animal control said it responded in September and April to reports that two pit bulls under the control of Garcias then-boyfriend were roaming the street. The reports do not indicate whether Devo was one of the dogs, Welsh said.

Barajas, the owner of Spunky, a 10-month-old poodle mix, told officials that his dog was in its yard when Devo, a 2-year-old, attacked.

Raul Romero, Barajas stepfather, told an investigator that the pit bull finally released the poodle when Barajas grabbed the dog by the neck. But then the pit bull tried to bite him. Barajas took the dog by the neck and dragged him to their residence, according to notes compiled by animal control Officer Max Morales.

Barajas mother, Sandra Romero, defended her son.

Hes not a violent person, she told the Press-Enterprise. He was only defending himself because the dog was trying to attack him or bite him.

Garcias account is different. She said the Romeros screamed at her, told her they were going to kill her dog and urged their son to act on the threat.

My dog did harm and Im sorry for that, said Garcia, a 22-year-old college student who described Devo as gentle around the familys children. She said she realized that animal control might have ultimately decided to put down her dog, but what that family did was not right.

California law allows a property owner to protect himself, his property and his pets from an animal, with lethal force if necessary. But the willful, unnecessary killing of another persons animal can result in prosecutions. The pit bull will have a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

Normally, animal control would have impounded the pit bull pending further investigation, Welsh said. The dog could have been destroyed if deemed dangerous.

Owners that let their animals roam unrestrained face citations that can run several hundred dollars. Civil lawsuits are also a potential outcome of serious altercations between animals, Welsh said.

Although incarceration is unusual, animal cruelty convictions sometimes result in prison sentences.

This month, a judge sentenced a Riverside County man to five years in state prison for fatally beating a 3-year-old terrier mix with a shovel and dumping the dog over a fence. The suspect had a prior record, which contributed to the length of the sentence, according to the animal control department.

howard.blume@latimes.com

Twitter: @howardblume

Click here for a Spanish version of this story

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UPDATES:

4:25 p.m.: The story was updated to include information from an interview with the owner of the pit bull.

The story was originally published at 2:05 p.m.
When Christy Martin was named Fairest of the Fair in 1976, her brother Harry, then 12, remembers his family being escorted around the Del Mar Fairgrounds by its sombrero-clad ambassador, Don Diego.

Today, Don Diego is gone and so is the Fairest of the Fair contest. Soon, another iconic fairground attraction will be lost  the 63-year-old Don Diego clock tower will be torn down to make way for expanded vendor exhibition space.

The towers destruction has been discussed for more than six years, but its fate was sealed last week at a meeting of the 22nd District Agricultural Assn.s board of directors. The building is beyond repair, the board determined, because of extensive termite damage and a leaking roof. Its bathrooms, clocks and electronic sign no longer work.

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They were making jokes at the meeting that the only reason its staying up is the termites are holding hands, said board member David Watson. The tower is in pretty bad condition ... it doesnt get used. Its just sitting there in the middle of the parking lot and its in the way.

When the San Diego County Fair reopens June 2, the structure will be gone, officials said. Martin, now a real estate agent who lives in Escondido, said hes upset about the impending demolition. The clock tower, which is decorated with three large tile murals of Don Diego  who was portrayed for many years by actor Tommy Hernandez  is one of the last surviving memories of his childhood visits to the fairgrounds.

Its one of the only things thats still left of Tommy Hernandez over there, Martin said. Theyre taking away all the history of the Del Mar Fair. I read about how the building has fallen into disrepair and I think its all a little too convenient for the fair board. They want it gone so they can make some more money, so they just let it fall into rot so they can knock it down.

News of the planned demolition created a firestorm of criticism on the Vintage San Diego Facebook page among longtime San Diegans who feel their history is being lost. Native San Diegan Glenn Steiner said hes been going to the fair for 48 years and the tower was one of his favorite attractions.

Sad they are pulling it down, he wrote. Little is left of the San Diego and La Jolla that I grew up with  the developers will just build something nondescript, rubber-stamped by the city fathers.

Barbara Grice, who is executive director of the San Dieguito Heritage Assn. in Encinitas, said she used the tower as a meeting point with her girlfriends as a teenager in the 1960s. Shes sorry to see it r go, but shes happy about the boards decision to preserve the iconic tile murals of Don Diego, each embedded with a clock, that decorate three sides of the structure.

The building itself is going to fall down if they dont take it down, but the Don Diego and the clocks need to be carried on, Grice said.

During World War II, the fairgrounds was used by the military for housing and training. The fair returned in 1946 with an official greeter, Don Diego, a Mexican ranchero character.

A year after the tower was built in a flurry of new construction, the clock tile murals of Don Diego were added on all three faces in 1954.

The tower building, which included public bathrooms and benches under a sweeping roof, is one of San Diegos few surviving examples of Googie architecture, a period of design that began in San Diego and Los Angeles after the war, according to Irvine architect and historian Alan Hess.

It related to the optimism of the postwar period when Southern California was booming. People were looking to the future with great excitement and the architecture reflected that popular interest, said Hess, the architecture critic for the San Jose Mercury-News and the author of 19 architecture books, including two on the Googie period.

The typical features of Googie buildings were prominent rooflines with cantilevers, zig-zags and upswept points as well as tall sign pylons. Some had fanciful Jetsons-like features inspired by the Space Age and science-fiction films.

Hess said the Don Diego tower was notable because it incorporated the adobe style of the regions dominant Spanish architecture.In 1958, 4-year-old Bruce Coons of San Diego made his first visit to the clock tower, where Hernandez and that years Fairest of the Fair contest winner, Racquel Tejada (later Welch), gave him a lift back to his fathers exhibit booth in their motorized cart.

I was quite smitten with it as a little boy, said Coons, who is executive director of San Diegos Save Our Heritage Organisation. The group has fought to save the tower since the board first introduced a possible demolition plan in a 2009 environmental impact report.

Its one of the best examples of the Googie style locally and its the essence of what makes a landmark, Coons said. Its the most iconic thing at the fairgrounds and thats why everyone used it as a meeting point.

But the districts master plan committee found the tower did not meet the criteria for listing in the national or California registers of historic places and, the panels report says, it does not represent the work of a master nor does it possess high artistic value.

Hess said the tower is going the way of many Googie buildings that flourished in the 1940s to 1960s but have since mostly been torn down or remodeled. What this points out to me is neglect, Hess said of the clock tower. Many people havent taken this style of building seriously and so they let it go. Thats when they get to the point of just being structurally unsound.  As a result, we dont have many of these left here in Southern California.

As car culture exploded in California in the 1950s, Hess said the Googie style was most often seen in fast-food restaurants, car washes, gas stations, drive-in laundries and motels, particularly the space-themed lodges that once surrounded Disneyland. In San Diego, restaurateur Robert O. Peterson employed the style at his quick-service restaurants Oscars and, later, Jack in the Box. Nearly all of those early structures are gone.

They had energy and were really appealing to the eye, especially the hotels around Disneyland that were so bland, Hess said. We dont need blandness, we need exuberance in our landscape.

Fairgrounds spokeswoman Shawn Feisst said that once the mural clocks are removed, they will be taken someplace safe to be restored. Eventually they will be reinstalled, most likely at prominent locations around the fairgrounds.Larry Brooks, president of the Del Mar Historical Society, said his group isnt upset about the demolition because his board didnt see the tower as historic.

But he hopes the mural re-installations will restore the fairs commitment to Don Diego. The fair retired Don Diego as fair ambassador after Hernandez died in 1984, but a statue of the character was installed at the fairgrounds front gates in 1985.

I think the fair has been a little remiss in not keeping the legend of Don Diego alive. This might be the opportunity to resurrect that, Brooks said. The legend of Don Diego isnt just a wood-frame building with stucco on it.

Solana Beach resident Diane Y. Welch, who co-wrote a historical book on the Del Mar Fairgrounds in 2008, said she hopes the demise of the clock tower doesnt mean the demise of Don Diegos welcoming spirit at the fair.

She suggested having the restored murals installed in other locations outside the fairgrounds, such as downtown Del Mar or Solana Beach. That way, she said, the story of the handsome, dashing caballero figure will continue to be relevant.

pam.kragen@utsandiego.com

Kragen writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Los Angeles County coroners office on Monday identified a man who was shot and killed during a confrontation with deputies in Pico Rivera.

Zhonghua Li, 48, of Pico Rivera was fatally shot when he refused to follow orders and approached two deputies with a sharp object, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department.

The deputy-involved shooting happened about 4:45 p.m. Saturday in the 3400 block of Greenglade Avenue when deputies responded to a call about a 50-year-old man with mental health problems who was allegedly attacking family members with scissors, the Sheriffs Department said.

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Two deputies arrived on the scene and saw the man in the street. Authorities said he refused orders to drop a sharp-bladed object in his right hand and aggressively approached the deputies.

One deputy fired a stun bag at the suspect, hitting him in the torso. But the suspect continued to approach, and the deputies shot him, the Sheriffs Department said.

Li was pronounced dead at the scene, where the sharp object was recovered.

The shooting remains under investigation.

ruben.vives@latimes.com

For more Southern California news, follow @latvives on Twitter.
It was a tradition of a different Los Angeles and a different workplace.

For years, downtown L.A. office workers tossed their desk calendars out the windows at the end of the year. The unofficial New Years calendar toss occurred around noon on the last work day of the year.

The event became something of a sport on the ground as well. Some believed it brought good luck to catch the page with your birthday on it.

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At its height, the practice was so common that downtown L.A.s streets were covered with the small pages of the daily calendars.

But the celebration raised the ire of city officials, who had to clean up the mess.

In 1973, one Times letter writer urged the City Council to figure out what businesses allowed the calendar tossing and bill them for the costs of cleanup.

In 1993, the city beefed up security patrols in City Hall and other buildings to cut down on the litter. Officials also made public appeals to other downtown workers not to allow their calendars to rain down on the streets.

Although we attempted to prevent this practice in past years, a substantial amount of litter was thrown from Civic Center buildings, Randall C. Bacon, general manager of the citys Department of General Services, wrote in a memo that year. The practice of throwing desk calendars from windows and rooftops to celebrate the end of the year has become a costly problem which we can ill afford.

The city also tried to guilt-trip workers, according to a Times report.

Before you throw, remember that some poor city employee who wants to be home has to go out with a sweeper to clean it up, said Patrick Howard, director of the Bureau of Street Maintenance.

Its hard to know whether the crackdown worked.

By then, the practice was fading. Modern high-rise buildings in downtown had windows that didnt open. And a decade later, paper calendars were being replaced by electronic versions.
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, just 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 this month.

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 asked Dr. Jim Oosterhuis, a veterinarian at the park, to take a look.

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Oosterhuis knew immediately he was dealing with a bullet fragment. With his Leatherman tool, he reached in, grabbed 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 last week. Ive been here 41 years now, and it never ceases to amaze me the stuff that happens.

Technically, that the 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 that it caused 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 and the fact that Wallis 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 nine inches along her rib cage before dipping below a rib.

Swiping a metal detector over the site, park 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 the powerful equipment it uses to investigate 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.

With the bullet jacket in hand, the park staff was able to make its confirmation: The shell had worked its way back through the path of its original entrance. The vets believe the casings ragged contours scraped along the edges of Wallis wound, preventing it from healing until the foreign object was expelled.

Since the extraction, the change in Wallis injury has been dramatic, Oosterhuis said.

In the four days, it has healed up quickly. I just palpated it ... and its only about a half-inch deep, he said.

The rhinos caretakers are left with estimating the mechanics and motives for the shooting.

The reason for the gunshot seems clear: African rhinos are regularly killed because of the 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 a day on average.

As to how Wallis survived the likely poaching attempt, it appears 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.

It was definitely a heart or lung shot that somebody was going for. My guess is she turned toward them and the shot came in at a shallow angle and bounced off a rib, Oosterhuis said.

The zoo plans to have the evidence examined by a forensics lab before putting it on exhibit as proof of the perils that rhinos face in the wild. The goal is to identify the caliber of the bullet and the type of gun that fired the bullet. Such information would be communicated to the South African reserve where Wallis came from.

The reserve had reported several rhinoceros poaching incidents near the time that Wallis was collected for transfer, the safari parks officials said.

Modern forensics labs can learn a lot from bullet fragments.

Lt. Scott Wahl, a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department, said if theres enough material to work with, a professional lab can use recovered bullet casings to determine caliber and even which gun fired the round. The barrel of each gun leaves a distinct pattern of grooves, similar to a fingerprint, on the outside of each bullet fired.

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.

Currently, only three northern whites are left in the world. The number was four until November 2015, when a bacterial infection forced the park to euthanize Nola, a 41-year-old park veteran, after repeated treatments couldnt eliminate the pathogens.

Because the worlds remaining northern whites are too old for active breeding, a collaborative program that includes the San Diego Zoo seeks to use the southern-white branch of the genetic tree as a surrogate. Thats how Wallis, a 5-year-old southern white, joined the initiative.

The first step will be to perfect the zoos ability to transfer embryos grown in labs to the six female southern whites that recently arrived at the safari park. Once that technique is refined, the next step could be to create hybrid northern-southern offspring using sperm collected from male northern whites. Finally, if those steps go well, advanced genetic techniques could help turn cell samples collected from 12 northern whites into stem cells that could be used to produce northern white rhino sperm and eggs.

Those would be combined to generate a northern white embryo. Researchers would transfer it to a southern white female rhino, which would nurture it through birth.

The zoos staff estimates it could take at least five years to achieve this milestone.

paul.sisson@sduniountribune.com

Sisson writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
The election of Donald Trump has thrilled many people across the Wests oil and gas industry who say his promises to roll back regulations will free it from unfair and unnecessary obstacles imposed by President Obama.

If the Trump administration does nothing but stop being hostile to us, well be happy, said Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance.

Yet how much will things really change under a Trump administration?

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Even as some in the oil and gas industry are optimistic  and as conservation groups gird for protests and court fights to protect public lands  experts say blaming government, or giving it too much credit, for restricting oil and gas is mostly missing the point. If another Western energy boom is around the corner, they say, it will be because prices rise, not because regulations decline.

The market is the elephant in the room, said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research, an industry consulting firm. All this other talk about access to public lands and such for oil and gas, its a pretty minor issue.

Although the Obama administration is often criticized by the fossil fuel industry, it presided over a boom that saw domestic oil and gas production soar. The administration allowed a broad and controversial expansion of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which infuriated many conservation groups while it transformed parts of North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and the Rockies into meccas for energy workers and the United States became a powerful new global energy player.

For a Democrat, hes really been pro-oil, Lynch said of Obama. Hes been a lot nicer to oil than some Republicans.

But the boom helped deflate itself by driving up supply and driving down prices for oil and gas. Around the same time, the administration began paying more attention to climate change  limiting emissions from power plants and methane from oil and gas production, removing certain public lands from energy development, and rejecting or withholding decisions on projects such as the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines.

Those efforts, which intensified in 2015 before the Paris climate talks, came to define the Obama administration in the minds of many in the industry.

Sgamma, who has praised Trumps selection of people who question climate science for top positions in his administration, said that in the last two years her group, which is based in Denver, had fought to shape 71 regulatory processes initiated under the Obama administration and that it had submitted 62,000 pages of documentation while doing so. She said regulations reduce production during periods of low prices because they raise the floor price at which production is profitable.

The industry is cautiously optimistic on the market front but a bit exuberant on the political front, Sgamma said. Actually, take away the a bit.

Federal approval processes do take longer than state processes, which the energy industry often cites as sufficient. But complaints over regulatory delays have persisted for decades, through Democratic and Republican administrations.

Twenty years ago, someone said, The best day of your career is when you get a lease on federal lands and the worst day in your career is when you get a lease on federal lands, because its such a pain, said Lynch, who favors a faster federal process.

Sarp Ozkan, a manager of drilling analytics for Drillinginfo.com, said that with benchmark oil prices currently well below $60 a barrel, companies are inclined to focus on known sources such as the Permian Basin of West Texas rather than explore public lands.

But Ozkan did say Trump could make a difference. Should he approve a project like the Dakota Access pipeline, for example, that could make drilling in western North Dakota more profitable at lower prices because transporting oil by pipeline is cheaper than by rail.

Youre going to be focusing on what makes you the most money, what gets you the quickest return on your capital, Ozkan said of industry.

Michael Freeman, a staff attorney for the law firm Earthjustice who specializes in oil and gas issues, noted that energy companies retain hundreds of leases on public lands in the West that they are not acting on because of low prices.

This idea that the current administration has been strangling the industry by over-regulating them is just not accurate factually, Freeman said. Theyre got plenty of permits to drill if they want to drill.

This month, the global energy company BP announced plans to open an office in Denver. At first glance, the move might seem like evidence of the exuberance Sgamma described.

In announcing the move, BP, which will transfer 200 people from Houston to a new building in the citys trendy Lower Highlands area in early 2018, said the decision was driven by its desire to be closer to its substantial asset position in the Rocky Mountain region and an important energy hub of the future.

But the company says that future took shape long before Trump stunned the world with his victory in November, that the move was motivated by the changing energy market, not a changing administration, and that it reflects a broader awareness that dependence on fossil fuels will decline as the world fights climate change.

Theres an abundance of natural gas in the Rockies, David Lawler, chief executive of BPs Lower 48 division, said in an interview. As a company, our strategy is to grow more toward gas. We see it as an environmentally friendly bridge fuel to the future as renewables become more important. It has a lower carbon footprint, and thats part of our strategy as we go forward.

Lawler, who grew up in Denver and graduated from the Colorado School of Mines, said BP was optimistic about the Trump administration but uncertain of what might change.

We worked well with the Obama administration, and we look forward to working with the Trump administration as well, he said. We dont really see a red wellhead or a blue wellhead. We think its energy thats vital to America and we want to provide that energy to America and do it in a way that protects the environment.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday to recognize the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack that spurred America to enter World War II.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the countrys World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951 shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

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The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the site, joined by President Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, its significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe wont apologize for Japans attack when he visits, the government spokesman said this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology.

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima, Japan, to pay tribute to victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the war.

On Monday, Abe visited the Ehime Maru Memorial near downtown Honolulu. Nine boys and men died when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel off Oahu on Feb. 9. 2001. Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Caroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, were among those who joined Abe for the solemn visit.
Democrats draw sharper battle lines in tug of war over party leadership By Chris Megerian Even as Democrats try to move past last years defeats, their internal fault lines show signs of deepening in the campaign for the partys leadership. The latest evidence came Wednesday when former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Thomas E. Perez, who served as President Obamas Labor secretary, to chair the Democratic National Committee. We have a lot of good people vying for this important job, Biden said in a statement. But I do think for this moment and in this time, Tom Perez is our best bet to help bring the party back. The endorsement was seen as more evidence that key members of the recently departed Obama administration were backing Perez. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) with Sen. Bernie Sanders. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) It was followed by a statement from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reiterating his support for Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), another leading candidate in the race. Although Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, he has continued to try to pull Democrats to the left, and he has emphasized the need to create a grass-roots party. Obama left office with strong poll numbers, but under his watch, Democrats lost power not only in Washington but in states around the country, something Sanders and his allies have stressed in the fight over the party chairmanship. The question is simple: Do we stay with a failed status-quo approach or do we go forward with a fundamental restructuring of the Democratic Party? Sanders said. Read More Facebook

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Border Patrol chief is abruptly out after being brought in as a reformer By Brian Bennett The chief of the Border Patrol will leave his post at the end of the month, likely the result of a change in direction by the Trump administration and a reflection of the new power of the agencys union. Mark Morgan, the agencys head, was hired from the FBI in June to reform the force after a series of corruption allegations and problems with excessive force. He will leave the Border Patrol abruptly after seven months on the job, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Morgans departure was first reported by the Associated Press. Morgan spent 20 years at the FBI and was first brought to Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, in 2014 to overhaul its internal affairs division. After a subsequent stint running the FBIs training academy, he started the top job at the Border Patrol in June. The Border Patrols union had opposed Morgans appointment, preferring a candidate who had risen through the ranks of the agency. The union endorsed President Trump in the election, breaking with its practice of remaining neutral in elections. News of Morgans departure comes a day after Trump announced he would build a border wall and hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, bringing the total force to 26,000. Trump said the Border Patrol union would have a lot of clout in department decisions. Facebook

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Trump was silent on new U.S. sanctions against Russia, but he praises Putins response By Michael A. Memoli After President Obama on Thursday announced retaliatory measures against the Russian government for what the U.S. has concluded were efforts to interfere in the election, President-elect Donald Trumps response was terse and dismissive, saying it was time to move on to bigger and better things. But after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he would not respond in kind to the U.S. actions  preferring to wait until the new administration takes office  Trump weighed in with high praise. Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016 Trumps tweet did not appear to be off the cuff. As if to underscore his sentiment, Trump affixed the tweet to the top of his Twitter feed. And he posted an Instagram photo shortly after, quoting himself. View Instagram post Trumps effusive words were particularly striking given the bipartisan view of Putin as more adversary than ally. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said they supported the Obama administrations move to expel Russian diplomats and block access to two properties owned by its government. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to call a hearing on Russias cyber activities when the new Congress convenes next week. A Trump transition spokesman was asked earlier Friday whether Trump had spoken or planned to speak with Putin before his inauguration. The priority right now is for the president[-elect] to get an update next week from the intelligence community, Sean Spicer said. Trumps praise did get tacit approval from some quarters. The Russian embassy in Washington retweeted it. Facebook

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Most popular White House petitions included requests to label a hate group and deport Justin Bieber By Colleen Shalby Over the past five years, Americans have produced and signed nearly 5,000 petitions through the White Houses We the People site. How could we ever forget the effort to get the Obama administration on board with building a Death Star? Some, like that one and a petition to deport Justin Bieber, resulted only in conversation. But others made an impact. The Pew Research Center analyzed the petitions in a recent report. They ranged from serious, like an effort to ban gay conversion therapy at a state level that led the president in 2015 to support states bans, to playful. A request for Obama to appear on a previously unvisited talk show, for example, prompted him to appear on Real Time with Bill Maher in January 2016. In 2015, 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin requested a meeting with the first black president, something she never thought shed live to see. Her petition garnered only 19 signatures. But it nonetheless resulted in one of first couples most memorable meetings, this dance party: The petitioning system, launched in 2011, was part of Obamas open-government initiative. The most common topics for petitioning included healthcare, veterans issues and requests to honor individuals, such as Yogi Berra, and create or officially recognize holidays, like Talk Like a Pirate Day. While not every petition made a change or elicited a response from the White House, many captured a momentary pulse of the nation. Here are the five most popular: Legally recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group, posted Dec. 14, 2012; 367,180 signatures. Establish justice and prevent a great catastrophe, posted April 4, 2016; 331,914 signatures. File charges against the 47 U.S. senators in violation of the Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement, posted March 9, 2015; gained 322,117 signatures. Ask President Obama to appear on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher,  posted Jan. 15, 2016; 314,226 signatures. Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card, posted Jan. 23, 2014; 273,698 signatures. Facebook

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Obama slaps Russia with sanctions for meddling in the U.S. election By Christi Parsons In the most sweeping retaliation against Russia in decades, President Obama slapped the country with new penalties Thursday for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved. All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, Obama said in a statement. Such activities have consequences. Read More Facebook

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How Trump and an Obamacare rollback could affect the growing gig economy By Chicago Tribune Gabby Golub of Chicago does chalkboard art for bars and restaurants in addition to driving for Lyft and working part time at her old high school. (Kristan Lieb / Chicago Tribune) A growing share of the U.S. workforce is reyling on alternative work arrangements, which include on-demand gigs through online platforms like Lyft or Uber as well as work through temporary help agencies, freelance assignments and independent contracts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of these so-called contingent workers next year, its first since 2005, helping policymakers understand the size and makeup of a workforce not covered by many labor protections or privy to the benefits that come with a traditional employer relationship. Whether policy will catch up to the labor shifts is a question experts will watch in 2017. A major conversation point has been how to develop portable benefits that give gig economy workers access to retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid sick leave even as they move from job to job. Read More Facebook

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Trump touts plans by Sprint and OneWeb to create 8,000 U.S. jobs By Jim Puzzanghera (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday touted plans by telecom company Sprint and technology start-up OneWeb to hire a total of 8,000 workers in the U.S. in what he said was very good news for the economy. He appeared to be highlighting previously made jobs announcements. OneWeb, which is building a network of satellites to deliver high-speed Internet access, said on Dec. 19 that it expected to create nearly 3,000 jobs in the U.S. over the next four years after securing $1.2 billion in funding, mostly from Japans SoftBank Group Corp. And the head of SoftBank, which owns Sprint, said on Dec. 6 that the company had agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. and create 50,000 jobs here. The announcement by SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son came after he met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Trump touted it that day. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, Trump said Sprint was going to be bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States. They have taken them from other countries. They are bringing them back to the United States, Trump said. Sprint, though, said in a statement that the jobs would be a mixture of new positions and others that were reinstated. It wasnt clear whether those jobs were part of the 50,000 that were mentioned earlier in the month at Trump Tower. We are excited to work with President-Elect Trump and his administration to do our part to drive economic growth and create jobs in the U.S., said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. We believe it is critical for business and government to partner together to create more job opportunities in the U.S. and ensure prosperity for all Americans. Trump also said the OneWeb hiring is very exciting. OneWeb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 3:25 p.m.: This story was updated with comment from Sprint. Facebook

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Kerry offers fierce defense of Obamas support for Israel, urges resumption of Mideast peace talks By Laura King Secretary of State John Kerry outlines his proposals for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Zach Gibson / Getty Images) With President-elect Donald Trump tweeting from the sidelines, Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Wednesday outlined broad principles for reviving the moribund Israel-Palestinian peace process -- calls that quickly ignited a new burst of Israeli anger against the Obama administration. Kerrys lengthy and impassioned address, delivered at the State Department, marked the latest chapter in an unusually bitter public clash between the United States and Israel -- and the even more extraordinary spectacle of a president-elect again inserting himself into a sensitive diplomatic matter before taking office. In a speech lasting more than an hour, Kerry appealed for a hiatus in Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, called on Palestinian leaders to explicitly denounce terrorist attacks against Israelis, and warned repeatedly that the prospects for a two-state solution, with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side, were in jeopardy. We cannot in good conscience do nothing, and say nothing, when we see the hope of peace slipping away, he said. Read More Facebook

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Former California lieutenant governor will meet with Trump to discuss running Agriculture department By Michael A. Memoli Abel Maldonado. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is considering former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado to lead the Agriculture department, a move that would bring greater diversity to the Republicans Cabinet. Maldonado will meet with Trump on Wednesday at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer noted that Maldonado, owner of Runway Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, comes from three generations of farmers and has strong roots in the agriculture industry of California. Trump will also meet with Dr. Elsa Murano, the former president of Texas A&M University and a former Agriculture undersecretary for food safety, in connection to the post, one of the few Cabinet positions yet unfilled. Maldonado, 49, was once considered to be the kind of Republican who could break through the partys struggle to attract widespread Latino support. A Santa Barbara County farmer whose parents were Mexican farmworker immigrants, he served as mayor of Santa Maria before being elected to the state Assembly in 1998. Perhaps Maldonados most notable political moment came when he worked with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to force Democrats to embrace the top-two primary system for California during negotiations on the state budget crisis in 2009. Schwarzenegger rewarded Maldonado with the appointment to the then-vacant post of lieutenant governor in 2010. But Maldonados role in helping push the nonpartisan primary system made him a pariah among many conservative Republicans, and he failed in subsequent races for Congress in 2012 and a brief flirtation with a run for governor in 2014. If nominated and confirmed, Maldonado would be the sole Latino in Trumps Cabinet. Facebook

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Trump attacks Obama over Israel just ahead of Kerrys speech on the Mideast By Michael A. Memoli The detente between President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, as both aimed to portray a smooth transition of power, appears in jeopardy. Trump condemned the Obama administrations foreign policy on Wednesday, tweeting he was doing his best to overlook inflammatory Obama moves, while engaging in 1990s-style sarcasm. Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition - NOT!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Last week, Obama decided to have the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, which allowed the measure to pass. The vote angered Israeli leaders, who accused senior U.S. officials of complicity in drafting the resolution, a claim disputed by the U.S. We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Trumps postings came just before Secretary of State John F. Kerry delivered a major address on U.S. foreign policy that included a rebuttal to Israeli government criticisms of the Obama administration. Trumps statement of support for Israel was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long had a tense relationship with Obama. President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel! @IvankaTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/lURPimG0wS  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 28, 2016 Trump transition spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the president-elects tweets speak for themselves, very clearly. He also stressed that White House officials have been helpful and generous with their time, at least in terms of the mechanics of the transition. In a brief statement to reporters Wednesday night, Trump said he had a general conversation with Obama during the day. Very, very nice, was how the president-elect described the chat, which he said Obama initiated. A White House spokesman confirmed the call and characterized it as positive. When asked whether he thinks the U.S. should exit the U.N., Trump repeated his earlier comments that the global body is not living up to its potential. When do you see the United Nations solving problems? he asked. They dont, they cause problems, so if it lives up to its potential its a great thing, if it doesnt its a waste of time. The U.N. seemed to respond to Trump on Monday, in a message pinned to the top of its Twitter feed: Here's a list of 10 ways the UN makes a difference in the lives of millions every day.



See what else we do: https://t.co/MGT7G5uPFL pic.twitter.com/nMxHV0rvkf  United Nations (@UN) December 26, 2016 Times staff writer Christi Parsons in Honolulu contributed to this report. 5:10 p.m.: This story was updated with White House comment. 2:45 p.m.: This story was updated with Trumps comments. Facebook

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John Kerry, tireless in his diplomatic efforts, often came up empty-handed By Tracy Wilkinson John F. Kerry is nothing if not indefatigable, traveling to all corners of the world as Americas top diplomat over the last four years. But as he prepares to leave office, he confronts a mixed legacy: a handful of successes coupled with searing defeats, especially in the Middle East. His inability to halt the carnage in Syria, or to block Russias growing influence, ranks as the most serious blot on his record. But he also got nowhere trying to end the Israeli-Palestinian standoff, or to stop Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, from bombing civilians in Yemen. Kerrys greatest success was the historic accord to curtail Irans nuclear development program and a landmark climate change treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming. Read More Facebook

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At Pearl Harbor, Obama says we must resist the urge to demonize those who are different By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama. (Marco Garcia / Associated Press) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scattered petals together on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II. In a moment consumed with history, both leaders were fixed on the future. They expressed concern that the lessons of the war might be forgotten amid a shifting world order and the anti-internationalist sentiment that has swept over politics around the globe, most notably with the ascendance of President-elect Donald Trump. Read More Facebook

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Obama and Japans Abe to visit Pearl Harbor amid renewed talk of nuclear concerns By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Monday. (AFP/Getty Images) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are scheduled to honor the war dead at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that thrust the U.S. into World War II. The visit was planned as a coda to Obamas visit to Hiroshima in May, where Abe hosted him as the first sitting president to visit the site where the U.S. dropped one of two nuclear bombs in 1945 to end the war, the only instances of nuclear attacks in history. But the visit has taken on a new meaning. President-elect Donald Trump reawakened old fears of a nuclear arms race last week by declaring his commitment to strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability. In his remarks at Pearl Harbor, Obama will have an opportunity to address those renewed anxieties and to lay out the dangers of an arms race. Obama has fought to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to secure existing caches. The visit is meant to highlight the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, an administration official said. Several Japanese prime ministers before Abe have visited the Pearl Harbor site. But Abe is the first to go to the memorial at the resting place of the battleship Arizona, where 1,177 American military personnel died in the Japanese aerial attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Facebook

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Will the Feds Janet Yellen take away the punch bowl after Trump takes office? By Don Lee After three years of almost single-handedly juicing up the slow-growing economy, Janet L. Yellen and the Federal Reserve should be looking at easier days ahead. Yellen, in what will probably be her last full year as Fed chair, may finally get help from somewhere else in Washington. Tax cuts and infrastructure spending planned by President-elect Donald Trump, if backed by the Republican-controlled Congress, would lighten the load for a Fed whose easy-money policies have been the primary economic support for the nation. She is already breathing easier on the Feds employment mandate; the jobless rate has fallen to a nine-year low of 4.6%. Inflation, too, is under control and, by all accounts, creeping toward the central banks optimal level of 2%. And yet, Yellen may come under as much economic and political pressure as ever, on both the Feds policy and the independence of the institution. Read More Facebook

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Obama says he could have beaten Trump By Tracy Wilkinson (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) President Obama says he could have defeated Donald Trump in last months election by recapturing the same vision of hope that twice carried him to the presidency. Obama also was mildly critical of the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, saying her campaign didnt do enough to get her message out. The remarks were notable because Obama has been careful since the election to avoid criticizing Trump, or to deliver a post-mortem on Clintons failed bid. Obama spoke in a wide-ranging interview with former senior advisor and now CNN commentator David Axelrod for the Democratic political operatives Axe Files podcast. The interview was released by CNN on Monday. You know, I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I -- if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it, Obama said. His comments were part of a wider discussion of what he called ugly sentiments of racism and xenophobia that surfaced during the 2016 campaign. Obama repeated his assertion that Clinton faced a double standard as a woman, which put her at a disadvantage. But he also said a kind of complacency set in that made the Clinton campaign too cautious and thus unable to get its message out sufficiently. If you think youre winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer, Obama said. During the interview, Obama also spoke of his family, the strength hed gotten from wife Michelle and the improbability of his own political career. And the president said the spirit that his candidacy originally inspired, especially among young people, was never snuffed out despite the last eight years of turmoil. The idealism and the dedication stayed with the staff and got us through some really hard times, he said. Trump later responded to the remarks on Twitter. UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: This article was updated with Trumps response. This article was originally published at 12:28 p.m. Facebook

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Obama personally authorized U.S. abstention from U.N. vote on Israeli settlements By Michael A. Memoli President Obama personally directed Friday that the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, seeing the escalation of settlement building as an increasing threat to the viability of a two-state solution to the regions problems. Ahead of the expected vote, Obama, who is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, convened a discussion Thursday with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other top national security officials. The vote was postponed, but U.S. officials continued to monitor discussions over the Egyptian-authored resolution until Friday. Obama spoke with national security advisor Susan Rice on Friday to issue his final decision. President-elect Donald Trumps intervention in the discussions, which included a conversation with Egypts president Thursday that preceded the delay in the planned vote, did not affect Obamas calculations, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters.. Theres one president at a time, he said. The decision to allow the resolution to pass, rather than cast a veto to block it is consistent with long-standing, bipartisan U.S. policy opposing Israeli settlement activity, Rhodes said. One of the administrations great concerns was that such activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has accelerated significantly since 2011, when the U.S. last vetoed a comparable resolution. U.S. officials also have been concerned about continued incitements of violence by Palestinians, and Rhodes said the resolution voted on Friday included greater balance to reflect that than past resolutions. Weve been very concerned that these accelerating trends are putting the very viability of the two-state solution at risk, Rhodes said. In that context, we therefore thought that we could not in good conscience veto a resolution that expressed concerns about the very trends that are eroding the foundation for a two-state solution. He also underscored what he called Obamas iron-clad commitment to Israel and its security, noting that the administration recently concluded a major military assistance package. The U.S. did not vote for the resolution because of continued concerns about the United Nations as a venue for Middle East peace discussions, Rhodes said. He also responded to what he called strident comments of Israeli officials criticizing the U.S. move. It seems like the Israeli government wants the conversation to be about anything other than the settlement activity, he said. Facebook

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Trump team seeks to ease fears on womens programs at State Department By Tracy Wilkinson ( Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Donald Trumps transition team said Friday its requests to the State Department for details on positions and funding for global womens programs were part of an effort to ensure and protect gender equality. The statement appeared to be an attempt to allay concerns that Trump might seek to cancel or roll back gender-focused programs at the State Department following a request by the transition team on Wednesday for information about them. Most were created or championed by Trumps campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, when she served as secretary of State during President Obamas first term. The transition team statement Friday did not outline Trumps plans for the programs, which seek to promote equality, education and vocational training for women around the world as well as combat gender-based violence. President-elect Trump will ensure the rights of women across the world are valued and protected, the statement said. To help fulfill this promise, the transition team inquired about existing programs at the State Department that helps [sic] foster gender equality, ends gender-based violence, and promotes economic and political participation  finding ways to improve them. The statement said the inquiry was one of hundreds of requests it sent to federal departments as part of the transition effort. Facebook

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Trump team asks State Department for details on programs aimed at helping women By Tracy Wilkinson Donald Trumps transition team has asked the State Department for details on programs aimed at benefiting women around the world, including identifying staff members who worked to reduce gender-based violence and promote women in the workplace. In an email sent to numerous State Department offices Wednesday, the president-elects transition team asked for urgent response to its inquiries about gender-related staffing, programming and funding. Many of the programs were begun or were championed by Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State during President Obamas first term and who lost to Trump in November. The unusual request to the State Department follows a similar email to the Department of Energy. There the transition team asked for names of staff members who had worked on efforts to combat climate change, which Trump has dismissed as a hoax. Several Obama administration officials called that query chilling. The Trump team withdrew the request after it was widely criticized. The latest email suggests the incoming Trump administration will attempt to roll back some of the State Departments most innovative programs and may seek to penalize people who worked on them. People are freaked out, said a senior State Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The email asked the State Department to deliver issue papers from bureaus and offices (one paper max per bureau/office) outlining existing programs and activities to promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting womens participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc. It said the issue papers should note jobs whose primary functions are to promote such issues, as well as money allocated for those activities and programs in fiscal year 2017. While at State, Clinton made womens issues a top priority. An office was created to deal exclusively with global womens issues, and money was allocated for programs that promote education of girls, train women in marketable skills and offer microloans. Read More Facebook

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Trump taps seasoned Republican operative Sean Spicer as White House press secretary By Lisa Mascaro President-elect Donald Trump named Sean Spicer as his new press secretary, tapping a seasoned Republican operative as the public face of the new White House. Spicer, a top Republican National Committee strategist who brought a measure of establishment Washington to Trumps operation, is known for his combative but engaging approach to communications. He will likely take over the press podium as the top spokesman at the incoming White House. Two other veterans of the Trump campaigns press operation also will get White House jobs: Jason Miller, who had been Trumps communications chief after moving from the campaign of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will stay in that role as communications director at the White House. Hope Hicks, who was Trumps spokesperson on the campaign trail and one of his earliest campaign aides, will be assistant to the president and director of strategic communications, and Dan Scavino will serve as director of social media. Sean, Hope, Jason and Dan have been key members of my team during the campaign and transition. I am excited they will be leading the team that will communicate my agenda that will Make America Great Again, Trump said in a statement. Facebook

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Obama eliminates post-9/11 registry for foreigners, making it harder for Trump to restart it By Brian Bennett (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) The Obama administration is taking apart a controversial, dormant national registry program that tracked visitors from countries with active terrorist groups for several years following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A final rule eliminating the program will be published in the federal register on Friday. The move would make it more difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the registry, which hasnt been used since 2011. The Department of Homeland Security determined it was ineffective and didnt improve security. Civil rights advocates have long said the program was discriminatory. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to track Muslims coming to the U.S. and require them to register. He later changed his stance to say he would bar people from countries with a record of Islamist extremism. Trumps policy advisors have been looking closely at ways to jump start the registry, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, after he takes office at the end of January. With the program being officially dismantled on Friday, Trumps team would have to issue new federal rules to restart it, a process that could take several months and would require a period for soliciting comments from the public, which likely would be contentious. The Trump transition team is preparing several executive actions for the incoming president, Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters Thursday morning when asked about Obama dismantling the registry. Stopping radical Islamic terrorists from entering the U.S. is of paramount importance, Miller said. He didnt say directly if Trump would rebuild the visitor registry. The American people strongly support tough measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of our country, and President-elect Trump has made clear that we will suspend admissions of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives, he said. When asked on Wednesday if he would set up a registry for Muslims or impose a ban on Muslim immigrants in the wake of the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Trump said simply: You know my plans. Democratic lawmakers and civil liberties advocates have demanded in recent weeks that Obama dismantle the registry. Theyve cited a 2012 inspector general report that said Homeland Security databases collecting traveler fingerprints, flight manifests and intelligence information on foreigners are more effective at preventing terrorist attacks. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praised the Homeland Security Departments decision to strip away dead-letter regulations no longer in use. These regulations symbolized an ineffective program based on religious and ethnic profiling, rather than individualized suspicion  a program based on fear, rather than reason, Leahy said in a statement. That has no place in this great country, under any administration. Facebook

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Trump is unwinding some foreign deals but many potential conflicts remain By Joseph Tanfani The Trump hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, would be among the finest in the world, Donald Trump promised two years ago, another example of our involvement in only the best global development projects. But the dream of a world-class Trump Baku died this month, with Trump saying he was backing out of the deal because of delays and blown deadlines caused by the developer, a 34-year-old with close family connections to the countrys government. The demise of Trump Baku is not an isolated decision. With his inauguration less than a month away, President-elect Trumps company has pulled out of a few international business deals that might have created especially sticky conflicts and controversies for his administration. Read More Facebook

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Trump names UC Irvine professor and fierce China critic to new White House Trade Council By Don Lee Peter Navarro, left, and China expert Gordon Chang attend a screening of Death By China, the film adaptation of Navarros book, in New York in 2012. (Andy Kropa / Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump, signaling that he intends to follow through on his tough talk on trade, is establishing a new White House-based trade council to be headed by a vehement critic of Chinas economic policies. Trump on Wednesday named Peter Navarro, a Harvard-trained business professor at UC Irvine, as director of trade and industrial policy and head of the newly created White House National Trade Council. The move sends a strong message: The Trump administration will take a much more aggressive posture to shrink the nations large trade deficit and combat what the president-elect and Navarro believe are forces behind Americas manufacturing woes  unfair and mercantilist practices on the part of China and other trading partners. Read More Facebook

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The issue of race has hung over Sen. Jeff Sessions like a shadow. Heres why By Del Quentin Wilber (Scott Olson / AFP/Getty Images) Jeff Sessions uneasy history with race can be traced back to the long, winding country roads that cut through the pine forests and farm land in this deep corner of the Deep South. As a boy, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III began each day before dawn, boarding a segregated bus to his all-white school. En route he and his classmates passed the bus ferrying black students in the opposite direction. The day ended when he sat down to dinner each night with his father, an avowed segregationist until the end of his life. Reflecting on those years, Sessions acknowledged recently that he knew back then that segregation was morally wrong and regretted standing by passively as civil rights leaders in the 1960s struggled and died in the fight for equality. I should have stepped forward more and been a leader and more positive force, Sessions said in February while participating in a ceremony honoring the Selma foot soldiers. Read More Facebook

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Kellyanne Conway will join Trump in the White House By Evan Halper (Gerald Herber / Associated Press) Donald Trump has named his media-savvy campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, to advise him in the White House in the role of counselor, his transition team announced early Thursday morning. The move comes after Conway sought to put to rest speculation that she would continue to serve as the public face of the Trump team. But the new job is sure to keep her profile high. Conway will will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the administrations legislative priorities and actions, according to a statement from the Trump transition team. Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory, Trump said in the statement. She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. The appointment would boost diversity in a Trump inner circle made up mostly of older white men. It also sets up another potentially competing power center on a White House staff that already will have several, including Reince Priebus, the chief of staff; Stephen K. Bannon, the chief strategist; and Stephen Miller, the policy chief. Conway had previously turned down other proposals for White House jobs, telling reporters late last month that she did not want to spend long hours away from her children. At that point, Conway said she thought she could best help Trump by forming an outside organization to support his policies. But that role appears to have gone to Brad Parscale, who ran Trumps online operations during the campaign. Conway joined Trumps campaign during the summer when it was beset with infighting and disarray. She is widely credited with helping bring message discipline and professionalism to an operation in desperate need of it. In the run-up to the election and the weeks that followed, Conway was a ubiquitous presence on cable news networks, capably moving through her talking points in tough interview settings  often on the firing line and held to account for the exaggerations and incendiary remarks Trump was prone to make on the campaign trail and Twitter. I am humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results, Conway said in the statement. She is the founder and owner of the Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend, a GOP firm that has been advising candidates for two decades. Trump has not yet chosen a press secretary. But he is believed to be considering several candidates. Sean Spicer, former communications chief of the Republican Party who has served in a spokesman role for Trump through the transition, has been a prominent possibility, although Trump reportedly has considered several women, including conservative talk radio star Laura Ingraham and Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle. Facebook

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Trump Hotel employees in Las Vegas get a union contract By Kurtis Lee (Mike Nelson / Getty Images) Its owned by President-elect Donald Trump and is among a handful of hotels on the Las Vegas Strip to not be unionized. But that will change soon. For more than a year, Trump and his staff at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas have fought efforts by employees and the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to negotiate a contract. But a four-year contract announced by the union on Wednesday will offer Trump employees annual wage increases, a pension and family healthcare, among other benefits. In Nevada, the culinary union is the states largest and most powerful, representing nearly 55,000 workers who serve cocktails and prepare food at hotels throughout the state. A majority of the unions members are Latino. Read More Facebook

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Wait! Dont cancel that Air Force One order just yet By Evan Halper Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016 After Donald Trump scolded Boeing earlier this month for the escalating cost of building a new Air Force One, the companys CEO projected confidence that Trump wouldnt be following through with his threat to cancel order! The two men met together at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said they spoke about a range of issues. The Air Force One project, which Trump complained would cost taxpayers more than $4 billion, invariably arose. Were going to get it done for less than that, and were committed to working together to make sure that happens, Muilenberg said. The company had previously noted that the project did not yet have a firm price tag. I was able to give the president-elect my personal commitment on behalf of the Boeing Company. This is a business thats important to us. We work on Air Force One because its important to our country, and were going to make sure that he gets the best capability and that its done affordably, Muilenberg added. He called the conversation terrific and Trump a good man who is doing the right thing. The presidential aircraft remains a long way from takeoff  a new plane wont be ready for use in the next four years. Even if Trump is reelected, he might not get to use the plane, as the earliest projected date for completion is 2024. Boeing is currently doing early development work on the plane  a modified 747  that will likely be outfitted with such gadgetry as top-secret communications equipment, countermeasures to foil missile attacks, and aerial refueling capability that would enable it to remain airborne for days at a time if necessary. The timing of delivery was among the topics that came up at Trumps meeting with the Boeing CEO. Thats what were going to work on together, Muilenberg said. We have an active 747 production line, and were eager to get started on the program. We havent actually started the build of the airplane yet, but once we finalize the requirements and make sure that its affordable, well launch on building the aircraft. Weve got a hot production line and were ready to go. The government actually has two planes outfitted to serve as Air Force One, which is the designation given to whichever plane is carrying the president. The current planes, which were put into service during the Reagan administration, are nearing the end of their design life. Facebook

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Fierce China critic and UC Irvine professor to head Trumps new trade council By Don Lee (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is establishing a new White House-based trade office that will be headed by a UC Irvine professor known for his fierce criticisms of Chinese trade and economic practices. In appointing Peter Navarro as director of trade and industrial policy and the head of the new National Trade Council inside the White House, Trump is signaling that he wants to follow through on his tough campaign rhetoric in which he blamed the Chinese for the large U.S. trade deficit and manufacturing woes. During the campaign,Trump threatened to slap a 45% tariff on Chinese imports. Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist who advised Trump during the campaign, is the author of the book Death by China: Confronting the Dragon  a Global Call to Action. Trump endorsed the 2011 book as well as Navarros film version of the polemical work. I read one of Peters books on Americas trade problems years ago and was impressed by the clarity of his arguments and thoroughness of his research, Trump said Wednesday in a statement announcing the appointment. He will fulfill an essential role in my administration as a trade advisor. Trump said the new trade office would develop policies to shrink the nations trade deficit and curb the off-shoring of jobs, as well as to lead initiatives such as the Buy America, Hire America program. Navarro, in a statement, said he would be honored to serve Trump and the nation and to advise on policies to re-balance our trade, rebuild our industrial base, and restore Americas comprehensive national power by making America great again. Facebook

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Trump stops the drain the swamp talk as new alligators emerge By Evan Halper Newt Gingrich. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) It made for a great slogan during the campaign, but now that hes won, Donald Trump is finding that maybe he doesnt actually want to drain the swamp. In fact, the alligators seem to be doing quite well. Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Wednesday boasted about his access and proximity to Trump in announcing a new consulting firm he plans to open with former Trump campaign advisor Barry Bennett. The firms offices will be one block from the White House. Clients who pony up what are sure to be hefty fees for the firms services are being assured by Lewandowski in his marketing materials that he turned down multiple opportunities within the administration so he can serve them. The pitch implies Lewandowski will remain a de facto surrogate for Trump  with all the access that implies  as he bills those seeking to influence the Trump administration for his services. So perhaps the time is ripe for Trump to stop using the drain the swamp phrase. And that is what Trump has decided to do, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who describes himself as an outside advisor to the president-elect. Im told he now just disclaims that, Gingrich said in an interview on National Public Radio, referring to the slogan Trump used in the final phase of his campaign to crystallize his promise to cleanse Washington of insiders and self-dealers. He now says it was cute, but he doesnt want to use it anymore, Gingrich said, adding that perhaps all this swamp draining talk isnt presidential. Hes in a different role now and maybe he feels that as president, as the next president of the United States, that he should be marginally more dignified than talking about alligators in swamps, Gingrich said. I personally have, as a sense of humor, like the alligator and swamp language, he added. I think it vividly illustrates the problem, because all the people in this city who are the alligators are going to hate the swamp being drained. And theres going to be constant fighting over it. But, you know, he is my leader, and if he decides to drop the swamp and the alligator, I will drop the swamp and the alligator. Lewandowski, for his part, made no mention of swamps or alligators in announcing his new consulting firm would be open for business. Proud to launch our new venture today to support @realDonaldTrump achieve his agenda in Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/ZEot6IrvJ4  Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 21, 2016 Facebook

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Death penalty in steep decline, but not in Los Angeles County By David Savage Lonnie Franklin Jr. was tried and convicted of 10 counts of murder. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County and the state of California again recorded the most new death sentences this year, amid a sharp decline across the nation in both executions and new death sentences. Judges and juries in Los Angeles County imposed a death sentence on four murderers during 2016, including Lonnie Franklin Jr., the so-called Grim Sleeper, who was convicted of killing 10 women. No other county had more than one death sentence, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Since 2010, Los Angeles County has recorded 36 new death sentences, more than any county in the nation. This year marked the first time in more than 40 years where no state recorded 10 or more new death sentences, the group said in its year-end report. California had the most with nine, followed by Ohio (five), Texas (four), Alabama (three) and Florida (two). California has by far the nations largest death row, with 750 condemned inmates, but it has not carried out an execution in the past decade. Overall, the report documented the steep decline for capital punishment over the past two decades. The number of new death sentences had fallen by 90%, from 315 in 1996 to only 30 this year. And the number of executions has fallen from a high of 98 in 1999 to 20 this year. Georgia (nine) and Texas (seven) accounted for most of the executions. The only other states to put inmates to death were Alabama (two), Missouri (one) and Florida (one). Robert Dunham, the groups executive director, says the nation is clearly turning away from capital punishment. Whether its concerns about innocence, costs and discrimination, availability of life without parole as a safe alternative, or the questionable way in which states are attempting to carry out executions, the public grows increasingly uncomfortable with the death penalty each year, he said. But his report noted that Californias voters, by a 53%-47% margin, rejected a ballot measure to abolish the death penalty, and narrowly approved a measure, by a 51%-49% margin, to limit appeals and expedite executions. Facebook

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New survey finds less optimistic Democrats seeking many paths to their future success By Cathleen Decker (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Since Hillary Clintons November defeat, Democrats have squabbled over how to return to prominence. Should they continue to court ascendant voter groups in the country, such as women, minorities and young people? Or should they turn to those who have long been in their camp but abandoned the party nominee this year, such as rural and non-college-educated voters. The answer, according to a Pew Research poll published Tuesday: Democrats want to walk both paths, simultaneously. The poll asked Democrats and Republicans whether their parties had spent too much, too little or just the right amount of time meeting the interests and concerns of specific groups of voters. Among Democrats, 64% said the party had spent too little time talking to rural voters, and 58% said the same about non-college voters. Almost two-thirds of Democrats said low-income voters had not gotten enough of the partys attention, and 58% said middle-class voters had been ignored to some extent. But Democratic voters did not want to let up on the partys outreach to its stronger supporters this year. About half said that the concerns of women and African American voters had gotten too little attention, while 43% said the same about Latinos. In the case of women, African Americans, Latinos, low-income voters, rural residents and younger voters, Democrats were substantially more likely than Republicans to say their party had not put enough emphasis on the groups concerns. The poll suggested far more confidence by Republicans than Democrats in their partys current positioning. Much of that may simply be the flood of confidence that accompanies a presidential victory. When the pollsters asked before the election about their view of their party, 61% of Republicans said they were optimistic, as did 77% of Democrats about their own party. After the election those figures reversed, with 79% of Republicans optimistic compared with 61% of Democrats. A key to Trumps success also was evident in the poll: a chameleon-like ability to make the different ideological groups in the party think he was one of them. Almost 3 in 5 conservatives said that Trumps views were conservative. And among moderates, 52% said that Trumps ideology was a mix of conservative and liberal, echoing their own posture. But queries about the new presidents impact on his party drew sharply partisan responses. More than two-thirds of all voters said that Trump had forced major changes on his party. Yet 72% of Democrats cast those changes as bad ones, while 83% of Republicans cast the changes as good ones. Facebook

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The artist and the senator: One built a desert masterpiece, the other a Nevada legacy By Lisa Mascaro When Sen. Harry Reid heard about a reclusive artist building a massive land sculpture across desolate acres in the Nevada desert, he knew they should meet. Its not just that Reid enjoys eccentrics and fighters, which he does. Michael Heizer had found an unusual way to express the majesty  and artistry  of the same lonely Nevada landscape that formed Reids childhood, when he would escape the dismal, rugged conditions of tiny Searchlight to play in the deserts hidden springs and abandoned fortresses. Both men discovered in Nevada what many outsiders miss. Far from seeing a nuclear wasteland, a dumping site or even a playground for gamblers, they drew inspiration from Nevadas quiet beauty. Heizer created an American masterpiece  a milelong complex of dirt, rock and cement rising from the desert floor like modern-day pyramids or the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. For Reid, his appreciation for Nevadas unique landscape became a cornerstone of one of the most lasting yet less-familiar pieces of his political legacy. Read More Artist Michael Heizer and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) speak in the Capitol. (Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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With 304 votes, electoral college seals Donald Trumps election as president  despite more desertions than ever By Michael Finnegan They convened amid unusual scrutiny, widespread protests and rafts of speculation about efforts to alter the outcome, but, in the end, the nations 538 presidential electors mostly stuck to the script Monday, formally sealing Donald Trumps victory with 304 votes in the electoral college, well above what he needed to capture the White House. After all the efforts to lobby Republican electors to desert Trump, only two did  a pair from Texas, one of whom voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and the other for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Indeed, instead of an uprising against Trump, the days voting was punctuated more by small, but persistent, gestures of Democratic discontent with Hillary Clinton. A handful of electors deserted her and a few more tried to, but were deterred by state faithless elector laws. Some of the Democratic dissenters were supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who lost the primaries to Clinton but galvanized the partys left wing. Others were backers of an abortive effort that had tried to recruit Democrats and Republicans to unite behind a third candidate other than Clinton or Trump. In the end, seven electors voted for a person other than the candidate who won their states  the largest number of electoral college desertions in a presidential contest in U.S. history, eclipsing a record set in 1808. Read More Facebook

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As electoral college meetings end in Hawaii, Bernie Sanders gets a vote that will stick By Michael A. Memoli David Mulinix, Hawaii elector who voted for Sanders, said Clinton wasn't qualified. Also said @POTUS wasn't progressive, but "conservative" pic.twitter.com/miCnZ6PzXI  Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) December 20, 2016 The last of the 50 states gave Bernie Sanders his first electoral college vote that counted. Hillary Clinton received three of the states four electoral votes after winning 60% of the popular vote here last month. But one elector, David Mulinix, said he cast his vote for the Vermont senator because he was the most qualified candidate. They can call me faithless, but the point is if we dont think someones qualified  and Hillary Clinton I do not feel is qualified, he said. Hawaiis electors are chosen by the major parties at their state conventions. Mulinix said he joined the party only this election cycle to support Sanders, who he said would have been elected president had he been the Democratic nominee. He had previously told the Associated Press he would cast his vote for Clinton, but said he changed his mind at the last minute. She did not lose the vote to Russian hackers; she lost the vote right there at the convention, he said, referring to the Democratic National Convention, where he said Sanders backers were treated unfairly. They robbed us, and the millennials know it. Mulinix, who, like his fellow electors, wore a lei made of green jade flowers, arrived for the vote with a list of candidates who had received votes in other electoral college meetings across the country. He was aware that an elector in Maine had tried to vote for Sanders but that his vote had been invalidated. An election official said the vote for Sanders here would count. The brief proceedings here in a nondescript conference room on the state Capitols third floor began with another elector, John Bickel, asking whether there was any penalty for electors who cast their ballots for someone other than the winner of the statewide vote. He said later that he had asked because he suspected someone might stray. The electoral college is outdated. If any election has proved the electoral college is outdated, its this one, Bickel said. Dolly Strazar, another elector and the vice chair of the state Democratic Party, said she had long supported the electoral college because it ensured some degree of competition between large states and small ones like Hawaii. It really seems in our times, its thoroughly outdated, she said. Janice Bond, the fourth elector, said she would have voted for Sanders but did not believe she was able to. She also expressed regret that President Obama, who was born in Hawaii and is vacationing here with his family, did not attend the meeting. To have him be on our island and not show face was disappointing, she said. Facebook

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No fireworks as Nevada electors cast votes for Clinton By David Montero Nevadas six electors cast their votes for Hillary Clinton on Monday afternoon in Carson City, reflecting her victory in the swing state despite losing the overall electoral college vote to President-elect Donald Trump. Clinton won Nevada by almost 3 points over Trump, and the swing state was one of her few bright spots on election day. The six electors  five from northern Nevada and one from Las Vegas  cast their ballots before about 75 people who had packed into the Old Assembly Chambers of the state Capitol. A few brought signs in support of Clinton, and there was some applause when the votes were cast. It all took place in less than a half-hour. No fireworks, said Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections. He said about 40 people showed up in front of the state Capitol in the morning in sub-freezing temperatures to also show support for Clinton. Thorley said he hadnt anticipated a lot of controversy as the electors were required to sign a pledge before voting that said they wouldnt deviate from Nevadas Nov. 8 election results. Facebook

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In solemn ceremony, California electors cast votes for Hillary Clinton By Melanie Mason Casting my electoral vote for President and Vice President of the United States of .... https://t.co/jI2FGFCrVg pic.twitter.com/qufSJUM5WF  Susan Eggman (@SusanEggman) December 19, 2016 In a proceeding long on formalities and short on speeches, Californias 55 electors cast their vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday, a ceremony that coincided almost exactly with Republican Donald Trump clinching the national electoral college win. Contrasting with the spirited protests outside the state Capitol, the mood in the state Assembly chambers was muted, even a bit glum, as electors, tapped by the states Democratic establishment, convened to cast their votes for Clinton. California, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton in the presidential contest, requires all 55 electors to back the states winner. Todays solemnity and formality reminds us that in our nation, American greatness and American independence, rests on a foundation of law, said Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Cordova), who presided over the event. As written ballots were distributed, the room was completely silent, save for the clicking of camera shutters. Just moments before voting began, Trump, Clintons rival, had secured the electoral college win, with Texas, Californias perennial rival, putting him over the top. His victory went unacknowledged in the ceremony. Among the electors were current elected officials, such as Assemblywomen Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego. Others included Christine Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Laphonza Butler, leader of the powerful labor union SEIU in California. Electors did not make individual speeches during the main ceremony, and Trumps name was hardly mentioned. But there were subtle references to the rancorous political season: Rev. Bob Oshita, the Assembly chaplain and former reverend of the Sacramento Buddhist Church, urged leaders to engage in calming self-reflection in an opening prayer. The tone grew considerably sharper at the end of the gathering, when Pelosi offered a motion calling for an investigation into Russian efforts to influence the election outcome. I move that as an Electoral College, we do not normalize this election. We do not accept Russian interference in our election, Pelosi said. Her motion was adopted by electors, with applause. View Twitter post This post was updated at 3:32 p.m. with comments from Christine Pelosi. It was originally published at 3:12 p.m. Facebook

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All of Floridas electoral votes go to Trump By Gray Rohrer Floridas electors applaud as the vote for Donald Trump is announced at the state Capitol in Tallahassee on Monday. (Steve Cannon / Associated Press) Donald Trump officially won all 29 of Floridas electoral college votes on Monday during a ceremony held at the Capitol in Tallahassee, despite pleas from protesters to electors to change their vote at the last minute. About 100 protesters gathered outside the Florida Senate chambers before the vote, chanting love trumps hate and flip the vote and holding signs that read Vote Your Conscience, Dont Make Russia Great Again! The electors, made up of Republican Party of Florida members and high-ranking elected officials like state Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron and state party chairman Blaise Ingoglia, did their best to ignore the protesters. Read More Facebook

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Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was a Trump nemesis. Now the president-elect says hes wonderful By Evan Halper Donald Trump has decided that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, one of his favorite villains during the presidential election, might not be so bad after all. Hes even wonderful, Trump now says. The two dined together Saturday at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, after which Trump had only nice things to say about Slim, according to a report in the Washington Post. Trump described the interaction with his erstwhile nemesis as a lovely dinner with a wonderful man. This is not how Trump talked about Slim, one of the worlds richest men, during the election. The Mexican billionaire was a regular target of the then-GOP nominee because of his large ownership stake in the New York Times. Add to that Slims generous contributions to the Clinton Foundation and his citizenship in the country Trump reveled in attacking, and he made for good fodder at Trump rallies. When Trump objected to the New York Times coverage of his campaign  and its reporting on the allegations by multiple women of past inappropriate sexual advances by Trump  he alleged it was all part of a conspiracy cooked up by Slim. Trump called the outlets reporters corporate lobbyists for Carlos Slim and for Hillary Clinton. The New York Times called Trumps charges a fabrication, saying Slim had never inserted himself in editorial decision making there. And Trump offered no evidence to the contrary. A spokesman for Slim said at the time the two had never met, and the Mexican businessman had no interest in involving himself in the U.S. election. Now theyve met. The takeaway from the meeting, though, is murky. Maybe it indicates Trump is softening his posture toward Mexico  or maybe it just indicates billionaires enjoy the company of other billionaires. Facebook

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Meet the California electors By Liam Dillon Among the electors are Janine Bera, the wife of Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove; Christine Pelosi, the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and chairwoman of the state partys womens caucus; Eileen Feinstein Mariano, granddaughter of Sen. Dianne Feinstein; and Olivia Reyes-Becerra, daughter of Rep. Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles. State Assemblywomen Susan Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego, former state Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Laphonza Butler, president of the Service Employees International Union chapter that represents home care employees, also are on the list. Read More Facebook

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Three Washington state Democratic electors vote for Gen. Colin Powell, one for Faith Spotted Eagle By Rick Anderson (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Despite a statute binding the 12 members of the electoral college to vote for the winner of the states 2016 presidential election popular vote, four Washington electors made history and risked a $1,000 fine by voting for someone else Monday. But it wasnt Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton, supported by 57% of the states voters, wound up with eight of the 12 electoral votes at a session held in the State Capitol building here. Gen. Colin Powell received three votes. And Faith Spotted Eagle, an elder of the Yankton Sioux, received one. Read More Facebook

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Colorado elector says he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton By David Kelly In Denver, all nine electors voted for Hillary Clinton, after one was replaced for casting his ballot for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead. A boisterous crowd packed the state Capitol and booed when elector Michael Baca was dismissed and another sworn in to take his place. Vote your conscience! someone cried. The new elector voted for Clinton. Hecklers screamed Resign! Resign! at Secretary of State Wayne Williams after he shooed Bacas lawyer off the podium. Suspense had been building for weeks over how the electors would vote. Two courts blocked their attempts to vote for someone other than Clinton. State law here says electors must support the candidate who won the popular vote. On Sunday night they went to court again, this time asking a judge to reject a new oath drawn up by the secretary of state requiring electors to pledge to support the winner of the popular vote. Their motion was denied. As they waited, the crowd sang This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful. But once the electors filed in, it was over quickly. Elector Robert Nemanich said he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton and would go to the U.S. Supreme Court. He did not elaborate. Lance Armstrong, 68, stood outside with an American flag. Im glad some of the electors made a point today, he said. Any point is better than none. Facebook

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Trump officially gets 270th electoral vote, sealing his election as president By Julie Westfall Donald Trump has obtained the required 270 electoral votes to become president. Although electors in dozens of states still have to vote, the electoral balloting in Texas put Trump over the majority threshold, according to a state-by-state tally by the Associated Press. Thirty-six of the states electors voted for Trump, one for John Kasich and one for Ron Paul. The next, and last, official step in the electoral process is for Congress to count the votes. Under the procedure set out by the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, that formal process is scheduled for Jan. 6. Some anti-Trump activists had hoped against hope that they could persuade electors in states that voted for Trump to defect, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Electors are nearly all party loyalists. Additionally, they faced more than two centuries of tradition and, in some states, legal obligations that called for them to cast their ballots according to which candidate won the popular vote in their states. No defectors have ever changed the result of a presidential election. Four electors today successfully defected in Washington state. Instead of voting for Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote, three electors voted for former secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, an environmental activist. Electors in two other states who tried to vote against the states winner were replaced with alternates. There may be additional defections in the remaining states, but since Trump now has a majority of the electoral votes, those would not be enough to change the result. Facebook

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Emotions high in Maryland as electors unanimously vote for Clinton By Erin Cox (Erin Cox/Baltimore Sun) As Marylands 10 electors unanimously cast votes for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president Monday, several said they were privileged to vote for the countys first female presidential nominee. Outside, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters cheered as the solemn ceremony unfolded on live-stream television. A state delegate, who had the ceremonial task of handing the electors votes to another official, wept while executing her duty. This is an emotional moment for many, many women in this country and in this state, said Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat. She added later: I guess I didnt cry enough on Nov. 8. Marylands electors were bound by state law to vote for the winner of Marylands popular vote, which Clinton secured with more than 60% of the ballots cast. About 100 protesters who had been chanting and singing around the historic State House grounds for at least four hours before the vote said they came in solidarity with protesters in Republican state capitols, pleading with electors not to endorse President-elect Donald Trump. This is appalling and unacceptable, and Im hoping the Republicans, in particular, rise above and do the right thing, said Cheryl Kreiser, a retired teacher from the Washington, D.C., suburb of Silver Spring. For an hour every day for the last 21 days, Kreiser has protested Trumps win on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the only way I could cope with the disappointment, she said. Marylands Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who wrote in his fathers name rather than vote for Trump on election day, opened Marylands 58th electoral college meeting but left the room before electors were sworn in. Each elector had been appointed by the Maryland Democratic Party state chair, Bruce Poole, who reminded the crowd the United States is not a direct democracy ruled by the popular vote. A lot of people lose sight of the fact that were a republic. Were not a democracy, Poole said. The whole idea was that the president would not be chosen just by the whims of the moment, but instead there would be an opportunity for people who were thoughtful, who had judgment, who had integrity to take a step back from the moment of emotion and consider what would be in the best interest of the country. Here is "the old book" where Maryland has recorded its Electoral College electors every year since 1789. pic.twitter.com/GlsaJd3F3X  Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) December 19, 2016 Before he introduced Marylands electors, Poole lamented the state of political discourse in the country. We live in the age of information. It is not necessarily the age of wisdom or age of judgment, he said. People on both sides, on all sides, make decisions at the snap of a finger. Maryland was both the model for creating the electoral college and the first state in the country to vote to bypass it. Framers modeled todays system after the way the Maryland House of Delegates selected Maryland senators, a process the state later abandoned after it was considered undemocratic, according to a history of the electoral college written by staff at the Maryland Board of Elections. Hogan noted the state is one of six to have participated every year since 1789. In 2007, Maryland was the first state to vote to sign the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a promise designed to award the electoral college to the winner of the national popular vote. It required enough states to comprise 270 votes to sign on for it to take effect. So far, only 10 states  including California  with a combined 165 votes have signed the compact. The president of Marylands electors, Courtney Watson, also co-chaired Clintons campaign in Maryland. She said she thought changes to the electoral college should be considered and described Monday as a poignant moment for Maryland residents. Its a very emotional time, she said. Many of us have worked long and hard, and for the first woman candidate. The point, though, is that people are still moved and even more engaged. And thats what I find promising for our future and the future of women. Facebook

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Christine Pelosi, daughter of Nancy Pelosi and California elector, demands to know the truth about Russian influence By Jazmine Ulloa Elector @sfpelosi: We won't stand down. #caleg pic.twitter.com/4cM3cE4Wb6  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 California elector Christine Pelosi on Monday told crowds gathered outside the Capitol that she has been part of a chorus of people demanding to know the truth about Russian interference in the November presidential election. Pelosi, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis daughter, is leading 10 other electors in a call for an intelligence briefing on Russian influence. Shouting into a microphone Monday, she said Russian hackers aim to turn the American people against each other and had marginalized her and others for speaking out. They trespass on servers, she said. They receive stolen emails. They pump out stories that day after day focus on scandal rather than policy, rather than talking about climate and immigration and human rights. Californias meeting of electors is about to get underway in the state Capitol. Facebook

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After prayer for national unity, Georgia electors vote for Trump By Jenny Jarvie Outside the Georgia Capitol today, some may have held a flicker of hope that a GOP elector would refuse to cast a ballot for Donald Trump as 45th president of the United States. Yet among the inner circle of Republicans who gathered inside the cozy, wood-paneled Senate chamber, there was little doubt about what would unfold. One by one, all 16 electors - dressed in formal business suits and red dresses, bow ties and blazers -- cast their ballots for the contentious Republican candidate. It was a short ceremony, with little opportunity for disruption. Security guards prevented the public from entering the chamber, cordoning off the hallway outside the room with a red rope and locking the main door before proceedings began. The electors chosen by Georgias Republican Party included well-connected attorneys and real estate agents, a high school teacher and a farmer. As they waited for the gathering to begin, many snapped selfies and waved at loved ones above in the upper gallery. After a call to order by the Georgia Republican Party chair, the electors bowed their heads, and Rachel Little, an elector and grass-roots Republican organizer, delivered an invocation. Lord, we know we are a divided country right now, she said. We pray that you will unite us.  We pray that [those who oppose Trump] will see our conservatism lived out in a gracious way. In a short speech, Gov. Nathan Deal hit out at activists who had bombarded electors with emails, letters and phone calls in an effort to sway their votes. You have been the subject of harassment by those who perhaps are not as dedicated to the proposition of what this body is supposed to do as they are agitated by the fact that the people didnt do what they wanted them to do. I have every confidence you will not succumb to that, Deal told the electors. My words to you: Do your job. Shortly before the electors cast their ballots, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Republican who represents Georgias 11th District, took to the podium to present a short history of the electoral college. Our founders actually despised the idea of democracy because mob rule often results in a decision made out of pure emotion, Loudermilk told the electors, after referencing the noise of protesters outside. It does not result in good government. In fact, our founders often cited the historic trial of Jesus as how mob rule does not work. The electoral college was devised to protect the integrity of government, Loudermilk said. To protect those who live in the rural areas of America, those who work, those who are part of the farming communities and part of the industrial communities, those who live and work every day, that their interests are protected as well of those who make their living on Wall Street. For a moment earlier this year, there was an inkling of a Republican revolt against Trump in Georgia. In August, Baoky Vu, a GOP elector based in Decatur, Ga., admitted he might not cast his ballot for Trump if he won. Within hours, however, he was forced to resign. Trump went on to win 51% of Georgias popular vote. On Monday, Vu did not show up at the Capitol, and he was formally replaced by a solid Trump backer, John Padgett, the chairman of the Georgia Republican party. There seems little chance that Georgia legislators might vote to overhaul the electoral college. Earlier this year, Republican legislators authored two bipartisan pieces of legislation in Georgias House and Senate that would have made Georgias electoral votes based solely on the outcome of the national popular vote. Yet both bills stalled, and Republicans say there is little momentum to revive the debate. The system prevents the tyranny of the majority, said Kirk Shook, an elector who is a high school teacher in rural Oconee County. He scoffed at those who, since the election, had sought to overhaul the electoral college system. Theres all this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, Shook said of those who opposed Trumps win. And rightly so. Theres going to be a Republican president, a Republican Congress and a Republican Supreme Court. With the stroke of a pen, 90 percent of what Obama considered his legacy will be gone. Facebook

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Four Washington state electors defect from Clinton; one chooses Faith Spotted Eagle instead By Associated Press (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Four members of the electoral college in Washington state cast their votes for a candidate other than Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote. Its the first time in four decades the states electors have broken from the popular vote for president. Washingtons 12 electors met Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to complete the constitutional formality. Clinton got eight votes while other candidates got the remaining four. Elector Bret Chiafalo, who earlier in the day said he planned to vote for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, said that he ultimately changed his vote to former Secretary of State Colin Powell after conversations with other Washington electors. The exact breakdown of the other four votes wasnt immediately known, although at least one vote was cast for Faith Spotted Eagle. In last months election, Republican Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes to Clintons 232, though Clintons tally will now be lower. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. The last time an elector broke from the popular vote in Washington was in 1976, when Mike Padden, who is currently a Republican state senator, voted for Ronald Reagan instead of Gerald Ford, who had won the state. Facebook

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Hundreds protest the electoral college at Capitol building in Sacramento By Jazmine Ulloa Protesters are now chanting, "hey hey ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go" pic.twitter.com/4nNyTMroI5  Marcus Yam  (@yamphoto) December 19, 2016 Cheers and chants of U.S.A and Keep him out filled the air Monday, as dozens of protestors gathered outside the California Capitol in a last ditch attempt to sway the electoral college from voting for president-elect Donald Trump. Speakers called Trump a celebrity and authoritarian unfit for the presidency. And they urged Congress to do away with the electoral college process, which they described as an outdated and broken system susceptible to foreign influence and manipulation. This is a secret system of voting where we are not allowed to see where the votes are actually coming from or how they are counted, Brent Turner, with the movement organization Democracy Spring, shouted into a microphone. John Franco, 52, says the electoral college is an outdated system that can be manipulated with or without hackers. #caleg pic.twitter.com/fs2L2W2HKp  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 John Franco, a 52-year-old business owner visiting Sacramento from New Orleans, said he came to the demonstration with his family to protest that secret process. We dont feel a system that can be manipulated represents the interests of the people who voted for Hillary Clinton, he said. Rochelle Towers was among hundreds to protest at the CA Capitol today: "I'll take any shot that there is. #caleg https://t.co/QcOhWklrpx pic.twitter.com/mtx76NjdEW  Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 20, 2016 Rochelle Towers, 68, said she drove in from Oakland in an attempt to persuade the electoral college from voting for Trump. She said she would not have to live through a lot of what its decision would set in motion. But my children and grandchildren will, she said. Even though this is a real long shot, Ill take any shot that there is. Facebook

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Colorado elector removed after refusing to vote for Clinton By David Kelly A new elector is sworn in in Colorado after one refused to vote for Hillary Clinton. (David Kelly / Los Angeles Times) Eight of nine Colorado electors have voted for Hillary Clinton. One elector, Michael Baca, refused to vote for Clinton and was immediately replaced with an alternate, who was sworn in on the spot. As the crowd jeered, the new elector promptly voted for Clinton. Shouts of Resign! followed Secretary of State Wayne Williams announcement of the results. Protesters at the state capitol in Colorado. (David Kelly/Los Angeles Times) Facebook

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Electors say they have been barraged with emails By Nigel Duara View Twitter post Arizona elector J. Foster Morgan said he had received several letters protesting the election of Donald Trump, but experienced nothing on the scale of some his fellow Arizona electors whose email addresses were distributed to protest lists. They heard the worst thing imaginable, Morgan said. I just got a few letters. Despite protests outside the meeting, Morgan said, the vote went fine. Eleven votes for Donald Trump. Facebook

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Democratic electors in Minnesota and Maine try to vote for Bernie Sanders By Associated Press (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) A second elector  this one in Minnesota  has refused to cast a vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Mondays electoral college tally. It wasnt immediately clear why Muhammad Abdurrahman didnt vote for Clinton, but he was a delegate for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention. The electors are pledged to cast Minnesotas 10 electoral votes for Clinton since she won the state. Abdurrahman was immediately replaced by an alternate who later voted for Clinton. Earlier in the day, a so-called faithless elector in Maine cast his vote for Sanders, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Clinton. David Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders because voting for Clinton would not have helped her win. But he ultimately voted for Clinton on a second vote after being ruled out of order. Facebook

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Utah voting goes off without incident  six for Trump By David Montero A protest sign outside the gathering of Utah electors (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press) Despite chants of vote your conscience and the whole world is watching from more than 100 protesters, Utahs six electors cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump today in Salt Lake City. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announced the official results within minutes of the votes being cast, but he was drowned out by jeers of Shame on you by the protesters. I hope you know this is what our country is all about, Cox said. I hope all of us here are sincerely grateful we live in a country where we have the opportunity to express ourselves. The six electors -- two small-business owners, a custom metal worker, a farmer, a Brigham Young University professor and a Republican activist -- quickly introduced themselves before casting their ballots. The votes were largely a formality, as the state requires electors to vote for the winner. Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by getting 45%t of the vote. He also withstood a challenge from Evan McMullin, who garnered 21% in what was largely a protest vote from those, many of them Mormons, who felt uncomfortable casting a ballot for Trump. Cox said the turnout for this years electoral vote was a far cry from 2012, when four people and one camera crew showed up. Im a big fan of the electoral college, Cox said to the restless crowd. You dont have to boo me now. You can boo me later. About 200 protesters and Trump supporters arrived in the rotunda of the state Capitol about three hours before the votes were cast shortly after noon. The room where the votes were cast was too small to accommodate everyone, and the fire marshal sought to limit occupancy to about 130 people. Interest was high, and the vote even drew Hawthorn Elementary School students, who helped lead the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Cox thanked them for coming and told them they were getting an experience youll never forget. Facebook

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Clinton elector balks in Minnesota One of 10 Minnesota electors has decided not cast a vote, Muhammad Abdurrahan. An alternate is now being sworn in. #ElectoralCollege pic.twitter.com/4eN1PIrZdO  Dylan Wohlenhaus (@DylanWohlenhaus) December 19, 2016 In Minnesota, where the 10 electors had all pledged their votes to Hillary Clinton, one of them refused to go through with it. Elector Muhammad Abdurrahman opted not to vote. He was replaced by an alternate, who cast a vote for Clinton. Facebook

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As Pennsylvania went unanimously for Trump, a voice from the back: Thank you By Steve Esack Electors sworn in in Pennsylvania (Matt Rourke/Associated Press) In Pennsylvanias capital of Harrisburg, the states 20 electoral college voters selected Trump today in a ceremony marked by traditional pomp and bellowing protests. Trump won the popular vote in Pennsylvania by 44,292 votes  the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since 1988. It earned him the states 20 electoral college votes. When the result was announced shortly before 1 p.m. inside the gilded, ornate House chamber, protesters jeered and supporters cheered. Shame on you, a womans voice called down from the public balcony. Thank you, a male voters voice responded back from the floor. Facebook

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How some electors have reacted to all the mail from voters Facebook

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Protesters outside Florida Senate chambers: Trump is dangerous By Gray Rohrer Protesters gather outside the Florida Senate chambers ahead of the electoral college voting ceremony. (Gray Rohrer / Orlando Sentinel) A group of about 100 protesters huddled outside the Florida Senate chambers Monday morning as Floridas 29 electors prepared to cast their votes for Donald Trump in the formal electoral eollege vote ceremony later in the day. The protesters held signs that read You can fix this, keep America free, What would Hamilton do? and Electors: Protect Us, Trump is Dangerous, pleading for electors to change their minds and not vote for Trump, who beat Hillary Clinton by 112,911 votes in Florida, about 1.2%t of all votes cast in the state. Tallahassee resident Bonnie McCluskey held a sign reading Send it to the House. If enough electors across the country do not vote for Trump, hell fall short of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency, sending the matter to the U.S. House. The reason Im here is because I dont trust [Trump]) and I think he will harm the United States, McCluskey said. My grandmothers were suffragettes; their ancestors were willing to be traitors to the British crown to create this democracy and I dont want to see it end. And that sounds awfully dramatic but thats how Im feeling. She said that part of the reason she doesnt trust Trump is because he didnt pay a company she worked for that did promotional videos for his buildings in 1998. They were basically given the opportunity to take 10 percent or go to court. Back then I didnt realize that was his business plan, McCluskey said. I didnt make the deal with him I was just one of the people who saw a company go bankrupt. Despite the pleas from protesters, all of Floridas electors are expected to vote for Trump. Some, such as Florida Senate President Joe Negron, have posted pictures of hundreds of letters theyve received asking them to change their vote but declaring theyll be voting for the Republican candidate. Facebook

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Colorado electors make last-ditch plea to switch votes By David Kelly Crowds await the electoral college vote at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. (David Kelly / For The Times) Colorado electors are trying a last-chance legal appeal to avoid voting for Hillary Clinton, and instead vote for an alternative candidate to replace Donald Trump. A week ago, a district court judge told them they had to vote for Clinton, who won the popular vote in Colorado. A few days ago, a federal appeals court upheld that decision. But just hours before the vote today, two electors filed suit to stop the Colorado secretary of state from requiring them to swear to vote for the candidate supported by the electorate. Their effort is part of a loose national scheme to defeat Trump by persuading Republican electors to join with Democrats, such as those in Colorado, and coalesce around an alternative candidate. There has been no decision so far. Facebook

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Chants of Shame! erupt as Wisconsin electors cast ballots for Trump By Bill Ruthhart Demonstrators erupt after Wisconsin's 10 presidential electors cast their #ElectoralCollege ballots for Republican Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/A0GrASaIbY  Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) December 19, 2016 Wisconsins 10 presidential electors unanimously cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump as expected Wednesday, but the vote still drew chants of Shame from dozens of demonstrators who had pleaded for them to back away from the president-elect. The typically procedural vote in a fourth-floor conference room in the Wisconsin State Capitol was anything but routine as about 150 protesters greeted the 10 electors with signs pleading for them to vote your conscience not your pledge. In a short 15-minute meeting, the electors quickly cast their ballots for Trump. They did not address the controversial nature of the election and no speeches were made before the 
Good morning. Its Tuesday, Dec. 27, and heres whats happening in California:

TOP STORIES

Bear debate

In the Sierra foothill town of Three Rivers, a debate is raging over whether the time is ripe to reintroduce bigger and more aggressive California grizzly bears into the wilds of the Sierra Nevada. There isnt enough room for them, unless you first remove the human occupants, one resident said. Los Angeles Times

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Tamale outrage

Its turned into a Christmas scandal, centered at a small Southern California market chain. Loyal customers came from miles around for 30- and 40-pound batches of masa to make holiday tamales. But this year, they found themselves scrambling for doctors numbers, sending guests home hungry and rummaging through cupboards for backup plans. Los Angeles Times

L.A. STORIES

Take it to the bridge: One artists fotonovela series on the now-demolished 6th Street Bridge. So many things happened on that bridge. When I heard [it was being taken down], I thought about how meaningful the bridge had been to me. Los Angeles Times

Peacock problem: Where have all those notorious Palos Verdes peacocks gone? Residents have noticed fewer of them. It turns out 99 were trapped and moved away. Daily Breeze

Train stop: The Mine Train, a relic of early Disneylands Rivers of America in Frontierland, will be refurbished and moved to Griffith Park. Orange County Register

99-seat plan: A battle over minimum wage rules is roiling L.A.s small live theater scene. Wall Street Journal

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Drawing the line: Gov. Jerry Brown is putting Donald Trump on notice: No rollback on climate change. I wouldnt underestimate Californias resolve if everything moves in this extreme climate denial direction. Yes, we will take action, the governor said. New York Times

Sprawl stopper: Should California be rewarding communities that build housing near jobs and transportation but penalize suburban sprawl? Los Angeles Times

Suicide prevention: Clusters of teen suicides  in Palo Alto, San Diego and most recently Fresno  are forcing public schools to face up to a problem. Lawmakers have some ideas for how schools can help prevent suicides. CALmatters

CRIME AND COURTS

Victims story: A look at Susan Berman, the mobsters daughter and writer whose murder is now at the center of the Robert Durst legal drama. New York Times

Transparency call: A group of African American community leaders in the Inland Empire is demanding that Riverside sheriffs officials show more transparency over deputy body cameras. Press-Enterprise

DROUGHT AND CLIMATE

Rain numbers: When it came to rain in 2016, some cities did better than others. Eureka and Redding were at 120% of normal, while Irvine was only at 50% of normal. Mercury News

Comeback: How to rebuild a community after a devastating wildfire. Pacific Standard

CALIFORNIA CULTURE

L.A. via Korea: The future of Los Angeles has been portrayed in film in many forms, with the City of Angels taking on the look of Japan, China, and now with the new Blade Runner film, Korea. Los Angeles Review of Books

Georges world: The fascinating story of how Jimmy Stewart returned from the horrors of World War II and became George Bailey. In sunny Southern California, the land of make-believe, this suddenly middle-aged man faced other problems. A new crop of youthful leading men had emerged in his absence. He also faced a crisis of conscience, wondering if acting was a worthwhile profession after the gravity of his daily life in the military. Wall Street Journal

Fighting back: Wounded warriors at Camp Pendleton recover from their wounds by helping others. San Diego Union-Tribune

Holidays 2.0: Some technology companies are turning to, yes, the virtual holiday office party. The Atlantic

CALIFORNIA ALMANAC

Los Angeles area: Sunny with highs in the low 70s. San Diego: Sunny with highs in the upper 60s. San Francisco area: Sunny with highs in the mid-50s. Sacramento: Mostly sunny with highs in the low 50s.

AND FINALLY

Todays California memory comes from Rosanne Goodwin:

Im a native San Diegan. Now that were deep in a drought getting the big rain storms reminds me of a winter in the early 1960s, when I was 6 or 7. During a storm similar to what we had last week, I said to my parents, No wonder theres a water shortage; theyre wasting it all on the rain. My parents enjoyed that so much, my father sent it to Neil Morgan for his Tribune column.

If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.)

Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Shelby Grad.
In an attempt to make Los Angeles parks seem super safe, City Councilman Mitch OFarrell has proposed barring adults unaccompanied by children from entering playgrounds. Its an effort, he said, to keep city parks free of creepy activity.

Who wouldnt want to ban creepy activity or creepy people from playgrounds? But what OFarrell is proposing goes far beyond targeting worrisome activities that, in most cases, are already outlawed. It would bar any adult from sitting on a bench, exercising or otherwise enjoying public space near playground unless he or she brought a child along. Is this really necessary?

His proposal is based on laws in place in a handful of major cities, including New York City, where police caused a minor uproar several years ago by ticketing people for sitting on playground-adjacent benches to eat donuts or play chess.

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OFarrell said he was inspired to propose the ban after residents in Hollywood complained that their local park had been taken over by drug dealers. That is real problem, and by all means, the city should crack down on illegal activity in playgrounds. But if drug dealing or vandalism is occuring at a site, then have police or park rangers patrol it regularly. If there is a childless adult hanging around, leering at kids or taking photographs, then enforce the state law that already makes it a criminal offense to loiter at a playground or school with an unlawful purpose.

OFarrell argues that we cant assume every adult who wanders into a childrens play area is benign. But why should the city assume that every adult without a child is a pedophile? That makes a childless adult a criminal just for being in a particular public space, which is an overreach that can lead to foolish enforcement  like ticketing people for sitting on a bench eating donuts.

This proposal is especially worrisome in light of the citys effort to build more pocket parks to add open space and amenities in underserved areas. These small parks are often no more than a playground and some benches. Would childless adults be barred from taking advantage of the rare open space in their dense neighborhood? Surely there are smarter ways to deal with legitimate problems in public parks.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

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Trump hasnt even been sworn in yet and his conflicts of interest are already unacceptable
A new rule from the Department of Health and Human Services makes it clear that state agencies should not be determining how to distribute millions of dollars of federal Title X family planning funds based on anything other than a health clinics ability to provide those services. This is a provocative but smart move that aims to restore federal funding for healthcare centers serving lower-income populations that have been disqualified by some states simply because they also provide abortions.

This regulation does not suddenly fund abortions. By statute, no federal funds can be used to pay for such services.

Instead, it bars recipients of federal family planning dollars  usually state health departments  from refusing to pass that money along to clinics or healthcare centers for reasons unrelated to their ability to provide Title X services. In doing so, HHS is picking a fight with antiabortion lawmakers across the country just as President Obama is leaving office. Nevertheless, its a fight worth having for the sake of womens health.

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According to HHS, more than 4 million women, men and adolescents get these services, which include contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling (which must be neutral and not favor abortion), preconception health services, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, basic infertility services, and screenings for cervical and breast cancer. Planned Parenthood officials estimate that about a third of the people getting Title X services are getting them at their clinics.

However, a dozen states set irrelevant criteria for eligibility in a transparent effort to defund Planned Parenthood and similar organizations. Most of those states prohibit service providers from receiving Title X funds if they also offer abortions. In the others, facilities run by local governments are prioritized over private ones.

Those restrictive laws have eroded the availability of services, especially to low-income women. As a result, the number of people receiving Title X services has decreased in those areas, according to HHS. Often, the clinics that are best able to reach a large swath of lower-income people end up hamstrung by state regulations. For example, after Kansas passed a law prohibiting private family planning clinics from getting Title X funds, HHS reported, the number of clients  most of whom are low-income  served under Title X dropped more than 37% from 2011 to 2015.

The rule wont take effect until Jan. 18, and it could be blocked by a GOP Congress primed to reverse regulations adopted in the waning months of the Obama administration. Or states could decide to forgo federal family planning dollars, to the detriment of the health clinics that millions of lower-income people have come to rely on for basic healthcare. Some congressional Republicans are even talking about killing the entire Title X program.

But lawmakers shouldnt hold womens health services hostage to their crusade against abortion, which women have a legal right to seek. The HHS rule will help more lower-income women get the reproductive-health and screening services they need. Thats a goal both parties should embrace.

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From the early days of the 2016 primary fight for the Republican presidential nomination, we made our opposition to Donald J. Trumps candidacy clear: He is unfit to run the country. So far, he has done little to persuade us otherwise. His shoot-from-the-lip approach to politics and public policy reveals a challenging lack of knowledge of how government works, the gravitas the presidency requires (Tweets have consequences), or the laws he will have to follow as the nations chief executive.

One specific area of concern centers on potential conflicts of interest between Trumps business investments and his job as president. This isnt hypothetical  problems have already emerged. A week after the election, the president-elects new Trump International Hotel, just four blocks from the White House, held a party for 100 foreign diplomats to tout the benefits of booking events and rooms there. It worked like a time-share pitch for White House influence. Why wouldnt I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, I love your new hotel! one unidentified diplomat told the Washington Post. Isnt it rude to come to his city and say, I am staying at your competitor? Separately, Bahrain recently moved an event initially planned for another Washington hotel to the Trump International. Though the reason has not been spelled out, it doesnt take a cynic to suspect a diplomatic effort to curry favor.

The conflicts also emerge more subtly. Before the election, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has threatened to cool his nations long relationship with the U.S. for closer ties with China, appointed businessman Jose Antonio as his special trade envoy to Washington. Antonio just happens to be a Trump business partner, building a $150-million, 57-story Trump Tower apartment complex in Manila  with more projects on the drawing board. Both countries now have cause to wonder where either mans loyalties lie.

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So Trump hasnt even been sworn in yet, and already the conflicts are accumulating.

Federal ethics laws do not require the president to adhere to the same standards as his administrative appointees, so Trump can continue to run his business empire from the Oval Office without violating those statutes. Yet that is not what Americans voted for him to do  they elected him to run the government. And while he might be free of the ethics laws, thanks to an exemption Congress ought to consider removing, Trump is not free of the Constitutions emoluments clause, which says the president cannot without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State. Some scholars argue that foreign governments sending business to Trumps properties would violate that clause, which could create a constitutional showdown. At the very least, it creates a pay to play perception  an accusation Trump lodged against Hillary Clinton over donations to the Clinton Foundation.

Trump postponed until January a press conference in which he promised to detail how hell extricate himself from his conflicts. Hes already said he plans to close his controversial foundation, which is under investigation by the New Yorks attorney general, and reportedly has backed out of some business deals and is contemplating appointing an outside monitor of his business concerns. He also has looked at creating a discretionary trust that would put the business under the control of someone else (probably a relative), letting Trump keep tabs on his business affairs and income  an arrangement thats clearly insufficient to avert conflicts. Under the more stringent and traditional blind trust, an independent trustee would control the assets and would liquidate, without Trumps knowledge, holdings that might present a conflict.

Trump is due the courtesy of the nations ears, which will be tuned to whatever announcement he ultimately makes about his business conundrum. But skepticism is warranted. If Trump fails to adequately separate himself from his financial affairs, even his fellow Republican supporters in Congress must hold him accountable. Trump sought this job, and while he has made a show of breaking with traditions, he cannot break faith with the American people.

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The country is in the throes of a major epidemic, with no known cure and some pretty scary symptoms. Its called Trump Derangement Syndrome, or TDS, and its rapidly spreading from the point of origin  the political class  to the population at large.

In the first stage of the disease, victims lose all sense of proportion. The president-elects every tweet provokes a firestorm, as if 140 characters were all it took to change the world.

Trump set up a single phone call with Taiwans president, and suddenly TDS patients were insisting that our One China policy was no more. But the reality is that telephonic communication isnt the same thing as official diplomatic recognition. Besides, in their eagerness to highlight Trumps alleged recklessness, the president-elects critics misunderstand our policy. One China means that we dont recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country or Chinas sovereignty over Taiwan. Weve never considered Taiwan a mere province, and the Taiwan Relations Act obligates us to defend the island against attack.

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In the advanced stages of the disease, the afflicted lose touch with reality. Opinion is unmoored from fact.

The mid-level stages of TDS have a profound effect on the victims vocabulary: Sufferers speak a distinctive language consisting solely of hyperbole. Politico recently ran a piece that noted Trumps supposedly unprecedented decision to continue using his private security force, which provoked former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin to tweet: A predictable move for a kleptocratic authoritarian who wants to operate outside the bounds of law and basic ethical standards. Even more troubling, he may use the forces lack of government oversight & presidential veneer to carry-out extralegal acts of force.

Its quite a stretch to suggest that a desire to keep trusted lieutenants is actually a sinister plot to create a version of the brownshirts, but such illogical leaps are the pathway to the next stage of TDS: a state of constant hysteria.

Especially when discussing Trumps views on immigration, hysterical TDS victims assume theres no difference between the president-elects rhetoric (get out!) and his proposed policy (deporting known criminals who are in this country illegally). As Reince Priebus, Trumps chief of staff, put it: Hes not calling for mass deportation. He said, No, only people who have committed crimes. And then only until all of that is taken care of will we look at what we are going to do next.

As TDS progresses, the afflicted lose the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Despite Trumps expressed desire to work something out for the so-called Dreamers  those brought here as very young children  Trumps critics continue to harp on this issue. Immigration advocate Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice, who has a very bad case of TDS, inadvertently revealed this mind set when he said: Before anyone falls into the trap of believing that Trump is softening on immigration, they should remember that weve seen this movie before.

A movie, eh?

In the advanced stages of the disease, the afflicted lose touch with reality. Opinion is unmoored from fact. Life resembles a dark fairy tale in which the villain  Trump  is an amalgam of all the worst tyrants in history, past and present, while the heroes Trumps critics  are akin to the resistance fighters of World War II.

TDS victims routinely compare Trump to Hitler: Time magazine ran an opinion piece that asked Just how similar is Donald Trump to Hitler? The answer: The comparison between Hitler and Trump is so poignant because both men represent their personal character as the antidote to all social and political problems.

Since Hitler has been dead for more than 70 years, though, victims may feel the need for a more potent bogeyman, a tyrant with more currency. And theyve found one in Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they insist ordered a hacking campaign to help Trump win the election.

The other day, Tucker Carlson of Fox News interviewed TDS-riddled Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank). Carlson asked for evidence that Putins alleged machinations had any effect on the election. Unable to come up with a coherent answer, Schiff morphed into J. Edgar Hoover: Youre carrying water for the Kremlin, he said, youre going to have to move your show to Russia Today.

If you ask a TDS victim what might help them feel better, theyll use the word normalize. As in, we mustnt normalize Trump. What theyre really saying is that normal means of dealing with him arent enough. Which raises the question: If hes another Hitler, if hes in league with Putin, then why is assassination out of the question? Poke a TDS victim and youll find they dont think that solution is out of the question at all.

This is the final stage of the TDS epidemic: violence against a democratically elected leader. Unless a cure for TDS is found, this is where we are headed.

Justin Raimondo is the editorial director of Antiwar.com and the author of Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement.

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Detractors of Donald Trump could hardly believe their luck. Here, it seemed, was a Christmas statement from the Republican National Committee that seemed to be referring to the president-elect as a king.

The statement contained this paragraph:

Merry Christmas to all! Over two millennia ago, a new hope was born into the world, a Savior who would offer the promise of salvation to all mankind. Just as the three wise men did on that night, this Christmas heralds a time to celebrate the good news of a new King.

I had Twitter open after the statements release, and watched amazed as one critic after another suggested that the RNC message was exulting in the Parousia of King Trump. (Look it up.)

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It struck me as the latest example of Trump Derangement Syndrome. But the Trump team felt obligated to rebut the extreme interpretation of the GOP Christmas card. Sean Spicer, the incoming White House press secretary, tweeted:

Christ is the King. He was born today so we could be saved. Its sad & disappointing you are politicizing such a holy day.

But Spicers riposte reminded me that the RNCs message was problematic in a different way. OK, the king is not Trump but Jesus; but why would a political party that aims to appeal to all Americans endorse the Christian claim that Jesus was both king and Savior?

And thats pretty clearly what it does. Compare the more guarded statement issued by the RNC in honor of Hanukkah, which begins: As our Jewish friends and family around the country gather to light the first candle, we hope they will enjoy a special time of closeness and joy this Hanukkah season. (Our friends are Jewish, it seems to be saying, but we arent.)

Or contrast the more ecumenical wording of this Christmas greeting from the Obamas:

Today, like millions of Americans and Christians around the world, our family celebrates the birth of Jesus and the values He lived in his own life: Treating one another with love and compassion. Caring for those on societys margins: the sick and the hungry, the poor and the persecuted, the stranger in need of shelter  or simply an act of kindness.

Note that Obama says that he and his family  Christians, despite what you may have heard  are celebrating Christmas. He isnt speaking for the Democratic Party. And then he focuses on Jesus message (the so-called social gospel that can be practiced by believers and nonbelievers alike) rather than any metaphysical claims.

If this seems like nitpicking, consider one of Trumps major issues, the supposed war on Christmas.

During the Wisconsin portion of his victory lap, the president-elect reminded supporters that 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. Merry Christmas

Of course, Trump as president cant make people say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. Moreover, as Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne pointed out the other day: Long before Trump came along we were entirely free to say Merry Christmas to each other. Our political leaders could say it, too.

But lets follow the advice of some pundits and take Trumps Merry Christmas rhetoric not literally but seriously. What was he trying to say? I think its not too big a leap to interpret his advocacy of Merry Christmas as an assertion of what a lot of people of his age and background consider obvious: that America is a Christian country, even though others sorts of people happily live here.

This isnt an opinion confined to conservatives or Christians. In 1983, this newspaper published a column by Michael Kinsley questioning the ACLUs litigation over nativity scenes displayed on public property. Kinsley quoted from an ACLU legal brief that complained that a child whose family does not believe in the divinity of Christ must view the public creche as a symbolic representation of his or her status as an outsider. The child will question ... his identification with the American culture.

Kinsleys response:

I think thats right. But I also think that this child had better learn early on to question his identification with the American culture, because its a tough question that will follow him all his life no matter how successful the ACLU is in banning nativity scenes. There is a majority culture in this country. It is Christian, white, middle-class. Jews and non-believers (I am both) are outsiders to some extent in that culture. So are blacks, homosexuals, Asians and so on.

Kinsley went on to suggest a silver lining: Far from being a handicap, a sense of outsiderness can be an asset in a society that does in the end try to protect the rights of cultural outsiders. It energizes, promotes skepticism, gives perspective.

Im not sure Kinsley would write in this way in 2016, when America is less Christian, white and middle-class than it was in 1983.

But I think the sentiments he expressed then illuminate both Trumps exasperation at hearing Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas and the reason why some people at the RNC might find it bizarre that I would be questioning whether a political party that includes a lot of Christians should be hailing Jesus as king.

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To the editor: If Israels best defense lies in Jack Saltzbergs cynical objections to other states human rights records, I suggest Israel find a new advocate. (How to fight the anti-Israel BDS movement, Opinion, Dec. 21)

Aside from the obvious two wrongs dont make a right principle Saltzberg dismissively concedes, most people will recognize the feigned concern for what it is. Im also sure the people enduring real suffering in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and China would appreciate genuine advocacy as opposed to being used as pawns by opponents of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

Typically when confronted with grievances, it is advisable to listen and explore possible corrective action, not change the subject. BDS is premised on the presumption that Israel is an open society that can be swayed by public opinion and international concern. This is a compliment.

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The longer Israel persists in its cruel blockade of Gaza and unchecked settlement expansion in the West Bank, the more persuasive BDS message becomes to younger Americans. The solution is apparent and should not be obscured by cynical red herrings.

Charles Kohorst, Glendora

..

To the editor: Saltzberg offers a much-needed offensive strategy to defeat the immoral BDS campaign against Israel on college campuses.

I suggest we build on that strategy. The BDS campaign is itself a human rights violator that seeks to silence the voices of all who dare to disagree with its political agenda. It singles out the Jewish state for discrimination, something that would not be tolerated against any other ethnic minority.

Its time not just to render the acronym meaningless but also to redefine it. A more accurate definition of the acronym BDS is boycott, discriminate and segregate.

Israels detractors dont own the alphabet. Lets seize the day.

Lana Melman, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Saltzberg hopes to turn BDS into a banal expression, thereby weakening its political impact. He claims that Israel is obviously not guilty of apartheid, genocide, racism and colonialism without offering any contravening facts and then proposes that we broaden the scope of BDS to include all the evils and abuses of the world. This deflects criticism and weakens the specific target of forcing Israel to comply with international laws and recognize the rights of the Palestinian people.

Saltzberg is simply advancing an argument for the banality of evil. If we throw all the evils and abuses that exist in the world into one big hopper, then we feel powerless to effect change anywhere.

Paul McDermott, Los Angeles

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To the editor: Our lawmakers refuse to believe people like me, an engineer who along with other scientists studied this space-based defense system and rejected it long before the Reagan administration wanted to waste money on Star Wars. Let me point out the problems with it. (President Obama signs defense bill that could spur new space-based arms race, Dec. 23)

First, we would need several rings of possibly thousands of satellites so that a few are assured to be in the vicinity of a random attacking missile payload. Second, each satellite would need optics and software to discriminate the lethal nuclear warhead from the many decoys and junk. Third, the laser needs to be stabilized to point persistently within a few centimeters on the warhead at a few hundred miles. Fourth, the warhead could be tumbling,so no point on it would remain at a single (traveling) space point for even a few seconds. Fifth, since each migrating ring of satellites would have to pass over the vast Russian territory, the Russians could covertly destroy or disable each satellite as its goes by.

The first problem could be solved with break-the-bank money, and the second and third with break-the-second-bank money. The fourth cannot be solved. And the fifth is solved if we attack Russia first.

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Congress should not waste its money on this.

Earl U. Biven, Irvine

..

To the editor: This space-based interceptor system is a retread of a Reagan-era concept that turned out to be technically and economically unworkable.

As for the current missile defense system, the four or five interceptors needed to kill an incoming warhead is an underestimate. These numbers are based on artificially benign test conditions that are far from those that would occur under real wartime operations.

What we are witnessing is the triumph of right-wing political ideology over science. The members of Congress supporting a space-based system are captive to the mistaken idea that the U.S. is capable of unilaterally defending itself against a ballistic missile attack.

To the peril of our republic and our planet, they could not be more wrong.

Roy Danchick, Los Angeles

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A Laguna Beach Unified School District administrator will leave his post in January to take a job with the Orange County Department of Education.

Dean West, the districts assistant superintendent of business services, will be the county departments associate superintendent of business services, according to a Laguna Beach Unified news release.

West, who joined Laguna Beach Unified six years ago as director of fiscal services, will fill the void left by Wendy Benkerts retirement.

Benkert is retiring after 27 years with the county, Department of Education spokesman Ian Hanigan wrote in an email.

West, who said he heard about Benkerts retirement in November and applied for the job, called Laguna Beach Unified a great place to work.

Id never thought Id leave, West said in a phone interview. "[But] a great opportunity opened up. I think I can do even more and help more people. Our business is service. We serve the public.

West was promoted to assistant superintendent in 2012. In that role, he supervised nutrition services, risk management and facilities, leading the development of a 10-year facilities master plan, the release said.

His budgets are clear, concise and informative, district board President Jan Vickers said in the release. I can count on accuracy and full disclosure knowing the whole financial picture. In all the programs he oversees, LBUSD has shown growth, and his leadership is recognized and greatly appreciated.

In his new role, West will oversee a department that provides technical, advisory and management support for 27 Orange County school districts, four regional occupational programs and agencies related to financial accounts and budgets, taxes, vendor payment audits and other matters, the release said.

West previously was an independent consultant and auditor to school districts and served in business services roles in the West Covina and San Marino school districts.

The Laguna Beach Unified board will consider appointing an interim assistant superintendent at its Jan. 10 meeting, which will be Wests last meeting. He starts his new job Jan. 11.
Its a tough time in Nigerias civil service. The government money that sloshed through bureaucrats personal accounts until last year has dried up, leaving many facing a novel fate: They have to survive on their salaries.

Stories abound of mid-level bureaucrats in the capital, Abuja, with luxury houses and multiple European luxury cars, who can no longer pay for gasoline. Others have had to withdraw their children from prestigious foreign schools and colleges.

There are now civil servants who have to live just on their salaries. They were living above their standard before, said Mala Mohammad Yaro, an auditor in the Maiduguri state government. They are now complaining.

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Nigeria has seen many billions of dollars leak out of government coffers in past decades, with the state oil company one of the worst offenders.

Nigeria ranks 136th among 167 nations on the perceptions of corruption index compiled by the advocacy group Transparency International, with first being least corrupt (Denmark) and 167th the worst (a tie between Somalia and North Korea).

Corruption in various forms  bribes, overcharging, skimming from government accounts  is so embedded in Nigerian culture that when then-British Prime Minister David Cameron was caught on video this year calling Afghanistan and Nigeria fantastically corrupt, the Nigerian president didnt object.

Well, I think hes being honest about it, President Muhammadu Buhari told CNN. He added, I dont think you can fault him.

Buhari has unleashed an anti-corruption sweep that has touched people across the country but left bureaucrats, in particular, in despair.

In Kano, the countrys second-biggest city, a civil servant who got his job through a family connection 15 years ago is tall, thin and, these days, gloomy.

Its like a tradition, the civil servant, Ibrahim, said of corruption in the bureaucracy. Because the government had plenty of money, they didnt care much what happened.

Ibrahim, who declined to be fully identified because of the corruption crackdown, says he was not a big-time crook, like the accounting and revenue officials.

They used to buy houses, marry beautiful wives, he said. They used to send their children abroad [for education]. Some of them had many very expensive cars.

But thats getting harder now after Buhari implemented a reform last year that is simple and elegant: Government departments and agencies used to have more than 10,000 accounts in various commercial banks. Now there is just one government account in the central bank, the Treasury Single Account.

In the stroke of a pen, myriad scams were wiped out. Banks could no longer lend government money back to the government at exorbitant rates. Bureaucrats couldnt siphon off bank interest. Money could no longer be discreetly detoured out of the breathtaking tangle of accounts. Scandalously inflated government contracts could be easily traced.

Now the government actually knows where its money is and how its spending it.

The Treasury Single Account has affected us all, bemoaned Ibrahim. Civil servants are crying, because everything they did before, they cannot do any more.

He cannot afford to run his car. Even buying food is a problem. Hes embarrassed when relatives who have always depended on his largess expect support.

In our tradition, if you have money you will give it to your family, he said. But now the money is not even enough for your own needs.

The biggest thieves, according to Ibrahim, were those who had access to government accounts; other bureaucrats have long been known to generously pad their salaries with bribes.

A World Bank survey in 2014 found that 55% of firms in Nigeria expected to pay bribes or give gifts to bureaucrats or politicians and others to get things done, more than double the average in sub-Saharan Africa. Forty-five percent said corruption was a major constant.

The effects of such corruption are far-reaching, the World Bank says. Corruption is a major stumbling block toward reaching the U.N.s sustainable development goal of ending poverty by 2030, according to the bank.

Nigerias anti-corruption drive has been made more urgent by the countrys worst recession in three decades, as the oil-dependent economy reels with the decline in oil prices. The economy shrank more than 3% in the second quarter of 2016 alone. Nigeria spends $4.4 billion a year on civil service salaries, 40% of all spending, a figure the government says is unsustainable.

The crisis comes as Nigerias oil revenues have been hit further by rebels in the oil-producing southeast, who have blown up pipelines, forcing a drop in production from 2.2 million barrels a day to 1.4 million.

The Single Treasury Account has reduced corruption and helped the government get control of revenue, but it had left commercial banks severely stressed, according to Garba Ibrahim Sheka, an economics professor at Bayelsa University in Kano.

If we compare the costs and benefits, most of us will say its better that the government has come up with this policy because it has checked one of the major issues in the country, which is corruption and theft of public funds, Sheka said. Civil servants are complaining. People have been reduced to their natural position.

But when theres less to steal, theres less to spend.

Blocking someone from stealing public funds will reduce his frequency in the market, Sheka said. If retailers cant sell as much, they will buy less from manufacturers.

Shopkeepers in Kano say their businesses have shrunk, partly because civil servants  once a large part of their clientele  are no longer flush with money.

Business has gone down by 40% in the past year, says Vashir Musa, 33, a shopkeeper selling Chinese-made shoes, Timberland knockoffs and bags. People have to manage on their salaries. They dont have a surplus above their salaries, and they need that for the basics like food and school fees.

The scale of embezzlement in Nigeria is astonishing. Judges, senators, former governors and deputy governors, political staffers and ex-bankers have been swept up in recent months in an unprecedented anti-corruption drive.

Seven judges, including two Supreme Court judges, have been arrested on corruption allegations. The sacked head of the military, Alex Badeh, is being tried on charges of stealing $3.1 million from Nigerian air force accounts to buy houses in Abuja.

A cousin of former president Goodluck Jonathan has been charged with the theft of $40 million that was supposed to pay for tactical communication kits for Nigerias special forces.

A former customs boss, Abdullahi Dikko, also has been arrested and accused of pocketing $40 million.

A former national security advisor, Sambo Dasuki, tops that. Hes been in fraud scheme prosecutors say reached $13 billion.

Not all civil servants are distressed about the anti-corruption measures. Yaro, the government auditor, said corrupt, rich civil servants often derided him as a loser.

Im prone to honesty in my life, he said. Because I embrace a moral way of life, people look down on me as a poor man.

In the past, some government departments would deny him access to cash books and accounts. The single government account has made my life easier, he said.

There are different forms of corruption: non-existent ghost workers on the government payroll, overcharging on government contracts, diverting money from government accounts. And bribes.

Ibrahim used to double his salary in gifts.

Before, people used to give money if you did a very beautiful thing for them. But now people have no money in their hands. People used to give me shoes, clothes, even watches, he said. You would thank them and tell them you would have a very long relationship with them.

Youd quicken processes for them. We used to handle those jobs with extra care.

Like many civil servants, Ibrahim doesnt believe the anti-corruption campaign will stick. After all, none ever has before.

It cannot be permanent, he said.

Sheka, the economist, agreed.

Even if the government blocks corruption on one side, another side will open. This issue of corruption is in our blood.

This story was reported with a grant from the United Nations Foundation. For more news on Sustainable Development Goals issues, go to our Global Development Watch page.



robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT

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In Somalia, a decades-long struggle for stability and peace was supposed to culminate this year in the countrys first democratic elections in nearly 50 years. Instead, a clan-based election system shut out ordinary voters, while electoral abuses undermined the credibility of the vote.

Thats the conclusion of the United Nations and other international bodies, which on Tuesday cast grave doubt on the credibility of the elections. The assessment came the same day new lawmakers were sworn in, a moment that should have marked momentous progress in Somalias hoped-for transition from failed state to stable democracy.

The election of a president, originally due in August, has been repeatedly delayed amid corruption, electoral fraud, vote buying, violence and intimidation in elections for parliament. The parliament will vote in the president, likely next month. Members of parliament are elected by clan elders and leaders, not the general public.

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The U.N. and other international bodies, including the African Union and European Union, on Tuesday issued their gravest warning yet on the credibility of the electoral system, after the National Leadership Forum  a group of Somali federal and state leaders  abruptly breached Somalias Constitution by increasing the number of upper house seats from 54 to 75.

The NLF also sparked outrage by refusing to allow fresh votes in many districts where severe abuses had been reported. Such abuses were alleged in contests for 24 parliamentary seats, and the Somali electoral disputes panel, the Independent Electoral Disputes Resolution Mechanism, this month nullified the results for 11 seats and called for fresh votes. But on Saturday, the NLF dismissed that decision, enabling new elections for just five seats.

A joint statement Tuesday by the U.N., the African Union, the EU and others expressed grave concern about the NLFs action, saying that this represents a blanket amnesty for some of the most blatant irregularities witnessed during this electoral process.

The statement warned that unless Somalia takes action against electoral abuses, the international community may not be willing to work with the future Somali government.

Six presidential candidates also condemned the electoral abuses in a joint statement Tuesday.

While this is a gross violation of the constitution, its also politically inconceivable to undertake in [the] midst of [an] electoral process that is already shrouded in corruption, manipulation and secrecy, the statement said, referring to the increase in upper house seats.

Female presidential candidate and former refugee Fadumo Dayib on Tuesday blamed the international community for allowing the election to proceed despite its lack of credibility.

Understand this, the #electoralsystem is flawed, unconstitutional & highly #corrupt, she tweeted, adding that the international community facilitated & still funds this farce.

Somalias last democratic elections were in 1969, before a military officer, Siad Barre, seized power in a coup later that year, ushering in more than two decades of dictatorship. His regime collapsed in 1991, bringing years of clan-driven civil war before the rise of Islamist militias, including the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabab, beginning in 2006.

In 2011, U.N.-backed African Union forces known as AMISOM drove Al Shabab from the capital of Mogadishu. A year later in Somali elections, just 135 clan leaders voted in the parliament that elected the president, Hassan Sheik Mohammud. He promised one-person, one-vote national elections by 2016, but in July of last year he announced there would be only an indirect election conducted by clan elders and elites, saying insecurity made a popular vote impossible.

Somalia is still seen by many international observers as too fragile and unstable to risk a one-person, one-vote election, because of ever-present clan rivalry and persistent insecurity due to an Islamist insurgency by militias loyal to Al Qaeda and Islamic State.

Al Shabab still controls part of Somalia and frequently carries out suicide bombings and other attacks in the capital, Mogadishu, and elsewhere. Last week, Al Shabab kidnapped five clan elders who were among the 14,025 election delegates.

The election saw backroom wheeling and dealing, with seats being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Somalias auditor general, Nur Jimale Farah, warned in a radio interview in November that the election was not credible because some candidates paid up to tens of thousands of dollars, and in two cases over $1 million, in bribes to voting delegates.

In September, the U.N. special representative for Somalia, Michael Keating, told the U.N. Security Council that election delays could see the electoral process manipulated.

The urgency and the momentum must be maintained and the additional time used to ensure that the process is as transparent and credible as possible, he warned at the time. But since then, the timetable has continued to slide, and abuses have gone unaddressed.

Somali government officials have expressed confidence that popular elections will be held in 2020.

robyn.dixon@latimes.com

Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT

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Consulting a Bible app on his smartphone, Norng Chhay pulled up his favorite passage from the book of Matthew.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others, the former Khmer Rouge soldier read aloud. Matthew 7 particularly resonates with him, he said, given his past as a member of one of the most notorious armies of modern times.

Recruited by the Khmer Rouge as a 15-year-old, Norng engaged daily in jungle warfare against Vietnam. More crucially, he had a role in the genocide carried out by Pol Pots short-lived Communist regime from 1975 to 1979, which left roughly 2 million Cambodians dead from starvation, overwork and mass executions.

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Even though I was not a direct perpetrator or the one who beat people to death, I too participated in it because I was the one who brought them to their deaths, Norng said. I used to escort them to the fields, and I have witnessed people being beaten and then thrown into mass graves.

It was fear for his own safety that forced him to be part of the executions, Norng said. People today are fast to judge our past actions even though they do not understand what we have gone through.

The now devout 57-year-old is one of more than 600 Christians living in Pailin, a small western province bordering Thailand. Populated in large measure by Khmer Rouge stalwarts who fled there after their leadership was ousted from power in 1979, these former officers, cadres and supporters have turned to Christianity to seek comfort and salvation.

Yet Cambodians, mistrustful of the sincerity of these conversions, dismiss their newly adopted zeal for religious ideology.

Youth wait oustide the Marist church of Pailin at the beginning of the Saturdays service. Pailin, a town of 70,000 people, is home to 22 churches. (Thomas Cristofoletti / For The Times )

After the fall of Pol Pots regime, Khmer Rouge fighters fled westward to the mountainous terrain of Koh Kong province and the dense jungles of Battambang province. They continued waging fierce guerrilla battles against the Vietnamese-backed government until 1996, when a deal was brokered between the two forces: Pailin province, a small area of land carved out of Battambang, was promised to the Khmer Rouge leadership in exchange for reintegrating their supporters and fighters into the government.

During this protracted period of political turmoil, Christian missionaries and religious organizations flooded in to distribute humanitarian aid. Along with their resources came religious ideals, and the missionaries found willing listeners among the ultra-Maoist ideologues, who had long been prohibited from adhering to any sort of faith, said Kong Duong, Pol Pots former chief propagandist and head of the Khmer Rouge radio station between 1979 to 1996.

The Khmer Rouge went to great extremes to eliminate religion  going as far as destroying the majority of the countrys temples and pagodas and massacring thousands of monks. They also destroyed churches in the capital city and slaughtered Cambodian Christians, along with Muslims and ethnic Vietnamese, Chinese and indigenous minorities.

After the Khmer Rouge escaped to the western provinces in 1979, it was not Buddhist monks that came here first, said Kong, today the director of the provincial information department who also works as a broadcaster for Christian radio programs. It was through the activity of the Christians going around this area and connecting with Khmer Rouge people  that is perhaps the reason people started liking it and believing in it.

Today, Pailins eponymous capital is a long stretch of road dotted with small businesses and guesthouses leading to the Thai border, flanked by 22 churches of various Christian denominations, from the Roman Catholic order of the Marist Brothers to Presbyterianism and Protestantism.

This is a considerable density for a predominantly Buddhist country, where the entire Christian community makes up only 2% of the population. Exact figures of converts who were former Khmer Rouge cadres are difficult to quantify due to their secrecy about their past to outsiders, but Kong estimated that 40% of his fellow cadres living in Pailin and neighboring Battambang province are now Christians.

Yet an apparent change of faith does not always extend to changing minds, as many former cadres still favor the former regimes ideology and refuse to acknowledge the responsibility that its senior leaders bear for perpetrating torture and mass killings.

Sok Sem, 58, reads the Bible with his daughter Sok Sreypao, age 4. Sok was a commander of a special military unit of the Khmer Rouge. He committed to Christianity in 2001. (Thomas Cristofoletti / For The Times )

Sok Sem, 58, a former military unit commander up until the Khmer Rouge integrated in 1996, said he did not believe the mass killings occurred.

I disagree that the regime was cruel. I think Pol Pot was a good person, said Sok, who was baptized in 2001. The people I killed and that I saw were dead were on the battlefield. They were all soldiers. I have never witnessed killings within the country by the Khmer Rouge.

The wholesale denial of a nationwide atrocity is one of the reasons that many Cambodians are skeptical about the religious motives of former cadres, especially as the inner workings of the Khmer Rouge are slowly being revealed in a U.N. war crimes tribunal that is trying the regimes most senior leaders.

Perhaps the most notorious cadre-turned-Christian is Kaing Guek Eav, better known by his alias Duch, who oversaw the torture and execution of some 20,000 Cambodians at the notorious Tuol Sleng prison camp. Sentenced to life in prison by the tribunal, Duch was baptized shortly after his wife died in 1995.

By the time he was called to stand trial in 2009, he had built a Protestant church in his home village and converted dozens of families, according to When Clouds Fell From the Sky: A Disappearance, a Daughters Search and Cambodias First War Criminal, a book published last year on the devastating impact the regime had on a single French-Khmer family.

While many Cambodians do not believe Duchs conversion to be genuine, author Robert Carmichael said the psychological profile conducted by the tribunal doctors showed that the former schoolteacher was drawn to Christianity in the same way he was drawn to the communist beliefs espoused by the Khmer Rouge  by whichever ideology he considered to be the strongest force.

I do think that he sees himself as a Christian, though of course his lack of empathy towards his victims (which we saw at trial) and his 180-degree turn from effectively pleading guilty to not guilty on the last day of his 2009 trial means he clearly doesnt understand one of Christianitys most basic concepts, Carmichael said in an email.

Youk Chhang, executive director of Documentation Center of Cambodia, which compiles research related to the regime, was even less forgiving.

Duch was trying to fool God, Youk, a Khmer Rouge survivor, said. The Khmer Rouge came to God not because they have faith, but ... as a means to get out of the past.

Morm Phin, 75, prepares for Sunday service. Morm was working as a supervisor in a garment factory during the Khmer Rouges regime and she is now a pastor in a small church outside Pailin town. (Thomas Cristofoletti / For The Times )

For 75-year-old Morm Phin, life after the regime has been a long trek toward forgiveness. In the beginning of the Khmer Rouges reign, she worked as a technical supervisor at a weaving factory that produced clothing for the black-clad cadres.

Then in 1978, she was transferred to work as a medic in a hospital, an experience that transformed her once favorable view of the regime. Next door to the clinic was a detention center where prisoners were shackled, tortured and starved to death, she said.

Morm also witnessed that year the death of her cousin, who was beaten brutally onstage in front of thousands of people. Along with seven other people, he was publicly punished for committing immoral acts, she said.

Before the eight people were beaten to death, the black-clad cadres asked the crowd if they should be executed or allowed to live. If we agreed that they should live, we should raise our hands. But nobody raised their hands because we were all afraid, Morm recounted. Even though it was my own blood relative, I did not raise my hand.

Today, the Christian pastor  who runs a small church in her modest home, surrounded by fruit and vegetable crops  said she believes in practicing forgiveness toward Duch and the other leaders on trial at the tribunal.

The Bible taught me that I need to learn to forgive, and that is also why God has forgiven me for my sins, Morm said. I dont think I am a perfect person in my past, but I believe that one day, I could be with God when I pass away.

Chen is a special correspondent. Special correspondent Kuch Naren contributed to this report.

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Gula Jan ground a small amount of hashish, about the size of a marble, in his hand. He mixed it with tobacco and carefully rolled it into a cigarette. Then he smiled.

Do you know how many people come and smoke hash here? he said. Thousands!

The 34-year-old counts parliamentarians, government officials, doctors, engineers and businessmen among his clients. They all stop by his usual spot on a river bend 45 miles outside Kabul for a taste of his specialty.

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As he twisted the cigarette closed, a new car pulled up with neatly dressed passengers inside. They were regulars, Gula said  Afghan employees of an international aid agency  and he ran to greet them.

Gula, who has thick eyebrows and a close-cropped beard, said that in the busy summer months, he sells hashish to as many as 100 people a day. He is known for importing the best stuff, from the remote northeastern district of Badakhshan, and in a usual month he sells nearly seven pounds  about 600 cigarettes worth.

Im a salesman, but its also fun and good to make friends. Everyone loves me.  Hash salesman Gula Jan

In an hour he usually makes about $60, although he says he sets no fixed price for his product.

It depends on clients generosity, he said. Sometimes clients get high and pay a couple hundred dollars for only two segreti  hash cigarettes.

Im a salesman, but its also fun and good to make friends. Everyone loves me.

His spot is in Sorobi, a district outside Kabul. Gula stations himself outside a restaurant set above the Kabul River, a favorite spot for drivers heading in or out of the Afghan capital. The terrace restaurant is known for its freshly caught, golden-fried fish.

On a warm, windy afternoon, another group of regular clients, Afghans wearing traditional shalwar kameez, drove up and asked Gula to roll them a couple of cigarettes. As he stuck a bit of hashish on the tip of a key, Gula pointed to a hilltop where more than a dozen Afghan army soldiers were stationed, observing the highway, and said even they occasionally partook in the drug.

Those poor soldiers rarely come down here and smoke hash, he said. The Taliban have threatened to kidnap them, so theyre concerned.

The Tangi Abresham valley lies on Kabuls eastern outskirts, along the road to the Pakistani border  a strategic location where foreign and Afghan military convoys have often been targeted by insurgents. The valley lies between two mountain ranges that the Taliban and other militant groups use as havens.

Gulas business is against Afghan law, but people of all stripes smoke hashish in Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani even suggested during his 2014 campaign that he might consider legalizing the drug.

U.S.-led international efforts to reduce cultivation of opium, hash and other drugs in Afghanistan have largely failed. Afghanistans ministry of counter-narcotics says production of narcotics rose 15% in 2016 compared to the year before, with more than 500,000 acres in the country used for growing poppy and hashish.

Naeem, who like many Afghans has only one name, runs the fish restaurant, named Charsi Karak Chai, which loosely translates to strong tea for hash smokers.

Like Gula, Naeem, 31, is an avid hash user  the two join Gula Jans customers for a smoke a few times a day. Its a symbiotic relationship: Each business helps the other.

Customers get very hungry after a smoke, Naeem said. Each smoker can eat up to three kilos [about seven pounds] of fish!

Improbable? Sure. But this is a hash story.

Along with the fish he serves doodpati, an Indian drink of black tea, milk and sugar, to hash smokers only. Customers say it increases their high.

Abdul Baqi, in his 20s, approached the restaurant. Gula opened his arms and wrapped Baqi in a hug  he was a loyal customer.

Hey, marra, Gula said. (Hey, dude.) He offered Baqi a cigarette he had tucked behind his ear.

Baqi was driving from the capital to Jalalabad, a busy town near the Afghan border  a treacherous, three-hour-plus journey along a winding, mountainous highway often jammed with trucks. Like many drivers, he believed smoking hashish relaxed him for the difficult drive while keeping him from becoming tired behind the wheel.

This time, Baqi took just a couple of puffs from Gula before stopping. Ive already smoked two wraps of hash while driving from Kabul! he said with a laugh.

Faizy is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, contributed to this report.

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Defying a United Nations Security Council resolution to cease Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the municipality is moving ahead with plans to build thousands of new homes in a part of the city claimed by Palestinians as their future capital.

The controversial building plans come as Israels government has reacted furiously to the Security Councils 14-0 vote on Friday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructing the Israeli foreign ministry to scale back diplomatic contacts with Security Council members who voted in favor of the resolution.

Netanyahu has accused the Obama administration of orchestrating passage of the resolution, a charge the administration has denied. The U.S. had long vetoed resolutions condemning Israel but abstained, thereby letting the measure pass. The administration has argued that settlements undermine the two-state solution, which calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

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With the political fallout from the Security Council decision still simmering, Israel and the Palestinians are turning their attention to a conference on the Middle East the French government will host in Paris on Jan. 15. Scores of nations are invited, and Israel is bracing for the possibility of the conferences adopting additional precedent-setting declarations about a two-state solution being vital for Middle East peace.

Embarrassed by the resounding defeat in the U.N. and the decision by the U.S. administration not to exercise its veto power in the Security Council, Netanyahu has sought to project defiance and even retaliate in the face of international pressure. In addition to a series of diplomatic protests, the prime minister is under rising pressure to annex certain settlements in the West Bank and step up new settlement building.

On Wednesday, the Jerusalem municipal planning committee is expected to approve building permits for 618 housing units in neighborhoods in areas of the city conquered by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, according to an Israeli peace group that monitors building. While those areas are considered illegal settlements under Security Council Resolution 2334, Israeli government officials see them as neighborhoods in their undivided capital.

In addition to approving the building permits Wednesday, the planning committee is expected to advance plans for 2,600 housing units in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, and thousands more elsewhere in the near future, according to a municipal official.

Im not upset by the United Nations or by any other entity that tries to dictate to us what to do in Jerusalem, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Meir Turjeman, who oversees planning and construction in the city, wrote on his Facebook page. I hope that the government and new administration in the U.S. give us momentum to keep building and fill the shortfall created during the eight years of the Obama administration.

Ir Amim, an Israeli nonprofit group that seeks to promote Israeli-Palestinian compromise in the city, said theres been a noticeable increase in the number of planning approvals for housing in East Jerusalem since Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. election  a quadrupling compared to 10 months before the November vote.

Its pretty clear that its not accidental, said Betty Herschman, a group spokeswoman.

Obama administration pressure on Netanyahu over building in East Jerusalem prompted the Israeli prime minister to observe an undeclared construction slowdown in the city during part of the U.S. presidents tenure. Israeli officials are encouraged by Trump, who has promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move recognizing the city as Israels capital.

Turjeman also mentioned advancing plans for a neighborhood at Givat Hamatos, currently an open hillside. Advocates of the two-state solution worry such development could block the contiguity of a Palestinian state  but a decision of such strategic weight likely would require approval of the Israeli government.

Without East Jerusalem, there will be no Palestinian state, and therefore no two-state solution, said Xavier Abu Eid, a spokesman for the Palestine Liberation Organizations negotiating department. Thats what the Israeli government seeks.

By building in Gilo and Givat Hamatos, he added, youre talking about cutting off Bethlehem from Jerusalem, which is key to guaranteeing a viable Palestinian state.

Separately, according to the Associated Press, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday said the Security Council resolution proves the world rejects settlements.

Daniel Seidemann, a lawyer and an independent monitor of Jerusalem construction, said Netanyahu is likely to avoid a game-changing surge of building approvals in the West Bank in the waning days of the Obama administration before Obama leaves office because he fears it might provoke the U.S. to retaliate by endorsing new principles on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the U.N.

Netanyahu has done nothing provocative for the simple reason that he was convinced that Obama would go behind his back at the U.N., Seidemann said. But he added that nobody knows what life will look like after Trump takes office Jan. 20.

Mitnick is a special correspondent.

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Dec 27, 2016, 1:48pm ET

China approves local production for resurrected Karma

Owner Wanxiang Group has received permission to build a factory with an output capacity of 50,000 vehicles annually.

Karma Automotive owner Wanxiang Group has received permission to begin building cars in China.

A National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) notice spotted by Reuters confirms official approval for a planned factory in Hangzhou worth approximately $375 million USD.

When Fisker Automotive went bankrupt in 2013, Wanxiang stepped in to buy the design rights to the Karma hybrid and the automaker's manufacturing assets. The China-based owners rebranded the company to Karma Automotive and resurrected the Karma car as the Revero.

Karma Automotive has publicly highlighted its production plans at its Moreno Valley, California, factory with an expected output around 3,000 units each year, however the regulatory filings in China suggest the second plant closer to Wanxiang's home will be capable of churning out 50,000 vehicles annually.

The larger assembly plant may be focused on a different model in Karma's roadmap, known as the Atlantic, that shares the Revero's styling but is expected to carry a much lower price tag. Previous reports suggest the company expects the coupe to account for 80 percent of total factory output.

Karma Automotive has not yet announced a launch date for the Revero.
Dec 27, 2016, 11:05am ET

France builds first road paved with solar panels

The 0.6-mile stretch of solar road is said to have cost more than $5.2 million USD.

France has staked a claim as the first country to build an official roadway paved with solar panels.

Located in the village of Tourouvre-au-Perche in Normandy, the 0.6-mile 'Wattway' integrates 2,880 photovoltaic panels capable of producing up to 1,500 kWh per day in the summer. The construction company behind the project, Colas, suggests annual production will average 280 MWh.

Colas suggests 20 square meters of Wattway panels provide enough electricity to supply a single home, based on 1,000 sun hours per year and an average French household that does not use grid power for heating.

The road surface is composed of a layered composite that places the PV cell below a protective surface and a textured layer that provides a grippy surface for vehicle tires. The company claims the Wattway technology can be installed atop a traditional road, rather than requiring the existing structure to be completely reworked.

The technology is still not cheap; a Guardian report suggests the single lane of solar panels cost 5 million euros (~$5.2 million USD) to build.

Colas is already working on another pilot project in Georgia, starting with the state's Visitor Information Center in West Point.
Northampton County's district attorney says if the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem doesn't want to be a good corporate citizen, his office won't waste resources prosecuting cases against folks who steal money from the casino.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli wants the Sands Casino in Bethlehem to reconsider its stance on its host fee payment.

District Attorney John Morganelli put the casino on notice in a Dec. 27 letter to the Bethlehem casino's President Mark Juliano, whom he asked in a Dec. 20 phone letter to reconsider the casino's stance on its $10 million host fee.

Morganelli is upset by the Sands' decision to "wait and see" what Pennsylvania lawmakers do to address the state Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the host fee as unconstitutional. Casinos across the state have begun to make deals with their host communities to still pay the fee, but the Sands has declined to do the same.

"As perhaps the most successful casino in the state of Pennsylvania, it is disheartening to see that the Sands does not believe it has to be a good corporate citizen," Morganelli writes.

Sands Casino officials declined to comment on Morganelli's comments Tuesday.

The host fee was a promise made to Bethlehem and Northampton County when it was first pitched and the Sands should make good on that promise, he said. Since 2014, local law enforcement has been awarded $5.3 million in casino grants.

The district attorney's office "expends enormous resources" prosecuting crimes where the Sands Casino is the victim, Morganelli said. The casino is the county's top victim of bad check cases and the office also prosecutes scams on the casino floor, like sleight of hand crimes or the theft of casino chips.

"Through our efforts, thousands and thousands of dollars have been returned to the Sands Casino," Morganelli writes.

The Sands' "wait and see" approach on the host fee means the taxpayers of Northampton County will be footing the bill on criminal prosecutions without knowing if it will receive any money, he said.

If lawmakers don't act and the Sands does not volunteer to pay a host fee, "it will be difficult for this office to continue to expend precious resources to serve the needs of the Sands," Morganelli writes.

"I would not in good conscious be able to justify the use of my limited resources to help a profitable billion dollar corporation while the Sands maintains the position that they are an island onto themselves," Moragnelli said.

If this were to happen, Morganelli plans to exercise his prosecutorial discretion to ignore such cases and allow the Sands to pursue civil action against those that scam the casino with bad checks and the like.

Morganelli notes he hopes the matter is resolved by lawmakers or through a deal with the city. State lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to tackle a host fee fix before their November recess.

"It would not be in anyone's interest if scam artists and those who excel at 'sleight of hand' tactics believe they could have free reign at the Sands Casino," Morganelli said.

As the chief law enforcement officer in the county, Morganelli says he supported the casino because he thought any negative impacts would be offset by the host fee and other money paid to the county.

The casino came with real costs through crime on the gaming floor and around the casino as well as a spike in the money spent on translators for the casino's non-English speaking patrons, he said.

Bethlehem just passed a $74 million no tax increase budget that relies on it seeing all of its 2017 host fee, of which about $8.8 million is in jeopardy. City officials have expressed confidence that lawmakers will be able to solve the host fee before it starts impacting the city's cash flow.

If a new deal is not in place by July, the city plans to take out a roughly $4.3 million short-term loan, known as a Tax Revenue Anticipation Note, to carry it through to its next casino payment.

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
One of the two men rescued late Monday morning by Wilson Borough firefighters after a rollover wreck in the 1700 block of Butler Street had a .44-caliber revolver in his pocket, borough police report.

Jamil Kasim Henderson

Jamil Kasim Henderson, 25, of the 200 block of Church Street in Allentown, was released April 13 from Northampton County Prison after serving some of a 21- to 42-month prison sentence, the result of an April 2015 guilty plea to a felony charge of possession with intent to deliver drugs in Easton, according to borough police Chief Steven Parkansky and court records.

Henderson was picked up Aug. 22, 2014, with several other people in a wide-ranging drug sweep of nine city addresses. He received time served toward his sentence as he was behind bars from the time of his arrest in lieu of $75,000 bail, records show.

He was to be released Tuesday from St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill to face arraignment before District Judge Roy Manwaring II on two firearms violations, one of which pertains to a ban on felons possessing firearms and the other his lack of a license to carry a concealed weapon, Parkansky said.

Manwaring set bail at $50,000 and Henderson remained Wednesday morning in Northampton County Prison. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. Jan 6 in District Judge Richard Yetter III's Wilson court.

The Pennsylvania Parole Board will also put a detainer on him, with Tuesday's arrest a likely parole violation, Parkansky said.

The gun was found as Henderson was being treated at the scene, Parkansky said.

A second man in the crash was identified as Brandon Santana, 18, of the 100 block of West Nesquehoning Street in Easton, Parkansky said. Santana remained Tuesday afternoon in St. Luke's and faces no charges, Parkansky said.

The crash -- which happened just before noon and involved an eastbound Pontiac G6 spinning sideways off the 1700 block of Butler Street, hitting a low concrete barrier in District Judge Richard Yetter III's front parking lot and then flipping through the air and landing on its roof in the parking lot of Spanky's East -- is still under investigation, Parkansky said.

A third man -- wearing grey sweatpants and a black jacket -- ran west on Butler after getting out of the destroyed car, Parkansky said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Autopsies are planned for Wednesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township in hopes of determining if a 40-year-old woman killed her 1-year-old son before she took her own life, according to the York County Coroner's Office and a published report.

Sheri A. Shermeyer, of Shrewsbury Township, apparently suffocated John R. Shermeyer before shooting herself, Pennsylvania State Police told our sister website pennlive.com. The coroner's office provided the identifications.

State police made a welfare check and found mother and son dead, the coroner's office said in a news release.

Sheri Shermeyer's gunshot death is being investigated as a suicide and the toddler's probable asphyxiation death is being probed as a homicide, the coroner's office said. John Shermeyer turned 1 on Dec. 8, the coroner's office said.

The causes and manners of death are pending the outcome of the autopsies, the coroner's office said. More information could be released after the procedures are complete, the coroner's office said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A 20-year-old Lehigh County man was jailed Tuesday for allegedly scuffling with his father, who suffered a head injury, and threatening his father's girlfriend with a pocketknife.

Zachary Heffelfinger (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Zachary Heffelfinger, of the 3700 block of Freidens Road in Washington Township, allegedly drew the victims about 2 p.m. Friday to a home in the 4100 block of Independence Lane in Lehigh Township by claiming to have taken about 30 doses of the sedative clonazepam and wanting to die, court records say.

When the two arrived, Heffelfinger displayed the knife and told his father's girlfriend, "This is what is going to happen," according to Lehigh Township police.

"Please don't stab me," the girlfriend said, and Heffelfinger's father intervened, records say. In the ensuing scuffle, the father suffered a large cut and bruise to his head either by being hit or striking his head inadvertently, according to police.

Police said they recovered the knife from a trashcan at the Independence Lane property, identified as the home of Heffelfinger's grandparents.

Heffelfinger was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg for an evaluation following the domestic-abuse incident and was admitted, police said.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon before District Judge Robert Hawke on a felony count of aggravated assault; two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and misdemeanor terroristic threats; and summary harassment.

He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled Jan. 5 before Hawke.

If released on bail, Heffelfinger would need to refrain from criminal activity, avoid contact with the victims or witnesses, under a drug and alcohol evaluation, stay away from drugs and those associated with drugs, undergo a psychological evaluation and remain in Pennsylvania unless approved by Northampton County Pre-Trial Services.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Mansfield Township man is charged with stealing power tools from a trailer parked in a driveway in Washington Township, Morris County, police report.

A Stihl chainsaw and Dewalt Multi-tool kit valued at a total of $1,050 were taken on Dec. 14, Washington Township police said.

Detective Sgt. Brian Szymanski and Detective Cpl. Roger Garrison developed a suspect from the Internet and arranged a meeting to buy back the tools, police said.

Robert A. Bace, 18, of the Port Murray section of Mansfield, was arrested Dec. 22 and charged with criminal trespass and theft, police said. He was released pending a court date in Morris County Superior County, police said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
If Timahoe floods on New Years Day, Nicole Turner wont worryshell be able to swim her way out of danger.

Hopefully, though, that wont happen and all will turn out well for the villages annual charity walk.

Ace swimmer Nicole, from Portarlington, will launch the event, much to the delight of Johnny Dalton and his fellow organizers.

At 14, she was the youngest member of the Irish team at the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro during the summer, where she qualified for five finals.

She won the heart of the nation with her performances there and was unlucky not to medal. She first came to international prominence by capturing one bronze medal and two silver medals at European level.

From Rio to Timahoethats certainly a change of scene for Nicole. Shell start the walks at 1pm on the village green.

I feel honoured to have been asked to start off the sponsored walk, especially since it is in aid of Irish Wheelchair Association. IWA is my National Governing Body so I am more than happy to be involved. They has played a big part in my swimming journey, said Nicole, who added that she is looking forward to meeting all the walkers on the day.

There are two routes to choose from, a 6km route, and for seasoned walkers, a tougher Grade A 10km walk, both up through the Fossey hills with scenic vistas across the county.

Money raised through sponsorship will go to the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Fatima Invalid Fund. Cards are available from Johnny Dalton and Maura OBrien and donations can be made on the day.

Says Johnny: Its our 15th annual walk and we have raised a lot of money over the years. Were delighted to welcome Maura to join us. She does an awful lot of good work in generating funds to send people to Fatima.

Every 700 raised means that another invalid can go on pilgrimage.

Cash contributed to the Irish Wheelchair Association will benefit that organizations Portlaoise Centre, he explains.

Following the walks, the participants will partake of refreshments in the Community Hall, where Pat Dalton, Johnnys son, will be in charge of catering.

What better way to start the New Year than with a picturesque walk on Fossey Mountain? muses Johnny.
Improvements to the cyber security system have been made at Laois County Council, home to MyPay which controls millions of euros a month in salaries to every local authority.

Speaking in the wake of a near successful 4m cyber attack on Meath County Council by international thieves, deputy CEO Kieran Kehoe said that a recent review had resulted in stronger security measures.

We are as confident as one can be. Over the last few months, we did a strong review of our cyber security systems and we did amend some practices and systems. We are very conscious of the risk of such an attack, particularly on MyPay. Security is our top priority, both for us and for MyPay, said Mr Kehoe.

A new review was carried out this week after the Meath incident.

"We are satisfied that we have the necessary safeguards in place in Laois County Council. Our cyber security systems and processes are reviewed regularly," Mr Kehoe said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane had asked if there were any risk of a similar attack on Laois County Council, during their December meeting.

In light of Meath where 4m ended up in another bank account in Hong Kong, is there any reason to be concerned, is the security adequate enough? she asked.

The attack on Meath County Council took place over the October bank holiday, confirmed this month by that local authority.

Meath County Council was recently the target of a serious, attempted cyber enabled offence involving identity theft, it said.

It is understood that  4.3 million was stolen from the councils bank accounts in an identity theft. It was intercepted by the National Economic Crime Bureau and the funds were frozen in a bank in Hong Kong.

All local authorities were recommended to review their cyber security systems.

The councils MyPay section handles thousands of payments a month to staff and retired staff in almost all Irish local authorities, paying out almost 1bn since it started three years ago, with more pension payments to be added on in 2017. The centre on the top floor has 69 staff.
There was a positive seasonal pre-Christmas atmosphere at the launch of Communicate Ireland at The Pantry, Main Street, Portlaoise last week.

It was one for the early birds with the business-like launch timed for 8am to facilitate people heading to work, their shops or the school run. And it worked.

There was a steady turnout throughout the morning for the event billed as a chance to chat with Christmas cheer; mingling with mince pies; while putting the best foot forward for Laois next year.

Among the ideas to germinate were suggestions to re-organise a countywide and representative Laois Chamber of Commerce.

This would provide an important platform to promote the best the county has to offer and a voice for the Laois business sector.

It was also seen as something that would complement the newly revamped Laois Tourism Association and could work well with a revitalised Laois Association.

Another proposal floated was the revival of the Portlaoise Jazz Festival, which for years was such a big hit with the public and a big draw for visitors.

John Drennan, founding director of Communicate Ireland explained that the company was there to provide a wide range of PR and public affairs services to help individuals, businesses, companies, communities and State agencies make things happen and to get their message across, in what was often the minefield of the modern media landscape.

He said that while Communicate Ireland was a new public relations company, that between himself and his colleague John Whelan, they had a combined media experience spanning over 50 years.

He said they wanted to be a useful resource to the community and commercial sector.

John Whelan joked that he preferred if his counterpart had not reminded everyone of his age, but that they were there to provide a service in the community and to an area in which they both lived and were committed.

Laois has so much to offer. We have the best luxury hotel in the world in Ballyfin; the best music festival in Europe in Stradbally; the most beautiful scenic walks in Ireland in the Slieve Blooms; world class amenities like Emo Court which are free to the public; community events like the Durrow Scarecrow Festival which are second to none, but sometimes we are our own worse critics.

There is an amazing amount of good energy and great expertise available to us here in Laois, we just have to join the dots, pull together and learn how to make the most of it.

We should be singing our own praises more.

If we dont get up and do it, no one else will, said John Whelan, adding, Communicate Ireland is here to help, help make things happen and to get that message out there.
A small but vocal group of residents met at River Forest Hotel on December 19 to discuss the housing element of the new Leixlip area plan.

The proposed zoning is large, possibly 2,00o new houses by 2023.

A major concern for residents is the traffic implications.

The proposal is to deliver the plan via a phased programme of development that will include the timely provision of the necessary physical, social and economic infrastructure subject to a masterplan to be prepared for Kildare County Council.

There was a lot of anger that residents have only until January 5 to make a submission.

Many said they only found out about the plan the previous week.

Cllr Joe Neville said the plan could be voted upon in March.

Deputy Catherine Murphy said a Master Plan should consider if such large development was possible in this location.

She said the only power residents in Confey would have is their lobbying power.

One issue is Cope Bridge, controlled by temporary signals put up over a decade ago

She said the reference in the LAP to infrastructure being delivered in a timely way is difficult to believe given past history.

If zoned, Bord Pleanala would be deciding on applications and conditions.

Cllr Anthony Larkin said that anyone who travels on the rail line from Leixlip to Dublin know that there is plenty of land within Dublin.

When it came to building houses, Dublin was underperforming, he said.

We dont deny housing is needed but it has to be done in a good fashion.

The meeting was also told that St Catherines Park will have to be dug up again.

The question of building a road between the Leixlip roundabout, was raised.

An angry resident, Jarlath McNamara, got a round of applause, when he said politicians had messed up planning in the area. Leixlip had been promised a swimming pool 20 years ago and had not got one.

There were traffic problems in Confey, no parking at the rail station and a lack of facilities in the area, because ye dont do the job.

Cllr Bernard Caldwell said the town was dying and needed more people. There will be parking across Cope Bridge for the railway, he said. He also said the next plan would not happen until an Intel link road was built.
KILDARE County Council has changed arrangements for its staff on parking permits after it was criticised by a District Court judge.

KILDARE County Council has changed arrangements for its staff on parking permits after it was criticised by a District Court judge.

This week, a Council spokesperson confirmed to the Leinster Leader that the outcome of the decision by Judge Desmond Zaidan to dismiss charges brought by the Council against one of its own litter/traffic wardens, Noel Geoghegan, has led to a change of policy.

The case, highlighted in this weeks Leinster Leader, was heard at Kilcock District Court on February 18. The Council attempted to prosecute Mr Geoghegan for parking offences after he had been given a ticket while working for the Council on litter duties in Newbridge on May 28, 2013. Under current bye-laws, a traffic warden is exempt from pay parking while they are on duty for the council. However, Mr Geoghegan was working on anti-litter duties at the time of getting the ticket. Judge Zaidan said he was appalled by the way Mr Geoghegan had been treated.

Council spokesperson, Annette Aspell, said the outcome of the judgement is that a litter/traffic warden is now exempt from the parking bye-laws when carrying out his/her duties. The council fully accepts the decision in this case and will issue parking permits to a relatively small number of staff where such is deemed necessary.

At last Mondays monthly meeting of the Council (24 February), Deputy County Manager, Joe Boland, said of the decision to take the case: In hindsight, it should not have been brought to court but it does reinforce the integrity of the systems. He was speaking after Cllr. Suzanne Doyle called for an independent parking appeals panel.

A number of aspects of the pay parking system are being questioned.

Cllr. Michael Nolan said the case should never have gone to Court. He added: Im glad the judge saw common sense.

Following a call by Celbridge area councillors on 21 Februar, for a return to using the Councils own staff, as opposed to contractors, to implement parking bye laws, parking issues were raised by Cllr. Suzanne Doyle at the 24 February meeting. She called for an independent appeals panel.

Mr. Boland said the system was being operated in a fair manner and there was no financial incentive for parking contractors to give tickets.

Cllr. Frank ORourke said the mechanism of enforcement needs to be looked at.

The issues raised will be considered by the Council.
A TEENAGER who smashed windows and threatened staff at Coovagh House has successfully appealed the severity of the sentence imposed on him.

The 17-year-old, who cant be named for legal reasons, received sentences totalling nine months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty several charges relating to a number of offences.

State solicitor Michael Murray said he was opposing the appeal as he did not believe it was lenient.

The youth, he said, was being detained at Coovagh House at the time on foot of a High Court order.

Limerick Circuit Court was told the teenager, who is originally from Dublin caused thousands of euro worth of damage and on two separate occasions threatened to stab staff with shards of broken glass.

A solicitor representing Tusla said the defendant, who has absconded on five occasions is a drug user and refused to engage with the Child and Family Agency.

David McHugh BL, said his client who is originally from Dublin had acted out as he did not wish to be detained in Limerick

The crux (of the disagreement) was that he did not believe a suitable situation had been achieved which he was comfortable with, he said.

While commenting that the sentence imposed in the childrens court seemed lengthy, Judge ODonnell said the context was very important.

He agreed to reduce the overall sentence from nine months detention to six months
CLOSURE  an exhibition of art by students at Scoil Carmel, which closed this year  will open in the city later this week.

The exhibition by some of the students who attended the OConnell Avenue school between 1982-2016, along with photography by its former art teacher Tom Shortt, will be unveiled in the Limerick School of Art and Design gallery on Clare Street from December 29.

For more than 30 years, Mr Shortt, a former photographer with the now defunct Sunday Tribune and a brother of the comedian and actor Pat Shortt, has collected and preserved examples of the work produced by students in his art classes.

Following the closure of the school this June, he has now organised an exhibition of the work, aptly titled Closure, looking back at hundreds of works of art produced by students aged between 12 and 18.

Maria Finucane, head of the art and design teacher education programme at LSAD, said that this provocative exhibition is based on the lived experiences and from the perspective of young women of different ages backgrounds and ethnicities.

The work, she said, reflects the conviction and vision of the young artists themselves and how they were encouraged to tackle issues that were real to them.

Mr Shortt said that the school had to contend with many forces such as the increased suburbanisation of Limerick.

Work featured in the exhibition produced by students in the 1980s suggests a less complex time, he believes, in contrast to the social media age.

Included in the exhibition is a fascinating series of posters designed by students in the late 1980s as part of the campaign to free the Birmingham Six.

Students created art expressing concern at the war in Iraq, while many reflected youthful preoccupations with fashion, music, skateboarding and graffiti, he said. Ultimately, the tragedy of the school closure, he believes, is that Scoil Carmel made a positive contribution to integration in a socially divided city educating girls from every social strata.

It will be opened by the former Minister and Labour deputy Jan OSullivan at 6pm on 29 December, running until January 12.
CHILDREN in Nicker National School had an experience of a lifetime when they delved into the past for a new history book.

Thirty boys and girls contributed to Across an Open Field, revealing unique accounts and personal insights into the events of 1912 to 1922. It is the first Irish history book written and illustrated by children.

Over 300 children from 10 primary schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland investigated global and national happenings, local events and family stories in the time periods. The children became action researchers within their own communities during a two-year project led by Kids Own Publishing Partnership and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund.

Children in the Pallasgreen school were supported in their research by teacher Siobhan English, coincidentally the chairperson of Pallasgreen/Templebraden Historical Society; principal Karen Franklin; writer Mary Branley and artist Ann Donnelly.

They focused their investigations on local stories and family histories from the Titanic and World War I to the Easter Rising and War of Independence.

The children learned about Thomas and Hannah O Brien, farmers from Pallasgreen, who were third class passengers on the Titanic. Thomas ensured that Hannah, who was pregnant, got into a lifeboat and she made it to New York where their daughter was born.

Patrick Bailey, fourth class pupil, was excited to learn that his great grandfather Paddy Ryan from Pallasgreen not only fought in World War I but was an Olympic champion hammer-thrower, who held the world record for 25 years.

Three of the children discovered they had relatives who were involved in the Dromkeen Ambush during the War of Independence including the official commander of the IRAs Mid-Limerick Flying Column, Dick OConnell, a great granduncle of Dennis OConnell, fifth class.

Caoimhe Long, fourth class, said Margaret Gould was her great grandmother and was a carrier of messages in the War of Independence. She was in Cumann na mBan and married a man called William Long. They had seven children, all boys. Tommy was the oldest and he was my grandfather. She died aged 93 and was given a 21-gun salute at her funeral and her coffin was draped with the Irish flag, said Caoimhe.

Orla Kenny, director of Kids Own, said she hopes Across an Open Field inspires children everywhere to have a deeper connection with our history and our culture. The book is available from kidsown.ie for 12 and 100% of proceeds will support children's participation in the arts.
THE BODY of the tragic girl, who died on a flight that was diverted to Shannon Airport on Christmas Eve, is due to be brought to Limerick within the next day, following a post-mortem examination in Dublin.

The 10-year-old child, who was a Canadian citizen, was traveling with her three sisters on board an Air Canada flight AC-868, from Toronto to Heathrow, when the tragedy occurred.

After being removed to University Hospital Limerick, the body was taken to Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, in Crumlin for a post-mortem examination. McMahon's Funeral Home, Ardnacrusha, is preparing to accept her remains on Tuesday evening or Wednesday, it is understood.

The Limerick Leader also understands that the childs mother is traveling from Canada to Limerick this week. The sisters have been cared for at a Limerick city hotel.

According to news reports, the plane was just 90 minutes from landing when the crew on board found the 10-year-old unresponsive.

An ambulance and advanced paramedic unit from Ennis were sent to the airport, following its diversion. Two units of the Shannon Fire Service were also requested to provide additional personnel to assist. The airports emergency first responders were also waiting at the terminal for the aircraft when it landed at 7.40pm.

National Ambulance Service paramedics quickly boarded the aircraft and began efforts to resuscitate the gravely ill child.

Despite best efforts made by the paramedics in the aircraft, the child was pronounced dead at the scene, and was then removed to University Hospital Limerick for examination.
Dec 27, 2016, 9 AM

One of two used examples of the 1874 $1 green and black on green paper proprietary revenue stamp that will be offered during the Jan. 13-15 Harmer-Schau auction at Orcoexpo 2017. Only seven used examples have been recorded.

The Jan. 13-15 Harmer-Schau auction at Orcoexpo 2017 in Fullerton, Calif., offers United States and worldwide stamps, covers, and collections. Among the U.S. single lots is this used pair of the imperforate 1908 5 blue Abraham Lincoln stamp, described as

The upcoming Harmer-Schau auction will also offer this mint example of the 1962 4 Canal Zone Thatcher Ferry Bridge color-missing error.

By Michael Baadke

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries of Petaluma, Calif., will hold a philatelic auction in three sessions during the 42nd annual Orcoexpo in Fullerton, Calif., near Anaheim.

The show and the auction are taking place Jan. 13-15 at the Hotel Fullerton and Conference Center at 1500 S. Raymond Drive.

The Friday auction session begins with a selection of United States coins, followed by hundreds of individual worldwide lots, including Great Britain and British Commonwealth, Germany and German Empire, China and other Asia, and more.

United States single lots will be offered Saturday, along with a back-of-the-book selection that includes postal stationery essays and proofs, stamped envelopes and postal cards, revenue stamps, duck stamp plate blocks, and test stamps.

A large selection of U.S. and worldwide stamp and postal history collections will be auctioned during the Sunday session.

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A highlight among the Great Britain offerings is an unused 1885 1 brown-lilac Queen Victoria Inland Revenue Official stamp with Crowns watermark (Scott O10), without gum. The scarce stamp is offered with an opening bid of $11,500 and an estimate of $12,000 to $13,000, against a Scott catalog value of $80,000.

A nice range of higher denomination stamps from the 1893 Columbian commemorative series is offered among the U.S. single lots, including a $5 black (Scott 245) with full original gum and very nice centering.

The 20th-century stamps include a rare used pair of the imperforate 1908 5 blue Abraham Lincoln (Scott 315) struck with a wavy line machine cancel.

The auction description notes that only 29 sheets of 400 of the 5 imperforate were issued, according to the findings of researcher and author Max G. Johl.

Most were sent to Indianapolis and the majority was used by manufacturers of private coils, Harmer-Schau explains. Some unused were no doubt kept by collectors, 825 copies were distributed to members of the Detroit Philatelic Society. It is possible that most of the used copies originate from this supply, extremely rare in used condition.

The Scott catalog value for the used imperf pair is $11,500. This example carries an opening bid of $3,750 and an estimate of $5,000 to $6,000. Formerly in the collections of Hillmer and Grace, the pair is accompanied by a 1987 certificate from the Philatelic Foundation.

The auction includes a selection of philatelic errors and varieties, including a very fine never-hinged example of the so-called Yellow Hat stamp: the 1998 H-rate stamp showing Uncle Sams hat against a yellow background, originally intended to fulfill a new postcard rate, but never officially issued.

Still, some 234 examples of the Yellow Hat stamps have turned up over the course of nearly two decades, according to Linns census of the issue, with 105 in mint condition.

Though the stamp is not Scott-listed, it is pictured and described in a note in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers, and valued at $3,000 unused and $2,000 used.

Harmer-Schau offers this mint stamp with a 2016 certificate from Professional Stamp Experts. It carries an opening bid of $950 and an estimate of $1,000 to $1,200.

The back-of-the-book offerings include two used examples of United States Scott RB9b, the 1874 $1 green and black on green paper proprietary revenue stamp. The auction firm notes that Larry Lyons lists just seven used examples in his census.

One of the stamps is struck with a handstamp cancel, and the other has both a handstamp and a manuscript date cancel.

The Scott value for the stamp is $12,500 (listed in italics, to denote an item that can be difficult to value accurately). Harmer-Schau has a $1,900 opening bid and $2,500 to $3,000 estimate for each stamp.

Also on offer is a rare and dramatic mint-condition error from the Canal Zone: the 1962 4 black and silver Thatcher Ferry Bridge and Map postage stamp with the silver ink, which prints the entire length of the bridge across the stamp design, completely absent (Scott 157a).

The Scott U.S. Specialized catalog notes just 50 stamps known with this color-missing error, and values the stamp at $8,000 in mint never-hinged condition.

The stamp is offered in the Harmer-Schau auction with an opening bid of $3,750 and an estimate of $5,000 to $6,000.

Harmer-Schau offers online bidding options through its website, and live bidding via Redpoint Live Bidding.

For more information about this Orcoexpo 2017 auction, visit online, or contact Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries Inc., 1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite B, Petaluma, CA 94954.
In 2016 we got "as close to Jurassic Park as we ever have," said paleontologist Scott Persons of the University of Alberta. Many other dinosaur experts agreed it was an incredible year for dino discoveries. Here's a look back at some of the most noteworthy finds.

New Year, New Dinosaurs

Illustration of the dinosaur Spiclypeus shipporum. (Image credit: Mike Skrepnick)

The year got off to a strong start with the announcement of several newly found dinosaur species, such as Dracoraptor hanigani ("Dragon Robber"), Eotrachodon orientalis ("Dawn Rough Tooth from the East"), and Spiclypeus shipporum ("Spiked Shield").

Dragon Robber, also nicknamed Draco, was found within the rocks of a cliff in south Wales. It is believed to be the earliest known Jurassic dinosaur from the U.K.

David Martill of the University of Portsmouth and his team wrote that "the remains of dinosaurs in Wales are exceedingly rare." Also rare was the dino's food, since Draco enjoyed sinking its teeth into raw flesh. Draco was small for a carnivorous dinosaur, measuring just over two feet tall and 6.5 feet wide.

Dawn Rough Tooth from the East is the most complete, primitive duck-billed dinosaur ever to be discovered in the eastern United States. Dating to 83 million years ago, this herbivorous dino had sturdy teeth that could grind up even the toughest of plant materials. Called "the cows of the Cretaceous" by researcher Gregory Erickson of Florida State University, these dinosaurs once lived in what is now Montgomery County, Alabama.

Spiked Shield, as its name suggests, sported a number of bony spikes, not to mention horns. It roamed what is now Montana between 85 and 66 million years ago. Paleontologists suspect that more new dinosaur species could be found in this part of western North America in future.

Dancing Dinosaurs

An artist's depiction of what dinosaur mating dances may have looked like. (Image credit: Xing Lida and Yujiang Han)

Fossilized dinosaur scrape marks (opens in new tab) in 100-million-year-old Dakota sandstone of western Colorado reveal that dinosaurs engaged in mating displays that were similar to those of today's birds. The dancing dinos were likely two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods, according to research project leader Martin Lockley and his team.

"They were evidently very active and perhaps driven into frenzies by the excitement of the breeding season," Lockley of the University of Colorado Denver told Seeker. "This is typical of some bird species. The extensive scrape evidence suggests much high energy activity. If small birds get excited when breeding, imagine what big theropods might have done!"

Dino-Era Voice Box

Reconstruction of the bird Vegavis iaai. (Image credit: Gabriel Lio, CONICET)

A voice box dating to the late Dinosaur Age (opens in new tab) 68 million years ago suggests what some animal vocalizations were like then. The organ, nicknamed the "squawk box" by scientist Julia Clarke and her team, belonged to the prehistoric bird Vegavis iaai. Clarke of the University of Texas at Austin thinks that the bird could honk loudly, similar to today's ducks and geese. She and her team also shared ideas on what non-bird dinosaurs might have sounded like.

"We propose that most dinosaurs may have lacked a syrinx," Clarke told Seeker. "This does not mean that they were silent. Crocodiles produce low frequency sounds with a closed mouth. Most dinosaurs could have used the crocodile approach with a larynx (voice box) and made these kinds of sounds."

Pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex

Rendering of pregnant T. rex. (Image credit: Mark Hallett)

A pregnant T. rex (opens in new tab) was one of the breakthrough discoveries of 2016. Her extraordinary remains, unearthed in Montana, shed light on the evolution of egg-laying as well as on gender differences between this and other meat-eating dinosaur species. For example, Lindsay Zanno of North Carolina State University told Seeker that we now know extinct dinos inherited egg laying from their ancestors, just as birds inherited this reproductive strategy from their dinosaur forbearers.

The unfortunate T. rex mom-to-be was between 16 to 20 years of age when she died of as-of-yet unknown causes. We haven't heard the last about her, since future studies on her well-preserved remains are in the works.

Precocious Dino Babies

Recreation of a baby titanosaur next to a woman. (Image credit: R. Martin and K. Curry Rogers)

Some of the world's largest dinosaurs gave birth to dog-sized babies, according to research describing the remains of a baby titanosaur. Adults of this same species could grow to lengths of 49 feet, making the parent-to-baby size comparison all the more startling. The titanosaur tot was precocious, such that it required no parental care at birth.

"This tiny titanosaur lived around 67 million years ago, at the very end of the age of dinosaurs in the Latest Cretaceous," vertebrate paleontologist Kristina Curry Rogers of Macalester College informed Seeker. "At the time it died it died it was just a few weeks old, and was about the size of a golden retriever, though with a long, thin neck and a tiny skull, and a long slender tail."

Tiny Arms Were All the Rage

Two Gualicho shinyae attack a smaller dinosaur. (Image credit: Jorge Gonzalez, Pablo Lara)

A new dino with tiny T.rex-like arms was announced in 2016. Named Gualicho shinyae, it had something else in common with T. rex: a love of meat. Akiko Shinya, The Field Museum's chief fossil preparator, found the dinosaur's remains during an expedition in northern Patagonia. It's hoped that future studies on this dinosaur and others could show how shortened forelimbs evolved.

"We found Gualicho at the very end of the expedition. Pete (colleague Peter Makovicky) joked, 'It's the last day, you'd better find something good!' And then I almost immediately was like, 'Pete, I found something.' I could tell right away that it was good," Shinya recalled about the find.

Dinosaur Brain Fossil Discovered

A 133 million-year-old fossilized dinosaur brain, discovered in Sussex, England. (Image credit: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology)

One of the most impressive dinosaur finds, not just for 2016 but for all time, was the discovery of the first known fossilized dino brain tissue. A paper documenting the fossil reports that it contains some of the meninges that surrounded the dinosaur's brain, as well as strands of collagen and blood vessels. Structures that could represent tissues from the brain cortexits outer layer of neural tissueinterwoven with delicate capillaries, also appear to be present.

Co-author Alex Liu of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences told Seeker, "The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing."

Bloody Feathered Dinosaur Tail Preserved in Amber

Close-up of the feathered dinosaur tail in amber, with associated inclusions, such as insects. (Image credit: Royal Saskatchewan Museum RSM/ R.C. McKellar)

For years to come, dinosaur enthusiasts will be talking about a bloody feathered dino tail found in amber. The extraordinary discovery marks the first time that dinosaur skeletal material has been identified in fossilized tree resin. This form of preservation makes for great viewing, since practically every detail of the tail is evident.

Scott Persons of the University of Alberta, who co-authored a paper on the specimen, told Seeker: "Per pound, it is the most incredible fossil I have ever seen." Co-author Ryan McKellar added, "Previous finds in amber have included isolated feathers that may have belonged to dinosaurs, but without an identifiable part of the body included, their source has remained open to debate."

They and their colleagues believe that the tail, which retains some of the original iron from dinosaur blood, belonged to a young carnivore that lived 99 million years ago. Insects were trapped with the tail, and can also be seen in the amber.

Moment of Death Frozen in Time

Tongtianlong limosus skeleton. (Image credit: Junchang Lu)

The well-preserved remains of a dinosaur nicknamed "Mud Dragon" likely freeze in time the death pose of the animal after its agonizing final breaths. The new species, Tongtianlong limosus, was discovered lying in southern China rock that formed from what was once hardened mud.

"It is one of the most beautiful, but saddest fossils I've ever seen," Stephen Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh, who co-authored a paper (opens in new tab) on the dinosaur, told Seeker. He added that if the dinosaur had not died stuck in mud "we wouldn't have this gorgeous fossil."

Dramatic Finale

Artist's concept of a planetary collision. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

The Chicxulub asteroid that slammed into Earth 66 million years ago could have immediately burnt some dinosaurs and other animals to a crisp, suggests a paper (opens in new tab) published in 2016. The impact occurred at the worst possible spot: an oil-rich location.

"The stratospheric soot was ejected from the oil-rich area by the asteroid impact and was spread globally," co-author Kunio Kaiho of Tohoku University informed Seeker.

As for the dinosaurs that were not immediately killed by the asteroid, drastic climate change following the asteroid strike would have led to loss of soil moisture and vegetation in many areas, Kaiho and his team believe. He said that plant-eating dinosaurs would have consumed the ever-decreasing available plants, resulting in the eventual disappearance of such food, "similar to overgrazing leading to desertification today."

Originally published on Seeker.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the conferemce (Photo: VNA)



Vinh Phuc should strive for 15,000 enterprises by 2020, doubling the current figure, the PM stressed during the provinces investment promotion conference on December 27th.

He urged the locality to invest more in tourism and services as the way to maintain a good living environment for locals.

The Government leader suggested that Vinh Phuc focus on designing good planning and strategies with special attention given to environmental protection, thus becoming a province that is worth living.

He lauded the speedy development of Vinh Phuc as well as its high budget collection that amounted to VND31 trillion in 2016, only after Hanoi. Vinh Phuc is among the top four localities nationwide in terms of the investment environment, a far cry from its 43rd position in 2012, he noted.

He attributed it to the provinces sound settlement of infrastructure, human resource and constitutional issues, which are the three obstacles hindering economic growth in Vietnam.

He also asked Vinh Phuc to continue its comprehensive reform to win investors confidence and attract high quality human resources.

Vinh Phuc has risen from an agriculture-based locality to a huge industrial production, automobile and motorbike making centre of the northern region and the whole country, with a modern technical infrastructure system.

Average economic growth of the province reached 17.24 percent annually, while budget collection rose to VND24 trillion in 2015 from only VND100 billion in 1997.

Vinh Phuc has paid much attention to improving the investment and business environment with specific measures to support enterprises. Along with an online portal facilitating dialogues between enterprises and the administration, the province has maintained a hotline to receive feedback from the business community, while strengthening the administrative reform.

So far, the province has attracted 856 investment projects, including 227 FDI projects, worth USD3.4 billion and 629 domestic-funded ones with a total capital of VND99.2 trillion.

Vinh Phuc has prioritised assisting businesses in labour supply and waste treatment.

With many beautiful natural landscapes, including Tam Dao National Park, Ban Long waterfall and Dai Lai lake, Vinh Phuc also boasts high potential for tourism development.

The province has set to basically complete its urban infrastructure framework in 2020 to become an industrial and service hub of the region and the country.

During the conference, investors and economists highly evaluated the future growth potential of Vinh Phuc, while lauding the local governments efforts in administrative reform and supports in various fields./.
The cheetah, the world's fastest land animal, is headed toward extinction, largely due to unprecedented habitat loss, scientists announced in a new study.

The research revealed that only 7,100 cheetahs remain globally and that the speedy animal has lost 91 percent of its historic habitat range. Due to human development, cheetahs' habitat decreased from a historical range totaling about 13 million square miles (33,056,767 square kilometers) before 1900, to now only covering about 280,000 square miles (724,514 square km), according to the researchers.

In Zimbabwe, where the cheetah distribution is well-documented, the population has plummeted from 1,200 individuals in 2000 to about 170 individuals in 2016, according to the study. Because of these dramatic losses, the study's authors are urging scientists to change the cheetah's conservation status from "vulnerable" (which means the animal is likely to become endangered unless threats improve) to "endangered" (which means the animal is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, which tracks at-risk species.

Cheetahs are particularly sensitive to habitat loss because of their large space requirements, said lead study author Sarah Durant, a senior researcher with the Zoological Society of London and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who focuses on the conservation of cheetahs and African wild dogs. [Cat Album: The Life of a Cheetah]

"Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked," Durant said in a statement from the WCS. "Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah[s], coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought."

The threats cheetahs face are largely caused by humans. These threats include overhunting by people, as well as habitat loss, the exotic-pet trade and illegal trafficking of cheetah parts, representatives with the WCS said in a statement.

Although there are some conservation measures in place for cheetahs, such as protected areas, these cats are one of the world's most wide-ranging carnivores, and 77 percent of their habitat falls outside protected areas, according to the study. These geographical complications make the cheetah difficult to protect, and so scientists are looking for a more holistic conservation approach.

"The takeaway from this pinnacle study is that securing protected areas alone is not enough," said study co-author Kim Young-Overton, director of the Cheetah Program for Panthera, a conservation organization focused on wild cat species. "We must think bigger, conserving across the mosaic of protected and unprotected landscapes that these far-ranging cats inhabit, if we are to avert the otherwise certain loss of the cheetah forever."

The study's authors are calling for the cheetah's status to be changed to "endangered" because this listing can lead to greater international conservation support, according to the WCS statement. For example, an IUCN listing of "endangered" increases recognition for the animal, as the Red List updates can make news around the world.

The study was detailed in a paper published online Dec. 26 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Original article on Live Science.
Accordingly, the city will organize artistic performance before My Dinh National Stadium, the count-down program at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc and August Revolution squares, program to welcome spring 2017 before Thong Nhat Park, and other programs to welcome the New Year.

Photo for illustration (Photo by The Duong)

To celebrate the 87th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, there will be exhibitions to introduce the history and tradition of the Party. Historical, revolutionary and cultural relics will be open to tourists.Art performances will take place at public places in localities to serve people./.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Western Mexico's plague of violence continued on Christmas Day with the discovery of six decapitated heads in one state and the slaying of seven people in another.

The Michoacan state prosecutor's office said the six heads were found in Jiquilpan, a municipality near the state of Jalisco in a region that has been a battleground between competing drug gangs in recent years. In a brief statement, it said the six men had not yet been identified and their bodies had not been found.
In advance of the eagerly anticipated launch of the SKODA KODIAQ to the Irish market in March of next year, SKODA Ireland have taken a fleet of KODIAQs on the first test drives in the form of a road trip across Europe from Mallorca to Rosslare via the Pyrenees.

The KODIAQ will be the first large 7-seat SUV offered by SKODA and will transfer the brand's new design language into the SUV segment.

Based on the impressive VisionS concept shown at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the new KODIAQ offers an impressive combination of powerful design, generous space, great functionality, state-of-the art assistance systems and innovative connectivity solutions.

The SKODA KODIAQ will present itself with all of the brands strengths: a design that is full of character, extraordinary interior space, practical intelligence and innovative technology. The KODIAQ offers a spacious interior and possesses the largest boot within its class with a volume of up to 2,065 litres.

Based on renowned MQB platform, the KODIAQ stretches 4.70 metres in length and boasts the largest wheel base in its class which ensures optimal usage of the interior cabin space. The KODIAQ also offers over thirty simply clever features that offer practical and convenient assistance in everyday life, such as split folding and length adjustable rear seats as standard.

Padraig Campbell of Mullingar Autos Skoda commented: This is a very exciting time for the SKODA as we delve into our extensive SUV offensive.

Before the KODIAQ has even landed on Irish shores we have seen unprecedented demand for this car, which is no surprise given the remarkable balance between style and practicality on offer.
The outstanding achievement award on the day went to Ger Flood who came home from Australia to take part 26 years after he organised the first run! Celine O'Rourke is pictured presenting Ger with his award.



Organiser Michael Flood extended thanks to all participants who took time out of their Christmas Day to take part and help raise much needed funds for Longford MS.



The winner again this year was John Mulvihill in a time of 41 minutes 9 seconds. He was very closely followed by the first lady Michelle McGee. Third place was Declan Newman. The second lady was Adrianna Melia. The third lady was Therese Hanley.



The first under sixteen boys was a joint finish with Kian Gilmore and Cronin Flood. The first under sixteen girls was also a joint finish with Caoilinn Flood and Alanna Flood. Most sponsorship was collected by Joe Ginty. The outstanding achievement award, as mentioned earlier, went to Ger Flood.

Michael Flood remarked, Many thanks to all who helped out on the day and to Peter Hanley Motors for sponsoring the t-shirts and to all who helped out at the start of the run and with refreshments during and after.



He concluded, If anyone has any outstanding sponsorship please drop it in as soon as possible. Wishing everyone all the best for the rest of the Christmas and for 2017!



* Please note that photographs from the 26th annual Longford MS Christmas Day Run will be published in the print edition of the Longford Leader, dated January 6, 2017, which will be in shops on Wednesday, January 4.
On the second anniversary of the publication of Irelands first National Dementia Strategy, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has serious concerns at the pace of the roll-out of 500 promised intensive home care packages as people continue to experience hardship accessing adequate home supports.

The ASI is calling for a definitive statement from the Health Service Executive as to the viability of rolling out all 500 promised Intensive Homecare Packages for people with dementia, promised under the National Dementia Strategy amid this ongoing climate of uncertainty.

As of 31st October, just some 138 packages had been delivered out of a promised 500 despite an estimated 55,000 people living with dementia, 63pc of whom live in the community.

It is just unacceptable that two years on since from the publication of the NDS just 138 people have received these vital supports.

We are facing into a predicted trebling in the number of people set to develop dementia in the next 30 years, thats one in ten people over the age of 65 set to develop the condition, alongside a concurrent shrinking in the number of children in families meaning there are fewer siblings to support elderly parents, and increased globalisation meaning they are less likely to be living nearby anyway.

The formal care system is going to have to adapt to meet this need.

We would now call for a definitive statement and timeline from the HSE at this point as to when the remaining packages will be delivered.

500 packages is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of actual need and meanwhile, continued cuts to home help and home care packages means people with dementia continue to be channelled toward long-term, institutional care when many wish to stay in their own homes.

This is directly in opposition to Government policy which is to support people to live at home as long as possible.

Appropriate home care should be provided as a choice to help keep people well in the community and out of hospital and long-term residential care.

It is also vital in supporting family carers, who provide the vast majority of home-based care for people with dementia, she concluded.

Some of the facts are:

There are approximately 55,000 people living with dementia in Ireland. This number is expected to increase significantly in the coming years; rising to 68,216 people by 2021 and to 132,000 people by 2041.

The majority of people with dementia (63%) live at home in the community. Most people living with dementia are cared for by a family member.

The overall cost of dementia care in Ireland is just over 1.69 billion per annum; 48% of this is attributable to family care; 43% is accounted for by residential care; formal health and social care services contribute only 9% to the total cost.

Tina Leonard

Head of Advocacy and Public Affairs with The Alzheimer Society of Ireland
The students of Lanesboro Community College have joined in on the Christmas festivities in the Shannonside town this year by working with the new Ballyleague Christmas lights committee to deliver an impressive new nativity crib for the heart of the Roscommon village.

The hard-working students at the school worked with their woodwork teacher Brian Concannon to help build the new crib - which was unveiled to all at the Strokestown road junction in the village this week and will now form part of a new look Christmas lights array of features in the area this year.

"We are indebted to the students, Brian Concannon, Michael Hanley, Sonny Wallace, Pat Kelly and all those who have helped us in any way," Noel Moran, chairman of the local Christmas lights committee said this week, "the new crib has already attracted very favorable comments and the students did a really superb job for us."

ALL LIT UP FOR CHRISTMAS.......the scene in Ballyleague Village where

a new nativity crib and eco-friendly Christmas tree structure has been

put in place for 2016 and future years.

The nativity crib is being put in place alongside the Ballyleague's new 'green' Christmas tree - a special eco friendly initiative that has seen the people of the village, that normally hosted six felled native Christmas firs, turn instead to a combination of erecting solar-powered Christmas lights on up to 14 growing trees in the village and putting in a new metal structure 'tree' frame to host the lights at the village corner.

"We have decided to celebrate the festive season by going a bit easier on our own environment" said Gerry Trimble , vice chairman of the local tidy towns committee and treasurer of the Ballyleague Christmas lights committee, "by using the existing trees growing around the village we have not had to cut down any this year and the new eco-friendly metal framed structure will not only host the Christmas lights , we hope to use it to celebrate St. Patrick's day, Easter and an array of regular tourism events in the community all year around."

VOLUNTARY TEAMS AT WORK......the scene in Ballyleague last weekend as local

volunteers put a new Christmas tree frame in place.



Ballyleague Christmas lights wish to thank all those who supported their recent church gate collection at the church of the Holy Rosary and would like to thank the team of volunteers who helped put the lights and other features in place this year. Special thanks to Vinny McGowan, Sean Moran, John Loughlin, Denis Dunne, Micheal Farrell, Mike Sorohan, Lee Barrett, Ciaran Mullooly and anyone else who helped in any way. The committee appreciate the ongoing support of Roscommon Municipal Authority for this community project.

Donations for the new Christmas lights structures in Ballyleague would be gratefully appreciated. To donate please contact Chairman Noel Moran at 086 2936180 or Gerry Trimble at 087 6474832.

SOLAR POWERED......one of the existing trees growing in Ballyleague which is

hosting Christmas lights this year.
Tech & Science, School & Education, Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control will be offering specialized virtual training exercises to fire officers across the state.

Albany, NY - December 22, 2016 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control will be offering specialized virtual training exercises to fire officers across the state beginning in January. The course will teach fire officers  crew leaders in charge of teams of firefighters that are responding to an emergency situation  how to make split second decisions in a virtual environment, safely extinguish fires, safeguard property and save lives.



In every corner of New York, our brave firefighters put their safety at risk day in and day out to protect their neighbors and their communities, said Governor Cuomo. This course will give these first responders, the training, the knowledge and the experience needed to effectively act in emergency situations where every second counts. This is one more step toward a safer and more secure New York for all.





Pictured is a training exercise. Photo courtesy of Governor Cuomo's Press Office.

The 12-hour Tactical Fireground Simulations Course will be held at the states Academy of Fire Science in Montour Falls, located in Schuyler County as well as in different regions throughout the state. Fire officers will undertake actual live scenario-based fire training by undergoing a hands-on interactive experience. This will be in a setting controlled by instructors who will be teaching correct incident command strategy and tactics.



Beginning next month, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control will begin contacting fire departments across the state to offer this new training as an extension to the current training available to newly positioned fire officers -- as well as those veterans needing to maintain their skills. Fire Officers and fire departments interested in this program should contact their county fire coordinator for scheduling information.



The complete Academy of Fire Science training calendar is available here. Photos of the training exercises are available here.





Pictured is another training exercise. Photo courtesy of Governor Cuomo's Press Office.

This course helps enhance the existing firefighter and fire officer training offered at the Academy of Fire Science, and it uses innovative gaming technology to reinforce previously learned theories and allows students to practice in the command role, said John P. Melville, Commissioner, New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. This is a great example of using technology to improve the way in which we deliver training to students.



We designed this course to help fire officers and incident commanders improve their fire scene decisions to make them more effective and efficient at an emergency, said Bryant Stevens, State Fire Administrator. Better decisions during a crisis help reduce firefighter injuries and fatalities. The course was well-received by students and we will use their feedback to improve the experience for future groups.



Recently, twenty volunteer and career fire officers from across the state, piloted this new computer simulations training that allows them to assess realistic scenarios as an incident commander at a fire emergency scene. As prerequisites, each fire officer had previously completed a Firefighter 1 or equivalent course, as well as various Incident Command System courses.



Following a review of the concepts of proper managerial procedures during an incident, fire officers who would be in a leadership capacity during an actual event practiced their incident command decision-making skills in a series of computer simulations using the latest in gaming technology. Each of the realistic computer-based scenarios reacted to the officers decisions and demonstrated the positive or negative results of their decision and how it affected a virtual fire. Course instructors also conducted a post-incident analysis after each scenario to help students understand how to apply best-practices to a fire scene.



About the New York State Frederick L. Warder Academy of Fire Science

Operated by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Service's Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Academy of Fire Science provides training to over 60,000 emergency services personnel annually both in regionally delivered programs and at the Academy. The general fire service training areas include fire suppression, technical rescue, fire equipment maintenance, incident command, fire instructor development, fire officer development, firefighter health and safety, dispatcher training, emergency medical technician (EMT), EMT refresher, and EMT pilot core material training. The Fire Academy also offers National Certification testing for Firefighter I and II, Fire Instructor I and II, and Fire Officer I and II.



About the State Office of Fire Prevention and Control

OFPC delivers a wide breadth of services to firefighters, emergency responders, state and local government agencies, public and private colleges, and the citizens of New York. The Office advances public safety through firefighter training, education, fire prevention, investigative, special operations and technical rescue programs. The timely delivery of these essential services enables the Office to make significant contributions to the safety of all of New York State.



About DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provides leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.




Mr Hoang Trung Hai (right) and Governor Pa Socheatevong (Photo: VNA)



During his meeting, Secretary Hai stressed that Hanoi and Phnom Penh had a long-term and good relationship, especially after the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sens visit to Vietnam on December 20

He showed his belief that the exchange of delegations from Hanoi and Phnom Penh would help reinforce and increase the relationship between the two capital cities.

Governor Pa Socheatevong showed his impression of Hanois achievements, adding that Hanoi and Phnom Penh would further increase cooperation in diverse areas.

On the same day, Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung also received the delegation from Phnom Penh, in which he informed the delegation of Hanois economic development in 2016, and thanked Governor Pa Socheatevong and the Cambodian capital for making favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses and Hanoi businesses to do business in the capital.

Mr Nguyen Duc Chung (right) and his counterpart

According to Governor Pa Socheatevong, Phnom Penh has a population of over three million people and reports a GDP growth rate of 7.2% per year. However, the Cambodian capital city is facing diverse challenges, especially in security and politics.

He appreciated Hanois development, adding that he believed the Vietnamese capital city would gain more achievements, and the relationship between the two capitals would be further strengthened./.
Local News, Health & Wellness, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

The Politics of Marijuana in New York and the Most Progressive Positions: Free the Homegrown will be the subject of a presentation hosted by the Green Party of Nassau County at its January meeting.

Freeport, NY - December 22, 2016 - The Politics of Marijuana in New York and the Most Progressive Positions: Free the Homegrown will be the subject of a presentation hosted by the Green Party of Nassau County at its January meeting. Green Party activist Paul Gilman will discuss the current status of marijuana legalization in New York State and the United States in general, and the players for and against legalization, and then take questions from the audience.



The presentation will begin at 7:30 PM on Monday, January 23, 2017, at Freeport Memorial Public Library, 144 West Merrick Road in Freeport, and will be followed by a short Green Party business meeting. The event is open to the public. No admission fee will be charged, but those who plan to attend the talk are asked to reserve in advance by contacting Cassandra Lems at 516-248-3059 or email.



Speaker Paul Gilman has been a Green Party activist on Drug War issues for two decades. He is a Cures Not Wars Ibogaine advocate, an NYC Marijuana March organizer, and an Anti Drug War lobbyist, and has been a Green Party candidate for Congress and the New York State Senate.



Marijuana is being legalized, said Mr. Gilman. The question is, who controls it: Monsanto-style monopolies with ties to the 1%, Green Rush venture capitalists with pay-to-play ties to state politicians, or the people who suffered the most from the drug war? Who are opposed to legalizing marijuana? Who are the players in New York and what are their interests?



The talk will include a breakdown of the various pro-legalization formations; why it's important that Greens advocate for no taxation and no regulation of homegrown; and regulations Greens want to see, including the taxation of commercial marijuana and hemp. Mr. Gilman will also discuss the international situation including Mexico, Honduras and the rest of Central America, and a Green plan to end drug war violence in Mexico. End the violence, stop the Merida Initiative.



According to Mr. Gilman, the talk will focus on the duopolys duplicity in thwarting the mass movement that is forcing the ruling-class to end this police-based hysteria that has lead to The New Jim Crow.



The Green Party of New York State supports the following policies:
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is seeking nominations for Nassau Countys 2017 Senior Citizen of the Year.

Mineola, NY - December 15, 2016 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is seeking nominations for Nassau Countys 2017 Senior Citizen of the Year. This annual award recognizes two individuals who have demonstrated outstanding concern and action for human services and community involvement relating to any age group. Nominations are being accepted through Tuesday, February 14, 2017.



There are so many seniors who have dedicated themselves to enriching the lives of others, said County Executive Mangano. While this award pays tribute to two residents, I commend all of our senior citizens for the vital role they play in our communities.



To be eligible for the award, a candidate:

Must be 60 years of age or older and presently living in Nassau County;

May not be an employee of any organization, unless in an unpaid, volunteer position; and

Must be submitted on an official application form.

Those who have already received the award are ineligible, while those who were nominated but did not receive previous awards may be re-nominated. All nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the Advisory Council to the Office for the Aging. This award will honor two of the many dedicated individuals who have made outstanding personal contributions for the enrichment of the lives of others.



Nominations for Senior Citizen of the Year may be made by individuals or groups. All nominations must be submitted on an application form and received by Tuesday, February 14, 2017.



For more information, an application or submission, please call (516) 227-8919 or email. Nominations can also be mailed to:



Awards Committee

Nassau County Department of Human Services

Office for the Aging

60 Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Suite #260

Uniondale, NY 11553-3691
Local News, Business & Finance, National & World News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

Tax identity theft is a billion-dollar business. In 2013, the IRS identified 5.1 million fraudulent returns and paid more than $5.8 billion in fraudulent refunds.

All the information a criminal typically needs to file a fraudulent tax return is a persons name, date of birth and Social Security number. They also need a way to file an electronic return.

Long Island, NY - December 8, 2016 - Tax identity theft is a billion-dollar business. In 2013, the IRS identified 5.1 million fraudulent returns and paid more than $5.8 billion in fraudulent refunds.

Unfortunately, its a relatively easy crime to commit. All the information a criminal typically needs to file a fraudulent tax return is a persons name, date of birth and Social Security number. They also need a way to file an electronic return.

There is no fool-proof way to stop identity theft. The good news is that the number of new reports of identity theft by individuals who filed 2015 federal tax returns has fallen by more than 50 percent thanks to the IRS and the tax industry partnering to combat tax fraud. But there is more to do, and it also takes vigilance and action on the part of consumers.

For National Tax Security Awareness Week, taxpayers can review this checklist with some simple ways they can protect their information, beware of scams and be vigilant with their taxes.

Protect personal information

Do not carry a Social Security card in a wallet.

Do not give out a Social Security Number (SSN) on the phone or in a public place.

Do not send a SSN or date of birth in an email or a text.

Do not share an online user ID, password or PIN with others. Do not leave this information anywhere someone else can easily see or gain access to it.

Avoid easily guessed or common names and numbers for passwords and PINs. Change passwords regularly and dont use the same password for multiple accounts.

Close unused credit-card accounts and destroy the credit card.

Use a shredder for documents containing personal information.

Use firewalls, anti-spam/virus software, update security patches.

Look for the S in https which means the site uses secure encryption technology.

Do not shop online on public Wi-Fi where information can be intercepted.

Request a copy of a credit report and keep tabs on who might be accessing it.

Review financial statements like credit card bills and bank statements for suspicious activity.

Beware of Scams

Be aware of phishing and social engineering scams. Be suspicious of emails that ask for credentials. Do not provide personal information over the phone, via text, through the mail or on the Internet.

The IRS will never email or connect on social media to request personal information.

The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment.

The IRS will never ask for credit or debit card information over the phone.

The IRS will never require specific payment methods.

The IRS will always contact taxpayers by mail first about taxes owed.

Report phone calls, emails or letters from IRS impersonators to the Treasury Department. Use its IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Portal or call 800-366-4484.

Be Vigilant with Taxes

File early to lessen the window of opportunity for a criminal to file first.

If using a tax preparer, ask what they do to protect tax return information.

Apply for additional IRS protections like the identity protection PIN

Consider a product like the Tax Identity Shield

Taxpayers can help better protect themselves by practicing these simple measures. But these measures alone wont always be enough. Criminals can get the information they need to file a return from company and government data breaches.

The IRS and tax industry may be able to stop the thieves after they have the taxpayers information. But when the worst happens, the Tax Identity Shield offers victims assistance restoring their identities and getting their refunds.

Taxpayers can learn more about tax identity theft, how to spot it and what to do if they become a victim and what H&R Block is doing to protect taxpayers.
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

The Second Squad is investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred Saturday, December 24, 2016 at 6:06 am in Hicksville.

The vehicle contained two unknown individuals who were pronounce deceased at the scene. Detectives continue to investigate.

Hicksville, NY - December 24, 2016 - The Second Squad is investigating a fatal motor vehicle accident that occurred Saturday, December 24, 2016 at 6:06 am in Hicksville.

According to detectives, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling eastbound on Woodbury Rd., when it lost control, struck a tree and caught fire. The vehicle contained two unknown individuals who were pronounce deceased at the scene. Detectives continue to investigate.

Detectives ask anyone with information about this accident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
Long Island Couple Arrested for Possessing Guns and Drugs After Shot Fired into Neighboring Apartment on Christmas Eve

Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

Suffolk County Police have arrested a Nesconset man and woman for possessing guns and drugs after the man fired a shot into a neighboring apartment in Nesconset, NY.

(Left) Dominica Kaisen, 24, and (Right) Neil Ross-France, 26, of Nesconset, were arrested on Christmas Eve.

Nesconset, NY - December 26, 2016 - Suffolk County Police have arrested a Nesconset man and woman for possessing guns and drugs after the man fired a shot into a neighboring apartment in Nesconset on Christmas Eve.

A resident of Avalon Circle heard a loud bang in her apartment on December 24 at approximately 10 a.m. She called police and an investigation revealed her neighbors were having an argument, when the male neighbor, Neil Ross-France, fired a weapon, causing a bullet to penetrate his neighbors wall.

A further investigation by Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives revealed the couple was hiding a loaded handgun, a loaded shotgun and a quantity of cocaine and marijuana in the bedroom of their four-year-old son.

Ross-France, 26, was charged with Reckless Endangerment 1st Degree and Obstructing Governmental Administration. Both Ross-France and Dominica Kaisen, 24, of Nesconset, were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3rd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4th Degree, Criminal Possession of Marijuana 2nd Degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

The child is currently in the custody of a family member. The Suffolk County Department of Social Services Child Protective Services has been notified. The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip.

The investigation is continuing. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to call the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8451.
Crime, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: December 27 2016

Citizens urged to be vigilant when making purchases via social media websites such as Craigslist, Ebay and Let it Go.

Nassau County, NY - December 26, 2016 - County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter are urging citizens to be vigilant when making purchases via social media websites such as Craigslist, Ebay and Let it Go.



The overwhelming majority of users are trustworthy and well-intentioned.



With billions of human interactions facilitated, the incidence of violent crime is extremely low.



Nevertheless, please take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.



When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

Insist on a public meeting place, preferably indoors with other people around.

Do not meet late at night, or in a secluded place.

NEVER invite strangers into your home.

Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items.

Tell a friend or family member where you're going.

Consider having a friend accompany you.

Trust your instincts.

Taking these simple precautions make transaction safer for everyone.



This information is being provided to residents to make them aware of these ongoing scams. If you believe you may have been a victim of any of these scams, please call 911 immediately.



Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of individual(s) responsible are asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 244-TIPS (8477). All calls remain anonymous.
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets with Party General Secretary

and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith (Photo: VNA)



Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh made the commitment while meeting with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

The meetings were part of his official visit to Laos on December 25th-26th, during which he also co-chaired the third political consultation at the foreign ministerial level.

Talking to the Lao leaders, he hailed the countrys massive development achievements under the leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party and Government. He also congratulated Laos on its successful performance as the ASEAN Chair in 2016.

Welcoming Minhs official visit, the top leaders of Laos described the political consultation between the foreign ministers as an important cooperation mechanism for both sides to discuss strategic issues so that the foreign ministries can coordinate effectively to advise their respective Party and State leaders about diplomatic works.

They also appreciated the great and wholehearted assistance that the Vietnamese Party, National Assembly, Government and people has given to the Lao counterparts. They noted Laos always treasures the time-tested friendship, special unity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The leaders thanked Vietnam for supporting their nation in acting as the ASEAN Chair this year, which has helped Laos raise its stature in the world.

They hoped the two sides will tighten links in the time ahead, adding that closer coordination is needed to prepare for activities marking 55 years of their diplomatic relations and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2017.

During the talks between Minh and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith, the officials noted with satisfaction the extensive and effective development of their countries relations in all fields.

Both sides have worked together to tackle difficulties and obstacles to enhance economic partnerships, especially in accelerating projects on energy and transport connectivity, improving the cooperation effectiveness in education, training and human resources development, and managing and using financial assistance to Laos, the ministers noted.

They pledged to direct their ministries to keep coordination to serve the countries exchange of visits and boost the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms. They will also urge relevant ministries and agencies to carry out high-level agreements, particularly the joint statements issued during the recent mutual visits by Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith and Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The ministries will also work closely to organise various activities celebrating the 55th founding anniversary bilateral ties and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 2017, thereby helping to educate younger generations about the countries special solidarity.

At the talks, the two sides exchanged viewpoints on regional and international matters of common concern, including the strategic environment in Asia-Pacific, cooperation within ASEAN, the development of the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the sustainable use of the Mekong Rivers water resources, and the East Sea issues.

They agreed to push ahead with close collaboration at regional and international forums, proactively and actively share information, exchange viewpoints and coordinate stances through all channels and at all levels.

Following the talks, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam presented the title of honorary doctor to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith./.
An art item at the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

The Vietnamese Embassy in Iran opened the Vietnam Cultural Week in Iran on December 24th at the Opera in the capital Tehran.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Nguyen Hong Thach affirmed that culture is the shortest way between hearts. The cultural week will help Vietnamese and Iranians become closer to each other and better understand each other, as well as help the bilateral relations further develop.

Representing Iranian people, Mr. Ghodrat Ali Heshmatian, Chairman of the Association of Iranian Parties, emphasized the sentiment of Iranian people towards Vietnam from the years of war until today, and welcomed the initiative of the Vietnamese Ambassador in organizing the Vietnam Cultural Week in Iran.

Director of the film project "Heaven is not far" of Iran on Vietnams tourist sites, and Director Andrian Jelveh also introduced the filmmaking process of the delegation and their impression on Vietnams landscape. They also explained why the film is called "Heaven is not far," which means that Vietnam is a paradise of landscapes and it is not too far from Iran.

Iranian art lovers are very impressed with the sound of the monochord, the klong put, Trung, two-chord fiddle, 16-chord zither and flute, together with folk songs of Quan Ho Bac Ninh performed by Vietnamese artists.

At the event, 20 large photos of landscapes and daily life of Vietnamese people taken by Vietnamese and Iranian photographers were displayed.

The event is organized until December 29th in Irans four cities of Shiraz, Esfahan, Tabriz, Kashan and Kish island./
Lifestyle / Travel

In case you need vacation ideas for 2017, weve spotlight six great cities  which includes Nashville, Paris and Sulawesi  from Frommers list of top destinations in 2017 so you can start planning pronto

Dec 27, 2016 | By AFP Relaxnews

The travel experts at Frommers have released their picks for the top destinations to visit in 2017  a list of 17 cities singled out for enjoying a booming resurgence, for becoming an emerging destination, or for marking a milestone anniversary. Here are six on the honour roll that you should make plans for, if you havent already:

Montreal, Quebec

While Canada fetes its 150th anniversary next year, 2017 will also mark Montreals 375th birthday, in whats sure to make the city party central for much of the year, says Frommers. A total of 175 events are planned over the next 12 months, including multimedia light shows and the premiere of a new opera based on music from Pink Floyd called Another Brick in the Wall.

Nashville, Tennessee

Editors at Frommers point to the citys dynamic dining landscape, legendary music scene and college town vibes for inspiring an estimated 85 people to move to the city a day. Visitors will also want to bookmark August 21 on their calendar, when the city becomes the only US city in direct viewing line for the solar eclipse.

Paris, France

In the aftermath of the terror attacks that besieged the city in 2015, the crowds have thinned, making traditionally one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world far less crowded. In fact, with hotel occupancy rates down 30 percent and a competitive currency exchange between the euro and the US dollar, Paris is suddenly affordable and its high temples of gastronomy no longer merely pipe dreams.

Sulawesi, Indonesia

Indonesia is not just Bali. For travelers whove already done Bali and bought the T-shirt to prove it, editors recommend checking out the island of Sulawesi, home to verdant rice paddies, mountains, beaches and forests that hold the worlds smallest monkeys.

Karasjok, Norway

The year 2017 is predicted to be the peak of an 11-year cycle for Northern Lights watching. And for the best view of the celestial light show, editors recommend hitting up Karasjok in Norway, an area thats void of light pollution and offers a higher chance of clear skies thanks to its inland location.

Doha, Qatar

Long overshadowed by its flashier neighbors Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Doha is hoping to squeeze into the Middle Easts tourism market with expansion projects that will improve city infrastructure, bring a state-of-the-art subway system to the city and build new bridges. At least 14 new hotels are expected to open in 2017 alone. Aside from Pearl Qatar, the artificial island that houses luxury hotels, residences and retail spaces, the city is also working to become a cultural destination, with the Museum of Islamic Art, opera house and Souk Waqif, a traditional marketplace.

The other destinations to make the list include San Francisco and the Bay area; Bermuda; The Pantanal; The Mississippi River; The Panama Canal; Nan Madol, Micronesia; Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda; Martin Luthers Germany; Katahdin Woods and Waters, Maine; Fatima, Portugal and Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.

For the full list, visit Frommers website.
The great Gold Rush Music Festival returns to the township of Waihi, with the first nuggets of gold dropping for the highly anticipated return of the 2023 festival.
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
UN, ICRC foresee $274 mln for projects in uncontrolled territory of Donbas, near contact line in 2017

The UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have foreseen $274 million for implementation of humanitarian projects in the uncontrolled territory of Donbas and near the contact line in 2017, Minister for the Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons Vadym Chernysh said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine, which will be implemented by the United Nations, foresees activities worth $214 million.

"The ICRC budget will be an additional $60 million  this is for uncontrolled and partially controlled territories," the minister said.

Chernysh noted only humanitarian assistance programs are implemented in uncontrolled territories and near the contact line: food, psychological support, medication, some essentials.

The minister said in addition to these two companies other international organizations implement projects in the ATO zone, in particular, the "Doctors without Borders," who a year ago were expelled from the uncontrolled territory of Donbas, but they still are operating near the contact line.
The Next Big Stock Market Move Has Already Begun But 99% of Investors Missed It.

The markets have begun to turn.

Sure the broad indexes like the Dow and the S&P 500 are holding upbut beneath this surface, BAD stuff is brewing.

Copper, which lead stocks to the upside during this latest rally, has already TOPPED and is now correcting.

This is a key tell that professional traders notice and its telling me and my team that this stock market rally is on BORROWED time.

At the very least, stocks are going to drop 9% in the next 30 days MAYBE more.

If you are not already preparing your wealth for these sorts of potential risks, you need to start thinking about it now.



Based on this situation weve decided to extend our offer to explore Private Wealth Advisory for 30 days for just $0.98.

We dont want investors to miss out on the potential to turn this market volatility into profits. Private Wealth Advisory have a success rate of 89% with our trades (meaning we make money on nearly 9 out of 10 positions).

But we cannot maintain this track record with thousands of traders following these picks.

Tonight at midnight were closing the doors on our offer to explore Private Wealth Advisory for 30 days for just $0.98.

But this is IT. No more extensions. We are officially closing the doors for GOOD tonight.

If you want to lock in one of the remaining slots, you better move quickly.

To lock in one of the last $0.98 30 day trials to Private Wealth Advisory

Click Here Now!

Best Regards

Graham Summers

Phoenix Capital Research

http://www.phoenixcapitalmarketing.com

Graham also writes Private Wealth Advisory, a monthly investment advisory focusing on the most lucrative investment opportunities the financial markets have to offer. Graham understands the big picture from both a macro-economic and capital in/outflow perspective. He translates his understanding into finding trends and undervalued investment opportunities months before the markets catch on: the Private Wealth Advisory portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 three of the last five years, including a 7% return in 2008 vs. a 37% loss for the S&P 500.

Previously, Graham worked as a Senior Financial Analyst covering global markets for several investment firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. Hes lived and performed research in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.

 2016 Copyright Graham Summers - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

Graham Summers Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The Big Theme for 2017: a Global Cash Ban

The big theme for 2017 will be Cash not a pro-deflationary time to own cash theme but a lets ban it as quickly as possible theme.

Lets review.

In 2016:

Former Secretary of the Treasury, Larry Summers, called for the US to do away with the $100 bill.

Former Chief Economist for the IMF, Ken Rogoff, published his book The Curse of Cash.

The New York Times and Financial Times publicly endorse a ban on cash.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen, during a Q&A session said cash is not a convenient store of value.

Of course the above items are simply propaganda and words. But 2016 also featured major actions as far as the War on Cash is concerned

The 7th largest country in the world by GDP (India) banned physical cash in denominations that comprise over 80% of all outstanding bills.

The move was a political disaster temporarily, but no one was forced out of office and the legislation remains in place.

The message here: you can get away with this kind of thing even in a country in which physical cash is STILL the dominant form of currency.

Venezuela has since followed suit, banning any bill that is worth more than 3 cents. There as well, the policy was met with political outrage but the ruling part/people remain in power and no one was forced out of office over the matter.

Put simply, 2016 was the year in which the 7th and 33rd largest nations by GDP went effectively cashless and no one lost their jobs over it.

You can imagine the glee the elites felt witnessing this particularly in countries in which 50%+ of transactions no longer involve physical cash (60%+ in most developed nations).

After all, the only thing these people do worry about is losing their jobs . Provided no one is kicked out of office as a consequence, any policy, no matter how terrible, is considered viable to this crowd.

Which is why 2017 will shape up to be the year of the Global Cash Bans.

Numerous developed nations (France, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, etc.) have already banned cash for certain transactions. Next year (2017) is the year we expect to start seeing policy pushes for complete bans on cash.

Indeed, weve uncovered a secret document outlining how the Fed plans to incinerate savings in the coming months.

We detail this paper and outline t hree investment strategies you can implement

right now to protect your capital from the Feds sinister plan in our Special Report

Survive the Feds War on Cash.

We are making 1,000 copies available for FREE the general public.

To pick up yours, swing by.

http://phoenixcapitalmarketing.com/cash.html

Best Regards

Graham Summers

Phoenix Capital Research

http://www.phoenixcapitalmarketing.com

Graham also writes Private Wealth Advisory, a monthly investment advisory focusing on the most lucrative investment opportunities the financial markets have to offer. Graham understands the big picture from both a macro-economic and capital in/outflow perspective. He translates his understanding into finding trends and undervalued investment opportunities months before the markets catch on: the Private Wealth Advisory portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 three of the last five years, including a 7% return in 2008 vs. a 37% loss for the S&P 500.

Previously, Graham worked as a Senior Financial Analyst covering global markets for several investment firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. Hes lived and performed research in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States.

 2016 Copyright Graham Summers - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

Graham Summers Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




New Year's Resolutions for Donald Trump and US Congress

In the spirit of New Year's, here are four resolutions for president-elect Trump and Congress that will enable them to really make America great again:

1) Audit the Fed....and then end it: The Federal Reserve Bank's easy money polices have eroded the American people's standard of living and facilitated the growth of the welfare-warfare state. The Fed is also responsible for the growth in income inequality. Yet Congress still refuses to pass Audit the Fed, much less end it.

During the campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump promised that Audit the Fed would be part of his first 100 days agenda. Unfortunately, he has not spoken of auditing the Fed or another aspect of monetary policy since the election. President-elect Trump should keep his promise and work with Congress to pass Audit the Fed and finally let the American people know the truth about the Fed's conduct of monetary policy. Then, of course, end the Fed.

2) Bring the troops home: President Barack Obama has not only failed to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, he has further destabilized the Middle East with reckless interventions in Egypt, Libya, and Syria. The Obama administration has also brought us to the brink of a new Cold War.

President-elect Trump has criticized the 2003 Iraq war and promised to end nation-building. However, he has also made hawkish statements such as his recent endorsement of increased US military intervention in Syria and has appointed several hawks to key foreign policy positions. President-elect Trump also supported increasing the Pentagon's already bloated budget.

America cannot afford to continue wasting trillions of dollars in a futile effort to act as the world's policeman. Rejecting the neocon polices of nation-building and spreading democracy by force of arms is a good start. However, if Donald Trump is serious about charting a new course in foreign policy, his first act as president should be to withdraw US troops from around the globe. He should also veto any budget that does not drastically cut spending on militarism.

3) Repeal ObamaCare: ObamaCare has raised healthcare costs for millions of Americans while denying them access to the providers of their choice. Public dissatisfaction with ObamaCare played a major role in Donald Trump's election.

Unfortunately, since the election president-elect Trump and the Republican Congress have talked about retaining key parts of Obamacare! While it is reasonable to have a transition to a new healthcare system, Congress must avoid the temptation to replace ObamaCare with "ObamaCare lite." Congress must pass, and President Trump must sign, a true free-market health care plan that restores control over healthcare to individuals.

4) Cut Taxes and Spending: President-elect Trump and Congressional leadership both favor tax reform. However, some leading Republicans have recently said they will not support any tax reform plan that is not "revenue neutral." A true pro-liberty tax reform would reduce government revenue by eliminating the income tax. Fiscal hawks concerned with increasing federal deficits should stop trying to increase tax revenues and join with supporters of limited government to drastically cut federal spending. Congress should prioritize ending corporate welfare, reducing military spending, and shutting down unconstitutional federal agencies like the Department of Education.

If President Trump and Congress spend the next six months passing Audit the Fed, ending our militaristic foreign policy, repealing ObamaCare and replacing it with a true free-market health care system, and cutting both spending and taxes, they will begin to make America great again. If they fail to take these steps, then the American people will know they have been fooled again.

Buy Ron Paul's latest book, Swords into Plowshares, here.

Dr. Ron Paul

Project Freedom

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Ron Paul Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv states Ukraine has implemented all the necessary commitments to obtain the next tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program.

"Ukraine has done the homework on the obligations to the International Monetary Fund we promised in the signed memorandum [on economic and financial policies when got the third tranche in September 2016]," he said at a briefing in Kyiv.

Asked about pension and land reforms, commitments on which are also contained in the memorandum, Kubiv noted Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Minister of Social Policy Andriy Reva have declared the operation card of the pension reform.

"We have been talking for 25 years, but we have to make certain unpopular real steps. Passing the budget for 2017, we see the first steps as the start of the pension reform, which are incorporated in the macro-balanced budget, reducing the gap in the pension fund. The reform will be presented at a government meeting," the first deputy premier said.

With regard to the introduction of the land market in Ukraine, he said the government, the parliamentary committee and the Verkhovna Rada are jointly working on the issue.

"There is no land market in Ukraine, and today we don't need to make the land market just for the process," Kubiv said.
EPL0101_ebrtinatchen.jpg

Elizabeth Barajas-Roman, right, chief executive officer of the Easthampton-based Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, with Tina Tchen, assistant to President Barack Obama and chief of staff to the First Lady Michelle Obama, during the Dec. 16 White House Council on Women and Girls forum in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House complex in Washington, D.C.

(Submitted Photo)



By Anne-Gerard Flynn

Special to The Republican

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Since being named to head the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts in 2014, Elizabeth Barajas-Roman has traveled to Washington, D.C. several times to participate in events organized by the Obama's Administration's White House Council on Women and Girls.

In the wake of the recent election that saw former first lady, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton loose to billionaire real estate and reality television entrepreneur Donald Trump, she has also seen an uptick in interest in her organization's Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact, which trains area women to be civic leaders.

"What this election cycle has done more than anything is highlight the need for a robust field of women who are ready to enter into public service - and the recognition that although we represent 51 percent of the population, our elected officials do not look like the populations they represent," Barajas-Roman said.

"We also see a more clearly articulated need for training and support networks for women to step into public service. In addition, this election cycle highlighted the deep rooted legacy of sexism that is still very present in our society. Only by working together and celebrating women in the public and professional spheres can we move towards gender equity."

Barajas-Roman experienced a "bittersweet" moment recently when she and Ellen Moorhouse, the fund's program director, participated in the White House Council's final event, a forum in which the council issued its latest report on "Advancing Equity for Women and Girls of Color."

"The mood of the forum was both exciting and bittersweet. It was an incredible honor to be among so many visionary women, and specifically women of color, leaders," Barajas-Roman said.

"The December 16 forum was both a celebration of how much we have accomplished in collaboration, but was also very pragmatic about the work we still have left before us. The forum touched broadly on metrics that indicate success and progress, while identifying areas where the data tells us we are still falling woefully short."

Valerie B. Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama, overseeing the White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, and chairing the White House Council on Women and Girls, was honored for her council work during a Dec. 16 forum in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex in Washington, D.C.

The forum was held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the 150 participants included Valerie B. Jarrett, who chairs the council, and Tina Tchen, who serves as executive director. Jarrett is a senior advisor to President Barack Obama and oversees the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. Tchen is assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first lady. Both women were honored for their work with the council.

Barajas-Roman was among the participants in a special round-table discussion with Jarrett, Tchen and former talk show host Melissa Harris-Perry, Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University, author of "Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought" and editor-at-large at ELLE.com

"About 20 people were invited to attend this round-table strategy session where we had the opportunity to discuss the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts' plan to launch a multi-sector, Springfield-based, pilot aimed at advancing the economic prosperity of young women ages 12 through 24," Barajas-Roman said.

She noted that the WFWM is mentioned in the council's latest report for its participation in the June 2016 United State of Women Summit and work that will "focus in on the local needs of young women of color."

"Being connected to the national conversation directly supports and shapes the work that we do in Western Massachusetts," said Barajas-Roman of the WFWM being involved in the council's work.

Barajas-Roman called the council an "integral source of data and evidence-based research for organizations across the nation."

"In 2014, the council launched a specific work stream called 'Advancing Equity' to ensure that policies and program across the federal government took into account the unique obstacles faced by women and girls, including women and girls of color, and women and girls from marginalized communities," Barajas-Roman said.

"At this particular (Dec. 16) forum, the council announced an update to this report, that also served as a culmination of the 'Advancing Equity' stream of this administration. The report identifies five issues where interventions can promote opportunities for success at school, work, and in the community, for women and girls of color. The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts is honored to be named on page 16 of the report as one of the groups that are critical to the ongoing legacy of the administration's accomplishments."

Barajas-Roman specified "three majors areas of perceived challenges" ahead under the Trump administration for those who work with women and girls - reproductive rights and health, economic opportunity and pay equity, which includes topics like paid family leave and the rising costs of childcare, and gender-based violence, among others."

"The Women's Fund is non-partisan and will endeavor to work closely with all stakeholders in order to dismantle gender discrimination in the workplace so that all workers have the opportunity to thrive," Barajas-Roman said.

Barajas-Roman said the Obama Administration has made a priority of "gathering and analyzing data as a tool of government accountability and transparency." She noted government statistics that show "only 50 percent of high schools across the the U.S. offer calculus, and 40 percent do not offer physics."

"We could have 91,000 more girls in physics classes across the U.S. if funding and staffing barriers were effectively removed," Barajas-Roman said.

She said by tracking such "data, we can analyze the problem for trends, make the case for change, and work collaboratively towards solutions with local agencies and organizations."

" We are worried that this type of rigorous data collection and analysis won't continue. We need to collectively work together to ensure this continues under the new administration so that government is held accountable," she added.

Barajas-Roman said the council's final report identifies "five data-driven issue areas where interventions can promote opportunities for success at school, work, and in the community for women and girls of color.

She listed the five as follows:

 Fostering school success and reducing unnecessary exclusionary school discipline by implementing supportive school discipline strategies and policies, including through public awareness of the impact on girls of color;

 Meeting the needs of vulnerable and striving youth by recognizing and responding appropriately to the finding that many girls enter intervening public systems through a route that begins with sexual abuse and trauma;

 Increasing access to inclusive STEM education to meet 21st century workforce demands and reducing opportunity gaps that affect women broadly in science, technology, engineering and math education and fields, but often affect women and girls of color the most;

 Sustaining reduced rates of teen pregnancy and building on success through expanded access to knowledge about birth control and preventive health services; Expanding pathways to economic prosperity through opportunities for job mobility and investments in fair, equitable workplace policies.

Barajas-Roman called the WFWM is a "critical piece" of the fifth priority - "which is expanding pathways to economic prosperity."

"We are a core component of the ongoing work in that fifth pillar through our strategic grant-making, innovative philanthropy, and the core principles of our leadership institute," said Barajas-Roman, adding that while the council is expected to "no longer continue in it's current form" the hope is "access to information and data transparency" established by the council "remains constant."
A 70-year-old pedestrian was struck while crossing the street on Christmas Day in Revere.

The man died as a result of his injuries on Monday, authorities told The Associated Press.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office said the man was crossing three lanes of state Route 60 when he was struck Sunday night.

He was treated for life-threatening injuries at Massachusetts General Hospital.

According to The Boston Globe, the driver, a 21-year-old woman, remained at the scene. Authorities said she did not seem to be impaired, but they are still investigating the incident.

As of Monday, no charges have been filed.
Ukraine has started reforming the automated system of the State Exports Supervision Service and the reforms are being carried out with support of the United States, First Deputy Prime Minister, Economic Development and Trade Minister Stepan Kubiv has said.

"The automated system of the Exports Supervision Service is being introduced with support of the United States. The legal regulation of the process of creating the unified list of goods eligible to state exports control and the reduction of the list of these goods is being finished," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The State Exports Supervision Service under the exports and border supervision program of the U.S. Department of State is optimizing the operation of the automated exports supervision system of Ukraine via expanding its functions, introducing the Stratlink e-licensing system designed by Estonia's SpinTek.

The new system has the following advantages: acceleration of the licensing procedures thanks to their complete automation, reduction of expenses on the licensing processes, saving of budget funds, permanent connection to customs agencies, automation of the report supervision tool, creation and support of the database of participants of international arms transfer, results of goods identification and the permits archive.

The Exports Supervision Service jointly with the State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection is analyzing the tools to protect information when the system is used and deciding if the introduction of the Stratlink system is appropriate in Ukraine.
11322953266_46d8906a42_k.jpg

(Photo via www.SeniorLiving.Org, using a Creative Commons license,)

A federal judge in Boston has granted the Security and Exchange Commission's petition to freeze the assets of Richard Cody, a former Boston financial advisor accused of losing his clients' retirement funds and lying to them about their accounts.

Judge F. Dennis Saylor issued an injunction order last week prohibiting Cody and his company Boston Investment Partners from withdrawing funds or altering any of their investment holdings.

Cody is also required to provide the SEC with details of his financial accounts and the investment accounts of his alleged victims, who the SEC claims were kept in the dark for years as their retirement accounts dwindled to almost nothing.

Saylor's order said that the SEC had shown preliminary evidence that Cody had "directly or indirectly engaged in the violations alleged in the complaint," that "there is a reasonable likelihood that these violations will be repeated," and that Cody's alleged victims were retirees on fixed incomes who had suffered emotional and financial harm.

Cody could not be reached for comment; he has not yet named an attorney, according to court filings, and the phone line listed on Boston Investment Partners' website is disconnected.

Cody, the founder of Boston Investment Partners, allegedly forged signatures, fabricated financial documents and told his clients their accounts were healthy, while their funds lost almost all their value.

The SEC filed its civil suit on behalf of three sets of victims, all of which began a financial relationship with Cody in 2001 or 2002. The last names of the victims are not identified in the suit.

According to Boston Investment Partners' website, Cody started his investment career with Merrill Lynch in Baltimore in 1996. He moved to Boston in 2000, and began acquiring individual clients.

The next year, he delivered a presentation to Verizon workers and drew the attention of Paul M., who hired Cody as his broker. He entrusted his entire retirement savings -- $377,000 -- to Cody, who invested them in retirement accounts with Smith Barney, where he worked at the time.

Cody told the couple that their monthly checks were coming from interest earned on their investments, while he was actually draining the account's principal, Maureen said in an affidavit. And when Paul confronted Cody about a statement showing a major drop in funds, Cody allegedly lied and said he had invested in "corporate bonds" that were not accounted for on the statement.

After Paul died in 2011, Maureen took possession of the retirement fund and kept the money with Cody. She was not aware that her account had declined to the point where it could no longer pay out her monthly withdrawal, and Cody had begun secretly paying her from a separate account while claiming she had hundreds of thousands of dollars remaining, the SEC alleged.

Cody also allegedly fabricated financial documents, including an inaccurate 1099 and a fake annuity account used to convince her not to withdraw $10,000 from the depleted account.

The pattern was the same for Kenneth E. and Carol and Ray B., fellow Verizon retirees who were referred to Cody by friends and family in 2002. Each had more than $400,000 in retirement funds when they began their relationship with Cody; each had their accounts lose their value while Cody claimed all was well.

The SEC's claim is not Cody's first brush with financial regulators. In 2008, the Department of Enforcement of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filed a complaint against him, alleging that he had engaged in "unsuitable and excessive trading" of his clients' funds and overstated account values. He was suspended from working as a broker for a year in 2013, after a lengthy appeals process.

In a letter to the court, Cody, who now lives in New Jersey, said that he would not be able to attend a scheduled hearing on Dec. 22 due to holiday travel. He was allowed to participate by phone.

"I am not, and have not for several months, managing any investment accounts or working for any investment company/broker/dealer and that is not going to change," Cody wrote. "I will answer any questions asked of me at the appropriate time. I am here to cooperate fully in order to resolve this matter in a satisfactory manner."
Fentanyl

Mailed packages and covert Internet purchases are helping drive the importation of fentanyl, the potent synthetic painkiller responsible for an increasing percentage of opioid overdoses in Massachusetts, according to a report in the Boston Globe.

Law enforcement officials have said that fentanyl is often trafficked across the Mexican border by cartels, where it travels from American drug dealers to the streets of cities like Springfield, Holyoke and Boston.

But former Homeland Security official Juliette Kayyem told the Globe that the drug, which is around 50 times more potent than heroin, is also shipped into the country through the federal postal system, often without basic tracking information.

Congress authorized electronic screening for foreign packages that could flag possible drug shipments but it has not been fully implemented, the Globe reported. A "significant amount" of fentanyl is purchased by Americans through the "dark web," a largely anonymous and difficult to trace corner of the Internet sometimes used for illegal purchases, according to the Globe.

And in 2015 the consulting firm LegalScript tested the system by making 29 purchases from illegal online pharmacies; none were intercepted before delivery.

The Globe report did not include an estimate of how much fentanyl is imported using the postal service. MassLive has reached out to Kayyem for comment.

One-thousand and five people died from opioids from January to September 2016, excluding suicides, according to figures released by the state's Department of Public Health in November. That rate exceeds the first nine months of 2015, in which a record 1,574 people died from opioid overdoses.

And fentanyl is playing a larger role in the crisis. Deaths attributable to heroin have dropped, while 74 percent of overdose deaths with completed toxicology screens in the year's third quarter showing the detection of fentanyl -- up from 66 percent in the second quarter of this year.

While fentanyl was originally designed as a medical drug when it was developed in the 1950s, it has since become a popular additive to street heroin due to its cheapness and potency.

Fentanyl manufactured in China finds its way to Western Mass. through Mexican drug operations who ship the product to New York, where street-ready drugs are driven up I-95 toward urban centers like Springfield and Holyoke, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni told MassLive in August.

MassLive has reached out to Gulluni for comment on the Globe's report.

Fentanyl is often manufactured in China and shipped to Mexico, where it is distributed by cartels to U.S. drug rings. It is a cheap way for dealers to fill out their heroin packages and is used as a profit-enhancing filler drug, according to Gulluni.

Fentanyl is often blended with heroin, Gulluni said, either south of the border or by the American dealers, who receive smuggled fentanyl in pill form and mix the doses themselves. Hampden County dealers do not typically receive their heroin directly from Mexico; rather, they rely on New York City-based dealers sending drugs on interstate highways through New Haven and Hartford.

"Generally speaking, there are not international connections coming into Hampden County. There are intermediate points," Gulluni said in August.
Updates story posted at 9:18 a.m.

GRANBY -- Fundraising efforts have already started to aid wounded U.S. Marine Sgt. Joshua Bouchard who lost his Chicopee Street home to fire Monday night.

Bouchard, who lost his leg and suffered a crushed spine in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan in 2009, safely escaped the blaze with his two dogs Trubiosa and Coconut, his sister, Suzanna Sullivan said.

"It's just absolutely devastating," Sullivan said of the fire that essentially destroyed her brother's home, adaptive car, wheelchair, prosthetics and numerous household items.

The home, which sustained heavy damage to its roof trusses, will likely have to be completely rebuilt, she said.

A bright spot in all that loss, however, is that the community is starting to pull together even as investigators sift through the blackened ruins in an attempt to determine what happened.

"One of the things we know is that the community has come together, just like that horrible time from before," Sullivan said.

Sullivan has set up a GoFundMe account to help cover her brother's losses. As of early Tuesday afternoon it has raised some $2.775 towards its $10,000 goal.

Sullivan credits the home, located at 48 Chicopee St., with speeding her brother's recovery

"One of the more amazing things is that with his home, he has been able to concentrate on his rehab," Sullivan said, adding over the last few years her brother has been able to stand and walk short distances with his prosthetic and a cane,

"It's probably thanks to the house," Sullivan said. "He has a safe place to do that."

The home was built four years ago by hundreds of volunteers and Homes for Our

Troops, a Taunton-based nonprofit organization that builds homes across the country for severely injured veterans.

Granby Fire Capt. George Randall said the blaze was reported was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. and that the garage was fully-involved when firefighters arrived.

Investigators, including troopers with the state Fire Marshal's office, believe the fire may have started in the car, Randall said. The fire is still under investigation, however.

Sullivan said her brother told her that he had been using the car and parked it in the garage before the fire broke out. She said he noticed what appeared to be steam rising from the hood when he pulled into the garage but attributed it to the precipitation that had been falling .

Bouchard went inside. About a half-hour later he smelled smoke, checked the garage and saw the car was fully-involved. He called 911, got his dogs and safely exited the home, Sulllivan said.

Sullivan said her brother was busy all morning at the scene of the fire, meeting with investigators and others.

"I think he is shocked," Sullivan said. "But, I think he knows with the reassurances from our family and his community that he will be OK."

Sullivan said her brother will stay with their parents, who also live in Granby, while he works to get his home rebuilt.
GRANBY - One person was taken to the hospital Monday night after a house fire on Chicopee Street, according to reports.

Western Mass News, media partner of The Republican/MassLive, reports the fire started at around 9 p.m. at 48 Chicopee St. Responding crews have blocked the road between Route 202 and School Street.

Multiple departments are fighting the fire in cold and icy conditions.

This is a developing story. Stay with The Republican/MassLive for more information as it becomes available.
HOLYOKE - The Rev. Francis X. Sullivan, a beloved priest for 68 years in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield, died Christmas Eve at the age of 91, according to a diocesan spokesman.

Born in Worcester on Nov. 13, 1925, Sullivan attended the College of the Holy Cross and was ordained in 1948. He was one of the most senior priests in Western Massachusetts, said diocese spokesman Mark Dupont in a statement Monday night.

Sullivan, or Father Sully, served throughout the region, including stints as pastor at St. Anne's Church in Chicopee, Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Sheffield, Our Lady of Hope in Springfield and Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in Westfield, from where he retired.

"Even in retirement he remained very active, helping out at numerous parishes and serving for many years as chaplain to the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee," said Dupont, adding that the role "earned him a place in the hearts of many in the Paper City and the nickname 'the Bishop of Holyoke.'"

Sullivan served as chaplain to the committee twice, the second time beginning in 2006, when he told The Republican, "I love the parade and the people involved, and I enjoy the camaraderie that it brings to all of us." The first time around, his work on the parade earned him a congressional certificate of appreciation in 1991, signed by then-U.S. Rep. Silvio O. Conte.

Funeral plans are still being finalized.

Dupont reflected on Sullivan's "benevolent spirit and his strong desire to remain as active a priest as possible - even in retirement."

He leaves a nephew, Kevin Lumb, his wife Erica, and grandnephew Colin.

Holyoke City Council President Kevin Jourdain said he knew Sullivan for about 25 years, through church and friendly interactions around the city. He said he learned of Sullivan's death when it was announced from the pulpit of Our Lady of the Cross Parish during the 4 p.m. Christmas Eve mass.

"Father Sullivan was a man with a deep love of God and God's people," said Jourdain when reached by phone Monday. "He was a man of deep convictions. I enjoyed my numerous opportunities to speak with him. He loved Holyoke, its traditions and good humor. He represented the very best we have to offer as a community and he will be deeply missed."

This is a developing story. Stay with The Republican/MassLive for more information as it becomes available.
Donald Trump

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016 file photo, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer this week appeared to confirm Donald Trump's plans to continue using social media as president, contending that such direct communication with the American people will be a "really exciting part of the job."

Spicer, in a Monday interview with Rhode Island news channel WPRI, suggested that the incoming president will continue his high-profile and politically unorthodox use of Twitter and other social media platforms when he takes over the Oval Office.

"His use of social media in particular ... is going to be something that's never been seen before," he said. "He has this direct pipeline to the American people, where he can talk back and forth."

Such communications, Spicer argued, will give Trump "an element of a conversation that's never occurred," as he can put his thoughts out for direct feedback from the American people.

"He does communicate in a much bigger way than there's ever been before, and I think that's gonna be just a really exciting part of the job," he told the news outlet.

Trump, who has repeatedly turned to Twitter to rally supporters, attack rivals and draw media attention, has drawn criticism from some over his continued social media use in the wake of the election -- including over his recent tweets on Russian President Vladimir Putin, defense contracts, the Broadway musical "Hamilton" and the United States' nuclear capability.

The incoming president told "60 Minutes" following his White House win that he would be "very restrained" in using social media, if he uses it at all as president.

"I'm going to do very restrained, if I use it at all, I'm going to do very restrained," he said. "I find it tremendous. It's a modern form of communication. There should be nothing you should be ashamed of."

Trump added that social media gives him a platform to "fight back" against inaccurate news reports.

Although President Barack Obama is the first U.S. president to have a Twitter account and go live on Facebook, his social media use has paled in comparison to his successor.

Obama's @POTUS Twitter handle will be passed on to Trump when he takes office on Jan. 20, 2017, according to the White House. It will retain its followers, but start with no tweets on its timeline.

Other White House Twitter accounts, including @WhiteHouse, @FLOTUS, @PressSec and @VP will also be transferred to the incoming administration.

The Obama Administration's accounts on other social media websites will also change hands under the transition, White House officials said.
Gun Control Democrats

In this image from video provided by House Television, House Speaker Paul Ryan stands at the podium as he brings the House into session Wednesday night, June 22, 2016, in Washington. Rebellious Democrats staged an extraordinary all-day sit-in on the House floor to demand votes on gun-control bills, shouting down Ryan when he attempted to restore order as their protest stretched into the night. The sit-in was well into its 10th hour, with Democrats camped out on the floor stopping legislative business in the House, when Ryan stepped to the podium to gavel the House into session and hold votes on routine business. Angry Democrats chanted "No bill, no break!" and waved pieces of paper with the names of gun victims, continuing their protest in the well of the House even as the House voted on a previously scheduled and unrelated measure to overturn an Obama veto. (House Television via AP)

(AP)

Congresswoman Katherine Clark, D-Melrose, took aim at U.S. House Republican leaders Tuesday for introducing a rules package that would fine and punish lawmakers for recording photos and video from the chamber's floor.

The package, introduced by U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., came in response to Democrats who live-streamed a June sit-in over gun violence prevention measures after Republicans turned off C-SPAN cameras

Clark, who helped lead the protest, chastised Republicans whom she accused of focusing on punishing members over addressing gun violence. There is no penalty, the congresswoman stressed, that could stop her from once again taking her case directly to American voters.

"Rather than take a single vote to prevent gun violence, as their first order of business in the new Congress, House Republican leaders will instead seek to punish those of us who speak up about the need to act," she wrote on Facebook. "They should know this: there is no punishment that will deter me from standing with American families devastated by gun violence."

Under the proposed rules package, members could be fined $500 through paycheck deductions for a first offense of using electronic photography, audio or visual recording or broadcasting from the chamber floor, Bloomberg reported. Lawmakers would face a $2,500 fine for any subsequent offenses.

The new rules further include blocking access to microphones or the front of the chamber as disorderly or disruptive conduct -- actions which could lead to potential referral to the Committee on Ethics and sanctions, the news outlet reported.

Ryan's office told Bloomberg the proposed rule package "will help ensure that order and decorum are preserved in the House of Representatives so lawmakers can do the people's work."

More than two dozen Democrats stayed on the U.S. House floor in late June to force the chamber to debate and vote on legislation that would expand background checks on firearms purchases and bar gun sales to suspected terrorists, despite Republicans adjourning for Independence Day recess.

Although GOP leaders turned off C-SPAN cameras in the chamber for much of the protest, the channel continued to cover the event through members' Periscope and Facebook Live feeds.

The sit-in ended after 25 hours as lawmakers from both sides took their fight to cable TV channels.
Visitors filing visa waiver application are prompted to enter account names for social platforms, but activists say there are few guidelines for use of information

"While the government certainly has a right to collect some information  it would be nice if they would focus on the privacy concerns some advocacy groups have long expressed."

Full Story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/26/us-customs-social-media-foreign-travelers?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard
Incentive programs woo adults to return to school

About 25% of adults in Michigan have racked up some college credits but have not completed any sort of degree or certificate. This poses a major issue for them in the job market. In Michigan alone, 60% of jobs are estimated to require a degree beyond high school by 2025.

Virginia, Tennessee, and Connecticut lend insight into several successful solutions, most of which revolve around financial incentives.

Full Story: https://www.eab.com/daily-briefing/2016/09/19/several-states-seek-to-re-recruit-former-college-dropouts
Arbiter panel in dispute over Russia's restriction of wagon imports to be created early 2017

The arbiter panel to hear the dispute over the unlawful restrictive measures taken by Russia towards imports of wagons and railway equipment from Ukraine will be created early 2017, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska has said.

"As for railway equipment: we have sent a request to create a panel. It was approved at the last meeting of the WTO [World Trade Organization] Dispute Settlement Body. We have passed to the stage of forming the panel," she said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Mykolska said that the next step is the selection of panelists by Ukraine and Russia and the beginning of the hearing the dispute.

"We expect that this will happen early next year. We will insist that we appoint panelists. Our task is to use the WTO rules to receive the panel, as we face large losses from the lost market," she said.

Asked about the restrictions to move from Ukraine to Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan across Russia, Mykolska said that the next step of Ukraine under the WTO will be the submission of a request to create the arbiter panel.

"Consultations with Russia gave nothing. Russia's position is that they formally respond to the questions, but they are not ready to discuss the liquidation of these restrictions," she said.

As reported, in November 2016 Ukraine held the WTO consultations with Russia on restrictions of transit movement from Ukraine to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan across Russia.

On September 14, 2016, Ukraine sent a request to hold consultations with Russia at WTO concerning restrictions of transit of Ukrainian goods across Russia.
Ukraine seeks to continue fruitful talks with Israel on signing the free trade area (FTA) agreement despite a demarche of Tel-Aviv with regard to support of the UN Security Council Resolution on Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by the representative of Kyiv, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Ukraine's Trade Representative Natalia Mykolska has said.

"These talks [on FTA] are always base on the economic and business interest. Today Israel approved the holding of the next round of consultations in Kyiv late January and early February. We do not have other information," she said at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Mykolska believes that the FTA talks are mutually beneficial for the two countries.

Israel is a member of the Pan-Euro-Med [the system of Pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation of origin] that we are joining. In the context of their and our agreements with the EU our FTA agreement with them could form the chains of added value in this triangle for us," she said, presenting more arguments in favor of continuation of work on FTA with Israel.

She said that Israel requires new markets, as competition on the EU market would grow.

"I think that the FTA agreement with Israel will be one of the priorities for next year. We will work on it, as we see the interest for us and Israeli business," she said.

As for the course of the talks on the possibility of creating FTA with Turkey, she said that they are at the stage of working contact with the negotiation team of Turkey to clarify and arrange the format of the next phase of the talks and understand what format is acceptable for Turkey.

"We have not received the final decision on the format of the next round," Mykolska said.
The back-to-back approach in regionalization of poultry supplies over avian influenza outbreaks should apply by Ukraine and the European Union (EU), Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Taras Kutoviy has said.

"If the regional principle to ban exports were in effect in the EU countries, it should be in effect in Ukraine," the press service of the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry reported, citing the minister.

He said that Ukraine provided all information regarding the measures taken to liquidate the avian influenza outbreak in Kherson region to the EU.

Today a ban on exporting poultry from the entire territory of Ukraine to the EU is in effect.

The ministry said that now the work on the regionalization principle is underway. It aims at restoring exports from the avian influenza free regions of Ukraine.
The top five cops and courts stories of 2016 in McDowell.

Editor's note: This is the second in a four-part series looking back at the top five stories in education; cops and courts; government and politics; and weather and environment.

Murder charge dropped

A murder charge against a Marion man was dismissed after the District Attorney said the suspect acted in self-defense. In February 2014, Jeffrey Elkins, 29, of Barnes Road in Marion was charged in the shooting death of 28-year-old Kenneth Presnell. According to District Attorney Ted Bell, an altercation ensued over Elkins relationship with Presnells ex-girlfriend that escalated when Presnell attempted to draw his firearm with Elkins daughter in the line of fire. An investigation with Bell and Detective Rick Gutierrez determined that Elkins acted in self-defense.

Murder defendant guilty, verdict protested

After a seven-day trial in May with over 100 pieces of evidence and two hours of jury deliberation, 26-year-old Darian Mosley was found guilty of second-degree murder. On April 16, 2013, Mosley and his girlfriend, Amy Renee Parker, were involved in a dispute when she was fatally wounded in the stomach with a gunshot. According to Mosley, he threatened to leave their home during the argument, gathered his things, including a .22 caliber rifle, and the weapon went off as Parker attempted to stop him from leaving. He was sentenced to 20 years minimum in prison; the sentence was subject to protest by local Rev. Harvey Johnson and John Barnett of True Healing Under God (THUG).

A $3.9 million bond

In August of this year, Kevin Ernest Dalton, 51, of U.S. 70 West, Marion, was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for repeatedly violating domestic protective orders. In February 2015, Dalton received a DVO preventing him from being on the property of his parents, Wilbur and Margie Dalton, which he reportedly violated five times, often to commit crimes. He was placed under an initial bond of $3.9 million, among the highest ever in McDowell. In February 2016, Dalton attempted to escape jail after contraband and damage was found to his cell, deputies said.

Old Fort Four sentenced in sex crime

Three of the defendants dubbed by supporters as the Old Fort Four were sentenced to prison in 2016 for sex with a 15-year-old girl. In February 2015, the McDowell Sheriffs Office charged Cameron Laray Moore, 22, of Flat Creek Road, Black Mountain; Eugene Bernard Carson, 26, of John F. Bynums Road, Old Fort; Gregory Antonio Quitman, 22, of Cedar Drive, Marion; and Chad Marcus Logan, 25, of Burning Tree Court, Black Mountain, with a combined 11 counts of statutory rape after the suspects were reported to have inappropriate contact with the 15-year-old victim. Carson was sentenced to five- to 10 years in February of this year, Moore was sentenced to five- to 10 years in prison in March and Logan was sentenced to 66 months minimum in September. Supporters of the four said the sentences were too harsh given the circumstances of the crime. Quitmans next appearance will be January 2017.

Arson in Clear Creek fire

A wildfire on Clear Creek Road was ignited at midnight on Nov. 20 and lasted for three weeks. McDowell fire departments and investigators and agencies from across the country responded to the fire while a burning ban was in effect. An investigation determined that the Clear Creek fire, as well as others that blazed through McDowell and WNC were most likely caused by arson. By Dec. 2, the fire was 100 percent contained and estimated at 3,163 acres. The suspect is still at large.
The many-year process of transferring barges of Europe-IIb type to ownership of Ukrainian Danube Navigation (Odesa region) was finished on December 13 in Vienna, the press service of Ukrainian Danube Navigation has reported.

Twenty seven years ago, in 1989, Sovkomflot signed a contract with Austria's BAWAG leasing GmbH to build Europe-IIb type barges. When the USSR dissolved, Ukrainian Danube Navigation became the legal successor of liabilities of Sovkomflot.

Under the agreement, the advance payment of 15% of the cost of the barges was paid, and the rest of the sum was to be paid under a schedule. However, there were breaks in the schedule during more than 25 years and then payments were stopped due to financial difficulties of the enterprise over the UN embargo against Yugoslavia, war in this country and destruction of bridges on the Danube River.

As of December 2014, the debt for building the barges was over EUR 7 million and around EUR 2 of interest.

"After long talks Ukrainian Danube Navigation managed to arrange the reduction of the debt by 90% in 2015 with BAWAG leasing GmbH and Osterreichische Kontrollbank AG (OeKB) acted as a guarantor of the Austrian government. The debt was cut to EUR 1.5 million if it is paid under the schedule before November 30, 2016," the company said.

The debt was settled on November 24, and on December 13, 60 barges were transferred to ownership of Ukrainian Danube Navigation in Vienna.

Ukrainian Danube Navigation performs over 30% of the transportation on the Danube River. The company's fleet includes nearly 400 self-propelled and towed river vessels, and 30 seagoing vessels.
Director of the Department of Middle East and Africa of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine Andriy Zayets has expressed hope that the visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman to Israel will take place in 2017.

"We hope that the visit of the Ukrainian premier to the state of Israel will happen next year. Let the emotions calm down. This time will allow us to make progress on specific issues, and then the PM's visit will be even more effective than it would be today - on the day of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries," he said on TV channel 5 on Monday evening.

Zayets also said that the Ukrainian side had well prepared for the vote on Resolution No. 2334 in the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the situation in the Middle East.

"We weighed the pros and cons, and as a result, the decision was made by the leadership, which has been implemented by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations," the diplomat said.

As reported, on December 23, 2016 the UNSC adopted resolution No. 2334, which urges Israel to stop building settlements in the Palestinian territories. All UNSC member states voted in favor of the above mentioned resolution except the U.S. which abstained, but didn't use its right of veto.

The document contains the demand for Israel and Palestine to make steps to prevent acts of violence against civilians and to make an effort to begin "credible negotiations" on issues related to final status and affiliation of the disputed territories.

The Israeli side immediately reacted quite negatively to the results of voting. The Israeli media criticized Ukraine's stance on the UNSC resolution.

Prime Minister Groysman postponed his visit to Israel, which was previously scheduled for December 27-28.

On December 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered all his ministers not to travel to the countries which voted against Israel in the UNSC for the next three weeks.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine summoned the Israeli ambassador to Kyiv to clear up the situation with voting for the resolution of the UNSC and concerning the cancellation of the visit of the Ukrainian premier to Israel.
December 27, 2016

Request for Quotations

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Connections : 1x Port USB 2.0 Type B (3 en 1), 1x Composante D-sub 15 broches, 1x Svideo;

Noise level : 37 dBA (normal mode), 29 dBA (economy mode);

Screen size de 0,75 a 7,5 m;

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Projection distance: 1, 80 - 2, 20 m

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Bloomberg, Tuesday, December 27, 2016 9:54 AM

Safilo Group SpA, the eyewear company that makes frames for Dior, Fendi and Hugo Boss, is looking to succeed in a high-tech category where even Google has struggled: smart glasses. The Italian company is debuting a set of Internet-connected spectacles next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Unlike Google Glass, a product that was discontinued last year, the Safilo frames wont have a camera or display -- theyll just look like regular glasses.

Read the whole story at Bloomberg 
by Tobi Elkin @tobielkin, December 27, 2016

Jessica Rovello is CEO/co-founder of Arkadium, a provider of interactive content for publishers that attempts to engage audiences and keep them on-site longer. The company counts The Washington Post Co., CNN, USA Today, Hearst, and the Los Angeles Times among the 450 publisher clients using its technology to boost on-site audience engagement and retention.

Rovello recently shared some of her opinions with Real-Time Daily on a controversial topic: fake news.

RTD: You say the industry will take on fake newshow?

Rovello: Fake news has always been a problem in the digital media era. Traditionally, however, it lived on the fringes of the long-tail Web. Unfortunately, that changed in 2016 when fake election news stories actually outperformed real election news stories across Facebook and Google. As fake news has become mainstream, curbing its spread will be one of the media industrys biggest challenges in 2017.

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Its up to publishers to take an active role here. As a first step, they need to re-evaluate partnerships with content recommendation services. As publisher revenue has flattened, more outlets have turned to content recommendation platforms, like Taboola and Outbrain. More than 80% of todays top 50 news publishers use these services, according to ChangeAdvertising.org.

Unfortunately, at least 30% of the content recommended is either misleading or fake. Publishers can help limit the scale of fake content by demanding stricter guidelines on the types of stories promoted on their pages.

Fake news is problematic for everyone. We have access to more information than ever. We have to sort through the content thats truthful. Its not a publisher issue or an ad-tech issue:its a democratic issue, in my opinion. A lot of people are fooled into thinking that the snappy headlines are real news stories.

RTD: Is fake news just a publisher problem?

Rovello: Its not. Change needs to come from the advertiser side as well. The digital ad ecosystem has evolved into an almost fully automated process. Most ads are algorithmically served across thousands of sites, with little human curation to ensure that all publishers are legitimate. This enables creators of fake news content to know that ads will be blindly displayed on their properties in order to remain viable.

RTD: Youve said that publishers will take on the issue of fake news with stricter guidelines on companies like Taboola and Outbrain. What do you mean?

Rovello: When a publisher signs up for a relationship with a Taboola or an Outbrain, it has editorial control over what will show up in those content recommendation units. Publishers will take a more restrictive look at what is showing up in those content recommendation engines. Thats already happening.

This will mean a squeeze on their business; theyre in a difficult position. A publisher needs the control to get rid of fake content on their sites. The truth is that the people paying the highest amount for the clicks on this type of content, are the ones publishing the fake news. Theres a reason why when you look at those content recommendations, youre seeing re-circulated articles. Theyre being used to generate revenue and to recommend another page on a publishers site. Publishers have realized that readers have caught on.

RTD:Youve said that Facebook and Google will take on fake news by using more human curation and judgement. What do you mean?

Rovello: Facebook and Google have already started to take steps to prevent fake news. Theyve said theyll fact-check and do human curation. Its a great first step. It may happen by bringing on human editors or working with third parties. Facebook is working with the Poynter Institute to corroborate sources.

They also could whitelist and blacklist. For example, they could whitelist credible sources like The New York Times. They could also blacklist content creators that are suspect. Theres a combination of both whitelisting and blacklisting that could occur.

There may be emerging news outlets that are doing credible journalism with human curation, and they will need to be identified. Facebook can use a combination of algorithms and human curation to determine whether outlets are doing legitimate news or trying to profit from fake news.

Both Facebook and Google have ad products that are used throughout the Web. They could tighten their restriction on the types of sites that have access to their ad products.

If the content creators cant make money from fake news stories, they wont be incentivized. Blocking fake news will need more resources. Human curation is central to evaluating news content; it cant be an automated process. Automation has only empowered the problem. In 2017, expect more ad tech platforms to build their own editorial divisions with dedicated editorial directors to take on fake news.

RTD: You believe that fake news will drive millennials back into the arms of legacy news publishers. Thats interesting -- how so?

Rovello: Millennials are increasingly skeptical of traditional news organizations. Six years ago, according to Pew Research Center, 40% of millennials said that news media ultimately had a positive impact on U.S. society. Fast forward, and Pew finds just 27% describing the impact as positive. As millennial cynicism about traditional news organizations has grown, its no coincidence that fake news has exploded as audiences seek out alternative media sources.

Millennials are likely turn back to traditional news and legacy publishers if the fake news phenomenon continues. This is because, as a group, millennials value authenticity. In fact, 43% of millennials, according to data from Elite Daily, rank authenticity above all when consuming news stories. Fake news content obviously doesnt measure up. While negative perceptions of traditional news media have opened the door for fact-free content to spread, millennial awareness of the problem will only make legacy media more attractive.

With the election cycle, millennials saw firsthand that fake news could impact their thinking. Theyve grown up with unlimited access to informationso what can they believe? To be educated and informed is important to them, and they dont want to waste their time determining whether news is from a fake news outlet or not.

But the window of opportunity for legacy publishers to get their attention is pretty short. The challenge will be to embrace visual storytelling so publishers can not only get, but hold this generation. They wont read a 1,500-word storylook at Snapchat and Buzzfeed. The challenge: how do you get creative and unique visual storytelling into legitimate news?
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 27, 2016

As Google moves forward into mobile-first indexing, initially the algorithm will not take mobile Web site speed into consideration as it does for desktop, says John Mueller, a Google Webmaster Trends analyst based in Switzerland.

"I don't think we can do that from the beginning," Mueller revealed Tuesday during a Webmaster Central hangout live stream aimed at publishers and Webmasters. "In the same way we use speed for desktop [indexing and ranking], I dont see us doing that in the beginning. It's something we would like to do in the long run."

Google began experimenting with mobile-first indexing in November 2016. The company said that eventually, if tests prove positive, its algorithms would primarily use the mobile version of a Web site's content to rank pages from that site.

Google also will rank for instructional CSS hidden content for the mobile-first index, whether hidden or not from the site visitor's view, but the company will demote boilerplate content -- especially the type of content repeated on ecommerce sites.

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If the main content is copied one-for-one from other sites then Google will index the pages, because the page on the ecommerce site will be mostly unique. Mueller said Google's technology will try to index and serve the most appropriate page in search query results, even if multiple pages show the same boilerplate copy. Google recognizes that the text snippet is duplicated across a number of pages.

Mueller also recognizes that this will not change how Google populates its entity database for its mobile-first index.

When it comes to rankings in search results on google.com, tying the content to current events like a presidential inauguration make a difference, as well as completely unique content and links from relevant Web sites connected to the content.

Mueller reminded Webmaster viewers that the mobile-first indexing remains a text, similar to the "tons of tests" Google runs all the time, from ranking to color changes. Most of the time, when someone searches they are in the middle of some sort of test, he said.
Verkhovna Rada Deputy Nadia Savchenko has announced the launch of her new political project, dubbed "Runa Social Platform" in Lviv on Tuesday.

Savchenko posted a placard presenting the new movement on her Facebook page. It is adorned with the movement's logo, a red-and-black four-leafed logo, and main attributes: the movement (Rukh) of active thinking Ukrainians, Reforms of the Ukrainian people in order to change the system, the revolution of Ukrainian people to fulfill the aims of the Revolution of Dignity. Nadia Savchenko is listed as the head of the platform.

The announcement made on Monday says an online press conference will take place in Lviv's Press Club located on 11 Shevchenko Street at 11.00 a.m. on December 27. The press conference is titled "Conception of systemic change in Ukraine as a unitary and decentralized republic."

As earlier reported, on December 13 Savchenko said she had weeks earlier left the Batkivschyna [Fatherland] Party faction in parliament. Savchenko said she signed the paperwork on October 26.

The Batkivschyna faction formally expelled her from its faction later, saying it had put her on the ticket during the 2014 parliamentary elections in order to help free her from the Russian jail. Faction leaders said the principles and political convictions of Savchenko and the party do not coincide. Batkivschyna party leaders criticized Savchenko's decision to negotiate with leaders of the self-proclaimed Russia-backed militant groups in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Savchenko has not coordinated her actions with the faction or party in the launch of her new political project.

On December 22 Ukraine's parliament supported a resolution excluding Savchenko from the Rada's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Ukraine. Savchenko has said she is willing to join parliament's delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
by Larissa Faw , December 27, 2016

Mainstream portrayals of sex and sexuality can be cliched.

Now, LifeStyles Condoms is introducing the Smart is Sexy campaign that at first glance, appears to support outdated concepts surrounding sexiness. Upon closer look, it suggests that sexy is more about intelligence, confidence, ambition, and open-mindedness.

Globally conceptualized by Germany-based +KNAUSS Agency and executed in the U.S. by the AMP Agency, the campaign kicked off simultaneously in the U.S., Brazil and Australia, with China and Europe debuting in early 2017. The effort includes digital, social and out-of-home executions.

The videos were specifically designed to be skip-able YouTube pre-roll ads and work with the Silent Autoplay Function in the Facebook timeline.

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One ad, for instance, shows a beautiful girl rolling around on the floor and playing with a cat that first says "honestly, I find a guy with a big 'bleep' sexy" to reveal that the beeped word is actually personality. The clip has attracted more than 38,000 views.

The inspiration for Smart is Sexy came directly from our key demographic, the millennial consumer, stated Jeyan Heper, president/GM, sexual wellness global business unit, Ansell.

In various focus groups, millennials explained to us that self-confidence and sexiness are directly linked, and young adults need to smarten up by recognizing that sexiness does not only come from superficial beauty, physical exposure or sexual performance, but from feeling self-confident and sexy about yourself as you are, Heper added.

In addition to traditional channels, the U.S. campaigns features this unique interactive vending machine activation that prompts users to answer five questions about sexual health in order to receive a free condom sample. Questions range from stats on STIs and contraception to the history of condoms.

The machine first debuted as a pop-up in New York Citys Washington Square Park on November 18 before moving to NYCs Webster Hall before traveling to various locations including city-centers, nightclubs and bars, and colleges and universities.

In February, parent company Ansell updated the LifeStyles brand with new packaging, Web site, and new products. This redesign was initiated to build excitement surrounding safe sex, highlight pleasure enhancing product attributes, and appeal to the brands key millennial demographic with a bold new look, they say.

Ansell reports sales growth of its sexual wellness brands that include LifeStyles and Skyn Condoms are up 8% thanks to strong growth in emerging markets, particularly China. However, Ansell did recently announce it has retained Goldman Sachs to assist in the review of "options" for this business segment.

Ansell divides its products into four main divisions: medical, industrial, single use and sexual wellness.
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 27, 2016

Amazon, which spearheaded using text and images across its marketplace, has been spotted running Google Product Listing Ads (PLAs).

PLAs have grown to dominate conversations from Google search results, basically because each combines an image and text.

"In Q4 2016, PLAs will produce just under half of all retailers Google search ad clicks, but between two-thirds and three-quarters of clicks on non-brand queries," Mark Ballard, senior research director at the agency Merkle.

The shift toward mobile also has generated interest in PLA. "With less competing real estate on phone results, PLAs also generate a higher share of ad clicks on mobile than desktop," Ballard wrote.

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For the most part, marketers noticed Amazon running PLAs last week, but since then Ballard noticed a decline in the ability to trigger the ads.

Ballard analyzed Googles AdWords Auction Insights report to get a better sense of retail search programs on Amazon.

"For about half of the programs I checked, Amazon is not listed at all, but for the others, Amazon first pops up on December 20," he wrote. "It is anecdotal, but Amazon seems to be showing up more consistently for home goods retailers."

Ballard believes that if Amazon ramps up running Google PLAs in "earnest" in 2017, it will have major ramifications for retailer search advertisers, as well as for Google and Amazon.

"If Amazon fully invests in Google PLAs, it will attract a large number of clicks at the expense of the vast majority of Googles other PLA advertisers," Ballard told Search Marketing Daily. "These retailers will be forced to accept lower traffic levels or pay more per click to maintain their current PLA click volume."

He wouldn't typically expect one new competitor to have much overall impact on the search auction, but Amazon is unique in its scale and ability to offer products at the lowest prices, so its impact on the PLA market would likely be significant.

Jonathan Kagan, senior director of search and biddable media at MARC USA Results: Digital, agrees. He said the ramifications could be a diversion of budget away from Google and toward Amazon. In some cases Amazon would need to share its revenue with Google. "It's an algorithm tweak," he said.
Researchers of the TGF-beta and Cancer group of Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), in collaboration with King's College London, have unveiled the role of NADPH oxidase NOX4 as an inhibitor of the epithelial-amoeboid transition, a process that contributes to the migration and invasion of tumor cells. The study has just been published in the journal Oncogene.

In previous studies, the researchers suggested that NOX4 acts as a tumor suppressor in the liver, through inhibiting cell proliferation. "In this work, we proved that NOX4 also is an important inhibitor of the invasion and metastasis of liver tumor cells," explains Dr. Isabel Fabregat, leader of the IDIBELL research group.

In vitro studies indicate that NOX4 silencing in liver tumor cells induces a migratory movement known as amoeboid. The amoeboid movement, related to cell contractility, is regulated by the Rho family of proteins; increased expression of these proteins results in this type of movement, associated with aggressive metastases.

In the study in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, it was observed that a significant number of cases present NOX4 deletions; in addition, those patients with a low expression of NOX4 and a high expression of Rho proteins had a much worse prognosis. "This gives to our in vitro study a translational relevance, since it brings forward new prognostic biomarkers for this type of cancer", the IDIBELL researcher comments.

NOX4 is regulated at the transcriptional level by the TGF-beta cytokine, which has been studied by the research group for more than 15 years. It is known that TGF-beta acts as a tumor suppressor in early stages, but it becomes an inductor in late ones. According to previous studies of the group, when the expression level of NOX4 is high, TGF-beta behaves like a suppressor so the use of drugs inhibiting TGF-beta would be counterproductive. The present study suggests that when the expression levels of NOX4 are low and those of Rho proteins are high, patients could be ideal candidates for this type of drug. "Thus, low expression of NOX4 could not only be used as a marker of poor prognosis but also as a marker for the use of TGF-beta inhibitory drugs," concludes Dr. Fabregat.

The work, whose main author is Eva Crosas-Molist, was co-directed by Victoria Sanz Moreno, from King's College, and Isabel Fabregat from IDIBELL. These findings have redirected the research line of the IDIBELL group, which will now focus on in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms regulated by NOX4 in liver cancer.
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Riccardo Superina, says Daniel is one of the smallest transplant patients the hospital has ever operated on - weighing in at less than 9 pounds. The organ came from a 30 year old donor. The liver was split into 2 - one piece was given to Daniel, and the other was given to an adult patient."It's one in a million, you know. I can't ever remember having something like this happen. We were prepared to wait a few monthsin fact at one point I think the plan was to evaluate one of the parents for donations," said surgeon Riccardo Superina.Daniel's parents expressed sorrow for the donor's family as well as profound thanks. "This is a Christmas we'll never forget," says dad Daniel McCabe.Source: Medindia
Earlier if someone found a few thousand extra in their bank accounts, they would have jumped in joy and excitement despite being aware of the technical fault that made them rich. But ever since the currency demonetisation was announced, even those thousands of rupees would scare the shit out of you. So, imagine the condition of people who found crores in their accounts, which was neither theirs nor can they use it.

 Twitter

Sheetal Singh, a 42-year-old woman who works at a factory in Meerut, took the balance statement of her Jan Dhan bank account on December 18 and was left aghast with what was written on it. Her bank account was credited with nearly Rs. 100 crore, not Rs. 9 crore or Rs. 99 Lakhs, but over Rs. 99 crore! No, she does not have any mysterious benefactor; its actually the bank officials who became her personal Santa (thanks to the technical glitch). Earlier a chaiwala in Jaipur was surprised to find over Rs. 4 crore in his account.

 Twitter

For a woman whose monthly income is Rs. 5,000, we are sure seeing such a huge sum would have driven her crazy and sent her in a state of shock. Sheetal, a resident of Madhavpuram, Meerut got her fair share of fame when she became a billionaire for almost a week. The moment this news spread, the bank officials confirmed that the credited amount is nothing but a technical mistake.

I had gone to check the balance of my account on December 18 when to my surprise the mini bank statement from the ATM read that my account had Rs. 99,99,99,394, Sheetal said. Had it been Rs. 10,000 or Rs. 20,000 credited by mistake, probably I would have been happy but seeing such a large amount scared me and I immediately spoke to my husband about it, she further added. They approached the bank officials, but did not get any response from them.

 Twitter

However, recently the bank officials accepted that it was a technical error. Ravikant Singh, Meerut district coordinator, SBI, said, Sheetal had not submitted her Know Your Customer (KYC) documents due to which her account was put on hold. But while putting her bank account on hold, due to a technical glitch, the available balance showed Rs. 99,99,99,394. He further added, The glitch has been corrected now and bank account will be opened for transactions once the KYC documents are submitted. Her bank account now has Rs. 611.

Sheetals husband, Jiledar Singh, later wrote a letter to Prime Ministers Office (PMO) notifying them of this incident. I wrote an email to PMO to inform them about the huge amount that has been credited to our account without our knowledge. The account was opened in May this year and we had deposited just Rs. 500 in it. So the huge transaction was obviously a shock, her husband said. We wonder how our PM would react to this incident.

Source: Times Of India
ATO headquarters reports 37 shelling attacks including armor ones on its positions in past 24 hours

Over the past day the Russian-occupation forces continued shelling our positions totaling to 37 shelling.

According to the ATO headquarters, Shyrokyne in the Mariupol sector was thrice fired by tanks. There were also recorded the 122-mm artillery shelling and infantry combat vehicles weapons. Invaders fired Talakivka and Shyrokyne from mortars of various calibers. Shyrokyne, Maryinka, Pavlopil and Vodiane were shelled from rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. Ukrainian military were forced to once return fire in Shyrokyne area in order to preserve the lives of the Ukrainian military personnel.

Luhanske was shelled from mortars in the Donetsk direction. Rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were used to attack Avdiyivka, Opytne, Yuzhne, Zaitseve and Luhanske.

Stanytsa Luhanska in the Luhansk direction was fired using grenade launchers.
The delegation of Ukraine on the fact of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2334 on the situation in the Middle East stands for peaceful settlement of the conflict.

"We stand for peaceful coexistence of two independent States  Israel and Palestine. The settlement of the conflict must be carried out only through peaceful means. However, we emphasize the need for direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations," the Foreign Ministry's commentary says published by the department's press service on Sunday night.

The Foreign ministry says that Ukraine as well as other permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council and also the UN Secretary General for its part more than once condemned the settlement activities of the state of Israel, because it is contrary to the international law.

"We also condemn the violence and incitement to it from the Palestinian side," the Ukrainian side said.

The text of the resolution is balanced. It calls for taking measures necessary for peaceful solution from both Israeli and Palestinian sides: "Israel should stop its settlement activities, while Palestinian authorities  to take effective measures toward fighting against terrorism."

Our country consistently advocates the respect for the international law by everyone and everywhere "as it has experienced itself the tragic consequences brought by its violation."

"Thats why our position was formed on the basis of our consistent line to ensure the respect for the international law by all its subjects," the ministry said.
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Ukraine's SBU State Security Service has detailed information about the two Ukrainian servicemen taken hostage, but will not comment, SBU advisor Yuriy Tandit has said.

"The SBU has detailed information about our two missing servicemen, who have become hostages. We will not comment on this information," Tandit said during an interview with 112 TV on Tuesday, in reply to a question about how the soldiers were taken prison in Luhansk region on Monday and their current whereabouts.

As earlier reported, late on Monday, December 26, information was received at the Anti-Terrorist Operation center that communications had been lost with two soldiers.

"Around 16.00 on December 26, 2016 near the Zolote military checkpoint two servicemen from a unit stationed in Luhansk who were returning on motor transport from a medical institution took the wrong road and entered territory controlled by militants. There has been no communication with them since," the ATO press center said.

ATO speaker for the Defense Minister Oleksandr Motuzianyk on Tuesday said it is highly likely that the missing servicemen were captured and taken to Luhansk.
Those involved in a criminal group lead by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who agreed to cooperate with investigators, have already compensated hundreds of millions of hryvnias of losses to the state, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"At present, I would not want to disclose the progress in the matter of agreements with people from organized criminal groups of Yanukovych, [businessman Serhiy] Kurchenko, and [former Minister of Tax and Revenue Oleksandr] Klymenko. There are more than ten of them already. Moreover, the state has received hundreds of millions of hryvnias to compensate for the losses from those who acknowledged they were members of the group and reimbursed some financial losses to the state," the prosecutor general told reporters on Tuesday during his working trip to Kramatorsk, Donetsk region.
Former member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation has given evidence to Ukrainian investigators in the criminal proceedings into high treason by ex-president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko has said.

"I can confirm [Prosecutor of Main Military Prosecutor's Office] Ruslan Kravchenko's words that one of the witnesses who gave very important testimony is a former deputy of the Russian State Duma. He testified about the impact of the letter signed [by Yanukovych] with an appeal to Putin to bring troops to Ukraine on the decision of the State Duma to sanction the use of Russian armed forces abroad," Lutsenko told reporters in Kramatorsk on Tuesday.

According to him, these statements will form the basis for future charges.

As reported, Yanukovych is suspected under two articles of the Criminal Code - Articles 110, 111 (high treason and violation of the territorial integrity of the state).
TUSCOLA COUNTY  At the first of the year, Glen Skrent will lose his "wing man," who is also his friend, boss and mentor.

Tuscola County Sheriff Lee Teschendorf will retire Dec. 31, after more than 40 years in law enforcement, and his undersheriff, Skrent, will take over as sheriff.

"We used to duck hunt together back in the old days," joked Skrent. "He was a better wing shot so he would shoot the ducks and I was the retriever."

Although he joked about their relationship, Skrent was serious when he said Teschendorf will be missed.

"I have had 10 bosses in my life time and he was by the far the easiest to please, work with and get support from. He would  even as sheriff  give up a Christmas to fill in for a correction deputy who needed the time off but no one else was available," said Skrent. "He always took into consideration the employee and public's feelings on something before he acted."

Teschendorf has been sheriff for eight years, and has more than 43 years of service in all.

For his dedication of "protecting and serving," he received a state resolution from 31st District Senator Mike Green, R-Mayville, and 84th State Representative Edward Canfield, R-Sebewaing.

"The departure of this exceptional individual, who has routinely proven his selfless commitment over the past 40 years, leaves in its wake a legacy which members of the office proudly and dutifully honor in his noticeable absence," the resolution stated.

Teschendorf noted there has been many changes since he first started in law enforcement  computers, the quick availability and sharing of information, forensics, weapons including tasers, as well as computers and cameras in patrol cars.

At one time or another, he has worked nearly every aspect of the sheriff's department: deputy, patrol sergeant, lieutenant  jail administrator, and sheriff. He was sworn in as a Tuscola County Deputy April 2, 1973, and received several commendations over the years.

"Despite a traffic collision while on a routine traffic stop that left him with serious injuries, the young deputy was unfaltering in his efforts and was promoted to road patrol sergeant in 1981," explained the resolution noting Teschendorf was assigned as jail administrator in 1985, jail lieutenant in 1996, officer of the year in 2004, and became sheriff in 2008.

Over the years, there have been many challenges for Teschendorf from tight budgets, to jail overcrowding and more. He constantly made financial changes to keep the department within budget, oversaw the expansion to add more beds to the jail, and implemented some innovative programs. A few of those programs include the Chaplains Corps to help in crisis situations for victims and responders who were affected by handling tragic situations, taking back unwanted prescription drugs so they don't fall into the wrong hands, and coordinating child safety seat inspections.

A celebration of Teschendorf's career and award presentation was held in the jail's basement last week.

"It was crowded and hard to get around in that basement of ours," said Skrent, estimating a couple of hundred people turned out to honor his boss.

Teschendorf noted he has no qualms about retiring because Skrent is capable and very familiar with the department's operations, so the transition will be smooth.

Teschendorf led by example, and he is well respected by those who know him.

"We are losing many professionals in the law enforcement community who are retiring," said Skrent. "Hopefully, we all paid attention to how they worked and got along with the public to carry on the tradition of 'doing the right thing for the right reason.'"

Besides working to uphold the law, Teschendorf is active in his community in civic groups such as the Greater Thumb Area Lodge #148 Fraternal Order of Police, a charter member of the Caro Squadron #7 Sons of the American Legion, Michigan Sheriff's Association, Central Michigan Police Chief's Association, Caro Rotary Club, the Thumb Narcotics Unit, the Tuscola Senior Citizens TRIAD, the Tuscola County United Way.

An avid sportsman, he is active in Tuscola County Ducks Unlimited, Thumb Area Pheasants Forever, Caro Whitetails Unlimited, Tuscola County Conservation Club and the Richville Conservation Club, and he is a member of the National Rifle Association.

Teschendorf graduated from Vassar High School in 1967, and earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University.

His last day will be Dec. 31. He plans to spend more time with his family, and says he will find something to do to keep busy.
UBLY  Ubly Community Schools recently hosted its second Life Skills day.

The day is dedicated to preparing students for skills they will need to be successful in their everyday life. Students attended rotations on: health and wellness, cooking, taxes, budgets/check book balance, car repair and social media etiquette. To help with the car repair, students went out to the bus garage to learn about changing a tire, jump starting a car and checking fluid levels. Students were also given an informational sheet on the different parts of a car. At least one student plans to put the sheet in their glove compartment.

Ubly students also welcomed three Northstar Bank employees who spoke with students about budgeting and balancing a check book. Students in grades 10-12 received an information packet on how to plan and budget for everyday expenses, as well as learn how much credit card use and interest can add up.

Ubly Schools plans to host two more Life Skills days this school year.
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Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation A/S, B&R Industrial Automation AB, B&R Industrial Automation Co. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Corp., B&R Industrial Automation GmbH, B&R Industrial Automation Iberica S.L.U., B&R Industrial Automation Inc., B&R Industrial Automation Pte. Ltd., B&R Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd., B&R Industrie-Automation AG, B&R Industriele Automatisering B.V., B&R K.K., B+R Automation Industrielle SARL, B+R Industrial Automation OOO, B+R automatizace spol. s.r.o., BR Endustriyel Otomasyon Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Baldor Electric Company, Busch-Jaeger Elektro GmbH, Chargedot, Cherokee India Pvt. Ltd., Codian Robotics, Codian Robotics B.V., Codian Robotics of the Americas, Combustion Engineering Inc., Cylon Controls, Cylon Controls Limited, Cylon Energy Inc., DynaMotive Ltd., ELBI Elektrik, Edison Holding Corporation, Enervalis NV, Envitech Energy, Epyon, GE Industrial Solutions, Gomtec, Gresin Grupo Estudios Industriales, IMV Invertomatic Victron UK Limited, In-Charge Energy, Industrial C&S Hungary Kft., Industrial C&S of P.R. LLC, Industrial Connections & Solutions LLC, Industrial Connections of SA Pty. Ltd., Intrimmo BVBA, Jinan ABB SRI Rail Transit Equipment Technology Co. Ltd., Jordan Acquisition Group, KEYMILE - Business, Kaufel S.A., Kuhlman Electric Corp., Lineage Overseas LLC, Lineage Power (Argentina) S.R.L., Lineage Power (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., Lineage Power China Co. Ltd., Lineage Power Holdings Inc., Lineage Power Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Lorentzen & Wettre, Los Gatos Research, Mincom, NUB3D S.L., Newave Energy Holding, Newron System, PT ABB Sakti Industri, Pinghu Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Power-One, Powercorp, Powertel India Pvt. Ltd., RGM - Rail vehicle power business, RMI Automation Co. Ltd., SVIA, SWISS TURBOCHARGERS SA DE CV, Saudi Industrial Solutions Ltd., Shanghai Zhuangbest Technology Development Co. Ltd., Shantou Winride Switchgear Co. Ltd., Sirius Holdings B.V., Smart Power Technology Co. Ltd., Spirit IT, Swissturbo (Shanghai) Investment Limited, SynerLeap powered by ABB AB, TURBO SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TURBO SYSTEMS ITALY S.P.A., TURBO SYSTEMS RUS LLC, TURBO-SUPERIOR SYSTEMS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, TURBOCHARGING GREECE SINGLE MEMBER SA, Thomas & Betts, Thomas & Betts Saudi Arabia Limited Liability Co., Trasfor, Tropos Networks, Turbo Systems Argentina S.A., Turbo Systems Canada Inc, Turbo Systems Colombia SAS, Turbo Systems Dominican Republic SRL, Turbo Systems Finland Oy, Turbo Systems Germany GmbH, Turbo Systems Holding Ltd, Turbo Systems Iberia S.L., Turbo Systems Korea Ltd., Turbo Systems Myanmar Limited, Turbo Systems Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbo Systems South East Asia Pte. Ltd., Turbo Systems Switzerland Ltd, Turbo Systems The Netherlands B.V., Turbo Systems Turkey Muhendislik Makine Sanayi Ve TicaretAnonim Sirketi, Turbo Systems US Inc., Turbo Systems United Co. Ltd., Turbo Systems Verwaltungs Ltd, Turbocharging Bangladesh Limited, Turbocharging Brasil Ltda., Turbocharging Systems Co. Ltd., Turbocharging Systems France SAS, Turbocharging UK Limited, Turbosystems Nigeria Limited LTD, Validus DC Systems, Vectek Electronics, Ventyx, Verdi Holding Corporation, W.J. Furse & Co. Ltd., Yangzhou SAC Switchgear Co. Ltd, and Zhejiang Chargedot New Energy Technology Co. Ltd..

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(Xinhua) 21:08, December 26, 2016

BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two astronauts of the Shenzhou-11 spaceflight mission were awarded medals for their service to China's space endeavors.

Jing Haipeng, 50, commander of the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, was honored with a first-class aerospace achievement medal, and Chen Dong, 38, was conferred a third-class medal and the honorary title "heroic astronaut."

Launched on Oct. 17, Shenzhou-11 docked two days later with China's first space lab, Tiangong-2, where the two astronauts lived for 30 days, the longest time Chinese astronauts have spent in space.

It was the third space mission for Jing, who also participated in the Shenzhou-7 and Shenzhou-9 missions. It was Chen's first space mission.

The Shenzhou-11 mission is part of China's ambitious plan to build a permanent manned space station.
Dollar General Corporation, a discount retailer, provides various merchandise products in the southern, southwestern, Midwestern, and eastern United States. It offers consumable products, including paper and cleaning products, such as paper towels, bath tissues, paper dinnerware, trash and storage bags, disinfectants, and laundry products; packaged food comprising cereals, pasta, canned soups, fruits and vegetables, condiments, spices, sugar, and flour; and perishables that include milk, eggs, bread, refrigerated and frozen food, beer, and wine. The company's consumable products also comprise snacks, such as candies, cookies, crackers, salty snacks, and carbonated beverages; health and beauty products, including over-the-counter medicines and personal care products, such as soaps, body washes, shampoos, cosmetics, and dental hygiene and foot care products; pet supplies and pet food; and tobacco products. In addition, it offers seasonal products comprising holiday items, toys, batteries, small electronics, greeting cards, stationery, prepaid phones and accessories, gardening supplies, hardware, and automotive and home office supplies; and home products that include kitchen supplies, cookware, small appliances, light bulbs, storage containers, frames, candles, craft supplies and kitchen, and bed and bath soft goods. Further, the company provides apparel, which comprise casual everyday apparel for infants, toddlers, girls, boys, women, and men, as well as socks, underwear, disposable diapers, shoes, and accessories. As of February 25, 2022, it operated 18,190 stores in 47 states in the United States. The company was formerly known as J.L. Turner & Son, Inc. and changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968. Dollar General Corporation was founded in 1939 and is based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services comprise credit, and deposit and investment solutions, as well as international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services. The Wealth Management segment comprises investment solutions, trust services, banking services, lending services, and other wealth management solutions. The Financial Markets segment offers corporate banking, advisory, and capital markets services; and project financing, debt, and equity underwriting; advisory services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and financing. The U.S. Specialty Finance and International segment provides specialty finance products; financial products and services to individuals and businesses in Cambodia; and investment solutions, guaranteed investment certificates, mutual funds, notes, structured products, and monetization. It provides its services through a network of 384 branches and 927 banking machines. National Bank of Canada was founded in 1859 and is based in Montreal, Canada.
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.
EnerSys provides various stored energy solutions for industrial applications worldwide. It operates in three segments: Energy Systems, Motive Power, and Specialty. The company offers uninterruptible power systems applications for computer and computer-controlled systems, as well as telecommunications systems; switchgear and electrical control systems used in industrial facilities and electric utilities, large-scale energy storage, and energy pipelines; integrated power solutions and services to broadband, telecom, renewable, and industrial customers; and thermally managed cabinets and enclosures for electronic equipment and batteries. It also provides motive power products that are used to provide power for electric industrial forklifts used in manufacturing, warehousing, and other material handling applications. In addition, the company offers mining equipment, diesel locomotive starting, and other rail equipment. Further, it provides specialty batteries for starting, lighting, and ignition applications in transportation; and energy solutions for satellites, military aircraft, submarines, ships, and other tactical vehicles, as well as medical and security systems. Additionally, the company offers battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories, and outdoor cabinet enclosures, as well as related after-market and customer-support services for industrial batteries. The company sells its products through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and internal sales forces. The company was formerly known as Yuasa, Inc. and changed its name to EnerSys in January 2001. EnerSys was incorporated in 2000 and is headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania.
News from different sources has pointed to the direction that China and the Vatican might reach a breakthrough agreement over the normalization of diplomatic ties after 65 years of estrangement.

A spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry also noted Monday that China is willing to work alongside the Vatican to make new headway in conducting constructive bilateral dialogues and improving bilateral relations.

For any political entity seeking to establish diplomatic relations with Beijing, acknowledgement of the one-China policy and a promise not to interfere in China's internal affairs are two requisite requirements.

Under the framework of the two principles, there is not necessarily no room to negotiate a way to collaborate and solve the current disputes between China and the Vatican.

One of the biggest divergences between Beijing and the Holy See focuses on the appointment of bishops in churches across China.

Yet after years of dialogue, ideas such as inviting the Vatican to recognize bishops elected by the Chinese side can be viewed as a possible way to bridge the division. Meanwhile, the question over Taiwan is no longer a question.

There has been some positive communication between the two sides over the years. Pope Francis sent a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulating him on becoming the new leader of China in March 2013.

A year later, Beijing allowed the pope for the first time to transit Chinese airspace on his way to South Korea, and Pope Francis sent his best wishes to Xi as well as the Chinese people as he flew over China.

In 2015, the pope expressed that he would "really love to go to China" and earlier this year he described China as a "great country" in an interview.

These gestures of goodwill are without doubt positive signs, yet they are not enough for any major progress in the bilateral relationship. Both nations will surely confront challenges and obstacles for another step forward, yet it is about time to make a real push for a breakthrough against all odds.

Normalizing ties with the Vatican will symbolize Beijing's completion in establishing diplomatic relations with all Western states. Meanwhile, an official relationship with China, home to around 5.5 million members under the supervision of the State-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, "would crown a dream that the Catholic Church has cultivated for many centuries," according to a researcher at the Catholic University of Milan.

After all, such a large number of Chinese Catholics should not be excluded out of the Holy See's social network forever.

It is hoped that the rising frequency of good faith can yield more constructive dialogues and even an actual leap forward in China-Vatican relations.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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The following companies are subsidiares of International Flavors & Fragrances: 1456111 Ontario Limited, A. Boake Roberts And Company (Holding) Limited, ASA Ventures Inc., Agtech Products Inc., Alpris Ltd., Amco SP Z.O.O, ApS Syntetic, Aroma S.A., Aromatics Holdings Limited, Aromco Ltd., Aromor, Arvin Company, Asian Investments Inc., Atelier du Parfumeur IFF Grasse SAS, BKF Vision Ltd, BSA India Food Ingr. P. Ltd., Belden Company, Branch office of DuPont Protein Technologies International Sales LLC, Bremil Industria e Comercio de Ingredientes Alimenticos Ltda. , Bremil S/A Industria De Produtos Alimenticos , Bush Boake Allen (New Zealand) Limited, Bush Boake Allen (Pension Trustees) Limited, Bush Boake Allen Australia Pty Ltd, Bush Boake Allen Benelux B.V., Bush Boake Allen Chile S.A., Bush Boake Allen Controladora S.A. de C.V., Bush Boake Allen Enterprises Limited, Bush Boake Allen Holdings (U.K.) Limited, Bush Boake Allen Inc., Bush Boake Allen Inc., Bush Boake Allen Limited, Bush Boake Allen Zimbabwe (Private) Limited, Bush Boake Allen do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Butamax Advanced Biofuels LLC, Chemical Process Materials and Equipment S.A., CitraSource Holdings L.L.C., Columbia PhytoTechnology LLC, Columbia Phytotechnology LLC, Cometra ApS, Crestmont Investment Co., Cultor Oy, DDP Specialty Products Germany GmbH & Co. KG, DDP Specialty Products Poland Sp. z.o.o., DSP Germany N&B Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Daivd Michael Netherlands B.V., Dandy Lions Limited, Danisco (China) Co. Ltd., Danisco (China) Holding Co. Ltd., Danisco (India) Private Limited, Danisco (Zhangjiagang) Textural Ingredients Co. Ltd., Danisco Argentina S.A., Danisco Australia Pty Limited, Danisco Austria GmbH, Danisco B.V., Danisco Biosciences (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Danisco Brasil Ltda., Danisco Canada Inc., Danisco Chile S.A., Danisco Colombia Ltda., Danisco Cultor (Switzerland) AG, Danisco Cultor Sweden AB, Danisco Cultor Trading Ltda., Danisco Czech Republic a.s., Danisco Deutschland GmbH, Danisco Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Danisco Egypt Trading LLC, Danisco Flexible Brasil Ltda, Danisco France SAS, Danisco Guatemala S.A., Danisco Holding USA Inc., Danisco Holdings (UK) Ltd., Danisco Holland B.V., Danisco Ingredients Belgium N.V., Danisco Italia S.p.A., Danisco Japan Limited, Danisco Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Danisco Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Danisco Mexico S.A. de C.V., Danisco New Zealand Limited, Danisco Nutrition & Bioscience Greece Ltd., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Korea Ltd., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Malaysia SDN. BHD., Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Taiwan Limited, Danisco Nutrition and Biosciences India Private Ltd, Danisco Peru S.A.C., Danisco Poland Sp. z.o.o, Danisco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Danisco South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Danisco Sweeteners Oy, Danisco Switzerland AG, Danisco UK Ltd., Danisco US Inc., Danisco USA Inc., Danisco Ukraine LLC, Danisco Zaandam BV, David Michael & Company (Canada) 1986 Ltd., David Michael Europe S.A.S., Du Pont de Nemours Nigeria Limited, DuPont (Shanghai) Enterprise Co. Ltd., DuPont Acquisition LLC, DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC, DuPont Denmark Holding ApS, DuPont Electronics Holding LLC, DuPont LA Holding 1 BV, DuPont Lanka (Private) Limited, DuPont Nutrition (Thailand) Ltd, DuPont Nutrition Biosciences ApS, DuPont Nutrition Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi, DuPont Nutrition Food Ingredients (Beijing) Co. Ltd., DuPont Nutrition Ingredientes BRASIL LTDA, DuPont Nutrition International, DuPont Nutrition Ireland, DuPont Nutrition Italy SRL (f/k/a FMC Chemical Italy SrL), DuPont Nutrition Manufacturing UK Limited, DuPont Nutrition Mexicana S.A de C.V., DuPont Nutrition Mexico S.A de C.V., DuPont Nutrition Norge AS, DuPont Nutrition Philippines Inc., DuPont Nutrition USA Inc, DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences Iberica S.L., DuPont Protein Technologies International Sales LLC, DuPont S&C Holding LLC, DuPont Shineway Luohe Food Company Limited , DuPont Shineway Luohe Protein Company Limited , DuPont US Holding LLC, DuPont de Nemours Kenya Limited, ERELEM, ETOL SK s.r.o., ETOL-RUS Ltd., Eden Essentials Inc., Envoltec Industria de Embalagens Ltda. , Enzymotec Australia PTY LTD, Enzymotec Singapore Pte. Ltd., Enzymotec USA Inc., Etol Aroma Ve Baharat Gida Urunleri San.Ve Tic.a.s., Etol JVE d.o.o., Etol Proizvodnja Arom D.O.O, Etol Skopje DRUSTVO ZA TRGOVIJA ETOL UVOZ-IZVOZ DOOEL, FYMSA Real Estate LLC (23), FYMSA del Caribe S.R.L , Fangchen International Trading Ltd. (6), Finnfeeds Finland Oy, Finnfeeds Oy, Finnsugar Bioproducts Inc., Flavor Systems International Inc., Flavors and Essences UK Limited, FoodBlenders Limited, Foreign Trade Representative of Danisco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fragrance Resources, Fragrance Resources (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fragrance Resources Asia Pacific Ltd., Frutarom (Asia Pacific) Limited, Frutarom (Marketing) S.R.L., Frutarom (UK) Holdings Limited, Frutarom (UK) Ltd., Frutarom - Etol (UK) Limited, Frutarom Belgium N.V., Frutarom Chile S.A., Frutarom Czech Republic S.r.o, Frutarom Do Brazil Industria E Comercio Ltda., Frutarom Etol RO SRL, Frutarom Etol Ukraine LLC., Frutarom F&F Trading (Shanghai) Co., Frutarom Finance EUR AG, Frutarom Flavors (Kushan) Co Ltd., Frutarom Flavors Mexico S.A. de C.V., Frutarom Flavours (India) Private Limited (14), Frutarom France S.A.R.L, Frutarom Germany GmbH, Frutarom Gida Urunleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Frutarom Global Ltd., Frutarom GmbH, Frutarom Industries Ld, Frutarom Industries Ltd., Frutarom Italy S.r.l, Frutarom Kenya Limited, Frutarom Ltd., Frutarom Netherlands B.V., Frutarom Nigeria Limited, Frutarom Nordic A/S Flachsmann Scandinavia A/S Aksel Holm-Essensfabrik A / S, Frutarom Norway A.S, Frutarom Peru S.A. (Montana Food activity), Frutarom Production GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Austria GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Germany GmbH, Frutarom Savory Solutions Switzerland AG, Frutarom Savory Solutions Ukraine, Frutarom Switzerland Finance CHF AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance GBP AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance MXN AG, Frutarom Switzerland Finance USD AG, Frutarom Switzerland Ltd., Frutarom Trade & Marketing (1990) Ltd., Frutarom UK Investments Limited, Frutarom USA Holding Inc., Frutarom USA Inc., Frutarom do Brasil GRU Industria e Comercio Ltda., Genencor (China) Bio-Products Co. Ltd., Genencor International B.V., Genencor International BVBA, Genencor International Holding BV, Genencor International Indiana Inc., Genencor International Oy, Genencor International Wisconsin Inc., Genencor Mauritius Ltd., Genentech Ventures Inc., Grow Company Inc., Hagelin Flv (UK) Ltd., Hexachem Sociedad Anonima, IB EMEA Holding 2 B.V., IFF (BVI) Limited, IFF (Korea) Inc., IFF Aroma Esans Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, IFF Augusta Holdings LLC, IFF Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, IFF Benicarlo S.L., IFF Bio-Technology (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., IFF Capital Services, IFF Chemical Holdings Inc., IFF Delaware Holdings LLC, IFF Essencias e Fragrancias Ltda., IFF Flavors & Fragrances (Hangzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., IFF Fragrance GmbH, IFF Hungary Global Kft, IFF International Inc., IFF Latin American Holdings (Espana) S.L., IFF Mexico Manufactura S.A. de C.V., IFF Murcia Natural Ingredients S.L., IFF Sabores y Fragancias de Chile Ltda., IFF Turkey Aroma Ve Esans Urunleri Satis Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, IFF West Africa Limited, IFF Worldwide LLC, Ingrediants dooel Skopje, Institut Europeen de Biologie Cellulaire, International Aroma Group, International Flavors & Fragrances (Canada) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Caribe) Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances (China) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Greater Asia) Pte. Ltd, International Flavors & Fragrances (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Hong Kong) Limited, International Flavors & Fragrances (Japan) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., International Flavors & Fragrances (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Mexico) S. de R.L. de C.V., International Flavors & Fragrances (Middle East) FZ-LLC, International Flavors & Fragrances (Myanmar) Limited, International Flavors & Fragrances (Nederland) Holding B.V., International Flavors & Fragrances (Philippines) Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances (Poland) Sp. z o.o., International Flavors & Fragrances (Vietnam) Limited Liability Company, International Flavors & Fragrances (ZhangJiagang) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Zhejiang) Co. Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances (Zimbabwe) (Private) Ltd., International Flavors & Fragrances Ardenne S.a r.l., International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding I SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding II SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances France Holding III SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances Holdings LLC, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Chile) Limitada, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Espana) S.A., International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Hungary) Kft, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Nederland) B.V., International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Norden) AB, International Flavors & Fragrances I.F.F. (Rus), International Flavors & Fragrances IFF (Deutschland) GmbH, International Flavors & Fragrances IFF (France) SAS, International Flavors & Fragrances Irish Acquisition Company Limited, International Flavors and Fragrances Colombia S.A.S., International Flavors and Fragrances I.F.F. (Israel) Ltd., International Flavors and Fragrances IFF (South Africa), International Flavors and Fragrances Ingredients Ltd, International Flavors e Fragrances IFF (Italia) S.r.l., International Flavours & Fragrances (Australia) Pty Ltd, International Flavours & Fragrances (CIL) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (GB) Holdings Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Mauritius) Ltd, International Flavours & Fragrances (NZ) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Pension Trustees) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances (Thailand) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances I.F.F. (Great Britain) Limited, International Flavours & Fragrances India Private Limited (13), International Frutarom Corporation, Inventive Food Technology (ZQ) Ltd., Inventive Technology Ltd., Irish Flavours and Fragrances Limited, K-Vision Consulting and Investments Ltd, Kelp Industries Pty. Ltd, Leagel GmbH (11), Leagel S.r.l. (19), Les Ingredients Alimentaires BSA Inc., Les Laboratories Bio ForeXtra Inc., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics Australia Pty Ltd, Lucas Meyer Cosmetics Canada Inc., Lucas Meyer Cosmetics S.A.S., M.P. Equity Holdings Ltd, MISR Company for Aromatic products, Manseg S.A., Mark Services Holdings Inc., N&B Chemicals Germany GmbH, N&B EMEA Holding B.V., N&B Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, N&B International Holding B.V., N&B NL BV - Saudi Branch, N&B Real Estate Verwaltungs-GmbH, N&B Services BV, N&B Switzerland  UAE Branch, N&H EMEA Holding 1 BV, N&H EMEA Holding 2 BV, N&H EMEA Holding B.V., N&H International Holding 1 B.V., N&H International Holding 3 BV, N&H Switzerland Holding Sarl, Nardi Armoas Ltda., Neptune Merger Sub I Inc., Neptune Merger Sub II LLC, New Asia Holdco B.V., Nutra-Lease Ltd. (16), Nutrition & Bioscience (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Nutrition & Bioscience (Switzerland) GmbH, Nutrition & Bioscience (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Nutrition & Bioscience Pakistan (Private) Ltd, Nutrition & Biosciences (Finland) Oy, Nutrition & Biosciences (France) SAS, Nutrition & Biosciences (Sweden) AB, Nutrition & Biosciences (UK) Ltd, Nutrition & Biosciences Argentina S.A.U., Nutrition & Biosciences Australia Pty Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences Brasil Ingredientes Ltda., Nutrition & Biosciences Canada Company, Nutrition & Biosciences Chile SpA, Nutrition & Biosciences Colombia S.A.S, Nutrition & Biosciences Hong Kong Limited, Nutrition & Biosciences Hungary Limited Liability Company, Nutrition & Biosciences Inc., Nutrition & Biosciences Italy S.r.l., Nutrition & Biosciences Japan K.K., Nutrition & Biosciences Korea Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Nutrition & Biosciences Netherlands B.V., Nutrition & Biosciences New Zealand Limited, Nutrition & Biosciences Singapore Pte. Ltd., Nutrition & Biosciences USA 1 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences USA 2 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences USA 3 LLC, Nutrition & Biosciences Vietnam Company Limited, Nutrition Biosciences USA 4 Inc, Nutrition and Biosciences South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Nutrition and Biosciences Spain S.L., OOO WIBERG Rus, P.T. Essence Indonesia, PARMA FA, PIASA USA (24), PM Taiwan Inc., PT Blue Cube Indonesia, PTI Astana LLC, PTI CA LLC, PTI Center LLC, PTI Group of Companies LLC (GK PTI), PTI-BEL TUE, PTI-MOL LLC, PTI-NN LLC, PTI-Ukraine LLC, Platinum Absolut LLC, Pointer Specialty Chemicals LLC, Protein Technologies Do Brasil Ltda., Protein Technologies International Asia Pacific LLC, Protein Technologies International Development LLC, Protein Technologies International Europe LLC, Proveedores de Ingenieria Alimentaria S.A. de C.V. ("PIASA") (17), Prowin International Ltd., Pucheng Yongfang Fragrance Technology Co. Ltd. , Redbrook (UK) Limited, Redbrook Blentech Limited, Redbrook Ingredient Services Limited, Rene Laurent SAS, Representaciones FYMSA S.A. de C.V (FYMSA) (18), Rohm and Haas Wood Treatment LLC, SP EMEA Holding 8 BV, SP Holding IB Inc., SP Nutrition and Health (Singapore) Inc., Sabormax Industria de Alimentos e Representacao Ltda., Savoury Flavours (Holding) Limited, Savoury Flavours Ltd., Solae (UK) Limited, Solae Argentina S.A., Solae Australia Pty Limited, Solae Belgium N.V., Solae Company India Private Limited, Solae Denmark ApS, Solae Deutschland GmbH (f/k/a CSY Agri-Processing (Deutschland) GmbH), Solae Do Brasil Industria E Comercio De Alimentos Ltda., Solae Europe S.A., Solae Holdings LLC, Solae Investimentos LTDA, Solae LLC (SMLLC of Solae Holdings), Solae Overseas B.V., Solae Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Solae de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (formerly PTI Mexico), Solae do Brasil Holdings Ltda., Sonarome Private Limited (15), Southern Cross Botanicals Pty Ltd, Specialty Products Balkans d.o.o., Specialty Products FZE, Specialty Products N&H Inc, Specialty Products US LLC, Speximo AB, TNI Investments NV, Tastepoint Flavors (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Tastepoint Inc., Tastepoint OOO, Tastepoint Polska Sp.z o.o, Tastepoint SA (Pty) Ltd., Tastepoint Tovarna arom in etericnih olj d.o.o., Taura Natural Ingredients (Australia) Pty Limited, Taura Natural Ingredients (North America) Inc., Taura Natural Ingredients Holdings Pty Limited, Taura Natural Ingredients Ltd., Taura Natural Ingredients NV, Tekhnomol Soya Products LLC, The Additive Advantage LLC, The Additive Advantage LLC, The Foote & Jenks Corporation, The Mighty Company Limited (21), Thorungaverksmidjan HF (12), UFC America Inc., Unique Flavors Proprietary Limited, Unique Food Solutions Proprietary Limited, Unique Ingredients Limited, VAYA PHARMA HONKG LTD, VITIVA proizvodnja in storitve d.d., Vantodio Holdings Limited, Vaya Pharma Inc., Vaya Pharma Pte Ltd. (20), Venezuela Protein Technologies Internationla -PTI C.A., W.W. Holdings Inc., WIBERG Italia S.r.l., Wiberg Baharat San.Tic.A.S, Wiberg Canada Inc., Wiberg Corporation of California, Wiberg Corporation., Yderns 1 ApS, ZAO Danisco, extrakt chemie Dr. Bruno Stellmach GmbH, iDrug Delivery Inc.(Delaware) (22), nternational Flavors & Fragrances S.R.L., van Ameringen-Haebler Inc., and world wide WIBERG GmbH.

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AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company offers various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its products include A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, bearings, belts and hoses, calipers, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition and lighting products, mufflers, radiators, starters and alternators, thermostats, and water pumps, as well as tire repairs. In addition, the company offers maintenance products, such as antifreeze and windshield washer fluids; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; brake and power steering fluids, and oil and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, cabin, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paints and accessories; refrigerants and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wipers. Further, it provides air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, interior and exterior accessories, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products, as well as towing services. Additionally, the company provides a sales program that offers commercial credit and delivery of parts and other products; sells automotive diagnostic and repair software under the ALLDATA brand through alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through autozone.com. As of August 27, 2022, it operated 6,168 stores in the United States; 703 stores in Mexico; and 72 stores in Brazil. The company was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III Scots L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Aoba Life Insurance Company Ltd., Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI Ireland L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI US L.P., Dale/P Minerals Limited Partnership, Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Horizon GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sprint GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Harvest Asset Management LLC, Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Kyouei Nenkin Home, LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., Lotus Reinsurance Company Ltd., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Montana Capital Partners, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund A LP, Northbound Emerging Manager Fund II - A LP, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Desert Falcon Farms Manager LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI River Bend Ranches LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PG Friendly Partners Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM AC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory Shanghai Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Australia Pty Ltd, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Feeder VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM Custom Harvest LLC, PGIM DC Co-Invest GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC JV GP Pte. Ltd., PGIM DC Solutions LLC, PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM Holdings Limited, PGIM Hong Kong Ltd., PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM IRELAND LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments Ireland Limited, PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management Shanghai Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital Ireland Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM QUANTITATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC, PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Global Master Fund GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles II S de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Japan Ltd., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. CORE Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate UK Limited, PGIM Scots Limited, PGIM Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Shanghai Company Ltd., PGIM Singapore Pte. Ltd., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM Taronga Investor GP LLC, PGIM U.S. Agriculture Fund LP, PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Wadhwani LLP, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings UK Limited, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP SCOTS FEEDER LLP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF Debt Fund Manager LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica Business Consulting Shanghai Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Pramerica Insurance Agency China Company Ltd., Pramerica Luxembourg CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate Scots LP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I Scotland Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Scots Feeder LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Netherlands GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI Scots Limited Partnership, Pramerica Scots CP GP LLP, Preco III Scotland Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Inc., Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd. Prudential Gibraltar Agency Kabushiki Kaisha, Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Select Strategies LLC, Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Tax Services LLC, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service, Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy US Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., VIP Australia Holding Company LLC, VIP Australia Trustee Pty Ltd, Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I Ireland L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I US L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC.

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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 Archer-Daniels-Midland: 3 Grain Elevators, ACT Exportacao Ltda., ADGENE LABORATOIRE, ADM (Dalian) Animal Health & Nutrition Co. Ltd., ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., ADM (Thailand) Ltd., ADM AGRO S.R.L., ADM Ag Holding Limited, ADM Agri Services Greece MEPE, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agricultural Commodities Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S.L.U., ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Kota & Akola Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries Latur & Vizag Private Limited, ADM Agroinvestimentos Ltda., ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S. de R.L., ADM Andina Peru S.R.L., ADM Animal Health & Nutrition (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Cambodia) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Xiangtan) Co. Ltd., ADM Animal Nutrition (Zhangzhou) Co. Ltd., ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Armazens Gerais Ltda., ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Australia Pty. Limited, ADM Bazancourt SASU, ADM Besin ve Tarim Anonim Sirketi, ADM Bio-Productos S.A. de C.V., ADM Bio-Science & Technology (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., ADM Bulgaria Trading EOOD, ADM CARIBBEAN INC., ADM Chile Comercial Limitada, ADM Clinton BioProcessing Inc., ADM Czernin S.A., ADM DO BRASIL LTDA., ADM Direct Polska Sp. z o.o., ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana S.A., ADM EMEA Corporate Services GmbH, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc., ADM Egypt LLC, ADM El Salvador Ltda. de C.V., ADM Europe Holdco S.L., ADM European Management Holding B.V. & Co. KG, ADM Expatriate Services Inc., ADM Export Co., ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM Food Technology (Pinghu) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Fuels Company, ADM German Holdings B.V., ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain Costa Rica S.R.L., ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Grain de Venezuela C.A., ADM Guatemala Limitada, ADM Hamburg Aktiengesellschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) Ltd., ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Honduras S.de R.L., ADM INGREDIENTS S.R.L., ADM Inca S.A.C., ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc., ADM International Sarl, ADM Investments Limited, ADM Investor Services Inc., ADM Investor Services International Limited, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Italia S.r.l., ADM Japan Ltd., ADM Latin America Inc., ADM Logistics Inc., ADM MANAGEMENT LTD., ADM MOROCCO S.A., ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Malbork S.A., ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc., ADM Mexico S.A. de C.V., ADM Milling Co., ADM Milling Limited, ADM Myanmar Company Limited, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Nicaragua SA, ADM Nutrition Holding d.o.o. Beograd, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM PORTUGAL SA, ADM Panama S. De R.L., ADM Paraguay S.R.L., ADM Participacoes Ltda., ADM Poland Sp. z o.o., ADM Protexin Inc., ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Razgrad EAD, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc., ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., ADM STF DMCC, ADM STF Pte. Ltd., ADM STF Switzerland Sarl, ADM Services B.V., ADM Slovakia s.r.o., ADM Specialty Ingredients (Europe) B.V., ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Sweden AB, ADM Szamotuly Sp. z o.o., ADM Trading (UK) Limited, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Company, ADM Trading Cote D'Ivoire, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc., ADM Unterstutzungskasse GmbH, ADM Uruguay SCA, ADM Ventures Investment Corp., ADM WILD Europe GmbH & Co. KG, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Netherlands B.V., ADM WILD SEE Kft, ADM WILD Valencia SAU, ADM Wild Gida Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, ADM Wild UK Limited, ADM Worldwide Holdings L.P., ADMEcuador CIA. Ltda., ADMIS Holding Company Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong Limited, ADMIS SINGAPORE PTE. LIMITED, AGRANIX, AIC Seguros SRL, AMT West LLC, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Brasil Ltda., Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Company, Agriserve, Agrograin Ltd., Agrograin Ltd. Sucursal Uruguay, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C. Toepfer International Exportacao e Importacao Ltda., Alfred C. Toepfer International Netherlands B.V., Alimenta USA, Alimentos Texo SA de CV, American River Transportation Co. LLC, Ameriseed, Anco Animal Nutrition Competence GmbH, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia-Pacific Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Company South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Europe B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Europoort B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Korea LLC, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland B.V., Archer Daniels Midland Singapore Pte. Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Vietnam Company Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Wild Nigeria Ltd., Archer Financial Services Inc., Archer-Daniels-Midland Philippines Inc., Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, BIOPOLIS S.L., BQ Railroad Company, BTECH Tecnologias Agropecuarias e Comercio Ltda., Balanceados Nova S.A. Balnova, Balto Holdco LLC, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes Ltda., Belize Mills Limited, Belwood Company S.A., Benson-Quinn Commodities Inc., Bern Aqua, Bifodan Inc., Biopolis, CONTROLADORA ADM S.A. DE C.V., Campa Sued GmbH & Co KG, Caribbean Agro-Industries Limited, Casablancas sweetener plant, Cattleman's Choice Loomix LLC, Chamtor, Ci ADM Colombia Ltda., Columbia & Willamette Maritime Services Inc., Comhan, Compania ADM S.A. de C.V., Crosswind Petfoods Inc., DE Holdings LLC, DP Holdings LLC, Daavision B.V., Deerland Europe ApS, Deerland Holdings Inc., Deerland Ireland R&D Limited, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes A/S, Deerland Probiotics & Enzymes Inc., Eaststarch, Eatem Corporation, Eatem Foods, Elstar Oils, Empresa de Transporte La Estrella S.R.L., English River Pellets Inc., Epicore BioNetworks Inc., Epicore Ecuador S.A., Epicore Networks (U.S.A.) Inc., Erich Ziegler GmbH, Evialis (Shandong) Co. Ltd., Evialis France, Evialis Galicia S.A., Evialis India Limited, FINANCIERE FRANCO MAGYAR POUR LA NUTRITION ANIMALE - FFMNA, FISA Andina S.A.S., FISA Aromas S.A.S., Fasco Mills Co., Federation Sahanala Vanille, Filozoo SRL, Flavor Infusion, Flavor Infusion International S.A., Florida Chemical, Florida Chemical Company LLC, Flotek Flavor & Fragrance LLC, GLOBAL COCOA HOLDINGS LTD., GP Blanching Inc., GPC Trucking Inc., GROUPE PILARDIERE, GUYOKRMA spol. s.r.o., Golden Farm Production & Commerce Company Limited, Golden Peanut Company, Golden Peanut Company LLC, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Seed SA (Pty) Ltd., Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts S.A., Green Bison Soy Processing LLC, Group Lysac, Guyomarc'h - VCN Company Limited, Guyomarc'h Vietnam Co. Ltd., Guyovital PT, HFR Shipping Company Ltd., HI-NUTRIENTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, HRA Shipping Company Ltd., HTI Shipping Company Ltd., Harvest Innovations, Hilltop Grain and Feed, Holding P & A Asia Company Limited, Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology, Ilitchevskiy Maslo Extractionniy Zavod (IMEZ), Industries Centers EOD Trade 2005 Ltd., Invivo NSA Algerie, Invivo NSA Sanpo (Tianjin) Pet Products Co. Ltd, JDS Sarl, Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, Jamaica Rice Milling Company Limited, LANCENTER S.C.A., Liquid Feed Commodities, Logus Bar Ashdod Port Ltd., Malta Industries S.A. de C.V., Malta Texo De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Maniobras Y Servicios Del Interior S.A. de C.V., Master Mix of Trinidad Unlimited, Medsofts Company LLC, Medsofts for Import Co., Medsofts for Investment LLC, Medsofts for Trade LLC (Medsofts Trading), Mepla Comercio e Navegacao Ltda., Mezclas Biomix S.A.S., Monti Foods (Pty) Ltd., Mundo Logistics S.R.L., NEC Facilities LLC, National Enzyme Company LLC, Naviera Chaco S.R.L., Neovia, Neovia Algerie SPA, Neovia Nutricao e Saude Animal Ltda., Neovia Philippines Inc., North Star Shipping S.R.L., NutraDine, NutraDine LLC, NutriMix Feed Company Inc., Nutrilac, Olenex C.V., Olsen's Mill Inc. Four Grain Storage Elevators, P & A Marketing SA, PANCOSMA FRANCE S.A.S, PJSC ADM Illichivsk, PT ADM Indonesia Trading and Logistics, Pancosma & Associates Marketing (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Jiangsu) Feed Additive Co. Ltd., Pancosma (Shanghai) Feed Additives Co. Ltd., Pancosma Canada Inc., Pancosma Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pancosma North America Inc., Pancosma SA, Pedigree Ovens, Pedigree Ovens LLC, PetDine, PetDine LLC, Prairie Pride - Biodiesel Production Plant, Premiere Agri Technologies Asia Inc., Premiere Agri Technologies of Mexico Inc., Proservicios Potencial Humano S.A. de C.V., Provit Sp. z o.o., Pura Foods Limited, Rodelle Inc., SANICOOPA, SDJ Sarl, SORA Laboratories LLC, Sartco Ltda., Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann, Sermix, Servad S.R.L, Setna Nutricion S.A., Silo P. Kruse Betriebs-GmbH & Co. KG, Silo-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH, Societe Industrielle des Oleagineux-SIO, SojaProtein d.o.o. Becej, Sojaprotein, Southern Cellulose Products Inc., Soy Investors LLC, Specialty Commodities, Specialty Commodities LLC, Sul Mineira Alimentos Ltda., Syngenta - Dry Bean Business, Szabadegyhazai Szolgaltato es Vagyonkezeklo KFT, Terminal Stevedores Inc., Terminales De Cargas Especializadas S.A. De C.V., The Pound Bakery, The Pound Bakery LLC, Toepfer International, Toepfer International Trading (Shanghai) Co. LTD., UPSCIENCE ITALIA S.R.L., Upscience, VIA CHEM GROUP a.s. Oilseed Processing Plant, Vantage Corn Processors LLC, WILD Flavors, Wild Amazon Flavors Concentrados e Corantes para Bebidas Ltda., Wild Flavors (Canada) Inc., Wild Flavors Austria GmbH, Wild Flavors Inc., Wild Flavors International GmbH, Wild Flavors Kenya Limited, Wild Flavors Middle East FZE, Wild Flavors Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Flavors S.A. de C.V., Wild Intermare GmbH, Wild Polska Sp. z o.o., Wild Russia LLC, Wild Tunesia Sarl, Wisium SA (Pty) Ltd., World's Finest Chocolate - New Cocoa Powder Line, and Yerbalatina Ltda..

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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.
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...
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay homage to American war dead Tuesday at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor in a controversial visit that has been denounced by China.

President Barack Obama will escort Abe to the Arizona, which was sunk by Japanese warplanes from the Imperial Japanese Fleet 75 years ago and is the final resting place for most of the 1,177 sailors and Marines on board who were killed in the attack.

Obama will also take Abe to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam field which was strafed and bombed in the Japanese surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941, that killed more than 2,400 Americans and brought the U.S. into World War II.

In all, a total of 2,335 sailors, soldiers and Marines were killed in the attack, as well as 68 civilians, and at least another 1,100 were wounded, according to the National Park Service which maintains the Arizona Memorial.

In a statement last week, the White house said that the Obama-Abe meeting will be "an opportunity for the two leaders to review our joint efforts over the past four years to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, including our close cooperation on a number of security, economic, and global challenges."

The meeting will also "showcase the power of reconciliation that has turned former adversaries into the closest of allies, united by common interests and shared values," the White House said.

Abe may not be the first Japanese prime minister to go to the Arizona site -- Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida is believed to have visited during a stop in Hawaii in 1951 -- but Abe will be the first to participate in an official ceremony.

Abe's trip to Pearl Harbor was a response to Obama's wreath-laying visit last May to Hiroshima, the first by an American president to the scene of the first atomic bombing of a city.

In a speech to a silent crowd at the Hiroshima National Peace, Obama envisioned a world without nuclear weapons. Much like the Arizona Memorial, the Hiroshima site is a place of solemn pilgrimage to recall the loss and horrors of war.

"We have known the agony of war. Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons," Obama later wrote in the visitors' book.

President-elect Donald Trump, who criticized Japan during the campaign for not paying enough for its own defense, has made no comment thus far on Abe's visit. When Obama visited Hiroshima, Trump went on Twitter to state: "Does President Obama ever discuss the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor while he's in Japan? Thousands of American lives lost."

On Nov. 17, Trump met with Abe at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with the president-elect.

Obama made no formal apology for the bombing of Hiroshima, or the following nuclear attack on Nagasaki, and the Japanese Foreign Ministry, in announcing Abe's Pearl Harbor visit earlier this month, said he also would make no formal apology while offering condolences and calling for a lasting peace.

For Abe, his presence at the Arizona Memorial will culminate a decades-long struggle by Japan to deal with its wartime legacy of brutal aggression. For rightists in Japan, the war in the Pacific was a response to a U.S. oil embargo and efforts to thwart Japan's creation of a "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere."

Guidelines from the Japanese Ministry of Education call on students to learn that "Japan caused tremendous damage to many countries, especially in Asia, and that Japan also suffered unprecedented damages in the Tokyo air raids, the battle of Okinawa and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki," according to The New York Times.

Attempts by Abe and his backers to gloss over Japan's history and omit wartime atrocities have enraged China, where an estimated 20 million Chinese died fighting the Japanese in the 1930s and 1940s, and South Korea, which Japan ruled as a colony from 1910 to 1945.

On Dec. 7, the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang called on Abe to take a "correct attitude" on Japanese militarism and war crimes during his visit to Hawaii.

"The international community pays close attention to whether Japan has a sincere and correct attitude towards that period of history," Lu said, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The Pentagon this month opened an exhibit on the Vietnam War along a third-floor "A ring" corridor that included the policy mistakes and the bitter lessons learned that Defense Secretary Ashton Carter called "difficult to swallow."

There were examples of the "things they carried" and the weapons that were used, by and against them, as well as a chronological history of the last American war fought by draftees.

Inside a glass display were several of the old flip-open cigarette lighters used by grunts to fire up the four-packs, usually unfiltered Pall Malls, that came with the C-rations. The fading inscription on one of the lighters at the back of the case was difficult to read but on closer inspection stated: "Da Nang, Vietnam -- I believe I'll go into heaven because I've spent my lifetime in hell."

The feeling was common among those in the infantry. There was a standing joke among some junior Marine officers that "mission" was actually the ever-missing second paragraph for Vietnam in what was then the five-paragraph SMEAC order: Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration and Logistics, Command and Control.

What was the fundamental mission of the estimated nine million who served in the Vietnam era, and the more than 58,000 whose names are etched on the black granite walls of the Vietnam War Memorial?

Several presidents had struggled for an answer and Vietnam veteran and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who joined with Carter at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibit, was no different.

"It was a difficult time to serve this country," said Hagel, an Army sergeant who received two Purple Hearts during the conflict. It was also a difficult time to come home from the war, Hagel said.

The former Republican senator from Nebraska noted that when he served in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968, there were riots in the street. President Lyndon B. Johnson chose not to run for re-election. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy of New York were assassinated.

"There was tremendous social unrest everywhere, and that too was happening in our armed forces," Hagel said. "It was a difficult time inside those armed forces for our officers, our enlisted, and with a real question as to what the clear purpose of the war was.

"Unfortunately, our Vietnam veterans came back to a country that was not only ungrateful, but their service was vilified," Hagel added. "These men and women didn't have anything to do with the policy that put us in Vietnam, but they served this country and they served it as honorably as any generation in the history of this country has served.

"This exhibit very much reflects all that and pays tribute to men and women who never asked for anything in return. They never came back to any expectations -- they wanted to get on with their lives and put that war experience behind them," Hagel said.

The displays included replicas of Huey helicopters and an M-14 rifle, which was replaced by the M-16 during the war. Vietnam vets still argue about the merits of that decision. In another case was an AK-47 Kalashnikov rifle, which was standard issue for the NVA, or North Vietnamese Army, and the VC, or Viet Cong.

There were also displays of some of the devices foisted on the troops by Pentagon bureaucrats that resulted in colossal wastes of time and effort. There was the Seismic Intrusion Detector, or SID, which was intended to pick up enemy movements.

The SIDs were meant to play an integral part in the so-called "McNamara line," named for then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, which was to be a system of sensors across the De-Militarized Zone separating North and South Vietnam. The SIDs were useless, and so was the McNamara line.

The chronological history part of the exhibit included fateful policy statements from a series of presidents on U.S. involvement. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower posed the "falling domino" theory. Abandoning what was then called Indochina would lead to the fall of other countries to communism and pose threats "incalculable to the free world," Eisenhower said.

In 1963, in a statement that has echoes for America's current wars, President John F. Kennedy said of the South Vietnamese forces, "We can help them, we can give them equipment, we can send our men out there as advisers, but they have to win it, the people of Vietnam, against the Communists."

The exhibit was part of the nation's official 50th anniversary commemoration of the Vietnam War that recognizes the 20-year span from Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.

Nov. 1, 1955, was chosen to coincide with the official designation of Military Assistance Advisory Group-Vietnam (MAAG-V), and May 15, 1975, marked the seizure of the merchant ship Mayaguez, which was the last official battle of the war.

By presidential proclamation issued May 25, 2012, the official period of the 50th anniversary commemoration extends from Memorial Day 2012 through Veterans Day 2025.

Although the Mayaguez may have been the last official fight, the war never really ended for the returning troops.

Much like today's generation of vets, the Vietnam veterans coming home "needed advocates to help them navigate a convoluted government bureaucracy and claim the benefits that were rightfully theirs," according to a Defense Department statement included in the exhibit.

Nearby was a quote from Col. Albert J. Nahas, a West Point graduate who served in Vietnam in 1968 through 1970: "We heard the call. We answered with our service. We paid the price for others. Let them remember."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Rescuers carry the body of a victim of Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154 crash on the Black Sea coast off Sochi, Russia, Dec 25, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Russian rescuers found Monday the first parts of the Syria-bound military plane that plunged into the Black Sea, as officials said they do not suspect terrorism as the reason for the crash that killed 92 people on board.

The Tu-154 jet, whose passengers included more than 60 members of the internationally-renowned Red Army Choir, was heading to Moscow's military base in Syria when it went down off the resort city of Sochi shortly after take-off Sunday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday over the crash of the plane.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi expressed deep sympathy over the accident and extended his sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

Investigators have yet to confirm the cause of the crash, but officials said that an act of terror was not being considered as a possible explanation, despite the plane and its black boxes still being underwater.

A spokesperson for the Sochi-based search and rescue branch of the emergency ministry confirmed that parts of the plane had been found underwater.

"The debris is at the depth of 27 meters 1.6 kilometers from shore," spokeswoman Rimma Chernova told AFP.

The Russian military added that divers had retrieved "two elements of the plane's control mechanism."

Russia's federal security service said it is looking into four suspected causes of the crash, which do not include terrorism.

"No signs or facts pointing to a possible act of terror have been received at this time," Russia's Federal Security Service said in a statement.

The probe is focusing on a pilot error, a technical fault, bad fuel and a foreign object in the engine as four main scenarios, it added.

More than three thousand people are racing to find the remaining bodies and debris in a massive operation that includes 45 vessels, planes, helicopters, and drones, along with divers and remotely-operated deep-water machines.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said some of the bodies could have already been carried off by the "strong current" to Abkhazia.
Ray Conner, the Vice Chairman of U.S. aerospace giant Boeing, has reiterated the huge importance of China to his company.

CNN cites Mr. Conner as stating that 150,000 jobs at Boeing depend on contracts and orders with China.

Boeing executives are thought to be concerned about the rhetoric of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He has threatened to impose new tariffs on trade with China, which could well be self-defeating and harm businesses like Boeing.

Earlier in the week, we reported that one of Mr. Trump's tweets cost U.S. defence giant Lockheed Martin in excess of $2 billion.

That's because the stock market was concerned about the financial implications to the company of Trump's proposed cost-cutting. As a result, Lockheed Martin's share price fell by around 4 percent.

Although China's domestic aircraft manufacturing industry continues to grow at a remarkable pace, the projected growth of demand over the next few years means that the country will buy as much as $1 trillion worth of aircraft from Airbus and Boeing.
China plans to launch its first Mars probe by 2020 to carry out orbiting and roving exploration, said a white paper released by the State Council Information Office on Tuesday.

"China intends to execute its first Mars exploration operation, and grasp key technologies for orbiting, landing and roving exploration," said the document titled "China's Space Activities in 2016."

It will conduct further studies and key technological research on the bringing back of samples from Mars, asteroid exploration, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, according to the white paper.

"When conditions allow, related projects will be implemented to conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life," it said.
you are here:
(Xinhua) 13:52, December 27, 2016

China plans to achieve major discoveries and breakthroughs in the frontier areas of space science, according to a white paper released on Tuesday.

Targeting major frontier areas of space science and technology, China will implement a series of new space science satellite programs in the next five years to further mankind's knowledge of the universe, said the white paper.

Scientists will seek evidence of the existence of dark matter by using dark matter particle exploration satellites to detect high-energy electrons and high-energy gamma rays in the universe.

China also plans to launch a hard X-ray modulation telescope to study the matter dynamics and high-energy radiation processes in the strong gravitational field of compact celestial bodies and black holes.

Scientists will research large-scale structure and interaction models of solar wind and the magnetosphere, and the response to magnetospheric substorm change process.

Shijian-10 recoverable satellite, Chang'e lunar probes, Shenzhouspacecraft, Tiangong-2 space laboratory and Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft are to be used to implement scientific experiments and research in biology, life sciences, medicine and materials in the space environment.

The country will also carry out quantum experiments in space.

According to the white paper, China will carry out basic research into sun-earth space environment, space climate, and solar activity and its impact on space climate, and implement space-related interdisciplinary research as well.

The white paper said China is to perform experiments on new space technologies to provide solid technological support for its space industry.
business Pain due to demonetisation, political compulsions: Bharat Fin Speaking to CNBC-TV18 PH Ravikumar, Non-exec Chairman, Bharat Financial said that they are perhaps the only sub-20 percent charging rural finance MFI.
A high-speed train runs in east Chinas Zhejiang Province. [File Photo: sohu.com]

China's first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project in the railway sector began construction in East China's Zhejiang Province, while experts noted that issues such as ownership, pricing power and operation still need to be solved.

The 269-kilometer-long rail that connects Hangzhou, Shaoxing and Taizhou in Zhejiang Province is the first PPP-funded high-speed railway project controlled by private investment, according to a statement posted on the website of China Railway Fifth Survey and Design Institute Group Co on Friday.

The investment for the venture stands at 44.9 billion yuan (6.46 billion USD), of which private investments account for 51 percent, the statement noted.

Private investors including Fosun Group, Zhejiang Wanfeng Auto Holding Group and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will have a franchise period of 30 years, four years for construction and the rest for operation, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The project is one of eight demonstration projects of social investment in the railway sector, according to an announcement by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in January.

Part of the reason these projects were shortlisted by the NDRC is that they are high-value investment targets, Sun Zhang, a transport professor at Tongji University, told the Global Times Monday.

"The railway line, located in the eastern coastal area, has good prospects for making a profit," Sun said, noting that the profitability is linked to the population density and income level of the areas it passes through.

"The rail network under the administration of the Shanghai railway authority, for instance, accounts for one-sixth of the national total mileage but serves one-fifth of the country's customers," he explained.

In Beijing's Daxing district, a new airport line started construction on Monday. The 41.36-kilometer railway is the first project in Beijing's railway transportation sector to attract social investors in investment, construction and operation management through a PPP model, a separate Xinhua report said.

The social investors include a conglomerate of eight companies, representing an investment of around 15 billion yuan, according to Xinhua.

"Driven by a shortage of attractive investment targets, large flows of private capital are leaving the real economy and entering the virtual economy, causing the real economy to splutter and increasing financial risks. Against this backdrop, it is vital for the government to have platforms such as PPP that channel some liquidity back to infrastructure projects such as railways," Dong Dengxin, a professor at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, told the Global Times Monday.

The latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that private fixed-assets investment totaled 33.11 trillion yuan in the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 3.1 percent year-on-year. During the same period, the volume of private fixed-assets investment represented 61.5 percent of the national total, declining 3.1 percentage points year-on-year.

Cooperation Mode

A high-speed train runs in east Chinas Zhejiang Province. [File Photo: sina.com]

Sun noted that clearly established ownership is very important for these new railways, given China Railway Corp's large volume of debt.

China Railway's debt volume totaled 4.21 trillion yuan by the first half of 2016, domestic news portal nbd.com.cn reported in September, citing the company's financial report.

"Investors should only be responsible for the very section of the railway they want to invest in, and they should not be inheriting liabilities for any other sections, which are substantial," Sun said.

Pricing power is another important issue that needs to be solved, Dong said.

"While private capital in this project has the controlling stake, the pricing mechanism should also take into consideration the railway's nature of being an infrastructure serving for public good. There will be some mechanism of checks and balances being developed as the construction of the railway progresses," he explained.

Undisturbed connectivity and independence will be the dominating features for PPP-funded railways, Sun said.

"When the railway is completed and put into operation in the future, trains belonging to any company could use it, being part of a sprawling network across the whole country, but there will also be a mechanism determining how much the user of the road should pay the owner," he said.

Sun noted that options for future operations are open. For instance, if investors think they are not experienced in operating a railway, they could hire the authority to operate the rail on their behalf and reap the rewards.
December 27, 2016

Syria Roundup: Aleppo Liberated - Turkey's Problems Increase

As planned by the Russian forces the liberation of east-Aleppo was completed before Christmas. There are no longer beheadings by Takfiris in East-Aleppo. Instead a Christmas mass could be held in the damaged Elias Cathedral in the Old City in east-Aleppo.



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A total of about 88,000 people left the area during the evacuation of east-Aleppo. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross some 35,000 (13,000 militants and their immediate families) left to al-Qaeda held areas in Idleb governate. The UN Humanitarian Relief Organization found that 54,000 entered the government held west Aleppo.

Currently the area is searched by sapper teams and several hidden bombs were found. Several exploded and killed dozens of Syrian army soldiers. Mass graves were found of Syrian soldiers and civilians executed by al-Qaeda, Ahrar al Sham and other U.S. supported groups, presumably shortly before their evacuation. The Syrian government had wanted to negotiate their release before the evacuation. But an estimate of the additional death toll by a prolonged presence of the Takfiris during negotiations was high and international politics demanded a fast solution of the crisis.

Many weapon and food storage were found as well as intact health clinics. The fighters and their families were obviously well supplied while the rest of the population suffered. The weapons and ammunition found (video of just one stash - 1, 2) - mostly produced in Bulgaria, paid by the Saudis and transported and distributed by the U.S. - are estimated to be about $100 million in value.

The Turkish forces and some of its Syrian Islamist proxies are trying to capture Al-Bab, east of Aleppo, from Islamic State forces. Their "Euphrates Shield" operation has run into severe problems. The proxy forces ran away instead of fighting ISIS. On Dec 22 a suicide bomber killed some 16 Turkish soldiers. In total some 80-90 Turkish soldiers were killed during the short campaign so far - more than Russian soldiers killed in Syria since the start of their campaign more than a year ago. Ten of the most modern tanks in the Turkish army, German build Leopard 2A4, have been damaged or destroyed by ISIS forces. These use U.S. manufactured TOW anti-tank missiles provided by the CIA to support "moderate rebels" fighting the Syrian government. ISIS pictures of battle damage in Al-Bab show UK/U.S. supported "White Helmets" doing "rescue" work.

The Turkish army now sent 500 additional special forces as well as artillery to get a hold of Al-Bab. Turkish jets are not allowed in Syrian air space and the U.S. has denied all air support. Today the Russian air forces(!) gave air support to Turkish troops fighting ISIS in Al-Bab. (Remember that not so long ago neocon propagandists were claiming that Russias Giving ISIS An Air Force.)

In east-Syria ISIS is again trying to capture the government held enclave in Deir Ezzor but has failed so far to make any gain. Kurdish YPG forces and some bribed tribal Arab groups with the (rather funny) name Syrian Democratic Forces, both under U.S. command, slowly approach the ISIS held city of Raqqa.

Shortly before Christmas the U.S. president signed a new directive that allows the distribution of air-defense MANPADs to "moderate rebels" in Syria. Like with the TOWs the CIA distributed to "moderate rebels" some of these MANPADs will inevitably end up with ISIS and may well be used against civilian airliners outside of Syria. The Kurdish YPG/SDF also wants these weapons though their only potential enemy with an air forces is the Turkish NATO army. The Russians understand the distribution of MANPADs to their enemies in Syria as a "hostile act" and will likely response in kind.

With his losses in Syria accumulating the Turkish president Erdogan now accused the U.S. of supporting ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria - groups Erdogan himself supported until the probably U.S. induced coup against him was warded. His permanent ideological U-turns (pro-ISIS/anti-ISIS; pro-Russian/anti-Russian/pro-Russian etc) are taking a toll with his followers. (The economic problems don't help either.) The recent assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey by some Islamist policeman can be seen as a result of these confusions.

Erdogan followers are not the only ones who are getting confused about the various actors, allies and interests in Syria. Elijah Magnier has written an insightful year-end recap about the current "Regional and international balance in the Levant". Part one covers the Turkish shifts in the Syrian war and part two Russias role in the Syrian war and the tactical differences with Iran. He concludes:

Syria is headed toward more battles but a peace deal is visible on the 2017 horizon. Sometimes diplomacy necessitates the language of guns and fire to impose peace on the participants. One thing is certain: the jihadists certainly will not be laying down their arms for the simple reason that this would blow away the essence of their ideology: they would have to choose to migrate to a country outside Syria.

The first choice of the migrating Takfiris will be Turkey where they have a support base and many followers of their ideology. With the pursuit of the war on Syria and support for radical Islamists Erdogan has put his country in the same position Pakistan had put itself when Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq supported the CIA supplied Mujahedin in Afghanistan against the progressive Afghan government in 1978. The result in Pakistan has been a slow boiling, deadly insurgency ever since. It will probably take decades for Turkey to rid the formerly secular country of such deadly cancer.

Posted by b on December 27, 2016 at 19:01 UTC | Permalink

Comments
VALDESE  Donna Powell, a fifth-grade reading teacher at Valdese Elementary School, has been nominated for the 2016-17 national LifeChanger of the Year Award.

Sponsored by the National Life Group Foundation, the national LifeChanger of the Year program recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 public and private school educators and employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence and leadership.

Powell was nominated by a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous.

Mrs. Powell is a consummate professional who is dedicated to her calling, said her nominator. She is accessible, organized and enthusiastic. The students and adults that come in daily contact with her will attest that she embodies the ideal educator.

As a reading teacher, Powell prepares for her classes well in advance using the best practices and most applicable resources available, but she adjusts her instruction as class needs ebb and flow. She is constantly researching how to improve student performance, and she uses any and all data to drive her teaching.

According to Powells nominator, students love learning because her fluid style of teaching keeps them engaged and interested.

She sees students as people, not test scores, the nominator continued. They often come back to Valdese as middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults to share their accomplishments and life experiences with her. Former students return because when they leave, they know they are loved and valued.

Each school year, the LifeChanger of the Year program receives hundreds of nominations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

For 2016-17, there will be a total of 15 individual LifeChanger of the Year awards. In addition, a 16th prize, the National Spirit Award, is given to the school and nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. Each winner will receive a cash award that is split between the individual winner and their school. The national Grand Prize award is $10,000.

Winners are announced via surprise award ceremonies held at their schools. The top five winners will also be honored at a national awards ceremony in Naples, Florida. Winners will be announced in Spring 2017.

Winners will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of former winners and education professionals. Nominees must be school district employees. Award winners are selected based on the following criteria:

 A proven ability to make a beneficial difference in the lives of students

 An ability to positively add to the development of the school's atmosphere

 Is involved in leadership activities at the school and/or community level

 A demonstrative record of excellent performance at the professional level

 A commitment to producing a nurturing atmosphere

 Adherence to high moral and ethical standards

A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at http://lifechangeroftheyearnominees.com/showspirit/.

To view Powells LifeChanger of the Year nominee profile, or to nominate someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.
Japanese media outlets adopted an ironic tone in their reports on 100 Chinese tourists stranded at the Hokkaido airport due to heavy snow Dec. 24, saying that the tourists clashed with police and caused pandemonium. The Hokkaido police admitted that displeasure had been expressed, but said it was unfair to classify the result as pandemonium or chaos.

About 10,000 tourists were stranded in the Hokkaido airport from Dec. 22 to 24. The Chinese travelers reportedly made it past the departure gate and got into skirmishes with police, who tried to pacify them, according to a Tokyo Broadcasting System report. The report then described scenes of Chinese tourists wrapped in blankets, lying peacefully on the floor.

The report has triggered heated online debate, with many Japanese netizens criticizing the Chinese tourists' behavior as "shameful." However, an insider disclosed that the police simply resolved the situation and left the airport. There was no chaos to speak of.

"Japanese media was trying to hype up [the incident]," the insider added.

On Dec. 26, the Chinese Consulate General in Sapporo announced that most of the tourists stranded at the airport were from Hong Kong and Macau. They were provided with food and water immediately after reporting the situation.
Black Knight HPI Nudges 2006 Peak

Black Knight Financial Services wrapped up the October series of national home price reports with its Home Price Index (HPI). It contained numbers nearly identical to those issued earlier in the day for the S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller National Index. Black Knight, which publicly releases numbers on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, says October home prices were up 0.2 percent from September, the same as Case-Shiller's non-seasonally adjusted estimate of change.

Prices were up 5.6 percent for the year ended in October compared to a September 2015 to September 2016 gain of 5.4 percent. It was the highest year-over-year increase for Black Knight's HPI thus far in 2016 and the 54th consecutive month of annual home price appreciation. This put the HPI at $266,000, only 0.04 percent below the peak of $267,000 reached in June 2006. The yearly increase was also identical to the corresponding Case-Shiller number.

The largest monthly HPI increases were in New York, Florida, and Washington, all achieving 0.7 percent gains. They were followed by New Jersey at 0.6 percent and Idaho at 0.5 percent. A number of states experienced negative appreciation, led by Alabama and Maryland at -0.07 percent. North Dakota and Alaska saw their HPIs decline by 0.6 percent and Nebraska by 0.5 percent.

All five of the top appreciating metro areas and eight of the top ten were in Florida. The five leaders, Daytona Beach, Punta Gorda, Lakeland, Homossa Springs, and Tampa, all had increases of 1.2 to 1.0 percent. New York City also posted a 1.0 percent increase. Tuscaloosa saw prices drop by 2.5 percent and four other Alabama metros, Aniston, Gadsden, Montgomery, and Dothan, posted losses in the 0.8 to 0.9 percent range.

Among the 20 largest states tracked by Black Knight, six hit new peaks in October, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Among the 40 largest metros new peaks were established in Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, San Antonio, and Seattle.

The Black Knight HPI utilizes repeat sales data from the nation's largest public records data set as well as its own loan-level mortgage performance data to capture home price data from both disclosure and non-disclosure states.
This walking path is next to the future site of the Farr Street extension on Daniel Island. A development is planned for part of the wooded area to the right.
Ciren Pingcuo checks the refrigerator.

Lajie, a man of Menba ethnicity, became very excited on Dec. 13. His neighbors, relatives and friends all quickly heard the news: the refrigerator that he had purchased on e-commerce site JD.com had finally arrived.

"A fridge is nothing special. The point is that Motuo had never been included before in shipment destinations for online shops. Its amazing that the fridge my cousin bought online was delivered to his home," exclaimed Ciren Pingcuo, Lajie's cousin.

The three drivers sending the refrigerator

Lajie's refrigerator went through perhaps the hardest shipment route in the world. It was also the first large home appliance ever delivered to Motuo County. Located in southwestern Tibet, Motuo was China's last county without a road leading into it until 2013, when a 117-kilometer highway linking Motuo and Bomi Counties was opened.

The road to Motuo

Lajie is a teacher in rural Motuo. He occasionally buys items online, but it used to be that no major e-commerce sites provided shipment of large items to Motuo. On Dec. 2, when Lajie saw the refrigerator on sale on JD.com's app, he also noticed that Motuo was included in the available shipping destinations. So he placed an order.

Once the order was placed, the appliance was sent out from a warehouse in Chengdu. It arrived in Lhasa first, was then transported to Linzhi, and finally reached Motuo. The whole journey was 2,900 kilometers long. Because of the dangerous terrain, most sections of the road from Lhasa to Motuo have a speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour. At around 3 p.m. on Dec. 13, three drivers finally delivered the refrigerator to Lajie's home.

The refrigerator is delivered at Lajie's home.

Lajie said people living in Motuo used to rely on horses or groups of men to procure daily supplies. Now they can also enjoy the convenience of e-commerce. He said he cannot imagine what it will bring in the future.
(Xinhua) 19:53, December 27, 2016

The first of two flight data recorders of an ill-fated Russian military Tu-154 aircraft was retrieved from the wreckage, two days after the plane crashed into the Black Sea, local media reported Tuesday.

"The first Tu-154 black box was found and raised to the surface at 8:48 a.m. (0548 GMT)," Russian news agency TASS reported, citing an law enforcement source.

The Russian Defense Ministry's Tu-154, en route to Russia's Hmeimim air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia, crashed shortly after takeoff from Sochi early Sunday morning.

There were 92 people aboard the plane, including 84 passengers and eight crew members. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a renowned choir of the Russian Armed Forces. They were heading to the air base for New Year celebrations.
New members inducted into Institute of ...
(Xinhua) 19:54, December 27, 2016

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes, a well-known Houston expert said Monday.

"Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is meaningless unless he recognizes Japan's war crimes and his speech on peace and stability is empty talk unless Japan denounces once and for all its shameful past of militarism and aggression," Peter Li, a professor at the University of Houston, told Xinhua.

Describing Abe's refusal to apologize for the attack on Pearl Harbor as "not surprising," Li said that "this refusal to admit Japanese crimes against humanity has been shown in Tokyo's policy towards Asian countries that were victims of the Japanese aggression."

"This refusal to admit crimes was also demonstrated in its denial of the use of Asian women as 'sex slaves' for the Japanese army and its denial of its war crimes in Nanking, China," he said.

He pointed out that "Japan owes the American people, the Chinese people, and other Asian peoples a sincere apology for its war crimes against humanity."

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base, where thousands of U.S. sailors and marines were killed.

Currently, Abe is in Hawaii and he will take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument on Tuesday with U.S. President Barack Obama to honor those who died at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.

Abe's visit came seven months after Obama's trip to Hiroshima in Japan, during which he became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the site where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb in 1945.
Microphone and US Flag View Photos

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) used this weeks Republican address to highlight the importance of mental health reform using the story of the Sandy Hook shooting.

Murphy was Tuesdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words:

This picture means so much to me. I keep it on my desk in my congressional office. It was given to me by a proud parent. This is Daniel. Danieljust seven years oldwas at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, when a troubled young man took his life and those of 25 others, and ultimately his own.

You know, if theres one thing we cherish at Christmas, it is the comfort and joy of being surrounded by the people we love. But every day, 959 lives are takendirectly or indirectlyby mental illness. Last year alone, 350,000 lives were lost because our broken mental health system continues to fail American families. Rather than getting those who need help most into treatment, we leave them out on the streets or throw them in jail. This is heartbreakingand its unacceptable.

As a practicing psychologist, I have seen firsthand how difficult it is for families to navigate our broken mental health system. Outdated laws prevent the families and caregivers from being a part of the treatment teamtoo often this has fatal consequences. We need treatment before tragedy, and care before crisis.

After Sandy Hook, we launched an investigation into our nations broken mental health system. Courageous families stepped forward to tell their stories. And we started to understand the real problemsover 110 federal programs and a $130 billion investment that did little but stand by and watch rising rates of suicide, incarceration, and homelessness. But we needed to do more than just talk about this problem. We needed to start solving this problem.

By the start of 2016, we had pushed mental health reform towards the top of Washingtons to-do list. And last week, one day before the Sandy Hook anniversary, President Obama signed into law the most significant mental health reform in 50 years. With this new law, we are finally breaking down the wall between physical health and mental health.

Now federal agencies will be moving from vague feel-good programs to ones that emphasize evidence-based care for those at the highest risk. For the first time, there will be an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use who will lead the way, evaluating and improving the system.

Well be investing in services for the most difficult-to-treat cases and ensuring that family members are a part of the care delivery team.

Well be training people to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness, including law enforcement officers for how to best respond to a potentially violent situation.

Well be providing real resources to combat substance abuse, and specifically for the opioid crisis.

Well be addressing, head on, the number 10 killer in our nationsuicide, which disproportionately affects our veterans; and for the first time ever, Congress is stepping in to help those with an eating disorder get access to real medical care.

And well be expanding our mental health workforce, because today, half the counties in America do not have a single psychologist or psychiatrist.

One bill wont solve everything, but these desperately needed reforms will bring help. And where there is help, there is hope.

To the Sandy Hook families and all those who made this possible, who gave their time and took a stand, thank you. To anyone out there struggling, looking for answers, know that you are not alone. We are with you. We are fighting for you.

Although many doubted we would make it this far, here we are. And in a new year, with a new administration, we will keep working to get real treatment to those who need it.

This is what Christmas is all about: peace, goodwill, and above all, love. So God bless our caregivers, our doctors, our nurses. And God bless our troops, their families, and the nation they serve. And God bless the United States of America.

The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7;45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML.
A pregnant woman died after a crash on Interstate 95 in Melbourne on Monday evening, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Pregnant woman dies after 3-vehicle crash on I-95

Ariel Adams was not wearing seat belt, FHP says

FHP states that this is not an alcohol-related accident

At about 5:45 p.m., James Amman, 28, of Fort Pierce was driving a 2003 GMC SUV southbound on I-95 in Brevard County when he lost control and sideswiped a 2002 Chevy pickup truck driven by 40-year-old Israel Rivera, FHP stated in a news release.

Amman's SUV then hit 52-year-old Richard Leonard's 2013 pickup truck.

Both Amman's and Rivera's vehicles went onto the right grassy shoulder and down an embankment, where Amman's SUV overturned through a fence and came to a rest, according to FHP.

Amman's pregnant passenger, 26-year-old Ariel Adams, also from Fort Pierce, was thrown from the SUV. She was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where she died.

The FHP stated that she was not wearing a seat belt, but the others in the crash were.

Amman suffered minor injuries but did not go to a hospital. Rivera, of Palm Bay, and Leonard, of North Carolina, were not hurt, according to FHP.

FHP is investigating the accident but so far has determined that alcohol was not a factor.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

Any activity conducted in the occupied Azerbaijani territories is illegal, Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov told reporters in Baku.

He was commenting on the reports about the restoration of a mosque by Iranian specialists in the occupied territories.

Armenia by all means tries to carry out illegal activities in the occupied Azerbaijani territories and to settle there Armenians from abroad. These actions contradict international law, said Khalafov.

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.
A judge on Tuesday rejected the San Francisco police unions request to delay the rollout of a contested use-of-force policy recently updated by the citys Police Commission.

In declining to grant a temporary restraining order halting the policy, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Ulmer said the union had little chance of winning a lawsuit it filed against the city seeking more latitude for officers under the new guidelines. The suit takes aim at measures in the new policy that the union said would impede officer safety and should be subject to negotiation.

The changes to the Police Departments use-of-force policy follow citywide concerns about aggressive policing and come amid changes within police departments across the nation after a number of high-profile officer shootings.

Katie Porter, the citys chief labor attorney, said the Police Officers Association had been given ample opportunity for input, including six months of open public forums followed by another six months of closed-door negotiations, and more discussion would only have dragged out a deal thats already done in the citys eyes.

At the end of the day, the (union) wants more flexibility, and more force options than the commission decided to include in the policy, and ultimately thats a commission decision, Porter said.

In the lawsuit, Police Officers Association officials argue that officers would be endangered by new prohibitions on carotid restraint neck holds and shooting at moving vehicles.

Bans on both measures took effect Tuesday, as the Police Department completed the formality of issuing the commission-approved policy in the morning, even though litigation is expected to continue.

Outside the courtroom, union President Martin Halloran said his organization would continue to pursue all legal avenues to fight the new policy.

Halloran and the unions attorney, Gregg Adam, have contended that a ban on shooting at cars inhibits the ability of police officers to stop a terrorist from driving a vehicle down a crowded San Francisco street and hurting people, reminiscent of incidents in Nice, France, in July, and this month in Berlin.

This would prevent an officer from taking appropriate action, from stopping such an attack, from stopping such bloodshed, Halloran said. That could very well lead them to a higher level of force, which is what the (union) does not want to see.

Porter acknowledged that the document cant contemplate every circumstance that might arise, but called it sufficient for day-to-day police work. Exceptional circumstances  such as an officer shooting into a truck to stop a terrorist  will be taken into account when it comes to discipline, she said.

The union said the prohibition on employing neck holds was supposed to wait for the Police Department to acquire Tasers, suggested in a Department of Justice report that made hundreds of recommendations to reform the department.

Union officials also said the city reneged on informal agreements hashed out during negotiations designed to avoid litigation and reach consensus.

The updated use-of-force policy is in many ways a response to last years fatal shooting of Mario Woods, who was gunned down by five police officers in San Franciscos Bayview in an encounter that drew widespread concern about policing.

While city attorneys defended the Dec. 2, 2015, shooting as necessary after officers failed to subdue the 26-year-old with pepper spray and beanbag rounds, critics said the 27 rounds fired by police were excessive and indicative of broader problems.

For the first time since 1995, the Police Commission reopened the use-of-force policy, bringing together law enforcement watchdogs, police and the union to come up with new procedures to help reduce the use of lethal force.

Asked how police officers would adhere to the new policy, Halloran didnt skip a beat, however begrudgingly.

They will adhere to it, he said.

Michael Bodley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mbodley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @michael_bodley
A federal appeals court granted county officials a new hearing Tuesday on whether local governments in California can restrict the location of gun shops, setting aside a ruling that said such regulations may violate the right to bear arms.

By a majority vote of its 27 judges, the Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered a rehearing in a case challenging an ordinance passed by Alameda County supervisors in 1998. The ordinance prohibits new gun stores in unincorporated areas within 500 feet of a residential neighborhood, a school, a day care center, a liquor store or another gun shop.

An appeals court panel voted 2-1 in May to reinstate a suit by gun shop applicants, which a federal judge had dismissed. The panel majority said the Constitution protects the right to buy and sell firearms as well as the right to own them, and that the county, to justify the restrictions, must at least provide evidence that gun stores are a magnet for crime.

Tuesdays order referred the case to an 11-judge panel, consisting of Chief Judge Sidney Thomas and 10 randomly selected judges, for a hearing to be scheduled later.

Lawyers for Alameda County said 17 other cities and counties in California regulate the locations of commercial gun dealers, including San Francisco  which has a 1,000-foot buffer zone  as well as Oakland and Contra Costa County.

The courts ruling will affect whether every one of those will be subject to detailed litigation, said Brian Goldman, a lawyer for the county.

State Attorney General Kamala Harris office said a ruling allowing a constitutional challenge to the local restrictions could also imperil state laws regulating commercial gun dealers licensing, inspection, monitoring, storage methods and delivery of firearms.

Brandon Combs, executive director of the Calguns Foundation, said restrictions on local dealers can effectively nullify the right to own guns.

The state wants everybody to register their firearm and go through a background check before a purchase, Combs said. The only way you can do that is if you can go to a gun store.

Alameda County has at least 10 gun stores in unincorporated areas. Combs said the 500-foot limits in the ordinance would prohibit additional stores.

The suit was filed by three businessmen who wanted to open a gun shop near San Leandro, 446 feet away from the nearest home on the other side of Interstate 880. County officials turned them down.

The case is one of many pending in federal courts over the meaning of the 2008 Supreme Court decision that declared a constitutional right to possess firearms at home for self-defense.

One section of the opinion by the late Justice Antonin Scalia said that laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms remained presumptively lawful, requiring opponents to show why the regulations interfered with gun ownership.

Goldman said the ruling means a county can restrict gun store locations and cant be sued under the Second Amendment as long as it doesnt ban all gun sales. Combs countered that the Alameda County ordinance could eventually shut down existing stores as well. He noted that the same appeals court has upheld Californias requirement of a local license to carry a concealed handgun in public, a ruling that opponents want the Supreme Court to review.

The Supreme Court is gong to have to be the final arbiter in cases like these, Combs said. It doesnt appear that the Ninth Circuit believes the Second Amendment means what it says.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

Trend:

Instead of carrying out goodwill negotiations, Armenia clearly disrupts all attempts aimed at the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in his interview with Azerbaijans state news agency AzerTAc.

Ignoring the demands of the resolutions of the UN Security Council and flagrantly violating the international law, Armenia refuses to withdraw its troops from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, impedes the return of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, who became refugees and IDPs as a result of bloody ethnic cleansing, to their native lands, and by changing the physical, demographic and cultural character of the occupied territories attempts to further strengthen the current status quo, said Mammadyarov.

To prevent from achieving any progresses in the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Armenian side has always committed provocative-sabotage acts, noted the minister.

He said that maintaining the current status quo and the presence of the armed forces of Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the main cause of escalation in the conflict and remains the major impediment to the conflicts political settlement.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group at the level of heads of state have repeatedly issued statements on the unacceptability and unsustainability of the current status quo. Azerbaijan is the most interested party in moving beyond the current status quo. In this context, we assess the high-level substantive discussions in Vienna and St. Petersburg as positive steps in the right direction, he said. We must sustain the momentum and transform the understandings reached in those meetings into concrete actions without further delay.

The substantial concrete results on the political arena will fundamentally change the situation, according to him.

Mammadyarov said that a step-by-step elimination of the consequences of the conflict, starting with withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, restoration of regional transportation and communication links and safe and dignified return of displaced persons to their places of origin, while addressing security concerns appropriately, will transform the conflict dynamics and significantly improve the overall security environment in the whole region.

The aggressive policy of Armenia can never succeed. The sooner Armenia understands this reality and withdraws its troops from the occupied Azerbaijani territories, the sooner the conflict will be settled, also Armenia and its population will be able to benefit from the perspectives of cooperation, as well as the economic development, noted the minister.

Mammadyarov said also that the Azerbaijani side together with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will continue its efforts on the conflicts settlement through substantive negotiations.

Meanwhile, all available opportunities existing within the international platforms will be used for this purpose, he added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Houston NW-Tomball has a new owner.

Houston-based Preeminent Hotels has sold the 72-room hotel, at 14055 Park Drive, to PH Lodging Tomball, LLC. CBRE Hotels represented both sides in the sale. A price was not disclosed.

The hotel is the first in the Houston market for PH Lodging Tomball, vice president Harish Dani said in a statement. "Because of my strong relationship with IHG (International Hotels Group), the Tomball hotel was an ideal property to purchase," Dani said.

RELATED: Demand for hotels drops as thousands of units rise up

Eric Guerrero with CBRE Hotels said investors continue to look for premium branded hotels in the Houston area. "Most investors are expecting a rebound in occpancy and room rates in 2018, so we suspect there might be a light at the end of the tunnel," Guerrero said.

The Tomball sale is the 21st hotel purchase CBRE has assisted in Houston in 2016.
San Jose Police Department

Authorities on Tuesday identified the man they say stabbed his wife to death in San Jose on Christmas Eve.

Marco Lobato Arrais, 38, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the slaying of 35-year-old Juliana Trizi Sewruk Arrais, San Jose police said. He is being held at the Santa Clara County jail.
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Books by such familiar names as J.K. Rowling, Jeff Kinney and Bill OReilly were among the top sellers of 2016. But the most unexpected presidential election in memory also led to some unexpected successes.

Donald Trumps rise from celebrity candidate to improbable nominee and winner of an historic upset brought heightened attention to books old and new, fiction and nonfiction, ranging from a journalists memoir completed during the campaign to the document that Trump will swear to protect and defend upon taking the oath of office.

Here are five notable releases that received a Trump Bump:

J.D. Vance, The Hillbilly Elegy: Liberals befuddled by Trumps victory turned to Vances memoir about his relatives in rural Kentucky and Ohios rust belt.

Interviewed last summer by The Associated Press, Vance spoke of Trumps appeal to the white working class: He communicates in a way that is very relatable to a lot of people; its one of the things that both parties frankly have been increasingly bad at, which is connecting to voters in an emotional and kind of visceral way.

Megyn Kelly, Settle for More: This book was announced early in 2016, or what now seems like distant history when Trump was a longshot for the White House, despite early leads in the polls against his GOP primary rivals, and Roger Ailes was the enduring leader of Fox News.

By the time the book was released in mid-November, Ailes had been forced out amid numerous allegations of sexual harassment and Trump was the president-elect.

Kelly had plenty of news about both. She alleged that Ailes had made unwanted sexual advances on her early in her career and that Trump, who consulted with Ailes during his campaign, had tried to intimidate her even before she confronted him during a Republican debate in 2015 about his comments about women.

Kelly was subjected to prolonged and highly personal attacks from Trump and wrote that she received death threats from his supporters.

Sinclair Lewis, It Cant Happen Here, and Philip Roth, The Plot Against America: Trumps campaign inspired some readers to seek answers in the past, not just from history, but from dystopian fiction.

Lewis warning about the fragility of democracy was written in the mid-1930s, when Nazis were on the rise in Europe and populist demagogues such as Huey Long of Louisiana were seen as challengers to the re-election of President Franklin Roosevelt.

In It Cant Happen Here, Lewis imagined the frightening rise of Sen. Berzelius Buzz Windrip, whose defense of The Forgotten Man and attacks on Mexicans and the media gave the novel renewed relevance in 2016.

Roths book, published in 2004, was set in the authors native Newark, New Jersey, in the early 1940s.

The premise: An authoritarian government under President Charles Lindbergh, the aviator hero who later became an open anti-Semite and an America First advocate, who believed the country should stay out of World War II and not fight the Nazis.

Wrote Roth: Americans everywhere went about declaiming, No war, no young men fighting and dying ever again! Lindbergh can deal with Hitler, they said, Hitler respects him because hes Lindbergh.

The United States Constitution: For the book world at least, the most eventful speech at the Democratic National Convention was not given by the nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton, but by the father of an American soldier killed in 2004 during the Iraq War.

An emotional Khizr Khan denounced Trumps negative comments about Muslims, held up a copy of the Constitution and questioned whether Trump had read it.

The candidate responded with a wave of angry tweets, while readers made an 18th century, public domain text a best-seller.

Ironically, the edition topping the lists on Amazon.com and elsewhere was not the one used by Khan, but a pocket-sized publication from the right-wing National Center for Constitutional Studies.

Donald Trump, The Art of the Deal: Published in 1987, its the first book by Trump, the one that helped make him a national celebrity and the one the president-elect never tires of mentioning.

His repeated boasts that Art of the Deal is the all-time business best-seller have been widely disputed, but the book is a million seller and it spent a good deal of the year high on the charts of Amazon.

Art of the Deal reached new readers despite a notable disclaimer from ghostwriter Tony Schwartz, who renounced the work and said if he were writing it now he would call it The Sociopath.
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ALBANY  Police arrested two young men this weekend in connection with two separate assaults in West Hill, city police spokesman Officer Steve Smith said.

A man was robbed at 9 p.m. Nov. 18 near Lexington Avenue and Sherman Street, Smith said. The assailants kicked and punched the victim in the head and body until he was knocked to the ground, and then stole his watch, Smith said. The victim suffered swelling and pain.
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The state may be eyeing a billion-dollar deficit and appealing a court decision that labels its funding of public education as unconstitutional, but that isnt stopping Connecticut from putting out the call for more charter schools.

The state Department of Education put out a request for proposals Tuesday, seeking applications for new state and local charter schools during 2017.

Applications will be accepted next year between July 1 and Aug. 15.

There are 24 charter schools operating in Connecticut  23 state and one local charter. Six are in Bridgeport, including Capital Prep Harbor, which opened in 2015.

It has been more than three years since the state solicited charter school applications. Whether a charter school gets funded or not is up to the Legislature.

State statute says we should review charter school applications on an annual basis, so we are fulfilling our statutory obligation, said Abbe Smith, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education.

Charter schools get public funding but are run independently from local school districts. They are seen by some as a choice for parents seeking an alternative to traditional public schools. Others see them as competition for scarce public dollars.

Commissioner of Education Dianna R. Wentzell called school choice empowering for students and families.

Our goal is for all public school opportunities in Connecticut to be high-quality options for families, and we work to support charters, magnet schools and traditional public schools to continuously improve the quality education they provide, Wentzell said.

In the past fiscal year, general funding to the states Education Cost Sharing formula was held flat, despite rising costs. That led districts like Bridgeport to cut kindergarten aides, school counselors and other staff.
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STAMFORD  A trip to Rome isnt something to be turned down.

Thats what Msgr. Stephen DiGiovanni, of Stamfords Basilica of St. John the Evangelist, said inspired him to write his latest book: Aggiornamento on the Hill of Janus.

The historical vignette of his alma mater, the Pontifical North American College in Rome, picks up where another graduate left off . Father Robert McNamara published a 100-year anthology of the college  The American College in Rome, 1855-1955  in 1956.

Nearly six decades later, DiGiovanni was asked by the Archbishop of New York to spend a year in Rome and continue McNamaras work.

DiGiovanni explored the schools cultural transformation during the Vatican II transition, the Vietnam War and the social revolutions of the 1960s and 70s. Aggiornamento on the Hill of Janus is a history of the American seminary from 1955 through 1979, he said.

The school and the church were both going through some very turbulent changes at the time, DiGiovanni said. Some of the book is very wacky and weird. Its a very interesting cultural and religious balance.

DiGiovanni, who received his doctoral degree from NAC in 1983, spent two semesters in Rome between 2014 and 2015, gathering research and interviews for the book. It was written to supplement McNamaras academic work, but it reads more like a narrative.

The book is academic in that there are a lot of sources and archives and footnotes, but its not difficult to read, he said. Anyone familiar with the culture of this era  this stuff is there. We have Vietnam, sex, drugs and rock and roll, civil rightsits all there.

This is DiGiovannis second book. His first, published in in 2013, also focuses on NAC. The Second Founder: Bishop Martin J. O'Connor and the Pontifical North American College, chronicles the re-opening of the American seminary in Rome after World War II.

For this book, DiGiovanni said he was fascinated by the ways in which the events and changes in practice at NAC reverberated into the rest of the world.

If youve ever wondered how todays American church came to be what we know now  well, heres part of it, he said. What happened (at NAC) was imitated and replicated around the world.

Aggiornamento on the Hill of Janus was published by Midwest Theological Forum earlier this year. Its first run includes 1,500 copies. It is available on Amazon or for a discounted price at the Basilica in downtown Stamford.

nora.naughton@scni.com; twitter.com/noranaughton
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NEW MILFORD  The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto has had a whirlwind year that has left him heartened and feeling a great deal of support, but wondering if hell be allowed to preach to his New Milford United Methodist congregation in coming months.

It was in May that he told his congregation that he was a queer man. He was ordained during the United Methodist New York annual conference in June. Then, this month, his church voted by a 9-1 margin to become part of the Reconciling Ministry Network, one of 800 gay-friendly Methodist churches.

After the church vote, local support came streaming in, he said. He was stopped and commended in a town parking lot, and local clergy and a rabbi reached out with their praise.

That is who he is, as a person, and as a minister of the Lord. Hes doing what he should be doing, said the Rev. Jack Gilpin, of St. John's Episcopal Church in town.

Gilpin said his church, and denomination, have allowed gay clergy for years.

The Rev. Michael Moran of the First Congregational Church on the Village Green echoed Gilpin.

Weve accepted (gay peoples) participation, and their contributions, so it was natural, to allow homosexual clergy, Moran said.

The tide of history is very much on the side of inclusiveness. Gilpin said. In honoring all of Gods children.

But the sentiment is not universal in New Milford, Moran said. Like the nation, it is fractured, he added.

Da Silva Souto said he is very aware of the 10 percent of the congregation that voted against the churchs new status. His ordination has been questioned by church officials. And at any moment, a church member could charge him for being a self-avowed, practicing homosexual, which could see him suspended from preaching by his denomination.

He fears for his job security, he said. He mentioned Cynthia Meyers, a Kansas United Methodist pastor who came out as gay last January. In August, Meyer was suspended from being a Methodist preacher for two years by church officials, according to the Kansas City Star.

The United Methodist Church did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Although his ordination has been challenged, da Silva Souto said he looks forward to a decision from the churchs Judicial Council come spring. The churchs Supreme Court will have to decide whether homosexuals can be clergymen now that hes been challenged, da Silva Souto said.

But even with local support and 90 percent of his church at his back, da Silvia Souto says he still worries about checking his mail and finding a formal charge against him, he said. The churchs Book of Discipline, its law book, says he could face trial for being a self-avowed practicing homosexual; or conducting ceremonies which celebrate homosexual unions; or performing same-sex wedding ceremonies, if someone brings a charge against him.

Until the Book of Discipline is changed, we can be jobless and homeless at the drop of the hat, he said.

blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27



By Elmira Tariverdiyeva  Trend:

Russia will continue to engage in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the country is doing everything in its power as a co-chair country in the OSCE Minsk Group to help advance this process, Russian Foreign Ministry said quoting the ministrys spokesperson Mariya Zakharova.

Everything that depends on us will be carried out, so that the settlement process does not stop, but rather intensifies, said Zakharova.

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.
Mother, 4-year-old son found dead in apartment

NEW YORK  New York City police say a woman and her 4-year-old son were found dead in their Harlem apartment.

Police went to the apartment on West 153rd Street at 8:15 a.m. Monday and found the bodies of the 36-year-old woman and the child.

Police say the woman had an electrical cord around her neck and the boy was found dead in the bathtub. Their names were not immediately released.

The city medical examiner will determine the cause of death for both victims. Authorities are investigating whether the deaths were homicides or a murder-suicide.

 Associated Press

Subway station power problem disrupts service

NEW YORK  A power problem at a Manhattan subway station is causing service disruptions throughout the system.

The D line was still being rerouted Monday morning after a fire that started at about 10 p.m. Sunday.

Service on the E and F lines resumed by 10 a.m. Monday with delays in both directions.

Travelers can use the A, C, N, Q and 7 but delays are also likely on those lines.

The MTA says the fire near the Seventh Avenue station Sunday night knocked out power to the third rail.

Hundreds of people were evacuated after the station filled with smoke.

 Associated Press

Suffolk County will hold wanted immigrants

RIVERHEAD  A county sheriff on Long Island will no longer seek a judge's order before detaining inmates charged with crimes who are wanted by federal agents for deportation.

Newsday reports the policy reversal by Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco distances the region from so-called "sanctuary cities."

Local police in specially designated sanctuary cities do not investigate or report a person's immigrant status to federal authorities unless they have a convincing reason.

DeMarco says his decision is purely based on legal analysis and not politics. The sheriff stopped holding immigrants wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September 2014.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone called DeMarco's limited, 48-hour detainer "a step in the right direction."

County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini said his department also would honor an administrative warrant.

 Associated Press

Cop suspended after posting handcuff photo

NEW YORK  The New York City Police Department has suspended the officer who posted a photo on social media of a handcuffed Brooklyn family with the caption, "Merry Christmas Its NYPD."

Twenty-eight-year-old Kimberly Santiago says the picture was taken by the unidentified officer and posted on Snapchat after the NYPD mistakenly raided her Brownsville home last Thursday morning.

The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the photograph. The officer who posted it works in the 73rd Precinct. He was suspended without pay for an undisclosed amount of time.

Santiago says the officers were looking for a person at her address who doesn't live there. She claims she doesn't know the man police were searching for.

The NYPD would only confirm that a search warrant was executed at Santiago's Dumont Avenue home.

 Associated Press

Protected falcon stolen from sanctuary returned

LOCUST VALLEY  A federally protected falcon stolen from a Long Island wildlife sanctuary late last week was found unharmed in a box just hours after news of his kidnapping broke.

Officials say Buster, an American kestrel stolen Friday from the Volunteers for Wildlife, was found Sunday night after he was left on the doorstep of the Nassau County hospital and educational center.

Sanctuary representatives told reporters that they would not press charges if Buster was returned unharmed to the refuge, which is located at Bailey Arboretum in Lattingtown.

Jim Jones, a Volunteers for Wildlife board member, says he and others believe the thief may have been familiar with the facility's operations.

Buster was rescued by the sanctuary 14 years ago after he was found screaming for food outside Central Park.

 Associated Press

131-year-old cathedral nearing $12M restoration

SYRACUSE  A fundraising campaign for a $12 million top-to-bottom renovation of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Syracuse is close to reaching its goal.

The Post-Standard reports approximately $11.5 million has been raised so far by parishioners of the 131-year-old cathedral, Catholics from throughout the Diocese of Syracuse and other donors.

The diocese is seeking to raise an additional $7 million to pay for short- and long-term maintenance along with social outreach initiatives and other programs. Among the planned improvements include a new roof, electric system, lighting and audio system. The cathedral's pews, which can seat up to 800 people, will be refurbished as well.

The cathedral was originally known as St. Mary's Church when it was built in 1885.

 Associated Press
Two Brazoria County deputy sheriff's who fatally shot a woman after she pointed a pistol at them during a standoff in Pearland have been placed on administrative leave, the Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

Investigators were still trying to identify the elderly white woman who was shot Tuesday, sheriff's Investigator Andrew Kerstens said.
With $200 billion in direct purchasing power and over $500 billion in indirect, targeting the millennials could be the right move to capture more market for your business. Away from the often misrepresented generation, the millennials are now being recognized as the consumers that will drive business growth for marketers.

This shift in realization means marketers who have always targeted their products and services towards the older generation now have to adopt a new set of strategies to win this younger one. To target the millennials right, you need to connect with them on almost every level. That means understanding what they want.

Related: 9 Things You Need to Know to Give Millennials Great Customer Service

The following strategies will help you capture an active millennials market.

1. Make mobile the priority.

Millennials are attached to their smartphones more than any generation today. Nearly 90 percent of millennials say their phone never leaves their side, and 78 percent say the first thing they do after waking up is reach out for their phone.

To win the heart of millennials, you might as well start from their mobile phones. Targeting millennials with mobile-themed content that engages them is crucial.

The first step to successful mobile marketing is to create content millennials want to consume on their phone. A study conducted by Mitek, which surveyed 1,019 people between the ages of 18 to 34, found that most millennials prefer selfies. Almost 90 percent take selfies daily or weekly.

2. Know what tickles them.

A story in the Los Angeles Times revealed that millennials prefer to spend on experiences than on material things. Unlike their parents who prefer a fancy watch or car, millennials would rather show off impressive travel, laced with selfies taken at high-end restaurants, including pictures of their meals.

This makes it important for a marketer who is interested in winning over the millennial consumers to adapt to the shifting consumer economics. Now, your focus should be on marketing to a target audience who prefers experience over material things. Adopting marketing strategies like selfies and prioritizing on experiences could endear your business to millennials.

3. Adopt newer payment platforms.

As new technologies afford it, millennials prefer doing things with ease and flexibility. This means your regular traditional means of settling fees may not be well suited to the millennial workforce, most of whom prefer to work as freelancers.

Related: We're Turning Into a Freelance Nation

The growth of the millennial workforce means businesses must adapt their system to suit how millennials prefer to work. TransferWise, a payment service provider targeting the new generation of freelancers (mostly millennials) is a good example. The company recently secured a $26 million in funding from Baillie Gifford.

4. Engage millennials through influencer marketing.

The reason influencer marketing works well for millennials may be connected to the fact that most influencers on social media come from this age group. Snapchat personalities and Instagram celebs have the heart of millennials.

Being able to connect with these influencers and have them project your brand positively to their eager audience will bring you closer to your target audience. Twenty-eight percent of younger millennials and 23 percent of older ones say they most likely won't use a brand their family and friends or a stranger disapprove of.

5. Keep it real.

Millennials value genuine and authentic marketing. This is the generation that celebrates genuine, non-airbrushed images of regular people promoting products they like. Marketing with adulterated content could set millennials off and make them dislike your brand, instead of liking it. This might be due to social media, which has made people more receptive to accepting people for who they are, rather than what they are expected to be like.

Related: How Photos Can Make or Break Your Marketing Campaign

A great strategy to connect with millennials is through storytelling. This marketing approach has been proven to build brand trust and customer loyalty -- it'll help you win over Generation Y.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Washington

President-elect Donald Trump and President Barack Obama have been unfailingly polite toward each other since the election. But with Trump staking out starkly different positions from Obama on Israel and other sensitive issues, and the president acting aggressively to protect his legacy, the two have become leaders of what amounts to dueling administrations.

The split widened Friday when the Obama administration abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote that condemned Israel for Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and allowed the resolution to pass. A day earlier, Trump had publicly demanded that Obama veto the measure, even intervening with Egypt at the request of Israel to pressure the administration to shelve the effort.

"As to the U.N.," Trump wrote on Twitter after the vote, "things will be different after Jan. 20th."

It was the latest in a rapid-fire series of Twitter posts and public statements over the last week in which Trump has weighed in on Israel, terrorism and nuclear proliferation  contradicting Obama and flouting the notion that the country can have only one president at a time.

That long-standing principle has largely collapsed since the victory by Trump, who campaigned on a strategy of breaking all the rules.

"In some ways, Trump is neutering the Obama administration," said Douglas G. Brinkley, a professor of history and a presidential historian at Rice University in Houston. "They've avoided personally attacking each other, but behind the scenes, they're working to undermine each other, and I don't know how the American people benefit from that."

For its part, the Obama administration on Tuesday announced a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along wide areas of the Arctic and the Eastern Seaboard, invoking an obscure provision of a 1953 law, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, to claim that Trump had no power to reverse it.

White House officials asserted a similar privilege in their decision not to veto the Security Council resolution. Israel's construction of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, they said, puts at risk a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Trump's opposition to the measure, and the likelihood that his administration will reverse the position, played no part in the decision, they said.

"There's one president at a time," said Benjamin J. Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser. "There's a principle here that the world understands who is speaking for the United States until January 20th, and who is speaking for the United States after January 20th."

Trump's pronouncements are often so vague and offhand that their long-term impact on policy is open to debate. But his intervention to press Egypt to delay the Security Council vote disrupted a sensitive diplomatic negotiation, and muddied perhaps Obama's final opportunity to make a statement on the stalled Middle East peace process.

When Egypt buckled, the same resolution was brought to a vote by four other countries on the Security Council: Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela. The United States watched the proceedings largely from the sidelines. On Friday, Obama, in Hawaii, directed his national security adviser, Susan E. Rice, to tell the ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, not to block the resolution.

"In a practical sense, the message this sends is that the Obama administration is over," said Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former U.S. ambassador to both Egypt and Israel. "Everybody knows this resolution doesn't carry any weight. The assumption has to be that the Israeli government will take some retaliatory measures. Knowing that Trump is coming into office, and knowing that Trump tried to oppose this, they will do so with impunity."

This role reversal between the departing and incoming presidents deepened what was already a sense that the White House's policies toward the world's most troubled places had run out of steam and were about to change radically.

"President Obama and his team have been unbelievably gracious to the president-elect and his team, but at the end of the day, he's not someone that's going to sit back and wait," Sean Spicer, whom Trump named Thursday as White House press secretary, said on CNN.
This New Year's Eve, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, will be honored with the Government Legacy Award for his efforts in Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County to help foster children.

The award will be presented during the annual Light Up the Night Masquerade Ball at La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa, which is to support and fund services for children in foster care.

"It's very special because it honors what means the most to me, which is helping families," Brady said. "Most people think of tax reform, health care or maybe free trade when they think of me; but from my early years as a state legislator, I really am proudest of the difference we made for children."

While Brady currently serves as the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee in the nation's capital, he was once dubbed one of the 10 best legislators for family and children during his time serving in the Texas House.

One reason was for rewriting the laws to prevent and respond to child abuse to create and fund a network of child advocacy across the state.

"One of the best in Texas is right here in Montgomery County, which is Children's Safe Harbor," Brady said.

Brady also created a Texas birth defects registry to track the cause of birth defects and to take action to help mothers have healthier babies, which is an effort he said he continues in Congress as well.

To be involved and be honored for his efforts to help foster children is personally meaning for Brady, who is an adoptive parent.

"We have a family only because two women in two difficult situations chose life," he said. "We know firsthand how remarkable it is for both the parents and the children to find a loving house and home. When we see the number of foster children who are seeking homes, I think of the families who have plenty of room for love and heart to help child. Every chance I get to try to help make that connection, I do it."

He also recognizes the work of others in the community.

"You see some of the best and most effective foster care initiatives in the country," Brady said. "Terri Jaggers (Montgomery County CPS and Child Welfare Board president) is what I call the J.J. Watt of foster care in a sense she is bringing together the government, faith-based community and volunteers to find homes for foster kids and to do it better than anywhere. Just being part of her effort getting to spotlight and help - it's really exciting for me."

More work lies ahead for Brady, who feels there is a clear need for every child to feel loved and every potential parent to be open to becoming a foster family.

"These foster families are unsung heroes," he said. "In Congress, my committee is leading an effort to change the way the federal government helps get foster kids into a loving home. Recently, we passed out of the House what we call a families first initiative, which is designed to help keep foster kids out of institutional settings and try to keep them in loving homes and prevent situations where they have to be removed and accelerating the foster care connections to put them in a home we all want. I continue to work in Washington on efforts like that and also on spotlighting groups like the Orphan Care solutions network that are doing a remarkable job."

Proceeds from the annual NYE ball will go toward Orphan Care Solutions of Texas in Montgomery County in their efforts to continue the Montgomery County collaborative initiatives, such as the Hearts of Hope Gallery, to provide assistance and solutions for five areas of the foster care system: permanency/adoption initiatives, kinship care initiatives, "aging out" initiatives, recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive homes, and "normalcy" initiatives including school supplies and Christmas gifts.

The Hearts of Hope gallery, which is placed at churches in the community and online for families considering adoption, started as a result of the ball and featured 180 children. Since then, 108 have been adopted and 28 have aged out of foster care, according to Jaggers.

Last year, the ball raised $73,000.

"If every county in America had an Orphan Care Solutions and leaders--champions like Terri and Pat Jaggers I think the world would look at America's foster care system with awe," Brady said.

The ball includes dinner, music and entertainment, dancing, a casino area, live auction, a raffle, fireworks show and beverages.

Three different types of tickets are available. VIP tickets are $175, general seating tickets are $165, and The Countdown Party tickets are $110. Hotel check-in begins at 3 p.m.

Regular event check-in begins at 6 p.m. at La Torretta, located at 600 La Torretta Blvd. in Montgomery. Reserve a room at the resort for $99 and stay on site.

For information about the tickets and ball, visit www.mc-nye.com.

2016 HONOREES

Honorees at the ball include:

* Foster Care Legacy Award: 2016 U.S. Olympic Champion Simone Biles

* Community Legacy Award: State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe

* Corporate Legacy Award: La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa; Emerus Hospitals

* Government Legacy Award: U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands

* Lifetime Legacy Award: Retired Texas DFPS CPS Region 6 Director Scott Dixon and State Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 28

Trend:

Twenty-five years pass today since the Armenian occupation of Karkijahan Township  a settlement of strategic importance for Azerbaijans Khankendi City and surrounding districts.

The occupation of Khankendi ended on December 28, 1991 with the seizure of Karkijahan.

Before the occupation, Karkijahan was protected by self-defense units formed from local Azerbaijanis, the newly established police and a group of soldiers of the National Army.

When the Armenian army started offensive of Karkijahan using heavy weapons, the self-defense units had to retreat because of the inequality of the forces.

Civilians were taken out of Karkijahan as the self-defense forces managed to hold back Armenians for a while.

Karkijahans population was 1,796 people before the occupation. Two secondary schools, a kindergarten, a library, a club, an automatic telephone exchange, 10 shops, a hospital, five production and other facilities were destroyed in Karkijahan as a result of the occupation.

Thirty-four people, including three women and two children were killed, 150 people were injured in the battles for Karkijahan and surrounding areas.

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.
New York

Emotionally wrenching politics, foreign conflicts and shootings at home took a toll on Americans in 2016, but they are entering 2017 on an optimistic note, according to a new poll that found that a majority believes things are going to get better for the country next year.

A look at the key findings of the Associated Press-Times Square Alliance poll:

SO HOW WAS 2016?

Americans weren't thrilled with the year. Only 18 percent said things for the country got better, 33 percent said things got worse, and 47 percent said it was unchanged from 2015.

On a personal level, they were optimistic about 2017.

Fifty-five percent said they believe things will be better for them in the coming year than in the year that just concluded. That's a 12-point improvement from last year's poll.

Americans interviewed about the poll's results expressed some of that optimism.

"Next year will be better than this year, because people will have more jobs and they'll have more money to spend," said Bourema Tamboura, a Harlem resident behind the wheel of a New York car service.

"I'm hoping 2017 will be better," added Elizabeth Flynn, 62, an elementary schoolteacher from Peabody, Mass. "You've got to be optimistic, and I'm going to try."

Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say 2016 was worse for the country than 2015. And Republicans are especially likely to feel that 2017 will be even better for them personally.

University of Miami professor Benjamin Alsup said he needed only three words to explain why 2016 felt worse for him: "Trump, Trump, Trump!"

Robert Greenstone, a New York commercial real estate broker, said the political discourse leading up to Republican Donald Trump's election as president played havoc with people's emotions.

"The amount of disinformation made people suspect of everything and everyone, even their neighbors," he said.

TOP NEWS EVENTS

The U.S. elections top Americans' list of 10 top news events in 2016. Three-quarters called the presidential election and Trump's victory very or extremely important.

Sixty-three percent ranked mass shootings and bombings in Orlando, Fla., and in Belgium, Turkey, Pakistan and France as personally important news stories of the year.

Fifty-one percent said they found news stories about the deaths of people at the hands of police officers, or news about ambush attacks on police in three states, to be among the year's most important news events.

Fourth on the list are 43 percent who described the spread of the Zika virus as important.

The three events described by the largest percentages of Americans as not too important included the death of Muhammad Ali (50 percent), approval of recreational marijuana use in four states (43 percent), and the death of Fidel Castro (40 percent).

POP CULTURE, SPORTS

A majority of Americans, including 7 in 10 Midwesterners, called November's World Series win for the Chicago Cubs to end their 108-year drought memorable.

Of nine other pop-culture items tested, two were called memorable by about half of Americans: the death of Prince, David Bowie and Leonard Cohen; and the Olympic victories of the U.S. women's gymnastics team.

The two least-notable events for Americans, of the 10 possible choices in the poll, were the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt divorce filing and the "Pokemon Go" app game phenomenon, each described by most as forgettable.

RINGING IN NEW YEAR

About half of Americans plan to celebrate the New Year at home. About 2 in 10 plan to go out to a friend or family member's home, and 1 in 10 to a bar or restaurant.

About a quarter don't plan to celebrate at all.

Six in 10 plan to watch the Times Square ball drop, nearly all of whom will watch on TV.

The AP-Times Square Alliance Poll of 1,007 adults was conducted online Dec. 9-11, using a sample drawn from GfK's probability-based KnowledgePanel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population.

The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Sochi, Russia

Russia mounted an expansive search-and-recovery operation in the Black Sea on Monday for the passengers and the fuselage of a military passenger plane that crashed a day earlier, killing all 92 people on board, including dozens of members of a storied army choir.

In Moscow, famous performers and ordinary citizens dropped flowers at the entrance to the headquarters of the choir, the Alexandrov Ensemble. Another mountain of red carnations and candles piled up outside the Ostankino television center as a tribute to nine journalists who were accompanying the choir to Khmeimim Air Base in Syria.

The plane was carrying 68 performers and staff members of the ensemble, including an army choir and orchestra loved for its renditions of classical Russian songs and folk tunes.

The most likely area where the plane plunged into the water moments after taking off from the southwestern resort city of Sochi has been identified, Lt. Gen. Viktor N. Bondarev, commander of the Russian air force, said.

Bondarev said that he did not expect the plane's fin, where the flight recorders are situated, to be as damaged as the fuselage, raising hopes that the recorders might be intact. Several chunks of the fuselage were located Monday on the seabed about a mile offshore, the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced.

The transportation minister, Maxim Sokolov, said terrorism had not been ruled out, but that it was unlikely to be the cause of the crash of the Tupolev 154, which was flying to Syria for a New Year's Eve concert for troops stationed near Latakia.
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STAMFORD  State Rep. Caroline Simmons began the day as usual Friday, perusing the newspaper at breakfast.

But something was different. The back cover of The Advocate featured a full-page ad with a personal query.

Dear Caroline, Will you marry me? Love, Artie.

It took Simmons a moment to realize the proposal was from her boyfriend, state Sen. Art Linares.

Every morning she reads The Advocate cover to cover, the Westbrook legislator said. Then she reads The New York Times and I read the Wall Street Journal, and then we may switch.

The couple was at Simmons Bridge Street apartment on the day of the surprise.

I knew it was a sure thing that she would come downstairs and read The Advocate, Linares said. I thought it would be a good way to propose, and also a sentimental way that would mean a lot to both of us.

Simmons couldnt believe her eyes.

I usually check the back page for the weather, she said. I did a double take. I thought I misread it.

Linares made eggs as he waited for the big reveal.

I burned the eggs, he said. But I always burn the eggs.

It wont surprise their constituents to learn the young legislators  she is 30, he is 28  met in Hartford. Simmons represents Stamfords 144th District on the state House of Representatives. Linarus represents the state Senates 33rd District, which includes most of Middlesex County. They live an hour apart.

The couple met a year and a half ago, at a bipartisan young legislators caucus.

One night, everyone stepped out to transition to another meeting and I lent Caroline my coat, Linares said. I think thats what sparked the beginning of the relationship.

Though they enjoy reading and discussing news, one thing the couple doesnt share is a political party: Simmons is a Democrat; her future husband is a Republican.

Both say the political differences enrich their relationship.

We have different political views and we dont agree on everything, Simmons said. But its fascinating to have a different perspective, and it helps refine my own views. Its healthy to be able to debate the issues.

Simmons has a successful model, having been raised by parents who come from opposite sides of the aisle.

Linares family is from Cuba, where you werent allowed to have different political views. In his own relationship, it makes for great conversation. And we both share the values of caring about the state and our work as public servants, he said.

Last month, Simmons won a second term representing the assembly district extending from Ridgeway to North Stamford. Linares has served on the state Senate since 2013.

Simmons worked for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before running for office. Linares co-founded Greenskies, a solar energy company in Middletown.

The couple plans to set a wedding date in January. Until then, theyll continue celebrating their engagement with family and friends.

Were so excited, Simmons said, and we couldnt be happier to spend this time with our families.

I feel like the luckiest guy, Linares said.

eskalka@scni.com
Details added (first version posted on 14:41)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Seba Aghayeva  Trend:

Issues regarding the draft convention on the Caspian Seas legal status have been mostly agreed upon, Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov told reporters in Baku Dec. 27.

He said that negotiations on the remaining issues continue.

We expect them to be fully agreed upon until the next summit of heads of Caspian states in Astana, Khalafov said.

He said a special group should work out these issues before the meeting of foreign ministers of the Caspian littoral states.

We plan to summarize all the work in order to finally agree on a draft convention on the Caspian Seas legal status for the heads of state to sign it, Khalafov said.

The Caspian littoral states  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Iran signed a Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea in November 2003.

Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the northern part of the Caspian Sea in order to exercise sovereign rights for subsoil use in July 1998. The two countries signed a protocol to the agreement in May 2002.

Moreover, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Caspian Sea and a protocol to it on Nov. 29, 2001, and Feb. 27, 2003, respectively.

Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement on the delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea on May 14, 2003.

As of today, summits of heads of the Caspian states were held in 2002 in Ashgabat, in 2007 in Tehran, in 2010 in Baku and in 2014 in Astrakhan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

Trend:

Azerbaijan plans to significantly simplify the visa regime for Irans citizens in 2017, said Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

Mustafayev made the remarks during the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian cooperation in Baku Dec. 27.

Starting from Jan. 10, 2017, Iranian citizens will be able to register visas for entry into Azerbaijan via the ASAN Viza system, as a result of which, they will be able to obtain visas within three days, added the minister.

On June 1, 2016, Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on simplification of e-visas issuance procedure and the creation of the ASAN Viza system.



The decree was signed in order to simplify procedure for issuing visas to foreigners and stateless persons arriving in Azerbaijan, as well as creation of an e-visa system ensuring transparency and efficiency with the use of modern information technologies.

Visas will be issued through a single online portal within three days without applying to state organizations.
A new Texas education commissioner vowed to crack down on district and campus accountability, a drawn-out court case over school finance ended and federal officials began investigating an alleged cap on special education services in Texas school districts  those are among the highlights of the year 2016 in Texas public education.

1. Court rules school funding system constitutional, troubled

On May 13, the Texas Supreme Court unanimously found the system Texas uses to fund its schools constitutional but in need of serious reform, marking only the second time the court has upheld the system in seven rulings since the 1980s. The decision worried officials from more than 600 school districts who brought the original case challenging the system, but it left room for legislative change. Adding fuel to the fire, Houston Independent School District residents voted in November not to send $165 million in local property taxes to poorer school districts, a hit on the Robin Hood state plan intended to ease financial inequity between districts. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath sent a letter to HISD officials saying the education agency would likely move commercial properties from the district's tax rolls to the tax rolls of another district to make up the money.

2. Feds investigate alleged cap on Texas special ed services

A Houston Chronicle series alleging that the Texas Education Agency was capping special education services for public school students at 8.5 percent turned heads across the country  and resulted in a federal investigation. Agency officials denied the allegations and said they would change the system, in case it was confusing districts. The U.S. Department of Education joined TEA on visits to five Texas cities to gather public comment on special education and see whether the state is denying services to students with disabilities.

3. STAAR exam errors prompt testing backlash

In the first year New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service developed and administered the state STAAR exam this March, a computer glitch wiped out answers on more than 14,000 tests. School district officials also reported receiving test results for students not enrolled in their districts and improper handling of student Social Security numbers. Though Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the problems affected a small number of students, the errors fueled groups already opposing the STAAR exam. The head of an administrators association argued the scores should not be used to rate schools or determine student graduation. Meanwhile, a special panel charged with recommending changes to the states testing system decided not to recommend scrapping STAAR, signaling the Legislature likely wont get rid of the test.

4. State officials decry school district's accommodations for transgender students

After the Obama administration in mid-May ordered every school district in the country to let transgender students use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, some Texas Republicans were furious and vowed to block the directive. The fight was even closer to home in April when Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Ken Scribner approved a bathroom policy to accommodate transgender students. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called for Scribners resignation and prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to issue an opinion saying Forth Worth ISD had violated state law. Fort Worth ISD then revised the guidelines, continuing to accommodate transgender students but striking a passage that allowed school staff to withhold information about a students gender identity from parents.

5. Mexican-American studies textbook rejected

The State Board of Education unanimously voted Nov. 18 against a controversial Mexican-American studies textbook that Hispanic activists and scholars had spent months critiquing as racist and inaccurate. Cynthia Dunbar, former board member and CEO of the company behind the textbook, said that any move to reject the book would be unconstitutional. That week, the board also issued another call for ethnic studies textbooks for 2018, which could include Mexican-American studies.
This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Salinas, Rebecca Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Salinas, Rebecca Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A 13-year-old boy riding in a car on Loop 410 on the North Side was shot by someone in a passing vehicle Monday night.

San Antonio Police Department Capt. Michael Starnes said the boy was sitting in the back seat and was hit in the neck at about 11 p.m. as the vehicle neared Nacogdoches Road.
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A 2-year-old girl was fatally run over by a relative on Monday morning on the North Side.

Brylie Beaudoin, 2, had been playing at about 10:30 a.m. near the front right corner of a 2013 Ford Expedition parked in a driveway in the 14100 block of Bluff Manor, according to a police report.

An unnamed relative who didn't know the girl was playing there got into the SUV to move it, police said.

As the vehicle moved forward, Beaudoin was run over by the front right tire, investigators said.

The relative stopped the vehicle and tried to help the child until EMS arrived and rushed Beaudoin to University Hospital, police said.

Beaudoin was pronounced dead at 11:47 a.m., the report states.

No other details were immediately available; police said detectives are still investigating the incident.

It was the second pedestrian death of a child in as many days over the holiday weekend. On Christmas Day, 8-year-old Jesus Ortega died when he was hit by a car in the 9000 block of Wurzbach at about 7:15 p.m. Police said the boy darted into traffic in the middle of the street.

The boy was taken to an area hospital, where he died a short time after the accident. The driver likely wont face any charges, police said.

At the scene of the accident Monday night, there were several balloons, including one with a Batman logo, some flowers and a few candles in tall glass jars. A small cross was on the ground.

Earlier this month, 7-year-old Brandon Castillo was killed when he was hit by a vehicle in the 900 block of Allena Drive near Olmos Elementary School. Police said the boy stepped in front of the car at about 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 as the vehicle was entering the apartment complex where the boy lived with his family.

Staff Writer Tyler White contributed to this report.

jbeltran@express-news.net
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A North Texas man has confessed to his wife that it was he who spray-painted their garage with hateful rhetoric and lit their truck and motorcycle on fire earlier this month.

Jenny Williams lamented the actions of her husband David on Facebook Dec. 21, saying he confessed to staging the crimes their family awoke to Dec. 12 "N----- lover" was cast across their garage in black spray paint and the family's motorcycle and truck were set ablaze, she said in a since-deleted blog post. In photos on her blog, accessed through a cached version, the family's truck is burned and missing headlights.

Nine days later, Jenny Williams posted an update regarding the incident on her Facebook page.

RELATED: Police: Texas man vandalized own truck, blamed 'Black Lives Matter' activists, collected money

"My children and I are in a state of shock and sadness, so this will be my only statement. Yesterday, Tuesday morning, David confessed to spray painting our garage door and starting the fire at our home, Monday December 12," she said. "David is currently at a mental health facility and will be arrested upon his release."

The mother of four told mySA.com David Williams was still in a mental health facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and she did not have a timeline for his release.

"As far as a motive, I personally do not know of one," Jenny Williams told mySA.com.

RELATED: FBI opens civil rights investigation after 2 churches vandalized in San Antonio

At the time of the incident, Jenny Williams said on her blog, the family's homeowner insurance would not cover the cost of the damage to their garage and vehicles. Ashlee Lynch, David Williams' sister, set up a GoFundMe page to cover the family's expenses to repair their home and provide Christmas gifts for the family. The crowdfunding page is no longer accepting donations and Lynch is working on returning the $5,155 raised.

"The kids won't be able to have anything under the Christmas tree due to this horrible act," Lynch wrote on the GoFundMe page after the incident.

RELATED: SAPD: Man arrested on arson charge for trying to burn down former employer's building

The Denton Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for more information.

Before her husband confessed to spray-painting their garage, Jenny Williams wrote on her blog: "It just so happens that we aren't as racist as someone would like us to be."

"I am not going to argue with anyone about the existence of racism or why it continues," she said. "What happened at my house is the cold hard evidence that it does exist and that it continues."

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

Trend:

From the beginning of 2017 the intensive negotiation on strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU will be launched, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in his interview with Azerbaijans state news agency AzerTAc.

Azerbaijan remains interested in the further development of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU, he said. For that reason Azerbaijan submitted to the EU a draft Agreement on strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and European Union in the margins of Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, May 21-22, 2015.

Council of European Union has already given a mandate to the EU Commission to launch negotiations with the Republic of Azerbaijan on strategic partnership agreement.

We consider that this new document will provide a legal framework to raise the level of bilateral relations to the strategic partnership and ensure comprehensive development of cooperation with the EU, Mammadyarov said. Currently, the delegations for the negotiations are under the formation. From the beginning of 2017 the intensive negotiation will be launched.

Legal basis of the relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Union constitutes the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed on April 22, 1996 and entered into force on July 1, 1999.

Within this agreement large-scale cooperation in the fields of political dialogue, human rights, trade, investment, economy, legislation, cultural and other spheres are envisaged. During the last 20 years since the signing of the agreement Azerbaijan has established close and fruitful cooperation with the EU in many areas of mutual interest.

Azerbaijan is a part of Eastern Partnership initiative of the EU since 2009, he said. Azerbaijan enjoys close economic and trade relations with the EU. Azerbaijan also remains a main trade partner of the EU in the South Caucasus region and the EU member states are major trade partners of us.

They are also among the major investors in Azerbaijan, he said. The strategic partnership ties were established between Azerbaijan and the nine EU member states.

There are ample prospects for the development of cooperation in energy security area as in all other fields between Azerbaijan and the EU, Mammadyarov said. On January 13, 2011, Joint Declaration on Southern Gas Corridor between Azerbaijan and the EU was signed as a result of implementation of Memorandum of Understanding.

Azerbaijan will be able to provide Europe with 10 billion cubic meters gas after 2018, 25-30 billion cubic meters gas per year from 2030 by starting this important project which will transport natural gas to European markets, he said. It means that Azerbaijan will contribute to the diversification of Europe's energy supply sources and energy security of Europe for the long term period.

In a newly adopted Global Strategy European Union has also identified that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states, the inviolability of borders are key elements of the European security order, he said. These principles apply to all states, both within and beyond the EUs borders.
A 38-year-old inmate, whose death at the Parker County jail is under investigation by the state, had been arrested 18 times in that county during the past 15 years, records show.

Jesse Andrew DeBusk, 38, was booked into the Parker County jail, just west of Fort Worth, Dec. 23 and died a day later. He was arrested on outstanding warrants for three counts of attempting to commit burglary and one count of continuous violence against family, a second-degree felony, online records show.
Tennessee deputies continued their search for the last inmate in a group of six who escaped from the Cocke County Jail Christmas Day by crawling through a dugout in a bathroom wall, according to media reports.

WATE reported that six men in jail on various charges escaped the facility after a water leak allowed them to bust a steel toilet from the wall and crawl out on Dec. 25. The water leak caused the bolts holding the toilet to rust and the appliance suffered previous damage from plumbing repairs, the news station reported. Since their escape, five of the men have been recaptured, the station reported.
Its important for those who favor the popular election of our presidents to separate their arguments for direct democracy from the outcome of a particular contest.

My colleague George F. Wills recent column in defense of the Electoral College offers an excellent opportunity to make a case that has nothing to do with the election of Donald Trump.

After all, Will, admirably and eloquently, insisted that Trump was unworthy of nomination or election. So our disagreement relates entirely to his insistence that we should stick with an approach to choosing presidents that, twice in the last 16 years, overrode the wishes of Americans, as measured by the popular vote.

Will brushes aside these outcomes. Two is 40 percent of five elections, which scandalizes only those who make a fetish of simpleminded majoritarianism.

When is a belief in majoritarian democracy a fetish, and when is it just a belief in democracy? The current system makes a fetish of majoritarianism at the state level, but its held meaningless nationally. Who is fetishizing what?

Part of the answer, of course, is that majoritarianism or pluralitarianism are not fetishes at all. They are how we run just about every other election in our country. If the people get to choose the state treasurer or the county recorder of deeds by popular vote, why should they be deprived of a direct say in who will occupy the countrys most important office?

According to Will, Electoral College majorities are very special because they promote a particularly virtuous way of attaining power. They are built, he writes, by a two-party system that assembles them in accordance with the Electoral Colleges distribution incentive for geographical breadth in a coalition of states.

But geographical breadth is a relative term. The existing rules encourage candidates to campaign in 10 or 12 swing states and skip the rest. The winner is picked not by the laws of elections but by the serendipity of the casino. If youre lucky to hit the right numbers, narrowly, in a few states, you can override your opponents big margins in other states.

True, Will notes happily, the Electoral College gave the presidency to Abraham Lincoln although Lincoln won just 39.9 percent of the popular vote. But there was no geographical breadth to Lincolns victory. He carried not a single state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Will and I can both retrospectively cheer Lincolns election, but an outcome we happen to like doesnt vindicate the process.

And at least Lincoln won a plurality of the total vote, beating the No. 2 finisher, Stephen A. Douglas, by 10 percentage points. Will notes that 1860 was among the 18 of 48 elections since 1824 that produced presidents who won less than 50 percent of the popular vote. Yet in all but five of those, the winner got the most votes.

The way we do things now, Will says, quarantines electoral disputes by confining them to one or a few states. I suppose, but not many of us felt quarantined in 2000 from the impact of Floridas electoral mayhem.

A favorite metaphorical defense of the Electoral College is that the winner of the World Series is determined by games won, not runs scored. But in the Electoral College, some games (and votes) count more than others. California gets one elector for every 713,637 people, Wyoming one for every 195,167.

Will says that the Electoral College has evolved since the 18th century. Well, yes, we now have the worst of both worlds: The Electoral College is no longer the deliberative body envisioned by the founders, but it still thwarts the wishes of the majority. Will does not explain why only political hypochondriacs think that the winner of the most votes should prevail. In the absence of one, we should complete our evolution toward democracy and elect our presidents directly.

ejdionne@washpost.com
Donald Trump has inspired so much fear among his Republican comrades that he no longer has to issue harsh tweets when they misbehave. They do it themselves.

Newt Gingrich was once himself revered as House speaker but has since become a Trump fawner. When Gingrich recently opined that Trump was no longer interested in draining the swamp, the sky fell on him.

In a James Bond movie, an oaf like Gingrich would have been quickly eliminated in a baroque manner. But Gingrich fell on his belly and begged forgiveness.

I goofed, he tweeted. Draining the swamp is in, @realDonaldTrump is going to do it, and the alligators should be worried.

Evan McMullin, who ran as an independent in the 2016 election, issued a wry tweet on the groveling: Newt is learning the public prostration required of authoritarian loyalists. The dear leader often changes his mind but hes always correct.

During the campaign, Trump famously slandered Sen. Ted Cruz. He implied Cruzs wife is ugly and accused his father of having helped assassinate John F. Kennedy. Then, in a startling display of total submission, Cruz endorsed Trump for president.

Trump has always taken a sadistic pleasure in humiliating those who disagree with him, and his favorite targets are frightened Republicans. He will be starting his administration with Republican majorities in both houses of Congress and wants obedience.

Trump has a team of enforcers ready to go after Republicans harboring stray thoughts. His hotheads are ready to issue dire threats against independent thinkers, with Breitbart amplifying the smears.

As campaign surrogates, both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani disgraced themselves trying to cover for Trumps birther lies. Neither emerged with a job in the administration.

By contrast, Trump is quite accommodating to the New York financiers hes naming for key positions. The bankers and hedge funders may be into money, but they tend to be fairly liberal on social issues. Gary Cohn, No. 2 at Goldman Sachs and Trumps pick to head the National Economic Council, is a Democrat.

When JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon declined Trumps offer to head the Treasury Department, an unnamed Trump source let loose that the president-elect doesnt respect him. Chances are Dimon could not care less, but note that Trump himself didnt make the negative remark. Note also that Dimon has since become a Trump business adviser.

As for his views on policy, Dimon has spoken positively of a $15-an-hour minimum wage for New York City. He just announced that Trump will not expel 11 million undocumented immigrants from the country, adding, President-elect Trump is different from candidate Trump.

In Trump world, one treats financial titans with the utmost respect.

Republican lawmakers under brutal surveillance must surely resent Trumps warm ties with a Democrat, incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. A fellow New Yorker, Schumer knows what Trump is all about, and Trump knows it. Besides, Wall Street is a hometown employer.

Conservatives with spine will resist Trumps break with doctrine. The other Republicans will adopt a pose of servility. And theyre the ones Trump will have fun with

fharrop@gmail.com
Re: A sweet deal for private equity, Business, Dec. 18:

Such sweet deals do not make America great, ever! However, government regulations can assist toward greatness. Sacrifice for the good of the weak people everywhere makes America great.

Martin Elsner

System works

Re: Corrupted electoral college mocks the founders intent, O. Ricardo Pimentel, Opinion, Dec. 18:

This column repeats what has become liberal gospel, that the Electoral College perverted the will of the people by electing Mr. Trump when Ms. Clinton won the popular vote.

Ms. Clinton did indeed win the popular vote, by a margin of 2.8 million votes, a total that is somewhat less impressive upon closer examination. Her winning margin in California was 2.5 million votes, almost the entirety of her winning margin nationwide, but not quite. She won New York by 1.5 million votes, meaning her winning margin in the nationwide election was less than 75 percent of the winning margin in just two states.

She did indeed prove popular in New York and California, two states known for oppressive regulation and crushing taxes. Remove her winning margin in California and New York, and she loses the popular vote by more than a million votes. One cannot remove the votes of two states arbitrarily, but being immensely popular in two states does not a national mandate make. Ms. Clinton additionally won just 20 of the 50 states, or 40 percent, hardly an expression of the will of the people.

The Electoral College is working as intended, Mr. Pimentel, ensuring the will of two states is not imposed on the other 48.

Daniel McNamara

Secretary of Oops

OK, Rick Perry has been tabbed as Secretary of Energy. This is the same department he wanted to eliminate. OK, if he gets the job, will he fire all the people and just sit in an empty office and draw another pay check? What a perfect job.

Herman Brysch

Skipping class

The protests and riots in some cities regarding the electoral college vote process were getting old. Most of the protesters were made up of young college-aged Democrats who probably skipped class discussions on elections and the electoral system.

The Constitution cannot be easily changed; changing it takes time and hard work. I ask, where were the Democrats who controlled Congress by overwhelming majorities for over 40 years? Why didnt they bring about the changes in the electoral college during that time?

Maybe next time these students will not skip their government class. Now be grown up and repay your student loans because I, for one, will not repay the loans for you! Ask your parents for the money. Better still, study hard and you will earn a scholarship.

John M. Sanchez

Cautionary note

Re: Right or wrong, Your Turn, Dec. 19:

During my time in the military, I had the same impression of military hierarchy, going along to get along, as recalled by the letter writer in his cautionary note to our president-elect. He warns against top heavy staffing of retired generals for that lock-step mentality while he cites a particularly exemplary counterexample in John Boyd, former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and Pentagon consultant. Hear! Hear!

Many a multi-starred retiree will molder unremembered long after Col. (he should have been made a general several times over) Boyd, unforgettable air combat tactics mentor and father of the pace-setting F-15 fighter plane, is yet revered for his devotion to duty over propriety. So good to see his name mentioned this way again today, and to his ashes, honor be.

Alan Duaine
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Elena Kosolapova  Trend:

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is expected to visit Azerbaijan in the first half of 2017, Kazakh ambassador to Azerbaijan Beibit Isabayev said at a press-conference in Baku Dec. 27.

President Nazarbayev planned to visit Azerbaijan on October 12 but he was forced to cancel the visit due to cold.

The ambassador added that the representatives of the Kazakh state agencies and departments will also visit Azerbaijan in 2017.

He recalled that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations in the future.

Isabayev said that all events planned to be held by the Kazakh embassy in Azerbaijan in 2016 were held.

In particular, the 550th anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate and the 25th anniversary of independence of Kazakhstan were celebrated. A photo exhibition of Kazakh photographers and an event dedicated to People's Artist of Kazakhstan Altynbek Korazbaev were held.

"2016 was eventful and productive," Isabayev said.

He recalled that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are actively cooperating in the field of culture.

The contacts between Al Farabi Kazakh National University and Baku State University were established. The Abay center is doing a great job for the development of cultural relations between the two countries.

Isabayev also stressed that for 25 years of independence Kazakhstan, as Azerbaijan, have become recognizable and respected members of the international community.

"We are pleased that Kazakhstans many initiatives are supported by other countries," he said.

The ambassador also added that Kazakhstan is pleased with fraternal Azerbaijans success, in particular, a number of sporting events successfully held in Azerbaijan.

He also stressed that Kazakhstan has always supported Azerbaijan in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
ZANU PF has shut its doors on exiled former minister Saviour Kasukuwere, accusing him of being arrogant and disrespectful to party leader President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Kasukuwere fled the country into self-imposed exile alongside other G40 members, who include former ministers Jonathan Moyo, Walter Mzembi and Patrick Zhuwao following the November 2017 coup that ousted longer time ruler, the late Robert Mugabe.

The G40 was a camp allegedly aligned to former First Lady Grace Mugabe that was forced to escape into exile, when President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed power.

Other G40 members such as former Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo were unlucky not to escape, and have faced various criminal abuse of office charges.

Zanu PF director for information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the ruling party had shut its doors on Kasukuwere, accusing him of undermining Mnangagwa and his leadership.

As a matter of policy, the party does not negotiate with individuals who seek to return or trace their roots to the party. Rather, those who seek to return know what to do if ever they were truly and genuinely in it before, they know the rules and procedures to follow, he said.

Its unfortunate that his case might be a different one because there is no remorse, repentance nor positive revolutionary conduct in him. He has continued on a path to denigrate, undermine and insult the party, its leadership and its ethos, clandestinely presenting himself as a political phenomenon. That behaviour stands in his way. Be that as it may, the leadership of the party will advise accordingly as and when he does the necessary procedures.

It is understood that Kasukuwere has been trying to worm his way back into the ruling party through high-level negotiations.

Sources in Zanu PF claimed that the former Local Government minister has also dangled US$30 000 to the Harare Womens League chairperson Ratidzo Mukarati to support G40s bid to wrest State power.

The sources also said party bigwigs were closely monitoring events around the upcoming Zanu PF womens elective conference, where Mnangagwa allies fear G40 elements aligned to Kasukuwere can grab positions.

Kasukuwere confirmed the high-level talks to enable him to return to the ruling party.

People have spoken and people continue to speak. We must listen to our people and act. Everyone is involved and engaged. The way forward has been written on stone. There is no going back, he said in an interview with NewsDay.

We are glad that those who led Operation Restore Legacy have realised that as they were busy engaged with discussion on serious party issues with former president Mugabe, unscrupulous people whose agenda was to topple President Mugabe and install Mnangagwa had always been known, took advantage of the talks and captured our party. Illegal central committee of November 2017 must be remedied.

The ruling party has perennially been beset with infighting, which has sometimes resulted in violent running battles, and this was laid bare during campaigning for the recent district and provincial positions.

 NewsDay

Breaking News via Email
Details added (first version posted on 12:57)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan and Iran will discuss the second stage of implementation of the International North-South Transport Corridor, said Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

Mustafayev made the remarks during the meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission in Baku Dec. 27.

The first stage of implementation of the North-South transportation corridor is nearly completed, said the minister.

We are already completing the construction of the railway till the Iranian border and the railway bridge over the Astara River, added Mustafayev.

The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.

The corridor is planned to transport 6 million tons of cargo per year at the initial stage and 15-20 million tons of cargo in the future.
Alexandrov Ensemble  Last Live Concert in Bolshoi 2016 YouTube. Chuck L: This is the last concert performed by the Alexandrov Ensemble, many of whose members were killed just before Christmas when their plane crashed shortly after take-off on a planned trip to Syria. h/t Pat Lang at Sic Semper Tyrannis. Moi: Im visiting my mother, and played the first few minutes for her. Shed seen the ensemble perform 20 years ago. I closed the video to work and a few minutes later she asked me to play it in its entirety. So I do hope you find time to listen.

Australian fur seal weighing 200kg wanders down Tasmanian street, squashes car ABC (Australia; Bob H)

Cheetahs heading towards extinction as population crashes BBC :-(

People Are Posting Pics Of Their Animals Before & After Being Called A Good Boy Bored Panda (furzy). My cats, contra proper members of the Cat Union, have all liked being called Good Boy. But they are Abyssinians, so they are half way to being dogs.

Save the Snowflakes Media Research Center (Li)

Dispatches From the Edge Awards: When Reading the News is a Daily Adventure Counterpunch (Edward)

Christmas service accidentally prints words to Tupacs Hail Mary instead of carol Independent (Chuck L). Lambert had a Twitter report on this event yesterday.

Top 16 Earth images of 2016 EarthSky (furzy)

Why You Should Eat More Sugar Mother Jones. To help your dentist make ends meet?

China?

The Coming War on China John Pilger (margarita)

Money-Laundering Risk Posed by Law Firms Accounts Wall Street Journal

Monte dei Paschi shortfall hits 8bn, says ECB Financial Times

The Archbishop of Cyprus criticizes strongly the plans of President Anastasiades Defend Democracy (Joe H)

Corbyn hits back after Obama suggests Labour is disintegrating Guardian

5 Ways the Soviet Union Could Have Won the Cold War (Or at Least Survived It) National Interest (resilc)

Syraquistan

Imperial Collapse Watch

Trump Transition

The Trumptini Harpers (resilc)

2016 Post Mortem

Obama says he could have mobilized Americans if he had run again CBS (Bill C). Help me. He mobilized massive losses for the Dems at all levels of government during his term in office. Juan Williams: The dangerous erosion of facts The Hill. Gah. Low information citizens now being blamed on fake news. Have none of these reporters ever seen how people answer basic history and civics questions, like Who gave the Gettysburg Address or When did World War I end? Typically, more than half the people give the wrong answer.as happened here. Mistakes should be admitted to, not used to mobilize and create a fight. Extra Newsfeed. Userfriendly: A better explanation of what happened in Michigan with that Berners vs Labor thing by one of the Berners.

Noam Chomskys Bold Request Before President Obama Leaves Office (Video) Truthdig (furzy)

The 2016 Tax Vox Lump of Coal Award for the Years Worst Tax Ideas Tax Policy Center (resilc)

The sharp rise in non-Latin American migrants trying to cross into the U.S. from Mexico Los Angeles Times (resilc)

North Dakota pipeline battle far from over as protesters dig in Financial Times

States Will Lead on Climate Change in the Trump Era New York Times (furzy)

New McCarthyism

As Obama Steps Aside, Banks See New Opportunity in Student-Lending Business Wall Street Journal

Class Warfare

Map of World Billionaires by Country and Origin Barry Ritholtz (furzy)

Antidote du jour (bob):

And a bonus video (Chuck L):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Curved kick on the nanoscale: Investigations of the skyrmion Hall effect reveal surprising results (Nanowerk News) Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made another important breakthrough in the field of future magnetic storage devices. Already in March 2016, the international team investigated structures, which could serve as magnetic shift register or racetrack memory devices. This type of storage promises low access times, high information density, and low energy consumption.

Now, the research team achieved the billion-fold reproducible motion of special magnetic textures, so-called skyrmions, between different positions, which is exactly the process needed in magnetic shift registers thereby taking a critical step towards the application of skyrmions in devices.

The work was published in the research journal Nature Physics ("Skyrmion Hall effect revealed by direct time-resolved X-ray microscopy").

The magnetic structure of a skyrmion is symmetrical around its core; arrows indicate the direction of spin. (Image: Benjamin Kruger, JGU)

The experiments were carried out in specially designed thin film structures, i.e., vertically asymmetric multilayer devices exhibiting broken inversion symmetry and thus stabilizing special spin structures called skyrmions. Those structures are similar to a hair whorl and like these are relatively difficult to destroy. This grants them unique stability, which is another argument for the application of skyrmions in such spintronic devices.

Since skyrmions can be shifted by electrical currents and feel a repulsive force from the edges of the magnetic track as well as from single defects in the wire, they can move relatively undisturbed through the track. This is a highly desired property for racetrack devices, which are supposed to consist of static read- and write-heads, while the magnetic bits are shifted in the track. However, it is another important aspect of skyrmion dynamics that the skyrmions do not only move parallel to the applied current, but also perpendicular to it. This leads to an angle between the skyrmion direction of motion and the current flow called the skyrmion Hall angle, which can be predicted theoretically.

As a result, the skyrmions should move under this constant angle until they start getting repelled by the edge of the material and then keep a constant distance to it.

Within their latest research project, scientists of JGU and MIT now proved that the billion-fold reproducible displacement of skyrmions is indeed possible and can be achieved with high velocities. Furthermore, the skyrmion Hall angle was investigated in detail.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be dependent on the velocity of the skyrmions, which means that the components of the motion parallel and perpendicular to the current flow do not scale equally with the velocity of the skyrmions. This is not predicted in the conventional theoretical description of skyrmions.

Part of the solution of this unexpected behavior could be the deformation of the skyrmion spin structure, calling for more theoretical effort to fully understand the properties of skyrmions.

"I am glad that the collaboration between Mainz University and MIT has already yielded the second high-ranked publication. Considering especially the short time since the collaboration started, this is exceptional and I am happy to be able to participate in it," said Kai Litzius, first-author of the Nature Physics article. Litzius is a scholar of the Graduate School of Excellence "Materials Science in Mainz" (MAINZ) and a member of the team headed by Professor Mathias Klaui.
Tipperarys inspiring women are to go up in lights as part of a national campaign to recognise the contribution of women to society.

Their images are to be illuminated on the wall of the County Museum in Clonmel.

Illuminate Herstory is a new light projection festival to celebrate women and girls.

Over the weekend of Nollaig na mBan (5-8th January 2017), when the Christmas lights are turned off, the country will be lit up with the faces of hundreds of Irish women.

The objective is to start a new annual event where Ireland inspires the world to celebrate women, just like the global greening on St. Patricks Day.

The event is produced by Lesley Tully, Head of Design Thinking at Bank of Ireland and Founder of Illuminate Dublin in association with locally organised events.

For Illuminate Herstory in Tipperary it is planned to coordinate a Nollaig na mBan launch night where all the wonderful women recognised through community awards in the Clonmel Borough District area during 2016 can be celebrated once again.

The illuminations of their portraits will be projected onto the County Museum's 1916 Exhibition alongside the current exhibition As if she had a right to be There which celebrates the untold heroism of Cumman na mBan during 1916.

This event will celebrate these local women who have been identified as contributing significantly to their communities in a range of ways.

The Eileen Anderson Unsung Hero Award was sponsored and organised by Clonmel Rotary Club, Clonmel Borough District Council and Tipperary County Council. This award recognises people working in a community or in a voluntary capacity for their outstanding contribution to their community / area. A total of 8 individual nominations were received. The 2016 award was presented to Patsy McGurk from Cahir.

Patsy, who does trojan work in the Cahir area was the unsuspecting winner.

She goes about her voluntary work quietly, efficiently but without drawing attention to herself for many years.

The community groups Patsy is involved with are: Cahir Park Community Preschool, Cahir Lions Club, Cahir Second hand Book shop, English Classes for Foreign Nationals, Cahir Mens shed, New Inn & Knockgraffon Choir, Cahir Church Choir and Assisting Summer outings for the Elderly.

Patsy is held in high esteem within her community and works under the radar for the countless people she assists and inspires daily.

The other women nominated for this award were Francis Murray, Maureen Calvert and June Looby.

Three other women noted for their contribution to their community in the past year are Ina Doyle (who won Volunteer of the Year 2016 for her work on Clonmels Soup Kitchen), Amanda Quigley, Jacinta Mullins and Pamela Hallahan.

We look forward to seeing the faces behind these wonderful womens names at the event for Nollaig na mBan, a fitting time to celebrate the contribution of women past and present to our society.

Projections will run from Thursday 5th  Saturday 7th January 2017 (10am  4.45pm). The launch night will be held on Thursday 5th Jan at 7.30pm at Tipperary County Museum, Mick Delahunty Square, Clonmel.
One of the creators of the Ruaille Buaille Irish language anthology of comic book short stories is a student at Gaelcholaiste Cheitinn in Clonmel.

Fifth Year student Clara Murphy from The Spa Road attended an Irish language comic-creating workshop for the Childrens Book Festival in Clonmel Library in October of last year.

17 year-old Clara, daughter of Niall Murphy and Mary Claire O'Riordan, made a favourable impression at that workshop and the comic strip she completed has been expanded upon in Ruaille Buaille.

She did the silent comic which is called An Chomharsa Nua - The New Neighbour.

The comic strip was coloured by Triona Farrell, who added atmosphere to the piece, while the tale was written and drawn by Clara.

Her favourite subject in school is art and she would like to be an animator.

Ruaille Buaille is similar to the Dandy and the Beano annuals but is in the format of an Asterix book. Alan Ryan drew the striking image on the cover.

Its 40 pages of stories are aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 14 years of age to enjoy, while having fun with Irish.

The book received a mention by Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Toy Show earlier this month and is on sale for 8.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau faces a precarious and uncertain future in 2017 with all eyes focused on two questions: whether President-elect Donald Trump will attempt to fire agency director Richard Cordray and if Congress can successfully restructure the agency by changing its leadership and funding.

Those issues, in addition to a critical legal case that is still pending, are liable to cast a shadow over the agency's ambitious agenda as it attempts to move forward on regulations concerning payday lending, mandatory arbitration, overdraft fees, debt collection and more.

"We don't know whether Trump will seek to remove Cordray, whether Rich Cordray will voluntarily resign and what will happen in Congress," said Lucy Morris, a partner at Hudson Cook and a former deputy enforcement director at the CFPB.

"I've never experienced a situation where we had such an important case at the same time that we have a change in administration and a nontraditional president-elect."

In the short term, the agency's future under Cordray hinges on whether the D.C. Circuit agrees before inauguration day to hear an appeal of a contentious court ruling, PHH Corp. v. CFPB.

A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit found in October that the CFPB's single-director structure is unconstitutional. If the case is taken on appeal, the panel's ruling would be vacated and Cordray could not be removed at will by the president.

Some lawyers have suggested that Trump could still remove Cordray for cause, another issue that is being hotly debated.

"Does the president have the authority to remove the CFPB director at will even though the law says otherwise?" Brianne Gorod, chief counsel at the Constitutional Accountability Center, wrote Dec. 15 in the Yale Journal on Regulation. "Assuming the full D.C. Circuit agrees to rehear the pending case and restores the CFPB director's for-cause removal protection, it would be unlawful for President Trump to remove the current CFPB director."

Gorod cited three recent past examples in which officers resisted a removal order by a president until a court decided whether the removal was proper.

In 1981, President Reagan sought to remove a member of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission and in 1983, he tried to remove certain members of the Commission on Civil Rights. In 1993, President George H.W. Bush sought to remove members of the board of governors of the Postal Service Board. In all three cases, the members stayed in office.

"But if Trump were to try it anyway, one other thing is also clear: The director would be able to resist his removal by seeking redress in the courts, and the courts could prevent the president from removing him," wrote Gorod, a former law clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer and a former attorney-adviser in the Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department.

Brian Simmons Marshall, a policy counsel at Americans for Financial Reform, said it would be "an unprecedented and outrageous act to try to fire Director Cordray for cause."

Marshall said he expects that Cordray will serve out his term until July 2018 and that the bureau will issue final arbitration and payday rules in 2017.

That debate comes at a time when Congress is poised to move forward with a bill that would restructure the agency, replacing its single director with a five-member board and putting the CFPB on the appropriations process. That bill is part of a larger effort to revamp the Dodd-Frank Act, which is likely to be taken up soon in the new year.

Yet efforts to restructure the bureau are certain to meet fierce resistance from Senate Democrats, who may be able to filibuster any reform bill. That leaves the outlook for legislative change unclear.

Neither the pending cases nor the fight over Cordray are likely to stop any pending enforcement cases, but the uncertainty might have an impact in other ways.

For example, observers said the agency is likely to file more cases in district court, rather than administratively, after the three-judge panel in the PHH case rejected the bureau's argument that it could bring charges with no statute of limitations.

Many companies were concerned that the CFPB would challenge an array of practices going back many years, which would have increased the potential liability for civil or criminal penalties. That issue is now moot.

"The big advantage [the CFPB had] of no statute of limitations is gone," Morris said.

The CFPB was also rebuked by the three-judge panel for a novel interpretation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and ignoring past guidance by other agencies, notably the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ethan Levisohn, a lawyer at Covington & Burling and a former CFPB enforcement attorney, said the PHH case may have clipped the bureau's efforts to regulate through enforcement actions.

"This does constrain the bureau in some ways," Levisohn said during an American Bar Association web seminar. "They are now much more sensitive to all that prior guidance. It will create a little bit of circumspection on the bureau's part."
(Natural News) As the unhinged political left continues to unravel into what can only be called sociopathic mental illness, I thought it might be educational to bring you four recent, shocking episodes of left-wing tolerance on display.

As you review these, remember that tolerance of the left is selectively applied only to those who agree with every important political narrative of liberalism. Anyone who disagrees with the false narratives of the left is targeted for extreme hatred, death threats and now even a call to be exterminated via actual genocide.

This is what happens when the party of love wins loses the election: They turn to hatred, violence and deeply rooted desired to literally kill everyone who doesnt agree with them.

Example #1: Left-wing hate monger attacks Texas Governor Greg Abbot for being a cripple

Via Breitbart.com:

A Twitter user attacked Texas Governor Greg Abbott for his religious faith and asked him why God has never helped him walk again.

Abbott has been confined to a wheelchair since July 1984 when a tree fell on him, breaking his back. He was running with a law school friend at the time through a neighborhood in Houston.

The Twitter user, @dschlick, tweeted out Hey @GregAbbott_TX, since youre so holy and close to God, when is he going to make you walk again? #crippledgreg #charlatanabbott.

For the record, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is far more of a courageous man and visionary leader than Obama or any left-winger could ever hope to be. Theres simply no comparison. Gov. Abbott is a man I would be honored to call President one day.

Example #2: Left-wing Drexel University professor calls for genocide against whites

Via Breitbart.com:

A professor at Philadelphias Drexel University has a heartwarming Christmas message: Associate Professor of Politics and Global Studies George Ciccariello-Maher is wishing for a white genocide.

Taking to his Twitter account on Christmas eve, Ciccariello-Maher, himself a white man, tweeted, All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide  The professor who describes himself as a visiting researcher at El Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales in Mexico also had praise for the massacre of whites.

The professors Twitter feed is filled with hateful, obnoxious messages, anti-Americanism, slams of President Donald Trump, attacks on Jews, as well as pro-Black Lives Matter and pro-communist sloganeering.

Yes, this is the love and compassion from the left, demonstrating the tolerance for all humankind that were told is exclusive to liberals.

Gosh, achieving diversity is almost instantaneous if all whites are exterminated in a new left-wing Holocaust, isnt it? Good thing we have the Second Amendment, I would argue, so that we can defend ourselves against violent left-wing whackos when they try to commit genocide against innocent women and children who happen to be Caucasian.

Example #3: Extreme harassment of a female college student by Clinton supporters causes her to drop out

Via DailyCaller.com:

A freshman student [Andi Moritz] at Bryn Mawr College has dropped out after what she says was unbearable harassment from her fellow students for supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

Moritz told the English House Gazette, a Bryn Mawr student blog, that a low point came when she was approached by a peer mentor in her dorm, who instead of offering support began to vilify her. The peer mentor said Moritz had personally attacked other students by expressing support for Trump.

Moritz told Philly.com the response was so hostile she ended up calling a suicide hotline for support. Later, she visited a campus counselor, who she says wasnt very helpful.

So, according to college student snowflakes, merely supporting Donald Trump is a personal attack on the entire student body. Yes, this is how insane and mentally ill the left-wing colleges and universities have become in America. To them, genocide against whites is good but supporting a Republican is an attack against everyone.

Example #4: Ivanka Trump stalked, harassed on commercial flight by insanely angry left-wing nut job

Via Breitbart.com:

Ivanka, who was with her husband Jared Kushner and three children, was harassed by a male passenger who told her that Your father is ruining the country, before declaring that She should be flying private.

As the man continued his tirade, he was removed from the flight and could be heard screaming, Youre kicking me off for expressing my opinion, as he was taken by security.

The husband of the passenger, Matt Lasner, later took to Twitter to recount the event, where he boasted how his husband was chasing them down to harass them.

To summarize the lefts tolerance, if you agree with genocide, verbal assaults and extreme threats against cripples, then you are tolerant (and even progressive)



So now we really get down to the root of liberalism, which is best described at this point as a mental disorder. The most fervent advocates of liberalism are violent, unstable nut jobs, conspiracy theorists and whackos who fake hate crimes against themselves with shocking frequency (nearly every hate crime reported by the Huffington Post, MSNBC or CNN later turns out to be a false flag hoax committed by leftists against themselves).

The mass psychosis of the unhinged left stems from the deep linguistic programming of the hypnotic left-wing media which has literally programmed left-wingers into near-Manchurian candidates to be activated at any moment against conservatives. To top it all off, left-wing whackos are now convinced that the KKK is everywhere, Russians hacked the election, genocide against whites is diversity, and chopping up living human babies for organ harvesting is womens health.

The extreme violence, delusional narratives and unbridled hatred now being demonstrated by those on the left isnt merely amusing; its dangerous to society.

Hillary Clintons FEMA Fun Camps now have a whole new use under President Trump

I sense we are rapidly approaching the day where We the People are going to have to quite literally institutionalize many of these left-wing nut jobs and subject them to some sort of deprogramming therapy in the hopes of being able to allow them to eventually return to society with their mental faculties restored. Some of them have become so unhinged and completely out of touch with reality that they can no longer function in society without posing a very real threat to the people around them.

Perhaps after January 20, President Trump can help American heal by calling for a nationwide treatment program for delusional, paranoid leftists who have been put into a state of mental derangement by CNN, the NYT, WashPost, MSNBC and left-wing hate spewing political grunts like Michael Moore. A mere 30-day time out from the left-wing media might allow a large number of its victims to finally come to their senses and wake up from their hypnosis programming.

Good thing we already have Hillary Clintons fun camps built and ready to be put to good use, eh? Now we finally know their greater purpose: Serving as de-hypnosis centers for mentally ill leftists who can no longer function in a democratic society.
(Details added, first version posted at 13:53)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Foundation of an Azerbaijan-Iran joint pharmaceutical plant in the Pirallahi Industrial Park will be laid in January 2017, said Azerbaijani Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

He made the remarks during a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission in Baku Dec. 27.

Irans Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ali Rabiei will take part in the groundbreaking ceremony of the plant which is an Azerbaijan-Iran joint enterprise, Mustafayev said.

Over $30 million will be invested in the creation of the joint venture.

In April, Iran's Darou Pakhsh Holding Company inked a memorandum of understanding with the Azerbaijan Investment Company and Azersun Holding in Baku as part of this project.

In the joint enterprise, 49 percent of the shares belong to Iran, while 25 percent go to the Azerbaijan Investment Company and 26 percent to Azersun Holding.

The plant will be commissioned within two years. It is expected to produce dozens of essential drugs for treatment of heart diseases, contagious diseases, non-communicable diseases, as well as various types of antibiotics and painkillers.

The minister said the organization of a production site of the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company in Azerbaijans Neftchala industrial quarter is also being mulled at the meeting of the intergovernmental commission.

He reminded that construction of an Azerbaijan-Iran car plant is currently underway in the Neftchala industrial quarter.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the plant was held in August 2016.

The project is estimated to cost $15 million and the Iranian side is expected to provide 25 percent of the total cost.

Four Iranian car brands  Dena, Runna, Soren and Samand  will be produced at the new plant with a capacity of producing 10,000 cars per year.

The project representatives announced that about 20 percent of the produced cars will be exported.
(Natural News) Scientists are inching closer to understanding malaria better thanks to new analysis of DNA fragments taken from ancient human teeth in Italy. The researchers found genomic evidence of the deadly mosquito-borne illness in the 2,000-year-old remains, enabling them to identify the exact species of malaria that infected the ancient Romans.

The analysis of the teeth, which belonged to 58 adults and 10 children who lived during the 1st through 3rd centuries AD, showed that the people were afflicted by the same Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite that still infects thousands of people annually to this day. The teeth were taken from a range of sites, including two port cities in southern Italy and a site further inland where laborers who worked on rural Roman estates would have been buried. P. falciparum is currently the most prevalent type of malaria parasite in sub-Saharan Africa and also the deadliest, responsible for more malaria-related deaths than any other type of parasite.

The researchers believe that malaria, which is spread through mosquito bites, was responsible for widespread death among ancient Romans and it continues to be deadly in some parts of the world today. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 438,000 people died in 2015 from malaria, with more than 9 out of 10 cases coming from sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of malaria deaths occur in children younger than five. The disease is considered to be treatable and preventable.

There has long been evidence in historical texts of fevers that sounded like they could be malaria. They were described as coming at certain times of year and recurring, but it was difficult to conclude whether they were malaria because many illnesses can cause fevers. However, because no one can build up immunity to the disease, the fact that these outbreaks were repeated had led researchers to suspect malaria. Now they have the DNA evidence to support this theory. Previous studies have only confirmed malaria cases several centuries later.

The DNA needed for this type of study is difficult to obtain because the parasites are found in blood and organs that tend to decompose rapidly. It does not cause any obvious changes in skeletal remains, so the scientists were fortunate to be able to find this DNA in dental pulp. They drilled the pulp out of the teeth in a way that kept the teeth intact for their investigations.

Discovery could lead to improved malaria treatments

The scientists hope that expanding the body of knowledge on where and when malaria has affected human life and how it has evolved could help lead to ways to control or eradicate it in modern times.

Current malaria preventions and treatments leave a lot to be desired. Mosquito nets laced with insecticide have spawned the emergence of superbug malaria mosquitos. A malaria drug developed by the U.S. Army, mefloquine, has been known to cause neuropsychiatric adverse events such as psychosis, homicide, suicide, depression, hallucinations, and feelings of mistrust toward others. It was behind the 2002 Fort Bragg incident where four soldiers killed their wives; two of these soldiers also killed themselves. Some doctors have said that the dangerous drug never should have been licensed in the first place.

Malaria vaccine used dishonest techniques to exaggerate effectiveness, diminish side effects

Meanwhile, GlaxoSmithKlines RTS,S malaria vaccine has come under fire after it was revealed that studies were manipulated in various ways to make it look better. Instead of comparing the side effects found in people who got the vaccine with those of subjects who got no vaccines, they compared them to people who got meningitis and rabies vaccines, which have approximately the same risk of serious side effects that the malaria vaccine does. This essentially covers up the side effects the malaria vaccine can cause. Mismatched group sizes were also used to reach a favorable efficacy rate.

With the CDC estimating that 214 million cases of malaria occurred around the world last year, it is hoped that this latest finding can lead to the development of more effective prevention and treatments for this deadly disease.

Sources include:

CNN.com

LiveScience.com

Wired.co.uk

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A Syrian refugee columnist from the Huffington Post has said that women are to blame for last years sexual assaults that occurred across Germany on New Years Eve. Aras Bacho, the 18-year-old columnist, frequently writes for the Huffington Posts German website. Bacho tweeted that woman shouldnt be out alone at night, insisting Most of the time the women are to blame. To be alone at night. On the other hand, the refugees should behave.

The tweet was tagged Silvester which is German for New Years. Bachos tweet has been live for days now, but the Huffington Post hasnt showed any signs of condemning his offensive statement. This is not the first time Bacho has made a controversial comment. In October, he demanded that all signage in the country be translated into Arabic. His columns also make demands for more policing to protect migrants, more money from Germans, and even a state-sponsored smartphone program for migrants.

Thus far, there has been no reaction from Huffington Post regarding Bachos status with the publication. Recall recently, a Politico writer was terminated after suggesting in a tweet that Donald Trump was sleeping with his daughter.

Breitbart London recently revealed that only 18 convictions have been made, in Cologne, out of the 1,300 reported sexual assaults that had occurred on New Years Eve. Five years ago, Bacho moved from Syria to Germany. He became a regular columnist for migrant issues across German media. Bacho has also made the outrageous statement that people who are unhappy with Chancellor Angela Merkels open borders policies should leave Germany.

The media covers for the migrant suspects

The left-leaning media have been trying to cover up the migrant rape crisis. The mainstream outlets claimed that only three of the suspects involved in Colognes mass migrant rape were recent refugees. Colognes prosecutor, Ulrich Bremer, said those claims are total nonsense. Mainstream media outlets were misinterpreting facts and reporting in a way that is favorable for the left-wing  opposed to reporting the truth.

The Huffington Post claimed that two Syrians, and one Iraqi, had been detained by police. Other headlines had accused hordes of refugees for masterminding the assaults. The Independent, which recently transitioned into an online only outlet, reported that the majority of suspects were Algerian, Tunisian, or Moroccan; none of which had recently arrived in Germany.

The police had not released the information that was falsely reported by the mainstream outlets. The overwhelming majority of suspects do fall into the category of refugees. The papers possibly made the errors by not understanding the migrant crisis. Syrians and Iraqis arent the only types of migrants. Algerians and Moroccans also fall into that category, many of which have been named among the Cologne suspects. Thousands of Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians, among dozens of other nationalities, have poured into Europe since the beginning of the migrant crisis in early 2015. The news has been controlled by open borders campaigners, broadcasters, and government agencies.

Sources:

Breitbart.com

Breitbart.com
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 by: Robert Jonathan Tags: Apple , Censorship , free speech , Gab , Twitter This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author

(Natural News) Twitter alternative Gab is facing censorship from the tech industry on two fronts. Twitter apparently no longer allows sharing between the two social media platforms, while Apple rejected the GAB IOS app on the grounds that it includes user-posted pornographic content.

GAB CEO Andrew Torba, a.k.a. the GabFather, is appealing this decision.

The double standards of Silicon Valley are on full display with this app store rejection from Apple. Apps like Tumblr, Reddit, and Twitter are flooded with pornographic content and allowed to remain on the App store, he explained in an email to Breitbart Tech.

During the election season, Twitter suspended several users on the political right for alleged hate speech, but seldom took any action for similar behavior on the left. It also was regularly accused of shadow-banning users and hashtags unfavorable to Hillary Clinton.

Also, back in August, Apple CEO Tim Cook hosted a big-ticket fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.

Gabs issues with Big Social are hardly a surprise since its no particular secret that Silicon Valley tilts left. You may recall that earlier this year, Facebook found itself engulfed in a controversy over suppressing conservative-oriented stories from its trending news section, which led to a change in curation procedures. It also prompted Torba to decide to develop Gab in the first place.

Moreover, in another questionable decision, in its stated effort to weed out fake news, Facebook selected four or five left-wing organizations including Politifact, as fact-checkers.

Parenthetically, allegations also emerged during the campaign that Google was suppressing information unfavorable to Hillary Clinton.

In a separate interview with Breitbart Tech, Torba  a Trump supporter who was kicked out of a Silicon Valley start-up organization after a heated online dispute with other members  noted that his platform wont engage in politically correct suppression of free speech.

We believe that the only valid form of censorship is self-censorship, an individuals freedom to opt-out. Gab empowers users to self-censor and remove unwanted followers, words, phrases, and topics they dont want to see in their feeds to help stop and prevent different forms harassment. However, we do take steps to protect ourselves and our users from illegal activity.

Still a work in progress, the rapidly growing Gab.ai, which allows a 300-character message rather than Twitters 140, is accepting new users, but there is a bit of a waiting list. Hopefully, Gab will begin to attract a wider audience across the political spectrum.

Sources:

MegaFeed.com

NaturalNews.com

Breitbart Tech

Inquisitr.com
(Natural News) One of the mainstream medias narratives since President-elect Donald J. Trump unexpectedly defeated their chosen candidate, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, has been that the former was aided by fake news supplied to hundreds of legitimate news websites (including this one) by the Russian government.

That massive lie has since been exposed as fake news in and of itself, as Natural News founder/editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, noted this week when he pointed out that the Washington Post, which originally published the story, has now backed away from the allegations.

In other words, the same Washington Post that relied heavily on the discredited fake news group PropOrNot as its primary source for the story is now admitting PropOrNot cant be trusted at all, Adams wrote.

That raises a legitimate question, then: If the vaunted Washington Post allows itself to be this easily duped by a phony group of pretend experts, how can anyone trust anything the paper publishes?

We have pointed out time and again that the media lies big time when it comes to coverage of this issue, and this is the very same mainstream media that lied early and often about the new president-elect.

In fact, how can you trust anything the so-called mainstream media says about other important topics  like vaccines?

The issue of vaccines and Trumps candidacy crossed paths early in the primary season. During the first debate, Trump expressed intelligent questions and skepticism over the current vaccine schedule pushed by mainstream medicine and Big Pharma after receiving a gotcha question from the CNN moderator. While stating that he was generally in favor of vaccines in principle, he also explained, But I want smaller doses over a longer period of time.

It just so happens that the two physicians in the 17-candidate field of GOP contenders agreed in principle with Trump.

Of course, Trump was savaged in the mainstream media  the same group that consistently parrots the line, all vaccines are good and anyone who differs with that viewpoint is an idiot.

But, as Adams noted in 2014, thats simply not the case. And the media is consistently wrong on this issue, not Trump.

The mainstream media has utterly abandoned science in the push for more flu shot propaganda, entirely failing to mention any of the risks associated with vaccines. According to nearly every story published in the mainstream media, flu shot vaccines offer almost certain protection against the flu while carrying absolute zero risk (risk is never mentioned), he wrote.

Thats just not a scientifically correct position to take, since all medicines come with inherent risks. Were that not the case, there would be no federal reimbursement program for vaccine-injured Americans.

Journalists who write, and editors who publish, stories on any vaccines without adding language stating that they all come with some risks are putting children in danger, no question about it. In fact, one scientist exposed all the lies surrounding annual flu shots in this video presentation.

For example, in a 2015 report, NPR pushed the safety of Mercks HPV vaccine Gardasil, along with GlaxoSmithKlines similar vaccine, Cervarix. But the report did mention the National Vaccine Information Center warning:

As of Dec. 13, 2013, there were a total of 29,918 vaccine reaction reports made to the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) associated with Gardasil vaccinations, including 140 deaths.

There were a total of 2,652 vaccine adverse reaction reports made to VAERS associated with Cervarix vaccinations, including 13 deaths. (Mercks Gardasil vaccine, which was the first HPV vaccine licensed in the U.S., has the majority of the HPV vaccine market in the U.S.).

The mainstream media also lied to cover up all of the issues with the swine flu vaccine a generation ago, as listed here.

The fact is that there are inherent risks with vaccines, and not all of them have wondrous health benefits. Some are outright dangerous, while others have proven to be deadly.

President-elect Trump understands this, quite obviously, but in its rush to discredit him at every opportunity, the mainstream media regularly engages in vaccine dishonesty.

Sources:

NaturalNews.com

Vaccines.news

NaturalNews.com

YouTube.com

Bibliotecapleyades.net
2016 has been a crazy year, and it's about to end on a crazier note after scientists discovered six more signals originating from a place in deep space, outside our galaxy.



This makes the count a totla of 17 radio signals - called fast radio bursts (FRBs) that have been received from the same location in space since 2007.Now scientists are on their heels more than ever to check and explore if the planet is being hailed by extraterrestrial life forms.



According to IBTimes, the signals were detected at the Green Bank Telescope in the US and the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. According to the Astrophysical Journal, they are described as FRBs. Originally discovered in 2007, they are really fast radio signals (hence the name) that lasts only for a few milliseconds and can only be detected with special equipment.



According to Science Alert, the special thing about the FRBs is that even if they exist for small durations, they generate so much energy that it could parallel the amount of energy the Sun causes for a day.



It is this aspect of the signals, and the fact that there are 17 of them from the same region in deep space, is what's leading scientists to speculate that sufficiently-advanced extraterrestrial civilizations are outside the Milky Way.This discovery, if it were true, would then move our planet along the lines on the Kardashev scale. The technological expertise of civilizations is often determined by the Kardashev scale, named after the Russian scientist who proposed it back in 1964.



It proposes that there are three kinds of civilizations in the universe: Type I utilizes only that much energy which reaches it from the nearest star; Type II has utilized the entire energy of its nearest star for use across planets; and Type III, which harnesses the energy of stars across its galaxy.



Given the nature of the FRBs, it's being speculated that if their source is artificial, they could have been at least sent by a Type II extraterrestrial civilization as a means to reach out to other intelligent civilizations.



That is because the amount of energy in these signals are too much to be produced by conventional means known to man, but could be emitted by an artificial source from a civilization that harnessed the power of an entire star.



What bolstered the belief that this is a hailing signal is the repetitive nature of these FRBs that are being received from beyond the Milky Way. It's been believed so far that the FRBs are caused by the collission of two neutron stars that result in black holes.



However, this now means FRBs are unpredictable and can only be detected by only one or two at a time.
A new study revealed that the global population of the world's fastest land animal is sprinting its way to extinction, with only 7,100 individuals globally.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that the dramatic decline of global cheetah population could soon lead to its extinction, unless urgent, landscape-wide conservation action is taken.

"This study represents the most comprehensive analysis of cheetah status to date. Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked," explained Dr. Sarah Durant, ZSL/WCS, Project Leader for the Rangewide Conservation Program for Cheetah and African Wild Dog and lead author of the study, in a press release.

"Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought."

Dr. Durant, together with her colleagues at Zoological Society of London, Panthera and Wildlife Conservation Society, found that the best available estimate of Cheetah's global population would be around 7,100. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that cheetahs have been driven out of 91 percent of their historic range.

The population of Asiatic cheetahs has been hit the hardest, with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in one isolate area in Iran. On the other hand, cheetahs living in Zimbabwe experienced a sharp decline in its population, from 1,200 to a maximum of 170 animals in 16 years. About 77 percent of cheetah's habitat falls outside the protected areas, making it moire difficult to protect and conserve the species. Major vulnerabilities of cheetah include prey loss due to overhunting, habitat loss due to human land use and illegal trafficking of cheetah parts and trade as pets.

With their findings, the researchers recommended uplisting the IUCN Red List status of cheetahs from "vulnerable" to "endangered". When listed as endangered species, cheetahs will receive greater international conservation support, prioritization and attention. The researchers noted that global conservation efforts are necessary to prevent this fast and spotted big cat from being wiped out.


Unassuming movie-goers, who lined up outside a Pleasant Hill theater to watch "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" on Tuesday, had no idea that Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher had just died.

Fisher's death was announced mid-morning. She suffered a massive heart attack on a Friday flight from London to her home in Los Angeles. She was 60 years old.

Leslie Batchelder, who described her husband as a "rabid 'Star Wars' fan," said, Its very sad. I really admired her.

Another "Star Wars" aficionado, John Grobbel, was in disbelief. "Its just a shame, she was too young. I was a big fan of the 'Star Wars' series, and you know it's too bad. I pray for her family," he said.

Meanwhile, Sonja Avallone said "Star Wars" has amassed a passionate multi-generational following  as evidenced by the children, teenagers and adults who visited the Yoda statue at Imagination Park in San Anselmo  so people of all ages will feel Fisher's loss. "Im a 'Star Wars' fan for sure, and I grew up with it , and my kids grew up with it, so its really sad," she said.

A medic on board Fisher's flight attempted to help the actress, but said she was unresponsive for nearly 15 minutes on Friday. Hospitalized at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Fisher was believed to be in stable condition based on information shared by her brother.

Fisher  and her unforgettable braided buns  found lasting fame, with the 1977 release of George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." Her untimely death sent shock waves through the film community.

Mark Hammil, known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker, said on Twitter that he was "devastated."

Fisher's mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, wrote on Facebook: "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother."
It seems almost prescient now, when "Star Wars" actress Carrie Fisher sat down with NBC Bay Area nearly a decade ago and said there was one thing that couldnt be made comical.

I think probably death is really not funny, Fisher said ahead of a 2009 repeat performance of her one-woman show Wishful Drinking at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

That was seven years before her death at age 60 was announced. A representative for her daughter, Billie Lourd, made the announcement, saying, "She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly."

"Wishful Drinking" described itself as an uproarious and sobering look at Fisher's own Hollywood hangover, detailing parts of her life as a single mother born to celebrity parents, battling addiction and weathering the ride of manic depression.

Actress and writer Carrie Fisher, best known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies, has died at the age of 60, her daughter announced Tuesday. Cheryl Hurd reports.

Fisher said the point of the show  which she said played to mostly gay men, sci-fi lovers and drug addicts  is "making things that aren't funny ... funny."

Her death comes with the latest "Star Wars" movie, Rogue One, playing in theaters. While Fisher is not in the film, a digital likeness of her character, Princess Leia, appears. Days before her death, she was tweeting about "death marching ever closer."

Just back from seeing Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" at Berkeley Rep. Hysterically apropos for an array of reasons.  Cathy Brooks (@CathyBrooks) July 13, 2009

Her character and the long-running "Star Wars" empire has several ties to the Bay Area. (During the 2009 interview, Fisher said she said that she and her Star Wars persona were inseperable. "It's not going to go away, she said. You can buy like creams and sprays. I am Princess Leia  deal with it.)

Star Wars writer and producer George Lucas still works at Skywalker Ranch in the secluded Nicasio in Marin County. In San Francisco, a Yoda statue, among other characters, greet guests at Lucasfilm offices in San Francisco. Lucas sent out a statement saying that he and Fisher had been friends most of their adult lives. "In Star Wars, she was our great and powerful princess," he wrote, "feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think."

But it was when she was performing at Berkeley Rep that Fisher detailed some of the hardships of her life. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 24. That wasn't funny at the time, she said, but she later learned to work the humor of it into her act.

[NATL] Carrie Fisher Through The Years

Then there was 2005, when gay Republican media adviser R. Gregory Stevens was found dead in Fisher's Beverly Hills Home. He died of an overdose of cocaine and OxyContin. The two had been best friends.

"Having someone die in your bed isn't funny, " Fisher said, taking a pause. "That took a long, long time."

Cathy Brooks, who now lives in Las Vegas, was at the Berkeley theater watching Fisher perform in 2009. In a phone interview, Brooks said Fisher's monologue was "spectacular."

She said Fisher's death was like a "death in the family friend, and I never even met her."

When she saw the show, Brooks said she, too, was an addict. But she sobered up over the next year, and credits Fisher, in part, for giving her more than a gentle tap on the shoulder to straighten her life around. "You hear clues from someone else in recovery," Brooks said. "Like she just spoke her mind, as if she'd been to the edge of the abyss and dangled right into it. That performance still resonates with me. To look so deeply at darkness in such a dry, funny way. What a gift she was!"

As for the death question, Fisher came back to it during the 2009 interview. At first, she pondered aloud, "not having experienced it, I think no," death is not funny.

Then something made the comedian change her mind: "You gotta make it funny, or you'll just be destroyed or something...I think you got to make it funny as soon as you can. If you claim it, you own it."
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

Trend:

The trainings on Banking that lasted 1 month, which are realized in a cooperation of Azer Turk Bank and the school of volunteering "ASAN School" completed.

The purpose of implementation of the trainings on the "Master 2" level, provided in a joint cooperation, is expansion of practical knowledge of the members of the Organization "Volunteers of ASAN", which got an education in the field of economy and finance, contribution to their personal and professional development.

During the trainings which are held within this project, the employees of Azer Turk Bank gave help to volunteers for replenishment of their knowledge in the sphere of economy, finance, marketing, technology of sales, to PR and banking sector, answered the questions interesting them.

According to the volunteers who took part in the project trainings, the acquired knowledge and abilities will provide them personal development and will play an incentive role in their further activities.

It should be noted that certificates will be provided to participants of the training and volunteers who will show successful results will have an opportunity to do an internship at Azer Turk Bank. Also the periodic organization of such trainings is supposed.

Azer Turk Bank OJSC, which has identified financial support to the real sector of the economy as its main mission, by 75% is owned by the Government of Azerbaijan. More information about the Bank, its service network, products and services is available at www.azerturkbank.az , the Banks corporate pages at social networks or at (012) 945 Call Center.
Whether you call him "Curry Claus" or "Santa Steph," there is no quibbling: Warriors guard Steph Curry rocks it as Santa Claus.

His wife, Ayesha Curry, posted an adorable pic of her puckering up to kiss her hubby, who is clad in red-and-white and looking definitely in need of a workout on the court, by the family Christmas tree. "I kissed Santa and I'm proud of it," she wrote.

Ayesha Curry took of her husband dressed as Santa and dancing like a goofball in a bedroom. She's heard cracking up in the background.

It's unclear what the Curry children, Riley and Ryan, actually know about who is behind the dancing Santa at their house.

In a Christmas photo, Steph Curry is stripped from all Santa gear and dressed as a civilian, holding his daughters alongside his wife, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

On Tuesday, Curry and his family really did play Santa.

All four showed up at Beebe Memorial Cathedral in Oakland at a "Feed the Children" event to help 1,200 families by giving them food and gifts. Curry high-fived little boys, and said "Nice to meet you ma'am" to women as he handed them packages. Daughters Riley and Ryan stood by at a table with their mom giving gifts to smiling people in line.

In an interview, Curry said he first partnered with Feed the Children four years ago and continues to be involved "to give support back to the Bay Area that supported me and my family since we've been here."
Rabbis in Silicon Valley have been known to strap a menorah to a Tesla and light up glow-in-the-dark candelabras during Hanukkah.

Not to be outdone, Chabad of Sunnvyale Rabbi Yisroel Hecht has hired a master ice sculptor on Tuesday afternoon to chisel an eight-pronged menorah out of a solid block of ice in honor of the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Award-winning ice sculptor Mark Davis will be showing up with his tools, and an 8-foot hunk of ice, to perform and wow at a free, public event. Davis has carved a Santa riding on a train, a farmer riding a tractor in Nevada and a gigantic ice chef in San Francisco.

Davis said it will take him about 90 minutes to carve each arm of the menorah; he's got to work fast in California weather. "They've got to look like crystal," he said, "not clunky."

President Barack Obama on Wednesday saw his final Hanukkah receptions at the White House. Obama revealed that this years menorah was made by the granddaughter of the late poet and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.

Hecht said he wants the event to be a show stopper.

"We wanted some kind of cool gimmick," Hecht said. "We've done menorahs out of balloons, and pennies. Someone knew an ice sculptor and we thought the symbolism of fire and ice was really cool."

Hecht also said that the "symbolism of the menorah, as invoked by President Obama in his Hanukkah message, is truly a universal message--one that is as important today as it was over 20 centuries ago at the time of the Hanukkah story. The menorah is a symbol that in the face of the darkness [to fight] evil ignorance and intolerance."

Chabad of San Jose Rabbi Aaron Cunin strapped a menorah to a borrowed Tesla on Wednesday handing out free menorahs before the start of Hanukkah.

The Chabad of Sunnyvales public lighting is just one of countless others across the globe, and among dozens of others in the Bay Area, including the most popular one at Union Square in San Francisco by the Orthodox, Hasidic group of Chabad-niks there.

This week, someone stole a 6-foot, 100-pound brass menorah from Washington Square Park put up by the Chabad of North Beach. San Francisco police think the thief or thieves may have wanted to sell the brass. As of Tuesday, it still hadnt been recovered, but the rabbi there has been hosting nightly menorah lightings anyway with community members bringing their own.

Festivities including music, jelly donuts and dreidels in Sunnyvale begin on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Zanottos Family Market at 1356 S. Mary Street. The kindling of the Ice Menorah will be held at 5:30 p.m.
FRESNO - Fresno fire officials said two people died Monday after the single-engine airplane they were in crashed shortly after taking off.

The Fresno Bee reported the plane had taken off from Sierra Sky Park Airport when it crashed at the edge of a pond north of the airport. The Fresno Fire Department confirmed the two people on board the plane died.

Krystal Kerkezian told the newspaper she was in her backyard and saw the plane take off, make a hard right turn and plunge directly into the water.

The aircraft was an Express S-90 experimental plane, which crashed for unknown reasons, Allen Kenitzer of the Federal Aviation Administration told KSEE in Fresno.

An official statement from the FAA was still pending. The FAA and the NTSB will investigate the crash.
A former state representative was fired from a high-ranking, six-figure corrections job after inappropriately touching state employees at a Christmas party  including an instance caught on surveillance video in which he was pressing against a woman, state records show.



John Anthony was fired on Dec. 7, five days after the holiday party at the Wyndham Hotel in Springfield. Anthony, a Republican from Morris, worked as executive assistant to the director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. His annual salary was about $120,000, records show.



The corrections department on Friday released records about Anthony in response to a Chicago Sun-Times Freedom of Information Act request. Those records included the surveillance video.



The reports reveal several women told investigators that Anthony had been saying inappropriate things and touching women at the party. No criminal charges were filed because the women didnt say they were assaulted.

Anthony couldnt be reached for comment.



As for the incident caught on surveillance tape, an Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice employee told investigators she was walking to an exit to go smoke a cigarette when she was approached by Anthony, who put his arm around her and asked if she was a corrections employee.



She told him she wasnt. He then allegedly told her she had nice t, nice a. Then he stepped to the side and pressed himself onto her left thigh and licked her neck, the report says.



When she asked who he was, he gave her his first name but not his last. She asked him to leave her alone. That interaction was caught on surveillance video and was subpoenaed by the corrections department for its investigation.



I may not be the only woman this happened to unfortunately, the woman wrote in an incident report.



In fact, that wasnt the only reported instance of inappropriate touching that night, according to the records.



Other women at the party told investigators that Anthony had been inappropriately commenting to and touching them as well.



The behavior warranted a talk by another state employee during the party, according to the records. That discussion happened after a woman reported Anthony had touched her breasts.



Anthony stated he had done nothing wrong, adding he was a former state representative and knew better.



In one instance, a woman said Anthony pulled her arm to get her to dance. She was forced to stand because Anthony was basically dragging her, according to the state records. She told him to get away from her but he continued to dance with her, noting that her blouse appeared to be falling off, the report said.



Another woman said he came up to her from behind when she was sitting in a chair and put his arms around her and around her breast. When he did let go, he brushed against her breast. She said she didnt know if it was intentional, but that it was uncomfortable, the report said.



Guests at the party said Anthony acted intoxicated, although they never saw him with a drink in his hand.



On the dance floor, Anthony was seen trying to squeeze in on people and trying to grind on people, the report said.



Anthony, a former Kendall County sheriffs deputy, announced his resignation from office June 17 and then joined the corrections department. He was appointed to his House seat in 2013, when he became the first black Republican to be appointed or elected to the Legislature since the early 1980s.



The corrections department on Friday said an investigation was launched and immediate action was taken as soon as officials learned of the allegations of misconduct.



In a statement, the governors office applauded the corrections department. Our administration does not tolerate this type of behavior, spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. The Department of Corrections did the right thing by taking immediate action.
Eight juveniles from Aurora and North Aurora have been charged in connection with a large fight Monday night that led to police shutting down Fox Valley Mall.

Police held a press conference Tuesday afternoon where they released few new details on the incident.

Police said the fights were possibly organized through social media but they were not certain.

Theres no indications that its gang related to us right now, said Cmdr. Mike Doerzaph of the Aurora Police Department. We dont know if its strictly social-media driven.

Those charged range in age from 13 to 17, police said.



"All of the charges lodged are misdemeanors, however, police are not ruling out enhancing them to felonies," police spokesman Dan Ferrelli said. "They also say more arrests are possible."



Ferrelli said Aurora Police were called by mall security around 6:30 p.m. after a large group of teenagers were seen gathering in the food court area. Shortly after they were told to leave, a large fight broke out, police said. Several smaller altercations then took place. More than 1,000 patrons were in the common area at the time.

The safety and security of our guests, employees and tenants at Fox Valley Mall is always our top priority, a spokesman for the mall said Tuesday in a statement. While we are not able to speak about specific security measures, please know that we work closely with the local and national law enforcement on all matters related to mall safety.

An Aurora Police sergeant and mall security employee were both battered, Ferrelli said. No mall patrons were injured.



"The disturbance quickly escalated as the crowd refused to obey police and security personnel orders with some of the teens throwing drinks and other items," he said.

front row seats for what started the fox valley mall fights pic.twitter.com/Qa2wALQxlb  Esther (@_esther74) December 27, 2016

A woman who works in the food court and saw much of the commotion said stores started closing as the fight ensued.



They all started running upstairs away from the cops and some of them were fighting the cops and then they evacuated everybody out here," Yareli Vargas said.

The mall was closed for an hour and about 75 officers from the Naperville, Woodridge, St. Charles, Geneva, Kane and DuPage County Sheriffs, Illinois State Police, Fox Valley Park District and the West Chicago Police Departments were used to control the situation.



A 17-year-old girl was charged with battery and resisting police, police said. A 15-year-old girl was charged with resisting police and disorderly conduct; and two girls, ages 13 and 15, were charged with battery, along with a 15-year-old boy. Two 14-year-old boys and a 16-year-old girl were charged with obstructing police.



As police continue to investigate what role this fight played in other fights and disturbances at malls across the country, they ask anyone with information about the Fox Valley Mall incident to call Aurora Police Investigations at 630-256-5500 or Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.
In August of 2015, Billionaire J. Christopher Reyes emailed Mayor Rahm Emanuel in an attempt to shut down a major downtown street for his daughters wedding ceremony.

The VIP company (transportation company) has been working with the city on our behalf to get Monroe closed for our guests passage from the Art Institute of Chicago to the reception across Monroe on Saturday, September 12th, Reyes said in the email that was ultimately forwarded to Emanuel.

In the email, Reyes explained that he hoped to shut down Monroe St. for a total of two and a half hours during the wedding, but the request had been denied by the city.

Reyes, who manages a major food and beverage holding company, was ranked the 246th richest American by Forbes. He has a reported net worth of $2.9 billion. The mogul has donated to both Republican and Democratic causes, including some substantial contributions to Emanuels campaign committee, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Although he lives in Florida full-time, the billionaire owns a house in Lake Forest and sits on the boards of a variety Chicago institutions, like the Lurie Childrens Hospital and the Lyric Opera.

Reyes' message is part of a cache of emails released last week by the Emanuel administration in accordance with a recent settlement with the Better Government Association, a government watchdog group.

The settlement followed a years-long battle with City Hall, which initially claimed the emails did not need to be made public. Still, the BGA and Chicago Tribune sued, arguing that public business done on private devices should be released.

The list of emails doesn't include a response to Reyes' request. Adam Collins, the mayors spokesman, told the Tribune there was no action taken regarding the street closure.

Just because someone makes a request that doesnt mean anything comes of it, Collins added.
Chicago documentary filmmaker David J. Steiner was killed Monday in a bus crash in rural Uganda, a wreck that also injured his son and an Englewood teen who was traveling with them, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Steiner, 51, had spent more than a week in the East African nation, filming a documentary about a pair of Sudanese boys he and his son, Itamar, had befriended while the teens were in school together in Israel, Steiners fiancee, Diane Silverberg, said Monday evening.

Two students from Barbara A. Sizemore Academy, a charter school Steiner had featured in his award-winning documentary Saving Barbara Sizemore, had joined Steiner and Itamar in recent days and were aboard the bus. One of the teens, Terrence Dantzler, suffered a back injury, but most of the other passengers suffered only minor injuries.

The film crew is to travel to the U.S. Embassy in the Ugandan capitol of Kampala on Tuesday morning, though much of their equipment, cash and passports were looted from the wreckage, Silverberg said.

Terrence hasnt fractured his back, which was a concern, and everyone else seems to have just minor injuries, Silverberg said Monday.

Steiner was seated at the front of the bus, loaded with camera gear and crew as they headed to a remote enclave of Hebrew-speaking Ugandans for a Hanukkah celebration, when the bus was struck by a reckless driver, Silverberg said.

Last year, a friend who worked at Barbara Sizemore Academy complained to Steiner that the school had been slated for closing, and enlisted Steiner to produce a documentary with Sizemore students, said Steiners father, Joseph Steiner. Dantzler and classmate Hayah Rasul were among the students who helped produce Saving Barbara Sizemore, and they became close friends with Steiner. Steiner paid for them to join him in Uganda. Steiner, who was close to finishing rabbinical training, even donned a Santa suit in the 90-degree African heat to spread the Christmas spirit.

We wanted to bring joy to these children. It was 91 degrees outside while we wore these costumes, Steiner posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, alongside pictures of Steiner wearing a Santa suit over his Cubs World Series T-shirt. My t-shirt soaked completely, but this little girl, who lives hundreds of miles from her parents in South Sudan, had a great time and wouldnt let us go. It was worth every bead of sweat and more. I only wish we could do more for them.

As a 14-year-old growing up in north suburban Lincolnwood, Steiner decided he wanted to live in Israel, and he managed to enroll in an agricultural boarding school in Tel Aviv. Steiner would eventually become the head of the agricultural school, mastering tasks like artificially inseminating cows, and once even delivering a calf by cesarean section. He would go on to serve in the Israeli army and was haunted by his experiences during war with Lebanon.

Steiner traded his agricultural education for film school at the University of California-Los Angeles, and eventually he returned to Chicago, where he managed buildings owned by his father. Steiner formed a book club for homeless men he met while working on the buildings, said his father, Joseph Steiner.

Were a kind of out-there family, and social causes are a very big thing for all of us, David especially, Joseph Steiner said.

David Steiner worked as a conflict mediator and helped manage his fathers buildings while working on film projects. In Uganda, he had been filming the story or two Sudanese refugees who had attended school with his son in Tel Aviv, only to return to the war-torn South Sudan and end up walking to neighboring Uganda.

Steiners Facebook page was filled with photos and messages about the trip and the horrors his friends and documentary subjects had endured, updates he made until hours before his death.

He was having the time of his life, Silverberg said. Everything he did, he did with joy and gusto. He was just an incredibly giving person.

Steiner is survived by his son Itamar, and two daughters, Fahar and Maya. Funeral services likely wont take place until late next week, Silverberg said.
With budget negotiations halted in Springfield, it seems unlikely that Gov. Bruce Rauner and the states top legislative leaders will be able to reach a new deal before the current stopgap spending plan expires at the end of the year.

Rauner has made it clear that he wont consider a new temporary budget unless it includes reforms from his turnaround agenda, like term limits and a property tax freeze. The governor halted negotiations earlier this month after House Speaker Michael Madigan and Illinois Democrats failed to put forth a budget proposal.

"The Governor and Republican leaders remain ready to negotiate on a balanced budget with reforms to grow jobs, lower property taxes, improve schools and implement term limits," Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said in a statement earlier this month. "However, Democratic leaders continue to discuss internally whether they are prepared to present a budget proposal, so we will schedule the next Four Leaders meeting when we receive confirmation that they are ready."

On Tuesday, Madigan's office claimed the onus is on Rauner to put forth a budget proposal.

[Rauners] indicated hes gotten some idea, that while hes the guy who is spending the money and will determine how much he wants to spend, that somebody else should give him a plan, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told Ward Room Tuesday. Thats totally illogical, but thats all thats been happening.

While it is Rauners constitutional duty to submit a balanced budget to the General Assembly by the third Wednesday in February, the legislature has the power to make decisions on appropriations and taxes. However, Brown claimed the two sides havent discussed revenue increases, like a potential income tax hike.

The speakers said for nearly two years, it needs to be a balance between cuts and revenue, but weve never gotten beyond that, Brown said. And dont plan to, frankly, at this point.

Brown also reiterated Democrats desire to reestablish working groups, something Rauner has opposed. Brown said working groups were needed on a series of matters, including workers compensation and government consolidation.

During a Facebook Live event earlier this month, Rauner claimed Madigan and Illinois Democrats were stalling to create a statewide crisis in order to force another stopgap funding compromise without reforms.

"My sense is, they're delaying, they're stalling, they're using tactics to get into January, February and create a crisis, meltdown of our human services and our important social service agencies and then try to force a stopgap plan or a tax hike with no reforms," Rauner said.

Although a good portion of the state's spending will continue to be covered through court orders and consent decrees, health and human services and higher education will likely continue to suffer without a budget.

In April, Chicago State University was forced to lay off more than 300 employees as a result of the states budget crisis. The school faces a year-end deficit and could be forced to make further cuts, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Funding for Monetary Award Program Grants expires at the end of the year, which could result in students losing tuition assistance.

In addition, Lutheran Social Services, the states largest provider of social services, announced they would cut 30 programs and 750 jobs as a result of the impasse. Other groups, like Catholic Charities, have also been affected by the ongoing stalemate.

The speaker has said consistently that the budget is the number one problem, the number one issue in the state of Illinois, Brown said. So well continue to work to get a full budget."

"Thats always been something weve been trying to do."
The body of a second man was recovered Tuesday morning from a retention pond in suburban Lynwood, two weeks after a car went off the road and plunged into the pond's frigid waters.



The man has not yet been positively identified, according to the Cook County Sheriffs Office.



Divers searched daily for the car's occupants after police were called to the 3000 block of Lincoln Highway around 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 following a 911 call reporting the crash.



About two hours into the initial search, crews found the vehicle approximately 30 feet underwater, officials said, but were unable to retrieve it or locate the occupants.



Christopher Stone, 27, of the 18700 block of Stony Island Avenue in Chicago Heights, was found dead inside the vehicle on Dec. 19, the Cook County medical examiners office confirmed.



There were no barricades around the water at the time, police said, but they were installed shortly after the search went underway.



"A Sheriff's Police investigation led to the possibility of a second person was inside a vehicle that crashed into the pond on Dec. 18," the Cook County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. "Recovery efforts have persisted since the car entered the water."

First responders were on the scene within minutes. Emergency crews spent several hours searching the pond for victims amid freezing temperatures and wind chill values that the National Weather Service warned could create conditions for frostbite or hypothermia to set in in just 30 minutes.

One police officer, who had jumped into the pond to try to make a rescue, had to be treated at an area hospital. Another diver also was taken to the hospital to be treated for exposure.

It took search teams working in 13-minute shifts two hours to find the vehicle, which was about 60 to 70 feet from where it sunk in the water and buried in silt up to the windows, police said, leaving them unable to see the license plate. Authorities then declared it was a recovery mission.

A passerby on the scene told NBC 5 two people were inside the car, but police were unable to confirm that at the time.

As air temperatures fell well below zero and wind chills neared minus 30 degrees across the Chicago area, the recovery efforts were temporarily suspended as authorities said they didnt want to risk any more lives.

Why the car went into the water is still unclear.
The American Red Cross is helping nine families who were displaced after a three-alarm fire at a condo complex in New Haven Monday.

The fire was reported at the Harbour Landing complex at 99 Harbor Close and arriving crews found a fire on the roof and heavy smoke, according to tweets by the New Haven Fire Department.

Deputy Director of New haven Emergency Operations Center, Rick Fontana, said 13 condo units were affected and nine condo units were destroyed. The building is likely a total loss, he added.

One resident, Elaine Cooper, pulled the fire alarm.

"To see it accelerate- even more and more- and see flames coming out of the roof," Cooper said. "That's scary."

Cooper's unit was not damaged, but she was still impacted.

"There's never a good time, but this is really emotional."

The Red Cross reports that they are assisting nine families  20 adults and one child. Many of those displaced stayed at a hotel in Orange on Monday night.

No life-threatening injuries were reported. Fontana said one firefighter was cut by shards of glass and two residents suffered some smoke inhalation.

Two other buildings in the complex were not damaged and residents of those buildings have been allowed back inside with their power restored.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Azerbaijan intends to expand cooperation with Iran in banking sphere, said Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev.

Mustafayev made the remarks during the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian cooperation in Baku Dec. 27.

The banking sphere is one of the most prospective directions for the expansion of the Azerbaijani-Iranian cooperation, said the minister.

He noted that as part of the intergovernmental commissions meeting, such structures as the Financial Market Supervisory Authority and Central Bank of Azerbaijan will organize meetings with their Iranian counterparts, during which this issue will be discussed.

Earlier, head of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Valiollah Seif told Trend that the central banks of Azerbaijan and Iran intend to open settlement accounts in line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in August 2016.

Economic opportunities of the two countries require us to significantly increase trade turnover, and the best and safest way of carrying out transactions is through the banking system, said Seif.

He noted that under the MoU, central banks of Iran and Azerbaijan will stimulate the two countries commercial banks to establish relations through opening correspondent accounts.

The head of the Iranian Central Bank added that there are conditions for creating branches of Iranian and Azerbaijani banks in both countries.

Thirty-two banks operate in Azerbaijan and 29  in Iran.
Police in Connecticut have arrested seven people after multiple fights at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester.

On Monday, Manchester police said up to 10 teenagers were involved in a disturbance at the mall when a fight broke out. Police estimated that several hundred teenagers were in the mall at the time of the original disturbance and other fights started to happen simultaneously.

Credit: John Drew

Videos posted on social media purportedly shows hundreds of people leaving the mall or standing in the parking lot. Police said the mall closed after the fights broke out.

Credit: Christine Badeu

One Manchester police officer was assaulted while attempting to break up the first fight but did not seek any medical attention, police said in a release.

Police praised mall store staff for thinking quickly and closing their security gates to protect customers.

Manchester police said Tuesday they made a total of seven arrests, many of them teenagers.

Raekwon Gaines, 20, of Hartford, was charged with second-degree breach of peace.

Solomon Wilson-Frame, 19, of Hartford, was charged with first-degree criminal trespass, second-degree breach of peace, and interfering with an officer.

Police also charged a 15-year-old boy with breach of peace, a 14-year-old boy with breach of peace and interfering with an officer, a 16-year-old boy with breach of peace, criminal trespass, and interfering with an officer, a 15-year-old girl with breach of peace and criminal trespass, and a 16-year-old boy with criminal trespass and breach of peace.

Those suspects were all from Hartford and were not identified due to their age.

Some mall employees reported thefts taking place during the fight but police have yet to confirm.

There were no weapons reported and no indication that the fights were gang related, Manchester police said.

Police are looking into the possibilty that the fights were pre-planned on social media.

Looking at the reports throughout the country it appears that most of the fights all started in the food court area involving teenagers. The fact patterns are very similar to ours. Theres certainly the possibility that theres some sort social media component that started this, but we cant confirm that, Capt. Davis said Tuesday.

Police continue to investigate and more arrests are possible as police identify other people involved in the fights.

South Windsor, East Hartford, Vernon and Glastonbury police all assisted Manchester police at the scene.

Multiple news outlets reported mall fights breaking out across the nation, including in New Jersey and Chicago.
Police are investigating after suspects in a Hartford burglary crashed an SUV off Route 2 in East Hartford Tuesday morning then fled the scene.

Hartford police said the incident began when they received a call that three males dressed in dark clothing were breaking into a home on Henry Street in their city. When police arrived on scene they saw an SUV matching the callers description leaving the scene and getting onto Interstate 84.

Hartford police eventually found that SUV crashed just off Route 2 at the corner of Sutton Avenue and Main Street in East Hartford

The SUV crashed into a pole and took down utility lines, causing a power outage. Police believe the suspects then fled the scene on foot.

Power was knocked out to Eversource customers in the area and crews were called in to make repairs.

This is a developing story. NBC Connecticut will provide updates as they come into the newsroom.

Editors Note: Police initially identified this incident as a home invasion but have since changed the description to a burglary. The story above has been updated to reflect that.
A Drexel University professor has been summoned to a meeting with school officials after he tweeted a Christmas Eve message that appeared to support "white genocide."

George Ciccariello-Maher, who is white and an associate professor of politics at the Philadelphia university, told The Associated Press by email Monday that his Christmas Eve message to nearly 11,000 Twitter followers  "All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide"  was meant to be satirical.

Drexel was not amused, condemning Ciccariello-Maher's tweet and saying in a statement it was "taking this situation very seriously."

"While the University recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate, Professor Ciccariello-Maher's comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the University," Drexel said.

Ciccariello-Maher, whose online biography says his academic specialties include "race and racism," said Drexel apparently didn't understand "the content or the context" of his tweets. The professor told AP he was mocking what he called the "imaginary concept" of white genocide, which he says was invented by white supremacists.

"It is a figment of the racist imagination, it should be mocked, and I'm glad to have mocked it," he said.

Ciccariello-Maher followed up his initial tweet by praising the "massacre" of whites in Haiti during the country's slave uprising and revolution more than two centuries ago.

Though his Twitter account is private, he is a prolific tweeter, and his weekend messages spread quickly online. He said he has received hundreds of death threats. The professor said Drexel's statement "sends a chilling message."
In a historic pilgrimage, the leaders of Japan and the United States took to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to prove that even the bitterest enemies can become allies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not apologize, but conceded Japan "must never repeat the horrors of war again."

Seventy-five years after Japan's surprise attack sent America marching into World War II, Abe and President Barack Obama peered down at the rusting wreckage of the USS Arizona, clearly visible in the tranquil, teal water. More than 1,000 U.S. war dead remain entombed in the submerged ship, and in a show of respect, Obama and Abe dropped purple petals into the water and stood in silence.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place," Abe said later at nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

That was the closest Abe would get to an apology for the attack. And it was enough for Obama, who also declined to apologize seven months ago when he became America's first sitting president to visit Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in a bid to end the war.

It was enough, too, for Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived the attack. The 96-year-old said he had no hard feelings and added, "War is war."

"They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do," Rodrigues said before the visit.

Abe, who became Japan's first leader to visit Pearl Harbor with a U.S. president, said the visit "brought utter silence to me." His remarks capped a day that was carefully choreographed by the U.S. and Japan to show a strong and growing alliance between former foes.

They started with a formal meeting at another nearby military base, in what the White House said was likely Obama's last meeting with a foreign leader before leaving office in January. It was a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

Obama, speaking after he and Abe laid green-and-peach wreaths at the memorial, called the harbor a sacred place and said that "even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and lasting peace." It's a notion Obama tried throughout his presidency to put into practice, as he reached out to former adversaries Iran, Myanmar and Cuba.

"As we lay a wreath or toss flowers into waters that still weep, we think of the more than 2,400 American patriots, fathers and husbands, wives and daughters, manning heaven's rails for all eternity," Obama said.

Then the two leaders greeted survivors in the crowd. They shook hands and hugged some of the men who fought in the Dec. 7, 1941, battle that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe was the first to go to the memorial above the sunken USS Arizona, where a marbled wall lists the names of U.S. troops killed in the Japanese attack.

For Abe, it was an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming seven months after Obama and Abe visited Hiroshima together and renewed their calls for a nuclear-free future. Still, both governments maintain that the visits were separate and not contingent upon one another.

The visit was not without political risk for Abe, given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government still insists it had intended to give prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. He said he believes Abe's visit would "absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

In the years after Pearl Harbor, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Yet there are questions about whether the relationship will degenerate under President-elect Donald Trump, a possibility neither Obama nor Abe addressed.
Its been more than two years since Hartford Firefighter Kevin Bell was killed in the line of duty, and the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters have a look at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation report into his death.

The report still has yet to be finalized and released publicly. Its purpose is not to assign blame, but get a description and circumstances leading to Bells death, to prevent this from happening again.

The Hartford Fire Department had the opportunity to review this 40-plus page document and submit any changes deemed necessary.

So far, at least one local source calls the documentation lacking and missing specific details.

The report is dated last September, and was submitted to Hartford Fire Department for review. They returned the documents to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within weeks, and without changes.

Bell died when his tank ran out of air battling a blaze on Blue Hills Avenue back in October 2014, according to the Medical Examiner.

The report outlines contributing factors NIOSH investigators believe led to Bells death, including fireground tactics, crew integrity, personal accountability, air management, mayday procedures, communications, and ventilation and equipment.

The NIOSH report makes more than a dozen recommendations, including making sure risk assessments are done before and during fires, and that departments ensure crew integrity through voice and radio contact.

Bell was separated from his lieutenant after his low-air alarm went off and that lieutenant said to exit. After a search and attempt to contact Bell, the lieutenant then called a Mayday that went unheard.

Another recommendation: make sure all firefighters are properly trained in air management, mayday procedures, and command safety.

Also, enforcing protective hoods  which werent required at the time, resulting in a handful of firefighters being hit by a hose stream that knocked their helmets off. The hoods are now a requirement.

Investigation revealed that Bells equipment failed the remaining service life indicator test, but passed all other NIOSH test.

Bell was found by fellow firefighter lying near a second floor door, his right leg and foot caught in a piece of wrought iron furniture.

At the end of this report, NIOSH officials chose not to impose any further action.

The NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters received no comment from Hartfords fire chief, and did not hear back from a Bell family spokesman, a Bell family attorney or the head of the union.
Houston police say a robber was killed while trying to break into a family's home on Christmas Eve.

The Houston Chronicle reports that a man, his wife and their son were home about 9:45 p.m. Saturday when they heard glass shatter. The man told police he went to investigate and saw a robber trying to get in through the back door.

The man says he shouted to his son that there was someone in the house. Police did not release the age of the son, who officers say grabbed an unidentified weapon and shot and killed the intruder.

Police have not released the name of the alleged robber.

The family told police the lights were on during the invasion and their car was in the driveway.
San Antonio police say a 13-year-old boy riding in the back seat of a car was wounded after being shot by someone in a passing vehicle.

Capt. Michael Starnes told the San Antonio Express-News that the boy was hit in the neck late Monday night.

Police say the boy, whose name was not released, was expected to make a full recovery after being taken to a hospital.

It was unclear why the people in the other vehicle started shooting.

Police say those in the vehicle with the 13-year-old didn't shoot at the other vehicle.

Starnes said investigators were not able to recover shell casings because the shooting was from car to car.
It was not a very happy beginning to Hanukkah for the Jews of San Francisco's Chabad and those who celebrate with them.

A 6-foot-tall brass menorah was reported stolen from Washington Square Park on Christmas Day, which also was the first day of the Jewish festival of lights this year. The menorah was the property of the North Beach Chabad, run by Rabbi Peretz Mochkin and his wife, Miryum.

Chabad is a worldwide Orthodox Jewish organization in the Hasidic tradition.

Courtesy of Chabad of North Beach

The Mochkins are calling the theft a hate crime, although police think whoever took it might just want to sell the brass pieces for cash. There were no visible signs of anti-Semitism at the site of the theft. In fact, someone had also cut the power cord of lights on the Christmas tree at the same park.

"It was devastating," said Miryum Mochkin, who was notified by friends that the menorah was missing. "I was like, 'You know what, the park's big, and you just didnt see it.' I couldnt believe it at first."

Police Sgt. Michael Andraychak said the thief hauled the 100-pound menorah off sometime in the past several days. He also asked metal recyclers to be on the lookout for anyone trying to sell large pieces of brass.

Despite the theft, neighbors of multiple faiths came together in the park Monday night to light their own menorahs, rededicating the space as "a safe place where everyone can practice their religion freely and enjoy the holidays with light." Dozens of people brought their own menorahs and lit them on a picnic table covered in foil to catch the wax drippings. They sang Hanukkah songs and lit up the dark night sky.

"For somebody to take a symbol that means light and joy, they must be in a dark space in their life," Mochkin said.

A Chabad in Southern California was also targeted this Hanukkah season. In Santa Monica, the Living Torah Center Chabad was vandalized with smeared feces on the window over the weekend. It was not immediately clear what the reason was. No anti-Semitic message was left there.

"It's an awful thing, I don't know what's behind it," said Chabad of San Francisco Rabbi Yosef Langer, who is famous for lighting a gigantic menorah in Union Square every year during the holiday. His event will continue every day of Hanukkah at 4:30 p.m.

It is his daughter's Chabad that suffered the stolen menorah.

The Mochkins still held their Hanukkah event at the site of the theft, and asked anyone who wants to join to bring a small menorah of their own. They said that they won't let the light of the holiday be quashed by menorah thieves.

"In the face of this evil and whoever is trying to take this light away, we need to add light," Miryum Mochkin said.

Bill Pruzan of San Francisco agreed. "Its necessary that we be able to have celebrations that are based on being free from this vitriol and hatred," he said.

Anyone with information about the theft should call police on the anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.
A Riverside man was arrested after he slashed the throat of a neighbor's pit bull after it had fatally attacked his poodle, officials said.

The pit bull later died of its injuries.

At around 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, the pit bull's owner came out of her house when she heard a disturbance and saw her dog was holding a neighbor's poodle in its mouth by the neck, according to notes taken by Officer Max Morales of Animal Services.

The poodle's owner, Rudy Jesus Barajas of Riverside, 30, along with two other neighbors, attempted to free the poodle from the pit bull's maw, according to Morales.

After the pit bull had released the poodle, Barajas dragged it into his house from the street and slit its throat with a knife, according to a statement given by the poodle owner to Morales.

The pit bull then ran back to its owner and collapsed. The owner took the dog to the veterinarian but it died on the way there, officials said.

Barajas' stepfather, Raul Romero, told Morales that "the poodle was in its rightful property when the pit bull entered the yard and attacked." He also said the pit bull tried to bite Barajas.

The poodle was still alive after it was released by the pit bull but subsequently died of its injuries.

The pit bull's owner, Carina Garcia, said she owns up for what her dog, Devo, did, but cannot forgive her neighbor for his actions.

"Maybe an apology wouldn't hurt because I think I owe them an apology too because of what my dog did to them," she said.

Barajas was arrested at his home in the 4900 block of Hollyhock Lane on suspicion of animal cruelty.

California law allows property owners to protect themselves and their pets when attacked. However, the deliberate killing of an animal can result in felony charges.

"He was always very joyful," Garcia said. "I lost what kept me happy and what reminded me of him."

Animal services concluded that the attack on the pit bull was not defensive and only prolonged the incident.

Barajas was booked on suspicion of felony animal cruelty at the Robert Presley Detention Center and was released after posting a $10,000 bail. He would not respond to requests for comment from NBC4.

Riverside County Animal Services said Garcia could also be cited for not having her dog on a leash.
A day after a suspected drunk driver and a 14-year-old boy were killed in a Christmas Day crash along a San Jose highway, family members of the driver came to apologize to the teen's family.

"She made a bad choice," Rochelle Ybarra told NBC Bay Area through sobs on Monday, identifying herself as the godmother of driver Jennifer Zamora. "I do want to apologize. This was a bad accident. There is nothing we can do. To the family of the little boy, we're very sorry. I feel for you guys."

Her voice cracked and wobbled as she spoke at the deadly crash site: Capitol Expressway and Snell Avenue. That's where San Jose police said Zamora's white 2012 Chevy Malibu crossed the center median on Sunday about 12:30 a.m. and slammed head-on into a silver 2004 Lexus carrying two parents and a 14-year-old boy. San Jose Police Sgt. Enrique Garcia said officers suspect alcohol played a role in the crash. Both the boy and Zamora, 25, died.

"Anyone else who drinks and drive, please make a better choice," Ybarra said.

The Santa Clara County Coroner's Office was closed on Monday, the day after Christmas.

But relatives identified Zamora, who also went by the nickname India. Signs that read "RIP India" and "We love you Jessica" marked the deadly site. Zamora's family and friends organized a vigil there at 6 p.m. Monday.

The boy has not yet been identified. His parents were taken to area hospitals. According to police, they did not sustain life-threatening injuries. The makeshift memorial showed no visible signs of his death, and people commented on social media how awful it was that the driver's life was being honored, but not the boy's. But efforts to reach the boy's family were unsuccessful because he had not yet been named.

Emily Prado, who said she was one of Zamora's aunts, said she did not know what her niece, who has a 5-year-old daughter, had been doing before the crash; they did not celebrate Christmas together. But she said her family feels the effects of both deaths. Relatives set up a GoFundMe page for Zamora's daughter. (NOTE: The fundraising page was created on Dec. 11 for an uncle, but the information was swapped out after Zamora's death.)

"We feel really bad for the other family that was involved," Prado said Monday in a phone interview. "Our hearts go out to them. This is a shocker. Cherish every moment with your family. You never know what will occur."

NBC Bay Area

Prado would not go into any more personal detail about Zamora, including whether her niece had a tendency to drink and drive or suffered from an alcohol problem. All Prado would say was, "Alcohol played a role, but it's still under investigation."

Ybarra said that Zamora's Snapchat storyline from the night in question shows she was given free drinks from a nearby bar. NBC Bay Area could not independently confirm the Snaps, and the bar manager did not want to speak on the record about what occurred.

Alongside the Roman candles, teddy bears and flowers at Zamora's memorial were dozens of Pacifico and Rodelo beer bottles, where some say it can be a custom among some communities to pour out a bit of alcohol on the site of where a death occurred.

But before noon on Monday, Zamora's family members, and even strangers, came to remove the bottles, which had drawn sharp criticism on social media as being highly inappropriate. Some of Zamora's family asked that well-wishers refrain from putting any more beer bottles at the scene.

Friends of San Jose Firefighters

Marking a memorial site with alcohol has been long-steeped in popular culture, but can be viewed by critics as a cruel symbol, according to groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The custom of placing alcohol at memorial sites has roots in African religious tradition of pouring libations in honor of fallen ancestors, according to a sociologist interviewed in a 2002 feature by the San Francisco Chronicle. In modern urban life, alcohol bottle markers have become increasingly common in certain cultures, the Chronicle reported.

In Hawaii, a memorial site in that was dotted with beer bottles at a teen's memorial site raised the ire of the MADD chapter there, WALB, an NBC affiliate, reported. "It just seems so insensitive," Abigail Nickell, the executive director there told the station.

On NBC Bay Area's Facebook, several people were also criticizing the beer bottles, before they were cleaned up.

"What's with the beer?" Gustavo Nunez wrote. "The memorial should be taken down. It's offensive."

Fani Gonzalez wrote, "how disrespectful for the boy and his family for people to put more beer bottles at the memorial."

Sunday's crash marks San Jose's 47th fatal collision and the 49th and 50th victims of 2016.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

Irans Parliament has ratified the agreement signed with Azerbaijan to cooperate in construction and operation of the Khudafarin and Giz Galasi hydro systems and hydro power plants on the Araz River and in using energy and water resources.

The announcement was made by Azerbaijans Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev Dec. 27 during the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian cooperation, held in Baku.

The agreement was signed during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Tehran on Feb. 23. The Parliament of Azerbaijan ratified the agreement in June.

The agreement proclaims the principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Iran, and equal rights for water and energy resources of Khudaferin and Giz Galasi hydro systems.

The document also highlights the need to restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with the UN resolutions.

The agreement will provide access for Azerbaijan to its occupied territories and will make it possible to carry out economic activity there. In addition, the agreement once again emphasized the fact that these territories belong to Azerbaijan, and that Armenia has no rights on them.
A waitress at a Southern California TGI Fridays restaurant received a big gift during her Christmas Day shift  a $200 tip.

Breann Minton has been waiting tables at Temecula's TGI Fridays for eight years, and Christmas Day was no exception.

With her worries piling up about how to pay the bills, the expectant mother worked the holiday. But, a couple's single act of kindness turned the table in her favor.

When they were finished with their meal, the pair handed her their $50 bill with a $200 tip. The receipt also contained a special message: "Merry Christmas. Thank you!!"

Minton said she was instantly brought to tears.

"I was crying too hard to say 'excuse me, ma'am.' When she heard me, I finally turned around and she hugged me and I hugged her and she started crying," Minton said.

With a second baby girl on the way, $200 goes a long way for Minton, her fiance and her little girl.

"It helped out tremendously," Minton's fiance Garrett Heintschel told NBC4.

The waitress said that in the short conversation she had with the couple, they told her their kids are all grown and they just wanted her to have a "Merry Christmas."

"I hope they understand how truly appreciative we are," Minton said while choking back tears.
City of Miami Dive Rescue have resumed their search for a man who fell off a personal watercraft in Blue Lagoon. Unsafe conditions forced the suspension overnight.

Officials told NBC 6 they found a floating life vest alongside two watercrafts earlier Monday afternoon. The incident happened around 3 p.m. near the 5500 block of Blue Lagoon Drive.

The 32-year old man is presumed dead as officials shifted the search and rescue to a search and recovery. Divers searched for more than an hour before making their decision to shift the mission to a recovery effort. Crews were using sonar equipment under water to search for the man.

Miami Fire Captain Ignatius Carroll said the man was riding on the personal watercraft with three other people when he was seen going up in the air and then crashing straight down into the water. The man never resurfaced.

Rick Rojo was nearby when the accident happened. "I was out back by the lagoon and I saw the guy flying by and he just catapulted off his Jet Ski, 10 feet in the air. He landed in the water and he never resurfaced and I called 911," explained Rojo.

Loved ones of the missing man were at the scene as divers searched the water. Areas of the lagoon are as deep as 60 feet.
Two men charged for their alleged connection to the shooting death of a former Army Ranger Christmas night outside a South Florida casino appeared in bond court Tuesday.

Fernando Duarte, 33, walked out of the Miccosukee Resort and Casino after winning a prize from a slot machine when he was shot. Duarte was rushed to Kendall Regional Hospital where he later died. He was a 12-year Army veteran, who family says served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The suspects connected to the shooting death of a former Army Ranger outside a Miami casino appeared in bond court Tuesday.

Officials later charged 25-year-old Kenin Bailey and 25-year-old Mikey Lenard in the case. During an hours-long bond court hearing Tuesday, officials revealed two possible motives behind the deadly shooting. Miccosukee police say it was murder, but one of the suspects is claiming self-defense.

Police said the incident stemmed from an argument between the victim and the suspects at a poker table inside the casino. Detectives said Duarte and his friend were asked to leave. When the men crossed paths again outside the parking lot, they again exchanged words. When the men got into their cars, police said the suspects actively sought out Duarte alone in his car.

According to a police report, Bailey allegedly shot Durate while driving past him, hitting the victim once in the shoulder, pelvis and hand. His friend ran to him to try to help out.

Detectives say Bailey then walked up to a security guard and told him he shot Duarte in self defense. Detectives say the Army veteran was unarmed.

Both men are charged with first degree murder in the case and currently being held on no bond.
The man suspected of taking off his pants before stealing a luggage cart and driving it across the tarmac at Orlando International Airport bonded out of jail on Monday.



Outside jail, 27-year-old Richard Hogh was matter of fact when asked what happened Friday by the reporter from NBC affiliate WESH-TV.



Don't do crystal meth, Hogh repeated twice before adding Dont ruin your lives, kids.



On a Chicago bound flight, police say the Canadian citizen sat in an unassigned first class seat, then claimed to be a pilot.



He was taken off the plane  then a cleaning service employee told police Hogh followed her on to a service elevator, where she challenged him for not having an ID badge.



About that time the elevator door opened and the witness says Hogh got out, took off his pants and walked in to an airport area not accessible to members of the public."



Police say Hogh hopped in the passenger seat of an airport luggage vehicle and told the driver he had a flight to catch.



Police say the driver got out as Hogh drove on to a taxiway towards an airport fire station. A firefighter made aware of what was happening hopped on, got the vehicle stopped and with other firefighters subdued him.



During the incident a spokeswoman for the greater Orlando Aviation Authority says pilots were told to avoid moving their aircraft. But there was no overall interruption to flight operations.
If youre in the mood for a free treat over the holidays, one coffee chain has something just for you  depending on what day of the week it is.

Starbucks is offering free tall espresso beverages from 1 PM to 2 PM each day at 100 different locations across the country. Customers should check the companys Starbucks Cheer website each day to see if any participating stores are in their area.

The promotion is part of their 10 Days of Cheer campaign, which started December 23rd and runs through January 2nd. The only South Florida location on the list for Tuesday is located at 3704 N. Ocean Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale.
Police in Connecticut say a man charged with killing his wife and abandoning their 6-year-old daughter at a New York City bus station was angry over his wife's relationship with another man.

An arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Stamford police and obtained by The Advocate of Stamford also says Elmer Gomez Ruano confessed to smothering 24-year-old Dionicia Bautista-Cano with a wet towel until she died.

Police say the couple had been reunited for less than 24 hours when they got into a fight over her ex-boyfriend Nov. 14 in their Stamford apartment. Authorities allege Ruano killed Bautista-Cano while their daughter apparently was sleeping.

Ruano has pleaded not guilty to murder. His lawyer, Darnell Crosland, didn't immediately return messages Monday.

Crosland told The Advocate the girl is in foster care.
What to Know The bodies of 36-year-old Felicia Barahona and her 4-year-old son were found in a Manhattan apartment Monday

Barahona was found strangled; her son was found unresponsive in a bathtub

Isaac Duran, a former student of Barahona's and the father of her baby, was arrested on murder charges

UPDATE: Ex-Student Who Fathered Teacher's Child Killed in Anger Over Boy Being Dressed in Girl's Clothing; Video Shows Him Pacing Outside Apartment on Day of Killings: NYPD

The ex-lover of a former New York City schoolteacher has been arrested on murder charges after the woman and their 4-year-old son were found dead in her Manhattan apartment Monday.

Isaac Duran Infante, 23, was taken into custody Tuesday in the deaths of 36-year-old Felicia Barahona and their 4-year-old son Miguel, and confessed to killing them, a law enforcement source told NBC 4 New York.

The medical examiner has determined Barahona died from strangulation by the electrical cord, and her son died of asphyxia from neck compression.

Duran Infante was a former student of Barahona's, and their son was born from their affair, which began when he was 17 years old.

A source told NBC 4 New York that Duran Infante, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, confessed to the double killing in part because he was dissatisfied with the way his son was being raised by Barahona.

Duran Infante said nothing to reporters as he was led in handcuffs from the police stationhouse where he was interviewed.

His anguished grandmother, who lives in the Bronx, told NBC 4 New York in Spanish she wanted justice and that she knows her grandson is innocent of the charges.

Another relative of Duran Infante, Janiel Santana, said, "It's hard to believe they're dead. When we heard the news, we thought this has got to be a mistake."

The couple shared custody of the child, relatives said. Miguel's father's side of the family was expecting to see the boy for New Year's Eve to give him his Christmas presents.

Barahona lost her job as a science teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in 2013, shortly after she became pregnant and school administrators learned of her illicit relationship with a student.

Felicia Barahona was found dead, an electrical cord wrapped around her neck, on the living room floor of her West 153rd Street apartment in Hamilton Heights around 8:15 a.m. Monday after the building super was alerted about a smell, police said. Her son Miguel was found unresponsive in a bathtub, police said. Investigators believe the duo had been dead several days.

Neighbors described Miguel as a sweet boy.

"It's sad. It's a little life," said Elia Flores, adding of his mother, "I've known her for a lot of years that she live here."
A potentially huge protest is shaping up against an oil pipeline through New York and New Jersey, just weeks after Native Americans won a victory over a pipeline in North Dakota.

Native Americans in New Jersey are leading the protest, but they're facing some legal problems from the town of Mahwah.

The so-called Pilgrim pipeline would run from Albany to the Bayway Refinery in Linden. The plan has the pipeline going through a reservoir, which has the Ramapough Lunaape tribe girding for battle.

The Lunaape have put up protest signs on a 13-acre tribal enclave in Mahwah. The signs stand beside teepees that were erected to recognize the Standing Rock Sioux, whose confrontation with an oil pipeline company in North Dakota led the Army Corps of Engineers to order a fresh look at the Dakota Access pipeline.

Chief Dwaine Perry and members of the Lunaape want others in New Jersey to join their fight. Dozens of people have been attending teach-ins at their encampment near the New York border to learn more about the pipeline.

The community needs to stop looking at the Ramapoughs as the canary in the mine and get their helmets on and stand with us, because if that goes it doesnt matter what your home costs, you cant drink oil, Perry said.

But the effort of the Lunaape is running into obstacles. The town of Mahwah said that the tribe needs permits for the campground and for the teepee structures.

Mahwah has issued summonses against the tribe even though the town agrees that an oil pipeline running through the Ramapo Valley Reservation is unacceptable.

One leak will determine the fate of our community and the millions of people between here and the Newark basin, Mahwah Mayor William Laforet said.

The summonses from Mahwah should be addressed at a Jan. 26 municipal court hearing.

Meanwhile, Pilgrim Transportation of New York, Inc. has yet to apply for the permit that would define the exact route the pipeline would take. Until then, demonstrators are bracing themselves for a possible confrontation.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Azerbaijan in 2017 will continue its activity on introducing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in the country in line with all requirements, Shahmar Movsumov, executive director of the state oil fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ), said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

Movsumov recalled that in April 2015, after the validation (January 2015) by the decision of the EITI International Board, Azerbaijans status of full member was lowered to the candidate status.

The EITI Board determined correctional measures, which should be implemented until the next validation (July 2016) in order to bring back Azerbaijans full member status in EITI, he noted.

In 2015-2016, Azerbaijan continued to introduce the EITI on the basis of requirements of the EITI standard, certain steps were taken in line with the correctional measures established by the EITI Board, and main work was carried out within the EITI, added Movsumov.

He said also that the next validation on the EITI was held in July 2016, as a result of which, under the decision made on Oct. 26 during the next meeting in Astana, the EITI Board, taking into account the work done by Azerbaijan, kept the countrys status as a candidate country.

Under the decision, until the next meeting of the EITI Board (March 2017), Azerbaijan should conduct correctional measures on addressing concrete issues related to the registration of non-governmental organizations engaged in the EITI process, as well as registration of grants, explained Movsumov.

Moreover, until July 2017, the Azerbaijani government on the basis of the correctional measures should address certain issues of civil societys involvement in the EITI process, and a number of technical aspects of the Initiatives accountability, he added.

The executive director said also that after the EITI Boards meeting (in Astana on Oct. 24-26, 2016), the EITI Multi-stakeholder Group (MSG) of Azerbaijan started discussions on conditions put forward by the Board and it was decided to prepare a new plan of actions on correctional measures.

EITI is a special multilateral and voluntary initiative for improving transparency in the oil, gas and mining sectors. Azerbaijan joined the EITI in 2003. Azerbaijan was awarded the 2009 EITI Award for its commitment to EITI principles and criteria and achievements in EITI Implementation.

In 2015, EITI lowered the status of Azerbaijan in this structure. The decision was made at the 29th meeting in Brazzaville held April 14-15 after the discussions on a report on Azerbaijan. Following the discussions, the EITI Board decided to lower the membership of Azerbaijan to the candidate status.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Police are hunting for a man they suspect robbed several New York businesses during December, including a Dunkin' Donuts and a Dollar Tree.

Over three days in December, police said a man went into the Bronx businesses and pointed a handgun at the female staff running the shops, demanding money or grabbing the cash register.

In one of the robberies, on Dec. 6, surveillance footage shows the man walking up to the counter of a Dollar Tree in Crotona Park East and offering his hand to the 42-year-old female employee.

When she puts her hand in his, he grabs it and points a gun at her before walking around the counter to break open the cash register.

In another robbery on Dec. 8. the suspect pointed a handgun at a 21-year-old woman working at the Sung Beauty Supply in Mount Hope.

Just three days later, a man fitting the same description walked into a Dunkin' Donuts in Norwood and pointed his gun at the 43-year-old female worker, before making off with cash.

The suspected serial-robber made off with more than $1,400 overall.

Police are asking for help identifying the man, who is 35 to 40 years old, 5 feet eight inches to six feet tall, 170 pounds, and last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, light colored pants and black boots.

Anyone with information can call 1-800-577-TIPS, or for Spanish 1-888-57-PISTA.
Three young children in central Pennsylvania are recovering from severe malnourishment and neglect after hospital staff told police they "reeked of a strong odor similar to that of caged animals," according to a criminal complaint.

The parents of the children, who are aged 6, 5, and 4, have been charged with aggravated assault and false imprisonment. Joshua and Brandi Weyant allegedly locked the children in their rooms each night in the family's house in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, police said.

The Weyants are being held on $1 million.

A social worker with the county child services department first alerted police Dec. 16 of alleged neglect. The children told investigators initially that they were locked inside their bedrooms each night.

"The victims state that they would have to pound on the wall to get someone to take them to the bathroom and they would urinate on themselves and on the bedroom floor when no one would come," the criminal complaint filed Friday said.

A doctor who examined the children told state police that at least two of the children "were approaching a dangerous and life-threatening situation," the complaint said.

The Weyants are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 2.

Joshua Ross Weyant is awaiting a "plea court hearing" scheduled for Jan. 4 on charges stemming from a 2013 incident in which he was initially charged with child rape, indecent assault and other charges. The rape charge was dropped, but the indecent assault and corruption of a minor charges were held for a lower court, according to a court docket.
The violent slaying of a popular 81-year-old known for dressing up as Santa who was gunned down in her South Philadelphia store on Christmas Eve left her family searching for answers and police searching for the killer.

A man dressed in all black walked into Maries Grocery Store at S 6th and Titan streets around 8:50 a.m. Saturday and fired around one dozen shots at owner Marie Buck, said investigators.

Medics rushed Buck -- who lived on the block -- to Jefferson Hospital where she died a short time later, said police.

Buck's family spent Christmas trying to come to terms with a reason that someone would kill their beloved mother -- a woman who dressed as Santa every Christmas Eve as part of family tradition -- in such a violent manner. [[408332775, C]]

Buck's family said she owned the store -- where a memorial of flowers and candles continued to grow Monday -- for nearly 44 years. Buck's daughter, Maria Buck, called her mother an angel. Many people in the neighborhood called her "Aunt Marie."

"When you were short changed, or whatever, she'd help you out that's the type of person she is," said longtime customer Wanda.

Homicide investigators gave no update on their investigation Monday. Police didnt reveal a motive for the shooting but robbery didn't appear to be a reason considering the gunman took nothing from the store, which Buck's husband had convinced her to give up in the New Year.

An 89-year-old worker witnessed the shooting but no surveillance cameras captured the shooter, said police.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police.
A Santa Monica synagogue was vandalized just hours after the congregation celebrated the start of Hanukkah.

The vandals appeared to have struck Living Torah Center Chabad Saturday night or Sunday morning, Assistant Rabbi Dovid Tenenbaum said. The front window was smeared with rice and feces, he added.

A menorah was displayed in the window of the building on Wilshire Boulevard at the time of the vandalism, Tenenbaum said.

"This seems kind of intentional," Tenenbaum told the Los Angeles Times. "With a religious artifact in the window, we have to assume so."

No arrests were reported.

The synagogue has been targeted before, including earlier this year when a man at the syangogue shouted "Heil, Hitler" before running off.

Last year, someone left a letter in the building's mailbox that included a swastika and graffiti was found on a hut built for the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Did you get a nice big TV for the holidays? One of those cool drones? Or a new computer?

Congrats. And if you want to keep it, take a few extra steps before you throw out the box.

Fairfax County Police issued a video warning Sunday warning people that theives sometimes watch for boxes outside homes to see if there are big-ticket items inside worth stealing.

That could lead to a home break-in.

It's a technique that police across the country have seen. "I've had suspects tell me they specifically targeted a home after they saw a box in a trash can," said Sheriff Mark Gower of Iron County, Utah, in a 2013 story from USA Today.

You can avoid being a victim by breaking boxes down and turning them inside-out, or by concealing them in larger bins or trash bags, Fairfax County police said, as part of their "12 Days of Holiday Safety Tips."
After four days missing, a woman and her young great-granddaughter who disappeared during a Christmas Eve trip from New Jersey to North Carolina were found Wednesday in Virginia.

Barbara Briley, 71, and La'Myra Briley, 5, were found sitting together underneath a tree in a remote area south of Richmond, police said.

Briley was unconscious and was flown to a hospital, where she is in critical condition. The child was alert and appeared unharmed, police said.

The Brileys left Mays Landing, New Jersey, on Saturday morning and were last seen about 5:30 p.m. Saturday at a gas station in Ruther Glen, Virginia, where Briley had stopped for directions.

Nearly 96 hours later, just before 5 p.m. Wednesday, a man spotted Briley's Rav4 in a wooded area on his property in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and went to check on it, authorities said.

He found the Brileys sitting together against a tree, about 45 feet from the car. The man had seen news reports, realized who they were and called 911, said Maj. William Knott of the Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office.

"I have absolutely no clue how they got where they were," Knott said.

Briley was unconscious and was flown to VCU Medical Center in Richmond for treatment, state police said. She is listed in serious condition.

La'Myra appeared unharmed but was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. She is now with a family member, police said Wednesday night.

Virginia State Police said Briley apparently turned off a main road onto a dirt road, which she followed for less than a mile before she pulled off into the woods. At one point, she drove over a small tree. When she tried to back up, the Rav4 apparently got stuck in a remote area.

Briley and La'Myra appeared to have been there for several days, but had enough drinks and snacks to sustain them, state police said.

Briley's niece, Marcella Rorie, previously told NBC12 her aunt went to the gas station because "she got twisted around on 95 because of all the traffic."

Surveillance video from the gas station where Briley stopped showed her walking inside about 5:40 p.m. Saturday. She left and re-entered before she eventually pulled away just after 6 p.m., authorities said.

Gas station clerk Joanna Strange said Briley came inside to say she was lost, and that she helped her with her GPS, according to NBC12.

State troopers searched in the Ruther Glen area and then re-centered their efforts along the Interstate 85 corridor from south of Richmond to the North Carolina line, state police spokesman Sgt. Stephan Vick said. They used a helicopter and hunted for signs of guard rail damage or other evidence that a car may have run off the road, he said

Virginia State Police say they were able to ping Briley's cell phone Tuesday near the Dinwiddie County Airport in Petersburg, Virginia, about 30 minutes south of Richmond.

Family members have said Briley was a former driver for New Jersey Transit and had made the long trip numerous times. They said she had no known medical issues.

They called her cellphone over and over again for days.
A man has been charged in the murder of Tricia McCauley, the D.C. woman who went missing on Christmas Day.

Adrian Duane Johnson, 29, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 46-year-old yoga instructor and actress, police said Tuesday evening.

McCauley was found dead inside her car early Tuesday after a man spotted the vehicle and called 911. Officers confronted Johnson inside a CVS store, he handed over the keys to the car and the officers found McCauley's body inside, police said.

Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news conference Tuesday morning that investigators believe McCauley did not know the man who attacked her.

New: #DC police at apartment on North Capitol St NW where #triciamccauley last seen Christmas Day @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/1N4OHsd2zT  Jackie Bensen (@jackiebensen) December 27, 2016

#DC yoga instructor & herbalist Tricia McCauley reported missing. Her car also unaccounted for @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/IFDe1mNDNM  Jackie Bensen (@jackiebensen) December 27, 2016

McCauley died after she was strangled and suffered blunt force trauma, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined.

Johnson was arrested less than two weeks earlier and was on pre-trial release when McCauley was killed. Court documents show he was charged with theft after police say he stole four electric toothbrushes from the CVS store on the 3000 block of 14th Street NW, near the Columbia Heights Metro station.

He was ordered to stay away from the store and to get a GPS monitor and a mental health evaluation, the documents show. It was not immediately clear whether he was issued the device or underwent the evaluation.

The family of a D.C. yoga instructor, who had been reported missing since Christmas Day, says her body has been found.

McCauley was an actress who was lead teacher at Yoga District's Bloomingdale location and also a licensed nutritionist.

Friends admired her kindness, Yoga District founder Jasmine Chehrazi said.

"Tricia was a very strong leader and at the same time a very gentle, compassionate, nurturing person," Chehrazi said. "She basically embodied the teachings of yoga, which start with ahimsa, which is nonviolence and acts of love."

The search for McCauley began the day after Christmas, after she failed to show up to dinner at a friend's house on Christmas Day and then missed a flight out of Ronald Reagan National Airport on Monday morning, her brother and friends said.

Police said McCauley was last seen at her home in Bloomingdale, on North Capitol Street NE at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

In the hours following her disappearance, police released a photo of a man they said may have been driving McCauley's car, a white, two-door Scion IQ with D.C. plates.

RAW VIDEO: DC Police Interim Chief Peter Newsham and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser hold a press conference after the death of yoga instructor Tricia McCauley.

A man who saw the photos police released online called police when he spotted McCauley's car. Jonathan Padget came face to face with the suspect near 21st and P streets NW, near Dupont Circle, he said.

"I definitely was aware that this could be a dangerous situation," he said.

Padget, who said he has friends who knew McCauley, said he spoke to the man and then called for help. The suspect's behavior seemed off, he said.

"He was moving around a lot, and he was smoking something," Padget said.

Police confronted the suspect several blocks to the southwest, inside the CVS store at 22nd and M streets NW. He gave officers the keys to McCauley's car, police said.

When the officers searched the car, they found McCauley's body.

Police believe the suspect drove McCauley's car for as long as 24 hours before he was caught, stopping at several CVS stores.

View Suspect's Locations in Yoga Teacher's Death in a full screen map

About 9 a.m. Monday, before McCauley was found dead early Tuesday, police believe Johnson attacked an employee of the CVS store on the 700 block of 14th Street NW, blocks northeast of the White House.

The employee told News4 she knew something was strange about the man the moment he walked in. He began filling a basket with soap and became confrontational when a manager asked if he needed help.

When the employee began to call 911 upon her manager's request, the man lunged at her and wrestled with her, trying to grab the phone out of her hand, she said. He left the store before police arrived. The employee declined to provide her name.

Metropolitan Police Department

McCauley's professional website includes a long list of acting credits, including with the Washington Stage Guild. She played Anna Karenina and acted in a Kennedy Center national tour, the website says. She also appeared in commercials and did voiceover work.

She graduated from American University in 1992 with a degree in theater, her LinkedIn page says.

McCauley would have taught a 5:15 p.m. yoga class Tuesday night. In its place, the studio held a vigil in her honor. It was set to be followed by a candlelit procession to the park at 3rd and Elm streets NW.

Three days before McCauley vanished, she emailed Chehrazi, who trained her as a yoga instructor, to thank her.

"She just put in big capital letters, 'thank you for the Yoga District community,'" Chehrazi said. "She didn't have to do that, but she did that because that's the type of person Tricia is."

Johnson, who also is known as Duane Adrian Johnson, was arrested Monday and charged with assault and theft. After the autopsy, he was charged with murder. He is due in court Wednesday.

Chehrazi said she believes McCauley would want her work as a yoga practitioner to live on.

"I know she would want us to keep breathing and keep working to find inner peace to help foster outer peace throughout the world," she said.

Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for updates on this developing story.
Israel reacted to a recent United Nations Security Council resolution condemning settlements in Palestinian-claimed territory by curtailing relations Tuesday with 10 countries that voted for it, NBC News reported.

The resolution called the settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem a "flagrant violation" of international law, but plans for thousands of new homes were nevertheless advanced by Israel.

Israel is limiting work contacts with Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay and Spain, according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon.

The United States wasn't included on the list, despite breaking with past practice to allow the Security Council vote, a move that prompted Israel's leader to lash out at the White House. The U.S. abstained from the vote, but has veto power on the council.
Vesna Vulovic, a Serbian stewardess who miraculously survived a plunge from 33,000 feet after her plane exploded in mid-air in 1972, died last week. She was 66.

Serbia's state TV said Saturday Vulovic was found dead by her friends in her apartment in Belgrade. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Vulovic was working as a Yugoslav Airlines flight attendant on Jan. 26, 1972, when the Douglas DC-9 airliner she was aboard blew up high above the snowy mountain ranges of Czechoslovakia. All 27 other passengers and crew aboard perished.

Vulovic entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1985 for "the highest fall survived without a parachute."

It was suspected that a bomb was planted inside the jet during a scheduled stopover in Copenhagen, Denmark, but no arrests were ever made.

Trapped in the plane's tail cone, she plummeted to earth in sub-freezing temperatures and landed on a steep, heavily wooded slope near a village. The fuselage tumbled through pine branches and into a thick coating of snow, softening the impact and cushioning its descent down the hill, crash investigators said at the time.

Vulovic was rescued by a woodsman who followed her screams in the dark forest. She was rushed to a hospital, where she fell into a coma for 10 days. She had a fractured skull, two crushed vertebrae and a broken pelvis, ribs and legs.

Initially paralyzed from the waist down, Vulovic eventually made a near-full recovery and even returned to work for the airline in a desk job.

She never regained memory of the accident or her rescue. She told the AP in an interview in 2008 that she could only recall greeting passengers before takeoff from the airport in Denmark  and then waking up in the hospital with her mother at her side.

An instant national heroine, she went on to put her celebrity at the service of political causes, protesting against Slobodan Milosevic's rule in the 1990s and later campaigning for liberal forces in elections.
Work is nearly complete on the installation of a temporary bridge to reconnect Cornwall and Salisbury, Vermont, following the destruction of an iconic wooden covered bridge more than three months ago.

On September 10, a giant fireball swallowed the landmark Station Covered Bridge, limiting Swamp Road in Salisbury and Creek Road in Cornwall to only local travel.

The closure was an inconvenience to many drivers who have had to seek detours through Whiting, Leicester, or Middlebury.

By the end of this week, town leaders expect the temporary span to once again enable travel over the Otter Creek at the crossing.

It's too bad that had happened, but our main goal is to open this road up for the public, said Hobie Gates of the Vermont Agency of Transportation, who was overseeing the installation of the temporary bridge Tuesday.

Investigators were not able to pinpoint a specific cause of that fire, but they found no evidence of an accelerate, meaning, no evidence the fire was an intentional, criminal act. There was no lightning in the sky or power lines to the bridge, fire officials noted at the time of the blaze.

The 1865 wooden structure over the Otter Creek was largely rebuilt nearly 10 years ago using a federal grant.

According to tallies from covered bridge enthusiasts, Vermont had 107 covered bridges before the fire that destroyed the Station Covered Bridge. The Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing said that number represents more covered bridges per square mile than any other state in the country.

Ben Marks, the co-chair of the Cornwall Select Board, told necn an insurance settlement helped demolish what little was left of the bridge, and is funding the states installation of a temporary one-lane span.

This bridge is going to be a huge help, Marks said of the temporary bridge.

Marks said many drivers are excited to soon see their detours come to end, adding the development will buy the towns time to work on a permanent fix.

At the moment, I'm hearing a lot from people who want to see a covered bridge of the same type put back, Marks said. And we'll have to see what budget constraints and grant constraints allow.

Marks said he expects robust debates on both sides of the Otter Creek about the cost and design of an eventual replacement bridge.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Maksim Tsurkov  Trend:

Activities of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) in 2016 can be assessed as successful, SOFAZ head Shahmar Movsumov said in an exclusive interview with Trend.

In the conditions of low oil prices, decrease in state revenues from oil sales and decay in the oil sector, the Funds role in supporting Azerbaijans financial stability significantly increased, he said.

"In 2016, SOFAZ carried out timely transfers to the state budget and also continued financing important infrastructure and social projects, for example, a project on improvement of social conditions for IDPs, a project on reconstruction of the Samur-Absheron irrigation system and a project on construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway," Movsumov said.

"In 2016, SOFAZ also financed Azerbaijans share in the Southern Gas Corridor projects, as well as the construction of the STAR oil refinery in Turkey. In addition, the Fund continued financing the state program on education abroad," Movsumov added.

He noted that in late 2015, changes were made to the investment policy of SOFAZ. As a result, the balance of risks and return changed in favor of more profitable financial instruments, which is a part of a long-term process of building a balanced investment portfolio, he added.

"For example, the permitted share of investment in real estate doubled (from 5 to 10 percent). As a result of these changes, this year the share of direct investment in real estate as well as investment via real estate funds increased. In 2016, the purchase of Palazzo Turati office building in Milan was completed. A big amount of investment was put in real estate funds and investment was also put in private equity funds. The portion of funds that can be invested in stocks also increased," SOFAZ head added.

As of October 1, 2016, the total volume of SOFAZs investment portfolio was $33.95 billion, or 94.8 percent of total assets.

SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million.

Based on SOFAZs regulations, its funds may be used for construction and reconstruction of strategically important infrastructure facilities, as well as solving important national problems.

The main goals of the State Oil Fund are accumulation of resources and placement of the Funds assets abroad in order to minimize the negative effect on the economy, prevention of "Dutch disease", promotion of resource accumulation for future generations, and supporting current social and economic processes in Azerbaijan.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Marijuana legalization may have passed in Maine, but some towns and cities are putting on the brakes, and blocking retailers from setting up shop.

From Bangor to Portland, municipalities have enacted moratoriums on marijuana sales to determine zoning rules for retailers.

We need to make sure we get it as right as we can for our community, said South Portland Mayor Patti Smith. South Portland has enacted a six-month moratorium.

Other municipalities have gone further. Oakland and Skowhegan leaders have announced plans to possibly become a dry town and completely ban marijuana sales.

Marijuana is still going to be sold in Maine  its still going to be sold in Skowhegan, said David Boyer, campaign manager for Yes on 1, to legalize recreational marijuana. We have a choice do we want marijuana sold by licensed businesses, or by drug dealers that dont check ID?

Boyers campaign estimates Maine could receive $15 million in revenue from the marijuana industry: money that could go to substance abuse prevention, education, or infrastructure, among other programs.

Boyer said that money has not been earmarked yet, and it leaves the door open for Maine towns to ban marijuana retail shops, while benefiting from the tax revenue.

Some might say thats not fair, he said.

According to the No on 1 campaign manager, Scott Gagnon, at least 18 municipalities have enacted moratoriums, and 28 more are considering similar temporary bans.
A New Hampshire lawmaker is proposing a bill that would allow families to involuntarily commit loved ones who are battling drug addiction.

Senator Jeb Bradley says he was inspired to draft the bill by a family who lost their 18-year-old son.

"We said to him, 'If you don't go with us now, you're going to die,'" recalled Sheryl Mercier of Pelham.

Two weeks after his parents tried an intervention, 18-year-old Bubba Carter died of an overdose.

"Our son loved Christmas so much and to not have him here is devastating," said Bubba's dad, Jack Carter.

Bubba had refused to go to treatment and under New Hampshire State Law, his parents couldn't force him.

"I don't want to see any other families go through that," Carter said.

So Carter reached out to Bradley, who is now drafting a bill that would make "involuntary commitment" legal for those battling drug addiction. It's an amendment to a law that only addresses mental illness.

"Our statute doesn't allow it for drugs, it allows it in a mental health situation where somebody can do bodily harm to themselves," Bradley explained.

He's still finalizing the proposal and realizes it could infringe on privacy rights.

"I think if we can save a life ... it's worth any privacy concerns people might have," Bradley said in an interview Tuesday.

There are also questions about implementation. Right now in New Hampshire, there are wait lists at hospitals and recovery centers for people who want help, so how would the state accommodate the influx of people who are forced into treatment? Bradley says increasing resources is the only answer.

We are in the middle of a crisis, we've done a lot of good work, but there is still a lot of work to do," Bradley said.

Bubba's parents are convinced this bill is a step in the right direction, giving families the power to do something before it's too late.

"People say you can't force treatment," Mercier said. "Well, the other side of that is they're going to die."

Bradley thinks his bill will go before the Senate in February.

The proposal isn't unique. Involuntary commitment for those battling addiction has been legal in Massachusetts for years.

To find out more about Bubba, his family, and how you can help, click here.
Police are searching for two suspects involved in a home invasion in East Hartford, Connecticut.

The suspects, driving on Route 2, took Exit 5 to East Hartford and got off at Riverside Drive. The car then struck an electric pole near the intersection of Sutton Avenue and Main Street.

155 customers went without power as a result, according to Eversource. Eversource spokesman Frank Poirot said that until shortly after 9:30 a.m. his crews could not begin restoration work because of the active crime scene. Crews are now working to fix the pole and repair the damaged equipment.

It is unknown at this time if anyone was hurt or anything was stolen.

Details to follow.


Hidden Norwich church has national heritage vision Hidden Norwich church has national heritage vision

A hidden Norwich church has an international vision for promoting Christian heritage and especially the key role of the Puritans. Kevin Gotts reports.
By Reuters

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 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 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.

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 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 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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.27



By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:



OPEC has had to accept that they underestimated the resilience of the US shale oil industry, Sijbren de Jong, an analyst at The Hague Center for Strategic Studies and an expert in energy security, told Trend Dec.27.



Commenting on the results of 2016, the expert said that for OPEC, it is a mixed bag.



We saw the failure of the Doha meeting where countries were unable to agree on a freeze, with Saudi deputy Crown Mohammed bin Salman ruling out any deal that did not include Iran. But we also saw the face of Saudi Arabia later this year, when the countries did agree on a deal, he added.



Regarding the expectations for the oil market in 2017, Sijbren de Jong believes that it all depends on whether the OPEC deal holds to be honest.



A lot also rests on Russia playing ball, and it is hard to independently verify whether they will. If the agreement holds, expect the oil price to stabilize to a degree, but the days of $100 oil are very far away, the expert said.



During the Vienna meeting held Nov.30, OPEC members decided to implement a new OPEC-14 production target of 32.5 million barrels per day. Later, non-OPEC countries agreed to cut the oil output by 558,000 barrels per day during the meeting held Dec.10.



Eleven non-OPEC countries agreed to reduce the oil output: Azerbaijan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Sultanate of Oman, the Russian Federation, Republic of Sudan, and Republic of South Sudan.



OPEC and non-OPEC countries have pledged to implement the reached deal from Jan.1, 2017.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Minister for Road and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari on Monday said it will try to implement projects worth over Rs 5 lakh crore under the Sagarmala initiative before completion of its tenure in May 2019.

Of the Rs 12 lakh crore being planned for investment under the ambitious programme, he said around Rs 8 lakh crore will be pumped into industrial clusters while the remaining Rs 4 lakh crore will go to port rail and port road connectivity, mechanisation and modernisation of ports.

Gadkari, who inaugurated the Sagarmala office, said, the work with regard to port mechanisation and port modernisation has also started. We are starting Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) services. We have made special scheme for fisherman... Overall, this project will be a game-changer. It will be the biggest project in the countrys history.

(Under Sagarmala), we have already started work on projects worth around Rs 1 lakh crore, the minister said. The minister further said the government is looking to complete the Chardham project before 2018.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday lay the foundation stone of the Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna at Parade Ground in Dehradun.

The Chardham project includes developing 900 kilometre of national highways in Uttarakhand at a total cost of Rs 12,000 crore

Work for 17 projects worth Rs 3,000 crore have already been sanctioned and tendered. The entire length of the highways will be two-laned with paved shoulder and with a minimum width of 10 metres.

There will be tunnels, bypasses, bridges, subways and viaducts to prevent traffic bottlenecks. A team of experts is on the job to identify zones prone to landslides, and environment-friendly techniques are being incorporated in the design to make these zones safer.

The government, Gadkari said, is optimistic that all 12 major ports and three flagship shipping organisations  Cochin Shipyard, Shipping Corporation of India and Dredging Corporation of India  will have a profit of around Rs 7,000 crore this fiscal.

The minister also said that this year, Goa, Cochin and Mangaluru will come up with 60 cruises each and there will be 11 in Chennai. It will give a fillip to cruise tourism, he added.

NEW DELHI: Minister for Road and Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari on Monday said it will try to implement projects worth over Rs 5 lakh crore under the Sagarmala initiative before completion of its tenure in May 2019. Of the Rs 12 lakh crore being planned for investment under the ambitious programme, he said around Rs 8 lakh crore will be pumped into industrial clusters while the remaining Rs 4 lakh crore will go to port rail and port road connectivity, mechanisation and modernisation of ports. Gadkari, who inaugurated the Sagarmala office, said, the work with regard to port mechanisation and port modernisation has also started. We are starting Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) services. We have made special scheme for fisherman... Overall, this project will be a game-changer. It will be the biggest project in the countrys history. (Under Sagarmala), we have already started work on projects worth around Rs 1 lakh crore, the minister said. The minister further said the government is looking to complete the Chardham project before 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Tuesday lay the foundation stone of the Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna at Parade Ground in Dehradun. The Chardham project includes developing 900 kilometre of national highways in Uttarakhand at a total cost of Rs 12,000 crore Work for 17 projects worth Rs 3,000 crore have already been sanctioned and tendered. The entire length of the highways will be two-laned with paved shoulder and with a minimum width of 10 metres. There will be tunnels, bypasses, bridges, subways and viaducts to prevent traffic bottlenecks. A team of experts is on the job to identify zones prone to landslides, and environment-friendly techniques are being incorporated in the design to make these zones safer. The government, Gadkari said, is optimistic that all 12 major ports and three flagship shipping organisations  Cochin Shipyard, Shipping Corporation of India and Dredging Corporation of India  will have a profit of around Rs 7,000 crore this fiscal. The minister also said that this year, Goa, Cochin and Mangaluru will come up with 60 cruises each and there will be 11 in Chennai. It will give a fillip to cruise tourism, he added.
Mebin John By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: This May, Citys popular picnic spot Ulsoor Lake was in the news when thousands of dead fish floated up. Everyone  political leaders, the corporation officials and the pollution control board  were on the alert and promised action. But the recent rains proved their efforts weak and half-hearted.

Water from the nearby storm-water drain was to have been filtered with nets and then passed through a granite bund, before entering the lake. But in the rains, residents living around the lake say, the drains overflowed because both the nets and the bund seem to have been poorly maintained.

They say that the filtering nets and the bund have to be cleaned regularly so that the free flow of water is not obstructed. But no one seems to be bothered by it. The blockage has contributed to the overflow, and untreated sewage water and garbage found its way back into the lake.

City Express visited the lake and found plastic waste and other debris on the lake side of the bund.

The residents are unhappy about the attitude of the authorities. The officials have been making a lot of promises but no action has been taken, says Purushottam Venkatraman, President of the Ulsoor Lake Residents Welfare Association (ULRWA).

The pollution control board also promised to construct a sewerage treatment plant at the lake, but we dont see any progress on that front. Recently BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike) dumped few granite stones to construct a bund, but the water is seeping through it and into the lake.

Mahesh Kumar MN, a resident, says, Sewage from the neighbourhood still drains into the lake. Simbu, a fruit vendor by the lake, says that the recent rains submerged the bund.

The local corporator blames senior officials in BBMP. I have been trying to reach them, including to the commissioner and Chief Engineer (Project Central) Somashekar S, but none of them is responding, says Mamatha Saravana, corporator for Ulsoor Ward. City Express tried to reach the Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and the chief engineer, but both were not available for comment.

Corporator Mamatha says that she opposed the construction of the bund. I didnt think it was an effective solution, she says. Even though ministers including Minister KJ George and MLAs visited the lake and promised action, no action has been taken. The Minister was not available for a comment either.

A senior official at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board passes the buck, to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board. We are only providing the funds to construct the sewage treatment plant, says the official under anonymity. BWSSB has to construct it, but they havent submitted a proposal or a cost estimate yet.

BWSSBs Chief Engineer for Waste Water Management says that they have started planning for the STP. We have to make a detailed plan and a sketch, says Ramakrishna S M from BWSSB. The pollution control board has agreed to give `4 crore, in accordance with the progress of the work. We have just marked out the place to construct the plant. 

BENGALURU: This May, Citys popular picnic spot Ulsoor Lake was in the news when thousands of dead fish floated up. Everyone  political leaders, the corporation officials and the pollution control board  were on the alert and promised action. But the recent rains proved their efforts weak and half-hearted. Water from the nearby storm-water drain was to have been filtered with nets and then passed through a granite bund, before entering the lake. But in the rains, residents living around the lake say, the drains overflowed because both the nets and the bund seem to have been poorly maintained. They say that the filtering nets and the bund have to be cleaned regularly so that the free flow of water is not obstructed. But no one seems to be bothered by it. The blockage has contributed to the overflow, and untreated sewage water and garbage found its way back into the lake. City Express visited the lake and found plastic waste and other debris on the lake side of the bund. The residents are unhappy about the attitude of the authorities. The officials have been making a lot of promises but no action has been taken, says Purushottam Venkatraman, President of the Ulsoor Lake Residents Welfare Association (ULRWA). The pollution control board also promised to construct a sewerage treatment plant at the lake, but we dont see any progress on that front. Recently BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike) dumped few granite stones to construct a bund, but the water is seeping through it and into the lake. Mahesh Kumar MN, a resident, says, Sewage from the neighbourhood still drains into the lake. Simbu, a fruit vendor by the lake, says that the recent rains submerged the bund. The local corporator blames senior officials in BBMP. I have been trying to reach them, including to the commissioner and Chief Engineer (Project Central) Somashekar S, but none of them is responding, says Mamatha Saravana, corporator for Ulsoor Ward. City Express tried to reach the Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and the chief engineer, but both were not available for comment. Corporator Mamatha says that she opposed the construction of the bund. I didnt think it was an effective solution, she says. Even though ministers including Minister KJ George and MLAs visited the lake and promised action, no action has been taken. The Minister was not available for a comment either. A senior official at the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board passes the buck, to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board. We are only providing the funds to construct the sewage treatment plant, says the official under anonymity. BWSSB has to construct it, but they havent submitted a proposal or a cost estimate yet. BWSSBs Chief Engineer for Waste Water Management says that they have started planning for the STP. We have to make a detailed plan and a sketch, says Ramakrishna S M from BWSSB. The pollution control board has agreed to give `4 crore, in accordance with the progress of the work. We have just marked out the place to construct the plant. 
C Shivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Twelve years after the tsunami destroyed everything they had, a family of four middle-aged siblings, all persons with disability, are back to the same situation.

This time, however, it is not a giant wave that has wrecked their lives, but the apathy of the local officials who removed the public telephone booth that they depended on for livelihood for laying a road, under the promise of restoration.

If that was not enough, the ongoing demonetisation drive has affected disability pension to them, a meagre Rs 1,000 a month, for the past two months. This is a family that had nothing merry about the Christmas that went by, and had nothing happy to look forward to the new year.

The siblings  Vishwanathan (49), Thiagarajan (47), Karpagam (45), and Jayaraman (40)  from Pattinapakkam suffer from cerebral palsy and meningitis. There was a fifth, Chandra, also disabled, who died in that devastating tsunami on December 26, 2004. Two years later, the State government provided them a telephone booth as a means to livelihood.

They used to make as much as Rs 300 a day during the best of times, but after the advent of mobile telephony, it dwindled. The income came down to just about Rs 30 in the recent days. But we were happy to earn whatever we could to support ourselves, said Thiagarajan, as his quivering hands held tightly the rope tied all alone at their home to help him walk.

The actual trouble began with the December floods last year. Following this, the Greater Chennai Corporation began undertaking several works including cleaning drains, and cleaning and widening roads. They also removed the telephone booth, but promised that it would be reinstalled at the same spot. A year has gone by, but that has never happened so far, Thiagarajan added.

This forced the siblings to depend on the disability pension. But that was before the financial tsunami that the confiscatory demonetisation caused. Right now, the pension has also been stopped for the last two months due to demonetisation, said Karpagam.

The brothers and sisters are now totally dependent on the only sister, a sanitary worker, who is an earning member in the family. Our sister Suguna, who devoted her entire life to bring us up, is continuing to provide for us, said Thiagarajan.

But she is 56 years old and will have to retire in a couple of years. We are indeed staring at uncertainty, said Thiagarajan, as he made his way by holding on to ropes tied along the rooms linking them to the outside world as well as rooms inside the housing board quarters built after the tsunami hit their home near the Pattinapakkam fishing hamlet.

The siblings lost their mother Andalamma and father Armugam. We were a family of five. Our sister Chandra died during the tsunami, but the `1 lakh compensation announced for the family never reached us. We came to know someone else pocketed it, said Karpagam.

When contacted, senior corporation official told Express that the booth was allotted a decade ago. Since then, there has been tightening of norms by the courts, directing the civic body not to permit shops and other establishments on the shoulders of the road. We have no problem if they put the booth back, but we are not in a position to give them official sanction due to court cases, the official said.

With telephone booths rendered relics, the family is urging the State government to provide them instead with a shop so as to be able to take care of themselves. Social activist Aruldoss, who is helping them seek state government aid, said that the family is leading a hand-to- mouth existence for a while now. Many times, he had to seek help from Good Samaritans to provide them with food and basic essentials.

CHENNAI: Twelve years after the tsunami destroyed everything they had, a family of four middle-aged siblings, all persons with disability, are back to the same situation. This time, however, it is not a giant wave that has wrecked their lives, but the apathy of the local officials who removed the public telephone booth that they depended on for livelihood for laying a road, under the promise of restoration. If that was not enough, the ongoing demonetisation drive has affected disability pension to them, a meagre Rs 1,000 a month, for the past two months. This is a family that had nothing merry about the Christmas that went by, and had nothing happy to look forward to the new year. The siblings  Vishwanathan (49), Thiagarajan (47), Karpagam (45), and Jayaraman (40)  from Pattinapakkam suffer from cerebral palsy and meningitis. There was a fifth, Chandra, also disabled, who died in that devastating tsunami on December 26, 2004. Two years later, the State government provided them a telephone booth as a means to livelihood. They used to make as much as Rs 300 a day during the best of times, but after the advent of mobile telephony, it dwindled. The income came down to just about Rs 30 in the recent days. But we were happy to earn whatever we could to support ourselves, said Thiagarajan, as his quivering hands held tightly the rope tied all alone at their home to help him walk. The actual trouble began with the December floods last year. Following this, the Greater Chennai Corporation began undertaking several works including cleaning drains, and cleaning and widening roads. They also removed the telephone booth, but promised that it would be reinstalled at the same spot. A year has gone by, but that has never happened so far, Thiagarajan added. This forced the siblings to depend on the disability pension. But that was before the financial tsunami that the confiscatory demonetisation caused. Right now, the pension has also been stopped for the last two months due to demonetisation, said Karpagam. The brothers and sisters are now totally dependent on the only sister, a sanitary worker, who is an earning member in the family. Our sister Suguna, who devoted her entire life to bring us up, is continuing to provide for us, said Thiagarajan. But she is 56 years old and will have to retire in a couple of years. We are indeed staring at uncertainty, said Thiagarajan, as he made his way by holding on to ropes tied along the rooms linking them to the outside world as well as rooms inside the housing board quarters built after the tsunami hit their home near the Pattinapakkam fishing hamlet. The siblings lost their mother Andalamma and father Armugam. We were a family of five. Our sister Chandra died during the tsunami, but the `1 lakh compensation announced for the family never reached us. We came to know someone else pocketed it, said Karpagam. When contacted, senior corporation official told Express that the booth was allotted a decade ago. Since then, there has been tightening of norms by the courts, directing the civic body not to permit shops and other establishments on the shoulders of the road. We have no problem if they put the booth back, but we are not in a position to give them official sanction due to court cases, the official said. With telephone booths rendered relics, the family is urging the State government to provide them instead with a shop so as to be able to take care of themselves. Social activist Aruldoss, who is helping them seek state government aid, said that the family is leading a hand-to- mouth existence for a while now. Many times, he had to seek help from Good Samaritans to provide them with food and basic essentials.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Almost three weeks after registering a case, the Delhi Police have arrested four persons for allegedly gang-raping a US national in April this year at a five-star hotel in Lutyens zone.

The victim had earlier said that she was not happy with the Delhi polices investigation. The victim arrived in Delhi on December 20 after the Delhi Police asked her to join the probe. After the questioning, she left for Nepal. On Monday evening, Delhi Police arrested four accused, including the guide, a bus driver and helper of a tourist bus. We have also arrested a hotel staffer, Delhi Police spokesperson Dependra Pathak said.

On December 3 Delhi Police registered a FIR over the incident. We have arrested four accused in the case. The complainant was helpful. She came down to Delhi, had her statement recorded before the police and court and also helped in collecting evidence, Pathak said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the Delhi Police protesting that the Rape Crisis Cell was not informed after the police recorded the victims statement. Citing orders of the High Court, the commission said that it was deeply saddened that the Delhi Police did not inform the Crisis Intervention Centre/ Rape Crisis Cell counseller.

This is a very serious matter and a gross violation of the directives of the Delhi High Court in the case wherein it was ordered that the duty officer, immediately, upon receipt of the complaint/ information of a rape case, intimate the same to the Rape Crisis Cell/Crisis Intervention Centre which shall respond to calls of sexual assault and provide counselling, the commission said in its notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi.

On December 8, the tour guide, accused of raping the victim along with his accomplices, was questioned by the police after his arrival from Nepal.

The guide denied his involvement in the matter and told police that the victim had given positive comments about him and that the internal inquiry by the travel agency hadnt found him guilty.

The woman had alleged that she was raped by a group of men for two days in a hotel.

NEW DELHI: Almost three weeks after registering a case, the Delhi Police have arrested four persons for allegedly gang-raping a US national in April this year at a five-star hotel in Lutyens zone. The victim had earlier said that she was not happy with the Delhi polices investigation. The victim arrived in Delhi on December 20 after the Delhi Police asked her to join the probe. After the questioning, she left for Nepal. On Monday evening, Delhi Police arrested four accused, including the guide, a bus driver and helper of a tourist bus. We have also arrested a hotel staffer, Delhi Police spokesperson Dependra Pathak said. On December 3 Delhi Police registered a FIR over the incident. We have arrested four accused in the case. The complainant was helpful. She came down to Delhi, had her statement recorded before the police and court and also helped in collecting evidence, Pathak said. Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to the Delhi Police protesting that the Rape Crisis Cell was not informed after the police recorded the victims statement. Citing orders of the High Court, the commission said that it was deeply saddened that the Delhi Police did not inform the Crisis Intervention Centre/ Rape Crisis Cell counseller. This is a very serious matter and a gross violation of the directives of the Delhi High Court in the case wherein it was ordered that the duty officer, immediately, upon receipt of the complaint/ information of a rape case, intimate the same to the Rape Crisis Cell/Crisis Intervention Centre which shall respond to calls of sexual assault and provide counselling, the commission said in its notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. On December 8, the tour guide, accused of raping the victim along with his accomplices, was questioned by the police after his arrival from Nepal. The guide denied his involvement in the matter and told police that the victim had given positive comments about him and that the internal inquiry by the travel agency hadnt found him guilty. The woman had alleged that she was raped by a group of men for two days in a hotel.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Two major incidents involving domestic airlines were reported on Tuesday morning as two aircraft coming very close to each other at Delhi's IGI Airport while a Jet Airways domestic flight veered off the runway and skidded at Goa airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into these incidents.

A top DGCA official said that in case of Delhi incident, the two aircraft of IndiGo and another of SpiceJet came face to face. But it was at a safer distance but in aviation terminology, it is a violation, said an official.

While IndiGo flight was taxing after landing SpiceJet flight which was proposing for take-off came close on the same taxi bay, which DGCA said is a major breach. DGCA is probing the role of the Air traffic Control (ATC) in this regard.

Indigo said it was following all ATC instructions at the time of the incident.

"The IndiGo flight 6E-769 (Lucknow-Delhi) while taxing in at Delhi airport today morning, observed another aircraft in front of it. Following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Captain-in-Command took the decision of switching off the engine and reported the incident to ATC," an IndiGo spokesperson said in the statement.

SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk and said its Delhi-Hyderabad flight was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport.

"While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC," the airline said in a statement.

In case of Jet Airways incident at Goa airport, passengers had a miraculous escape when the aircraft skidded off the runway, while the aircraft made an abrupt about-turn and its nose touched the soft land while taxing for take off. At least 12 passengers injured and were evacuated through chutes.

The Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight had 154 passengers and seven crew members onboard.



The flying license of the two pilots was suspended and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation will probe the accident. Meanwhile, AAIB has rushed a three-member team to the accident spot to start its investigation.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said a thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action shall be ensured. Action will be taken in case of violation of procedures, he pointed out.

A top DGCA official said that initial reports suggest the runway accident appears to be a pilot's fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of the two pilots, including the Commander, pending the initial outcome of the probe.

Sources said the preliminary findings on the accident are likely to be submitted in a week's time. "We have resumed normal operations to and from Goa and normalcy has also restored to the operations at Goa airport," Jet Airways said in a statement.

NEW DELHI: Two major incidents involving domestic airlines were reported on Tuesday morning as two aircraft coming very close to each other at Delhi's IGI Airport while a Jet Airways domestic flight veered off the runway and skidded at Goa airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a probe into these incidents. A top DGCA official said that in case of Delhi incident, the two aircraft of IndiGo and another of SpiceJet came face to face. But it was at a safer distance but in aviation terminology, it is a violation, said an official. While IndiGo flight was taxing after landing SpiceJet flight which was proposing for take-off came close on the same taxi bay, which DGCA said is a major breach. DGCA is probing the role of the Air traffic Control (ATC) in this regard. Indigo said it was following all ATC instructions at the time of the incident. "The IndiGo flight 6E-769 (Lucknow-Delhi) while taxing in at Delhi airport today morning, observed another aircraft in front of it. Following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the Captain-in-Command took the decision of switching off the engine and reported the incident to ATC," an IndiGo spokesperson said in the statement. SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk and said its Delhi-Hyderabad flight was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. "While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC," the airline said in a statement. In case of Jet Airways incident at Goa airport, passengers had a miraculous escape when the aircraft skidded off the runway, while the aircraft made an abrupt about-turn and its nose touched the soft land while taxing for take off. At least 12 passengers injured and were evacuated through chutes. The Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight had 154 passengers and seven crew members onboard. The flying license of the two pilots was suspended and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation will probe the accident. Meanwhile, AAIB has rushed a three-member team to the accident spot to start its investigation. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said a thorough time-bound investigation and corrective action shall be ensured. Action will be taken in case of violation of procedures, he pointed out. A top DGCA official said that initial reports suggest the runway accident appears to be a pilot's fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of the two pilots, including the Commander, pending the initial outcome of the probe. Sources said the preliminary findings on the accident are likely to be submitted in a week's time. "We have resumed normal operations to and from Goa and normalcy has also restored to the operations at Goa airport," Jet Airways said in a statement.
Mouli Mareedu By

Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Notorious gangster Ayub Khan, who was nabbed by the Interpol at Mumbai airport on Sunday, was brought to city on Monday amidst tight security. With over 50 cases filed against him, police are in the process of dusting some of the old records and files against him.

Khan has reportedly amassed movable and immovable assets worth over `1,000 crore through his illegal activities and with respect to his illegal gold smuggling, the city police would take the assistance of Directorate of Revenue Intelligent (DRI) and Central Customs officials. With the gangster in custody now, the south zone police are all set to question him in numerous cases where he is the prime accused. K Ashok Chakravarthy, assistant commissioner of police, Charminar, said, It was a major catch. By detaining Ayub Khan, we will be able to detect many more cases after questioning him. Police have already gathered records in which Ayub is accused and formed teams for questioning him on serious offences committed by him. The last time Khan was arrested, he secured bail and fled the country by procuring fake passports.

Gold smuggling: Ayubs links with gold smuggling came to light following arrest of his associates in city when police seized 4.19 gold from them. On November 5, 2015, the Task Force police arrested Zafar Ahmed, Syed Wajeed, Arif Ali Shaik, airport representative of Western Hotel and Md Taheruddin for possessing huge gold that was smuggled to RGIA.

During questioning, the accused told police that the gold was smuggled from Dubai by one Md Feroz Khan, currently residing in Dubai and Ayub Khan was the man behind the gold smuggling to the city.

After police invoked PD Act on Ayub Khan for committing repeated offences, he fled to Dubai from Mumbai on fake passport. Ayub and his friends were also involved in 1990 communal riots among other 50 cases.

HYDERABAD: Notorious gangster Ayub Khan, who was nabbed by the Interpol at Mumbai airport on Sunday, was brought to city on Monday amidst tight security. With over 50 cases filed against him, police are in the process of dusting some of the old records and files against him. Khan has reportedly amassed movable and immovable assets worth over `1,000 crore through his illegal activities and with respect to his illegal gold smuggling, the city police would take the assistance of Directorate of Revenue Intelligent (DRI) and Central Customs officials. With the gangster in custody now, the south zone police are all set to question him in numerous cases where he is the prime accused. K Ashok Chakravarthy, assistant commissioner of police, Charminar, said, It was a major catch. By detaining Ayub Khan, we will be able to detect many more cases after questioning him. Police have already gathered records in which Ayub is accused and formed teams for questioning him on serious offences committed by him. The last time Khan was arrested, he secured bail and fled the country by procuring fake passports. Gold smuggling: Ayubs links with gold smuggling came to light following arrest of his associates in city when police seized 4.19 gold from them. On November 5, 2015, the Task Force police arrested Zafar Ahmed, Syed Wajeed, Arif Ali Shaik, airport representative of Western Hotel and Md Taheruddin for possessing huge gold that was smuggled to RGIA. During questioning, the accused told police that the gold was smuggled from Dubai by one Md Feroz Khan, currently residing in Dubai and Ayub Khan was the man behind the gold smuggling to the city. After police invoked PD Act on Ayub Khan for committing repeated offences, he fled to Dubai from Mumbai on fake passport. Ayub and his friends were also involved in 1990 communal riots among other 50 cases.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh on Monday ordered an inquiry into the alleged torture of an autorickshaw driver in custody by the Panangad police. Thrikkakara ACP M Binoy has been directed to investigate the incident and lodge a report within one week.

The decision came after relatives of the victim, 35-year-old K K Nazeer of Nettoor, approached the Commissioner on Monday morning alleging that the police took Nazeer into custody from his house on Friday and subjected him to torture.

Panangad SI Prajeesh Sasi has been removed from the station, to ensure an impartial probe. Currently, Elamakkara SI K Dileep Kumar is in-charge of the station, said the Commissioner.

Earlier, State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) chairman K Narayana Kurup had recorded the statement of Nazeer at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment following the alleged assault.

Nazeer in his statement alleged that Prajeesh and the other officials had beaten him with cane brutally. He was taken into custody in connection with investigation of a theft occurred at a shop under the Panangad police station limit.

Though the police claimed that Nazeer was picked up after verifying his identity through CCTV footage, the SPCA observed that the footage showed a masked men.

KOCHI: City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh on Monday ordered an inquiry into the alleged torture of an autorickshaw driver in custody by the Panangad police. Thrikkakara ACP M Binoy has been directed to investigate the incident and lodge a report within one week. The decision came after relatives of the victim, 35-year-old K K Nazeer of Nettoor, approached the Commissioner on Monday morning alleging that the police took Nazeer into custody from his house on Friday and subjected him to torture. Panangad SI Prajeesh Sasi has been removed from the station, to ensure an impartial probe. Currently, Elamakkara SI K Dileep Kumar is in-charge of the station, said the Commissioner. Earlier, State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA) chairman K Narayana Kurup had recorded the statement of Nazeer at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment following the alleged assault. Nazeer in his statement alleged that Prajeesh and the other officials had beaten him with cane brutally. He was taken into custody in connection with investigation of a theft occurred at a shop under the Panangad police station limit. Though the police claimed that Nazeer was picked up after verifying his identity through CCTV footage, the SPCA observed that the footage showed a masked men.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Following the November 8 demonetisation, cyber security solutions provider TAC Security received more than 50 hacking incidents in a month's time, the company revealed on Tuesday. The incidents included ransomware, financial frauds and website hacking in various Indian enterprises.

TAC Security's specially designed service -- Cyber Emergency Response Team (TAC-CERT) -- received hacking complaints that included seven distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, 12 E-mail hacks, 24 ransomware attacks, four financial frauds through email and six website hackings across verticals such as export companies, pharmaceutical companies, IT companies, manufacturers of electrical parts and a hospital.

While the hospital experienced data breach, export companies encountered ransomware and financial loss while IT companies faced DDoS attacks.

"This shows how vulnerable we are. The risks are not confined to banks or financial institutions but rather every industry and domain that you can think of. Myriad reports confirm this fact," said Trishneet Arora, CEO of TAC Security.

In a move to help the organisations reduce the risk of hacking, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has ordered a review of the entire IT infrastructure in the country.

The government recently announced to set up the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) to provide near real-time situational awareness and rapid response to cyber attacks. The centre is expected to be operational by March 2017.

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has also ordered review of the IT Act, 2000, and set up a crack team to respond to cyber security incidents quickly.

"TAC CERT helps organisations in quick recovery by patching the loopholes and within hours, your service will be back to normal and function smoothly," Arora added.

NEW DELHI: Following the November 8 demonetisation, cyber security solutions provider TAC Security received more than 50 hacking incidents in a month's time, the company revealed on Tuesday. The incidents included ransomware, financial frauds and website hacking in various Indian enterprises. TAC Security's specially designed service -- Cyber Emergency Response Team (TAC-CERT) -- received hacking complaints that included seven distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, 12 E-mail hacks, 24 ransomware attacks, four financial frauds through email and six website hackings across verticals such as export companies, pharmaceutical companies, IT companies, manufacturers of electrical parts and a hospital. While the hospital experienced data breach, export companies encountered ransomware and financial loss while IT companies faced DDoS attacks. "This shows how vulnerable we are. The risks are not confined to banks or financial institutions but rather every industry and domain that you can think of. Myriad reports confirm this fact," said Trishneet Arora, CEO of TAC Security. In a move to help the organisations reduce the risk of hacking, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has ordered a review of the entire IT infrastructure in the country. The government recently announced to set up the National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) to provide near real-time situational awareness and rapid response to cyber attacks. The centre is expected to be operational by March 2017. The Ministry of Electronics and IT has also ordered review of the IT Act, 2000, and set up a crack team to respond to cyber security incidents quickly. "TAC CERT helps organisations in quick recovery by patching the loopholes and within hours, your service will be back to normal and function smoothly," Arora added.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR:The PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday lifted a nearly three-month-long ban on Srinagar-based English newspaper Kashmir Reader. The newspaper is set to hit the stands on Wednesday.

The Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG), a body of Kashmir newspaper editors, on Tuesday met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her residence in Srinagar. During the meeting, the editors raised the issue of the ban on Kashmir Reader.

On October 2, the government banned the publication of the newspaper, saying its publication could incite violence and disturb peace and tranquility.

During the meeting with KEG, Mehbooba told the editors to undertake responsible journalism. As far as reporting or views is concerned, you have all the freedom, but you should check the veracity of the news, sources privy to the meeting quoted the CM as saying.

They quoted Mehbooba as saying that she hoped to read the Kashmir Reader on Wednesday morning.

The newspaper this evening received formal orders from the government to resume publication.

We are resuming publication and the newspaper will hit the stands on Wednesday morning, Kashmir Reader editor Hilal Mir told Express.

He added, Its like we have been released from jail. The government has finally done a favour to itself by lifting the ban on the newspaper because they had done wrong by imposing the ban, said Mir.

In its order banning publication of the newspaper, the district magistrate of Srinagar had said, It has been observed that the contents published in the newspaper (Kashmir Reader) are of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquility in the State and Srinagar in particular.

The further printing and publication of the newspaper can disrupt public tranquility in the State, especially in Srinagar district. It has become expedient in the interest of prevention of this anticipated breach of public tranquility to forthwith take necessary precautionary measures, including stopping printing and publishing of the newspaper through printing presses, the order read.

The government banned the newspaper at a time when Kashmir was witnessing unrest following the killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. At least 94 people have been killed during the five-month-long unrest and over 13,000 injured.

More than 8,000 people, including separatist leaders, youth and government employees, were arrested by the police in the last five months. The newspaper extensively covered the street protests.

SRINAGAR:The PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday lifted a nearly three-month-long ban on Srinagar-based English newspaper Kashmir Reader. The newspaper is set to hit the stands on Wednesday. The Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG), a body of Kashmir newspaper editors, on Tuesday met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at her residence in Srinagar. During the meeting, the editors raised the issue of the ban on Kashmir Reader. On October 2, the government banned the publication of the newspaper, saying its publication could incite violence and disturb peace and tranquility. During the meeting with KEG, Mehbooba told the editors to undertake responsible journalism. As far as reporting or views is concerned, you have all the freedom, but you should check the veracity of the news, sources privy to the meeting quoted the CM as saying. They quoted Mehbooba as saying that she hoped to read the Kashmir Reader on Wednesday morning. The newspaper this evening received formal orders from the government to resume publication. We are resuming publication and the newspaper will hit the stands on Wednesday morning, Kashmir Reader editor Hilal Mir told Express. He added, Its like we have been released from jail. The government has finally done a favour to itself by lifting the ban on the newspaper because they had done wrong by imposing the ban, said Mir. In its order banning publication of the newspaper, the district magistrate of Srinagar had said, It has been observed that the contents published in the newspaper (Kashmir Reader) are of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquility in the State and Srinagar in particular. The further printing and publication of the newspaper can disrupt public tranquility in the State, especially in Srinagar district. It has become expedient in the interest of prevention of this anticipated breach of public tranquility to forthwith take necessary precautionary measures, including stopping printing and publishing of the newspaper through printing presses, the order read. The government banned the newspaper at a time when Kashmir was witnessing unrest following the killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8. At least 94 people have been killed during the five-month-long unrest and over 13,000 injured. More than 8,000 people, including separatist leaders, youth and government employees, were arrested by the police in the last five months. The newspaper extensively covered the street protests.
Kazakhstan is ready to provide a platform for peace talks on Syria and is maintaining contact with Russia and Turkey on this matter, Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said Tuesday, Sputnik News Agency reported.

"There was a general understanding of the possible convenience of using Astana for intra-Syrian talks. Our international partners, namely, Russia and Turkey, are creating the right atmosphere for the talks and determining the agenda. This is what is happening right now, we are staying in touch," Idrissov said.

On Monday, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev expressed readiness to host Syrian peace talks in Astana, the city proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier as a suitable neutral territory. Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, following the protests that had turned violent, as part of the so-called Arab Spring. The opposition and Damascus, along with the mediators, have been engaged in UN-brokered settlement talks. The last round of intra-Syrian talks took place in Geneva in April. The Syrian High Negotiations Committee opposition group walked out of the negotiations, citing the continuous fighting in Syria and the lack of progress on humanitarian issues.
Namita bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and former UP chief minister Mayawati

asserted that the money detected in the two bank accounts  one of BSP, and other of her brother Anand Kumar -- was accounted for to the last rupee. It belongs to the party and deposited in the bank as a routine strictly under the rules, Mayawati said.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday, the BSP supremo accused the BJPled Central government of misusing state machinery to tarnish the image of her party.

BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign BSPs name. The party has followed its own rules and has deposited all its funds into the bank as a routine, claimed the BSP chief.

Launching an attack on media, Mayawati said that the BJP-managed news channels and newspapers had blown up the issue of cash deposition out of proportion.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) had found cash deposites of over Rs 100 crore in the account belonging to the BSP and Rs 1.43 crore in the account of BSP chief Mayawatis brother Anand Kumar in a branch of

United bank of India in New Delhi on late Monday evening.The amount was deposited after the announcement of demonetisation on November 8, 2016.

Reacting to the amount detected in her brothers account, Mayawati said that her younger brother Anand Kumar was a businessman and he had deposited the money in his account as per the IT rules.

Accusing the BJP of political vendetta, Mayawati said many other political parties too had deposited money after November 8, 2016, but BJP government was targeting only BSP owing to its anti-Dalit mentality. They are afraid of our popularity and they know that in UP we will from the next government. So they want to stop us at any cost, she stated.

As I exposed the BJP plot of putting pressure on SP foe an alliance with Congress yesterday, BJP, in a state of shock and frustration, started targeting the BSP and family members of the party chief, Mayawati added.

Referring to the amount of over Rs 100 crore found in partys account, the BSP chief said it was party fund

contributed by small party workers following the rules and the party procedure.

Party workers bring money in high value currency notes as it is easy to carry. This money is donated by the party cadre before demonetisation. It does not belong to any capitalist or corporate house, she said.

Claiming that these allegations would help her drumming up more support in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said she had full faith in people of UP who would support the BSP and teach BJP a lesson for this action in elections.

The BSP chief exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make BJPs all bank accounts public and also sought details of the money deposited by the party after demonetisation.

LUCKNOW: Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president and former UP chief minister Mayawati asserted that the money detected in the two bank accounts  one of BSP, and other of her brother Anand Kumar -- was accounted for to the last rupee. It belongs to the party and deposited in the bank as a routine strictly under the rules, Mayawati said. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday, the BSP supremo accused the BJPled Central government of misusing state machinery to tarnish the image of her party. BJP is misusing the state machinery to malign BSPs name. The party has followed its own rules and has deposited all its funds into the bank as a routine, claimed the BSP chief. Launching an attack on media, Mayawati said that the BJP-managed news channels and newspapers had blown up the issue of cash deposition out of proportion. Enforcement Directorate (ED) had found cash deposites of over Rs 100 crore in the account belonging to the BSP and Rs 1.43 crore in the account of BSP chief Mayawatis brother Anand Kumar in a branch of United bank of India in New Delhi on late Monday evening.The amount was deposited after the announcement of demonetisation on November 8, 2016. Reacting to the amount detected in her brothers account, Mayawati said that her younger brother Anand Kumar was a businessman and he had deposited the money in his account as per the IT rules. Accusing the BJP of political vendetta, Mayawati said many other political parties too had deposited money after November 8, 2016, but BJP government was targeting only BSP owing to its anti-Dalit mentality. They are afraid of our popularity and they know that in UP we will from the next government. So they want to stop us at any cost, she stated. As I exposed the BJP plot of putting pressure on SP foe an alliance with Congress yesterday, BJP, in a state of shock and frustration, started targeting the BSP and family members of the party chief, Mayawati added. Referring to the amount of over Rs 100 crore found in partys account, the BSP chief said it was party fund contributed by small party workers following the rules and the party procedure. Party workers bring money in high value currency notes as it is easy to carry. This money is donated by the party cadre before demonetisation. It does not belong to any capitalist or corporate house, she said. Claiming that these allegations would help her drumming up more support in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said she had full faith in people of UP who would support the BSP and teach BJP a lesson for this action in elections. The BSP chief exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make BJPs all bank accounts public and also sought details of the money deposited by the party after demonetisation.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday reported that the Dalit empowerment and corruption are not synonymous to each other after the BSP supremo Mayawatis accusations that the Narendra Modi led NDA government at the Centre is anti-Dalit following the probe by the Enforcement Directorate on deposits of over Rs 100 crores in the partys bank account.

Is the huge amount of money deposited in bank account of BSP a money conversion exercise. Empowerment of Dalits and graft are not synonymous to each other. She is indulging in baseless allegations against the government, said Union Minister for Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who added that the BJP rejects the allegations of Mayawati with the contempt they deserve.

The minister wondered if the ED does a routine exercise, why is she so rattled? Will your corruption be hidden in the name of Dalits. Prasad stressed that the BSP chiefs claims that the ED probe into money deposits is a battle against Dalits is rather an insult to scheduled caste people.

The interesting aspect is that the BSP chief did not deny the deposits in the BSP's account. It raises a bigger question. Is it a donation or money conversion exercise? The development of Dalits cannot be mortgaged to corruption, quipped Prasad.

The minister who was fielded by the BJP to counter the allegations of the BSP chief also wondered at the claims that small currencies given to the party in donations were converted into bigger bills. The money was not deposited in August, September and October but soon after demonetisation decision on November 8. It also raised a lot of suspicion. Now we are getting signals of why she has been opposing the note ban so strongly from the first day," added Prasad.

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday reported that the Dalit empowerment and corruption are not synonymous to each other after the BSP supremo Mayawatis accusations that the Narendra Modi led NDA government at the Centre is anti-Dalit following the probe by the Enforcement Directorate on deposits of over Rs 100 crores in the partys bank account. Is the huge amount of money deposited in bank account of BSP a money conversion exercise. Empowerment of Dalits and graft are not synonymous to each other. She is indulging in baseless allegations against the government, said Union Minister for Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who added that the BJP rejects the allegations of Mayawati with the contempt they deserve. The minister wondered if the ED does a routine exercise, why is she so rattled? Will your corruption be hidden in the name of Dalits. Prasad stressed that the BSP chiefs claims that the ED probe into money deposits is a battle against Dalits is rather an insult to scheduled caste people. The interesting aspect is that the BSP chief did not deny the deposits in the BSP's account. It raises a bigger question. Is it a donation or money conversion exercise? The development of Dalits cannot be mortgaged to corruption, quipped Prasad. The minister who was fielded by the BJP to counter the allegations of the BSP chief also wondered at the claims that small currencies given to the party in donations were converted into bigger bills. The money was not deposited in August, September and October but soon after demonetisation decision on November 8. It also raised a lot of suspicion. Now we are getting signals of why she has been opposing the note ban so strongly from the first day," added Prasad.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Responding to a plea by Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest under Islamic States captivity in Yemen, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asserted that the government wont spare any effort to secure the formers release.

I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity, Sushma tweeted.

Father Tom, who hails from Kerala and works in a Church at Aden, in a video posted through web, appealed to the Government of India to release from his captors.

"President and Prime Minister, I am sad nothing done seriously in my regard. If I was a European priest then I might have been taken more seriously by authorities and people would have got me released," he said.

"I am from India and therefore I am perhaps not considered of much value, I'm sad. Dear Pope Francis, please take care of my life. I request my fellow human beings of different Governments to come forward and help me," he added.

The video was uploaded yesterday on Youtube and Facebook.

However, the video's veracity was not verified.

Father Tom was abducted by the terror group when it attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Aden in March.

In Yemen, the fighting is going on with no central authority there.

NEW DELHI: Responding to a plea by Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, a Catholic priest under Islamic States captivity in Yemen, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday asserted that the government wont spare any effort to secure the formers release. I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity, Sushma tweeted. Father Tom, who hails from Kerala and works in a Church at Aden, in a video posted through web, appealed to the Government of India to release from his captors. "President and Prime Minister, I am sad nothing done seriously in my regard. If I was a European priest then I might have been taken more seriously by authorities and people would have got me released," he said. "I am from India and therefore I am perhaps not considered of much value, I'm sad. Dear Pope Francis, please take care of my life. I request my fellow human beings of different Governments to come forward and help me," he added. The video was uploaded yesterday on Youtube and Facebook. However, the video's veracity was not verified. Father Tom was abducted by the terror group when it attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Aden in March. In Yemen, the fighting is going on with no central authority there.
By PTI

VADODARA: The officials of the fisheries department of Gujarat Government took custody of 220 fishermen who were handed over by Pakistan to Indian agency, late last night, a senior official said.



"These fishermen were released from the Landhi jail in Karachi on December 25 as a goodwill gesture and were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah Border on Monday," Ashok Patel, superintendent of the fisheries department of the Gujarat government told PTI.



"The team (of fisheries department) has been camping in Amritsar to make arrangements for bringing these fishermen back to Gujarat," he said.



Talking to PTI from Amritsar, Ramesh Makwana, one of the released fisherman, who hails from Tad village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district, said, "We never expected

release of 439 fishermen by Pakistan at one go and it came as a surprise for all of us. Another batch of 219 fishermen will be released on January 5, 2017."



"The Edhi Foundation a Karachi based non government organisation made arrangements for bringing us to Lahore from Karachi by a special train," said the released fisherman.

He thanked Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani among others for taking up the issue for their release with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in turn took up the matter with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.



Makwana, while describing the harsh conditions in which they stayed in Pakistani jail, said, "They had to face lot of hardships as about 100 fishermen were kept in a single room in the prison and had to face mosquito menace."



He said they realised that they had entered into enemy territorial waters only after Pakistani Marine Security Agency (PMSA) nabbed them. "Most of us are sole bread earners of our family," said Makwana.

VADODARA: The officials of the fisheries department of Gujarat Government took custody of 220 fishermen who were handed over by Pakistan to Indian agency, late last night, a senior official said. "These fishermen were released from the Landhi jail in Karachi on December 25 as a goodwill gesture and were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah Border on Monday," Ashok Patel, superintendent of the fisheries department of the Gujarat government told PTI. "The team (of fisheries department) has been camping in Amritsar to make arrangements for bringing these fishermen back to Gujarat," he said. Talking to PTI from Amritsar, Ramesh Makwana, one of the released fisherman, who hails from Tad village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district, said, "We never expected release of 439 fishermen by Pakistan at one go and it came as a surprise for all of us. Another batch of 219 fishermen will be released on January 5, 2017." "The Edhi Foundation a Karachi based non government organisation made arrangements for bringing us to Lahore from Karachi by a special train," said the released fisherman. He thanked Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani among others for taking up the issue for their release with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in turn took up the matter with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. Makwana, while describing the harsh conditions in which they stayed in Pakistani jail, said, "They had to face lot of hardships as about 100 fishermen were kept in a single room in the prison and had to face mosquito menace." He said they realised that they had entered into enemy territorial waters only after Pakistani Marine Security Agency (PMSA) nabbed them. "Most of us are sole bread earners of our family," said Makwana.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday quashed detention under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam and ordered his release.

Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar of J&K High court after hearing the arguments from the public prosecutor and defence counsel of Alam, quashed the detention order under PSA of the hardline separatist leader.

He also ordered release of Alam, who is presently lodged in Kathua jail in Jammu.

Masarat Alam is a close aide of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and brain behind the 2010 agitation.

He has been in jail for last six years for spearheading the 2010 agitation during which over 120 people, mostly youth, were killed in security forces firing.

Alam was released in April 2015 but was booked again under PSA for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan and pro-Lashkar-e-Toiba slogans and waiving Pakistani flag in a rally organised to welcome hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani in Srinagar last year.

Alam has been repeatedly booked under PSAs after the quashing of his detention order by the courts.

The PSA provides for arresting and imprisoning a person without trial for at least six months on mere suspicion that he/she may be acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order.

The Act was first introduced in J&K in 1978 to prevent timber smuggling but after the eruption of militancy in the State, the J&K government regularly invoked this act to counter the separatist movement and militancy.

A spokesperson of Muslim League, the party headed by Alam, said it was the 34th PSA against Masarat to be quashed by the courts.

Earlier, on May 26 this year, a local court in Kashmir granted bail to Masarat Alam in sedition case and termed his incarceration as extra-judicial custody, which cannot be sanctioned by any legal means.

The court granted bail to Alam in a case registered against him for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan and pro-Lashkar-e-Toiba slogans and waiving Pakistani flag in a rally organised to welcome hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani in Srinagar last year.

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday quashed detention under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam and ordered his release. Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar of J&K High court after hearing the arguments from the public prosecutor and defence counsel of Alam, quashed the detention order under PSA of the hardline separatist leader. He also ordered release of Alam, who is presently lodged in Kathua jail in Jammu. Masarat Alam is a close aide of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and brain behind the 2010 agitation. He has been in jail for last six years for spearheading the 2010 agitation during which over 120 people, mostly youth, were killed in security forces firing. Alam was released in April 2015 but was booked again under PSA for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan and pro-Lashkar-e-Toiba slogans and waiving Pakistani flag in a rally organised to welcome hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani in Srinagar last year. Alam has been repeatedly booked under PSAs after the quashing of his detention order by the courts. The PSA provides for arresting and imprisoning a person without trial for at least six months on mere suspicion that he/she may be acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The Act was first introduced in J&K in 1978 to prevent timber smuggling but after the eruption of militancy in the State, the J&K government regularly invoked this act to counter the separatist movement and militancy. A spokesperson of Muslim League, the party headed by Alam, said it was the 34th PSA against Masarat to be quashed by the courts. Earlier, on May 26 this year, a local court in Kashmir granted bail to Masarat Alam in sedition case and termed his incarceration as extra-judicial custody, which cannot be sanctioned by any legal means. The court granted bail to Alam in a case registered against him for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan and pro-Lashkar-e-Toiba slogans and waiving Pakistani flag in a rally organised to welcome hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani in Srinagar last year.
Anand ST Das By

Express News Service

PATNA: With his Bihar ruling allies finally deciding on Tuesday to stay away from RJDs proposed statewide demonstrations against demonetisation, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav emerged as a

lonely figure, but said his party would go ahead with its agitation plans to voice the angst of the underprivileged.

Leaders and workers of RJD, the largest party in Bihars three-party grand alliance government, would stage demonstrations against the Narendra Modi-led Centres failed demonetisation exercise at every district headquarters town in Bihar on Wednesday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U), after maintaining

its cold shoulder to RJDs protest plans for two weeks, finally sent hints that it would not participate in the

demonstrations. Congress, the smallest ally in the government, also kept itself away from the demonstrations.

While RJD leaders were expecting till the last moment that both JD(U) and Congress would support its

anti-demonetisation protests, sources said the undercurrents of acute one-upmanship in Bihar politics among the three allies prevented them from coming together for a united protest. Such barely hidden

disagreements could further worsen the three parties coordination in running the government, said analysts. The Opposition BJP appeared glad about Yadavs loneliness in the anti-NDA lobby and sought to make the most of it.

Every party has its own way of thinking and responding to a situation. We will decide later how to go about it, said Bihar Congress president and education minister Ashok Chaudhary. Sources said the

state Congress leaders managed to convince the partys central leadership against joining RJD-sponsored protests in Bihar. If this protest were in New Delhi, maybe we would have been together, said a senior Congress leader.

JD(U) is yet to formally take a stand on the efficacy of demonetisation and the situation it brought about. In a democracy there is always scope for difference of opinion. This is a national issue and we need to look at it from a national perspective, said JD(U) state president Vashistha Narayan Singh.

Yadav, though aware of the permutations and combinations in Bihar politics, chose to downplay the differences. They (JD-U and Congress) have caused confusion Some see ego in it, about someone going ahead. But there is no disintegration. This is their present way of seeing things, he said.

I will myself sit in demonstration. Then I will travel across Bihar. We will organise a massive rally in Patna to raise the voices of the underprivileged classes, added Yadav.

RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, however, blamed both Congress and JD(U). Instead of going to the President on the issue of demonetisation, Congress leaders had visited the PM. It

was a strategic mistake by Congress, and it created this situation It is shocking that the party (JD-U) that is leading the coalition is supporting Narendra Modi, he said.

PATNA: With his Bihar ruling allies finally deciding on Tuesday to stay away from RJDs proposed statewide demonstrations against demonetisation, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav emerged as a lonely figure, but said his party would go ahead with its agitation plans to voice the angst of the underprivileged. Leaders and workers of RJD, the largest party in Bihars three-party grand alliance government, would stage demonstrations against the Narendra Modi-led Centres failed demonetisation exercise at every district headquarters town in Bihar on Wednesday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumars JD(U), after maintaining its cold shoulder to RJDs protest plans for two weeks, finally sent hints that it would not participate in the demonstrations. Congress, the smallest ally in the government, also kept itself away from the demonstrations. While RJD leaders were expecting till the last moment that both JD(U) and Congress would support its anti-demonetisation protests, sources said the undercurrents of acute one-upmanship in Bihar politics among the three allies prevented them from coming together for a united protest. Such barely hidden disagreements could further worsen the three parties coordination in running the government, said analysts. The Opposition BJP appeared glad about Yadavs loneliness in the anti-NDA lobby and sought to make the most of it. Every party has its own way of thinking and responding to a situation. We will decide later how to go about it, said Bihar Congress president and education minister Ashok Chaudhary. Sources said the state Congress leaders managed to convince the partys central leadership against joining RJD-sponsored protests in Bihar. If this protest were in New Delhi, maybe we would have been together, said a senior Congress leader. JD(U) is yet to formally take a stand on the efficacy of demonetisation and the situation it brought about. In a democracy there is always scope for difference of opinion. This is a national issue and we need to look at it from a national perspective, said JD(U) state president Vashistha Narayan Singh. Yadav, though aware of the permutations and combinations in Bihar politics, chose to downplay the differences. They (JD-U and Congress) have caused confusion Some see ego in it, about someone going ahead. But there is no disintegration. This is their present way of seeing things, he said. I will myself sit in demonstration. Then I will travel across Bihar. We will organise a massive rally in Patna to raise the voices of the underprivileged classes, added Yadav. RJD national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, however, blamed both Congress and JD(U). Instead of going to the President on the issue of demonetisation, Congress leaders had visited the PM. It was a strategic mistake by Congress, and it created this situation It is shocking that the party (JD-U) that is leading the coalition is supporting Narendra Modi, he said.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Two-time former Assam Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) stalwart Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Tuesday said the people of Assam would protect his life.

His comments came amid reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to withdraw his Z-Plus security cover, which he has been enjoying for over a decade now.

I havent yet received any communication, official or unofficial, in this regard. I am awaiting an official communique in case a decision has been made, Mahanta told Express.

I am not bothered. I will keep raising my voice in the interests of the people of Assam and they will protect my life, he asserted.

The AGP is an ally of BJP and a constituent of the States three-party coalition government. But Mahanta has been virtually playing the role of an Opposition leader. He was critical of the BJP on issues concerning people, particularly the Centres move to grant citizenship to the persecuted non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan in India.

There is a perception that the Centre targeted him for his vitriol against BJP and the Sarbananda Sonowal government.

Recently, the MHA had withdrawn Z-Plus security cover to three-time former Chief Minister and Mahantas successor Tarun Gogoi. The decision had left the octogenarian Gogoi livid. While wondering as to how Mahanta continued with enjoying the elite security cover, he had alleged that he was victimized as he was critical of the State government on a number of issues.

In his letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gogoi had written: No other political leader of my stature in the country, who have been provided (with) NSG cover, were suddenly relieved of it just seven months after demitting office. Even in my State, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is still having NSG cover though he demitted office 15 years back.

GUWAHATI: Two-time former Assam Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) stalwart Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Tuesday said the people of Assam would protect his life. His comments came amid reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to withdraw his Z-Plus security cover, which he has been enjoying for over a decade now. I havent yet received any communication, official or unofficial, in this regard. I am awaiting an official communique in case a decision has been made, Mahanta told Express. I am not bothered. I will keep raising my voice in the interests of the people of Assam and they will protect my life, he asserted. The AGP is an ally of BJP and a constituent of the States three-party coalition government. But Mahanta has been virtually playing the role of an Opposition leader. He was critical of the BJP on issues concerning people, particularly the Centres move to grant citizenship to the persecuted non-Muslim immigrants of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan in India. There is a perception that the Centre targeted him for his vitriol against BJP and the Sarbananda Sonowal government. Recently, the MHA had withdrawn Z-Plus security cover to three-time former Chief Minister and Mahantas successor Tarun Gogoi. The decision had left the octogenarian Gogoi livid. While wondering as to how Mahanta continued with enjoying the elite security cover, he had alleged that he was victimized as he was critical of the State government on a number of issues. In his letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gogoi had written: No other political leader of my stature in the country, who have been provided (with) NSG cover, were suddenly relieved of it just seven months after demitting office. Even in my State, former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is still having NSG cover though he demitted office 15 years back.
By PTI

PANAJI: Navy today said its prompt response in rescuing passengers on-board the Mumbai-bound flight that veered off the runway at Dabolim Airport in Goa early today, has averted the incident from turning into a "catastrophe".

"The Navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely out of the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the Navy not acted promptly," a Naval spokesperson said.

The incident took place at around 5 AM when Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for the take-off. The Goa airport is located in Indian Navy's facility, INS Hansa in Vasco town, nearly 25 km from here.

As many as 15 passengers suffered "minor injuries and fractures" during the evacuation process, Navy sources said. "Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement.

Beside 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board. Meanwhile, the runway was made available for flight operations at 9 AM, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 PM.

Soon after the incident, Navy officials had cordoned off the aircraft that had tilted towards its front end, while the passengers were being alighted. "After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started. The damage to the runway was also accessed by a team of Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India officials," the spokesperson said.

"There was lot of muck on the runway as the flight was grounded on the sides of the runway," he said. During the rescue operation hours, a chartered flight was diverted to Bangalore, while an Oman Air flight that was scheduled to arrive in morning, was diverted to Mumbai, he said.

A total of seven scheduled flights that were to land at the airport were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded. The two aircrafts will take off later during the day.

PANAJI: Navy today said its prompt response in rescuing passengers on-board the Mumbai-bound flight that veered off the runway at Dabolim Airport in Goa early today, has averted the incident from turning into a "catastrophe". "The Navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely out of the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the Navy not acted promptly," a Naval spokesperson said. The incident took place at around 5 AM when Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for the take-off. The Goa airport is located in Indian Navy's facility, INS Hansa in Vasco town, nearly 25 km from here. As many as 15 passengers suffered "minor injuries and fractures" during the evacuation process, Navy sources said. "Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement. Beside 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board. Meanwhile, the runway was made available for flight operations at 9 AM, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 PM. Soon after the incident, Navy officials had cordoned off the aircraft that had tilted towards its front end, while the passengers were being alighted. "After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started. The damage to the runway was also accessed by a team of Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India officials," the spokesperson said. "There was lot of muck on the runway as the flight was grounded on the sides of the runway," he said. During the rescue operation hours, a chartered flight was diverted to Bangalore, while an Oman Air flight that was scheduled to arrive in morning, was diverted to Mumbai, he said. A total of seven scheduled flights that were to land at the airport were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded. The two aircrafts will take off later during the day.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Ahead of its Ambassador's meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India today made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year old boy united with his natural parents.

Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents. In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. /4  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. /3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents." Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services. 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.

NEW DELHI: Ahead of its Ambassador's meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India today made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year old boy united with his natural parents. Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents. In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. /4  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016 The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. /3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016 "The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents." Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse. Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services. 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.
By PTI

MUMBAI: In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday amid chill in relations between the two countries, Shiv Sena today invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji saying the warrior king never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation."

Significantly, the Sena's barb at Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji in Mumbai. The ally also voiced its displeasure over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.

"What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of Swarajya as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.

During the build-up to 'jal pujan' for the memorial, Sena did not hide its feeling that BJP has sought to "hijack" the event for claiming the legacy of the Maratha icon to secure political mileage.

"We only ask politicians not to use Chhatrapati to play low-grade politics. Those who claim rights on Chhatrapati will bite the dust in the end. They would do well remember the history," the editorial said today.

"Ensure that the memorial does not get trapped in selfish politics, thereby forcing Shivaji Maharaj to use his sword against these self-centred politicians," it said. The ruling alliance partner, however, said it understood the importance of Modi in the BJP, and that his party is what it is today only due to the "Modi tonic".

"While the Sainiks and Shivaji fans were chanting slogans hailing the Chhatrapati, BJP workers were shouting slogans in the name of Modi. Can anyone compare himself to Shivaji? Modi himself will not approve of this," Sena said.

Notably, during the public meeting addressed by Modi here on Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's speech was interrupted for a while, apparently by BJP supporters present among the audience by chanting "Modi, Modi,".

MUMBAI: In a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for wishing his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif on his birthday amid chill in relations between the two countries, Shiv Sena today invoked Chhatrapati Shivaji saying the warrior king never extended such greetings to "the enemies of the nation." Significantly, the Sena's barb at Modi came within days of his laying the foundation for a grand memorial to Shivaji in Mumbai. The ally also voiced its displeasure over the BJP supporters chanting "Modi, Modi" during a public meeting addressed by the Prime Minister, which was also attended by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. "What is outstanding about Shivaji Maharaj's thoughts is that he considered enemies of Swarajya as enemies of the nation. Shivaji Maharaj never extended birthday greetings to Aurangzeb, Afzal Khan and Shaista Khan," an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said. During the build-up to 'jal pujan' for the memorial, Sena did not hide its feeling that BJP has sought to "hijack" the event for claiming the legacy of the Maratha icon to secure political mileage. "We only ask politicians not to use Chhatrapati to play low-grade politics. Those who claim rights on Chhatrapati will bite the dust in the end. They would do well remember the history," the editorial said today. "Ensure that the memorial does not get trapped in selfish politics, thereby forcing Shivaji Maharaj to use his sword against these self-centred politicians," it said. The ruling alliance partner, however, said it understood the importance of Modi in the BJP, and that his party is what it is today only due to the "Modi tonic". "While the Sainiks and Shivaji fans were chanting slogans hailing the Chhatrapati, BJP workers were shouting slogans in the name of Modi. Can anyone compare himself to Shivaji? Modi himself will not approve of this," Sena said. Notably, during the public meeting addressed by Modi here on Sunday, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's speech was interrupted for a while, apparently by BJP supporters present among the audience by chanting "Modi, Modi,".
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Dec. 27

By Huseyn Hasanov Trend:

The number of presidential candidates in Turkmenistan at the election scheduled for February 12, 2017, has reached nine, the country's Central Election Commission said in a message Dec. 27.

Deputy Head of the Mary region of Turkmenistan Jumanazar Annayev; Director of Seydi oil refinery, MP Ramazan Durdyyev; Deputy Head of Dashoguz district Meretdurdy Gurbanov; Head of the Economic Department of Akhal province Serdar Jelilov; Director General of Garabogazsulfat association Suleymannepes Nurnepesov and Deputy Chairman of state association of food industry Maksat Annanepesov are among the candidates nominated by initiative groups of Turkmen citizens.

The Democratic Party nominated the incumbent head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan nominated chairman of the Commercial Bank Rysgal, Bekmyrat Atalyev, and the Agrarian Party nominated Durdygylych Orazov.

All the candidates are given equal rights and opportunities to submit their proposals, the message said. This will allow the electorate to assess each candidates election program.

Both national observers and specially invited representatives of various international organizations will be monitoring the electoral process in Turkmenistan.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has been elected twice as the countrys president. During the presidential election in 2012, 97.4 percent of voters cast their ballots for Berdimuhamedov.

Turkmen president is elected for a period of seven years, according to new amendments to the countrys Constitution.
By IANS

PATNA: In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday.

The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident.

"Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said.

According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck.

She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January.

"The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died," police officials said.

After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. "But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body," police said.

Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours.

Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room.

However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it.

"I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it," Mishra said.

PATNA: In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday. The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident. "Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said. According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck. She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January. "The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died," police officials said. After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. "But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body," police said. Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours. Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room. However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it. "I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it," Mishra said.
Archanaa Seker By

Year-ends, they say, are always a good time to take stock of the year gone past. And 2016 has been an eventful year to say the least, with its share of news good and not so good. In all that we heard, saw, and experienced this year, I list the things that I am going to remember the year by.

In the world of literature, I was disappointed that JK Rowling, who released a script from the Harry Potter world this year, refrained from spelling out a queer relationship between the young Potter and Malfoy. Why the author, who is more outspoken on rights issues than most, did not do it is another question. But if she had, I can only imagine what it couldve done for literature, and the world in general.

Royal Brunei Airlines, first ever all female

crew to land a plane in Saudi Arabia

Chetan Bhagat had me stumped with his understanding of Feminism in his latest novel, One Indian Girl, but Ambai raised my spirits with A meeting on the Andheri Overbridge. Sudha Gupta, Ambais protagonist, is truly the Indian Miss Marple, and possibly the first female detective in fiction  if one doesnt count pulp fiction. If it isnt already on your reading list, drop everything and grab a copy. Also remember to read Uptown Thief by Aya De Leon, which ended my search for an openly feminist protagonist. Actually, just pin up the Ladies Finger list of 50 books by women authors where you can see it every day.

We need more Sripriyas doing the movies that she did, I keep hollering in discussions on films. On the subject of cinema, a billion dollar question for me is how Tamil cinema got here (down in the dumps) from the subversive films of the 80s. And just yesterday, actor Nayanthara lashed out at director Suraaj for his derogatory remarks on women and glamour. Earlier this year, Amala Paul broke off her marriage to chase her career  shes on a signing spree, sexy as ever, and starting afresh. These women have each anchored a film without a male lead recently. Trisha Krishnan, after her last release Kodi is now hailed

the female superstar. If this trend carries on, I wouldnt have to holler in the New Year, and maybe Tamil cinema will see a sea of change. You go, girls!

Sexist ads and headlines have been a yearly fixture. But what surprised me in 2016 was the protest against them. Going beyond the usual suspects, it was refreshing to see general public condemn the suggestive Jack and Jones ad featuring Ranveer Singh, and a recent headline in a national newspaper that trivialised sexual assault following Trumps victory in the US. The ad was taken off, and well, what can we say of the latter offender?

This year, while we were occupied with the appointment of fictional superhero Wonder Woman as UN Ambassador, and then the withdrawal following widespread criticism, daughters of celebrities have become ambassadors and authors. While activists are fighting for womens right to enter places of worship like Haji Ali and Sabrimala, cab service giants have added more women drivers to their fleets.

In the second half of this year, two women died. The reportage of celebrity photographer and perfumer Monika Ghurdes death in her Goa apartment was highly sexualised, and the mysterious death of transgender Tara at the Chennai police station hardly found space. The story of Bhadra was accurately reported. We heard some of Orlando and very little of tea workers. We heard nothing of Aleppo. And these things too, are 2016.

The photo of a man, shirtless and holding a placard from a march in Argentina found its way onto social media. The sign read Im half naked standing among the opposite sex and I feel safe, not threatened and I want the same for them. Men make-up artists have become popular, and dads are holding hair styling classes to help single and gay parents spend time with their daughters. We will move on from honour killings and selfies with daughters, I hope.

As the pro-life and pro-choice debate is going on world wide, we have a partial victory on the access to emergency contraceptive pills in Tamil Nadu after a petition started by the Chennai-based Vaishnavi Sundar.

A lot of work remains, but its a start. In the plush neighbourhood of Venus Colony, a bright red graphitti caught peoples attention. Women Menstruate, get over it! it read (and CE published a photo of it on page 1!). No one knows the person behind it, but bless the soul for trying to normalise what should have been normal to begin with.

Of all things in 2016, two are going to stay with me forever. In the first quarter of the year, an all female-crew landed a plane in Saudi Arabia, where women arent allowed to drive. The second is a badass photograph of the Duchess of Cornwalls all women protection team from her visit to the UAE. The women of the security detail are all in traditional hijab and abayas. Such win and grin moments for women all over!

A full circle it has been, and here we are at the end of the year. Many things in 12 months, but where has the year gone?

(The writer is a Chennai-based activist, in-your-face feminist and a media glutton)

archanaa seker

seker.archanaa@gmail.com

Year-ends, they say, are always a good time to take stock of the year gone past. And 2016 has been an eventful year to say the least, with its share of news good and not so good. In all that we heard, saw, and experienced this year, I list the things that I am going to remember the year by. In the world of literature, I was disappointed that JK Rowling, who released a script from the Harry Potter world this year, refrained from spelling out a queer relationship between the young Potter and Malfoy. Why the author, who is more outspoken on rights issues than most, did not do it is another question. But if she had, I can only imagine what it couldve done for literature, and the world in general. Royal Brunei Airlines, first ever all female crew to land a plane in Saudi ArabiaChetan Bhagat had me stumped with his understanding of Feminism in his latest novel, One Indian Girl, but Ambai raised my spirits with A meeting on the Andheri Overbridge. Sudha Gupta, Ambais protagonist, is truly the Indian Miss Marple, and possibly the first female detective in fiction  if one doesnt count pulp fiction. If it isnt already on your reading list, drop everything and grab a copy. Also remember to read Uptown Thief by Aya De Leon, which ended my search for an openly feminist protagonist. Actually, just pin up the Ladies Finger list of 50 books by women authors where you can see it every day. We need more Sripriyas doing the movies that she did, I keep hollering in discussions on films. On the subject of cinema, a billion dollar question for me is how Tamil cinema got here (down in the dumps) from the subversive films of the 80s. And just yesterday, actor Nayanthara lashed out at director Suraaj for his derogatory remarks on women and glamour. Earlier this year, Amala Paul broke off her marriage to chase her career  shes on a signing spree, sexy as ever, and starting afresh. These women have each anchored a film without a male lead recently. Trisha Krishnan, after her last release Kodi is now hailed the female superstar. If this trend carries on, I wouldnt have to holler in the New Year, and maybe Tamil cinema will see a sea of change. You go, girls! Sexist ads and headlines have been a yearly fixture. But what surprised me in 2016 was the protest against them. Going beyond the usual suspects, it was refreshing to see general public condemn the suggestive Jack and Jones ad featuring Ranveer Singh, and a recent headline in a national newspaper that trivialised sexual assault following Trumps victory in the US. The ad was taken off, and well, what can we say of the latter offender? This year, while we were occupied with the appointment of fictional superhero Wonder Woman as UN Ambassador, and then the withdrawal following widespread criticism, daughters of celebrities have become ambassadors and authors. While activists are fighting for womens right to enter places of worship like Haji Ali and Sabrimala, cab service giants have added more women drivers to their fleets. In the second half of this year, two women died. The reportage of celebrity photographer and perfumer Monika Ghurdes death in her Goa apartment was highly sexualised, and the mysterious death of transgender Tara at the Chennai police station hardly found space. The story of Bhadra was accurately reported. We heard some of Orlando and very little of tea workers. We heard nothing of Aleppo. And these things too, are 2016. The photo of a man, shirtless and holding a placard from a march in Argentina found its way onto social media. The sign read Im half naked standing among the opposite sex and I feel safe, not threatened and I want the same for them. Men make-up artists have become popular, and dads are holding hair styling classes to help single and gay parents spend time with their daughters. We will move on from honour killings and selfies with daughters, I hope. As the pro-life and pro-choice debate is going on world wide, we have a partial victory on the access to emergency contraceptive pills in Tamil Nadu after a petition started by the Chennai-based Vaishnavi Sundar. A lot of work remains, but its a start. In the plush neighbourhood of Venus Colony, a bright red graphitti caught peoples attention. Women Menstruate, get over it! it read (and CE published a photo of it on page 1!). No one knows the person behind it, but bless the soul for trying to normalise what should have been normal to begin with. Of all things in 2016, two are going to stay with me forever. In the first quarter of the year, an all female-crew landed a plane in Saudi Arabia, where women arent allowed to drive. The second is a badass photograph of the Duchess of Cornwalls all women protection team from her visit to the UAE. The women of the security detail are all in traditional hijab and abayas. Such win and grin moments for women all over! A full circle it has been, and here we are at the end of the year. Many things in 12 months, but where has the year gone? (The writer is a Chennai-based activist, in-your-face feminist and a media glutton) archanaa seker seker.archanaa@gmail.com
In June, the people of Switzerland went to a referendum over basic income. Recently, Finland became the first country to introduce a basic income for some of its citizens. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says robots will push us to universal basic income. What is it?

Robot revolution

Robot activists in Switzerland

demand universal income

With the robot revolution conquering the world, experts fear that lowskilled workers might soon lose their jobs. As a solution to the unemployment, some policy makers have come up with the idea of the government paying citizens a fixed amount, irrespective of whether they work or not. This is universal basic income

Is automation a serious threat?

Yes, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments report on the consequences of automation

67% of the low-skilled occupations in developing countries are likely to disappear, says the report

The advantage of this approach is that workers gain the freedom to decide how much to work and under what conditions. Enabling individual initiative in the work that people pursue, in fields ranging from philosophy and arts to pure science and invention, will result in enrichment of their cultures

Too costly a move

But not many are amused by this idea. Experts argue people are more likely to become lazythey would not be motivated to work for money. And, if the government were to provide all citizens with a basic income, it would prove to be very costly

In June, the people of Switzerland went to a referendum over basic income. Recently, Finland became the first country to introduce a basic income for some of its citizens. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says robots will push us to universal basic income. What is it? Robot revolution Robot activists in Switzerland demand universal incomeWith the robot revolution conquering the world, experts fear that lowskilled workers might soon lose their jobs. As a solution to the unemployment, some policy makers have come up with the idea of the government paying citizens a fixed amount, irrespective of whether they work or not. This is universal basic income Is automation a serious threat? Yes, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments report on the consequences of automation 67% of the low-skilled occupations in developing countries are likely to disappear, says the report The advantage of this approach is that workers gain the freedom to decide how much to work and under what conditions. Enabling individual initiative in the work that people pursue, in fields ranging from philosophy and arts to pure science and invention, will result in enrichment of their cultures Too costly a move But not many are amused by this idea. Experts argue people are more likely to become lazythey would not be motivated to work for money. And, if the government were to provide all citizens with a basic income, it would prove to be very costly
Karamatullah K Ghori By

Theres a time-tested adage, universally valid, with no shelf life, saying very simply, that a wise enemy is preferable to an unwise friend.

The man cherishing the ageless validity of this dictum in todays Pakistan cant be anyone other than General Raheel Sharif, who retired as Pakistans army chief at the end of November.

Raheel had left his office riding a wave of popularity bordering on adulation, if not outright reverence and idol worship. Pakistanis arent easily known for being overly charitable, or munificent, when it comes to their political leaders. But Raheel was an exception by a huge margin.

In his three-year stint at the head of Pakistans bloated military command, hed been consistently lionised like no other soldier before him. Public opinion polls found him eclipsing every political leader by a long shot. His popularity was owed to the public perception that he was a true soldiers soldier; an honest, upright man who brooked no interference, from any quarters, in his bailiwick and, likewise, didnt poke his nose in the affairs of others.

In the popular esteem in a country where soldiers-of-fortune Bonapartes, in popular parlancehave habitually poached the political turf (Pakistan has been ruled, up front, for at least 35 years by military strong-men) Raheel earned his laurels by standing apart.

There were occasions aplenty during his tenure when the countrys political leadership was found vacuous and inept to deliver to the barest minimum of the peoples expectations. On top of their palpable incompetence, the Pakistani political leaders turned out to be corrupt, money making charlatans. A case in point is the raft of evidence unearthed in the Panama leaks about the incumbent prime minister, Nawaz Sharif and his progeny, said to be mired in corruption.

There were popular outcries, not only from ordinary people but intellectuals, too, calling upon Raheel to step on to the political stage, seize power, and rid the country of thieves, knaves and poltroons masquerading as leaders and looting the countrys coffers. Some media gurus begged Raheel to save Pakistan from the clutches of the likes of Nawaz and former president, Asif Ali Zardari. The latter had fled to Dubai, in June 2015, in fear of Raheel after calling him names in public; Zardari has just returned after his self-imposed exile of 18 months.

But Raheel stood his ground and judiciously refused to get sucked into the political quagmire. To put a cap on rumours regularly circulating about his future plans and ambitions he did something unprecedented in Pakistans Byzantine history; at the dawn of 2016, he announced, loud and clear, that he wouldnt stay a day longer in command beyond his retirement date of November.

And Raheel lived up to his word by handing over command to his successor on the appointed date and thus, going out in a blaze of public adulation. Every pundit worth his salt agreed that Raheel had not only defied the past legacy of military involvement in governance but also created a precedent worth emulating by those to come later.

However, all the glory earned by him is threatening to come unstuck, not because of any faux pas on his part but because of the shenanigans of a former boss of his, General Pervez Musharraf, the last Pakistani Bonaparte.

From his sanctuary in Dubai, where he has been camping since early 2016, Musharraf bragged in an interview that he owed his freedom to Raheel. Musharraf had left Pakistan in 2008 after stepping down as president but returned five years later, in 2013, to contest elections as a political leader. However, his ambition had been nipped in the bud because he was wanted in a number of high-profile legal cases related to his nine years in power as Pakistans strongman. This included the murder of Benazir Bhutto and Musharraf s brazen internment of judges of the Supreme Court, including the then Chief Justice.

Musharrafs nemesis, Nawaz Sharif, in power since 2013, had vowed to have justice done to Musharraf, and the country hed lorded over, for all of his alleged violations of Pakistans constitution. Musharraf had been under house-arrest at his palatial farm house outside Islamabad and cases against him were before the apex court. His name was on the Exit Control List (ECL) to ensure he wouldnt flee to where the law couldnt reach him.

But flee he did, suddenly in March this year when the apex court ordered his name removed from ECL; within hours of that Musharraf was in Dubai leaving the Pakistanis who might have expected justice catching up with a high-andmighty like him, bewildered.

Now Musharraf has spilled the beans on how his freedom had been engineered. In a December 19 interview with Dunya (World) TV, Musharraf said Raheel threw his weight around influencing the courts to wrest Musharraf s exit. According to him, Raheel did it on his own, without Musharraf s asking, because he (Musharraf) had been his (Raheels) boss and the man in command owed it to him out of militarys code of ethics.

The Pakistani intelligentsia is, understandably, in utter stupor since Musharraf s revelation of how the levers of raw power work in their country. It doesnt take a genius to fathom the truth of where power rests in Pakistan, in the ultimate sense, how that power is wielded and how callously and ruthlessly it makes a mockery of any concept of justice or fairplay with obvious contempt for the rule of law.

Not that all this had been a mystery to the knowledgeable, ever. Musharraf has just made it public. Raheel has a lot to explain; but his boss has shredded his hard-earned reputation of a fair soldier.

The columnist is a Former Pakistani diplomat.

Email: K_K_ghori@yahoo.com

Theres a time-tested adage, universally valid, with no shelf life, saying very simply, that a wise enemy is preferable to an unwise friend. The man cherishing the ageless validity of this dictum in todays Pakistan cant be anyone other than General Raheel Sharif, who retired as Pakistans army chief at the end of November. Raheel had left his office riding a wave of popularity bordering on adulation, if not outright reverence and idol worship. Pakistanis arent easily known for being overly charitable, or munificent, when it comes to their political leaders. But Raheel was an exception by a huge margin. In his three-year stint at the head of Pakistans bloated military command, hed been consistently lionised like no other soldier before him. Public opinion polls found him eclipsing every political leader by a long shot. His popularity was owed to the public perception that he was a true soldiers soldier; an honest, upright man who brooked no interference, from any quarters, in his bailiwick and, likewise, didnt poke his nose in the affairs of others. In the popular esteem in a country where soldiers-of-fortune Bonapartes, in popular parlancehave habitually poached the political turf (Pakistan has been ruled, up front, for at least 35 years by military strong-men) Raheel earned his laurels by standing apart. There were occasions aplenty during his tenure when the countrys political leadership was found vacuous and inept to deliver to the barest minimum of the peoples expectations. On top of their palpable incompetence, the Pakistani political leaders turned out to be corrupt, money making charlatans. A case in point is the raft of evidence unearthed in the Panama leaks about the incumbent prime minister, Nawaz Sharif and his progeny, said to be mired in corruption. There were popular outcries, not only from ordinary people but intellectuals, too, calling upon Raheel to step on to the political stage, seize power, and rid the country of thieves, knaves and poltroons masquerading as leaders and looting the countrys coffers. Some media gurus begged Raheel to save Pakistan from the clutches of the likes of Nawaz and former president, Asif Ali Zardari. The latter had fled to Dubai, in June 2015, in fear of Raheel after calling him names in public; Zardari has just returned after his self-imposed exile of 18 months. But Raheel stood his ground and judiciously refused to get sucked into the political quagmire. To put a cap on rumours regularly circulating about his future plans and ambitions he did something unprecedented in Pakistans Byzantine history; at the dawn of 2016, he announced, loud and clear, that he wouldnt stay a day longer in command beyond his retirement date of November. And Raheel lived up to his word by handing over command to his successor on the appointed date and thus, going out in a blaze of public adulation. Every pundit worth his salt agreed that Raheel had not only defied the past legacy of military involvement in governance but also created a precedent worth emulating by those to come later. However, all the glory earned by him is threatening to come unstuck, not because of any faux pas on his part but because of the shenanigans of a former boss of his, General Pervez Musharraf, the last Pakistani Bonaparte. From his sanctuary in Dubai, where he has been camping since early 2016, Musharraf bragged in an interview that he owed his freedom to Raheel. Musharraf had left Pakistan in 2008 after stepping down as president but returned five years later, in 2013, to contest elections as a political leader. However, his ambition had been nipped in the bud because he was wanted in a number of high-profile legal cases related to his nine years in power as Pakistans strongman. This included the murder of Benazir Bhutto and Musharraf s brazen internment of judges of the Supreme Court, including the then Chief Justice. Musharrafs nemesis, Nawaz Sharif, in power since 2013, had vowed to have justice done to Musharraf, and the country hed lorded over, for all of his alleged violations of Pakistans constitution. Musharraf had been under house-arrest at his palatial farm house outside Islamabad and cases against him were before the apex court. His name was on the Exit Control List (ECL) to ensure he wouldnt flee to where the law couldnt reach him. But flee he did, suddenly in March this year when the apex court ordered his name removed from ECL; within hours of that Musharraf was in Dubai leaving the Pakistanis who might have expected justice catching up with a high-andmighty like him, bewildered. Now Musharraf has spilled the beans on how his freedom had been engineered. In a December 19 interview with Dunya (World) TV, Musharraf said Raheel threw his weight around influencing the courts to wrest Musharraf s exit. According to him, Raheel did it on his own, without Musharraf s asking, because he (Musharraf) had been his (Raheels) boss and the man in command owed it to him out of militarys code of ethics. The Pakistani intelligentsia is, understandably, in utter stupor since Musharraf s revelation of how the levers of raw power work in their country. It doesnt take a genius to fathom the truth of where power rests in Pakistan, in the ultimate sense, how that power is wielded and how callously and ruthlessly it makes a mockery of any concept of justice or fairplay with obvious contempt for the rule of law. Not that all this had been a mystery to the knowledgeable, ever. Musharraf has just made it public. Raheel has a lot to explain; but his boss has shredded his hard-earned reputation of a fair soldier. The columnist is a Former Pakistani diplomat. Email: K_K_ghori@yahoo.com
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah became the latest politician to support reservation for the less privileged classes in the private sector. He said the state government is waiting for the findings of a socio-economic survey done by the State Backward Classes Commission on recently.

Back in 1911, the National Commission for Backward Classes recommended a 27 per cent quota for underprivileged sections in the private sector. The chief ministers remarks to the 9th National Conference of the Indian Association of Lawyers in Bengaluru indicate that a private sector quota is likely to become a contentious issue nationwide. Karnataka is due for an election in 2018.

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah became the latest politician to support reservation for the less privileged classes in the private sector. He said the state government is waiting for the findings of a socio-economic survey done by the State Backward Classes Commission on recently. Back in 1911, the National Commission for Backward Classes recommended a 27 per cent quota for underprivileged sections in the private sector. The chief ministers remarks to the 9th National Conference of the Indian Association of Lawyers in Bengaluru indicate that a private sector quota is likely to become a contentious issue nationwide. Karnataka is due for an election in 2018.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dismissing reports that the special branch had found lapses on the part of the police in preventing the stampede at Sabarimala temple on Sunday, State Police Chief Loknath Behera on Monday alleged that Travancore Devaswom Board had failed to follow the instructions given by the police in managing the crowd.

Earlier, there were reports that the special branch had found lapses on the part of the police that eventually resulted in the stampede at Malikappuram temple on Sunday evening.

The report claimed that the rope, which was used to control and regulate the movement of pilgrims at the shrine, slipped from the hands of the policemen which led to the stampede.

At least 30 pilgrims suffered injuries after they fell on each other as a large number of pilgrims thronged to attend Deeparadhana while the deity was adorned with Thanka Anki.

Addressing mediapersons, Behera pointed out that the police had earlier instructed the board members to strengthen the barricades to control the crowd but they did not take any steps in this regard.

I have not received any reports regarding the lapses on the part of the police. There were no lapses on the part of the police and in fact the immediate intervention of the police averted a major disaster. But it was the lapses on the part of the Devaswom Board that led to the accident. We will verify the CCTV visuals. I have instructed IG S Sreejith to file a report after conducting investigation, he said.

Behera also directed to increase the strength of the policemen on duty at the temple.

Scientific methods will be used for crowd control: Minister

Sabarimala: Scientific methods would be implemented to control the crowd of pilgrims at Sabarimala, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said on Monday. Additional number of police personnel, including central forces, would be deployed at vulnerable points, the minister said. He also offered assistance to those injured in a stampede here on Sunday and said that their medical expenses would be met. Thirty-one pilgrims were injured, eight seriously, when a jam-packed queue went uncontrolled to a stampede-like situation near Malikappuram temple here on Sunday evening. The seriously injured, who were admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, include Kumar Nayak, 35, Ayannur in Karnataka, Gurammal, 62, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, Balasubramaniam, 54, Kadalur, Tamil Nadu, Venkitachalam, 64, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, C H S Jamburaj, 49, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Sreenivasa Rao, 45, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Nikhil, 24, Telengana. Lack of police personnel and absence of barricades caused the situation. At the time of the accident there were fewer police personnel at the spot, he said.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dismissing reports that the special branch had found lapses on the part of the police in preventing the stampede at Sabarimala temple on Sunday, State Police Chief Loknath Behera on Monday alleged that Travancore Devaswom Board had failed to follow the instructions given by the police in managing the crowd. Earlier, there were reports that the special branch had found lapses on the part of the police that eventually resulted in the stampede at Malikappuram temple on Sunday evening. The report claimed that the rope, which was used to control and regulate the movement of pilgrims at the shrine, slipped from the hands of the policemen which led to the stampede. At least 30 pilgrims suffered injuries after they fell on each other as a large number of pilgrims thronged to attend Deeparadhana while the deity was adorned with Thanka Anki. Addressing mediapersons, Behera pointed out that the police had earlier instructed the board members to strengthen the barricades to control the crowd but they did not take any steps in this regard. I have not received any reports regarding the lapses on the part of the police. There were no lapses on the part of the police and in fact the immediate intervention of the police averted a major disaster. But it was the lapses on the part of the Devaswom Board that led to the accident. We will verify the CCTV visuals. I have instructed IG S Sreejith to file a report after conducting investigation, he said. Behera also directed to increase the strength of the policemen on duty at the temple. Scientific methods will be used for crowd control: Minister Sabarimala: Scientific methods would be implemented to control the crowd of pilgrims at Sabarimala, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said on Monday. Additional number of police personnel, including central forces, would be deployed at vulnerable points, the minister said. He also offered assistance to those injured in a stampede here on Sunday and said that their medical expenses would be met. Thirty-one pilgrims were injured, eight seriously, when a jam-packed queue went uncontrolled to a stampede-like situation near Malikappuram temple here on Sunday evening. The seriously injured, who were admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital, include Kumar Nayak, 35, Ayannur in Karnataka, Gurammal, 62, Rajapalayam, Tamil Nadu, Balasubramaniam, 54, Kadalur, Tamil Nadu, Venkitachalam, 64, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, C H S Jamburaj, 49, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Sreenivasa Rao, 45, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, Nikhil, 24, Telengana. Lack of police personnel and absence of barricades caused the situation. At the time of the accident there were fewer police personnel at the spot, he said.
By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: Salesian priest Tomy George, alias Fr Tom Uzhannalil, who was abducted by Islamic State militants from Yemen in March 2015, has made an emotive plea to the Indian Government and the Church to take earnest efforts to free him. Fr Tom,55, made the appeal in a five-minute video that was posted on YouTube, later aired by news channels. The bearded priest, who is seen in a grey sweatshirt, looked visibly pallid in the clip.

The priest, who was abducted when IS fighters stormed the old peoples home in the port city of Aden on March 4, made a desperate prayer to the Indian President, Prime Minister as well as Pope Francis and the Christian community across the globe to work together for his release.

The new video clip, which was posted on the FB page of one Saleh Salem on Christmas Day, Fr Tom also points fingers at the Central Government and the global Catholic community for doing little for his release.

If I were a European, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and would have got me released. I am a priest from India and perhaps, therefore, I am not considered of much value. I am sad about this, he said haltingly, pointing out that a French woman, reportedly kidnapped in the Yemeni city of Sanaa, had been freed because she was a Westerner.

Addressing President of India and Prime Minister he said: I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in his regard. Though there were news reports that everything is being done to get me released quickly. In reality, nothing seems to have happened, he said in a frail voice.

He added that though, he was kidnapped while working in Yemen as a priest, neither Pope Francis nor Bishop of Abu Dhabi had done anything for his release and requested his fellow Christians in India, bishops and priests to get him released.

Pope Francis, holy father, please take care of my life. All other bishops all over the world, please save my life. My health is deteriorating. I may need to be hospitalised soon, he said, requesting all the governments to take up his case on humanitarian consideration.

Authorities are yet to check the veracity of the video. Fr Uzhunnalil hails from Ramapuram in Kottayam.

KOTTAYAM: Salesian priest Tomy George, alias Fr Tom Uzhannalil, who was abducted by Islamic State militants from Yemen in March 2015, has made an emotive plea to the Indian Government and the Church to take earnest efforts to free him. Fr Tom,55, made the appeal in a five-minute video that was posted on YouTube, later aired by news channels. The bearded priest, who is seen in a grey sweatshirt, looked visibly pallid in the clip. The priest, who was abducted when IS fighters stormed the old peoples home in the port city of Aden on March 4, made a desperate prayer to the Indian President, Prime Minister as well as Pope Francis and the Christian community across the globe to work together for his release. The new video clip, which was posted on the FB page of one Saleh Salem on Christmas Day, Fr Tom also points fingers at the Central Government and the global Catholic community for doing little for his release. If I were a European, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and would have got me released. I am a priest from India and perhaps, therefore, I am not considered of much value. I am sad about this, he said haltingly, pointing out that a French woman, reportedly kidnapped in the Yemeni city of Sanaa, had been freed because she was a Westerner. Addressing President of India and Prime Minister he said: I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in his regard. Though there were news reports that everything is being done to get me released quickly. In reality, nothing seems to have happened, he said in a frail voice. He added that though, he was kidnapped while working in Yemen as a priest, neither Pope Francis nor Bishop of Abu Dhabi had done anything for his release and requested his fellow Christians in India, bishops and priests to get him released. Pope Francis, holy father, please take care of my life. All other bishops all over the world, please save my life. My health is deteriorating. I may need to be hospitalised soon, he said, requesting all the governments to take up his case on humanitarian consideration. Authorities are yet to check the veracity of the video. Fr Uzhunnalil hails from Ramapuram in Kottayam.
By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: Coming down heavily on his own party, Congress leader K Muraleedharan MLA alleged that the party and UDF leadership were unable to expose the administrative failure of the LDF Government. He was speaking to mediapersons after attending the K Karunakaran commemoration meeting organised by Leader Study Centre, here, on Monday.

Congress leadership is unable to react appropriately on important issues. The leaders are only interested in increasing their personal mileage by showing faces in tv channels. Not even protest marches are organised to highlight the administrative failures of the government, he said. The leader didnt mince words and said the ruling front was filling the gap by performing the role of opposition too. Even the demand for M M Manis resignation was limited to a statement, the MLA said. He also said many leaders and activists were not aware of the reshuffling of the booth-level committees. Meanwhile, responding to the statement, KPCC president V M Sudheeran said the party was not in need of forced protests.

Lax Oppn: K Muraleedharans comments kick up a row

TPuram: Former KPCC president K Muraleedharans open attack on UDF leadership has kicked up a row in the Congress with a majority of the leaders doubting if the Opposition really existed in the state. Most of the leaders in the top rung and lower strata are of the opinion that the Opposition as well as the Congress leadership had failed to act as a creative Opposition. The leadership has failed to raise any of the controversial issues in public. Those who were part of the former UDF government were afraid of raising any issue, fearing that it would boomerang on them. Many of the leaders facing corruption and other charges have been keeping silent and taking only a lackadaisical approach. The Opposition had been only issuing statements rather than taking the issues to the public. Any one can make a statement. Those who sit in the top leadership only want to make their position secure. They are least interested in the party and if they had any interest, these six months would not have been thus, a top leader said. A top leader said the coming days would really have its impact on the party.

Attempt to tarnish party image: Rajmohan Unnithan

Kollam: Coming down heavily on K Muraleedharan MLA for launching an open attack against the KPCC leadership, KPCC spokesman Rajmohan Unnithan said that the party will view the statement seriously. Accusing Muraleedharan of handing a stick to the rivals to beat the Congress, Unnithan said the former KPCC president has betrayed the party workers by issuing such a statement. Muraleedharan has been criticising the party leadership for some time now. Often these comments are made to grab media attention. He is tarnishing the image of the party by making such baseless allegations . This cant be tolerated at any cost. He says that the KPCC leadership is not taking up issues. But the KPCC office is receiving complaints of heavy workload from office bearers. No member, who was part of the UDF, had raised a complaint about the performance of Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of the Opposition. It seems that Muraleedharan is deliberately attacking the party like old times. Better he remember why he was expelled from Congress, a few years ago and how he returned to the party, said Rajmohan Unnithan at a meet-the-press programme held at the Kollam Press Club.

KOZHIKODE: Coming down heavily on his own party, Congress leader K Muraleedharan MLA alleged that the party and UDF leadership were unable to expose the administrative failure of the LDF Government. He was speaking to mediapersons after attending the K Karunakaran commemoration meeting organised by Leader Study Centre, here, on Monday. Congress leadership is unable to react appropriately on important issues. The leaders are only interested in increasing their personal mileage by showing faces in tv channels. Not even protest marches are organised to highlight the administrative failures of the government, he said. The leader didnt mince words and said the ruling front was filling the gap by performing the role of opposition too. Even the demand for M M Manis resignation was limited to a statement, the MLA said. He also said many leaders and activists were not aware of the reshuffling of the booth-level committees. Meanwhile, responding to the statement, KPCC president V M Sudheeran said the party was not in need of forced protests. Lax Oppn: K Muraleedharans comments kick up a row TPuram: Former KPCC president K Muraleedharans open attack on UDF leadership has kicked up a row in the Congress with a majority of the leaders doubting if the Opposition really existed in the state. Most of the leaders in the top rung and lower strata are of the opinion that the Opposition as well as the Congress leadership had failed to act as a creative Opposition. The leadership has failed to raise any of the controversial issues in public. Those who were part of the former UDF government were afraid of raising any issue, fearing that it would boomerang on them. Many of the leaders facing corruption and other charges have been keeping silent and taking only a lackadaisical approach. The Opposition had been only issuing statements rather than taking the issues to the public. Any one can make a statement. Those who sit in the top leadership only want to make their position secure. They are least interested in the party and if they had any interest, these six months would not have been thus, a top leader said. A top leader said the coming days would really have its impact on the party. Attempt to tarnish party image: Rajmohan Unnithan Kollam: Coming down heavily on K Muraleedharan MLA for launching an open attack against the KPCC leadership, KPCC spokesman Rajmohan Unnithan said that the party will view the statement seriously. Accusing Muraleedharan of handing a stick to the rivals to beat the Congress, Unnithan said the former KPCC president has betrayed the party workers by issuing such a statement. Muraleedharan has been criticising the party leadership for some time now. Often these comments are made to grab media attention. He is tarnishing the image of the party by making such baseless allegations . This cant be tolerated at any cost. He says that the KPCC leadership is not taking up issues. But the KPCC office is receiving complaints of heavy workload from office bearers. No member, who was part of the UDF, had raised a complaint about the performance of Ramesh Chennithala as Leader of the Opposition. It seems that Muraleedharan is deliberately attacking the party like old times. Better he remember why he was expelled from Congress, a few years ago and how he returned to the party, said Rajmohan Unnithan at a meet-the-press programme held at the Kollam Press Club.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: With avian influenza H5N1 reported from Khurda's Keranga village for the first time after 2011-12, the Odisha Government on Monday ordered culling of the poultry birds in the infected area from Tuesday.



After unusual mortality was reported among chicken in Keranga, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department had sent samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal. The samples tested positive for H5N1 virus.

Basing on the advisory of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture, an area in 1 km radius of Keranga (epicentre) was demarcated as infected zone, Commissioner-cum- Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said.



Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been mobilised to take up culling from Tuesday. Officers, who were engaged during the last outbreak of bird flu in 2011-12, have been asked to participate in the operational work of control and report to the Chief Divisional Veterinary Officer, Khordha Dr Manas Ranjan Mohapatra.



In fact, an initial survey of the veterinary wing had pegged the number of birds at 1,998 but a subsequent enumeration saw that villagers had started deflating the number of birds whose count stood at 1,200. Sub-Collector and Tehsildar visited the place to convince villagers not to suppress the number of birds since it could have hazardous impact.



Besides, the villagers would be compensated for the loss as per the approved rate of the Government of India.

While a control room has been opened at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry to monitor the situation and to disseminate information, RRTs have also been formed for surveillance in the 1 to 10 km radius area of Keranga, which is identified as the alert zone.



As per the advisory, an absolute ban on movement of poultry or its products from and to Keranga and the region in 1 km radius of it is being imposed.

All poultry and egg markets as well as shops will be shut down. There will also be restriction on movement of people to and from farm premises. Those working in poultry farms would not be allowed to visit similar other farms.



Personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, N-95 masks, formalin and sodium hydroxide for protection and disinfection of the infected area were supplied from the Directorate and Odisha Biological Products Institute (OBPI).



All logistics for the purpose have been sent to Khurda while persons involved with the culling operations would be administered with Oseltamivir, the antiviral drug.

Awareness among the public on avian influenza will be created so that all the measures are undertaken without creating any panic among the poultry owners and consumers, the department informed.

BHUBANESWAR: With avian influenza H5N1 reported from Khurda's Keranga village for the first time after 2011-12, the Odisha Government on Monday ordered culling of the poultry birds in the infected area from Tuesday. After unusual mortality was reported among chicken in Keranga, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department had sent samples to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) at Bhopal. The samples tested positive for H5N1 virus. Basing on the advisory of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture, an area in 1 km radius of Keranga (epicentre) was demarcated as infected zone, Commissioner-cum- Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been mobilised to take up culling from Tuesday. Officers, who were engaged during the last outbreak of bird flu in 2011-12, have been asked to participate in the operational work of control and report to the Chief Divisional Veterinary Officer, Khordha Dr Manas Ranjan Mohapatra. In fact, an initial survey of the veterinary wing had pegged the number of birds at 1,998 but a subsequent enumeration saw that villagers had started deflating the number of birds whose count stood at 1,200. Sub-Collector and Tehsildar visited the place to convince villagers not to suppress the number of birds since it could have hazardous impact. Besides, the villagers would be compensated for the loss as per the approved rate of the Government of India. While a control room has been opened at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry to monitor the situation and to disseminate information, RRTs have also been formed for surveillance in the 1 to 10 km radius area of Keranga, which is identified as the alert zone. As per the advisory, an absolute ban on movement of poultry or its products from and to Keranga and the region in 1 km radius of it is being imposed. All poultry and egg markets as well as shops will be shut down. There will also be restriction on movement of people to and from farm premises. Those working in poultry farms would not be allowed to visit similar other farms. Personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, N-95 masks, formalin and sodium hydroxide for protection and disinfection of the infected area were supplied from the Directorate and Odisha Biological Products Institute (OBPI). All logistics for the purpose have been sent to Khurda while persons involved with the culling operations would be administered with Oseltamivir, the antiviral drug. Awareness among the public on avian influenza will be created so that all the measures are undertaken without creating any panic among the poultry owners and consumers, the department informed.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: The BJB Autonomous College here was closed sine die after students ransacked the college building protesting lathicharge by police and arrest of 10 students on Monday.



The police action came after inmates of one of the college hostels blocked Bhubaneswar- Puri Highway for over one hour. The students were demanding action against miscreants, who allegedly assaulted them on Sunday night. While Lewis Road was under siege disrupting traffic movement for over an hour, lathicharge was ordered by senior police officials to disperse the agitating students.



As the lathi-wielding cops drove the students away, the students turned their ire towards the college building. The students pelted stones at the main building damaging glass panes, stationery items and a garage shed, sources said. The students, who were appearing for the semester examinations, had to face a lot of difficulty owing to the chaos outside. The police force entered the campus and brought the situation under control.



Principal Prof Mohammed Nawaz Hasan directed the hostel boarders to vacate the college premises. The notice stated that the semester examination between December 26 and 30 will be rescheduled.

The protesting students alleged that though a complaint was lodged against the outsiders, police and college authorities have failed to take action.



Later, the students took out a peace rally and demanded that their batchmates be released from police custody.

Sources said the incident was an outcome of a group clash, which took place in October last week, between some students of Ambedkar Hostel and a miscreant of Badagada area. The miscreants nursed a grudge against the students and attacked them again on Sunday.



The miscreant, who assaulted the students, has been arrested. Around five who were directly responsible for causing damage to college property will be arrested and others will be released, DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said.



Two platoons of police force have been deployed on the college premises as the situation continued to remain tense.

BHUBANESWAR: The BJB Autonomous College here was closed sine die after students ransacked the college building protesting lathicharge by police and arrest of 10 students on Monday. The police action came after inmates of one of the college hostels blocked Bhubaneswar- Puri Highway for over one hour. The students were demanding action against miscreants, who allegedly assaulted them on Sunday night. While Lewis Road was under siege disrupting traffic movement for over an hour, lathicharge was ordered by senior police officials to disperse the agitating students. As the lathi-wielding cops drove the students away, the students turned their ire towards the college building. The students pelted stones at the main building damaging glass panes, stationery items and a garage shed, sources said. The students, who were appearing for the semester examinations, had to face a lot of difficulty owing to the chaos outside. The police force entered the campus and brought the situation under control. Principal Prof Mohammed Nawaz Hasan directed the hostel boarders to vacate the college premises. The notice stated that the semester examination between December 26 and 30 will be rescheduled. The protesting students alleged that though a complaint was lodged against the outsiders, police and college authorities have failed to take action. Later, the students took out a peace rally and demanded that their batchmates be released from police custody. Sources said the incident was an outcome of a group clash, which took place in October last week, between some students of Ambedkar Hostel and a miscreant of Badagada area. The miscreants nursed a grudge against the students and attacked them again on Sunday. The miscreant, who assaulted the students, has been arrested. Around five who were directly responsible for causing damage to college property will be arrested and others will be released, DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said. Two platoons of police force have been deployed on the college premises as the situation continued to remain tense.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:

Iranian and Azerbaijani media over the past several years have continuously reported on efforts made by officials from both countries aimed at expansion of trade ties.

However, the mainstream media reports seem to have missed a key factor in the recent discussions between the two countries which is highly capable of playing a crucial role in broadening of economic ties, i.e. Nakhchivan.

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan with an estimated population of 430,000 people, appears to take priority in ties between Iran and Azerbaijan.

Mahmoud Vaezi, Iranian minister of ICT, is slated to pay a one-day visit to the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan on the last day of his ongoing three-day visit to Azerbaijan to explore ways for expansion of economic ties between the two countries.

Vaezi, who is the co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran state commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, is scheduled to attend a ceremony in Azerbaijans Nakhchivan for inauguration of the railroad connecting the autonomous republic to Iranian northeastern city of Mashhad, signaling a breakthrough in cooperation between the two countries.

But transportation is not the sole area of cooperation between the two countries concerning Nakhchivan.

Irans Consul General to Nakhchivan Mansour Airom told Trend the new railroad will contribute to cooperation in tourism sphere.

According to the envoy, the train, which is scheduled to run two times a week, will go through several Iranian cities such as Tabriz and capital city of Tehran, giving a chance for passengers to explore various parts of Iran during their journey.

Airom further added that Iranian pharmaceutical companies over the past one year have launched cooperation with Azerbaijani counterparts in Nakhchivan and companies such as Dana supply their products to the autonomous republic.

Saying that Iran currently exports over 150 types of various medications to Nakhchivan, he added the Islamic Republic is capable of supplying about 500 types of drugs.

According to the Iranian official, there are proper chances for cooperation with Nakhchivan in medical sphere.

Elaborating on plans for further expansion of ties with Nakhchivan, Airom said that the sides are expected to ink several documents on cooperation in various spheres during the Iranian ministers upcoming visit.

The Iranian envoy added that traders from both countries will join a session on Dec. 29 to discuss ways for investment and cooperation in a number of sectors, including food industry, during the ministers visit to Nakhchivan.

He stated that joint production takes high priority on agenda for expansion of trade ties.

Trade turnover between the two countries soared by 70 percent over the first seven months of the current year.

According to Azerbaijani officials, Iranian companies have already invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. About $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $137.65 million in January-September 2016, $34.91 million of which accounted for the export of Azerbaijani goods to Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.

Airom concluded by calling for an all-out effort aimed at expansion of trade ties with Nakhchivan, saying Iranian provinces located along border with Azerbaijan enjoy considerable trade capabilities which would help deepen the ties.
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Limited (OSL) Mahimananda Mishra and his associate Basant Bal were brought back to Bhubaneswar from Bangkok on Monday evening.



The duo, charged in the murder of Seaways Shipping and Logistics Pvt Limited senior executive Mahendra Swain in October, was formally arrested by the police here. Thereafter, they were taken to Capital Hospital for medical examination before being taken to Jagatsinghpur where they would be produced in a local court. The Jagatsinghpur police has 24 hours to produce them before the court but the cops are likely to complete the process during the night.



Earlier in the day, the State Police team completed the formalities with the Thai immigration authorities and flew in the two to Kolkata from where they were brought to Bhubaneswar.



The Kujang Judicial magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court had issued non-bailable warrants against Mishra and Bal last week after which the duo was detained by the Thai immigration authorities in Bangkok on Saturday. With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, the total number of arrests in Swain murder case rose to nine.

Cops get 10-day custody of Sethy



Paradip: Civil Court Judge, Avilash Senapati on Monday granted Kujang police 10-day custody of Susant Sethy, an accused in the murder of Mahendra Swain. Sethy was arrested by Paradip police with the help of their Delhi counterparts from Indira Gandhi International Airport in the National Capital on December 23 and later brought on transit remand.



In another development, District and Sessions Judge, Jagatsinghpur, has reserved the hearing of Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel citing delay in submission of updated case record by Paradip police. Sarkhel was arrested by Paradip police in the SSL manager murder case.

BHUBANESWAR: Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Limited (OSL) Mahimananda Mishra and his associate Basant Bal were brought back to Bhubaneswar from Bangkok on Monday evening. The duo, charged in the murder of Seaways Shipping and Logistics Pvt Limited senior executive Mahendra Swain in October, was formally arrested by the police here. Thereafter, they were taken to Capital Hospital for medical examination before being taken to Jagatsinghpur where they would be produced in a local court. The Jagatsinghpur police has 24 hours to produce them before the court but the cops are likely to complete the process during the night. Earlier in the day, the State Police team completed the formalities with the Thai immigration authorities and flew in the two to Kolkata from where they were brought to Bhubaneswar. The Kujang Judicial magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court had issued non-bailable warrants against Mishra and Bal last week after which the duo was detained by the Thai immigration authorities in Bangkok on Saturday. With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, the total number of arrests in Swain murder case rose to nine. Cops get 10-day custody of Sethy Paradip: Civil Court Judge, Avilash Senapati on Monday granted Kujang police 10-day custody of Susant Sethy, an accused in the murder of Mahendra Swain. Sethy was arrested by Paradip police with the help of their Delhi counterparts from Indira Gandhi International Airport in the National Capital on December 23 and later brought on transit remand. In another development, District and Sessions Judge, Jagatsinghpur, has reserved the hearing of Congress leader Bapi Sarkhel citing delay in submission of updated case record by Paradip police. Sarkhel was arrested by Paradip police in the SSL manager murder case.
By PTI

PARADIP: Prominent businessman Mahimananda Mishra and his aide, arrested in a murder case, were sent on a four-day police remand by a court in Jagatsinghpur district today, a day after they were brought to Odisha from Thailand.



Mishra, Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Ltd, and his aide Basant Bal were produced before the court of judicial magistrate Digvijay Das, who sent both to police remand after rejecting their bail applications.



Wanted in connection with the murder of a shipping company official Mahendra Swain here on October 26, the two were caught in Thailand on Saturday and brought here late last night via Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.



Soon after their arrival in Bhubaneswar last night, Mishra and Bal had been sent to the Capital Hospital for medical check-up amid tight security.



Police said the duo had escaped to Kathmandu on a 15-day tourist visa after hiding at several places in the country following the murder of Seaways Shipping official Mahendra Swain.



On Friday, a Kujang court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them. A look-out circular had also been issued against them earlier.



With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the murder case, police said.

PARADIP: Prominent businessman Mahimananda Mishra and his aide, arrested in a murder case, were sent on a four-day police remand by a court in Jagatsinghpur district today, a day after they were brought to Odisha from Thailand. Mishra, Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Ltd, and his aide Basant Bal were produced before the court of judicial magistrate Digvijay Das, who sent both to police remand after rejecting their bail applications. Wanted in connection with the murder of a shipping company official Mahendra Swain here on October 26, the two were caught in Thailand on Saturday and brought here late last night via Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. Soon after their arrival in Bhubaneswar last night, Mishra and Bal had been sent to the Capital Hospital for medical check-up amid tight security. Police said the duo had escaped to Kathmandu on a 15-day tourist visa after hiding at several places in the country following the murder of Seaways Shipping official Mahendra Swain. On Friday, a Kujang court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them. A look-out circular had also been issued against them earlier. With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the murder case, police said.
By Express News Service

TALCHER : Police arrested 13 agitating villagers of Malibandh, who had paralysed Hingula mine and locked the office of general manager of Hingula on Monday over their demands.



There was no coal production or dispatch from the mine, which produces 35,000 tonnes of coal per day. Villagers alleged that although their agricultural lands were acquired by Mahanadi Coalfield Limited years back they have not been provided jobs so far. They are also demanding resettlement.



As they served notice to coal authorities to go for strike Monday, the director (technical) of MCL JP Singh rushed to Talcher and called them for meeting to convey that their cases have been finalised and jobs will be given soon. But, the villagers boycotted the offer and went on strike paralysing the mine.

Police arrested 13 persons who were obstructing mining operations. Following the arrest, other villagers resorted to obstruction, police said.

TALCHER : Police arrested 13 agitating villagers of Malibandh, who had paralysed Hingula mine and locked the office of general manager of Hingula on Monday over their demands. There was no coal production or dispatch from the mine, which produces 35,000 tonnes of coal per day. Villagers alleged that although their agricultural lands were acquired by Mahanadi Coalfield Limited years back they have not been provided jobs so far. They are also demanding resettlement. As they served notice to coal authorities to go for strike Monday, the director (technical) of MCL JP Singh rushed to Talcher and called them for meeting to convey that their cases have been finalised and jobs will be given soon. But, the villagers boycotted the offer and went on strike paralysing the mine. Police arrested 13 persons who were obstructing mining operations. Following the arrest, other villagers resorted to obstruction, police said.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR:Police on Monday arrested seven members of a civil society group from Telangana  two lawyers, a student, a journalist, a couple of tribal rights activists and a researcher  in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district for being engaged in suspicious activities.

The police said the team was arrested based on intelligence inputs saying the group members were engaged in suspicious activities. We have recovered incriminating Maoist literature and `1 lakh from them. All the cash in their possession were in the demonetised `500 and `1,000 notes, Sukma Additional SP Jitendra Shukla told Express. And Bastar IG S R P Kalluri told mediapersons that those arrested were coercing the local villagers to get Maoists old notes exchanged for new ones.

The cops, however, added that it was their Telangana counterparts who first detained the team. We provided the information about them to the Telangana police and sought their cooperation. All seven were detained by the Telangana police and later we arrested them under Section 8 of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, Shukla added.

Those arrested are Chikud Prabhakar, Bala Ravinder (both advocates), Mohamed Nazeer (student), Rajendra Prasad, R Lakshmanaiah (tribal rights activists), journalist B Durgaprasad and researcher D Prabhakar. All were produced before the Sukma district court, where their bail applications were rejected and they were sent to jail.More:

RAIPUR:Police on Monday arrested seven members of a civil society group from Telangana  two lawyers, a student, a journalist, a couple of tribal rights activists and a researcher  in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district for being engaged in suspicious activities. The police said the team was arrested based on intelligence inputs saying the group members were engaged in suspicious activities. We have recovered incriminating Maoist literature and `1 lakh from them. All the cash in their possession were in the demonetised `500 and `1,000 notes, Sukma Additional SP Jitendra Shukla told Express. And Bastar IG S R P Kalluri told mediapersons that those arrested were coercing the local villagers to get Maoists old notes exchanged for new ones. The cops, however, added that it was their Telangana counterparts who first detained the team. We provided the information about them to the Telangana police and sought their cooperation. All seven were detained by the Telangana police and later we arrested them under Section 8 of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, Shukla added. Those arrested are Chikud Prabhakar, Bala Ravinder (both advocates), Mohamed Nazeer (student), Rajendra Prasad, R Lakshmanaiah (tribal rights activists), journalist B Durgaprasad and researcher D Prabhakar. All were produced before the Sukma district court, where their bail applications were rejected and they were sent to jail.More:
By Associated Press

RAFAH, Gaza Strip: For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has stifled the economy and largely blocked its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, there are signs that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the Islamic militant group.

In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013 and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations.

"There is a ball of hope that was thrown by Egypt," said Ashraf Jomaa, a Gaza community leader who has taken part in recent meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss the changing ties. "The question is how we, the Palestinians, shall catch that ball and develop the hope."

The changes, while still in their infancy, mark a significant departure from what has been a tough Egyptian crackdown since the military ousted its then-president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Hamas, an offshoot of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed close relations with him and quickly fell into disfavor with the new government.

Under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the former military chief who ousted Morsi, Egypt all but destroyed a once-thriving network of cross-border smuggling tunnels used by Hamas  robbing the group of its main economic lifeline and a key source of weapons.

Targeting Islamic militant groups in Egypt's northern Sinai Desert, it also destroyed hundreds of homes in the volatile border area to create a "sterile zone." Egypt's state-run media have repeatedly accused Hamas of collaborating with militants in Egypt, a charge the group denies.

The crackdown has had a devastating effect on both sides of the border.

The olive and palm trees that once lined the 40-kilometer (25-mile) road from Rafah to El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, have been razed and even small bushes have withered.

The road is littered with checkpoints, tanks and mobile artillery units, manned by anxious young soldiers. In the town of Sheikh Zuwaid, where travelers used to stop to buy Egyptian mobile phone cards and snacks, stores were gutted, their doors bombed out. The bullet-riddled houses above them were turned into military positions, with sandbags covering the windows and snipers stationed on the roofs. The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch estimates that thousands of people have been displaced  most of whom moved either elsewhere in town or to El-Arish.

In Gaza, years of Egyptian restrictions, coupled with an Israeli blockade and three wars between Hamas and Israel, have devastated the economy and weakened Hamas.

The U.N. and other international bodies estimate unemployment to be 43 percent, and Hamas has struggled to pay the salaries of the 40,000 police and civil servants it hired after seizing Gaza in 2007.

An Israeli naval blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent arms smuggling, means that most goods enter Gaza through Israeli-controlled cargo crossings. While most consumer goods are freely available, prices of fuel, cigarettes and other items have spiked because of limited supplies. Construction materials, badly needed to rebuild damage from a 2014 war, remain in short supply.

But Egypt's recent turnaround has begun to bring some relief. In the past six months alone, Rafah crossing has been opened more than 40 days, compared to just 26 in all of 2015, allowing thousands of people to leave for jobs, medical care, family visits and studies abroad.

Last month, it allowed a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, to travel abroad for the first time since Morsi was toppled. In addition, it allowed a Malaysian official to enter Gaza to meet with Hamas officials. In another first, it allowed cargo to be shipped into Gaza through Rafah, including 40 new cars, painting materials and tar.

In recent months, Egypt has invited three delegations of businessmen, academics, community leaders and journalists from Gaza for semiofficial conferences in Cairo. Participants said the issue of creating a trade zone between Gaza and Egypt was raised. Hamas has begun paving a patch of land on the Palestinian side of the crossing for what local media say will be an area to contain more imports from Egypt.

At a recent meeting, Egyptian officials said they were interested in "opening a new chapter" with Gaza, said one official, who was not allowed to be identified under the briefing guidelines. "We are still evaluating the situation, and this is a long dialogue until we reach better relations."

Hamas has welcomed the moves, saying it is ready to shutter the tunnels if commercial activities increase above-ground. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said, "If the (Rafah) crossing opened commercially, what's the need for the tunnels?"

But Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, has repeatedly seen its hopes dashed as it tries to emerge from isolation. It remains unclear how far Egypt is willing to help the group, especially if it continues using tunnels to bring in arms.

"If the tunnels are used by the Palestinian resistance, then this is something else that doesn't harm the Egyptian security," Zahar said.

Beverly Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, said any Egyptian moves toward Gaza are to promote its own national security interests. With Egypt still locked in battle against Islamic extremists in Sinai, any change will likely be slow and cautious, and could depend greatly on Hamas' own actions.

Egypt still fears Sinai militants will use the tunnels to escape or to bring in explosives from hard-liners within Hamas' armed wing.

"The signaling of intent is carefully calibrated to remind the Gaza government of the levels of control and power that Egypt can exert positively or negatively," Milton-Edwards said. "If there is not enough evidence of compliance by the Hamas government then Cairo will not hesitate to halt all alleviating measures."

RAFAH, Gaza Strip: For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has stifled the economy and largely blocked its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, there are signs that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the Islamic militant group. In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013 and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations. "There is a ball of hope that was thrown by Egypt," said Ashraf Jomaa, a Gaza community leader who has taken part in recent meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss the changing ties. "The question is how we, the Palestinians, shall catch that ball and develop the hope." The changes, while still in their infancy, mark a significant departure from what has been a tough Egyptian crackdown since the military ousted its then-president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Hamas, an offshoot of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed close relations with him and quickly fell into disfavor with the new government. Under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the former military chief who ousted Morsi, Egypt all but destroyed a once-thriving network of cross-border smuggling tunnels used by Hamas  robbing the group of its main economic lifeline and a key source of weapons. Targeting Islamic militant groups in Egypt's northern Sinai Desert, it also destroyed hundreds of homes in the volatile border area to create a "sterile zone." Egypt's state-run media have repeatedly accused Hamas of collaborating with militants in Egypt, a charge the group denies. The crackdown has had a devastating effect on both sides of the border. The olive and palm trees that once lined the 40-kilometer (25-mile) road from Rafah to El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, have been razed and even small bushes have withered. The road is littered with checkpoints, tanks and mobile artillery units, manned by anxious young soldiers. In the town of Sheikh Zuwaid, where travelers used to stop to buy Egyptian mobile phone cards and snacks, stores were gutted, their doors bombed out. The bullet-riddled houses above them were turned into military positions, with sandbags covering the windows and snipers stationed on the roofs. The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch estimates that thousands of people have been displaced  most of whom moved either elsewhere in town or to El-Arish. In Gaza, years of Egyptian restrictions, coupled with an Israeli blockade and three wars between Hamas and Israel, have devastated the economy and weakened Hamas. The U.N. and other international bodies estimate unemployment to be 43 percent, and Hamas has struggled to pay the salaries of the 40,000 police and civil servants it hired after seizing Gaza in 2007. An Israeli naval blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent arms smuggling, means that most goods enter Gaza through Israeli-controlled cargo crossings. While most consumer goods are freely available, prices of fuel, cigarettes and other items have spiked because of limited supplies. Construction materials, badly needed to rebuild damage from a 2014 war, remain in short supply. But Egypt's recent turnaround has begun to bring some relief. In the past six months alone, Rafah crossing has been opened more than 40 days, compared to just 26 in all of 2015, allowing thousands of people to leave for jobs, medical care, family visits and studies abroad. Last month, it allowed a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, to travel abroad for the first time since Morsi was toppled. In addition, it allowed a Malaysian official to enter Gaza to meet with Hamas officials. In another first, it allowed cargo to be shipped into Gaza through Rafah, including 40 new cars, painting materials and tar. In recent months, Egypt has invited three delegations of businessmen, academics, community leaders and journalists from Gaza for semiofficial conferences in Cairo. Participants said the issue of creating a trade zone between Gaza and Egypt was raised. Hamas has begun paving a patch of land on the Palestinian side of the crossing for what local media say will be an area to contain more imports from Egypt. At a recent meeting, Egyptian officials said they were interested in "opening a new chapter" with Gaza, said one official, who was not allowed to be identified under the briefing guidelines. "We are still evaluating the situation, and this is a long dialogue until we reach better relations." Hamas has welcomed the moves, saying it is ready to shutter the tunnels if commercial activities increase above-ground. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said, "If the (Rafah) crossing opened commercially, what's the need for the tunnels?" But Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, has repeatedly seen its hopes dashed as it tries to emerge from isolation. It remains unclear how far Egypt is willing to help the group, especially if it continues using tunnels to bring in arms. "If the tunnels are used by the Palestinian resistance, then this is something else that doesn't harm the Egyptian security," Zahar said. Beverly Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, said any Egyptian moves toward Gaza are to promote its own national security interests. With Egypt still locked in battle against Islamic extremists in Sinai, any change will likely be slow and cautious, and could depend greatly on Hamas' own actions. Egypt still fears Sinai militants will use the tunnels to escape or to bring in explosives from hard-liners within Hamas' armed wing. "The signaling of intent is carefully calibrated to remind the Gaza government of the levels of control and power that Egypt can exert positively or negatively," Milton-Edwards said. "If there is not enough evidence of compliance by the Hamas government then Cairo will not hesitate to halt all alleviating measures."
P K Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: Careless proofreading led to a Sri Lankan Catholic hymn book including in its list, American rapper Tupac Shakurs obscene and vitriolic Hail Mary instead of the traditional Catholic prayer of the same name.

More than a thousand copies of the hymn book were printed and sold to a large congregation at a carol service in Colombos largest auditorium Nelum Pokuna two weeks ago. But the mistake came to public knowledge only on Christmas Day when the social media went viral with pictures of the offending page.

The idea of the organisers was to print the traditional Catholic prayer Hail Mary asking for the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to deliver the faithful from sins. But since no one applied his mind when proofreading the hymn book, Tupacs obscene lyric going by the same title was printed.

Instead of the familiar "Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with you..." the audience was invited to sing: "...Mama told me never stop until I bust a nut. F- the world if they cant adjust, its just as well, Hail Mary.

The American rapper had written his version in 1997.

Both renditions ask Mary, to intercede on behalf of sinners, though Tupacs version is more exhaustive in detailing the exact sins in question, including murder and drug-dealing.

The incident took place about two weeks ago but came to light only on Christmas Day after the social media went viral with pictures of the hymn book taken by one Andrew Choksy.

A lot of people around us were in shock as to whether it was a joke, or if someone would actually rap the song, the media quoted Choksy as saying.

He sent the pictures of the program to friends, from where they spread and eventually found their way online.

No explanation was given [by organisers] at all. They didnt acknowledge it at the venue. To be honest, I dont think many people saw the booklet at all. People were shocked at first but then took it in good humour. But I was bursting inside, Choksy said

The Catholic church eventually withdrew the hymn book and compensated the buyers. Over a 1000 hymn books containing the obscene lyric had been sold.

"It was a human error, a genuine printing mistake. The offending version of Hail Mary was never sung. Those who bought the souvenir (with the hymn sheets) were refunded," Edmund Tilakaratne, spokesman for the Catholic Church told AFP.

COLOMBO: Careless proofreading led to a Sri Lankan Catholic hymn book including in its list, American rapper Tupac Shakurs obscene and vitriolic Hail Mary instead of the traditional Catholic prayer of the same name. More than a thousand copies of the hymn book were printed and sold to a large congregation at a carol service in Colombos largest auditorium Nelum Pokuna two weeks ago. But the mistake came to public knowledge only on Christmas Day when the social media went viral with pictures of the offending page. The idea of the organisers was to print the traditional Catholic prayer Hail Mary asking for the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, to deliver the faithful from sins. But since no one applied his mind when proofreading the hymn book, Tupacs obscene lyric going by the same title was printed. Instead of the familiar "Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with you..." the audience was invited to sing: "...Mama told me never stop until I bust a nut. F- the world if they cant adjust, its just as well, Hail Mary. The American rapper had written his version in 1997. Both renditions ask Mary, to intercede on behalf of sinners, though Tupacs version is more exhaustive in detailing the exact sins in question, including murder and drug-dealing. The incident took place about two weeks ago but came to light only on Christmas Day after the social media went viral with pictures of the hymn book taken by one Andrew Choksy. A lot of people around us were in shock as to whether it was a joke, or if someone would actually rap the song, the media quoted Choksy as saying. He sent the pictures of the program to friends, from where they spread and eventually found their way online. No explanation was given [by organisers] at all. They didnt acknowledge it at the venue. To be honest, I dont think many people saw the booklet at all. People were shocked at first but then took it in good humour. But I was bursting inside, Choksy said The Catholic church eventually withdrew the hymn book and compensated the buyers. Over a 1000 hymn books containing the obscene lyric had been sold. "It was a human error, a genuine printing mistake. The offending version of Hail Mary was never sung. Those who bought the souvenir (with the hymn sheets) were refunded," Edmund Tilakaratne, spokesman for the Catholic Church told AFP.
By ANI

KABUL: Voicing displeasure over the planned trilateral meeting between China, Russia and Pakistan on Kabul in Moscow, the Afghan Foreign Ministry has said that it is an obvious interference in internal issues.



The Afghan Parliament Members (MPs) said that holding such a meeting on Afghanistan, without consulting its government is an obvious interference in internal issues, reports the Tolo News.

Talking on Afghanistan without consulting the country raises serious questions for the Afghan people. We are worried about what the reasons behind the meeting are and want the relevant parties to explain, said MoFA spokesperson Ahmad Shekib Mustaghni on Monday.

We are worried about holding such meetings and the security situation the next year, said Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, speaker of the house.

Our politicians only sit on seats, but others talk about Afghanistan in Moscow. It is shameful, said Saleh Mohammad Saleh, an MP.

The expansion of insurgents activities in Afghanistan, however, has always been a key concern for Russia and central Asian countries.

According to statistics from the National Security Council (NSC), nearly 11,000 foreign fighters are believed to be in the country.

According to a Defence Ministry source, currently around 40,000 insurgents are active in the country, while President Ashraf Ghani has said in the past that more than 30 terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan.

KABUL: Voicing displeasure over the planned trilateral meeting between China, Russia and Pakistan on Kabul in Moscow, the Afghan Foreign Ministry has said that it is an obvious interference in internal issues. The Afghan Parliament Members (MPs) said that holding such a meeting on Afghanistan, without consulting its government is an obvious interference in internal issues, reports the Tolo News. Talking on Afghanistan without consulting the country raises serious questions for the Afghan people. We are worried about what the reasons behind the meeting are and want the relevant parties to explain, said MoFA spokesperson Ahmad Shekib Mustaghni on Monday. We are worried about holding such meetings and the security situation the next year, said Abdul Raouf Ibrahimi, speaker of the house. Our politicians only sit on seats, but others talk about Afghanistan in Moscow. It is shameful, said Saleh Mohammad Saleh, an MP. The expansion of insurgents activities in Afghanistan, however, has always been a key concern for Russia and central Asian countries. According to statistics from the National Security Council (NSC), nearly 11,000 foreign fighters are believed to be in the country. According to a Defence Ministry source, currently around 40,000 insurgents are active in the country, while President Ashraf Ghani has said in the past that more than 30 terrorist groups are active in Afghanistan.
By Associated Press

PEARL HARBOR: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.

He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.

On Tuesday, he'll be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe won't apologise for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

Pearl Harbor survivor Alfred Rodrigues said Monday he welcomes the visit by Japan's top leader to Hawaii.

"I'm glad he's coming to show that we're all peaceful now and you know, we were doing what we were supposed to do and they were doing what they were supposed to do," he told The Associated Press.

Remembering the day of the attack in 1941, Rodrigues said that he had just sat down to have breakfast when the alarm sounded and the word got out, 'Man your battle stations, this is not a drill,' he recalled.

"We all ran out to the armory to get rifles and ammunition and we could see the planes up above with the red circles on the bottom. We knew it was the Japanese planes," Rodrigues said.

Rodrigues says he doesn't think Abe should apologize. "War is war. I mean, they were doing what they were supposed to do and we were doing what we were supposed to do. I have no animosity at all towards them."

PEARL HARBOR: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl. He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head. On Tuesday, he'll be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site. The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.-Japanese relations to get to this point. Abe won't apologise for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology." The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war. Pearl Harbor survivor Alfred Rodrigues said Monday he welcomes the visit by Japan's top leader to Hawaii. "I'm glad he's coming to show that we're all peaceful now and you know, we were doing what we were supposed to do and they were doing what they were supposed to do," he told The Associated Press. Remembering the day of the attack in 1941, Rodrigues said that he had just sat down to have breakfast when the alarm sounded and the word got out, 'Man your battle stations, this is not a drill,' he recalled. "We all ran out to the armory to get rifles and ammunition and we could see the planes up above with the red circles on the bottom. We knew it was the Japanese planes," Rodrigues said. Rodrigues says he doesn't think Abe should apologize. "War is war. I mean, they were doing what they were supposed to do and we were doing what we were supposed to do. I have no animosity at all towards them."
By ANI

QUETTA: The Iran Security Forces have deported 71 Pakistanis for living in the country illegally.



They were handed over to the Levies force at Pak-Iran borders in Taftan area of Chaghi district, reports the Express Tribune.



The Levies sources on Monday said these Pakistani workers had been apprehended from different parts of Iran by the security forces because they were living there without proper travelling documents.



They would be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further interrogation after completing initial inquiry, the sources added.

QUETTA: The Iran Security Forces have deported 71 Pakistanis for living in the country illegally. They were handed over to the Levies force at Pak-Iran borders in Taftan area of Chaghi district, reports the Express Tribune. The Levies sources on Monday said these Pakistani workers had been apprehended from different parts of Iran by the security forces because they were living there without proper travelling documents. They would be handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for further interrogation after completing initial inquiry, the sources added.
P K Balachandran By

Express News Service

COLOMBO: Two leading Tamil politicians of North Sri Lanka, both belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), are squabbling over a controversial statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Mullaitivu town which was found destroyed on Monday.

TNA Member of Parliament Dr.Sivamohan had installed the statue recently, with the money given to him by the government for carrying out social and development works in Wanni electoral district, his constituency.

He told Express on Tuesday that the installation of the statue was part of his project to honour heroes, and that he had put up statues of Mother Teresa, poet Subramania Bharathi, and the local hero, Pandara Vanniyan, in several places with explicit consent from the authorities.

He was however shocked to find that Gandhis statue in Mullaitivu town, which he had put up recently, had been pulled down.

Miscreants encouraged by a local politician had done it. I have asked the police to investigate, the MP said. He declined to name the local politician.

This local politician had been encouraging a social media campaign against the installation of the statue on the grounds that Gandhi had done nothing for the people of Mullaitivu, Sivamohan said.

Asked to comment on the charge that he had put up the statue without official sanction, Sivamohan said that he had it cleared by the District Coordination Committee.(DCC).

The DCC meeting was attended by the Northern Province Chief Minister. In addition to getting the sanction of the DCC, I had written to the Central Resettlement Minister D.M.Swaminathan and he had approved of it in writing, Sivamohan explained.

Asked to comment on this, T. Ravikaran, a TNA member of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) who has been against Sivamohans project, said that he has nothing against Gandhi or the installation of a statue in his honour in Mullaitivu. His opposition stemmed from the unauthorised way in which it had been put up.

The statue does not have the authorisation of the local Pradheshiya Sabha, Ravikaran contended.

The installation was done in secrecy on a holiday and in the dead of night, he said.

Ravikaran said that forces wanting to put up Buddha statues in the Tamil areas might be encouraged by the way in which the Gandhi statue was up.

These forces could also put up Buddha statues without proper authorisation, he said.

When the Tamils are protesting against the unauthorised installation of Buddha statues in areas in the North where there are no Buddhists, how can we allow the unauthorised putting up of a Gandhi statue? he asked.

Ravikaran refuted the charge that the Gandhi statue had been pulled down deliberately.

It may have fallen on its own, toppled by the wind. At any rate, the CCTV footage would show if someone had deliberately pulled it down, he said.

He further said that about four local boys have been taken in by the police for questioning.

COLOMBO: Two leading Tamil politicians of North Sri Lanka, both belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), are squabbling over a controversial statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Mullaitivu town which was found destroyed on Monday. TNA Member of Parliament Dr.Sivamohan had installed the statue recently, with the money given to him by the government for carrying out social and development works in Wanni electoral district, his constituency. He told Express on Tuesday that the installation of the statue was part of his project to honour heroes, and that he had put up statues of Mother Teresa, poet Subramania Bharathi, and the local hero, Pandara Vanniyan, in several places with explicit consent from the authorities. He was however shocked to find that Gandhis statue in Mullaitivu town, which he had put up recently, had been pulled down. Miscreants encouraged by a local politician had done it. I have asked the police to investigate, the MP said. He declined to name the local politician. This local politician had been encouraging a social media campaign against the installation of the statue on the grounds that Gandhi had done nothing for the people of Mullaitivu, Sivamohan said. Asked to comment on the charge that he had put up the statue without official sanction, Sivamohan said that he had it cleared by the District Coordination Committee.(DCC). The DCC meeting was attended by the Northern Province Chief Minister. In addition to getting the sanction of the DCC, I had written to the Central Resettlement Minister D.M.Swaminathan and he had approved of it in writing, Sivamohan explained. Asked to comment on this, T. Ravikaran, a TNA member of the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) who has been against Sivamohans project, said that he has nothing against Gandhi or the installation of a statue in his honour in Mullaitivu. His opposition stemmed from the unauthorised way in which it had been put up. The statue does not have the authorisation of the local Pradheshiya Sabha, Ravikaran contended. The installation was done in secrecy on a holiday and in the dead of night, he said. Ravikaran said that forces wanting to put up Buddha statues in the Tamil areas might be encouraged by the way in which the Gandhi statue was up. These forces could also put up Buddha statues without proper authorisation, he said. When the Tamils are protesting against the unauthorised installation of Buddha statues in areas in the North where there are no Buddhists, how can we allow the unauthorised putting up of a Gandhi statue? he asked. Ravikaran refuted the charge that the Gandhi statue had been pulled down deliberately. It may have fallen on its own, toppled by the wind. At any rate, the CCTV footage would show if someone had deliberately pulled it down, he said. He further said that about four local boys have been taken in by the police for questioning.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27



By Farhad Daneshvar  Trend:



Iran's ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi, who is on a visit to Baku, has called on entrepreneurs from his country and the neighboring Azerbaijan to make joint investment in Azerbaijani Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.



Vaezi who co-chairs the Azerbaijan-Iran state commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, told Trend that the ongoing visit is aimed at facilitating trade ties between the two countries.



Elaborating on the plans for broadening trade ties between the two countries, he said that Azerbaijans Nakhchivan enjoys proper trade opportunities and he will visit the autonomous republic to discuss investment-related issues.



Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan with an estimate population of 430,000 people.



The minister expressed his countrys readiness to boost cooperation between the two countries concerning Nakhcivan in various fields, including gas, transport and medicine.



Saying that he will lead a large economic delegation comprising of the representatives of Iranian private sector during his upcoming visit to Nakhchivan on Dec. 29, the minister added that a document on cooperation between the two countries will be inked in the autonomous republic.



The minister added that he also is slated to review the construction process of a dam over Araz River in Nakhchivans Ordubad.





Iran and Azerbaijan have earlier agreed to cooperate on the construction of two plants near the Aras River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Nakhcivans Ordubad.



Vaezi has arrived in Baku to attend the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Iranian intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian issues discussing opportunities for expansion of bilateral ties. He will visit Nakhchivan on the third day of his ongoing visit to Azerbaijan.



Iranian companies have so far invested $2.6 billion in Azerbaijans economy. As much as $145 million of the total amount has gone to the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan. This is while some 450 companies with Iranian share operate in Azerbaijan.



Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January-November 2016, $130.13 million of which accounted for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has lashed out at the UN, describing the world body as a "club for people to get together, talk and have a good time".

"The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" Trump said in a tweet.

The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

Trump's remarks comes following a decision by President Barack Obama to abstain from a UN Security Council vote condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem.

The abstention marked an historic change in policy that permitted the resolution to pass.

Ahead of the vote, Trump had publicly asked the US to veto the resolution. The Washington Post said Trump's tweet "signalled" that he would "likely challenge more than just the 71-year-old institutions approach to the Middle East once he takes office".

Trump has already said that things would be different at the UN after January 20. Trump has nominated Indian-American Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, as his Ambassador to the United Nations.

WASHINGTON: US President-elect Donald Trump has lashed out at the UN, describing the world body as a "club for people to get together, talk and have a good time". "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" Trump said in a tweet. The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016 President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016 Trump's remarks comes following a decision by President Barack Obama to abstain from a UN Security Council vote condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem. The abstention marked an historic change in policy that permitted the resolution to pass. Ahead of the vote, Trump had publicly asked the US to veto the resolution. The Washington Post said Trump's tweet "signalled" that he would "likely challenge more than just the 71-year-old institutions approach to the Middle East once he takes office". Trump has already said that things would be different at the UN after January 20. Trump has nominated Indian-American Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, as his Ambassador to the United Nations.
By Associated Press

NEW YORK: If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for U.S. ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the U.S. and Israel.

In a stunning decision Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of U.S. tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

"Things will be different after Jan. 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end.

Under Obama, the U.S. has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades, the U.S. has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the U.S. to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally.

It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century.

"Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy."

Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere.

Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman  his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot.

"He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said.

At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan  a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism  to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death.

And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period.

Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy.

In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East."

Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace.

Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.

NEW YORK: If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for U.S. ambassador. The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process. The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the U.S. and Israel. In a stunning decision Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of U.S. tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump. "Things will be different after Jan. 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end. Under Obama, the U.S. has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust. For decades, the U.S. has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes. So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the U.S. to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally. It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century. "Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy." Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere. Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman  his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience. Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot. "He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said. At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan  a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism  to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death. And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period. Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy. In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East." Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace. Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.
By Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK: A man has been formally arraigned on a capital murder charge in the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy in a road rage incident in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A Little Rock district judge on Tuesday ordered 33-year-old Gary Holmes to remain jailed without bond on charges of capital murder and two counts of committing a terroristic act in the shooting death of Acen (AY'-sin) King.

Holmes has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police said Acen was on a shopping trip with his grandmother, Kim King-Macon, on Dec. 17 when he was shot.

King-Macon told police she had stopped at a stop sign in the rain when a man honked his horn, then got out of his car and fired a gun.

LITTLE ROCK: A man has been formally arraigned on a capital murder charge in the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy in a road rage incident in Little Rock, Arkansas. A Little Rock district judge on Tuesday ordered 33-year-old Gary Holmes to remain jailed without bond on charges of capital murder and two counts of committing a terroristic act in the shooting death of Acen (AY'-sin) King. Holmes has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Police said Acen was on a shopping trip with his grandmother, Kim King-Macon, on Dec. 17 when he was shot. King-Macon told police she had stopped at a stop sign in the rain when a man honked his horn, then got out of his car and fired a gun.
By Associated Press

HONOLULU: Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

More than 2,300 Americans died on Dec. 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded.

In the ensuing years, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they will go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders will speak.

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Obama and Abe were driving forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and President-elect Donald Trump.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the U.S. than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbor.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

As Obama's presidency ends, there are questions about how U.S.-Japan ties will fare under Trump.

During the campaign, Trump suggested that Japan and South Korea should obtain nuclear weapons so the U.S. would no longer be burdened with the costs of defending them, a disquieting notion in many Asian capitals. But after Trump's election, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet with him, sitting down in Trump Tower with the business mogul and Trump's daughter Ivanka.

Though no Japanese prime minister has visited the USS Arizona Memorial, former Japanese leader Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, six years after Japan surrendered. He stopped there on his way home from signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the U.S. and others and paid a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford.

Other prime ministers have since visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as Punchbowl.

HONOLULU: Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona. For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. It's a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House. For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor. "This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history." More than 2,300 Americans died on Dec. 7, 1941, when more than 300 Japanese fighter planes and bombers attacked. More than 1,000 others were wounded. In the ensuing years, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki. Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future. No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy." "War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do." After a formal meeting in the morning, Obama and Abe planned to lay a wreath aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, which is accessible only by boat. Then they will go to nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where both leaders will speak. Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling." "There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have." Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Obama and Abe were driving forces behind the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and President-elect Donald Trump. Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the U.S. than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbor. "Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman. As Obama's presidency ends, there are questions about how U.S.-Japan ties will fare under Trump. During the campaign, Trump suggested that Japan and South Korea should obtain nuclear weapons so the U.S. would no longer be burdened with the costs of defending them, a disquieting notion in many Asian capitals. But after Trump's election, Abe became the first foreign leader to meet with him, sitting down in Trump Tower with the business mogul and Trump's daughter Ivanka. Though no Japanese prime minister has visited the USS Arizona Memorial, former Japanese leader Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, six years after Japan surrendered. He stopped there on his way home from signing the San Francisco peace treaty with the U.S. and others and paid a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford. Other prime ministers have since visited Pearl Harbor and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as Punchbowl.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Farhad Daneshvar, Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Tehran plans to complete the Iran-Azerbaijan railways Astara (Iran)-Astara (Azerbaijan) segment over the next three months, Iran's ICT Minister Mahmoud Vaezi, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan, said.

Vaezi made the remarks during a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission in Baku Dec. 27, Trend correspondent reported from the event.

Iran earlier this month announced that the railway track laying on the Astara-Astara bridge, which connects Iran to Azerbaijan, is to begin in coming days. Azerbaijan has finished an 8.5-kilometer section of the project that falls in its territory. The Iranian side is 2.5 kilometers long.

The railway bridge across the Astarachay River is a strategically important facility that will link railways of Azerbaijan and Iran and will be a part of the Astara (Azerbaijan)-Astara (Iran) section of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Vaezi further said the ties between the two countries are now at their highest level of the past 25 years, adding that this mornings meeting with President Ilham Aliyev proved that the two countries enjoy proper ties.

The Iranian minister, who co-chairs the Azerbaijan-Iran state commission on economic, trade and humanitarian spheres, said that the joint commission covers various fields for cooperation.

Over 130 members of Iranian state and private sectors are attending the ongoing talks in Baku and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, he added.

Vaezi also expressed his interest in establishing provincial level cooperation between the two countries.

Governor General of East Azerbaijan Province Esmail Jabbarzadeh and Ardabil Province Governor General Majid Khodabakhsh are accompanying Vaezi during the visit.

He also called for further efforts in establishing cooperation in energy and power sector, particularly in oil and gas.

Calling for serious actions in the implementation of earlier reached agreements, Vaezi urged for facilitating banking ties between Tehran and Baku.

Vaezi has arrived in Baku to attend the 11th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Iran intergovernmental commission on economic, trade and humanitarian issues, discussing opportunities for expansion of bilateral ties.

He will visit Nakhchivan on the third day of his Azerbaijan trip.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January-November 2016, $130.13 million of which accounted for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran has exported 15 million tons of petrochemicals, worth $6.5 billion during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (started March 20, 2016).

Meanwhile the volume of petrochemical exports has increased compared to same period of the preceding year, value of exports has decreased due to sharp fall of oil price, Mehr news agency reported Dec. 27.

Irans petrochemical exports is expected to be worth $9.5 billion by March 2017.

The country produced 37 million tons of petrochemical products in nine months, and projects to increase this volume to 52 million tons by end of current fiscal year(March 20, 2017).

Irans actual petrochemical output capacity is around 63 million tons per year.

The country hopes to bring the capacity to 120 million tons by 2020 and 160 million tons by 2025.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Iran will start export of a strategic petrochemical product to Australia in the near future, Hamed Vahedi, a member of board of directors at Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said.

Negotiations on export of hexamethylenetetramine (methenamine) to Australia have been finalized and first cargo will be exported soon, Hamedi said, IRNA news agency reported Dec. 27.

The dominant use of hexamethylenetetramine is in the production of powdery or liquid preparations of phenolic resins and phenolic resin molding compounds, where it is added as a hardening component. These products are used as binders, e.g. in brake and clutch linings, abrasive products, non-woven textiles, formed parts produced by molding processes, and fireproof materials.

Vahedi further said that Irans petrochemical industry is among the sectors which have enjoyed significant growth following the removal of international sanctions in January 2016.

However, he confirmed that the 10-year old sanctions negative impacts need time to be removed.

Iran produced 46.4 million tons of petrochemical products during the last fiscal year (ended March 20, 2016), but for the current year, the figure is planned to reach 54.7 million tons.

The country exported 19 million tons of petrochemicals in the fiscal year to March 2016.

Irans petrochemical exports increased by 22 percent to $8.698 billion during the first half of the current fiscal year. The volume of the petrochemical exports also registered a rise by 53 percent to 18.719 million tons in the first half of the current fiscal year.
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 27

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Iran has only paid 15 percent of the final price of airliners it recently purchased, the rest of the money will be paid from the tickets that will be sold for these planes, First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri said.

This deserves many thanks, Jahangiri said, moving on to lash out at the critics of the government who downplay the plane purchases, IRNA news agency reported December 27.

Since the day we decided to buy the planes, some have been taken by grieving. How long were we supposed to continue buying second and third grade planes from the poorest of the countries?

Iran and Frances Airbus recently finalized an agreement on the purchase of seven aircraft. It is hoped Iran will receive the planes after April 20, 2017.

Iran plans to buy about 500 aircraft, including 118 planes from Airbus, in 10 years to refurbish its ageing fleet. Iranian airliners average 25 in age.

Earlier on Dec. 11, the Islamic Republics flag carrier, Iran Air, finalized a long awaited contract with Boeing, the US aircraft manufacturer, to purchase 80 passenger planes, worth $16.6 billion.
Spare Change: Finally! Election TV ads soon will be done

Truth is, I suspect these spots are effective. For instance, Allan Fung is portrayed as a regular Joe from Cranston.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 27

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is attempting to contact the team of US president-elect Donald Trump, Javad Karimi Ghoddousi, member of Iranian parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said.

After Trump won the presidential election, Zarif unsuccessfully made efforts to connect with his team, in particular Trumps secretary of state nominee, Karimi Ghoddousi said, Mehr news agency reported Dec. 27.

The conservative MP, who is famous for his criticism of the nuclear negotiations and the historic nuclear deal, claimed that Zarif has requested European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini to establish the contact between the two sides.

Karimi Ghoddousi further said that Mogherini is scheduled to visit the US in the coming days in this regard.

Last week Karimi Ghoddousi claimed that Zarif admitted botched job in nuclear talks with the world powers.

He said that Zarif during his latest meeting with members of parliaments National Security and Foreign Policy Commission has confessed that he made a big mistake in trusting the Americans.

Karimi Ghoddousis disclosure of Zarifs remarks faced strong reaction from supporters of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aka nuclear deal) in both the government and the parliament.

Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Bahram Ghassemi rejected the MPs remarks, calling his quotes incorrect, altered, and taken out of context.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 58F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
About half of U.S. children with special health care needs -- 5.6 million children -- receive medical care from uncompensated family members worth billions of dollars, finds a large national study led by Boston Children's Hospital and the University of Southern California (USC).

The study, published online by the journal Pediatrics on December 27, is the first to systematically track parents' unpaid time providing care, as well as lost income due to parents taking time off from work.

Compared with a few decades ago, families of children with chronic conditions perform many more medical tasks at home, from maintaining and operating feeding and breathing equipment to administering physical therapy. Home care is becoming more complex as more children with chronic conditions survive and as hospital stays shorten. The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), a telephone-based survey, has estimated that 20 percent of households with children have at least one child with special health care needs.

"If parents did not provide this care at home, children would need to stay in the hospital longer, professionals would need to come to the home, or children might not get the care that their physicians prescribe," says Mark Schuster, MD, PhD, chief of General Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital and senior investigator on the study. "Parents want to do everything they can for their children, but it can be a real challenge to juggle their ill child, their other children and sometimes their job."

Valuing home caregivers

The new study analyzed data from the 2009-2010 Survey, and found that the average child with special health care needs received 5.1 hours of medical care per week from family members, a total of 1.5 billion hours nationally. This excluded any extra time spent assisting children with activities of daily living. For some conditions, the average was much higher:

cerebral palsy: 14.4 hours per week

muscular dystrophy: 13.8 hours per week

cystic fibrosis: 12.9 hours per week

intellectual disability 11.2 hours per week

traumatic brain injury/concussion: 11.9 hours per week

Nearly 12 percent of children in the study received 21 or more hours of family-provided care per week. These children were more likely to be poor or Hispanic or to be under the age of 5.

Lost wages and replacement costs

Family caregivers forego an estimated $3,200 in earnings per child each year, amounting to $17.6 billion in lost income nationally, the study found. Hiring health aides to do the same work at typical compensation rates would have cost an estimated $6,400 annually per child, or $35.7 billion nationwide. For unskilled, minimum wage help, the figures would be $2,100 and $11.9 billion, respectively.

"Children with chronic health conditions require a significant amount of care, and hiring a home health aide can be prohibitively expensive for a family," says John Romley, PhD, an economist at the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics and lead author of the study. "To maintain their child's care, families often incur financial and emotional stress from reduced earnings."

The researchers suggest several ways to help family medical providers: paid family leave programs, improving care coordination, providing respite care and home visits by clinicians.

"We need to do a better job of training family caregivers in how to take care of their children at home, and we need better supports for them," says Schuster, who is also Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.
Russian standards agency Rosstandart said on Monday it had been informed about a voluntary recall by Toyota of 18,757 Lexus NX 200, NX 200t and NX 300h cars which had a fault in their braking systems.The recall affected cars sold after September 11 2014, the agency said in a statement.The Japanese auto giant Toyota's luxury brand Lexus recently announced opening of a boutique showroom in India in first quarter of 2017, bookings for which have already started coming in. The company is offering a selection of three models of Lexus vehicles in the country.The first Lexus dealership will open in Mumbai before the brand is formally introduced. The dealership at Taj Santacruz Hotel, situated near to Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, will be called Lexus Boutique. Read more
Like each year, this year too superstar Salman Khan rang in his birthday with an extravagant bash at his Panvel farmhouse. The Sultan star who celebrated his 51st birthday at midnight with family and friends, looked dapper as he posed for shutterbugs during the celebrations.(Photo: Yogen Shah)While his fans wait to celebrate his special day every year, this year the superstar has taken it upon himself to treat his fans for all the love they have showered on him.In a post on Twitter, Khan revealed his big plan for the special day. He wrote, "Ye 27th Ko Mere APP Ka Birthday Hai, Sirf Apke Liye (sic)!Yes, the superstar will be launching his app with which he aims to maintain a closer bond with his fans and update them about his life and movies.And while all of us wait for the big day to arrive here's a look back at some of Salman Khan's iconic dance moves that genuinely have been a huge hit with dancers as well as non-dancers.The 51-year-old actor who has of late been showing off his dance moves in a number of movies has often come up with trademark steps that instantly become a hit with the audience. Be it the belt step in Dabangg or the pocket step in the song Dhinka Chika from the film Ready, Salman's dance moves have always been unique and his fans love him for everything that he does.In fact, Salman's dancing style and steps are so unique it gives an impression that the actor is his own choreographer at times. And even if that isn't the case, he deserves to be applauded for pulling off steps that many can't.Here's a list of dance steps that were thought were really iconic in their own way:The towel step - all Bhai fans would be aware of his famous step in the song Jeene Ke Hai Chaar Din from the movie Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. In fact, we are guessing some might have even tried performing it. Although the step isn't difficult but it certainly requires a lot of confidence and courage to do a step as this. And no one other than Bhaijaan could have done it so well.The song Dhinka Chika, choreographed by Mudassar Khan, became extremely popular with kids and youngsters because of its catchy lyrics and upbeat music. One other reason that the track was a hit among audiences was the viral pocket step that the lead characters Salman Khan and Asin performed on the track.In a recent appearance on the show Koffee With Karan, the 51-year-old Bollywood heartthrob, admitted that both his dance steps in Dabangg were inspired by real life people whom he had observed dancing at a family wedding.We are so glad that he observed and picked up the two steps because Chulbul Pandey (Salman's character in the movie Dabangg) wouldn't have been this cool a character without those steps!Jumme Ki Raat Hai from the movie Kick literally became the youth anthem soon after its release in 2014. Shot in an underground alley, the song showcases Khan's hatke dance moves. One particular step that caught the attention of one and all was Salman dancing even while holding Jacqueline's dress by the tip with his mouth. Now, that was something we had not seen before! Completely a bhaijaan style of dancing.Apparently, Salman is also huge fan of the song Jumma Chumma De De starring Amitabh Bachchan and Kimi Katkar.Redefining a selfie in his own way, Salman Khan is cuteness overload in this song. His cute dance moves, smile, innocent look and expressions, made audiences at the theatre whistle till they were exhausted.Choreographed by Farah Khan, Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai from Sultan was Salman's recent attempt at proving he can perform 'naughty' dance steps better than everyone else. A fun song, Khan's performance and signature bum step, made the wedding dance number even more lively.Isn't he just amazing?The actor is currently shooting for Kabir Khan's Tubelight. Slated to release on Eid 2017, the movie stars Salman alongside Sohail Khan and Chinese actress Zhu Zhu.
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay has been summoned by the CBI on December 30 in connection with the alleged Rose Valley scam, one of the cases being probed by the investigating agency as part of the umbrella chit fund scams.



Him and another TMC MP Tapas Paul have been asked to appear at the CBI office on December 30.



"I will appear in the first week of January. I will go because I want to know what are the exact charges that they have levelled against me. I feel that it is better to sit face-to-face rather than talking over phone," Bandyopadhyay said on Tuesday.



In its charge sheet, CBI had claimed that it was still probing the role of "influential people" in the scam.



Besides role of regulatory authorities, money trail and larger conspiracy hatched by the accused persons to cheat the public are still under probe of the agency, they said.



Reports of the summons came hours after TMC supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee took on the Modi government at a joint press conference with other opposition parties, including the Congress.



Banerjee also said the demonetisation decision was "illegal" and "unconstitutional" and has set the economy 20 years back. "Modi, you had asked for 50 days time, people were losing livelihood, dying due to starvation, yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over, and only three days left," said Banerjee referring to Modi's 50-day deadline nearing its end.







"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi, if things remain unsolved, will you take the responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister of the country," she asked.



(With agency inputs)
Tehran, Iran, December 27

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

Irans population has surpassed 80 million, a recent census has revealed, indicating the growth rate of the population is still on the rise.

Omid Ali Parsa, head of Iran Statistics Center, said that despite concerns about a falling population growth, a rate of 1.3 percent has been indicated by the census, Tasnim news agency reported December 26.

The center has previously predicted that if fertility rate reaches 1.3 percent, the population growth will turn negative between the years 2041 and 2046.

Alireza Zahedian, a senior official with the center, has also said a recent poll indicates that newly married couples believe in having several children.

He said that 60 percent of the couples would like to have two children, 14 percent would go for one, and 25 percent think of three or more. In the meantime, one percent do not consider having a baby at all.

Elsewhere, Zahedian said that a declining population growth will eventually lead the Pension Fund into bankruptcy.

The UN Population Fund last year predicted that by 2050, Irans population will reach 93 million, but then start to decline.

Official reports show since 2010, the number of marriages per year in Iran has decreased. Since three years ago, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been encouraging policies aimed at developing a population of 150 million.
A divided Opposition took on PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday, questioning his silence over the corruption charges against him.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded a probe into allegations that Modi benefited financially from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister, while West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee asked if he would resign if the cash flow situation doesnt improve in 50 days.

The joint press conference was attended by the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, while the JD-U, Samajwadi Party, BSP, CPI(M) and NCP decided to give it a miss.

BSP chief Mayawati accused the Centre of being anti-Dalit a day after ED searches revealed that over Rs 100 crore were deposited in a BSP account after demonetisation. Hitting back, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the allegations were politically motivated.

Heres a recap of the days developments

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
Jammu: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday urged the Centre to resume dialogue with Pakistan to resolve all pending disputes "amicably".



He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a process for addressing the internal and external dimensions of problems in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that dialogue is the only option to steer the state away from the present morass.



"Peace and cooperation forms core of neighbourly relations and therefore India and Pakistan must resume dialogue," he said while addressing party workers in Kathua.



The former chief minister invoked the Vajpayee doctrine and said: "If neighbours cannot be changed, what stops the two countries to talk to each other and resolve their problems amicably."



Farooq hoped hostilities will give way to better understanding between the two nations, saying peace is imperative for prosperity in the subcontinent and bringing relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have been the the victims of animosity.



He made a mention of border skirmishes over decades and said that these were detrimental for both India and Pakistan, as any full-fledged conflict between the nuke states will lead to devastation and destruction in the entire region.



The National Conference chief also urged New Delhi to address the political issue of Kashmir by talking to all shades of public opinion on priority "as further delay will only worsen the situation".



He said that everyone needs to be talked to, be it Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, if end goal is to herald peace in the state.



On PDP holding National Conference responsible for the Kashmir unrest, he said: "Those blaming us are conveniently forgetting the historical role of National Conference in upholding the unity of the state and safeguarding interests of its people."



Farooq said the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti "must shun petty politics for concealing the failures of her government".



He cautioned against the machinations of divisive forces, who, he said, were trying to divide people on one or the other pretext.



"Unity and amity are the strongest tools to isolate such elements, whose politics is based on whipping up passions by exploiting public sentiment," he said.



The former CM said the PDP-BJP coalition cannot hide its failures by indulging in blame games.



"They will have to account for mis-governance and the mess created across the state by non-performance during past over one-and-a-half year," he said.
They did not have any search warrant against me. The search warrant had name of my son: Former TN Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I am being targeted; I have fear, my life is in danger: Former TN Chief Secy P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/MprtDcIfk8  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Where is State Govt?. What role or business does GoI,CRPF have to enter Chief Secy's chamber?Did they get CM's permission: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/zN13bpZT84  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

I have no links with Shekar Reddy.I have nothing to do with him. He has nothing to do with any governement business: P Rama Mohana Rao pic.twitter.com/51F1ybtu4x  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Sacked Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohana Rao on Tuesday questioned the income tax raids against him calling it an assault on the Constitution and asserted that he is still in office.Waving copies of the panchnama of the raid, Rao said the I-T sleuths found nothing at his house except "a few grams of gold, 25 kg of silver and Rs 1,12,320 only.""I was surprised to see that my name was not there in search warrant and despite that they raided by house and claimed they found secret documents. I was under house arrest. It is a constitutional assault on chief secretarys office, he said.Rao said he is still the chief secretary as the government is yet to serve him a copy of his transfer order. The former chief secretary was removed from office and Girija Vaidyanathan appointed in his place a few days after the raids.Rao claimed that his "life is in danger" and that he was being targeted for unknown reasons.The raids showed that there was no respect for the people of the state he said adding that had former chief minister J Jayalalithaa been alive she would never have allowed this."The CRPF entered my house with guns. The search was at gunpoint. What wrong have I done?" he said.Rao claimed he has no links with mining baron Sekhar Reddy as alleged. When asked if he would move court against his removal from office, he said he would go to "people's court".Rao, who has so far received little support from his own state government, thanked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for speaking out against his raids.Immediately after Rao's news conference, Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy reiterated that the raids were an assault on the Constitution.Contesting this BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao said central agencies were required to act with speed on tip-offs and hence it was impossible to inform the state government.
Washington: As India embarks on a massive modernisation plan for its defence forces, it has emerged as the second largest purchaser of arms among developing nations after Saudi Arabia, a latest Congressional report has said.



Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipment worth $34 billion, which is a distant second after Saudi Arabia's $93.5 billion, said the report 'Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2008-2015' released by Congressional Research Service (CRS).



As the name reflects, CRS is an independent bipartisan research wing of the US Congress. It prepares reports on a wide range of issues for lawmakers to make informed decisions. CRS reports are not considered official reports of the US Congress.



"Saudi Arabia was the leading developing world arms purchaser from 2008-2015, with agreements totalling $93.5 billion. India was the second largest developing world arms purchaser from 2008 to 2015, making arms transfer agreements totalling $34 billion during these years (in current dollars)," it said, adding these increases reflect the military modernisation efforts by India.



In its report, CRS highlights recent Indian efforts to diversify its procurement of arms, of which the US has been a major beneficiary.



"It is notable that India, while the principal Russian arms customer, during recent years has sought to diversify its weapons supplier base, purchasing the Phalcon early warning defense system aircraft in 2004 from Israel and numerous items from France in 2005, in particular six Scorpene diesel attack submarines. In 2008, India purchased six C130J cargo aircraft from the United States," CRS said.



In 2010, the UK sold India 57 Hawk jet trainers for $1 billion. In 2010, Italy also sold India 12 AW101 helicopters.



In 2011, France secured a $2.4 billion contract with India to upgrade 51 of its Mirage-2000 combat fighters, and the US agreed to sell India 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for $4.1 billion, it said.

"This pattern of Indian arms purchases indicates that Russia will likely face strong new competition from other major weapons suppliers for the India arms market, and it can no longer be assured that India will consistently purchase its major combat systems," CRS said.



Indeed, India in 2011 had eliminated Russia from the international competition to supply a new-generation combat fighter aircraft, a competition won by France.



In 2015, Russia and India agreed to a contract in which India would procure at least 200 Ka-226T helicopter, the report said.



With India reducing its reliance on Russia on arms purchase, Moscow is looking for other options, it added.



"More recently Russia has lost major contracts to other key weapons suppliers, threatening its longstanding supplier relationship with India. Russian sales of advanced weaponry in South Asia have been a matter of ongoing concern to the United States because of long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India. The United States sought to expand its military cooperation with and arms sales to India as part of the US strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific region," the report said.



After lifting its arms embargo in 2014, Russia signed an agreement with Pakistan for four MI-35 attack helicopters.



"This sale marks a shift in Russian foreign policy towards Pakistan," the report said.



During the mid-1990s, Russia sold major combat fighter aircraft and main battle tanks to India, and has provided other major weapon systems through lease or licensed production, the report said. It continues to provide support services and items for these various weapon systems, it said.




New Delhi: Maintaining that its strategic capabilities were not targeted against any particular country, India on Tuesday said it abides by all applicable international obligations and expects others do the same, while responding to Chinese reaction to its test-firing of Agni V missile.



"India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country. India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all other do the same.



"India's strategic autonomy and growing engagement contributes to strategic stability," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.



The Spokesperson's remarks came after Chinese Foreign Ministry hoped that India's test-firing of the nuclear-capable Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile that could cover all of China complied with UN Security Council rules and safeguarded South Asia's strategic balance.



Even as Beijing maintained that the two nations are "not rivals for competition but partners for cooperation", it took exception to media reports that the successful test of Agni-V was meant to target China.



Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said," We have noted reports on India's test fire of Agni-5 ballistic missile. The UN Security Council has explicit regulations on whether India can develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons".



"China always maintains that preserving the strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive to peace and prosperity of regional countries and beyond."



India had yesterday successfully test-fired Agni-V, the country's most lethal nuclear-capable inter-continental ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 kms that covers entire China which may also pave the way for user trial of the weapons system and its eventual induction into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
Mumbai: Indrani Mukerjea, who is out of jail for a day, performs last rites rituals of her father pic.twitter.com/ZuSJEpvLK4  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, on Thursday, walks out of jail after Special CBI Court allows her to perform father's last rites.Indrani was informed by the authorities that her father Upendra Kumar Bora died on December 15. She then filed a bail application on December 19 seeking permission to go to Guwahati to perform the last rituals.However, Judge HS Mahajan granted her a days bail on December 27 on condition that she is escorted by the police all the time. Indrani has been at Byculla jail for over a year.Indrani was arrested in August last year for the alleged murder of her daughter Sheena Bora. Her husband, former media baron Peter Mukerjea is also in jail for allegedly abetting in the murder.The alleged murder of Sheena Bora came to light in 2015 when a former driver employed by the Mukerjeas confessed to police for allegedly assisting Indrani in committing the crime. Sheena Bora was allegedly strangled to death by Indrani with the help of her former husband Sanjeev Khanna. She was killed for entering into a relationship with Peter Mukerjeas son from an earlier marriage. Rahul Mukherjea was repeatedly told that Sheena flew out of the country.According to investigators, Indrani was worried that Sheena would gain a major share of property after marrying Peter Mukerjeas son Rahul with whom she was in a relationship.
In a controversial decision, 2010 Commonwealth Games scam accused and former Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi was appointed the life president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).



The former Congress leader was jailed and later released on bail in connection with the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam.



Key facts about Suresh Kalmadi:



. Kalmadi was the chief of the 2010 CWG Organising Committee

 He was sacked for allegedly abusing his official position and causing a loss of over Rs. 90 crore.

 Kalmadi was accused of handing out a Rs. 141-crore contract to Swiss Timing for its timing equipment - the deal was allegedly inflated by Rs. 95 crores.

 CBI in 2011 filed a chargesheet against Kalmadi

 In 2010, Kalmadi was suspended from Congress Party

. Kalmadi was elected to 11th, 14th and 15th Lok Sabha
Kozhikode: The Association of Muslim Scholars of India has urged the Centre to set up a commission to re-examine the cases registered under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against "innocent people" in the guise of national security.



"The Centre should appoint a commission to re-examine the cases filed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) that have been imposed on innocent people under the guise of national security," General Secretary of the Association, Kanthapuram A P Abubacker Musliyar said.



He was delivering the keynote address at the international Milad Conference by Jamia Markaz, here on December 25.



He further said, the freedom of religion and freedom to believe and practice ones faith is one of the cornerstones provided in the Constitution.



Any attempt to curb this basic right should be fought by all means, a release from Markazs media wing quoted him as saying.



"We will oppose tooth and nail every attempt to deny the citizens, comprising those from multi-faith communities, the right to live according to their religious convictions and ideals and also carry out a nation-wide system of unified civil code," Musliyar added.



A host of Muslim scholars representing different countries and international associations attended the conference.


I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. /2  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. /3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. /4  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today reg Aryan. /1  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday pitched for an immediate release of five-year-old Aryan who was taken away from his parents by the Norwegian Child Welfare Department (NCWD) over allegations that he was a child abuse victim.In a series of tweets, Swaraj  who underwent a kidney transplant at AIIMS  on Tuesday said, The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the authorities today regarding Aryan. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. This is our firm stand and Indian Ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities, her tweet reads.Aryan was taken into custody by the NCWD on the December 13 from his kindergarten school in Oslo.Earlier, Aryans mother Gurvinder Kaur rubbished all charges and said, "My son wants to return home and he is not eating properly. I am thankful to Union Minister Sushma Swaraj for all her help.Aryan's father Anil kumar too spoke to CNN-News18 and claimed that the Norwegian authorities are pressurising his son to lie against them.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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in statement, Reuters reported.

It also said that Lavrov informed Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels may lead to more casualties.



Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed over 500,000 lives.

Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops.

The IS, YPG and PYD are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.
We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity. /3  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. /2  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. /1  Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

A day after a video of Father Tom Uzhunnalil appeared accusing the government of 'non-serious' attitude in securing his release from ISIS custody in Yemen, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated that the no effort will be spared in seeking his return.The video showed Father Thomas, a Salesian priest, asking for help with a man standing behind him. However, there is no confirmation on whether Father Thomas Uzhunnalil is now dead or alive.Tom will be rescued like Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza were rescued from Afghanistan, Swaraj added.Swaraj said she has seen the video of Tom.In July 20 this year, Sushma Swaraj had said in Lok Sabha that government was making efforts to secure release of Uzhunnalil.Earlier, captors of Catholic priest Father Thomas Uzhunnalil have sent a video to the Indian government demanding millions of dollars in ransom.Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden. At least 15 people at the old-age home were killed in the attack.The Indian priest was kidnapped after ISIS terrorists barged into the care home for the elderly set up by Mother Teresa in Aden in 1992, and shot dead many people, including four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, one of them from India.The Indian government has been in touch with several local agencies to get the priest rescued. The reports of his alleged crucifixion was also dispelled after the government got in touch with ambassadors of the Catholic Church.
Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's Being Human brand is expanding with a line of jewellery that will be launched on the superstar's 51st birthday on Tuesday.



Being Human - The Salman Khan Foundation has tied up with Style Quotient Jewellery Pvt. Ltd. to launch a range of Being Human fashion jewellery.



"Being Human is a brand with a soul, and with this association, we are moving to the next step of expansion. People have always given me and Being Human tremendous love and I hope we continue to receive it in the days to come," Salman said in a statement.



The design philosophy of the brand embodies a perfect balance of Salman's unique style and International fashion trends. Sixty five per cent of the jewellery will cater to women with collections like Boho, Metal Faith, Tassel and Bling while 35 per cent of the men's range will comprise of Being Human Value collection and Funk collection.



The design that comprises of rings, earrings, neck pieces and bracelets will cater to everyday wear and has been priced from Rs.150 to Rs.3000.



The jewellery will be catering to young audiences of 15-25 years.



"We have worked very closely in the past with Salman Khan and the association has been a gratifying and joyous one. Salman Khan represents modern-day India and has a huge global and mass appeal. His presence will boost our brand equity and will assist us to move effortlessly into national and international markets," said Prasad Kapre, the CEO and Director of Style Quotient Jewellery Pvt Ltd.


New Delhi: Narendra Modi firmly believes in setting the agenda. He prepares his own pitch, sets his own rules, forcing opposition to play on his own terms and conditions. The first ten months of the last calendar year were however different.



From Rohith Vemula suicide to Kanhaiya Kumar arrest, the subaltern student politics conflated with Ambedkarite movement had worked to reinforce the "suit boot ki sarkar" narrative. Dovetail the amalgam with images of cow-vigilantes on the loose attempting to mete out instant justice in PM's own state. When the Prime Minister intervened, RSS the ideological mentor of the BJP took exception to PM branding a majority gau-rakshaks anti-social.



So two and a half years in office, it was only a matter of time that Narendra Modi would attempt to curate his own pitch to force a play-off; and change the discourse before it was too late.



"I have seen Mr. Modi's politics from close quarters. He's adept at image-makeover. That's his biggest strength. From an able administrator who rebuilt Gujarat after massive earthquake in 2001 to Modi as Prime Minister, he has contested no two elections on same agenda"; says a BJP insider who has closely watched Modi's ascension to power.



Any signs of what might go into creating a new narrative were hardly discernible as late as June. It is only in retrospect now that BJP leaders join two and two to interpret what Modi said at BJPs National Executive meeting in Allahabad. The conclave was being held just a fortnight of Finance Ministry notifying Income Declaration Scheme (IDS), opening up sluice gates one last time for declaration of un-accounted wealth.



"In Allahabad Prime Minister indicated for the first time that he was preparing to take some really tough decisions of black money hoarders. And he made it very clear that he will spare none"; recalls a BJP executive member.



Five months later the actual import of PM's message was felt within the party circles and outside when on the midnight of November 8 the demonetisation move was announced.



"So those who say that note-bandi was not a well thought out exercise are completely wrong. Similarly, I refuse to believe that the Prime Minister has not weighed both political and economic implications of a decision of this magnitude," says a party leader.



The year-end marks the end of the self-promulgated fifty-day deadline set by the Prime Minister. The newyear would usher in Demonetisation Part Two. Prime Minister has indicated that he will follow banning of old high value legal tenders with a clampdown on benami property.



Demonetisation, and the impending follow-up actions are perhaps the most radical measures in the history of the party aimed to pitchfork BJP - and more importantly Modi as its leader - to the other side of the class divide.



But any transformation of this magnitude is also fraught with risks. Both in terms of political manoeuvre and policy implementation. One misstep; and a time tested socio-political pyramid can come crashing down.



The bottom line is: the ruling dispensation will have to convince people that demonetisation has been the great leveler and not a mere catharsis in the neo-liberal milieu. That will happen if there are tangible gains for the poor and tangible losses for those falling foul of the law.



Even for the Opposition, the impact of demonetisation extends beyond assembly polls slated for 2017. Make no mistake. This is a fight for 2019 general elections. And Congress knows it well. The move is directed at the core of Congress' political constituency.



"Even the BJP as a party in power has a limited role in charting the future course of action. The matter now rests between the people and the PM. There is direct communication and there are no intermediaries, not even the RSS"; says a BJP leader.



In the pre-Mandal era, the poor vs rich divide could subsume caste identities. Indira Gandhi with "garibi hatao" could successfully do that.





The question is whether a fair analogy can be drawn between Congress' success in 1971 and demonetisation-2016. Can the 8th November announcement by the Prime Minister disrupt the very fundamentals of politics crystallised during the Mandal-Kamandal era?



Pre-Mandal politics of the Hindi-heartland operated in an entirely different paradigm. Or maybe not. This will be put to an early electoral test in the upcoming UP polls.



BJP in its new avatar is attempting to metamorphose and take on a socialist-patriotism identity.



It's a giant leap. And there is no turning back.
Mumbai: NCP on Monday said it will boycott the meeting called by Congress in New Delhi on Monday to ramp up attack on the Narendra Modi government over demonetisation.



"In the (last) five-six Parliament sessions, NCP was with all opposition parties. But Congress (leaders) recently went to meet the Prime Minister alone, leaving other parties behind. A question has been raised on the unity among opposition parties," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said.



Malik was referring to a meeting between a Congress delegation headed by Rahul Gandhi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



"Tomorrow, Congress has called a meeting of all opposition parties (in Delhi). NCP will not be a part of it but we believe that all opposition parties should be together and for that, a definite plan of action should be prepared and implemented," Malik said.
According to sources, the parties who are planning to give the joint presser a miss have cited lack of co-ordination and consultation among the participants.

Delhi: WB CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Constitution Club for opposition meet pic.twitter.com/UQW4W7t5V6  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

Those who will be attending the meet are: Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, JD (S), JMM, IUML and AIUDF.

The cracks within the Opposition party were out in the open on Tuesday after many political parties including JDU, SP, BSP, CPI (M) and NCP decided to stay away from the joint press conference led by the Congress party.The joint press conference was to be convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other opposition leaders and will be held at 3 PM at the Constitution Club in Delhi.Despite the setback, Congress is striving for Opposition unity on the issue of Sahara-Birla papers after their leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "personal corruption".Reacting to the development, BSP Chief Mayawati said, "We are staying away from today's opposition meet on demonetization because there are differences of opinion. Why should BSP attend the meet. We had been the first to raise the issue and had opposed it.Corroborating the same, JD (U) spokesperson KC Tyagi said, "We have decided to stay away from the press conference of opposition parties because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among the parties."In the future if someone raises the issue with proper coordination then we have no hesitation to join the meet," Tyagi added."Most of the parties are not aware about what will be the agenda of the meeting. The agenda should be clear," he added.CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury had said, Several opposition parties have reservation about the way the meeting has been convened. We were not consulted about the agenda of the meeting.Raising the stakes in her fight against Modi government on demonetisation, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already arrived in Delhi on Monday.TMC sources said, Mamata, who is spearheading the fight against demonetisation, will be part of the joint opposition meeting, TMC sources said.Mamata will be in the capital for three days and expected to meet several leaders from different political hues during her stay.Sources said that Mamata has already had a talk with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and RJD chief Lalu Yadav to discuss the issue of demonetisation.(With PTI Inputs)
Bathinda: Reiterating that as per the universally accepted Riparian Principle, Punjab was the "only rightful owner" of its river waters, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday no other state had any right over it.



Addressing a Sangat Darshan gathering in Bucho Mandi Assembly segment here, he said river water was the state's only natural resource and there was no question of sharing it with "any other state" as Punjab did not have "a single drop of excess water".



Badal said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was ever readyto preserve the water of the state by making any sacrifice as it was the "lifeline" of Punjab.



He categorically said there was no need for the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, adding that its construction "would not be allowed at any cost".



In an attack on the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the veteran Akali leader alleged that the two were "conniving with each other to deprive the Punjabis of every single drop of water".



He alleged that the Congress had divested the state of its rights by giving water to Rajasthan, Haryana and other states, adding that now, the AAP too had joined the Congress to "rob the state of its waters".



Badal claimed that while the Congress had, in the past, signed various agreements to deprive Punjab of its waters, the AAP was now trying its level best to ensure that these agreements were implemented at the earliest.



Describing state Congress chief Amarinder Singh's resignation from the post of MP, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict on river waters, as a "mere political stunt", the chief minister dared him to explain why the other Congress MPs too had not resigned in a show of solidarity with the state at this hour of crisis.



Badal alleged that Amarinder's resignation was aimed at "deriving political benefits from this sensitive issue, rather than safeguarding the interests of the state".



He claimed that it was an "open secret" that Amarinder was desirous of contesting the upcoming state Assembly polls and that is why he had resigned from Lok Sabha on the pretext of the Supreme Court verdict "to mislead the people".



"Captain (Amarinder) wants to attain the status of a martyr by smearing a drop of blood on his fingertip whereas, it is a fact that he was part and parcel of the sinister move to dig the SYL canal," Badal added.



Recalling the "grave conspiracy conceived by the Congress to divest the state of its legitimate share of river waters", the Chief Minister held the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi responsible for Punjab's crisis as she had "forced" the former Congress chief minister of the state Darbara Singh to sign an agreement to give waters to Haryana.



Assailing the AAP, Badal said it was a party with a "dual face".



He alleged that the AAP government in Delhi had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court against Punjab on the SYL issue, adding that disguised in the robe of the 'aam aadmi' (common man), the party was "working overtime" against the interests of the state.



Taking a dig at those leaving the SAD "for poll tickets from other parties", Badal said these "fugitives" must learn a lesson from former state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who had gone into "political oblivion" ever since he "ditched" the Akali Dal.



The chief minister exhorted the people to teach the defectors a lesson by rejecting them in the electoral race.


New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday dismissed media reports that Rahul Gandhi travelled in a Sahara SUV in Amethi in 2014, with Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari saying the vehicle in which the party vice president travelled was actually his.



Tiwari said that Rahul never travelled in Sahara Groups Toyota Land Cruiser, as claimed by some reports and in social media chatter, and that he used a Tata Fortuner.



Ever since Rahul quoted from Sahara-Birla papers to raise corruption allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, social media platforms were flooded with photos which suggested that the Congress MP had travelled in Sahara Group's SUV to file nomination papers for Lok Sabha elections from Amethi.



Tiwari told Pradesh 18 over the phone that the Toyota Fortuner, in which Rahul travelled, was his personal vehicle, registered in his name. The Land Cruiser, according to Tiwari, was given to him for office use when he was working as a lawyer for the Sahara Group .



Sahara's media head Abhijit Sarkar, however, told Pradesh18 that he did not know anything about the matter.



Media reports, including that on ABP news channel had claimed that Rahul Gandhi travelled in Sahara Groups Toyota Land Cruiser SUV at the time of filing nomination papers.



The Congress vice president in his recent speeches, has been alleging that Modi had received kickbacks from the two corporates, which includes Sahara as well, when he was chief minister of Gujarat.
In an effort to expand its market to Southeast Asia, technology giant Apple has partnered with Taiwanese electronics major Foxconn, media reports said.According to a report on DigiTimes on Monday that cited a Chinese-language Economic Daily News report, Apple is expected to begin constructing two new Research and Development centres in Asia in 2017 located in Indonesia and Shenzhen, China.Foxconn has already been working with local Indonesian brand vendors Luna and Huawei for few years.It is believed that Indonesia will witness a rise in demand for 4G smartphones in 2017 as the government will push policies to encourage citizens to upgrade from 2G to 4G services.
Two Chinese companies and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC have agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in a digital mapping company controlled by Germany's leading carmakers to help them develop self-driving cars.Chinese digital mapping company NavInfo, internet group Tencent and the Singapore fund will invest in mapping company HERE under a deal announced on Tuesday.China is pushing the development of electric and autonomous cars and has made several high-profile investments in high tech companies in Europe.German carmakers Audi, BMW and Daimler will reduce their combined ownership of HERE by 10 percent, HERE and the buyers said in a statement.China is on track to overtake the United States as the largest market for premium cars, a step which forces the German manufacturers to find alliances with local players in Asia to help them expand new services such as autonomous driving.HERE and the Chinese consortium did not disclose financial details of the deal, which they expect to close in the first half of 2017.Germany's luxury carmakers bought HERE from Nokia for 2.55 billion euros ($2.6 billion) last year to create a platform for developing self-driving cars and to secure their access to intelligent high-precision mapping systems.The German carmakers have developed their own prototype autonomous vehicles and wanted to cut their dependence on mapping data from software giant Google which has also developed a self-driving vehicle.HERE needs capital to expand its network of high-precision maps quickly, and has been in discussion with potential partners including Amazon.com, Microsoft and Bosch.Self-driving cars need such maps to navigate, and use sensors to create services such as a system for monitoring road conditions and finding parking spaces by using vehicle-mounted cameras to scan the road ahead.China has taken an interest in automotive technology investments to help develop its autonomous and self driving car know-how.Earlier this month Chinese mobile operating systems company Thunder Software Technology Co Ltd (Thundersoft) agreed to acquire Finnish automotive software company Rightware for 64 million euros ($67 million).Future Mobility, a Chinese automaker controlled by Tencent Holdings has poached autonomous driving personnel from Google, Daimler and BMW in the race to make self-driving cars.There have also been high-profile takeover approaches for high-tech companies in Europe, particularly in Germany, though Chinese overtures have not always been welcome.Home appliance maker Midea bought industrial robot firm Kuka in a 4.5 billion euro deal in May, in what was the biggest Chinese deal for a German industrial technology company.China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund withdrew a 670 million euro bid for chip equipment maker Aixtron this month after the United States blocked the acquisition of its U.S. division on national security grounds and German authorities withdrew their approval.Germany and China have become involved in an increasingly public dispute about access to each others' markets, with China complaining about unfair scrutiny of its acquisition targets in Germany, and Germany wanting reciprocal access to firms in China.HERE also said it will form a joint venture with NavInfo to extend its products to China using NavInfo's data and services.Tencent will use HERE's mapping and location platform services in its own products, both in China and internationally
Bezeq Israel Telecom said on Sunday it had received notice that Israel's telecoms regulator would likely allow Bezeq to merge its various business units.Read more: Over 98% School Going Children in Urban Areas Access Internet Bezeq, Israel's dominant telecoms operator, had long argued for an end to its "structural separation", in which it is forced to keep its mobile phone, fixed line, satellite TV and internet units as separate entities.Permitting an end to structural separation would ultimately allow Bezeq to offer packages of phone, internet and TV. Its smaller competitors, many of which are barely making profit, have urged the regulator to keep the structural separation in tact, arguing that Bezeq will become more powerful.The Communications Ministry, Bezeq said, hinges on Bezeq's commitment to invest in infrastructure and accelerate the deployment of a fiber optics broadband network in 2017 and reach 76 percent of households within three years.Before amending Bezeq's license, the ministry intends to hold a hearing during 2017 regarding the procedures of the cancellation of the structural separation.Bezeq said it was examining the prospect of implementing measures to allow it to merge its units.(Reporting by Steven Scheer)
At least 18 people died Monday in Punjab province after consuming toxic liquor during Christmas celebration, according to authorities, Anadolu reported.

The deaths were reported in the Tobatek Singh district where more than two dozen Christians, mostly youngsters, consumed the liquor.

Seven people were transported to the hospital in unconscious condition and two wine sellers were also among the deceased, police chief Atif Imran told reporters.

Hundreds of deaths are reported annually in rural Pakistan from the consumption of low quality wine.

Sellers use chemicals to increase the potency of the liquor which often results in casualties.

Local media blame police for turning a blind eye to the illegal sale of liquor after receiving bribes.
New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping is trying to block the promotion of a potential successor and wants to remain in office for another term, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, quoting insiders of the Chinese Communist Party.



Mr. Xi, who is president, party chief and military commander, wants to keep going after 2022 and to explore a leadership structure just like the Putin model, the paper quoted says one party official as saying who meets regularly with top leaders.



Xi, who succeeded Hu Jintao as the Chinese President in 2012, is nearing the end of his five-year term.



The paper also said Xi has taken personal charge of the economy, the armed forces and most other levers of power, overturning a collective-leadership system introduced to protect against one-man rule after the death of Mao Zedong in 1976.



This is in sharp contrast to the Hu regime that believed in a more collaborative approach and collective responsibility.



President Xi was recently anointed as the "core" leader of China's ruling Communist Party, conferring on him a status similar to that of party founder 'Chairman' Mao Zedong and allowing him to further tighten his grip on the party, military, and government.



Sixty-three-year-old Xi also heads the party as general-secretary of the CPC, and the military besides the presidency. The move to make Xi the "core" leader has given him greater influence over the looming top reshuffle of the party late next year, analysts say.






Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is planning a "prime time" nuclear weapons push in 2017 to take advantage of leadership transitions in South Korea and the United States, a high-ranking defector said on Tuesday.



In his first press conference since fleeing his post as North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain in August, Thae Yong-Ho said Kim had issued a directive at a rare ruling party congress in May to "complete" nuclear development by the end of next year.



"With South Korea holding presidential elections and the US undergoing an administration transition, the North sees 2017 as the prime time for nuclear development," Thae told local reporters.



"That's based on a calculation that the US and South Korea will not be able to take physical, military measures because they are tied up with domestic politics," he added.



North Korea carried out two nuclear tests in 2016 and numerous missile launches in pursuit of its ultimate goal of a deterrent capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.



Analysts are divided as to how close Pyongyang is to realising that ambition, especially as it has never successfully tested an inter-continental ballistic missile.



But all agree it has made enormous strides in that direction since Kim took over as leader from his father, Kim Jong-Il who died in December 2011.



According to a transcript of his press conference, Thae said Kim would never trade away the North's nuclear arsenal -- no matter how large a financial incentive might be offered.



The North Korean leader's main aim is to open a new dialogue with the US from the position of a confirmed nuclear power, he said.



Washington has repeatedly vowed that it would never accept the North as a nuclear state.



Thae said he was ignorant of how much progress the North had really made with its nuclear weapons programme, saying such information was not given to diplomats.



"Even the foreign minister doesn't know," he added. Thae was living in London when he escaped to the South with his wife and two sons -- becoming one of the highest-ranking diplomats ever to defect.



The North's state media denounced him as "human scum", and accused him of embezzling state funds, raping a minor and spying for South Korea in exchange for money.


A lot of guiding principles shape Alex Johnstons career, but there is one she holds pretty high: Be willing to do the job that no one else is willing to do.

A tireless promoter of Lynchburg as a city economic development consultant, as well as an experienced hand at local politics only a few years out of college, Johnston is making a name for herself on the areas civic scene.

In just a few years, shes helped run political campaigns, found herself steeped in social service efforts and boosted Lynchburgs profile as a magnet for business growth.

She attributes part of her growing success to her willingness to take on big projects just like her motto suggests.

Johnston started working for social service programs and area political campaigns after graduating from Liberty University.

As campaign manager two years ago for at-large Lynchburg City Council member Joan Foster, she helped elect for the fourth time the woman who now serves as mayor.

Johnston isnt active in any campaigns right now, but thats mainly because she has so much on her plate in working on the areas economic growth.

She founded Cities Reimagined two years ago, hoping to inspire others to feel the kind love for Lynchburg that she has developed since coming here from Orlando, Florida, as a young Liberty student.

Lynchburg and LU had a transformative effect on Johnston, 28.

I had no plans to go on to college, she said. It just wasnt something that was in the cards for me.

One of her friends from Orlando went to Liberty and urged Johnston to give it a shot as well. Visiting Central Virginia was the breakthrough.

I really fell in love with Lynchburg and the city, she said.

Over time, Johnston honed intense interests in politics, social policy and community wealth-building.

Johnston earned bachelors and masters degrees in business administration and also graduated from the University of Virginias Sorenson Institute for Political Leadership.

Social work drives career

I really became interested in social justice, said Johnston, who has volunteered for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Central Virginia, which aims to help abused and neglected children in the 24th Judicial District.

Johnstons career right out of college began as a family support worker at Presbyterian Homes Healthy Families Virginia.

While passionate in this new role, she also started to notice its frustrations. After about two years, she began to see the barriers to impoverished families that arent always obvious. For example, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program offers short-term help to make ends meet, but when someone finds even a minimum-wage job to begin the climb out of poverty, they are disqualified, knocking them back down the financial ladder, she said.

In this way, the program could become a disincentive to getting a job, and become a cycle of poverty, she said.

Johnston, through both her economic development consulting and politics, is focused on social innovation to help address such problems in the community.

Getting engaged

Politics seemed a natural draw for Johnston given her dedication to social change.

She got involved in elections several years ago by joining the campaign of Katie Webb Cyphert of Lynchburg for the District 22 House seat. Cyphert, D-Lynchburg, a science teacher, lost the House race but remains active in local party politics.

Helping Cypherts campaign taught Johnston a great deal about both politics and policy  and sparked a special interest in fighting gerrymandering. Johnston said the Lynchburg map alone is carved up into several districts and she believes this is a roadblock to newcomers running for office.

Incumbents regularly take advantage of politically crafted districts in Virginia, she said. There are not competitive races  not here or around the state.

More recently, Johnston managed Foster's campaign; the City Council member assumed the mayor's post earlier this year.

Their friendship and collaboration goes back years. They first met when Johnston worked for Healthy Families.

We just became good friends, Foster said. She cared deeply for her program.

The same ethic drove her efforts in the council race two years ago, the mayor recalled.

She did a wonderful job, bringing enthusiasm, bringing her viewpoint, her youthfulness, said Foster, also emphasizing Johnstons strong research skills. She was a great campaign manager.

Despite her recent success, Johnston doesnt envision bigger roles in political campaigns for now. Running someones bid for office is better suited to 22- or 23-year-olds who are willing to devote 80 to 90 hours a week to a candidate, she said.

But dont count her out of politics, at least as an intellectual exercise.

Case in point: Johnston recently used her political prognosticating skills to win the Fall Pundit honor from the Virginia Public Access Project. She chose the winners in most statewide contests and ballot questions.

Her strategy? Choose incumbents as often as possible  gerrymandering, she calculated, weighed in their favor.

Helping the underdog

Johnston has a clear vision for her career down the road and that focuses on helping a small- to medium-size community like Lynchburg reach its economic potential.

That means focusing resources on creating products and services that help smaller cities face off against larger competitors.

Career-wise, I want to set myself up to provide a unique product for a city thats an underdog, she said.

Lynchburg has a lot going for it, she said, including a solid core of young professionals, a steady flow of business travel, a robust hospitality sector and natural assets like the James River and nearby mountains to entice new businesses and residents.

Foster said Johnstons energy and enthusiasm suit her well in the economic development field. For example, shes eager to look at other regions success stories.

Shes willing to go [to other cities] and travel and meet with folks in other communities, Foster said. I think thats a real plus for our city.

Her dedication, her youthful viewpoint and her openness to learning, the mayor said, are all part of what makes her a wonderful person.

Given the wide span of her interests, Johnstons career could branch off in many directions. But for now its clear that the future economic and social development of Lynchburg and cities like it are the laser focus of her professional growth.

She also wants to make sure her achievements are reached in a way people know they can count on her in the future.

My number-one priority as a professional, Johnston said, is to work with integrity and be a person that people can trust.
Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) will hold a registration event 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 7 in the Student Services Center at 3506 Wards Road, Lynchburg campus, in Amherst Hall, room 2100, according to a news release from the college. All current and potential students can register for spring 2017 classes at this event.

CVCC academic advisers and counselors will be on hand to answer questions, register students, and offer guidance on available courses and financial aid programs, plus other enrollment related matters.

Students also can register in person beginning Jan. 3, at the Student Services Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 6.

The deadline for registering online for CVCC spring classes is Jan. 8. The first day of classes is Jan. 9.

Central Virginia Community College is a two-year state public college. It serves students at the main campus in Lynchburg and centers in Amherst, Appomattox and Bedford.
A stove fire at a duplex in Lynchburg early Tuesday morning temporarily displaced residents and caused about $5,000 in damage.

John Norman, Lynchburgs deputy fire marshal of inspections, said firefighters responded to calls for a fire on the 1200 block of Garfield Avenue at about 3:12 a.m., getting to the scene in a little more than 90 seconds. The structure was a duplex, and Norman said at least four people live there.

It appears that one of the residents had started to cook something on the stove and forgot about it and left it unattended, and the grease in the pan caught on fire, he said.

Norman said the fire didnt lead to any structural damage but caused about $5,000 worth of smoke and heat damage to the residence.

He said four or more renters in the buildings two apartments temporarily were displaced by the blaze but will be able to move back in once insurance companies survey the damage done.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company, headquartered in Nelson County, made national news in April when it announced its acquisition by Anheuser-Busch.

The response was immediate, with some Virginia fans praising the decision while others vowed to boycott the companys products for selling out.

They've certainly been the recipient of some unnecessary hate, said Mary Wolf, owner of Wild Wolf Brewing, located just down Virginia 151 from Devils Backbone. Although, I understand why some people have that perception.

Since the deal between Anheuser-Busch and Devils Backbone, which was for an undisclosed amount, closed Sept. 1, co-owner Steve Crandall said he has seen little fallout in terms of revenue, which is up 18 percent to 20 percent over the same time last year.

Brewers create beverage in honor of veterans Six area breweries have teamed up to bring customers a beer thats tough enough to stare dow

In 2016, Devils Backbone produced about 75,000 barrels of beer, but next year, Crandall said they expect to produce somewhere around 95,000 barrels. The company also has increased its staff to 180 employees from 130 a year ago,including a dozen brewers, which was consistent with last year. Most of these hires were made before the acquisition, Crandall said.

This growth is part of an expansion plan that includes opening a $3 million distillery and other new additions to its existing locations in Roseland and Lexington.

Gold medals in brewing hop into Devils Backbone's trophy case The weekend of Oct. 7, Devils Backbone Brewing Company added two gold medals from the Great 

We have a partner now in this business thats funding our dream, Crandall said of the deal with Anheuser-Busch. We would have had to grow into this expansion that were doing, and it would have probably taken us 20 years to do so.

Devils Backbone products will enter markets in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York next year, Crandall said. The company also is expanding its territory in Tennessee.

Since the acquisition, Nelson County has not seen any changes in the brewerys operations and has noticed the same level of traffic at the Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows location in Roseland, said Maureen Kelley, the countys economic development director. The acquisition also has not negatively affected the countys Brew Ridge Trail, the states original self-guided craft beer trail, of which Devils Backbone and Wild Wolf are members.

Were continuing to see increases in our visitation to those establishments, she said. [Devils Backbone is] still a very strong local partner. Steve and Heidi Crandall are residents and committed to the Nelson economy. ... This sale is an opportunity for them to reinvest in Nelson County.

This does not mean that the deal with Anheuser-Busch has been without repercussions for Steve Crandall and Devils Backbone.

He has resigned from the board of directors of the Brewers Association of America, a trade association that represents small and independent breweries in the U.S., though Devils Backbone remains a part of the Brewers Association as an associate, nonvoting member.

In addition, the company now is ineligible for membership in the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and cannot compete in The Virginia Craft Brewers Fest, an annual event that through the years awarded Best in Show to Devils Backbone beer.

Theres been some misconception that somehow Devils Backbone was kicked out of the Guild, which is entirely untrue, said Eric McCay, co-owner of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, who chairs the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.

The bylaws, he said, always have defined Virginia craft brewers as small, independent and traditional, and as part of Anheuser-Busch, Devils Backbone no longer meets the criteria.

Still, for Crandall, the benefits outweigh the negatives.

In the past few months, the brewery has broken ground to expand its infrastructure at both the Basecamp and the Outpost Brewery & Tap Room in Lexington.

That deal basically included $25 million for us to build out the dream, Crandall said this month, the dream that the founders had on growing our craft brewery into eventually a national brand.

The projects at the Basecamp currently consist of paving the parking lot, a $250,000 job, as well as building an outdoor pavilion and a new office building. Construction is nearing completion on a new area focused on rare beers from Devils Backbone as well as other companies and a world-wide selection of high-end whiskeys and bourbons.

Devils Backbone will add a $3 million distillery and an addition to the existing Brewpub to house different types of fermenters for souring beers Brewmaster Jason Oliver will use.

This is going to really step up Jasons ability to do a lot of great experimentation with unique styles of beers, way more than hes done in the past, Crandall said.

It also has begun working with a civil engineer company out of Lexington to develop a year-round camping and RV area with cottages; Crandall said they hope to break ground on this new area in the spring.

Meanwhile, Lexington construction projects include a 50,000-square-foot packaging and shipping/receiving facility, upgrading equipment, including the addition of a barrel aging system. Devils Backbone also plans to triple the size of the existing taproom, which currently can serve about 50 people.

It was an amazingly brilliant move to align ourselves with Anheuser-Busch, Crandall said. They have the greatest interest in not affecting our DNA.  Theyre giving us tremendous amount of autonomy.

And as the beer community continues to grow accustomed to this change in ownership, Wolf said she expects some of the animosity toward the brewery to lessen.

I think your average consumer doesnt understand the significance nor do they necessarily care, she said. It matters that youre putting out amazing, fresh interesting beers, and if a companys still doing that, then Im not convinced who owns them is what really should matter.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim and opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli met on late Monday to discuss a new draft constitution, Anadolu reported.

According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the two leaders came together at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara.

The source said that Yildirim and Bahceli exchanged views on the fight against terrorism during the meeting.

The government has long sought to replace the current parliamentary system with a presidential one, saying there are flaws in the setup which hold back Turkeys development.

However, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party does not have enough lawmakers alone to enact the proposal. The draft constitution needs at least 330 votes in a secret parliamentary ballot to pave the way for a referendum.

The AK Party has 316 seats while the MHP has 40 lawmakers; both parties back the bill.

The largest opposition group, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) remains opposed to the changes.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that he will push for a referendum even if the draft is approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament.
Democrats need to stop grasping at straws.

Shocked by Donald Trumps win and dismayed at his half-billionaire, half-military junta cabinet, liberals are thrashing about in the stinking waters of dying American democracy, hoping against hope for something  anything  to stop Trump from becoming president.

Some Dems point to the CIA allegation that the president-elect received an assist, via WikiLeaks, from Russian government hackers. If this could proved, they ask, especially if Trump knowingly colluded with Vladimir Putins tech-savvy underlings to deny Hillary Clinton her God-intended victory, wouldnt that force him to step aside?

Sorry, my liberal friends: that deus wont ex machina.

First, the intelligence community hasnt presented a shred of evidence, much less proof, that the Russians hacked the DNC. When Trump scoffed that the wise men of U.S. intelligence were the same geniuses who gave us the Iraq War, he had a point. The spooks are discredited. No proof, no scandal. Even if there were proof, who would force Trump back to his Tower? Not the Republican congressmen and senators wallowing in the surprise win they handed him. No GOP leaders behind it, no impeachment.

Then there was the mother of all Hail Mary passes: trying to convince roughly 40 members of the Electoral College pledged to Trump to vote for Clinton instead. This, courtesy of Michael Moore et al., was much discussed in liberal circles. But this idea was doomed to failure. Electors are hacks slavishly devoted to their parties. Its much too much to ask them to turn faithless in support of a coup, to undermine democracy in support of a candidate whose approval ratings never climbed above (tied for) most unpopular ever.

There are only two realistic ways to get rid of President Trump: street protests and Democratic intransigence.

A sustained campaign of national street protests might make it so impossible for him to govern that he might lose support among influential Republican leaders, especially those from blue states.

Of course, Trump might order his cops and soldiers to shoot the protesters. Thats what China did to the students at Tiananmen Square, a crackdown of which Trump approved: Then [the Chinese authorities] were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. That shows you the power of strength.

Things may and probably will change. However, I wouldnt hold my breath waiting for a mass uprising a la Paris May 1968. Theres no party or group capable of mass organizing in the United States, much less a radical leftist front  which is what such a militant mobilization would require.

Protests are boring. It rains and snows. Cops are scary.

This is why the anti-Trump protests following Election Day petered out in less than a week, and why the January 21 Million Women March is likely to impress for a day, then be forgotten.

Our best chance to stop or slow down Trump lies with Democratic legislators in the House and Senate.

To a man, Trumps cabinet picks are morally objectionable, ideologically unacceptable and objectively unqualified: a climate denialist to the run the EPA, an idiot at HUD, a general (one of several) for the Pentagon who wants Congress to change a law mandating civilian rule, the CEO of ExxonMobil as secretary of state.

Democrats should say youre fired! to every last one of them.

And they can. Thanks to Harry Reid, the filibuster rule is no more, so Republicans can approve these guys with a simple majority. But any Democratic Senator may put a secret personal hold on a presidential appointee. Thats exactly what Democrats should do. And thats what we ought to demand. Let Trump go back to LinkedIn to find better-qualified nominees.

Democrats should demand special prosecutors to look into Trumps tax returns and the brazen conflicts of interest between his real estate business and his duties as president. Tie the bastard up with endless hearings, just like the GOP did with the Monica Lewinsky scandal and Benghazi.

Since Trumpism presents a grave and present danger to the republic, no Democratic legislator ought to negotiate with Republicans or vote for any Republican-sponsored bills. Yes, that counts the stuff Democrats might actually like, such as building new infrastructure. If the GOP wants it, the answer is no. Always. No matter what.

You dont find common ground with or cooperate with or reach out to a tyrant-in-waiting. Which, after the next terrorist attack or other security threat, is exactly what Trump will expose himself to be. Faced with incipient evil you stand firm, united in your conviction that everything that tyrant-in-waiting stands for is evil and un-American.

You block everything they want. You become the biggest party of no parliamentary democracy has ever known. Because even if youre not sure its the right thing to do, its smart.

Disgusted and now dominant, the Bernie Sanders wing of the Democratic Party is 10 seconds from bolting. Democrats have one last chance to act like Democrats  or watch their party come apart at the seams.

Nonresistance is futile.

Rall is a syndicated writer and cartoonist for ANewDominion.net and Skewed.net. His latest book is Trump: A Graphic Biography, an examination of the life of the Republican president-elect in comics form. Contact him through his website, Rall.com.
Ken Kaneki (Photo : YouTube/AnimeLab)

It was revealed about half a year ago that the Manga turned dark fantasy anime - "Tokyo Ghoul" will be having a live action featurette in 2017. As of late, the latest tease has been boasted just recently in the form of the film's movie poster showing who will portray the part of the anime series' protagonist - Ken Kaneki.



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The new visual features Japanese actor Masataka Kubota whose face is half-covered with the mask that he will be wearing in the upcoming film.



Masanori Morikawa helmed the costume design and it may well seem that the appearance of the characters in the movie will remain faithful to the ones depicted on both Manga and anime adaptations as he was quoted that he had worked with the film's director, Kentaro Hagiwara in providing the costumes additional style without compromising its original look, Manga Tokyo noted.



Hagiwara, on the other hand, commended Morikawa's work and added that both of them were very meticulous with the design making it even more realistic. The director went on saying that the grinning eye patched mask alongside its other body accessories fit Kubota perfectly.



In the interim, the third season of "Tokyo Ghoul's" anime adaptation is believed to be released next year. The upcoming installment of the show will feature Ken Kaneki assuming a different persona after he was almost killed by Kishou Arima who is the former "One-eyed King" before Ken, News Everyday quoted. Reports suggest that he will be taking on the role of a Commission of Counter Ghoul operative and carries the moniker, Haise Sasaki. The plot gets more complicated as it was also mentioned that his memory will be erased prior to joining the ghoul-tracking organization.



Below is the English-dubbed trailer for "Tokyo Ghoul" season 1.






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(Newser)  A Drexel University politics professor whose bio says he specializes in Latin American social movements claims a Christmas Eve tweet that spurred a #WhiteGenocide hashtag was meant to be satirical, but not everyone is taking it that way, including Drexel. Per the Philadelphia Inquirer, George Ciccariello-Maher tweeted on his account (now closed off as "protected") Saturday night: "All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide," adding a follow-up tweet on Sunday that read: "To clarify: when the whites were massacred during the Haitian revolution, that was a good thing indeed." Conservative websites and Twitter users expressed outrage at Ciccariello-Maher's tweets and denounced what they say is reverse racism, with one user noting, "LYING MSM only pretends to care about racism when it fits their agenda. Media won't talk about leftist professors advocating white genocide!"

But as of Monday, Ciccariello-Maher wasn't backing down, mainly because he says the "white genocide" concept is an "imaginary" one created by white supremacists and "used to denounce everything from interracial relationships to multicultural policies," he said in an email to the Inquirer. "It is a figment of the racist imagination, it should be mocked, and I'm glad to have mocked it," he added, noting he's received "hundreds of death threats." The university says it wants a meeting with the professor to "discuss this matter in detail." "While the University recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate ... Ciccariello-Maher's comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the University," the college said in a Sunday statementa statement Ciccariello-Maher says "sets a frightening precedent." ("White genocide" signs were hung from a Tennessee overpass.)
Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen

If Chinese actor Donnie Yen had second thoughts about taking on the role of Chirrut Imwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story because he would be away from his kids for months while shooting the movie, it was the other way around for fellow Chinese actor Jiang Wan.



Jiang Wan, who plays Baze Malbus  the protector of blind monk Chirrut Imwe  accepted the role partly because his son told the actor he wanted to see his father in an action hero role, CRI reported. After he signed, Jiang Wan said working with director Gareth Williams became more excited with the role.



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Excitement from Actor & Fans



The excitement comes from all actors feeling like students working together on a university campus, Jiang Wan said. If he was excited about his role, Chinese fans are said to be excited about watching the Star Wars standalone movie when it opens in China on Jan. 6.



It confirms the decision of Disney to get Chinese actors for key roles in Rogue One: A Star Wars Movie was correct because it would bring back Chinese moviegoers to the cinema and hopefully, help reverse the declining box-office receipts in the second-largest film market in the world. Another movie which targets Chinese audience, The Great Wall by director Zhang Yimou, is enjoying good box-office results in China.



Box-Office Receipt



In the U.S., Rogue One: A Star Wars Story clobbered Sing with an estimated box-office of $110 million for four days  more than 50 percent of Sings income  from 4,157 theaters. Its Saturday box-office was $15 million, while Sing earned $7.8 million on Saturday from 4,022 cinemas. Its four-day box-office receipts is estimated at $51 million to $54 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.



Two other movies that opened on Wednesday, Passengers and Assassins Creed were left way behind with box-office receipts on Saturday of $2.8 million from 3,478 moviehouses and $2.2 million from 2,970 theaters, respectively.






(Newser)  Six Tennessee inmates who decided they didn't want to spend Christmas in jail broke out early Sunday by pulling a leaky toilet from a wall. Police say five of the inmates who escaped from the Cocke County Jail Annex in Newport were recaptured, but one, 54-year-old David Wayne Frazier, is still on the run and is considered to be dangerous, ABC News reports. He was being held on charges of aggravated robbery and being a felon in unlawful possession of a weapon. Police say one escaped inmate was caught at a home, another was captured after a foot chase, another was arrested after a patrolman spotted him in a vehicle, a fourth was arrested by an undercover narcotics officer, and the father of a fifth persuaded him to turn himself in Monday night, reports CBS News. Several people found with the escapees were also arrested.

The sheriff's department says that to make their escape at around 1:30am Christmas morning, the men simply pulled the toilet out of the wall and "gained access to a hole which led outside of the facility," the Knoxville News Sentinel reports. A water leak had rusted the bolts connecting the unit to the wall and damaged the concrete behind it. Another 17 men stayed behind in the dormitory-style cell. Sheriff Armando Fontes says that after getting through the hole, the men only had to kick down a tin door and climb a fence to escape. "We've had multiple issues with this facility concerning water breaks, sewage breaks, deterioration of the facility," he tells WBIR. "It's a never-ending task to try to keep this place and this facility operational." (Read more prison break stories.)
(Newser)  Capt. Niloofar Rahmani's story seems to sum up the dismal state of women's rights in Afghanistan more than 15 years after the Taliban were forced from power. The 25-year-old is the first female fixed-wing pilot in her country's air force, but she says she has received death threats both from Taliban insurgents and from distant relatives who believe she has disgraced the family, the Times of London reports. Rahmani, who became famous in her homeland after graduating from a pilot training program run by the US-led coalition, finished another 15 months of training in the US last week and has applied for asylum in the US, saying that she would love to fly for her country, but she's scared for her life, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Rahmani, who was honored with the State Department's Women of Courage Award in 2015, says distant relatives outraged by her career choice have tried to kill her brother and have forced her family to move several times. She tells the Journal that if she's allowed to stay in the US, she will fly either for the US Air Force or as a commercial pilot. "Everything I went through, all my suffering, was because I really wanted to fly. That was my dream," she says. She also says she was harassed and treated with contempt by male Afghan colleagues, though a Defense Ministry spokesman accuses her of lying, reports the New York Times. The Journal notes that Donald Trump declined to answer a reporter's question last year on whether his proposed ban on Muslim immigration would apply to people like Rahmani. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)
(Newser)  Israel has been voicing its displeasure about the United States' abstention from a UN Security Council vote Friday that called for an end to illegal Israeli settlements. So has Donald Trump, who's vowed "things will be different after Jan. 20th." Now Israel is offering the president-elect what it says is proof that President Obama helped set up the resolution, the Guardian reports. "We have rather iron-clad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place," a rep for PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News. Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to DC, elaborated Monday. "It's an old story that the United Nations gangs up on Israel," he said, per the Hill. "What is new is that the United States did not stand up and oppose that gang up. And what is outrageous is that the United States was actually behind that gang up."

The Guardian notes Israel making this threat to present "evidence" to an incoming president against one still in the Oval Office "appears almost unprecedented." But the White House insists that while Obama did decide US Ambassador Samantha Power would abstain during Friday's vote, he wasn't involved in putting together the resolution. "We did not draft this resolution; we did not introduce this resolution. We made this decision when it came up for a vote," Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said Friday in a statement. Meanwhile, Israel indicated it's going to flout the UN resolution and go ahead with plans for thousands of new homes in East Jerusalem, per the New York Times. "Israel is a country with national pride, and we do not turn the other cheek," Netanyahu said Monday. (Trump thinks the UN is just a club for people to "have a good time.")
(Newser)  Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where the bloodshed of the surprise attacks drew America into World War II. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, starting just six years after the end of the war, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial that now rests on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona, the AP reports.

For Obama, it's likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima. Abe will not apologize for Pearl Harbor, his government has said. Nor did Obama apologize at Hiroshima in May. No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a US Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy." "War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do." China, meanwhile, criticized Abe's visit as an insincere attempt to absolve Japan of its wartime aggression. (Read more Pearl Harbor stories.)
(Newser)  They braced themselves for the possibility of more than a million guests, but in the end, Rubi Ibarra Garcia's family only had to deal with thousands who showed up for the 15-year-old's birthday party in La Joya, Mexico. It all started when her dad, Crescencio Ibarra, put up a Facebook invite and video for Rubi's Dec. 26 quinceanera, originally intended just for family and friendsbut he set the invite to "public" instead of "private," leading to at least 1.2 million RSVPs, People reports. But Ibarra took his online gaffe in stride and vowed not to turn away anyone who showed up, reports the BBC, and on Monday, there were dozens of tents and food-laden tables waiting for both expected guests and party crashers.

Monday afternoon, as the crowds flocked to what People called Rubi's "overwhelming" event, someone posting in the birthday girl's name wrote on Facebook: "Hello! To all those who have already arrived I ask you to please do not despair because in truth we are many people.  I am only asking for patience so that we can all enjoy this party which was made for you all." The BBC notes that the party seemed to largely go off without a hitch, though Ibarra seemed "exasperated" by the media at one point and warned he'd cut the party short if reporters didn't back away from his daughter, who was decked out in a fuchsia ruffled gown and tiara. There was one notably unexpected and tragic outcome: Ibarra had arranged for a horse race during the celebration, with a nearly $500 prize, and the owner of one of the horses was killed when he got too close to the galloping action. (Read more quinceaneras stories.)
(Newser)  Four men have been arrested in India after a US tourist says she was gang-raped but only remembered the assault three months later. The 25-year-old teacher from Pennsylvania claims she was given drugged water in her room at the five-star Park Hotel in New Delhi and then raped by five men on April 8 and 9. She tells NDTV that she returned to the US with no memory of the assault but "regained my memory ... towards [the] end of July," and then filed a complaint through an American NGO. She returned to India last week to give a statement and identify the accuseddescribed as a tour guide, bus driver, driver's assistant, and hotel employeebecause she was "not confident" with the progress of the investigation, per the Indian Express.

Though four suspects were arrested Monday, they had initially been cleared by a travel agency that employs them, reports the Press Trust of India, per ABC Australia. When questioned, the men reportedly told investigators they were being falsely accused, noting the woman had voluntarily traveled with them to the Taj Mahal a day after the alleged assault. However, a police rep says the victim "helped us collect clinching evidence" upon her return to India. The woman also told police that the men threatened to release a video of the assault and claimed to have raped other female tourists, reports the Express. The woman, expected to return to the US on Tuesday, says the arrests are a "positive step," per the Guardian. (Read more India stories.)
(Newser)  The body of a DC yoga instructor who disappeared on Christmas has been found, according to her family and police. NBC Washington reports that Tricia McCauley's brother made the sad announcement on Facebook Tuesday morning, offering thanks to his 46-year-old sister's "DC family." "Tricia is gone, they have found her body," Brian McCauley posted, per WUSA9. "Thank you all for your work, support and love.  Hang on to each other." Peter Newsham, the Metropolitan Police Department's interim chief, says they have a suspect in custody, though specific charges haven't yet been announced, per CBS News. An autopsy still needs to be carried out on McCauley's body, though Newsham notes there are signs of trauma.

McCauley, also said to be an actress and herbalist, went missing Sunday afternoon on her way to a holiday dinner at a friend's house; she also missed a Monday morning flight out of Reagan National Airport. Her brother says her cellphone was discovered Monday evening, and later that night, a man was spotted on surveillance video driving her white Scion iQ. Shortly after midnight, local media started reporting the car had been found on M Street in front of a CVS, and police confirmed her body was discovered inside the vehicle. The suspect had reportedly robbed a CVS and assaulted workers there during the time McCauley was missing (it's not clear if it's the same CVS the car was found in front of). (The founder of a yoga chain that's been called the "Starbucks of yoga" was found dead earlier this month.)
(Newser)  Armed men posing as members of security forces have kidnapped an Iraqi journalist from her home in Baghdad. Afrah Shawqi al-Qaisi, also identified as Afrah Shawqi Hammudi, was seized around 10pm Monday in the Saidiya neighborhood, say security officials. "Eight armed men burst into her house in Saidiya dressed in plain clothes and entered by pretending to belong to the security forces," a rep for the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory tells the AFP. He tells the BBC that the men tied up al-Qaisi's 16-year-old son, beat her brother-in-law, and stole money along with al-Qaisi's car, computers, and cellphones. Earlier Monday, al-Qaisi had published an article on a local news website that criticized armed groups that "act with impunity" in Iraq.

The freelance writer, 43who also works for Iraq's culture ministry but recently protested against government corruptionhad also condemned an interior ministry official whom she accused of assaulting a school principal who didn't punish a student who'd fought with the official's daughter, per the BBC. Baghdad Governor Ali al-Tamimi describes the kidnapping as a "barbaric" act meant to "persecute and muzzle journalists." In a statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi calls for an urgent investigation into al-Qaisi's kidnapping and presses authorities to "make utmost efforts in order to save her life and to preserve her safety," reports CNN. "Please release her for the sake of her children," adds her sister. "I am so scared." (Read more Iraq stories.)
(Newser)  Three snowmobilers survived Christmas night outside in below zero temperatures without emergency supplies in a scenario a Maine Warden Service rep notes "could have turned out much worse." Dorothy Gould, Valerie Morrow, and Alice Meadowwho'd been camping near Millinocket, Mainewere snowmobiling toward Kokadjo on Sunday evening when two of their snowmobiles got stuck, Cpl. John MacDonald says, per the Portland Press Herald. Gould, 62, then went in search of help but became lost and ran out of gas. An "intense search" involving 12 game wardens and two aircraft was launched after the women were reported missing around 2:30am Monday. Morrow and Meadow, both in their 50s, were later found "cold and hungry" but safe on a trail.

Meanwhile, wardens grew increasingly concerned about Gould, particularly as there was open water and thin ice in the area. Gould, however, ended up near a campground in Baxter State Park, more than 40 miles from camp, where she was able to get into a cabin and build a fire. She stayed the night before encountering snowmobilers who gave her gas on Monday morning and met up with game wardens in Millinocket around noon, reports the Bangor Daily News. While the three women are lucky to have survived this "very dangerous" incident, "it is critical to be prepared for an unexpected stay in the woods and those who snowmobile are reminded to bring a communication device, area trail maps, and a means to start a fire," MacDonald says. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
(Newser)  As Iraqi forces continue their battle against ISIS in Mosul, there's another problem lurking just 25 miles away from the embattled city: the Mosul Dam, a structure the US Army Corps of Engineers has called the "most dangerous dam in the world," per a piece by Dexter Filkins in the January 2 New Yorker. It's not the dam itself that has both American and Iraqi officials worried: It's that the structure is built on void-prone gypsum rock, which needs constant cement injections; without that fortification, the ground underneath the dam will be whisked away and the dam will sink and crumble. When the dam was being built, experts assured then-leader Saddam Hussein the gypsum problem could be managed, and the Mosul Dam was completed in the mid-'80sbut structural problems were immediately evident. After the US invasion in 2003, Americans tried to spur the Iraqis to further fortify the dam, but they were (and still are) met with runaround. "The Americans are exaggerating," the dam's director scoffs. "This dam is not going to collapse. Everything is going to be fine."

Most of the dam's workers fled when ISIS took over the dam and the Mosul grout plant in 2014, and even though Kurdish forces retook the dam, grouting stopped for anywhere from three weeks to 18 months, based on conflicting stories. Now there's the extra pressure that will likely be put on the retaining wall as winter snow melts in the spring. And if the dam does break down? There could be a "catastrophe of Biblical proportions" in the form of an enormous wave towering up to 100 feet above the Tigris River and sweeping up all within a hundred miles. It would submerge much of Mosul, which would be hard to evacuate due to its ISIS stranglehold. Baghdad would also feel the effects within days from a 16-foot-high wave slamming into it. And the entire country would likely be left without power and see most of its wheat fields flooded. Total death toll: up to a million and a half people. "It's a nuclear bomb with an unpredictable fuse," an Iraqi-American civil engineer says. Read more of Filkins' piece on this looming disaster at the New Yorker. (Read more Longform stories.)
Liaoning Heads for Its First Training Exercises Off Chinese Waters to Demonstrate Combat Capability

This picture taken on an undisclosed date in December 2016 shows Chinese J-15 fighter jets waiting on the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier during military drills in the Bohai Sea, off China's northeast coast. (Photo : Getty Images)

The Liaoning, the first aircraft carrier commissioned into the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force, led a fleet of battleships in the Western Pacific Ocean. This will be for China's first training exercises off Chinese waters to showcase the carrier's defense capabilities as well as battle readiness.



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According to the Japanese defense ministry's joint staff press release, Japan spotted seven Chinese naval ships accompanying the Liaoning, passing the Miyako Strait. The fleet comprises of three frigates, three destroyers and one supply ship.



Liang Yang, the spokesperson of the People's Liberation Army of China, said in an official statement that the Liaoning will head to the Western Pacific to conduct military drills.



Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said: "In general, the composition of this battle group is similar to other countries', except China doesn't have a guided missile cruiser. In this battle group, the destroyers are responsible for early warning air-defense and anti-aircraft missions, and the frigates defend against anti-surface vessels and anti-submarine missions."



In addition, he said that "in the past four years, China's first aircraft carrier conducted exercises in the Yellow Sea, the South China Sea and the East China Sea before the Western Pacific, and these prove that the Liaoning and the battle group have achieved combat capability."



A report from navy.81.cn, a daily website for the PLA, indicated that the Liaoning conducted drills in the East China Sea last Saturday morning under the supervision of Wu Shengli, commander of the PLA navy.



Li Jia, a navy expert based in Beijing, said: "As the world's second-largest economy with tremendous overseas interests, China needs aircraft carrier battle groups with long-distance capability to protect its national interests.



"This is a show of strength and showcases China's resolve and ability to safeguard its sovereignty over South China Sea islands and maritime interests."



Zhao, a research fellow from the Center on China-U.S. Defense Relations of the PLA Academy of Military Science, stated that the Liaoning has no intention of alarming other countries with its military exercises on the Western Pacific.



He said: "Liaoning's training in the Western Pacific is not a military deterrent to the U.S., Japan or Taiwan island, but this deployment will make them nervous because an aircraft carrier is a strategic weapon."


(Newser)  A naval program that has become a target for critics is preparing to commission a new vessel named after a well-known shooting survivor. The USS Gabrielle Giffords, constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., has completed testing in the Gulf of Mexico and is scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2017, the AP reports. The company handed over the $475 million ship to the Navy on Friday. Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot during a 2011 assassination attempt, helped christen the ship in 2015. The 421-foot-long Giffords will be the ninth in a series of high-speed vessels designed to navigate in shallow coastal regions known as littoral waters. It's part of a hotly debated program that congressional critics slam as flawed and too expensive but that Navy leaders defend as a critical new step in naval warfighting.

Arizona Sen. John McCain has cited the $12.4 billion spent for 26 littoral combat ships as the worst example of wasteful Pentagon spending. The ship's name also has become a target for conservatives who see it as promoting stricter gun laws, a cause Giffords has promoted. The Navy said it chose to name the ship in honor of Giffords because of the perseverance she showed after the shooting. "Courage comes in many, many formsphysical, mental, spiritual, and political. Gabby has truly modeled courage and resilience," Vice Adm. Philip Cullom said at the christening ceremony. Constructed from aluminum and featuring a distinctive trimaran design, the Giffords is armed with missiles, machine guns, and fast-firing weapons designed to hit a variety of targets. Its normal crew of 40 sailors and officers can be supplemented as needed for missions. (Read more Gabrielle Giffords stories.)
(Newser)  The most famous, and unlikeliest, hacker in the news this week is little Ashlynd Howell of Little Rock, Ark. The exploits of the enterprising 6-year-old first came to light in a Wall Street Journal story about the difficulties of keeping presents a secret in the digital age. It seems that while mom Bethany was sleeping on the couch, Ashlynd gently picked up her mother's thumb and used it to unlock the Amazon app on her phone. She then proceeded to order $250 worth of Pokemon presents for herself. When her parents got 13 confirmation notices about the purchases, they thought that either they'd been hacked (they were, as it turned out) or that their daughter had ordered them by mistake. But she proudly explained, "No, Mommy, I was shopping." The Howells were able to return only four of the items.

That nugget from the Journal story has now charmed the Internet. "Child genius," declares a post at New York magazine, while Gizmodo hails this "kid hero." CNET points out that the FTC has been cracking down online retailers, including Amazon, Apple, and Google, for making it too easy for kids to buy things, but suggests parents might want to wear gloves while napping around gift time. "This is pretty unique case, as several factors contributed to the childs digital shopping spree, including the Amazon app being set up for password-free ordering," observes a post at BGR. But it shows just how easy it is to foil security features, adds Mike Wehner. "I mean, really, if a six-year-old can beat it, just how secure is it?" (Returning too much stuff can get you banned on Amazon.)
It is reported that "cheetahs" may be close to being extinct in the present times. There has been a significant decline of cheetahs in the past years.

A study by the Zoological Society of London headed by Sarah Durant indicates that there are only 7,100 "cheetahs" that are remaining. The decline of the population has been happening for the past 100 years. The majority of the remaining "cheetahs" on Earth can be found in Africa.

However, there are a few that can be found in Iran. Durant has indicated that the population of cheetahs has been recently in decline. It seems that there is no addition to the population of the animals lately. It also is indicated in a report that the reason for the decline of the cheetahs may be because of the decrease of their natural habitat. There are also those who are being attacked by the villagers. Aside from these reasons, the cheetah cubs are also being killed by some for fashion statement.

There are already more and more cheetahs being killed and so the population is declining most of the time. The decline of the population needs to be taken into serious account since cheetahs are already on the verge of being extinct.

Angola is trying to make a move in protecting the cheetahs so to preserve their species. Cheetahs need to have a wide area in order for them to live longer. These cats also need a better habitat for them to work around and they need to be taken care of.

Meanwhile, the cheetah cubs are being used for business. It takes up to $10,000 in the black market. It is big business for those that are trying to sell the cubs. It is reported that there has been an estimated of 1,200 cubs being trafficked from Africa for the past 10 years. An estimate of 85% of these cats being transported die along the way.
China to Hold Two Important Summits in 2017, Expected to Promote Multilateral Relations Further

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (L), Zhang Dejiang (C) and former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa (R) open the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on May 18, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images)

China will hold two important summits in 2017, which are the Belt and Road summit and the 9th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit.



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According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Belt and Road initiative seeks to bring together countries all around the world via overland. Xi Jinping also laid out a five-point proposal regarding this, which includes cooperative programs mapping out a shared development vision, coping with the most pressing global challenges, and building an open world.



Wang Yu, a former Vice Foreign Minister of China, said: "The international cooperation summit forum on the Belt and Road initiative will be a strategic measure to boost the world economy, an important platform to deepen international cooperation and China's innovative practice to implement the concept of win-win cooperation."



There is a breakthrough regarding a multilateral development under the initiative this year, as China, Russia and Mongolia officially signed plans to build an economic corridor.



There is also a steady progress with regard to synergizing the initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union.



Wang Yiwei, a research fellow of international relations at the Renmin University of China, said: "So far, over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their willingness to support and join the initiative. China has signed cooperation agreements on the initiative with more than 40 countries and international organizations."



BRICS is an association of five major emerging national economies, and its leaders meet annually through formal summits. The 9th BRICS summit is scheduled in Sept. 2017 and will be held in Xiamen, China.



Zhu Jiejin, deputy director with the Center for BRICS Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University, said: "The summit in Xiamen is seen by many as a milestone for BRICS cooperation as its members strive for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive global growth."



"The BRICS summit will provide some member states within the BRICS block with an opportunity to turn to China when Western countries cannot be relied on," Ni Feng, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.


The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574.
Melbourne:

Strategic ties between Australia and India heavily benefited in the year 2016 due to active economic, defence engagements and improved cultural linkages, which in turn offered a good base to further cement bilateral relations.

The year kicked off with an important visit by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with a large group of top business and industry leaders to explore and seek Australian investments, especially from the estimated 2 trillion dollar superannuation funds industry."The Australia-India relationship (in 2016) was stronger, more diverse and more active than has ever been the case," said Australian High Commissioner to India, Harinder Sidhu.

Sidhu said the bilateral relationship which was elevated to the status of strategic partnership in 2009, had grown dramatically and "since the time our two Prime Ministers visited each others' countries in 2014, it has accelerated again."

Overall on the economic front, India was Australia's ninth largest trading partner and fifth largest export market, with two-way trade valued at around 20 billion dollars. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently told a business leaders meeting that his government had 'high hopes' of concluding the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with discussions to be ramped up in 2017 with the Indian side.

Turnbull is also expected to visit India next year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited him on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China in September. On the defence and security front, the then Indian Army chief General Dalbir Singh made a five-day official trip to Down Under where he held high-level talks to expand military-to-military ties and visited an Australian military school.

The two sides held the annual bilateral maritime dialogue this year as part of a comprehensive bilateral architecture which covers issues as diverse as counter-terrorism, energy security and science and technology. According to Sidhu, the bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement had entered into force, enabling the export of uranium to India.

"We are moving to build a reliable basis for commercial uranium sales to India. As new reactors come online, we hope to supply a good part of India's 2,000 tonne demand per year," she said.

Early this year, a new social security agreement signed between India and Australia came into operation enabling people of both nations to avail retirement benefits in each other's country, a pact likely to boost bilateral business linkages."This is expected to save Australian businesses operating in India about 10 million dollar per year, and put Australian businesses on an equal footing with their competitors from other countries that already have similar agreements with India," Australian Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer had said.

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New Delhi:

Submit your old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks before December 30 if you want to avoid heavy penalty. According to reports, holding high amount of junked banknotes after December 30 can draw a fine of Rs 50,000 or 5 times the amount in old notes.



There is a thinking within the government to provide for penalising those caught with high amounts of banned notes. If this is introduced, it will be in the form of an ordinance, a government official in the know of the matter told media.



The officer, who did not wish to be identified, referred to a constitutional provision that allows a law to be enacted when Parliament is not in session. There was no official word on the move which was likely to come up before the cabinet on Wednesday, news agency PTI said.

Also read | Demonetisation: RBI gives additional 60 days to repay crop loans to farmers; prompt repayment to get extra 3 per cent interest subsidy



In this ordinance is implemented than it will be in violation of earlier announcement, made by PM Modi on Nov 8, which allows people to deposit old notes at Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017.



But since the announcement, the government and RBI have frequently changed rules, 60 times at the last count.



December 30 is the day when the governments deadline for currency overhaul ends, which is expected to bring an end to the cash withdrawal limits and other restrictive measures on currency deposit and withdrawal. However, the government is also expected to notify a slew of new cash rules.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 on Tuesday offloaded all its passengers after it skidded off the runway at Dabolim airport of Goa.

All passengers are safe as reported by Jet Airways statement.

We regret to inform flight 9W 2374 from GOI  BOM, with 154 guests and 7 crew, veered off the runway while aligning for take off. All guests and crew have been safely evacuated. Few guests have sustained injuries during the evacuation process," the statement read.

It further said, "Medical assistance is being coordinated to those injured by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities.

ALSO READ: (2016 Plane crashes: Civil aviation's safety record marred by series of air disasters)

HERE IS THE FULL STATEMENT BY JET AIRWAYS

Jet Airways regrets to inform that its flight 9W 2374, from GOI  BOM of today, with 154 guests and 7 crew, veered off the runway while aligning for takeoff.

All guests and crew have been safely evacuated. Few guests have sustained injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities.

Navy sources said 15 people suffered minor injuries and fractures in the process. Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities, the airlines said in a statement.

Besides 154 passengers, there were 7 crew members on board. The airport has been closed for operations till 12.30 pm for all flight operations, airport sources said.

ALSO READ: (Mishap averted as Indigo and SpiceJet aircrafts have a near miss at Delhi's IGI airport; DGCA orders probe)

When people were getting down the plane, it suddenly tilted forward triggering panic and chaos, a passenger told reporters at Chicalim cottage hospital in Vasco.

With Inputs from PTI

#WATCH: Passengers, who were injured after Mumbai bound Jet Airways flight skidded off runway at Goa airport, being taken for treatment pic.twitter.com/JUWYRpFe1r  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

It is superstar Salman Khanas 51st birthday today and the celebrations are going in full swing at his Panvel farmhouse.

The actor is celebrating his special day at his farmhouse with his friends and family.

Special arrangements were made for Khanas big day as the party begin last night itself and was attended by several Bollywood A-listers.

The birthday boy looked dapper in his formal attire as he wore a black shirt along with grey trousers. Besides, Salman was also seen wearing a aBeing Humana locket.

While Khan is too attached with his aBeing Humana, his birthday cake too seemed to have an effect of it.A

Yes! Salmanas birthday cake was a Being Human cake which was layered with Salmanas filmsa posters.

Amidst all the celebration, the aBajrangi Bhaijaana star had a special guest this year. It was his nine months old nephew Aahil.

Salman shared an adorable picture on his Instagram account were he is seen cutting his birthday cake along with Aahil and brother-in-law Aayush Sharma.

A photo posted by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) on Dec 26, 2016 at 10:40am PST

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Happy Birthday my heart #SalmanKhan #BeingSalmanKhan #happybirthdaysalmankhan @beingsalmankhan A photo posted by NDNSP (Salman Khan) YYYY (@salmanyakturk) on Dec 26, 2016 at 6:16pm PST

On the other hand, Salmanas co-star from aMaine Pyaar Kyun Kiyaa Bina Kak also gave a sneak peak of the actoras birthday celebration.

The actress posted the pictures of Panvel farmhouse which was all lit for the celebrations. It is reported that the family will have a week-long celebration at the farmhouse which will last till the New Year.

#happytimes# super hospitable lot # family # love light # God bless my brother from another mother my child # blessings galore @beingsalmankhan A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 5:37am PST

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#partybegins#love#fun#celebrations#friends#lovedones#togetherness,photocourtesy @shahdaisy @ashley_rebello @vanturiulia @amritakj A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 5:08am PST

#happybirthday my darling # blessings today n always # stay blessed .. A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 8:52am PST

#friendsforever @srishti.sawhney @shwetarohira @vvsquare A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 1:48pm PST

Several celebs like Daisy Shah, Sangeeta Bijlani, along with Kabir Khan and his wife Mini Mathur were spotted at the party.

#bringing in budday alltogether @shahdaisy @sangitabijlani9 A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 8:46am PST

A

#partybegins#love#fun#celebrations#friends#lovedones#togetherness,photocourtesy @shahdaisy @ashley_rebello @vanturiulia @amritakj A photo posted by Bina Kak (@kakbina) on Dec 26, 2016 at 5:08am PST

A

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Kabir Khan @kabirkhankk with wife @minimathur at Salman Khan's Birthday Party ! pic.twitter.com/NrQS8VEpOX a Team Kabir Khan (@teamkabirkhan) December 26, 2016

On the work front, Salman Khan is currently busy working on Kabir Khanas upcoming directorial aTubelighta. The movie will also star Chinese actress Zhu Zhu and is touted to release on Eid next year.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Tokyo:

To understand how plants sense gravity and stimulate their own growth, scientists have examined cucumber seedlings germinated under microgravity conditions of the International Space Station (ISS). Cucumbers feature specialised protuberances, or pegs, whose formation is regulated by gravity.

These pegs form during the plants early growth stage to help the seedlings emerge from their hard seed coat and anchor the developing plant in the soil while its roots form.

When seeds are placed before germination either in a vertical position with their embryonic roots pointing down or subjected to microgravity conditions, a peg develops on each side, said Hideyuki Takahashi from Tohoku University in Japan.

However, when they are placed horizontally on the ground, peg formation on the upper side is suppressed in response to gravity.

Using samples grown on board the ISS, researchers highlight the valuable contribution of the gravity-sensitive CsPIN1 protein to this process.

The role of the protein in facilitating the transport of the growth hormones had first been suggested in previous experiments conducted on Earth.

To gain further insight, researchers loaded cucumber seeds into specially designed canisters, which were sent up to ISS.

Water-absorbent plastic foam in the container was irrigated and the now-germinating seedlings were grown in the microgravity compartment of the cell biology experiment facility for 24 hours.

Then the cucumber seedlings were either maintained in microgravity or gravi-stimulated by applying a one-gram centrifugal force for a further two hours.

One of the big challenges facing the team was finding a suitable fixative to freeze the status of the seedlings germinated on the space station so that the samples could be analyzed in detail back on Earth.

Safety regulations on the space station prohibited the use of the standard fixing solution of ethanol, chloroform and acetic acid, but after much testing, scientists developed an alternative based on a mixture of acetic acid, ethanol and distilled water.

Researchers then used a staining technique to pinpoint changes in cellular behaviour induced by gravi-stimulation.

Examining cross sections of the seedlings under a microscope, the scientists found that the CsPIN1 protein can relocalize under the influence of gravity.

The change in the position of protein was found to occur in the transition zone of the cucumber seedling - the area between the stem and the roots - where the pegs develop.

It appears that this behaviour stimulates the formation of a cellular canal capable of transporting growth hormones from one side of this zone to the other, researchers said.

The findings point towards the mechanism by which the seeds are able to turn on and off the growth of their anchoring pegs in relation to their orientation with respect to gravity.

The study was published in the journal Nature Microgravity.

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New Delhi:

Amid much dissention and protests over the demonetisation drive by Centre, Congress has scheduled a joint press conference to galvanize all the Opposition partys support to strengthen their attack on Modi government.

But Congress plans to onslaught against government seems to be a non-starter as most of the parties decide to stay away from the conference.

Some Opposition leaders seem to be miffed with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the winter session of Parliament without even informing or consulting them.

ALSO READ: (Oppn's battle against PM Modi's demonetisation move: Mamata reaches Delhi to attend joint meeting, Left and JDU to stay away)

Congress President Sonia Gandhi had on Monday invited opposition parties across the board to sharpen the attack against Centre on demonetisation and its woes.

Mamata Banerjee  the only all-weather friend of Congress

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee seems to be the only all-weather friend of Congress as she arrived in Delhi on Monday to attend the meeting of opposition parties and joint press conference.

Banerjee will attend the media briefing at Constitution Club along with other Opposition leaders including representatives from DMK and RJD among others.

ALSO READ: (BJP makes scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, claims he's making baseless charges against PM Modi in frustration)

A top TMC leader told PTI while reacting to CPI-M's pull-out, said, "It is the CPI-M's internal matter. But we feel that it is for them to decide on which side they are."

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury in Kolkata, said: We have decided to stay away from the press conference of Opposition parties convened by the Congress because there has been no proper consultation and coordination among the parties.

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Hawaii:

Japanese Prime Minister Shizo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit on Tuesday to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath. He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl.

He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head. He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Japans former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the countrys World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built.

Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, its significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe wont apologize for Japans attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology.

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

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Final Destruction of ISIS will take Two More Years, says Top US Army General

Dead ISIS fighters in Mosul. (Photo : Iraqi Army)

The destruction of ISIS or ISIL in Iraq and Syria might take two more years of bitter and costly fighting that will nonetheless lead to the extermination of this murderous group's military capabilities.



U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve and the Army's XVIII Airborne Corps, said it might take two more years to completely cleanse Mosul and Raqqa of ISIS, and destroy the scattered remnants of ISIS' fighting force that will likely escape into the vast desert between Syria and Iraq.



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Gen. Townsend, who is half-German and half-Afghan, said the campaign that will lead to the extermination of ISIS is going, but is proceeding as well as can be expected. This because ISIS has had time to prepare its defenses and the fighting is extremely brutal.



Gen. Townsend said the Iraqi Army and its coalition forces have paused in their fight for Mosul over the past week. The Iraqis have been fighting in Mosul since Oct. 17.



The Iraqis are taking stock and resupplying units. Casualties have been higher than expected, with losses in some units as high as 30 percent.



"People need to rest. They need to assess how things are going because they are not going as fast as we thought," said Gen. Townsend.



The Iraqis are now feeding fresh reinforcements into the fight, as well as restocking with ammunition.



Media reports suggest Iraqi combat deaths are higher than those for ISIS, but the campaign has devolved into a war of attrition the Iraqis are bound to win since they heavily outnumber ISIS.



Iraq's Joint Military Command on Dec. 26 announced that 100 ISIS fighters were killed by Iraqi and coalition forces on Christmas Day in Mosul. The terrorists were killed in three separate actions.



Iraqi, Kurdish Peshmerga, tribal militia and coalition forces launched the offensive in October to retake Mosul, the last ISIS held city in Iraq.



Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) is the Joint Task Force established by the international, U.S.-led coalition against ISIS and was set-up by the U.S. Central Command to coordinate military efforts against ISIS.


New Delhi:

Minister of State for Finance Arjun Meghwal on Tuesday confirmed that the Union Government is set to bring an ordinance for the process of depositing old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 after set deadline of December 30, due to expire in three days.



On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that old notes can be deposited in the Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017. However, media reports on Monday night suggested that government may issue an ordinance to levy heavy penalty on people in possession of 10 or more notes of junk currency.



There is a thinking within the government to provide for penalising those caught with high amounts of banned notes. If this is introduced, it will be in the form of an ordinance, a government official in the know of the matter quoted in media.



Since the Nov 8 announcement, the government and RBI have frequently changed rules, 60 times at the last count.



December 30 is the day when the governments deadline for currency overhaul ends, which is expected to bring an end to the cash withdrawal limits and other restrictive measures on currency deposit and withdrawal. However, the government is also expected to notify a slew of new cash rules.

Also read | Demonetisation: Deposit your old notes or pay heavy penalty after December 30

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bhopal:

The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday announced a seven per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) for its employees, pensioners and those working with the local bodies and panchayats.



State cabinet has given the nod to the proposal hiking the DA by 7 per cent to its employees, taking it up to 132 per cent, state Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters after the cabinet meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday morning.



The proposed DA would be meant for government employees, pensioners, panchayats, local bodies, rural development department employees and teaching staff employed with the local bodies.



It would come into effect from July, 2016 and the payments would begin with the salaries of December, 2016, he added.



Mishra informed that the state government has also given its nod for the appointment of 497 candidates for the posts of forest guard, who passed the Forest Guard Exam held in year 2008.



These appointments are to be made against the vacant posts, he added.

Also read:

Punjab government hikes dearness allowance of its employees by 7 per cent

Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam announces 7 per cent hike in dearness allowance of govt employees



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New Delhi:

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, in an exclusive interview with News Nation's Meetu Jain, hailed the Narendra Modi government's move of demonetisation and said it will bring achche din for the country.

He said that people living in slums are happy with the currency ban move and have been supporting the government. "This is an indication of coming of acche din," he told News Nation.

He also said that he even used card to buy tea in flight. "I first asked whether they will accept old notes or not, they said no, so I used the card."

On BJP's victory in Chandigarh, Gadkari said had the people been unhappy with notes ban the party would not have win.



"This clearly reveals that people are in favour of the demonetisation decision," he said.

Watch full interview of Nitin Gadkari tonight at 9:30 PM only on News Nation.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Politically unstable Nepal saw a change in guard in 2016 with 'Prachanda' becoming the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation, but the crisis persists over the new Constitution that sparked violence in Terai region bordering India with which Kathmandu's ties improved steadily paving way for President Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit.

The year began on a turbulent note as the unrest spilledover from the previous year over the Madhesi demands forgreater political control following promulgation of the new Constitution in September last year.

Over 50 people were killed during the months long violent agitation by Madhesis who blocked a key border trade points with India, resulting in shortage of essential supplies in Nepal and causing hardships to its people.

The unofficial border blockade was finally lifted on the southern frontier with India on January 5 with a brief clash between Indian traders and agitating Madhesis. On January 23, the Nepalese Parliament endorsed bills for amending three clauses of the Constitution to incorporate the demands of the disgruntled Madhesi groups.

The amendment included provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in the Parliament on the basis of population. Prime Minister K P Oli visited India in February. Priorto the visit the pro-China premier had said that he would only visit India if the unofficial blockade was lifted.

During Oli's six-day India visit, he met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj and other important leaders. Two MoUs each worth USD 1 billion were signed between Nepal and India.The first USD 1 billion line of credit assistance wasannounced during Modi's visit to Nepal and the second USD one billion assistance was announced during Swaraj's visit to Nepal for rebuilding after the quake.

Oli paid an official visit to China in third week ofMarch, during which Nepal and China signed 10 agreements to boost economic cooperation that includes, an agreement to facilitate trade and transit between the two neighbours, concessional loan for constructing Pokhara Regional Airport and an economic and technical cooperation agreement.

President Vidya Bhandari's proposed visit to India wascancelled in May as the cabinet did not endorse her travelplans and the government recalled its envoy to India DeepKumar Upadhyaya, escalating tensions in bilateral ties.

India had witnessed a strain in bilateral ties after theadoption of a new Constitution by Nepal that divided the tiny nation into seven provincial units and marginalised Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin and inhabitants of the Terai.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday addressed a joint press conference on the issue of demonetisation.



The press conference will follow an anti-demonetisation meeting, called by the Congress, for bringing together the opposition parties which have been fighting the move of the BJP-led Government at the centre.



But Congress plans to onslaught against government do not have full support of the opposition as most of the parties decide to stay away from the conference.

ALSO READ | What will PM Modi do for those affected by demonetisation: Rahul Gandhi on currency ban | Top quotes



Some Opposition leaders seem to be miffed with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the last day of the winter session of Parliament without even informing or consulting them.



CPI(M), the main force in the Left Front and arch rival of the TMC, has decided to stay away from the joint press conference. The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are also unlikely to attend the event.

Here are the live updates:

#3:43PM



This has sent the country 20 years back in time: WB CM



#3:42PM



If things remain unresolved even after 50 days, will PM Modi take responsibility to resign as PM of the country?: Mamata



#3:41PM

This is a fearless government, they do not care about anything: Mamata



#3:40PM

They do whatever they feel like, federal structure totally destroyed. It is not emergency, it is super emergency: WB CM



#3:34PM

Modi govt has become baseless and faceless in the name of cashless: Mamata

#3:32PM

Modi Ji said ache din will come, is it an example of ache din? : WB CM



#3:31PM



All opposition parties will make a common minimum agenda programme: Mamata



#3:30PM

Demonetisation is a mega scam, biggest one after independence: WB CM Mamata Banerjee



#3:26PM

PM should answer the nation, that what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for those affected by it: Rahul Gandhi



#3:25PM

30 Dec is about to come and the situation is the same. The motive of demonetisation has failed completely: Rahul Gandhi



#3:23PM

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addresses joint Press Conference

#3:20PM

Opposition leaders' joint press briefing begins at Constitution Club in Delhi

# 3:08 PM

WB CM Mamata Banerjee arrives at Constitution Club for opposition meet - ANI



# 2:45PM

Leaders arrive at Constitution Club for opposition meet - ANI

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Union minister of law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday sharply reacted to the oppositions allegations against the Narendra Modi governments demonetisation move. He said that the demonetisation is against black money and terrorism.

He also took a jibe at Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who along with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was seen battling it out over demonetisation at a joint press conference in Delhi.

Demonetisation is against black money and terrorism. Oppposition is not united against notes ban. Rahul Gandhi is an immature leader, said Prasad.

Earlier on Tuesday, questioning the motive behind the currency ban move, Rahul said that the Prime Minister is answerable to the nation.

ALSO READ | Mamata says Modi govt has become baseless and total faceless in the name of cashless economy



PM should answer the nation, that what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for those affected by it. PM should answer the nation, that what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for those affected by it, said Rahul.

Mamata too criticised the notes ban move as she called it a mega scam and a biggest one after independence.

ALSO READ | What will PM Modi do for those affected by demonetisation: Rahul | Top quotes

Demonetisation is a mega scam, biggest one after independence. Modi govt has become baseless and faceless in the name of cashless, said Mamata.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The government on Tuesday cancelled the FCRA licences of 20,000 out of 33,000 NGOs for violation of laws, reports said.A

Only 13,000 NGOs in the country are now legally valid as the licences of 20,000 such organisations have been cancelled for incomplete documentation.



On December 15, 7 NGOs, including one run by activist Shabnam Hashmi, were barred by the government from receiving foreign funds after their FCRA licences were cancelled following alleged adverse intelligence reports against them.A



The decision was taken after the Home Ministry conducted an inquiry into the functioning of the NGOs whose FCRA licences were renewed in the recent past.A

There were adverse intelligence inputs against the seven NGOs ranging from allegedly working against public interest by using foreign funds, painting the government as "anti- Dalit" abroad, besides others.A

A red-faced Home Ministry has seen a series of faux pas in the matter of NGOs. On December 14, it had cancelled renewal of FCRA licence of Greenpeace India and two NGOs run by activist Teesta Setalvad - Sabrang Trust and Citizens for Justice and Peace - two months after "inadvertently" allowing their registration for five more years.A

Yes massive clean up. Kudos to Govt for this massive exercise. Clearing arrears. https://t.co/cp9wUpHqQH a Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) December 27, 2016

Huge cleaning up of the system in several directions..! Bound to hurt vested interests.. https://t.co/yIEmEo7jE6 a Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) December 27, 2016

(With inputs from PTI)

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Vadodara:

Officials associated with Gujarat Governments fisheries department took custody of 220 fishermen handed over to Indian agency by Pakistan, late on Monday night, a senior official said.

These fishermen were released from the Landhi jail in Karachi on December 25 as a goodwill gesture and were handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Wagah Border on Monday, Ashok Patel, superintendent of the fisheries department of the Gujarat government told PTI.

The team (of fisheries department) has been camping in Amritsar to make arrangements for bringing these fishermen back to Gujarat, he said.Talking to PTI from Amritsar, Ramesh Makwana, one of the released fisherman, who hails from Tad village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district, said, We never expected release of 439 fishermen by Pakistan at one go and it came as a surprise for all of us. Another batch of 219 fishermen will be released on January 5, 2017.

Also Read: Pakistan releases 220 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture amid strain in ties

The Edhi Foundation a Karachi based non-government organisation made arrangements for bringing us to Lahore from Karachi by a special train, said the released fisherman. He thanked Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani among others for taking up the issue for their release with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in turn took up the matter with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Also Read: Pakistan seizes 8 Indian fishing boats off Gujarat coast



Makwana, while describing the harsh conditions in which they stayed in Pakistani jail, said, They had to face lot of hardships as about 100 fishermen were kept in a single room in the prison and had to face mosquito menace.

He said they realised that they had entered into enemy territorial waters only after Pakistani Marine Security Agency (PMSA) nabbed them. Most of us are sole bread earners of our family, said Makwana.

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Islamabad:

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim discussed the Indo-Pak water dispute with Pakistans Finance Minster Senator Ishaq Dar in a telephonic conversation. The conversation took place days after the country asked the global lender to fulfil its obligations on the issue.Dawn newspaper quoted official sources as saying the call was made on Monday.

Dar on December 23 had written a letter to Kim over the dispute over two hydroelectric power plantsKishanganga and Ratlethat India is building on the Indus rivers system. Dar said in his letter that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistans interests and rights under the Indus Waters Treaty.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been inordinately delayed, Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible. Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt its interests as India is working day and night to complete the two disputed projects. And once they are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

Also Read: Pakistan raises objections as World Bank pauses processes under Indus Water Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers, the Beas, Ravi and the Sutlej while Pakistan has three western rivers, the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Earlier, last week Kim sent a letter to the finance ministers of India and Pakistan, informing them that he had decided to pause the banks arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle this dispute.Tensions over the water dispute intensified in November when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to block the flow of water into Pakistan.

Also Read: World Bank approves USD 1.5 billion aid package for war-torn Iraq

In the formal request sent to the bank, Pakistan argued that the Court of Arbitration could be formed at the request of either party, if the party concludes that the dispute is not likely to be resolved by negotiation or mediation. The bank would also be obliged to establish the court if the aggrieved party concluded that the other government was unduly delaying the negotiations.

Pakistan informed the World Bank that it has already exhausted the option to engage India for resolving the dispute through bilateral talks and was now exercising the option to take its case to the Court of Arbitration.

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Chennai:

More than three weeks after the demise of former AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa, a PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court seeking a commission comprising retired Supreme Court judges to look into questionable incidents, including her sudden hospitalisation, reported recovery and the cardiac arrest resulting in her death.

Petitioner PA Joseph, a city resident, listed the sequence of events since Jayalalithaas admission to Apollo Hospital here on September 22 and claimed that the secrecy preceding her death gave rise to grave doubts in the minds of the people.

The public interest litigation, which listed 12 respondents, including the Apollo Hospitals chairman, is likely to be taken up for hearing by the vacation bench of the court on December 29.

The petitioner pleaded that the commission must peruse all the records, reports and documents in possession of the government as well as the hospital and look into several questionable incidents, including her sudden hospitalisation, reported recovery and the subsequent cardiac arrest resulting in her death on December 5.

The commission should have at least three retired Supreme Court judges, the PIL pleaded, adding that they should also inquire into the affixing of Jayalalithaas thumb impression on election forms of her party nominees in by-polls, her advice to the Tamil Nadu Governor while still on ventilator and the drama played out at the Apollo Hospital premises on December 4-5.

Unless all the relevant documents were taken into the courts custody, there was a great possibility that the same could be tampered with, the PIL claimed.

It also referred to the hospitals periodical medical bulletins which had claimed that the former AIADMK supremo was recovering, registration of 43 cases by the police and the arrests of some persons who had raised doubts over Jayalalithaas health condition.

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"Descendants of the Sun" stars Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki are favorites to win the Daesang at this year's KBS Drama Awards. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Dec. 31, Saturday.



Both Hye Kyo and Joong Ki will be attending the 2016 KBS Drama Awards, according to Soompi. In addition to the "Descendants of the Sun" actors' attendance, Park Bo Gum will be in charge of hosting duties again this year.



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"DOTS" fans cannot contain their excitement and are eagerly waiting to watch their favorite Song-Song couple at the annual event, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, according to the same publication. This will be the first time the rumored couple attends an award ceremony together after the 52nd Baeksang Art Awards in June, where they took home honors in the Most Popular Actor and Most Popular Actress categories.



This would also mark the first appearance for Hye Kyo on the KBS Drama Awards in more than a decade, according to All Kpop. The last time the actress appeared on the annual event was in 2004, when her performance in "Full House" earned her a three-way tie with two other Korean actresses from other dramas.



Hye Kyo's and Joong Ki's appearances at award shows are a rare occurrence, therefore news of their appearance on the KBS Drama Awards show has led many to believe that the "Descendants of the Sun" stars will be this year's winners of the Grand Prize (Daesang) award. That would not come as a surprise as the 16-episode KBS2 drama was a huge hit not only in South Korea but also across several Asian countries.



In addition to the Song-Song couple and Park, the other celebrities that have been confirmed to attend the event on Saturday are Kim Min Suk, Onew of SHINee, Jinyoung of B1A4, Kim Yoo Jung, Ahn Jae Wook, Kwak Dong Yeon, Kim Sung Oh, Park Shin Yang, Lee Dong Hwi, Kang Ye Won, Jeon Hye Bin, Lee Sang Yeob, and Jo Yeo Jeong.



Here is a clip from the 2015 KBS Drama Awards:






Liaoning and her escorts. (Photo : PLAN)

The ongoing show of force by a carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (CV-16) has illustrated the strengths and weaknesses of the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force (PLANSF), according to Chinese military commentators.



The Liaoning departed its homeport of Qingdao Dec. 16 with an escort force of seven warships consisting of three guided missile destroyers (probably Type 052Ds); three frigates (probably Type 054As) and one supply ship.



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The stated purpose of the naval excursion was to showcase "the carrier's battle readiness and defense capabilities," said a Chinese military website.



PLAN said the training "strengthened the synergy among different vessels in the formation and refined its overall capability." It also noted the training and tests were "normal arrangements in accordance with annual plan made by the navy."



The destination of Liaoning's group was the Western Pacific where it conducted live fire drills involving the escort force and the Liaoning's Shenyang J-15 fighters.



On Dec. 25, the battle group on its way home sailed to within 90 nautical miles south of Taiwan in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. It sailed past the Pratas Islands, an atoll controlled by Taiwan in the northern part of the South China Sea, before turning south into the South China Sea.



While the composition of this battle group is traditional, or similar to that of the U.S. Navy, it illustrated the disadvantage of not having a guided missile cruiser with longer range radar and longer range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) and anti-ship missiles (AShMs).



"In this battle group, the destroyers are responsible for early warning air-defense and anti-aircraft missions, and the frigates defend against anti-surface vessels and anti-submarine missions," said Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the Naval Military Studies Research Institute.



This omission makes a PLANSF carrier wing more vulnerable to air and missile attack at longer ranges.



Another weakness, and a more serious one in a strategic sense, is China's lack of overseas bases.



"So far, we don't have any overseas naval port, so the aircraft carrier and the battle group only rely on supply ships. Therefore, it limits our offshore training period," Zhang pointed out.



Zhang said the Liaoning's sorties are mainly aimed at training personnel and conducting research rather than preparing the carrier for battle, so there's no point comparing the Liaoning to U.S. aircraft carriers, which are always battle ready.



"In addition, the U.S. Navy requires global deployment and presence, but our navy's defense duty mainly focuses on near sea and offshore defense," said Zhang.



Zhang, however, takes pride in saying the deployment of the Liaoning in open seas shows the carrier is combat-ready just four years after its commissioning.



"Compared with other countries, China has progressed ahead of expectations. Other countries' aircraft carriers normally spent 5-6 years or even 10 years to gain combat capability," said Zhang.


Liberal professor from Drexel University tweets: All I want for Christmas is white genocide

A professor at Philadelphias Drexel University has a heartwarming Christmas message: Associate Professor of Politics and Global Studies George Ciccariello-Maher is wishing for a white genocide.

Article by Warne Todd Huston

Taking to his Twitter account on Christmas eve, Ciccariello-Maher, himself a white man, tweeted, All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide. He later deleted the tweet.

The professor who describes himself as a visiting researcher at El Instituto de Investigaciones Sociales in Mexico also had praise for the massacre of whites.

In another tweet, Ciccariello-Maher, an Associate Professor of Politics and Global Studies at Drexel, denies being alt-left and says he is, instead, an outright communist.

Later he jokingly claimed his account was hacked.

The professors Twitter feed is filled with hateful, obnoxious messages, anti-Americanism, slams of President Donald Trump, attacks on Jews, as well as pro-Black Lives Matter and pro-communist sloganeering. He also tweeted a picture of a Make America Great Again hat set on fire:

Calls have been made to Drexel University to see if school administrators condone the sort of remarks Ciccariello-Maher frequently makes online, but requests for comment had not been returned by press time.

Ciccariello-Maher claims to be an expert on Venezuela but no where on his Twitter feed is any acknowledgement of the depths of despair that Venezuela has been reduced to as a result of its failed communist leadership.

Things have gotten so bad in the once prosperous South American nation that parents are giving up their children because they cannot feed them and, even worse, reports of cannibalism have been seen.

As Thomas Lifson notes, this communist professor teaches at a university that charges over $34,000 in tuition a year. One would think he would not want anything to do with a school that wasnt free for the masses.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at [email protected].

Read more at: breitbart.com

Submit a correction >>
REDDING  Working hard has never been a problem for Claudio Tenempaguy. Its an ethic he brought with him when he came to the United States from Ecuador in 1995.

He now owns two delis in the area, most recently opening West Redding Pizzeria and Deli at 2 Long Ridge Rd. earlier this year. He also owns Village Deli in Ridgefield.

Formerly Lombardis Pizza e Restorante e Deli, West Redding Pizzeria and Deli has a separate deli and pizzeria each with its own entrance, but connected by an interior door. The business offers catering and pizza birthday parties.

The deli is open for breakfast and lunch and the pizzeria is open for lunch and dinner. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., both halves of the restaurant are open.

Tenempaguy starts his day at 4 a.m., preparing food at Village Deli before heading to West Redding in the afternoon to make pizzas. He works at the pizzeria until 9 p.m. His wife Isabel helps to run the delis.

Vacation time was nonexistent for Tenempaguy this year as he got the West Redding business going.

Maybe next year Ill go see family at home, he said.

He worked similar hours when he moved to the area in the mid-1990s, working at several restaurants at the same time. He started as a cook at the New Station House in West Redding and eventually started working at the deli that is currently West Redding Pizzeria and Deli.

He was also working at the Ridgefield deli when the previous owners sold it to him.

While Tenempaguy doesnt mind the long hours, he doesnt want his staff subjected to similar schedules.

I dont care if I have to work 24 hours a day. Its a tough business, he said. I have a good team here. They work hard, too.

Tenempaguy employs two people in the deli and five in the pizzeria.

Redding First Selectman Julia Pemberton is thankful Tenempaguy is keeping alive the tradition of having a deli and pizzeria in West Redding.

For as long as I can remember, theres been a pizzeria and deli in West Redding, she said. Im very glad that another business has decided to make West Redding their home and the pizza is excellent.

Tenempaguy said the delivery business is booming, but he would like to see more customers coming to the restaurant. The business is located on a tricky spot along the railroad tracks near the train station.

Theres not a lot of traffic, but Im not complaining because I do a lot of deliveries, he said. Deliveries are about 80 percent of the business now. I would like to see more customers here, though.

The customers that do visit are satisfied with the food and service, Tenempaguy said. Frequent customer Joe Grana backed up that claim. Grana works at the nearby West Redding Post Office and visits the restaurant nearly every day.

Everything Ive had I love, Grana said. I try all the stuff he makes. He has specials all the time, which is good. Theres a lot of competition for pizzerias so you have to have some unique stuff to keep clientele. He makes it personal. He doesnt do premade stuff, you could tell.

cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338
President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the DeltaPlex Arena, Dec. 9, 2016 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. (Photo : Getty Images/ Drew Angerer)

Nostradamus predictions for 2017 bespeaks of a potential next John F. Kennedy scenario, while assassination plot against the United States President-elect Donald Trump continues to proliferate online. Reports indicate that the CIA may have something to do with the rumored assassination and the fulfillment of a Nostradamus prophecy.



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Nostradamus predictions have long been consulted for hints and warnings since the 16th century. Even up to now, people consult predictions and prophecies, including those that are political in nature like the potential assassination and death of Trump.



Under such circumstances, some prophecy interpreters suggest that conditions for a 1960 John F. Kennedy type election were present in the recently concluded U.S. presidential election and that assassination might soon take place. Although lacking of any merits, prophecy believers are still convinced that such thing could occur in 2017.



Moreover, the said conviction was strengthened with the latest statement coming from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. According to him, CIA may try to hire mercenaries in order to remove Trump from his position.



There is a bold move implying that Russians are manipulating and controlling a president-elect, Salon quoted Jones as saying. For the conspiracy theorist, this move is "a very, very serious telltale sign that they could be thinking about bringing in outside mercenaries or other agencies to actually try to assassinate the 45th president of the United States."



The reported potential CIA sponsored assassination plot against rump is somehow related to the recent secret CIA assessment linking Russia to Trump's victory, according to Washington Post. The idea of CIA planning to relieve the next U.S. president from its post through assassination as being suggested by theorists, would somehow fulfil the one of the Nostradamus predictions 2017.



Watch here below a prophecy discussion on Trump and his future:






Norway child row: Sushma demands family reunion

India,National,Immigration/Law/Rights,Diaspora,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday demanded that the five-year-old child, who was separated by Norwegian authorities from his Indian origin parents who have been accused of beating him up, be reunited with his mother and father.

"We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. This is our firm stand and Indian Ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities," Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

"Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today (Tuesday) regarding Aryan," she said.

"I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits."

Aryan 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.

With India saying that it will help if approached, Gurvinderjit Kaur contacted the External Affairs Ministry for support in the case.

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/bg
Afghanistan's first woman pilot denies she sought US asylum

Israel,Media,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Kabul, Dec 27 (IANS) Afghanistan's first female pilot Nilofar Rahmani has dismissed reports of her move to seek asylum in the US and reaffirmed her commitment to serve the country.

According to Tolo news, Rahmani in a letter to the Afghan Air Force said she was misunderstood and misquoted by the New York Times.

Reports that Rahmani had applied for asylum in the US sparked anger among people in Afghanistan.

Rahmani, who is a captain in the air force, said the enemies of Afghanistan have always tried to spread propaganda and misconception in the society aimed at misleading the public on the abilities and development of women.

"History proves that the enemies of Afghanistan have been waiting to get a chance to create confusion among the public by speaking out against women... These moves are only aimed at preventing women from being included in the development process in the country," she said.

"I was deeply saddened about the misinterpretation of the New York Times article and offer an apology to all my colleagues who had been hurt by the report. I only want a better education so I can serve my country and my oppressed people, particularly my sisters, and make Afghanistan proud," the letter said.

Rahmani was celebrated in the US in 2015 after the US State Department honoured her with its annual Women of Courage Award.

She made headlines in domestic and international media when she completed her training to become Afghanistan's first female pilot in 2013 and vowed to serve in the nation's air force, in one of the world's most conservative countries.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has accused Rahmani of telling lies to the people.

"Those who legitimise the threats in Afghanistan to seek asylum in another country, this approach has no base," said Ministry of Defence spokesman Mohammad Radmanish.

The Afghan government invests nearly $1 million on each pilot to be trained.

--IANS

py/vt
Israel curbs ties with nations over UN vote on settlements

Israel,Politics,Defence/Security,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Jerusalem, Dec 27 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered the Foreign Ministry to temporarily limit all working ties with nations who voted for last week's UN Security Council resolution demanding that Israel halt settlement building in Palestinian territory.

Two senior Israeli officials, who wish not to be named, told CNN that business with the embassies of countries like Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Spain, Senegal and New Zealand will be suspended.

Netanyahu will not meet with the foreign ministers of those countries and their ambassadors will not be received at Israel's Foreign Ministry, the officials added.

In addition, travel by Israeli ministers to these countries will also be limited, said the officials, noting that Israeli ambassadors in the countries will still be able to continue working with the governments of their host nations.

The move came after 10 envoys were summoned to the Foreign Ministry for a personal rebuke over the vote. However, it was unlikely to have any practical effect on either Israel or the other countries, as it does not affect trade, security coordination, or other aspects of the relations.

Israel was furious at the passage of the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which stated that the settlements in the West Bank "had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security."

The US abstained at the UN Security Council vote on the resolution.

--IANS

soni/ahm/vt
Japan PM in Hawaii for historic Pearl Harbor visit

United States,Politics,Diplomacy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Hawaii, Dec 27 (IANS) Japanese Prime Minister arrived in Hawaii on Monday, one day ahead of his visit to Pearl Harbor, the US naval base attacked by the Japanese in 1941 resulting in the deaths of 2,403 Americans.

The two-day trip's main highlight is the visit to the USS Arizona Memorial with President Barack Obama, making Abe the first Japanese leader to visit the memorial to the battleship that was sunk on December 7, 1941, the Japan Times reported on Tuesday.

The late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, but before the memorial site was built. Two other postwar premiers, Ichiro Hatoyama and Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, visited the US Pacific Command at Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, government officials have confirmed.

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," Abe told reporters before leaving Japan.

The visit comes seven months after Obama became the first sitting president to visit a park in Hiroshima dedicated to the estimated 200,000-plus people who were killed when the US dropped two atomic bombs on that city and Nagasaki in August 1945.

After arriving on Monday morning at the Hickam Air Force base here, which Japanese fighter planes strafed on the morning of December 7, 1941, Abe spent the day visiting the cemeteries of US servicemen killed in the Pacific War and Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, as well as a memorial to Japanese students and crew who perished on the Ehime Maru training ship when it sank off Oahu in a collision with a surfacing US submarine.

Abe is scheduled to stop by a memorial dedicated to Lt. Fusata Iida, who crashed his airplane on a hillside during the December 7, 1941, attack in what Americans later called Japan's first kamikaze suicide attack of the war.

The Prime Minister also laid a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during the Pacific War were laid to rest.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada are accompanying Abe on his trip, which concludes after a last meeting with Obama and their joint visit to the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday.

--IANS

ksk
Self-exiled Cambodian opposition leader sentenced for inciting chaos

Cambodia,Immigration/Law/Rights,Politics, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Phnom Penh, Dec 27 (IANS) A Cambodian court on Tuesday sentenced, in absentia, self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to five years in prison for conspiring to incite chaos in the country through posting fake documents on his Facebook page.

Rainsy, 67, leader of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was accused of conspiring to falsify a border treaty signed between Cambodia and Vietnam, using the fake treaty and inciting chaos to social security, Xinhua news agency reported.

"After hearing a witness's testimony, conclusion statements from the prosecutor and the lawyer for the defendants, and thoroughly looking into documents and evidence, the court decides to sentence Sam Rainsy to five years in prison," said the verdict read by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Leang Samnath.

The court also sentenced, in absentia, Rainsy's two aides, who maintained his Facebook page, to five years in prison with two years of that suspended on the same charges.

The two aides fled Cambodia to France in August 2015 to avoid arrest.

The court also issued an arrest warrant for Rainsy and his two assistants.

Rainsy has been living in exile in France since November 2015 to avoid a two-year prison sentence over a defamation charge.

The charges against the opposition leader relate to a video posted to his Facebook page that features opposition senator Hong Sok Hour, who was arrested on August 15, 2015, in Phnom Penh, presenting a fake border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam.

On November 7, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Hong Sok Hour to seven years in prison for falsifying the border treaty, using the fake treaty, and inciting chaos to social security.

He is serving his prison term in Prey Sar Prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

--IANS

ksk
Samsung retrieves 90% of Galaxy Note 7 in S.Korea

South Korea,Technology,Business/Economy, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

Seoul, Dec 27 (IANS) Samsung Electronics said on Tuesday that it has retrieved over 90 per cent of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold in South Korea, leading the company to consider software upgrades to further limit the battery-charging capability.

Over 850,000 Note 7 devices have been retrieved among about 950,000 phones sold here, raising the recovery rate to 90 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported.

Samsung said in a statement that it is considering the upgrade of the software patch the firm released in October to limit the maximum charging capability of Note 7 to 60 per cent.

The South Korean tech behemoth has decided to discontinue the latest Galaxy device on reports of the devices catching fire or overheating globally.

In the US and Europe, where the retrieval rate surpassed 90 percent, Samsung already took an action to restrict the battery capability for the protection of consumers.

Exchange and refunds of the fire-prone phones will continue here until next month, but benefits and favours from the replacement is scheduled to end by the end of this month.

--IANS

ksk
Fake news spurs Pakistan-Israel Twitter war

United States,Politics,Defence/Security,Technology,Terrorism, Tue, 27 Dec 2016 IANS

New York, Dec 27 (IANS) Pakistan and Israel has been led to a verbal feud, threatening each other of nuclear war after a fake news story caused tensions between the two nuclear nations.

According to a report on CNN on Monday, in an article published by AWDNews on Tuesday, December 20, former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon was falsely quoted as threatening to destroy Pakistan if it sent troops to Syria.

"We will destroy them with a nuclear attack," the article falsely quoted Yaalon as saying.

Mistaking the news as real, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif responded on his official Twitter handle, "Israeli (defence minister) threatens nuclear retaliation presuming (Pakistan) role in Syria against Daesh. Israel forgets Pakistan is a Nuclear State, too."

Soon, Israeli Ministry of Defence responded to Pakistan on Twitter, saying that the Yaalon's statement quoted in the report was entirely false.

"The statement attributed to (former Defence Minister) Yaalon (regarding) Pakistan was never said," the ministry tweeted on its account, adding "Reports referred to by the Pakistani Defence Minister are entirely false."

Later on Christmas, Asif said in a tweet that their nuclear programme was only a "deterrence to protect" their freedom.

"We desire to coexist in peace, both in our region and beyond," Asif tweeted.

The spread of fake news on internet has been recently a matter of serious concern.

Recently, critics blamed Facebook for influencing the US elections in favour of President-elect Donald Trump by circulating a "host of fake news stories about political topics".

--IANS

qd/in
Iraq needs three months to free Iraq from IS: PM

Iraq,Defence/Security,Diplomacy, Wed, 28 Dec 2016 IANS

Baghdad, Dec 28 (IANS) Iraqi Prime Minister Haide al-Abadi said the Iraqi forces will need three months to eliminate the Islamic State (IS) militant group, as battles continued to free the IS stronghold in the city of Mosul.

"In Iraq, I believe that conditions indicate that it needs three months to eliminate Daesh (IS group)," Abadi said in a press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday.

Abadi's comment came in response to the US general commanding coalition forces in Iraq who predicted in an interview that two years of battles to clear IS group from its twin capitals of Mosul and Raqqa, Xinhua news agency reported.

Abadi also said the Iraqi forces are fighting what he named "war of attrition" against the IS extremist group, asserting that the security forces have destroyed 900 car bombs in Mosul during the past two months.

According to official Iraqi statements, after nearly two months of street-to-street battles against IS militants inside Mosul, the elite army forces re-took control of 40 districts, while the army recaptured six more neighbourhoods.

On October 17, Abadi announced a major offensive to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city.

Since then, the Iraqi security forces, backed by international coalition forces, have inched to the eastern fringes of Mosul and made progress on other routes around the city.

--IANS

vgu/
"Fuller House" stars original "Full House' cast, including Jodie Sweetin, Candace Cameron-Bure, Andrea Barber. (Photo : YouTube/ Entertainment Weekly)

"Fuller House" Season 3 got a green light from Netflix. The announcement was made on the show's official social media accounts on Dec. 24, Saturday.



The good news came right after Season 2 premiered on Netflix on Dec. 9. The announcement was revealed on "Fuller House" official Facebook and Twitter account in a form of video. Some cast of the series were seen passing a huge gift until Jodie Sweetin revealed the phrase "Fuller House" Season 3 coming soon."



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As to when "Fuller House" Season 3 will be seen on the small screen, the show may return in October 2017, according to Bustle. The estimate was based exactly between the previous seasons announcement and release dates.



The publication added that it may take about nine to 10 months before fans could finally see Season 3. Season 1 was announced on April 21, 2015 and debuted on Feb. 26. The second run got a green light on March 2 and was released nine months later. If the trend continues, Season 3 may be released on either Oct. 13, 2017 or Oct. 20, 2017 that falls on a Friday.



Meanwhile, the future episodes of "Fuller House" Season 3 may be filmed in the original Tanner House that was placed on the market for $4.5 million. The show's creator Jeff Franklin now holds the key of the house after he purchased it for a purpose.



"The house came on the market and really, I just thought, I have to buy this house," Franklin told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm so sentimental about the house."



For Franklin, it was great to have the house in their "Full House" family and be able to preserve it for the fans. He said, "Seriously, I love owning this house."



Franklin shared that another thing that he loves when he acquired the house is its red door. He added about 250 fans were visiting the house each day to pose for a photo in front of the red door. The show's creator said that the house was his gift for the fans, especially that it is now renewed for Season 3.



Although it was predicted that "Fuller House" Season 3 may take an October 2017 release date, Franklin told the publication that Season 3 may be released in time for the show's 30th anniversary. "Full House" first premiered on Sept. 22, 1987 and there is a possibility that the house renovation will be ready for the show's Sept. 22, 2017 release date.



Check out the latest news on Season 3 here:






Carl Paladino

Carl Paladino speaks to reporters after a board meeting in April.

(Carolyn Thompson | The Associated Press)

The fallout continues for Western New York real estate developer Carl Paladino as a growing protest movement is calling for his ouster from the Buffalo School Board after he made controversial comments last week about the president and first lady.

In response to an Artvoice survey sent to business owners, Paladino expressed his wish that President Obama should die of mad cow disease and that Michelle Obama should be "let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe." Many have called the comments racist, though Paladino has denied that race has anything to do with what he said.

On Monday, The Buffalo News reported that three online petitions calling for Paladino's removal from the school board have reached more than 20,000 signatures. Additionally, several protests are planned for the next few weeks, and hundreds of people are expected to attend.

One such protest is organized for Tuesday morning at Buffalo's Niagara Square, WIVB-TV reported.

"We are disgusted by Mr. Paladino's comments and call on every citizen, community leader, business person, and elected official to denounce his violent comments and insist he resign," organizers wrote on Facebook. "We call on NYSED Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to remove Paladino immediately."

Elsewhere in the city, a billboard is expected to be put up calling for Paladino's ouster as soon as Wednesday, WGRZ-TV reported. A GoFundMe page titled "Billboard-Paladino Needs to Go" raised over $1,800 in three days, enough to put up a billboard for a month calling for Paladino's removal.

The authority to remove Paladino lies with Education Commissioner Elia, who would not comment on the situation to local media.

Paladino's comments have been denounced by fellow Republicans, Donald Trump's transition team and even Paladino's own son, who called the comments disrespectful and unnecessary.
The second PLAN aircraft carrier, CV-17 is in advanced stages of construction at Dalian Shipbuilding in northeastern China. It will be the first aircraft carrier built entirely in China. The Liaoning was purchased from the Ukraine in the late 1990s and towed to China for an extensive rebuild.

The CV-17 has a somewhat larger displacement than the CV-16 Liaoning. It has greater internal hanger space for aircraft stowage below deck, and a larger island.

Located on the starboard side of the flight deck, in similar orientation as that on the Liaoning, the island of the CV-17 is substantially larger. Analysis of the new island structure, which was constructed in two modules before attachment to the vessel due to its size, seems to suggest a more advanced communications equipment suite and updated Type 346A active phased array radar (APAR).

The Type 346A radar can be found on the Type 052D destroyers of the PLAN, and is most likely to be fitted on the Type 055 Destroyers currently under construction. By contrast, the Liaoning is equipped with an earlier Type 346 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Photographs of the mock-up island located in Wuhan, which is used for training and orientation of naval crews, support this hypothesis.

The construction on the northeastern corner of the Huangdicun Airbase suggests two land based catapult launch systems (for training and testing). Although they appear slightly different from above, it is impossible to confirm if they are of the convention steam driven design, or if one is an electro-magnetic catapult, as suggested by a number of analysts.

The launch bar can clearly be seen attached to the nose landing gear of both aircraft. The arrestor hook, used in arrested recovery can also be clearly viewed on both aircraft, though more clearly on the aircraft on the left.

It is obvious that Chinese naval aviators will begin practicing CATOBAR operations at Huangdicun Airbase in the immediate future, most likely beginning in the first or second quarter of 2017. This is a logical step along the way to preparing an air wing skilled in such operations, as well as the necessary handlers, directors, and hook runners required to successfully and safely conduct catapult assisted launches on a modern aircraft carrier.

The third chinese aircraft carrier CV-18 will gain the advantages of greater range and weapons load-out for its strike wing by using catapult launch. It will also allow for the use of fixed-wing anti-submarine (ASW) aircraft and tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. The PLANs current reliance on helicopter borne ASW and AEW is a shortcoming that must be resolved.

The CV-18 is under construction at the Jiangnan Shipyard.

In September 2016, images of an upgraded J-15, the J-15A, emerged on the Internet, showing significant upgrades to its engines and flight performance. The plane makes use of domestically produced WS-10H turbofan engines, distinguished by a squarish, silver afterburner nozzle. While some J-15 prototypes were fitted with WS-10 turbofan engines, all production J-15s presently operating off the Liaoning aircraft carrier use the Russian AL-31 turbofan (which has a dark-colored afterburner nozzle). If future J-15As use the WS-10H as a power plant, it would indicate a triumph for Chinas emerging aviation engine industry, which has long been a weakness. Another likely upgrade is the installation of an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which has improved resolution, multi-target ability, and resistance to jamming.

The J-15 is derived from the Russian Su-33

This fan art of the current and next five Chinese aircraft carriers is actually based off of models from an official PLAN exhibition in 2014. It shows the Liaoning, the under-construction CV-17, and the next four catapult-equipped aircraft carriers (conventionally powered CV-18 and CV-19, and nuclear powered CV-20 and CV-21). Needless to say, despite their official inspirations, future Chinese aircraft carriers could differ in many ways from these drawings.
China has tested the latest version of its fifth-generation J-31 stealth fighter The newest version of the J-31, now renamed the FC-31 Gyrfalcon, took to the air for the first time on Friday, the China Daily reported.

The new FC-31 has better stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity than the previous version which debuted in October 2012, the newspaper said, quoting aviation expert Wu Peixin.

Changes were made to the airframe, wings and vertical tails which make it leaner, lighter and more manoeuvrable, Wu told the paper.

The FC-31 Gyrfalcon can carry 8 tons of weapons The FC-31 has a maximum take-off weight of 28 metric tons, a flight radius of 1,250 km, and a top speed of Mach 1.8 or 1.8 times the speed of sound. The aircraft can easily carry 8 tons of weapons, holding six missiles in its internal weapons bay, plus six more under its wings.

Sergey Kornev, head of Russias Air Force Equipment Export Department, earlier told RIA Novosti the J-31 will fly on Russian aircraft engines RD-93.

The jet is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corp, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China.

The fighter will be exported to other countries is expected to sell for about US$70 million, the article said, aiming to take market share away from more expensive fourth-generation fighters like the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Chengdu J-20 twin-engine stealth fighter bears similarity to the F-22 Raptor made by Lockheed Martin Corp., while the Shenyang J-31 twin-engine multi-role fighter resembles the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter design also made by Lockheed.

In the 1960s, China worked from the blueprints and other materials, and eventually produced the J-7, a virtual copy of the Soviet MiG-21. The Chinese eventually sold the J-7 (F-7 export variant) in direct competition with the MiGs sold by the Soviets. Indeed, after the US-PRC rapprochement of the early 1970s, the Chinese sold J-7s directly to the Americans, who used them as part of an aggressor squadron to train US pilots to fight the Soviets.

In the 1990s there were several huge arms deals between Moscow and Beijing. One of the most important involved the sale, licensing, and technology transfer of the Su-27 Flanker multirole fighter. The deal gave the Chinese one of the worlds most dangerous air superiority fighters, and gave the Russian aviation industry a lifeline. China produced the J-11 as a copy of the Su-27.

Americans analysts suspected that China was stealing information associated with the F-35. The Snowden leaks confirmed extensive Chinese industrial espionage. The likely reality of this theft became clear when information about the J-31 stealth fighter became available. The J-31 looks very much like a twin-engine F-35, without the VSTOL capabilities of the F-35B.
Jerry Pournelle is a famed science fiction author who also had an interesting technology career

Jerry Eugene Pournelle (born August 7, 1933) is an American science fiction writer, essayist and journalist who contributed for many years to the computer magazine Byte. Pournelle was an intellectual protege of Russell Kirk and Stefan T. Possony. Pournelle wrote numerous publications with Possony, including The Strategy of Technology (1970). The Strategy has been used as a textbook at the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs), the Air War College, and the National War College.

Pournelle worked in the aerospace industry includes time he worked at Boeing in the late-1950s. While there, he worked on Project Thor, conceiving of hypervelocity rod bundles, also known as rods from God. He edited Project 75, a 1964 study of 1975 defense requirements. He worked in operations research at The Aerospace Corporation, and North American Rockwell Space Division, and was founding President of the Pepperdine Research Institute. In 1989, Pournelle, Max Hunter, and retired Army Lieutenant General Daniel O. Graham made a presentation to then Vice President Dan Quayle promoting development of the DC-X rocket.

Jerry says, the question becomes, given the magnitude of this, why is it a surprise? We have 21 expensive intelligence agencies; not one of them knew the Chinese orbited an EM Drive? Of course it will be a while before we can do orbital tests. We have no rockets. Thats preparedness. Perhaps Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos can help? This is a signal larger than Sputnik. If the Intelligence Community knows about Russian hacking, why doesnt it know about Chinese testing of a reactionless drive?

Nextbigfuture has covered the EMDrive and the propellentless Cannae drive

Chinas space agency has officially confirmed that it has been funding research into the controversial space propulsion technology EmDrive, and that it plans to add the technology to Chinese satellites imminently.

The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the manufacturer of the Dong Fang Hong satellites, has held a press conference in Beijing explaining the importance of the EmDrive research and summarizing what China is doing to move the technology forward.

China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) team statements corresponds with information provided to IB Times from an anonymous source. According to their informant, China already has an EM Drive on board its version of the International Space Station, the space laboratory Tiangong-2.

Chinese researchers have at least constructed an EM Drive and have been studying it for more than five years now.

Chief designer of the CAST communication satellite division, Li Feng, told the media that so far their EM Drive only produces millinewtons of thrust (similar to NASAs version) and to make it functional, they need to get those levels up to between 100 millinewtons and 1 newton.

The team is allegedly now working on the cavity design of the EM Drive and the position of the thruster, before testing their new versions on their satellites in orbit.

Logically if an EMDrive was placed on Tiangong-2 and no thrust was produced, this would be apparent right away. If tiny thrust was produced in orbit and in a vacuum then further research would be pursued. Further research could still occur if thrust seemed to be produced on the ground but did not appear in orbital microgravity. However in the case of no result in orbit, then the CAST team would probably not hold a press conference.

This technology is currently in the latter stages of the proof-of-principle phase, with the goal of making the technology available in satellite engineering as quickly as possible, Li Feng explained at the press conference.

Although it is difficult to do this, we have the confidence that we will succeed.
Microsoft Surface Phone (Photo : Twitter / Evleaks)

Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release date is rumored to happen early next year, but reports surfaced saying that the smartphone will be released in the second half of next year.



One of the main reasons why people speculated that Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 release will be in the second half of next year is mainly because Windows 10 Redstone 3 mobile OS. Windows 10 performance is usually updated in the second half of the year. In order to give an optimum performance, the handset will most likely pack the most updated Windows operating system.



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Secondly, Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 is dubbed as an iPhone killer. If Microsoft is really aiming for iPhone, it may battle it head to head in September, which is the release window of iPhone.



One of the major features of the upcoming smartphone is Continuum that allows Windows devices to adapt automatically on changes and situation. For smartphones, it can be transformed into a miniature CPU by simply attaching a monitor, keyboard, and a mouse either via wire or Bluetooth, according to Windows Central. Moreover, it supports x68 applications, which means it can run desktop apps.



Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 will be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 835 processor, which is known to come with a 30 percent increase in area efficiency and 27 percent improvement in performance as well as consuming up to 40 percent less power, according to The Droid Review.



Other features of the forthcoming smartphone are 6GB RAM that will boost its performance and Quick charging 4.0 functionality that will make charging the device faster. Although Microsoft acquired Nokia, the company will reportedly leave out some of the famous Nokia Lumia features.



The other model, on the other hand, is likely to have 4GB RAM, and also to be powered by Snapdragon 835 processor. The surface phone runs the 64-bit Windows 10 Mobile variant.



All eyes are on Microsoft Surface Phone 2017 thanks to the success of the company's Surface Pro line. However, Microsoft has not revealed the official release date and features of Surface Phone 2017.


The one-month military exercise in South-East Nigeria, code-named Operation Python Dance, officially ends tomorrow.The Nigerian Army had introduced the exercise , to curb crime in the geopolitical zone during the Christmas and New Year festivities.Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa, however, said troops will continue to maintain road blocks and check points.A statement by Col. Musa noted that the GOC was also at the Niger Bridge to assess the state of security and vehicular movements.He said: It would be recalled that traffic gridlock has for many years, especially during the yuletide, been endemic on the Niger Bridge in both Asaba and Onitsha axis inflicting suffering and other inconveniences to the road users.Hence, parts of the targets for the exercise is to checkmate the usual gridlock, chaos and insecurity at the bridge.This objective has so far been achieved. Since the start of Exercise Python Dance, there has not been cases of gridlock and associated insecurity on the Asaba-Onitsha bridge.The orderliness, the disposition of combined security personnel and the public conduct, especially the road users, is commendable.
Nigerian Bottling Company Celebrates 65 Years in Nigeria

The Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), manufacturers of Coca-Cola products, stated its commitment to continued investments in Nigeria as it celebrated its 65th Anniversary. The statement was made at a celebratory cocktail reception with industry stakeholders in Lagos. The engagement was part of the various programmes NBC is rolling out to commemorate its historic milestone and themed, Celebrating a Tradition of Excellence.NBC was incorporated in November 1951, and is the bedrock of global bottlers, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company. Over the last 65 years, NBC has established itself as a key player in the Nigerian non-alcoholic beverage industry. The Company has remained strong and committed to satisfying its consumers and continue to thrive in a challenging business environment and competitive market terrain.Speaking at an engagement session with one of the stakeholder groups, Managing Director of NBC, George Polymenakos said, NBC is continuously making major investments and upgrading its systems, including our human capital to drive world class operations. Over the last six years, NBC has invested over $600m as part of the Companys transformation journey to drive world class standards in its operations. As NBC continues to pursue excellence in its operations, people and systems, so much is being invested to transform our business, to better satisfy our market and loyal consumers.Also remarking at one of the engagement sessions with stakeholders, Sade Morgan, Legal, Public Affairs and Communications Director, stated that, a key part of the Companys sustainable growth and development agenda, is its commitment to ensure NBC is in touch with communities, partnering and collaborating with them on a regular basis. Nothing is more important and occupies the heart of our business, than ensuring that the communities we operate in are positively impacted, the Companys spokesperson added.NBC is also championing and driving investment in the well-being of its communities through its intervention programs in the areas of skill acquisition and support initiatives for the youth, women empowerment and other community shared value projects, in other to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. These projects have received numerous commendations and awards from regulators and other industry stakeholders.Since incorporation in November 1951, NBC has been consistently manufacturing, marketing and distributing global leading Coca-Cola brands, with an ever widening range of non-alcoholic beverages to the ever growing Nigerian market. The bottling giant has received several industry awards and recognition as a reputable manufacturer and for performing its operations in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
Gas now 192 tcf

NNPC earns 35 per cent discount on renegotiated contracts in 2016

The relative peace in the Niger Delta has begun to yield dividends as the nations crude oil reserves, which had plummeted to 28.2 billion barrels (bbls) at the height of militant attacks on oil infrastructures, have now risen back to 37 billion barrels. Also hauled in is the improved 192 trillion cubic feet of gas (tcf) from the previous 186 tcf figures.

A statement in Abuja by NNPCs Group General Manager Public Affairs, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, in his end of the year message to the corporations workers.

Baru, however, did not disclose details of the contracts or how much money the corporation saved from the renegotiations. But he said the NNPC would continue to find sustainable solutions to the challenges of militancy which affects oil and gas production in the Niger Delta.

Prior reports indicated that Nigerias crude oil reserves was depleting and subsequently dropped to 28.2bbls. This development also prompted the President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Nosa Omorodion, to in October 2016, raise the alarm.

Omorodion decried the lack of exploration in the countrys oil and gas sector, and requested the federal government to begin seismic work in the frontier sedimentary basins, which include Bida Dahomey, Anambra, Gongola, and Sokoto to improve Nigerias hydrocarbon reserves.

Baru said the reserves have again risen to 37bbls. He added that the NNPC has created security management platforms that would enable it identify and evaluate risks, develop and superintend implementation of investigations, and aggregate and deploy necessary resources to guarantee peaceful business environment in the Niger Delta region.

He stated that the corporation was committed to implementing a robust security and stakeholders strategy that would sustain peace in the industrys operational bases.

Baru expressed happiness with NNPCs completion of negotiations with its Joint Venture (JV) partners on cash call funding challenges and payment of outstanding arrears.

He said this was achieved by developing a clear payment plan as well as the pursuit of an alternative funding strategy, adding that arrears of up to December, 2015 have been fully reconciled and repayments plan also agreed upon.

He said the decisive objective of the recently signed off agreements between NNPC and its JV partners was to enable NNPC transit into an Incorporated Joint Venture (IJV) business model for all the current JVs.

He said the NNPC had been able to stabilise the supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country with support from Nigerians and its staff, and commenced the implementation of a 12-key business focus areas to enhance its business performance.

Today, motorists drive in and out of filling stations with ease. This would not have been achieved without the collective efforts of all of us, Baru said.
The Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday, donated Christmas gifts to soldiers injured at the battlefield in Sambisa Fore...

The Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday, donated Christmas gifts to soldiers injured at the battlefield in Sambisa Forest.The items were distributed on her behalf by Hajiya Nana Shettima, the Chairperson of Mrs Aisha Buharis Committee on Distribution of Donated Items at Maimalari cantonment, Maiduguri.Shettima also visited other injured troops at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.According to her, Buharis gesture is to celebrate Christmas festivities with the injured and to appreciate their efforts in restoring peace.Both religions say how good and pleasant it is when God makes us enjoy together in peace, tranquillity, progress and unity.I am not here in my own capacity alone but am wearing two caps; I am here representing the wife of the president and as a wife of Borno governor, she said.She commended the gallant troops in crushing the remnants and restoring peace to Borno, the north-eastern region of the country and the nation at large.
An American billionaire, Mr Robert Smith, has volunteered to sponsor the education of 24 girls from Chibok Community, including the 21 r...

An American billionaire, Mr Robert Smith, has volunteered to sponsor the education of 24 girls from Chibok Community, including the 21 recently rescued Chibok schoolgirls.Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday.He said beneficiaries of the scheme included the first set of escapees from Boko Haram insurgents.According to him, the girls will be admitted through negotiation at the American University of Nigeria, Yola.Smith has offered to pay for the education of the 21 released through negotiations and is offering to take responsibility for all the others who will hopefully be eventually set free.The Murtala Mohammed Foundation in the country is equally interested, he added.On the welfare of the recently-released 21 Chibok Girls, Garba said they are being treated as adoptees of the Federal Government but there is a lot of local and international interest in the future plans of the girls.However, some of the parents of the 21 Chibok Girls complained that they did not have enough room for interactions with their daughters brought home for Christmas by the Department of State Services (DSS).Reacting, Shehu admitted that there were some hitches arising from a lack of understanding of the objective of the trip on the part of some security operatives.He, however, stated that following the receipt of this complaint, a directive had been given from the headquarters for the access by the parents to be eased.If the situation persists, please let us know so that the higher authorities will make a further intercession, he said.
The Cross River State Government has described as falsehood, reports in some national dailies about an armed robbery attack on the Calabar...

The Cross River State Government has described as falsehood, reports in some national dailies about an armed robbery attack on the Calabar Christmas Village.In a statement it issued in Calabar on Tuesday, the government said that the report was concocted and done with the aim of embarrassing it.The statement was signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the state governor, Mr. Christian Ita.The report is replete with factual inaccuracies and outright lies invented by the author of the said report.It is shocking that a reporter who is holidaying somewhere in Lagos could conjure a robbery incident that never took place.The reporter syndicated same to some of his colleagues all in a bid to damage a brand that has been painstakingly built over the years.For the avoidance of doubts, there was no robbery at the Calabar Christmas Village. That it was even reported that gunshots were fired, shows the depth of ethical bankruptcy of the writer, the government stated.It claimed that what happened was that some fans watching Kiss Daniels performance became unruly at some point and threw plastic bottles on stage.The incident lasted for a very brief period before security officials restored normalcy.The village is structured in such a way that everyone keeps an eye on his neighbour. Also, there is heavy security presence; so, it is extremely difficult to imagine a robbery.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi has berated Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for his doomsday predictions about the...

Minister of Mines and Steel Development Kayode Fayemi has berated Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose for his doomsday predictions about the nation in 2017.Fayemi assured Nigerians that 2017 will be a year of greatness, buoyancy, fulfillment and accomplishments for the country and its inhabitants.He said Fayose risked being a beneficiary of his latest unsavoury predictions.The minister spoke after a special Christmas thanksgiving service held at St. Martins Catholic Church, Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area.On Friday, the governor revealed 22 shocking predictions he claimed to have received from God after praying on a mountain.He predicted that a former Head of State/President would die and that there would be more hardship and poverty in the country.Fayose also said the performance of the 2017 Budget would be the worst in history, adding that more ministers will lose their jobs, a dollar will exchange for N600, a major political party would emerge to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) from power, among others.Fayemi contended that it was insincere for Fayose to roll out his purported 22 predictions without foretelling anything good about a country.He said: If someone has made 22 predictions about his own country and none is positive or good, you can be sure the predictions are for the person making them.For me, 2017 will be a year of astounding buoyancy, greatness, fulfillment and accomplishments.It is true recession has made things difficult for everyone , but we can see that is already giving way to noticeable stability which will soon yield results across all sectors of the economy.Fayemi said the Federal Government is working hard to fix the economy and make life easier for Nigerians.He assured Nigerians that his ministry would make appreciable progress not only in terms of revenue generation but in respect of creating well-charted and steady path for the country to source income through non-oil resources of the country.Fayemi explained that the ministry would execute policies in the solid minerals sub-sector that will generate thousands jobs and breathe life into the economy.At the service were Fayemis wife, Bisi, their son, Folajimi, and other political functionaries of his administration.
The Muhammadu Buhari government has announced plans to effect new reforms in the country's public service starting from January 2017.





The Muhammadu Buhari government has announced plans to effect new reforms in the country's public service starting from January 2017.According to Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), Dr Joe Abah, these reforms will foster growth of Nigeria's economy.We have a 10-year plan for reforms weve been following, however, as with every plan the sequence and prioritisation ranges with government emphasis.And so for 2017 we will be focusing very heavily on making it easier to do business in Nigeria.And that is why the bureau has commissioned a number of studies to look at the bottlenecks to service delivery and we are looking at those things that affect the ordinary Nigerian directly.For instance, the processes for getting a passport, the processes for getting a drivers licence, the process for getting a tax clearance and the process for seeing a doctor in a government hospital.And the gap between when you retire and when you actually start to get your pension. We have instances where people have retired and for one year they havent got any pension.So, these are some of the topical issues we will be looking at to see where the bottlenecks are and what we can do to ease the process.Besides, he said that the bureau was working towards ensuring that there was coordinated approach to dealing with the problems of unemployment in Nigeria rather what it used to be.
Governor Ayodele Fayose has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to repent and accept that he's the reason Nigerians are suffering.

Governor Ayodele Fayose has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to repent and accept that he's the reason Nigerians are suffering.In a statement released on Monday, Fayose said Buhari should stop diverting the attention of Nigerians with victorious news about Boko Haram or the antigraft war so as to cover up the bad situation of things.This years Christmas is the worse in the history of Nigeria," he said. "People cannot afford to celebrate and enjoy themselves due to the hardship caused by the APC government. To make matters worse, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also created artificial scarcity of cash, such that people could not access their hard earned money in the banks as most banks in the country do not have cash to pay their customers.Like I have maintained, the main issue confronting Nigerians now is hunger and hunger does not speak the language of political propaganda that is being used by the APC led federal government. It is therefore no longer about diversionary news, it is about preventing Nigerians from dying of hunger, he said.The governor said, the only solution to the myriad of problems facing the country is for those holding power in Abuja to face the sad reality that it was the hard stance of the president, his statements against Nigeria and its people both at home and abroad coupled with his demonstration of hatred against some sections of the country and desperation to crush his perceived enemies that led us to where we are today.It was the president that went to foreign countries to de-market Nigeria by calling all Nigerians thieves and dishonest people. He was the one who created atmosphere of economic and political instability in the country by his acts of nepotism and vindictiveness?Therefore, for the country to move forward, the President must change his attitude from a vindictive military dictator to a civilian president of all Nigerians.
Lagos State Government will complete and inaugurate some major roads before the celebration of its 50th anniversary of its creation on M...

Lagos State Government will complete and inaugurate some major roads before the celebration of its 50th anniversary of its creation on May 17, next year.A source in the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that some of the projects to be inaugurated included: the Abule-Egba Flyover and roads in Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, and the Lekki-Ajah flyover.Others are: Rehabilitation of Freedom Road and Admiralty Way in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Ojodu Berger Bridge, Laybys and Slip Roads.Rehabilitation/Upgrading of Ishefun/Camp Davies/New Market Roads; Aiyetoro Road in Alimosho Local Government and the construction of arterial roads in Epe.The roads are expected to reduce gridlock as well as increase connectivity between the hinterlands and some boundary communities between Lagos and Ogun.The source said contractors were working round the clock to complete and hand over the projects in April.The government is proposing to spend N138.24 billion on road infrastructure in the 2017 budget.Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is so passionate about delivering these massive road construction projects across the state to Lagosians to mark the 50th anniversary of the state.Our governor is interested in making all Lagosians happy and that is why he has been personally inspecting most of the projects, the source said.NAN also learnt that the state government is also planning to extend the ongoing road demarcation of the Ikorodu road median with wire mesh to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.The source said the extension, which was being planned toward the old tollgate on Lagos Ibadan Expressway, was to enforce the use of foot bridges on the axis.
The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to double efforts at bridging gaps in the country, saying what unites the p...

The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged Nigerians to double efforts at bridging gaps in the country, saying what unites the people is more important than things that divide them.Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when he joined two other Muslim northern governors to take part in festivities to commemorate this years Christmas, Mr. Tambuwal said Nigerias diversity is a source of strength which should be cherished and nurtured for the benefit of the people.The other governors in the entourage were Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi.The three joined Governor Udom Emmanuel to felicitate with him over the birth of Christ and as well commiserate with him over the recent tragedy which claimed scores of lives after a church building collapsed in Uyo early this month.Speaking when he met with Mr. Emmanuel, Mr. Yari, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, described the tragedy as unfortunate.He said the decision to set up an investigative panel to unravel the causes of the collapse is a right move in the right direction.Your Excellencys miraculous escape from death in the sad incident is surely one of Gods wonders.We at the Governors Forum received with shock, the sad news of the churchs collapse and we want to send message of solidarity to the people and government of Akwa Ibom over this unfortunate incident. Our prayers are with those who lost loved ones, and those who sustained injuries, Mr. Yari added.Responding, Mr. Emmanuel thanked the visiting governors especially for choosing a holy day like the Christmas day to visit Akwa Ibom.He described Nigerian Governors as a big and important family, saying the unity exhibited by the visit will further cement the cordial relationship between the peoples of Nigeria.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday commended Nigerian soldiers for the uncommon bravery they displayed at dislodging Boko Har...

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday commended Nigerian soldiers for the uncommon bravery they displayed at dislodging Boko Haram from Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria.We salute the men and women of our beloved armed forces. Their courage, determination and sacrifice made this achievement possible, the PDP said in a statement signed by its interim spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye.The forest, hitherto known as the major hideout of the insurgents, fell to Nigerian troops last week.President Muhammadu Buhari, who announced the development on December 24, described it as the final crushing of Boko Haram.The clearing of Sambisa Forest is one of the biggest achievements recorded by the Nigerian government against the terrorists in the battle that has dragged for seven years.It was achieved less than a month after the military launched Operation Rescue Finale to clear Boko Haram remnants from the forest and free thousands of civilians believed to have been trapped there.The PDP in an unusual gesture this afternoon joined other Nigerians to laud Mr. Buhari for the dogged manner in which he handled the insurgency, but was also quick to add that his government parlayed the success of his predecessor in achieving the latest success.We congratulate Nigerians for this important milestone in the long and bitter struggle against the forces of evil that have wreaked so much suffering and hardship on our people in the last few years.We also congratulate the president for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency. We are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors.Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present. Nigerians and the international community will recall that the war effort received a major boost in the weeks leading up to the 2015 general elections.The insurgents were virtually annihilated  a feat that made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas of all the states in the northeast last year.We are therefore very much delighted with the continuation of this great effort by the president, the PDP said.The party urged Mr. Buhari to look into other parts of the country where violent activities have recently surged.Beyond Sambisa all the other forests which criminals used as hideouts and bases must equally be cleared by the military.Forests such as Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue have become killing fields. They must all be cleared of criminal elements.
The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma and an employee of Access Bank, Rumuolumeni Branc...

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of one Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma and an employee of Access Bank, Rumuolumeni Branch, Samuel Ndudiri, who attempted to rob the bank.The policeman and the bank worker were said to have been apprehended after an investigation by the operatives of the Intelligence Response Team with assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Police.According to an online statement, which was confirmed by the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, the suspects, were arrested at about 11:35am on Friday.The two suspects were identified as members of a criminal gang.Some operatives of the command on Thursday foiled what would have been a major bank robbery in the state and arrested three suspects.The three suspects and others on the run had brought a gas cylinder to the Access Bank premises in Rumuolumeni and had engaged in cutting the main door into the bank when security operatives stormed the place.However, some members of the gang, including a police corporal, Gabriel Igwe, of the 19 Police Mobile Force, are currently on the run.Two AK 47 rifles belonging to the serving policemen were recovered during Fridays operation.Ndudiri, the Access Bank employee, was said to have masterminded the attempted robbery of the bank with the assistance of the police sergeant, who is from the Department of Operations, Port Harcourt.Arrest of a serving police sergeant and bank official involved in a bank robbery and recovery of two AK47 rifles belonging to serving policemen on 23/12/2016 at about 11:35am.Sequel to the arrest and handing over of three suspects involved in the Access Bank, Eagle Cement Rumuolumeni branch robbery, to the Intelligence Response Team by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, for discreet investigation, IRT Operatives immediately commenced investigation and with technical assistance from the Technical Intelligence Unit, two key members of the gang were arrested.Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma of DOPS Port Harcourt and Mr. Samuel Ndudiri m, 38 years, an official of Access Bank, Eagle Cement (Rumuolumeni) branch, who masterminded the robbery, were both arrested in Port Harcourt.Exhibits recovered were two AK47 riffles with breach Nos. 523513 / 21173 and two AK47 rifle magazines fully loaded. One Corporal Igwe Gabriel of 19PMF attached to RRT DOPS, now at large, is the owner of the second rifle with S/No. 21173, the statement read.Igwe, according to the statement, left the rifle at his beat and fled when he got information that his gang member, Sergeant Promise Ukwuoma, had been arrested.The arrested suspects were said to have confessed to the crime even as the police maintained that efforts were in top gear to ensure the arrest of the fleeing members of the gang.When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer confirmed the arrest of the police sergeant and the Access Bank worker, but insisted that he would not make further comment until he got approval to do so.I can confirm to you that the IGP Intelligence Response Team arrested the sergeant and the bank worker, but I cannot say anything further until we get an official approval to do so, Omoni stressed.
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, wants Nigerians to trust President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, wants Nigerians to trust President Muhammadu Buhari.She said, I am just going to say that I believe that the president, just the president, not until he beyond doubt convinces us that he is actually not for our interests, I think I for now chose to believe him based on his past history.''I want to believe him as a man of honour, I want to believe that he knows what he wants to achieve and I wish everyone will support him for now until he shows us truly that he has ulterior motives. For now we should believe him and trust him.
The Spiritual Head of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, BCS Worldwide, Olumba Olumba says the current recession in Nigeria would end soon...

The Spiritual Head of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, BCS Worldwide, Olumba Olumba says the current recession in Nigeria would end soon if Federal Government continues with its current economic recovery programme.Olumba said this on Tuesday in Calabar while briefing journalists on the activities lined up for the celebration of the divine manifestation of its founding Leader Olumba Olumba Obu.He blamed the current recession in Nigeria on greed and lack of love by the countrys leaders.He said: If there is love there will be no recession; recession is a result of mismanagement of Nigerias resources by the leaders. Nigeria has abundant resources as a nation, but because leaders lack love with one another, they squander the collective wealth of the people.President Buhari will succeed in ending recession, if he continues with his current programs, including the fight against corruption among others.Olumba, who spoke through BCS spokesman, Mr Edet Archibong said that, part of activities to mark the event include visit to Motherless Homes; heeling the Sick; Deliverance and giving of Arms.He described leader Olumba Olumba Obu as a true Son of God who came to fulfill the prophecies about the establishment of the New Kingdom of God and the second advent of Christ.According to him, the activities which began on Monday, Dec.26, would reach a climax on Friday.
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has revealed his conversation with an unnamed retired General over the fall of Sambisa forest,...

Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has revealed his conversation with an unnamed retired General over the fall of Sambisa forest, the last stronghold of the Boko Haram sect.Fani-Kayode, in the conversation he sent to Daily Post Monday evening, noted that the claim by the Nigerian government that Boko Haram had fallen was a lie.His words is reproduced unedited below;A retired General shared this perspective with me. He said the recent noise about defeat of BHT (Boko Haram terrorists is so deceptive.It must be noted as a mission in furtherance of their belief & propaganda to achieve 2 things. First to vindicate Islam by presenting it as not being responsible for all the evil done by this terrible Jihadists movement.He had devoted a substantial portion of his inaugural speech in trumpeting this deception. Much of what he had to say there was to insist that Islam was not responsible for the atrocities.That message was more of an imams speech . The fact is that the last regime had already positioned the military to finally destroy the BHT even while the tyrant & his APC were busy encouraging & profiting from the exploits of the evil organisation.Secondly, himself, his party & many Muslim fanatic military officers who were so committed to sabotaging the counterterrorist operations under Jonathan were mainly concerned that, Jonathan, an infidel must not be credited with defeating an organisation identified with Islam.This to them would be an unacceptable aberration. Most of those officers sabotaging the operations under last leadership eventually became the earliest appointees to command in the NA (Nigeria Army) as soon as the tyrant assumed power.People fail to ask what really is his tangible strategic input of this tyrant to this defeat of BHT that he so much wants to be credited with? All the equipment used were procured by last regime. All the Special forces were trained under last regime.The MNJTF was an idea fully packaged by last regime. The massive recruitment, retraining & restructuring of NA all under last regime. The efforts to restore discipline which opposition politicians worked to undermine & incite was also not by this wicked regime of propagandists.In actual fact, part of the reasons anger of the tyrants regime agsinst Dasuki & leadership of military under Jonathan was because of the totality the efforts to roundly defeat BHT & terrorism in Nigeria.This is the background & the true narrative of the much noised December 2016 victory over BHT. I wish this understanding is available to Nigerians & historian on our nations travails.(Daily Post)
President Muhammadu Buhari is silent on the ongoing violence in southern part of Kaduna State because the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ...





President Muhammadu Buhari is silent on the ongoing violence in southern part of Kaduna State because the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, is handling it, presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, has said.Mr. Adesina stated this Monday morning on Channels Television during its Sunrise Daily programme.At least six persons were killed in Goska village, Jemaa local Government Area in the early hours of Christmas.The victims included a teenage secondary school student, Gimbia Morik, daughter of a former council chairman in Jemaa.The killings, by suspected herdsmen, occurred despite Jemaa and two other local governments  Kaura and Zango Kataf  being under a 24-hour curfew.The state government after a meeting of heads of various security agencies in the state, had on December 21 imposed the 24-hour curfew to prevent violence during the festive season.Scores of people have been killed in ethno-religious violence in Southern Kaduna in 2016.As the killings continue, Mr. Buhari had come under criticism from Nigerians for his silence.Citing Nigerias federal structure, Mr. Adesina said there was no need for Mr. Buhari to speak since Mr. El-Rufai is on top of the matter.The presidential aide said as the chief security officer of his state, it rests on Mr. El-Rufai, who has pledged to bring perpetrators to book, to deal with the matter.You dont have to hear from the president on that matter. When it pays us, we talk about federalism and true federalism; yet you want the president and presidency to talk about everything, Mr. Adesina said.He also said when a thing like this happens in a state, there is a chief security officer and he is supposed to be on top of the matter.Governor El-Rufai Rufai was at the villa on Thursday to brief the president, so why should the president then be talking about it?True federalism is the governor should be in charge and he is in charge of it, he said.LOCAL MATTERThe killings in Southern Kaduna are suspected to be due to violence between the locals and migrating Fulani herdsmen.Apart from Kaduna, similar violence between locals, mainly farmers, and migrating herdsmen has caused the death of hundreds of people in several other states including Benue and Taraba.Mr. Adesina on Monday said local authorities must play a crucial role in stopping the violence.He said state and local governments have a major role to play in dealing with herdsmen crisis.He said Mr. Buhari is always in constant touch with governors whenever an attack occurs to get timely updates.The spokesperson said Mr. Buhari has consistently maintained that the best way to stop the killings is through collaboration between the states and the grassroots leaders in local governments.The federal government has roles to play but not as much as the state and local governments, he said.
COMMERCIAL TWP. -- The man accused of killing his estranged wife more than a week ago in their South Jersey home remains on the run, state police say.

Jeremiah Monell, 32, is the prime suspect in the Dec. 19 death of Tara O'Shea-Watson, 35.

Authorities are asking the public for tips in their bid to locate Monell, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said Tuesday. He said the search for Monell remains an "active, ongoing investigation."

On Christmas Eve, State Police posted a $1,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Monell.

Around 8 a.m. Dec. 19 state police were called to a home on Raymond Drive in the Laurel Lake section of the township in Cumberland County where they found O'Shea-Watson unconscious. She was pronounced dead a short time later, authorities said.

According to one friend, Monell allegedly used a knife to kill his estranged wife and in front of their son, who fled to get help. Authorities have not confirmed the manner of death.

The search then began for Monell who has since been charged with homicide and weapons offenses. His bail, once he's arrested, has been set at $1 million.

His blue pickup truck was found abandoned along railroad tracks near Sawmill Road in Cedarville on Dec. 20, but a large search of the area did not lead to his capture.

Friends of O'Shea-Watson say she had been abused by Monell, was planning on leaving New Jersey to get away from him and had a restraining order against him.

"It was a living hell," said longtime friend Jen L. Messeck of O'Shea-Watson's life with Monell. Friends also said she feared Monell.

A vigil was held Thursday by friends to remember O'Shea-Watson. Services for O'Shea-Watson were held Friday at the Living Waters Fellowship Church in Haleyville.

She is survived by her five children and other relatives.

Anyone with information about Monell or his location is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police's Port Norris Station at 856-785-0036 or Detective Mike Legatie at 609-358-1704. Information can also be submitted by email to the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit tip line at fugitive@gw.njsp.org.

All information is kept confidential, and anonymous tips are welcome, authorities say.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- Crime is down in the state's largest city by the largest amount in almost 50 years.

"We're not here today to claim victory, but we're here to claim progress," Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told reporters gathered at the Newark Police building on Washington Street. He was joined by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and other city officials who gathered Tuesday to discuss year-to-date crime trends.

According to statistics presented by the department, the total number of homicides, shootings, robberies, and other violent crimes committed in the city so far this year are down, when compared to this time last year. The overall crime rate is the lowest it's been since 1967, officials said.

Of 9 crime categories tracked internally by the police department, only aggravated assaults show an increase over the past year, and Ambrose said the department had also seen an increase in domestic violence crimes.

"We've been able to drive the numbers down all the way up to Christmas Day," Baraka said, while acknowledging the city had a "rough year" with several high-profile homicides.

Authorities are still investigating the killing of Hassan Q. Cobb-Jones, 32, who was fatally shot Sunday in the 100 block of Parker Street.

Officials say the statistics show a promising trend that they hope will continue. Baraka and Ambrose credited the crime dips to changes in the police department over the past year.

Among other department initiatives, the officials pointed to the department's shooting response team, which they said responds to calls of "shots fired" as if they're known to be homicides.

The officials said assistance from the New Jersey State Police, Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the county Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman's Office was also a major factor. Ambrose also thanked the officers of the Newark police department, saying their work in the city has helped drive crime down.

"I would say some luck and prayer helped, too, to get these numbers where they're at," Ambrose said.

Ambrose, a former Essex County Prosecutor's Office Chief of Detectives, officially took over in Newark in January, as part of a restructuring of the department.

Since then, the department has also added more officers, reassigned many to street beats, partnered with citizen groups and clergy to promote community policing and relocated the internal affairs unit, among other moves touted by officials.

Ambrose said multiple classes of new police officers are expected to graduate in coming months, giving the department more boots on the ground.

The department has now just under 1,000 officers, he said.

Three years ago, Newark had the third highest murder rate in the nation, according to FBI statistics. Reform efforts hoping to revitalize the city have often staggered by violent crime rates.

Past statistics show fluctuating crime rates in Newark, but officials say they hope continuing changes to the department will work to keep the trends moving in a downward direction.

In a statement to NJ Advance Media, James Stewart Jr., the president of the Newark Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, said the FOP was pleased by the news.

"The reduction in crime is great news for the citizens of Newark, as well as the thousands of visitors we host every day," Stewart said.

"The men and women working on the streets have answered the director's call for more hours of work, which equates to more visibility, which means less opportunities for crime. We are looking forward to 2017 and possibly Newark's biggest recruit class ever, which we hope will mean even safer streets here in the city."

The crime report comes as Newark is under the watch of a federal monitor - the result of a scathing 2014 Department of Justice review that found rampant violations within the department.

Police and city officials Tuesday said such moves are welcomed by the city.

"We definitely believe in treating the community with strength and dignity," Police Chief Darnell Henry said.

Ambrose, responding to a question from a reporter, did say that a bail reform system set to take effect in 2017 could have a still-undetermined impact on the city's crime numbers.

Under the new system, high-risk defendants may be held without bail, while many others accused of minor crimes could be released without having to post bail.

"The small things become big things," Ambrose said, referencing alleged crimes that may not be serious to merit holding defendants under the new system. "We're going to have more people probably wanted on warrants."

Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

EDITOR's NOTE: The second paragraph has been changed to correct the source of the quote.
TRENTON - A Hamilton woman admitted to playing a part in a robbery that resulted in the death of a 27-year-old Camden County woman last month, Mercer County prosecutors said Tuesday at a court hearing.

Dominique Richter

The admission was one of multiple statements Dominique Richter, 31, gave to police as she was questioned in connection with the Nov. 30 shooting death of Amber Dudley, 27, prosecutors said.

Also at the hearing, prosecutors identified Andrew Alston as being charged in connection with the crime.

Officials said he had not yet been apprehended and they offered no additional information about him Tuesday.

Richter and another woman, Kasey DeZolt, 32, have both been charged with being an accomplice to felony murder, robbery and firearms charges.

During a bail hearing for Richter Tuesday, prosecutors outlined the investigation that led to Richter's arrest.

They said Dudley was a passenger in a vehicle operating under the rideshare service Lyft in the area of Mechanics and East Trenton avenues around the time the robbery occurred.

Authorities have said a male got into the vehicle, intending to rob the people inside, and shot Dudley during the confrontation. The Collingswood resident died later at a Trenton hospital.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that they spoke with the other people in the car at the time of the killing - two passengers and a driver.

Those interviews led authorities to investigate several suspects, including Richter, prosecutors said.

During interviews with investigators, Richter gave statements that had, "inconsistencies," including one that implicated herself in the robbery that targeted Dudley, prosecutors said.

An attorney for Richter said Tuesday that his client is mother to a 4-year-old daughter and has no criminal history. He added that he hasn't yet read through the statements Richter gave to police, but that the bail is "excessive."

A judge lowered the bail from $1 million to $500,000 Tuesday.

Richter's co-defendant, DeZolt, is being held on $1 million bail in Bucks County, Pa., where she was arrested last week. Prosecutors did not immediately know when DeZolt will be brought to New Jersey.

Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman
HOLMDEL -- A Lakewood man who got thrown out of a party in Holmdel because he was too intoxicated broke into a neighboring home early Tuesday morning, authorities said.

David S. Santiago, 27, was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, harassment, disorderly conduct and two counts of criminal mischief in the incident that brought police to a Wildhedge Lane home at 1:11 a.m., police said in a release.

The release said the homeowners called police about a stranger banging on their front door and then minutes later kicking in the door.

When Patrolman John Maguire arrived, he was approached by Santiago, who had a long object in his hand, the release said. Santiago complied with the officers' demands for him to drop the object and get down on the ground, according to the release.

A follow-up investigation determined Santiago had been in the area for a party but was asked to leave when he became intoxicated. Instead of going home, he broke into the neighboring house, damaged some furniture inside, urinated on the floor and stole a cell phone, the release said.

Authorities found the phone and returned it to its owner, the release said.

After he was arrested and taken to police headquarters, Santiago became unruly in his cell and damaged the toilet there, the release said.

Santiago was being held in the Monmouth County jail in Freehold in lieu of $10,000 bail.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- More than two years after authorities named Lamont Stephenson in his fiancee's killing, police still don't know where he is.

Olga Dejesus, 40, was found dead on Oct. 17, 2014, in her apartment in Newark's North Ward. Her cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation.

Two weeks later, the Essex County law enforcement officials obtained a warrant for Stephenson's arrest on a homicide charge.

But as 2016 winds to a close, Stephenson is one of hundreds of people still wanted by local, state and federal authorities throughout New Jersey in connection with crimes ranging from drug possession to homicide.

In some cases, the defendants were arrested, charged and released, and failed to appear for future court dates. In other cases, like Stephenson's, arrest warrants were obtained but never successfully served.

In some cases, authorities have posted cash rewards for information leading to arrests and/or convictions.

Walter Yovany Gomez has been a wanted man since Sept. 19, 2013 -- the day a federal grand jury indicted him and 13 of his alleged fellow gang members on murder and racketeering charges.



Authorities say Yovany Gomez, an alleged member of Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, was one of two men responsible for a May 8, 2011 killing in Plainfield of a man they believed to be a rival gang member.

This summer, the FBI's Newark Division announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Scroll through the gallery to view 30 people wanted by agencies throughout the state on the most serious criminal charges. This is only a sample hundreds of people wanted by law enforcement throughout the state.
The Port Authority already has an inspector general, but New York governor Andrew Cuomo wants to hire his own personal Clouseau, an investigator whom he can use to torment his political adversaries.

The Port Authority already has six commissioners on the board appointed by the governor, but Cuomo wants the power to whack them en masse if they don't bend to his political whims.

The Port Authority is a massive agency with bilateral authority that serves millions of commuters from both sides of the Hudson, but Cuomo has decided that his priorities are the only ones that matter.

So it comes down to this: The governor's shimmering infrastructure legacy is dying from a thousand bureaucratic paper cuts, so he'll do what desperate people do - smear a public servant with baseless slander, then stack the deck with toadies.

Cuomo made this arrogant power play Wednesday, and it serves as a valuable lesson as this tedious pas-de-deux over a new Port Authority Bus Terminal drags on.

The governor coaxed his Legislature (with a pay hike, of course) into considering a "oversight" proposal that would greatly enhance his dominion in the PA - with the power to appoint a new inspector and the muscle to replace commissioners - and it is a brazen assault on the agency's independence and on Chairman John Degnan's integrity.

It is also a reminder that anyone who is Machiavellian in his means is Machiavellian in his causes - which you expect from Cuomo, who entered office with the promise to clean up the Albany cesspool by appointing an independent commission, only to neuter that commission once it started dropping subpoenas on the governor's friends and donors.

Degnan has been a superb advocate for New Jersey's interests, which is why Gov. Christie appointed him, but the chairman has also made all the cogent arguments for why replacing the third-world bus terminal benefits New York - including tax revenue, economic activity, jobs, and the fact that 30 percent of the terminal's patrons are New Yorkers.

But Cuomo, reneging on a previous agreement, flinched at the $3.5 billion down payment preferred by Degnan and other board members, and that was followed by proxy attacks and a smear campaign. The governor charged that Degnan's hard line is related to his son working in the Christie Administration - never mind that New Jersey had been squawking about a new terminal two years before Philip Degnan became our state comptroller.

Just in case Cuomo hasn't noticed: The Port Authority's current inspector general dismissed the conflict-of-interest allegation against the chairman last month.

So Cuomo's solution is to hire another IG who can "investigate complaints from any source, or upon his or her own initiative, concerning allegations of corruption."

He added that these proposals would go away if New Jersey would sign off on New York's version of the Port Authority reform bill, which - surprise - would give Cuomo the power to appoint both the new CEO and the new chairman.

New Jersey lawmakers are alarmed, and maybe they should be.

Our first impulse is to let Cuomo enjoy his weaselly contrivance. His own attorney general, fellow Democrat Eric Schneiderman, has called the proposed bill "a scheme" and "likely unconstitutional."

Port Authority historian and author Jameson Doig put it best, remarking to Politico that this action is "Cuomo at his worst: Unable to persuade the bi-state Port Authority to do his bidding, he now hopes to strip it of independent action, crippling its ability to carry out its major functions, and turning it into an extension of the governor's office."

But Cuomo, gripped by ambition, insists the scheme is necessary because of "significant corruption and abuse."

That's rich. When Chairman Degnan and the Port Authority board meet next week to perform their fiduciary obligations and sharpen the figures on a revised capital plan, we trust they'll remember that observation from a governor whose administrative legacy is less about infrastructure than bribery, bid-rigging, and hubris.

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King Cake Festival 2017: Take a bite and vote for best of fest
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.
Railroad CSX has revived plans for an intermodal rail yard on the south end of the village of Crete, according to village and county officials.

Preliminary plans are to build a rail yard on about 200 acres of the approximately 1,000 acres the village annexed almost a decade ago for the same purpose, according to Crete Village President Michael Einhorn. Its main purpose would be for intermodal transfers of freight between train and trucks.

Plans for the remaining 800 acres have not been brought forward, but that acreage could lend itself to serving the rail yard at a future date, Einhorn said.

"This has all been approved before," Einhorn said of the previous preparations that fell apart just as the economic recession was taking hold. "This isn't new. This is old news."

In an emailed response to an inquiry on Tuesday, a CSX Corp. spokeswoman said the railroad is unable to confirm any details. It stated the railroad is always looking at opportunities to better serve customers and increase efficiency and capacity around Chicago, but no final decisions have been made related to its current or future operations in northeastern Illinois.

"Market trends, the Illinois business and political climates, and our own competing priorities are factors in all of our investment decisions," the email stated.

The revived plans have alarmed some residents in the vicinity of the annexed land, which is immediately west of the railroad tracks that run parallel to Ill. 1 and south of Crete-Monee Road and north of Goodenow Road.

"The county has learned a great deal on the negative impacts of these from Joliet," said nearby resident Jill Hornick, referring to the BNSF intermodal yard in Elwood near Joliet. "Now it's coming up again here after everyone learned the hard way."

Hearing Thursday in Crete

Will County Commissioner Laurie Summers is hosting a public meeting on the project at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Crete Public Library, 1177 Main St. She and other government officials were briefed last week in Frankfort on the project, including by a CSX official, she said.

"There were some questions answered," she said. "But there are a million more that need to be answered."

One of her biggest concerns remains whether the neighboring roads and other infrastructure could handle the demands of such a facility. She said as many as 650 homes in the vicinity could be affected in one way or another.

"There is just a lot more that has to be thought out here," she said.

The overall rail project has a $240 million price tag and the rail yard alone could create more than 200 jobs, Einhorn said. More jobs could come if the adjoining 800 acres were built up with distribution centers and other facilities.

CSX has asked the county to sponsor a grant from the Illinois Commerce Commission that would pay 60 percent of the cost of the flyover for Crete-Monee Road, with the railroad paying the rest, Einhorn said.

One difference this time is that CenterPoint Properties, one of the forces behind the proposal a decade ago, is now out of the project, Einhorn said. As before, a flyover for cars and trucks is planned for Crete-Monee Road and an entrance for trucks would be built where Old Ill. 1 dead ends.

"We already have a development plan that existed for CenterPoint, and we don't see that changing much," he said.
George Michael's death brought back memories in China of the heady 1980s when Wham! was the first major Western band to play in the country after the death of Mao Zedong and decades of cultural isolation.

Many Chinese who had never even heard of the band lined up for hours to buy $1.75 tickets to the groundbreaking April 1985 concert at the People's Gymnasium, the biggest stadium in Beijing at the time.

Inside the 12,000-strong stadium seated spectators watched in bewilderment as Michael and Andrew Ridgeley danced in big-shouldered jackets with bleached and feathered hair. The backing dancers' strapless costumes and polka-dot miniskirts also stunned the audience in China at a time when people still dressed in similar shades of green and gray.

"It was the first time a Western band had come to China, everyone was ready to make some noise and stand," said Li Ji, a restaurant owner who went to the concert in his 20s. "But there were so many police officers there, people didn't dare to."

Wham!'s manager Simon Napier-Bell had spent 18 months persuading the Chinese government to let them in and secure their place as one of the world's biggest bands by telling them it would help them attract foreign investment.

The police had warned spectators to stay seated, worried that they would be unable to control the crowds and that there might even be riots. Some young Chinese who got up to dance were hauled away by security officers.

The Wham! concert influenced Chinese musicians, who had never seen electric guitars played on stage and began to get interested in rock 'n' roll.

Huang Wen, a music writer, said that the performance had an impact on big-name musicians, including the godfather of Chinese rock, Cui Jian. "In the early 1980s, pop songs from Hong Kong were very popular in mainland China and after the concert college students and people in the music industry started to get interested in rock 'n' roll," she said.

Li said the army department that his parents worked for had given out tickets as a benefit. He attended the concert along with his parents' colleagues and their kids.

"I remember there was a little incident during the concert, the main lights went out because there was a problem with the electricity, so the bassist danced a little break dance," Li said. "It was the first time people saw that and it was so popular, people liked it."

State media said Monday that the concert "was a sensation."

While young Chinese today don't know the names George Michael or Wham!, many instantly recognize his well-loved songs "Last Christmas" and "Careless Whisper." The latter song had already been translated into Chinese and sung in several versions before the 1985 concert.

AP researcher Yu Bing in Beijing and news assistant Fu Ting in Shanghai contributed to this report.
GARY  Police on Tuesday continued to investigate two separate shootings that left one man dead and another wounded during the holiday weekend.

Darius Mitchell, 24, of Gary, was found shot to death in a vehicle Sunday night in the 800 block of Arthur Street, according to the Lake County coroner's office.

Gary police were dispatched about 5:45 p.m. Sunday to the area on a report of a man with gunshot wounds, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. Officers found the man, who was alone in the vehicle.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call Detective Alexander Jones at (219) 755-3855.

Gary police were dispatched about 10 p.m. Saturday to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus for a gunshot wound victim.

A 23-year-old Gary man suffered a gunshot wound to the right thigh, police said.

The man told police he was walking somewhere on 37th Avenue when someone ran up and shot him. He said a friend took him to the hospital.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Sgt. Gregory Wolf at (219) 881-1210.

Anyone with information about crime in Gary can remain anonymous by calling (866) CRIME-GP.
A Plymouth man fatally shot by police last week was wanted on warrants for parole violation and failure to appear in court on methamphetamine charges, police said Tuesday.

William R. Newman, 46, rammed a squad and attempted to run over a police officer during a confrontation Dec. 21 with police attempting to serve him with a felony warrant in the 3100 block of South U.S. 35 in Knox.

Newman later died at LaPorte Hospital, officials said.

Newman's warrants were for failure to appear for dealing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine. The Indiana State Parole Board also had issued a second warrant for parole violation, police said.

Indiana State Police on Tuesday also identified the officers involved in the shooting as Knox Police Chief Harold Smith, who has 23 years of service; Knox police Cpl. Chad Dulin, who has 10 years of service; and Starke County police Detective Donald Ferguson, who has seven years of service.

State police said the investigation is ongoing, and all evidence reports will be submitted to the Starke County prosecutor's office for review.
MICHIGAN CITY  The city's police department has announced a new initiative aimed at shining a weekly spotlight on cold case homicides.

Each week, an unsolved homicide of the week will feature facts about the case, such as date, location and a brief explanation, according to a news release from the Michigan City Police Department. In all, there are 17 unsolved homicides in Michigan City that dates back to 1970.

The initiative  Cold Case Homicide of the Week  will launch Jan. 17. Police announced the new effort just days after securing murder charges in the 2011 fatal shooting death of 17-year-old NeKeisha Hodges-Hawkins.

"(The December 21) announcement of an arrest in the NeKeisha Hodges-Hawkins case is a shining example of how this partnership, a community, and a family, worked in concert towards a common goal," the release stated.

In the month leading up to the arrest of Charles Gerron, 21, Hodges-Hawkins' father, Kalvon Hawkins, launched a social media campaign, largely by broadcasting live videos via Facebook as he passed out fliers throughout the city and protested outside the police department building.

Hawkins, along with clergy and community members, helped raise $5,000 in reward money for those who came forward with information.

Noting success in the Hodges-Hawkins case, police said the new initiative will focus on forged partnerships with the public, pastors, and prosecutors, the release stated.

"We recognize that the bigger our team, the greater our chances of success in solving these unsolved homicides," the release stated.

LaPorte County Prosecuting Attorney John Espar noted in the release he believes new investigative leads will allow cases that have run cold to receive a "fresh, thorough and reinvigorated" review.

Each cold case homicide of the week will note the name of a lead investigator with a telephone number and direct extension.
LAPORTE  A month after being charged in Porter County, an accused child molester was arraigned Friday on similar allegations involving the same young child.

Jonathan Miegl, 34, of Chesterton, is charged with two counts of level 1 felony child molesting, one count of level 4 felony child molesting and two counts of vicarious sexual gratification as level 5 and level 6 felonies.

The most serious of the allegations could bring Miegl a 20- to 40-year sentence on each count.

According to court documents, the child was 6 when the molestations began in 2012 at a home in Chesterton, then resumed two years later in LaPorte.

Police in LaPorte got involved in the case on Nov. 1 at the request of child protective services following an interview with the alleged victim and the child's mother.

Miegl was soon charged in Porter County with two counts of child molesting as level 1 and level 4 felonies.

Chesterton police Detective Chuck Rinker said departments in both jurisdictions have worked together on the investigation.

Court documents revealed the girl's mother in September filed for a restraining order against Miegl after learning of his alleged behavior, and during a cellphone conversation Miegl attempted to convince the child's mother not to pursue charges.

The woman told investigators in that same conversation that Miegl admitted he ''screwed up'' then made other possible incriminating remarks like ''I'm done denying. I'm not going to fight, and I know I'll go to jail,'' court records disclosed.

The victim, during the same call, also told Miegl he hurt the victim badly, and his response was ''I know I did,'' according to court documents.

LaPorte Circuit Court Judge Tom Alevizos set bail at $100,000 and scheduled an omnibus hearing in the case for Feb. 24.
WESTVILLE  More prison time has been given to a Westville man already serving a 40-year sentence for child molesting.

Vincent Jones, 46, was sentenced to 97 months of incarceration and a year of supervised released earlier this month in U.S District Court in South Bend for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Prosecution stemmed from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, LaPorte County Sheriffs Department and Westville Police Department, said David Capp, U.S. district attorney for the Northern District of Indiana.

In 2013, police responded to his home on a complaint of a child sex crime and discovered numerous firearms and ammunition inside the home at New Durham Estates, according to court documents. Jones already was a convicted felon at the time, which made it against the law for him to possess guns.

He was convicted in 2015 of three counts of child molesting based on allegations of sexual activity over a two-year period starting when the girl was in the seventh grade. Court documents revealed the sexual encounters occurred at his home and inside his semitruck on trips he regularly made to Michigan.

According to investigators, family members and friends noticed changes in the girl's behavior and her grades had dropped while the molesting occurred.

More than a dozen handguns, rifles and shotguns along with several thousand rounds of ammunition were recovered from his residence after several holsters and hundreds of .22-caliber casings were in plain view, police said.
VALPARAISO  While Chicago and Indianapolis have grabbed the headlines for their skyrocketing murder rates this year, Porter County remains a safe haven by comparison.

Porter County is on track to end the year without a single murder, which would be the third time this has occurred in the last decade, according to statistics provided by County Prosecutor Brian Gensel.

The calm year comes on the heels of four homicides last year that were filed as murders.

The number of murders each year in the county is traditionally so low  in the single digits  that no real conclusion can be drawn about this year's lack of deaths, Gensel said.

Attempts to secure this year's murder rates in Lake and LaPorte counties were unsuccessful.

There was one murder charge filed this year in Porter County against Frederick Fegely, 67, but the case stems back to last year. He is accused of killing his mother in April 2015 by burning the house they shared in Ogden Dunes.

The case was placed on hold in October after a judge, responding to psychological evaluations of Fegely, committed him to the Logansport State Hospital. He is to be returned to Porter County should he become competent to stand trial at a later date.

While most murder cases tend to be between people who know each other, Gensel said he is thankful that the other crimes that have occurred have not accelerated into deaths.

The Simply Mac store in Valparaiso was robbed twice in a single week recently by armed assailants. During the second robbery, which occurred Dec. 17, the four men and one woman took a gun from a security guard and restrained all the employees in a backroom.

This year's lack of murders is not only good news for the public, but also for police and the courts system, which burn up a lot of time and money handling these cases.

"There's a lot to trying a complex homicide case," Gensel said.

Prosecutors made three attempts alone before convicting Steven Lindsey of murdering his wife, 23-year-old Melinda Lindsey, on Jan. 16, 2015.

If the year comes to a close at the end of this week without a murder, that leaves county prosecutors with four cases pending.

The list includes Portage resident Sheaurice Major, who is accused of hiring a man to shoot and kill 72-year-old Carl Griffith Sr. outside his Portage home Nov. 1, 2012.

The shooter in the case, Dontaye Singletary, of Gary, was found guilty in February 2015 and later sentenced to the maximum 65 years behind bars.

A murder charge is also pending against former police Officer Kevin Campbell, who is charged with the Nov. 18, 2015, shooting death in Portage of Tiara Thomas, 30, the mother of his children.

Portage resident Matthew Richardson is charged in the Dec. 18, 2015, shooting death of Joshua Smith, 28, of Lake Station, following a road rage incident in Portage.

The arson and murder charges are also still pending against Fegely.
VALPARAISO  When two men showed up at a local elementary school to sled with their kids on a Sunday afternoon, they drank some beer while the kids played in the snow on the small hill.

A third father who arrived at the school had his wife contact Valparaiso police. No arrests were made.

To his surprise, and that of several members of the Valparaiso Community Schools Board of Education and school Superintendent E. Ric Frataccia, there's no law that prohibits adults drinking alcohol on school property.

James Smoot, of Valparaiso, shared his experience with the School Board on Dec. 15.

"I'm stunned," Frataccia said at the meeting.

Two Valparaiso police officers responded to the call, and one of the officers told Smoot that no laws had been broken.

According to Smoot, the officer said they cannot enforce a law that doesn't exist.

Indiana State Excise Police Cpl. Heather Lynch said there is no state law addressing this kind of situation.

"Per state law, 'open container' only applies to alcohol possessed inside vehicles," Lynch said. "School policy or city and town ordinances could possibly cover alcohol possession on school property or other open container laws. However, Indiana State Excise Police officers do not enforce ordinances. They are usually only enforced by the local municipality's police officers."

A Valparaiso police report confirms the encounter at Flint Lake Elementary School. Valparaiso police said the two men agreed to put their beer back in a vehicle and cooperated with officers.

Smoot asked the board if it is acceptable to consume alcohol on school grounds, if there's no event and the people involved are at least 21 years old.

School Board members James Jorgensen and Mark Maassel asked School Board Attorney David Hollenbeck and administrators to find a way to address the issue.

Frataccia said the issue is of particular concern to Valparaiso schools, where administrators and the board plan to open all of the schools during some afternoon and evening hours as neighborhood resources.

All of the district's schools are being expanded or upgraded thanks to a tax increase approved by a local voter referendum.

Frataccia has said the plan was to allow the public access to areas like the new school gyms and resource centers during after-school hours.

"Wed like to take care of this before we open our neighborhood gyms to kids on nights and weekends," he said.

"At the very least, I think its very bad judgment for an adult to have that kind of activity on school grounds," Frataccia said. "Wed prefer you not do that."
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Porter County Assessor Jon Snyder has taken legal action in hopes of stopping the state from making the unusual move of holding a hearing in Indianapolis for a Hebron apartment complex seeking to retain its tax exempt status.

"They've always been held up here," Snyder said of the hearings before the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

Why this one is being handled differently, he could not say and officials with the tax review board were not readily available Tuesday for comment.

Snyder, through attorney John Bushemi, filed a motion seeking to move the Jan. 18 hearing from the Indiana Government Center South in Indianapolis to the Porter County Administration Center in Valparaiso.

The hearing was triggered when the owners of the Misty Glen apartment complex in Hebron appealed the 2013 decision by the Porter County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals to withdraw the unit's tax exempt status. The three-member board agreed that the owners, Hebron-Vision LLC, failed to show it qualifies for the breaks through charitable efforts.

Snyder's motion says the rules of procedure "permit the hearing before an administrative law judge to be held in the county in which the property subject to the appeal is located, which in this case is Porter County."

Snyder said Tuesday, "In the spirit of transparency the taxpayers of Hebron should have the opportunity to attend this appeal hearing so that they can better understand how their tax bill is impacted by tax exemptions."

The nearly 11-year-old Hebron-Vision LLC company is listed with the state as being based in Indianapolis. A telephone message left for the registered agent was not immediately returned.

The five-building, 80-apartment complex at 99 Misty Lane was granted tax exempt status in 2009 by the Indiana Board of Tax Review.

"The taxpayers need to understand why, if they do it again," Snyder said.

Hebron-Vision LLC argues in its appeal the property is used to provide "safe, decent and affordable housing in a charitable manner for ... low-income and very low-income individuals and families."

"Through those acts, a benefit inures to the public sufficient to justify the loss of tax revenue," according to the appeal

Board of appeals member Nicholas Sommer had said the tax exempt status was pulled because there was no evidence presented during the March 2013 hearing of charitable or educational efforts on behalf of the apartment operators.

Hebron-Vision, which purchased the complex in September 2007, argued at the time it received the exemption that it offers services to tenants such as newsletters, referral programs, holiday parties, access to office equipment and free blood pressure screenings.

Sommer said the rental rates are compatible with the Hebron market and not significantly better than competing units, he said.

Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals member Joe Wszolek said the operators evict residents who are unable to pay their rent.

Sommer said the evidence also showed Misty Glen is generating a profit, which is not being kept in Porter County.

Sandy Bickel, an Indianapolis attorney representing Hebron-Vision, said at the time the affordable housing provided at the complex probably will be lost if the tax exemption is removed.

She said it is very unusual for a county to initiate an effort like this to remove tax exemption granted by the state.
HAMMOND  For five years, Michigan City native Jennifer Martz tried to convince herself the art school she was attending would prepare her for her lifes work.

But when a patient died in her arms while she worked part-time at a local hospital, and another stricken patient prompted her to summon a stroke alert, the would-be illustrator/fashion designer came to realize it was time to follow a new career path.

So she enrolled in the nursing program at Purdue University Northwests Hammond Campus in January 2011. She graduated earlier this month with a baccalaureate degree and much more.

The youngest of four siblings, Martz, 29, plans to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a Purdue Northwest Westville Campus alumna, who retired from a nursing career. Her father also bleeds Purdue black and gold, having studied engineering at PNWs Hammond Campus before graduating from Purdues West Lafayette campus.

Away from campus, Jennifer serves as a nurse extern in the Oncology Department at The Community Hospital of Munster. A nursing job awaits her once she graduates and passes her Board of Nursing certification exam later this month.

Ultimately, I want to do research related to Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers or ALS, she said. I want to do research that helps nurses help their patients.

Her father was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease two years ago.

I want to help improve his quality of life, so I decided to research what could be done, she said. I learned that depression due to chemical imbalances in the brain of Parkinsons patients is the main constraint.
MERRILLVILLE  The Town Council has finalized salary increases for all full-time municipal employees.

The council has given second and final approval to a measure giving $2,000 raises to the town's staff.

Council President Richard Hardaway said the boost in salaries will help provide a better quality of life for employees.

Hardaway said he believes wages offered in Merrillville are still below the standard set in some other area communities, but the raises are narrowing that gap.

We're on the right track, Hardaway said.

Providing the salary increases will cost the town about $240,000.

Police Chief Joseph Petruch said his budget can accommodate raises for officers and civilian staff in the Police Department. Merrillville officials are making adjustments in the general fund to pay for raises for employees in other departments.

That will involve moving about 30 percent of Merrillville's $222,000 annual payment for emergency personnel radios from the general fund to the towns various tax increment financing districts.

Merrillville also is in the midst of searching for a person to fill the vacant director of planning and development position.

Councilman Shawn Pettit, chairman of Merrillville's Budget and Finance Committee, said half of that compensation can be paid from TIF districts, but the job would become a contractual position. The town is offering up to $70,000 for the director post, and it's accepting resumes until the end of the year.

In addition to the salary increases, the town has altered its health benefits package for employees.

The new plan has a single option that has a health savings account.

The change is expected to decrease Merrillville's health insurance costs in 2017 by about $115,000, and that money will be used to start off health savings accounts for employees.
ST. JOHN  Rick Eberly is coming on board as St. John's new building and planning director.

The Town Council at a recent meeting approved an employment agreement with Eberly to be the building and planning director. The salary for the position is $75,000 and Eberly will work directly with Town Manager Steve Kil.

Eberly will be able to devote his full attention to all things building and planning and zoning, which takes "a tremendous amount of time" Kil said.

"We're probably the fastest growing town around by far," Kil said.

Eberly retired as Dyer's Town Administrator in March. He has had a long history of service with that town, including stints as the towns zoning administrator and redevelopment director. He was tapped to be town administrator in June 2012 after a new ordinance created that position.He had previously served as the town

The council also opened bids for a new fire truck. A bid from Fire Service Inc. came in at $799,998 while the other from Mid America Fire and Safety LLC was for $867,974. The council will take the bids under advisement.

The new truck will replace the Fire Department's oldest truck in service, which is 34 years old.

The council also passed a resolution allowing the town's ownership of a 1945 Mack Fire Engine to be transferred to the Fire Department.

When that truck was retired, the town brought the truck that it is now replacing with the new one. Fire Chief Fred Willman said the truck has a lot of tradition in the department.

"At one time it was the only truck in town," he said.

With the transfer of the title, the Fire Department will have ownership and can decide its next move. The truck hasn't moved for two years, Willman said.
MERRILLVILLE  The town could be a landing spot for a proposed housing development for low-income and homeless veterans.

Neli Vazquez Rowland, president of A Safe Haven, said her organization is pursuing the project.

Rowland said it's in the really, really early stages. A Safe Haven is looking for properties where the development could locate, but a site hasnt been selected. The organization also has started pursuing funding for the facility that would provide on-site support services to veterans there.

It's going to be a process, Rowland said.

A Safe Haven would like the facility to be as close as possible to the Adam Benjamin Jr. Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic near 93rd Avenue and Broadway in Crown Point.

Town Council President Richard Hardaway said there is undeveloped land in Merrillville near that intersection.

He said constructing the veterans housing there would be ideal so veterans could walk to the clinic.

The Town Council believes the facility would be an asset in Merrillville if its built there, and the panel is researching the potential to provide financial support for the project. The council also sent a letter to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority encouraging it to explore options to help fund the project.

Rowland said the proposed veterans housing facility would include at least 75 units, but it could be larger if sufficient funding is secured.

She said there is a huge need for veterans housing in Indiana, and A Safe Haven is super excited about the possibilities to alleviate poverty and homelessness issues.

There isn't yet a schedule for the construction of a facility.

Some projects move faster than others, Rowland said.

Councilwoman Chrissy Barron said she is excited about the possibility of the project coming to the town.

She said veterans deserve honor and support, and it's horrible there are people who put their lives on the line for their country, but they are now homeless or not getting the treatment they need.

We should be doing more for our veterans, Barron said.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii  Under a warm Oahu sun, with the tranquil, teal waters of Pearl Harbor behind them, former enemies came together Tuesday to acknowledge the tremendous loss caused by the Japanese attack on U.S. military installations in Hawaii 75 years ago.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama made a historic pilgrimage to the site of the devastating surprise attack that sent America marching into World War II.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place," Abe said.

He did not apologize for the attack but said "we must never repeat the horrors of war again."

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe was the first to go to the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

There, he and Obama placed a pair of green-and-peach wreaths made of lilies and tossed purple flower petals into the water. The rusting wreckage of the ship where more than 1,000 American service members are entombed can be seen just under the water's surface.

Obama and Abe closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments.

Afterward, they spoke at nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where Obama called the harbor a sacred place and said that "even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and lasting peace."

"As we lay a wreath or toss flowers into waters that still weep, we think of the more than 2,400 American patriots, fathers and husbands, wives and daughters, manning heaven's rails for all eternity," Obama said.

In likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, Obama said the two countries are bound by shared interests and common values and their alliance is "the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and a force for progress around the globe."

The two leaders greeted survivors in the crowd, shaking hands and hugging some of the men who fought in the battle on Dec. 7, 1941.

The visit is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japan's government has said.

It's also a bookend of sorts for Obama, who nearly eight years ago invited Abe's predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

For Abe, it's an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor.

"This visit, and the president's visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago," said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obama's top Asia adviser in the White House. "That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history."

In the years after Japan's attack, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Obama did not apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future. Nor did Abe on Tuesday.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived what President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a "date which will live in infamy."

"War is war," Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. "They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do."

Abe's visit is not without political risk given the Japanese people's long, emotional reckoning with their nation's aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japan's government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of "bureaucratic bungling."

"There's this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this 'Pearl Harbor syndrome,' that we did something very unfair," said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. "I think the prime minister's visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have."

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obama's tenure, including strengthened military ties.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for the two countries than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as "wishful thinking" the notion that Japan could "liquidate the history of World War II" by visiting Pearl Harbor.

"Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia," said Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman.

___

Associated Press writers Brian Skoloff in Kailua, Hawaii, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Gillian Wong in Beijing contributed to this report.
Heinrich Schiff, a cellist whose lyrical, understated style and singing tone made him a profound interpreter of music from Bach through a long list of contemporary composers, died on Friday in Vienna. He was 65.

Ludwig Muller, the concertmaster of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, announced Mr. Schiffs death to the Austrian Press Agency but did not specify the cause.

Mr. Schiff performed and recorded nearly all the standard works of the cello repertory. His fastidious, historically sensitive renditions of Bachs unaccompanied suites were widely acclaimed. He won the German equivalent of a Grammy Award for his recording of the Brahms Double Concerto, with the violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann, in 1997, and the Grand Prix du Disque of the Academie Charles-Cros in France for his recordings of the two Shostakovich cello concertos conducted by the composers son, Maxim. With Till Fellner, he recorded the complete Beethoven works for cello and piano in 2000.

He was equally well known as a tireless explorer of new material for the instrument, starting with Witold Lutoslawskis Cello Concerto, which he performed at its premiere in Warsaw in 1973, with the composer conducting. Over the years he introduced works written for him by Hans Werner Henze, Friedrich Gulda, Richard Rodney Bennett, John Casken and other composers.
He went on to become president of the China National Real Estate Development Group Corporation, the countrys largest state-owned property developer, formulating many policies that earned him the title of godfather of real estate.

In Mr. Mengs office are dozens of framed photographs of him with other senior Chinese politicians as well as Bill Clinton, whom he calls a close friend. (At first, I thought about sending Hillary a note but didnt, he said the day after the presidential election. In the end I thought, since a real estate magnate is president, we will have a bigger say. Will the U.S. real estate mogul turned president be willing to speak with Chinas godfather of real estate?)

In 1995, Mr. Meng traveled to the United States as a visiting scholar to study economics and real estate for six months at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the University of California, Berkeley; and Indiana University. That experience had a profound impact on Mr. Meng  and ultimately, Chinas middle class. It led him to believe that the Chinese people could have their version of the American dream  one house, one car, as he put it.

Once home, he persuaded skeptical banks that Chinese people would pay back their mortgages. That helped introduce a housing market in which prices are controlled by the market, not the government, leading to the price appreciation that has enriched millions of Chinese households.

All these products that I introduced were from abroad, especially from the United States, he said.

As home prices in China soared, Mr. Meng began studying the reverse mortgage systems in countries such as the Netherlands and the United States. In 2003, he wrote a letter to his former colleague Wen Jiabao, who had just become premier of China, telling him that Chinese retirees will be able to live comfortably with the house-for-pension plan.

That year, Beijing approved the pilot program, stoking widespread controversy. Several people blamed the government for shirking its responsibility in providing for their old age. Under the plan, if the borrowers children are not willing to buy the property, it will be sold in an auction. The insurance company would deduct the capital and interest payments, and any leftover money would be given to the borrowers children.

Mr. Meng said he would join the plan when he formally retired. His 31-year-old son approves of it, according to Mr. Meng. Im in no rush now, he said. When I enroll, I want to create an impact and make the elderly feel at ease.
But the changes made to the Taser report went to the core findings by the board, which over the last few years has been battered by internal strife and by questions about its independence.

A spokesman for the mayor, who appoints the boards leader and its members, called the process that led to the revisions collaborative.

Taser complaints have represented a small fraction of the complaints received by the review board, in part because Taser use was restricted to a small number of officers. Over the period studied in the report, from 2014 through 2015, the boards investigators conducted full investigations of 51 of the 153 complaints filed and substantiated only three of them. (The 102 other complaints from that period were closed without a full investigation, often because the complainant was uncooperative, could not be located or withdrew his or her allegation.)

But the devices, seen as a useful alternative to deadly force in some situations, have become an increasingly familiar part of policing across the country. The New York Police Department moved last year to expand their use, despite a troubled history with such devices.

The Taser study coincided with a period of turmoil at the review board, whose data on declining complaints about officers has been an important indicator for the Police Department and Mayor Bill de Blasio to show improved police conduct and better relations between officers and the public.
The wire fox terriers had already tracked through her blood when the police arrived at Susan Bermans bungalow in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve 16 years ago to find her dead, shot in the back of the head, execution-style.

Her friends would tell investigators that Ms. Berman, a down-on-her-luck screenwriter and journalist, would never have let her three dogs run free, for fear they would be hit by a car speeding down narrow Benedict Canyon. Nor would she have opened the door to a stranger, but the police found the back door open and the front unlocked.

Suspicion passed from her landlady, with whom she had been feuding, to her manager and even to geriatric gangsters from Las Vegas who might have known her mobster father back in the days of Bugsy Siegel.

But eventually investigators focused on a wealthy man from a powerful New York real estate family whom she had met in college during the 1960s and for the rest of her life regarded as a brother and a kindred spirit. Robert A. Durst.
Juries around the country imposed 30 death sentences in 2016, a 40 percent drop from last year and fewer than at any time since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, according to a report by the Death Penalty Information Center, a research group that opposes capital punishment. Twenty people were executed this year, the lowest number in a quarter-century.

The practice is not only increasingly rare, it is concentrated in an extremely narrow slice of the country. Only five states carried out executions in 2016, the report found, and only five imposed more than one death sentence. California sentenced nine people to die, the most of any state, but no one has been put to death there since 2006.

Public support for the death penalty keeps dropping, too  falling below 50 percent for the first time in more than four decades, according to a Pew Research survey. Support falls even further when respondents are given the alternative of a long prison term like life without parole. Though voters in California, Nebraska and Oklahoma last month preserved the death penalty, the overall trend is toward growing discomfort with state-sanctioned killing.

The total abolition of capital punishment, however, will depend on the Supreme Courts reading of the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishments. So far, only one current member of the court, Justice Stephen Breyer, a regular critic of the death penalty, has expressed openness to examining this question. This month Justice Breyer took aim at the practice again, in a dissent from the courts decision not to hear an appeal from a death-row inmate in Florida.
LOS ANGELES  Foreign governments concerned about climate change may soon be spending more time dealing with Sacramento than Washington.

President-elect Donald J. Trump has packed his cabinet with nominees who dispute the science of global warming. He has signaled he will withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. He has belittled the notion of global warming and attacked policies intended to combat it.

But California  a state that has for 50 years been a leader in environmental advocacy  is about to step unto the breach. In a show of defiance, Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, and legislative leaders said they would work directly with other nations and states to defend and strengthen what were already far and away the most aggressive policies to fight climate change in the nation. That includes a legislatively mandated target of reducing carbon emissions in California to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

California can make a significant contribution to advancing the cause of dealing with climate change, irrespective of what goes on in Washington, Mr. Brown said in an interview. I wouldnt underestimate Californias resolve if everything moves in this extreme climate denial direction. Yes, we will take action.
He outlined other steps the Palestinians could now take, using the resolution to press the International Criminal Court to prosecute Israeli leaders, file lawsuits on behalf of specific Palestinians displaced by settlements and urge the international authorities to determine whether Israel is violating the Geneva Conventions.

We are looking to devise a comprehensive vision, and hopefully 2017 will be the year when the Israeli occupation ends, Mr. Malki said.

Israeli officials said such pronouncements showed that the resolution actually undermined chances for a negotiated settlement because the Palestinians now have less incentive to come to the table. By declaring Israeli settlements illegal, they said, the United Nations essentially took away the one chip that Israel had to trade, meaning land.

The Palestinians are waging a diplomatic and legal war against Israel. Thats the strategy, Ron Dermer, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, said in a phone interview. Their strategy is not to negotiate an agreement with Israel because a deal is give and take. They want take and take.

Israels settlement project, once a scattering of houses across the so-called Green Line marking the borders before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, has grown substantially over the years. In 2009, the year Mr. Obama took office, 297,000 people lived in West Bank settlements and 193,737 in East Jerusalem. That increased to 386,000 in the West Bank by the end of last year and 208,000 in East Jerusalem by the end of 2014, according to Peace Now, a group that opposes settlements.

Israeli officials note that when Mr. Netanyahu acquiesced to a 10-month settlement freeze sought by Mr. Obama in 2009, the Palestinians still did not agree to negotiate until just before time ran out. But the addition of more than 100,000 settlers during Mr. Obamas tenure convinced him that it was time to change his approach at the United Nations, aides said.

The 618 housing units to be granted building permits in East Jerusalem on Wednesday have been in the works for a while, and the planning committee meeting agenda was set before the United Nations acted. But the committee chairman said he was determined to go forward with units totaling 5,600.
Four are billed as essays; two are said to be short stories. Each originally appeared in The Paris Review, a magazine that, under the editorship of Lorin Stein, has been on a hot streak.

The writer Tom Franklin once described a certain kind of Southern literary voice as the sensitive guy at the dogfight. Theres some of that quality in the first essay here, Letter From Cambridge. Instead of dogfighting, there is mixed martial arts.

Mr. Daniels is newly divorced and finally sober. He decides that it might feel good to hit people, or to be hit, as if in agreement with the novelist Harry Crews, who wrote, Nothing gets you back in touch with yourself like a little of your own blood. Living in Cambridge, Mr. Daniels begins to study Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Hes the kind of mild guy other fighters call professor. But he gets quite adept at violence; he grows feral. His girlfriend asks, What happened to the bookish layabout I fell in love with? He finds himself thinking while running:

Cambridge is lousy with runners, and every time one of those scarecrows breezed past me and my knee brace, I thought, Im glad you can run, because when I catch you, the E.R. nurse is going to pick your teeth out of my elbow the way Mamaw picked raisins out of her slice of cake.

Image J.D. Daniels Credit... Willy Somma

This passage is both typical of this book and startling. Its typical because Mr. Daniels leans on his rough upbringing in Kentucky, and violence is never far below the surface of these letters. Its startling because The Correspondence is also thoughtful and almost self-consciously literary. This same chapter includes a long, knowing evaluation of the state of Brazilian literature.
McDougall starts with founders like Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in 1812 that the acquisition of Canada would be a mere matter of marching, and would represent the final expulsion of England from the American continent. That turned out to be a more complicated task than Jefferson had in mind. But his vision was driven more by military necessity than some sense of religious fervor to spread the American model.

Not quite a century later, though, God and American destiny were fully merged. Trying to figure out what to do with the Philippines, President McKinley decided that the best choice was to annex the territory and by Gods grace do the very best we could by them, as our fellow men for whom Christ also died. In a Memorial Day address at Arlington National Cemetery in 1902, Theodore Roosevelt said America had fought in the Philippines in a triumph of civilization over forces which stand for the black chaos of savagery and barbarism.

Franklin Roosevelts false isolationism  a cover for his secret preparations for entering the war  gave way as he met Winston Churchill off Newfoundland and the two men held hands on Sunday and sang Anglican hymns, a show of solidarity in the battle for survival they knew was at hand. And throughout the Cold War, McDougall argues, the battle against Communism was wrapped not only in the flag, but in some kind of atomic theology. Truman, he notes, was no theologian. He was not even a very good Southern Baptist, to judge from his fondness for bourbon, poker and profanity. But when it came to the stewardship of nuclear weapons, he said, We thank God that it has come to us, instead of to our enemies; and we pray that he may guide us to use it in his ways and for his purposes.

In the course of one of our campaign interviews, Trump told me that it was during the 1950s  when American civil religion was at its peak  that the country was at its strongest, and that the 50s are the era he has in mind when he vows to make us great again. This gets to the internal dissonance in McDougalls argument. He makes a convincing case that civil religion was used to justify American power. But that is different from saying that it guided how that power was used.

The nuclear arms race, begun by Truman and accelerated by Eisenhower and Kennedy, came less out of religious fervor than out of a conviction that national survival depended on having the biggest arsenal. The domino theory that justified the failed intervention in Vietnam was also about the perception of American vital interests. The same was true for the 2003 invasion of Iraq: It was first and foremost a campaign to disarm Saddam Hussein of weapons of mass destruction. Only when it turned out there were no such weapons did liberating the oppressed Iraqis become Bushs primary objective.

And what about Barack Obama? In McDougalls telling, there is little difference between Obama and his predecessor; it was Obama who echoed Bush in pledging support for democracy from Asia to Africa, from the Americas to the Middle East. 

Perhaps, but to a reporter covering his presidency, Obama seemed largely immune from civil-religion disease. His actions spoke of a very different philosophy. The Obama Doctrine was all about the light footprint  drones, Special Forces and cyber attacks  that defended American interests but occupied no territory, and put few troops at risk. We could not seize, hold and build; only local forces could do that. That explains Obamas hesitancy to intervene in Syria, even when upward of a half million Syrians were dying in a civil war, or to put an occupation force in Libya. He has even hesitated to retaliate against Russia for attempting to influence the American presidential election  the holy underpinning of the democratic process.

American foreign policy has certainly been influenced by civil religion over the centuries. But the last president didnt step into that church, and the next one is still figuring it out.
HONG KONG  It has been a tough year in China for Americas technology companies.

Uber sold off its operations there. Beijing ordered some of Apples services shuttered. And Microsoft faced a new inquiry.

Now, in the final days of 2016, Chinas internet regulator suggested the coming year may be even trickier. A report by the regulator on Tuesday suggested it would formalize a cybersecurity review system on tech products in the country.

That could mean another problematic step for foreign tech firms in what has already become a tough market. The report did not offer details about what the government checks would look for, but the language was similar to that described in an article in The New York Times in May about foreign companies quietly submitting to security checks targeting encryption and data storage.

Over the course of 2016 and part of 2015, a number of major foreign technology companies were subject to secretive Chinese security reviews. During the checks, Chinese officials would ask employees of the companies to answer questions about products in person. The reviews are run by a committee of engineers and experts with ties to the countrys military and security agencies.
JUST SAY NO Time Warner turned down an offer from 21st Century Fox, waiting two more years for a higher bid of $85.4 billion from AT&T. NCR, meanwhile, held out against pressure from activist investors to take an $820 million investment from the Blackstone Group. NCRs share price has rocketed up more than 60 percent this year.

To further underscore the benefits of holding out, look at a deal from 2015, when Allergan was sold to Actavis for $220 a share, after Allergan resisted a bid from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International for $185 a share. Now, consider the kind of year Valeant has had, with its stock plummeting and criminal charges being brought against some former executives. While saying no to deal offers can be risky, in these cases, it turned into success. As.

VIACOM VANITIES If I could give a grade below F, it would go to all the parties in the Viacom mess. Everyone saw this coming for years as Sumner Redstones succession strategy was a proclamation that he was not going to die, a succession strategy that never ends well.

As chief executive of Viacom, Philippe Dauman presided over a declining empire, racking up a track record that would have had him fired in Mr. Redstones better years. When Shari Redstone, Mr. Redstones daughter, asserted control and tried to oust Mr. Dauman, chaos ensued, needlessly costing tens of millions of dollars in legal fees. When the Redstones won, they put Viacom and CBS through a process to merger that was aborted, with yet more money going to lawyers and bankers. An F all around.

DECISIVE DELAWARE The Delaware courts receive an A for cracking down on merger litigation. In years past, a deal announcement would seemingly trigger a lawsuit automatically. Litigation rates rose to as high as 96 percent of all deals. This remarkable statistic had long been the subject of criticism, and Delaware has acted to try to reduce the volume of these suits, following up on a late 2015 decision in Trulia that refused to award attorneys fees for many of these cases. Such litigation will be impossible to stamp out, but Delaware deserves an A for effort as well as for capably handling many other corporate disputes over the year. Chief among these was Energy Transfer Equitys Houdini-like escape from the merger with the Williams Companies, which came down to the nuances of when a tax opinion can and cannot be given.
The most recent committee convened to study biotechnology was formed this year at the behest of the White House. The group was asked to predict what new technologies might arise over the next 15 years and advise the government on how to oversee them. The regulation for the industry was last updated in 1992, years before the first approval of genetically engineered seeds, which are now widely used by farmers.

Like the 200 or so other reports published by the National Academies each year, the biotechnology report is undergoing peer review, the quality-control process regularly used by academic journals.

The report could have broad implications for the industry. Big food companies like Coca-Cola and Archer Daniels Midland, for instance, have invested in synthetic biology, a term used for the more sophisticated genetic engineering now coming into use that was the panels area of study. Food companies are exploring its use in creating flavorings and sweeteners.

When the National Academies announced the committee this year, they disclosed that two of the groups 13 scientists had ties to the biotech industry that violated the organizations conflict-of-interest policy. Such disclosures are rare for the academies, said William Kearney, a spokesman for the organization, but scientists with conflicts are sometimes allowed to work on a committee when the academies think the scientist has a specialty or knowledge that cannot be found elsewhere.

Mr. Kearney would not, however, provide data on how frequently the academies have to disclose such conflicts, saying only that they are rare.

The two scientists with conflicts are Dr. Steven Evans, a scientist at Dow AgroSciences, a major biotechnology company, and Jeffrey Wolt, a professor at Iowa State University, who the academies said has investments in a company that could benefit from the studys results. The academies noted their conflicts when the panel members were announced.
To share with friends and brethren The Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (the Everlasting Gospel), and to prepare a people to stand when He returns to redeem His remnant. Also, to share relevant information of current events, and to show how they relate to prophecy; By means of articles, editorials, opinions, scripture readings, and poetry.

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Endrtimes does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article/video posted on this site. The information provided here is done so for personal edification; It's up to the reader to separate truth from error, and to examine everything (like the Bereans) from a Biblical perspective. Let the Holy Scriptures be you guide! - - - FAIR USE NOTICE: These pages/videos may contain copyrighted () material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of ecological, POLITICAL, HUMAN RIGHTS, economic, DEMOCRACY, scientific, MORAL, ETHICAL, and SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES, etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior general interest in receiving similar information for research and educational purposes.
Remember when wraps seemed revolutionary? Maybe you had one on your way home from an Alanis Morissette concert in 1996.

Then you shifted into a comforting pot roast period, followed by the martini and cupcake years. In the mid-2000s, perhaps you pivoted into a complete rejection of carbs, then slid into the bacon era. Who could forget 2010, when you stood in line at a food truck playing Angry Birds on your new iPad? That line would give way to the Cronut line, the ramen line, the poke line and now the line starting over there by the empanada stand.

Predicting food trends like these has become as much an American holiday tradition as ordering an eggnog latte. (Or, this year, mixing red wine and hot chocolate.)

Each December, lists of culinary forecasts pour forth from public relations companies trying to elevate their profiles, food companies looking to sell more food and professional associations hoping to guide chefs as they try to translate the zeitgeist into menu items. Social media wonks have jumped into the pool, too, eager to show off their powerful search analytics.
The chef and restaurateur Thomas Keller is now in the chocolate business: a bean-to-bar partnership with Armando Manni, a Tuscan olive oil producer. The idea was born five years ago, when the men were discussing the antioxidant properties of dark chocolate and olive oil. The results, called K & M Extravirgin Chocolate (they say it K plus M), are made in a former warehouse in Napa, Calif., where the cacao undergoes a special, gentler process to preserve the beans antioxidant properties. Mr. Mannis olive oil is used in place of cocoa butter. The 75 percent cacao bars come in three varieties, according to the source of the chocolate. The Peruvian bar has coffeelike depth, the bar from Ecuador is smooth with woodsy hints of chestnut, and the Madagascar bar is spicy with notes of pineapple and passion fruit. You do not taste the olive oil: K & M Extravirgin Chocolate, $14.95 for 2.5 ounces at Williams-Sonoma stores, williams-sonoma.com, $120 for eight bars from kellermannichocolate.com.
Back in the apartment, Ms. Moore found a note on the computer. Hes rambling and stuff, she said, but he thanks a couple of people, and he thanks Linda Wells. Its really sweet.

With tears streaming down her face during an interview in her apartment, she went on: I understand the whole concept of  not that he committed suicide, but suicide took him. I know that he didnt have a choice. Because it wasnt him that did this. I know he would never dream of doing that and leaving us. And I know that.

The Farewell

Julianne Moore was another movie star who made a beeline toward Mr. Slonim at red carpet events. Their relationship went back to the mid-1970s, when they were each others dates for a homecoming dance at J. E. B. Stuart High School in Falls Church, Va. On the rainy, dark afternoon of Dec. 18, Ms. Moore was among the roughly 350 mourners crowded into the Fourth Universalist Society church on Central Park West. Nearby sat Mr. Slonims wife and their sons.

Speakers included his two sisters, who recalled the Superman costume he wore as a boy; his brother-in-law, Dominic Moore, who described his generosity with the swag bags he picked up at parties; the Oscar-winning film producer Bruce Cohen, who reminisced about his days with Mr. Slonim in middle school, at Yale and on the red carpet; and the former Allure editor Ms. Wells, who spoke last.

Jeffrey hit the red carpet and he loved it, she said. Which sounds hard to believe, now that the red carpet is so often a shouting match and a total fame orgy. But he did, and he respected it, too.

After describing his amusing encounters with Roseanne Barr, George Clooney and Donald J. Trump, she continued: You could tell he had a genuine connection with the subjects, many of whom made a ritual out of greeting him with a kiss. He gave as much time and attention to the Oscar winner as he did to the guy who was voted off Survivor: Borneo.

A montage of still photographs projected onto a small movie screen gave glimpses of Mr. Slonim from babyhood to adulthood. After the clergyman said a few final words, the mourners stayed in place for a long moment, silent and not quite ready to leave.
Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. In this podcast, Andrew Rosenthal, a Times Op-Ed columnist, talks about the news of 2016  the good, the bad and that which makes him mad.

Terror attacks. Wars all over the globe. Governments murdering their citizens  in Syria, in Turkey, in the Philippines, in Ukraine, in Chad. Democracy under attack. Refugees. Resurgence of xenophobia and racism. And a new administration that wants to turn back the clock to before the civil rights movement, the feminist movement, the movements to recognize and honor differences in gender and sexual orientation. In Mr. Rosenthals view, these contribute to the bad news this year, which he designates the continued unsettled state of our world.

The most maddening news of the year? The ridiculous state of the political process in this country. Mr. Rosenthal starts with the Electoral College  those who created it didnt trust women, or black people, or pretty much anyone except landowning Christians to make decisions about their government. It needs to go away. Mr. Rosenthal says he doesnt think it ever will, which is particularly maddening.

Last, the good news. Our world is full of amazing men and women who affect our lives through their music, art or acting says Mr. Rosenthal. As examples, he offers David Bowie, Prince, Natalie Cole, Muhammad Ali, Gwen Ifill, Bill Cunningham, and Antonin Scalia, all of whom The Times Magazine celebrates in its special year-end feature, The Lives They Lived. Though they are gone, Mr. Rosenthal says they enriched our lives. And there are so many others still out there who can do the same. Beyonce. Kendrick Lamar, Rosanne Cash, Sturgill Simpson, Margo Price, Lin-Manuel Miranda: Play one of their songs and be glad.
Last month, a Berlin nonprofit group called the Tactical Technology Collective took over a gallery in Lower Manhattan. They installed wall-size screens and display cases and arranged glossy tablets on large tables. The walls were white, and the decor was minimalist. If you squinted, you could mistake it for an Apple Store. That was the point. The exhibit, which Mozilla helped produce, lured people in with the visual language of high-tech consumption. But instead of housing cool new devices, each display contained an artifact or a piece of art intended to school and shock visitors on how much (or little) we know about privacy and data security.

There was an interactive demonstration on a widely used program called Churchix, a facial-recognition tool licensed to churches that records and logs the identities of people entering the premises. There was a book created by the artist Aram Bartholl of the five million passwords stolen in 2012 from LinkedIn (including my own), so thoroughly thumbed through that the spine had broken. A piece by Mimi Onuoha, The Library of Missing Data Sets, showed a filing cabinet packed with information not readily available online, under headings like Number of Mosques Surveilled by F.B.I. and N.S.F.W. Comments Trump Made While Filming The Apprentice.  It commented on the political implications of the knowledge we dont have access to  despite living in the age of on-demand information.

Eight antennas collected information emitted by any Wi-Fi-enabled device that happened to wander past the gallery and beamed it to an enormous screen inside, a disturbing reminder of how easy it is to track people and how often we let it happen. My favorite display was a fitness band tied to a metronome, exactly the kind you would use to practice music. Called an UnFitbit, the low-fi hack was intended to help clever individuals goose their daily fitness scores. It seemed cute, the idea that you might want to cheat on how many steps you took in a day, but the display had a darker interpretation: It anticipated a future when insurance rates and health benefits might be tied to such rankings.

To move through the Glass Room, as the exhibition was called, was to be reminded of the many ways we unwittingly submit ourselves and one another to unnecessary surveillance, with devastating consequences. A few years ago, everything here would be a Black Mirror episode, but it is real, says Marek Tuszynski, a founder of the Tactical Technology Collective, which also does privacy and digital rights advocacy work. He told me that since the election, Americans have seemed more eager to protect their data. There is a newfound urgency here, he says. We dont want people to feel like they have to stop using Facebook or their mobile phones, but we just want them to look at it differently.
Love and loss go hand in hand in 20th Century Women, a funny, emotionally piercing story about a teenager and the women who raise him. It opens in 1979, when cool kids danced to Talking Heads (This aint no party, this aint no disco) and President Carter bummed everyone out talking about our crisis of confidence. Theres something in the air  or so it seems, although the California light here tends to blot out the shadows. When a car bursts into flames soon after the movie opens, it looks about as threatening as an art installation. Apocalypse later, man.

The car belongs to Dorothea Fields  a thrilling Annette Bening  a divorced single mom with an only son, the teenage Jamie (Lucas Jade Zumann, in a heartbreakingly sincere turn). Mother and child live in Santa Barbara, that drowsy, well-heeled coastal city north of Los Angeles. There, Dorothea is raising Jamie in a roomy, stately 1905 fixer-upper that shes renovating with the help of a boarder, William (Billy Crudup). Another lodger, an artist, Abbie (Greta Gerwig), helps keep their communal life jumping, as does Jamies friend Julie (Elle Fanning), who likes to cuddle platonically with him at night, sharing secrets as he tries to keep his hormones and body from betraying him.
Carl Paladino said on Tuesday that he had not intended to send racist remarks about President and Michelle Obama, which were roundly denounced as viciously offensive, to a Buffalo newspaper for publication.

Mr. Paladino, a former candidate for governor of New York and a political ally of President-elect Donald J. Trump, said in a statement that he had meant to email his remarks to friends.

Instead, he said, he inadvertently sent them to Artvoice, a Buffalo weekly, which published them last week.

In the statement, Mr. Paladino, a western New York builder and a member of the Buffalo Board of Education, said that he would not heed calls for his resignation, not when its time to help implement the real choice elements of Trumps plan for education reform.
For the state, it seems, the strategy developed by Mr. Kaloyeros and trumpeted by Mr. Cuomo  to lavish hundreds of millions of dollars in state subsidies on corporate partners to create high-tech jobs  is unblemished. Yet the model has come in for repeated criticism from government watchdogs, who say an economic policy that tries to create risky new industries virtually from scratch, and that spends millions in taxpayer dollars to create every new job, is folly.

Were incredibly skeptical of the economic logic behind these projects because theyre too expensive, said John Kaehny, the executive director of Reinvent Albany, a good-government group. There is no economic logic to this, really. But theres a huge political logic to it. The governor desperately needs for this to be a success for his political legacy in New York.

Local officials have praised Mr. Zemsky as an inclusive and open manager. For those who watched the Utica deal crumble, however, his involvement was a belated acknowledgment that the state could have done better from the beginning  and been better attuned to signs that the program was ailing months before the indictments made it obvious.

Shifting blame to the procurement process at SUNY Poly is drawing attention away from all the missed opportunities the governors office had to step in and make sure the AMS project was moving forward, said Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, a Democrat from Utica. I think the governors office, essentially, when it came to economic development upstate, turned the keys over to Alain Kaloyeros, and unfortunately in the case of Utica, Alain drove the bus right off the cliff.

Mr. Cuomos aides reject the idea that the state has lost credibility in its efforts to revive the upstate economy, saying their economic development efforts were always much bigger than the ones Mr. Kaloyeros oversaw.

SUNY Polys narrowly focused on some very high-profile tech projects, but for someone to say economic development, broadly speaking, has been turned over to to someone at SUNY Poly is just incorrect, Mr. Zemsky said, citing the governors efforts to involve regional officials in economic planning and to spread state funds across thousands of smaller economic development projects.

He said he was confident that they would ultimately bring the nanotechnology projects to fruition.

That is the only thing, at the end of the day, that can change that taste in peoples mouths, he said.
Dont scratch it.

Those were the first words Abdou Travares wife, Ramata, ever spoke to him. He was from Senegal and she was from Mali, but they met on a street in Paris. Both were attending college in France. Mr. Travare had stopped to examine her car, the same make and model as the one he drove, except hers was white and his was green.

Just do not get too close to it, she warned him, a playful request that led to a short conversation, an exchange of names and a few laughs. The next day, Mr. Travare intentionally parked his car next to hers, and flirtatiously tried to use his key to open her car door.

She was smitten. Five years later, in 1980, the couple married. Weve been with each other for a while now, Mr. Travare, 60, said.

Over the past 30 years, they have faced challenges together, including a lengthy time apart in the mid-1980s. During a vacation to San Francisco, Mr. Travare became so fond of the city that he decided to stay and pursue a masters degree in international finance at Golden Gate University. Three years went by before Mrs. Travare, who had stayed in Mali, was able to join her husband in the United States.
To the Editor:

Re California Prepares to Resist Mr. Trump (editorial, Dec. 9):

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has taken some steps to protect immigrant New Yorkers, but he and our legislators in Albany could do a lot more to ensure that immigrant families statewide remain intact. For one, New York should pass legislation  modeled on Californias bill  prohibiting the use of any state or local resources for immigration enforcement.

State and local law enforcement agencies in New York should not be allowed to detain or transfer anyone for deportation without a judicial warrant. This would help keep immigrant families together, improve public safety for all by promoting trust in local law enforcement, and protect New Yorks overall economy and tax base, which relies heavily on immigrant labor and immigrant consumers.

Leaders in Albany could also finally pass the New York State Dream Act, a low-cost policy that would allow all immigrant students access to state tuition aid for college, ensuring that these deserving young people are able to pursue their educations and careers. More critically, Albany must find ways to protect our students by granting them some form of legal status.

Finally, our state should expand access to drivers licenses to all New York motorists regardless of immigration status, a common-sense public safety measure that has already been adopted by California and a dozen other states.
I am your voice, President-elect Donald J. Trump declared at the Republican National Convention. In another campaign speech, he told his supporters, I alone can fix it.

Before he has even taken office, Mr. Trump has tried that go-it-alone strategy on behalf of American workers. He has browbeaten Carrier into reversing a decision to move some jobs from Indiana to Mexico, and he attempted  unsuccessfully  to do the same with Rexnord, which owns a neighboring manufacturing plant. But publicity stunts and Twitter rants are no substitute for a comprehensive, coherent economic strategy that invests in America and lifts up the voices and the power of working people.

Working people do not want a savior to speak for us. We want to raise our own voices through our unions  and those voices are more essential than ever. The share of income going to the middle class has fallen in almost perfect correlation with the declining percentage of people working in jobs where they enjoy a union. Collective, democratic representation in the workplace is essential to shared and durable economic prosperity.

Yet Mr. Trumps emerging cabinet and policy pronouncements seem to treat actual working people as bottom lines rather than human beings, our unions as a threat rather than a partner, and rising wages as a problem rather than the foundation of our prosperity.
We continue today with more Times columnists selecting a favorite column from 2016 and saying a few words about it. Along with those words, Ive listed the column written by each that attracted the largest online audience among Times subscribers.

Ross Douthat

A favorite column: Clintons Samantha Bee Problem

Ross explains: The Samantha Bee column seemed to make our readers angriest.

Most read among Times subscribers: The Dangers of Hillary Clinton

Nicholas Kristof

A favorite column: The Killing Field

Nick explains: American politics and the Trump election has sucked the oxygen from other important stories around the world, including South Sudans slide toward genocide or mass atrocities. For this column, I traveled to a killing field to report on ethnic cleansing that may well get worse in 2017.

Most read among Times subscribers: Donald Trump, Groper in Chief
To the Editor:

Re U.S. Abstains in U.N. Vote Against Israeli Settlements (front page, Dec. 24):

It is deeply disappointing that the Obama administration shamefully abstained from the anti-Israel vote in the Security Council. In doing so, Mr. Obama steps away from his presidency, turning his back on the unbreakable bond with our great ally Israel.

A peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be achieved only by direct negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership, without outside interference. By allowing the Security Council to condemn Israel, America has undermined Israel and legitimized harmful boycotts and other commercial predatory practices against Israel.

Moving forward, we dedicate and commit ourselves to rekindling the American-Israeli relationship, and we greatly appreciate President-elect Donald Trumps efforts to fight for Israel on this critical issue.

JACK ROSEN

President

American Jewish Congress

New York

To the Editor:

Re Israel Wonders if Netanyahu Will Have to Play His Hand (news article, Dec. 26):

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in excoriating the United States for refusing to veto the settlement resolution, says friends dont take friends to the Security Council.
BERKELEY, Calif.  A decade ago, a group of biologists, venture capitalists and computer whizzes gathered under the name clean tech. They hoped to overturn polluting industries with microorganisms cheerily excreting industrial chemicals through the miracle of reprogramming natures genetic code.

The idea lost billions of dollars. Genes may indeed be programmable code, akin to computer software, but it turned out nature was more complex than first believed.

Now, with less fanfare, a few clean tech companies are aiming for a comeback. And the big idea has not changed much: Create cheap, safe and natural materials for fuel, cosmetics and other goods, much the way yeast ferments sugars into alcohol.

This time around, they believe they have better tools for editing genetic codes, measuring results and automating how chemicals are produced at a large scale. They have also set their sights lower, for now targeting just a few chemicals, not remaking how the world powers cars.
Since the presidential election, fake news has been in the spotlight for how its spread online may have influenced the American electorate. So what is it like to be one of the fighters of this scourge?

David Streitfeld, a technology reporter for The New York Times, recently found out when he visited the San Diego offices of Snopes, a website that is a longstanding debunker of misinformation. In recent weeks, Snopess role in battling false stories has grown because it partnered with Facebook, which is trying to limit the dissemination of fake stories across its social network partly by working more closely with fact checkers.

Image

At first glance, its hard to tell that Snopes is one of the chief weapons against fake information, David reports. The offices of the website do not look like much  no sign outside, junk food inside.
PHILADELPHIA  Tucked one floor below the majestic Gothic sanctuary of Arch Street United Methodist Church, Javier Flores Garcia sleeps on a cot in a basement Sunday-school classroom that church members have outfitted with a microwave, a compact refrigerator and a television.

Mr. Flores, an arborist, longs for the open air, but does not dare set foot outside. He was supposed to report to the immigration authorities last month to be deported to his homeland, Mexico, but one day before his report date, he took refuge in the church.

His family is why he is fighting to remain, and when they visited him in the church recently, his 5-year-old son, Javier Jr., parked on his lap. The boy often refuses to leave his fathers side, and has ended up staying for days with him in the church. On Christmas Day, Mr. Flores had been there six weeks.

This downtown church is one of 450 houses of worship in the United States that have offered to provide sanctuary or other assistance to undocumented immigrants, according to leaders of the Sanctuary Movement. (Few congregations have the space and fortitude to risk harboring immigrants indefinitely, so others are lining up to contribute money, legal aid, food, child care or transportation.) The congregations joining this network have more than doubled since the election of Donald J. Trump  a rapid rebuttal to Mr. Trumps postelection promise to deport two million to three million unauthorized immigrants who he said have been convicted of crimes.
From the Metropolitan Police of Washington to the National Park Service to the F.B.I., a vast overlapping patchwork of intelligence analysts, military personnel and law enforcement officers numbering in the tens of thousands will be working to protect the inauguration and related activities.

In total, more than three dozen agencies spread out across the capital will be working to prevent the occasion from becoming a platform for individuals or groups looking to do harm. Their work, begun months ago, has taken on a new urgency since Election Day and will soon include the imposition of a security perimeter around the Capitol, the Mall and large parts of the city.

The costs of security alone are expected to exceed $100 million.

Protecting the new president, the thousands of dignitaries who will be on hand and the crowds is the top priority of federal intelligence, law enforcement and military agencies, as it has been at inaugurations since the Sept. 11 attacks. Threats, from abroad and from homegrown extremists alike, remain a chief concern, current and former officials said.

What the intelligence community says publicly is what they say privately, and that is more threats from more directions than ever before, said Senator Roy Blunt, Republican of Missouri, who is chairman of the congressional committee planning the inaugural ceremony. And that just means the Capitol Police and the security elements need to be more thoughtful and alert than ever to what could happen.

But this time, security forces  particularly law enforcement officers who will be on the ground here  are also preparing to confront crowds of Americans who are unusually divided and anxious over the election results. The priority, officials said, is to avoid the kind of violent clashes that periodically flared up on the campaign trail between Mr. Trumps supporters and those who opposed him, while allowing groups on both sides to carry on with events.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  At least 27 Christians died and dozens more were sickened in a small city in Pakistan after drinking toxic alcohol on Christmas, officials said on Tuesday.

At least 60 people fell ill from the alcohol during celebrations on Sunday in the city, Toba Tek Singh, in Punjab Province, and dozens were taken to a nearby hospital, officials said. Almost 50 people were later brought to a hospital in Faisalabad, the closest major city, for treatment.

By Tuesday, the death toll had reached 27, Atif Imran Qureshi, a police official in Toba Tek Singh, said in a phone interview. The provincial government ordered an inquiry into the episode.

The sale of alcohol is restricted in Pakistan, but non-Muslims and foreigners can get permits from the provincial and federal authorities to consume it.
Given Mr. Abes nationalist leanings, he might not have seemed the most likely Japanese leader to embrace the United States, or a Democrat like Mr. Obama, so warmly.

Yet since he took office four years ago, after an earlier stint as prime minister in 2006-7, Mr. Abe has committed Japan to several policies favored by the Obama administration.

Mr. Abe expanded Japans support of United States military bases despite fierce opposition in Okinawa, and pushed through controversial security legislation that allows Japans military, the Self Defense Forces, to participate in combat missions abroad. He offered nonmilitary aid to countries battling the Islamic State, even as ISIS militants killed a Japanese hostage.

The clearest motivation for Mr. Abe was the need for a partner in defending against a rising China.

In the regional geopolitics, I think Japan and the U.S. are both pushed closer to each other by China, Mr. Ito said. For security, there is no one but the U.S. which can provide the security to Japan, so there is no question about it.

Mr. Obama provided very clear promises of protection. In 2014, during a visit to Tokyo, he declared that a security treaty obligated the United States to defend Japan in its confrontation with China over a set of disputed islands in the East China Sea, known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. It was the first time an American president had explicitly said so.

Now Japans leaders are warily watching Mr. Trumps approach to China. They may like that Mr. Trump is taking a more aggressive stance toward Beijing on issues like trade, Taiwan and the South China Sea, but there are also risks for Japan if that stance triggers a hostile response.
Each and every one of those servicemen had a mother and a father anxious about his safety.

Many had wives and girlfriends they loved. And many must have had children they would have loved to watch grow up.

All of that was brought to an end. When I contemplate that solemn reality, I am rendered entirely speechless.

Rest in peace, precious souls of the fallen.

With that sentiment, I cast flowers on behalf of Japanese people, upon the waters where those sailors and marines sleep.

President Obama, the people of the United States of America, and the people around the world,

As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place, and also to the souls of the countless innocent people who became victims of the war.

We must never repeat the horrors of war again.

This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken. And since the war, we have created a free and democratic country that values the rule of law and has resolutely upheld our vow never again to wage war.

We, the people of Japan, will continue to uphold this unwavering principle, while harboring quiet pride in the path we have walked as a peace-loving nation over these 70 years since the war ended.

To the souls of the servicemen who lie in eternal rest aboard the U.S.S. Arizona, to the American people, and to all peoples around the world, I pledge that unwavering vow here as the prime minister of Japan.
Attendees issue statement supporting the principles declared in a recent Cairo conference on Libya aiming to resolve ongoing civil conflict

Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Hegazy, chief-of-staff of Egypt's armed forces, headed a meeting on Monday with Libyan public figures, media personnel and rights groups, issuing a joint statement of support for the principles declared in a recent Cairo conference to tackle Libya's ongoing civil conflict, reported Al-Ahram Arabic website.

On 12 December, Libyan officials and representatives from the country's various political factions gathered in Cairo, issuing a declaration of principles the following day, along with five proposed amendments to the UN-brokered Skhirat agreement of 2015, which aims at resolving the Libyan civil conflict.

The declaration asserted four main principles to be adhered to in Libya's transition: the preservation of a united Libya; support for state institutions; non-interference by foreign bodies; and the maintenance of a civil state.

The meeting on Monday also discussed ways to resolve the conflict by "spreading a culture of dialogue" and increasing efforts to "achieve a peaceful political agreement in Libya and maintain the country's unity."

The statement highlighted Egypt's efforts at ending the Libyan conflict and said they will be forming pressure groups to influence key international players to adopt the Cairo principles.

Last week, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also met with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Taha Siala to discuss the implementation of the UN-brokered Skhirat agreement.

The Libyan foreign minister stressed that the 2015 agreement is the cornerstone of achieving stability in the country and restoring Libya's state institutions.

The political conflict in Libya broke out following the ouster of Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, which left rival militias and factions battling for control.

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BEIJING  The Chinese military, in a move analysts described as a challenge to President-elect Donald J. Trumps strident criticism of China, has deployed an aircraft carrier to patrol the contested South China Sea, officials said on Tuesday.

The ship, which is known as the Liaoning and is Chinas first and only aircraft carrier, was spotted leading five other Chinese warships this week in patrols near the coasts of Taiwan and Japan. China claims the South China Sea as its own despite objections from neighboring countries and the United States.

Chinese military experts called the deployment of the Liaoning a long-overdue challenge to American military dominance in the Pacific. Several said the move appeared aimed at testing Mr. Trump, who has antagonized Beijing with acerbic words and actions on issues like Taiwan, trade and North Korea.

The message is: If you test our bottom line, well play that game too, said Ni Lexiong, a naval expert at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law.
Ms. Parks presidential powers have been suspended since Dec. 9, when the National Assembly voted for her impeachment, saying that she took bribes and committed a variety of other offenses. She is now on trial at the Constitutional Court, which is expected to decide by next spring whether to reinstate her or formally remove her from office. If the court removes her, a new president will be elected in 60 days.

Nearly half of the 128 lawmakers in Ms. Parks party voted for impeachment. On Tuesday, 29 of them left the party, Saenuri, to form a new one in preparation for the next presidential election.

Critics of her textbook proposal accused Ms. Park of returning the nations history education to the days of her father, the dictator Park Chung-hee, whose government issued textbooks that justified his rule. Even many of Ms. Parks conservative supporters opposed the plan, despite being critical of many of the privately published history textbooks.

Some of those books discuss sensitive topics like the mass killings of civilians in South Korea during the Korean War, the persecution of dissidents under dictators like her father and his history of collaboration with the Japanese colonial government that ruled Korea before the end of World War II. Many conservative critics have said that such masochistic historical views should be kept out of classrooms.

Ms. Parks government said last year that the private textbooks were ideologically biased and that the new ones would make students proud of their history. When drafts of the state textbooks were unveiled a month ago, opposition parties accused them of highlighting the achievements of Ms. Parks father, like rapid economic growth during his rule, while giving cursory treatment to abuses like the torture and execution of dissidents. Many local education offices vowed not to endorse the new textbooks.
TAIPEI, Taiwan  A high school parade in Taiwan in which students dressed as Nazi soldiers and carried swastika banners has created a storm of criticism in one of Asias most open societies.

Hsinchu Kuang-Fu High School in Hsinchu City held the parade, which focused on Adolf Hitler, as part of the schools anniversary celebrations on Friday. The parade also featured cardboard tanks. The students chose the theme, according to local news reports.

Photographs of the event spread quickly online, creating a backlash, with the unofficial diplomatic missions of Israel and Germany issuing letters of protest.

The episode resulted in the resignation of the schools principal, Cheng Hsiao-ming, this week.

Mr. Cheng said that he took responsibility, adding that the primary issue was our educations problem, according to local news reports. It wasnt necessarily a problem created by the children.
BRUSSELS  A giant glowing orb is about to become the new home of the European Union.

Nestled inside of a bold and decidedly quirky new building, the orb will be visible from the street during the day and after dark, a nod to greater transparency by an institution often dismissed as elitist and remote.

When European leaders meet for the first time in their new headquarters, known as the Europa and built for about 325 million euros, or $340 million, they will experience joyful surroundings, Philippe Samyn, the projects architect, said during a recent tour of the building.

It has been a long time since any gathering of the blocs leaders could be described as joyful.

Finishing touches are being applied to the orb  on close inspection its really more of a vase  just as hopes of European unity have faded precipitously.

Britain voted in June to leave the bloc, and the willingness of the other 27 member states to play by rules decided in Brussels is being tested in ways scarcely imaginable when the project was given the go-ahead a dozen years ago. Europe is being swept by populist fury, much of it directed at the European Union  at its centralizing tendencies and its often ineffectual results.
Mr. McCain also referred to the consensus among American intelligence agencies that Russia tried to interfere in the presidential election, a contention that Mr. Trump has rejected.

Theres no doubt that the Russians were hacking, Mr. McCain said, though he added that he saw no evidence that Russian cyberattacks and leaking of information had any tangible effect on the outcome.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who ended a 10-year term as Estonias president in October, said in an interview that the Senate delegation was more than a business-as-usual visit.

But Mr. Ilves also played down the idea that the Baltic countries were anxious. Estonians are not nervous  at best, apprehensive in the face of ambiguous messages, he said. Recall that Donald Trump also backed off on his initial statement and, after all, he was talking about those who do not pay enough for defense. We do.

Mr. Trump said during the presidential campaign that NATO members must pay their share if they want the benefits of a collective defense. Estonia is one of the few NATO members that meet or exceed the benchmark of spending on its military, at least 2 percent of gross domestic spending. (The others are the United States, Britain, Poland and Greece.)

Audronius Azubalis, a Lithuanian lawmaker and former minister of foreign affairs, said in a telephone interview that the senators visit sends a strong message to the Baltic states and those under direct threat  Georgia and Ukraine  that the allies will stand with us and that the United States would not bow to Russian aggression.

Lithuanians have been alarmed by Mr. Trumps comments in support of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, Mr. Azubalis said, but are now waiting to see if his attitude toward Mr. Putin shifts once he takes office.
MOSCOW  The flight data recorder of the Russian military passenger plane that crashed into the Black Sea near the resort town of Sochi, killing all 92 passengers and crew members on board, has been recovered, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

The flight recorder was found about a mile from shore and was quickly transferred to Moscow, where investigators began working on decoding it, said Maxim Sokolov, the transportation minister.

The Tupolev 154, carrying members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, a famed army choir and orchestra, crashed on Sunday shortly after a refueling stop in Sochi. Twelve bodies have been recovered, along with 156 body parts, according to the Defense Ministry statement, and all were sent to Moscow for identification. Relatives have identified just one victim, it said. Parts of the fuselage, engine and landing gear have also been found.

The Russian authorities have not ruled out terrorism as the cause of the crash, but they have said it is unlikely. The data from the flight recorder could be crucial in determining why the plane went down.
A new requirement that students, once automatically registered by their schools, register individually is thought to have cut voter turnout in the June referendum on leaving the European Union, also known as Brexit, which young people generally opposed.

Mr. Skidmore said that the trial in 2018 was partly intended to see what kinds of proof of identity were best in a country without a national identity card, unlike most of Europe.

It is possible that other proof of address like utility bills or proof of voter registration may be used as well as documents with photographs, like driving licenses and passports.

Mr. Skidmore also rejected the accusation that electoral fraud was associated with any one community, although he said racial and cultural sensitivities might have discouraged the police from earlier investigating the case of Tower Hamlets.

After absentee ballots were made available to any registered voter in 2000 under the prime minister at the time, Tony Blair, there was evidence that some political activists were harvesting them from old addresses and filling them out, or collecting them in bulk from some voters.

Voters in Northern Ireland, with a long history of electoral pressure in a divided community, have had identity checks at polling stations since 1985, and since 2002 have had to bring photographic IDs, since other forms of documentation were too easily forged.

The Electoral Reform Society, a lobbying group, criticized the governments plan as a sledgehammer to crack a nut, arguing that voting fraud was not widespread in Britain and that the government should think very carefully before introducing barriers to voting, said its chief executive, Katie Ghose.
The positive energy that there was tonight needs to be spread around, an unidentified Jewish man tells the group in American-accented English before handing over the menorah, which he called symbolic. The symbol is that hopefully through this night we can bring infinite light to the world.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported that Bahraini officials hosted the Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony on Saturday, the first night of the eight-day holiday, and that it was attended by members of the countrys small Jewish population, foreign businessmen and other local Bahrainis.

The identities of the members of either delegation could not immediately be determined, but American Orthodox Jews suggested online that the Jewish group might have been backed by Eliezer Scheiner, a businessman and philanthropist from Brooklyn. Calls to Mr. Scheiner were not answered.
Mehdi Karroubi, an Iranian cleric who ran for president in 2009 in an election that was followed by protests and a brutal crackdown, has resigned from his political party, according to the Iranian news media.

Mr. Karroubi, 79, has been under house arrest since 2011 for his role in the Green Movement, which helped lead widespread antigovernment protests after the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

The conditions of house arrest have rendered me unable to follow up on affairs such as the issues of this party, and my knowledge and information about it are limited, Mr. Karroubi wrote in a letter to his party published in the reformist newspaper Shargh on Tuesday. In the letter, Mr. Karroubi asked party members to approve his resignation request for the sake of the party.

Until the end of my life, I shall not cease from defending the culture of revolution and the party, he wrote.
The Saud clan remains quietly at odds over how to proceed, with doubts about Prince Mohammeds economic reform plans and his stewardship of the war in Yemen.

The family always wants to be unified, so even if they are unhappy, they are trying to stay unified, said a senior prince who is the son of a former king, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions from others in the family.

Indeed, criticizing the monarchy carries risks. Three princes who were living abroad and had spoken out against Saudi policy have disappeared from view since King Salman came to power. They are believed to be back in Saudi Arabia, where they cannot voice their disagreements. (The Saudi spokesman said they were not in jail or under house arrest.)

In October, the government announced that a low-ranking prince had been executed for murder. That was interpreted by some as a sign to commoners that no one was above the law; others described it as a signal to royals that they would not be protected from the consequences of their actions.

While members of the family have been investing overseas for decades, the pace of buying homes abroad has quickened in the last two years, according to Ardavan Amir-Aslani, a business lawyer who has advised Saudi princes on real estate acquisitions in France. In the event the situation becomes dire for them, they want to have an option, and a place to go to live, a place to have assets, he said.

Theyre not only securing their capital, he added, but also their future lives.

After Ramadan ended in July, many royals traveled to the Mediterranean. Prince Abdulaziz, the son of the late King Fahd, rode a Jet Ski this past summer off the Spanish island of Formentera within sight of his nearly 500-foot yacht.
There are over 700 defendants in the case, including many senior Muslim Brotherhood figures

A Cairo criminal court ordered on Tuesday the release pending trail of 10 defendants for medical reasons in the Rabaa dispersal case, where they face charges of unauthorised assembly, use of force, premeditated murder, and the possession of weapons and bombs.

Other defendants in the case have also asked to be released for medical reasons, though the court has only ordered the release of those deemed in conditions too critical to remain incarcerated.

Of those whom the court did not grant release is photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as Shawkan, whose family says is not being provided the necessary treatment for Hepatitis C in prison.

The case, which includes 739 defendants, involves the events surrrounding the 2013 dispersal of the Rabaa El-Adaweya sit-in in Cairo, where demonstrators were protesting against the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi earlier that year.

The dispersal of the sit-in by security forces left hundreds of people dead.

The defendants include the Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie as well as leading Brotherhood figure Mohamed El-Beltagy, alongside other senior Brotherhood members.

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TOKYO  When President Barack Obama made a historic visit to Hiroshima in May, there was no question that he was the first sitting U.S. president to do so. But as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares to pay his respects at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, Japanese officials are scrambling to identify what, exactly, is unprecedented about his reciprocal visit.

Abe announced this month that he would visit Pearl Harbor. Japans Foreign Ministry, in news briefings, indicated at the time that he would be the first sitting Japanese prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor, the site of the surprise attack on a United States naval base 75 years ago.

It turns out, though, that he might not be the first, or even the second. It now appears that he is the fourth.

A few days after Abe announced his visit, news reports emerged that a predecessor, Shigeru Yoshida, had stopped in Hawaii in 1951 on his way home from signing a treaty in San Francisco and had paid a quiet visit to Pearl Harbor.

And last week, a Japanese-language newspaper in Hawaii reported that it had found in its archives articles about two other visits there by sitting Japanese prime ministers in the 1950s, including Nobusuke Kishi, Abes grandfather.

In response to the reports, Japanese officials are characterizing Abes visit as the first by a sitting prime minister with a U.S. president to the memorial atop the remains of the USS Arizona, the U.S. battleship on which the worst losses occurred. Abe will accompany Obama to the memorial, which was constructed in 1962.

After the existence of the prior visits was reported, Japans Foreign Ministry acknowledged that in 1956 Prime Minister Ichiro Hatoyama had visited the United States Pacific Command in Honolulu, and that Kishi had followed in 1957. Kishi was also reported to have visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a mountaintop shrine dedicated to the American dead in several wars.

Abes office said that it was difficult to confirm as it was contained in records more than 60 years ago.

It is possible that the current government did not realize that the prime ministers predecessors had visited Pearl Harbor. Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo, said he was not familiar with either Hatoyamas or Kishis visits. They werent big time, official state visits, he said.

At the time, the news media on both sides of the Pacific provided scant coverage. The New York Times did not cover any of the prime ministers visits to Pearl Harbor, and The Associated Press and The Nikkei Shimbun of Japan described Kishis visit to Honolulu without mentioning Pearl Harbor.

In a memoir, Hatoyama recounted his trip to Honolulu and his stop at the U.S. Pacific Command.

In front of the building, the Army brass band was ready and they fired a 19-gun salute and the band played the Japanese national anthem for me, Hatoyama wrote. It happened at the top of a hill overlooking Pearl Harbor, so I got a catch in my throat.

Abe apparently did not know that his grandfather, Kishi, had been to Pearl Harbor. Abe has professed his desire to fulfill his grandfathers thwarted effort to revise the pacifist clause in Japans Constitution.

In answering questions about why the Japanese government had not recognized the earlier visits, Yoshihide Suga, Abes chief Cabinet secretary, told reporters Monday that Abe would be the first to express remorse at the Pearl Harbor memorial.

Indeed, the politics of apology began to gain currency only in the 1980s, said Alexis Dudden, a professor at the University of Connecticut who specializes in modern Japanese history.

Hatoyama and Kishi would have stopped in Hawaii because they needed to make refueling stops on the way home from Washington. And when they visited the U.S. Pacific Command, Dudden said, those were more likely visits of assurance that in fact now the Cold War was up and running and Japan was very much an ally.

Abes visit, on the other hand, represents a formulaic understanding of contrition that enables a nation to reinstate itself as sufficiently contrite in order to move on into the future, she said.

For those on the left in Japan, as well as critics in China, South Korea and elsewhere, the prime ministers visit to Pearl Harbor ignores Japanese aggression closer to home in Asia. I can only hope that building on this visit, Abe will take the opportunity to go to Nanjing and Seoul, Dudden said.

Other historians said that whether Abe was the first or fourth prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor was less significant than what he does when he is there.

What we should watch is what Mr. Abe will say, said Masayasu Hosaka, a historian who has written books about wartime Emperor Hirohito and Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. Thats more important. How his speech will be evaluated historically and internationally is more interesting.
Authorities say a house fire in Anaheim displaced nine residents Monday, causing an estimated $25,000 in damages that firefighters were able to confine to a single bedroom.

The amount of damage would have been far greater except that the family had the doors closed, Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt said.

He said 12 Anaheim firefighters responded to the 1:56 p.m. call on the 400 block of East Adele Street and were able to control the fire quickly. There were no injuries, Wyatt said, but nine residents were unable to remain in the home. The Red Cross is there to help them out, he said.

The cause of the fire was believed to be electrical, involving a power strip.

Contact the writer: fswegles@scng.com or 949-492-5127
Age: 46

Role: Executive Director, Council of American-Islamic Relations, Los Angeles Chapter, based in Anaheim

Bio: Ayloush, a lifelong civil rights activist and community organizer, has served as CAIR-LAs executive director for 18 years. He received a bachelors in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and left his career in aerospace engineering to work with CAIR. Ayloush lives in Corona with his wife. They have five children ages 8 to 22.

Why he is an influencer: Ayloush has become the face and voice of the Southern California Muslim community, working to combat hate crimes and incidents, discrimination and civil rights violations. Ayloush was thrust into the spotlight in 2016 after the San Bernardino terrorist attack when anti-Muslim hate incidents multiplied and during a presidential campaign in which Muslims were targeted.

Biggest challenge: My biggest struggle professionally is to make sure we address the low morale and increased anxiety within members of the American Muslim community.

Thoughts on activism: Its really about creating a healthy society where each one of us feels happy and welcome, a society where everyone is treated with respect, dignity and equality.

Inspiration: Malcolm X. Ive admired his courage and commitment to freedom and civil rights. He is a true American hero.

Cant live without besides my phone: My prayer. It keeps me going. When Im feeling down, that one-on-one time with my creator reminds me of my complete dependence on God.

Whats next: 2017 is going to be the year of engagement and partnership building  to work collectively for justice for all. The other challenge moving forward is to prepare ourselves as a community and as an organization to tell our story. For many years weve allowed others to define who we are. Its time to change that.

 Deepa Bharath

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com
The cabinet affirmed that the government would cover any potential increase in construction expenses due to the recent price hike

The Egyptian cabinet dismissed on Tuesday news reports that installment prices for government-provided housing would increase after a recent price hike in construction material due to the pound flotation.

The statement affirmed that the government would cover any potential increase in construction expenses due to the recent price hike.

In 2015, the government announced a plan to build 1 million homes for the poor at a cost of almost $20 billion over the next five years in an effort to combat the proliferation of slums and unlicensed buildings.

Egypt's Ministry of Housing announced in October that 500,000 housing units have been completed, with another 400,000 planned to be finished by April 2017.

A report published in June by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) stated that 38.8 percent of Egypt's cities include slums, with 351 unsafe areas across the country.

More than 16 million Egyptians live in slums, most of which are based in the Greater Cairo metropolitan area, according to a 2016 report by the Egyptian Centre for Housing Rights (ESCR).

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Californias been described as a country unto itself. Could it be?

Yes California, a pro-secession group, filed paperwork with the state attorney general in November for a proposed 2018 ballot measure to strike language in the state constitution binding California to the United States.

This month, the group announced the opening of a cultural center in Moscow  the first of many planned California culture centers which will serve to build a bridge between the nation of California and the nations of the world, read a statement on Yes Californias website.

If its ballot measure succeeds, Yes California would pursue a 2019 vote to declare the states independence. At least half of the states voters would have to cast ballots and 55 percent would have to choose independence for California to become its own nation, according to document Yes California filed with the Attorney Generals office.

Talk of California secession is nothing new. But it gained momentum after Donald Trumps election. Hillary Clinton got 62 percent of Californias vote in defeating Trump, the largest margin of victory for a presidential candidate in the state since 1936.

The November election, which gave Republicans the White House and continued congressional dominance, underscored Californias political divergence from the rest of the country.

While the GOP controls most state legislatures and governorships, Republicans are a shrinking minority in the Golden State, where Democrats control the Legislature, 39 of 53 congressional seats and all statewide elected offices.

Californias Democratic leadership has vowed to fight Trump over his plans to deport undocumented immigrants and repeal Obamacare, and Californias battle against global warming is at odds with climate change skeptics in Trumps cabinet.

In arguing for independence, Yes California contends that the states tax dollars subsidize the rest of America and that red-state politics marginalize Californias more progressive values. California can stand alone as a world economic power, secession advocates say.

We believe in two fundamental truths, reads a statement on Yes Californias website. (1) California exerts a positive influence on the rest of the world, and (2) California could do more good as an independent country than it is able to do as a just a U.S. state.

Even if a ballot measure qualifies  585,407 signatures are needed  and a majority of Californians want to secede, an independent republic of California faces very steep odds. The question of whether states can split was answered in blood by the Civil War and in law by an 1869 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found no right to secession in the U.S. Constitution.

According to Yes California, a path to secession exists through the U.S.-ratified United Nations charter. But its hard to see Washington recognizing UN authority on this issue, nor is it clear how many nations would risk Americas wrath by recognizing an independent California, home to 12 percent of the U.S. population and a vital part of the nations economy and food supply.

Independence activists could pursue a constitutional amendment to let California secede. But that requires ratification from three-fourths of the state legislatures.

California can assert itself in ways other than secession, said Jack Pitney, a professor of politics at Claremont McKenna College.

Federalism allows each state wide latitude in setting its own polices, he said. As (Gov.) Jerry Brown says, we could launch our own climate satellite (to study climate change) if the feds dont want to.

State officials can also push back in federal court, which is why Brown picked Xavier Becerra as attorney general, Pitney added. Becerra, a Democratic congressman from Los Angeles, is widely expected to challenge the Trump administration in court, especially over immigration policy.

SPLIT THE STATE

Throughout California history, theres been talk about splitting up the state and discussions of splitting from America. The state is politically divided between coastal and inland regions and the more liberal urban cores versus more conservative rural areas.

While Clinton won the statewide vote, Trump won many of Californias less-populated, more inland counties, including Siskiyou and Modoc counties in the north and Kern County north of Los Angeles County.

The state of Jefferson concept, which would combine parts of rural Northern California with southern Oregon, dates back to at least the 1940s. In recent years, county lawmakers and voters in five Northern California counties have approved ballot measures or passed resolutions in support of Jefferson.

In 2009, then-GOP Assemblyman Bill Maze proposed the state of Coastal California consisting of 13 counties, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. Maze argued that coastal liberals politically drowned out Californias more conservative regions.

The desire to create a conservative haven led then-Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone in 2011 to propose the state of South California. Thirteen counties, including Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino, would have been part of this 51st state.

In 2013, venture capitalist Tim Draper sought to split California into six states, which he said would be more responsive to local residents and easier to govern. A measure putting the six-state concept before voters failed to gain enough signatures.

So, its doubtful California will be divided into multiple states or split from the rest of the nation  unless the San Andreas Fault gets active. Remember those Californias shaking away earthquake fears?

Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@scng.com
Age: 14

Role: Animal rescuer

Bio: An animal lover with a soft spot for special-needs cases, Hundric at age 12 founded Rebekahs Foster Farm in her familys La Habra condo. Her mom first set an eight-cat limit, but Hundric built a fenced-in catio on her balcony and soon began taking in more rescues. In 2016, the eighth-grader at Capistrano Connections Academy expanded her rescue to include dogs and rabbits. She shows animals available for adoption on her Facebook page, facebook.com/rebekahs fosterfarm. Hundric recently moved to Riverside with her family but continues outreach and adoptions in Orange County.

Why she is an influencer: Hundric has rescued more than 80 cats since founding her foster farm. The 14-year-old focuses on caring for sick or injured animals that would otherwise be euthanized at shelters. She accepts donations, but she mostly walks and trains dogs and baby-sits to pay for food and vet bills, which she says can be astronomical. Hundric hopes to have her foster program certified as a nonprofit next year and would like to expand the program to save more animals at high-kill shelters.

Biggest challenge: Finding the funding to pay for vet bills, because most of what I do is special needs and that usually means surgery and lots of procedures to get them fixed up and healthy.

Thoughts on animals: I dont buy into the belief that animals are property. I believe animals have a soul, they have feelings, they have light. They should be treated like any other family member.

Inspiration: Kevin Richardson, a South African animal behaviorist known as the Lion Whisperer.

Cant live without: Her dog, Gunner, a German shepherd mix.

Whats next: Hundric wants to become a wildlife biologist so she can work to prevent the hunting and killing of wolves.

 Kelly Puente
United Nations Security Council 2334, which passed Dec. 23 by a vote of 14-0 with the U.S. abstaining, describes Israels settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.

It was the first time U.S. President Barack Obama declined to block a Security Council resolution that Israel considered hostile, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused him of staging a shameless ambush against his country. Netanyahu warned countries that backed the measure they would pay a diplomatic and economic price.

Q. Does the vote reflect a change in international sentiment?

A. Many UN member states already contend Israeli settlements violate the Fourth Geneva Conventions rules for administering occupied territory. After the 1967 war, the Security Council passed Resolution 242 calling on the Israeli armed forces to withdraw from land occupied in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights.

Q. How does Israels view differ?

A. The Jewish people have historical and religious ties to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Israel says ownership of the territories, captured from Jordan, is disputed. It notes that Resolution 242 doesnt call on it to retreat from all territories occupied outside its earlier boundary, known as the Green Line, and recognizes the right of every state in the area to live within secure boundaries.

For Israel, the new resolution reflects a profound change in international opinion: Those who rigidly insist that Israel cannot lay a single brick in the areas beyond the Green Line are implying that there will be no Israeli presence at the end of the day in those territories, and thats a major shift from 242, said Dore Gold, a former Israeli ambassador to the UN and now president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

Q. What are the practical implications for Israel?

A. Palestinians and their supporters already are trying to haul Israeli officials before the International Criminal Court in The Hague; the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement is urging consumers, artists, universities, corporations and others to cut ties with Israel; and the EU already requires member states to label products from beyond the Green Line distinctively.

Resolution 2334 is likely to give a tailwind to those efforts. It could also open a venue for the Palestinians in the future to go on with their case against Israel at the ICC, said Mkhaimar Abusada, a Palestinian political scientist at Gazas Al-Azhar University.

Q. Will anything change on the ground for the Palestinians?

A. Netanyahu has declared that Israel will not not abide by the terms of the resolution. For the Palestinians, Resolution 2334 is a moral victory and a symbolic victory, but at the end of the day nothing is really going to change on the ground and Israel will continue with its settlement construction, Abusada said. Nearly 600,000 Jews now live in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem beyond the 1967 boundary.

Q. How has Netanyahu reacted? What other steps are in store?

A. Netanyahu called the resolution shameful, reckless and destructive and said he looks forward to working with the Trump administration and allies in Congress to mitigate the damage. Netanyahu recalled Israels ambassadors from New Zealand and Senegal  two of the resolutions four co-sponsors  and cut off 30 million shekels ($7.9 million) in funding to UN institutions.

Ambassadors from Security Council member states were summoned for meetings. Education Minister Naftali Bennett, whose Jewish Home party opposes Palestinian statehood, has said Israel should move to annex West Bank land, but Netanyahu ordered ministers to cease all talk of annexation for now.

Q. What other moves does Israel fear the U.S. might make?

A. Dozens of foreign ministers are to meet in France next month in an effort to break the logjam in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. According to Israeli media, the government fears U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will present there parameters for a peace deal that are seen as unfavorable to Israel, and the Security Council will enshrine those guidelines in a resolution before Obama leaves office.

Q. How has Donald Trump responded? What else can he do?

A. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi withdrew his countrys original sponsorship of the resolution after a Dec. 22 phone call with the U.S. president-elect, who said the measure should be vetoed. When the resolution passed the next day with new sponsors, Trump said the vote will make it much harder to negotiate peace but tweeted that things will be different at the UN after he takes office Jan. 20. Its notable that Trumps choice for U.S. ambassador to Israel, attorney David Friedman, is a vigorous supporter of Beit El, one of Israels largest West Bank settlements and has been skeptical of a two-state solution.

Q. How does this affect peace efforts?

A. The Oslo Accords that have guided peace efforts since 1993 say borders must be determined in direct negotiations between the parties. Prejudging that the West Bank and East Jerusalem are occupied Palestinian territory is not compatible with the call for a return to negotiations that also appears in this resolution, said Ambassador Alan Baker, a former legal adviser to the Israeli Foreign Ministry and now an international lawyer at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. In any case, talks have been frozen since 2014 and arent set to resume anytime soon. Palestinians have really lost hope that bilateral negotiations will bring an end to the Israeli occupation, Gazas Abusada said.
WASHINGTON  When President-elect Donald Trump chose Rep. Tom Price of Georgia to be his health and human services secretary, the American Medical Association swiftly endorsed the selection of one of its own, an orthopedic surgeon who has championed the role of physicians throughout his legislative career.

Then the larger world of doctors and nurses weighed in on the beliefs and record of Price, a suburban Atlanta Republican  and the split among caregivers, especially doctors, quickly grew sharp.

The AMA does not speak for us, says a petition signed by more than 5,000 doctors.

Trump and a Republican-held Congress are considering some of the biggest changes to the American health care system in generations: not only the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which is providing insurance to some 20 million people, but also the transformation of Medicare, for older Americans, and Medicaid, for low-income people. Price has favored those changes.

Seven years ago, the AMAs support helped lift President Barack Obamas health care proposals toward passage, and the group has backed the law, with some reservations, since its adoption in 2010. But as Republicans push for its dismantlement, deep disagreements within the AMA, which has long wielded tremendous power in Washington, could lessen its influence.

The concerns voiced by dissident doctors do not appear to imperil Senate confirmation of Price, but they do ensure that his confirmation hearings next month will be as contentious as any held for a Trump nominee, featuring a full public examination of the new presidents proposed health policies.

Doctors are divided big time, said Dr. Carl G. Streed Jr., a primary care doctor at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston and a member of the AMA house of delegates, the organizations principal policymaking body.

The controversy began soon after Trump announced on Nov. 29 that he had chosen Price to head the Department of Health and Human Services, which controls Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Acts federal health insurance exchange, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Within hours, the AMA  the nations largest medical advocacy group, which has nearly 235,000 members and calls itself the voice of the medical profession  issued a statement saying it strongly supports the selection.

It noted Prices experience as a doctor, a state legislator and a member of Congress. It praised his support for patient choice and market-based solutions and his efforts to reduce excessive regulatory burdens on doctors.

The enthusiasm was understandable at one level: Price has been a member of the AMA house of delegates since 2005 and was an alternate delegate for a decade before that, according to the AMA and the Medical Association of Georgia.

For those who are attacking Dr. Price, I have to ask whom you would rather have at the helm of HHS  a career bureaucrat? A former governor who views doctors as a cost center to be controlled? said Dr. Robert E. Hertzka of San Diego, an anesthesiologist and former president of the California Medical Association. Tom Price may turn out to be the best friend that physicians and patients have ever had in that role.

Many doctors are not willing to take that chance. More than 750 people who identify themselves as members of the AMA signed a letter to the associations board objecting to the endorsement.

The unqualified support for Price is inappropriate, the letter says, because he has been a strong opponent of so much of our clearly delineated AMA policy on issues like the Affordable Care Act, contraception and gay rights. Some doctors also said patients could be hurt by major changes in Medicare and Medicaid that Price, along with other House Republicans, has advocated.

Dr. Andrea S. Christopher, 32, an internal medicine doctor at the veterans hospital in Boise, Idaho, said she had decided not to renew her AMA membership over the endorsement, which she called especially upsetting to her generation of physicians.

Dr. Price has been an outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act, which has done so much to address the needs of our most vulnerable patients and reduced the uninsured rate to the lowest level on record, Christopher said.

Dr. Kristin M. Huntoon, a 37-year-old neurosurgery resident at Ohio State University in Columbus, said the groups support for Price had increased the chances that the Affordable Care Act would be dismantled  and that has put her patients at risk.

Ohio has extended Medicaid coverage to more than 600,000 people under the federal health care law. If that expansion is reversed, Huntoon said, some patients will not receive imaging or treatment at an early stage of their disease, and they are more likely to arrive when tumors have spread to the brain.

At that stage, she said, theres often nothing I can do for the patient.

Physicians have long been a focus of Prices legislative efforts. He led the push to fix widely recognized flaws in Medicares formula for paying doctors and supported changes in malpractice laws that could make it easier for doctors to defend themselves. He supported changes in Medicare that would allow doctors to get around fee limits by signing contracts with patients. He has also backed changes in antitrust law that would enhance doctors bargaining power in negotiations with insurance companies.

Pocketbook issues  the economic well-being of physicians  may well be a factor contributing to the AMAs endorsement, said Dr. Manan Trivedi, a former Democratic candidate for Congress who is the president of the National Physicians Alliance, a group of 10,000 doctors that opposes Prices confirmation.

Dr. Patrice A. Harris, the chairwoman of the AMA, strongly defended the groups actions and suggested that Price could surprise critics as Dr. C. Everett Koop did in the 1980s, when he was surgeon general under President Ronald Reagan. Liberal politicians and womens groups initially criticized Koop because of his opposition to abortion, but when he stepped down after more than seven years in office, he was widely praised for his role in fighting AIDS and discouraging the use of tobacco.

We do realize that there is a diversity of opinion on Dr. Price, Harris said in an interview. We respect that diversity. We take the concerns that have been expressed by some of our members and by physicians in general seriously.

Our support for Dr. Price is based on our history with him, his extensive involvement with AMA, she added. Hes a longtime member, hes a delegate. For us, he has always been accessible. He listens, and he really knows how policies impact the delivery of care and the physician-patient relationship.

Phillip J. Blando, a spokesman for the Trump transition team, said Price had been endorsed by many medical groups and was uniquely prepared for the job. If confirmed, he said, Dr. Price will work to restore the patient-doctor relationship and clamp down on government overreach.

In leading efforts to repeal the presidents health law, he is pursuing a goal in opposition to the policies of the AMA. In a 2010 letter to congressional leaders, Dr. J. James Rohack, who was then president of the AMA, said the law took an important step toward improving the health of the American people, by extending coverage to the vast majority of the uninsured and improving competition and choice in the insurance marketplace.

Dr. Samantha G. Harrington, a doctor at Cambridge Hospital in Massachusetts, said she had canceled her AMA membership because she found its endorsement of Price embarrassing and shameful.

Dr. Thomas M. Gellhaus, president of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said Price had worked closely with us on many issues. But, he said in a recent letter to the congressman, some of the bills you supported in Congress would not serve womens health well.

.
As Real Mex Restaurants negotiates the acquisition of a chain to accelerate its growth, the Cypress-based company announced the closure of six restaurants this week in Southern California.

The locations include an Acapulco in Los Angeles, El Torito restaurants in Burbank, Long Beach (PCH), Riverside and Temecula and an El Torito Grill in Torrance.

12/28 update: SoCal closures by Real Mex are among 14 in California and Nevada

The restaurants, which closed Monday, were targeted for a variety of reasons, including natural lease expirations, cost of deferred maintenance, fiscal performance or unfavorable lease terms, the company told the Register in a statement.

Where appropriate, some employees have been offered positions elsewhere within the organization. The closures come as Real Mex is close to negotiating a deal to acquire a new restaurant chain. The company declined to name the company it was courting.

The Real Mex core business continues to improve and were preparing to integrate an acquisition into our existing business, Chief Executive Bryan Lockwood said in a statement. Although closing restaurants is never easy, the plan we have put in place strengthens the overall health of the company moving forward.

In the summer, Real Mex said it planned to double in size by acquiring a new concept. The company said the ideal brand would have annual sales ranging from $100 million to $300 million. Of particular interest are brands appealing to millennials, a generation of future spenders coveted by all industries.

Lockwood, the companys fourth CEO in five years, told the Register a few months ago he was looking at fine dining and fast casual chains. Fast food was not on his radar. He also is leading an overhaul of 22 of the companys more than 100 restaurants. Two new looks were unveiled a few months ago at a Chevys in Northridge and an Acapulco in Downey.

Amid the brand overhaul, the company has reported positive same-store sales for the last year. But downsizing has occurred with several restaurants closing over the last two years. At the end of 2015, Real Mex operated 109 Chevys, Acapulco and El Torito restaurants compared with 135 in 2012, according to Technomic. As of September, those core chains accounted for 105 of the companys 114 restaurants.

Real Mex also operates smaller niche concepts including Las Brisas in Laguna Beach and Who Song and Larrys in Orange. With El Torito Grill closing in Torrance, two others remain in Southern California: one in Brea and one in Irvine.

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com
Donovan Roche

Lets agree on one thing out of the gate: We all make mistakes. Some are certainly bigger than others, and the biggest are typically made in public  for all to see and develop opinions of your brand.

Whether a CPG stalwart, tech giant or one of the worlds most trusted banks, youre not exempt from becoming embroiled in a PR crisis. And 2016 saw its fair share of doozies. As these and others who experienced a major misstep discovered, few things are worse than getting caught with your pants down (metaphorically speaking, of course). The best one could hope for in such situation is to learn from the mistake, and hope that others do, too. Here are three of this years headline-stealers and what we can learn from them:

Cheerios angers fans with tweet about Princes death

Soon after rock icon Princes passing, General Mills-owned and Minneapolis-based Cheerios tweeted an image of the words Rest in Peace on a purple background with #Prince in the message. That probably would have been fine, but to put the brands stamp on it, they dotted the i with a Cheerio. This creative touch set off mourning fans, who viewed the tweet as an insensitive marketing ploy.

Lesson Learned: Attempting to capitalize on a high-profile celebritys death rarely puts a brand in a positive light, and its usually deemed tasteless. It was no different for Cheerios. Part of the issue here is the timing of the post  mere hours after Princes death was confirmed  which was difficult to digest. With fans still in disbelief, the perception was that Cheerios was hopping on the bandwagon to align their brand with the artist. Few were probably aware that Cheerios was located in the same city as Prince, so the company was likely feeling the loss as much if not more than others. To the brands credit, when it was clear the Twittersphere was upset over the post, Cheerios quickly removed it and released a statement explaining that the company wanted to acknowledge the loss of a musical legend in its hometown. However, by that time, the damage was done (and enough people had captured the image to repost with their displeasure). Bottom line is when it comes to a national loss or tragedy, a brand is better off to either express sympathy without incorporating a commercial message, or avoid it altogether. Well-meaning or not, some will likely raise a social stink over it.

Samsungs response to Galaxy Note 7 crisis draws criticism

Mere weeks after the release of its flagship Galaxy Note 7, Samsung started to receive reports of the smartphones catching fire while charging. Initial analysis pointed to overheating batteries, so the South Korean company suggested owners return the phone to where they purchased it for an exchange or refund, extending the crisis to carriers like Verizon and AT&T. When reports of fires continued with the replacement devices, the brand decided to recall all Galaxy Note 7s and ceased production.

Lesson Learned: Though relatively quick in responding to the situation, Samsung made several mistakes along the way. To begin with, the company treated the crisis with kid gloves when it should have been much more direct and transparent. For example, their initial notification to consumers was an easy-to-miss tab on their website. Given the severity of the situation (peoples safety at risk), it would have been much more appropriate and effective to feature this important news prominently on their home page, as well as on all of their social channels (this came days later). Secondly, Samsung mistakenly executed the recall without adhering to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions guidelines, and issued a statement in Hong Kong to reassure customers that their phones were not subject to the same faulty manufacturing  only to retract it once this was discovered erroneous. By acting passively and communicating misinformation, Samsungs brand reputation was put into question while their mobile divisions bottom line dropped a whopping 96 percent. The company could have minimized this blow by immediately distributing a holding statement to all stakeholders that acknowledged they were aware of the situation, care for the well-being of their customers, and were working to quickly resolve the matter. Then they could have focused on getting their facts straight before going out with errant information.

Crisis of the week: fake accounts scandal rocks Wells Fargo

One of the largest and most trusted financial institutions in the world, Wells Fargo experienced what was arguably the biggest crisis of the year, and botched it entirely. It began when the bank was fined $185 million for opening up to 2 million false customer accounts. CEO John Stumpf immediately blamed 5,300 employees and allowed consumer banking head Carrie Tolstedt, who oversaw the unit responsible for the fraudulent behavior, to retire with a $125 million payout. And that was just the beginning of Stumpfs slippery slope.

Lesson Learned: Stumpfs first mistake was assigning all culpability to the companys worker bees and not holding him or other senior management accountable for these actions, which employees claim was the result of unrealistically high sales goals. Clearly, the problem was deeply rooted in Wells Fargos culture and the fix was going to require a deeper examination of their corporate practices. Secondly, the CEO was slow to apologize, which didnt come until a week-plus later when Stumpf was required to appear before the Senate Banking Committee. By not admitting fault, blaming others and showing little concern for their customers, Wells Fargos credibility and reputation was seriously put into question, ultimately leading to Stumpfs ouster (he also willingly left with an estimated $130 million payout). While new CEO Tim Sloan appears to be handling the fallout much more transparently, employees are feeling the repercussions and remain understandably unsettled. It will be a long road ahead for Wells Fargo to regain the trust of both employees and customers, but like many big brands before them, they will be successful if they learn from their mistakes and implement changes to ensure they are never made again.

Those operating in the crisis world recognize that its not a matter of if a crisis will occur, but when. Every brand, no matter how big or small, will one day find themselves with their proverbial pants down. While each crisis will provide learning lessons, the best first step any brand can take is to be prepared.

***

Donovan Roche is vice president strategic services for Havas Formula, a subsidiary of Havas.
Have a truck or SUV question for the 4x4 AnswerMan? Send your questions to [email protected]. Please include your name and location, and be as detailed as possible about your questions.



Previous 4x4 AnswerMan Columns

November 2016

September 2016

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AMERICAN EXPEDITION TRUCKS



From concept to reality, American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) has brought the Prospector XL pickup to life with a number of well thought out modification for the RAM 4x4 2500 and 3500 truck. This complete truck package not only looks good, it also adds off-road function to the RAM full-size truck. The best part is you can either buy the parts from AEV to kit out your truck, or special order the complete Prospector XL truck from the RAM dealership.

To celebrate AEVs 20th Anniversary in 2017, theyre rolling out a special edition Prospector XL RAM truck. You can check out the full story at AEV 20th Anniversary Edition Ram 2500 Prospector XL.

==

CHRYSLER 8 INCH LOCKER

Off-Road.com,

I have a 2003 RAM 1500 with a Chrysler 8 inch independent suspension front diff. I have done hours of research trying to find a selectable locker for my front axle but couldn't find one. Do you know of any selectable locker that fits my front end? If you don't, what do you suggest I do since I still want to get a front selectable locker? P.S. I mainly go mudding, some trailing, and very little rock crawling.

Thanks!

OffRoad.com's avid viewer, Jesse Simpson.



Hi Jesse,

I wished I had better news, but theres nothing for the front Chyrler 8-inch IFS at this point. Not much for the rear either. If stock is simply not cutting it, a Detroit rear locker would be the best bet for your 8.5-inch. Its not selectable, but it will definitely give you more traction than the stock set-up or an Limited Slip Differential (LSD).

The Detroit Locker is a 100%-automatic locking differential that provides ultimate traction for mild to extreme vehicle applications. Its unique, bullet-proof design is engineered to keep both wheels in drive mode - even is one wheel is lifted off the ground. You can learn more at http://www.eaton.com.

==

OVERLAND ADVENTURE

Off-Road.com,

Overlanding in the Pacific Northwest, (Washington in particular), is amazing as it offers such variety: steep mountain passes, vast, flat, dusty deserts, wildlife preserves, alpine glaciers, rushing rivers, vast ocean views...the list goes on. My buddy and I have focused on exploring the areas north and south of I-90 since is just a few hours drive from the Seattle area. Great trails in these areas: Gallagher Head Lake and Fortune Creek. Naches. Stampede Pass. Colockum Wildlife area (huge Elk heads). For the truly adventurous there is the Washington Backroads Discovery Route, which will take you from Oregon to Canada almost exclusively by dirt trails over a 3-5 day period. One aspect of Overlanding that I like is the ability to roll other hobbies into it: astrophotography, landscape photography, target shooting, camp cooking, vehicle maintenance and repair, cartography, and project management.

Lupus



Letter sparked by How To Get into Overlanding

Sounds amazing, Lupus. Thanks for the field notes, we need to explore the Pacific Northwest some more. Its definitely on the radar and your notes will be put to good use.

Cheers!

==

OVERLAND BED RACK SYSTEM

4x4 AnswerMan,

I'm looking for an adventure bed rack system for my Tacoma. I don't want a lumber rack, more like an expedition rack. It also needs to work with a roof top tent.

Thanks,

Larry

Hey Larry,

You're in luck. There are many bed rack options for the Toyota Tacoma. One of the best one's we've seen to date is the Active Cargo System by Leitner Designs. It's not only serves as an adventure rack, but also has a number of accessories that can be bolted up. From RotopaX, to cross bars for mounting a roof top tent or cayakthis rack is very functional. Leithner Designs also developed their patented Gear Pods for added storage and even more function.

Since it is modular, you can configure it anyway you want. Another nice feature is that Active Cargo System (ACS) is made from military grade aluminum, so its light and strong. For more information, check them out at http://www.leitnerdesigns.com.

==

BUG-OUT VEHICLE



Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse can quickly become a serious topic, especially when choosing your bug-out vehicle. It's important to note that "not all apocalypses are "zombie" apocalypses", just like Off-Raod.com reader Ben Gruber points out.

Nonetheless, Off-Road.coms Justin Fort digs right into this fleshy subject with some tips on what to look for in a bug-out vehicle. You can read the entire report at: How to Prepare Your Off-Road Rig for the Zombie Apocalypse

Choose wisely or become zoombie food.



YUM!

==

TALL ORDER



Off-Road.com,

I have a 2011 3500 SRW 6.7 diesel Ram with a 5 inch lift running on 35x12.5x18 Nitto trail grapplers. My question is that I would like to go higher on the lift kit, and see that BDS makes an 8 inch lift. The problem is that most dealers suggest that I do not go that high. I do not do much off-roading, but love the looks of a high raised truck. Can you give me some reasoning for this?

Paul Williams

Kansas City, Missouri

Hi Paul,

Sounds like you already have a mean looking truck. Im thinking that one of the main reasons for not going so high on the lift is to keep the center of gravity low on your truck. As they saying goes, the taller they are, the harder they fallthis stand true to tall suspension lifts.

For every inch you go up from stock height, you increase the trucks center of gravity, leading to more body roll. The change in suspension dynamics also increases the potential for a roll over. The effect is further amplified if your truck is equipped with a heavy diesel engine block under the hood. If the pendulum goes swinging, youre going with it. For many of us, thats just the price you pay for having a cool jacked up truck. You learn to drive it and stay within its limits to keep it lid side up.

If you want to have the tallest truck in town, thats your own business. Its a free country and you can do as you wish. Just check on your local automobile highway codes for height restrictions before spending all this cash (bumper height, headlight height, taillight height, clearance lights, mud flaps, etc.). I know several people with large lifted trucks that are constantly harassed by the PD for having such tall trucks on the street. The ones that own them are pretty much for show and off-road use. Daily driving makes it a chore. They also dont fit very good in parking garages or under low clearance bridges But they look awesome!

If you have more questions, give the guys at BDS a call. Im sure they can steer you in the right direction for your dream build.

Good luck.

==

BEST TOYOTA 4-WHEEL DRIVES

Toyota has made many great 4-wheel drive trucks and SUVs over the years. Some are noted in the story 5 Great Toyota Off-Road SUVs

Did we miss some maybe. Elemi says, What?!!?? No 80 series?? Can't believe the 100 is on list and NOT the every so popular and mad capable FJ/FZJ80. I second to the 80 Series Land Cruiser being added. = )



So whats your favorite Toyota 4x4? Lets add some more to the list. Please comment bellow or add to the conversation in 5 Great Toyota Off-Road SUVs.

==

DODGE DURANGO T/A LIFT

4x4 AnswerMan,

I have a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT, Obviously I have done performance upgrades to my car but I am in need of more clearance when I take her off road. All the shops around me have told me there is no lift kit for my year and model of Durango and told me the T/S lift is too risky. I have adjusted my torsion bar a little to level out the height from the front to back, But Im looking for a true lift of around 2-3. If so would 33s be better than the 31s I have on there now?

Connor



Hey Conner,

You are correct. Not much in the sense of a true lift kit for this model. The T/A lift seems to be it, unless youre looking to highly modify the truck with solid axles and leaf or coilover suspension. It can be done, but its pricey.

The T/A mod will run you under $100 bucks and get the job done. You should be able to get around 2 inches of lift up front using Torsion Adjustment lift keys. I will says that although some manufactures advertise that you can crank them up to 3 inches, DONT. They ride really roughthink POGO stick.

For the rear, an add-a-leaf from the same vintage Dodge Dakota will help bump up the ride height. There are several places to source them from. BDS Suspension makes one that seems to work well on the Durango (Part# 119159).

As for tires, you can stick with the 31 inch you have now, but could go up to a 285/75 R16 all-terrain (33-inch). BFG makes a nice one.

For more information, make sure to check out this T/A Lift thread on our sister site DodgeTalk.com.

Good luck!

==

RAM SNOW DRIFT

Letter sparked by Ram Trucks Makes the Most of Snow, Performs Winter Testing

Off-Road.com reader Bill loves his Dodge Ram pickup. He says that his 2000 Dodge 2500 w/ 5.9 v8 magnum has 211,000 miles and has never had a rebuild. He also hauls a 5th wheel camper, bumper pull stock trailer, flatbed trailer with tractor and equipment, hay, dump trailer with rock, and 21 ft. Gooseneck with JD. 300b backhoe.

The man hauls a lot of sh#t around with is Ram. In his own words, its the best truck hes ever owned.

Do you have a Dodge RAM story you want to share?

Please comment below.

==

LINCOLN LOCKER

Hi Off-Road.com,

I have a 1996 Daihatsu Feroza and I'm having trouble finding a diff locker for the rear diff. I've pulled out the axel and it has 27 splines. The part of the axel that is splines is 28mm in diameter, the rest of the axel is 30mm. The information I'm after is how many spider gears are in the rear diff, and to confirm that the rear crown wheel is in fact 7.5"

Cheers

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

What a cool little trucklet. Havent seen one of these in the flesh here in the USA. Im not exactly sure on the spider gear count. The best way to get an accurate count would be to pull the 3rd member from the rear axle.

From my research, it seems like Differential Lockers are no longer in production for these models, and 2nd hand ones are hard to find. Most people that do a locker on the Feroza or Rocky these days run a Lincoln Lockeryou simply weld up the spider gears. This is only advisable if you primarily use the truck off-road. It will squeal too much or break something if driven on pavement. You can find more information by doing a search for keyword Lincoln Locker.

Good luck

==

CHEVYS NEW COLORADO ZR2

Turns out GM still has a few tricks up its sleeve when it comes to exciting the mid-size truck market. The new Colorado ZR2 fits the bill if styling, performance and off-road capability are the top your list. Off-Road.com reader MiggyCabby23 says, Nice looking truck. Glad they decided to bring the ZR2 back. I had an 03, the last year built.

If youre in the market for a new truck, this is one to look at.

You can read the full story at 2017 Chevy Colorado ZR2: 5 Things You Need to Know

==

FALSE ADVERTISING

Letter sparked by 6 SUVs that are Great Off Road and On

Sometimes photography can be misleading. Off-Road.com reader PJ feels very strongly about the limitations of his Subaru Outback wagon on dirt. Heres what he had to say about taking a stock Subaru off-road.

That picture of the Outback going on the rugged dirt road is false advertising (if it's a Subaru add picture). I have a 2016 Outback and went I went on a relatively smooth dirt road warning lights came on. Turns out, nothing wrong with the car except going off road caused my electronics to malfunction and it cost 1000 dollars to fix it. Didn't even have 50 thousand miles on it. And that's just the beginning. Items in the interior are falling apart at 50K miles. Steering down the freeway is work...you have to constantly adjust to keep it in your lane. Alignments and changes to tire pressure didn't help. Seats started giving me back trouble as well. People who own Subaru's seem to love them and overlook all the problems. -PJ

So the Outback probably isnt your best bet for conquering the Rubicon Trail.

That said, the Subaru shouldnt be totally thrown out of the all-terrain category. It has its place and function. With a few modifications they can even make great rally cars.





I will say that the Subaru of yester years did seem to be more dirt friendly. Today, they are built with a different audience in mindurbanites looking for some outdoor flair in a stylish all-wheel drive wagon. Nothing wrong with that, just take PJs comment into consideration if you plan on doing a lot of off-road travel.

I still think theyre fun to drive, but would opt for an older model with simplicity in mind if getting dirty is more your style. If the Subie doesnt work out, theres always the 4x4 Truck & SUV option.



Have a truck or SUV question for the 4x4 AnswerMan? Send your questions to [email protected]. Please include your name and location, and be as detailed as possible about your questions.

Previous 4x4 AnswerMan Columns

November 2016

September 2016

July 2016



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SAORVIEW is the new digital television service which replaces the old analogue service which will be switched off on October 24, 2012.

SAORVIEW is the new digital television service which replaces the old analogue service which will be switched off on October 24, 2012.

SAORVIEW has all of your favourite Irish channels (RTE One, RTE Two HD, TV3 and TG4) plus four new television channels (RTE News Now, RTEjr, 3e and RTE One + 1). The service also has all of the RTE radio stations available, along with a digital version of RTE Aertel and an electronic programme guide (EPG) which provides you with listings and basic information about the TV schedule. All of this is available free to air  no ongoing subscription or monthly bill.

If you currently receive your television service via an aerial only, SAORVIEW is the replacement television service for you. If you are a pay TV subscriber (such as SKY, UPC) your services will be unaffected.

Can everyone in Offaly get SAORVIEW?

Coverage for Offaly is very good. RTE NL has built a new transmitter site at Kilduff to provide improved SAORVIEW reception to parts of Offaly and Laois. As this is a new transmitter site, some people may need to slightly adjust their aerial to ensure that it is pointed at the best site available now. A new mast and antennas at Mt. Leinster will provide improved SAORVIEW reception for parts of Laois and Offaly when it is completed this year.

To check that SAORVIEW is available where you live, or to get more information about your local transmitter, you can check the website coverage checker at www.saorview.ie or you can call the designated information line Lo Call 1850 222 012.

Will I still need my aerial to get SAORVIEW?

Yes, you will absolutely still need your aerial to receive the new digital signal. To receive the best signal you ideally need a rooftop UHF aerial. If you can receive RTE One, RTE Two, TV3 and TG4 the aerial you have should be able to receive the new signal. (A very small number of households may still have the old VHF aerials which currently can only receive RTE One, RTE Two  those households will need to liaise with a competent local installer to replace the aerial). There is no such thing as a digital aerial.

Be wary of anyone who comes to your door without prior arrangement, saying they need access to your home or can check your television or aerial. Neither SAORVIEW nor RTE will send anyone to your door to check your television or aerial.

What else will I need?

Once the digital signal has been transmitted to the aerial the television needs to be capable of decoding it. Older TVs (i.e. most likely more than a year old) will need assistance to decode the new signal and therefore need a SAORVIEW Approved set top-box to be connected to the existing television set. New SAORVIEW Approved TVs have a built in receiver which enables them to understand the digital signal directly and dont need a set-top-box.

How much do they cost?

Set-top-boxes vary in price and in some of their functions (some boxes have a record function or pause and rewind of live TV). They tend to average at around 80.

How do I set up SAORVIEW in my home?

In most instances this is no more difficult than setting up a DVD player. If you have purchased a set-top-box, the aerial feed cable is connected to the back of the set top box and a separate cable (such as a HDMI cable or a scart lead) is then used to connect the set-top-box to the television. If you have purchased a SAORVIEW Approved television, simply connect it to the aerial. There will be instructions with each box or television to advise how to tune in the new channels.

Can I get more channels?

Yes, it is easy to combine SAORVIEW with other television services such as free-to-air satellite which gives access to UK and international channels  talk to your local retailer about your options.

Switch to SAORVIEW with just 4 Simple Steps

It is easy to make the switch to SAORVIEW. There are 4 simple steps. You can find out more about each step in the tabs to the left.

Step 1: Check Coverage. 97% of Irish people can get SAORVIEW in their area now. Check if SAORVIEW is available in your area using our simple online coverage checker

Step 2: Your Aerial. Ideally you need a rooftop UHF aerial to get SAORVIEW. If you can get the four Irish channels with your aerial, it is likely fine to get SAORVIEW.

Step 3: Choose Equipment. Decide on the equipment you need. Do you want to keep your TV or get a new one? If you want to keep your old TV, you need a SAORVIEW Approved set-top-box. If you want a new TV, make sure its SAORVIEW Approved.

Step 4: Set-up. Connect your new SAORVIEW Approved equipment to your aerial and tune it in. If you need additional help there are some short helpful clips on the Set-Up Guides/videos section of the SAORVIEW website.
In Memoriam: Okayplayer Honors Those Who Fell To Police Violence In 2016 Okayplayer

If 2012 and 2013 were defined by the death of Trayvon Martin and the devastating (albeit, unsurprising) acquittal of his killer; 2014 by the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson and the international uprising that would follow and 2015 by the persistence of the movement to defend black lives. 2016 may be known as the year that was just too painful for words.

This is the year that will be remembered for its unabashed cruelty; such would be the case if it saw only the untimely death of Princea man many of us believed to be immortal (even in the wake of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houstons deaths before it). Alas, the year would take so much more away from us than just His Royal Purple Badness. While the world mourned beloved notables like Muhammad Ali, Phife Dawg and Natalie Cole, there was also yet another long lost of unfamiliar faces that became hashtags after deadly encounters with law enforcement agents.

Of course, the years cruelest act would be the election of petulant manchild/reality star Donald Trump. People across the world are entering 2017 with heightened anxiety as each day brings with it the announcement of a new administration pick more sexist, racist and/or underqualified than the last.

The results of the presidential election are particularly chilling when we think of those men, women and children who were killed police in 2016. While Secretary Hillary Clinton had her own complicated relationship to the criminalization of black, brown and poor people in the United States, she had also ran on a platform promising to push forward necessary reforms to the structures that help embolden police officers to make hashtags of innocent Americans.

Alas, as we prepare for an increasingly difficult fight against the system that allows police a nearly unchecked ability to brutalize citizens, we take time to remember some of those who we lost this year.



Like Brown and Martin before them, some of the victims of police violence became household names this year. In July, footage depicting the shooting death of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge brought the debate over cop violence back to national headlines that were then largely focused on Clinton v. Trump. The 37-year-old was known for selling bootleg CDs; like Eric Garner, his reliance upon underground commerce that is common/beloved in black neighborhoods had made him a local fixture. Sterling was pinned to the ground while he was shot at close range by two officers standing over him.

As is often the case when women are killed by police, the May death of Jessica Williams failed to make national headlines. The 29-year-old was shot once while attempting to flee in a stolen car in San Francisco, though she was unarmed and was not driving toward officers.

When Philando Castiles senseless slaughter was caught on a Facebook Live video this past July, it seemed likeonce againwe had the moment that would force people who had either excused or ignored the #BlackLivesMatter movement to finally say, The police have gone too damn far. Certainly some of them did, however, the national outrage over his killing would not save the lives of the many others who died at the hands of law enforcement after him. And just this week, the black judge assigned to trying the officer who shot the beloved school employee was removed from the case.

The death of Baltimore woman Korryn Gaines divided some who typically support (male) victims of police violence; the armed 23-year-old, who was said to have had developmental issues resulting from childhood lead poisoning, barricaded herself and her 5-year-old son in her home and told officers that if they did not leave, she would shoot. With little regard for the life of her child, they opened fire.

September was a particularly brutal month. It was then that thirteen-year-old Tyre King was gunned down by a Columbus officera case with haunting similarity to the death of Cleveland 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014. Both boys were killed by cops who clamed to be in fear because they were said to be carrying toy guns. Ohio is an open carry state.



That same month, Terence Crutcher was gunned down by a white female officer in Tulsa after his SUV broke down on the highway. Officer Betty Shelby fired at the 40-year-old as he walked toward her with his arms in the air, ostensibly to indicate that he was no threat.

Twenty-one year old Taiwon Boyd called 911 himself, but would be beaten by the Baltimore Police officers who responded. He died three days later at a hospital after his heart and kidneys failed.

September also saw the death of 22-year-old Levonia Riggins, killed by a female sheriffs deputy whod come to serve a warrant to him in Hillsborough County, Florida. The officer has admitted that Riggins was unarmed and that no weapons were found in his home. Alfred Olango, whod fled Uganda as a child 26 years ago, was gunned down in San Diego that month as well; his family says that he suffered from mental illness and was in the throes of an episode when he was shot by officers.

Keith Lamont Scott was shot in the back by officers in Charlotte during a dispute that transpired when they approached him in the parking lot of his apartment complex. Police claim that he was rolling marijuana and carrying a gun; video and testimony from family and neighbors suggest otherwise.

In October, an NYPD sergeant killed Deborah Danner, a 66-year-old Bronx woman who suffered from schizophrenia. The shooting was immediately condemned by Mayor Bill De Blasio, the New York Times Editorial Board and even Police Commissioner James ONeill, who was forced to admit, We failed, when responding to an elderly woman who was in mental distress.

As we await final numbers from this year and look toward the next, we wonder how many more? Will the new administrations pro-police, anti-black/anti-brown/anti-poor approach to governance further embolden officers? How does the fight shift and change? Will Democrats pay more than lip service to the anti-police violence movement, or will they move further to the center in order to appease white voters? The future is uncertain, but our need to be vigilant is clear. The police are not our gods, not our overseers. We deserve justice and we must never stop fighting for it.

Jamilah Lemieux is a writer and the Vice President of News and Mens Programming for Interactive One. She Tweets too often: @jamilahlemieux.
Images of the official's seized assets, including huge sums of cash, have gone viral on social media in Egypt

Related Four police officers arrested for taking bribes to smuggle birds of prey to the Gulf An Egyptian procurement manager with one of the country's judicial authorities was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly receiving bribes worth millions of Egyptian pounds.

Gamal El-Laban Ibrahim, the head or procurement department at the State Council, was arrested while receiving a bribe, according to the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), which is responsible for enforcing laws and regulations within state bodies.

Ahram Arabic website reported that the ACA found Ibrahim to be in possession of EGP 24 million, $4 million, 2 million euros and one million Saudi Riyals, in addition to gold accessories, real states assets and cars.

Images of the seized assets, including huge sums of cash, have gone viral on social media in Egypt.

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A Russian team of experts is currently visiting Cairo to assess airport security

Russia will likely resume direct flights with Egypt in January, Russian transport minister Maxim Sokolov said on Tuesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency.

Sokolov added that the decision to resume flights should be taken after Russian officials revise reports by Russian experts currently assessing Egyptian airport security.

Russia imposed a ban on flights to Egypt shortly after a Russian passenger jet crashed in Sinai in October 2015, killing all 224 people on board, most of them holidaymakers.

Since the deadly incident, Egypt has been putting in place tighter security measures at all its airports.

Sokolov said he has received Egypt's consent to a Russian-proposed agreement on airport security, though he did not reveal the terms of this agreement.

"We have not yet received [formal consent] from the Egyptian foreign ministry, but we already have [informal] confirmation that they agree in principle [to the agreement]," he said.

A Russian team of airport security experts arrived in Cairo on Tuesday to inspect the the latest security measures put in place at Cairo International Airport.

The five-member team will begin its inspection early Wednesday, according to Ahram Arabic website.

Negotiations between the two countries to resume flights have been ongoing for months, with multiple visits by Russian security experts to Egyptian airports to monitor changes implemented by Cairo.

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TEKAMAH, Neb.  Its cold and dark as a group rolls out of pickup trucks, crunches through thin snow past oodles of bird decoys and huddles into a long, rectangular box placed just so, right under the horizon, near the banks of the Missouri River. Blue light starts to brighten the sky. Its just before 7 a.m., and the duck blind is quiet.

Anyone whos gone on a hunt knows this drill and this scene, or one like it. But this duck blind, owned by Pheasant Bonanza, is different.

Its heated. Theres a line of camouflaged men munching chocolate croissants and cinnamon twists and drinking hot, percolated coffee made on the blinds two-burner gas stove. And, on this morning, there will be three courses from chef Nick Strawhecker, there to participate in the hunt but also to cook the style of Italian hes become known for at his Dante Ristorante.

This is the greatest duck blind for eating, said Pender native Mark Lorensen. Thats for sure.

It also might be the most Nebraska version of the farm-to-table trend yet: Hunters will eat local food prepared by a local chef while hunting local food less than an hour from Omaha.

Flight to table came about after Strawhecker met hunting guide Aaron Schroder, who led the chef on a few hunts this fall. Schroder told Strawhecker about this blind, posh by most standards, and how he regularly cooked breakfast for hunters on site, things like scrambled eggs and biscuits and gravy. Strawhecker proposed taking over the cooking in the blind one morning, and an idea was born.

The hunters each paid $250 for this daylong experience, which begins quietly with those sweets from Omaha bakery Le Petit Paris, and lots of hot, black coffee.

Schroder sits on a high stool between two long benches, each holding about four hunters, their shotguns propped in front of them, illuminated by the red glow of the whirring heaters.

Schroder, in a tan stocking cap and glare-reducing sunglasses, pokes his head just above the Duracover  a plastic, straw-like material  covering the blinds opening. His eyes scan the sky for ducks and geese.

Around 7:45 a.m., he calls for quiet, his eyes darting back and forth over the horizon, as he grabs one of the four calls hanging from his lanyard and starts calling.

To his left, another hunter furiously waves a big black plastic flag, called a goose flag. From a distance, the motion resembles birds wings. Despite the effort, the birds pass.

Theres a lot of hurry up and wait, Schroder says, chuckling.

While they wait, theres plenty of time to talk, and cook. Around 9 a.m., Strawhecker gets to work at the stove: Lets cook some pasta.

He pours half-frozen water into a big pot and in another starts heating chicken brodo, a chicken stock, made at Dante. He seasons the brodo with fresh thyme stalks, lemon juice and salt. Homemade tortellini, each filled with boar meat  it came from a regular customer who shot the animal in Texas  lemon zest and Grana Padano cheese, goes into the water. A few minutes later, hunters quietly slurp down with plastic spoons the first course: warm, rich broth, tender pasta, hearty meat.

Strawhecker drops a rounded spoon of duck fat into a hot, heavy-duty cast iron skillet, which sizzles and smokes in the small space.

He drops rounds of tigelle, an Italian quick bread served in Bologna thats topped with all sorts of things and served as a snack, into the oil and then sprinkles the golden rounds liberally with salt. Hunters top theirs first with local raspberry jam and Dantes house-made coppa salumi, an Italian pork cold cut Strawheckers been saving for a special occasion. A second round comes with local honey and fennel pollen.

Strawhecker talks about what wines hed pair with the tagelle, reading the ones he brought for post-hunt enjoyment.

I have some tall boys in my truck, Schroder jokes between bites. But that sounds good, too.

The duck blind sits just two miles from where Schroder grew up, outside Tekamah.

He moved first to Seattle and then to New York before returning. Pheasant Bonanza, the company Schroder works for, acquired the blind and installed it last summer about 300 yards from the banks of the Missouri, on a river bend. They built a lake near the river and installed the blind on a peninsula.

The blind was the last to belong to renowned Nebraska hunter and guide Ralph Kohler, who retired in 2014 after more than 75 years of guiding hunts near Tekamah.

Theres some kind of mojo in it, Schroder said.

He invested thousands of dollars in decoys and, in the off season, trains hunting dogs. One of them, Stormy, a svelte black Labrador, lies in wait in her own blind behind Schroders.

Now he runs hunts for ducks and geese in this blind and always serves breakfast.

There is a lot more to this than pulling the trigger, he said.

Conversations fade into one another as the group waits, with hunters talking about the best brands of waders and meals they had at restaurants outside Omaha. One man dozes.

As the clock rolls past noon, the hunters get another opportunity. Schroder repeats the process  eyes fixed on the sky, asking for quiet, a burst of calling and then, one word: Go!

Hunters pop out of the blind like theyre part of a human game of whack-a-mole, and after a flurry of shots, one bird goes down. Schroder calls on Stormy, who bounds back and forth until she returns proudly toting a green-headed drake mallard.

Because theres only one, the hunters wont eat this duck this afternoon, but Strawhecker came prepared with duck confit and large duck eggs in his cooler. He whips them into the days final course: tomato posole, a thick stew made with chili paste, guanciale (Italian cured pork), and hominy from South Carolinas Anson Mills. He poaches the duck eggs, and, after theyre done, tops the bowl with tender duck confit and the soft-cooked, runny egg. Part chewy, part crunchy, the aromatic corn stew is topped by lots of homemade condiments: kimchi and pickled jalapenos. The hunters eat this final course with appreciative silence.

Though this food is higher-end than usual for the hunters and Schroder, this style of in-blind dining is, really, nothing new. In fact, he calls breakfast in the blind a Burt County tradition.

This has been going on here for years, Schroder said. Its special to be doing this. I think this area is a pretty good-kept secret. Its one of the last places to do this.
Douglas County prosecutors say a trail of social media messages and physical evidence links Shanna Golyar to the death of a woman who was her rival for a mans attention.

Golyar, now 41, posed as Cari Farver on the Internet to cover up Farvers slaying, prosecutors alleged Tuesday in court.

Farver, then 37, disappeared in 2012. Authorities think she was killed in Omaha, but Golyars defense attorney argues that no body has been found, so theres been no proof of a homicide.

Douglas County Judge Lawrence Barrett on Tuesday set Golyars bail at $5 million; typically first-degree murder defendants are ordered held without bail.

Golyars attorney, James Martin Davis, said his client hardly knows Farver and prosecutors have little evidence connecting Golyar to a crime.

Farver was last seen alive on the morning of Nov. 13, 2012. Omaha police have said they think she was killed within the next 24 hours at an apartment near 120th Street and West Dodge Road.

Farvers mother, Nancy Raney, reported her daughter missing three days later to the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office. About two months later, authorities found Farvers vehicle in Omaha.

The two women were girlfriends of the same man, prosecutor David Wear said. Farver was from Macedonia, Iowa, and Golyar is from Persia, Iowa.

Golyar made numerous attempts to show that Farver was still alive, Wear said, by sending messages to Farvers phone and by making it seem as if Farver had left town.

Wear said Golyar posed as Farver online to conceal the fact that she was no longer alive.

Golyars fingerprints were also found on a pack of gum in Farvers vehicle, Wear said.

Davis disputed that Farver is dead, let alone was killed. He argued that her body has not been found and that there is no identified murder weapon and no witnesses.

You cant presume somebody died just because shes missing, Davis said. All you have is a theory that because this lady is missing, that somehow my client was involved in her disappearance.

Davis said Golyar and Farver were dating the man at the same time.

I dont know who was scorned and who wasnt, he said. That certainly doesnt rise to the level of (a) motion to commit first-degree murder.

Some of Farvers blood was found in the mans apartment, Davis said.

Golyars relationship with the man drew the attention of Council Bluffs police late last year and earlier this year.

In December 2015, Golyar reported to Bluffs police that she had been accosted at Big Lake Park and shot in her left thigh. In an interview Tuesday, Detective Matthew Kuhlmann of the Council Bluffs Police Department said Golyar tried to blame a woman the man had been seeing for the shooting, but investigators found the story dubious and concluded that she probably had shot herself. No one was arrested.

In June, Golyar pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal mischief after breaking a window in February at the other womans apartment, according to court documents. Some of the evidence to arrest Golyar came from a tracking device placed on her vehicle by the Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office. The agency feared that Golyar might harm the other woman, according to the criminal complaint.

Sheriff Jeff Danker confirmed the device was on the vehicle because of the investigation into Farvers disappearance, but declined to elaborate.

As authorities suspect with Farver, Golyar apparently had set up an email account posing as this other woman, Kuhlmann said.

Davis said his client has lost touch with the man and hardly knows Farver.

She only saw this lady one time just for a few seconds, Davis said. There wasnt any argument.

Golyar has two children and is employed at a beef jerky plant, Jack Links, Davis said.

Her next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 18.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that the Syrian government was holding talks with the opposition ahead of a possible wider meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, the Interfax news agency reported. Lavrov did not say where the current talks were being held.

President Vladimir Putin has that Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have all agreed that the Kazakh capital should be the venue for new Syrian peace negotiations.

The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source earlier on Tuesday as saying that representatives from the Russian and Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide ceasefire might work

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A nonprofit group that runs federal prisoner re-entry programs across the nation wants to open a residential center for prisoners in a riverfront industrial park north of Omahas Eppley Airfield.

Dismas Charities Inc. proposes to provide housing and such re-entry services as job readiness and placement for up to 95 soon-to-be-released prisoners. They would be people from metropolitan Omaha or southwest Iowa expected to return home after serving federal prison sentences.

Dismas, a nonprofit corporation based in Kentucky, is seeking a contract with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons to build and operate the center. The bureau expects to select a contractor by Friday.

Although the contract has yet to be awarded, Dismas has identified and sewn up a location, contingent on the contract and permit, said Den Freaney, the firms vice president of development. The site is a vacant lot at 506 Crown Point Ave., between Abbott Drive and the Missouri River levee.

Dismas officials chose the site for its proximity to bus lines and prospective employment, and because no homes or schools are nearby, Freaney said. They hoped that the industrial park would be a path with less resistance than trying to locate in a residential area. But the industrial area site choice promises to be controversial as well.

The lot is surrounded on three sides by businesses that distribute or make products such as livestock feed, concrete, steel, machinery and heavy-duty shelving.

Dismas is seeking a permit from the City of Omaha to allow transitional living in an area with industrial zoning. The Omaha Planning Board voted at its latest meeting to recommend that the Omaha City Council grant the permit.

The proposal and site have the support of the Omaha Planning Department and City Council President Ben Gray, whose District 2 includes the area.

Gray said Dismas  which operates 32 residential re-entry programs, mostly in Southern states  has a good record over its 50 years of providing re-entry services.

Gray said the services are needed. He expressed confidence in the groups security plans for the proposed site.

The Planning Departments recommendation called the proposal an appropriate use of the land that will not adversely affect the neighborhood.

Several of the neighbors disagree. They said theyll oppose the permit request as it goes to the City Council.

Neal Drickey said hes scared to death of the proposed facility. His NBG Enterprises manufactures and assembles high-pressure natural gas equipment next door to the proposed location.

Im terrified at the thought of having 100 convicted felons next door to me, Drickey said. Im concerned about the safety of myself and my employees.

Hes also concerned about theft, he said.

Drickey was one of three people from nearby businesses who testified against the proposal at the Planning Board meeting. He had hired an attorney to speak at the meeting as well.

Im offering what resistance I can, but it isnt much, he said. They (Dismas leaders) are a lot more familiar with this process than I am.

Representatives of John Day Co. and Patriot Crane and Rigging also spoke against the permit request. Nancy Kurtenbach said a lot of semi trucks come and go to John Day, which distributes agricultural and industrial equipment. Carrie Olson said she was worried about theft from Patriot Crane and Rigging.

No injustice to what theyre trying to do, but I feel like there could be a better place to locate this business, she told the Planning Board.

People from three other neighboring businesses said in interviews that they oppose the plan.

Butch Spurrier, manager of the Watco terminal next door to the vacant lot, said its the wrong place for such a facility.

I agree with getting rehab for prisoners, he said. But it doesnt belong in a commercial area.

Spurrier said he worried about the security at Watco, which loads and unloads livestock feed, fertilizer and steel beams between train cars and trucks. Soon Watco will begin handling ethanol as well, Spurrier said.

Jon Cavalieri, who owns Can It dumpster rental next door, said the city would not allow him to put an industrial business in a residential area, and it shouldnt allow a residential use in an industrial area.

He said hes worried about the riff-raff it would bring.

Planning Board members were unpersuaded by neighbors opposing testimony, voting 7-0 to support the permit. But one, Arnold Nesbitt, told Freaney, I would still encourage you to have some conversations with your neighbors.

Freaney said he would meet individually with neighbors to discuss their concerns.

Councilman Gray said he should. But Gray said he has no concerns about their security.

I have high regard for what they (Dismas Charities) have done around the country, and what they propose to do here, Gray said. Some of these businesses are going to have to get over themselves. This is that NIMBY (not in my backyard) thing.

The Bureau of Prisons wants a facility built to house 78 men and 17 women.

Most would be federal prisoners returning to Douglas, Sarpy or Washington Counties in Nebraska, or Pottawattamie, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery or Shelby Counties in Iowa. A few would be former prisoners who had been on federal probation in the Omaha area but violated their probation and were sent by a judge to the re-entry center.

The residents would have been convicted of a variety of crimes, mostly drug offenses, but also gun and sex offenses. Most of the latter would be Internet sex crimes, Freaney said.

At a Dismas re-entry center in Kearney, 79 percent of the clients had gone to prison for drug offenses, Freaney said.

The center would be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Freaney said. The peoples movements would be tightly monitored, he said. They would have to check in and out with their fingerprints when going to and coming from work, and to check in by landline from their jobs.

They would have to have a breathalyzer check for alcohol every time they enter or leave the center, Freaney said. If they had drug abuse problems in the past, they would undergo at least four urinalysis screenings a month.

The prisoners would have just a few months left on their sentences. If they broke any of the rules at the center, they could be sent back to prison, Freaney said.

In the other locations where Dismas operates, he said, they have actually improved the areas security. Freaney said Dismas centers have security video cameras all over the place. He said security guards must regularly patrol outside the facility as well as inside, and they are trained to look for and report suspicious activity in the neighborhood. And Dismas encourages police who patrol the area to stop in to the re-entry center to have coffee, use the bathroom or file their reports in relative comfort, Freaney said.

People get all up in arms, he said. They think there will be murderers and rapists with no supervision running the streets.

But thats not the case, Freaney said.

He cited Dismas re-entry centers in Kearney and in Sioux City, Iowa. The Kearney Hub reported in November that Kearney Mayor Stan Clouse said Dismas had met or exceeded his expectations in its first eight months. The mayor said he had received no complaints.

That was after Clouse had initially criticized Dismas as not being forthcoming about the project and not making enough efforts to meet with the community.

In Omaha, Freaney has been trying to build support among social-service advocates and law enforcement leaders, among others.

Dismas application for a permit includes a letter of support from John Griffith, executive director of Catholic Charities.

Griffith, whose agency could provide some services to the centers clients, said in an interview that the need is there.

He said the prisoners whom the center would serve are likely to return to the Omaha area anyway. Its better that they learn life skills and have help preparing for and finding jobs.

That reintegration is critical, Griffith said.

Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning was among the dozens of people who signed a Dismas petition supporting the companys proposal.

Dunning said hes not weighing in on the specific location, but he supports a re-entry center.

Ive never been a fan of just letting people loose out of prison and sticking them back on the street, Dunning said.
NEW YORK (AP)  The turbulent U.S. election, featuring Donald Trumps unexpected victory over Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, was the overwhelming pick for the top news story of 2016, according to the Associated Press annual poll of U.S. editors and news directors.

The No. 2 story also was a dramatic upset  Britons vote to leave the European Union. Most of the other stories among the Top 10 reflected a year marked by political upheaval, terror attacks and racial divisions.

Last year, developments related to the Islamic State were voted as the top story  the far-flung attacks claimed by the group, and the intensifying global effort to crush it.

The first AP top-stories poll was conducted in 1936, when editors chose the abdication of Britains King Edward VIII.

1. U.S. election

This years top story traces back to June 2015, when Donald Trump descended an escalator in Trump Tower, his bastion in New York City, to announce that he would run for president. Widely viewed as a long shot, with an unconventional campaign featuring raucous rallies and pugnacious tweets, he outlasted 16 Republican rivals. Among the Democrats, Hillary Clinton beat back an unexpectedly strong challenge from Bernie Sanders and won the popular vote over Trump. But he won key Rust Belt states to get the most electoral votes and will enter the White House with Republicans maintaining control of both houses of Congress.

2. Brexit

Confounding pollsters and oddsmakers, Britons voted in June to leave the European Union, triggering financial and political upheaval. David Cameron resigned as prime minister soon after the vote, leaving the task of negotiating an exit to a reshaped Conservative government led by Theresa May. Under a tentative timetable, final details of the withdrawal might not be known until the spring of 2019.

3. Black men killed by police

One day apart, police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, fatally shot Alton Sterling after pinning him to the ground, and a white police officer shot and killed Philando Castile during a traffic stop in a suburb of Minneapolis. Coming after several similar cases in recent years, the killings rekindled debate over policing practices and the Black Lives Matter movement.

4. Pulse nightclub massacre

The worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history unfolded on Latin Night at the Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. The gunman, Omar Mateen, killed 49 people over the course of three hours before dying in a shootout with SWAT team members. During the standoff, he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

5. Worldwide terror attacks

Across the globe, extremist attacks flared at a relentless pace. Among the many high-profile attacks were those that targeted airports in Brussels and Istanbul, a park teeming with families and children in Pakistan and the seafront boulevard in Nice, France, where 86 people were killed when a truck plowed through a Bastille Day celebration. In Iraq alone, many hundreds of civilians were killed in repeated bombings.

6. Attacks on police

Ambushes and targeted attacks on police officers in the U.S. claimed at least 20 lives. The victims included five officers in Dallas working to keep the peace at a protest over the fatal police shootings of black men in Minnesota and Louisiana. Ten days after that attack, a man killed three officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In Iowa, two policemen were fatally shot in separate ambush-style attacks while sitting in their patrol cars.

7. Democratic Party email leaks

Hacked emails, disclosed by WikiLeaks, revealed at-times embarrassing details from Democratic Party operatives in the run-up to Election Day, leading to the resignation of Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and other DNC officials. The CIA later concluded that Russia was behind the DNC hacking in a bid to boost Trumps chances of beating Clinton.

8. Syria

Repeated cease-fire negotiations failed to halt relentless warfare among multiple factions. With Russias help, the government forces of President Bashar Assad finally seized rebel-held portions of Aleppo, a city broken by death and destruction.

9. Supreme Court

After Justice Antonin Scalias death in February, President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill the vacancy. However, majority Republicans in the Senate refused to consider the nomination, opting to leave the seat vacant so it could be filled by the winner of the presidential election. Trump has promised to appoint a conservative in the mold of Scalia.

10. Hillary Clinton's emails

Amid the presidential campaign, the FBI conducted an investigation into Clintons use of a private computer server to handle emails she sent and received as secretary of state. FBI Director James Comey criticized Clinton for carelessness but said the bureau would not recommend criminal charges.

Stories that did not make the top 10 included Europes migrant crisis, the death of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and the spread of the Zika virus across Latin America and the Caribbean.
President- elect Donald Trump is being normalized before our eyes. Last week, 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 Barack and Michelle 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) health care 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 advisers 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 recently said: 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.
Helpful, amazing, wonderful, always positive, a great guy, an instant friend, a second father.

These were the words friends and neighbors used to describe Michael Brinkman, 50, who was fatally shot Friday evening in his home at 18139 Tammy Trail.

The mourners gathered with Brinkmans family about 5:15 p.m. Monday for a prayer vigil outside the house, near 185th and Q Streets in the Millard area.

And there was no shortage of praise for Brinkman, the former owner of a roofing company who provided a new roof to someone mourning the death of a loved one; a landlord who made his tenants feel like wed been friends forever; a friend who would throw someone a 40th birthday party in his garage; a second dad who made food for his teen sons friends.

All were in dismay that someone would kill such a great guy.

The shooting occurred about 5:40 p.m. Friday. Emergency dispatchers were told that two assailants wearing clown masks had attempted a robbery at the brick, ranch-style home with Christmas lights strung across the front. When police arrived they found Brinkman collapsed in a bedroom at the home.

Paramedics took Brinkman in grave condition to Lakeside Hospital; police said he died at the Nebraska Medical Center.

Brinkmans longtime girlfriend and son, Seth, 16, were at the home at the time, said police. Police interviewed the son and girlfriend as witnesses.

Police have not released a possible motive or announced an arrest. The assailants had parked outside Brinkmans home, which is on a dead-end street.

Im still kind of shocked, Michelle Brinkman said after the prayer vigil. I cant believe hes gone.

She had nothing but praise for her former husband. He was a good man who worked hard, paid his bills and loved fishing, hunting and being outdoors, she said.

The two divorced 23 years ago, Michelle Brinkman said. But even after the split she called him a great guy, humble, funny and charismatic.

Trust me, she said, weve had our knock-down, drag-outs, but weve always remained friends.

Nicole Brinkman said her father  who recently sold the roofing company he created, Xcel Roofing  tried to instill in his children that they had to work hard for what they get. He enjoyed traveling, and looked forward to moving to Idaho to spend time outdoors.

His more recent pastimes included sending text messages to his daughter every day. Just last week he sent me a picture of him sitting in this Jacuzzi, she said.

Mondays vigil, organized by the group First Responders, included prayers for the family  but also for the neighborhood and wider community, for justice and for whoever killed Brinkman.

First Responders, a loose-knit group of people who seek to provide a community response to violence, regularly holds prayer gatherings at the sites of Omaha homicides. The vigils began in 2007.

Funeral services for Brinkman are tentatively set for later this week at Roeder Mortuarys Gretna Chapel, Michelle Brinkman said.

Additional survivors include a granddaughter, Mia, 4.

An Omaha native, Brinkman graduated from Northwest High School.

Police said anyone with information on the killing should call the homicide unit at 402-444-5656. Those who wish to remain anonymous should call Omaha Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP or may offer information at OmahaCrimeStoppers.org. A tip leading to an arrest in a homicide investigation is eligible for a reward up to $25,000.

* * * * *

Correction, Dec. 26: A previous version of this article misidentified the woman in the home at the time of the shooting. Brinkman's girlfriend was in the home, not his former wife.
Odisha: Businessman, aide arrested from Thailand in murder case

Bhubaneswar

oi-PTI

Paradip (Odisha), Dec 27: Prominent businessman Mahimananda Mishra and his aide, arrested in a murder case, were sent on a four-day police remand by a court in Jagatsinghpur district today, a day after they were brought to Odisha from Thailand. Mishra, Managing Director of Odisha Stevedores Ltd, and his aide Basant Bal were produced before the court of judicial magistrate Digvijay Das, who sent both to police remand after rejecting their bail applications.

Wanted in connection with the murder of a shipping company official Mahendra Swain here on October 26, the two were caught in Thailand on Saturday and brought here late last night via Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. Soon after their arrival in Bhubaneswar last night, Mishra and Bal had been sent to the Capital Hospital for medical check-up amid tight security.

Police said the duo had escaped to Kathmandu on a 15-day tourist visa after hiding at several places in the country following the murder of Seaways Shipping official Mahendra Swain. On Friday, a Kujang court had issued a non-bailable warrant against them. A look-out circular had also been issued against them earlier. With the arrest of Mishra and Bal, nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the murder case, police said.

PTI
Rama Mohan Rao's hidden message to PM and TN CM

Chennai

oi-Anusha

While attempting to defend himself, former Tamil Nadu chief secretary Rama Mohan Rao sent out a strong message to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He minced no words in criticising the state government for not coming to his defence. "Where was the state government?", he asked reporters on Tuesday. The statement, a direct attack on Panneerselvam who was in his office at the secretariat when raids were being conducted at the chief secretary's office.

"Would this have happened if Jayalalithaa were alive?", asked the IAS officer directly attacking Panneerselvam of not being able to stop what he called as an 'unconstitutional assault' on him. The IAS officer also said that he feared for his life and that many people saw him as a hurdle. Who are the people that the Chief Secretary hinted at considering he was Jayalalithaa's blue eyed official and was handpicked by her to be the state's Chief Secretary. "How much time does it take for a Chief Minister to transfer a chief secretary?", he asked as if to challenge Panneerselvam.

[Also Read: Would this happen if Jaya were around: Ex-Tamil Nadu chief secy]

Many critics of Narendra Modi including Mamata Banerjee called the Income tax raids on Rama Mohan Rao an attack on the federal structure. In his address to the media today the IAS officer attacked the central government with equal ferocity. "What business did the Government of India have in the chief secretary's office?" he asked. His questions echo many concerns that were raised on the day of the raids. Many criticised the Modi-led BJP government of trying to establish its upper hand in Tamil Nadu. The BJP spokesperson in the state, Tamilisai Soudararajan, had even come out rubbishing the allegations.

OneIndia News
6 detained for loot of gold jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh

India

oi-PTI

Rajkot, Dec 27: Six persons were today detained in connection with the alleged robbery of around 5 kg gold jewellery worth over Rs 90 lakh from the branch here of gold financing company Muthoot Fincorp, police said. Three robbers had allegedly looted the gold jewellery yesterday at gun point from the company's branch located at Jetpur road in Dhoraji under Rajkot rural police limits. The entire incident was caught on CCTV camera.

After detaining six persons, police also recovered jewellery worth around Rs 20 lakh, a police official said. The police had identified three culprits based on CCTV footages. They had also announced a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh for information on their whereabouts. "We formed separate teams and also announced a cash reward to help nab the culprits. We received an information that three persons involved in the loot were hiding at a farm," Inspector General of Police, Rajkot range, D N Patel told reporters in Jetpur town of the district.

"The three persons, identified as Sunil Bhaskar, Ashok Parmar and Rajesh Bagda, were nabbed this morning and their interrogation led us to nab their three other accomplices, identified as Ashwin Chauhan, Pravin and Ravi," Patel said. "Ashok, Rajesh and Sunil robbed the gold jewellery from the firm and fled on a motorbike, while their other accomplices were waiting in a car on a road," he said. "The three handed over the bag containing the looted valuables to their three accomplices and took shelter in a farm from where they were detained," he further said.

"We have also recovered gold jewellery of around Rs 20 lakh from their possession, even though the bag used in the loot is yet to be recovered," Patel said. "The valuables recovered from them are those which were hidden in the pockets of their jackets, and we are interrogating them to recover the bag in which valuables were carried," he said. "Presently we have rounded up six persons, and will arrest them after interrogation and recovery of the rest of the valuables," the senior police officer added.

PTI
Amn Al-Mujahid: The app that wipes the digital footprints of the ISIS operatives

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 27: Use this application called Amn Al-Mujahid. It is the most secure application to be used on an Android device and has 40976-bit public key encryption making it the most secure system among the other algorithms, reads a note from an ISIS handler in Syria.

[Also Read:How Islamic State operatives in Hyderabad covered their tracks]

The NIA during the course of investigations conducted while busting a Hyderabad module learnt that the application was a favourite among several operatives. It had guaranteed the operatives of not just hiding their tracks, but also wiping out all digital footprints left behind by them.

The NIA says that the ISIS module was technology savvy and there were periodic instructions given on how to stay secure and dodge the eyes of the Intelligence Bureau. There were online training classes that were imparted at regular intervals.

The 8 operatives from Hyderabad who were plotting attacks at police stations were trained periodically by members of the group in Syria.

Wiping out the digital footprint:

While the operatives used applications such as Orbot and Orfox to hide their tracks the Amn Al-Mujahid application helped them wipe digital footprints. All the module members had this application installed on their phone. Apart from an online class, training manuals on how to use these applications were also provided.

Further the NIA also found that the operatives were trained on how to modify the DNS manually or through a programme. They were also taught on how to change an IP addressing through spoofing.

Investigations showed after the release of the applications, a 28 page manual was provided to them by the Al-Fajr media of the ISIS. The manual had instructions on how to send out mails through encryption apart from covering their tracks online.

On Monday, OneIndia had reported how the same module had used a host of applications to cover their tracks.

The NIA also found that the operatives had used a map application called OsmAnd+. They went about their operation by using highly encrypted applications to hide their tracks the NIA also says.

Apart from this the NIA also found that the operatives had digital documents containing three Global Positioning System co-ordinates saved in it, The police stations under their radar were at Kamathipura, Afzalganj and Bahadurpura in Hyderabad.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 9:13 [IST]
Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to take part in the Syrian peace process, Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview, according to the RIA news agency on Tuesday.

He was cited as saying that he thought Saudi Arabia's insistence that President Bashar al-Assad should step down meant Riyadh should not participate in future Syrian peace talks.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Appeasement, dangerous mix of religion and politics leave Bengal communalised

India

oi-Vicky

Kolkata, Dec 27: The recent incident which took place at the Howrah's Dhulagarh area last week where communal clashes broke out is yet another signs that the state of West Bengal is seeing a rise in the number of communal incidents.

[Also Read: How the Syrian revenge against Russia was plotted in Kolkata]

Several persons from the majority community have complained of minority appeasement in the state. Referring to the incident at Dhulagarh, many have asked why would people be carrying sticks and choppers when the birthday of Prophet Mohammad was being celebrated.

"Our homes were attacked and by the time the police reached the village, the damage was already done," a member of the majority community alleged. Another incident in October also points towards the rise in communal tension in the state.

Communal riots broke out at 12 places across the state during the Durga Puja immersions and Muharrram Tazia processions. The riots were once again blamed on the administration with many accusing the government of banning immersion procession on the ground that it would coincide with Muharram processions.

What the Calcutta high court said:

What the Calcutta high court said: The court also went on to add that the state government has been irresponsibly brazen in its conduct of being partial to one community, thereby infringing on the fundamental rights of the people worshipping Ma Durga. Do not mix politics with religion it will be dangerous the court had also warned.

Agencies have a tough time:

Officials in the Intelligence Bureau as well as other central agencies have complained that it is hard to work in West Bengal. When we busted the Burdhwan module in October 2014, we realised what an easy time the operatives of the Jammat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh was having.

The police looked the other way due to political pressure, the IB officer said. An NIA official who was also part of the Burdhwan probe said that the help from the local police was hard to get. There was an immense amount of work that we had to do to get the case cracking. Moreover it is not very safe working in such an environment, the officer also noted.

West Bengal has become a safe haven for criminals. Members of the Jamaat-e-Islami accused of killing seculars in Bangladesh have taken shelter in West Bengal. The IB officer also added that terror operatives from Bangladesh have used Bengal as a launch pad to stage attacks.

OneIndia News
BJP lashes out at Rama Mohana Rao for thanking Rahul, Mamata

India

oi-PTI

Chennai, Dec 27: The BJP on Tuesday lashed out at former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohan Rao over his critical remarks on Income Tax raids at his home and office. The BJP accused him of politicising the issue by thanking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Party's state unit President Tamilisai Soundararajan said no one is above the law and sought to know why Rao would talk about the state's security when an elected Chief Minister was there to take care of it.

"By thanking Mamata Banerjee and Rahul Gandhi, his intentions are clear. It is clear that he is brazenly doing politics," she said in a statement. She asked if he was "challenging" the Chief Minister and Governor by his remarks.

"Who is he to say that there is no security for the people of Tamil Nadu? Why is he bothered when there is an elected Chief Minister? (to take care of that)," she said.

Further, the Income Tax department can carry out checks anywhere in connection with a probe, she said responding to Rao's contention that the tax men's search warrant did not have his name. Tamilisai also slammed Rao for claiming that he continued to be state Chief Secretary and termed it as "arrogant."

"Overall his remarks amount to impeding the peaceful situation in Tamil Nadu. The fact is he has become a wrong precedent by a wrong action (of talking to the media). It is amazing that an official does not have the patience to wait for law to take its own course," she added.

PTI
Congress rallying support against BJP is our victory: Ravi Shankar Prasad

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 27: Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that the Congress rallying support to counter the ruling party is Congress' defeat and the BJP's victory. The minister's remarks came moments after several opposition parties led by the Congress held a joint press conference here and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the demonetisation scheme a failure.

"If (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is Congress' defeat and BJP's victory. Today, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is at the centre of the Indian politics," Prasad said.

Launching a counter-attack on Rahul Gandhi, Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

"If we disclose the Swiss bank account holders' names before filing a chargesheet against them, the Swiss authorities would stop cooperating any further. We would not get any more names from them. Does Rahul Gandhi want that to happen?" Prasad added.

IANS
Five years of demonetisation: Notes in circulation on rise; so are digital payments

PM Modi should admit that demonetistion a failure: Owaisi on cash seizure in UP

Demonetisation: Congress, JD-U not to join RJD protest

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Patna, Dec 27: The Congress party and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Tuesday made it clear that they will not join the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s 'Mahadharna' against demonetisation on December 28 in Bihar.

"The JD-U will not support or join any protest against demonetisation until party President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has supported demonetisation as a step against black money, reviews and analyses its impact after 50 days," JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told the media here on Tuesday.

President of the Bihar unit of Congress Ashok Choudhary said his party would not participate in the Mahadharna against demonetisation on Wednesday.

"The Congress will not support RJD's protest programme against note ban," Choudhary, who is also the Bihar Education Minister, said.

The JD-U, Congress and the RJD are constituents of Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance.

A day ahead of the formal launch of the protest against demonetisation, it is a setback for Lalu Prasad. Last week Lalu announnced that the RJD will on December 28 stage a sit-in at all district headquarters across the state. He and Rabri Devi will join the sit-in at Patna.

The party has also planned a massive rally here early next year. Lalu has been attacking the Prime Minister for the 'flop demontisation show' and the central government's failure to implement the decision properly.

Unlike Nitish Kumar, who has been supporting demonetisation, the RJD chief has opposed the scrapping of Rs 500/1,000 notes ever since its announcement on November 8.

Lalu had a few days ago expressed hope that Nitish Kumar will join his party's protest programme.

IANS

ik/nir/vm
Demonetisation: Income tax raids at Mangaluru bank

India

oi-Anusha

By Anusha Ravi

Officials from the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate raided the South Canara District Central Cooperative bank in Mangaluru on Tuesday following a tip-off about unusual monetary transaction. As part of their crackdown on cooperative banks that have seen sudden surge in deposits post demonetisation, raids were carried out in a joint operation by the ED and IT.

Six officials from the Income Tax department and three from enforcement directorate scrutinised documents available in the bank to check deposits made after November 8. The district cooperative bank's office in Kodiyal in Mangaluru was raided for hours and documents seized.

Over the last one week, cooperative banks in Karnataka have come under the central agencies' radar on allegations of undocumented deposits. Officials suspect that the banks have allowed illegal deposit of black money in a bid to legalise the same. Cooperative banks receive money from cooperative societies that do not fulfill KYC norms. Officials suspect that this loophole in the system is being misused to launder money.

Raids are expected to continue in more cooperative banks. Bank officials are being asked to provide detailed information of customers who have deposited high amounts post demonetisation move.

OneIndia News
New notes have GPS chip to detect black money

Following the decision on demonetisation on November 8, a WhatApp message was forwarded to millions. It said that the new Rs 500 and 2,000 notes had a GPS chip to detect black money. While several media outlets were quick to report it, the RBI clarified that there were watermarks and security threads, but the chip was non-existent.

Jana Gana Mana declared best National Anthem:

This one once again attributed to the UNESCO. The forward read, India's National Anthem has been declared as the best in the world by UNESCO. Many tweeted about it and declared it as a very proud moment. However following clarification, the news was declared fake.

Profile pictures will be used by the ISIS

This forward again on WhatsApp did create a major flutter. Internal security correspondents were kept busy taking calls from concerned people. According to this forward attributed to the Delhi police, the Islamic State would use a persons profile picture on WhatsApp and steal their virtual identity. The message claimed that the CEO of WhatsApp had requested users 25 days time to rectify this issue.

The salt panic

In November 2016, there was major panic following a WhatsApp forward that spoke of salt shortage. This forward caused a four fold price rise in parts of Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad and Maharashtra. The government had to come out and issue a clarification to control the problem.

Arvind Kejriwal accused of rape

The other forward that kept making to the mobile phones was a cutting of Telegraph, dated June 8, 1987. The news report read, IIT student accused of rape. In the body of the news it was stated that Arvind Kejriwal, a student of IIT Khargapur was detained by the police for allegedly raping a girl.
Dalit man in Kerala beaten up by wife's brother allegedly for not converting to Christianity

In UP, ex-pradhan thrashes Dalit girl, throws her out of school over uniform

Gujarat: Dalit couple thrashed

India

oi-PTI

Ahmedabad, Dec 28: A Dalit man and his pregnant wife were allegedly beaten up by members of another community at Ugala village in Gir Somnath district for preventing grazing of their cattle in a farm where the couple has been working as labourers, police said on Tuesday.

"Babubhai and Rekhaben were hired by the farm owner to work in the cotton field at Ugala village. On December 25, they had an altercation with some members of a community who wanted to take their cattle in the field for grazing," investigating officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, SC/ST Cell, PS Valvi said.

He said the couple was beaten up with sticks after they objected to cattle grazing, saying it would damage standing crop in the farm.

"Both of them were first rushed to a hospital in Veraval and then shifted to Junagadh for further treatment. Gir-Gadhda police has registered a complaint of assault as well as under various sections of the Prevention of Atrocities Act," Valvi said, adding further that investigation is on.

The officer said the condition of the duo is stable. An FIR has been registered at Gir-Gadhada police station in this regard. Police are yet to make any arrest.

Incidentally, four dalit youths were thrashed allegedly by cow vigilantes in nearby Una taluka in this district in July, triggering massive protests across state by the community.

PTI
Indrani out of jail, performs post-death rituals of her father

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Dec 27: Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, was today taken out of the Byculla jail to attend the post-death rituals of her father in Mulund here. A special CBI court had last week granted her the permission to attend the rituals anywhere in Mumbai, including at her residence, between 7 AM and 7 PM on December 27. The court had, however, rejected Indrani's plea for the interim bail to visit her hometown Guwahati. Her father Upendra Bora had died on December 15.

Indrani stepped out of the jail at around 7.30 AM amid heavy police protection to reach Brahmin Seva Samiti hall in suburban Mulund. Special judge H S Mahajan on December 22 had said Indrani shall be taken out of the Byculla jail here in the morning under a police escort and brought back to jail by 7 PM. During this time, she shall not speak to the media, the judge had said. Indrani had sought interim bail for visiting Assam for the rituals, but CBI had opposed her request.

Mumbai: Indrani Mukerjea, who is out of jail for a day, performs last rites rituals of her father pic.twitter.com/ZuSJEpvLK4  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

The agency produced an e-mail sent by Indrani's son Mikhail to CBI, saying he did not want her to visit Guwahati. CBI also said Indrani's intention was to influence prosecution witnesses and there was also a possibility that she might try to escape from custody. According to the agency, Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai killed Sheena, Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, in April 2012.

PTI
ISRO to launch 83 satellites in one go in January

India

oi-PTI

Bengaluru, Dec 27: The ISRO on Tuesday said it would launch a record 83 satellites in one go using its workhorse PSLV-C37 towards the end of January.

"We are working for a January launch. It will be toward the end of January. The date has to be fixed," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman A S Kiran Kumar told reporters.

Of the 83 satellites, 80 belong to Israel, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Switzerland and the US. They weigh about 500 kg. The three Indian satellites are Cartosat-2 series, weighing 730 kg as primary payload, and INS-IA and INS-1B, weighing 30 kg. Setting a record in its space programme, ISRO in June had successfully launched 20 satellites, including its earth observation Cartosat-2 series, in a single mission on board PSLV-C34 from the spaceport in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008. Calling 2016 a "good" year, Kumar said ISRO would launch at least five communication satellites in 2017.

"It (launches) will be more next year, we are actually looking at almost something like five communication satellites, then many more others. Some earth observation also," he said in response to a question on the number of launches that can be expected in 2017.

"In the year we are primarily trying to do our GSLV Mark III, then Mark II... one more launch we are trying to do," Kumar said.

The first three months should see three launches, beyond which ISRO was targeting almost one a month, he said on the sidelines of the 21st convocation of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru. Stating that 2016 was a good year because ISRO was able to improve on what they were doing the previous year, Kumar said the main emphasis now was on building capacity.

"We need more and more capacity, launch capacity. We are working toward that. Our effort is to continuously increase," he added.

On transponder augmentation that ISRO is looking for, he said, "GSAT-17 is having another 48 transponders, then there is a SAARC satellite which will have about 12 transponders, then we are getting into the next generation GSAT-11 and GSAT-19. We are trying to do something like 14 gigabyte and 90 gigabyte type of thing- multi beam satellites."

Noting that ISRO is conducting tests for hazard avoidance for Chandrayaan 2 as it lands, he said, "We are verifying the performance of the system as designed."

"Chandrayaan 2,we are preparing for hazard avoidance, as it lands then it has to avoid boulders and things. We are verifying the performance of the system as designed, so there are some craters created and as it comes down how it negotiates. We are evaluating the performance of the system," he added.

ISRO has been conducting these tests at its facility in Challakere in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.

PTI
Mamata loses cool in joint conference

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 28: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday suddenly lost her cool at a joint conference of eight political parties, taking objection to a question posed to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

As Gandhi was asked how the party's move to take support of regional parties like Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and DMK would contribute to its "growth", Banerjee intervened.

"I object to this question. You cannot compare Trinamool Congress with other political parties. We are a very transparent party. Prime Minister Modi tries to malign us...This is wrong. You ask me if you have any allegation... I 'll answer..Don't mislead the country..How will Rahul answer about my party?" Banerjee retorted.

IANS
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, Russia's foreign ministry said in statement.

It also said that Lavrov informed Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels may lead to more casualties.

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PMLA case: ED raids Lodha's premises in Kolkata, Delhi

India

oi-PTI

Kolkata, Dec 27: The ED on Tuesday conducted searches at the premises of arrested Kolkata-based businessman Paras Mal Lodha here and in Delhi in connection with a money laundering case probe in two high-profile black money cases of illegal conversion of old notes in the wake of demonetisation.

Officials said the agency began the searches late in the afternoon and covered two of his premises here at S N Roy road and Queens Park here even as one location in Delhi was brought under the same operation. Lodha (62), at present, is in the Enforcement Directorate's custody after he was arrested by the agency last week in Delhi.

He 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". While Tandon's case pertains to an operation of Delhi Police and the Income Tax department earlier this month when the agencies had allegedly seized Rs 13.6 crore from a law firm he is associated with, that of mining baron Reddy relates to Chennai where the I-T department has made the biggest detection of alleged unaccounted income of over Rs 142 crore.

Both the cases pertain to the ED's anti-black money operations post the currency ban. These two cases, involving Tandon and Reddy, are being probed by at least four agencies -- the ED, the I-T department, the CBI and Delhi Police.

PTI
Record Naxal surrenders in 2016: 1,420 and counting

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 27: From 282 in 2013 to 1,420 in 2016, the number of Naxalite surrenders has witnessed a huge jump. The development and security mantra being pushed aggressively by the Central agencies and the respective state governments has seen a major rise in the number of surrenders, official sources say.

Since the past year, there has been a different approach taken by the security agencies. The agenda to push both development and security in tandem has been done aggressively in 36 Naxal affected districts in Chattisgarh and Jharkhand.

Statistics available with the Union Home ministry state that in 2016 alone 1,420 Naxalites have surrendered. In the year 2015, the number was 570 while 2014 saw 670 Naxalites surrendering.

"They are a demoralised lot as of now," says an officer from Chattisgarh part of anti-Naxalite operations. He said that the surrenders and the recent arrests have been of top rung leaders and this has added to the misery of the Naxalites. However, the officer added that despite the large number of casualties that they have faced security forces should not slack since there is a good chance of a revival also.

Recently, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had offered talks with the Naxals provided they shunned violence. He also said that the incidents of Naxalite violence has come down drastically.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 16:04 [IST]
Red Bull Kite Fight returns in January 2017 to find the country's best kite flyer

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Bengaluru, Dec 27: Come "Makar Sankranti" in 2017, Red Bull Kite Fight - an annual kite flying competition that aims to find the best kite flyer from across the country - returns for its third edition, bigger than ever.

In January 2016, for the second edition of the tournament, the competition extended to Vadodara and Surat, with qualifiers being held in the two cities as well as Ahmedabad, followed by finals in Ahmedabad.

In 2017, the competition expands further, to include a round of qualifiers in Jaipur - alongside rounds in Vadodara, Surat and Ahmedabad, with finals in Ahmedabad once again.

While qualifiers will be held between January 7-13 in the four cities, this time around the finals will coincide with the widely celebrated and hugely popular kite flying festival, "Makar Sankranti", on 14 January.

All participants in Red Bull Kite Fight are given five kites each, with which they must attempt to cut the kites of their fellow competitors and be the last man standing. To make things more interesting, for the upcoming edition each of the five kites participants will be given are different and have distinct characteristics, designed to work to their best potential in different circumstances.

Guddi, for instance, is a type of kite that has its height and weight ratio in reverse, and is therefore the best kite to fly in heavy winds. Dedh Kanni, on the other hand, is more uncommon and used in lower winds. Significantly broader than the regular kite, the Dedh Kanni requires the flyer to use a great deal of upper body strength.

Then there's the Tukkal, which is a popular design from Pakistan and a very heavy kite, meaning few possess the skill to fly it. Finally, the Fighter Kite and Dhep. The former, a two-point bridle kite, is most commonly used across the country in competitions, while the latter is made from slippery paper and therefore flies through the skies most easily, making it among the most competitive kites available.

The first edition of Red Bull Kite Fight was held in January 2015 in Ahmedabad and saw over 350 participants battle it out for the title, while the second across the three cities of Vadodara, Surat and Ahmedabad saw over 2000.

Rules of Red Bull Kite Fight

Each participant is given a set of 5 kites.

Participants must not wait for more than 3 minutes between kites.

Participants have to carry their own threads. (No Chinese or any other no competitive thread allowed)

The top five winners from each city qualifiers will then face each other in the finals in Ahmedabad. The last-man-standing is crowned as the Red Bull Kite Fight Champion.

To participate in red Bull Kite Fight 2017, register yourself on redbull.in/kitefight

The schedule

Qualifiers

January 7 - Vadodara - 3 Raghavpark Society, Harni Road

January 8 - Surat - Kailash Nagar, Near Majura Gate

January 8 - Jaipur - Udhyog Maidan, Ashok Nagar

January 13 - Ahmedabad - Surya Apartments, Naranpura

FINALS January 14 - Ahmedabad - Venue to be decided

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 16:28 [IST]
Relative of priest, abducted by Islamic State, seeks help from Pope, Centre

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27: A close relative of the Islamic State abducted Catholic Priest Thomas Uzhunnallil on Tuesday urged Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release.

[Also Read: Will spare no effort to secure Father Tom: Sushma Swaraj]

Uzhunnallil has been in captivity for nine months since the IS terrorist group in Yemen abducted him. Despite various efforts his release did not work out.

"Now Pope Francis and the Indian government have to act for his release," the relative said.

"Despite so many efforts our dear one languishes in captivity. Our Church has to take this up very seriously and at the highest level," said the relative who claimed that besides Uzhunnallil, there were five more from the family who were in the clergy.

The reaction from the family came soon after a video showing the captive priest pleading to authorities for his release, surfaced on the internet.

"I am very sad nothing seems to be happening for my release. If I was an European priest, I know by this time I would have been released," Uzhunnallil said in the short video.

"But since I am an Indian and not considered of much value, I am still here. I beg to all of you, please pray for me. My health is deteriorating," said the bearded, frail-looking captive.

Reacting to the news reports of the video, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj wrote on her twitter handle on Tuesday morning: "I have seen the video from Father Tom."

"He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Father Tom's release from captivity," said Swaraj.

In March, IS militants barged into a care-home for the elderly (set up by Mother Teresa in Yemen's Aden in 1992), and shot dead many people, including four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity.

Uzhunnallil was the one captured. The militants abducted the Kerala priest that day and there has been no information about him ever since.

Uzhunnallil's ancestral home is in Ramapuram in Kottayam district, which lies deserted as two of his brothers live abroad, while another lives in Gujarat.

IANS
Tamil Nadu: Death toll due to fire in fireworks unit rises to eight

India

oi-PTI

Sattur (TN) Dec 27: The toll in the fire at a fireworks unit at Naranapuram in Tamil Nadu has risen to eight, with three of the injured succumbing at a hospital on Tuesday.

Police said the three injured persons, admitted to the government hospital at Sivakasi, died without responding to treatment. The fire at the unit on Monday had charred to death five workers including three women.

All of them had been working in the unit when the fire broke out and spread quickly. The flames were doused by fire fighting units from Virudhunagar and other areas. Police had launched a search for the factory owner, who is absconding.

PTI
When terror operative from Bengal raised the Islamic State flag in Srinagar

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 27: The National Investigation Agency in a detailed chargesheet has stated that an Islamic State operative from West Bengal had planned a lone wolf attack at the Dal Lake in Srinagar. The NIA also said in the chargesheet that it was Musa who had waved the terror organisation's flag at a congregation held at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir in May 2016.

[Also Read:How the Syrian revenge against Russia was plotted in Kolkata]

The NIA filed a chargesheet against Abu Musa alias Mohammad Mosiuddin for furthering the cause of the IS in India and Bangladesh.

During the course of the investigation the NIA learnt that Musa had planned on several Lone Wolf attacks. OneIndia had reported that Musa had also planned a major attack to target the Russians who visited the Holy Mother house in Kolkata.

Strike at Dal Lake:

The IS had drawn up a list of various tourist locations with a heavy presence of foreign tourists. While their counterparts in South India had plotted an attack at Kodaikanal, Musa had wanted to strike at the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar.

According to investigations conducted by the NIA, Musa had visited Srinagar in May 2016. While he was not able to carry out the attack, he did manage to take part in a congregation at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar. At the venue, he waved the IS flag, he confessed during questioning.

The NIA has also learnt that Musa wanted to announce the arrival of the Bengal Caliphate of the ISIS in a big way. He had zeroed in on one very influential family in West Bengal.

He planned on robbing, raping and beheading the members of this family. He felt that such an incident would have spread panic and this incident would have announced the arrival of the IS in India.

OneIndia News
Why you must dump demonetised notes by December 31: Heavy penalty in the offing

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, Dec 27: With just four days remaining for the 50-day long demonetisation deadline set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end, the cabinet is likely to propose a heavy penalty for holding old notes.

[Also Read: I saved the country as promised, says Modi on demonetisation]

There is likely to be a cap on holding more than 10 notes of the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations. If anyone is found in possession of these old notes, then the government would levy a fine of Rs 50,000 or five times the amount in question.

If this is implemented then it would be 61st change that the government is making to the rules since the decision on demonetisation was announced on November 8. If this rule comes into force then it would defeat the decision in which the government had said that exchange of old notes would be allowed at the RBI until March 31 2017.

The matter is likely to be taken up at the cabinet meeting on Wednesday and if the decision is approved then it would be introduced in the form of an ordinance. There is a provision to introduce an ordinance when the Parliament is not in session.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 6:38 [IST]
Will Modi resign after 50 days, asks Mamata

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, Dec 27: Calling demonetisation the biggest scam post independence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resign at the end of 50 days if things do not improve. Addressing a joint press conference by several opposition parties here, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, said demonetisation decision was "illegal" and "unconstitutional" and has set the economy 20 years back.

"Modi, you had asked for 50 days time, people were losing livlihood, dying due to starvation, yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over, and only three days left," said Banerjee referring to Modi's 50-day deadline nearing its end.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi, if things remain unsolved, will you take the responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister of the country," she asked.

"In the name of demonetisation you have plundered the entire country, over 10 crore people have been rendered unemployed. You have looted money from the poor to give relief to the corporates who have created huge nonperforming assets for the banks.

"GDP has sustained huge losses, the economy has set back by 20 years. This is a mega scam, the biggest scam after independence," she said adding that the opposition parties will make a common minimum programme over its demonetisation protests.

Accusing Modi of destroying the country's federal structure, she said that Modi neither took parliament into confidence before taking such a huge decision nor he bothered to make even one line statement in parliament after implementing it.

"This is not just unethical but also illegal and unconstitutional," said Banerjee. She also took a jibe over the Modi government's push for a cashless economy. "Even as advanced economy like the US has around 40 per cent cash transactions and he (Modi) talk about cashless economy. In the name of cashless economy, Modi government has gone baseless, it has gone faceless," she quipped.

She also alleged of a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation and said the Modi government has become weak. "If the government is weak, the country becomes weak. Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. This government must go, otherwise the people will throw it out," added Banerjee.

IANS


Child custody battle in Norway: Sushma Swaraj wants boy to be reunited with natural parents

International

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Dec 27: Ahead of its Ambassador's meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India on Tuesday made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year boy united with his natural parents.

[Also Read: Indian child's custody: Sushma contacts envoy in Norway]

Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents. In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents."

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents," Swaraj added.

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services. 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.

PTI
Chinese media says purpose of Malabar naval exercise is to target PLA submarines

International

oi-PTI

Beijing, Dec 27: The Malabar naval exercise involving the Indian, US and Japanese navies is designed to "target" China's submarines in the East and South China Seas and to back America's Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy, a Chinese media report claimed on Tuesday.

"Such a large-scale military exercise was obviously designed to target China's submarine activities in the East and South China Seas in recent years, promote the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific and cement the US presence in the region," an article in state-run Global Times said.

"Washington brought New Delhi and Tokyo into the exercise to relieve its pressure due to overstretched military presence around the globe and tighten its grip on the Asia-Pacific region," the article said.

Highlighting comments by Vice Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, commander of the US Seventh Fleet stating that India, Japan and the US are set to focus their next round of Malabar exercise on anti-submarine warfare, it said the drills are aimed at jeopardising peace in the East China Sea region "so as to distract China's attention from the South China Sea and disturb the political landscape in the Asia-Pacific".

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 with the navies of US and India in the Indian Ocean. Since Japan joined in 2007, it has alternated between the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean. In June, the three countries held their largest-ever joint exercise which involved 11 vessels and 8,000 personnel. The article said Japan wants to become a permanent member of the exercise to enhance its military cooperation with the US and find a solution to its dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea.

"India hoped to enhance the anti-submarine capability of its navy that has tracked at least six Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region," it said quoting reports, adding "India also wants to disrupt China's military deployment in the East China Sea through these exercises".

Japan, which has participated in the exercise five times, also attached great importance to the Malabar 2016. It used the exercise to enhance the anti-submarine capability of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and spy on China's military deployment in the waters, it said.

"However, the anti-submarine warfare of the US, Japan and India won't make them succeed in countering China as China has significantly improved its technologies in ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines. And with the development of multi-dimensional operations, merely elevating anti-submarine capability won't enable these countries to contain China," the article said.

"The Malabar exercise has always been led by the US, with Japan and India being just partners with varied purposes. This will cripple the actual effects of the exercise. In fact, this kind of exercise is unlikely to impair China's presence in the East China Sea, except for flaring up tensions in the waters and producing frictions," it said.

PTI
A Turkish court has put a broadcast ban on reporting of the investigation into last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov, state media said on Tuesday.

A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey.

An Ankara court agreed to a request by prosecutors for a ban on broadcasting images of the assassination -- which was caught on film -- as well as the investigation itself, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. This includes news concerning witnesses, victims or suspects in the murder.

The ruling said such news could be prejudicial to the investigation and to national security. The ban will last for the duration of the investigation.

It was not clear what had prompted the ban one week after the December 19 murder but it came one day after the daily Hurriyet published a detailed interview with the sister of the murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas. The sister, named as Seher O., said her brother had been "brainwashed" while attending police school in Izmir.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Altintas was a member of the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup.

However this has yet to be echoed by Russian officials, who say it is too early to comment on the investigation.

In recent years, Turkish authorities have repeatedly placed broadcast bans on sensitive issues and in the wake of attacks, citing national security.

Critics say freedom of expression has declined in Turkey after Erdogan became president in August 2014 but the government has insisted everything is done within the framework of the law.

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Donald Trump plans to reshape judiciary

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Washington, Dec 27 US President-elect Donald Trump, who will inherit over 100 vacant federal courts, and an open Supreme Court seat, plans to reshape the judiciary after taking office, a media report said.

The judicial vacancies that President Barack Obama would hand over to Trump in the January 20 transition of power was nearly double the 54 openings that Obama found eight years back, the Washington Post reported on Monday.

Confirmation of Obama's judicial nominees slowed to a crawl after Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015. Obama White House officials blamed Senate Republicans for "an unprecedented level of obstruction" in blocking the Democratic president's court picks.

The result was a multitude of openings throughout the federal circuit and district courts that would allow the new Republican president "to quickly make a wide array of lifetime appointments". State gun control laws, abortion restrictions, voter laws, anti-discrimination measures and immigrant issues were all matters that were increasingly heard by federal judges and would be influenced by the new composition of the courts.

Trump has vowed to choose ideologues in the mould of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative icon -- a prospect that has activists on the right "giddy". The Supreme Court vacancy created by Scalia's death in February was a motivating issue for many conservative voters, especially evangelical Christians, to turn out for Trump in November.

Senate Republicans refused to hold even a hearing on Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, for the Scalia seat. "Republican tactics have been shameful and will forever leave a stain on the US Senate," White House spokesman Eric Schultz said.

"Republican congressional dysfunction has now metastasised to the third branch of government, and that is not a legacy to be proud of," Schultz added. Trump spoke frequently about his intentions to put forward a more conservative Supreme Court nominee as a way to galvanise the right.

"The replacement of our beloved Justice Scalia will be a person of similar views, principles and judicial philosophies," Trump said in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. "Very important. This will be one of the most important issues decided by this election," he said.

IANS
Shinzo Abe lays wreaths at Hawaii cemeteries

International

oi-PTI

Pearl Harbor, Dec 27 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials ahead of a visit today to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and then headed to National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where he laid a wreath.

He stood for a moment of silence at the cemetery near downtown Honolulu, which is known as Punchbowl. He later visited a nearby memorial for nine boys and men who died when a US Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel in 2001. At the Ehime Maru Memorial, he again laid a wreath and bowed his head.

He Will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet.

The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site. The memorial will be closed to the public today when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict.

At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point. Abe won't apologize for Japan's attack when he visits, a government spokesman said earlier this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the US atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

AP
Won't back down: Taiwan responds after Xi Jinping's 'right to use force' remark

Taiwan to closely monitor movements of Chinese aircraft carrier

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Taipei, Dec 27 Taiwan will closely monitor the movements of Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, sailing southwest in the waters of the South China Sea, the Ministry of National Defence announced.

The ministry said the Taiwanese armed forces have carried out reconnaissance missions but did not divulge any more details, Efe news agency reported. However, according to local media reports, two F-16 jets and two RF-16 reconnaissance airplanes were sent from the Hualien air base in eastern Taiwan.

On Monday, the Chinese aircraft carrier sailed near some islands, which are administered by Taiwan but claimed by China. According to China's defence ministry, Liaoning set sail on Saturday towards Western Pacific waters to carry out routine military manoeuvres in the region.

IANS
In a case of bad karma Taliban outs Pakistan on what India had always said on Azhar

Taliban militants behead young Afghan woman

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kabul, Dec 27: A 30-year-old woman was beheaded by Taliban militants in Afghanistan's Sar-e-Pul province, officials said on Tuesday. Provincial governor's spokesman Zabiullah Amani said the armed men linked with Taliban beheaded the woman because she visited the city alone, Tolo news reported.

He said the victim's husband was in Iran and they did not have any child. Provincial director of the women's affairs Nasima Arzoo said the woman was beheaded in a village which is under the control of the Taliban. However, the Taliban has denied any involvement.

This comes after Taliban militants have publicly executed a mother-of-two for divorcing her first husband and living with another man in Afghanistan.

IANS
UAE: Indian man murdered in his shop

International

oi-PTI

Dubai, Dec 28: A 52-year-old Indian man was on Tuesday found murdered outside his shop in Sharjah with multiple stab wounds on his body. Mohammed Ali, who had been living in the UAE for 30 years and was running supermarket business in Maysaloon and other areas, was found dead outside his Majestic Supermarket.

The police were informed about the murder by a butcher working at a neighbouring mutton shop on Tuesday morning, Khaleej Times reported. The butcher said that he arrived at his shop at 7 am and after an hour he heard the victim's screams.

He rushed out to see the bleeding man staggering out of the shop. He fell on the ground and died on the spot. The witness did not see the suspect, who fled the spot. Police have retrieved footages from CCTV cameras in the area and investigations are on.

The victim's brother said that Mohammed and his another brother were running the supermarket for more than 10 years and they never faced any issues in the area.

"They were loved by the people in the neighbourhood and they managed to maintain large number of customers," he said.

"My brother had no enemies but we believe that motivation of the murder is theft," he said.

He said his brother's shop had no cameras, but the police managed to review the camera installed in a nearby book shop. The footage shows an Asian man entering the shop and running out of it. The police have now launched a manhunt for the murderer. The body would be repatriated to the victim's hometown in Kerala after the police investigation.

PTI
Mishap averted as two planes come close at Delhi airport

New Delhi

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

New Delhi, Dec 27: A mishap was averted after two aircraft Indigo and SpiceJet came face to face at the runway of Delhi's IGI Airport on Tuesday morning due to an ATC miscommunication, sources said. The IndiGo flight had reportedly just arrived from Lucknow and the Hyderabad-bound SpiceJet aircraft carrying 187 passengers flight was about to take off when the two aircraft came close.

Mishap averted after two aircraft (Indigo and SpiceJet) came face to face at Delhi's IGI Airport; reported to DGCA. Probe underway. pic.twitter.com/djyEOeCuHS  ANI (@ANI_news) December 27, 2016

The matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk. "SpiceJet flight SG 123 operating Delhi-Hyderabad was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC," the airline said in a statement. "Safety is of utmost and primary concern at SpiceJet, it said adding, "at no stage the safety of passengers and crew was compromised. All concerned authorities were immediately informed," SpiceJet spokesperson said in the statement. However, the IndiGo spokesperson was not available for comments.

Earlier today, a Mumbai- bound Jet Airways aircraft with 161 passengers including seven crew members onboard skidded off the runway while aligning to takeoff from Dabolim Airport.

OneIndia News (with IANS inputs)
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Belgium has prevented six attacks over the past two years, a senior police official said Tuesday, with the country still a prominent target for Islamist militant assaults.

"I can announce... that over two years, since November 2014 precisely, we have been able to foil at least six attacks," Eric Jacobs, head of judicial police in Brussels, said in an interview with the daily La Derniere Heure, without offering further details.

Jacobs said Belgium has been fighting terrorism for 20 years but with population growing in the Belgian capital, the number of groups has multiplied.

"There are more than 200 nationalities in the capital. There is not only Daesh (an acronym for Islamic State (IS) militant group). There are other radical movements," he said.

In January 2015, Belgian police dismantled a cell in Verviers in the east of the country which was later seen as the rough beginnings of the Islamist militant group that attacked Paris in November that year.

And on March 22, IS-linked attackers struck Brussels airport and the metro killing 32 people, despite the arrest in the Belgian capital only four days earlier of the last surviving Islamist militants from the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam.

Since that attack, Belgian police and intelligence services have seen a major increase in information, "up to 600 tips daily", Jacobs said.

"A lot of the tips are not relevant but when we're told that some grey car is suspect, if we don't verify it and there is an attack the next day, they are going to say that we knew and didn't do anything," he said.

The threat level in Belgium remains high at three on a scale of four levels and is expected to be unchanged through the New Year holiday.

"Forty-five percent of the federal judicial police in Brussels are assigned to combat terrorism," Jacobs said, urging continued reinforcement of the police services.

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France plans to provide 175 million euros to finance Egypt's energy sector, French Minister of Development and Francophone Jean-Marie Le Guen said during a meeting in Cairo with International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr on Tuesday.

In an official statement on its website, the Egyptian ministry said that 150 million euros of the total funding will be allocated for electricity and 25 million euros for oil. It was not clear whether the finance would be in the form of a loan or grant.

The ministers discussed Egypt-France development cooperation and possible development projects for the future.

Among those proposed were the Alexandria Tram Development Project, the Alexandria West Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion and Upgrade Project, and the Healthcare Development Program in Egypts governorates.

Nasr hailed the role of Agence francaise de developpement (AFD)  the French development agency  in promoting cooperation between the two countries.

The AFD has financed a number of projects, most notably small- and micro-financing projects for Egypt's Social Fund for Development, along with the delivery of natural gas to houses and improvements to drinking water and sanitation services.

France previously implemented several important projects in Egypt, such as the third line of the Cairo metro (Phases II & III), support for small- and micro enterprises, and the project for Improving Water and Wastewater Services (Phases I & II).

In Tuesday's meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments in bliateral agreements signed during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisis meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande when the latter visited Cairo in April 2016.

During the visit, Egypt and France signed several financial deals worth more than 1.5 billion euros, as well as memorandums of understanding in the fields of transport, energy, renewable energy, gas and tourism.

According to the website of the Central Bank of Egypt on Tuesday, the euro stands at 19.6 Egyptian pounds.

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Italys Eni, one of the leading global oil and gas companies, signed on Tuesday two new concession agreements with the Egyptian government for gas exploration in two fields of North El-Hammad and North Ras El-Esh, located in the shallow waters of the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea, according to the groups website.

For the North El-Hammad block, Eni has a stake of 37.5 percent, while the remaining equities are owned by BP and Total, the Italian company said.



However, Eni has a 50 percent participation stake in the North Ras El-Esh block, which is operated by BP with an equity of 50 percent.

They [the two new fields] strengthen Enis portfolio and positioning in Egypt, a country of historic and strategic importance, and further confirm the companys commitment to pursue new exploration after the recent and important successes of Nooros, Zohr and Baltim South West, made in 2015 and in 2016, the company said in its press release.



Eni has been operating in Egypt since 1954 through its subsidiary International Egyptian Oil Company (IEOC), with production of about 224.000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of 2016.

Egyptian petroleum minister Tarek El-Molla said in May that the country would see an increase in natural gas production to between 5.5 and 6 billion cubic feet per day (cfd) by the end of 2019, up from the current 3.9 billion cfd.

Egypt currently has 12 natural gas field development projects underway worth a total of $33 billion in investment, El-Molla said.

The three largest projects, which include the mammoth Mediterranean gas field Zohr discovered by Italy's Eni last year, are expected to collectively bring 4.6 billion cfd online by the start of 2019.

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Occurred on July 15, 2019 / Savannah, Georgia, USA Info from Licensor: "This took place at the Oglethorpe mall in Savannah. The..

Viral Hog Content 19 Jul 2019
California iGaming Takes Punch with lipay Nation of Santa Ysabel Ruling

Published December 27, 2016 by Elana K

Last week, California judge Anthony Battaglia shut down the online gambling of the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, saying that the tribe violated the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006.

Last week, California judge Anthony Battaglia shut down the online gambling of the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel, saying that the tribe violated the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 by trying to launch Desert Rose Bingo, a real-money online bingo site, two years ago.

The UIGEA was passed while George W. Bush was president, and it made it illegal for banks and payment processors to accept deposits and withdrawals related to online betting from players inside the U.S.

The UIGEA and IGRA

At the time of the launch of Desert Rose Bingo, the Iipay Nation Of Santa Ysabel argued that its site would be exempt from the UIGEA under the provisions of IGRA, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a federal law that allows sovereign tribes to generate revenue from casinos.

However, IGRA applies only to casinos located on tribal lands; the Iipay tribe thought it could get around this ruling by requiring registered players to use a proxy to play. In other words, real-time live bingo game action was played by a proxy of the web-browser enabled device user, meaning that live bingo action was never actually being performed by the user.

A loophole, yes, and one that Judge Battaglia did not buy. He wrote, When IGRA and UIGEA are read together, it is evident that the phrase on Indian lands was intended to limit gaming to those patrons who participate in the gaming activity while in Indian country. In other words, the bingo site is not covered by IGRA.

A Small Victory

On the bright side for the Iipay Nation Of Santa Ysabel, Battaglia dismissed the states claim that the tribe had breached its gambling compact. He ruled that if not for the UIGEA, Desert Rose Bingo would have been allowed as a Class II tribal gaming, which is legal under IGRA.
Endorphina Releases Maori: An Exotic Polynesian Themed Slot

Published December 27, 2016 by Ivan P

New Maori slot by Endorphina celebrates traditional inhabitants of New Zealand and gives you plenty of chances to win big.

We've seen casino game developers feature all sorts of themes with their slot releases. However, Endorphina has really surprised us with their latest Maori slot, featuring a Polynesian theme and celebrating New Zealand traditional inhabitants.

Maori Theme and Atmosphere

One thing that is bound to catch your eye when first playing Endorphina's Maori is the amazing graphics. Stylish symbols featuring Maori men and women, as well as various items from their rich tradition, make it clear that the developers have done their research.

Shouts and songs playing in the background round up the experience, making it seem as if you were right there, surrounded by Maori people, getting ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

Gameplay & Features

Maori by Endorphina is a 5-reel slot with 9 paylines. This doesn't mean the slot doesn't provide plenty of action, as winning combos can pay handsomely. Additionally, higher paying combinations are accompanied by short full-3D cut-scenes of Maori warriors and dancers celebrating the win.

The Wild symbol, represented by the Maori boat, substitutes for all other symbols except for Scatters and a full line pays 1000x your total bet. Also, the Wild doubles all wins when substituting.

A ritual Maori mask plays the role of the Scatter. Landing three or more of these triggers the free spin feature which most players are going to love. All wins during free spins are tripled, and there is no limit to how many spins you can win.

Instead, as you spin, red and green Scatters appear on the board, taking away or giving you new free spins "lives." As long as you have lives remaining, free spins will continue, creating a chance for a massive winning session.

Try Maori Slot Today

Players can play as few as one line if they so choose. There is also a turbo feature for those lacking patience, so if you are looking for some really fast-paced action, Maori will have no problems providing it to you.

The slot is available at a number of Endorphina powered casinos like Playamo Casino, Loki Casino, and 7Bit Casino.
Exciting Schedule Unveiled for Casual Connect Europe 2017

Published December 27, 2016 by Lee R

All attendees are set to get a head start on harnessing the benefits of an emerging gaming field.

A new networking approach integrating Casual Gaming will enter into the iGaming spotlight, kicking off in early 2017 in one of Europes true innovation hubs.

Schedule is Out

International trade organisation Casual Games Association has just announced the schedule for Casual Connect Europe 2017 from February 7  9, 2017, at Berlins Station Berlin.

Casual Connect Conference

Casual Connect has been designed to support the mass-market games community. The professional conference gathers the top developers, publishers, distributors and related industry players to network and listen to lectures delivering insights from a board of industry members.

Array of Topics

Over 125 speakers are set to touch on all topics related to emerging trends in game development, distribution and marketing. Scheduled topics include Industry Insights, Market Navigation, Growth, Funding, Data & Analytics, Design & Development, Esports & Casino and Next-Gen: AR & VR, with Indie Prize Awards to be handed out to independent developers in an awards ceremony taking place during the conference.

Speaker Sessions

Just a few of the expert sessions on tap include Team 17 CEO Debbie Bestwick, who will speak on Survival of the Indies; CCP Games CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson, heading a plenary session called Going All-In  Stories from the Dark Side of Hardcore Game Development; Flaregames CEO and Founder Klaas Kersting, who will be interviewed by Crossover Technologies Managing Director Eric Goldberg in a discussion entitled Construction of a Global Mobile Game Publisher; and Hasbro VP Global Digital Business Development Michael Fuller, sitting among a group of Casual Gaming experts on a panel entitled One Tough Playground.

About CGA

The Casual Games Association first launched Casual Connect in 2005 to support networking among casual games professionals. In addition to Casual Connect Europe, CGA will also this year host Casual Connect Asia in the Spring, Casual Connect USA in the Summer, and Casual Connect Tel Aviv in the Fall.

The Opportunity for Attendees

Casual Connect is an excellent opportunity chance to learn more about the casual gaming sector. With the conference empowering attendees to merge creativity with business operations in diverse phases of iGaming and casual gaming such as game design, esports, social casino, funding, next-generation technology and best practices, attendees will get a head start on an emerging and potentially lucrative gaming market.
From Consortium News



Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking with supporters at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, March 21, 2016.

(Image by (Photo by Gage Skidmore)) Details DMCA



America's extended Christmas holiday season, stretching through much of November and all of December, has not been a happy time for Official Washington's dominant neoconservatives and their liberal-interventionist sidekicks.

First, they had to lick their wounds over the defeat of their preferred U.S. presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton; then they had to watch as their "moderate" Syrian rebel proxies and their Al Qaeda allies were routed from east Aleppo; and finally they watched in disbelief as the Obama administration permitted passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel's illegal settlements on Palestinian lands.

To say that the neocons and liberal hawks have not taken these reversals well would be an understatement. They have pretty much blamed Clinton's defeat on everyone but themselves and Clinton herself. They have been apoplectic over Aleppo and their lost dream of "regime change" in Syria. And they have sputtered in outrage over President Obama's failure to veto the Israeli anti-settlement resolution.

Regarding Clinton's defeat, her embrace of the neocon/liberal-hawk "regime change" obsessions siphoned off enthusiasm among the peace faction of the Democratic Party, a significant and activist part of the progressive movement.

Clinton's alignment with the neocon/liberal hawks may have helped her with the mainstream media, but the MSM has lost much of its credibility by making itself a handmaiden in leading the nation to wars and more wars.

Average Americans also could feel the contempt that these elites had for the rest of us. The neocons and liberal hawks had come to believe in the CIA's concept of "perception management," feeling that the American people were items to be controlled, not the nation's sovereigns to be informed and respected. Instead of "We the People," Official Washington's elites treated us like "Us the Sheep."

Though this "perception management" idea took hold during the Reagan administration -- largely in reaction to the public's distrust of U.S. foreign policy following the Vietnam War -- it became a bipartisan practice, extending through George W. Bush's WMD sham about Iraq and into the behavior of the Obama administration in manipulating public opinion about Syria, Libya, Ukraine and Russia, pretty much any country targeted for "regime change."

So, when this establishment tried to force Hillary Clinton's coronation down the nation's throat, enough Americans choked at the idea -- even to the extent of voting for the eminently unqualified Donald Trump -- to deny Clinton the White House. Indeed, many Americans who reluctantly did vote for Clinton did so only because they considered Trump even more unfit to lead the nation. The two candidates were in a fierce competition for who would arouse the most public revulsion.

No Self-Reflection

But the neocons and liberal hawks are not ones for self-reflection and self-criticism. They move from one disaster to the next, finding others to blame and justifying their own failures by publishing self-apologias in the editorial pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal.

Thus, for the past several weeks, we have witnessed daily meltdowns across the mainstream media as neocons and liberal interventionists fume about all the forces that conspired to deny them their God-given right to select who runs America.

The mainstream media ranted about a few incidents of "fake news" -- concocted stories designed to get lots of clicks from Trump supporters -- despite its own long history of publishing false and misleading stories. The MSM then tried to tar with that "fake news" broad brush serious independent Web sites that simply displayed professional skepticism toward propaganda emanating from the U.S. State Department.

The smear blurred the "fake news scandal" with what was deemed "Russian propaganda." Anyone who wouldn't march in lockstep with the State Department's messaging must be a "Kremlin stooge." Mainstream media outlets even began demanding that major technology companies, such as Facebook and Google, join in establishing a modern-age Ministry of Truth for the Internet that would punish independent Websites that didn't toe the Official Line.

Then, there was the hysteria over the CIA's still-unproven claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin oversaw a scheme to hack into Democratic emails and expose embarrassing facts, such as the Democratic National Committee's tilting the primary playing field to favor Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders, the contents of Clinton's paid speeches to her Wall Street benefactors, and pay-to-play features of the Clinton money machine.

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This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.





Mainstream media coverage of a recent pro-terrorism rally in Hamilton Ontario demonstrates the media's continuing efforts to hide fundamental truths behind fake veneers of "objectivity" or "neutrality".

It is known and documented, and has been for years, that Canada supports all of the terrorists in Syria, and has from the beginning of this regime change/dirty war on Syria, and yet the media messaging would have us believe that Canada and Canadians want peace. No. The Canadian government wants illegal regime-change operations and terrorism in Syria. It does not seek peace in Syria. This is the fundamental lie of omission that the MSM tries to conceal beneath its fake veneer.

In fact, the MSM seeks to normalize terrorism in Syria by concealing and suppressing this well-documented truth.

The timing of the aforementioned rally was priceless. It coincided with the joyous liberation of Aleppo, and narratives from formerly captive citizens who recounted the horrors of living under terrorist-occupied areas. But this was omitted from MSM coverage that prefers to rely on fraudulent sources for its stories, far removed from the on-the-ground realities of life in Aleppo as covered by independent writers such as Eva Bartlett and Vanessa Beeley.

The well-orchestrated rally featured kids dressed as victims -- reminiscent of White Helmets stage-craft -- professionally-made signs, and of course pleas to stop the killing, all consistent with imperial-propaganda strategies that project the crimes of the invaders/terrorists on the victims.

Alshawaf, a speaker at the rally, demanded "First, to stop the killing in Syria; second, for the murderers responsible to be tried and held accountable for their crimes; and lastly, for the restoration and unification of my beloved homeland." But he also exclaimed, Down with Bashar and Down with Putin.

Absent from the speech were the well-documented facts that both Putin and Bashar seek an end to the killing, accountability for the murderers, and restoration of the Syrian homeland. But Bashar and Putin are seeking these goals within the framework of international law; whereas the NATO terrorists are violating international law as they seek the opposite: to destroy and balkanize Syria.

Again, the media made no note of these fundamental inconsistencies. And it was easy for the media to ignore the well-documented facts because it refused to even acknowledge the presence of members of the Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War -- the real messengers of peace -- at the rally.

In a December 23 Facebook commentary, professor Tim Anderson explained:

It was never too difficult to understand. The Syrian people, through their government and army, and with the support of Syria's allies, just took back their second major city, from foreign-funded and -armed terrorist groups. This proxy war was another step in Washington's 15-year series of wars designed to dominate the entire ME region. The aggression and terrorism was always in clear violation of international law, sovereignty and the foundational human right of self-determination. But the big powers tried to create an 'exception', with the imperial doctrine of a 'responsibility to protect', by constant lies about a 'brutal dictator killing civilians', etc. The western media and embedded NGOs like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, using Washington's preferred jihadist sources, backed them up. The UN remained paralysed and most western peoples, in their vanity and arrogance, went along for the ride. However, most formerly colonised peoples saw exactly what was going on.

The truth is straightforward, and not that hard to understand, but North American MSM is an appendage of the war-mongering apparatus of deception -- it furthers an agenda of war, terrorism, and hatred, not peace and goodwill.

North Americans should understand that in this festive season where we proclaim a desire for peace and goodwill, our governments, and the establishment in the shadows making the decisions, are determined to deliver the opposite, beneath the lies and distortions of their accomplices in the mainstream media.

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Rare manuscripts, documents and antique copies of the Quran from the ministry's collection will go on display for the first time

The treasured collection of Egypt's ministry of endowments is to go on display at Al-Manial Palace in Cairo, with many historic documents and religious texts on show to the public for the first time.

Minister of Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa conducted an inspection tour of the various palace halls ahead of the exhibition, which is a collaboration between the ministries of antiquities and endowments.

Gomaa said the exhibition will include priceless endowment documents and rare versions of the holy Quran never before put on show.

Also to be displayed at the palace  which was built for Prince Mohamed Ali  are photographs of two Qurans that belonged to the Prophet Mohamed's companions Ali Ibn Abi Taleb and Osman Ben Afan. The texts themselves are being exhibited at Al-Sayeda Zeinab library.

Another Quran going on display is more than 900 years old. Gomaa said that text includes a summary of the number of times each letter of the alphabet appears in the Quran.

A document outlining the regulation of endowments will also be on display, said Gomaa. "It asserts that the endowment is not a sum of money without an owner. On the contrary, no one could sell or buy it," he said.

He went on to explain that the exhibition will also display a collection of maps showing endowments all over the world. The most distinguished document is an atlas dating back to 1918, which shows all endowments in Egypt, with information on their location and surface area.

Gomaa said the choice of Al-Manial Palace as a venue for the exhibition was "perfect", because its architecture, interior design and decorations suit very well the topic of the exhibition.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany asserted that the halls dedicated to the exhibition are now ready to recieve the objects for display.

While no start date for the exhibition has been confirmed, the organizers say it will be opening soon.

El-Enany also called on the ministry of endowments to organize further activities at archaeological sites in order to highlight them and encourage tourism.

Elham Salah, head of the museums department, and Aalaa Al-Din, head of Al-Manial Palace, escorted both ministers during the tour.

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Jose Figueres Ferrer | president of Costa Rica | Britannica.com

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Meet Jose Figueres Ferrer, President of Costa Rica in 1948, who most of the world thanks as the man who transformed Costa Rica into the peaceful, progressive, affluent, and well educated nation it is now, despite being surrounded by fratricidal nations replete with coups and American manipulation of governments, the rest of the Central American nations so full of tragedies in their histories.





Leadership and Power": Well-ordered Republics, in assigning Rewards and Punishments, never balance One against the Other."

--- Discourse 24

A summary of Discourses 19 -- 24

To establish or reestablish a good government requires a strong leader dedicated to the good of the nation. When it is absolutely necessary to maintain unity in the nation, the leader must be willing and able to use excessive force, brutality, and break laws to persevere order. The leaders must do what is necessary to preserve unity and order, but no more. Leaders are responsible for maintaining sufficient strength of arms to insure the state's safety from external attacks, and for maintaining sufficient arms to discourage any challenge.

When peace and order are present, the leaders can turn their attention to the general well-being of their citizens. Two weak leaders in succession open the possibility for corruption to undermine the government. Then there will be a significant increase in disorder and a weakening of the republic.

The health of a republic requires that good deeds and leaders be rewarded and bad deeds be brought to judgment; heroes and leaders should not be excused from judgment for their bad behavior. When a person who has served the state well commits a crime, the facts of his past good should not be a consideration in making judgment about the crime.

Contemporary Reflections:

Machiavelli believed that a strong personal commitment to the welfare of the state by a strong leader would require being brutal when necessary. In George W. Bush and Barack Obama, we have had two weak presidents unwilling or unable to stop the economic corruption (Dick Cheney, as de facto acting president, was a strong force for his own economic gain and for the kind of economic corruption which lacks any commitment to the ideal of a republic).

Both Machiavelli and Alexis de Tocqueville have written that a strong, good moral character in the leaders of a republic is necessary for a republic to prosper. In the 1948 coup d'etat in Costa Rica's Calderon government, the clash of forces brought about the formation of a republic with a lasting democratic government.

President Calderon was elected as a right-wing president in 1940. He was a strong supporter of the United States in the Second World War and took aim at the German business community in Costa Rica. He lost his right-wing support but formed a coalition with the Communists. The constitution prevented him from running for a second term, so he backed a weak communist president with the plan that he would return to the presidency in 1948.

Jose Figueres Ferrer was a businessman who was exiled to Mexico by Calderon. He hated Calderon , and when he returned to Costa Rica during the communist government, he didn't trust the government. He believed that a war was a possibility and therefore formed a militia of 700 very diverse people: anti-communists, right-wingers, economic conservatives, and social-democrat intellectuals. The United States was very ambivalent about Figueres' militia, but he forced himself remain quiet until two events compelled him to act.

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Fred Gransville & R. Armstrong



Places People Go: Mural at Comet Ping Pong Pizza (alien)

(Image by cometstarmoon) Details DMCA



#Pizzagate is the latest tin-foil hat conspiracy stemming from numerous fictional articles about Hillary kidnapping, molesting and trafficking children in the back room of the kid-friendly Comet Ping Pong Pizza restaurant.

"The conspiracy theory -- stemming from creative interpretation of well-connected Washington political players' emails, made public by Wikileaks -- abounds on websites like 4Chan and Reddit."

The Best Way To Control The Opposition ISN'T To Lead It Ourselves with 'Fake News'

The conspiracy community is having a field day making up non-existent claims about Pizzagate. The Washington Post noted that one of the main proponents of the Pizzagate theory was the far-right radio host in a bromance with President-elect Donald Trump, Alex Jones. Alex Jones repeatedly told his nut-job followers in a video that Clinton was involved in a child sex ring and that her campaign chairman, John Podesta, indulged in satanic rituals.

"When I think about all the children Hillary Clinton has personally murdered and chopped up and raped, I have zero fear standing up against her," Jones said in a YouTube video posted on Nov. 4. "Yeah, you heard me right. Hillary Clinton has personally murdered children. I just can't hold back the truth anymore." Jones eventually tied his comments about Clinton to U.S. policy in Syria.

isn't

In his book, CIA's Ford Foundation? author Bob Feldman uncovered the multi-billion dollar Ford Foundation's historic relationship to the CIA.

About a third of the whole CIA budget went to media propaganda operations, NOT Fake News.

The Internet isn't used offensively as an additional medium in psychological operations campaigns (Psyops). http://mediafilter.org/MFF/USDCO.PsyWar.html

[From Operation Mockingbird: The CIA and Propaganda July 2014]

Operation Mockingbird, a domestic propaganda campaign aimed at promoting the views of the CIA within the media is one of the most sensitive of the CIA's operations, with recruitment of journalists and training of intelligence officers for propaganda purposes.[1]

We're talking about hundreds of millions of dollars a year just for that.....close to a billion dollars are being spent every year by the United States on secret propaganda." Testimony of William Schapp to Congress.

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To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here.
Above you can watch what was arguably the first surf movie ever madethe very beginning of a long cinematic tradition that gave us Gidget in 1959, and The Endless Summer in 1966. And lest you think the surf movie reached its zenith during those halcyon days, some would argue that the best surf films were later produced during the aughtsThicker Than Water (2000), Blue Crush (2002), Step Into Liquid (2003), Riding Giants (2004), etc. And dont forget this great little short, Dark Side of the Lens.

In 1906, smack in the middle of the aughts of last century, Thomas Edison sent the pioneering cinematographer Robert K. Bonine to shoot an Actuality documentary about life in the Polynesian islands. The blurb accompanying this video describes the scene above: The first moving pictures of surfers riding waves  Surf Riders, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu  shows a minute of about a dozen surfers on alaia boards in head-high, offshore surf at what is probably Canoes. These surfers are shot too far away to detail what they were wearing, but they all appear to be in tanksuits.

If youre interested in taking a deep dive into Hawaiis surfing scene, Id definitely recommend pickup up a copy of Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, the memoir by New Yorker writer William Finnegan. It won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize.

Related Content:

Thomas Edisons Silent Film of the Fartiste Who Delighted Crowds at Le Moulin Rouge (1900)

Dark Side of the Lens: A Poetic Short Film by Surf Photographer Mickey Smith

Watch the Very First Feature Documentary: Nanook of the North by Robert J. Flaherty (1922)
Growing Deployment of Attack Helicopters Market 2017-2021

Attack Helicopters Market

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Albany, New York, December 26, 2016: Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new forecast report, titled Global Attack Helicopter Market 2017-2021 to its report offerings. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the present scenario and growth prospects of the Attack helicopters or gunships. These are designed to carry heavy armaments such as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) like Hellfire, auto canons, unguided rockets, heavy machine guns, and air-to-air missiles. The air-to-air missiles carried by them are mostly deployed for self-defense purposes.Request for Sample Report:In addition, attack helicopters attack enemy tanks, flanks, and rear, which provides strategic support and assistance to the ground forces to maneuver and engage with hostile forces. In recent years, the threats imposed on civilian life have increased rapidly, particularly due to the rise in terrorism and cross-border insurgent activities. Therefore, development and procurement of attack helicopters have been increased in recent years to have a highly efficient and effective aerial attack force.Technavios analysts forecast the global attack helicopter market to grow at a CAGR of 5.21% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global attack helicopter market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the sales of attack helicopters globally.Make an Enquiry:The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Attack Helicopter Market 2017-2021, 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 vendorsAirbus HelicoptersBell HelicopterBoeingHALOther prominent vendorsDenelTurkish Aerospace IndustriesLeonardo - FinmeccanicaMD HelicoptersRussian HelicoptersBrowse Full Info with TOC:Market driverGrowing deployment of attack helicopters in war zonesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeDelays in attack helicopters programsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEmergence of multi-role attack helicoptersFor 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?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.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:
Belgium communications market revenue Through Internet Connectivity and Mobile Broadband

Internet Connectivity

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Albany, New York, December 26, 2016: Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a new forecast report, titled Belgium: Focus on Improving Internet Connectivity through Fixed and Mobile Broadband to Drive Revenue Growth to its report offerings. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the present scenario and growth prospects of the Improving Internet Connectivity. In 2016, Belgium will record an estimated telecom service revenue of $6.8bn (6.3bn) in 2016.Request for Sample Report:The telecom services revenue will grow at a CAGR of 1.7% in in 2016-2021, driven by the strong performance of the broadband Internet access and mobile data segments. Fixed broadband will be the largest contributor to overall service revenue in 2016, accounting for 28.9% of the total revenue, followed by mobile data (26.8%).Mobile data will record a CAGR of 7.3% in over 2016-2021, driven by rising LTE adoption and M2M revenue, while fixed broadband will record a CAGR of 2.6% in during the same period. LTE/LTE-A expansion, vectoring, DOCSIS3.1, fiber, FMC and M2M/IoT will present opportunities for vendors and investors.Make an Enquiry:Key Findings- The overall telecom services revenue in Belgium is estimated to generate $6.8bn (6.3bn) in 2016 (an increase of 1.0% in over 2015) and is estimated to reach $7.9bn (6.9bn) in 2021.- The telecommunications market in Belgium will see service revenue growth boosted by mobile data and fixed broadband segments.- Mobile revenue will account for 51.7% of the total telecom market in 2016. Mobile data will be an important driver of this trend, as it will expand at 8.4% CAGR from 2016 to 2021, driven by growth in the adoption of LTE and M2M revenue.- We expect the contribution of Internet access to fixed services revenue will increase from 63.4% in 2016 to 68.2% in 2021.- The telecom market in Belgium will be controlled by two operators Proximus and Telenet. Operators are focusing on quad-play bundled packages, data-intensive bundles and FMC offerings to strengthen their position in the telecom market.SynopsisBelgium: Focus on Improving Internet Connectivity Through Fixed and Mobile Broadband to Drive Revenue Growth provides an executive-level overview of the telecommunications market in Belgium today, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2021. It delivers deep quantitative and qualitative insight into Belgiums telecom market, analyzing key trends, evaluating near-term opportunities and assessing risk factors, based on proprietary data from Pyramid Researchs databases.Browse Full Info with TOC:The Country Intelligence Report provides in-depth analysis of the following:- Regional context: Telecom market size and trends in Belgium compared with other countries in the Western European region.- Economic, demographic and political context in Belgium.- The regulatory environment and trends: a review of the regulatory setting and agenda for the next 18-24 months as well as relevant developments pertaining to spectrum licensing, national broadband plans, number portability and more.- A demand profile: analysis as well as historical figures and forecasts of service revenue from the fixed telephony, fixed Internet, mobile voice and mobile data.- Service evolution: a look at changes in the breakdown of overall revenue between the fixed and mobile sectors and between voice, data and video from 2014 to 2021.- The competitive landscape: an examination of key trends in competition and in the performance, revenue market shares and expected moves of service providers over the next 18-24 months.- In-depth sector analysis of fixed telephony, broadband, mobile voice and mobile data services: a quantitative analysis of service adoption trends by network technology and by operator, as well as of average revenue per line/subscription and service revenue through the end of the forecast period.- Main opportunities: this section details the near-term opportunities for operators, vendors and investors in Belgiums telecommunications market.ReasonsToBuy- Gain in-depth analysis of current strategies and future trends of the telecommunications market in Belgium, service providers and key opportunities in a concise format, to build proactive and profitable growth strategies.- Understand the factors behind ongoing and upcoming trends in Belgiums mobile communications, fixed telephony and broadband markets, including the evolution of service provider market shares, to align product offerings and strategies to meet customer demand.- Leverage the graphical information (more than 20 charts and tables in the report based on the Pyramid Research forecast products), to gain an overview of the telecom market in Belgium.- Analysis of key telecom players in the markets and major business strategies being adopted by them, to identify the opportunities to improve the market share.- Explore novel opportunities to align your product strategies and offerings to meet the requirements and succeed in the challenging telecommunications market in Belgium.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:
Innovation On Global Military Vertical Take-Off And Landing Aircraft Market Advances Set To Reach at CAGR of 3.94% Between 2016-2020

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http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressreleases

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About Military VTOL AircraftVTOL aircraft are capable of vertical take-off, landing, and hovering in the air. These can be classified as fixed-wing, rotorcraft, powered-lift aircraft that use powered rotors such as tiltrotor, cyclocopter, tail-sitter, tiltwing, and fan-wing. VTOL aircraft are also capable of short take-off and landing (STOL), conventional take-off and landing (CTOL), and short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL).Technavios analysts forecast the global military VTOL aircraft market to grow at a CAGR of 3.94% during the period 2016-2020.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global military VTOL aircraft market for 2016-2020. To calculate the market size, the report presents the vendor landscape and a corresponding detailed analysis of the top four vendors in the market.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEARequest For Sample Copy:Technavio's report, Global Military VTOL Aircraft 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 vendorsAurora Flight SciencesBell HelicopterBoeingLockheed MartinMarket driverArms race among countries to develop advanced aircraft.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeChallenge due to downwash effects.For a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendMilitary VTOL aircraft inspired from commercial personal VTOL jets.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?You can request one free hour of our analysts time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report.About 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
How Elections 2016 emphasized the need for Penetration Testing Services in USA?

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Texas (USA), Canada (Toronto) & India (Business Network): Penetration Testing services in USA have never been more important than now. The country saw some large-scale hacking attacks during the Presidential Elections 2016 along with several security breaches that compromised confidential data in renowned private organisations. Penetration Testing services are not only helpful in identifying loopholes in the IT infrastructure but also help in creating a healthy security ritual in the company.So how can you utilize penetration testing services USA for improving your security structure?1)If you want penetration testers to help you identify the maximum numbers of vulnerabilities, perform the tests periodically.2)Make penetration testers check your network connectivity, active firewalls, system changes, etc.3)Designate specialized security professionals to manually analyse the vulnerability assessment reports to avoid false positives4)Reliable penetration testing services will also help you stay updated with legal compliances and certifications5)Get the effectiveness of your protection devices such as IDS, IPS or WAF during a penetration testing sessionWith a well-round security audit of your IT assets, penetration testing services will empower organisations to proactively detect and mitigate security threats. But companies should also keep in mind that penetration testing alone will not make them completely secure against cyber-attacks. Organisations must allocate the required budget and resource to fight security vulnerabilities on a continuous basis so that they dont have to suffer irrecoverable damages.Prova Solutions has been offering a comprehensive range of penetration testing services for USA to companies in Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, IT, Ecommerce, Retail and various other sectors.For more details & information-Name - Richard SmithContact No-+1 281 764 1821Email - info@provasolutions.comWebsite -Prova Solutions has been offering a comprehensive range of penetration testing services for USA to companies in Logistics, Healthcare, Manufacturing, IT, E-commerce, Retail and various other sectors.Prova Solutions7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647
Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market Is Expected to Reach $5,491 Million by 2022

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/vital-signs-monitoring-market

A new report published by Allied Market Research, titled, Vital Signs Monitoring Devices Market by Type and End User: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20142022, projects that the global vital signs monitoring devices market size was worth $3,694 million in 2015 and is expected to reach $5,491 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2016 to 2022. North America was the leading regional market in global vital signs monitoring devices industry. The blood pressure monitoring devices segment is expected to maintain its lead throughout the forecast period.Read more details at:Factors such as increase in geriatric population, growth of inclination towards home monitoring, and rise in incidence rate of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disorders and obesity, are expected to drive the growth of the market. Moreover, introduction of innovative and technologically advanced digital blood pressure monitors and finger pulse oximeters is set to further drive the market growth. However, lack of awareness about these devices in low- and middle-income economies hampers the market growth.According to Hemali Narkhede, Manager, Healthcare Research at Allied Market Research, Increase in inclination toward home care monitoring is set to increase the demand for vital signs monitoring devices worldwide. With technological advancements (such as Bluetooth facility) the devices have become user-friendly, which has led to the increased use of these devices in the home-care settings.Among the vital signs monitoring devices, BP monitoring devices is anticipated to uphold the dominating position in the global market in the upcoming years, owing to increase in incidences of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and other lifestyle disorders. Pulse oximetry devices are projected to be the fastest growing segment, with CAGR of 6.3%, due to increase in incidences of respiratory disorders (such as COPD) across the globe.In the end-user segment, hospitals & clinics occupied the major share of the vital signs monitoring devices market, as these devices facilitate early detection of a patients deteriorating health condition; thereby, enabling speedy intervention and diagnosis of the disease. Home environments was the other dominant end-user segment, expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1%.Key findings of the study: Based on product type, BP monitoring devices segment accounted for more than half of the total market in 2015. Digital BP monitors segment accounted for more than one-third share of the BP monitoring devices market; while ambulatory BP monitors is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. Amongst the pulse oximeters devices, fingertip pulse oximeters are expected to grow at a high rate as they can be easily used in home environments and do not require trained professional for operation of the device. Digital thermometers accounted for major chunk of the temperature monitoring devices market in 2015; while infrared thermometers segment is poised to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region throughout the analysis period, owing to presence of ample growth opportunities in terms of unmet medical needs for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders in this region and high disposable income of the population. Germany and France jointly accounted for almost one-third of the European vital signs monitoring devices market in 2015.North America generated the highest revenue, accounting for approximately two-fifth share of the overall vital signs monitoring devices market in 2015, and is expected to maintain this trend throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to the rise in the prevalence of respiratory disorders, growth in awareness among patients regarding cost-effective vital signs monitoring devices, and availability of advanced healthcare facilities in the North American countries.The key players profiled in this report include Welch Allyn (a subsidiary of Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc.), SunTech Medical Inc. (a subsidiary of Halma plc), Nonin Medical, Inc., Omron Corporation, Masimo Corporation, General Electric Company, Medtronic plc, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., and A&D Company, Limited.Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220,United States.Int'l: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285Fax: +1-800-792-5285help@alliedmarketresearch.com
Third Party Logistics Market In Europe to grow at a CAGR of 3.06% during 2017-2021

http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/902765

http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/

About Third Party Logistics Market in EuropeThird-party logistics (3PL) service is a business process, through which companies outsource logistics and distribution functions to a specialized logistics service provider. It includes as transportation, warehousing, and freight and forwarding. A logistics service provider that provides these services is called a 3PL service provider.Technavios analysts forecast the third-party logistics market in Europe to grow at a CAGR of 3.06% during the period 2017-2021.Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the third-party logistics market in Europe for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from the outsourcing of various services such as transportation, warehousing and distribution, and others (inventory management, it services, management of call center and fulfilment operations, and supply chain network analysis and design).The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:FranceGermanyItalyROESpainUKTechnavio's report, Third Party Logistics Market in Europe 2017-2021, 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 vendorsC.H RobinsonCEVA LogisticsDB Schenker LogisticsDeutsche Post DHLExpeditors International of WashingtonJ.B. Hunt TransportKuehne + Nagel InternationalSNCF LogisticsTNT ExpressUPSOther prominent vendorsACP Freight ServicesAgilityAlkomtransAPL LogisticsAWT GroupBaltic Logistics GroupBDP InternationalBLS AGBulk Logistics SolutionsCzech Logistics AllianceAzkar Dachser GroupDamcoDAN-CZECHDEIJ TransportDSVFedEx Supply ChainFM LogisticGondrand InternationalH.P. Therkelsenhansa-express logisticsHuktraIMPERIAL Logistics InternationalItal LogisticsJawimex LogisticsJohn G Russell TransportJordon FreightKLG EuropeLCL InternationalLKW WALTER InternationalLogServMainfreightMenlo Worldwide LogisticsMove IntermodalNeovia Logistics ServicesOGRIS LogisticsPanalpinaRhenusRJ International FreightRob Masters Specialist TransportationRyderSchneider LogisticsSTEFVECCHI ZIRONIVTG AGWarrant GroupWerner Enterprises Dedicated and LogisticsZiegler GroupMarket driverGrowing complexity of in-house logistics operationsFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeLimited use of ITFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendEmergence of big dataFor a full, detailed list, view our reportKey questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 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
Baby Monitor Europe Market Research and Technology - Baby Monitor Industry Trends, Growth, Overview and Forecast Till 2022

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http://www.researchbeam.com/europe-baby-monitor-market/purchase-enquiry

Research Beam added report onEurope Baby Monitor Market (Third Party Logistics) Market Overview, Analysis, Demand, Report, Trends, Growth and Research  Europe Baby Monitor Market by Type (Audio, Video), by Mode Of Connection (Wired, Wireless) - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2014 - 2022Research Beam study says Europe Baby Monitor Market is expected to garner CAGR of 9% during the forecast period 2016 - 2022. A baby monitor is a device used to remotely listen to sounds made by a baby as well as track the movements, Download PDF Sample Copy @It consists of a transmitter and a microphone to transmit both audio as well as video signals. The microphone unit is placed near the child to capture babys sounds and send it to the attendant by means of a transmitter. Furthermore, advanced baby monitors with built-in features, such as preinstalled lullabies, temperature sensor and movement trackers, are available to cater to the requirements of parents.Major factors that drive the Europe baby monitor market include the rise in the number of employed parents coupled with online retail trends offering increased accessibility & convenience and increased spending on baby care. However, safety concerns of parents concerning the emission of radiation from these devices and low birth rates are factors that restrain the market growth. Despite the challenges faced by the manufacturers, increasing demand of high-end differentiated products are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for growth.The study of Europe baby monitor market is done on the basis of type, mode of connection, and country. Based on connection, the market is divided into wired and wireless baby monitors. On the basis of type, it is categorized into audio and video baby monitors. The market is analyzed across key countries, including France, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg), and rest of Europe.Numerous key players are operating in the market which include Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Motorola Mobility LLC., Angelcare Monitors, Inc., Tomy Company Ltd., Vtech Holdings Ltd., ShenZhen Foscam Intelligent Technology Company Ltd., Summer Infant, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Luvion Premium Babyproducts, and Withings, Inc. They have adopted various growth strategies to capture a larger market share and increase their customer base. Presently, product launch strategy drives the market. In 2015, Luvion Premium Baby Products launched a compact-sized video baby monitor with several features such as room temperature display, digital full HD sound, and high image quality camera with 5 meters of night vision.EUROPE BABY MONITOR MARKET KEY BENEFITS:This study provides an in-depth analysis of the baby monitor market to elucidate the imminent investment pockets.The report provides information regarding key drivers, restraints, and opportunities with a detailed impact analysis.Porters five forces analysis highlights the potency of suppliers & buyers and describes the competitive scenario of the market, which is expected to facilitate efficient business planning.Value chain analysis provides key inputs on role of key intermediaries involved, which is likely to help the stakeholders in devising appropriate strategies.This report presents a detailed quantitative analysis of the current trends and future estimations through 2016 and 2022, which assists in identifying the prevailing market opportunities.Ask for Discount @With the arsenal of different search reports, Research Beam helps you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency. With the window of opportunity getting open and shut at a speed of light, it has become very important to survive in the market and only the fittest and competent enough can do so. So, we try and provide with latest changes in the market that can suit your needs and help you take decision accordingly.5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland, OR 97220
Global Thymidine Market 2016:Lonza, ST Pharm, Carbopharm GmbH, Zhejiang NHU, Zhejiang xianfeng Science Technology

Thymidine

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Global Thymidine Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: Lonza, ST Pharm, Carbopharm GmbH, Zhejiang NHU, Zhejiang xianfeng Science Technology, Anhui Golden Sun Biopharmaceuticals, Wuhan Fortuna Chemical, Hebei Anminuo & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Thymidine industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Thymidine Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Thymidine industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Thymidine industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Thymidine market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Thymidine market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Thymidine market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Thymidine Industry Overview1.1 Thymidine Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Thymidine Classification and Application1.3 Thymidine Industry Chain Structure1.4 Thymidine Industry Overview1.5 Thymidine Industry History1.6 Thymidine Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Thymidine Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Thymidine Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Thymidine Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Thymidine Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Thymidine Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Thymidine Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Phloretin Market 2016:Golden Health Technology, Xian Lyphar Biotech, Shaanxi Yi An, Shananxi Huike

Phloretin

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https://goo.gl/bKAQIZ

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Global Phloretin Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: Golden Health Technology, Xian Lyphar Biotech, Shaanxi Yi An, Shananxi Huike, Shaanxi Undersun Biomedtech, Xian Day Natural, Zhejiang Skyherb Ingredients, Jinan Prosweet Biotechnology, HBXIAN, Huatai Bio-fine, Shananxi Green Bio-Engineering, Jiangsu Boyi, HJ-Rise & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Phloretin industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Phloretin Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Phloretin industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Phloretin industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Phloretin market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Phloretin market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Phloretin market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Phloretin Industry Overview1.1 Phloretin Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Phloretin Classification and Application1.3 Phloretin Industry Chain Structure1.4 Phloretin Industry Overview1.5 Phloretin Industry History1.6 Phloretin Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Phloretin Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Phloretin Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Phloretin Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Phloretin Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Phloretin Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Phloretin Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Liquid Silicone Rubber Market 2016: Dow Corning, Wacker Chemicals, Momentive, ShinEtsu, KCC Corporation, Laur Silicone

Liquid Silicone Rubber

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https://goo.gl/u0h9Q1

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Global Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: Dow Corning, Wacker Chemicals, Momentive, ShinEtsu, KCC Corporation, Laur Silicone, Tianci Materials, Guangdong Polysil, Shenzhen SQUARE Silicone, BlueStar Xinghuo, Wynca, Jiangsu Tianchen, Dongguan New Orient Technology & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Liquid Silicone Rubber industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Liquid Silicone Rubber industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Liquid Silicone Rubber industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Liquid Silicone Rubber market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Liquid Silicone Rubber market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Liquid Silicone Rubber market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Overview1.1 Liquid Silicone Rubber Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Liquid Silicone Rubber Classification and Application1.3 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Chain Structure1.4 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Overview1.5 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry History1.6 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Liquid Silicone Rubber Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Liquid Silicone Rubber Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Liquid Silicone Rubber Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Liquid Silicone Rubber Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Liquid Silicone Rubber Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Release Liners Market 2016:Expera Specialty Solutions, Mondi, Munksj?, Loparex, UPM, Nan Ya Plastics, LINTEC

Release Liners

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Global Release Liners Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: Expera Specialty Solutions, Mondi, Munksj?, Loparex, UPM, Nan Ya Plastics, LINTEC, Felix Schoeller, 3M, Polyplex, Delfortgroup, Siliconature, Infiana, Xinfeng Group, Laufenberg, Dupont, Itasa, MTi Polyexe, Saint-Gobain, Rossella , Glatfelter, Road Ming , Fujiko, ShangXin Paper, Penta-Tech & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Release Liners industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Release Liners Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Release Liners industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Release Liners industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Release Liners market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Release Liners market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Release Liners market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Release Liners Industry Overview1.1 Release Liners Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Release Liners Classification and Application1.3 Release Liners Industry Chain Structure1.4 Release Liners Industry Overview1.5 Release Liners Industry History1.6 Release Liners Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Release Liners Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Release Liners Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Release Liners Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Release Liners Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Release Liners Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Release Liners Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Palletizing Machine Market 2016:Fujiyusoki, ABB, KUKA, YASKAWA, NACHI, TopTier, Kawasaki, A-B-C Packaging

Palletizing Machin

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Global Palletizing Machine Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: Fujiyusoki, ABB, KUKA, YASKAWA, NACHI, TopTier, Kawasaki, A-B-C Packaging, Columbia/Okura , Hartness, C&D Skilled Robotics, M?llers, Gebo Cermex, Brenton, Arrowhead Systems, Von GAL, Chantland-MHS, Ouellette Machinery System, Buhler , Triowin, SIASUN, BOSHI, ESTUN, LIMA & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Palletizing Machine industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Palletizing Machine Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Palletizing Machine industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Palletizing Machine industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Palletizing Machine market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Palletizing Machine market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Palletizing Machine market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Palletizing Machine Industry Overview1.1 Palletizing Machine Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Palletizing Machine Classification and Application1.3 Palletizing Machine Industry Chain Structure1.4 Palletizing Machine Industry Overview1.5 Palletizing Machine Industry History1.6 Palletizing Machine Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Palletizing Machine Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Palletizing Machine Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Palletizing Machine Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Palletizing Machine Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Palletizing Machine Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Palletizing Machine Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global PVC Floor Market 2016:LG Hausys, Armstrong, Gerflor, Targett, PolyflorJames Halstead, Bonie

PVC Floor

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https://goo.gl/s2YUd0

https://goo.gl/1TWpZz

Global PVC Floor Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: LG Hausys, Armstrong, Gerflor, Targett, PolyflorJames Halstead, Bonie, Takiron, HANWHA, Liberty, Forbo, Dajulong, Serfleks, Mannington & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of PVC Floor industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global PVC Floor Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese PVC Floor industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the PVC Floor industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global PVC Floor market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global PVC Floor market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global PVC Floor market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One PVC Floor Industry Overview1.1 PVC Floor Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 PVC Floor Classification and Application1.3 PVC Floor Industry Chain Structure1.4 PVC Floor Industry Overview1.5 PVC Floor Industry History1.6 PVC Floor Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 PVC Floor Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two PVC Floor Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three PVC Floor Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers PVC Floor Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four PVC Floor Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 PVC Floor Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Acetylene Cylinder Market 2016 Norris Cylinder, Cyl-Tec, KAPLAN INDUSTRY and Linde

Acetylene Cylinder Market

http://bit.ly/2i9iZXN

http://bit.ly/2hoAYuq

Global Acetylene Cylinder Market 2016 Industry Size Share Growth Forecast Research and DevelopmentThe Global Acetylene Cylinder market report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Norris Cylinder, Cyl-Tec, KAPLAN INDUSTRY and Linde and more.The Global Acetylene Cylinder Industry report gives a comprehensive account of the Global Acetylene Cylinder market. Details such as the size, key players, segmentation, SWOT analysis, most influential trends, and business environment of the market are mentioned in this report. Furthermore, this report features tables and figures that render a clear perspective of the Acetylene Cylinder market. The report features an up-to-date data on key companies product details, revenue figures, and sales. Furthermore, the details also gives the Global Acetylene Cylinder market revenue and its forecasts. The business model strategies of the key firms in the Acetylene Cylinder market are also included. Key strengths, weaknesses, and threats shaping the leading players in the market have also been included in this research report.The report gives a detailed overview of the key segments in the market. The fastest and slowest growing market segments are covered in this report. The key emerging opportunities of the fastest growing Global Acetylene Cylinder market segments are also covered in this report. Each segments and sub-segments market size, share, and forecast are available in this report. Additionally, the region-wise segmentation and the trends driving the leading geographical region and the emerging region has been presented in this report.Get Sample Copy of Report @The study on the Global Acetylene Cylinder market also features a history of the tactical mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships activity in the market. Valuable recommendations by senior analysts about investing strategically in research and development can help new entrants or established players penetrate the emerging sectors in the Acetylene Cylinder market. Investors will gain a clear insight on the dominant players in this industry and their future forecasts. Furthermore, readers will get a clear perspective on the high demand and the unmet needs of consumers that will enhance the growth of this market.Table of ContentChapter One Acetylene Cylinder Industry Overview1.1 Acetylene Cylinder Definition1.1.1 Acetylene Cylinder Definition1.1.2 Product Specifications1.2 Acetylene Cylinder Classification1.3 Acetylene Cylinder Application Field1.4 Acetylene Cylinder Industry Chain Structure1.5 Acetylene Cylinder Industry Regional Overview1.6 Acetylene Cylinder Industry Policy Analysis1.7 Acetylene Cylinder Industry Related Companies Contact InformationInquiry For Buying @MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Global Industrial Protective Footwear Market: Estimates and Forecasts by 2020

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=49782

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https://goo.gl/tu0Ero

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/industrial-protective-footwear-market.html

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com

Industrial protective footwear provides protection for a variety of hazards. Workers exposed to hazards like falling objects, electrical contact, moving machinery and similar other incidences may be at risk of a foot injury. In order to give your best while working, it is necessary to have the protective footwear. Protective footwear is available in many types and styles and protection levels to service the needs of most any workplace along with quality, durability and long time industrial safety footwear. The major driving factor for the industrial protective footwear is increasing construction and oil & gas industry. Stringent rules regarding workers protection and safety expected to propel the industrial protective footwear market. However, Lack of technological awareness is expected to major restraint the market over the forecast period.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The market for industrial protective footwear is segmented on the basis of product, type, and geography. Based on the product, the industrial protective footwear market is segmented into leather footwear, waterproof footwear, rubber footwear and plastic footwear. Leather footwear dominates the overall industrial protective footwear and is expected to experience significant growth in the years to come. The application segment consists of construction, manufacturing, mining, oil &gas, pharmaceuticals, and others. Construction was the leading application segment for industrial protective footwear market. However, oil & gas is expected to be the fastest-growing segment of industrial protective footwear market.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. North America was the leading region with the largest share of the overall market for industrial protective footwear. North America closely followed by Europe. With increased demand from construction and oil & gas industry, Europe is expected to rapid pace growth during the forecast period.Inquire more before buying this report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the industrial protective footwear market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the industrial protective footwear market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein type segments and product segments, are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The report covers detailed competitive scenario including the company overviews, financial revenues of the key participants to develop their positions in the global market. Some of the major key players include in the market such as UVEX Safety Group, ELTEN GmbH, VF Corporation, Honeywell Safety Products, Jal Group, Rahman Group, COFRA Holding AG, Often rich Holdings Co. Ltd. and Rock Fall Ltd.Browse detail report @Industrial Protective Footwear Market: Product Segment AnalysisLeather footwearWaterproof footwearRubber footwearPlastic footwearIndustrial Protective Footwear Market: Type Segment AnalysisConstructionManufacturingMiningOil &gasPharmaceuticalsIndustrial Protective Footwear Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Human Machine Interface: Technologies and Markets

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/request-for-sample.html?flag=S&repid=50296

https://goo.gl/McAujO

https://goo.gl/8VRNhE

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/human-machine-interface-market.html

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com

Human Machine Interface (HMI) is control system which provides a graphics-based visualization of an industrial managing and monitoring system. Human machine interface also referred as operator panel and user interface. Human machine interface typically located on the portable handheld devices and also in centralized control rooms. Human machine interface plays a vital role in the automotive industry. The human machine interface comprises electronics required to control the state of industrial automation equipment.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The major driving factor of human machine interface market is increasing automation industry and strong demand for integrated software services coupled with products. The human machine interface market expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to advancement in technology by changing LED indicators to touch screen and graphical terminals. However, the high cost of human machine interface software services expected to major restraint of human machine interface market.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The study segments the global human machine interface market on the basis of product, applications and Regional segment. Different key products include in human-machine interface markets such as display terminals, industrial Pcs, interface software and others. Interface software is the leading product segment and expected to witness rapid growth over the forecast period. Based on application, human machine interface market is segmented into the automotive industry, food and beverages, pharmaceutical, aerospace and defense, packaging industry and others. Automotive industry accounted for largest share of the overall market. This growth can be attributed to growing industrialization in India and China.Inquire more before buying this report @Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of a region on the country level, which includes U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan and India. North America dominated human machine interface market owing to increasing number of automation projects in this region. Asia Pacific is another leading region of the human machine interface market and expected to experience significant growth in the year to come.Browse detail report @Some of the key players in human machine interface market which include company overview, product portfolio, and recent developments such as acquisitions, mergers, expansion or product launch. In this report companies including Honeywell International Inc., Siemens AG Emerson Electric Corp., General Electric Co., Omron Corp., ABB Ltd. and Eaton Corp.Human Machine Interface Market: Product Segment AnalysisDisplay TerminalsResistive TouchscreensCapacitive TouchscreensNear-Field Imaging TouchscreensInfrared & Dispersive Signal TouchscreensIndustrial PcsInput/Output DevicesStorage DevicesProcessorsOthersInterface SoftwareOthersHuman Machine Interface Market: Application Segment AnalysisAutomotive IndustryFood & BeveragesPharmaceuticalAerospace & DefensePackaging IndustryOthersHuman Machine Interface Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Energy-Efficient Technologies for Global Wave and Tidal Energy Market

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https://goo.gl/tsUszi

https://goo.gl/F9aP6i

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wave-and-tidal-energy-market.html

http://www.syndicatemarketresearch.com

Ocean is one of the largest sources of clean and sustainable energy. Wave energy and tidal energy are the main segments of ocean energy. Surface wind creates the ocean waves. There are different methods of constraining the ocean energy, from which wave and tidal are the most dominant forms of energy. Tidal stream and tidal range energy are the two segments of tidal energy. Tidal range energy is a comparatively mature technology. Both wave and tidal stream energy are relatively newer concepts. These are in the emerging stages of technology development.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The strength of the wind, its length, and the open ocean distance (fetch) over which it blows are the major factors on which growth of the waves depends. The most powerful and consistent waves are created by strong existing winds in high latitudes. These waves propagate over long distances with little energy loss, to deliver consistent and abundant supplies of readily useable energy. The movements of water that are accelerated into strong currents near the fringe of the oceans, or through narrow passages between islands and other landforms create the tidal energy.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @The report covers forecast and analysis for the wave and tidal energy market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2014 to 2020 based on both volume (MW) and revenue (USD Million). The report also offers the detailed competitive landscape of the global wave and tidal energy market. It includes company market share analysis, the product portfolio of the major industry participants. The report provides detailed segmentation of the smart cities market based on energy type segment and region. Wave and tidal are the energy type segment of this market. There is no single dominant technology in the wave or tidal energy market. Both wave and tidal energy are capable of producing extensive benefits of economies of scale.Inquire more before buying this report @Major regional segments analyzed in this study include North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. This report also provides further bifurcation of the region on the country level. Major countries analyzed in this reports are U.S., Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil. Wave and tidal energy market were dominated by Europe in terms of capacity installations for wave and tidal stream power plants due to the strong development of power plant in the respective region. Additionally, Asia Pacific is expected to have high growth in the tidal energy sector.Browse detail report @Some of the key players for global wave and tidal energy market include AQUAMARINE POWER LTD., S.D. ENERGY LTD., CARNEGIE WAVE ENERGY, PELAMIS WAVE POWER, MARINE CURRENT TURBINES LTD., ATLANTIS RESOURCES LTD., OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES INC., and AQUAGEN TECHNOLOGIES, OCEAN RENEWABLE POWER COMPANY LLC.This report segments the global wave and tidal energy market as follows:Global Wave and Tidal Energy Market: Energy Type Segment AnalysisWave EnergyTidal EnergyGlobal Wave and Tidal Energy Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Barber Poles Market 2016: William Marvy

Barber Poles

https://goo.gl/ucZcZS

https://goo.gl/90MBdE

https://goo.gl/ezgSyK

Global Barber Poles Industry 2016Market Research Report Provides Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis: William Marvy & more -with detail like Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors.The report provides a basic overview of Barber Poles industry including definitions, applications and industry chain structure. Global market analysis and Chinese domestic market analysis are provided with a focus on history, developments, trends and competitive landscape of the market. A comparison between the international and Chinese situation is also offered.Global Barber Poles Industry Research Report 2016 also focuses on development policies and plans for the industry as well as a consideration of a cost structure analysis. Capacity production, market share analysis, import and export consumption and price cost production value gross margins are discussed.Get Free Sample@A key feature of this report is it focus on major industry players, providing an overview, product specification, product capacity, production price and contact information for Global Top15 companies. This enables end users to gain a comprehensive insight into the structure of the international and Chinese Barber Poles industry. Development proposals and the feasibility of new investments are also analyzed. Companies and individuals interested in the structure and value of the Barber Poles industry should consult this report for guidance and direction.The report begins with a brief overview of the Global Barber Poles market and then moves on to evaluate the key trends of the market. The key trends shaping the dynamics of the Global Barber Poles market have been scrutinized along with the related current events, which is impacting the market. Drivers, restraints, opportunities, and threats of the Global Barber Poles market have been analyzed in the report. Moreover, the key segments and the sub-segments that constitutes the market is also explained in the report.Inquiry For Buying@Table of ContentsChapter One Barber Poles Industry Overview1.1 Barber Poles Definition(Product Picture and Specifications)1.2 Barber Poles Classification and Application1.3 Barber Poles Industry Chain Structure1.4 Barber Poles Industry Overview1.5 Barber Poles Industry History1.6 Barber Poles Industry Competitive Landscape1.7 Barber Poles Industry International and China Development ComparisonChapter Two Barber Poles Market Data Analysis2.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Price List2.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Gross Margin List2.3 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Capacity and Market Share List2.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Production and Market Share List2.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Production Value and Market Share ListGet Complete Report With TOC@Chapter Three Barber Poles Technical Data Analysis3.1 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Product Quality List3.2 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Product Line Capacity and Commercial Production Date3.3 2016 Manufacturing Base(Factory) Global Regional Distribution3.4 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles R&D Status and Technology Sources3.5 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Equipment Investment and Performance3.6 2016 Global Key Manufacturers Barber Poles Raw Materials Sources AnalysisChapter Four Barber Poles Government Policy and News4.1 Government Related Policy Analysis4.2 Industry News Analysis4.3 Barber Poles Industry Development TrendAbout Us:MarketResearchStore.com 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.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803
Medical Tourism Market Volume Forecast and Value Chain Analysis 2014-2020

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-249

http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-249

www.futuremarketinsights.com

Medical tourism is one of the most dynamically growing industries today. Considered to be the direct impact of globalisation of healthcare, medical tourism certainly exhibits strong growth potential globally. However, based on FMIs research, the market of medical tourism is expected to concentrate within most of the emerging economies of the world.As developing nations are increasingly heading toward technological advancement and quality services in the medical and healthcare sector, the global medical tourism market is anticipated to witness robust growth over 2014-2020, predominantly in Asian countries.The top treatments people travel abroad for, include cancer therapy, cardiovascular surgeries, orthopaedic treatments, dentistry, cosmetic surgeries, reproductive treatments, weight loss therapies, health screenings, and medical tests and scans. In severe cases, a sizeable patient population also seeks second opinion from specialist doctors out of their countries.Request Free Report Sample@Key DriversHigh treatment costs and lengthy waiting times for medical procedures, being the two major factors in driving medical tourism, are also supported by easier and cheaper international travel. While the U.K.s population prefers to travel abroad for bypassing long waits, patients from the U.S. travel outside for availing of treatments at cheaper costs.Medical excellence along with international accreditation are the key factors fuelling a majority of international patient flow, eventually boosting international medical tourism. Currently, over 600 medical departments and hospitals all over the globe are accredited by the U.S. Joint Commission International (JCI). The number of accredited facilities is projected to increase almost by 20% each year. This is another important driver associated with the market growth.Developing countries, with ever-evolving innovation and demonstrable achievements in medical research are estimated to accelerate the approaching medical tourist flow over the forecast period. Growing healthcare investments by various government and private sectors are also anticipated to further bolster the market growth.Key RestraintsHowever, medical tourists are highly prone to a wide variety of health risks after they return. The conditions may include TB, paratyphoid, amoebic dysentery, deep vein thrombosis, and more; usually caused due to poor post-operative care and inadequate rest. This could affect the market to some extent.Stringent documentation processes, issues related to visa approval, and limited insurance coverage are reportedly some of the most deterring factors for the global market.Global Medical Tourism Market: SegmentationFMIs research on the global medical tourism market offers a six-year forecast, segmenting the market on the basis of type of medical treatment and geography.On the basis of the type of treatment, the market is segmented into cosmetic treatment, cardiovascular treatment, fertility treatment, dental treatment, orthopaedic treatment, and other general treatments.On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into Asia pacific, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, and South America.Regional OutlookSome of the prominent medical tourism centres across the globe include Thailand, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Israel, Brazil, Turkey, the Philippines, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Poland, Canada, and the U.S. According to Patients Beyond Borders, the global medical tourism market is currently growing at an impressive rate between 15% and 25%, and the flow of patients seeking cross-border treatment options will be the highest in Mexico. South and Southeast Asia are expected to dominate the global market in the near future.Based on MTAs recently released Medical Tourism Index, there are 41 countries participating in the global medical tourism market. While India broadly secures #1, Israel ranks #1 in the quality of services and facilities.India is renowned for specialist cardiac surgeries, while Singapore is a popular medical tourism destination owing to the expertise in complicated surgical procedures. Thailand has been a popular destination for medical tourism and millions of patients have travelled to Thailand since 2006. It is also the top cosmetic surgery centre globally.Malaysia offers state-of-the-art medical infrastructure and treatments by highly skilled medical professionals, making it another sought after centre among medical tourists. With economically affordable treatment options and favourable government initiatives, Malaysia is anticipated to acquire one of the top market positions in the global medical tourism market, during the forecast period.Visit For TOC@Key Players: Global Medical Tourism MarketSome of the top key players in the medical tourism industry include Asian Heart Institute (India), Apollo Hospitals (India), Prince Court Medical Centre (Malaysia), Gleneagles Hospital (Singapore), Min-Sheng General Hospital (Taiwan), Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital (Bangkok), Raffles Medical Group (Singapore), Clemenceau Medical Centre (Lebanon), Bangkok Hospital (Thailand), Bumrungrad International Hospital (Thailand), Fortis Healthcare Ltd. (India), Wooridul Spine Hospital (Korea), KPJ Healthcare Berhad (Malaysia), Anadolu Medical Centre (Turkey), and Asklepios Klinik Barmbek (Germany).While these players rank amongst they compete on the basis of exceptional service quality, optimum patient comfort, and relatively reasonable costs for various treatments. Several facilities are also undergoing mergers, acquisitions, affiliations, and joint ventures for delivering enhanced medical care, thereby strengthening their market positions. A few prominent examples of highly productive collaborations include the collaboration between Bumrungrad International Hospital (Bangkok) and IBM Watson for better cancer care, and the collaboration of Anadolu Medical Centre (Turkey) with Johns Hopkins Medicine (U.S.).About Us  Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite:
Nurse Call System Market Worth 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  2020Global Nurse Call System Market Set for Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 1,600.0 Million by 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.Request Sample Report:In 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 detail report at:The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil. This segmentation includes demand for 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.Other Categories Reports :-Energy & Mining:Healthcare IT:Pharmaceuticals:This 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 ServicesGlobal Nurse Call System Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Global Fast Food Market Set For Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 645.0 Billion By 2020

Global Fast Food Market

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Fast Food (Burgers/Sandwiches, Chicken, Pasta/Pizza, Asian/Latin American Food, Sea-Food, and Others) Market: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2014  2020Global Fast Food Market Set For Rapid Growth, To Reach Around USD 645.0 Billion By 2020The report covers forecast and analysis for the fast food 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 Billion). The study includes drivers and restraints for the fast food 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 fast food market on a global level.Request Sample Report:In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the fast food market. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the fast food market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein product segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.The study provides a decisive view on the fast food market by segmenting the market based on products 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 products the market is segmented into burgers/sandwiches, chicken, pasta/pizza, Asian/Latin American food, sea-food, and other. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.Browse detail report at:The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as McDonalds Corporation, Yum! Brands Inc., Dominos Pizza Inc., Doctors Association Inc, Burger King Worldwide Inc., Wendys International Inc., Jack in the Box Inc., In-N-Out Burger, Whataburger, Sonic and Steak-N-Shake. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.This report segments the global fast food market as follows:Global Fast food Market: Product Segment AnalysisBurger/SandwichPizza/PastaChickenAsian/Latin American FoodSea-FoodOthersGlobal Fast food Market: Regional Segment AnalysisOther Categories Reports :-Medical Devices:Semiconductor & Electronics:Technology & Media:North AmericaU.S.EuropeGermanyFranceUKAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Global Air Conditioner Market: Size, Trends And Forecasts (2016-2020)

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Scope of the ReportThe report titled Global Air Conditioner Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2016-2020) presents a detailed analysis of global air conditioner market. The report provides a detailed analysis of significant trends and potential opportunities available in the market. The report provides an in depth study of market overview, market sizing both in terms of value & volume, key players of the market and regional breakdown of global market. The report also highlights on the available opportunities for the market and major dynamics that will be responsible for the growth of the market. The market size and forecast in terms of US$ for global air conditioner market has been provided for the period 2016 to 2020, considering 2014 as the base year.The report provides an analysis of the global market in terms of both value and volume. It provides detailed description of revenue, demand in the market for both residential as well as commercial air conditioners, market share breakdown by the country, top players of the market and product segmentation. The report provides detailed information regarding the emergent trends of the market, major growth drivers and challenges that will encounter the market in coming years.The report also provides detailed regional country analysis covering China, Japan, Asia (excluding China and Japan), North America and Europe. Asia is the largest market for air conditioners. It has the largest share in the overall global demand of air conditioners for the last five years. North America is another major market for air conditioners in terms of demand. In the forecasted period also, Asia has the potential to be the largest market for air conditioners in terms of global demand.Furthermore, the report profiles key market players such as Daikin Industries Ltd., Hitachi Ltd., Bluestar Limited and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation on the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Country Coverage- China- Japan- Asia (Excluding China & Japan)- North America- EuropeCompany Coverage- Daikin Industries Ltd.- Hitachi Ltd.- Bluestar Limited- Mitsubishi Electric CorporationDownload sample Copy of Report atExecutive SummaryThere are two major categories of air conditioners namely residential air conditioners and commercial air conditioners. Residential air conditioners consist of split & mini ACs, window ACs and portable ACs etc. These air conditioners are generally small in size and installed in small places like residential homes or small shops. Commercial air conditioners are bulky in size and most preferably installed in big industries. Commercial air conditioners include VRF, Chillers and VRV etc. These air conditioners are used for cooling of large area spaces such as offices and restaurants etc. Popularity of residential air conditioners has increased dramatically with the advent of central air, a strategy that utilizes the ducting in a home for both heating and cooling.Air conditioner market has shown rising trends over the past few years. Key factors behind the growth of the market are increasing urban population, intensifying urban heat island, increasing disposable income of population of emerging economies and increasing demand for split AC etc.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
Advanced Energy Storage Systems Market - Global Industry Analysis Forecast 2016 - 2024

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The global advanced energy storage systems market is characterized by the presence of companies ranging from start-ups to well-entrenched multinationals. As a result, the market comprises of a range of technologies at different maturity levels. The progress of the global market for advanced energy storage systems is to a great extent tied up with a nations policies and economic situations and the technological innovations. Going forward, the competition in the market will heat up on account of the emergence of enhanced sodium-sulfur, Li-ion, and advanced LAB products manufactured by the prominent industry players.In order to study the market in depth, the report has segmented it based on various parameters. For instance, the report classifies the market into the following seven energy segments: electricity generation, fuel production, transportation, buildings, industry, fuel delivery, and electricity delivery and management. Technology-wise, it has segmented the market into flywheels, fuel cells, pumped hydro, batteries, superconducting magnets (SMES), compressed air energy storage (CAES), and super capacitors.View exclusive Global strategic Business report :Global Advanced Energy Storage Systems Market: Trends and OpportunitiesDriving the demand for advanced energy storage systems is the rising pace of installation of smart grids, increasing thrust on renewable energy, favorable initiatives such as funding by the government, and soaring popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles. In the near future, the market would continue treading on a solid growth path on the back of considerable increase in demand for energy.As per the International Energy Outlook 2013, the world energy consumption is slated to increase by 56% from 2010 to 2040. This will likely propel energy generation thereby further boosting the global market for energy storage systems. This major thrust will help the market overcome the headwinds provided by high costs of installation and operation of storage systems. The robust growth scope of renewable energy due to energy conservation policies is slated to further boost the market for advanced energy storage systems.Global Advanced Energy Storage Systems Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, the global market for advanced energy storage can be divided into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Among them, Asia Pacific is a prominent market on account of the rapid pace of adoption of energy storage systems in developing countries of the region. This in turn has been brought about by the increasing emphasis on renewable energy installations and growth in the related market for electric cars. China is a major market in the region vis-a-vis manufacture and sale of energy storage systems on account of the presence of prominent storage systems manufacturers in the country. Asia Pacific is predicted to demonstrate good growth in the coming years too.Complete Report with TOC :Companies Mentioned in the Research Report:The key players operating within the global advanced energy storage market currently include Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., Active Power, Inc., ., Energizer Holdings Inc., BYD Company Ltd Electrovaya Inc., Maxwell Technologies, China Bak Battery Inc., Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation, Exide Technologies, Toshiba Corporation, the Furukawa Battery Co. Ltd., Sony, Valence Technology, and Hitachi.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207
Motor Oil Pouch Packaging Market - Top Vendors(Glenroy, Inc.,Stand Up Pouches,Icone International Ltd,Star Packaging Corp.)

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The recent development in motor oil pouch packaging is the use of flexible, stand up pouches, instead of the traditional rigid bottles. Motor oil pouch packs are easier to use and are portable due to its light weight. Many special design features can be incorporated in stand up pouches such as handles and spouts. In 2012, Universal Lubricants, a US based leading manufacturer of motor oils and lubricants, were the first to implement pouch packaging for their Eco Ultra range of products. The Eco Ultra FlexPak is more light weight, durable and sustainable as compared to conventional rigid plastic bottles. The pouch pack is made up of three barrier layers of nylon, polyester and LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene). It is provided with a pouring spout to prevent bubbles and glugs while pouring the oil or lubricant.Get Sample Report Copy:Motor Oil Pouch Packaging Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe ease of handling and portability are the major advantages of motor oil pouch packaging as compared to other packaging types, which is the major driver for the growth of global motor oil pouch packaging market. Motor oil pouch packs are lighter in weight and the plastic content in these type of packaging is less as compared to that of rigid bottles, which is expected to boost the global motor oil pouch packaging market growth. Motor oil pouch packaging provides more surface area for printing visually appealing graphics that attracts consumers and is the advertising strategy adopted by major oil and lubricants manufacturers. The ratio of product with respect to package is high in motor oil pouch packaging.However, the motor oil pouch packs are multi-layered plastic packs, which are not easily recyclable. This fact might hamper the growth of global motor oil pouch packaging market during the forecast period.Motor Oil Pouch Packaging Market: SegmentationOn the basis of material, the global motor oil pouch packaging market can be segmented as follows:-PolyesterNylonLinear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Films (BOPP)Polyphenylene Ether (PPE)On the basis of accessories, the global motor oil pouch packaging market can be segmented as follows:-Pouring SpoutEuro SlotTear NotchMotor Oil Pouch Packaging Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global motor oil pouch packaging market can be divided into five regions, namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East & Africa (MEA). Europe holds the major share in global motor oil pouch packaging market, owing the well-established, mature automotive industry in the region. North America accounts for second largest market share in global motor oil pouch packaging market. This is attributed to the increasing number of motor vehicles in the region and also the oil and lubricant industries. The rise in aftermarket sales of automotive products in Europe and North America is expected to propel the growth of motor oil pouch packaging market in these regions. APAC is anticipated to exhibit high CAGR over the forecast period. China is the new hub of automotive industry and there is a rise of investment in packaging industry, which is anticipated to boost motor oil pouch packaging market growth in the country. MEA motor oil pouch packaging market is anticipated to exhibit significant CAGR during the forecast period due to increasing sales of automotive and the expanding engine oil market in the region.Motor Oil Pouch Packaging Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the global Motor Oil Pouch Packaging market are as follows:Glenroy, Inc.Stand Up PouchesBAM Packaging Consulting GmbHIcone International LtdStar Packaging Corp.About TMRTMR is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact TMR90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Flexible Display Market: Global Market Snapshot by 2021

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www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10804

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A flexible display is flexible by nature. The global flexible display market is expected to grow at a substantial growth rate due to the growing interest of many consumer electronics manufacturers to apply this display technology in mobile phones, e-readers and other consumer electronics. There are various trends which have been driving the technological innovations in the display industry which includes portability, quality, interconnectivity, screen size, user- friendliness, and power savings.Request for Sample Report:The global flexible display market is segmented into four major categories, on the basis of material into polymer, glass, and glass-reinforced plastic, on the basis of components into organic material, substrate, conductive layer, backlight panel and other components. On the basis of applications the market is segmented into e-reader, smartphone, tablet, laptop, e-paper, and television. The market is also segmented by technology into emissive and non-emissive. The market is further segmented by geography into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe and rest of the world regions.The market is driven by factors such as the rapidly growing consumer electronics goods industry and its distinctive features. Some of the factors inhibiting the growth of the global flexible display market are manufacturing challenges and competing technologies. The growing penetration in multiple applications will serve as an opportunity, fuelling the growth of the global next generation biometric technology market.Request for Table of content:Some of the key players dominating the market are Atmel Corporation, AU Optronics Corp., Corning Incorporated, Delta Electronics, Inc., Dupont Display, E Ink Holdings, Inc., Flexible Display Center (Asu), Hewlett-Packard Company, Kent Displays, Inc., LG Display Co. Ltd., Materion Corporation, Nanolumens, Nokia, Novaled AG and Philips Electronics among others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Micro Actuator Market: Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2024

www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10945

www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10945

www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Transducers are those devices which helps to convert one form of energy to another form of energy. Actuator is a type of transducers which helps in producing mechanical movement through converting a source of energy. Here the source of energy may include electric current, pneumatic pressure or hydraulic fluid pressure. Whereas micro actuator helps to transmit a measure or fixed amount of energy for the operation of other mechanism. In other words it is mainly used to produce small forces in entities of small sizes and motions at over small distances. Growing advancement in industries such as automotive, healthcare and wellness is expected to drive the demand of micro actuator in the forecast period.Request for Sample Report:Micro Actuator Market SegmentationOn the basis of types micro actuator can be segmented as electric micro actuators, functional material based micro actuators, shape memory alloy (SMA) micro actuator, and others. Electric micro actuator can be further sub segmented as electromagnetic micro actuators and electrostatic actuators. Among both these sub segments electromagnetic micro actuator is expected to account for larger market share as compared to electrostatic actuator. Rising wide application of electromagnetic micro actuator devices especially in space crafts is expected to support the demand of electromagnetic micro actuator across the globe. Furthermore, functional material based micro actuator is further sub segmented as piezoelectric micro actuator. Rising application of piezoelectric devices in various applications ranging from energy generation in medical instrument, or gathering of pedestrian traffic to power localized street lightening or portable devices to power the sensors in vehicles is expected to support the demand of functional material based micro actuator in the forecast period. Moreover, shape memory alloy (SMA) micro actuator is further sub segmented as electroactive polymer (EAP) based micro actuator. Rising considerable attention for the use of sensors for micro fabricated devise is driving the growth of electroactive polymer (EAP) based micro actuator in the near future. In addition, the others segment of micro actuator includes bimetallic thermal actuator and magnetostrictive actuators.The micro actuator market can also be segmented on the basis of region which includes North America, Latin America, Easter Europe, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and Japan. Among all the regions North America is expected to account for the highest market share followed by Europe. In North America United States is expected to be the major contributor as compared to other countries in the region. Rising demand of automotive products and, health and wellness industry is expected to support the growth of micro actuator market across the region. Moreover, Asia Pacific is expected to register a substantial growth in the forecast period. Among all the countries in Asia Pacific China is expected to be the major contributor. Rising number of aging population have led to the increased production of innovative medical instruments, which is expected to support the growth of micro actuator market in China in the forecast period.Micro Actuator Market Drivers & RestraintsRising wide number of application in automobile industry, health and wellness industry and other industry such space crafts or industries where heavy machineries are required is expected to support the demand of micro actuator market across the globe. Moreover, rising demand of micro fabricated sensors in above mentioned industries is also expected to support the growth of micro actuator market across the globe in the forecast period. However high cost incurred in manufacturing of micro actuator devices may hamper the growth of micro actuator market in the future.Request for Table of content:Micro Actuator Market: Key PlayersThe key international players operating in micro actuator market includes IBM Corporation, ST Microelectronics, Agilent Technologies, Stmicroelectronics Ltda, NanoSniff Technologies Pvt. Ltd., SAES Group and others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Crystal Oscillator Market: expected to Provide Suitable Growth by 2024

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http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10780

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Crystal oscillators are the main components of an electronic device. It uses piezoelectricity exhibited by certain crystals. It creates the waveforms which gives exact frequency which is based on mechanical vibration of the precision machined crystal.Request for Sample Report:The key drivers of this market includes increase in advancement of smartphones and tablets, placement of 3G and 4G networks, advancement in healthcare equipments and increasing demand for sophisticated and discerning automotive customers among others. The main factor restraining the market growth is the development of Si-Mems oscillators in the market. The biggest opportunity of this market is the evolution of Quartz Mems technology.The market is segmented on the basis of applications which includes telecom and networking, aerospace and military, consumer electronics, measurement and research, automotive, medical equipment and industrial among others. In addition, the market is segmented on the basis of technology which includes AT Cut, BT Cut and SC Cut oscillators.Request for Table of content:Some of the key players in the embedded system market are Aker Technology, Connor Winfield, Croven Crystals, CTS Corporation, East Crystal Electronic, Fox Electronics, Mercury Electronics, Siward Crystal Technology, Tongfang Guoxin Electronics and Vectron International among others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Wireless Charging Market: Information, Figures and Analytical Insights 2024

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10789

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10789

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

Wireless charging is defined as charging of any electronic device battery without using any cords and cables constitutes. Nikola Tesla introduced the concept of wireless charging in 1899. This old age technology become popular in consumer electronics goods especially smartphones and tablets. Wireless charging use the concept of electromagnetic field for transmission of energy between two entities. Energy is sent to an electrical device via inductive coupling, which use the energy to charge the batteries of electronic devices.Request for Sample Report:The wireless charger market is at its infancy stage. Reduction in power reduction and power consumption is projected to drive the market. The potential challenges are the lack of standards, and interoperability. Efficiency of wireless charging is not similar as compare to wired charging. The Qi Standard was established by Wireless Power Consortium for interoperability.Wireless charging is segmented on the basis of applications which includes smartphones and other consumer electronic devices, industrial segment, military, medical and electric vehicles among others. Electric vehicle market has high potential for wireless charging devices. These vehicles would be charge with copper coils fixed under the vehicle and the coils located in the commercial and residential space. Thus, it will not need any discrete plug-in stations. In 2011, the military and the medical devices contributes a minor ratio to the wireless charging market and are projected to rise at slow rate by 2019. Further, wireless charging market is segmented based on geography such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of World (RoW).Request for Table of content:Some of the major players of this market are Avid Technologies Inc., Convenient Power HK Limited, Energizer, Evatran Llc, Powermat Technologies, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments Incorporated And Verizon Wireless, Inc. among others.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Aasaanjobs has launched some new services to excite employers.

https://www.aasaanjobs.com/employer/

Aasaanjobs a leading online recruitment marketplace in India which connects entry-level job seekers with employers has announced its outstanding plan for all the employers who have already and who will register on their portal.AasaanJobs introduces a unique hiring feature called 'The Interview Plan', which guarantees to provide only relevant candidates for employers to interview for any job profile. "The Interview Plan is a progressive approach towards upgrading the conventional recruitment process by automating it. The model is extremely efficient. It's like a wallet, in that the employer purchases certain credits (number of interviews) and uses them to hire multiple profiles and then recharges the same if required. Moreover, our massive network of 1500+ partners, comprising manpower agencies, colleges, and training institutes, actively take up the mandates posted by different employers, enabling faster TATs," said VP, Sales and Marketing, Aasaanjobs, Siddharth Gupta.The company was founded by three IIT alumni Dinesh Goel, Gaurav Toshniwal and Kunal Jadhav. This startup aims to redefine and organize the market, especially where entry level and blue collar jobs are concerned. This segment is often unregulated with no guaranteed way to know whether the hires are reliable. Aasaanjobs wants to change all this, said Dinesh Goel.Apart from its Interview Plan Model, Aasaanjobs has initiated one more recruitment process in the outsourcing segment. This enables the companies to outsource hiring. The company has more than 10,000 recruiters from diverse industries, especially targeting the BFSI (Banking, Financial services, and Insurance) and IT (Information Technology) sectors. These sectors generally require high volume hiring.The company promises - this new and astonishing feature will let companies sign up with Aasaanjobs for sourcing, screening, interviewing and onboarding of the worthy applicants listed on the portal for a long term, offering replacements as and when required.On 31st October 2016, Aasaanjobs launched its latest service in IT recruitment as part of its plan to expand its verticals in job search and employment. This startup is providing job roles in IT sectors across multiple cities in India. The job profiles that are included under the new IT recruitment service are Java developer, Dot net developers, network engineers, hardware engineers, etc.To excite new clients the company has now job openings for Java Developer, Network Engineers, hardware engineers, etc., for both long term and contractual work on their list. With the move of entering in IT recruitment segment the company has got more clients.In addition, Aasaanjobs is free for users posting their CVs on their portal but charges employers a percentage of CTC of a hired person. An average CTC in the IT sector is higher than a typical blue collar job - an opening for a chef pays Rs 11,000 per month while a web developer and designer opening pays Rs 25,000-30,000. Aasaanjobs is likely aware of this and hence the move to push IT recruitment.The company has witnessed an excellent traction in the model from various types of clients since last year. Aasaanjobs has catered over 10,000 clients which are registered in their system from past two and a half years. These clients are ranging from startups and SMEs to big corporates.From past one year, this online recruitment marketplace has offered HR services like, Pre-paid Plans, Recruitment process outsourcing solutions, Contract staffing solutions, Payroll management solutions, Complete labour and compliance audit solutions.Hire freshers as well as experienced candidates from our list of skilled job seekers across India, only at AasaanJobs.com. We provide end-to-end recruitment service for entry level jobs.Krislon House, Opp Marwah Centre, Saki Naka, Andheri
Soy based chemicals Market Would Register a Healthy Growth, 2026

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11467

http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/11467

Soya (also called Soy in US) has been cultivated from long time in Asia. It is a versatile plant with hundreds of uses. Apart from satisfying the food demand for the population, it is used to derive biodegradable biofuel and plastics which act as better replacement for petrochemical derived products. Soy based chemicals are used in many commercial products such as biodiesel, bio plastics, cosmetics, paints & coatings etc. With the help of various development programs and emerging technologies soy based chemicals are appearing in many new applications. Many industries are turning their focus towards biodegradable products, derived from renewable resources such as soy based chemicals because they offer economical and societal growth within the boundaries of environmental wellness. Soybean crops ties up the nitrogen in soil making it available for next rotation crop and in turn minimizing the fertilizer intake for the next rotation crop. United States, Brazil, Argentina, China and India are the top five soybean producing countries in the world. The global market for soy based chemicals is expected to grow in future owing to the ease of production of soybean, government regulations towards usability of biodegradable materials and its wide range of application products.Request to view Sample Report @Soy based chemicals are used in wide range of applications like fuel, rubber, plastics, paints, cosmetics etc. This wide range applications is one of the major factor to drive the growth for soy based chemicals. Soy based chemicals are preferred over petroleum based products owing to the rising prices of petroleum, availability uncertainty and trend towards green products usability. The advance in bio technology is helping the soy based chemicals to take competitive stand against petrochemicals based products in terms of cost, performance and reduction in green gasses emission as an added advantage. Future investments are expected in soy based chemicals business for Research and Development and other technological advancements. Soy based chemicals are price competitive with conventional products due to switching costs in value chain production steps. Soy based chemicals also struggle to grasp the competitive edge on the performance index over conventional crude oil derived products. These factors sometimes act as opposing forces for the soy based chemicals market, but ongoing penetration of soy based chemicals in different applications and technological advancement for betterment of soy based chemicals usability are expected to lower down the possible demand restraints for soy based chemicals. Threat from the substitutes like natural bio mass and bio gas is also a restraint for the global soy chemical market.Soy based chemicals are segmented based on the derived product type, application industry and the global regions. Based on the derived product type the global market for soy based chemicals is segmented into Soybean oil derivatives, natural extracts from soybean, refined industrial soybean oil and others. Soybean oil derivatives are further segmented as Methyl soyate (solvent), Epoxidised product, Waxes, Fatty acids, Sucrose esters, Polyol and other derivatives. Natural extracts are further classified as Vitamin E, Isoflavones, Lecithin and others. Based on the end use industry the global market for soy based chemicals is segmented into biodiesel, bio plastics, oleo chemicals & surfactants, paints & coatings, printing inks, polyol & thermoplastics, elastomers and rubber, plasticizers and others ( adhesive, lubricant, paper ,fiber etc.). Region wise the global market for the soy based chemicals is segmented into seven key regions which are North America (U.S., Canada), Latin America (Mexico. Brazil),Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg),Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia),Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand),Japan ,Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa).Bio diesel is the largest end use industry for soy based chemicals market. Government support towards clean & green products and environmental concerns are driving the growth of this particular segment. Plastic industry is expected to show substantial growth in upcoming times owing to the rising demand for bio plastic and polymers. Other segments like adhesives, paints, coatings etc. are responsible for increasing demand of soy based chemicals due to significant growth in the manufacturing industry. Region wise North America is largest market for soy based chemicals and is expected to show the expansion growth in future. Governments stringent regulations to increase the usage of green products, customers shifting trends towards using bio based products are some of the reasons to drive the market growth in soy based chemical market in this region. Asia pacific is the second most important region for soy based chemical market. It is expected to show the substantial growth in upcoming years due to emerging end use applications industries, environmental awareness and attractive investment opportunities for the renewable chemical development. South America with global soy producing giants like Brazil and Argentina is a big market due to ample availability of the resources.The major players in the soy based chemicals manufacturing are Ag Environmental Products LLC (US), The Dow Chemical Company (US), Cargill, Incorporated (US), Archer Daniels Midland Company (US), Columbus Foods Co.(US), Bunge Limited (US), Eco Safety Products (US), Elevance Renewable Sciences Inc.(US), Vertec BioSolvents Inc.(US) and many others.Request to view Table of content @The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Bioinformatics Market is Expected to Reach Revenue of $12.8 Billion Globally by 2020

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/bioinformatics-market

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-free-sample/136

Bioinformatics Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the global market is expected to garner $12.8 billion by 2020, registering a CAGR of 21.2% during the period 2014-2020.Access full summary at:Bioinformatics involves the development and storage methods that help in the organizing, analyzing, and retrieving of biological information. The development in the field of bioinformatics would help with various applications such as drug discovery and development, gene therapy, molecular medicine, preventive medicines, personalized medicines, etc. The factors driving the market are the need for integrated data, rising demand for drug development and discovery, the increasing focus in genomics & proteomics and favorable government initiatives. The limitations for the growth of this market are the need for skilled personnel, saturation of the pharmaceutical sectors and lack of common data formats. The factors that would provide opportunities for the growth of this market are standardization of databases, the need for integration systems & solutions and the need to control data overload.Download Free Sample Report:The bioinformatics technology and services market is segmented into knowledge management tools, bioinformatics platforms and bioinformatics services. Bioinformatics platforms segment was estimated to be the highest revenue generating segment in 2013. This was due to the increasing popularity of bioinformatics tools in various genomic studies. However, by 2020, knowledge management tools are expected to take over platform market and would emerge as the highest revenue generating segment in the overall bioinformatics technology and service market. This shift would be chiefly due to increasing need for data integration, increasing clinical trials and growth in the proteomic data. The services market is expected to have the highest potential during the analysis period due to increasing adoption of services by the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.The bioinformatics market is segmented based on applications, namely metabolomics, molecular phylogenetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, chemoinformatics, genomics and others. The genomic application segment was estimated to be the major revenue generating segment in 2013; however, by 2020, chemoinformatics would supersede genomic. Major contributing factors for this growth are increasing application of drug discovery and development using bioinformatics tools, which proves to be cost and time efficient for the pharmaceutical companies. The transcriptomics market is expected to have the highest potential as they provide solution in multi target drug discovery, which reduces the risk of failure of hypothesis, aids in the discovery of drugs that helps in modulating various diseases, and provides various platforms in drug discovery.The geography market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacificand RoW. North America is the highest revenue generating region due to the widespread adoption of advanced technologies in the region. TheAsia Pacificregion is expected to have the highest growth potential during the analysis period and this is due the funding initiatives done by the government. In addition, many private players in the bioinformatics sector are entering the untapped regions to obtain large market share.Principal strategies adopted by the manufactures are product launch, agreements and collaborations. Most of the agreements done are for the expansion of the product portfolio, example - Agilent technologies announced an agreement with SRI international. According to the agreement, the products of Agilent - GeneSpring GX, Mass Profiler Professional GeneSpring NGS and Pathway Architect version 12.5 with SRI International's complete BioCyc Pathway Database Collection would be offered as a combined package to the users. Thus, allowing end users to access, visualize, combine and analyze biological data.The key companies profiled in this report are Accelrys, Inc., Affymetrix, Inc., Agilent technologies, Inc.,Genevabioinformatics, Non linear dynamics, Quest Diagnostics, Inc., Life Technologies corp., Illumina, Bruker Daltonics, inc., and Biomax informatics AGAbout UsAllied Analytics LLP provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions". Allied Analytics LLP has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.Contact:Sona Padmanabhan5933 NE Win Sivers Drive#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesDirect: +1-503-894-6022Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 (U.S. &Canada)Fax: +1(855)550-5975E-mail: sales@alliedmarketresearch.com
Biocides Market Worth US$ 11.5 Billion by 2022

Biocides Market

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/biocides-market-report

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/requestsample/biocides-market-report

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/

New York, December 27: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Biocides Market by Product type (Metallic Compounds, Organosulfurs, Organic Acids, Phenolic, Halogen Compounds, Nitrogen and Others) and by Applications (Paints and Coatings, Wood Preservation, Water Treatment, Food and Beverage, Personal Care, and Others) - Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2022How Big is the Global Biocides market?The biocides market is expected to exceed more than US$ 11.5 Billion by 2022; Growing at a CAGR of more than 4.6% in the given forecast period.Browse Full Report:A biocide is micro organism or chemical substance planned to deter or destroy several harmful organism by biological or chemical way. Bacteria can be killed by various anti microbial products that is to say antibiotics which perform against viruses in humans as well as animals and biocides include preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants. A huge scale of biocides contains surface and skin sanitizer, pesticides, antifouling products and industrial preservatives. Depending upon their usage the biocidal products are divided into four types of groups such as pest control, preservatives, biocidal and other biocide products.The major driving factors of biocides market are as follows:Development in paint and coating industryRising demand for water treatmentThe restraining factors of biocides market are as follows:Strict environmental policiesInstability in raw material pricesDownload Free Sample Report:The biocides market is segmented on the lines of its product, application and regional. Based on product segmentation the biocides market covers nitrogen, phenolic, organic acids, organosulfurs, metal compounds, halogen compounds and other compound includes glutaraldehyde, etc. The biocides market is segmented on the lines of its application like paints and coatings, wood preservation, personal care, food and beverage, water treatment and others such as fabrics, etc. The biocides market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for biocides and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for biocides.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of biocides with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Ashland Inc, Albemarle Corporation, AkzoNobel, BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Champion Technologies, Troy Corporation, Arch Chemicals, Clariant AG, Lubrizol, Thor Specialties and Lanxess among other. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Biocides Market has been segmented as below:By Product Segment AnalysisNitrogenPhenolicOrganic acidsOrganosulfursMetal compoundsHalogen compoundsOther compound (glutaraldehyde, etc)By Application AnalysisPaints and coatingsWood preservationPersonal careFood and beverageWater treatmentOthers (fabrics, etc)By Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Flexible Packaging Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022

http://www.strategymrc.com/report/flexible-packaging-market-2016

http://www.strategymrc.com/report/flexible-packaging-market-2016

"According to Stratistics MRC, the Flexible Packaging market is accounted for $74.12 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $147.4 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 10.31% from 2015 to 2022. The Flexible packaging market estimates the market size in terms of value and volume. Substitutions of Traditional packaging and Retail Chains are the most important drivers for the market growth. Environmental legislations and rising cost of materials are the factors hampering the market growth. The opportunity for the market growth lies in concentrating on developing nations or emerging economies.The food in end user segment holds the largest share and has highest CAGR during the forecast period. Shifting end user lifestyles and the increasing consumption of food products will steer the flexible packaging market. Asia pacific is the largest market for Flexible packaging this is due to growth in food consumption and emerging economics have the potential to drive the market.Some of the key players in the market include Huhtamaki Group, Ampac Holdings, LLC, Wipak Group, Flair Flexible Packaging Solution, Amcor Limited, Clondalkin Group Holdings B.V., Mondi Group, Goglio Group, AR Packaging, Bemis Company, Coveris Holdings S.A., Berry Plastics Group, Inc., Cellpack Packaging, Constantia Flexibles Group GmbH, Sonoco Products Company, Sealed Air Corporation.For More, Please Visit:End Users Covered: Foodo Chilled foodo Baked goodso Hot drinkso Meat, fish and poultryo Dried foodo Fruit and vegetableso Confectioneryo Frozen foodo Dairy productso Ready mealso Savoury snackso Other food Pharmaceuticals and medical Beverages Non-food Cosmetics and toiletries Tobacco Pet foodMaterials Covered: Leather Cellulosic Aluminium Paper Plastic Filmo Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH)o Biaxially-Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)o Polyamideo Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC)o Polypropylene Cast Polypropylene (CPP) Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP)o Polyethylene LDPE HDPE LLDPEo Other Plastic Films Other MaterialsProduct Types Covered: Gusseted Bags Flat Pouches Stand-up Pouches Vacuum Pouches & Bags Wicketed Bags Retort Pouches Converted Roll Stock Wraps Other Flexible Packaging ProductsRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
Flavors and Fragrances Market Size, Share, Analysis, Report and Forecast to 2022

http://www.strategymrc.com/report/flavors-and-fragrances-market-2016

http://www.strategymrc.com/report/flavors-and-fragrances-market-2016

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Flavors and Fragrances Market is accounted for $29.12 billion in 2015 and is expected to reach $44.60 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period from 2015 to 2022. The increasing consciousness of people towards beauty and food & beverages is creating opportunities in the dairy, soap & detergents, fine fragrance and cosmetic & toiletries industries. Emerging middle class population in developing countries acts as the growth factor for the market. Moreover, increasing demand for natural flavors is the key trend of the market coupled with high disposable income of consumer and rapid change in lifestyle. In addition to all drivers, high cost of raw materials is one of the major factors restraining the market growth.Aroma chemicals segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment owing to the increasing use of this material for making flavor and fragrance compounds. Diary, cosmetics & toiletries, and household product segments are anticipated to show above average growth in market, reaction to its various uses in daily lifestyle. North America is estimated to be the largest market, while Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market due to the increase in disposable income and changing lifestyle.Some of the key players in the flavors and fragrances market include Firmenich SA, Givaudan SA, Symrise AG, Agilex Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., Bedoukian Research, Inc., Aromatech SAS, BASF SE, Bell Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Sensient Technologies Corp., Takasago International Corp., Royal DSM NV, Cargill Flavor Systems, ConAgra Foods Incorporated and Kerry Group plc.For More, Please Visit:Products Covered: Flavor blends Fragrance blends Aroma chemicalso Natural Aroma chemicalso Synthetic Aroma chemicalsTechnologies Covered: Cold Extraction Technology Conventional Technologies Enzymatic Routes Flavor Encapsulation Supercritical Fluid ExtractionApplications Covered: Beverages Confectionary And Bakery Products Cosmetics And Toiletries Dairy Products Household And Other Products Oral Care Soap & DetergentRegions Covered: North Americao USo Canadao Mexico Europeo Germanyo Franceo Italyo UKo Spaino Rest of Europe Asia Pacifico Japano Chinao Indiao Australiao New Zealando Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the Worldo Middle Easto Brazilo Argentinao South Africao EgyptWhat our report offers:- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments- Market share analysis of the top industry players- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants- Market forecasts for a minimum of 7 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsFor More, Please Visit:We offer wide spectrum of research and consulting services with in-depth knowledge of different industries. We are known for customized research services, consulting services and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) services in the research world. We explore the market trends and draw our insights with valid assessments and analytical views. We use advanced techniques and tools among the quantitative and qualitative methodologies to identify the market trends. Our research reports and publications are routed to help our clients to design their business models and enhance their business growth in the competitive market scenario. We have a strong team with hand-picked consultants including project managers, implementers, industry experts, researchers, research evaluators and analysts with years of experience in delivering the complex projects.STRATISTICS MRC17049 King James Way, Gaithersburg,MD, 20877, USA
Qatar Midstream Oil and Gas Market Trend, Growth and Demand Outlook to 2021 | New Survey Report

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=895894

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=895894

http://www.researchmoz.us/

http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG

Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Qatar Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2021: Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing" to its huge collection of research reports."Qatar Midstream Oil and Gas Industry Outlook to 2021: Market Forecasts for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Oil Storage, Pipelines and Gas Processing" is a comprehensive report on midstream oil and gas industry in Qatar. The report provides oil and natural gas production, consumption and exports from 2000 to 2020. It also provides historic oil and gas reserves for the period 2000 to 2015. Further, the report provides details such as name, type, operational status and operator for all active and planned (new build) LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing plants in Qatar till 2021. Further, the report also offers recent developments and latest contracts awarded in the countrys midstream sector.Scope- Historic and forecast of oil data related to production, consumption and exports for the period 2000-2020, and reserves for the period 2000-2015- Historic and forecast of natural gas data related to production, consumption and exports for the period 2000-2020, and reserves for the period 2000-2015- Updated information related to all active and planned LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing in the country, including operator and equity details- Key mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, private equity and initial public offerings in the countrys midstream oil and gas industry, where available- Latest developments and awarded contracts related to midstream oil and gas industry in the countryTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Reasons to buy- Gain a strong understanding of the countrys energy sector and midstream oil and gas industry- Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of production, reserves and capacity data- Assess your competitors major LNG terminals, oil storage terminals, major trunk pipelines and gas processing in the country- Analyze the latest developments and awarded contracts related to the countrys midstream oil and gas industryTable of Contents1 Table of Contents 21.1 List of Tables 61.2 List of Figures 82 Introduction 92.1 What is This Report About? 92.2 Market Definition 93 Qatar Energy Sector 123.1 Qatar Energy Sector, Market Overview 123.2 Qatar Energy Sector, Oil 133.2.1 Qatar Oil, Overview 133.2.2 Qatar Oil, Supply and Demand Balance 133.2.3 Qatar Crude Oil, Regulatory Structure 193.3 Qatar Energy Sector, Gas 203.3.1 Qatar Gas, Overview 203.3.2 Qatar Gas, Supply and Demand Balance 203.3.3 Qatar Natural Gas, Regulatory Structure 264 Qatar LNG Industry 274.1 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction 274.1.1 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction Key Data 274.2 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction, Overview 274.2.1 Qatar LNG Industry, Total Liquefaction Capacity 274.3 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction, Capacity by Major Companies 294.4 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction, Capacity by Terminal 304.5 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction Asset Details 314.5.1 Qatar LNG Industry, Liquefaction Planned Asset Details 315 Qatar Oil Storage Industry 465.1 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Key Data 465.2 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Overview 465.2.1 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Total Storage Capacity 465.3 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity Share by Area 485.4 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Company 495.5 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Storage Capacity by Terminal 505.6 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Asset Details 515.6.1 Qatar Oil Storage Industry, Active Asset Details 51Make 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 @
Anti-Snoring and Sleep Apnea Devices Market Expected To observe Sizable Growth By 2020

http://www.sa-brc.com/Global-Anti-Snoring-and-Sleep-Apnea-Devices-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2016---2020/sample3

http://www.sa-brc.com/report/Global-Anti-Snoring-and-Sleep-Apnea-Devices-Market-Assessment--Forecast-2016---2020/3

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Snoring affects approximately 500 million people across the world and is a notable cause of angst among partners living together. Conventionally snoring was never considered as a serious disorder but more of a hindrance and social embarrassment. However, today snoring is known to be a causative factor as well as symptom of more serious underlying conditions such as sleep apnea. Snoring is also considered to be a symptom of other associated morbidities such as obesity, stress and depression. Sleep apnea is fairly common among people and is diagnosed when there are frequent interruptions in sleep. Shallow breathing or complete pauses in breathing can move a patient from deep sleep to slight sleep. If the condition is left untreated it can lead to lack of oxygen supply to brain and blood followed by a series of cardiovascular disorders such as increased risk of heart attack, daytime sleepiness, loss in productivity, stroke, heart failure and high blood pressure among a host of other problems.Although direct deaths caused by sleep apnea are extremely rare, the condition results in exponential growth of risk of heart attacks and heart related disorders. The University of Wisconsin-Madison has been studying the effects of sleep apnea in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort for more than a decade and has reported strong links between sleep apnea and hypertension, stroke and depression. The direct and indirect burden of sleep apnea and snoring is estimated to be around US$ 65 ? US$ 100 billion and include road accidents, workplace accident and loss of productivity, hidden healthcare costs, comorbidities, treatment and reimbursement among other factors. There is a high awareness of sleep apnea and thus affects the growth of sleep apnea devices market very positively. On the other hand, snoring is a relatively new condition being focused on and is anticipated to grow further as diagnosis rate increases.Free Sample Report@This report focuses on anti-snoring devices for nasal, oral and other application such as adhesive strips, clips, vents, mandibular advancement devices, expiratory PAP, tongue stabilizer or retainer, electronic wearable and remote monitored devices, chin straps and positional devices. The research also reports analysis of sleep apnea devices such as positive airway pressure (CPAP, BiPAP & APAP), masks & tubing accessories, non-invasive ventilators, adaptive servo-ventilators and humidifiers.This report estimates the market for anti-snoring and sleep apnea devices in six regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin-America, Middle-East and Africa. The market varies from region to region based largely on two factors that are awareness of treatment for snoring and sleep apnea, and rate of diagnoses. The latter varies greatly from region to region since snoring in particular is considered a hindrance rather than a medical condition, thus often ignored by family members and patients themselves. The global anti-snoring devices market was valued at US$ 1,201.8 million and is forecast to grow to US$ 1,586.3 million by 2020 at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2016 to 2020. Rising incidence of obesity, work stress supplemented by high awareness of sleep deprivation has ensured North America?s rank in this market. The region contributed to a share of 41.7% for the anti-snoring market and 36.7% for sleep apnea market respectively.Click For Full Report@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:
Styrenic Polymers Market will generate new growth opportunities by 2024

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Global Styrenic Polymers Market: OverviewThe production of styrenic polymers is done by the polymerization of styrene monomers and chemical compounds such as butadiene, acrylonitrile, and others. Owing to the increasing applications such as in packaging, automotive industry, building and construction, and appliances, the production of styrene-based derivatives is a growing trend. The traditional metallic devices are now being replaced by polymers that can be processed easily, hence the medical plastics market is expanding significantly. The polymers that contain styrene as the main component are known as styrenic polymers. Styrene is produced from ethylene and benzene. The most common styrenic polymer is polystyrene. The physical and chemical properties of styrenic copolymers depend on other monomers in the styrenic polymer chain.Request Free Sample Report @Global Styrenic Polymers Market: SegmentationThe global styrenic polymers market is segmented on the basis of types, applications, and regions. On the basis of type, the global styrenic polymers market is categorized into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, methyl-methacrylate butadiene styrene, styrene methyl-methacrylate, styrene ethylene butylene styrene, polystyrene, styrene acrylonitrile, methyl-methacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and styrene butadiene styrene. Based on the applications, the global market is classified into medical, building and construction, electrical and electronics, automotive industry, consumer goods, marine accessories, and packaging. The regional diversification of the styrenic polymers market is into Europe, Latin America, North America, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa.Global Styrenic Polymers Market: Growth FactorsIn the medical industry, styrenic polymers are used in the medical devices such as tubes, connectors, IV spikes, equipment housing, bags, liquid delivery systems, and medical packaging. Polystyrene, SAN, ABS, and styrenic block polymers such as SEBS and SBS are the common styrenic polymers that are used for manufacturing medical devices and packaging, thus contributing to the global market growth. Polystyrene is the widely used styrenic polymer in the medical applications while ABS co-polymer dominates the styrenic market. The processing of styrenic materials can be flexible as well as rigid as per the requirement of the end-user. Styrenic polymers provide advantages in design and development of medical parts and devices owing to their flexibility, hence widely used in the market. Additional properties such as unique bonding polarity, chemical inertness, and aesthetic and physical properties are driving the styrenic polymers market in medical applications. The fact that styrenic polymers are costly as compared to other medical polymers such as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride may hamper the market growth.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Styrenic Polymers Market: Regional AnalysisNorth America dominated the market for styrenic polymers for the medical applications. Asia Pacific and Europe followed North America in terms of the usage of styrenic polymers in medical applications. In the coming years, the market will be ruled by Asia Pacific owing to the rapid developments in the medical field and the growing population. The growth in the infrastructure industry will make the Asia-Pacific region to become the largest consumer of the styrenic polymers market.Global Styrenic Polymers Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the key players in the styrenic polymers market include Bayer Material Science, Lanxess Ag, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, Nova Chemicals Corporation, ENI S.P.A, LG Chem Ltd., Ashland, Styrolution Group GmbH, Ineos Group Ag, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Alpek Sab De Cv, BASF, Kraton Polymers, CCP Composites, and Chi Mei Corporation.Browse detail report @Global Styrenic Polymers Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaWhat Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.Visit Our Blog:About Us:Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact Us:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Open Source Data Center Conference 2017 - Call for Papers

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From 16th to 18th In May 2017, the Open Source Data Center Conference will take place for the 9th time in Berlin. The international conference, focussing on the use of open source software in data centers and large it environments, is held in English and aims at experienced administrators and architects. The organizer and open source expert NETWAYS started the Call for Papers.Nuremberg, Dec. 27, 2016The call for papers for the Open Source Data Center Conference 2017 runs until January 31, 2017. Interested speakers have the opportunity to submit their ideas for a lecture, interested participants can secure early bird tickets up to this point.The conference, with a changing thematic focus from year to year, provides the ideal opportunity to learn about the latest developments from internationally well-known open source experts at firsthand. The complete bandwidth is to be covered on the topic open source data center solutions. Above all, the special feature of the OSDC is to promote the networking amongst the participants, as well as the strengthening of the open source community.In addition to the lectures on May 17 to 18, several in-depth workshops will be held on May 16, 2017, covering various topics. The workshops will take place in small groups to assure an optimal learning success. The registration is made via the conference web page.Participation in the conference can be booked including overnight stay (package GOLD) as well as conference attendance only (package SILVER) atEvent InformationOpen Source Data Center Conference 201716. - 18. May 2017Mercure Hotel MOAStephanstrasse 41D-10559 BerlinPRESS CONTACTPamela DrescherHead of Marketing+49 911 92885-0pamela.drescher@netways.deAbout NETWAYS GmbHNETWAYS GmbH has been supporting companies in the management of complex IT environments based on open source software for more than 20 years. NETWAYS is market leading in open source systems management based on Icinga, Puppet and Elastic.Our customers are companies and organisations from all sectors such as Deutsche Post AG, Deutsche Welle, REWE group, Rakuten, Audi AG, Continental AG and GFK AG.NETWAYS has also made a name for itself as organizer of various conferences training courses on open source monitoring and open source data center solutions.For more information:NETWAYS GmbHDeutschherrnstr. 15-1990429 NurembergGermany
Water Trading Market Globally to register highest growth by 2024

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Water Trading Market: OverviewA voluntary transfer of certain amount of water between the seller and buyer to satisfy the demands of the buyer is known as water trading. Water trading is a solution for end-users such as industries, agriculture, urban, and so on. The allocation of water is according to the demand from the end-users and equivalent prices are charged. A total of over 100 transactions have been conducted by several projects under the water trading market which amounted to more than US$ 10 Trillion, according to a study conducted by Forbes. The noticeable projects in the water trading market include Water Quality Trading, Dar es Salaam, Saltillo, Payments for Watershed Services, and Herediam.Request Free Sample Report @Water Trading Market: SegmentationThe sub-segments of the global water trading market include flow restoration projects and ground water mitigation. According to the regions, the water trading market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World.Water Trading Market: Growth FactorsThe growth of the global water trading market is due to the high demand of clean water. Water management has become a big problem owing to the increase in population and the economic development across the globe. Hence, there is a shortage in the supply of fresh, clean, and healthy water. Additionally, there has been an increase in the mortality rate owing to the waterborne diseases and lack of capital to find solution for this problem. These reasons have raised the global demand for the water trading market. The global water trading market is expanding in the regions where there is ample fresh and clean water supply along with huge capital. Such regions are making huge profits in the water trading by exporting water to other nations. The major restraint to the market growth is the transportation cost involved in transporting the water to buyer along with high cost involved in the infrastructure. Other barriers involve water rights, legal constraints, social and political barriers.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Water Trading Market: Regional AnalysisWater trading is an international business and is mainly conducted in the developed regions. The leading countries in the global water trading market include Chile, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Canada has the largest freshwater reserves. There was a legal agreement between Turkey and Israel to purchase 1.75 Billion cubic feet of water for 20 years from Turkey. This was one of the greatest examples using easy method for water transportation that used large plastic bubbles to bring water to storage facilities. Moreover, the UN General Assembly has declared that access to clean water is the human right for every individual. Thus, water trading market is anticipated to grow in the future.Water Trading Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the market players in the water trading industry are Calgon Carbon, Aqua America, Murray Irrigation, Integra Water Services, California Water, Severn Trent, and Ameron.Browse detail report @Global Water Trading Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAsk for a customized report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.Visit Our Blog :About UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Current and Future Industry Trends of 4K Technology Market, 2016-2024

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Global 4K Technology Market: Overview4K technology is on the way to replace HD technology from computer monitors, TV screens, projectors, and cameras. The term 4k is derived from 4096 x 2160 pixels format and refers to video signals with approximately 4,000 pixels. New models coming into the market are with lower resolution than exact 4K resolution. 4K technology is used in the electronics devices to enhance its picture quality. The 4k image is composed of nearly 8.3 Million pixels compared to the 1080p image which of 2 Million pixels.Request Free Sample Report @Global 4K Technology Market: Growth Factors4K technology is an advanced feature that provides sharp quality pictures along with vibrant colors, which is one of the major factors driving the global 4k technology market. 4K resolution offers 8.3 Million pixels and enhances picture quality along with bright colors and advanced image details. This is anticipated to boost the global 4k technology market in near future. Increasing disposal income of people positively impacts the global market growth. Moreover, people preferences have changed to view the picture with advance quality which is expected to fuel the 4k technology market growth in future. Growing industrial revolution is also projected to foster the global market in near future.Global 4K Technology Market: SegmentationThe global market for 4K technology has been categorized based on products as the set-top box, TV, camera, digital signage, Blu-ray player, smartphone, monitor, projector, tablet, and laptop. Of these, TV accommodates the largest market share in the global 4k technology market and tablets segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global 4K Technology Market: Regional AnalysisGeographically, the global 4K technology market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region for 4K technology owing to rising spending power. Emerging economies such India, Japan, and China accounted for the largest market share due to growing electronics industries in these region. Changing consumer preferences is also anticipated to further propel the global 4K technology market growth in future.Global 4K Technology Market: Competitive PlayersMajor players in the global 4K technology market are AsusTek Corp., Samsung Electronics Corp., JVC Kenwood Corp., Hisense Co., Ltd., Sharp Corp., LG Electronics Corp., Hong Kong Skyworth Digital Holdings Ltd., and Innolux Corp. Other key players influencing the global 4k technology market include Canon Inc., TCL Corp., Sony Corp., Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd., and Panasonic Corp. Many companies are adopting strategies to enhance their market shares such as new product launch, mergers, and acquisitions. For example, Sony Corp. announced that it is going to launch new Bravia liquid crystal display television along with 4K technology.Browse detail report @Global 4K Technology Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAsk for a customized report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the marketVisit Our Blog :About UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Cast Polymers Market, 2016-2024: Industry Size, Share, Analysis and Forecast Report

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Global Cast Polymers Market: OverviewThe cast polymers are made artificially. They are mineral packed and chemically constitute of polymeric materials. These cast polymers are casted and strengthened into hard materials and given various designs to meet the requirement of design. The primary element in the manufacturing process of the cast polymers is the quarried stone. The cast polymer is stronger and less brittle than quarried marble and is tougher than porcelain. The cast polymers can resist stains and mild dew. Cleaning of cast polymer is also easy by means of cleaning agents that are nonabrasive. The cast polymer products can be seamlessly manufactured into one piece, they are resistant to breakage and are easy to handle. The constituents of cast polymers are cultured onyx, solid surface products, cultured granite, and cultured marble. The superior mechanical properties that cast polymers exhibit make them more preferable in the market.Request Free Sample Report @Global Cast Polymers Market: SegmentationThe global cast polymers market is segmented into type, material, end-user, and regions. On the basis of types, the global cast polymers market is divided into engineered stone, solid surface, and cultured marble. Based on the manufacturing materials, the cast polymers market is further categorized into silica, resins, calcium carbonate, alumina trihydrate, and others. On the basis of the end-users, the global market is segmented into the residential and non-residential category. The cast polymers market is diversified into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World.Global Cast Polymers Market: Growth FactorsThe need to produce high quality and technically advanced products made the cast polymers market to grow significantly. Cast polymers find their applications in window sills, molding accents, shower receptors, whirlpool baths, enclosure sets, lavatories, bathtubs, floor tiles, countertops, fireplace surrounds, vanities, and wall panels. Owing to the higher quality standards, top-notch raw materials, and better constructability, the cast polymers are in high demand, hence driving the global market growth positively. The consumers get the facility to opt from a wide range of long-lasting products at prices that are affordable. Utilization of cast polymers in constructional and remodeling activities owing to their availability in different shapes, colors, and types contributed to the growth of the cast polymers market. The growth of the construction industry in commercial and residential sector is also driving the cast polymers market. The restraining factor for the market growth is there are very few companies in the market that produce cast polymers and the demand from the end-user industries is high; hence, the demand is more than the supply.Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @Global Cast Polymers Market: Regional AnalysisThe cast polymers market is expected to grow tremendously in the coming years. Asia Pacific was and will be the biggest market for the cast polymers. This growth is due to the rapid industrialization in countries such as India, China, and Japan. There is also a tremendous growth in the manufacturing industries in these regions, thus anticipating the growth of cast polymers market. The highest consumer of the cast polymers is the construction industry across different regions, whereas the largest end-user segment is the non-residential sector.Global Cast Polymers Market: Competitive PlayersSome of the key players in the cast polymers market include Peker Group, Quarella Spa Pvt. Company, Rynone Manufacturing Corporation, WK Marble & Granite Proprietary Limited, Kingkonree International Surface Industrial Co., Ltd, Zhongxun New Material Company Limited, United States Marble Inc., Geberit AG Company, Pokarna Limited, and Romastone Company Limited. Other major players influencing the global market are Samsung SDI Company Limited, Yoshimoto Trading Company Limited, Caesarstone Sdot-Yam, Eastern Surfaces Inc., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Agco Inc., Cosentino S.A., The R. J. Marshall Company, Bradley Corporation, Coritech Solid Surfaces Manufacturers, Owell Stone Group, Breton S.P.A., The Swan Corporation, and Blanco.Browse detail report @Global Cast Polymers Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilThe Middle East and AfricaAsk for a customized report @What Report ProvidesFull in-depth analysis of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsSegmentation details of the marketFormer, on-going, and projected market analysis in terms of volume and valueAssessment of niche industry developmentsMarket share analysisKey strategies of major playersEmerging segments and regional marketsTestimonials to companies in order to fortify their foothold in the market.Visit Our Blog :About UsZion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the clients needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us.Contact US:Zion Market Research4283, Express Lane,Suite 634-143,Sarasota, Florida 34249, United StatesTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Soil Treatment Market  Industry Perspective, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2021

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Global Soil Treatment (pH Adjusters, Soil Protection, and Organic Amendments) Market by Technology (Biological, Physiochemical, and Thermal): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2021Global Soil Treatment Market: Study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2021 based revenue (USD Billion)The report covers forecast and analysis for the soil treatment market on a global and regional level. The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes study of opportunities available in the soil treatment market on a global level.Request Sample Report:Ever rising population and shrinking arable land is expected to boost the demand for soil treatment. Agricultural sector is growing across the world. Government initiatives for creating vigilance among people towards prevention and treatment of soil ensure in generating market for soil treatment. However, negligence, lack of information and knowledge among the undeveloped and developing countries is major constrain for the soil treatment market. Blooming of soil remediation technologies principally concentrating on aeration and fertility of unproductive lands is expected to reinforce soil treatment market diffusion.In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the soil treatment market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario, and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the soil treatment market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein technology segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Browse detail report at:Advance technologies are used in soil treatment, like biological, physiochemical and thermal treatment which are further diverge into biosparing, phytoremediation, bioventing, bioremendiation are biological treatment methods. Physiochemical treatment includes electric resistant heating, soil flushing, chemical oxidation. Soil protection, pH adjusters, and Organic amendments are type segments of soil treatment market. In 2012  13, weed and pest control types of soil treatment having highest market value and predicated to remain top over minimum next five years. Crop residue, Sewage Sludge, Animal Dung, Compost are types of organic amendments. The rapidly expanding segment is crop residue where as aglime and gypsum is widely used pH adjusters for soil treatment.North america dominated global soil treatment market in 2015. North America followed by Europe in terms of revenue. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region owing to rising food requirement among the population. Further, high investments from several multinational manufacturers, especially in countries such as China, India, and Japan is expected to boost the demand for soil treatment in this region.The study provides a decisive view on the soil treatment market by segmenting the market based on technology, type and region. Technologies like biological, physicochemical and thermal. On the basis of type, the soil treatment market has been segmented into pH adjustors, soil protection and organic amendments. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India and Brazil.Other Categories Reports :-Food and beverage:Chemical and materials:Consumer Goods:The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include The Dow Chemical Company, Soil Technologies Corp, Amvec Chemical Corporation, Chemtura Corporation, Solvay S.A., Monsanto Company, Arkema S.A., Agrofill S.R.L., Syngenta,BASF, DuPont.This report segments the global soil treatment market as follows:Global Soil Treatment Market: Technology Segment AnalysisBiological TreatmentBiospargingPhytoremediationBioventingBioremediationPhysicochemical TreatmentElectric resistance heatingSoil FlushingChemical OxidationSoil Vapor Extraction (SVE)FracturingSolidification & StabilizationThermal TreatmentGlobal Soil Treatment Market: Type Segment AnalysispH adjustorsSoil protectionOrganic amendmentsGlobal Soil Treatment Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Forest Land Management - Global Industry Analysis 2023: TMR

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The forest cover across the globe is shrinking due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. Forest Land Management is the process of management, conservation, development, restoration and maintenance of forest land. Forest Land Management involves forest administration plans, wood sales, timber sales, maintenance of proper records, wildlife supervision, reforestation and recreation services. Forest condition assessments allow forest authorities to comprehend the current conditions, detect potential complications, and develop plans to achieve future outlooks regarding the forest land.Wood has a wide range of applications in various industries such as bioenergy, biofuels and bio-materials. Scientificdevelopments have transformed the conventional markets such as wood chips, pulp industry, paper industry, and lumber for housing and construction industry. Timbers are used for furniture; flooring and appearance-grade applications. Timber trade has transformed due to enactment of various environmental laws in regions such as North America, Europe and Australia. These laws aim to examine the legality of forest products before their sale and trade. This makes certification a prerequisite for various timber management industries and the ones with certification can have an edge in a restricted market place.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:The growing population and rapid urbanization of developing countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Brazil, South Africa and others boost demand for timber market. These are dynamic, high-growth markets which offer remarkable scope for forest land management market.Forest land management market is segmented on the basis of type of application industries, type of services and geography. Various type of industries such as construction & housing, pulp and paper, bioenergy, furniture and feature timbers have applications of forest land management market. Forest land management encompasses various types of services such as investment services, appraisal and valuation services, technical services for due diligence, reforestation, wild life management and recreational services.North America, South America and Central America, possess the largest forest cover.Europe, including EU and Russia have the second largest forest cover. Africa holds the third place in the worlds forest area, followed by the Asia Pacific region.The primary driver of growth for forest land management marketis the rising global demand for wood and timber. Rising construction activities and industrialization across the globe has boosted forest land management market. Increasing awareness about climate changes and preventive measures for the same have all brought focus on forest land conservation and wildlife welfare. All these factors are expected to boost the forest land management marketduring the forecast period. Developing countries such as China, India, Brazil and Malaysia are expected to the fastest growing markets for forest land management.Some of the major players in the market include American Forest Management, Forest Land Management Inc., Milliken Forestry Company Inc., Forest Land Services Inc., Dowdys Forest & Land Management, Steigerwaldt Land Services, Inland Forest Management Inc., Southern Company, Forsite Consultants Ltd., Saratoga Land Management Corporation, Prentiss & Carlisle Co. Inc., Rayonier Inc., Ecotrust Forest Management Inc., Upper Michigan Land Management & Wildlife Services, Inc., Forest and Land Management Ltd., DuPont Forestry Management, The Forestland Group LLC, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Muswellbroook Forest Nurseryamong others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Transparency Market ResearchUS Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Biomarkers Market Worth US$ 50 Billion by 2021

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New York, December 27: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Biomarkers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2023The Biomarkers market is expected to exceed more than US$ 50.0 billion by 2021 growing at around 13% CAGR.Browse Full Report:Biomarkers are biological measures used to measure biological states such as blood pressure, cholesterol level and monitor and forecast health level of individual. Biomarkers are used in single or in combination to identify health or disease of individual. Different varieties of biomarkers are used currently for various applications. Every biological system consists of its own biomarkers. Some biomarkers are easy to use, measure and form part of routine medical examinations. Biomarkers are used to estimate health and disease of individual such as diabetes and cardiovascular. Biomarkers are used for detection, screening, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancer.The Biomarkers market is expected to exceed more than US$ 50.0 billion by 2021 growing at around 13% CAGR. The main driving factors for biomarkers market are increase in number of low cost for conducting clinical trials in developing countries. Rising healthcare expenditure and R&D funding are the major macro drivers of the market. The use of biomarkers in diagnostic process is increasing rapidly due to its more accurate results. The biomarkers also have some restraints such as it contain technical issues related to sample and storage. The testing cost of biomarkers is high. It contains high investment but relatively low cost and benefit ratio.Download Free Sample Report:This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for biomarkers and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for biomarkers.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of biomarkers with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands), PerkinElmer, Inc., Merck & Co, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories , Enzo Biochem , EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc , Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC , Singulex, Inc. , BioSims Technologies , Cisbio Bioassays , and Signosis, Inc.. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Biomarkers Market has been segmented as below:By Product Segment Analysis Consumable Services SoftwareBy Type Analysis Safety biomarker, Efficacy biomarker Validation biomarkerBy Application Analysis Diagnostics development Drug discovery & development Personalized medicine Disease risk assessmentBy Disease Indication Analysis Cancer Cardiovascular disorders Neurological disorders Immunological disordersBy Regional Analysis North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Thermoelectric Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis 2023

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According to an estimation, almost half of the energy is wasted as heat, for example heat generated by vehicle and heavy equipment.Most of the heat generated is wasted as it escapes in the air. The rising demand of energy has generated the need of trapping the wasted heat, which can serve as readily available source of energy. The phenomenon of using this thermal energy to generate electricity is being used widely through thermoelectric devices. Thermoelectric effects are conversion of temperature differences to electricity or vice versa. The workingprincipal of thermal harvesting devices is based mostly on Seebeck effect. The thermoelectric devices are widely used for heating or cooling. However, more recently the manufacturer are trying to use them in generating electricity on a broader basis. Although there are many products belonging to this category, the market is still considered as niche segment with very few buyers.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:The thermoelectric devices generate the voltage using the temperature difference between metals called as Seedbeck effect, or inversely using voltage generate thermal energy as in Peltier effect. The market has seen limited growth in the past few years. Earlier thethermoelectric devices market was divided in consumer cooling applications and some niche applications such as waste heat recovery. However, in recent year the companies are working on bringing up more efficient product ranging in varied sector. According to the recent applications, the upcoming segmentscan be seen in the form of wireless sensors & networks, waste heat recover system for vehicles, military & aerospace and innovative consumer applications.The thermo generatorscan be used to power the wireless sensors in places having temperature difference. This would help to eradicate the issues in sensors such as battery life and consistency. Some of the applications developed in this types have extremely low energy demand thus increasing the acceptance of the technology. Companies such as Das Volkswagen, Ford, BMW and others have collaborated with NASA to develop the waste heat recovery systems for vehicle. The systems developed so far can produce power output nearly around 1000W and provides 3-5% improvements in fuel economy. In consumer applications, the recent products include thermo-powered cooking sensors, mobile phones power supplier, watches, sensory wristbands, clothing, and apparel among others. The wide product portfolio may result in accelerated growth of the market.There are more than 300 laborites worldwide working on thermoelectric devices technology. The USA, Germany, Japan and Korea are among the major countries focusing in development of this technology. The major hindrance in the spread of thermoelectric devices market is the huge cost of installation. On the brighter side the efficiency of these devices has been proved useful in sector such as military and aerospace where cost is not a major concern. These technology is being used formore than a decade in this sector for applications such as satellite and space probe. The property of providing reliablepower supply in extreme conditions has helped in generating the millions dollar market for thermoelectric technology,in this sector.Some of the key players in thermoelectric devices market are Gentherm,Evident Thermoelectrics, greenTEG AG, KELK Ltd., II-VI Marlow, Inc., Perpetua Power Source Technologies, Inc.,Romny Scientific, Inc.,Laird Technologies, Inc.,Ferrotec (USA) Corporation, RGS Development, B.V. Tellurex Corporation, and Micropelt GmbH, among others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Transparency Market ResearchUS Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Cancer Diagnostics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% to reach an estimated value of USD 168,649.3 million by 2020

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In 2013, the global cancer diagnostics market stood at US$101 bn. Expanding at an estimated CAGR of 7.60% between 2014 and 2020, the market is anticipated to reach a value of US$168.6 bn by the end of the forecast period. The demand for the imaging technique for cancer detection has been constantly rising, enabling it to maintain its leadership among market segments based on detection method. MRI, mammography, CT, PET, and ultrasound are the prime imaging techniques used for the detection of cancer. Among these, the markets for ultrasound imaging and CT scan hold the leading positions at present.Download PDF Brochure of Report -The global cancer diagnostics market is moderately fragmented in nature. GE Healthcare, Siemens, and Philips Healthcare are the key manufacturers of imaging equipment for cancer diagnosis. Abbott Diagnostics, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Ambry Genetics, Myriad Genetics, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Eli Lily Co. are the major suppliers of oncology diagnostics tests related products in the global arena.North America leads the global cancer diagnostics market at present. In 2013, it held a share of 40.7% in the overall market. Europe is the second-largest regional market for cancer diagnostics, which accounted for a share of 29.1% in the global market in 2013. Analysts expect Asia Pacific to report the fastest CAGR of 8.20% during forecast period. On the other hand, North America is likely to register a CAGR of 7.0% between 2014 and 2020. The increasing incidence of breast cancer in Asia Pacific is the key factor driving the growth of the cancer diagnostics market in this region. The market for cancer diagnostics in the Rest of World is also expected to post healthy growth in the forthcoming years on account of the increasing prevalence of lung cancer.On the whole, the global cancer diagnostics market looks will expand impressively over the forecast period. However, the lack of appropriate reimbursement policies is projected to restrict the growth of this market significantly in the near future.Browse Report with Complete TOC -Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
VoIP Services Market Expected To Observer Major Growth By 2020

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VoIP stand for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP is a service that manipulates assorted data and voice transmission technologies to provide communication services over a packet-switched network. The technologies used in VoIP Service include IP telephony, voice over broadband and Internet telephony. This service support digital signals for transmitting data over IP based network. VoIP services are executed by means of a broad range of protocols such as H.323, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), Inter Asterisk exchange (IAX), Real Time Protocol (RTP) and Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP).Get a copy of free Sample Report @The global VoIP services market is primarily driven by industry participants concentrating on approaching VoIP solutions across corporate and individual consumer sectors. This has led to several developments, especially in network infrastructure and cloud-based models.VoIP services market can be segmented on the basis of configuration, call type, end-user and region. On the basis of configuration, the VoIP services market is categorized into computer-to-computer, computer-to-phone and phone-to-phone. Of all, phone-to-phone VOIP service is the fastest growing segment, expected to boost rapidly over the forecast period. Based on the call type, the VoIP services market is segmented as international long distance VoIP calls and domestic VoIP calls. The segment of international long distance VoIP calls ruled the market. Based on the call type, the VoIP services market is segmented as corporate consumers, IP connectivity, managed IP PBX, hosted business and individual consumers. The largest contribution in terms of revenue came from the hosted business services delivered by VoIP service providers.Inquire more before buying this report @The report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of market data and trends in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is a fastest growing region for VoIP services market, due to its rising subscriber base in the global VoIP services market. The report identifies factors driving and restraining growth and future business opportunities in the global VoIP services business.Some of the key players of global VoIP services market iNet Telecom Ltd., Nextiva, Inc., AT&T, InPhonex LLC, Avaya, Ring Central, Inc., 88 Inc, Microsoft Corporation (Skype), Viber Media S.r.l and Vonage Holdings Corp.Browse detail report @This report segments the global VoIP services market as follows:VoIP Services Market: Configuration Segment AnalysisComputer-to-ComputerComputer-to-PhonePhone-to-PhoneVoIP Services Market: Call Segment AnalysisInternational Long Distance VoIP CallsDomestic VoIP CallsVoIP Services Market: End-user Segment AnalysisCorporate ConsumersIP ConnectivityManaged IP PBXHosted BusinessIndividual ConsumersVoIP Services Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Ambulance Services Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report 2014-2020

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Ambulance service facilitates injured or medically ill patients by transporting them to medical treatment centers. The global ambulance services market is driven by a combination of factors, which are a rising rate of accidents, improvement in reimbursement policies, a growing geriatric population, and an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The market size and forecasts in terms of revenue (USD million) for the period 2015 to 2020, considering 2014 as the base year, have been provided for this segment of the report. The report also provides the compounded annual growth rate (% CAGR) for the forecast period 2015 to 2020.Get a copy of free Sample Report @The report provides a comprehensive view of the ambulance service, we have included a detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the ambulance service market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The global ambulance service market is segmented on the basis of mode of transport, equipment, emergency, and region. The modes of transport used in the global ambulance service market are ground ambulance service, air ambulance service, water ambulance service. The equipment segment of ambulance service includes advance life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS). The emergency segment of ambulance service includes emergency and non-emergency services Region wise, this market is segmented into North America, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.Inquire more before buying this report @Out of all the regional segments of the global market, North America will hold the dominant share in the overall ambulance services market across the globe. This dominance is majorly witnessed due to the presence of a large number of elderly people. Furthermore, owing to rise in disposable income coupled with increasing healthcare expenditure, Asia-Pacific region has been estimated to foresee the highest growth during the forecast period.Some of the key players for global ambulance services market include Air Methods Corporation, Dutch Health BV, Envision Healthcare Corporation, Rural/Metro Corporation, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, and Falck A/S.Browse detail report @Key segments of the Global Ambulance Services MarketGlobal Ambulance Services Market: Mode of Transport Segment AnalysisGround Ambulance ServiceAir Ambulance ServiceWater Ambulance ServiceGlobal Ambulance Services Market: Equipment Segment AnalysisAdvance Life Support (ALS)Basic Life Support (BLS)Global Ambulance Services Market: Emergency Segment AnalysisEmergencyNon-emergencyGlobal Ambulance Services Market: Region Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia-PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East & AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Medical Tourism Market Worth USD 54.00 Billion by 2022

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Florida, December 27: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Medical Tourism Market by Treatment Type and by Geography - Global Industry Analysis by Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2015  2022.The Global Medical Tourism Market will Grow at CAGR of 18% in the given forecast period and will cross USD 54.00 Billion mark by 2022.Browse the full report here:Due to the rising medical services cost in the western countries and availability of high quality medical services at lower prices in the Asian countries like Singapore, India, Brazil, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, South Korea, Costa Rica, Poland, Dubai and Philippines has led to the expansion of medical tourism industry in this area. Many countries are planning to leverage medical tourism as a strategy to boost their healthcare services and tourism industry. By encouraging its presence in the medical tourism market, a country can stimulate its economic growth and create employment opportunities.Consequently, the medical tourism industry is rapidly expanding and is anticipated to have a significant growth in the near future. According to the one study done by Medical Tourism Association it was estimated that approx 1.6 million Americans have travelled to other destinations in 2012 for medical/healthcare services and this number is anticipated to grow in the near future.This market research report on the global medical tourism helps in understanding the important forces responsible for the growth of this industry. The research report provides in-depth analysis of the geographies facilitating inbound medical services that include Singapore, India, Thailand, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, Turkey, Taiwan, South Korea and prospective countries. The market overview section of the report comprises qualitative analysis of the overall market considering the factors determining the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints and opportunities along with Porters five forces analysis. These different analyses would provide a thorough understanding about the market from its past, present and future perspectives and help market players to design effective business strategies. Further, the report on medical tourism comprises executive summary chapter that will help you understand the overall market size, growth rate of various segments, geographies and competitors present in the market in a very precise manner.Download Free Sample Report:The medical tourism industry is segmented on the basis of type of treatment and geographyBY TREATMENT TYPE Cosmetic Treatment Dental Treatment Cardiovascular Treatment Orthopedics Treatment Fertility Treatment Other General TreatmentBY GEOGRAPHY Singapore India Malaysia Mexico Costa Rica Brazil Turkey South Korea Thailand Taiwan Philippines Dubai PolandAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging healthcare technologies, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Website:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
2019 Predictions for Predictive Analytics Market -Customer intelligence, Decision support systems, Data mining, Fraud and security intelligence

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Predictive analytics is business intelligence technology that produces a predictive score for each customer or other organizational element. Predictive analytics uses a variety of statistics and modeling techniques, and utilizes data mining, business intelligence tools, and machine information, to make predictions. The emergence of enormous amount of structured and unstructured data and ground-breaking technology deployments are the major drivers for the predictive analytics market.The global predictive analytics market, valued at USD 2.08 billion in 2012, is expected to see strong growth at 17.8% CAGR during 2013 to 2019. Organizations are collecting increasing amount of data, and predictive analytics software is one of the crucial tools that companies can use to achieve actionable information from this data. Data, and the utilization and management of the same, are increasingly becoming areas of competitive advantage. Hence, predictive analytics is one of the core technologies that enterprises are adopting to be able to compete in the market.Get More Information :Predictive analytics is used across different industry verticals such as banking and financial services, insurance, government, pharmaceutical, telecom and IT, retail, transportation and logistics, healthcare, and energy, among others. Global predictive analytics market in 2012 was dominated by the banking and financial services segment, which accounted for 16.8% revenue share. Banking and financial services are progressively deploying predictive analytics as it facilitates organizations to analyze and predict several factors related to cost, revenue, and reporting on the basis of big data.North America is expected to remain the largest market for predictive analytics followed by Europe. North Americas revenue share in 2012 was estimated at 55.9%. Europe is expected to see fastest growth in the predictive analytics market as the region is expected to adopt this technology on a major scale in the forecast period. However, lack of skilled resources, cost and complexity of software, and tremendous volume, diversity and velocity of data growth are hindering the growth of this market.The unprecedented shift of business intelligence to predictive analytics offers new-fangled opportunities to the major players and new startups in this market. Some of the major players in this market include International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), SAS Institute Inc, Microsoft Corporation, SAP AG, Tableau Software Inc., Information Builders, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), Teradata Corporation, Acxiom Corporation, and TIBCO Software Inc., among others.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 ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Orthopedic Braces & Supports, Casting, & Splints Market worth US$7.9 Billion by 2024; North America remains the leader of the Global Market in Coming Years

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Accounting for an estimated 37.4% share in 2016, North America dominates the global orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market and is likely to retain its lead throughout the forecast period. A large population base affected by bone disorders such as osteoporosis and osteopenia is the primary factor driving the market in this region. According to the Los Angeles County Health Survey, osteoporosis is the most common bone disorder in the U.S., with around 10 million people diagnosed with the disease in the country in 2014. This alarming rise in the incidence of osteoporosis is expected to continue fueling the market in the next few years. The presence of a large number of clinics and hospitals in the U.S. and ongoing technological advancements in the healthcare industry are expected to boost the orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market over the forecast period.Download Exclusive PDF Brochure -The market in Asia Pacific is projected to reflect a CAGR of 7.3% from 2016 to 2024, emerging as one of the most lucrative regional segments. The increased accessibility to essential healthcare services, increased awareness regarding available treatment options, and the rising out-of-pocket expenses on healthcare services are some of the prominent factors fueling the demand for orthopedic support supplies in the Asia-Pacific region. The rapid rate of urbanization in India and strong government efforts to improve healthcare conditions across developing countries is prompting corporate hospitals to provide better facilities for enhanced diagnosis in the orthopedic segment. The APAC orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market is projected to benefit significantly from this.Key companies operating in the global orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market include 3M Healthcare, Prime Medical, Ossur Hf, DJO, LLC, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., and Stryker Corporation.By distribution channel, the orthopedic clinics segment accounted for the major share in the global orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market in 2015 and is projected to hold 31.2% by the end of 2016. Orthopedic clinics are the most preferred settings for any treatment related to bone disorders and have been identified as the most attractive segment of the market. This segment is likely to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period owing to treatment specificity and diversity in product availability.In terms of product, the orthopedic braces and support, casting, and splints market is led by the orthopedic braces and support segment. As far as incremental opportunity is concerned, this is forecast to be the most attractive product segment, accounting for a 58.4% share by 2024. The demand for braces is expected to increase in the coming years on the backdrop of an increase in obese population, globally.Read Report with Complete TOC -Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Global Bone Density Market Research Report 2016

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This report studies Global Bone Density Market 2016, especially in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India, focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringGE HealthcareAMPallDMSHologicSwissrayMedonicaMedilinkL'ACNNANOOMTECHDownload Sample this Report:Market Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Bone Density in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoX-ray AbsorptiometryUltrasound Bone SonometerOthersSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Bone Density in each application, can be divided intoOsteoporosis DiagnosisMonitor the EffectOthersView Full Report With Complete TOC, List Of Figure and Table:7 Global Bone Density Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 GE Healthcare7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.1.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Type I7.1.2.2 Type II7.1.3 GE Healthcare Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 AMPall7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.2.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Type I7.2.2.2 Type II7.2.3 AMPall Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 DMS7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.3.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Type I7.3.2.2 Type II7.3.3 DMS Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 Hologic7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.4.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Type I7.4.2.2 Type II7.4.3 Hologic Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 Swissray7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.5.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Type I7.5.2.2 Type II7.5.3 Swissray Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Medonica7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.6.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Type I7.6.2.2 Type II7.6.3 Medonica Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 Medilink7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.7.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Type I7.7.2.2 Type II7.7.3 Medilink Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 L'ACN7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.8.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Type I7.8.2.2 Type II7.8.3 L'ACN Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 NANOOMTECH7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Its Competitors7.9.2 Bone Density Product Type, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Type I7.9.2.2 Type II7.9.3 NANOOMTECH Bone Density Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2015 and 2016)7.9.4 Main Business/Business OverviewTo Purchase this Premium Report:Global QYResearch is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs.Unit1, 26 Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London, E182AN, United KingdomContact: +44 20 3239 2407Email: sales@globalqyresearch.comFollow us:Twitter:
Underground Coal Gasification - Global Industry Analysis 2023

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The coal production has been increasing from the past few decades and is expected to grow in the future. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts the growth of coal consumption by 3.9% in 2014 as compared to 2013. The majority of the coal reserves of the world are located at a greater depth to be mined using the traditional technologies. However, the underground gasification can convert this unused coal into syngas, which can be applied to produce power without mining the coal. The underground coal gasification provides a safer, cheaper and cleaner method of converting the coal into a product gas. The development of infrastructure in the emerging nations, coupled with the increasing demand for the clean source of energy, can have the direct implications on the underground coal gasification market. Most of the countries with the large underground coal reserves can shift towards the use of underground coal gasification techniques for extraction of the product gas.The coal gasification market can be segmented on the basis of technology, applications and the locations of the countries applying the underground coal gasification techniques. The quality of the gas produced depends upon the several factors, such as the coal properties, pressure under the coal seam, feed conditions and the heat and the mass transport under the coal seam. The two common methods for preparing a coal seam for the underground coal gasification purpose include the shaft underground coal gasification method and the shaft-less underground coal gasification method.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:The shaft underground coal gasification methods use the shafts and the mine galleries for the transportation of the products and the gasification reagents. Presently, this method is only used in the closed coal mines due to safety and economic reasons. Recently, much of the focus is given to the shaft-less underground coal gasification method that works on the concept of directional drilling. The underground coal gasification technology enables the countries to fully utilize their underground coal reserves, by converting them into useful high value products, such as syngas, liquid fuels, fertilizers and clean power. The underground coal gasification not only helps in harvesting the energy from the underground coal deposits but also provides a cleaner and cheaper source of energy to the end users.The regional segmentation of the coal gasification market can be done by identifying the major countries using the coal gasification techniques. The major countries include the United States and Canada in North America; China, India, New Zealand and Australia in the Asia Pacific region; the United Kingdom and Russia in Europe and South Africa in the Rest of World. Among these, China has around 30 projects in different phases for underground coal gasification.Lower capital requirement, reduced cost of plant installation, reduced need of rail and road infrastructure, environmental obligations, and usage of deep lying copal deposit by converting them into useful products are the major drivers for the underground coal gasification market. The negative impact on environment caused by the drilling activities and the ground water contamination are the major restraints to the underground coal gasification market. The emerging countries with the large coal deposits, such as India and South Africa present an excellent opportunity for the development of the underground coal gasification market.Some of the major companies in the underground coal gasification market are Linc Energy, Sasol Limited, Cougar Energy Limited, Eskom Holdings SOC Limited, Errgo Exergy Technologies Inc., and Wild Horse Energy.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Transparency Market ResearchUS Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Reservoir Navigation Services - Global Industry Analysis 2020

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Depleting reserves and complex behavior of the remaining reservoirs has made optimal well positioning more challenging than ever. Especially in brown fields, pressure depletion, gas cap pressure depletion, reservoir drives, oil water contacts and the presence of nearby wells makes it important to place the well in the proper manner. Data gathered while conducting drilling process and the real time interpretation of these measurements can help in upgrading geological models and optimal well positioning thereby resulting in maximum recovery of crude oil and natural gas.While drilling a borehole, reservoir navigation technology adjusts the borehole position so that it reaches one or more geological target locations. The introduction of such type of technology which is capable of providing real time measurements of the distance from the wellbore to the formation boundary and the direction using deep electromagnetic measurements has enabled the operators to guide drill bits through longer and more complex well paths. A formation tester in the bottom-hole assembly while drilling gives extra advantages of identifying pressure regimes and reservoir connectivity, thereby calibrating the formation pressure gradient and improving the reservoir model.Get Free PDF Brochure for more Professional and Technical Insights:Few years back brown fields were considered as dying assets, but now with recently available techniques, these fields have become economical and can provide good returns on investment to petroleum companies. With increase in energy demand, it is now considered as a requirement to develop brown fields, in order to sustain economic growth. The major challenge is to first identify the potential of the brown fields and then quantify it as accurately as possible.Numerous horizontal and multilateral well drilling processes require proper well planning and a way to locate the path if required due to various structural and geological uncertainties. The drilling process, when incorporated with real time optimized well placement thus becomes reservoir navigation. It can be proactive, reactive or passive. In proactive reservoir navigation, the well path is changed in real time, based on data gathered while carrying out drilling and correlating the data with the model and look ahead capability for predicting the formations and their properties, that are yet to be explored. Generally, reservoir navigation is conducted by forming a resistivity model utilizing offset well data, determining the bed boundaries according to resistivity changes including the planned well path and generating the model resistivity.The application of advanced reservoir navigation technique and proactive geo steering methods has allow to successfully carry out drilling process and complete difficult horizontal and multilateral wells with increased confidence. Reservoir navigation service substantially reduces the unnecessary course corrections and improves penetration rates.By maximizing the reservoir contacts and accurately reaching well targets, reservoir navigation services provide an efficient and cost effective solution. It also allows maintaining wellbore in the pay zone and avoids reservoir exit, avoids NPT related costs, reduces any type of uncertainty, lower down the risk of costly sidetracks, enhances the completion strategy and increases overall asset recovery.Growing population and emerging economies are some of the key drivers of the reservoir navigation services market. However, integration of new technology with the existing technology can hamper the growth of the market. Ample amount of opportunities are there for the reservoir navigation services market owing to the large number of crude oil and natural gas reserves that were discovered recently.Some of the key players in the business of reservoir navigation services are Seadrill Ltd, ENSCO Plc, Scientific Drilling International, Maersk Drilling, Schlumberger Oilfield Services Drilling, Noble Corporation, Kca Deutag and China Oilfield Drilling services among others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Transparency Market ResearchUS Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Aviation Cyber Security Market - Global Trend, Growth Forecast & Industry Outlook Analysis Report 2014-2021

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DecisionDatabases.com offers Aviation Cyber Security Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Till 2021.Get Free Sample Copy @Aviation cyber security is a computer-based application used in various aeronautical systems. This comprises of aircraft communications systems, flight information and security, all day-to-day activities, loss of confidentiality, exfiltration of data, network and air traffic control etc. Therefore, this security system is used to protect the overall integrity of this market. This market has gained importance owing to the rise in cyber attacks and terror threats in the recent years. There has been augmentation in the usage of internet users and providers, which thereby has increased the chances of cyber crimes. This in turn has led to rapid development of effective technologies to protect against cyber crimes. Regions such as North America and Europe have been focusing on advancement of aviation cyber security industry owing to its growing significance and terror threats.This report examines the global aviation cyber security Market and provides information regarding the revenue (USD Million) for the period 2014 to 2021. It further elaborates the market drivers which contribute to the growth. It then describes the restraints that are faced by the market. The market is classified into various segments with deep analysis of each segment for the study period.A glimpse of the major drivers and restraints affecting this market is mentioned below:A. Drivers> Quality of protection improved> Internet usage on a high> Strict government rules and regulations> Increased levels of cyber attacks> Growth in technological advancements to reduce the customer trafficB. Restraints> High cost of implementation> Lack of skilled manpower and technical knowhowReport includes a detailed analysis on value chain in order to provide a holistic view of the aviation cyber security market. Value chain analysis comprises detailed evaluation of the roles of various players involved in the Aviation Cyber Security Market industry, from raw material suppliers to end-users.Aviation cyber security market attractiveness analysis has been included in order to analyze the application segments that are estimated to be lucrative during the forecast period on the basis of their market size and growth rate. Attractiveness of the market has been derived from market size, profit margin, growth rate, availability of raw materials, competition, and other factors such as social and legal constraints.The aviation cyber security market has further been segmented based on types such as security, solution and service. The study provides forecast and estimates market for each segment in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period from 2015 to 2021. Each segment has been further analyzed based on regional and country levels from 2014 to 2021 in terms of voThe aviation cyber security market has been segmented based on types of solutions such as risk and compliance management, encryption, data loss prevention, unified threat management, next generation firewalls, antivirus and anti-malware, intrusion detection system/intrusion prevention system (IDS/IPS), security and vulnerability management, disaster recovery, distributed denial of service (DDOS) mitigation, web filtering. The study provides forecast and estimates market for each types of solution in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period from 2015 to 2021. Each type of solution has been further analyzed based on regional and country levels from 2014 to 2021 in terms of volume and revenue.The aviation cyber security market has been segmented based on types of security such as network security, endpoint security, application security, content security, wireless security, cloud security. The study provides forecast and estimates market for each types of security in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period from 2015 to 2021. Each type of security has been further analyzed based on regional and country levels from 2014 to 2021 in terms of volume and revenue.The aviation cyber security market has been segmented based on types of service such as consulting, design and integration, risk and threat assessment, managed security services, training and education. The study provides forecast and estimates market for each types of service in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period from 2015 to 2021. Each type of services has been further analyzed based on regional and country levels from 2014 to 2021 in terms of volume and revenue.C. Major players assessed in the report are:> International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)> Honeywell International, Inc.> Cisco Systems, Inc.> Thales Group> SITA> The Raytheon Company> BAE Systems PLC> Lockheed Martin Corporation> Harris Corporation> Northrop Grumman Corporation> Computer Sciences CorporationView More about Aviation Cyber Security Market Research Report @In terms of geography, the aviation cyber security market has been segmented into regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The study provides a detailed view of country-level aspects of the market on the basis of application segments and estimates the market in terms of revenue and volume during the forecast period.SEGMENTATIONS IN REPORT:1. By Solutions:> Risk and Compliance Management> Encryption> Data Loss Prevention> Unified Threat Management> Next Generation Firewalls> Antivirus and Anti-Malware> Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS) Security and Vulnerability Management> Disaster Recovery> Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) Mitigation> Web Filtering2. By Security:> Network Security> Endpoint Security> Application Security> Content Security> Wireless Security> Cloud Security3. By Service:> Consulting> Design and Integration> Risk and Threat Assessment> Managed Security Services> Training and Education4. By Geography:> North America> Europe> Asia Pacific> Latin America> Middle East And AfricaPurchase Complete Global Aviation Cyber Security Market Research Report At:DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. 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Global Yellow Fever Vaccine Market 2016 Sanofi-Pasteur (France), Beijing Tiantan Biological Products (China)

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Yellow fever vaccine is a vaccine that protects against yellow fever. Yellow fever is a viral infection that occurs in Africa and South America. About 99% of people develop immunity within one month of vaccination and this appears to be lifelong. The vaccine can be used to control outbreaks of disease. It is given either by injection into a muscle or just under the skin.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine immunization in all countries where the disease is common. This should typically occur between nine and twelve months of age. Those travelling to areas where the disease occurs should also be immunized. Additional doses after the first are generally not needed.Major players in the global Yellow Fever Vaccine market :-Sanofi-Pasteur (France), Beijing Tiantan Biological Products (China)Request for sample @This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Yellow Fever Vaccine from 2011-2015 and provides extensive market forecasts 2016-2021 by region/country and sub sectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the Yellow Fever Vaccine market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Yellow Fever Vaccine, and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Global Yellow Fever Vaccine Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Yellow Fever Vaccine market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players.Request for sample @The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of Yellow Fever Vaccine industry has been provided.About Us:"MarketInsights.Biz offer reports from top publishers and update to serve you with immediate on-line access to professional insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends. Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact US:Frank ValadezDirector of Business DevelopmentWebsite:Email:sales@marketinsights.biz
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 Congo's economy, reaping hundreds of millions of dollars.

The New York Times reports that 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 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 Kabila's 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.

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 didn't last.

On Dec. 9, 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, Kabila and 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 Trump likes to say, because if the flame of freedom doesn't burn brightly from the United States, then next year the path for democracy will be darker for millions of people elsewhere.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post
1flag.JPG

An American flag is placed in the sand of Omaha Beach, western France, Friday, June 6, 2014.

(AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

By Danielle Allen

Special to The Washington Post

Rare indeed, and bracing, are the moments that strip us of certainties and force us back to consideration of our most fundamental values.

Such was 2016.

Donald Trump campaigned to an America now largely dependent on televisual and social media-provisioned sources of information and misinformation.

Institutions - such as newspapers, political parties and universities - that have traditionally helped test and vet evidence and argument hit, and now must face, the limits of their influence.

As a society, we find that our disagreements are deep and that many of us, perhaps even most of us, too easily personalize them. We are dangerously near treating one another as aliens.

Where to from here? The single most helpful resource I have hit upon this fall is an old book by the Roman politician and intellectual Cicero. It's called "On Duties." In it, Cicero offers guidance on navigating turbulent political times.

Remember, he says, your distinct roles and their specific responsibilities. It is fine, he says, to take on first one role, and then another, the persona of the father and then of the politician, for instance, or the persona of the philosopher and then the citizen. None of us needs to be just one thing.

But as we move from role to role, we must have clearly in view the responsibilities that pertain to each. One's duty is to perform the responsibilities of the roles one has entered into.

The mission of universities is to educate. The responsibility of professors derives from that mission. The grounding commitment is to truth.

The mission of a news organization is to record accurately the course of events, including patterns of deception and duplicity. Again, the grounding commitment is to truth.

The mission of a citizen, an American citizen, is to defend America, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The grounding commitment is to human moral equality, as in the Declaration of Independence. This, too, entails a dedication to truth. "We hold these truths to be self-evident," reads the Declaration, as it introduces the fact of human moral equality.

America the Indivisible spreads opportunity wide and embraces all colors, all creeds within the sunshine of equal regard.

America the Indivisible looks at the divisions between rural and urban communities and seeks out bridge-building solutions.

America the Indivisible looks at patterns of racial and socioeconomic residential segregation and inequalities in access to housing and transportation and seeks reinvestment in public infrastructure such as transportation and housing that will connect communities now separated.

America the Indivisible defends its borders but welcomes strangers and recognizes that those who have put down roots here and put their backs into the work of building strong communities have earned our regard. And America the Indivisible rejects invidious distinctions among potential immigrants - quota systems must go. Entrance should be by pure lottery from among those eligible on the grounds of security assessments.

America the Indivisible acknowledges the ravages of illegal drugs and seeks out solutions aimed at achieving the health and well-being of as many as possible touched by the world of drugs and at limiting the harm caused by drugs to the rest. America the Indivisible looks to placessuch as Portugal, where marijuana has been legalized and other drugs decriminalized, and adolescent drug use is down and the percentage of users seeking treatment is up. We do not look to the Philippines where a deepened investment in a "war on drugs" has metastasized into extrajudicial murder.

And America the Indivisible seeks to reduce the footprint of the criminal-justice system so that we have funds to invest in public education, including our state universities. Once upon a time, we led the world in spreading the benefit of education. America the Indivisible will rediscover the truth that education is a public good. It strengthens economies, communities and individuals by spurring human flourishing.

Each and every one of us can defend America the Indivisible - by running for office, at all levels; by seeking inclusiveness in every decision-making process of which we are a part; by supporting organizations and leaders who defend basic political and civil rights, equal protection of the law and due process, and basic human rights, especially for the most vulnerable among us.

We can defend America the Indivisible by reminding the anchor institutions of civil society to return to their core missions and to apply themselves assiduously to their responsibilities.

We can defend America the Indivisible by holding up the values we believe in, often and everywhere, with firm voices, clarity of commitment and charity toward those with whom we disagree.

We can defend America the Indivisible by telling the truth.

Danielle Allen is a political theorist at Harvard University and a contributing columnist for The Post.
Putin6.JPG

Russian President Vladimir Putin

(AP Photo/File)

By Leonid Bershidsky

One might expect Russian President Vladimir Putin to take a victory lap after a lucky 2016. But at his traditional end-of-year press conference last Friday, Putin looked more tired than triumphant. He also appeared eager to steer attention away from geopolitics -- an area in which he has seemingly excelled this year -- to the minutiae of running Russia. That was wise: Putin knows he's received some advances, but he hasn't cashed them in.

If not person of the year, Putin is surely troll of the year. If stories about Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential campaign are true, he has successfully mocked U.S. democracy and rubbed its nose in its imperfections. If they are not true, that's an even better outcome for Putin. In that case he made himself look like a major threat without lifting a finger. Asked about the election at the press conference, he trolled the Democrats as sore losers who blame "external factors" for their failures, throwing back an accusation U.S. Russia-watchers have hurled at him.

Putin's purported role in Donald Trump's victory has also helped him look fearsome to Europe. The German government believes he might try to disrupt next year's election there. Austrian nationalists made a pilgrimage to Moscow to sign a "cooperation agreement" with Putin's party, United Russia. Both front-runners in the French presidential election are Putin fans. And the ego boost Putin has achieved came cheap.

Ukraine is securely locked in a frozen conflict and its political system appears to be imploding as President Petro Poroshenko and his team are revealed as the same kind of venal post-Soviet rulers as their predecessors. At the press conference, Putin trolled Ukraine, saying a bridge he'd ordered built to annexed Crimea would be good for Ukraine after a "normalization of relations" with Moscow. He trolled Europe's attempts to bring Ukraine into the fold, too, saying that he welcomed visa-free travel for Ukrainians to Europe -- scheduled to begin next year -- but that the European Union should allow Ukrainians to work there because that's what they'll come to do.

In Syria, Putin helped President Bashar al-Assad to victory in Aleppo, redrawing the balance of forces and minimizing U.S. influence. As a result, Middle Eastern powers, including U.S. allies, have come to see him as an important player in the region for the first time since the Soviet Union's demise. Saudi Arabia has done a deal with Russia on oil output cuts -- something that would have seemed impossible just three years ago.

And Putin didn't have to pay much for his new clout. Russia has only lost 25 people in Syria and spent between $2.5 million and $4 million a day, a manageable amount compared to Russia's $51 billion defense budget for this year. In fact, despite much that is said about Russian war crimes and brutality, data from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights show that the Russian intervention has not increased the Syrian war's death toll this year. In the 11 months through November, 46,442 people were killed, as against 55,219 in 2015 and 73,447 in 2014.

So why, at the end of the year, did Putin seem reluctant to celebrate? Even his seemingly boastful statement on Thursday that "today we are stronger than any potential aggressor" was apparently a bit of trolling rather than self-aggrandizement. It provoked U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby to respond with high praise for the U.S. military, enabling a smirking Putin to stress at the press conference that he was only talking about aggressors.

One reason could be that Putin is yet to reap any tangible rewards from his seeming successes.

Putin, unlike many of his supporters, hasn't acted overjoyed at Trump's victory. It's unclear how the mercurial billionaire will behave toward Russia and how much he'll be constrained by a hostile Republican and Democratic establishment. Trump's potentially Russia-friendly pick for secretary of state, Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson, faces skeptical vetting by the Senate. Putin's intentions concerning Ukraine-related sanctions are unclear -- he hasn't spoken on the issue since a non-committal response to a reporter's question in July. In 2017, Putin could build an amicable relationship with Trump or have a monumental falling-out.

The EU has just extended sanctions against Russia through July. The buoyancy of Putin's nationalist, euroskeptic allies in the West is still an unrealized threat to the establishment. In Austria, the Freedom Party, whose leaders recently came to Moscow to kowtow, has just suffered a painful electoral defeat, losing a bid for the presidency. Brexit hasn't produced a Putin-friendly government in the U.K. There's a chance that in 2017, nationalist parties will fail in the Netherlands, France and Germany, destroying any post-Trump magic. And French front-runner Francois Fillon may not be as pro-Russian as president as in his opposition years: His immediate goal is likely be to keep the EU together, and unanimity on Russian sanctions has become a litmus test of unity.

Putin has tried to prove that the sanctions are all but dead by selling off a stake in state-owned oil behemoth Rosneft to a consortium of U.S. ally Qatar and Swiss-based commodity trader Glencore, funded by Italian bank Intesa. But the bank appears to be having some last-minute doubts about jumping into this politically fraught deal, and Russia is unlikely to receive the foreign investors' money this year. The deal looked great for Putin, but it could fail in 2017.

Ukraine's desire to get away from Russia's orbit is still as strong as during the 2014 revolution. Though the government is unpopular, it's hard to imagine the next one being pro-Russian. It might even be more staunchly nationalist than Poroshenko's. So far, Putin has managed to destabilize its neighbor but hasn't improved his chances of establishing control.

The Syrian success is also tenuous. Putin's hope, as he told the press conference, is to establish a ceasefire so that Russia, Turkey and Iran could broker a deal among the warring sides. That, however, would be conditional on defeating the Islamic State, a tough job if there ever was one, and on getting all the belligerents to the table -- an achievement that would seal Putin's reputation as a foreign policy wizard, but one that seems as far off today as intergalactic travel. Putin has strengthened his ally Assad's hand in negotiations that may not even take place in the foreseeable future -- or turn out to be as ineffective as previous attempts to pacify Syria.

To top all that, Russia's economic situation is precarious. The 2017 budget is based on $40-per-barrel Russian oil, and if OPEC can't deliver promised production cuts or if U.S. frackers start pumping at the first sign of falling inventories, Russia may face another year of recession and spending cuts. Russians have been patient throughout the last two years' economic woes, but one more year with little good news could even undermine Putin's seemingly unassailable advantage in the 2018 presidential election. Putin has done his best to manage Russia's finances prudently and 2016 has been easy on the country's currency reserves, but that has been a holding action rather than a brilliant anti-crisis strategy.

That may be why Putin wants to talk about micromanaging Russia's problems -- roads, the environment, a spike in the consumption of cheap, life-endangering alcohol -- and not Russia's geopolitical achievements. He is at pains to demonstrate his grasp of the most minute budget and macroeconomic numbers. He's telling Russians that he's thinking of them, not global hegemony. The geopolitics have mostly helped Putin consolidate his domestic support, and if next year the favorable narratives start to fall apart, Putin needs to make sure people's everyday lives show some improvement. That would require at least as much luck as Putin has had this year.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg View

Leonid Bershidsky is a Bloomberg View columnist based in Berlin.
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The Healthcare.gov website is shown on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Signups for healthcare have accelerated after Donald Trump was elected president.

(Richard B. Levine/Sipa USA/TNS)

By Jennifer Rubin

WASHINGTON - Republican Senate and House leaders who have summarily decided on a "repeal and dawdle" plan for Obamacare don't seem to understand what they are up against. They see House and Senate majorities, an incoming president who vowed to repeal all of Obamacare and a reconciliation process that allows them to gut Obamacare taxes and subsidies, essentially killing the program with 51 votes in the Senate. Do they understand it won't be that easy?

The first problem is Republicans in the House and Senate. Several Republicans have already voiced doubts about repealing Obamacare with no ready replacement. Every freshman congressman from an unsafe district should be voicing his or her concern. Repeal Obamacare and then go back to the voters in 2018 with nothing?! Yeah, it's risky for those new lawmakers who promised something better than Obamacare, not making health-care coverage disappear.

Next are the voters, including the Rust Belt working-class whites, a group that surely benefited from the marketplace subsidies, as reports like this one from the Atlantic magazine point out:

"Among those whose incomes are less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level-just around $49,000 for a family of four this year-whites actually gained insurance at relatively high rates. Data from the 2016 and 2014 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement shows that the proportion of uninsured low-income white people dropped by 8.6 percentage points from 2013 to 2015, a reduction that was roughly similar to the decrease among Hispanic people, but which outpaced the national average of 8.1 percentage points, and dwarfed the decrease among black people in the same income groups. Members of the white working class, in other words, were particularly likely to gain coverage from Obamacare."

When members of Trump's base start writing letters, sharing hardship stories with local media and appearing at Trump events, Trump may very well call off the "repeal and delay" strategy. Republicans who think he is locked into their strategy haven't been paying attention. Trump doesn't want to be seen as unsympathetic. (He won't "let people die in the streets," he famously declared.) It took him only one meeting with President Obama to concede that two parts of Obamacare (coverage for those with preexisting conditions and allowing adult children up to 26 years old to stay on their parents' plan) had to stay. With only 25 percent of the electorate approving of Obamacare repeal, he could very well turn on a dime, leaving the Republicans in Congress blowing in the wind.

And then there are the hordes of sympathetic interest groups who are about to descend on Washington. In 2017, you may hear quite a lot from the Alliance for Healthcare Security. Liberals did their legwork and organized a mammoth coalition to defend Obamacare, which already includes "1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Alliance for Retired Americans, American Medical Student Association, American Medical Women's Association, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., Community Catalyst, Doctors for America, Families USA, Medicare Rights Center, National Medical Association, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Physicians Alliance, Network for Patient Advocacy, Physicians for a National Health Program, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Service Employees International Union, National Committee to Preserve Social Security, and the United Spinal Association." Americans by and large like their doctors, and when doctors start warning of a health-care crisis, many lawmakers will buckle at the knees. (The American Medical Association has already warned that it will oppose any plan that takes away coverage, which presumably would nix a plan that offers access but not actual coverage.)

We have already seen hospital organizations leap into the fray. The Hill reports:

"A powerful coalition of hospitals is previewing a fierce attack against GOP leaders if lawmakers follow through on their promise to repeal ObamaCare next year. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals . . . fired off a damning new report warning that its industry stood to take a massive financial hit under the repeal of ObamaCare.

"The 41-page report, which was conducted by the firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, showed the hospital industry would lose $165.8 billion through cuts to Medicaid alone. It's the most high-profile study yet by a healthcare industry that's fearful of an abrupt ObamaCare repeal after the surprise victory of President-elect Donald Trump last month."

And finally, repeal without an immediate replacement will likely spook insurance companies, many of whom have fled from the exchanges. To prevent them from leaving the marketplace exchanges altogether, Congress may have to "subsidize" them via the risk corridors or alter the requirement that at least 80 percent of revenue goes to paying claims. That is going to be intensely unpopular.

Republicans may very well jam through a repeal of Obamacare with no alternative plan in sight. They may be surprised, however, at the resistance they encounter and the magnitude of the opposition. Rather than be an "easy" win early in the new president's term, it may turn into a knock-down-drag-out fight, or even a punt to delay action. What sounds good in a campaign ad or a white paper often becomes much more problematic when facing the consequences of such a monumental about-face in health-care policy.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post
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Students in Oregon's public schools have long complained of overcrowded classrooms and strained teaching conditions. Some hope that lawmakers will pass a tax increase in the coming session that could stabilize school funding and help younger students.

(Wendy Owen/Staff)

Adam Lininger-White

As a high school senior, I have attended Oregon public schools for twelve years. I am thankful for the education I received, but I am also keenly aware of how our schools struggle. My sister is now a ninth grader, and I worry about how our ongoing school funding crisis will affect her and other students that follow. In the name of these young people, I urge Oregonians to work together in 2017 to support better funding for our k-12 education system.

My own experience in Oregon schools was framed by the Great Recession: lots of crowded classrooms and no-school Fridays. I remember being in a blended fifth-sixth grade class of 36 students. Our room was so packed with people, tables, chairs, and backpacks that kids often tripped while bringing food to their desks at lunch time. Later, I tried to learn complex AP material in high school classes of 40-plus students. This environment is not conducive to learning. Students quickly become frustrated and look elsewhere for help, often to online resources that give answers without any real teaching. This is not the fault of our teachers, who struggle valiantly to provide students with needed help. It is the fault of a system that wants results yet lacks the willingness to act.

Staffing shortages prevent our schools from offering important technical and college-readiness courses, too. Many high schools still offer no computer programming classes. That makes it hard for students to gain basic knowledge of computer science and prepare for college-level courses. My school plans to use tax dollars from Measure 98 to add such classes, but it is still unclear where these dollars will come from.

Oregon students need smaller class sizes, more technical and college-readiness courses, and counseling help when they experience a crisis. It's great that voters just passed Measure 98, which directs districts to fund those programs, but without additional dollars, it's unclear how those programs will be funded. I'd hate for the money to come from cutting school days or teachers in our elementary schools.

Many of us have worked for years to improve school funding, and it's time for us to unite our efforts to accomplish a breakthrough in 2017. In 2014, I worked on the campaign to pass Measure 91, which raised over $55 million in tax revenue in 2016, partly to fund schools. In 2015 and 2016, I volunteered on the effort to raise corporate taxes to support Oregon schools. While voters rejected that measure, the effort raised awareness of Oregon's school funding crisis, and many said they would support a tax that was smaller and structured differently.

Share your opinion

Submit your essay of 500 words or less to commentary@oregonlive.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

Grown-ups like to tell kids to be resilient in the face of setbacks and find new ways to move forward. It's time for all of us to follow that advice. The 2017 legislative session starts in a few weeks, and I plan to organize a group of students to lobby our legislators to increase taxes to support our schools. We need the adults in our communities -- parents, teachers, elected officials, business people and others -- to do the same. We need to work together to pass a meaningful tax increase to support education and other key services in 2017.

Giving up is really not an option. There are ninth graders and younger students who need Oregon's public schools to be strong into the future. It may be too late for my class to experience the improvements we need, but it's not too late for us to work with adults in our state to advocate for them. In fact, strong teamwork like that is exactly what we need -- it's the best graduation gift I can think of for the class of 2017.

Adam Lininger-White is a senior at Lake Oswego High School.
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The front of a Waymo driverless car is seen during a Google event Dec. 13 in San Francisco. The self-driving car project that Google started seven years ago has grown into a company called Waymo.

(AP Photo/File)

By Noah Smith

The past year was dominated by the bitter presidential election. But during the precious, brief moments when I was able to unplug from the madness and read about economics, I found a lot of great material. Here's a list of 10 excellent economics books and papers I read in 2016 that should be accessible to the general public.

1. "Concrete Economics: The Hamilton Approach to Economic Growth and Policy," by Stephen S. Cohen and J. Bradford DeLong

This slim, readable book could change the way you think about economic policy in a single plane ride. Cohen and DeLong take the reader on a whirlwind tour of U.S. economic history, showing that in each era, the U.S. government had a very specific plan for the economy. It was only after 1980, the authors claim, that the government quit having big bold visions, and let the economy go wherever the whims of the market took it. As a result, they say, finance took over. Cohen and DeLong call for a return to the days of big, bold development policy.

2. "The Wealth of Humans: Work, Power and Status in the Twenty-first Century," by Ryan Avent

The "rise of the robots" scenario is on everyone's mind. Will technologies like machine learning make most human workers obsolete, leaving us to rely on government largesse? Or will we find new ways to complement the machines, as we did in the Industrial Revolution? Avent isn't the first writer to struggle with this question, but this book is the best so far when it comes to the economics of the issue. The short and frustrating answer: We just don't know yet whether humans will go the way of horses.

3. "The China Shock: Learning from Labor-Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade," by David Autor, David Dorn and Gordon Hanson

This is the paper that shook the world of economics. Looking at local data, Autor et al. found that import competition from China was devastating for American manufacturing workers. People who lost their jobs to the China Shock mostly didn't find new good jobs -- instead they took big permanent pay cuts or went on welfare. The authors also claim that the China Shock was so big that it reduced overall U.S. employment. This paper has thrown a huge wrench into the free-trade consensus among economists. It also might help explain the election results. Expect to hear it cited again and again.

4. "Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century," by Anne Case and Angus Deaton

This is the other must-read econ paper of the year. Case and Deaton find that very bad things have been happening to non-college-educated white Americans -- drug abuse, alcoholism and suicide are way up. The problem is so bad that death rates are actually rising for this group, even as they fall for everyone else. These social problems might also have something to do with the election -- people in the places hit hardest by drug abuse tended to shift toward Trump.

5. "Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Manipulation and Deception," by George Akerlof and Robert Shiller

This is another book intended to make us reconsider the entire way we think about the economy. Instead of a world of rational actors who are mostly successful in using their resources to fulfill their desires, Akerlof and Shiller suggest we think of the economy as a jungle full of trickery, mistakes and confusion. They provide a number of everyday examples of exploitation, deceit and cognitive bias.

6. "Economics Rules: The Rights and Wrongs of the Dismal Science," by Dani Rodrik

This one is for economics nerds. Rodrik, an accomplished but often rebellious economist, waxes philosophical on the uses and abuses of economic modeling. He points out a lot of very real failings of economic modeling, and takes some famous people to task, but also defends the profession against many of its harsher critics. In the end, Rodrik believes that good economics comes down to good judgment.

7. "The Production of Human Capital in Developed Countries: Evidence from 196 Randomized Field Experiments," by Roland Fryer

This paper is the definitive summary of what economists have learned about education methods. Fryer has collected a huge number of real-world trials of things like school vouchers, charter schools and intensive tutoring. Unfortunately, tutoring was the only thing that really worked.

8. "The Trouble with Macroeconomics," by Paul Romer

Many people have criticized macroeconomics over the years, especially since the financial crisis. But perhaps none have done so as forcefully as Paul Romer, the new chief economist of the World Bank. Romer takes his fellow macroeconomists to task for failing to reconcile their theories with reality, and accuses them of acting more like a religion than a science.

9. "The Seattle Minimum Wage Study"

One of econ's biggest, boldest policy experiments was undertaken in Seattle by the University of Washington two years ago -- a steady rise in the minimum wage, which will eventually reach $15. Now some preliminary results are in. The rise in the minimum wage isn't holding back employment very much, but it has resulted in some workers getting their hours cut.

10. "The Nobel Factor: The Prize in Economics, Social Democracy, and the Market Turn," by Avner Offer and Gabriel Soderberg

This is the one I haven't read yet, but I'm excited to do so. I've always suspected that the Economics Nobel -- actually a prize awarded by the Bank of Sweden, named after the famous Nobel Prizes -- exercises an undue influence on the field. It will be nice to read the work of people who have actually researched the prize's history.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg View

Noah Smith is a Bloomberg View columnist.
Two of the three people killed Monday evening in a crash on U.S. 26 were known well in Portland's physics community.

Shannon O'Leary, 39, and Adam Clausen, 37, both of Portland, were killed in the crash reported at about 4 p.m. on the highway near milepost 86 on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. Their 4-year-old son, Felix, was taken to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

O'Leary was an assistant professor of physics at Lewis & Clark College, whose faculty she joined in fall 2011. She has a bachelor of science degree from the University of Puget Sound, and a masters and doctoral degree from the University of Oregon.

Her faculty profile says: "Shannon is currently building up an experimental quantum optics laboratory at Lewis & Clark College. With support from the Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement, she is working with Lewis & Clark undergraduate students to study quantum mechanical interactions of laser light with atomic vapor, with an eye towards building a sensitive magnetometer based on these fundamental processes."

Catherine Gunther Kodat, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said of O'Leary:

"Shannon was a transformative teacher. She was one of our stars on the science faculty. She was very much admired and looked up to by all of our students, but especially by our women science students."

Clausen was a technology consultant at Kolisch Hartwell, a law firm specializing in intellectual property, patent and technology law with offices in Portland and Palo Alto.

From his company profile: "Before working at Kolisch Hartwell, Adam spent eight years as a physics professor. During that time, he taught classes at all levels of undergraduate physics, including advanced theoretical courses for physics majors, introductory physics for physics and life-sciences majors, and special topics for a general audience. Adam has taught at four colleges: University of Puget Sound, Lawrence University, University of Portland, and Lewis & Clark College.

"Adam attended graduate school at the University of Oregon, where he studied general relativity, in particular model cosmological solutions to Einstein's equations. By examining the behavior of these model universes, scientists gain insight into the behavior of our own universe, where it came from, and where it may be going."

Shawn Kolitch, a Kolisch Hartwell shareholder and former Lewis & Clark faculty member, said of Clausen: "Adam was an extremely talented and valuable member of our team and we will miss him very much...he was an entirely positive influence on everyone around him, and many of our staff are in a state of mourning today. Adam was also very, very good at his job, and had unlimited future possibilities at our firm."

Robert Burke, 34, of Reno, Nevada, also was killed in the crash.

Oregon State Police have said a westbound 2007 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Nathan Verhaeghe, 31, of Spokane, Washington, hit the rear of Clausen's Matrix, pushing the Matrix into the eastbound lane where it collided with Burke's Chrysler van.

Rachel Burke, 29, of Reno, a passenger in Burke's vehicle, was taken to St. Charles Medical Center with serious injuries. Their 22-month-old boy was taken to St. Charles Medical Center with minor injuries.

Verhaeghe was taken to St. Charles Medical Center with minor injuries.

"Speed and other contributing factors are being investigated as causes of the crash," a state police news release says.

--Allan Brettman

503-294-5900

@allanbrettman
U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow recently announced a $98,349 investment to provide assistance to help end veteran homelessness in Saginaw.

The assistance is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. The funding will go to the State of Michigan to work with the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw.

The men and women who have served our nation in uniform deserve our support when they return home, said Peters, a former lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. This grant will help homeless veterans in Saginaw access critical services, including health care and housing, and helps fulfill our promise to support veterans and their families even after their service ends.

Michigans veterans put their lives on the line for our country and our citizens, Stabenow said. This support will help our heroes in Saginaw find a permanent place to call home.

The HUD-VASH program combines rental assistance vouchers from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA to help homeless veterans find and keep permanent housing. VA Medical Centers are responsible for assessing homeless veterans and referring them to local housing agencies for rental vouchers. Vouchers are awarded based on an individuals duration of homelessness and need for long-term support to maintain permanent housing.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department.

Sunday, Dec. 25

9:06 p.m.  Police responded to a noise violation in the 700 block of Village East Drive.

Saturday, Dec. 24

4:57 a.m.  Police made arrests for domestic assault, and resisting and obstructing police, at a Boston Street address.

10:24 a.m.  Police made arrests on a warrant and for driving on a suspended license after a traffic crash at Airport Road and Sturgeon Avenue.

2:30 p.m.  Police were called to a retail fraud in the 6800 block of Eastman Avenue.

6:50 p.m.  A motorist was arrested at South Saginaw and James Savage roads for drunken driving and driving on a suspended license.

8:50 p.m.  Police were sent to the 800 block of Smith Street for a report of fireworks.

11:23 p.m.  Property was stolen from the 3700 block of Waldo Avenue.

Friday, Dec. 23

6:28 a.m.  Police investigated a hit and run traffic crash at U.S. 10 and Stark Road.

8:44 a.m.  Property was stolen from Rockwell Drive and Salzburg Road.

12:22 p.m.  Police made an arrest at Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street for marijuana possession.

8:24 p.m.  Police investigated a case of retail fraud in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard.

9:53 p.m.  A motorist was arrested on Bay City Road near Lemke Street for driving under the influence of drugs and driving on a suspended license.

Thursday, Dec. 22

12:24 a.m.  Police investigated a sexual assault at an Artcrest Drive address.

12:41 a.m.  A deputy investigated a case of sexual assault at an Edenville Township home.

10:40 a.m.  Animal Control was sent to a Jerome Township home for a report of a dog that attacked chickens.

1:29 p.m.  Deputies and state police troopers were sent to a Larkin Township home after a 40-year-old man assaulted his two home health care workers. The man had assaulted an eye doctor in Midland the day before. The man was taken to MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland and petitioned into mental health. A report is being sent to the prosecutor.

3:22 p.m.  A deputy was sent to Sanford for a report of a person driving around and trying to talk to people. The area was checked by the person and the vehicle was not found. No license plate was obtained.

3:22 p.m.  Detectives are investigating a case of child neglect that occurred when a man, 31, forced his son, age 5, to smoke cigarettes. The incident was reported by the childs mother, who was hospitalized when the incident occurred. Child Protective Services has been notified.

4:16 p.m.  A Larkin Township homes mailbox was damaged when it was struck by a vehicle.

11:20 p.m.  A motorist was arrested at West Sugnet Road and Eastman Avenue for drunken driving.
A Midland man accused of breaking into Washington Woods in November has moved on to the next court phase.

David Allen Kolodziej, 35, faces charges of first-degree home invasion and larceny in a building in one case, and breaking and entering a building with the intent to steal and possession of burglar tools in connection with another case. He also faces habitual fourth offender status in each case.

The cases against Kolodziej were bound over to the Midland County Circuit Court this month. He is being represented by attorney Dan Duke of Midland, who was appointed to the cases.

The first set of charges was filed in connection with an incident that occurred at Washington Woods, 821 Cambridge St., on Nov. 21. Police were called to the apartment complex at 12:12 p.m. Midland Police said a suspect entered the main office and two apartments.

The resident of one apartment arrived while the suspect was still inside, and the suspect walked out at that point. Stolen were medication, jewelry and cash, an affidavit filed in the case states.

Another resident, who had left the day before and returned about noon, reported items had been moved around in her apartment. One of the windows was slightly opened and the screen was damaged.

The second set of charges was filed in connection with an investigation into a break-in at North Point Ministries, 5920 Jefferson Ave., that was reported the same day.

The pastor called police after he found a locked office door and a locked interior door within the office had both been forced open. It is not believed anything was stolen.

The suspect in the case was tracked down by detectives using a physical description given by the Washington Woods resident whose apartment had been entered, as well as a photo, taken by workers at the complex, of a suspicious bicycle.

Kolodziej is being held on a $250,000 cash or surety bond.

He previously was convicted of vehicle theft in 1999, attempted second-degree home invasion in 2000, breaking and entering a building in 2001, and drug possession in 2006.

No future court dates have been scheduled.
NORMAL  Prosecutors in McLean and Peoria counties continue to work with police in Normal and Peoria on a case that started off as a kidnapping in Normal and ended up with a man dying in a Peoria hospital on Christmas Day.

Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Maunds Bryant, 41, died of a head injury at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, two days after he was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint with his stepfather from his home in Normal.

The autopsy confirmed that he died of a closed head injury, but we are not sure exactly how, Harwood told The Pantagraph. Police said that it happened during the abduction.

Danny Smith Jr., 28, of 2418 W. Proctor St., Peoria, remains in Peoria County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bond. He was charged over the weekend with aggravated kidnapping, but following Bryants death, more charges are expected, said Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner.

We are working with multiple agencies to put the different pieces of the puzzle together, he said. With what we know at this time, we believe the injuries that caused his death occurred in Normal, but our investigation is still continuing.

Authorities have not discussed the reason why Bryant and his stepfather were forced from their home.

The two men were taken at gunpoint Thursday evening from a home they share with a 57-year-old woman in the 100 block of West Raab Road in Normal, according to police. They were taken to a home in the 1800 block of West Kettelle Street, Peoria, when the stepfather got away, ran to a nearby home and called the police early Friday, police said.

Police found Bryant unresponsive in the basement of the house on Kettelle, but his injuries initially werent considered to be life-threatening.

But that changed Sunday morning, Bleichner said. We received news that the injuries were far worse than first thought. Its very unfortunate that he died and we will work with (McLean County State's Attorney) Jason Chambers and officials in Peoria and Peoria County to figure out exactly what he gets charged with.

"At this point we have multiple agencies involved and multiple jurisdictions, said Chambers. We need to continue communicating so that we can decide, in fairly short order, which route gets us to the highest level of accountability for this case.

Smith is scheduled to be in court in Peoria Jan. 19.
NORMAL  Autopsy results are expected to be released Tuesday on a Normal man who died Christmas Day in Peoria, two days after he was reportedly kidnapped at gunpoint with his stepfather from his home in Normal.

Maunds Bryant, 41, was pronounced dead at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at a Peoria hospital, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said in a news release issued Monday.

Danny Smith Jr., 28, of 2418 W. Proctor St., Peoria, was charged over the weekend with aggravated kidnapping and was jailed in lieu of $300,000 bond. The Peoria County state's attorney's office is looking into additional charges.

In a news release Monday, Harwood said Bryant was found injured Saturday in the basement of a Peoria home.

"At some point during the alleged abduction, Bryant had apparently suffered a head injury," Harwood said in a news release. "Bryant was found unresponsive by Peoria police in the basement of the Kettelle Street address.

"He was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center where he was being treated and later succumbed to his injuries."

Bryant and his stepfather were taken at gunpoint Thursday evening from a home they share with a 57-year-old woman in the 100 block of West Raab Road in Normal, according to police. They were taken to a home in the 1800 block of West Kettelle Street, Peoria, when the stepfather broke free, ran to a nearby home and called the police, police said.

Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner said Monday that Bryant was discovered with wounds that were initially believed to be minor, with "no gunshot or stabbing wounds, but his condition worsened."

Bleichner said Normal police were notified by Peoria police around 4:16 a.m. Friday of the incident.

"After we got the call, we went to the Normal residence and did an investigation on our end to see what led up to the two individuals being abducted," said Bleichner.

Normal officers found the door had been forced open at the Raab Road home. The woman there told police Smith held her and the two male victims against their will Thursday night with a firearm, made some threats and then left with the men in her car.

The woman was uninjured and was left inside the home, but she did not call police for an undisclosed reason, police said.

Smith was arrested as he tried to flee the scene in Peoria, and the vehicle taken from Normal was found nearby, police said.

"We're certainly saddened and feel for the family," said Bleichner. "We are working with Peoria County state's attorney as we continue to look at the case. There may be additional charges forthcoming."
BLOOMINGTON  Lunch and Learn sessions have been announced by Collaborative Solutions Institute, Illinois Wesleyan University and McLean County Museum of History.

All sessions will begin at 12:10 p.m. in the Gov. Fifer Courtroom of the McLean County Museum of History, 200 N. Main St., Bloomington. The sessions are free and attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch.

Scheduled sessions are:

Jan. 12: "Science Fiction Made into Science Reality"; presented by Gabe Spalding, Ames professor of physics, IWU; videos illustrating science fiction now in experimental reality.

Feb. 9: "Attraction to Crime and Criminals: Exploring Peoples Interest in Crime Stories and Attraction to Prisoners"; by Amanda Vicary, assistant professor of psychology, IWU; why true-crime genre appeals more to women than men.

March 9: "Designing a Better Future"; by Jonathan Green, university provost, IWU; why IWUs new major, design, technology and entrepreneurship, is well-suited to liberal-arts college.

April 13: "When Downtown Became a Problem"; by Alan Lessoff, professor of history, Illinois State University; review of three decades of redevelopment plans for downtown Bloomington.

May 4: "Assessing the First 100 days of the Trump Presidency"; by Robert Bradley, professor emeritus, politics and government, ISU.

May 11: "The End is Near: Waste Management in a Post-Landfill World"; by Michael Brown, executive director, Ecology Action Center; future of solid waste in McLean County as landfill reaches capacity and begins closure in 2017.
SPRINGFIELD  Angel Gonzalez waited more than 20 years for his exoneration on rape charges, but his wait for the money the state owes him for the wrongful conviction is not expected to end anytime soon.

Fourteen men are owed a total of $2.5 million from the Illinois Court of Claims as compensation for the years they served in prison before they were awarded certificates of innocence by the state.

The state's two-year budget impasse has put a hold on payment of the individual claims ranging from $5,000 to $220,732. Lawmakers did not approve the claims that were part of a stop-gap budget approved earlier this year and which expires on Friday.

The Illinois Innocence Project based in Springfield joined the New York Innocence Project in working on the Gonzalez conviction for which he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

John Hanlon, executive director of the Illinois legal project, said the money owed Gonzalez and the 13 others has nothing to do with liability on the part of police or prosecutors.

"This is not a measurement of liability. It's recognition that the state of Illinois kept these individuals in their prisons wrongfully," said Hanlon.

In the Gonzalez case, police wrote a confession for Gonzalez to sign after the one he wrote in Spanish failed to accurately reflect key details of the sexual assault.

Gonzalez, who at the time could not speak English fluently, was identified by the woman as she sat in the back seat of a squad car, with Gonzalez standing in front of the vehicle. Results of DNA tests cleared Gonzalez and he was released in March 2015.

Lauren Kaeseberg, who served as co-counsel on the Gonzalez case, said Gonzalez is fortunate to have the support of a close family, but the lack of financial resources has postponed his independence. The same is true for others on the list, she said.

"You might have your physical freedom, but until you have some financial means, you're not really free, said Kaeseberg, referring to the overdue payments as "salt in the wounds and an insult to an egregious injury."

The Court of Claims payments are based upon the length of time a man or woman spends in prison. The maximum payment is $220,732.

Hanlon is urging lawmakers to approve the claims as part of a special awards bill. "This is a unique situation. These are people who had to suffer the ultimate nightmare," he said.

In 2013, Alan Beaman received about $180,000 from the state for his wrongful conviction in the 1993 murder of his former girlfriend in a McLean County case.

The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2008, calling the state's evidence "tenuous." Former State's Attorney Bill Yoder, now a judge, dismissed the charges in 2009 and Beaman went on to receive a certificate of innocence from the court in 2013 and clemency from former Gov. Pat Quinn in 2015.

Beaman returned to his hometown of Rockford where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
The accidental death of three toddlers after they were toppled over by Ikea's Malm dressers has cost the company up to $50 million.The three children have been identified as 22-month old Ted McGee, Curran Collas and Camden Ellis who died in 2014.

The incident has prompted Ikea to release a video to raise awareness of the possible danger brought about by the Malm dresser, especially if these are not secured to the walls. Due to the tragic incidents, Ikea recalled the dressers six months ago.

"We would never want other parents to have to experience what we have been forced to endure," Ted's mother, Janet McGee, said. "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."

Up to 29 million chests that did not conform with the U.S. voluntary industry standard requirements were recalled by the company in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, according to World Breaking News. In Canada, a total of six million Malm dressers were recalled.

The Malm dressers, which are made of fiberboard and particleboard, are considered among Ikea's popular do-it-yourself drawers. The payout, which was decided after two mediation days among Ikea and the lawyers of the families, is said to be the largest ever for this type of settlement.

Washington Post narrated how Jackie Collas, Curran's mother, recalled her horror when she discovered sometime in July 2015, her son with the blond wood Malm dresser on top of his chest. Even though the recall of the Malm dressers was made only six months ago, Daily Mail said Ikea was already aware of the risks posed by the deadly dresser.

Meanwhile, reports show that between 1989 to 2015, there were already 14 reports of Malm tippings made. The report also shows the Malm dressers caused four injuries and five deaths.
In 1786, a surgeon diagnosed a patient who had tumors as hard as a bone. This surgeon, John Hunter, was highly responsible for the progress in medical science and even had a museum named after him -

the Hunterian.

This museum is located in the Royal College of Surgeons in London and holds all of Hunter's medical collection. The collection includes everything from his research to his notes. According to BBC News, his notes describe the case of the bone-hard tumors. A man with the name St. George was brought in, who had these increasing tumors surrounding the lower part of his thigh bone.

John Hunter operated him and surgically removed the tumors after which the patient survived for only 7 weeks. When an autopsy was conducted, it was discovered that the tumor had spread to his lungs, ribs and even the heart.

Two hundred years later, Royal Marsden Hospital doctors analyzed the samples and notes of St. George's case. These doctors, specifically Dr. Christina Messiou, stated that it was just a kind of fun exploration. But later on, this became a very captivating insight. According to them, these samples may help them study about the variation in cancer over time.

The specimens initially provided the doctors with the diagnosis of osteosarcoma. They said that what was discovered years ago fits with the behavior of the disease in the present time. Through modern-day technology, the century-old diagnosis has now been confirmed by Royal Marsden Hospital doctors.

Dr. Messiou complimented John Hunter over his impressive knowledge and management of the patient, which is similar to the treatment process followed nowadays. However, as Ghana Guardian explained, the research process doesn't just end here.

Meanwhile, they will use Hunter's samples of tumors to find differences in historical and current cancers to study the evolution of the diseases. There is no certainty to what they will find but it is surely very exciting and interesting.
The outgoing U.S. Secretary of Education, John King, has a message for the next leaders of the government. The protection of the students should be the main agenda of the new leaders, especially in a department where civil rights should be continually upheld.

During his visit to the Central Connecticut State University days before Christmas, Secretary John King emphasized on vigilance and the safety of all students regardless of race, religion and sexual orientation. Fears that this will be threatened have risen since Donald Trump won the presidency and has picked Betsy DeVos to replace John King after the inauguration.

"The department is a civil rights agency," the secretary said, according to WNPR. "That's the historic role of the department: protecting our students."

When Trump announced his pick for Education secretary, observers haven't stopped their criticisms of Besty DeVos. It was hinted that her assumption in office could reverse the policies that were already established during the Obama's 8-year term that Secretary John King has implemented.

"Under her leadership, we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families," Trump said in his announcement, according to Voice of America. Betsy DeVos hasn't gone into specifics about what these changes might be but she is a known supporter of voucher programs and charter schools that have disadvantaged students from poor families.

Education saved my life. Feeling incredibly humbled by the honor to serve as Secretary. pic.twitter.com/Ezt0dReyfO  John King (@JohnKingatED) March 14, 2016

According to the Independent Women Forum, however, John King and Betsy DeVos agree on one thing: charter schools. These are run and managed by nonprofits and federal funding and not traditional public school boards.

For John King, there are well-performing charter schools that should continue to service students but those that have not been effective should be shut down. But education leaders shouldn't solely focus on school management. "It should be whether schools serve all students well, "the secretary said.
A proposed government bill filed by a Texas senator is causing a stir in the education community. Filed by Sen. Konni Burton, the bill seeks to give parents full rights to information and public records about their child, should they request this from the school.

Senate Bill 242, which was filed in early December, outlines the specifics that include divulging basic information like grades, attendance records, health and immunization. But it also includes "other records relating to the child's general physical, psychological, or emotional well-being."

The bill also specifies grounds for discipline should the school or any of its staff members withhold the information from the students' parents. CBS reports that the bill was filed after recognizing a need for "new guidelines about transgender students." It sprung from issues in the Fort Worth school district.

The worry is that giving parents full rights might put LGBT children at risk, especially if they have yet to come out to their parents, Kera News reports. Equality Texas advocate Chuck Smith believes that such sensitive information might have grave consequences. What if the students are afraid to disclose for fear of abuse or being kicked out of the house by their parents? The Williams Institute reports that of the homeless minors, 40 percent are LGBT.

Senate Bill 242 should not even be a thing, you can't FORCE a student to come out.  jogo (@JohnnieOgo) November 27, 2016

#senatebill242 it is not the job of educators to disclose something so personal and sacred to parents. Putting a child in harms way = bad  AFTER THT (@THERICKOLA) November 27, 2016

Abby Schachter of the National Review criticized the senate bill. She cites that while legislation exists to balance the rights of its constituents, some laws that have been enacted are intervening and pervasive in the private lives of American families. These laws don't provide for best practices in looking out for the welfare of the children. In fact, it's the children who suffer from the implementation of the legislation that is supposed to protect them.

In another report on NPR, however, some school officials believe that when a student is prone to self-harm or suicide, then alerting the parents is the most prudent move. The proposed bill could be helpful in this case. "Privacy and confidentiality go out the window," American School Counselor Association Carolyn Stone said in the report that discusses how schools monitor students' activities with GoGuardian software.

"It sounds like a very good idea to err on the side of caution when it comes to student suicide," Stone added. She cautions, however, that lines could be easily crossed. "It's a slippery slope," she said.

Where do you side with this issue? Are you in favor of full rights or should the government leave this alone?
A family from Pennsylvania was traveling from Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah to the Grand Canyon Nation but their car got stuck in a ditch. The mother then decided to get out and ask for help but she got lost instead for 30 hours and was able to survive by drinking her own urine and eating twigs.

The mother was identified as Karen Klein, 46, her 47-year-old husband Eric and their 10-year-old son Isaac. Karen, who's a college professor from Easton, Pennsylvania, and her family decided that she is the best person to get out and try to ask for help as she is a triathlete.

Karen wanted to walk to the main road, which was 10 miles away from where their vehicle was stuck, as there was no cellphone signal as she wanted to try and flag someone down for help. However, she saw the main highway closed due to the snow so she walked another 14 miles to get to the entrance of the park.

People reported that Karen then did not have any food on her so she drank her urine and ate twigs. She took wilderness survival training classes so she knew what was safe to eat. She hiked less than 30 miles for 30 hours to get help. She was able to take refuge in a cabin at the closed park entrance.

Rescuers were able to find her on Saturday morning while other rescuers were able to locate Eric and Isaac. Eric was able to hike to a higher ground to get cell phone service and ask for help. Eric and Isaac slept in the vehicle and were treated for frostbite.

As for Karen, she is now in stable condition. According to NBC, the first thing she told the emergency responders was that she was sorry because she broke the window of the cabin and she feared she will be arrested for what she did. The rescuers then gave Karen food and water.

Jim Driscoll, chief deputy for the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, called the incident a Christmas miracle noting that their rescuers are ecstatic over the matter. He also said that they had the same problems in the past due to the snow in the area.

Karen said in a statement that her love for her family made her want to survive. She said that she cannot leave her son without a mom and her husband without a wife. She added, "I can't have my parents bury me."
Most parents find it difficult to accept that their child belongs to the autism spectrum. More than the child's need for therapy, it is the parents who seem to need something to overcome their overeagerness to find a cure or reduce the symptoms exhibited by their children.

Even though others try to read as much as they can on the autistic spectrum condition (ASC), others have turned to watching movies that depict autism. One of the most popular portrayals of a person with autism is "Rain Man," which starred Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt.

Regardless of Hoffman's superb acting, which led to an Oscar Award, it is, unfortunately, one of the least accurate depiction of autism. The movie portrayed Babbitt as a savant with prodigious abilities beyond what is normal, giving people an inaccurate representation of the real condition of the majority of people with autism.

Autism in popular culture has often overemphasized social awkwardness, savant-like mental capabilities and even mathematical prodigy characteristics, according to Spectrum News. This is, however, far from the truth considering that savantism and the other characteristics are not so common among people who belong to the autism spectrum. Most moviemakers have depicted an almost surreal picture of a person with autism instead of a real-life one.

The Guardian, however, said there seems to be a shift of how people on the autism spectrum have been portrayed in the last five years. Take for example the Bollywood movie "My Name Is Khan," which depicted the spectrum not only by defining the common characteristics of the condition but relating it as well to the Muslim faith of the character. The movie, "Mary and Max," showed the loneliness and alienation felt by a person with autism.

The number of children with autism is growing, according to Huffington Post, with one out of every 88 children in the United States diagnosed with the condition. It is also one of the most common neurological disorder among children in Canada event though there is no actual monitoring system being implemented by the federal government.


Photo: (Photo : Jeffrey Nelson)

Keeping children safe from accidental gun incidents should be a high priority for everyone. Being a parent that has lived in several states, I understand that guns are viewed differently in different areas of the country.

Guns are not very common in some parts of the U.S., but they are widespread in other places. My wife, our three little boys and I live in Texas where guns are literally everywhere. While the availability of guns could be seen as a threat, we use it as a means to spark up conversation with our little guys and explain to them the dangers of firearms.

The Conversation that Got Me Interested in Gun Safety for Kids

I recently had a conversation with a coworker that got me thinking a lot more about gun safety. We were chatting about life in general and she happened to make a reference about having a loaded pistol on her nightstand. Normally, this wouldn't be all that interesting, however, I happen to know she has a 3-year-old daughter.

Curious as to her logic in this situation, I asked her if she is ever concerned her daughter will find the gun and something will happen. She confidently proclaimed that she wasn't because her daughter "knows better than to touch the gun."

Honestly, I was surprised. I assumed that this can't be mainstream thinking and it peaked my interest a bit further.

A Few Facts to Help Us Educate Ourselves

First, let's start off with a few important facts to keep in mind. According to a study done in the journal of Pediatrics by Frances Baxley and Mathew Miller, about one in three US households has a gun in or around it. Among those, 1.7 million children live in homes with guns that are both unsecured and loaded.

Considering these surprising numbers, the number of gun-related accidental deaths is relatively low compared to other things. The reason it's disturbing is because there are many effective ways to reduce these incidences that aren't always being utilized.

Gun Safety Is NOT Gun Prohibition

I grew up in North Dakota where hunting is very common. In fact, I happened to be one of the few kids I knew who didn't hunt on a regular basis. All of my friends were avid hunters. They would go out with their parents from the time they were young and hunt for pheasant, deer, turkeys and anything else that was legal and available.

There is nothing wrong with that. I do firmly believe, on the other hand, that if a child (anyone under 18) is around a gun, they should have some form of supervision. This supervision can vary depending on their age, level of maturity, experience and many other factors. Nonetheless, the parent is ultimately responsible for their child's safety and well-being. This is the same for guns.

Responsible Gun Ownership Helps Strengthen Everyone's Position

As a parent, shooting activities don't necessarily worry me. What worries me are what happens to those firearms when they are not in use. Where are they stored? Are they loaded? In any home where children are present, these questions require serious and honest answers.

Any gun I have in my home is always completely secured, locked in an appropriate safe and stored in a place where the children don't have access to it. Additionally, the ammunition for that weapon is secured, locked and stored separately from the weapon.

While I'm not naive enough to think that this will eliminate 100% of the risk, it greatly decreases the likelihood of one of my children finding the weapon and letting curiosity drive them into a bad decision. This is easy enough to control at my home but I still wonder: How do I protect my kids when they are not in my home?

Ask Questions to Keep your Children Safe

As soon as your child leaves your immediate area, you lose a little bit of control. This is a very healthy thing for children, but it can be unnerving for parents if there is any concern about firearms. This is where it's very important to ask the question: Do you have firearms in the house? If so, are they locked and stored properly?

These two simple questions could greatly reduce the odds that your child is injured or worse in an incident. To learn more and see the infographic I created on this topic, please visit my page on how we can keep kids safe from guns.

Jeffrey Nelson lives with his wife and three sons in The Dallas/Fort Worth Metro area in Texas. He currently works for a Fortune 100 company, is studying for his MBA and writes about various topics online in his spare time. Check out more from him at http://www.nationalbiometric.org.
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Yesterday Patently Apple posted a report titled "Politics and the Chinese Smartphone Invasion into the U.S could Cause some Havoc for both Samsung and Apple in 2017." The report noted that Huawei, Oppo and Xiaomi at minimum were scheduled to land in the U.S. market in early 2017 and that between them and Google's own Pixel smartphone gathering steam in the New Year would eventually hurt Samsung's market share in the U.S. Today we're learning that some of that havoc may be coming Apple's way too with Nokia reentering the smartphone market with high-end specs and lowball pricing that could eventually put pressure on Apple's pricing model.



In yesterday's report I had noted that it would be great if Apple had a new 5" iPhone model priced a little sharper to appeal to emerging markets such as India and especially Indonesia. A new rumor surfacing today from Japan's Mac Okatara reveals that Apple may in fact introduce a new 5" iPhone with a vertical dual lens camera system. While Okatara doesn't always get rumors right, they did get Apple dropping the iPhone's headphone jack and the new glossy black iPhone 7 model right .

Earlier this month Patently Apple posted a report titled "Apple's is Entering Indonesia in 2017, one of the Top Emerging Markets with a Massive Growing Middle Class." In that report I noted that "At present, the current smartphone players in the top five chart are seemingly focused on the lower to mid-end of the market with prices in the $250-$300 and the $100-$200 tiers, none of which Apple participates in. Smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy J7 ($230), Oppo F1s ($235) and the ASUS Zenphone Selfie ($315 aprox) are the hot sellers. All three of these smartphones offer a 5.5" 1080p display at prices lower than Apple's entry 4" iPhone SE which starts at $400 with half the storage.

While Apple hasn't exhausted tapping into the upper middle class markets around the world just yet, in order to sustain market growth may require Apple to get a little more serious about the top end of the middle-tier of smartphones that are offering tempting specs for those just entering the market. The standard is quickly becoming 5" or 5.5" displays, not 4" as Apple's iPhone SE.

If you've been paying attention to the news lately, then you're likely aware that Apple sued Acacia Research for being in a conspiracy with Nokia against them. Nokia responded within 24 hours hitting Apple with a series of patent infringement lawsuits (one, two and more) around the world.

So on one hand Nokia is out to sue Apple for everything it can and continually bury Apple in patent infringement lawsuits for as far as the eye could see, even suing Apple for using technology found in supplier parts like those from Qualcomm. They want to squeeze every penny that they can out of Apple for getting run over by the iPhone. Nokia sold their phone business to Microsoft who got killed taking on that garbage brand and technology no one apparently wanted with an OS from hell.

On the other side of the equation Nokia is coming back to the phone market under HMD, the new home for Nokia phones.

According to a new report published earlier today, "Finland-based HMD Global is expected to announce its first Nokia-branded smartphones in February 2017 at Mobile World Congress (MWC), and has been cooperating with supply chain makers in Taiwan to develop four more models for launch in the second and third quarters of 2017, according to industry sources.

The four new models will have display sizes ranging from 5.0 to 5.7-inch at WQHD or Full HD resolutions, said the sources, adding that panel suppliers will include LG Display, Century Technology (CTC) and Innolux, and that FIH Mobile will serve as production partner.

The first Nokia smartphone to be presented by HMD at MWC is likely to be the Nokia DIC, which will be available in two versions, depending on the amount of memory and display size, according to a Chinese-language technews.com report.

The higher-priced version of the two variants will cost US$200, and come with 3GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch Full HD (1080p) display. The cheaper version is to cost US$150, packed with 2GB RAM and a 5-inch Full HD display, said the report.

Most of Apple's top competitors and now Nokia are making 5" the smallest display size for consumers and 5.5" models at super economical pricing like $50 more. So the rumor of Apple bringing a new 5" model is interesting  even though, despite all hope, Apple will likely price it out of reach for most consumers in emerging markets.

When the entire smartphone industry is raising the specifications bar while lowering the prices of the mid-tier range, at some point consumers won't be able to be tempted by an iPhone with smaller displays at double, triple and quadruple prices.

At the end of the day, smartphone players around the world are shifting their war plans against Apple and it's beginning to work in China. But we now have to acknowledge that Nokia's game plan is not only to sue Apple on an ongoing basis until they pound them into submission, they're now reentering the smartphone market with high-end specs and dirt low pricing to hurt Apple. No, to kill Apple.

Apple noted in their most recent lawsuit against Acacia Research that "As Nokia's CEO had announced to employees the previous year, Nokia was standing on "a burning platform." Unable to compete with innovative companies such as Applewhich had developed a revolutionary hardware and software platformNokia quickly transformed itself. It changed from a company focused on supplying cell phones and other consumer products to a company bent on exploiting the patents that remain from its years as a successful cell phone supplier. In its changed form, Nokia has sought to extract exorbitant patent royalties from Apple and other cell phone makers, and Acacia and Conversant have been its willing conspirators to that end."

Nokia is going to make Apple eat their words that they were unable to compete with innovative companies like Apple. They're going to hammer them on patent fees and lowball the market on price to help turn the tide on Apple where high consumer pricing will no longer be tolerated, forcing Apple to lower prices or continue to slide to the 4 or 5% market share point; a point where developers will begin to think twice about developing for iOS.

Will Nokia's revengeful plan succeed or will Apple continually outsmart them so that the world will watch Nokia fail for a second time in history? The war has begun and it's now going to go far beyond just battling it out in the courts over patent fees. In 2017, Nokia is taking their battle to Apple in the marketplace directly. Their phones will likely debut in emerging markets like China and India first so as to build up mass production before turning their attention to the U.S. This could get nasty very quickly.

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Jesus: detail of the Ghent Altarpiece (1432), by Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

*****

(11-13-07)

*****

The short version of orthodox Christology is to remember the following formulas (the fine points and details are best left to theologians, as long as they are undeniably orthodox and are teaching opinions in total accord with infallible Catholic dogma):

1) Holy Trinity: God exists eternally in Three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: all eternal and equal in glory, honor, and essence.

2) God (i.e., Jesus, God the Son, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity) became Man (the incarnation) at a certain identifiable point in space-time history.

3) Jesus is a Divine Person.

4) It is improper to refer to Jesus as a human person or to claim that He contains within Himself more than one person (human and divine) or to deny that Mary is Theotokos (Mother of God or, literally, God-bearer). That is the heresy of Nestorianism. When we refer to human with regard to Jesus, it is with regard to His human nature, that He assumed at the incarnation, not His Person (which is Divine and eternal).

5) Jesus has two natures (the Hypostasis or Hypostatic Union): divine and human (the denial of his human nature is the heresy of Monophysitism; some Monophysites, however, believed in a single divine-human nature in Christ).

6) Jesus has two wills: divine and human (the assertion of a single divine-human will is the heresy of Monotheletism).

7) The orthodox Catholic notion of communicatio idiomatum holds that:

The human and the divine activities predicated of Christ in Holy Writ and in the Fathers may not be divided between persons or hypostases, the Man-Christ and the God-Logos, but must be attributed to the one Christ, the Logos become Flesh . . . It is the Divine Logos, who suffered in the flesh, was crucified, and rose again . . . (Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, p. 144) Christs Divine and Human characteristics and activities are to be predicated of the one Word Incarnate. (De fide.) As Christs Divine Person subsists in two natures, and may be referred to either of those two natures, so human things can be asserted of the son of God and Divine things of the Son of Man. The old Lutheran Doctrinal Theology theology inclines to the monophysitic error which posits a real transference of Divine attributes such as omniscience, omnipotence, ubiquity, by reason of the Hypostatic Union, to the human nature of Christ, and teaches that Christ, not only as God, but also as man knows all, can do all, and is present to all created things (formula concordiae I 8, 11). (Ott, p. 160) The nature of the Hypostatic Union is such that while on the one hand things pertaining to both the Divine and Human nature can be attributed to the person of Christ, on the other hand things specifically belonging to one nature cannot be predicated of the other nature. Since concrete terms (God, Son of God, Son of Man, Christ the Almighty) designate the Hypostasis and abstract terms (Godhead, humanity, omnipotence) the nature, the following rule may be laid down: communicatio idioamatum fit in concreto, non in abstracto. The communication of idioms is valid for concrete terms not for abstract ones. So, for example: The Son of Man died on the Cross; Jesus created the world. The rule is not valid if . . . the concrete term is limited to one nature. Thus it is false to say Christ has suffered as God. Christ created the world as a human being. It must also be observed that the essential parts of the human nature, body and soul are referred to the nature, whose parts they are. Thus it is false to say: Christs soul is omniscient, Christs body is ubiquitous. Further, predication of idioms is valid in positive statements not in negative ones, as nothing may be denied to Christ which belongs to Him according to either nature. One, therefore, may not say: The Son of God has not suffered, Jesus is not almighty. (Ott, p. 161; italics added)

To assert the contrary is the heresy of Nestorianism. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Hypostatic Union as follows:



468 After the Council of Chalcedon, some made of Christs human nature a kind of personal subject. Against them, the fifth ecumenical council, at Constantinople in 553, confessed that there is but one hypostasis [or person], which is our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Trinity. Thus everything in Christs human nature is to be attributed to his divine person as its proper subject, not only his miracles but also his sufferings and even his death: He who was crucified in the flesh, our Lord Jesus Christ, is true God, Lord of glory, and one of the Holy Trinity. 470 Because human nature was assumed, not absorbed, in the mysterious union of the Incarnation, the Church was led over the course of centuries to confess the full reality of Christs human soul, with its operations of intellect and will, and of his human body. In parallel fashion, she had to recall on each occasion that Christs human nature belongs, as his own, to the divine person of the Son of God, who assumed it. Everything that Christ is and does in this nature derives from one of the Trinity. The Son of God therefore communicates to his humanity his own personal mode of existence in the Trinity. (see Catechism, #456-483; available online; see also the Twelve Anathemas of St. Cyril Against Nestorius, from the Acts of the Council of Ephesus: 431 A.D.)

8) Another important and dogmatically accepted aspect of trinitarianism and Christology is what is known as the perichoresis (Greek) or circumincession (Latin). Fr. John A. Hardon. S.J., in his Modern Catholic Dictionary (Doubleday, 1980, 415-416) precisely defines it:

The penetration and indwelling of the three persons reciprocally in one another. In the Greek conception of the Trinity there is an emphasis on the mutual penetration of the three persons, thus bringing out the unity of the divine essence. In the Latin idea . . . the stress is more on the internal processions of the three divine persons. In both traditions, however, the fundamental basis of the Trinitarian perichoresis is the one essence of the three persons in God.

For more on perichoresis, see my papers: Prayer to Jesus in the New Testament and Circumincession: 50 Cent Trinitarian Word.

Perichoresis is also specifically applied to the two natures of Christ. Biblical indications of this doctrine can be found in the following passages (RSV):

John 10:30: I and the Father are one. John 10:38: . . . believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. John 14:9-11: Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me . . .

See also the various biblical ways of describing the indwelling of Christian believers, proving that all three persons of the Holy Trinity are involved (not just the Holy Spirit):

[the following verses are KJV]

I) Jesus and the Father Indwell Christian Believers JOHN 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. II) Jesus Indwells Christian Believers JOHN 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. {cf. Jn 14:16-17} JOHN 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I {am} in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. JOHN 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. JOHN 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; . . . III) God the Holy Spirit Indwells Christian Believers 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (17) If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which {temple} ye are. JOHN 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) {Even} the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. {cf. Jn 14:18 below} ROMANS 8:9,11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his . . . (11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. {cf. Rom 8:10 below} 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost {which is} in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? {cf. to 1 Cor 3:16} GALATIANS 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. IV) God (Divine Person Not Specified) Indwells Christian Believers

(Arguably God the Father) 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in {them}; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {cf. Ex 29:45, Jer 31:33, Ezek 37:27} V) God the Father and God the Holy Spirit Indwell Christian Believers 1 JOHN 3:24 . . . And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 JOHN 4:12-16 . . . If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. (14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son {to be} the Saviour of the world. (15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. (16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. {cf. Neh 9:20, Jn 14:26, 15:26, 16:7-8,13-15, Rom 8:14, 2 Cor 13:14} VI) God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son, Jesus, Indwell Christian Believers ROMANS 8:10 And if Christ {be} in you, the body {is} dead because of sin; but the Spirit {is} life because of righteousness. {cf. Rom 8:9} VII) God the Father Indwells Christian Believers 1 JOHN 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him . . .

We dont have nearly as much of a problem today with the three heresies mentioned above (though a lot of Protestantism-in-practice and liberal Catholic and Protestant theology has strong Nestorian tendencies, and some have argued that Calvins Christology was literally Nestorian), but they were huge problems in the first seven centuries of the Church, especially in the East.

Today we have the luxury of orthodox councils and popes having carefully defined and explained all these doctrines. But unfortunately many Catholics (not to mention non-Catholic Christians) are insufficiently acquainted with orthodox Christology and so (often inadvertently) fall into various errors.

We all do need to do some study, at least enough to grasp the basic distinctions above, concerning persons, natures, wills, essences, etc., so we dont fall into heresies. This stuff may seem very abstract and not-so-important to us, yet all error can lead one far astray, and (false) ideas have consequences. Christology is at the center of Christianity, so we should all spend some time learning it.

Folks certainly learn many other complicated things (quantum physics, trigonometry, income taxes, engineering, auto mechanics, computer programming, advanced medicine, how to operate a DVD player, etc.). These things can only be simplified so much, because they are quite complex and nuanced by nature (no pun intended!).

* * * * * Additional, More Technical Distinctions and Clarifications

Jesus was neither a man nor a human being before the Incarnation. God became man. Jesus is a Divine Person with a human nature and a divine nature. To say that Jesus is a human person is the Christological heresy of Nestorianism (see, e.g., Ludwig Ott, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, pp. 143-146).

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote about the person / nature distinction:

Augustine [Fulgentius] says (De Fide ad Petrum ii) that God assumed the nature, not the person, of man. I answer that, A thing is said to be assumed inasmuch as it is taken into another. Hence, what is assumed must be presupposed to the assumption, as what is moved locally is presupposed to the motion. Now a person in human nature is not presupposed to assumption; rather, it is the term of the assumption, as was said (3, 1,2). For if it were presupposed, it must either have been corruptedin which case it was useless; or it remains after the unionand thus there would be two persons, one assuming and the other assumed, which is false, as was shown above (2, 6). Hence it follows that the Son of God nowise assumed a human person.



Reply to Objection 1. The Son of God assumed human nature in atomo, i.e. in an individual, which is no other than the uncreated suppositum, the Person of the Son of God. Hence it does not follow that a person was assumed. (Summa Theologica, III, 4, 2)

Theologian Ludwig Ott, in the same section in his book on the Hypostatic Union (pp. 150-151) writes:

Christs death dissolved the connection between body and soul  Christ was therefore during the three days not man that is, a compositum of body and soul ([St. Thomas Aquinas], Summa Theologica, III, 50, 4)  but His death did not dissolve the attachment of Godhead and humanity, or of their parts. Even after their separation the body and soul separately remained hypostatically united with the divine Logos.

St. Thomas wrote in the noted section:

When the higher [species] is removed, so is the lower. But the living or animated being is a higher species than animal and man, because an animal is a sensible animated substance. Now during those three days of death Christs body was not living or animated. Therefore He was not a man. I answer that, It is an article of faith that Christ was truly dead: hence it is an error against faith to assert anything whereby the truth of Christs death is destroyed. Accordingly it is said in the Synodal epistle of Cyril [Act. Conc. Ephes. P. I, cap. xxvi]: If any man does not acknowledge that the Word of God suffered in the flesh, and was crucified in the flesh and tasted death in the flesh, let him be anathema. Now it belongs to the truth of the death of man or animal that by death the subject ceases to be man or animal; because the death of the man or animal results from the separation of the soul, which is the formal complement of the man or animal. Consequently, to say that Christ was a man during the three days of His death simply and without qualification, is erroneous. Yet it can be said that He was a dead man during those three days. However, some writers have contended that Christ was a man during those three days, uttering words which are indeed erroneous, yet without intent of error in faith: as Hugh of Saint Victor, who (De Sacram. ii) contended that Christ, during the three days that followed His death, was a man, because he held that the soul is a man: but this is false, as was shown in I, 75, 4]. Likewise the Master of the Sentences (iii, D, 22) held Christ to be a man during the three days of His death for quite another reason. For he believed the union of soul and flesh not to be essential to a man, and that for anything to be a man it suffices if it have a soul and body, whether united or separated: and that this is likewise false is clear both from what has been said in I, 75, 4, and from what has been said above regarding the mode of union (2] , 5).

I know its very heavy (my heads spinning, too, believe me) but Christology and Trinitarianism always will be. These are deep waters indeed, and barely comprehensible to us.

As for the additional question of theophanies (in relation to the incarnation), Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., defines this phenomenon in his Modern Catholic Dictionary (p. 538):

A direct communication or appearance by God to human beings . . . These theophanies were temporary manifestations. They were not like the Incarnation, which, though it began in time, will continue for all eternity.

A Protestant site (I dont want to reference it because there may be some Christological errors in it, on various sub-pages), writes (in agreement with Catholic doctrine):

A theophany is a manifestation of God in the Bible that is tangible to the human senses. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament period often, but not always, in human form. . . . every theophany wherein God takes on human form foreshadows the incarnation . . .

Related Reading:

Jesus is God: Biblical Proofs [1982; slightly revised in 1997]
Yes, three states.

It goes like this:

Israel engages in land swaps to some reasonable fashion to construct defensible borders, and keeps the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem.

Egypt takes back Gaza, which it held from 1948 to 1967 anyway.

Jordan takes back the remainder of the West Bank, and the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, which it held from 1948 to 1967.

Both these areas may be wholly incorporated or semi-autonomous, but with Egyptian and Jordanian troops, respectively, guaranteeing the security of Israel along those borders, and with the Egyptian and Jordanian governments guaranteeing that the residents of those areas, in their public television broadcasts, in their schools, and so on, teach peace, not war.

The Temple Mount/Western Wall/al-Asqa Mosque? Yeah, thats somehow international.

Within these three sets of national borders, there are no restrictions as to the ethnicity or religion of their inhabitants. Jews retain property rights in the property they have purchased in the West Bank region, but do so as residents of Jordan. As such, Jordan grants them (and all other residents of the West Bank) citizenship on equal terms with East Bank Jordanian citizens, and provides for freedom of religion and guarantees their safety, as well as guarantees for the security of Jewish holy sites in the West Bank region.

In the meantime, refugees who have been living in refugee camps ever since 1948, are to be granted citizenship for the country in which they are living. Israel, in turn, accepts a fixed number of returnees each year, along the lines of an immigration quota, set so as to not disrupt the stability of the country. Eligibility would be based on willingness to live in peace with Jews in Israel as well as the legitimacy of the claim. Whether third, fourth, and fifth generations of descendants of refugees are included in the resettlement opportunity is another question.

Why not just give the Palestinians their own state? Israel has always said that it is willing to trade land for peace, subject to the requirement of defensible borders. So far as I can tell, the current proposal among self-proclaimed peace-brokers is to simply try to use all leverage outside military force to require Israel to withdraw from the entire West Bank region, lock, stock, and barrel, and then declare that Palestine is its own nation-state, without regard for the degree to which that state is willing to live in peace with Israel.

Given the current situation, is it really the case that, granted statehood, an entity called Palestine would truly be a peaceful neighbor to Israel, any more than is currently the case in Gaza? And given the risks to Israels security, wouldnt Egypt and Jordan establishing sovereignty over these regions be a better guarantee of security than vague statements by other countries?
Auckland: Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Chowdhary accompanied with his spouse, elder brother R. S Thakur, and his sister-in-law visited Auckland as part of his study tour to New Zealand from 23rd to 26th December 2016.

The study tour during Christmas holiday was a part of an official tour to study skill development, culture, environment and New Zealands law and order.

The Speaker and his family were given a traditional Indian warm welcome with Tilak and garland by the office bearers of the Non-Resident Bihari Diaspora which includes Bihar Samaj and Foundation, Auckland chapter. Later a traditional Maori welcome with their Hakka dance was provided to him in a nearby Marae sacred place of Maories, the tribe of New Zealand.

In Auckland, the speaker met with Indian community leaders at the Mahatma Gandhi center hosted by New Zealand Indian Central Association (NICA), the oldest established Indian Organization in New Zealand. He also attended a dinner meeting hosted by National Party List Member of Parliament Mr. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi. The speaker exchanged views on issues related to Bihar, demonetization, flood and water resources of the state.

The speaker with his family went for sightseeing to a Rotorua, a town set on its namesake lake in New Zealands north island known for its geothermal activity and Maori culture.

He also met Mr. Mahesh Bindra, a New Zealand politician representing New Zealand First as a list Member of Parliament, and some local Bihari Diaspora and exchanged views on democratic traditions of New Zealand and current political and economic scenario of present Bihar.

After local sightseeing, the speaker left for Sydney with his family on his way to India.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Carina Garcia said she is sorry that her pit bull killed a neighbors poodle, but she also said she believes the neighbor accused of fatally slitting the pit bulls throat could have handled the situation differently.

I understand that maybe it was in the heat of anger, but theres another way to deal with things. He could have called police or animal control, and they could have put him down in their way, she said Monday from behind her white, wrought-iron gate on Hollyhock Lane in the La Sierra neighborhood of Riverside.

Garcia, 22, said Devo held special meaning to her. Her boyfriend gave her the dog before dying in a vehicle crash two weeks later.

The man who authorities said killed 2-year-old Devo with a kitchen knife, Rudy Jesus Barajas, 30, could not be reached for comment Monday. The gate of his yard across the street from Garcias was chained shut. Barajas was out on bail after being arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty Saturday.

Garcia recounted what she saw after Devo got out of the yard  probably when someone left the rolling gate open, she said  about 9:45 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

Garcia said she was inside the house when she heard people screaming and dogs barking. She saw her dog with the poodle in its mouth, with Barajas and his parents nearby. Barajas was choking her dog, trying to get it to release the poodle, which Riverside County Animal Services identified as a 10-month-old mix named Spunky.

They were all screaming at me that they were going to kill it, Garcia said.

As his stepfather, Raul Romero, rescued the poodle, Barajas went inside and emerged with a kitchen knife, Garcia said. Barajas then cut the pit bulls throat as he held the dog near a side entrance to the house. Garcia said at that point she fainted.

Animal Services said Barajas stepfather told its officer that the pit bull tried to bite his wifes son, so Barajas took the pit bull by the neck and dragged the dog inside the home, into the kitchen and cut its throat. The dog died en route to a veterinarian.

The difference in those two accounts  where the pit bull was when he was cut  could not immediately be resolved.

Animal Services Officer Max Morales wrote in his report that he believed the slashing of the pit bull was not necessary because the poodle had already been rescued.

Contact the writer: brokos@scng.com or 951-368-9569
A man forced his way into a home Christmas morning, slammed a womans head against a wall and fled without taking anything, according to a San Bernardino County sheriffs news release.

The victim was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital.

Deputies responded to home on the 27000 block of Fisher Street in Highland about 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The incident was reported as a residential robbery, the news release states.

The victim told deputies that a man she did not know forced his way into her home after knocking at the door. She tried to close the door but couldnt.

The suspect violently rammed the victims head into the wall several times, causing her to fall down and almost lose consciousness, the news release states.

The man ran away and could not be found.

Deputies hope the public can help them locate the suspect, described as a 6-foot-tall white man weighing 180 pounds, last seen wearing blue jeans, a gray sweater, an orange reflective vest and an unknown colored hat.

Nearby residents told deputies they recently have seen him walking near Palm and Pacific avenues, according to the news release.

The sheriffs department asks anyone who has seen the man to call Highland police at 909-425-9793, or the anonymous WeTip hotline at 800-782-7463. Tipsters can also leave information anonymously at www.wetip.com.
Fourteen people were injured when a driver, who is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, crashed a Ford Explorer into multiple other vehicles in Indio on Monday, Dec. 26.

Indio police received a call of a collision at the intersection of Avenue 48 and Monroe Street about 6:45 p.m., according to a statement from Sgt. Dan Marshall.

Officers learned that 48-year-old Indio resident Juan Gomez was driving south on Monroe Street at a high rate of speed approaching Avenue 48 when he sideswiped a southbound Toyota Camry, Marshall wrote in the release.

Gomez then crashed into the back of a Nissan SUV, which was pushed into a Honda SUV.

Four people were hospitalized in critical condition, eight others were hospitalized with less-severe wounds and two were treated at the scene, Marshall said over the phone Tuesday.

Gomez was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol, the release said.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.
As Real Mex Restaurants negotiates the acquisition of a chain to accelerate its growth, the Cypress-based company announced the closure of six restaurants this week in Southern California.

The locations include an Acapulco in Los Angeles, El Torito restaurants in Burbank, Long Beach, Riverside and Temecula and an El Torito Grill in Torrance.

The Riverside El Torito in the La Sierra area of the city was closed. The El Torito at Riverside Plaza remains open.

The closed restaurants were targeted for a variety of reasons, including natural lease expirations, cost of deferred maintenance, fiscal performance or unfavorable lease terms, the company told the Orange County Register in a statement. They were shut down Monday.

Where appropriate, some employees have been offered positions elsewhere within the organization. The closures come as Real Mex is close to negotiating a deal to acquire a new restaurant chain. The company declined to name the company it was courting.

The Real Mex core business continues to improve and were preparing to integrate an acquisition into our existing business, Chief Executive Bryan Lockwood said in a statement. Although closing restaurants is never easy, the plan we have put in place strengthens the overall health of the company moving forward.

In the summer, Real Mex said it planned to double in size by acquiring a new concept. The company said the ideal brand would have annual sales ranging from $100 million to $300 million. Of particular interest are brands appealing to millennials, a generation of future spenders coveted by all industries.

Lockwood, the companys fourth CEO in five years, told the Orange County Register a few months ago he was looking at fine dining and fast casual chains. Fast food was not on his radar. He also is leading an overhaul of 22 of the companys more than 100 restaurants. Two new looks were unveiled a few months ago at a Chevys in Northridge and an Acapulco in Downey.

Amid the brand overhaul, the company has reported positive same-store sales for the last year. But downsizing has occurred with several restaurants closing over the last two years. At the end of 2015, Real Mex operated 109 Chevys, Acapulco and El Torito restaurants compared with 135 in 2012, according to Technomic. As of September, those core chains accounted for 105 of the companys 114 restaurants.

Real Mex also operates smaller niche concepts including Las Brisas in Laguna Beach and Who Song and Larrys in Orange. With El Torito Grill closing in Torrance, two others remain in Southern California: one in Brea and one in Irvine.
A Kmart department store near UC Riverside will close in mid-March.

Liquidation sale will begin Jan. 6 at 3001 Iowa Ave., according to an email from Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings, which owns the brands Sears and Kmart.

Sears is accelerating closure of unprofitable stores, he wrote.

The 48,427 square foot store adjoins a Stater Bros. supermarket.

The number of store employees is not available, but according to the email most are part-time.
The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) workers unions have denied media reports suggesting they recorded a loss in revenue of GH32 million between January and September this year.



The two unions at a joint press conference described the media report as palpable fabrications calculated at tainting the public image of well-performing state corporations like BOST and TOR.



The two unions unanimously on behalf of the workers TOR and BOST denied media publication on December 20, 2016, under the headline: BOST post 32 million cedis loss from fuel trading business losses between January and September 2016.



Mr John Elton Botwey, Chairman of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union at TOR, addressing the media said BOST trading business has never been in the red since the company started trading.



He said BOST will declare its end of year profit in a few days as it does every BOST year- and needless to emphasis again, that even just last year, we made a profit of 124 million cedis for the nation.



Mr Botwey flanked by Mr Abdul Rahman, Chairman of BOST Senior Staff Union, and Mr Bernard Owusu, National Chairman General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union.



He said contrary to some series of publications aimed at watering down the quality of progress TOR and BOST had made in recent years, under the leadership of Mr Kwame Awuah Darko, the Managing Director, fuel security has improved with consistent fuel supply for the past 30 months.



Ghana they said saved $1.1 billion under 12 months of deregulating fuel price which according to them would have gone into consumption of fuel as subsidy under, price deregulation, had it not been BOST and TOR.



The unions said achievements made included governments effective control of the supply side of the market forces under deregulation, helping to do away with emergency cargoes by the Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs).



TORs production, they said, has been boosted from 28,000/bpd a day to 45,000bpd and its expected to do 60,000bpd with the commercialization of F61.



Mr Botwey said as a result of the synergy between BOST and TOR, there was about 100 million US dollars cut in importation of finished petroleum product for each month.



The unions also refuted some allegations leveled against the companies in connection with the evaluation report for repair of storage tanks.



That document in circulation is incomplete, has no signature, and has not been approved, TOR did a departmental estimate on the cost of repairing the tanks and that estimated amount is higher than the proposed winning cost of the contract in the incomplete evaluation report.



Therefore, the document being quoted and circulated is not a valid document worth relying on, they said.

Source: GNA









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Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, a banker, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing GH 11,000 cedis from a deceased customer accounts.



Gyamfi 38, charged with stealing, has pleaded not guilty and he has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH 15,000 cedis with three sureties one to be justified.



The accused person claims it was the late Nana Adu Gyamfi Kwamaning III who asked him to transfer GH 6,000 cedis to one Sarah Sosu, now at large and himself (accused) GH 5,000 cedis.



The accused further claim Nana Kwamaning III, who died last year had since come for the GH 5,000 cedis from him.



Gyamfi is to reappear on January 19, 2017 before the court presided over by Ms Eva Bannerman Williams.



Prosecuting Detective Chief Inspector Isaac Agbemahia said the complainant was Maxwell Caleb Nortey Newman, a banker with the Forensic Investigation Department of Barclays Bank Head office Accra.



Chief Inspector Agbemahia said the accused person was with Customer Life Circle Management, a department of the bank branch at Knusford, Accra.



On October 24, this year, the relatives of the customer known as Nana Adu Gyamfi Kwamaning III went to the Oda branch of the bank and presented letters of Administration to enable the relations of the deceased to access funds in the decease"s account.



It was realised that even though the customer passed on last year, there had been transfer of GH 6,000 cedis and GH 5,000 respectively on June 2, this year and June 14, this year.



The matter, according to the prosecutor was referred to the Forensic Unit of the bank for investigations and it came to light that the accused person transferred the various amounts to one Sarah Sosu, a customer of the bank"s branch at Airport on June 2, this year and accused persons account personal account at the Abossey Okai branch.



Prosecution said Sarah withdrew GH 6,000 cedis on June 3, this year while accused used his ATM card to withdraw the GH 5,000 cedis.



Chief Inspector Agbemahia said the complainant after concluding his investigations reported the matter to the Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department.



During interrogation Gyamfi denied the offense and said that it was the deceased who came to the bank on June 2, this year and June 14, this year and asked him to do the transfer for him (the accused) and Sarah.



According to Gyamfi, the deceased had since come for GH 5,000 cedis from him.



Prosecution said the accused failed for proof that it was the deceased who personally ordered the transfer.



The prosecutor said Police investigations revealed that Sarah Sosu,who received GH 6,000 cedis was Gyamfis cousin.



According to prosecution, the cameras at the bank did not show that the deceased was at the bank on June 2, this year and June 14, this year when the transfers were made.

Source: GNA









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President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo and his vice, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia visited victims of the Labadi explosion. The explosion, which occurred between the Labadi Cemetery and Trade Fair Centre, has left 10 people dead so far.

There are also over 40 persons receiving treatment for burn injuries of varying degrees at the Korle Bu and 37 military hospitals. Nana Akufo-Addo called for better adherence to safety regulations in the country in the wake of a gas explosion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ghana National Fire Service have since shut down the Louis gas station at Labadi which was the scene of a gas explosion.

The Fire Services preliminary investigations indicated the explosion may have been caused by a gas leak.









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A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Madam Frances Essiam has challenged the last-minute recruitment by the NDC government into the security agencies and the public service without consulting the Transition team of President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo.



The President-elects members of the Transitional Team have raised concerns with allegations of on-going recruitment into the security agencies and the public service without consultation.



According to the co-chairperson of the Transitional Team, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, they have come across allegations where immediately after the results of the election was declared on December 9, the out-going NDC government started converting temporary staff of political assistants and some of the staff which they took on into permanent public and civil servants.



Commenting on this on Oman Fms 'Todays Agenda', Frances Essiam insisted all the new recruitments will be subject to approval of the new institution like the new Police Council as Nana Addos government will have to look into the coffers of the Ministry of Finance before any transaction can be made.



Who has given them the green light to carry out appointment and recruitment, and who will be paying them? So they should halt all these things and I am appealing to the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama that Nana Addo has not taken over the administration yet so he should not create judgment debt for the incoming President and his team, she charged.



She however warned the civil and public officers signing contracts after the elections to desist from them because there will be sanctions, describing their activities as highly illegal as Parliament is still in recess and yet to resume to look into all contracts.



She reiterated that the various boards at the ministries, agencies and departments are going to be dissolved as they are all part of the incompetent Ghanaians voted against in the December 7 polls.



The formal handing over processes from the NDC-government to that of NPP was started on Wednesday and addressing a meeting of the Transitional Team, Mr Osafo Maafo said complaints and allegations of mismanagement has come to the attention of the in-coming government's team which needs to be looked into.



Weve heard of the award of new contracts after the results of the election have been announced on the 9th of December.



We have heard from the grapevine a few things which have become our concern [In-coming government Transitional Team]. For instance, we have heard about on-going recruitment into the security services now, which we hope is not true, he said.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh









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Even before President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo makes public the list of people to serve in his government, Daily Guide has picked information about some of those likely to be considered for various ministerial positions.



So far, the only name he has made public as his Minister of Trade and Industry is that of Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen whiles hinting of the possibility of appointing MP-elect for Nalerigu, Hajia Alima Mahama, as minister in his government  even though he fell short of telling the exact ministry she would be assigned to.



List



Key on the list emanating from close sources to the president-elect include that of Mustapha Abdul Hamid, who is currently a spokesman for Nana Addo; Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West; Otiko Afisah Djaba, National Womens Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP); Kwasi Amoako-Attah, MP for Atiwa East and Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, MP for Dormaa Central.



The rest are Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, MP for Manhyia South; Dan Botwe, MP for Okere; Dominic Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla; Ambrose Dery, MP-elect for Nandom; Madam Gloria Akufo; Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP for Anyaa Sowutuom and Volta Regional Chairman of the NPP, Peter Amewu.



Positions



Sources close to the old boy say the vociferous Mustapha Hamid has been penciled for the position of Minister for Information while Ursula Owusu-Ekuful would go to the Communications Ministry as Minister and Otiko Djabah likely to be made the Minister of Gender, Women and Children Affairs. It is believed that the MP for Atiwa, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, is being considered for the position of Minister for Roads and Highways while his colleague MP for Dormaa Central, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has emerged as likely to be appointed the Minister for Health.



Also on the card for consideration is Manhyia North MP, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, popularly called Napo, who is said to have been penciled down for the position of Minister for Education with Hajia Alima Mahama  who has managed to win the Nalerigu seat for the party  also scheduled to become the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology instead of the Local Government and Rural Development as earlier speculated.



Daily Guide has gathered that two-time MP for Okere and former General Secretary of the NPP, Dan Botwe, is likely to be appointed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development in view of his broad knowledge of the country and grassroots politics, with the relatively young MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, expected to be appointed Minister for Defence.



Chances are that MP-elect for Nandom and former Upper West Regional Minister, Ambrose Dery, is set to become Minister for the Interior, with former Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice in the erstwhile Kufuor-led NPP administration, Madam Gloria Akuffo, going to be made the substantive Attorney General and Minister for Justice.



It is unclear whether Nana Akufo-Addo would separate the Ministry of Justice from the Attorney Generals Department as he had earlier dropped hints of doing when elected president.



But sources have it that he is likely to appoint Peter Amewu as Minister for Lands and Forestry.







Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
I have said it before and I will repeat it today. I have no agenda in Dagbon other than the unity, peace and progress of Dagbon. That is the only agenda I have, and I am going to work with you, the Kampakuya Na (Yakubu Abdulai Andani) and with you, Bolin Lana, (Mahamadu Abdulai), and everybody to make sure that reconciliation and peace become reality in Dagbon, so that things are normal again.



We should get rid of the military detail and the police barracks. All those things should go, so that things become normal here again in Yendi. And I know that I can count on you to help me reach this goal.



These were the words of the President-Elect of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday, December 23, 2016, when he paid separate courtesy calls on the Regent of Dagbon, the acting President of the Dagbon Traditional Council and head of the Andani Royal Gate, the Kampakuya Na, Yakubu Abdulai Andani, and the Bolin Lana, head of the Abudu Royal Gate, Mahamadu Abdulai.



At the respective palaces of the Kampakuya Na and Bolin Lana, the President-Elect noted that before the election I came here to see you and to seek the support of you and your people. You were kind enough to receive me and you prayed for me.



You prayed that God will bless my enterprise and the enterprise of the New Patriotic Party. Thanks to the Almighty God, I am happy to tell you that he blessed our enterprise and gave us victory on the 7th of December.



He thanked the Kampakuya Na for being the first traditional ruler to send a delegation to Accra to congratulate him on his and the NPPs victory in the December 7th elections. He was honoured by that gesture, which he believed indicated the close relationship that the Kampakuya Na wished to forge with him, a development he warmly welcomes.



He indicated that the late Ya Na, Yakubu Andani, father of the Kampakuya Na, and the late Ya Na, Mahamadu Abdulai, father of the Bolin Lana, were both his good friends, who treated him as their younger brother, and he, in turn, considered himself, now, as an older brother to the two Chiefs.



To this end, Nana Akufo-Addo, appealed for the support, understanding, co-operation and solidarity of the Kampakuya Na and Bolin Lana for his government, adding that I am confident that the relationship we have built over the years will show that in me you have an older brother who is going to be a true companion to you.



He continued, I want to assure you that all the commitments I made to the Ghanaian people  how we are going to revive our agriculture, develop our industry, bring employment to our people and wealth and prosperity  all those commitments I am, by the grace of God, going to keep them so Ghana can move forward and find her way to progress and prosperity.



The President-Elect thanked the Kampakuya Na and, subsequently, the Bolin Lana, for helping the NPPs parliamentary candidate for Yendi, Mohammed Habib Tijani, retain his seat.



We had 2 seats in Dagbon  Yendi and Tolon  in 2012. Now we have 5. Apart from Yendi and Tolon, we have added Gushegu, Nanton, Savelugu. In 2012, the NPP presidential candidate received 38% of the popular vote in the Northern Region. Today, it has gone up to 42%. The next time, God so permitting, it will be the majority of the 12 seats in Dagbon and the plurality of the popular vote in the Northern Region, he added.



He concluded that it was his fervent wish that, in his time as the nations President, Dagbon would be restored to its proper place in the affairs of Ghana as an ancient, respected traditional state at peace with itself, and an area of progress and prosperity.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Wife of Ghanas Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba has denied allegations she fired gun shots in her neighbourhood to discourage noise-making in a church.



The incident which occurred in Tamale on Christmas Day is said to have caused a lot of panic among congregants of the Spring of Life Assembly Church.



Pastor of the church Yakubu Iddrisu, in an interview with Joy News claims she first fired tear gas at them before firing gunshots.



On 25th December at around 10 in the morning when we were having praises, we noticed that there was a strange gas, a strange irritating smell which we suspect was pepper spray or tear gas"



It came so strong that people started coughing, others were coughing and collapsing, the pastor said.



He said three members went to investigate the source of the gas and it was found out that it came from the Deputy Ambassadors house.



The delegation proceeded to the house, to question why they were being teargassed, it was there that Madam Boya stormed out of her house and fired warning shots in the air.



Watch Pastor's account below:











But Madam Boya Gariba denied the allegations. She said she rather was attacked.



Madam Boya Gariba said she has complained incessantly, to the pastor and pleaded with them to reduce the noise but nothing has changed.



She then informed the police who came to warn the congregation, yet they didnt stop.



On that particular day, Madam Boya Gariba said  I sent someone to go and tell them to minimize the noise, they beat up the boy and came back to my house".



She said her carpenter who was working on her wall was pulled down by some of the church members.



Madam Boya Gariba's account:



Some of them were throwing stones into the house and beat up my security man. I never went there and so whatever they are saying is not true, she added.Spokesperson for the Police in the Northern Region, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, says they are investigating the incident.We have officially invited the two parties and we will meet tomorrow to address the issue, but we have asked the Spring of Life Assembly Church to minimise the noise.

Source: Myjoyonline.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.

Featured Video
A 26-year-old has been arrested in Mexico City after a major manhunt, accused of murdering a young woman he met on Tinder by dissolving her body in an acid bath after she refused to have sex with him.

Emmanuel Delani Valdez Bocanegra is the primary suspect in the horrific killing of Francia Ruth Ibarra, also 26, whose clothes were discovered in his Leon apartment this week, along with six kilos of human flesh and bones in garbage bags on his balcony.

Emmanuel Valdez Bocanegra asesino y disolvio en acido muriatico y soda caustica a Francia Ruth Ibarra en Ciudad de Mexico pic.twitter.com/tvcsmgfc2i  SATELICEL-NOTICIAS (@satelicel) December 26, 2016

Its alleged Bocanegra (above left) dissolved [Ibarras] body to make it look like she had run away, using large containers of caustic soda and hydrochloric acid to dispose of the evidence (police were able to identify her DNA from the bones).

Ibarra was first reported missing by concerned family members on December 3, after she failed to meet a friend at the movies.

AYUDANOS A ENCONTRARLA! Francia Ruth Ibarra Rmz de 26 anos y esta desaparecida desde 3 Dic a la 1:00 pm en Leon Gto. Info. 014737352100 pic.twitter.com/6E1xp45OSf  Ximena Garcia (@_XimeGarcia) December 8, 2016

A search of her social media revealed shed been seeing Bocanegra  who local outlets report was a former student at the school she was attending  for several months after hooking up with him on Tinder.

He remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with murder imminently.

Source: news.com.au.

Photo: Twitter / @_XimeGarcia.
If any of your m8s were among the 10,000-odd booze hounds who tore up Coogee Beach on Xmas Day  leaving behind 15 tonnes of rubbish  rap them over the knuckles, will you?

As a result of the OTT festive blowout, Randwick City Council has introduced a snap ban on alcohol across the popular beach and its surrounding parks for the entire bloody summer.

Mayor Noel DSouza confirmed the drastic action is a response to what he described as disgraceful behaviour from revellers who turned the beach into a makeshift dance floor.

The poor and inappropriate behaviour of a few on Christmas Day have forced Council to introduce a total alcohol ban for the area for summer, he said. The public outrage to the devastation of the parks and beach itself on Christmas Day has been quite phenomenal. It is disappointing we have to take such a strong stance, but we need to reassure the community that they can feel safe when visiting and enjoying the jewel in the crown of Randwick City, Coogee Beach.



He said there was no warning about the party, which quickly got out of control after kicking off around lunchtime.

Lifeguards left the area about 7.30pm, apparently concerned for their safety, and cops reportedly arresting three people for anti-social behaviour.





Council workers were left to clean up broken bottles, wrapping paper, leftover food, Santa hats and other mess scattered along the beach and adjoining Goldstein Reserve.

The blanket booze ban will be enforced from Thursday, December 29, so there go your plans for sundowners to see off 2016.

A gentle reminder that its already hard enough to have fun in the city of Sydney  lets not make it worse for ourselves, eh?

Photo: YouTube.
A New South Wales public school principal is copping it from all sides after it emerged she spent $19,000 building a private loo in her office  only two metres from the public staff toilets.

The school in question is Cheltenham Girls High School in Sydneys north-west, which scored the best HSC results for a public school. The ensuite in question was funded by both public money and donations from parents.

People are wondering whether she is just too proud to pee with the plebs, a source told Channel 9. The same source added that many students use disgusting toilets, some of which are up to 60 years old.

The NSW Department of Education says that the construction of the toilet was part of a $49,000 improvement to build a set of stairs, enhance drainage and install safety rails, but that they will be investigating whether the ensuite was built with proper consultation.

Basically, am I wrong to be imagining a solid gold Japanese robo-toilet? Because Im imagining a solid gold Japanese robo-toilet.

This is apparently not the first controversy for the schools principal  she also copped heat for hosting an end-of-year ceremony at the Opera House, slugging parents thirty bucks a ticket along the way.

Source: 9 News.

Photo: Futurama.
Barack Obama has been taking sneaky little potshots at the doomed Democratic presidential campaign since Trump beat Clinton, but now hes made his most definitive statement: he reckons he would have won.

In an interview with longtime friend, political analyst David Axelrod, Obama gently repudiated the Clinton campaigns complacency and referred to his own coalition building in 2008 and 2012 as evidence that he would have pulled through in a hypothetical third campaign:

I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it  I think I couldve mobilised a majority of the American people to rally behind it.

Much of the post-election critique has been focused on the fact that Clinton dramatically lost white working class voters that traditionally go Democratic. Obama rejected the idea that Democrats have abandoned the white working class.

See, I think the issue was less that Democrats have somehow abandoned the white working class, I think thats nonsense. Look, the Affordable Care Act benefits a huge number of Trump voters. There are a lot of folks in places like West Virginia or Kentucky who didnt vote for Hillary, didnt vote for me, but are being helped by this . . . The problem is, is that were not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that were bleeding for these communities.

Crucially, that last sentence is implying that Obama thinks it was a major failure of communication from the Clinton team. And thats hard to argue with  Clinton barely visited Michigan, a bastion of anti-free trade, rust belt workers who flipped the state to Trump.

Axelrod said that its clear this is the furthest Obama has gone in criticising Clinton and her campaign, but that it was ultimately constructive. This was all in service of making the point that he believes that his progressive vision and the vision he ran on is still a majority view in this country, Axelrod said. He chooses to be hopeful about the future.

Source: Axe Files.

Photo: Getty Images.
A 77-year-old Queensland man has died in hospital six days after being bitten by a coastal taipan, one of the deadliest snakes in the world.

Cairns Base Hospital confirmed the man died late yesterday, six days after arriving in critical condition following the encounter with the snake in his Yorkeys Knob home.

QLD Paramedics state that the man had encountered the snake in the lounge room of his home, and had either been trying to shoo the snake away, or take its head off with a shovel. The 1.5 metre snake struck out and bit the man, who was not wearing shoes at the time, between the toes.

Paramedics quickly attended the scene, where the man went into cardiac arrest. Emergency medical personnel managed to revive the 77-year-old, who was then transported to the intensive care unit in a critical condition, before ultimately succumbing to the snake bite yesterday.

Paramedics also confirmed that the snake that bit the man was subsequently killed and taken away by ambulance staff.

Coastal taipans are rated as the sixth most venomous snake in the world, and the third most venomous land snake; all three of which are native to Australia. However due to the fast-acting nature of the venom and the snakes relative aggressive temperament, herpetologists frequently cite the coastal taipan as being the second most dangerous snake in the world, behind the African Black Mamba. Untreated coastal taipan bites have a mortality rate of 100%.

Bites from the animal are rare, however multiple cases have been reported this year. Professional snake catcher Wayne Campbell died in April after being bitten by the snake. Elsewhere, a 2-year-old boy survived after being bitten 3 times by a taipan on an Anges Water property in September.

The boy went into cardiac arrest, but was revived and spent 10-weeks in hospital being treated for the bites after-effects. His recovery and rehabilitation is on-going.

Source: ABC News.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Trade Talk.jpg

(PennLive)

Trade Talk showcases the businesses in the midstate and the people who make them work. From companies who make iconic products to the small family businesses and everyone in between, we have a little bit of everything in the midstate. Midstate companies keep the economy moving, people working and communities thriving throughout the midstate.

NEW HIRES

Matthew Moen

Matthew C. Moen was named president of the Gettysburg Foundation. Moen currently serves as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Lohre Distinguished Professor at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. He begins his new position in March 2017. The Foundation raised funds for and now operates the Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park. In addition, Gettysburg Foundation has a broad preservation mission that includes land, monument and artifact preservation and battlefield rehabilitation.

Rita Linguiti has joined Barley Snyder LLP in Lancaster. She has held a number of positions both at law firms and as an attorney at multi-national companies. She now works in contract review, negotiation and management projects at Barley Snyder.

Indraneela Dixit has joined Barley Snyder LLP in Lancaster as of counsel. She has practiced law in two different continents and now works as a real estate attorney concentrating on commercial leasing for Barley Snyder.

Dr. Nadeem Quazi has joined Summit Surgical Group in Franklin County. Quazi performs general surgery and bariatric surgery.

Rigved Joshi has joined Harrisburg University of Science and Technology as its new Director for Accelerator and Entrepreneurship Programs. Joshi has more than 15 years of experience. Previously, he worked at Vanderbilt University as manager of New Ventures. Before Vanderbilt, Joshi served as senior associate and principal at International Innovative Investments, a Los Angeles-based venture fund focused on investing in e-media, Internet, software and health-care related businesses. He also worked as a senior associate at Duke Equity, a private equity firm and as director of venture development at the Girvan Institute of Technology.

PROMOTIONS

Dr. Barbara E. Ostrov was named associate dean for faculty and professional development at Penn State College of Medicine. Ostrov will also continue her clinical work as a pediatric rheumatologist and serve as a leader in quality and safety in the Department of Pediatrics. Ostrov came to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the College of Medicine in 1991. She founded the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and has served as division chief for pediatric and adult rheumatology. Ostrov served as interim chair of the Department of Pediatrics in 2006, and as vice chair of the department from 2007 until being named to the interim chair position again in 2014.

Judy Himes, who had served as interim chief nursing officer at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center since February, has accepted the role permanently. She previously served as director of nursing for medicine, neuroscience, the Cancer Institute and orthopaedics.

APPOINTMENTS

Jordan Space

Jordan Space, senior vice president, commercial banking regional manager (serving Harrisburg, York and Lancaster) at Integrity Bank - a division of S&T Bank, was appointed to the Lancaster General Health Finance/Capital Allocations Committee. Space works out of the bank's Camp Hill area office.

Dr. Berend Mets, chair of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, was appointed to a four-year term as an officer to the board of the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists. Mets has served the WFSA in various capacities over the last 16 years and as a council member over the last four years.

Dr. April Armstrong, professor of orthopaedics and rehabilitation at Penn State Bone and Joint Institute, has been chosen as director-elect of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, which consists of 21 members. Armstrong specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where she has worked since 2003. Her current roles include vice chair of clinical affairs and quality for the Department of Orthopaedics and associate designated institutional official for the Graduate Medical Education Office.

Barley Snyder Managing Partner Jeffrey D. Lobach was named to the board of directors at the York County History Center. Lobach is one of 18 members of the board of the center, which operates the Historical Society Museum, the Agricultural & Industrial Museum, the Fire Museum, an expansive Library & Archives, the Colonial Complex and the Bonham House. At Barley Snyder, Lobach is in the Business, Finance & Creditors' Rights, Real Estate and Education practice groups.

Jonathan D. Williams of Camp Hill is the newest member of the HACC Foundation Board. Williams is the vice president and senior private client advisor for Wilmington Trust, an M&T Company

Scott Vaughn, CEO of The Standard Group which is based in Berks County, has been selected to join the National Board of Directors for Printing Industries of America, which is headquartered near Pittsburgh.

Arnold Terry Shienvold of Harrisburg was appointed to The Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania. He will serve as a non-lawyer elector of the twelve-member Board. The Judicial Conduct Board is an independent body of Pennsylvania citizens comprised of three judges, three lawyers and six non-lawyer, lay members. Shienvold is the managing partner of Riegler, Shienvold & Associates, a psychological practice in the Harrisburg area. Shienvold has been in practice since 1980 having previously worked at Harrisburg Hospital, Polyclinic Medical Center, and Hershey Medical Center. Since 2012, he has served as a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Penn State College of Medicine. From 1992 through 1999, he served as an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law.

Philmer H. Rohrbaugh, the senior executive vice president and chief operating officer of Fulton Financial Corporation since June 2016 was elected to The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. He previously served as senior executive vice president and chief risk officer from November 2012 to June 2016. He was a managing partner of KPMG, LLP's Chicago office from 2009 to 2012, vice chairman Industries and part of the U.S. Management Committee of KPMG from 2006 to 2009 and joined KPMG in 2002. He has more than 35 years of experience in various management positions. The election of Rohrbaugh increases the size of The Bon-Ton Stores Inc.'s board to 10 members.

The Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce elected five new members to its board of directors during its annual meeting on Nov. 3. Elected by chamber membership to serve three-year terms on the board starting Jan. 1, new board members include Chad-Alan Carr, founding executive/artistic director of Gettysburg Community Theatre; Peter Doggett, area general manager of the Gettysburg Wyndham and Courtyard Marriott; Sharon Kebil-Whisler, vice president and business banker at M&T Bank; David Lamberson, CEO/president of Gettysburg Construction Co. and Adam Zei, attorney with Campbell & White. Darlene A. Brown of Adams County Housing Authority/PA Interfaith Community Programs Inc., will serve as chair for two years.

David R. Fine was elected president and chair of The Vista School/Vista Foundation board of directors. He is a partner in the law firm of K&L Gates LLP. The Vista School in Derry Township is a private school for children with autism, and The Vista Foundation, is a provider of autism services to children and adults.

Dr. Michael J. Murray was elected secretary chair of The Vista School/Vista Foundation board of directors. He is a child psychiatrist and associate professor of psychiatry at the Penn State College of medicine, and director of the Division of Autism Services at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The Vista School in Derry Township is a private school for children with autism, and The Vista Foundation, is a provider of autism services to children and adults.

Katrina Young was elected treasurer of The Vista School/Vista Foundation board of directors. A certified public accountant, she is a financial reporting manager for Delta Dental of Pennsylvania. Previously, she spent eight years with Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP. The Vista School in Derry Township is a private school for children with autism, and The Vista Foundation, is a provider of autism services to children and adults.

OTHER

Saxton & Stump, a Lancaser County-based law firm has announced the establishment of an Appellate and Post-Trial Advocacy practice group. The group is led by Matthew W. Rappleye, shareholder. The Appellate and Post-Trial Advocacy group handles all aspects of the post-trial and appellate process in all Pennsylvania state and federal appellate courts.

Frank Ward, a driver with Waste Management recently marked his 50th year with Waste Management and Diller Sanitation. He works for Diller Sanitation, a family-owned hauling company that was purchased by Waste Management in the early 1990s. He is a U.S. Army veteran. Ward continued to serve as a reservist for six years. He spent his first three years with Diller working as a helper. He graduated to the position of front-load driver after three years. Ward officially logged 50 years in the business on Oct. 1 and he has no plans to retire.
The multi-vehicle crash that was slowing traffic near Lancaster has been cleared.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the crash occurred around 10:54 a.m. Monday in the southbound lane of U.S. Route 222 at the exit to Pennsylvania Route 272 and Oregon Pike.

There is no word yet on injuries.
Mall fights - AP photo .jpg

Police officers continue to patrol the area as people linger in the parking lots around Oak Court Mall after the mall was closed due to a disturbance Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Memphis, Tenn. Authorities and witnesses say there have been disturbances at two malls in Memphis and one of them had to be shut down. Similar disturbances were reported at malls across the country on Monday, including one in western Pennsylvania. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal via AP)

MONROEVILLE -- Arrests are being reported following youthful melees at western Pennsylvania's Monroeville Mall on Monday, part of a nationwide outbreak of violence at shopping centers in the midst of the post-holiday rush.

Monroeville's chief of police, Doug Cole, told PennLive on Tuesday that four juvenile females and one 18-year-old male had been arrested in connection with a series of fights that broke out at the mall on Monday. PennLive was not immediately able to confirm the identities of those involved.

All five individuals have been charged with disorderly conduct and fighting at the mall, Cole said. Meanwhile, witnesses told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that they had seen blood on the floor after at least one of the scuffles.

"It's chaotic at the mall, " one tenant told the paper.

Similar incidents were also being reported at malls across the country on Monday, as shoppers packed them in search of post-holiday deals. There were no reports of serious injuries, according to the Associated Press, which said violence had been reported at malls in the following states: Arizona, Texas, Indiana, Connecticut, Tennessee, Colorado, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Illinois and North Carolina.

In the latter case, chaos erupted at a mall in Fayetteville and emergency medical personnel were called in to assist someone who suffered a medical episode while fleeing.

In Aurora, Colorado, police evacuated a mall there due to multiple skirmishes, explaining later that the trouble started during an arrest, when an unruly crowd surrounded the scene.

Aurora police spokesman Sgt. Chris Amsler told the AP that as the suspect was being taking into custody, the crowd, which mushroomed in size to about 500 people, advanced on the officer and fights broke out. Five juveniles were arrested. No one was hurt.

Some of the incidents were captured on cellphone cameras, while at least one disturbance appears to have been loosely organized on social media.

In Monroeville, mall patrons were reminded of a large brawl that broke out there two years ago, in the days after Christmas, prompting management to develop a policy keeping minors out on weekends and holidays unless accompanied by a guardian, WPXI-TV reports.

In fact, Chief Cole told PennLive that his officers and mall security were attempting to enforce the policy on Monday when the fighting broke out.

Cole said the youths were fighting with each other, not authorities, and that the females involved "seemed like they knew each other."

Additional information was immediately unavailable.

The Monroeville Mall was also the location of a shooting at a Macy's that left three people injured in February of 2015.

In the wake of Monday's violence, the Post-Gazette described an amplified police presence at the mall.
HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania is throttling back on one of its signature economic development programs.

The administration of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has sent rejection letters to Philadelphia, Coatesville and other municipalities that submitted applications to the Keystone Opportunity Zone program, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The program tries to spur revitalization of abandoned or blighted properties by exempting their owners from local and state taxes.

The Wolf administration said the state can't afford new tax breaks.

"This is about money, and the state is strapped," said Jeff Sheridan, the governor's spokesman.

Wolf signed legislation expanding the program last summer.

But Scott Dunkelberger, an official in the state Department of Community and Economic Development, wrote to rejected applicants that it's unlikely the state will accept new properties into the program until Wolf gets his way on an overhaul of the state's tax system to make it "more equitable."

Sheridan declined comment on Dunkelberger's letter or say whether Wolf agreed with its assessment.

Critics have questioned the KOZ program's cost-effectiveness. Boosters say the program, which was created by Republican Gov. Tom Ridge nearly 20 years ago and has been periodically opened to new applicants, has helped create 10,000 jobs and spurred $1.5 billion in private development in communities that are often economically distressed.

Coatesville, a small, financially-struggling city in Chester County, had applied for a KOZ designation for an 88-acre parcel, hoping to spur residential development there.

"We are fighting perceptions, we are fighting history, we are fighting reputation, we are up against it when it comes to Coatesville," said Sonia Huntzinger, an economic development administrator in Chester County. "We were all holding out hope for the KOZ to help developers think differently about Coatesville."

Applicants from Clearfield and Elk Counties were also rejected.

Duane Bumb, Philadelphia's deputy director of commerce, said the KOZ program is one of the state's most attractive incentive programs to businesses.

"If Pennsylvania doesn't have an incentive program that can be competitive with neighboring states -- and the KOZ program met that role -- we are at a disadvantage," he said.
Five people have been displaced by an apartment fire in Ephrata.

The American Red Cross of Central Pennsylvania is assisting two adults and three children who were displaced by the blaze on the 800 block of Clearview Avenue Monday night.

The fire started around 6:50 p.m. and there were no reported injuries, ABC 27 is reporting.
Cornwall Borough police have identified a 79-year-old Gretna Springs man who died of injuries sustained in a Dec. 16 single-vehicle crash.

Eugene L. Strickler died at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center on Monday, 10 days after he struck a utility pole near the Cornwall Borough Municipal Building. Strickler was driving his 2007 Buick Terraza east on Burd Coleman Road at around 10:15 a.m. Dec. 16 when lost control of the van and struck the utility pole head-on, police said.

Police did not say why Strickler lost control of the vehicle.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, embraces a World War II Pearl Harbor survivor after he and U.S. President Barack Obama spoke on Kilo Pier, overlooking the USS Arizona Memorial, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. Abe and Obama made a historic pilgrimage Tuesday to the site where the devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. (Dennis Oda/The Star-Advertiser via AP, Pool)
"After this, the missile will be handed over for the operationalization of it to India's strategic forces command and they will undertake two tests and subsequently the missile will come into India's armory," said Lele.

Ajay Lele, at New Delhi's Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, says the test ensured the Agni-V missile is operational.

The 17.5-meter-long, 50-ton surface-to-surface missile was test fired Monday from Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of the eastern Odisha state, and splashed down near Australian waters.

India has successfully carried out a fourth test of its nuclear-capable, intercontinental Agni-V missile, which can hit targets more than 5,000 kilometers away, effectively putting China's northernmost areas within range of Indian nuclear weapons.

Earlier generations of Agni missiles, developed over the last decade, are capable of striking anywhere in Pakistan, India's neighbor and South Asian rival. The two countries have fought three wars and tensions continue to run high. Pakistan also possesses nuclear weapons.

Defense analysts say the longer-range Agni-V missile has been developed with an eye on China, which New Delhi also views as a threat.

India and China fought a brief war in 1962 and have an unresolved boundary dispute in the Himalayas. New Delhi also remains wary of China's close ties with Islamabad and bid to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean.

The Agni missile adds considerable heft to India's nuclear capability and its aspirations to be viewed as a regional power. Only China, France, Russia the United States and Britain have long-range nuclear weapons.

Scientists said the latest missile incorporates new technology for navigation and guidance.

Indian leaders welcomed the successful test of the Agni, which means "fire" in Hindi and Sanskrit.Congratulating the scientists, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the "[s]uccessful test firing of Agni-V makes every Indian very proud. It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defense."

The missile was launched from a mobile platform, which gives the armed forces flexibility to transport and fire it swiftly from anywhere they want.

However, Lele noted that India's nuclear doctrine emphasizes a "no-first-use" policy and that New Delhi's official position is that its nuclear deterrence is not country-specific.

"It is essentially to make a point that yes, we have a sufficient amount of arsenal. If somebody attacks us by using nuclear weapons, we can respond effectively," he said.


FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2015 file photo, Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez pushes her hair back after unveiling a bust of her late husband, and former president, Nestor Kirchner, at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina. An Argentine judge indicted Fernandez on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, in a corruption case involving public works. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)
New steeple to be dedicated Nov. 6 at First Presbyterian Church of Petoskey




Total E&P to invest $1 billion

to expand Brazilian operations











Petrobras CEO Pedro Parente (L), and the CEO of Total, Patrick Pouyanne

SAO PAULO

Petroleumworld.com 12 27 2016

Total E&P do Brasil, the local unit of France's Total SA, plans annual investments of $1 billion in Latin America's largest economy, Maxime Rabilloud, who heads the Brazilian operation, told the Monday edition of Valor Economico.

The decision to expand operations in Brazil comes on the heels of Total agreeing to acquire assets worth $2.2 billion from Brazil's state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA .

As announced by the companies last week, Total bought stakes in oilfields and thermal power stations from Petrobras as part of the latter company's asset sales program.

Valor quoted Rabilloud as saying Total and Petrobras will keep in contact regarding the possibility of making other deals and forging future partnerships.






An angry Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday to talk about the U.S. abstention in a UN Security Council resolution opposing Jewish settlements.

Neither the State Department nor Netanyahu's office commented on Sunday's meeting.The foreign ministry summoned ambassadors from the 14 nations that voted for the resolution Friday, but reports say several of the diplomats did not answer the call.

Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that the resolution was "reckless and destructive." He pointed out that the U.S. and Israel have always agreed that the Security Council is no place to resolve the settlement issue.

He called the U.S. abstention instead of a veto "shameful."

Before lighting a Hanukkah candle in front of the Western Wall in East Jerusalem Sunday, Netanyahu said countries that voted for the resolution and then sent Hanukkah greetings to Israel do not understand the meaning of the Jewish festival.

"The Jewish people observe the holiday of Hanukkah in order to remember the victory of the Hasmoneans in a revolt against the Greeks, culminating with the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple," Netanyahu wrote on Facebook. "How is it possible to offer our best wishes for Hanukkah and at the same time deny our deep connection to the Western Wall in Jerusalem and other places in our land?"

Friday's resolution calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." It says settlements there have "no legal validity."
The Constitutional Court on Monday began its official review of the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye as prosecutors submitted records of their investigation.

The evidence prosecutors handed over include diaries and telephone calls recorded on the mobile phones of former presidential secretaries An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong. They will be crucial in establishing Park's role in an extortion racket run by her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil and in allowing Choi to meddle in every corner of government.

Court proceedings are expected to start in early January.

The evidence amounts to some 32,000 pages and was delivered in 40 boxes to the Constitutional Court.

The court in a preliminary hearing last week decided to narrow the scope of proceedings and focus on allegations that Park colluded with Choi to extort vast slush funds from the country's top conglomerates and Chois interference in official matters.

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.

A court official said the case "can progress expeditiously" now the evidence has been delivered. The National Assembly and Park have submitted lists of altogether 29 witnesses to be questioned by judges, but some testimonies are expected be replaced by the prosecutors' records.

The court is expected to rule on the impeachment bill before one of the justices ends her term on March 13.


Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed "sincere and everlasting condolences" to the families of the more than 2,400 Americans killed in Japan's World War II attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 75 years ago.

"We must never repeat the horrors of war," Abe said Tuesday, paying tribute to the "brave men and women" who were killed in the surprise attack on December 7, 1941, that triggered America's entry into the war.

He stood alongside U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu.

Earlier, the two leaders laid wreaths at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. They closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments after tossing flower petals into the water near the sunken battleship, whose rusting hull can still be seen just below the surface of the water.

In his remarks at the base, Obama called the U.S.-Japan alliance the cornerstone of peace in the Asia-Pacific region and a force for progress around the world. He said Abe's presence at Pearl Harbor was a reminder of what's possible between nations and peoples, adding that it showed that wars could end and enemies could become allies.

Abe was the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial. He also was the first Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor with an American president.

The prime minister's staff made clear the purpose of Abe's trip was not to apologize for the attack. Instead, they said Abe wanted to show how U.S.-Japan relations had evolved since then.

The last Japanese prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor was Shigeru Yoshida, who made a brief stop there in 1951. That was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built to honor those who died on the battleship during the Japanese attack. The memorial is accessible only by boat.
The only thing I knew about Arkansas before my plane hit the runway at NWA was that Keith Richards had been arrested there in 1975, not long after the state had tried to outlaw Rock n' Roll. That was it. As I retrieved my luggage, I wondered what kind of Rolling Stones hating folk were waiting for me outside the airport. Needless to say, I was surprised and excited to find myself in the middle of one of the most elaborate and accessible community driven trails systems Ive ever experienced  not to mention greeted and welcomed by some of warmest and most enthusiastic strangers Ive come across in the United States.Even with the Walmart head office causing a phenomenal rate of growth, Bentonville is every bit the charming town it was when Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, opened the original Walton five-and-dime back in 1950. From the quaint town square the town's footprint ripples outward offering world-class culinary options, microbreweries, colourful boutiques, a state of the art museum, and miles upon miles of singletrack.Originally mountain biking was developed here as a recruitment tool for Walmart back in 2006. As the largest retailer in the world there is a need to attract employees to Bentonville and to keep them here. The Walton Family donated the first piece of land to develop trails on, a trail system that is now affectionately referred to as Slaughter Pen. If you build it, they will come has been proven here, says Gary Vernon, the Program Officer for the Walton Family Foundation. While Bentonville has been fortunate to receive assistance from the foundation, Gary is quick to point out that you cant just throw money at this. He credits great community partners and the volunteers as the heart and soul of Bentonvilles mountain bike culture. The terrain, year-round riding, and hotels that are full of business travellers during the week leaving the weekends available, are also part of the perfect storm that is creating a world class riding destination.The multi-phase expansion plan of the OZ trails includes the original Slaughter Pen trails, 17 miles of the soon-to-be-open new Coler trails, the already open Back 40, another planned 95 miles of Bella Vista trails, Lake Atlanta trails and park, and more! The most bang for their buck has been with developing urban mountain bike trails like Slaughter Pen. Less than a two-minute pedal from the middle of town is a paved urban path that is crisscrossed with singletrack. The accessibility of these trails, both in location and varying degrees of difficulty, is incredible. They are thoughtfully planned and wind through the sections of available forest with so much care that it seems every square foot of dirt has been used.The Coler network is a beautifully designed concept of climbing and down trails that use every bit of swoop and gravity possible to create everything from green to black diamond rated runs, jump trails, drops, and rocky and technical sections and all under the canopy of typically gnarled and twisted Ozarks-esque trees. It is the kind of place that a family could spend a whole day as there would be something for everyone. Conveniently the trails all leave from the same place at the highest point and connect back to climbing trails at the bottom.The Back 40; forty miles of singletrack that weaves through the ravines of unused land between townhouse developments, was built using multiple trail building companies. Progressive Trail Designs, IMBA Trail Solutions, and Crossland each took responsibility for a different section to increase the various styles of riding available in one condensed area of quality purpose built trails. The next big expansion will be the Bella Vista trails; 95 miles of trail that will start across the highway from the Back 40 and will extend up to meet the Slaughter Pen network.The Lake Atlanta trails have a beautiful infrastructure including washrooms, a licensed concession, and a skills park for every age and ability. The design encourages families to spend the whole day onsite experiences the beautiful singletrack around the lake, watching the kids advance their skills, and kicking back with a cold beer after a hot ride.In the bigger picture Gary believes that if Arkansas is going to be a world-class mountain biking destination, the non-profits need to work together. The Walton Family Foundation offers grants for trail building throughout the whole state, works with IMBA to support a trail maintenance program, and is constantly searching for new organizations to be involved with, like People for Bikes.You could spend a week here and not run out of trails to ride, but if you are looking for a fantastic road trip option in the future, Arkansas has an incredible amount of singletrack to offer with 53 state parks currently developing mountain bike trails. It might be time to put Arkansas on your bucket list!@dbaker
Some of the achievements listed from the past year alone are impressive, including the successful debut of the heavy-lift Long March 5 (think Chinas own Delta-IV Heavy), a new coastal launch site, and some cutting-edge space science missions, including a quantum science satellite and dark matter-hunting probe. China also took another step towards establishing a space station with the launch of the Tiangong-2 space lab and its first medium-term human stay in space with Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong as part of the Shenzhou-11 mission.

But whats in store for the future is whats really attention-grabbing. We already know of some of these: Change-5, the first lunar sample return mission by any country since the 1970s, probably lifting off in late 2017, followed a year later by an unprecedented landing on the far side of the Moon. Summer 2020 will see the launch of the countrys first independent interplanetary mission, to Mars, which boldly combines an orbiter, lander and rover in one shot.

But these plans have now officially been expanded. Wu Yanhua, vice head of China National Space Administration (CNSA), stated at todays press conference in Beijing that it will, also carry out robotic exploration of the south and north poles of the moon twice in the next five and ten years.

Stated in the text is a plan to attempt to collect and return samples from Mars around 2030. If so, China may actually beat NASA to achieving the type of mission that could have a profound impact on science and human history, depending on its findings.

Moving further out into the solar system, exploration of the Jupiter system and planet fly-by exploration, are other stated goals, while related projects will be implemented to conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life.

These projects were included in a 20 year plan for lunar and deep space exploration under development during the autumn, which has now apparently gained official approval.

Facilitating some of these projects will be a Saturn-V class super-heavy lift rocket, the Long March 9, the development of which will now officially be activated in the next five years. Needless to say, this is exactly the kind of launch vehicle needed to take Chinese astronauts to Moon. China is not ready to declare this goal openly however, saying only that they are, studying the feasibility of the related [human landing] plans. But this, coupled with the not-mentioned test of a scale next generation space capsule in June on the Long March 7, leaves little doubt as to Chinese eventual lunar desires.

Some other notable projects and developments mentioned in the white paper, each worthy of serious attention, include:

Construction of a modular, permanently crewed space station by around 2022

Pursuing space science to drive independent innovation and development

Opening the space sector to national and international private sources of capital

Expansion of international cooperation, including developing countries

Research into low-cost launch vehicles and a reusable space transportation system

Earth observation, communications, navigation and other satellite constellations to boost socioeconomic progress and a civil space infrastructure and on-orbit servicing

A focus on outreach, especially to elementary and secondary schools, and attracting world class scientists, engineers and other specialists

Beyond these, there are some general takeaways and caveats to Chinas fourth space white paper.

First, it can be welcomed as giving a measure of transparency to a largely closed program and a sense of Chinas progress and direction in space. However it doesnt provide much information on government and military actors involved, nor the policy-making process.

The paper includes a section on Chinas Purposes, Vision and Principles, which essentially outlines the countrys policy toward space. This states the country aims to: enhance understanding of the Earth and the cosmos, and utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, but, at the same time use space to, protect China's national rights and interests, and build up its national comprehensive strength.

But it does not discuss the security aspects, such as suspected non-destructive anti-satellite missile tests in past few years, nor the issue of the dual-use nature of space technology, which means it can often be used for both civilian and military purposes. Chinas Beidou navigation constellation for example can, just as with the US counterpart GPS, be used for transport, communications and other everyday uses, but also boost the operational capabilities of the countrys armed forces. These developments and capabilities certainly have a range of ramifications for other countries, especially the United States.

One key point is that China clearly sees space as having a major role in the development of the country, so as to "meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress. It is understood that before launching into complex and challenging space sectors, Beijing assessed the US Apollo program benefits  such as technological development, spin-offs, soft power, and education  and decided firmly to commit the effort and resources. This long term approach is now apparently paying off.

It is well worth a glance at this document to get an idea of many of the things China is up to in space. Though it still lags significantly behind the capabilities of the United States, China now has a comprehensive and serious space program, and one that should not, as in the past, be easily dismissed as merely for prestige or mainly military in nature, nor should it be seen simply aping what has come before and copying technology. China is definitely a major space player to keep an eye on.
(Photo: Police Magazine)

The 6th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals ruled last week that Michigan officers were justified in shooting and killing two dogs during a search warrant entry.

The decision, which only applies in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, stems from a 2013 incident in Battle Creek, Michigan, where, according to court documents, police shot and killed a dog while executing a search warrant on a home looking for drugs.

Mark and Cheryl Brown filed a petition with the court to hold the officers and the city responsible for the deaths of their dogs. They said that the officers unlawfully seized their property in violation of the Fourth Amendment when officers shot and killed two dogs while executing a search warrant, News 10 reports.

One of the officers testified that he shot the first pit bull after it appeared to move a few inches and lunged at him. According to court documents, the dog then retreated to the basement, where the officer shot and killed it.

Court documents say the officer shot the second dog after it went to the basement, turned sideways and barked at the officers.

Given the totality of the circumstances and viewed from the perspective of an objectively reasonable officer, the dog poses an imminent threat to the officers safety, Judge Eric Clay wrote in the decision. The standard we set out today is that a police officers use of deadly force against a dog while executing a search warrant to search a home for illegal drug activity is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment whenthe dog poses an imminent threat to the officers safety.

Other federal courts have ruled against officers, resulting in sizable awards to plaintiffs in dog shooting lawsuits.

The 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, which applies to much of the Western U.S., has upheld lawsuits against police for Fourth Amendment violations in shootings of dogs. Because the two federal appeals courts have now ruled in opposition to each other, a dog shooting lawsuit appeal may soon make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court for a definitive ruling. The Supreme Court often is more willing to hear a case if two Federal appeals courts rule in opposition.

Police Magazine has extensively covered the dog shooting issue. You can read our 2014 report here.
Oregon State Trooper Nic Cederberg was critically wounded in a Christmas Day shootout with a murder suspect. The suspect was killed. (Photo: Oregon State Police/Facebook)

An Oregon State Police trooper suffered life-threatening injuries after a Christmas Day shootout near Sherwood that resulted in the death of a man suspected in an earlier homicide, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, a former police cadet in Beaverton, was killed after he had allegedly fled the scene of the homicide, according to authorities. The second shooting occurred about seven miles from the initial crime scene, Oregon Live reports.

The wounded trooper, identified by the Oregon State Police as 32-year-old Nic Cederberg, is a seven-year veteran of the state police who also served in the military.

The deadly encounters began late Sunday evening. King City police officers responded at 10:15 p.m. to S.W. King James Place on reports of shots fired outside the home.

Officers found Kate Armand, lying dead in the street. Police identified the suspect as James Tylka, 30, the victim's estranged husband.
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It is an increasingly reasonable assumption to make that the mainstream media thinks were all idiots, and by and large, this recent election has given them reasonable cause to believe its true. As we have seen, not only is fake news at epidemic levels but the mainstream media shares responsibility for its success.

The right wing has been the big beneficiaries of this new move toward fake news, and Trump enablers abound not only on social media and the right wing media, but even on mainstream media platforms (who can forget Corey Lewandowski, Joe Scarborough, and others?).

However, wanting us to believe that Trumps more nukes stance and support for a new arms race means he is anti-war is just a bit much to take. The Plum Lines Greg Sargent tweeted that startling news this morning,

Behold how Trump's threat to escalate nuke arms race gets incorporated into the deepening delusion that he is "anti-war" https://t.co/JZ0hEVZ1oC  Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 27, 2016

In an op-ed appearing in the LA Times, Justin Raimondo, author of Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement, wrote about Trump Derangement Syndrome, or TDS, in defense of all things Trump, but specifically in response to Sargents own tweet of an article appearing in The Hill:

Via @thehill: "Nuclear experts: Trump tweets could provoke global crisis":https://t.co/4nzE1Ob6IY  Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 27, 2016

There are figures on the left you can name who promote ridding ourselves of our military, but it is difficult to understand how renewing the Cold War arms race, including our nuclear arsenal, brings us closer to peace.

And these are experts after all. Remember, though, for conservatives, actual science is junk science while a bunch of BS they make up to maximize profits is actual science.

Most of us, or if you are too young, your parents, were happy to have the threat of imminent death removed. With nuclear winter off the table, all we had left to face was the destruction of our planet by non-military means, an equally fatal, if slower-acting global warming.

If that isnt bad enough, Raimondo goes full-on strawman in his conclusion, leaving legitimate questions about who, specifically, is deranged (looking at you, Mr. Raimondo):

If you ask a TDS victim what might help them feel better, theyll use the word normalize. As in, we mustnt normalize Trump. What theyre really saying is that normal means of dealing with him arent enough. Which raises the question: If hes another Hitler, if hes in league with Putin, then why is assassination out of the question? Poke a TDS victim and youll find they dont think that solution is out of the question at all.



This is the final stage of the TDS epidemic: violence against a democratically elected leader. Unless a cure for TDS is found, this is where we are headed.

Apparently, if you oppose Trump, you want to kill him. Somehow, actual death threats against President Obama from Raimondos fellow conservatives was completely acceptable. Well, you cant be conservative if youre not morally flexible.

When Raimondo says, In the advanced stages of the disease, the afflicted lose touch with reality. Opinion is unmoored from fact, we should believe him. Like his hero Trump, he is living proof.

It is remarkable enough that anybody on the right could even talk with a straight face about Trump Derangement Syndrome after years of afflicting us with their Obama Derangement Syndrome. They say we must normalize Trump while they refused for eight long years to admit Barack Obama was our legitimate president  let alone an American.

What all this proves is that there is a Trump Derangement Syndrome, but the sufferers are promoters and enablers of Trumpism, who, no matter how deplorably their hero behaves say he can do no wrong. And not, as Raimondo claims, those on the left, who are its victims.
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As 2016 draws to a close, Media Matters yearly look at some of the most egregious false and misleading claims has caught our epidemic of fake news and the so-called alt-right in its headlights.

Media Matters digital director John Whitehouse explains,

While reporting real news requires a newsroom and some sort of process that can be critiqued and examined, fake news is built to obfuscate and hide sources. Its creators are varied, from a random American making $10,000 a month from his fabricated Facebook posts to a group of teenagers in Macedonia running more than a hundred pro-Trump websites. The business model is simple: identify the news that people want to read, and give it to them, regardless of the truth and with no effort whatsoever put into actual reporting.

As Whitehouse puts it, There is no question that fake news got lots of attention in 2016, in part because the president-elect himself  and several people close to him  pushed fabricated information. It seems wishful thinking has come into its own, a sort of create a reality that can be made endlessly more congenial to those who find facts a bother.

Whitehouse placed the blame squarely on Facebook and Google, saying of the former that It was Facebooks platform that allowed fake news to spread far and wide.

Facebooks algorithm has always been extremely prone to confirmation bias, but changes in recent years seem to have allowed fake news to rise much more easily, he explains.

Of Google, Whitehouse has this to say:

Google is also responsible for this burgeoning fake news empire. Googles third-party advertising platform, AdSense, is driving mass profitability on many of these websites. When pressure started to rise about fake news, Google said it would be taking action to remove these actors from its advertising network, eliminating their ability to generate revenue. Our review showed that the company still has much work to do.

Whitehouse goes on to separate fake news from what white supremacists are doing, explaining that, the misogynist and white nationalist alt-right embraces it for a more dangerous purpose: to encourage fake news readers into harassing individuals and discouraging people from taking part in public life. The fake news ecosystem is broader than just lies; many of these lies are purposeful.

Smear campaigns and harassment are their game, including death threats against those who speak out, or even just happen to belong to a demographic that somehow threatens white privileges place in the sun. Look what was done to electors and journalists, or to Newsweeks Kurt Eichenwald, or actress Emmy Rossum if you require a couple of prominent examples.

Again, Facebook comes under fire as Whitehouse points out that while It is not clear to what extent this vitriol on Facebook overlaps with the alt-right proper (to whatever extent there even is an alt-right proper)Facebook crowd-sourced virulence is at least overtly reminiscent of what is seen from the alt-right.

When Whitehouse says that Members of the alt-right dont just preach misogyny and bigotry, They mobilize it, the examples are all around us, and his caution that misogyny is a gateway drug that leads to White nationalism and neo-Nazism is well-taken.

It has been a rough year for the facts and Whitehouse is correct to point a finger at the mainstream media, saying failure of others in the media landscape helped the perverse movement get this far. The problem is, as he goes on to explain,

While mainstream media outlets seem to realize that fake news is a problem, they largely raise concerns only to the extent that fake news is a competitor or when the abuse is big enough that they can easily see it.

Whitehouse concludes that Theres never been such a challenging time to be an informed citizen, and it is impossible to argue with that statement. A perusal of social media platforms will reveal even folks on the left can fall prey to fake news. Dont be Trump: be careful what you retweet.

It is a lot easier to be misinformed than to be informed, and soon, says Whitehouse, And soon there will be a president who will validate those feelings. Its a scary thought.

The only advice I can offer in closing is to question fearlessly. Dont be intellectually lazy and fall into the right-wing trap. Never trust what you read without checking the sources.

And dont let people tell you what to believe: Always, always, pursue the facts, and make your own informed decisions.
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It is all hypothetical, but the numbers and personal dynamics of the two candidates suggest that President Obama would have beaten Donald Trump to win a third term in office.

During an appearance on his former senior advisor David Axelrods podcast, President Obama said, Two points I would make though, David, because obviously in the wake of the election and Trump winning, a lot of people have  have suggested that somehow, it really was a fantasy. What I would argue is, is that the culture actually did shift, that the majority does buy into the notion of a one America that is tolerant and diverse and open and  and full of energy and dynamism. And  and the problem is, it doesnt always manifest itself in politics, right? You know, I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it. I know that in conversations that Ive had with people around the country, even some people who disagreed with me, they would say the vision, the direction that you point towards is the right one.

Trump tweeted that he would have beaten Obama:

President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY!  jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

The numbers suggest that President Obama would have beaten Donald Trump. Obamas current approval rating is 56%. His lowest approval in 2016 is 47%. Obamas approval ratings are in line with Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, who are two successful two terms presidents who probably could have won a third term. Obama has not had an approval rating as poor as Trumps (40%) in over two years. Trump is about to enter office as the least popular president-elect in history. Trump only won the election by a little more than 100,000 votes in three swing states. It is not hard to see Obama carrying Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania for the third time.

With the economy booming, and Trump probably being forced to go birther, the president probably would have won a third term.

Donald Trump is the weakest president-elect in modern US history. Obama has been on an upward swing for two years. If one believes in momentum, Obama would have done to Trump what he did to Mitt Romney in 2012. Unlike Hillary Clinton, Obamas popularity was growing during the election. There is no doubt that the Obama coalition would have shown up in full force to support their president once again.

Trump is dreaming if he thinks that he could have beaten Obama by using the same attacks that other members of his party already failed with.

Obama would have had the power of incumbency, a growing economy, and rising favorability numbers against Trump. Those types of presidents dont lose reelection bids.

President Obama is correct. He would have won, and his status as the most politician in America makes him an immediate threat to Trump once the new president-elect takes office in January.
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Paul Krugman recently appealed to the example of ancient Rome in making a point about Trumps threat to our Republican institutions. In his column, How Republicans End, Krugman argued that Republican institutions dont protect against tyranny when powerful people start defying political norms.

This prompted a response from noted Roman historian Mary Beard, who wrote in her blog A Dons Life,

Im not sure how we should feel about ancient Rome becoming an increasingly popular comparison for modern politics: both a mixture of delight and fear, I guess. . . and with a recognition that these comparisons tend to come in waves, and will retreat again soon.

While she allowed that There is obviously something in this, she also cautioned that, as with all such comparisons it conceals as much as it reveals.

She argued that, There were all kinds of other factors at play, which may  or more likely may not  be relevant, mentioning social and economic changes caused in part by the influx of slavery, which are clearly not relevant today, adding, and there is also a question of what kind of historical change we are dealing with.

OK, the Republic DID in the end collapse. But the nostalgic view (held by ancients and moderns alike) of the early and middle Roman Republic as a place where politics was done honourably and properly, unlike the later period, doesnt stand up in its simple form.

In other words, there was never a time in Roman history when the Republic was not afflicted with corruption. We might note that the same is true of our own Republic.

Krugman was grateful for the critique, tweeting that, Honored to see Mary Beard noticing what I write! Indeed, the Roman Republic had its virtus but was no role model.

Krugman is hardly the first to make such comparisons. In 2005, novelist Robert Harris, who has set a series of novels in late Republican Rome, drew a comparison between George W. Bush and the Roman strongman, Pompey the Great. In Pirates of the Mediterranean, Harris argued:

IN the autumn of 68 B.C. the worlds only military superpower was dealt a profound psychological blow by a daring terrorist attack on its very heart. Romes port at Ostia was set on fire, the consular war fleet destroyed, and two prominent senators, together with their bodyguards and staff, kidnapped.



The incident, dramatic though it was, has not attracted much attention from modern historians. But history is mutable. An event that was merely a footnote five years ago has now, in our post-9/11 world, assumed a fresh and ominous significance. For in the panicky aftermath of the attack, the Roman people made decisions that set them on the path to the destruction of their Constitution, their democracy and their liberty. One cannot help wondering if history is repeating itself.

Though Harris pointed out that It may be that the Roman republic was doomed in any case, Krugman has shown that even without a terrorist attack, such comparisons can carry weight, even if a historian cautions we do not read too much into them.

History is a record of such facts as we can glean from the past but also their interpretation, and history is constantly suffering revision based on what is current, from feminism to post-colonialism.

For a long time, it was accepted that Rome fell. Then it became vogue to say it transitioned out of existence. The American experiment might also fall, and its fall might someday be interpreted as a transition as well. The truth is known only to those who experience it.

Just as it was once Romans vs. the barbarians (everyone else), we once had Americans (to be translated as Anglo-Saxons) vs. savages and other less-than-equal inhabitants of this continent. Then we had multiculturalism and just as the distinction between Romans and barbarians gradually disappeared, so too did the distinction between white Americans and those with darker skins.

This blending of races bothers conservatives. It didnt bother Romans so much, not for the most part. The Romans willingly extended their franchise throughout Italy, and eventually, the empire, and everyone became Romans. Even barbarians could become Romans. There was resistance, true, but the Romans werent racist in the way Anglo-Saxons have proven to be racist.

Romes darker skinned emperors were not attacked because they werent white. Septimius Severus was African, from what is now Libya. Philip the Arab was, well, something more than many Americans would accept under the existing Trump climate.

One historian,* a proponent of the unpleasant collapse of Rome as opposed to its transition, has pointed out that,

Indeed, in the modern post-colonial world, the very concept of a civilization, be it ancient or modern, is now uncomfortable, because it is seen as demeaning to those societies that are excluded from the label. Nowadays, instead of civilizations, we apply universally the neutral word cultures; all cultures are equal, and no cultures are more equal than others.

Heresy, for Trumpism, for hell hath no fury like a conservative exposed to multiculturalism and the resultant loss of white privilege. Rome shared its franchise; Republicans wont.

The Romans on the street who experienced the fall of Rome arent here to tell us how they felt about it any more than are those who experienced the fall of the Republic, or how they felt about their unwritten Constitution.

We, however, are alive, and whatever comparisons we may or may not make with our collective past, we are making history with each day we wake up and return to the fray. We know how we feel about the potential collapse of our own republic, and what needs to be done in answer to the threat.

Rome fell. The United States does not have to follow its example. Trump is a threat but the American experiment doesnt have to end here.

* Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome and the End of Civilization, Oxford University Press, 2005.
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Donald Trump is a very vocal supporter of Israel. He has also been willing to cater to the interest of Americas Nazis, the so-called alt-right, which represents an effort to make not only white supremacism but anti-Semitism politically correct.

Never mind the irony of Trump supporters using political correctness at the same time they laud their leader for throwing political correctness out the window. Trump has a real problem here. His Happy Hanukkah tweet riled up American Nazis everywhere, who savor visions of, if not eradicating Judaism, at least excising it from their vision of white America.

One swastika-toting follower tweeted an eloquent WTF?! while another seconded that sentiment and added, I hate trump now.

How can their new Fuhrer love Israel and Jews? They thought he was one of them, as this tweet below shows:

top 3 goals for Alt Right under Trump imo deport all illegals

end affirmative action

sever ties with Israel ambitious but not impossible  Cur de lion (@leodegan_) December 14, 2016

Umno. Trump flew into a tizzy over the UN vote against Israeli settlements in occupied territories. Sever ties? Not happening.

Hope and delusion spring eternal on the right.

It is safe to say Trump left them feeling a little betrayed. Back in November, The Times of Israel described Trump as still navigating white supremacists support.

White nationalist leader Richard Spencer said he believes Trump, Bannon and the alt-right are all riding in the same lane. Spencer explained that neither Trump nor Bannon is a movement identitarian, Spencers preferred term for his racially driven politics.

Again, never mind the obvious play at political correctness with a term like identitarian. It is difficult to see how Trump can reconcile his aping of Hitler tropes in his speeches with his support for Israel.

How, you have to wonder, does it make Nazis feel when Trumps new ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, says things like liberal Jewish organization J Street is far worse than kapos  Jews who turned in their fellow Jews in the Nazi death camps.

Isnt that the average Nazis own aspiration, to throw Jews in death camps? Thats what theyre always tweeting at any rate. Yet Trumps guy  his bankruptcy lawyer now ambassador  just insulted them by saying its actually a bad thing.

And if Nazis are feeling left out, how about Jews? One graduate student tweeted,

Somehow I am both too Jewish for Trump's alt-right fans and not Jewish enough for Trump's new ambassador to Israel. #JewishResistance  J.H. Swanson (@jh_swanson) December 17, 2016

The poor Nazis cant even cheer Obama for allegedly sticking it to Israel over the UN vote because the president is one of the much-hated Untermenschen of Nazi ideology.

It is remarkable how many people let Donald Trump tell them what they wanted to hear without hearing any of the other things Donald Trump was saying to other groups. He had something for everybody, a real smorgasbord of hate.

Maybe, as American Nazi leader Richard Spencer told a rabbi at a recent forum at Texas A&M University, Trumps white supremacist followers can find a way to admire Israel while hating on Jews:

Jews exist precisely because you did not assimilate. That is why Jews are a coherent people with a history and a culture and a future. Its because you had a sense of yourselves. I respect that about you. I want my people to have that same sense of themselves.

It is difficult, however, to see Americas unreasoning Nazis championing Israel or anything Jewish. Trumps appeal to Nazi tropes during the campaign may or may not hurt him with Jews. It hasnt hurt him with his fellow conservatives in Israel.

When Benjamin Netanyahu says His attitude, his support for Israel is clear, turn to Voxs Matthew Iglesias and think about this: Bibi going all-in on the US political faction that includes the neo-Nazis rather than the one Jews vote for sums it all up nicely.

You also have to remember that Spencer is saying he wants Trump to stop funding Israel while telling Haaretz that his Hail Trump has to be understood in The context of fun and exuberance. Because Nazism is always fun and exuberant.

Of course, Trump is going to defund the UN for attacking Israel instead, and while Spencer is acting and talking like a Nazi, he doesnt want you to call him a Nazi. And if you think Steve Bannon is bad, Spencer has said, I dont think Steve Bannon is an alt-right thinker.

We could ask why Trumps Nazi following is surprised hed say Happy Hanukkah but that would be asking the business community why they are surprised Trump conned them. Adolf Hitler left a lot of people feeling conned too.

And Nazis shouldnt feel bad. Their Fuhrer is busy trying to con Israel too, just like he tried to con American Jews, who by and large rejected him. Trump is a con man. Its what he does.

Photo: Trump Campaign.
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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
As parts of South Carolina continue to struggle with the effects of one of the strongest, costliest American storms on record, some automakers appear poised to destabilize one of the most important and effective public safety tools being used in the states recovery efforts. Read moreCommentary: Hurricane Ian a reminder of the importance of AM car radios
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
EL Education CEO says a hotel employee recorded audio of an employee for the nonprofit that works in several SC school districts, mentioning both Lexington County and critical race theory, but someone spliced together the audio in a deceptive way to create a false political controversy. Read moreFox News used 'false and crudely edited' audio to target SC schools, nonprofit CEO says
The customer demanded the waitress be arrested for the slow toast order. The driver of the semitrailer turned out to be a Golden Lab. "I think it's called (Pikachu) or whatever." An 11-year-old boy stole a cement truck. The woman spent more than $20,000 on her cat.

It's our annual Rochies, a look back at some of the more interesting  and by "most interesting" we mean strangest  local stories of 2016.

This is the kind of crime that makes you rethink the death penalty in Minnesota. In October, a Byron man was arrested after police believe, on at least three occasions, he entered a neighbor's home and stole beer from his refrigerator. The suspect was caught after the victim installed a trail cam in his kitchen.

"I thought it said 'barking' brake." In March, passersby in Mankato saw a semitrailer drive across a parking lot, across a street and over a curb before it smashed into a parked car and hit a tree. When they went to check on the driver, they realized the driver was a yellow Lab. The dog, and this is all human explanation, apparently "accidentally" shifted the semi into gear when it was left idling after its human driver left the vehicle unoccupied.

When I was 11, I still couldn't always figure out how to make my pedal car go forward.

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In March, an 11-year-old boy stole a cement truck in Dodge Center and then took the 25,000-pound vehicle on a 72-minute joyride throughout Dodge County that included reaching speeds of 70 mph, sideswiping then broadsiding a squad car and continuing to speed on flat tires after driving over stop sticks. He eventually was surrounded in a cul de sac and captured after a short foot chase.

"Your fare was only $12. As change, I will give you these pearl earrings, appraised at $2,788."

In April, a Rochester man, according to police reports, asked to see a $2,800, 1.25-carat diamond ring at an Apache Mall jewelry store and then ran out of the store with the ring. A few minutes later, a cab driver near the scene called police to report a fare had asked for a ride and offered to pay with a diamond ring.

In her defense, "how long does it take you to make my damn toast and butter it and bring it to my table! Where the damn hell is my damn toast!?"

In May, on a Friday, at 2:30 a.m., a 21-year-old Rochester woman was ticketed for disorderly conduct after police say she began screaming and swearing at a waitress who took what she deemed too long to deliver an order of toast. When police arrived, the customer demanded the waitress be arrested for the slow toast order.

In the players' defense, "why does that damn guy in that apartment window keep being a buzz kill? I found a Pokemon hotspot, and I just want to giggle and hit Pikachu and yell 'I got it!' without some guy screaming at me!"

In July, a Rochester resident described the nightly scene around his downtown apartment as a "nightmare" because of the proximity of a Pokemon "hotspot," a location in which players of the popular smartphone game Pokemon Go gather. "I can hear them laughing and giggling," he told the Post Bulletin. "They'll hit  I think it's called (Pikachu) or whatever it is  and you hear these people just scream, 'I got it. I got it.'"

"Hi, mom!" In December 2015, while filming a live, on-the-scene report outside a Rochester bank that had been robbed the previous day, KIMT reporter Adam Sallet was interrupted in his report by the robber -- who had struck the same bank two days in a row and then was caught on live TV running out of the bank. In October, the robber, a 37-year-old Rochester man, was sentenced to 115 months in prison.

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We love this story, except for the fact that it made us feel bad about ourselves. (Because, full disclosure, we love our Sir Meowington, but, given a similar situation, he now would be in cat heaven.)

In August, the Post Bulletin profiled a Rochester woman, known as "Miss Kitty," who has spent more than $20,000 in medical bills  including a back leg amputation  on her cat, Elvis, since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.
AUSTIN Authorities are seeking information about a man who robbed an Austin gas station on Monday night.

The crime was reported at 8:48 p.m. at the Apollo 3 gas station in the 3000 block of W. Oakland Avenue. A man, described to be in his mid-50s and wearing a dark coat, dark pants and boots with blue face mask, walked into the building, according to Capt. David McKichan.

The suspect had a medium build and was around 5 feet, 8 inches tall.

The store clerk was told by the suspect to go to the back of the store. There was no indication that the suspect had a weapon nor did the clerk see a weapon. When the clerk complied, the suspect stole cash from the registers and fled.

Since the clerk was in the back of the store after being told by the suspect to count down to a certain time, he was unable to determine which direction the suspect fled. He alerted the Austin Police Department after the encounter.

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There were no other individuals present at the time of the incident. There may have been one witness prior to the robbery, but it's unclear if that individual was involved in any way.
Rochester is growing, and its demographics are changing.

These changes are playing out in the school district and already have manifested in one major finding: Students of color are being disproportionately disciplined.

In the last 10 years, the district seen major changes in the type of students it's educating. With those changes have come a number of challenges. This year, despite efforts to address the achievement gap, test scores remained mostly flat, and district and state goals for reducing the achievement gap mostly were unmet.

A decade ago, about 27 percent of the district's students qualified for free or reduced price, an indicator of low income levels. Now, nearly 40 percent of the district's population qualifies.

The district is taking its first steps to address these changes and still is figuring out how to deal with them  it just hasn't quite figured it out yet.

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It's clear student needs for education and basic necessities are changing.

So far, the district has responded with major changes to service models at two district schools  Gage and Riverside  with the community schools model. In June, the district announced it would add its second community school, at Riverside , thanks to a grant from the United Way of Olmsted County.

A community school is designed to help meet students' basic needs so they can focus on school. The schools will be a hub with the idea it will become central to the community it serves, meeting student and family needs by bringing health and social services to the school. Youth and community development and community engagement also are included.

Another program that adapted slightly this year is "We want you back." For the last five years, Rochester Public Schools staff and volunteers have hit the streets of Rochester each fall, knocking on the doors of students who had dropped out.

The program started in 2011, but this year its focus adjusted to a more proactive approach, and program leaders changed their request to 'We want you to stay."

The new approach is more individualized on the student's terms; they're partnered with a mentor to keep them on track to avoid students dropping out in the first place.

While graduation rates have hung steady about 80 percent the last five years , the district has put an increased focus on making sure students who don't graduate in four years have an opportunity to continue their education. RPS' five-year graduation rate is about 86 percent .

Another major effort, called APEX Recovery School , was launched this year at the Alternative Learning Center and is a "sober school" geared at students struggling with chemical dependency.

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The district is looking for a schedule to make the lives of students, families and teachers easier, but it hasn't been the right fit for the community yet. The school board spent a lot of time exploring alternative calendar options, such as an expansion of the year-round 45/15 schedule, which was shot down, and a pre-Labor Day calendar start , which is yet-to-be decided.

The U.S. Department of Education found the district's black and Hispanic students were disciplined more than their peers, especially when it came to suspensions and expulsions.

At the school board's final meeting of the year, Kamau Wilkins, co-founder of Rochester For Justice and a member of the community focus team that stemmed from the Office of Civil Rights report, approached the board, asking the district and school board what had come of the team's recommendations.

The group began meeting in May to add a community voice to the mix, rather than relying on the district to handle the disparities.

The team created recommendations for the district, including getting more students of color to enroll in AP and honors courses, the addition of a culturally relevant curriculum and addressing historical trauma, which refers to the experiences and treatment of groups of people during periods of time, such as oppression and genocide, that is carried with them  the main victims are Native Americans and descendants of slaves, African Americans.

Wilkins' primary concern: Talk of the report has stopped the last six months.

"There's no communication or continuation of that community focus team," Wilkins said. "As a community member it concerns me because one of the things we were chartered with was addressing the OCR report and making sure we fix racism in our high schools and elementary schools. I think it would be really important for the school board to encourage administrators to continue that community focus team."

School board chairman Gary Smith said Thursday the board will continue to monitor what efforts are working in the district.

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"This is a long-term deal; some of that stuff is going to be continued," Smith said. "We continue the stuff that we validate is working; if things are working, then we'll continue to look for other solutions."

It's clear this is a challenge the district and community will continue to face. While there may be no quick fixes, community members, such as Wilkins, think the conversation needs to continue.
IBM is joining a collaboration between Mayo Clinicand New York City-based Delos Livingin downtown Rochester.

Using the power of the supercomputing system Watson, IBM has a created a series of data analysis applications to help Delos and Mayo handle data from their Well Living Lab.

Delos' Well Living Lab,based in the city-owned Minnesota Biobusiness Centeron First Avenue Southwest, is a closed environment where everything, including the 15 Mayo Clinic employees working in the office space, is monitored closely. The goal is to learn more about how factors in indoor environments, such as lighting, temperature and equipment, effect health and wellness.

"IBM's extensive technology stack and expertise in areas such as Internet of Things, sensors and data analytic capabilities, including Watson cognitive computing, made them an ideal cloud partner as all of these areas are critical to the future of Delos," stated Delos CEO Peter Sciallain the announcement of IBM's involvement. "We spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, which is why it is critically important to ensure that indoor spaces are not only livable, but also healthy."

IBM is using its cloud computing platform and applications co-developed with Delos for this project.

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"By infusing the lab with advances in cloud innovation, cognitive computing and the Internet of Things, we believe we can help identify insights that deepen and accelerate this important research," stated Shawn Murray, IBM director of the Bluemix Garage.

Delos has 15 employees who monitor 15 Mayo Clinic staffers who work in the lab. Scialla said the lab, which opened in 2015, is studying the effect of lighting on worker productivity. That is the first study being done.

The challenge, Scialla said in a recent interview with the Post Bulletin, is the lab generates "terabytes of data." That's where IBM comes in with its cloud platform to analyze the information to find trends.

"Then we'll be translating that knowledge for the industry to apply. That's going to be extremely valuable information," he said.
Top Headlines:

 Austin approves $38.5 million recreation center project:A contentious item, but it was finally approved by the city to build on the site of the historic municipal power plant site. Some fought to keep the building open the way it is.

 Brownsdale Elementary School closes:A sad ending for a school district having to close one of its elementary schools. Many families with students fought to keep the school open and explore other cost-effective ways for the Hayfield Schools, but it ultimately failed to stay open.

 Winona frac sand mining ban:The commissioners approved a 3-2 vote to prohibit mining, transportation, and processing of silica sand for industrial purposes, otherwise known as fracking. The band doesn't limit silica sand mining for agriculture or construction purposes.

 Winona School Board approves recommendation to close three elementary schools:The recommendation would eventually close Madison, Rollingstone and Washington-Kosciusko elementary schools. The district's Central Elementary has already been closes and repurposed for community education and other non-school needs.

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 Triton superintendent's contract not to be renewed:Brett Joyce, superintendent of the Trtion School District, will not have his contract renewed by the school board. Dale Jensen, the school board's clerk, has been on the school board for 15 years and has worked with Joyce extensively. He said the board's decision to not renew Joyce's contract was "not warranted."

Looking ahead for 2017:

 Hy-Vee to open their finished grocery story at the old Oak Park Mall property.What will be the outcome of that now that the Oak Park Mall is no longer standing? Will residents find this a much better alternative to their failed mall?

 New leadership in Kasson:Chris McKern recently was elected as the new Kasson mayor. The city council was under intense scrutiny for some of its handling of personnel, and caused a division in the community. We'll see how new leadership will look to heal the trust between constituents and their elected officials.

 Chronic wasting disease:The deer are experiencing chronic wasting disease in Fillmore County. How will this affect the ecosystems, hunting, among other things. The special hunt that will begin Dec. 31 in the chronic wasting disease zone around Preston will no doubt cause a wide range of emotions.

 Henrytown Lutheran Church to open new building:Almost a year after their original church burned down in Canton, the congregation is looking to open their new church.

 Will West Concord liquor store close?:After another fluctuating performance, the town is once again going to audit the finances of the liquor store. Whether it stays open, is going to be something that needs to be closely watched. Some view the store as financially draining, others feel that the town will die without it.

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SPRING VALLEY  One man was hospitalized early this morning after a rear-end crash in rural Fillmore County.

Kenneth Brandt, 52, of Spring Valley, was eastbound on Minnesota Highway 16 when he was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Izach Overend, 21, of Fountain. Brandt had slowed to make a left turn when the crash occurred about three miles East of Spring Valley, according to Minnesota State Patrol.

The incident occurred just before 2 a.m., but State Patrol reports that road conditions were dry.

Overend suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Mayo Clinic Hospital - Saint Marys Campus in Rochester for medical care. Brandt was not hurt.

The Fillmore County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene, along with Spring Valley Fire & EMS.
ST. PAUL  On Jan. 1, Minnesota joins the majority of U.S. states in choosing its presidential candidates in primary elections.

Minnesota has used caucuses to choose presidential candidates throughout its voting history, save for three elections.

While the first presidential primary under the new law won't be held until March 2020, the system officially goes on the books Jan. 1, 2017.

The shift from a caucus system to primaries is the most notable of the new laws taking effect in Minnesota at the change of the year. The others deal with minor changes to workers' compensation and life insurance laws that won't much affect the general public.

Moving to a primary means that voters will have a full day to cast their ballot for one of their party's presidential candidates rather than having to gather at a specific time on a specific day for a caucus. The last time Minnesota tried a presidential primary was in 1992, when parties held both primaries and caucuses a month apart.

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A year ago, it seemed unlikely that Minnesota would move to a primary system; caucuses are cheaper and rooted in political tradition. They're also relatively simple to set up: Political parties, which run the caucuses, need only a few volunteers and a room for a few hours to hold one.

But when heavy turnout led to long lines and confusion at presidential caucuses across Minnesota in March, the momentum to abolish caucusing and adopt a primary grew.

Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, and Sen. Ann Rest, DFL-New Hope, sponsored the measure that became the law that will go into effect at the start of the year. The secretary of state's office will reimburse local elections officials for expenses related to holding the presidential primary.

Voters who would like to participate in primaries will be required to register with a party, and that affiliation will become public record. Precinct caucuses are allowed to continue, but only if the party chooses.

Shifting to primaries will likely increase participation in choosing presidential candidates  caucuses have notoriously low turnout. That's at odds Minnesota's generally progressive voting laws and high turnout rates.

The main reason Minnesota kept caucuses for so long is a simple one: Tradition.
A diehard Donald Trump supporter, Brian Braaten endured some taunting ahead of the November election from people convinced the New York businessman didn't have a chance of winning.

But Braaten remained unfazed. In spite of the polls, the Rochester Township man said he was confident Trump would win the White House. He was encouraged by the thousands of people turning out to hear Trump speak at rallies. Braaten, who sells classic and muscle cars, said he became convinced that Trump was the candidate best qualified to create more jobs.

"I could just sense that (Trump) was for the working guy. That's what our country needs  put everybody back to work," the 53-year-old said.

Of course, Trump ended up defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton on election night, pulling off a victory that stunned pundits and pollsters alike. Trump's victory and the Republican election wave are the top political stories of 2016.

So why did Trump win? University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs said Trump tapped into growing frustration among voters.

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"We have large numbers of Americans who are frustrated and angered by the political system. They felt as if the opportunity for their children to do as well as they have is dwindling, and they wanted significant change," Jacobs said.

Trump managed to get Republicans to turn out and attracted independent voters. In some cases, voters who hadn't voted in two or three presidential election cycles came out and cast ballots for Trump, Jacobs said. Meanwhile, Clinton struggled to turn out her supporters with a number of them staying home or casting their ballots for a third-party candidate.

Republican Party of Olmsted County Chairman Aaron Miller said in the final months leading up to the election, he began to see support for Trump building. One big clue of the energy surrounding Trump's candidacy was the strong demand for campaign signs.

"There were a lot of folks that were coming in to get signs that we had never seen before. There were a lot of folks coming in and saying, 'I haven't voted in a presidential election for a couple of cycles' or 'I've always voted Democrat, but I'm voting for Trump,'" Miller said.

For Democrats, the election night results left them stunned. Senate District 26 DFL Chairwoman Deb Staley said on a scale of 1 to 10, her level of surprise at Trump winning was a "9 and a half."

Not only did Trump win the national election, but Republicans dominated in legislative races. The GOP won back control of the Minnesota Senate and broadened their majority in the Minnesota House.

Nonetheless, there were a few bright spots for Democrats. Clinton narrowly won Minnesota, defeating Trump with 47 percent of the vote. House DFL candidate Duane Sauke, of Rochester, won his race against former Republican Rep. Fran Bradley. And 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz narrowly won re-election, despite Trump winning big in the district.

Staley said local Democrats are regrouping after the election and reflecting on what changes need to be made so that the DFL does better in 2018. She said it is tough to point to one reason why Democrats overall failed to do well on Nov. 8.

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"Do we agree on one reason? No," she said.

One conclusion local DFL activists have reached is they cannot afford to take time off from working in between elections. Work is already underway to reach out to different groups in the community, connect with DFL groups across southeast Minnesota and fundraise for 2018.

Similarly, local Republicans say they are also already looking ahead to 2018 and the gubernatorial race. Conservatives will also be looking to see what Trump does during his first 100 days in office after being sworn in on Jan. 20.

"Trump made an awful lot of promises and bold statements on the campaign trail," Miller said. "I've told a lot of people this since election night  the easy part is done. Winning the election is easy. It's actually governing and leading that's difficult."

Top 5 political stories of 2016

1. Donald Trump wins presidential election  Trump beat Democrat Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8, winning 306 electoral votes. Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes.

2. Republicans regain control of Minnesota Senate  The GOP won back control of the Senate by a razor thin one vote majority. That means Republicans will be in charge of both the Senate and House when the legislative session starts Jan. 3.

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3. Political gridlock in St. Paul  Lawmakers and Gov. Mark Dayton failed to reach accord on the biggest legislative issues during the 2016 session. That includes a package of tax cuts that Dayton refused to sign due to a wording error and a $1 billion public works bill. Also failing to pass was a long-term transportation funding bill.

4. Outside money spent on legislative races  Spending from outside groups hit a record high this year as organizations spent millions of dollars on mailers in support of and attacking legislative candidates. As of Oct. 4, more than half a million dollars had been spent on legislative races in Southeast Minnesota.

5. Soaring health insurance premiums  In September, Minnesota Commerce Commissioner warned that the state's individual market was in danger of collapse. Premiums shot up on average between 50 to 65 percent. Meanwhile, some insurers limited the number of consumers they were willing to insure.

Political stories to watch in 2017

1. President Donald Trump takes office  Trump will be sworn-in as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20.

2. Lawmakers return to St. Paul  The 2017 legislative session kicks off on Jan. 3. It is expected to be a busy session with legislators deciding what to do with an estimated $1.4 billion budget surplus.

3. Health care changes  Expect plenty of changes to health care this year. Trump campaigned on repealing the Affordable Care Act and the GOP-controlled Congress is poised to do that. What will replace the act is still unclear. Meanwhile, Minnesota lawmakers will be decided what to do with the state-run health insurance exchange, MNsure, and how to help the roughly 196,000 Minnesotans struggling with high health insurance costs that don't qualify for federal tax subsidies.

4. Lots of talk about Greater Minnesota  Republicans dominated legislative races in rural Minnesota. Expect a lot of attention on Greater Minnesota issues. That could set the stage for rural versus metros squabbles in St. Paul.

5. Gubernatorial politics at play  The 2018 election is two years away but some candidates have already announced their bid and others are eyeing a run. As such, expect gubernatorial ambitions to play a role in how some legislative issues are handed in the upcoming session.
MINNEAPOLIS  Nearly a dozen more supermarkets are set to open in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area next year, with at least three chains adding multiple locations.

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market plans to open a store in Waite Park near St. Cloud on Jan. 25 and in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park on July 26.

Fresh Thyme Chief Executive Chris Sherrell said that the Chicago-based company hopes to have 12 to 15 stores in Minnesota by 2020.

Iowa-based Hy-Vee is expanding in Minnesota in 2017, with new stores planned in Savage, Cottage Grove and Shakopee.

Aldi's expansion plans in 2017 include Burnsville, Roseville and Maplewood, plus several more locations to be announced.

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Trader Joe's is coming to downtown Minneapolis while Whole Foods plans a Woodbury store.
ST. CLOUD  Some young people who qualified for legal status under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are concerned about their future if the program ends under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

St. Cloud immigration lawyer Susan Roberts said she has received an increase in calls and contacts since the election. She said she believes people are worried because threat of deportation was a hallmark of Trump's campaign.

During the campaign, Trump pledged to revoke executive actions issued under President Barack Obama, which would include the arrivals act.

Created in 2012, the program allows people who were brought into the country as children  called Dreamers  to be protected from deportation for a renewable two-year period and can legally work. Those young people had to be under the age of 31 in June 2012, have come to the United States before turning 16, lived here for five consecutive years and have no criminal convictions.

If Trump undoes the act, 19-year-old Luis Ramirez of St. Cloud said he would likely seek a student visa to go to Canada.

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"That would be uprooting my whole family to have to leave again," Ramirez said.

There are approximately 741,000 Dreamers nationwide, with about 6,000 of those in Minnesota. Should the act be revoked, Dreamers would no longer be able to get a Social Security number, go to college or work.

Bill Blazar, senior vice president of public affairs and business development for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, said Dreamers already have to go through a background check when applying.

"Why create all of that heartache and expense when those young people have all been screened and examined and tested?" Blazar said. "Leave that in place. If his intent is to ... root out criminals, good. Focus on that."
The Guam Police Department isnt releasing many details about an internal investigation that was launched after the highest-ranking police officer was caught on camera yelling and cursing at patrol officers at a gathering in Agat on Christmas Eve. A video submitted to the Post by a reader appears to be body camera footage showing police Col. Mark Charfauros, while off-duty, yelling at uniformed officers who had responded to an apartment complex on San Vicente Avenue.

Police have yet to confirm that officers were responding to a report of illegal fireworks going off in the village along San Vicente Avenue. Fireworks without a permit are illegal. Agat residents told the Post that fireworks were seen going off for several minutes on Friday night. The body camera footage has a time stamp of 9:57 p.m. on Friday.

'Move this vehicle now!'

The video shows Charfauros repeatedly yelling at officers to move their vehicles.

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Move these vehicles out of the roadway now! Get out of the roadway. Do it now! Move this vehicle now! Charfauros yelled. His yelling escalates in volume even as the officer wearing the body camera can be heard complying with Charfauros demands.

Later, as two police officers can be seen exiting the apartment complex, Charfauros raises his voice and yells asking them, What the (expletive) are you guys doing in there? Did I tell you to get in there? Get the (expletive) out of there now!

GPD spokeswoman Capt. Kim Santos could not release details of the ongoing investigation, only providing the media with the following statement: "The Guam Police Department is investigating a situation that occurred in Agat on Christmas Eve involving personnel within the Guam Police Dept. The incident is under investigation and will be dealt with accordingly."
RealClearPolitics executive editor Carl Cannon comes to the defense of DNC chairman wannabe Keith Ellison in an Orange County Register column in which he finds Ellison the victim of the character assassination thats now a permanent feature of our politics. Cannon has an arguable point to make about the necessity of civility and good faith in our politics. Although the point is arguable, it is misapplied to the case of Keith Ellison.

Defending Ellison against the charge of anti-Semitism based on a supposedly isolated quote, Cannon treats Ellisons story as a faith journey to Islam. Cannon omits any mention of Ellisons long involvement with the Nation of Islam. Ellison said and did bad and anti-Semitic things working on behalf of the Nation of Islam in Minneapolis. Moreover, as a member of Congress Ellison has associated with every prominent Islamist front group operating in the United States.

Ellison lies about his involvement with the Nation of Islam every time he addresses it. It is an inconvenience to him. His involvement extended at least from his third year in law school at the University of Minnesota (1989-1990) to his speech at a National Lawyers Guild fundraiser for Kathleen Soliah/Sara Jane Olson (2000). Cannon nevertheless takes at face value a characteristically false statement Ellison made to Politicos Glenn Thrush (Thrush is presently moving on to the New York Times) in a podcast posted last week:

Im 53 years old, [Ellison] told Politico recently. I have four kids. My youngest child is 20. Some of the things they want to hit me for, I was younger than her when I wrote them. And so, come on. At some point, we all are human beings who have evolved over the course of 25 years, and yet we want to freeze each other in time.

Cannon seconds Ellison: Amen to that, Brother Keith.

In the quoted portion of the podcast Ellison was obviously referring to statements he made as an advocate of the Nation of Islam. Contrary to Ellisons assertion in the Politico podcast, however, none of Ellisons words and deeds on behalf of the Nation of Islam constituted teenage indiscretions. With the exception of the columns he wrote as a third-year law student for the University of Minnesota Daily, they all derive from the time when Ellison was making his name in Minneapolis as an attorney and radical activist. As a mature adult Ellison was a long-time advocate and activist on behalf of a racist, anti-Semitic hate cult.

The Ellison quote with respect to which Cannon springs to Ellisons defense derives from Ellisons current period of service representing Minnesotas Fifth District in Congress. Steve Emerson provides the full quote and context that are otherwise lacking in Cannons column. Cannon also quotes Ellison defending Louis Farrakhan against the charge of anti-Semitism; Cannon fails to note that Ellison was active in the Nation of Islam at the time Ellison spoke up for Farrakhan. Both quotes are of a piece with Ellisons career. However well intended, Cannons description of criticism of Ellison bearing on this history as character assassination is wildly off the mark.

NOTE: In his column Cannon pairs Ellison with Jeff Sessions: Sessions and Ellison represent, almost literally, polar opposites on our political spectrum. Yet they share a bond: Each man has been on the receiving end of the character assassination thats now a permanent feature of our politics.

Cannon introduces the Ellison question this way: Keith Ellison, one of two Muslims in Congress, is an anti-Semite whose hostility toward Israel cloaks an animus toward Jews. Thats the story being pushed by many conservative Republicans  and mainstream Democrats and Jewish groups.

Here is Cannons defense of Ellison in its entirety:

Lets look at the record, starting with Rep. Ellison. While running for re-election in 2010, he made this assertion: United States policy in the Middle East is governed by what is good or bad [for] a country of 7 million people. Personally, Im a Zionist who loves Israel, so that description wouldnt bother me if it were true, which it is obviously isnt. But why is that disqualifying, the term used by the Anti-Defamation League? Keith Ellison was 19 years old when he gravitated toward Islam. He was raised by parents who were devout Catholics, but the kind who let their kids choose their own paths. One of his brothers became a Baptist pastor. Keith, who found Catholicism too infused with rules and regulations, considered himself agnostic by the time he was a Wayne State University sophomore. In his recollection, Ellison was preparing for a calculus test when a study pal, a native of Libya, excused himself by saying he was going to Friday prayers. Ellison was invited to tag along. He liked it from the moment he saw the shoes lined up outside the mosques prayer room, and liked what he heard, too. He began reading the Quran and frequenting the local Muslim center. When he was sworn in to the House of Representatives in 2007, he took the oath on a copy of the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Although Islam is still exotic to many, Ellisons spiritual sojourn is really a quintessential American faith journey. Its also true that along the way, especially in his early stages, he went off the rails occasionally. In a student editorial for the school newspaper he described Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan  who really is a virulent anti-Semite  as a role model for Black Youth. These words have come back to haunt him. This doesnt seem fair to Ellison, or to me. Im 53 years old, he told Politico recently. I have four kids. My youngest child is 20. Some of the things they want to hit me for, I was younger than her when I wrote them. And so, come on. At some point, we all are human beings who have evolved over the course of 25 years, and yet we want to freeze each other in time. Amen to that, Brother Keith.

Whole thing here.
Parks and recreational centres in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, recorded unusual low patronage as the Yuletide holiday enters its second and last day.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the popular Millenium Park, Magicland and the Silverbird Galleria that used to be beehive of fun-seekers during national holidays and festive periods, received few visitors.

Some of the visitors and vendors said that the low patronage was a reflection of the current economic recession facing the nation.

However, others attributed the situation to non-payment of salaries by many public organisations.

A Federal Civil Servant, Jonah Uduak, who spoke with NAN at the Millenium Park, said he had to painstakingly source for money to bring his family to the park.

It is evident that the country is in recession and this is affecting every other aspect of our lives, therefore, I do not expect people to have elaborate celebration this year.

I pray that the country overcomes this recession because it is not easy; people are suffering.

With the situation, you dont expect people to celebrate outside their homes.

Besides many people have not received their December salaries, so how do you want them to come out for celebration, he said.

Also, the low-key situation was also evident at Magic Land Amusement Park located at the City Gate.

Patience Ezeh, who visited the park with her children, noted that the situation of things the previous year was better.

Last year, a lot of people came here to have fun as usual, but this year the story is different, and I am not surprised.

The economic situation is biting hard on everyone; the price of everything, even in this park has gone up.

I hope that the government will do something very fast to cushion the effect of this hardship on Nigerians, she said.

Ms. Ezeh, however, explained that many students would return to school immediately after the yuletide holidays, so parents needed to preserve their money for school expenses.

Parents will prefer to pay childrens school fees than spending their hard earned money on Christmas fun.

They have to stay and manage what they have at home instead of coming to parks, she said.

The usual hustling and bustling at the Silverbird Galleria was at its lowest ebb, as vendors complained of low patronage.

Mamara David, who deals on ice cream and snacks, said that the prices of everything had gone up, and the situation had discouraged many people from patronising public places.

I am not surprised at the low turnout because there is no money anywhere, the price of everything has increased, she said.

(NAN)
At least 39 people died after consuming toxic liquor in eastern Pakistan, health officials and police said on Tuesday, as over 150 people were rushed to clinics for treatment.

We have received 105 patients and 23 have died, said Aisf Saleemi, a doctor at the District Headquarters Hospital Toba Tek Singh.

He said that over a dozen patients were in critical condition.

Latif Ahmed from the Allied Hospital Faisalabad said that of the 49 patients they had seen, 16 had died. Around 10 patients were in the intensive care unit while the rest were recovering, he said.

Dozens of people who drank the homemade alcohol in the district of Toba Tek Singh in Punjab province had fallen unconscious.

We have started searching for the bootlegger, said Usaman Akram Gondal from Toba Tek Singh Police, who said the drink was consumed during festive celebrations in a Christian community.

(dpa/NAN)
Despite promises during the campaigns in the build up to the 2015 election, President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to inaugurate the National Council on Public Procurement, NCPP, as required by Nigerian law.

The Public Procurement Act 2007 was signed into law by late President Umaru YarAdua on June 4, 2007.

The Act provides for the establishment of the National Council on Public Procurement, NCPP, and the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, as the regulatory authorities responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement as well as harmonizing existing government policies and practices. The act was put in place to put more transparency in and ensure public participation in government procurement.

Membership of the council according to the Act should comprise 12 members to be appointed by the president.

While six of the members are government officials, the other six are drawn from relevant professional organisations. Those from the government side, considered permanent members, include the Minister of Finance, who serves as chairman, and the Director General of the BPP as secretary.

Others are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service, and the Economic Adviser to the President.

Those representing professional bodies are drawn from the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management, the Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mines and Agriculture, the Nigeria Society of Engineers, a representative of civil society organisations and that of the media.

NOT ONLY BUHARI

Although President YarAdua signed the Act into law in his first week in office, he however, failed to set up the council until his death in May 2010.

His deputy and successor, Goodluck Jonathan, who eventually served as president for five years also failed to inaugurate the council.

As a result, most of the functions of the council were carried out by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

The FEC is made up the president, the vice president, all the ministers and some presidential advisers; meaning the president and his political appointees who are all less likely to question his decisions.

The inability of the government to set up the council has meant the FEC approves contracts to be executed by its members.

Mr. Buhari had in a document circulated during the 2015 campaigns titled  My covenant with Nigerians promised to inaugurate the National Council on Procurement as stipulated in the Procurement Act so that the Federal Executive Council, which has been turned to a weekly session of contract bazaar, will concentrate on its principal function of policy making.

Although the president after assuming office disowned the document, a PREMIUM TIMES fact check showed the ruling All Progressives Congress did author it.

The document was authored by the policy and research directorate of the APC presidential campaign, headed by current Minister of Solid Minerals Development and former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, when the party was trying to convince Nigerians to abandon the then ruling PDP.

COUNCIL COMING SOON

A top official of the APC administration who declined to be named because he is not permitted to speak to the media on the matter said the issue of NCPP  just like other boards and parastatals will be set up at the right time.

The official said he is aware the office of SGF is working on the composition of the boards of parastatals.

He however, said, the truth is government has a lot more important matters to attend to at the moment and the issue of procurement council and all others will be attended to in due course.

Several efforts to speak with the SGF, Babachir Lawal, were unsuccessful. Calls to his mobile phone could not be connected. He also did not respond to our text message at the time of publishing this story.

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, however, promised to make inquiries and revert to us. He said the administration is working on it.

In reaction to the failure of the Buhari administration to set up the council, lawyer Jiti Ogunye said it is unacceptable for successive administrations to fail to inaugurate the NCPP.

He said the inability of the Buhari administration to inaugurate the council has  grave consequences because the Act establishing the council was not meant  to be observed in breach.

The executive is not at liberty to choose which law it could implement. It is not a discretionary matter, he said.

Mr. Ogunye said both the federal and state governments are charged under Section 5 of the Nigerian constitution 1999, as amended to govern the country and execute all the laws passed by the National Assembly.

The human rights lawyer said he could not say if the actions of the FEC to carry out the functions of the NCPP is illegal because there is no legal pronouncement on the matter.

He said the best way to resolve the controversy is through public interest litigation seeking an order of mandamus asking the Nigerian government to  do what the law says they should do.

Mr. Ogunye said the NCPP is the citizens only chance to participate in the procurement process in the country.

The business of the Federal Executive Council is to deal with policy issues. It is not a contract awarding body, he said.

We need a court declaration to say the FEC as a substitute to the NCPP is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. On the basis of arguments, we can say what they are doing is illegal, but there is no legal declaration to that effect.
The Federal Government payroll has been rid of 50,000 ghost workers, saving the country a huge amount of N200 billion, an official has said.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the amount is from N13 billion that has been taken off the payroll monthly from February to December this year.

Speaking with State House correspondents at an interactive meeting to mark the end the year, the Mr. Shehu announced that 11 persons championing the syndicate of ghost workers have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The flagship program of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instil good governance is on course. Through a notable initiative, the Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the government has embarked on the continuous auditing of the salaries and wages of government departments.

When the Committee was constituted in February 2016, federal government monthly salary bill was N151 billion excluding pensions. Now the monthly salary warrant is N138 billion, excluding pensions. Which means that the government is making a monthly saving of about N13 billion. That is from February 2016 to date, he said.

The presidential spokesman added that the the pension bill was 15.5bn monthly as at February. Now it is down to N14.4 billion, which means average monthly saving is made of about N1.1 billion.

He explained that the total number of ghost workers so far removed from the payroll is about 50,000 and that 11 persons championing the syndicate of the ghost workers have been referred to EFCC with some of them already undergoing trial.

Speaking on the welfare of the recently released 21 Chibok girls, Mr. Shehu said they are being treated as adoptees of the Federal Government but revealed that there is a lot of local and international interest in the future plans of the girls.

A black American billionaire, Mr. Robert Smith who is currently sponsoring the education of 24 girls from Chibok, among them the first set of escapees from Boko Haram at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, has offered to pay for the education of the 21 released through negotiations and is offering to take responsibility for all the others who will hopefully be eventually set free. The Murtala Mohammed Foundation in the country is equally interested, according to the presidential spokesman.

Responding to complaints by some of the parents of the 21 Chibok Girls that they did not have enough room for interaction with their daughters brought home for Christmas by the State Security Services, SSS, the Senior Special Assistant to the President admitted that there were some hitches arising from a lack of understanding of the objective of the trip on the part of some security operatives but that following the receipt of this complaint, a directive has been given from the headquarters for the access by the parents to be eased.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the girls were prevented from seeing their parents or celebrating Christmas with them despite being in Chibok.

If the situation persists, please let us know so that the higher authorities will make a further intercession, Mr. Shehu assured.

Addressing an issue of interest to a lot of the members of the governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, concerning appointments into boards, Mr. Shehu assured that the process will be fully back on track at the beginning of the new year.

You know that the reconstitution began methodically, from sector by sector. You should expect that to resume at the beginning of the new year. The President has given directions on what to do, according to him.

On the agricultural programs of the administration, Mr. Shehu said that the Presidents persistent calls for a return to farming is yielding good results.

The talk about agriculture has driven people to the farm. This year, there is a huge boom in the rural economy. We have witnessed an excellent harvest. Farmers are getting value for their output. What has encouraged farmers the more is the increasing availability of extension services. New farming techniques are helping farmers to do their occupation better. The readiness of off takers to buy the produce is also a major boost.

When you put all these together with the systematic move to curb importation as a boost local production through the restriction of the available foreign exchange to critically important sectors of the economy, you have favourable environment for the diversification of the economy.

As we speak, several of the countrys major manufacturing industries are actively backward-integrating  Nestle, Unilever, the breweries are looking what we have as local materials, changing their formulations to maintain production levels and keep their share of the market. Manufacturers who are hooked on import of raw materials are advised to re-strategize and take full advantage of local raw materials. The future belongs to those who employ the use of local raw materials, concluded the spokesman.
Magboro community on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, popularly referred to as Second Lagos, unexpectedly had electricity restored to the area Monday as Christmas present after a decade.

Magboro, including Ibafo and Asese on the axis had been without power supply for many years.

The communities had at various times protested the protracted power outage in their communities.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, responsible for the power supply to the affected communities, however, blamed the protracted darkness on the contractors engaged by the Federal Government to build its power project.

John Ayodele, the Deputy Managing Director, IBDEC, said that the areas were not totally cut off but had been getting power supply intermittently from Abeokuta.

He blamed the poor power supply on the uncompleted National Independent Power Project, NIPP, in the area.

The areas are to get supply from Akute through the NIPP but last year when it was scheduled for commissioning, we noticed that the contractors used sub-standard materials.

We decided that the contractors handling the project should reconstruct or address the defects in the project, but as we speak they have not done anything.

When the plant was to be connected to distribute power, it could not carry the loads in the areas, he said.

The company, however, promised to restore power to the affected communities latest by December.

Reprieve came to the way of the communities as the House of Representatives at a plenary on November 18, urged the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to urgently complete the power project in the area.

The House decried the long neglect by the distribution company handling power in the affected area.

On December 26, Magboro community got what they did not expect as power was restored.

To the surprise of many residents, electricity which was restored at about 10 a.m. was sustained beyond 4 p.m.

A resident, Olayinka Eyiwuawi, who could not hide his feeling, said it was great having power restored to the community.

Obviously, it is an ecstatic reaction that having stayed in darkness for 15 or more years in an environment, power is restored.

This is the first day and we cannot really ascertain how effective or good the light will be.

If it is going to be darkness for longer and light for few hours, definitely its going to be a slight improvement.

My own house has yet to be lit up, but looking at the progress of the work, it will be gradual before they finish the whole area, he said.

Mr. Eyiwuawi urged IBEDC to give some concession to the community over contributions made to augment the speedy completion of the power project.

I will like to give kudos to all that piled pressure on the company; I also want a relief to the landlords who have contributed to the restoration of light.

Personally, I paid N80,000 for connection, so, I will expect a lot of reprieve, especially in the usage of the light for a certain period.

IBDEC has sold pre-paid meter while the power is not available and it looks fraudulent to us, he said.

Another resident, Shefiu Abiodun, said that the power restored to the community was like a dream to him, adding that the community had experienced many failed promises in the past.

When I saw the light today, I could not believe it because we have had many December promises, but we were caught unawares today with this fulfilment.

The light is good enough because we have used it to power pumping machines and other electrical appliances. More power to their elbow.

The protracted darkness has caused many pains to the community as we live on generators.

If we should calculate the amount expended on fuel, it is enough to put into other things but we are a lot relieved now, he said.

(NAN)
Only about 10 per cent of Nigerians have ever taken HIV test, the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, NACA, has said.

The agency made this known in a press statement released on Sunday to mark the celebration of Christmas.

Statistic has shown that only about 10 percent of Nigerians has ever taken an HIV test once, the Director-General of the agency, Sani Aliyu, said in the statement.

He said this is a major challenge that must be addressed urgently.

The only gateway to HIV prevention, care and treatment remains HIV counselling and testing. So if we must win the battle, the percentage of Nigerians that test for HIV must move from the current statistics to at least 90 per cent, Mr. Aliyu said.

He stressed that Nigerians need to know their HIV/AIDS status, as it is the only way to stop the spread of the disease.

I want all Nigerians to take deliberate and bold steps to know their HIV status.

Our New Year resolutions must include knowing our HIV status and showing love affection to persons infected and affected by HIV.

The Director-General recently expressed concern over the rate of mother to child transmission of HIV in Nigeria and called for all pregnant women to undergo HIV test.

Anyone who is pregnant should have an HIV test, he had said.

Mr. Aliyu urged Nigerians to avoid engaging in acts that can propel the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Christmas is that season of joy where the birth of Christ is celebrated around the World.

This period, we demonstrate the joy with loved ones by spending quality time together and exchange variety of gift items among ourselves.

I plead with Nigerians to avoid engaging in risky behaviours that can propel the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Mr. Aliyu advised Nigerians to show love responsibly during this season in order to avoid the spread of HIV.

In fulfilment of its mandate to curb the spread of this dreaded virus, NACA will like to use this season to remind Nigerians to share and show the symbol of love responsibly. Doing so, we as a nation can halt the spread of HIV in Nigeria.

NACA is appealing to the general public that, in sharing gifts among our loved ones, we should not share HIV and to also demonstrate our love by avoiding risky sexual behaviours.
The Media Rights Agenda (MRA), a non-governmental organisation, says it will continue to support any initiative aimed at protecting whistle-blowers of corrupt practices.

Edetaen Ojo, the Executive Director of the organisation, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Tuesday.

Since 2002, non-governmental organisations, including MRA have advocated the adoption of a comprehensive Whistle-blower Protection Act.

A bill to this effect was submitted to the National Assembly in 2002 under the aegis of the Zero Corruption Coalition.

Besides the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Malam Nuhu Ribadu, showed interest in it.

The bill received no support from the executive and in spite of civil society advocacy efforts and the attitude of the legislators towards the bill, it died in the National Assembly.

We are pleased that the Buharis administration is now taking the initiative on the issue of the protection of whistle-blowers.

We propose that the administration ensure the passage of the bill as soon as possible because its provisions are consistent with international best practice and standards, he said.

He said the organisation was ready to support the National Assembly to actualise the vision of the Buhari administration to nip corruption in the bud.

Mr. Ojo said the whistle-blower protection framework was critically important for transforming the Nigerian society and reversing decades of official corruption and other wrongdoing.

He also said adequate protection for those exposing corruption would boost the confidence of Nigerians to expose corruption.

Paying a whistle-blower between 2.5 per cent and 5 per cent of the amount recovered as a result of the information provided by the person is very controversial but we fully support it.

It is imperative that an enabling environment is created where the whistle-blower will feel reasonably safe enough to take the risk.

It is also important to provide the whistle-blower with some compensation for the risks and, in some instances, the actual reprisals that he or she may suffer.

Mr. Ojo cited South Korea as an example of countries where the Anti-Corruption Act allows whistle-blowers who have reported cases of corruption to get up to 20 per cent of the total amount of fraud proceeds recovered.

He said some countries even allowed up to 30 per cent funds to the whistle-blowers, adding that such an initiative would succeed in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has approved the Whistle-blowing Programme to reward individuals who volunteers credible information on stolen or concealed funds with between 2.5 and five per cent of the funds when recovered.

The programme was designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation, misconduct or improper financial activity that impacted negatively on Nigerians and government, to report such.

It is expected to serve as a stop-gap until a bill on the same matter, presently before the National Assembly, is passed into law.

(NAN)
It was celebration galore, Monday, at the Festac Grammar School Class of 1998 alumni dinner and awards night as members converged to rejoice and share memories of their days in the school.

The event, organised as the maiden edition of an annual get-together party, held at Rockview Hotel, 23 Road, Festac Town, Lagos.

Tagged Home Coming Party, the event witnessed the coming together of old classmates and friends who have gone ahead to record numerous life accomplishments in their various fields.

Eighteen years after they graduated from the school in 1998. It was also put together to recognise outstanding staff and students of the school.

Anchored by Mazino Appeal, ex-Smooth FM on-air personality and a 1998 alumni, the event kicked-off around 4:25 p.m. after members of the association had been ushered in and the stage set. A

short prayer session was observed followed by a recitation of the school anthem, led by current students of the school.

Invited guests and other dignitaries present were introduced afterwards.

The red carpet session had begun a few minutes earlier and members took time to take group pictures with former classmates. Others exchanged witty banters with their old friends backstage.

A DAY TO RELAX, NETWORK

In his address, Adekunle Osobu, the president of the association, stated that the purpose of organising the get-together was to provide members with an avenue to relax, unwind and network.

Today is a day to relax and network among ourselves. This is to give us opportunity to move to the next level, he said.

Taking members down memory lane, Mr. Osobu described the school as the most prestigious secondary school in Festac then. He urged members to always remember their alma mater and strive to give back to the institution that produced them.

The white uniform was a sign of prestige in those days, the alumni

president stated.

For Agbor Gerald, the Chairman, Board of Directors, BOD, the gathering was for recognition of current outstanding students and staff of the school.

He added that a monetary prize has also been arranged for each of the students and staff selected for recognition.

Speaking on the projections of the association, Mr. Gerald said that there are plans to execute numerous community development projects in the coming year. He said the projects include visitation to orphanage homes, control of traffic light in and around Festac area, visitation

to general hospitals to offset bills incurred by the less privileged, among other projects.

He also enjoined alumni members to contribute their dues, stressing that the association is now fully registered and members would be expected to pay an annual due of N10,000 beginning

from January 2017.

Commenting on the essence of the get-together, the BOD chairman urged members to network and synergise with one another for their individual and collective development.

Share your business contacts and your networking reach. Synergize with one another; that is why we are here, he said. We need the support of one another to succeed.

BOOK PRESENTATIONS

One major side attraction of the event was the presentation of books by two alumni members, Babatunde Raimi and Ahamefula Mark.

Mr. Raimis book, titled Planning your retirement, dwelt on the need for Nigerian youth to prepare for their retirement while still actively in service.

Commenting on the book, the author said he was inspired to write the book because his father died a poor man.

Mr. Raimi, who disclosed that he is already retired at 38, said the book had received rave reviews from respected academics and professionals.

He also urged the audience to take its contents seriously.

I gathered all my experience into that book. All I want young people to realise is that the time to prepare for their retirement is now, he told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview.

On its part, Mr. Ahamefulas book focused on inspirational messages that would make young professionals become better thinkers.

Titled The Better Man, the 34-page book dwelt on issues that could help people wake up inspired every day and operate in a way that their ideas are driven by their talents.

Both books were sold at the rate of N1,000 each.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

The main highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding staff and current students of the school. The session was moderated by the duo of Messrs. Gerald and Mazino.

Students and staff awarded include M. Okunade (Bomafaa Pedro award for the most

outstanding teacher in Festac Senior Grammar School 2016); Eucharia Udo (Gerald Azonbo award for most outstanding female student in Festac Senior Grammar School); and Paul Dabo ( Gerald Azonobo award for most outstanding male student in Festac Senior Grammar School).

Other winners are Okunbanjo Israel (Idris Akinbajo award for overall best student in Festac Senior Grammar School) and M.L Okunade (Bomafaa Pedro award for the most outstanding teacher in Festac Senior Grammar School 2016).

The biggest prize of the night was FGSCAAs award for the most outstanding teacher in Festac Grammar School 1998, which went to Mr. Okeke.

While speaking with PREMIUM TIMES after the award presentation, the duo of Okunbanjo Israel and Paul Dabo thanked the organisers of the award. They also enjoined other students of the school to work hard to attain success in their academics.

I will advise other students to put in more efforts and pray hard, Mr. Dabo told PREMIUM TIMES.

THROWBACK MOMENT

One interesting moment at the event was what was termed the throwback moment, an avenue for members to regale the audience with stories of their days in the school and recollect fond memories of the time spent with friends.

Members responded by telling different tales of interesting moments spent. Others recollected names of classmates and teachers who impacted them.

Okeke and Kabiyesis cane was memorable, the programme anchor, Mazino, said amidst laughter.

Dinner was served afterwards and, having exchanged contact and banter, members of the association were invited to the podium for the cutting of cake. Group pictures were taken on the podium, too.

IMPRESSIVE TURNOUT

In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES after the event, the president of the association, Adekunle Osobu, described the event as a success.

Mr. Osobu however urged alumni members to intensify their efforts on giving back to the school that nurtured them.

Commenting on the huge turnout of members, the president said it was impressive and advised members to continue to identify with the school.

It is quite impressive for a set of 1998. And we started this meeting

just a year ago. We have over hundred persons in there.

While delivering her vote of thanks, the Vice Principal of Festac Grammar School, O.O Lawson, enjoined the association members to

monitor the progress of the school. She also urged them to allow their

wards attend the school. She however described the event as laudable

and urged members to continue to give back to the school.

On Childrens day, your set gave us N50,000 and a printer; we appreciate it. I can tell you that no set has ever come up with what you have done, Mrs. Lawson told the alumni members.

You have been a wonderful set.
DAGOMO Foundation, a private based, charitable, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation, will commence its third, two-day free eye, dental, and general medical mission for the elderly in Benin City, Edo State, on December 28.

The medical mission, slated for 2 Marina Way, Off Costain Way, Benin City, and available to persons aged 60 and above, is being held on late Grace Onaiwu Omoiguis first posthumous birthday.

Mrs. Omoigui (nee Asemota), teacher, lawyer and philanthropist, passed on last month at a Lagos hospital following complications from multiple gunshot injuries from an armed robbery attack in Benin City, Edo State, on her way from a bank.

She was one month away from her 83rd birthday.

This was a project dear to Moms heart and the focus of the Foundation primarily on the elderly and the dead was largely her idea, Mrs. Omoiguis children said in a statement.

It does form part of her funeral activities given that it happens a few days before. However, our desire is to celebrate her and what she stood for, and to ensure her legacy lives on.

The foundation will also unveil an ultra modern elderly care centre in a ceremony to be attended by Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor.

The aim is to create a new social order through a commitment deeply rooted in a passion for development at all levels, the organisation said.

DAGOMO is currently implementing intervention programmes in areas critical to nation building, but has not received adequate attention from stakeholders.

Named after Daniel Aiyanyo, former Surveyor-General of the Federation, and Grace Onaiwu Omoigui, DAGOMO Foundation Nigeria LTD/GTE was founded in 2008 but became fully operational in 2013.

It is governed by a seven-member board of directors, and is run by an advisory board of 12 members and a management team headed by a chief program officer (executive secretary).

All enquiries about this event should be directed at Ogochukwu  +2348064716524 or Omoh  +2348059972282.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar lll, on Tuesday voiced opposition to a bill seeking to ensure men and women have equal right to inheritance.

The Sultan said that the bill was against Islamic religion and, therefore, unacceptable to Muslims.

The bill seeks equality for male and female children in the sharing of inherited family wealth or property, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The bill also proposes that a widow is entitled to the custody of her children unless it is contrary to the interests and welfare of the children.

The bill also seeks that a widow shall have the right to remarry any man of her choice and should have the right to a fair share in the inheritance of her late husbands property and the right to live in her matrimonial house.

Our religion is our total way of life; therefore, we will not accept any move to change what Allah permitted us to do, Mr. Abubakar said.

Islam is a peaceful religion; we have been living peacefully with Christians and followers of other religions in this country. Therefore, we should be allowed to perform our religion effectively.

He called on the Senate to not consider the bill because of its religious implications.

The Sultan also hailed the Federal Government and Nigerian Army for the capture of Sambisa Forest from Boko Haram terrorists.

He made the commendation in Gusau at the closing ceremony of the 20th Zamfara State Annual Quranic Recitation Competition.

Mr. Abubakar said that the capture of Sambisa Forest from Boko Haram was historic and a great success.

We are happy to hear this good news, he said. We are, therefore, calling on the Nigerian Army not to relent in its efforts in fighting the activities of Boko Haram.

He called on Muslims to continue to pray for peaceful coexistence in the country, adding that they should cooperate with all the tiers of government to move the country forward.

The royal father called on political office holders to ensure fairness and transparency in implementing projects for the development of the people particularly at the grassroots.

In his remarks, the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, gave the assurance that the state government would continue to support the Quranic recitation competition.

Mr. Yari and that his wife, Asmau, donated N500,000 to each male and female winner of the 7th category of the competition  recitation of the Quran with Tafsir.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the winners are Faisal Muhammad from Shinkafi Local Government Area and Subaia Saidu from Gusau Local Government Area.

The state government also donated a car to each of the male and female winners.

Other prizes, including refrigerators, televisions, sewing machines and money were also given to winners of all the seven categories of the competition.

(NAN)
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday commended Nigerian soldiers for the uncommon bravery they displayed at dislodging Boko Haram from Sambisa Forest in north-east Nigeria.

We salute the men and women of our beloved armed forces. Their courage, determination and sacrifice made this achievement possible, the PDP said in a statement signed by its interim spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye.

The forest, hitherto known as the major hideout of the insurgents, fell to Nigerian troops last week.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who announced the development on December 24, described it as the final crushing of Boko Haram.

The clearing of Sambisa Forest is one of the biggest achievements recorded by the Nigerian government against the terrorists in the battle that has dragged for seven years.

It was achieved less than a month after the military launched Operation Rescue Finale to clear Boko Haram remnants from the forest and free thousands of civilians believed to have been trapped there.

The PDP in an unusual gesture this afternoon joined other Nigerians to laud Mr. Buhari for the dogged manner in which he handled the insurgency, but was also quick to add that his government parlayed the success of his predecessor in achieving the latest success.

We congratulate Nigerians for this important milestone in the long and bitter struggle against the forces of evil that have wreaked so much suffering and hardship on our people in the last few years.

We also congratulate the president for his dogged pursuit of the war against insurgency. We are happy that he has built on the efforts of his predecessors.

Whatever we are witnessing now is as a result of all the efforts and sacrifices of the past and present. Nigerians and the international community will recall that the war effort received a major boost in the weeks leading up to the 2015 general elections.

The insurgents were virtually annihilated  a feat that made it possible for elections to hold peacefully in almost all the local government areas of all the states in the northeast last year.

We are therefore very much delighted with the continuation of this great effort by the president, the PDP said.

The party urged Mr. Buhari to look into other parts of the country where violent activities have recently surged.

Beyond Sambisa all the other forests which criminals used as hideouts and bases must equally be cleared by the military.

Forests such as Birnin Gwari, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Enugu and Benue have become killing fields. They must all be cleared of criminal elements.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Tuesday said it arrested two suspects with cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

A statement by the agencys spokesperson, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said one of the suspects was arrested on his way to Hong Kong after ingesting cocaine.

Another suspect, who lives in Athens, Greece, was also apprehended in connection with unlawful possession of wraps of substances that tested positive to cocaine.

The arrests were made at the MMIA, Lagos, during screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight to Hong Kong and Egypt Airline flight to Athens.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspects had targeted the Christmas holiday to smuggle cocaine out of the country but drug law enforcement officials at the Lagos airport were able to uncover their plan.

The total weight of cocaine seized from the suspects is 1.150kgs.

One of them excreted 45 wraps of cocaine he ingested, weighing 935 grammes while the other excreted five wraps of cocaine weighing 215 grammes.

Both suspects tested positive for narcotic ingestion and while under observation; they expelled wraps of cocaine which they had wanted to smuggle out of the country.

The suspects are currently under investigation.

The high expectations of both suspects making quick money this festive season from drug trafficking had been dashed by vigilant anti-narcotic officers, the statement stated.

The statement also reported the Chairman of the agency, Muhammad Abdallah, as saying that those wishing to get rich through drug trafficking would end up in prison.

This is a warning to drug traffickers that the agency is determined to detect all hidden drugs and prosecute offenders.

There are control measures in place to detect narcotics at all exit and entry points.

We shall continue to improve on our strategies in line with our mission of providing a safe and healthy society for all, Mr. Abdallah said.

(NAN)
A local government chairman has narrated his experience in the hands of armed robbers during an incident that led to the death of a former commissioner, Sagwak Wazhi.

The Langtang South local government transition committee chairman, Nicholas Vongsing, survived the attack that occurred last week in Plateau State.

The Plateau State Police Command also confirmed Mr. Vongsings account of the incident.

Mr. Vongsing, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday in a telephone interview, said the hoodlums were not kidnappers but armed robbers who beat and dispossessed him of his belongings.

I was not kidnapped, we were attacked by the robbers who flogged me and collected my phones and the sum of N15000, he said.

They forced me to lie down in the bush so I could not communicate with anyone for hours. That is the reason why stories were spreading around that I was kidnapped, Mr. Vongsing explained.

Recounting the incident, the council chairman said the vehicle in which he was riding with the late Mr. Wazhi ran into the robbers along Mangu Hale bypass at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

I was in the vehicle with the former commissioner of Agriculture, Sargwak Wazhi. The robbers shot at him, as a result, he lost control and the car ran into the bush. He died on the spot. The robbers collected all our personal effects.

My driver who was following behind us with my car (Nicholas Vongsing) was also shot, but he managed to escape. He is now being treated at the zonal hospital of the Jos University Teaching Hospital JUTH in Zamko, Langtang south.

The police in the state confirmed the incident.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Terna Tyopev, in a press statement issued in Jos on Tuesday, said the chairman was not kidnapped as initially reported.

The command warns also that it would not hesitate to take legal action against any journalist who indulges in unethical journalistic practice just to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police Force, Mr. Tyopev said.
A total number of 4,136 candidates were successful in the just concluded physical verification exercise for the Federal Government N-Power jobs in Niger, an official has said.



The state coordinator, National Orientation Agency, NOA, Muhammed Ali, made this known to journalists in Minna on Tuesday.



A total of 5017 candidates applied in the first phase with a total number 4, 251 candidates screened, 258 were disqualified, 744 were absent while 3, 995 were successful.

In the second phase which is the supplementary 752 candidates applied but 165 were available for screening, while 25 were disqualified. 

A total of 587 were absent and successful candidates were 141 bringing the total number of successful candidates to 4,136 on the whole, he said.

Mr. Ali said that candidates disqualified were for obvious reasons, including over age, wrong information, mutilated certificates while some did not have the certificate they claimed to have.

He said that the request for applicants Bank Verification Number (BVN) scared some of them away because they were already working and knew they would be discovered.

The state coordinator of NOA also said that 612 vacancies existed in Niger, this emanated from those disqualified and those who were absent from the verification.

Some people came and requested that we should register them manually but we declined.



We are now waiting for the Presidency to tell us what to do about the vacant slots; the presidency has to take a decision on that, he said.

Speaking on the exercise, Afiniki Dauda, the Special Adviser to Governor Abubakar Sanni Bello of Niger on Empowerment and Social Protection, said that Niger was among the 13 states out of 36 states that had been cleared.

Mr. Dauda, however, said that most people initially exhibited apathy to the programme because they were not sure of it.

My team and I had to go round the 25 council areas in the state and we got only 1,000 people registered during the first time.

I had to visit the councils twice, I also involved the local government chairmen to help disseminate the information but some still did not come out.

I did all I could possibly do to see to the success of the exercise by distributing flyers and radio announcements.

I heard that some people wrote petitions. I am undaunted about that because I gave it my best publicity, Dauda said.



She said that the N- Power team in Niger tried to reach out to candidates that were absent but some couldnt be reached while some said they were not interested in the scheme any longer.



Ms. Dauda expressed her gratitude to the Chairman of Chanchaga, Bida, Suleja and Bosso local governments for the thorough sensitisation they carried out in their respective council areas.



She also said that in the cause of the exercise, physically challenged candidates were given priority.

(NAN)
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PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




LONDON, December 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

With Photo

Many people depend on modern communication aids when interacting with computers. Devices with such input aids are often indispensable as they are the only way for some patients to participate in the modern media world or to communicate with others.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/452033/ClinicAll.jpg )



ClinicAll now also provides bedside terminals with eye tracking for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, myasthenia, spastic, ALS or other neuromuscular illnesses that strongly affect their ability to move. A module with a special camera registers and analyzes the patient's eye movement - special software on the terminal converts this into control commandos for the cursor without time lag. Depending on the chosen configuration, a mouse click can be triggered by blinking or by staring at the button (auto click).

A screen keyboard or special communication software enables the patient to create texts or activate voice output in order for the patient to be understood by other people. Thanks to the Windows operating system, the ClinicAll bedside terminals can easily be equipped with any such well-established software.

It has been possible to minimize the necessity for regular module recalibration, which increases usability.

Eye tracking can be mounted on any ClinicAll bedside terminal directly underneath the screen with a magnetic mounting system. This does not negatively impact the way the device can be used or handled in any way - the device can still be applied as usual by nurses and doctors. If required, the eye tracking module can be moved to another bedside terminal at any time.

ClinicAll also supplies its bedside terminals to private users, for example, in cases where family members are long-term carers for their patients. Eye tracking can also provide incredible relief to certain patient groups as it enables communication and can really improve a patient's comfort.

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA Photowire. It can be downloaded from http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or viewed at http://www.mediapoint.press.net or http://www.prnewswire.co.uk .

ClinicAll Great Britain, Mr.C.Testorf; Email: c.testorf@niq-health.com ; Phone +44(0)20-71930072; http://www.clinicall.uk.com/

SOURCE ClinicAll
Abe's duplicitous visit to Pearl Harbor more about forgetting than reconciling

From:chinadaily | 2016-12-27 09:46

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor which will culminate with a final summit with outgoing US President Barack Obama on Tuesday will see the Japanese leader take part in a remembrance ceremony at the USS Arizona monument where thousands of US sailors and marines were killed in a surprise attack by Japan on Dec 7, 1941.It was this sneak attack that was a catalyst for the United States to join World War II and emerge victors with the eventual nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan that forced Japan's unconditional surrender, a historical fact that to this day does not sit well with some rightist factions with significant political sway here and wholesale revisionist intentions.The visit to Pear Harbor by Abe, which was previously hailed by the foreign ministry here as being the first by a Japanese prime minister, is in fact not, according to latest government saying. Some political observers thus question the ministry's own understanding, or at least, publicization of its own history, as Japan is, under Abe's leadership, aggressively trying to have its historical wrongdoings rewritten, or, better yet, forgotten."When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes his visit to Pearl Harbor, just after Christmas, it will be a dovish act that masks a hawkish intent," said political watcher Joji Sakurai, in a recent article on the matter."Pragmatism appears to be tempering Mr. Abe's rightwing instincts, which include an alarming penchant for historical revisionism regarding wartime Imperial army depredations. Yet it may be argued that this very pragmatism is driven by a conservative agenda," Sakurai continued."Mr. Abe's dream is to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, drawn up by the US under postwar occupation, so allowing the country to have a real army. The thumping majority in parliament's upper house that the prime minister won in July has allowed him to test the waters on achieving that goal," added Sakurai.Sakurai and other experts on the matter have been quick to point out that Abe's Pearl Harbor trip will come with no apology for Japan's savage attack in 1941 and is, shrewdly, a duplicitous move by the hawkish leader to earn bonus points at home from the electorate, particularly following the disappointing outcome for Japan following Abe's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.Abe will also be able to appease his ultra-rightwing backers by sticking to a revisionist agenda and not apologizing for Japan's wartime atrocities, not just regarding Pearl Harbor, but all the countries before, during and after WWII, who were brutalized by the Imperial Japanese Army, while simultaneously showing Japan's renewed commitment to its alliance with the US as future ties remain equivocal under the incoming administration led by President-elect Donald Trump.This multi-faceted strategy, in fact, has not been denied by Abe, who will also be looking to up his support rate ahead of an imminent lower house election, after which the rightist leader will further his plans to remilitarize Japan with a "clean historical slate" by way of a referendum on revising the nation's pacifist constitution.
PUNE, India, December 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Concrete Cooling Market by Type (Water Cooling, Ice Cooling, Air Cooling, Liquid Nitrogen Cooling), Application (Highway Construction, Dams & Locks Construction, Port Construction, Nuclear Plant Construction) and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, was valued at USD 936.0 Million in 2015 and is projected to reach USD 1,722.4 Million by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2016 to 2026.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 95 market data Tables and 34 Figures spread through 137 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Concrete Cooling Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/concrete-cooling-market-18993232.html

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Increasing demand of concrete cooling systems from the Middle East region and regions which have high temperatures and require large amounts of concrete are projected to drive the growth of the market in the future.

Water cooling is the fastest-growing type segment of the global concrete cooling market

The water cooling segment is projected to be the fastest growing segment in the concrete cooling market, by type, from 2016 to 2026. This growth can be attributed to the easy availability of water in most regions across the world. Water cooling is also an easy to use, cost-effective method of concrete cooling which makes it widely acceptable across regions.

Make an Inquiry @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=18993232

Highway construction application accounted for the largest market share in the global concrete cooling market

The highway construction segment accounted for the largest market share in 2015. This large share can be attributed to the regions that have a hot climate. Local geography, climate, and architectural design of the highway being constructed are some of the key factors that are to be considered while selecting the type of concrete cooling system. The right cooling method helps in improving the strength of the concrete in the long-term, thus making the structure strong enough to last for years.

The Middle East region was the largest market for concrete cooling systems in 2015

The Middle East region was the largest concrete cooling market in 2015 owing to the rise in demand for concrete cooling systems in this region. This increased demand can be attributed to the growing construction activities and the high temperatures in the region. To achieve appropriate curing of concrete in such temperatures, concrete cooling solutions usage is quintessential. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar led the Middle East concrete cooling market in 2015 in terms of consumption. The concrete cooling market in Saudi Arabia is projected to grow at the highest CAGR among all countries in the Middle East region between 2016 and 2026.

Purchase Report @https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Purchase/purchase_report1.asp?id=18993232

Key players operational in the concrete cooling market include KTI-Plersch Kaltetechnik GmbH (Germany), Fujian Snowman Co., Ltd. (China), Coldcrete Inc. (U.S.), ConCool LLC (U.S.), Kirloskar Pneumatic Company Limited (India), LINTEC Germany GmbH (Germany), Icelings (India), North Star Ice Equipment Corporation (U.S.), Recom Ice Systems (Netherlands), and Focusun Refrigeration Corporation (China).

Browse Related Reports:

Cooling Tower Market by Type (Dry, Evaporative, Hybrid), by Design (Natural, Mechanical), by Construction Material (Concrete, Steel, FRP, Others), by Application (Power, HVACR, Food & Beverages, Others), by Region - Trends & Forecasts to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/cooling-towers-market-268219049.html

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STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

EQT Mid Market acquires Adamo, a fiber-based service provider in the Spanish telecom market

Adamo operates in the attractive fiber infrastructure segment, a core sector for EQT where it holds significant industry expertise

The founder Fredrik Gillstrom will reinvest and enter into a partnership with EQT Mid Market with the view to further develop and accelerate the growth of Adamo

EQT Mid Market has agreed to acquire Adamo Telecom Iberia S.A ("Adamo" or the "Company") from the management team and a number of private investors. The founder and CEO, Fredrik Gillstrom, and the management team will reinvest the majority of their proceeds and will after completion of the transaction together own around 20% of Adamo.

Adamo provides high-speed internet services via its own fiber-based access network in Spain. Adamo has pioneered the Spanish telecom market and was the first provider to offer 100 Mbit/s, 300 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s services via fiber. Adamo has a highly dedicated customer focus and provides high-quality and high-capacity services at competitive prices. Adamo's network covers over 100,000 households and generated 2016E revenues of EUR 7.8 million. Adamo has offices in Barcelona and Madrid.

EQT Mid Market will support the continued development of Adamo and assist the Company in further accelerating growth through investments in access fiber roll-out. Adamo is expected to benefit from the strong growth trends in data consumption, driven by the increasing usage of streaming services, cloud applications, and other data-intensive services.

Johan Dettel, Partner at EQT Partners, Investment Advisor to EQT Mid Market, said: "We are excited about concluding the first investment in Spain for EQT Mid Market in an industry with deep EQT sector expertise and significant industrial competence across the EQT network. Adamo has since inception in 2010 successfully positioned itself as a niche service provider in the Spanish telecom market with a strong entrepreneurial drive and we are very much looking forward to supporting the Company and founders in the accelerated growth phase."

Fredrik Gillstrom, founder and CEO of Adamo, said: "We are very pleased to have EQT as our new majority owner and partner in this exciting expansion phase for Adamo. EQT's highly relevant experience in the fiber space coupled with the network of industry experts they bring will be extremely valuable when entering Adamo's next stage of growth in the Spanish telecom market."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, such as clearance from competition authorities, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.

EY acted as exclusive adviser to the shareholders of Adamo. Deloitte acted as financial and legal adviser to EQT Mid Market.

Contacts:

Johan Dettel,

Partner at EQT Partners,

Investment Advisor to EQT Mid Market,

Tel: +46-8-506-55-362

Kerstin Danasten,

EQT Press Officer,

Tel: +46-8-506-55-334

About EQT

EQT is a leading alternative investments firm with approximately EUR 31 billion in raised capital. EQT Funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia and the US with total sales of more than EUR 15 billion and approximately 100,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence, and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtpartners.com

About Adamo

Adamo provides high speed internet services over an own fiber-based access network. Adamo always provide with high quality and capacity services at competitive prices. Adamo's network covers over 100,000 households. Adamo has offices in Barcelona and Madrid and employs 58 employees.

More info: www.adamo.es

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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SOURCE EQT AB
- Pace-setting GEP gets particularly high marks for technology integration in transformational strategies and technology management

- GEP's procurement transformation capabilities -- strategy through program design and implementation, and technology -- are key value drivers

- GEP highlighted in "Winner's Circle" in key annual report on procurement services providers by HfS, a leading outsourcing research firm

CLARK, New Jersey, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GEP, a leading provider of comprehensive procurement services and procurement software to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises worldwide, announced today that it has again been named a winner in the latest HfS Blueprint Report: Procurement-as-a-Service 2016.

Boston-based HfS Research, which authors and publishes the Blueprint Report series, is a leading analyst firm in the procurement outsourcing sector, and an authority on global IT and BPO services, with specific focus on global business services, digital transformation, autonomics and outsourcing.

In this report, GEP was recognized for its breadth, depth and outstanding strengths in several areas, including procurement strategy, sourcing and category management, contract and supplier management, and for substantial muscle in procurement operations.

A complimentary version of the report is available here for download: www.gep.com/hfs2016

"GEP has consistently been a leading service provider in the move to procurement as-a-service," said Derk Erbe, vice president of research at HfS and lead analyst on the report. "With a strong vision for the future of procurement, paired with deep procurement knowledge and capabilities, and a comprehensive procurement software platform, GEP delivers transformational procurement value to clients across the world."

Success factors behind the company's rapid and sustained growth, according to HfS, include highly effective use of procurement technology, standout innovation in service delivery, and comprehensive global procurement services capabilities.

GEP is consistently recognized by analysts as a leader in procurement and supply chain advisory and consulting, managed procurement services and S2P (source-to-pay) procurement software, where the firm's cloud-native SMART by GEP software platform is recognized widely for its pace-setting innovations.

"GEP unites the disparate and complex elements of procurement transformation  strategy, managed services and technology  into one fully integrated and complete solution," said Al Girardi, global vice president of marketing and analyst relations at GEP. "GEP provides not only better transparency, accountability and speed to value, but greater and more sustainable overall business value," added Girardi.

About HfS Research

HfS Research is "The Services Research Company"  the leading analyst authority and global community for business operations and IT services. The firm helps enterprises validate and improve their global operations with world-class research, benchmarking and peer networking.

HfS coined the terms "The As-a-Service Economy" and "OneOffice", which describe HfS Research's vision for the future of global operations and the impact of cognitive automation and digital technologies. With specific practice areas focused on the digitization of business processes and design thinking, intelligent automation and outsourcing, HfS analysts apply industry knowledge in healthcare, life sciences, retail, manufacturing, energy, utilities, telecommunications and financial services to form a real viewpoint of the future of business operations.

HfS Research was named Independent Analyst Firm of the Year 2016 by the Institute of Industry Analyst Relations which voted on 170 other leading analysts. In addition, HfS was named Analyst Firm of the Year 2016, alongside Gartner and Forrester, by leading analyst observer Influencer Relations.

About GEP

GEP is a diverse, creative team of people passionate about procurement. We invest ourselves entirely in our clients' success, creating strong collaborative relationships that deliver extraordinary value year after year. We deliver practical, effective procurement services and procurement software that enable procurement leaders to maximize their impact on business operations, strategy and financial performance.

Honored as Best Supplier at the EPIC Procurement Excellence Awards, GEP regularly wins accolades as both a provider of a broad range of procurement services and innovative procurement software. Among its recent distinctions, GEP has been named Leader and Star Performer in Everest Group's PEAK Matrix of Procurement Services Providers, Leader in NelsonHall's NEAT Matrix of Global Procurement BPO Service Providers, Winner in the HfS Blueprint Report on Procurement Outsourcing Providers, Leader in the ALM Vanguard Reports on Procurement and Supply Chain Consulting, as well as one of Spend Matters 50 Companies to Know and to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100.

Clark, NJ-based GEP has 12 offices and operations centers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

To learn more about our comprehensive range of consulting and managed services, please visit www.gep.com. For more about SMART by GEP, our cloud-native sourcing and procurement software platform, please visit www.smartbygep.com

Contact

Al Girardi

Global VP, Marketing & Analyst Relations

GEP Worldwide

Phone: 732-382-6565

Email: al.girardi@gep.com

Related Links

http://www.gep.com



SOURCE GEP
GOTEBORG, Sweden, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a new position in the Group covering marketing, brand management and communications which will be part of the Group's Executive Team.

Karin holds a Master's degree in Accounting and Finance from the Gothenburg School of Economics and Commercial Law. She has been working with Investor Relations, Communication and Marketing in Gunnebo since 2003, and as Marketing & Communication Director since 2009. Prior to joining Gunnebo, she worked as a financial journalist.

GUNNEBO AB (publ)

Group Communications

For more information, please contact:

Henrik Lange, President & CEO, tel. +46 10 2095 057, or

Karin Wallstrom, Marketing & Communication Director, tel. +46 10 2095 026

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/gunnebo/r/gunnebo-group-appoints-karin-wallstrom-svp-marketing---communications,c2154156

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE Gunnebo
"Manufacturers are looking toward customisation, product innovation and differentiation strategies to capitalise on cost-containing business models and sustain growth in a highly competitive and fragmented market," said Transformational Health Industry Analyst Poornima Srinivasan . "Products that cater to novel home care needs and changing customer preferences will be crucial to capture market share as it reduces readmissions associated with cardiac conditions."

Analysis of the Global Cardiac Monitoring Products Market is a recent analysis from Frost & Sullivan's Advanced Medical Technologies Growth Partnership Service program, which provides insights on key market trends, diversified opportunities of cardiac monitoring products, factors driving and restraining growth,analysis on region and segment that presents opportunities for growth.

Click here (https://goo.gl/El8Ngk) for complimentary access to more information on this analysis and to register for a Growth Strategy Dialogue, a free interactive workshop with Frost & Sullivan's thought leaders.

The cardiac monitoring products market is hindered by stringent hospital budgets that decrease adoption rates. Revenues are also threatened by competition from wearable and other smart technology devices, and pressure on new market entrants due to market maturity and user preference for established brands.

Nonetheless, global revenue from sales of new cardiac monitors is expected to be $1,085.2 million in 2020:

The United States leads in market size with highest demand for cardiac event monitors and data management systems (DMS), mainly due to extended use in ambulatory care settings for patients.

leads in market size with highest demand for cardiac event monitors and data management systems (DMS), mainly due to extended use in ambulatory care settings for patients. By 2020, Europe is expected to have a 35.5 percent share of global cardiac monitoring revenue.

is expected to have a 35.5 percent share of global cardiac monitoring revenue. In Asia-Pacific , holter monitors and DMS present opportunities for growth.

"Large companies will continue to undertake merger and acquisition strategies with the majority of market share controlled by selected participants such as GE Healthcare, Mortara Instrument Inc., and Philips Healthcare," noted Srinivasan.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion

Analysis of the Global Cardiac Monitoring Products Market

MC33-54

Contact:

Jana Schoneborn

Corporate Communications  Europe

P: +49 (0)69 77033 43

E: jana.schoeneborn@frost.com

http://ww2.frost.com

twitter: @FS_Healthcare

LinkedIn: Transform Health

Related Links

http://www.frost.com



SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vera&John is the first iGaming operator to offer Seqr as a payment tool to their customers. Initially customers can top up their accounts by using Seqr on their mobile. Moreover, new customers can register a gaming account at Vera&John in a very simple and fast way via the Seqr app. In the nearby future, payouts from the gaming account will also be handled by Seqr.

"Since smartphones offer unlimited possibilities, they are becoming a large part of our everyday life", says Vera&John CEO Dan Andersson. "We use media, do bank errands, play games, communicate and engage in many other activities, so it is a natural step for Vera&John to engage the mobile channel in a broader way. The decision to cooperate with Seqr was easy. Seqr makes the customer experience much simpler and more effective, and together we can offer the users interesting incentives. On top of that, there is the ability to reach existing Seqr users with our mutual offers, which are very attractive".

"The reason why Seqr decided to step into iGaming now, is a matter of timing," says Peter Fredell, CEO at Seamless. "When Seqr was launched 4 years ago, the strategy was to approach the physical everyday merchants, such as supermarkets, convenience stores, fast food chains, parking etc., in order to create a Seqr user base before approaching niche industries such as iGaming. As we have reached that goal with Seqr established in 16 countries, the timing is right to break into the iGaming industry as well".

The iGaming industry turned over 35 billion USD in 2013, and is expected to grow to 56 billion USD in 2018 (according to Statista.com). This industry is a potential contributor to Seqr's existing business. Since early December, the campaigns jointly carried out by Seqr and Vera&John have surpassed all expectations, therefore both parties see a continuous long-term cooperation.

About Seqr

Seqr, the standard way to pay, developed by Seamless, is a safe, fast and easy way to pay by mobile. The only thing the user needs is the Seqr app to scan a QR Code or tap on the NFC terminal. Globally, over 30 million contactless card terminals now accept Seqr. The low investment and transaction fees for merchants among others ensure that Seqr is the most widely used mobile payment solution in Europe. www.seqr.com

About Seamless

Seamless is one of the world's largest suppliers of payment systems for mobile phones. Founded in 2001 and active in 35 countries, Seamless handles more than 3,7 billion transactions annually through 575 000 active sales outlets. Seamless has three main business areas including the transaction switch, the technology provider for the distribution of e-products and the mobile payment platform Seqr. www.seamless.se

About Vera&John

Vera&John offers a wide range of first-class online gambling products and games in a safe and user-friendly gaming environment. At Vera&John you will find everything from table games such as blackjack and roulette, slot machines, video slots and other casino online games in essence, everything that you would like to play at an internet casino is here for you to enjoy. We personally think Vera&John is the best thing since sliced bread. www.verajohn.com

CONTACT:

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/seamless-distribution-ab/r/seqr-breaks-new-ground-within-igaming,c2157072

The following files are available for download:

http://mb.cision.com/Main/4815/2157072/608444.pdf Press release (PDF)

Related Links

http://www.seamless.se



SOURCE Seamless Distribution AB
ALBANY, New York, December 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the report published by leading market intelligence agency Transparency Market Research, the global waterjet cutting machinery market is expected to experience a very low rate of increase in the influx of new entrants, primarily due to the high costs associated with the installation and maintenance of waterjet cutting machinery. At the same time, buyers are also often reluctant to switch between players due to high switching costs. The global waterjet cutting machinery market is expected to reach US$1.66 bn by the end of 2016. The market's revenue is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period from 2016 to 2024, and is likely to reach US$3.11 bn by the end of 2024.

Download Exclusive Sample of this report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=3492

Growing Number of Manufacturing Processes Builds Momentum for Incorporation of Waterjet Cutting Machinery

"Waterjet cutters are highly precise machines and can get the job done in much shorter times than conventional cutting machinery. At the same time, they are much more environmental friendly in terms of emissions and power consumption and do not leave an output of heat, dust, or smoke. Water being the key raw material used for cutting, makes waterjet cutters extremely economical in terms of procurement of raw materials as well, a highly positive fact for several manufacturing companies. All of this falls perfectly in place with the currently booming rate of activities within the global manufacturing industry verticals. With China, the U.S., India, and several other nations poised to significantly ramp up their industrial processes, there is a very positive role that the global waterjet cutting machinery market can play in all of this," states a TMR analyst.

In 2015, Flow International Corporation, Water Jet Sweden AB, DARDI International Corporation, and WARDjet, Inc., had taken up close to 34.8% of the global waterjet cutting machinery market in terms of value. The future of the global waterjet cutting machinery market in terms of its competitive landscape is likely to be tough for all owing to the consolidatory activities undertaken by leading players in terms of forward integration and the provision of comprehensive waterjet cutting solutions.

Browse Regional PR: http://www.europlat.org/waterjet-cutting-machinery-market.htm

High Maintenance Costs Disturb Pace of Growth

One of the key restraints currently affecting the global waterjet cutting machinery market is the maintenance costs of using waterjet cutters. The overall complexity of a waterjet cutter as well as its superior operation rate comes at the cost of shelling out greater sums of money in the name of maintenance. The high pressure at which waterjet cutters operate at can cause a frequent rate of wear and tear in mixing chambers and nozzles, which are also the more complex parts in the machinery and are high in replacement costs. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the updating of safety regulations for workers operating these machines. Waterjet cutting machinery are not only dangerous for the fingers of workers operating them, but the scope of high-speed debris flying from the machine is also very high, which could cause eye injuries. At the same time, waterjet cutters are extremely loud and the absence of hearing protection can severely impair the hearing of a worker.

"In terms of the overall scope of growth for the global waterjet cutting machinery market, there is a very decisive opportunity that lies in the replacement of older waterjet cutting machinery. Developed economies already have a head start in the global waterjet cutting machinery market and are in a position where the demand for replacement parts is increasing fast," adds the analyst.

The information presented in this review is based on a Transparency Market Research report, titled, "Waterjet Cutting Machinery Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2016 - 2024"

Key segments of the Global Waterjet Cutting Machinery Market

Waterjet Cutting Machinery Market

By Product Type

3D Waterjet Cutting

Micro Waterjet Cutting

Robotic Waterjet Cutting

By Machine Size

Small Size

Medium Size

Large Size

By Application

Job & Machine Shop

Exotic Metal and Non-traditional Material Cutting

Machine Manufacturing

Ceramic/ Stone Cutting

Glass/Metal Artwork

Gasket Cutting

Fiberglass Cutting

Surgical Instrument manufacturing

Foam Product Cutting

Slitting Operations

Electronics

Others

By Pressure Range

Up to 4,200 Bar

More than 4,200 Bar

By Horsepower

Between 0 to 50 Horsepower

Between 51 to 100 Horsepower

Others

By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

and South America

Recent Research Reports by TMR:

Water Purifier Market:

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/water-purifier-market.html

Smart Water Management Market:

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/smart-water-management.html

About Us

Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.

Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.

US Office Contact

Transparency Market Research

90 State Street, Suite 700

Albany, NY 12207

Tel: +1-518-618-1030

USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453

Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com





Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Transparencymarketresearch

SOURCE Transparency Market Research
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business association, and Ohio Advanced Energy Economy (OAEE), AEE's state partner in Ohio, released the following statements after Governor Kasich vetoed Substitute House Bill 554. The bill would have further weakened the state's energy standards by turning the requirement for utilities to purchase renewable energy and invest in energy efficiency into voluntary goals, with no compliance obligations, through 2019. With Governor Kasich's veto, the standards frozen two years ago are set to be reinstated on January 1, 2017.

See this statement online here.

"Today, Governor Kasich's principled leadership has given Ohio an opportunity to get back on track. He stood behind his commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency, allowing Ohio to regain its competitive advantage nationally," said J.R. Tolbert, vice president for state policy at Advanced Energy Economy (AEE). "Governor Kasich understands that renewable energy and energy efficiency create jobs and save money. That's a formula that is good for business and good for every Ohioan."

"The two-year freeze has cost Ohio jobs and investments. In the last three years, while Ohio has been idling, Michigan has attracted over $1.1 billion in renewable energy investments," said Ted Ford, president of Ohio Advanced Energy Economy (Ohio AEE). "With this veto, Ohio can begin to move forward with sensible energy policy next year  one that can bring back advanced energy jobs and investment to Ohio."

"Governor Kasich requested a data-driven, facts-based approach to renewable energy and energy efficiency. Despite creating its own study committee to evaluate costs and benefits, the legislature failed to provide him with an accurate projection of annual consumer savings," added Tolbert. "Fortunately for Gov. Kasich, the Advanced Energy Economy Institute heard his request. This modeling allowed us to demonstrate that a combination of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and natural gas is the lowest cost way for Ohio to meet its energy needs, saving the state $3.3 billion and consumers $192 annually by 2027."

The legislature could override the governor's veto with a three-fifths majority vote, but fell short of this vote threshold when Substitute HB554 passed the House (final vote was 56-41) and Senate (final vote was 18-13).

About AEE and OAEE

Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean and affordable. Advanced energy encompasses a broad range of products and services that constitute the best available technologies for meeting energy needs today and tomorrow. AEE's mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. AEE works with Ohio Advanced Energy Economy (OAEE) and its other State Partner organizations active in 27 states across the country, representing more than 1,000 organizations in the advanced energy industry.

Background:

Business to Lawmakers: Get Ohio Out of Deep Freeze on Advanced Energy

AEE Reacts to Ohio Senate Vote That Extends RPS, Efficiency Freeze

AEE Testifies Against Ohio Senate, House Bills

Media Contact:

Monique Hanis, [email protected], 202-391-0884 (rolls to cell)

SOURCE Advanced Energy Economy

Related Links

https://www.aee.net/


BELLEVUE, Wash., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Affirma Consulting was recently recognized as one of Top 20 Most Promising SharePoint Solutions Provider by CIO Review magazine for 2016.

This accolade was awarded by CIO Review, an independent technology magazine that specializes in enterprise solutions. According to its website, "It is the leading source that shares innovative enterprise solutions developed by established solutions providers, upcoming hot enterprises and is a neutral source for technology decision makers." The article in CIO Review can be found here.

CIO Review - SharePoint Award

The article highlights Affirma's "vigilant focus" on customer satisfaction. The Marketing Manager of one of their clients, Hydac Technology Corporation, a large hydraulic services company, commented, "Affirma has a very good sense of communication. They make a point of keeping everything transparent, so we all remain on the same page." Ossur, a medical devices provider, said, "We had a great team starting with the project manager down to quality testing...It's been a team approach, which is a bit of fresh air."

Across the U.S., Affirma is an established and reliable firm, focused on providing custom SharePoint solutions to various industries. Its proven ability to deliver results, while sustaining excellent customer satisfaction are the components that make Affirma a Promising SharePoint Vendor. Also, Affirma is a Microsoft Gold Certified SharePoint and Partner, and is trusted by Microsoft to deliver excellent service to all SharePoint customers. To view Affirma's complete list of technology, creative, and staffing services, visit http://www.affirmaconsulting.com/

Affirma is an award-winning full service technology consultancy based out of Bellevue, WA. Affirma offers expertise in Business Intelligence Consulting, SharePoint Consulting, Infrastructure Consulting, Cloud Consulting, Azure Consulting, Custom Software Development, Visual Design Consulting, and Staffing Services. Affirma also has Marketing Automation Experts and eCommerce Experts that can help clients increase their leads and revenue. Affirma is a Microsoft Gold Partner and a Salesforce Partner. We focus on delivering true, measurable business value to our clients. We have a passion for customer satisfaction and are dedicated to delivering dependable and reliable solutions that exceed client expectations. Affirma was recently recognized as an Inc. 5000 company.

Media Contact:

Don Hyun

425-289-2999

SOURCE Affirma

Related Links

http://www.affirmaconsulting.com


CHENGDU, China, Dec. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2013, the Indian city of Bangalore and the Chinese city of Chengdu signed the Chengdu-Bangalore, India, Sister Cities Relations Establishment Agreement, becoming the first pair of sister cities between China and India.

After Bangalore, the Indian city of Agra will also join the circle of friends of this charming Chinese city. On the 22nd of December, Agra and Chengdu signed the Agreement for the Establishment of Friendly Cooperation Relations between Chengdu and Agra, indicating the formal establishment of cooperation relations between the two sides.

Chengdu is the provincial capital of Sichuan, and Sichuan Province is China's largest regional economic entity closest to India. As early as 2,000 years ago, the Southern Silk Road, which originates from Chengdu, facilitated the delivery of Chengdu's silk, salt and tea leaves to India. It can be summed up that Chengdu and India have always been tightly intertwined in many aspects such as economy and culture.

July this year, Chengdu announced its plan for the establishment of a "world famous software city". According to this arrangement, Chengdu will reference the development of the Indian software industry as blueprint, and make coordinated progress with Bangalore in forging the international software industry's "dynamic duo of the east".

The India-China (Chengdu) International Yoga Festival has already been held to fantastic fanfare for two consecutive sessions since last year, attracting the participation of yoga practitioners and enthusiasts from around the globe. Practicing yoga after getting off of work has already become a trend in Chengdu.

In May 2015, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited China and the two countries released the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of India, officially announcing the establishment of a consulate-general of India in Chengdu. The Indian consulate-general is the fourth of its kind in China after Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and currently site selection is underway.

Following the in-depth implementation of full-region opening-up, 16 countries have already obtained the approval for diplomatic missions in Chengdu. At present, the number of Chengdu sister cities has risen to 32, and that of friendship cooperation cities increased to 39.

The continual expansion of the "circle of friends" brought about the enlargement of the "circle of fortune". In recent years, Chengdu's international "circle of fortune" continued to develop. 278 companies of Fortune Global 500 fame have already set up their presence in Chengdu, of which 199 are foreign corporations, while Chengdu also hosts a total of 6,650 foreign-funded enterprises. Intel, FAW-Volkswagen, Siemens are all some of the world's most recognized brands that happened to raise their investments in Chengdu at the same time.

In the list of the "World's Fastest-Growing Cities in the Next Decade" published by Forbes magazine, Chengdu was listed on the top spot.

Chengdu, this extra large city in western China, at present is fully committed to positioning itself as the economic center, science and technology center, cultural innovation center, foreign communication center and comprehensive transportation hub of western China. Under the opportunity of its establishment as a National Central City, Chengdu will leverage on its sound infrastructure facilities and massive development potentials to partner with various friendship cooperation and sister cities in more sectors and at higher levels, so as to jointly generate mutual benefits and create a better tomorrow.

SOURCE Gochengdu
Argentine gov't splits treasury and finance ministry into two

From:Xinhua | 2016-12-27 09:46

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Argentine government said on Monday it dismissed Treasury and Finance Minister Alfonso Prat Gay, and split the agency into two ministries.

"President (Mauricio) Macri has arranged for a change in the government team" overseeing the economy, Chief of Staff Marcos Pena told reporters at a press conference.

"In view of the challenges we will have next year, it has been decided to divide the ministry in two: the Treasury Ministry, which will be headed by Nicolas Dujovne, and the Finance Ministry, headed by Luis Caputo," Pena said.

He indicated that Gay was asked to resign due to differences over the makeup of the economic team and "the decision-making process."

Gay "has achieved great things" in the administration's first year, "like ... normalizing international financial ties, following the exit from default," he added.

Caputo, 51, came to prominence early this year as the government negotiator with so-called "holdouts" in possession of expired Argentinian foreign debt bonds.

Caputo "turned into the key man to renegotiate the debt with the holdouts and quickly close the deal at the end of February," state news agency Telam said.

Dujovne has served as a consultant to the World Bank and is on the board of directors of Argentina's Central Bank.
NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- All Private Investigations LLC, a Long Island based private investigation company, traveled to Austria in September of 2016, to aid in the Austrian search, and head the American search, for a missing Long Island nun. Sister Eileen Christie, a Member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, went missing while vacationing in Austria on July 6, 2016. Serving Long Island, New York City and Westchester, All Private Investigations LLC, among other services, provides top-notch, well-respected and legal surveillance and investigation. When contacted by client, Andy Kelsch, All Private Investigations LLC could not turn down the chance to aid in the investigation into the disappearance of Sister Eileen, free of charge.

Sister Eileen Christie went missing on July 6, 2016 in Hallstatt, Austria soon after checking into a boarding home. Sister Eileen was a free spirit, often travelling outside of the United States to swim and hike. Over the course of the last three decades, Sister Eileen spent approximately one-half of her summer's in Austria.

All Private Investigations LLC began its investigation in September of 2016, when Mr. Kelsch contacted President Kenneth Tomlinson in attempts to ensure that the police in Austria and the private investigator in Austria conducted a thorough, professional investigation, which Mr. Tomlinson concluded in fact occurred, and to hopefully find new leads into Sister Eileen's disappearance. Mr. Tomlinson immediately contacted a family member of Sister Eileen, who had been in constant email communication with Sister Eileen prior to her disappearance. This family member ultimately alerted the police department in Austria of Sister Eileen's disappearance after she stopped returning his emails for approximately one week.

Mr. Tomlinson traveled to Austria to continue his investigation. He learned that after exploring many options, including drowning during a swim, falling off of a cliff during a hike and foul play at the hands of the innkeeper at the Hallstatt boarding home, the Police Inspector of the Upper Austrian Police responsible for the investigation and the Austrian private investigator were of the belief that Sister Eileen had drowned. The basis of this opinion was that Sister Eileen's swimsuit was missing from her room in the boarding home, the canines which sniffed all possible areas where it was believed her body may be only hit on the lake (and notably not on the property of the innkeeper) and the innkeeper's story was believable.

Mr. Tomlinson also investigated the lake, hiking trails that Sister Eileen may have visited; he also met with and/or spoke to clergy members in Austria that came into contact with Sister Eileen and/or knew or her disappearance and other friends she had in Austria. While Mr. Tomlinson believes that the authorities in Austria did everything legally allowable, and conducted a thorough and professional investigation, Mr. Tomlinson also believes there is a likelihood that the innkeeper had a part in Sister Eileen's disappearance due to inconsistencies in his story about whether he saw her again after she checked in; his admittedly entering her room with his key after she disappeared; and his failure to notify authorities that she was missing despite it being local custom to do so.

President Kenneth Tomlinson stated: "When I began my career with the NYPD, I was given words of wisdom that I would never forget and that still ring true today. We were told: 'There is no such thing as a natural born detective. No one is a natural born detective. You will develop and enhance the skills that make you a good detective by putting in time over a course of years. An NYPD detective is given his fair share of cases, so there is no better place to learn and master the trade. But you have to love what you do.' I have always loved my job because of the role I played in helping people. When I heard of the disappearance of Sister Eileen while she was travelling, doing what she loves in Austria, my heart was broken for her and her family. I had to help. While I am saddened at the fact that Sister Eileen is still missing, I am still hopeful that she will be found through the joint efforts of All Private Investigations LLC, the Upper Austrian Police, the Austrian Investigators and the public, all doing what we love to find this wonderful woman."

All Private Investigations LLC is known throughout the industry as a respected company, willing to go to all legal and ethical lengths to help its clients; if you ever require any of these services contact them today.

While All Private Investigations LLC is an effective and prominent investigation company, it could use the help of the public to find Sister Eileen. All Private Investigations LLC urges anyone with possible details regarding Sister Eileen's disappearance to contact Mr. Tomlinson immediately at 631-759-1414.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com/.

SOURCE All Private Investigations LLC
DENVER, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- General Cannabis Corp ("General Cannabis" or the "Company") (OTCQB: CANN) announced today that its Form S-1 resale registration statement relating to the sale of up to 9,000,000 shares of the common stock of the Company by certain selling securities holders (the "S-1") has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The S-1 will, while effective, permit the selling security holders of General Cannabis to resell shares of common stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of warrants, as described in the registration statement, subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

General Cannabis will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common shares by the selling security holders. Upon the cash exercise of the warrants, General Cannabis will receive the exercise price of the warrants.

The S-1 resale registration statement does not necessitate that the selling security holders sell any shares of common stock acquired as a result of exercising the warrants.

The offering of the shares of common stock may only be made by means of a prospectus. A registration statement relating to the shares has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration statement may be accessed electronically through the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. A copy of the prospectus related to the offering may also be obtained from General Cannabis by writing to 6565 East Evans Ave, Denver, Colorado 80224 or by calling (303) 759-1300.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities.

About

General Cannabis Corporation is the all-in-one resource for the highest quality service providers available to the regulated Cannabis Industry. We are a trusted partner to the cultivation, production and retail side of the cannabis business. We do this through a combination of strong operating divisions such as real estate, consulting, security, financing and the distribution of important infrastructure products to grow facilities and dispensaries. As a synergistic holding company, our subsidiaries are able to leverage the strengths of each other, as well as a larger balance sheet, to succeed. Our website address is www.generalcann.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or are otherwise not descriptions of historical facts. Any such statements may include the words "believes," "should," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the S-1, as well as General Cannabis' most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date on which we make it. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

SOURCE General Cannabis Corporation

Related Links

http://www.generalcann.com


CLARK, N.J., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GEP, a leading provider of comprehensive procurement services and procurement software to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises worldwide, announced today that it has again been named a winner in the latest HfS Blueprint Report: Procurement-as-a-Service 2016.

Boston-based HfS Research, which authors and publishes the Blueprint Report series, is a leading analyst firm in the procurement outsourcing sector, and an authority on global IT and BPO services, with specific focus on global business services, digital transformation, autonomics and outsourcing.

In this report, GEP was recognized for its breadth, depth and outstanding strengths in several areas, including procurement strategy, sourcing and category management, contract and supplier management, and for substantial muscle in procurement operations.

A complimentary version of the report is available here for download: www.gep.com/hfs2016

"GEP has consistently been a leading service provider in the move to procurement as-a-service," said Derk Erbe, vice president of research at HfS and lead analyst on the report. "With a strong vision for the future of procurement, paired with deep procurement knowledge and capabilities, and a comprehensive procurement software platform, GEP delivers transformational procurement value to clients across the world."

Success factors behind the company's rapid and sustained growth, according to HfS, include highly effective use of procurement technology, standout innovation in service delivery, and comprehensive global procurement services capabilities.

GEP is consistently recognized by analysts as a leader in procurement and supply chain advisory and consulting, managed procurement services and S2P (source-to-pay) procurement software, where the firm's cloud-native SMART by GEP software platform is recognized widely for its pace-setting innovations.

"GEP unites the disparate and complex elements of procurement transformation  strategy, managed services and technology  into one fully integrated and complete solution," said Al Girardi, global vice president of marketing and analyst relations at GEP. "GEP provides not only better transparency, accountability and speed to value, but greater and more sustainable overall business value," added Girardi.

About HfS Research

HfS Research is "The Services Research Company"  the leading analyst authority and global community for business operations and IT services. The firm helps enterprises validate and improve their global operations with world-class research, benchmarking and peer networking.

HfS coined the terms "The As-a-Service Economy" and "OneOffice", which describe HfS Research's vision for the future of global operations and the impact of cognitive automation and digital technologies. With specific practice areas focused on the digitization of business processes and design thinking, intelligent automation and outsourcing, HfS analysts apply industry knowledge in healthcare, life sciences, retail, manufacturing, energy, utilities, telecommunications and financial services to form a real viewpoint of the future of business operations.

HfS Research was named Independent Analyst Firm of the Year 2016 by the Institute of Industry Analyst Relations which voted on 170 other leading analysts. In addition, HfS was named Analyst Firm of the Year 2016, alongside Gartner and Forrester, by leading analyst observer Influencer Relations.

About GEP

GEP is a diverse, creative team of people passionate about procurement. We invest ourselves entirely in our clients' success, creating strong collaborative relationships that deliver extraordinary value year after year. We deliver practical, effective procurement services and procurement software that enable procurement leaders to maximize their impact on business operations, strategy and financial performance.

Honored as Best Supplier at the EPIC Procurement Excellence Awards, GEP regularly wins accolades as both a provider of a broad range of procurement services and innovative procurement software. Among its recent distinctions, GEP has been named Leader and Star Performer in Everest Group's PEAK Matrix of Procurement Services Providers, Leader in NelsonHall's NEAT Matrix of Global Procurement BPO Service Providers, Winner in the HfS Blueprint Report on Procurement Outsourcing Providers, Leader in the ALM Vanguard Reports on Procurement and Supply Chain Consulting, as well as one of Spend Matters 50 Companies to Know and to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100.

Clark, NJ-based GEP has 12 offices and operations centers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

To learn more about our comprehensive range of consulting and managed services, please visit www.gep.com. For more about SMART by GEP, our cloud-native sourcing and procurement software platform, please visit www.smartbygep.com

Contact

Al Girardi

Global VP, Marketing & Analyst Relations

GEP Worldwide

Phone: 732-382-6565

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE GEP

Related Links

http://www.gep.com


Highlighting ITC's donations in Oklahoma was the Sand County Foundation 's Leopold Conservation Award program. The Leopold Awards recognize agricultural landowners who have made extraordinary achievements in voluntary conservation, environmental stewardship and management of natural resources. In addition, the program works to build bridges between agriculture, government, environmental organizations, industry and academia promote the conservation of private lands.

"Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers are exceptional environmental stewards," said Amanda Rosholt, director of fundraising and public relations for the Oklahoma Farming and Ranching Foundation. "The Leopold Conservation Award is a prestigious honor for agriculturalists in our state who voluntarily exhibit outstanding conservation practices on their private lands. Support from ITC is greatly appreciated to help bring this program to Oklahoma."

In addition, ITC presented charitable grants to the following Oklahoma-based organizations:

"ITC is committed to contributing to programs that positively impact the communities we serve," said Brett Leopold, president, ITC Great Plains. "Whether those contributions come in the form of charitable grants or donations and volunteer hours from our generous employees, our team strives to be a good neighbor in the region."

ITC has donated more than $5.2 million to deserving nonprofits throughout its footprint since 2010, including organizations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota.

Through its charitable giving activities, ITC awards grants to qualified 501 (c) (3) organizations focused on social services, education, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, and arts and culture that deliver charitable services in the counties where ITC operates. Sources of ITC's contributions include special grants, executive donations, employee charitable outings and casual dress days. For more information about ITC's charitable giving program or to apply for a grant, visit http://www.itc-holdings.com/community-approach/philanthropy.

About ITC Great Plains

ITC Great Plains, LLC is a transmission-only utility operating in the Southwest Power Pool region. The company currently operates approximately 470 circuit miles of transmission lines in Kansas and Oklahoma. ITC Great Plains maintains regional offices in Dodge City, Topeka and Wichita, Kansas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Little Rock, Arkansas. ITC Great Plains is a subsidiary of ITC Grid Development, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., the nation's largest independent electric transmission company. ITC's focus on transmission and grid expansion drives operational excellence and delivers superior value for customers, communities and other stakeholders.

About ITC Holdings Corp.

ITC, a Fortis company, is the largest independent electric transmission company in the United States. Based in Novi, Michigan, ITC invests in the electric transmission grid to improve reliability, expand access to markets, allow new generating resources to interconnect to its transmission systems and lower the overall cost of delivered energy. Through its regulated operating subsidiaries ITCTransmission, Michigan Electric Transmission Company, ITC Midwest and ITC Great Plains, ITC owns and operates high-voltage transmission facilities in Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, serving a combined peak load exceeding 26,000 megawatts along approximately 15,800 circuit miles of transmission line with 660 employees and nearly 1,000 contractors across its seven state footprint. ITC's grid development focus includes growth through regulated infrastructure investment as well as domestic and international expansion through merchant and other commercial development opportunities. ITC Holdings Corp. common shares are owned 80.1% by Fortis Inc. and 19.9% by GIC Private Limited. Additional information can be accessed at www.itc-holdings.com.

SOURCE ITC Great Plains

Related Links

http://www.itc-holdings.com


NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) will host a conference call for investors at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, Jan. 24th, to review fourth-quarter and full-year results. Alex Gorsky, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Dominic Caruso, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Joseph J. Wolk, Vice President, Investor Relations, will host the call.

Investors and other interested parties can access the webcast/conference call in the following ways:

The webcast is accessible at Johnson & Johnson's website: www.investor.jnj.com. A webcast and podcast replay will be available approximately three hours after the conference call concludes.

By telephone: for both "listen-only" participants and those financial analysts who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the telephone dial-in number in the U.S. is 877-869-3847. For participants outside the U.S., the dial-in number is 201-689-8261.

A replay of the conference call will be available until approximately 12:00 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2017 . The replay dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. The replay conference ID number for all callers is 13651932.

on . The replay dial-in number for U.S. participants is 877-660-6853. For participants outside the U.S., the replay dial-in number is 201-612-7415. The replay conference ID number for all callers is 13651932. Presentation materials will be available on www.investor.jnj.com.

The press release will be available at approximately 6:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) the morning of the conference call.

About Johnson & Johnson

Caring for the world, one person at a time, inspires and unites the people of Johnson & Johnson. We embrace research and science - bringing innovative ideas, products and services to advance the health and well-being of people. Our approximately 126,900 employees at more than 250 Johnson & Johnson operating companies work with partners in health care to touch the lives of over a billion people every day, throughout the world.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson

Related Links

http://www.jnj.com


Ansira is a premier data-driven, technology-enabled marketing solutions provider which integrates data analytics, CRM, localized marketing automation and performance media with best-in-class execution strategies. Together these capabilities drive ROI-measured marketing programs at a national and local level. Ansira's product offering focuses on the use of data-driven decision making, from marketing decisions and strategy recommendations to media / channel allocations and creative concepts. This offering is supported by the Company's unmatched ability to integrate, model and activate disparate first, second and third-party data sources. More than 150 leading brands trust Ansira to transform their marketing programs, nurture customer relationships, inform creative ideas and brand experiences and fuel consumer engagement while optimizing the impact of marketing expenditures.

Denver-based private equity firm KRG acquired Ansira in 2012 and will exit its investment with this transaction. "We are very pleased with the transaction, both for our limited partner investors and for our management partners from Ansira," commented Colton King, Managing Director at KRG. "Lincoln's deep industry expertise, access to the relevant global buyer universe and tremendous execution capabilities contributed to an outstanding result for all of Ansira's shareholders. The advisory team led an efficient process that delivered on our objectives and allowed management to focus on the Company's continued strong performance," King added.

Advent, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors, is acquiring its stake in partnership with Ansira's management, who will continue to retain a substantial ownership position in the Company. "We look forward to partnering with Advent during this next phase of growth for our Company," said Martin Reidy, President and CEO of Ansira. "We remain focused on executing our strategic plan of both organic and inorganic growth, expanding into new markets, and leveraging our new capabilities and expertise to serve clients' needs amid a rapidly evolving digital landscape."

Advent has invested in more than 315 private equity transactions in 40 countries and as of September 30, 2016, had $42 billion in assets under management. With offices on four continents, Advent has established a globally integrated team of more than 190 investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. The firm focuses on investments in five core sectors, including business and financial services; healthcare; industrial; retail, consumer, and restaurants and leisure; and technology, media, and telecom.

Lincoln, with a team led by Rob Brown, Pete Stack and Michael Fineman, served as a sell-side co-advisor to KRG and Ansira, working closely with the Company's management team and shareholders throughout the sale process.

For more information on Lincoln's Global Technology & Media Group, please visit our website.

About Lincoln International

Lincoln International specializes in merger and acquisition advisory services, debt advisory services, private capital raising and restructuring advice on mid-market transactions. Lincoln International also provides fairness opinions, valuations and joint venture and partnering advisory services on a wide range of transaction sizes. With eighteen offices in the Americas, Asia and Europe, Lincoln International has strong local knowledge and contacts in key global economies. The firm provides clients with senior-level attention, in-depth industry expertise and integrated resources. By being focused and independent, Lincoln International serves its clients without conflicts of interest.

More information about Lincoln International can be obtained at www.lincolninternational.com

Media Contact: Ashley Luse

[email protected]

(312) 506-1998

SOURCE Lincoln International LLC

Related Links

http://www.lincolninternational.com


SAN FRANCISCO and OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mary Alexander, San Francisco attorney representing the first suits of the families of the Oakland "Ghost Ship" fire killing 36 victims, in a live interview on HLN today, told host Michaela Pereira that the "horrific" deaths "could have been prevented." Alexander, the former President of the American Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), responding to questions, explained, "It was a death trap, with all the kindling and wiring. Once it caught on fire, there was no way for these people to escape the inferno. There was no fire alarm, no smoke alarm. The building was not permitted for residence or events, yet they had parties. There was no way to exit safely. It was egregious negligence of the highest order."

Alexander added, "There are reports that the Fire Department had an event there." The facility "was not supposed to have events."

Ms. Alexander said, "They were beautiful college students, one with two jobs, with so much promising life ahead." For the families, Alexander filed suit against the owners of the building, the operators, and the city. "The families deserve justice."

Alexander said today, "This kind of preventable catastrophe must not happen in California or America."

Alexander filed the first suits Monday, December 23, at Alameda County Courthouse, on behalf of the families of Griffin Madden and Michela Gregory.

Link to full interview, Dec. 16, 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHkU5W9DYRg&feature=youtu.be and December 26, 2016 -- Mary Alexander national television interview "Ghost Ship" deaths -- on Headline News (HLN)

Link to announcement of first filings: http://www.weinerpublic.com/20161223.doc or http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ghost-ship-oakland-warehouse-fire-first-lawsuit-filing-news-conference-today-friday-dec-23-230-pm-with-victims-parents-news-conference-following-filing-by-mary-alexander-300383358.html

Contact: Robert Weiner 301-283-021, cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates and Mary Alexander and Associates
MERIDIAN, Idaho, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MJP International (OTCPK: MJPI) ("the Company") today announced that it has begun selling several new products to capture a larger market share of the retail sector for solar-powered devices.

These products include:

6 volt 1 watt solar panels

Solar-powered LED motion sensor lights

Solar-powered hand held torches

Solar-powered led light bulbs for home or outdoor use

This is part of the company's strategy to offer products that can be used in daily life and not just products to power one's home.

"We strongly believe in the high demand of the retail sector for solar-powered devices that can be used everywhere and we expect 2017 to be a record year for us across the board," said Mr. Christopher Hudson, COO of MJP International.

About MJP International

MJP International is a company that specializes in green energy products and services, including rapidly advancing green technologies such as solar and wind installations. The company is built on the fundamental belief that green technology is the way to a clean, profitable and energy-rich future. MJP International continually pushes the envelope to find ways for clients to use green technologies in a cost-efficient and user friendly way, firmly believing that renewable and clean energy sources will continue to come to the forefront as viable and economical alternatives to fossil fuel. Investors can visit the company's website at http://www.mjpinternational.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from those projected due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the possibility that some or all of the matters and transactions considered by MJP International may not proceed as contemplated, and by all other matters and assumptions specified in MJP International's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially those risks and other matters described under "Risk Factors" within MJP International's Form 10-Q filed with the Commission. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to risk and uncertainty. MJP International does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information.

SOURCE MJP International

Related Links

http://www.mjpinternational.com


Sandra Castellon, Grupo Novus Marketing Director, said: "Novus is aware of the importance of the South Florida market and the large Puerto Rican population of more than 300,000 currently residing in the area that has a close identification with the brand. With this expansion into the U.S., we will now be able to offer Novus's excellence to the communities in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties."

Novus will be releasing its new prototype store with the U.S. opening. It was designed by ADV Alvarez Diaz Villalon considering the needs of the customer and the current trends in design and decoration. The store reflects the modernism that characterizes Novus, with its variety of materials and colors such as wood, metal, and the company's distinctive shades of red.

Novus has made a significant investment in technology to soon offer a better experience with the "pick up at store" service so that customers can select the merchandise on the website (www.novushoes.com) or mobile phone and then pick it up at their favorite store. Also, premiering in January, will be the mobile payment system where customers can pay for their purchases without having to wait in line at the store.

Novus's delightful and extensive exclusive collections for both, men and women, comes in different styles and materials that conveniently adapt to their customers' needs while maintaining the best quality at affordable prices. Shopping at Novus is not only about buying shoes, but living a unique experience where customers get to choose their unique style. Additionally, Novus offers a variety of stylish jewelry, purses, and other fashion accessories.

For further information, photos, and interview opportunities contact Natascha Otero-Santiago at [email protected]

About Novus Inc.

Novus Inc. designs, markets, sells and manages fashion shoes and accessories via different retail store formats and internet web sites. Novus, Galeria, La Favorita, Naturalizer, Bakers, and Novus Outlet appeal to different socio- economic segments of the middle to high end consumers by sourcing directly from the best factories in Spain, Italy, Brazil, China and India. The company was founded in 1973 with its first store Novus and then grew to 65 stores between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Novus Inc. employs approximately 600 people in different areas from Store Operations to Purchasing with over 40 years of experience and reputation.

SOURCE Novus Inc.
China to levy taxes to fight pollution

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-12-26 10:52

China's top legislature passed a law yesterday that will levy specific environmental protection taxes on industry for the first time from January 1, 2018.



The law will be key to fighting pollution, said Wang Jianfan, director of the Ministry of Finance tax policy department.

China has collected a pollutant discharge fee since 1979. In 2015, it collected 17.3 billion yuan (US$2.5 billion) from some 280,000 businesses, Wang said.

However, some local governments exploit loopholes and exempt enterprises that are otherwise big contributors to fiscal revenue. For years, regulators have suggested replacing the fee system with a law.

The new law will reduce interference from government, Wang told a press conference. It would also improve taxpayers environmental awareness, forcing companies to upgrade technology and shift to cleaner production.

Under the new law, companies will pay taxes ranging from 350 to 11,200 yuan per month for noise, according to their decibel level. It also set rates of 1.2 yuan on stipulated quantities of air pollutants, 1.4 yuan on water pollutants and a range of 5 to 1,000 yuan for each ton of solid waste.

For instance, polluters will pay 1.2 yuan for emission of 0.95 kilograms of sulfur dioxide and 1.4 yuan for 1 kilogram of chemical oxygen demand. Carbon dioxide is not included in the levying list.

Provincial-level governments can raise the rates for air and water pollution by up to 10 times after approval by the local legislatures. Lower rates may also be applicable if emission are less than national standards.

The law only targets enterprises and public institutions that discharge listed pollutants directly into the environment.

Punishment for evasion or fraud are not specified, but offenders will be held liable in line with the law on administration of taxation and the environmental law.

With more than a year still to go before the law comes into effect, Wang said authorities would make preparations including drafting a regulation for implementation of the law. He said that revenue would all go to local governments, and would not reduce their capability to spend on environmental protection.

China has not previously imposed any specific environmental taxes, and the new levy will replace the earlier system of miscellaneous charges that are regarded as too low to deter polluters.

The core purpose (of the policy) isnt to increase taxes, but is to improve the system, and encourage enterprises to reduce emissions  the more they emit the more they will pay, and the less they emit the less they will pay, Environment Minister Chen Jining said earlier this year.

The details of the new law have been fiercely contested by various national and local bodies, and the law has been subject to repeated delays.

Some government researchers have also argued that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases should be included in the plans.

Jia Kang of the Ministry of Finances Institute of Fiscal Science suggested that to avoid increasing the tax burden on firms, other business taxes should be cut and replaced by the environmental tax, which would give authorities a more powerful tool to force a company to improve its environmental performance.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FlyersRights.org, the nation's largest airline passenger organization, and Travelers United, have joined forces with an aggrieved airline passenger whose personal injury claim was denied by a Federal Appeals court.

In a short 2-1 decision, the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals struck a blow against airline passenger rights with claims against airlines by refusing to recognize claims filed within 2 years in another country, unless also filed in a U.S. court with 2 years. There was, however, a lengthy dissenting opinion. FlyersRights.org and Travelers United have filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in support of the aggrieved passenger's appeal. http://files.constantcontact.com/7a85813b001/b66b9f8a-2d60-477c-8948-e1f4f202453b.pdf

In Von Schoenebeck v. KLM, a seat back collapsed on the head of a passenger on a flight from South Africa to San Francisco, causing severe spinal injuries. The airline refused compensation, even up to the strict liability amount found in the Montreal Convention. Instead, KLM sought a bond for its own attorney fees and costs from the passenger in the South African court of over $20,000, based on a law that discriminates against non-resident litigants. The airline suggested the passenger litigate in the United States. But when the passenger filed in California, KLM sought and obtained dismissal based on a novel interpretation of the 2-year statute of limitations in the Montreal Convention, the treaty governing passenger rights in international air travel.

Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org noted, "This is a shocking decision that needs review by the United States Supreme Court which has yet to interpret the Montreal Convention's statute of limitations."

"The Montreal Convention was designed to achieve global uniformity in the law governing claims against airlines. It provides for both strict airline liability and strict limitations on compensation amounts. But unless this decision is reversed, many airline passengers on international trips will now have to file claims against airlines in multiple national courts in order to preserve their compensation rights for flight delays, baggage loss and damage, as well as for personal injury and death."

FlyersRights.org also has an appeal pending in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the FAA's refusal to regulate seat size and leg room on airliners, see Limitation Of Seat Size Reduction FAA-2015-4011. The court case is Flyers Rights Education Fund v FAA Case No. 16-1101, see also http://flyersrights.org/petitions/SeatSizePetition.pdf

It has also filed a rulemaking petition to the DOT to require airlines notify passengers of their delay compensation rights. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOT-OST-2015-0256-0001

SOURCE FlyersRights.org

Related Links

http://flyersrights.org


DALLAS, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to combat perceived income inequality, the Portland, Oregon City Council ("City Council") authorized the addition of a surtax to the city's business license tax for companies whose chief executive officers (CEO) earn at least 100 times more than the companies' average median employee income.

Companies who pay the city's business license tax and have a CEO who earns at least 100 times more than the company's median employees will be required to pay an additional 10% city tax. For companies with a ratio greater than 250 times, the surtax increases by 15%, requiring them to pay an additional 25% in taxes. A company whose CEO earns less than 100 times the median employee compensation will not be required to pay the surtax.

The surtax is scheduled to begin in 2017, after the Securities and Exchange Commission begins requiring public companies to calculate and disclose their CEO versus median employee compensation per Dodd-Frank. Portland will use this data to calculate the surtax owed.

This CEO-compensation surtax is the first of its kind to be adopted in the United States. As public companies disclose their data around salary ranges, this will be an issue that receives public attention with earnings releases. With differing viewpoints about government interference in the compensation structure of companies, it remains to be seen whether this is a one-time news event or portends other jurisdictions attempting to emulate the Portland surtax. As that is considered, debate will also occur as to the determination as to what is perceived as a gap differential requiring a surtax.

About Ryan

Ryan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a five-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multi-disciplinary team of more than 2,100 professionals and associates serves over 12,000 clients in more than 40 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeremiah T. Lynch

Principal

Ryan

212.847.0113

[email protected]

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.

Jerry Lynch

ProfNet - http://www.profnetconnect.com/jeremiahlynch

SOURCE Ryan

Related Links

http://www.ryan.com


Joint Press Release By Primus Technologies and Frank Pellegrino

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Primus Technologies Corp. announces that Frank Pellegrino (17% shareholder), after 23 years of service, is leaving the Company to pursue other ventures outside of the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) industry. Mr. Pellegrino served as Primus' Vice President of Sales & Marketing and as Corporate Secretary. Chris Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of Primus said, "We wish Frank well in his new endeavors and thank him for his many years of service." Mr. Pellegrino added, "Primus is a global leader in Electronics Manufacturing Services, and I am confident in the company's continued success under its current leadership. I'm grateful to have been part of an organization so committed to its people and customers."

In connection with his departure, Mr. Pellegrino also sold his Primus shares to the Company. All Primus shares are now owned by the Sullivan family, including Jerry Sullivan, Executive Chairman, Chris Sullivan and immediate Sullivan family members.

About Primus Technologies Corp.

Primus Technologies is one of the largest Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers in the United States. Serving Aerospace, Defense, Medical, Transportation and Complex Industrial industries, among others, Primus offers electronics design, production, test development and aftermarket services to Fortune 500 and other leading corporations. Headquartered in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Primus is AS9100 and Nadcap certified and consistently #1-ranked by customers.

Contact: Chris Sullivan, 917-797-4474

SOURCE Primus Technologies Corp.
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Principia SGR, a venture capital group based in Milano, Italy, specialized in Healthcare and Medical Device, has invested 4 million euros in AnaBios Corporation, a San Diego-based biotechnology company advancing drug development through its proprietary Phase X technology. AnaBios is especially focused in therapeutic areas of major unmet medical need: pain, cardiac disease and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, AnaBios' technology has the potential to radically transform how drug safety is assessed at the preclinical stage, thereby reducing clinical stage failures.

Principia's investment is part of a Series B fundraise for a total of $10 million USD, aimed at expanding AnaBios' contract research capabilities and accelerating the development of the Company's own drug programs.

AnaBios' innovative technology enables the investigation of potential drug safety and efficacy on ethically procured human organs, tissues and cells in the laboratory. This ex-vivo approach is at the core of the Phase X technology ( "X" for "ex vivo") and allows for the generation of human relevant data at the preclinical stage. AnaBios currently offers drug discovery services to many of the major pharmaceutical companies in the USA, Europe, Japan and Korea, and also conducts its own drug discovery in pain and heart disease.



"We are extremely pleased to receive the support of a prestigious group such as Principia and are especially excited to have them joining our team in the effort to advance the growth of AnaBios. Principia adds a great deal of commercial and regulatory expertise to our team and will also help the growth of AnaBios outside of the USA," commented Andre Ghetti, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of AnaBios.

Paolo Siviero, Principia Healthcare Fund Manager, commented that: "Principia's objective is to help grow the value of AnaBios worldwide but with a special emphasis on Europe, where the adoption of the Phase X technology will greatly benefits pharmaceutical companies and, ultimately, patients."

With this investment, Principia has allocated  47 million euros from its Principia Fund III, all for investments in the healthcare sector.

Contact: Paul E. Miller PhD. , 858-366-8608, [email protected]

SOURCE AnaBios Corporation
DULLES, Va., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has submitted its proposal for the U.S. Army's next-generation, global training support program.

The Raytheon project team consists of proven industry leaders CSRA, General Dynamics and Leidos, as well as 17 small, hub-zone, women, veteran and disabled-veteran-owned businesses. Today, Raytheon provides training in 127 countries and in 29 different languages.

Raytheon is offering InSITE, its innovative, user-friendly and mobile-enabled management information system. The Army Training Aids, Devices, Simulations and Simulators Maintenance Program calls for training support and sustainment services for more than 320,000 Army training devices and more than 90 digital ranges around the world. The goal: to help enable Army mission readiness.

ATMP is a competitive follow-on to the successful U.S. Army Warfighter FOCUS program. Awarded to Raytheon in 2007, WFF involved similar training and logistics work performed globally at more than 500 sites. Raytheon managed training support for almost every soldier around the world and saved the Army more than $400 million in training sustainment costs over eight years.

"Raytheon brings unmatched experience in maintaining and sustaining the US Army's Combat Training Centers, Army training devices and ranges to help drive and enable readiness," said Pete Vangjel, vice president of Raytheon's Global Training Solutions business. "Along with that experience, we bring the Army the best the industry has to offer with the lowest-risk and most cost-effective approach."

Raytheon's InSITE delivers advanced analytics, customizable user interfaces, dashboards and ironclad data integrity to standard Army mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets. Raytheon invested $6.5 million to develop InSITE specifically for ATMP.

The system transforms diverse, multi-year and multiple-device maintenance and program data into decision-ready, actionable information. Users can pull in and access maintenance, contracts, finance, supply chain and other systems information from anywhere in the world, in near real-time, 24/7/365.

Other innovations include:

Cybersecurity tools and hardening from Raytheon, a world leader in the cyber field.

Streamlined, automated work order processes that eliminate human error while increasing flexibility and response time.

A new user interface that offers the ability to create individualized information centers, custom reports and instant alerts.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contacts

Raytheon

Scott Fazekas

+1.571.250.1877

[email protected]

SOURCE Raytheon Company

Related Links

http://www.raytheon.com


"We are depending on everyone's support during this holiday season to enable us to help people in need throughout the year," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "Many people make their charitable donations during these last days of December, and we ask them to remember the Red Cross and the thousands of people we help each day of the year when making their contributions."

More than 32,000 Red Cross disaster volunteers from all over the country provided the following this year (as of December 4):

More than 200,000 overnight stays in more than 600 shelters

Served more than 4.1 million meals and snacks with the help of partners

Distributed more than 2.1 million relief items to people affected by these disasters

In addition to responding to large and small disasters every year, the American Red Cross provides:

Almost 7 million blood products to meet the needs of patients in as many as 2,600 hospitals across the country.

More than 352,000 services to members of the military, veterans and civilians

Training for more than 6.25 million people a year in first aid, water safety and other skills that help save lives.

Help for more than 140 million people outside the country every year through disaster management and prevention activities

Making charitable contributions at the end of the year is part of many holiday traditions. The Red Cross depends on these end-of-year donations to provide support, strength and hope to people in need and urges everyone to visit here to see how they can support the Red Cross mission.

A donation to the American Red Cross helps where it's needed mostplease give something that means something before the clock strikes midnight on December 31.

About our Corporate Holiday Supporters

During this holiday season, the American Red Cross is grateful for those corporate donors that generously contribute to our Holiday Giving Campaign. They include Circle K West Coast and Florida Divisions and Mazda and its Dealers. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people across the country. To learn more about our corporate holiday supporters, visit redcross.org/corporate-holiday-supporters.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

SOURCE American Red Cross

Related Links

http://www.redcross.org


NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Rent the Runway, the leader in disruptive commerce, today announced a $60 million round of funding led by Fidelity Management and Research Company, with participation from existing investors Technology Crossover Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, and Advance Publications, Inc. Total investment in the company now stands at $190 million. This new round of funding will be used to accelerate the company's growth as it continues scaling its a la carte and subscription rental products, retail stores and operational capacity.

"We are coming off of our most successful year since the company's inception, with the launch of our Unlimited subscription business, our partnership with Neiman Marcus and our new flagship store in New York," said Jennifer Hyman, Co-founder and CEO of Rent the Runway. "We are excited to bring on Fidelity as a partner as we continue to disrupt the closet and remain at the forefront of the access economy."

Rent the Runway plans to use the funding to scale in four key areas. The first area is the company's original a la carte rental product, which now boasts 6 million members throughout the U.S. The company will also focus on growing its Unlimited subscription business, which launched this spring and gives women access to $40,000 worth of designer clothing per year for a fixed monthly price. Rent the Runway will also continue expanding the company's retail footprint which includes stores in six cities, including San Francisco, where the company recently broke the perceived boundaries of traditional retail by opening a store within luxury, multi-branded, omni-channel fashion retailer Neiman Marcus' location. The company will also use the funding to continue building its operational capacity, which includes its world-class reverse logistics platform.

For more information about Rent the Runway, please visit www.renttherunway.com.

About Rent the Runway

Rent the Runway is revolutionizing fashion by allowing millions of women to rent designer apparel and accessories, both on-demand and through its subscription service Unlimited. The company focuses on convenience and a top-notch customer experience on all of its platforms, including mobile, online, and retail locations in Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. With styles from hundreds of top designers, RTR serves as a powerful marketing channel for the fashion industry, introducing a new generation of women to brands that they had limited access to before. Co-founded in 2009 by Harvard Business School graduates, Rent the Runway has raised over $190 million in venture capital and has 6 million members across the U.S.

SOURCE Rent the Runway
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Scott & Scott, LLP is pleased to announce that managing partner, Robert J. Scott, was named Technology Lawyer of the Year  USA by Lawyer Monthly in its 2016 Legal Awards Edition on December 12.



The 2016 Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards recognizes firms, individual lawyers, solicitors and barristers that have dedicated their resources to innovation, built on their depth of expertise, and performed outstandingly over the year. The just released 2016 Special Legal Awards Edition features in-depth information with selected winners. You can read about Scott & Scott and Robert J. Scott, Managing Partner on Page 86 of the digital edition.

Robert J. Scott Robert J. Scott Receives Technology Lawyer of the Year Award - USA

"I am honored to be recognized by the voters for this award. I would like to thank my clients and my colleagues at Scott & Scott for giving me the chance to do what I love," said Scott.

Over several months, the Lawyer Monthly research team has collected and collated nominations through an online voting system. Each nomination has then been compared against a strict set of measurable criteria, which was in turn combined with additional industry research to help produce a definitive list of winners.

"I am not the least bit surprised that Rob won this award," said Damian Gomez, General Counsel of the Westland Bunker, a secure data center. "Rob has served with distinction as our outside counsel for many years," Gomez said.

"The Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2016 winners have stood out from their peers by demonstrating professional achievement and excellence in their jurisdiction and sector of practice," says Lawyer Monthly.

"Rob Scott and his firm are held in the highest professional esteem in the technology industry," said Charles Weaver, Founder of the MSP Alliance, a trade group serving over 30,000 technology services firms globally.

About Robert J. Scott

Robert graduated summa cum laude from Austin College with a dual concentration in Economics and Philosophy in 1992. He received his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1996 where he served as an editor of the law review.

He is regularly called upon by his peers and the media for his expertise. His work has been published in Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property, Westlaw Journal Intellectual Property, The Licensing Journal, and Texas Lawyer among others.

About Scott & Scott, LLP

Scott & Scott, LLP (http://www.scottandscottllp.com) is a leading intellectual property and technology law firm representing businesses in matters involving software licensing. Scott & Scott, LLP Scott's legal and technology professionals provide software audit defense and software compliance solutions, all protected by attorney-client and work-product privileges.

Contact: Anita Scott

214.999.2915

[email protected]

SOURCE Scott and Scott, LLP

Related Links

http://www.scottandscottllp.com


NOVI SAD, Serbia, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RT-RK, a leading embedded and automotive software development house in Southeast Europe today announced plans to showcase a software development kit, dubbed RT-RK AMV (Automotive Machine Vision), intended for rapid development of multi-sensor algorithms for informational advanced driver assistance (ADAS) purposes integrated with infotainment functions, for the car.

What

RT-RK will demonstrate AMV platform and Qualcomm Snapdragon 820A processor together running reference ADAS algorithms and infotainment applications. AMV provides a software model to develop algorithms which utilize available sensors (cameras, proximity), as well as multiple processing cores (CPUs, DSPs and GPUs) in an efficient way, in order to provide for the development of complex, computer vision and machine learning based applications. AMV is a low level SW development kit, operational under Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), acting as a middleware stack which provides APIs to informational ADAS application developers to implement algorithm pipelines in an efficient, cost-effective and platform-agnostic manner.

AMV stack on top of the Snapdragon 820A is designed to provide heterogeneous compute cores that help in computer vision and machine learning. AMV provides sensor processing alongside Infotainment functionalities, which are all executed on top of multiple cores within the Snapdragon 820A. Within the demonstration, Infotainment unit will be showcased running side by side with intelligent ADAS algorithms like aroundview and driver monitoring, fusing the camera and other vehicle sensors on a single Snapdragon S820A processor. The framework is designed to bring in informational safety features to Infotainment systems.

When

The Consumer Electronics Show will be held January 5-8, 2017. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Where

Las Vegas Convention Center

North Hall, Qualcomm Automotive booth (N5609)

About RT-RK

RT-RK LLC is a R&D company and national research institute that delivers development services and own products in the arena of real time embedded systems, with strong focus on consumer electronics and automotive. Headquartered in Novi Sad, with offices in Belgrade (Serbia), Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Osijek (Croatia) with over 800 engineers, RT-RK is one of the biggest development houses in Southeast Europe. RT-RK is professionally engaged in embedded system design, automotive software development, home automation technology, TV software development, testing of set-top box and multimedia devices, UI/UX design, digital signal processing, and FPGA rapid prototyping.

For more information, visit www.rt-rk.com

Media Contact

RT-RK

Vera Teslic

Email: [email protected]

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. is a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries.

Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

SOURCE RT-RK

Related Links

http://www.rt-rk.com


SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Wave Machines, Inc. (AWM), the world's leading wave pool, surf venue, and wave technology company for the emerging out of ocean surfing market, will create a wave machine for surfing dogs designed specifically for the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade float that will happen on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California and is sponsored by The Lucy Pet Foundation.

Surfing dogs will be the stars of The Lucy Pet Foundation and American Wave Machines float during the 2017 Tournament of Roses(R) that happens on January 2. The float is set to break the Guinness World Record for the longest and heaviest float with wave machine technology designed specifically for the float by American Wave Machines.

Set to break the Guinness World Record on December 30 for the longest and heaviest float, the floatthemed Beachside Paradiseis 125 feet long, weighs 136,000 lbs and will carry 5,000 gallons of water for dogs to surf on. The float will feature eight surfin' dogs selected in a nationwide competition.

The float was built by Fiesta Floats and the wave generator by American Wave Machines.

"This is the second time we have been involved with setting a Guinness World Record and we are thrilled to have our wave technology applications recognized as the industry leader," said AWM Founder and President, Bruce McFarland. "We are delighted to team with Fiesta Floats and The Lucy Pet Foundation as part of our ongoing corporate charity efforts."

"The challenges in designing for a mobile environment are trying to maximize the wave size while at the same time minimizing weight and footprint. With programmable controls, our patented PerfectSwell wave technology can vary in shape and size, creating a dynamic program for the surfing dogs. The system components are very high quality and able to withstand a mobile environment over a long period," explains McFarland.

As its core business, since 2000, American Wave Machines has been designing, engineering, manufacturing and developing world class surf pools, wave systems and surf parks. The company looks to nature to design patented and proprietary technology that delivers authentic surfing experiences using real surfboards.

American Wave Machines has two ground-breaking technologies replicating ocean-like waves that create ideal conditions for surfing in a safe and controlled environment, any time of the year, anywhere in the world. PerfectSwell is the first surf pool system capable of creating an authentic surfing experience that delivers 100% real ocean dynamics found in nature. SurfStream is the world's first standing wave machine that delivers a deep water stationary surfing experience (on real surfboards) scalable to various spaces.

About American Wave Machines

American Wave Machines is the world's leading wave pool, surf venue, and wave technology company producing authentic surf experiences. SurfStream 5-15K square foot venues have capacity of 100's while PerfectSwell surf pools and surf parks are 1 acre plus with capacity in the 1,000's. Since 2007 over 3,000,000 surf sessions have been enjoyed at American Wave Machines locations around the globe.

To get surfing, contact AmericanWaveMachines.com

CONTACT: Mary Schmidt-Krebs, APR

760-707-3038 w 760-707-3038 m

[email protected]

SOURCE American Wave Machines

Related Links

http://www.americanwavemachines.com


Congress moves to save culture

From:Xinhua | 2016-12-26 10:50

The National Peoples Congress Standing Committee yesterday approved a law to improve cultural services, after three readings.



The law, which will go into effect on March 1, aims to carry forward the traditions of Chinese culture and cultural confidence.

Public cultural services must be people-oriented and guided by socialist core values, the law says. County-level governments and above must improve community cultural service centers, build more of them and offer more products online. Private funds will be invited to finance public cultural facilities.

Rural authorities must provide more books, newspapers, magazines, opera performances, movies, radio programs and online information, as well as festivals and sporting activities to ensure equal service with urban areas. And public services should serve special groups such as minors, the elderly, the disabled and migrant workers.
DALLAS, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 2016 has been a busy and exciting one for the THMED family of companies. With numerous national and regional awards under its belt, and tremendous growth, the executive team of THMED is looking forward to 2017. They thank their team members, employees, clients and candidates for their support, hard work and trust throughout the year.

"One of our most proud achievements this year was raising over $20,000 for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation and their mission of funding childhood cancer research," said Michael Douglas, Chief Operating Officer. Events for the charity included a bowling tournament, restaurant fundraisers, lemonade stands, and many internal company activities among employees. THMED will continue its support of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation in 2017.

The company was also recognized both nationally and regionally for its growth. Recognized in the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies and the Staffing Industry Analysts Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in 2016. Regionally, THMED was honored in the Dallas 100TM Fastest Growing Private Companies in Dallas for the third year in a row. It was also distinguished for its outstanding company culture, winning one of the Best Places to Work in North Dallas by the Dallas Business Journal. Our Chief Financial Officer, Mark McGuire, was also honored by the Dallas Business Journal in their annual CFO of the Year award ceremony.

THMED's Chief Executive Officer, John Martin, said "One of our core values sets to create a culture that celebrates hard work, achievement and camaraderie. I'm grateful for the leaders and team members in our organization and their dedication to making our customers and employees happy. None of these achievements would be possible without them."

THMED, LLC is a complete solutions provider of healthcare staffing services. Its combined services include permanent physician placement, locum tenens staffing, allied traveler staffing, nurse and allied permanent placement, executive and academic placement, and other consulting services. THMED is comprised of Fidelis Partners, Medestar, Allied Staffing Network, THMED Executive Search and myCVConnection. Learn more at www.thmedstaffing.com

SOURCE THMED, LLC

Related Links

http://www.thmedstaffing.com


As the first U.S. institution of higher learning to take that step, Unity College became the standard bearer for a national movement that now has exceeded $5.2 trillion in assets diverted from fossil fuel production, according to a new report by Arabella Advisors.

The sum controlled by individuals and institutions committing to divest from fossil fuels has doubled over the past 15 months, Arabella said.

"Our leadership and our board made this courageous decision after looking at the data on climate change and conducting due diligence on fiduciary responsibility," said Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury.

"It's not a statement. It's not symbolism. It's walking the talk when it comes to creating a sustainable path for society," Khoury said. "We have a vision for a sustainable society that transcends our teaching methods and even our campus, and extends to ethical, systematic, comprehensive, scientifically-informed operational policies. The Unity College way is helping our students to learn from the process as we do the right thing."

Media coverage of Unity College's divestment decision included The Boston Globe, Rolling Stone Magazine, Time Magazine, Maine Things Considered, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes, and dozens more.

Trustees asked Spinnaker Trust of Portland, Maine, Unity's endowment manager, in 2008 to prudently reduce the school's exposure to large energy companies over a five-year horizon.

Since divestment, Unity College has met targeted investment returns. Khoury said it takes no more effort to manage a portfolio for minimum exposure to fossil fuels than to manage for maximum return.

"We have continued to grow our portfolio in a way that allows us to continue to invest in student-facing improvements so we will be here to educate the next generation of environmental professionals," Khoury said. "Divestment is agnostic when it comes to returns. Under current market conditions, our overall portfolio will generally not perform more poorly than the market average, while holding true to our ethical duty to divest.

"Some critics challenge that Unity's exposure was minimal because our endowment was small. But the stakes were actually much higher for Unity, as we could not afford to take a hit," Khoury said. "Sometimes, the right thing to do requires risk."

In addition to being known internationally for being the first U.S. college to divest from fossil fuels, Unity College was the first college with a residence hall built to Passive House standards, known as TerraHaus; and the first with a president's home, known as Unity House, to be certified LEED Platinum by the U.S. Green Building Council. Unity College also is ranked No. 1 in the nation by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for sustainability in its finance and investment practices.

For a comprehensive list of all U.S. colleges and universities that have divested since Unity College in 2012: http://www.unity.edu/news/unity-college-marks-4-years-forefront-divestment

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click link.

Mick Womersley

ProfNet - https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=75688

SOURCE Unity College

Related Links

http://www.unity.edu


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Finch, a virtual reality startup, will showcase their Mobile VR Kit based on No-Camera Motion Controller at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Finch Shift Controller for Mobile VR Enjoy Immersive Gaming in Virtual Reality

Finch has designed the Shift as the first no-camera motion controller to bring exceptional VR experience to smartphone owners. Shift matches the functionality of the best motion controllers for Oculus and HTC Vive without the need for external cameras and wires. By the end of 2017, Finch is aiming to add inside-out room scale tracking by smartphone camera and will have at least 50 mobile VR multiplayer apps compatible with Finch Shift.

The controller employs modified IMU sensors to determine real-time hands' position with sub-centimeter accuracy and a 360-degree tracking range. Coupled with the 'PC-to-mobile' streaming software, it allows running existing Steam VR, Oulus and HTC Vive apps and games on smartphones. The Finch Shift will also allow mobile gamers to interact in virtual reality through a multiplayer option.

Finch Shift's Developer's Kit, priced at $179, includes the sets for both hands, SDK/API, accessories, three demo games and the streaming software pack. The DK1 will be shipped in February 2017. The consumer version will hit the market in the second half of 2017 after Finch's Kickstarter campaign this spring.

"We believe that Finch Shift VR Kit will accelerate consumers' interest to virtual reality in the near future. The main reasons for slow market expansion have been limited functionality and low quality of content for mobile VR, and prohibitive costs of high-end hardware. With the Shift Kit, anyone who has a decent smartphone can play the best virtual reality games from SteamVR and mobile VR app stores. Plus, you can share the fun with your friends, just like you do it with console gaming," said the company's CEO Alexey Kartashov.

In spite of billions of dollars invested in virtual reality startups, current market demand for VR gadgets is significantly below earlier predictions. The industry experts see the mobile VR segment as the key to the doors to virtual reality consumer adoption. Tractica researchers forecast global sales of smartphone-powered VR devices to reach 323 million units between 2015 and 2021. However, lack of natural input devices and other challenges with quality of mobile VR experience have been serious roadblocks to the mobile VR sector growth.

The Finch team believes that it has found a solution to the problem. By combining existing high- quality content with affordable devices, they hope to introduce the exciting world of virtual reality to millions of smartphone owners around the globe. The attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month will have an opportunity to try Finch Shift in action at the Augmented Reality Marketplace (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2, booth 26737).

Finch Shift website: www.finch-shift.com.

Contact the company by email: [email protected] or by phone: (949) 259-3704.

The company's address: 23031 Tiagua, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

SOURCE Finch
DAYTON, Ohio, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vivial, a leading advertising technology (ad tech) company announced today that it is expanding its Dayton headquarters to include a new outbound call center. The company is acquiring additional space at its current location at 3100 Research Blvd. and will be hiring over 60 full and part-time positions over the next few months. These positions are well suited for college students, stay-at-home parents and other individuals looking for part-time work.

"The demand for our services from small and medium sized businesses (SMB) continues to grow as does our commitment to the Dayton community," said Jim Continenza, Chairman and CEO of Vivial. "This new outbound call center will give us additional opportunities to offer the products that our SMB customers need most including packages that provide mobile responsive websites, listings on Google and the ability to manage online reviews."

Featured products that will be sold via the new outbound call center include:

Websites

According to Clutch's 2016 Small Business Website Survey, 46 percent of SMBs do not have websites to promote their businesses online and of those who do have a website, one in four are not mobile optimized. Vivial knows how important an online storefront is for businesses, which is why the company is offering an effective online presence for SMBs that includes fundamental features without overwhelming them with hefty monthly fees and large setup costs.

Vivial Marketing Platform

To address the growing demand from SMBs to find new and smarter ways to manage their online presence, Vivial will sell its SaaS Platform at the new outbound call center. With an entry-level package developed specifically for the new Call Center, the SaaS Platform helps businesses optimize their marketing efforts through local search engine optimization, directory listings and targeted content and social media.

The Platform also includes additional features, such as social listening software to monitor and respond to reviews in real time. Customers will have access to Vivial's award-winning dashboard, which can be accessed from desktop or mobile, and 24/7 reporting capabilities through this package.

To learn about all of Vivial's product offerings, visit Vivial.net

ABOUT VIVIAL:

Vivial is a groundbreaking ad tech company that offers a full range of customer engagement tools to help businesses enhance the way they connect with customers, build loyalty, manage content and track results.

Vivial's mission is to help our customers grow their business, whether that is with our easy-to-use and affordable local online marketing technology or a custom marketing campaign that we create, implement and monitor. We help businesses of all types increase their visibility using turn-key solutions, allowing our customers to get back to running their business while we work behind the scenes to get them results.

Vivial's success is highlighted by recognitions such as: "Fifth Hottest Technology Company," Forbes; "Best Local SEO Company," Top SEO; "Green Initiative" award from the prestigious national Comunitas Award.

For more information visit vivial.net

SOURCE Vivial

Related Links

https://vivial.net


NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ABO Capital announced today that its CEO Zandre Campos was featured in CNBC Africa discussing the key facts about African consumers. The article entitled "Five key facts about African consumers" was originally published on CNBC Africa on December 9, 2016.

There is a vast and fast-growing consumer market in Africa. The population in Africa is growing and it is a young market. The economy is also expected to grow 50% in the next few years, creating a world of opportunity. Five key facts that demonstrate the potential of African consumers are that consumers are attached to their smartphones, they are digitally-savvy, they demand quality and are brand-conscious, consumers have money to spend, and they want a modern shopping experience.

"The rise of the consumer culture in Africa mirrors the continent's growth into the 21st Century." said Mr. Campos. "The facts show that African consumers essentially are no different from those everywhere else. For smart businesses and brands, meeting Africa's burgeoning consumer demand could also lead to dramatic growth in the years ahead."

Zandre Campos is chairman and CEO of ABO Capital, an international investment firm that invests in companies in the healthcare, energy, transportation, hospitality, technology and real estate sectors throughout Africa. ABO's mission is to create global value for developing countries in Africa, while contributing to their economic development.

Read the full CNBC Africa article:

http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/special-report/2016/12/09/five-key-facts-about-african-consumers/

About ABO Capital

ABO Capital, formerly Angola Capital Investments, is an international investment firm that invests in companies in the healthcare, technology, energy, transportation, hospitality and real estate sectors throughout Africa. The mission of ABO Capital is to create global value for developing countries in Africa, while contributing to their economic development.

About Zandre Campos

Zandre Campos is one of the great, innovative business leaders and global entrepreneurs emerging out of Africa. Currently, he is chairman and CEO of ABO Capital, an international investment firm headquartered in Angola with holdings throughout the Globe. Mr. Campos was named one of the Top 25 African business influencers and was a recipient of the Distinguished Business Excellence Award by African Leadership Magazine. He is frequently quoted as an expert on Africa in the media and is a recurring contributor for The Huffington Post and US News & World Report. He recently addressed both students and professors at the NYU Africa House on the opportunities in Africa.

SOURCE ABO Capital

Related Links

http://www.abocapital.net


Mexico City, Dec 21 : At least 29 people were killed when several explosions ripped through a fireworks market in Mexico, authorities said.

Seventy people were injured in the incident that took place on Tuesday in Tultepec, about 40 km north of Mexico City, said Eruviel Avila, governor of the State of Mexico.

Avila said at a press conference that 26 people died at the scene of the incident and that three others later died in hospitals where the wounded are being treated, Efe news reported.

The incident occurred just before 3 p.m., at the San Pablito fireworks market, where Civil Protection, fire department and federal agents are now working to extinguish the blaze and rescue victims.

Avila said that three children who have suffered serious burns will be transferred to a hospital in Texas, US.

He added that the Attorney General of Mexico will investigate the case as it is related to Mexico's Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives.

Tultepec Civil Protection radio operator Antonio Escalona told Efe news that currently "more than 20 or 25 units throughout the State of Mexico, the Federal Government and the Army" have been dispatched to help victims.

"They all have fractures, bruises, burns, but none of them suffers serious injury," he said.

In addition, the Red Cross has deployed 20 ambulances with approximately 70 paramedics.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto expressed his condolences "to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this accident" as well as his "wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured."
Tirupati, Dec 22 : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday prayed at the Lord Venkateshwara temple in Tirumala here.

Accompanied by his wife Maithree Wickremesinghe, he paid obeisance to the revered Lord at the hill shrine in the morning.

The couple was accorded a warm reception on arrival by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Trust Board Chairman Ch. Krishnamurthy, Executive Officer D. Sambasiva Rao and other officials.

The Sri Lankan President and his wife were later escorted into the sanctum sanctorum where they offered prayers and performed rituals conducted by the priests.

The couple was blessed by the priests at Ranganayakula mandap.

The priests presented the Sri Lankan premier the silk 'vastram' of the deity while the authorities gave him 'laddu prasadam' and a memento.

Wickremesinghe described his visit as personal.

"The relationship between India and Sri Lanka is getting stronger day by day and I prayed to the Lord for the welfare of the people," the statement quoted him him as saying.

The Wickremesinghes arrived in the temple town on Wednesday evening and had a night halt at the Sri Krishna rest house.

Sri Lanka's Minister for Prison Reforms and Hindu Religious Affairs D.M. Swaminathan and Minister for Infrastructure and Community Development Palany Thigambaram also accompanied the premier.
New Delhi, Dec 22 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday got in touch with India's Ambassador to Norway following reports that a five-year-old Indian child was separated from his parents, who have been accused of beating him up.

"I have asked the Indian Ambassador in Norway to send me a report," Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

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.
Mumbai, Dec 23 : 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."
New Delhi, Dec 23 : 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.
New Delhi, Dec 23 : 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.
Kabul, Dec 24 : The first fixed-wing female pilot in the Afghan airforce has sought asylum in the US, the media reported on Saturday.

Captain Niloofar Rahmani on Friday expressed her intention to remain in the US following a 15-month long training period in Texas, Khaama Press reported.

"Things are not changing" for the better in Afghanistan, Rahmani told The New York Times. "Things are getting worse and worse."

Rahmani told her American trainers that she still wants to be a military pilot but not under her country's flag.

The pilot has already filed a petition seeking asylum in the US, where she hopes to join the air force.

This comes as reports emerged late last year that Rahmani was receiving death threats.

Rahmani is one of the celebrated personalities in Afghanistan for being the first female pilot to fly fixed-wing plane. She was presented the International Women of Courage award last year in Washington.

"Rahmani is as committed to encouraging other young women to follow in her footsteps now as she was as an 18-year-old dreaming of flight school," US First Lady Michelle Obama had said of her at the ceremony last year.
Islamabad, Dec 25 : Pakistan has urged the World Bank to fulfil its commitment in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) under which no party can pause the performance of its role, the media reported on Sunday.

The demand was made by Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday in a letter to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, which was in response to the World Bank's decision to pause the process of empanelment of the Court of Arbitration, reported Radio Pakistan.

Earlier this week, the World Bank had announced a pause in the separate processes initiated by India and Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.

The decision halted the appointment of a neutral expert as requested by India and the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration as requested by Pakistan to resolve issues regarding two hydro-electric power plants under construction by India along the Indus Rivers system.

Dar, in his letter, said the World Bank's decision will seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, said a report in Dawn on Sunday.

The Pakistan Minister urged the World Bank to execute its obligations under the Indus Waters Treaty as the chosen appointing authority and appoint the Chairman of the Court of Arbitration expeditiously.

Dar said the pause proposed by the World Bank Group would merely prevent Pakistan from approaching a competent forum and having its grievances addressed.
Panaji, Dec 26 : The Goa BJP's decision to welcome a tainted Congress legislator into its fold has brought to the surface a rift between the party's tallest state leaders, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik.

Less than a week after Pandurang Madkaikar resigned from the Congress and the assembly to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Naik said on Monday that he was not consulted and the decision was "wrong".

"They informed me about this only after taking the decision. I had told them that it was a wrong decision," Naik told reporters.

Madkaikar joined the BJP last week in the presence of Parrikar, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and state party President Vinay Tendulkar.

Parrikar claimed on Saturday that Naik was consulted before Madkaikar's induction.

Madkaikar is the second Congress state legislator to join the BJP over the past 10 days.

During a debate in the Goa assembly, Parrikar, as the Goa Chief Minister then, had accused the former Cumbharjua legislator of indulging in a land scam.

After Madkaikar's inclusion into the BJP on December 22, Parrikar claimed an inquiry has been ordered into the scam and action would be taken if the legislator was found guilty.

Madkaikar's entry into the BJP has also riled a section of the BJP leadership in Goa, which is one of the five states headed for polls early next year.

Naik claimed that he did not want to speak publicly of his discontent, but said he was forced to go on record after Parrikar told the media on Saturday that he had been consulted before the controversial induction.

"I did not go to the press because of party discipline... Consultation means asking for an opinion before a decision is made. This decision was already made by him (Parrikar) before I was told about it," Naik said.

The BJP, which got an unprecedented simple majority in the 2012 state assembly elections, now faces an uphill task in the next polls since its alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party is on the brink of breaking up and a new political party founded by rebel Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Subhash Velingkar is taking the battle to the ruling party.
Los Angeles, Dec 26 : Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has denied new claims that her marriage to rapper Kanye West is over.

The reality star faced speculation that her union is on the rocks once again, amid reports she ordered him to stay away from her mother Kris Jenner's annual Christmas Eve party as she partied with her sisters without her wedding ring, reports dailymail.co.uk.

A spokesperson for Kim denied the report, saying: "The story is false. Kanye was at the party."

A source had claimed to The Sun newspaper that "she refused to let him come to her family's annual party on Christmas Eve despite the fact they have always attended as a couple. He went to watch a film with friends instead while she celebrated with her sisters".

"On Friday they took North to see The Nutcracker but they barely spoke or interacted inside. The tensions were visible. Neither of them are in a happy place right now," the source added.

The claims come after the couple was spotted together earlier on Christmas Eve at the Los Angeles Ballet Company's performance of "The Nutcracker". The pair were in good spirits as their daughter North was introduced to the dancers.
Karachi, Dec 26 : Former President and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari discussed the formation of an anti-government alliance with Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the media reported on Monday.

During a meeting here on Sunday, both leaders also talked about PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's four demands to the government, said a report in the Nation daily.

"We will not let the democracy be hijacked," said Shujaat Hussain, as he stressed the need for a grand alliance of the opposition for the country.

Shujaat Hussain made an appeal to all opposition parties to unite on a one-point agenda for national cause. Praising the PPP, he said that it always made sacrifices for the democracy while its policy of reconciliation is appreciated by the whole world.

"Our reconciliation is with democracy, and not with PML-N," said Zardari.

The former President said that their hold will now be in the Punjab province.

Zardari, during a visit to Mazar-e-Quaid (Jinnah mausoleum) on Sunday, told reporters that he will reveal his future course of action and provide good news in his address on December 27.

He said that the situation for early elections will develop soon, and added that Lahore will be the hub of politics.

Zardari also confirmed his ties with Anwar Majeed, who is being investigated by law enforcement agencies after huge cache of arms was recovered from his house during a raid on Sunday.

"Yes, I have relations with Anwar Majeed. As for what happened with him and why it happened, ask the Interior Minister about it," the former President said.

Majeed's company Omni Group was also raided on Friday.
Washington, Dec 27 : The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is sprinting towards the edge of extinction, a new study warned, calling for urgent conservation actions to save these big cats.

The study published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, estimated that the cheetah's population has declined to just 7,100 globally, Xinhua news agency reports.

As a result, the researchers urged that the cheetah should be up-listed from "Vulnerable" to "Endangered" on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.

Sarah Durant of the Zoological Society of London and lead author of the study said this study represents the most comprehensive analysis of cheetah status to date.

"Given the secretive nature of this elusive cat, it has been difficult to gather hard information on the species, leading to its plight being overlooked," Durant said in a statement.

According to the researchers, even within guarded parks and reserves, cheetahs still face threats of human-wildlife conflict, prey loss due to excessive hunting by people, habitat loss and the illegal trafficking of cheetah parts and trade as exotic pets.

To make matters worse, as one of the world's most wide-ranging carnivores, 77 per cent of the cheetah's habitat falls outside of protected areas, which makes the animal especially vulnerable to human pressures.

"The take-away from this pinnacle study is that securing protected areas alone is not enough," said Kim Young-Overton, cheetah program director of the wild cat conservation group Panthera.
Mexico City, Dec 27 : The Colima volcano in western Mexico belched out a column of smoke and ash 1.5 km high, the Civil Protection chief Luis Felipe Puente said.

Puente did not issue an alert over the emission from the volcano, but notified the natural phenomenon on Twitter, Efe news reported on Tuesday.

Colima in recent weeks increased its activity with explosions and smoke columns rising up to three km in height.

The Civil Protection, however, published on its web page a series of recommendations for people living near the mountain, which rises to a height of 3,860 metres above sea level.

These included relocating to temporary shelters and respecting the exclusion radius of 7.5 km around the volcano's crater in Jalisco and 12 km in Colima states.

In case of an ash fall, authorities recommended that people cover their noses and mouths with wet handkerchiefs or masks, close the windows and remain inside as much as possible.

Also, cover containers of water so that they don't get contaminated and remove ash from roofs as they could collapse.

The Colima volcano, also known as the 'Fire Volcano', is located on the mutual border between Colima and Jalisco states and is Mexico's most active volcano.
Hawaii, Dec 27 : Japanese Prime Minister arrived in Hawaii on Monday, one day ahead of his visit to Pearl Harbor, the US naval base attacked by the Japanese in 1941 resulting in the deaths of 2,403 Americans.

The two-day trip's main highlight is the visit to the USS Arizona Memorial with President Barack Obama, making Abe the first Japanese leader to visit the memorial to the battleship that was sunk on December 7, 1941, the Japan Times reported on Tuesday.

The late Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida visited Pearl Harbor in 1951, but before the memorial site was built. Two other postwar premiers, Ichiro Hatoyama and Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, visited the US Pacific Command at Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, government officials have confirmed.

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," Abe told reporters before leaving Japan.

The visit comes seven months after Obama became the first sitting president to visit a park in Hiroshima dedicated to the estimated 200,000-plus people who were killed when the US dropped two atomic bombs on that city and Nagasaki in August 1945.

After arriving on Monday morning at the Hickam Air Force base here, which Japanese fighter planes strafed on the morning of December 7, 1941, Abe spent the day visiting the cemeteries of US servicemen killed in the Pacific War and Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, as well as a memorial to Japanese students and crew who perished on the Ehime Maru training ship when it sank off Oahu in a collision with a surfacing US submarine.

Abe is scheduled to stop by a memorial dedicated to Lt. Fusata Iida, who crashed his airplane on a hillside during the December 7, 1941, attack in what Americans later called Japan's first kamikaze suicide attack of the war.

The Prime Minister also laid a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where over 13,000 soldiers and sailors who died during the Pacific War were laid to rest.

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada are accompanying Abe on his trip, which concludes after a last meeting with Obama and their joint visit to the USS Arizona Memorial on Tuesday.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to lay the foundation stone of Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand on Tuesday.

"Will visit Devbhoomi Uttarakhand today (Tuesday) for the inauguration of a key infrastructure project, the Char Dham highway development programme," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"Char Dham highway project will lead to creation of over 900 km of roads. Connectivity and tourism will get a strong boost through the project," the Prime Minister said.

"Adding of bypasses, tunnels, bridges and flyovers will ease travel. Proper slope stabilisation will ensure protection against landslides," he said pointing out at the towards ensuring uninterrupted all weather safe journey for pilgrims to the four shrines.

The Prime Minister also said that he will address a public meeting in Dehradun during his Uttarakhand visit.
Seoul, Dec 27 : Samsung Electronics said on Tuesday that it has retrieved over 90 per cent of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7 smartphones sold in South Korea, leading the company to consider software upgrades to further limit the battery-charging capability.

Over 850,000 Note 7 devices have been retrieved among about 950,000 phones sold here, raising the recovery rate to 90 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported.

Samsung said in a statement that it is considering the upgrade of the software patch the firm released in October to limit the maximum charging capability of Note 7 to 60 per cent.

The South Korean tech behemoth has decided to discontinue the latest Galaxy device on reports of the devices catching fire or overheating globally.

In the US and Europe, where the retrieval rate surpassed 90 percent, Samsung already took an action to restrict the battery capability for the protection of consumers.

Exchange and refunds of the fire-prone phones will continue here until next month, but benefits and favours from the replacement is scheduled to end by the end of this month.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday said that the government will spare no effort to secure Father Tom Uzhunnalil's release from captivity in Yemen.

"I have seen the video from Father Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us," Sushma Swaraj said in a series of tweets.

"We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan," she said.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity," the External Affairs Minister added.

The Minister's remarks comes a day after Father Uzhunnalil appealed to Pope Francis and the Indian government through a purported video to secure his release from his captors.

Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by the Islamic State terror group which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Yemen's city of Aden.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27 : A close relative of the IS abducted Catholic Priest Thomas Uzhunnallil on Tuesday urged Pope Francis and the Indian government to secure his release.

Uzhunnallil has been in captivity for nine months since the Islamic State terrorist group in Yemen abducted him. Despite various efforts his release did not work out.

"Now Pope Francis and the Indian government have to act for his release," the relative said.

"Despite so many efforts our dear one languishes in captivity. Our Church has to take this up very seriously and at the highest level," said the relative who claimed that besides Uzhunnallil, there were five more from the family who were in the clergy.

The reaction from the family came soon after a video showing the captive priest pleading to authorities for his release, surfaced on the internet.

"I am very sad nothing seems to be happening for my release. If I was an European priest, I know by this time I would have been released," Uzhunnallil said in the short video.

"But since I am an Indian and not considered of much value, I am still here. I beg to all of you, please pray for me. My health is deteriorating," said the bearded, frail-looking captive.

Reacting to the news reports of the video, Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj wrote on her twitter handle on Tuesday morning: "I have seen the video from Father Tom."

"He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. We got Father Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan.

"We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Father Tom's release from captivity," said Swaraj.

In March, IS militants barged into a care-home for the elderly (set up by Mother Teresa in Yemen's Aden in 1992), and shot dead many people, including four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity.

Uzhunnallil was the one captured. The militants abducted the Kerala priest that day and there has been no information about him ever since.

Uzhunnallil's ancestral home is in Ramapuram in Kottayam district, which lies deserted as two of his brothers live abroad, while another lives in Gujarat.
Mumbai, Dec 27 : Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has been appointed brand ambassador for automobile major Tata Motors' commercial vehicle business unit.

The 49-year-old star will take on his new role at the launch of Tata Motors' latest offering in commercial vehicles, slated in January 2017.

"No one understands Indian trucking better than Tatas and there couldn't have been a better and more apt brand to promote. It was fun being in the driver's seat of one of those monster machines, during a product shoot," Akshay said in a statement.

The brand association with Akshay for commercial vehicles will be supported by a multi-media campaign, beginning in the first week of January. Besides products and solutions, he will be actively involved in a host of marketing and customer experience initiatives to be rolled out by the company.

"Akshay embodies dynamism, popularity, machismo, performance and style. More importantly, he blends well with the core values of trust, reliability, responsibility and good leadership of Tata Motors' Commercial vehicles business," said Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors.

Talking of their customers, Pisharody said: "Today we are catering to an audience that defines the driven, ambitious, forward-moving, non-stop pulse of India and Akshay understands the pulse of this audience well."

The "Rustom" star also announced about his association with the brand, on Twitter.

"Trust, reliability and forward-moving are synonymous with Tata Motors. Honoured to be associated with a brand most of us have grown up with," he tweeted.
Chennai, Dec 27 : Former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao on Monday asserted that he continued to hold the post of Chief Secretary, and claimed the Tamil Nadu government did not serve him any transfer orders.

"This government has no guts to serve the copy of the transfer order," Rao thundered at his Anna Nagar residence here.

Expressing his anger at Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam-led state government, Rao said had the late J. Jayalalithaa been alive the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would never have entered the state secretariat.

Speaking to the media here, Rao also denied that the state government served him any transfer orders.

Rao is under Income Tax scanner and his residence and office were searched by Income Tax officials on December 21, and the search only concluded the next day.

The state government appointed Girija Vaidyanathan as the new Chief Secretary in Rao's place.

According to Rao, the central government could have asked the state government to transfer him before the IT officials began their search operations.

He said he had always followed Jayalalithaa's orders and it was she who trained him for the past for several years.

"At gun point they entered my house. I was under house arrest," Rao said, referring to the gun-totting CRPF personnel who were deployed at his residence to escort the IT officials.

Charging the Income Tax officials of entering his residence and his office in the state secretariat without any authorisation, Rao said: "The search warrant was in the name of my son, Vivek Papisetty."

Rao questioned as to how IT officials could search the office of the Chief Secretary without due authorisation.

"Did they get the permission of Chief Minister, Home Secretary for searching the Chief Secretary's office?" Rao said.

Tax officials also raided the premises of Rao's son Papisetty's and those connected with the duo.

Rao thanked Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for charging the Centre of raiding the constitutional authorities in the states.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Cab aggregator Ola on Tuesday announced an inter-city mobility solution offering 'one way trip fares on Ola Outstation to over 50 cities from Delhi-NCR.

Using 'one-way' fares feature, inter-city commuters from Delhi can travel to cities like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Agra, Dehradun, Haridwar, starting at Rs 11 per km.

"With Ola Outstation, we are aiming to make outstation travel as convenient and reliable as daily commute," said Deep Singh, Business Head, North, Ola, in a statement.

The booking process for Ola Outstation remains the same as booking an Ola Micro or Ola Mini for travel within the city.

The user needs to select 'Outstation' from the category list displayed at the base of the Ola app.

Upon selecting the category and filling in the destination details, the user will have to fill in the date and time at which he/she would like to avail of the service.

After that, the user needs to book from the packages and cab category of his/her choice, the company said.
Islamabad, Dec 27 : World Bank President Jim Yong Kim called Pakistani Finance Minster Ishaq Dar on phone to discuss the Pakistan-India water dispute, an official said on Tuesday.

The phone call on Monday was in relation with the latest dispute concerning two hydroelectric power plants -- KishanAganga and Ratle -- that India is building on the Indus river system, Dawn online reported.

Dar earlier wrote to Kim requesting him to help settle the water dispute between the two neighbouring nations.

He said that delaying arbitration would seriously prejudice Pakistan's interests and rights under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty which was signed in 1960.

The letter explained that Pakistan was not withdrawing its earlier request to the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration and since this process had already been "inordinately delayed", Islamabad wanted the bank to appoint the chairman as soon as possible.

Pakistan believes that further delay would hurt the country's interests as India was working on completing the two projects. Dar said that once the projects are completed, it will be difficult to undo them.

The treaty distributed the Indus basin rivers between the two countries, giving India control over the three eastern rivers of Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, while Pakistan has the three western rivers of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

The treaty empowers the World Bank to arbitrate any water dispute between India and Pakistan.

Last week, Kim in a letter to the Finance Ministers of India and Pakistan, said he had decided to "pause" the bank's arbitration and urged the two neighbours to decide by the end of January how they wanted to settle the dispute.

Pakistan asked the bank to appoint the chairman of the Court of Arbitration while India demanded the appointment of a neutral expert.

Kim said he was "pausing" arbitration to protect the Indus Waters Treaty, which has successfully resolved previous disputes between the two neighbours.

Tension over the water dispute intensified in November when Prime Minister Narendra Modi post the Uri attack which claimed the lives of 19 soldiers, said: "Blood and water cannot flow at the same time."
Ranchi, Dec 27 : Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra on Tuesday stopped Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das' convoy to seek justice for the "abusive language" hurled at her by a traffic police.

The mayor was on her way to attend a local programme when her vehicle was allegedly stopped near Ratu roundabout.

The traffic police used some "abusive" language after which Lakra stopped the Chief Minister's convoy passing on the same route to complain about the behaviour and sought justice.

The Chief Minister assured Lakra that action against the concerned police person would be taken.

The "insensitive face" of the Jharkhand Police was, however, not new.

A few months ago, Urban Development Minister C.P. Singh had to intervene when the traffic police allegedly used abusive language against a person who works at Singh's residence.

"Ranchi police use intolerable words in the name of vehicle and helmet checking. The police have failed to improve the traffic condition here," said Shilpi, a resident of Anantpur, Ranchi.

"They are yet to arrest the culprits who gangraped an engineering student and later burnt her on December 16. Common people are their easy target," Shilpi added.
Beijing, Dec 27 : The ninth National Assembly of Chinese Catholic Representatives, a meeting held every six years, started in Beijing on Tuesday, according to a State Administration for Religious Affairs statement.

The meeting, which will have participants from China's state-controlled "official" Church, as well as the semi-clandestine Catholic Church that answers to the Vatican, will conclude on Thursday, Efe news reported.

The gathering is expected to serve to renew the top leadership of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, as well as the Chinese Episcopal Assembly.

The last such conference in 2010 sparked protests from the Vatican, which believed members of the non-official Chinese Church, loyal to itself, had been forced to attend the event.

This year's meeting comes at a time of improving China-Vatican relations, which had been officially non-existent for over six decades.

"The Chinese Catholic Church will hold its ninth national congress from December 27 to 29, which is believed to help Catholicism better adapt to and integrate into the Chinese culture and society," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a press briefing on Monday.

She also stressed Beijing's "sincere" wish to improve ties with the Vatican, stating that the country "is willing to work alongside the Vatican to make new headway in conducting bilateral constructive dialogues and improving bilateral relations."

A total of 365 Catholic delegates from across the country, in addition to representatives from the government and other religions, are expected to attend the conference.

Bishop Fang Xingyao, chairman of the Communist Party-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, said during the event's inaugural speech that the three-day event will review the work done by Chinese Catholics in the past six years and set targets for the future.
Mumbai, Dec 27 : Indian actress Priyanka Chopra's mother Madhu says her daughter's blink-and-miss appearance in the trailer of "Baywatch" is part of a marketing strategy as the makers want to keep the best for the last.

Priyanka appears in just one scene of the trailer of her maiden Hollywood project, which stars Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. This elicited a mixed response from her fans.

Justifying the one-shot appearance, Madhu told IANS: "That is their strategy. They don't want to give out the best part of the film and Priyanka is the best part of the film. It's a publicity plan that they had for the trailer. Priyanka is the main antagonist and she has a fabulous role in it."

In the film, Priyanka plays a negative role.

Her mother says she no longer gets bothered by negative news about Priyanka.

"There was a time when negative news used to bother me, but now it doesn't because I know my daughter better than anyone else. If somebody writes negative, I know it cannot be true because she is very genuine, very honest and very true to herself.

"I am not saying she can't do anything wrong, but she can't do anything bad. I can guarantee that."

Madhu spoke to IANS for Punjabi movie "Sarvann", which is the second production venture of their home banner Purple Pebble Pictures.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi's black money scheme be valid after December 30? The question takes on importance because old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would no longer be allowed to be deposited in banks after that date.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme 2016 (PMGKY) is open till March 31, 2017 or for the the rest of the current financial year.

But the tax, penalty, cess, surcharge and deposit under the scheme can only be paid with demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 till December 30, according to the details of the scheme advertised by the Income Tax Department.

So what happens when a person wants to declare undisclosed income on or after December 31? The department has left this question hanging.

Under the scheme, a person disclosing income would have to pay total tax, surcharge and penalty amounting to 49.90 per cent of the undisclosed income. Additionally, 25 per cent of the undisclosed income would have to be put in PMGK Deposit Scheme 2016 for four years without interest.

Since, obviously, the black money sought to be unearthed would be in old currency notes, how will a person declaring such income pay the penalty or deposit the 25 per cent amount on December 31 and up to March 31, 2017?

Is the government planning to extend the date of depositing old currencies for those declaring undisclosed income?

If the government does allow black money hoarders to deposit old notes after the December 30 deadline, it would be giving them preference over honest taxpayers who have to deposit all their old currency notes in their bank accounts by then.

A more cumbersome procedure of seeking special permission from the RBI kicks in after that deadline for anyone who wants to deposit demonetised notes.

In the case of PMGKY, the government does not seem to have thought through the practical aspects of inviting declaration of black money in the new year.

The black money scheme provides "total confidentiality" to the declarer. It also provides for immunity from prosecution under various laws.
Washington, Dec 27 : The US sold weapons worth $40 billion in 2015, again making it the world's dominant supplier of weapons globally, according to a new congressional study.

The US market share of weapons sales amounted to about half of all arms agreements in 2015, and more than double the orders recorded by France, its nearest rival with $15 billion in sales. The US and France both grew their market shares, by around $4 billion and $9 billion, respectively.

Russia, another dominant power in the global arms market, saw a modest decline in weapons order, dropping to $11.1 billion in sales from the $11.2 billion total in 2014, the New York Times reported on Monday.

China reached $6 billion in weapons sales, up from its 2014 total of over $3 billion.

The 2015 study, titled 'Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations', 2008-2015, said that developing nations continued to be the largest buyers of arms.

Qatar signed deals for more than $17 billion in weapons last year, followed by Egypt, which agreed to buy almost $12 billion in arms, and Saudi Arabia, with over $8 billion in weapons purchases.

Other leading buyers included South Korea, Pakistan, Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq.

Although global tensions and terrorist threats have shown few signs of diminishing, the total size of the global arms trade dropped to around $80 billion in 2015 from the 2014 total of $89 billion, the study found.

The latest figures were released by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, a division of the Library of Congress, and delivered to legislators last week.

Developing nations bought $65 billion worth weapons in 2015, substantially lower than the previous year's total of $79 billion.

Not only did the US rank first in new arms orders, it also ranked first in the value of all arms deliveries worldwide at $17 billion, or nearly 37 per cent of all shipments. This is the eighth year in a row that the US has led in global arms deliveries.

The US arms exports in 2016 looks set to remain broadly in line with the previous year's sales.
Chandigarh, Dec 27 : A clash between supporters of Congress leaders in Punjab's Kapurthala district led to a Congress legislator and his aides being booked by the police, officials said on Tuesday.

Congress legislator and industrialist Rana Gurjit Singh was booked by the Kapurthala police along with two others following the Sunday night clash during a party meeting in Nadala town in Kapurthala district.

The clash took place after Congress leader Kulwant Singh Babbal objected to the Congress ticket being given to Gurbinder Singh Atwal for the Bholath assembly seat.

Babbal's turban was thrown to the ground and chairs were flung by supporters of the Congress leaders in the legislator's presence.

Following a complaint by Babbal, the legislators and two others were booked for outraging religious sentiments, criminal intimidation and conspiracy, the police added.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : A local court on Tuesday sent four persons including a tourist guide, who were arrested on the charge of sexually assaulting a US tourist here earlier this year, to two-day judicial custody.

"Four accused were presented before a duty magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody till December 29," defence counsel Sandeep Kapur told IANS.

Advocate Kapur is appearing for Vivek, an accused in the case.

Aniruddha Singh, a Nepal-based tourist guide, Omprakash, Maqsood and Vivek were arrested from different cities during raids conducted by Delhi Police.

Among the accused, Omprakash was a driver, Maqsood a helper and Vivek a bell-boy at the hotel where the crime occurred.

Police initially identified Vivek from the duty register of room service as he was the first to enter the victim's room on the day of the crime.

Police recorded the victim's statement last week when she arrived in Delhi from America.

As per her complaint, the 30-year-old American tourist was gang raped at a luxury hotel in the first week of April this year.

Delhi Police had registered an FIR earlier this month on the complaint of the woman as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj intervened in the matter.

The victim had filed a police complaint with the help of an NGO early December, saying that the accused drugged her and sexually assaulted her for two days and also made an MMS.

The accused have, however, denied the charge.

A test identification parade is likely to be held in Tihar Jail and police are searching for the fifth accused, who is on the run, sources said.
Bhubaneswar, Dec 27 : The Odisha government on Tuesday initiated the process for culling of poultry in Khurdha district after four dead crows and three dead poultry tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.

The government began culling of poultry in Keranga village and within a one-kilometre radius in the district. The bird flu virus was confirmed in this village, about 35 kilometres from Bhubaneswar.

Ten rapid response teams have been mobilised for the culling operation in the area. Around 2,500 chickens will be culled during the operation, officials said.

"Keranga village is the epicentre of bird flu. We have directed to go for culling of poultry within the radius of one kilometre for its containment. It's the first time in the current season that this type of bird flu was detected," said Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Secretary Bishnupada Sethi.

A similar outbreak was reported in the region in 2012.

"The H5N1 is considered highly pathogenic. It can also transmit to animals and humans. The Health Department is monitoring the situation," said Sethi.

A control room has been set up at the Directorate of Animal Husbandry to monitor the situation and to disseminate information.

Official sources said the government would provide compensation to the poultry farmers and owners for the culling.
Dec 27, 2016 : He still believed that music was the greatest gift of God to man. And he was abundantly blessed with it..!!

But the pop-idol was much more than music alone. Being one of the most genuine, subtle and humane artist who lived amongst us, the songwriter who sold tens of millions of his albums, always stated repeatedly, that he was and always loved to remain same as everyone else.

George Michael, the confused, strikingly original artist, was found dead on Sunday at his home in England, aged 53.

Ever since Michael's death, news and releases have been pouring from around the world of his extensive philanthropic activity  both small and big  Giving off entire royalty on his hit-songs and doing charity concerts for war-affected population - donations which he strenuously worked to keep off the public eye.

George Michael, born in England in the year 1963, started his musical outing right from a small age and started flirting with fame even before he was 18, forming the duo band called Wham! with his schoolmate Andrew Ridegely.

Their 1983 debut album, Fantastic, reached No. 1 in Britain; in the United States, their 1984 single Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go became an instant hit on MTV and reached No. 1.

In 1986, Wham! dissolved, with a farewell show at Wembley Stadium.

Faith (1987), widely seen as one of his most popular albums reached No. 1 which itself included three more No. 1 hits: Father Figure, Monkey and One More Try. It went on to sell more than 10 million copies in the United States.

And so he went on to make music over the years, winning multiple Grammy awards; and in 2004, Britains Radio Academy said he had been the most-played performer on British radio from 1984 to 2004.

During the 2000s, Mr. Michaels output slowed; his last studio album of new songs was Patience in 2004. In later years he put out individual songs as free downloads, encouraging listeners to contribute to charity.

Always a foot over the edge of what the pop industry called obvious, in his autobiographical album Freedom 90, he never featured in the music video, but made super models do lip sync the lyrics. This was the biggest allure he gave to his aversion to the rot methods of the industry.

"I believe I have some kind of gift, but I don't believe in myself as a star. To be happy as a star, you have to believe you're really removed from people. I've never been comfortable with that. I know that deep down I'm the same as everyone else."  Michael said to USA TODAY in September 1990.

It might have been this particular inclination which aided him to pen lines so close to and relevant to the world around him. In the early 2000s, Mr. Michael released songs protesting the invasion of Iraq, including the 2002 Shoot the Dog, where he even went as far as calling the then British Prime Minister David Cameron as the most coward leader of Britain.

Very strikingly similar to his work graph, his personal life was also a firm tabloid fodder for the media, which moved to serious levels, publicizing his gay interests following his arrest in 1998 on charges of crude conducts in a mens room in Beverly Hills.

Coming out as being openly gay, facing massive media scrutiny, and then leaving mainstream music because of his personal beliefs make him a true icon who didnt allow the noisy world to dictate his moves. George Michael and his journey through life show us that being true to ourselves is the only way to live, and that we should boldly set our own standards for who we are and what we want!

Because of the media, the way the world is perceived is as a place where resources and time are running out. Were taught that you have to grab what you can before its gone. Its almost as if there isnt time for compassion., Michael once quoted and in another instant he quoted the following about himself: I don't think I will ever be a big star in America again. The music industry here is a hard sell. The only way to be a star again is to spend my life promoting myself in a way that I find cheapening."

He continued to release individual songs, and in 2014, he released Symphonica, a collection of standards and his own songs. He had been planning an expanded reissue, due in 2017, of Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, paired with a documentary, Freedom, exploring his musical, personal and legal struggles.

Hundreds of thousands of his fans are pouring in front of his residence in Oxfordshire, England and celebrities across the globe are found shocked at this addition to the already heart-breaking list of artists the world lost in 2016.

But his legacy will live on forever, for it was not only his voice and music that swept the world, but also his passionate discourse on bigger issues regarding gay rights, prejudice, and true freedom. He was an advocate of change, and he was participant in so many charity events as he put his donations and time to causes he aligned with..!!
Dehradun, Dec 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for Char Dham highway project in Uttarakhand, dedicating it to the victims of the 2013 flash floods in the state.

Addressing a rally here after laying the foundation, Modi said the Rs 12,000-crore project will not just ease travel to the four pilgrimage sites of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, but will also give a big boost to the state's economy.

"This Char Dham project is a tribute to those who lost their lives during the Uttarakhand flash floods," he said.

Over 5,000 people, including pilgrims, were killed in the flash floods that hit the Kedarnath Valley in June 2013.

"Earlier, pilgrims had to worry about getting stranded due to landslides and they would be anxious about the uncertainties. But, with this project, all the uncertainties will be gone and the pilgrims' mind will be free from all worries," he said.

"This project will provide livelihood to the people, boost tourism and thus jack up the economy of the state," said Modi of the project, which entails creation of over 900 km of roads.

He also said that of the Rs 12,000 crore, around Rs 3,000-crore project has already been sanctioned and tenders awarded.

The project involves building tunnels, viaducts, bridges and bypasses in the entire state, along with way-side amenities that will include helipad for emergency evacuation and parking facilities, among others.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
London, Dec 27 : British voters will have to present ID proof at polling stations during local elections as part of the government's effort to crack down on electoral fraud, the media reported on Tuesday.

Chris Skidmore, British Minister for the Constitution, announced the trials would start from 2018, said a report in the Independent.

The move for more stringent controls at the ballot box comes in response to a government-commissioned report by Eric Pickles, the "anti-corruption champion" and former communities secretary.

While there is already a requirement for the public in Northern Ireland to present photographic ID before they vote, no such procedures exist in the rest of Britain.

Pickles suggested in his report that a driving licence, passport or utility bill "would not seem unreasonable to establish identity".

The independent Electoral Commission has for long been advocate of introducing ID at polling stations in Britain, previously warning that electoral fraud has the "potential to undermine confidence in the electoral system if not addressed".

Other recommendations accepted by the government include considering how "nationality checking" may be used to prevent false registrations, requiring electors to re-apply for postal votes every three years and ending the "dubious practise of postal vote harvesting" by political activists.

In order to eradicate intimidation of the public at the ballot box, Pickles also recommended that the government provide powers so that the police can establish cordons sanitaires at polling stations where necessary.

Although the scale of voter fraud is not thought to be widespread, the Cabinet Office said it was planning to bring forward new guidance for electoral registration officers who conduct the polls.

"The government's view is that electoral fraud is unacceptable on any level. I want to protect the right of everyone to have their say and participate in our democracy," said Skidmore.

"The new measures we are announcing on Tuesday will protect anyone who is at risk of being bullied, undermined or tricked out of their vote - and their democratic right," he added.

Claire Bassett, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, welcomed the government's announcement of its intention to pilot measures to increase security at polling stations.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reiterated his demand for an inquiry into allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving bribes from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Gandhi has been repeatedly saying that Modi's name has figured in the documents listing those who have been paid alleged bribes by the corporate giants.

The documents were seized by the Income Tax Department in raids on Sahara and Birla offices in 2014. The documents have names of other politicians, including Congress' Uttar Pradesh chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit.

"The Prime Minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," Gandhi said at a press conference, also attended by other opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The Congress leader said while Modi was responding on all other issues, he was silent on questions raised on his "honesty and integrity".

Gandhi asked that when former Delhi Chief Minister Dikshit was open to an investigation, "why is the Prime Minister shying away from a probe".

He said four of Congress ministers resigned when their names surfaced in Jain Hawala Diaries case.

"The Prime Minister should be the first person to say if I am facing allegations, then there should be an inquiry," Gandhi said.
Patna, Dec 27 : In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday.

The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident.

"Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said.

According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck.

She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January.

"The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died," police officials said.

After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. "But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body," police said.

Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours.

Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room.

However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it.

"I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it," Mishra said.
Baghdad, Dec 27 : Unidentified gunmen kidnapped a female journalist and activist from her house in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred late on Monday night when masked armed men broke into the house of Afrah Shawqi in Saidiya district and abducted her, Xinhua news agency quoted a source as saying.

The gunmen also stole Shawqi's personal jewels and her car, the source said.

The journalist is considered a critic of the corruption in the country and recently wrote an article which dwelt on the consequences of the proliferation of armed groups outside the law.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the security forces to investigate the kidnapping and to "exert the utmost effort to save her life and to chase anyone proved involved in the crime", the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.

Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, who have been frequently targeted since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that the Congress rallying support to counter the ruling party is Congress' defeat and the BJP's victory.

The minister's remarks came moments after several opposition parties led by the Congress held a joint press conference here and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the demonetisation scheme a failure.

"If (Congress Vice President) Rahul Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is Congress' defeat and BJP's victory. Today, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is at the centre of the Indian politics," Prasad said.

Launching a counter-attack on Rahul Gandhi, Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

"If we disclose the Swiss bank account holders' names before filing a chargesheet against them, the Swiss authorities would stop cooperating any further. We would not get any more names from them. Does Rahul Gandhi want that to happen?" Prasad added.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Actor Sonu Sood says working with legendary actor Jackie Chan taught him about the importance of staying grounded after becoming successful.

"The biggest learning that I got after working with Jackie Chan is that no matter what you achieve in life, you have to be grounded and connected to your roots always," Sonu told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Sonu will soon be seen sharing screen space with Chan, who received an honorary Oscar for his career achievements earlier this year -- in the upcoming Sino-Indian film "Kung Fu Yoga".

"Kung Fu Yoga" is a part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries during Chinese President Xi Jinping's past visit to India.

The film, which is directed by Stanley Tong, also stars actress Amyra Dastur. Hindi film stars have reportedly performed some adrenaline-pumping action sequences for the movie, which was partly shot in India.

There is a lot of buzz about the film before its release. But Sonu is not nervous.

"No, it (all the attention) doesn't add pressure. I think it is high time that all our hard work comes in front of the audience. They need to see it," he added.

With "Kung Fu Yoga" slated to release in February next year, the "Tutak Tutak Tutiya" star says he is excited about the film and is sure that people will love it.
Kolkata, Dec 27 : A child accidentally drowned in a neighbourhood pond here on Tuesday, police said.

"A one-and-a-half-year-old kid named Indrajit Singh accidentally fell into a pond adjoining his house at Parnasree in south Kolkata's Behala region on Tuesday morning," said an officer from Parnasree police station.

Police was informed after the locals spotted the kid's sweater floating in the pond.

"The kid was taken to the nearby Vidyasagar hospital in Behala where he was declared dead," the officer added.
Kolkata, Dec 27 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted search operations in hawala trader Paras Mal Lodha's office and house here, an official said.

"A team from our Delhi office has raided Parasmal Lodha's house at Queens Park and his office in south Kolkata," the official said.

Lodha, a leading businessman with interests in real estate and mining, was intercepted by a team of ED sleuths at the Mumbai airport in last week while he was trying to flee to Malaysia.

The city-based businessman was arrested for allegedly converting over Rs 25 crore demonetised notes linked to industrialist J. Sekhar Reddy and lawyer Rohit Tandon into new currency.

The ED booked Lodha under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27 : The CPI-M should open up on how a murder accused in the cabinet of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan can continue, a senior Congress leader said on Tuesday.

Addressing reporters here, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the Communist Party of India-Marxist always speaks of keeping to the high moral ground by those holding office of power.

"On Saturday, a court had dismissed a petition filed by CPI-M leader and state Electricity Minister M.M. Mani, seeking discharge from the case related to the murder of a Youth Congress leader in 1982," Chennithala said.

"With this, he is now an accused and has no moral right to continue as a minister. Very soon, when the trial of the case begins, we will have to see our state minister standing in the box in the court," the Congress leader said.

"Such a thing has never happened in our state and hence we are all waiting to hear from the national leadership of the CPI-M. Mani has to resign without any more delay," added Chennithala.

Mani is the second accused in the case which was reopened by the previous Oommen Chandy government after Mani himself in a public speech said they have killed three of their political rivals.

Following this, he was arrested and later let off on bail. The lower court at Idukki, however, last week refused to discharge him from the case.

"Not only has the court failed to give him a discharge, a few other top CPI-M leaders have now been included in the list of accused. Even former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has asked for Mani's resignation. We all want to hear what the national leadership of the CPI-M has to say," added Chennithala.

While Mani has said the court verdict is not going to affect him , CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan pointed out that the case was hoisted on him and his electorate has given him their verdict by sending him to the assembly in the May elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit has already launched protests demanding Mani's resignation. The Congress-led UDF would meet on January 3 to decide on the course of protest to be launched to ensure Mani steps down.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Following actor Aamir Khans comments on "intollerance" in November 2015 at an award ceremony, the BJP social media cell organised a campaign to build pressure on Snapdeal to drop Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador, claims an upcoming book, which quotes a former volunteer of BJPs social media team.

Written by journalist Swati Chaturvedi "I am a Troll", extensively quotes Sadhavi Khosla, who quit as a volunteer of BJP's social media team at the end of 2015. Khosla has purportedly shared WhatsApp messages sent to her by Arvind Gupta, head of the BJP IT cell, and other WhatsApp groups associated with the team.

On November 23, 2015, Aamir Khan, speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards ceremony, had said: "Kiran (Kiran Rao) and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India?"

"That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers everyday. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet."

The actor's comments was immediately perceived to be critical of the ruling dispensation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and caused a massive backlash for the actor from a group of social media users. The actor was soon dropped from the Ministry of Tourism's "Incredible India" campaign.

In the light of these remarks, Khosla has been quoted in the book as claiming that the BJP social media cell organised a campaign to get Khan removed as the brand ambassador of Snapdeal.

In this regard, the whistleblower has also shared messages she claims were sent to her from Arvind Gupta, head of the BJP IT cell.

"Arvind Gupta also messaged all the party's social media volunteers directing them to endorse a petition addressed to Snapdeal asking Khan to be dropped from their advertisements.

"After facing the wrath of BJP supporters, who downgraded the Snapdeal app on Google Play and the iOS App Store on orders from Gupta, Snapdeal terminated its contract with Khan," Chaturvedi writes.

The whistleblower is quoted in the book saying: "The campaign against Aamir was the last nail in the coffin for my association with the BJP and forced me to part ways with a party and PM I had passionately supported.

"The poisonous campaign launched by the BJP's social media team proved Aamir's point on intolerance", Khosla says in the book.

The book also claims that the volunteers and employees of the BJP's social media team "were given a 'hit list' of mainstream journalists who needed to be constantly attacked".

Arvind Gupta has reportedly rejected Khosla's claims, saying she "supports the Congress" and "has all reasons to publish unsubstantiated claims".

Published by Juggernaut, the offering is available in bookstores and can be downloaded from www.juggernaut.in.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Several opposition parties on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the demonetisation woes of the common man, asking him to own responsibility for the chaos and demanding his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline.

While Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi held Modi responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people, Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said he will have to resign if the cash crunch woes continued even after the December 30 deadline he himself set.

Banerjee said the demonetisation decision was "illegal and unconstitutional" and that the Indian economy had been set 20 years back in these nearly 50 days.

Modi will have to resign if the chaos continues beyond December 30, she said.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference at the Constitution Club here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

Several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign -- Janata Dal-United, the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party -- were, however, conspicuous by their absence.

Calling the November 8 note ban the "biggest scam after Independence", Banerjee asked if Modi will resign at the end of 50 days if the cash situation did not improve.

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left," the Chief Minister said.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Rahul Gandhi said Modi should accept responsibility since the latter's assurance of normalcy after 50 days seems to be failing and people are still facing hardships due to cash crunch.

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. The Prime Minister needs to answer who is responsible for the people's hardships... It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," Gandhi said.

The Congress leader said demonitasation had failed to reduce corruption and arrest black money laundering, and was instead an attack on the country's poor.

"Demonetisation has had no impact on corruption and black money. A new black market has emerged -- to convert black money into white," Gandhi said.

Countering the government's stance that demonetisation will curb terror funding, Gandhi said 2,000-rupee notes were found in possession of terrorists killed days after the November 8 scrapping of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

He asked Modi to tell the nation what he dubbed was the "real motive" behind the move.

The West Bengal Chief Minister mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

"While an advanced economy like the United States has around 40 per cent cash transactions, he (Modi) talks about cashless economy. In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Banerjee claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation.

"If the government is weak, the country becomes weak. Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. This government must go; otherwise, the people will throw it out," added the TMC leader.

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said the country is facing a financial crisis due to note ban.

He said only six per cent of the black money was in hard cash and for this six per cent, the Prime Minister has put then entire people across the country in trouble.

"No results have come so far. It has been an ill-conceived and poorly implemented move," Siva said.

"There is no assurance that no black money will be generated in future. There is no actual figure as to how much black money was deposited or recovered," Siva added.

Jai Prakash Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal said his party had been opposing the demonetisation move since the very beginning and party President and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad planned to hold district-level protests in Bihar.

"Cashless is baseless. Note ban is anti-poor and anti-people," Yadav said.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun in Uttarakhand on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly defended demonetisation and said the move is aimed at weeding out corruption from the country.

He said the move had broken the backs of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.
Bijapur, Dec 27 : A CRPF personnel was injured as Maoist rebels attacked a patrol party in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, the state police said.

The militants detonated a pipe bomb when the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 168 Battalion team was patrolling in Sarkeguda village, Superintendent of Police S.K. Dhruv said.

The injured is undergoing treatment at a government hospital here.

The CRPF personnel searched the nearby areas after the attack but could not find any Maoist rebels, the police officer said.
Athens, Dec 27 : A Turkish supply ship ran aground off Kos island in the Aegean Sea on Monday with no reported injuries, a statement said on Tuesday.

The Greek Coast Guard speedboats were still unable to reach the ship because of rough seas, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Turkish vessel Alcatras was sailing from Tuzla to Antalya carrying technical equipment, the captain told the authorities.

He reported a steering gear malfunction, assuring that the five-member crew was in fine health.

No environmental damage has been caused so far, the Greek authorities said.
Moscow, Dec 27 : Russia's Defence Minister on Tuesday said over 160 weapons systems were successfully battle-tested throughout the course of the anti-terror operations in Syria.

"During the operations in Syria over 160 cutting-edge weapons systems were tested," Efe news quoted Sergei Shoygu as saying.

The head of Russian defence highlighted that the new weapons systems "in general terms demonstrated a high degree of reliability".

Shoygu highlighted some systems that have received their baptism of fire in Syria: Su-30SM and Su-34 fighter jets, Mi-28N and Ka-52 attack helicopters and Kalibr cruise missiles, among other weapon platforms.

He said that 10 of the 162 weapons showed flaws that had not been identified during initial testing, thereby enabling the ministry to halt deliveries until their manufacturers fixed them.

"It is important to point out that not only 84 per cent of our Aerospace Forces pilots have flown (Syrian) combat missions but have also put their weapons to the test," said the minister.

On September 30, 2015, an aerial bombing campaign was launched by Russia in support of Damascus' armed forces.

In the Syrian air base of Hmeimym, Russia has deployed expeditionary combat aircraft.

Hmeimym air base was the destination of the Russian Tu-154 aircraft that crashed into the Black Sea on December 25, killing all 92 passengers aboard.
Imphal, Dec 27 : The entire community of editors and reporters in Imphal launched a sit-in agitation from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. on Tuesday to protest against the bomb threat against local editors a day ago.

The newspapers came out with blank editorials on Tuesday.

There will be no local newspapers on Wednesday.

The protesting scribes said that a Chinese hand grenade was left in the office of the Pandam evening newspaper.

A caller who identified himself as a cadre of Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) (KCP-MC) informed the newspaper staff that a bomb was left inside its office.

The management immediately informed the police, who rushed to the office.

Police found a tiny hand grenade stuffed inside a polythene bag.

A hand-written note found along with the grenade said: "This is a New Year gift to the editors."

No other explanation was given.

The editors in Manipur who immediately held an emergency meeting, strongly condemned the incident.

A spokesperson said: "The scribes are working round the clock to serve the people and it is condemnable that we should be the targeted."

The All-Manipur Working Journalists' Union has also strongly condemned the incident.

While the scribes were on protest, someone called the functionaries of the Editors' Guild of Manipur, claiming that he was speaking from KCP (MC).

He reportedly said that the KCP MC had no hand in the planting of the grenade. Police has registered a case.

Some editors and reporters were killed and seriously wounded in the past in insurgency hit Manipur.

There is a permanent protest site in the heart of Imphal for the scribes who have been at the receiving end.
Islamabad, Dec 27 : After his return to Pakistan from an 18-month, self-imposed exile, former President Asif Ali Zardari announced on Tuesday that both he and his son, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, will contest elections and be part of "this Parliament".

Dwelling on his "surprise announcement", Zardari said he will contest elections from his sister's seat in Nawabshah whereas Bilawal will contest from his mother, Benazir Bhutto's constituency in Larkana.

"We have given so many sacrifices for democracy and we will not spare this Mughal emperor (Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif)," the Pakistan Peoples Party co-Chairman told a large number of party workers who gathered to commemorate the 9th anniversary of Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

Firing a broadside at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the former President said he was not afraid of courts and his party will face all cases against them.

"We have fought against the country's dictators but never raised voice against the army," Zardari said as he took a jibe at the Prime Minister.

Addressing Sharif, Zardari said: "I am not coming to Parliament to topple your government."

He said his only intention was to teach the government a few lessons and to consult with the Prime Minister on national issues.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : In his first such interaction with a set of noted economists and experts organised by Niti Aayog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for innovative approaches to budget-making, and a special focus on skill development and tourism.

Attending the session on "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead", the prime minister said the budget has a significant effect effect on India's real economy and wanted this yearly exercise to be given prime importance.

Till date, Modi observed, such exercises earmarked expenditure only at the onset of monsoon, which was not desirable as it results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months.

That is the reason why the presentation date of Budget 2017-18 is being advanced so that a roadmap is ready before the beginning of the financial year, he added.

The government has said February 1 will be the date for presentation of future Union Budgets.

The other two major changes to the upcoming budget are converging into it the railway budget and doing away with the Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure.

Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya, at a press briefing later, said that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the economists was an experiment where the latter gave presentations on three important focus points - agriculture, jobs and budget related issues.

For the agriculture sector, the economists focussed on ways to double the farmers' income by 2022 and expanding the digital payment revolution to include them, he said.

"Economists suggested doubling farmer's income by 2022. They discussed digital payments for farmers. There were suggestions on moving to high-value agriculture products," Panagariya added.

While in the education sector, the economists suggested the need to improve the quality, there was need felt to increase investments in the tourism sector.

"The tourism sector was highlighted. Suggestions were made that we need to invest more in tourism. Also need to have a learning revolution to improve quality of education was emphasised," he added.

A range of other issues covering subjects such as skill development, taxation and tariff related matters, digital technology, housing, tourism, banking, governance reform, data driven policy and future steps for growth were discussed.

Besides Niti Aayog and Finance Ministry officials, the session was attended by economists and experts, including Pravin Krishna, Sukhpal Singh, Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Pulak Ghosh, Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, N.K. Singh, Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose and T.N. Ninan.

The Prime Minister's meeting with experts to take stock of the economy assumes significance against the backdrop of the cash crunch post the November 8 demonetisation of high-value currency.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday described India's culture of harmony, unity and tolerance as its 'DNA'.

Naqvi said this while inaugurating the grand Christmas celebration of Thrissur in Kerala. 'Buon Natale', meaning 'Merry Christmas', is a procession taken out by the Thrissur diocese every year, aimed at strengthening communal harmony.

Buon Natale is also recorded in the Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of people dressed up as Santa Claus.

While flagging off the event, Naqvi said "India's centuries old history is a proof that the people of our country had always defeated those forces who wanted to disturb our rich culture".

He also emphasised that in spite of religious and cultural diversity, the spirit of social harmony, unity and tolerance has been strengthened for several centuries which has maintained India's DNA of 'Unity in Diversity'.

Naqvi described programmes such as 'Sadbhav Samagam', 'Progress Panchayat' and 'Hunar Haat', as attempts being made by his ministry to reach out to the minority section.

The minister also cautioned people against succumbing to the "propaganda started by some people against the government" and to judge the government through work done by it.

He said cultural harmony not only prevents people from religious narrow mindedness and confrontation but also strengthens the fabric of social harmony.

"We have to protect and strengthen this fabric of social harmony, unity and tolerance at any cost. Every religion, every region, every culture and every community will have to move forward together to make India an example of social unity for the entire world," he said and thanked Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur diocese, for organising the event.

The procession, which consisted of floats, bike-riders, bands, dancers and people dressed as Santa Claus started from St. Thomas College and after taking a tour of the city concluded at the same location.
Kolkata, Dec 27 : Eco-friendly antimicrobial agents that are being developed by a team of researchers at New Zealand's University of Auckland could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India', says an Indian-origin member of the scientific team.

Scientists associated with the Biocide ToolBox (BTB) programme are targeting the discovery and invention of eco-friendly biocides - chemical agents which control or kill bacteria - to design a range of products and solutions like antifouling coatings and food packaging.

The programme, funded by the nation's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is a major antimicrobial research programme hosted by the University of Auckland and closely networked with the University of Otago, Scion and the Cawthorn Institute in New Zealand.

"The initiatives taken in BTB programme could contribute in some of the key identified sectors in 'Make in India' , for example, chemicals, biotechnology, food processing, smart textiles. Joint R&D partnership between BTB and corporates in India could enhance the scope of developing customised biocidal products particularly important for Indian market and possible manufacturing of some of these products in India," Sudip Ray, a senior research fellow in the School of Chemical Sciences with the MBIE Biocide Toolbox and Product Accelerator Programmes at University of Auckland, told IANS.

BTB aims at the development of a toolbox of new greener biocides applicable in commercial and healthcare contexts which contribute to NZ export growth.

Ray was in Kolkata for a series of lectures.

Describing the initiative, he said the current research is focused on developing a suite of biocides which constitute practical solutions for a range of products like decorative paints, antifouling coatings, food packaging, cleaning chemicals, air conditioning tunnelling/filters, medical equipment, in various healthcare settings requiring a safe and clean environment.

"These biocides developed by BTB in New Zealand could be exported in India as chemicals and then incorporated in products which utilise biocides and thereby the final manufacturing of the biocidal products could be performed in India. This will fulfil the key focus of aMake in India' and also enhance the possibility of exports from New Zealand," he explained.

One of the innovations is turning wine waste into biodegradable plastics with usable anti-bacterial properties for use in food packaging and storage.

Recently India and New Zealand discussed the promotion of FDI in India in support of India's Make in India campaign and development objectives.

"So, R&D partnership could further strengthen the growing bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand," Ray added.
Lucknow/New Delhi, Dec 27 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) sniffed out more than Rs 104 crore deposited in her party's account after demonetisation, BSP supremo Mayawati on Tuesday said a "Dalit's daughter" was being barred from political power in Uttar Pradesh through the "misuse" of official machinery.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, saying championing the cause of the Dalits does not entitle anyone to indulge in corruption.

Addressing a press conference in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow, Mayawati said: "The anti-Dalit BJP and all those having a casteist mentality do not want that a 'Dalit ki beti' (Dalit's daughter) should get the master key of power in Uttar Pradesh."

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the official machinery to malign the BSP ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Mayawati, a former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, said the money deposited in her party's account was not black money and was collected by her party workers over the last few months.

She said the said money was collected by party workers as donations and then converted into big denomination notes as it is "convenient" to carry such currency.

"The money belongs to the party, which has been deposited following due procedures. Every penny of this money is accounted for," she said.

"The party workers collected the money through membership drive across the country and deposited the same in the party office. Should we have thrown this money after demonetisation? We deposited it in the bank account with full transparency," she said.

Alleging that "facts are being distorted" to malign her party's image, Mayawati challenged the BJP to make public the details of its accounts 10 months before demonetisation till date.

"If they (BJP) have an iota of integrity or honesty, they should make public the details of their accounts," she said.

Taking strong exception to Mayawati's remarks, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said he could not understand Mayawati's agitation at a legal process.

"The ED has detected the money and asked for explanation as to where did this money come from. She owes an explanation within the legal framework. Why is she so agitated?" Prasad said.

"Now, it is becoming clear why Mayawati has been opposing the demonetisation move tooth and nail," he added.

Hitting back at Mayawati's "Dalit ki beti" remark, Prasad said being a champion of the Dalit cause does not allow one to indulge in corruption.

"We are all for Dalits' empowerment and development. But the issue of Dalit development should not become a symbol of corruption or hijacked by anyone," Prasad said.

In a separate media briefing, Dalit leader and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan slammed Mayawati's comments, saying being a Dalit's daughter is not a "licence to corruption".

"My party works for the Dalits. The total money in (my) Lok Janshakti Party's bank account is Rs 1,03,198. Being a daughter of a Dalit does not give you the licence to indulge in corruption," Paswan said.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : The Delhi Congress on Tuesday started its two-day 'Bhanda Fod' (public exposure) campaign to make the public aware of what it said was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's acceptance of bribes when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Inaugurating the campaign at the Chandni Chowk Metro station, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) President Ajay Maken said Modi talked of 'na khaunga, na khane doonga' (will neither take bribe not allow others to), but he now faces charge of accepting Rs 65 crore from the Aditya Birla and the Sahara Groups.

"Why is he silent on this issue? The whole country is now waiting for Modi's explanation on the Rs 65 crore corruption scandal," Maken said.

In the campaign, Congress workers carried placards and banners regarding the corruption charge against Modi.

Maken said assembly elections were held in many states in 2012 and 2013 and Lok Sabha elections in 2014, adding that Modi should clarify whether he collected the money for the Bharatiya Janata Party or for himself.

The Congress leader questioned why the Centre had so far not ordered for a probe by an independenty agency, though it has been in power for two and a half years.

"Modi has not appointed a Lok Pal because he fears that an independent inquiry by the Lok Pal against him for receiving Rs 65 crore from two industrial groups will expose a big corruption scandal," Maken said.

He also questioned the appointment of a large number of Gujarat cadre officers in the Central Bureau of Investigation.

"It is being done because they may save him (Modi) if a Supreme Court-monitored CBI inquiry is ordered in the case," Maken added.

On December 21, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi said at a rally in Mehsana in Gujarat that Modi got Rs 40 crore in kickbacks from a corporate house when he was the Chief Minister. The BJP denied the charge.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also made similar allegations against Modi during a special session of the Delhi assembly on November 15.
Jerusalem, Dec 27 : A committee is expected to authorise the construction of hundreds of settler homes in East Jerusalem, despite a UN resolution demanding a halt to the settlements, an official said on Tuesday.

A Jerusalem municipality spokesperson said the Jerusalem Local Planning and Building Committee has on its agenda the approval of 618 housing units in Jewish neighbourhoods across the Green Line, Xinhua news agency reported.

The plan includes 140 housing units in Pisgat Ze'ev, which will expand this neighbourhood settlement toward the Palestinian village of Hizmeh, 216 housing units in Ramot, extending the settlement in the direction of Bir Nabala, and 262 units in Ramat Shlomo.

While the permits were already on the agenda before Friday's resolution by the UN Security Council, Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman said the committee was going to discuss the approval of additional 5,600 housing units.

"We remain unfazed by the UN vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem," he said.

"I hope the Israeli government and the new US administration will support us, so we can make up for the lack (of construction) during the eight years of the Obama administration," he said.

The move came after the Security Council approved on Friday a resolution that condemned the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law. The motion was passed due to the abstention of the US, the Israel's closest ally.

Israel reacted angrily, cancelling Ukraine Prime Minister's scheduled visit to Jerusalem and summoning the ambassadors of the countries that backed the resolution on Sunday.

Later, in a rare move, the Foreign Ministry summoned the US ambassador "for clarifications" talk.

Speaking at the cabinet's weekly meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his office to draft a "plan of action" against the UN, without elaborating.

"We will do all it takes, so Israel emerges unscathed from this shameful decision," he said.

Israel seized East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast War, along with the rest of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

It later annexed East Jerusalem and declared it as part of its "eternal and indivisible capital", in a move that has never been recognised by the international community.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Training guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, a fractured opposition on Tuesday asked him to own responsibility for the chaos that ensued following the currency ban and demanded his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline If Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi's silence on corruption charges and held him responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people due to the notes ban, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dubbed demonetisation a "mega scam" and said he ought to take moral responsibility and resign.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

However several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign - the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), skipped the event.

"The Prime Minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," said Gandhi said, referring to his repeated allegations that Modi benefited financially from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

On demonetisation, he said it had no impact on corruption or black money laundering but was rather an attack on the country's poor while creating "a new black market has emerged -- to convert black money into white".

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," said Gandhi and asked Modi to tell the nation the "real motive" behind the move.

Banerjee who has been scathing in her attack over the decision to spike Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, minced no words in lambasting Modi.

Besides calling demonetisation to be the "biggest scam" post independence, the West Bengal Chief Minister said the decision was "illegal and unconstitutional".

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Accusing Modi of destroying the country's federal structure, she said that the Prime Minister neither took Parliament into confidence before taking such a huge decision nor bothered to make even one line statement in Parliament after implementing it.

Claiming that over 107 people have died across India post demonetisation, she described the prevailing financial state as a "super-Emergency".

She also mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Like Gandhi, she too claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation and said it has taken the economy 20 years back.

Notwithstanding the depleted strength, Banerjee insisted the opposition was united against the government over demonetisation and said a "common minimum agenda" on the issue will be worked out.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee harped on Modi owning responsibility of demonetisation woes.

"Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. Modi must resign, this government must go otherwise, the people will throw it out," she added.

Replying to media queries, Gandhi said: "We hold the Prime Minister responsible for this decision. If he doesn't resign, we'll put pressure on him to resign."

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

But soon after the opposition's press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive, saying if Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is "the Congress' defeat and BJP's victory".

Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun, Modi strongly defended demonetisation and said the move, aimed at weeding out corruption, had broken the back of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.
Dubai, Dec 27 : An Indian was found murdered outside his shop in Sharjah on Tuesday, the police said.

Mohammed Ali, 52, from Kerala, was found in a pool of blood with multiple wounds in Majestic Supermarket of Maysaloon area, the Khaleej Times quoted police officers as saying.

The police was informed about the body by a butcher working at a neighbouring shop.

Another shopkeeper told the police that his colleague -- the person who first witnessed the crime scene -- arrived at the shop and after some time heard the Indian man's screams. He rushed out and saw Ali covered in blood outside his shop. He died on the spot.

The police collected forensic evidence and retrieved footages from CCTV cameras in the area. The witness could not see the suspect, who fled the spot after stabbing Ali.

Abdul-Aziz Ali, victim's brother, said that they had been living in the United Arab Emirates for 30 years.

He said his slain brother "had no enemies but he believes that motive behind the murder is theft".

Abdul-Aziz said that his brother's shop had no cameras, but the police managed to review the camera installed in a book shop. The footage shows an Asian man entering the shop and running out of it. The police has now launched a manhunt for the murderer.

The victim's brother was yet to inform the victim's family, comprising two daughters and a son, in Kerala.
Patna, Dec 27 : The Congress party and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Tuesday made it clear that they will not join the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)'s 'Mahadharna' (huge sit-in programme) against demonetisation on December 28 in Bihar.

"The JD-U will not support or join any protest against demonetisation until party President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has supported demonetisation as a step against black money, reviews and analyses its impact after 50 days," JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told the media here on Tuesday.

President of the Bihar unit of Congress Ashok Choudhary said his party would not participate in the Mahadharna against demonetisation on Wednesday.

"The Congress will not support RJD's protest programme against note ban," Choudhary, who is also the Bihar Education Minister, said.

The JD-U, Congress and the RJD are constituents of Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance.

A day ahead of the formal launch of the protest against demonetisation, it is a setback for Lalu Prasad.

Last week Lalu announnced that the RJD will on December 28 stage a sit-in at all district headquarters across the state. He and Rabri Devi will join the sit-in at Patna.

The party has also planned a massive rally here early next year.

Lalu has been attacking the Prime Minister for the 'flop demontisation show' and the central government's failure to implement the decision properly.

Unlike Nitish Kumar, who has been supporting demonetisation, the RJD chief has opposed the scrapping of Rs 500/1,000 notes ever since its announcement on November 8.

Lalu had a few days ago expressed hope that Nitish Kumar will join his party's protest programme.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Eight opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress, on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss a Common Minimum Agenda and also the demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation on kickbacks charge.

Two more meetings on the lines of one held before the joint press conference of these parties will be held in January for further discussion on the Common Minimum Agenda, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said after the press briefing held at the Constitution Club here.

Other parties that attended were the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

"The Common Minimum Agenda will be finalised in due course of time. This was discussed in the (Tuesday) meeting and also the Prime Minister's resignation. It was decided that it will be raised in the press briefing," said a leader who attended the meeting.

Addresing the press briefing, Banerjee asked whether the Prime Minister will resign if the cash crunch situation doesn't normalise in the next three days, that is, by December 30, the deadline fixed by Modi for the situation to normalise following the November 8 demonetisation.

"The Common Minimum Agenda that we spoke about -- there will be a meeting on this matter. How we organise the programme, there should be consultations with all political parties. We must take everyone into confidence," Banerjee said.

"Some are busy with elections; some are busy with internal party programmes. But we are all together. There is no problem. But, they have their own system, their policy decisions; we cannot interfere in their business," she added.

The Chief Minister said: "On demonetisation, all political parties have expressed their views and we are together. One may differ with me. That is their political policy. Sometimes for bigger interest, we can work out these things."

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said: "We are not like the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where every single person has to say the same thing. So, what we are designing is a broad agreement for this Common Minimum Programme or a series of things that we agree on."
Lucknow, Dec 27 : A bitter war of words broke out between the leaders of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday as they traded charges over black money.

The day started with media reports suggesting that one of the BSP's official bank accounts in New Delhi had been credited with a whopping Rs 104 crore.

BSP supremo Mayawati hurriedly called a press conference in the state capital and lashed out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for singling her party out and claimed that all the funds in party's bank accounts are accounted.

Daring the Prime Minister to disclose the amounts deposited by the BJP and other political parties after the demonetisation, she said she is facing vendetta from the central government.

The former UP Chief Minister also accused the union government of misusing government machinery to harass her party. She demanded that financial transactions of other political parties be also made public.

The BJP by evening fielded a string of leaders to blunt the attack of the Dalit leader.

BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit President Keshav Maurya returned the fire by asking as to how the BSP collected so much money. "The poor of the state want to know from Behen ji, how was this whopping amount collected," he asked.

Terming the money as ill-gotten and collected in lieu of selling tickets to candidates of the state assembly polls due early 2017, Maurya said the money has proved being doubt that "Mayawati was engaged in cheating the dreams of the Dalit icon Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar".

Former aide of Mayawati, who switched loyalty to the BJP earlier this year, Swamy Prasad Maurya also targeted the BSP chief and accused her of "losing her mental balance in the aftermath of demonetisation".

He also alleged that she was selling tickets like in the past and has now slipped into depression over how to pump her black money into the system.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : At least eight students were suspended by the JNU administration and their hostel facility withdrawn on Tuesday for disrupting the Academic Council (AC) Meeting on December 26, said a university professor.

"I know that a few students have been suspended but nothing official has been heard from the administration's side," JNU professor and council member Nivedita Menon told IANS.

A group of students was alleged to have disrupted the 142nd AC Meeting on Monday by barging inside the convention centre where it was being convened.

The students belonged mainly to Birsa-Ambedkar-Phule Students Association (BAPSA), Democratic Students' Union (DSU), and Students' Front for Swaraj (SFS), Rama Naga, former General Secretary of JNU Students Union (JNUSU), told IANS.

It was alleged by the university administration that the meeting was disrupted when a number of faculty members, part of the Academic Council, objecting to a part of the agenda, called the students inside who had been protesting outside.

"Towards the end of the AC meeting, someone from this group of members, disrupting the meeting, called in the students who were protesting outside the venue. A group of unruly students broke open the latch of the meeting room after thumping the door, came inside and began to shout slogans at the Chairperson and the Academic Council members," said a statement issued by the JNU administration on Monday.

However, Menon, who was present at the meeting, said that none of the faculty member called the students inside, who, far from barging in, had come through an open door.

The JNUSU objected to the suspension of the students saying that according the very statement issued by the administration, all the important decision had already been taken before the students barged in.

"The JNU administration itself contradicts its yesterday's statement, where it itself said that the VC (Vice Chancellor) already declared all the agenda passed when a group of Students entered inside the convention centre... then how can it allege the students of disruption?" it said in a statement.

During the AC meeting on Monday, 21 out of 40 faculty members had objected to the act of tampering with the minutes of the previous meeting, which was held last year. The protesting members decried the minutes added to the previous meeting which, they alleged, were never discussed during it.

"While more than half of the council members stood and objected to the act, the Registrar read the agenda and concluded the meeting, without any discussion or clarification for the fraudulent practice," Menon said, terming it "blatant abuse of power and completely illegal".

The controversial minutes were objected to by the faculty members for granting dominant powers to the VC in selecting the members of Selection Committee.
Lucknow, Dec 27 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday gave away subsidies worth Rs 9.41 crore to 21 films under its Film policy.

Giving away the subsidy, in presence of a bevy of film stars, including Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Ravi Kishen and director Anurag Kashyap, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said his government was committed to create an environment in the state that promotes film production.

It was also informed that due to the attractive film policy rolled out by the state government, proposals of over 250 films for shootings had been received so far of which, shoots were on in 70-plus films. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishen lauded the state government for its film production friendly policies.

The films that have been handed out subsidy by the state government include "Masaan" (Rs 2 crore), "Was Taj Lagbhag" (Rs 65.69 lakh), "Pandit ji Batayi na Byaah Kab Hoi-2" (Rs 82.51 lakh), "Thoda Lutf, Thoda Ishq" (Rs 42.33 lakh), "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" (Rs 24.07 lakh), "Meeruthia Gangsters" (Rs 36.23 lakh) and "Raja Babu" (Rs 72.52 lakh) among others.
New Delhi, Dec 27 : Many media persons could not enter the venue of the joint press conference by eight opposition political parties on Tuesday as police barred many from entering due to the overcrowding in the hall.

It led to chaos outside the hall at the Constitution Club of India where at least 30-40 journalists were stopped.

The press meet was supposed to begin at 3 p.m. but it started about half an hour late. However by 3 p.m., the hall was already packed.

"Many of us could not enter the hall as there was complete chaos. There was also verbal duel with police outside the hall. It was total mismanagement. As many as 30 mediapersons could not enter the venue," said a senior print journalist.

As Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi started addressing the media, media persons outside were heard shouting and screaming.
Istanbul, Dec 28 : Some Turks have suggested enlisting Syrian refugees for the Turkish armed forces, as the death toll is growing for Turkish troops on mission in northern Syria.

An online campaign was launched lately, calling for recruiting Syrian men in Turkey who are aged between 18 to 45 and sending them to the battlefield, Xinhua news agency reported.

As many as 260,000 Turks have signed on the petition within days, which will be sent to the Turkish General Staff for consideration when the figure hits 300,000.

Last week, 17 Turkish soldiers were killed in three suicide bomb attacks by the Islamic State (IS) militants in the northern Syrian town of al-Bab, bringing the total number of Turkish deaths to 37 since Ankara launched what it called Euphrates Shield Operation on August 24 in Syria's north.

The military offensive is aiming chiefly at preventing the Syrian Kurds from seizing more land for an autonomous region or worse, an independent state, along the border with Turkey.

The Turkish troops and Ankara-backed Syrian rebels are trying now to take al-Bab from the IS, with next targets being Manbij and Raqqa, the de-facto IS capital, as announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Moscow, Dec 28 : Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a natural gas pipeline linking Crimea to Russia's gas pipeline system, which will allow the inhabitants of the peninsula to receive a continuous supply of gas.

During the ceremony, Vladimir Putin said via video conference that this is another important outcome for the development of Crimea and its future, Efe news reports.

He announced that two power plants will be built within the next two years to meet all the electricity needs of the peninsula's inhabitants.

The length of the natural gas pipeline is 358.7 km.

Ukraine has not given up on retaking Crimea, which Kiev considers territory occupied by Russia, while Moscow says that Crimea inhabitants opted mostly to join the Russian federation through a referendum.
Washington, Dec 28 : US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Thomas Bossert as his Assistant for Homeland Security and Executive Vice President of Trump Organisation Jason Greenblatt as his "special representative for international negotiations", Trump's transition team said on Tuesday.

"Bossert has a handle on the complexity of homeland security, counterterrorism, and cyber security challenges. He will be an invaluable asset to our Administration," Xinhua news agency cited an oline statement by Trump.

Bossert, who has served as the Deputy Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, will advise Trump on issues related to homeland security, counterterrorism, and cyber security, the statement said.

"I am looking forward to working closely with General Flynn as we together help the President-elect advance the interests of the United States and its allies," Bossert said.

Talking about Greenblatt, who has also been Trump Organization's Chief Legal Officer, Trump said: "He has a history of negotiating substantial, complex transactions, as well as the expertise to build consensus on difficult and sensitive topics."

It was not clear whether Greenblatt's new position would clash with the United States Trade Representative (USTR), a Cabinet-level position that has traditionally served as the President's principal trade advisor and negotiator.
Luxury-car buyers in South Florida are about to get the dealership theyve long deserved.

When INFINITI of Coral Gables opens its doors December 26, luxury-car shopping and service will never be the same. The 75,000-square-foot dealership will be the largest and most luxurious INFINITI dealership in North America.

Located at 2701 Le Jeune Road, in the lavish Bacardi USA headquarters building, the dealership will feature a sparkling interior with gently cascading waterfalls, free high-speed wi-fi, meeting rooms for customer use, a plush lounge, a deluxe childrens play area, a nail salon offering customers complimentary services, a cafe and coffee bar staffed with baristas who will brew exclusive Ospina Dynasty Coffee from Colombia, also complimentary.

The dealership marks the entry into Florida of the Bernie Moreno Companies, which operates a growing footprint of thriving luxury dealerships in Ohio, Massachusetts and Kentucky. The companys impressive lineup of luxury brands includes Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin and INFINITI.

We are eager to give South Florida drivers a level of amenities and service theyve never seen, says Bernie Moreno. Were also eager to see the reactions from clients when they walk into this stunning space and experience our Above and Beyond culture. Get ready to pick your jaw off the floor.

The dealership is the result of a $15 million investment by Bernie Moreno Companies and will provide 70 news jobs to the Miami area.

Weve built a strong reputation in other states by selling great vehicles at great prices, providing unmatched service and by giving back to the community, says Moreno. We cant wait to build that same reputation here in the Miami area.

In addition to stunning amenities for its customers, INFINITI of Coral Gables will offer Bernie Moreno Companies trademark client service, including Worry Free Pricing, mobile scheduling, anywhere vehicle valet and unrivaled Auto Spa services.

Like our luxury cars, this amazing dealership will feature more than just spectacular aesthetics, says Moreno. When you go under the hood here, youre going find a skilled service department, a trustworthy sales team that builds long-term relationships and an environment that puts client service ahead of everything else.

For more information on INFINITI of Coral Gables, including photos and video, visit

http://www.infinitiofcoralgables.com/

and

https://www.facebook.com/INFINITIofCoralGables

In 2005, Bernie Moreno purchased a small, underperforming Mercedes-Benz dealership on the west side of Cleveland, turning it into Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted, the flagship dealership of his organization. After just one year, that dealership earned a coveted Best of the Best award from Mercedes-Benz and would go on to win the award for 10 consecutives years, something no other Mercedes-Benz dealer has done. In the meantime, Bernie Moreno Companies has become one of the fastest growing and most admired auto-dealership organizations in the country, earning awards for its growth, client service, community involvement and employee engagement.

For more information or to set up an interview with Bernie Moreno, contact Marketing Team Lead Ralph Stawicki at 440-567-9144.

CONTACT: Ralph Stawicki

Marketing Team Lead

440-567-9144

###
Lochmueller Group, Inc. is proud to welcome Kevin Fuhr, PE as the companys new Chicago Branch Manager. In his new duties, Kevin will market Lochgroups services to clients throughout Chicagoland and Northern Illinois while overseeing the daily operations of the office.

Kevin brings twenty years of experience in transportation consulting industry and has an extensive background in roadway design and project management as well as airport airfield design and program management. Most recently, Kevin acted as an Owners Representative for the implementation and management of the OHare Modernization Program for the City of Chicago Department of Aviation. Additionally, he has successfully managed roadway and bridge projects with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Kevin holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a registered Professional Engineer. His professional affiliations include the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Council of Engineering Companies, Lambda Alpha International, and the March of Dimes Construction and Transportation Awards Committee.

Lochmueller Group's Chicago office opened in 2012 and offers a full range of transportation engineering services ranging from traffic analysis and right-of-way acquisition to preliminary and final highway and bridge design. Initially founded as an infrastructure planning firm in 1980, today Lochmueller Group, Inc. serves clients nationwide from eight offices across the Midwest. Visit their website at http://lochgroup.com.
A Chaa Creek vacation is a healthy, relaxing way to enjoy winter Canadians have been enjoying our Wildly Civilised eco-resort for decades

Just in time to help with planning next years vacations, Canadas CTV News recently announced its top Travel trend for 2017  the tiny but chock-full-of-attractions country of Belize.

And new Canada-to-Belize City direct flights have made it easier than ever to take, as CTV put it, A walk on the wild side, The Lodge at Chaa Creek reports.

We were very happy to see CTV recommend Belize as having 'plenty to offer travellers looking for a walk on the wild side'," Chaa Creeks marketing administrator Roberto Harrison said. Especially as Canadians have been enjoying our Wildly Civilised eco-resort for decades.

And with travel from Canada to our doorstep getting easier all the time, were looking forward to seeing more of our northern neighbours this winter.

Mr Harrison said WestJet Airs new twice weekly nonstop service from Torontos Pearson International Airport to Philip Goldson International in Belize City, combined with Tropic Airs service from the newly upgraded Sir Barry Bowen Municpal airport to the Maya Flats airstrip adjacent to Chaa Creek, means that northern visitors can Have breakfast with snow falling outside and then be outdoors splashing around the pool before enjoying dinner that same day. 

WestJet became the first Canadian carrier to fly directly to Belize in October 2016, with twice weekly flights that depart Toronto at 9:15 a.m. and arrive in Belize City at 11:59 a.m. local times.

On December 18, 2016 CTV News reported Latin America is set to be a key travel trend for 2017, and described a few of Belizes many unique attractions.

The CTV News report, Travel trends for 2017: off the beaten track in Belize goes on to list the ancient Maya ceremonial site of Xunantunich, the Belize Zoo, the Great Blue Hole and exploring the underground caves revered by Belizes ancient Maya as some of the countrys top attractions.

Mr Harrison said he enjoyed reading the recommendations, especially as they are all part of Chaa Creeks extensive menu of tours and activities.

We couldnt agree more with CTVs recommendations, and they are all activities we encourage our own guests to try, Mr Harrison said.

We generally offer guests a stop at the Belize Zoo either coming from or returning to Belizes International airport, especially as part of our all-inclusive Belize Vacation Packages. Like most things in Belize, the Zoo is a warm, friendly and unique experience that allows visitors to get up close and personal with some of our most iconic animals, such a jaguars, tapirs, monkeys and the magnificent Harpy Eagle. Its a great introduction to some of the wildlife inhabiting the 400-acre private nature reserve that surrounds Chaa Creek.

Mr Harrison said the other attractions highlighted by CTV are all easy to experience from Chaa Creek.

Xunantunich, for example, is close by Chaa Creek, making it an easy morning or afternoon trip that is well worth the visit. A hand cranked ferry takes visitors across the Mopan River and then its a pleasant walk or ride though unspoiled rainforest to one of the most picturesque Maya archaeological sites in Belize.

The highlight is El Castillo, a beautifully preserved temple pyramid with ornate frescos and intact chambers near the top, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding area, from Guatemala to Chaa Creek and beyond. Ive never heard of anyone, regardless of age or experience, not being enthralled by Xunantunich.

Mr Harrison said another popular attraction is Belizes extensive cave system.

We offer excursions to the Barton Creek, Rio Frio and other caves as well as the amazing Actun Tunichil Muknal, which was discovered not that long ago and, as an important ceremonial site for the ancient Maya, is still filled with a wealth of artefacts like jade axe heads, sacrificial altars, pottery and the skeletons and skulls of sacrificial victims, the most famous of which is the Crystal Maiden, the intact skeleton of a young woman who over the years has been covered in calcium carbonate, which gives her an eerie, shimmering shine under the beam of a flashlight.

Its no exaggeration to say that its an unforgettable experience.

Equally memorable, Mr Harrison said, is a trip to Belizes Great Barrier Reef.

Of course, back in the early days Belize was mostly famous among divers as one of the worlds top diving spots. With the second longest barrier reef in the world sheltering scores of tiny islands, the planets largest atolls, and then the Blue Hole, which Jacques Cousteau made famous when he explored it aboard the Calypso, diving in Belize was, and is, at the top of many peoples bucket lists.

Our Rainforest to Reef all-inclusive Belize vacation packages with our partner resorts on Belizes Caribbean cayes and coast offer a seamless, affordable way to combine a rainforest vacation with a Caribbean beach holiday, he said.

Whether youre from Canada, the US, UK, Europe or anywhere, theres no doubt that Belize has something to offer you, and that Chaa Creek can open Belize up in the most comfortable, affordable way possible.

Its how we developed the reputation within the travel industry as Belizes Destination Within a Destination, he said.

Mr Harrison said that Chaa Creek has added new offerings to their extensive menu of accommodation options, tours, amenities and activities for 2017, including a Belize Cultural Grand Tour and the new luxury Ix Chel Rainforest Villas, and encouraged travellers to visit the popular eco-resorts website or contact Chaa Creek directly to learn more.

Thanks to increased air service and a competitive airline industry, Belize is becoming closer and more affordable all the time, so going from freezing up north to swimming, canoeing, horseback riding though jungle trails or just swinging in a hammock with a cold drink is becoming an option for more people this northern winter.

The sight of Canadians with healthy tans frolicking around our pool during the winter is, to my mind, one of the benefits of living in a more connected global community, Mr Harrison said.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize.

ENDS
Abuela Lucy Foundation

The Abuela Lucy Foundation has awarded a grant to the Life Sciences Secondary School for its Virtual Lab Initiative.

The project will benefit the 610 students who attend the Life Sciences Secondary School, located in New York City. The Life Sciences Secondary schools serves 6-12 graders who elective courses and engage in after-school programs in the sciences, in order to provide them with exposure to college and career opportunities connected to the various branches of Life Sciences.

We are really grateful for the generous donation from the Abuela Lucy Foundation," said Derek Premo, Vice Principal of the Life Sciences Secondary School. Their support will allow our students to engage with technology to better make sense and explore the wonders of the life sciences through virtual lab experiments.

The Virtual Lab Initiative will help students understand difficult biological concepts through online labs designed by scientists. Virtual labs allow students to explore the world of science in ways that are not possible through traditional methods, by providing multisensory experience combined with inquiry and problem solving.

Having organizations like Abuela Lucy appreciate and support our mission to bring more innovative and tech-based learning opportunities to our students is invaluable in helping students discover the educational and career opportunities in the life sciences, Premo said.

The Abuela Lucy Foundation, founded in 2015, serves underrepresented students interested in pursuing the life sciences as a career. Earlier this year, the Abuela Lucy Foundation awarded its first scholarship to help a student attend college.

The Foundation also published Phase to Phase: How Medicine is Made, the first book of its kind, to educate students about the history, process and safety of pharmaceuticals. The books is available for sale at http://www.abuelalucy.org, with all proceeds directly benefitting diverse learners.

About the Abuela Lucy Foundation

The Abuela Lucy Foundation is a 501c(3) charity established in response to addressing the needs of low income families and diverse learners who wish to purse additional education and careers in the life sciences. It was founded in 2016 by Rose Rios, a product of STEM programming in high school. For more information or to make a donation, please visit http://www.abuelalucy.org.
We're fortunate Atomico Ventures and Salesforce Ventures, joined our Series A, bringing the total investment to $7.5 million in the round.

Automile, a fast-growing fleet management and IoT company, today announced it has raised $7.5 million for its Series A funding round. Existing investors Dawn Capital, Point Nine Capital and SaaStr were joined by new investors Niklas Zennstrom with Atomico Ventures, one of Europe's largest venture funds, and Salesforce Ventures, Salesforces corporate investment group.

After raising our Series A round this summer, we fielded a wide variety of interest from strategic partners and investors. We're fortunate Atomico Ventures and Salesforce Ventures, joined our Series A, bringing the total investment to $7.5 million in the round, said Jens Nylander, CEO and founder of Automile.

I'm fortunate to have been able to invest in many leaders of the next generation of SaaS companies, from Talkdesk to Algolia to Greenhouse and Rainforest QA, and Automile. I believe Automile is completely changing the way fleet management is done in a connected and mobile-everywhere world. We're extremely proud Automile is the largest investment in the $70 million SaaStr Fund, said Jason Lemkin, founder of SaaStr.

The underpenetrated telematics market is estimated to be worth about $30 billion by 2018 [Source: MarketsandMarkets ]. Automiles estimated revenue for 2016 is $3 million, up from $800,000 in 2015, and the company captured around 176 million miles to date with over 128 billion data records.

Approximately 84% of commercial vehicles in the US have no fleet management solution today [Source: Berg Insight ]. Automile offers a next-generation solution that can be easily self-installed by businesses and it uses smart technology and data efficiencies to bring tremendous value to companies of all sizes, said Nylander.

Automile will invest the funds in R&D, marketing, and hiring talent to drive further growth in the United States and Sweden, where the company was founded.

About Automile

Automile offers a smart device that can be simply plugged into a vehicle to start managing it in seconds using its innovative mobile and web apps. It is used by businesses of all sizes across the United States and Europe to optimize fleet performance, gain greater visibility into their drivers and vehicles and ultimately improve the bottom line. With an innovative API and extensive partner program, Automile is committed to collaborating with businesses to ensure the best product possible for its customers. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with a second office in Stockholm, Sweden, Automile continues to leverage SaaS and IoT technology to disrupt the traditional approach to fleet management. Learn more at https://www.automile.com.

Salesforce Ventures

Salesforce VenturesSalesforces corporate investment groupinvests in the next generation of enterprise technology to help companies connect with their customers in entirely new ways. Portfolio companies receive funding as well as access to the worlds largest cloud ecosystem and the guidance of Salesforces innovators and executives. With Salesforce Ventures, portfolio companies can also leverage Salesforce's expertise in corporate philanthropy by joining Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce has invested in more than 150 enterprise cloud startups since 2009. For more information, please visit http://www.salesforce.com/ventures.
Dynamite Fireworks

Second only to the Fourth of July in the United States, New Years Eve is well known as a top fireworks holiday. Though the professional displays around the world are legendary, many people prefer to put on their own backyard fireworks show.

Hammond, Indianas Dynamite Fireworks has been providing customers with all of the information they need for more than 40 years. Owner Kris Zambo reminds everyone that safety is paramount when planning a display. Large, loud and high altitude aerial fireworks with multiple colors and effects are the most popular items for New Years fireworks displays," said Zambo. "As these items typically contain the most powder and propellant, its very important to take extra care with their set-up, launch and clean-up."

According to Zambo, High quality, year round fireworks stores can be difficult to find in many areas of the country, making the pursuit of New Years Fireworks somewhat difficult for many. Zambo explained, Even if you are lucky enough to find a fireworks store open this time of year, unless you are working with a reputable knowledge supplier, it can still be tough to understand the quality, safety, and legality of the items presented.

Dynamite Fireworks offers six ways to determine whether a fireworks supplier is reputable.

1. Experience

Potential buyers should find out about the suppliers overall experience in the industry, as well as in different niches. How long has the company been open? How many sales do they have each year? Do they focus on commercial fireworks, home shows, or something else? The ideal supplier has a broad base of experience.

2. Reputation

The next step is to explore the companys reputation. Potential customers should do a little digging to find out what others think. Does the supplier have a loyal customer base? Are there testimonials on the companys website? What do the online reviews say?

3. Quality

Product quality is essential when dealing with something as potentially dangerous as fireworks. Those that are poorly made are at risk for premature detonation or misfires, while those that are of high quality can be safely stored for many years. Of course, buyers should leave immediately if M-80s or other illegal products are offered, or if consumers are allowed to purchase professional 1.3G fireworks without a license.

4. Product Knowledge

Creating a New Years Eve display is both an art and a science, and a good fireworks supplier has the necessary knowledge to walk beginners through the process. Potential customers should seek a supplier who is well-informed and eager to help, rather than simply trying to unload products.

5. Legal Knowledge

Consumer fireworks are primarily regulated at the state, county, and city levels. A reputable fireworks supplier should have a strong working knowledge of the relevant laws, and should be able to communicate that information to each customer. Of course, buyers from out of town may find that the supplier is not an expert on their particular local laws. In that case, the supplier should be able to point out general concerns and direct the buyer to resources for more information.

6. Safety Tips

Reputable fireworks suppliers understand the inherent risks involved with fireworks, and proactively offer tips for safe handling. If the company simply pushes products at buyers without any safety explanations, buyers should think twice about purchasing large, possibly dangerous fireworks from them.

Fireworks are a major part of New Years Eve, and Dynamite Fireworks stands ready to help. As Zambo notes, "Fireworks are a terrific addition for any festivity, especially a New Years Party; however, common sense, caution and sobriety of the designated igniter are the keys to success and safety for all your guests!"

About Dynamite Fireworks

Less than 1 mile from the Indiana-Illinois state line, Dynamite Fireworks is the closest fireworks store to Chicago, and is open year-round. Visit Dynamite Fireworks at 4218 Calumet Ave, Hammond, IN. Call (219) 937-4090 for more information, or go to https://dynamitefireworks.com/.
We feel our company is not only one of the best and brightest to work for, we also have a staff of some of the best and brightest in the nation and are excited to share this award with them

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For competition identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance. This competition scores potential winners based on regional data of company performance and a set standard across the nation. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. There are numerous regional celebrations throughout the country.

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For award has been recognizing companies for six years. The 2016 winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm, which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. They include Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance and the Best of the Best Small Business.

Of the 1700 applicants, 346 were recognized as 2016 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation. HRPro/Benepro is proud to be selected for this award.

We are proud to be selected by the National Association for Business Resources for this award and honored to be included with other great national businesses, says Kristopher Powell, CEO and President of HRPro/BenePro. We feel our company is not only one of the best and brightest to work for, we also have a staff of some of the best and brightest in the nation and are excited to share this award with them.

To see the complete 2016 List of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, visit 101bestandbrightest.com.

About HRPro/BenePro

HRPro/BenePro is one of Michigan's top HR and benefit advisory and administration firms, offering a Total People Solution for small to mid-sized companies. HRPro/BenePro strives to create a fun, collaborative culture that puts an emphasis on customer relationships and personalized service. Recently celebrating their 25 year anniversary, they are constantly working to stay ahead of latest trends and needs in the industry. Their mission is to work closely with organizations to understand and help them achieve their human capital goals, increase productivity, increase employee morale, ensure compliance and build a strong, lasting HR foundation. For more information visit the companys website at http://www.hrbenepro.com.
Will Wesch, Director of Admissions for Novus Medical Detox Center, calls for awareness and support for healthcare workers struggling with substance abuse Healthcare workers are expected to play a key role in identifying and treating patients with substance use disorders. Yet studies show that a number of them are waging their own battles against addiction and dependency.

A new study out of Australia revealed that, on average, 37 healthcare professionals die each year from drug overdoses.(1) Meanwhile, U.S. government surveys found that more than 168,000 healthcare and social assistance workers engage in illicit drug use each year.(2) Novus Medical Detox Center, a leading Florida-based drug treatment facility, calls for healthcare employers to proactively address the issue with programs aimed at preventing substance abuse and providing appropriate treatment.

Between 2003 and 2013, Australian coroners documented 404 drug-related fatalities among healthcare professionals, with nurses accounting for 63% of those deaths and medical practitioners for 18%.(1) Researchers noted that most of the drugs were obtained illegally from employees workplaces, either by theft or self-prescription.(3) They theorize that several factors may predispose healthcare workers to substance abuse and premature death, including high-stress careers, long work hours and ready access to controlled substances.(1)

Within the United States, the latest report on substance abuse by industry compared combined data from 20032007 and 20082012, and found the number of healthcare and social assistance professionals engaging in past-month illicit drug use rose from an average of 164,600 to 168,400 per year.(2) A USA TODAY investigative story further revealed that 1 in 10 practitioners will succumb to drug or alcohol abuse at some point in their lives.(4)

Healthcare workers are expected to play a key role in identifying and treating patients with substance use disorders. Yet studies show that a number of them are waging their own battles against addiction and dependency, observed Will Wesch, Director of Admissions for Novus Medical Detox Center. These are people who undoubtedly understand the risks of substance abuse and misuse, so the fact that theyve fallen victim to it proves that nobody is immune to addiction or dependency.

Though substance abuse in the healthcare industry may have previously been overlooked or underreported, Wesch says that popular dramas like the Netflix series Nurse Jackie have raised awareness of the issue, while news stories have demonstrated the potential repercussions. For example, one hospital technician who was found to be injecting himself with patients medications and refilling the syringes with saline is believed to have infected more than 45 patients with hepatitis.(4)

Drug diversion among healthcare workers can have dire consequences for practitioners and patients alike, warned Wesch. Thats why its in employers best interests to have programs and policies for dealing with these kinds of issues before they lead to fatal outcomes. Administrators should be monitoring staff for signs of stress and overwork, and providing appropriate mental health services to deter workers from self-medicating to cope with the demands of their jobs.

Wesch also advises employers to provide and promote access to drug treatment programs rather than relying solely on punitive policies. If healthcare professionals fear for their jobs, theyre more likely to hide their substance use than seek help. Likewise, workers may be more apt to cover for colleagues they suspect of using drugs because they dont want to get anyone fired, he explained. When employers support drug rehab and detox programs, it can motivate users to get clean. It also gives the healthcare facility an opportunity to regain a committed and experienced worker rather than having to recruit and train a replacement.

Novus offers medically supervised alcohol and drug detox programs that help minimize the discomfort of withdrawal. The Florida detox facility provides personalized treatment plans based on proven medical protocols, including 24-hour access to nursing care and withdrawal specialists. Novus is acclaimed for its expertise in treating high-dose methadone cases, and is proficient in detoxing patients from other prescription drugs just as safely, comfortably and effectively.

For more information on Novus Medical Detox Center and its alcohol and drug treatment programs, visit http://www.novusdetox.com.

About Novus Medical Detox Center:

Novus Medical Detox Center has earned The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation as an inpatient medical detox facility. Licensed by the Florida Department of Children and Families, Novus provides safe, effective alcohol and drug treatment programs that are based on proven medical protocols and designed to minimize the discomfort of withdrawal. The facility is located on 3.25 acres in New Port Richey, Florida, in a tranquil, spa-like setting bordering protected conservation land. Intent on proving that detox doesnt have to be painful or degrading, Novus set out to transform the industry by bringing humanity into medical detox with individually customized treatment programs and 24/7 access to nursing care and withdrawal specialists. Today, Novus is renowned as a champion of industry standardization and a staunch advocate of patients fighting to overcome substance use disorders. Frequently recognized for its contributions to the industry and local community, Novus has become a regular source to media publications such as The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and has ranked in the Tampa Bay Business Journals Fast 50, the Florida Business Journals Top 500 and the Inc. 5000 list of Americas fastest-growing companies. For more information on Novus medically supervised detox programs, visit http://novusdetox.com.

1. Pilgrim, Jennifer L.; Rhyse Dorward; and Olaf H. Drummer. Drug-Caused Deaths in Australian Medical Practitioners and Health-Care Professionals; Addiction; November 20, 2016. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.13619/full

2. Bush, Donna M. and Rachel N. Lipari. The CBHSQ Report: Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder by Industry; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality; April 16, 2015. samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1959/ShortReport-1959.html

3. Scott, Sophie and Dr. Norman Swan. Study Indicates High Rate of 'Intentional' Drug-Related Deaths Among Nurses; ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation); November 20, 2016. abc.net.au/news/2016-11-21/study-indicates-high-rate-of-drug-related-deaths-among-nurses/8038866

4. Eisler, Peter. Doctors, Medical Staff on Drugs Put Patients at Risk; USA TODAY; April 17, 2014. usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/15/doctors-addicted-drugs-health-care-diversion/7588401/
New Smyrna Beach was selected as one of the top beach vacation destinations in Canadian Traveller's Top American Trips for 2017. The area will be featured in America Yours to Discover, a consumer publication published by Canadian Traveller since 1993. The issue will be published in July 2017 with the goal of having readers experience - not just visit - the destination.

"The New Smyrna Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is honored that the area was chosen for an exciting recognition such as this," says New Smyrna Beach Area CVB Executive Director Debbie Meihls. "With the United States being the number one international destination of choice for Canadians, the New Smyrna Beach area will strive to promote the destination as one of the top American trips of 2017."

America Yours to Discover has been a state-by-state guide to the United States that was originally written for the Canadian travel trade. However, a couple of years ago, a change was made to switch it to a consumer publication that made it available on newsstands across Canada. Nevertheless, travel trade subscribers still receive the publication which, in turn, helps the destination reach both the consumer and travel trade market.

Out of over 100 detailed submissions and seven categories, New Smyrna Beach was selected as one of the 26 winning trip locations for the beach vacation category. The winners will receive recognition through print and online divisions with 25,000 issues available on all major Canadian newsstands for one year.

We are fortunate to have received such significant recognition that will help show what the New Smyrna Beach area has to offer. With 17 miles of beautiful Atlantic shoreline, New Smyrna Beach looks forward to continue making New Smyrna Beach a great place to make happy memories for Canadians and the rest of the globe.

About New Smyrna Beach

New Smyrna Beach possesses a hometown quality reflected in its architecture, 17 miles of pristine beach, recreational inland waterways, eclectic restaurant scenes and friendly community of residents. Accommodations here range from charming bed and breakfast inns to family-size condominium units and oceanfront hotels. Visitors and locals constantly enjoy frequent art shows, annual festivals, historical and cultural sites filled with rich history and many unique boutiques, galleries and sidewalk cafes scattered throughout Canal Street and Flagler Avenue. The New Smyrna Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a variety of informational resources readily available for both local residents and out-of-town business and leisure travelers. Residents and visitors can learn about the area's many options for fun dining, shopping, overnight accommodations, attractions, recreation and more.

###

New Smyrna Beach was voted BEST BEACH for ten consecutive years by readers of Orlando Sentinel! More information about New Smyrna Beach is available online at http://www.nsbfla.com or by calling 386-428-1600. Follow @NewSmyrnaBeach1 on Twitter, Visit New Smyrna Beach on Facebook, @visitnewsmyrnabeach on Instagram, visitnewsmyrna on Pinterest or Visit New Smyrna Beach on YouTube for updates about events, tourist and local activity or other information about local attractions. Download the free NSB Mobile App for iPhone and Android to receive this information on the go.
Iman Lopez

Fashion Designer Iman Lopez, who is best known for starring in Episode 4 of the hit television series Rich Kids of Instagram, is also striving to make a difference. Iman recently spent October in the Republic of Cameron serving those in need. During her trip, she received several awards and praises from ministers and their affiliated cabinet members for her volunteer work with orphanages as well as participating in teaching programs for young Cameroonian entrepreneurs.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs depends heavily on the valuable service of volunteers to fulfill our mission and we are grateful that celebrities like Ms. Lopez are setting an example by volunteering their time and talents to help raise awareness of our work. It is crucial to efficiently respond to these disasters and adequately provide for those in need through the distribution of food, living necessities, clothing, and educational material to not only alleviate, but give them the tools necessary to prevail through such persevering times. We are truly blessed to have people like Ms. Lopez to raise the bar in providing for these people in need. Additionally, Ms. Lopez has also been instrumental in the starting of a celebrity mentorship program geared towards helping young Cameroonians and their families by promoting entrepreneurship through a variety classes that cater to developing the skills required for their success," stated Her Excellency Professor Pauline Irene Nguene, Minister of Social Affairs in the Republic of Cameroon.

His Excellency Mr. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Minister of Arts and Culture, elaborated on recent 2016 trend in the countrys fashion exports by stating that, Our country is well known for its fabrics and has always been a popular destination for fashion designers. Recently however, we have seen a large increase in Cameroonian brands being sold in Europe and North America. Mr. Kombi went on to add Ms. Lopez has helped us put in place a teaching program for young designers and entrepreneurs helping them harness the power of our large textile industry so that they can become the next Kibonen Nfi. This is a reference to the local Cameroonian designer and founder of Kibonen NY who offered a unique hand-woven design for the Toghu that is influenced by the traditional clothing of the Western highlands within Cameroon in which swept New Yorks fashion scene late 2015.

With an upcoming volunteer campaign in Jordan to help refugees of the Syrian conflict, Iman Lopez has stated on social media that she plans on taking a step back from entrepreneurship and focusing more on philanthropy. Iman's team has grown since the trip to Cameroon to include many iconic designers and prominent Saudi business figures. She was not able to give exact names due to security concerns from officials, but instead referred us to her Instagram @iman.lopez
Dr. Behzad Nazari

Dr. Behzad Nazari, dentist in Houston, announces that his dental office is now offering a promotion on Invisalign for a limited time. Just in time for the New Year, patients can get Invisalign for as little as $2,899. Some restrictions may apply. For more information about the promotion, patients can contact Antoine Dental Center.

Invisalign remains one of the most popular choices for straightening teeth discreetly. With the current reduction in price at Antoine Dental Center, Invisalign is an option for even more patients seeking a better looking smile and the health benefits that come with it.

Rather than using metal brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth. In addition to being virtually invisible, these aligners are more comfortable than conventional braces, and give patients better support for oral health. Invisalign is also faster at straightening teeth. While metal braces take an average of two years to work, treatment with Invisalign is complete in twelve to fifteen months for many patients. Some bite problems, including severe rotation and vertical position irregularities, cannot be treated with Invisalign. Patients must receive a dental checkup and exam to determine their eligibility for this treatment.

Antoine Dental Center provides patients with many orthodontic and other types of treatments. For straightening their teeth, eligible patients can choose from traditional metal braces, lingual braces, Incognito braces, and self-ligating braces in addition to Invisalign. The office also offers TADS and Propel orthodontics, which both speed treatment. Other types of treatments offered include restorations, such as fillings, cosmetic treatments, including veneers and tooth whitening, and periodontal care. Tooth replacement can be performed with dental implants, bridges, and dentures.

Dr. Behzad Nazari has been treating patients at his Houston office for eighteen years. Dr. Nazari originally graduated from Texas Southern University in 1991 and worked as a Registered Pharmacist before attending University of Texas at Houston Dental Branch in 1998, where he graduated with honors. During his dental career, Dr. Nazari has advanced his skills through a number of continuing education programs. Today, Dr. Nazari is a reputable member of several dental organizations, and emphasizes preventive care in his work to help patients achieve optimal oral health for life.
http://www.mimivax.com MimiVax is excited to share its immuno-oncology program at the 2017 Biotech Showcase & JPM Healthcare Conference.

MimiVax to present at Biotech Showcase; attending JP Morgan 2017 Healthcare Conference

MimiVax, LLC will be presenting at the 9th Annual Biotech Showcase Conference in San Francisco, Jan 9-12, 2017. The company will provide an overview and update on its immuno-oncology programs. Company will be highlighting its lead program SurVaxM that is in ongoing Phase II clinical study in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Besides its late stage SurVaxM program, company will share for the first time its preclinical pipeline of assets. This includes monoclonal antibody (Sur-MAb) and CAR-T/Adaptive T-cell therapy program. The 9th Annual Biotech Showcase Conference presentation will be on Tuesday January 10th at 10:15AM, at the Hilton San Francisco.

MimiVax will also be in attendance for The J.P. Morgan 35th Annual Healthcare Conference, taking place between Jan. 9  13, 2017 at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. During the event, MimiVax executives (CSO; Michael Ciesielski, PhD and VP, BD; Anil Goyal, PhD) will be available for meetings to discuss investment and pharmaceutical partnership opportunities.

2017 Biotech Showcase Conference:

Presenting, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, 10:15 AM;

Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Room 9 Ballroom Level, San Francisco, CA

JP Morgan 2017 Healthcare Conference:

Monday - Friday, Jan. 9 - 13, 2017; Westin St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, CA

http://www.mimivax.com

About MimiVax: MimiVax is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of immunotherapeutics and targeted therapies for the treatment of cancer. Our proprietary product portfolio is based on technology licensed from Roswell Park Cancer Institute that targets survivin, a cell-survival protein that is present in most cancers and rarely detectable in normal tissue. Our therapies are designed to stimulate immune responses to control tumor growth and recurrence.

About SurVaxM: SurVaxM, our lead immunotherapeutic candidate, has demonstrated safety and tolerability and strong efficacy signal in a Phase I study in patients with malignant gliomas (brain tumors). SurVaxM is an engineered immune activating novel/neo antigen applicable across most histologies. SurVaxMs single long peptide (SLP) is engineered to be activating to mid-affinity T cell receptors. Mid-affinity T cell receptors have been shown to be critical for sustained T effector activation and durable T cell responses.

SurVaxM is currently being evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial in adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, and a Phase I clinical trial in combination with REVLIMID (lenalidomide) as a maintenance therapy for adults with multiple myeloma (a form of blood cancer).
The Telangana chief minister has said the BDJS leader from Kerala was acting on the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP)  Authorities in Rockford have identified three children who were found dead in a Christmas Eve house fire.

Winnebago County Coroner William Hintz on Monday said 5-year-old Damion Kruger, 11-year-old Star Bonilla and 17-year-old Michael Bonilla died in the Saturday fire. The Rockford Register Star reports that the preliminary cause of death for the three is thermal with smoke and soot inhalation.

Firefighters found the house in flames and three children and a dog dead on the home's second floor. The mother, three other children and a male relative escaped.

The newspaper reports the fire is believed to have started in the back of the house, possibly around the kitchen.

The Rockford Fire Department continues to investigate the cause of the fire.
DAVENPORT  Residents of a large part of the city and Buffalo Township will elect a state senator today to fill the seat left vacant by the death of state Sen. Joe Seng, of Davenport, in September.

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. For polling places and election information, visit scottcountyiowa.com/event/2016/12/27/senate-district-45-special-election-day.

Competing in the election are state Rep. Jim Lykam, a Democrat currently representing the 85th District; LeClaire Police Sgt. Michael Gonzales, a Republican; and Libertarian Severin B. Gilbert, a U.S. Defense Department employee. All three live in Davenport.

Sen. Seng, a veterinarian, died Sept. 16 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. He had represented Iowa's 45th Senate District since 2003. The district comprises downtown Davenport and much of the city west of Brady Street, as well as a stretch along the river west past the Buffalo Shores Recreation Area.

After Sen. Seng's death, Gov. Terry Branstad proposed adding an election on the Nov. 8 ballot to fill the two years remaining in his term. To avoid undue difficulties in administering the election, it was delayed until Dec. 27.
Today is Tuesday, Dec. 27, the 362nd day of 2016. There are 4 days left in the year.

1866 -- 150 years ago: Phil Hein informs the public he has on hand a supply of Peru Beer as well as everything else found in a first-class saloon.

1891 -- 125 years ago: Capt. W.T. Channon went to Chicago to attend the Illinois National Guard Convention.

1916 -- 100 years ago: Pupils at St. Joseph School fled from the building when Christmas tree decorations caught fire.

1941 -- 75 years ago: Postmaster John McCarthy asked residents to cooperate in stopping chain letters offering Defense bonds as prizes.

1966 -- 50 years ago: The Quad-Cities' white Christmas is coming two days late and bringing with it a hazardous driving warning by the United States Weather Bureau at the Quad City Airport.

The warning was contained in the noon forecast today, which called for from 2 to 4 inches of snow expected tonight.

1991 -- 25 years ago: Business has its place, except when the business is a gravel pit and its supposed to operate next to someones house on Big Island. That is the message Big Island residents are sending in response to Moline Consumers Co.s request to use 29.9 acres on the south side of Big Island as a sand and gravel pit. Residents are posting poster board signs all over the residential portion of the island, the section in which Moline Consumers hopes to dig.
NEW YORK (AP)  If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for U.S. ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the U.S. and Israel.

In a stunning decision Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of U.S. tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

"Things will be different after Jan. 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end.

Under Obama, the U.S. has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades, the U.S. has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the U.S. to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally.

It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century.

"Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy."

Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere.

Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman  his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot.

"He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said.

At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan  a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism  to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death.

And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period.

Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy.

In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East."

Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace.

Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.
As people celebrate the holidays in different ways across the country, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance is celebrating Festivus. The holiday created by the television show Seinfeld challenges all the normal rules and is essentially a day of telling people why youre upset with them about the choices theyve made over the last year.

Airing of Grievances

The first tradition of Festivus is the airing of grievances. While there could have been an entire book written on taxpayer grievances, here are just a few that taxpayers have with bureaucrats and lawmakers.

-- Federal Communications Commission: The FCC has been a disaster for taxpayers and consumers in 2016. The agency, under the failed leadership of Chairman Tom Wheeler, used taxpayer money to expand their regulatory footprint by implementing new privacy rules and trying to ban free data services (seriously, the FCC doesnt want consumers to have free data).

But, one of the most notable policy failures was his attempt to push through a controversial Set-Top Box plan to put the FCC in charge of content distribution and shifted copyright authority to the agency and away from the Copyright Office. The proposal stalled after criticism from both sides of the aisle, including fellow commissioners. Wheeler is stepping down in January, so it is hoped this will be the final year of grievances from the FCC.

-- Nuclear Bailouts: A pair of taxpayer and ratepayer-funded nuclear bailouts mark the next grievances for Festivus. In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is gifting to taxpayers and ratepayers an increase in electricity costs and a multi-billion dollar bailout that didnt even get a vote in the state legislature. Cuomo increased the states renewable standard and included nuclear power as a renewable power source. In Illinois, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill that expands the states Renewable Portfolio Standard and also includes a multi-billion dollar bailout for select nuclear plants. The worst part is that just one company in New York and Illinois will benefit from the bailouts. Taxpayers dont deserve this nonsense from governors during the holidays, or at any other time during the year.

Feats of Strength

The other Festivus tradition is the feats of strength. This is when challenging acts are performed by those able to make it through the airing of grievances. Its always difficult to get things done in Washington, but even more so during an election year. Heres part of what Congress did manage to get accomplished:

-- Catfish Inspection: The first feat of strength centers on the Department of Agricultures Catfish Inspection Program. There have been widespread calls to repeal the wasteful and duplicative multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded program. The Government Accountability Office has targeted the program a record 10 times for elimination. Congress has taken several votes and thankfully the Senate voted to repeal it earlier this year. The program has not yet been eliminated because the House has not held a vote. It is time for the full Congress, or President-elect Trump, to finally throw this fish back in the water for good in 2017.

-- Continuing Resolution: Congress showed a rare feat of strength during the most recent showdown over government funding when it passed a Continuing Resolution that keeps the government funded through April 2017. The deal maintains the fiscal year 2017 spending cap of $1.07 trillion. While it was not a perfect bill as it did include continued funding of the Overseas Contingency Operations Account, which is just a budget gimmick, the Continuing Resolution was passed by both chambersin time to avoid any last-minute shutdowns that may have ruined the holiday season for taxpayers.

-- Lame Duck: In a stunning show of strength, Congress managed to keep the lame-duck session relatively quiet. The November election was a pretty clear message that voters were tired seeing the same old end-of-the-year mad dash for massive spending bills each December. This year, many observers were expecting problems for taxpayers in a lame-duck session including an earmark-laden Omnibus as well as possible last-minute legislation on internet taxation, an internet-gambling ban, and the Export-Import Bank.

There is still much work to be done once the new Congress gets back in January. And, it will be interesting to see if they can accomplish even more feats of strength next year.

Well that does it for the 2016 Festivus message. It is hoped that with a new Congress and a new administration coming to Washington, therell be a lot less grievances and more feats of strength when the bare aluminum pole goes up again next year.
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.
The deal was struck with current 100%-owner Icahn Leasing, and once completed, the transaction will leave SMBC Rail Services with around 50,000 wagons. The company says the acquisition will strengthen its presence in the expanding US wagon leasing market.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2017, subject to regulatory approval and clearance.

SMBC Rail Services currently holds 20,500 wagons, the seventh largest fleet in the US. The acquisition follows its purchases of SMB Aviation Capital in 2012 and SMBC Rail in 2013.
The first train has been fully internally and externally refurbished but is not using the new traction equipment package, which was presented to stakeholders and the media between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich.

The class 321s were built by BREL at York for the former British Rail between 1988 and 1990, and was initially used on both Great Eastern/Anglia (class 321/3) and commuter services from London Euston (class 321/4). The vast majority of units are now used by Greater Anglia for services between London, Southend, Southminster, Braintree, Clacton, Harwich and Ipswich (with peak hour trains to Norwich).

The prototype class 321 "Renatus" unit was put into service in 2013 and has operated over 12,390km. Over 2500 feedback comments from users have been received, some of which have been used to finalise the specification for the production batch of trains.

The production Renatus programme will cover units the first 30 class 321 sets, built in 1988-89. Unlike the prototype, the production trains will have a completely new traction system plus new interiors including air-conditioning, power points at every seat, passenger Wi-Fi, LED interior lighting, new seats and passenger reduced mobility accessible toilets.

The new traction package will be installed by Vossloh Kiepe using space at the Wolverton works site leased especially for the contract. The new traction package replaces the original Brush dc traction motors and comprises new 300kW ac traction motors made by Traktionssysteme Austria which are also being fitted to the South West Trains class 455 EMUs. A new bigger transformer to support regenerative braking and new auxiliary power systems are also being fitted along with new traction convertors. The new traction system produces a 12% increase in available power - more than compensating for the additional power required for air-conditioning, or in the future ETCS signalling.

Vossloh and Eversholt believe the trains will be much cheaper to operate as regenerative braking will reduce brake pad consumption by around a third and enable bogie overhauls to be undertaken every 965,606km rather than every 804,672km at present. Vossloh Kiepe will release the first re-tractioned unit in mid-January and it should be in passenger service by February. The programme will then increase with all 29 other units re-tractioned by early 2018.

The trains will be refurbished as they need heavy overhauls and will either receive the new interior first undertaken by Wabtec at Doncaster or the new traction package first, making the visit to Wabtec later. The interior and bodyshell refurbishment programme will be completed several months after the re-tractioning programme in July 2018.

In the long-term, Eversholt sees a future for the refurbished trains by leaving them to other train operating companies once Greater Anglia's fleet of new EMUs enters service. The new traction equipment is designed for a 30-year life while Eversholt believes the trains can be used commercially until at least 2032. Currently there are no plans to fully refurbish any of the remaining class 321 EMUs.
Ukrainian court to consider Gazproms appeal against $6.8 bln fine on January 18

MOSCOW, December 27 (RAPSI) - The Kiev Commercial Court of Appeal has set January 18 as a date for considering an appeal lodged by Russian oil giant Gazprom against a lower courts ruling ordering the company to pay out a 171.8 billion hryvnia ($6.8 billion) fine imposed by Ukraines Antimonopoly Committee (AMCU), RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.

Gazprom was fined nearly 86 billion hryvnia (about $3.4 billion) in January and ordered to stop further alleged infringement.

Now the watchdog is seeking penalties that amount to another 86 billion hryvnia.

Gazprom claims that it is not engaged in business activity in Ukraine challenging the fine.
High-ranking investigator appeals against extension of his detention

MOSCOW, December 27 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko)  The First Deputy Head of the Investigative Committees Moscow Directorate, General Denis Nikandrov, who stands charged with taking a large-scale bribe, has filed an appeal against extension of his detention, the Lefortovksy District Courts spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova told RAPSI on Tuesday.

On December 16, the court extended the detention of Nikandrov for three months.

On July 20, the head of the Investigative Committees Internal Security Directorate Mikhail Maksimenko along with several of his high-ranking colleagues, including Nikandrov, and Maksimenkos deputy Alexander Lamonov, were put in jail.

Earlier, they have been arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of receiving a large-scale bribe.

According to the FSB official website, the agency, along with the Investigative Committee, is carrying out a probe into the criminal case against the suspects over alleged abuse of office and receiving bribes from some representatives of the criminal community.

In late July, various media outlets reported that Maksimenko and his colleagues had been arrested as a part of the investigation into a criminal case over extortion of 8 million rubles ($123,400) that involved alleged gang leader Zakhariy Kalashov also known in the criminal world as Shakro Molodoi.
TOLOnews.com, December 27, 2016

By Faridullah Hussainkhail

A 30 year old woman was beheaded on Monday evening in Sar-e-Pul province by a group of armed men, local officials said Tuesday.

Provincial governor spokesman Zabiullah Amani, confirmed the incident and said that the armed men were linked with Taliban. The incident took place in the remote village of Latti in Sar-e-Pul.

Amani said that the women was beheaded because she visited the city alone without her husband.

Amani said that the victims husband is in Iran and they dont have children.

Sar-e-Pul women's affairs head Nasima Arezo, also confirmed the incident.

The village is under Taliban control and so far no one has been arrested.

However the Taliban rejected any involvement.
Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale

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ESCAPE TO GODS COUNTRY AND OWN A PEICE OF PARADISE IN THE NORTH MAINE WOODS. This Huge 60+/- acre tract of recreational and hunting land is located in Ashland Maine a Prestine and rural small town with the feel of the way life used to be. Moose, deer, and bears roam this land which makes this area a perfect place for hunting. The adjacent land owner is the town of Ashland which owns thousands of acres right beside this lot. You have 1200' plus of water frontage on Alder Brook which is loaded wit...

Price: $ 315 Seller State of Residence: Maine Property Address: Ashland of off route 227 State/Province: Maine Type: Recreational, Acreage Zoning: Mixed Zip/Postal Code: 04732 Location: 047**, Ashland, Maine

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You may have heard of a company called Skull Crush before, but if not, we'll introduce you with a new product they've released.

Here's what they tell us about their new product.

Industry News: Skull Crush Multipurpose Tactical Saddle Bags

Skull Crush Saddle Bags are designed to be concealed in the hard saddle bag compartments of Harley Davidson Touring models. They also function as a carry on luggage bag, range bag, LE duty bag, or medical kit.

1000 denier Cordura material

Heavy Duty YKK Zippers

Padded flooring

Hook and Loop interior wall for accessories

MOLLE Webbing on both sides

Made in the U.S.A.

Lifetime Warrantee

More about Skull Crush in their own words.

United States Veteran / Law Enforcement Officer Owned Business Skull Crush is based in Fort Worth, Texas. The founder comes from a military and law enforcement background. We started in 2008. Despite an uncertain economy, our company has managed to thrive thanks to the many referrals from our loyal customers. We do little advertising and the quality of our product speaks for itself. We make a great effort to stimulate our own economy by sourcing parts, materials, and labor within the United States whenever possible. All Skull Crush helmets were designed in the U.S.A. Our non-DOT carbon fiber line is 100% made in the U.S.A. However, our DOT Vintage line is manufactured overseas with strict quality assurance guidelines and procedures. All custom paint work (both DOT and non-DOT) is done in Fort Worth, Texas. We believe in God, Country, Family, and the American Dream.

Skull Crush Gear isn't just a company that loves Harley Davidsons; they're a staunch supporter of military and law enforcement personnel, as you can see in this video. Check 'em out.

You can find the Skull Crush Saddle Bags right here. To learn more about Skull Crush check them out online. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.



Industry News. What are you seeing here? Just as the tagline reads  industry news. This is a product (or service) announcement. It is not an endorsement. It is not a review. It is not an advertisement.

Posts on RECOILweb.com labeled as Industry News are advisory notifications only. Information contained therein is likely provided by the individual manufacturer (or service provider), provided to RW and passed along to our readers as a notification only. Such articles do not represent our tacit approval, nor (unless labeled SPONSORED) were they paid for. RECOIL publishes not just for a fraction of the gun-owning community, but all of it. Individual editorial staff member opinions are not the sole arbiter of what news we present. What one person derides, another will extol. One of RECOIL's responsibilities is to inform readers of new products or services from manufacturers, training organizations, and the like. RECOIL readers have made it very clear this is something they want to see, and frequently. Some of those products will be chosen for further coverage or evaluation. Some will not. Some may have great promise or potential. Others will do nothing but prove the old adage, A fool and his money are soon parted. Readers should form their own conclusions, if appropriate. Rest assured if a member of the RECOIL staff is providing an opinion, you will know about it.

If you are aware of a new technology, product, or service you think is worth us passing along, reach out to [email protected] with details.
Tyrant Designs has been releasing new CNC'd AR parts and accessories for a good while now. The latest in their lineup is the CNC MOD Foregrip. This new offering is compatiable with both M-LOK and Keymod (Don't hold your breath for a PCAP version).

Here's what they have to say about it.

Industry News:Tyrant CNC MOD Foregrip

Tyrant Designs CNC, an industry leader in high-end aftermarket AR grips, has announced the release of their new line of foregrips. The MOD ForeGrip, available in black, red, blue (soon), and grey is CNC machined from a single piece of aerospace grade aluminum. The grip weighs in at a lightweight 1.7 ounces and is fully M-LOK and Keymod compatible. The MOD ForeGrip is the first installment in our new line of foregrips! Designed to match our very successful MOD AR-15 Pistol Grip, it too has an aluminum body with a polymer finger strap. With a specially designed mounting system, it is compatible with both M-LOK and Keymod rails. Meaning with just a quick change in hardware (that is supplied with the grip when purchased) it can be mounted on either type of rail system. We believe that this is the type of versatility that operators need in order to furnish multiple weapons. The polymer strap helps the operator instantly feel comfortable with the foregrip and give them the confidence needed for any type of situation. We feel that foregrips are a great solution for anyone who desires more muzzle control, and we look forward to adding more to this line in 2017!





You can visit Tyrant Designs online here.

More about Tyrant Designs, in their own words:

Tyrant Designs CNC is an AR accessories manufacturer based just outside of Chicago. They have had several successful designs for AR pistol grips and have plans to expand into other AR accessories for 2017.

Industry News. What are you seeing here? Just as the tagline reads  industry news. This is a product (or service) announcement. It is not an endorsement. It is not a review. It is not an advertisement.

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New Delhi: After 2011, this is the third case which came into existence about child abuse by an Indian family. Indian couple at Norway claimed that Norwegian authorities have taken away their child Aryan, rendering the blame of child abuse.

External Affairs Minister, Shushma Swaraj expressed her anger on social networking site, refusing Norwegian authority for handing over the child to foster parents. Swaraj tweeted, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today reg Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents. The foster parents are totally ignorant in the Indian culture and our food habits."

Swaraj added, "We wan't restoration of Aryan to his natural parents. This is our firms stand and Indian Ambassador will convey this to the Norwegian authorities."

Also Read:

Does Sushma Swaraj will accept the offer of Former UP minister's wife?

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Two girls, 13 and 14, were shot on the South Side as a violent Christmas weekend came to a close during one of the most violent years in Chicago in decades.



A total of 61 people were shot in the city during the holiday weekend and 11 of them died of their wounds, according to data kept by the Tribune. Seven people were killed on Christmas Day alone, more than on the holiday the past three years combined. Three people were killed in 2015, one in 2014, and two in 2013.



The number of people shot over the holiday weekend also sharply outpaced recent years. During the Christmas weekend in 2015, 29 people were shot and seven of them died. In 2014, when Christmas fell on a Thursday, the four-day weekend included 35 people shot and seven people killed, according to Tribune data.



This past weekend's toll pushed the total number of people shot in Chicago this year to more than 4,300 and the number of homicides to around 770. Last year, there were 2,989 shooting victims and 492 homicides.



Most of the shootings occurred on the West and South sides, in neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of the gun violence this year. They ranged from Austin and West Humboldt Park on the West Side to Gresham and Chatham on the South Side.



There were eight shootings involving multiple victims and two double homicides. One of them was an attack during a party in the East Chatham neighborhood that left two brothers dead and five others wounded.



Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said most of the weekend's victims were targeted by gang members.



"The violence primarily occurred in areas with historical gang conflicts on the South and West sides of the city," Johnson said the day after Christmas. "We now know that the majority of these shootings and homicides were targeted attacks by gangs against potential rival gang members and groups who were at holiday gatherings.



"These were deliberate and planned shootings by one gang against another," he added. "They were targeted knowing fully well that individuals would be at the homes of family and friends celebrating the holidays. This was followed by several acts of retaliation."



Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said 90 percent of those killed during the weekend "had gang affiliations, criminal histories and were pre-identified by the department's strategic subject algorithm as being a potential suspect or victim of gun violence."



Among the last people shot during the long weekend were two young teenage girls wounded in Gresham while waiting in a van for their father, according to police.



The girls were with a 2-year-old boy outside Leland Giants Park just after 11:30 p.m. Monday, police said. The 13-year-old's father had just left the van to speak with someone in a house when two people came up and fired into the vehicle, police said.



The 14-year-old was hit in the back and was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition. The 13-year-old was grazed in the arm and was taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition. The 2-year-old was unharmed, police said.



Guglielmi said the father was a gang member and police "are operating under the belief that the father was the intended target."



Other shootings as the holiday weekend came to a close:



-- Around 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, a 25-year-old woman was shot as she sat in a parked vehicle in the 3500 block of West Van Buren Street. Another vehicle approached and someone inside fired shots. She was hit in the buttocks and went to Stroger Hospital in good condition.



-- Around 10:50 p.m. Monday, a 23-year-old man was grazed by a bullet in the Near West Side neighborhood. He was outside in the 200 block of South Leavitt Avenue when someone got out of a silver Ford Fusion, shouted gang slogans and opened fire, police said. The man was grazed in the right arm and listed in good condition at Stroger Hospital.



-- About 8:55 p.m. in the 800 block of North Keeler Avenue, a 23-year-old man was hit in the buttocks and taken to a hospital, where his condition was stabilized, police said.



-- Earlier in the West Englewood neighborhood, someone was wounded around 7:20 p.m. An 18-year-old man was shot in the 6700 block of South Wolcott Avenue and taken to Holy Cross Hospital for treatment.



-- Two shootings happened in about a 15-minute span in rival gang territories in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.



The first, about 5:40 p.m, happened in the 4800 block of South Bishop Street. A 34-year-old man was shot in the neck and drove to a fire station seeking treatment. Paramedics took him to Stroger Hospital, police said.



Just after 5:50 p.m., someone was shot in the 4400 block of South Hermitage Street a few blocks away. The 23-year-old was walking when someone stepped out of a vehicle and fired shots, hitting him multiple times.



The 23-year-old is in critical condition, and the 34-year-old's condition has been stabilized. Both are at Stroger Hospital.



-- Around 5:25 p.m., a 45-year-old man was shot in the 4100 block of West Arthington Street and taken Mount Sinai Hospital. He had been in an argument just before getting shot, police said.



-- Two people were shot in the 5800 block of South May Street in the Englewood neighborhood about 3:25 p.m. A 20-year-old man was taken to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to his back and a 35-year-old man refused medical treatment for a graze wound. Someone in a dark-colored sedan fired shots and fled the scene, police said.



-- A 22-year-old man walked into Advocate Trinity Hospital on the South Side around 2:45 p.m. with a gunshot wound suffered in the 7900 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, police said.



-- Around 11:20 a.m. in the 1800 block of South Ridgeway Avenue in North Lawndale, a 23-year-old man was shot in each leg. He was being treated at Mount Sinai Hospital, according to police.



-- Around 10:40 a.m., a 24-year-old man was shot in the hand in the 400 block of West Marquette Road in Englewood, police said. Details weren't immediately available.



-- In the 7000 block of South Indiana, in the Park Manor neighborhood about 9:30 a.m., an initial call went out for two people shot in the area of 78th Street. Police later said a 25-year-old man had a graze wound to his head and also was shot in a leg. A 26-year-old man was shot in the face. The men were able to get themselves to St. Bernard Hospital, where they were being treated.



-- The first daylight shooting Monday happened about 9:25 a.m. in the 300 block of South Kostner Avenue. A 24-year-old man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with gunshot wounds to the ankle and leg. He was stable, authorities said. Police said he was in a car in the 4400 block of West Van Buren Street when he was shot and he fled to the 300 block of South Kostner, around the corner.



The holiday weekend began with five teenagers shot within feet of each other in the South Austin neighborhood. At 3:30 p.m. Friday, a 16-year-old boy was shot in the 4900 block of West Kinzie Street. A little more than an hour later, four other teenagers were shot just feet away, in the 4900 block of West Hubbard Street. Their conditions had stabilized.
After drinking your weight in champagne and surrendering to astronomical surge pricing for a ride home, it's time to really ring in the new year. With brunch, of course. Put those New Year's resolutions on hold and enjoy one of these boozy brunches on Jan. 1.

Appellation

5212 N. Clark St. 773-358-7181

Say hello to 2017 with fried chicken and champagne in Andersonville. The bird is served family-style with all the fixings, including black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread ($22). Visit the champagne bar for bubbles and other sparkling cocktails available for purchase. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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Bernie's Lunch & Supper

Bernie's Lunch & Supper

660 N. Orleans St. 312-624-9892

All the usual brunch suspects are available, including torrija French toast with seasonal jam ($14), lox with warm pita ($16) and croque madame ($16). As a bonus, chef Ryan Sand offers a few off-menu specials, such as walnut-rum-raisin sticky buns ($7) and cider doughnuts ($7). 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations.

Cindy's

12 S. Michigan Ave. 312-792-3502

Allow 45s and records to serenade you into 2017 while enjoying chef de cuisine Keith Potter's best brunch dishes and spirit guide Nandini Khaund's palate-pleasing brunch bevvies. We recommend pairing the Southern Belle burgerwhich is topped with pickled relish, pimento cheese, butterkase, bacon and a fried egg ($18)with Howl at the Jun, a kombucha cocktail with gin, grapefruit juice and sparkling rose ($15). Be sure to catch part of the live Soul Sunday brunch DJ set from noon-2 p.m. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call ahead or make reservations at opentable.com.

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Cochon Volant

Cochon Volant Brasserie

100 W. Monroe St. 312-754-6560

On top of the Loop restaurant's usual brunch menu, chef Matt Ayala will offer up his Breakfast Royale burger, which includes two beef patties, thick-cut bacon, confit onion, American cheese, dijonnaise and house pickles on a warm English muffin ($16.95, add an egg for $3.95). 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations.

D.S. Tequila Company

3352 N. Halsted St. 773-697-9127

Mimosa fairies to the rescue! Servers with beverage backpacks will offer mimosa refills throughout brunch service ($16 drink package with any brunch entree purchase). Or go the savory route with $5 Texas-style bloody marys. The menu has something for everyone with monkey bread ($9.56), Betty Sue's chicken and biscuits ($12.59), Cuban veggie tacos ($4.25) and churros ($6.35). 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Estelle's

2013 W. North Ave. 773-782-0450

If you missed brunch entirely, the Wicker Park mainstay has you covered with New Year's Day evening specials including a $10 specialty burger, $7 Miller High Life with a Four Roses bourbon shot, $4 PBR tall boys and $6 Jameson shots. 5 p.m.-4 a.m.

Fremont

15 W. Illinois St. 312-874-7270

It's not a walk of shame if you're heading straight to brunch. Stay in your PJs for the River North bar's brunch buffet ($35) featuring a carving station, waffle bar, omelette station, doughnut mountain, seafood tower and more. Wash it down with an optional $15 champagne package that comes with fresh housemade juices. If you don't make it on Jan. 1, return for the same deal on Jan. 2. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Reservations are recommended at opentable.com.

Frontier

1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-4322

Head to chef Brian Jupiter's West Town spot for champagne Jell-O shots and a champagne cocktail menu. Fill up on brunch favorites such as salted caramel French toast with maple-braised bacon, apples and spiced pecans ($12) or smoked boar hash stuffed with pulled boar shoulder, sweet peppers, red onion, cilantro, potatoes, fried egg and Sriracha barbecue sauce ($14). Plus, enjoy live music from the Four Star Brass Band starting at noon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Call ahead for reservations.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen Bistro

316 N. Clark St. 312-836-1300

Treat yourself to indulgent brunch options from chef Johnny Anderes including a smoked duck hot dog with a fried egg and mornay sauce, fried chicken and waffles with caviar and braised lamb served with bucatini pasta, fried egg and harissa sauce. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Call ahead for reservations.

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club

3700 N. Halsted St. 773-525-1111

Keep the party going in Lakeview with a celebratory champagne brunch. The menu includes favorites such as chicken and waffles ($16), rice crispy french toast ($12), crab cake benedict ($14) and chilaquiles ($14). Spring for a $14.95 drink package that includes mimosas, bloody marys, bellinis, sangria and specialty martinis. Then, sit back and enjoy performances by Diva Madam X. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

La Sirena Clandestina

954 W. Fulton Market 312-226-5300

The West Loop restaurant's Bossa Nova brunch features morning-friendly cocktails, live music and over-the-top entrees such as the lobster benedict with poached lobster, avocado mash, malagueta hollandaise and poached eggs ($18). 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

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Mac's Wood Grilled

1801 W. Division St. 773-782-4400

The toughest choice you'll have to make at this a la carte brunch is stuffed banana Nutella French toast with cinnamon and vanilla ($9) or housemade biscuits with three-pepper Andouille sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and home fries ($9). Throw back drink specials including $5 mimosas, $10 PBR pitchers and $14 Founders All Day pitchers. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Mindy's HotChocolate

Mindy's HotChocolate

1747 N. Damen Ave. 773-489-1747

Roll out of bed and head to Mindy Segal's Bucktown eatery in your pajamas to enjoy one of the tastiest brunch menus in town. Nosh on quiche, buttermilk pancakes with blueberry preserves or a burger stacked with bacon, cheddar and pickles. We hear a mug of her signature hot chocolate cures most hangovers. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Old Town Social

455 W. North Ave. 312-266-2277

The Old Town spot hosts their first New Year's Day Pajama Brunch, which features a new 99-ingredient bloody mary bar, mimosas and hearty food options such as Seasonal Berry Blast pancakes and eggs benedict with housemade pork belly from Chef Jared Van Camp's outstanding charcuterie program. Get your whole group to show up in jammies and you'll score an Old Town Social gift card equal to the cost of your meal in $25 increments. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ramen-San

59 W. Hubbard St. 312-377-9950

A piping hot bowl of ramen from the cozy River North restaurant should cure that nasty champagne hangover. Noon to midnight.

Stella Barra (Anjali Pinto )

Stella Barra Pizzeria

1954 N. Halsted St. 773-634-4101

The Lincoln Park pizzeria encourages sleepy guests to raid the brunch buffet ($19.95), which will be stocked with warm brioche cinnamon rolls, egg enchiladas and more. Show up in your pajamas and receive a gift card equal to the price of your meal to use toward a future visit. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Summer House Santa Monica

1954 N. Halsted St. 773-634-4100

Warm up in the sun-drenched Lincoln Park dining room and stuff your face with the Santa Monica egg white omelette with shaved turkey breast and tomato-avocado salsa ($12.99), or indulge your sweet tooth with a stack of blueberry pancakes ($10.99). 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
The poor can't withdraw their money from their bank account and other Indians live in constant fear of their money getting stolen by unscrupulous hackers, says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Two weeks ago, I got a call from my credit card company.

The telemarketeer told me that the credit card company was increasing my credit limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 300,000.

"Thank you," I said, "but I don't need it."

The telesalesman then put fear into my head.

"Sir, there is a cash crunch in the country. God forbid, if you have to go to hospital, you will not get money on time. Moreover, many hospitals do not accept cashless insurance cards. So it is my request that you increase your credit limit."

I was not persuaded by the argument and I said no again to raising my credit limit.

"What if you are going out of Mumbai with your family and meet with an accident?" the persistent telecaller argued. "Where will you get cash from? Imagine your situation then at some hospital in an unknown city with no cash in hand."

The fear factor worked this time, and I asked him to go ahead and increase my credit limit.

Unlike some of my colleagues, I only have a single credit card and have never used any other digital platform to make a payment.

Why?

Because I don't trust the digital mode of payments. I never feel my money is safe on any digital platform.

Even the strident advocates for a cashless India will concede that digital modes of payment are not 100% secure.

So what do I do?

Tech savvy friends said if I wanted to go digital I needed to open multiple bank accounts for safety.

"Never ever keep all your money in one bank account," my friends advised me.

I went to the nearest bank to open an account.

I took all the relevant documents and gave the bank a cheque to open an account.

15 days later, the bank account was not active. I asked the bank why it was taking so long to activate an account.

The delay, a bank staffer told me, was due to demonetisation. It was impossible to open an account at such a short notice in these times.

If this is the case in Mumbai, then imagine the plight of a villager in Uttar Pradesh.

Poor people, the bank staffer said, have Jan Dhan Yojana accounts which can be opened immediately.

"Poor people are preferred customers under the Jan Dhan scheme," she said.

At least poor people benefit in a cashless India, I thought, as I walked away without opening a bank account.

***

A couple of days ago, I encountered a taxi driver who was cursing demonetisation.

He told me how he had planned to buy a second hand car and make money by driving for Uber.

He had saved Rs 150,000 and was all set to make the payment to a car dealer on November 9. But the night before, Prime Minister Modi scrapped Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.

"I felt betrayed," the taxi driver said. "How could the prime minister do this to a poor man like me? I was on the path to progress and he just stalled my progress."

What did he do with the money?

"I put it in the bank on November 11, but it is of no use," he said.

Post demonetisation, the banks have imposed a monthly withdrawal limit of Rs 10,000 for Jan Dhan Yojana accounts. At that rate, he would not able to pay the dealer for the next year.

Why didn't he pay the dealer by cheque, I asked.

His answer startled me.

"I have no cheque book. People who have Jan Dhan accounts don't get cheque books," he said.

I checked the Jan Dhan Yojana Web site and it confirmed what the cabbie had told me.

The Web site (external link) says if a Jan Dhan Yojana account holder wants a cheque book, then s/he needs to fulfil certain criteria.

And guess how many Jan Dhan accounts there are in India?

259.8 million.

But the government does not want to provide cheque books to all these poor people who want to go cashless.

Now since they don't have a cheque book they have to depend on cash.

As I was writing this column I got a frantic call from a colleague whose credit card had been hacked.

A fraudster had shopped for Rs 3 lakh plus on my colleague's credit card. My colleague asked if he needed to register a complaint with the cyber police or at the nearest police station.

Cashless India is a non starter, my friends.

The poor can't withdraw their money from their bank accounts and otjer Indians live in constant fear of their money being stolen by unscrupulous hackers.
'Nobody expected the slowdown to go for these many days.'

'Unfortunately, it is an unbelievably bad slow down.'

V Sundaram, the president of the Coimbatore Small Scale Industries Association, along with Vanitha Mohan of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and K K Rajan of the Southern Indian Engineering Manufacturers Association, representing 52 associations from Coimbatore district, met several central ministers and prevailed upon them the difficulties the Small and Medium Enterprises sector has been facing because of demonetisation.

Sundaram briefs Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier about the problems the SME sector faces now.

You and other representatives met several central ministers. Why did you go to Delhi?

Because of demonetisation, we are facing a lot of problems which we wanted the ministers to know.

There is no money in the banks for us to withdraw.

They have put a cap of Rs 50,000 which is not at all sufficient for us.

Moreover, we are not able to get even that amount. ATMs are not working.

We also need smaller denominations in large numbers.

Officials from various government departments are asking us to open bank accounts for all our employees.

Though our employees have bank accounts, they do not want us to transfer money into their accounts. They want cash.

They do not want to stand in queues in banks for their wages.

It is another matter that banks do not have enough money to give everyone.

These are some of the problems we face ever since demonetisation happened which we wanted the government to understand.

That's why we decided to meet them in person and appraise them of the situation.

What was the government's response?

They were patient and positive.

In fact, we went there without an appointment. We just went to Delhi and met the ministers of state for finance, information technology and labour.

How do they plan to solve the problems you face?

They assured us that they were working to solve these problems.

They call us every day to get updates on the ground realities.

We hope the problems will be sorted out in the next one or two weeks.

How much has the SME sector, a sector that contributes 8% of the country's GDP and employs 8 million people, been affected because of demonetisation?

I can only say we are badly affected.

In November, we could manage with the old currency.

This month, we do not have that luxury also.

30% to 35% of our work force is migrant labour and they want only cash.

If we don't give them cash, it becomes extremely difficult for them to manage their day to day activities.

Most of them have gone back home and we are suffering from shortage of labour.

Naturally, business has gone down.

How much has it gone down in the last couple of months?

A sample survey found that we are down by 50%.

In Coimbatore, there are many pump manufacturers and they are badly affected.

As they deal with farmers, the transaction is always done in cash.

Because of the cash crunch, dealers don't come to buy the pumps as farmers pay only cash and they don't have cash now.

You must understand that we the small scale industries in Coimbatore welcome demonetisation; we are not against it at all.

We would never say that. But we are facing a lot of problems currently because of demonetisation.

Do you believe that demonetisation will flush out black money?

To some extent, it will flush out black money.

When the GST (Goods and Services Tax falls into place, black money will slowly go out of the system.

More than black money, what we are bothered about is rampant corruption.

Wherever we go, we suffer because of corruption.

Black money is the government's problem and corruption is the entrepreneur's problem.

Yes, both of us have problems and if the country has to move forward, both these problems have to be solved.

Are we ready for a cashless economy, particularly the SME sector?

90% of all the workers in Coimbatore earn Rs 500 a day and all of them have LPG cylinders at home.

All those who have an LPG cylinder have a bank account.

So, I would say we are ready for a cashless economy.

What the government wants us to do is transfer money to their accounts and allow them to withdraw from their accounts.

When there is no money in the ATMs, how are they going to get money?

Only the migrant labourers who constitute 30% to 35% do not have bank accounts.

It is also said this move will increase NPAs (non-performing assets) in the sector?

Normally if a company doesn't perform, it is declared as NPA in 90 days.

In our memorandum to the government, we have also asked for an increase in the time period. They have promised us to consider our request.

We have also asked for a waiver in the interest and moratorium on term loan until this problem is settled.

What are the major challenges the SME sector faces now?

The major challenge is availability of money.

When we had the weekly pay day, and monthly pay day, many companies had to put money into the accounts of even our relatives so that all of them could withdraw Rs 24,000 and give it to the company and we could pay the employees.

This is not the way to run a business.

If we don't pay employees in cash, they will quit and go back to their villages.

It is important for us retain employees whom we have trained.

Do you expect the economy and the sector to revive by the end of December like the prime minister has promised?

Rs 15 lakh crore have returned into various banks and all the banks are full of cash now.

50% of this was unused money or money that was not in circulation.

It is time the government bring down the interest percentage, from 12% to even 5% or 6%.

The effect will be that the cost of manufacturing will come down. This will be a big boost to the economy.

When GST comes into place, all the companies in the unorganised sector will come into the organised sector.

As there is uncertainty over GST, I cannot commit myself about a particular time frame for the revival.

The question is whether the GST Bill will come into existence in April 2017. We are not sure about this.

I would say, black money, corruption, GST; all are inter-related.

The prime minister asked all of us for 50 days. We have waited so far. Let us wait for a few more days.

We hope and tell ourselves that once money comes into the banks, everything will be fine.

Do you feel people are getting impatient now?

Everybody is impatient and frustrated now.

All of us are patiently waiting only because everybody understands that it is for a good cause.

But nobody expected the slowdown to go for these many days.

Unfortunately, it is an unbelievably bad slow down.
Homegrown start-ups like UrbanClap and AtHomeDiva will now have to compete with the global e-commerce giant. Anita Babu reports.

IMAGE: Startups like UrbanClap say they cannot be spaced out of the market by Amazon because the business requires personalised experience than centralised operations. Photograph: Urban Clap/Instagram.com. The UrbanClap journey

The at-home beauty service business in India has become competitive with Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce firm, jumping into the trade.

The global e-commerce major is taking on local rivals such as UrbanClap and AtHomeDiva, a service by classifieds portal Quikr, while co-opting Housejoy, the service provider in which it invested Rs 150 crore last year.

But startups such as UrbanClap say they cannot be spaced out of the market by Amazon because the business requires personalised experience than centralised operations.

"It is very challenging for someone to start this as a small part of their business because winning here requires the companies to have service-focused ethos. You need specialisation. For the larger companies, which are into multiple businesses, it requires an altogether different expertise and DNA. Only time will tell," said UrbanClap's co-founder Varun Khaitan.

Industry executives say customers spend Rs 2,000-3,000 on basic beauty services at salons in India, a majority of them being in the unorganised segment. The market is pegged at around $4.8 billion.

"We are happy to provide customers the choice to purchase professional services at competitive prices, which they can get at home and have a delightful experience," an Amazon India spokesperson said.

While Quikr will soon launch their services in tier-2 and -3 cities, UrbanClap is looking to grow the services in each of the eight cities it has a presence in.

Looking at a bigger market pie, Saran Chatterjee, chief executive officer of Housejoy, said: "For the beauty segment, we are looking at healthy organic growth. Our focus is on making sure that the service providers are punctual, the quality of work is high and the pricing is transparent, which can get us more customers."

However, Arvind Singhal, chairman and managing director, Technopak, is not optimistic about the business model and has advised the companies caution.

"There are many more challenges in offering services online compared to (selling) merchandise. Amazon might be providing it to have a much more frequent connect with the customers. It is unlikely to give them a lot of revenue or extra profit," Singhal said. "The challenge here is: How do you come up with highly qualified service providers? And how do you rate the quality and safety of the services, especially when these are provided at the homes of the customers?"

In September this year, Quikr entered the segment after it renamed Gurgaon-based Salosa, the home beauty service provider it had acquired in May, AtHomeDiva under QuikrServices. Zapluk and StayGlad were acquired subsequently.

"It might be difficult for standalone companies to fare well in this space. We already have a trusted user base of 30 million across all our categories," said P D Sundar, head of QuikrServices.

Sundar said AtHomeDiva was one of the top three services offered by his division.
Higher levy on dividends earned by individuals also on radar, reports Shrimi Choudhary.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

The government is mulling a hike in the short-term capital gains (STCG) tax rate, and also a higher levy on dividends earned by individuals.

At present, the STCG (profits on sale of shares held for less than 12 months) tax rate is 15%; the government is planning to increase it to 20%, according to sources in the know. The Centre has already started gathering feedback from key market participants.

Also, although Finance Minister Arun Jaitley ruled out changes to the long-term capital gains (LTCG) -- currently tax free -- the government is toying with the idea of increasing the time frame for availing such benefits from 12 to 36 months.

The government is taking securities market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) and stock exchanges' views on the proposals to change the tax structure in the capital markets.

Announcement regarding this could be a part of the Union Budget on February 1, 2017.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a Sebi event in Mumbai, had said, 'Those who profit from financial markets must make a fair contribution to nation-building through taxes. For various reasons, the contribution of tax from those who make money on the markets has been low.'

'Low or zero tax rates are given to certain types of financial income. I call upon you to think about the contribution of market participants to the exchequer.'

The markets reacted negatively to it on Monday, despite Jaitley's clarification on Sunday.

Sources said the government is considering taxing dividend income of individuals according to tax slabs applicable to them.

Currently, besides the dividend distribution tax (DDT) paid by the companies, an additional 10% is levied on individuals earning dividend income in excess of Rs 10 lakh annually.

The move could increase the effective tax on dividends to 30% for those in the high-income bracket.

Market players said the taxes on dividends are already high and a further increase could impact dividends payouts.

"The DDT is already tripled taxed, as it is paid on profit after tax by a company. If the government keeps increasing taxes on dividends, the company will instead start opting for share buy-back. We have seen that play out already after the government levied an extra 10% DDT in last year"s Budget," said Ramesh Damani, member, BSE.

The government will first try to assess the impact of increasing this rate by five percentage points on investments, said a source.

Market players said increasing STCG would be a double whammy for investors, as they are currently paying securities transaction tax (STT) on all trades.

"I don't think there is a need to change the design of capital gains tax. The objective behind STT was to simplify tax collection from securities," said Sudhir Kapadia, national tax leader, EY.

The government, he said, can look to focus on curbing tax evasion through investments made in penny stocks by improving the surveillance standards.

Currently, the government collects around Rs 7,400 crore (Rs 74 billion) annually through STT.

The government has also asked stock exchanges to suggest measures to crackdown on tax evasion through penny stocks. The exchanges have submitted their recommendations to the finance ministry.

The move came in the wake of increasing tax manipulation cases in the stock market.

The income tax department has so far detected tax evasion worth about Rs 38,000 crore (Rs 300 billion) involving around 1,000 entities, in dealing with penny stocks.

The amount has been arrived at through investigation of cases of stock manipulation in the past two years.
SBI banks on Microsoft white space for rural push, reports Anup Roy in Mumbai.

The countrys largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI), is in talks with Microsoft to utilise technology that will enable digital banking in rural areas with little access to telecom networks.

Microsofts India-born chief executive officer Satya Nadella is looking at the country as a major market to implement its so-called white space and wide area WiFi or Wide-Fi technologies - a concept that taps unutilised spectrum of television stations and cable TV network for internet access.

We are experimenting with it (white space), but the security aspect of it is not established. We are hungry. In fact, Mr Satya Nadella is also talking with us for Wide-Fi, said SBIs deputy managing director and chief information officer Mrutyunjay Mahapatra.

Since July last year, Microsoft has been testing white space in Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. The technology harnesses free television airwaves unutilised by the national broadcaster to access internet and communicate over long distances through Skype. Wide-Fi uses existing cable TV networks in rural areas to provide internet access.

In a bid to hasten the governments online and cashless push, SBI plans to use to technology to get more citizens to abjure cash.

We are in talks with Microsoft (for white space). If they are willing to provide white space here, it will be very good, said Dhananjaya Tambe, chief general manager (IT-operations), at SBI. Microsofts Director for Corporate Communications Gayatri Rath did not respond to calls or e-mails.

SBI officials said the bank was also experimenting with other technologies as well to reach out to places where there are no reliable connectivity options.

For example, in the initial phases, the bank could take the help of V-Sat, or satellite technology, which already runs ATM networks across the country, to carry out digital banking. It is also experimenting with radio frequency (RF) technology to enable connectivity.

We are now trying RF technology. In rural areas, there is unhindered visibility, which is required for RF. It cannot work in urban areas as there are large buildings hindering incoming frequencies, said Mahapatra.

We are not only a profit-oriented institution. We make profit, but that is incidental. The amount we spend on technology is more than four times of the next technology spender, which is from the private sector, said Mahapatra.

For now though, SBIs digital expansion is limited to only those places where connectivity is good.

This is one area where we will have to collaborate with the government. We have already given this feedback to the government that we may have to expand only to those villages where connectivity is good. Because otherwise, even if we give the app and mobile, if the connectivity is unreliable, it will not work, said Tambe.
By Why India is running dangerously short of pilots

'People have been flying for years on the basis of a police clearance and an airport entry pass.'

'Then they came out with a convoluted thing -- that your police clearance must be from your place of residence.'

'Now if a pilot is sitting in Delhi but is from Timbuktoo, the papers will have to come from there.'

'So at any point, you have a certain number of pilots sitting on the ground because his AEP has expired and the papers haven't come.'

Revealed: India's bizarre processes to get pilots to fly planes.

'I know of one foreign pilot who was here for one full year on full salary and he did not fly a single hour because he was just caught in the whole rigmarole,' says aviation expert Shakti Lumba. Photograph: Guillermo Granja/Reuters

Aviation industry veteran Shakti Lumba, 66, a pilot, was with Indian Airlines for 28 years, before moving to IndiGo as part of its start-up team, where he worked for five years.

In a conversation with Anjuli Bhargava, Lumba doesn't mince words. He says the growth of the aviation industry in India going forward will be restricted.



Why do you think the growth of aviation in India will be restricted by a severe shortage of pilots and why is the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) is to blame?



In India, the story is of growth.

Besides having more passengers, it also means having more skilled manpower. There is no institute in India providing all the kinds of skilled manpower.

When you announced a new aviation policy, has anyone looked at what kind of manpower is needed to support this policy.

DGCA needs total upgrading. It still doesn't have a Twitter account. Emails are on their personal account.

Most of its work is still done on paper. Instead of being a safety regulator or facilitator, it is a controlling agency and a pretty stupid one at that.

Why do you say that?

Post the FAA (the US Federal Aviation Authority) downgrade, everything has been made even more stringent.

There are very limited training facilities in India.

The moment you point that out to them (the DGCA), they say there are 5,000 pilots unemployed. But they don't realise that these are CPL (commercial pilot license) holders. They have to become first officers and then captains.

The notice period used to be one month, then three months, then six months and now they want one year.

Does that tell you anything?

The training requirements are bizarre in India.

Let me cite two examples. To do training either you use flying pilots or you use people like me -- retired pilots with a lot of experience.

Recently a Boeing-trained instructor, who is training Air India pilots on B-777 under the Boeing programme in Singapore, wanted to come and train here.

But DGCA did not approve him because the training institute he is from is not DGCA approved.

So now he is training the same Indian pilots at double the cost in Singapore.

What sense does this make?

DGCA is not in a position to assess and approve all training schools all over the place.

A second instance. There's a colleague of mine who left Indian Airlines (he flew A320 extensively) and worked for Qatar Airways.

Now he wanted to come and train pilots here but DGCA says you cannot train pilots on A320 because you haven't flown it for so long.

He argued that it is mixed fleet flying -- he has been flying A330, A340 -- one family of airplanes. He retired just one year ago and has 20,000 hours of experience on Airbus aircraft. But they (the DGCA) refused.

In short, the training requirements for retired pilots -- who will train the junior pilots -- are more stringent than it is for the pilots who are going to fly the aeroplane!

But can't this message get across to them?

There were two crashes in the past based on which it was pointed out that DGCA doesn't have a flight inspection directorate.

Now, the government by and large doesn't take the cognisance of major courts of inquiry if it doesn't suit them.

They never have and they never will.

Anyway, they accepted a few recommendations and I was roped in to set up the directorate in 1991.

The premise was that no one in DGCA had any knowledge or experience in flying so they needed someone to put forth the pilot requirements and limitations.

It worked fine till around early 2000.

Then, this directorate started taking control and instead of being a facilitator of pilots, it became a controller of pilots.

They are like a 'super director of operations' for pilots of all airlines.

And even though I was involved in its setting up, to my mind, civil aviation would be well served if the flight inspection directorate in its present form was disbanded.

If DGCA is not enough, there's another body to contend with: The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

There are two catchwords in aviation today. Security and safety.

You say anything... 'No, no, no, it's a safety issue; we can't do anything.'

You say something else... 'No, no, no, it's a security issue; we can't do anything.'

The long and short of it -- between security and safety -- is that nothing can be done or changed.

People have been flying for years on the basis of a police clearance and an airport entry pass (which expires every three years) and there was no disruption of services.

Then they came out with a convoluted thing -- that your police clearance must be from your place of residence.

Now if a pilot is sitting in Delhi but is from Timbuktoo, the papers will have to come from there.

So at any point, you have a certain number of pilots sitting on the ground because his AEP (airport entry pass) has expired and the papers haven't come.

What about foreign pilots?



It gets worse for foreign pilots.

All over the world, if a pilot goes to another country to fly they fly on that country's license (so if an Indian pilot goes to Qatar, he flies on a Qatari license).

But here he flies on his own parent country's license, but he gets a temporary authorisation to fly here.

As a result, not only does he have to comply with all our regulations, he also has to comply with all his.

Twice a year he has to be sent back to his parent country to do that compliance.

Time lost; costs up.

Now, before a pilot comes in, I have to send five copies of all his documents to the DGCA.

He keeps one and sends the others to the home ministry, enforcement, narcotics and wherever.

They say outer limit 60 days. Now 60 days, you wait as you can't bring him in.

Now say security clearance has come from the home nministry. Now he's here in India and I am paying him.

Now he applies for his FATA (foreign air crew temporary authorisation) and takes a test. The result is declared and he has his FATA license.

But only after that will the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security go through his security clearance -- they will do their own. They will not take the clearance given by the home ministry already.

Why you may ask? Because they are two different desks in the home ministry handling this! Can you believe it?

I personally know of one foreign pilot who was here for one full year on full salary and he did not fly a single hour because he was just caught in this whole rigmarole.

What I am saying is that the regulations and requirements often fail to make sense.

And instead of ensuring no disruption in services they are designed such that they disrupt services all the time.

The DGCA has remained caught in a time warp.
Sacked Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary P Rama Mohana Rao on Tuesday claimed he still continues to hold the post, saying no transfer order had been served on him and described the Income Tax raids at his premises as a constitutional assault on the top office.

Rao also denied having any links with arrested sand mining baron Shekher Reddy.

A combative Rao, who claimed the I-T search warrant did not have his name, repeatedly invoked the legacy of former chief minister, the late J Jayalalithaa, and asked if raids would have occurred at his office had she been alive.

Addressing a packed press conference at his Anna Nagar residence, where the tax men swooped down early morning last week, he said all they could find was Rs 1,12,320 in cash, 40 to 50 sovereigns of gold on person of his wife and daughter and 20-25 kg of silver articles, including idols of gods.

No incriminating documents were found from there, he claimed.

I was under house arrest by the Central Reserve Police Force. It is a constitutional assault on the office of chief secretary of Tamil Nadu. I was chief secretary, I am the chief secretary. This government has no guts to serve the copy of the transfer order to me. I claim I still am the chief secretary appointed by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (Jayalalithaa), he said.

Rao, who thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, besides some All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leaders, asked if Income Tax authorities had obtained permission from Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to conduct searches, especially at his office.

And what is the chief secretarys chamber -- it is the secrets of various chief ministers, their decisions, their orders and confidential reports, criminal cases filed against ministers, IPS and IAS officers.

What did they find -- my MRC club membership which I never visited and some loose sheets.... is it not a constitutional violation? Is it not a constitutional assault?

Where is the state government... if honourable Madam (Jayalalithaa) was alive would anybody have the guts to enter the state secretariat, he said.

The former chief secretary said even his son, the target of the I-T raids, was not living with him ever since his return from the United States.

I am being targeted. My life is in danger, he claimed, adding he has no business links with Reddy.

I have thousands of friends in Tamil Nadu... I have nothing to do with Reddy or his business. He may be a businessman, known to me. I have been in Tamil Nadu for 31 years, he said.

Rao alleged that there is no security in Tamil Nadu in the absence of Jayalalithaa.
Maintaining that its strategic capabilities were not targeted against any particular country, India has said that it abides by all applicable international obligations and expects others do the same, while responding to Chinese reaction to its test-firing of Agni V missile.

"India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country. India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all other do the same.

"India's strategic autonomy and growing engagement contributes to strategic stability," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The Spokesperson's remarks came after Chinese Foreign Ministry hoped that India's test-firing of the nuclear-capable Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile that could cover all of China complied with UN Security Council rules and safeguarded South Asia's strategic balance.

Even as Beijing maintained that the two nations are "not rivals for competition but partners for cooperation", it took exception to media reports that the successful test of Agni-V was meant to target China.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said," We have noted reports on India's test fire of Agni-5 ballistic missile. The UN Security Council has explicit regulations on whether India can develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons".

"China always maintains that preserving the strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive to peace and prosperity of regional countries and beyond."

India had on Monday successfully test-fired Agni-V, the country's most lethal nuclear-capable inter-continental ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 km that covers entire China which may also pave the way for user trial of the weapons system and its eventual induction into the Strategic Forces Command.
Unfazed by the absence of leaders of the Left, the Janata Dal-United, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee along with some regional parties on Tuesday sought to put up a united face raising the pitch against demonetisation by demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After the eight-party meeting, the leaders also sought a probe into the issue of "personal corruption" of Modi with Gandhi insisting that a "free and fair" inquiry was needed to maintain the credibility of the prime minister's post.

Banerjee, whose presence rescued the Congress' plan of replicating the opposition unity witnessed in Parliament recently on the note ban issue, virtually stole the show by placing the resignation demand, a position subsequently echoed by Gandhi.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee spoke of a "common minimum agenda" being evolved to take the opposition unity forward even as he downplayed the absence of several other parties, including the Left, from the meet which preceded the press conference.

Escalating the attack on Modi, Gandhi described the note ban as a "single arbitrary financial experiment in the history of the world that affected 1.3 billion people" and asked him to explain the "real" reason for implementing it and take responsibility for giving pain to people.

He also raised the demand that Modi answer the charges of "personal corruption" made against him in the wake of his name allegedly figuring in the "Sahara and Birla diaries"

"Will you take responsibility over demonetisation and resign. Will you resign from prime ministership," Banerjee asked, as she termed demonetisation as a "mega scam" in the name of "achhe din" (good days).

The West Bengal chief minister said that 47 days are over and only three days are left in the 50-day period sought by Modi for return of normalcy post the note ban.

"He is not a magician to perform magic. No miracle will happen. You promised to bring 'achhe din'. Are these 'achhe din'? In the name of cashless, Modi government has become faceless and baseless.

"Demonetisation is not a small issue. If government becomes weak, the country is weakened," she said.

Asked what if the PM did not resign, Gandhi said, "If he does not resign, we will put pressure on him to resign."

The Congress leader said, "It was on the prime minister's personal initiative that this arbitrary financial experiment was carried out for the first time in the world history that affected 1.3 billion people. Such an experiment was never done even during Mao's reign in China."

Gandhi also claimed that demonetisation has made no impact on black money and dubbed it as "an attack on financial independence" and poor people of the country.

"The PM should come out with the real aim of demonetisation and answer who is responsible for the suffering of the poor and what is he doing for those who have been hit. The aim of demonetisation has failed.

"The prime minister says he is fighting corruption but he is not answering the questions raised about him. The prime minister should be the first person to say that since there are charges against him there should be a free and fair probe," the Congress leader said.

Asked about former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's name figuring in the same documents, Gandhi replied, "Sheilaji herself is saying that she has no problem with an inquiry.

"Why Narendra Modiji is not saying that. While there are many names in 'Sahara diaries', his name appears clearly in the e-mail of Vice President of Aditya Birla group."

The parties whose representatives were present at the meeting were the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Janata Dal-Seular, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Indian Union Muslim League and the All India United Democratic Front, besides the Congress and the Trinamool Congress.

In the just-concluded Parliament session, Gandhi brought together a total of 16 opposition parties on the note ban issue, some of which distanced themselves after his meeting with the prime minister on December 16 on farmers' issues.

Gandhi claimed that demonetisation has "failed" on fronts like countering terrorism, counterfeit currency, black money and corruption -- all stated objectives of the prime minister.

With the prime minister alleging that only the corrupt are opposing the note ban, the Congress vice president said that Modi can take whatever action he wants against the leaders.

At the same time, he said that the opposition would be one with government in any legislation to tackle corruption, including the one on Benami properties. He said he should make public the names of all those who have accounts abroad and bring back absconding businessmen Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi.

On the 'Sahara-Birla' matter, Gandhi sought to dismiss BJP's claims that the Supreme Court has not found any merit in the allegations.

Some observations might have come but the judgment is yet to come, he said.

Singling out Modi, Banerjee said that the country was witnessing a "super emergency" under his rule without its formal declaration.

All sections of society are being frightened by saying "Gabbar is coming, Gabbar is coming", the West Bengal chief minister said suggesting that the country cannot be run through such threats and accused the PM of taking away people's rights.

She also accused the Centre of playing politics with non-BJP ruled states wondering as to why her state should not get what Assam gets.

She also hit out at the prime minister "for not taking Parliament into confidence" on such a big decision as demonetisation.

"Not even a single line statement was laid on the table of the House. This is not only unethical, it is illegal and unconstitutional," she said.

Alleging that demonetisation has wreaked havoc, she said that it has seen growth in unemployment and a collapse of the banking system.

Making fun of the digital push by the Modi government in the wake of demonetisation, Banerjee said that it was strange "given the fact that in 92 per cent of the villages in the country, there are no bank branches".

She claimed that even in advanced countries like the United States and Germany, the transactions are to the tune of 40 per cent.

RJD's Jai Prakash Narain Yadav said note ban is an "anti-people" and "very painful" decision in which 130 people lost their lives.

He held the prime minister responsible for it and said the rich had been benefited and the poor 'looted' and termed the situation as "very serious".

DMK's Tiruchi Siva said "the country is facing a financial crisis" due to demonetisation and people have been made to suffer as its implementation has been "ill conceived".

He said the initiative has turned out to be an "utter failure. Heroism is different from realty".

Banerjee said people have become "landless, cashless and voiceless" and "we have come together to lend voice to people, who have been suffering".

Meanwhile, CPI leader D Raja, whose party did not attend today's opposition meet, said the December 30 deadline on demonetisation has led to "a financial chaos and turmoil in the country, causing unimaginable misery and hardship to people.

"The economy as a whole is affected which has led to loss of jobs. It has ruined the livelihood of common people.

"The prime minister should own up responsibility and tell the people what forced him to take such a decision," Raja said, asking how could so many people be caught with huge amounts of new currency.

Gandhi also recalled that in the Jain diary case, four Congress ministers as well as BJP leader L K Advani had resigned from the Lok Sabha and suggested that the prime minister should also do so as there are allegations against him.

Advani was later exonerated in the matter.

The Congress leader claimed in the 'Sahara-Birla diaries' case, the Income Tax officials have demanded investigations and noted them in the file.

Since there is a question mark on honesty and integrity, a free and fair inquiry is needed, he said.

Photographs: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo
In a shocking incident, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and forcibly confined in a farm pit for over three weeks in November and raped repeatedly by a teenager at Kotda Nayani village of Morbi district in Gujarat before she was freed earlier this month, police said on Tuesday.

According to a police official of Wankaner taluka police station, a case of rape, kidnapping and illegal confinement was registered against 19-year-old Naresh Solanki, while seven others belonging to his family were booked under charges of kidnapping and illegal confinement.

The motive of the crime allegedly was forced marriage. The family of the accused wanted the family of the victim to marry her to Naresh as they both belong to the same caste of Devipujaks. When the latter refused, they planned the kidnapping of the girl, police said.

The victim was kidnapped on November 11 and taken to a farmland some two kilometres from the village. There she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit covered on top with wooden plank so as to avoid her detection.

The victim was taken out to be raped repeatedly for over three weeks before she was freed by her father and others in the village on December 4.

The girl, in her statement to police, said that she was kidnapped by eight persons late night on November 11 and taken to a farmland in an auto rickshaw where she was forced to live in a 8x8 feet pit dug in the farm.

As per the girls statement, she was confined in the pit and was taken out only to be raped by accused Naresh.

The girls father lodged a case of kidnapping against unknown persons on November 25.

After intense search, the girl was finally found on December 4, the official said, adding that based on her statement, police lodged a case against the eight accused who were subsequently arrested.

The eight persons include Naresh, his brother Haresh, father Janantbhai Solanki and his grandfather Chaturbhai Solanki, who are currently lodged in Rajkot central jail, they said.

Other than sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366 (abduction of woman to compel her into marriage) of the Indian Penal Code registered against unknown accused in the November 25 FIR, police have also added sections 376 (rape) against Naresh along with relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The event will be significant for the Congress and Trinamool Congress leaderships, cementing the proximity during the winter session of Parliament.

Archis Mohan and Amit Agnihotri report.

Tuesday promises to be an interesting day politically, with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with some other Opposition party leaders, set to hold a joint press conference in New Delhi, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address a public rally in Dehradun in the morning.

The event will be significant for the Congress and Trinamool Congress leaderships cementing their proximity that was achieved during the winter session of Parliament.

The Congress and Left parties had a seat adjustment in the Bengal assembly polls in May 2016.

The Congress, as well as Trinamool Congress leaders, said that the Communist Party of India-Marxist deciding to stay away from the joint press conference had more to do with its regional political compulsions than a sign of cracks in Opposition unity. The Trinamool and CPI-M are rivals in Bengal.

Similarly, the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are unlikely to attend given their rivalry in UP. The press conference is scheduled for 3 pm.

Others likely to attend are the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Nationalist Congress Party's D P Tripathi.

Neither of the Janata Dal-United's two preeminent leaders, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rajya Sabha member Sharad Yadav, are likely to attend. But party sources said this was because both had previously decided events to attend outside Delhi.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said his party will stay away from the press conference of Opposition parties that the Congress has convened because of "lack of coordination and consultation" among the participants about the agenda of the meeting.

According to Congress sources, the effort is to agree on a common Opposition agenda for the Budget session of Parliament, scheduled to begin in January end on the issues of demonetisation and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's charges of 'personal corruption' against the PM.

At the joint press conference, Sonia Gandhi and Banerjee are likely to raise the issue of the impact of demonetisation.

They are likely to point out that four out of five villages in India do not have banking facilities, that the share of counterfeit currency is a meagre 0.02% of the currency and that 90% of debit cards are used only to withdraw cash and not for purchases.

The Bengal CM has tweeted 200 times on the issue of the 'note ban', and has been gathering information from each of the party's district units in Bengal on the impact of demonetisation.

The Congress will also try explain that Rahul Gandhi's meeting with the PM at the end of the winter session of Parliament was in no way intended to dent Opposition unity.

The Congress will celebrate its foundation day on Wednesday. The party was founded on December 28, 1885. It isn't known if Banerjee will be the chief guest at the event.

On the eve of the deliberations, Rahul Gandhi on Monday held a meeting of all Congress general secretaries and state Congress presidents at his home to assess the current political situation. He also addressed a public rally in Rajasthan in the afternoon.

Rahul Gandhi said the problems from the 'note ban' will not end on December 30, but the hardships will last at least six to seven months.

The Congress will hold protests across the country on demonetisation and demand that the PM come clean on allegations of 'personal corruption' from January 5.

PM, Jaitley meet Niti Aayog officials, experts to discuss Budget

The meeting is to cover job creation and skill development, agriculture and issues for the Budget, reports Indivjal Dhasmana.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will get views on the Budget for 2017-2018, job creation through skill development and other issues at a meeting with experts on Tuesday.

There will be 13 people -- from the NITI Aayog, economists and others with expertise -- who will make presentations.

The Aayog wanted to hold a pre-Budget meeting with the PM, but the latter's office suggested the agenda be broadened to the overall economy, sources said.

The meeting is to cover job creation and skill development, agriculture and issues for the Budget, though participants would raise others, too.

The theme is 'Economic policy reform, Road ahead.'

Those invited include Pulak Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore; Neelkanth Mishra of Credit Suisse; Vivek Dehejia, professor, Carleton University in Canada, and economist Surjit Bhalla.

Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya, CEO Amitabh Kant, its members, all five secretaries at the finance ministry, and Industrial Policy Cecretary Ramesh Abhishek would be there.

After a discussion, those present would be split into three groups. Then, the issues discussed will be presented before the PM in the evening.
China's and India's nuclear doctrines mandate 'No First Use' of nuclear weapons, so use against each other seems unlikely.

Ajai Shukla reports from Hyderabad on how Agni-5 was built.

The Agni-5 intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) was successfully test-fired on Monday morning from A P J Abdul Kalam Island, off the Odisha coast.

The missile's payload splashed down 20 minutes after launch, precisely on target in the Southern Indian Ocean.

'All the radars, tracking systems and Range Stations tracked and monitored the flight performance and all the mission objectives were successfully met,' announced the defence ministry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar tweeted their congratulations after the test. 'It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence,' said the PM.

This is the fourth successive Agni-5 test launch that has gone to plan since the first launch on April 19, 2012.

Monday's test was the second in full operational mode, with the missile launched from its storage canister.

The road-mobile canister protects the deployed missiles, allowing them to be stored for years.

Yet, it permits launch in minutes, including the time needed for mating the nuclear warhead (stored separately) with the missile.

Agni-5 is now ready to enter service with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) as the backbone of India's China-specific nuclear deterrent.

Its 5,000-kilometre range allows it to deliver a nuclear payload anywhere in China.

In 1998, soon after India's five nuclear tests, the defence minister of that time, George Fernandes, stated that China was 'Potential threat number one.'

Even so, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) is developing a modernised, short-range ballistic missile, the Agni-1P, whose range of 300-700 kilometres will make it the backbone of the Pakistan-focused nuclear deterrent.

Both China's and India's nuclear doctrines mandate 'No First Use' (NFU) of nuclear weapons, so use against each other seems unlikely.

Pakistan, however, retains the option to use nuclear weapons in grave national security crises, and is building an arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons that it insists it would use early in a war with India.

To understand the ultra-modern Agni-5, Business Standard visited the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Hyderabad, the DRDO facility that has designed, developed and built all India's Prithvi and Agni ballistic missiles.

Ballistic missiles work on the same principle as lobbing a stone at a target.

The impetus and direction imparted while throwing the stone (or launching the missile) determines where they will land.

The launch starts with the 'boost phase', when the missile is propelled into space.

A powerful gas generation system in the canister rapidly builds up 300 tonnes of pressure, popping the missile out, like a bullet.

In less than half a second, when the missile is 10 to 15 metres above the canister, the first stage ignites, accelerating the missile upwards.

Within 30 seconds, it goes supersonic and, within 90 seconds, when the first stage burns out, Agni-5 is hurtling upwards at one-and-a-half kilometres each second.

Designing and validating the canister was a key challenge, which was tackled after the first two Agni-5s were launched from open launch pads.

This involved conducting two 'pop-up tests' (technically 'ejection tests'), in which a dummy missile was ejected from the canister to test the gas generation and the command to ignite the first stage.

Then, in a landmark test on January 31, 2015, a fully operational Agni-5 was launched from a canister. Monday's launch is the fourth validation of the canister, and the missile as a whole.

While Agni-5's first stage is built from conventional 'maraging steel', the second and third stages are built from lightweight, new-age composite materials.

The second stage, which burns for 80 seconds, takes the missile 170 kilometres above earth; and the third stage, which separates after a minute, carries the payload up to 260 kilometres.

With all three propulsion stages separated, all that is left is the payload -- the tip of the missile.

With the 'boost phase' over, the missile enters its 'ballistic phase.'

Like a lobbed stone, it is carried towards the target purely on momentum.

Ten minutes after launch, it reaches the top of its parabolic path, about 580 kilometres above earth.

Then gravity begins pulling it down towards the impact point.

Deep in space here, with no atmosphere to allow aerodynamic steering with fins, course correction is done with small 'side-thruster rockets', to correct any errors that crept in during the launch.

By the time the payload reaches the upper edge of the atmosphere, it is hurtling downwards at about 5 to 6 kilometres per second.

This is the most technologically challenging part of the launch -- the re-entry stage.

As the missile comes in contact with the atmosphere, friction heats its outer surface to 4,000 degrees Centigrade, while the payload inside (in wartime, a 200 KiloTonne nuclear bomb) must be maintained at 50 degrees Centigrade.

This is done by building the re-entry vehicle from a thick block of carbon composite material, compressing it with pressures of up to 1,000 atmospheres.

"A diamond is created when 10,000 atmospheres of pressure are exerted on carbon. So we are effectively creating one-tenth of a diamond," quips one of the scientists.

At the target end, in the stretch of ocean between the southern tips of Africa and Australia, radar-equipped naval warships are pre-positioned to monitor where the missile strikes.

There is no scope for error beyond a few hundred metres.

India's ballistic missile arsenal currently has the 3,500-kilometre Agni-3 as its longest-range missile, barely sufficient to place mainland China at risk.

Agni-4 and Agni-5, which will equip new Strategic Forces Command units, will greatly expand India's targeting options.

Manufacturing the Agni-4 and Agni-5 at full-scale production rates will include more than 200 private sector industries, many of which have played roles in developing the missiles.

DRDO itself manufactures key components, like rocket motors; but even for those, private firms build components like casings and nozzles.

As they gain experience, a band of low profile, high-tech private firms, like Sigma Micro Systems, VEM Technologies, and Resin Allied and Products are emerging as players in the missile field.
Experts warn about environmental pollutions impacts on GDP growth

Natural disasters and environmental pollution can reduce GDP by 0.6 percent per year from 2016-2020, according to the National Centre for Socio-economic information and Forecast (NCIF) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.









People dispose of dead fish found on the central coast







Therefore, changes are needed to reduce the economys reliance on non-renewable energy.



Dr Dang Duc Anh, head of the Centres Analysis and Forecast Department, underlined the need for policies to help the economy better adapt to climate changes and to protect the environment in the long run.





According to NCIF, from 2016-2020, GDP growth is expected enter a new cycle of recovery, supported by free trade agreements, FDI enterprises and external demands. Economic restructuring and reforms of administration procedures and business climate will also contribute to boosting growth.



However, impacts of climate and environmental pollution will pose remarkable challenges to the economy, the centre said.



Vietnam is one of the 30 countries rated at extreme risk brought about by climate change by Maplecroft, a global risk and strategic consulting firm based in the UK, in its Climate Change Vulnerability Index within the next 30 years via 42 socio-economic and environmental factors.



Vietnam was ranked 23rd among 193 countries on the list.



Nguyen The Chinh, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, highlighted the environmental consequences caused by economic growth, investment attraction and population expansion.



Conflicts between economic growth and environmental protection have become more obvious. The quality of the environment has worsened. Environment-related incidents and disputes are increasing nationwide, Chinh said.



Experts pointed to the fact that although Vietnam has not seriously contributed to global warming, it is among the 25 low and middle-income countries that release the most greenhouse gases every year.



In order to reduce negative impacts of environmental factors on GDP growth, its crucial to conduct intensive studies on Vietnams GDP growth in medium term, with consideration of the environmental factor, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong.



The studies will provide early warnings, serving the design of policies on economic development, Phuong said.



Dr. Dang Duc Anh stressed the need for restructuring the economy in the direction of reducing industries relying on natural resources, particularly non-renewable source, and having low added values and economic efficiency.



On the other hand, incentives should be offered for industries using clean energy, such as natural gas, biofuel and renewable energy while issuing quota of polluting emission for enterprises, Anh suggested.



The legal framework on environmental protection needs to be improved, particularly punishments for violators.



Experts agreed that more comprehensive and intensive analysis on the interaction between economic growth and climate change, and how to enhance the ability of the economy to adapt to climate change.

VNA
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.
UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements as 'significant step'

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN chief welcomes Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements as 'significant step', 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58624e2140d.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.

23 December 2016 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the adoption of a Security Council resolution which states that the establishment of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, have "no legal validity," constitute a "flagrant violation" under international law and are a "major obstacle" to a two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.

"The resolution is a significant step, demonstrating the Council's much needed leadership and the international community's collective efforts to reconfirm that the vision of two States is still achievable," the UN chief's spokesperson said in a statement.

"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," the spokesperson added. "The United Nations stands ready to support all concerned parties in achieving this goal."

Earlier this afternoon, the 15-member Council adopted the resolution by a vote of 14 in favour and with one abstention - the United States abstained from the vote. The resolution had been put forward by Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal and Venezuela.

In the resolution, the Council reiterated its demand that Israel "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and that it fully respect all of its legal obligations in this regard."

Construction workers in the West Bank settlement of Ariel. Such Israeli settlements have expanded in recent years. Photo: Annie Slemrod/IRIN

The Council also underlined that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.

The resolution called for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, and for accountability in that regard, as well as for both parties to act on the basis of international law, including international humanitarian law, and previous agreements and obligations, "to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions, incitement and inflammatory rhetoric."

It further called for compliance with obligations under international law for the strengthening of ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including through existing security coordination, and to clearly condemn all acts of terrorism.

The Council also urged for intensification and acceleration of international and regional diplomatic efforts and support aimed at achieving, without delay a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid terms of reference, including the principle of land for peace, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap and an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967.
Gambian leaders must ensure peaceful transfer of power to President-elect, says Security Council

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Gambian leaders must ensure peaceful transfer of power to President-elect, says Security Council, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58624e3f40e.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.

21 December 2016 - Welcoming the African Union's decision to recognize Adama Barrow as President-Elect of Gambia, the United Nations Security Council reiterated its call on outgoing President Yayha Jammeh to transfer power to the President-Elect in peaceful and orderly manner.

"The Security Council reiterates its request to outgoing President Jammeh and the relevant Gambian Authorities to fully respect the results of the presidential election of 1 December 2016, to respect the will of the Gambian people and to carry out a peaceful and orderly transition process, and to transfer power to President-elect Adama Barrow by 19 January 2017 in accordance with the Gambian constitution," said a Presidential Statement read out at a formal meeting of the 15-member body today.

"[The Council] further welcomes the decision of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State to attend the 19 January inauguration of President-elect Barrow in Banjul (Gambia's capital)," it added.

In the statement, the Council also underlined the need to ensure the security of President-elect Barrow and that of all Gambians, and called on the country's defence and security forces to demonstrate maximum restraint and maintain an atmosphere of calm in Banjul.

Further, commending ECOWAS efforts aimed at diffusing the situation in the west African country, the Council welcomed the appointment of Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria as the Mediator in Gambia and that of John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana as Co-chair.

Last week, an ECOWAS/UN high level delegation, led by the President of the Liberia and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, visited Banjul and undertook discussions aimed at ensuring a peaceful and orderly transition.

Senior UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein have spoken out on the situation in Gambia, urging outgoing President Jammeh to respect the outcome of the results and to transfer power to the incoming President.
Syria: UN approves mechanism to lay groundwork for investigations into possible war crimes

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Syria: UN approves mechanism to lay groundwork for investigations into possible war crimes, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58624e8740e.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 General Assembly has voted to establish an independent panel to assist in the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Syria.

In a resolution adopted late yesterday by a recorded vote of 105 in favour and 15 against, with 52 abstentions, the Assembly  the universal body comprising all 193 UN Members States  decided to set up what will be formally known as 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, under the auspices of the UN.

The Mechanism, in close cooperation with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria (established by the UN Human Rights Council in August 2011) will collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence pertaining to violations and abuses of human rights and humanitarian law.

It will also prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international law standards, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes, in accordance with international law.

The General Assembly also tasked the UN Secretary-General to develop the terms of reference of the Mechanism, within 20 days, with the support of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as well as to undertake, without delay the steps necessary for its speedy establishment and full functioning.

The Assembly also called on all Member States, as well as on all parties to the conflict in Syria, civil society and the UN system as a whole, to cooperate fully with the Mechanism and, to provide it with any information and documentation they may possess to assist the delivery of its mandate.

See also: 'Outraged' UN Member States demand immediate halt to attacks against civilians in Syria
Amid renewed violence in Somalia's Gaalkacyo, UN envoy urges respect for ceasefire agreement

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 24 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Amid renewed violence in Somalia's Gaalkacyo, UN envoy urges respect for ceasefire agreement, 24 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58624eaa40e.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.

24 December 2016 - Expressing concern over renewed violence in the Somali city of Gaalkacyo, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the country, Michael Keating, has called on all parties to honor the ceasefire agreement.

At least three people have been killed and several others injured in the violence that broke out yesterday.

According to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), which Mr. Keating heads, the city (located on the border of Puntland and Galmudug states) had already been facing a difficult humanitarian situation and food insecurity. Trucks carrying relief supplies for people affected by drought have been blocked on the northern side of Gaalkacyo for the past three weeks due to continuing roadblocks.

It is unprecedented for humanitarian supplies to be denied access by either side as previously, even amid armed fighting, both sides have allowed humanitarian aid to pass through, in line with international humanitarian law, said the Mission.

It also highlighted that despite commendable efforts of the Joint Committee of local authorities and elders from Puntland and Galmudug, a stalemate in the negotiations over removing the roadblocks installed by both Puntland and Galmudug is putting the ceasefire in serious jeopardy.

Puntland and Galmudug must resolve their differences in a non-violent manner and immediately agree on steps to dismantle the roadblocks, reopen the roads, and pull back the forces without further delay, UNSOM said.

Any spoiler against peace and stability should be scrutinized.

Risk of another mass displacement and more human suffering

The Mission also raised alarm that continued hostilities could prompt another mass displacement in the city. Of an estimated 90,000 people displaced as a result of the fighting in October 2016, about 30,000 displaced people have not yet returned due to fear of renewed fighting.

While humanitarian partners continue to respond to the needs of the displaced and host communities, every effort should be made by all concerned parties to avoid another displacement that would further deepen human suffering, it added.
At Security Council, UN humanitarian official flags 'catastrophic' situation in Syria despite eastern Aleppo evacuations

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, At Security Council, UN humanitarian official flags 'catastrophic' situation in Syria despite eastern Aleppo evacuations, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862552040c.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.

23 December 2016 - Briefing the Security Council on the situation in Syria, a senior United Nations humanitarian official underlined the enormity challenges of the continuing humanitarian operations in the region.

"As we meet today, the evacuation of the eastern districts of Aleppo may have concluded but the situation in Syria remains catastrophic," the Director of Operations at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, informed the 15-member Council, on behalf of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, who also heads OCHA.

Overall, more than 35,000 people were evacuated from the remaining besieged, opposition-held areas of eastern districts of Aleppo, including some 20,000 since the Security Council adopted a resolution approving UN monitors for the evacuations. A total of 308 buses, 61 ambulances and 1,231 private vehicles were used in the process, crossing numerous checkpoints from the besieged areas through the western part of the city and into western rural Aleppo, and onwards to the north-western city of Idlib.

In parallel, an estimated 1,300 people were evacuated from the besieged villages of Foah and Kefrayeh in the governorate of Idlib.

Mr. Ging underlined that despite these developments, some 13.5 million Syrians continue to remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including nearly nine million who are food insecure. Many people, in particular children, are also left physically and psychologically traumatised by the deprivation and bombardment they have endured.

Operations Director for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) John Ging briefs the Security Council on behalf of UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, on the situation in the Middle East. UN Photo/Manuel Elias

He added that humanitarian actors continued to face significant challenges reaching populations that have little access to food, medical care and other essential items due to the insecurity in many areas, as well as because of administrative delays on the part of the authorities, such as the approval of facilitation letters and convoy plans.

"Due to lack of approval by the Government of Syria, the UN team has not had access to eastern Aleppo in recent months - but, since 15 December has undertaken a monitoring and observation function, stationed around the clock close to the Ramouseh checkpoint in the Government-controlled part of Aleppo," the OCHA official said.

"What was reduced to a two-step approval process earlier this year," Mr. Ging added," has gone back again to being a ten-step process and we have only secured agreement from the Syrian Government for one convoy so far this month, reaching 6,000 people. This is despite receiving initial approvals to reach almost 800,000 people in December."

He also drew attention to the situation in Idlib where currently, according to estimates, nearly two million people reside, of which 700,000 are internally displaced, including 35,000 who have been displaced from eastern Aleppo this month.

There are broader concerns that the civilian population in Idlib are at risk of suffering the same fate as those in Aleppo if it becomes the focus of a new and more intense offensive - UN OCHA official John Ging

"There are broader concerns that the civilian population in Idlib are at risk of suffering the same fate as those in Aleppo if it becomes the focus of a new and more intense offensive," Mr. Ging said, adding that UN and its partners have been supporting approximately 700,000 people with food, 340,000 with medical treatment, and some 230,000 with water and sanitation assistance each month.

The OCHA official stressed that, despite all the challenges, the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and other key humanitarian partners, though their "heroic staff" on the ground, continue to try to reach every Syrian in need.

However, he said, efforts are falling short at the global level to support the organizations at the grouped and appealed to Council members and all parties to the conflict and their allies to redouble their efforts to end this conflict and in the meantime provide more effective support to humanitarian action for the innocent victims of this conflict.

"As has been stated so many times, there is no humanitarian solution to this crisis. We welcome the announcement by the UN Special Envoy de Staffan de Mistura on the resumption of political talks in February," the OCHA official said. "The number of those dying, displaced and suffering continues to rise as we end 2016, a new political commitment to peace will be needed if 2017 is to offer any different prospect than the death and destruction of the past five years."
Liberia: Security Council extends UN Mission, for the final time, until 30 March 2018

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Liberia: Security Council extends UN Mission, for the final time, until 30 March 2018, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625598412.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.

23 December 2016 - Adopting a resolution today, the United Nations Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), for the final time, until 30 March 2018 and adjusted its mandate to comprise protection of civilians, reform of justice and security institutions, protection and promotion of human rights, public information activities, and protection of UN personnel and installations.

In the resolution, adopted by a vote of 12 in favour, with three abstentions (France, Russia and the UK), the Council noted the potential security challenges during preparation for and in the period leading to presidential and legislative elections in October 2017, stressed the need for the Liberian Government to prepare for the elections, and called on all parties to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, peaceful and transparent.

In relation to the elections, the Council also authorized UNMIL "to assist as requested and within its capabilities [] with logistical support, including aviation support, to meet urgent gaps in Liberia's capabilities for the [electoral processes], including voter registration, in particular to facilitate access to remote areas."

It also decided to reduce UNMIL's 1,240 military personnel to a ceiling of 434, and its police strength to 310 personnel.

In the resolution, the Security Council also underlined the need to address sexual and gender-based violence in the west African country and to fight against impunity for such crimes. The Council further emphasized the importance of the role of women in preventing and resolving conflicts, as recognized in its resolution 1325 (2000).

UNMIL was established in Liberia in October 2003 with an initial troop strength of up to 15,000, including 250 military observers, 160 staff officers, up to 875 UN police officers and additional five armed formed units each comprising 120 officers, and along with a civilian component and necessary support staff.
UN rights experts urge Mexico to focus more on the fight against impunity

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights experts urge Mexico to focus more on the fight against impunity, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/586255fa40c.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.

23 December 2016 - Concluding a ten-day visit to Mexico, the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture urged the authorities to redouble its efforts to fight impunity and to immediately adopt the General Law on Torture, in full conformity with relevant international standards.

"Eight years after our first visit to Mexico, the different definitions of the offence of torture continue to generate actual or potential loopholes for impunity," said Felipe Villavicencio, the head of the Subcommittee delegation, adding that fighting impunity is one of the most effective preventive measures to end torture and ill-treatment.

According to official statistics, there are more than 4,700 open investigations for acts related to torture at the federal level. However, the number of sentences for perpetrators remains disproportionately low.

During its mission, from 12 to 21 December, the Subcommittee visited 32 where deprivation of liberty had been reported, including to Baja California, Mexico City, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Guerrero, Morelos, Nuevo Leon, and Veracruz. The delegation also held several individual and collective confidential interviews with individuals who had been deprived of their liberty.

We hope that our second visit will contribute to the advances in the fight against torture and ill-treatment in Mexico and lead to a greater respect of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture

The human rights body also met with authorities, civil society representatives, and Mexico's National Commission for Human Rights to collect information on torture and mistreatment during detention, transfer, and placement of persons who have been deprived of their liberty. Such findings were shared confidentially with the Mexican authorities.

The Subcommittee also underlined that Mexico's independent monitoring body, known as a National Preventive Mechanism, should be provided with the same unrestricted access the Submittee received when it conducts its visits.

"Mexico is a firm defender of human rights at the international level and it was one of the pioneer States in the adoption of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture," said Mr. Villavicencio. "The commitment of Mexico to the prevention of torture was demonstrated during our visit by the excellent cooperation provided by the authorities and the unrestricted and immediate access to the places that we wished to visit in an unannounced manner."

"We hope that our second visit will contribute to the advances in the fight against torture and ill-treatment in Mexico and lead to a greater respect of the rights of persons deprived of their liberty," he added.

Following this visit, the Subcommittee will submit a confidential report to Mexico, containing its observations and recommendations on the prevention of torture and ill-treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. The expert rights body encouraged the authorities to make the report public, as they had done following its previous visit in 2008.

The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture, established pursuant to the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT), has a preventive mandate focused on an innovative, sustained and proactive approach to the prevention of torture and ill treatment.

The Subcommittee is composed of 25 independent and impartial experts, who are not UN staff, coming from different backgrounds and from various regions of the world, elected by States Parties to the OPCAT for a four-year mandate and can be re-elected once.
DR Congo: 'Heavy-handed and irresponsible response' to protests could lead to further conflict, warns UN rights chief

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, DR Congo: 'Heavy-handed and irresponsible response' to protests could lead to further conflict, warns UN rights chief, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862562fe7.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.

23 December 2016 - Amid reports that dozens of people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in recent days, the top United Nations human rights official has warned that repression of dissenting voices and a heavy-handed and irresponsible response to the protests risk provoking more violence and could cause further conflict in the country.

Over the past week, the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the DRC (UNJHRO) has documented at least 40 killings of civilians in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Boma and Matadi, mainly of people protesting against President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down at the official end of his mandate on 19 December.

"Such high casualty figures suggest a serious disregard by the various police, defence, and security forces of the need to exercise restraint in policing demonstrations. Not only are soldiers participating in law enforcement operations, but all the forces are heavily armed and using live ammunition," the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, said in a news release.

According to the Mr. Zeid's Office (OHCHR), some 107 people have also been injured or ill-treated, and there have been at least 460 arrests.

The High Commissioner further emphasized that law enforcement officials - including military acting in their capacity - must never use firearms except in cases where an individual represents an imminent threat to life or of serious injury and only in cases where less extreme means are insufficient.

A group of people gather in Kinshasa during demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 19 and 20 December 2016. Photo: MONUSCO

"The failure by the DRC authorities and the security forces to abide by their international obligations to guarantee people's right to freedoms of expression and of association and assembly is to be deplored," he said.

Such impunity for past violence appears to have fostered a belief among security personnel that they can open fire against demonstrators without being held accountable for their actions High Commissioner Zeid

He warned that a violent repression of dissent risked provoking violence among protesters and could lead to further conflict throughout the country.

In September, 54 people were killed in Kinshasa when defence and security forces used excessive force against demonstrators who were calling for the constitutional deadlines to be respected and for President Kabila to step down at the end of his second and final mandate. To date, no one has been held accountable.

"Such impunity for past violence appears to have fostered a belief among security personnel that they can open fire against demonstrators without being held accountable for their actions," said Mr. Zeid.

Along with the National Episcopal Conference (known by the French acronym CENCO), which has been working to mediate an accord between the opposition and ruling parties, the UN human rights chief reiterated calls for an independent and transparent inquiry into the recent violence:

"It is essential that all those at whatever level who are responsible for human rights violations are held accountable", the High Commissioner added. "Without such a credible response from the government, the risk is that violent situations or ongoing conflict, including between communities over resources, could degenerate further."
Latest Mediterranean tragedy pushes number of people perishing in 2016 beyond 5,000 - UN

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Latest Mediterranean tragedy pushes number of people perishing in 2016 beyond 5,000 - UN, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862572e412.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.

23 December 2016 - Highlighting that the number of casualties in the Mediterranean Sea this year has crossed 5,000 with the latest reports of about 100 people feared to have drowned, the United Nations refugee agency has called on countries to increase pathways for admission of refugees.

According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this is the worst annual death toll ever seen.

Attributing reports from the Italian Coastguard, William Spindler, a spokesperson for UNHCR said that in two separate incidents, rubber dinghies collapsed and those on board fell into the sea.

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, he added.

Some 175 people from another dinghy and a wooden boat were rescued. Eight bodies were also recovered during the operations.

Mr. Spindler further stressed that these incidents highlight the need to increase pathways for admission of refugees, including resettlement, private sponsorship, family reunification and student scholarship schemes, among others, so that they can avoid dangerous journeys and the use of smugglers.

He added that declining quality of the vessels used by people smugglers, the vagaries of the weather and the tactics used by them to avoid detection might be the root causes of the recent increase in deaths.
Thousands leave war-ravaged Aleppo as 'dangerous, complex' evacuation nears end  UN envoy

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Thousands leave war-ravaged Aleppo as 'dangerous, complex' evacuation nears end  UN envoy, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862574c40e.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 "very large, dangerous, difficult and complex evacuation" entered its final phase today -mainly from eastern Aleppo and from the two villages Foah and Kefraya - a senior United Nations humanitarian envoy announced, adding that it is "now a race against the clock and the winter to provide safety for the desperate people that have been trapped in the besieged city.

Following today's meeting in Geneva of the Humanitarian Access Task Force of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), Jan Egeland, the UN Senior Adviser on Syria, said that some 35,000 had left eastern Aleppo in over 200 buses and perhaps 750 cars and trucks, all leaving through the Ramouseh gate, where the UN has posted observers

Describing the operation as "very complex," he thanked the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as the UN team in place, working in shifts night and day alongside all Red Cross and Red Crescent colleagues who had organized the evacuation from east Aleppo.

Mr. Egeland also thanked the 32 non-governmental organizations that had worked with the UN in Idlib and in rural Aleppo, where, he said, tens of thousands of people from east Aleppo now joined "hundreds and hundreds of thousands [already internally displaced]. It is a race against the clock and against the winter to provide shelter, warmth and relief to people who are sick, exhausted, and malnourished from five years of war."

Meanwhile, he said that the UN needed more presence in all of the areas where there is fighting, and where tensions are still boiling. "Our presence means protection and that's the whole purpose of the Security Council resolution [adopted on 19 December]: monitoring will lead to protection."

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura (right) and UN Senior Advisor, Jan Egeland. UN Photo/Luca Solari

Yet he acknowledged that at the moment, it is a "limited but important" UN contingent of 31 international and national staff dedicated to monitoring, in addition to the 100 people from the UN in Aleppo that are there for the very large assistance operation. "More people are on their way and we have requested full and unimpeded access to all areas in eastern Aleppo."

"To get this protection we need all of these permits that are so slow to get now from the Syrian Government, from the Governor's office, from all of these institutions in Syria that are slow to give us the access we need," Mr. Egeland underscored, adding that while the UN would have liked to be a part of all of the negotiations that take place that have humanitarian implications, "all in all, this was the largest operation that I know of that took place and I think it saved a lot of lives and I think it means that the end of the battle proved to be less cruel than it could have been."

Finally, he stressed that there are 15 besieged areas beyond east Aleppo, "and it hasn't gotten better in these areas because all eyes were on Aleppo." Indeed, so far, only one convoy in December reached Khan Elshih, a Palestinian village south-west of Damascus. "Six thousand people got finally relief there, but all the other places have not yet gotten relief in December. November was also a very bad month."

For his part, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said the bottom line remains now, humanitarian access and aid to those who have been in need - not only in Aleppo but elsewhere as well - and the cessation of hostilities and building momentum on the political process. To this end he reiterated his announcement from earlier in the week that with "renewed unity in the UN Security Council," it is perhaps time to relaunch the intra-Syrian talks.

"We announced the 8th of February, and in Geneva," he said noting that the new UN Secretary-General would be in Office, among other initiatives and events, that could lead to "a common approach, which is the only one under Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), which endorsed a road map for the a peace process in Syria.

The ISSG has established respective taskforces on humanitarian aid delivery and a wider ceasefire. They have been meeting separately since early this year on a way forward in the crisis. Russia and the United States are the co-chairs of the taskforces and the ISSG, which also comprises the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 16 other countries.
South Sudan: Arms Embargo, Sanctions Fail At UN Security Council

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, South Sudan: Arms Embargo, Sanctions Fail At UN Security Council, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625a454.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 Nations Security Council's failure to approve a December 23, 2016, resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and placed a travel ban and asset freeze on three senior South Sudanese leaders was deeply disappointing, seven nongovernmental groups said today. The measure failed to gain the nine votes needed to pass, with seven in favor and eight abstentions.

"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 at the Enough Project. "I can only imagine their frustration with today's vote."

Amnesty International, Control Arms, Enough Project, Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Humanity United, Human Rights Watch, and PAX issued the statement jointly.

African Union and UN investigators have documented war crimes, including killings and rape of civilians, and forced recruitment of children by the warring parties in South Sudan since the conflict began on December 15, 2013. 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 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."

The coalition is especially concerned that the Security Council was unable to come together and take action recommended by the UN's senior leadership, including the secretary-general and his adviser on genocide prevention. "Once again, we are seeing civilians in dire need of protection being abandoned by the Security Council," said Dr. Simon Adams, executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. "We hope this effort can be revived in January when we have a new Security Council, with five new members."

The coalition noted that some Security Council members cited President Salva Kiir's December 2016 announcement of an inclusive national dialogue as a reason for not supporting the resolution. However, given the very limited role that nongovernmental groups, faith leaders, and women had in the process leading up to the August 2015 peace agreement, and the severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly in South Sudan, these assurances need to be tested.

"In a country where the media cannot report on the political situation and many civil society advocates have fled to neighboring countries for their safety  who is left to participate in a dialogue?" said David Abramowitz, managing director of Humanity United. "Rather than taking President Kiir's announcement on face value, the international community should be asking a lot more questions about who will be part of this dialogue, who will facilitate it, and what safety assurances citizens will be given ahead of joining it."

Following the December 23 vote, the coalition said that the Intergovernmental Authority in Development (IGAD), together with the AU and countries in the region, should take greater responsibility for ending crimes under international law and other serious violations and human rights abuses and the impunity for these crimes in South Sudan.

"African leaders should use all tools at their disposal and act swiftly  ending the atrocities should not be relegated to the AU Summit at the end of January 2017," said Muthoni Wanyeki, Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes at Amnesty International.

The coalition asked the Security Council to strengthen its efforts to work with the AU and the regional security mechanism, IGAD, to end abuses against civilians, prevent further loss of civilian lives and support efforts to combat impunity in South Sudan by swiftly establishing a competent, independent and impartial hybrid court.

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Egypt: Mass Attack on Prisoners

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 24 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Egypt: Mass Attack on Prisoners, 24 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625ae34.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.

Egyptian Interior Ministry security forces stormed into prison cells attacking and injuring hundreds of political prisoners at Borg al-Arab Prison in Alexandria during the week of November 13, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks came after prisoners protested poor conditions and humiliating treatment. Egypt's prosecutor general should order a prompt and transparent investigation into the events and hold those officers responsible for abuse to account.

Families and lawyers of prisoners said that prison guards attacked the inmates in their cells with batons, sticks, teargas, and pepper spray, causing burns and fractures. One prisoner appears to have sustained some form of brain trauma, causing memory loss. Lawyers said the prisoners believed the Interior Ministry's Central Security Forces probably provided support.

"Instead of investigating complaints of abusive treatment and poor conditions, Egyptian authorities attacked and beat the prisoners" said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "Egyptian authorities are responsible for the wellbeing of everyone in their custody and have a duty to investigate if prison or security officials cause them harm, and to hold those responsible to account."

Following the attacks, on at least three days, prison authorities transferred at least 250 inmates, including some who were injured, to three other prisons  Minya, Gamasa, and Wadi al-Natroun  all far from Alexandria, which inmates and their families consider a punishment.

Human Rights Watch spoke with the sister of one inmate, the father of three other inmates, lawyers for 10 inmates, and a lawyer who is also a prominent Alexandria rights activist and reviewed Facebook posts by family members of several other inmates who had been beaten. The family members said that the authorities threw away inmates' belongings, including utensils, hygiene products, clothes, and medicine, and then transferred them and dozens of other inmates, in batches to other prisons. The prison authorities handcuffed and blindfolded inmates in their cells before forcing them into transfer vans. The family members and lawyers told Human Rights Watch that security forces beat inmates when they arrived at the prisons in Gamasa and Minya.

Neither the Interior Ministry nor the Prosecutor General's office released any statement on the events and the prosecutor general has not responded to a December 16 letter from Human Rights Watch requesting information.

Family members alleged that the attacks began after inmates objected to the authorities' humiliating treatment, especially of death row inmates. Family members said that visitors on November 13 reported hearing firing and explosions at the prison as well as chants and other loud noises from inside. Families gathered outside the prison on the following days, they said. Videos posted by inmates' families on Facebook on November 14 and 15 showed families gathering outside the prison and asking to see their relatives, while others tried to prevent vans transferring prisoners from moving.

Family members who spoke with Human Rights Watch, and others on Facebook, said their imprisoned relatives had given them the name of an Interior Ministry general who they said supervised the beatings and transfer of inmates.

The families said that when they were able to visit their relatives in the new prisons, the prisoners were wearing torn clothes and had bruises and other signs of beatings and burns. One father said his son, Moaz Saleh, could not recognize any member of his family when they visited him and seemed to be suffering from memory loss. Saleh's family submitted a request for Saleh to be examined by doctors from the Justice Ministry's Forensic Medical Authority, but prosecutors ignored it, they said.

Families also said that security officers at the three new prisons violated national rules on visitation rights by limiting visiting times to as little as five minutes and making them meet while separated by barbed wire and without privacy. Family visits should last at least one hour, according to Egyptian prison regulations amended in 2014.

Two lawyers, two family members, and the Alexandria-based rights activist Mahienour al-Masry said that a large number of families submitted group complaints about the attacks to prosecutors. The lawyers said that it was not until dozens of relatives gathered outside al-Manshiya Court in Alexandria that prosecutors formally acknowledged receiving the complaints and invited the relatives to provide their accounts.

The sister of one inmate said that the prosecutor she met with initially refused to write down in his notes the names of officers she alleged were involved in the mass beating and who are all also part of the Investigation Division of Borg al-Arab Prison. After she insisted, she said, the prosecutor wrote down the names. Human Rights Watch reviewed complaints to the prosecutors in which family members provided names of the officers they said were involved in the attacks.

Lawyers said that prosecutors twice visited Borg al-Arab approximately a week after the events to ask inmates for their accounts, but the lawyers were not aware of any further steps by prosecutors to open any investigations. Lawyers said that the prosecutors did not visit any of the hundreds of inmates transferred to other prisons after the attacks. Lawyers also said they were not aware of prosecutors calling any officers for interrogation.

Lawyers said that prosecutors rejected or ignored requests from inmates to be examined by the Justice Ministry's Forensic Medical Authority. Prompt medical examinations are key in cases of alleged abuse to preserve forensic evidence. Mohamed Hafez, one of the lawyers, said that authorities refused to grant him and another lawyer access to inmates who had been transferred to the Borg al-Arab Prison hospital.

In September, Human Rights Watch released an 80-page report documenting systematic abuses against prisoners in Cairo's Scorpion Prison, including some that most likely amounted to torture. The report also documented how insufficient independent prison oversight together with problematic prison laws facilitates abuses and impunity.

"When officials responsible for investigating abuses take no action in the face of widespread complaints, it reinforces how little the rule of law seems to mean in Egypt today," Stork said.



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Libya: Provide Medical Care, Safety for Civilians Fleeing Sirte

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 24 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Libya: Provide Medical Care, Safety for Civilians Fleeing Sirte, 24 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625b3a4.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.

Libyan authorities should ensure the safety of and urgently provide medical care for more than 120 women and children being held in a Misrata prison after recently fleeing fighting in Sirte, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should work with the United Nations and humanitarian agencies to find safe destinations for those detained and treat them for injuries, illness, and malnourishment.

An administrator at al-Jawiyyah prison told Human Rights Watch by telephone that most of the group detained there are women and children believed to be related to Islamic State, also known as ISIS, fighters who had been in Sirte before Libyan forces retook the area in December 2016. Some of the women were allegedly abducted by ISIS fighters, a second Libyan official said by phone, and news stories reported that ISIS fighters had sexually abused them. The prison administrator said that the prison does not have adequate medical care. Public hospitals in Misrata have refused to admit members of the group because of fears of stoking anger among the local population after about 700 fighters from Misrata were killed in the fighting.

"Libyan authorities should do everything possible to ensure that the women and children who fled Sirte do not suffer from any association they may have with ISIS fighters," said Bill Van Esveld, senior children's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The authorities should urgently work with the UN and aid groups to get these civilians to a safe place where they can receive necessary medical care and other assistance."

ISIS controlled the coastal town of Sirte from February 2015 until mid-December 2016, including its port, air base, main power station, and radio station, along with all local government offices and finances, creating the biggest ISIS stronghold outside of Iraq and Syria. Anti-ISIS fighters, mostly from Misrata, operating under the umbrella of Al Bunyan Al Marsoos (Solid Structure), captured the city after a six-month battle that killed hundreds of fighters on both sides. While in control of Sirte, ISIS established its own administration, an Islamic court, and an Islamic Police force. ISIS carried out public punishments of perceived collaborators and people they accused of apostasy, including lashings and executions.

Anti-ISIS forces, supported by US airstrikes, created safe corridors for civilians to flee from the fighting in Sirte, Misrata forces said in public statements. Anti-ISIS forces first sent women and children who fled Sirte to a former school building in Krarim, about 20 kilometers south of Misrata, which the forces used as a transit and interrogation center, and then transferred them to al-Jawiyyah prison, said the prison administrator, who received them.

Al-Jawiyyah was holding at least 120 women and children as young as a few months old as of December 5, but no suspected male ISIS fighters, the prison administrator said. UN officials in Libya, who had visited the prison four times since November, told Human Rights Watch by email on December 19 that the prison housed 123 civilians from Sirte  35 women and 88 children, including 15 unaccompanied children.

None of the women and children have identification documents, the prison administrator said. Some of the youngest were born in territory controlled by ISIS, where their births were not registered, said the other Libyan official. Although the majority of the detainees are Libyans, others are from Tunisia, Iraq, Chad, Syria, Eritrea, and Niger, they said.

The prison administrator, who received the women and children fleeing Sirte at the prison, said that all of those being held from Sirte were the wives and children of ISIS fighters, except four Filipino medical staff who had been stranded in Sirte when ISIS took control.

Some of the "wives," including non-Libyan women and girls, seem to have been captured by ISIS, the second Libyan official said, based on the women's accounts. News articles reported that some of the women had been trafficked and sexually abused by ISIS.

An Al Jazeera report quoted a 25-year-old Eritrean woman, interviewed at the prison, who said ISIS fighters had kidnapped her in Sudan and that a fighter in Sirte had "locked me in a room and made of me what he wanted." Another news report quoted a 16-year-old Eritrean girl at the prison who said prison authorities had denied her an abortion, despite her claim that ISIS fighters raped her and "sold [her] like an object." Libyan authorities have held some of the women at the prison for months, according to the report. Human Rights Watch could not independently verify these claims.

The prison administrator and the other Libyan official separately told Human Rights Watch that the detainees received preliminary medical treatment at two field hospitals near Sirte immediately after they fled the city. However, some of the women and children had shrapnel and bullet wounds that needed urgent medical care, others needed treatment after suffering weeks of malnourishment and dehydration in Sirte, and some of the women were pregnant. The prison clinic is ill-suited to care for the children and pregnant women, and has no means to pay for outside medical care, the prison official said.

The Libyan authorities have an obligation to ensure the well-being and security of the women and children, but should not detain them on the basis of suspected relationships to ISIS fighters, Human Rights Watch said. They should provide them with medical care, including pre- and post-natal care, and access to childcare.

Libyan authorities should coordinate with UN agencies and independent humanitarian organizations to urgently get medical care for the detainees, and identify victims of forced marriage, sexual slavery, or other abuse by ISIS who require medical treatment and mental health services, Human Rights Watch said.

The UN mission in Libya should work with the Libyan authorities to ensure that the group members have safe places to go. Libya has no apparent procedures in place to identify and provide documentation to the women and children. The lack of documentation creates a risk of statelessness, and the suspicion of past association with ISIS fighters  whether voluntary or coerced  could lead some home countries of foreign women and children to refuse to repatriate them, or put them at risk of abusive interrogation and arbitrary detention upon return.

Libyan authorities and the UN refugee agency should identify safe, durable solutions for providing documentation to civilians fleeing ISIS-held areas. This could include a task force that collects and uses any existing identity papers, and contacts family members abroad. They should also seek to assure safe travel for foreign civilians, ensuring they are not repatriated if they would be at risk of persecution or torture, Human Rights Watch said.

"Libya, the UN, and concerned foreign governments should provide the resources needed to help the civilians fleeing ISIS-controlled areas," Van Esveld said. "Right now, these women and children are stuck in a dangerous limbo, in grim conditions, with no exit."

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Iraq: ISIS Executed Civilians in Village Uprising

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 27 December 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Iraq: ISIS Executed Civilians in Village Uprising, 27 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625bcd4.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 Islamic State, also known as ISIS, summarily executed at least 13 people including two boys following a village uprising in October 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The executions, which are war crimes, took place in the neighboring villages of al-Hud and al-Lazzagah, 50 kilometers south of Mosul, following local attempts to expel ISIS fighters who controlled the villages.

Iraqi security forces should appropriately investigate incidents of alleged war crimes so that those responsible, if in government custody, can be fairly prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said.

"ISIS responded to the village uprising by unlawfully executing people captured in the uprising and civilians who weren't involved," said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "Security forces who capture ISIS fighters should properly investigate their participation in alleged war crimes like these."

ISIS captured al-Hud and al-Lazzagah on June 10, 2014. Under ISIS, villagers said they lived in constant fear of punishment, including death, for activities like smoking or using a cell phone. Human Rights Watch spoke to seven residents of the villages, who said that on the morning of October 17, as Iraqi security forces were closing in, about 30 villagers in al-Lazzagah and 15 in al-Hud attacked ISIS forces to clear them from their villages, killing 19 ISIS fighters.

One participant in the uprising, "Ahmed," 37, an oil worker from al-Lazzagah, told Human Rights Watch that his cousin "Hussein" came to his home along with three men earlier that morning to discuss the planned attack. While Hussein went home to get a gun, Ahmed and the others walked outside. Four ISIS fighters stopped Hussein about 200 meters from Ahmed's home and started questioning him, and then shot and wounded him. Ahmed said that he and the three others opened fire on the four fighters, killing them.

"Ammar," 54, an oil worker from al-Lazzagah, said that four men gathered at his house that morning to discuss targeting ISIS fighters from the windows of their homes. The group left at about 11:30 a.m. As an unarmed member, "Mahmoud," 19, walked toward his home, an ISIS fighter on the street stopped and shot him unprovoked. Ammar said he then pulled out his concealed gun and shot the fighter. Two ISIS fighters ran over to remove the fighter's body but the villagers opened fire on them, wounding one. Ammar was later wounded in the clashes in another part of the village.

Others involved in the uprising deployed in a cluster of about 10 homes near the main road entering the villages, and fired on incoming ISIS military vehicles. ISIS fighters stormed the houses, most of which were abandoned. A female neighbor said she saw ISIS fighters execute "Faris," 45, outside his home among the cluster of houses, after they found an Iraqi flag in his possession. He was unarmed and in their custody when they shot him, the neighbor said. Several villagers also saw ISIS fighters execute "Youssef," another unarmed man they had taken into custody. They found his and Faris' bodies lying outside. Two villagers involved in the uprising said that Faris and Youssef were not involved in the attack, though their execution would have been unlawful in any case.

The villagers who had fired on ISIS fighters in al-Hud that morning hid in different homes after running out of ammunition. At about 3:30 p.m. more ISIS fighters arrived in al-Hud and started searching for the attackers. Five ISIS fighters went to the home of "Hassan," 40, a laborer, searched it and took away his brother "Karim," 33, a former Iraqi soldier who Hassan said participated in the attacks. They also took their neighbor "Hakim." Hassan said he watched the ISIS fighters execute both men in the middle of the street about 300 meters from his home. Their bodies remained there until the next morning because it was too dangerous to retrieve them.

At about the same time, ISIS fighters went to the home of "Sulaiman," 44, one of the attackers, and took him and his nephew, 14, who was not involved in the attack. ISIS fighters executed both, said Hassan, who saw the bodies lying in the street.

Also at about 3:30 p.m., ISIS fighters stormed the home of two brothers who had been part of the attack, and killed one inside their home and the other outside on the street, two witnesses said. The witnesses found the bodies after the fighting ended.

"Muhammad," 45, a local oil worker not involved in the uprising also said that at about 3:30 p.m., he heard gunfire outside his home. He sent his family to another house, about 15 meters away, that he thought would be safer because it was a bit further from the shooting. Minutes later, three ISIS fighters dressed in black banged on his door, which he opened. Two searched the home while the other held a gun to his back. When they found no one else there, they forced him to take them to his family.

His wife, four daughters, and two sons were at the nearby house. Two of his friends, 54 and 40, and one of their nephews, 19, were also there, but because they were involved in the attack they had gone to the roof to hide, Muhammad said. Muhammad's son, 13, who did not participate, hid on the roof with them because he was frightened, his family said.

Muhammad said that the ISIS fighters found the four unarmed men on the roof. From his roof, he watched the fighters throw two grenades at the men and boy, killing one man and the nephew. The fighters then shot and killed Muhammad's son though Muhammad heard one fighter say, "Don't kill him, he is just a kid." They shot the third man on the roof in his leg. He escaped and started running, but the fighters shot and killed him in the street. Muhammad said he then fled his house and hid nearby until the next morning.

Several other villagers who may have been participating in the hostilities and thus subject to attack were killed. Two witnesses said that a villager, 35, was in the street engaged in a firefight with ISIS fighters at about 5:00 p.m. when he was wounded in the leg. His two brothers, 30 and 32, ran out to pull him to safety. ISIS fighters shot and killed all three, and their bodies lay there until the next day, Hassan said. Four more men, all involved in the attack, were killed in fighting with ISIS fighters during the afternoon.

Iraqi Security Forces reached al-Lazzagah at 7:30 p.m., villagers said, and entered al-Hud the next morning. On the morning of October 18, Hassan and Muhammad were on the streets with many other villagers celebrating, when a sniper hit "Jasim," 19, an unarmed civilian who was celebrating with them, killing him. It took Iraqi forces several days to clear the whole village. After that, they brought the residents' bodies to the clinic in the town of Qayyarah, eight kilometers south, to have death certificates issued.

The laws of war permit attacks only against military objectives, including enemy fighters or weapons and ammunition. Civilians are immune from attack, except those "directly participating in the hostilities." While that phrase has various interpretations, it includes not only people currently engaged in fighting, but also anyone directly assisting those fighting, such as by providing ammunition or spotting opposing forces.

Common article 3 to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, applicable to the armed conflict in Iraq, and other sources of the laws of war, prohibit the summary execution or other mistreatment of individuals in custody, including captured combatants, civilians, and incapacitated fighters. Murder and other wilful killings of those in custody are war crimes.

As Iraqi forces capture more alleged fighters and others affiliated with ISIS, Iraqi criminal justice authorities should investigate in accordance with international due process standards alleged war crimes perpetrated by ISIS, up to the highest levels of responsibility. Those found criminally responsible should be appropriately prosecuted.

"After two years of ISIS abuses committed with complete impunity, Iraq's government has an opportunity to bring real justice to some of its victims," Fakih said. "Prosecutors should give particular attention to ISIS war crimes committed against people who were forced to live under its control."

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UN Security Council: Historic resolution calls on Israel to cease settlements

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, UN Security Council: Historic resolution calls on Israel to cease settlements, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58625fc24.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.

Following the United Nations Security Council's adoption of a resolution calling on Israel to cease all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Sherine Tadros, Head of Amnesty International's UN Office in New York, said:

"At the close of a shameful year for the Security Council, where divisions repeatedly blocked the adoption of key resolutions to protect the most vulnerable, today's decision to finally pass a resolution condemning illegal Israeli settlements is a welcome step.

"This is the first time in almost four decades that such a resolution has been passed. During this time, settlements not only continued to be built, but at an accelerated pace.

"The resolution includes a crucial demand that the Israeli authorities immediately halt all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Such activities constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and, according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, constitute a war crime.

"We also welcome the resolution's recognition of the illegality of Israeli settlements. Amnesty International has campaigned for many years on this issue. Israel's settlement policy is inherently discriminatory and has resulted in grave human rights violations including destruction of homes, forced evictions, unlawful killings, arbitrary detentions and collective punishment.

"The Security Council must now ensure this resolution is respected. Indeed, it should go further and demand that the state of Israel not only fulfil its legal obligation to halt settlement-building, but also dismantle its settlements and relocate its settlers outside Occupied Palestinian Territories. This is the only way to a just and durable peace."

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Refugees fall victim to people "ping pong" in the Balkans

Publisher IRIN Author Nidzara Ahmetasevic Publication Date 20 December 2016 Cite as IRIN, Refugees fall victim to people "ping pong" in the Balkans, 20 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/586262044.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.

In an abandoned warehouse at the back of a bus station in Belgrade, several hundred migrants and refugees, most of them young men from Afghanistan, spend their days trying to keep warm and talking about how they will leave Serbia and continue their journeys towards Western Europe.

Officially, since March, there has been no way for migrants and asylum seekers to travel north from Greece other than by successfully applying for family reunification or relocation. But there are options for those who can afford it. Smugglers are charging 1,500 euros to move people from Greece (usually Thessaloniki) to Belgrade, and the same amount again to get them to Western Europe.

But many only get as far as the Balkans before running out of money or encountering draconian government policies. Push-backs, detentions, and deportations are common throughout the region, with some activists describing a "ping-pong situation" in which people are endlessly pushed back and forth.

Over the weekend, Croatian police discovered 67 migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan, including three children, crammed into the back of a smuggler's van travelling from the Serbian border towards the capital, Zagreb. Many of the migrants were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning as well as hunger and exhaustion. After hospital treatment, the migrants will likely be returned to Serbia.

Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia are all candidates for membership of the European Union, which means they are supposed to adopt and apply EU legislation. But the EU has paid little attention to the treatment of refugees and migrants in this region, particularly as border closures and push-backs have become increasingly common, even within the EU. A recent report by Macedonian NGO Legis notes that since the closure of the Balkan route, "policies have been amended to foster instead of mitigate protection and security risks to vulnerable populations in transit".

Thousands at risk

No one knows exactly how many migrants and refugees are currently stranded in Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Serbia. But in Serbia alone, the number is thought to be as high as 10,000.

An estimated 2,000 are living in abandoned buildings and containers scattered around the capital, Belgrade. Of the many threats they face, winter is perhaps the most serious. At night, temperatures often drop to between -4 and -10 degrees Celsius.

Leo, a volunteer with a local NGO who only gave his first name, told IRIN that more than 1,000 people were sleeping in the old barracks behind Belgrade's main train station and many more were sleeping rough in the city's streets and parks. "They stay in inhumane conditions, some of them in places that are not clean, and we are afraid of the possible outbreak of different diseases," he said.

The government runs 12 reception centres for migrants and refugees, but they are overcrowded and understaffed. Andrea Contenta, part of a team from Medecins Sans Frontieres providing healthcare to the migrants, said, "the camps are overwhelmed and are currently failing to provide adequate levels of services for humane and dignified reception relocating people into the existing camps is not a viable option".

"A sustainable shelter plan needs to be put in place as soon as possible to avoid the catastrophic situation that is evolving," he told IRIN.

Leo said that migrants and asylum seekers were opting to sleep on the streets, not only because of poor conditions in the government centres, but because they believed that registering with the Serbian authorities could prevent them from continuing their journeys westward. Many centres are also in remote locations, far from the borders they hope to reach.

For those staying outside the shelters, little help is available. Unlike in Greece, there are few volunteer groups working with refugees, partly because of strict rules imposed by the government. In November, the government informed NGOs that the distribution of food and clothing to those living outside state-run reception centres was "no longer acceptable". Over the summer, attempts were made to shut down or relocate several organisations providing assistance to migrants, including Info Park Belgrade and Miksaliste.

New routes, new problems

Last year, most migrants spent no more than a couple of days in Serbia before crossing into Hungary or Croatia and then into the EU. With both those borders now virtually impassable, more people are taking routes through Bosnia.

But those caught crossing into Bosnia are considered illegal migrants and kept in a prison-like facility near Sarajevo. Your Rights, a Bosnian organisation that provides legal aid, said children were among those being detained there.

"We believe this is absolutely illegal," said Harisa Bacvic, a legal advisor with Your Rights. The organisation has reported the situation to state institutions dealing with human rights in Bosnia, as well as to the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR. But in early December, five children were thought to still be in the detention centre.

Macedonia has also been detaining migrants, including children, since March this year when it closed its border with Greece.

"They are kept in these facilities without any legal grounds," said Mersiha Smailovic, a human rights lawyer with Legis. According to Smailovic, 200 migrants are currently being detained in two facilities and have not been offered the opportunity to apply for asylum.

She said Macedonia was also facing a legal challenge by the European Court of Human Rights for legislation it has introduced allowing it to "push back" or return people caught crossing its borders from neighbouring countries.

According to UNHCR data cited in the Legis report earlier this month, 18,480 people have been pushed back from Macedonian territory since the beginning of 2016.

NGOs and activists report that the push-backs are often accompanied by violence. Nearly one in three patients attending MSF's clinics in the Balkans report being subjected to abuse and violence.

"While smugglers may bear the responsibility for part of this violence, patients report that at least half is perpetrated by state authorities, responsible for push-backs, deportations, and expulsions," Contenta told IRIN.
Myanmar says Rohingya rape and abuse allegations "made-up", despite mounting evidence

Publisher IRIN Author Jared Ferrie Publication Date 22 December 2016 Cite as IRIN, Myanmar says Rohingya rape and abuse allegations "made-up", despite mounting evidence, 22 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862656e4.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.

One by one, seven Myanmar soldiers raped Yasmin in her home, as she stifled her screams for fear of being murdered.

Sixteen days ago, the military attacked Mukhtar's village, and now the elderly man sits in a small hut nursing shotgun wounds to his thigh.

Two fingers on two-year-old Anwar's tiny hand are fused together at the base, after he suffered burns when soldiers set houses on fire.

These are a few of the stories shared with IRIN by members of Myanmar's ethnic Rohingya Muslim minority who have fled across the border into Bangladesh during the past couple months, as the military carried out "clearance operations" against insurgents.

Myanmar's government and military would have you believe they are lies.

"Most of them are made-up stories, blown out of proportion," said Aye Aye Soe, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. "The things they are accusing us of didn't happen at all."

Her comments echo a steady stream of statements from the government since military operations began, following deadly attacks on border police posts in the frontier township of Maungdaw on 9 October. A 3 November article in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper went as far as accusing rights groups and media of reporting incidents that were "intentionally fabricated in collusion with terrorist groups". Yet, the military refuses to allow journalists or investigators into the area to verify or disprove accounts of abuses.

Despite the lack of access, evidence of atrocities has continued to pile up. Organisations including the UN have collected accounts of rapes, killings, and disappearances. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have also published reports that include separate analyses of satellite imagery that strongly indicates villages were set on fire by the military - a direct challenge to government claims that Rohingya residents are burning down their own homes in order to "cast suspicion over security forces".

On 20 December, the International Organization for Migration said at least 34,000 Rohingya had crossed into Bangladesh since October.

Aye Aye Soe raised doubt about such a large number.

"I am sure there are people going for the border, I accept that," she said in a telephone interview. "But I don't know if it could be 20 or 30 thousand. It's blown out of proportion."

Military operations have "been carried out with very much restraint", said Aye Aye Soe. "And regarding rape, ethnic cleansing - it's completely false."

Such denials are hard to square with testimonies provided to IRIN as well as groups like Fortify Rights, which just concluded a research trip to Bangladesh where team members interviewed scores of victims and triangulated eyewitness accounts. Some recent arrivals also bear physical injuries, including gunshot wounds and signs of rape.

"The government's callous denials have reached the heights of absurdity," Matt Smith, the group's chief executive officer, told IRIN. "The government's claim that these accounts might be fabricated is disgusting."

Yasmin's story

Yasmin said soldiers arrived in her village just before dawn, firing shots in the air.

"The feeling of fright - I can't explain," she said in an interview in Hazi Para, a village about 80 kilometres inside Bangladesh.

Like the other Rohingya quoted in this story, Yasmin is an alias. Using their real names could put them or their families in danger of retribution by Myanmar security forces.

The soldiers forced residents out onto the road and asked where the men were, as most of them had already fled. The soldiers finally left, but the villagers' nightmare wasn't over. They returned later in the day and some "had drunk a lot", said Yasmin.

They took the women into their houses, demanded money and valuables, and then raped them, she said. After they raped her, they set her house on fire, along with the village mosque and other homes. They killed a religious leader and arrested several elderly men, including her father-in-law.

"They took him away and we still don't know where he is," Yasmin said.

The soldiers then herded about 400 women and children into a large yard between two houses where they kept them under guard, said Yasmin.

Dates and details of the attack recounted by Yasmin line up with statements provided by Rohingya village leaders to a commission formed by the government to investigate the violence, which were shared with IRIN. Accounts related to IRIN by Rohingya sheltering in a village and unofficial refugee camps in Bangladesh also matched up to testimonies gathered by rights groups. The cumulative evidence suggests a widespread pattern of military abuses.

Yasmin said the soldiers confiscated all mobile phones, but one "clever" woman had hidden hers. Yasmin's husband, Mohammad, was already in Bangladesh, in the city of Chittagong, where he had found work as a day labourer. She knew his phone number by heart and she called to tell him about the attack, and that his father had been arrested.

"When I heard my wife's voice, it was unbelievable" said Mohammad. "I was very sorrowful when I heard my father had been taken away by the army."

He said he is now so consumed by worry that he is unable to look for work.

After three days of being held prisoner without food, Yasmin saw her chance to escape. She fled into the countryside with her four children, and made her way to the Naf River, which forms the border.

Yasmin and her children spent three days on the Myanmar side of the river. The Bangladesh Border Guards were preventing Rohingya from entering the country, and she had no money to pay a smuggler. Finally, her husband was able to transfer money to the smuggler using "BKash", a mobile phone service, and they crossed the river at night in a small boat.

In the meantime, Mohammad had travelled to Hazi Para, the home village of a friend he met while working in Chittagong, and a woman there offered shelter to him and his family.

Aid barriers

Nobody knows how many Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh so far, but the number definitely surpasses the IOM figure of 34,000, which includes only those in official and unofficial camps as well as two towns. Many more are in villages like Hazi Para, where residents said Yasmin's family was one of about 45 sheltering there. Fortify Rights found many Rohingya camped out in forests and fields along the border.

"We have no statistics at all," said Ali Hossain, deputy commissioner of the border district of Cox's Bazar.

His government's reluctance to gather information on new arrivals reflects the tough position Bangladesh is in.

Even before the latest influx, the impoverished and densely-populated country was hosting 32,000 registered refugees and as many as 500,000 undocumented Rohingya who had surged across the border at various times since the 1970s, mainly during bouts of mob violence and military operations in Myanmar similar to those ongoing at the moment. Now, Bangladesh is reluctant to officially open its borders or to allow aid groups to scale up their response to the crisis, afraid that might encourage more Rohingya to come. At the same time, border guards have often turned a blind eye to those crossing over, while aid agencies have quietly increased their support.

But it's not enough.

Rohingya in makeshift camps said new arrivals are begging from people who themselves have barely enough to survive. Others are suffering from illness or injury but cannot get medical care.

A doctor working in the camps told Fortify Rights that in the past two months alone he had treated 13 women who were victims of rape. One was gang-raped by soldiers and had been bleeding for two weeks.

Another woman told IRIN she was still bleeding after soldiers raped her, but she was afraid to go to government hospitals for fear of being sent back to Myanmar. There are five security checkpoints between her and a clinic run by Medecins Sans Frontiers, so she wouldn't go there either. Her husband was arrested during the attack on her village, and she had no idea if he was still alive.

"I beg here and there for a living," said the woman, who has three children. "I have no relatives here."

PR battles

Myanmar's government appears unmoved by such testimonies, despite being headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her pro-democracy struggle against the former military junta.

Instead, the government continues to publish statements like a 19 December article posted on the Ministry of Information website, which accused the international community of unfairly "putting pressure on us" as a result of "false news".

"Even though [we] have been the victim of violent attacks, Myanmar has handled this problem with full regard to humanitarian considers [sic] and looked upon these criminal acts in a lenient manner and acted in accordance with the law," said the article.

Critics say the barrage of statements denying abuses provides cover for the military to carry out operations that Amnesty International warned "amount to collective punishment" of Rohingya communities. The UN and others have called for an independent investigation into allegations of atrocities, and Amnesty has raised the possibility that they could amount to crimes against humanity.
East Aleppo evacuations in 360

Publisher IRIN Publication Date 21 December 2016 Cite as IRIN, East Aleppo evacuations in 360, 21 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862687c4.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.

Evacuations from east Aleppo have progressed fitfully, but there is limited monitoring, and aid agencies and human rights groups have expressed concern for the conditions awaiting those bussed away, as well as those left behind - civilians and fighters alike.

IRIN was there at the start, with a 360-degree camera, when some of the first evacuees crossed into rebel-held territory. See for yourself as ambulances and green Syrian government buses pull into al-Rashideen on day two of the process, 16 December, with some evacuees hanging out of windows and chanting religious slogans.

Coming after months of brutal siege and the city's descent into what outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called "a synonym for hell", evacuations from the rebel-held enclave have been far from smooth - buses have been set alight, shots fired, and halts imposed thanks to ongoing deal-making. But the International Committee of the Red Cross now estimates that more than 25,000 people have been taken out of the besieged neighbourhoods.

Ankara and Moscow have said the evacuations may be finished soon, with some human rights groups expressing concern that the late and limited remit of monitors demanded by a UN Security Council Resolution is too little too late.

This is far from the only siege or evacuation in Syria that warrants watching, and many displaced are headed to warzones in the middle of winter, in desperate need of assistance. Some 6.3 million Syrians are displaced in their own country, and 4.9 million (at the UN's last count) live in areas that are besieged or hard to reach. Humanitarian access continues to be tied up with political negotiations.

Limited monitor remit

While some have expressed concern that by the time monitors arrive there will be nothing left to see, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN's emergency aid coordination body, OCHA, told IRIN that many appeared to misunderstand the mandate.

"It's important to understand that this is not a separate monitoring mission where you will have UN staff with an armband," Laerke said. "It strengthens [UN] partners and institutions that they work with to provide this monitoring."

He said some UN staffers who were already in Syria had now been sent to west Aleppo, with more on the way, but "we don't have direct access as the UN into still besieged east Aleppo".

UN staffers are on the ground as buses cross out of rebel-held east Aleppo, "counting buses", for example, as well as providing aid, Laerke said, stressing that the ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent "have been running [the evacuation] operation since it began" and are serving as the monitors in east Aleppo.

Representatives of the ICRC or SARC were not immediately available for comment.
After Islamic State, a dark homecoming for Iraq's Christians

Publisher IRIN Author Tom Westcott Publication Date 23 December 2016 Cite as IRIN, After Islamic State, a dark homecoming for Iraq's Christians, 23 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5862690f4.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.

Sitting outside a cafe in Erbil, Ammar is chain-smoking despite his hacking cough. "I will never go back to Mosul, even after IS is finished," he promises. "Mosul has been ruined for me and my family forever."

The 47-year-old father of three recalls the night in August 2014 when, within 24 hours of so-called Islamic State (IS) taking control of the city, he packed his family into the car and fled to Erbil's enclave of Ainkawa, where more than 50,000 Christians like him sought refuge.

"We were searched at an IS checkpoint and they took everything, even my daughters' earrings," he tells IRIN. "My wife was terrified they would seize our daughters and couldn't stop shaking, even afterwards. We arrived in Erbil with just the car and my mobile phone, which I hid in my sock."

Ammar's wife, deeply traumatised, suffered a stroke a few months later and remains partially paralysed. The only medication he can afford to buy her is paracetamol.

"In Mosul, I had everything: a successful business - making signs for shops - a house, two cars, and a workshop. It's all destroyed now. I lost everything in an instant, just like that," Ammar says, clicking his fingers.

It will likely be months before Mosul itself is liberated, but, in the lead-up to the offensive on the city, Iraqi armed forces gained control of numerous outlying areas formerly under IS-control, including several Christian towns.

However, there is little for priests and their former parishioners to return to. IS militants carried out widespread and merciless destruction, desecrating churches, looting graveyards, and burning houses. Many of Iraq's beleaguered Christians - a population estimated to be between 300,000 and 400,000, down from 1.3 million 20 years ago - are still too fearful to even contemplate returning to their homes.

"We've lost everything and there's no future for us Christians in Iraq," says Ammar. "I think about dying and death, and I think it would be better than this."

Ruined churches, shattered lives

Not everyone feels the same as Ammar.

In Bartella, a predominantly Christian village on the eastern outskirts of Mosul, two military policemen walk through the chancel of a ruined church, its walls smoke-blackened and its pews smashed.

"When I first stepped inside this church after liberation I felt incredible, indescribable happiness," says sergeant Michael Pollos, one of the only two Christians in the Iraqi military police unit securing the village. "Really, it was like Christmas and New Year rolled into one for us. [Now] I have a deep pain inside my heart because of what happened here, but I believe we can rebuild what is broken."

IS seized control of Bartella in mid-2014, forcing its Christian inhabitants - an estimated 70 percent of the population of approximately 20,000 - into flight. Militants went on a rampage of destruction, decapitating statues, setting churches ablaze, plundering tombs, searching dusty corpses for wedding rings or gold necklaces, and destroying any homes identified as Christian.

"We were amongst the last people to leave, but we always believed that we would come back," explains Pollos. "We are people of this land and we have been living here for centuries. We used to live alongside each other in peace, but this disappeared with Islamist radicalisation. IS wanted us to convert or leave, but we wouldn't, and we won't."

He says he and his colleague, Milad Saed - the other Christian serving in Bartella - insisted on being stationed there because of the importance of keeping a Christian presence in the town.

After the town was freed from IS, members of the Niveneh Plain Protection Units, a Christian militia that participated in the fight, fashioned a makeshift cross and placed it on top of one of the local churches.

Despite this triumphant symbolism, Pollos says many civilians know their houses have been destroyed or littered with booby-traps, and they fear they won't be able to go home.

"They can't see a future for themselves here anymore and, of course, they are frightened."

Pollos is determined to change this perception: "It is crucial for us to be here, to help members of our community who visit to feel comfortable and confident."

Delayed return

The liberation of Christian districts has enabled some people to visit their ruined homes, businesses, and land, but with most areas still not having been cleared of explosive remnants of war, returning for good is not yet realistic.

Qaraqosh - formerly Iraq's largest Christian town - lies 30 kilometres southeast of Mosul and was liberated in early October.

Local forces securing it say they hope people will start coming back in January. But for many of Iraq's displaced Christians, IS has made them suspicious of their former Muslim neighbours, and the presence of Christian security in the area is not enough guarantee of future safety for them to consider returning.

"We're not going back. It's not safe to live there amongst Muslims and I don't trust them anymore," says Neama, a 26-year-old dentist now living in Erbil.

"They attacked us before and they will do it again. And when they come for us Christians next time, it won't be under the name of IS, it will be under a different name. Before, it was al-Qaeda, then it was IS, and next time it will be a different name, but it is always the same thing."

But it's not just Christians who are either unable to go home or suffering in post-IS limbo.

Sunni Muslims are the object of Neama's fears, but they're also a minority in Iraq even while they form the majority of Iraq's three million displaced. Many lived under IS and now feel they're being unfairly blamed for the country's ills and kept from their homes.

But Neama is worried the situation for Iraq's smaller minorities will continue to deteriorate. Like many others, she says her family can no longer see any future for Christians in Iraq and is hoping for the opportunity to seek asylum in Europe.

Since liberation, some of Neama's relatives have visited Qaraqosh, but only to survey the damage and see if anything can be salvaged.

Her 82-year-old grandmother Sarah says they found that all five of their extended family's homes had been looted and four of them set ablaze. "We left so suddenly, we couldn't take anything with us," she explains. "I went back with my son to see the damage and look for my traditional clothes but I couldn't find even those. Everything was gone."

Approximately one third of Qaraqosh's 50,000 residents have left Iraq since 2014, seeking asylum in other countries, according to Father George Jahola, a priest from the town. Some fled to nearby countries - Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey - but others have gone as far as Canada and Australia.

"Even after liberation, now we are seeing the extent of the destruction, I don't think they will come back," he tells IRIN, adding that this threatened the very existence of Christianity in Iraq, which claims one of the oldest continuous Christian communities in the world.

Hope lost

Ammar, the sign-maker, has been doing his best to carve out a new life for himself in Erbil.

He opened a small business but it proved ill-timed, just as the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government suffered a financial collapse that saw most city construction projects grind to a halt. He had to close.

Set deep in his weather-beaten face, his eyes fill with tears when he admits he recently sold his wedding ring - his last possession of any value - to pay for his daughters' university fees.

"This jacket is from the church; this shirt, these trousers - from the church," he says, tugging at his clothes. He is grateful for the handouts but finds it tough to accept what he's been reduced to, after a lifetime of hard work.

He still insists he won't go back to Mosul.

Pollos, the policeman watching over Bartella, admits that those who remain in the country fear further persecution and that what they see as previous betrayals by Muslim neighbours makes trust difficult to rebuild.

But his determination is unshakeable.

"We don't want an exodus. We want to stay in our land, and that should be our basic right," he says. "But we need to be able to offer our people a secure situation and future - that's absolutely essential."
Center for Performance is finished, more to do at Hall of Fame Village

local
Chinese coal miner Fan Junlong walks out of a coal mine in Jincheng, northern China's Shanxi province, one of the country's major coal-producing areas, July 22, 2016.

Promises of production cuts have stirred up the world oil market this month, but the turnaround in coal prices may be the biggest energy and environmental story for China in the past year.

After a prolonged slump in prices and output since 2013, China's coal mines bounced back with a surge in production and profits in the second half of 2016, thanks in part to government miscalculations and market controls.

Prices for steam coal at China's Qinhuangdao Port distribution center jumped more than 48 percent between January and September to 550 yuan (U.S. $79.16) per metric ton, the official English-language China Daily reported.

In mid-November, spot market prices were reported as high as 750 yuan (U.S. $107.95) per ton, The Australian Financial Review said.

The increases came despite continuing declines in Chinese coal demand over the past three years, according to official reports, leading the government to order cuts in production overcapacity.

But by the end of 2016, China's miners were scrambling to replenish low stockpiles at the country's power plants, while the government struggled to keep prices and pollution under control.

The effects of the sudden shortages in China have been felt in coal markets around the world, said Keisuke Sadamori, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) directorate of energy markets and security.

There is no doubt that the main development in 2016 was the price increase, unexpected by many and triggered by Chinese policies to curb the oversupply and exacerbated by some disruptions in Australia, Indonesia and China," Sadamori said at a Paris press conference to preview the IEA's medium-term coal market forecast.

The stage was set for the turnaround in February when the government told coal mines and steel mills to slash surplus production capacity after years of international pressure over low prices and job losses abroad.

The government's top planning agency ordered the coal industry to eliminate 500 million tons of excess capacity by 2020 and consolidate another 500 million tons under more efficient operators.

China accounts for about half the world's coal and steel output, but its coal production capacity has been estimated to outstrip annual demand by as much as 2 billion tons.

Progress faster than expected

For 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) targeted a capacity cut of 250 million tons, a reduction that was met "ahead of schedule" in late November, according to a statement by the cabinet-level State Council.

"Progress came faster than expected," the official Xinhua news agency said in a year-end report.

What the report did not say is that the NDRC repeatedly warned the industry through much of the year that it was not cutting capacity fast enough.

By the end of June, mining companies had achieved just 29 percent of the 2016 target. By August, they had met only 60 percent of the goal, the NDRC said.

At the same time, the government was trying to spur the economy with infrastructure projects that accelerated steel demand, driving up prices and reactivating mills that were supposed to be closed.

Demand for smog-producing coal spiked in the third quarter as prices began climbing and power companies complained that their inventories had dropped below 20 days of supplies.

Logistical snarls and fears of winter shortages added to the crisis, putting the government in the contradictory position of claiming that it was reducing production capacity while pushing the mines to boost output and days of operation.

Ironically, the government has taken credit in the past month for positive reports on industrial output and profits that rely in part on increases from steel and coal producers that were ordered to make cuts.

Last month, the NDRC tried to cool off the coal market by calling on mines to sign mid- and longer-term supply contracts with power producers at prices below market rates.

The tactic may have temporarily succeeded in keeping prices from climbing even higher, but the effect on supplies and shortages remains unclear.

Recent official reports for November paint an ambiguous picture.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), coal production in November rose 9 percent from October to 308.1 million tons but lagged year-earlier output by 5.1 percent, Reuters said.

The results contradicted a statement one day earlier from a senior industry official that production had increased both month-on-month and year-on-year after emergency measures to ease shortages, the news agency reported.

Further efforts to increase production have faced delays, said Jiang Zhimin, vice president of the China Coal Industry Association (CISA) in a briefing on Dec. 12.

"Most of the mines in China are underground. It takes time for them to restart production and increase (the number of) workers," said Jiang.

"Some smaller coal mines have ramped up output illegally," Reuters quoted Jiang as saying.

A Chinese father escorts his son, both wearing face masks to filter out air particles, to school in heavy smog in Qinhuangdao, northern China's Hebei province, Dec. 19, 2016. Credit: ImagineChina Very slow decline in demand

In the meantime, the government's claims of capacity cutting appear to clash with a surge in reported mining accidents and smog alerts in urban centers and industrial areas.

Last week, the consequences of coal burning descended on China in the dirtiest smog attack of the past year as Beijing and at least 23 other cities posted their highest-level red alerts, closing highways, airports and schools.

Concentrations of fine soot particles known as PM 2.5 soared above 1,000 micrograms per cubic meter at one monitoring station in Shijiazhuang, the capital of northern Hebei province, Xinhua reported.

The reading is 40 times higher than safe levels established by the World Health Organization.

Industry and environmental analysts cited increased output from coal-burning steel mills as a "likely contributor" to the red-alert smog, China Daily said.

In its Medium-Term Coal Market Report released this month, the IEA continued to forecast a "very slow decline" in China's coal demand over the next five years, reaching a level in 2021 slightly lower than the estimated peak in 2013.

But the study sounded a note of caution.

"Regardless of whether its demand has peaked or not, China will be the largest user of coal by far through the outlook period," the report said.

The question of whether China's coal demand has started growing again is central to forecasts of climate change.

In 2014, the country's coal demand accounted for 51.6 percent of the global total, while coal was responsible for 83 percent of the world's energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, according to calculations based on data from the IEA's annual World Energy Outlook.

"In the matter of the price spike this year, I don't think this is going to reframe the structural reforms of the coal sector in China in the coming years," said Carlos Fernandez Alvarez, acting head of the IEA's gas, coal and power markets division, in response to a question from RFA.

But the uneven pace of rebalancing between supply and demand, disrupted by frequent government interventions, may result in further volatility for coal prices in the coming year, said Philip Andrews-Speed, a China energy expert at National University of Singapore.

"I think the combined unpredictability of international coal markets, coal demand in China, net coal mine closure, mine output in China and government price controls will necessarily lead to greater volatility, not least as actors seek to game the system," Andrews-Speed said by email.
What some witnesses describe as a fake auto accident involving a local opposition party official, and a court case over a fake treaty are raising new questions about the objectivity of Cambodias courts.

On Tuesday the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced opposition party leader Sam Rainsy and a pair of his assistants to five-year jail terms for a Facebook post showing a fake treaty with Vietnam.

While the court reduced the sentences to three years for Ung Chong Mab Leang, and Sombath Satya, who managed Sam Rainsys Facebook page, all three are still facing arrest.

The men were convicted in absentia of conspiracy to forge public documents, using fake public documents and inciting chaos for the 2015 post citing a false 1979 border treaty in which Vietnam and Cambodia supposedly agreed to get rid of their mutual boundary.

Following the convictions, Sam Rainsy accused Prime Minister Hun Sen of turning Cambodias legal system into a kangaroo court.

Cambodia is a sadly unique country where innocents are prosecuted and persecuted while criminals walk free with total impunity, Sam Rainsy told RFAs Khmer Service.

Am Sam Ath, head of investigations for the human rights group LICADHO, said the cases have political overtones.

I think the case is politically motivated, he said. As a civil society, we want to make sure that the court is independent so that it can be trusted by the general public.

The police stood in front of the car pretending to collapse

The convictions come as a local CNRP official was charged with assault for an incident involving his automobile on Dec. 22.

Din Puthy, the CNRPs deputy head of operations in Poipet City, was accused of driving his car into Chhean Pisith, the deputy chief of the Poipet International Border Checkpoint.

Din Puthy is also president of a labor association that advocates for local moto-taxi drivers, cart pullers and other informal workers, formally known as Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforced Association.

While Chhean Pisith was taken away in an ambulance wearing a neck brace, video footage of the incident raises questions about whether the policeman was actually hit by Din Puthys SUV.

Witnesses told reporters the vehicle never touched Chhean Pisith, calling his account the incident into question.

The car stopped, and the police stood in front of the car pretending to collapse on his own or to be unconscious, a witness told RFAs Khmer Service. I see unfairness in this incident as the car did not hit [the victim]."

The witness, who told RFA he shot the video, added: The car backed up a little bit and came to a standstill, and I saw the police officer fall down to the ground right away.

He will be better at it than his work as a lawmaker

CNRP lawmaker Eng Chhay Eang said video of the incident raises concerns because the police officer didnt act like someone whod been hit by a car.

If there is no collision with the car but he still got injured, I can conclude that maybe he collapsed because of a disease, he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen mocked Mr. Chhay Eangs analysis saying: If his excellency goes to work as medical cross examiner, he will be better at it than his work as a lawmaker.

Interior Minister Sar Kheng said further investigation is needed into the incident.

This morning, I ordered the immigration department, as well as the Banteay Meanchey authorities, to examine this case prior to reaching any conclusion, he told RFA.

Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) have often been accused of using the courts as a political weapon. While many opposition party lawmakers find themselves charged with crimes, or facing lawsuits from CPP officials, the same cant be said about the ruling party.

Tuesdays conviction is not the first time Sam Rainsy has been entangled in court cases in his home country.

Sam Rainsy has been living abroad since he was stripped of his parliamentary immunity in late 2015 after a warrant was issued for his arrest in a defamation case in which he accused Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong of running a prison for the Khmer Rouge.

In 2011 the Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Sam Rainsy in absentia for public defamation and instigation of discrimination for the 2008 incident. The final verdict in the case was delivered in March 2013, when the Appeals Court upheld the sentence.

Sam Rainsy was granted a royal pardon in 2013, allowing him to return to Cambodia from four years of self-imposed exile to contest the countrys general elections in July that year.

Election battle

On Aug. 1, the same court convicted Sam Rainsy of defaming National Assembly President Heng Samrin, who is also a top official in the CPP.

Heng Samrin sued Sam Rainsy for defamation over a video the CNRP president posted on Facebook in 2015 that shows former King Norodom Sihanouk giving a speech with the words: We remember that the regime born on 7 January 1979 used their court [system] to sentence [late] King Norodom Sihanouk to death on the accusation of being a traitor.

Heng Samrin was president of Cambodia from 1979 to 1992, leading a government installed following an invasion by Vietnam that ended the four-year rule of the bloody Khmer Rouge regime. Heng Samrin contended the Facebook statement negatively affected his reputation.

Norodom Sihanouk was King of Cambodia between 1941 and 1955 and from 1993 to 2004. He died in 2012 of a heart attack and was succeeded by his son, Norodom Sihamoni.

Earlier this year Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered police, immigration and aviation authorities to "use all ways and means" to prevent opposition leader Sam Rainsy from returning from exile, as he has pledged to do before elections in 2017 and 2018.

Sam Rainsy told RFA that the cases against him and his assistants only served to stiffen his resolve.

Today's court sentences handed to two young colleagues of mine and to me, only encourage me to fight harder in order to bring about a democratic change in Cambodia through the 2017 and 2018 elections, he said.

Reported by Morm Moniroth and Leng Maly for RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sovannarith Keo. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
An Irrawaddy dolphin swims in the Mekong river in Cambodia's Kratie province, March 24, 2012.

Theres still some hope for the Irrawaddy dolphin as an environmental organization announced on Tuesday that they have discovered 10 new calves in the section of the Mekong River that flows through Cambodia.

While the discovery marks a bit of good news for the critically endangered species, conservationists warn that the species is still under pressure from fishing and habitat destruction  especially from the dam-building boom on the Mekong.

The population of the mammal, also known as the Mekong River dolphin, is estimated at about 80.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature-Cambodia (WWF-Cambodia), seven calves were spotted in Kratie province and three were sighted in Stung Treng province.

While the discovery of 10 new calves gives environmentalists some hope for the species, the bodies of six dolphins were also discovered in 2016.

Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, but they can only be found in three fresh-water rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong.

The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins inhabit a 118-mile stretch of the river between Cambodia and Laos.

If past is prologue, the 10 newly-discovered dolphins are in for a tough life as the threats they face are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Illegal fishing and the loss of habitat from the construction of the hydropower dams, mining and deforestation are among the main threats to the species survival.

The dolphin may be having a comeback in Cambodia, but the WWF claims the species is functionally extinct in Laos where gill nets are legal.

While finding the new dolphins is encouraging, WWF-Cambodia Country Director Chhith Sam Ath said they still need protection.

WWF-Cambodia will continue to address the challenges of Mekong dolphin conservation with renewed hope and energy, he said.

Earlier this month villagers near the Cheuteal transboundary pool between southern Laos and northern Cambodias Stung Treng province found that only three of the dolphins remained in the pool. Eight lived in the area in 2010.

Residents of the Preah Rumkel environmental community blamed the dolphins demise on the construction of the 260-megawatt Don Sahong Dam along the Mekong River in southern Laos. The dam site is less than a mile from the Cambodian border.

On Nov. 23, during a meeting in Siem Reap with leaders from Laos and Vietnam about development in the Golden Triangle area, Hun Sen said feasibility studies had been conducted and that the dam project would have no impact in terms of lack of water or fish migrations.

Civil society groups say the prime minister is turning a blind eye to other issues related to the dam's construction that are affecting thousands of people in the area.

Ek Chamroeun, coordinator of the Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT), a group of NGOs that advocate for fisheries issues and monitor policy reforms, earlier this month described the dam project as a disaster for food security.

Though Hun Sen said there is no impact, we dont agree with him, he said. We are concerned because we see the real impact on the communities regarding the dam project.
Authorities in the Chinese capital have released five police officers who were detained in connection with the death in police custody of environmentalist Lei Yang after the state prosecutor said it wouldn't pursue charges against them.



Lei Yang died soon after being detained on May 7 by police during a raid on a foot massage parlor in Changping county, just north of Beijing, sparking public anger and raising questions about his death



His family questioned police claims that Lei was resisting arrest as a client of the foot-massage parlor, saying he was heading to the airport to meet a friend, while his former classmates at the prestigious Renmin University, where Yang graduated with a masters degree in environmental science in 2009, wrote an open letter calling for a full inquiry into his death.



The Fentai District People's Procuratorate said on Friday it wouldn't pursue charges against the officers, saying that their behavior constituted a "dereliction of duty, but that the circumstances were minor," official media reported.



"The prosecutors concluded that Lei had procured sexual services and fiercely resisted law enforcement, later dying due to asphyxia caused by his own vomit," the Global Times newspaper, which has close ties to the ruling Chinese Communist party, reported.



However, they also found that Lei's death was related both to police actions and to his resistance, and that police had acted with negligence in not getting him medical treatment soon enough, the paper said.



Call for justice



Former fellow students of Lei's at Beijing's prestigious Renmin University penned an open letter taking issue with the decision and calling for justice for Lei.



The letter, a version of which was also sent to President Xi Jinping, had garnered 1,526 signatures when it was seen by RFA.



Meanwhile, the authorities began to target activists who had spoken out in support of Lei.



Beijing-based rights activist Hou Xin said she was called in for questioning by police on Sunday after she posted a tweet supporting Lei, and was told to sign a guarantee of "good behavior" before being released.



"The police told me not to post anything else related to Lei Yang online. They told me I definitely shouldn't do that, and they took my statement and made me sign it," Hou said.



"They said they'd consult with higher-ups and then decide what to do with me; all I can do now is wait," she said. "I signed the guarantee but I told them I couldn't really make such promises because my civil rights were given to me by the constitution."



Hou said she had posted only to her circle of followers on a chat app, but that her article was later circulated more widely.



"I guess it had a bigger impact than I thought," she said, adding that it had also reappeared on a popular Twitter-like platform. "I have a few thousand friends on WeChat, and I think it ended up all over WeChat and Weibo."



Core interests of police



Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said the officers were freed because the matter touched too closely on the core interests of the police force.



But he said Lei's alma mater is Renmin University, an institution known unofficially as the "second party school," meaning that they also must have had a fight on their hands.



"The police did this thing, and now it has gotten a lot of attention all across the country ... so I think his classmates can probably bring quite a lot of pressure to bear here," Hu said.



Rights lawyer Liang Xiaojun said he had received a police warning after giving interviews to foreign media on Lei Yang's case.



"I have been told by the justice department that if I carry on doing that, they'll deal with me," Lilang said. "But I think these things need to be said, even if they do punish me."



"I think that their demands [that I keep quiet] are unreasonable."



Beaten to death?



Anhui-based rights activist and former state prosecutor Shen Liangqing said the police should have been prosecuted.



"The suspected crime in the case of Lei Yang is that the police beat him to death," Shen said. "I was involved in a similar case to this back in the 1980s, when I worked at the Anhui People's Procuratorate."



"Five police from Wuhe county's criminal investigation brigade killed someone during the process of trying to force a confession from them, and they were given life imprisonment," Shen said. "But that was back when relations between the general public and the government were far less strained than they are today."



"Nowadays, any citizen who kills an official has to die, but if the police kill a citizen, that's just tough luck," he said.



The Global Times said in a commentary that the prosecutors' decision was clear, and should put "an end" to the matter.



"In China, the authority and reliability of an official report surpasses that of other interpretations," it said.



Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




Authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have handed down jail terms of up to 10 years to nine residents of the rebel village of Wukan following months of mass protests earlier in the year.



Wei Yonghan, Yang Jinzhen, Hong Yongzhong, Wu Fang, Zhuang Songkun, Cai Jialin, Li Chulu, Chen Suzhuan, and Zhang Bingchai stood trial on Dec. 17, mostly on a variety of public order charges, former Wukan resident Zhuang Liehong told RFA.



They were handed prison sentences in on Monday ranging from two to 10 years, he said.



Prosecutors said fellow protester Zhang Bingchai had "published false information via WeChat and manufactured rumors, which had a deleterious effect in the community."



Wei Yonghan and Yang Jinzhen were found guilty of "organizing and inciting the villagers of Wukan to attend illegal meetings, demonstrations."



Wei was also convicted of inciting villagers and "other members of the public" to confrontation with police, throwing stones and bricks at them, and injuring police officers on duty.



Meanwhile, protesters Li Chulu, Cai Jialin, and Zhuang Songkun "rode their motorcycles to intercept passing vehicles, causing serious disruption to traffic," according to an indictment notice issued by the Haifeng District People's Court, which tried them.



Harsh sentences



Zhuang, whose father Zhuang Songkun received a three-year jail term, said full details of the other sentences weren't easily available, as the trial had been held behind closed doors.



"These are harsh sentences issued by the authorities to make an example of Wukan," Zhuang said on Tuesday. "They want other villages to see and take note, and they want the central government to think well of them."



"I feel very low and downhearted right now, because I think these sentences are a form of political persecution," he said. "They want to make sure the villagers of Wukan remain cowed, so they don't come out in protest ever again."



But he said he is still considering ways to continue to protest the fate of Wukan from his base in the United States.



Zhang Shuijin, the incumbent ruling Chinese Communist Party secretary for Wukan village, said life in the village, which saw protesters hold off lines of riot police with bricks and stones for a second time last September, is entirely back to normal.



"Everything is very quiet right now," Zhang said. "This might not be a great thing for the villagers, but it's very good for security."



"The village is going about its business in a normal manner, and I can't really say answer your question [about whether further protests are likely]," he said.



A Wukan resident contacted by RFA on Tuesday declined to comment.



"I don't know about this," the villager said. "I don't know anything at all ... I won't say any more."



A second Wukan resident gave a similar response.



"I don't know anything about this," she said, before hanging up.



More protests expected



Constitutional scholar and former People's Congress deputy Yao Lifa said he still expects further protests from Wukan.



"I don't think the people of Wukan will let this go," Yao said. "They are in a very difficult situation right now, at a very low ebb, but I think they care even more about democracy than they do about the land."



"The elections for the village leadership are very closely tied up with their interests," he said.



More than 70 people were detained in the village after riot police fired tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets in a massive dawn raid on Sept. 13 that put an end to any overt opposition in the village.



Between 2,000 and 3,000 riot police stormed Wukan, which is administered by nearby Lufeng city.



According to Zhuang Liehong, a second group of 13 defendants is currently awaiting trial at a detention center in Lufeng county.



Wukan villagers have been campaigning for the return of land sold out from under them by former village chief Xue Chang, who was fired for corruption after an earlier round of protests and clashes in 2011, sparking fresh elections that saw Lin Zuluan take the helm.



But even Lin and his newly-elected village committee found it hard to secure the return of the land amid powerful vested interests, political changes higher up, and a tangle of complex legal issues.



September's raid by police on Wukan came after a court in Guangdong's Foshan city sentenced Lin to more than three years' imprisonment on "bribery" charges that local residents said were trumped up.



Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Ding Wenqi for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




A state-level investigation commission tasked with probing the deadly border guard post attacks and subsequent violence in the northern part of the countrys Rakhine state found that the initial October attack was planned, according to a report submitted to the local legislature on Tuesday.

Formed by the Rakhine state parliament on Oct. 24, the commission, which is composed of 11 regional legislators from different political parties, visited Maungdaw and neighboring townships in the aftermath of a deadly Oct. 9 attack on three border guard stations that left nine policemen dead.

In the report, the commission determined that the initial attacks on three border guard states in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships were planned, as were subsequent clashes between locals and security forces who had locked down the area plus adjacent Buthidaung township, where many of the countrys stateless Rohingya Muslim minority group live.

The government of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar has blamed the attacks on local Rohingya Muslims.

They [the attackers] did it to build Rohingya society by occupying Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships, said commission chairman and Rakhine state lawmaker Aung Win.

The assailants, said to be Muslim militants, had received military training prior to the attacks, and many of them were deployed in the region, the report said.

The report also said the militants attacked the three border guard posts because of weak security, and that local Muslims knew the vulnerabilities because they had worked as helpers in the stations.

The border police had also used Muslim residents as informers, it said.

The officers could not get to weapons quickly enough to defend themselves when the attack occurred, the report said.

The commission has called for tighter security at schools and in ethnic Rakhine villages where Buddhists live, as well as along security patrol routes beside the Naf River which separates Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The commission also recommended restructuring some of the Muslim villages that were destroyed in the violence and removing barriers from them.

Getting it all wrong

All in all, nearly 90 people died in the violence. Some of the 34,000 Muslims who fled their villages and went mainly to neighboring Bangladesh have accused the soldiers of arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, torture, rape, and arson.

Last Thursday, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued video testimony of Rohingya accounts of human rights abuses inflicted by soldiers in the areas affected by violence.

The group previously released satellite images that show about 1,500 of structures burned down in several Rohingya villages where the military conducted security sweeps.

However, a government-appointed, national-level investigation commission, whose members visited northern Rakhine earlier this month, has determined that security forces deployed in the area did not violate any rules or regulations when conducting security sweeps of Muslim communities.

At the end of October, Aung Win accused international media organizations and outside rights groups of producing incorrect information in their reports on the situation in northern Rakhine, getting the story wrong because they hadnt visited the area at the center of the conflict.

After the Rakhine investigation commission visited Aung Zayya village in Maungdaw, its members concluded that almost all villagers had been involved in the attacks, and that some had set fires that burned down their own homes, Aung Win said at the time.

The committee also concluded that residents of nearby Watpate village were also involved in the attacks, and afterwards moved out of the area with weapons they had stolen from the border guard posts, he said.

The submission of the investigative commissions report to the Rakhine state parliament comes as a man was found dead with knife wounds in what the government said was the second murder in less than a week of a Rohingya who cooperated with authorities as they crack down on suspected insurgents, Reuters reported.

On Friday, the body of a Rohingya Muslim man who had spoken to reporters visiting the areas affected by violence a day earlier was found decapitated in a river.

The State Counselors Office issued a statement later that day saying that Shuna Mya had denied reports that soldiers committed abuses in Rohingya communities, a tacit suggestion that he was murdered by his own people in retaliation for not corroborating their stories.

Reported by Min Thein Aung for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A civilian injured in fighting between Myanmar soldiers and Ta'ang National Liberation Army troops is treated at a hospital in Kyaukme township in Myanmar's Shan state, Dec. 27, 2016.

Three civilians were killed and eight others injured amid fighting between government forces and the Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in Kyaukme township of volatile northern Shan state, a local official said Tuesday.

Those killed during the hostilities on Monday were all men, while the injured includes three children, two women and three monks, all of whom are being treated at Kyaukme hospital, said Shan state assembly legislator Sai Tun Nyan of the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party who represents the town of Kyaukme.

We heard that three people who were killed were from the same family, he told RFAs Myanmar Service. Their house was badly destroyed by heavy weapons as well.

Both the government army and the TNLA have increased their troop strength in the area, signaling the possibility of more fighting, Sai Tun Nyan said.

Because of the possibility of an escalation in the fighting, local people are preparing to leave Kyaukme, he said.

The TNLA is part of the Northern Coalition of four ethnic militias that 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 in war-torn Shan state.

The other members of the alliance are the Arakan Army (AA), Kachin Independence Army (KIA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

In early December, the group appealed for negotiations to resolve its conflicts with the government army, but it could not agree with the Myanmar government on the form that the talks should take.

The TNLA has also been fighting another ethnic armed groupthe Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA)in the region since late November 2015, about six weeks after the signing of a 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 joined it to launch the offensive against the holdout TNLA in Shan state.



Reported by Kyaw Soe Lin for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Authorities in southwestern Chinas Sichuan province last week expelled a further 500 monks and nuns from the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, leaving many of those left behind fainting and in tears over the forced separation from their friends.



The group removed on Dec. 24 came originally from the Golog (in Chinese, Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in neighboring Qinghai, and were taken away on buses and military trucks at government expense, a local source told RFAs Tibetan Service.



Witnesses to their departure were distressed and brokenhearted over being separated from their friends, and about 10 monks and nuns fainted as they said goodbye, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Though authorities at first ignored the incident, saying that the faintings had been faked, the affected monks and nuns were later taken to a hospital for emergency treatment, the source said.



A temporary camp of two-storey buildings similar to a camp already created in Serthar has now been set up in Golog to receive the monks and nuns native to that area who were expelled last week from Larung Gar, RFAs source said.



Many thousands of Tibetans and Han Chinese once studied at Serthar (Seda) countys sprawling Larung Gar complex, which was founded in 1980 by the late religious teacher Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok and is one of the worlds largest and most important centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism.



Many have already been expelled from the makeshift dwellings that once lined the hillsides around Larung Gar as authorities seek to reduce the centers population by about half to a maximum level of 5,000 by next year, sources told RFA in earlier reports.



Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.




The prosecution has called for lengthy prison sentences for 18 men who are accused of plotting to overthrow the Azerbaijani government, but are considered by human rights activists to be prisoners of conscience.

Most of the 18 were apprehended during a police raid in late November 2015 in the village of Nardaran, where many locals look to Iranian clerics in Qom for religious guidance, rather than to the Baku-based Spiritual Board of Muslims of the Caucasus.

The target of the police raid was theologian Taleh Bagirzade, 33, who in early 2015 co-founded the still unregistered Movement for Muslim Unity, the objective of which, he said, is to establish a democratic secular state in which leaders are popularly elected.

Bagirzade was apprehended on the night of the raid at the home in Nardaran of Movement for Muslim Unity co-founder Vagif Bunyadov.

Two police officers and at least four Nardaran residents were killed in a struggle, accounts of which are contradictory, between police and supporters seeking to prevent Bagirzade's arrest. According to a joint statement by Azerbaijan's Interior Ministry and Prosecutor-General's Office, the men opened fire and hurled Molotov cocktails at the police.

The accused, however, insist they were unarmed. One of them, Bahruz Asadov, was quoted as saying in court on August 11 that he heard police warning each other to aim carefully so as not to risk injuring their colleagues.

The most prominent of Bagirzade's 17 co-defendants is Fuad Gahramanly, deputy chairman of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AHCP). Gahramanly was arrested 12 days after the Nardaran raid on the basis of a Facebook post branding "unjust" the arrest of Bagirzade and other Nardaran residents. He was subsequently charged with calling for mass unrest and violence.

Torture Allegations

The 18 accused went on trial in early August at Baku's Court for Serious Crimes on charges of premeditated murder, terrorism, organizing mass unrest, illegal possession of weapons, creating armed formations, inciting religious hatred, using force against officials with the aim of overthrowing the government and seizing power, and other more minor offenses.

All pleaded not guilty. Some say they incriminated themselves under torture during pretrial questioning. Others admitted having signed a confession they had not read. The court has refused to investigate the allegations of torture.

Lawyers for the accused say the case against them was fabricated, and that witnesses were pressured. Four of the five police officers summoned to testify in mid-October could not positively identify any of the accused as having participated in the fracas.

Bagirzade's lawyer Yalchin Imanov sought without success earlier this month to have Azerbaijani Interior Minister Ramil Usubov summoned for questioning about discrepancies between his statement in an interview on national TV that the police operation was launched on orders from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in light of the criminal situation in Nardaran, and the formal indictment, according to which police had received information that Bagirzade was planning a coup d'etat. In addition, Usubov said five Nardaran residents were killed during the fracas, while the indictment gives the figure as four.

Why Local Police?

A second defense lawyer, Abil Bayramov, similarly made the point during an earlier court session that, if police had obtained information that Bagirzade and his supporters were planning acts of terrorism, National Security Ministry forces with the appropriate training should have been deployed to round them up, rather than local police.

Movement for Muslim Unity deputy head Abbas Guseynov has denied the prosecution's charge that he fired 25 shots at police, without hitting any of them.

Bagirzade has demanded without success that video footage of the raid filmed by the police should be shown in court.

Testifying in early August, Bagirzade accused the Azerbaijani authorities of deliberately seeking to provoke a confrontation in Nardaran in order to create a pretext for quashing his movement. He stressed that he has never advocated violence, and suggested that the police action to detain him was "carefully planned" in retaliation for criticism voiced by the Movement for Muslim Unity of blatant falsification during the parliamentary elections on November 1.

Bagirzade also said that he had been subjected to torture to induce him to incriminate AHCP Chairman Ali Kerimli and opposition National Council of Democratic Forces head Camil Hasanli, which he refused to do.

On December 26, the prosecution demanded life imprisonment for Bagirzade, 11 years in jail for Gahramanly, and between 10 and 20 years for their co-defendants.

Meanwhile, dozens of other men are reportedly still awaiting trial on analogous charges, some of whom were reportedly arrested in Baku, Gence, Lankaran, and other cities.


Russia's neighbors should probably expect a pretty rough ride in 2017.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the formal breakup of the U.S.S.R., Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of several former Soviet states to call for a new spirit of integration.

It wasn't an invitation. It was more of an order.

Russian state media, meanwhile, has been increasingly running stories criticizing Belarus, questioning its independence, and warning it against following Ukraine's path.

Leonid Reshetnikov, the outgoing director of the Kremlin-backed Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, recently said that Belarus was part of "Greater Russia" and could not exist independent of Moscow.

In Ukraine, meanwhile, fighting has escalated in the Donbas over the past week as pro-Moscow separatists upped their attacks despite a formal cease-fire.

And, last month, Russia escalated its campaign of pressure on Georgia, ratifying an agreement with the breakaway Abkhazia region to establish joint military units.

Putin appears to think his moment has come.

The Kremlin leader appears to believe that his coveted sphere of privileged interest and Russia's imperial dominance over its neighbors is finally within his grasp.

He appears to think the Kremlin's guerrilla war on Western institutions has created enough disruption and distraction that there will be very little pushback from Europe or the United States.

He appears to believe he pretty much has a free hand in the neighborhood.

And as a result, Russia's neighbors need to brace for a very rough year ahead -- even rougher than usual.

Keep telling me what you think on The Power Vertical's Twitter feed and on our Facebook page.
Niloofar Rahmani, a celebrated Afghan female pilot who was awarded a "Women of Courage" prize by the U.S. State Department, has touched off a heated debate in Afghanistan by applying for asylum in the United States.

The Afghan government on December 26 described her decision as "shameful for those that are meant to stand for their country" and said that threats to accomplished Afghan women that Rahmani cited as her reason for leaving the country are "only an excuse."

Mohammad Radmanish, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said the government hoped that her request would be denied by U.S. authorities, who have spent billions of dollars trying to build up Afghan security forces.

"When an officer complains of insecurity and is afraid of security threats, then what should ordinary people do?" he said. "She has made an excuse for herself, but we have hundreds of educated women and female civil right activists who work and it is safe for them."

Rahmani was the first female fixed-wing pilot in the deeply conservative country. Her rise had raised hopes for further female empowerment in Afghanistan and led to her winning the U.S. State Department award last year.

But after 15 months of training in the United States, Rahmani announced last week in interviews with The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal that she would not be returning home because she fears for her life.

"Things are not changing" for the better in Afghanistan, Rahmani told The New York Times. "Things are getting worse and worse," she said, citing the killing of female workers at an airport in southern Afghanistan earlier this month.

Rahmani said her family received threats from the Taliban shortly after she received her wings in 2013, forcing her family to move several times.

Rahmani, who carried a gun while working, said she felt unsafe because her male colleagues held her in contempt.

Her lawyer, Kimberly Motley, told RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan that Rahmani had received threats from the extremist Haqqani network.

"I think it is really important to know that Captain Rahmani was receiving death threats from the same insurgent network that attempted to assassinate [Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize winner and education campaigner] Malala Yousafzai, Motley said in a telephone interview from Washington.

Afghans on social media have shown mixed reactions toward Rahmani's request for asylum, with some saying she had misused her privileged status and opportunity and others expressing sympathy.

"Dear Niloofar, do you think your problems are bigger than that of millions of other Afghan women?" photojournalist Maryam Khamosh wrote on Facebook.

"I sometimes wish I were Niloofar and could soar in the sky and bomb the enemies of my people. But you, Niloofar, who touched the skies from the ashes of our land have shamed our flag."

Other Facebook postings were sympathetic to Rahmani, saying a deteriorating security and human rights situation in Afghanistan gave her good reason to stay in the United States.

Rahmani is not the first Afghan military trainee who has sought to stay in the United States. Dozens of Afghan trainees have gone missing from U.S. military bases over the past two years, though all of the defectors previously were men.

Motley suggested that her client has come under pressure because she is a woman.

"For those that are condemning Captain Rahmani, I question their integrity to a certain extent and I ask them: why aren't they condemning the [Afghan] men who sought asylum and ran to Canada months ago?"

With reporting by AFP, dpa, Reuters, RFE/RL's Malali Bashir
The commander of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hossein Salami, warned protesters that October 29 would be their last day of taking to the streets.

"Do not come to the streets! Today is the last day of the riots," Salami was quoted as saying by state media.



Iran has been gripped by protests triggered by the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in the custody of Tehrans morality police.



Since Aminis death on September 16, thousands have been demonstrating across the country against the clerical establishment.



Protests were reported on October 29 at several universities across the country where students chanted, Death to the dictator, and, Woman, life, freedom.



Iran has blamed its foreign enemies and their agents for the unrest.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) posted videos on Twitter showing protests at several universities. One of the protests showed people holding hands in a large circle and chanting: "If we don't unite, we will be killed one by one."

HRANA said 272 protesters had been killed in the unrest as of October 28, including 39 minors. Some 34 members of the security force have also been killed and nearly 14,000 people have been arrested, it said.

The Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights also posted a video of a protest at a university campus and said that in the city of Arak state security forces fired tear gas as mourners gathered for the funeral of Mehrshad Shahidinejad, a young aspiring chef who reportedly was killed after being arrested during a protest.

The IRGC warning on October 29 came as the United Nations expressed "increasing concern" about reports of deaths in the antiestablishment protests in Iran.

"We condemn all incidents that have resulted in death or serious injury to protesters and reiterate that security forces must avoid all unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York on October 28.

Those responsible must be held to account, he said, adding that the UN was urging Tehran to address the legitimate grievances of the population, including with respect to womens rights.

The United Nations urged the Iranian government in Tehran to respect human rights, noting that the crisis can and should be brought under control through dialogue.

In a separate statement, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed concern about "rising fatalities and injuries" to protesters in Iran.

"Its essential that unfettered access to health care is provided to those in need, [including] the appropriate use of medical vehicles, facilities & the ability of health workers to help patients," WHO chief Tedros said on Twitter on October 28.

Protesters clashed again with security forces on October 28 in Zahedan, a city in southeastern Iran were dozens of people were killed in clashes four weeks ago during anti-government protests.

Activists posted videos on social media showing protesters in the city calling for the death of "dictator" Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and against the Basij militia, which has played a major role in a crackdown on the demonstrations.

The United States and Albania will hold an informal UN Security Council gathering on November 3 that will focus on the protests in Iran, according to a note outlining the event seen by Reuters. Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Iranian-born actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi are set to address the gathering.

"The meeting will highlight the ongoing repression of women and girls and members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iran," the note said. "It will identify opportunities to promote credible, independent investigations into the Iranian government's human rights violations and abuses."

Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, is also due to address the meeting, which can be attended by other UN member states and rights groups.

"The meeting will underscore ongoing unlawful use of force against protesters and the Iranian regime's pursuit of human rights defenders and dissidents abroad to abduct or assassinate them in contravention of international law," read the note about the planned meeting.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa
Iraqi authorities say unidentified gunmen have broken into the home of a female journalist and kidnapped her.

Afrah Shawqi al-Qaisi, an outspoken critic of government institutions and the country's endemic corruption, was abducted on December 26 from her home in Baghdad.

Hours before, she published an article in which she expressed anger that armed groups act in the country with impunity.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has ordered the security forces to investigate the kidnapping and to "exert the utmost effort" to save her.

Iraq's Interior Ministry said in a December 27 statement that it had formed a team to look into Qaisi's abduction.

Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urged Abadi to make good on his pledge to find her "as soon as possible."

"We are extremely concerned and firmly condemn this abduction," RSF chief editor Virginie Dangles said in a statement.

"We urge the prime minister to keep his word to do everything possible to find Afrah Shawqi and those responsible for taking her, Dangles said.

"We also point out that the government has a duty to improve the safety of journalists in Iraq," she added.

Iraq is among the world's most dangerous countries for journalists.

The country ranked second in the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2016 Index of Impunity, which calculates the number of unsolved murders over a 10-year period as a percentage of each country's population.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP and AP


The Mexican airline Interjet said on December 26 that it had to cancel some flights due to mandatory safety inspections of its Russian-made Superjet 100 aircraft.

Russian authorities issued the directive on December 23 after cracks were found in a part on one of the Sukhoi planes. Interjet is among the largest customers for the relatively new Superjet, with more than 20 in its fleet.

Mexico's consumer protection agency says at least 25 flights and more than 680 passengers have been affected.

Russia's own Aeroflot airline, also a major Sukhoi customer, canceled 21 flights scheduled on domestic routes during the busy holiday season on December 24.

The manufacturer Sukhoi is best known as the maker of military jets like those now flying over Syria.

While the groundings are a setback for Russia's first passenger plane model, they also showed the vigilance of Russian aviation regulators in flagging matters of safety.

Russia's precautionary safety checks were announced just days after European regulators certified a long-range version of the Sukhoi Superjet for flights in the European Union.

Based on reporting by AP and The New York Times


Russian President Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of several former Soviet republics in St. Petersburg on December 26, a day after the 25th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Putin believes the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a disaster.

While the disintegration cannot now be reversed, Putin believes a "new integration in the space of the former Soviet Union" is needed, Peskov said.

The presidents of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were in St. Petersburg for the meetings, which included informal summits of the Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, whose country is a member of both organizations, did not attend.

Putin told the group that "creation of a favorable business environment" will be needed in each country to achieve full-fledged development of their economies.

Since forming a common market with the other Eurasian Economic Union countries two years ago, he said trade between them has already increased significantly.

Nontariff trade barriers have been slashed by 30 percent, he said, and a single market for drug and medical products has been created.

He said the group aims to form by 2025 a common financial market and common markets for gas, oil, and petroleum products, with harmonized rules of trade.

Based on reporting by dpa and TASS
Romania's president has rejected the Social Democratic Party's candidate to be prime minister, Sevil Shhaideh, who would have been the country's first Muslim and first female in the office.

Klaus Iohannis gave no reason on December 27 for refusing to accept Shhaideh, a little-known politician who had previously served for six months as Romania's regional development minister.

"I have properly analyzed the arguments for and against [Shhaideh] and I have decided not to accept this proposal," Iohannis said in a televised statement.

He called on the Social Democrats, who won the December 11 parliamentary elections, to make another nomination.

Liviu Dragnea, chairman of the Social Democrats, is ineligible to become prime minister because he was convicted of election fraud earlier this year and is on probation.

Dragnea's close friendship with Shhaideh -- he served as a witness to her 2011 marriage -- led the opposition to claim she would act as the party leader's puppet.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
RFE/RL Ukrainian Service Reporter Michael Tkach was awarded the Triumph Award in the category Best Reporter of 2016.

Tkach was recognized for his work on the joint RFE/RL Ukrainian Service and Ukrainian UA First Channel program Schemes: Corruption In Details, which works to uncover corruption and shady dealings among Ukrainian politicians. Some of the work that propelled Tkach and Schemes to this award includes uncovering Spanish villas owned by President Poroshenko and Ukrainian money laundering in the UK.

The Triumph Award was established in 2000 and is focused on promoting high standards of domestic television broadcasting in Ukraine.

The author and host of Schemes, Natalie Sedletska, was recently named on the list of 30 young leaders of Ukraine under 30 by the Kyiv Post. This award came on the heels of Sedletskas acceptance of the Alexander Krivenka award in Lviv for progress in journalism, which she was honored with in May 2016.

Many recent episodes of Schemes have looked into the 2016 asset declarations required of officials, an attempt to further accountability within the Ukrainian government. The program has been one of the Ukrainian Service's most popular and internationally acclaimed programs.
ON MY MIND

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenka was conspicuous by his absence from this weekend's summit of the Eurasian Economic Union and Collective Security Treaty Organization in St. Petersburg.

The decision not to attend comes at a time of rising tension between Minsk and Moscow following the arrest of Russian journalists in Belarus and Russia denying credits to Belarus. And as a new report by the Warsaw-based EAST Media Review (featured below) shows, it comes as Russian media are stepping up attacks on Belarus and questioning its independence.

For years, and particularly since Russia's intervention in Ukraine, the authoritarian Lukashenka has skillfully played Russia and the West against each other. But as I note in today's Daily Vertical, the Kremlin appears emboldened by what it sees as a series of victories over the West, and appears to be gearing up for a new effort to reassert control over former Soviet states.

And an early target is likely to be Belarus.

IN THE NEWS

Russia has sharply criticized an annual defense spending bill signed by U.S. President Barack Obama last week, accusing him of seeking to undermine President-elect Donald Trump and forcing a "depraved anti-Russian" policy on him at the start of his term.

Vladimir Putin met with the leaders of several former Soviet republics in St. Petersburg on December 26 on the day after the 25th anniversary of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and called for "a new integration."

Russia's Defense Ministry says it has found the main black box, or flight data recorder, from a military passenger jet that crashed near the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi.

Russian aviation authorities have grounded the country's fleet of its newest civilian airliner, the Sukhoi Superjet 100.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its troops had found mass graves in the Syrian city of Aleppo with bodies showing signs of torture and mutilation.

The Ukrainian Army and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have accused each other of violating a cease-fire that took effect just a day ago.

A Moscow court has ruled that a coup took place in Ukraine in 2014.

LATEST POWER VERTICAL PODCAST

In case you missed it, the latest Power Vertical Podcast, Putin's "Victorious" Year, looks back at 2016 -- and ahead to 2017.

WHAT I'M READING

Belarus In The Crosshairs?

A new report by the Warsaw-based EAST Media Review claims that Russian media have sharply increased the number of stories criticizing Belarus and questioning its independence.

Gazeta.ru, meanwhile, takes a look at recent comments by Leonid Reshetnikov, the outgoing director of the Kremlin-backed Russian Institute of Strategic Studies, suggesting that Belarus is part of "Greater Russia" and could not exist independent of Moscow.

Putin's Rich Pals

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project has the latest in a series of reports on how Putin's cronies have monetized their proximity to the Kremlin leader. The new report looks at the business dealings of Nikolay Tokarev, a former KGB officer who served with Putin in Dresden in the 1980s.

It's Not The Economy, Stupid!

In an op-ed in The New York Times, Sergei Guriev, the chief economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, explains why Russia's weak economy has not harmed Putin's political standing.

It's Europe's Economy, Stupid!

In a piece in Foreign Policy, Martin Vladimirov and Ruslan Stefanov of the Sofia-based Center for the Study of Democracy look at Russia's grip on some of Europe's economies.

Weaponizing Europe's Far Right Fringe

In The New York Times, Andrew Higgins looks at Russia's courtship of the European far right.

President Gorbachev's Last Phone Call

The New York Times has published a transcript of Mikhail Gorbachev's last phone call to U.S. President George W. Bush before resigning as Soviet president on December 25, 1991.

Lessons Not Learned

James Palmer has a piece in Foreign Policy on the lessons China did not learn from the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Soviet Nostalgia

In The Washington Post, Adam Taylor takes a look at why so many people miss the Soviet Union.

Putin As Bond Villain

Mark Galeotti of the Institute of International Relations in Prague lets his hair down with a tongue-in-cheek piece comparing Putin to various villains from James Bond films.

Ukraine's Euroskeptics

In a commentary for the European Council on Foreign Relations, Francisco de Borja Lasheras looks at rising Euroskepticism in Ukraine.
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
Veteran U.S. Senator John McCain says the United States is committed to NATO and to providing security to the Baltic region in the face of a bolder Russia.

McCain (Republican-Arizona) said in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, on December 27 that the best way "to prevent Russian misbehavior [is] by having a credible, strong military and strong NATO alliance."

McCain's statement comes amid concern among officials in Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia over President-elect Donald Trump's remark during his campaign that he would consider a country's contributions to NATO before defending it against a military attack.

Trump also made comments questioning NATO's relevance.

"I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what [U.S. President] Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength," McCain told reporters, referring to the some 150 U.S. troops that were stationed in each Baltic country and Poland in 2014, the year Moscow invaded and later annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.

McCain and fellow Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) are on a three-day visit to the Baltics, after which they head for Ukraine, Georgia, and Montenegro.

McCain said he does not expect Washington to remove sanctions against Russia that were imposed due to Russia's involvement in Ukraine.

He also said that the United States, regardless of who was its president, would have "a strong and significant response" as long as Putin continues "to occupy Crimea and interfere in eastern Ukraine and continues to threaten other nations in the region."

Based on reporting Reuters and AP


Ukrainian lawmaker Nadia Savchenko has announced the formation of a new movement after a split with her former political party.

Savchenko, an ex-military aviator who spent nearly two years in Russian jails, announced in the western city of Lviv on December 27 that she had established the Civic Platform RUNA, an acronym for Ukrainian People's Revolution.

Savchenko said RUNA will not be a "political project" but rather a "mechanism" that she described as a "natural association of people" who do not follow "populist slogans."

Savchenko, 35, quit the Batkivschyna (Fatherland) party headed by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in October and was formally expelled from it earlier this month.

The party was critical of Savchenko's meeting in Minsk with Russia-backed separatist leaders from eastern Ukraine to discuss a prisoner swap.

On December 22, Savchenko was expelled from Ukraine's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and later from the Parliamentary Committee for National Defense and Security.

Savchenko says she was abducted by Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in June 2014 and taken illegally into Russia, where she was jailed and tried on charges of involvement in what Moscow called the killing of two Russian journalists who died in the conflict between the separatists and Kyiv's forces.

Savchenko was convicted earlier this year and sentenced to 22 years in prison, but was pardoned by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 25 and released in a swap for two Russians held by Kyiv, which said they were servicemen. She was widely hailed as a hero upon her return to Ukraine, but has faced criticism from nationalists since then.

Meanwhile, pro-Moscow separatists released two women captives on December 27.

The women -- judge Anzhelika Presnyakova and journalist Olha Svorak -- were reportedly released due to Savchenko's efforts.

With reporting by AFP, the Kyiv Post, and TASS
Russia has sharply criticized an annual defense spending bill signed by U.S. President Barack Obama last week, accusing him of seeking to undermine President-elect Donald Trump and forcing a "depraved anti-Russian" policy on him at the start of his term.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova lashed out in a statement on December 27, four days after Obama signed the wide-ranging $618.7 billion spending bill that was passed by the Republican-controlled Congress earlier in December.

"One gets the impression that...Obama's team is trying to place a land mine beneath the future Trump administration, hamper its conduct in the international arena, including -- in parallel with feverishly imposing new sanctions against us -- forcing a depraved anti-Russian course on it," she said.

The Russian statement said that portions of the law governing U.S. missile-defense plans were "aimed at demolishing nuclear parity with Russia" and achieving "unilateral advantages in this strategic area."

Zakharova also criticized the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, a measure that was built into the defense bill and gives the U.S. president broader authority to impose sanctions on human rights abusers worldwide.

It is named after Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blowing Russian lawyer whose gruesome death in a Moscow jail in 2009 led to U.S. sanctions against Russians deemed by the United States to have been involved in his persecution or other rights abuses.

"The use of human rights as a pretext for pressure on inconvenient [foreign] governments is an old tradition in Washington's foreign policy," Zakharova said, claiming that the aim is "the spread of 'democracy, American-style' on the planet."

Trump, who takes office on January 20, has expressed a desire to improve relations with Russia, which have been severely strained by Moscow's aggression in Ukraine, its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war, and evidence that hackers directed by the Russian government interfered in the U.S. election campaign, among other things.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also took aim at what it said was a section of the legislation allowing for the supply of weapons, including portable rocket launchers, to rebels fighting against Assad's forces.

"It is impossible for the Obama administration not to understand that such weapons will quickly end up in the hands of jihadists with whom the ostensibly 'moderate' opposition has long acted as one. It's possible that they are even counting on that happening," the statement said, adding that "this can be called nothing other than abetting terrorists."

It said that such weapons deliveries would pose a "direct threat" to Russian warplanes, military personnel, and diplomatic staff in Syria.

"For this reason, we see this as a hostile step," it said.

Zakharova said in the statement that "the Americans have rejected full-fledged cooperation with us in the fight against terrorists."

But U.S. officials have accused Russia of failing to follow through on previous cease-fire deals in Syria and say most of Russia's military operations in Syria have targeted rebels rather than the Islamic State (IS) extremists the United States is combating with its own air campaign.
Virginia State Police responded to 10 fatal crashes over the Christmas weekend, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday.

Fatal crashes occurred in the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Buchanan, Culpeper, Fauquier, Louisa, Prince William and Wise, as well as Chesapeake and Suffolk. The statistical counting period began Friday at 12:01 a.m. and ended Monday at midnight.

Three of those killed were pedestrians, and four victims were not wearing seat belts, state police said.

Eight people were killed during the Christmas holiday in 2015, which also was a four-day statistical counting period, state police said.

Here is a look at some of the crashes, according to state police:

In Culpeper, Floyd W. Smith, 66, of Elkwood was killed about 6:45 a.m. Friday when his car left state Route 620, ran through a field and hit a tree. Smith was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

In Buchanan, passenger Rosa K. Lockhart, 81, of Vansant was killed about 11 a.m. Friday when the pickup truck she was riding in overturned after running off state Route 80 and hitting an embankment.

In Wise, a mother of two was killed Friday when a driver trying to avoid a DUI checkpoint in Coeburn crashed into her car head-on, police said. Rebecca Starling, 32, of St. Charles, Mo., died at the scene. Samantha R. Dennis of Coeburn is charged with felony murder and felony eluding in the crash.

In Louisa, Daniel O. Jackson, 37, died shortly after 11 p.m. Friday when a Honda Accord hit him while he was standing in the middle of School Bus Road, police said.

In Chesapeake, Brian Wade Ray, 51, of Virginia Beach died about 12:05 a.m. Christmas Day when he was ejected from his minivan and hit by another vehicle after the van ran off Interstate 664 and hit a guardrail. Police said Ray was not wearing a seat belt, and authorities were looking for the driver of the other vehicle, which left the scene.

In Prince William, a tractor-trailer hit and killed Isaac Salgado, 22, of Lorton about 4 a.m. Monday as he was walking along Interstate 95 after his car ran out of gas.

In Alleghany, Carrie A. Crawford, 38, was killed about 1 p.m. Monday when the Dodge Ram pickup truck she was riding in overturned after running off state Route 687 and down an embankment. The driver, David L. McCulley, 19, of Buena Vista was charged with reckless driving. Crawford was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

In a news release, the Virginia State Police superintendent, Col. W. Steven Flaherty, urged drivers to drive to save lives.

Tragically, too many families spent their Christmas with family making arrangements for funeral services, Flaherty said. We cannot stress enough the importance for drivers to make smart, safe and sober decisions during the remaining days of 2016. Let us finish out this year by simply doing whats right when it comes to driving on Virginias highways.
"There have been officers simply gunned down because they had a uniform on," Pratt said during a Dec. 15 radio interview on WINA in Charlottesville. "Its not just Dallas, its other places as well and the thing that frankly concerns me as I think about this is that the president not only has not condemned this, he actually seems to have a rationale that maybe this is what you would expect in the United States with its history of slavery and racial impression and so forth.
WASHINGTON

Its not the sexiest White House job. But it might soon be among the most dangerous.

About a week ago, President-elect Donald Trump tapped Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., to be his director of the Office of Management and Budget. This Cabinet-level post is responsible for producing the federal budget, overseeing and evaluating executive branch agencies and otherwise advising the president on fiscal matters. Its a position with tremendous, far-reaching power, even if the public doesnt pay much attention to it.

Which is why its so concerning that Trump chose Mulvaney, who seems poised to help Trump ignite another worldwide financial crisis.

Mulvaney was first elected to Congress in 2010 as part of the anti-government, tea party wave. A founding member of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, he is among Congress most committed fiscal hawks. He has repeatedly voted against his own partys budget proposals because they were insufficiently conservative.

All this will presumably put him at odds with Trumps plans to balloon federal deficits through a $7 trillion cut in individual and corporate income taxes, another half-trillion in infrastructure subsidies and other major spending expansions.

Its unclear how Trumps fiscally profligate platform meshes with Mulvaneys preference for penny-pinching. He might push back on Trumps most expensive ideas. Maybe hell employ accounting gimmicks and magic asterisks to force Trumps numbers to add up. Trumps campaign advisers have already been doing this, disingenuously claiming that his policies will pay for themselves through unrealistic economic growth.

Or maybe Mulvaneys job will simply be to convince the rest of the Freedom Caucus to stay mum when deficits explode.

Whatever their differences on line-item details, though, Mulvaney and the president-elect have at least one major thing in common: an alarming openness to defaulting on the federal debt.

As you may recall, during the campaign Trump repeatedly flirted with the idea of defaulting on U.S. debt obligations. In a CNBC interview in May, he suggested that his experience in offloading private debt would translate nicely to federal obligations. That is, hed simply persuade the countrys creditors to accept less than full payment.

I would borrow knowing that if the economy crashed you could make a deal, he said.

When the financial press freaked out, he walked back the language  only to revive it a month later.

Mulvaney has also questioned the need to preserve the countrys sterling reputation as a borrower.

He ran for Congress promising to never raise the countrys debt ceiling, and he has mostly kept to that pledge. Since taking office in January 2011, he has voted against (ultimately successful) legislation to raise this ceiling four times. He also publicly questioned whether failing to raise the ceiling would be such a bad thing, and whether it would necessitate defaulting on our debt.

To be clear: It would, and it would.

Raising the debt ceiling is about enabling the federal government to make payments that have already been promised, not new spending. Refusing to increase this limit would call into question the countrys creditworthiness.

Set aside the fact that this flippancy about making full and timely payments on our debt would likely violate Section 4 of the 14th Amendment. Thats the part of the Constitution that says that the validity of the public debt of the United States ... shall not be questioned.

From a purely financial perspective, it would be ruinous.

U.S. Treasurys, currently considered risk-free, are the benchmark of the global financial system. They enjoy safest-of-safe status precisely because creditors believe theyll be paid back in full. Rattling the publics faith in our creditworthiness would set off a crisis throughout the world.

And of course this would also make it more expensive for the United States to borrow, causing our debt to swell further.

One might hope that once Mulvaney adopts his new role, hell become more cautious about encouraging default. That seems optimistic, though, given that, as budget expert Stan Collender put it, Mulvaney will probably be the most ideological and least-qualified OMB director in decades.

Our best bet is that the Goldman Sachs alumni taking White House roles (including Steven Mnuchin as treasury secretary, the post directly responsible for managing the public debt) can explain to Trump why these kinds of actions would blow up the world.

Lets just hope theyre the ones he listens to when the time comes.
This fall, Hurricane Matthew offered Virginians the latest reminder of the ongoing importance of flood resilience.

Even with federal support, including $120 million awarded to Virginia in the National Disaster Resilience Competition, strong local and state leadership remains the key to keeping Virginias citizens safe and businesses operating in the face of flooding.

The Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency represents the most recent example of the value of teamwork in responding to a critical threat.

With the leadership of Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Del. Chris Stolle, chairman of the General Assemblys Joint Subcommittee on Coastal Flooding, and strong bipartisan support, the center was established in July.

It represents a partnership between Old Dominion University, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and William & Mary Law Schools Virginia Coastal Policy Center.

The centers role is to provide technical and scientific support for flooding resiliency planning to localities, agencies and citizens across Virginia.

This work will increase the strength and vibrancy of our communities as they adapt to living with water.

Since ODU, VIMS and William & Mary are all in the natural flood-prone test-bed of Hampton Roads, no new facilities were needed.

In its first year, the center has hit the ground running on shorter-term projects and is laying the groundwork for longer-term initiatives to put tools, information and resources in the hands of a variety of public and private stakeholders.

Because the center exists independently of political subdivisions, the data, tools and lessons learned by one entity can easily be shared with others.

The Commonwealth Center for Recurrent Flooding Resiliency leverages the strengths of faculty researchers from the three institutions, who often work together. These are just a few examples:

Law students from William & Mary and researchers from Old Dominion are working with the tourism industry to assess policies and strategies to improve resilience in that vital sector.

Recognizing that this phenomenon goes beyond Hampton Roads, Old Dominion faculty will also identify flood hazards and vulnerabilities in parts of western Virginia that are subject to flash flooding.

VIMS has compiled state-of-the-art street-level storm-surge and water-level modeling data. This will be coupled with ODUs stakeholder and communications expertise to develop risk communication and alert strategies, which will be used in concert with apps like Waze and Google Maps for extreme events like Hurricane Matthew as well as everyday occurrences of nuisance flooding.

VIMS faculty are coordinating with many partners, including Old Dominion, to develop comprehensive web tools for localities and citizens.

The center also is partnering with NASA to support research that will provide Hampton Roads localities with the first comprehensive localized data since the 1970s on subsidence, or the sinking of land, which is the other major contributor to recurrent flooding in the region. These spatial high-resolution estimates, based on satellite data, will pinpoint areas as small as 20 meters. They will allow decision-makers to fill critical gaps in knowledge and better inform planning.

The center builds on Old Dominions efforts, under President John R. Brodericks initiative, to focus on flooding and sea level rise since 2010. Its creation provides a strong foundation for our proposal, supported by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, to create the National Center for Sea Level Rise, the first center of its kind in the country.

Meanwhile, we are committed to partnering with our leaders in Richmond and local partners throughout the commonwealth to build flood resilience and establish Virginia as a leader in the field.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Gemfields to auction 187,775-carat cluster of emeralds Gemfields is set to auction a 187,775-carat cluster of emeralds discovered at its 75%-owned Kagem mine in Zambia in March 2020. Viewing of the Kafubu Cluster commenced on 31 October and bidding will close on 17 November.

Tiffany jewellery pieces to highlight Jewels & Jadeite auction in Hong Kong Jewellery pieces by Tiffany & Co, including those by renowned designer Jean Schlumberger, are among the highlights of Bonhams Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong on November 26, 2022.

Osino receives 20-year mining licence for Namibia project Osino Resources has received a 20-year mining licence for its wholly-owned Twin Hills gold project, in Namibia. The mining licence is subject to the fulfilment of several customary conditions which include adherence to an agreed work programme, conclusion...

Newmont announces third quarter 2022 results Newmont Corporation announced third quarter 2022 results. The company produced 1.49 million attributable ounces of gold and 299.000 attributable gold equivalent ounces from co-products.
(paulzimnisky.com) - In 2016 the diamond industry has been marked by the follow-through of actions taken by De Beers, ALROSA (RTS: ALRS) and Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO) to curtail global supply, combined with a healthy 2015 retail holiday season that left the very cautious manufacturing segment of the industry under-stocked in early 2016. Leading up to 2015, gross over-speculation of global diamond demand growth by some diamond cutters resulted in a significant overhang of low-to-medium-quality polished stock in the industry pipeline, which reached an apex about this time last year. The supply glut was debilitating, and even fatal, for the manufactures (the cutters) as there was in some cases no market for their freshly polished product which they needed to unload in order to pay back loans used to buy the rough. The bellwether producers (the miners) took action towards to end of last year in an attempt to normalize the supply/demand balance, in an effort to provide a lifeline to their clients. The producers took a two-pronged approach, reducing rough supply to the market, either through production cuts and/or inventory build, and reducing prices, with a goal of restoring the rough/polished price spread, essentially returning profitability to the manufactures.




Israels polished diamond exports slipped 2.5 percent to $3.84 billion in the first nine months of 2016, according to the nations Ministry of Economy and Industry.

In volume terms, polished exports slid 16 percent to 1.5 million carats, while the average price jumped 17 percent to $2,629 per carat.

Shipments to the U.S. slid 0.3 percent to $1.47 billion. Polished exports to Hong Kong dropped 9 percent to $1.03 billion, while exports to Belgium slumped 17 percent to $288.4 million.

Total polished imports fell 7 percent to $2.37 billion during the period. Net polished exports, representing exports minus imports, grew 6 percent to $1.46 billion.

Rough imports increased 11 percent to $2.36 billion, while rough exports jumped 16 percent to $2 billion. Consequently, net rough imports, representing imports minus exports, fell 11 percent to $356.2 million.

Israels net diamond account jumped 13 percent to $1.11 billion for the nine months.




Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) approved Kimberley Diamonds' delisting in a move by the company to reduce costs and facilitate fundraising.

The exchange approved Kimberleys request, leaving shareholders with the final say. The company must invite shareholders to a meeting to approve the delisting, which can only come into effect a month later, according to the ASX ruling.

Kimberley Diamonds has applied for its shares to be removed from the ASX in November as its shares are trading at a price which is materially lower than the underlying value of the companys assets.

The company owns the Lerala diamond mine, in Botswana, where in-pit mining was temporarily suspended last October.

It said the move was also driven by low liquidity in its shares, lack of interest in the Australian market.

Kimberley said that further fundraising, including any required restructuring of existing loans, was more likely to be successful if the company delisted.




Lady Gaga and Elton John spent a portion of the holiday season together, as the celeb duo were spotted doing some Christmas shopping together in Aspen, Colorado.

Gaga and John, who were also joined by John's husband David Furnish, were photographed leaving the Burberry store in Aspen, before stopping for a bite to eat at the White Tavern. Gaga sported an all-black ensemble complete with hat and big sunglasses, while John wore a blue, white and red designer bomber with striped collar and cuffs, embellished with a cat motif.

"Though problems are challenging they often show the truth. We can stop & see it. You might even say there is a gift in them. Happy Holidays," Gaga wrote on Twitter.

Gaga is the godmother to John's second son Elijah with David Furnish.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Entertainment News
Days after the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution demanding an immediate halt to Israeli settlement construction, President-elect Donald Trump questioned the effectiveness of the United Nations, describing it as a "club for people to get together, talk and have a good time".

"The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!" Trump said on Twitter on Monday.

This is his third post on the social media site in four days expressing his dismay at the way the international body is tackling issues.

Trump had said on Friday that things will be different at the U.N. after January 20th, the day he assumes office.

Expressing his disappointment over the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution against the construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, the incoming President said the development will make it much harder to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

However, he vowed that the incoming administration will "get it done."

Friday, the 15-member Council adopted the resolution with the United States abstaining from the vote, ignoring Trump's appeal to the White House to veto the resolution.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Political News
The European Central Bank said the troubled Italian lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena needs about EUR 8.8 billion, or $9.2 billion, bailout.

It was previously estimated that the world's oldest surviving bank required EUR 5 billion to deal with a capital shortfall. The lender failed to raise the amount within the time provided by the ECB.

The latest figure is based on the results of stress tests carried out this year, according to Monte dei Paschi. The ECB has also pointed out that the bank's liquidity worsened between November 30 and December 21.

The Italian government approved a EUR 20 billion package on December 23 to support the country's embattled banking sector.

"Public intervention is always the last resort for a bank, and is subject to strict rules," ECB Supervisory Board member Ignazio Angeloni said in an interview to the Italian daily La Stampa on Tuesday.

He also said that not everything that is necessary to recapitalize the Italian banks has to come from the state. Long-standing shareholders and subordinated bondholders can contribute, he added.

The Monte dei Paschi said in a statement on Monday it is set to under go 'precautionary recapitalization, which according to the ECB is "the injection of own funds into a solvent bank by the state when this is necessary to remedy a serious disturbance in the of a Member State and preserve financial stability."

The measure is "exceptional" as it is conditional on final approval under the European Union State aid framework and does not trigger the resolution of the bank, the central bank said explains on its website.

Precautionary recapitalization is applicable only for solvent banks and is limited to the capital injections needed to address a capital shortfall under the adverse scenario of a stress test, the ECB said.

Under the process, the bank applies to the government authorities for a precautionary recapitalization and the state asks the banking supervisor ECB to confirm the solvency of the bank.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Iran's state news agency, IRNA, has quoted the country's deputy transport minister as saying that Iran will pay only half of the amount of $16.6 billion announced by Boeing for the purchase of 80 jetliners by the country from the aircraft maker.

According to IRNA, Deputy Transport Minister Asghar Fakrieh-Kashan said Sunday that Iran will pay only half of the announced price for the new passenger planes.

"Boeing has announced that its IranAir contract is worth $16.6 billion. However, considering the nature of our order and its choice possibilities, the purchase contract for 80 Boeing aircraft is worth about 50 percent of that amount," Fakrieh-Kashan said.

In mid-December, Boeing said it agreed to sell 80 jetliners to Iran Air valued at $16.6 billion at list prices.

It is the first major agreement between a U.S. company and Iran since last year's landmark nuclear accord that removed crippling economic sanctions on Tehran. As a result of the sanctions, Iran Air was unable to expand or replace its fleet of aircraft.

The deal, based on Boeing's memorandum of agreement with Iran Air announced in June, includes 50 737 MAX 8 aircraft, 15 777-300ERs and 15 777-9s. The first airplanes under the deal are scheduled for delivery in 2018.

In September, the U.S. Government granted permission to Boeing and Airbus Group N.V. (EADSY.PK) to sell aircraft to Iran.

Last Thursday, Airbus said it signed a firm contract with Iran Air for 100 aircraft. The agreement covers 46 A320 family, 38 A330 family and 16 A350 XWB aircraft. Deliveries of the aircraft are expected to begin in early 2017.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Parliament Speaker meets WHO representative in Yemen

SANA'A, Dec. 27 (Saba) - Speaker of the Parliament Yahya Ali al-Raei met on Tuesday with head of the World Health organization's ( WHO) representative in Yemen Ahmed Chadol.



At the meeting, al-Raei listened to a detailed explanation about the tasks and activities of the WHO and the role played by the organization in our country.



The WHO supports and provides medical, health and humanitarian services for in need people in hospital and health centers that require assistance.



Al-Raei hailed the medial role played by the WHO in order to perform its mission in the health sector.



Speaker of the parliament also listened to some difficulties and challenges faced by the WHO that hinder its performance in a timely manner.



He affirmed the importance of communicating between the parliament and the organization to discuss any recent issues and to enhance cooperation between the two.



The speaker expressed his readiness to overcome any difficulties or challenges stand in front of the organization to enable it to do its humanitarian objectives in the right way.



He said that he would follow up with the concerned authorities in the country to facilitate obstacles that presented by the WHO at the meeting.



Ahmed Chadol, for his part, noted the importance of enhancing the relations between the WHO and the donors countries to implement and to achieve their humanitarian tasks, stressing the importance of the donors countries to provide the organization its needs in order to deliver those needs to the affected areas in Yemen as Yemen is passing through difficult times due to the continuous aggression waged by the countries' coalition aggression led by Saudi Arabia, and the importance of lifting the unjust blockade to enter medicines, foodstuff and necessary needs in the country.





He said that some medicines were requested by the Ministry of Health and were imported by the WHO but they delay in some ports, thus, the WHO request from the parliament and the concerned authorities to assist to get them out from the stores in order to distribute them to hospitals.



HA



Saba

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[27/December/2016]
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
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.
Re: Govt. amends Constitution to reflect Christian State

The state, i.e. the government that is supposed to represent all the people, chooses to separate itself from those citizens who do not belong to the sates religion, essentially creating a second, and lower, class of citizenry.

Today the states religion is to be Christianity but how long before that becomes a particular denomination or sect of Christianity?

How would Protestants feel if the state decided that Catholicism would be the state religion?

Indeed who gets to decide what Christianity means? Many Christians do not consider Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses to be Christian.

Many fundagelicals do not consider Catholics to be Christian.

Why on earth would a state government want to embroil itself in all this divisiveness, when there are enough real issues to be solved - unless it already had an agenda in mind?

Watch out for your liberties, folks!

Patrick Gannon
Dear Editor,

Transparency? Accountability? Its a joke

You have hit on the head Mebahel the root cause of the problems in Samoa, which is that power corrupts absolutely and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The PM has been so used to getting his way that he can do whatever he wants and change any law to achieve his purposes.

One wonders whether Samoa is going to be any safer if the government has this power to hire and fire any police and assistant police commissioner.

My simple answer to that question is NO. What we are going to get instead are yes men and women who will march to the PMs tune without providing impartial and fearless advice.

Ironically this what the PM wants and seeks but his actions will get him the total opposite effect.

Perhaps the PM is after a police force which one reads in the news can be found in countries like Russia and Iraq. It is a rather sad day when politicians meddle in the affairs of statutory entities like the police force.

One is reminded of a neighbouring Pacific country which has a PM who sets out to do exactly what our PM is now hell bent on doing. Funny thing is that our PM has been name calling this PM as unfit to hold the position of PM. Talk about the kettle calling the pot black.

And our PM loves to parade his country as a model of democratic government in the pacific context. Maybe our PM is talking about a different country to that in which I am now living.

I dont feel democratic at all but then I and others of lower academic achievement than our beloved PM, dont know anything at all about an excellent and properly functioning police force should look like.

Only my esteemed and almighty PM knows this. Was this change ever given to the people like me to vote on as per my democratic rights? NO.

You, the PM supporters would undoubtedly give a lesson in politics 101 and lecture me about voting for my parliamentary representative who chose the PM who is now trampling on my democratic rights.

That might be true but at the end of the day, this particular issue was never taken to the public in the context of the last election.

I feel absolutely safe in the knowledge that my PM is taking all these hard decisions to make me feel safe walking the streets of Apia.

Dare I suggest that the police force the PM is after will make its decisions based on what the government wants, perhaps including who to arrest and who to charge.

Perhaps I need to keep quiet and not criticise the government and PM for fear that I might get a visit from the soon-to-be constituted super efficient police force. It might sound a bit far fetched but not out of the realm of possibility.

Should I be afraid? You are damn right I should be.

Wishing you the Samoa Observer readership a great and peaceful Xmas.

Vai Autu
The debate about how people are treating Samoas treasured tatau and malu is not a new one. Opinions of course differ over peoples motives.

Some say it has been commercialised to the point where the art has lost its value, others believe Samoa is part of a globalised world where we have to keep up with the changing times. As part of that, attitudes towards such a treasure must evolve.

Whatever belief system you subscribe to, there is one thing that cannot be denied. Anybody who has had to endure the pain of getting inked is perhaps the only person who is qualified to have an opinion about the issue.

Thats because it takes courage. It takes guts and bravery to lay there while the tufuga works his magic.

For Mulipola Anarosa Molioo, from the village of Faleapuna, four of her children have just received their traditional tattoos.

Mulipola understands the importance of the tattoos and says she makes sure her children understand it too.

The mens tatau or the womens malu is a very important part of the Samoan culture, she told the Samoa Observer.

I have five children with one of them planning to get a traditional tattoo in the new years. My children approached us to get tattoos when they were still in school.

And to us, we know that our culture is one vital aspect of our identity as Samoans, so we agreed to it.

For Mulipolas children, their tattoos is a rite of passage. It is part of who they are.

We are always involved with cultural practices within our village of Faleapuna because of our titles at Faleapuna and so we always take our children with us, she said.

The boys are usually the ones doing most of the duties of a Samoan young man (taulealea) within the village and they thought that it would be better to have traditional tattoos so it can complete their attires.

And its the same for my daughter as well.

Mulipola explains that you cant just get a traditional tattoo; you have to be prepared mentally and physically.

To me, if you want to get the traditional Samoan tattoo, one has to be well-prepared, she said.

One must know about the culture and all the responsibilities they should do and they must know how to carry it well.

So weve taught them about all the things they need to know about our Samoan culture and especially when it comes to wearing and getting the tattoo.

Theyve also experienced and practiced it in our village and family gatherings because that goes hand in hand with the tattoo.

Mulipola says that with a big part of our tradition now nothing but a fashion trend, it brings her and many others much sadness.

It saddens me to see how some people use our traditional tattoo nowadays for fashion, she said.

What I mean is that back in the days, the only time we see girls and boys with tattoos was when we have gatherings and family functions. But thats not the same anymore.

My main concern is that our culture is starting to fade away. We can also see that theyve added some other patterns and designs to the tattoos.

I think that there is no other place to learn about all this than our families. That is the one place where we can learn about all our culture.

We should also encourage our children to start going to the village councils house to listen and observe all the things they need to learn about our culture; thats where we can learn our true Samoan ways.
Christmas can be a great reminder for a lot of things.

For the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, the theme for this years Bible Reading for Christmas is Emmanuel. It translates to God is with us.

This was echoed through a celebration held at the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa at Faletagaloa Safune on Saturday night.

Through skits, singing, dancing and role-plays by the Sunday school, the message were a reminder that God is always with us along the way.

Reverend Vaueli Sanerivi reminded the congregation that we shouldnt worry about anything in life because God is and will always be with us.

In the Christmas story Joseph and Mary faced a great deal of uncertainty, so do we, said Reverend Vaueli.

Life is full of uncertainty; its a scary world with all the challenges and obstacles. And we look ahead to 2017; there will be more challenges to overcome. We will not always sing Joy to the World when we face all the challenges or when we think about all the difficulties we have to overcome. This next year doesnt leave me with much confidence.

But the Christmas story is an annual reminder of the faithfulness of God in uncertain times.

Think of the uncertainties that bombarded the mind of Joseph. He was not sure if Mary was going to make it all the way to Bethlehem. He was not sure about how Mary got pregnant.

Think about it, it was not part of his plan to marry Mary, but God interrupted their lives and Mary showed up out of the blue with the news that she was found with a child of the Holy Spirit and that they had to raise the child together. How much uncertainty do you read into this verse, Mathew 1:19?

Joseph is described as a just man. He wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to please God. He wanted to protect Mary. If I was God, I would have done things differently. I would have laid out the whole plan to Joseph beforehand in order to relieve him of any anxiety.

But God purposely keeps us in the dark for a while. Even death is designed that way. Its the ultimate uncertainty that we all must face, and God keeps us in the dark until after it happens.

He went on to say that lifes uncertainties are inevitable, but God uses them to show forth is faithfulness to us.

Often when we least expect it; when our hearts are filled with fear and uncertainty, God reveals His plan. He reveals your role in His plan. Have you ever been filled with uncertainty and God shows you the bigger plan? Suddenly it all makes sense why you lost your job; had to move; or had a falling out with a friend. You look back and say, God, you were so faithful. The Christmas story is immersed in uncertainty. Think about it, God came to us as a Baby and not a gladiator or superhero! He was cared for by a poor carpenter and not a king. God made Himself vulnerable in a broken-down farmhouse amid one of the most bloodthirsty dictatorships of all time.

All of the challenges that bring you uncertainty are no match for the faithful God who resides within you. In conclusion, he said, Im certain Joseph and Mary felt inadequate for thetask and ill-equipped for the challenges set before them. They didnt know the future, nor did they understand the full significance of their role.

What about you? Do you feel inadequate, ill-equipped and insignificant? The uncertainty is Gods gift, you know; unwrap it and you will find His faithfulness.

Do not worry about anything in life for God is and will always be with us.
The new Strategy for the Development of Samoa calls to re-invigorate the Agriculture Sector to contribute more to the national G.D.P.

Samoas G.D.P in 2013 stood at US$800 million. The agriculture sector contributes less than 10per cent to G.D.P, with tourism contributing over 20per cent.

A healthy taro export market access contributes to improving the performance of the Agriculture Sector, and farmers having access to improved taro planting material is an essential first step.

Recently, the Sosaiete Aufaifaatoaga Savaii  S.A.S (Savaii Farmers Association) received the first 15,000 tiapula for a total order of 50,000 tiapula for the two recommended taro export varieties, Fusi and Salani, named after the villages they were selected from in the on-going taro breeding programme of the Ministry of Agriculture. The tiapula tops were distributed to 50 taro exporters in Savaii, who are registered members of S.A.S.

The first harvests are expected in mid-2017, and are earmarked for the export market. The first generation planting tops (tiapula) should provide for the long-term sustainability of the scheme through further distribution to other farmers.

S.A.S Secretary Tauloa said that they had requested P.H.A.M.A for assistance in getting the two new recommended taro export varieties. We made a request to Asuao as national coordinator of P.H.A.M.A programme for assistance to Savaii farmers in getting the two new taro varieties.

This has now come about and we signed an agreement with Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F) to receive 50,000 tiapula with the first 15,000 delivered to Savaii in the beginning of November. The remaining 35,000 will be delivered in January.

The 50 farmers who have received the improved taro varieties will themselves re-distribute taro suckers as they become ready, so were looking at about a 100,000 tiapula available of the two improved varieties in Savaii by this time next year.

We want to especially thank Minister Laaulilemalietoa, for helping with the agricultural development of Savaii through the delivery of tiapula to Savaii. We are thankful also of the two exporters who travel to Savaii and buy taro directly from the farmers and pay them cash. Before farmers had to wait until their taro is sold in New Zealand before they get paid, now they are paid cash on the spot. Thats why we constantly remind the farmers to follow the recommended production and harvest guidelines to ensure their products continue to meet the market requirements for export taro.

M.A.F has three recommended taro export varieties  M.A.F 2, Fusi and Salani and are actively multiplying the planting materials at Nuu Crops Division. In an average month, with five taro containers exported, three would be sourced from Savaii.

P.H.A.M.A National Coordinator Asuao Kirifi was instrumental in securing the two new export varieties from M.A.F and working closely with S.A.S.

The aim to gain equal access and opportunities to the new varieties by taro farmers in Savaii was considered an essential component and a mandate of P.H.A.M.A in gaining and maintaining market access.

A workshop preceded the distribution of the new taro varieties to Savaii farmers and was aimed at clarifying the roles of all stakeholders. M.A.F officials and exporters presented on the taro export status, development of varieties, and market challenges.

The Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (P.H.A.M.A) is a regional programme funded by the Australia and New Zealand governments and target to address market access issues.
#Yoon Suk-yeol Yoon pays 5th visit to mourning altar for Itaewon crush victims President Yoon Suk-yeol paid his fifth visit to a mourning altar for victims of the Halloween crowd crush on Friday in what has become a daily routine for the president. Yoon ar...
Irwin Jacobs recently stepped down as chairman of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, replaced by Gateway computer founder Ted Waitt. During Jacobs decade-long leadership, the institute hired two presidents  first Dr. William Brody and then Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn, who took on the role a year ago.

During Jacobs tenure, the institute also conducted a capital campaign that raised $330 million, exceeding its goal by $30 million.

Jacobs discussed those highlights and other Salk achievements during a recent interview with science writer Chris Emery at the institute. The San Diego Union-Tribune is republishing a slightly edited version of that Q&A, which first appeared in the magazine Inside Salk.

Advertisement

Irwin Jacobs earned his place in tech history as founding CEO of Qualcomm, leading it from an underdog San Diego company into a worldwide force in digital wireless communications technology and equipment. He retired from the Qualcomm board in 2012.

With his Qualcomm fortune, Jacobs and his wife, Joan, have financially supported a wide range of causes. They have donated hundreds of millions of dollars to institutions such as UC San Diego, the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, and the new UCSD Jacobs Medical Center.

The Salk Institute also has benefited from the couples philanthropy. They first became involved with the life sciences institute in 2004, helping to establish the Crick-Jacobs Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, which uses computer modeling to study how the brain processes information.

The couple also established a challenge grant to encourage other donors to endow 20 chairs for senior scientists. For every $2 million that a person contributed toward an endowed chair at the institute, Joan and Irwin Jacobs added $1 million to achieve the $3 million funding level required to fully endow a chair for a Salk senior scientist. All 20 such positions have been established.

And they launched Salks Innovation Grants Program, which supports riskier but potentially very rewarding research projects that might otherwise not receive funding.

Road to the Salk Institute

Q: You had a long and successful career in academia and later in industry at Linkabit and Qualcomm. Some people would have kicked their feet up in retirement on a beach somewhere. Why have you and Joan devoted so much of your time and resources to service and philanthropy?

A: I enjoyed a very fulfilling academic experience at MIT and UC San Diego, followed by a most rewarding business career, co-founding and leading Linkabit in 1969 and Qualcomm in 1985. During that period, I was fortunate to work with very good people on exciting projects, translating new ideas into useful products. I have always enjoyed learning about new areas, particularly in engineering and science.

When I retired, Joan and I decided to continue family tradition and focus on using our time and resources to support interesting nonprofit institutions. We choose areas that have the potential to impact many, including research, education from K-12 to university, social and community needs, and cultural activities. We enjoy working with projects that have well-defined goals and good leadership.

Irwin Jacobs describes his life in technology and the Salk Institute.

Q: You have been involved in many philanthropic endeavors. What attracted you to Salk?

A: The presence of the Salk Institute in La Jolla was one important factor in our decision to move here from Boston in 1966. Then, following retirement from Qualcomm, I became interested in learning more about biology and Salk, of course, was very attractive for its world-renowned research program.

But I think what convinced me to later become involved was a lunch I had at the Salk in March 2003. Francis Crick, Sidney Brenner, Rusty Gage, Chuck Stevens and Terry Sejnowski were there, and the discussion was fascinating. I found that neuroscience had connections back to my work in information theory and communications which could be pursued.

Accomplishments

Q: Is there anything from your tenure as chairman of the Salks board that you are particularly proud of?

A: A lot of exciting things happened during my tenure as chair. Perhaps foremost, we selected two new presidents for the institute. That was a bit of a challenge, and I ended up being happy with the outcome in both cases.

For the first, I was given a notebook full of names and did a lot of research. I came across Bill Brodys name and thought hed be ideal if we could lure him away from Johns Hopkins. Luckily, that all worked out and he served six years as a very successful president at the Salk.

When Bill retired, we began a broad search. But when we learned that Elizabeth Blackburn would consider such a step in her career, we focused on attracting her to Salk. I am very pleased that we succeeded.

Another significant event occurred early in my time as chair, and that involved guiding Salk into becoming one of the founding members of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, which continues to play a significant impact on science on the Torrey Pines Mesa.

Q: Are there particular areas of Salk research or projects that youve found most intriguing?

A: All of the areas of research are progressing well, often yielding surprising results. Neuroscience, because of its breadth, because it does have a connection to information theory, and because of increasing progress in understanding the brain at many levels, is perhaps most intriguing.

Brain research also requires substantial engineering effort to be able to sense what is happening in the brain. Indeed, the National Academy of Engineering chose reverse engineering of the brain as one of its Grand Challenges.

Of course, the allure of the Salk is its broad and innovative approach to science. Weve made great progress in learning the biology of many cancers, leading to personalized treatments based on sequencing an individuals tumors. From a scientific and even an artistic point of view, its exciting to see the work in biophotonics, allowing us to visualize life at a level previously impossible.

Q: Looking around your house, clearly you and Joan have a love of art. Is there something that art and science share that draws you to both?

A: We enjoy being surprised by new ideas and forms. Artists and scientists are interested in innovative outlooks on our world and are willing to experiment and take risks  and they must have persistence. We are often intrigued by the simplicity of the end results masking the many approaches explored along the way.

La Jollas appeal

Q: I noticed your house is very modern. What was your first reaction when you saw the architecture of the Salk?

A: During a trip to San Diego in 1965, Joan and I had a chance to explore the region and discovered the Salk Institute. I still remember it as a wow moment. Although the architecture first appeared brutal, it appealed very much to our personal aesthetic. It is so contemporary, so well sited and so beautifully thought through and functional.

When we considered moving to La Jolla, the Salk Institute and the opportunity to teach and help form a brand new university became deciding factors. However, it took one additional incident to sway our decision. Its funny how small things do change the course of life.

When I was first offered the job at UC San Diego, I turned it down, with family, friends and career all on the East Coast. But for the next two days, we questioned our decision.

Returning home the second day, soaked from a major rainstorm, Joan read me a description of a contemporary home that was for sale. I said, Lets go see it tomorrow. She said, Theres only one problem, its in La Jolla. And so here we are.

Q: Has the unexpected played out in other ways in your life?

A: Entering a business career provides another example. When we moved to San Diego, I didnt really plan on going into business. However, I had co-authored a textbook on digital communications at MIT. As a result, I received many more requests for consulting from companies in California than I could handle.

I mentioned this to two faculty friends at UCLA and they suggested we should start a company to share the consulting. And thats how Linkabit, my first company, began.

It began to grow, so I took a one-year leave from UC San Diego to get it organized, found the technology business great fun, and in 1972 became a dropout from academia. The digital communication theory that I had been teaching proved very useful in business, and Linkabit was a great success. I sold it in 1980 and remained (with it) until 1985.

Six persons who had worked with me at Linkabit suggested starting another company. Although we did not have any products in mind when starting, the unexpected occurred again and Qualcomm became another success driven by innovative products.

Union-Tribune staff writer Bradley J. Fikes contributed to this article.

bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1020
Chula Vistas top cop, a man known throughout the state and nation for his dedication to law enforcement, is retiring this month after 35 years of service.

I love doing what Im doing but it just feels right that after a long and fortunate career to move on and do something else, said Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano. I have mixed feelings, but Im looking forward to it.

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While Bejarano is leaving public service to travel and spend more time with his wife and three grandchildren, hell keep many of his volunteer positions and consulting work.

Bejarano, 60, was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

It was a tough neighborhood, he said. I frequently saw a lot of police cars and firefighters in my neighborhood, and the positive contributions they were making early on.

Bejarano likened his neighborhood El Segundo Barrio or the second ward, to Logan Heights  a mostly Hispanic, low-income community.

He said many of his friends ended up in gangs and prison.

Bejarano said he didnt because his older sisters kept him out of trouble.

After graduating from high school he joined the U.S. Marine Corps with a good friend and served three years.

He maintained a cross-country relationship with his girlfriend, and the two married after he left the Marine Corps in 1978.

Bejarano later joined the San Diego Police Department where he would work for the next 25 years, leaving as police chief.

I worked a lot of special assignments, gang investigations, internal affairs, he said. He was one of the original members of the Border Crime Prevention Unit, a task force of U.S. Border Patrol agents and San Diego officers. They patrolled the U.S./Mexican border looking for undocumented adults and children who were being victimized.

He also served with the criminal intelligence unit in San Diego as a commander.

That involved in a lot of protective details involving President Clinton and presidents from Mexico and working real closely with the Secret Service.

He said career highlights include:

Serving as president of the California Police Chiefs Association

Becoming police chief in San Diego in 1999 and Chula Vista in 2009

Shaking hands with then President Bush in the Oval Office after being appointed to the U.S. Marshals Service in 2003.

In more than three decades, Bejarano has worked with many distinguished leaders, including District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Jerry Sanders, former San Diego police chief and later mayor.

When he worked for me, Dave was an excellent assistant chief and then a great chief, Sanders said.

Dumanis said Bejarano has a keen ability to engage the community and work with diverging viewpoints. Thats why he has been so successful as the police chief in Chula Vista, she said.

During his tenure, Chula Vista was ranked the 10th safest in the U.S. with a population above 200,000, according to a report based on FBI crime statistics from 2012.

Thats based on the quality of people we have in our department, Bejarano said.

Bejarano had stepped down as president of Presidential Security Services when he became police chief. He also curtailed his duties at the firm and wanted his name removed from advertising, marketing and other public material.

The following year he was in the spotlight again. Veritas Worldwide Solutions, which listed him on its website as the executive vice president for law enforcement training, was linked to a failed plot to smuggle Moammar Gadhafis son to a resort near Puerto Vallarta. Saadi Gadhafi was wanted by Interpol for alleged brutality in suppressing the Libyan uprising.

Bejarano said the relationship with the company was that of arms-length, and he cut ties to it as well.

Under his leadership, the Chula Vista Police Department became one of the first police agencies in the nation to begin to use body-worn cameras in the field.

When you talk about being transparent, building the trust of our community, posting on a national website, officer-involved shootings, citizen complaints, we really embraced community policing, he said.

Bejarano leaves the second largest city in the county to his second in command, Capt. Roxana Kennedy, who was appointed to the position earlier this month.

She said following in his footsteps is a big responsibility and challenge. Basically I call him a rock star chief  hes like a celebrity.

For Bejarano, the career has been about service.

For the community at large, I thank them for the opportunity to serve San Diego, federally and here in Chula Vista, he said.
Carrie Fisher, who died today at age 60, is destined to be known now and forever as Princess Leia Organa from the Star Wars saga.

But Fishers creative exploits stretched well beyond Hollywood: In addition to becoming an accomplished novelist, she earned numerous stage credits  including one for a recent, high-profile project at San Diegos Old Globe Theatre.

Fisher was one of 10 writers who contributed vignettes to In Your Arms, the world-premiere dance musical that debuted at the Balboa Park theater in September 2015.

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The cast of the world premiere dance-theatre musical In Your Arms performs Carrie Fishers Lowdown Messy Shame.

The show, directed and choreographed by Stephen Gattelli and scored by Stephen Flaherty (both Tony Award winners), showcased works by an all-star lineup that included three Pulitzer Prize winners.

Fishers piece, Lowdown Messy Shame, was hands-down the funniest of the lot  even though it tweaked the rules a bit by incorporating quite a bit of speaking into what was supposed to be a mostly wordless, movement-based work on the subject of love.

Her vignette centered on a character named, of course, Carrie (and played by Jenn Harris in Leias distinctive cinnamon-bun hairdo); at one point, she sat at a typewriter playing with bobblehead dolls of Darth Vader and a Star Wars storm trooper. (The idea of a speaking part came from Gattelli.)

As we said of her segment in the U-T review, dance can feel secondary to the comic vexations of Carrie as she struggles to write a vignette for, yes, a dance musical.

Still, we can forgive this fit of wordiness, because her self-satirizing piece is (in a word) hilarious.

(Read the full review here.)

Fishers Star Wars fame obscured the fact she was also a veteran of four Broadway shows  her first turn coming at age 16 in a 1973 revival of the musical comedy Irene, which starred her mother, Debbie Reynolds.

Fisher later appeared on Broadway in the very short-lived (and very odd) Censored Scenes from King Kong (1973); as a replacement in the lead role of Agnes of God (1982); and as the writer and star of her own solo piece, Wishful Drinking (2009).

She is reported to have been working on a follow-up to the latter show under a commission from L.A.s Geffen Playhouse, which developed Wishful Drinking. (Fisher later adapted that work as a book.)

San Diego Theater  On Now Video: Bruce Springsteen's solo trip to Broadway On Now Video: Inside the rehearsal room of SDMT's Damn Yankees! 2:22 On Now Video: La Jolla Playhouse-bred shows earn key Tony nominations 3:05 On Now Video: Broadway moment has arrived for La Jolla Playhouse's 'Come From Away 0:33 On Now Video: Lamb's Players Presents "An American Christmas" 2016 1:21 On Now Old Globe's 'Grinch' ready to rumble again 0:52 On Now Little Miss Sunshine at La Jolla Playhouse On Now Working the Magic On Now San Diego Repertory Theatre presents "Federal Jazz Project" On Now An American Christmas

Twitter: @jimhebert

jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com
Visitors to the World Beat Cultural Center in Balboa Park this week can enjoy free vegetarian food, music, dance and folk stories in celebration of Kwanzaa  as they have in past years. Theyll also get an early look at the African History Museum thats scheduled to open in early 2017.

Marcus Garvey said a people without a knowledge of their past is like a tree planted without its roots, said the centers Kwanzaa organizer, Makeda Dread Cheatom, quoting the Jamaican political leader and civil-rights leader from the early 20th century. Youve got to know where you came from.

The free event, a secular celebration of African heritage and values, began Monday and is set to continue at 6 each evening through Thursday at the center, 2100 Park Blvd.

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Cheatom created San Diegos first organized Kwanzaa celebration 36 years ago at the center and has spearheaded creation of the new museum, which was funded with a grant from the Institute of Library Science with matching funds from the center itself.

The small museum includes African artwork, instruments and other cultural items related to Kwanzaa, and soon it will also feature items about Haiti that will be on loan from Tijuanas La Casa del Tunel gallery, which Cheatom directs.

The museum will focus on civil-rights themes for its official opening in February during Black History Month, Cheatom said.

For this week, festivities in the center will include music, dance and storytelling, including talks from husband-and-wife team Donald and Adetutu Harrell, who for 30 years have performed as Orisirisi.

Were going to share some stories, and weve got a special piece dedicated to Makeda and the World Beat Cultural Center, said Donald Harrell, a professor of African studies at the University of Central Florida.

Hes been to other Kwanzaa celebrations, but describes San Diegos as the biggest and best organized one hes seen.

Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of black studies at California State University, Long Beach, as the first specific holiday to honor African heritage and African-American culture.

The timing of the annual celebration  Dec. 26 to Jan. 1  has caused some people to refer to it as an alternative to Christmas, but Kwanzaa is a secular celebration rooted in the agricultural traditions of Africa. Its name comes from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning the first fruits of the harvest.

The inaugural nights celebration begins with the lighting of a black candle in the center of a kanara, which holds one candle for each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

The first candle represents unity, or Umoja in its Swahili name, and its flame is used to light each of the other candles on the following nights.

Unity is very important in the country right now, Cheatom said.

The other principles are self-determination (Kujichagulia), responsibility (Ujima), cooperation (Ujamaa), purpose (Nia), creativity (Kuumba) and faith (Imani).

About 300 to 400 people are expected to attend each evenings festivities at the World Beat Cultural Center.

Every Kwanzaa ceremony at the center ends with a chant of Harambe (all together) around 8:45 p.m.

Mondays ceremony included a performance by Sene Africa, a dance and drum group from Senegal. In addition to the free food and music, visitors can browse booths offering African clothing, Kwanzaa items and health information.

Todays celebration is expected to start with a drum call at 6:30 p.m. followed by libations, a demonstration of Capoeira martial arts by Dennis Newsome, Kwanzaa poems by Johnnierenee, African drum and dance with Makida Anderson, and then Orisirisi African folklore stories.

Wednesdays presentations are scheduled to include a representative of the San Diego Black Health Association and a talk about the 50th anniversary of Kwanzaa by Robert Tambuzi, who worked with Karenga.

Thursdays celebration is slated to include Sangoma African traditional healers and a keynote talk from educator and civil-rights activist Starla Lewis.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
A succulent discovered in Mexico more than 20 years ago by San Diego State University botany students may look small, but its name evokes a towering figure in music.

Mark Dodero, a senior biologist with the environmental consulting firm Recon, was listening to Jimi Hendrixs Voodoo Child while driving with fellow students Kim Marsden and Scott and Brenda McMillan in 1995 when they pulled over to investigate a mesa in Punta Colonet, about 70 miles south of Ensenada in Baja California.

Having already discovered one new succulent species a few years earlier, Dodero said he saw something about the terrain that made him think he might find another.

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He sensed his hunch was right after he hiked up the mesa and came upon a little plant that didnt look like other Dudleya, a genus of succulent.

Twenty one years later, his discovery was recognized in a paper recently published by the California Botanical Societys publication Madrono. UC Santa Cruz professor Stephen McCabe, a co-author of the paper, re-discovered the plant in the same area after Doderos original discovery.

They named the plant Dudleya hendrixii, or Hendrixs liveforever, in honor of the late guitarist.

SDSU professor Michael Simpson, Doderos teacher at the time of the discovery and another co-author of the paper, said its unusual to name a plant after a popular musician, but theres no rule against it.

While Dodero said he wasnt thinking of it at the time, naming the plant after Hendrix has had some residual benefits in the publicity hes already received.

Simpson welcomes the attention.

This has been an opportunity to promote what we do, he said. And also, we have an opportunity to promote the need for preserving these plants.

The Dudleya hendrixii is in an undeveloped area that the Mexican government has considered as a site for the largest port in the country. If developed, Dodero said more than 200,000 people could move into the area within the next 20 years.

Dodero said he never got around to publishing a paper on the plant until this year because work and life got in the way. He was sparked to action because of recent efforts to help preserve the area.

Its a very tiny town with one traffic light, Dodero said. It would have been a major development down there. Hopefully, this gives some impetus for preserving this portion of the mesa.

Dodero has been working with Terra Peninsular, a conservation group that is trying to buy land in the peninsula to keep it from being developed.

Simpson said that although the plant is only known to exist on two acres, it may be difficult to get the Mexican government to identify it as endangered.

I just talked to a colleague who said thats very difficult to do, he said. Theres a lot of bureaucracy.

The plant also could be listed as rare and in danger of extinction by the California Native Plant Society, and some botanists in Mexico are working at starting their own chapter of the organization, Simpson said.

Dodero said he believes the plant and surrounding land are worth saving.

You never know, he said. They find medicine in plants. We want to preserve biodiversity. Plus, its a beautiful place.

New plant discoveries dont happen regularly, but arent uncommon. Simpson said about two are discovered each year in California, and the Dudleya hendrixii is one of three new species reported in the latest Madrono.

Dodero and Simpson previously had discovered a new species, Dudleya crassisolia, which they also wrote about in Madrono.

Still a Hendrix fan, Dodero said he thinks the guitarist would appreciate having a plant named after him and the efforts to preserve the land it is on from development.

You listen to his words, and a lot of times hes talking about the environment and how its getting messed up, he said.

gary.warth@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @GaryWarthUT

760-529-4939
Since learning in September that theyd won a $10 million grant to create an innovative school of the future, Vista High School educators have been charting their next steps in transforming the North County campus into a personalized learning academy.

Vista was one of 10 campuses nationwide to be awarded the money through XQ: The Super School Project, an organization of educators and engineers working to reimagine high school for the 21st century. The program was launched with a $50 million donation from Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

The grant will be paid out over five years and will cover everything from classroom furniture to curriculum to new administrators who will guide the project.

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Its exciting, but theres going to be a series of growing pains, said Allison Zmuda, a Virginia-based educational consultant working with the district. Learning is going to happen in real time both for faculty and students. Were entrepreneurs, were artists, were engineers.

The plan will expand the schools focus on personalized learning, a flexible educational system that lets students master skills at their own pace, draw from diverse resources in the classroom, online and in the community, and set goals based on their own interests.

Educators are in the first year of planning for the transition and will welcome next years freshman class as the initial students in the updated campus.

This year, officials expect to spend about $1 million of the grant for teacher training, hiring two key administrators and re-configuring classrooms for the challenge.

About $500,000 will pay for teachers time during training. That will cover the cost of substitutes when teachers are pulled out during class time, or extra hours needed for training during the summer, said Matt Doyle, assistant superintendent for innovation.

Much of the funding for initial year, the planning year, is for professional development and collaboration for teachers, he said.

Another $200,000 will go to hire internal director to coordinate professional development at Vista High, and an external director to coordinate the various community partnerships to engage students in experiences and projects outside the classroom.

About $150,000 will pay for classroom improvements and another $150,000 will cover new furniture to create flexible learning spaces where students can collaborate.

Another $100,000 will pay for consultants in personalized learning, curriculum development and habits of mind for learning. And $70,000 for travel to training sessions, or visits to other schools.

Zmuda, who specializes in personalized learning, will help the school develop ways that not only let students work at their own pace, but also on topics that they find important.

Personalized means not just having control over a piece of your learning, but being able to pursue problems that are interesting and fascinating to that child, she said.

It also means breaking down the concept of academic mastery to its constituent parts. For instance, she said, a grade of B+ in English doesnt clarify how a student is progressing in separate skills such written argument, literary analysis or spelling and grammar. An individualized system would split up those standards to better measure student learning, she said.

The school has also held workshops with parents, students, teachers and others who will participate in the program, to help define what personalized learning means, and how it should roll out.

A lot of the work that weve done is making sure our teachers, our students, our parents, are involved, in a very meaningful way, said Doyle.

As part of their curriculum, students will refer to a series of United Nations goals for sustainable development, and complete projects addressing topics such as poverty, hunger, health, education, clean water or climate action. As they work toward specific standards in disciplines such as English, math or science, they will employ those new skills to help solve the challenge they set out for themselves.

The program will also focus on critical thinking skills, helping students evaluate information and find resources for what they need to know, said Vista High School Principal Anthony Barela.

You want kids to question, Is this a valid resource? Is it right or is it wrong? he said. As the students start down their road, they are learning on their own.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com
San Diego police are investigating after an ominous post on Craigslist referred to the Orlando gay nightclub massacre and warned that San Diego you are next.

10 News reported Tuesday night that someone came across the item which was posted in the men seeking men section of the free ad website and brought it to the attention of the station.

The post, which has since been pulled, featured a photo a handgun firing a bullet with the title We need more Orlandos (sic)

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It went on to say Orlando was long overdue. Cleanse your community of the filth that gives decent gay men and women a bad name. Those people were walking diseases, bug chasers, and thank god for AIDS and 9-11 and now Orlando. San Diego you are next

In response to several media inquiries about the posting, SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman issued the following statement.

The San Diego Police Department is aware of a recent post on Craigslist that has since been removed. We are investigating collaboratively with our law enforcement partners. The latest information remains, there are no known credible threats to the San Diego region. As always, we encourage our community if they see something, hear something, or know something, to say something.
Republicans have gotten on the media bandwagon when it comes to knocking the Obama administration for its hostility to open government. On the GOPs website, topping the list of the presidents 10 biggest broken promises is his vow to run the most transparent administration in history.

But now House Speaker Paul Ryan wants to punish members with fines starting at $500 for live broadcasting or posting photos from the House floor, with the money directly deducted from paychecks. This is in response to what happened in June, when House Democrats, including San Diego Rep. Scott Peters, live-streamed from the House floor their sit-in protest over House Republicans refusal to vote on gun-control legislation.

Ryans proposal cant be squared with claims to support open government. In a statement emailed to a Union-Tribune editorial writer, Peters called the plan pretty outrageous. He is right. Body cameras are used to promote trust in police officers. In an era in which many Americans believe government is rigged against them, blocking live-streaming from the House floor would have the reverse effect. Heres hoping the speaker figures this out.

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Twitter: @sdutIdeas

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President-elect Donald Trump has made job creation and retention a heavy priority. He doesnt feel constrained either by establishment criticism or by what past presidents have done. Given this history, Gov. Jerry Browns push for his $16 billion twin tunnels project may not be the only big water headline next year; 2017 could see a host of historic  and risky  changes in how California divvies up its water. If I win, believe me, were going to start opening up the water so that you can have your farmers survive, so that your job market will get better, is what Trump said at a rally in Fresno in May.

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board has long accepted the need for federal and state water policies that seek to preserve the endangered delta smelt and the Chinook salmon as a proxy way to maintain the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which provides drinking water for more than 20 million Californians and irrigation to thousands of farms tilling 3 million acres. But this approach has taken a heavy economic and human toll on the Central Valley, denying it badly needed water. And it also faces a sophisticated critique from Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, who cites environmental groups hostility to farming as being a factor in the states long history of failing to do the obvious and build more reservoirs and dams to hold more water from the Sierra snowpack.

In a telephone interview with a Union-Tribune editorial writer, Nunes was optimistic about what might happen with Trump in the White House. A member of Trumps transition team, Nunes met with the president-elect on Dec. 16.

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While the recent congressional water compromise orchestrated by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-San Francisco, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, will build some needed water infrastructure, in the short term, Nunes is unsure it will be much help. The Central Valleys farmers, towns and cities have a massive shortfall of water, he said, and the new rules might provide 10 percent of that need in some circumstances in a best-case scenario  if bureaucrats allow it. Further relief from Congress seems unlikely, he said, because Senate Democrats can filibuster bills they dont like.

So what might a President Trump be able to do? Nunes believes some sort of emergency declaration could be made, though presidents can only declare federal disasters at the request of governors. Hes also intrigued by the possibility that Trumps nominees for commerce secretary and interior secretary, billionaire investor Wilbur Ross and Montana Rep. Ryan Zink, respectively, might use their statutory authority to change how the Endangered Species Act is enforced. If the delta smelt and Chinook salmon lost their protections, presumably farmers could get much more water.

But that is a fraught decision. The health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta matters.

So, of course, does the health and well-being of the Central Valley.

The long-term way to square these concerns is the same now as it was in the 1980s: build more water storage. But is there a responsible short-term fix? If so, its tough to see.

We doubt the next president will be inclined to much introspection  so watch out, California. Unless the courts get in the way, the Golden State could be on the brink of a massive environmental experiment.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: UTOpinion
The picture was stunning. A young man holding a gun in his right hand, his left arm emphatically raised above his head, his index finger extended, as he angrily yells. To his left, his victim lies sprawled on his back, dead.

The photo ran three columns wide and about 7 inches deep on the front page of the Dec. 20 Union-Tribune. It shows Turkish police officer Mevlut Mert Altintas, who had assassinated Russian Ambassador Andrei Karlov at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition in Ankara, Turkey, on Dec. 19.

A reader called the morning of Dec. 20 to voice her disapproval of the photo. She said it publicized a murder. Its not out of the ordinary for the Readers Rep to receive feedback from readers who say a photo gives publicity, or promotes, a particular point of view or activity.

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The photo that ran Tuesday shows an international news event that must appear before readers. The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today all published the same picture on their front pages. TV networks and news websites also widely displayed pictures of the killer.

It was an easy decision for photo editor John McCutchen. He gave hard-copy printouts of the picture from the killing to Managing Editor Lora Cicalo right after she sat at her desk Monday. Cicalo would assemble the front page for Tuesdays paper.

It was the best photo by far, McCutchen said. It told the story of the day.He also noted that the picture clearly showed the killer. You rarely see the face of the angry young man, McCutchen said.

Burhan Ozbilici of The Associated Press snapped the picture. In a first-hand account of his coverage published on The AP website, Burhan said he stopped at the event because it was on the way home from The AP office. He said that as he took pictures before the shooting, he thought they could be used in future stories on Turkish-Russian relations. But then he heard gunshots.

I was afraid and confused, but found partial cover behind a wall and did my job: taking photographs, he said in his account.

Photographs like the ones taken by Ozbilici are meant to report the news. Publicity is not a factor.

What will be the big stories of 2017?

Readers can reflect on some of the top local, national and international stories of the year in two roundups today  one in the A section and one in the B section. It got me thinking: what will be the top stories of 2017? Tell me your predictions and why. Email the readers.rep@sduniontribune.com, include your name and community of residence so I can share your thoughts with other readers.

adrian.vore@sduniontribune.com
Gov. Jerry Browns ambitious criminal-justice reforms have a mixed record to date. Proposition 47, which retroactively reduced six specific nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, has in some ways amounted to a get out of jail free card for petty crooks, as noted in a Washington Post analysis focusing on its effects in San Diego. While the 2014 ballot measure has saved money by moving convicts out of state prisons, it is blamed by many police chiefs for an increase in crime, including San Diegos Shelley Zimmerman.

Proposition 57, approved last month, amends the California Constitution by making it easier for what the ballot measure called nonviolent felons to win parole. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board opposed the measure for its dishonesty  it labeled categories of sexual assault as nonviolent  its sloppy crafting and its reliance on the troubled state corrections department to determine how felons should be treated.

Nevertheless, the core idea animating Browns reforms  that our criminal justice system is too punitive and ruins salvageable lives  is powerful and accurate. America has less than one-twentieth of the worlds population and more than one-fifth of its prisoners. There is no evidence to support the notion that this mass incarceration has kept us safer. Statistics show European nations with more lenient policies have somewhat less to much less crime than the United States.

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This backdrop is why we welcome Browns latest round of pardons and commutations. Brown has used Christmas week to issue a total of 854 such reprieves since 2011, vastly more than his three predecessors combined. In each case, the governors staff has examined the records of the convicts involved and come away convinced that they deserve a clean, or cleaner, slate.

If anything, a case can be made that even more such pardons and commutations should be approved. Crime is overwhelmingly a young mans game. Yet instead of basing our criminal justice system on this insight, America warehouses prisoners into their 50s and 60s. Browns pardons and commutations amount to a piecemeal recognition of how dumb this is.

Twitter: @sdutIdeas

Facebook: UTOpinion
An armed man robbed a pizza joint in Otay Mesa Monday night, San Diego police said.

The thief walked into the Little Caesars Pizza on Palm Avenue west of Interstate 805 about 10 p.m. He threatened customers and workers with a gun as he demanded money, police said.

He left with an undisclosed amount of crash.

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The robber was said to be his 20s, 6 feet 1 inch tall and thin. He was wearing a blue bandana over his face, a gray hoodie and black pants.

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Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez
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For those who crave wide open spaces, a visit to Joshua Tree National Park is not to be missed. An easy drive from Palm Springs, this 800,000 acre natural preserve offers one of North Americas most starkly beautiful and distinct natural settings, especially in springtime when wildflowers are in full bloom.

Once you arrive in Joshua Tree, stop by Ricochet Gourmet to fuel up with an organic espresso and freshly baked muffin. Hike one of the Parks many gawk worthy trails winding through narrow boulder-strewn canyons, palm-fringed oases and massive granite cliffs popular with rock climbers the world over. Tempted to try your own hand at rappelling? Get an unforgettable adrenaline rush with a beginners course from Joshua Tree Rock Climbing School. For the most sublime panoramic views of the Palm Springs valley far below, be sure to take the short scenic drive to Keys View.

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After a morning in the great outdoors, youll appreciate a hearty meal. Sink your teeth into a mouthwatering burger or sandwich  there are veggie options too  at the down-to-earth Crossroads Cafe & Tavern. After youve had your fill, wander next door to Windwalkers to browse a unique selection of pottery, Native American jewelry, home decor and novelty gift items.

Dont let Joshua Trees unassuming facade fool you  theres a lot more to this funky burg than meets the eye. Creative types increasingly drawn to the surreal high desert scenery for inspiration have etched out a flourishing arts and music scene. Stop by The Red Arrow Gallery to peruse the works of noteworthy local artists  the gallery also sponsors a Joshua Tree gallery crawl the second Saturday of the month. Also, check out the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council website for the latest news on artist exhibitions and events.

Hipsters of all ages have also come to know Joshua Tree as the site of two outdoor multiday music festivals in springs and fall: Joshua Tree Music Festival in May and Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival coming up on October 12 - 14, 2012. Before you head back down the hill, drop by Pappy & Harriets Pioneertown Palace, a fave haunt for indie music fans. Big names like Leon Russell, Eric Burdon, Robert Plant, and Queens of the Stone Age have also wowed the crowds at this legendary Western-style cantina.

Visit Palm Springs things to do and travel ideas for more info.
Kevin Yabes couldnt help but get excited when he received confirmation this week that SDSU received his college application. But hes not so sure hell ever get the letter that really counts.

With a 3.53 grade-point average, the Mira Mesa High School senior would have been a guaranteed a spot at San Diego State University under a 10-year-old local admissions policy. But the agreement was abruptly rescinded last month, sending many students into a panic and angering community members.

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I was really hoping to avoid community college, Kevin said. But now Im not sure what Im going to do next year.

Kevin was among dozens of students, parents, teachers and community members who spoke out against the policy change Monday night at a hearing by the San Diego Unified School District. Angry and emotional speakers lashed out at SDSU for the decision they called everything from racist to irresponsible.

The school board has already passed a resolution asking SDSU to honor its admissions policy to this years seniors. Monday it promised to send all comments made during the hearing to San Diego State  along with some harsh words of its own.

The administration of San Diego State is being accused of being arrogant and elitist. I hope they are not, but their actions support that claim, trustee Richard Barrera said, who criticized the administration for marginalizing student concerns and shunning the community on the matter.

Although no one from the administration spoke at Monday nights meeting, two university representatives set up a table outside the district offices to hand out enrollment literature.

We still want kids to go to college  any college, said Elizabeth Kinsley, chief of staff to SDSU President Stephen Weber. We want to make sure kids have as much information about going to college as possible.

For a decade, SDSU has guaranteed admission to students living south of state Route 56 and in Imperial County and who meet minimum requirements and apply on time. Some 2,000 students in that service area enrolled under that pact this fall.

To offset about $50 million in state budget cuts, the university plans to cut enrollment by about 4,600 students. The local admissions guarantee was called off by administrators, saying they needed more flexibility to improve geographic diversity and to ensure that slots go to students most likely to succeed.

Maureen Magee: (619) 293-1369; maureen magee@uniontrib.com.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

Outgoing City Manager Jaime Fontes will pretty much do what he has all along, the City Council decided at Mondays meeting where his duties during the waning months of his administration were addressed.

At the December 19 meeting the council followed the direction of the report by City Attorney John Cotti, which noted the panel would discuss the status of the city managers contract amendment.

Cottis report noted the contract for Fontes  hired by the city in December 2009 who started early 2010  the current employment agreement is scheduled to expire on February 15, 2017.

Although Mr. Fontes informed the Council that his current contract would be his last with the City (as his youngest son has now graduated from Santa Paula High School), the Council asked Mr. Fontes to remain with the City after February 15, 2017 for at least two months, until April 17, 2017, to ensure a smooth transition for the next City Manager and wind up several outstanding projects.

The extension of the contract would result in a fiscal impact of $19,209 a month inclusive of benefits and, according to the report, the amendment could be terminated at any time and would remove all severance provision.

Cotti had also asked that what Fontes would do during those two months be defined, direction on the proposed scope of work for any contract amendment. Does the Council desire Mr. Fontes to perform discrete tasks, i.e., budget preparation or some other tasks? Or would it prefer Mr. Fontes to continue generally in the role of City Manager.

At Mondays meeting Cotti reminded the council he would bring the contract amendment back for approval in January.

I just wanted to see council intentions, regarding Fontes, whether to serve as a budget advisor or East Area 1 advisor or did you just want him to stay on as city manager for another two months.

Councilman John Procter said just extending the contract without defined duties was his pleasure and asked that Cotti include the other two caveats about benefits and serving at the pleasure of the council be included.

Vice Mayor Ginger Gherardi seconded Procters motion for discussion purposes.

I would like to see one task assigned to the city manager, said Gherardi, and that is to do a salary survey.
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

Santa Paula Police are warning residents after a woman gave thousands of dollars to two men who allegedly told her they were selling a diamond ring for a quarter of its value before taking off with her cash Monday.

According SPPD Sgt. Cody Madison, the 21-year-old Hispanic woman was approached December 19 by the two unidentified men in a newer model Honda Civic as she was walking in the 400 block of North Ojai Road at about 11 a.m.

The men allegedly told the woman they were selling a $20,000 diamond ring at a reduced price, of $5,000 said Madison.

The woman agreed to purchase the ring, and the two men then allegedly drove the woman to her bank at the 500 block of West Harvard Boulevard.

Madison said she withdrew $5,000 from her account, But when she gave the two suspects the money, the men fled from the scene.

The woman, added Madison, Never received or saw the diamond ring...

The first suspect is described as a clean-shaven male Hispanic about 30 years old, 5 foot 8 inches tall with a thin build. He also has a scar on his nose and was wearing a yellow and blue shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes.

The second suspect is described as a 40-to-50-year-old male Hispanic with a heavy build, light brown hair and a mustache. He was also wearing glasses, a brown jacket, a button-down shirt, black dress pants and black dress shoes.

If anyone has any information regarding this crime they are asked to contact Detective Shane Norwood at (805) 525-4474 x 287 or at snorwood@spcity.org
By Peggy Kelly

Santa Paula News

A Santa Paula man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday after a fatal stabbing in March, a plea expected to bring him a dozen years in prison.

Modesto Perez Guevara, 23, was arrested March 25 after a dispute led to the fatal stabbing of Ricardo Garcia, 44, an Oxnard resident.

According to Santa Paula Police Sgt. Cody Madison, the attack occurred in the 100 block of East Ventura Street, where Garcia was reportedly doing work at an apartment unit for his friend, Guevaras brother.

Officers had been summoned to the East Ventura Street apartment complex at approximately 10:20 a.m. for a reported stabbing.

When SPPD Officers arrived at the scene Santa Paula Fire and ambulance personnel were already there and a paramedic had pronounced Garcia dead.

Garcia, who had also been an acquaintance of Modesto Guevara, had been stabbed once in the stomach, a mortal wound.

Said Madison, Through the investigation it was determined the suspect in the case was Guevara, whom police later located in a mobile home park in the 400 block of Craig Drive, less than a mile from the scene of the stabbing.
This profile of Terry and the Pirates cartoonist Milt Caniff explains the artists swashbuckling narrative and drawing style, the allure of dragon ladies, and why he always drew the last panel first.

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When war came to the U.S. in 1941, cartoonists began to work references to the conflict into their strips.

Milt Caniffs Terry and the Pirates was the exception. The two main characters in his action-adventure series had been fighting the Japanese invasion of China for years.

The comic strip began in 1934, when protagonists Terry Lee and Pat Ryan began their travels in China. They were soon attacked by river pirates, led by the exotic Chinese Dragon Lady. She was the first of several gorgeous female characters who would appear in Caniffs works. The erotic appeal of these cartoon women was a major reason the comic strip enjoyed a large, devoted following among American GIs.

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Caniffs comics were notable for their unique artistry and realistic plotting. He had a high-contrast style with little shading and a talent for using shadow for dramatic effect. And no one came close to matching Caniffs combination of realism, romance, action, and character.

The story line included characters and events of the war in China with the two heroes working with the Chinese military to fight the Japanese forces. The stories could be quite involved, and characters were often nearly squeezed out of a frame by the long speech bubbles over their heads. Curiously, Caniffs cartoon syndicate prohibited him from identifying the enemy as Japanese, so, in the comic strip, they were only referred to as the invaders.

Caniff benefitted from Americans growing interests in the war in China and their assumption that Caniff was a veteran traveler to that country. But as Collie Small points out in Strip Teaser in Black and White, the artist had never set foot in China. His knowledge of the Far East was drawn entirely from reference books.

It made little difference to his fans, Small adds. In 1946, Terry and the Pirates was read by 25 million people.

In his article, Small tells why Caniff ran two separate stories: A Sunday series that was safe for the kids and an adult story line during the week. He also tells why the artist always drew the last panel in a comic strip first.

Strip Teaser in Black and White

By Collie Small

Originally published August 10, 1946

Theres nothing funny about Milton Caniffs Terry and the Pirates  except possibly the reactions of its followers. Some want to murder Caniff. Some would just burn his brushes.

As a prominent wholesaler of Oriental skulduggery and a brand of sturdy Saxon virtue that can usually be counted on for a last-minute triumph over the forces of evil, Milton Caniff is fairly well conditioned to the reflexes of the 25,000,000 people who read his comic strip, Terry and the Pirates. Since 1934, when Terry Lee made his debut as a rosy-cheeked young adventurer wandering through China in search of a hidden mine, Caniff has been selling his dizzy distractions with spectacular results.

This high success has continued unabated throughout the 12 years, and appears to be due largely to Caniffs flair for provoking hysterical responses from his reader critics, who exhibit an enthusiastic capacity for becoming unstrung by Terrys hair-raising skirmishes with Destiny.

In giving vent to their troubled allegiance, they have called Caniff a murderer and have invited him to be the party of the first part at a public hanging. One petulant reader, emotionally askew over Terrys talent for becoming involved in nerve-racking situations, accused Caniff of abusing his responsibilities as a cartoonist by eating pie late at night and transferring his indigestion to the drawing board.

An irascible resident of Yorkville, New Yorks German colony, once threatened in no uncertain terms to burn Caniffs brushes because he dared to show a monocled German officer consorting with a Japanese officer before the war. Later, the Family Journal, a Copenhagen newspaper carrying one of the numerous foreign editions of Terry and the Pirates, was dynamited out of business by thin-skinned Quislings vexed by Caniffs depicting a German, a Jap and an Italian in a state of un-Axis-like terror following the bang of a firecracker.

Caniff accepts such verdicts as inevitable, feeling that when a reader buys a newspaper, he also buys the privilege to complain. He does not feel, however, that dissatisfied readers should succumb to sudden fits of pique and go around blowing up such lucrative sources of revenue as the Copenhagen Family Journal. Nor does he feel that excitable readers should further unnerve him by dispatching frantic telegrams of warning whenever one of his characters appears headed for trouble.

Caniff frequently is just as nonplused over how to extricate his hero from complicated situations as the most impatient reader, and the latter would be horrified if he knew how often Caniff is tempted to let the hero expire in his tracks and thus be done with the whole business.

In 1941 Caniff precipitated a national incident by permitting one of his characters the almost unheard-of comic-strip prerogative of dying. The victim in this case was one Raven Sherman, an American heiress for whom Caniff had won unusual sympathy by portraying her as an undaunted and high-hearted young lady overcoming all obstacles to aid the Chinese in resisting what Caniff, at the time, was calling the Japanese invader. Miss Sherman was rudely pushed off a truck, and subsequently died of her injuries. She was buried on a lonely Chinese hillside in a ceremony so moving that millions of funny-paper disciples were plunged into their own peculiar kind of melancholia. Flowers poured into the offices of the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, which distributes Terry and the Pirates, and several hundred college students in the Midwest felt constrained to bare their heads and turn toward the east in a last reverent gesture. There were other manifestations of general hysteria, and old-timers at the business of gauging public reaction announced it was the worst blow that funny-paper readers had suffered since the death of Mary Gold in the Gumps many years previously.

With luck, Raven might be around today, since Caniff had not always planned to get rid of her. But as he says now, with a faint trace of ghoulishness, I decided it was time to let somebody die.

Caniff not only killed Miss Sherman in cold syndicated blood, but he duped his readers while he arranged her death. Originally, Raven had not been a very pretty girl, and for months Caniff had worked to prepare her for her ultimate demise, gradually softening her sharp chin and redoing her hair. By the time she finally died, Raven was exactly as beautiful as sacrificial heroines are supposed to be, and only a handful of readers suspected what Caniff had been doing to them.

Caniff graduated to Terry and the Pirates from The Gay Thirties and Dickie Dare, two strips he did for the Associated Press after being lured to New York from the Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch. Born in Hillsboro, Ohio, in 1907, the son of a printer, Caniff spent most of his life in his native state before coming to New York, attending Ohio State University and serving his apprenticeship in the art departments of various Ohio newspapers. At Ohio State, he contracted the acting bug, a disease from which he has never entirely recovered. But Billy Ireland, the famous Dispatch cartoonist, rescued Caniff by convincing him that cartoonists, generally speaking, averaged more meals per day than actors.

In 1934 the late Joseph Medill Patterson, publisher of the New York Daily News, discovered himself chuckling at The Gay Thirties, and immediately summoned Caniff to 42nd Street. Patterson told Caniff to submit an adventure strip based on Pattersons blood, thunder and intrigue-in-the-Orient formula, plus a list of tentative titles. Caniff happily produced both in record time and the strip met with Pattersons immediate approval. Among others, Caniff had suggested Terry for a title. Patterson circled the name and penciled after it: and the Pirates. Caniff wisely accepted the suggestion and went on to name the central character Terry Lee because he happened to be reading a biography of Robert E. Lee at the time. The young cartoonist, then only 27, launched his guardianship of Terry at the comparatively modest salary of $100 a week  a figure which has never been changed, although Caniff has boosted his total income to around $80,000 a year by way of taking a substantial slice of the profits. This does not include what he makes from books, movies, novelties and other byproducts.

Terry and the Pirates is neither the largest nor the funniest of current comic strips. Blondie and Lil Abner, which are Caniffs favorite strips, both have wider circulation and presumably wider appeal. So does Dick Tracy, which Caniff professes to like best of the suspense strips. In a general-popularity poll, Terry is likely to come dragging in sixth or seventh, mostly because Caniff does not make enough concessions to children. On Sunday, which is childrens day in the comic section, he avoids love and kisses to spare parents the pain of having to explain to the children. But the rest of the week Caniff draws exclusively for the older reader.

Caniff has never tried to be funny in Terry and the Pirates, an adventure serial drawn according to a formula closely resembling the technique used in motion pictures. He exercises loving care with his dialogue. The writing in an adventure strip is considerably more important than the drawing for sustaining reader interest day after day, and, as Caniff says, Its getting the reader to buy tomorrows paper that worries me. Hes already got todays.

Although the dialogue in Terry is as polished as any comic-strip dialogue is likely to be for some time, Caniffs preeminence in the field of cartooning is probably due equally to his draftsmanship, his eye for detail and his brooding concern for accuracy. His library is filled with such diversified stores of information as The Complete Book of the Occult and Fortune Telling and The Book of Pottery and Porcelain. Caniff subscribes to some 60 periodicals, including the Infantry Journal when there is a war around, and he has been known to spend a full day in the Smithsonian Institution, stalking a rare fish he wished to reproduce.

Because the action in Terry and the Pirates was set principally in China, readers assumed Caniff had traveled extensively in the Far East. Actually, Caniff has been no closer to China than Ruby Foos restaurant in New York, but he can produce from his bulging files a set of Chinese license plates, innumerable laundry tickets, a picture of a genuine pirate queen and a wine list from Shanghais plush Mandarin Club. He can also discourse at impressive length on such topics as plane crashes, harbors, cow hands and the interiors of wealthy homes. He is known, by the Chicago Tribune, at least, as an armchair Marco Polo.

In beginning a new sequence in Terry, Caniff may consult as many as 40 reference books. Like most mortals, he is not infallible, but he seldom errs. When Terry was learning to fly, Caniff consulted Col. Phil Cochran, whom he had known slightly when both were undergraduates at Ohio State and who later became his close friend and model for the Air Forces colonel, Flip Corkin. Cochran wrote Caniff a laborious 22-page letter in longhand, warning Caniff of the pitfalls Terry might encounter in learning to fly. Terry had his troubles, but his mistakes were honest ones that Cochran himself had made.

When Caniff does make a mistake, it is likely to be a monumental one. He once described Hong Kong as an American naval base, and had the greater misfortune to have a number of vital characters languishing in Hong Kong when the crown colony fell to the Japanese. In drawing a street in Boston, with the old State House in the background, Caniff put a car in the street to show movement, reminding himself at the time that it was almost sure to be a one-way street and that the car would be going the wrong way. He was right. It was.

The worst miscalculation to bedevil Caniff concerned his strip character, Burma, the delectable American handmaiden of a Chinese pirate ring. Burma gave up piracy to befriend our side when war broke out in the Pacific. But she is now listed as missing because Caniff grievously misplaced her on an out-of-the-way island. To date, Caniff has not been able to retrieve her, and if Burma needs advice, she would do well to settle down and be comfortable because Caniff still has not figured out how to rescue her, although he may send searching parties out next fall.

Some readers, who came in late at a time when Burma was doing her level best to be patriotic, were unaware that she previously had been a very prickly thorn in the side of Caniffs British characters, who were constantly trying to arrest her as an accomplice of the pirates. The readers who didnt understand the British attitude continually wrote Caniff to inquire why Burma was in such bad odor with our Allies. Finally, Caniff wrote Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was in charge of things in Southeast Asia, and asked for an official pardon for Burma. Caniff pointed out that the United States Army had been nice enough to give Terry Lee a genuine serial number when he was promoted to second lieutenant. Mountbatten, unimpressed, balked at writing an actual pardon, but he did say it would be all right for Caniff to say he had pardoned her. Caniff stubbornly refused to settle for anything less than His Majestys complete exoneration of Burma. So, when she disappeared, Burma was still out of favor with the British, although everyone else was pretty much on her side.

Caniff originally disliked drawing women. When the voluptuous Dragon Lady suddenly appeared in startling contrast to his comic-strip ladies, most of whom seemed to be constructed principally of pipe cleaners, a newspaper editor sent Caniff a telegram.

Thought you disliked drawing women, the editor said.

Did not draw women years ago because did not know how, Caniff replied. Have been around some since.

John Steinbeck, the author, was so struck with the Dragon Ladys beauty, that he told Caniff she had warmed old bones and breathed on gray embers. Steinbeck also confessed that he had been doing what a lot of other people had been doing  arguing about the Dragon Ladys virtue. Mr. Steinbeck was thrashing the thing out with his brother-in-law, whom he described as a romantic of the junior-prom school. His brother-in-law, Mr. Steinbeck said, dreamed secretly of domesticating the Dragon Lady and installing her in one of those stucco duplexes with a two-family lawn.

He was a fool, Mr. Steinbeck concluded.

Another prominent devotee of the Terry strip is Clare Boothe Luce, who once confessed to Caniff: You are the only man I ever wrote a fan letter. Among the better-known nonreaders of Terry are Pearl Buck, who has her own troubles with China, and Mrs. Caniff. Mrs. Caniff doesnt like comic strips, including Terry and the Pirates, and makes no bones about it. Unfortunately, however, she is constantly beset by curious friends who seem to think she can give them a teeny-weeny hint of what is coming next. For such emergencies Mrs. Caniff has a ready-made answer.

Oh, I couldnt possibly give away any of Miltons trade secrets, she says, just as though she knew any.

Although he draws with a classic draftsmanship unmatched by any other cartoonist, by their admission, Caniff has no pretensions concerning his contribution to the world of art. The Egyptian Book of the Dead and the codices of the Mayan temples also used strips as a device for indicating action, and since then there have been enough experts around so that Caniff is inclined to consider himself simply another in a long line of artists drawing from left to right. Although he has studied portrait painting and has had his cartoons hung in the Metropolitan Art Museum and the fashionable Julien Levy Gallery in New York, Caniff belittles these achievements.

I dont feel that comic strips contribute very much to the culture of the country, he says. But I do feel they are a definite manifestation of folk art, in so far as that can be called a contribution. Caniff, a hulking, moon-faced Irishman with a high, quick laugh and an impish sense of humor, was once described by an impressionable young-lady writer as sweet, kinda plump and with big blue eyes. Actually, he does embody these attributes, but he feels, perhaps justifiably, that the young lady might have found another way of putting it.

Caniff does most of his work in his pajamas, and often goes for days without dressing. He harbors a grudge of long standing against daylight, mostly because of its association with ringing telephones, which distract him, and, as a result, he works almost entirely at night. Among other things, the telephone has forced him to change the pronunciation of his name. Originally, Caniff was pronounced with the accent on the last syllable, but he has changed this to Can iff, since, in talking over the telephone, strangers invariably ask him to repeat his name if he uses the original pronunciation. His parents, however, who still live in Ohio, have gone right along with no apparent inconvenience and continue to pronounce the family name as the Irish philologists intended. Although he keeps his apartment in New York for whatever emergencies a stranded cartoonist may encounter, Caniff does most of his work in a spacious studio in his home 38 miles up the Hudson from New York.

In addition to his other troubles, Caniff suffers from an occupational disease peculiar to creative artists in that he has occasional illusions that his head has a leak in it somewhere with ideas dribbling out unnoticed and uncaptured. When this happens, he accelerates his reading, and thus replenishes the supply. Caniff barely gets his strips to the syndicate in time for his deadlines, and he misses trains by approximately the same margin he meets deadlines. He is an inveterate train misser, and is famous locally for this idiosyncrasy.

During the winter months, Mrs. Caniff reads aloud to him while he draws. Caniff draws with his left hand and writes with his right, the result of winning a split decision from a grammar-school teacher who was determined to make him a right-hander at a time when he was equally determined to be a southpaw. Since he works with what obviously is the wrong hand, Caniff has to draw the last panel first, a practice presumably requiring considerable mental adjustment.

Because several Terry characters, such as Flip Corkin and Dude Hennick, who, in the strip, was an instructor for Chinese fliers, were adapted from real people, the impression has grown that all of what Caniff calls his  paper dolls were taken from real life. Occasionally he does reach out for real people, but most of his characters come straight from the ink bottle. He did use General Chennault as a model, however, calling him only the general, and Lord Mountbatten found his way into the strip, although he wasnt called anything. Hardly anyone was fooled, including Mountbatten, who, finding himself in the same comic strip, wrote Colonel Cochran a letter that began: Dear Flip.

A cocky, freckle-faced young character dubbed Hot-Shot Charlie, who flew as a wing man in Terry Lees fighter element when they were battling the Japanese in the air, has caused much of the controversy over whether all Caniffs characters are actually real people. Hot-Shot, who lives only in Caniffs imagination, has been claimed by dozens of people, most of them freckled pilots who profess to recognize themselves in caricature. Caniff recently brought Hot-Shot home to metropolitan Boston after his tour of duty overseas and deposited him in an apartment house. His fetish for detail prompted him to use the address of a real apartment house and when Hot-Shot prepared to return to China as a copilot on Caniffs new funny-paper airline, Air Cathay, Mrs. Morris Segal, manager of the building, was nearly swept under by applications for the vacant apartment. The Boston Herald finally came to her rescue by running a front-page story disclosing that the decision to vacate that particular apartment was Mr. Caniffs, and not Mrs. Segals.

During the war, Terry and the Pirates took on a rather alarming significance. Caniffs predictions were frequently so accurate and well-timed that the FBI dropped in several times for question-and-answer tete-a-tetes. When Caniff anticipated Cochrans glider invasion of Burma by using his character, Flip Corkin, to intimate something rough was coming up, he was immediately suspected of worming confidential information from Cochran. Actually, Caniff had simply been keeping his eyes and ears open, and had decided that something rough was coming up. Cochran provided no clues at all and, in fact, was so chary of Caniffs prescience during most of the war that he was afraid to do much more than tip his hat to Caniff.

There were never any attempts to censor Terry and the Pirates. Instead, the Army and Navy compromised by designating Caniffs studio a war plant because of his advanced ideas about fighting wars and the documents in his files. All visitors, including Caniffs secretary and the man who delivers the groceries, were required to sign a passbook on arriving and again on leaving.

The war imposed a considerable strain on Caniffs productive capacity. In addition to keeping Terry going, he toured hospitals, giving drawing exhibitions, and devised 70 new insignia for Air Force and submarine crews. He illustrated a soldiers handbook on China, and suffered the agony of regular office hours in Washington while he drew posters on the subjects of gas and incendiary bombs, working under two officers improbably named Gasser and Burns.

Probably his biggest chore was a weekly strip called Male Call which he contributed to service newspapers. It featured a handsome young lady named Miss Lace, whose principal problem, Caniff discovered, was steering clear of Army chaplains. Miss Lace, it must be noted, was not entirely successful in this endeavor and the Army rejected several strips, including one long five-panel drawing of Miss Lace lying down. Caniff, who insists he was simply trying to produce a pin-up which could be turned upright, tried three times to make Miss Lace sit up for the Army. But there wasnt room; she kept sticking her head through the top of the strip. Caniff finally gave up.

When he let Terry emerge into the peacetime world, Caniff was suddenly released from the framework of regulations and protocol which had bound him, and he experienced a short but alarming tendency to flounder in his new liberty.

I had to reconvert in Macys window, and it scared me, he says.

Caniff currently is struggling with another, more important reconversion job. On October 15, Terry and the Pirates will surrender their destinies to another cartoonist while Caniff begins a new strip for the Field Enterprises. Terry and his other present characters are the property of the Tribune-News Syndicate, and will be entrusted to the skill of another artist when Caniff begins his new strip at a lusty $100,000 a year for five years, plus a substantial share of the profits.

While he continues to draw Terry, Caniff amuses himself by devising complicated situations as suitable notes on which to end his proprietorship of the strip. Although he does not yield often to such fiendish whimsey, Caniff is fascinated by the prospect of his successors dipping enthusiastically into his ink bottle for his first Terry strip and suddenly discovering that Caniff has left his principal character in a hopeless situation. Actually, Caniff has no intention of befuddling anyone, and will simply end the particular sequence at a point from where the new artist can pick up the thread.

Caniffs new strip is still nameless, plotless and completely barren of people  which indicates either that Marshall Fields faith is boundless or that Caniffs talent is indisputable, since Field still doesnt have any idea of what he has bought for $100,000 a year.

The central character of the new strip will be a pilot, who will have served in the war and will have emerged a comparatively young hero. There will be a succession of pretty girls. China will not be the setting for the new strip, although Caniff will use a foreign locale for adventure.

Caniff has no illusions that the new strip will be immediately gobbled up by a Caniff-hungry public. He feels that it will take some time to re-educate his readers. If nothing else, this should give him some respite from the professional favor seekers, who will be hard put to figure out what characters to ask him to draw for their personal albums. There are bound to be, however, some readers who will always stump him.

One of these sent Caniff a picture of himself and his girl, pointing out rather unnecessarily that she had a broken nose. In asking Caniff to draw a pretty likeness of the not-so-pretty girl, the young man showed sublime faith in Caniff.

I am more than sure you can put a nice nose on her, he said hopefully.

Photos by Ike Vern from the August 10, 1946, issue of The Saturday Evening Post (SEPS)
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Request to view Sample Report @ http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/2839



Automotive gear oil generally has high viscosity level in comparison to transmission fluid and automotive engine oil. This is necessary for better performance and protection of gears. The high viscosity level provides better transmission of lubricant throughout the gear trains. Devices requiring heavy oil do not have to use extra force to transfer the oil, since only a fraction of the lowermost gears are covered in an oil sump. Gear oils have extreme pressure or EP stabilizer and anti-wear stabilizer to deal with the sliding action of gears. Based on technology, gear oils can be broadly categorized as synthetic gear oil and petroleum-based gear oil. Synthetic gear oils are superior to petroleum-based gear oil as they provide superior resistance to shear breakdown and reduce energy consumption due to its low friction coefficient.



The gear oils are standardised by American Petroleum Institute (API STANDARDS) based on the viscosity level and their use in automatic and manual transmission based vehicles. The different classification of the API includes GL-1, API GL-2, API GL-3, API GL-4, API GL-5 and API GL-6 and, SAE 75W-90, SAE 75W-140, SAE 80W-90, SAE 85W-140 and LS- for limited slip. For maximum transmission efficiency, gear oils must lubricate, cool and protect complete gear systems. It also supposes to transfer damaged particles away from the contact areas, guarantee protection against extreme pressure and temperature and reduce noise in the transmission operation.



North America is the largest market for automotive gear oil mainly attributed to large volume of motor vehicle in this region, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The market is witnessing an escalating growth in Asia Pacific region. China, in recent years, has become the global hub for the automobile industry. Some of the other region in Asia Pacific such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines have emerged as the largest small cars markets in the world.



Growing middle class, rising disposable income, developing surface transportation infrastructure, growing aspiration of owning private vehicles, increasing mobility due to development of satellite township near megacities and increase demand of goods carriers from micro, small and medium size enterprises are fueling the market for automotive gear oil in Asia Pacific region. Growing automotive aftermarket and do it yourself (DIY) culture in North America and Europe is fueling the growth of automotive gear oil in retail sector in these two region.



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Some of the major players operating in the automotive gear oil market include Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Total S.A, Gazprom, ROSNEFT, LUKOIL oil company, Royal Dutch Shell plc, Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP p.l.c, Statoil, Chevron Corporation., Sinopec Lubricant Company, JIANGSU LOPAL TECH. CO.,LTD and Ashland Inc.



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Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- From country perspective, Asia Pacific automotive telematics market is segmented into India, China, Oceania, ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. Currently, China dominates the Asia Pacific automotive telematics market and accounts for around 45.4% market revenue share, followed by Japan and South Korea. China is forecast to continue its dominance in APAC automotive telematics market till 2020, as it's expected to capture a 45.3% market revenue share and expected to register a CAGR of 11.6% during forecast period. China, Japan and South Korea collectively contributed around 89% of the market revenues in 2014.ASEAN region is forecast to register a healthy CAGR of 12.6% during forecast period. India is expected to register a highest CAGR of 14.1% during forecast period.



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Drivers and Trends



Governments in advanced and emerging economies such as US, UK, Brazil, Singapore, India, have introduced regulations, policies and initiatives to increase the use of telematics in the automotive industry with a view to improving road safety. Increased acceptance of advanced technology and gadgets, such as mobile phones, laptops, smart phones, tablets, telecommunications, and various other technological goods in advanced and emerging regions has been witnessed in the last few years, particularly in the Asian region. As most of the manufacturers are competing to retain or increase their market share, some players are investing in innovating their product offerings by integrating new features and application in telematics devices. In order to maintain greater margins, OEMs capitalize on the convergence of digital content, wireless communication and automotive electronics. In the short term, however, telematics is expected to represent a product differentiation strategy rather than a revenue play. OEMs have created a new business model to complement their existing car making model. OEMs are investing in telematics to capture the untapped market. By 2020, they want to position their companies globally as the providers of content and services, just like phones or tablets.



Read Complete Report with TOC @ http://www.mrrse.com/asia-pacific-automotive-telematics-market



There has been increasing adoption of emerging hybrid technology in vehicles (semi-autonomous vehicles are expected to become commonplace). The importance of remote vehicle diagnostics is slowly growing globally. Automotive OEMs are expected to continue investing in various technology advancements, such as integration of smart phones with the vehicle infotainment unit. This is expected to make embedded solutions more affordable and engaging.



About MRRSE

MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies.
Atlanta, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- A leading work injury lawyer who serves Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas, Darwin Johnson, just released a write-up via his firm's website explaining basic information about workers' compensation insurance. The article was geared toward new employers who own businesses in the state of Georgia, and may be ready to expand their workforce.



According to the article, once a company has three or more employees, they are required to purchase workers' compensation insurance to cover costs in the event that one of those employees files a claim to receive benefits, due to an accident while on the job.



"Possessing workers' compensation insurance is crucial for the safety of your business as a whole, and the employees who serve within its walls, on its roads or at its sites," said Darwin Johnson. "Otherwise, if an incident occurs and you were clearly at fault, you could get sued to cover the damages out of pocket."



Johnson's article noted that Georgia is a National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) state, and urged new employees to utilize the resource to learn more, and follow data and reports. NCCI is a leading not-for-profit data collection bureau that specializes in workers' compensation information, and regularly releases reports and brochures.



The article also noted that the state of Georgia does not sell insurance, and interested employers need to purchase their policies through private brokers or the assigned risk pool (which is also managed by NCCI).



To read the full article, or to learn more about the workman's comp lawyer who serves Atlanta, please visit Darwin Johnson's website.



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) -- 12/27/2016 -- The mining industry is expected to witness growth with a single digit CAGR over the next six years on account of the further expanding demand for metal and mineral commodities. Latin America accounted for about 8% of the global mining equipment demand in 2013 and its contribution towards global mining equipment sales was registered at 15% for the same year. The region serves as the prime destination for mining exploration and investment at a global level.



The key reason which has accelerated the growth of the Latin American mining equipment market is the enhanced demand for the consumption of natural resources. Presently, the region produces about 45% of the global copper, 21% of the global zinc, 50% of the global silver and 26% of the global molybdenumproduction. In addition, foreign investment, especially from China, US, Canada and Australia, plays a significant role in the growth of the Latin American mining equipment market. Further, other operations such as the Panama Stock Operation (PSO), CSR activities, and introduction of next generation mining equipment such as Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) also serve as driving factors for the growth of the mining equipment market in Latin America. Among these, CSR activities primarily focus on rehabilitation and support programmes, promotion of healthy lifestyle and awareness programmes for the adoption of green technology. However, in the past few years, the mining industry and hence the mining equipment industry has been facing an economic crisis on account of the requirement for budget allocation in the maintenance of the mining industry and equipment, etc. Illegal mining operations at some locations and the risk associated with the mining industry serve as further constraints for the Latin American mining equipment industry.Surging demand and abundant availability of natural resources(including the world's top three metal and mineral reserves of copper, zinc and silver rapid technological advancement, modernization of mining plants, stable legislations with a motivating legal environment, and the efficient budget allocation with aftermarket revenue generation will serve as opportunities for the development of the Latin America mining equipment market.



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Market segmentation of Latin American mining equipment can be done on the basis of equipment, application and countries. On the basis of equipment, the Latin American mining equipment market includes mineral processing equipment, surface mining equipment, underground mining equipment, mining drills and breakers, crushing and screening equipment, etc. On the basis of applications, the Latin American mining equipment market segmentation includes metal ore mining, coal mining and mineral mining. Chile, being the largest producer of copper, serves as a lucrative market for copper-based mining equipment. Colombia is an active exporter,and is the first Latin American coal-producing country alongwith the production of metals such as gold, silver and platinum and hence is the opportunistic market for the associated mining equipment market. On the basis of countries, the Latin American mining equipment market includes Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Venezuela. Chile is known for the adoption and introduction of advanced technologies such as autonomous haulage system. Peru is the reserve of key minerals and has been witnessing a surging demand for copper and hence the expansion of the associated mining equipment market. Brazil has an integrated approach for the production and sale of mining equipment. Panama has an active stock operation (PSO) for the support of the mining industry. In line with the positive future of the Latin American mining equipment industry, Peru and Chile are expected to receive double digit foreign investment in $ Bn in the next six years.



Some of the prominent players of the global mining equipment market include Sandvik AB, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Komatsu Limited, Atlas Copco Ab Joy Global Inc. Breaker Technology, Astec Industries, Bucyrus International, Caterpillar Incorporated, China Coal Energy Company Limited, Tecpalsa, Tecmap, Tiesa and Igaretta. Among these, Komatsu Limited in the whole of Latin America, Tecpalsa in Colombia, Tecmap and Tiesa in Panama and Igaretta in Argentina are active players in the Latin American mining equipment market.



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The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types, technology and applications.



The report covers exhaustive analysis on:



Market Segments

Market Dynamics

Market Size

Supply & Demand

Current Trends/Issues/Challenges

Competition & Companies involved

Technology

Value Chain



Regional analysis includes:



Argentina

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America
Louisvillle, KY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- The Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC is pleased to announce that founding attorney Seth A. Gladstein has been named a 2017 Kentucky Super Lawyer.



Super Lawyers, a program operated by Thomson Reuters, recognizes attorneys in more than 70 practice areas for excelling in their careers. The program honored Gladstein as a top ranking medical malpractice attorney for the second consecutive year.



The rating service makes its selections based upon peer nominations, peer review and independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys in Kentucky receive the distinction.



Gladstein's listing will appear in December in the regional magazine Kentucky Monthly, which reaches more than 148,000 readers. It will also appear in the Ohio and Kentucky Super Lawyers Magazine, due out in January to its more than 44,300 readers. Gladstein's directory listing can be found online on the SuperLawyers.com website



The goal behind Super Lawyers is to create a resource for attorneys and residents searching for legal counsel. It only rates lawyers who can be hired and retained by the public, meaning lawyers in private practice, as well as legal aid attorneys.



Gladstein was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2013 and 2014. The Rising Star award recognizes up-and-coming attorneys age 40 or younger with less than 10 years of legal practice experience.



Gladstein, a Louisville personal attorney, car accident and medical malpractice attorney, opened the Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC in 2011 to hold negligent people accountable and help injured people recover. He received his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2001.



Gladstein, previous to opening his own firm, worked for medical malpractice defense firms representing physicians, hospitals and area nursing homes in state and federal court. His years of experience provided him with invaluable experience handling excessively complicated cases.



About Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC

Gladstein Law Firm, PLLC is a Louisville personal injury, car accident and medical malpractice law firm dedicated to helping victims effectively pursue compensation without risking further loss. The law firm, based in Louisville, also serves people from the areas of Bowling Green, Lexington, Murray, Owensboro and Paducah.



For more information, visit http://gladsteinlawfirm.com or call 800-991-0474 for a free consultation.



CONTACT:

Seth Gladstein

Address: 312 South 4th Street #600, Louisvillle, KY 40202

Phone: 800-991-0474

Email: seth@gladsteinlawfirm.com
Sebastian, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- The engineers at Mechanical Design Corporation, who have been designing and manufacturing pipe testing and plugging solutions for over four decades, are proud to celebrate their lengthy time in the business. In their over forty years field experience in the pipeline industry, they have installed, tested and have been troubleshooting piping systems throughout all industries. Their first-hand knowledge in the construction fields of energy, water and wastewater, hydroelectric, and underseas assures clients that products will perform as expected and extensive knowledge and experience reinforces Mechanical Design Corporation's further assurance that they will quickly assess and understand clients' projects and go on to advise and then ultimately deliver the optimal pipe testing or plugging solution.



Though based in Sebastian, Florida, Mechanical Design Corporation serves many industries across a wide geographical spread. Industries served include the following:



-Nuclear Power

-Municipalities

-Aerospace

-Construction

-Fossil Fuel Power

-Utilities

-Military



Specific companies they have worked with include giants such as General Electric, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Oceaneering, Westinghouse, and many others.



Mechanical Design Corporation specializes in the design and manufacturing of a variety of pipe testing and plugging solutions. These include but are not limited to Pipe Plugs, Bulkheads, O.D. Pipe Test Plugs/Cap Plugs, Nuclear Plugs, Underware/Offshore Plugs, Foreign Material Exclusion Plugs, Caps, Covers (FME), Double Block and Bleed Plugs, Fail Safe Plugs, Flange Weld Testers and Pipe Joint Testers.



"We've been in this business a long time and it's been a privilege to work with so many incredible companies over the years," shared Mechanical Design Corporation CEO Rick Pino. "We look forward to many more in the future."



To learn more about Mechanical Design Corporation, visit mechanicaldesigncorp.net or call them at 772-388-8782.



About Mechanical Design Corporation

Mechanical Design Corporation is a manufacturer of Pipe Test Plugs and Joint Testers. They specialize in engineering custom solutions in standard and non-standard sizes, low and high pressure and unusual applications and have worked with various large companies including but not limited to General Electric, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Oceaneering, and Westinghouse. Products offered include Pipe Test Plugs, Joint Testers, Double Block & Bleed Plugs, Flange Weld Testers, Bypass Pipe Plug, Bulkheads, Foreign Material Exclusion Plugs/Caps/Covers, Nuclear Plugs, Mechanical Plugs, Fail-safe Plugs, Underwater Plugs, Remotely Installed Plugs, Diver Installed Plugs, ROV Installed Plugs, Split Sectional Plugs, Square or Irregular Shaped Plugs, Steam Generator Plugs, Reactor Nozzle Plugs, Hot and Cold Leg Plugs, Annular Seals.



mechanicaldesigncorp.net

772-388-8782
Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- Automation is the latest advancement set to revolutionise the global retail market. The retail automation market is expected to witness steady growth, owing to such avant-garde collaboration between global retail and consumer goods sector, and the global electronics and IT industry. Considering the fact that retail industry drives the growth of several business and trade ventures around the world, the influence of automation will bring more efficiency to billions of retail transactions.



Visual merchandising, planogram, and big data in retail are the key trends fuelling the demand of automated services in retail markets. Effective automated products and programs that speed up the sales mechanism, create efficiency in product supplies, and develop easily-accessible business platforms that can produce a lucrative environment for the growth of the retail automation market globally.



The global market for retail automation is gaining traction in Asia Pacific, Western Europe, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The two most lucrative regions for the growth of the global retail automation market are North America and Europe.



Retail Automation in North America



Of these two regions, North America is the current market leader, holding the greater pie of retail automation market share. The North American retail automation market is likely to register high growth rate during 2014-2020 period.



North America remains a lucrative market for retail automation globally, with the US and Canada witnessing steady demand. North American consumers have adopted the prominent trend of relying on retail automated products and services for business transactions, which has made an affirming impetus on the retail automation market. Economic progress and rising purchasing power of consumers are some of the trends, specific to North America, that make the outlook of retail automation market considerably positive.



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The European Retail Automation Market



Europe, on the other hand, is closing in on North America in order to become the leading key region in the global retail automation market. Several retail chains and multiple product lines established in Europe are helping the setting up of retail automation in European nations. The European regional market is primarily segmented into UK, Germany, Spain, France and others. Britain's exodus from EU is likely to impact the implementation of automation in UK's retail market. But, the economic stability in other European countries is expected to create a supportive dais for building up the retail automation market.



Factors Benefiting the Growth of Retail Automation Market



North America and Europe, collectively, will continue their prominence in the global market, with respect to the market size, revenue share, and overall demand. The factors that will incite this growth are,



Growth of Local Retail & Customer Reception



Local retail markets are growing in several parts of North America & Europe. Combined with a positive consumer response, automated retail will continue flourishing in niche retail markets.



Overflowing Investments on Automation Products & Services



Retail giants dominating the existing retail market are investing in automated programs and devices for creating efficient output. The cost advantage is increasing the demand for automated retail services.



Proliferation of Shopping Centres and Supermarkets



Consumers in the US and European countries prefer buying from hypermarket and malls, which is great platform for automated retail kiosks.



Challenges in the Global Retail Automation Market



The retail automation market in North America and Europe is growing steadily, but there are a handful of factors that may restrain or slow down its growth. In the US and Canada, a key challenge for retail automation is its greatest disadvantage -- the loss of job. Labours and working professionals at retail outlets are a major contributor of the region's economy. Rising unemployment levels could plunge the local economy, having a rippling effect on the national economies of North America.



In Europe, the instability of economies across its constituent nations is restraining the growth of its retail automation market. Improving financial conditions in Turkey, Russia and Poland could influence the expansion of automated retail products; however, theundulating economies of Spain, Italy as well as Britain, can impede the adoption of automation in European retail sector.



Besides, maintaining the continuous supervision of retail kiosks, high dependency on electricity and the implications arriving from variable internet regulations are some other restraints recoiling the progress of retail automation in Europe and North America.



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Segmentation



The segmentation of the retail automation market is done on the basis of geography, the operator type and the product type.



Geographic Segmentation



North America (sub-segmented into United States, Canada & others)

Europe (sub-segmented into Spain, France, UK & others)



Operator Type Segmentation



Unattended Terminals

Human-Operated Terminals



Product Segmentation



Currency Counter

Barcode Reader

Bill Printer

Cash Counter

Cash Register

Card Reader

Self-Checkout System

Weight Scale

Kiosks/Vending Machine

Others



Key Competitors



Electronic companies such as Seiko Epson, Fujitsu, First Data Corp., Siemens, Toshiba and Wincor Nixdorf are some of the top players in the global retail automation market. Most of these ICT companies are headquartered in Europe, making the region a credible platform for new manufacturers and startups in retail automation. Meanwhile, North American retail giants such as Walmart and Kroger are developing their own devices and services to reap benefits from the amalgamation of retail and automation.
Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/27/2016 -- 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.



Get a Free Sample Copy of the Report @ http://www.mrrse.com/sample/755



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.



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.



Read Complete Report with TOC @ http://www.mrrse.com/south-east-asia-rpo-market



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.



About MRRSE

MRRSE stands for Market Research Reports Search Engine, the largest online catalog of latest market research reports based on industries, companies, and countries. MRRSE sources thousands of industry reports, market statistics, and company profiles from trusted entities and makes them available at a click. Besides well-known private publishers, the reports featured on MRRSE typically come from national statistics agencies, investment agencies, leading media houses, trade unions, governments, and embassies.
Space agencies across the globe are racing to detect signs of life in space. Now, NASA's Europa may drill on Jupiter's frosty moon to get samples, where scientists believe an ocean containing twice as much water as all of Earth's waters.

The ocean, which is thought to exist under Europa, Jupiter's moon's 10-to-15-mile-thick ice shell. Because of this, the 1,900-mile-wide moon is one of the scientists' bets to host extraterrestrial life.

On Sep. 26, 2016, NASA reported that its Hubble Space Telescope captured images of what seems like water vapor plumes erupting on the surface of Europa. Other observations showed the moon has high-altitude water vapor plume eruptions. These discoveries show that missions could, in fact, acquire samples from the underground ocean without having to drill through miles of ice.

"Europa's ocean is considered to be one of the most promising places that could potentially harbor life in the solar system," Geoff Yoder, acting associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C., said in a press release by the Hubble Space Telescope. "These plumes, if they do indeed exist, may provide another way to sample Europa's subsurface," he added.

It was actually a prospect for NASA, which will launch the Europa lander on the moon in the 2020s to detect chemical evidence that it could support life. However, scientists believe that the landing of the spacecraft could complicate the search. The thrusters that fire to slow the spacecraft's descent could contaminate the surface with ammonia, which contains nitrogen.

"Everything in our body has nitrogen," Ralph Lorenz, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland, told Space.com. "If you are interested in nitrogen as a prerequisite for life, then finding even traces of it at Europa is important, and so even a little thruster contamination matters a lot," he added.

It is then important to get uncontaminated and untouched samples from underneath Europa's thick surface in order to study whether the moon could support life. Other researchers think that sampling Europa's surface is important, too, but the best samples are found deeper into the moon's frosty ocean.

Could this mean modifying NASA's Europa to drill instead of sampling the moon's surface?
The priests revived the ritual of the Shabbat Showbreads in the Holy City of Hebron on Dec. 24, 2016. This reenactment was the latest step toward the preparation for the building of the Third Temple.

The nascent Sanhedrin, which is an assembly of 23 to 71 men appointed in every city of Israel, was the one that organized the event. They chose the city of Hebron for the Temple-oriented event instead of Jerusalem.

Rabbi Hillel Weiss, the spokesman for the Sanhedrin, explained why they chose the Holy City of Hebron. He said that the first sacrifice ever brought by a Jew was when Abraham sacrificed a ram in place of Isaac, so the Temple service is rooted here, where the patriarchs are buried.

He further said that before establishing his kingship and the foundations of the Temple in Jerusalem, King David was seven years in Hebron. He added that the seeds of the Messiah that will grow in Jerusalem and bring back the temple service are planted in Hebron.

Meanwhile, Tzipporet Chezi, a member of the Temple advocacy group Women of the Temple, was the one who organized the logistics. She said that the event was not intended to commemorate the lost Temples but to look at the future. She emphasized that the ceremony was in preparation for the soon-to-be Third Temple.

Rabbi Yaakov Hayman, the newly-elected chairman of the Temple Movement, explained the reason why there is a need to take steps toward the building of the Third Temple today. He told the Breaking Israel News that the Temple is not just a historical thing. He further said that it brings peace to the world, and the world does not function properly without it.

Previously, the nascent Sanhedrin is calling the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to rebuild the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Rabbi Weiss said that they are poised to rebuild the Temple. "The political conditions today, in which the two most important national leaders in the world support the Jewish right to Jerusalem as their spiritual inheritance, is historically unprecedented."

In 2012, President Putin visited Jerusalem and had a late-night visit to the Kotel (Western Wall). He offered a personal prayer and read Psalms from a Russian-Hebrew prayer book. Afterward, an Israeli bystander welcomed him and explained the significance of the Temple Mount and the Jewish Temple. Putin then responded to the man, "That's exactly the reason I came here to pray for the Temple to be built again," as noted by Breaking Israel News.

Rabbi Weiss emphasized that the leaders of Russia and America can lead the nations of the world to global peace through building the Temple, the source of peace. He further said that this will offset the disgraceful UNESCO resolutions that are the root cause of increasing terror and violence.
Researchers may have found the oldest nativity scene in Egypt in the form of rock painting. It predated the Christian nativity art by about three millennia.

The painting was seen on the ceiling of a small cavity in the Egyptian Sahara Desert. It was composed of a newborn between parents, a star in the east and two animals. The team theorized that the rock painting was dated around the Neolithic or Stone Age, which could be about 5,000 years old.

Marco Morelli, a geologist and director of the Museum of Planetary Science in Prato, Italy, described it as a very evocative scene that indeed resembles the Christmas nativity. On the other hand, it predates it by some 3,000 years. The team found the rock painting in 2005, yet it just revealed this now with the title "Cave of the Parents," according to CBS News.

Morelli said that the discovery has many implications as it fosters new questions on the iconography of one of the most powerful Christian symbols. He further said that it could have been construed as a normal depiction of a family, with the baby between the parents, but other details make this drawing unique.

In the painting, the newborn is drawn slightly above, as if raising to the sky. This position means a birth or a pregnancy. Morelli said as death was linked to earth in contemporary rock art from the same area, it is likely that birth was linked to the sky.

A headless lion, a mythical beast, was drawn on the upper part. This appears in many rock art drawings from the same area. Meanwhile, a baboon or an anthropomorphic monkey was drawn below.

Morelli said that the discovery is no doubt an intriguing drawing. He concluded that they did not find similar scenes until the early Christian age, according to Live Science.
The Nigerian Customs Service had seized about 2.5 metric tons of "plastic rice" or fake rice this holiday season. The customs service said that the 102 bags of "plastic rice" were smuggled by unscrupulous businessmen.

Haruna Mamudu, the Lagos customs chief, said that the fake rice was meant to be sold in markets this season. He described the rice as very sticky after it was boiled. He further said that "only God knows what would happen" if people ate it.

It is unclear where the bags of rice with the brand called Best Tomato Rice came from. On the other hand, the rice that was made from plastic pellets was discovered in China a year ago, according to BBC News.

Meanwhile, the health ministry is calling the Nigerians to stay calm after preliminary findings showed that no evidence that the rice was plastic or consisted of toxic chemical substances. On the other hand, the National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control is still investigating it.

A customer bought 10 cups of the fake rice, which was about 2 kilograms, from a small retailer in the Ikeja area of Lagos in November. She said that it looked perfectly normal and cost less. So, she thought that it was a great deal. She cooked rice normally for 20 minutes but after 30 minutes the rice was still hard, so, she added more water and the aroma was chemical in nature so she discarded the rice thinking it has expired.

Another woman received the rice as a gift. She observed that there was something wrong after cooking the rice and her husband called the customs officials.

Jerry Attah, the public relations officer for the assistant superintendent of customs, told CNN that if you look at it, it is rice -- even if you eat it, it is rice. On the other hand, if you touch it, you will feel it that it is not rice. He further said that is why he calls it fake rice, not plastic rice. He added that it is more like flour coated in maybe rubber. He then concluded that he does not know the kind of formulations or chemicals they use.
2016 has been a great year for Biblical archeology as scientists and historians discovered important evidence of historical truths. The series of unearthing has provided proofs of the existence of people and events that were recorded in the Bible, which have been gradually revealed through exhaustive archeological work and research.

Express UK reported that evidence of Biblical records has been discovered by groups of archeologists in Israel -- the country known to be the main location of the glorious events chronicled in the Bible. Among their major findings was the burial slab of Jesus Christ that has been hidden and remained a mystery for almost 500 years.

The burial bed was found after the team supported by National Geographic uncovered the tomb of Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in October. The said tomb was where Christians believe Jesus was laid after His crucifixion, which was then found empty three days after His death. The Bible says Christ resurrected from the grave and gloriously ascended to heaven after 40 days.

In August, archeologists also uncovered the ruins of an ancient synagogue at Tel Rechesh, which is located near Mount Tabor in the lower part of Galilee. The discovery confirmed what was recorded in the New Testament where Jesus preached and discussed Scriptures among Jewish people around 30 to 33 A.D.

"The New Testament describes how Jesus delivered sermons in a synagogue in Capernaum and other synagogues in the Galilee," said senior researcher Motti Aviam from the Kinneret Institute for Galilean Archaeology at the Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee. "During the same period Jesus was still a Jew who observed Jewish rituals and requirements and like many rabbis, he delivered sermons in synagogues."

Meanwhile, scientists were also able to trace the DNA of the Philistines after excavating an ancient cemetery in the port city of Ashkelon in July. The Philistines were highlighted in the Old Testament where young David was enabled by God to defeat the giant Philistine warrior Goliath.

Lawrence Stager, an archeologist from Harvard University, said that the Philistines were most likely "sea people" compared to the Israelite villagers.
A Lander-based group, Water for Wildlife Foundation, works to provide water through installing five guzzlers for the state's thirsty wildlife.

The group has been raising money to install guzzlers or water tanks around the state's dry and arid landscape. Within just days of being installed, images show that animals of all sorts visited the tanks for water relief. In fact, the animals just keep coming.

"We've gone through periods of severe drought, which affect all of us, from ranchers to wildlife and you and I," Erica Flom, executive director of the Water for Wildlife Foundation, said as reported by Star Tribune.

"With that, we've realized it's more than just antelope that need these, it's all species. Water for Wildlife restructured itself to encompass all species of birds and waterfowl, large game, small game, everything from A to Z," she added.

Rex Lockman, a wildlife range specialist for the Laramie Country Conservation District, said he has seen the guzzlers work. Aside from elk and bighorn sheep, other animals flock to the water tanks such as sharp-tailed grouse, pheasants and other game birds. He added that in Laramie County alone, there are about 100 guzzlers.

"In areas we have installed guzzlers, there's definitely an increase in birds using them," Lockman said. "I definitely think it's a beneficial thing to install," he added.

The Water for Wildlife Foundation

The Water for Wildlife Foundation is a conservation organization established to benefit the country's wildlife. The main purpose of the foundation is to provide supplemental water resources in areas where both the habitat and wildlife are being impaired by the lack of water, which is essential to life.

As of the moment, it has invested in over 450 water projects over 12 western states. The foundation started in the early 1970s that helps wildlife to have access to water especially during times of drought.
Sexy, musical and ghostly animals were all discovered over the past 12 months, along with many others. New species are found at a rate of about 15,00020,000 per year, and 2016 was no exception. Researchers estimate that 6.8 million animals on Earth haven't even been identified yet, so expect many new discoveries in the years to come. Harry Potter 'Sorting Hat' Spider

A spider resembling the "sorting hat" from the Harry Potter books and films was discovered in India in 2016. Named Eriovixia gryffindori after the wizard character Godric Gryffindor, the spider measures is less than a third of an long. "As a youngster, I was very fond of reading Harry Potter books. So, when I encountered this tiny spider, I thought of the magical hat," lead author of the study, Javed Ahmed, told the Times of India. Several new colorful peacock spiders were also found in 2016. Biologist Jurgen Otto, aka Peacock Spiderman, films these dynamic dancing spiders and is one of the world's leading experts on them. Deep-Diving Fish

A pink and yellow fish, Grammatonotus brianne, was found 487 feet below the surface of waters off the Philippines. It broke the world's record for deepest fish discovered by human hands, according to Bishop Museum diver Brian Greene and his colleagues. In the video, Greene presents the first specimens of this new species to Luiz Rocha of the California Academy of Sciences during a decompression stop. The fish, commonly called Brianne's Groppo, is named after Greene's wife Brianne. Rocha previously found a fish, Halichoeres claudia, which he named after his wife Claudia. Musical Songbird

The Himalayan forest thrush (Zoothera salimalii) of northeastern India and adjacent parts of China is now an official part of the documented animal kingdom, thanks to Per Alstrom and colleagues. In a paper, they explain that the new bird was largely identified by its unique song. New bird species are rarely discovered. An average of just five new species are found each year, and mainly in South America. The Himalayan forest thrush is just the fourth new bird species described in India since the country achieved its independence in 1947. Three New Primates Our family tree grew in 2016, with the addition of three new mouse lemurs, which are the smallest known primates. The new species are Microcebus ganzhorni, Microcebus manitatra and Microcebus boraha - all of which live on the island of Madagascar. "From a conservation perspective, knowing what's there is important," said Scott Hotaling, lead author of a paper on the discoveries. "These animals are facing diminishing habitats and tremendous pressures." Deepwater Skate

Found close to a mile beneath the surface of the eastern Central Pacific from Costa Rica to Ecuador, the skate Notoraja martinezi is now known from four collected specimens. The skate -a flat fish closely related to rays and sharks - is "heart shaped" and has a "soft nose," according to Francisco Concha and his team, who discovered the new species and describe it in a study. Silver Boa A large new species of boa made itself known to the world in a dramatic way in 2016: It slithered onto the head of a researcher who was sleeping on a beach in the Bahamas. Described in the journal Breviora, the Bahamian silver boa (Chilabothrus argentum) is already endangered, according to Robert Henderson, curator of herpetology emeritus at the Milwaukee Museum of Natural History. The snake "reminds us that important discoveries are still waiting to be made, and it provides the people of the Bahamas another reason to be proud of the natural wonders of their island nation." Mysterious Whale An enigmatic dark-colored whale nicknamed "karasu," the Japanese word for raven, was identified in 2016 based on DNA analysis. As described by Phillip Morin of NOAA and colleagues, the deep-diving whale of the North Pacific is about 25 feet long and is rarely seen. "Every known specimen of this new whale found so far has been dead and, in most cases, decomposing on a remote sub-arctic beach," explained Morin. "Without a full skeleton of an adult animal or detailed measurements, we had to use forensic genetics to describe the evolutionary differences of this new species." Poisonous Millipede With Four Penises A new species of millipede, Illacme tobini, was found in a cave at Sequoia National Park in California. According to a paper describing the threadlike creature, it possesses 414 legs and a body armed with 200 poison glands. What's more, it has silk-secreting hairs and four penises. Many spiders, pseudoscorpions and flies were also discovered in caves at the national park during the expedition. Ghostly Octopus

During the first dive of an expedition to explore waters off the northeast side of Necker Island (British Virgin Islands), the Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle encountered this octopus. It confused several of the shore-based NOAA scientists who were monitoring the expedition. They had never seen anything like it before. After more study, the researchers believe the ghostlike octopod nicknamed "Casper" is an undescribed species and may not belong to any known genus. Fish Named After President Obama
China's enthusiasm for space exploration is clear and, in recent years, the nation has made huge strides in the technology to launch robots and humans into orbit and beyond.

In a government white paper released on Tuesday, China has outlined a five-year plan to speed up space technology development to become the first country to soft-land a robotic probe on the far side of the moon and send its first mission to the Red Planet. Both achievements are planned before 2020.

According to the document, the China National Space Administration's (CNSA) plans are to "explore outer space and enhance understanding of the earth and the cosmos; to utilize outer space for peaceful purposes, promote human civilization and social progress, and benefit the whole of mankind; to meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress; and to improve the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China's national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength."

RELATED: China Just Launched Its Most Powerful Rocket Ever

China sees space exploration as a matter of national pride and has made huge strides in human and robotic spaceflight in recent years. In 2003, the agency carried out its first human spaceflight, which was followed by a spacewalk in 2008. In 2011, the first Chinese space station prototype, Tiangong-1, was launched into orbit and during its two-year operational lifetime it was visited by a series of spacecraft, including the Shenzhou 8, 9 and 10 spacecraft, all of which demonstrated orbital docking and the latter two spacecraft delivering astronauts (also known as taikonauts or yuhangyuans, which means "space navigators") to the orbital outpost. These missions were notable because they included the nation's first two female astronauts, Liu Yang and Wang Yaping.

Tiangong-1 is now in a decaying orbit and has been replaced by Tiangong-2, which was most recently visited by taikonauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong on the Shenzhou 11 mission for 30 days, the longest Chinese spaceflight in history. These prototype space laboratories act as test beds and pave the way for the planned permanent Chinese space station to be launched in the 2020s.

In 2013, the CNSA launched itself into the spotlight after successfully landing a rover onto the lunar surface, the first successful soft landing on the moon since the 1970s. The rover, called Yutu, was a part of the Chang'e 3 mission, a series of robotic moon missions intended to pave the way for future human landings. Record-breaking Yutu explored the dusty lunar surface for 31 months.

RELATED: China Launches Second Space Station

China's long-term goal is to send a human mission to the moon. Though that ambition wasn't included in today's white paper, the space agency hopes to land another robotic mission on the moon in 2018, but this time the target will be a lot more difficult. No one has ever soft-landed a probe on the craggy lunar far side, so if successful, China will nail a first.

Also detailed in the white paper are plans to explore Mars and return samples and "conduct research into major scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the solar system, and search for extraterrestrial life." This includes a possible Jupiter mission to explore the gas giant and its moons.

Whether or not these goals will be possible or successful remains to be seen, but the rate at which the military-run space agency is advancing, China is certainly on track to becoming a major player in space exploration in the coming years.

WATCH VIDEO: What Is China Doing In Space?
In 2016 we got "as close to Jurassic Park as we ever have," said paleontologist Scott Persons of the University of Alberta. Many other dinosaur experts agreed it was an incredible year for dino discoveries. Here's a look back at some of the most noteworthy finds. (Above, a feathered dinosaur tail captured in amber. Credit Royal Saskatchewan Museum, RSM/ R.C. McKellar) New Year, New Dinosaurs

The year got off to a strong start with the announcement of several newly found dinosaur species, such as Dracoraptor hanigani ("Dragon Robber"), Eotrachodon orientalis ("Dawn Rough Tooth from the East"), and Spiclypeus shipporum ("Spiked Shield"). Dragon Robber, also nicknamed Draco, was found within the rocks of a cliff in south Wales. It is believed to be the earliest known Jurassic dinosaur from the U.K. David Martill of the University of Portsmouth and his team wrote that "the remains of dinosaurs in Wales are exceedingly rare." Also rare was the dino's food, since Draco enjoyed sinking its teeth into raw flesh. Draco was small for a carnivorous dinosaur, measuring just over two feet tall and 6.5 feet wide. Dawn Rough Tooth from the East is the most complete, primitive duck-billed dinosaur ever to be discovered in the eastern United States. Dating to 83 million years ago, this herbivorous dino had sturdy teeth that could grind up even the toughest of plant materials. Called "the cows of the Cretaceous" by researcher Gregory Erickson of Florida State University, these dinosaurs once lived in what is now Montgomery County, Alabama. Spiked Shield, as its name suggests, sported a number of bony spikes, not to mention horns. It roamed what is now Montana between 85 and 66 million years ago. Paleontologists suspect that more new dinosaur species could be found in this part of western North America in future. Dancing Dinosaurs

Fossilized dinosaur scrape marks in 100-million-year-old Dakota sandstone of western Colorado reveal that dinosaurs engaged in mating displays that were similar to those of today's birds. The dancing dinos were likely two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs known as theropods, according to research project leader Martin Lockley and his team. "They were evidently very active and perhaps driven into frenzies by the excitement of the breeding season," Lockley of the University of Colorado Denver told Seeker. "This is typical of some bird species. The extensive scrape evidence suggests much high energy activity. If small birds get excited when breeding, imagine what big theropods might have done!" Dino-Era Voice Box

A voice box dating to the late Dinosaur Age 68 million years ago suggests what some animal vocalizations were like then. The organ, nicknamed the "squawk box" by scientist Julia Clarke and her team, belonged to the prehistoric bird Vegavis iaai. Clarke of the University of Texas at Austin thinks that the bird could honk loudly, similar to today's ducks and geese. She and her team also shared ideas on what non-bird dinosaurs might have sounded like. "We propose that most dinosaurs may have lacked a syrinx," Clarke told Seeker. "This does not mean that they were silent. Crocodiles produce low frequency sounds with a closed mouth. Most dinosaurs could have used the crocodile approach with a larynx (voice box) and made these kinds of sounds." Pregnant Tyrannosaurus rex

A pregnant T. rex was one of the breakthrough discoveries of 2016. Her extraordinary remains, unearthed in Montana, shed light on the evolution of egg-laying as well as on gender differences between this and other meat-eating dinosaur species. For example, Lindsay Zanno of North Carolina State University told Seeker that we now know extinct dinos inherited egg laying from their ancestors, just as birds inherited this reproductive strategy from their dinosaur forbearers. The unfortunate T. rex mom-to-be was between 16 to 20 years of age when she died of as-of-yet unknown causes. We haven't heard the last about her, since future studies on her well-preserved remains are in the works. Precocious Dino Babies

Some of the world's largest dinosaurs gave birth to dog-sized babies, according to research describing the remains of a baby titanosaur. Adults of this same species could grow to lengths of 49 feet, making the parent-to-baby size comparison all the more startling. The titanosaur tot was precocious, such that it required no parental care at birth. "This tiny titanosaur lived around 67 million years ago, at the very end of the age of dinosaurs in the Latest Cretaceous," vertebrate paleontologist Kristina Curry Rogers of Macalester College informed Seeker. "At the time it died it died it was just a few weeks old, and was about the size of a golden retriever, though with a long, thin neck and a tiny skull, and a long slender tail." Tiny Arms Were All the Rage

A new dino with tiny T.rex-like arms was announced in 2016. Named Gualicho shinyae, it had something else in common with T. rex: a love of meat. Akiko Shinya, The Field Museum's chief fossil preparator, found the dinosaur's remains during an expedition in northern Patagonia. It's hoped that future studies on this dinosaur and others could show how shortened forelimbs evolved. "We found Gualicho at the very end of the expedition. Pete (colleague Peter Makovicky) joked, 'It's the last day, you'd better find something good!' And then I almost immediately was like, 'Pete, I found something.' I could tell right away that it was good," Shinya recalled about the find. Dinosaur Brain Fossil Discovered

One of the most impressive dinosaur finds, not just for 2016 but for all time, was the discovery of the first known fossilized dino brain tissue. A paper documenting the fossil reports that it contains some of the meninges that surrounded the dinosaur's brain, as well as strands of collagen and blood vessels. Structures that could represent tissues from the brain cortex-its outer layer of neural tissue-interwoven with delicate capillaries, also appear to be present. Co-author Alex Liu of Cambridge's Department of Earth Sciences told Seeker, "The chances of preserving brain tissue are incredibly small, so the discovery of this specimen is astonishing." Bloody Feathered Dinosaur Tail Preserved in Amber

For years to come, dinosaur enthusiasts will be talking about a bloody feathered dino tail found in amber. The extraordinary discovery marks the first time that dinosaur skeletal material has been identified in fossilized tree resin. This form of preservation makes for great viewing, since practically every detail of the tail is evident. Scott Persons of the University of Alberta, who co-authored a paper on the specimen, told Seeker: "Per pound, it is the most incredible fossil I have ever seen." Co-author Ryan McKellar added, "Previous finds in amber have included isolated feathers that may have belonged to dinosaurs, but without an identifiable part of the body included, their source has remained open to debate." They and their colleagues believe that the tail, which retains some of the original iron from dinosaur blood, belonged to a young carnivore that lived 99 million years ago. Insects were trapped with the tail, and can also be seen in the amber. Moment of Death Frozen in Time
Bat caves can be noisy places, filled with screeching residents who seem to have a lot on their minds and would probably shout in all-caps if they used social media. Is the din just so much sound and fury, signifying nothing? Not according to researchers who have listened in on the animals and found meaning in the noise.

In a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists from Tel Aviv University (TAU) captured 22 Egyptian fruit bats from a natural roost in Israel and housed them in large chambers that would allow the animals to be monitored visually and acoustically over the course of more than two months.

The goal? To find out what all of the yelling was about.

"Previous research presumed that most bat communication was based on screaming and shouting. We wanted to know how much information was actually conveyed, and we wanted to see if we could, in fact, extract that information," explained TAU study lead Yossi Yovel, in a statement.

Yovel and his team did just that. Their bat observations yielded recordings of some 15,000 vocalizations  the sum total of all the chatter passed between the bats, generating dozens of specific calls  and there was in fact a great deal of significance to the sounds.

WATCH VIDEO: Why You Shouldn't Be Scared Of Vampire Bats
A new study out of Oregon State University (OSU) praises a type of high-tech tag now being used to track whales, one that offers researchers better information, over longer periods of time, than prior tracking devices.

The tag, dubbed "Advanced Dive Behavior" (ADB), improves "by several orders of magnitude" the ability to track whales as they feed and exhibit other behaviors, according to OSU researchers writing in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

According to the study's authors, the ADB tags can deliver up to seven weeks of constant data  depth of dives, how long the whales stay underwater, their reactions to man-made noise, and their responses to changes in water temperature.

The tag provides "a broad picture of whale behavior and ecology that we've never had before," said the study's lead author Bruce Mate, in a statement.

Between 2007 and 2015, the OSU marine researchers used the ADB tags on sperm, blue and baleen whales and gathered data on the animals for up to 50 days at a stretch, logging thousands of GPS locations and dives.

"By using this technology on three different species, we've seen the full range of behavior that is specific to each species," said study co-author Daniel Palacios. "Sperm whales, for instance, really like to dive deep, staying down a long time and appearing to forage along the seafloor at times. During summer the baleen whales will feed as much as possible in one area, and then they move on, probably after the prey density gets too low."

RELATED: Rare Migrating Whale Calls Are Recorded Off the New York Coast

The ADB tags record GPS location, water pressure, three-axis acceleration, magnetic fields, water temperature, and light level. They're attached to the whale's skin surface (see photo above) and can remain attached for nearly two months before releasing from the animal and floating to the surface for collection.

The technology, according to Mate, also has the benefit of providing data on general ocean and climate conditions. "It gives us vast amounts of new data about water temperatures through space and time, over large distances and in remote locations. We're learning more about whales, and the whales are helping us to learn more about our own planet."

"With this system we can acquire much more data at a lower cost, with far less commitment of time by ships and personnel," added co-author Ladd Irvine.

"This tag begins to bridge the gap between existing long-duration but low-data throughput tags, and short-duration, high-resolution data loggers," the scientists wrote.

WATCH VIDEO: Whales Get Sunburned, Too
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She had asked her partner not to send flowers, but a bouquet arrived anyway.

It was from her colleagues. And the last thing Billie Lynn Ross wanted to do was walk down to the lobby to claim them.

She had hoped to lie low that morning, to draw as little attention to herself as possible. But as she strode toward the reception desk of the Palo Alto building where she works, she realized that wasnt going to happen.

Holy hell, the receptionist gasped. Where did all this come from?

Ross smiled. On that day in October 2014, she had shed her usual oversize superhero-patterned shirts and chunky skater shoes for a black dress and Oxford heels with red ribbons tied where the laces should go. Her hair was down, makeup done, nails freshly manicured.

She looked  at last  like herself.

After 24 months of preparation, hormone therapy and doctors visits, Ross became the only out transgender woman in her division of SAP, a large international software firm based in Germany. And rather than shirking attention, she has come to embrace it, speaking out for transgender visibility and inclusion at SAP and beyond.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Starting next year, the corporations 20,000 North American workers  roughly a quarter of its worldwide workforce  will be eligible, with their families, for what experts said are among the most progressive transgender benefits in the nation, including facial reconstructive surgery, total coverage of travel and lodging for out-of-town medical procedures, and puberty-suppression treatment for transgender children.

These policies  exceedingly rare among big and small companies alike  came after Ross, discovering how little of her own transition was covered by her health insurance, pushed for a more inclusive company policy.

She was the change agent, said Jewell Parkinson, head of human resources for SAP North America. Absent that intervention and feedback, we may not have had the insight to make the changes that we did. She planted the seeds for us, she educated us and shared her experiences in such a way that allowed us to do the additional work to enhance our program.

Transgender people, those who identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth, may elect to undergo numerous procedures to affirm their gender identity.

SAP employees and family members covered by the company health plan were already eligible for what human resources experts regard as basic transgender benefits  hormone replacement therapy, mental health services and gender reassignment procedures. Those are among the most common transgender-specific benefits offered at other big-name tech firms such as Facebook, Netflix and Tesla.

Almost a third of big companies, those with 20,000 employees or more, cover gender reassignment surgery, according to a survey published this year by human resources consulting firm Mercer. But that number dwindles as companies get smaller, with about 10 percent of businesses with 500 to 5,000 employees offering the same.

The procedures SAP now offers, including facial feminization surgery, like the kind Ross had to soften her features, are much more rare.

About 2 percent of companies nationwide cover cosmetic procedures meant to feminize or masculinize a persons facial appearance, according to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resources Management.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Gender-reassignment benefits generally include multiple procedures: genital reconstructive surgeries as well as, in some cases, top surgery, or breast reduction or augmentation.

But other procedures that help transgender people pass, or be regarded by others as someone who was born biologically male or female, are often left out of coverage, said Diego Ramirez, a global health management consultant for Mercer. Thats because they are not deemed a medical necessity by insurance providers  though they can significantly impact the safety and well-being of transgender people.

These elective procedures can include hair removal, facial surgery, like chin or cheek implants, brow-bone reduction, collagen injections, Adams apple shaving and vocal pitch-altering surgeries.

When you say youre transitioning, everyones mind immediately goes to (gender reassignment) surgery, said Ross, a product operations engineer at SAP Ariba. But that really only affects my life, and my life with my partner. It doesnt make a difference to me at work. But facial feminization surgery? Vocal surgery? Those do. If I have to hold a teleconference with 18 people in another country, and all they have to go on is my voice, they might not get that Im female.

In recent years, as transgender visibility has grown, companies have added benefits to aid transgender workers and their families. Most large health insurance providers, such as Kaiser and Aetna, which insure SAP workers, have policies that include gender reassignment surgeries. But the policies vary and depend on what the employer decides to make available to its workers.

About 1 in every 10,000 people suffers from gender dysphoria, a condition in people feel their emotional and psychological gender identity do not match the biological sex, according to the National Institutes of Health. So even at a large company such as SAP, the new benefits package may directly impact only a handful of people.

We want to create an environment that allows them to be their authentic selves, Parkinson said. So does it really matter if its a small or large percentage of our workforce?

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Ross, 44, said her decision to come out at work was made easier by the fact that SAP had already offered transgender-inclusive health care and seemed welcoming to trans employees. Even so, it took two years for her to feel comfortable enough to come to work in heels.

She began her transition at the age of 40, though she had known there was something different about her since the age of 4. It took her years to articulate what that something was and still longer to begin her journey from Bill to Billie.

For two years after she began hormone replacement therapy, Ross hid under baggy mens clothes and kept her long hair tied back.

At work, I was scared to transition at first, she said. I just didnt know what to expect.

She certainly didnt expect to inspire SAP to change its policies, but it did, announcing the new benefits through an all-staff email in October  almost exactly two years after Ross came out at work, and four years after she began her transition.

It was great to see that my conversation had paid off, she said.

But her work is not yet done. Shes planning another sit-down with HR to discuss name changes and the legal obstacles transgender people face in getting all their paperwork to match.

Somewhere along the way, I realized you have to help educate people, and the best way to do that is through your own story, she said. The more people understand about trans people, the less afraid and in the dark they are. It helps all of us.

Marissa Lang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mlang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Marissa_Jae
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News of a Bay Area chef with a farm barely raises an eyebrow these days. But when Sarah Kirnon became the social-enterprise director of Dig Deep Farms four months ago, she wasnt out to cultivate premium ingredients for her Oakland restaurant, Miss Ollies. She had a bigger mission in mind.

The 6-year-old farm, which has 8 acres in the hills above San Leandro, isnt just a source for organic radishes, greens and carrots. It is funded in part by the Alameda County Sheriffs Office, and many of the farmers who tend its citrus trees and lush fields were once incarcerated.

Kirnons dual role at Miss Ollies and Dig Deep Farms embodies a spirit that has grown in Oakland alongside the citys stature as a food destination. Oakland has become a hub for chefs, artisans and activists seeking social change. Theyre employing people marginalized from the restaurant industry, starting worker co-operatives and using food businesses as a tool to address racial and economic disparities.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Gentrification may have brought the taste (and the budgets) for high-end restaurants and precisely pulled cappuccinos to Oakland. Even as the restaurant industry is changing Oakland, Oakland is changing the restaurant industry.

As the Bay Area likes to remind itself with smug frequency, higher-end restaurants here have long embraced the idea of an ethical cuisine that values environmentally sustainable farming and, more recently, animal welfare.

At the same time, said Saru Jayaraman, founder of Oaklands Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, the Bay Areas restaurant industry falls behind those of other metropolitan areas when it comes to racial disparities in pay. According to a study the organization published in June, more than three-fourths of high-paying positions in Californias most expensive restaurants go to white workers.

We have higher wages here, Jayaraman said. That is a sign of progress. But with the higher wages have come higher wage gaps between white workers and workers of color.

Both of Kirnons jobs attempt to remedy that imbalance. She is transitioning Miss Ollies, whose staff is largely people of color, into a worker-owned cooperative. As she helps Dig Deep Farms connect with some of Oaklands best restaurants, shes encouraging cooks to spend time working alongside the farmers. Its really important that people know that theres a representation in the people of color community who are growing great produce, she said.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Its also essential to Kirnon that Dig Deep Farms pay its workers a good wage, and that they bring home fresh produce to their families in addition to their paychecks.

The mission to address economic and racial justice also permeates Keba Kontes work at Red Bay Coffee in the Fruitvale neighborhood.

A lot of specialty coffee roasters have done a lot of great work in paying higher wages in origin countries through direct trade, he said. We wanted to close that loop. If we were going to bring more folks of color into the retail side of specialty coffee, but theyre still getting minimum wage, that didnt feel significant enough.

Hiring workers who are formerly incarcerated or who have aged out of the foster system is one way Konte strives for significance. Offering profit-sharing to the workers at Red Bays new cafe in Uptown Oakland to help them build equity is another.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Many cite the Black Panther Partys Free Breakfast for Children program as the origin of the citys commitment to food and social justice. In 1968, volunteers began cooking breakfast for young children at a West Oakland church, and the program quickly expanded to 19 cities. Free breakfast for children in need was eventually adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brahm Ahmadi, founder of the Peoples Community Market, which is building a grocery store in West Oakland, called the citys spirit of activism contagious. Even for someone opening a restaurant, theres an opportunity to make their business more meaningful.

Shaniece Alexander, who moved from Atlanta last year to become director of the Oakland Food Policy Council, said that the citys culture of community organizing was immediately apparent upon her arrival.

As tiring as it can be, people are still working toward what they deserve, she said. That has energized me in this work to say, hey, I can go to any community and there will be people who show up to have this conversation.

There are almost too many food-justice programs to name. They include urban farming nonprofits such as Acta Non Verba, Phat Beets and City Slicker Farms, as well as social enterprises like Youth UpRisings Corners Cafe and a startup called Town Kitchen, which trains young people from low-income communities and delivers box lunches to offices and conferences.

It is not surprising that Oakland is home to Camino, one of the first Bay Area restaurants to abandon tipping and restructure the way its staff is paid. Or to the first Bay Area location of Locol, Roy Choi and Daniel Pattersons fast-food chain, which serves healthier food and employs people from Oaklands most economically challenged quarters. Or to Juhu Beach Clubs Preeti Mistry, who has used the media attention she attracts to discuss racial and gender discrimination and how she hires and supports an inclusive workforce.

The Oakland Museum, which highlights the Free Breakfast program in its current Black Panther Party exhibit, is planning an exhibit on food justice in Oakland for early 2018. New mission-driven restaurants are in the works as well. At the end of 2017, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United is partnering with Oaklands Ella Baker Center to open Colors, a full-service restaurant that will also house training for workers, restaurant owners and the public.

Theres an urgency to this work, Kirnon added.

Theres this huge shift in Oakland going on, she said. The citys African American population declined by 25 percent between 2000 and 2010 alone, and gentrification is pushing even more people out.

Theres a generation of folks here who are saying, look, in order for us to feel represented in a city thats changing so rapidly, these are the things we believe in and these are the causes we fight for, Kirnon said. Its not just something to put on a menu.

Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jonkauffman
For the past 10 years, Ive been writing mysteries and thrillers, including Drop By Drop, where rogue elements of the CIA and the Russian Federal Security Service conspire to re-elect an American president. Still, nothing in my experience or imagination prepared me for whats been going on between just-elected Donald Trump and Russia.

A pro-Russia American president seems like a character in a thriller novel, but this is real life.

In recent weeks, the media have run stories on how the Russian government hacked into the servers of the Democratic National Committee to help Trump win the White House. This is not news. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., said in a Sept. 28 statement  more than five weeks before election day  the clear consensus of the intelligence community is that the Russian government was behind the hack.

On Oct. 7, the U.S. director of national intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security said the hacked emails were intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.

Disclosures from the hacks sowed dissension among factions of the Democratic Party just when they should have been joining forces for the fall campaign. What other reason could there have been for the hacks but to influence the election and to undercut our democracy? Who could have given approval other than Russian President Vladimir Putin? At a news conference just this past Friday, a smiling Putin said, No one but us believed in [Trumps] victory.

So, why did Russia favor Trump? Well, theres no love lost between Hillary Clinton and Putin. In 2011, an angry Putin accused then-Secretary of State Clinton of sending signals to protesters after Russian parliamentary elections. Campaigning this year, she compared Putins occupation of Crimea in 2014 with Hitlers aggression in the 1930s.

In contrast, Trump in 2007 told Larry King on CNN that Putin was doing a great job in rebuilding the image of Russia and also rebuilding Russia period. Trump declared during the campaign that he would be friendly with Putin and not automatically come to the aid of a NATO ally attacked by Russia. Such talk in the wake of Russian armed aggression in Crimea, Ukraine and Georgia must frighten European democracies. It makes no sense either in terms of trade, one of the president-elects favorite issues: The European Union, most of whose members are NATO allies, is Americas single largest trading partner. The United States does over $100 billion more in two-way trade with the European Union than with China and almost $700 billion more than with Russia.

At the GOP convention, Trumps staff weakened a plank that called for giving Ukraine military aid for defense against invading Russian troops. Paul Manafort, then the Trump campaign manager, spent 10 years as a consultant to the pro-Russian Ukrainian president who was ousted in 2014.

Last July, Trump said he had no investments in Russia. However, it sure looks as if funds flowed the other way. In 2008, the president-elects son, Donald Jr., said, Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. He added, We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia. Such an inflow could not have occurred without acquiescence of the Kremlin.

Since the election, Trump has been choosing foreign policy team members with a history of friendship toward Russia. Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, negotiated with a government-controlled Russian oil company to set up a joint-venture that calls for up to $500 billion in investment. Tillerson is Trumps pick as secretary of state and has said he has a very close relationship with Putin.

A tweet from Trump last Thursday was interpreted by some to signal a renewed arms race with Russia. But by the next day, Putin was saying he saw nothing unusual in Trumps desire to strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability, while Trump said he had received a very nice letter from Vladimir Putin; his thoughts are so correct.

Trump said he was no puppet of Russia in his third debate with Clinton. But this may be only a matter of semantics. In August 2016, Michael Morell, a career intelligence officer and the former deputy CIA director, said, In the intelligence business, we would say that Mr. Putin had recruited Mr. Trump as an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation.

The risk is high the Trump administration will do little to counter Russias efforts to extend its tentacles farther into Europe and the Middle East. During the Cold War, the Russians attempted to infiltrate our government with spies like Julius Rosenberg, Rudolf Abel and Aldrich Ames Whether witting or unwitting, our president-elect is a far more valuable asset than any of them.

Having won the Cold War, we run the risk now of losing the peace. Trumps intention to tilt toward Russia was public information before election day. The sad thing is millions of American voters just didnt care.

Keith Raffel spent four years as counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee, where he had access to top secret daily briefings from the CIA. He also has founded an award-winning software company, directed operations at a DNA sequencing company, and run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is the author of five novels and lives in Palo Alto.
Donald Motto spent 13 years in the military. His job, in part, was to dismantle explosives. Chuck Pikula was shot twice on assignment, in Desert Storm and during a mission in Honduras.

Both are aware that thousands of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder can withdraw from help and interaction, especially when questioned about their personal issues.

Enter Purple Heart Anglers, a Bay Area organization founded by Randy Houston to help wounded veterans heal through fishing and hunting trips.

For those with PTSD, fishing can be a common ground, Motto said. Its non-threatening, people enjoy it, and it starts the conversation in a comfortable meeting ground.

Being able to talk with a therapist is great, but it has to be in the right environment, Pikula added. You can go to one of our events, you can either talk or not talk. We help create a great environment, the right timing, the right situation.

Houston started Purple Heart Anglers to honor his older brother Jerry, a Purple Heart recipient who served two tours in Vietnam and died of complications from exposure to Agent Orange. The organization began with fishing trips out of Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay and to Camanche Lake in the foothills east of Stockton. In recent years, its expanded to reach more than 1,800 disabled veterans throughout California, Nevada, Washington and Oregon.

Brandon Chew/Special to the Chronicle

Houston is big, strong and low-key, an avid outdoorsman who was elected into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame by his peers three years ago. Because his message is simple, he gets results. Our mantra is We hunt, fish and eat, Houston said.

In Northern California alone, Houston and his volunteer staff have coordinated more than 100 fishing boats and their owners, many owned by pro guides, to donate their skills and time to take disabled vets fishing. Lodges across the hemisphere have donated trips.

The group recently hit a new high when Giants manager Bruce Bochy led a group on an exotic fishing trip to the Pacific side of Costa Rica for sailfish. Like all of Purple Hearts trips, this one was donated to the organization. Giants broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper also have done public service announcements for the group.

About the series The Sporting Green is highlighting a series of "Holiday Heroes," all of whom are making the world a better place through sports. See More Collapse

Were nonprofit, nonpolitical and non-ego, Houston said. At one of our events, a corporation wanted to sponsor us but wanted to put up one of their banners. I told them it doesnt work that way. We do this because its the right thing to do. Were all volunteers. Nobody is paid. Nobody is looking for credit.

The biggest supporters of the program are the vets themselves who show up on trips to volunteer and help their brothers, Houston said. He said adaptive equipment has been purchased or donated and helped some Purple Hearts make their first fishing trip.

Many of the vets suffer from PTSD, the result of emotional stress from a severe injury or shock, which is invisible to many who do not understand it. When exposed to certain trigger points, the individual can relive the near-death experience and suffer what might look like a mental breakdown.

Vets often try to deal with this alone, Houston said. What we do is put the vets together so they understand that they are not alone. They have each other. They understand each other.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, has championed Purple Heart Anglers. Speier, in an incident she rarely discusses, was shot five times and left for dead at an isolated airstrip in Guyana in 1978 when a group of politicians and journalists tried to escape the mass killings at Jonestown.

Brandon Chew/Special to the Chronicle

Like many who have almost died, she is quick to dismiss her own misfortune in favor of helping others.

For a nanosecond, I was in a war setting, Speier said at a recent dinner. For a nanosecond, I suffered from PTSD. And I tell you, even for that small smidgen of time, I have reactions whenever a car backfires, a firework goes off. Imagine what our veterans, who endure months and months, and years, what we put them through, to help keep our country free.

So when they suffer from PTSD, we should embrace them. Its not anything to be ashamed about. Its something to recognize that it is a factor of war and be there to support them.

Speier recognized Purple Heart Anglers as one of the few organizations that give 100 percent of donations to the vets it serves. All the money raised goes straight to the veterans who have earned a Purple Heart, Speier said. What more can you ask for?

Houston, as with Speier, defers attention and credit.

Its not about me, its about disabled vets, Houston said. On our trips, there are conversations that take place between them that is none of our business. They allow me in and I am grateful for that.

In his office, you will see a folded American flag, and in turn, know there is a story there. It turns out the flag was flown in Afghanistan: a group of vets from the F\5-159th Medevac Unit sent it to Houston after a rescue mission of disabled soldiers.

Pikula said he has long recovered from his gunshot wounds, but like many in his situation, said that he cant help sizing up the people in a room, sits with his back to the wall and finds himself automatically developing a plan to defend himself in every situation. Many with PTSD do this, Houston said.

I have found that going out and spending time, doing something with disabled vets on an event, is a lot more productive for me than sitting in an office with a therapist, talking about your feelings, Pikula said. With other disabled vets around, it becomes a little easier. You feel that camaraderie.

They dont want sympathy, they want understanding, to work through something, Pikula said. Theres not one quick answer that works for everybody how to deal with it.

Speier said Purple Heart Anglers is proof of how a small group of people can impact others. Vets help vets, she said. Thats the key to what Randy Houston does, she said. Its an amazing thing.

A small group of people can change the world, Speier said. In fact, that is the only way it ever happens. Purple Heart Anglers is changing the world for wounded veterans across this country.

Randy Houston can be reached at www.purpleheartanglers.org.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicles outdoors writer. Email tstienstra@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @StienstraTom.
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Im trying to think if I wrote about anything thats not my parents, says Marga Gomez.

The San Francisco performer and comedian has been milking them for material for at least 25 years. She premiered her first solo show, Memory Tricks, about her mother, in 1991 and is reviving it Jan. 27-29 at ACTs Costume Shop. Her latest, Latin Standards, which is about her father, premieres Jan. 11 at the Under the Radar Festival at New Yorks Public Theater, after a workshop production at Brava Theater Center in November.

If that already sounds like a busy month, those engagements are after Bravas fifth annual New Years Eve Comedy Fiesta Saturday, Dec. 31, which Gomez organizes.

Yet in comparison to her father, Willy Chevalier, who wrote for television and radio, in addition to putting together live Latino variety shows, Gomez says she feels very lazy.

His work ethic is a quality she missed, she says, the first time she wrote a show about him, with The Line Around the Block, in 1996, also at the Public. I think partly I was too young to know, to understand my father, she says at an Indian lunch counter next door to Brava Theater in the Mission District.

I think I just in 96 wrote this story about a colorful character who had some drug problems and alcohol problems. Now, she realizes that her father was on a mission to represent the community he was part of. I think he wanted it to break through, to make it last forever, these live performances that he did.

Family lore has it that a talent scout recruited a 17-year-old Chevalier to move to New York from Cuba, where he lip-synced and danced at casinos. This was in an era when Desi Arnaz made Latinos the flavor of the month, says Gomez, so the fact that Chevalier couldnt speak any English didnt seem like a big problem. When it became a problem, the agent abandoned him, and Chevalier found his own way in Latino teatros.

To write Latin Standards, which is directed by David Schweizer, Gomez was aided by a suitcase full of her fathers old scripts, all written in Spanish. But she was also helped by the realization that she is exactly like him.

In the 1996 show, she says, I was very removed. I was looking at him. In Latin Standards, by contrast, I am him, for better or worse.

Latin Standards juxtaposes Gomezs best childhood day with her father, when he was at the height of his creative powers, about to pitch a show to television executives, with a watershed moment in her own creative life: the 2014 closing of Esta Noche, the pioneering Latino gay bar in the Mission District where Gomez ran a comedy night for two years.

James Tensuan/Special to The Chronicle

If that venue could be mangy  Gomez recalls operating a Sanford and Son-era sound system and having to physically throw people out herself  it was nonetheless a home.

Now theres nothing like it, Gomez says, and shes had to be adaptable to find spaces to perform. To underscore the point, she looked around 24th Streets Punjab Restaurant as if to find the best spot to stage a show, wondering aloud how late the place was open.

Gomez sees her mother, the subject of Memory Tricks, as part of the same performance tradition as the drag queens she performed alongside at Esta Noche  an ironic comparison, given her mothers reaction to Gomezs lesbianism.

A dancer who went by the name Margo the Exotic, Gomezs mother was like a femme fatale, Gomez says. Her wardrobe was just stunning. Thats all she cared about. ... She dressed like a drag queen, my mom. Thats where they got it from.

Gomez wrote Memory Tricks as a way of dealing with the grief of her mothers Alzheimers  a humiliating disease for anyone, Gomez says, but especially for someone as vain as her mother was. The weekend-long run at ACTs Costume Shop will be the first time Gomez has performed the show since the 1990s.

First, though, is the New Years Eve Comedy Fiesta, and Gomez says this show will be the last. She first did one five years ago, around the time when Eddie Brill, then a booker for The Late Show With David Letterman, made widely publicized remarks disparaging female comedians. Gomez saw the New Years Fiesta as a chance to put forward a different vision of comedy, one that was social justice, feminist, enlightened, not douchey.

Priya Prasad hosts this years event, with Gomez, Tom Ammiano and Carla Clayy as headliners and special guests Butch Escobar and Chey Bell. Proceeds benefit Brava.

I dont have any of the actual jokes yet, Gomez says, raising her eyebrows. But she knows that, given the election, she cant be an hole anymore in 2017. So I think Im just going to let it all out in my 15 minutes here. Im just going to say goodbye  just like little doves  to all the s things I do as a human being.

In 2017, she says, the comedians have to be the empaths. Its kind of on us.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

Marga Gomez

Fifth Annual Bravas New Years Eve Comedy Fiesta: Saturday, Dec. 31. $35-$50. Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., S.F. www.brava.org

Memory Tricks: Jan. 27-29. $15-$25. ACTs Costume Shop, 1119 Market St., S.F. http://memorytricks.brownpapertickets.com
A towering Seussian sculpture of the wings of Icarus  made from reclaimed computer motherboards  looms near the entrance of downtown San Franciscos new DaDa Bar. In the same room hang portraits of Amy Sedaris, Pamela Anderson, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, all of which are made completely from garbage.

The art is part of a massive collection of pop culture pieces spread throughout the bars 4,000 square feet on Post Street. Local artists contributed heavily to DaDas quirky decor, and for the bars owners, Timothy Landregan and Michael Gouddou, San Francisco needs thought-provoking art now more than ever.

San Francisco is really in danger of becoming a one-note city, Landregan said. We need to look after our artists, because theyre part of the fabric of the city.

The duo have opened a retooled version of DaDa in the long-vacant space on the ground floor of the Mechanics Institute building, a stones throw away from the bars old location on Second Street, which closed in late October. The move pairs the art-themed bar and gallery with the Mechanics Institute, the citys longtime home to writers, chess players and scholars.

The bars relocation wasnt without contentious moments, however. Condo owners at the Ritz-Carlton around the corner fought against the liquor license transfer that allowed DaDa to move to its new location.

The Post Street spot, once the famed Old Poodle Dog restaurant, is about three times as a large as the old Second Street address, which new owners are turning into a restaurant.

Landregan and Gouddou think DaDas increased space will benefit more local artists. For years, the bar has been known as a place where emerging talent can cut their teeth and gain exposure. And in the aftermath of the deadly Ghost Ship fire in Oakland, renewed attention has been drawn to the Bay Areas shortage of art spaces and collectives.

Theres a lot of high art, expensive art in the city. But the up-and-coming artists dont have opportunities to have their work seen. The price is just too high for space here, Gouddou said.

If artists continue to be squeezed out of the city, Landreau said the San Francisco of 20 to 30 years ago is going to be gone.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Ralph Lewin, executive director of the Mechanics Institute, said DaDas inclusion into the Mechanics Institute community could lead to a modern version of the Monkey Block  San Franciscos Bohemian center from the late 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. Other current tenants of the building include Litquake, Zyzzyva and the Writers Studio, in addition to authors and literary agents.

Lewin said DaDa can be more than just a bar. Years ago when Ambrose Bierce, Jack London and Mark Twain would spend time in the Monkey Block, theyd find the nearest bar and share ideas.

Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

In the DaDaist movement, there are timeless values that are part of the DNA of San Francisco  questioning why things exist the way they do, pointing out absurdities and sometimes embracing the beauty of the way things exist, Lewin said. Theres more meaning in the DaDa bar space.

At its new address, DaDa will be open all day, with cocktails like Manhattans on the drink menu and coffee and pastries available during the daytime hours. In terms of design, 65 Post St. captures the spirit of 1920s San Francisco with its refurbished lighting fixtures, restored hardwood floors, and Victorian-based pink and light brown accent colors.

The original DaDaists that met at Cafe Voltaire in Zurich in 1916 were a collective of artists and intellectuals against nationalism, materialism and capitalism. Drawing a parallel between the issues of then and now isnt difficult, Landregan said.

Look at where we are today, Landregan said. Now is the time we need these safe spaces, the locations where artists and creative people can gather and feel comfortable enough to talk about issues.

And if you dont want to do that, if you just want to drink and watch the Warriors game, then thats fine, too.

DaDa Bar: 65 Post St., between Kearny and Montgomery, S.F. (415) 357-1367.

Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips
The Festival of Lights just got a little darker in San Francisco after someone made off with the giant Hanukkah menorah in Washington Square park.

The 6-foot-tall menorah, or ceremonial candelabrum, which was installed two weeks ago in the northeast corner of the park, was reported stolen on Christmas, shortly before celebrants were scheduled to light the first two of its eight candles to kick off the second night of Hanukkah.

We didnt think somebody could make off with something that big, said Miryum Mochkin, co-director of the North Beach branch of the Jewish group Chabad, which owns the 100-pound menorah and sponsors the celebration.

The theft, Mochkin said, was being regarded by the group as a hate crime even if the bad guy was a metal thief and the motive purely pecuniary.

At the end of the day, someone that evil, who would target a religious symbol, is a person of darkness, Mochkin said. Were a celebration of light. Theyre stuck in a dark place.

In a statement, San Francisco police said the crime is being investigated by detectives out of Central Station.

Metal recyclers are asked to be on the lookout for anyone attempting to sell large ... pieces as recycled metal, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak.

The menorah is made of brass-colored steel, which means that a metal thief hoping to get the $1 per pound that brass fetches from a metal recycler might instead get 5 cents per pound. Unless the recycler recognizes the metal as stolen goods, in which case the thief might get jailed for violating the California penal code equivalent of the Eighth Commandment. Anyone with information about the theft should call the police anonymous tip line at (415) 474-4444.

The menorah is the focal point of the annual Hanukkah holiday, which celebrates the miracle said to have occurred in 165 B.C. in Jerusalem, when one nights worth of oil somehow lasted for eight nights.

The copped candlestick is not exactly a one-of-a-kind artifact. On the online shopping bazaar Amazon, the identical model of giant menorah was offered for sale Monday for $849.99, plus $41.97 shipping.

Only 18 left in stock, the listing said.

The Chabad group is fighting back by reimagining its lighting ceremony. On Monday night, it was organizing a community menorah lighting by urging anyone with a family menorah to bring it to the park. Instead of one large menorah, the group was hoping for dozens or perhaps hundreds of smaller ones, Mochkin said.

And it is adamantly not offering a reward for the giant menorahs return.

We dont pay ransom, Mochkin said. Wed rather buy a new one than reward a thief.

Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF
Some bookstores have been known to host impromptu musical events, musicians setting up wherever there might be room. On the other hand, Bird & Beckett Books & Records, named for Charlie Parker and Samuel Beckett, routinely features shows, offering a rare mix of jazz and literature. On New Years Eve, the Glen Park store will host a pre-midnight show by the Jazz Philanthropists Union. The music goes from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., and theres no admission charge. Bird & Beckett Books & Records is at 653 Chenery St., San Francisco. (415) 586-3733. More information: www.birdbeckett.com

 John McMurtrie
Three Chinese stock traders are facing federal insider trading charges for allegedly hacking into the computer networks of two prominent law firms to steal confidential emails and other information related to active mergers and acquisitions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of New York unveiled parallel charges Tuesday accusing Iat Hong, Bo Zheng and Hung Chin of netting about $4 million in illegal profits from stock trades based on nonpublic information from April 2014 to late 2015.

The traders were also charged with attempting to breach five other law firms for the same purpose.

Lawyers have become increasingly attractive targets to hackers in recent years given the amount of sensitive data that they inherently traffic in.

This case of cyber meets securities fraud should serve as a wake-up call for law firms around the world: You are and will be targets of cyber hacking, because you have information valuable to would-be criminals, said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in a statement announcing his offices 13-count indictment against the stock traders.

The names of the hacked law firms werent revealed Tuesday, but the charges indicate that one of the firms was breached during its involvement in two separate transactions tied to Bay Area companies.

According to the indictment, one firm was tapped to represent Intel in its $16.7 billion acquisition of integrated circuit maker Altera. After breaching the firms network, the hackers allegedly extracted 2.8 gigabytes of emails between January and February 2015. Based on information on the emails, they bought 210,000 Altera shares. Intel announced its intent to acquire Altera on June 1, 2015, netting the traders $1.4 million in profit.

An Intel spokesman said the company had no comment on the matter. In a press release announcing the Altera deal, Intel named law firms Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and Weil Gotshal & Manges. In March, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal investigators were looking into reports of hacks at Weil Gotshal and another law firm, Cravath Swain & Moore.

Weil Gotshal declined to comment on the reports.

The firm cited as the target in the Intel-Altera deal was also retained by an unnamed company that was considering acquiring Brisbane biotech firm InterMune in June 2014. Over the course of about 20 days, the traders downloaded 50 gigabytes of information from the law firms servers and purchased 18,000 InterMune shares.

The firms client ended up dropping its bid for InterMune. The company was eventually purchased by Swiss drug giant Roche for $8.3 billion in August 2014, a deal that federal officials say netted the traders about $380,000. Roche did not respond to requests for comment.

The second law firm was hacked in April 2015 while providing counsel to business services company Pitney Bowes, which was working to buy e-commerce company Borderfree. The traders allegedly made $841,000 after sifting through confidential information lifted from the law firm. Cravath Swain & Moore represented Pitney Bowes in the Borderfree deal.

The Chinese traders used unlawfully obtained credentials stolen from employees of the respective firms to initiate the hacks, according to the indictment. The traders then allegedly installed malware that gave them access to the firms email servers, and to accounts of attorneys who were working on mergers and acquisitions.

The traders bought shares of companies who appeared to be for sale, but before any sale was announced. Stock prices of target companies usually rise on news of an acquisition, giving traders with nonpublic information an unfair advantage.

The indictments Tuesday in some ways echo the insider trading charges levied against an information-technology employee at prominent Silicon Valley law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. In June 2015, Dmitry Braverman was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to using confidential information to trade shares in companies that the firm was advising in deals.

Last year, the American Bar Association reported that 15 percent of law firms have experienced a cybersecurity breach due to a hack, physical break-in or stolen smartphone. Larger firms may be more attractive targets: The Bar Association said that 1 in 4 law firms with at least 100 attorneys saw breaches.

In 2012, the association reported that just 10 percent of law firms had experienced a breach. Notably, its research also indicated that 47 percent of the 90,000 lawyers it surveyed had no response plan in place to address a security breach.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
Japanese electronics company Panasonic and U.S. electric carmaker Tesla said Tuesday that they plan to begin production of solar cells at a factory in Buffalo, N.Y.

The two companies said they reached an agreement calling for Panasonic, based in Tokyo, to pay capital costs for the manufacturing. Palo Altos Tesla made a long-term purchase commitment to Panasonic.

Their companies gave no financial figures.

The agreement builds off an existing relationship between Tesla and Panasonic, which includes making lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles and solar storage at Teslas $5 billion Gigafactory being built outside Reno, as well as developing next-generation technology at Teslas expanding plant in Fremont.

The factory in Buffalo is under development by SolarCity Corp., the San Mateo, solar panel company that was recently acquired by Tesla. The photovoltaic cells and modules will be used in solar panels for non-solar roof products and solar glass tile roofs that Tesla plans to begin making, the companies said.

Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk was chairman of SolarCity and a major investor in both companies.

Production at the Buffalo factory is due to begin in mid-2017.

New York state has committed $750 million to build and outfit the plant at Buffalos RiverBend site, the centerpiece of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomos program designed to revitalize the upstate regions largest city.

SolarCity has committed to investing $5 billion over 10 years in New York, hiring almost 1,500 workers at the Buffalo plant for five years and employing at least 2,000 more people across New York in exchange for use of the state-owned plant.

In October, when word emerged about the possible manufacturing collaboration, the head of New Yorks economic development agency said SolarCity will be held to job creation promises made when the state committed funding to build and outfit the plant, which is expected to begin production next summer.
Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle 2016

A Hayward High graduate who served in the Marine Corps was shot dead in a residential area of East Oakland on Monday night, police said.

Police found Kristopher Killian, a 23-year-old Oakland resident, suffering from gunshot wounds at 7:20 p.m. on the 2600 block of Humboldt Avenue. Officers called emergency personnel to provide aid, but Killian was pronounced dead shortly after the call, police said.
An Eye for an Eye: Documentary about Mark Stroman, who killed Muslims to avenge 9/11. He was convicted of murder in 2002, and filmmaker Ilan Ziv interviewed him over seven years on Texas Death Row.

Long Way North: A French animated film, with English subtitles, about a girl in 19th century Russia who is worried about her scientist grandfather who has not returned from an expedition to the North Pole.
Mozarts music is both a cause for celebration and a balm for the inexorable passage of time  which means its the perfect musical accompaniment for the New Years weekend.

The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, led by Music Director Benjamin Simon, has assembled a free all-Mozart program in memory of the orchestras founder, Edgar Braun. Included in the lineup is a solo turn by bass Brad Walker  currently an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera  and pianist Robert Schwartz, who plays the great D-Minor Piano Concerto, K. 466.

The Prague Symphony and the overture to The Marriage of Figaro complete the evening.

 Joshua Kosman

Mozart in the City: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30. Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. Hertz Hall, UC Berkeley. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St. Mountain View. Free. (415) 463-6710. www.thesfco.org
1 Christmas jailbreak: Authorities in Tennessee said Monday that they had recaptured five of six inmates who broke out of jail on Christmas. The Cocke County Sheriffs Office said six inmates escaped from the jail in Newport early Sunday after removing a toilet from the wall and going through a hole behind it that led to the outside of the facility. The sheriffs office said prior plumbing repairs had loosened the concrete holding the toilet. Five of the inmates had been recaptured by Monday night.

2 Plane crash: Fresno fire officials said two people died after the single-engine airplane they were in crashed shortly after takeoff Monday. The plane had departed from Sierra Sky Park Airport when it went down at the edge of a pond north of the facility. The two victims were not immediately identified. Krystal Kerkezian told the Fresno Bee newspaper that she was in her backyard and saw the plane take off, make a hard right turn and plunge directly into the water.
RALEIGH, N.C.  North Carolinas next Democratic governor has seen a deal he helped broker to repeal the states law limiting LGBT protections fall apart, and several of his powers were stripped away by the states Republican-dominated legislature. And he hasnt even been sworn in yet.

Gov.-elect Roy Cooper has pledged to keep his campaign promises to bend back the rightward course of the state. But with only a 10,000-vote victory over GOP Gov. Pat McCrory and bitter partisan distrust in this deeply divided state, hes already slipped along the rocky path he must walk to work successfully with the legislature. And Republicans will maintain veto-proof majorities in 2017.
NEW YORK  If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Obamas approach to Israel, he may have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for U.S. ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israels government. So far to the right is Friedman that even many Israel supporters worry he could push Israels hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedmans selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the U.S. and Israel, punctuated Friday by the Obama administrations stunning move to allow a U.N. Security Council resolution to pass condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of U.S. tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited angry condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

Things will be different after Jan. 20th, Trump vowed on Twitter.

Friedman, certainly, is different.

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman does not. Hes called the two-state solution a mere narrative that must end.

Under Obama, the U.S. has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Not Friedman. He accuses Obama of blatant anti-Semitism and calls J Street worse than kapos, a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades the U.S. has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast War. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

Friedmans nomination already has sharpened the growing divisions among American Jews, between those who want the U.S. to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obamas approach abandoned Americas closest Mideast ally.

Its a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedmans father was rabbi for almost half a century.

Clearly, Davids opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue, said Ken Fink, the synagogues president and longtime congregant. But theres a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy.

The rabbis son went on to become Trumps bankruptcy lawyer, a vocal advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trumps choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

If confirmed, Friedman is expected to be the face of Trumps dramatic shift in posture. While Obamas relationship with Netanyahu was famously fraught, Friedman has said Trump will take his cues from Israels wishes.
A gunman opened fire on an Uber driver in San Franciscos Hayes Valley neighborhood on Christmas Eve, authorities said Tuesday, leaving the motorist badly shaken but uninjured.

The episode began around 3 a.m. Saturday when the driver, who was not identified, was waiting to pick up a passenger at Gough and Oak streets, said Sgt. Michael Andraychak, a San Francisco police spokesman.
Ransom is a perfectly adequate, by-the-numbers broadcast TV thriller. There are a lot of shows just like it, some better, some worse, and they help pay the bills for broadcast networks.

Thats about the only reason Ransom exists. The show has a special premiere on Sunday, Jan. 1, before moving to its regular Saturday time slot Jan. 7. Even in the time-shifting era, Saturday is still considered like Gods waiting room for shows that the networks arent all that high on.

Luke Roberts stars as Eric Beaumont, a specialist in crisis and hostage negotiations, loosely based on the career of Laurent Combalbert. Beaumonts core team includes Zara Hallam (Nazneen Contractor) and Oliver Yates (Brandon Jay McLaren). In essence, this could have been easily mistaken for CSI: Kidnapping.

The pilot episode involves the cold case of a boy kidnapped as a toddler. After several years, kidnappers notify the boys parents that they have him and will release him for a $5 million ransom.

The premiere episode is less about Beaumont getting the kid back and more about setting the details of the shows premise. A young woman named Maxine Carlson (Sarah Greene) has been rejected for employment by Beaumont but isnt about to give up. Although shes been offered major jobs in security and the law, she only wants to work for Beaumont and insinuates herself into his current case to get him to hire her.

She has reasons for wanting the job beyond the need to pay the rent, and as the episode ends, it becomes more about who she is and why she wants to work for Beaumont than actually saving the kid from being killed by kidnappers. Accordingly, it is oddly devoid of drama.

The series was created by Frank Spotnitz, creator of Amazons Man in the High Castle, and David Vainola, and is a multinational production with participation from French, Canadian, German and U.S. entities. Maybe it will play better in other countries than it does in the U.S., where it feels pretty run of the broadcast mill.

David Wiegand is an assistant managing editor and the TV critic of The San Francisco Chronicle and co-host of The Do List every Friday morning at 6:22 and 8:22 on KQED FM, 88.5 FM in San Francisco, 89.3 FM in Sacramento. Follow him on Facebook. Email: dwiegand@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV

Ransom: Dramatic series. Special premiere 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 1; time slot premiere 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, on CBS.
Stephen Curry may be a superstar, but he's not above dressing up as Santa Claus for the holidays.

Curry donned a red suit, beard and even a potbelly this Christmas to amuse his daughters Riley and Ryan. While in costume, he even did a little dance, captured on film by wife Ayesha and posted to Instagram on Tuesday.
BATANGAS, Philippines  A powerful typhoon blew out of the northern Philippines on Monday after killing at least six people and spoiling Christmas in several provinces, where more than 380,000 people abandoned celebrations at home to reach emergency shelters and other safer grounds.

Typhoon Nock-Ten cut power to five entire provinces due to toppled electric towers and trees, dimming Christmas celebrations in Asias largest Catholic nation. More than 300 flights were delayed or rescheduled and ferries were barred from sailing, stranding more than 12,000 holiday travelers.

Six people died from drowning or by being pinned by fallen trees, poles and a collapsed concrete wall in the provinces of Quezon and Albay, southeast of Manila, after the typhoon made landfall in Catanduanes province Sunday night, officials said.

Many military camps and outposts in Catanduanes and outlying provinces were damaged and some troops were injured, the military said.

Nock-Ten, locally known as Nina, then blew west across mountainous and island provinces, damaging homes, uprooting trees and knocking down communications.

After weakening on landfall, the typhoon had sustained winds of up to 74 mph and gusts of 111 mph when it blew into the South China Sea after battering the congested provinces of Batangas and Cavite, south of Manila, government forecasters said.

A cargo ship with about two dozen crewmen radioed for help as their vessel started to list off Batangas. It later ran aground and turned on its side in Mabini town, the coast guard said.

The storm was one of the strongest to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan left more than 7,300 people dead or missing and displaced over 5 million in 2014. But officials in some provinces found it difficult to convince people to abandon their Christmas celebrations and head for the shelters before the storm hit. Some officials said they had to impose forced evacuations.

Some residents just refused to leave their homes even when I warned them that you can face what amounts to a death penalty, said Cedric Daep, a top disaster-response official in Albay.

Shopping malls and stores were ordered to close early on Christmas Day to encourage people to remain indoors, but at the height of the typhoon, many cars were still being driven around and people were out walking, Daep said. We warned them enough, but we just cant control their mind.
MIRPUR KHAS, Pakistan  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 Jeevtis age; few of this countrys 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.

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.

Its 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.

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.

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 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.

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 laborers.
BIDI BIDI CAMP, Uganda  I dont want to go back, James Issac declared, just minutes after becoming a refugee. I dont want to die.

For two days, the 30-year-old from South Sudans Equatoria region navigated his way out of civil war, riding a motorcycle along dirt roads and avoiding government soldiers who, according to accounts by refugees, have taken aim at civilians.

In his last steps on South Sudanese soil, Issac passed a group of rag-tag rebel soldiers and crossed a rickety bridge into Uganda, and safety.

I am happy, he said, as Ugandan soldiers searched his belongings for contraband. There (are) no problems here.

He is one of 440,000 refugees who have fled South Sudans spiraling conflict into Uganda this year alone, creating some of the worlds largest refugee camps in just six months time.

More than one million refugees have fled South Sudan, spilling across borders in East Africa as the international community warns that the conflict and its ethnic violence could destabilize the region.

Since fighting erupted in South Sudans capital, Juba, in July and left a peace agreement in tatters, the worlds youngest country has experienced ethnic cleansing and teeters on the brink of genocide, according to the United Nations.

Those fleeing have turned Ugandas northwest from an empty bushland into a sprawling complex of refugee settlements. The largest, Bidi Bidi, is a pop-up city that holds roughly 260,000 people weary of war. Last week the U.N. announced the Bidi Bidi camp had stopped taking new arrivals because it was full, and it directed South Sudanese to nearby locations.

Unlike other counties in the region, Uganda has embraced the refugees, according to Charlie Yaxley, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency.

Maliki Drakuma, the town clerk of the local Yumbe government and the owner of a mobile phone store near the refugee settlements, compared the nearby border to a two-way street because he and many other Ugandans have been refugees themselves.
Church Sued for Sexual Abuse Again

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe faces

. A priest who surfaced in Morocco this year is the focus of a lawsuit filed last week by a New Mexico man who alleges that he was sexually abused as a teenager by Arthur Perrault at the University of Albuquerque campus, Oliver Uyttebrouck reports. Another lawsuit filed against the archdiocese last week alleges that a former Las Vegas priest sexually abused seven San Miguel County residents when they were children in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Candidates Lining Up for 2018 Governor's Race

KOBs Caleb James looks ahead at

now that Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced her bid.

Lujan Grisham Named Senior Whip

Lujan Grisham is having a pretty good winter. Last week, she was

by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland. As senior whip, Lujan Grisham with help develop strategy on votes. Lujan Grisham is also the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Senator Proposes Eliminating Education Post

Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque, wants voters in New Mexico to

and return to an elected state board of education to oversee public schools. Before that happens, lawmakers will have to approve allowing voters to consider amending the state's Constitution.

Wirth Wants Stricter Campaign Finance Reporting Laws

Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, thinks 2017 may be the right time to

. Andrew Oxford reports the new Senate majority leader will propose stricter fundraising and campaign spending reports and restrict so-called super PACs, or political action committees, from coordinating with candidates. Wirths measure would also give prosecutors more power to go after campaign finance law violators.

Welfare Program Criticized

New Mexico Voices for Children issued a report showing the states

of helping families out of poverty through education and job training. The nonprofit advocacy group recommends an increase in education program investments, and that it should figure out a way to ensure that parents in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program have access to child care assistance and preschool.

Wind Energy Capacity Grows

If developers are successful,

in New Mexico over the next few years. Kevin Robinson-Avila reports:

Generous federal subsidies and major improvements in wind technology have combined to make wind-generated electricity a low-cost option today for utilities and corporations seeking renewable energy. Thats generating a surge in wind projects, here and in other states.



More than a gigawatt of wind capacity is now under construction or planned in New Mexico, said Jeremy Lewis, bureau chief for the energy, conservation and management division at the state Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department.

New Mexico Earthquake Causes No Damage

While we were also rushing to get ready for the holiday weekend last Friday, the US Geological Survey reported

in a remote area just south of the New Mexico-Colorado border last Friday. There were no reports of damage from the quake, which occurred around 12:30 pm Friday. The epicenter was about 17 miles northwest of Cimarron and about 90 miles northeast of Santa Fe.

Top 10 News Stories

Ahead of the new year, New Mexico Political Report is taking a look at the states

. See whats on the list so far.

Santa Fe Reporter
Intueri Education Group's Australian Conwal & Associates unit has been rejected from provisional entry to the VET student loan scheme transition period, a week after having its application for a hike in funding turned down.

The Auckland-based company had to slash earnings guidance last week after its application for an A$6 million increase in funding for the Conwal unit was turned down, and it's now been told by Australia's Department of Education and Training that it missed out on provisional entry to the funding scheme's transition period between Jan. 1 and June 30.

A large percentage of students in Intueri's Australian businesses, Online Courses Australia (OCA) and Conwal, are funded through a scheme that helps either pay some or all of a student's fees, known as VET Fee-Help. The Australian government imposed a cap on the scheme this year, holding all providers to their 2015 revenue levels, and closed it to new students after the end of 2016.

Intueri overhauled its Australian businesses after audits by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) found OCA and Conwal weren't compliant with its standards, bringing its programmes under the Conwal umbrella, which it wants to keep as a registered training organisation, and teaching out current VFH students in 2017.

The NZX-listed company's shares have plunged 94 percent so far this year, and last traded at 4 cents. It listed in May 2014 at $2.35 in what was a boom year for initial public offerings. The company is now valued at just $4 million by market capitalisation.

(BusinessDesk)

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Journey and Footprints, an artwork by a group of students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The high-altitude Ruoergai Grassland in northern Sichuan province attracts tourists today for picturesque wetlands and diverse wildlife. More than 80 years ago, however, the scene was less tranquilthe Red Army fighting against harsh terrain and weather during the Long March, a military retreat the Communist Party of China conducted from 1934-36.

Historical records show the grassland claimed some 10,000 Red Army soldiers, who died of illness, starvation, coldness and other reasons.

Last September, Zhang Lujiang, a professor of Beijing's Central Academy of Fine Arts, and a team of young teachers and students, visited Red Army sites in the area. They spent two weeks retracing the route that Red Army soldiers undertook to survive the hostile natural environment while finding a gateway to the north to evade the Kuomintang army's pursuit.

Zhang's team returned to Beijing's studios and painted a group of oil canvases, titled Red Army's Recipes, which are now on show at a grand exhibition at the capital city's National Art Museum of China.

Art Rally of the Long March shows dozens of artworks in various mediums, including paintings, sculptures, animations, videos and designs, which artists at the CAFA produced over the past year to reinterpret the spirit of the Long March.

Teachers and students worked in groups to retrace some of the routes.

The exhibition is the latest of several shows since last year to mark the 80th anniversary of the completion of Long March.
NEW DELHI: Home appliances maker Whirlpool of India is eyeing $1 billion revenue by 2020 on the back of new product innovations and growing Indian economy.

"India is a growth market for Whirlpool...With the growing economy, we see a lot of fuel in discretionary space and we have got plenty of opportunity in categories we operate. We are aiming for $1 billion turnover by 2020," Whirlpool of India Managing Director Sunil DSouza told PTI.

The company, which reported turnover of Rs 3,488 crore in the financial year 2015-16, recently officially launched its premium built-in kitchen appliance product range under brand 'Kitchen Aid' in India.

Talking about future growth drivers, DSouza said the company is focused on expanding beyond key categories  refrigerators and washers.

"We expect revenue from water, air conditioners, cooking led by built-in appliance categories to grow from 10 per cent at present to about 20 per cent revenue in 4 years," he added.

At present, all Whirlpool's built in product range is imported from Europe in India.

The company is also looking at expanding its manufacturing capacity its plants in the country. Whirlpool of India's plants are located at Faridabad, Pune and Puducherry.

"We had spent Rs 75 crore capex in 2015-16. In current financial year, we plan to take this number up by 25 per cent. For the next financial year, we intend to increase our capex further by 50 per cent over 16-17 base," he added.

$1 billion is equal to about Rs 6,700 crore at present exchange rates.

Read Also:

India Leaves UK Behind To Become The 5th Largest Economy

India Inc Seals $52-Bn M&As In 2016; Eyes Bigger Deals In '17
BHUBANESWAR: India on Monday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast in Balasore district.

This is the fourth and final test of the missile, developed and successfully tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, according to defence sources.

It was launched around 11.05 a.m. from a mobile launcher complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR), the sources said.

"We are analysing the test launch after collecting information from radars. The report suggests it is a successful launch," said an official source.

On January 31, the canisterised version of the missile was successfully test-fired.

Speaking about the Agni-V missile, V.K. Saraswat, former DRDO chief and Niti Aayog member, said: "Right from the beginning, the missile was designed for the canisterised version."

"Agni-V has all the capability to meet evolving threat and operational requirement of India. Now, we should look for introduction of force multipliers like MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle) in the missile."

The Agni-V missile, in its operational form is designed to be stored and launched from the canister, enhancing its storage, operational readiness, transportability, response time and shelf life.

MIRV is a missile payload with several warheads, each capable of being aimed at independent targets. This helps in reducing the efficiency of the anti-ballistic missile capability of the adversary.

The missile employs Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS) for navigation, which support the missile to reach the target point within a few metres of accuracy.

With the success of the final development test, Agni-V is now ready for induction into the strategic arsenal of India.

On why only four tests for clearing the missile for operations, Saraswat said, "DRDO conducted 30-odd launches before inducting Prithvi missiles. Those were the initial days."

"Now, we are using proven technology which does not require large number of tests. DRDO today has high level of instrumentation and the processing capability on ground as well as in the missile is high."

DRDO has been steadily increasing the range of the missiles through redesigning the operational missiles for longer ranges.

Speaking about Agni-V missile's capability to launch satellite, Saraswat said, "It is a building block. It can be used to deliver satellites, below 100 kg weight, into the lower earth orbit (LEO) with addition of a small injecting stage in the missile. We had made studies at that time."

A LEO satellite can be launched during the war to gather information on the "theatre battlefields" for specific requirements.

Agni-V was first tested in 2012 when V.K. Saraswat was the Secretary, DRDO.

The Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V has the capability to strike targets anywhere in all of Asia and parts of Africa and Europe.

The three-stage 17 metres long, 2-metre wide, 50-tonne Agni-V is capable of delivering nuclear warhead of over a tonne to a distance of more than 5,000 km.

Once the Agni-V is inducted into the Indian military, India would join the super exclusive club of countries with ICBMs alongside the US, Russia, China, France and Britain.

The first test of Agni-V was conducted on April 19, 2012, while the second test was launched on September 15, 2013.

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NEW DELHI: Cab aggregator Ola on Tuesday announced an inter-city mobility solution offering 'one way trip fares on Ola Outstation to over 50 cities from Delhi-NCR.

Using 'one-way' fares feature, inter-city commuters from Delhi can travel to cities like Jaipur, Chandigarh, Agra, Dehradun, Haridwar, starting at Rs 11 per km.

"With Ola Outstation, we are aiming to make outstation travel as convenient and reliable as daily commute," said Deep Singh, Business Head, North, Ola, in a statement.

The booking process for Ola Outstation remains the same as booking an Ola Micro or Ola Mini for travel within the city.

The user needs to select 'Outstation' from the category list displayed at the base of the Ola app.

Upon selecting the category and filling in the destination details, the user will have to fill in the date and time at which he/she would like to avail of the service.

After that, the user needs to book from the packages and cab category of his/her choice, the company said.

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[Photo provided to China Daily]

Chongqing-based Japanese artist Kumi Usui's works endorse a belief that "my heart is the universe"  a declaration put forward by Song Dynasty (960-1279) philosopher Lu Jiuyuan.

Her solo exhibition, Ai Yo, is running at The Temple House's A Thousand Plateaus Art Space in Chengdu through Feb 28.

It shows her oil paintings and long-scroll ink works in which she explores the love and formation of lines as essential elements of her visual vocabulary.

The artworks communicate her thoughts on productivity, and the destruction of nature and the human world. Her paintings' shifting lines form patterns that hint at her inner self.

Usui graduated from the oil painting department at Tokyo Musashino Art University in 1992. She then studied at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Chongqing and has stayed in the city for over two decades since.
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6. The first remediated Mr Fluffy blocks went under the hammer This year marked the tipping point for the loose-fill asbestos buyback scheme. More than half of the affected homes have now been demolished and the first five blocks were sold at auction in April, where a whopper 1459 square metre block in Chapman passed in at $660,000.

But amid the controversy surrounding his new job - which was not filled through an open selection process and came with a $300,000 annual salary - Smyth remained unflappable. "I can't comment on the genesis or why people did this," he told The Canberra Times in August. "I made a decision for me. And, no, I don't feel manipulated at all." Redevelopment at the former Brumbies' site in Griffith in late 2015. Credit:Melissa Adams 2. Andrew Barr backed $7.5m Brumbies tax break The Brumbies sale of their former Griffith headquarters to Graham Potts' Amalgamated Property Group has been the subject of controversy for years, but this year culminated in a bitter split between former Brumbies boss Michael Jones and the club's board after Mr Jones ordered an audit into the transactions.
Bangkok: Thailand's Prime Minister has warned Australian miner Kingsgate it would be a waste of time suing his military government over his order to shut down the company's gold mine by December 31.

But Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general, left open the possibility of the mine in central Thailand reopening, saying he only ordered its "suspension" not closure.

The Chatree mine, near Phichit village, will be placed into care and maintenance at the end of the month. Credit:Bloomberg

"I would like to ask the Australian company not to sue us because it will be a waste of time and have no benefit for either side," he was quoted by The Nation newspaper as saying.

"We just suspended the gold mine operation in waiting for the new Mineral Bill to become law and the setting up of a mining committee, so they can investigate the mining operation and its impact on the people."
I don't know about you, but it's at this time of year, when the Christmas rush is over and things slow down  even for those who are "working through"  that I get a bit more philosophical, a bit more reflective.

What exactly did I achieve last year? Is next year going to be all that different? What's the point of working so hard? How can I find a better balance between work and play?

Illustration: Simon Letch

To tell you the truth, I'm divided between all my old professional ambitions and a desire to slow down, smell the roses and have more fun.

Of course, one of the key lessons of economics is that we're often faced by conflicting but desirable objectives, and the answer is to find the best trade-off between them. The particular combination that yields most "utility" (aka happiness).
Some time in 2017 a baby will be born in the United Kingdom with the DNA of three separate parents - one man and two women. This follows the release of guidelines by the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) earlier this month which would allow the creation of this embryo cocktail to take place.

This could make 2017 the year of the three parent embryo. Whether this is a good thing or not is still very much open to debate, but there are many scientists and ethicists who have grave reservations.

IVF cycles in Australia dipped in 2017 but a bigger concern for big ASX companies specialising in the area is competition from low-cost providers. Credit:iStock

The technique is intended to overcome some rare genetic disorders passed to the child through the mother's mitochondria, the tiny part of the human cell that contains the energy needed to power it. Whereas the DNA in a cell's nucleus contains DNA from both the father and the mother, mitochondrial DNA comes from the mother alone.

The problem is that this mitochondrial DNA when faulty, can result in genetic disorders. These can lead to forms of deafness, blindness, dementia and brain disorders.
"A hell day. Collapsed in albergue [pilgrims' hostel]," reads my journal. We are used to wilderness and hills. The hard surfaces and endless stretches of flat terrain wear us down. My boots disintegrate, leaving deep blisters as a mark of their passing. My sons and I remain stoic but my husband, an intrepid and enthusiastic bushwalker, moans constantly. "I only want to finish so I can tell people how bad it is," he says. I take to walking well away from him. I have enough to deal with. "I wake up with a horrible cold, a deaf ear, a sore knee and a HUGE bedbug bite on my cheek. Only two more 30-kilometre days and we will be back on schedule," records my journal. We feel like prisoners on a forced march. But we will not stop.

But as soon as we start, not finishing is unthinkable. It is a mission. We have to complete. We do the maths: 25 kilometres a day with no rest days will bring us in on time. We are all fit and used to walking, we'll be fine.

My main mistake was not allowing enough time. It shouldn't have been hard with six months to spare, but flights out of Santiago were so much cheaper a few days earlier. Thirty days will be plenty, I decided from the distance of Australia. We don't have to do it all.

Hiking 800 kilometres across Spain was my idea. Several friends had done it. All said it was life-changing. I didn't need a walk to change my life, my motivation was more mundane. My husband, my two sons and I had decided to travel for six months. We liked to walk and the Camino would be cheap. Done deal.

Stopping for a much-needed break on the trail.

We bond in shared mirth at our guidebook, which was pressed upon us by a delightful American woman at the start. Our guide, John Brierley, suggests we attach a sign to ourselves  "I am a pilgrim who walks in silence. Peace be with you". He meets the devil  identified by his black-feathered staff  on the track and cries with delight upon locking eyes with a silent shepherd. In our weakened state, we also find the trackside graffiti hilarious. "Don't quit before the miracle," says one scrawl and "If God wanted us to stay in one place he would have given us roots," declares another.

I've had better walking, I've got to say. It is pretty in parts, but nothing compared to Tasmania, New Zealand or Scotland. But still, it grows on me. The albergues are a revelation  remodelled medieval churches, mud-brick hillside cottages and architect showpieces. Many ask only for a donation and throw in breakfast and dinner as well. Most of the wardens, or hospitalleros, are big-hearted and generous. They practise what they preach. One night in an ochre-walled town we drink too much red wine while the hospitallero farewells the sun with his bagpipes. Other wardens, like the one we call the coffee Nazi, have clearly had enough of pilgrims.

The towns are remarkable too, each one distinct. Some are seedy like Wild West towns  red-dirt streets framed by looming cliffs. Others are pretty, all cobbles and flower boxes and bright-blue doors. Ancient villages clinging to hillsides remind me of Nepal. Opulent cathedrals and churches are a given, as are the twiggy mess of stork nests in their eaves.

The other pilgrims are also extraordinary, though often bizarrely annoying. Valentino, a handsome middle-aged Italian, struts up and down in underpants and gold chain and snores like a chainsaw. The over-religious Australian, "I'll thank God by taking a photo," Cynthia and the "I've got five Camino apps, but this one is best" Seattle guy are also memorable. As is the English mountain bike rider determined to ride her bike on every inch of the track, no matter how narrow and rugged. "You can feel the power on the path," she says. We become very fond of a young German couple who turn up magically with information whenever we lose one of our party. This happens more often than you'd think, considering the whole way is marked with yellow arrows. The spirituality and niceness of everyone gets a little wearing at times. Where are the bogans, we wonder?
Taxpayers have spent nearly $3.5 million in two years for a controversial program which gives Australia's major political parties cash for overseas study tours, networking and training events in countries including China, the US, Canada and Britain.

The Liberal and Labor parties are eligible for $1 million each year from the federal government's Australian Political Parties for Democracy Program, with the Greens allocated $200,000 annually.

New figures provided by the Department of Finance show the program cost taxpayers $1.76 million in 2014-15 and $1.68 million in 2015-16.

Labor claimed the most funds in the period, with a combined cost of $1.96 million, compared with $1.08 million for the Liberal Party and $400,000 for the Greens.
It's the holidays. That means sharing pics of your perfectly art-directed, ethically sound beach style on social media. Or maybe just regram these

Insta hit - the Boutique Brollies beach umbrella

These awesome beach umbrellas by Coolangatta-based company The Salty Merchants are an Instagram sensation. Not since 1965 (when these vintage prints were last seen) has a sun shade looked this good and been this durable.

Boutique Brollies are vintage inspired, hand made beach umbrellas perfect for Summer. Credit:Instagram

Owners Lachlan (a surfer who also makes fins) and Megan Leckie learned the umbrella-maker's craft from "one of Australia's last and finest umbrella makers", and now make their own brollies locally using timber poles, original Bakelite handles, marine-grade hinges designed to last a lifetime and either printed canvas or recycled vinyl tops trimmed with natural cotton. We like.
See above. 2. Calling Lebanese immigration a "mistake" When I first called for Dutton's resignation last month, after he singled out Lebanese Muslims as Malcolm Fraser's "immigration mistakes," I did so knowing his words would have real-world consequences. As well as justifying our indefensible asylum seeker policy, Dutton's words, coming a time of escalating anti-Muslim sentiment, did not, as he claimed, lay the groundwork for a sensible discussion of radicalism and immigration. Rather, they merely added to and amplified the cacophony of voices that, defying logic and history, insist the answer to the question of international terrorism can be found in  and only in  Islamic scripture, thereby demonising anyone who happens to have been born into a Muslim family.

Sure enough, in an "exclusive report" earlier this month, the Daily Telegraph's Sharri Markson (whose career highlights include going undercover as a university student and rifling through the bins of rival media publications) claimed the Australian Citizenship Test is being revamped to keep out "Muslim extremists, troublemakers and dole bludgers." Incredibly, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's response to this debacle was to describe Dutton as "an outstanding immigration minister." 3. "Mad f---ing witch" Dutton's year got off to a flying start way back in January, when, seeking to console his mate Jamie Briggs  who had just been ousted from the junior ministry for "inappropriate conduct" with a female public servant  he sent Briggs a text message referring to News Corp journalist Samantha Maiden as a "mad f---ing witch." Maiden's transgression? She had done her job and reported that Briggs had violated a woman's privacy by circulating of photo of the two of them, after promising he would protect her privacy.

Yes, Dutton's response to a colleague's blatant disrespect of a woman was to himself disrespect another woman. Of course, in a stunning display of his own incompetency, and a harbinger of the year to come, Dutton mistakenly sent that text to Maiden herself. 4. Climate change isn't real... or it is, and it's a funny joke Last year, the Australian public was treated to another accidentally-enlightening glimpse into the mind of our immigration minister. In an exchange with Social Services Minister Scott Morrison and then Prime Minister Tony Abbott at a community roundtable in Canberra, the trio joked about the recent Pacific Islands Forum in Papua New Guinea, which had not run to schedule.

Captured by a fortuitously-placed boom mic, Dutton dropped this pearler: "Time doesn't mean anything when you're, you know, about to have water lapping on your door." What is most extraordinary about this footage is the clandestine admission of what the Abbott government, and to a lesser extent the current government under Turnbull, publicly downplayed: the disastrous reality of climate change. 5. "Illiterate" refugees: Dole bludgers and/or jobstealers (you decide) Way back in May, in the midst of the election, Dutton responded to The Greens' proposal to boost Australia's refugee intake to 50,000, by invoking Schroedinger's immigrant  the foreigner who simultaneously steals "Aussie" jobs while also languishing on the dole. "They won't be numerate or literate in their own language, let alone English," he said ominously on Sky News.

"For many of them they would languish in unemployment queues and on Medicareso there would be huge cost and there's no sense in sugar-coating that, that's the scenario." And for those not on the dole? "These people would be taking Australian jobs, there's no question about that." For an immigration minister, Dutton appears to not like immigrants very much. But perhaps that's the point. 6. Denied a pregnant asylum seeker an abortion after she'd been raped It's no secret that the Immigration Minister presides over a bottomless pit of cruelty that is our asylum seeker policy. But last year, it reached a new nadir when a court found Dutton had breached his duty of care when he refused to fly a pregnant asylum seeker, who claimed she had been raped, from Nauru (where abortion is illegal) to Australia, despite grave fears for her mental health.

The Somali woman, known only as Abyan, later gave birth to the baby. Meanwhile, Dutton, ever keen to portray himself and the first world government he represents as victims (of vulnerable asylum seekers he paints as a coalition of powerful bullies), proudly declared that by no means would he be taken for a "mug" by allowing pregnant detainees to travel to Australia for medical treatment. 7. Ranked as worst Health Minister in 35 years Dutton is not just an inept immigration minister  his woes began long before he took this particular office. At the beginning of 2015, shortly after he was demoted to the immigration portfolio, a survey of 1,100 doctors found Dutton to be the worst health minister in 35 years. Proving his shortcomings are a lack of competency as well as empathy, one doctor, who was among the 47 per cent to give Dutton the dubious honour, said: "Dutton will be remembered as the dullest, least innovative and most gullible for swallowing the reforms from his think tank. Loading
Photographer Jon Lewis has been capturing the many faces of Sydney in a series of engaging black and white portraits.

Lewis has been collating these portraits into an Instagram series "sydneystreetportraits"  which shows just how diverse our city is.

"I shot black and white, because it makes the viewer use their imagination to colour the image ... in this way it makes the viewer a participant, not just an observer." Credit:Jon Lewis

"I was trying to meet a friend in Town Hall ... he couldn't make it so I thought how do I spend this time? I began photographing people right in the heart of Sydney. That's how the project started," Lewis told Fairfax Media.

As a photographer, Lewis has been documenting Australia since the 1970s. A member of Sydney's "Yellow House" collective in the early 70s, he went on to help found Greenpeace Australia. His latest work focuses on Sydney as a multicultural success story.
James Bond has an IQ of 150 and can't get into university.

Despite testimony from former prime minister Julia Gillard, NSW Labor frontbencher Mick Veitch and former deputy premier Andrew Stoner, Mr Bond has been rejected for his PhD by three different universities, Newcastle, Macquarie and the University of Sydney, because he has dyslexia, he says.

In a complaint lodged with the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board Mr Bond alleges the University of Sydney is discriminating against students with a disability by not providing support services to allow them to enrol them in university.

Mr Bond, who had a supervisor at the University of Sydney willing to supervise his PhD on dyslexia legislation in Scotland and NSW, was unable to gain access to a scribe to complete his proposal to be able to enrol, unless he was already enrolled, according to emails from the university.
South Australians could be buying a couple of kilograms of horse meat along with their beef mince or pork chops as the government looks to review food regulations.

Changes to the Food Standard Code's definition of game meat are being considered, with the likes of horse, possum, camel, deer, donkey or buffalo set to be added to the list.

Possums could be included on the list of game meats to be sold for human consumption. Credit:Justin McManus

Current regulations define game meat as only goat, rabbit, hare, kangaroo, wallaby or birds that have not been confined and can be sold for human consumption.

Should the changes be accepted, it would be legal to slaughter and sell these animals in South Australia. Though horse and donkey meet is already exported, legally neither can be be sold for consumption in Australia under current laws.
Dozens of home addresses of gun owners have been easily obtained in a simple privacy blunder that a veteran police officer fears may be utilised by thieves.

The treasure trove of addresses has been discovered by simple online searches of publicly available information. .

Some of the firearms featured in ads that could be used by gun thieves.

It has prompted a warning from NSW Police's Firearms Squad to "use common sense when providing personal details in conjunction with information about firearms".

A gun owner and veteran police officer, who did not want to be identified, alerted researchers to his findings and a list of about 30 home addresses was passed on to law enforcement to show how much information gun owners were unwittingly revealing.
A 52-year-old woman has been charged after she allegedly ran down a man with a car, pinning him against a fence in a domestic violence incident in Goulburn on Christmas Day.

Police said the 64-year-old man was walking on Valley Walk about 7:30 pm Sunday when he was hit by the car.

The domestic violence incident happened on Christmas night.

The woman, known to the man, then allegedly got out of the car and assaulted the man before getting back inside the vehicle.

A bystander intervened and removed the keys from the ignition.
A motorcycle rider and his passenger were flown to Canberra Hospital with severe injuries after a crash with a four-wheel drive at Moruya on Monday evening.

A NSW ambulance spokesperson said paramedics responded to the incident shortly after 9.30pm on December 26, on the Princes Highway at Toose Street, just north of the Moruya bridge.

Police were disappointed motorists continued to put lives at risk after 20 people were injured in 47 major crashes across NSW on day 11 of Operation Safe Arrival. Credit:Rebecca Hallas

A NSW health spokesperson said the motorcycle driver, a 26-year-old man from Batemans Bay, and his passenger, a 24-year-old woman from Mogo, suffered severe leg injuries and were driven to Moruya Hospital

The man and woman were flown to Canberra Hospital for further treatment, the woman was stable but the man was in a critical condition at the time.
An unlocked door, a wine glass, a misplaced hat, and a confused, injured man lying in blood.



Do those series of clues prove the man was assaulted, fell off his balcony, or was hit by an unidentified car?



The NSW Court of Appeal this month considered the mysterious case of Ronald Dowedeit , who was awarded nearly $175,000 in damages after a judge decided he was most likely hit by a car.



Mr Dowedeit was sitting the balcony of his Dulwich Hill flat, in Sydney's inner-west, drinking wine at sunset on February 27, 2012.



He told police he remembered going outside, walking onto the street to avoid a row of bins, and feeling a "powerful surge" backwards.



Mr Dowedeit was found by neighbours lying face down near the kerb, and told them he had no idea what happened.



He was in hospital for two months with injuries including nine broken ribs, and five broken bones in his pelvis, having little memory of what happened.



Police interviewed Mr Dowedeit in hospital, and went to his flat where they found the balcony door unlocked and ajar, a wine glass outside, and a hat on a ledge below.



Last year Mr Dowedeit sued the Nominal Defendant, which funds compensation for those injured in car accidents involving uninsured or unidentified vehicles.



The Nominal Defendant argued it was open to the judge to find Mr Dowedeit was injured when he fell off his balcony to retrieve the hat, or that he was assaulted.



One engineering expert said Mr Dowedeit's injuries were consistent with a fall from a height greater than two metres, also pointing to the items found at his flat.



Two other experts found he would have had to have had to "jog" off the balcony - or be pushed - to land near the kerb.



Judge Philip Taylor said the expert and medical evidence was of limited value, and looked at Mr Dowdeit's injuries, his position on the kerb, and witness statements.

Judge Taylor found that although the evidence was "close to the line", it pointed to Mr Dowdeit being hit by a car.



The judge would have awarded $349,100, but found Mr Dowedeit had been negligent in walking onto the street without looking out for cars.



The Nominal Defendant appealed that decision, and Mr Dowedeit launched a cross appeal on the ruling of his negligence.



The appeals court found Judge Taylor had not made an error in finding that it was most likely Mr Dowedeit was hit by a car.



"No error has been demonstrated in his Honour's approach to the expert evidence," Justice Fabian Gleeson wrote in a judgment agreed to by Justice Anthony Meagher and Justice Carolyn Simpson.

Mr Dowedeit's damages stand, through his cross-appeal was also dismissed.


The alleged drunk driver who hit a nine-year-old boy in Brisbane's south on Sunday is still being questioned by police.

Investigations into the crash by the Forensic Crash Unit are continuing, and the boy remains in a critical condition at Lady Cilento Children's Hospital.

It was understood the boy was walking with his family, looking at Christmas lights, before the crash occurred about 7.20pm on Christmas night.

Police said the 24-year-old driver failed to negotiate a turn in Springwood, crashing into a parked car and then hitting the boy.
Two men have been charged after the shooting of two men on the Gold Coast on Monday afternoon.

Two men were taken to hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds after police were called to an addresss at Old Wharf Road, Pimpama, about 5.15pm following reports a man had been shot.

Two men have been charged after two men were shot on the Gold Coast. Credit:Glenn Hunt

According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, a 24-year-old man was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable conditions with injuries to his face and chest, and a 58-year-old man was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with injuries to the chest and groin.

Police allege there was a fight between the men and another two men and a woman at the Old Wharf Road address.
This was the biggest scientific discovery of the year. In February, scientists from LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) detected the tiny ripples in the fabric of space-time caused by the collision of two unbelievably massive black holes, more than a billion years ago. Albert Einstein's theory of relativity predicted that gravity would have infinitesimally small waves but he thought them so tiny, they'd never be detected. However, the sensitivity of LIGO, whose mirrors were built in Sydney by CSIRO scientists, allowed for the detection of the gravitational remnant of that collision passing by Earth in two-tenths of a second. The discovery is opening up a new view on the universe. Up until now we have only been able to see the stars in the electromagnetic spectrum of lightwaves. We will now be able to view the universe using gravitational waves. 3. Dinosaur feathers were found trapped in amber A 99-million-year-old piece of amber with a feathered dinosaur tail trapped inside. Credit:Ryan McKellar/Royal Saskatchewan Museum

Like a scene cut from Jurassic Park, Chinese palaeontologist Lida Xing announced the discovery of a small dinosaur feather trapped in amber that he'd found for sale in a market in northern Myanmar. The first evidence that dinosaurs had feathers was announced in 1996 with the discovery of sinosauropteryx. It revolutionised thinking about dinosaurs, many of which are now thought to have had feathers. It is also thought birds evolved from dinosaurs. The discovery of the feathers in amber was a world first. The 99-million-year-old feathers likely belonged to a sparrow-sized theropod, like a mini-velociraptor or tyrannosaur. 4. Humans have been living in Australia's interior for at least 49,000 years Giles Hamm inside the Warratyi rock shelter. Credit:Giles Hamm

A chance discovery of a desert rock shelter in the Flinders Ranges has pushed back the established age for human inhabitation of inland Australia by more than 10,000 years. "A man getting out of the car to go to the toilet led to the discovery of one of the most important sites in Australian pre-history," archaeologist Giles Hamm told the ABC. Earlier in 2016, archaeologists from ANU and Sydney Uni announced the discovery of the world's oldest hafted axe, uncovered in the Kimberley and dating from between 46,000 and 49,000 years ago. 5. Male redbacks have developed a trick to have sex more than once in their lives A female redback. Credit:Kitty Hill

Male redbacks are usually eaten by the larger female during or after sex. However, biologists this year revealed that the males have developed a tactic to pass on more of their genes. Before juvenile females undergo their final moult, the males break through their exoskeleton and mate with them. The research found that 65 per cent of males had copulated with immature females. They also found that one-third of immature female redbacks carried sperm. Daniela Biaggio at the University of Toronto and Iara Sandomirsky at the Ben-Gurion University suggested that "immature-mating may be a widespread, previously unrecognised mating tactic". 6. World's oldest fossils are 3.7 billion years old

Modern-day living stromatolites in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Australian scientists found the world's oldest fossils in Greenland, a discovery that could help astrobiologists look for signs of life on Mars. The fossilised remains of stromatolites formed 3.7 billion years ago were uncovered by a team led by University of Wollongong researcher Allen Nutman. Stromatolites, which are still growing in places like Shark Bay in Western Australia, are layers of single-celled microbial lifeforms. 7. Some scientists think there is a ninth planet in the solar system

An artists rendering of Planet Nine. Credit:Caltech / R. Hurt (IPAC) It hasn't been directly detected but the unusual motion of distant dwarf planets and other matter beyond the Kuiper Belt and in the Oort Cloud, billions of kilometres from Earth, have some astronomers convinced there is a ninth planet out there somewhere. CalTech astronomers Michael Brown and Konstantin Batygin propose the planet has the mass of 10 Earths with a highly elliptical orbit of about 15,000 years. Some scientists are sceptical but there is a serious search under way to find Planet Nine. 8. Chinese scientists used CRISPR gene-editing technology in a human for the first time

CRISPR gene-editing is opening up a new world in biomedical science. One US scientist described it as a "Sputnik 2.0" moment. Chinese cancer researchers have taken cells from lung cancer patients, genetically modified them using the relatively new CRISPR gene-editing tool and reinserted them in the patient. The scientists at Sichuan University in Chengdu will look to see how the re-engineered cells work to combat cancer in the 10 terminally ill patients and see what side-effects there are. CRISPR  clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats  technology allows geneticists to remove, add or alter sections of DNA using an enzyme discovered inside a bacterium. It can lock on to specific chains of DNA and cut and splice, allowing manipulation of the genome. 9. The radiation resistance of weird microscopic animals could help humans survive space travel

Colour enhanced scanning electron micrograph of a tardigrade. Credit:Eye of Science Tardigrades, also called water bears or moss piglets, are segmented water dwelling critters that have remarkable survival capabilities. They can survive extremes of temperature from near absolute zero to 150 degrees and they were shown to withstand 10 days in the vacuum, cold and radiation of space. In January it was announced that researchers had revived the one-millimetre long, eight-legged animals after they had been kept frozen for 30 years. But perhaps the biggest news came in September when biologists at the University of Tokyo announced their discovery of DNA in tardigrades that protect them from X-rays. Amazingly, the scientists also said they could transfer this resistance to human cells. 10. Four new chemical elements were named

Nihonium, symbol Nh, for element 113 was discovered in Japan. It's the first element to be discovered in an Asian country. Credit:AP The heaviest naturally occurring, stable element is uranium with 92 protons in its nucleus. Elements heavier than that, such as plutonium, are made in nuclear reactions. The latest elements to be recognised are nihonium (113), moscovium (115), tennessine (117) and oganesson (118). Nihonium, for instance, has 113 protons in its nucleus and decays very quickly. It has a half-life of 20 seconds. The heaviest of the elements named is oganesson, with an atomic number 118 (the number of its protons). Its half-life is 0.89 microseconds. The elements were recognised and named by a joint working party of the international chemistry and physics bodies IUPAC and IUPAP in November. 11. World's largest radio telescope is finished, with a CSIRO sensor in its heart

China's FAST observatory is the biggest of its kind in the world. Credit:AP The biggest radio telescope in the world, in Guizhou province, south-west China, started operating in September. The Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Telescope, or FAST, dwarfs the previous largest dish, the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The FAST observatory will help us to better understand exotic astronomical phenomena such as pulsars and black holes, and also let us peer into the nursery of early galaxy formation in the cosmic web of hydrogen gas that existed before galaxies formed. It will also examine radio emissions from exoplanets  planets orbiting other stars. This will pick up natural radio emissions, but also has the potential to detect radio emissions from extra-terrestrial intelligence. The 19-beam detector at the heart of FAST was designed and built by CSIRO scientists in Marsfield, Sydney.

12. World's oldest vertebrate lives about 400 years The world's longest living vertebrate is the Greenland shark, here seen returning to the cold waters of the Uummannaq Fiord, Greenland. Credit:Julius Nielsen/AP It doesn't have sex until it is about 150 years old and then lives for another 250 years. Meet the Greenland shark. Using a new technique examining the shark's eye nucleus, scientists at Copenhagen and Oxford universities said one shark they studied lived for 392 years. At 400 years, the oldest of this species was born when Pope Paul V was persecuting Galileo, Pocahontas arrived in England and Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog landed in Shark Bay, Western Australia. 13. World's first baby with three genetic parents is born

Dr John Zhang with the child who has three genetic parents. Credit:New Hope Fertility Centre A controversial technique that uses the DNA of three humans to form an embryo was used by US scientists in Mexico, leading to the birth of a boy in April, New Scientist reported. The mother of the child carries the genes for Leigh syndrome, which affects the developing neural system. It is fatal and the woman's two previous children died from the disease. Dr John Zhang from New Hope Fertility Centre in the US took the nucleus from the mother's egg and inserted it in a donor's egg, which had the nucleus removed. It was then fertilised using the sperm of the father. 14. Atmospheric carbon dioxide stays above 400 parts per million for the first time in modern era

The Cape Grim station measures carbon dioxide and ozone concentration in the atmosphere. A symbolic concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was passed in May, according to measurements at the Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station operated by the Bureau of Meteorology with the CSIRO. CSIRO atmospheric scientist Paul Krummel said: "It's not going to go back below 400 ppm for a very long time unless we get very good at mitigation." Global carbon dioxide levels were running at about 280 parts per million up until about 1850 when they started to take off. 15. The spectrum of antimatter hydrogen is measured for the first time
Non-English-speaking Vietnamese people facing criminal charges waited in custody for more than a month for interpreters who were involved in an almost year-long pay dispute with Melbourne's busiest court.

About 17 Vietnamese court interpreters stopped accepting bookings from the Melbourne Magistrates Court for about eight months from March, after the court made changes to their hiring practices that effectively lowered the amount of money it paid them.

Court Services Victoria said it put out a tender for a language services agency last year as the court was hiring translators in an 'informal and ad hoc' way. Credit:Penny Stephens

Interpreters allow culturally and linguistically diverse defendants to speak to their lawyers and magistrates about their case. Court staff are responsible for hiring translator services to help such defendants when they appear for court hearings.

Trieu Huynh, head of indictable crime at Victoria Legal Aid, said clients were left wondering why their cases were continually being adjourned. "Imagine if you were in a system you didn't know and in an environment where your liberty has been deprived (though) there's a presumption of innocence."
But that was before the Moomba riots in the city on March 12, when dozens of men and boys claiming to be members of the Apex gang out of Dandenong - some as young as 14 - stormed through Melbourne on a busy Saturday night, sending bystanders running from Federation Square and a Swanston Street cafe. Then came the stories of the carjackings in leafy suburbs and the homeowners who barricaded themselves in their bedrooms while their homes were invaded in early-morning burglaries. People are not mistaken - burglaries and thefts have been on the rise, and family violence continues to drive increases in reports of assaults. Crime Statistics Agency data shows the crime rate has risen by almost a quarter in Victoria compared with five years ago, with about 9000 crimes recorded for every 100,000 people last year.

But it is not a straightforward picture. Youth crime is actually declining, but it has been put into the spotlight because of a small group of repeat offenders. Nevertheless, by September, the proportion of Victorians living in fear had bumped up to 40 per cent. Both the Andrews government and state opposition have talked tough on reducing crime rates, with the government promising on December 1 to recruit thousands more police to lend credibility to its law-and-order agenda. A total of 750 Victorians were surveyed for the Ipsos quarterly issues monitor, and were asked to nominate the three biggest concerns facing the state from a list of 19 options. The survey found the top five issues for Victoria were crime, healthcare, transport, housing and unemployment.

Police minister Lisa Neville said she shared Victorians' concerns about rising crime and added she was working with "police and community members to understand what resources and laws we need to ensure we are best placed to prevent, detect and disrupt crime". But opposition police spokesman Edward O'Donohue said concern about crime had risen because crime had risen significantly. "This survey just reflects the crime data," he said. "The community is scared and shocked and we haven't seen any real answers from the government. The Andrews government had its head in the sand for two years and has only recently tried to play catch up." Dr Emma Ryan, a criminologist at Deakin University, described the community's fear of crime as "over-blown" and a "moral panic" driven by growing media coverage of youth crime and family violence which "can't help but drive up people's sense of insecurity". While reports of family violence had soared, Dr Ryan said youth crime rates had declined for more than a decade. Crime Statistics Agency research has also shown that most youth crimes are actually perpetrated by a small proportion of repeat offenders.

"We can understand their fear but it does not necessarily mean that the world is suddenly more dangerous," she said. Ron Iddles. Credit:Simon Schluter Police association secretary Ron Iddles, above, said the Andrews government's move to recruit more police to combat the changing nature of the state's crime would reduce concern levels by the time of the next survey. Curiously, of all the issues, transportation is the one where the state consistently diverges most from the rest of Australia. Just under 10 per cent of those nationwide rate it as a problem compared with almost 30 per cent of Victoria. Other issues that concerned at least one in five Victorians included housing (26 per cent), unemployment (22 per cent), drug abuse (21 per cent) and cost of living (20 per cent).
A missing three-year-old girl and her mother from Taylors Hill in Melbourne's north-west have been found, following a police search.

Sela Mason and her daughter, Nevaeh Barbaro, showed up at Sunshine Police Station on Tuesday evening.

Nevaeh Barbaro, aged 3, and her mother Sela Mason were last seen in Kings Park on Monday. Credit:Victoria Police

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty had said earlier that police had concerns for their welfare as they had not made contact with anyone.

They had last been seen at Kings Park on Monday.
US President Barack Obama, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the funeral of former Israeli president and PM Shimon Peres in Jerusalem in September. Credit:AP Netanyahu also expressed concern on Monday that Obama was planning more action at the UN before his term ends next month. Israeli officials fear they are seeing the start of a wave of international declarations against the country. Days after the UN measure was approved, Israel's foreign ministry is bracing for what it believes could be another UN resolution that would impose parameters on negotiations with the Palestinians. The Israeli settlement of Revava, near the West Bank city of Nablus. Credit:AP Such a resolution could come out of a meeting in Paris of some 70 international leaders, scheduled for January 15, an Israeli official said.

Israeli officials are also concerned that a speech being planned by US Secretary of State John Kerry, which he could present in Paris or before, will outline the Obama administration's position on a final peace agreement and add fuel to that second resolution. Israel has long said that any future peace deal with creation of a Palestinian state alongside it could come only from direct peace negotiations, with no preconditions. However, since early 2014, there has been little progress in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table to end the decades-old conflict. Under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinians have pressed to hold Israel accountable in international forums for its actions in the occupied West Bank, including expanding existing Jewish settlements and laying the groundwork for new communities. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Tuesday that in recent days senior government ministers had been presented with information suggesting the French conference will outline a plan for peace that will immediately be brought to the UN Security Council for a vote before January 20, when President-elect Trump enters the White House. Netanyahu warned ministers that Friday's resolution might not be the last measure taken by the international community regarding Israel and that there will probably be additional steps, Haaretz reported, quoting an unnamed official.

The resolution, which was approved by a vote of 14 to 0, declares that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation under international law". It also calls the settlements a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and peace with the Palestinians. The US abstained instead of using its veto, breaking with a long-standing policy of blocking resolutions dealing with Israel. Right-wing voices in Netanyahu's coalition have called on him to ramp up Israeli construction in the settlements, and some have even said it is time for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Jerusalem Municipality said: "The Jerusalem Municipality has not changed its stance that building in Jerusalem is necessary for the development of the city and will continue to develop the capital according to zoning and building codes without prejudice, for the benefit of all residents." Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem estimates that, combined, about 600,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The figures are based on official data provided by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics and the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. Palestinians say the figure is higher.

Sophie Lagoutte, a spokeswoman for the French Embassy in Tel Aviv, said the Paris initiative was not aimed at creating a new UN resolution but was intended to "reaffirm the importance of a two-state solution, with Palestinians and Israelis living side by side in security". The French hope the decisions made at the meeting will help reignite the peace process, Lagoutte said. Palestinian officials praised the UN resolution and the French initiative. The Israelis have repeatedly stated that they will not go to Paris, and Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel would not abide by the resolution. "Such steps are counterproductive to the situation," Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told The Washington Post. "People are in love with an easy formula and ignore the complexity on the ground."

Israel does not intend to be part of the Paris conference, she said, or of "any international idea to force a final resolution on Israel" without it first sitting down and negotiating a peace deal with the Palestinians. Hotovely said she believed the Obama administration "had failed in so many arenas" and that Obama "did not care if he left behind a bad legacy in the region". Hotovely's comments came after Israel's ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, said in a CNN interview Monday that Israel had proof that Obama himself was behind Friday's UN resolution. Dermer said Israel would give Trump evidence that Obama had colluded with the Palestinians in hopes that the new administration would work with Israel to override the resolution by submitting an alternative one on the issue. "It's an old story that the United Nations gangs up against Israel. What is new is that the United States did not stand up and oppose that gang-up," Dermer said on CNN. "And what is outrageous is that the United States was actually behind that gang-up. I think it was a very sad day and really a shameful chapter in US-Israel relations." In an interview on Israel's Channel 2 News, also on Monday, Obama adviser Ben Rhodes said that "the true face of this President's support for Israel can be seen in his entire record".

"A few weeks ago we completed a 10-year, $US38 billion [$52 billion] [memorandum of understanding] for security assistance, the largest such package for any country in American history," Rhodes said. "Obama has been outspoken about his support for a two-state solution and concern about settlements throughout his entire administration. This is not a new position." Israelis are involved in a significant diplomatic push to gain the support of other countries heading to the Paris conference. It is also cementing ties with Ethiopia and Kazakhstan, two countries set to become non-permanent members of the Security Council on Sunday. Netanyahu visited both countries this year. Oded Eran, a former Israeli diplomat and a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, said, however, that gaining the support of two non-permanent members was unlikely to prevent a resolution from passing. Only nine affirmative votes are needed from the 15-member council to approve a resolution, but the five permanent members hold veto power. Loading If a second resolution is brought before the Security Council in coming weeks, it would probably "enshrine the US position on the major issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, set out the borders between the two states and refer to East Jerusalem as being the site of a future Palestinian capital," Eran said. "If that happens, it will be interesting how the US will react to it this time."
Terror plots continue to keep police busy in Indonesia, where two more suspected militants have been shot dead as part of operations designed to disturb potential attacks - this time on New Year's Eve - in the country, as our Indonesia correspondent Jewel Topsfield reported overnight.

Meanwhile, French police have said Anis Amri, the man suspected of having driven a truck into crows at a Berlin Christmas market last week, travelled through Lyon on his way to Milan where he was shot dead by police on unrelated events. Authorities say they have seen CCTV footage of Amri buying tickets at the station.

President Barack Obama, wearing sunglasses, is seen through a window in Kailua, Hawaii, on Saturday. Credit:AP

In Russia, authorities are almost convinced terrorism is not to blame for the crash of a Russian military plane that plunged into the Black Sea killing all 92 people on board. They are focusing on technical difficulty or pilot error.

The later, being the official cause of the plane crash that killed almost the entire Brazilian Chapecoense team and others in Bolivia last month. Investigators concluded on Tuesday the pilot failed to refuel en route, the plane was over its weight limit by nearly 400 kilograms and was not certified to fly at the altitude at which the journey took place.
Honolulu: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stopped at several memorials in Hawaii, the day before he will visit the site of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbour during a trip intended to show a strong alliance between his country and the United States.

Mr Abe on Monday made no public remarks and stood in silence before a wreath of flowers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a memorial to people who died while serving in the US Armed Forces.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific to place a wreath at the Honolulu Memorial on Monday, Credit:AP

Mr Abe, joined by two of his cabinet members, bowed his head before wreaths of white flowers and greenery laid at the feet of stone monuments at Makiki Cemetery in Honolulu dedicated to Japanese who settled in Hawaii in the 1800s.

The crowning event of the trip comes on Tuesday, when Mr Abe and US President Barack Obama will visit Pearl Harbour, the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the United States into World War II. Mr Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is spending his winter vacation there.
People praying during a service to Santa Muerte on Alfareria Street in Mexico City. Credit:Commons More forgiving than the Catholic church - she is said not to punish traditional sins - she grew popular in Mexico's prisons. Inmates inscribe her on cell walls. Some hold on to small pieces of paper bearing her drawing when they sleep. Counter-narcotics teams have often found shrines in raids on drug lord's safe houses. Marquez, who was coy about the reasons for her criminal conviction, bears a tattoo of the saint on her arm. Around the turn of the 21st century, the Santa Muerte burst into the mainstream. One of the people credited with this change is Enriqueta Romero, a charismatic follower often referred to as the religion's "high priestess". Close-up view of a Santa Muerte, south of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Credit:Commons Romero bears little relation to a priestess in the traditional sense. Having grown up in Tepito, she speaks in colourful slang, peppered with expletives. Her hair is dyed black, but for a shock of white across the top. She wears white high heels, and grins with the flash of a golden tooth. Figurines of the saint adorn her ears.

Now in her 70s, she grew up with the deity in her home and said she simply decided one day to place her outside for all to see. A man lifts his shirt to flash a tattoo of La Santa Muerte, or Saint Death. Credit:AP "I believed she shouldn't stay hidden any more," she said. "I love the death, her physique. She shouldn't be feared. She is not vengeful, she will not hasten your death. She is part of life and she protects those no one else will." "They call me the priestess, but I don't do weddings, confirmations or baptisms," she said. "The altar is what has faith." The skeleton is now protected by a glass panel. When The Telegraph visited she was dressed in a wig of long dark brown hair and a green and gold silk robe. Portraits hung beside the Santa Muerte show her past outfits: a silver headscarf dotted with jewels, a wedding dress and veil, a flamboyant green floor-length dress adorned with a feather boa and a wide-brimmed hat.

Romero is defensive of her skeleton. "Everyone thinks the Santa Muerte is for narcos, [drug dealers]" she said. "But it can be whatever you want and for whoever wants to have faith in her." Worshippers include people from all walks of life. Some are locals, some have travelled from countries around the continent, but each has the intention of forming a pact with the saint. One man offers the skeleton a bottle of cheap tequila. He had been an alcoholic, but Romero said Santa Muerte got him sober, and is now the receptacle for his vices. He now visits the shrine every two weeks. "I've tried to get sober for a year but she was the only thing that has kept me sober this long," he said, adding that he hadn't touched alcohol for eight months, nor missed a visit. Historians say the folk religion has its roots in Mexico's ancient Aztec culture. But its modern iteration incorporates many of the rituals of the Catholic church. Romero believes the two religions are symbiotic - on the front of the shelter that houses the Santa Muerte hangs a statue of Jesus on the cross. They are, she says, both ways of worshipping the same God. Devotees mix traditional religious offerings with their own belief of what the skeleton might enjoy. The altar at her bony feet has both gently flickering votive candles and Lambrusco wine. Instead of incense, one man lits a marijuana joint.

These actions have only further incensed the Catholic church, which already viewed the folk religion as a blasphemous threat to its standing in Mexico. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, has declared the faith the "degeneration of religion". "It's not religion just because it's dressed up like religion; it's a blasphemy against religion," he said. The Mexican government briefly tried to suppress the cult, with the army demolishing 40 roadside shrines close to the US border in 2009. But the efforts failed, and by the time Ravasi spoke in 2013, the Santa Muerte had come to rival the Virgin of Guadalupe, the country's "national patroness" in popularity. Away from the centre of Mexico City, not everyone sees the religion this way. Maria, 43, a taxi driver who chose not to give her surname, spoke in fear of the deity.
Jakarta: Police have detonated a bomb found near a food stall in a street in Magelang in Central Java as Indonesia continues to be on tenterhooks over a possible terror attack over the holiday period.

Central Java police spokesman Djarod Padakova said police found dangerous items including nails, pipe, a switch, wiring and a battery in the debris after they blew up a suspicious package.

He said police were yet to determine who was responsible for the package but given it contained a low explosive bomb the intention was to create terror.

The bomb was found wrapped in duct tape inside a bag at about 6am near a portable food stall known as a kaki lima, that sold fried meat balls and tofu.
Berlin: A Polish truck driver whose hijacked vehicle was used to crash into a Berlin Christmas market was shot in the head several hours before the attack and could not have attempted to foil it as previously thought, Bild newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper quoted a confidential coroners report that said driver Lukasz Urban, 37, had suffered not only knife wounds in a battle in the truck cabin but also a gun shot wound to the head about two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half hours before the 8pm attack.

There was no confirmation to the Bild report available.

A total of 12 people were killed in the attack last Monday. The Tunisian assailant, 24-year-old Anis Amri, was shot dead by Italian police in a shootout on Friday after a European-wide manhunt.
Russia threw its weight behind a powerful Libyan army commander, Khalifa Haftar, who's in conflict with the UN-backed government there, saying he must have a role in the leadership of the crisis-wracked state.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov criticised the United Nations' envoy to Libya for favouring other political forces in the North African country. His comments marked Russia's strongest endorsement yet of Haftar, which may complicate Western-led efforts to shore up the weak, internationally-recognized government in the capital, Tripoli. Russia says the UN-mandated body is ineffective.

A rebel sits with an anti-aircraft weapon in front of an oil refinery in Ras Lanouf, eastern Libya. Credit:AP

"We believe that the Libyans have to find a compromise on his participation in the new Libyan leadership," Gatilov said of Haftar, who controls more territory than any other faction in the divided country, in written answers to questions from Bloomberg News.

Russia's growing role in Libya comes after it turned the tide in Syria's war through military intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad against mostly Islamist rebels, as it seeks to restore some of its Soviet-era influence in the Middle East and wider region.
Senegal: Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou plans to meet US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss the political turmoil crisis in Libya and other African issues, Mr Sassou's spokesman said on Monday.

Thierry Moungalla, in a post on Twitter, noted that the two men were meeting to discuss ways to the end the Libyan crisis as well other broader issues affecting the continent, according to a statement attached to the tweet. He did not give any other details about the meeting plans.

Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, left, with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:AP

Representatives for Mr Trump's team did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking to confirm the meeting with the incoming Republican president, who takes office January 20 and is spending this week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
President-elect Donald Trump is friendly with Vladimir Putin. Credit:AP Administration officials would also like to make it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to roll back any action they take. "Part of the goal here is to make sure that we have as much of the record public or communicated to Congress in a form that would be difficult to simply walk back," said one senior administration official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. President Barack Whatever the obvious criticisms of Trump as a ham-fisted statesman, under Obama's watch President Xi run amok in the South China Sea. Credit:AP Obama issued the executive order in April 2015, creating the sanctions tool as a way to hold accountable people who harm computer systems related to critical functions such as electricity generation or transportation or who gain a competitive advantage through cyber theft of commercial secrets.

The order allows the government to freeze the assets in the United States of people overseas who have engaged in cyber acts that have threatened US national security or financial stability. The sanctions would also block commercial transactions with the designated individuals and bar their entry into the country. John Podesta, Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman. A phishing email that tricked one of Podesta's aides gave Russian hackers access to 60,000 of his emails, later released by WikiLeaks. Credit:New York Times But just a year later, a Russian military spy agency would hack into the Democratic National Committee and steal a trove of emails that were released a few months later on WikiLeaks, US. officials said. Other releases followed, including the hacked emails of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. "Fundamentally, it was a low-tech, high-impact event," said Zachary Goldman, a sanctions and national security expert at New York University School of Law. And the 2015 executive order was not crafted to target hackers who steal emails and dump them on WikiLeaks or seek to disrupt an election. "It was an authority published at a particular time to address a particular set of problems," he said. At her highest, Clinton was received $US430 million in media coverage - less than half that of Trump. Credit:AP

So officials "need to engage in some legal acrobatics to fit the DNC hack into an existing authority, or they need to write a new authority," Goldman said. Administration officials would like Obama to use the power before leaving office to demonstrate its utility. "When the president came into office, he didn't have that many tools out there to use as a response" to malicious cyber acts, said Ari Schwartz, a former senior director for cyber security on the National Security Council. "Having the sanctions tool is really a big one. It can make a very strong statement in a way that is less drastic than bombing a country and more impactful than sending out a cable from the State Department." The National Security Council concluded that it would not be able to use the authority against Russian hackers because their malicious activity did not clearly fit under its terms, which require harm to critical infrastructure or the theft of commercial secrets. "You would (a) have to be able to say that the actual electoral infrastructure, such as state databases, was critical infrastructure, and (b) that what the Russians did actually harmed it," said the administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "Those are two high bars."

Though Russian government hackers are believed to have penetrated at least one state voter-registration database, they did not tamper with the data, officials said. Some analysts believe that state election systems would fit under "government facilities" which is one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors designated by the Department of Homeland Security. Another option is to use the executive order against other Russian targets - say, hackers who stole commercial secrets - and then, in either a public message or a private one, make clear that the United States considers its electoral systems to be critical infrastructure. The idea is to not only punish but also deter. "As much as I am concerned about what happened to us in the election, I am also concerned about what will happen to us in the future," a second official said. "I am firmly convinced that the Russians and others will say, 'That worked pretty well in 2016, so let's keep going.' We have elections every two years in this country."

Even the threat of sanctions can have deterrent value. Officials and experts point to the agreement Xi reached with Obama last year that his country would stop commercial cyber spying. Xi came to the table following news reportsthat the administration was preparing to sanction Chinese companies. Complicating matters, the Trump transition team has not yet had extensive briefings with the White House on cyber issues, including the potential use of the cyber sanctions order. The slow pace has caused consternation among officials, who fear that the administration's accomplishments in cyber security could languish if the next administration fails to understand their value. Sanctions are not a silver bullet. Obama noted that "we already have enormous numbers of sanctions against the Russians" for their activities in Ukraine. So it is questionable, some experts say, whether adding new ones would have a meaningful effect in changing the Kremlin's behaviour. But in combination with other measures, they could be effective. Criminal indictments of Russians might become an option, officials said, but the FBI has so far not gathered enough evidence that could be introduced in a criminal case. At one point, federal prosecutors and FBI agents in San Francisco considered indicting Guccifer 2.0, a nickname for a person or people believed to be affiliated with the Russian influence operation and whose true identity was unknown. Before the election, the administration used diplomatic channels to warn Russia. Obama spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Group of 20 summit in China in September. About a week before the election, the United States sent a "hotline"-style message to Moscow using a special channel for crisis communication created in 2013 as part of the State Department's Nuclear Risk Reduction Centre.
Inspectorate to file a complaint with the disciplinary board against Dr. Mercelina, Dr. Wassenaar, while Radiologist to be fully investigated --- Time for SMMC Director Klarenbeek to come clean --- No More Lies.

PHILIPSBURG: --- After SMN News published the article on October 20th 2016 that states that Dr. Mercelina performed a surgery on a patient by placing a port  a cath for chemotherapy which was mal-positioned causing extensive pain and suffering to a patient that had to be flown to Curacao for further medical treatment, the inspector general of VSA conducted an investigation that shows the following:-

It must be noted that Dr. Luc Mercelina did not conduct the surgery to insert the port a- cath but instead he inserted a drain to remove fluid from the cavity surrounding the lungs. This could have been verified the same day the article was published had Dr. Luc Mercelina kept his word to send SMN News a written statement. The port a cath was inserted by Dr. Felix Holiday. Dr. Mercelina and Dr. Wassenaar were the treating physicians who treated the patient each time she went back to the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) with severe complications sometimes the same day after receiving chemotherapy treatment or a day later, yet Dr. Mercelina did not see it fit to either conduct further testing or to send the patient abroad earlier in order for her to get proper medical treatment.

The patient visited SMMC (ER) at least three times and twice she was seen by Dr. Mercelina and each time sent back home even though in severe pain. It should be noted that each time the patient went to the ER, its the same day or the day after each chemotherapy treatment was administered. However, on the third visit to the ER on September 2nd Dr. Mercelina decided to admit the patient and instead of investigating deeper to find the cause of the grave symptoms or sending the patient abroad to a better or fully equipped hospital with certified medical doctors he kept her until September 15th. This delay caused the patient to suffer immensely and she could have lost her life at SMMC due to gross negligence. The patient was treated and recovered in Curacao and is now doing her radiation therapy in the Dominican Republic.

What is very lamentable to say the least is that the Director of SMMC Kees Klarenbeek chose to send out a press release denying such a case existed and even went as far as filing a report with the police against SMN News for defamation and slander. What Klarenbeek did not know is that after the article was published Dr. Luc Mercelina was willing to speak to SMN News since he called SMN News reporter after the article was published and wanted to set the records straight. Dr. Mercelina did not deny such a case existed but said he was not the one that conducted the surgery, SMN News asked Dr. Luc Mercelina to put his statements in writing which he never did even though he promised to do so that same day. Dr. Mercelina even took SMN News email address but instead of maintaining what he said he would do he cooperated with Klarenbeek to feed the media and the police a lie.

SMN News requested the report through a LOB request which is not only damning for St. Maarten and its people more so SMMC but it also shows that SMMC did not respect the conditions laid down by the Inspectorate since March 2016 where they must report cases of calamity to the Inspectorate.

First and foremost, it shows that Kees Klareenbeek is a blatant liar that he not only sent out a false press release but even denied such a case existed when confronted. It is clear that the two treating physicians namely Dr. Mercelina and Dr. Waasenaar were negligent and even the treating staff at SMMC since no proper records were kept or found in the patients file. Further to that the CT scans that were performed at SMMC were not properly read, thus leading to an investigation against the radiologist. A situation such as this now brings to question how the screening and vetting of doctors and or specialists are being conducted by SMMC and the department of public health.

While the patient was at SMMC the hospital conducted two CT scans and both of them showed that the port a cath was mal-positioned but the radiologist for some reason missed such an important factor which led to the patient having a near death experience. With all of the symptoms, it was more than sufficient for the two treating physicians to look beyond what they see on the CT scans and to transfer the patient overseas where there are better equipment and more qualified doctors, but that was not done in a timely manner.

SMN News wants to bring clarity, at no time do we publish false information, indeed the relatives who spoke to SMN News said the port a cath was inserted by Dr. Luc Mercelina when in fact it was done by Dr. Holiday. Dr. Mercelina could have had a correction the same day after the article was published had he maintained his word. The article written by SMN News sparked an investigation which showed that a patient was indeed operated at SMMC (insertion of a port-a-cath and a drain) and the patient received chemotherapy treatment at SMMC and she also received follow-up treatment for severe complications at SMMC. It is clear that Dr. Mercelina and Dr. Wassenaar did not act swiftly and took the right decision in a timely manner based on the severe and abnormal symptoms the patient was having, thus causing the inspectorate to file a complaint against these doctors with the disciplinary medical board due to the negligence and the fact that SMMC lied about the case.

One now has to ask themselves if there were more cases of this nature that the director of SMMC claimed not to know about or is he just a pathological and blatant liar. A question Kees Klarenbeek would have to answer sooner than later.

Click here to view the report from Inspectorate of VSA on the Port -a Cath case.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Monday, December 26, 2016, at approximately ten thirty pm (20.30) detectives were called on board the cruise liner Queen Mary 2 docked at the cruise facility in Point Blanche.

Upon arrival, detectives spoke with the Chief Security Officer who indicated that a female passenger with initials M.T., age 74 and a resident of Great Britain had fallen overboard after leaving port in New York.

Detectives spoke to her husband who said that he was awakened by an unknown noise in the cabin. He searched for his wife and found the balcony door was open and his wifes bathrobe discarded by the door. He immediately alerted ships personnel. An immediate search on board and at sea was conducted including viewing video surveillance but the passenger was not located.

Sint Maarten was the first port of call; as such the incident had to be reported to local authority. The forensic department conducted an extensive search and the report will be forwarded to U.S. authorities. The victim is classified as missing at sea.

KPSM Press Release
LearningFileMaker.com releases Learning FileMaker Bundle Software and Training

LearningFileMaker.com releases Learning FileMaker Subscription Annual Software and Training Bundle.

Over 70 Hours of video training, the subscription contains all of the LearningFileMaker video courses, as well as a copy of FileMaker Pro.

SANTA CLARA  December 26, 2016  LearningFileMaker.com has released a Annual Software Subscription and Training Bundle. The bundle includes all of the LearningFileMaker courses  including a copy of FileMaker Pro! With over 70 hours of video content, this course will teach the subscriber everything thay need to know about FileMaker.

This Bundle includes:

1 Copy of FileMaker Pro 15

2-3 hour FileMaker UI Design Video Course (Bundle Exclusive, not available elsewhere)

6 hour FileMaker for Startups and Entrepreneurs Video Course ($50 value)

45 hour FileMaker Pro 15 Video Course ($69 value)

7 hour FileMaker 13 for Mobile Devices Video Course ($39.99 value)

5 hour Filemaker iOS App SDK Video Course ($70.00 value)

This collection of courses and copy of FileMaker itself, will give the subscriber the ability to create, design, distribute a FileMaker App to a wide variety of platforms.

[Watch a video explaining whats in the training bundle](https://youtu.be/MOHLerDqn4k)

The Subscription contains all of our award-winning video courses, including an exclusive user interface design course, said Richard Carlton, CEO LearningFileMaker.com, Included is a complete copy of FileMaker Pro, with free updates for one year. He also continued to say, With this bundle the subscriber has access to each update FileMaker makes to their software, including new versions of FileMaker Pro. Including any updated courses or even new courses automatically for as long as the subscription is active.

Availability

With this bundle, the subscriber will receive a FULL copy of FileMaker Pro, over 70 hours of video training, PLUS exclusive Video Content! It is an over $500 value, all for the introductory price of $249!

[It can be found at learningfilemaker.com/subscription.php](http://learningfilemaker.com/subscription.php)

[LearningFileMaker.com](http://learningfilemaker.com/) is the number one destination for FileMaker training videos, with over 70 hours of comprehensive FileMaker training content, LearningFileMaker.com is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Appian Cloud Expands Across UK Region

RESTON, VA  (Marketwired)  12/27/16  today announced Appian Clouds expansion to include local data hosting in the United Kingdom. This provides increased options for UK customers in building, deploying and scaling powerful business applications within the secure Appian Cloud environment. An immense advantage for organizations executing digital transformation strategies, benefits of Appian Cloud include low startup costs, fast deployment, predictable cost structures and rapid return-on-investment. Currently leveraged by top organizations around the world, Appian Cloud is being deployed across a variety of industries including financial services, insurance, healthcare, life sciences, public sector, and others. Appian Cloud already has a large roster of UK customers including John Lewis, MHRA, Punch Taverns, Bupa, Hansard Global plc and more.

Appian is expanding cloud support in regions around the world to ensure our customers can leverage the benefits when driving their digital transformation strategies, said Myles Weber, CIO at Appian. It is critical given todays ever-changing digital landscape that organizations are empowered to make business decisions quickly, efficiently and effectively. Our customers are looking to optimize their business operations through Appians low-code approach. When combined with cloud delivery, users experience a seamless and further accelerated transition.

The expansion within the UK enhances Appian Clouds worldwide local availability, complementing its existing availability in 23 zones across USA East (Virginia), USA West (California), USA GovCloud (Oregon), Ireland, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Singapore and most recently, Canada. Local availability is a key success driver for Appian Cloud, which has seen software revenue growth in excess of 45 percent year-over-year for the past four completed fiscal years.

In addressing the security landscape and concerns around the cloud environment, Appian Cloud has an extensive collection of security accreditations, making it a highly trusted platform for rapid application development. Appian is accredited for HIPAA, SOC 2 and SOC 3, The PCI Data Security Standard, G-Cloud 8 Framework and more. In addition, Appian has FedRamp 2.0 certification, a US government-wide program that verifies an established and highly secure environment that has withstood comprehensive audit review, and delivers significant time and cost savings. Appian Cloud also offers industry-leading reliability, with 247 system monitoring, a 99.95% SLA uptime guarantee and local IT support.

For more information on Appian Cloud, .

Appian delivers an enterprise platform for digital transformation that enables organizations to revolutionize their customer experience, optimize their business operations, and master global risk and compliance. Powered by industry leading Business Process Management (BPM) and Case Management capabilities, Appians low-code approach can radically accelerate the time it takes to build and deploy powerful, modern applications, on-premises or in the cloud. For more information, visit .

Ben Farrell

VP, Corporate Communications

+1 703.442.1067
Extended Web Hosting Email Marketing All In One Lead Generation Site Launched

A new service has launched specializing in creating and launching websites for businesses, so companies without a strong web presence or new online startups can kickstart their campaign with ease. Called Insty.Pages, it offers extended hosting, which is more than many web hosts offer, because it isnt just lead capturing and email marketing, its everything a website could want combined in one service.

More information can be found on the company website at: http://connecttrend.com/InstyMe1.

The site explains that customers using the service will never need to manage multiple services with multiple subscriptions, because the Insty.Pages platform at Insty.Me puts all the most powerful tools a site owner needs in one place for easy access at any time.

The all inclusive extended hosting encompasses web hosting itself, allowing businesses to get online with their own domain and start attracting business, email marketing, so they can engage with their customers and offer direct promotions and offers, and it also offers personal support and lead capturing.

While normal hosting platforms usually stop at simply getting a business online, the services offered at Insty.Pages go through creating a powerful, SEO friendly site and actually capturing and maintaining a customer base regardless of the niche the business site is set up in.

The Insty.Me platform was founded in 2013 after the CEO tried to get one of his businesses online but found that it took too long. At that moment, he decided that there had to be a better way of doing things, and so built Insty to offer people around the world a better set of options for establishing their own business.

A full range of features customers can expect is provided on the company website, but the philosophy behind the service is that its hosting that just works, with an emphasis on making everything as streamlined as possible.

Sites can be built with just one click, and maintained from one base, where email marketing and other powerful features are built in. Full details are provided on the company website.
Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated

With Novus Light Technologies Today

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Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter





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A guide to voter rights in Indiana. What you need to know before you cast a ballot

elections
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Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea
Team Hakuto of Japan is developing a rover that it will fly to the moon on a lander built by another Google Lunar X Prize competitor, TeamIndus.

WASHINGTON  Team Hakuto, a Japanese group competing for the Google Lunar X Prize, announced Dec. 20 it has a verified contract to fly its rover on another team's lander in 2017 after its initial partner dropped out of the competition.

Team Hakuto said that it has an agreement with TeamIndus to fly its rover to the moon on the Indian team's lander, and that the agreement has been verified by the X Prize Foundation. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Teams in the Google Lunar X Prize, a competition to land a privately-developed spacecraft on the moon, travel at least 500 meters, and return video and other data, have until the end of the year to obtain a launch contract and have it verified by the X Prize Foundation. Teams that fail to do will not be allowed to continue in the competition. Teams that do remain in the competition have until the end of 2017 to launch their spacecraft. [Team Hakuto: Japan's Private Moon Rover Project in Pictures]

TeamIndus announced Dec. 1 that it had a contract with the Indian Space Research Organisation to purchase a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle slated for launch in December 2017, and that the contract had been validated by the foundation. At the time of the announcement of their launch contract, TeamIndus said they were in the "final stages" of competing a deal to fly another team's rover on their mission.

"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," Chanda Gonzales-Mowrer, senior director of the competition at the X Prize Foundation, said in a statement. "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."

Team Hakuto has previously planned to fly to the moon with another team, Astrobotic, under an agreement announced in February 2015. However, Astrobotic has announced that it will be dropping out of the competition while continuing to develop its lunar lander for a planned 2019 commercial mission.

In a commentary published in the Dec. 19 issue of SpaceNews Magazine, Astrobotic Chief Executive John Thornton said the company felt it unwise to try and rush development of its spacecraft for a 2017 launch and threaten the company's overall development.

"We do not make this decision lightly. However, when the demands of the X Prize competition are in conflict with the demands of our customers, we must stay true to our customer-first principles," Thornton wrote, adding that "we believe it is more important to wholly focus on performing for our customers than chasing unrealistic prize deadlines."

Astrobotic tweeted Dec. 20 that its agreement with Team Hakuto remains in place, allowing the Japanese group to fly a separate rover on Astrobotic's 2019 mission in addition to the one launching with TeamIndus in late 2017.

Team Hakuto is a project of ispace Inc., a Japanese company with long-term plans to develop what it calls a "high-frequency transportation service" to the moon and extract resources there. The company announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Dec. 16 with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to jointly work on plans for lunar resource development, addressing technical, economic and policy issues.

"Space resource development is attracting a great deal of attention around the world," said Takeshi Hakamada, the founder and chief executive of ispace, in a Dec. 16 statement announcing the MOU. "We think it is important to actively participate in the rule-making and commercialization while we are technologically competitive globally with our Hakuto project."

Team Hakuto is the fifth of the 15 remaining Google Lunar X Prize teams to have a verified launch contract, allowing them to remain in the competition. SpaceIL and Moon Express announced verified launch contracts in 2015, followed by Synergy Moon in August and TeamIndus Dec. 1. PT Scientists announced Nov. 29 that it had a launch contract with Spaceflight Industries, who would broker a rideshare opportunity for them, but that agreement had not yet been verified by the X Prize Foundation. One of the remaining teams, Angelicvm of Chile, had planned to fly its rover on Astrobotic's lander.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
The gas and dust of the protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star named HD 163296, in which two new planets are forming.

Astronomers have found evidence suggesting that two infant planets are forming around a distant young star in our Milky Way galaxy.

Located roughly 400 light-years from Earth, the young star, known as HD 163296, is approximately 5 million years old and about twice the mass of our sun. The two newborn planets orbiting HD 163296 are not yet fully formed, and each is about the size of Saturn, the second-largest planet in our solar system.

Thousands of planets have been found around other stars in our galaxy. However, "nearly every one of these exoplanets has been discovered in orbit around a mature star with a fully evolved planetary system," officials said in a statement from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Therefore, the recent findings may reveal new clues about planet formation, the scientists said. [10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life]

Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, astronomers examined the distribution of both the dust and the carbon monoxide gas components of the protoplanetary disk surrounding HD 163296. Observations of the star's disk revealed evidence of two infant planets forming there, officials said.

The gas and dust of the protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star named HD 163296, in which two new planets are forming. (Image credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); A. Isella; B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF))

After stars are born, clouds of leftover gas and dust condense into rings and form what is called a protoplanetary disk. Over time, the material in the disk clumps together under the pull of gravity to form new planets. In the dust and gas in the protoplanetary disk surrounding HD 163296, astronomers found three distinct gaps.

The first gap is approximately 60 astronomical units (AU) from the central star. (One AU is the distance from the sun to the Earth  about 93 million miles, or 150 million kilometers  and 60 AU is about twice the distance from our sun to Neptune.) The other two gaps are located roughly 100 AU and 160 AU from the central star. At this distance, the farthest two gaps would extend well beyond our solar system's Kuiper Belt  the distant swath of icy bodies beyond Neptune, the outermost planet in our solar system.

"ALMA has shown us amazing images and never-before-seen views of the rings and gaps around young stars that could be the hallmarks of planet formation," Andrea Isella, lead author of the study and an astronomer at Rice University in Houston, said in the statement. "However, since we were only looking at the dust in the disks with sufficient detail, we couldn't be sure what created these features."

The ALMA radio telescope can detect faint millimeter wavelengths of light emitted by gas molecules. ALMA data showed that the farther two gaps in HD 163296's protoplanetary disk had a considerable decrease in carbon monoxide, compared with the surrounding dust. This decrease suggests that planets are forming in the outer regions of the planetary system, officials said.

On the other hand, there was little or no difference in carbon-monoxide concentration observed in the gap nearest to the star, which indicates that it was created by something other than planet formation, Isella said.

"Dust and gas behave very differently around young stars," Isella said in the statement. "We know, for example, that there are certain chemical and physical process[es] that can produce ringed structures in the dust like the ones we have seen previously. We certainly believe these structures could be the work of a nascent (young) planet plowing through the dust, but we simply can't rule out other possible explanations. Our new observations provide intriguing evidence that planets are indeed forming around this one young star."

These are not the first signs of infant planets around young, distant stars. Astronomers have found similar evidence while studying other young stars, such as HL Tauri and TW Hydrae. In these studies, ALMA observations "revealed striking gaps and prominent ring structures in the stars' dusty (protoplanetary) disks," officials said.

"These features may be the tantalizing first signs that planets are being born," they said. "Remarkably, these signs appeared around much younger stars than astronomers thought possible, suggesting that planet formation can begin soon after the formation of a protoplanetary disk."

The new findings will be published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Follow Samantha Mathewson @Sam_Ashley13. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
Rabat, December 27, 2016 (SPS) -The trial (on appeal) of the Sahrawi "Gdeim Izik" political prisoners, arbitrarily sentenced to heavy penalties by a Moroccan military court, was postponed until 23 January 2017.

The trial opened at a civil court in Rabat, under the pressure of international human rights organizations.

On 27 July, the appellate court cancelled the unfair condemnation of 24 militants and defenders of human rights by a military court. They were arrested on November 2010 during the dismantling of "Gdeim Izik" camp by Moroccan military forces.

Jailed since 2010, Gdeim Izik prisoners requested their "immediate and unconditional" release on the eve of their new trial. SPS

125/090/700
President Barack Obama said in an interview released Monday that he could have beaten Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump "if I had run again." In his most pointed critique yet, Obama said Hillary Clinton's campaign acted too cautiously out of a mistaken belief that victory was all but certain.

"If you think you're winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer," Obama said in the interview with former adviser and longtime friend David Axelrod, a CNN analyst, for his "The Axe Files" podcast. The president said Clinton "understandably . . . looked and said, well, given my opponent and the things he's saying and what he's doing, we should focus on that."

Trump took exception to this critique, tweeting out later in the day that "President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc."

Obama stressed his admiration for Clinton and said she had been the victim of unfair attacks. But, as he has in other exit interviews, he insisted that her defeat was not a rejection of the eight years of his presidency. To the contrary, he argued that he had put together a winning coalition that stretched across the country but that the Democratic Party and the Clinton campaign had failed to follow through on it.

"I am confident in this vision because I'm confident that if I - if I had run again and articulated it - I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it," the president said.

"See, I think the issue was less that Democrats have somehow abandoned the white working class, I think that's nonsense," Obama said. "Look, the Affordable Care Act benefits a huge number of Trump voters. There are a lot of folks in places like West Virginia or Kentucky who didn't vote for Hillary, didn't vote for me, but are being helped by this . . . The problem is, is that we're not there on the ground communicating not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we're bleeding for these communities."

Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said via email that the campaign declined to comment.

Axelrod, in an interview with The Washington Post, said he believed Obama went further than he had before in critiquing Clinton's campaign.

"This was all in service of making the point that he believes that his progressive vision and the vision he ran on is still a majority view in this country," Axelrod said. "He chooses to be hopeful about the future."

Axelrod did not press Obama on many of the most controversial parts of his presidency, such as not taking action to prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Syria. Such friendly interviews have become a hallmark of Obama's presidency, whether with friends, or comedians, or YouTube hosts. Nonetheless, the president, who has done relatively few interviews with mainstream media organizations, repeated his long-stated complaint that the media has filtered his message and that he is subject to unfair criticism by outlets such as Fox News.

Obama stressed that he doesn't plan to get involved in day-to-day responses to a Trump presidency, just as former president George W. Bush has remained mostly on the sidelines during the Obama years. But Obama made clear that he will be more of an activist in the long run. He said he plans to help mobilize and train a younger generation of Democratic leaders and will speak out if his core beliefs are challenged. He also said he is working on writing a book.

His post-presidential "long-term interest," Obama said, is "to build that next generation of leadership; organizers, journalists, politicians. I see them in America, I see them around the world - 20-year-olds, 30-year-olds who are just full of talent, full of idealism. And the question is how do we link them up? How do we give them the tools for them to bring about progressive change? And I want to use my presidential center as a mechanism for developing that next generation of talent." He said he didn't want to be someone "who's just hanging around reliving old glories."

Obama blamed some of his problems during his presidency on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a longtime adversary who famously said in 2010: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." McConnell failed in that goal, but Obama said his nemesis was successful in blocking many of his initiatives and setting the groundwork for Trump's victory.

McConnell's strategy from a "tactical perspective was pretty smart and well executed." The Republican leader found ways to "just throw sand in the gears" in a manner that fed into people's beliefs that things were going badly. Obama said that, as a result, Republicans blocked action that could have helped more people recover from the Great Recession. The strategy, Obama maintained, was that "if we just say no, then that will puncture the balloon, that all this talk about hope and change and no red state and blue state is - is proven to be a mirage, a fantasy. And if we can - if we can puncture that vision, then we have a chance to win back seats in the House."

A McConnell spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

Michael Kranish is a national political investigative reporter for The Washington Post.
F rom scathing criticism to unadulterated descriptive pleasure, Grace Dent has enlisted some very particular praise and punchy put-downs over the year.

Here are few highlights from our critic's many reviews throughout 2016  whether the restaurants themselves were to be celebrated or not.

Now, anyone for some little finger-sized farts of dough on a MasterChef brown smear?

Frenchie

Arriving at Frenchie, we were placed on a table that was not strictly a table, but instead a thin strip of unusable floor space behind a bannister, overlooking the loos. The table gave us no option but to sit side-by-side as if we were starring on James Cordens Carpool Karaoke. Frenchie allotted us this stinker of a seat with the warning it was needed back in 90 minutes. I acquiesced brightly, giddy with internal sarcasm

San Remedio

Until Santo Remedio popped up in Shoreditch recently, Id have been hard-pushed to name an authentic Mexican restaurant in London with a Mexican chef-owner. Certainly not one that gives the option of sauteed lime and chilli grasshoppers on guacamole. In the 2016 food landscape bugs are everywhere, in goody bags, canapes and on innovative menus. The buzzwords  or bugwords  are sustainable, nutritious and logical. Refusing dead bugs marks one out as a closed-minded Little Englander. By 2020 discerning foodies wont book restaurants, preferring to drive around Victoria Park with their heads out of an Uber and their gobs open

The Harcourt

A good restaurant is like a symphony  it only gives pleasure if all the elements are playing harmoniously at once. Chipper front-of-house, all the kitchen sections on point, someone on the bar making the cocktails they claimed to know in their interview, buzzy clientele, and so on. All these things together create the dining equivalent of a sharp burst of Vivaldis The Four Seasons. Remove a few elements, or most of them like at The Harcourt, and youve got Les Dawson playing Roll Out the Barrel

Roba

This restaurant is essentially a mirage. It lives only in the mind, vanishing the moment you amble haplessly towards it. Roba is in fact the name for the bar/breakfast area of the Norfolk Towers Hotel. Theres no doubt of this as the breakfast buffet table is still helpfully set up against the wall. Its not a nice breakfast room. Not even as nice as a budget Ibis. If a frugal travel agent put me up here Id breakfast at Pret, as the cheap Formica tables are greatly depressing

Morito

I ate at Moro for the first time in the late Nineties when it was a hangout for the hip and the earnest. I busked along for a time with both groups half-heartedly. Moro was a groundbreaker. It sold salads of pickled and shredded things on beds of spiced buckwheat. It sold wood-roasted fish, cumin-spattered lamb, Malaga raisin ice cream and a dazzling list of other things that would make a visitor from Cleethorpes puzzled, but eventually pleased, then want the cookbook for Christmas. Moros grandest problem, for a long time, was that one could never get in it. Asking for a table on a Saturday night in 1998 was laughable. One had more chance of dry-humping Jamiroquai

Chriskitch

As a critic, I find myself often in restaurants which opened weeks or months before they were ready. Its like turning up at 7.25pm for a house party with a 7pm start to find the host bleaching her moustache. With new-ish restaurants, Ill forgive any manner of high-jinx during the soft opening because thats the time wonky chairs, shonky suppliers and slashed prices wreak havoc. I call the soft opening period Shag n Snag time as this is when managers uncover things like the errors of their cowboy builders or how the commis chef has gone through all the waitresses like a knife through hot butter. But after the trial-runs when prices are steep, my patience wilts.

The Chipping Forecast

After two decades in the capital, I still yearn for a no frills, no faff, no frigs given about eating the rainbow northern chip-shop tea. I long for plentiful enormo-cod in crisp fresh batter, fat chips, heart-stopping salt, plenty of vinegar, a side of mushy peas and a polystyrene carton of gooey, slightly fruity all-purpose curry. It should be served in yesterdays Cumberland News and consumed without regret. The chips should be fried in beef dripping. That is the oomph that, once tasted, one will spend a lifetime searching for. For me, its the taste of eating chips in a Brownies uniform in Carlisle watching The Human League on Top of the Pops. Its the taste of chips in a Morris Marina with my grandmother in 1984 watching the Larne to Stranraer ferry dock.

The Ninth

Fitzrovia is an area  now and for the past 300 years  which lends itself to the type of intense dynamic thought that burns bright at 9pm and is forgotten by the next morning. Into this mix arrived The Ninth, a French Mediterranean-style 43-seater restaurant serving what they call robust French classics. I adore The Ninth as a name. It sounds like an ominous pact one might make with Beelzebub. Or an Arthurian pledge of allegiance. Or a lost Wu-Tang Clan member. The Ninth suggests everything and at the same time nothing at all. It appeared in Charlotte Street last December with understated fanfare

Marksman

Marksmans chicken and leek pie, which serves two, costs a rather brutal 34. For this, outside London, the pie would need to contain ethically-reared unicorn. Or at least possess a pastry bottom and not be, officially speaking, a stew with a hat. I quibbled about this until I tasted its rich, buttery puff-pastry lid and tarragon-flecked aromatic innards, then I shut up. Do, please, order a side of the drably titled fried potatoes; they are the glorious-bastard hinterworld between fondant spud and giant triple-cooked chips, arriving in a deep puddle of burnt-onion mayonnaise.

Ostuni

Highgate is  lets be frank  its own microclimate. All roads to N6 could be blocked by the military, but The Civilised Peoples Republic of Highgate would muddle along eating honesty box homegrown gooseberries and wet polenta for at least six weeks. I attended the Highgate Christmas Festival one year, where Damian Lewis casually swung by to flip on the lights, and 11 or more Labradors showed up clad in ornately hewn Santa outfits, none of which the residents found even the slightest bit remarkable.

Peyotito

Peyotito isnt terribly Mexican but its very west London. Heres a restaurant for people who want to be out of the house on an evening, making all the right gestures towards eating, without being troubled by anything as beastly as carbs, cream or oozing oaxaca. I ordered Chuurros in heady hope of plentiful portions of fried pastry stodge and a vat of melted chocolate. They transpired instead to be four tiny, little finger-sized farts of dough on a MasterChef brown smear. One needed to pick up the churros and rub them on the smear. I am hysterical right now even remembering them. Thoroughly cheerless churros.

J Sheekey

En route to the newly revamped J Sheekey, I decided that the environs of Leicester Square station at around 7pm on a hectic late summer evening could be the very worst place on earth. Aside, perhaps, from Vozrozhdeniya Island in Uzbekistan, abandoned in 1992 due to bubonic plague contamination. Still, even in Uzbekistan, one wouldnt get jolted by a tourist rickshaw into an unlicensed gangland ran chestnut brazier, then trampled by Thriller the musical goers

Blandford Comptoir

Blandford Comptoir opened to bubbling praise this summer although by the time I arrive it has distinctly lost its fizz. A bit like a bottle of Champagne left with a teaspoon for a cork. Perhaps Saturday nights there are a blast, but on weekdays this is a local restaurant for fifty-something Harley Street rhinoplasty consultants who spend evenings eating carpaccio, plotting the 11th redesign of their penthouse apartments and complaining to Westminster Council about Chiltern Firehouse

Farmacy

Due to millions of women now believing that duck confit followed by a Paris-Brest will kill them stone dead, its shrewd business sense for Camilla Fayed to open the chic, wellness-focused vegan restaurant Farmacy in Westbourne Grove. I tried for a walk-in on a Monday lunchtime and was squeezed in a spot at the bar, hemmed in by gleaming skinned women eating the chefs clean curry. Or foraging nobly through huge bowls of leaves. Because thats all a vegan salad is, really. Rinsed foliage

Sosharu

Im not sure comparing Sosharu to a Japanese gastropub, which it has been, really works. Nut then Im not sure anything that happens in Japan truly translates. This is why Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson spent 101 minutes almost snogging in that Coppola flick. In Tokyo, each of them was the only familiar thing the other knew. The end of Lost in Translation makes me cry every time I watch it, battered by confusing, half-hewn memories of lovely things now past. It is how Ive felt each day since last Friday when I ate the matcha mille crepe at Sosharu  a dark, shimmering slice of cake, which isnt a cake at all, but actually a sea-green stack of eerily identical sweet custard pancakes

Kiln

Kiln is a sit-up, counter-dining, mainly no reservations, rural Thai and borderlands barbecue experience, from the esteemed, much name-checked Smoking Goat stable. Theres a lovelorn menu of fiery curries, a Zeren Wilson wine list and an open kitchen serving earnestly sourced, cumin-embossed Cornish lamb beside a turntable playing Take It From The Man! by the Brian Jonestown Massacre. More men are claiming to have eaten at Kiln in the first weeks of October than those whove feigned watching the Sex Pistols at Manchesters Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976. It is so very much where the London foodie scene is right now that Id hit peak relevance by 2pm, Tuesday merely by eating a beef curry there, and gave myself the rest of the week off.

Smokestak

In the landscape of London dining, a much-hyped food stall that became a Shoreditch barbecue restaurant should not be remotely exciting. Ive had it up to the back teeth  literally  with all of this. Men, fire and food trucks. Instagram feeds full of sauce-spattered brisket. Ommings and nommings over pulled pork. Dude food. Blokes with Celtic sleeve tattoos farting about with pigs heads in publicity bumph. DJ BBQ curated YouTube content filled with public-school boys in Fugazi T-shirts grizzling on about Big Green Eggs. The constant subliminal haranguing that life would be much sweeter if we could all simply drop everything right now and eat burnt ends in a pop-up park in Basildon. If I am weary of this it is of great comfort to know that David Carter, the chef and proprietor of the newly opened Smokestak, off Brick Lane, appears to be somewhat on the same page.

TODO: define component type apester

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D etectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a man near Trafalgar Square have launched an appeal for witnesses to a fight minutes before his body was found.

Police sealed off an area in Westminster after the victim, a man thought to be in his 30s, was knifed in Adelaide Street shortly after 7am on Tuesday.

Paramedics fought desperately to keep the man alive but he was pronounced dead at the scene just before 8.30am  an hour after police were called.

Scotland Yard said they believe they know the mans identity but are awaiting formal identification.

Scene: The man was knifed to death near Trafalgar Square / Met Police

Police have launched a murder investigation and made a bid to speak to any witnesses who heard or saw a fight in Adelaide Street just after 7am.

A Met spokesman said: The man was stabbed at some point between 7:05am and 7:15am on Tuesday, December 27 in Adelaide Street.

Detectives would like to speak with anyone who heard or witnessed an altercation at around this time in this area, or who saw the stabbing take place.

Police added the mans next of kin have now been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

Police cordons remain in place in and around the Adelaide Street and St Martin's Lane area of Westminster.

Adelaide Street runs behind the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields church on the corner of the London landmark and is just yards from busy tourist hotspots such as Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.

Anyone with information is asked to call the incident room on 020 8358 0400, police via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
P olice have sealed off an area in central London after a man was knifed to death near Trafalgar Square on Tuesday morning.

Officers and paramedics rushed to Adelaide Street at 7.30am after reports the man, believed to be in his 30s, had been stabbed.

Despite medics battling to save the mans life, he was pronounced dead around one hour later.

Detectives from the Mets Homicide and Major Crime Command alongside Westminster CID have cordoned off the area around St Martin-in-the-Fields.

Crime scene: Adelaide Street / PA

Westminster police said William IV Street was also blocked off as detectives investigated what had happened.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: At this very early stage, there has been no arrest and enquiries are underway to establish the full circumstances.

Police believe they know the identity of the man but are awaiting formal identification.

Police probe: Part of the area was cordoned off / PA

The stabbing took place just yards from the pubs and restaurants around Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.

Adelaide Street runs behind the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields church on the corner of the London landmark.

Local businesses reported half of William IV Street was cordoned off as police combed the scene for clues.

Anyone with information should call police via 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
P olice are continuing to investigate the whereabouts of a London student after messages were posted from her Facebook account claiming she is safe and well.

Isabel Gayther, 21, sparked concern after not turning up at her familys home in Oxford for Christmas Day.

She had not been since or heard of since 11:30am on Christmas Eve.

But today messages were posted from her Facebook account suggesting that she was fine.

Her account wrote: Am not on my way to Syria or being held hostage. A day and half I'm out of contact and this is what happens??? I AM NOT MISSING peace.

She then added: How embarrassing, this is the second time my mum has filed a missing persons report, for a missing person I just keep coming back...

Now I look like a c***.

But Lewisham police have said they will continue to investigate the students whereabouts and have urged her to contact officers.

Ms Gayther resides in halls of residence on Goodwood Road, SE14 and was reported missing after not appearing at her family home for Christmas.

Her family said the behaviour was out of character for her and police were concerned for her safety and wellbeing.

Lewisham MPS released a statement following the Facebook posts: We are aware that this morning, Tuesday 27 December, messages have been sent via Isabel's Facebook account.

At this stage, officers are yet to speak with Isabel. As such, a police investigation continues with the aim of establishing that she is safe and well.

Isabel is urged to contact police as soon as possible.

Anyone who has seen Isabel or who knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact police via 101.
T he UK economy could benefit by 24 billion a year if it left the European single market and customs union in a clean Brexit, a pro-leave group has claimed.

Change Britain has suggested the option is likely to deliver annual savings of almost 10.4 billion from contributions to the EU budget and 1.2 billion from scrapping "burdensome" regulations.

It also says the move would allow the UK to forge new trade deals worth 12.3 billion.

The group said its estimate was "very conservative" and that the benefits of withdrawal from the single market and customs union could be as much as 38.6 billion a year.

Of Change Britains estimated likely outcomes, even the lowest forecasts saw a boost of 20 billion.

But the figure does not factor in the possible large-scale loss of exports to the remaining 27 EU nations, which advocates of a "soft Brexit" argue could happen if the UK faces tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade.

18 months for Brexit deal, says EU's chief negotiator

Conservative MP for Dover and Deal - and Change Britain - supporter Charlie Elphicke said: "This report makes it clear that there are huge opportunities to be had from making a success of Brexit.

Leaving the EU fully means we won't have to pay billions to bloated Brussels bureaucrats.

It means we will be able to take back control of our borders and end uncontrolled EU immigration.

"What's more, we'll be able to spend money on the things that matter to the British people.

We can build a modern Britain that puts the hard-working classes first and makes it easier for British businesses to trade in the world and succeed.

"This is what people voted for in the referendum. Now everyone, Remainer or Leaver, has a duty to get on with the job of delivering a brighter future for our land."

Britain exported around 220 billion of goods and services to the EU in 2015, while imports from the EU totalled around 290 billion.

Change Britain said that the biggest prize on offer from a clean Brexit was in potential trade agreements outside the EU which could be on offer if the UK left the customs union.

The union requires members to take part only in deals negotiated by the European Commission.

Theresa May's red, white, and blue Brexit

Depending on how many deals the UK secures, GDP could be boosted by between 8.5 billion and 19.8 billion, said Change Britain.

The biggest benefits could come from a trade deal with the Asean group of south-east Asian economies, which could increase GDP by as much as 4.3 billion a year.

Change Britain said leaving the single market would allow Britain to scrap 59 of the 100 most burdensome regulations on business, saving more than 4 billion.

'Let's get even': Nigel Farage says there will be riots if Brexit is blocked

However, as the Government has indicated that it will preserve some of the rules - including protections for workers - the group estimated the likely saving at around 1.2 billion.

And it said that the Government's indication that it will continue support to farmers and other sectors currently subsidised by the EU means that the total saving from ending contributions to Brussels budgets will be around 10.4 billion, rather than the 14.7 billion which the UK currently pays.
A campaign to fly a British holidaymaker back to the UK after he was shot in the head during an attempted robbery in Antigua has raised more than 30,000.

Christopher Tester, from Torquay, is in an induced coma on the Caribbean island after he was attacked at his parents' restaurant on Christmas Day.

He is said to be in a critical condition and friends launched a fundraising appeal to fly the 37-year-old home.

An appeal on the Crowdfunder website has raised more than a third of its 90,000 target.

Friends wrote on the site: Tony and Gill Tester from Boxer Shack were held up at gun point last night. During the attack, their son Chris was shot in the head and critically injured.

He is now in Mount St. John Hospital in Antigua but they do not have the facilities or expertise he needs.

We need to arrange immediate evacuation by air ambulance to the UK and need your help to fund this.

Mr Tester's parents, Tony and Gill, run the Boxer Shack restaurant in Old Road.

Police on Antigua said in a statement: "It is alleged that a man approximately 5ft 8in in height, slim built, wearing a black hoodie and mask, attempted to rob his family, when a struggle ensued.

"During the struggle he was shot in his head, and he was transported to the hospital.

"The incident occurred around 10.30pm on Sunday.

He arrived on the island on December 10 and was due to leave on December 29.

"Investigations are currently ongoing into the matter."
D onald Trump has described the United Nations as being just a club for people to "have a good time," after the U.N. Security Council voted last week to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The president-elect wrote Monday on Twitter that the U.N. has "such great potential," but it has become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

And on Friday, Mr Trump warned, "As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th," referring to the day he takes office.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's U.N. vote brushed aside Mr Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

Meanwhile, the billionaire businessman took to Twitter Monday evening to say he believes his election as president has benefited the economy.

Donald Trump: The businessman and President-elect of the US criticised the UN / Joe Raedle/Getty Images

"The world was gloomy before I won - there was no hope," he said in a verified post on his Twitter account. "Now, the market is up nearly 10 per cent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars."

Donald Trump named Time's Person of the Year

Mr Trump has previously told The Associated Press - a year ago - that he wanted to be "very neutral" on Israel-Palestinian issues.

But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the presidential campaign progressed.

He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

Mr Trump's tweet Monday about the U.N. dismissed much of the work that goes on in the 193-member global organization.

This year the U.N. Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the U.N.'s far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world.
A young girl has died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest on a Christmas Eve flight to London Heathrow.

The 10-year-old was travelling from Toronto to Heathrow Airport when she suffered a medical emergency.

The flight was diverted to Shannon, Ireland, on Saturday, and she was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead later that day.

It is understood a doctor and nurse were on board the Air Canada flight at the time and helped the crew assist the child.

The Irish Mirror reported that the girl was travelling on the Boeing 787 with three adult siblings and that the pilot reported they had a child in cardiac arrest on board.

According to the paper, an ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit were sent ahead of the flight arriving at around 7.40pm.

She was taken to University Hospital Limerick where, a short time later, she was pronounced dead, with a post-mortem examination set to be arranged.

The flight, which had been carrying 230 passengers, later carried on to London.
F ashion brand Versace uses code names to warn staff when black shoppers enter the store, a former employee has claimed.

Christopher Sampino, an ex-retail assistant at a branch in San Francisco, has filed a lawsuit against the company after he claimed he spoke out against discrimination.

He alleged a manager told him about a D410 code which was used to alert colleagues when a black person was shopping.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed at the California Superior Court in Alameda County last month, D410 is colour code for black clothing.

Mr Sampino claimed the manager also told him to hold a black shirt when using the code so that they dont know what youre talking about.

He said he responded by telling the manager of his African-American heritage which he said resulted in different treatment from colleagues.

He claimed he no longer received proper training and information to access an online database.

The defendant then alleged he was fired around two weeks later because he didnt understand luxury and was told to quit instead to make the paperwork easier.

He is now suing for unlimited damages and unpaid wages.

A Versace spokesman said: "Versace believes strongly in equal opportunity, as an employer and a retailer.

"We do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, national origin or any other characteristic protected by our civil rights laws. We have denied the allegations in this suit, and we will not comment further concerning pending litigation.
T ributes have been paid to the true British legend Royle Family actress Liz Smith following her death on Christmas Eve.

The Bafta award-winning actress, who played the ailing Nana in the hit comedy show, died at the age of 95.

Her death comes in the same year as her co-star Caroline Aherne, who died from lung cancer.

Ralf Little, who played Smith's grandson in the beloved BBC programme tweeted: "Devastating to lose two members of my second family in one awful year. RIP Liz Smith. Goodbye Nana. Xxx"

Liz Smith: The actress starred in BBC One's The Royle Family (PA) / BBC

Andrew Whyment, who played Little's friend Darren said: "What a fantastic actress she was absolutely hilarious RIP lovely Liz x"

Liz Smith: With her MBE for services to drama as it was announced the actress has died / PA

Choreographer Sir Matthew Bourne wrote: "RIP #LizSmith Lovable actress who was totally unique and endearing. A true British legend."

Actor Richard E Grant, who starred alongside Smith in the 1997 romantic comedy Keep the Aspidistra Flying, said: "I loved working with you on the George Orwell film and privileged to have played and danced together RIP."

And Anna Friel, who made her name as Beth Jordache in 1990s soap Brookside, added: "I loved Liz Smith. What a great actress."

The Queen of Sheba  the final episode of the much-loved sitcom in which Nana dies - was repeated on the BBC just days before Christmas.

In 2009, the Prince of Wales presented Smith with an MBE and told her that the sofa-bound TV characters in the show were "nothing like my family, thank God".

Her acting career burgeoned relatively late in life - she was nearly 50 when she made her first appearance on television - but she eventually became a household name and a popular favourite in both sitcoms and TV dramas.

Elizabeth Smith was born in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, on December 11 1921 - her mother died in childbirth and her father later abandoned her.

Recalling one memory of her father, she said: "One day he met me coming out of Sunday school. He said 'Bye bye kid, I'll write' and backed away. That's the last I saw of him."

In 1945 she married Jack Thomas, but they divorced in 1959 and she brought up their two children on her own.

But it was not until 1970 that she made her first appearance on television, in Leo The Last. However, her appearance was not credited in this production.

It was after that her career, which had so far been unspectacular, began to blossom.

British legend: Liz Smith at the 2007 British Comedy Awards / PA

The following year, she appeared as the downtrodden mother in Mike Leigh's Bleak Moments, and was working in Hamleys when she was given the part.

She once said she owed "everything to Mike" - the man who gave her her first break.

This role was followed by others in Last Of The Summer Wine as one of Compo's dates, Bootsie and Snudge, Crown Court, I Didn't Know You Cared and The Sweeney.

In the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in many TV programmes, including The Duchess Of Duke Street, Within These Walls, In Loving Memory, The Gentle Touch, Agatha Christie's Partners In Crime, One By One and the Lenny Henry Show.

In the 1980s, she received a Bafta award for best supporting actress, for her role as Maggie Smith's mother in the film A Private Function.

Her career continued to burgeon in the 1990s. She appeared in 2point4 Children, in which she had regular roles as Aunt Belle and Bette.

Services to drama: Liz Smith being made an MBE by the Prince of Wales in 2009 / PA

In 1994, she was given the role of Letitia Cropley in the popular sitcom The Vicar Of Dibley, a role which made her a household name.

Then she became Nana in The Royle Family until 2000. She reappeared in the special episode in 2006, where her character died.

In 2005, she played Grandma Georgina in Tim Burton's remake of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

Smith's career was recognised when she was awarded an MBE in 2009.

Handed the accolade by the Prince of Wales, Charles told her the sofa-bound characters in The Royle Family were "nothing like my family, thank God".

Following a series of strokes Smith announced her retirement from acting in 2009.
Heidi Schmidt of Denton, Nebraska, received some stunning news Dec. 19: President Barack Obama pardoned her for a drug crime she committed in 2004.

This has been such a blessing, Schmidt said by phone . Its been an amazing day.

She limited her other comments to a statement she had prepared with her attorney, Natalie Hazen of Lincoln.

Schmidt and another Nebraskan, Shari Trompke of Grand Island, were among the 78 people the president pardoned Monday.

Trompke posted a comment on her Facebook page, calling the pardon great news and saying she had much to be thankful for.

She thanked family members, including her daughter, Joni Ayala, who helped her fill out the paperwork; and her brother Allen Trompke, whom she called her guardian angel.

Now I am ready for a new chapter in my life! Thank you to everyone who helped me ... 

Obama also commuted the sentences of 153 other people convicted of federal crimes, granting the greatest number of individual clemencies in a single day by any president, the White House said.

Obamas latest clemencies made for a total of 148 people receiving pardons and 1,176 people having shortened sentences, many for drug offenses, as in the cases of Schmidt and Trompke.

Schmidt had been convicted in 2005 of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. She was sentenced to 30 months in prison, five years of supervised release and 250 hours of community service.

Trompke had been convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 1992. She was sentenced to 36 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In 2005, Tompke was granted a pardon by the Nebraska Board of Pardons.

Both were able to move forward Monday with full civil rights that had been lost with a felony conviction, including the right to be a juror, hold public office, bear arms, obtain a passport, serve in the military and obtain government grants, loans, public housing and educational funding. On job applications, they can state that they received a full presidential pardon of their convictions.

The Obama administration notified Schmidt by phone about 8:30 a.m. Monday, ahead of a press release that afternoon on the pardons and commutations.

I am thankful to President Obama and his administration for this blessing that they have bestowed upon me, Schmidt said in her prepared statement. Since my release from prison in 2007, I have made it my lifes work to be a productive and positive member of society by serving my community, church and private organizations throughout Nebraska.

I give the glory in this pardon to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Schmidt was shocked by the news, Hazen said. Her client had applied for the pardon and had letters of recommendation sent to the administration. Officials then followed up this fall by interviewing those who wrote the recommendations and passing along their own thoughts to the president.

Schmidt is an extremely private person who keeps her nose to the grindstone and goes about her business, Hazen said.

Since Schmidts release from prison, she has helped others who have struggled and are trying to improve their lives, the attorney said. The pardon helps give Schmidt the ability to say you can make a change, and its not hopeless.

Shes pretty special to me, Hazen said of her client. And Im very proud of her.

The full statement from Schmidt:

I received notification from the office of President Obama on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016, that I would be receiving a full presidential pardon for the crime I committed in 2004. I am thankful to President Obama and his administration for this blessing that they have bestowed upon me. Since my release from prison in 2007, I have made it my lifes work to be a productive and positive member of society by serving my community, church and private organizations throughout Nebraska. I give the glory in this pardon to my Savior, Jesus Christ.

World-Herald staff writer Kevin Cole contributed to this report.
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Tim Treadstone aka Baked Alaska

The so-called alt-right movement descended into civil war on Monday after one of its largest figures was booted from an upcoming inauguration event following a series of tweets he wrote about the media being "run in majority by Jewish people."

Tim Treadstone, an unabashedly alt-right social media personality better known as "Baked Alaska," was disinvited from the "Deploraball" after publishing the tweets about Jewish people.

After being cut from the event, which initially featured him as a top guest, he lashed out on Twitter at fellow alt-right leaders, a sign of divide in the white nationalist, neo-Nazi, populist movement that backed President-elect Donald Trump.

Treadstone zeroed in on Mike Cernovich, a similarly prominent alt-right figure known for such remarks as "date rape does not exist," who was responsible for nixing him from the event.

Treadstone has a history of anti-Semitic tweets. Other alt-right figures, like leading neo-Nazi Richard Spencer, were previously booted from the upcoming party.

"Baked Alaska is not a member of the Deploraball committee and will not be attending the event," Cernovich tweeted. "We wish him well."

Soon after the announcement, Cernovich confirmed that Milo Yiannopoulos, a Breitbart tech editor and conservative provocateur, would attend the event instead.

The moves prompted Treadstone to go on a lengthy Twitter rant against Cernovich and Yiannopoulos, capping off with a roughly 45-minute scorched-earth Periscope video in which he called the former "a huge cuck" and "a massive cuck" for side-stepping "the Zionist question."

The term "cuck" is a popular expression used by the alt-right. It's derived from the word "cuckold."

"You can thank Mike Cernovich for banning me from my own event for tweets," Treadstone tweeted. "He seems to really care what the media thinks rather than his own."

Treadstone called Yiannopoulos, who was permanently banned from Twitter for mocking "Ghostbusters" star Leslie Jones, a "shallow scumbag" for joining the event only after he was removed.

Story continues

Other alt-right accounts opted to stand in solidarity with Treadstone. One called the move "'new right' (liberal) censorship."

"Mike won't answer why I'm banned lol what a cuck," Treadstone tweeted.

"The gorilla man banned me oh no!" he added in a separate tweet, taking an apparent shot at Cernovich's book "Gorilla Mindset." "Have fun cucks!"

Cernovich later posted and deleted a Periscope video in which he characterized Treadstone as a "druggie" and "disgruntled employee" who had a "meltdown online." He also retweeted a message that took a jab at "haters who used to hang on Milo's every word ... but now trash him."

Treadstone fired back in his Periscope video, accusing Cernovich of not being a "fan of free speech."

"Mike got upset that I was tweeting some things about Jewish people," he said. "I don't hate Jews, but there are some things that I like to talk about. I'm alt-right. I've always been alt-right. I've never said I'm not alt-right, unlike Mike Cernovich, Paul Joseph Watson, Milo, and these other cucks. I've always been alt-right."

The "Deploraball" is scheduled for January 19, the night before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Trump confidant Roger Stone and Twitter personality Bill Mitchell are among the featured guests at the party in addition to Cernovich and now Yiannopoulos. The organizers originally listed the venue as a DC-area nightclub, but the nightclub said it had not signed a contract with them and would not host it.

NOW WATCH: 11 facts that show how different Russia is from the rest of the world





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Billionaire Carl Icahn, a special adviser to Donald Trump, said there are others on the president-elect's team who have deeper criticisms of America's ethanol mandate than he does.

Icahn repeated criticism of the credit trading program that regulators and refiners use to track compliance with federal biofuel consumption quotas. While he hasn't expressed opposition to renewable fuel use, "there are people on the Trump team that believe ethanol itself does very little" in helping the environment, Icahn said Tuesday in a telephone interview, while declining to provide further details.

"It's a black cesspool of trading if there ever was one," Icahn said.

Last week, Trump said he tapped Icahn as a special adviser on regulations. Icahn owns a majority stake in CVR Energy Inc., an independent oil refiner, and has dubbed trading in biofuel credits, known as Renewable Identification Numbers, or RINs, the "mother of all short squeezes." The U.S. passed regulations in November mandating record biofuel use, and prices for the credits had surged in anticipation of the new quotas.

Icahn said this month that he helped Trump pick Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt has criticized increased ethanol use. While the president-elect hasn't disclosed specific plans for the EPA, the Pruitt choice sent the price of RINs tumbling the most in at least a year. Icahn has said the agency's leadership change won't end the mandate. Instead, he's confident Pruitt will shift the burden of compliance further down the distribution chain, to fuel blenders.

"There's no reason" for companies who aren't required to participate in the program to be trading RINs, Icahn said in the interview Tuesday.

Petroleum refiners are required to blend renewable fuels like ethanol into gasoline as part of a 2007 energy law passed under President George W. Bush that sought to slow the pace of oil consumption and its carbon footprint. Each gallon is tracked by a unique, 38-digit Renewable Identification Number.

Todd Becker, the chief executive officer of ethanol producer Green Plains Inc., on Tuesday dismissed Icahn's complaints about the ethanol laws as being the result of a bad bet in the fuel market. (Green Plains has an ethanol plant in Madison, Ill.)

"These are complicated policies, and I don't think you can just take one view of one person who's on the wrong side of the trade to really reform a system that doesn't need to be reformed today," Becker said in an interview on Bloomberg Television.

Icahn said reforming the program will change who's obligated to show compliance and changes are needed to avoid refinery bankruptcies, particularly on the East Coast.

"It's not a question of being on the right-side of a trade or on the wrong" side, Icahn said.

With assistance from Alix Steel of Bloomberg.
MILAN  The Italian government is likely to put in around 6.5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to rescue the country's third biggest lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena, more than initially expected, sources close to the matter said on Tuesday.

The higher cost of the state rescue is due to the fact that the European Central Bank has revised the bank's capital shortfall to 8.8 billion euros from a previous estimate of 5 billion euros.

The bank requested government support  in the form of a precautionary recapitalization by the state  last week after its plan to raise 5 billion euros from private investors flopped.

A 6.5 billion euro capital injection would give the Italian government a stake of around 70 percent in the lender.

The remaining 2.3 billion euros should come from the conversion into shares of subordinated bonds held by institutional investors, as required by new European rules for dealing with bank crises.

A precautionary recapitalisation is a type of state intervention in a struggling bank that is still solvent. It means only a modest bail-in of investors though the government can buy shares or bonds only on market terms endorsed by EU state aid officials in Brussels.

Under the scheme proposed by Italy, the government will compensate the 40,000 or so retail investors holding around 2 billion euros of the bank's junior debt, who will convert their notes into shares.

The retail investors will be able to swap those shares for senior bonds, with the state buying back the shares from the bank. The scheme needs EU approval, which could take two to three months.

The ECB, which is close to completing an inspection of the bank's loan portfolio, took a harsher stance on its capital shortfall to be "on the safe side and help restore confidence in the bank," one of the sources said.

Monte dei Paschi, which has been in crisis mode for years, emerged as the weakest lender in European stress tests last summer.

The Tuscan bank, the world's oldest, will use around a third of the 20 billion euros earmarked by the Italian government to bolster ailing lenders.

Shares and securities in the bank have been suspended from trading until the details of the rescue scheme  such as the price at which the government will buy the bank's shares  become clearer.

Other lenders expected to benefit from government support include two regional banks  Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca  and Genoa-based Carige.
The year belonged to people like Bill Heinzelman, a retiree from Wisconsin, and Lucien Durand, a farmer in southeastern France.

They helped propel the populist wave that swept across the western world in 2016, blindsiding pollsters and investors with how strongly they felt the status quo in politics must go. The conventional wisdom among election observers and establishment politicians is that widespread anger at being left behind by globalization compelled Britons to forsake the European Union and Americans to vote for Donald Trump.

Yet the concerns of people from the Midwest to Greece, where a populist, anti-austerity government has been in power for almost two years, are only partially rooted in a sense of abandonment in a global economy. There's a deeper discontent with the way they are governed that a fiscal stimulus program, import tariffs or a stock-market rally won't quickly soothe.

Unemployment where Heinzelman lives is 3.2 percent, matching the lowest level since 2000. His beef is with undocumented immigrants, so the retired small-business owner backed Trump. Durand, whose family farm is in a moderately prosperous region between Lyon and the Alps, said bureaucrats in Brussels who are "totally removed from the real world" have solidified his loyalty to France's National Front party, which could help propel the anti-euro party under Marine Le Pen to power next spring.

"Whether they're virtual or real, the reality is we're going to see a world with more walls," said Ian Bremmer, president of Eurasia Group, a New York-based risk consulting firm.

As a result, it might be years before policymakers absorb the significance of the economic and political forces now playing out, let alone craft a case for globalization that secures broad appeal.

Measures of financial and trade globalization confirm that the integration that has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty in the developing world is fraying. International bank lending has declined since the financial crisis, data published by the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, show. International bond issuance is stagnant.

And while the amount of trade in goods and commercial services was nearly twice as high in 2015 as in 2005, growth has shuddered to a near-standstill. The ratio of merchandise trade to world output fell sharply in 2015 and is now at roughly the same level as in 2005, World Trade Organization data show.

"Global trade is sliding into ever more gloomy territory," according to Raoul Leering, head of international trade analysis at ING Bank in Amsterdam. Citing the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, Leering says that global trade in volume terms "took a beating" in October 2016, and is heading for its worst year since 2009.

Journey into America's manufacturing heartland, and you'll meet plenty of people blaming their struggles on unfair foreign competition.

"It just sucks. It's hard to find jobs, and the ones you can find don't pay enough," said Jeff Mansfield, 39, a Trump supporter in Youngstown, Ohio, who works for a firm selling satellite TV subscriptions. "It's just living paycheck to paycheck."

Meanwhile, U.S. financial markets reflect the opposite of glum. The S&P 500 Index has risen more than 10 percent this year. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index is reaching new heights. The yield on 10-year Treasuries hit 2.6 percent on Dec. 15, the highest since September 2014, as investors see stronger growth in the world's largest economy.

To address the malaise of his supporters, Trump is signaling that he'll keep a campaign promise to turn the U.S.'s economic gaze inward when he takes office in January. On Dec. 21, he named Peter Navarro, a fierce critic of China's trade practices, as head of a newly created National Trade Council inside the White House.

The real-estate developer's vow to "Make America Great Again" resonates in places like Youngstown, once a steel-making powerhouse immortalized in a Bruce Springsteen song. With its deep union roots, the town of about 65,000 people used to be considered a Democratic stronghold. But in Youngstown and elsewhere across the so-called Rust Belt, Trump's message played especially well with white males with no college education, helping to flip counties that went to President Barack Obama four years ago.

Many workers can be forgiven for feeling they aren't getting ahead. Since 2000, income per capita in the U.S. has risen 2.9 percent to just under $32,000, which works out to an annual raise of less than 0.2 percent.

But it's a mistake to explain anti-establishment sentiment purely in economic terms. Exit polls show Hillary Clinton beat Trump among those who considered the economy their top issue. Trump was the preferred choice among those concerned about national security and immigration.

For Heinzelman in Wisconsin, undocumented workers are part of the problem and Trump's tough stance has merit. "When you come into this country and don't follow the law, you get booted," he said.

In Europe, immigration may be a stronger source of tension than trade. The influx of refugees from war-torn Syria has reignited sensitive debates about identity and culture. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May plans to trigger EU withdrawal in the first quarter with a focus on gaining control of immigration.

Now, nationalist parties are proving themselves forces in Germany, France and the Netherlands ahead of 2017 elections there that could shape the future of the euro.

"There's nothing inevitable about globalization," said Jeff Colgan, a political-science professor at Brown University in Providence, R.I. "The cosmopolitan elite of many countries have not done a good job of defending rhetorically the benefits of globalization, and we're seeing a real challenge to that."

The openness of world markets has ebbed and flowed throughout modern history. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, European powers sought to hoard as much gold and silver as they could by maximizing exports to other nations. Mercantilism reigned until Adam Smith and David Ricardo explained how trade can make nations collectively better off.

The embrace of that notion in the 19th century helped set off what some call the first age of globalization. Trade boomed amid technological advances such as the steam engine and the monetary stability of the gold standard.

But nations relapsed during the Great Depression, imposing tit-for-tat tariffs and devaluing their currencies. It took the devastation of World War II to convince governments to refrain from protectionism, a commitment that still underpins policy discussions at meetings of the world's biggest economies.

The risk today is another period of "deglobalization," as Deutsche Bank economists George Saravelos and Robin Winkler warned in a recent report. That could further slow growth in trade, hinder capital flows and erode the "multinational business model" adopted by many corporations, they predict.

Even the International Monetary Fund, seen by some as head cheerleader, has conceded that the system may be tilted too much in favor of those who already wield wealth and power. In an interview this month at Bloomberg headquarters, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the world needed to "move toward globalization that has a different face, and which is not excluding people along the way."

The defenders of free-flowing capital and labor will be devoting much of next year to figuring out what can be done. The World Economic Forum, which holds its annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in January, will dedicate itself to finding the "agile, inclusive and collaborative responses" needed urgently to address the complexity and uncertainty in people's lives.

The Group of 20 economies, led by Germany next year, will also be occupied with trying to make globalization benefit everybody. "To benefit from the advantages of global competition and exchange, countries need to enable their citizens to manage the changes in their economic and social life," Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said in a speech in Brussels Dec. 19.

Yet if the global elite are focusing their energy on an economics-led Band Aid, they may find it difficult to apply. About the only thing certain about populist movements is that they run their course  and not always in a way that leaves their supporters feeling satisfied. The cause  and source of the remedy  for populism lies in what Greek political scientist Yannis Stavrakakis calls a "crisis of representation."

In other words, it's the gulf between voters and governments that's what really matters.

Two years ago, Yannis Tselepidis decided to do what voters in the U.S., Britain, and now Italy have done: slap the establishment in the face. In the Greek general election of January 2015 that swept the Syriza party to power on a reformist ticket of reversing austerity and repudiating the nation's creditors, Yannis says he felt the old parties no longer spoke for him, and cast his vote for the insurgents.

Standing in his chic new designer-eyewear store in central Athens, Tselepidis says that things didn't turn out the way he'd hoped. Greece remains mired in debt, with more belt tightening on the horizon. A Christmas handout by the Tsipras government to the country's pensioners has been slammed by the country's creditors.

"Many people including me believed that a new era was coming," he says. "It's tragic to see what we believed was going to lead to change transformed into something that's completely useless and dangerous."

Bloomberg's Mark Deen contributed.
The B&H Photography Podcast, a weekly conversation about all things photography. With insightful and entertaining guests, we discuss the issues most important to the contemporary photographerClick here for high-resolution version

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - December 27, 2016) - The B&H Photography Podcast is pleased to welcome writer Shawn Steiner and product specialist Levi Tenenbaum to our conversation on Cameras of the Year for 2016. From the new medium format mirrorless cameras to spherical imaging action cameras to the latest flagship professional DSLRs, the specs and features and the pros and cons of cameras from all the major manufacturers are discussed. As product testers and gear reviewers for B&H, Steiner and Tenenbaum bring an insight to the latest advancements in camera technology, as well as a hands-on understanding of general and specific applications for each camera.

Along with host Allan Weitz and producer John Harris, our two guests engage in an informative and enjoyable conversation on the most impressive and the soon-to-be-forgotten photographic gear announced in 2016. The B&H Photography Podcast has been publishing weekly conversations on the gear, techniques, art, and history of photography for more than a year. Guests range from Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers to curators to CEOs to B&H's own product experts. The show has been ranked #1 in the Arts Category for Audio Podcasts on iTunes, and was a finalist for Arts Podcast of the Year in the 2016 People's Choice Podcast Awards. Find the B&H Photography Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and the B&H blog Explora.

Podcast: Cameras of the Year, 2016

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/features/podcast-cameras-year-2016

About B&H Photo Video

As the world's largest source of photography, video and audio equipment, B&H Photo Video is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force and excellent customer service, including fast, reliable shipping. Visitors to the website can access a variety of enlightening articles and educational videos. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for 40 years.

The B and H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational photographic content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists, as well as photography industry experts. You can even view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost photographers and interviews with some of photography's most dynamic characters. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H YouTube Channel here. In addition to these videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals.

When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The expo continues all year round in the camera kiosks at B&H. Featuring the newest cameras, the kiosks are manned by manufacturer representatives, who are there to guide you and demonstrate the latest photographic technology. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo SuperStore is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest photography gear.

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Embedded Video Available: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQIxvY1ofXc


ST. LOUIS  A woman, 28, was critically injured on Christmas Eve after falling from a drunken driver's vehicle, police say.

Police said they saw a vehicle heading west on Natural Bridge Avenue about 2:30 p.m. Saturday with the woman "hanging from the side of the vehicle."

Police saw the driver, a 51-year-old man, turn north on North Kingshighway Boulevard, causing the woman to fall out of the vehicle. She was in critical condition at a hospital.

Police caught up to the driver and arrested him for driving while intoxicated.

Police did not identify the woman or the driver; no other details were immediately available Tuesday.
ST. LOUIS  A recent task force report tells all of Missouris public universities and community colleges to stay in their own lanes when it comes to what degrees each type of institution can grant  unless they have a very good reason to stray.

The task force, comprising 16 Missouri higher education leaders, was asked to address the issue by Missouri House leaders after a dispute between the University of Missouri System and the up-and-coming Missouri State University.

Leaders from Missouri State were hoping to change a statute that controls which doctoral programs the Springfield university can grant and prohibits it from offering professional degrees such as law and medical.

The law was created in 2005 when the school went through a name change from Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University. In addition to stipulations on degrees, the statute also limits the school from seeking the same research and land grant designation as the University of Missouri.

Bills were introduced in the Missouri House and Senate during last session that would change that particular statute. Both bills died in committee.

The consensus at the end of the legislative session is that this is a matter better addressed by the higher education community, Zora Mulligan, state Department of Higher Education commissioner, told the Post-Dispatch.

The report largely states that every institution stays in their own lane, meaning research and professional degrees are exclusively the role of the four University of Missouri schools  clarity for which the university system leaders are grateful.

It also states that Missouris 12 community colleges should stick to granting associate degrees and certificates  a directive given amid increased interest among some schools to also offer bachelors degrees.

Part of the conversation of the process was to design a process that applied equally to all institutions regardless of institutional type, Mulligan told the Post-Dispatch.

There is a narrow exception.

If a school sees an opportunity to add a program that doesnt fit its typical mission, the college or university can ask the Coordinating Board of Higher Education. There must be proof that theres a local or regional workforce need, and that there are no collaboration opportunities with other schools, according to the report.

The board will address a maximum of eight proposals during the first two years before reevaluating the new process. But the proposals cannot be fully enacted until the Legislature alters a few statutes .

I was really impressed by the good faith that everybody brought to the table, Mulligan said. It was a very challenging conversation. Mission is a very core component of an institutions identity. Having that talk took real diplomacy.

Leaders from the University of Missouri System and Missouri State have both said in statements to the Post-Dispatch that theyre pleased with the outcome.

The UM System agrees with the reports recommendation that new academic programs that fall outside a public institutions typical set of offerings should be reviewed in a more comprehensive manner to promote collaboration and avoid unnecessary duplication that the state and taxpayers cannot afford, interim system president Michael Middleton said in a statement.

The UM System campuses already offer collaborative degrees with several other universities, and we look forward to continued partnerships with four-year institutions to provide engineering, graduate and professional programs in an efficient manner in fulfillment of our teaching and research mission.
(Updated - December 27, 2016 2:15 PM EST)

U.S.-based global healthcare company Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) has agreed to divest two medical device businesses to settle FTC charges that its proposed $25 billion acquisition of St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) would likely be anticompetitive.

The FTCs complaint alleges that without a remedy, the proposed acquisition would harm competition in the U.S. markets for vascular closure devices, which are used to close holes in arteries from the insertion of catheters, and for steerable sheaths, which are used to guide catheters for treating heart arrhythmias.

Without a remedy, the merger will cause significant harm to competition in these two markets. Specifically:

The merged firm would control more than 70 percent of the market for vascular closure devices.

St. Jude has held a near-monopoly in the market for steerable sheaths for more than a decade. Abbott recently entered the market, and the transaction would eliminate any competition between them.

The proposed consent order requires the parties to divest to Tokyo-based medical device maker Terumo Corporation all rights and assets related to St. Judes vascular closure device business and Abbotts steerable sheath business. Terumo does not currently sell any vascular closure devices or steerable sheaths but has sold related products and medical devices in the U.S. market for more than 30 years, and possesses the industry experience and reputation necessary to replace competition, according to the FTC. The order requires both companies to assist Terumo with establishing its manufacturing capabilities.

Under the proposed order, Abbott is also required to notify the FTC if it intends to acquire lesion-assessing ablation catheter assets from Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, known as ACT. Lesion-assessing ablation catheters provide feedback to physicians regarding the force being applied by the catheter or the temperature of the ablation target.

Currently, only St. Jude and one other company provide lesion-assessing ablation catheters in the United States. Abbott and ACT have formed a partnership to develop these catheters. After the acquisition of St. Jude, if Abbott acquired lesion-assessing ablation catheter assets from ACT, it could eliminate additional competition that would result from an independent ACT.

More information about this proposed merger and the FTCs consent agreement can be found in the analysis to aid public comment.

Commission staff and the staff of antitrust agencies in Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, Israel, Korea and South Africa worked cooperatively on this investigation, including with respect to the remedy and divestiture package, to ensure a consistent outcome.

The Commission vote to issue the complaint and accept the proposed consent order for public comment was 3-0. The FTC will publish the consent agreement package in the Federal Register shortly. The agreement will be subject to public comment for 30 days, beginning today and continuing through January 26, 2017, after which the Commission will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. Comments can be filed electronically or in paper form by following the instructions in the Supplementary Information section of the Federal Register notice.
FILE PHOTO - 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

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films and later endured drug addiction before going on to tell her story as a best-selling author, died on Tuesday aged 60, her family said.

Fisher, a mental health advocate who spoke about her own struggles with bipolar disorder and cocaine addiction, had suffered a heart attack on Friday as she flew into Los Angeles.

The daughter of actor Debbie Reynolds and the late singer Eddie Fisher had been returning from England where she was shooting the third season of the British sitcom "Catastrophe."

"Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter," Reynolds said on Facebook. "I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop."

Fisher's friend and former Star Wars' co-star Mark Hamill, who played Leia's brother Luke Skywalker, said in a tweet: "No words. #Devastated"

Fisher was met by paramedics and rushed to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after suffering the heart attack during the flight on Friday.

She made headlines last month when she disclosed that she had a three-month love affair with her "Star Wars" co-star Harrison Ford 40 years ago.

Fisher revealed the secret to People magazine while promoting her new memoir, "The Princess Diarist," just before it went on sale. The book is based on Fisher's diaries from her time working on the first "Star Wars" movie.

Harrison said in a statement Fisher was funny, emotionally fearless and one-of-a-kind. "She lived her life, bravely...We will all miss her."

Fisher said the affair started and ended in 1976 during production on the blockbuster sci-fi adventure in which she first appeared as the intrepid Princess Leia. Ford played the maverick space pilot Han Solo.

"It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend," Fisher told People. She was 19 and Ford was 33 at the time.

"How could you ask such a shining specimen of a man to be satisfied with the likes of me? I was so inexperienced, but I trusted something about him. He was kind," she wrote of Ford in the memoir, the latest of several books Fisher authored.

Fisher reprised the role in two "Star Wars" sequels. She gained sex symbol status in 1983's "Return of the Jedi" when her Leia character wore a metallic gold bikini while enslaved by the diabolical Jabba the Hutt.

She returned last year in Disney's (NYSE: DIS) reboot of the "Star Wars" franchise, "The Force Awakens," appearing as the more matronly General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance movement fighting the evil First Order.

Filming was completed in July on Fisher's next appearance as Leia in "Star Wars: Episode VIII," which is set to reach theaters in December 2017.

Fisher's Princess Leia makes a surprise appearance at the end of "Rogue One," the latest blockbuster, which opened this month, in the "Star Wars" series.

Shortly after news of her death was made public, her dog Gary, who has his own Twitter account, said goodbye: "Saddest tweets to tweet. Mommy is gone. I love you @carrieffisher."

She is survived by her mother, Reynolds, her daughter, Billie Lourd, and her brother Todd Fisher.

EARLY SHOWBIZ START

Fisher also played a memorable supporting role in the 1989 hit film "When Harry Met Sally," as a friend of Meg Ryan's character who falls for and marries the best pal of Billy Crystal's character.

More recently, Fisher played the American mother-in-law on "Catastrophe."

Born in Beverly Hills, Carrie Fisher got her showbiz start at age 12 in her mother's Las Vegas nightclub act. She made her film debut as a teenager in the 1975 comedy "Shampoo," two years before her "Star Wars" breakthrough.

But her life was also at times mired in drug abuse, mental illness and tumultuous romances with other entertainment figures, all of which she laid bare in her books, interviews and a one-woman stage show titled "Wishful Drinking."

She was once engaged to comic actor Dan Aykroyd, later married, then divorced, singer-songwriter Paul Simon, and had a daughter out of wedlock with Hollywood talent agent Brian Lourd.

After undergoing treatment in the mid-1980s for cocaine addition, she wrote the bestselling novel, "Postcards from the Edge," about a drug-abusing actress forced to move back in with her mother. She later adapted the book into a film that starred Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

She told Reuters in a 2011 interview that tabloid exposure of her private life could be trying.

"'Carrie Fisher's tragic life.' That was one that hurt," she said, quoting a headline. "'Hey, how about Carrie Fisher? She used to be so hot. Now she looks like Elton John.' That hurt."

She also acknowledged being briefly hospitalized in 2013 due to a bout with bipolar disorder.

However, Fisher told Rolling Stone magazine in an interview published last month she was happier than she had ever been.

"I've been through a lot, and I could go through more, but I hope I don't have to," she said. "But if I did, I'd be able to do it. I'm not going to enjoy dying but there's not much prep for that."

Summing up the showbiz legacy she expected to leave behind in her 2011 memoir "Shockaholic," Fisher wrote in self-deprecating style: "What you'll have of me after I journey to that great Death Star in the sky is an extremely accomplished daughter, a few books, and a picture of a stern-looking girl wearing some kind of metal bikini lounging on a giant drooling squid, behind a newscaster informing you of the passing of Princess Leia after a long battle with her head."

(Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle and Daniel Wallis and Jill Serjeant in New York; Editing by Toni Reinhold and Diane Craft)
Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) December 27, 2016

On Friday, November 11th, 2016, Clearwater, Florida periodontist Dr. Todd Britten and his team gathered together to provide compassionate, comprehensive dental care to deserving veterans. "There was something really special about coming into work today. It was just so rewarding knowing that the office is filled with veterans and we are doing something great for them," one dental hygienist stated. Dr. Britten reflected that one of the patients who made a lasting impression on him was a young lady that served in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan. This veteran's armored transport unit had been hit with an explosive that left her with a traumatic brain injury. "She was so proud of her Marine's tattoo and showed me a photo of herself in action before the accident. I could tell she was a Marine for life, right down to the bone. It made me proud that we have men and women serving us that are so dedicated."

This is the 2nd annual Dental Day Dr. Todd M. Britten has organized in his Clearwater, Florida periodontal practice. A little over two years ago, Britten and his team were brainstorming ways to give back to the community. Britten stated, "Our veterans and their families have made so many sacrifices for our freedoms and we wanted to find a way that we could give something back. Offering a day of dental work is the least we could do."

Dr. Britten's dental specialty, periodontics, often involves managing and treating advanced gum disease. A periodontist is often able to help a patient in danger of losing teeth or with active oral infection to turn their health around. The staff at Britten Periodontics expressed that if they could find Veterans in need of periodontal care they could improve their quality of life. "Most of the time, periodontal disease is not painful until it gets to be very advanced. Some of the veterans had been dealing with painful teeth for a long time," Dr. Britten expressed his concern. "Even though we had to remove some teeth we felt better knowing these veterans do not have to be in discomfort anymore."

The majority of the surgical and non-surgical dental procedures were performed on November 11th, however there was significant pre-operative work involved. This included new patient exams, dental x-rays, medical history reviews, even post-operative care. Dr. Britten performed the same comprehensive exam that he would for anyone under his care. He wanted it to be a very personal compassionate experience for these veterans. Dr. Britten stated, "It was a priority to make sure they were comfortable with us. Many of our veteran patients have dental phobias and are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder so we needed to take the time, go the extra mile and treat them with the utmost respect."

Veteran Chuck Pankow, one of the veterans referred by a local dentist said, "From the moment I walked in I have been treated so well. This has been a really great experience." Another Veteran, Chris Bode, referred by the Community Dental Clinic in Clearwater, was also pleased with his care, "Dr. Britten and his staff were amazing. They put compassion over cost when it came to helping us out. I am so grateful."

Britten Periodontics & Implant dentistry has provided over $25,000 worth of dental treatment these past two years. One of the best parts about this event is that it has already started to gain more participation in just its second year. The team members and dentists (Dr. Matthew Burton, Dr. Nolan Allen, Dr. James Hayslett, and Dr. Keith Kiskaddon) of Clearwater Dental Associates were happy to partner with Britten Periodontics to provide general dentistry for as many veterans as they could. Dr. Britten stated he and his staff were honored to hear that Clearwater Dental wanted to join in this cause. Their hope is that with each year this event will grow and be able to help more veterans. Nearly 95% of veterans are without dental coverage, making this a serious need in our community.

Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten received his Bachelor of Science & Doctorate of Dental Surgery from University of Florida, a Master's Degree and Certificate in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry; and completed extensive training at the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry. He is one of the only board-certified periodontists in Pinellas County. He is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, Florida Association of Periodontists, Upper Pinellas County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Research Association and Florida West Coast Dental Association.

To learn more about Dr. Britten and his dental services visit his website at http://www.brittenperio.com or call (727) 586-2681.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/clearwaterperiodontist/veteransday2016/prweb13937754.htm
LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Eurofins Scientific (Paris: ERF) (EUFI.PA), the global leader in food and environment testing, announces that it has acquired ASL Analises Ambientais (ASL), one of the leading environment testing service providers in Brazil.

As one of the largest environment testing service providers in the domestic market, ASL serves consulting and industrial companies across Brazil. The company employs about 150 staff and expects to generate revenues in excess of BRL 25m in 2016, with EBITDA margin already at Group objective.

As one of the first signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)1, Brazil has one of the broadest environmental legislations in the world, although enforcement has been sometimes less strong outside of Sao Paulo. Adoption of regulations by other states in the country should drive further growth in the market. The acquisition of ASL reinforces Eurofins leading domestic footprint to leverage its expertise in helping companies comply with existing, as well as future regulations.

Comment from Dr. Gilles Martin, Eurofins CEO: ASL, together with Anatech, which we acquired in 2014, expands Eurofins footprint to become the largest environment testing service provider in Brazil. This transaction reinforces our local footprint and complements our leading position in the domestic food testing market. In return, ASL will have access to the Groups entire portfolio of competencies, logistics and clients, which should allow it to further expand market share.

For more information, please visit www.eurofins.com.

Notes for the editor:

Eurofins  a global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins believes it is the world leader in food, environment and pharmaceutical products testing and that it is also one of the global independent market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for agroscience, genomics and discovery pharmacology and for supporting clinical studies. In addition, Eurofins is one of the significant emerging players in specialty clinical diagnostic testing in Europe and the USA.

With 25,000 staff in more than 250 laboratories across 39 countries, Eurofins offers a portfolio of over 130,000 validated analytical methods for evaluating the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products, as well as for innovative clinical diagnostic. The Group provides its customers with high-quality services, accurate results on time and expert advice by its highly qualified staff.

Eurofins is committed to pursuing its dynamic growth strategy by expanding both its technology portfolio and its geographic reach. Through R&D and acquisitions, the Group draws on the latest developments in the field of biotechnology and analytical chemistry to offer its clients unique analytical solutions and the most comprehensive range of testing methods.

As one of the most innovative and quality oriented international players in its industry, Eurofins is ideally positioned to support its clients increasingly stringent quality and safety standards and the expanding demands of regulatory authorities and healthcare practitioners around the world.

The shares of Eurofins Scientific are listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN FR0000038259, Reuters EUFI.PA, Bloomberg ERF FP).

Important disclaimer:

This press release contains forward-looking statements and estimates that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements and estimates contained herein represent the judgement of Eurofins Scientific management as of the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, and the forward-looking events discussed in this release may not occur. Eurofins Scientific disclaims any intent or obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements and estimates. All statements and estimates are made based on the information available to the Companys management as of the date of publication, but no guarantee can be made as to their validity.

1 UNFCCC http://unfccc.int/essential_background/convention/status_of_ratification/items/2631.php

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161227005084/en/

Eurofins Brazil

Edison de Fraia, +55 19 2107 5500

Managing Director

[email protected]

or

Investor Relations

Eurofins Scientific

+ 32 2 766 1620

[email protected]

Source: Eurofins Scientific
Conroe, Texas (PRWEB) December 27, 2016

In J. Lindsey Nimmons, Jr.'s new book A Textbook About&"The Life of Jesus, The Son of God"($17.99, paperback, 9781498489355; $8.99, eBook, 9781498489362) readers will get a clearer understanding of the gospels and of Jesus, the son of God. They will be affected emotionally and come to love and appreciate Jesus more, as well as understand things about Jesus that they never understood before.

Nimmons says, "Unlike any textbook I have ever read or know anything about, I believe students of the Bible and persons wanting to know the facts about Jesus' earthly life will learn things they never would realize anywhere else. Most scholarly books on Jesus' life are so scholarly that the average Christians, and especially Non-Christians, are left ignorant of the truth about Jesus."

Lindsey Nimmons, Jr. is a native of Houston, Texas, and had a conversion experience in a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina when he was nine years old. Later, in New Waverly, Texas, while he was reading the Bible, in the summer of 1951, he felt an inner assurance that God wanted him to be a minister of the Gospel. He has been a gospel minister for 65 years. He earned the B.A. Degree in Religion from Baylor University at Waco, Texas in 1954; he earned the Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, California in 1958. He devotes his life to making Disciples for Jesus Christ and leading Christians to become like Christ.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order A Textbook About&"The Life of Jesus, The Son of God through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Media Contact: J. LINDSEY NIMMONS, JR.

Email:lindseynimmons(at)gmail.com

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/12/prweb13941666.htm
DALLAS, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to combat perceived income inequality, the Portland, Oregon City Council ("City Council") authorized the addition of a surtax to the city's business license tax for companies whose chief executive officers (CEO) earn at least 100 times more than the companies' average median employee income.

Companies who pay the city's business license tax and have a CEO who earns at least 100 times more than the company's median employees will be required to pay an additional 10% city tax. For companies with a ratio greater than 250 times, the surtax increases by 15%, requiring them to pay an additional 25% in taxes. A company whose CEO earns less than 100 times the median employee compensation will not be required to pay the surtax.

The surtax is scheduled to begin in 2017, after the Securities and Exchange Commission begins requiring public companies to calculate and disclose their CEO versus median employee compensation per Dodd-Frank. Portland will use this data to calculate the surtax owed.

This CEO-compensation surtax is the first of its kind to be adopted in the United States. As public companies disclose their data around salary ranges, this will be an issue that receives public attention with earnings releases. With differing viewpoints about government interference in the compensation structure of companies, it remains to be seen whether this is a one-time news event or portends other jurisdictions attempting to emulate the Portland surtax. As that is considered, debate will also occur as to the determination as to what is perceived as a gap differential requiring a surtax.

About RyanRyan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a five-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multi-disciplinary team of more than 2,100 professionals and associates serves over 12,000 clients in more than 40 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeremiah T. LynchPrincipalRyan 212.847.0113[email protected]

Available Topic Expert: For information on the listed expert, click appropriate link.Jerry LynchProfNet - http://www.profnetconnect.com/jeremiahlynch

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/portland-oregon-passes-ceo-compensation-disparity-surtax-300383648.html

SOURCE Ryan
Lancaster, PA (PRWEB) December 27, 2016

Jacqueline Andeso Fusallah's new book, GRACE ($20.99, paperback,9781498445351; e-book, $9.99, 9781498445368) explains that God's truth is for his children to experience His everlasting love and mercy through Christ. Fusallah stresses to readers that when we choose to abandon our analytical perspective of the truth of God's word, and instead surrender to its precepts, we will experience transformation in our thinking. The disciplines of the Word of God will inspire, enlighten, and strengthen the reader into a spiritual and gradual maturing relationship with our Creator.

""I hope that by reading about my testimonies, they will realize that every person has seeds of greatness planted within by the Creator. When you break through in your mind, believing you can rise higher and overcome obstacles, then God will unleash the power within that will enable you to go beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary life you were designed to live.

"When life weighs upon us, pushing us down, limiting our thinking, labeling us in negative ways, we have what it takes to overcome and rise above into the fullness of our destinies."

Jacqueline Andeso Fusallah worked for Trans World Radio for ten years as Secretary to the Project Manager in Kenya, and was a Certified Nurse's Aide for twelve years in the United Sates. It's with that belief that she can do all things through Christ who strengthens her that she dared to become a writer. She believes that every person has seeds of greatness planted within them by the Creator.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 12,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order GRACE through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. The book is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Media Contact: Jacqueline Andeso Fusallah

Email: jfusallah(at)comcast(dot)net

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2016/12/prweb13938297.htm
By Anne Mireille Nzouankeu

YAOUNDE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Sitting in a circle with several other young men in a charity's offices in Cameroon's capital, Fleur listens intently to the speaker talk about gay sex before slowly raising his hand.

"Can we catch AIDS by swallowing sperm?" he asks, prompting laughter from his peers at the group discussion held by Alcondoms, an organization promoting the rights and health of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Yet HIV and homosexuality are no laughing matter for men like Fleur in a country where being gay is illegal and LGBT activists face rising hostility and violence.

Cameroon has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in West and Central Africa, after Nigeria, and men who have sex with men are hit the hardest, says the U.N. AIDS program (UNAIDS).

While one in 25 people in Cameroon are living with HIV, almost a quarter of men who have sex with men in Yaounde have the virus which causes AIDS.

The prevalence of HIV among this group in Douala, the economic capital, is even higher with two in five men who have sex with men (MSM) infected, according to the state's national AIDS control committee.

The committee says it has developed various strategies in recent years to reduce the number of new infections, such as making antiretroviral treatment free and setting up support programs for patients.

But the fear of discrimination and threat of five years in prison are driving MSM and LGBT people away from hospitals and state programs, according to civil society groups who say they fill the gap by providing condoms, counseling and healthcare.

However, their work in improving access to healthcare for these marginalized communities has also had an unforeseen and adverse impact, according to gay rights activist Lambert Lamba.

"People feel that taking MSM into account in health policy is a way to legalize homosexual behavior," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in Yaounde. "This has resulted in more and more attacks on gay people and human rights defenders."

CLIMATE OF FEAR

Animosity is growing between a largely conservative society and a younger generation less concerned by homosexuality in a country which prosecutes people for being gay more aggressively than almost any other nation in the world, LGBT activists say.

At least 50 people were convicted of homosexuality between 2010 and 2014 - for acts ranging from cross-dressing and wearing make-up to a man texting 'I love you' to another man - according to data collected by The Cameroonian Foundation for AIDS.

While there have only been a handful of convictions since 2014 - a drop activists attribute to their work, intervention by LGBT-friendly lawyers and the advocacy of Western diplomats - discrimination towards MSM and LGBT people remains rife.

Evrard, who attended the group discussion along with Fleur, said he would never return to a state hospital when ill.

"When I went once with my partner, the disapproving look of the medical staff, the murmurs and the mocking laughter discouraged me," he said." I will never relive this experience."

Police last month arrested 12 men for homosexuality because they were in possession of condoms and lubricants, while the offices of several LGBT groups have been vandalized and burgled in recent years, said legal charity Human Dignity Trust.

In a killing that rocked campaign groups in Cameroon in July 2013, gay rights activist Eric Ohena Lembembe was found dead in his home in Yaounde. His neck was broken, his feet smashed and his face burned with an iron, according to Human Rights Watch.

LIBERATED

Aware of these challenges, the national AIDS control committee relies on local civil society groups to reach out to people at particular risk of HIV with services including voluntary testing and medical consultations.

"I am a MSM and a sex worker myself," said Patrick Fotso, head of Alcondoms, which educates 50 people a month about HIV. "It's therefore easy for me and the members of my association to get in touch with our peers and send them prevention messages."

Larger organizations administer antiretroviral drugs, and say they are working to ensure all HIV-positive people on their books are on the treatment.

Distributing condoms to halt the spread of HIV is another key, and cost-effective, strategy.

More than one million condoms were distributed in Cameroon last year, compared with fewer than 100,000 in 2008, said Jean-Bosco Elat, coordinator of the national AIDS committee.

While the state and civil society groups strive to improve health services, individuals like Fleur still have to contend with the constant menace of abuse, discrimination and violence.

Recalling his experiences at hospitals - where nurses said God would punish him for being gay - and how people stare at him because he wiggles his hips when he walks, Fleur said being able to discuss sex in a safe space with his peers had liberated him.

"I can get answers to my questions and easily take care of my health," he said. "I feel happy and comfortable to be here."

(Reporting By Anne Mireille Nzouankeu, Editing by Kieran Guilbert and Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
An internally displaced Syrian woman carries her child in the Bab Al-Salam refugee camp, near the Syrian-Turkish border, northern Aleppo province, Syria December 26, 2016. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has launched a fundraising campaign for Syrians displaced by a five-year civil war, including those evacuated from eastern Aleppo, state news agency SPA reported on Monday.

More than 11 million Syrians - around half of the population - have been displaced by the fighting, which began in 2011 and has killed more than 300,000 people.

Saudi Arabia has been one of the main supporters of rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Riyadh regards as a tool of regional arch-rival Iran.

Thousands of Syrian fighters and civilians have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo in a week-long operation this month after government forces backed by Russia and Iran closed in on their stronghold. Many of them are staying in temporary shelters in freezing temperatures.

SPA reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz had ordered a relief campaign to be started on Tuesday and had allocated 100 million riyals ($27 million) to the drive.

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, has ordered a popular campaign to be launched ... to provide relief for the brotherly Syrian people," SPA said.

The agency said the funds would be used to set up a camp for refugees and to provide food, medicines and blankets for displaced Syrians. It did not say where the camp would be located.

The agency said King Salman also donated 20 million riyals of his own money to the campaign, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef had donated 10 million, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had contributed 8 million.

Saudi Arabia has contributed to United Nations relief campaigns for Syria, including at fundraising meetings in Kuwait and elsewhere.

(Reporting by Ali Abdelatti; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)








UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K





CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934





Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 27, 2016 (December 22, 2016)









FIRST DATA CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)





Delaware 001-11073 47-0731996 (State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer

Identification No.)









225 LIBERTY STREET 29 th FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK



10281 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)





Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (800) 735-3362









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:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





























Item 5.03 Amendment to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On December 22, 2016, First Data Corporation (First Data) filed a Certificate of Retirement with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to retire 175,001,996 shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of First Data (Class B Common Stock). All 175,001,996 shares of Class B Common Stock were converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of First Data (Class A Common Stock). First Datas Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires that any shares of Class B Common Stock that are converted into shares of Class A Common Stock be retired and may not be reissued.

Effective upon filing, the Certificate of Retirement amended the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of First Data to reduce the total number of authorized shares of capital stock of First Data by 175,001,996 shares. The total number of authorized shares of First Data is now 2,324,998,004 shares, consisting of 1,600,000,000 shares designated Class A Common Stock, 624,998,004 shares designated Class B Common Stock, and 100,000,000 shares designated preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. A copy of the Certificate of Retirement is attached as Exhibit 3.1 hereto.





Item 8.01. Other Events

On December 23, 2016, First Data gave notice to the trustee for its 6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 that First Data intends to redeem $1 billion of the notes on January 24, 2017. First Datas obligation to pay the redemption amount is conditioned upon consummation of a debt financing to be offered following the date of the notice that yields net proceeds that are sufficient to pay the redemption amount. The condition may be waived by First Data in its sole discretion. This Form 8-K does not constitute a notice of redemption.





Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) The following is a list of the Exhibits filed with this report.





Exhibit No Description of Exhibit 3.1 Certificate of Retirement of 175,001,996 Shares of Class B Common Stock































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.





FIRST DATA CORPORATION







By: /s/ Stanley J. Andersen

Stanley J. Andersen

Vice President and Assistant Secretary





Date: December 27, 2016





















EXHIBIT 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF RETIREMENT

OF

175,001,996 SHARES OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK

OF

FIRST DATA CORPORATION

Pursuant to Section 243(b)

of the General Corporation Law

of the State of Delaware

First Data Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (Corporation), certifies as follows:

1. 175,001,996 outstanding shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class B Common Stock), of the Corporation have been converted into 175,001,996 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (Class A Common Stock), of the Corporation.

2. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 19, 2015, as amended, provides that any shares of Class B common stock which are converted into shares of Class A common stock shall be retired and may not be reissued by the Corporation.

3. The Board of Directors of the Corporation has adopted resolutions retiring the 175,001,996 shares of Class B common stock that converted into 175,001,996 shares of Class A common stock.

4. Accordingly, pursuant to the provisions of Section 243(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, upon the filing of this Certificate of Retirement the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall be amended so as to reduce the total authorized number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation by 175,001,996 shares, such that the total number of authorized shares of the Corporation shall be 2,324,998,004, such shares consisting of 1,600,000,000 shares designated Class A common stock, 624,998,004 shares designated Class B common stock, and 100,000,000 shares designated preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.





Dated December 22, 2016.

FIRST DATA CORPORATION By: /s/ Gretchen A. Herron Name: Gretchen A. Herron Title: Assistant Secretary








Top Foreign Ministry officials from China, Pakistan and Russia will meet in Moscow today (Tuesday) to review what they perceive as a "gradually growing" threat to their frontiers posed by Daesh extremists in Afghanistan.

"This is an existing forum for undertaking informal discussions on issues of regional peace and stability, including the situation in Afghanistan," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria.

Pakistan's foreign secretary, Aizaz Chaudhry, will lead Islamabad's delegation, he added. Officials say future meetings could include Iran.

Chinese, Pakistani and Russian officials say they were driven to joint action by the efforts of IS affiliates to establish a foothold in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's national unity government has reportedly questioned the motives of the trilateral dialogue, which will take place without Kabul being represented.

Russian officials maintain the "working group on Afghanistan" is one of several initiatives Moscow has undertaken with regional countries, including Afghanistan, to develop a "wider partnership" for containing Daesh influence.

Beijing, Islamabad and Moscow say the three-way talks will also explore ways to bring the Taliban to the table for peace talks with the Afghan government. All three governments maintain overt contacts with the insurgent group.

Russia and officials in Pakistan argue that military operations by the U.S.-led international forces and their Afghan partners have not weakened the Taliban but instead created ungoverned areas where terrorist groups like Daesh, can establish a foothold.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, told the U.N. Security Council last week that the deteriorating security situation has encouraged Daesh militants fleeing Syria and Iraq to look at Afghanistan for shelter. He said they will eventually pose a threat to Russia through neighboring central Asian states.

Using another acronym for Daesh, he said, "There is also information about the presence in Afghanistan of Daesh camps and safe harbors where people from central Asian states and northern Caucasus republics are being trained and where 700 terrorist families from Syria have already arrived."

Churkin again rejected Afghan and U.S. concerns that Moscow's overt ties to the Taliban are meant to undermine international efforts aimed at establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Japan s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday ahead of a symbolic meeting with President Barack Obama at the site of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe will be the first to go to the US Arizona Memorial, the wreck where 1,177 US personnel died.

Tuesday s visit comes 75 years after Japan s December 1941 attack on the base of the US Pacific fleet, drawing America into World War II.

And it comes seven months after Obama and Abe made a joint visit to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which was devastated by a US atomic bomb in 1945.

Before leaving Japan, Abe said he was to visit the Pearl Harbor memorial because: "We must not repeat the horror of war ever again."

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," he told reporters.

On December 7, 1941 a Japanese air armada descended on the Hawaiian naval base without warning, sinking much of the fleet and killing 2,400 people.

Washington had been hesitating about joining a war that had already plunged Europe into chaos, but the Japanese attack forced its hand.

The moving memorial, appearing to float above the rusting remains of the USS Arizona, attracts two million tourists, pilgrims and veterans every year.

The curved-roofed white building was put in place in the 1960s to memorialize what president Franklin Roosevelt dubbed the "day that will live in infamy."

Inside are engraved the names of crewmen who died in the attack.

Abe is not expected to formally apologize in the name of Japan but, as Obama did at Hiroshima, will celebrate today s friendship between the former foes.

On Monday, Abe was expected to tour other sites near the Hawaiian state capital, Honolulu, including the National Memorial Cemetery of the pacific.

Known colloquially as the Punchbowl, it is the final resting place for more than 13,000 American veterans of the war in the Pacific.

Abe will also pay tribute to the nine Japanese crew and students who drowned in February 2001 when the fishing vessel Ehime Maru collided with a US sub.
(Corrects in paragraph 2 the regulator's name to Supreme Council for the Administration of the Media, not Supreme Council for the Press and Media)

By Ahmed Aboulenein

CAIRO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will pick a chairman and members of a new media council under a law passed on Monday, giving the body the power to fine or suspend publications and broadcasters and give or revoke licences for foreign media.

The law, approved by parliament and signed into law by Sisi, creates the so-called Supreme Council for the Administration of the Media whose chairman will be picked by Sisi and whose remaining members will be appointed by him based on nominations from various bodies including the judiciary and parliament.

Human rights organisations and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists have repeatedly criticised media freedoms in Egypt, which jailed the second most journalists of any country in the world in 2015, according to the CPJ.

The new council is tasked with suing media organisations that violate its regulations, creating a list of penalties, fining media organisations that break licence terms, and can revoke or suspend the right to publish or broadcast.

It will also ensure fair competition between media groups as well as their independence and neutrality, adherence to journalistic ethics, and will make sure they do not compromise national security, the Official Gazette in which the law was published said.

Yehia Qalash, chief of the press syndicate, told Reuters that the law and the council were mostly concerned with administrative affairs and did not compromise media freedoms. Parliament was still debating other media legislation, he said.

A second media law will cover sentencing, freedom of information, confidentiality of sourcing and the relationship between journalism and national security, lawmakers and press syndicate members said.

The press syndicate had lobbied for a single media law encompassing all issues but parliament decided on two separate laws.

Story continues

On Sunday, the Interior Ministry said it had arrested an Al Jazeera news producer, accusing him of "provoking sedition" on behalf of the Qatar-based broadcaster that it considers a mouthpiece of the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Three Al Jazeera journalists were arrested in December 2013 and sentenced to between seven and 10 years in prison on charges including spreading lies to help a terrorist organisation. One was eventually deported and the two others freed in 2015.

Police raided the Egypt's press syndicate offices in Cairo in May and arrested two journalists critical of the government. Thousands of Egyptian journalists protested the move.

A court in November found the syndicate leadership, including Qalash, guilty of harbouring criminals and sentenced them to two years in prison in relation to the incident. Qalash has appealed in is out of detention on bail.

The government says it respects media freedom and all jailed journalists are facing criminal charges unrelated to their work.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)
No-one will blame Surf Life Saving Eastern Region Lifesaving manager Leigh Sefton for feeling really ticked off.

For the second time in a week vandals have damaged the new Tay Street lifeguard tower, with the most recent incident occurring on Monday night.

Leigh says the first incident on Wednesday, December 21 - only two days after the tower was opened - saw vandals force their way inside and destroy the lifeguards work bench by smashing it in two.

While Monday nights incident saw vandals return and smash one of the windows, as well as steal the ladder leading up to the tower.

I have lifeguards on the beach right now who cant gain access to the tower because the ladders gone.

"Weve easily got 300-400 people on the beach at the moment, its absolutely chocka, and the lifeguards dont have the ability to look up and down the beach and monitor it safely.

In the interim the lifeguards will use a ladder which Leigh has brought from home.

Leigh is appealing to members of the community, especially people living in and around the Tay Street area, to keep an eye on the tower.

If you see anything suspicious or anyone hanging around the tower who looks like theyre up to no good please call police immediately, asks Leigh.

Its extremely frustrating for us, vandalising the tower is no different to someone having a crack at an ambulance, a fire engine or a police car.

Im absolutely angry and gutted that anyone could contemplate doing this to an essential piece of life saving equipment.
If the experts predicted a dismal future for regional New Zealand, no one told Hauraki.

In a climate of expected population and economic decline, the district is booming, say Council.

In 2015, Gross Domestic Product growth was 8 per cent compared with national growth of 2.4 per cent. Productivity - GDP per employed person - growth was 6.2 per cent compared to 1.3 per cent nationally.

Population growth was 2.4 per cent compared to national growth of 2.1 per cent.

Councils Economic Development Committee Chair Toby Adams says a well-thought-out Economic Development Strategy, together with the districts location in the Golden Triangle between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga is proving to be a winning combination.

Weve set out to be a leader among New Zealand Councils in encouraging and enabling international investment and adopting a business friendly focus. Now its really paying off.

The countrys first Chinese-owned ice cream factory officially opened in the district last week. Due to start production early next year, the factory will produce 5 - 10 tonnes of ice-cream per day for export to China and employ about 50, mostly local, people. It has already breathed new life into the small, rural community of Kerepehi.

In the same area, only one section is still for sale in a council-owned industrial subdivision, while sections in a recently developed residential subdivision in nearby Ngatea are also well.

Plans to build a 600-unit retirement village in Paeroa are also on the table, following the purchase of the Paeroa Racecourse by a private developer.

Councils Economic Development Manager David Fielden says Hauraki is fast matching up to Councils vision of a place where business locates, talent lives and people visit because of vibrant communities, great lifestyle options and an enabling business environment.

It shows that you shouldnt listen to the predictions of experts. Over the last four years Council has worked hard and committed itself to creating an environment of confidence for companies to invest in the district. This has been recognised in both the domestic and international markets.
The SPCA is pleased it will no longer be prohibited from re-homing dogs based on the visual assessment of their breed.

Instead, dogs classified under the Dog Control Act 1999 as menacing can be rehomed to people with a high-risk dog owner license.

This change was included in the second tranche of proposals as part of the national action plan for dogs in New Zealand announced recently.

However, while it will save thousands of dogs, there still areas of concern in the national action plan that need to be addressed.

The SPCA has been campaigning against the strengthened breed-specific legislation included in the Governments national action plan for dogs.

The proposed law would have seen animal shelters like as the SPCA banned from rehoming dogs purely based on how they look  which would have led to thousands of healthy dogs being euthanised.

The SPCAs petition against breed-specific legislation and for a change in this proposed law gained almost 60,000 signatures and widespread support from the New Zealand public.

Were really pleased that the Government has made changes in this action plan to allow the SPCA to continue rehoming dogs irrespective of their breed. says SPCA New Zealand acting CEO Andrea Midgen.

Breed alone is no indication of aggression, so we believe all dogs should be treated as individuals and not discriminated against based on what they look like.

Thats why each dog at the SPCA is treated as an individual and undergoes health and behavior assessments before they are re-homed. No dog assessed as dangerous would ever be re-homed by the SPCA.

The SPCA is also fully supportive of the provision in the proposal to regulate dog breeders. We hope that if this is implemented, there will be fewer backyard breeders and a reduction in the unwanted dog population that our SPCA Centres have to respond to.

This is a success for us and its a great result for the animals. But there is still more work to be done.

Over the coming months the SPCA will continue to work with the Department of Internal Affairs and Minister Upston and will address areas of concern and areas for improvement with this proposal in the Select Committee process.

WHAT THE SPCA WOULD LIKE TO SEE:
The Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) wants people to put their mental wellbeing first when considering New Years resolutions.

They believe physical activity leads to people being happier and having a healthier state of mind.

A total of 14.3 per cent of adults in New Zealand exercise for less than 30 minutes a week, yet those who exercise say theyre happier and have more energy. Research shows that sleeping well, eating healthy and exercising all relate to a better wellbeing. Physical activity can reduce depressive symptoms, stress and improve moods.

Less than half (48 per cent) of New Zealand adults are physically active despite the Ministry of Health recommendation that adults should take part in moderate exercise for at least two and half hours a week.

For extra health benefits the recommendation is five hours a week.

ExerciseNZ chief Richard Beddie says those who make physical activity a top goal for 2017 are likely to feel better about their health, be less stressed, have more mental clarity, be more positive and happier.

At this holiday time of year it is important to leave the previous years baggage behind. As a new year approaches people naturally reflect, recharge and start planning for what comes next. When reflection of negative occurrences overpowers happy and positive thoughts, this can lead to unhealthy rumination and feelings of hopelessness and depression, he says.

Physical activity can have an incredibly positive influence over the state of mind and practicing mindfulness techniques in combination with exercise is a great way to keep focused on the here and now and remove that unwanted clutter.

Yoga is increasingly being recognised as one of the best ways to improve physical and mental wellbeing because it helps improve multiple facets of someones life all at once. People who practise yoga experience improved sleep patterns, have more energy and an increased focus which leads to improved general habits like eating heathier and exercising more.

Exercise is no longer just about go hard or go home. More Kiwis are taking up yoga as a way of combining physical activity with mindfulness techniques to restore a healthy balance, de-stress and maintain an overall state of wellbeing.
Here are todays temperatures, sunscreen hours, and a little bit of New Zealand history, all thanks to Rosalie.

Check out her beautiful video to find out more.

Do you have any awesome photos or video of the weather from your neighbourhood you want to share with SunLive and your fellow SunLive readers?

Share them to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunliveBOP
The police want to remind those attending the Rhythm and Vines festival this New Year to take care of themselves and their friends.

Senior Sergeant Ross Smith says people should stay with their friends throughout the evening and make a plan if you get separated.

If you are going to be drinking, eat something substantial first and encourage your friends to do the same.

Police advise attendees to watch their drinks and not to accept any drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, you havent personally seen poured.

At events of this size, where its noisy and there are people everywhere, youre not likely to notice someone tampering with your drink. Pay particular attention to drinks passed to you from strangers, ask for another to be poured if youre unsure.

Drivers should all expect to be breath tested when they leave the event.

If you are planning to drink at the festival and arent camping, make reliable arrangements on how youre getting home. Arrange a sober driver, or book a taxi or use one of the many bus services available.

Keep in mind that if youre partying through the night, you wont be in a fit state to drive the next morning either.

Those with vehicles parked at the event should ensure all doors and windows are locked and valuables are kept out of sight if they need to be in the car.

Keep your keys in a secure place, preferably on a lanyard or stitched into a pocket, says Ross.

Having valuables stolen can put a damper on your celebrations, so whenever youre away from your tent, take your valuables with you.

Campgrounds are an easy place for thieves to target as tents dont offer much security.

He says it also pays to be aware of pick-pockets.

Your cell phone or wallet in your pocket could become an easy target when youre in a large crowd.

Be aware of your belongings and where they are and make sure to turn on useful tools like the GPS tracking aps on your cell phones.

So long as everyone uses common sense and looks out for their friends, we look forward to supervising the New Years celebrations.

More advice on keeping safe can be found here: https://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-community/keeping-safe.
In the time it takes you to read this, Fonterra will have carried out another 60 tests on its milk and products.

The co-operative carries out more than 14 million tests on its raw milk through to final product every year  thats one test every two seconds.

Testing is the front line of ensuring milk quality and safety lives up to their Trusted Goodness seal.

The testing journey begins on farm where the tanker operators look for anything out of the ordinary, check the temperature of the milk, as well as taking samples for random testing further down the track.

Fonterra Group Director Food Safety and Quality Greg McCullough says once the milk arrives at the site every 26,000 litre tanker load is tested. Throughout the journey, from the farm to the customers doorstep, Fonterra tests for more than 70 different things; from safety and quality aspects through to fat and protein levels, as well as how the final product tastes, smells and performs.

As well as world class technology, highly trained human instinct is required to determine the freshness and quality of the milk. Hundreds of samples of raw milk are smelt by a sensory tester every day, whose highly tuned senses enables them to pick up even the slightest whiff of milk thats not up to scratch, and pizzas are cooked hourly to test the stretch and taste of the mozzarella at Fonterras Clandeboye site.

We know fresh when we taste and smell it, so its an important part of the process. This along with the world class technology, the processes and people we have ensures that every step of the way were working to provide the highest quality dairy nutrition to millions of families all over the world, says Greg.

Our farmers take the utmost care to provide us with high quality milk. Our tanker operators continue to uphold this element of care when they check the milk before pumping it into their tankers and then again before they offload the tanker at the site. The workers in the factories as well as independent labs continue the process - every step of the way were checking to make sure our products are safe.

Testing is carried out by both Fonterra and independent laboratories. One of the independent laboratories is Milk Test NZ who test milk for the majority of the countrys dairy companies, and generate more than 8.6 million test results every year for Fonterra.

Every raw milk sample collected is tested for composition as well as going through up to eight random tests that determine indicators of quality. This process also includes Fonterras world leading milk fingerprinting technology, which can help determine which product the milk is best suited for.
James Myers Jr.

James Myers Jr.

(Provide by Syracuse Police Department)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police say a man went to his ex-girlfriend's house Christmas night while she was sleeping, then choked and punched her.

James V. Myers Jr., 29, also struck the woman in the head several times with the base of a lamp, causing the lamp to break, Syracuse police Sgt. Richard Helterline said in a news release.

The victim, a 24-year-old Syracuse woman, then grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself, Helterline said in the release. After she cut Myers in the forehead, he stopped attacking her, police said.

Syracuse police said they were called to the 200 block of Furman Street at 10:28 p.m. Sunday for a reported stabbing.

An American Medical Response ambulance took Myers to Upstate University Hospital Community Campus for treatment.

The woman, whose name was not released, was treated for injuries to her head and neck, police said. She did not require further medical treatment, Helterline said in the release.

During the investigation, officers learned Myers had entered his ex-girlifrend's home without permission and confronted her while she was sleeping in the bedroom, Helterline said in the release. Police also said there were young children in the bedroom with the victim at the time.

Syracuse police did not charge the woman because "it was determined that she was acting in self defense," the news release said.

Myers was charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree assault, both felonies, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal obstruction of breathing and resisting arrest, all misdemeanors. He was sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center after he was released from the hospital. He remains in jail Monday night.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man was shot in the shoulder Monday night in Syracuse on a Near West Side street.

The Syracuse Police Department rushed to 108 Merriman Ave. around 10:25 p.m. after a shooting was reported, said Sgt. Richard Helterline, a police spokesman. Several residents living in the area also called 911 after hearing gunshots.

When officers arrived on Merriman Avenue, they found a 21-year-old man who had been shot in his left shoulder, Helterline said. The man's injury is considered minor and not life-threatening, he said.

The man did not give officer's suspect information, Helterline said. Although witnesses told officers they saw a red, four-door sedan leave the area after the shooting, no one was sure if the vehicle was involved in the incident, he said.

Police asked anyone with information about the shooting to call (315) 442-5222 or submit tips anonymously through the SPD Tips app.
Kasson Rd Crash car pole

This Toyota Corolla crashed into a pole on Kasson Road in Camillus. The driver told deputies he swerved to avoid hitting another driver who drove into his path, then struck the pole. But a witness told deputies he didn't see anyone cut off the Camry. Deputies ticketed the driver who crashed.

(Catie O'Toole | cotoole@syracuse.com)

CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- Onondaga County sheriff's deputies ticketed the driver of a car after he crashed into a utility pole, causing emergency crews to close a busy section of Kasson Road in Camillus for more than five hours Monday.

Wayne Holt, 70, of Melrose Avenue in Fairmount, was driving a 2003 blue Toyota Camry north on Kasson Road shortly before 3 p.m. Monday when his car "crossed over into the other lane, jumped a small curb" in front of Cam's New York Pizzeria and struck a utility pole, sheriff's Sgt. Jon Seeber said.

Holt told deputies a woman in a small car veered into his lane so he swerved to avoid hitting her and instead struck the pole, Seeber said.

Holt's passenger, Daniel Noeller, 61, of Split Rock Road in Camillus, also told syracuse.com that Holt swerved to avoid crashing into a woman who drove in front of them on Kasson Road.

"She pulled right in front of us," Noeller said as he sat in the passenger's seat, surrounded by airbags.

However, deputies said they interviewed a witness who gave a different version of how the crash happened.

The witness told deputies he never saw another vehicle cut off Holt, Seeber said. Instead, the witness described seeing Holt's car driving north on Kasson Road -- "traveling faster than normal traffic speeds" -- then start to move into the opposite lane before crossing over completely, jumping the curb and striking the pole, Seeber said.

Noeller, the front-seat passenger, was treated at the scene and refused medical transport. Deputies said he complained of head pain, but Noeller told syracuse.com he was "fine" as he waited for a ride.

Holt complained of head, shoulder and rib pain, Seeber said. WAVES Ambulance took Holt to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse for non life-threatening injuries. He is expected to be released from the hospital Monday night, Seeber said.

Deputies said they have issued Holt the following traffic tickets: Imprudent speed, moved from lane unsafely and driving across hazard markings.

Kasson Road, from West Genesee Street to the side entrance of Camillus Commons, remained closed at 8 p.m. as National Grid crews continue to work to replace the pole and transformer damaged in the crash.
Herkimer, N.Y. -- If you ask Lorraine Lewandrowksi, almond milk is not milk.

Vegans "just pontificate" and are bad for farmers. People trying to get rid of genetically modified crops are going to get rid of farmers, too.

"Query: if you eat anything with a GMO, do you become GMO? If you eat chicken sh*t, do you become a chicken sh*t? " Lewandrowski recently tweeted in response to an argument against using genetically modified crops.

The Herkimer dairy farmer goes by @NYFarmer on Twitter. And when she tweets, 20,000 people see it. She uses social media to campaign for the family farmer and against popular causes and people she says are threatening farmers' way of life.

Lewandrowski isn't your usual anything. She has a law degree and a degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. She works in a quiet law office in Herkimer, near Utica, handling the everyday legal affairs of small-town folk. She starts and ends her days on the dairy farm where she grew up, which her brother now runs with her sister, who is the town veterinarian.

As Lewandrowski helps milk the cows and takes care of people's wills, she is tweeting about the local food movement, vegans, milk prices and increased rates of farmer suicide.

If someone gets in her cross hairs, Lewandrowski can be an unrelenting critic. Take Mark Bittman: Lewandrowski has been doing battle with Bittman, the former New York Times food writer and best-selling author of "Eat Vegan Before 6" book for years.

Since 2011, Bittman has been a target of Lewandrowski's. Columns about the vegan lifestyle (no products that come from an animal) with headlines like "No Meat, No Milk, No Problem," began to irritate Lewandrowksi. But what put her over the edge, perhaps, was a 2012 piece in which Bittman wrote that people who stop drinking milk aren't hurting farmers -- at least not family farmers.

"But what about the bucolic cow on the family farm?" Bittman wrote in the New York Times. Both rarely exist now, he continued, replaced, instead by massive factory farms with between 10,000 and 30,000 cows that never see pasture.

That is the case in some places, but in the area around Herkimer where Lewandrowski's family has farmed and lived for four generations, the majority of the farms are small, like her family's. Their farm has 100 milking cows and the work is primarily done by family. They are exactly the image Bittman said no longer existed.

They are also the major supplier of New York City's milk; Lewandrowski calls the region the "milkshed." So when someone tells all of New York City, and the nation, that dairy is bad for them and small family farms don't exist anymore, Lewandrowski feels inclined to speak up.

It's possible she's a bit snarky at times. Lewandrowski said Bittman eventually blocked her and sent her a twitter direct message telling her she was doing herself and her cause a disservice by the way she was taking him on.

I am sure jackass of a @bittman will celebrate the pounding northeast farms taking https://t.co/HlNJd0iuSN  NYFarmer (@NYFarmer) October 12, 2016

(Bittman has not replied to an email seeking comment).

She continues to tweet at Bittman and the vegans.

"Oh poo poo," she tweeted at @VegOs when that twitter user argued that some people simply can't digest dairy proteins.

Lewandrowski called the makers of milk substitutes (soy, rice, almond) "freeloaders" on dairy's good name, in support of a Vermont bill to require milk substitutes to use a term other than "milk" in their name.

Lewandrowski, though, says she doesn't mean any harm by her tone. She's mostly trying to poke a little fun while getting a serious message across: there are big problems looming for small farmers across the nation.

When the price of milk (which almost no normal person can explain) plummeted in 2009, people she knew lost their farms. Farm families fell apart. Many have not recovered from that drop.

Lewandrowski makes her case outside of social media, too. In 2013, she called up poet and environmentalist Wendell Berry to ask for his help. On social media, she'd been reading about a freak blizzard that ravaged cattle ranches in Wyoming and South Dakota, but had gotten virtually no attention in the media.

She looked up the 82-year-old icon's number and called him at his home. Berry, a recipient of the prestigious National Humanities Medal, came to the phone at his farm and the two chatted, she said.

They ended up talking about the local food movement, and how many people involved often don't really understand where the food is coming from, Lewandrowski said.

Berry and Wes Jackson, Berry's friend and a force in the sustainable farming movement, often speak at New York City events with Lewandrowski's nemesis, Bittman. In the past, she's asked Jackson to talk to Bittman about the harm he's doing to local farmers.

Jackson, who like Berry is in his 80s, said he hasn't had that conversation with Bittman just yet.

Lewandrowski's Facebook and Twitter feed are also full of the photographs of bucolic scenes that she snaps while she's out and about: Morning light on a corn field. Calves in the barn. Sunsets glittering on the snow.

Her followers from urban areas like those scenes. It makes them feel peaceful to see life out on the farm. Lewandrowski, who did a stint working in corporate banking in New York City, understands that well.

She's not sure how food and agriculture have become such divisive issues.

"It seems like food is so polarized," Lewandrowski said. "It's worse than religion already."



Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246
2010-10-20-mjg-Fundraiser2.JPG

Republican candidate for governor Carl Paladino gestures during an interview at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool in 2010.

(Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- County Executive Joanie Mahoney today encouraged her fellow Republicans to speak out against "racist and sexist" remarks by Buffalo developer Carl Paladino.

Last week, Paladino said he wished the President would die of mad cow disease and said the First Lady should be "let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe." Despite a litany of denunciations for the real estate mogul, some of his top local allies have been generally silent regarding his inflammatory remarks.

Onondaga County GOP Chairman Tom Dadey and County Comptroller Bob Antonacci, who have political ties to Paladino, have not responded to requests for comment, despite being active on other topics on Twitter.

Mahoney Tuesday said Paladino's comments were "awful" but came as no surprise since he has a history of such rhetoric. She urged her fellow Republican leaders to disavow him.

"I think everyone should speak out in the face of racism," she said. "Silence is deafening. It speaks volumes. If someone is being a blatant racist and you sit by silently, you're being complicit."

She didn't name Dadey and Antonacci, but each has a history with Paladino. All three men were active supporters of President-Elect Donald Trump in the recent campaign and have been vocal opponents of Mahoney.

Dadey and Paladino were top brass for Trump's campaign in New York. Last year, Paladino backed Dadey as the latter tried to unseat State GOP Chairman Ed Cox.

Paladino was also a significant donor to Antonacci's 2014 campaign for State Comptroller. He gave more than $8,000 in small donations through 46 private companies. Antonacci was trying to raise $200,000 in small donations in order to qualify for a newly established state campaign grant.

At the time, Antonacci called Paladino a friend.

A chorus of politicians has come forward to denounce Paladino, including a representative from Trump's transition team. Even Paladino's son sought to distance himself from the remarks.

Dadey did not respond to messages Friday and Tuesday. On Christmas Eve, Dadey tweeted a link to a Breitbart article about the Trump team's response to Paladino's comments. He offered no commentary and has said nothing about it since.

Antonacci could not be reached for comment Tuesday. His office said he is on vacation this week. He tweeted Tuesday morning that he will be on a radio program for WSYR's Bob Lonsberry on Wednesday.

In comments Friday, Paladino said he hoped Barack Obama would die of mad cow disease and Michelle Obama would "return to being a male" and live in a cave with a gorilla. He apologized in a defiant email Tuesday morning in which he further criticized Obama and said he meant to send his remarks just to friends.

Paladino's comments are the latest in a long line of controversial remarks about the President. This year alone he's called the First Family "raccoons in the basement" and renewed the false claim that Barack Obama is a Muslim.

In 2010, Mahoney refused to endorse Paladino when he was the Republican nominee for governor. At the time, she said he was entertaining and well-intentioned, but "angry." She instead endorsed Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

Despite their membership in the same party, Mahoney said Paladino's remarks don't reflect Republican beliefs and such comments shouldn't be normalized.

"The racist comments are not reflective of the Republican Party that I joined or am a part of," she said. "We're the party of Abraham Lincoln. How did we get so far off track that we're letting people believe that this represents the Republicans? It's not representing the party I joined...[Republicans] have an obligation to disavow it. Republicans who sit by silently are maybe unwittingly confirming it."
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Officials in charge of Syracuse's public housing are developing a plan that they hope will entice middle-income residents to move into and bring new life to a low-income neighborhood that has existed for decades in the shadow of Interstate 81.

The plan would attack the area's poverty, high-crime rate and isolation from basic services such as a grocery store, library and other staples of city life.

About 1,400 of the Syracuse Housing Authority's 2,340 public-housing households are in a 27-block area in the city's center. Interstate 81 towers over the area's east side, and its other borders are South Salina Street on the west and East Adams Street and East Castle Street on the north and south.

As the state deliberates whether to either rebuild or destroy the interstate in downtown Syracuse, SHA Director Bill Simmons said he hopes to seize a rare opportunity. Although the amount has not been determined, Simmons expects the highway project will result in an influx of public funds brought by the impending construction. Some public housing directly adjacent to the highway will surely be affected, but he's thinking bigger.

Simmons said the authority hopes to draw from several big pots of money accessible, but not guaranteed, to Central New York and public housing in particular. Those include a $2 billion housing plan proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a $500 million fund for Central New York revitalization, private investment into the center-city location and various federal and state grants and tax credits.

The authority envisions the "redevelopment of a neighborhood that was here 50 years ago when you had many ... families living together with low income and middle income," Simmons said in a recent interview. "It's a golden opportunity that comes across once every 50 years."

The plan describes a neighborhood with mixed-income housing, wider streets safe for bicyclists and pedestrians, a large grocery store and other services. It also hopes to improve transportation between the neighborhood and Syracuse University to its east and downtown to its west.

Syracuse Housing's Pioneer Homes on the west side of l 81 as viewed from Toomey Abbott Towers on Dec. 7.

And it hopes to reduce the concentration of poverty - a notorious Syracuse problem - by attracting young professionals and middle-class families to live in newly constructed town homes and apartment complexes containing street-level businesses that are within walking distance of the city's biggest attractions.

Poor residents in neighborhoods where poverty is concentrated often face worse outcomes than being poor in a mixed-income neighborhood. Crime is higher, graduation rates are lower, businesses suffer, and life quality decreases, according to the Century Foundation's study that found Syracuse was the nation's leader in concentrated poverty among minorities in 2015.

Pioneer Homes, the largest complex in the neighborhood, has a poverty rate of nearly 70 percent, according to HUD data that officials cited. Syracuse has the highest concentration of poor African-American and poor Hispanic residents in the nation.

The housing authority owns more than half of the 118-acre neighborhood, so officials said they have a unique opportunity to offer modern housing and a vibrant community to residents regardless of income while ensuring that poor residents aren't priced out of the neighborhood.

"Very often, in most communities, when we talk about the public housing stock, it's usually in the neighborhood that doesn't have the greatest value," he said. "But here it's a very attractive neighborhood and if redeveloped right it could be a real mecca" for residents of all incomes.

The neighborhood includes public-housing complexes such as Pioneer Homes, Toomey Abbott Towers, McKinney Manor, Almus Olver Towers and Central Village. It contains three parks, two public schools and 16 acres of vacant land.

The plans include the following features:

A library, computer lab and wellness center

Additional streets to break up the "super blocks" that now comprise the neighborhood

Grocery stores, pharmacy, a laundromat and banks within walking distance

Improved public transportation "which may include trolleys"

More, widened streets with better lighting that would discourage crime.

State officials are deciding whether the overhead interstate that runs through the neighborhood will be rebuilt or destroyed and replaced with a boulevard at street level. The SHA would prefer the boulevard option, but the plans it has developed would mostly work with either option, Simmons said.

SHA and consultant Gilmore Kean LLC devised four plans for the area that could increase the number of additional housing units from about 1,400 to more than 2,000. That number could increase as details are ironed out and officials get more input from current residents through surveys delivered to each household.

SHA paid the consultants $227,000, Simmons said.

View a map of what SHA has proposed for the area by clicking on "I-81 Neighborhood Proposal" below:

"What we heard (so far) from the current residents was that they didn't want islands of affordable housing like we have now," said David Paccone, SHA's assistant executive director. "They want to see market rate housing and urban housing and affordable housing all working together."

Authority officials hope to have some new housing completed for residents by late 2018 or early 2019.

In the meantime, some aspects of the plan are already in their beginning stages. The authority hopes to break ground on a new 54-unit complex at the corner of Burt and South McBride streets by next summer, for example.

The full plan will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, though Simmons had no precise estimate. Some of the money will come from the DOT in dealing with the highway. Other money could come from the $500 million Upstate Revitalization Initiative fund awarded last year to Central New York and federal and state grants. Also, the center-city location would make it attractive to private developers for grocery stores or apartment complexes to bid on land owned now owned by the housing authority, Simmons said.

Promises to skeptical residents

The interstate was built in the late 1950s and displaced residents of what was then called the 15th Ward. The interstate's construction has been blamed for a deepening racial and social divide in the city, and some residents who live in the public housing now remember being forced out of homes their families owned in the 50s.

For this Interstate 81 project, residents will be relocated as needed in phases throughout the construction. However, Simmons stressed that the process will be done to allow as many choices as possible for residents who are affected.

He promised residents several things to smooth the process:

Residents will be given Section 8 vouchers if they want to move elsewhere. They can move anywhere in the city thanks to a recent Common Council decision prohibiting discrimination against Section 8 recipients

Residents who want it will be given the "right of first return" to the neighborhood after Interstate 81 is completed. Because the plan does not reduce the number of public housing units, there will be space for them.

Residents will be given at least 10 months' notice if they must move out.

Officials said SHA is awaiting the return of surveys given to each household that provide information on individual households' wishes. Paccone, the assistant executive director, said surveying the residents is like solving a puzzle that connects individual households to their desired new living situation.

"The beauty of the plan is it can accommodate what everybody wants," he said. "It is slowly putting a puzzle together and figuring how to be least intrusive on people's lives and how to be predictive for them."

Still, some residents at the Pioneer Homes community center said that they were wary of any such guarantee offered by the housing authority. Recently, about a dozen Pioneer Homes residents gathered at Simmons' request to discuss with a Syracuse.com reporter what the plan might mean to them.

One woman, Annie Mae Epps, lives in Pioneer Homes and remembers being displaced by the highway in the 1950s. She said people had to give up their homes and were "forced to readjust to a neighborhood they were unaccustomed to."

Pioneer Homes resident Annie Mae Epps remembers having to move from her home when Interstate 81 was built. She gathered with about a dozen Pioneer Homes residents recently to discuss another major upheaval: The reconstruction or destruction of Interstate 81.

Others expressed concerns about crime, lack of transportation and high food costs in the neighborhood. Three residents said they would take their vouchers south out of New York state, and two said they wanted to return to the neighborhood after the construction is complete.

Robert Mike, a 10-year resident of Pioneer Homes and vice president of its tenant association, said he's heard residents frustrated about moving, but he's excited about the possibilities.

"It probably won't ever go back to what it was like when it was the 15th Ward," he said. "But once that highway goes down or whatever they're going do to it, it's going to give people better lives."

The plan can be viewed here:

Syracuse Housing Authority_Conceptual Master Plan_FINAL 091516 by PatLohmann on Scribd
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Carl Paladino introduces a World War lI veteran to the crowd before a rally for Donald Trump's at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, Saturday April 16, 2016. Paladino served as co-chair of Trump's campaign in New York. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com

(Michael Greenlar)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Carl Paladino, the co-chair of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in New York, apologized today for remarks he made last week in which he wished President Obama would die of mad cow disease and said Michelle Obama should be "let loose on the outback of Zimbabwe."

"I never intended to hurt the minority community who I spent years trying to help out of the cycle of poverty in our inner cities," Paladino wrote in a 12-paragraph note emailed to supporters. "To them I apologize."

Paladino went on to defiantly criticize those who have asked him to resign from the Buffalo School Board over his remarks. He also continued his relentless attack on Obama's record as president.

More than 20,000 people have signed three online petitions calling for Paladino's removal from the school board, the Buffalo News reported, since the Western New York real estate developer made his comments in response to an emailed survey from Artvoice magazine.

Paladino said in his email today that meant to forward his remarks to friends as a joke, but he accidentally replied to the survey of business owners.

"Those survey questions provided me with the spark to vent and write deprecating humor about a bad president for whom the main stream media continues to seek an undeserved legacy," Paladino said.

"I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people who are totally responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others," he added. "I was wired up, primed to be human and I made a mistake. I could not have made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings."

Paladino said he has no plans to resign from the school board, even as a GoFundMe page raises money to buy a billboard demanding his ouster. He said the experience has been difficult for him.

"What is horrible is explaining to my 17 year old daughter how her hero could be so stupid," Paladino wrote to supporters. "What is horrible is watching my family and friends react to the rabid hordes of attacking parasites we now call activist progressives."

Paladino, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for New York governor as the Republican nominee, said that he will not resign from the school board despite the mounting public pressure.

"No, I'm not leaving the school board, not when it's time to help implement the real choice elements of Trump's plan for education reform," he said. "I've spent years dedicated to the mission to defeat the thought that the liberal progressive elitist establishment can continue to hold our minority children captive in the cycle of poverty simply to provide their voting base. I don't intend to yield to the fanatics among my adversaries. I certainly am not a racist. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

Contact Mark Weiner anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Dining Out restaurant reviewers Jared Paventi and Jane Marmaduke share their insights each week on syracuse.com. We asked them to sum up their favorites from 2016. Jared listed his top "surprises" from the year and Jane her favorite dining experiences.

Jared Paventi

Call me what you will, but I don't like surprises. I prefer the term "pragmatist," whereas others might call me a "stick in the mud." But, every so often, something sneaks by and catches me off guard. I thought raw oysters would be disgusting, but instantly became addicted to the sweet meat, briny liquor and the endorphin release felt after slurping down each one. Food can do that to you and it happened on more than one occasion for me in 2016.

Nick & Angelo's Ristorante, Liverpool

Surprise No. 1: The emergence of Route 57's best-known dining location as a first-rate Italian restaurant. Nick and Angelo's Ristorante emerged in the space that once housed the many iterations of Pier 57 that had come and gone over the last two decades. It's not merely a red sauce Italian restaurant, though their pasta dishes are quite good. Seafood, risottos and a ratatouille highlight the expansive menu. For the first time in a very long time, the northern suburbs have an excellent, upscale Italian restaurant.

Website | Menu | 7376 Oswego Road, Liverpool, NY

Apizza Regionale, Syracuse (Part I)

Here's another surprise: The folks from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que make a first-rate pizza. John Stage, founder of the legendary Syracuse barbecue joint, and his longtime bar manager, Paul Messina, renovated the former Mimi's Bakery on Franklin Street across from the Dinosaur. What emerged was Apizza Regionale, a wood-fired pizza restaurant featuring cheeses, meats and flour (for the dough) from purveyors in New York and Ontario. The menu changes periodically, but always featuring pizzas with either a tomato or bechamel sauce base. On top, you will find everything from marash chilis to shishito peppers to salty charceuterie. Now if they would only bring back the Poco Cavolo - a pizza with bechamel sauce, fontina, mozzarella and speck, topped with shaved Brussels sprouts - on a regular basis, all would be right in the world.

Website | Menu | 260 West Genesee St., Syracuse, NY

Apizza Regionale, Syracuse (Part II)

Speaking of Apizza Regionale, the star of their menu is, in fact, a pasta dish. The cannerone, my third surprise, utilizes homemade lamb sausage, and sauteed asparagus and broccoli rabe tossed with short, tubular pasta. At the time, I called it the best pasta dish served by a restaurant in the Syracuse area and I stand by it. It's a dish that my wife and I have gone back and ordered it on multiple occasions. Just don't tell her that I've gone back for it at lunch without her.

Website | Menu | 260 West Genesee St., Syracuse, NY

Osteria Salina, Auburn

The fact that some of the area's best restaurants are in Auburn is a definite surprise. We already knew about Lasca's, Moro's Table and The Restaurant at Elderberry Pond. My colleague Jane considers the Copper Pig BBQ and Taproom to be the best barbecue in Central New York. I offer up Osteria Salina as some of the best Italian food we have eaten in a long time. Nearly everything is made in on premises, from pasta to sausage to the dough for the wood-fired pizzas. The food is other worldly and it makes a major contribution to the burgeoning food landscape of Auburn.

Website | Menu | 16 State St. #20, Auburn, NY

La Parrilla Grill and Wine Bar, Oswego

La Parrilla in Oswego was also a surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect when walking into the firehouse-turned-restaurant, but Raymond Jock's blend of Spanish, Latin American and Italian cuisine was among the best restaurants I visited for syracuse.com this year. The made-to-order clam chowder is a must, loaded with littleneck clams, potatoes, bacon and with a salty fennel cream that could cure any cold day. The Ligurian fish stew was outstanding and its tomato broth should be bottled and sold on its own. It's small size notwithstanding, it's a restaurant that subscribes to the Spanish tradition of sobremesa, letting people linger and chat without feeling rushed so the table can be turned over for another party.

Website | Lunch Menu | Dinner Menu | 156 West Second Street Oswego, NY

Jane Marmaduke

In our house, we love the end of the year. There's good music everywhere, sunlight turns snow into a billion little diamonds, the seed catalogues arrive, and we get to spend time with friends and family we rarely see. Despite some sad losses to the artistic world in 2016, we like to focus on the terrific things that happened. This year, that last category includes some very happy discoveries in CNY restaurants, leaving us with some new personal favorites.

The Cider Mill, Syracuse

We had rarely noticed The Cider Mill, tucked into a corner of its mostly residential section in Taunton. However, once we tried it for the first time last January, returning became a goal. Both the quality of the food - Gorgonzola Stuffed Meatballs and Heavenly (chicken) Thighs were favorites - and the warm family atmosphere make this a great place to go, especially on a cold night.

Since our visit, The Cider Mill shut down for extensive renovations. It is expected to reopen in early January, now with a liquor license, adding 16 beer taps as well. We're looking forward to seeing the new interior and especially the new menu soon and several times in the coming year.

Website | Menu | 4221 Fay Road, Syracuse, NY

Tres Primos, Elbridge

After a long search for Mexican food as good as what we enjoyed during two decades in North Carolina, we were surprised to find it at the end of a snowy, icy road in Elbridge one frigid February night. Leonardo and his partners at Tres Primos have created a small but comfortable spot for the freshest handmade Mexican food: the best carnitas, chimichangas, burritos, chicken with peppers and flan we've had in years.

We were actually happy to discover that Tres Primos is closing on Mondays now because we don't want to see them wear themselves out. That leaves six days each week to enjoy their excellent food with cold beer in warm surroundings.

Facebook page| 1099 State Route 5, Elbridge, NY

Bamboo House, Syracuse

Much of the best Asian food we've enjoyed over the years has come from small hole-in-the-wall places. While Bamboo House is certainly a step up from a hole in the wall, its appeal lies entirely in its food and friendly faces rather than in its dining room. In short, this place provides absolutely the best pulled noodles we've ever had. They are so fresh and richly flavored that we can't seem to get past them to try the rest of an interesting, extensive menu.

If you've never had dry cooked Chinese pulled noodles (the noodles with pork and vegetables are our favorite, but all are great), you're missing some of the best food in Syracuse. We just wish they delivered beyond 2 miles!

Website | Menu | 252 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY

11 Waters at Marriott Syracuse Downtown, Syracuse

11 Waters has inspired in us a whole new understanding of what "hotel restaurant" can mean. Once we found the correct entrance to the first restaurant to open at the Marriott's new version of Hotel Syracuse, we were impressed with the quality of the service. More to the point, we were surprised at the quality and value of the food. From the elegance of the drinks service to some of the best short ribs we've ever enjoyed to the beautiful berry crisp, we were consistently happy with what we found.

The varied menu is served in a large, cleanly decorated dining room by friendly, well informed and well-trained staff. While not a formal restaurant or a fancy one, 11 Waters serves fine food. It has made us look forward to enjoying the additional places Marriott will soon open at the downtown hotel.

Website | Menu | 500 South Warren Street, Syracuse, NY

The Scenic Root, Manlius

The fresh new interior of The Scenic Root in Manlius (once Bella Cygna) is a literally shining example of what a serious investment paired with good taste can do for the experience of dining. The gleaming wood and fresh furnishings provide a beautiful backdrop for excellent team service and a menu of well prepared food. We especially enjoyed the housemade soup and ribeye steak with mushrooms and Gorgonzola.

We enjoyed the covered, heated deck and look forward to returning to it when the snow is gone and the deck reopens. Until then, a pretty bar and two main dining rooms provide plenty of room to enjoy well cooked steaks, chops, salmon, burgers and daily specials.

Website | Menu | 301 Fayetteville Street, Manlius, NY
Nando-Alexis.JPG

Nando Leonello and Alexis Yager show their St. Lucia "crowns," something they learned about while studying Sweden's holiday traditions.

(Submitted)

The following was submitted by Sarah McCrobie of the Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation:



Although many Phoenix second-graders said they had never been outside of the United States, that all changed when they recently had a chance to explore four other countries.

The Michael A. Maroun Elementary School students traveled to Sweden, England, Germany and Mexico to celebrate "Christmas around the world." The cultural exploration series kicked off with a flight simulation, where students earned their wings, and culminated in a multicultural holiday experience.

"We wanted to teach them about different cultures and traditions," said teacher Heather Cannella. "They did some reading and learned how holidays are celebrated around the world."

That knowledge was on display Dec. 21 as students toured classrooms - set up as different countries - and participated in a variety of hands-on learning activities. Students also made crafts that incorporated some of the different cultures.

"This unit is based a lot on English language arts, but it also ties in with the social studies curriculum," Cannella said. "We had students learning about geography by labeling the different countries and looking at maps. They really enjoyed it."
Charles Schumer.jpg

Senator Charles Schumer vows to do everything he can to stop the shutdown of the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego county.

(Matt Adams | madams@syracuse.com)

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) -- A business merger involving Praxair isn't expected to affect the company's work force in western New York.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer says Praxair has committed to preserve its facilities in that region of the state, where it employs more than 1,000 workers. The New York Democrat says Praxair will preserve its entire work force after completing a merger with a German firm.

Praxair Technology Center is the company's primary engineering arm and is located in Tonawanda. The company also manufactures hydrogen at its Niagara Falls location.

Praxair produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases and high-performance surface coatings. It has 26,000 employees in 50 countries.
Rare desert bees spread in nine new species has been discovered by researchers from the Utah State University. The new species also had two ant-like males.

They belong to the vast genus Perdita that contains more than 700 species and subspecies of bees from deserts of southwestern United States to Mexico's arid lands. The genus Perdita still has many undescribed species.

Desert Bees

Leading the research on the desert bees was Zach Portman, an entomologist at Utah State University, who discussed the details in Zootaxa.

Portman kept focusing on a set of diverse desert bees that play a vital role in the ecosystems of American Southwest such as in the sand dunes of California's Death Valley.

His co-researchers included Terry Griswold of the USDA-ARS Research Unit of Utah, and John Neff of Melittological Institute in Austin.

Male Bees In Unique Form

The nomenclature of the bees was also interesting as most bees in the genus sport scientific names such as Perdita titania, similar to characters in Shakespearean dramas with most being exclusive to North America.

As mentioned, the most interesting part of the discovery was ant-like males being present in two species.

"It's unclear why these males have this unique form, but it could indicate they spend a lot of time in the nest," said Portman.

He said more information on the nesting biology may clear this confusion. The team studied the bees extensively by tracking them in habitats in blinding sunlight, which was enjoyed by the tiny insects.

"Their activity during the hottest part of the day may be a way of avoiding predators," noted, a doctoral student in USU's Department of Biology and added that the bees might be pollinators of Crinklemats  a desert plant.

Hardworking Bees

True to the reputation of being very hard-working, some bees in the desert have proved that they can even break rocks and hard sandstone to construct nests in harsh desert terrains of the United States.

This news was shared by some entomologists after studying Anthophora pueblo bee.

"Not much is known about this hard-to-find species and our first step was to confirm it actually prefers nesting in sandstone," said Michael Orr, a doctoral student in biology ay USU and lead author who shared the study in Current Biology after examining their sandstone nests.

They found the bees having done hard labor like gnawing holes into the rock to build long lasting homes usable for many generations.

"Sandstone is more durable than most other nesting options and bees do not emerge from these nests in a year are better protected," Orr said.

Anthophora pueblo was first discovered by Frank Parker 40 years ago at two sites in Utah's San Rafael Desert but the research details remained unpublished.

Orr relooked Parker's work and discovered some nesting sites at Mesa Verde in Colorado and other formations in California's Death Valley and southern Utah.

Having found many worker bees near water sites, Orr was prodded into more research to know why bees favor such tough labor. He concluded that the benefits of nesting in sandstone far exceed the costs on it.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Gravity plays a crucial part in the growth of plants, especially in the early phase. This was amply demonstrated in the seedlings of cucumber analyzed for gravity-related changes in growth.

Plants carry specialized cells that perceive gravity and distribute the growth hormone auxin to develop their vital features.

Japanese researchers examined cucumber seedlings germinated at the International Space Station, where microgravity conditions prevailed. The results of the study were reported in the journal Nature Microgravity.

Experiments On Cucumber

The reason for choosing cucumber was the opportunity to observe the growth of protuberances which are influenced by gravity during formation.

These "pegs" help seedlings to liberate from the coat of seeds and place themselves in the soil when roots are formed.

In the experiment, seedlings placed vertically prior to germination, or had budding roots that were under microgravity conditions, showed a skewed origination of pegs.

Hideyuki Takahashi, a scholar at the Space and Adaption Biology Laboratory at Tohoku University, said peg formation on the upper side of horizontally placed seedlings was suppressed as a reaction to the poor gravity conditions.

The pegs, however, developed well on the lower side of the transition zone between hypocotyl and root that held the seed coat. The hypocotyl expanded well to pull out the plumule and cotyledons from the seed coat.

Auxin Depression Verified

The study pin-pointed the role of CsPIN1 protein in the peg growth process. The protein is vital in transporting growth hormones.

To draw more conclusions, the researchers loaded cucumber seeds into special canisters after irrigating the plastic foam of the container.

The germinating seedlings were then let to grow in a microgravity compartment for 24 hours. Two conditions followed:

Cucumber seedlings were maintained in microgravity

Gravi-stimulation applied using a 1g centrifugal force.

With staining technique, the researchers marked changes from enforced gravi-stimulation. They tested seedlings sections and found CsPIN1 protein's positions were shifting under the influence of gravity.

That was apparent in the transition area where cucumber seedling developed pegs. This led to the assumption that a cellular canal transports growth hormones from one part to another.

"This result helps explains the gravity-regulated decrease in auxin level and thereby suppression of peg formation on the upper side of horizontally growing cucumber seedlings," added Takahashi.

Boost For Plant Life In Space

Meanwhile, Zero Gravity Solutions based in Boca Raton has developed a technology for boosting plant life both on earth and space.

It is already working with NASA for growing food for Mars Mission where the space agency is mounting a human mission in 2030.

The company has vowed to save Earth from food shortages and make Mars habitable for human life.

Harvey Kaye, chairman of Zero Gravity Solutions, set up the company in 2012 after acquiring intellectual property from John Wayne Kennedy, who is now chief science officer at Zero Gravity. Kennedy got a U.S. patent for methods seeking to deposit minerals directly into a living plant.

According to Andrew Koopman, CEO of Zero Gravity Life Sciences, the world needs to produce more crops on less land.

The NASA-Ames Research Center agreement stipulates Zero Gravity must fund research on food in lieu of access to NASA resources and the International Space Station.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
While the Nexus 6P is barely a year old, it already feels ancient if only for the fact that Google has doomed the Nexus line with the introduction of the new Google Pixel smartphone range. Its fate is further sealed for some users who upgraded it to the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat because it caused the device to be stuck in a boot loop.

Nexus 6P Boot Loop Problem

One of the affected owners has posted his dilemma on Reddit.

Android Nougat has been teased and demonstrated left and right so you may be assured that upon discovering that a Nougat update can be installed on his Nexus 6P, this user promptly upgraded his Nexus 6P with alacrity.

His enthusiasm immediately turned to dread when his device can no longer get past the boot screen. What is worse is that the problem persisted even if he tried his older Android version.

He tried several other workarounds such as a reset and the installation of other Android versions. Unfortunately, his device seemed to have been bricked.

If you do some digging, you will be able to find that the same problem has surfaced at least three months ago after other Nexus 6P owners complained the same boot loop problem post Nougat update.

Google's Response

Google has already issued a statement regarding the problem but it did not include any fix.

"We understand that a very small number of users are experiencing a boot loop issue on you device," Google said in a Reddit thread. "We are continuing to investigate the situation, but can confirm that this is strictly a hardware related issue."

The statement has been posted several months back and so far there is no word yet about the result of such investigation. It is also worth noting that Google has already declared that the boot looping is strictly a hardware issue and promptly directed users to contact the place of purchase for repair and warranty concerns.

However, some users argue that if it is indeed a hardware problem, then why other devices such as the Nexus 5X experience the same bootlooping problem after upgrading to Android Nougat.

"How is it that two separate vendors, Huawei and LG, both have the same issue, which became evident following the same common event, which was a software upgrade?" a user called mcirtain commented on the Google statement.

Deliberate Aging

There are observers who believe that the Nexus 6P and all other handsets that came before it is no longer accorded the same interest at Google. What is worse is that many Nexus devices also start encountering problems that they have never faced before.

Tech Times has already reported that many Nexus 6P owners have been complaining that their handsets are shutting themselves down even when their phones are posting 15 to 20 percent battery life.

There is an emerging claim that Google may be deliberately aging its Nexus line, which is also aligned with the concept of tech obsolescence.

To put this in context, one can turn to a strategy adopted by Samsung to facilitate the pullout of the Galaxy Note 7 from the market. To discourage usage, Samsung has been deploying software updates that prevent access to key features such as cellular connectivity and full battery life. The company is even planning to release a patch that will permanently brick the Note 7 so people would start ditching it for safety reasons.

It is not yet clear if Google is following the same approach. However, if this is true, the company could actually get away with it because the Nexus line is already dead anyway. This is unfortunate because the 5X and most especially the 6P sport decent specifications that could still satisfy the demands of the latest Android systems.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
It is already a done deal: Nokia is poised to make its grand comeback not with one but an array of Android devices next year.

The recent leak on this front involved two variants of the so-called Nokia D1C, which have both been dropped in our midst with clear images that show not only the purported hardware but also the Android version they will be sporting straight out of the box: Android 7.0 Nougat.

Nokia D1C

The Nokia D1C is one of the most leaked, underscoring the likelihood that it will indeed get to see the light of day and it will probably be one of the devices that will be released first.

It has already dropped by AnTuTu and Geekbench, jaunts that you may be sure have revealed the device's internals.

With the latest leak, we now know that the D1C is a budget handset. It could ship with a Full HD display, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 4 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 600 chip. This last should cement its mid-range credentials.

Nokia D1C Variants

The recent report, however, revealed that the other variant could be a higher end version of the Nokia D1C or even Nokia's very own flagship itself. The leak has not provided more detailed information save for the claim that this device will have a larger 5.5-inch display. Interestingly, the two variants are said to have the same resolution.

Aside from the screen real estate, the premium D1C is distinguished by one other feature, at least at this point in time. This involves the fingerprint sensor, which is absent in the leaked sketch for the mid-ranger.

Some sources expect the Nokia D1C variants will debut in the upcoming CES 2017 happening in Las Vegas from Jan. 5 to 8.

More About Nokia's Makers

There is a bit of confusion as to what company is really behind Nokia's comeback. There are those who say that Nokia itself, which is now in the business of telecommunications equipment manufacture, is staging the Nokia smartphone's relaunch. This is based on the company's presentation in a meeting with investors last Nov. 15 where a slide alluded to Nokia's return as a smartphone brand next year.

On the other hand, there is also the fact that HMD Global, the company that licensed the Nokia brand from Microsoft and poised to release the Android-powered handsets is a separate business entity. It is a startup founded by former Nokia executives and they have partnered with Foxconn to get Nokia back into the smartphone game.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
LG is reportedly gearing up to unveil its next-generation flagship smartphone, the LG G6, in late February or early March, according to the latest rumors.

The LG G5 from 2016 was supposed to enable LG to better compete against rivals on the fierce smartphone market, but the handset was not as well-received as the company likely hoped. The LG G5 failed to stir much interest and its modular extensions called LG G5 Friends failed to impress, which may be why the LG G6 is rumored to come without modular options.

Consequently, LG is reportedly aiming to adjust its marketing strategy and trying to boost its smartphone sales for 2017 by releasing the LG G6 one month earlier than expected.

LG G6 Release Rumors

The company announced its LG G5 in late February and launched the device in April, prompting rumors that the 2017 LG G6 release would be in April as well.

Korean publication ETNews, however, now claims that LG will actually release the LG G6 one month earlier, aiming to take advantage of a window left open by Apple and Samsung.

"LG Electronics is planning to release its next strategic smartphone called 'G6 (tentative)' a month earlier than usual in order to increase its sales volume by releasing its smartphone earlier than its competitors," notes ETNews.

Releasing the LG G6 one month earlier could allow the company to get a better edge against rivals and the release window could boost sales, leading to better results throughout the year.

Its main Android rival, the Samsung Galaxy S8, is rumored to have a delayed release and hit the market in April, at a higher price than the current Galaxy S7 flagship.

LG G6 Rumored Specs

With the LG G5 Friends getting lukewarm reactions, LG will reportedly ditch the modular extensions with the G6 and instead opt for a more "stable" strategy. Abandoning the "Friends" would also allow LG to make the G6 waterproof.

Furthermore, LG reportedly plans to focus on features and services that are currently in high demand across the Android ecosystem, such as wireless charging and mobile payments, in addition to waterproof capabilities.

Previous rumors also indicated that the LG G6 would have an iris scanner for extra security, a non-removable battery and an all-glass design. On another note, the LG G6 will reportedly still feature a 3.5mm headphone jack, as opposed to the trend Apple started with its iPhone 7 that forces users to rely on wireless headphones only.

Should the latest rumor turn out to be accurate, LG could unveil the G6 flagship before the Mobile World Congress 2017 and bring it to market soon enough. Until official confirmation however, retain a dose of skepticism.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The feel-safe quotient with radio-frequency identification technology that spread in credit cards, passports, and office passes may become a chimera if the thin layer of security is breached by hackers.

The technology, already a staple of industries, serving well for automated identification of physical objects and warehouses including supply chains, can also be abused.

Reflecting the concern over the consequences of RFID technology being compromised, a Singapore-based academic has proposed a wider review of security protocols in the expanding technology.

RFID tags work by relaying information to electronic readers, and that makes it vulnerable to hackers. The bad consequences from loosened security are explained by Li Yingjiu.

"A security breach in RFID applications would leak valuable information about physical objects to unauthorized parties," says Li, who is an associate professor at the School of Information Systems at the Singapore Management University.

New RFID Protocols

To bolster communications between tags and readers, Li and his team have come up with RFID protocols for enhanced security.

The key to such programs are strategies that make protocol output unpredictable by turning tags indistinguishable and thwarting attempts of hackers to take away information even after fiddling with the tags.

Li is also keen on devising improved access control mechanisms for salvaging RFID information on platforms such as the internet. According to Li, the challenge of taking the research into the market is huge.

The data security expert feels there is a growing gap between academia and industry. People in the industry are staying glued to the market, and academics in heavy attention to research without paying much heed to the market dynamics.

Study On iPhones

However, Li has an edge and has shown his expertise in 2012, when he identified attacks aimed at iPhones. Li and his team handed their findings to Apple to fix the bugs.

Li's team is also concerned about smartphone vulnerability and is planning more work beyond what he did with Huawei.

Li's is working with Professor Robert Deng on an attribute-based encryption system that may offer encryption as a means of controlling access to data and stopping its misuse.

The work of Li assumes significance, as RFID hackers have shown the ease with which information can be stolen from RFID chips.

Blocking radio signals helps in saving RFID chips. Many RFID-protecting sleeves are available in the market, and the best wallets use a Faraday Cage within a leather exterior.

Many chips are rewritable, and hackers can delete and replace the RFID information with their own data.

RFID Technology Growth Areas

Meanwhile, a new research said the RFID lock market worldwide will expand nearly 17 percent from 2016 to 2020.

It looked at the growth prospects of the RFID lock market. North America is ahead in locks with 38 percent share, as customers are accepting new technologies with residential properties using more RFID-based locks.

The increased utility is linked to the customer's smartphone to monitor locks. The hospitality industry is also expanding the use of the technology.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Researchers from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and UC Davis have sequenced the genome of Shigella sonnei, the bacteria that is involved in 2014 and 2015 shigellosis outbreaks in California.

Whole-Genome Analysis Of S. Sonnei

On analysis, the researchers identified how the S. sonnei strains acquired antibiotic resistance and toxin genes, which made the bacteria more virulent than ever before. The study also helped in finding the link between the Californian Shigella strains and other Shigella strains found worldwide.

The whole-genome study of S. sonnei, which is done for the first time in North America is published by American Society For Microbiology's journal mSphere.

Jonathan Eisen, professor at UC Davis said that in case of outbreak of an infection, the reason behind the virulence of the bacteria could be detected with the help of whole genomic sequencing study. The analysis would help in identifying the gene involved in causing the virulence such as presence of antibiotic resistance and toxin genes.

Shigellosis Caused By S. Sonnei In California

Eisen added that sequencing whole-genome of bacteria would eventually help in providing better intervention to patients infected with the organism. S. sonnei is one of the four Shigella species that causes major outbreaks of shigellosis in the country characterized by symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal problems. S. sonnei is estimated to be responsible for 500,000 infections and 70 deaths annually in the United States.

The investigators analyzed the genomes of 68 isolates including the strains from recent outbreak in California and other native strains from California, Asia, and so on. The researchers also analyzed antibiotic resistance exhibited by the strains.

S. Sonnei Strains Carried Toxin And Antibiotic Resistance Genes

The research team identified that San Diego and the San Joaquin Valley strain that were found in California since 2008 carried the gene specific for Shiga toxin that are usually seen in S. dysenteriae and S. flexneri. The toxin gene is found to have transferred to S. sonnei by bacteriophages, the virus that infects bacteria.

Dr. James Watt from CDPH said that S. sonnei, which usually cause less severe infection, could have got the virulent toxin gene from other Shigella and E.coli species.

However, the San Francisco strain that didn't have the Shiga toxin genes was found to have acquired genes responsible for resistance to a class of antibiotics named fluoroquinolone. These strains were similar to the ones present in Southeast Asia, which in turn provides an insight on the origin of the strain.

"We know these movements of DNA can be important for the spread of antibiotic resistance, virulence and pathogenicity factors," said Eisen, in a press release. "Having the genome data from outbreaks allows us to try to figure out what happened."

If an organism is identified to have acquired antibiotic resistance genes it would be helpful in providing appropriate treatment to the patients and also in isolating and sampling them in order to design better treatment options in case of severe infection, added the researcher.

The researchers also noted that genomic sequencing should be a routine practice in the country's pathogen related surveillance model.

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When the Palo Alto startup Cyanogen announced that it would be shutting down its operating system services by the end of the year, the future of UK-based midrange phone company Wileyfox was in question.

Cyanogen partnered with Wileyfox and agreed to build the operating systems for the latter's line of midrange phones.

Cyanogen is known for building a modified version of Android that does not depend on Google for its services. Several phone manufacturers have been known to seek alternative operating systems aside from Android to lessen their reliance on Google. This is because the Mountain View company forces these phone manufacturers to prominently display Google products on their devices.

Cyanogen In Chaos

The announcement about the discontinuation came as a surprise for phone manufacturing companies that have come to depend on Cyanogen for the OS on their phones. This includes more famous handsets such as OnePlus One and Lenovo's ZUK Z1.

In a brief blog post, the reason provided by the company is due to its "ongoing consolidation," which is a vague statement to describe the turmoil the company has experienced in recent weeks. The Cyanogen OS will no longer be receiving security updates and nightly builds.

Cyanogen has been known to make outrageous remarks in the past. For example, its CEO Kirt McMaster once commented that his company will "take Android away from Google." Steve Kondik, founder and Chief Technology Officer, left the company last month and blamed McMaster for the massive layoffs and its impending demise.

The Next Step For Wileyfox

Wileyfox's line of phones-the Swift 2, Swift 2 Plus, Spark, Spark+, and Spark X-are all running under Cyanogen OS. With the announcement of Cyanogen, Wileyhox has decided that it will move its devices to Android Nougat.

A representative from the company had this to say to one of its customers, who posted the reply to a Reddit thread: "Our plan is to bring our entire Wileyfox portfolio onto Android N, the latest version of Google Android's OS, in a timely manner  while still continuing to protect the range with Google software security updates."

Cyanogen's announcement certainly came as a surprise for Wileyfox, as the company has just released Swift 2 and Swift 2 Plus in early November, both of which are running under the Cyanogen OS. Hopefully, the company will be able to recover from this setback and will reveal its transition plans to users soon.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Gionee Launches M2017 With 7,000 mAh Battery | TechTree.com

Chinese smartphone company Gionee has finally launched its much rumoured smartphone with 7,000 mAh battery, the M2017. However, the smartphone seems to be rolled out only for the elite customers who can afford a hefty price of CNY 6,999. That is roughly Rs 68,400 in India.

Though this price tag comes for the base model, the one with Italian custom alligator leather back panel costs around CNY 16,999, which is Rs 1,66,000 in India.

While the smartphone is already up for pre-orders in China, we still are not sure whether the device will be available out of Chinese market region any time soon. However, the website is already showing up a popup message that the phone is no more available as they are Fully Booked.

Speaking about the technical specifications, the M2017 by Gone comes with two 3,500 mAh batteries totalling up to 7,000 may of battery capacity, while also supporting Quick Charge 3.0.

On the other hand, the smartphone features a dual SIM card tray, a 5.7 inch QHD AMOLED display with curved edges, octa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 processor, 6 GB of RAM, and a dual camera arrangement on the rear with one 12 MP and another 13 MP sensor allowing users to zoom 2x optically. Also, users get an 8 MP camera in the front for selfies.

The smartphone comes with an inbuilt storage of 128 GB and weighs around 238 grams.

TAGS: Gionee
This lady farmer helped her neighborhood by building her own broadband Internet connection

One of the major problem in todays world is slow or negligible Internet connection. This is a bane that hurts poor underdeveloped countries as well as rich developed nations. In most cases, the consumer, that is you cant do anything till the government or the ISP/mobile company takes the initiative and provides new lines/towers in your area. However, there are some individuals who take it on themselves to solve this prennial Internet connection problems by building their own Broadband station. One such lady farmer from United Kingdom not only solved her own Internet connectivity problems by building her own broadband station but also helped her neighbors.

An act of solving neighbors internet connectivity problems by a lady in UK led to the development of B4RN, an Internet Service provider that offers fast one gigabit per second broadband speeds. It provides 35 times faster broadband speeds than the 28.9Mbps average UK speed Internet connection.

The lady in question is Christine Conder, who modestly says, I am just a farmers wife. It all started in 2009 when the trees that separated Chriss neighboring farm from its nearest wireless mast  their only connection to the internet, provided by Lancaster University  grew very big.

Chris decided to take matters into her own hands, as something stronger was required, and there were no other options available in the area.

She bought a kilometer of fibre-optic cable and took her farm tractor to dig a channel. The two farms were connected after lighting the cable, with hers serving the one behind the trees.

We dug it ourselves and we lit [the cable] ourselves and we proved that ordinary people could do it, she says.

It wasnt rocket science. It was three days of hard work.

Her slogan, which she repeats often in conversation, is JFDI, of which three letters stand for Just Do It. You can work out the fourth one for yourself.

And JFDI she has.

B4RN now states that they have laid 2,000 miles (3,218km) of cable and connected a string of local parishes to its network. Since, it cannot connect a single household, the entire parish has to be on board before it will begin to build.

While each home pays 30 per month with a 150 connection fee, bigger businesses need to pay more. Some of the installation, the households have to carry out themselves.

The complete infrastructure is fibre-optic cable right to the property, rather than just to the cabinet, with current copper phone lines running from that to the home, as basically provided by British Telecom.

The service has gained so much popularity that the company is busy for the next 10 years. People who stay as far as Sierra Leone have attended the open days that it holds a couple of times a year.

Even though there are now 15 paid staff on board, majority of the work is done by volunteers.

Farmers give right to use their land and those with equipment like tractors and diggers do the heavy work. A spokesperson told the BBC these are standard industry costs which include a 4,500 fee for surveying, legal fees and a price per meter for the cable installation.

While B4RN still has to make a profit, it should be in a better financial condition once it has paid off its shareholders, even though one of the conditions is that profits must be invested back into the community.

The Queen recognised Chriss services to rural broadband, who was awarded an MBE in 2015, along with Barry Forde, a retired university lecturer who now leads the co-operative.

Surprisingly, there were several B4RN customers who were dependent on dial-up services or paying high fees for satellite feeds. According to Chris, they are still some who are.

Internet connectivity is important for farmers who need to register online with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) within five days of every calf being born to be able to enter the food chain.

All the farmers who havent got broadband have to rely on land agents or auction marts or public wi-fi spaces which we havent got round here either, or paying somebody to do it, says Chris.

What the farmers were finding was the dial-up just couldnt cope with it.

They bought satellites, but then the children would use all the satellite feed to do their things and then they came to use it at night and there was no feed left, theyd gone over the data and they were being charged a fortune for what they then used.

So the farmers have been incredibly supportive of this and thats why theyve given us free rein throughout the fields, which we go through to connect them and then we get to the villages which subsidise the farmers connections.

You couldnt do it just for the farmers alone, but you couldnt get to the village without the farmers so its tit for tat.

There are other self-regulating fibre broadband providers out there, like Gigaclear which serves around 50,000 customers residing in several UK counties and Hyperoptic which is active in 13 cities. They all claim to offer 1Gbps speeds.

The best way to make sure this country catches up is to support the alternative networks, says Chris.

Wherever theres competition BT will then up their game.

We cant do the whole country. [BT, Virgin etc] are good businesses. They are in it to make a profit, thats what businesses are supposed to do.

The UKs largest broadband infrastructure is owned by Openreach, which is currently a division of BT.

The big picture is that weve got a plan, alongside the government, to get to 95% UK fibre coverage, said Kim Mears, Openreachs managing director of Infrastructure Delivery.

The provider through its Community Fibre Partnership, which is set up to work in areas that is hard to reach has upgraded 90 small communities.

Ms Mears has urged to those having problems with poor connectivity to get in touch.

There is lots available if communities come together. We are really sitting here waiting to help, she said.
Are you looking for The Pirate Bay proxy list for 2022 to unblock the pirate bay torrent site?

Dont worry anymore, as in this article we have shared some of the best Pirate Bay Alternatives and TPB Proxy and Mirror Websites that are working.

The first word that probably strikes our mind when we talk about Torrent Sites is The Pirate Bay.

This immensely popular BitTorrent website uses peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing technology and has stood the test of time and is by far one of the most reliable torrenting websites.

However, due to legal issues, you might not be able to access the pirate bay in several countries.

This blockage can be bypassed using pirate proxies.

NOTE: Techworm does not condone using torrents to illegally obtain content. Using the following torrent websites for illegal purposes is done entirely at your own risk.

Techworm takes no responsibility for any legal problems you encounter.

One the earliest Pirate Bay Alternative when any of the top pirate bay proxy servers were not working. Kat torrents have all the latest films, movies, music, and more releases.

Due to copyright violations, the original domain kat.cr was blocked in several regions. You will find a wide range of Kat proxy domains to help you access this TPB alternative.

1337x was the ultimate torrent site back in the period between 2010 to 2014. Then like every popular torrent site, it was blocked virtually everywhere.

According to TorrentFreak, it is amongst the third most popular torrent sites. You will find quality torrents here, contributed by groups such as Yify, EZTV, RARBG, and others.

There is also a Top 100 torrents section that houses the most sorted out and trending torrents right now on the website.

TPB houses everything ranging from retro games to movies, and it is considered the best torrent site out there. Consider Yify/YTS as the best for movie torrents, having the best prints available in the least possible size.

You will find Yify movies torrents in different places as it is widely popular and considered the benchmark for quality video torrents.

Yify offers torrent files alone, and there are no magnets links available. Use the torrent files for downloading movies on your device using an excellent torrenting client.

We have Torlock, where all the torrents are verified, hosting a tracker library of over seven million torrents.

As we were lurking on the site, we came across a distinct category  image, which we dont often find on other torrenting sites.

Along with that, we can also create an account on the site to maintain a list of the favorite bitrrorents.

The last one here is Anidex, which is the best TPB alternative for downloading anime and manga torrents.

They house over a million different anime torrents here, with the manga ones in .cbz format, easy for reading. Find diverse anime games here in a dedicated section.

Finding the proper subtitles is a real problem for Animes. Search for them here as they are listed in a different language, from German to Arabic.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro assured on Thursday that the time has come for his country to return to the Andean Community of Nations with all the productive and commercial capacities... | Read More
As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Hawaii to pay his respects at Pearl Harbor, questions remain over the future of Japan's ties with the United States when Donald Trump assumes the presidency.

While the trip is billed as the first visit to Pearl Harbor by a sitting Japanese prime minister with a U.S. president, it could be the fourth visit to the site by a prime minister of Japan. The New York Times reports that former prime ministers who have paid a visit to the site include Shigeru Yoshida and Nobusuke Kishi, the grandfather of Abe.

The visit by Abe is expected to be an opportunity for Japan to express reconciliation and more importantly, reinforce the strength of its ties with the U.S. "Prime Minister Abe is consuming a lot of his political assets to ... further build the stable base of U.S.-Japan relations," Kotaro Tamura, Asia fellow at the Milken Institute, told CNBC's " Squawkbox ."

However, it might be a case of too little too late for Prime Minister Abe. "(The visit) is very important but that's not enough because (there will be) a new president in a few weeks and his policy is quite unpredictable," Tamura said.

U.S.-China relations are expected to take center stage in the global arena and this could result in greater geopolitical risks for Japan, one of the staunchest U.S. allies in the region. President-elect Trump's "contentious" approach towards China has done no favors either as this has only increased concerns in Japan about geopolitical risks stemming from U.S.-China fallout, Tamura said.

"If Trump keeps escalating the situation,  (the) worst case scenario might be  something happening in the South China Sea," Tamura added.

Even before assuming office, Trump has already succeeded in ruffling Beijing's feathers by questioning the long-held "one China" policy , proposing steep tariffs on Chinese imports and appointing vocal China critics to his administration. In response, China has seized a U.S. navy drone (which it has since returned ) and most recently, sailed its only aircraft carrier into the disputed South China Sea for the first time as part of a "routine" naval drill.

Story continues

"(For) Japan, we don't have other options other than hedging more towards the U.S. because we are late on the bus. And our general public, the media and the politicians will not allow hedging towards China," Tamura said, adding that China is unlikely to reciprocate such a move from Japan.

"Our (only) option is to try to convince Mr. Trump, lecturing and educating him on the importance of the region, and the complexity behind the relations otherwise, we'll be in trouble," Tamura said.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.


The newborn found Friday in a restroom trash can at the New Roads Walmart is doing well, New Roads Police Chief Kevin McDonald said Monday afternoon.

The baby girl is at Woman's Hospital in Baton Rouge, and is "good, stable and eating," McDonald said.

Officials believed the baby was found six hours after she was abandoned.

'Senseless': Woman arrested after allegedly dumping newborn in New Roads Walmart trash can The woman who gave birth to a baby girl inside a Walmart store in New Roads Friday and is ac

Kyandrea Thomas, 34, or Baker, is believed to have given birth to the child inside the Walmart bathroom, McDonald said. Thomas was arrested and booked Saturday morning into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

She will be transferred to Pointe Coupee Parish jail on Tuesday morning, and will face a count of attempted second-degree murder once transferred, McDonald said.

Hillar Moore III, 19th Judicial District Attorney, believes Thomas is the same woman who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in 2011 in the death of a 3-year-old girl who was left inside a day care center van for nearly six hours in scorching heat in 2009.

In the 2009-case, Thomas was one of two former employees of the now-defunct Wandas Kids World on Brady Street put on probation for five years and ordered to perform 10,000 hours of community service apiece. Thomas was an aide in the van.

Louisiana has a safe haven law so parents can anonymously give up custody of their children if they cannot care for them, by dropping them at a designated safe haven, like a hospital or fire station.

The World Health organization recommends that newborns are kept in skin-to-skin contact with their mothers during the first hour after birth and that newborns receive monitored care for the first 24 hours of life.
When you're looking for new ideas in the world of food and drink, often the best place to start is the past. Chefs and food entrepreneurs across the spectrum are working to build back systems that were plowed under by industrial expansion.

Much of what they're working toward is within reach, and within the memory of just a generation or so.

Over the past year, I covered stories of change in the New Orleans food and drink world that follow this narrative. Im recapping the most important ones below.

They have different trajectories, but all three stories promise to bring more in the coming year. So if someday soon you find yourself eating wild boar on bread made with local grain at a new brewery somewhere in our city, remember: You read about it here first.

Against the grain: perusing better bread at the source

Graison Gill, proprietor of Bellegarde Bakery, has a radical idea: the flour that produces your bread should have some connection to where we live and a comprehensible path from the farmer to you. It should also make delicious bread.

Those expectations long ago went mainstream in other facets of the food world, especially at restaurants of any ambition. But Gill is a baker, and his efforts to return local sourcing and identifiable heritage to his raw materials have entailed an uphill slog.

What he wants is a local alternative to the bland, commodity grain that has long been the industry standard, and a resource closer to home than the high-quality grain he now imports from other states.

At restaurants, chefs can talk to you about the wine, where their oysters came from, they know the farmers for their produce, Gill said this summer. But thats not being pursued with grains, with the most ubiquitous ingredients at any restaurant. Its strange to me that people arent carrying it across the whole menu. Flour is flavor, too, and it should have flavor again.

This year, Inglewood Farm in Alexandria brought in the first commercial harvest of organic wheat that Louisiana has seen for generations. Gaps in processing infrastructure stymied efforts to get much of it to market, but it opened more conversations between people working in the same direction.

Along the way, Gill himself has become a leading voice among the small circuit of those in the region making an issue of the identity and quality of the grain we use. We have a baker in our backyard here in New Orleans making waves in the grain.

Against the grain: this New Orleans baker is making waves in Louisiana wheat This spring, Inglewood Farm brought in the first commercial harvest of organic wheat that Lo

Beer buzz: Taprooms give an old industry a new start

Last year, a change to Louisiana law allowed breweries to sell a larger amount of the beer they produce directly on site through their own taprooms. The result began playing out this year, and it was two-fold.

First, it led to a new wave of small breweries in New Orleans by adding a small but vital direct revenue stream for these start-up businesses (the breweries make much more on a pint sold at the taproom than through a distributor).

The upshot is people starting new businesses in the city of New Orleans that are actually manufacturing something. It also represents the return of an old industry here, since New Orleans once had small breweries strewn across its neighborhoods.

The other side of the coin is new, and its recreational (were talking about beer after all). Taprooms are not bars, and theyre regulated differently. They are open to all ages, and thus these new venues create a different sort of social space of beer lovers and young families.

I cant tell you how many dads come up to me with a slap on the back, offering eternal gratitude that theres a place where they can drink beer, their kids can run around and scream, and nobodys going to care, said Jacob Landry, founder of Urban South Brewery, which opened a production facility and taproom along Tchoupitulas Street this year.

Three more new taprooms opened in 2016, at Second Line Brewing, 40 Arpent Brewing and, just this month, at Wayward Owl Brewing. Each reanimated previously utilitarian or vacant spaces, interspersed in corners of town that work for breweries but are unlikely to leap off the real estate map for a conventional bar or restaurant. More are coming in 2017.

In this way, the change of a law has fueled the growth of an industry, while the hard work of the people behind these places is planting new entrepreneurial activity and social outlets around New Orleans. Ill drink to that.

As New Orleans breweries return, tap rooms recast old industrial spaces as social hubs It's not hard to find a drink in New Orleans. But getting a beer straight from the source at

Wild boar, from menace to menu

How do you turn something that's generally derided as a nuisance into a sought-after resource?

In the case of wild boar in Louisiana, the answer came with an old-fashioned slaughterhouse in the backwoods and an assist from officials in Baton Rouge.

Wild boar yields meat that is darker, leaner and more complex and varied in flavor than pork from domesticated hogs. Its the epitome of free range. These animals also ransack crops and damage delicate ecosystems, and even levees.

The state has long drawn on Louisianas sportsman culture to help cull their numbers, though they always rebound. A new effort taps Louisianas food culture too, creating a process for the boars that trappers catch in the wild to be inspected and approved for retail and restaurant sales. It reframes an old problem by reconnecting the market with the wild.

The butcher and meat purveyor Two Run Farm took a pioneering role in the program this year at a tiny old slaughterhouse it recently bought and revitalized in Livingston Parish. Now, Two Run buys boar from trappers around Louisiana and sells its meat to chefs and a smoked sausage through groceries.

"We are trying to bring as many of these animals as we can to the marketplace, said Two Run Farm President Charlie Munford. "We want to use as much of the animal as we can and find ways for more people to use it.

Chefs who know how to use wild boar covet it for braises and sausage and charcuterie, and well be seeing more of it on Louisiana menus as the market develops.
Much of Bourbon Street will be closed to all traffic, with no vehicles allowed even to cross it, and some law enforcement officers will be in tactical gear during New Years Eve and Sugar Bowl festivities over the upcoming weekend, city officials and law enforcement leaders said Tuesday.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu said security measures will be increased throughout the French Quarter and other sensitive targets in the city ahead of the two major events.

On Bourbon Street, all intersections will be blocked from Iberville Street to St. Ann Street to prevent vehicles from accessing the street.

Speaking at a news conference, Landrieu said this would be done in light of recent terrorist attacks in Germany and France, where vehicles drove into large crowds, resulting in dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

All eight New Orleans Police Department districts will be fully staffed during the events, and the State Police will double the number of troopers in the French Quarter.

NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said some officers will be in tactical gear to make sure that we are prepared to deter any terrorist threat.

The message is very, very clear: Do not bring any weapons to the French Quarter, Harrison said at the news conference.

There have been a number of shootings on Bourbon Street in recent years, including a two-man gun battle early Nov. 27 in the 100 block that left a young Baton Rouge artist dead and nine other people injured on a street packed with revelers.

Landrieu said there will be a robust complement of security cameras in the French Quarter during the weekend festivities, as well as 25 to 30 light towers, law enforcement sky towers and K-9 units on the streets.

The increased security measures will be in place through the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which will be played Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

On New Years Eve, which is Saturday night, Jackson Square will be the backdrop for part of the national telecast of Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, which will be broadcast live from New Orleans after the ball has dropped in Times Square.
Voters throughout Jefferson Parish will be asked Saturday to renew the 6.5-mill property tax that funds the parishs public library system, wh
Donald Trump's alarming tweet about his desire to "greatly strengthen and expand" the "nuclear capability" of the US unleashed a frenzy of media efforts to try to divine his actual policy intentions. It forced some of his advisers into tortured claims that Trump didn't say what he actually said, even as others simultaneously insisted that Trump did meaningfully put other countries on notice that if he deems them to be challenging our supremacy, they will face an arms race.

But perhaps the most worrisome thing about Trump's nuclear tweet is not the intention to break with decades of international disarmament efforts that it may have signalled, though that's frightening enough on its own. Rather, it's that he saw fit to tweet about nuclear weapons at all.

As we prepare for President Trump to take near-unchecked control of our nuclear machinery, his nuclear tweet is best seen as a window into his temperament. Trump still does not appreciate that every word he utters carries tremendous weight and could have dramatic, untold, far-reaching, unpredictable consequences  something that is especially true in the nuclear arena. Or, perhaps worse, Trump may be entirely indifferent to this fact.

Arms control experts I spoke with suggested that Trump's willingness to tweet about nuclear weapons raises the possibility of Trump doing the same as president  and more to the point, the possibility of him doing so amid some species of international crisis or escalation.
At the time the closest university offering veterinary science in Australia was the University of Sydney. Wallace promptly travelled to Sydney and in January 1963 graduated with a BVSc (Hons), coming second in final year.

Wallace grew up in Preston, near his grandfather's chicken farm. In 1950 he won a scholarship to Wesley College Melbourne and completed his matriculation in 1954. After a brief stint as a bank teller, an opportunity arose to study veterinary science with a scholarship from the Victorian Department of Agriculture.

On November 18, 1937 Mr Reed's great-great-great-grandson, Wallace Ernest White, was born. He too would love music but found his vocation in veterinary research.

On June 21, 1852, the Argus reported: "The Monster Concert: Mr Reed's very spirited attempt on Saturday evening was brilliantly successful, the room being crammed to excess. An orchestra was assembled which certainly spoke volumes for the industry and enterprise exhibited by the conductor. Never before has so powerful and talented a band been heard in Melbourne."

Wallace then joined the Victorian Department of Agriculture and worked mainly as a district veterinary officer until August 1965, when pleuropneumonia appeared in South Gippsland. He spent a year at Leongatha as officer-in-charge of the Pleuropneumonia Eradication Campaign until the disease was eradicated. In August 1966, Wallace was transferred to the Veterinary Research Institute in Parkville and did laboratory diagnostic work, particularly in pathology and microbiology.

From1967 to 1970, he was granted leave from the Department and worked at Werribee with Professor K. V. F. Jubb in the Melbourne University Veterinary School. He carried out research in pathology and, to a lesser extent, histochemistry and biochemistry and was awarded MVSc and PhD degrees.

In 1971, Wallace was appointed director of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Hamilton and with wife and two small children moved to live on site at the laboratory, the first of five established by the Department of Agriculture. He played a major role in establishing the laboratory, and research work undertaken while he was director resulted in five of his staff gaining Masters degrees and 17 research papers being published in scientific journals.

In March 1974, Wallace was appointed Principal Veterinary Officer (Veterinary Public Health). His duties included supervision of about 250 meat inspection staff in the department and the field aspects of the control and eradication of zoonoses, particularly bovine brucellosis and tuberculosis. He played a significant role in the planning of the National Brucellosis Eradication Campaign.

In March 1976, Wallace was appointed Chief, Division of Veterinary Laboratory Services. Under his leadership the new regional veterinary laboratories became fully operational. In addition, the Veterinary Research Institute, Parkville was substantially upgraded and improved under his direction, becoming a very effective and efficient laboratory, providing a high-quality diagnostic service as well as undertaking a substantial research program. The Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Benalla included the National Fish Disease Reference Laboratory funded by the Commonwealth, which provided a diagnostic service for fish diseases for the whole of Australia.
After years of bureaucracy and paperwork, they hopped on a boat and hoped for the best, landing in Melbourne, and another displaced persons' camp. They were lucky. They spoke enough English to pick up more quickly, changed their names to better suit Australian palates and began attempting to repay a country that would not truly accept them for decades.

As working class as they came, Dad could never vote Labor, having absorbed the "reds under the bed" message too deeply during his political awakening, while the memories of his childhood were still fresh.

A conservative voter through thick and thin, he became disillusioned during the early Howard years, when working all his life still saw him struggle to put food on the table for his three children.

And then along came a Queensland firebrand, who inarticulately articulated his anger and frustration, standing up and talking about the way things used to be and who was to blame for the change.

It didn't matter that he spent his life forced to smile through being called "the wog" and "the mad Russian", despite being neither, or refusing to teach his children the language he fought, laughed and loved his mother in, because he was insistent they be "fully Australian", or that he too suffered the isolation, fear and anger directed at "the different", until his accent faded enough to blend.
The Versace empire is not known for doing things quietly - or with the most amount of tact. To wit, that safety pin dress. Or June's controversial campaign starring Karlie Kloss and Gigi Hadid - and Donatella Versace's reaction to criticism thereof.

(The campaign shots, supposedly of "diverse" families, were slated for bordering on racism and looking nothing like real families. Donatella explained away the stylistic oddities the way she knows best, by reminding us that the Versace family provokes, and wouldn't life be boring if we all did the same thing?)

Versace fashion house is known for glamour - but it has twice this year been accused of being racist. Credit:Andrey Rudakov

Donatella might have to dig deeper, though, if a story coming out of California's Bay Area proves to hold up.

According to pop news website TMZ, a former Versace employee claims the Italian fashion house uses a code to alert staff and security when a black customer is in the store.
Earlier this month, during an otherwise unremarkable meeting at one of the fastest-growing councils in the state, a decision was made that positions the many suburbs of Casey as Melbourne's new bible belt.

The City of Casey  known for its firebrand politics which often veers to the far-right  voted in favour of trying to extend chaplaincy, or Christian teaching, into shopping malls, sporting clubs and community groups.

Casey councillor and mayor Sam Aziz is a devout Coptic Christian. Credit:James Taylor

It used to be that Melbourne's bible belt had its buckle  or centre - in the east, around Blackburn, Box Hill and Nunawading. But that is changing. The belt now runs like a fault line through the south-east from Narre Warren to Cranbourne, taking in Berwick, Pakenham, Endeavour Hills, Hampton Park and Hallam.

There are 90 Christian churches in Casey, perhaps as many as 100. Some  the megachurches  have congregations of 2000. The Faith Christian Church has two 'campuses' in Casey. The huge Berwick Church of Christ, according to corporate records, earned nearly $1 million last year with $760,000 of that from donations, or 'tithes.'
Moscow: Russian divers on Tuesday morning retrieved the main black box data recorder from the wreckage of a Russian military jet that crashed mysteriously en route to Syria on Christmas Day, killing all 92 aboard.

The Tu-154 airliner, carrying military officers, journalists, musicians, a celebrity aid worker and a crew of eight, disappeared from radar just one minute after taking off from an airport in the southern Russian city of Sochi. It slammed into the Black Sea moments later.

Why the plane crashed remains a mystery. Investigators have suggested various accidental causes, including bad fuel or mechanical error, while politicians have sought to play down speculation about a possible act of terrorism.

An affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a midair explosion that downed a Russian airliner in October 2015, killing all 224 people on board.
Jakarta: There has been a new twist in the blasphemy saga gripping Indonesia with Islamic hardliner Habib Rizieq reported to police for allegedly insulting Christianity during a sermon on Christmas Day.

The latest drama came as the North Jakarta District Court ruled it would proceed with the blasphemy trial of Jakarta's Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known as Ahok, who is facing a maximum five years' jail for allegedly insulting Islam.

Muslim protesters raise their fists as the leader of Islamic Defenders Front, Rizieq Shihab, gives a speech during a protest against Jakarta's ethic Chinese and Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Credit:AP

Rizieq is the founder of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the group that has spearheaded three mass rallies calling for the imprisonment of Ahok for telling voters they had been deceived by his opponents using a Koranic verse.

But the Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia reported Rizieq after viewing a video of a sermon in which he allegedly said: "If Jesus is the son of God, who is the midwife?". They also reported two people who uploaded the video on social media.
- By Mark Yu





Last week, Microsoft (MSFT) won a $927 million contract from the U.S. Defense Department. This may be a drop in the bucket for the ubiquitous software giant, as it generated total sales of $85.3 billion last fiscal year. But the new contract shows there is no slowing down the 41-year-old tech giant.





In a review of its recent quarterly performance and overall financials, the software company reported on Oct. 20 a 0.36% growth in sales to $20.45 billion and a 4.3% loss in profits to $4.69 billion in its first quarter fiscal 2017 . The negative change in its profits seem to be anticipated as Microsoft's shares, in contradiction, rose 4.2% the day post-earnings release. The S&P 500 index closed flat in the same period.





"We are helping to lead a profound digital transformation for customers, infusing intelligence across all of our platforms and experiences."

"We continue to innovate, grow engagement, and build our total addressable market."

Satya Nadella, chief executive officer at Microsoft.

"Our first quarter results showed continued demand for our cloud-based services."

"We continue to invest, position ourselves for long-term growth, and execute well across our businesses."

Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Microsoft.







Outlook

(Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation)

As per Microsoft's outlook for its fiscal year 2017 operations, the company sees its operational expenses between $31.1 billion and $31.4 billion, which is lower in comparison to $32.4 billion in fiscal 2016.

Valuations

Microsoft had a trailing 12-month PE ratio of 30 times (industry median 24), PB ratio of 7 times (industry median 2.79) and PS ratio of 5.9 times (industry median 2). The company also had a trailing dividend yield of 2.32% with a 69% payout ratio and 2.1% share buyback ratio.

Story continues

Market performance

Microsoft had outperformed the market on a year-to-date, five-year and 10-year basis. Year to date, the company had a total return of 16.6% versus the index's 13% and on a five-year basis, Microsoft returned 21.5% versus 14.78%.

Microsoft

Microsoft operates a worldwide business in over 190 countries. According to its filing, Microsoft develops, licenses and supports a wide range of software products, services and devices that deliver new opportunities to people's lives.

In addition to its numerous business operations, Microsoft also offers an array of services, including cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services, platforms and content. The company also delivers relevant online advertising to a global audience.

As of fiscal 2016, Microsoft had three business segments: Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing.

(10-K and 10-Q)

Productivity and business processes

This segment consists of products and services in Microsoft's portfolio of productivity, communication and information services, spanning a variety of devices and platforms.

The segment grew 0.2% in fiscal 2016 to $26.49 billion and contributed 31% to total Microsoft sales, while delivering an operating margin of 47% -- the highest among Microsoft's segments. In first quarter 2017, the segment grew 5.6% and had a 46.9% margin.

Intelligent Cloud

The segment consists of Microsoft's public, private and hybrid server products and cloud services that can power modern businesses.

Microsoft's server products and cloud services, includes SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related CALs, as well as Azure. The company's enterprise services includes Microsoft's Premier Support Services and Microsoft Consulting Services.

In fiscal 2016, Intelligent Cloud grew 5.6% to $25 billion and contributed 29% to overall Microsoft sales. The segment also had a 37.4% margin, compared to 41.6% the previous year. In first quarter 2017 operations, Intelligent Cloud grew 8.3% and delivered a margin of 32.2%, compared to 40.6% year-on-year.

More Personal Computing

This segment consists of products and services geared towards harmonizing the interests of end users, developers and IT professionals across screens of all sizes.

Personal Computing is comprised of Microsoft's Windows business, including patent licensing, Windows Embedded, MSN display advertising and Windows Phone licensing. In addition, Microsoft devices, including Microsoft Surface phones, PC accessories and Microsoft's gaming business, such as Xbox hardware and subscriptions are all included in the segment. Lastly, the segment also included Microsoft's search advertising business.

In fiscal 2016, Personal Computing had a negative 6.3% change to $40.46 billion and contributed 47% -- the largest among the three segments--in overall Microsoft sales. Personal Computing also had an operating margin of 15.2%, the smallest margin among the segments.

In the first quarter of 2017, Personal Computing had $9.29 billion in sales, compared to $9.46 billion it had the prior year. The segment also delivered a margin of 20.7%, compared to 16.1% the previous year.

Overall, Microsoft had a five-year sales and profit growth averages of 4% and -6.2%, respectively. Microsoft also had a five-year operating margin average of 69%.

Cash, debt and book value

As of Sept. 30, Microsoft had $136.9 billion in cash and $74.69 billion in debt with a debt-equity ratio of 1.06, compared to 0.50 the previous year. Microsoft had 10% of its $212.5 billion assets in goodwill and intangibles while having a book value of $70.4 billion, compared to $77.4 billion in September of last year.

Cash flow

(10-Q)

For its recent quarter, Microsoft grew its cash flow from operations by 30% to $11.5 billion. Most positive cash flow changes were observed in almost all contributing aspects of its business, such as receivables, deferred of unearned revenue, other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities.

(10-K and 10-Q)

Capital expenditures were $2.16 billion, leaving Microsoft with $9.4 billion, compared to $7.5 billion the previous year. Microsoft also allocated 76.3% of its free cash flow in shareholder dividends and share buybacks.

On average, Microsoft allocated 90.2% of its free cash flow in payouts in the past three fiscal years. Payouts per free cash flow have been increasing in recent years, except in its recent quarter year-on-year comparison, which may have broken this unappealing trend. Nonetheless, Microsoft also added $21.36 billion in debt for the period.

During the quarter, Microsoft announced a new share repurchase program authorizing up to $40 billion in share repurchases, and reaffirmed it is on track to complete its current $40 billion share repurchase program by Dec. 31.

Microsoft also has a huge amount of cash flow exchange in its investments. In the recent quarter, Microsoft allocated $57.18 billion in investment purchases while receiving $40.98 billion proceeds in investment sales and maturities.

Conclusion

As observed, there was a slowdown in Microsoft's Office products and personal computing businesses. Specifically, Microsoft's Personal Computing business exhibited a decline in growth, while it delivered higher profitability.

(10-K and 10-Q)

Microsoft's Intelligent Cloud business, meanwhile, has exhibited an admirable growth on an annual and quarterly basis. Nonetheless, margins for the segment have been in a downward trend in recent times.

Microsoft's $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in June demonstrated how Microsoft is more focused on enhancing sales growth in its most profitable business segment -- productivity and business processes. According to the Wall Street Journal, real synergy would be found between Microsoft's Office productivity suite and LinkedIn's core database of millions of professional profiles.

Meanwhile, balance sheet figures exhibited a little more leveraged than its past figures, while cash flow is substantial and supportive.

(Google Finance)

Wall Street analysts are getting more bullish on Microsoft in recent months. Wunderlich upgraded its outlook to a buy recommendation on Microsoft shares with a $70 a share price target; Goldman Sachs also changed its view to buy from being neutral with a $68 a share price. Five-year earnings multiple and profit growth averages and applying a 20% margin would indicate a value of about $25 a share.

In conclusion, Microsoft would be a pass.

Five-year earnings multiple: 15.8 times

Five-year profit growth average: -6.2%

Disclosure: I do not have shares in any of the companies mentioned.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






2017 Kia Forte S Drive and Review By Larry Nutson

...go make the deal!

2017 Kia Forte S

More sport; Good value

By Larry Nutson

Senior Editor and Bureau Chief

Chicago Bureau

Its all about the deal. Or, so it seems. And, the Kia Forte appears to be a good deal for lots of folks.

November 2016 was Kias seventh month of sales growth with a 15.3% increase and it was also the best month for the Forte line-up with a double-digit increase.

For 2017 theres three Forte bodystyles--the Forte compact sedan, Forte5 hatchback and Forte Koup 2-door. Theres something for everyone.



I recently spent time with a Kia Forte S sedan that has refreshed exterior styling and a new 2.0-Liter engine for 2017. The S trim is new for this year, sitting between the base LX and the top-of-the-line EX.

The LX can be had with manual or automatic transmission, priced at $16,490 and $17,500, respectively. The base price on the S is $19,200 and the EX is $21,200, each only offered with an automatic.

On the outside the Forte has a new front bumper and tiger nose grille that flows into newly designed headlights. There are new taillights at the rear and Xenon HID headlights and LED taillights are now optional.



On the inside, LX and S trims have new cloth materials for the seats. The EX now comes standard with leather-trimmed and heated front seats, dual-zone full automatic temperature control, rear vents, and a push-button start with Smart Key. Both the S and EX trims have a 7-inch touch screen display and includes a suite of smartphone functions via Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a rear view camera is also standard.

For 2017 the engine is upgraded from a 1.8-liter to a now standard 147 HP 2.0-liter Atkinson I-4 on the LX with 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic and on the S with a 6-speed automatic. The EX gets the 164HP 2.0-liter GDI I-4 with a 6- speed automatic.



Forte sedans best EPA test-cycle fuel economy ratings are with the 147HP and automatic rated at 32 mpg combined with 29 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

With seating for five, a roomy 14.9 cuft trunk and a 13.2 gallon fuel tank that should be good for about 500 miles of driving, the Forte could very well make for an efficient car for that trip to visit the in-laws besides being a good daily-commuter.

By the way, both engines are certified as ultra low emission in the new Forte. This is noteworthy not only from the green perspective, but also beneficial in that there may be specific closer-to-the-front-door parking for you at your workplace if you work in a LEED certified facility.

The Forte is also offered with many driver-assistance safety features including Autonomous Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, and Rear-Cross Traffic Alert. These were equipped on the media-loaner I drove all bundled in a Technology Package for $1,490. Id recommend choosing these features since some day they may well pay off by helping you avoid a collision.

To help drivers understand this equipment the National Safety Council and the University of Iowa have teamed up to provide an online, mobile- and tablet-friendly resource www.mycardoeswhat.org to help educate consumers.



The new S trim that I drove features a sport-tuned suspension, 16-inch alloy wheels, LED positioning lights, rear spoiler, and a chrome exhaust tip. The S trim also gets exclusive black cloth seats with white contrasting stitching, as well as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

A Drive Mode System is standard on the S-trim and it allows the driver to change from Normal to Eco or to Sport mode. The Sport mode has later transmission upshifts and better throttle response. With the Eco mode its the opposite. I also discovered during some snow covered road driving that the Eco mode with its softer throttle works well for starting from stop in slippery conditions.

You can get more information, detailed specifications and view all the standard features as well as options on the entire 2017 Kia Forte model line just a mouse click away at www.kia.com.

Overall the 2017 Kia Forte is well balanced in terms of features and equipment, overall driving performance and value oriented pricing. Plus Kia offers a lot of high-tech at reasonable prices. The 147 HP engine delivered good acceleration from stop as well as highway merging and passing. Ride and handling is predictable as well as comfortable. The Sport suspension is not too firm even on pock-marked city streets. The inside is roomy; controls are easy to use; the touch screen interface is simple to use and intuitivewhats not to like. Oh, and the warranty is better than most.

As for the good deal I mentioned, Ive seen the Forte advertised for $129 a month for a 39 month lease with $1999 down. And Kia is running a Holiday sales event with payments deferred for 90 days and zero-percent APR for up to 66 months.

What are you waiting for? Go make the deal!

2016 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy

The Most In-Depth Independent Kia Vehicle Shopper's Research - Anywhere!
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ASUNCION, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Paraguayan President Horacio Cartes vetoed the country's 2017 budget on Monday, an unprecedented decision taken to avoid the risk of default after the Senate placed a limit on the amount of debt the government could issue.

The veto means the 2016 budget will remain in place for the coming year. Congress could still override the veto, but the opposition lacks the two-thirds majority in both chambers that would require.

In a letter sent to Congress on Monday, the government said it decided to veto the budget because the debt limit would generate "a risk to the ability of the state to comply with its obligations."

"This has not been a simple decision," Finance Minister Santiago Pena wrote in the message. "We have evaluated all the alternatives, but ... the changes they have made place fundamental elements of the proper functioning of the economy at risk."

The Senate restricted the amount of bonds the government could issue to $349 million, lower than the $558 million proposed. The move would have slashed the amount of money the government could have raised to pay off existing debt, lowering it to $132 million from the $305 million proposed.

The tiny South American nation has issued $1.88 billion in international bonds under Cartes, a former business magnate of the center-right Colorado party.

The veto comes amid a fight between Cartes, members of his own party and the opposition ahead of the next election in 2018 over a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow presidents to seek a second term.

(Reporting by Daniela Desantis; Writing by Luc Cohen; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
End of year & pushing out content that Ive been meaning to blog about. Love this article entitled The corporate Web site is dead, long live the new corporate Web site. And in this video, learn about Coca-Cola on brand journalism  Coca-Cola Journey  and the death of the press release. Heres an article analyzing the success of Cokes journey into storytelling one year later

The Long Shadow of the Pay Ratio Rule

Heres something that Mark Borges blogged a few weeks ago over on CompensationStandards.com:

Although the future of the CEO pay ratio rule is somewhat uncertain, the corporate community continues to move forward to prepare for its eventual effectiveness in 2017 (and the attendant disclosures in the 2018 proxy season). While much attention has been given to the potential impact of this new disclosure, both externally (the various constituencies that will see and react to this information) and internally (your employee population), an ancillary consequence of the disclosure has been less discussed. Specifically, Im talking about the potential state and local provisions that may tie directly to a companys pay ratio.

As you may recall, over the past few years there have been a couple of initiatives introduced that would link the operation of a new law or regulation to the disclosed CEO pay ratio. For example, in 2014 a California legislator introduced a bill that would have modified the states corporate income tax rate to a sliding scale based on a companys pay ratio. The rate would have been as low as 7% percent on the basis of net income if the ratio was no more than 25 to 1. At the other end of the scale, the rate would have been as high as 13% if the ratio was more than 400 to 1. Although the bill passed out of two state Senate committees, ultimately it failed on the Senate floor (in a tight 19-17 vote). In addition, in the same year the Rhode Island legislature considered a bill that would have given preferential treatment in receiving state government contracts to companies whose pay ratio between its highest-paid executive and its lowest paid full-time employee was 31-1 or less.

While, to my knowledge, neither initiative has made it all the way through the legislative process, the underlying concept is alive and well. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the City Council of Portland, Oregon had voted to impose a surtax on companies whose CEOs earn more than 100 times the median pay of their rank-and-file workers. As indicated in the Times, [t]he tax will take effect next year, after the Securities and Exchange Commission begins to require public companies to calculate and disclose how their chief executives compensation compares with their workers median pay.

The article to goes on to say that the idea may not be limited to Portland: Portland officials said other cities that charge business-income taxes, such as Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia, could easily create their own versions of the surcharge. Several state legislatures have recently considered bills structured to reward companies with narrower pay gaps between chief executives and workers.

It certainly appears that if the CEO pay ratio rule goes forward, we may see more proposed laws and rules that seek to piggy-back on the disclosure.
In this season of celebration and contemplation, we are publishing a series of articles about Christians who are prosecuted, imprisoned, and in some cases threatened with death because of their beliefs. 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.

Read previous installments here and here .

Santa Claus is a familiar face in Tehran this time of year, at least in the neighborhoods where people have enough money to share the excitement of Christmas shopping.

But many of those in Iran wanting to share the Gospel have been living this season in fear, painfully aware that anyone working to win converts to Christianity, and those Muslims who embrace its message of salvation, may find themselves charged by the Islamic Republic with nebulous religious and secular crimes , some of which carry the death penalty.

Such religious persecution is not unique to Irannor is it limited to Christians . The primary focus of the twisted Sunni Muslim death cult that calls itself the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria is the eradication of Shia Islam. The Shiite Iranians, for their part, executed 25 Sunnis in August on various charges including enmity against God, according to Amnesty International .

Meanwhile the Bahais, Irans biggest religious minority with roughly 300,000 people, are under constant pressure from the regime, which has arrested their community leaders, blacklisted their businesses and makes it dangerous for them to educate their children.

There are about 150,000 Christians in Iran, mostly Armenians who live in relative peace with the regime. They were born Christians, as Iran sees it, and within limits their rights are respected. They have more than 100 churches. Their patriarch visited in 2014 . And they are allowed not only to drink, but to some extent to produce alcohol .

But there are also Christians who worship in what are called house churches and are part of congregations that may include large numbers of people who were born to Muslim families and converted to Christianitypeople whom the Islamic Republic does not accept and actively persecutes.

Altogether, according to activists, there are about 90 Christians being held in various Iranian prisons . And despite President Hassan Rouhanis promise during this 2013 election campaign that all ethnicities, all religions, even religious minorities, must feel justice, the targeting of Christian converts has continued.

One is Maryam Naghash Zargaran , 38, a schoolteacher who converted from Islam to Christianity and was sentenced to four years in prison.

Already suffering from medical problems, including issues with her heart, she went on a hunger strike last May and after a precipitous drop in blood pressure was transferred from Evin prison to a hospital. But then she was returned to her cell before she had recovered fully, according to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran .

Zargaran subsequently was allowed to go on medical furlough, but when she returned to prison earlier this month, she was told her sentence had been extended by 45 days to punish her for a late return to incarceration . Such are the Kafkaesque vagaries of Iranian law.

One of the most infamous cases at the moment involves Yousef Nadarkhani, a house church pastor of the Church of Iran, whose tribulations and trials have begun to take on epic proportions.

It is not true, as some sympathizers and activists tweeted in recent months, that he is facing a death sentencebut he once did.

In 2009, Nadarkhani went to his childrens school to question the Quranic monopoly on education. He argued that even in the Islamic Republic, this was unconstitutional. According to the British-based activist organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), He was charged with apostasy (abandoning Islam) and sentenced to death. This isnt actually allowed under the Iranian Penal Codethe court instead based its ruling on religious edicts (fatwas) issued by several Iranian religious leaders.

For three years, Nadarkhani languished in prison facing the possibility he would be executed. Three times he was called into court and asked to renounce his faith to avoid the death penalty, according to CSW. Three times he refused.

Even the Iranian courts eventually recognized something of the injustice and the legal anomalies in Nadarkhanis case, and in September 2012 they released him. His wife greeted him outside the prison in an emotional scene.

Pastor Nadarkhani was acquitted of apostasy but received a three year sentence for evangelizing Muslims, Kiri Kankhwende of CSW tells The Daily Beast. Since he had already spent close to three years in Lakan Prison in Rasht, the pastor was released after posting bail. However, in a highly irregular move, he was returned to jail on Christmas Day on the orders of prison authorities, who claimed he had been released too early.

Finally, he was released in January 2013 and CSW and others claimed that their campaigns were a  success story  that freed him.

But, not so fast.

On May 13 of this year, Nadarkhani was arrested with three other menYasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidiconverts to Christianity (so, still Muslims as far as the regime is concerned). Nadarkhani was released on bail, but the other three remain in prison and were sentenced to 80 lashes for drinking alcohol. Specifically, they had sipped wine, symbolic of the blood of Christ, during church services.

All four were also charged with threatening Islamic state security, a catch-all that tries to sidestep the obvious fact of religious persecution.

Indeed, when Irans English-language propaganda organ Press TV interviewed Nadarkhani after his previous acquittal, the government claimed, Nobody is executed in our country for choosing a religion. He had committed crimes against national security.

The latest hearing in the case of Nadarkhani and the three others was on Dec. 14, and inconclusive. Their tribulations and their trials will continuea warning to all in Iran that the only freedom of religion is the very narrow version allowed by the Islamic Republic.
People in Texas feel pretty strongly about, well, stuff from Texas. And that goes double for Texas food. So you can be sure that the states most famous chef, who literally wrote the bible on the regions cuisine, seriously knows his stuff. The James Beard Award-winning Dean Fearing has gained a reputation as the father of modern Southwestern cuisine, creating his signature style from the areas many disparate influences. His dishes have been thrilling diners in Dallas for more than three decades, first at the over-the-top Mansion on Turtle Creek and since 2007 at his eponymous Fearings.

But food isnt Fearings only interest. Hes into cowboy boots, famously rocking a pair of custom Luccheses in the kitchen and out. Hes also a collector of guitars and plays a vintage Fender Telecaster in The Barbwires, an all-chef alt-country band. And Fearings a cocktail fan, too, exploring Dallas extensive bar scene in search of both inspiration and tasty beverages.So where should you drink the next time youre in the Big D? Here are Fearings current favorite cocktails in the city.

Seelbach at Parliament

The Seelbach is a modern creation named for a historic hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a mix of bourbon, bitters and orange liqueur, which is topped with some Champagne. Its one of the more than 100 drinks choices on the menu at Parliament, which range from old-school classics to molecular gastronomy-inspired futuristic creations. I love this drink because it puts a light twist on the usual heavy-handed bourbon cocktail, Fearing says.

Smoked Peach Thyme at Flora Street Cafe

Flora Street Cafe features both food and drinks created by chef Stephan Pyles, another influential Southwestern chef. As you might expect, the cocktails here highlight fresh produce and feature plenty of complex flavors, and the Smoked Peach Thyme is no exception. It contains, naturally, smoked Texas peaches and thyme, as well as rye whiskey and green tea-infused Lillet. Anyone that knows me knows that I love to smoke any piece of food I can get my hands on, so I like to think Stephan created this drink just for me, Fearing says. When I sip this cocktail, I find it has the perfect combination of tart, sweet, fragrant and smoky.

El Diablo at Rapscallion

Long a strip of loud, rowdy party bars and music venues, Lowest Greenville has classed up in recent years, welcoming spots like this elegant neighborhood joint and even a Trader Joes. Fearing comes to Rapscallion to indulge in the El Diablo. Tequila might be my favorite liquor of them all, he says. Rapscallions El Diablo turns the Moscow Mule on its head by using tequila instead of vodka, and let me tell you, it is dangerous and delicious. The deceptively simple drink melds tequila, tart and fruity creme de cassis, spicy ginger beer and lime.

Check out our complete Three Drinks travel guide to cocktails.
Potheads and medicinal-marijuana users alike may be getting some coal in their pipes in the new year.

While President-elect Donald Trump promised to allow states to keep their vast array of marijuana laws if he were elected, hes also tapped some of Washingtons biggest marijuana foes to serve in his Cabinet. If confirmed, they would have the power to enforce the federal marijuana prohibition that supersedes states legalization efforts.

This past spring, his pick to be the next attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), told Politico , Good people dont smoke marijuana. Sessions alone could redirect the Drug Enforcement Administration to go after legal marijuana growers in states from Maine to Alaska.

Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD), who has waged his own personal war on drugs from the House floor, has been floated as a potential pick to run the National Institutes of Health. And Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), who has a long anti-marijuana voting record , has been tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

When asked by The Daily Beast at the Capitol if medical marijuana has any role in the nations health-care system, Price just smiled coyly, shook his head disapprovingly and walked away.

The silence was deafening, and pot advocates fear its a harbinger of things to come.

Still, Trump allies, just weeks out from taking the helm of the nation, argue its too soon to tell if the incoming administration will crack down on states legal marijuana efforts.

People may be extrapolating that, but I think thats getting the cart before the horse, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) told The Daily Beast. I would tell you right now the transition team is totally focused on personnel. Policies are not whats really being discussed now.

That policy vacuum, coupled with Trumps picks to run agencies who oversee the nations disparate marijuana policies, are raising red flags on Capitol Hill, in grow rooms, and dispensaries across the nation, especially because Trump has proved himself malleable on most every campaign promise hes made at his rallies or in his late night Twitter storms.

Thats worrisome, Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) told The Daily Beast. Its true that his positions on a variety of issues fluctuate, so we are concerned for consumers and for the cannabis industry that the new attorney general could engage in some kind of mass enforcement effort.

We do want to hold President Trump to what he said during the campaign, which is that this is a matter for the states, Polis continued. Thats been contrary to Sen. Sessionss previous position, but now that he works for president-elect Trump Im hopeful that he will honor the promises that were made by Donald Trump during the campaign.

In recent years, marijuana has become an issue that cuts across party lines, especially with the rise of the more states rights-oriented Tea Party, so the debate could pit Republicans against Republicans.

Jeff Sessions is a very honorable man, hes a man of integrity, but hes also principled, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) told The Daily Beast. And what are his principles? Limited government, individual responsibility, how about the 10th Amendment and states rights?

Rohrabacher said it would be a mistake for the incoming administration to go after states over pot policy.

Absolutely. Its a tremendous waste of resources, and No. 2 it is a violation of fundamental rules of liberty and justice, Rohrabacher said. People voted for that, and the states should have the right to make the determination. Our Constitution is very clear on that type of thing.

With Trump about to be surrounded by some of the loudest anti-marijuana voices in Washington, there seems to be more haze in the air than just the billowing clouds from local residents legal bong hits.

Were entering into a period of uncertainty. Nobody really knows whats going to happen, Tom Angell, founder and chairman of the Marijuana Majoritya pot advocacy group, told The Daily Beast. There does appear to be some conflict within the administrationsome daylight between what Trump has said and what people like Sen. Sessions might prefer to do if they had their druthers.

But Angell argued the American people are on his side, and he offered a thinly veiled threat to incoming anti-marijuana hardliners who may try to sway President-elect Trump over to their side of the issue. He argued Trump would be wise to look past their rigid advice and thumb through some recent pot polls .

Even though hes not a policy guy, he is a politics guy; hes a guy who pays attention to the polls, and, frankly, the polls show were way more popular than he is right now, Angell said with a laugh. So coming for us isnt going to bode well for his polling numbers.
Should Lin-Manuel Miranda take home an Oscar this year for one of his eligible songs from the Disney animated film Moana, How Far Ill Go and We Know the Way, hell achieve what only 12 other people in the history of Hollywood have: the EGOT, or winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

And hes only 36.

Truth be told, the awards pundits may need to invent a new acronym for Miranda, the lyrical master behind the Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton, given that hes also been the recipient of a Pulitzer and a MacArthur Genius Award. MEGPOT, perhaps? Not bad for a Puerto Rican kid from Washington Heights.

With the exceptions of a certain tiny-handed ex-reality show host and his Russian sponsor, nobody had a bigger 2016 than Lin-Manuel Miranda, who, in addition to his plethora of awards, saw his passion project Hamilton break records; his Disney movie Moana become a blockbuster hit; and had the distinct pleasure of hosting Saturday Night Livea dream for any New Yorker.

The Daily Beast caught up with Miranda for a wide-ranging discussion about his incredibly busy year, from his Oscar bait songs to his thoughts on the election.

So, you went from penning a tune for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to scoring a Disney animated feature in Moana. At a pretty young age youve managed to cross quite a few things off the bucket list.

Whats funny is youve got the order backwards! I got the Moana gig in April of 2014, eight months before anyone had heard Hamilton on Broadway. When the Star Wars thing popped up, which really came out of a conversation between me and J.J. Abrams at Hamilton, I didnt tell Moana I was doing it because I had so much to do for Moana! I was like, well, this is too cool not to do, but Im just going to work on this little side jam with J.J. and send this Logic file back and forth until we have a cool cantina tune.

How did the Moana gig come about?

You know, I was one of several songwriters they interviewed. I think they had Opetaia Foai onboardthey were huge fans of his musicand I think they also had Mark Mancina onboard. I think they were looking for another songwriter from the theater world to help flesh out the worldto focus on the storytelling aspects of the lyrics and the music. They knew my work on In the Heights and Hamilton hadnt happened yet, but I got to meet with Ron [Clements] and John [Musker] and I basically told them: Im here because Little Mermaid was my favorite movie as a child. You guys are the reason Im even in this room. I sent them the opening number Id written for Neil Patrick Harris at the Tonys, and got the job.

Since Little Mermaid was your favorite film growing up, did you have a favorite character?

Yes! Sebastian the crabnot just because my son is named Sebastian, but hes the only composer in the Disney universe. Hes a songwriter! Hes such a reluctant hero. He goes along on the journey because Ariel fucks up his concert! She doesnt show up for the concert, and so its funny that now Im a songwriter, but I just loved his character. He was always my favorite.

Is your son named after Sebastian from The Little Mermaid?

[Laughs] I dont think hes named after him. I dont think my wife would have let me do that. Lets name him after a fictional crab! But in certainly didnt hurt, in my mind, that it was a name I was inclined favorably towards. My Catholic confirmation name is also Sebastian, after Saint Sebastian, and its just a cool bilingual name. Sebastian in Spanish sounds dope. When you have a Latino kid whos going to speak both, you want him or her to have a name thats going to hang in both languages.

Lets discuss Moanas How Far Ill Go. The song contains a very strong message for young girls about chasing their dreams and shattering glass ceilings.

What I relate to most in Moana is this notion of having a callingof having something that you cant stop thinking about even if your life, or the things around you in your neighborhood and your world, dont necessarily point to that as a thing you can do. I grew up just off 200th Street in New York. The distance between that and writing songs for Broadway shows is an impossible gulf to breach, so I related to that. And the unpredictability of even having a life in the arts, of being able to make a living doing what you lovethats a scary notion, and it was my way into Moanas journey. She grows up on this island, loves her people and family, and yet theres still this thing that calls to her thats in competition with her world. To me, thats messier, more complicated and more interesting than, I hate it here and Ive got to get out. Its I love it here and I still wanna get out. Whats wrong with me? That was the last step I needed to take as a writer on this piece, was finding, no, this isnt the story of someone who hates where they are and needs to go somewhere else, this is the story of someone who loves where there are and yet theres still this calling.

Theres this notion of Moana navigating uncharted waters, too, and shattering glass ceilings. The film opened on Nov. 23, just after the election, and it seemed like there were parallels you could draw between Moana and the plight of Hillary Clinton, who was also navigating uncharted waters due to her gender, and the limitations society placed on it.

With both of the songs Where You Are and How Far Ill Go, you have a character who is being prescribed a role by her community. This is a role you are meant to play, and you will be happier if you just play it. I think that strikes a chord for just about anyone. Our family puts us in a role based on whether youre a younger sibling or an older sibling; whether you are in a society in which women are allowed to play this but not this; or boys are allowed to play with these toys but not these toys. Did you see that amazing Wells for Boys sketch on Saturday Night Live? It nailed that notion of What are you allowed to play with? and What speaks to you when youre a child that society doesnt necessarily let you play with? I think Where You Are speaks very specifically to Moana and her island and her individual story, but I think it strikes a deeper chord of What do you do when your individual world wants you to be this, and you want to be this?

You recently provided narration for Junot Diazs book The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and one of my favorite Junot Diaz quotes is: If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level, any reflection of themselves. When you look at a movie like Moana with a Polynesian Disney princess, and The Princess and the Frog with a black princess not too long ago, and Pixars Coco out next year that is set in Mexico, it does seem like minority kids are finally getting the opportunity to see themselves reflected onscreen.

Yeah, and with the caveat that these movies take years and years to make. Im very proud to be a part of a movie where a young woman saves her family and saves the world, and that she looks very different than anyone weve seen in the Disney sphere. Im very proud to be a part of that. That is such a huge thing. I can tell you that my favorite character in Oliver & Company when I was kid was the Chihuahua because it sounded like my uncle! And Cheech Marin was the voice of the Chihuahua. One of the reasons I think sci-fi and fantasy have been such a refuge for people of color is that we can project ourselves into those worlds. Thats what I love about Junot Diazs book, is its this little Dominican sci-fi fantasy nerd, and sci-fi deals in worlds we havent imagined yet, but you can write about discrimination and write about social issues in a way that is infinitely more applicable and sneaks in because youre on other planets, and other universes. Thats the great, subversive thing about sci-fi fantasy, and I think thats just as true of Disney films. Zootopia probably spoke more trenchantly about bias and discrimination than any other mainstream movie this year.

You know, youre turning 37 in January and, should you win an Oscar for one of the songs from Moana, youll have already achieved the almighty EGOT by 37. That is just incredible.

Its all surreal. And I have to say, its just as surreal to see your friends go through it. Bobby Lopez has been a mentor of mine my entire career. We went to the same elementary and high school. We were in the same talent show, when he was in sixth grade and I was in first grade. When I was graduating college and hoping to make a career in musicals, he was in previews for Avenue Q, so I got to see that show in previews. He was so generous and sat down with me and talked to me about his experience as a young theater songwriter. I remember screaming on my couch watching him pull off the upset of upsets when Avenue Q swept the Tonys over the favorite, which was Wicked that year. I was lucky enough to be at the first reading of Book of Mormon when that was happening, and then I got to watch with joy the Frozen song as he was EGOT-ing.

I thought, Oh my god! Bobby Lopez went to my school! He has a fucking EGOT! And I guarantee you the last thing Bobby Lopez was ever chasing was an EGOT. He just was trying to do good work with good people, and it was a product of his incredible work with his incredible collaborators. And thats all you can do: make the best work you can, and the rest is gravy. I feel super, super lucky and super, super fortunate, but I know that the first second I start chasing it Im fucked. I work in a field where one in five shows makes their money back, so I know that I could work for seven years on something and it could open and close in a night. I live with that knowledge every day. I live in a world where Jonathan Larson, rest his soul, worked on a show for seven years that he never saw through to opening night. Living with that knowledge just makes you focus on the work itself. I really try to stay focused on that even though its a crazy thing to even be close to EGOT-ing.

Im a New Yorker too, and Im curious how youre taking the election result. The morning after the election, it seemed like everyones soul was crushed in New York City. I dont think Ive ever seen the city that quiet. How are you coping with it?

Thats a good question. Obviously I supported the other team quite publicly, and I found myself in a very weird circumstance where I was on a plane on Election Day headed from London to Mexico to do press [for Moana], and so I was sad to be away from my familybecause you want to be close to your family when momentous events happenand, in addition to the disappointment that comes with not having your candidate win, I went through that before. I remember going through that in 2000 not knowing who was president, with Gore conceding and then taking it back. Its interesting how kids who are voting now dont remember that. That felt way scarier in a way because we didnt even have a president. Youre supposed to have someone by the end of the night.

But I woke up with a very pronounced case of moral clarity. In addition to the disappointment, it was like, oh, this does not change the things that I believe in. The things that I believe in that this candidate doesnt means were going to have to fight for them. You dont want to go backwards when it comes to our LGBT brothers and sisters; you dont want to go backwards when it comes to the disenfranchisement of voters of color. We have to keep fighting for the things we believe in, and it just made that very clear: I know who I am, and I know what Im going to fight for in the years to come. That felt like the tonic of it.

Has the Trump camp reached out to you to perform at the inauguration? I understand theyve been having a very hard time attracting top talent.

No, they havent reached out to me. No.

I wanted to discuss the Hamilton casts message to Mike Pence. I thought the message they delivered to the vice president-elect was tasteful and dignified, but then President-elect Trump and many on the right framed it as an attack. That seemed disingenuous.

I guess all I can say is: I agree with your assessment. I felt really grateful that Vice President-elect Pence got the message in the spirit in which we tried to give it to him, which was as respectfully as possible. It was great of him to stay, and Im really glad that he spoke the following Sunday and said that he appreciated it, wasnt offended, and spoke to the message of what we were saying. I dont know if there is a less divisive message you could give than please represent all of usand thats really all we said. The fact that the notion of representing all of us is controversial? I dont know what that says about us right now. But I am super grateful that Mike Pence got the message in the spirit in which we tried to deliver it.

Youre a very vocal advocate of Planned Parenthood, and just as you said about representing all of us, even supporting womens health is for some reason a divisive issuewhich seems crazy to me and to a lot of other people.

People are going to believe what theyre going to believe. For me, my mother is on the board of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and my mother has her own personal stories with Planned Parenthood. Thats an organization thats really saved lives time and again. The thing its controversial for [abortion] is a very small part of the health services it provides, and so, like I said, this is a way to support something that is so important. Its a no-brainer, and the fun bonus is that my mom gets to look like the cool board member because of our efforts. Im happy to support it, and thats just that. Womens health is a priority, its worth protecting, and if I can be of service in that way, then thats how Ill be of service. Full stop.

Now, this is a tough transition, but the nerd in me wants to know if youll continue to compose music for the Star Wars universe?

I dont know! The tune I wrote J.J. was such a one-off that came out of a conversation we were organically having, which was me joking, Hey, if you need cantina music Im here, and him going, Actually, I do need cantina music! And then we were off to the races. I havent had any conversations beyond that other than a great friendship with J.J. which is the best thing to come out of it, because one hes a mensch, and two, hes making some of the most interesting contributions to pop culture out there. So no, I dont have any more plans other than whats on my plate.

Is there one musical out there that you feel would make a good film but hasnt been given the proper Hollywood treatment yet?

Oh, thats a good question! If there was I dont know if I would tell you because someone might take that and run with it! I know that Jason Alexander was close to adapting Once on This Island for the screen once. Thats a great musical, and Im surprised that nobody has done that in any screen form. Its a great score. But nothing really springs to mind. Adapting a stage musical to film is one of the hardest things you can do. Its why Im taking my time both with Heights and with Hamilton. With Heights were back on track with The Weinstein Company, and were really excited by the people we have involvedparticularly because [filmmaker] Jon Chu just makes fuckin incredible musical numbers already. Hes really amazing with dance sequences and hes a child of immigrants, so gets the story in his bones in a very real way. Im excited to see what he does with the material, and Im excited that Quiara [Alegria Hudes], my co-writer, is working on the screenplay because I feel like she will honor the integrity of what we made together. But that being said, its going to be hard and we still might fuck it up! Its hard to turn a two-act thing into a three-act thing. Itll be interesting to see what we come up with.

One of the films thats getting a lot of heat this awards season is the musical La La Land. Have you seen it yet? And if so, what do you think of it?

No, but Im really looking forward to it. Marc Platt, whos one of the guys thats producing Mary Poppins, is one of the producers on that. I had a great time talking to Damien Chazelle and hes really talented, so Im very interested in seeing what he makesespecially since this is one of his dream projects that hes been working on for so long. The dream projects are the really exciting ones from filmmakers, so Ill be right there on line with everyone else!

Just to bring things full-circle, I heard that youre doing the music to the live-action Little Mermaid film. Is that true?

Talks are sort of premature. Basically, what happened was that theyre planning a live-action adaptation and I sort of threw my hand up in the air as the chairman of the Dont Mess It Up Committee. If that leads to me writing music, fine, or if that leads to me just weighing in on stuff and not writing anything, thats also fine. Im just the guy with the biggest Little Mermaid hat on wearing all the merch, so you should have me in the room when youre making these decisions!
DENVERStanding white-coated and bespectacled behind the counter of the supermarket pharmacy he manages, you wouldnt guess Kahsay Abraha Bisrat spent his teenage years as a Marxist revolutionary in Ethiopia.

Bisrats journey to America may seem all the more extraordinary because of the mundane setting where it ended. But he describes himself as a typical refugee, driven by concerns and pursuing dreams anyone could understand.

Nobody wants to leave home unless you are forced to, he said in an interview on a chilly day over a warming meal of spicy mutton stew and spongy bread.

Lunch was in one of a string of Ethiopian restaurants along Denvers main drag, Colfax Avenue. An Ethiopian Orthodox Church around the corner was another indication of the vibrancy of the community that newcomers from the Horn of Africa have built in the middle of America.

Bisrat is a writer as well as a pharmacist. Last year, his memoirs of his years as a fighter were published in his still-fractious homeland. The book has made him something of a celebrity among Ethiopians in Africa and elsewhere who are united by a network of online newsletters and radio programs.

Bisrat, born in 1957 in Ethiopias northern Tigray state, began his journey as the eldest son in a family with some status. One grandfather was a priest and the other a village leader. But they were poor.

You go to school without eating anything, maybe you have a glass of water. And when you come home, you dont know whether youll eat, Bisrat told The Daily Beast. Your parents give you anything they have. But they dont have anything.

As a boy, Bisrat thought he would grow up to be a farmer like his father. Or maybe an elementary school teacher. He received religious instruction from his grandfather and was sent to secular school, the only one among seven siblings to get that opportunity. While attending a regional high school, Bisrat listened to visiting university students discuss politics. Their views on the roots of poverty and inequality in Ethiopia resonated with his own observations, including of his father struggling to hold on to land coveted by richer and more powerful neighbors.

His high-school years were a time of idealism and anger in Ethiopia. In 1974, the fall of Emperor Haile Selassies feudal regime led not, as many hoped, to democracy but to a brutal military dictatorship known as the Derg. Tens of thousands of people who resisted the Derg were detained, tortured, and killed in what was called the Red Terror.

At 16, Bisrat joined the armed wing of the anti-Derg, pro-democracy Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Party. It was a hard-scrabble army. Bisrat described being outfitted with little more than a simple uniform, a Kalashnikov rifle he affectionately called a Klash, and a length of cloth known as a kushk, which was used as shade from the sun or a wrap against the cold, as a bandage when necessaryand in death served as a shroud.

He writes of marches that lasted for hours through craggy terrain and battles with the enemy, disease, and hunger. But he also recounts camaraderie, as on the night his unit met another that had seized cattle from bandits. Bulls were slaughtered and the meat roasted. Fighters gathered to sing a folk song about workers uniting around the world in Amharic, Oromo, and his own native Tigrinya.

Black-and-white photographs from those days show Bisrat with piercing dark eyes in a thin face under an impressive Afro. His face is fuller these days. His hair is tamed and graying at the temples. His eyes are just as arresting though.

Politically I wasnt very conscious, because I was very young, he told The Daily Beast of his teenage years. The party was following a Marxist ideology at the time. All I knew was that the Derg, the fascist government, had to be destroyed.

Bisrat had left Ethiopia as a refugee a decade before Derg leader Mengistu Haile Mariam fled to Zimbabwe in 1991. A new constitution and political reorganization followed, but democratic institutions have remained weak and rulers tendency to autocracy strong in multiethnic Ethiopia. The Oromo, Ethiopias largest ethnic group, began protesting last year, first over a land dispute with the national government, then to demand more rights and the release of detained activists. The protests and sometimes deadly confrontations with security forces spread beyond Oromo areas. In October, the government declared a six-month state of emergency.

Bisrats book is set in hard but idealistic times. He said he still admires the EPRP, his old party, for its commitment to democracy and equality. His books title is Love of AssimbaAssimba was a storied EPRP stronghold. But he no longer believes that what he calls the right politics can be achieved by violence.

There has to be reconciliation. There has to be dialogue. People shouldnt have to kill each other because of political ideology, he said. And once there has been a peaceful political solution, the sides have to come together to resolve the peoples problems.

Abay Yimere, a public-policy expert who divides his time between Ethiopia and the United States, said he regretted missing a chance to meet Bisrat when the pharmacist was in Addis Ababa on a book tour this past summer. Yimere said in a telephone interview from the Ethiopian capital that he admires Love of Assimba because it is a departure from the more typical books he has read about Ethiopia in the 1970s: prominent politicians polemics thinly disguised as autobiography.

Bisrats is the story of the ordinary people who did extraordinary work, Yimere said. We rarely hear about their stories, the ordinary peoples stories.

Maybe the culture doesnt encourage us to write about ordinary people.

Bisrat became a U.S. citizen several years after arriving as a refugee in 1980. He said Americas more democratic approach to literaturehere, talk-show hosts, doctors, business people, and athletes as well as politicians publish autobiographiesmay have influenced his decision to write his memoirs.

But mostly, Bisrat said, he wrote to pay tribute to comrades who died. Among them was his first love, whom he portrayed with both tenderness and admiration for her leadership on the battlefield and her commitment to the causea commitment that kept them from going beyond kissing because anything more would have been a violation of discipline. He was drawn to her combination of strength and vulnerability and jokes that as gangly teenagers the two probably looked alike in their uniforms. He knew her only by her nom de guerre of Dillay until he began interviewing men and women who had fought with him for his book. He learned her real name was Simegn Minale.

During the three years he fought, Bisrat grew increasingly disillusioned with what he saw as inept military strategy and political infighting. He agonized over leaving fellow fighters he had come to see as his family. When he did, it meant leaving the country as well. He would not simply return to life in his village, for fear he would be handed over to the Derg. Bisrat fled first to neighboring Eritrea and then to Sudan.

He regrets he did not have the opportunity to tell Dillay of his plans to abandon the fight. In Sudan, he learned from fellow emigrants of her death in an ambush. The news made him feel as if part of my body had been cut off, he wrote.

In his book, Bisrat empathizes with ordinary people caught up in the drama of war. He described poorly equipped resistance fighters turning to local farmers for food and shelter, even as the Derg dealt harshly with villagers seen as opposition sympathizers. In the opening passages of his memoirs, Bisrat said his life was saved by a farmer who hid him from the Derg despite the risks. In 2004, he visited the farmers village. The farmer had survived the Derg, but died in a car accident shortly before Bisrat returned to thank him.

In Sudan, UN refugee officials helped Bisrat get to Puerto Rico, where an uncle had settled.

In Ethiopia, he had felt that educated urban members of his party looked down on less sophisticated people from rural areas. Bisrat left Puerto Rico after only a few months because he saw a chance to further his education in the Washington, D.C. area, where he settled into an Ethiopian community that included other former fighters. Later, when friends persuaded him to try Colorado, he did some research and found a Colorado Springs school that impressed him. That institution turned out to be too expensive, so he enrolled in a community college in Denver and later the University of Colorado.

Bisrat initially studied engineering because he had excelled at math and science during his too-short stint in high school in Ethiopia. But he had no clear career plan. When a friend got a job in a pharmacy before graduating, Bisrat switched majors. He, too, secured work with a supermarket chain before graduating.

Denver has mountain views that remind Bisrat of northern Ethiopia. In this setting, he got the education he had dreamed of in Ethiopia and started a career. He also found love again, marrying a fellow Ethiopian American. The couple has three children.

One of Bisrats sons, Kaleb, has ordered an Uber car in Denver and found more than once that the driver is Ethiopian, recognizes his family name and knows his father because of the memoirs.

The younger Bisrat, a pianist studying music at his fathers alma mater, doesnt read the languages of Amharic or Tigrinya in which the book has been published in Ethiopia and has not yet found the time to explore the English translation his father had done at his own expense earlier this year. But Kaleb Bisrat watched and learned as his father spent any spare moment writing the book in longhand. Pages and notes were scattered everywhere, even in his fathers car.

My fathers just always been a hard-working guy. He never expressed his creative side, the son said. But he had to express his creative side to tell his story. To do that after he had got his education, after he started working, after he had his kidsI really appreciated that.

In a 2013 interview with The Atlantic, Haitian-American novelist Edwidge Danticat spoke of immigrant parents who tell their children with artistic ambitions: We didnt sacrifice all this for you to take up a precarious profession.

But she went on to credit another writer from an immigrant family, Patricia Engel, with showing her that the act of migrating is itself art.

You begin with nothing, but stroke by stroke you build a life, Danticat said, and she could have been describing Bisrat. This process requires everything great art requiresrisk-tasking, hope, a great deal of imagination, all the qualities that are the building blocks of art. You must be able to dream something nearly impossible and toil to bring it into existence.

Long before he came to Colorado, Bisrat left home to fight for the people and to die, he said.

But everyone has his or her own destiny. You never know where your journey will take you.
Sometimes the topic youre writing about comes to life, jumps off the computer screen and grabs you by the throat.

That happened to me this week. I was just about to sit down and write this column about how all these attacks on sanctuary cities are pure fiction, and how the idea that there are places where illegal immigrants are safe from the long arm of federal agents is ludicrous, and how those Democrats in dependably blue states such as California, Illinois, and New York who are now threatening to resist Donald Trumps attempts to deport the illegal immigrants who reside in those places are engaged in a bit of political theater and likely intend to do no such thing.

The column was also going to address how the whole myth of sanctuary cities is based on another myththe horrific story of what happened in July 2015 to Kate Steinle. The 32-year-old was gunned down in San Francisco in front of her father, allegedly by an illegal immigrant named Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who had been deported five times before but had always returned, and who, we were told, made a bee-line for the City by the Bay because of its lenient immigration policies.

Lopez-Sanchez claimed to have found the gun nearby. He didnt know the victim. And no motive was ever established.

The Steinle myth essentially boiled down to the implication by immigration restrictionists and border-security fanatics that this poor young woman died because she went on vacation to a liberal city like San Francisco as opposed to taking her holiday in a more conservative locale like Mobile, Alabama, or Fort Wayne, Indiana. You know, the kind of sensible places where they dont have sanctuary policies thatfor instanceinstruct local police not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities unless they have a warrant or probable cause to believe an undocumented person is guilty of a particular crime.

Overnight, Steinlean innocent victim of what seemed to be a random act of urban violencewas turned into a martyr for the right-wing cause of banning sanctuary cities. Among others, the cause was pushed by conservative columnist Ann Coulter and radio talk show host Sean Hannity.

Yet no one made more noise over the killing than Fox News host Bill OReilly. The way OReilly sees it, Steinles blood stains the hands of liberal Democratic San Francisco politicians whose absurd sanctuary policies give aid and comfort to illegal immigrants. The bloodiest hands belong to San Francisco County Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, according to the cable-TV host. The lawman had Lopez-Sanchez locked up in the county jail on a minor drug-possession charge but released him four months before the shooting without notifying federal officials.

The Steinle family is suing the county for negligence resulting in their daughters death.

I like OReilly. Ive been on his show a dozen times in the last 15 years. We agree on a lot. He doesnt mind if guests disagree with him, and he often gives them the last word.

The host has said that he supports legal status, without citizenship, for at least some of the undocumented once the border is secured.

And I was delighted when OReilly took apart Trump when the candidate suggested altering the popular interpretation of the 14th Amendment in order to deny so-called birthright citizenship to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. The takedown was so brutal that Coulter felt compelled to write a snarky column defending Trump and attacking OReilly.

That said, OReilly and I disagree on why Steinle was killed and whether governmentat any levelis to blame.

So it was appropriate and a tad eerie thatjust as I was getting ready to write about Steinlethe phone should ring with an invitation to go on The OReilly Factor. The primary topic, the producer explained, would be the boneheaded decision by Democratic state officials in California to stand in the jailhouse door and prevent Trump from deporting illegal immigrants who reside in the Golden State.

By the way, Democrats didnt lift a finger to stop this sort of thing when the president doing the deporting was one of their ownBarack Obama. Sanctuary cities or no sanctuary cities, Obama managed to deport as many as 3 million people in eight years. So much for symbolic gestures.

OReilly thinks the Democrats who are gearing up to fight Trump over deportations are left-wing radicals and subversives. From my vantage point, theyre more like hypocrites and phonies.

But, the producer warned, if we wandered into a discussions of sanctuary cities, the Steinle case was likely to come up.

We did. And it did. And even though I didnt have time to say all this during my brief television hit, this is where I believe the Steinle narrative falls apart.

First, despite the fact that much of the media parroted the line that Lopez-Sanchez came to San Francisco seeking sanctuary, that may not have been his motive. I saw an interview with the alleged assailant after he was arrested in which he said, in Spanish, that he came to work in the restaurant or construction field. But a reporter pressed him, in English, and asked if it wasnt true that he came because of the citys sanctuary policies. Yes, he said, answering a question that Im not sure he understood. His first answer was likely the correct one.

Second, once Steinle was killed, and people were looking around for someone or something to blame, both the federal and county agencies were in CYA mode. And in the world of media spin, as in the criminal-justice system, the first to talk is usually the first to walk. The feds talked first, telling anyone who would listen how Immigration and Customs Enforcement had asked the Sheriffs Department to alert them if Lopez-Sanchez was released, but that the local authorities failed to do so.

It was several days before Mirkarimi stepped up and gave his side of the story. He claimed that ICE never placed a formal hold on Lopez-Sanchez, probably because the agency considered him a low priority. He also told CNN that federal officials have been well notified that local statutes require a court order or federal warrant to transfer immigrants but that they did not follow through. Finally, Mirkarimi said, federal officials could have sidestepped the county altogether and taken steps to apprehend Lopez-Sanchez since local officials werent planning to prosecute him for the minor possession charge, but the feds did not do so.

In sum it doesnt seem like ICE considered Lopez-Sanchez much of a priority until he pulled the trigger and murdered Kate Steinle. Then suddenly he went from a low-level, nickel-and-dime petty criminal to El Chapo Guzman, and the feds had to have him. It was right about then that the finger-pointing started and the political spin kicked into high gear. It was every bureaucrat for himself.

Last year, just a few months after the Steinle shooting, an embattled Mirkarimi lost his bid for reelection. Meanwhile, those who believe that this young woman died because of a local sanctuary policy appear to have lost their way.
When Donald Trump described the devastating conditions in Americas inner cities, emphasizing poor schools and lack of jobs, he was widely denounced for portraying our urban centers in a demeaning and inaccurate way, much as he had been denounced previously for his supposed appeal to racial exclusion when he asked black voters what the hell do you have to lose by backing him.

To be sure, Trump was tromped in big cities nationwide, losing by stupendous margins, but he actually did a little better than Mitt Romney among black and Hispanic voters, according to exit polls. Still, some urbanistas embraced the idea that even if Trump had won in the electoral college, the city is ours, as New York Magazine put it. And our America, those voices maintained, was doing great and would continue to do great even without a friend in the White House.

But as we saw in November, something isnt so just because the coastal cocooners say its so. In reality, if we go beyond the big-city boosterism that dominates media coverage, poverty, crime, and economic stagnation still characterize many urban core neighborhoods even as many downtown districts have recovered. For all the talk about gentrification, concentrated urban poverty has been a persistent and growing problem, with 75 percent of high-poverty neighborhoods in 1970 still classified that way four decades later.

Racial and class inequality is very much alive even in the most progressive cities. In New York, the poster child for urban revitalization, poverty and homelessness have worsened, in large part due to soaring housing costs. Since 2007, median rents in the city have gone up 8.5 percent while median renters incomes have gone down by 6.8 percent. Particularly shocking have been rent rises at the edge of gentrification, in places like Brooklyns Williamsburgwhere rents have risen 80 percent since the 1990s.

In most urban areas, particularly outside New York and a few other cities, the much ballyhooed back to the city movement  mindlessly overblown by the national media  impacts basically the downtown cores, which account for roughly 1.3 percent of the national population, a percentage they have held since 2000. Some inner-ring communities  often right next to the urban core  have lost population in those 16 years. Overall, the outer suburbs and exurbs, home to more than 40 percent of the metropolitan population, have added population at more than five times the rate of urban cores.

The same pattern applies to jobs. Though some cores have gained some employment, thats been offset by big losses in the surrounding urban neighborhoods for an overall decline in the number of jobs in and around most city centers.

Bottom line: The suburbs and exurbs disdained by most urbanists and Democratic politicians continue to add residents and jobs as inner cities continue to languish.

In fact, roughly 80 percent of all job growth since 2010 has been in suburbs and exurbs. And tech, supposedly newly focused on the urban core, still concentrates largely in dispersed, suburban environments from Silicon Valley to Austin to Raleigh.

Rather than clustering downtown, most rapid growth is now in what may be seen as post-suburban cities, places like Irvine, California, Overland Park, Kansas, or Frisco, outside Dallas, where single family neighborhoods and cars co-exist with dense office parks and often expanding town centers. And with millennials now entering their thirties in greater numbers, these communities, generally safe and with good schools, seem to be growing in popularity much faster than the inner cities. These are unfortunate facts for Democrats, who have long celebrated, sometimes garishly, cities glaring problemsthus helping make Trumps campaign comments sound that much more reasonable.

Trumps pick of Ben Carson to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development has horrified some retro-urbanists who point to his lack of experience with housing issues, let alone running a $50-billion-a-year agency. Yet given the obvious failures of existing policies, an outsider may prove something of a blessingif he comprehends the nature of the challenge.

During the past decade, urban boosters have hailed the rise of creative class, reflected by the migration of educated millennials to hip and cool cities including New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. Yet as Richard Florida, who coined the term creative class has since observed, gentrification has not made life better for most urbanities, as the rise in housing costs has outpaced that in wages, making those cities even less affordable. The creative class certainly improved selected parts of urban America, but for the most part urban poverty, including homelessness and hunger, has barely been dented by gentrification and in some cases may have been made worse.

This poor result reflects the failure of urban policies that have been promoted by the very interestsparticularly real-estate speculators and big-city politicians who count on themthat most strenuously oppose Trump and his pick of Carson in particular. Those policies include redevelopment that often serves to push inner-city residents from their homeswith HUD in the worst cases trying to lure poorer populations out of their cities altogether.

Those moves happened even as more upwardly mobile minorities headed in huge numbers to the periphery. Since 2000, notes demographer Wendell Cox, more than 95 percent of the minority population growth in the 52 largest metropolitan areas has been in suburban and exurban areas.

In Portland, minority neighborhoods close to downtown have been resettled, with encouragement from the progressive government, by upscale hipsters. Indeed, the largest reductions of African-American populations, and occasionally of Latinos as well, have taken place in precisely the bluest cities such as Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco in what becomes a genteel exercise in whitewashing.

Even in more diverse cities such as Chicago, notes urban analyst Pete Saunders, city policies have been designed that force poorer, largely minority areas out of areas that, in essence, are considered too valuable for such populations. The results of dislocation, Saunders notes, has created a kind of progressive apartheid, where blacks and other minorities are driven away from neighborhoods that have been their home for generations. He describes Chicago poignantly as one third San Francisco and two-thirds Detroit.

Increasingly, at least in the centers of the greatest hipster infestation, minorities and working class families are being driven into less desirable areas, often further from work locations. This helps create new social tensions and, in many places, notably Chicago, more social unrest, and now the most murders in more than two decades. Overall, the rate of violent crime in urban cores remains almost four times higher than the national average, according to FBI data. The worst violence, and the sharpest upticks over the decade have been in cities with large black populations, including Detroit, Oakland, St. Louis, Memphis, Cleveland, and Atlanta.

Left out of the urban revival, minority and poor communities face diminishing opportunities while others prosper. This is true not only in places like Chicago, notes researcher Daniel Hertz, but also in New York where class and race inequality are much higher than in the rest of the country. Generally speaking, its the bluest and largest cities that suffer the worst levels of inequality.

Indeed despite the media spin, in the core cities of the 51 metropolitan areas, 81 percent of the population increase over the past decade was under the poverty line, compared to 32 percent of the suburban population increase. Despite talk about suburban ghettos, the poverty rate in the suburbs remains roughly half that of urban centers (20.9 percent in core compared to 11.4 percent in the suburbs as of 2010). Crime rates in core cities, meanwhile, remain over three times higher than in the suburbs.

No surprise that discrete and genteel ethnic cleansingin the form of HUD affirmative action or taxpayer funded redevelopmentappeals to many urban boosters. In contrast, the much sought after hipster and wealthy childless adults thrill developers and mayors; they love a population that will pay a premium to live there and that doesnt need good schools or working-class jobs.

If lack of commitment to pre-existing failure offers some hope to Trump and Carson, the non-existence of a programmatic agenda represents the significant downside. Trump, after all, hardly built his career in fighting poverty; his business of building luxury high-rises hardly made him a natural ally to the diminishing ranks of working- and middle-class urbanites.

Certainly, the new HUD should abandon its agenda of redirecting populations, or forcing high density on reluctant communities, whether in the poorer urban neighborhoods or the more comfortable suburbs. But there needs to more. One hopeful signparticularly for cities in the heartlandwould be attempts to keep industrial jobs in whats left of the manufacturing economy, the loss of which has devastated cities such as Milwaukee. Similarly Trumps stand against H-1B visas could help keep some white-collar positions in the hands of citizens residing in our cities, including on the coasts.

Other steps could be taken to reawaken the grassroots economy, particularly in hard-hit poorer neighborhoods. This might include such things deregulating some businesses, like in cosmetology, and making it easier for new restaurants and shops. Yet these things cannot be mandated from Washington; it will take some rise in the level of business savvy of our elected leaders in cities. Perhaps most critical will be addressing the escalating crime rate in many cities, where by far the vast majority of victims are minorities, as Trump himself pointed out.

Other parts of the potential Trumpian urban agenda, such as charter schools and vouchers, long supported by his Education Department nominee Betsy DeVos, could help address poor urban education, arguably the biggest reason why families dont stay in cities like Chicago with their dysfunctional schools. Federal support for educational reform is vastly preferable to the kind of anti-charter agenda that, for example, Hillary Clinton, with her incestuous ties to the teacher unions, would have promoted.

Similarly, a shift away from one size fits all transportation policies might allow communities to build public transit options, ranging from bus rapid transit to innovative dial-a-ride services. Under the old regime, money tended to go into light rail and trolley projects designed to appeal to upscale riders and developers; a better focus on inner city needs might be actually helping working class people actually get to work as quickly and easily as possible, at reasonable cost rather than building dedicated lines that tend to push land prices up, and existing residents out.

Even if Carson can concoct such an agenda, this is unlikely to make Donald Trump popular among the retro-urbanist chattering class who have thrived under the current urban regime. But it is to be hoped that such a new approach, at very least, could finally make progressives, who control Americas big cities as virtual fiefs, reconsider policies that have led to tragic levels of impoverishment, violence, and inequality across our great urban centers.
I think Donald Trump sees himself larger than life, said former House Speaker John Boehner recently. He kind of reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt, another guy who saw himself larger than life.

As a Roosevelt scholar, I beg to differ. Theodore Roosevelt did not see himself as larger than life; he was larger than life. We dont celebrate him because of his ego; we celebrate him because he was a hero who embodied and championed the virtues that we Americans admire: honesty, courage, compassion, and resolve.

Roosevelt held everyone to a high standard, but he held himself to the highest standard of all.

Even as a child, he worked hard to make himself a better person. To strengthen his body, he exercised daily and learned to box and hunt. To expand his mind, he devoured books on every subject, sometimes two or three per day. Above all, he worked to fortify his character. Bodily vigor is good, and vigor of intellect is even better, he wrote, but far above both is character. A person of character must not steal, he must not be intemperate, he must not be vicious in any way; he must not be mean or brutal; he must not bully the weak, he expounded. He must be brave and energetic; he must be resolute and persevering.

T.R. (he never liked Teddy) was all these things. When robber baron Jay Gould corrupted a New York State judge, T.R. demanded an investigation. When a drunken gunslinger roughed up a saloon in the Dakota badlands, T.R. knocked him cold with his bare hands. When the United States went to war against Spain, T.R. quit his government post and personally led the charge up Cubas San Juan Heights. When a would-be assassin put a bullet in his rib, T.R. postponed medical treatment until he had finished his 80-minute speech.

But Roosevelt didnt just cultivate his own personal character; he also elevated Americas national character. As president, he used his bully pulpit to urge people to be brave and selfless and good, for he believed that whether this country goes up or goes down will depend in the last analysis upon the character of the average American. In those days, the United States was still an emerging power, but T.R. promised that if the American people remained courageous and steadfast, they would soon lead the world. We must dare to be great, he proclaimed, and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage.

A century before the Internet, when crossing the ocean required several days at sea, Roosevelt anticipated a time when nations grow to have ever wider and wider interests, and are brought into closer and closer contact. He urged Americans to meet the challenges of globalization fearlessly and to avoid succumbing to the fossilized isolation of the fading Chinese empire, content to rot by inches in ignoble ease within our borders, taking no interest in what goes on beyond them, sunk in a scrambling commercialism; heedless of the higher life, the life of aspiration, of toil and risk.

How ironic that in the 21st century, China has reinvented itself as an aggressive, globally engaged superpower while the future president of the United States promises to make America great again by retreating into safety behind a great, great wall. Theodore Roosevelt called for Americans to be courageous; Donald Trump tells us to cower in fear. Donald Trump will protect you, announced one of his campaign ads. He is the only one who can.

That too is ironic, for Trump is not a brave man. Roosevelt wrote books on military history and risked his life in battle. Trump second-guesses generals but avoided military service when duty called. I think Ive made a lot of sacrifices, he rationalized in an interview. Ive created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. In a speech to war veterans he lauded himself for being financially brave.

T.R. would have scoffed at such excuses. The people who pride themselves upon having a purely commercial ideal are apparently unaware that such an ideal is as essentially mean and sordid as any in the world, he wrote. Roosevelt preferred those who devoted themselves to public service, whether in military, government, or private life. He admired people who played fair, stood up to bullies, and exhibited the character traits he prized: honesty, courage, moderation, generosity, and self-discipline.

Mr. Trump doesnt give a damn about his own character or anyone elses. He fabricates falsehoods with shameless abandon. He flaunts his wealth, shuns self-discipline, and takes pleasure in bullying the weak. He exploits unfair opportunities and then brags about how he beat the system. He boasts of generosity but is notoriously stingy and takes credit for others charity. His idea of courage is a risky business venture. John Boehner was right about one thing. Donald Trump does see himself as larger than life. Im the only one who can fix it, he declared in a campaign speech. We will take back this country for you and make America great again.

But Boehner was very wrong about Theodore Roosevelt. When T.R. spoke at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania more than a century ago, he said something quite different about what it means to be a great nation. National greatness is of slow growth, he said, for it is based fundamentally upon national character, and national character is stamped deep in a people by the lives of many generationsSo we, the people, can preserve our liberty and our greatness in time of peace only by ourselves exercising the virtues of honesty, of self-restraint, and of fair dealing between man and man.

Michael Wolraich is the author of Unreasonable Men: Theodore Roosevelt and the Republican Rebels Who Created Progressive Politics. He tweets at @wolraich.
After midnight, three police officers entered a vacant lot and watched the ramshackle fortress of a mobile home across the way. The Florida cops knew this Jacksonville residence and its 8-foot-tall ramparts well, having been dispatched there for years over relentless feuds between its ex-con owner and his neighbors.

They were looking for Russell Tillis, a 55-year-old felon and local menace, who allegedly violated a restraining order taken out by a nearby resident. And police smoked him out that night in May 2015 by tossing rocks at the roof.

An outdoor motion-sensor light clicked, and the longhaired suspect bolted from his neighbors front yard, jumping a fence and landing on the ditch line near the road. Police! an officer shouted as they emerged from the darkness. Tillis allegedly swung around with knives in fist before sprinting back to his property and leading the fuzz through a lawn of boards tacked with 4-inch nails.

Cops would later learn that a womans corpse was buried near the booby traps.

Tillis was initially charged with aggravated assault on a law-enforcement officer, battery on an officer, and criminal mischief over the bizarre encounter with police.

The career criminal, who inherited his mothers mobile home, for years was a terror on the grassy stretch of Bowden Circle East. He unabashedly spewed profanities at neighbors, calling one wart face and tossing nails in her driveway. During one February 2015 police visit, he told a responding officer, I know I shouldnt, but they deserve it after all they put me through. (Tillis pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to seven days in jail.)

Mr. Tillis has built large walls around his house not allowing anyone on his property, one neighbor wrote in a 2015 petition for a protective order, which a judge granted. He has video cameras watching my house and the other neighbors. When I walk to my mailbox, Mr. Tillis yells obscenities and calls me names for the sole purpose of harassing me or scaring me and my family.

Another resident filed a protective order petition in 2014, claiming that when she drove past him, Tillis unzipped his pants and removed his private[s] and began shaking [them] at me. She said Tillis was up all night banging and making loud noises.

The neighbors are afraid and so am I, the woman wrote in the court papers. [Tillis] has said numerous times, Call police, because your ass is mine tonight. Tillis allegedly told her that he owns the neighborhood and can do whatever he wants.

They had reason to be afraid. Court records on Tillis show arrests for sexual battery and soliciting for prostitution; and convictions for child abuse, kidnapping, burglary, and grand theft, which landed him 20 years total behind bars.

And not a year after the midnight sweep, police made a grisly discovery on Tilliss property: the remains of a 30-year-old woman, buried inside three separate holes in his backyard. Now Tillis faces a new batch of criminal charges, including second-degree murder, kidnapping, and abuse of a dead human body, leading one local TV station to dub his creepy compound Jacksonvilles house of horrors.

Police believe shes not Tilliss only victim and have asked the public to help find others. In March, they released one clue: a faded Polaroid snapshot of an unknown woman discovered inside Tilliss lair. Cops still havent identified her.

Murder charges

Police charged Tillis with murder when he was already incarcerated.

In February 2016, a Duval County inmate told cops that Tillis spoke of slaying a woman inside his home and burying her dismembered body in his backyard. Days later, a search warrant unearthed the remains just as Tillis had allegedly described, and a bone sample was sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification. An autopsy revealed the female victim died of blunt-force trauma.

Police would later learn the victim was Joni Lynn Gunter, a woman in her early thirties with a history of prostitution and drug abuse. She was never reported missing, but her family was looking for her, authorities said.

On Dec. 8, Jacksonville cops held a press conference to announce Gunters identity, as well as murder charges against Tillis. They estimated Gunter was about 30 when she died, and that she was killed between February 2014 and May 2015.

Miss Gunter was transient but known to frequent the southside of Jacksonville in the area where Mr. Tillis also frequented, Scott Dingee, assistant chief at the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, told reporters.

Then the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office dropped another bombshell: They believe Gunter is not Tilliss only victim.

Based on statements that Tillis made, we believe its highly likely that other females were victimized by Tillis, including potentially other murders, Dingee said.

Tillis targets the forgotten members of our society, the people that dont get reported missing typically, the ones that dont have contact with family members very routinely. So its highly likely, like her case, that these individuals wouldnt get reported, he added.

Gunters brother, Robert, told News4Jax his family lost touch with his sister but spent years searching for her. Their mother died in 1995 and they had no contact with their father. All I know is Ive been worried about her, trying to get in touch with her, said Gunter, who lives in Arkansas. I have [missed her]. To be honest, I dont know what to say.

In March of this year, after news broke of the backyard remains, Tillis wrote to one Jacksonville reporter offering exclusive TV interviews on the body, and the dirty cops he claimed framed him that night in May 2015.

Tilliss name stirred a media frenzy in the Sunshine States largest city. Action News Jax had a former FBI agent analyze Tilliss missives.

I could show you letters that we get from the jail or from prisoners. Theyre not like that at all, ex-Special Agent Dale Carson told the TV station. Carson claimed that clear handwriting, tight margins, numbered pages, and a formal subject line suggest Tillis put a lot of thought and a lot of preparation into his letters.

Here he has created himself in a controlling position where he is now the victim of all of this, Carson told Action News Jax. Hes innocent, hes a victim, he needs to be interviewed to get his story out there. Thats the surface. But the truth of the matter is, hes lost his ability to control things. And that makes them crazy.

Tillis sat for a jailhouse interview with another TV reporter in August, after she agreed to a set of ground rules, including sending him questions in advance and interviewing his handpicked private eye about surveillance video that Tillis claims proves his innocence.

In a segment on their cooler conversation, Heather Crawford of WTLV described Tillis as very intelligent, very controlling, and careful with everything he said.

When Crawford asked about the then-unknown woman buried on his turf, Tillis replied, I have no clue who it is. Im sure that Jacksonville Sheriffs Office has done some sort of intense investigation trying to determine the identify of that person, but me personally, I dont know.

The ponytailed suspect said he felt surprise, just kind of numbness, after being told human remains were buried on his land.

Later in the talk, Tillis appeared to contradict himself. So you dont have any idea how human remains got [on your property]? Crawford asked. Tillis retorted, I didnt say that. I said I dont know who knows the identity of that person.

When Crawford pressed Tillis again, he said he could not answer the question in full elaboration like you want me to, no, because I must wait on pending charges if there will be any at all filed before any of that comes out.

Tillis told the reporter he didnt butcher the unknown woman. Nor have I murdered anyone else. Crawford asked if he had anything to do with the dead body.

That remains to be seen in the future, he said.

Bad blood

Russell Tillis inherited his childhood home in May 2012, when his mother, who was dying of cancer, deeded the property to him. She passed a month later, and thats when, according to neighbors, Rusty began to terrorize them.

In interviews, the Bowden Circle East residents said they spent hundreds of dollars on security cameras and motion lights to protect themselves. They described witnessing sex workers visit Tilliss residence. Sometimes, they said, naked prostitutes ran down the street, banging on doors and screaming for help. They claimed to see a woman chained to Tilliss fence one night and called cops. (The Daily Beast did not find a police report on the incident.)

Four years we lived in fear, said Annette Campbell, 65, who runs a daycare out of her home. He was sneaky. Hed tell you, I learned everything I need to know while in prison. If I go back to prison, its worth it In a sense, sometimes he did get away with things, because he was kind of right at the edge of the law.

According to Campbell, Tillis blew an airhorn every hour on the hour one night. But by the time cops arrived, he was nowhere to be seen. In another episode, Tillis allegedly flashed a light in her granddaughters bedroom window. He also posted signs to taunt residents, including one hand-painted warning that read: Nosy neighbors mind your own business.

Rusty told me to my face one day, I didnt stay in prison for 12 years and not study the law. I went to the law library every day and I know what Im doing, said Campbell, who lives catty-corner from Tillis and was granted a restraining order against him.

If somebody was telling me about this, I would think they [were reading from] a John Grisham book, but its true. This is all true, she said.

David Eichenlaub, who lives next door, said he constantly phoned police over his neighbors late-night shenanigans. The felon would run a pressure washer and haul rolled-up carpets from his residence, he says. (According to arrest reports and interviews with Tilliss brother, Tillis was a self-employed construction worker.)

Eichenlaub said he briefly employed Tillis at his own contracting firm but he scared every customer I had just his behavior, his looks, the way he handled himself.

This guy is a Charles Manson, Eichenlaub told The Daily Beast. Wed hear screams. Girls running up and down the street naked, screaming, Hes going to kill me.

According to Eichenlaubs wife, Jeannie, Tillis once followed her to her job at a barbecue joint. Before she left for work, Tillis appeared around the hedges and allegedly said, You going to work, Jeannie? You think youre going to make it home this afternoon?

Its horrible we had to live like this for four years, she told The Daily Beast. No one would believe us.

Court papers filed in Duval County reveal how neighbors pleaded for cops to arrest Tillis and for judges to grant restraining orderswith Tillis petitioning for his own protective orders, against one female neighbor and his own father, too.

In September 2014, a 60-year-old neighbor petitioned for protection after Tillis allegedly yelled, There goes the drunk whore as she carried trash to the curb. She also claims Tillis hurled tree limbs at her and exposed himself.

Her petition included a plea from her sister, who wrote, He, Rusty Tillis, told me he cooks meth and hides it down the road so he wont get caught. The relative continued: When does it stop Please Judge, help us, our neighbors and our sanity. We deserve to have a home and quietness (when hours permit) too.

The womans injunction was approved, but not before Tillis submitted a sheriffs incident report as evidence against it. According to the document, Tillis told police he had no contact with the neighbor and that she was an alcoholic who yells drunken slurs at him from across the fence for no reason.

Tillis himself had filed for a restraining order earlier that year, claiming that neighbor has been wilfully, maliciously, and repeatedly harassing me by engaging in a series of acts that serve no legitimate purpose and cause me emotional distress.

In court papers, he claimed the woman warned him, I would beat your ass if I could but I cant, so Ive hired someone to do it for me, and Im waiting for the right time to call them. Im going to enjoy watching you get your ass beat.

She allegedly chirped, Smile! and snapped a photo of him. Tillis claimed a man was behind her. It wont be long now and Ill get to see the fireworks, she allegedly warned again days later. (Tilliss petition was denied after he failed to appear in court, records show.)

Campbells petition for protection, filed in February 2015, states Tillis was retaliating against her because he believed she snitched to the city over code violations. Tillis allegedly approached her while she vacuumed her car in the driveway and fumed, Hey bitch, you think you got me, but I did not get arrested.

He did some things on his property that was against ordinance, Campbell told The Daily Beast. He got the idea that I turned him in, which I did not, but he thought I did. So he took it out on me. To this day, Im scared to death of that man.

Still, Rustys reign of terror was coming to a close. A May 2015 affidavit for an arrest warrant claimed Tillis threatened David Eichenlaub one morning while he was on his roof, talking with an insurance adjuster. I will kill you, go ahead and call the law, Tillis allegedly said during an obscenity-laden tirade.

Court papers suggest Tilliss house of horrors was dysfunctional prior to these neighborly feuds. The ex-con had taken over the residence one month after he was granted a protective order against his father.

Tillis described a harrowing encounter in March 2012, when he tried speaking to his father about the dad allegedly threatening to kill my brother the night before.

I asked [him] to call my brother over and talk to him, Tillis wrote in the petition. [He] became very angry, grabbing me and pushing me up against the wall, pulling a knife out and made to [sic] effort to stab me. [He] finally put the knife in his pocket. My mother witnessed this act of violence.

Tillis claimed his father attempted to drag his mother out the back door with the intent of causing bodily harm to her. The form also reveals Tillis checked one box indicating his parent has an alcohol problem and another indicating that domestic violence had previously been reported to Jacksonville police.

He claimed to witness his old man pull a machete out on his brothers son and state that he was going to kill him. He accused his dad of [riding] around in his wheelchair with a gun, machete, and a knife and constantly warning, I will just pull my gun and shoot both you and your brother and shoot myself. I dont have nothing to lose.

Tilliss older brother filed his own request for a restraining order against the patriarch at the same time, court records show. He claimed his dad began accusing me and my brother of being the problem in his marriage.

[He] escalated the situation by threatening me, stating, If you come over here, I am going to kill you, the sibling wrote in the petition, which was denied. (The judges decision stated no act or credible threat of violence against the petitioner is alleged but that the grandson might obtain a valid injunction if he wanted one.)

Tilliss father could not be reached by The Daily Beast, and relatives did not return messages. Attorneys for Tillis declined to comment due to his pending cases. Earlier this month, the dad told Action News Jax that Tillis threw him out of the family home as he and Tilliss mother were reconciling after a divorce.

Meanwhile, Tilliss older brother, who asked to remain anonymous for his familys safety, told The Daily Beast, The only time things were calm and we didnt worry about anything was when he was in jail.

He scares the shit out of me, he said.

Criminal history

Russell Tilliss brother said most of his friends thought he was an only child. He never spoke about Rusty and didnt want people to know he was related to a habitual offender.

I got friends of mine who didnt know I had a brother until this came out, the auto-body shop owner told The Daily Beast. What am I supposed to say?

Making matters worse, the sibling says he and Tillis look a whole lot alikewhich he claims helped Rusty lie about his identity as he went on purse-snatching sprees. Tillis allegedly pretended to be his brother while also driving his siblings work trucks.

The sibling said Tillis would pull into gas stations and wait for a woman to leave her handbag in the car before snatching it and hauling ass. He did that with one of my trucks one time, had my company name on it, the sibling said.

On another occasion, Tillis allegedly tooled around in his brothers truck and exposed himself to a woman at a red light. I had to give affidavits for two days to prove where I was, the brother told The Daily Beast. Ive been down that road with him so many times.

According to the sibling, Tillis began stealing as a teenager, did time in juvenile detention, and at one point was placed in a school for troubled kids. Their mother was a homemaker, while their father was a crane operator who helped build Disney World. While the brother wouldnt elaborate on the familys early years, neighbors have said their house was sometimes fraught with the parents fighting. My father was abusive toward my mother. When my mother was dying she was trying to get out of the house, the sibling said of petitions for orders of protection against the dad.

Despite Tilliss criminal history, he was married for nine years and has a daughter. His ex-wife did not return calls left by The Daily Beast, but in February gave an interview to WTLV, which concealed her identity and her face.

It was a lot of beatings and pushing and shoving. Put a gun to my head, the former spouse said, recounting what she experienced with. Rape, mental abuse, physical abuse, psychological abuse.

She divorced him in 1997 during one of his stints in jail and told WTLV that he changed, possibly because of drugs, a year after they wed. My daughter would always say daddy is stinky because of the cocaine on his breath, the ex-wife said. (Tillis did not respond to these allegations.)

Court papers reviewed by The Daily Beast show Tillis was arrested but not convicted for sexual battery with threats of injury in July 2012. According to a police report, Tillis invited a 26-year-old prostitute into a white Chevy Blazer and drove to an industrial road. Once they got there, Tillis became aggressive, struck the victim in the mouth and forced her to perform oral sex on him, before driving off. (Court records show the prosecutor declined to pursue the case.)

In November 2007, Tillis was arrested for two counts of sexual battery for allegedly offering to give a girl a ride, then driving her to a secluded area and forcing her to perform oral sex on him. During the March 2006 incident, Tillis then hit the victim in the face and told her to take her clothes off, the arrest report indicates. He allegedly forced her to have sex with him, then transported her to another location and repeated the horrific assault.

The victim, who did not know Tillis, described him to a sketch artist before a sex kit determined his identity through DNA. The arresting officer said Tillis, who was interviewed in the presence of his attorney, denied ever forcing any female to engage in any sexual activity.

He did admit that he does pick up prostitutes for the purpose of having sex, the arrest report states. He stated that if he had sex with the victim it would have been consensual. He stated that he did not remember the victim because he has been with many women.

Tillis claimed he has not knowingly had any sexual activity with a minor, the police report concluded.

Prosecutors charged Tillis with two counts of lewd or lascivious battery for engaging in sexual activity with a person 12 years of age or older, but less than 16 years of age, as well as one count of child abuse.

Court records show Tillis pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in February 2012.

Tilliss brother said the convict would drop by his house after his release and brag about his latest criminal exploits, including using meth. (The Daily Beast could not find any arrests or convictions relating to the drug, though Tilliss alleged meth use is mentioned in court papers filed by neighbors.)

Hed come over and tell me about his latest adventure hed been on. One day he told me, The detectives across the street are watching me and Im still making meth every day. Hed tell me different things hed done, the brother said.

The sibling described Tillis as a jailhouse lawyer who studied the law during his stays in the clink. He is very, very smart and knows how to work the system.

Indeed, Tilliss handwritten court papers show that he knows, at least more than most prisoners, how to navigate the legal system. He was pro se in the police-assault case before shuffling through three different taxpayer-funded attorneys.

In a motion to suppress evidence filed in December 2015, Tillis accused the sergeant who threw rocks at his house of deliberately omit[ting] from the arrest report any facts or language revealing his unlawful acts. (The officer told police he tossed rocks because Tillis had booby-trapped his property with razor wire and similar items. He was cleared in an internal affairs investigation, which found his actions were proper under the circumstances, News4Jax reported.)

In September of this year, Tillis filed court papers in an attempt to boot a state-funded attorney from his police-assault case over ineffective assistance for a list of alleged transgressions, including her work on a deposition that Tillis felt was in fact assisting the prosecution in the defendants conviction.

He claimed the attorney would become physically flirtatious using her sexuality as a means to subdue the defendants requests. (The attorneys employer, the Offices of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, made an internal decision to replace her before Tillis could get a hearing on the matter.)

Tillis also obtained a taxpayer-funded private investigator, Janis Eldridge, who spoke to WLTV for his jailhouse interview segment. Court records show Tillis deeded Eldridge and her husband his Bowden Circle property this summer.

The house of horrors is slated for demolition in January, after the city of Jacksonville condemned the property this month.

Tilliss brother said hes worried hell somehow avoid life in prison.

Ive waited 57 years for this, the sibling said. I want to be there during sentencing, so I can know for sure.

You always think this happens to somebody down the street, he added. You never dream youd be face to face with this in your family.
WASHINGTON EXPANDS PAID LEAVE LAW

Washington, D.C., has significantly expanded its paid leave law, giving non-government workers in the city up to eight weeks paid time off for the birth or adoption of a child. They also will get up to six weeks paid leave to care for a sick relative and two weeks of paid time off when workers themselves are ill.

The D.C. Council approved the law Dec. 20. It's likely to take effect early in 2017, after a 30-day period during which it can be reviewed by Congress.

Since its paid sick leave law took effect in 2008, Washington has required employers to give staffers up to six to eight paid days off a year, depending on the size of a company. The time can be used if workers or a close relative is sick. The city was the second in the nation to enact a paid sick leave law, following San Francisco, whose law took effect in 2007.

The move toward paid sick leave has gained momentum the past few years. In the absence of a federal law requiring companies to pay workers when they call out sick, states have been creating laws.

Forty jurisdictions have paid sick leave laws, according to Family Values @ Work, a group that advocates for workers to be given time off for illness and family needs.

Arizona, Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont and Washington have laws in effect or recently approved, along with cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The state and local laws tend to have the greatest impact on smaller companies that are less likely than mid-size or large businesses to offer sick leave.

LEARN ABOUT 2017 TRENDS

Small business owners can learn about some of the demographic and marketing trends being forecast for 2017 during an online seminar Thursday, Jan. 5. The seminar, which will start at 1 p.m. Eastern time, will be sponsored by SCORE, the organization that provides free counseling to small businesses. Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/2h2ge8h .

_____

Follow Joyce Rosenberg at www.twitter.com/JoyceMRosenberg . Her work can be found here: http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joyce-m-rosenberg
SAO PAULO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Telefonica Brasil SA and former senior executive Cristina Duclos have agreed to settle a dispute over her dismissal, saying there were no irregular contracting practices at the division she used to head.

In a Tuesday statement published in Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico, Telefonica Brasil said the reports about excessive price discrepancies in the marketing division were based on "false information". Duclos left the company due to restructuring, the statement said.

A press representative for Duclos said the executive plans to resume her career as soon as possible. The departure of Duclos was amicable, with due compensation, the statement said.

On July 25, Valor Economico newspaper reported the company was conducting an internal probe led by an independent auditing firm to scrutinize 1.3 billion reais ($397 million) the company spends annually in advertisement.

Reuters reported on Sept. 28 Duclos sued Brazils No. 1 wireless carrier saying the company planted news about irregularities. At the time, she was seeking reinstatement at Telefonica Brasil.

($1 = 3.2765 reais) (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal; Writing by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
The US-led coalition air campaign against ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria has dragged on for months, but the US airmen mounting the raids haven't lost track of time.

During Christmas Day airstrikes against the terrorist group, some US pilot donned Santa hats, photos of which were shared by the US Air Force, as first spotted by international monitoring group Airwars.

F16 pilot Iraq ISIS Santa hat airstrike US Air Force

Coalition air forces mounted 18 strikes against ISIS targets in Iraq in Syria on December 25.

Near Raqqa, the group's de facto capital city in Syria, 11 strikes were directed at ISIS tactical units, fighting positions, vehicles, and weapons, including ISIS' apparent go-to of late: A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

Near Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq and the terror group's last stronghold in that country, two strikes were directed at ISIS tactical units, fighting positions, vehicles, weapons, and infrastructure.

According to a release from Operation Inherent Resolve, all aircraft involved in Christmas Day strikes returned to base safely.

The US-led coalition has mounted hundreds of strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, targeting the terror group's vehicles, weapons, buildings, fighting positions, resources, and tunnel networks.

F16 US Air Force pilot Santa hat ISIS airstrikes Iraq

Progress against ISIS in Syria appears to have been set back by the Syrian and Russian governments' concentration on Aleppo, which fell earlier this month after years of resistance.

Moscow and Damascus' focus on the city reportedly allowed the terrorist group to make progress elsewhere in the country, while a campaign against Raqqa in the east is still in its early stages.

The six-week-old offensive against Mosul, led by Iraqi government forces, appears to have been paused, holding in what one US official called an "operational refit" period earlier this month.

Story continues

Progress against ISIS in Mosul has been slow, as the confines of the city and the immense number of civilians still in it make military advances hard to come by.

Iraq forces have only retaken about one-quarter of the city since launching their offensive in mid-October.

US special forces troops Mosul Iraq ISIS

US forces on the ground in Iraq appear to be stepping up their involvement in the fight for Mosul.

As a recent Reuters report quotes the commander of the main US unit on the ground in Iraq:

"We have always had opportunities to work side-by-side, but we have never been embedded to this degree ... That was always a smaller niche mission. Well, this is our mission now and it is big and we are embedded inside their formations."

Many civilians have found themselves in the cross-fire, especially in Iraq, where they have been caught between ISIS and Iraqi fighters on the ground as well as in the path of ongoing airstrikes.

In the 10 days before Christmas, Airwars documented reports  some of them contested  indicating that more than 50 civilians were killed by air and ground fire from coalition and Iraqi forces.

ISIS continues to menace civilians as well.

The terrorist group has fired on civilian areas of Mosul, including liberated sections of the city, and a Human Rights Watch report issued on Tuesday states that the terror group executed at least 13 people  including two boys  in villages south of Mosul where locals mounted an effort to expel the group's fighters.

NOW WATCH: Take a tour of the $367 million jet that will soon be called Air Force One





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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.
If I had to sum up 2016 in one word, it would be travel. Since the first week of January this year has been a whirlwind of flights, hotels, airbnbs and new destinations. Its been exhausting and exhilarating and has opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed.

Image: Bettina Bogar

What Ive loved most about it all is that Ive been able to share these experiences with you. There were a lot of moments this year that have made me question humanities decisions or actions, but in some small way I hope Ive been able to highlight that amongst all the craziness, there is so much beauty. I selfishly love to travel, but if I can inspire you to get outside and explore the world, Ive done my job well.

I visited 15 destinations in 2016, of which I blogged about 10 of them. I made it my goal to capture as many trips as possible on video and Im so proud that I actually succeeded at a goal (first time ever? possibly.) So with that, I wanted to highlight these trips and the best of THM Travel in 2016. I hope one or all of these can encouraging you to book a flight, hop in your car or make that dream trip a reality. It may be stressful, overwhelming and occasionally expensive but it is beyond worth it. Heres my top travel of 2016:

In February, team Fit Foodie Finds and I headed to the avocado capital of the world with Avocados from Mexico. We were welcomed so graciously and kindly by the farmers, the packers and the locals. But mostly, we just had so much fun exploring a lesser-known region of Mexico.

This was the perfect trip to kick off 2016! It rained quite a bit, but if you put Lee and I in a room together, well find a way to have fun. The team at Wellfit was incredible and I left feeling healthier and more on top of my goals.

A quick weekend getaway with Lorissas Kitchen, but despite the short visit and INSANELY hot weather, we had a blast in Nantucket. I wish we could have stayed longer and gotten to see more of the island. Ill be back!

C and I went to NOLA for a long weekend and had SO.MUCH.FUN. Honestly, I dont think there exists a more fun city in the world. The music was incredible, the food was delicious and I left needing an IV of green juice but had zero regrets!

Our most recent trip and part #1 of our road trip out West! Besides totalling our car (whomp whomp), I was truly blown away by the beauty of the Badlands and cannot wait to go back and spend more time there. Definitely a National Park to add to the list!

On the second half of our Mexico trip, we headed to San Miguel for an awesome workcation (working vacation). If youre looking for a true Mexican experience without the whole get drunk on the beach in Cancun deal, you NEED to visit San Miguel. We absolutely loved it!

An awesome trip with friends to the Bahamas! If youre looking for a Caribbean getaway that isnt too far, go to the Bahamas. Its a fabulous place to visit with friends too and if you do make sure you stop at Albany and bunk up for the day.

In under 48 hours, C and I planned and executed a spontaneous road trip through Maine! We drove from Toronto to Acadia National Park and then drove the coast down to Portland, Maine. Acadia is a must-visit and if youre in Portland go to The Holy Donut. Its life-changing!

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, Banff is one of those places you will want to come back to. Its not a once-in-a-lifetime place, its an every year place. Cant wait to go back in 2017!

By far my favorite destination of 2016, which is so cliche but its truly worth the hype! We went in June during the summer solstice and had about 23 hours of light, which was awesome because we had a ton of stuff we wanted to do. We didnt get to it all but the trip brought more than I ever could have imagined. If you pick one international destination 2017, let it be Iceland.

Next up? Were heading to Guatemala tomorrow! Stay tuned for a recap of this trip along with more recaps and videos coming from our US road trip last month.

Its been a crazy year and while Im certainly looking forward to more travel in 2017, Im also hoping to nest a bit more and try to find more local adventures. Cant wait to see what 2017 brings 

What was your top destination in 2016? Any plans for 2017?
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Where to celebrate New Year's Eve 2017 in southwestern Connecticut
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DANBURY - If the president of the states colleges and universities wanted to ease fears among students without legal immigration status that they would be targets under a new White House, he might have partly accomplished his goal.

A statewide group that fights for students lacking documentation said the supportive statement this week from Connecticut State College and University system President Mark Ojakian was a welcome sign that immigrants had an important ally in Hartford.

Advocates said Ojakians commitment is particularly important as Washington prepares to swear in president-elect Donald Trump, who promised to crack down on illegal immigration.

To be very clear, we will continue to unequivocally support our undocumented students and provide whatever legal or other services we can during this uncertain time, Ojakian posted Tuesday on the CSCU website.

But activists cautioned that without action to back up those words, undocumented students can still be denied access to higher education.

Its one thing for president Ojakian to be supportive, but without action and policies in place we find that some students go to the admissions office seeking help, and they get told they dont qualify for in-state tuition, said Carolina Bortoletto of Danbury, a co-founder of the advocacy group, CT Students for a Dream. Or they get intimidated because people ask them about their immigration status, and they are not supposed to do that.

Ojakians statement comes one week after the president of the University of Connecticut said campus police would not question students immigration status or detain students on immigration warrants. President Susan Herbst also said UConn would continue to accept students regardless of immigration status, giving them access to health care and other services.

Ojakian, who oversees 12 community colleges and four state universities - including Western Connecticut State University in Danbury and Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven - issued his statement after visiting campuses and becoming concerned about the fears some students expressed.

I have been to almost all of our campuses since (the November election) ... and have heard first-hand about the fear certain student populations are experiencing due to their race, religion, sexual orientation and because of their immigration status, Ojakian wrote. I have heard concerns from our DACA and other undocumented students, who feel particularly vulnerable and scared about what lies ahead for them and their families.

DACA stands for the Obama administration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which gives certain students who entered the U.S. as children protection from deportation, to work and study.

Bortoletto, who graduated from WCSU in 2010 with a biology degree under the DACA policy, called on her alma mater and other state universities to follow Ojakians example.

A WCSU spokesman said the university has consistently supported the rights of all its students.

We support the goals of students who qualify under the DACA program and we will work within the guidelines that the CSCU system creates, Western spokesman Paul Steinmetz said on Wednesday.

Its too early to know exactly what support we will be able to offer these students, but with President Ojakians leadership, we will explore various avenues, Steinmetz said. We value our DACA students and want them to be able to continue and complete their educations at Western.

The president of SCSU agreed.

As a diverse, public institution committed to access and social justice, Southern is wholeheartedly supportive of President Ojakians position, SCSU President Joe Bertolino said.

Our mission is to provide a pathway to a college degree for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances, Bertolino said. In difficult times, it is essential that our campus community remains a supportive, welcoming environment for all - and that includes maintaining our commitment to our undocumented students.

rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342
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NORWALK  Paul Cantor describes the silence surrounding his resolution to protect undocumented immigrants and other Norwalk residents from discrimination as deafening.

I have spoken to the mayor briefly, said Cantor, a Norwalk resident. My sense is that he and other members of the Common Council are reluctant to put discussion of a resolution responding to Trump's rhetoric and threats to deport undocumented workers, ban Muslim immigrants, and create a Muslim registry on the (council) agenda.

Citing President-elect Donald J. Trump's threats to deport undocumented immigrants and create a Muslim registry, Cantor earlier this month asked elected officials to pass a Stand Up Norwalk Resolution and, later on, an ordinance aimed at making the resolution effective.

The proposed resolution asks Mayor Harry W. Rilling and the council to condemn behavior that harms, demeans or discriminates against any resident of our city and resolve to direct Norwalk's law enforcement authorities and city officials to refuse to participate in efforts by the Federal government to deport law-abiding undocumented workers or discriminate in any manner against city residents because of their immigrant status, religion, skin color, sex or sexual orientation.

Police dont discriminate

Rilling, Norwalks former police chief, said he understands Cantors concerns but added that Norwalk police do not discriminate  its part of our police department mission statement  and do not enforce immigration laws.

The police department does not engage in actively seeking people who may be undocumented and we never really have, Rilling said. I understand what Mr. Cantor is saying and trying to accomplish, but as it was written, I dont think that the council would pass that resolution.

Rilling said he believes the council would support the sentiment behind the resolution but not want to engage in the political rhetoric that we see going on in our country right now.

There are a lot of people in our country that are going back and forth on both sides, Rilling said. I dont think the council wants to engage in that.

Rilling said it will be up to council leaders to decide whether to place Cantors resolution on the agenda of an upcoming council meeting.

"The Democratic caucus will discuss Mr. Cantor's proposed resolution after the New Year and at that point make the determination if we want to move forward with his request, said Council Majority Leader John Kydes, a District C Democrat.

Campaign threats

As a candidate, Trump vowed to build a wall along the Mexican border, deport millions of undocumented immigrants, bar Muslims from entering the United States and create a database of those already here.

In the days after the election, the Republican President-elect told 60 Minutes that he intended to incarcerate or deport illegal immigrants with criminal records  he pegged the number at two to three million  and address the remaining undocumented immigrants after the border is secured.

Michael J. Wishnie, Deputy Dean of Experiential Education at Yale Law School, said legal issues would arise if the Trump administration were to order local police departments to enforce immigration laws.

I think that would violate the Constitution, Wishnie said. The Supreme Court has held that the Tenth Amendment prohibits the federal government from commandeering local law enforcement and other local officials in the service of federal goals.

Legal issues aside, Wishnie said there are pragmatic reasons for not having local police enforce immigration laws. Good community policing requires gaining community trust, he said.

Gaining the trust of the community makes it easier to investigate crimes, Wishnie said. When a sector of the community does not trust the police department  it makes it much more difficult to do their main job.

Phones ringing off hook

The day after Election Day, the telephone rang off the hook at The International Institute of Connecticut, a statewide nonprofit organization founded to help immigrants and refugees become self-sufficient, said Executive Director Claudia Connor.

Almost every client that comes here, one of the first questions they ask their caseworker is, Whats going to happen to me? Whats going to happen to my family? said Connor, a Norwalk resident. And thats happening with people that are documented as well as undocumented.

Connor said many families have mixed-immigration status with children born in the Unites States, an undocumented parent and the potential for separation.

One of the things that were really trying to do is be realistic, talk about the facts and say what we dont know, Connor said. There are a lot of open-ended questions as far as what will take place with the Trump administration.

She thanked Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal for their efforts to protect immigrants.

Malloy, speaking at a refugee celebration event in New Haven in November, vowed to sue the federal government if the Trump administration were to withhold federal funding to so-called Sanctuary Cities that provide protections to undocumented immigrants.

Connecticut has at least 14 such sanctuary cities, including Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford, according to The Center for Immigration Studies.

The nonprofit organization, which presents itself as Low-immigration, Pro-immigrant, has asked the Trump administration to cut federal funding to sanctuaries and take legal action against states and communities that egregiously obstruct enforcement of federal immigration laws and regulations.

The Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal advocacy group dedicated to dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice, has labeled The Center for Immigration Studies the anti-immigrant movements premier think tank and a routine circulator of pieces penned by white nationalists, Holocaust deniers, and material from explicitly racist websites.

rkoch@hearstmediact.com
Most forms of financial incentives are secondary motivations for employees. In the panoply of human motivation, financial concerns rarely rank at the top of the list. Employees in hot industries know that other employers will compete for their talents, and bribery is the first tactic. Here in Silicon Valley, hurling large sums of cash at new recruits has become the norm.

Yet these financial incentives never buy loyalty. They never create employees who stay with a company and strive to do great work. Micrel, the semiconductor company I founded and led for 37 years, had the lowest turnover rate in our industry. We managed to do better than our competitors by paying attention to deep human motivations rather than the transient nature of money.

Motivations

Economists go to great lengths to study both the rational and irrational aspects of motivation in commerce. What they rarely investigate are the more enduring aspects that humanity plays in motivations. For employees, this is vastly more important than financial decision making. An employee who spends 250 days a year with his employer, who spends more time at the office than with his or her own children on any week day, is investing most of their human experience with that employer. If the employer sees golden handcuffs as an incentive, then they communicate to that employee a very base relationship that fails to connect with a human experience.

Despite money being a large lever in our hyper-competitive Silicon Valley culture, many companies realize something more must be provided to prospective employees. Google offers the chance to help engineer global change. Apple brings employees into a realm of technical elegance. Facebook thrives on the art of interconnecting real people. These are good starts, yet they still miss the essence of humanistic employment.

Within each soul are aspects of how they relate to the world, and mainly to other people. Everyone needs to have a sense of value -- that they contribute something of worth. They need to feel appreciated and wanted. They need to feel safe. When one looks at Maslows Hierarchy of Needs, these factors dot that pyramid. Money does not.

This is why golden handcuffs rust. They are not humanistic, but restrictive. They are designed to command obedience, not participation. Golden handcuffs imprison people, not elevate them. They ignore what lies at the center of the human heart (and for more on the human aspect of management, turn to Tough Things First).

Creating a place people want to be

In open societies, people have a choice as to where they work. Creating a place where they want to work is the key to keeping them on the payroll. Such workplaces are built around human motivations that existed long before currency. What makes a wonderful workplace is similar to what makes a wonderful home. The interwoven aspects of security, affection and interrelated lives drive both.

Usefulness: Assure that every employee not only has a truly useful role, but that they understand it is of value. Drones doing mindless, repetitive tasks rarely feel valued. Even your janitor provides value, and they should know it as well as your chief technology officer.

Feedback: Believing that one has value is made so much more likely when they hear others professing it. Regular praise, such a simple process, does more to keep a good employee motivated than a holiday bonus check.

Security: No job is perfectly safe, but no employee stays in an environment where they constantly worry about job security. A track record of few or no layoffs paired with transparency about the industry, competitors and markets ameliorates many concerns. And when layoffs become absolutely necessary, ensure employees completely understand the rationales and realities, so they know it was beyond managements control and not due to any lack of value by the employees.

Culture: The corporate culture should make employees feel safe. This includes being treated with respect and dignity, reducing conflict, improving cooperation and collaboration, and even going as far as enforcing civility (at Micrel I banned swearing, much to the consternation of the rough and rowdy semiconductor sales teams of the late twentieth century).

Related: Cut Any Expense You Want But Don't Dare Take the Coffee Away!

Transparency

Part of a safe environment is one where people know what is going on (and this explains much about Americas current political angst). Transparency in all matters not only gives employees a feeling of belonging and safety, it better enables them to make the millions of small daily decisions necessary to run a profitable company. Micrel was profitable for 36 of its 37 years on a GAAP basis, which speaks well about the decisions our employees routinely made.

Eliminating the castle tower is a good start. The C-suite should never be a fortress. Instead, managements key job is to communicate -- openly and transparently -- about all matters, from changing market realities to internal operations. Any time management keeps a secret, it will be perceived by one employee or another. Secrecy breeds suspicion, and that destroys a healthy, humanistic environment. To this end, regular meetings at all levels, and corporate-wide meetings that transcend hierarchy are necessary.

One of the most transparent acts is profit sharing. Unlike golden handcuffs that confine a person with real motivation, profit sharing connects being part of a corporate family to individual contribution. It is a visible commitment to making each employees value perfectly clear.

Related: Let's Be Real: Why Transparency in Business Should Be the Norm

Clear vision

People are not lemmings. They do not follow confused leaders. Basic instincts keep people from entering dark rooms. The unknown and the invisible ignite ancient danger signals. The same goes for employees and the companies they work for. When management fails to have a clear vision, or to communicate that vision, employees feel like they are wandering around in a dark room.

It doesnt require personal charisma from the CEO to make a vision and a plan clear to all employees. It does take commitment to communicating in order to add this layer of inviolability, and to make every employee feel empowered to use the value they provide.

Related: It's Your Vision: Help Them See It

Free, yet united

Employees are not chattel. Handcuffing them goes against their basic humanity. Enduring companies never use golden handcuffs for long, and when they do, the effects on employee loyalty are minimal.

Great companies understand people are free agents, who can leave at any time. Confining them is impossible, and financial confinement is nearly useless. But making each employee valuable, safe and engaged will keep them onboard for as long as you want them to be.

Related:

Even Golden Handcuffs Are Shackles

4 Considerations for Entrepreneurs in the Minimum Wage Debate

This Is Why You Need to Talk Money With Your Employees



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
NORWALK  Tension between police and citizens across the U.S. seemed to reach a new high this year after controversial police-involved shootings were captured on social media and spread across the country.

While some Americans simply wanted to move forward in their wake, others reflected on the situations and how to stop them from unfolding in the future.

The latter idea seemed to resonate with Norwalk Board of Education member, pastor and police chaplain Artie Kassimis.

There were a lot of shootings over the summer: Baton Rouge. Tulsa. North Carolina, Kassimis said. Some of those were people getting pulled over. As I looked at the videos it struck me. Maybe people dont know what the protocol is when you get pulled over by police.

Engrossed by that idea, Kassimis asked his 18-year-old daughter what she would do if pulled over.

I would freak out, she told him. I dont know what Id do.

For Kassimis, those words confirmed his theory and set him off on an eventual partnership with the Norwalk Police Department to bring an educational program to the citys two public high schools to teach 11th and 12th grade students what they should do if and when they are ever pulled over.

The program, called Choose2Live, is based off of the experience of Quentin Williams, a former FBI agent turned lawyer, who wrote the book A Survival Guide: How Not to Get Killed by the Police, Part I.

Williams travels the country telling the story behind his book, including being stopped and questioned by police more than a dozen times. As a part of his story, Williams tells of one time he was stopped by police officers. Despite announcing himself as an FBI agent and showing his gun and badge, the officers refused to let him go. He was detained for hours.

As a part of the program, Williams shares the best procedure to follow when being stopped by police and a bit of his own wisdom from his personal experience over the years.

Kassimis and his partners within the Norwalk Police Department are looking to host the event for 11th and 12th graders at Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School on Jan. 26.

Williams will also meet with members of the police department, including school resource officers for training on that side of the interaction as well.

We are really just looking to educate the kids and let them know the police are not out after them, but that they are trained a certain way, Kassimis said. We dont to put our kids in a bad position that will put the police officers in a bad position.

Kassimis called the program a way to be proactive.

The total cost for the program is expected to come in at roughly $20,000, for both the program itself and to pay for a book for each student. About $10,000 of that will come from the schools, with the police department picking up the rest of the tab, Kassimis said.

Norwalk Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik and Deputy Ashley Gonzalez presented the idea to the Board of Education in early December. At the meeting, the idea was met with positive feedback.

The board members appreciated that we are going to do this, Kassimis said. A lot of their own kids don't know the proper protocol.

Heidi Keyes, vice chair of the board, expressed her support for the program.

Many of us that have children that are starting to drive  when you see a police officer what do you do ... when you see the light going on? She said. I mean they (students) have those kinds of questions and theyre just unsure of what to do.

She said she realizes parents can discuss the topic with their kids on their own, but that hearing it from law enforcement officials would be more powerful.

Overall, Kassimis hopes this type of educational program can help stymie the kinds of controversial and sometimes deadly situations that occur across the country.

Just one life spared, he said, would make the program worthwhile.

KSchultz@thehour.com; 203- 354-1049; @kevinedschultz
Tucked away in backcountry Greenwich, a 75-acre property once home to Mel Gibson is still on the market, at an asking price of $25,750,000 million for one of Greenwich's "Great Estates." The house went on the market in January of 2015 at an asking price of $31.5 million.

The property, known as Old Mill Farm, is crowned with a Tudor-style manor home, first built as a country gentleman's estate in 1926. While the mansion spans more than 15,000 square feet, boasting 15 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and seven half bathrooms, it's the great hall past the main entrance that makes the most opulent statement. With 40-foot cathedral ceilings done in half-timber, stone walls, 17th-century paneling and light bursting through stained glass, it's what owner Margrit Strohmaier called "a party room" in 2015.

Strohmaier and her husband, Stamford attorney Richard Lichter, bought the estate from Gibson in 2010 for a little less than $24 million, according to property records on file at Greenwich Town Hall. The plan was to turn Old Mill Farm into a retirement home for the family, but after five years, Strohmaier said she realized they may not be the right people for the house.

In 2015, Hearst interviewed the couple:

More Business Mel Gibson denied farm status for part of Greenwich property

"We love it, and I've restored it in the way I wanted it, as if I was to live here forever," Strohmaier told Greenwich Time in 2015. She is an interior decorator who spent a year redesigning the home, which included hand-picking marble to be brought over from Europe for upstairs bathrooms and brightening up the aesthetic on the main floor.

"But we realized this is a true party house," she said.

While the Gibsons were known for lavish fetes with scores of guests, and the owner said inquiries were made about having former first daughter Chelsea Clinton's July 2010 wedding there, Strohmaier said she and her family are more reserved.

"We're kind of private, we realized," she said. "We have some friends over, one-on-one, but we don't throw parties every weekend, and this house needs life."

Tamar Lurie of Coldwell Banker picked up the listing in November 2014, though the Strohmaiers had it on the market earlier, for an asking price of $29 million.

Shrinking in popularity?

"It was on the market for a couple of years," Joseph Barbieri, the home's former listing agent at Sotheby's International Realty, said in January 2015. "And we had some showings, but it didn't sell."

It's a difficulty seen before with Greenwich's centerpiece estates. Take the former home of hotel maven Leona Helmsley, which sold for $35 million in 2010 -- less than one-third of its original asking price -- following two years on the market. The Helmsley estate is up for sale again, having listed over the summer with a new $65 million asking price after three years of renovations.

Big estates don't have the following they used to, noted Bill Andruss, an agent with Sotheby's, who last year listed a sprawling, Italian-style mansion dubbed "Buena Vista," which quickly sold to a developer who tore it down to make room for a subdivision.

"It's a challenge to find someone who wants to live like that today," Andruss said. "People's lives are busy. Sometimes you have families where both the husband and the wife are working, and I don't know if some of these big, old homes fit in with today's style of living."

Comparing Old Mill Farm with other large properties is hard to do, though, since so few places like it still exist. With 75 acres still intact, and the main house, built of 16-inch-thick stone, looking like it would be more at home in the English countryside than 45 minutes outside of Manhattan, listing agent Lurie said, "there's just nothing else like it in Greenwich."

Profiled as one of Greenwich's "Great Estates" in the locally lauded book of that title published by the Greenwich Junior League in 1986, the home's history has been well documented. Architect Lewis Bowman, who was known for his skill in Jacobean and Elizabethan styles, was awarded a medal by the Greenwich Board of Trade in 1931, citing Old Mill Farm as one of his outstanding achievements for both its interior and the entire estate's plan.

These days, the property is smaller than its original 137-acre footprint, but still features a stable with six horse stalls, a working greenhouse and chicken coop, as well as a hedge maze and life-size outdoor chess board, which Strohmaier said were designed when the Gibsons called it home.

Even as tastes change, and the town's "Great Estates" dwindle in number or linger on the market, Lurie said she thinks the right buyer for Old Mill Farm is out there.

"Someone who is looking for a contemporary is not going to like this house," Lurie said as she stood in the great hall, in front of a walk-in fireplace. "It has to be someone who is going to fall in love with the house and all it has to offer. A one-of-a-kind buyer, because this is a one-of-a-kind property."
Explanations for Donald Trumps election victory have proliferated almost as much in recent weeks as the president-elects tweets.

Its an insoluble debate, deciding which factor was most crucial: Trumps promise of sweeping change; Hillary Clintons weakness as a candidate, her email server or her campaigns blue state political malpractice; the mistaken intrusions of FBI Chief James Comey; damage from Bernie Sanders exaggerated primary criticisms; or apparent Russian efforts to help Trump.

The likeliest answer is that all contributed to the unexpected outcome, which hinged on Trumps victory in three Rust Belt states by less than 80,000 votes.

In any case, the elections unfortunate fallout is becoming increasingly evident, such as Trumps decision to install domestic Cabinet chiefs who support policies that would weaken federal protections for many Americans.

Even more serious perhaps is the growing evidence Trump would abandon 70 years of U.S.-led Western firmness against Soviet and Russian expansionism by seeking friendlier relations with President Vladimir Putin, whose aggressive policies represent one of the greatest threats to European stability.

From picking top aides with long-standing ties to the autocratic Russian leader to dismissing the increasing evidence Putins agents sought to manipulate the 2016 U.S. election, Trump is pushing ahead with his unproven belief that a friendlier approach will somehow benefit the United States. (It may benefit business interests whose pro-Trump lobbyists are already at work in Moscow.)

Unlike the sharply conservative tone of the heretofore politically androgynous Trumps domestic appointments, his pro-Putin thrust should come as no surprise. Throughout the campaign, Trump made it clear he favors closer ties with Russia, and he mocked suggestions it sought to influence the outcome.

He called Putin a better leader than Barack Obama. He gave misleading answers about their relationship, at one point telling George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week, Ive no relationship with Putin. Ive never met him. But in a 2014 Fox News interview, he said, When I went to Russia with the Miss Universe pageant, he contacted me and was so nice.

Trump said he had no financial dealings with Russia other than running the 2008 Miss Universe pageant there. But the website eturbonews.com quoted Donald Trump Jr. telling a 2008 real estate conference: Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia. In a detailed article, Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo suggested Trump is highly reliant on money from Russia to finance his debts  something that could be checked if Trump followed past practice and released his tax returns.

Whether Trump was motivated by his finances or wishful thinking, there was little doubt before intelligence agencies confirmed Russian efforts that Putin favored Trumps election. His antagonism toward Clinton seems to stem mainly from her December 2011 statement expressing serious concern about the fairness of Russian parliamentary elections and calling for a full investigation of irregularities.

In other words, Putin objected to the fact that, as secretary of state, Clinton properly decried his increasingly anti-democratic tendencies, a stance the United States has traditionally taken around the world. Now, Russian leaders reportedly are delighted with Trumps election, believing the United States will be more interested in financial dealing than in opposing Russian expansionism and autocracy.

Still, whatever Putins motives, its far worse that he tried actively to interfere in our election, probably to help elect Trump. Thats why leading Republicans such as Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham joined top Democrats in bipartisan calls to investigate.

Even some lawmakers who dont acknowledge Putin sought to help Trump understand his ultimate goal is to destabilize the Western alliance that has kept European peace since World War II and remains a vital barrier to renewed Russian expansionism. Trump may face considerable resistance if he tries to ease economic sanctions on Russia.

Meanwhile, he should join demands to determine what happened in the campaign, rather than continually cozying up to the country Mitt Romney in 2012 presciently called Americas No. 1 geopolitical foe. That would require the transition he has yet to make from Republican candidate to president of all Americans.

Whatever Trump says or does, this issue will be front and center when Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which must approve his nomination. Even senators inclined to back the oil mogul will want to know if Trumps administration will take the realistic stance toward Russia that has been lacking in his campaign and post-campaign pronouncements.
With the state of Illinois roughly $2.5 million behind in its payments to Edwardsville District 7, every dime does matter.

At the Dec. 19 meeting, the districts Board of Education took a step to track down every additional dimes in matters of property tax appeals.

The board authorized attorney Ellen Edmonds to intervene on its behalf in all property tax appeals over $100,000 to the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

No indication was given as to how much this might net District 7.

In the action consideration item presented to board members, the background notes stated that District 7 regularly intervenes in this major property tax appeals.

The district monitors those appeals from property owners and provides input into the requested assessment reduction and its impact on District 7."

Hence, anytime anyone seeks a major property tax reduction via an appeal, Edmonds will have the authority to challenge it, doing her part to secure as much funding for District 7 as possible.

In other business the board approved its 2016 Certificate of Tax Levy.

The aggregate levy estimate for 2016 does not exceed 105 percent so no Truth in Taxation hearing is necessary.

The preliminary levy estimate presented in November was 2.5 percent.

However, due to the Disabled Veterans Exemption that took effect with the 2015 levy, the districts actual equalized assessed valuation increase is estimated to be 1.91 percent  before the states multiplier is finalized.

Director of Finance Dave Courtney said there are approximately 100 parcels in District 7 that qualify for the exemption. Those parcels have an estimated value of $7.5 million.

With the 1.9 percent increase, Courtney said, the districts tax rate will likely be $4.19 per $100 EAV, which is lower than last years rate of $4.22.

The board also authorized the disposal of verbatim recordings from its closed session meetings conducted from April 27, 2015, through June 15, 2015.
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Linkedin Oky Ceelen (The Jakarta Post) Singapore  Tue, December 27, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has set ambitious targets for the tourist and hospitality sectors in Indonesia by 2019. While his goals could be achieved within his stated timeframe, and capital has been mobilized to develop one crucial area for success, there must be a holistic approach to developing the sector and ensuring these targets are reached.

Thus far the discussions have centered on financing infrastructure development projects to attract foreign visitors  the provide them Wi-Fi roads, and airports approach. There is a much more nuanced aspect to developing this sector, crucial to attaining the governments goals, and one that is lacking structure and funding.

Indonesia has, or is developing, two of the three legs for creating a stable, sustainable tourist and hospitality sector.

Twenty million foreign visitors per year are expected to reach Indonesia by 2019. Last year Indonesia just crossed the 10 million visitors mark and is projected to surpass it once again this year.

Furthermore, it is projected that the tourist and hospitality sector is to account for 15.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the same timeframe; currently it provides 9.3 percent of GDP. It is anticipated that by doubling the number of foreign visitors, the foreign currency reserve will also double from its current level of US$10 billion per year.

Given all of the above goals, it is safe to assume that the government is seeking to attract high-spending foreign visitors who are willing to shell out their hard-earned money in Indonesia  not the budget travelers, backpackers or surfers.

There is another interesting aspect to these goals as President Jokowi has called for the creation of 10 new Bali-esque tourist destinations from all across the archipelago and each with a different level of experience in providing top-rate tourism services.

But, what are the key components to a successful tourism development program to attract the high-spenders that have flocked to destinations like Bali, and how can Indonesia ensure that they will achieve it in such a short timeframe? And what can the government do to ensure that these visitors will become good ambassadors in spreading the word to others about travelling to Indonesia, let alone become repeat visitors themselves?

Lets start with the three fundamental pillars of a successful tourist sector, which attracts the highspending foreign visitor. It consists of three components: attraction, infrastructure, and service.

Attraction is what brings someone to the country; it can be natural vistas, culture, or man-made phenomena. Without the attraction component there is no chance of attracting visitors, no one has successfully marketed visiting the most boring place on Earth.

Fortunately Indonesia has been blessed with all three subsets of attraction; from beautiful volcanoes and beaches to a rich, historical culture with friendly people to amazing man-made structures like Borobudur temple.

Indeed, the World Bank has listed Indonesia as having one of the highest potentials in the world for attracting foreign visitors. However, attracting visitors, especially the high-spenders, is not enough on its own to ensure a successful tourist and hospitality sector.

The current focus of the government is to develop the second component, infrastructure.

It has been reported that the Tourism Ministry was given the green light to use part of the Rp 89 trillion (US$6.8 billion) budget from the Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Ministry to provide Rp 1 billion per annum for pilot programs to build infrastructure in villages for tourism development.

Additionally, private investment has reportedly surged to $1 billion in 2015, a 45 percent increase from the previous year.

The government of Indonesia is also under discussion with the World Bank to secure a $200 million loan for this goal; although an unspecified amount has been mentioned to be used for capacity building initiatives. Again, this is an important aspect of achieving the governments goals, but it is not enough to ensure it will happen.

The third pillar, absolutely required too if the government is to succeed in its goals, centers on the level of service provided to highspending tourists. Particularly considering that US and European visitors must travel between 16-35 hours just to reach their tourist attraction, they expect a high level of service once they arrive. Attracting these two groups of high-spending foreign visitors is vital for the governments objectives.

Even if infrastructure is found to be inadequate, a high-level of service can overcome these issues and promote tourism once they return and share experiences with co-workers, friends, and family  or even with a wider audience on websites such as Travelocity or TripAdvisor.

Hospitality can overcome a deficit in infrastructure, but not the other way around; most travelers are willing to tolerate minor infrastructure deficiencies but expect excellent service in return.

However, the development of this third pillar has been left out of the discussion on how Indonesia will go about delivering on pledges to develop its tourist and hospitality sector.

The government can provide a structure, complete with a funding mechanism, to promote capacity building initiatives that will match high-spending visitors expectations. It needs to go hand-in-hand with infrastructure development initiatives, so that all three components are ready to attract and serve visitors at the same time.

Furthermore, this needs to include the public and private sectors. The government should require investors to support human capital development in the hospitality sector, especially in areas where there is not a significant historical linkage to hospitality service.

This not only benefits the hoteliers for drawing on a skilled group for employment, but it also helps promote the supporting actors of tourism: the local tour guides, restaurateurs, craftsman and other service providers.

Indonesia is having one of the highest potentials in the world for attracting foreign visitors.

***

The writer is co-founder of Jugo Consultancy, a Singapore based meetings and hospitality consultancy company, working in the ASEAN region.

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Linkedin Nirarta Samadhi and Simon Tay (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

United States presidentelect Donald Trump may have labeled climate change a hoax, but that has not stalled the momentum behind last months Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech, Morocco.

Less than one year after its adoption, the Paris Agreement has entered into force, with some 175 countries already on board. The next step will be to begin implementing the commitments each country has made. In Southeast Asia in particular, a great deal of international cooperation will be required to address certain issues that transcend national boundaries.

One of the largest obstacles to climate change efforts in Southeast Asia remains Indonesias forest and peatland fires. Though these fires are perhaps most notorious as the source of the annual haze that blankets our region, the issue is not only about regional air pollution, but rightly framed as a global concern about carbon emissions.

To put things into perspective, Indonesias 2015 fires produced the equivalent of 1,750 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2e), which is almost the same amount emitted by Indonesias entire economy in an average year (1,800 MtCO2e).

Hence, it is heartening that Indonesia has shown such resolve in addressing the issue. The reduction in fires this year must be credited to not only wetter weather, but also the political will and concerted efforts of the Jokowi administration.

At the peak of the haze crisis last year, President Joko Jokowi Widodo visited South Sumatra to understand the fires first-hand, and subsequently established the Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) in January 2016. The BRG has been charged with coordinating the restoration of 2.1 million hectares of degraded peatland across Indonesia by 2020.

Following clear instructions by President Jokowi to get very tough on errant companies, Indonesian police have arrested more than double the number of individuals in forest fire cases this year as compared to last year. The Indonesian government is also responding faster to fires, enabled by the early declaration of a state of emergency in six provinces. These efforts have been commended by regional leaders, including Singapores Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli.

Such measures were crucial in the immediate aftermath of the fires. But the true challenge comes in figuring out how to tackle this complex problem in the long term.

One pressing issue is the ongoing debate over the most appropriate way to restore degraded peatland. Comprised of partially decayed organic matter, peatland is often drained to grow oil palm, acacia trees for pulp and paper and other agricultural crops. But drained peat is highly flammable during the dry season, resulting in fires that can take months to extinguish.

Some parties contend that the only sustainable way to restore degraded peatland is to rewet, reforest and protect the entire landscape. Otherwise, fires that start on agricultural lands may easily spread into protected areas, destroying intact forests.

Worse still, protected forest will continue to be affected by drainage from surrounding agricultural areas. Drainage causes peatland to subside, causing the land to become flooded and unusable in the long term.

Other parties argue that it is unrealistic to reforest large peatland areas that already contain thousands of villages and extensive industrial plantations, which generate a great deal of employment and economic benefit. They also point to the fact that there is still a limited market for native peatland crops that do not require drainage  such as jelutong, sago and illipe nut  as compared to more commonly grown crops such as oil palm and areca nut.

It appears that the Indonesian governments approach is to strike a balance between these competing concerns. On Dec. 1, President Jokowi signed a regulation governing peatland that banned all new land clearance, established a minimum ratio between cultivation and conservation areas, and set out guidelines for the proper management of peatland plantations. BRG has plans to rewet areas set aside for conservation and improve their fire readiness by installing wells and monitoring systems.

Now, Indonesia faces the challenge of harmonizing these standards across its 12.9 million hectares of peatland, which will likely be a complex and time-consuming process. In the meantime, the scale and urgency of peatland restoration will require the support of parties from outside Indonesia.

First, collaboration is required to improve and disseminate knowledge about peatland, which remains an under-researched subject. COP 22 saw the launch of the Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI), the largest international collaboration on peatland to date, which aims to share scientific knowledge to develop local capacity for peatland management. Indonesia is one of the founding members of the Initiative.

Closer to home, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, the World Resources Institute Indonesia and other leading non-governmental organizations in ASEAN recently organized the Regional Peat Restoration Workshop in Jakarta, which showcased ongoing restoration efforts in order to share learning points with others conducting similar projects.

Second, peatland restoration is expensive and will require financial support from other countries. Funding is especially needed to scale up current projects, many of which are still at a pilot stage, to the landscape level to maximize impact and minimize the conflicts that may result between multiple, smaller projects.

One recently-launched initiative to provide such funding is the Tropical Landscapes Finance Facility, which has mobilized over US$1.1 billion of investments to reverse land degradation, prevent unwise land conversion, and improve revenues for small farmers. Western donors, most notably Norway, have also pledged about $135 million to support the BRG. Others in the international and regional community can and should add their support.

In the longer term, Indonesias strategy involves converting land currently used for plantations to ecosystem restoration concessions, which finance the restoration of forests and peatlands through the sale of carbon credits, among other methods. The international community plays a crucial role in developing the market and providing the demand for such credits.

Climate change is rightly seen as an issue that affects all countries. Now that Indonesia has taken several important steps to prevent the return of fires, it is vital that other countries move beyond giving kudos and begin supporting its efforts. Though approaches may differ, there is a need to recognize that we are working towards the same goal and that there are significant areas of overlap to work on.

The need is urgent, and we must not lose the valuable momentum that has been built up so far behind forest and peatland restoration.

***

Nirarta Samadhi is country director for the World Resources Institute Indonesia and Simon Tay is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

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Linkedin Good Indonesian Food (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

I still remember to this day the first moment I stepped foot in Kebon Kacang to take on its renowned nasi uduk (steamed rice cooked in coconut milk with side dishes). The nasi uduk options were multitudinous, leaving me with a pleasant dilemma. After having a crack at a few places, the only one that took my breath away was Nasi Uduk Kebon Kacang Puas Hati Ibu Tati.

According to a close relative of owner and namesake Ibu Tati, she had been making nasi uduk since the 1970s. Initially operating out of a tent with just one long wooden table situated right in front of the current location of its eatery, it was only at the tail-end of the 1980s that Ibu Tati transformed the one-time automobile workshop into quite a capacious restaurant to cater to her ever-growing customer base.

It wouldnt be amiss to call Nasi Uduk Kebon Kacang Puas Hati Ibu Tati the leading light of nasi uduk joints in Kebon Kacang  especially by looking at the size of the crowds that fill the shop. A convenient choice for office workers to have lunch due to its opening time of 12 p.m., it recently opened another outlet in West Jakarta.

(Read also: Seven traditional Indonesian rice dishes you should try)

Ayam goreng (fried chicken) at Nasi Uduk Kebon Kacang.(Good Indonesian Food/File)

Akin to other nasi uduk joints, it has a smorgasbord of side dishes to choose from  including ayam (chicken), jeroan (tripe, cow lungs, liver and gizzards), and tempeh and tofu. However, one has the option to either have them fried or grilled, which differentiates it from its competitors. The nasi uduk here is simply scrumptious and possesses a savoriness that stands head and shoulders above the rest of its kind. Using free-range chicken that is perfectly seasoned to produce a flavorful sweet taste, its ayam goreng (fried chicken) is tantalizing to the bone  especially when dabbed with the refreshingly spicy sambal on offer.

Other than its appetite-building menu, this is the only nasi uduk place in Kebon Kacang that provides a parking lot. The lack of parking space is a typical problem for anybody who plans on driving to Kebon Kacang, so despite its limited capacity of up to five cars, at least Nasi Uduk Kebon Kacang Puas Hati Ibu Tati put in an effort. (kes)

Jl. Kebon Kacang 1, No. 63, Central Jakarta

Contact: 021 391 9031

Open daily from 12 p.m.-12 a.m.

Rp 30,000 (US$2.80) per person

Explore more Indonesian cuisine 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 (Associated Press) Princeton, New Jersey, United States  Tue, December 27, 2016

Vera Rubin, a pioneering astronomer who helped find powerful evidence of dark matter, has died, her son said Monday.

She was 88.

Allan Rubin, a professor of geosciences at Princeton University, said his mother died Sunday night of natural causes. He said the Philadelphia native had been living in the Princeton area.

Vera Rubin found that galaxies don't quite rotate the way they were predicted, and that lent support to the theory that some other force was at work, namely dark matter.

Dark matter, which hasn't been directly observed, makes up 27 percent of universe  as opposed to 5 percent of the universe being normal matter. Scientists better understand what dark matter isn't rather than what it is.

Rubin's scientific achievements earned her numerous awards and honors, including a National Medal of Science presented by President Bill Clinton in 1993 "for her pioneering research programs in observational cosmology." She also became the second female astronomer to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

"It goes without saying that, as a woman scientist, Vera Rubin had to overcome a number of barriers along the way," California Institute of Technology physicist Sean Carroll tweeted Monday.

(Read also: Publicist: British singer George Michael dead at age 53)

Rubin's interest in astronomy began as a young girl and grew with the involvement of her father, Philip Cooper, an electrical engineer who helped her build a telescope and took her to meetings of amateur astronomers.

Although Rubin said her parents were extremely supportive of her career choice, she said in a 1995 interview with the American Institute of Physics that her father had suggested she become a mathematician, concerned that it would be difficult for her to make a living as an astronomer.

She was the only astronomy major to graduate from Vassar College in 1948. When she sought to enroll as a graduate student at Princeton, she learned women were not allowed in the university's graduate astronomy program, so she instead earned her master's degree from Cornell University.

Rubin earned her doctorate from Georgetown University, where she later worked as a faculty member for several years before working at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, a nonprofit scientific research center.

During her career, Rubin examined more than 200 galaxies.

"Vera Rubin was a national treasure as an accomplished astronomer and a wonderful role model for young scientists," said Matthew Scott, president of the Carnegie Institution. "We are very saddened by this loss."
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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Indonesia has sent back home a total of 220 of its citizens from Turkey since the beginning of 2015, following the latest deportation of three Indonesians suspected of trying to cross into Syria to join up as foreign terrorist fighters with the Islamic State (IS) group.

Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, the Foreign Ministrys director for the protection of Indonesian nationals and entities abroad, said two dozen Indonesians had been deported from Turkey throughout the year.

Twenty four people [were deported] in 2016, Iqbal told The Jakarta Post on Monday. The remaining [cases] occurred last year.

A total of 196 cases of citizen deportation from Turkey took place in 2015. It remains unclear whether the list consists mainly of Indonesians trying to join IS.

(Read also: Three Indonesians detained for allegedly joining Syrian militants)

Iqbal said on Sunday that the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara informally passed on a report to the ministry that three Indonesian men had been captured in the Turkish city of Hatay, a short distance from the border with war-torn Syria.

The three young men were suspected of planning to cross the border to join the fight with IS as foreign terrorist fighters.

According to information from the Turkish authorities, the three Indonesians were subject to immediate deportation via Istanbul, Iqbal said.

In receiving this intelligence, the Foreign Ministry proceeded to follow-up with the National Polices Densus 88.

Map shows areas in Iraq and Syria with an Islamic State presence(AP/File)

Also on Sunday, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Rikwanto confirmed the intelligence report that was shared among media sources earlier in the day.

The three men have been identified as Tomi Gunawan, 18, a resident of Pekanbaru in Riau; Jang Johana, 25, from Bandung, West Java; and Irfan, 21, from Jakarta.

The three suspects claimed that they did not know each other, Rikwanto added, saying that they were all arrested in Syria on Dec. 5 because they had allegedly joined militants fighting the Syrian government.

The three men were deported from an Istanbul airport. The Densus 88 counterterrorism squad immediately arrested them upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten province, on Saturday.

All of them were taken directly to the polices Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, for interrogation.

Despite Densus 88s recent successes, there has been concern that the militant threat to Indonesia is mounting as IS fighters return home battle-hardened from Syria and Iraq. The ultra-radical group also commands support from Indonesians who have stayed at home.

Around 800 Indonesians have traveled to Syria to join IS, according to the police.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama arrived at the Agriculture Ministry complex in South Jakarta on Tuesday morning to attend the third hearing of his blasphemy trial.

The governor and his entourage arrived shortly after 8 a.m., although the hearing, scheduled to announce the judges interlocutory decision regarding Ahok's refutation of the charges conveyed on Dec. 13, will start at 9 a.m.

The Supreme Court decided last week to move Ahoks blasphemy trial to the ministrys main building from the North Jakarta District Court, which is temporarily located at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta.

(Read also: No merry Christmas for Ahok as blasphemy trial awaits)

Not only considered safer, the Supreme Court is said to have a higher capacity than the previous location, which could only accommodate 80 visitors, Supreme Court spokesman Ridwan Mansyur said.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent in the predominantly Muslim country, sparked uproar among Muslim groups after he made a comment regarding a Quranic verse during a visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September.

On Nov. 4 and Dec. 2, a huge crowd of protesters flooded the streets to urge authorities to detain Ahok for blasphemy. (hwa)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The next hearing of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas blasphemy case will be held at the Agriculture Ministrys building in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, to avoid disruptions in public areas.

The Supreme Court approved the North Jakarta District Courts plan to move Ahoks trial venue to the ministrys compound from the current location at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada No. 17, Central Jakarta, following requests from police authorities and prosecutors.They sought a new venue in a bid to avoid disruptions of public activities in the current location, which is in the heart of the citys economic center.

The next hearing is set to be held at the Agriculture Ministrys building on Jan. 3, presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said during Ahoks third hearing on Tuesday.

In the hearing, the judge panel read out the courts rejection over Ahoks exception conveyed on Dec. 21. In his exception, Ahok rejected the prosecutors indictment, saying he had never intended to insult Islam, the Quran and ulemas.

The blasphemy case, which occurs during heightened political tensions ahead of the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election, has drawn public attention, including among Ahoks supporters and opponents.

During Tuesdays hearing, hundreds of people packed areas in front of the North Jakarta District Court both to give their support to Ahok and to criticize him over the case and demand his arrest.

Police personnel beefed up the security inside and outside the courts building, prohibiting many journalists from entering the courtroom by claiming it had been overcapacity. Like in previous hearings, heavy traffic congestion occurred during todays hearing. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has opened an investigation to track down parties that might have helped dispatch three Indonesians who reportedly planned to join militants in war-torn Syria before they were apprehended by security personnel in Turkey, an official has said.

We are developing an investigation to find out if parties dispatched and assisted them, BNPT chief Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius said in Jakarta on Tuesday. He was speaking after the signing of an agreement between the BNPT and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) on the establishment of a terrorism risk index.

Suhardi said he suspected a terrorist-linked group may have assisted in the departure of the three Indonesians, identified as Tomi Gunawan, 18, a resident of Pekanbaru in Riau; Jang Johana, 25, from Bandung, West Java; and Irfan, 21, from Jakarta.

Like in Poso [Central Sulawesi], a foreign entity has provided assistance to a local terrorist group, Suhardi said.

On Saturday, the National Polices Densus 88 counterterrorism squad detained the three Indonesians shortly after they arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten, Tangerang, following their deportation from Istanbul International Ataturk Airport in Turkey.

They were directly taken to the polices Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, for interrogation. (fac/ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Despite sluggish growth in the housing market, local cement manufacturers still can expect to book profits next year, mainly driven by the governments massive infrastructure projects, an analyst has suggested.

They [cement producers] will still be able to survive and generate profits although their [sales] growth will likely slow down, Satrio Utomo, the head of research at Universal Broker Indonesia, said as quoted by kontan.co.id on Monday evening.

The expected increase in oil prices will be another risk, as it will affect the price of electricity, which is a vital factor in the cement-making process, Satrio said.

(Read also: Waiting for better days for cement producers)

In the first 10 months of 2016, state-run cement maker Semen Indonesia recorded 21.2 million tons of sales, only 1.3 percent higher than the same period last year.

Meanwhile, publicly-listed cement producer Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa saw its sales drop by 3.6 percent to 13.2 million tons. Holcim Indonesias sales also decreased by 10.6 percent to 6.2 million tons. (win/hwa)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The willingness from families, and society in general, to embrace former terrorism convicts plays a key role to curb radicalism because doing the opposite will further drag them into extremism, a top counterterrorism official has said.

National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius said the success of deradicalization programs undertaken by former terrorists during their imprisonment highly depended on the level of acceptance their families and communities had for the convicts when they were released.

The level of acceptance from the public is crucial as it determines whether former [terror] convicts will be marginalized or not. If they are not welcomed, there is a high possibility that they will return to their terrorist group, Suhardi said on Tuesday in Jakarta after signing an agreement with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to map out a national terrorism risk index.

Suhardi cited the example of Juhanda, a released terrorism convict who returned to spreading terror after his family allegedly ostracized him after he had finished serving his 42-month sentence. Last month, he threw Molotov cocktails into the parking lot of Oikumene Church in Sengkotek subdistrict, Samarinda, which killed a toddler and injured several others.

In 2012, Juhanda was convicted of terrorism for his involvement in a plot to blow up the Center for Science and Technology Research (Puspiptek) complex in Serpong, Banten, the site of a nuclear reactor, and Christ Cathedral in Gading Serpong, also in Banten. (fac/bbn)
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The North Jakarta District Court rejected Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas refutation of the prosecutors' indictment during the latest hearing of his blasphemy trial on Tuesday.

Reading out the courts interlocutory decision, presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said all arguments conveyed by Ahok in the refutation, in which he stated that he never intended to insult Islam, the Quran and ulemas, were core parts of the indictment. Members of the courts judge panel would consider them in a later hearing before they ruled on the case, he went on.

Therefore, we have decided that the defendants refutation cannot be accepted, said Dwiarso.

On Dec. 13, the governor, who is a Christian of Chinese descent, conveyed his refutation in tears, saying that his remarks about Quranic verse Al Maidah 51 were not intended to insult Islam, but rather to criticize politicians who had been using the Quranic verse to attack him.

(Read also: Ahok braces for third hearing of blasphemy trial)

Ahok also told a story about his Muslim godparents and god-siblings and the harmony he had experienced with them, saying that it was impossible that he would insult the religion of his godparents and god-siblings.

"I am very sad about being accused of insulting Islam. It is like being accused of insulting my own godparents and siblings, whom I love and who love me as well," Ahok said when reading his refutation before the judges.

In response to the governor's refutation, prosecutors said in a hearing on Dec. 21 that Ahok's speech, in which he cited Al Maidah 51, was irrelevant to the agenda of his visit to Thousand Islands in September in his capacity as Jakarta governor. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Indonesias soaring beef prices have led consumers to shift to consuming more goat meat or chicken during the festive season, an industry player has said.

The price of beef remains high at Rp 123,000 (US$9.13) to Rp 125,000 per kilogram, Abdullah Mansuri, the chairman of Indonesian Market Traders Association (IKAPPI), said on Monday, as reported by kompas.com.

With relatively high beef prices, consumers are preferring to buy goat meat and chicken during the Christmas season, which were priced at Rp 115,000 per kg and Rp 33,000 per kg, respectively.

Usually, the price of beef and chicken drops after Christmas, but it will rise again at the beginning of the year. Thats the annual price cycle, he said.

(Read also: Indonesia's holiday food stock enough for 4 months: Ministry)

Previously, the Trade Ministry facilitated a beef distribution cooperation agreement between the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and Indonesian Meat Distributors Association (ADDI).

The cooperation was made to ensure that beef prices do not exceed the governments upper price ceiling of Rp 80,000 per kg. (win)
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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Indonesia will make good use of a watershed moment in international politics to push forward the resumption of peace talks between Israel and Palestine by demanding the implementation of a recently approved United Nations Security Council resolution on illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.

We will continue to refer [to the UN resolution] and demand its immediate implementation, [] because these illegal settlements have long been the figurative pebble in the shoe in efforts to revive the Middle Eastern peace process [between Palestine and Israel], said Hasan Kleib, the Indonesian Foreign Ministrys director-general for multilateral affairs, on Monday.

The US broke with past practice by allowing on Friday the UN Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a flagrant violation of international law, putting strain on a longstanding alliance with Israel on the international stage.

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.

(Read also: Indonesia welcomes UN resolution on illegal Israeli settlement)

Instead, the sitting US delegation abstained during last weeks vote for adoption of the resolution during a UN Security Council chamber meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, US.

Indonesia, a champion of Palestinian self-determination, was not involved in the drafting of the UN resolution, as it was tabled behind closed doors by Security Council member Egypt before it was withdrawn and subsequently picked up again for co-sponsorship, Hasan told The Jakarta Post.

Disputed land: A Palestinian shepherd poses for a picture as he stands on the back of his donkey, near the Israeli settlement of Argaman, in the Jordan Valley, a strip of West Bank land along the border with Jordan, on Dec. 26.(AP/Oded Balilty)

New Zealand joined Senegal, Malaysia and Venezuela in bringing the resolution before the council despite a huge diplomatic effort by Israel to stymie the move.

Fourteen member countries supported the resolution while the US abstained.

Indonesia welcomed the UN Security Councils resolution and lauded the US for allowing to be approved without a veto, in a statement released on Saturday.

(Read also: Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel sparks hot debate)

The ministry said the resolution showed the success and leadership of the UN Security Council in resolving conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The UN resolution stated that the settlement on Palestinian territory had no legal basis and was a violation of international laws.

Indonesia supported the resolution, calling on the two countries along with international communities to start negation again.

The timing of the approved resolution could not come at a better time, as Hasan said Indonesia was waiting for final confirmation to participate in the much-awaited International Peace Conference that France suggested earlier this year.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi previously called on France to make good on its plan to promote peace in Palestine and Israel through the peace conference, an issue that was raised during a senior officials meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.

She urged Paris to finish drafting the terms of reference for the conference so that Indonesia could sooner ascertain its contribution to the initiative.

Indonesia has provided substantial aid to Palestine through the Asia-Africa cooperation framework and through the Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD).

France has not announced a definitive date for the event despite previous statements placing the event sometime during the second half of this year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (second right) attends a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Dec. 25.(AP/Dan Balilty)

Meanwhile, Israels prime minister lashed out at US President Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing him of a shameful ambush at the UN over West Bank settlements and saying he was looking forward to working with his friend presidentelect Donald Trump.

Welcomed by the Palestinians, the resolution, while mostly symbolic, could hinder Israels negotiating position in future peace talks.

Trump also condemned the UN vote Saturday, taking to Twitter to say it will make it much harder to negotiate peace. But, he added, we will get it done anyway.

A year ago, Trump told The Associated Press that he wanted to be very neutral on Israel-Palestinian issues, but his comments became much more pro-Israel as the race progressed and he took a sharp tone against the Palestinians.

Netanyahu said the US abstention was in complete contrast to US commitments  including one that he said Obama made in 2011  not to impose conditions for a final agreement on Israel at the Security Council.

The White House declined to comment on Netanyahus criticism.
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Linkedin Associated Press Pearl Harbor, Hawaii  Tue, December 27, 2016

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday to recognize the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the 1941 attack.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the Unite States Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by US President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

(Read also: Japanese leader Abe won't apologize at Pearl Harbor)

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it's significant that it took more than 70 years for US-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe won't apologize for Japan's attack when he visits, the government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that "the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology."

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.
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Linkedin Lita Aruperes (The Jakarta Post) Manado, North Sulawesi  Tue, December 27, 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodos working visit to Tondano, Minahasa, North Sulawesi, on Tuesday, has drawn praise and optimism about more rapid development across various sectors in the region.

Minahasa regent Jantje Wowiling Sajow said he was grateful for President Jokowis visit to Minahasa, which has been appointed to host the 2016 National Christmas celebration.

Its an important moment for the Minahasa people because they have been trusted to host this national event, Jantje said.

At least there is a pride in us. Minahasa is quite far from the capital city [Jakarta] but with his humbleness, Pak Jokowi is willing to come here. Not only me, all Minahasa residents are proud about the visit of their President.

Jantje said Jokowis visit to Minahasa would raise the Minahasa peoples spirit to work harder both to develop their city and to maintain their long-standing religious tolerance.

Jokowi is scheduled to attend the 2016 National Christmas celebration, which will be held at Wale Ne Tou Building in Tondano, Minahasa, at 4 p.m. local time. Several Cabinet ministers, Indonesian Military commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, and North Sulawesi governor Olly Dondokambey will also be present.

Minahasa Police chief Adj.Sr.Comr. Syamsubair assured the public that the Christmas celebration would be safe and harmonious, saying police and military personnel have been readied to secure the event.

Before attending the Christmas celebration, President Jokowi is scheduled to inaugurate geothermal-fueled power plant PLTP Lahendong, owned by PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of state oil and gas company Pertamina, in Tompaso, Minahasa. (ebf)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Tue, December 27, 2016

The Medan Immigration Office on Tuesday questioned four Chinese nationals who were arrested in Besitang village in Langkat regency, North Sumatra, on suspicions of illegal business and staying permit violations.

The four Chinese nationals were identified as YZ, 47, CZ, 44, C, 41, and LQ, 43.

The head of the Medan Immigration Office, Midran Dylan, said the four were allegedly conducting various business deals in Langkat without the appropriate visas.

We are collecting the evidence to confirm the allegations, Midran said.

Immigration official Andri Guntur said his office received information from locals who got suspicious of their activities. They were arrested on Dec. 21 in Besitang village while planning to invest in areca nut cultivation in Langkat.

We arrested them based on the suspicions of illegal business and permit violations, Andri said. (evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Dozens of people claiming to be members of the NasDem Party announced on Tuesday their support of the Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno pair for the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election, defying the party's decision to support the incumbent pair.

The people, who claimed to be registered members of NasDem's East Jakarta chapter, declared their support at the Anies-Sandiaga campaign headquarters in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, witnessed by businessman-cum-politician Sandiaga, who also serves as an executive of the Gerindra Party, the country's third-largest political party.

After the announcement, the supporters took off their red-checkered shirts, an iconic symbol of support for Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat, tribunnews.com reported.

NasDem, a member of the ruling coalition, has nominated the Ahok-Djarot pair as its candidates for the Jakarta gubernatorial election in February 2017, in support of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the country's largest party and leader of the ruling coalition.

(Read also: Ahok, Djarot gather volunteers to boost electability)

Doubts, however, have reportedly loomed among factions within NasDem after a series of huge protests emerged in Jakarta to push for Ahok's criminal prosecution for alleged blasphemy.

When asked about the motive behind his decision to jump ship, Saefudin, who leads NasDem's Jatinegara branch, said the move represented the wishes of the party's grassroots. (hwa)
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Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Tue, December 27 2016

The Navy has affirmed the high safety record around the Malacca Strait, one of the worlds busiest trade routes, after it arrested six alleged pirates attempting to hijack a foreign-operated tanker.

Allegedly led by two repeat offenders who just completed prison terms for piracy, the alleged pirates were trying to intercept a Malaysian tanker in the waters of Batam in Riau Islands before the Navys quick response team foiled the plot at dawn on Monday.

Tanjung Pinang Naval Base commander First Admiral S. Irawan told The Jakarta Post that a team from the Tanjung Pinang Naval Base had been deployed after it received a tip-off from Naval intelligence on suspicious movement.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The Jakarta Police disclosed that no valuable belongings were missing from six murder victims of one household found inside a small bathroom in Pulo Mas, East Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The homeowner was identified as Dodi Triono, 59, who was involved in the architectural industry. Preliminary information revealed he was a businessman and an architect, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said as quoted by kompas.com.

Iriawan said the police could not confirm whether the crime was purely murder or if there was another motive.

We havent been able to draw any conclusions, he said.

(Read also: Six killed in alleged robbery in Pulo Mas)

Information from the police revealed that the victims were: Dodi Triono, 59, Diona Arika, 16, Dianita Gemma, 9, Amel, a friend of one of the children, Yanto and Tasrok, who were the familys drivers.

Zanette Kalila, 13, Santi, 22, Emi, Fitriani and Windy, who were the housemaids, all survived. (evi)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said it was suspected that the killing of six people in a house in Pulo Mas, East Jakarta, occurred on Monday afternoon at about 3 p.m.

The perpetrator entered the house on Monday afternoon but the crime was discovered only on Tuesday morning when a victims friend went to the house, he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Argo said Sheila Putri, a friend of 16-year-old Diona Arika, a victim, had been trying to contact Diona since Monday afternoon because they had made an appointment to go out together on Monday. Sheila decided to check on Diona the following day.

(Read also: No valuables missing from Pulo Mas murder victims: Police)

This morning she came here but no one answered and the door was not locked, so she entered the house and heard moaning coming from the bathroom. She was afraid, so she ran outside to the security guards, said Argo.

The security guards called the police, who accompanied Sheila to check inside the house. It turns out the victim was inside the bathroom, filled with 11 people, he said.

Five were found dead and six were taken to the hospital, but one later died. Media reports said Dodis wife was not among the victims. (evi)
The Riau Islands Police have said the body of a Singaporean found floating in Karimun waters is that of a Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore employee.

Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Erlangga Saptono said the Singaporean, identified as Ilzam bin Odit, died after falling as he was putting mooring rope on a boat in Singaporean waters.

On early morning of Thursday during bad weather, he fell into the ocean while he was trying to tie the rope. His fellow crew members looked for him but to no avail. It was the next day that his body was found in Karimun waters, Erlangga told The Jakarta Post.

(Read also: Singaporean man found dead in Riau Islands waters)

His family has taken his body back to Singapore, he added. Locals discovered the body in Karimun waters. Police identified the remains in coordination with Singapores consular in Batam. Karimun is located some 50 kilometers from the western part of Singapore.
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Linkedin Panca Nugraha (The Jakarta Post) Bima, West Nusa Tenggara  Tue, December 27, 2016

The Social Affairs Ministry has promised to channel monthly funds for flood victims in Bima. It has pledged a maximum of Rp 900,000 (US$67) a month for three months on top of a maximum Rp 3 million per family to help them repair their homes.

The ministry will prioritize provision of funds for those whose houses have been heavily damaged, a press release made available Monday said.

The ministry will give relief aid to victims whose houses are heavily damaged, the ministrys director general for social protection and security, Harry Hikmat, said in the release.

(Read also: Thousands of Bima flood victims still in shelters with many falling ill)

The aid will be chanelled after the emergency transition period and will use data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and Public Works and Housing Ministry.

Harry said so far the ministry had disbursed Rp 980 million in emergency kits for flood victims in Bima. (evi)
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Linkedin Jon Afrizal (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Tue, December 27, 2016

The management of Novita Hotel in Jambi made a public apology on Monday following allegations that the four-star hotel had erected a Christmas tree with the word Allah [God] in Arabic script as one of its ornaments.

We convey our deepest apologies. We extremely regret the incident, Novita Hotel general manager Husairi Seger said Monday in a press conference.

(Read also: Jambi hotel temporarily shut down after word 'Allah' found on Christmas tree)

Last week, the Jambi municipal administration in Jambi province decided to temporarily close Novita Hotel following the incident. Jambi Mayor Syarif Fasha argued that the decision had to be taken to cool down religious tensions related to the matter. The police have also started to investigate the allegations.

We dont want to see the people provoked by the incident. I thank all parties who have helped to maintain religious harmony, the mayor said in the same event on Monday.

Husairi said the hotel had installed its Christmas paraphernalia since Dec. 9. Although he suspected the possibility that other parties had tampered with the ornaments, Husairi said the hotel would take responsibility for any negligence.

Ahmad Sukri, the leader of the Jambi chapter of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), previously said the management could be sued for blasphemy.

Jambi Police chief Brig. Gen. Yazid Fanani said the police had questioned more than 20 witnesses to investigate the case, including a number of local journalists who first spotted the ornament.

Let us work [to settle the case], he said on Monday. (hwa)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post)  Tue, December 27 2016

The political struggle in the House of Representatives this year is far from settled.

In a year that President Joko Jokowi Widodo consolidated stronger political clout to support his administration, garnering official support from seven out of ten factions in the legislative body, the House has seen the return of Setya Novanto, a formerly disgraced speaker, to its top post.

The Golkar Party chairman, whose appointment has sealed the support of the Houses second largest faction for the government, is seen as the Presidents trusted figure who will provide him the legislative bodys support for the governments programs and policies.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Zulkifli Hasan has called on the government to evaluate its free-visa policy for tourists, following reports of an influx of Chinese workers to the country.

After speaking in a discussion at Muhammadiyah University in Purworejo, Central Java, on Monday, Zulkifli said the free-visa policy was not a decisive factor in boosting the arrival of foreign tourists.

Previously, Vice President Jusuf Kalla made a similar statement, expressing his concern that the free-visa policy given to citizens from 169 countries could be misused by foreign tourists to work illegally in the country, kompas.com reported.

Zulkifli stressed that the main factor to boost tourist arrivals was improving services and infrastructure in the tourist industry, not by introducing a free-visa policy. So, a free-visa policy is not important to boost the number of tourists, he added.

(Read also: Jokowi dismisses concerns over Chinese workers in Indonesia)

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has expressed concern over rumors of an influx of foreign workers to the country spread through the internet. He said it was illogical that the number of Chinese workers was as high as 10 million, as rumored, because that number was far above the number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia, which only reached 2 million.

He said there were only 21,000 Chinese people working in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, former House of Representatives speaker Ade Komarudin has called on the government to investigation the report of an influx of foreign workers. (bbn)
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Linkedin Josh Lederman (Associated Press) New York  Tue, December 27, 2016

If President-elect Donald Trump wanted to show he planned to obliterate President Barack Obama's approach to Israel, he might have found his man to deliver that message in David Friedman, his pick for United States ambassador.

The bankruptcy lawyer and son of an Orthodox rabbi is everything Obama is not: a fervent supporter of Israeli settlements, opponent of Palestinian statehood and unrelenting defender of Israel's government. So far to the right is Friedman that many Israel supporters worry he could push Israel's hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more extreme, scuttling prospects for peace with Palestinians in the process.

The heated debate over Friedman's selection is playing out just as fresh tensions erupt between the US and Israel.

In a stunning decision Friday, the Obama administration moved to allow the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal. The move to abstain, rather than veto, defied years of US tradition of shielding Israel from such resolutions, and elicited condemnation from Israel, lawmakers of both parties, and especially Trump.

"Things will be different after Jan. 20th," when he's sworn in, Trump vowed Friday on Twitter. On Monday, he added: "The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

(Read also: Israel's Netanyahu lashes out at Obama over UN vote)

Fresh pick: In this photo provided by Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, David Friedman, President-elect Donald Trump's choice for ambassador to Israel. (AP/File)

Presidents of both parties have long called for a two-state solution that envisions eventual Palestinian statehood, and Netanyahu says he agrees. Friedman, who still must be confirmed by the Senate, does not. He's called the two-state solution a mere "narrative" that must end.

Under Obama, the US has worked closely with J Street, an Israel advocacy group sharply critical of Netanyahu. Friedman accuses Obama of "blatant anti-Semitism" and calls J Street "worse than kapos," a reference to Jews who helped the Nazis imprison fellow Jews during the Holocaust.

For decades, the US has opposed Israeli settlement-building in lands it seized in the 1967 Mideast war. Friedman runs a nonprofit that raises millions of dollars for Beit El, a settlement of religious nationalists near Ramallah. Beit El runs a right-wing news outlet and a yeshiva whose dean has provocatively urged Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to uproot settlers from their homes.

So it's unsurprising that Friedman's nomination has already sharpened a growing balkanization of American Jews, between those who want the US to push Israel toward peace and those who believe Obama's approach abandoned America's closest Mideast ally.

It's a debate playing out even at Temple Hillel, near the Long Island-Queens border, where Friedman's father was rabbi for almost half a century.

"Clearly, David's opinions do not appeal to everybody in the synagogue, and they appeal to others in the synagogue," said Ken Fink, the synagogue's president and longtime congregant. "But there's a huge amount of pride for the hometown boy."

Thirty-two years before Trump's election, President Ronald Reagan donned a yarmulke and noshed on chicken cutlets and noodle pudding at Rabbi Morris Friedman's home, after a speech at Temple Hillel affirming the separation between church and state. Coming just two weeks before Reagan's re-election, the attempt to woo Jewish voters struck some as opportunistic, and they protested on the streets of the heavily Jewish town of North Woodmere.

Seated at the Sabbath table with Reagan was David Melech Friedman  his middle name means "king" in Hebrew. The rabbi's son went on to become Trump's bankruptcy lawyer, an advocate for far-right policies on Israel, and now, Trump's choice for ambassador, despite having no diplomatic experience.

Cindy Grosz, who said she's known Friedman for nearly 50 years, recalled big parties with boisterous debates about Jewish issues held in his family's sukkah, the outdoor hut Jews build during the harvest festival Sukkot.

"He still has the same best friends he's had for over 30 years," Grosz said.

At his midtown Manhattan law firm, Friedman opens his offices to those in mourning who need a minyan  a quorum of 10 men in Orthodox Judaism  to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer that observant Jews say daily for one year after a parent's death.

And it was a parent's death, in a way, that brought Friedman and Trump closer together. Over the years, Friedman has told friends the story of how the billionaire real estate mogul defied an oppressive snowstorm that had kept others away to "sit shiva" for Friedman's father during the Jewish mourning period.

Educated at Columbia University and NYU School of Law, Friedman developed a reputation as an aggressive, high-stakes bankruptcy attorney, representing Trump when his Atlantic City casinos went through bankruptcy.

In the courtroom, he's known as a formidable opponent, said attorney Tariq Mundiya, Friedman's adversary in several cases. He said he'd been aware of Friedman's advocacy on Israel but added, "When you're in the fog of war with David, the last thing you're talking about is the Middle East."

Enraged by Trump's pick, left-leaning groups and Palestinian officials have suggested his confirmation could spell the end of any serious discussions about peace.

Netanyahu has stayed publicly quiet about Trump's pick. Friedman and Trump's transition team didn't respond to requests for comment.
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Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, December 27, 2016

The blasphemy trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has not only drawn massive public attention but also has brought economic benefits to street vendors and scavengers, who turn large crowds into opportunity.

Dozens of street vendors and scavengers paced back and forth at the North Jakarta District Court, now temporarily located at the former Central Jakarta District Court compound on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta, where the third hearing of Ahoks trial took place on Tuesday.

The presence of street vendors is usually helpful for rally participants as their appetite will eventually get the best of them. As protesters usually leave garbage, rally events become treasures for scavengers.

A crowded event like this is a good place for me, said Suharno, 53, a street vendor who sells cendol, a traditional dessert containing green rice-flour jelly served in coconut milk and palm sugar, told The Jakarta Post in front of the court on Tuesday.

On guard: Police personnel secure the third hearing of Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnamas blasphemy case at the North Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. (JP/Safrin La Batu)

Suharno said on normal days he pocketed around Rp 100,000 (US$7.50) daily from selling cendol, but during Ahoks hearing on Tuesday he earned more than Rp 200,000.

Meanwhile, Raswani, a 67-year-old scavenger, said she came to the court after her fellow scavengers informed her of Ahoks hearing. Raswani said it was the first time she visited a crowded event because she had always been afraid of rallies as they could break out into violence.

Today, I dared to come here after I was told that the rally would be peaceful, she said. (ebf)
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Wed, December 28 2016

State-owned aircraft manufacturer Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) has conducted a ferry flight of its multipurpose aircraft to Senegal, following similar ferry flights to other countries.

The multipurpose aircraft  dubbed CN235-220M  is the fourth aircraft purchased by AD Trade Belgium. It will later be used by the Senegal Air Force.

DIs CN235-220 aircraft is well known in many countries as an effective and efficient product that can be operated from an airstrip with limited conditions, said DI president director Budi Santoso prior to the ferry flight in Bandung on Tuesday.

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Linkedin Asila Jalil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, December 28 2016

Jakarta has shown no sign of slowing down this festive season despite rampant terror threats.

A raid on a rented house in South Tangerang, Banten, last week resulted in the deaths of three people suspected of preparing a suicide bomb attack in Jakarta. The three suspects were shot dead by counterterrorism police.

However, these threats have not stopped tourists from coming to the city for the year-end holidays.

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Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, December 28 2016

A slew of attacks launched against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2015 while it was aiming for high-profile, politically wired graft suspects forced the antigraft body to shift focus in 2016 to graft cases in the regions, or cases involving small fry.

The year of 2015 was a tough one for the KPK after its then chairman Abraham Samad and commissioner Bambang Widjojanto were controversially charged with petty crimes amid a standoff with the National Police over its decision to name then police chief candidate Gen. Budi Gunawan, a close ally of Megawati Soekarnoputri, matriarch of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), a suspect in a corruption case.

With new commissioners in early 2016, the KPK tried to restore public trust by arresting PDI-P politician and House of Representatives legislator Damayanti Wisnu Putranti for accepting bribes on Jan. 13, just days after KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo and his four deputies took charge of the antigraft body.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie Ina Parlina, and Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta/Medan  Wed, December 28 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodo made a fresh comment on Tuesday, denying issues revolving around millions of migrant workers from China fueling growing negative sentiment against China, which was rumored to have sent millions of workers to Indonesia.

Issues related to migrant workers from China have made headlines in the past few weeks, prompting complaints with regard to the countrys high unemployment rate.

During the inauguration of geothermal power plants in North Sulawesi, Jokowi ensured that any projects involving foreign investment would benefit the country, particularly in terms of transfer of technology and future employment opportunities for locals.

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Linkedin Keshie Hernitaningtyas (The Jakarta Post) Dubai, United Arab Emirates  Tue, December 27, 2016

Prior to my trip to Dubai in mid-December, my close friends and relatives expressed a sort of fascination and excitement upon hearing about the plan. Especially for those who have never actually set foot there, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s city indeed serves as a captivating destination thanks to its world-famous skyscrapers and endless list of sensational attractions. But whats more astonishing is that all of these attractions are inside a country that was established only 45 years ago.

Dubai itself has been home to nomadic tribes for centuries. In the 18th century, the banks of Dubai Creek hosted members of a tribe called Bani Yas, who are said to have had natural commercial instincts and liberal attitudes, which later attracted traders from India and other Gulf countries. By late 1870s, the city had developed major souqs (market) and became the main port of the southern coast. Mainly trading spices, it was home to many Iranians, Omanis and tribal Bedouins.

According to the official history, Dubai also enjoyed prosperity from gold and pearls collected from offshore beds, but the industries collapsed in 1930s, resulting in the emirate falling into a deep depression. Many of its residents struggled to even find food and chose to migrate to other parts of the Arabian Gulf.

Following the implementation of favorable tax incentives, the city survived and even flourished as a trading hub. Though it had no mainstream electricity until 1961, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ruled Dubai from 1958 to 1990, successfully developed the Dubai Creek in early 1950s, building up its banks with bulkheads and sheet piling.

(Read also: Shah Rukh Khan welcomes you to Dubai)

A safari in the desert is one of Dubai's most popular activities for tourists.(JP/Keshie Hernitaningtyas)

Dubais fortunes changed after the discovery of oil in 1966. It welcomed a large number of foreign workers following the grant of concessions to international oil companies. From only 60,000 residents in 1960, the city hosted 183,000 people in 1975.

On Dec. 2, 1971, Dubai became part of the UAE alongside Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. The countrys seventh emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, joined a year later.

Since then, Dubais infrastructure development has been unstoppable. It opened the 134-square kilometer Jebel Ali Port in 1979, the worlds largest man-made harbor and the biggest port in the Middle East. In 1985, it launched the Emirates airline, which was considered a mad idea at the time but is now frequently dubbed The Worlds Best Airline, and opened the first of its many free zones to attract overseas investment. But it was the opening of the sail-shaped icon Burj Al Arab, the worlds only seven-star hotel, in 1999 that truly put the spotlight on Dubai, especially in the tourism scene. The list of the emirates mind-boggling man-made achievements has grown endlessly since then.

Welcoming more than 11 million visitors in 2013 and eyeing 20 million per year by 2020, Dubais economic growth and diversification relies heavily on the tourism sector. It is said that its income from oil is now less than 5 percent.

Home to 2.5 million people of over 200 nationalities, in which less than 20 percent are Emiratis, the federal absolute monarchy countrys city boasts openness and safety for residents and tourists alike. You can easily find visitors wearing bikinis at the beach or women walking alone on the streets after midnight. Yet, the desert background, the hot weather  except during winter, in which temperatures can reach below 20 degrees Celcius  and the sound of the Imams call to Fajr prayer as I was awaken in my hotel room that is just across from Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world, and the nearby Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest structure, serve as a reminder that you are actually in an Arabian country.

(Read also: Dubai opens massive Marvel-branded indoor theme park)

The beach at the Jumeirah Beach Residence is packed with tourists during winter. The construction of the Dubai Eye can be seen from the beach. Its opening is slated for 2017.(JP/Keshie Hernitaningtyas)

Open doors, open minds

Multi-cultural Dubais high level of tolerance, especially toward religious diversity, is refreshing. And some local guides can be found openly sharing insights of Emirati culture, history, customs and religion in the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). Headquartered in the oldest part of Dubai, the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, which was home to the emirates first wealthy traders at the end of the 19th century, the place encourages visitors to ask whatever intriguing questions are lingering on their minds  no matter how sensitive  and join the discussion as it aims to open doors, open minds.

Initiated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to reach out to and educate expatriates on UAE traditions and customs, the SMCCU has offered many activities for visitors since 1998, from heritage and Creekside tours to Jumeirah Mosque visits and Arabic classes. During our visit there, we experienced a traditional Emirati lunch that took place in its air-conditioned wind tower house  a typical Gulf house that is designed to draw the wind in and cool the home by capturing and accelerating daytime winds and using evaporative cooling to reduce indoor temperatures. A total of 45 people from different groups participated that day; all sitting on the cushioned floor surrounding the previously prepared meals. Our very humorous and friendly host, Abdullah, said that this was the Emirati way of living: sitting down on the floor and eating with their hands, no matter how luxurious the Emirati house is.

The lunch started with a welcome drink of hot Arabic coffee called qawah - a blend of lightly roasted Arabic beans, cardamom and saffron that are ground and boiled - in a tiny cup with no holder, which only allows 2-3 sips of coffee. Why [the cup is] so little? Because [the coffee is] very hot; more than this, it will burn your fingers, said Abdullah.

The coffee is sugarless since it is complemented with sweet dates, which are harvested locally (more than 40 varieties are grown in the country) and still make up 60 percent of the fruit and vegetable trade in the region. To ask for more coffee, you can simply bring forward the cup, or shake it if you are done. The silent server will either add more coffee or take the cup from you. The silent server is usually the youngest member of the family. This is how you maintain [the Emirati] culture when [the Emirati] nationals are only 16 percent. It starts from home; if the base is strong at home, therell be no issue though the number is small.

Abdullah continues with the history of UAE; how 70-80 years ago the nation only comprised of three people: the desert, fishermen and the mountains. The only resources we had were dates, pearls and seafood. We depended on pearl diving at that time because the whole Gulf area was famous for natural pearls. The most beautiful, expensive pearls used to be here. Thus trade was very important, in which we used boats to reach other regions. Islam was spread through [this activity].

(Read also: Dubai plans to beat own record with 'world's tallest' tower)

Our host during the traditional Emirati lunch at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding's (SMCCU) cultural lunch, Abdullah, is seen chatting with visitors.(JP/Keshie Hernitaningtyas)

As we were about to dine, Abdullah highlighted how we all should appreciate the food we enjoy. [Prophet] Muhammad friends used to visit him. But when they said, Assalamualaikum, he finished his food first because he respects it as not everyone can eat. After done eating, then he answered Waalaikumussalam.

The lunch itself, which was tasty and delicious, consisted of machboos (rice with meat or chicken that is seasoned with spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, dried lemon, yellow raisins and lentels), vegetable salad, saluna (the Emirati stew that is a mixture of seasonal vegetables and meat, chicken or fish), white rice and, for dessert, ligamat (donuts of the Gulf, which is a moist batter "drop" deep fried in ghee and served with date syrup).

After dining, Abdullah explained basic local culture like the national attire for males and females. One of the most interesting things was when he described the gutrah, a traditional UAE headscarf, When theres a sandstorm in the desert, we wear gutrah to cover our mouth; and scare people on CNN, which was followed by laughter from the audience.

Regarding why males wear white (kandura) and females wear black clothing (abaya), he said that it was easier that way. Women wear black because white color is more see-through. Its more comfortable for them since they can wear anything underneath; unlike men who have to wear a shirt [under their white long robe]. So [the color] black is given to women.

He also stressed that women who did not cover their hair were not necessarily considered bad people. Women wear burqa because, if her husband is away, and she has to go to the market, she needs to protect her face from the sand, adding that these attire was more of a traditional thing, not religious.

Islam is the official religion of Dubai (and UAE) and it does apply Sharia law. However, our Indian guide, Marshall, who has lived in the city for 24 years, said that the UAE was so open and tolerant that people usually refrain from talking about religion. It also generally liberal in allowing foreigners to maintain their own religious practices and lifestyle. Perhaps it is one of the perks of being a minority in your own country as the population in UAE is said to be around 3 million, in which only 30 percent are UAE nationals.

As I laid my eyes on the construction of 210-meter high Dubai Eye off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Residence, the worlds largest Ferris wheel slated for opening in 2017, during my last day in the city, I found myself curious about what else the years ahead have in store for this ambitiously developed urban destination.
Stay Classy, the Will Ferrell-themed bar at 174 Rivington, is closing. The venue attracted an avalanche of media coverage when it opened in the fall of 2015 and has inspired a pop-up concept in other cities, but the owners say the Lower East Side location will cease to exist after a couple of farewell parties this week.

Heres what The Lo-Down was told in an email last night:

After 18 months in NYC, we felt it was time to share the love with other places. We intend to pop up in NYC once per year as well starting in 2017. For now we just did (Los Angeles and) now we are doing Boston, Philly and Miami this winter. We still own the space at 174 Rivington and are installing a new place there which is going to be so awesome cant wait to start telling people about it! We will be open Friday and Saturday this week as our good bye New York nights.

Stay Classy was opened by Zach Neil and Brian Link. Earlier this month, they brought a pop-up to the former Manns Chinese Theater in Hollywood for 10 days. During the fall, Neil opened another theme bar, Merica, to East 6th Street, but as EV Grieve reported, it closed after about three weeks in business.

Heres what Neil told Grub Street in October about his reception on the Lower East Side:

I opened up in the Lower East Side, which is known for being an artsy community and pretentious and all hipsters and punk rockers and blah blah blah. And I had a million people that live there tell me how horrible of an idea it was and how it was going to fail. Then I served 45,000 customers in 90 days. Then I had lines around the block for seven months. Then I got so big I actually had to close down for days just to tell people I cant take the business. Its been a year and Im doing a great business over there. Everyone who comes in says the same thing. They laughed.

According to the State Liquor Authority, the liquor license at 174 Rivington St. expires at the end of January.
Which poet of the past should we turn to as we look back on the traumatic year that is drawing to a close? Throughout much of 2016, W.H. Auden seemed to many the obvious choice. Fearing where the current tide of angry nationalism could lead, many commentators, including Neal Gabler and Cynthia Ozick, singled out September 1, 1939 as a twentieth-century poem that spoke powerfully to our current twenty-first century tragedies. The poem, which has been downloaded from the web tens of thousands of times this year, refers to what dictators do across the darkened lands of the earth  these and other phrases resonate today.

There was a great deal of interest as well in the renewed topicality of William Butler Yeats, particularly after the Russian Ambassador to Turkey was assassinated. This act of violence, in a year that had seen so many and witnessed a rise in international tensions, shifted attention back from the 1930s, the low dishonest decade of Audens, to the 1910s, during which a global war had been sparked partly by the murder of a diplomat. The ultimate poem of the moment seemed then The Second Coming, which Yeats wrote in 1919 and many had quoted earlier in the year already. It evokes a period when anarchy is loosed upon the world and the centre cannot hold.

There is a third great poet, however, who seems to me worth re-reading while reflecting on 2016. The poet is Rabindranath Tagore, who in 1913 became the first Asian writer to win the Nobel Prize. The less weighty reason to focus on Tagore now is that much was made this year of the novelty of a songwriter becoming a Nobel Laureate. Bob Dylan was not, however, the first one to get this prize; that distinction, as Amit Chaudhuri noted in the Guardian belongs to the Bengali poet Tagore, who wrote many songs as well. The more substantial reason to associate Tagore with 2016 is the renewed relevance of his Sunset of the Century, which was written on the final day of 1900, a year during which wars, humanitarian crises, angry nationalist rhetoric, and a diplomats assassination all made headlines.

The diplomat killed in the year of Tagores searing poem, which speaks of a time when the sound of the clash of steel filled the air, was Baron Clemens von Ketteler. The Baron was the German Plenipotentiary to China. He was slain in broad daylight in Beijing in mid-June, just before anti-Christian militants known as Boxers, backed by soldiers of the Qing Dynasty, laid siege to the foreign legation quarter of Chinas capital. The combination of the assassination and the siege, which famously lasted 55 days, triggered an international invasion of North China that ended up costing the lives of tens of thousands of people, most of them Chinese villagers with no ties to the Boxers. On December 31, 1900, while Tagore wrote Sunset of the Century in India, a crowd of people from different countries gathered on the other side of the Himalayas to see von Kettelers killer decapitated in a public square.

The poem, which Tagore wrote in Bengali, is filled with phrases that could easily have been inspired by 2016 news stories. It refers to people howling verses of vengeance, of the drunken delirium of greed. The poem evokes a time when the self-love of Nations triggers a whirlwind of hatred. Tagore writes of watching the last sun of 1900, which was also the last sun of the century, sinking into clouds that, befitting the times, were of a blood-red hue.

Back in July, when 2016s status as an annus horribilus was already clear, Slates Rebecca Onion asked ten historians to propose candidates for the worst year in history. Some looked back many centuries, while those who focused on the recent past chose years such as 1919, when The Second Coming was written, and 1943, when the dictators of Audens poem carried out some of their darkest deeds. No one mentioned 1900.

When that year began, a large-scale famine was underway in India and China and the Boer War was raging in South Africa. In the spring, the Boxers  who blamed the presence of a foreign religion for angering local gods and causing these deities to withhold much needed rain from the drought-parched lands of North China  murdered missionaries and Chinese Christians. At various points in the year, wars were fought in other parts of the world, including the Philippines, where Tagalog rebels and American soldiers clashed. The summer saw intense fighting in China between Boxer and Qing forces, on one side, and an international army made up of soldiers marching behind eight different foreign banners, including the Stars and Stripes, the Union Jack, and the Japanese and Russian flags, on the other.

In 1900, as in 2016, a new communication technology was used to spread false information. The most important example then of what we now call fake news was a widely circulated and for a time widely believed report of a mass killing of the foreigners held captive in Beijing, which had allegedly led to the death of all diplomats and their wives and children. This incorrect report began with one cabled story, disseminated via telegraphy, a medium that had been invented decades before but had just gained added importance when the first undersea cables were laid. Soon, newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as in other parts of the world, were presenting the rumor as truth. Eventually, when the international forces lifted the siege, the foreigners who had been held hostage emerged very much alive, but the horror generated by the rumor of their slaughter had an important effect.

When the stories of Beijings streets running with blood circled the globe, it stoked the outrage generated by factual reports of the Boxers killing Christians and von Kettelers assassination by a soldier. Even though the stories had been proved untrue before the international force reached Beijing, memories lingered of the loud calls for retribution heard while the rumors were taken as fact. Many had been insisting, even before the rumors flew, that China and the Manchu dynasty that ruled it, which had decided to back the Boxers, needed to be taught a lesson they would never forget. But the fiercest prose equivalents of the verses of vengeance alluded to in Tagores poem were issued while images of rooms filled with slain diplomats and their family members were in peoples minds. Some insisted that Beijing should be razed to the ground, and a European newspaper said that exemplary vengeance should be the order of the day once the international army reached the capital. In the end, while Beijing was not completely destroyed, there was wholesale looting of imperial treasures and the campaigns of retribution subsequently staged across North China could be seen as exemplary vengeance of a sort.

In 1900, some saw the troubles in the world as a straightforward battle between good and evil, with no ambiguity about who and which creeds were on which side. Campaigning for the vice presidency, for example, Theodore Roosevelt gave speeches defending his running mate William McKinleys expansionist moves in the Philippines and the American contribution to the invasion of China as just the latest in a long line of efforts by civilized men, by which he meant Christians, to defeat barbarous ones. When the civilized took actions, even things that seemed warlike and cruel were justified, since they ultimately brought peace, he said, to the affected lands. In China we see at the moment, he told a packed crowd at a July rally in Minnesota, the awful tragedy that is following just exactly such a movement as the so-called anti-imperialists have championed in the Philippines. The Boxers and Tagalog needed to be defeated, just as Native Americans on the U.S. frontier had needed to be at an earlier time. His listeners should remember that before we had expanded over this country, the border warfare between the white men and the red men and among the different red men was unceasing, but now that we have expanded, peace has come exactly as peace has been brought to Algiers, to Turkestan, and the Soudan by the great peoples of Europe.

Donald Trumps tweet presenting the December 19 terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany as being of one piece, despite the different targets and actors involved, fits in with the 1900 speeches by Roosevelt, a future resident of the White House. So, too, did the President-elects appeal to the civilized world to respond to the violence. There was even a 1900 analogue to Trumps past efforts to associate his domestic opponents with terrorism. The cover of the August 11, 1900, issue of the magazine Judge showed three figures standing side by side, each with a plague reading I AM AGAINST AMERICAN IMPERIALISM across his chest. On the left, a menacing looking Chinese Boxer, on the right, a Filipino rebel with a fierce expression, and in between, Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan.

In 1900, as in 2016, there were those who insisted that it was wrong to see the violence wracking the world as a simple struggle between savagery and civilization, with all Christians on the side of the angels in all disputes. Mark Twain, for example, expressed sympathy for the Boxers, seeing them as patriots, and drew attention to atrocities committed in the name of civilization, as foreigners, including missionaries, looted Chinese national treasures, and international troops rampaged across North China. He also chastised Christendom for besmirching its reputation through acts no better than pirate raids in the Philippines and South Africa as well as China. Tagores Sunset of the Century, by blaming the self-love of Nations and a drunken delirium of greed for the eras horrors, rather than seeing them as part of an epic battles between civilized and savage groups, expressed views closer to Twains than Roosevelts.

In 1900 there was a sense that so many different things were going wrong that the end of the world might be at hand. Writing home from China during the Boxer crisis, one missionary mused that she felt as though these were the last days, due to the sufferings around the world caused by wars, famines, rumours, persecutions! 2016 witnessed references to specific events as having an apocalyptic feel to them, as well as dark reflections on the year as a whole, including the way it moved us closer to a climate change doomsday scenario while reviving worries about a nuclear Armageddon.

It is possible to take comfort from the knowledge that previous generations have felt that end times were near. There is such a feel of familiarity to the problems Tagore describes in Sunset of the Century, though, that reading it now leads me in a different direction. He and his contemporaries thought of the day he wrote the poem, December 31, 1900, as bringing the nineteenth century to a close. It was possible to imagine that narrow forms of nationalism, fear of the foreign, and other things that had caused such misery during the previous months would soon be seen as problems of an age gone by. If we move forward from Tagores poem to the famous ones that Yeats wrote in 1919 and Auden in 1939, we see that the phenomena the Tagore felt had marred the nineteenth century continued to do an enormous amount of harm in the twentieth. And if we focus on the years just ended, we find clear evidence that, due in part to the continuing power that greed and the self-love of Nations can exert, we live in a twenty-first century when the howling of verses of vengeance often fills the air.
It mightve been a banner year for blockbuster flops and mainstream disappointments across the board, but dont rule out some good old fashioned silliness either.

From Sausage Party to Swiss Army Man, 2016 has played host to some of the strangest, most confusing, and most down-right depraved releases of the entire decade. Just when you thought Adam Sandler mightve finally given up, or that Eddie Redmaynes Oscar win had left him with some sense of credibility, along came the following to prove us all royally wrong in almost every department.

Sometimes painful, often funny, but always, always, always ridiculous, heres the highlights of the years most unusual movie moments.

*Spoilers ahead for The Do Over, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Sausage Party, Swiss Army Man, The Neon Demon and The Shallows (some milder than others)*

The Do Over - Adam Sandler Cures Cancer

As if Sandlers lazy fart jokes and relentlessly stupid humour hadnt quite hit an all-time low in his previous Netflix effort The Ridiculous 6, his latest actually revolves around the struggling comedian chasing a cure for cancer, which is stored on an iPad. In the end he actually finds it, and yes he cures one of the deadliest diseases on planet Earth.

Were not even going to start on how unrealistic said idea is, because yknow, its Adam fucking Sandler, the man who once cast himself as an Israeli special-agent turned hairdresser who swims like a dolphin. But is this one ridiculous? Well, yes. Insensitive? Uh huh. Worryingly pigheaded too? You bet. Mind blowing.

The Neon Demon - The Eyeball

Turning the tables completely, over to a film thats totally ridiculous in a good way; Nicolas Winding Refns blindingly glam-dram The Neon Demon is chocked full of strange goings-on, the most outlandish coming in its dying moments.

With Elle Fannings naive lead Jesse finally reaching her true potential in the modelling world, and pissing off the large majority of her fellow catwalkers in the process, she quickly finds herself murdered. And then - because this is a Refn movie and fuck logic - she gets eaten.

The ultimate kicker comes when one of the cannibalistic models in question later finds herself feeling ever-so-slightly queasy whilst at a photo shoot, and retreats to the bathroom only to throw up - yep, you guessed it - an entire eyeball. Its totally bonkers and dark, and a little bit hilarious too, making for one of the years most ridiculous, but down-right memorable endings altogether.

The Shallows - Steven Seagull

Despite being arguably one of the best shark-focussed creature-features in some time, Jaume Collet-Serras The Shallows certainly had its fair-share of silliness, the most memorable being its biggest supporting character: a seagull.

Blake Lively spends the film stranded on a rock battling an aggressive great white, and the only company she finds is from a nearby seagull, who she at one point affectionately names Steven. Considering its actually a real life seagull that doesnt talk, or dance, or really do anything other than just sit there, the pair show a weirdly emotional bond and Collet-Serra spends a crazy amount of time focussing on him.

Expect a Steven Seagull spin-off any day now, I guess.

Sausage Party - The Orgy

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldbergs positively mental adult animation about the secret lives of food started strong but span out of control pretty quickly towards the end, resulting in what is now most likely one of the most infamous sequences in animated film history.

With the bulk of the key plot sorted by the 70-minute mark, Rogen and co. seemed to struggle with finding a decent way to wrap up and instead, had every-single remaining character randomly start having sex with each other. I mean, its food, so its mostly just hot dogs putting themselves in buns, and bagels being violated, but the intentions are very, very clear and the whole thing lasts for an excruciatingly long time.

It might be funny at first, but by the end its just baffling and to be honest, kind of embarrassing to watch. Especially when it ultimately spins into another entirely separate but equally stupid epilogue. And all of it was co-directed by the guy behind Thomas the Tank Engine. Truly terrifying.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them - Grindelwald Revealed

We wont get into the very nitty-gritty of exactly why David Yatess famed Harry Potter follow-up wasnt quite up to scratch (try our full review here), but rest assured it goes far beyond the fact that it features one of Britains most talented actors prancing around like hes imitating the chicken dance from Arrested Development.

Nope, the films worst/most ridiculous moment actually comes right at the very, very end, when Colin Farrells sensationally bland half-villain Graves is revealed to have been none other than the franchises newest big bad Gellert Grindelwald the whole time. As portrayed for all of two seconds by a highly-overpaid Johnny Depp in full goofy-mode, sporting a shocking haircut and pencil-line moustache like hes angling for Mortdecai meets Basil Fawlty.

Not only is it an insanely lazy reveal in essence, it all marks a total misfire not just for the film but for the entire series as a whole. This man is supposed to be the new Voldemort; the original evil wizard. And instead we got an Inspector Clouseau lookalike from a late-era Tim Burton movie. Ridiculous, painful, you get the picture.

Swiss Army Man - What the fuck?

Last but far, far from ever being even remotely least, is arguably one of the most ridiculous films of any year, let alone 2016. Premiering at Sundance and quickly becoming known as that Daniel Radcliffe farting corpse movie, Swiss Army Man ultimately taught us all just how great ridiculous can be.

Obviously in a movie that centres its entire plot around a man only surviving thanks to the farts (and general ingenuity) of a talking corpse, theres going to be far too many ridiculous moments to count, but arguably the most ridiculous comes with the films final line.

Having spent the entire plot slowly making his way back to civilisation, Paul Danos Hank lands on the doorstep of lost crush Mary Elizabeth Winstead suspiciously quickly, and after scaring both her and her child, he dashes back to the seafront with Radcliffes corpse en-tow. Theres a brief stand-off with the police before the corpse once again starts farting and we close in on Winstead just as she utters the films final, totally killer, line: What the fuck?



Since most of the film seems to be taking place largely in Hanks head, this comes as quite a game-changer: has the corpse literally been farting this whole time? Was the whole thing really happening for real? Was Hank actually just been goofing around across the street from Winstead this entire film?

All hail Swiss Army Man: a masterpiece of ridiculousness.
Whether the false information is politically or financially driven, junk news is now part of the media ecosystem.

And, in the fight against the sprawling web of hoax sites and conspiratorial blogs, the law is largely powerless, experts have said.

Fake stories like Clinton selling weapons to ISIS and running a child-sex ring or Ireland accepting American refugees fleeing Trump have been seen and shared by millions of people in recent months.

Reports by @CNN that I will be working on The Apprentice during my Presidency, even part time, are ridiculous & untrue - FAKE NEWS!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2016

Dr Damian Tambini, director of the media policy project at the London School of Economics (LSE), said the unprecedented number of such sites was a huge and far-reaching problem that cannot be dealt with in existing legal categories.

He said: The law has never had to distinguish between what is true and false before, that has always been given over to journalistic ethics and verification.

Fake news came into focus following Trumps election win (Andrew Harnik/AP)

That is the big, profound change we are seeing today.

The law has an indirect role, but not in a way that would apply to Macedonian, boiler-house production sites.

He said legal challenges could theoretically apply if posts were defamatory or incited hatred or violence but many obstacles stand in the way of litigation even getting off the ground.

Dr Tambini brought up the pizzagate episode, in which fake news led a man, Edgar Welch, to the Comet pizzeria in Washington DC where he fired a rifle.

Welch went to the restaurant to self-investigate spurious online reports that Hillary Clinton and her aide John Podesta were running a clandestine child prostitution ring from the basement.

Dr Tambini went on: The pizzagate shooting in DC may be a clear case where the owners were defamed, you just had to scroll through the comments.

Comet pizza in Washington was at the heart of a dark conspiracy theory (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

There were clearly causes for legal action, but whether the threat of prosecution is a reasonable and effective deterrent is another question entirely.

He raises the case of the Robin Hood Airport tweet bomb joke, which saw Doncaster man Paul Chambers found guilty of sending a threatening tweet only to have his conviction overturned.

Dr Tambini added: The case asked difficult questions, such as when should prosecution go ahead? Is there real malice? Are there real victims? And, is prosecution likely to succeed?

You know what's more annoying than fake news stories? People that don't know how to check a source and believe fake news stories.  Amanda Lucaj (@Amanda_Lucaj) December 2, 2016

Top libel lawyers cost hundreds of pounds per hour, and that could all be wasted wildly chasing a remedy to an explicitly false story on a hastily put-together website.

And there are myriad problems of enforcement and jurisdiction if the publisher is halfway across the world or untraceable.

The accountability of a proper newspaper or publisher is just not there.

The law is only so effective in the fake news fight (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP)

Ian Walden, a professor of information and communication law at Queen Mary university, said prosecutions would be much harder in the US than the UK because of strong first amendment rights to free speech.

He added: Ofcom has the power to revoke broadcasting licenses, like it did with Press TV and threatened to do with Russia Today (RT).

But we dont regulate the internet in the same way so the threshold is very different.

Essentially, were going to have to accept this big grey noisy area of rubbish.

Both experts agreed children needed to be taught how to read more critically to deal with the new media ecology.

Facebook has been criticised for the way it filters trending news (Yui Mok/PA)

A recent Stanford study found a stunning and dismaying consistency to young peoples ability to verify internet info.

It tested middle school, high school and college students and found: When it comes to evaluating information that flows through social media channels, they are easily duped.

Prof Walden added: In schools, we dont teach people how to read things in the media, for example the different rules covering TV and newspapers.

The marketplace of ideas concept has always required the ability to read critically and a desire to get to the truth and other things many people choose to avoid or just dont have.

Journalism is in a bit of a perfect storm at the moment.
This is a Student Travel Writer 2018 competition entry

On the first days of my travels, whilst in Brussels, I basically underwent a museum tour de force, visiting as many museums as possible.

Since I enjoyed them all that much, I've put together a brief list of the ones you should definitely check out if you visit!

Admitting that I'm an absolute sucker for surrealism, the Magritte museum is a cozy, clear look at Magritte's art as well as life.

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium has the worlds largest collection of works by Rene Magritte. The pieces in the collections vary from sketches to posters to postcards to massive oils on canvas, showing his growth as a person and as an artist, as well as his relationship with those surrounding him.

The exclusive brief documentary about his way of being as a host to an admiror was also very helpful to my understanding of him across the board. His constant reminder of the fact that how we perceive reality might not actually be how reality is, always keeps me on my toes, and it's exquisitely explained in this exposition.

The grandiosity of this museum kept me gazing at everything for entire hours, just wandering round the massive empty rooms whilst trying to soak it all in.

Covering a period from the 15th to the 18th century, the collection is of works originated in Southern Netherlands, with special attention to the genius Pieter Bruegel. The Museum was founded in 1801 by Napoleon Bonaparte, but it was in 1830, with Belgian independence, that it really became a major institution.

This museum is a shout to look at even if just from the outside, as it is located within a majestic Art Nouveau building erected in 1899 and that used to house the Old England shops.

Whilst I personally found it a bit dry, not being much of a music conoisseur, the collection of musical instruments in this museum is absolutely brilliant. T he MIM exhibits some 900 instruments spread around three floors in chronological and then geographical order.

Whilst the instruments are just there to be looked at, a headset is provided at the beginning of the tour, enabling each visitor to discover every one of the instruments at their own pace, listening to recorded compositions and performances of great calibre.

Did you know Brussels is birthplace to the Smurfs? And Tin Tin, the protagonist of the saga about a boy detective and his partner in crime, the dog Snowy? I

n fact Brussels is home to very many great comic strip artists and innovators. Thc city itself is constellated with comic strip art across buildings throughout the streets, and you can visit the fun and funky Comic Strip Museum for less than 10.

"A n encounter with a world where creativity has no limits," w ith more than 700 comic strip authors, Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometre than any other country in the world!

In order to provide no entrant with an unfair advantage, Student Travel Writer 2018 competition entries are edited for grammar only - stylistic choices and headlines are solely the work of the writer in question and not of The National Student's editorial staff.
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Fabulous steak is just the start at Cape Sienna's Plum Restaurant

The sleepy beach-side town of Kamala is home to an incredibly high concentration of swanky international resorts.



By Mark Knowles

Tuesday 27 December 2016, 12:00PM

All meats from the grill come with four delicious signature sauces.

Each has its own flagship restaurant and the competition among them is fierce.

My recent visit to Cape Sienna Hotels Plum Prime Steakhouse was the perfect way to experience how this intense competition is driving Phukets dining scene to new levels.

On its website Plum describes itself as walking a tasty line between steakhouse and fine dining and after eating there I have to say its not only walking that line, its dancing a graceful Tango on it.

Executive Chef Francesco Greco  a gregarious Sardinian fascinated with molecular gastronomy  cuts no corners when it comes to sourcing and preparing some of the best steak in the world.

This means there are several cuts of the finest pasture-fed black Angus from Australia and corn-fed USDA prime beef from America to choose from.

But if you want to take your steak to the next level then there is no other choice but the Kobe cuisine pure Australian Wagyu beef.

This 100 per cent grain-fed beef has a high marbling score and is farmed following the traditional Japanese method, making it incredibly tender, to the point you can literally cut it with a fork.

There is also a lamb or chicken option available and every piece of meat can be basted in one Chef Francescos six bastings.

The evocatively named basting choices include Sir James (clarified butter, Scotch whiskey, honey and shallot) and Connoisseur (clarified butter, Dijon mustard, red wine, shallot and fresh sage) and impart a delicious flavour to the meat.

All grill items are also served with a flight of four delicious sauces, plus a knob of Beurre Cafe De Paris, giving you a range of flavours to flirt with.

All meats at Plum, and most of the seafood, are cooked in a special, imported Spanish brazier, the pride of Chef Francescos Kitchen. Its like a charcoal grill, but inside a fully insulated enclosure and powered by natural, sustainable bamboo charcoal, which gives a delicate aroma with virtually no smoke.

So as you would expect, the steak is to-die-for, but it is the other menu items that round out your meal and make dinner at Plum a truly memorable fine-dining experience. From the complimentary amuse-bouche and bread basket with four types of handmade focaccia, to appetisers like roasted prawn with jalapeno and capsicum mousseline on pecan crumble and orange air, Chef Francesco delights in using his knowledge of molecular cooking to surprise your taste buds.

Unlike some chefs, Francesco is also more than happy to explain his techniques to you. I have no secrets, he exclaims, when you ask him to explain the fine details a particular dish.

So those with an interest in modern molecular cooking will find him more than happy to have a table-side chat about any aspect of his menu and its preparation.

The personal attention given to each guest also marks Plum as a intimate and welcoming restaurant, you feel as if Chef Francesco has invited you to his home for dinner, but with the added bonus of spectacular ocean views from Cape Siennas high cliff-side perch.
Long-tailed macaque tranquilized after running wild in Phuket Town

PHUKET: A wild long-tailed macaque had to be shot with a tranquilizer after running wild in Phuket Town today (Dec 27).

animalsdrugs

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 27 December 2016, 05:41PM

The long-tailed macaque was reported to be running wild at Phuket Provincial Hall. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The macaque has now been sent to recover at the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang, he will then be transferred to the Wildlife Raising Centre in Phang Nga. At around noon today, Mr Pongchart Chaerhom, Director of the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area Office, together with officials from the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office (PPLO) and Kusoldharm rescue workers helped to catch a wild long-tailed macaque after being informed by officers from Phuket Provincial Hall that it was running wild at the facility. After deciding on the best method to capture the wild animal, an officer from the PPLO shot it with a tranquilizer while it was resting on a tree. Once asleep and safely removed from the tree the animal was transported to the Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area where he is now recovering.
Orchestra On The Rock

Start From: Tuesday 3 January 2017, 06:30PM to Tuesday 3 January 2017, 10:00PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

A unique collaboration of geniuses of classical and the best rock musicians performing together on one stage at Le Meridian Phuket Beach Resort in a concert Orchestra On The Rock. Worlds best violinist leading internationally famous orchestra. Marat Bisengaliev & soloists of Almaty Symphony Orchestra we "brake rules" with Rock Band LAMP ORCHESTRA - new sound by upandcomming rockstars. Support: Yuliya Zinovieva - the voice of the evening mezzo-soprano and duo INCANTO. Dress Code: Elegant Smart. Entrance fee 2500 THB includes welcome drink and canape. We promise to deliver tickets to your doorstep: RSVP: +66805382522. reservations@maikhaodream.com
We value your privacy.

Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy.
Passenger severely injured when 18-wheeler loses control on Phuket road

PHUKET: The passenger in the cab of an 18-wheeler truck was seriously injured yesterday (Dec 26) when the driver lost control on a bend on Thepkasattri Rd. The incident also caused traffic delays as the load fell off the back of the truck covering a large section of the road.

accidentstransportpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Tuesday 27 December 2016, 10:53AM

The accident caused the load to fall from the trailer covering a large section of the road. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The accident caused the load to fall from the trailer covering a large section of the road. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Lt Col Sarit Butnongsang of the Tha Chatchai Police was informed at 7:20pm yesterday that an 18-wheeler truck carrying building materials had crashed at Baan Suan Maprao Moo3 Thepkasattri Rd southbound.

Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to various kinds of boards covering the road causing heavy traffic in the area. Nearby was a Krabi registered 18-wheeler sitting in the hard shoulder.

The driver of the truck, Mr Sanon Nijjamroon, 37, had suffered only minor injuries as a result of the accident, however, his passenger Ms Suwannee Chiamwichit, 42, had suffered serious injuries to her left arm and right leg. Both were taken to Thalang Hospital while rescue workers were tasked with removing the building materials from the road which took more than three hours.

When interviewed by police, Mr Sanon said that he was driving to Phuket Town when he lost control on a curve because the road was wet from rain.

Police are still investigating the incident to see whether any charges will be pressed.
Tsunami memorial lights up Patong beach

PHUKET: Hundreds of people turned out at the annual Light Up Phuket tsunami memorial event at Loma Park, Patong Beach, last night (Dec 26) to place candles in the sand to remember the thousands who lost their lives to the 2004 Asia Tsunami.

tourismdisasters

By The Phuket News

Tuesday 27 December 2016, 10:58AM

The event included displays explaining the devastating impact of the tsunami, which according to official statistics killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand, and an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 around the Indian Ocean rim. Photo: Patong Municipality

Hundreds of people joined the annual Light Up Phuket tsunami memorial event at Loma Park, Patong Beach, last night (Dec 26) to place candles in the sand to remember the thousands who lost their lives to the 2004 Asia Tsunami. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Hundreds of people joined the annual Light Up Phuket tsunami memorial event at Loma Park, Patong Beach, last night (Dec 26) to place candles in the sand to remember the thousands who lost their lives to the 2004 Asia Tsunami. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Hundreds of people joined the annual Light Up Phuket tsunami memorial event at Loma Park, Patong Beach, last night (Dec 26) to place candles in the sand to remember the thousands who lost their lives to the 2004 Asia Tsunami. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The event began at 4pm and concluded at midnight, with multi-faith ceremonies taking place from 6pm.

The event included displays explaining the devastating impact of the tsunami, which according to official statistics killed more than 5,000 people in Thailand, and an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 around the Indian Ocean rim.

Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup, Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong and Phuket Vice Governor Snith Sriwihok led the candle-lighting ceremony, with hundreds of people joining in to place their candles in their sand.

Today marks 12 years since the tsunami and this event is to remember the victims of this disaster, Vice Governor Snith said.

Everyone has learned from this lesson, and people now realise what tragedies they may face and that they must be as ready possible for such situations in the future, he said.
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.
In this Dec. 7, 19041 file photo, the battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over into the sea during a Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II. (AP Photo, File)
Hawaii Gov. David Ige, left, presents Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a pineapple-shaped ukulele at a dinner held in Abe's honor, Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, in Honolulu. Abe laid wreaths at various cemeteries and memorials Monday ahead of a visit to the site of the 1941 bombing that plunged the United States into World War II. The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)
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 ...
Job Title: PEPFAR Program Assistant

Organisation: United States

US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

Salary Grade: FSN-8 (Ugshs 58,497,999

p.a. inclusive of allowances)

Vacancy Announcement Number:

110-16

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic

relations with Uganda for over 30 years.

Ambassador Deborah R. Malac currently heads the U.S Mission to

Uganda. The Mission is composed of

several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy

and at the direction of the Ambassador.

Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:



United States Agency for International

Development (USAID)



Centers for Disease Control (CDC)



Peace Corps

Job Summary: The PEPFAR

Program Assistant serves as the operational, logistical, and administrative

assistant in the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)

Coordination Office. The direct

supervisor is the PEPFAR Coordinator, who reports to the Ambassador and is

supervised by the Deputy Chief of Mission.

The incumbent contributes to the goals and objectives of PEPFAR in

Uganda and works with the in-country PEPFAR staff to ensure the successful

outcome of PEPFAR-funded activities.

Major duties include assisting with the preparation of the $300 million

Country Operational Plan each year, instructing Washington where to reprogram

budget lines three-four times per year, and maintaining the database covering

the 360 USG staff funded by PEPFAR.



Responsibilities: Key Duties andResponsibilities:

Preparation of the Country Operational Plan (COP): 30%

The Program Assistant will develop

schedules, timelines, assignment lists, and databases that track the COP

development process. The incumbent

will keep USG Agencies and interagency Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on

task for deliverables by tracking document development.

The incumbent will be responsible for

entering data required by the COP into OGACs database and data into the

staffing database, which contains sensitive personnel data on the 360 USG

staff working on PEPFAR activities.

Financial Management: 30% The Program Assistant helps monitor

the PEPFAR Uganda budget of $300 million per year. The incumbent is responsible for assembling

requests from Agencies to change budget attributes (e.g., partner, program

area), liaising with them to ensure accuracy, resolving most problems, entering

data onto templates, verifying their accuracy, and submitting these to OGAC. The Program Assistant helps monitorthe PEPFAR Uganda budget of $300 million per year. The incumbent is responsible for assemblingrequests from Agencies to change budget attributes (e.g., partner, programarea), liaising with them to ensure accuracy, resolving most problems, enteringdata onto templates, verifying their accuracy, and submitting these to OGAC.

Program Coordination and Management: 20%

The Program Assistant is the key

administrative person following project activities, responsible for

providing programmatic, budget tracking, administrative, and operational

support for the PEPFAR Coordination Office. This person will have significant

responsibility for maintaining a smoothly functioning office and to

support the entire PEPFAR team manage programmatic activities in the

Country Operational Plan.

The incumbent will employ strong

coordination and planning skills to ensure that programmatic, budget

tracking, work plans and administrative needs are accurately assessed and

accomplished in a professional manner.

Other typical duties include scheduling meetings between USG

agencies, with GOU officials, and development partners; assisting eight

TWGs with meeting planning and logistics and reporting; preparing agendas and

minutes for meetings; arranging travel for PEPFAR-related TDY visits;

compiling briefing packets as needed; and routine clerical support for the

office.

Communications: 20%

The Program Assistant will work closely with

senior Mission management (e.g., Front Office, Agency heads) on a monthly basis

regarding issues such as scheduling and calls and with middle management

and senior specialists (e.g., HIV/AIDS team leaders, TWG Co-chairs, agency

finance, procurement, HR, and operations staff) on a daily basis on more

substantive issues. Externally the

incumbent communicates with high level GOU, UN, and NGO officials (e.g.,

Director General of Uganda AIDS Commission, Director General Ministry of

Health, Directors of NGOs) on a weekly basis regarding meetings and

correspondence and mid-ranking GOU and NGO staff (e.g., staff of UAC, MOH,

NGOs) on more substantive issues.

Externally the incumbent also communicates with mid-level staff in

the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator in Washington (e.g., Country Support

Team Leader, budget staff, and HR staff) daily, weekly, or monthly on

substantive and scheduling issues.



Experience: Qualifications, Skills andExperience:

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection

criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting

each item.

The applicants for the United States US

Embassy PEPFAR Program Assistant job opportunity should hold a University

degree in Business Administration, Public Health, Social Sciences or

Education is required.

At least three years of increasingly

responsible experience in program/project management, or administration,

including working with more senior staff in the organization is required.

Broad knowledge of USG policies and

procedures as they relate to the implementation of PEPFAR.

Good knowledge and understanding of the

operations of the GOU, NGOs, and civil society organizations working in

HIV/AIDS.

Advanced training in Microsoft Access,

Excel, Word and Outlook is required.

Strong interpersonal and organizational skills and ability to

process large amounts of information and organize it into useful formats

is required.

Language Requirement: Level IV

(fluent  written and spoken) English ability is required.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join the

United States Embassy in Kampala are encouraged to Apply Online by following

the instructions below;



under the careers page for US Embassy Kampala using the link, Applicants shall be required to registerunder the careers page for US Embassy Kampala using the link, Click Here

You will receive confirmation of

registration and proceed to apply.

On completion of this process you will

receive an auto response via your email.

NB: Applicants claiming a U.S. Veterans preference must submit

written documentation confirming eligibility (e.g., Member Copy 4 of Form

DD-214, Letter from the Veterans Administration, or certification documenting

eligibility under the VOW Act with an expected discharge no later than 120 days

after the certification is submitted) by the closing date of the vacancy

announcement. If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not

received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the

U.S. Veterans preference will not be considered in the application process.

Specific criteria for receiving a U.S. Veterans preference may be found in

HR/OEs Family Member Employment Policy (FMEP). Applicants claiming a U.S. Veterans preference must submitwritten documentation confirming eligibility (e.g., Member Copy 4 of FormDD-214, Letter from the Veterans Administration, or certification documentingeligibility under the VOW Act with an expected discharge no later than 120 daysafter the certification is submitted) by the closing date of the vacancyannouncement. If the written documentation confirming eligibility is notreceived in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, theU.S. Veterans preference will not be considered in the application process.Specific criteria for receiving a U.S. Veterans preference may be found inHR/OEs Family Member Employment Policy (FMEP)

th

January, 2017 Deadline: 4January, 2017

The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and

equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color

religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital

status, or sexual orientation. The

Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all

personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.
Congress's UP chief ministerial candidate Sheila Dikshit on Monday said that she had said what she had to in the Sahara diary case, and now it was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond.



"I have said what I had to. The ball is in the court of the @PMOIndia and others now. Will he respond and come out clean? #SaharaBirlaDiaries," Dikshit tweeted on her official Twitter account.



I have said what I had to. The ball is in the court of the @PMOIndia & others now. Will he respond and come out clean? #SaharaBirlaDiaries  Sheila Dikshit (@SheilaDikshit) December 26, 2016

The Congress has demanded an "independent probe" into the "Sahara diaries", in which names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and also Dikshit have figured.



Rejecting the allegations, Dikshit had said she "does not recall anything" about the diary and asserted she has "nothing to do" with it.



According to the list, Rs 1 crore in cash was given to Dikshit on September 23, 2013, in Delhi. She was the Delhi Chief Minister until December 2013.
Training guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation, a fractured opposition on Tuesday asked him to own responsibility for the chaos that ensued following the currency ban and demanded his resignation if the cash crunch persisted even after the 50-day deadline

If Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi's silence on corruption charges and held him responsible for the continuing hardships of the common people due to the notes ban, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee dubbed demonetisation a "mega scam" and said he ought to take moral responsibility and resign.

Both leaders addressed a joint press conference here, along with leaders of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the DMK, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Janata Dal-Secular, Indian Union Muslim League and All India United Democratic Front.

However several important partners in the anti-demonetisation campaign - the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), the Left parties, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), skipped the event. Out of 16 opposition parties that opposed the government on demonetisation in the winter session of Parliament, only eight attended the joint presss conference.

Gandhi, however, said all opposition partieseven those who did not attend a joint press conference in Delhiwere united on demonetisation and Modi's alleged corruption.

"Every party said they are together on demonetisation and Modi's corruption. But parties also have local compulsions and we respect those compulsions," Gandhi said.

"The prime minister is telling the nation that he is fighting against corruption but when it comes to allegations against him, he does not respond," said Gandhi , referring to his repeated allegations that Modi benefited financially from Sahara and Birla corporate houses when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

On demonetisation, he said it had no impact on corruption or black money laundering but was rather an attack on the country's poor while creating "a new black market has emergedto convert black money into white".

"December 30 is near, but the situation is still the same. It is the Prime Minister who is responsible," said Gandhi and asked Modi to tell the nation the "real motive" behind the move.

Banerjee who has been scathing in her attack over the decision to spike Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes, minced no words in lambasting Modi.

Besides calling demonetisation to be the "biggest scam" post independence, the West Bengal Chief Minister said the decision was "illegal and unconstitutional".

"Modi ji, you asked for 50 days; people were losing their livlihood, dying due to starvation but yet they gave you that time. Now 47 days are over and only three days are left.

"We will wait for the next three days. But Modi ji, if things remain unsolved, will you take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister?" she asked.

Accusing Modi of destroying the country's federal structure, she said that the Prime Minister neither took Parliament into confidence before taking such a huge decision nor bothered to make even one line statement in Parliament after implementing it.

Claiming that over 107 people have died across India post demonetisation, she described the prevailing financial state as a "super-Emergency".

She also mocked the cashless economy argument of the Centre.

In the name of cashless economy, the Modi government has gone baseless; it has gone faceless," she quipped.

Like Gandhi, she too claimed a "hidden agenda" behind the demonetisation and said it has taken the economy 20 years back.

Notwithstanding the depleted strength, Banerjee insisted the opposition was united against the government over demonetisation and said a "common minimum agenda" on the issue will be worked out.

Both Gandhi and Banerjee harped on Modi owning responsibility of demonetisation woes.

"Demonetisation has made the whole country unstable. Modi must resign, this government must go otherwise, the people will throw it out," she added.

Replying to media queries, Gandhi said: "We hold the Prime Minister responsible for this decision. If he doesn't resign, we'll put pressure on him to resign."

The DMK and the RJD dubbed the demonetisation move "ill-conceived and anti-people".

But soon after the opposition's press conference, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a counter-offensive, saying if Gandhi is seeking support of other parties, it is "the Congress' defeat and BJP's victory".

Prasad said that the Congress leader "lacks maturity" and alleged that he was "trying to save the corrupt" by demanding to disclose in Parliament the names of accounts holders in Swiss banks.

Meanwhile, speaking in Dehradun, Modi strongly defended demonetisation and said the move, aimed at weeding out corruption, had broken the back of terrorism, drug and fake currency smuggling as well as human trafficking.
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

If you would walk into the shabbaton that took place in took place in Tzefarya, youd be surprised to see young seven year old boys sitting along eighteen year old bochurim, chassidish boys with long peyos, sitting along litvishe boys with short jackets. You would wonder what all of these three hundred boys have in common. The answer is that theyre all orphans. Every single boy in the room has lost either a mother or a father or both.

Shabbos Boneinu is a project by Tov VChesed of Israel that arranges an uplifting, inspiring shabbaton for orphaned boys in Israel. Tov VChesed has been founded to end the suffering of Israels children. Aside from its massive food distribution to orphaned and poor children and its simcha fund for Israeli orphans, Tov VChesed has developed an entire division, Project Boneinu, dedicated to support orphaned boys. Project Boneinu headquarters in an Orphan Center where over 500 orphans walk in at any time of day to find a warm meal, a listening ear, guidance, support and friendship. This shabbaton is the highlight for the orphans from the Orphan Center since they get to spend 24 hours of unadulterated joy!

This shabbos was the best of everything. From lavish welcome packages to an action-packed program, the orphans squeezed every ounce of this once-yearly retreat. As the orphans went from one meal to another, from one kumzitz to another, bursts of song emerged from every corner. A Shabbos in Boneinu is Amachai

We asked, Tov VCheseds founder, Rabbi Yaakov Eliezer Shisha how he was able to bring together all these boys from so many different backgrounds into one room. He said, Its like a father who sits at his Shabbos table with children of all ages, of all types and personalities. Here 300 orphans sit together with their one father. Backgrounds dont matter, levush doesnt matter. All that matters is that they are all here, supporting each other and celebrating together. Asking Rabbi Meir Acker, director of the Orphan Support Division in Tov VChesed, how he would sum up this shabbos, he too said, It was like spending time with family.

Shabbos meals were sprinkled with inspiring speeches, gourmet meals and endless song and dance. It all came together Motzei Shabbos at an unforgettable melave malke complete with delicious warm food, an 8-piece band and spirited dancing. The melave malke was also a siyum mishnayos for the mishnayos that the orphans learned under Boeninus learning program lilui nishmas their parents. A heartfelt kadish reverberated throughout the room as the children felt the presence of their parents descend upon them.

Photos by JDN
Outgoing US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro is being replaced by Mr. David Friedman, who accepted the appointment from President-elect Donald Trump. However, Shapiro has asked to remain in Israel until the end of the school year to permit his daughter, an 11th grader, complete the school year.

Shapiro was among the ambassadors summoned and censured this week after the United States decided not to use its veto power in the Security Council, permitting passage of Resolution 2334.

Shapiro asks to remain as a private individual until the end of the school year, a request that requires US State Department approval. He would be required to vacate the official residence in Herzliya Pituach to permit the incoming ambassador to move in. This will only occur after the appointment receives Senate approval.

Once approved, Friedman will most likely arrive in Israel in February or March 2017.

When asked to comment on the report, US officials explained they are not in the habit of responding regarding private matters.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Former senior Likud official David Levy, who retired from politics in the 16th Knesset after having served as Foreign Minister and other cabinet posts, is calling on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to cool it regarding his response to the Security Council nations that voted against Israel and passed the resolution.

Levy spoke to Finance Minister (Kulanu) Moshe Kahlon during an event in the Jerusalem-based Begin Heritage Center on Sunday night the eve of the second day of Chanukah. He called on Kahlon to speak to the Prime Minister to bring an end to the sanctions he plans to impose on nations for passing UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

He explained just two weeks ago, he sang praises for how he was received in Africa and now we turn towards sanctions. Levy explained that there are other interests in play which Israel is aware of and these interests require statement, and not causing the collapse of all the accomplishments. He adds if you wish to lash out then do so at the giants too; China, France, Britain and the US, suggesting the Prime Minister slow down the rhetoric. Levy, who is 79, adds I am sorry if I am out of place but I enjoyed much success with restoring relations with those nations that had refused in the past. I feel that at my age I am entitled to give a bit of advice.

The Prime Minister this week instructed the Foreign Ministry to summon the ambassadors of all the Security Council nations that voted in favor of the resolution to censure them. They were summoned despite the Xmas vacation and that is why some of the ambassadors preferred to send subordinates.

Another step taken is Mr. Netanyahu instructed cabinet ministers not to meet with British PM Theresa May at the Davos Economic Summit which is to take place next month. He also instructed cabinet ministers not to meet with the nations that voted against Israel in the council and to limit flights to those countries in the immediate future too. This includes Britain, Spain, Russia, Japan and the Ukraine. He also canceled the planned visit in three weeks of the Senegal Foreign Minister to Israel and to cancel all aid programs to that country.

The Prime Ministers Office denies ministers have been instructed to cancel meeting with PM May next month.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
One of the main petitioners seeking the removal of the Netiv HaAvot neighborhood of Yishuv Elazar is a mechanic who owns a garage in Gush Etzion. According to the Regavim organization report, the Arab mechanics own garage, Elis Garage, was ordered destroyed by the Civil Administration for it was built illegally and has no permits or licensees to operate. However, the High Court of Justice is not permitting the destruction to take place but it is fine with removing Netiv HaAvot and Amona.

Gush Etzion Regional Council Acting Head Moshe Seville explains the absurd, citing a Palestinian Arab is fighting Netiv HaAvot residents, claiming they live in illegally built homes. He on the other hand proudly operates a garage which was built illegally.

It is pointed out that while the Arab mechanic is petitioning against Netiv HaAvot, he personally has absolutely no documentation proving ownership. He simply wants them out.

The response, albeit too little too late, is a boycott of the garage located north of Efrat. Many question why any sane motorist would bring a vehicle to an Arab-owned garage when there are Jewish mechanics in the area in light of so many Arab attacks against Jews.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Regavim)
Minister Aryeh Deri and Minister Yaakov Litzman will be meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to discuss the Muezzin Bill at the behest of Mr. Netanyahu. The meeting is likely to take place in the coming days.

There has been controversy around the bill but whatever the meeting brings about, it is unlikely that Litzman or Deri will create a coalition crisis over the matter. In fact, back in November, Deri reportedly promised Arab MKs that he will not back the bill. In December, Israel Police officials announced their objections to the bill, explaining they prefer enforcement of the law by dialogue and not trying to push the controversial bill through at the objections of the Muslim community.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
If South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is confirmed as President-elect Donald Trumps pick for United Nations ambassador, her successor will be an entrenched veteran of the states GOP who as attorney general decided not to prosecute then-Gov. Mark Sanford for his spending after his disappearance to rendezvous with his mistress.

Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster, a 69-year-old known for his ability to disagree affably, would get the job hes long wanted in the governorship. His leadership offers a sharp contrast in style if not in substance from Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants and the nations youngest governor at 44, who hasnt hesitated to publicly bash legislators who differed with her.

McMaster also was the nations first statewide officeholder to back Trump for president, in an endorsement before the states first-in-the-South presidential primary. The move stunned political observers, but McMasters support never wavered, despite Democrats calls to withdraw it.

He told The Associated Press last month he never regretted the endorsement.

No maam, the more it went on, the more confident I was he was the man for the job, he said in his characteristic, genteel drawl. Hes revealed little about what he would do as governor, and his office said he wasnt available for an interview.

But as a savvy political insider, McMaster has forged strong relationships statewide.

Hes a commonsense conservative  very reasonable, never abrasive, said House Judiciary Chairman Greg Delleney, R-Chester. Hes a realist, and hes a gentleman, and I think hes going to work with the General Assembly to get things done.

Legislators hope McMasters entry could finally lead to passage of a comprehensive road-funding bill. Haleys threats to veto anything with a gas tax increase stymied efforts for years.

Questioned by reporters after a meeting earlier this month, McMaster said, We will make progress, great progress, but gave no specifics.

In the 2010 GOP primary, Haley trounced McMaster and two other better-known men partly by running against the good ol boy network. Yet days after taking a 32-percentage-point beating, McMaster endorsed Haley with an exuberant Im all in! and has been a close ally since. Beyond campaigning with her statewide, he arranged a series of private meetings between Haley and skeptical business leaders a week after she publicly chided the state Chamber of Commerce as a fan of bailouts and corporate welfare.

Bakari Sellers, a Democrat who lost to McMaster in the 2014 lieutenant governors race, contends McMaster exemplifies the good ol boy network in South Carolina.

Henrys been around a very long time. Hes the status quo, said Sellers, a former state House member. Courageous and visionary are not adjectives you use to describe Henry McMaster.

Other longtime political adversaries applaud McMasters impending move.

Henry is somebody who wants to do the right thing and move the state forward, said former state Democratic Party Chairman Dick Harpootlian, whos not one to pull punches. If a good ol boy means somebody who remembers his friends and has a genial approach to governing, then I would take that as a compliment. Hes not going to rant and rave and pick fights. Hes not going to denigrate people publicly.

McMaster began his political career in 1973 as an aide to then-U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond. He led the state Republican Party for 10 years, while the GOP took control of the Legislature.

He frequently boasts of being President Ronald Reagans first appointment for U.S. attorney in 1981 and launched Operation Jackpot, an investigation into international drug smuggling that resulted in more than 100 convictions.

As state attorney general, he created a task force of officers posing as children to catch online sex predators and built an attorney network to prosecute criminal domestic violence. In 2010, he helped lead a multi-state challenge of President Barack Obamas health care overhaul that allowed states to opt out of its intended Medicaid expansion  as South Carolina has steadfastly done.

In 2009, McMaster asked the state Ethics Commission to investigate Sanford after his disappearance to rendezvous with his mistress in Argentina brought scrutiny to his travels.

After Sanford paid $74,000 to resolve 37 civil charges, McMaster opted not to pursue criminal charges, saying Sanfords use of first-class tickets, travel on state aircraft and questionable campaign reimbursements didnt rise to a criminal level  and it was time for the state to move on.

A month after that announcement, McMaster lost to Haley.

Legislators say his decades-long relationship with many of them is an asset. GOP Senate Education Chairman John Courson, who met McMaster while at the University of South Carolina in the 1960s, said it helps that McMaster understands the personalities in the Senate.

Across the board, among Democrats and Republicans, everybody is excited about him coming in  with the belief that he will have a desire to get things done and the ability to do so, said House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia.

Rep. James Smith, D-Columbia, said as a college student in the 1980s, he put out yard signs for McMaster.

I think people who say hes a good ol boy are missing what Henrys all about, he said. Really, hes about building strong relationships and treating people with respect and working for the future of our state.

(AP)
Among Israeli leaders whom have spoken out harshly against the recent passing of the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 was President Reuven Rivlin. Mr. Rivlin made a point of sending his message with actions as well, lighting Chanukah candles on Monday evening in the Shomron community of Beit El. The visit coincided with the inauguration of a new beis medrash in the community.

The President was accompanied by Beit El council head Shai Alon as he spoke with the regional and community leaders, and heard of the challenges they were facing.

The President said, Here in Beit El, we are connected in the deepest way to our roots, to the biblical forefather Yaakov, to Saul, and later to the days of the Maccabees, among a long list, and added, This is our history, this is our country, this land which we worked, and which we fought for, and today more than 2,000 years since the Maccabees, the descendants of Judah the Maccabee raise the flag here in Beit El.

He added, The festival of the Chanukah in Jewish tradition is a symbol of miracles, a symbol of light and heroism. Each year we remember the and retell the miracle of the oil and the heroism of the Maccabees. The value of their bravery has been passed down through the history of the Jewish people till today. Jewish bravery is not just in the field of battle, but public and civilian life, personal as well as collective, and occurs each day in every area of life. Not just physical bravery, but spiritual courage. As a symbol of this are you, the Jewish communities of Yehuda and Shomron, the pioneers before the camp who deal each day with terror attacks, injuries to body and mind, international boycotts, sanctions, isolation, de-legitimization, and uncertainty. With many complex challenges. For more than 2,000 years we remember and commemorate the story of the heroic Maccabees; the victory of the few over the many. Even today, in these very days, we kindle the light in the face of the darkness. We continue to struggle for our existence and for our attachment to every part of our land. We will struggle and we will not fear.

The President stressed, We are in a far from simple ordeal to which there are no simple solutions, in the relations between the people living here. Since we returned to our land, complex crises and challenges have been forced upon us, and we currently face just such a challenge. One thing we are sure of: faithfulness to our roots and to our country, and commitment to our principles as a Jewish and democratic state, these are what have assured, and will ensure our ability to face any challenge which befalls us.

He concluded, The unity of the Jewish people, the tribes of Israel, is necessary and indispensable in order to safeguard our continuity. The President went on to join the members of the Yeshiva to light the Chanukah candles, and wished them all a joyous festival.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/ Photo Credit: Haim Zach, GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was a guest at the ceremony to launch the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the Galil. He used the forum to address critics, those who accuse him of responding too vigorously regarding Israels criticism and response to the UN Security Council nations that voted in favor of Resolution 2334 or abstained and thereby permitted the resolution to pass.

I read in several newspapers this morning that they are complaining about my vigorous stand against the countries that voted against us at the UN. Israel is a country with national pride and we do not turn the other cheek. This is a 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 UN is unacceptable to us.

There is continuing importance to this response even if there is another attempt or two to harm us in the coming month. But there is no alternative to a determined response because it is, in effect, creating the basis for a different approach in the future. Therefore, to describe our protest as a world war is ridiculous. I suggest  enough of this Diaspora-think. I tell you that there is no diplomatic wisdom in being ingratiating. Not only will our relations with the nations of the world not be harmed, over time they will only improve because the nations of the world respect strong countries that stand up for themselves and do not respect weak ingratiating countries that bow their heads.

Under my leadership, Israel is a strong and proud nation. We will continue to defend our state and we will develop the country.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon, GPO)
Shas party leader Minister Aryeh Deri spoke with Ynet, addressing calling to annex Yehuda and Shomron as part of the State of Israel in response to recent current events.

Deri explained nothing will be done prior to President-elect Donald Trump entering office and we will coordinate every step with him. The key is the Palestinians must know this and that peace cannot be achieved without direct negotiations, without intermediaries and without prior conditions on either side.

The best way to reach agreement with the other side is to act with approval. We must live together in this land, and this is a reality and we must do everything possible and exploit opportunity that did not present itself until now unfortunately, because the Palestinians received a boost from Europe and the US. I hope that now they understand that a new administration and commander are entering. They will realize the best way it to sit one on one at the table to reach arrangements to live together.

Regarding the recent passing of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, Deri added that everything will change on January 20th, the date Donald Trump assumes office. We are not cutting relations with any country, but we are simple doing the natural thing he added, stating they harmed us, knocked us down and acted towards us unequally, so should we smile and say alls well? The Prime Minister of the Ukraine gave us a slap so is it come and visit all are welcome? We must announce and show that we have been hurt  it is our honor but we are not chas vsholom cutting ties with anyone. We are trying to prevent the next step since we are aware this is not the end.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Harvard Law School Prof. Emeritus Alan Dershowitz explains the ramifications of the decision by US President Barak Obama to abstain on the UN Security Council vote on Resolution 2334. Dershowitz says Obamas actions were nasty as he pulled a bait and switch. Dershowitz explains however, There is a glimmer of hope, explaining that one cannot take back a UN Security Council resolution, which is forever, but he is hopeful President-elect Donald Trump will find a way around the resolution to bring peace between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority).

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
After Israel summoned the ambassadors of the UN Security Council nations that voted in favor of Resolution 2334, as well as cooling relations with these countries, Kiev retaliated and invited Israeli Ambassador Eli Belotserkovsky to the Foreign Ministry for clarification over Israels decision to uninvite Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymr Groysman, who was to make an official visit. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded to Ukrainian support of the bill by uninviting the Prime Minister, leading to the actions of both countrys Foreign Ministries.

Ukraines Foreign Minister also called the wording of the resolution Balanced, adding Israel must stop its settlement activities.

Mr. Netanyahu took other actions to fire back against countries backing the resolution including the return of the ambassadors of both New Zealand and Senegal and the cancelation of an aid program for the latter.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday, 26 Kislev warned the planned French-sponsored peace summit is nothing more than an effort to harm Israel, comparing it to the Dreyfus affair.

In 1894, French Jewish artillery Captain Alfred Dreyfus was accused of and convicted of treason. He was tried again in 1899 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and then exonerated in 1906. He returned to the military and rose to the rank of lt.-colonel.

Lieberman explains the summit is set to begin on January 15, 2017, five days before US President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office and this is no accident, adding France is scheduled to hold elections too. He explains the conference intends to harm Israels security and good name, reminding the international community that Israel has rejected the invitation numerous times, and will not be attending as Jerusalem feels peace with the PA (Palestinian Authority) may only be achieved by direct face-to-face talks and not via intermediaries.

Lieberman then spoke of the difficult atmosphere that exists in France today for its Jewish community, issuing a call to come home to Israel. That is not your country or your land he added. He urges them to leave France for the sake of their children and grandchildren remaining Jewish.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
As governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013 Mervyn King brought a fierce intellectualism to the job.

In line with many other policymakers, including the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, he was not alert enough to the onset of the financial crisis in 2007-08.

King had consigned financial stability to a secondary role at the Bank leaving the underwhelming Financial Services Authority to get on with the job.

And when crisis struck at Northern Rock in 2007 King's first reaction was to worry about 'moral hazard'.

Principles: As governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013 Mervyn King brought a fierce intellectualism to the job

If the Rock were bailed out, who next? But as the governor came to grips with the issues and read himself in he quickly came to realise that Britain needed a Scandinavian solution to the deepening problems of the UK banks.

This required large scale injections of new capital  an approach embraced by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

King's thought processes meant he arrived at the right solution and the recapitalisation of the UK banks is among the key reasons that Britain along with the US has been much faster to recover from the aftermath of the crisis and the Great Recession than its Continental neighbours.

Anyone who has spent any time with King knows that his greatest attribute is his ability to think through issues, see a pattern and work on a solution.

His memoir 'The End of Alchemy' was less a blow by blow account of what went on during the crisis  although he was at the vortex of events  but about what might go wrong next.

He is clearly of the view that the eurozone was malfunctioning badly and that the economic chasm that had opened up between Germany and Europe's poorer Southern tier Greece, Italy and Spain was looking irreparable.

King was not alone in reaching this conclusion. It was shared by the progressive Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz in his book 'The Euro' published earlier this year.

Anyone who had taken time to ring King or Stiglitz, two of the smartest, practical economic thinkers of our time, would not have hesitated to vote Brexit on June 23.

What they explained was that while being part of the European Union may be enormously convenient, the underlying infrastructure of the eurozone and Brussels is deeply flawed.

Far from being the idealised market of 500m people talked off with such enthusiasm by the Remain campaign, it is a bitterly divided edifice both economically and politically.

As a former governor of the Bank of England, King clearly felt it would be unhelpful to say anything of this publicly. He would be interviewed on his book and talk largely in theoretical terms although his Euroscepticism was evident.

But in response to my several requests to talk about Brexit or his successor Mark Carney's role in the debate, to his credit he always refused. He was not prepared to directly engage in politics.

Now that the referendum is behind us King obviously feels he can join in the national economic debate again.

His core reason for thinking that we are better off away from Europe than part of it was because of the deep structural flaws in the monetary system. In his view the arguments against leaving greatly were overstated.

The opportunities of being outside are visible if only people open their minds and use their imagination.

Indeed, King makes little secret of the fact that if we are going to leave we should do so.

The half way houses favoured by the business community  such as staying in the Single Market or being part of a Customs Union  could restrict the country's freedom of action to arrange bilateral deals.

As for his Canadian successor Mark Carney, criticised by Brexiteers for his interventions during the referendum campaign, King gives him the benefit of the doubt.

As governor Carney was in a difficult position and was tied in what he had to say by the Bank's own forecasting units. They made the negative short-term projections and Carney spelt them out and acted upon them.

The truth is that the Bank's forecasts, like those of the International Monetary Fund, the OECD and HM Treasury, were plainly wrong.

There has been no 'technical recession' and Britain thankfully is ending 2016 with its economy in robust shape (in enormous contrast to the huge financial, banking and economic fissures affecting the European Union).

We should be thankful that Lord King has lifted his head above the parapet and given the world a lesson in the real and depressing economics of the eurozone.
Which is the cheapest fund supermarket for me to use to invest a one-off lump sum of 60,000?

J. K., Leeds.

There are so many fund supermarkets to choose from it can be hard for online investors to pick the right one.

The fees and charges depend on how much money you have and whether you are investing in funds or stocks and shares.

For simplicity, let's assume you are setting up an Isa account to invest in both funds and shares. Look at the fees for accounts that are good value when you have less than 100,000 in them.

Choose wisely: There are so many fund supermarkets to choose from it can be hard for online investors to pick the right one

AJ Bell charges 0.2 per cent a year, which works out at 120 for a 60,000 investment.

You then pay 1.50 each time you buy or sell a fund and 9.95 each time you trade shares or investment trusts.

Hargreaves Lansdown has an annual fee of 0.45 per cent of your assets, which is 270 on 60,000.

There is no charge for investing in funds, but you pay 11.95 each time you buy or sell shares or investment trusts.

Charles Stanley charges 0.25 per cent a year (150 on 60,000). If you're investing in stocks and shares you pay a minimum of 24 and maximum of 240 a year. There is no charge for fund investing and the dealing charge for shares and investment trusts is 11.50.

Fidelity charges 0.35 per cent (210 on 60,000) with a minimum annual fee of 45. If you have less than 7,500 in your account, you will be charged a flat rate of 45.

Bestinvest charges 0.4 per cent a year (240 on 60,000) and 7.50 each time that you trade shares or investment trusts.

This list of fund supermarkets is not exhaustive and you should be sure to take into consideration other factors such as whether you want to use a company that offers extensive research to help you invest and whether you find the website easy to navigate.

If you want paper statements or prefer to invest over the phone, you should check for any additional charges.

Finally, you say in your letter that you wish to invest a one-off lump sum and don't require advice, but I must flag up that this is a large amount of money to invest in one go and it may be worth seeking some advice for help on how best to execute your investment.

If you do decide to proceed without advice then it is best to drip-feed your money into a fund in small, regular chunks as this will reduce the risk of bad timing.

If you invested everything on one day and then the following day the fund or share dropped 5 per cent, you've immediately lost 3,000.
Co-op has declared war on Waitrose as it plans to open dozens of stores in the home counties and London and create 1,500 jobs.

The grocer is planning a 70million drive to open 100 new stores to cash in on the growing demand of British shoppers for smaller convenience stores rather than giant supermarkets.

It is also hoping to use its credentials as an ethical grocer to tap into the rising number of shoppers who want to know that their food comes from a sustainable and reliable source.

Expansion: Co-op is planning a 70m drive to open 100 new stores to cash in on the growing demand of British shoppers for smaller convenience stores rather than giant supermarkets

The Co-op's huge investment will be right in the Waitrose heartland. It is just the latest threat to Waitrose which is already facing the rise of the German discount chains Aldi and Lidl.

A fortnight ago Lidl announced it was creating 5,000 new jobs in London and investing 70million in a new headquarters on the outskirts of the capital.

It plans to open nearly 250 stores in London as it pushes ahead with a three-year 1.5billion UK investment plan.

Announcing the investment, Co-op said it was focusing on London and the South East, with five stores due to open in the capital before the end of March.

Other sites include Swansea, Kings Bromley in Staffordshire, Beverley in Yorkshire, East Lothian and Sheffield.

Stuart Hookins, development director at the Co-op, said: 'While other retailers are scaling back their expansion plans, the Co-op continues to open new convenience stores.

'We opened 100 stores in 2016, and we plan to open hundreds more over the next few years. 'Our core convenience business continues to outperform the market. We are the fastest growing non-discounter and most frequently visited.'

He said the brand was seeking to buy new sites as part of the plan and was looking for acquisition opportunities.

The Co-op is currently engulfed in a war for customers among rival mid-sized chains. According to latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel it has 6.3 per cent of all grocery shopping, marginally ahead of Aldi at 6.2 per cent.

Waitrose has 5.1 per cent and Lidl 4.6 per cent  however, the market share of the two German chains are growing massively each year.

Co-op, which currently has 2,500 stores, has already been going through an expansion.

Around half of all the new food retail outlets opened by major grocers in 2016 was by the chain. But it comes shortly after it offloaded 298 of its stores to rival McColl's for 117million.
Obama really lost his way from being a socialist 8 years ago.....Labour leaders spokesman says he stands for what most people want after outgoing US presidents fact and reality remarksThe departing US president was giving an in-depth interview, in which he also said he would have won the 8 November contest if he had been able to run for a third term, to David Axelrod, formerly an adviser to Ed Miliband, Corbyns predecessor as Labour leader.Obama, 55, compared the way Labour and the US Republicans had chosen to move from the middle ground and claimed that even the leftwing senator Bernie Sanders was a centrist compared with Corbyn.Asked about a potential Corbynisation of his party, he said: I dont worry about that, partly because I think that the Democratic party has stayed pretty grounded in fact and reality.[The Republican party] started filling up with all kinds of conspiracy theorising that became kind of common wisdom or conventional wisdom within the Republican party base. That hasnt happened in the Democratic party. I think people like the passion that Bernie brought, but Bernie Sanders is a pretty centrist politician relative to ... Corbyn or relative to some of the Republicans.In response, Corbyns spokesman said: Both Labour and US Democrats will have to challenge power if they are going to speak for working people and change a broken system that isnt delivering for the majority.What Jeremy Corbyn stands for is what most people want: to take on the tax cheats, create a fairer economy, fund a fully public NHS, build more homes and stop backing illegal wars.For the establishment, those ideas are dangerous. For most people in Britain, theyre common sense and grounded in reality.The Labour leader has been critical of the Democrats policies. In February, Corbyn said he opposed dangerous elements in the negotiations for the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP). The secretive bilateral trade deal between the EU and US has been maligned for apparently putting corporate interests above national sovereignty. Corbyn, who met Obama in London for 90 minutes in April, also opposes British military intervention in Syria. The meeting, described as excellent by the Labour leader, was announced just as Obama said the US and Britain were ready to take action to stop Islamic State securing a stronghold in Libya.A Labour spokesman said after the meeting: They discussed the power of global corporations, the impact of globalisation on working people and the need to take action to reduce inequality across the world.They agreed on the case for Britain to remain a member of the European Union, and that there would be further contact between their teams to discuss measures to deal with international tax avoidance and evasion.
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By Patrick Donachie

The TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport will soon be the home of the airports first on-site, full service hotel. Elected officials celebrated the news as they broke ground on the new hotel, located inside the famous terminal originally designed by famed architect Eero Saarinen. Construction is expected to be completed by 2018.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and representatives from the New York City Economic Development Corporation were on hand for the event, held on Dec. 15. Tyler Morse, the CEO for MCR Development, which is the investment firm tasked with shepherding the redevelopment plan, said he was happy the famed terminal would receive a second life as the hotel, after it was closed to the public in 2001.

The passion for this incredible building and the outpouring of support for our plan to preserve Saarinens masterpiece and permanently reopen it to the public as a 500-room hotel has been astounding, he said.

The terminal was originally opened in 1962, and was TWAs terminal at JFK until 2001. It has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The redevelopment of the terminal will cost about $265 million in private investment, according to MCR Development. The hotel development will also incorporate a museum that illustrates New Yorks place in the Jet Age. NYCEDC President Maria Torres-Springer said the development of the hotel would have positive ramifications for foreign tourists and local communities.

Today we are breathing new life into this landmark building, so it can welcome future generations of visitors, she said at the groundbreaking. The creation of this hotel serves as another milestone in the rejuvenation of JFK Airport, and it will complement major investments that Mayor de Blasio and others are making in neighborhoods throughout Southeast Queens such as Downtown Far Rockaway and Jamaica.

MCR Development said the hotel would consist of two large structures set back on each side of the terminal, ensuring the historic building continues to take center stage after the redesign. MCR noted hotel guests and passengers from the other airport terminals would be able to reach the TWA Hotel by using the Air Train, as well as passenger tubes also designed by Saarinen that connect to Terminal 5, currently in use by JetBlue.

This groundbreaking builds on our efforts to modernize gateways across the state and we will continue working to drive growth, support thriving regional economies and build 21st century infrastructure of the caliber New York deserves, Cuomo said.
There are 64 demands across 8 subsets of studentsMarginalized, American Indian, Black, Latinx, LGBTQIA+, Muslim, Pro-Palestine, and Undocumentedincluding scholarships for students of marginalized communities, a ban on Columbus Day, beginning every on-campus event with an acknowledgement that this is Indigenous Land, that African American professors get tenure, that preferred pronouns are included on rosters, and that queer diversity training is required.

Muslim students also want one room in each major building designated for prayer and shuttle services to [the local mosque] for Muslim students to have access to a place of worship.

No Jewish student organizations have signed onto the list

want the administration to condemn the conflation of Pro-Palestinian activism with Anti-Semitism,

Trump may have won the presidency, but the crybullies at the University of Maryland are making demands in their effort to make the campus more amenable to "marginalized populations" Also, the letter 'M' must be stricken from the alphabet, and the official language henceforth shall be -- Swedish.In addition, the Muslim students are rushing in to grab their share of victimhood benefits before they get all used up:I think it would be difficult for a secular university to square that particular circle. It's one thing for college adminstrators to do nothing as Muslim students/thugs take over an interdenominational prayer room and turn it into a Muslims-only prayer room, as they supposedly did at Pepperdine University a few years ago. It's quite another when confronted with a demand that would require a substantial financial commitment to meet, as this one does.But do you know who's not on board with any of this?Big surprise there, due to some pro-Palestinian demands on the list. The crybullies tried to crybully potential critics by including a cover-our-sorry-asses demand wherein they...but the Jewish groups aren't falling for such an obvious ruse. They're just not convinced that wanting Israel wiped off the face of the earth is not anti-Semitic. And they don't particularly feel solidarity with left wing thugs who want them dead. I guess they're kind of funny that way. (/sarc)
ALBANY  Stanley Metzner, who ran his family's Armory Automotive dealership for more than 60 years with extraordinary business acumen and deep humility, died Monday at his home after suffering a major stroke a week ago. He was 91.

"He came into work right up until his stroke, when he literally no longer could make it in," said his son, Donald Metzner. His father passed on the CEO title to his son just a year ago and became CEO emeritus.

He lived in the house he built in 1959 off Western Avenue on the edge of the Pine Hills neighborhood. He drove cars from the used-car lot, typically economy models, often without air-conditioning. He never had an office.

Stanley Metzner grew up in an automotive business founded by his father, Anthony Metzner, in 1918. It began as Armory Garage at Nos. 8 and 12 Sherman Street in Albany in an era when the newfangled driving machines were stored during the winter months in favor of a more reliable horse-and-buggy.

"People still think our last name is Armory," the son joked. They chose the Armory name because the garage was close to the landmark Washington Avenue Armory and it was easy for customers to find it by heading toward the tall red-brick turrets of the military training facility.

In the 1920s, the business moved a block uptown into the Nos. 9 and 11 Central Avenue building, a five-story structure with a huge commercial elevator where new cars were lifted to be placed on display behind floor-to-ceiling windows on all five floors.

Nobody had seen such a sight. Sales accelerated.

Armory also from the beginning harnessed the power of newspaper advertising and they've run automotive ads in the Times Union throughout the dealership's entire 98-year history, a record business partnership for longevity.

The Central Avenue showroom was where Stanley Metzner picked up the nuances of the car business, in a family of entrepreneurs. His grandfather owned Metzner Brothers Cigars in Albany in the late-19th century. They imported tobacco and rolled cigars at their lower Madison Avenue location.

The cigarmaker staked his son $1,000 to buy the Sherman Street property after he was discharged from the Army at the end of World War I. Anthony Metzner was not risk-averse and he saw a future in the clattering, exhaust-belching, head-turning automobiles.

After Stanley Metzner graduated from Albany High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in administrative engineering from Cornell University and served in the Army following in World War II.

Armory began as a Chrysler dealership in 1931 and still carries Chrysler vehicles, including with Dodge, Ram, Jeep and Fiat. It were once the nation's largest DeSoto dealer, a since-retired Chrysler brand, and sold large volumes of other cars that are long-defunct, including Jordan and Elcar.

Armory expanded again after the war and moved to the western edge of Albany in 1949, with a vast new showroom at the corner of Colvin and Central avenues that became an automotive spectacle. The dealership displayed 200 cars under one roof, a 35,000-square-foot facility that was featured in "Ripley's Believe It Or Not!"

"The idea was for a customer to be able to walk up and down aisles of cars, almost like in a supermarket, and pick out a new car in all seasons without worrying about the weather," Donald Metzner said.

These and other innovations led by Donald Metzner  who in 2000 opened a splashy $6 million automotive theme park called the Armory Center with Yono's restaurant, Studio 64 dance club, a hair salon, NASCAR shop, Ticketmaster outlet and roof deck bar  earned Armory the distinction of being ranked a decade ago as No. 1 among the most innovative car dealerships in American by Automotive News, referred to as the Bible of the car industry.

"He was a great man and he ran a true family-oriented business, which is a rare thing nowadays," said John G. Neet, who retired as used car manager in 2004 after 50 years with Armory. He was hired by Stanley Metzner's father and he also worked with Stanley's late brother, Bob, who oversaw the used car operation.

Neet's father, John M. Neet worked at Armroy for more than 30 years. His uncle, Art Neet, worked there for more than half a century. His son, John D. Neet, and daughter, Tara Nolan, also were employed at Armory.

"The Metzners are all about family and if you worked there, you were part of the family," said Neet, whose family was not the only one with multiple members and generations employed by the Metzners. The business employs about 100 people.

Neet always appreciated the CEO's work ethic. When hundreds of cars in the lot needed to be swept clean after a snowfall, Stanley Metzner never pulled rank. He was as thorough with a snow brush as he was with a spreadsheet.

Stanley Metzner built the dealership hand-in-hand with his executive vice president, James A. Clark Jr., who had a 50-year tenure at Albany. Jim Clark died in 2013 at 81 and Metzner lost not only his regular lunch partner at the nearby Gateway Diner, but his business alter-ego.

Clark's and Metzner's fathers also worked together as Armory company executives for decades.

"Jim was the outgoing guy who dealt with all the customers and my father was the behind-the-scenes guy who did the nuts and bolts work with employees and the car makers," he said.

Stanley Metzner was a humble CEO who used a second-hand metal desk his son painted black as a keep-busy project given to him when he started working there the summer he turned 14.

"It still has my fingerprints from when I tried to move the desk and the paint wasn't dry yet," the son recalled. His father rarely sat behind it.

"My dad took his cue from his father, who said his office was underneath his hat and he never took off his hat," Donald Metzner said. "My father never even had a secretary. He was always on his feet, walking around the complex."

Stanley Metzner is the former president of the Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers, or ENYCAR, and he was given numerous awards by other auto industry groups. "But he wouldn't accept an award unless Jim Clark's name was also on it. He actually sent a couple plaques back and told them to add Jim's name," the son said.

Jim Clark's son, James A. Clark III, and Donald Metzner are both the third generations of their families who work at Armory.

Stanley Metzner was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, whom he met at Cornell. She died in 2005 at 76. Metzner is survived by four children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being made by Levine Memorial Chapel in Albany and a funeral service will be held at noon Thursday at Temple Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Road. in Albany, where Metzner was a longtime member.

"He didn't have any hobbies and he never really retired," his son said. "He said the secret to his success was taking care of the people who take care of the customers. He planned to work until he died. And that's what he did."

pgrondahl@timesunion.com  518-454-5623  @PaulGrondahl
Connecticut State Police

A 33-year-old woman and a man jailed in Arizona, are facing numerous negligent cruelty charges after state inspectors found three juvenile children malnourished, dehydrated, nearly toothless and still in diapers.

State Police say the children - ages three, five and six - were unable to talk, rarely left the walls of Danielson house and had never been enrolled in school.
Albany

A shattered plan to distribute gifts to needy families isn't going to stop members of Victory Christian Church from reaching out and helping people, Pastor Charlie Muller said Monday.

Early Christmas Day, Muller drove by the church's Dream Center on Warren Street in Albany to check on an outreach van that was storing roughly 100 gifts collected for children and families in need.

What he found was a shattered window and no presents, Muller said.

"The whole window was smashed out and glass was everywhere," he said. "The gifts were gone."

Albany Police confirmed Monday that Muller had contacted its south station to report the break-in and asked police to drive by the area.

Muller said he plans to file an official report with police Tuesday.

He said he parked the van under the lights of the parking lot next to the Dream Center.

"You would think nobody would break into it," Muller said. "It's disheartening."

Muller and others at Victory Christian Church the days prior to Christmas delivered gifts to various organizations throughout the Capital Region  including the Schuyler Inn, a homeless shelter in Menands, and Hospitality House, a rehabilitation facility in Albany.

Leftover items were to be used for any calls the church received from families unable to provide gifts in the days following the holiday, Muller said. He added that they're not looking for people to donate additional gifts.

"We're just going to do what we have to do. I don't want to make anyone make an expense at this point right after Christmas," he said. "If anybody wants to come and say that they were the one who did it, there is a whole lot of forgiveness."

afries@timesunion.com  518-454-5353  @mandy_fries
Brash Buffalo businessman and conservative Carl Paladino apologized to the minority community on Tuesday for his recent comments about Barack and Michelle Obama, including his wish that the first lady "return to being a male" and live with a gorilla in an African cave, that created uproar across the state and country.

The former gubernatorial candidate and co-chair of President-elect Donald Trump's New York campaign said in a statement read on WBEN Tuesday morning that he would not leave the Buffalo school board, however, as he slammed fellow board members, "activist progressives" and others.

Read previous coverage here.

The Tuesday apology follows of a tumultuous few days for Paladino, long known in New York political circles for his usually unapologetic commentary. After Buffalo alternative weekly ArtVoice published his wishes for 2017 that included the comments about the first lady and his hopes that the president dies of mad cow disease after having sex with a cow, Trump's camp disavowed the comments as state Democrats took turns slamming the 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate. There also were numerous calls for his removal from the Buffalo school board.

Paladino said he did not mean to send the "deprecating humor" to ArtVoice, however. He meant to write responses to forward to friends, but realized after the fact that he hit reply to ArtVoice's inquiry.

"I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible at the people (the Obamas) so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others," Paladino said Tuesday. "I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could have not made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings."

Here is Paladino's full response written to ArtVoice editor Jamie Moses, as read on WBEN:

I never intended to hurt the minority community who I spent years trying to help out of the cycle of poverty in our inner cities. To them, I apologize. I thought about them every day as I fought against unqualified and incompetent superintendents, administrators, teachers and school board members. Unfair union contracts, broken homes and children who can't get the education they need to break that cycle of poverty because our school system was a failure for reasons that needn't be.

I've shown those who chose not to watch but to enter the arena not to fight the demons. Nevertheless, I won't be judged by those timid souls who sit bloodied in the gallery always prepared the criticize, nor do I have any respect or regrets for the insane education activists who hover over and defend the disfunction of the Buffalo public schools.

I received your emailed survey at an emotional moment after I had just listened to Obama's statement that he regretted the slaughter in Aleppo that in fact resulted from his failed and cowardly foreign policy. A policy that looked the other way while innocent people were murdered and starved.

I view Barack Obama as a traitor to American values. We don't stand down and leave soldiers to die on a battle field when we can sent help. We don't lie to the American people and the parents of our fallen to get re-elected. Obama has not led America to a better place by disregarding the rule of law and standing with his elitist brethren as above the law, nor has his wife, Michelle, who told our children the world after the election that now there is no hope for America.

Your survey questions provided me with the spark to vent and write deprecating humor about a bad president for whom the mainstream media continues to seek an undeserved legacy.

I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible at the people so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others.

I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could have not made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings.

It's all too easy to make mistakes when you're emotional about the rigged teachers contract by an incompetent board of education majority who sold out the school district as pay back to teacher's union leader Phil Rumore for his election support. They couldn't care less about the children of Buffalo, and I'm bewildered about the Supreme Court judge who tried to dismiss a lawsuit to recover $450 million fleeced from the children of Buffalo by LP Ciminelli during the $1.4 billion schools building project.

I publicly took responsibly for what I said and confirmed those were my answers, but, believe it or not, I did not mean to send those answers to ArtVoice. Not that makes any difference because what I wrote was inappropriate under any circumstance. I filled out the survey to send it to a couple of friends and forwarded it to them not realizing I didn't hit forward, I hit reply. All men make mistakes.

What is horrible is is explaining to my 17-year-old daughter how her hero could be so stupid. What is horrible is watching my family and friends react to the rabid hordes of attacking parasites we now call activist progressives.

It's been a sick combative year for America. We changed the direction of our country and beat back the demons for a few decades. I'm proud to have been part of making history.

As for the vanquished progressive haters out there spewing their venom out there at anything that is a reminder of their humiliating defeat, irrelevance is tough to chew on.

For the mean-spirited, disoriented press trying to find grounding and recover in legitimacy on my back, pray that you still have a job next year because you have lost all credibility with the people.

No, I'm not leaving the school board, not when it's time to help implement the real choice elements of Trump's plan for eduction reform. I've spent years dedicated to the mission to defeat the thought that the liberal progressive elite establishment can continue to hold our minority children captive in the cycle of poverty simply to provide their voting base.

I don't intend to yield to the fanatics among my adversaries. I am certainly not a racist.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Get the latest on the Capital Confidential blog.
It was Friday afternoon, and John Amidon was sitting in an Onondaga County jail cell, dressed asSt. Joseph.

Hed been there before, though sporting a Grim Reaper costume that time.

The 68-year-old Albany resident was one of four arrested Friday for protesting the U.S. government drone program at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in DeWitt. But for Amidon, the story really starts with an October premonition.

Why dont the American people respond to the fact that were killing all of these innocent women and children with drones? he asked himself at the time. What would they respond to? Who we really care about?

The answer? Jesus.

That led Amidon, who served in the Marine Corps at Okinawa in the mid-1960s, and others from anti-drone groups to create a 20-foot nativity scene outside the base, a site of operations for the National Guards MMQ-9 Reaper drone program.

The message was simple, if bold: If Herod had drones, Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have been incinerated.

The U.S. drone program, vastly expanded under the Obama administration, is routinely decried by human rights and anti-war groups for indiscriminately killing children and civilians, and for expanding covert U.S. military operations into countries without Congressional approval or oversight. In 2013, 12 Yemenis were murdered when a U.S. predator drone struck their wedding convoy, and the government has paid out massive sums in compensation for other indiscriminate drone killings both in and outside sanctioned war zones.

Critics also note that, because the government counts any military-age male in a strike zone as a combatant, it is nearly impossible to determine how many innocent people have been killed by U.S. drones. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates civilian death counts could be in the low thousands, with many casualties coming in Yemen and Pakistan. At least 200 were children, the group says.

Amidon and three others were subsequently arrested for the protest, and now each face two counts of disorderly conduct, one count of trespass and one count of obstructing governmental administration. It was the third time Amidon has been arrested at the base, which has been the site of more than 170 protester arrests since 2010, according to Upstate Drone Action. His first charges were dropped, and he was acquitted in the second.

But Amidon, who could face up to a year in prison, said Tuesday that its not about him or the group.

What is really important is that the American people find their conscience and find their moral compass, he said.

RDownen@timesunion.com - 518-454-5018 - Follow @RobertDownenTU
Matt Rourke

Your Dec. 15 editorial, "Electors, reject Trump," mentions foreign influence. Might we note that once upon a time in Poland the nobility agreed to vote only for a foreign king. (Yes, kings were elected in Poland.) Eventually, that contributed to the dismemberment of Poland for 123 years. And it was as a direct result of the involvement of Russia in the internal affairs of Poland. Oh, and the nation was also in a gridlock and the government was unable to act. It all led to rebellion.

As George Santayana said, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it."
Good gawd...the man is still working from Trump Tower. Can you imagine how good things will become when he finally grabs the keys back from that mongrel?







TESLA, PANASONIC AGREE TO PRODUCE IN BUFFALO...









Consumer confidence climbed in December to the highest level since August 2001 as Americans were more upbeat about the outlook than at any time in the last 13 years, according to a report Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board.

Key Points





Confidence index increased to 113.7 (forecast was 109) from a revised 109.4 in November

Measure of consumer expectations for the next six months rose to 105.5, the highest since December 2003, from 94.4

Present conditions index fell to 126.1 from 132

Share of Americans expecting better business conditions six months from now rose to 23.6 percent, the highest since February 2011, from 16.4 percent



American households are expecting a Donald Trump administration to deliver. They are more upbeat about the prospects for the economy, labor market and their incomes, according to the Conference Boards report. The results corroborate surveys by the





more



Consumer Confidence Highest Since '01... [SIZE=+7][/SIZE]Consumer confidence climbed in December to the highest level since August 2001 as Americans were more upbeat about the outlook than at any time in the last 13 years, according to a report Tuesday from the New York-based Conference Board.American households are expecting a Donald Trump administration to deliver. They are more upbeat about the prospects for the economy, labor market and their incomes, according to the Conference Boards report. The results corroborate surveys by the University of Michigan and the National Federation of Independent Business , which showed jumps in household and business sentiment on Trumps pledges to boost jobs, cut taxes and ease regulations.more

[SIZE=+7][/SIZE]BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Japanese electronics company Panasonic and U.S. electric car maker Tesla said Tuesday they plan to begin production of solar cells at a factory in Buffalo, New York.The two companies said they finalized an agreement calling for Tokyo-based Panasonic to pay capital costs for the manufacturing. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla made a "long-term purchase commitment" to Panasonic.Their statement gave no financial figures.The factory in Buffalo is under development by SolarCity Corp., a San Mateo, California-based solar panel company owned by Tesla. The photovoltaic cells and modules will be used in solar panels for non-solar roof products and solar glass tile roofs that Tesla plans to begin making, the announcement said.Production is due to begin in mid-2017. Tesla said it will create 1,400 jobs in Buffalo, 500 in manufacturing and plans further expansion in Buffalo.Panasonic also is to work with Tesla on next-generation technology, the companies said.New York state has committed $750 million to build and outfit the plant at Buffalo's RiverBend site, the centerpiece of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" program to revitalize the upstate region's largest city.SolarCity has committed to investing $5 billion over 10 years in New York state, hiring almost 1,500 workers at the Buffalo plant for five years and employing at least 2,000 more people across New York in exchange for use of the state-owned plant.In October, when word emerged about the possible manufacturing collaboration, the head of New York state's economic development agency said SolarCity will be held to job creation promises made when the state committed funding to build and outfit the plant, which is expected to begin production next summer.
In a recent meeting with the president-elect, the big guns of Silicon Valley lobbied this critic of unrestricted immigration to continue allowing skilled immigrants in. I would have urged the highly profitable tech firms to devote resources to a big program to identify Americans with aptitude in STEM fields and to train them. This would include both those who had been educated but did not meet the standards these businesses seek, and those who had not gotten much formal training but had the aptitude to go further, notably including underrepresented groups such as women and non-Asian minorities. I gather that the critical skill is the ability to code, so identifying worthy candidates should not be too difficult.

Business leaders tend to complain about insufficiencies in our educational system but not to take any responsibility. It is time they did, particularly those who make such enormous profits.
The U.S. and Canadian governments adopted a new water-level plan for Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.

Plan 2014 is government at its best. It will restore the environment of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, enhancing upstate economies, increasing hydropower, and creating new recreation opportunities like hunting, fishing and boating.

This decision has been in the works since 2001, when President Bush launched a review of the old 1950s-era plan. After 15 years, the new plan has emerged from a public process that provided everyone an opportunity to express views and debate the merits of various proposals. Thousands of people, representing the viewpoints of all interests affected by water levels, have participated in 60 public hearings, meetings and webinars, or have submitted written comments as the plan was developed.

The International Joint Commission carefully considered the needs of all stakeholders and applied modern science and engineering. The result is a state-of-the-art plan that restores the health of an entire Great Lake and respects the interests of everybody who depends on the lake and river. The new plan's balanced approach attracted bipartisan support from elected officials, businesses, editorial boards, universities and local governments all around Lake Ontario.

The old plan had serious unintended consequences: a degraded shoreline, dramatically reduced fish and wildlife populations and the destruction of wetlands that are vital to clean water and a healthy ecosystem. Almost 20 years ago the two nations recognized that this had to be fixed, and they launched a process to come up with a new plan, which has now been adopted.

Plan 2014 allows a nature-based fluctuation of water levels without materially changing the current range of high and low water. This approach taps into the forces of nature to restore 64,000 acres of wetlands, creating a natural restoration project second only to the Florida Everglades.

Plus, this approach is an economic winner, expected to generate millions of dollars in hydropower, ecotourism and recreational benefits for the region. Fish, birds and wildlife will recover, boosting tourism, recreational boating, and hunting and fishing. Best of all, this won't cost taxpayers a penny  by adopting a smarter protocol for water releases, the power of nature will provide these benefits free of charge.

Sign up for The Knick  Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter.

During the extensive review process, the concerns of some shoreline property owners, who are worried about the vulnerabilities of living on the edge of a Great Lake, were carefully considered. The IJC concluded that the new plan maintains the same protections from flooding as the current plan. However, no regulation plan can entirely eliminate the risks of living on the shore of a Great Lake.

With the new plan in place we can now focus on making the shoreline more resilient, as has been done in other coastal areas both nationally and in New York. The Nature Conservancy stands ready to work with shoreline communities, property owners, and New York state leaders to provide long-term solutions to a long-standing problem.

We should all celebrate the decision by the U.S. and Canada to adopt this new plan. Plan 2014 serves as a compelling example of a balanced, bipartisan and bi-national decision that is a win-win for people and the environment.
Liam McCarthy joined the hundreds of people from Nenagh and surrounding areas who turned out to support a raft of Christmas Day fundraising events.

On a mild day, and despite wind and rain in the morning, up to 140 swimmers braved the waters of Lough Derg at Youghal Quay for the 25th Christmas Day swim.

Organiser Tony O'Flaherty told the Tipperary Star that everything went according to plan.

We had the Liam McCarthy Cup, the All-Ireland minor hurling cup, as well as the two cups Burgess Duharra Camogie Club won - the Tipperay Senior Cup and the Munster Senior Cup, he said. We were just polishing them up for next year.

Tony was one of four swimmers who have never missed a swim in the event's 25-year history, the others being Pat Gill, Eddie Ryan and Christy Manning. Indeed, Tony takes a dip in the lake every day.

He thanked all the volunteers who turned up to help out with safety and to give the swimmers a hot drink of soup and punch afterwards.

This year's swim was in aid of North Tipperary Friends of Bawnmore, North Tipperary Motor Neurone Disease and Ballina / Killaloe Community Resource Centre. The presentation of the proceeds of the swim will be made in Reidy's Bar, Newtown, on January 13.

Meanwhile, over 100 people took part in this year's Christmas Day run from the CBS grounds The event raised funds for Nenagh Day Care Centre. The annual swim in Nenagh pool also attracted a huge crowd, helping to raise money for Vincent de Paul.

Former Nenagh Mayor and nursing home operator Sandra Farrell got into the spirit of Christmas by organising the first Christmas Day dinner for people who may feel alone at this time of the year.

The event in Deborah's on Silver Street saw around 120 dinnrs being served.

We had a very successful day. We served dinners to between 100 and 120 people, made up of those who attended and meals delivered to various households on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day, she said.

Ms Farrell said he hoped it would become an annual event.

There is a lot of goodwill in our community. So many offered assistance or services to ensure it was a success, said Ms Farrell, who thanked all those involved.

And on St Stephen's Day, several hundred people gathered in Ballycommon to see off the Ormond Hunt, with close to 70 riders taking part.
[December 27, 2016] NIPTE is Partner in Newly Announced National Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Institute

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Technology and Education, Inc. (NIPTE) is part of the newly created public-private partnership called National Institute for Innovation of Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). Its formation was announced by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on December 16, 2016. NIIMBL is led by the University of Delaware and includes some 150 private companies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations across the nation. It is supported by a $70 million grant from U.S. Department of Commerce and an initial investment of $129 million from participating organizations. Its goal is to accelerate biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovation and educate and train a world-leading biopharmaceutical manufacturing workforce, fundamentally advancing U.S. competitiveness in this industry. The participating NIPTE team, currently comprised of six member institutions (Universities of Connecticut, Kentucky, Kansas, Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin), is a Tier 1 partner in NIIMBL. It will hold a seat on the Institute'sGovernance Board and will play a major role in its initiatives primarily focusing on biopharmaceutical formulations and product development, and FDA regulatory science. The team will work in close collaboration with three other NIPTE member institutions, Purdue University, University of Maryland, and the University of Minnesota, which are Tier 1 partners alongside NIPTE.



"We are extremely pleased that advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing is now part of the Manufacturing USA network," said Dr. Vadim J. Gurvich, executive director of NIPTE and research associate professor at the University of Minnesota. "NIIMBL's leadership has put together a very impressive partnership that will make a significant impact on biopharmaceutical manufacturing in this nation. As a key member, we will contribute to both research and education. For example, our Center of Excellence in Pharmaceutical Formulations will be a natural partner in NIIMBL." NIPTE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit academic organization with the mission to improve human health through multi-university collaborative research advancing quality, safety, affordability, and speed to market of medicines. It is comprised of 15 top schools of pharmacy, chemical and pharmaceutical engineering, and one medical school. Current members are Duquesne University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Long Island University, Purdue University (News - Alert), Rutgers University, University of Connecticut, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Puerto Rico, University of Rochester Medical Center, University of Texas, and University of Wisconsin.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161227005079/en/

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Retail Self-Checkout Terminals - Market Drivers and Forecast from Technavio

Technavio analysts forecast the global retail self-checkout terminals market to grow at a CAGR of almost 18% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161226005039/en/

Technavio has published a new report on the global retail self-checkout terminals market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global self-checkout terminals market for 2017-2021. To determine the market size, the study considers revenue generated based on the total number of unit shipments and the new installations of self-checkout terminals in retail outlets.

Region wise, the Americas led the global retail self-checkout market with a market share of 44.25% in terms of unit shipments (2016 figures). With retail store chain like Walmart, Kroger, and Safeway expanding their stores to many locations spread across the globe, the demand for self-checkout terminals has been increasing. Europe occupies the next largest market share, followed by APAC and MEA.

NCR is the market leader in the global retail self-checkout market with a share of almost 70%. The company provides solutions designed to improve the selling productivity, checkout processes, and service levels. These solutions include retail-oriented technologies such as point-of-sale (POS) terminals and software, barcode scanners, and self-service kiosks. Toshiba (News - Alert) Tec and Fujitsu are the next biggest players in this market.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=55325

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and foreast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.







Technavio analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global retail self-checkout market:

Conversion of checkout lanes from assisted to self-service

Growing retail industry

Technological advances aiding higher efficiency

Conversion of checkout lanes from assisted to self-service

"The increasing conversion from assisted to self-service checkout across the retail sector globally has resulted in increased convenience and reduced time spent during checkout, which benefits both the consumers as well as retailers. Additionally, this move also helps increase the space inside stores, as these self-checkout terminals occupy a relatively small floor space," says Poonam Saini, one of the lead analysts at Technavio for retail systems research.

These self-checkout terminals are especially helpful to ease waiting times during peak hours when customer influx is very high. Consumers can checkout and pay for their own products, giving more hands on the floor to help with sales and queries. This ensures better consumer interactions, leading to a more satisfied and loyal customer base. Thus, self-checkout counters are expected to be in extremely high demand during the market forecast period.

Growing retail industry

The swiftly growing retail industry has been witnessing the fastest adoption of the self-checkout terminals. In June 2016, CBE, which offers retail technology, installed self-checkout terminals in independent retail stores across the UK and Ireland. Additionally, self-checkout terminals are constantly upgraded with better technologies to keep up with the evolving needs of the consumers, which also brings in a constant stream of revenue to the market.

Developing countries in APAC, such as India and China are the expansive growth in the self-checkout market due to an increasing number of modern format retail stores. Developed economies like Europe are also creating a constant steady demand. With more convenience stores adopting self-checkout terminals, the self-checkout terminal market will continue to display healthy growth rates through the forecast period.

Technological advances aiding higher efficiency

Consumer demands are constantly evolving and their demands will vary accordingly. Vendors in the market space constantly upgrade their technology and add innovative features to establish a permanent foothold in the market. Retailers have been trying to leverage these new innovative technologies to benefit their own businesses by improving the customer experience.

"NCR, one of the key vendors in the market, announced the launch of FastLane SelfServ checkout terminals that are designed to offer faster and efficient service to shoppers. These terminals are designed to accept multiple bills at once and recycle up to eight different coin denominations and six different note denominations. Another notable mention is EasyFlow, by ITAB Shop Concept. It is a self-checkout system that works by offering barcode-free identification of goods services. Such innovations will definitely attract more customers to this relatively new market," says Poonam.

Browse Related Reports:

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 consumer services and personal care, retail goods and services, and luggage. 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 [email protected].

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161226005039/en/
[December 26, 2016] Asia Clean Capital and SUMEC to Cooperate on 100MW Solar Pipeline

BEIJING, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Clean Capital ("ACC") today announced a cooperation agreement with SUMEC New Energy & Development Co., Ltd. ("SUMEC") to co-develop a solar pipeline of 100 megawatts in Mainland China. Under the terms of the Agreement ACC will provide construction and financing for the solar systems and SUMEC will provide technical support, engineering design, and other services for associated rooftops. SUMEC is a major subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corporation (also knownas SINOMACH), one of the FORTUNE Global 500 firms, and the 3rd largest contractor of power projects and the 8th largest contractor of industrial projects based on 2013 rankings compiled by the Engineering News-Record. The cooperation between ACC and SUMEC will speed up the development of ACC's rooftop solar business in mainland China and help more multinational and domestic corporations to reduce operating costs, decrease carbon footprint, and meet sustainability targets.



About Asia Clean Capital Asia Clean Capital Ltd. ("ACC") is a leading clean energy solutions developer that serves large multinational and domestic firms throughout China. Focused on rooftop solar projects, ACC invests 100 percent of the project costs and provides the design, engineering, equipment, government approvals, installation, and long-term maintenance of solar systems. All electricity produced is then provided to clients at agreed rates lower than when purchased from the local power grid. Typical project sites are large production facilities with electric demand of between one to twenty megawatts. The company has offices in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Media & Investor Contact: +86-10-5869-1319

[email protected] Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20161226/0861614047

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[December 27, 2016] Airborne Wireless Network Signs MOU With Electric Lightwave Holdings, Inc., A Fiber, Cable, And Data Infrastructure Provider

SIMI VALLEY, Calif., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Airborne Wireless Network (OTC QB: ABWN) is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Electric Lightwave Holdings, Inc. ("Electric Lightwave"). This agreement creates a mutually beneficial relationship pursuant to which the ground segment of our contemplated Infinitus Super Highway will be supported by Electric Lightwave's 12,500-mile fiber optics cable and data center network, which is located throughout the Western United States, including an undersea cable link to the Hawaiian Islands. Furthermore, we believe this agreement is significant, as it provides us access to strategic properties on which we may construct our ground stations. With this agreement, we have moved closer toward creating the Infinitus Super Highway. Jason T. de Mos, our Vice President of Business Development and Aviation Compliance, said, "This agreement will allow our contemplated Infinitus Super Highway, once implemented, to reach the end users. Without a ground link, users would have no way to access our network. This agreement with Electric Lightwave Holdings, Inc. provides that initial link to the ground, paving the way for ground segment partnerships for the remainder of the United States." Also, pursuant to this agreement, Electric Lightwave has agreed to assist us with introductions and other support and advisory services during our testing phases through and including final system rollout. On November 30, 2016, Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Electric Lightwave, formerly known as Integra Telecom, for $1.42 billion in cash. We do not believe that Zayo's acquisition of Electric Lightwave will affect our agreement with Electric Lightwave. About Airborne Wireless Network

Airborne Wireless Network intends to create a high-speed broadband airborne wireless network by linking commercial aircraft in flight. Each aircraft participating in the network will act as an airorne repeater or router sending and receiving broadband signals from one aircraft to the next creating a digital superhighway in the sky. Airborne Wireless Network intends is to be a high-speed broadband internet pipeline to improve coverage connectivity. Airborne Wireless Network does not intend to provide retail customer coverage to end users, but, instead, will act as a wholesale carrier with target customers, such as internet service providers and telephone companies.



Currently, the world's connectivity is achieved by use of undersea cables, ground based fiber and satellites. Airborne Wireless Network believes that Airborne Wireless Network's airborne digital highway is the logical solution to fill the world's connectivity void. Once the network is developed and fully implemented, its uses are limitless. Airborne Wireless Network, once developed, should provide low cost, high-speed connectivity to rural areas, island nations, ships at sea, oil platforms, in addition to connectivity to commercial and private aircraft in flight. For further information see: www.airbornewirelessnetwork.com

Contact:

[email protected]

805-583-4302

About Electric Lightwave Holdings, Inc.

Electric Lightwave is the largest regional fiber-based network services provider in the western United States. Electric Lightwave provides critical data networking solutions, unified communications platforms, and cloud and security services to enterprises, governments and wholesale carriers. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, Electric Lightwave offers a fiber optic network that includes more than 8,000 miles of long haul fiber, 4,000 miles of metro fiber and high bandwidth access with up to 200 Gbps connections. For more information, visit www.electriclightwave.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, availability of capital; the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company; our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans; our ability to develop and commercialize products based on our technology platform; competition in the industry in which we operate and market; general industry conditions; general economic factors; the impact of industry regulation; technological advances; new products and patents attained by competitors; manufacturing difficulties or delays; dependence on the effectiveness of the company's patents; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/airborne-wireless-network-signs-mou-with-electric-lightwave-holdings-inc-a-fiber-cable-and-data-infrastructure-provider-300383287.html SOURCE Airborne Wireless Network

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[December 27, 2016] TriLumina Demonstrates 256-Pixel 3D Solid-State LiDAR and ADAS Systems for Autonomous Automotive Vehicles at CES2017

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TriLumina Corp. (www.trilumina.com), the leader in high-power, pulsed, solid-state, low-cost illumination modules for LiDAR, will be demonstrating a new 256-pixel 3D LiDAR solution at CES2017. This high-resolution 3D LiDAR represents a true breakthrough in automotive sensing. Powered by TriLumina's illumination modules, this solid-state LiDAR solution is the enabling next-generation ADAS and autonomous vehicles. Built in collaboration with LeddarTech, this LiDAR platform accelerates the path to wide deployment by providing a reliable, high-performance, low-cost system demanded by OEMs for mass-market ADAS applications. TriLumina powered 3D automotive LiDAR units will also be showcased at CES2017 at the Renesas Advanced and Autonomous Track Experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center. TriLumina's new powerful illumination modules accelerate the development of low cost LiDAR sensor systems for a wide variety of aplications on any vehicle platform. TriLumina's illumination modules replace the expensive, bulky scanning LiDARs being used in today's autonomous vehicle demonstration programs with high resolution and long-range sensing in a small, robust and cost-effective package, enabling the successful commercial deployment of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles.



According to Brian Wong, CEO of TriLumina, "TriLumina's illumination modules address some of the most difficult technical hurdles facing solid state LiDAR development. At TriLumina, we are building complete Illumination modules with our patented, back-emitting, flip-chip VCSEL arrays and driver circuits to provide the highest efficiency and most powerful illumination solutions available. The 3D solid-state LiDAR solutions presented at CES will demonstrate the incredible capabilities of our laser solutions and how they can be rapidly deployed to enable new signal processing capabilities such as those in the LeddarCore ICs." Customers, partners, and members of the press may request a demonstration of TriLumina's laser illumination solutions and the opportunity to meet with TriLumina's senior management team during CES2017 at [email protected].

TriLumina has developed eye-safe semiconductor lasers enabling market-leading laser illuminator solutions. TriLumina's technology accelerates the automotive industry's adoption of semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles by providing lasers for 100 percent solid-state LiDAR products and Advance Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and depth sensing for industrial robotics, commercial and consumer electronics markets. TriLumina Corp. is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/439904/TriLumina_Corp_Logo.jpg

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[December 27, 2016] martinwolf Releases Annual Letter, Prepares For 20th Anniversary

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. and MELVILLE, N.Y., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- martinwolf today released its annual letter, detailing significant trends in the IT industry and reflecting on two decades as a leader in mid-market, IT M&A. "Since the founding of martinwolf in 1997 we've seen dramatic technological changes that have both elevated and decimated value for Solution Providers and other members of the IT industry," said martinwolf Founder and President Marty Wolf. "Today, I'm excited by the opportunities we see for IT firms in 2017 and expect M&A activity to continue as a leading source of value creation." Though martinwolf remains committed to the mid-market IT Industry, its deal sizes today are much larger than those of its past. The company's first transaction totaled $2.5 million, paid out over three years  its average transaction today has an enterprise value closer to $100 million. It celebrats its 20th anniversary on Jan. 13, 2017.



The letter addresses key trends that will shape M&A activity in the coming year, including a more growth-friendly political and regulatory environment, a healthier economy with the potential to bring back some of the 2  3 trillion in foreign corporate cash reserves, and continued economic difficulties in major markets abroad such as Japan, China and Europe. To read the full letter, go to bit.ly/martinwolf2017.

About martinwolf With offices in Silicon Valley and New York, martinwolf is a leading M&A Advisory firm focusing exclusively on the mid-market IT Services, IT Supply Chain, IT-Enabled Business Process Outsourcing and Software as a Service (SaaS) spaces. Our team features a diverse staff of principals and senior bankers, many of whom are themselves experienced owner-operators and technology executives from around the globe. We are uniquely poised to advise our clients on their many opportunities to create value and drive continued success. Throughout our 19 years as a firm, we have completed more than 150 mid-market IT transactions and sold seven divisions of Fortune 500 companies across 19 different countries. Member FINRA, SIPC. Media Contact:

Matthew Putzulu

925-215-2773 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/martinwolf-releases-annual-letter-prepares-for-20th-anniversary-300383587.html SOURCE martinwolf

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[December 27, 2016] Raytheon to offer U.S. Army lowest-risk, next-gen training

DULLES, Va., Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has submitted its proposal for the U.S. Army's next-generation, global training support program. The Raytheon project team consists of proven industry leaders CSRA, General Dynamics and Leidos, as well as 17 small, hub-zone, women, veteran and disabled-veteran-owned businesses. Today, Raytheon provides training in 127 countries and in 29 different languages. Raytheon is offering InSITE, its innovative, user-friendly and mobile-enabled management information system. The Army Training Aids, Devices, Simulations and Simulators Maintenance Program calls for training support and sustainment services for more than 320,000 Army training devices and more than 90 digital ranges around the world. The goal: to help enable Army mission readiness. ATMP is a competitive follow-on to the successful U.S. Army Warfighter FOCUS program. Awarded to Raytheon in 2007, WFF involved similar training and logistics work performed globally at more than 500 sites. Raytheon managed training support for almost every soldier around the world and saved the Army more than $400 million in training sustainment costs over eight years. "Raytheon brings unmatched experience in maintaining and sustaining the US Army's Combat Training Centers, Army training devices and ranges to hlp drive and enable readiness," said Pete Vangjel, vice president of Raytheon's Global Training Solutions business. "Along with that experience, we bring the Army the best the industry has to offer with the lowest-risk and most cost-effective approach."



Raytheon's InSITE delivers advanced analytics, customizable user interfaces, dashboards and ironclad data integrity to standard Army mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets. Raytheon invested $6.5 million to develop InSITE specifically for ATMP. The system transforms diverse, multi-year and multiple-device maintenance and program data into decision-ready, actionable information. Users can pull in and access maintenance, contracts, finance, supply chain and other systems information from anywhere in the world, in near real-time, 24/7/365.

Other innovations include: Cybersecurity tools and hardening from Raytheon, a world leader in the cyber field.

Streamlined, automated work order processes that eliminate human error while increasing flexibility and response time.

A new user interface that offers the ability to create individualized information centers, custom reports and instant alerts. About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Follow us on Twitter @Raytheon. Media Contacts

Raytheon

Scott Fazekas

+1.571.250.1877

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/raytheon-to-offer-us-army-lowest-risk-next-gen-training-300383645.html SOURCE Raytheon Company

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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.
Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us.
11 Ways to Tell If Your Identity Has Been Stolen

More than 26 million U.S. residents had their identities stolen in 2016, according to the federal government's Bureau of Justice Statistics. But types of identity theft vary greatly, and so does the potential impact on the victim.

Roughly 13 million people in 2016 had their credit card numbers stolen, a crime that rarely results in a financial loss to the victim. About 8.1 million people experienced bank-account fraud  forged checks, phony ATM withdrawals or fraudulent debit-card charges  crimes in which the victim often has only two business days to report to avoid liability.

Another 13 million people suffered more serious kinds of identity theft in 2016. Their names were used to open new financial accounts, get fake IDs, steal tax refunds or government benefits, and even avoid arrest on criminal charges. (Many individuals reported more than one kind of identity theft.)

Victims of serious identity theft often pay for it. About 1.5 million people suffered losses of $100 or more in 2016, and about 450,000 lost more than $1,000. Others may have had loans or leases denied due to bad credit. A few may have ended up with warrants for crimes they didn't commit.

In all cases of identity theft, it's best to find out about it early. The damage will be minimized, and there will be a greater chance the miscreants will be caught. Here are 11 ways to tell if someone's stolen your identity.
THANKS TO OUR BLOG COMMUNITY WE'VE GOT FIRST WORD ABOUT KANSAS CITY DEMAND TO CLEAN UP THE DIRTY STREETCAR AFTER NEW YEAR'S EVE AND BEYOND!!!

THE SMATTERING OF TOY TRAIN RYDERS OVER THE HOLIDAYS THREATEN TO FURTHER STAIN THE STREETCAR!!!

"It should be interesting to see how the Streetcar, or more likely, the Vomitcar, survives its first New Year's Eve in downtown Kansas City."

Because mainstream media is far too compromised to address any real public concern about the toy train . . . Our blog community continues to tout the concerns of every day ryders forced to cope with the filthy streetcar denizens and their dirty lies.To wit . . .Remember that the streetcar enjoys extra police protection but far less focus on cleaning up amid sometimes nasty ryders.Accordingly, our blog community has reported a great deal of lingering coffee spills, nasty food and other questionable fluids specifically forbidden by the. . .Nevertheless . . .An appropriate concern from one of the best and brightest of our community . . .The big event at Union Station should bring plenty of pukers despite the Downtown attempt to keep things classy and keep hobos off the trolley. Meanwhile, even a few drunken passengers for the toy train streetcar should be welcomed amid tragically dropping Winter ridership numbers. Developing . . .
The Treaty on the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus will continue to be in force after the solution of the Cyprus problem, government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides has said

The Treaty on the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus will continue to be in force after the solution of the Cyprus problem, government spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides has said in response to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akincis recent statements about talks in Geneva.

Christodoulides has said that at negotiations on the Cyprus problem, an evolution of the Republic of Cyprus from a unitary state to a federal state is being sought.

He added that there are many provisions in all the chapters to not create a legal vacuum during the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus.

The government spokesperson also reiterated that the Republic cannot be absent during discussions on the Guarantee Treaty in Geneva.

On Akincis statements, Christodoulides said: If we all want to come to a positive conclusion, then we cannot but support the participation of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the European Union.

He also added in regards to the Turkish Cypriot leaders statements that there are no preconditions in the announcement made on December 1, regarding agreement on territorial adjustments, property, and co-governance.

Christodoulides said that the Greek Cypriot side will need to see what Akinci has meant by his statements, which is an interpretation of preconditions in order to be able to head to negotiations.

Source: ANA-MPA

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akincis statements on a five-party conference in Geneva have instigated the reactions of Cyprus political parties

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akincis statements on a five-party conference in Geneva have instigated the reactions of Cyprus political parties on Tuesday.

Earlier, Akinci said that the Republic of Cyprus would not sign a settlement to the island's 42-year-old issue, but that it would be signed by a future federal Cyprus.

AKEL: STATEMENTS WHICH DAMAGE SHOULD BE AVOIDED

In a written statement AKELs spokesperson, Stephanos Stephanou, has said that statements, which could be damaging to the negotiating process should be avoided.

We ask that all those involved focus on the especially difficult attempt to find a solution the Cyprus problem and avoid actions or statements that could negatively affect the negotiating process, the statement said.

DIKO: THE ONLY SECURITY IS IN THE FORMAL UN INVITATION

26 days have passed since the Anastasiades-Akinci-Eide dinner. Today, 26 days later and approximately 15 days before the Geneva conference, the Republic of Cyprus has still not been formally invited by the UN to take part in the conference, DIKO spokesperson Athos Antoniades told SigmaLive.

He added that the only security for the Republic of Cyprus will be if the country is formally invited by the UN.

Antoniades has also called on the government to disprove Akincis statemets.

EDEK: UNJUSTIFIED INACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT

The EDEK party has accused the government of unjustified inaction in the run-up to the Geneva conference.

The partys statement said that the government should have already made use of the new facts that strengthen the Greek Cypriot position.

Russia, France, and China have announced that they want to present at the conference, the party statement added.

EDEK has said that the Republic of Cyprus should have put in a request with the UN that the five permanent members of the Security Council and the country itself should be present at the conference in Geneva.

SOLIDARITY: THE PRESIDENT HAS NEGATED HIMSELF

The head of the Solidarity Movement, Eleni Theocharous, has said that Akinci has repeated his insistence that a five-party conference will be held in Geneva, while President Anastasiades said that the Republic of Cyprus will be present in Geneva. What is the truth? Utter confusion, her statement said.

The President is leading Cyprus into adventures, and has shown that he was right when he said that he could not carry the Cyprus problem on his shoulders alone. Unfortunately, he has negated himself and faltered, leading the Republic of Cyprus to falter as well, her statement said.

SYMMACHIA POLITON: SPECIFIC ACTION NEEDED AND NOT STATEMENTS

In an announcement, Symmachia Politon has said that after Akincis statements and insistence on a five-party conference, it is necessary to secure the presence of the Republic of Cyprus at the conference in Geneva.

The party added that President Anastasiades needs to take action to secure the presence of the Republic at the conference, and not simply make statements that it will be present.

Symmachia Politon added that the party expected President Anastasiades would convene the National Council before the holidays to prepare the positions of the Greek Cypriot side.

GREENS: AGREEMENT ON DECEMBER 1 WAS BINDING

The Green party has said that the statement on December 1 and Akincis insistence on a five-party conference show that we are definitely heading to a five-party conference in Geneva.

Akincis recent statements have negated the position of the government of Cyprus, which is to discuss the security and guarantees issue in Geneva.

In Geneva, what we have been emphasising for some time will occur, a giant bazar on all the open issues, without the participation of the UN Security Council and the European Union. Even if the EU is present, it will be there solely as an observer, the part said.

The party has advised the President to request the active role of the UN Security Council and the EU at the conference, otherwise he will remain trapped in a process, which in the end will be dangerous for Cyprus.

Political daring is necessary now. If Turkey openly denies the presence of the five permanent members of the Security Council and the European Union, President Anastasiades is obligated to cancel the conference in Geneva. It is clear a trap has been set, which needs to be exposed and complained about internationally, the statement added.

ELAM: HEADING TOWARDS THE BURIAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS

ELAM has said that Akincis statements have negated the Presidents position, and that they would not be accomplices in the crime that will take place in Switzerland, on the backs of the Greek Cypriots.

The party has said that the government and the opposition will bear the weight of what will happen in Geneva.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
A land of incredible natural beauty, fascinating history, and colorful folklore, Greece arguably has something for everyone. From quaint coastal towns to alpine mountain villages and multicultural Macedonian cities, heres a selection of ten must visit, off-the-beaten-path destinations where you will discover a different side of this remarkable country.

Nafplio

Few cities reflect Greeces rich and diverse history as well as Nafplio, one of the countrys most elegant and romantic destinations. Located in the heart of the historic Argolis region on the Peloponnese peninsula, Nafplio has deep cultural roots in Ancient Greece and the Venetian period of the 15th and 17th centuries. It flourished as modern Greeces first capital in the early 1800s. The city boasts gorgeous neoclassical mansions, beautiful Venetian architecture and scenic alleys. Its landscape is composed by two Venetian castles, Palamidi and Acronafplia, built on two successive hills. Not to be missed, the small fortress of Bourtzi in the Argolic gulf, a short ferry ride from the city, offers unique views over Nafplio and an ideal setting for romantic getaways.

Parga

The quaint town of Parga is the most popular summer destination in Epirus, in western Greece. Built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Pezovolos hill and surrounded by lavish greenery and beautiful blue sea, the town has a laid-back island feel to it. Amongst Pargas highlights, visitors can enjoy its charming and colorful waterfront houses and stone-paved squares, and visit the ruins of an old Venetian castle atop the hill. Nearby Valtos and Lichnos beaches, connected to the port of Parga by boat, are among Greeces finest.

Kalambaka

With a population of roughly 12,000 people, the small town of Kalambaka is located in central Greece. It is built on the foot of the most spectacular Meteora pinnacles, a complex of abrupt rock formations that host one of Greeces biggest and most important group of monasteries and UNESCO World Heritage site. Kalambaka has a rich history dating back to ancient Greece and especially the Byzantine era, with plenty of beautiful Orthodox churches and chapels. You can stroll down the narrow cobblestone streets of the towns picturesque old quarter, Sopotos, much of which is built under the shadow of the rocks, and enjoy beautiful Macedonian traditional architecture.

Kastoria

Northern Greeces hidden gem, the photogenic city of Kastoria is built on a narrow strip of land amidst the still waters of beautiful Lake Orestiada, giving the impression of a floating island. The city flourished during the 19th century as a fur trade and manufacturing center, and many of its traders luxurious mansions and traditional houses can be admired in the old quarters of Doltso and Apozari, along with 72 beautiful churches that are a testament to Kastorias rich Byzantine past. The lovely promenade around the lake is perhaps one of Greeces most scenic walks, offering spectacular views of Kastoria and its surrounding mountains.

Karpenisi

Widely popular among winter sport enthusiasts and nature lovers, Karpenisi is a small town situated in a remote and sparsely populated area of central Greece that is called the countrys Little Switzerland. The towns reputation owes much to the unspoiled natural beauty of its surrounding mountains, alpine forests, and whitewater rivers, which make it an ideal destination for true escapism. For its size, Karpenisi offers a decent choice of traditional lodgings, bakeries, and restaurants, and boasts a wide variety of local delicacies, such as its famous leek sausages and internationally awarded prosciutto, crafted from a porcine breed native to the area.

Metsovo

Situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the very heart of the majestic mountain range of Pindos in Epirus, Metsovo is undoubtedly one of Greeces more picturesque towns. The city was home to some of the countrys most skilled stonemasons who used the regions rich natural resources to build gorgeous mansions, monasteries, fountains, and cobbled streets and squares, most of which remain untouched by time. Nearby mountain peaks, slopes and pristine forests offer an arresting sight to visitors, who can enjoy scenic hikes in the surrounding area. Despite the rapid increase in tourism in recent years, Metsovo still preserves its traditional character, perfectly combining the past with the present by offering a multitude of cultural and sport activities all year round.

Veria

The old city of Veria is situated in northern Greece, between the slopes of Mount Vermio and the shores of Aliakmon river. Entrenched in deep-rooted history dating back to ancient Macedonia, Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, Veria offers a wealth of cultural experiences. From superb Byzantine churches and remarkable monuments, such as Apostle Pauls Podium, to historical Macedonian and Ottoman architecture and winding stone-paved streets and squares, theres plenty to explore. Perhaps one of the citys most intriguing features is its well-preserved old Jewish quarter and synagogue, remnant of Verias prosperous Jewish community resident until the 1940s. Veria serves as a convenient base to explore the picturesque monasteries and mountain villages scattered around in the area, and visit the famous archaeological site of Aeges, ancient Macedonias first capital.

Xanthi

Located in Thrace, on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Xanthi is known as the city with a thousand colors for its vivid, multicultural atmosphere. The city owes much of its fame and fortune to its formerly bustling tobacco industry and its renowned traditional carnival, which is held every February or March. Xanthis old town is said to be an open museum, exhibiting a fascinating fusion of architectural traditions that reflect the religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity of the peoples that lived and prospered in the city. Much like its architecture, Xanthis culinary traditions represent an intriguing cosmopolitan mix, typical of the region.

Galaxidi

The picturesque coastal town of Galaxidi is located on the northern shores of the Corinthian gulf, in central Greece. A former wealthy and busy port, Galaxidi has managed to preserve much of the previous glory of its nautical history, exhibited in the towns compact Nautical Museum. This town is now known as a famous yachting destination. Its waterfront and colorful streets are decorated with lovely two-story traditional buildings, cozy cafes, and Greek tavernas. One of the towns most popular cultural events is alevromoutzouroma, held on the first day of Lent, or Clean Monday. The custom commands that participants blacken their faces with coal and throw colored flour at each other, creating a wonderfully colorful buzz.

Agios Nikolaos

The lovely town of Agios Nikolaos is situated on stunning Mirabelo Bay, on the northeastern shore of Crete. The town was named after the ninth century Byzantine chapel of Saint Nicolas and was built as a service port for eastern Crete due to its excellent location. Facing the sea on three sides, the town has several waterfronts, each packed with cafes, shops, and restaurants that offer a rich selection of shopping and dining. Its most extraordinary feature is the photogenic lagoon of Voulismeni, a deep body of water that is connected to the sea by a narrow inlet, which, according to legend, is bottomless. From Agios Nikolaos, travelers can visit the infamous leper island of Spinalonga, place of quarantine of lepers until 1957, which was featured in Victoria Hislops historical novel The Island.

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 President-Elect had indirectly tried to influence the USA vote at the UN Security Council in order to veto the motion condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories

The President-Elect had indirectly tried to influence the USA vote at the UN Security Council in order to veto the motion condemning Israeli settlements in the Palestinian Territories. However, President Obama opted the USA to abstain.

The reaction from Trump was hard: The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!

On Friday, after the decision of the UN he wrote on his twitter account: The big loss for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!

Although the UN resolution doesnt have an immediate effect on Israel, the semiotic value is great. This is the reason the Israeli reaction was so fierce. Some analysts argue that this was a planned strike from President Obama personally to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And at least Netanyahu himself seems to agree with this interpretation

During the weekend, the Israeli Prime Minister announced that Israel will re-examine the countrys connections with the UN, including funding to UN institutions.

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 gun which killed him was found in the glovebox of the vehicle

Police in Belgium are probing the death of a high ranking NATO official after his body was discovered in his car with a gunshot wound to the head. According to reports, Yves Chandelon, the 62-year-old auditor general of NATO was found miles away from both his home and office.

His body was found in the Belgian town of Andenne, 62 miles away from his home in Lens on December 16. According to local newspaper reports Mr Chandelon was the registered keeper of three weapons however the gun found at the scene did not belong to him, it has been claimed.

And more bizarrely it has been reported locally that the gun which killed him was found in the glovebox of the vehicle.

Local news reports say Mr Chandelons family are concerned about the circumstances of the case. They say initial suggestions that it was a possible suicide are incorrect.

And it has been reported that the former director of The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Luxembourg had complained of getting strange telephone calls before he died and felt threatened

Unanswered questions

Belgian newspaper group SudInfo.be reported Mr Chandelons family has a number of unanswered questions surrounding the strange death.

The newspaper claims local prosecutor Vincent Macq is probing the death but that a post mortem is yet to be carried out.

Part of that investigation is the fact that Mr Chandelon was responsible for probing terror financing as part of his high ranking job. Mr Chandelon was employed by the NATO support and procurement agency (NSPA) in Capellen in south-western Luxembourg, 7 miles west of Luxembourg City.

The local newspaper Luxemburger Wort reported Mr Chandelon had gone to Belgium to visit a friend.

They said police are currently probing whether he had received any threats that could be related to his work and highlighted that the gun used was not registered in his name.

As Auditor General, Mr Chandelon was responsible for internal accounting at NSPA as well as external investigations into money laundering activities and terrorist financing.

According to Flemish newspaper The Morning Mr Chandelons relatives said he attended his office Christmas party the night before he died.

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
Niloofar Rhmani is the first woman pilot of the Afghan air force

Niloofar Rhmani is the first woman pilot of the Afghan air force. Her courageous decision was applauded by the western world and she was awarded U.S. State Departments International Women of Courage Award in 2015.

However, she was targeted by the Taliban who threatened her life as well as her familys. That is when, according to the Wall Street Journal, she decided to seek asylum in the USA.

Her decision, however, infuriated the Afghan Ministry of Defense, as she filled for asylum as soon as her 18 month training was over.

When an officer complains and is afraid of threats, then what are common citizens supposed to do? She found an excuse for herself, but we have hundreds of educated women and activists that work and for them the country is safe, said a spokesman of the ministry, urging the USA to reject her asylum application.

Rhmani was planned to return to Kabul on Saturday.

Even in facebook, very few had words of sympathy for Rhmani.

According to sources, tens of Afghan soldiers that went to the USA for training have disappeared in the last two years.

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

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Senior Airman Scott Saldukas License: CC-BY-SA
Kuwait-based Gulf Bank has announced that it has obtained investment licences from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in Kuwait.



The licenses were granted to the bank to practice as: Portfolio manager, custodian, investment controller, subscription agent, in addition to the initial approval to perform as an investment adviser.



These licenses will run for three years starting from the date of issuance.



Tareq AlSaleh, Gulf Banks assistant general manager-investments, consumer banking, said: The granting of the licenses to Gulf Bank is an important milestone that will enable us to better serve our customers and meet their investment needs.



AlSaleh added: "Gulf Bank will soon unveil a distinguished and specific investment service allowing our customers to invest in a unique way across the region. This service will enable customers to invest in global markets safely based on their personal needs and efficiently to reach optimal return on their investment. - TradeArabia News Service


Viva Bahrain, a leading telecom services operator in the kingdom, has donated over BD150,000 ($395,000) as financial support to Masaken Housing project in Hamad Town, said a report.

The inauguration of the first model of "Masaken" project in Allawzi area in the Northern Governorate was held under the partonage of Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King of Bahrain and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW).



HRH Princess Sabeeka thanked Viva Bahrain for its donation to furnish the flats in the project as part of its community responsibility, stressing the key role of the private sector in supporting such quality projects, reported BNA.



Princess Sabeeka later attended a briefing by Housing Minister Bassim bin Yaqoob Al Hamar on "Masaken" project.



She stressed that the project was in line with a recommendation approved by His Majesty on the basis of a study conducted by SCW to determine the needs of Bahraini women, reported BNA.



Lauding the efforts of the Housing Ministry in providing citizens with decent homes, Princess Sabeeka said these type of housing projects were designated to a Bahraini social component.



She also affirmed that the right to housing for women is top priority for SCW so as to boost family stability and enhance women's social contribution and development role, it added.
US-based Alliant Techsystems, a leading defence and aerospace company, has been awarded a $16.9 million firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract in Iraq, said a report.



The company will fully develop and implement a contract to install five MX-15 HD systems and upgrade all Cessna 208 aircraft to HD video, added the Iraq Business News report.



The work will be performed in Iraq, and is expected to be completed by February 1, 2018, it said.



Last week the company was awarded a $22-million contract to provide logistics support for the Iraqi Air Forces Cessna fleet.


Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman, Jordan, welcomed 488,215 passengers during November 2016, an increase of 9.1 per cent compared to the same month in 2015.



The airport also registered 5,278 aircraft movements (ACM) as opposed to 5,173 ACM in 2015, indicating a 2 per cent year-on-year rise, said Airport International Group (AIG), the company responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of the airport.



Cargo figures dropped 5.6 pr cent as QAIA handled 8,130 tonnes as opposed to 8,612 tonnes during the same month of last year.



The increase in airport traffic during November raised the 2016 year-to-date (YTD) passenger number to 6,871,408, a 4.7 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. Additonally, YTD ACM increased by 2.9 per cent to settle at 67,831, while YTD cargo traffic figures went up 1.5 per cent to reach 92,255 tonnes.



Were excited about the growth we witnessed in November, and were looking forward to closing the year with even higher numbers than last year. 2016 has been great for QAIA, filled with achievements across the board, and we look forward to adding one final triumph to its record during the final month of the year, said Airport International Group CEO, Kjeld Binger. - TradeArabia News Service


Due to several bombings that had happened this month including that of the Coptic Cathedral that killed 25 innocent souls in Egypt, the US government under the state department has shown concern to her citizens who will be traveling to Egypt and Jordan for holidays of the danger of terrorist attack.

According to Straitstimes, despite the Egyptians having strengthened their security in some tourists points such as Luxor and Aswan, the States Department has insisted that terrorists do not withdraw easily and thus can attack anywhere at any time. They further warned American citizens in Egypt to stay far from the Sinai Peninsula and western Desert.

The Sinai Peninsula or essentially Sinai is a landmass in Egypt, arranged between the Mediterranean Sea toward the north and the Red Sea toward the south serving as a land connect amongst Asia and Africa. The landmass has for several years succeeded in being a tourist attraction because of its natural setting, rich coral reefs, and scriptural history.

Reported by Trend, mount Sinai is a standout amongst the most religiously noteworthy places in Judaism faith. The western desert, on the other hand, is a part of the Sahara Desert which borders river Nile has an elegant resort called Sharm El-Sheikh that has sandy beaches and clear waters.

Though it may seem that Egypt is not the only place that could be attacked. The US state department has pointed out that Jordan can be attacked too. Jordan is a strategic point for tourism mostly for Christians since it is believed that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River.

The threat in Jordan is alarming as we mark the incidence that happened in the southern city of Karak. More than twelve individuals were executed. A Canadian traveler who was by chance in the city was killed in two assaults by Islamist extremists. Despite Egypt and Jordan having a sentimental connection to the Christian faiths, all American citizens should hold their attraction to visit the places for a while due to the marked terror attacks in the areas.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Trying to plan a New Year's Eve Vacation can sometimes be both time and money consuming though New Year is something that only happens once a year. It is special as we say farewell to the old memories and open the doors to another year. One of the best places to experience the festive season is New York City as it offers the best New Year experience with celebrities, the fireworks display, the great music and the crowd.

According to CN Traveler, this week is the least expensive week when it comes to booking a hotel in the area. Not only for the hotels, but also for the cheap airfares as well that offers the best deals in lieu of New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, Travel And Leisure said that it is best to consider airports other than the main ones in New York. Airports in Philadelphia, Westchester, Stewart and Islip offer much cheaper price that could save you alot of money.

Getting a car rental is a no no especially in the festive season since it may be booked already or it could cost a lot since it is New Year's Eve. Another is the traffic, if you are not a local of New York City then it would be very hard to navigate the area plus the parking fees that could also raise up during the New Year's Eve.

The best solution would be taking taxis and using Uber. New York is known for its busy highways and streets, though the public transportation system of the city is easy and very affordable which will help you save a lot of money.

It is always a tradition when traveling that booking a hotel ahead of time is a must. However, there are some websites like HotelTonight that offers a great way to get a cheap deal on a last minute hotel room, it will also guide you to the location.

Carry Light. Do not pack too things from clothes to footwear in your bag. The lighter you bring, the easier it is to navigate around the city and enjoy the lights and festivities around.

Lastly, plan on how you would celebrate the night waiting for the New Year. Waiting in the streets for hours could make you feel uneasy because of the freezing cold temperature. Try entering a bar near the area, have a couple of drinks while waiting for the countdown.

Here is a look on last New Year's Eve countdown in New York at Times Square. For more of the latest news and updates stay tuned to Travelers Today.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
The Chum Lee "Pawn Stars" show is one of the top 2016 trending reality shows. Undeniably, the Austin Lee Russell arrest and eventual release on probation were one of the most talked about celebrity news in 2016. Along with every news; the reality show is also linked. The cheeky actor's name is deeply associated with the show because he has been famous for his role as the customer assistant/appraiser.

According to the Inquisitr, one reason why "Pawn Stars" topped the most searched reality shows was the controversial and shocking arrest of one of its favorite cast Chu Lee. He was charged with molestation of a woman employee of the Gold and Silver Pawnshop. While the authorities were searching his home for proof, contrabands were discovered at his home.

He was arrested and detained and was released after he paid $62,000 bail bond. His court battle ended and he was released on probation. His impending return on the show was most anticipated by fans. Even his social media account was deleted because of the influx of "RIP Chum Lee" messages. Now Chum Lee is back to his old life better and hopeful after all the trials.

Another reason was politics. Rick Harrison campaigned for Donald Trump. He is the son of Richard Harrison, the founder of the famous pawnshop and father of Corey Harrison, Chum Lee's childhood friend. Donald Trump Jr. and other celebrities' visit to the shot have made the public search for "Pawn Stars." Rick Harrison was invited to the Trump inauguration at the White House.

Another possible reason that "Pawn Stars" has been highly searched on Google this year is the Wayne's World car sold at the pawn shop. In one of the episodes of the show, Rick Harrison visited Florida and was able to personally see the 976 AMC Pacer on sale.

Former US President Abraham Lincoln's chair shown by spouses Jerry and Wanda Beverland on the show complete with documents drew a lot of interest too. The chair was the former president's favorite chair while in the White House.

The time Richard Harrison's tenants on his establishment near the pawnshop accused him of being a bad landlord also made fans of the show to search on Google. Chum Lee's charity works after his arrest were most searched after it was announced. Lately, his upcoming return on "Pawn Stars" keep the fans coming back to the show's website and social media account to know the updates.

San Diego Union-Tribune declared that the show is the best Las Vegas show. Despite other famous celebrities and performers appear on Las Vegas stage, the show was the best so far.

Chum Lee has informed his fans that he will be back on the show. The Harrisons have not changed his status on the show despite his arrest. In fact, Rick Harrison was the very first to show support to him during his court battle.

Indeed, Chum Lee's show "Pawn Stars" is one of the well-loved shows. It is one of its kinds and will be searched all the more in 2017 as he films for new episodes.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Some of the best food in the world are found in New York. As if The City That Never Sleeps isn't perfect enough. You can wander the streets of NYC every day and find numerous dining options beckoning you to take a bite, with some of them you couldn't find anywhere else in the world.

If you're craving for dessert, well, then NYC is paradise. But what places should you go that offer the best sweet treats in NYC? Here are some of them:

Dominique Ansel Bakery. One of the finest French bakeries in NYC, Dominique Ansel makes bread and pastries your sweet tooth wouldn't get enough of. Their specialty, "kouign amann", doesn't see the end of day in their shop because these babies get depleted fast! Dominique Ansel Bakery is located at 189 Spring Street, New York.

Two Little Red Hens. This cute bakery may look quaint, but their cakes and cupcakes are coveted in the city. This is the place to get the "Brooklyn Blackout", the famous chocolate cake with choco fudge filling and topped with fudge frosting. Their red velvet cakes are also the best in the city, but make sure you stock up early. Dean & Deluca sells their cupcakes as well, so if you're in Soho, make sure to stop by.

Levain Bakery. Granted, chocolate chip cookies are delicious and commonly found in any bakery. But Levain's choco chip cookies are not delicious. They're mouthwatering. They're in a league of their own. That's why New Yorkers and tourists alike line up for hours just to get a taste of these heaven-made cookies. Levain's also offer other scrumptious pastries, but their chocolate chip cookies overshadow them all. That's how good they are.

Momofuku Milk Bar. Head down to East Village if you want to relish in New York's iconic desserts. Christina Tosi's menu is genius, with several delectable offers you'll have a hard time choosing what to pick. One of its most famous desserts is their "Cereal Milk Soft Serve", a seemingly innocent soft-serve ice cream topped with corn flakes, but if you get a taste you'll discover there's nothing innocent about it. Your taste buds will rejoice in this cold, delightful confection, and by the time you're done, we're sure you'll line up for more.

Pasticciera Rocco. Since 1974, this Italian-owned pastry shop has never failed in serving some of the most delectable desserts in NYC. Their menu consists of authentic Italian desserts that will make you lick your lips, but what really makes them stand out is their award-winning cannolis. Regular-sized or mini-sized, these will never leave your mind once you get a taste of them. So make sure you check them out.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
New Year brings new hope for many, so people often celebrate the New Year's Eve traveling to new places to change their environment and create a beautiful vibe. Here are the best places to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Edinburgh

In 2015, 148,000 people from 78 countries participated in the famous three-day New Year's Eve event. The revelry starts on December 30 with thousands of festive participants singing Auld Lang Syne at the Calton Hill and watching the sky ablaze with fireworks. Edinburgh's Auld Lang Syne is recorded as the world's loudest and biggest rendition. The Balmoral is a magnificent hotel in Edinburgh and the most relaxed place to recuperate from the Hogmanay celebrations. The bar in G and V Royal Mile Hotel attracts a stylish crowd where classic Missoni striped wallpaper adorns the entire place.

London

You can spend New Year's Eve in London watching the fireworks on the Thames, to prevent overcrowding tickets are sold around 10 last year. If you are the glamor type, The Ritz is putting on an entire load of black-tie dinners accompanied by ordered marching bands, sole pipers and sights of fireworks displays in the restaurants. There are also champagnes and cocktails in the Art Deco bar. In addition, there is the annual New Year's Day Parade that starts just outside the hotel. Moreover, there is SushiSamba, on the 39th floor of Heron Tower it is like celebrating New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro heaving a spectacular Reveillon of its own.

Hong Kong

Enjoy the spectacular views during the final moments of the year in intense, frenzied Hong Kong. You can watch the New Year's Eve countdown fireworks over Victoria Harbor, along with the shoreline or from one of the city's numerous excellent rooftop bars. You can head to Ozone on the 118th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, formerly the highest bar in the world, or you can stay at Sugar bar in the East hotel, which has a Mediterranean, beach vibe as well as sights of both the harbor and the mountains.

Sydney

Sydney Harbor is full of merrymakers, out to witness the firework extravaganza. You can rent out a boat, bring your own bubbles and start the countdown early. Otherwise, you can head to Cockatoo Island and set up a moonlit picnic, you can even camp there for the entire night; just make sure to book a spot in advance. You can also book an outside table at one of the waterfront diners by Sydney Harbor Bridge for a front-row seat for the world's biggest New Year's Eve firework display, says, CNTraveller.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
As with every other continent in the world, South America also has its own solid fan-base. The patrons of Latin American culture are always drawn to the buoyant beat of its music, the taste of its generally spicy cuisine, and the beauty of its beaches and exotic landscape.

The top 5 cheapest tourist spots in South America contributes to its nation's commerce-oriented economy. Here are the key Latin American cities you need to book for your next flight:

Quito, Ecuador

Discovered in the early 1530's by the Spaniards, Quito was one of the oldest urban centers in South America. This capital city sits at 9,350 feet above sea level yet maintaining a spring-like climate all-year round. Anyone staying in the cheapest metropolis in South America is expected to pay only $20.90 per day for overall expenses.

La Paz, Bolivia

Being the third most populous city in the country, the administrative seat is situated at 11,942 feet above sea level. In 1548, the Spaniards call this once indigenous village "Our Lady of Peace," hence the Latin namesake. You are looking at $24.20 overall daily budget if you plan to stay in the urban center.

Cusco, Peru

Anyone drawn to the bizarrely epic architecture of Machu Picchu finds themselves in Cusco. Although not a capital city, this high-altitude Peruvian municipality is considered the nation's tourism hub. It is arguably the second most popular destination of South America. Entrance to the ancient Incan fortress is far more expensive than the $30.26 total daily expenses staying in the cozy antiquated town.

Cartagena, Colombia

The city of Cartagena has the best South American beaches there is. Cartagena has come a long way from overcoming the stigma of being a hazardous place for tourists. In terms of overall budget, you are expected to pay no more than $30.95 per day.

Lima, Peru

The Peruvian capital of Lima does not fall far behind from its tourist-friendly rival. Due to its rich Spanish colonial heritage, Lima is rife with 15th Century architecture. This city maintains its traditional sophistication without having to burn your credits. The overall daily budget does not exceed $31.17 per day.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018
Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 26

Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla today mourned the death of senior BJP leader and former CPS Raj Khurana. Joined by party national vice-president Avinash Rai Khanna, state organisational secretary Dinesh Kumar, state vice-president Harjit Singh Grewal and state secretary Vineet Joshi, Sampla extended his condolences saying it was a big loss to the state and the party.

Remembering Raj Khurana as a close friend, Sampla said he was pained by his demise.

Sampla said: Khurana was a mass leader who was sensitive towards the poor and the needy. He was a dedicated worker who worked hard for the party. His death is an irreparable loss to the BJP and his contributions to the party and society will always be remembered. I pray that his soul may rest in peace. I hope that the god gives the strength to the bereaved family.
Hasan Suroor

Some of Britains top intelligence experts, including a former head of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, are reported to have dissociated themselves from a high-profile project run by a group of Cambridge University academics amid suspicions about its links with Russia. According to The Financial Times, there were concerns that the project could be a Kremlin-backed operation to compromise the group. The row, it said, recalled the spy scare harking back to the heyday of Soviet espionage at the heart of the British establishment. A reference to the audacious wartime Soviet intelligence operation  the so-called Cambridge spy ring  involving, among others, Kim Philby, a senior British intelligence officer who doubled up as a Soviet spy for 30 years before defecting to Moscow; and Anthony Blunt, a leading art historian.

The incident is an indication of the widespread paranoia in Europe about Russia's hostile intentions after allegedly meddling in the American presidential elections. As if the farce playing out in Washington was not enough, now we have the ghost of Vladimir Putin suspected to be lurking round every corner on this side of the Atlantic  from London and Paris to Rome and Berlin. The air is thick with conspiracy theories, apocalyptic intelligence warnings, and intense media speculation. Bets are being laid on "where will Putin strike next?" A series of important elections are due in Europe in the coming months, starting with France where Putin's self-confessed admirer, Marine Le Pen of the Far Right National Front, is dominating the polls on the back of a populist agenda. Other countries, headed for elections, include Germany and Italy. And the received wisdom in political and intelligence quarters is that Moscow will try to influence them in much the same way it is alleged to have done in the US.

One British media report, quoting unnamed analysts, claimed that Russia would seek to bolster the prospects of anti-establishment figures across Europe in elections in the hope of reducing support for sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis. This, it is claimed, is part of its broader aim to destabilise Europe and manipulate its domestic politics through the dark arts of propaganda, fake news and cyber attacks. Intelligence agencies have gone into overdrive issuing breathless warnings, almost on a daily basis, about threats from Russia.

Europe is on edge; indeed, there is something almost psychopathic about its obsession with Russia: that a 1930s spy scandal should be resurrected in relation to Moscows intentions towards Europe in 2016 speaks for itself. The media, apparently convinced that a Putin plot to harm Europe is afoot, is leading the chorus. Typically, The Times had a front page splash alleging a Russian campaign of propaganda and unconventional warfare against Britain.

Moscow is behind a concerted drive to undermine the UK through espionage, misinformation, cyber attacks and fake news, senior Whitehall figures believe, it said, adding that it was part of a broader drive by Moscow to destabilise the West.

The narrative coming out of European capitals is that Putin is determined to create divisions in Europe in order to weaken it. Well, divisions already exist; all he might be doing is exploit these to serve Russian interests. Given the West's own role in destabilising the Soviet Union, and its continuing attempts to interfere in Russia's neighbourhood (the trouble in Ukraine as I've argued in these columns before was the handiwork of Western intelligence agencies), there's a touch of hypocrisy in moaning about Russian meddling. In a recent interview, Mikhail Gorbachev directly blamed the West for the collapse of the Soviet Union comparing it to a Western-inspired coup.

It would be relevant here to remember that the West has a long and dubious history of destabilising enemy governments across the world, mostly communist or left-wing regimes in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The CIA, acting alone or in concert with its European collaborators, has been responsible for toppling democratically elected governments in Iran, Indonesia, Brazil, and Chile among others-often not hesitating to use violence to achieve its aim. Writing in The New York Times, a US academic of Chilean-origin Ariel Dorfman reminded Americans of their own record thus: Given all that pain, one might presume some glee on my part would be justified at the sight of Americans squirming in indignation at the spectacle of their democracy subjected to foreign interference  as Chiles democracy, among others, was by America.

Russia Today (RT), the Moscow-backed global English language TV channel, has caused much hand-wringing and is routinely accused by European leaders of spreading propaganda and misinformation. But, RT is no different from the myriad media outfits that the West has bankrolled over the years to broadcast propaganda in the Third World, and former communist countries. What are VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, if not propaganda outfits? Even the BBC is not the paragon of selfless virtue it claims to be.

The way America and its European allies have got themselves worked up over Russian intelligence and spying is laughable. These are countries with a record of questionable intelligence-gathering tactics  targeting not only rivals, but their own allies. Just two years ago, Berlin and Washington were involved in an ugly diplomatic row after it was found that American spooks had been secretly listening to Angela Merkel's private conversations. In the run-up to the UN vote on military intervention in Iraq, Americans were found to have bugged delegates from several countries to suss out their plans.

Now that the "empire", as it were, is striking back, the West is crying foul. The truth is that behind this outrage is the frustration that a truncated, financially broke and corrupt Russia has risen again and has the audacity not only to challenge the West, but also on its own terms. I suspect its not even so much about Russia, but about Putin. Its personal. They can't simply stand his sheer gal. Which explains why any sinister action of any rogue Russian individual or group is automatically blamed on Putin. Obama claims that the US election hack could not have been carried out without Putin's authorisation. Yet, Americans have failed to produce any evidence to back this theory.

For all the Russia-bashing, however, 2016 belonged to it. The Guardian writer, Jonathan Freedland, described Putin as 2016s biggest winner... this is the year the world was reshaped in his image. Meanwhile, as European leaders prepare to confront Moscow, any hint of Russian interference in the coming elections could provoke a serious showdown. If 2016 was scary  what with the Trump victory et al  2017 could turn out to be even more scary.
Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 26

The strike force of Kashmirs insurgency has continued to be the squads of foreign militants, mostly comprising Pakistanis and mainly affiliated to two organisations  Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

The foreign militants carried out some of the most deadly attacks this year against the security forces, which had a devastating impact on the fragile relation between New Delhi and Islamabad, and threatened to rip apart the historic ceasefire of 2003 along the Line of Control. The attack on an Army unit in north Kashmirs Uri town in September this year left 20 soldiers dead and led to an unprecedented response: the surgical strikes.

The foreign militants engaged security forces in lengthy battles, twice at the sprawling complex of Entrepreneurship Development Institute outside Srinagar. The statistics of attacks also changed and by the end of the year showed an upward spike.

In 2016, 84 security forces personnel were killed in the state compared to only 17 in 2012 when the figures of violence in the region had fallen to the lowest, according to the datasheet maintained by South Asia Terrorism Portal, which monitors terrorism and low-intensity warfare in the South Asian region.

The number of militants killed in 2016 also doubled to 160 from a low of 84 in 2012. The numbers - though they continue to remain on a lower end compared to the peak of violence in 2001 when nearly 3,,000 militants were killed  do suggest an upward trend in the militancy. On the evening of July 8, Burhan Wani, the militant commander who had become the face of insurgency, was killed in a gunfight at a village.

It was a fate that Wani had decided for himself. He wanted to become a martyr, he desired it, Wanis father Muzafar Ahmad said in an interview weeks later. A militants average life in Kashmir can stretch from six months to a year, or a little bit longer. Wani had outlived his militant life. On July 8 afternoon, when he was cornered at his hideout in Bamdoora village near Kokernag picnic spot in south Kashmir, Wani had been a militant for five years and nine months. For the security forces, he was, like other militants in the region, who was wanted - dead or alive.The long militant journey of the 16-year-old teenager, who left his home on a cold October evening in 2010, changed everything for Wani. It made him the most familiar face in the region, and in his death, he changed the landscape of Kashmirs long conflict.

That night in July, when Wanis body was kept at an unknown location for several hours as the authorities decided what to do, Kashmir erupted in anger and defiance. It was a complete intelligence failure, a senior police official later said. Nobody saw it coming.

Wanis death was the end of a life underestimated by many  the police who saw him as a pompous militant, as well as his own militant organisation which rated him too radical, according to interviews of several police officials who monitor militant activities.

In his first video statement, Wani lifted the veil of anonymity from the faceless militant. He gave an identity to militancy, and spelt out its cause. We will not stop until a caliphate is established over the entire world, he said, referring to a pan-Islamist vision of resurrecting a global Islamic state that has inspired generations of Muslim militants. At Wanis funeral in Tral, on July 9, a perfect estimate of mourners could not have been possible. However, a large ground where his funeral was held was filled and there could have been around 2 lakh people in attendance.

It was the most profound expression of sympathy and support for a militant, and such a spectacle was never before witnessed in the recent decade. Over the next two days, parts of south Kashmir had turned into miniature battlefields and demonstrators defied curfew, attacked police stations and security camps. Several hundred protesters were wounded by bullet and pellets, and 26 were dead  one of the highest civilian death toll in a 48-hour time span.The unrest that Wanis killing sparked had two components: its physical manifestation and its psychological space. The unrest went on for months and left behind a generation of angry and radicalised young men and women as separatist sentiment deepened - even in those parts of the region which had remained previously untouched by its politics.

With more than 80 civilians killed and several thousand injured, as the security forces struggled to quell demonstrations, the insurgency basked in its new support base and the counter-insurgency grid had to halt its operations for several months. The year 2016 ends with a note of caution. The number of militants is higher than it was the previous year. The militant attacks are becoming more lethal. The sympathies for militants are growing and people are coming to their rescue by clashing with the security forces during counter-insurgency operations.

For the first time in the recent decade, and in a way ever since the inception of militancy in the region, the insurgency has succeeded in mobilising its support base to its perfect advantage as unarmed population jumps into a ring of fire to protect militants - an indicator that Kashmir is heading for a long haul. (Concluded)
Jitendra K Shrivastava

Patna, December 26

The Bihar Government has set up temporary mini-hospitals and health check-up centres to provide free medical services to Sikh pilgrims visiting the city to mark the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

At least four six-bed mini-hospitals  two at Bypass Road tent city catering to 38,000 devotees and one each at Gandhi Maidan tent city accommodating 18,000 devotees and Kangan Ghat tent city with capacity of 5,000 devotees  were made functional on Monday. These have all modern facilities, including intensive care units (ICUs), ambulance services, etc. The devotees will be given round-the-clock health services besides medicines free of cost.

A team of four doctors assisted by 22 auxiliary staff will work in three shifts at each mini-hospital. If required, patients can be referred to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) besides other big hospitals.

Patna Civil Surgeon Girindra Shekhar Singh said: Each mini-hospital and health centre having out-patient departments (OPDs) has 75 different medicines. All medicines prescribed by the doctors will be provided free of cost. In emergency cases, patients can be referred to nearby hospitals and will be given free medical services there.

At Bypass Road tent city, the government in coordination with primary health hubs has set up a cardiac centre.

Besides mini-hospital, health centres have been set up at all 20 facilitation centres. Doctors and auxiliary staffs will provide preliminary health services before referring them to the nearest hospital. At least 40 ambulances with advanced life support system will also be stationed.
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 27

India today urged Norway to reunite the five-and-half-year-old child with his natural parents after he was taken away by Norwegian authorities on charges of alleged abuse. The Indian ambassador in Norway is scheduled to meet the Norwegian authorities later today and take up the case.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a series of tweets today, made the case that the child should be returned to his natural parents, and that she refused to accept the fact that foster parents can take care of the child better than the natural parents.

Swaraj tweeted: Our ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents. The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents.

The mother of the child, Gurvinderjit Kaur, is an Indian national while her husband is Norwegian. They have alleged that their child was taken away from them on frivolous charges and placed in foster care. India stepped in after the childs mother wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking help in getting her child back.

This is not the first time that children have been taken away from Indian-origin parents on charges of abuse by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

In 2011, a three-year-old and a one-year-old were taken away from their parents. The UPA government had then taken up the issue with Norway. Later, the Norwegian court had allowed the children to be reunited with their parents.

In 2012, an Indian couple was sent to jail on charges of ill-treatment of their children, aged seven and two. The children were finally sent to their grandparents in Hyderabad.
New Delhi/Panaji, December 27

In a Tuesday morning of airline mishaps, two aircraft came face-to-face at Delhi Airport whereas 15 passengers were injured as a Jet Airways flight veered off the runway at Dabolim airport in Goa.

A major mishap was averted at Delhi Airport on Tuesday morning when two aircraft of private carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet came face-to-face allegedly due to an ATC miscommunication, sources said.

While an IndiGo plane, which had arrived from Lucknow, had over 160 passengers on board, the Hyderabad-bound SpiceJet aircraft was carrying 187 passengers when the incident took place, they said.

The matter has been reported to the aviation regulator DGCA, which has initiated a probe into the incident.

SpiceJet confirmed the incident and said that at no point of time the safety of its passengers was at risk.

SpiceJet flight SG 123 operating between Delhi and Hyderabad was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. While taxing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC, the airline said in a statement.

Safety is of utmost and primary concern at SpiceJet, it said, adding, At no stage the safety of passengers and crew was compromised. All authorities concerned were immediately informed, a SpiceJet spokesperson said in the statement.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The IndiGo spokesperson was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, a Jet Airways flight with 161 people on board veered off the runway at Dabolim airport in Goa while aligning for take-off to Mumbai early on Tuesday, with 15 passengers suffering minor injuries during evacuation.

The incident took place around 5 am. Flight 9W 2374 which had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, and was about to take off when it skidded off the runway.

When the evacuation was on, the aircraft tilted forward, an eyewitness said, triggering panic among passengers.

Navy sources said 15 people suffered minor injuries and fractures in the process.

A few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities, the airlines said in a statement.

Besides 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board.

The airport has been closed for operations till 12.30 pm for all flight operations, airport sources said.

When people were getting down the plane, it suddenly tilted forward triggering panic and chaos, a passenger told reporters at Chicalim cottage hospital in Vasco.

Seven of the injured have been discharged from the hospital. The airline's flight operations to and from Goa have resumed, Jet Airways said.

"We have resumed normal operations to and from Goa and normalcy has also restored to the operations at Goa airport," Jet Airways said in a statement.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Civil Aviation Ministry will investigate the incident.

The civil aviation minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raj, has promised a thorough, time-bound investigation.

AAIB has sent a three-member team to the "accident" scene, sources in New Delhi said.

"Prima facie the runway accident appears to be a pilot's fault. The DGCA has withdrawn the flying privileges of the two pilots, including the Commander, pending the initial outcome of the probe," a well-placed source within the DGCA said.

Preliminary findings are likely to be submitted in a week's time. PTI
(By Tsem Rinpoche)

Dear friends around the world,

On December 25, 2016, Kechara had the great merits and privilege to offer an official place of residence to the oracle of Dorje Shugden, His Eminence the 7th Panglung Kuten Thubten Phelgye Jigme Namgyal, affectionately known as Choje-la.

This residence is called Panglung Ritroe in commemoration of the original Panglung Ritroe in Lhasa, Tibet which was home to the Panglung Rinpoches and the lineage of the Panglung oracles. Panglung Ritroe was known to be a very sacred and holy place as the Panglung oracles took trance of numerous Dharma Protectors, such as Dorje Shugden, Setrap and Kache Marpo there.

This was also the very place that Choje-las father, the 6th Panglung oracle, took trance and advised that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his entourage should leave Tibet. Just imagine, the sacred king of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, had his life saved by the oracular pronouncements of Dorje Shugden through this illustrious line of oracles, from Panglung Ritroe in 1959.

I have known of Choje-la for quite some time now and over the past 10 years, my students and I have developed a connection with him. I got to know Choje-la much better when he visited us in Kechara Forest Retreat last year and I have only deep appreciation and great respect for this saintly old monk who has selflessly spent his entire life taking trance of Protectors to help and benefit the sangha, high lamas and lay people. He has been doing this for over 40 years.

This is why, with Dorje Shugdens blessings, I decided to create a permanent home here in Kechara Forest Retreat for Choje-la, who has devoted his life to benefiting others without thinking of himself. I wanted to offer Choje-la his own place where he has complete privacy and independence, where he can live comfortably with his assistants, where he can host friends and guests, where he can come and go as he likes, and most importantly a place where he can live out the rest of his life if he wants to.

I wish for this wonderful elderly monk to live in a beautiful place surrounded by mountains, greenery, dotted with Buddha statues and brimming with Dharma activities. I do not wish for anything in return from Choje-la and my only hope is that he is happy, healthy and comfortable in his new home. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to serve Choje-la in this manner in his older years, as I have done in the past with many other elderly lamas.

With Choje-las permission, I named the house Panglung Ritroe because I see it as a revival of Dorje Shugdens lineage, a symbol of the glorious history of the Panglung oracles, and I hope it is a place that will continue to benefit and help many beings. We believe in the Tibetan tradition that by offering a place of residence to eminent monks, great teachers, and practitioners, we create the causes for the Buddhadharma to grow, stabilize and reach many more people because it is with a comfortable residence that they can maintain their bodies and health to continue their Dharma works.

I thank everyone involved in the sponsorship, planning, building, pujas and physical hard work that went into this project which took a year to complete. Without the hard work of Kecharians and friends who did all this, this would not have been possible. I also thank Choje-la for agreeing to this project, for accepting the residence and I thank Dorje Shugden for granting my request to create this residence.

By offering this residence to Choje-la on behalf of Kechara, may all things auspicious come true as in the King of Prayers! May Dorje Shugdens lineage from here on in be revived and preserved, bringing tremendous benefit to the world, just like it did in the past. May all involved be blessed and protected by Manjushri in this and future lives.

Sarva Mangalam.

With great happiness and prayers,

Tsem Rinpoche

Or view the video on the server at:

https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/PanglungRitroeChojela.mp4

The Opening of Panglung Ritroe

About Panglung Ritroe

Panglung Ritroe is the name given to a hermitage that belonged to the 1st Panglung Rinpoche, who had served the Tibetan government in Tibet. For his services subsidising a war between Tibet and a small country in Mongolia, named Sengba, he was given the hermitage and it was named after him. It was located near Sera Mey Monastery in Lhasa. This hermitage included the official ladrang of the Panglung Rinpoche, a chapel where the Panglung oracle could take trance, and quarters for the Panglung oracle.

Since then, Panglung Ritroe became a place where the Buddhas teachings were preserved and spread. This is especially true of the lineage of Dorje Shugden. Panglung Rinpoche had a personal oracle that he had trained, who came to live with the Panglung Rinpoche at the hermitage. Over time this oracle became known as the Panglung Kuten, or the Panglung Oracle, because he lived there. The oracular lineage belonging to this hermitage has been passed down for seven generations and is the most renowned line of Dorje Shugden oracles from Tibet.

The current 7th Panglung Kuten Thubten Phelgye Jigme Namgyal, affectionately known as Choje-la was trained and authorised by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and the 2nd Kyabje Domo Geshe Rinpoche. Born in Panglung Ritroe in Tibet, he lived there with his mother and father. Choje-las father was the previous 6th Panglung Kuten, and was famed for his trances of Dorje Shugden, Setrap and Kache Marpo. In fact it was in Panglung Ritroe that the 6th Panglung Kuten took trance of Dorje Shugden to give advice that His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama should leave Tibet in 1959. Unfortunately the Panglung Ritroe was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in Tibet. Despite this, it is still considered a very important and sacred place, as Dorje Shugden took trance of the oracle so many times there. Pilgrims can still be seen going to the ruins to make offerings, prayers, sangsol (incense offerings), to hang prayer flags and circumambulate the holy site.

Choje-la did not have an official ladrang or residence up until now. As the oracle of Dorje Shugden, this ladrang can also be seen as the ladrang of Dorje Shugden himself. Since its destruction after 1959, around 100 people within certain associations did their utmost best to procure certificates from the current authorities in Tibet in order to rebuild. However since Panglung Ritroe was not registered previously with the authorities, certificates could not be obtained. Therefore reconstruction in Tibet has not been possible, and Choje-la has been left without a ladrang. If Choje-la was in Tibet, Panglung Ritroe would be his home as he was born there, and is where both his parents worked and served the Dharma community.

In 2015 Choji-la visited Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR) to perform a series of prayers for the stability and growth of KFR, and the growth of the Dharma. It was during this visit that Choji-la took trance of Dorje Shugden and Kache Marpo, blessing those present and the land. Following this visit, His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche decided that Panglung Ritroe would be reconstructed here in Kechara Forest Retreat, and then offered up to Choji-la in thanks for his years of service to the Dharma through his work as an oracle and as the re-establishment of a powerful ladrang.

Before construction began, traditional procedures were followed and pujas were performed to bless the land and environment. Prayers are performed to generate the necessary merits needed to build temples or other structures. In this case it is the reconstruction of Panglung Ritroe, the ladrang of the Panglung Kuten. This post highlights the months of construction that went into this building and most importantly, the historic moment that Panglung Ritroe was offered up to the Panglung Kuten himself.

Prior to Panglung Ritroe being offered to him, the Panglung Kuten realised that behind the residence was a hill with a sacred statue of Manjushri and in front, off to one-side, is the stunning statue of Tara. This matches perfectly the layout of Panglung Ritroe in Tibet, which had a hill behind it with a chapel of Dorje Shugden, who is none other than Manjushri, and also a nearby place where Machig Labdron meditated. Machig Labdron is considered to be an emanation of Tara. Therefore what existed around Panglung Ritroe in Tibet has been mirrored in Kechara Forest Retreat. This matching layout was not intentional. However it is a strong, potent and auspicious sign that Panglung Ritroe has once again been established, and the holy lineage of Dorje Shugden has been revived for the world to benefit from. Please watch the video below and see the pictures of its construction to witness this holy event in preserving the Dorje Shugden lineage and reviving the great power of Panglung Ritroe.

Mr. JP Thong, a student of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche shares in such a beautiful and inspiring way, his spiritual journey in building this holy Panglung Ritroe. JP skilfully infuses the work with dharma and inner transformation. In fact, the whole project for JP was a spiritual practice and meditation in action. Please listen to this short and inspiring video of the meaning behind Panglung Ritroe and why it was built in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia.



Or view the video on the server at:

https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/TheBuildingOfPanglungRitroe.mp4

Biography of the 7th Panglung Kuten

The current Panglung Kuten Thubten Phelgye Jigme Namgyal, is the 7th oracle from the renowned lineage of Panglung oracles, hailing from Sera Monastery. He was personally trained and his psychic energy channels were blessed by the previous Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and the 2nd Domo Geshe Rinpoche. For more than 40 years, he has been taking trance for the monasteries, high lamas, sangha and lay practitioners from all around the world. The 7th Panglung oracle takes trance of Dorje Shugden, Setrap, Kache Marpo, Shiptak Gyene and several other Dharma protectors.

He is a gentle, humble and virtuous monk who holds his vows very well and he has never expected any form of reward in return for the assistance that he has rendered to so many. Although he is learned, the Panglung oracle is modest, unassuming and a very private person who engages in his meditation practices quietly.

Many devoted practitioners from around the world request him to travel all over, in order to take trance of Dorje Shugden to give prophecies and dispense advice for all kinds of problems. It is without a doubt that he has benefited innumerable people through the accurate prophecies and incredible blessings of the protector. This goes to show the incredible compassion and full omniscience of the great Dharma protector Dorje Shugden, who interacts with practitioners through the Panglung Kuten.





For more interesting information:



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Correction

This story originally misstated the year Oklahoma recorded a record number of earthquakes. The story has been corrected.

Oklahoma is set to drop about a third below 2015s record number of earthquakes, but 2016 is still the states second-shakiest year ever by frequency.

The rate of quakes has been on an almost yearlong downward trend, but the seismic energy released by them in 2016 is a record. That banner distinction was made possible by three temblors of magnitude-5.0 or greater, which is one more than the rest of the states recorded history.

The 90-day moving average of quakes registering at least magnitude-2.8 is now about 1.75 per day, which is on par with early 2014, according to the Oklahoma Geological Survey. The states peak was slightly above 4.5 a day in summer 2015.

So what might Oklahomans expect in 2017?

A recent model developed by two Stanford University geophysicists predicts a 37 percent chance in 2017 for Oklahoma to experience a quake that exceeds magnitude-5.0. One of the studys authors told the Tulsa World that its almost certain the state will see at least one damaging quake in the next five years, with elevated odds persisting for a decade.

OGS Director Jeremy Boak said its his hope in the new year that the oil and natural gas industry shares more seismic data with the research community. That way, Boak said, scientists can begin piecing together a better picture of critically stressed and optimally aligned faults in the states crystalline basement rock.

Boak explained the importance of such data by pointing out that about half of Oklahomas earthquakes occur on unidentified faults. He also referenced recent U.S. Geological Survey research that determined a quakes size is dictated by natural tectonic strains on a fault, not the volume of saltwater injected into deep wells.

Thats important because humans have no handle on how strong quakes are because the saltwater injection is only providing the trigger that releases a faults pent-up energy, he said.

So a large quake could still be triggered even with 2016s steep drop in wastewater volumes.

We may need to be on the hunt for a fault that could move but hasnt yet, Boak said.

In 2016, there have been 615 quakes of magnitude-3.0 or greater through Dec. 22. Oklahoma tallied a record 903 in 2015. The third-highest year was 2014, which saw 579 3.0-plus quakes.

This year also appears as if it will record the second-most quakes of at least magnitude-4.0, with 15 so far, according to OGS data. There were 27 in 2015 and 14 in 2014.

Boak said his expectation is for the decline in frequency to continue, but he reminded Oklahomans not to become complacent that another large quake wont happen.

Boak said he expects a few more announcements on volume cutbacks from state regulators, with indications from an ongoing study that more reductions will make the quake rate decline faster.

But with that scientific research so uncertain at this point, Boak said there could be pushback from the industry. Especially if the quake frequency continues to drop without further restrictions, he added.

Thats going to be the challenge next year: (Do volumes) need to go down further? Boak said.
Ten years ago, Diane Horm was not looking for a job.

She was entering her 20th year of teaching at the University of Rhode Island. She was an associate dean with plans to build an addition onto her house. She was established in her career and social circle.

Yet, the calls to check out a new position as director of an early childhood institute at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa were too interesting to dismiss.

Boy was I impressed, Horm recalls. Compared to Rhode Island, there was so much going on in early childhood here.

Before Horm arrived on the scene, the foundation had been laid to change the way Oklahoma viewed early experiences. Led by Tulsa philanthropist George Kaiser, business and education leaders pushed for more pre-school investment.

Convincing evidence came from emerging brain and social research showing that the first years of life are crucial in healthy development through childhood and adolescence.

No longer was watching young children considered babysitting or day care. The care of children from birth to school age evolved into an education system.

A first significant change was adding pre-kindergarten enrollment to the states education funding formula, allowing school districts to offer voluntary, universal pre-K. Then, programs targeting the most impoverished children were beefed up and established  federal Head Start and the nonprofit Educare.

That was just the beginning.

In 2006, the Early Childhood Education Institute was established through a gift from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Horm has been the director of the institute ever since.

Early childhood education suffers from a lack of public recognition that its a profession, Horm said. George Kaiser recognized we need qualified staff in lead teaching positions in Educare and Head Start. By establishing the institute, that brought attention  academically and in research  to early childhood education to focus on the need to provide prepared personnel to work in the profession.

There is a recognition now it is a specialized knowledge and skill.

At the 10-year anniversary, the OU-Tulsa institute has been taking stock of its achievements and what lies ahead.

Growing recognition: Horm was tasked a decade ago with two objectives: complete the bachelors degree track at OU-Tulsa and launch the graduate programs for early childhood education programs and start applying research with the citys Educare and Head Start programs.

Horms background focused on evaluation program research. Meaning, she could analyze data to figure out the best ways a teacher can prepare young children.

For early childhood education, this was  and is  a growing research area, especially for birth to 3 years old.

Horm leveraged this wide-open field in 2011 when OU officials decided to re-compete the schools University Strategic Organizations. That is a label designated by the school to areas of research with the most potential to attract research grants.

Arguing Oklahoma was leading the country in early education and citing an ongoing study of Tulsa programs by Georgetown University researchers, Horm was successful in landing the priority label.

It increased visibility for the early childhood research work not only at OU but also nationally.

In the future: Outcomes of children completing the Tulsa programs  backed by researchers at Georgetown and the OU-Tulsa institute  show them arriving at elementary schools prepared and even performing above age level.

Some federal lawmakers, including Congressman Jim Bridenstine and former Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, have criticized the programs, citing studies showing some achievement gaps reappearing in third and fifth grades.

Horm describes human development as a relay race, with early childhood as the first leg. The later runners also have to do their part.

People who use fade-out as the reason to cut early childhood programs have misunderstood it as the silver bullet. Its not, she said.

On the horizon are questions about how to continue the gains made in early learning programs. Policymakers are examining research, including that coming out of OU-Tulsas institute, to strengthen the gains from pre-K through fifth grade.

Also, finding out more on the effects of mixed-income early childhood classes and following babies through middle-school years are possible areas for research.

Another factor to consider is the pay of child-care providers, which can be minimum wage in some private settings. Questions remain about how that affects quality and what characteristics make for a quality teacher.

Some of these policy questions may fall to the doctorates in early education now coming out of OU-Tulsa and its institute. The first class of doctoral students in early childhood education graduated in 2015, with one working in the field and five in academic settings.

This is also building up the next generation of teachers in early childhood, Horm said.
Since the emerald ash borer was first found in Oklahoma nearly three months ago in a trap near Grove, a few sightings from private land owners in that area  one verified  also have been reported.

The pest is of particular concern for Tulsa, given the citys proximity to Delaware County and use of ash trees in streetscapes and parks.

The ash borer is a beetle not native to North America that attacks all types of ashes, with the potential to kill small trees in a year or two and large ones in three to four years, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Service.

Oklahoma State Forester George Geissler said he isnt surprised his agency hasnt received more sightings after the ash borer was first found Oct. 12 in Delaware County. He said the pests life cycle slows in colder weather, and it isnt reproducing this time of year.

But Geissler said the beetles typically can move into nearby counties a year or so after they are discovered in a location. Adults fly an average of one to six miles beyond the tree from which they emerge and have been known to cover 10 miles.

The transport of infected ash firewood also creates infestations. Geissler said experts believe larvae in firewood is the primary way in which the insect spreads.

The ash borer isnt racing across the landscape, Geissler said, but it is a concern because it came to this continent via overseas shipping and has no controllers or competitors to corral it.

So the insect has the ability to move pretty much unchecked through the ash trees in our state, he said, noting its a methodically moving species. It likes all ash trees.

The ash borer already has killed tens of millions of ash trees throughout the Midwest. In Oklahoma, ashes make up about 2 to 4 percent of the forest, Geissler said.

The invasive species holds the potential to wipe out Tulsas 200,000 ashes in perhaps as soon as five years, according to Steve Grantham, executive director of Up With Trees.

Coincidentally, Up With Trees only three weeks ago released its 20-year master plan to plant 300,000 trees and boost Tulsas canopy coverage to 30 percent from 26 percent.

Grantham explained that ashes comprise 4 percent of Tulsas urban forest but not 4 percent of its canopy because they arent huge trees in Oklahoma.

He said its not surprising to find the beetle in this state, with the species already in Kansas City, western Arkansas, half of Missouri, north Texas and Colorado. Oklahoma essentially was surrounded, he said.

This (master) plan helped us begin an emerald ash borer response plan, Grantham said. Were working with City Hall right now; we are definitely ahead of where we wouldve been without this plan, which was in development for more than a year and a half.

The adult beetle is a dark metallic green, measuring a half-inch long and one-eighth-inch wide, according to the Oklahoma Forestry Services.

The adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in a trees bark about one-eighth-inch in diameter. Its larvae are cream-colored and segmented, easy to spot by peeling back loose tree bark.

The top third of an ash tree typically dies off first, progressing downward.

There is a modicum of hope for Oklahomas ashes, but only on a local scale.

Geissler said a pesticide exists that resists the insect, but it only lasts a season or two and is rather expensive. That virtually rules out its use on a widespread basis.

Some landowners might see it as a worthwhile investment if there is a particularly large tree in their yard they want to protect for sentimental, aesthetic or property value reasons.

The important thing right now is the value that they have, especially in urban areas where they were widely planted, Geissler said.

Individuals and communities basically put a significant investment in putting these in to help with clean air, clean water and beautification.

And that investment, if you want to look at it as that, can be lost because of this pest.
The ABC has agreed to open board meetings to the public next year, avoiding the government introducing legislation to force the broadcaster it to hold the forums.

At least half of the ABCs 6 board meetings will be followed by community forums in a bid to make their processes more transparent. At least two will be held in regional areas, The Australian reports.

An SBS spokeswoman also said it would take government policy into consideration when arranging board meetings for 2017 but it already hosted and participated in many community forums, providing valuable opportunities to connect with the diverse communities it serves.

Senator Leyonhjelm asked for the open community forums as part of a vote deal with the government to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it.





I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends.





More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it.





The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity.





About me:

I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS.

Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line).

Age: 42

Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed.





I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it).
No Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but two servicemen were wounded and another two were taken captive in the ATO area in eastern Ukraine in last day.

Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO Colonel Oleksandr Motuzianyk said this at a press briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"No Ukrainian soldiers were killed, but two servicemen were wounded as a result of military hostilities in Donbas in last day. In addition, another two soldiers were taken captive after they had lost their way near Bakhmut route [Donetsk region]," Motuzianyk said.

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Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov has stated that representatives of the volunteer battalions will not carry out the trade blockade of the occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk regions without the corresponding approval of Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Poroshenko.

Turchynov said this to journalists on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"There must be no chaos and anarchy on the frontline. The servicepersons must obey the orders of their commanders. It is the only way to defend our country. Those, who make their own decisions and start to implement them, will only destabilize the situation. If the Supreme Commander-in-Chief does not approve any blockade, nobody must block and put roadblocks in the ATO area. This will not happen," he said, when asked to comment on the statement made by some veterans of the volunteer battalions on launch of a trade blockade of the occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

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Export of Ukrainian goods and services to the European Union countries amounted to 35.7% for the first 9 months of 2016.

Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Natalia Mykolska said this in a commentary to Hromadske.

"We see a trend that the EU actually remains to be our main trading partner, and our exports to the European Union grow. The goods constitute the bulk of exports (more than 85%), while the services amount to only 15%. The growth of exports to the EU testifies to the fact that the FTA agreement is effective," she said.

Mykolska added that the export of value-added products started to increase gradually.

As a reminder, the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Area Agreement came into effect on January 1, 2016.

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The state budget for 2017 that was elaborated by the Government will be a budget that is capable of triggering development and growth of Ukraines economy.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said this at a meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko during which the President signed the Law of Ukraine "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2017", Governments portal reported.

"We did a good job and found the right approach while drawing up the budget for the upcoming 2017. We believe that it will be a budget of development, a budget of growth," Groysman said.

"In fact, we have balanced the budget in order to protect the interests of people and our state," the Prime Minister stressed.

The Prime Minister welcomed signing by the President of the Law "On State Budget of Ukraine for 2017".

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Export of goods from Ukraine during the period of January-September 2016 decreased by 8% compared to the same period of 2015.

First Vice Prime Minister, Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv said this at the final press conference, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The volume of Ukrainian exports for nine months of 2016 amounted to USD 32.3 billion, but, unfortunately, we still observe the fall of the Ukrainian export. It decreased by 8% for nine months," Kubiv said.

Earlier, the Ministry noted that the Export Credit Agency was the main tool of business support and promotion of Ukrainian goods abroad.

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Ukraine doesnt purchase coal in Russia, but up to 9 million tonnes of anthracite coal per year is delivered from the temporary occupied territories in Donbas.

Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Kistion said this in an interview with 24 TV Channel.

We do not purchase coal in Russia. We receive up to 9 million tonnes of anthracite coal per year from occupied territories, the vice prime minister said.

He stressed that despite of the fact that coal is delivered from the territories occupied by terrorists, these areas still remain the territory of Ukraine.

This is the territory of Ukraine, he said.

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One of Afghanistans most powerful leaders says his country plays a central role in preventing terrorist groups from threatening regional and global security.

Mohammad Hanif Atmar, national security adviser to the Afghan president, called for continued international consensus in helping Kabul fight the varied militant groups it currently faces.

His call for a united front against terrorism came as regional powers, including Afghanistans neighbors, increasingly engage with Afghan insurgents or even deliberate on security threats emanating from Afghanistan without involving the Kabul government.

We told everyone -- Iran, NATO, Russia, China, India, Saudi Arabia -- that they will only benefit from aiding the Afghans in their struggle against terrorism, Atmar told Radio Free Afghanistan. We have warned them against tainting this consensus with their bilateral differences.

On December 27, Russia, China, and Pakistan warned of the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan.

"(The three countries) expressed particular concern about the rising activity in the country of extremist groups including the Afghan branch of Islamic State (IS)," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters after the trilateral meeting in Moscow.

Atmar, however, says any actions against the militant groups operating from Afghanistan need to be coordinated with Kabul.

These countries are responding to a changing global situation, and their changing postures will not have a positive effect on us, Atmar noted. We want to keep the previous global consensus on terrorism. We would like to keep a united front.

Responding to reports that Russia and Iran have recently developed contacts with the Afghan Taliban, he called on Moscow and Tehran to refrain from cultivating such relationships.

Iran and Russia are our friends, and they need to use their contacts [with the insurgents] for peace instead of exploiting them for war, he said, adding that both countries should learn from Pakistans experience.

Since the early 1980s, Pakistan has supported various domestic and transnational militant networks in Afghanistan. But many among those eventually turned against Islamabad, resulting in large-scale bloodshed. More than 60,000 Pakistani civilians, militants, and soldiers have been killed in terrorist attacks and military operations since 2004.

The contact and understanding among states is the basis for participating in the war against terrorism, he noted. We have told them that this [contact with insurgents] will ultimately result in a defeat in the war on terrorism -- for us and for them.

The Afghan national security adviser noted it was important to understand the kind of militant threats his country faces. He said that four different categories of militant groups are active in Afghanistan.

These include the Afghan Taliban, Pakistani groups such as Lashkar-e Taiba and Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and other Central Asia groups, as well as international terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and IS.

They cooperate because they need one another, he said. Now only one of them is interested in Afghanistan, but the rest want to use terrorism there against other states.

Atmar said that after surviving a major economic downturn and the burden of fighting on their own last year, Afghan forces successfully defended major population centers and key provinces against a resurgent Taliban.

Very few armies in the world can fight eight different fronts simultaneously, he said. Next year will be a year of success for us because of our trust in our people and forces.

Atmar said security interests will prompt Washington to continue its support for Kabul after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office next month.

The interest of Afghanistan and the United States complement each other in the struggle against terrorism, he said.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this based on Radio Free Afghanistan bureau chief Hamid Mohmands interview in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Six restaurants in Strasbourg threw open their kitchens to refugee chefs in the run-up to Christmas, allowing them to serve the dishes of their homeland and bring together different cultures through food.

The Refugee Food Festival was the initiative of Food Sweet Food, an organization that specializes in forming connections between people through culinary events, books and documentaries, and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

The goal was to change the way refugees are perceived, while allowing residents enjoying Strasbourgs seasonal festivities to taste new flavours and discover other cuisines.

"Behind the refugee crisis are women, children and men coming to France with talents ... waiting to be uncovered."

The Refugee Food Festival is a reminder that behind the refugee crisis are women, children and men coming to France with talents, professions and valuable skills, which are only waiting to be uncovered, says Marine Mandrila, who co-founded Food Sweet Food with fellow Parisian Louis Martin.

Participating restaurants are serving Afghan, Syrian and Tibetan dishes and sometimes inventing new recipes.

When I heard about the festival, it was evident for me that we had to participate. It is exactly in line with the spirit of the restaurant, openness to new cultures and culinary traditions, says Frederic Muller, owner of the French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Mandala that is highlighting fusion cooking, combining the culinary traditions of Alsace, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Six restaurants open their kitchens to refugee chefs this Christmas season

All the refugee chefs taking part are professionals in their home countries who are using their cooking skills to integrate socially and professionally in France.

We want to use our skills, show our talents, and also learn more about French cuisine, says Hussam Khodari, a Syrian refugee chef who is cooking a Syrian brunch at the Cafe con Leche. It includes moutabal (eggplant dip), falafel (chickpea patties), labneh (soft cheese), fatteh (toasted flatbread with fillings, a Syrian breakfast dish) and foul (made from fava beans).

We want to use our skills, show our talents, and also learn more about French cuisine.

The owner of Cafe con Leche, Mohammed El Ouariachi, says he and Hussam quickly found common ground. We spoke about cuisine and food immediately.

All the restaurants participating in the festival agree that the arrival of new people and new talent is an asset for French food culture, which has always been enriched by foreign flavours.

The festival also seeks to give them a head start and make their access to employment easier, says Louis Martin, co-founder of Food Sweet Food.

The menu and the different dishes made by Hussam.  UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Two of the different courses at the Mandala restaurant.  UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Hussam Khodari, a Syrian refugee chef, cooks brunch at Cafe con Leche.  UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Hussam prepares his food at the Cafe con Leche.  UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Some of the food on offer at the Cafe con Leche.  UNHCR/Benjamin Loyseau

Restaurant owners participating in the Refugee Food Festival agree that the event and the discovery of new culinary talents could open up employment opportunities for the refugee chefs.

The restaurant has been fully booked for two weeks, says Frederic Muller. If the festival is a success, they are thinking of employing their guest Afghan chef Ahmadzai on a temporary basis, he adds, and possibly taking him on permanently.

The idea of the festival is based on solidarity and conviviality, as well as a love of food and a desire to bring newly-arrived culinary talent into the French food scene.

The festival also seeks to give them a head start and make their access to employment easier.

The festival is an important project for UNHCR. Besides its humanitarian programmes, the agency strives to help refugees restart their lives as soon as possible and map out a future for them.

Learning languages and skills, and acquiring professional qualifications is essential for their financial, social and cultural integration into host societies. Research shows that refugees contribute to the economy of a country if given the opportunity to work and integrate.

The Strasbourg Refugee Food Festival will be followed by a bigger event in June 2017 in various European cities, and a toolkit is being designed and will be available online for people wishing to organize refugee food festivals in their own cities.
DES MOINES  Hull Sen. Randy Feenstra is living the dream as a Republican legislator tasked with reforming, rewriting and reducing Iowas income taxes.

Feenstra, 47, enters his third term in the Iowa Senate next month as the new chairman of the Senates tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and part of a GOP majority that controls the Senate for the first time in a decade along with a Republican-led House and GOP governor.

Expectations are running high that the first GOP trifecta at the Statehouse since 1997 will produce significant changes to the states complicated income tax code beyond the 10 percent across-the-board cut they engineered the last time they were at the controls of state government.

There is absolutely a lot of pressure, Feenstra said during a recent interview at the Statehouse, where he has been busy poring over test runs and analyzing data with the nonpartisan Legislative Service Agency of various changes to Iowas income tax code and the impacts each would have for taxpayers.

He also has been meeting with stakeholder groups to get their input and studying how tax and spending decisions have to go hand in hand to avoid unforeseen or unintended consequences.

GOP leaders have made it clear that tax reform is at the top of their two-year agenda, but Feenstra said the task has been complicated by slumping revenue that will require short-term budget fixes and the complexities of Iowas tax tangle of credits, deductions, penalties and rate structures.

Currently, Iowas personal income tax system has rates in nine brackets that range from 0.36 percent to 8.98 percent, but state officials argue the top effective rate is closer to 6 percent when you factor in the effects of Iowa being one of only a handful of states that allow taxpayers to deduct their federal liability from their state tax.

It is time that we do some type of reform in the system that is the most complicated system in the nation. My goal is to streamline and then see once how that plays out with revenues and so forth, Feenstra said. Its not as simple as just saying, hey, were going to do one rate or two rates or whatever it might be. There is a lot of stuff.

Feenstra has looked at past studies of Iowas tax code as well as changes other states have made to analyze how they worked or didnt produce their hoped-for results.

I think all things are on the table right now, he said. Im looking at a myriad of designs. There are a lot of states that have pieces that I like and I want to see once how that fits in, but in doing that you also have to do your runs so you dont whimsically say this is a good idea and yet the data shows that some taxpayers are going to pay a lot more.

Right now were like little test tubes. Were testing many, many different scenarios and what is the best thing for Iowa in the individual income tax, corporate income tax and even then the smaller stakeholders that have the different credits and deductions and so forth, he added.

During public forums in advance of the Legislature convening Jan. 9, GOP leaders had made clear they expect the new Republican legislative majority will push a major reform to simplify and reduce state income taxes.

Sen. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, who will be installed as the new Senate president, told a Des Moines business forum that tax reform will be a top priority along with balancing, streamlining the state budget and improving Iowas water quality as legislators focus on jobs, growth and reform.

I believe one of the messages from this campaign is that Iowans feel that they are over-taxed, Whitver said. We will have a bill to address individual income tax this year. I believe were going to have a situation where we can have a win-win where we can put more money in the pocket of hard-working Iowans while also growing our state. Well have that bill. What it will look like we dont know yet. Were still working on the details.

Feenstra is among the players who will decide what that reform looks like.

Its got to be very reasonable. Its got to be that it benefits Iowa, not hurts Iowa. Its got to be data-driven, its got to be factually driven and we can do that, but it takes a lot of time and there are a lot of moving parts, he said. It might also be a multi-year project, he added.

As much as Id like to do it in one year, we might have to do some things over a two-year period and maybe show whats behind the curtain in the first year and say this is what were looking at doing, Feenstra noted.
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in bedrock, soil and groundwater across Iowa and, if ingested over a long period of time, is associated with increased risks of certain types of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular and neurological issues.

In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency adopted a new standard for arsenic in public drinking water supplies, decreasing it from 50 parts per billion to 10 parts per billion.

However, the maximum contaminant level goal, the level at which no adverse health effects are expected, is 0 parts per billion. Because the water quality of private wells is unregulated, well owners are not required to treat their water to meet the EPA standard, but it is used as a guideline.

In arsenic testing done by IowaWatch during summer 2016, no wells produced results higher than the maximum EPA public water standard. However, a handful showed detectible levels of arsenic at 2 or 3 parts per billion.

Its good to know if you have it, so you can treat your water, reduce it, remove it, said Pete Weyer, interim director of the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination.

Arsenic is highly toxic and it would be best not to have any arsenic in your water, not because its necessarily going to cause any health problems for you but just to be safe.

Starting in July 2015, a state Grants to Counties program began including arsenic testing along with bacteria and nitrate testing. The tests, which are free to homeowners, are conducted by county sanitarians in participating counties.

The change followed studies, including a statewide survey and a study in Cerro Gordo County, which showed arsenic to be more prevalent across Iowa than previously thought.

Arsenic frequently is found in the north central region of Iowa. However, arsenic can be found in every major aquifer across the state.

Because it is hard to predict where arsenic will occur, county sanitarians and officials with the University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory and others who spoke with IowaWatch suggested testing a well at least once for arsenic.

Iowa private well water often goes untested, presenting unknown health risks Roughly 288,000 Iowans rely on private water supplies but may not know what is in their wate

In some cases, arsenic contamination can be a result of industrial or mining activities. Arsenic was also used in pesticides and wood preservatives, though the use of those chemicals is restricted today.

In Iowa, experts who spoke with IowaWatch said, the arsenic contamination found has been naturally occurring.

Sophia Walsh, Cerro Gordo Countys environmental health specialist, said concerns about arsenic first started popping up in Cerro Gordo County in the early 2000s, when a public water supply showed high rates of arsenic, 540 parts per billion.

Walsh said at the time the county tested other wells in the area to see if a pollution issue existed with something man-made leaching into the water supply.

A small 2003 study showed the arsenic to be from natural sources, potentially linked to a specific aquifer and to pyrite shale in the bedrock, but there wasnt enough funding to do a more thorough study.

The county would perform a water test for arsenic if a homeowner requested it, she said, but wouldnt continuously test.

We knew it was something that was being dealt with at least in that area of the county, but not necessarily throughout the county, she said.

During that time, from May 2006 through December 2008, the second phase of the Iowa Statewide Rural Well Water Survey by the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, was underway. The results published in 2009 found arsenic in 48 percent of the 473 private drinking water wells sampled across 89 counties. Eight percent of wells had levels of arsenic above the EPAs standard for public water supplies.

The interesting thing is it doesnt mean the entire county has high arsenic. In some counties there might be a high arsenic well and in other parts of the same county we didnt even find arsenic, Weyer said.

After receiving funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cerro Gordo County tested more than 50 private wells from July 2011 to June 2014 for arsenic. Each well was tested twice a year.

Half of the countys wells showed detectible levels of arsenic. One-third showed unsafe levels above the EPA drinking water standard.

Researchers were able to point to higher likelihood of arsenic contamination in the Lime Creek Formation, an aquifer that includes pyrite and shale rocks and was frequently used by wells in the county.

State Geologist Bob Libra said the location of the arsenic-laden zone was key. Pumping a well causes the water level to go up and down, he said.

The worst arsenic leaching happens when the arsenic zone is in the area where the water level travels up and down, submerging it and then opening it up to air.

Two types of arsenic exist: arsenic III and arsenic V. Most often, initial water tests, like those usually done by county sanitarians through the Grants to Counties program, determine total amounts of arsenic.

Further testing can be done to determine how much of each type of arsenic is present. The type of arsenic is important for treatment, since arsenic III is more difficult to treat and can be remain in water if not treated properly.

Walsh said the study resulted in increased awareness among people in Cerro Gordo County about the importance of testing wells. She said more than 100 people already had signed up to get their wells tested through the Grants to Counties program, which started its new fiscal year July 1, 2016.

The study also led the county to update its well ordinances, requiring all new Cerro Gordo County wells to be drilled through the Lime Creek Formation and then cased, like a straw, so that they only pulled water from the aquifer below it, the Cedar Valley Group, which has a lower risk of arsenic contamination.

The requirement previously had been created in 2007 but only covered 56 square miles of the county. All new wells in the county must be tested for arsenic.

Six months after Iowa county sanitarians began testing for arsenic through the Grants to Counties program the state hygienic lab reviewed the testing results. Of the 490 tests performed, 189 showed a detectible arsenic level, at least 1 part per billion. Twenty-two tests had levels above the EPA standard, ranging from 10 to 62 parts per billion.

Walsh said well owners who have a relatively a low arsenic level in their first test should retest every three to five years.

If results from an arsenic test are close to the 10 parts per billion level and well owners choose not to treat their water, she suggested testing every year since the levels can vary slightly.

Arsenic is odorless, tasteless. You cant see it. You dont know if its there unless you test for it, she said.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should feature impressive specs, functional and aesthetically sound features to redeem the Note brand that Samsung has kept despite the Note 7 debacle. It is highly likely that the Note 8 will feature new innovations that will be included in the Samsung Galaxy S8 like the bezel-less design, dual-lens camera, and no home button feature among other innovative technologies.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Design and Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should have an edge-to-edge display and a larger screen size featuring 4K resolution, which is an ideal innovation that Samsung should consider. Since the handset is bezel-less, Samsung could easily slim down the device without compromising the size of the screen,

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 RAM and Internal Storage

Many consumers are expecting an improved RAM and storage tsarting with a 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage as base level. Like its many handsets, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 memory should be expandable via microSD card according to Value Walk.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Under the Hood

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 should have the latest Snapdragon or Exynos System-on-Chips (SoC). With a powerful chipset and improved RAM, the Note 8 will be a speedy phablet giving optimal performance.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Camera

Like its rival, Apple is working on a dual-lens feature for its camera and Samsung should do the same, even pushing for a 30MP for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. It has also been reported that the South Koreans are working on a UI technology that could integrate touchscreen gestures to make zooming in and out user-friendly.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 AI

Bixby is meant to rival Apple's Siri and Samsung has made its AI Assistant adept in conversational language with improved data sets of commands. The AI Asst. may debut with the S8, but will most likely be featured in the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 where users may even dictate messages.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 S-Pen with Speakers

Samsung is currently working on a patent to equip its Stylus pen with speakers, a technology still wrapped in mystery, but tweaked the interest of many gadget geeks. The upgraded S-Pen from the Note 7 will be a handy feature for the newest Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Battery

Samsung and LG Chem, a battery business arm of LG are reported to be collaborating with LG building batteries for future Samsung products starting with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 according to iDigital Times. The Note 7 battery was manufactured by Samsung's SDI subsidiary, which was soon replaced by Amperex Technology during the recall.
President Barack Obama may be preparing to move out of the White House and the Oval Office. But the current President of the United States recalls his memories as a college student. Now, 55 years old, he remembers how he was unable to express himself and how he was unable to date more girls.

Barack Obama studied at Columbia University. He graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Political Science in 1983. Although his CV looks serious, he describes his college years as "wildly pretentious," as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

Now, the world is going to see how he was as a college student in Netflix's upcoming "Barry," as reported by Time. It is a nostalgic look at the president's younger years. As he prepares to write a post-presidential book, Obama tells his old friend David Axelrod about how he was reading his old journals and letters to college girls he was dating at the time. He remembers that he was described by girls to be too intense. He nudged Axelrod and said that he should have tried more when it comes to dating girls.

"Barry" is going to focus on his relationship with a Caucasian woman who is described to be a composite character of those Barack Obama dated during the time. It was also a time when he was grappling the challenging views on inter-racial relationships and marriages. His parents were an example of that. The movie will also feature the current president smoking, partying, dancing and dating.

For the most part, Barack Obama recalls that he was a stuffy guy back in college. He traversed the college halls without humor and would not participate in parties because he would rather read the works of the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre.

As Barack Obama prepares to leave the White House, what do you think his 2017 New Years' resolutions will be?

Check out the official Netflix trailer of "Barry" below:
A Drexel University professor was slammed for his tweet about "white genocide." Apparently, the educator wants this as a Christmas gift.

CBS News reported that George Ciccariello-Maher, associate professor of politics at Drexel University in Philadelphia and a white man, was summoned to a meeting with school officials for his post. On Christmas Eve, he tweeted a message saying, "All I Want for Christmas is White Genocide."

The university deemed the tweet as "inflammatory." It also condemned Ciccariello-Maher's comments as "utterly reprehensible" and "deeply disturbing."

In a statement on Christmas Day, the school revealed that it is taking the issue very seriously. School officials have scheduled a meeting with the professor for a detailed discussion on the matter. The university added that Ciccariello-Maher's comments are not a reflection of the values of the institution.

Aside from the eyebrow-raising "white genocide" tweet, the professor followed it up with a post about the Haitian revolution. "To clarify: when the whites were massacred during the Haitian revolution, that was a good thing indeed," Ciccariello-Maher said in another tweet.

According to Philly.com, the Drexel University professor revealed that his tweets were misinterpreted satire. His bio says that he is an expert and frequent media commentator on social movements. Some of his favorite topics are about race, racism, prisons and policing in the U.S.

Ciccariello-Maher clarified that his satirical tweet was about an imaginary concept, called "white genocide." Apparently, it was a concept created by white supremacists which they used to denounce interracial relationships to multicultural policies.

"It is a figment of the racist imagination," he wrote in an email, "it should be mocked, and I'm glad to have mocked it."

He also criticized Drexel's statement and sees is at unfortunate since it means that the school may be caving in to the "reprehensible movements and organizations" that he was criticizing. Ciccariello-Maher expressed his concern over how the institution could use harassment to implement university policies especially to untenured and temporary faculty.
A supervolcano near Naples seems to be nearing its critical pressure point. This is the same volcano that caused the largest eruption in the history of Europe.

The Guardian reported that Italian and French scientists found that the Campi Flegrei volcano near the Italian city of Naples has shown signs of reawakening. It may also be nearing a critical pressure point.

For the first time, researchers were able to identify a threshold over which climbing magma under the Earth may trigger the release of fluids and gases at an extremely increased rate. Giovanni Chiodini, a researcher at Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Bologna, admitted that this phenomenon would cause the injection of ultra-hot steam into rocks around the area.

When exposed to high temperature, it is possible that hydrothermal rocks will lose their mechanical resistance. It would result to "an acceleration towards critical conditions," Chiodini said. It may not be possible to predict the exact time or date when the volcano would erupt. However, it would greatly affect about 500,000 people living inside and near the caldera.

In a published report on the journal "Nature Communications," the scientists revealed that the caldera, which is a bowl-like depression created after the volcano blew its top off, is one of "the most densely inhabited areas in the world." It is also where increasing deformation and heating are being observed.

It was noted that, since the 1950s, the Campi Flegrei caldera (CFc) has shown signs of potential reawaking. This is because of several episodes of ground uplift, shallow seismicity as well as a visible increase in hydrothermal degassing.

The Washington Post added that the caldera was created through an eruption which is described as being "larger than anything else in the past 200,000 years of European history." It was suggested that this prehistoric outburst caused a "volcanic winter" which wiped out the Neanderthals. Today, it was said that the volcano is becoming restless.
Senior high school students often worry about their future, including what to do when they get to college. They normally worry about what school to go, what degree to pursue, and how they will be able to pay for it. Having some help will make it easier for them to decide.

One such help that seniors greatly benefit from in regards to choosing the right college to go to, says Central Christian School student Kalin Coffey, is having college visits. In an article Coffey wrote in the Hutchinson News, she notes that going on multiple college visits gives a college-bound student the opportunity to compare and contrast the schools to think of going to and those that they have never even considered before.

Coffey adds that with college visits, students are given a first-hand "sneak peek" at what kind of campus life a certain college offers. She says that she only discovered the importance of going through multiple visits after going to a second school and finding out that although she never thought of going to that school, it was a better choice than her first.

Alyssa Bartlett, a student who visited WSU, told Coffey that her visit to the school assured her that she was "making the right choice" for her life. Without that visit, she wouldn't have had that confidence in her choice of where to receive higher education from.

Visiting multiple colleges might be time consuming and costly at times, but it does give benefits. Some students might end up in a school they really don't want to be in and want to transfer. For those who are first-generation college students, or those who have parents with no college experience whatsoever, going to different schools will greatly help in motivating the student to pursue higher education, as well as make the right choice that's a fit for them.
The Annual Owner Satisfaction Survey conducted by Consumer Reports has released the result having Tesla in the number one spot, which means owners are insanely happy on their respective Tesla cars. It is said that the charisma of its CEO Elon Musk is one big factor why consumers would definitely want to buy new cars from Tesla again. Read full details here!

Tesla Ranks No. 1 in the Recent Annual Owner Satisfaction Survey

A massive 91 percent of owners say that we will definitely buy Tesla cars again sometime in the future according to the recently conducted Annual Owner Satisfaction Survey through Consumer Reports. According to Business Insider, the said percentage of consumers responded quickly with "definitely yes" to the question if they would buy the same car model if they will ever have to do it again.

Porsche finishes second in the survey with 84 percent rating followed by Audi, Subaru and Toyota to complete the top five. Fiat, who sold few cars from 2014-2017 has finished last with 53 percent rating for the buy-again category.

The result has a very serious implication on Tesla Motors sales for the coming years. If they can have almost 100 percent of their consumers to buy again the same car model, then rivals should be threatened by now because Tesla Motors is on its way towards being unbeatable.

On the other hand, the charisma of Tesla Motor CEO Elon Musk is said to have a big contribution to the rating. For this reason, the company doesn't have to allocate big budget to marketing and advertising because Musk is doing it himself most particularly in social media.

What's Next for Tesla Motors in 2017?

Tesla Motors' next move for 2017 is said to be focusing on the launching of Model 3 which has reportedly 400,000 reservations who paid $1,000 for the deposit. Tesla Motors has also plans for expansion and business venture in China where Tesla planned to build a manufacturing plant to cater local consumers, according to Torque News.
Earlier this December, Apple made waves when it announced that it will publish its own research papers on artificial intelligence. Within the month, it has announced once again that it published its first AI paper.

The paper titled "Learning from Simulated and Unsupervised Images through Adversarial Training" was published just before Christmas day, December 22 to be exact. It talks about how the use of computer-generated images will improve the ability of an algorithm in recognizing images much better than when using real-life images.

As opposed to real-life images, using computer-generated images in machine learning is more effective because it is already labeled and annotated saving scientists more time and effort.

The paper, however, cautioned that despite the advantage of using synthetic images, there is also a disadvantage in using them because they are not as detailed as real-world images. Thus, the algorithm using computer-generated images will not be able to generalize on real-life images.

In order to solve this problem, the researchers used a new machine learning tool called the Generative Adversial Networks. The tool lets two neural networks work against each other in order to produce photorealistic images. They call this technique Simulated + Unsupervised learning.

With the publication of the paper, Apple is sending a message of becoming more open to the community. For years, the company has been criticized by the tech community for being too secretive. This step is very important since there has been an effort in the whole tech industry to develop a more advanced artificial intelligent software.

The study is headed by Ashish Shrivastava, who has a PhD in computer vision from University of Maryland, College Park. One of the co-authors was Josh Susskind who founded Emotient, an AI start-up which was acquired by Apple this year. Emotient uses a technology which assesses a person's feelings through their expression.
CLEAR LAKE | A Mason City woman accused of stealing more than $50,000 while employed as the office manager at Lake Chevrolet has a trial date of March 7 scheduled.

Amy Monahan, 43, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Cerro Gordo County District Court to felony charges of ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft and forgery.

The charges concluded a seven-month investigation into reports of misconduct while Monahan was working for the Clear Lake car dealership from 2013 through 2016, according to a statement from Clear Lake Police Chief Pete Roth.

Investigators allege Monahan misappropriated more than $50,000 during a two-year period of her employment.

She is alleged to have taken money, received extra employment benefits, used business funds to pay on personal credit cards and forged checks.

A warrant for her arrest was issued Oct. 28. She turned herself in that same day.

Monahan was booked into the Cerro Gordo County Jail but was released after posting bond.

-- Mary Pieper
The U.S. Army is widely recognized for its land dominance; for selective teams of Soldiers, however, the terrain they dominate is the vastly mysterious and volatile world under the sea.



U.S. Army engineer divers with the 511th Engineer Dive Detachment, 30th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, plunged into the swift currents of the Arabian Gulf for a two-week diving exercise that concluded Nov. 19, 2016.

November 18, 2016 - U.S. Army engineer divers with the 511th Engineer Dive Detachment from Fort Eustis, VA jump off the MG Charles P. Gross (Logistics Support Vessel-5) and into the Arabian Gulf, off the coast of Kuwait Naval Base, to practice diving procedures. The unit executed various diving techniques and certified diving supervisors in emergency protocol throughout the exercise, Operation Deep Blue, enhancing the team's overall readiness and ability to support U.S. Army Central missions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Angela Lorden) The unit from Fort Eustis, Virginia, executed various diving techniques and certified diving supervisors in emergency protocol throughout the exercise, Operation Deep Blue, enhancing the team's overall readiness and ability to support U.S. Army Central missions.



Although we are a small detachment, our impacts are profound on the strategic level, said 1st Lt. Grant Rice, the executive officer of the unit and native of Dover, Massachusetts. This training demonstrates the validity of our capability.



Rice was responsible for the logistical and safety planning of Deep Blue.



Diving is considered by the military to be a high-risk activity, he said. By conducting training events like this, we actually reduce risk by becoming proficient.



The team mitigated risk for future operations by reacting to simulated, emergency scenarios throughout the exercise. The scenarios included unconscious divers, underwater injuries and decompression sickness, commonly known as the bends. Soldiers had to assess and react to each situation accordingly.



Nobody wants to lose a brother or a sister, especially not with something that could have been avoided, said 1st Sgt. Tyler Dodd, the master diver of the team. My philosophy is if my Soldiers have seen the scenarios play out, they're going to be more prepared to handle it in real time.



Master diver is the highest level of diving proficiency an enlisted Soldier can attain. As a master diver, Dodd is able to certify divers within his unit to conduct various diving operations without his supervision. Operation Deep Blue's mission included the certification of his diving supervisors.



For me to be able to rely on my [Soldiers] to take out missions when I'm not there is a force multiplier, Dodd said.



The exercise also included operating the team's recompression chamber. The chamber, worth approximately $1 million dollars, simulates various ocean depths with air. As the theater's diving-emergency response team, the 511th Engineer Dive Detachment uses the chamber to treat military personnel and civilians suffering from decompression illnesses.



One of Rice's Soldiers treated a Kuwaiti diver during his last deployment here with a recompression chamber.



With his training from exercises like Operation Deep Blue, he was able to respond to the incident, treat the Kuwaiti diver and prevent a potentially fatal injury, Rice said.



While USARCENT dive teams train and conduct missions near Kuwait Naval Base several times a year, divers can be tasked out anywhere in the area of operations. Soldiers from the dive team frequently support missions in countries like Jordan, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Some missions require dive units to travel country to country as force-protection assets for vessels transporting military cargo.



Large shipments of military cargo can be considered high-profile targets for terrorists, Rice said. Divers assure the mobility of the vessels as they travel to different countries in several ways, such as searching for underwater explosives and other obstructions that may prevent cargo delivery.



Divers honed their force protection skills by practicing various underwater tasks. The training included cutting wood with a chainsaw, slicing other material with an underwater torch and lifting and moving various objects from the bottom of the sea.



It's an exhausting job, said Sgt. Christian Webber, an engineer diver with the unit.



As the divers performed their tasks underwater, the Soldiers on the vessel maintained the diver's life-support equipment. Trust between Soldiers is as vital as the diving-umbilical cables that supply the oxygen to the divers below.



We have to rely on each other, Webber said. We go through a lot together.



While the dive team relies on each other, USARCENT relies on the unique capabilities of U.S. Army divers to accomplish necessary missions.



Our divers need to be able to operate in the most austere environments in the world, Dodd said. It's important to do training like this. By U.S. Army Sgt. Angela Lorden

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Copyright 2016 Comment on this article
MASON CITY  Dr. Steven Allgood, a Mason City surgeon who also serves as medical director of the Mercy Center for Breast Health, is leaving town after nearly 25 years to start a new chapter in his life.

"Not everyone gets a chance to have a restart," he said.

Allgood, 55, who has helped thousands of breast cancer patients over the years, lost his wife, Kim, in 2012 after a 13-year battle with breast cancer. She was just 38 when she was diagnosed.

Allgood, who watched her go through multiple bouts of chemotherapy, said it helped him understand on a more personal level what breast cancer patients and their families experience.

He said he tells them it's OK to accept help from neighbors and friends and it's all right to have "down days."

Allgood said he "got a chance to re-discover love" and got remarried in April.

He and his wife, Christy, have lived apart since then because she is an emergency medicine physician at Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.

He is moving to South Carolina next month to be with her. Allgood said he is currently in discussion with Greenville Memorial to join its breast cancer treatment team.

Allgood said he hopes he will be able to work in breast health full time. He currently spends about half his time doing breast cancer surgery and the other half doing general surgery.

Allgood grew up in Burlington. After graduating from medical school at the University of Iowa in 1986 he did six years of surgical residency, including two years in Minneapolis and four years in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

He joined the Mason City Clinic in 1992.

"It seems like only a few days ago," Allgood said. "I've had a wonderful career here."

Allgood said he has done around 12,000 surgeries over the years.

He was one of those who started the Mercy Center for Breast Health, which includes medical staff, physicians and surgeons of the Mason City Clinic and Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa.

He said Mason City has good surgeons and good radiologists, but breast cancer involves multiple disciplines so "you have a lot of moving parts."

The goal was to make sure everyone was communicating with each other.

Money wasn't available for a separate breast health center building, so a virtual center was created.

"We never built the building," Allgood said.

The Breast Cancer Review Conference, which consists of those from all disciplines who take part in breast health care, was formed. This group meets regularly to discuss the best course of treatment for breast cancer patients.

One goal of this group is to communicate test results to patients sooner "to reduce sleepless nights" for them, said Allgood, who chaired his last meeting this week as head of the committee.

Nurse Shari Showalter was appointed as the breast cancer care coordinator, a position she holds to this day.

"She does a phenomenal job," Allgood said.

Showalter, who has become close to Allgood and his family over the years, said he is one of the most caring, compassionate people she has ever met.

"He has extreme strength, but he also has that soft spot," she said. "We have cried together with patients, we have prayed together with patients, and we have laughed together with patients."

Showalter said Allgood goes "above and beyond" for patients and has earned an incredible amount of respect in the community.

Allgood retired a couple of years ago from the U.S Army Reserve Medical Corps. He served for more than 24 years.

In 2007, Allgood went with the U.S. Army 3rd Special Forces group to Afghanistan for several months.

"It was an honor to be there," he said.

The first time casualties came in, Allgood  who has three adult children  remembers thinking, "If this were my son, I would want someone to take good care of him."

The medical team later received an email from that first group they treated, telling them they saw a lot of other doctors afterward, "but none of them made us feel as cared for as your group."

In addition to U.S. military casualties, the medical team treated local civilians who were injured, including children.

Allgood operated on an 8-year-old boy who had his legs nearly blown off when he stepped on a landmine while herding cattle.

He had to amputate both his legs, but Allgood said seeing the child "rise from the ashes" and smile again was one of the most satisfying experiences of his life.

Twice a week the medical team had a clinic for the local population.

One day a Bedouin who lived in the desert and wore a long, flowing robe came to the clinic because his camel stepped on his ankle and fractured it.

Allgood, who was trying to make conversation, asked the patient through an interpreter what the camel's name was.

The interpreter looked confused and Allgood repeated the question, wondering if it wasn't the custom there for people to name their animals.

The Bedouin answered through the interpreter, "The camel's name is camel."

Allgood enjoys climbing mountains. His goal is to go to the top of the highest elevation point in each state.

The states he has left on his list are Alaska, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado. He jokingly said if he wants to cross off Alaska by climbing the 20,310-foot Denali mountain in Alaska  formerly known as Mt. McKinley  he's going to have to do it soon before he gets too old.

Allgood, who attends Grace Evangelical Free Church in Mason City, said his faith is very important to him.

He said when his first wife was battling cancer, "I wouldn't have made it without a lot of prayers from people around me."


This New Years Day, six bars will compete to find the best rendition of the proverbial hair of the dog in The LINQ Promenades first-ever National Hangover Day Cocktail Competition. Murray: Celebrity Magician, currently appearing at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, will emcee the event.

To be held Sunday, Jan. 1, from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the event will pit imaginative bartenders and mixologists from The LINQ Promenades bars against one another before a panel of three expert judges.

First, second and third-place winners will receive a pair of show tickets to Absinthe, Penn & Teller and Mat Franco, respectively. The first-prize concoction will be available to the public at the winning bar throughout the day.

WHO:

The LINQ Promenade Bars:

The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery

Chayo Mexican Kitchen + Tequila Bar

ameriCAN Beer & Cocktails

Virgils Real Barbecue

Off The Strip Bistro & Bar

Flour & Barley  Brick Oven Pizza

Judges:

Jim Begley - freelance food writer for Las Vegas Weekly

- freelance food writer for Las Vegas Weekly Scott Harris - freelance food and beverage writer for Luxury Las Vegas and The Daily Meal

- freelance food and beverage writer for Luxury Las Vegas and The Daily Meal Rob Kachelriess - Thrillist contributor

WHEN:

Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017

2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

WHERE:

The LINQ Promenade Fountain Stage

3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89109


On Saturday, December 31- New Years Eve  Downtown Summerlin offers a variety of dining experiences at many of its popular restaurants, including several that will offer exclusive specialty menu items ideal for ringing in the New Year (Pictured: Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck).

Andiron Steak & Sea offers a prix fixe menu with all the trimmings for $95 per person. A sampling of some of the must-savor delicacies includes smoked salmon blini, chilled stone crab, wagyu strip and whole roasted lobster. Hungry yet? The restaurant also offers an upgraded option with bottomless Moet brut imperial champagne. Cheers!

Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill features a special a la cart menu with selections that include chilled oysters and shrimp cocktail, Maine lobster salad, pan seared diver sea scallops and prime beef tenderloin. N-O-M!

Public School 702 is hosting a special New Years Eve party featuring sixteen specialty beers on tap, patio games, beer pong and a featured egg nog cocktail.

Grape Street Cafe, Wine Bar & Cellar will feature complimentary live music for patrons to enjoy that evening. Maggianos Little Italy, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & More, Sushi Loca, Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar and California Pizza Kitchen will be offering extended hours to accommodate late night crowds.
The big Indonesian steelmakers are seeking an anti-dumping investigation as well as the imposition of tariffs on steel imports from both Vietnam and China, reported the Vietnam Competition Authority.



PT NS BlueScope Indonesia brought the complaint, said the Authority, alleging the repeated illegal trade practices have devastated production and employment and are causing irreparable harm to the Indonesian steel industry.



On December 26, Indonesias Anti-Dumping Committee advised they have initiated an investigation of pertinent steel imports from China and Vietnam for the period July 2015 through June 2016.
Through the Lemon Grass Master Fund, existing Japanese investors continue to pour an additional $100 million into SonKim Land. The first phase investment of $46 million was injected on December 21 while the follow-on funding of $54 million is scheduled to be injected in the first of 2017.

After the very first investment of $37 million in 2013, Lemon Grass Master Funds second capital contribution has affirmed the strategic partnership between foreign investors and SonKim Land. This also reflects the trust by foreign investors in SonKim Lands strategies, potentials and development plan.

Nguyen Hoang Tuan, chairman of SonKim Land, said: We are very pleased with strong commitment and belief from our Japanese investors. This shows that they are not only confident in SonKim Lands business, but also in the steady growth of the Vietnam real estate market in the years to come. This investment will help SonKim Land to increase its portfolios and strengthen its leader position in the luxury high-end residential market.

SonKim Land primarily focuses in the premium and luxury segment through developing projects in prime locations. The company has won two consecutive Best Luxury Condo Development awards at Vietnam Property Award in 2015 and 2016 with its Gateway Thao Dien and The Nassim projects respectively. SonKim Lands strong attention to every little detail and its commitment to quality have differentiated it from other developers in the town and positioned itself as Vietnams leading luxury property developer.

In December 2016, SonKim Land has just launched the Serenity Sky Villa project located on Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City which is a Sky Villa concept mid-rise development comprising only 45 units in 17 floors. The companys two other projects, Gateway Thao Dien and The Nassim has sold over 90 per cent and well received by the market following its debut in the residential market in 2015.
Japan's PM Shinzo Abe (centre left), Defence Minister Tomomi Inada (centre right) and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koichi Hagiuda bow at the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park in Honolulu. Abe plans to visit Pearl Harbour with US President Barack Obama. (photo source: AP/Marco Garcia)

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbour before, but Abe will be the first to go to the US Arizona Memorial, the wreck where 1,177 US personnel died.

Tuesday's visit comes 75 years after Japan's December 1941 attack on the base of the US Pacific fleet, drawing America into World War II.

And it comes seven months after Obama and Abe made a joint visit to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, which was devastated by a US atomic bomb in 1945.

Before leaving Japan, Abe said he was to visit the Pearl Harbor memorial because: "We must not repeat the horror of war ever again."

"Together with President Obama, I would like to express to the world this pledge for the future and the value of reconciliation," he told reporters.

On Dec 7, 1941 a Japanese air armada descended on the Hawaiian naval base without warning, sinking much of the fleet and killing 2,400 people.

Washington had been hesitating about joining a war that had already plunged Europe into chaos, but the Japanese attack forced its hand.

The moving memorial, appearing to float above the rusting remains of the USS Arizona, attracts two million tourists, pilgrims and veterans every year.

The curved-roofed white building was put in place in the 1960s to memorialise what president Franklin Roosevelt dubbed the "day that will live in infamy." Inside are engraved the names of crewmen who died in the attack.

Abe is not expected to formally apologise in the name of Japan but, as Obama did at Hiroshima, will celebrate today's friendship between the former foes.

On Monday, Abe was expected to tour other sites near the Hawaiian state capital, Honolulu, including the National Memorial Cemetery of the pacific.

Known colloquially as the Punchbowl, it is the final resting place for more than 13,000 American veterans of the war in the Pacific.

Abe will also pay tribute to the nine Japanese crew and students who drowned in February 2001 when the fishing vessel Ehime Maru collided with a US submarine.
LAKE MILLS  Bruce A. Gregor, 64, of Lake Mills, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills with Pastor Joel L. Guttormson officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, at Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Arrangements are with Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills.
Tourists enjoy the snow at the Sa Pa Snow Festival which was kicked off on Saturday.

Aiming to offer a real experience of the snow that sometimes falls in the town during the winter, 10 snow-making machines have been set up in the festivals central area  the 19th-century Sa Pa Notre Dame Cathedral.

Photos and paintings about snowy Sa Pa are also on display at the festival.

Tourists to the town during this time will also have a chance to enjoy several performances featuring traditional dances and music of different ethnic groups living in the region.

The rich culture of the regional ethnic groups is also presented through folk games or demonstration of a Dao ethnic wedding held during the festival.

The complex process of dying the woven brocade of the Mong ethnic people have also been unveiled to tourists. Traditional costumes and handicraft made from brocade also are on display.

At the festival, tourists can indulge themselves with a wide range of local delicacies such as thang co (stewed horse meat), smoked buffalo, ethnic black range chicken, and cuon sui  a kind of street food made from flat noodles, beef and several other herb spices.

A variety of local agricultural and forestry products also can be found at the festival.

The Sa Pa Snow Festival aims to draw more tourists to the region. The festival is also a warm-up for the 2017 National Tourism Year  Lao CaiTay Bac.

In 2016, the Lao Cai border province received nearly 3 million tourists, 32.5 per cent more than the previous year. The turnover from tourism reached VN6.4 trillion (US$281.2 million). About 970,000 of these tourists travelled Sa Pa, bringing the turnover of VN1,69 trillion ($74.2 million).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 26, 2016 approved a masterplan for the development of the Sa Pa National Tourism Complex to 2030.
Knows his way: We were very lucky to have a really good guide in Vu The Phuong. - Photos: Truong Vi/VNS

We did not expect that climbing a mountain would be as scary as it was thrilling, but atop Chieu Lau Thi, we felt it was the Everest we were standing on.

I know that this a bit of an exaggeration, but making it to the top of this mountain in the northern province of Ha Giang had become an adventure full of danger that we hadnt reckoned with.

The mountain, said to be the second highest peak in Ha Giang, stands 2,402m above the sea level. It is located in Ho Thau Commune, about 52km from the centre of upland border district of Hoang Su Phi.

Not many tourists visit this place because the district only opened the road to Chieu Lau Thi two years ago. The road has been damaged seriously by landslides and floods, and is accessible only on foot or by motorbike.

There are four milestones in my life. Getting married, two times that I welcomed my new-born babies and experiencing Chieu Lau Thi, said my fellow-traveller, known to his friends as Mr Bean for his ability to laugh and make others laugh.

I could see from his face that he was not joking about the mountain.

The road snaked its way around the edge of several mountains as we covered about 300km from Ha Noi to Hoang Su Phi.

A bath with natural water at the Song Chay Hotel in Vinh Quang Town refreshed us and we enjoyed a local meal at the 666 Restaurant.

There are two ways to reach the Chieu Lau Thi Mountain - from Ho Thau Commune or Nang Don Commune. We chose the second one.

We were lucky to have a good guide. One of our friends, Vu The Phuong, a district official, was born in the central province of Thanh Hoa but grew up in Hoang Su Phi and knew the terrain well, including roads that arent on tourist maps.

Up early in the morning, we breathed in the cool air of a mountainous town. It felt good to be in such a beautiful place, home to the good-natured ethnic people of Nung, Dao, Tay, Mong, La Chi, Hoa Han, and Cao Lan.

We hired four motorbike taxis for the trip with a fare of VND600,000 per person.

You shouldnt flinch, because the price is well worth it, for the skills of these drivers and the risks they take, Phuong told us.

The 30km from Vinh Quang Town to Nang Don Commune is asphalted road, but narrow, winding and steep. Of course, the scenery is truly breathtaking.

The rice terraces, evidence of the agricultural skills of the ethnic communities, are stunning at harvest time as they turn a golden yellow with ripened rice stalks.

As we passed high mountains, deep valleys and many streams, we also met and befriended several Mong, Tay and Red Dao families. Giggling school kids on wobbly bicycles paid no mind to the traffic as they smiled and waved at us.

On these roads, herd of buffaloes or goats are prone to putting in guest appearances, we discovered.

It took us more than two hours to travel just 30km on a decent road as we stopped frequently to admire the scenery and take photographs.

But we had no inkling that what lay ahead was the real challenge.

From Nang Don to Ho Thau Commune, the asphalted road gave way to a very rough path hewn on a mountainside. On one side loomed the mountain-wall, and the other plunged into an abyss. It was scary, but we were expecting something like this.

Phuong carried me on his own motorbike. Our progress was very slow as small and huge rocks on the path made riding a bike more tiring than walking.

This was a muddy road, courtesy flooding and erosion. A landslide had swallowed a small road, so there was no question of riding the bikes. We had to walk, and the bikes had to be pushed on after another. The tension on the drivers faces was palpable. However, the worst was not over.

Another landslide had occurred along the next stretch. There was nothing to cling on to now, and to make things worse, a Honda bike had a puncture.

Phuong kept us somewhat calm: Dont worry too much. Duong (one of the drivers) is a native here. He will know how to solve the problem.

There were four motorbikes left for our five-member group. Phuong suggested that he would carry one more person on his motorbike. There was no other choice.

With two persons riding pillion, Phuong showed he was an expert driver, consistently getting ahead of the group and waiting for others.

As difficult as this trip was, it did not prevent us from enjoying what a very diverse ecosystem had to offer. There were tens of thousands of old and precious timber trees like po mu (Fokienia hodginsii) that grows only on Chieu Lau Thi.

The mountain is also home to rare, valuable medicinal herbs as well as many kinds of orchids.

We saw many tea trees, too. Phuong told us they are San Tuyet tea. I picked a leaf and chewed on it: bittersweet and then a persistent sweetness in the throat. The tea buds are covered by fog through four seasons and kissed by winds from four directions at a height of 2,000m. They have medicinal values, we were told, and we could well believe it.

Wild boars, monkeys, snakes and deer live on the mountain. One specialty is the dam xanh fish which can be found in the high mountain creeks of Ha Giang.

The occasional sight of a flock of goats sure-footedly strolling on the mountain slope was also one to remember.

And as we took in the sights, one of us Mua Quyt Chin would let out a loud cry and make us jump. She is crazy about wild flowers and fruits, and each time she saw a beautiful strange flower or small wild berry, she would scream in delight.

At the height of 2,200m, the weather was foggy and the temperature dipped to about 15oC. We stopped a while before trying to conquer the Chieu Lau Thi peak.

A trail led to the top, but it was hard to find it because not many tourists visit and the place is covered with wild growth, including big trees.

We took a stick to balance and support ourselves, but Phuong didnt need one, even though the ground was wet and slippery, the trees were bathed in dew and, as always on this mountain, a chasm on one side. No handrails.

Phuong went ahead to guide us, stopping sometimes to help us over the difficult parts.

Then we reached stone paths like ladders at the height of 2,327m. Each stretch was about 10m. Crossing nine such stretches, we reached the mountaintop.

Elated embraces were shared, but it was a misty day, and we were not lucky to see the sea of clouds and the stupendous scene that would have unfolded before us on a sunny day. We would have looked over the whole district of Hoang Su Phi, its neighbour Xin Man, and a large mountainous area to the northwest of Ha Giang.

Phuong assuaged our wistfulness: I have reached the Chieu Lau Thi peak 10 times, but only twice have I seen the sea of clouds stretching out in paradise.

Chin, the most romantic of us, pulled out yet another surprise, emerging from behind a bush in a pink ao dai. She must be the only one with a photo of herself on top of Chieu Lau Thi in an ao dai, the long, traditional dress worn by Vietnamese women.

Going up was difficult, but climbing down the mountain was even more so. It was scary, and one of us decided to sit and drag herself on her bottom. After falling once, I became even more careful, but still missed my footing and went into a free-fall. I cant bear to think what would have happened if I had not crashed against Phuong, who was standing in the middle of the path and stood firm.

I could hear that you were taking false steps, so I waited to help you, he said.

After we got to where we could get on bikes again, Duong, was waiting with the motorbike repaired. The joy of conquering Chieu Lau Thi safely was enhanced on knowing Phuong wouldnt have to carry two people any more.

Not that the 10km path down was easy. Riding pillion, all one could do was hold tight and be as still as possible. After riding for a while, we reached a newly-built stop station at 2,100m above the sea level.

Here, there was a natural lake covered by fog all day. Scrubby trees growing in the middle of the lake gave it a sense of mystery that we gazed into, bodies numb with cold and breath turning into mist.

It began raining when when we left the stop station, slowing our progress, but an hour later, we reached the warmth of the Chan-Mui homestay in Ho Thau Commune and enjoyed a meal of local specialties like sau tre (bamboo worm) and wild vegetables.

Nine ladder layers

At the homestay, we met former chairman of Ha Giang Province Trieu Duc Thanh by chance.

He told us the story of discovering the stone paths like ladders at the height of 2,327m.

Chieu Lau Thi or Kieu Lieu Ti means nine ladder layers. Nobody new where it was. Five years ago, I asked local residents to find it, but they could not.

Last year, I asked my nephews Trieu Cham Chan and Trieu Choi Hin to come and climb the mountain from a height of 2,200m. We looked hard and finally found the path with stone steps in the thicket.

Thanh said the French colonialist troops had used this stone path when invading Ha Giang in 1887. After 1954, when they left, the steps were forgotten.

I hope Chieu Lau Thi will develop like Sa Pa Town in Lao Cai, said Thanh.

I wish I could agree with him. I dont want Chieu Lau Thi to become another Sa Pa.

I like it the way it is now. Wild, beautiful and poetic.
Illustrative image -- File photo

Vietnam Pulp and Paper Association (VPPA) general secretary Vu Ngoc Bao said more stringent criteria for environmental protection would be the biggest challenge for small paper companies, which do not usually treat their wastewater properly.

Things will be different in the near future and paper enterprises will have to make changes as the punishment against those violating environmental regulations will be significantly harsher in 2018, Bao told the event held to announce an exhibition on Vietnamese paper and pulp set to take place in June next year.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing and collecting comments on a set of environment protection criteria for paper production.

Bao said the criteria, many of which are too strict for small producers to follow, are expected to be applied from next year.

Also from 2018, many large-scale paper projects, which have annual output of hundreds of thousands of tons each and are mostly owned by foreign investors, will start operation.

Those facilities are estimated to raise the countrys total paper capacity by three million tons, he added.

Paper supply for the domestic market will rise obviously but Vietnam still has to import around 400,000 tons of Kraft paper as local producers are not yet able to make this type of recycled paper, which is mostly used in the industrial sector.

The country currently imports 1.6 million tons of paper of different types a year.

Given the situation, large enterprises will dominate the market, and in order to maintain their operation, small firms should focus on certain market niches which big companies ignore, he said.

Mac Cam Phuoc, sales manager of Valmet Co Ltd, said foreign companies from Thailand, China, and Taiwan are holding majority market share for packaging paper and pulp while only a few domestic firms such as An Hoa Paper Joint Stock Company and Vietnam Paper Corporation are given slots in the playing field.

Foreign enterprises use advanced European technologies, which help lower their production costs as they can save labor and material costs, resulting in higher profits. In addition, such technologies are environmentally friendly, he said.

Meanwhile, many local enterprises use equipment made in China that often causes environmental pollution, but it is difficult for those firms to change their production lines as they do not have enough resources due to their low profits.


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Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on the United States to cancel hundreds of million of dollars of debt incurred in the early 1970s.

The premier also blamed the U.S. administration of the day for plotting to oust King Norodom Sihanouk from power and install a U.S.-friendly regime in Phnom Penh in 1970.

The Pol Pot regime did not happen by itself. If the US did not oust King Sihanouk, for sure there would be no war in Cambodia and Pol Pot would not have had a chance to take power, he said, referring to the rise of the totalitarian Khmer Rouge regime.

He went on to question whether the U.S. leaders who sanctioned the coup that brought the Khmer Republic to power should face charges at the International Criminal Court and called for compensation for its bombing campaign during the war in Indochina.

It is hard for us to explain to the Cambodian people they should recognize debts which were used to buy bombs and bullets to kill Cambodian people, he said.

Cambodia has requested the roughly $300 million debt be canceled on numerous occasions over the past decades.

David Josar, U.S. Embassy spokesman, declined to comment on Sunday.

King Sihanouk was ousted in a coup on March 18, 1970, by General Lon Nol. Sihanouk later lent his support to an armed resistance movement which grew in an ear that marked the beginning of a protracted civil war leading up to the seizure of Phnom Penh by the Khmer Rouge in April 1975.

Ou Virak, founder of the Future Forum think tank, said he supported the cancellation of war debts, including money owed to both the United States and Russia.

They cannot continue to ask for these debts [to be paid] by the younger generation. Our leaders in the past should also be responsible for this, he said.
Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison Tuesday over a Facebook posting that raised questions about the validity of Cambodia's border with Vietnam.

The sentence comes after months of strain between Rainsy's opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, which faces local elections next year.

Rainsy, along with two members of his social media team, were found guilty of reposting a faked 1979 border treaty which purported to show Vietnam and Cambodia agreeing to dissolve their mutual boundary. Rainsy's lawyers argued that his aides found the mistranslated document on the Internet and did not know it was fake.

All three of the accused are living outside of Cambodia and were tried in absentia. Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest over a defamation conviction he says was politically motivated.

In response to the latest sentence, Rainsy posted on Twitter that the case against him and his associates had been "fabricated" by a "kangaroo court."

Border issues have for centuries been worrisome for Cambodia, which has fretted about its much larger neighbors of Vietnam and Thailand encroaching on its territory.

Hun Sen has led the Southeast Asian country for more than three decades but his influence was weakened in the 2013 general election when CNRP captured 55 legislative seats, leaving the ruling party with 68 seats in the 123-seat assembly.

Opposition members have accused Hen Sen of intimidating critics before the regional elections next year and a general election in 2018.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday sentenced the leader of Cambodias opposition to five years in prison on charges of falsifying documents.

Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, is currently living in self-imposed exile in France.

Two of his aides were also sentenced in the same case, which stems from the publication on his Facebook page last year of what purported to be a section of a map showing the Cambodia-Vietnam border.

The Facebook post suggested that Prime Minister Hun Sens government was allowing Vietnamese to expropriate land from Cambodia.

In a separate case, an opposition senator, Hong Sok Hour, was sentenced to seven years on similar charges earlier this year.

Judge Leang Somnat ordered that the three men be arrested, however, along with Rainsy his aides are believed to have left the country ahead of the verdict.

Rainsy responded to the verdict by labeling the trial a puppet court which followed the orders of Hun Sen.

Cambodia is a nation where the innocent are punished while the criminals are free to commit vice with impunity, he wrote in a Facebook post.

Som Sokong, Rainsys lawyer, said the decision was unfair as the CNRP president did not directly manage his Facebook account.

There was not enough evidence to convict, he said.

He added that Rainsy would appeal the decision.

Chak Sopheap, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the case has yet more evidence that the courts were pursuing opposition leaders in politically motivated trials.

I see that there will be more intimidation ahead of the upcoming elections [next year], she said.

As well as the five-year sentence in this case, Rainsy has also been sentenced to two years for defaming a former senior government official, and has faced other defamation charges brought by Hun Sen and Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly.
NORA SPRINGS  The Pole Barn Theater, a "juice bar" with exotic dancers, was open for less than five weeks across from City Hall in Nora Springs.

The business aggravated many local residents, sparked several protests and lead to city zoning changes regarding adult-oriented businesses.

The City Council held several well-attended council meetings and eventually declared the building a nuisance.

Pole Barn owner Dale Peterson told the Globe Gazette in March that the business had a good run, though he thought his business was targeted and treated unfairly by officials.

Nora Springs Police logs showed an increase in calls to the property since the Pole Barns Feb. 19 opening, including for public intoxication, public urination, open containers and public consumption or alcohol.

Complaints from citizens led to a state fire marshal inspection of the property.

The Globe Gazette received a copy of the fire marshals report for 14 N. Hawkeye Ave., which included an electrical inspection report and compliance inspection, through an open records request.

The report showed 36 code violations in the former juice bar, the two upstairs apartments and a corridor shared with an adjacent property.

The cost to fix the electrical issues, increase fire safety and install a sprinkler system were too much for Peterson, who closed the business the weekend of March 24.

The bar portion of the building remains vacant.

In Nora Springs, residents questioned why the council didnt take action sooner or have the proper zoning in place. Nora Springs Councilman Brian Hanft said they didnt think it could happen in their town.

I dont want other communities to be caught in a situation in the way it happened in our town, Hanft told the Globe Gazette in April. I want people to know that it can happen to you.

The zoning issues in Nora Springs caused several other small cities in North Iowa to make moves toward zoning changes including Riceville, Marble Rock and Greene.

Hanft said he learned a lot from researching the effects of adult businesses and encourages other towns to do the same.

I really had my head in the sand on this, Hanft said. My eyes have opened up.

Peterson did not rule out the possibility of opening another establishment in Iowa.

If some town opens up their arms and says Dale, we need something like that to liven up our town, yes, Peterson said. But I wont hold my breath.
The Ministry of Interior is searching for three suspects who are alleged to have posted online a pornographic image with King Norodom Sihamonis head edited into the scene which went viral on social media.

Khieu Sopheak, Interior Ministry spokesman, said the creation of the image could be in breach of the Cambodian constitution, which protect the royals from harm.

He added that three suspects had been identified: two he said were opposition activists living in Cambodia and a third was based overseas.

In Cambodian constitutional law, there is an article that stipulates that the King cannot be harmed. But no other articles mention that it is illegal to insult the King, so it depends on the judicial system, he said.

Sok Sam Oeun, a veteran legal expert, said that there was no law governing insults to the King and as such it would be difficult to bring a case against the suspects.

Article 7 of the constitution, however, states that the King shall be inviolable.

Chin Malin, Justice Ministry spokesman, said that the courts could also bring charges under the countrys defamation laws.

It depends on the investigation of the courts to conclude whether or not there is enough evidence for a guilty verdict for the act of defamation, he said.

He added that defamation of the King occurs frequently and that as this is now considered an issue the ministry would consider a new law specifically targeting people who defame the King.

Several top officials have also received death threats online this year, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Interior Minister Sar Kheng, and Sok Touch, head of the Border Committee.
China plans to go for "strength and size" in its space program, a China National Space Administration official said Tuesday.

Beijing released a white paper on Tuesday stating its space strategy for the next five years. The country is committed to a peaceful use of space and opposes a space arms race, according to the white paper released by the State Council Information Office.

"China would like to work with the international community to jointly promote the development of the global space industry, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, the peaceful use [of outer space], [and] inclusive development," Wu Yanhua, the deputy administrator of China National Space Administration, said at a news conference after the report's release.

However, the program must also "meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress," according to the policy paper.

"In the next five years, we will approach various space activities in a coordinated and scientific manner, and advance the all-around development of space science, space technologies and space applications," Wu said.

The white paper echoes President Xi Jinping's call for China to become a space power.

Russia and the United States have decades more experience in manned space travel, and jointly inhabit the International Space Station.

China's military-backed program, however, has made steady progress in a comparatively short time.

It conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, becoming only the third country after Russia and the U.S. to do so. Just last month, two of its astronauts concluded a 30-day stint at the country's Tiangong 2 experimental space station -- the program's longest manned space mission to date.

It has also conducted a spacewalk and soft landed its Yutu rover on the moon in 2013.

"To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is a dream we pursue unremittingly," the white paper read.

China's space program, a source of national pride, is looking to make China the first country to soft land a probe on the dark side of the moon, which the policy paper said may help explain the formation and evolution of the moon.

He Qisong, a space security expert at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, said a soft landing on the far side of the moon would indicate China has mastered the underlying technology needed to land on a specific area of the lunar surface.

"China never talks big and says something it's unable to achieve," He told the Associated Press.
Cuba's National Assembly approved a law on Tuesday that bans erecting commemorative statues of Fidel Castro or naming public places after him, in accordance with the wishes of the revolutionary leader who died last month.

Castro always said he did not want a cult of personality although critics point out that the cult was everywhere. His words are posted on billboards nationwide and his name is invoked at every public event.

"His fighting spirit will remain in the conscience of all Cuban revolutionaries, today, tomorrow and always," President Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother, told the Assembly, according to excerpts of his speech published by official media.

The best way to pay homage to "El Comandante" - the commander - is to follow his concept of revolution, the president said.

Every since his death, a large photo of a young Castro dressed in military fatigues, with a rifle and pack slung over his back, has hung from a building on Havana's Revolution Square.

Our main homage will not be to name everything we build after him but rather to keep his work alive and continue our socialist society, lawmaker Jennifer Bello Martinez, president of the University Students' Federation, was quoted as saying by official media outlet Juventud Rebelde.

Photos in public places will stay

President Raul Castro had already announced that his older brother did not want to be immortalized with statues or public places named in his name.

The law does not ban artists from using Fidel Castro's figure in music, literature, dance, cinema or other visual arts, official media specified. Photos of him hanging up in offices, places of study or public institutions also may be kept.

Castro, a leading Cold War figure who built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States and defied U.S. attempts to topple him, died on November 25, aged 90, eight years after handing the presidency over to Raul.

Nine days of mourning

Cuba commemorated his death with nine official days of mourning and two mass memorial services.

Hundreds of thousands of Cubans also turned out to greet a funeral cortege carrying Castro's ashes east to Santiago, retracing the route that his rebels took upon overthrowing the U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista in 1959.
Even before Donald Trump is inaugurated as president on January 20, the U.S. Senate will begin considering his nominees for top administration posts.

"I think it's going to be one of the great Cabinets ever, ever, ever," the president-elect said at a recent rally.

In choosing his presidential inner circle, Trump drew from corporate boardrooms, the military and the ranks of conservative, pro-business public servants. Perhaps no Trump nominee has gotten more attention than ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, tapped to be secretary of state. Tillerson's reported ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin have raised concerns.

"My relationship with Vladimir Putin, which dates back almost 15 years now, he understands that I'm a businessman," Tillerson said earlier this year at a public forum for business leaders. "And I've invested a lot of money, our company has invested a lot of money, in Russia."

Democrats are signaling grave misgivings over Trump's Cabinet picks, but know they will be unable to block them on their own.

"We're going to ask a lot of questions, and we'll see what sorts of answers Mr. Tillerson has," Senator Chris Coons told VOA. The Delaware Democrat serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that will consider Tillerson's nomination.

"There are both Republicans and Democrats asking questions about Mr. Tillerson's potential conflicts of interest, about his long and close relationship with Vladimir Putin and Russia, and about his ability to balance the demands of being a diplomat and fighting for America's interests with his long experience leading an oil and gas company," Coons added.

"The confirmation hearings, at least some of them, will be very contentious," said political analyst John Hudak of the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "This is going to be, in some ways, Trump's first test of congressional relations."

Trump Nominees Interactive Map Click here for a look at Trump's nominees for Cabinet and other leadership posts.

Most Senate Republicans are rallying around Trump's picks.

"I've been very impressed with the nominations so far," said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. "Of the nominees we're aware of, I'm optimistic they will be confirmed."

Republicans have a slight Senate majority and, if they remain unified, they can ensure Trump's Cabinet selections are confirmed.

"There is not much that Democrats in the Senate can do without having two or three Republicans join with them," Hudak said.

"These [Republican] senators realize they are going to have to work with this president over the coming years," he added. "And one of the easiest ways to sully the relationship between you and the president of your party is to really run his nominees through the ringer."

Democrats, meanwhile, will use confirmation hearings to illuminate and probe questions surrounding the nominees, hoping to sway public opinion and a few Republicans. The Constitution tasks senators with providing "advice and consent" on nominees  a duty Democrats say they take seriously.

"One of the signature features of American democracy is the separation of powers between the executive branch and the legislative branch," Coons said.

For now, Trump is talking up his nominees, describing Tillerson as "a fierce advocate for America's interests around the world."
Newly widowed, Kay McCowen quit her job, sold her house, applied for Social Security and retired to Mexico. It was a move she and her husband, Mel, had discussed before he died in 2012.

"I wanted to find a place where I could afford to live off my Social Security," she said. "The weather here is so perfect, and it's a beautiful place."

She is among a growing number of Americans who are retiring outside the United States. The number grew 17 percent between 2010 and 2015 and is expected to increase over the next 10 years as more baby boomers retire.

Just under 400,000 American retirees are now living abroad, according to the Social Security Administration. The countries they have chosen most often: Canada, Japan, Mexico, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Retirees most often cite the cost of living as the reason for moving elsewhere said Olivia S. Mitchell, director of the Pension Research Council at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

"I think that many people retire when they are in good health and they are interested in stretching their dollars and seeing the world," Mitchell said.

McCowen's rent in Ajijic, a community outside Guadalajara near Mexico's Lake Chapala, is half of what she was paying in Texas. And since the weather is moderate, utility bills are inexpensive.

In some countries, Mitchell said, retirees also may find it less expensive to hire someone to do their laundry, clean, cook and even provide long-term care than in the United States.

McCowen has a community of other American retirees nearby and has adjusted well.

Obstacles for some

But for others there are hurdles to overcome to adjust to life in a different country.

Viviana Rojas, an associate professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said the biggest obstacle is not speaking the language or knowing the culture.

"Many of the people we interviewed said they spoke Spanish, but they actually spoke very little Spanish," said Rojas, who is writing a book about retirees in Mexico. "They didn't have the capacity of speaking enough Spanish to meet their basic needs, like going to the doctor or to the store."

Access to health care also can be a challenge. While retirees still can receive Social Security benefits, Medicare is not available to those living abroad, Mitchell said.

Joseph Roginski, 71, said that while the cost of living is higher in Japan, access to health care is not.

"Things are very expensive here. It is impossible to live off Social Security alone," said Roginski, who was stationed in Japan in 1968. "But health insurance is a major factor in staying here."

The former military language and intelligence specialist said he pays $350 annually to be part of Japan's national health insurance. His policy covers 70 percent of his costs. The rest is covered by a secondary insurance program for retired military personnel.

Influx of Americans

Japan experienced a higher growth rate (42 percent) of American retirees than any other country between 2010 and 2014, according to data from the Social Security Administration. The large U.S. military presence in the country may be a factor.

There are more than 50,000 U.S. military service members stationed in Japan. The presence is so large that on the island of Okinawa, the U.S. military occupies about 19 percent of the area, according to Ellis S. Krauss, professor emeritus of Japanese politics and policymaking at the University of California-San Diego.

Roginski, who volunteers for the Misawa Air Base Retiree Activities Office, said he helps connect more than 450 retirees and their families living in northern Japan with resources. He said he would never move back to the United States.

"We have a real strong sense of security here," he said. "I can leave my door unlocked and no one will take anything. When I go to another country I feel nervous, but when I come back I feel like I'm home."

Mexico has become home for retired firefighter Dan Williams, 72, and his wife, Donna, 68. They have been living near the same retirement community in Lake Chapala for 14 years.

"The climate and the medical services are very good," Williams said.

Williams teaches painting to adults and children and puts together a monthly magazine for the local American Legion. He is also a member of the Lake Chapala Society, which offers daily activities for American retirees.

'Comfort in numbers'

Those same services attracted McCowen to the region.

"Before moving, I found out how many widowed and divorced women lived here," she said. "There is comfort in numbers."

She said she loves being in a lively community.

"I see older people walking year-round," she said. "I see them all over the place, even in their wheelchairs. If they were in the U.S., they would probably be in a nursing home. I don't think I could move back."
An Indonesian court ruled Tuesday it will move forward with a controversial blasphemy trial against the Christian governor of the capital city of Jakarta, a case viewed by many as a test of religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country.

Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, has been charged with maligning Islam and defiling the Koran by reciting one of its verses in an attempt to win re-election. Purnama is trying to win a second term as governor in elections scheduled for February.

A five-judge panel overruled arguments from Purnama's attorneys that the indictment should be annulled because it contained inaccuracies. Hearings will resume next Tuesday.

Purnama said in his defense plea that his remarks were not an interpretation of the Koran and were simply references to politicians "who exploited the verses incorrectly because they do not want to compete fairly in an election."

The governor was named a suspect after hundreds of thousands of people attended rallies in recent months demanding his arrest.

Purnama, an ally of President Joko Widodo, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if he is convicted. Blasphemy convictions in Indonesia almost always result in conviction.

He is the first Christian governor of Jakarta in more than 50 years.
As it suffers major setbacks across Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State is doubling back in some areas and retaking territory it lost months ago.

In recent weeks, a group of nearly 4,000 Islamic State (IS) fighters stormed the ancient city of Palmyra in central Syria and took control of much of it in a surprise attack. Despite intensive airstrikes by the U.S., Russia and Syria, IS has been able to hold onto much of Palmyra.

IS fighters also succeeded in retaking at least a dozen villages from Syrian government troops and other local forces, including areas in eastern Homs and Deir Ezzor in Syria, and parts of Anbar province in Iraq.

IS is now looking for alternative territories to conquer, said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that has researchers across the country.

IS is using the Syrian desert as a route to resupply and reinforce its fighters in Palmyra and other parts of Homs province, Abdulrahman said. The desert connects eastern Homs to IS strongholds of Raqqa and Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria and the sandy plain stretches for hundreds of miles into western Iraq.

IS has been commanding its incoming forces in Homs from its de facto capital of Raqqa. And even though IS is losing fighters daily in Mosul, it has deployed some to Syria for surprise attacks, analysts said.

Most of the IS fighters who took over Palmyra were deployed from Iraq, Abdulrahman said.

IS succeeded In Palmyra because Syrian troops and their allies were concentrating on retaking Aleppo from rebel fighters, a Kurdish commander fighting IS said.

As long as [IS] controls major cities like Raqqa and Deir Ezzor, it will pose threats to other areas, including those who have recently been retaken from the group, said Nasir Hajji Mansur, a commander with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The SDF, backed by U.S. air power, has made significant gains against IS fighters in large parts of north and northeastern Syria. The Kurdish-led force has also launched an offensive to rout IS from Raqqa.

But once the air support focuses on other areas in Syria and Iraq IS can retake any part it desires in Syria, Abdulrahman said.



With battles going on along several fronts in Syria and Iraq, IS advances speak more to the weakness of its enemy than the group's own strength, said Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an analyst at the Middle East Forum, a U.S.-based think tank.

In Syria, IS remains in control 72 percent of territory it has captured since its inception in 2014, according to U.S. officials. Government forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are concentrating on fighting rebels.

The Assad regime is weak, has manpower issues and is incapable of fighting on two fronts, Oula A. Alrifai, a Syria analyst based in Washington, said of Syrian forces limited capabilities.

ISs strategy is to find weak spots in Syrias civil war and exploit them, analysts said.

The civil war in Syria allows [IS] to operate more freely on the ground, said Marco Manuel Marsili, a Middle East researcher at the University of Lisbon, Portugal.

In Iraq, where U.S.-backed Iraqi and Kurdish forces are taking on IS in its stronghold of Mosul, advances have slowed in recent weeks. And that, in part, is due to severe weather conditions that have limited U.S. airstrikes on IS positions in the city, said Sime Usali, a Kurdish commander who runs a peshmerga unit near Mosul.

This weather doesnt only make it difficult for Iraqi forces to combat effectively in Mosul, it also allows [IS] to move fighters between Iraq and Syria, he told VOA. Any relief [IS] can get in Iraq reflects on its movements in Syria.
Israel is continuing its sharp rebuke of the United States over its decision not to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a halt to Israeli settlement-building.

Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to Washington, accused the Obama administration of ganging up against his country in last week's vote.

What is outrageous is that the United States was actually behind that gang-up. I think it was a very sad day, really a shameful chapter, the Israeli diplomat told CNN on Monday.

Dermer said his government has clear evidence of the U.S. move and is willing to share it with the incoming administration of Donald Trump. And if they want to share it with the U.S. people they're welcome to do it, he said.

'Cease all settlement activities'

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution demanding that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem.

The United States, which has a veto in the Security Council, refrained from casting its vote, enabling the adoption of the measure, the first resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

An angry Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Sunday to talk about the U.S. abstention. Neither the State Department nor Netanyahu's office commented on Sunday's meeting.

As part of the diplomatic backlash, Netanyahu also backed out of a scheduled meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May. The meeting was to take place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in mid-January.

The Israeli foreign ministry summoned ambassadors from the 14 nations that voted for the resolution Friday, but reports say several of the diplomats did not answer the call.

'Reckless and destructive'

Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday that the resolution was reckless and destructive. He pointed out that the U.S. and Israel have always agreed that the Security Council is no place to resolve the settlement issue.

He called the U.S. abstention instead of a veto shameful.

Before lighting a Hanukkah candle Sunday in front of the Western Wall in East Jerusalem, Netanyahu said countries that voted for the resolution and then sent Hanukkah greetings to Israel do not understand the meaning of the Jewish festival.

The Jewish people observe the holiday of Hanukkah in order to remember the victory of the Hasmoneans in a revolt against the Greeks, culminating with the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple, Netanyahu wrote on Facebook. How is it possible to offer our best wishes for Hanukkah and at the same time deny our deep connection to the Western Wall in Jerusalem and other places in our land?

The Palestinians have long argued that Jewish settlements in areas they want as part of a future state are illegal and a major impediment to a final peace settlement.

Israel insists Jews have a biblical right to those lands seized in the 1967 war. It says Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist is the major roadblock to peace.

A warning offered

Netanyahu warned his Cabinet on Sunday that Friday's U.N. vote might be an attempt by President Barack Obama to reinforce U.S. Mideast policy before he leaves office in less than a month.

This would include another possible resolution and a Mideast peace conference scheduled for January 15 in Paris in which Israel says Secretary of State John Kerry will spell out the U.S. vision for a two-state solution.

Israeli settlement expansion has created a chilly relationship between Netanyahu and Obama.

Netanyahu said Sunday he has talked with our friends in the United States, Republicans and Democrats alike, who understand how reckless and destructive this U.N. resolution was.

He said he is looking forward to working with those friends and the new administration when it takes office next month. Trump will be sworn on January 20.

Trump questions value of U.N.

Monday, Trump questioned the U.N.s effectiveness, saying it's just a club for people to have a good time.

The president-elect wrote on Twitter that the U.N. has such great potential, but it has become just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!

On Friday, Trump warned, As to the U.N., things will be different after January 20th.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's U.N. vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the U.S. exercise its veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

The White House on Friday defended its decision.

We could not in good conscience veto a resolution, the usual U.S. practice on Security Council votes targeting Israel, the White House deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, told reporters.

Israel ignores U.S. concerns

Rhodes said that despite the United States repeatedly standing up for Israel, its government had ignored repeated concerns about the growth of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967. He noted that there are now 90,000 settlers living east of the barrier that Israel had itself created.

Weve tried everything ... and the one consistent outcome was that it didnt work, Rhodes said.

After the Security Council vote, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Samantha Power said Israel's policy stance  expanding settlements while also nominally pursuing a two-state solution of recognizing both a Jewish state and a Palestinian state  is based on irreconcilable positions.

None of us can give up on a two-state solution, Power said.

Kerry also weighed in via a statement, saying the resolution 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.
Israeli officials are set to approve permits Wednesday for the construction of hundreds of new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem, in defiance of a landmark United Nations resolution calling for an end to such construction in territories seized by Israel from its Arab neighbors in the 1967 war.

Israeli news reports say the Jerusalem District Zoning Committee is set to approve construction of 600 housing units, as part of a larger plan for nearly 6,000 new homes.

The widely expected approvals come as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to lash out at Friday's U.N. resolution and the decision by the United States to abstain from the vote rather than blocking it, as Washington has with every other such resolution in the past.

Friday's measure condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as a flagrant violation under international law, calling the construction an enduring obstacle to regional peace.

The council approved the measure 14-0, with the United States abstaining.

Netanyahu government blames U.S.

Signs of palpable anger in the Netanyahu government toward Washington continued Tuesday, with Netanyahu spokesman David Keys telling reporters the government had information that the Obama administration actively helped craft the resolution.

In comments Tuesday, Keyes told MSNBC television the information shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the White House was behind the resolution. He declined to offer specifics, saying some of the information is sensitive, so I can't share it on live TV.

On Sunday, a visibly angry Netanyahu, speaking on national television, blasted the U.N. resolution and the U.S. abstention, calling the U.S. inaction a shameful swipe against Washington's traditional ally.

He said his immediate response includes the withholding of nearly $8 million in funding to unnamed institutions, and said there is more to come. He did not elaborate, but later recalled ambassadors from New Zealand and Senegal, two of the resolution's four sponsors.

The prime minister also said he had ordered his foreign ministry to review within a month all of Israel's engagements with the world body.

Palestinians celebrate U.N. measure

Elsewhere in the region, Palestinians hailed the vote, with former Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat calling it a clear and unanimous message to Netanyahu that his policies will not lead to peace or security for Israel or Palestinians.

Hamas spokesman Fawzy Barhoum described the outcome of the U.N. ballot as a vote for the right of Palestinian people (to live) on their land.

More than 500,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, in settlements that most world governments view as illegal. The Obama administration has called them illegitimate.

Citing biblical connections to the land and modern-day security concerns, Israel claims all of Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories seized during the Six-Day War of 1967.
NORA SPRINGS  An ATM stolen Christmas Day from a Rockwell bank and a pickup police believe was used to drag it out of town have both been found.

The ATM was stolen early Sunday from the vestibule of First Security Bank, 319 Main St.

Sheriff's deputies were called about 3:30 a.m. when someone spotted a white two-door pickup towing the stolen cash machine down Main Street.

Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals said the ATM was attached to the truck with straps or chains. It was not on a trailer.

The ATM was later found about 11:30 p.m. Sunday on the side of 225th Street in rural Rockford by a sheriff's deputy.

The machine had been cut apart and all the cash was gone.

No arrests have been made.

A suspect seen on video in the bank vestibule was wearing bulky, light-colored pants and a coat with a hood, Pals said.

Pals wouldnt say how much money was inside the machine, however the incident is being investigated as a felony first-degree theft.

First-degree theft involves the theft of property valued at $10,000 or more.

Investigators are not saying how the thief or thieves got the machine out of the vestibule. Bank surveillance footage has not been released.

First Security Vice President of Information Services Brad McKenzie said customer financial information was not compromised by the theft.

The cash machine did not accept customer deposits.

Their money continues to be safe and it is insured, McKenzie said.

He said bank officials are doing their best to assist sheriff's deputies with the investigation.

The 2004 Ford pickup believed to have been used in the heist was found Sunday in a ditch near 165th Street and Red Ball Avenue in rural Nora Springs.

It had been reported stolen on Dec. 13 from the Martin Marietta Quarry, which is on 225th Street on the southeast edge of Mason City.

A reward is available through CrimeStoppers of North Central Iowa for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible, Pals said.

Anyone with information about the case can call CrimeStoppers at 800-383-0088 or the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office at 641-421-3000.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed "sincere and everlasting condolences" to the families of the more than 2,400 Americans killed in Japan's World War II attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 75 years ago.

"We must never repeat the horrors of war," Abe said Tuesday, paying tribute to the "brave men and women" who were killed in the surprise attack on December 7, 1941, that triggered America's entry into the war.

"As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place."

Abe did not apologize for the Japanese attack. His staff made it clear that an apology was not his intention, and said the purpose of Abe's trip was to show how U.S.-Japan relations have evolved since the war.

Abe stood alongside U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu.

Earlier, the two leaders laid wreaths at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. They closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments after tossing flower petals into the water near the sunken battleship, whose rusting hull can still be seen just below the surface of the water.

In his remarks at the base, Obama called the U.S.-Japan alliance the cornerstone of peace in the Asia-Pacific region and a force for progress around the world. He said Abe's presence at Pearl Harbor was a reminder of what's possible between nations and peoples, adding that it showed that wars could end and enemies could become allies.

"This historic gesture speaks to the power of reconciliation ... a reminder that even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and a lasting peace," Obama said.

In May, Obama became the first sitting U.S. leader to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where in 1945 U.S. forces dropped the first atomic bomb to be used as a weapon of war, killing an estimated 140,000 people. A second bomb on Nagasaki three days later killed 70,000 more.

Obama also declined to apologize for the atomic attacks, but instead honored the dead and noted the legacy of what he called the "terrible force unleashed in the not so distant past."

"We have a shared responsibility to look directly into the eye of history and ask what we must do differently to curb such suffering again," Obama said then.

The president added, "And perhaps, above all, we must reimagine our connection to one another as members of one human race."

Japan unconditionally surrendered to the United States five days after the Nagasaki bombing. Instead of gloating and humiliating its former enemy, the United States helped to rebuild Japan into one of the world's most prosperous democracies with a thriving economy and a progressive government that swore off militarism.

Abe is the first Japanese prime minister to visit the USS Arizona memorial. He also is the first Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor with an American president.

The last Japanese prime minister to come to Pearl Harbor was Shigeru Yoshida, who made a brief stop there in 1951, before the memorial was built to honor those who died on the battleship during the Japanese attack. The memorial is accessible only by boat.

On Monday, Abe laid a wreath and stood in silence at Honolulu's National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which holds the remains of military members, including many who served in the war.

Among those buried there is former Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye, who fought in the war and whose parents were Japanese immigrants. Abe laid a separate wreath at Inouye's gravesite.

The prime minister also laid a wreath at the nearby Ehime Maru Memorial for nine people who died in 2001 when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel.

Jeffrey Hornung, research fellow at the Washington-based Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a U.S./Japan think tank, says Abe's visit is intended to send a message. The recipients, he said, are President-elect Donald Trump, who has been critical of Japan's financial support for the U.S. military presence in Japan, and Japan's Asian neighbors.

"It sends a symbolic message to, not only the incoming president-elect, but also to the region, that the U.S.-Japan alliance is stronger than ever, that we are able to confront past problems between us and still be stronger as allies," said Hornung.

Hornung said that, more than 75 years after the sneak attack that brought the United States into World War II, the bitter feelings created by the war have faded on both sides.

"And of course a lot of the younger generation don't know the significance of Pearl Harbor, but given that these two countries were bitter rivals and enemies just two or three generations ago, it's amazing that they have been able to come this far and reconcile their past histories," he said.
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was indicted Tuesday on charges she ran a corruption scheme with a public works secretary who was arrested in June while trying to stash millions of dollars in a convent.

A federal judge accused them and other officials of the Fernandez administration of crimes "including the deliberate seizure of funds principally meant for public road works."

Corruption charges have long swirled around Fernandez and her husband and predecessor, the late Nestor Kirchner. She denies wrongdoing and accuses Argentina's current leader, Mauricio Macri, of using the courts to persecute her.

The country was riveted in June when Fernandez's former public works secretary, Jose Lopez, was arrested while tossing bags stuffed with millions of dollars over the walls of a Catholic convent on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

A gun-toting Lopez started hurling the money into the Our Lady of Fatima convent when the elderly nuns inside were slow to answer the door in the early morning hours of June 14, according to a neighbor who witnessed what happened and called 911.

A surveillance video shows the nuns finally welcoming Lopez and accepting the cash while paying little attention to the automatic rifle he had placed by the convent door.

Lopez and his direct boss, former Planning Minister Julio De Vido, were indicted along with Fernandez on Tuesday.

The alleged skimming of road projects took place in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, where Fernandez lives.

The ruling said the offenses took place until Dec. 9, 2015, Fernandez's last day as president after eight years in office.

No arrest warrant has been issued for Fernandez, and Lopez is already in jail on money laundering charges.

In May, Fernandez was indicted for "unfaithful administration to the detriment of public administration." During her administration, according to the charges, the central bank took money-losing positions in the futures market just before a widely expected devaluation of the peso currency.

Fernandez, head of the leftist faction of the Peronism party umbrella, is revered by millions of Argentines for her generous welfare programs. She is reviled by others, who accuse her of wrecking Argentina's economy, Latin America's third biggest, with profligate state spending and heavy-handed trade and currency controls.
With all the attention on this year's American presidential elections, one could be forgiven for failing to notice: The race for the Kremlin in 2018 is now on.

In a video message released online this month, Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption crusader and relentless Kremlin critic, announced he would compete to succeed Vladimir Putin, whose term as president ends in less than two years.

"There have been no true elections in Russia since 1996," said Navalny in announcing his candidacy. "I will participate in the election, and I will fight for victory."

In an interview with VOA, Navalny painted a picture of his vision for the country. A Navalny administration, he said, would see Russia become "a normal democratic country that would fight to be a leader in Europe."

"But I don't think Russia should threaten anyone or be at war with others," added the candidate, arguing Russia's might should be economic rather than military.

Long-standing opposition

The star of a protest movement against elections rigged in favor of Kremlin parties in 2011-12, Navalny has proven the rare figure capable of uniting Russia's often fractured opposition.

A gifted public speaker and a lawyer by training, Navalny's speeches skewered Putin's ruling United Russia bloc as "the party of crooks and thieves." It quickly became the rallying cry of the street opposition.

Russian liberals have expressed reservations about Navalny's positions on issues such as immigration that, they argue, flirt with nationalism. Russian nationalists, on the other hand, consider Navalny too liberal. Navalny insists he falls into neither camp.

But few would disagree that his Anti-Corruption Foundation, a crowdfunded NGO organized in 2011, has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side. The foundation routinely uncovers stories of graft and excess among Putin's inner circle. A recent video mocked Vice Premier Igor Shuvalov for ferrying his wife's pet corgis aboard a private jet to dog show competitions around the world.

But Navalny is also a proven campaigner. In a run for Moscow mayor in 2013, Navalny garnered 27 percent of the vote  far short of victory, but more than any other Kremlin opponent has managed at the ballot box. Hundreds of young Russians volunteered in the effort, despite a slew of state media coverage that painted Navalny as either an American stooge or nationalist.

Vladimir Milov, an opposition politician who has publicly backed Navalny's candidacy, called it welcome news to Putin critics dismayed by opposition parties' disastrous showing in this fall's Russian parliamentary elections.

"The one thing we need right now is to re-energize the community countering Putin, and show the world that there is an alternative vision for Russia," Milov said. "And Navalny is the guy."

Kremlin obstacles

Yet hovering over Navalny's nascent campaign are questions about whether the Kremlin will allow him to run. As Navalny's star has risen, the opposition leader has faced numerous criminal court cases  all fabricated, Navalny insists, to stymie his political ambitions. Under Russian law, convicted felons are unable to run for office.

Last month, Russia's Supreme Court overturned Navalny's 2013 embezzlement conviction, bowing to a European Court of Human Rights finding that he had been denied a fair trial. The ruling appeared to open Navalny's path back to politics.

But the criminal case is being retried in Kirov, and a negative ruling could end Navalny's candidacy as quickly as it began.

Putin uncommitted

Publicly, the Kremlin has declined to comment on Navalny's candidacy, but there are signs Putin's inner circle is paying attention.

The independent Dozhd TV reported this week that Kremlin insiders found the prospect of a Navalny candidacy "dangerous"  a comment the candidate told VOA he welcomed as a "compliment."

"The Kremlin perfectly well understands that we'll run a good campaign," Navalny said. "Even if they have control of television, the election commission, the possibility to falsify the results or the possibility to use propaganda, they're still afraid of our campaign, which is built on volunteers."

Putin has repeatedly refused to reveal his plans beyond 2018, insisting it's too early to decide. Most observers expect him to stand for office and, given current popularity ratings, to win.

But Moscow political observers have been largely impressed by Navalny's announcement, which they describe as a smart tactical move that injects drama into the election, the outcome of which many saw as a foregone conclusion.

"It's obvious that in the president's administration, options are being discussed for how to attract people [to the elections] and give them legitimacy," said political analyst Ekaterina Schulman in an interview with the Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

One way, said Schulman, is to have real competition with strong candidates.
Nearly 80 percent of Islamic education teachers in five of 34 Indonesian provinces support implementing Sharia law, according to a new survey that is causing alarm among some moderate Muslim groups.

Researchers led by Dr. Didin Syafruddin of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) in Jakarta interviewed 505 Islamic religious education (Pendidikan Agama Islam) teachers in five of Indonesia's 34 provinces. In much of Indonesia, religion is taught in public and private schools.

The study, conducted in October 2016, found high levels of so-called "Islamization" in those teachers it spoke with, including in the cities of Solo and Makassar, and in the Aceh Besar region, Syafruddin said.

Among the study's findings: 74 percent of Islamic religious teachers in the five provinces believe Muslims shouldn't give holiday greetings to adherents of other religions, and 89 percent believe non-Sunni minorities should not be accommodated in the country.

One Islamic education teacher quoted in Syafruddin's study said, "For a Muslim to uphold his ideals, Islamic Sharia law should be enforced. For me, the important thing is not the formal state, but enforcing Islamic Sharia. ... I think Islamic Sharia should be implemented in Islamic countries."

Moderate Muslims

The research has provoked alarm among moderate Muslim bodies such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.

At a panel organized at UIN for the study's publication last week, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Chairman H. Imam Aziz said according to NU, "Indonesia is a country where Pancasila and the 1945 constitution fully account for our notion of jurisprudence. Theres no need to search for another basis of state authority [such as Sharia law]."

Pancasila is the country's philosophical foundation of political pluralism.

Aziz said he found the study's findings "troubling."

Syafruddin, the study's author, told VOA he "was interested in exploring the balance between two values: Indonesias Pancasila philosophy of political pluralism and personal religion.

He told VOA he suspected Pancasila was enforced only nominally and lacked strong personal investment. "I was not surprised by our findings, but it is useful to have some data about this phenomenon," he said.

Syafruddin said his survey purposely looked at some of the most conservative regions of Indonesia, and thus couldn't be proportionally extended to the whole country.

Other studies

But Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute, a human rights research organization, said the latest "findings are in line with our survey among students in Greater Jakarta from a few years ago, where we found about 40 percent of them (Islamic educators) support implementing Islamic Sharia law."

"It has long been a concern of ours that schools are engendering the spread of puritanical and intolerant Islam. We even found that there were some authorized textbooks that sanctioned violence to defend religious beliefs," Naipospos said.

Only one Indonesian province has been allowed to impose formal Sharia law - the westernmost province of Aceh. But as of March 2016, there were 389 "Islam-inspired" local bylaws around the country, according to the National Commission on Violence Against Women.

Syafruddins research also found that teachers who studied Islam as a teenager were about four times as likely to support political Islam - Sharia law and exclusive Muslim leadership - as those who studied the religion as a child or an adult.

Further research is needed, but I conjecture that this may be because teens are very impressionable and receptive to dogmatic ideas passed on by friends, Syafruddin said.

It also may explain why teachers who studied Islam in adolescence support Sharia law at a higher rate than their peers, he added.

Religion is increasingly an academic as well as professional vocation for young Indonesians.

About 20 percent of all university students major in religious studies, The New York Times newspaper reported.

Indonesia also has the largest number of Islamic education centers in the world: nearly 700 universities, 30,000 boarding schools and 76,000 schools, according to the countrys Religious Affairs Ministry.

Suggestions for the government

Syafruddin said he also wanted to study attitudes toward religious minorities.

Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims - 203 million, 99 percent of whom are Sunni - in the world. The country, which has a total population of about 250 million people, also recognizes and protects Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism and Confucianism.

Based on his study, Syafruddin suggested that "religious tolerance is still superficial, and not actively enforced" in the country.

He said Indonesia should be more aggressive in explaining how Pancasila relates to tolerant Islam, support moderate Islamic organizations such as NU, and improve the recruitment and training of religious teachers "in a way that strengthens a moderate Islamic outlook unique to Indonesia."

In recent years, the Setara Institute has begun to do just that.

A number of NGOs, including ours, train teachers and students about multiculturalism and peace, Naipospos, of the human rights group, said. We publish teaching materials for the classroom and picture books for students. Indonesias Ministries of Education and Religion have also started programs to address growing intolerance.

The study was published last week during a time of turmoil that is testing Indonesias famed religious tolerance: the trial of Jakartas Chinese Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, for alleged blasphemy. The case has polarized hard line Islamic groups and left some Christian minorities on edge.

The study was not directly prompted by the Ahok debate, Syafruddin said, but its findings about religious intolerance are relevant to the sectarian undercurrents that have surfaced over the past few months.

One of the teachers quoted in the study, however, commented on the case specifically.

If there are non-Muslim [political] leaders, I do not support them, a teacher in Pidie, Aceh said. For we must protect our leaders, but such leaders would not protect us. This is evident from Jakarta. I dont support Ahok as governor because any other religion has a different mission than Islam. There is no obligation for Muslims to Islamize people, but in Christianity, they are missionaries. If they become president, they will Christianize our laws, education all of that.
A 66-year-old man died after he was trampled by horses during a party in rural Mexico attended by thousands of people. According to local media, another man was hospitalized with a broken leg after he also fell into the path of the horses.

The tragic accident occurred during a race that was part of a birthday party for a teenage girl. Her parents posted a video invitation to the party of Facebook but accidentally made it public. The video went viral, as people around the world reposted the video to Youtube and created internet memes about the event.

Thousands of people from across Mexico poured into the community of La Joya for the "quinceanera" celebration of Rubi Ibarra. The traditional coming-of-age party is similar to American "sweet sixteen" parties in which Mexican families often throw big, costly bashes for their daughters.

Rubi's party gained national and international notoriety in early December after a local event photographer posted on his Facebook page a video of the girl's father describing a down-home birthday party complete with food, local bands and horse races. In the video, cowboy hat-wearing Crescencio Ibarra haltingly but proudly describes the party and prizes, before announcing that "everyone is cordially invited."

Rubi's mother later explained that Crescencio had only been referring to everyone in the neighboring communities, not the world, but by then the video had been picked up dozens of times on Youtube and had been seen by millions, sparking tributes by musical stars, jokes and offers of sponsorships by companies.

Mexican airline Interjet published a promotion offering 30-percent discounts on flights to San Luis Potosi, under the slogan "Are you going to Rubi's party?"
A leading American senator is telling Baltic state leaders they can count on continued U.S. support from the incoming Donald Trump administration in the event of any Russian aggression.

Sen. John McCain, a member of President-elect Trump's Republican party, also said Tuesday in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, that he does not foresee any easing of sanctions imposed on Russia after its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

"I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength," said the Arizona senator, who is visiting the three Baltic states this week accompanied by fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham.

"And the best way to prevent Russian misbehavior is by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance of which Estonia is a very important part," he said.

NATO announced plans this year to deploy a 4,000-person deterrent force in the Baltics and eastern Europe.



Leaders of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia -- all former Soviet republics that have since joined NATO -- have been unnerved by Russian takeovers of border regions in Ukraine and Georgia as well as Moscow's arms build-up close to their borders in its Kaliningrad enclave.

Trump added to the unease when he suggested during his campaign that the U.S. commitment to its NATO allies might be conditioned on how much the members spend on their own defense.

Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the United States, told the Reuters news agency that Baltic leaders are worried about Trump's positive public comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"There is fear ... that sanctions against Russia will be weakened or called off, and not strengthened as the Congress would want," he was quoted as saying.

McCain, who has called for even tougher sanctions in response to suspected Russian efforts to undermine this year's U.S. elections, said he was not aware of any plan to soften the measures.

"That is certainly not the case today as I know it," he said.

McCain and Graham were scheduled to be in Latvia on Wednesday and Lithuania on Thursday.
Somalia has sworn in the members of a new parliament following a process marred by irregularities and charges of corruption. But it is delaying its presidential election for a fourth time, likely until late January.

Tuesdays swearing-in ceremony in Mogadishu saw 281 members of the upper and lower houses of parliament take office. VOA stringers in the city reported that security forces conducted stepped-up patrols in the streets during the inauguration.



Independent regional analyst Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad said the swearing-in heralded the beginning of a new era.

"The new members of parliament, almost 45 percent of them are former members of parliament, while 55 percent are new young, energetic and educated people," he said, adding that for the first time, a "significant number" of the new members are women.

Mohamed Osman Jawari, speaker of the outgoing parliament, formally proclaimed the handover of power to just the second new group of Somali lawmakers in 25 years. The new members "have been sworn in and from now on they are in charge of the countrys legislative responsibilities, he said.

Security, logistical issues

Somalia was unable to conduct direct nationwide elections because of security and logistical problems. Instead, the members of the upper and lower chambers were elected by some 14,000 "special delegates" who in turn were chosen by clan leaders and regional representatives. The president will now be elected by parliament.

That vote had been scheduled to take place on Wednesday, but electoral commission officials told VOA's Somali service the vote has been postponed to Jan. 24. The commission has yet to announce the date publicly.

Critics say the parliamentary selection process was marred by vote buying, violence, and intimidation. The electoral commission says it is redoing the elections for five posts because of these irregularities. The commission said at one point that it would redo 24 races but then dropped the number back to five. Other seats are still vacant as clan leaders have not yet decided on the candidates.

The Somali auditor general told VOA earlier this month that some candidates paid from $5,000 to $30,000 to get elected to parliament.

The inauguration was welcomed as an important step forward in a joint statement issued by the United Nations, United States, Britain, African Union and the European Union. But the international community also expressed concerns about a last-minute decision to add 18 seats to the upper house.

Somalias National Leadership Forum announced the additional seats on Saturday. The decision contradicts the constitution which limits the upper house to 54 senators.

Professor Mohamed Ali Kalay, the chancellor of the University of Southern Somalia in Baidoa, suggested that some of the presidential candidates have been trying to use the election process to reward supporters.

Paying salaries of 275 MPs is already hard. They have also created 54 seats for senators and now they have added up to 18 more senators. Its not even clear what those peoples roles will be. This is not sustainable, he said.

Current president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a member of the National Leadership Forum. He is running for re-election against six challengers.

Afyare Abdi Elmi, a professor of international affairs at Qatar University, said the new parliament cannot bring hope to Somalia unless it proves to be different from the previous parliament, which he said as troubled by corruption and other problems.



I cannot see a turning point that the country inaugurates a new parliament. But it depends on how effective its members become and where they lead the nation through their legislative work ahead, Elmi told VOA Somali.
A spokesman for a U.S.-backed Kurdish-led force in northern Syria says they are approaching a strategic dam controlled by the Islamic State group north of the country.



Talal Sillo of the Syria Democratic Forces said Tuesday that gunmen backed by U.S., French and British special forces have taken dozens of villages and farms in recent days and are now about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Euphrates Dam.



Members of SDF, which a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, have been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November. The operation, which is backed by intense airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition, aims to initially isolate and encircle IS's de-facto capital of Raqqa.



SDF has been the most effective ground force fighting IS extremists in Syria.
U.S. President Barack Obama says he has utmost confidence in his vision for the country and that had he run again, he would have defeated Donald Trump in the presidential election.

In an interview with former adviser David Axelrod, released Monday, the president said, I am confident in this vision because I am confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it  I think I could have mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it.

But president-elect Trump disagreed later Monday. In a Tweet, Trump fired back, "President Obama said that he thinks he would have won against me. He should say that but I say NO WAY! - jobs leaving, ISIS, OCare, etc."

While Obama praised the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, he also criticized her campaign for being too cautious. If you think you are winning, then you have the tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer, he said in Axelrod's podcast The Axe Files.

The president expressed admiration for Clinton, saying she performed wonderfully under really tough circumstances, but did not hesitate to criticize her campaign for not pushing hard enough.

We're not there on the ground communication not only the dry policy aspects of this, but that we care about these communities, that we're bleeding for these communities, he said. "It means caring about local races, state boards or school boards and city councils and state legislative races and not thinking that somehow, just a great set of progressive policies that we present to The New York Times editorial board will win the day.

Obama also defended his legacy, saying Trump's victory does not mean his vision for the country had failed. Obviously, in the wake of the election and Trump winning, a lot of people have suggested that somehow, it really was a fantasy.

What I argue is, is that the culture actually did shift, that the majority does buy into the notion of one America that is tolerant and diverse and open and full of energy and dynamism.

Obama, who leaves office in less than a month, made clear his future plans. He said he aims to build that next generation of leadership, organizers, journalists, politicians. I see in America, I see them around the world  20-year-olds, 30-year-olds who are full of talent, full of idealism. And the question is how do we link them up? How do we give them the tools for them to bring about progressive change? And I want to use my presidential center as a mechanism for developing that next generation of talent.

The president said he did not want to be someone who's just hanging around reliving old glories.
At least 31 people have died and dozens of others were sickened in Pakistan after drinking a toxic homemade liquor on Christmas Day.

The alcohol was served during celebrations on Sunday in the city of Toba Tak Singh, located in the Punjab Province about 315 kilometers south of Islamabad.

Police said the maker and supplier of the toxic liquor was among those who died.

The victims were mostly Christian but deaths from tainted home brewed liquor occur periodically in Pakistan, a majority Muslim country.

It is illegal for Muslims to buy or drink alcohol in Pakistan and religious minorities but foreigners can get permits to buy it in limited quantities.
Sometimes we get a little on edge at the Globe Gazette when it comes to the Cheer Fund.

Knowing North Iowans have big hearts and much compassion for their neighbors in need at the holidays, lofty goals have been set throughout the years. This year, it was $125,000, and as the days ticked away and donations seemed to lag, we wondered if this would be the first year the Cheer Fund didnt meet its goal.

Silly us.

As of Friday a whopping $133,060 had been raised, putting the Cheer Fund $8,060 over that $125,000 goal.

What a wonderful finish to this years Cheer Fund drive! There was a lot of anxiety at the Globe over the past couple of weeks, but North Iowans came through in amazing fashion, said Globe Gazette Editor David Mayberry.

Amazing fashion  as has been the case every year since the Cheer Fund was started in 1929 as a way to ensure that every child receive a gift at Christmas. Over the years it has grown to encompass all individuals who show need on the applications they fill out.

No matter the year, that need seems great  this year the Cheer Fund was able to fulfill 2,353 applications seeking help with things such as medical issues or finding a home or just being able to put a decent meal on the table at Christmas.

Any funds left over after the final tally is determined will go to local food pantries, community kitchens and other local organizations.

Our Cheer Fund goal is significantly higher than such holiday campaigns at much bigger newspapers, so once again, North Iowans can be very proud of reaching  smashing, actually  that $125,000 goal, with every penny donated going to needy North Iowans and charitable organizations except for $100 used to maintain the checking account.

We never take that generosity for granted, and when the goal finally is reached  as it has been every year since 1929  we celebrate the goodness of those who give.

North Iowans response to help put some cheer in their neighbors lives is why were proud to live and work here, Mayberry said.

So, thank you very much, North Iowa. We speak for ourselves and we speak for the countless North Iowans who were helped by your donations. Please share our pride and joy in another successful Cheer Fund campaign.
Russia on Tuesday activated a pipeline carrying Russian gas to Crimea with President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a step that would power economic growth on a peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Crimea has no land border with Russia, and Moscow has struggled to meet its energy needs, which were previously met by Ukraine.

Putin, who watched the launch of the pipeline via a video link, said: "It is another very important solution for the long-term development of Crimea."

Moscow is also building a road and rail bridge to the peninsula and this year completed an electricity link. Crimea had suffered sporadic blackouts after unidentified individuals blew up power cables from Ukraine in November last year.
Russia, China and Pakistan bowed to Afghan complaints Tuesday, announcing after talks in Moscow that Kabul will be invited to participate in future meetings on the threat posed by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan.

Afghan officials had objected to being left out of the three-way talks in the Russian capital, ostensibly held to discuss "the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan." The three nations also said they were interested in facilitating peace talks between the Afghanistan government and the Taliban.

The long-running Taliban insurgency poses by far the greater threat to Afghanistan, whose forces have been on the defensive for the past year. But members of the so-called Islamic State group have been trying to establish a foothold in Afghanistan, in some cases fighting directly with the Taliban.

Participants in Tuesday's meeting said it was the third session of their trilateral "working group" on Afghanistan. In a joint statement released by Pakistan after the talks, they expressed "particular concern" over "increased activities of the extremist groups including the ISIL (Daesh) affiliates in the country." ISIL is another acronym for IS.

The statement said Beijing, Islamabad and Moscow had agreed to continue their consultations in an expanded format and would welcome the participation of Afghanistan. The group previously suggested it might include Iran in future talks.

"The participants agreed to continue their efforts towards further facilitating the Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan according to the known principles of reintegration of the armed opposition into peaceful life," the statement said.

Hours before the Moscow meeting, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghani said that regardless of the good intentions of the participants, the Moscow talks would not help the situation in Afghanistan, where government forces have been battling Taliban insurgents for 15 years.

The joint statement said that China and Russia, as permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, had confirmed their "flexible approach to delisting Afghan individuals from the U.N. sanctions lists" as a contribution to peace efforts in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has identified removal of international travel and financial restrictions on its leaders as one of its conditions for engaging in reconciliation talks.

The Afghan government has recently sent a formal request to the U.N. sanctions committee seeking delisting of members of the Hizb-e-Islami group, with which Kabul signed a peace deal.



The group, led by Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, agreed under the peace deal to quit violence and join mainstream politics once the delisting happens, paving the way for the warlord to return to Afghanistan from years of hiding.

Russian officials say that IS is trying to expand its influence to Russia and China through Central Asian states that share borders with Afghanistan.

Moscow's permanent representative to the United Nations told a Security Council meeting last week that more than 700 IS terrorist families have arrived in Afghanistan from Syria. The deteriorating Afghan security situation is encouraging IS fighters to look at the country for refuge, he added.

Russia recently admitted to having contacts with the Taliban following reports Russian authorities are trying to help the Islamist insurgency fight IS militants. But Moscow insists the links are meant only to ensure the protection of Russian nationals in Afghanistan and to encourage the Taliban to join peace talks.
Russia says a recent U.S. decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian rebels is a "hostile act" that would jeopardize Russia's forces and its other interests in Syria.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the policy change Tuesday, telling the Reuters news agency that, "the possibility of supplying them with weapons, including mobile anti-aircraft complexes, has been written into this new bill." She was referring to a defense measure signed recently by U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been critical of Moscow's involvement in Syria's war.

She said Russia's air force, along with other Russian military personnel and Moscow's embassy in Damascus, would be directly threatened and that any weapons supplied to rebels would quickly end up in the hands of jihadists.

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the Russian comments are not new allegations, and that the United States is not providing what are known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to Syrian rebels.

"Our position on MANPADS has not changed," Toner told reporters Tuesday. "We would have a very deep concern about that type of weaponry getting into Syria."

The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been a long-time ally of Russia, which has an air base near the Syrian coastal city of Latakia. Russia helped Syria retake territory lost to rebels, some of whom have the backing of the United States.

Recently, the last rebels left Syria's northern city of Aleppo, which President Assad's forces pounded with the backing of their Russian allies. At a year-end news conference earlier this month, Obama said the world "is united in horror at the savage assault by the Syrian regime and its Russian and Iranian allies on the city of Aleppo." U.S. strategy in Syria has focused on degrading and destroying Islamic State.

Back in September, the Obama administration, while citing progress in pushing back IS, said more must be done to secure a sustained cease-fire and political transition to end Syria's civil war, which has been raging for nearly six years.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country, along with Iran, Turkey and Syria, have agreed to hold peace discussions in the Kazakh capital of Astana to resolve the conflict in Syria. He said peace talks are expected to take place in January and that the next step for Syria should be a nationwide cease-fire.

Toner said the United States has not been invited to the talks, but is in frequent contact with both Russia and Turkey.

"We've also long said that in order to reach some kind of resolution to the conflict in Syria, all the stakeholders need to agree and need to talk to each other. So the fact that Turkey and Russia are holding these kinds of talks is not necessarily something we would disapprove of," Toner said.

The comments from the Russians come less than a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office as the 45th U.S. president. Putin has said he hopes to work with the next U.S. president to lift relations out of the current crisis, resolve international issues and respond to global security challenges. During the U.S. election campaign, Trump leaned toward Moscow's positions on issues like Russia's military actions in Syria more than those of his Republican Party. He also spoke highly of President Putin.


Somali farmers say al-Shabab is targeting them and stealing their livestock.

Farmers in the Jubbaland and Galmudug regions said al-Shabab militants are systematically confiscating livestock from certain clans. The group is accused of driving clans they view as hostile to their administration into poverty.

For a second week, fighting is taking place in the rural areas west of Kismayo where shepherds are trying to keep ownership of their animals. More than 20 people were killed since last week, according to regional officials and locals.

Six herders killed

Clan elder Mohamud Shureyn, who is in Yaqbisharo, told VOA that Monday's clashes claimed the lives of six herders. He accused al-Shabab of executing the victims, all of them men, at a water reservoir.

"The locals are no match for al-Shabab," he said.

Mohaned Abdi Omar was an al-Shabab member until last week when he defected and handed himself over to Jubbaland regional authorities. He said he decided to abandon the group because they are targeting his clansmen.

Al-Shabab has said some of the livestock is being taken as zakat, an annual payment made on certain types of property under Islamic law.

Attacks are political

But Omar said some of the people whose livestock was seized had already paid their zakat.

He said the group is attacking his clansmen for political reasons because al-Shabab believes that they are collaborating with the Jubbaland regional administration.

Last week, Jubbaland regional forces supporting the herders clashed with al-Shabab in an area between Berhani and Abdi Birole, west of Kismayo. At least 10 deaths were reported on both sides, according to sources in the region. In subsequent raids, herders said al-Shabab stole about 1,800 camels in a region where livestock is the primary economic pillar.

Hope to recover camels

The African Union Mission in Somalia said in a Twitter message that it will work with the locals to recover the camels.

Abdirahman Sahal Yusuf, director of the Irshad Center for Religious Extremism and Terrorism, says the fact that al-Shabab is taking away livestock at a difficult time when droughts are ravaging the country is troubling.

"People who depend on livestock need leniency, they need support, this is the most important thing they have," Yusuf said. "They need medical care for the livestock which survived the drought, they don't need power to be used against them."
Twenty nine legislators have split from South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party over a corruption scandal centered on impeached President Park Geun-hye.

The lawmakers established a new party, unofficially named the New Conservative Party for Reform, that will launch on January 24.

The new party hopes to win the support of conservative voters who are displeased with the ruling party before the next presidential election. As part of the effort, the new party may try to convince outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to be its presidential candidate.

Ban has not said whether he will seek the presidency and, in a recent interview with VOA, deferred any public decision until his term as U.N. chief expires at the end of the year.

"When I retire from this job ... then I will have to discuss this matter with leaders of Korean society, my friends, my family," Ban said, adding that the "Korean people will overcome this crisis as soon as possible."

Ban is viewed as the strongest potential candidate for conservatives to reclaim the presidency after Park's impeachment complicated politics for her party. Recent polls show Ban is slightly ahead of liberal politician Moon Jae-in, who lost the presidential race to Park four years ago.

The lawmakers formed the new party as investigators expanded their investigation into the scandal involving Park.

The impeached president has been accused of colluding with a friend to extort money and favors from companies and to allow the friend to manipulate government affairs.
Taiwan's defense minister warned Tuesday of growing threats from China after a group of warships led by China's first aircraft carrier sailed south of the island nation in the South China Sea during routine military exercises.

The exercises were conducted on Monday, more than three weeks after President-elect Donald Trump accepted an unusual telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, prompting a diplomatic protest from China.

Because of Trump's actions, political observers in Taiwan believe China is increasing pressure on the island nation, which China claims as its territory, even though the two countries have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

"I would like to remind everyone that the threat of our enemy is growing day by day," said Taiwan Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan on Tuesday during a speech at a military event. "We need to strenghten the training (of our soldiers) so that they can not only survive in battle but also destroy the enemy and accomplish the mission," he said.

On Monday, Chinese naval ships sailed about 167 kilometers from the coast of Taiwan. It was the latest in a series of recent Chinese military exercises, including a Chinese bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons that flew near the edge of Taiwanese territory.

Tensions between Taiwan and China have risen sharply since Tsai's presidential victory in January. China has severed official communication with Tsai's government, which has insisted that it maintain its independence and reduce its economic dependence on China.
Health news in 2016 was dominated by talk of Zika, polio and HIV, and the fear, devastation and death that followed. However, scientific advances offer hope for treatment and protection in the years ahead.

Zika

While many people with Zika exhibit such mild symptoms that they dont know they are infected, a surge of babies born with microcephaly proved that the virus is anything but harmless. Pregnant women with Zika are at risk of giving birth to babies with microcephaly, meaning they have abnormally small heads, which often signifies arrested brain development.

The Zika virus originated in Uganda more than 60 years ago, and is transmitted by mosquitoes and through sex with an infected person. The virus recently emerged in Brazil, then surged north. There were confirmed cases in Florida, and health officials in Texas worry the virus might be spreading there.

Dr. Anthony Costello, with the World Health Organization, said even one affected child has a big impact on community resources and a family's ability to cope.

"It is a public health problem of huge concern for the world, he said. Sixty-nine countries have seen the Zika virus emerge in the last two years. We are talking about a virus that causes brain damage and potentially lifelong disability, which is a huge blow to families."

Currently, prevention is key. Women are advised to avoid travel to areas where the virus is spreading, to guard against mosquito bites and to delay pregnancy. There is no vaccine against Zika, but one could be available in 2018.

Polio

In Nigeria, the polio virus re-emerged in the violence-wracked northern part of the country, where it's hard to ensure that every child is vaccinated. Three children were diagnosed with polio just as Nigeria was thought to be approaching polio-free status.

The virus also exists in another conflict zone: along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Those behind the vaccination effort say they are determined to eliminate the disease. Polio infections have decreased by 99 percent since 1988, from about 350,000 cases then to less than three dozen in 2016.

HIV/AIDS

In the beginning of December, Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health announced the start of a major trial of an experimental vaccine against the AIDS virus.

"An HIV vaccine is not going to be easy, he said. We may not even know if we're going to get a vaccine."

However, Fauci described the advances in AIDS treatment as nothing short of spectacular.

"Today, the combinations of therapies we have for individuals  for someone who is in their 20s and gets infected and comes in and gets on a combination of drugs  you could predict that they could live an additional 50 years, he said. That is one of the most extraordinary advances in the transition from basic research to an applicable intervention in any field of medicine."

If an effective vaccine is found, it could mean the end for a virus that has infected more than 70 million people and killed 35 million over the last half-century.
Troubled Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena will need more rescue money than previously expected, according to calculations by the European Central Bank, potentially complicating the government's rescue efforts.

The ECB, the main regulator for banks in the eurozone, has estimated the capital shortfall at 8.8 billion euros ($9.2 billion), according to a statement issued late Monday by Monte dei Paschi.

The figure is well above the 5 billion euros that Monte dei Paschi had set as its capital increase goal, due to the fact that its capital position has deteriorated in the past month, apparently as customers withdrew deposits.

Monte dei Paschi, Italy's third-largest bank, said it was asking the ECB for details of how it arrived at the higher figure.

The bank's shares remained suspended from trading Tuesday at the request of Italy's stock market regulator.

The Italian government on Friday said it was guaranteeing all of the bank's retail customers with part of a 20 billion-euro fund approved by parliament to ensure the stability of banks.

Monte dei Paschi raised only about half of the capital independently.

The Italian financial daily il Sole 24 Ore reported Tuesday that the government would invest 6.3 billion euros to prop up the bank. The rest would come from bondholders who would take losses under new EU rules meant to spare taxpayers the cost of rescuing banks.

Monte dei Paschi was forced to raise new capital after coming up short in last summer's EU stress test, in which it performed worst among 51 banks tested.

The government's fund is supposed to help ease troubles also at two Veneto banks, where small investors took losses of more than 11 billion euros, as well as four small banks in central Italy.
Turkey has begun the trial of 29 police officers accused of helping the failed July coup that led to 270 deaths and launched a massive government crackdown.

Prosecutors say those on trial in Istanbul aided the plot by not carrying out their duty to protect President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's residence.

Twenty-one of the officers are facing life prison terms if convicted of attempting to overthrow the government, while the others face potential sentences of up to 15 years for membership in a terrorist group.

Turkey has blamed the coup on Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in the United States who has denied any involvement.

Since July, Turkey's government has arrested 40,000 people and ousted more than 100,000 civil servants, teachers, judges and others believed to by linked to Gulen or involved in the plot. In addition, the government has suspended the activities of hundreds of civic groups.

Critics, including Western governments and human rights organizations, have voiced concern that the purge has gone beyond the scope of those suspected of involvement in the coup attempt to also target organizations that oppose Erdogan's policies.

Turkey's government has also blamed Gulen for being behind the assassination this month of Russia's ambassador to Turkey while he was attending an art exhibition in Ankara. The Russian government has said it will wait until the results of a joint investigation before assigning blame.
The U.S. government has started asking some foreign visitors to provide their social media account information as part of the effort to identify potential terrorists.

Since last week, foreigners arriving in the U.S. on the visa waiver program are asked to identify the social media platforms they use and their account names.

Even though the request is optional and U.S. officials have said they would not deny entry to anyone who declines to disclose the information, the move has generated a backlash from civil rights groups and the tech industry.

Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology have warned that the move could potentially offer the government "gateways into an enormous amount of [users'] online expression and associations, which can reflect highly sensitive information about that person's opinions, beliefs, identity and community."

Critics also warn that the program could be used to target Arabs and Muslims and expose them to intense scrutiny.

The Internet Association  a group that represents companies including Facebook, Twitter and Google  argues the new policy threatens free expression.

Currently, visitors from 38 countries are able to use the visa waiver program that allows them to travel and stay in the United States for up to 90 days without a visa.
English Finnish

HONKARAKENNE OYJ STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 27 December 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

HONKARAKENNE FINANCIAL REPORTING AND PUBLICATION SCHEDULE FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING IN 2017

Honkarakenne Oyj will change its financial reporting schedule from the beginning of 2017 and in the future will publish financial reviews twice a year.

Honkarakenne Oyj will publish its financial results Jan-Dec 2016 on Thursday 16 February 2017.

Half year financial report Jan-Jun 2017 will be published on Thursday 10 August 2017.

Annual Report 2016 will be published on the companys web pages at

www.honka.com at latest in week 11 in 2017.

Honkarakenne Oyjs Annual General Meeting is planned to be held on Friday 7 April 2017. The Board of Directors will give a separate invitation to the Annual General Meeting at a later date.

Honkarakenne Oyj

Marko Saarelainen

President and CEO

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Marko Saarelainen, President and CEO, tel. +358 40 542 0254, marko.saarelainen@honka.com

DISTRIBUTION

NASDAQ OMX Helsinki

Key media

Financial Supervisory Authority

www.honka.com
The liberation of East Aleppo by the Syrian Arab Army was only possible because the foreign participants accepted to cease supporting the jihadists. Their retreat could not have been negotiated by the Syrian Arab Republic, but only by the Russian Federation.

Moscow has managed to turn Qatar and make it an ally. Qatars change of heart was sealed by the sale by Moscow of one fifth of the capital of Rosneft, at the beginning of December, in Doha. Rosneft, the jewel in Russias crown, is the largest company in the world. By implementing this transaction, allegedly in order to bail out Russias budget deficit, Igor Setchine and Vladimir Putin have inextricably united the political energies of the two greatest gas exporters in the world. De facto, Qatar dropped the jihadists, although since last May, it has disposed of a permanent office at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

The other revolution is that of Turkey. While as a state it remains a member of NATO, its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has become a personal enemy of Washington. Since the general elections, Moscow has been leaning on Erdogan in order to break the ties between Turkey and the United States.

Even though this is a complex manuvre which may take some time, it panicked Tel-Aviv, who commanded the assassination of ambassador Andrei Karlov in Ankara  a murder which was duly approved and celebrated by the New York Daily News, the fourth-largest newspaper in the USA, and public address system for the toughest of the Zionist lobbies. Perhaps Tel-Aviv also commanded the shooting, the same day in Moscow, of the director of the Latin American bureau of the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Peter Polshikov.

After having considered for an instant that Karlovs death might be a move in a double game by Erdogan  the assassin had been one of Erdogans body-guards - Moscow realised that it probably was not so. Vladimir Putin therefore reinforced the security of Russia and her representatives abroad. Incidentally, this episode attests to the fact that, despite appearances, President Erdogan is no longer the master of his own house.

The capture of foreign officers in a NATO bunker in East Aleppo illustrates the evolution of the conflict. The captured men were principally British, US, French, Saudi and Turkey. By publicly confirming a non-exhaustive list of 14 names, ambassador Bachar Jaafari stood NATO squarely in front of its responsibilities  a very different approach from that taken in February 2012, when Syria engaged in bilateral negotiations with France and Turkey during the siege of the Islamic Emirate of Baba Amr. At that time, Damascus had returned about forty Turkish officers and twenty French officers to their original army, either by the intermediary of Mikhail Fradkov (director of Russian Intelligence services), or directly via Admiral Edouard Guillaud (French Chief of Staff) at the Lebanese frontier. But the agreement which had been concluded with President Nicolas Sarkozy was not respected by his successor, Francois Hollande.

The existence of a NATO bunker in East Aleppo confirms what we have been saying about the role of NATO LandCom in the coordination of the jihadists, from Izmir. But the Atlantic Council, supreme organ of the Atlantic Alliance, never gave the go-ahead to this operation. As with the attack on Tripoli (Libya) in August 2011, Washington used NATO systems without certain of its members being informed. By doing so, it was applying the Rumsfeld doctrine, according to which there is no longer a permanent coalition around the United States, but only custom-built coalitions, according to the targets chosen by Washington.

The liberation of Syria should continue at Idleb. This governorate is today occupied by a horde of jihadist groups without a common commander. Since these groups are incapable of ensuring their own intendancy, and even less that of the civilian population, the zone is de facto governed by NATO via a string of pseudo-NGOs. At least, this is what was noted last month by a US think-tank. To beat the jihadists there, it will be necessary first of all to cut their supply lines, in other words, close the Turtkish frontier. This is what Russian diplomacy is currently working on.
Kimberley Appointed as John Mackintosh Hall Librarian

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS) on behalf of the Ministry of Culture is proud to announce that Kimberley Pecino has recently obtained a qualification accredited by CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) and is now a certified professional librarian.

Kimberley graduated from the University of Southampton in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature & History. She was taken on by the Graduate Research and Development Company Ltd, and was posted to the John Mackintosh Hall Library.

In 2011 she decided to further her studies by undertaking a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, which she successfully completed in 2013.

During this period, she was taken on by GCS as Library Manager and Artworks Custodian. She was involved in the curation of the Mario Finlayson National Art Gallery and was also instrumental in setting up the digitisation of the library.

GCS encouraged Kimberley to continue her studies in order to qualify as a librarian. With a grant awarded by the Department of Education, Kimberley undertook a Postgraduate Diploma with Robert Gordon University, which she completed successfully in June 2016. She will now continue her endeavours to obtain a Master of Science degree and Chartership.

The Minister of Culture, the Hon Steven Linares, would like to congratulate Kimberley on her continuous success.
In the golden age of rom-coms, no one understood being single in New York City better than Carrie Fisher in When Harry Met Sally. As Meg Ryans best friend, Marie, Fisher stole scene after scene as the single New Yorker dating a married man (and eventually marrying Harrys best friend, Jess). After Sally and Harry meet for the second time, the movie fast-forwards five years: Sally lunches in Central Park with her friends, finally admitting that shes broken up with the dreamy attorney shed been with. Marie immediately pulls out her Rolodex, flipping through the hundreds of eligible bachelors in the city. She goes through a few names and then suggests Sally go out with a guy named Ken Darmon. Hes been married for over a year! Sally says. Really  married. Fishers timing as Marie was impeccable: She doesnt toss the card aside, but folds down the top corner and returns it to the stack. Then, Fisher delivers one of the movies best (and most horrifying) lines: The right man for you might be out there right now and if you dont grab him, someone else will, and youll have to spend the rest of your life knowing that someone else is married to your husband. Fisher was more than the galaxy-defending Princess Leia: She was the acerbic queen of 80s rom-coms.
Photo: Time & Life Pictures/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Heaven knows that weve seen no shortage of nontraditional Christmas carols cross our paths as folks go about trying to modernize the classics, but a Sri Lankan church accidentally took things a touch too far. As explained by CNN, a program for Joy to the World 2016, a service held in the capital city, Colombo, surprised attendees with its spirited display, thanks to an accidental printing of a Tupac Shakur song along the expected carols, hymns, and prayers. Apparently, in lieu of Hail Mary the prayer, the program featured the lyrics to Hail Mary the Tupac song. The mix-up meant that instead of that whole Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners sentiment, parishioners read of how revenge is like the sweetest joy next to gettin pussy, among the songs other expletive-laden verses. According to Andrew Choksy, who attended the event, A lot of people were in shock as whether it was a joke or someone would actually rap the song, but alas, that call-and-response scenario will have to remain restricted to the imagination, as organizers realized the mistake and collected the booklets. Father Da Silva, from the archdiocese, told CNN that the mistake occurred when a young boy inadvertently downloaded the wrong Hail Mary, because, of course, blame it on the homonyms. A Twitter user captured a photo of the program, below, which promised a festival of music for peace & harmony. Well, thats one way for a star to brightly shine, sure.
Tom Arnold Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

Last week, comedian Tom Arnold came forward with the information that he has in his possession outtakes from Celebrity Apprentice in which the shows host, United States President-elect Donald Trump, can be seen and heard saying the N-word, saying the C-word, calling his son a retard, just being so mean to his own children, among other delights. Arnold has said he will not release the tapes, which he received from Apprentice producers who meant it as a joke years ago  before anyone thought the perpetrator of such comments would be the president of the United States  because he fears for his own safety and that of his family. And, according to Arnold, those same producers fear the repercussions of the tapes release professionally (presumably, there are strict contractual considerations).

Well today, according to The Hollywood Reporter, there are developments: In a series of tweets directed at actor Michael Rapaport (who essentially asked Arnold to step up and release the tapes), Arnold somewhat clarified his position, stating that the content of the tapes was disgusting but not illegal. Furthermore, he said, smart Watergate level journalists are on top of this. While Arnold does not clarify what that means, exactly, the implication is that a larger story, one with criminal implications, may be developing here.

Read the tweet thread, below, and let us sit back while our comedians and actors increasingly become arbiters of political discourse in this crazy nation/year.

1. I'm going 2 explain cause I know U rode Trump's butt for the 5 yrs it took him 2 confirm Obama's legitimacy. I received tape via program https://t.co/scvnHYpEuV  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

2. Used in our biz 2 prevent piracy. Had a limited time password. When I received no one thought Trump would be Pres. When it became real https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

3. People got scared. Can't blame them. Me & my fam get threatened by Alt Right nuts a lot plus only Billy Bush's career was hurt by "grab https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

4. Her by the pussy" tape. Normally I don't think a persons private life should affect job. Didn't say anything about Natl Enquirer paying https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

5. Off Trumps playmate girlfriends. Plus he'd always been nice to me but he became a bully. John McCain's POW heroism, Cruz's dad killing https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

6. JFK Etc. Not the guy I knew & he was stoking racism. Lying. Basically saying anything to get elected contradicting himself. Then the https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

7. Russian hack happened. That and him lying about releasing his taxes. I knew he'd spoken to Putin 2013 in Moscow during Miss Universe https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

8. Contest from NBC guy that was with him. I shot a movie "produced" by one of his bus partners & Putin pal. Very chatty. This was 2015 so https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

9. Of course he didn't think he was telling tales about what happened in 2013 to a US President. You have to see his taxes. These tapes https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

10. Are disgusting but not illegal. I'm not going to out the little guy but I personally confronted 7 powerful Hollywood people who have https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

11. Everything. They hate me now. Terrible career move but I believe if Russia has something they can blackmail our president with its worth https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

12. The risk to me. Plus I'm a 57 year old father of 1 & 3 yr olds. I want to do all I can so there's a safe America for them. Call me & I https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016

13. Will give you the names of the 7 big shots and you can risk your livelihood and confront them too. All will be reviewed soon. Smart https://t.co/scvnHY836l  Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) December 26, 2016
BEIJING, Dec. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently Royal Beauty gelatin made its first debut in display of New York Times Square in the U.S., landing in the first stop of its global journey. Times Square welcomes 40 million visitors each year on average and has been considered as one of the best windows in "attracting eyeballs in the world".



Two years ago WeChat business started to rise, bringing groundbreaking changes to E-commerce and becoming one of the most welcomed names for millions of job seekers in 2014. As a dark horse of WeChat healthcare business in China, last August, Aiwen founded Royal Beauty and DM WeChat team. Within four months only, Royal Beauty has made its appearance in all satellite TV stations. In October, the first-generation Royal Beauty gelatin cake products have been upgraded to second generation. So far, on top of traditional ingredients, Royal Beauty also introduces world-leading extraction and concentration technology in developing gelatin VC chewable tablets and gelatin xylitol chewable tablets.

As we all know, brand growth takes time, which requires outstanding quality. When talking about her products and selection of materials, Aiwen commented, In order to guarantee product quality, she has been very hands-on and strict in terms of material selection and processing control. In order to ensure use of genuine donkey skin and underground water, she has made many field trips and in the end decided to work with a well-known local provincial level company.

It is due to her "artisans spirit" that Royal Beauty has gone through constant change and solved the difficulty in melting and swallowing within one year since its establishment. We also have dedicated quality control department to take charge of each process from manufacturing, processing, packaging and delivery, which are done in strict accordance with inspection standard to ensure continuous improvement and safety of each pack of product. Meanwhile, thanks to many years of research experience, we have introduced world-leading technology to expand into new territory of gelatin industry.

After the initial dividend period, However it is gaining healthy and orderly development after the initial wild growth period and is becoming a new Internet-based business model and a new power for social and economic development. As a member of WeChat business, Royal Beauty has also been actively involved in promoting womens health industry in China, creating a national brand, and working hard towards the goal of becoming a leader of WeChat business industry!
COVINGTON, La., Dec. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) will host a conference call on Friday, January 6 at 8:30 a.m. EST to discuss the recent adoption of the Report and Order by the Federal Communications Commission. Participants will include Jay Monroe, Chairman and CEO, Barbee Ponder, General Counsel and VP of Regulatory Affairs, Tim Taylor, VP of Finance, Business Operations & Strategy and John Dooley, Managing Director at Jarvinian Ventures.



The Company will present prepared remarks followed by a Q&A session. Investors and the media are encouraged to listen to the call through the Investor Relations section of the Companys website at www.globalstar.com/investors.

To participate in the live question and answer session, please dial 1 (847) 585-4405 (US and Canada), 1 (888) 771-4371 (International) and use the participant pass code 44077173.

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

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.
A year into to the three-year timeline to correct more than 350 Americans With Disability Act violations, McLennan County leaders will enter 2017 having knocked off smaller projects and focusing on the big work, mainly at the Extraco Events Center.

As work is completed throughout the county, projects are costing more than expected, with $414,899 spent so far and much of the major work yet to be done. Commissioners are hesitant to estimate a final cost, but one said remaining projects will be in the million-dollar range.

County Judge Scott Felton said the county is well within the deadlines laid out in a settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice at the end of 2015.

Most of the front-end work was investigating each situation and paying for consulting and engineering fees, Felton said.

The next two years will include larger projects, he said.

Some of the biggest projects on the list are at the Extraco Events Center and fairgrounds, Felton said.

Every building at the fairground has compliance issues, said Bruce Thacker, with The Wallace Group, the architecture firm the county has retained as part of the ADA settlement.

Handicap seating needs to be added, and each building has restroom violations, Thacker said. Several counter heights are wrong, and access to the stage also needs to be improved.

Thacker said the company is speaking with the DOJ about looking at additional options in regard to handicap-accessible seating.

Were trying to balance that need with the need for appropriate sightlines from anywhere we have handicap seating, he said.

Thacker said the first project of the year is ensuring all the polling locations are compliant. The majority of the work is completed, but a few still need some work, he said.

Even though most of the polling locations are not county-owned, the Department of Justice holds the county responsible if those structures being used for county purposes do not meet ADA requirements.

Next, county leaders will move to certify that the joint city and county emergency shelters are compliant.

Other projects for 2017 include modifications to the McLennan County Courthouse, the Annex Building, the juvenile detention facility, the adult probation building, the justice of the peace offices and the fairgrounds.

The Wallace Group will also review buildings the DOJ did not inspect, including the Records Building; the purchasing, maintenance and IT building; and the Archives Building, he said.

When the Department of Justice surveyed the county facilities several years ago, there were a number of them they did not survey. They indicated that we, or whoever the independent licensed architect was, needed to go through and survey those, he said. Mainly what were going through and finding is we have issues with restrooms, door- opening pressures and seating in some of the larger meeting rooms.

Signage is a big project for the courthouse, especially as visible and significant as the building is, he said.

Working with a historic building adds an interesting twist, Thacker said. The firm is working with the Texas Historical Commission and the DOJ to address the violations, he said.

Were trying to come up with solutions that both will accept, Thacker said.

Door hardware

Surprisingly, he said, door hardware has caused the most challenge in regard to time, effort and finding the lowest cost.

That is a pet project with the state historic commission, he said. Some of the most unlikely things you would think of become a major issue with them.

Commissioner Ben Perry said he expects a report from the Wallace Group in the not too distant future updating commissioners as to where the county stands in addressing the violations.

Fortunately, so much of the work at the courthouse weve been able to do ourselves, Perry said. Were just now getting into extensive projects.

He said it is still too early to gauge what type of dent this could have on the county budget.

Work on one area of a building can force unexpected changes to the surrounding area, making cost difficult to predict until each project is getting started, Perry said.

Commissioners directed The Wallace Group to separate those projects in billing so the county has a clear picture of what ADA renovations will cost.

Department of Justice officials are working with county officials on a reasonable level as the projects continue, Felton said.

I think theyve got a lot of respect from us on how serious we are to get these things fixed, he said. The main thing we want to do is be sure all our residents in our community can access the services, no matter what challenges they may have physically or other ways as well. Were taking it very serious. Were going to come out well on it.

3-year period

Felton said since the work is spread across three years, the county will be able to handle the hit to the budget.

Most work in 2018 will likely be a wrap-up of construction that spills over from the coming year, Thacker said.

As we do go through these buildings and address ADA issues, there are other issues that do come up and get added into the project, Thacker said.

County leaders opted for a $1 placeholder in the fiscal year 2017 budget for all ADA work.

Commissioners expect to cover some of the costs with a recently issued $10 million bond. It is the first of several bonds planned for the next three years that will total $50 million.

Commissioner Kelly Snell said it is important that the county uses the recently approved $10 million certificate of obligation to address specific road projects and, if needed, use the projected second bond to cover costs associated with ADA violations.

Really, anything we didnt budget for we dont need to be buying, Snell said. I would not be surprised if we dont spend $1 or $2 million on ADA.

Thacker said he is preparing pricing options to allow commissioners to determine the next step for many projects.

He said county maintenance crews have been able to do most of the initial work, but that is likely to change as work continues.

Weve been able to keep the county maintenance people quiet busy, Thacker said. They are presently about halfway through the work required at the sheriffs office. Thats coming along quite well. Theyve also made corrections at a number of other facilities around the county. For the most part, what we have left will be contracted out.
A 44-year-old man in custody on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and indecency with a child allegedly escaped from a Cherokee County mental health facility in early December while he was undergoing a mental health evaluation for his previous charges, an arrest affidavit states.

Stanley Allen Hicks, of Waco, was arrested in July and indicted on the indecency charge in October, and 19th District Court Judge Ralph Strother ordered Hicks to undergo a mental health evaluation at Rusk State Hospital in Rusk. During his stay at the state hospital, Hicks was taken to East Texas Medical Center in Jacksonville for treatment after reporting chest pains and high blood pressure, according to the affidavit.

On Dec. 1, Hicks allegedly escaped from hospital workers on his return from the Jacksonville hospital, the arrest affidavit states.

(A McLennan County Sheriffs Office deputy) was informed Hicks was released from medical care by ETMC and escaped on foot from Rusk State Hospital personnel, the affidavit states.

Chris Van Deusen, spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services, said a patient ran away from the East Texas Medical Center emergency room early on Dec. 1. Deusen declined to identify the person who ran away, saying state employees must protect patients identities.

Two of our staff had transported him to the ER and were going to take him back to the state hospital. He said he had left something in the ER, turned to go back inside, and then ran, Deusen said. When he was discharged and leaving the hospital, he fled into some nearby woods and jumped a fence before our staff or police on site were able to catch him.

A felony charge of escape from custody was added to Hicks other charges, and he was booked into McLennan County Jail last week. He remained in custody Tuesday afternoon with bonds listed at $260,000.

A McLennan County grand jury indicted Hicks on the indecency with a child charge in October.
The new hot topic is regional economic development, mostly because the victory of Donald Trump drew attention to lagging economic areas such as Appalachia and the Midwest. Bloomberg View columnist Noah Smith recently outlined some economic suggestions, and while I agree with many (not all) of his proposals, I would like to consider an alternative and more culturally oriented perspective.

The first noteworthy fact about this discussion is its recent flowering. No new information about these regions has come to light, except for the fact that they tilted the Electoral College toward Trump. That suggests we may be blurring two questions, with How can we help these regions? becoming a paternalistic How can we get them to change their voting patterns? Mississippi and Louisiana, two of Americas poorest states, havent gotten a comparable outburst of new attention, perhaps because they reliably vote Republican in presidential elections.

The second noteworthy fact is that most of these lagging regions are not actually so poor, at least not in material terms. Lets consider poverty indices, adjusted to account for government benefits to individuals. For Maryland, which is not generally considered troubled, and which usually votes Democratic in presidential elections, the measured poverty rate is 14.3 percent. For the relatively well-governed and reliably blue state of Massachusetts, the poverty rate is 15.1 percent. And what might the poverty rate be for West Virginia? 14.8 percent. For Michigan, the rate is 12 percent and for Ohio 12.2 percent. The Appalachian and Rust Belt states definitely have economic problems, including a lack of advancing industries and highly productive firms, but in terms of poverty they do not stand out.

Arguably, the true malaise is largely cultural, resulting from a mix of mediocre outcomes relative to expectations, drug and alcohol abuse and dysfunctional white-identity politics. In a two-part series on the subject in the Charleston (West Virginia) Gazette-Mail this month, reporter Eric Eyre noted a striking fact: In six years, drug wholesalers showered the state with 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills, while 1,728 West Virginians fatally overdosed on those two painkillers. That works out to about 433 pain pills for every man, woman and child in West Virginia. There are plenty of poorer regions in history, including the earlier West Virginia, without comparable levels of drug abuse.

Cultural problems are not usually well suited for top-down, designed solutions, but nonetheless two ideas come to mind, both of which involve a shift in the zeitgeist rather than planned policies.

The first is that the case for religions, in particular strict religions that proscribe substance use, may be stronger than we had thought. Although I am not myself religious, I find myself wishing for a religious flowering in more parts of the United States, and I do mean actual adherence to doctrine, not just lip service. Without substance abuse, and with lower rates of divorce, the social and economic problems of these regions would be less severe. In Utah, for instance, where an unusually high percentage of the population is Mormon, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and broken families are all much smaller problems. Utah also has a relatively robust middle class. Even with imperfect adherence, and for religions other than Mormonism, religion seems to boost social capital and individual outcomes.

I find Americas largely secular intellectual class oddly unwilling to spell out this simple case for more strict religion. For one thing, it doesnt support the political (or religious) preferences of the American intelligentsia, as highly religious American whites are more likely to vote Republican than Democratic. Furthermore, focusing on religion could distract attention from other preferred responses to economic and social problems, such as greater redistribution or more spending on infrastructure (do Wisconsin and Iowa really need more infrastructure?) In contrast, I believe cultural problems require cultural solutions, and we as intellectuals and commentators could all contribute to this end by holding and communicating a more positive view of religion.

A second recommendation is about how we should talk about the problems of troubled parts of the U.S. As a university professor, I dont find it intrinsically objectionable to lecture other people or tell them what to do or how they should think, provided it is framed as such. I am more worried by commentators who promote a rhetoric of empathy but combined with condescension on issues of substance. I see a flat-out unwillingness (on all sides of the debates) to accept alternative framings or differing views when it comes to the most polarizing, hot-button issues of U.S. politics, such as race, abortion and immigration.

A simple question is this: When you wake up in the morning and start to ponder your day, can you really imagine that, on key issues, the deplorables (whomever you might identify them to be) might be right and you wrong? And are you reading and promoting thinkers who encourage such open attitudes? If that is the case, the cultural dialogue in this country eventually will prove to be richer and rewarding, to the eventual benefit of us all.

I see a United States today where fewer people, from all points of view, are keeping that broader perspective in mind.

Tyler Cowen is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is a professor of economics at George Mason University and writes for the blog Marginal Revolution. His books include Average Is Over: Powering America Beyond the Age of the Great Stagnation.
SMITHFIELD, Va., Dec. 27, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield is thrilled to announce Christine McKinnon of Minnetonka, Minn. as the grand prize winner of the Hog Wild Throwdown sweepstakes. McKinnon was selected randomly out of 58,344 total sweepstakes entries to drive home the ultimate pig-rig, a brand new Ford F-150 XL pickup truck, $2,000 cash, and a $500 gift card to Jerrys Foods.

From May through September, Smithfield invited pork fans nationwide to grill, vote and play for the chance to win thousands of prizes. All grilling season long, Smithfield encouraged barbecue lovers to submit their most original and creative Smithfield fresh pork recipes, for the opportunity to throw down at the American Royal World Series of Barbecue.

In addition to entering the contest, barbecue enthusiasts could also vote for their favorite recipe submissions to enter the Smithfield Hog Wild Throwdown sweepstakes. The more votes submitted increased participants chances of winning. Fans were also able to play daily instant win games to take home one of 6,740 total prizes, including Smithfield, Kingsford, and Anheuser-Busch grilling coupons, gift cards, coolers, aprons, and more.

I entered the Smithfield Hog Wild Throwdown sweepstakes almost daily  there were so many great fresh pork grilling recipes submitted from people all over the country, so it was inspiring to check back each day and vote for my favorites, said McKinnon. I was in complete disbelief that I won  my first road trip in my new Ford F-150 will be to go visit my family in Wisconsin for the holidays!

It was exciting to see fans vote and find recipe inspiration from all of our Hog Wild Throwdown recipe entries, said Emily Detwiler, senior brand manager of fresh pork for Smithfield Foods. Were delighted to award Christine with a brand new Ford F-150. We hope it continues to drive her inspiration to get grilling with fresh pork!

For more inspiration, cooking tips, and fresh pork recipes, visit www.Smithfield.com.

About Smithfield

A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia. From hand-trimmed ribs, loins and bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, Cook's, John Morrell, Gwaltney, Kretschmar, Margherita, Curly's, Carando, Healthy Ones, Krakus, Morliny and Berlinki. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
For the first time more Australians support decriminalising the use of marijuana than those who back retaining its classification as an illicit drug, a survey conducted over three decades has found.

There has been a significant shift in sentiment around marijuana use since 2013, research has found, with experts pinpointing two critical factors: the legalisation push sweeping the United States and official acceptance by federal and state governments that cannabis has a part to play in pain relief for sufferers of disease.

The Australian National University's 30-year election study found a sharp switch from 2013 when 44 per cent of those surveyed said the use of marijuana should remain a criminal offence compared to 34 per cent who supported legalisation and the remainder, 22 per cent, undecided.

By 2016, that had flipped to 43 per cent backing legalisation and just 32 per cent support for the criminal status quo.
A man bitten by a taipan at his Cairns home has died after spending nearly a week in hospital.

David Pitt, 77, went into cardiac arrest after the highly venomous snake bit him on the foot at his Yorkeys Knob home last Tuesday night.

Paramedics at the scene performed CPR and injected him with antivenom, before he was rushed to Cairns Hospital where he died on Monday.

Last week, paramedic Valerie Noble said Mr Pitt had been bitten between his toes after he tried to kill the snake.
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, prime brokerage, and data analytics. This segment also provides trustee, paying agency, fiduciary, escrow and other financial, issuer, and support services for brokers and investors. The Market and Wealth Services segment offers clearing and custody, investment, wealth and retirement solutions, technology and enterprise data management, trading, and prime brokerage services; and clearance and collateral management services. This segment also provides integrated cash management solutions, including payments, foreign exchange, liquidity management, receivables processing and payables management, and trade finance and processing services. The Investment and Wealth Management segment offers investment management strategies and distribution of investment products, investment management, custody, wealth and estate planning, private banking, investment, and information management services. The Other segment engages in the provision of leasing, corporate treasury, derivative and other trading, corporate and bank-owned life insurance, renewable energy investment, and business exit services. It serves central banks and sovereigns, financial institutions, asset managers, insurance companies, corporations, local authorities and high net-worth individuals, and family offices. The company was founded in 1784 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated designs, manufactures, and markets engineered components and products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Bedding Products; Specialized Products; and Furniture, Flooring & Textile Products. The company offers steel rods, drawn wires, foam chemicals and additives, innersprings, specialty foams, private label finished mattresses, mattress foundations, wire forms for mattress foundations, adjustable beds, industrial sewing and quilting machines, and mattress packaging and glue drying equipment, as well as machines to produce innersprings for industrial users of steel rods and wires, manufacturers of finished bedding, big box and e-commerce retailers, bedding brands and mattress retailers, department stores, and home improvement centers. It also provides mechanical and pneumatic lumbar support and massage systems for automotive seating; seat suspension systems, motors and actuators, and cables; titanium, nickel, and stainless-steel tubing, formed tubes, tube assemblies, and flexible joint components for fluid conveyance systems; and engineered hydraulic cylinders to automobile OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, aerospace OEMs and suppliers, and mobile equipment OEMs. In addition, the company offers steel mechanisms and motion hardware for reclining chairs, sofas, sleeper sofas and lift chairs; springs and seat suspensions; components and private label finished goods for soft seating; and bases, columns, back rests, casters, and frames, as well as control devices for chairs. Further, it offers carpet cushion and hard surface flooring underlayment, structural fabrics, and geo components to manufacturers of upholstered and office furniture, flooring retailers and distributors, contractors, landscapers, road construction companies, retailers, government agencies, and mattress and furniture producers, as well as manufacturers of packaging, filtration, and draperies. The company was founded in 1883 and is based in Carthage, Missouri.
Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, and international news to media organizations, professional, and news consumers through news agency and industry events. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation is a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited.
BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) began accepting 2016 state individual income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 23, the same date that the IRS begins accepting federal returns. On that date, LDR will begin accepting returns filed electronically at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/fileonline and through third-party commercial software, along with paper returns submitted in person and through the mail.

The state individual income tax filing deadline is Monday, May 15.

LDR begins this tax season with a focus on protecting taxpayers and state government against fraud.

Over the past three years, LDR has saved taxpayers more than $50 million through its tax fraud prevention initiative, with millions more recovered through restitution. Dozens of fraud suspects have been arrested.

The enhanced security measures in place to detect and stop fraud have increased the time it takes to process tax refunds. For returns filed electronically, refund processing could take as long as 60 days in some cases. Some taxpayers filing paper returns could wait as long as 14 weeks for their refunds.

Additional and unnecessary refund delays can be expected if taxpayers fail to keep their most current contact information on file with LDR, including name, address and telephone number. Taxpayers who have moved in the past year, including those displaced by the 2016 floods, should visit www.revenue.louisiana.gov/addresschange.

Tips for Taxpayers

LDR recommends the following steps to ensure the fastest, most accurate tax return and refund processing:

File electronically  The expected refund processing time for returns filed electronically is up to 60 days; for paper returns, expect to wait 12 to 14 weeks.

Taxpayers should update personal information if their name or address changed during the tax year.

Double-check return information  Ensure that all Social Security numbers and tax computations are correct, and that all names and Social Security numbers are in the same order as previous years. Math errors and incorrect tax-table information are leading causes of delayed refunds.

Include all supporting information such as W-2s; use paperclips, not staples, if filing a paper return.

Apply for extensions in a timely manner  Extension requests must be filed electronically no later than the May 15 income tax filing deadline.

If additional tax is due, include the remittance coupon to ensure proper payment posting.

Make checks or money orders payable to the Louisiana Department of Revenue; do not send cash.

If filing a paper return, attach the proper label to the mailing envelope.

Basic tips for ensuring a proper return filed by a reputable tax preparer:

Try to find a preparer who will be around to answer questions after the return has been filed.

Avoid preparers who base their fee on a percentage of the amount of the refund or who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers without first reviewing your returns.

Review and ask questions before signing a return.

Ask others that you know who have used that preparer if they were satisfied with the services that they received.

Ask any preparer that you are considering for references.

Ask and verify if the preparer belongs to a professional organization that requires its members to pursue continuing education and also holds them accountable to a code of ethics.

Always question entries on your return that you dont understand.

Never sign a blank return.

Insist that the preparer sign the return and provide his appropriate information on the return.

The preparer should meet with the taxpayer and go over the return before it is filed.

Taxpayers should be provided a copy of their return before it is filed.

Pay attention to media reports of persons who have been convicted of tax fraud.

Taxpayers should be aware that the information that they provide to their preparer could be used to commit identity theft by an unscrupulous preparer.
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THE GRAND LODGE AT GRAND HIGHLANDS AT BEARWALLOW TO BE RE-BUILT

DESTROYED BY FIRE ON DECEMBER 4

RE-BUILDING THE LODGE EXPECTED TO COST $3 MILLION; WORK TO START ASAP

In the early morning hours of Sunday December 4th, the Grand Lodge at the Grand Highlands at Bearwallow was destroyed by fire. (The WHKP News photos show the burned out lodge.) Chief Jay Alley of Gerton Fire and Rescue said over 100 fire fighters from 20 fire departments responded. The beautiful but remote location, the great distance from the other departments (Gerton is several miles and some 2000 feel below the 4200 foot peak of Bearwallow), and the limited availability of water (Chief Alley said fighting the fire was more than the water tank could handle, it was quickly drained, and more waster had to be shuttled in) made saving that magnificent structure literally impossible.

The good news isthe Grand Lodge will be re-built. Grand Highlands developer Dean Anderson told WHKP News over the Christmas holidays that the current plan is to re-build as soon as possible; the cost to re-build the lodge will be some $3 million; and it will probably be two years before the Grand Lodge can be open and in full operation again---their web site is targeting the spring of 2019.

Fire officials were unable to pinpoint the cause of the fire, but it is believed to have started in the attic area and an explosion may have been involved.

Even though the Grand Lodge structure itself is now only a burned out hull, development is continuing and looking more beautiful than ever at Grand Highlands. There are currently 32 homes situated near the peak of Bearwallow, enjoying some of the most breath-taking panoramic views in all of western North Carolina that stretch all the way to the flat country of South Carolina in one direction, to Hendersonville, Etowah and Brevard in another, and all the way to the Balsams in yet anotherand over a little ridge, all the way to Asheville and beyond on the north side. Anderson says 5 more homes are currently planned. The sale of both the lots and upscale homes continues to be great, says Anderson---10 additional homes are set for construction in 2017.

Anderson described Grand Highlands as a very large investment that started, said Anderson, "...with Grand Highlands paying to bring city water to the development." He said the Grand Highlands community is totally debt free and made up of 80 per cent primary residents and 20 per cent second and/or seasonal home owners.

Even though the Grand Lodge wont be available again for a couple of years, Anderson says some folks are setting up tents for weddings and photos near the burned out lodgeand whats known as the barn and the old homestead may also be available for weddings, receptions, and other special events.

The Grand Highlands at Bearwallow is accessible from the Edneyville, Hoopers Creek and Gerton sides of the mountain.

By WHKP News Director Larry Freeman 12/26/16 4 pm

Contact information for the Grand Highlands:

Dean Anderson

10 Autumn Sky Dr.

Hendersonville, NC 28792

828-233-1017

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.grandhighlands.com

www.bearwallowevents.com
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 27/12/2016 (2137 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Manitoba families are among the biggest beneficiaries of revamped federal child benefit payments, but new estimates suggest the program wont reduce child poverty as much as first predicted.

Since July, 123,630 Manitoba families have been receiving the Canada child benefit. The $22-billion annual program fulfils a Liberal campaign promise to simplify the system by developing a single benefit. The program combined the child tax benefit, the tax benefit supplement and the universal child care benefit, linking them to income and making them tax-free.

The maximum monthly benefit is $533 for a child up to age six and $450 for a child ages six to 17. Under previous programs, the maximum benefit for one child under six was $472.50 and $372.50 for older children, with the benefits adjusted depending on the number of children in a family. The new benefit pays the same per child no matter the size of the family.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Joy Black, a single mother of two teenagers receiving social assistance.

The national average monthly payment is $570.

In Manitoba, the average monthly payment to families is $680  $8,160 a year  an amount second only to Nunavut among all provinces and territories, matching national data that show Manitoba has the second-highest rate of child poverty, behind Nunavut.

Initially, the Liberals said 11,500 kids would be lifted out of poverty by the benefit, but subsequent analyses using more detailed data show thats likely to be closer to 8,500. Provincewide, the government expects about 21,000 children and 13,900 parents to be lifted out of poverty because of the new benefit.

The Liberals claim the benefit would cut the poverty rate by 40 per cent compared with 2013 levels, however the briefing note suggests that includes three years of declines before 2016, meaning before the new benefit was in place.

Nearly one in 3.5 Manitoba children  29 per cent lives in poverty. The number rises to a staggering 79 per cent on First Nations in the province. Among indigenous children living off-reserve, the poverty rate is 39 per cent compared with 18 per cent for non-indigenous children.

Liberal MP Terry Duguid, parliamentary secretary to the minister of families and social development, said the new benefit is designed to help families who need it the most, and nowhere is the need greater than in Manitoba.

We have grinding poverty in the north and in the inner cities, Duguid said.

The program is making some difference for Fort Richmond mother Joy Black. The single mother of two teens cant work full time because of her sons disabilities. Her family survives on about $10,000 a year before government benefits are factored in. She receives $900 a month from the Canada child benefit, $300 more than she got before the program launched last summer.

It means we can have Christmas, she said.

The additional money has allowed her to pay down credit card debt and her car repair bill.

Life is a little bit less stressful, she said.

Donald Benham, director of hunger and poverty awareness for Winnipeg Harvest, said there is no data yet to show whether fewer families are using the food bank. He said front-line staff has observed fewer visits on the day the benefit money is delivered. Traffic is up the day before the cheques arrive because families have run out of cash. Families who didnt receive the benefit come calling a day later, he said.

Benham said there seems to be a number of families who were receiving the old benefits but didnt get the new one because they didnt file their 2015 taxes this year. He said an old program under the Canada Revenue Agency to help community agencies do taxes for low-income families was cancelled so Winnipeg Harvest cant help its clients with their taxes anymore, meaning some do not end up filing them.

In 2015, food-bank use in Manitoba declined about three per cent, something Benham believes may be related to the full rollout of the provinces rent assist program, which offers help to low-income families who dont live in provincial housing. The food bank is crunching numbers to try to determine whether the Canada child benefit will have a similar effect, although it cautions the influx of Syrian refugees may affect food-bank use.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 26/12/2016 (2138 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Youth Parliament of Manitoba kicked off its winter session today at the Manitoba Legislative Building.

More than 60 youth aged 15 to 20 years old from across Manitoba will participate in a five-day session of a model parliament.

Danielle Bohonos, minister of public relations for Youth Parliament, said she is looking forward to the debates people will have about mock bills.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Members of the Youth Parliament of Manitoba get instruction on the rules and procedures in the Manitoba Legislative Chamber Monday by Speaker Kamal Dhillon (centre).

I think today (getting things ready) is a little more slow, and were all kind of getting back into the swing of things, but Im sure over the next couple of days its going to get pretty heated, so Im excited about that, she said.

Bohonos said there are six upper cabinet ministers who draft the bills each year for participants to debate.

She said they try to choose controversial topics.

The main thing is to try to get the most debate so people can practise their debating skills, Bohonos said.

We want to encourage people to argue back and forth a bit in the house.

The young adults will debate six bills.

Bohonos said the one she is looking forward to the most is the Armed Forces Reformed Act, which asks the federal government to establish a military reserve that Canadian citizens would be required to enroll in for at least 10 years to improve national security.

Another bill set for debate is the Plural Marriage Act, in which the federal government is requested to decriminalize polygamy and polyamory (marrying someone while still being legally married to someone else).

The session runs until Dec. 30.
ST. PAUL (AP)  Phil Lagardes obsession started with a bar of Ivory soap.

Lagarde, who lives in Stillwater, was studying to be a chef in the early 1980s when he took a class in ice carving at North Hennepin Technical College in Minneapolis.

The first day, they set us down with a block of Ivory soap, Lagarde said. The second day, we got a 400-pound block of ice. I ended up making a swan.

Lagarde, 68, started carving wooden models to show restaurant owners what he could create out of ice. I wanted to get little statues of the ice carvings that I did, so if I went around and talked to people, Id have something to show them  something that wouldnt melt.

Thirty-five years later, Lagarde spends six to seven hours a day in his basement workshop making wooden toys. He donates the toys  1,500 thus far this year  to police officers and firefighters, who hand them out to children who have been affected by traumatic events.

Trucks, cars, dinosaurs, knights, saber-toothed tigers, dragons, you name it, said Lagarde. I went to the fire station yesterday and dropped 30 toys and three fire trucks, and then I dropped 90 toys at the police station. They can carry them around in their squad cars, and if they come across a kid in a stressful situation, they can hand them one and, hopefully, it will help distract them.

Lagarde recently added another beneficiary to his donation list: the Washington County Jail in Stillwater.

After reading an article about efforts to make the jails lobby more child-friendly, Lagarde decided to donate five boxes of toys to the jail. Jail staff will give some of the toys to children of incarcerated parents during the next few weeks and keep some for children to play with as they wait.

On a recent weekday morning, Lagarde pulled into the jails parking lot, unloaded the boxes from the back of his black Mazda 5 and used a pushcart to transport 122 toys to the jails lobby.

Jail commander Roger Heinen and Sgt. Dave Stumpner greeted him at the door.

Oh, wow, this is awesome, Heinen said. The kids will love these. Thank you.

Lagarde pulled out one of his most special toys  a knight on horseback carrying a shield and flag  to show the men.

He joked that he was getting a reputation in Washington County as a toy monger and told the men to contact him when they needed more toys.

Heinen said Lagardes toys will help alleviate the stress and anxiety that come with jail-time visits during the holidays; between 6 and 16 children visit the jail each week.

Its wonderful to have something to hand out, Heinen said. Its kind of hard for these kids to understand why Mom or Dad cant be with them at Christmas, and coming to jail is scary for a child, so its nice to give them something to brighten their day as they walk out the door.

Lagarde works through an organization called TLC Toys, based in Andover. TLC Toys receives donations of wood for volunteers to make toys; last year the organization gave away 31,286 toys.

The good news is that all the wood for TLC is donated, but the bad news is that we dont get a choice as to the kind of wood we get, Lagarde said.

Lagarde used 14 pieces of wood, including black walnut, cherry, hard maple and oak, to make a 10-inch-tall knight and horse. A small velociraptor had a body made out of oak, legs made out of cherry and arms made out of maple.

Lagarde uses a scroll saw to create his toys. He pastes a pattern onto the wood and cuts along the line. It takes patience and hand-eye coordination, he said. You just follow the lines, so like anything else, its practice, practice, practice.

Mel Hartman, founder of TLC Toys, said Lagardes years of practice have paid off.

To do it at the level that he does, that takes a lot of talent, Hartman said. Hes extremely good. Extremely.

During a recent tour of his workshop at his South Sixth Street house, Lagarde showed off some of the 40 different toys that he creates. Each toy takes about an hour to make. He paints most of them, but some are dipped in a homemade mix of boiling linseed oil, mineral spirits and polyurethane.

Lagarde wears safety glasses and listens to classical music piped through his headphones while working. He said its not unusual for him to work four to five hours at a time. Hes cut himself three times  its not bad, you just cut your fingertip  and fallen asleep twice. He has since installed a dead mans switch, so if his foot comes off the switch, the saw stops, he said.

Its something I like to do, he said. It keeps me off the street and out of trouble. At least Im not one of those guys sitting in a bar, drinking my lunch. You know what they say: Whoever ends up with the most toys, wins. 

Lagarde grew up in Duluth, Minn., and graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School in 1966. The second-oldest of five boys, he said he was not encouraged to pursue art as a career. To tell you the truth, in the neighborhood I grew up in, a boy was not an artist, he said.

He attended cooking school in Rochester, Minn., and then enrolled in the Air Force. He was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base outside Spokane, Wash., where he served as an aircrew survival and protection specialist.

After his discharge, he enrolled in Eastern Washington State College in Cheney, Wash., graduating in 1976 with a bachelors in food and nutrition. He moved back to Minnesota later that year and worked for restaurants in Duluth, Crystal, Bloomington, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Minneapolis and Afton.

His longest stint was at the Afton House Inn, where he oversaw Sunday brunch and meals served on the Afton-Hudson Cruise Lines. But after 15 years, he said, it was time to try something new.

You know the old saw, If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, he said. After 30 years, I was getting a little tired of cooking.

In 2000, he took a job working the night shift at International Paper in Arden Hills; he retired in 2015.

I used to work five days and scroll-saw two days a week, he jokes. Now Im working seven days a week.

But hes happy to have all his hard work bring joy at this time of year, he said.

I was at a store a little while ago, and the clerk asked, How are you?, he said. I told her I was mean, vicious, rotten and cruel. She said, You must have a very short Christmas list.

I said, Actually, I have 31,000 kids on my Christmas list  and thats on my good days.
A third deer infected with chronic wasting disease has been discovered in southeast Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.

A hunter harvested the deer in mid-November about five miles north of the two previously reported infected deer, which were killed about four miles west of Lanesboro. An area taxidermist later provided a sample for testing to the DNR.

The discovery will not change the current boundaries of the disease management zone, which is designated deer permit area 603. A special hunt begins Saturday, Dec. 31, in the permit area and concludes Sunday, Jan. 15.

Resident and nonresident hunters and landowners can use any unfilled Minnesota deer license during the special hunt. Permits for those who dont have unfilled licenses are available from any DNR license agent for $2.50.

We strongly encourage landowners to participate in the special hunt that begins Dec. 31, said Lou Cornicelli, the DNRs wildlife research manager. When the landowner shooting program begins Jan. 16, theyll be allowed to take additional deer.

Meanwhile, the DNR has also instituted a plan to ban deer feeding in five area counties as part of the ongoing fight against the disease. The agency announced the 370-square-mile disease management zone will be in Fillmore, Houston, Mower, Olmsted and Winona counties.

A public meeting on how landowners and hunters can help the DNR manage the disease held in Preston earlier this month drew several hundred people.

Two deer shot by hunters near Lanesboro in November were infected with chronic wasting disease, marking the first detection of the fatal brain disease among wild deer in the state since 2010.

CWD is a fatal brain disease to deer, elk and moose but is not known to affect human health. While it is found in deer in states bordering southeast Minnesota, it was only found in a single other wild deer in Minnesota in 2010.
Nineteen things President-elect Donald Trump would rather do than attend the daily top-secret intelligence briefings:

1. Chat with Sean Hannity. Or Joe Scarborough, or Matt Lauer or even Wolf Blitzer. Anybody wholl put me on the air.

2. Hang out with my good friend Kanye West at Trump Tower. Get a photo taken with him in our spectacular lobby. Tell him how honored I am that he dyed his hair blonde, just like mine.

3. Sneak into Barrons room while hes at school and watch Saturday Night Live, which I secretly Tivo every week, even the reruns.

4. Go on Twitter and rant about how much I cant stand Saturday Night Live, how incredibly NOT funny it is, especially the sketches where Alec Baldwin is supposedly playing me.

5. Call up my good friend Vladimir Putin to innocently inquire if he is aware of any wayward emails belonging to one A. Baldwin of midtown Manhattan.

Also extremely important: Remember to thank the Vladster for recommending Rex Tillerson of ExxonMobil to be my secretary of state.

6. Take Mitt Romney to dinner at another fancy restaurant, just to watch him grovel. Promise him hes still in the running for a key post in my Cabinet.

7. Just for fun, go on Twitter and say how much I respect and admire Romney, and would be proud to have him on my team.

8. Call up Schwarzenegger to tell him hes doing an amazing job on the new Celebrity Apprentice. Ask him if any of the contestants want to be in my Cabinet. Tell them theyve got a better shot than Romney.

9. Jack up the rents in Trump Tower before the Secret Service signs its lease. Throw in a free gym membership for the agents assigned to protect me. Pences guys can use the Golds down the street.

10. Work on my official Enemies List.

So far Ive got Alec Baldwin, that loudmouth Carrier union guy from Indiana, some smart-aleck college chick (no more than an 8!) who implied I didnt respect women, and the 2.8 million people (most of them illegals, I bet!) who made me lose the popular vote to Hillary.

11. Continue my sincere outreach to worried minorities by asking Sofia Vergara or possibly Selena Gomez to drop by Trump Tower for a photo-op in our spectacular lobby. And if they want to do the blonde thing, like Kanye, that would be so amazing.

12. Attend my regular morning briefing about the occupancy rate at the new Trump hotel in Washington, D.C. Investigate why its not already booked solid for the next four years.

Also extremely important: Leave a standing order that if Megyn Kelly ever checks in, put her in the noisiest room, the one next to the freight elevator and the ice machines.

13. Call up random foreign leaders and tell them how terrific they are. Remind Ivanka to help me with the pronunciations. Also, a map of the world might be useful.

14. Go on Twitter to rant about Boeing spending too much money on the new Air Force One 747s, since the damn things wont even be finished in time for me to fly in them.

15. Pay Steve Bannon the five bucks I owe him after Boeings stock dropped like a rock. Ask him to make a list of other companies I should trash on Twitter late at night, when I cant get to sleep.

16. Conduct regular staff meetings about my final Cabinet appointments. Ask if there are any remaining jobs I can pretend to discuss with Mitt Romney, just to jerk him around some more. See if we can get him to dye his hair blonde.

17. Continue talks with Donald Jr. and Eric about independently running my far-flung business empire while Im president, to make sure there wont be any conflicts of interest.

Ha! Who am I kidding? Im fond of those boys, but theyre not going to buy a box of paper clips without consulting me first.

18. Research the measurements of the Oval Office, to see if my tanning bed will fit.

19. Finish the guest list for my Drain-the-Swamp Inaugural Ball. Rent an 18-wheeler to deliver all those invitations to Goldman Sachs.

Also extremely important: Dont seat those hicks from Duck Dynasty at the same table with Tom and Giselle Brady!
The Sauk County Sheriffs Office has released the names of drivers involved in Wednesdays fatal crash in the town of Excelsior.

The 73-year-old driver killed when her car was struck by a car trying to pass a mail delivery vehicle was identified as Stephanie Ebenal of Reedsburg. She was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner.

The crash happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Highway 33 west of Coon Bluff Road.

Nina P. Hinzman, 23, of Prairie du Sac was heading east on 33 when she tried to pass the delivery vehicle, according to a preliminary investigation. Hinzmans Pontiac Grand Am crossed the center line and hit a westbound Mazda driven by Ebenal.

Hinzman was seriously injured, and was taken by helicopter ambulance to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.

The sheriffs office said its unknown whether alcohol was involved in the crash, or whether the drivers were wearing seat belts.

Highway 33 was closed for about three hours while crews worked at the scene.
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.
Authorities say a Chicago man fled on foot after he was caught using a doctors identity to get pain medication.

According to a criminal complaint, a Walgreens employee notified the Reedsburg Police Department Dec. 17 after receiving a suspicious call from someone who purported to be a doctor.

The employee told police it seemed odd that the Dr. Kevin Green would call on a Saturday afternoon. The employee tried to reach the doctor at his office, but was unsuccessful.

The patient for whom the prescription was written also told the drug store employee in a phone call that he did not know the doctor and was not awaiting a prescription.

An officer later confronted a man identified as 23-year-old Xavier D. Coleman of Chicago when he arrived at the store to pick up the prescription, according to the complaint.

Coleman allegedly told the officer he was picking up the drugs for his grandfather.

As the officer attempted to verify his information, Coleman allegedly fled the store on foot. He was tracked down and arrested with the help of a K-9 officer, the complaint states.

Authorities later determined that Coleman was arrested in Illinois in July by the Rock Falls Police Department for illegal possession of prescription forms.

The Sauk County District Attorneys Office has charged Coleman with a felony for attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud and a misdemeanor for resisting an officer. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

Coleman has been jailed on a $300 cash bond and is due to appear in court Jan. 25.
Tim McCumber contributed his thoughts on the Fair Funding plan proposed by our state Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Evers in the Nov. 25 issue of the Baraboo News Republic. I appreciate his vocal conservative perspective, and I agree that in general, local control is the better option.

We as a state certainly need to create more space for our local schools, especially in smaller rural districts, to make their own decisions. But that autonomy must be balanced with support at the state level. As a former educator and a strong advocate for our public schools, that is how I see the Fair Funding plan.

It is true that our state Legislature has a steep Republican majority. It is also true that in the past, a plan like Evers Fair Funding idea has had a difficult time in the Legislature. But thats partly because in the past, when Wisconsins Republican leadership and Gov. Scott Walker have talked about supporting K-12 education, it turns out that they really mean private voucher education. This time around, we are hearing the same rhetoric. I hope this time supporting K-12 education will mean supporting our public schools the way the Fair Funding plan proposes.

In studies from late 2015 and early 2016, researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Quarterly Journal of Economics found that states that spend more on education see more academic improvement than states that dont. This confirms what local administrators, teachers and families have been saying for years: invest in our kids and our public schools, and it will pay off. If we needed proof in order to believe them, well, the evidence is here.

Its time to shift from demanding that our children prove the effects of our policies through endless testing to supporting our schools efforts to make their own choices. Practicing local control starts with state support for local entities. We need to invest in our local schools appropriately, and show our public educators that the state is here to support the decisions they make in the best interests of their students  not to take over.

The Fair Funding plan is not perfect, but it is much better than taking money away from public schools that need help and giving it to schools that arent being held to the same standards. Fair Funding asks a lot of our state financially, but it is no more than our public schools need and deserve. They are doing the best they can with the limited resources the state gives them. We need to give the Fair Funding plan a fair shot and find more ways to support our local schools.
MADISON (AP)  The Wisconsin Supreme Court is set to decide whether the state Justice Department must turn over to Democrats training videos featuring Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel  a ruling that could redefine government policies on releasing information.

The ruling, due out Wednesday morning, could lay out how much latitude record custodians deserve when applying the so-called balancing test, which allows them to withhold certain information they believe would harm the public interest. The ruling could reshape what factors record custodians must consider when applying the test and thus how much information the media, political campaigns and other interested parties can obtain.

The state Democratic Party sued in 2014 to obtain video recordings of two presentations on sexual predators that Schimel gave in 2009 and 2013. The party believes Schimel made inappropriate remarks during the talks but has offered no proof. Schimel, who was the Waukesha County district attorney at the time of the DOJ-sponsored seminars, has denied the allegations.

The Democrats filed the lawsuit weeks before Schimel defeated Democrat Susan Happ in the 2014 November elections to become attorney general.

The 2009 video was made during a presentation on internet sexual predators. The 2013 presentation centered on interacting with victims of sensitive crimes. In that presentation, Schimel details a well-known case in which a Waukesha County high school student posed as a woman online, obtained graphic pictures from his male classmates and blackmailed them into sexual acts.

The DOJ and Schimel have portrayed themselves as beacons of transparency. But the agency has refused to turn over the videos, arguing they would reveal law enforcement tactics and re-traumatize victims. None are named in the videos but DOJ attorneys fear they could be identified through other details.

(The DOJ is) asking this Court to eviscerate ... the very public records law that DOJ feigns to treasure and protect, Democrats attorney Mike Bauer wrote in a brief. It attempts to do so by putting its heavy thumb on one side of the scale when performing the well-known balancing test to determine whether a record should be made public.

Solicitor General Misha Tseytlin countered in his own brief that releasing the videos would help sexual predators evade the law, defeat the public interest in protecting victims and have a chilling effect on future training if presenters fear their information will go public.

The Department recognizes that there are certain, rare situations where disclosure of a record would cause grave harm to the public interest, even after taking into account the Open Records Laws extremely laudable purposes, Tseytlin wrote.

Both a Madison judge and a state appellate court have ruled that the DOJ should release the videos. Conservative justices control the Supreme Court, however, which bodes well for the DOJ.

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, said Monday it would be good if the Supreme Court agrees the videos should be released with sensitive details redacted.

Otherwise, Lueders wrote, it will continue to look as though public officials in this case have something to hide.
Local residents will have an opportunity to have fun and support programs for veterans through a special fundraiser.

The Veterans Assistance Foundation (VAF) and the Veteran Equine Trail Services (V.E.T.S.) organization are teaming with the Chapparal Restaurant for a fundraiser to benefit local veterans. The event will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to both programs.

The event will feature a 50/50 drawing for prizes, silent auction, bake sale, arts and crafts sale, drawings for prizes and live music from the band Country Gold. Items featured in the drawing will be a one-night stay at Hotel Hillsboro, one-night stay at September Farms Bed and Breakfast, several afghans, and 20 pounds of pork loin, along with several other donated prizes. There will be a $5 cover charge at the door.

VAF, based in Tomah, helps provide veterans with transitional housing, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention and access to benefit services for veterans and their families throughout the state. The equine program, from La Valle, offers many services at no cost to veterans and their families. V.E.T.S. specializes in assisting veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries by helping them regain self-awareness and confidence, along with task completion skills by spending time with horses.

Both of them are wonderful programs and weve seen some real interaction between both, said event organizer Nancy Miller. The vets love coming down to the (horse) farm from Tomah. When we see the vets, they always say, I wish we could get down there more often.

The fundraiser on Jan. 7 will also feature speakers from both veterans organizations. In addition, Miller has asked two veterans that have participated in both programs to speak.

I hope this will be a great success for both programs because they are both wonderful, Miller said. My husband (Jim) and I strongly believe in both programs and that they actually do work.

Miller said she is still looking for donations for the silent auction and 50/50 raffle drawing. To contact Miller, call 608-489-3703 for more information.
Editors note: For the remaining days of 2016, the Portage Daily Register will recap the years top stories, as chosen by the Daily Registers staff. Today we feature the stories ranked No. 10, No. 9 and No. 8.

No. 10: CCI tackles staffing challenges

It was a booth never before seen in the Columbia County Fairs commercial exhibits in late July. In addition to the novelties usually offered at county fairs  pens, soda can insulators, bag clips  this booth offered opportunities to go to work at a maximum security prison.

The Columbia Correctional Institutions fair booth was just one sign of, and just one solution for, an escalating challenge at CCI and other Wisconsin Department of Corrections institutions.

DOC Secretary Jon Litscher, who was appointed by Gov. Scott Walker in February, acknowledged, during a Dec. 12 meeting in Portage, that understaffing remains a challenge, as does overcrowding.

At CCI, for example, a prison built in 1986 to house 541 inmates averages between 815 and 825 inmates  with roughly 250 uniformed staff members, many of whom have expressed concern that understaffing and excessive overtime (with corrections officers often working back-to-back shifts) have created a dangerous situation.

Litscher said that steps are being taken to address that challenge, including a new overtime system, in which overtime is volunteered on a seniority basis  and if there are no takers, it is assigned on a reverse-seniority basis.

And, as CCI employees noted at the county fairs booth, there are other jobs at CCI besides corrections officers  jobs such as teachers and workers in the warehouse, business office and kitchen.

No. 9: PHS Principal Kvalo garners national accolades

When Robin Kvalo went to Washington, D.C., in September to accept her award as Wisconsin State Secondary Principal of the Year, she didnt just use her time to sightsee.

The gathering of the National Association of Secondary School Principals  where Kvalo and honorees from the other 49 states received their awards  was intended largely to include school officials in the national conversation about education.

Kvalo had plenty to say when she met with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman.

The main message: Education efforts, from teacher compensation to school lunches, need better and more consistent congressional support.

Kvalo received her Principal of the Year honor during a surprise ceremony in April at Portage High School. AWSA Executive Director Jim Lynch said the judges for Principal of the Year look for qualities such as academic rigor and the overall climate and health of the school  and Kvalos leadership in the Warrior Way won them over.

Only days before, Kvalo learned that she was one of 16 Wisconsin school administrators to receive the Herb Kohl Leadership Award. This was the first year that the Herb Kohl Educational Foundation recognized administrators, in addition to teachers and graduating high school seniors.

No. 8: Sidewalks shape mayoral race

Future Portage historians might determine that Mayor Bill Tierney lost his bid for a second consecutive term not on April 5  the date of the spring non-partisan election  but on March 17.

That was when Tierney cast a tie-breaking vote to install all of the sidewalks proposed as part of a major improvement of River Street.

Ironically, the 4-4 tie vote happened because Alderman Rick Dodd abstained due to reported conflicts of interest (relatives living in the vicinity of the $1.25 million project). It was Dodd who defeated Tierney in the mayoral race.

Several members of the Portage Common Council called for excluding the sidewalks on River Street between Columbia County Highway O and Summit Street, saying that the foot traffic in the area did not warrant them, and the River Street residents didnt want them.

Tierney said he viewed sidewalks as part of the ongoing effort to make the city more pedestrian-friendly, and called for consistency in implementing the citys sidewalk policy. Everyone deserves to be able to walk on a safe sidewalk, he said in casting the tie-breaking vote.

At a mayoral candidates forum less than a week after the tie-breaker, Dodd said he believed the citys sidewalk policy would allow for omission of sidewalks on River Street because in some areas, there was so little right-of-way available that the sidewalks would come very close to houses.

The project was completed in the summer  with sidewalks.
President Obama has ordered the intelligence community to finish a review of allegations of Russian election hacking by the time he leaves office Jan. 20.

Dont look for the report to settle anything. After years of what Republicans view as administration obfuscation, manipulation and slow-walking on intelligence ranging from Benghazi to U.S. Central Command assessments of the Islamic State to the papers of Osama bin Laden, distrust of the intelligence community is high. So high in some GOP quarters on Capitol Hill that unless a document of uncharacteristic openness and transparency is provided, the debate over Russias activities and intentions will continue well into the presidency of Donald Trump.

Earlier this month, House Republicans were mystified by news reports of disagreement between intelligence agencies over some aspects of Russian hacking, including the Russians alleged motivation. On Dec. 12, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes sent a letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper saying, in effect: Why didnt you tell us? Why do we have to learn about this in the media?

Nunes demanded DNI brief his committee on the Russia situation. It didnt happen. First, DNI flatly refused Nunes request. And then, included in an announcement that it would not brief the Electoral College, the DNI also announced it would offer no more briefings to lawmakers until after the Obama-ordered report is finished next year.

After the first refusal, Nunes noted the DNI is obligated to comply with the Houses constitutionally vested oversight activities. The committee is deeply concerned by the DNIs intransigence, Nunes said in a statement.

After the second refusal, Nunes upped the ante. If DNI officials wont come to House overseers, he said in a Dec. 16 statement, then House overseers will come to DNI officials.

Nunes statement suggested the standoff over Russian hacking could at some point change from a war of words to an actual physical confrontation.

The issue is not that Republicans dont believe Russia tried to hack the Democratic National Committee or other Democratic-affiliated organizations. Republicans involved in intelligence issues, like Democrats involved in intelligence issues, know that Russians  along with the Chinese  try every single day to hack into various institutions of American business and governance. Theyve succeeded many times, leading to some serious breaches. Its an unending phenomenon.

Over the last several years, some Republicans have been dismayed by the administrations lack of response. Russias cyber-attacks are no surprise to the House Intelligence Committee, which has been closely monitoring Russias belligerence for years, Nunes said in a Dec. 9 statement. It appears, however, that after eight years the administration has suddenly awoken to the threat.

Suddenly, that is, after Democrats lost a presidential election.

Beyond that, though, some Hill Republicans believe the Obama administration has concealed or manipulated intelligence at key times in the last few years.

So what do those Republicans think actually happened during the election? First, theyre convinced the Russians tried to hack the U.S. political process because the Russians try to hack everything. They believe the Russians had fun messing with Clinton, in part because Putin assumed she would be president  and a continuing target  after the election.

In a larger sense, they believe Putin was trying to show that the U.S. system is corrupt because Putin is always trying to show that the U.S. system is corrupt. The no. 1 thing Russians seek to do is to sow doubt about the United States. Of course, the administration is likely to portray Putin as specifically working to promote the election of Trump.

Thats what Republicans are trying to head off with their demands for briefings and to see more intelligence. So far, theyre making no progress. Theyre also fighting a side battle with Democrats over the creation of a special committee to investigate election interference, which many Republicans view as a vehicle for Democrats to grandstand and extend their efforts to delegitimize Trumps administration into next year.

Finally, theres one huge factor that will come into play next month. After Trump takes office, the intelligence community will be under new leadership. CIA Director John Brennan will be out, to be replaced by Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo, a veteran of the House Intelligence Committee who took part in the various battles with the administration over intelligence in the past few years. Of course, the entrenched bureaucracies in the intelligence community will stay in place. But new leaders can make a real difference. After Jan. 20, the fight over Russian interference might take on a new character.
Rep. Ed Brooks, R-Reedsburg, is getting to work following re-election this past fall.

Assembly Speaker Robin Voss has chosen Brooks to lead the Local Government Committee, formerly known as the Committee on Urban and Local Affairs. Brooks has led the team since 2011 due to his experience and knowledge of local government, according to a news release.

Im excited to be chairing the Local Government Committee and I look forward to working with leaders at the town, municipal and county level to make Wisconsin an even better place to live, Brooks said in a statement.

Reedsburg Mayor David Estes said he looks forward to seeing Brooks return to the committee.

Im very pleased that Rep. Brooks will once again be leading the Local Government Committee, Estes said in a statement. Ed has always worked well with stakeholders at all levels of government and has earned our trust and respect.

Brooks will also serve as vice chair of the Jobs and Economy Committee, according to information from Voss office. His other committee memberships include Agriculture, Corrections, Rural Development and Mining, Transportation and Workforce Development.

The 2017-2018 legislative session begins Jan. 3.
The family of the Bronx bodega worker killed in August by a man who grabbed a cop's gun from its holster is planning to sue the city and the officer for $20 million, according to a court filing. Lawyers for the family of the victim, Wali Camara, 49, announced the lawsuit today.

Camara was working at A&M Deli on Valentine Avenue near Lehman College early the morning of August 9th when police say he got into an argument with a panhandler named Efrain Guzman. Camara gave Guzman the boot, and when he tried to beg at a nearby store, a fight erupted, Camara rushed to the store to help, and workers called police.

Officer Jorge Monge was one of the cops who responded, and police say that when Monge tried to remove Guzman, Guzman grabbed Monge's 9-mm pistol from its holster and let off 15 rounds. One bullet caught Camara in the groin, killing him. Monge's partner shot and wounded Guzman.

The notice of claim names Monge, the city, and the NYPD, accusing them of sharing blame for Camara's death, and negligence in hiring, training, and supervision. Monge, lawyers plan to argue, failed to use care as he escorted Guzman away from the store, failed to handcuff him, and failed to safeguard his gun. The city also knowingly uses "shoddy" gun holsters with an easy-to-open clasp mechanism, the notice states. The holster, according to the filing, "allowed this individual easier access to [the] weapon and make [sic] Police Officers susceptible to having their weapons taken from their holsters."

The Daily News reported after Camara's death that the NYPD bought the holsters at a discount in the 1990s after the LAPD passed on them because they were too chintzy, and that it's common for officers to have to replace the holsters in the course of their careers.

In October, the NYPD announced to officers that the department will replace the holsters with new, auto-locking ones.

"We saw that there might have been an issue with that," NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill told reporters, referring to "that incident up in the Bronx."

"So going forward, theres a different level [of holster] that were going to," O'Neill added.

The notice of claim says that the Civilian Complaint Review Board, NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau, and anti-corruption Mollen Commission all criticized the holsters or the NYPD's holstering training. The NYPD and CCRB did not immediately confirm this, and a worker at the firm representing Camara's family said he could not point us to documents backing the assertion.

Camara immigrated to the U.S. from Timbuktu in 1992, and sent most of his money to relatives, including his son, who is in medical school in Paris, his sister told the New York Post. Camara was buried in a family plot in Mali.

Monge remains on active duty, according to an NYPD spokesperson.
The following companies are subsidiares of Procter & Gamble: "Petersburg Products International" LLC, "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, 1837 LLC, Agile Pursuits Franchising Inc., Agile Pursuits Inc., Ambi Pur, Arbora & Ausonia, Arbora & Ausonia S.L.U., Avon - Giorgio Beverly Hills, Billie, Braun GmbH, Braun Shanghai Co. Ltd., Celtic Insurance Company Inc., Charlie Banana USA LLC, Corporativo Procter & Gamble S. de R.L. de C.V., DDFSkincare, Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery Shanghai Co. Ltd., Fameccanica North America Inc., Farmacy Beauty, Fater Central Europe SRL, Fater Eastern Europe LLC, Fater Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Fater S.p.A., Fater Temizlik Urunleri Ltd STI, First Aid Beauty, First Aid Beauty Limited, Folgers Coffee, Fountain Square Music Publishing Co. Inc., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette China Limited, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Shanghai Ltd., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay S.A., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, Inversiones Plaza LLC, LLC "Procter & Gamble - Novomoskovsk", LLC "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", LLC Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, Laboratoire Mediflor S.A.S., Laboratorios Vicks S.L.U., Lamberts Healthcare Ltd., Liberty Street Music Publishing Company Inc., Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones C.A., Merck Consumer Healthcare, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, Native, Nature's Best Health Products Ltd., New Chapter Canada Inc., New Chapter Inc., Nioxin Research Laboratories, Noxell Corporation, OUAI, Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Consumer Health Germany GmbH, P&G Distribution East Africa Limited, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding Inc., P&G Health Austria GmbH & Co. OG, P&G Health France S.A.S., P&G Health Germany GmbH, P&G Healthcare Zhejiang Limited, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Investment Management Ltd., P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G Japan G.K., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G South African Trading Pty. Ltd., P&G-Clairol, PG13 Launchpad Alpha Inc., PG13 Launchpad Beta Inc., PG13 Launchpad Gamma Inc., PGT Healthcare LLP, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Pressbox, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chengdu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble China Ltd., Procter & Gamble China Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent Beijing Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deutschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distributing Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Distribution Company Europe BV, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe LLC, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana S.A.U., Procter & Gamble Far East Inc., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finance U.K. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble Ghana Trading Limited, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Ltd., Procter & Gamble Guangzhou Technology Innovation Co. LTD., Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care LLC, Procter & Gamble Health & Beauty Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Belgium BV, Procter & Gamble Health Limited, Procter & Gamble Health Ltd., Procter & Gamble Health Poland Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Hellas Single Member Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holding Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Holdings UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Honduras S de RL, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership KKT, Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings Inc., Procter & Gamble Indochina Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala Limitada, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama S. de R.L., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International Sarl, Procter & Gamble Investment Company UK Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Italia S.p.A., Procter & Gamble Jiangsu Ltd., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea Inc., Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble L&CP Limited, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA Pty Ltd, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Tianjin Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Mataro S.L.U., Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Philippines Business Services Inc., Procter & Gamble Philippines Inc., Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo Higiene e Saude S.A., Procter & Gamble Product Supply U.K. Limited, Procter & Gamble Productions Inc., Procter & Gamble RHD Inc., Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services Sarl, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Switzerland SA, Procter & Gamble Singapore Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology Beijing Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Trading Thailand Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Vietnam Company Limited, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil Ltda., Procter & Gamble do Brazil LLC, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble doo Beograd, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Procter and Gamble Lanka Private Limited, Procter and Gamble SA Pty Ltd., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Recovery Engineering, Redmond Products Inc., Richardson-Vicks, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Riverfront Music Publishing Co. Inc., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Series Acquisition B.V., Seven Seas Limited, Shulton Inc., Snowberry, Snowberry New Zealand Limited, Sunflower Distributing LLC, TAOS - FL LLC, TAOS Retail LLC, THIS IS L, TULA, Tambrands, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving, The Art of Shaving - FL LLC, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Iams Company Inc., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company LLC, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., This is L. Inc., Thomas Hedley Co, US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon Shanghai Academy, VitaminHaus Pty Ltd, Walker & Co. Brands Inc., Walker & Company Brands, Wella AG, Zenlen Inc., Zirh, and iMFLUX Inc..

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Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
A subway commuter was slashed late in the evening on Christmas by a woman who allegedly made racist comments before attacking him. According to police, Stephanie Pazmino, 30, stabbed a 44-year-old man in his face and arm after telling him "I don't want to sit next to black people."

Both Pazmino and the victim, who the Post identified as Ijan Jarret, had been riding a Bronx-bound 4 train just after 11 p.m. Sunday night. According to the tabloid, Jarret had been commuting home after working at a hair salon in New Jersey.

"Two girls came on the train," Jarret told the Post. "The heavy-set girl was standing over me. I asked her, 'Would you like to sit next to your friend?' she said, 'Oh no, no. I'm good.'" It was then that Pazmino told her companion she didn't want to sit next to Jarret because he was black. "I moved. I got up and I said, 'Okay, you don't have to sit next to me," he recalled.

As the train pulled in to the 125th Street station, Pazmino allegedly attacked Jarret, slicing him with a 2 inch blade, the Daily News reports.

I ran to the ticket booth to ask the attendant to call the police, she stated that she did, and that I should sit down. And I passed out after that, Jarrett told the News. An NYPD spokesperson told Gothamist Jarret was transported to Harlem hospital, treated, and later released. Jarrett told the Daily News he was unsure if he had been targeted because he is transgender.

Pazmino was arrested and charged with hate crime assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon.
The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation.

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Stay Classy, the Will Ferrell tribute bar on the Lower East Side, will sign off the air this week. The bar, which opened in October of last year, will throw a few final parties before closing, The Lo-Down reports.

The concept's doing well as a pop-up, however, recently mixing Smelly Pirate Hooker cocktails in Los Angeles, with future pop-ups planned for Boston, Miami and Philly, according to the owners. They're also planning future NYC iterations of Stay Classy and promise something "so awesome" is coming to the 174 Rivington Street space. Co-owner Zach Neil tells us the new project, opening in February, will "pay tribute a time period in the coolest way possible!"

Neil and co-owner Brian Link's other themed baran ode to director Tim Burtonappears to still be in working order.
AptarGroup, Inc. provides a range of dispensing, sealing, and material science solutions primarily for the beauty, personal care, home care, prescription drug, consumer health care, injectable, and food and beverage markets. The company operates through three segments: Pharma, Beauty + Home, and Food + Beverage. The Pharma segment provides pumps for nasal allergy treatments; and metered dose inhaler valves for respiratory ailments, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in pharmaceutical market; elastomer for injectable primary packaging components; and active material science solutions. The Beauty + Home segment primarily sells pumps, closures, aerosol valves, accessories, and sealing solutions to the personal care and home care markets; and pumps and decorative components to the beauty market. The Food + Beverage segment offers dispensing and non-dispensing closures, elastomeric flow control components, spray pumps, and aerosol valves to the food and beverage markets. It sells its products through own sales force, as well as independent representatives and distributors in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The company has a strategic partnership with PureCycle Technologies LLC to develop ultra-pure recycled polypropylene into dispensing applications; and a collaboration with Sonmol for developing a digital therapies and services platform targeting respiratory and other diseases. AptarGroup, Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
The Mosaic Company, through its subsidiaries, produces and markets concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients in North America and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Phosphates, Potash, and Mosaic Fertilizantes. It owns and operates mines, which produce concentrated phosphate crop nutrients, such as diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, and ammoniated phosphate products; and phosphate-based animal feed ingredients primarily under the Biofos and Nexfos brand names, as well as produces a double sulfate of potash magnesia product under K-Mag brand name. The company also produces and sells potash for use in the manufacturing of mixed crop nutrients and animal feed ingredients, and for industrial use; and for use in the de-icing and as a water softener regenerant. In addition, it provides nitrogen-based crop nutrients, animal feed ingredients, and other ancillary services; and purchases and sells phosphates, potash, and nitrogen products. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, retail chains, farmers, cooperatives, independent retailers, and national accounts. The Mosaic Company was incorporated in 2004 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
The following companies are subsidiares of Emerson Electric: A.P.M. Automation Solutions Ltd., AE Valves, AGI Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ALCO CONTROLS spol. s.r.o., APM Automation Solutions, ASC Investments Inc., ASCO (Japan) Company Limited, ASCO L.P., ASCO Numatics (India) Private Limited, ASCO Numatics Holding Inc., ASCO SAS, ASCO Valve (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ASCO/JOUCOMATIC s.r.o., ATX SAS, Advanced Protection Technologies, Aegir Norge Holding AS, Alliance Compressors LLC, American Governor, Aperture, Apple JV Holding Corp., Appleton Electric LLC, Appleton Electric S.A. de C.V., Appleton Group, Appleton Group Canada Ltd., Appleton Grp LLC, Appleton Holding Corp., Appleton Holding Sarl, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, Artesyn Hungary Elektronikai Kft., Artesyn Technologies, Asco AB, Asco Controls AG, Asco Controls B.V., Asco Joucomatic Ltd., Asco Joucomatic ZA B.V., Asco Magnesszelep Kft., Asco Numatics GmbH, Asco Numatics S.A., Asco Numatics Sirai S.R.L., Asco Numatics Sp. z o.o., Ascomatica S.A. de C.V., Ascomation (NZ) Ltd., Ascomation Pty. Ltd., Ascotech S.A. de C.V., Ascoval Industria e Commercio Ltda, Automatic Switch Company, Aventics, Aventics, Aventics AB, Aventics AG, Aventics AS, Aventics ApS, Aventics B.V., Aventics Corporation, Aventics Holding S.A.S., Aventics Holding S.a.r.l., Aventics Hungary Kft, Aventics Inc., Aventics India Private Limited, Aventics Limited, Aventics Ltd., Aventics Oy, Aventics Pneumatics Equipment (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Aventics Pneumatics Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aventics S.A.S., Aventics S.R.L., Aventics Services Germany GmbH, Aventics Singapore Pte. Ltd., Aventics Sp. z.o.o., Aventics Spain S.L., Aventics spol. s.r.o., Avtron LoadBank, Bannerscientific Limited, Beckman Industrial B.V., Beijing Rosemount Far East Instrument Co. Ltd., Bettis Canada Ltd., Bettis Holdings Limited, Bettis UK Limited, Biffi Italia S.r.l., Bioproduction Group, Branson Korea Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonic S.A., Branson Ultrasonics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Branson Ultrasonics B.V., Branson Ultrasonics Corporation, Branson Ultrasonics a.s., Branson Ultrasonidos S.A.E., Branson Ultrasons SAS, Branson Ultrasuoni S.R.L., Branson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Bray Lectroheat Limited, Bristol Babcock Limited, Bristol Inc., Buehler Europe Limited, Buehler UK Limited, CR Compressors LLC, CSA Consulting Engineers Ltd., California Emerson LLC, Cascade Technologies, Cascade Technologies Holdings Limited, Cascade Technologies Limited, Chemat GmbH Armaturen fur Industrie - und Nuklearanlage, Chloride Koexa S.A., Componentes Avanzados de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Computational Systems, Computational Systems Incorporated, Conception et Representation de Technologies de Controle C.R.T. Controle SAS, Control Products Inc., Controles de Temperatura S.A. de C.V., Cooligy Inc., Cooper-Atkins, Cooper-Atkins Corporation, Cooper-Atkins Pte. Ltd., Copeland Access + Inc., Copeland Compresores Hermeticos S.A. de C.V., Copeland Corporation, Copeland Corporation LLC, Copeland Limited, Copeland Redevelopment Corporation, Copeland Scroll Compresores de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copeland de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Copesub Inc., Crosby Valve LLC, Damcos A/S, Damcos Holding A/S, Daniel Automation Company, Daniel Europe Limited, Daniel Industrial Inc., Daniel Industries, Daniel Industries Canada Inc., Daniel Industries Inc., Daniel Industries Limited, Daniel International Limited, Daniel Measurement Solutions Private Limited, Daniel Measurement and Control Inc., Daniel Measurement and Control S. de R.L. de C.V., Danmasa S.A. de C.V., Dar Ibtikar Al Iraq for General Services and General Trade LLC, Decision Management International, Dieterich Standard Inc., Digital Appliance Controls (UK) Limited, Dixell North America Inc., Dixell S.R.L., Do+Able Products, E. Business Development E.B.D.Com Ltd., E.G.P. Corporation, EECO Inc., EGS Comercializadora Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EGS Private Ltd., EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES s.r.o., EMR (Asia) Limited, EMR (Mauritius) Ltd., EMR Emerson Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, EMR Europe Holdings Inc., EMR Foundation Inc., EMR Holdings (France) SAS, EMR Holdings Inc., EMR Worldwide B.V., EMR Worldwide Inc., EMRSN HLDG B.V., EMRSN Process Management Morocco Sarl, ENPDOR2012A Limited, ENPESNA Inc., EPM Tulsa Holdings Corp., EPMCO Holdings Inc., ETC International Holdings Ltd., Easy Heat Europe SAS, Easy Heat Inc., El-O-Matic B.V., El-O-Matic Valve Actuators (F.E.) Pte. Ltd., Electrische Apparatenfabriek Capax B.V., Emerald Advanced Technology Limited, Emerson (Philippines) Corporation, Emerson (Taiwan) Limited, Emerson (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Arabia Inc., Emerson Argentina S.A., Emerson Asia Pacific Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Holdings Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions Actuation Technologies Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Sichuan) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Taiwan) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control (Thailand) Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Czech Republic s.r.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Denmark A/S, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control France SARL, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Germany GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hong Kong Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Hungary Kft, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Italia S.r.l., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Middle East FZE, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Netherlands B.V., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Polska Sp. Z.o.o., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Sales Holding LLC, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK II Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control UK Ltd, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control US LP, Emerson Automation Solutions Final Control de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Automation Solutions GmbH, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms Private Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Intelligent Platforms do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Automation Solutions Ireland Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions Isolation Valves Inc., Emerson Automation Solutions SSC UK Limited, Emerson Automation Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Beijing Instrument Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Services LLC, Emerson Climate Technologies (India) Private Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies (Shenyang) Refrigeration Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies - Transportation Solutions ApS, Emerson Climate Technologies Arabia Limited Co., Emerson Climate Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Emerson Climate Technologies FZE, Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH, Emerson Climate Technologies Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Climate Technologies Refrigeration S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Europe S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions Inc., Emerson Climate Technologies Retail Solutions UK Limited, Emerson Climate Technologies S.A., Emerson Climate Technologies S.R.L., Emerson Climate Technologies Sarl, Emerson Commercial & Residential Tools LLC, Emerson Commerical & Residential Asia Limited, Emerson Comres de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson DHC B.V., Emerson Dietzenbach GmbH, Emerson Dominicana Srl, Emerson Egypt LLC, Emerson Electric (Asia) Limited, Emerson Electric (China) Holdings Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Electric (Mauritius) Ltd., Emerson Electric (South Asia) Pte. Ltd., Emerson Electric (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Electric (Tongling) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation, Emerson Electric (U.S.) Holding Corporation (Chile) Limitada, Emerson Electric (Zhuhai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Electric CR Limitada, Emerson Electric Canada Limited, Emerson Electric Company (India) Private Limited, Emerson Electric Company Lanka (Private) Limited, Emerson Electric Holdings (Switzerland) GmbH, Emerson Electric II C.A., Emerson Electric International Inc., Emerson Electric Ireland Limited, Emerson Electric Korea Ltd., Emerson Electric Nederland B.V., Emerson Electric Overseas Finance Corp., Emerson Electric Poland Sp. z o.o., Emerson Electric U.K. Limited, Emerson Electric de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Emerson Electric do Brasil Ltda, Emerson Energy Systems (UK) Limited, Emerson FZE, Emerson Final Control US Holding LLC, Emerson Finance LLC, Emerson Fusite Electric (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Gabon SARL, Emerson Hazardous Electrical Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Holding Company Limited, Emerson Holding Sweden AB, Emerson InSinkErator Appliance (Nanjing) Co. Ltd., Emerson Industrial Automation USA Inc., Emerson International Holding Company Limited, Emerson Japan Ltd., Emerson Junkang Enterprise (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Korea Limited, Emerson LLC, Emerson LLP, Emerson Machinery Equipment (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Emerson Mexico Finance S.A. de C.V. SOFOM ENR, Emerson Middle East Inc., Emerson Network Power DHC B.V., Emerson Paradigm Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management (India) Private Limited, Emerson Process Management (South Africa) (Proprietary) Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Tianjin) Valves Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management (Vietnam) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management A/S (Denmark), Emerson Process Management AB, Emerson Process Management AG, Emerson Process Management AS, Emerson Process Management Angola Lda, Emerson Process Management Arabia Limited, Emerson Process Management Australia Pty Limited, Emerson Process Management B.V., Emerson Process Management Chennai Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Distribution Limited, Emerson Process Management Europe GmbH, Emerson Process Management Flow B.V., Emerson Process Management Flow Technologies Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Process Management Holding AG, Emerson Process Management Holding LLC, Emerson Process Management Kft., Emerson Process Management LLLP, Emerson Process Management Lda, Emerson Process Management Limited, Emerson Process Management Ltda, Emerson Process Management Magyarorszag Kft., Emerson Process Management Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Korea Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Marine Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management NV, Emerson Process Management New Zealand Limited, Emerson Process Management Nigeria Limited, Emerson Process Management Oy, Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions Inc., Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions India Private Limited, Emerson Process Management Qatar W.L.L., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Inc., Emerson Process Management Regulator Technologies Tulsa LLC, Emerson Process Management Romania S.R.L., Emerson Process Management S.A., Emerson Process Management S.A. de C.V., Emerson Process Management S.L., Emerson Process Management S.R.L., Emerson Process Management SAS, Emerson Process Management Shared Services Limited, Emerson Process Management Sp. z o.o., Emerson Process Management Ticaret Limited Sirket, Emerson Process Management UAB, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (M) Sdn Bhd, Emerson Process Management Valve Automation (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Emerson Process Management Valve Automation Inc., Emerson Process Management Verwaltung GmbH, Emerson Process Management d.o.o., Emerson Process Management de Colombia SAS, Emerson Process Management del Peru S.A.C., Emerson Process Management s.r.o., Emerson Professional Tools (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson Puerto Rico Inc., Emerson Retail Services Europe GmbH, Emerson S.R.L., Emerson Sales UK Limited, Emerson Saudi Arabia LLC, Emerson Scroll Machining (Thailand) Limited, Emerson Sice S.R.L., Emerson Sweden AB, Emerson TOV, Emerson Technologies GmbH & Co. OHG, Emerson Technologies Verwaltungs GmbH, Emerson Tool Company de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Tool and Appliance Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Emerson Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Emerson UK Trustees Limited, Emerson USD Finance Company Limited, Emerson Valves & Controls Japan Co. Ltd., Emerson Ventures Inc., Emerson Vulcan Holding LLC, Emerson Xi'an Engineering Center, Emersub 1 LLC, Emersub 10 LLC, Emersub 11 LLC, Emersub 12 LLC, Emersub 14 LLC, Emersub 15 LLC, Emersub 16 LLC, Emersub 3 LLC, Emersub 4 LLC, Emersub 5 LLC, Emersub 7 LLC, Emersub 8 LLC, Emersub 9 LLC, Emersub CII Inc., Emersub CV Inc., Emersub Italia S.R.L., Emersub LXXXIV Inc., Emersub LXXXVI Inc., Emersub Mexico Inc., Emersub Treasury Ireland Unlimited Company, Emersub XLVI Inc., Emersub XXXVI Inc., Emirates Techno Casting FZE, Emirates Techno Casting Holding Limited, Emirates Techno Casting LLC, Enardo, Endura-Greenlee Tools, Energy Solutions International (India) Private Limited, Energy Solutions International GP LLC, Energy Solutions International Ltd., Energy Solutions International SAS, Energy Solutions International Sub LLC, F-R Tecnologias de Flujo S.A. de C.V., FC QSF LLC, FMC Technologies, Fiberconn Assemblies Morocco Sarl, Fincor Holding LLC, Fire & Safety Group.Com Ltd., Fisher Controles de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fisher Controls International LLC, Fisher Jeon Gas Equipment (Chengdu) Co. Ltd., Fisher Regulators (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Sanmar Limited, Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc., Flow Control Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Flow Control Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Flow Control US Holding Corporation, Francel SAS, Fromex S.A. de C.V., Fusite B.V., Fusite Corporation, Fusite Land Company, GSEG LLC, General Equipment and Manufacturing Company Inc., Generale de Robinetterie Industrielle et de Sytemes de Surete, GeoFields, GeoFields Inc., Greenex Ltd., Greenfield (UK) Limited, Greenlee, Greenlee Communications, Greenlee Tools Inc., Gulf Valve FZE, Gustav Klauke GmbH, H.T.E. Engineering Limited, HD Electric Company, HTE Engineering Services Limited, Hindle Cockburns Limited, Hiross India Private Limited, Hiter Industria e Comercia de Controles Termo-Hidraulicos Ltda., Humboldt Hermetic Motor Corp., Hytork International Ltd., I Solutions Inc., ICC Intelligent Platforms GmbH, ISE-MagTech, Industrial Controls Canada ULC, Industrial Group Metran JSC, Instrument & Valve Services Company, Intelligent Platforms LLC, Intellution, International Gas Distribution SA, Intrinsic Safety Equipment of Texas Inc., JCF Fluid Flow India Private Limited, JSC Metran-Export, Joucomatic S.A., K Controls Limited, Keystone Germany Holdings Corp., Keystone Valve (Korea) LLC, Keystone Valve (U.K.) Limited, Klauke, Klauke (Jiangsu) Electrical Connection Technology Co Ltd., Klauke France SARL, Klauke Handelsgesellschaft mbH, Klauke Iberia S.L., Klauke Polska Sp. z.o.o., Klauke Slovakia s.r.o., Klauke UK Ltd., Knurr, Liebert, Liebert Swindon Limited, Locus Solutions LLC, Locus Traxx Worldwide, Locus Traxx Worldwide Europe BVBA, MDC Technology Limited, MDC Technology Trustees Limited, METCO Services Limited, MYNAH Technologies, Management Resources Group Inc., Mecafrance (Deutschland) GmbH, Metallurgical Services Laboratories Limited, Metaserv Limited, Metco Services Venezuela C.A., Micro Motion Inc., Mobrey Group Limited, Motores Hermeticos del Sur S.A. de C.V., NetworkPower Ecuador S.A., Nippon Fisher Co. Ltd., Novel Environmental Technologies Ltd., Novel Extinguishing Agent Technology Ltd., Numatics Incorporated, Nutsteel DHC B.V., Nutsteel Industria Metalurgica Ltda, O.M.T. Officina Meccanica Tartarini S.r.l., Open Systems International, P I Components Corp., PT Emerson Solutions Indonesia, PT. Emerson Indonesia, PT. Paradigm Geophysical Indonesia, Pactrol Controls Limited, PakSense, PakSense Inc., Paradigm, Paradigm (UK) Holding Limited, Paradigm B.V., Paradigm France S.A., Paradigm Geophysical (India) Private Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (KL) Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical (Nigeria) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical (U.K.) Limited, Paradigm Geophysical B.V., Paradigm Geophysical Corp., Paradigm Geophysical Italy SRL, Paradigm Geophysical LLC, Paradigm Geophysical Limited, Paradigm Geophysical Pty Ltd, Paradigm Geophysical S.A., Paradigm Geophysical Sdn. Bhd., Paradigm Geophysical Spain S.L., Paradigm Geophysical de Venezuela C.A., Paradigm Geophysical do Brasil Ltda., Paradigm Geoservices Canada Ltd., Paradigm Geotechnology (Egypt) S.A.E., Paradigm Kazakhstan LLP, Paradigm Middle East FZ-LLC, Paradigm Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Parex Industries Limited, Pentair Valves & Controls, Pentair Valves and Controls India Private Limited, Permasense, Permasense Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, Permasense Limited, ProSys, ProTeam Inc., Progea, RAC Technologies (Israel) Ltd., RIDGID Inc., RPP Europe GmbH, RPP LLC, Rey-Lam S. de R.L. de C.V., Ridge Tool (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Ridge Tool Company, Ridge Tool Europe NV, Ridge Tool GmbH, Ridge Tool GmbH & Co. OHG, Ridge Tool Manufacturing Company, Ridge Tool Pattern Company, Ridgid France SAS, Ridgid Italia S.R.L., Ridgid Online Inc., Ridgid Scandinavia A/S, Ridgid Werkzeuge AG, Rosemount China Inc., Rosemount Inc., Rosemount Measurement Limited, Rosemount Nuclear Instruments Inc., Rosemount Specialty Products LLC, Rosemount Tank Gauging India Pvt. Ltd., Rosemount Tank Gauging Middle East SPC, Rosemount Tank Gauging North America Inc., Rosemount Tank Radar AB, Rosemount Tank Radar Properties AB, Roxar, Roxar AS, Roxar Flow Measurement AS, Roxar Flow Measurement Sdn Bhd, Roxar Limited, Roxar Maximum Reservoir Performance W.L.L., Roxar Saudi Co., Roxar Services AS, Roxar Services OOO, Roxar Software Solutions AS, Roxar Technologies AS, Roxar Vietnam Company Ltd., Roxar de Venezuela C.A., Rutherfurd Acquisitions Limited, S.F.T. Group Ltd., SABO-Armaturen Service GmbH, Safety Systems UK Pte. Ltd., Sakhi-Raimondi Valve (India) Limited, Scroll Compressors LLC, Scroll Mexico LLC, Sempell GmbH, Shanghai Virgo Valves Technology Consulting Co. Ltd., Sherman + Reilly, Soluciones 0925 C.A., Spectra-Tek Holdings Limited, Spectra-Tek International Limited, Spectra-Tek UK Limited, Spectrex, Spectrex Inc., Spectronix Ltd., Spensall Engineering Limited, Steel Support Systems Limited, Stratos Lightwave, System Plast International B.V., System Plast Ltda, System Plast USA de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., TDM-avtomatizatsiya, TV&C GP Holding LLC, Taiwan Valve Co. Ltd., TechnipFMC, Termocontroles de Juarez S.A. de C.V., Tescom Corporation, Tescom Europe GmbH & Co. KG, Tescom Europe Management GmbH, The Automation Group Inc., The J.R. Clarkson Company LLC, Therm-O-Disc Europe B.V., Therm-O-Disc Incorporated, Thunderline Z Inc., TopWorx UK Limited, Tranmet Holdings B.V., Tranmet Holdings Limited, Verdant Environmental Technologies, Vilter Manufacturing LLC, Virgo Valves & Controls (ME) FZE, Virgo Valves and Controls Sdn Bhd, Von Arx AG, Vulsub 1 Limited, Vulsub Brasil Holding, Vulsub Brasil Ltda., Vulsub Chile SpA, Vulsub Gulf Holding Limited, Vulsub Holding III (Denmark) ApS, Vulsub Holding Ltd, Vulsub Holdings A LLC, Vulsub Holdings B LLC, Vulsub Holdings C LLC, Vulsub Holdings D LLC, Vulsub Italia S.r.l., Vulsub Middle East Holdings LLC, Vulsub Peru S.A.C., Vulsub Property Holding LLC, Vulsub Property Limited, Vulsub S.A., Vulsub South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Vulsub VZ C.A., Westinghouse Electric Pvt. Limited, Westlock Controls Limited, Westlock Equipamentos de Controle Ltda., Woodstock Land Company LLC, epro GmbH, iSolera Inc., iSolutions Private Limited, and intelliSAW.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, and markets biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, neuroscience, and covid-19 diseases. The company's products include Revlimid, an oral immunomodulatory drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Eliquis, an oral inhibitor for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in NVAF, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for anti-cancer indications; Pomalyst/Imnovid indicated for patients with multiple myeloma; and Orencia for adult patients with active RA and psoriatic arthritis. It also provides Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia; Yervoy for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma; Abraxane, a protein-bound chemotherapy product; Reblozyl for the treatment of anemia in adult patients with beta thalassemia; and Empliciti for the treatment of multiple myeloma. In addition, the company offers Zeposia to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis; Breyanzi, a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma; Inrebic, an oral kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with myelofibrosis; and Onureg for the treatment of adult patients with AML. It sells products to wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, retailers, hospitals, clinics, and government agencies. The company was formerly known as Bristol-Myers Company. The company was founded in 1887 and is headquartered in New York, New York.




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By Christine Smudde (Guest Contributor)

Francois Vatel was the well-respected chef to the noble Conde family in the late 1600s. The Condes lived at Chantilly, the ancestral home of the prince of Conde. It was a grand chateau and Vatel took pride in the fine cuisine he prepared and served at the table. One year, he was orchestrating a two-day banquet celebrating the visit of King Louis XIV and his entourage at Chantilly. The event was going to be fit to match even the highest French standards for grandeur. There would be elegant food, music, and festivities. The first day was deemed enchanted and the culinary abundance refined and extravagant, even with the unexpected guests. But, disaster struck on the second day, a Friday and, therefore, a day where meals are centered on seafood due to the laws of the Roman Catholic Church. When Vatel learned that there might not be enough seafood to feed the entire royal entourage, he promptly went to his room, propped his sword against the door, and drove it through his heart. He would rather die than disappoint the king and dishonor his culinary art. Some thought this was a logical response for a chef who thought he had failed to give his royal guests the meal he had planned for them. Others tried to pass it off as depression. But, the fact is that Vatel preferred death to culinary humiliation.

In the 17th century, a chef was the name given to any man who ran the kitchen of a noble household. He had the job of food preparation and arrangement as well as the orchestration of grand feasts such as the one Vatel organized for the king. It was the chefs job to mediate between art and nature by highlighting simplicity, purity, and honesty of flavors in his cuisine while upholding the French standards of extravagant sophistication and elegance. When someone hears the term French cuisine, they know the food will be elegant and sophisticated even to this day. Adhering to this new standard of French culinary art was a way to uphold the honor of France. In French cuisine, there are only exquisite meals that are beautifully and carefully prepared and served.

The rise of French cuisine as a fine dining experience elevated the chefs status in the 17th century. A chef dictated the standards of taste to his diners by providing them with food. He must exude the luxury and extravagance in his creations that had become French standard. He must be able to disguise food for consumption. In this case, disguise refers to the preparations that transformed leftover food into new dishes for a new day. Due to the desire for extravagance, there was often an over abundance of food on any particular day. Due to the need for novelty and elegance that was common in the 17th century, the preparations of the leftover food must be creative, sophisticated, and undistinguishable from the fresh plates. A chef must maintain the curtain between preparation and consumption that protects his art. Therefore, ingenuity was a celebrated quality in a chef. It allowed for variation in simple recipes that could satisfy even the most delicate of tastes and avoid culinary humiliation. As we learned from Vitel, French chefs didnt take dishonor very well.

Bibliography

Beauge, Benedict On the idea of novelty in cuisine: A brief historical insight . gastronomy and food science December 2011 .

DeJean, Joan. Essence of Style: How the French Invented High Fashion, Fine Food, Chic Cafes, Style, Sophistication, and Glamour. Free Press. 2006.

Landweber, Julia. Domesticating the Queen of Beans: How old regime France learned to love coffee. Montclair State University.

Davis, Jennifer. Masters of Disguise: French Cooks between Art and Nature, 1651-1793. University of California Press. Gastronomica Vol 9 No 1. Winter 2009 .

Christine Smudde is a senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in Math and French. She was born and raised in Southern California surrounded by good food and friends. Her passion for food began at a young age when she learned to cook with her mom and grandma. It quickly became an important part of her life and has followed her to college. French food combined her passion for France and food to make a great research project.
Villi, the county's new K-9, beat his competition by more than a nose.

The 2-year-old drug-sniffing German shepherd was chosen out of 30 dogs at his training school.

His handler, Sgt. Uriah Wood with Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office, said the match was immediately evident.

"Once I tested him, I was like, 'Yes -- hands down.' Everything about us clicked," Wood said.

Villi, who lives with Wood, also fit into the household, which includes a 130-pound Rottweiler and a 3-year-old female German shepherd.

"He's an official member of the family," Wood said.

Wood does admit the fact that his other shepherd is a search and rescue dog trained for tracking and cadaver detection makes for bizarre conversations around the homestead.

"I have a drug box and a dead guy box," he said.

One of the boxes has rags with cadaver scents and the other has fabrics containing drug residue. Wood said when visitors inquire about the contents of the containers, he usually gets a strange look.

"I have an interesting household," Wood added.

Wood said it was 12 years as a liaison to the Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue team that made him interested in being a handler after witnessing what the dogs are capable of doing. After getting a search dog of his own, he wanted to take his experience a step further and get a K-9.

The sheriff's office hadn't had a dog on the force in 30 years. Cost and lack of a motivated handler were the main reasons for the decision.

About two years ago, Wood approached Sheriff Leo Dutton with the idea. Dutton told him if he could find a way to fund it without costing the county, he'd look into it.

"And here he is," Wood said, looking down at Villi. "And it didn't impact our budget or anything."

Wood was able to secure the vast majority of funding through a $15,000 grant from the Missouri River Drug Task Force, which is a local multi-agency entity. Other grant money included a $5,000 one from the Kansas school where Villi received training.

Dutton said he was impressed by Wood's dedication.

"You need someone who has a passion to make it work," he said.

"The dog can do a lot of things that humans can't. I'm happy that we have him," Dutton added.

The Helena Police Department also has a drug-sniffing dog.

Villi has been on the force about a month. On his first shift, he was already utilized. Villi searched a car and found five marijuana seeds in the center console, Wood said.

The dog is trained to detect marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.

His second week, Wood said, Villi found several pipes and bags with meth residue.

"He's doing really well," he said. "He's probably sniffed five or six cars now."

"The stuff is out there. It goes through every day. Hopefully we can put a little dent in that," Wood added.
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Australia, including its territories and offshore islands, houses approximately 900 recorded bird species. Of these, 165 are vagrants, and 45% of the remainders are endemic to Australia, and are not found anywhere else on earth. Due to climate change, approximately 10% of the total Australian birds may be extinct by the 22nd Century. This variety of bird species ranges from small birds such as the 8-centimeter-long weebill to the large birds of prey such as the wedge-tailed eagle and the flightless emu.

Select Australian Birds

Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

The wedge-tailed eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in Australia. It is characterized by a distinct, long, diamond-shaped tail, narrow wings with notched tips, a flat head, brown eyes, formidable beak, and cream-colored feathered feet. Their bodies are dark brown with red-brown hackles on the back of its neck and a grey-brown band across the upper wings. The female bird is larger and heavier than the male. The juveniles are dark brown with distinct reddish edges at the feathers, golden napes, and wider wings. They occur in diverse habitats from woodlands to savanna to forest and plains. Their population is widespread in Australia, southern New Guinea, and other islands such as Maria Island, Flinders Island, and Kangaroo Islands.

The bird feeds mostly on terrestrial mammals as well as reptiles and other birds. The younger birds feed on carrion during winter. They love feeding on carcasses in groups of up to a dozen birds and may snatch food from other animals. The female birds build a large tick nest in a typically large tree or sometimes on rocks and cliffs. It then lays one or two eggs in the nest, and both adults incubate the eggs in succession for 42 to 48 days. The juvenile fledges at around 70 to 95 days and remains dependent on the parents for 3 to 6 months. They attain maturity at 3 to 5 years but begin breeding after another one year. They have a lifespan of between 20 and 25 years. It faces threats of human persecution due to a belief that it has an adverse impact on livestock. However, its population is still increasing.

Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)

The Tawny Frogmouth is a large big-headed bird measuring up to 53 centimeters long. In general the plumage is silver-grey with slightly paler, streaked, and mottled with a black and rufous belly. It has yellow eyes, binocular vision, wide heavy olive-grey to blackish bills, and short legs with small, weak feet. The bird inhabits scrub-lands, forests, and areas of acacia, along with eucalyptus woodlands. It is an almost exclusive insectivorous bird feeding on a wide array of insects including worms, slugs and snails, and spiders. Occasionally, the bird also feed on scorpions, mice, frogs, and other small birds.

The bird catches its prey using its beaks instead of using talons like the owls. They sit around on a branch and wait for food, and when it hunts it pounces from a low perch on the small terrestrial animals. They live in monogamous pairs until one of them dies and maintains permanent territories, and when threatened, they adopt a motionless stance, close their eyes and camouflage into their surroundings. The pairs keep the same nesting site where the female lays 2 to 3 eggs and both adults take turns to incubate them until they hatch after 30 days, fledge at 25 to 35 days and juveniles then leave the nest. They are abundant throughout their range.

Forest Kingfisher (Tofirampus macleayii)

The Forest Kingfisher has a blue head with a pale back, a white belly, and a white spot on the bill. The male has a white collar which is absent on females. Their tails are blue above with a gray streak below. It essentially inhabits tropical and subtropical habitats in Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. It feeds on invertebrates and kills its prey by hitting it against the branch. During the breeding season, the male looks for a perfect place to nest and the long term monogamous pair builds the nest. Both adults incubate the 3 to 6 white eggs and also take turns to feed the fledglings for at least one month before they disperse.

Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)

The male Superb Lyrebird has an elaborate tail with 16 feathers, with the two outermost feathers joining to form a "lyre", closely followed by two guard plumes and 12 long lacy feathers. The tails take seven years to develop fully. The bird can mimic various sounds with males being louder and singing more often than females. They breed during winter where the adult females and males defend separate territories and only the female builds the nest lays one egg, incubates and cares for the young one.

Threats and Conservation Efforts

The Australian biodiversity of birds is under great threats, primarily from environmental degradation and climate change. The government of Australia has put up conservation strategies to protect its unique and endemic birds species including establishing of natural reserves and legislation. The most notable natural reserve is the winter avian fauna of wanjarri nature reserve and Lake Mason Conservation Park which is home to around 100 species of birds. Together with the birds mentioned above are the laughing kookaburras, Mistletoebird, barking owl, noisy friarbird, and the eastern yellow robin.
Chelsea Cardaro, Jason and Summer Chambers

By: Mahesh Sarin WorldWideWeirdNews.com

(Scroll down for video) A baby tragically lost her life by starving to death just weeks after Child and Youth services refused to take her away from her drug addicted parents.

The five-month-old girl of Pennsylvania, starved to death days after her parents died in the house of heroin overdoses.

The babyas parents, 19-year-old Chelsea Cardaro and Jason Chambers, 27, were found dead in the home on Thursday, police said.

Baby Summer Chambers died after being without food or water for days.

Coroner Jeffrey Lees said that an autopsy revealed that her parents were dead for one week, and the baby died a few days later.

Police said that they had been called to the home one month before the family was found dead in their Kernville home.

Last month, Chambers overdosed on drugs, he was revived with Narcan.

During a press conference, District Attorney Kelly Callihan said that at that time of that incident, Children and Youth Services were called to investigate the family.

aThey checked the house, and said that there was a lot of food and the child looked well taken care of,a Callihan said.

However, they did not order the couple to take drug tests or treatment for their addiction.

According to police, the father was found dead in the living room on the first floor of the home. Cardaro was in a bathroom on the second floor, and the baby was in a bassinet in a bedroom on the second-floor.
(Scroll down for video) A group of ungrateful migrants from Syria and Libya, set a homeless man on fire while he was sleeping at a train station, according to police in Germany.

Berlin police said that they have arrested 7 teenage migrants after being accused of trying to kill the innocent homeless man.

They are facing a charge of attempted murder. The crime was recorded on security surveillance camera of the U-Bahn in Berlin.

The teens can be seen setting the clothes of the sleeping homeless man on fire and then laughing among themselves.

Luckily, commuters quickly came to the 37-year-old victimas aid and extinguished the flames. The homeless man did not suffer any serious injuries.

The incident unfolded on Friday evening, as the homeless man was asleep on a train station bench.
Ten Montanans who lived extraordinary lives in service to their state and nation have been chosen for induction into the State Capitol Gallery of Outstanding Montanans.

The 10 selected included businessmen, an agricultural leader, authors, Native Americans, a female rodeo legend and a black community leader.

They were selected by the Montana Historical Society with the assistance of people across the state who submitted nominations, and a five-member committee of leading Montana historians who made the final decisions.

These outstanding Montanans represent the many amazing people who have played significant and diverse roles in the history of Montana, MHS Director Bruce Whittenberg said. We thank all those who made nominations and the committee that made the final and difficult decisions.

The gallery located just off the Capitol Rotunda was created by the Legislature in 1981 to pay tribute to those who have made significant contributions to their chosen fields of endeavor, including science, medicine, the arts, education, economics, the law, business and politics. The Montana Historical Society was assigned by the Legislature to administer the gallery and make the selections.

The five-member committee that made the final decisions included Crystal Alegria of Extreme History in Bozeman, Kevin Kooistra curator of the Western Heritage Center in Billings, Mary Murphy professor at Montana State University in Bozeman, ken Robison historian of Great Falls and Fort Benton, and Bob Swartout professor emeritus at Carroll College in Helena.

The inductions will take place over the next ten years. Here are the inductees:

Alma Smith Jacobs (1916-1997) -- This lifelong Montana resident throughout her life demonstrated a passion for education, community building and racial justice in Montana. She was the first black woman to head the Great Falls Public Library and later became Montana State Librarian in 1973.

James Welch (1940-2003) -- The son of a Blackfeet father and Gros Ventre mother became an internationally acclaimed author. His books included the award-winning Fools Crow and Winter in the Blood, and depicted experiences of Montana Native American tribes. He also was an educator and historian.

John G. Link (1869-1954) and Charles S. Haire (1857-1925) -- These two men created the architectural firm of Link and Haire and together shaped Montanas communities through the many public and private buildings they created including courthouses, schools, churches, hospitals and many other structures.

Fannie Sperry Steele (1887-1983)  Born in the Prickly Pear Valley near Helena in 1887, Steele learned to ride before she could walk. In 1907 she began to ride in bucking horse competitions and earned the title Lady Bucking Horse Champion of the World" in 1912 and 1913. She continued to ride rough stock into her 50s, and also became a successful dude ranch operator.

Joseph Medicine Crow (1913-2016) -- This Crow tribal historian, anthropologist and author was an inspiration to many Montanans. He chronicled the history of his tribe and shared it with all people to enrich the heritage of Montana. He was also a WWII war hero, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mildred Walker (1905-1988) -- This Philadelphia native came to Montana later in life and became a noted novelist. Her novels including Winter Wheat and The Curlews Cry were set in Montana, and captured the hardship, fellowship, loneliness and ambiguities of many Montana women.

Dolly Smith Cusker Akers (1901--1986)  This Assiniboine tribal member was the first woman to serve on the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board and in 1932 became the first Native American woman to be elected to the Montana Legislature. She was elected 57 times as a tribal delegate to the national government.

Ivan Doig (1939-2015) -- Born in White Sulphur Springs and raised along the Rocky Mountain Front, Doig authored 16 fiction novels and received numerous awards for them. His memoir This House of Sky chronicled his childhood in Montana and was a finalist for the National Book Award. His books are a treasure for Montana history and heritage.

Pretty Shield (1856-1954) -- Pretty Shield belonged to the last generation of children raised in an intact Crow culture. Just 30 years later the tribe faced the loss of its way of life as well as their lands. Refusing to surrender the tribal way of life, she became a medicine woman and raised her granddaughter Alma Snell to carry on her life work of teaching others what she had learned about medicinal plants, healing and Crow culture.

Ignatius D. ODonnell (1860-1948) -- Settling in Montana in 1882, ODonnell managed Frederick Billings ranch and operating Hesper Farms near Billings, ODonnell became a leader in Montana and national agriculture development. He was a leader in modern methods of irrigation and was instrumental in Sugar Beet and alfalfa production. He served as supervisor of irrigation for the U.S. Reclamation Service.

For a complete list of past inductees into the Gallery of Outstanding Montanans log onto https://mhs.mt.gov/education/OutstandingMontanans.

Contributed by Tom Cook, Montana Historical Society.
A young man wanted to make a point about racism in the United States, but his plan backfired when he was exposed for a liar by police. 20-year-old Khalil Cavil of Texas was working at the Saltgrass Steak House in Odessa when he claimed he was discriminated against because of his Muslim name. Cavil took
Police were called after a fight over hard boiled eggs got out of hand.

Officers in South Carolina, were dispatched to Dennyas for a disturbance between employees.

A sheriffs deputy arrived at the restaurant in Spartanburg, around 10:30 p.m.

Police learned that 56-year-old Nancy Michelle Kirkpatrick and 21-year-old Quanisha DreaShawn Fenn, got into a fight over hard-boiled eggs.

Fenn became offended when Kirkpatrick called her b***h. In response, Fenn called her mother.

Fenns mother, Toska Marie Lightner, 47, came to the Dennys and began arguing with Kirkpatrick.

During the fight, Lightner, threw a tape dispenser at Kirkpatrick, but, the item did not hit her.

Kirkpatrick decided not to press charges of assault against Lightner.

The police report does not detail why the two workers argued over the hard-boiled eggs.
Two tourists humiliated on the streets of Gili

By: Mahesh Sarin WorldWideWeirdNews.com

Two tourists in Indonesia, who were caught stealing bicycles, were forced to walk through the streets with a humiliating sign, according to photos that were uploaded to the Internet.

The chief of Gili, confirmed that the two 20-year-old tourists of Australia, who were not identified, were recorded on surveillance video stealing two bicycles from a popular vacation spot.

The police reviewed surveillance video footage, and were able to identify and arrest the two tourists.

After being questioned, the two suspects were forced to write aI am a thiefa on cardboard boxes and wear them on their chests.

They were then paraded in the streets for several hours before they were forced to leave the city. Gili Chief Muhamad Taufik said that he does not know whether the police will pursue criminal charges against the suspects.

The main thing is that the two are no longer allowed in the city, Taufik added. Residents took photos of the two tourists and uploaded them on the Internet, where the images went viral.
An 18-year-old faces several charges after leading Lincoln police on a chase Saturday night.

Officers were called to investigate a disturbance at Playmakers Bar & Grill at South Folsom Street and West Prospector Court around 9 p.m. Witnesses said William Wade had threatened a man with a gun.

Wade fled with police in pursuit. After deploying a stop stick, a device used to deflate tires, Wade was taken into custody on the 146 block of West Denton Road.

Wade had a stolen gun and a small bag of what appeared to be methamphetamine. He was arrested for fleeing police custody, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a controlled substance. The initial disturbance report is under investigation.
6m Funding Boost to Help Welsh Councils Tackle Homelessness

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Dec 27th, 2016

A 6 million funding boost to help local authorities across Wales tackle homelessness, has been announced.

The extra funding, which will go directly into the Revenue Support Grant, was unveiled as part of the Welsh Governments final local government settlement.

It was announced in recognition of the particular pressures around homelessness prevention.

Welsh local authorities will be able to decide how they use the funding to tackle the issue.

Announcing the details of the final settlement, Local Government Secretary Mark Drakeford said:

Im very pleased to be able to announce this extra funding for homelessness prevention. We have been listening to our partners in both the charity and housing sectors and this extra 6 million will give local authorities both the means and flexibility to help tackle the issue effectively.

I said back in October that this was a good settlement for local government, particularly given the many competing pressures on the Welsh Budget.

The additional funding means that local authorities will receive revenue funding of 4.1 billion through the final local government settlement.

This represents an increase of 10 million compared to 2016-17.

Further details released by the Welsh Government about the additional funding, read:-

Capital funding for 2017-18 amounts to 433 million. Within this, General Capital Funding for 2017-18 is unchanged at 143 million. This means that councils will be able to press ahead in building new schools, improving local roads and providing vital infrastructure.

A 0.5% funding reduction floor, limiting the impact on councils that would have seen the biggest reductions in their core funding, also remains in place.

Separately, the additional 10 million for non-domestic rates relief in 2017-18  as agreed with Plaid Cymru and announced on the weekend  will be delivered through local authorities and will be targeted at businesses on the high street.

Prof Drakeford added: Its fair to say that the provisional settlement was much better than most in local government were expecting.

However, I want to be clear that this is a settlement from which to plan for the harder choices which will lie ahead. I want local authorities to use the next fifteen months to think carefully about the future pressures they will face and how they can prepare effectively to manage these pressures.

The funding has been welcomed by Communities Secretary Carl Sargeant, who said: This extra funding will help local authorities to build on the very positive start they have made in implementing the legislation we introduced last year to help everyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homelessness.

Preventing homelessness helps to protect peoples health and well being which can in turn help to reduce the demand on services such the NHS.
The Helena City Commission and the Lewis and Clark Heritage Tourism Council are being advised against chatting with the public about Central School.

Trustees for Helenas school district are interested in perhaps tearing down Central School and the Seventh Avenue gymnasium or significantly remodeling the school so it would be as though it were a new building.

Approval for demolition or extensive renovation would begin with the Heritage Tourism Council, which would provide a recommendation for a decision by the city commission.

No plan has yet been brought for consideration by either the council or the commission.

City Attorney Thomas Jodoin met with the commission recently to answer questions regarding an Aug. 11, 2014, memorandum from Jeff Hindoien, who was the city attorney at that time, that warns against conversations with the public outside of public hearings.

That memo is based on legal advice from David Nielsen, who as a previous city attorney who wrote on Jan. 16, 2002, of the problems with conversations by the commission outside of public hearings.

Jodoin said conversation between two commissioners is to be expected and part of their duties, but he also said he would discourage such conversations.

His advice for the city commission was to avoid ex parte communications rather than risk tainting a decision.

Jodoins concerns also include the potential to violate Montanas open meeting law should a conversation occur among three members of the commission, which would constitute a quorum.

The board of trustees for Helena Public Schools in early December directed the interim superintendent to meet with the commission and Heritage Tourism Council regarding what steps must be taken for the school to be deconstructed.

School trustees also want to know what must be done to build a new school on the site. They are asking for costs to build a new school and those for renovating the existing school to make it the equivalent of a new building.

Jack Copps, the interim superintendent, told the school board he would recommend a $63 million bond in the spring to construct three new schools and replace Central, Jim Darcy and Bryant schools.

The possibility of another bond issue would come in less than two years after slightly more than 58 percent of voters rejected a $70 million bond for the elementary school district. Roughly 45.5 percent of voters cast ballots in that election.

If the school district is to move ahead with demolition or a significant remodel of Central School, it will first have to bring its plans to the Heritage Tourism Council.

Based on city code, demolition can be either tearing down the building or significantly changing it.

Demolition is defined as any act or process that destroys in part or in whole the historic integrity of a structure or site including the exterior or facade or otherwise alters the structure so that it no longer qualifies to have a primary or contributing status.

The Heritage Tourism Councils involvement comes because Central School and the Seventh Avenue gymnasium, while not individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, are contributing structures to the historic district that was listed in 1972.

The district was since amended, and an addendum containing May 2013 photos of the school was intended to clarify that the school and gymnasium are contributing structures, according to the document.

They contribute to the Helena historic districts feel, said Pam Attardo, the city/county historic preservation officer.

Central School and the Seventh Avenue gym were not included when the district was created, Attardo said, but the State Historic Preservation Office clarified the school and gyms importance shortly after the school closed suddenly in March 2013 because of seismic safety concerns.

Attardo met recently with the Heritage Tourism Council regarding the citys review process for demolition of historic buildings. She also fielded questions on Hindoiens memo on ex parte communications.

If members of the council are on the receiving end of a conversation, they will need to disclose that, she said.

And those who want to talk about the school should be told to wait until there is a public hearing, Attardo added.

This too was Jodoins advice to the city commission.

I dont want to see the process result in litigation, he told the commission.
ORLANDO, Fla. (WTXL) - A Canadian man bonded out of Orange County Jail Monday after he was arrested on charges of forcing his way onto the tarmac at Orlando International Airport, taking off his pants and stealing a luggage tug.

As he walked out of jail Monday afternoon, 27-year old Richard Hogh gave a word of warning about what can happen when you do drugs.

He said quote, "don't ruin your life kids, don't do crystal meth"

Now officials say Hogh was kicked off a United Airlines flight to Chicago Friday for claiming he was a pilot so he could sit in an unassigned first-class seat.

Once off the plane, airport officials say he took an elevator to the tarmac, took off his pants and started driving a baggage-tug.

Hogh was charged with grand theft and trespassing.
HAVRE  Commissioners from four north-central Montana counties have selected a Liberty County commissioner to replace Republican Sen. Kristin Hansen of Havre, who resigned to take a job in the state auditor's office.

The Havre Daily News reports (bit.ly/2hksr8k) commissioners from Cascade, Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties met last week in Fort Benton and selected Russ Tempel to serve Senate District 14.

Hansen announced earlier this month she was resigning to take the position of chief legal counsel for incoming Auditor Matt Rosendale.

The 2017 Legislature convenes on Jan. 2.

___

Information from: Havre Daily News, http://www.havredailynews.com
Scenes from a feeding of hundreds of elk at the Washington Department of Fish and Game Oak Creek Wildlife Area near Naches, Wash. Friday, Dec 
Two Episcopal priests from the Yakima Valley are among those calling for a federal investiga
Yakima County commissioners open path for rural Harrah to expand, but not as much as area farmer had hoped
These University of Washington students are competing with other universities nationwide to come up with a working pod for Elon Musk's hyperloop. The ground transportation system would use magnets in a vacuum tube to reach speeds of several hundred miles per hour. From left, Luke Marcoe, Michael Beleson, C.J. Grijalva, Jonathan Lundlee, Mitchell Frimodi, and Malachi Williams. (Dean Rutz/The Seattle Times)
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The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Israel's Foreign Ministry accused Facebook of failing to remove thousands of posts it has reported as the anti-Israel incitement on social media continues. Facebook officials on their part said they are waiting to receive the information about the inciting posts from the Foreign Ministry.

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On Sunday, the Israeli government approved a bill that would allow a court to order sites such as Facebook and YouTube to remove material found to be "incitement" that contributes to Palestinian violence. The legislation will now be taken up by the Knesset.

Government watchdogs have expressed concern such a law could be abused and harm free speech. The legislation, known as the "Facebook bill," would allow the government to petition a court to have online material it considers incitement removed. It would be removed in cases where it poses "a real risk to the security of a person, the public or the state," Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said in a statement.

An anti-Semitic post that has not been removed by Facebook

The Foreign Ministry gathers complaints from its representatives around the world about posts on Facebook that are anti-Semitic and/or incite to the murder of Israelis and Jews. Ministry officials say the data point to serious patterns of incitement and anti-Semitism on Facebook, way beyond what the social network is willing to admit.

Elad Ratson, the Foreign Ministrys director of research and development for digital diplomacy, told Ynet that since the beginning of the year the ministrys digital warfare team handled 21,957 complaints of inciting or anti-Semitic posts on Facebook alone. The posts are automatically sent from the State of Israels representatives around the world. After an extensive examination, 11,840 of them were identified as posts that violate Facebooks own terms and conditions.

He added that although all posts were reported by the users through the methods suggested by Facebook, the social network has yet to remove them. Only after the development of a unique technological system allowing the Foreign Ministry to monitor the way Facebook responds to users reports, it managedthrough technological meansto bring about the removal of 7,133 posts (53 percent of the reported posts).

Noam Katz, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry's media and public affairs division, used harsh words recently to describe Facebooks almost absolute control over information. Speaking at Foreign Ministry cadets course, he used the terms totalitarian society as he specified the dangers involved in Facebooks failure to handle content inciting hatred and violence.

'Requests to receive the information unanswered'

Facebook Israel offered the following response: Anyone can report content to Facebook that they believe is in contradiction with the companys policy. In addition, we sometimes use direct communication channels with governments around the world and non-governmental organizations in a bid to familiarize ourselves with content that may violate the rules of our community.

In August 2015, Facebook was informed that the Foreign Ministry was collecting content that included incitement. Facebook asked to see the information in order to remove any content violating its rules. Repeated requests to receive the information were unanswered. In addition, Facebook suggested a meeting with the Foreign Ministry in order to discuss the way the content is reported, and that request remained unanswered too.

The social network added in its response that there is nothing more important to Facebook than the safety of the community, and the company is doing a lot to protect its users. We hope that in the future, the Foreign Ministry will report content directly to us, just like other governmental bodies in Israel and around the world do, so that we can work to rapidly remove any content violating the community rules.

The Foreign Ministry said in response that it systematically encounters lack of transparency in every dialogue with Facebook when it comes to the way the social network deals with content including incitement, disinformation and hate. The Foreign Ministry would gladly share with Facebook information about the problematic content that has been gathered with a lot of effort over time. Such a discussion, however, cannot be efficient and meaningful as long as Facebook insists on concealing the rules of the mechanism it has built to handle content that violates its own policy. Unfortunately, for some reason, Facebook insists on imposing a complete blackout on the way the mechanism works, including the criteria, the identity of the people who make content decisions on a daily basis and the level of their familiarity with the violent and inciting discourse in the Middle East.

The ministry further added that it will do everything in its power to help Facebook fight cases of incitement, disinformation and hate, but we expect Facebook to demonstrate the same level of commitment to this matter. The lack of transparency on Facebooks part makes it very difficult to create the constructive atmosphere which is a condition for successfully defending the users against incitement, disinformation and hate. We expect Facebook to act quickly and determinedly against this phenomenon, in sincere, open and transparent cooperation with the Foreign Ministry.

Facebook has been dealing with serious accusations since the beginning of 2016. The social network has been accused of gaining unprecedented power as an exclusive monopoly, which is not just a threat to democracy, but also a threat to capitalism, according to social activist Robert McChesney.

The Indian government accused Facebook last February of digital colonialism following the violation of the networks neutrality by Facebook in India. Human rights organizations in the United States accused Facebook of imposing uncontrolled censorship and spoke of the need for legislation that would force the social network to account for the unsupervised shut down of accounts and content deletion. In addition, Facebook was accused of swinging the US presidential election as a result of the huge amounts of fake content and disinformation on the network.
The condition of Lithuanian Rabbi Aharon Lieb Shteinman, a prominent figure in the ultra-Orthodox community, has improved after he was rushed to Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center in Beni Brak on Sunday evening. Shteinman, 103, complained of shortness of breath, and was admitted due to his advanced age and concern over a possible pneumonia.

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Shteinman is the lead rabbi in the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox sector and one of the spiritual leaders of the political party United Torah Judaism.

Rabbi Shteinman (Photo: Haim Tzach)

Public prayers were organized in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, as mobile PA systems drove through the streets, calling on people to pray for his health.

Despite his political work, Shteinman's invovlement in United Torah Judaism is actually a minor part of his daily routine, which is dedicated mainly to his studies, instruction at religious centers and providing advice and guidance on personal and public matters.

Shteinman is considered more moderate and pragmatic than his predecessors and a number of his contemporaries in matters of religion and state, religious and secular interaction, education and more.

In light of his relative progressivismwhich manifested itself, among other examples, in his support of the Haredi battalion in the IDF's paramilitary Nahal programShteinman has faced a vocal and an unprecedented opposition after the passing of Lithuanian community leader Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv three and a half years ago. Elyashiv was considered a final religious authority for his followers during his lifetime, and upon his death, those opposing Shteinman's more moderate tone crowned his rival, the zealous and rigid Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, as the new Lithuanian leader.

Shteinman continues to enjoy a much larger following than Auerbach, as exemplified in the fact that United Torah Judaism's "Lithuanian" faction, Degel Hatorah, is comprised solely of Shteinman supporters. That said, during the last local elections, Auerbach's supporters decided to run on a separate list for local councils, after complaining that they were not being fairly represented, and won in several different municipalities.
New books in History, Economics, Politics, Philosophy, Anthropology, and Sociology
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia's exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia on Tuesday for posting a fake government pledge to dissolve the Southeast Asian country's border with Vietnam.

The sentence follows months of tension between Cambodia's two main political parties, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades but his grip on power was shaken in a 2013 general election when the CNRP won 55 seats in the National Assembly, leaving the Cambodian People's Party with 68 seats in the 123-seat assembly.

Members of the opposition have complained of a crackdown by the government and its allies in a bid to intimidate critics before a general election in 2018.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is ending a day of solemn remembrances with a reception dinner in Honolulu.

The prime minister is at the Hawaii Convention Center where he is addressing his visit and what it means for the two nations.

On Tuesday, Abe will become the first Japanese prime minister to visit the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor and the first to visit with an American president.

Japan's former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country's World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) -- For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has stifled the economy and largely blocked its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, there are signs that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the Islamic terror group.

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In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013 and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations.

"There is a ball of hope that was thrown by Egypt," said Ashraf Jomaa, a Gaza community leader who has taken part in recent meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss the changing ties. "The question is how we, the Palestinians, shall catch that ball and develop the hope."

Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza (Photo: EPA)

The changes, while still in their infancy, mark a significant departure from what has been a tough Egyptian crackdown since the military ousted its then-president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013.

Hamas, an offshoot of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed close relations with him and quickly fell into disfavor with the new government.

Under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the former military chief who ousted Morsi, Egypt all but destroyed a once-thriving network of cross-border smuggling tunnels used by Hamas -- robbing

the group of its main economic lifeline and a key source of weapons.

Targeting Islamic militant groups in Egypt's northern Sinai Desert, it also destroyed hundreds of homes in the volatile border area to create a "sterile zone." Egypt's state-run media have repeatedly accused Hamas of collaborating with militants in Egypt, a charge the group denies.

The crackdown has had a devastating effect on both sides of the border.

Hamas on parade in Rafah, Gaza (Photo: AP)

The olive and palm trees that once lined the 40-kilometer (25-mile) road from Rafah to El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, have been razed and even small bushes have withered.

The road is littered with checkpoints, tanks and mobile artillery units, manned by anxious young soldiers. In the town of Sheikh Zuwaid, where travelers used to stop to buy Egyptian mobile phone cards and snacks, stores were gutted, their doors bombed out. The bullet-riddled houses above them were turned into military positions, with sandbags covering the windows and snipers stationed on the roofs. The US-based Human Rights Watch estimates that thousands of people have been displaced -- most of whom moved either elsewhere in town or to El-Arish.

In Gaza, years of Egyptian restrictions, coupled with an Israeli blockade and three wars between Hamas and Israel, have devastated the economy and weakened Hamas.

The UN. and other international bodies estimate unemployment to be 43 percent, and Hamas has struggled to pay the salaries of the 40,000 police and civil servants it hired after seizing Gaza in 2007.

An Israeli naval blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent arms smuggling, means that most goods enter Gaza through Israeli-controlled cargo crossings. While most consumer goods are freely available, prices of fuel, cigarettes and other items have spiked because of limited supplies. Construction materials, badly needed to rebuild damage from a 2014 war, remain in short supply. There is evidence to suggest that Hamas steals construction materials to build tunnels to be used in an attack against Israeli soft targets.

But Egypt's recent turnaround has begun to bring some relief. In the past six months alone, Rafah crossing has been opened more than 40 days, compared to just 26 in all of 2015, allowing thousands of people to leave for jobs, medical care, family visits and studies abroad.

Rockets have been smuggled into Gaza via tunnels between the Strip and Sinai (Photo: Reuters)

Last month, it allowed a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, to travel abroad for the first time since Morsi was toppled. In addition, it allowed a Malaysian official to enter Gaza to meet with Hamas officials. In another first, it allowed cargo to be shipped into Gaza through Rafah, including 40 new cars, painting materials and tar

In recent months, Egypt has invited three delegations of businessmen, academics, community leaders and journalists from Gaza for semiofficial conferences in Cairo. Participants said the issue of creating a trade zone between Gaza and Egypt was raised. Hamas has begun paving a patch of land on the Palestinian side of the crossing for what local media say will be an area to contain more imports from Egypt.

At a recent meeting, Egyptian officials said they were interested in "opening a new chapter" with Gaza, said one official, who was not allowed to be identified under the briefing guidelines. "We are still evaluating the situation, and this is a long dialogue until we reach better relations."

Hamas has welcomed the moves, saying it is ready to shutter the tunnels if commercial activities increase above-ground. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said, "If the (Rafah) crossing opened commercially, what's the need for the tunnels?"

Egyptian guard towerat the Rafah border crossing (Photo: EPA)

But Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, has repeatedly seen its hopes dashed as it tries to emerge from isolation. It remains unclear how far Egypt is willing to help the group, especially if it continues using tunnels to bring in arms.

"If the tunnels are used by the Palestinian resistance, then this is something else that doesn't harm the Egyptian security," Zahar said.

Beverly Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, said any Egyptian moves toward Gaza are to promote its own national security interests. With Egypt still locked in battle against ISIS in Sinai, any change will likely be slow and cautious, and could depend greatly on Hamas' own actions.

Hamas supporters in Rafah, Gaza (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt still fears Sinai militants will use the tunnels to escape or to bring in explosives from hard-liners within Hamas' armed wing.

"The signaling of intent is carefully calibrated to remind the Gaza government of the levels of control and power that Egypt can exert positively or negatively," Milton-Edwards said. "If there is not enough evidence of compliance by the Hamas government then Cairo will not hesitate to halt all alleviating measures."
The Palestinian Authority President said Tuesday that he hopes the upcoming Mideast conference in France will set a timetable to end settlements, as Israel moves ahead with new housing unit construction in eastern Jerusalem, despite the recent UN Security Council resolution condemning construction there.

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The developments came just days after the United States broke with past practice and allowed the UN Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem as a "flagrant violation" of international law.

Abbas's comments early Tuesday morning were his first public remarks since the UN vote.

Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Ofer Meir)

"The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month and we hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation," Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party. "The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal, in our occupied land including East Jerusalem."

Israel has consistently made clear its position that a united Jerusalem must remain Israel's capital under Israeli sovereignty, given its significance in Jewish religious tradition.

On January 15, days before President Barack Obama leaves office, France is expected to host a Mideast conference where dozens of countries may endorse an international framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Netanyahu vehemently opposes such activity, saying it undermines the negotiating process.

Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Abbas to meet for direct talks without preconditions. Abbas has refused unless Israel construction first.

The Palestinians claim the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, as parts of their future state. Israel says settlements, along with other core issues like security, should be agreed upon in peace talks.

Despite the UN resolution condemning settlements, Jerusalem Municipality is set to approve thousands of new housing units in the eastern sector of the city this week. The pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom reported the Jerusalem District Zoning Committee is convening Wednesday to discuss approving fresh construction in that part of the city.

French President Francois Hollande (Photo: AFP)

"We remain unfazed by the UN vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem," Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Meir Turgeman, who heads the zoning committee, told the paper this week. "I hope the Israeli government and the new US administration will support us, so we can make up for the lack (of construction) during the eight years of the Obama administration."

Netanyahu was outraged by the UN Security Council resolution and has declared a number of steps in response to the measure, which passed 14-0 with an American abstention.

Israel summoned ambassadors from council members, including the US, to protest. Netanyahu is 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.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Monday slammed the peace summit, calling it "a modern day Dreyfus trial."

"There's only one difference," he asserted, "this time, instead of the defendant being one Jew, it will be the entire nation of Israel and the State of Israel."

He criticized the timing of the summit, which was scheduled for December but postpone to January 15five days before US President Barack Obama leaves office. Outgoing American Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to attend the summit.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 is a serious diplomatic blow to Israel, and contrary to the intention of the countries that voted in favor of it  it is another nail in the peace process frozen coffin.

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The deterioration to the current low point is a combination of a Palestinian strategy to favor an internationalization of the conflict over direct negotiations with Israel, along with serious mistakes made by the Obama administration and the Netanyahu governments.

UN Security Council vote. Despite the anger and frustration in Israel, its more important to look to the future (Photo: AP)

The root of the problem is a wrong perception of reality by US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Obama administration failed to examine the validity of its basic assumption for advancing a solution to the conflict and understanding the dynamics between the sides, particularly the inability to detect that in the Israeli public opinion Jerusalem does not equal Judea and Samaria and that there is no willingness to take security risks. The decision to ignore President George W. Bushs letter to Ariel Sharon in 2004 was puzzling, as was placing most of the blame on Israel while ignoring the Palestinians' part in the ongoing stalemate.

Israel, on its part, is paying a price for Netanyahus problematic and erroneous perception of the American system in recent years, and more so of the international system. The gap between the prime ministers address at the UN General Assembly, in which he expressed his to desire to see an end to the automatic majority against Israel, and the sweeping vote against Israel at the Security Council points to a serious perceptual distortion. Especially as this is not a move that can be ascribed to the anti-Israel nature of the UN institutions, but a sweeping vote by our best friends, including our new ally Russia.

But despite the anger and frustration in Israel, its more important to look to the future rather than engage in an analysis of what happened and in remorse. Feelings of insult, betrayal and anger are not the basis for a sound and effective policy. We should therefore suspend the diplomatic response until Donald Trump enters the White House. Radical moves will only deepen our diplomatic isolation. In this context, Netanyahus attack on the countries that supported the resolution is a reckless and unnecessary move. We should ask ourselves whether the Israeli interest is to encourage a self-boycott, which will be, absurdly, more effective than any move made by the BDS so far.

Instead of lashing out at the worlds leading countries, we should work to stop the snowball effect and prevent additional moves that the Obama administration may allow until the end of the presidents term. Looking towards January 20, we should prepare the long-term Israeli strategy vis-a-vis the new administration in Washington based on three assumptions: The Trump administration will be much friendlier towards Israel; a return to negotiations is impossible due to the Palestinian rejectionism, even before and particularly after Resolution 2334; the status quo is not good for Israel.

We should therefore initiate a change that will maintain the horizon of the two-state solution, but will lead to it in the possible way under the current circumstances. In other words, to move towards a separation from the Palestinians in a controlled, cautious and patient manner that will protect the Israeli interest to be a Jewish, democratic, secure and righteous state, which will restore its diplomatic and moral standing in the world.

Based on these assumptions, we should present to the Trump administration an Israeli proposal for practical action. Israel should move to a proactive strategy, centered on agreements with the United States regarding a distinction between the settlement blocs and isolated settlements, where Israel will freeze construction. On a wider scale, Israel should prove its commitment to a two-state horizon in the future through a series of self-initiated activities for changing the current trend.

The US is our most important ally, and sometimes the only one. Israel should not be dragged into a Republican-Democratic conflict, and it is critical that it regains the support of both parties. Its important to restabilize the trust between the countries, and particularly between the leaders  trust which has been violated by both sides in recent years.
Police have arrested the brother of an imprisoned terrorist who is alleged to have received cellphones from MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) during visits to his prison, Ynet has learned.

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The brother, Assad Daka, is suspected of providing the MK with the phones, which he is then believed to have smuggled to security inmates, exploiting his MK immunity from body searches.

MK Basel Ghattas in court

The Israel National Police Unit arrested the 51-year-old brother from the Arab town of Zemer, who was brought on Tuesday morning before the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court as investigators sought the extension of his arrest.

Speaking to Ynet a few days ago, the suspect flatly denied that his brother, who is currently serving a prison sentence in Israel for terror activities, ever received any phones from the MK under investigation.

This is incitement by way of claims which have no basis. My brother doesnt call us since it is forbidden because he is a security prisoner, he said. It is true that Ghattas did visit him but he never gave him anything.

Joint List MK Hanin Zoabi stands outside court in solidarity with Ghattas (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Pictures presented to the police however, appear to show that Ghattas did, in fact, provide the prisoners he visited with phones.

During a search that was conducted after meetings took place between Ghattas and Palestinian security prisoners, 12 telephones were found in the possession of Walid Dakaone of the terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984and Basel Bazra, along with small letters containing encrypted messages which aroused suspicion that Ghattas had smuggled the phones to the prisoners.

Protest outside court against Ghattas's arrest (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Ghattas had his arrest extended on Monday by 24 hours , also at the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court, despite the police requesting that he remain in remand for an additional four days.

Judge Menachem Mizrachi commented on his decision following the conclusion of Monday's court proceedings.

It could be said that there is a significant development in the investigation. It is a difficult to decision to extend the arrest of an MK, he said. I will say that if it had been a different suspect I would have extended the arrest for many more days. When you are speaking about an MK, requests should be granted sparingly.

Appearing before the judge on Friday, as police sought a first extension of his arrest, Ghattas he refused to divulge who provided him with the phones on the grounds that "he does not want to be a snitch."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce on Tuesday that Israel will suspend all development aid to the African nation of Angola following the latters support of a recent UN resolution condemning Israeli West Bank construction.

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This is the latest in a series of retaliatory, diplomatic measures against those who went against the Jewish State. Angola is one of 14 countries who supported the anti-Israel resolution.

Angolan diplomats promised Israel that they would abstain from voting on the resolution, but decided to go against their word.

Prime Minister Netnayahu (Photo: Yonatan Zindel)

Additionally, when being called in to clarify his countrys actions during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, the Ambassador decided to park illegally, and was given a parking ticket from the municipality.

Angola is a major oil producing state, and currently occupies the province of Cabinda. Cabindans have been fighting for a sovereign independent state since 1960

Angolan Embassy representative with a parking ticket (Photo: Channel 1)

The Israeli Prime Minister also told his cabinet that he will not meet with British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the Davos economic forum which will be taking place in January. He also ordered his cabinet members not to go to countries which supported the anti-Israel resolution, and ordered his ministers not to meet with their counterparts from these countries.

Netanyahu ordered the Israeli ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal to come back to Israel in retaliation for those two countries efforts in promoting the bill. All aid, including security aid, has been stopped to Senegal. The west African Muslim has had repeated issues with al-Qaeda.
The court decided to place MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List) under house arrest for ten days on Tuesday afternoon, shortly before he was set to be released after six days in police custody.

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Ghattas, who is currently under investigation on suspicion of smuggling cellphones to terrorists in Israeli prisons, had his arrest extended by 24 hours on Monday by the Rishon LeZion Magistrates Court. By Tuesday, the police decided against asking that the court extend his arrest once again, instead requesting that he be placed under house arrest for 45 days.

MKs Jamal Zahalka (L) and Hanin Zoabi (R) with MK Basel Ghattas

Nevertheless, Judge Menachem Mizrachi chose not to comply with the demands, bringing the court proceedings to a temporary closure.

Outside the court, Ghattas said: I dont regret what I gave to security prisoners. I met with them for many years and am trying to help them without breaking the law. It is my duty to help my people."

With Ghattas confined to his home, his lawyers asked that their client be permitted to participate in Knesset votes. A police official responded to the request in the affirmative, adding only that he would be required to be accompanied by police escorts.

Ghattas will also be required to personally pay NIS 50,000 shekels as a guarantee that he will not violate the terms of his release. Furthermore, he will have to be escorted by four policemen both at home and when turning up for Knesset votes.

In addition, he is forbidden from exiting the country for the next six months.

Ghattas after being released from arrest

Ghattas was arrested on Thursday evening after police twice summoned him for questioning under caution the same day and after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein removed the Arab MK's parliamentary immunity.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ynet learned that police arrested the brother of one of the imprisoned terrorist who is alleged to have received cellphones from.

MK Ghattas (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Rishon LeZion Magistrate's Court extended on Tuesday afternoon the arrest of Assad Daka by three days on suspicion of providing cell phones to MK Ghattas.

Assad is the brother of one of the inmates, Walid Dakaone of the terrorists responsible for the kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984
KUWAIT CITY (AP) -- A Kuwaiti criminal court on Monday sentenced a Filipina to 10 years in prison for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group.

The court ruling, which can be appealed, also calls for her deportation from the country after she serves her prison sentence.

The woman was arrested in August and accused of joining the terror group through its affiliate in Libya via email while working as a maid.

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said it was verifying the conviction and that its embassy in Kuwait "is prepared to extend legal and consular assistance to make sure that she gets due process and her rights are not violated."
Israeli security forces have stopped a terror cell made up of Israeli Arabs who were planning to carry out attacks against soldiers in the Negev, it was cleared for publication on Tuesday.

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Two of the cells members  Mohammad Masri, 37 of Beer Sheva, and Abdullah abu Iyash, 26, from Kuseife, were arrested by the Shin Bet last month.

A joint Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation revealed that Masri, the leader of the cell, was seeking to take revenge on the government for outlawing the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

Cell leader Masri with head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Raed Salah

Masri then went to abu Iyash, with whom he worked, for assistance, with the latter agreeing to help. The two worked together at a grocery store in Beer Sheva called King Store Mashadawi, where Masri was the assistant manager.

The two decided to attack IDF troops and planned to target three possible places in the southern region of the countryin Dimona, Arad, or at the gates of the Netavim Air Base. The two also conducted observations of their targets.

A Carl Gustav homemade assault rifle was found in the cells possession, along with IED detonators. The authorities believe that the cell would have carried out IED attacks using the detonators.

The homemade Carl Gustav rifle

Mohammad Masri is known to the Shin Bet. He was a member of the Fatah military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and was involved in a pipe bomb explosion that killed a 15-year-old girl. He was arrested and served a 12-year prison sentence.

The detonators the two planned on using

While in prison, Masri met and cultivated connections with Hamas members both from Gaza and in the West Bank, including the high ranking Hamas official Yahya Sinwar.

Upon his release, he became an active member of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

A third Israeli-Arab was arrested for involvement in the cell, but this time from the Arab city of Qalansuwa. He too worked at a King Store branch in Qalansuwa, where he was an assistant manager.

A King Store

He too was an active member of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement and served time in prison between 2006 to 2010 for serious security offences, including the sale of weapons to terrorists from Tulkarm and for planning to attack IDF troops with an IED.

Three additional Israeli Arabs from the Negev area were arrested on suspicion of selling weapons to the terror cell: Bakr Abu Takfa, 21, from Shaqib al-Salam; Rami Abu Takfa, 22, from Shaqib al-Salam; and Mohammad Abu Qif, 26, a Bedouin living in the Nevatim area.

The investigation of the case found that other Negev residents were involved in arms trade under criminal circumstances, and more arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Marsi and Abu Iyash will be indicted in the coming days.
MOSCOW - Russia, China and Pakistan warned on Tuesday that the influence of Islamic State was growing in Afghanistan and that the security situation there was deteriorating.

Representatives from the three countries, meeting in Moscow, also agreed to invite the Afghan government to such talks in the future, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"(The three countries) expressed particular concern about the rising activity in the country of extremist groups including the Afghan branch of ISIS," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters after the meeting.
BAGHDAD - Gunmen kidnapped an Iraqi journalist after breaking into her Baghdad home, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday, a reminder of the dangers reporters face in a war-torn country where authorities have struggled to maintain security.

The Interior Ministry said Afrah Sawqi al-Qaisi was abducted from her house in the southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood on Monday night. It called on residents to come forward with any information that might help the investigation. The ministry statement did not give details of the kidnapping.

Citing her family's account, the head of the Baghdad-based Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, Ziyad al-Ajeeli, said eight gunmen arrived in at least two pickup trucks, claimed to be members of the security forces, and asked to search the house.

Once inside, they handcuffed al-Qaisi's 16-year-old son, kept him in the kitchen and took gold, money, phones, laptops and a car, al-Ajeeli said. They also badly beat her brother-in-law, who lives next door, he added.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the security forces to investigate the kidnapping and to "exert the utmost effort" to save al-Qaisi.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed Israels delegation to the UN to skip a UN General Assembly vote last Wednesday on a resolution draft calling to form a body that would investigate the Syrian civil war, apparently due to pressure from Russia.

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After the UN Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's settlements , Netanyahu bemoaned that half a million human beings are being slaughtered in Syria. Tens of thousands are being butchered in Sudan. The entire Middle East is going up in flames and the Obama administration and the Security Council choose to gang up on the only democracy in the Middle East  the State of Israel.

On Wednesday, the UN sought to pass Resolution A/71/L.48, which calls to form an "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 the Syrian Arab Republic since March 2011."

A wounded child on a bus evacuating civilians from eastern Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

It was raised by Luxembourg, but written by several other countries from Europe and the Middle East.

A senior Western official at the UN, who worked on preparing the resolution draft, said its objective "is to collect as much evidence and testimonies about war crimes and crimes against humanity that have been committed and are being committed in Syria, so when the time comes, even if that takes many years, we could prosecute the guilty.

We want experienced criminal investigators to join the fighting forces, he explained. At this point they will only collect and preserve the evidencecellphones, fingerprints, weapons, testimonies, recordings and photographs. At the next stage, based on ability and accessibility to witnesses and to the accused, indictments will be formulated."

A wounded man being pulled out of the wreckage after bombardments in Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

The official mentioned that it was only thanks to the massive efforts of evidence collection carried out by the Allies at the end of World War II and immediately after that Nazi war criminals could be brought to justice.

"We were sure the entire world would unite behind the decision, except Iran and Russiawhich is worried the investigation will include evidence against actions Russian soldiers were involved itand several other allies of the Assad regime. We had no doubt Israel would support it," the official said.

A child being pulled out of the rubble in Aleppo (Photo: EPA)

In the days that preceded the vote, officials at the Israel Foreign Ministry and at the Prime Minister's Office debated on how to vote. Most asserted that Israel, perhaps more than any other country, must stand with the enlightened world in demanding to bring to justice those who have been responsible for terrible war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

On the other hand, some argued that the decision would serve as a problematic precedent for Israel: If the UN General Assembly, rather than the Security Council, has the authority to form inquiry bodies, it could form one to investigate Israel as well in the future.

Eventually, the Foreign Ministry decided to recommend voting in favor of the resolution draft.

A wounded child being pulled out of the rubble in Aleppo (Photo: AFP)

But behind the scenes, according to sources in Jerusalem, Russia put immense diplomatic pressure on Israel, followed by an order from Netanyahu to skip the vote.

"This was a diplomatic decision made by the highest ranks in the government," a senior Foreign Ministry official confirmed on Monday. "I cannot elaborate beyond that."

The resolution draft was adopted by the UN after 105 countries voted in favor, 52 abstained, 15 voted against and 15 missed the vote. Among those not present were Rwanda, Eritrea, Libya, Angolacountries in which grave war crimes have taken place in the pastand Israel.

The UN official claimed that "a cynical deal has been made between Israel and Russia. In the end you got nothing for it because two days later, the Russians screwed Israel over on the settlements resolution."

"Israel, of all countries, doesn't come to a vote calling to investigate genocide?!" the UN official wondered.

The Foreign Ministry and the PMO refused to comment on the report.

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid was outraged by the report, saying his late father Tommy Lapid, a Holocaust survivor, would not have forgiven Israel for remaining silent in the face of the atrocities in Syria.

"Children are being murdered in Syria, Lapid wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of children are as hungry as he was, are being bombarded as he was, being sentenced to death as he was. And we didn't bother showing up to the vote. We weren't even asked to help, just take a moral stance, and even that we did not do."

"My father had always blamed the world for staying silent," he continued. "For not doing anything while he was in the ghetto and his fathermy grandfatherdied in the gas chambers. If he knew we were silent at this moment, he would not have forgiven us."
Haifa District Court Judge Yosef Elron's nomination to the Supreme Court has brought with it uncomfortable accusations of ethnic discrimination, as close associates of the judge claim his nomination has been blocked because he is a Mizrahi (eastern) Jew and not part of the "judicial elite."

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Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Naor met with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon on Tuesday to discuss the nominations of judges for the Supreme Court. The meeting was reported to have been pleasant, with those in attendance agreeing to aim toward reaching broad agreements.





The Supreme Court (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Despite the general niceties, though, Elron's nomination cast a shadow on the proceedings after it was vetoed by the justices on the committee to appoint judges to the Supreme Court.

Elron's supporters protested the veto, saying there has been no explanation provided as to why the current Supreme Court judges felt him suitable, while another judge in the runningHaifa District Court Judge Ron Sokolenjoys the support of part of the Supreme Court.

Judge Yosef Elron (Photo: Judicial Court website)

Some have gone further in comparing both nominees, citing that while Sokol is the son-in-law of retired Supreme Court Justice Theodore Or, Elron was born in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, grew up in an Israeli transit camp during the 50s and steadily made his way up the ranks of the judicial system.

Several judges have also voiced their displeasure at the current nomination process, saying that the justices' decision to exercise their veto power to block Elron's nomination without offering an explanation is in bad taste.

Chief Justice Miriam Naor (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Elron's supporters say that it is in part his ethniciy as a Mizrahi Jew that has both caused the Supreme Court's resistence to open its doors to him and garnered him the support of Minister Kahlon, who is looking to promote more worthy Mizrahi nominees to the Supreme Court.

Responding to Elron's nomination, Kahlon said: "There is no conflict between myself and the chief justice. No judge has ever called me and I have never threatened to leave a committee meeting if the nominee I supported will not be chosen."

Naor runs the Supreme Court selection committee together with fellow justices Salim Joubran and Elyakim Rubinstein. She is reportedly furious over insinuations that Elron's disqualification was due to ethnic discrimination. She is also angry over the leaks concerning the negotiations over the choices being made for the Supreme Court.

Those close to Naor said that she feels the selection process is clean of irrelevant interests, and that no nominee is ever questioned regarding his ethnicity.

The committee has received two letters of support for Judge Elron. One comes from Deputy Attorney General and former Haifa District prosecutor Amit Isman. Isman's letter stressed that "I am of the opinion that this is an excellent legal mind, who is very knowledgeable in criminal law  as well as in other fields." He added that Elron "stood out in his conduct" and that "He made it a point to show proficiency and knowledge, a sharp and good level of legal analysis, clear written expression and a high level of ability with various and complex legal issues."

Abu Kabir Forensic Institute Chief Chen Kugel also wrote the committee in praise of Elron. "I have never met a more thorough, in-depth, committed or courageous judge than Judge Elron."

He continued to say that "One of Elron's most outstanding qualities is his willingness to get at the truth and pay attention to small details as much as to large ones. He possesses an intellectual curiousity and a vast interest in subjects that involve thought-provoking challenges, while also being blessed with vision and a creative mind." He ended his letter by saying that Elron's qualities are "just what the justice system needs."
BERLIN - The son of Daliya Elyakim, an Israeli woman who was killed in the attack on a Berlin Christmas market, lighted a candle on a 10-meter (33-foot) menorah at the city's Brandenburg Gate.

Daliya Elyakim was one of 12 people killed when a hijacked truck officials said was driven by Tunisian Anis Amri plowed into the market Dec. 19. Her husband, Rami, was seriously injured.

Tuesday was the fourth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. The eight-night celebration commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BC after its desecration by a pagan ruler.

Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal of the Jewish Community of Berlin said the city's ceremonial menorah lighting in the presence of Christian, Jewish and Muslim representatives was a way "to bring light over darkness."
Soldiers securing bus stops near Camp 80 fled on Tuesday when a group of Arabs stopped next to them on Route 65 with their car and started threatening, cursing, and chasing them.

The IDF Spokesman's Office said that "The IDF and Israel Police are investigating the incident." Police forces that searched the area did not find any suspects.

Camp 80 is where the IDF's Ground Forces conduct the most basic level of training for new recruits.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is set to make remarks regarding Middle East peace on Wednesday and discuss next steps needed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Tuesday.

Toner rejected claims that the Obama administration had pushed for a United Nations Security Council resolution on Friday demanding an end to Israeli settlement building.

Breaking with a long-standing approach of diplomatically shielding Israel, the United States did not wield its veto power and abstained instead, letting the Dec. 23 resolution pass in the 15-member Security Council. "There was nothing pre-cooked, this was not some move orchestrated by the United States," Toner said. He also defended the administration's decision to abstain during the vote, saying the United States wanted to "send a clear message about our concerns about settlement activity."
Health News

Scottsdale, Arizona - The cause of rheumatoid arthritis, a systemic autoimmune disease, is unknown. But certain genes and environmental factors, such as smoking, are linked to the disease process. Now Mayo Clinic research suggests a new link: the composition of gut microbes.

Veena Taneja, Ph.D., an immunologist at Mayo Clinics Center for Individualized Medicine, recently demonstrated a relationship between the gut microbiota  also called the microbiome  and rheumatoid arthritis. The study  published in Genome Medicine  aimed to find an indicator that would predict susceptibility to the disease.

These are exciting discoveries that we may be able to use to personalize treatment for patients, Dr. Taneja says. The paper summarizes a study of rheumatoid arthritis patients, their relatives and a healthy control group. It examined differences in microbial communities between these groups and used a mouse model of the disease to confirm effects of targeted microbes identified in the humans.

The findings suggested susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis could be triggered by changes in gut microbial profiles. The authors note that an abundance of certain rare bacteria (Collinsella aerofaciens and Eggerthella lenta) and a decline in beneficial Faecalibacterium cause a microbial imbalance in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

After further research, says Dr. Taneja, intestinal microbiota could help scientists build a predictive profile for who is at risk to develop rheumatoid arthritis and the course the disease will take.

It could also help patients according to John Davis III, M.D., and Eric Matteson, M.D., Mayo Clinic rheumatologists and study co-authors. The presence of these bacteria may lead to new ways to diagnose patients and reduce the imbalance linked to rheumatoid arthritis before or in its early stages.

Dr Taneja and her team are working to find beneficial bacteria to correct the microbial imbalance that will stop disease progression.

The Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine funded the study. The center supports research to find treatments compatible with a patients unique genetic structure. It also supports the transformation of research discoveries into practical applications for patient care.
DECATUR  After an active year of road work throughout Decatur, city officials are expecting even more construction activity in 2017.

Engineers are in the process of creating preliminary design plans for work that will be done next year, Public Works Director Rick Marley said during a study session as part of the Dec. 19 city council meeting.

We had a very good year, Marley said. We expect a very active year next year.

One of the primary reasons for more activity has been being able to utilize revenue generated through the creation of the local motor fuel tax that went into effect in April, Marley said. The tax of 5 cents per gallon on unleaded fuel and 1 cent per gallon on diesel fuel is scheduled to be in effect for 10 years.

After spending more than $1.3 million this year, he said the city is expecting to spend $3.5 million from the local motor fuel fund on road work in each of the next two years.

The best part of having the local motor fuel tax is being able to restore the condition of streets in the city, Marley said.

The work will continue to be focused using a worst-first approach on non-primary, mostly residential streets with the exception of if it is needed for an economic development benefit, City Manager Tim Gleason said. Approximately 5.15 lane miles of roadway has been repaired as part of the improvement program with work wrapped up for the year.

The rating of pavement condition on city streets has declined in the past several years as sufficient funding hasn't been available to keep up with repairs, civil engineer Griffin Enyart said. He said the cost of asphalt has about doubled in the past eight years, since funding and repair levels began to decline.

Enyart said projects in the past year have begun to tip the rating scale back in a positive direction. The city has worked with a long list of contractors while doing so, he said.

We're trying to climb out of this, Gleason said while crediting recent efforts of the council to address the issue.

In addition to the local motor fuel funding, Enyart said other projects have involved money from the state motor fuel tax and Illinois Department of Transportation. Projects have included microsurfacing work and reconstructing the eastern most Mound Road bridge over Spring Creek along with various state-supported asphalt and concrete repairs.

In some cases, Enyart said sidewalks and curbs have been repaired along with roadways.
With all its glitz & glamour, music and swaying cheerleaders, the Indian Premier Leagues second edition is set to kick off in scenic South Africa. But as much as the thought of watching the batsmen hit the best in the business for mighty heaves generates a sense of excitement, there will definitely be something missing when IPL leaves its home shores and sets sail for the African nation. <br><br> Considering the phenomenal response that the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League received in whichever Indian city it went, it is hard to overlook the fact that the cricketing extravaganza will be held minus its most important factors - the thousands of cricket fanatics and the deafening noise associated with a big match which can be witnessed only in India. <br><br> South Africa has a sizeable Indian population and the response to any big cricket event has always been appreciable and that is what the organizers of <a href="http://cricket.zeenews.com/ipl09">IPL 2009</a> are hoping for. The venues have also been chosen keeping in mind the number of Indians in and around the region. Durban, which houses almost 80% of the over one and a half million Indian- origin populace in South Africa, will host 16 of the 59 matches while Johannesburg, which also boasts of a large number of Indians, has also been given a number of matches. <br><br> Cape Town, another South African city with a large number of people of Indian origin, will host the opening ceremony, as also the first two matches on April 18. <br><br> One would still be over optimistic, however, to expect the same or even close to the turnout witnessed during the inaugural edition of the IPL. The football and rugby seasons, that will run almost parallel to <a href="http://cricket.zeenews.com/ipl09">IPL Cricket 2009</a>, will also certainly have an adverse impact on the attendance. <br><br> But then IPL could not have come at a more appropriate time for the South African public, who are reeling under the economic slump with massive job cuts. Sport is known to be a proven stress buster and would definitely bring some cheer to the gloomy faces. Not only that, sectors such as hospitality, tourism and air travel will also heavily benefit from the tournament. No wonder then that the South African government made every attempt to win the hosting rights of IPL 2009 ahead of England. <br><br> The financial aspect may interest the organizers and the media, but what a common cricket fan in South Africa will be looking for is a healthy dose of the game and the entertainment it brings along. <br><br> Moving the IPL to an altogether new location and that too in just a few days time is a humungous task in itself. A look at the logistics involved gives an idea of the enormity of the task at hand. To accommodate the players, an estimated 400 rooms will have to be booked for close to six weeks, while no less than 10,000 air tickets are required to move the players around. <br><br> The matches will be held at eight venues, all of which will be handed over to the IPL management after the South African domestic season ends in the first week of April. Cricket South Africa is confident of putting up a good show, which will also further project the country as a safe venue to hold world class sporting events, ahead of the football World Cup in 2010. <br><br> The matches in South Africa are likely to be low scoring in view of the bouncy wickets and the very little time at the disposal of the organizers to make them more batting friendly. The second season of the <a href="http://cricket.zeenews.com/ipl09">IPL in South Africa</a> may thus see less sixes being hit but then, a keen contest between the bat and the ball is always enthusing for a cricket fan. <br><br> Security will be a major concern for the organizers and the government, though not as big as it would have been had the tournament got a go ahead in India. Just as in India, the South Africans will also be going to general polls in the latter half of April, at a time when the IPL will be in its initial stages. <br><br> Though the matches have been scheduled to facilitate prime time viewing for the Indian television audience, a successful IPL season 2 in South Africa will raise needless concerns about the future of the Indian Premier League, as well as other sporting events in the country. India is gearing up for a number of big events in including the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the cricket World Cup in 2011, wherein security will be a big concern for the organizers. <br><br> Let us hope that the <a href="http://cricket.zeenews.com/ipl09">Indian Premier League</a> does not end up being the Indian Foreign League.
India is shining... the Indian economy is blooming (till recently at least)... our country is on the way to becoming a world superpower very soon... our great democracy is the worlds largest... Well! When I hear all these statements  I choose to call them statements because they dont reflect the reality  I find it difficult to decide to discern my emotions:, about whether to: Feel proud or disgusted! <br><br> When I see five-year-olds begging at traffic signals, kids picking rags from just about every garbage bin that you can find in this world-class metropolitan city (Delhi), when I see under-privileged children standing in front of schools looking at few privileged kids dressed in their school-dress and enjoying a cup of ice cream during their lunch break, and thinking what crime they had committed in their previous life that they did not get the luck to enjoy all these luxuries, I feel shattered. And all those tall claims of a shining, rising India crumble in front of my eyes. <br><br> We, as a country, are progressing; but as a society, may be regressing. Many of you may not agree with me, and I agree that the picture Im trying to paint here is not exactly the day-to-day reality that we come across, but the fact is while we are growing by leaps and bounds, we are leaving many of our own countrymen behind. While we pay lakhs in donations and fees to get our children admitted to top schools of the country, we forget to give even a thought to the fact that so many kids of our childrens age dont have the means to even join a government-run school. In some cases, there are no schools at all to join. <br><br> Here the blame does not lie just on the government but also on us  because as a society, we are failing collectively. <br><br> For instance, how many times have we asked a mother begging at traffic signal with his four-year-old son or daughter that whether she would like to get some help in getting the latter admitted to a school? How many times have we approached a mithaiwalah or canteenwallah and told him sternly that child labour is banned in this country and you should, instead of hiring kids as workers, spare some of your profits for their education. <br><br> We dont find 10-year-old chotus or gudiyas in schools, but in the homes of the rich and even middle-class families employed as domestic labour, doing jobs ranging from cleaning and dusting to cooking food. How many times have we asked our own 10-year-olds to do tasks like these? <br><br> I was at a marriage party recently and saw five- to eight-year-old kids carrying heavy lamps that you see in every baraat procession. While the law banning child labour is clearly flouted there, the worst thing is that these small children are exposed to high voltage wires that can shock them anytime. <br><br> Right to enjoy childhood is not a luxury but the basic human right of every child on this earth. Depriving even a single child of this right is the biggest crime that humanity can commit on this earth. Just think for a minute if you went through the same childhood that a kid working in a factory or tyre-repair shop goes through; what beautiful childhood memories you would have to cherish all your life! <br><br> A life like this is not life but hell. I am not intending to preach here, but merely trying to stir some emotions inside all of us, to make that little difference, to save a childhood. Lets ponder over how we through small, invisible actions can bring a smile to the faces and lives of millions of under-privileged kids. <br><br> Only then will we be able to justify the claim that India is shining...
Odebrecht agreed in December to pay a record $3.5 billion fine after admitting to paying $788 million in bribes across 12 countries to secure juicy public contracts

Panamanian prosecutors headed to the United States on Tuesday seeking information on the alleged payment of bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to officials of the Central American country.

The Panama attorney general's office said investigators are looking to "obtain details of alleged acts of bribery and use of financial institutions in Panama."

The US Justice Department recently reported that Odebrecht had paid bribes worth hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain contracts in nine Latin American countries.

It said the construction company paid more than $59 million in bribes to Panama between 2010 and 2014 to obtain contracts valued at $175 million.

Two sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli have denied Brazilian newspaper reports that they had received $6 million intended as a bribe for their father from Odebrecht.

The brothers, Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, said they reserved the right to take legal action against those responsible for the alleged media campaign against them, adding that they could not allow their honor "to be tarnished by special interests."

Martinelli lives in voluntary exile in Miami. The Panamanian government has requested his extradition on allegations of espionage and corruption.
Toshiba shares traded lower as the company expects to report a huge one-time loss related to the purchase of a nuclear service company

Shares in Toshiba dived nearly 12 percent Tuesday on reports it is likely to record a huge special loss related to a US subsidiary's acquisition of a nuclear power service company.

Toshiba shares traded 11.62 percent lower at 391.60 yen at the close, paring an earlier loss of as much as 16.3 percent.

The company is expected to report a roughly 100 billion yen ($850 million) one-time loss for the fiscal year ending March 2017, the leading business daily Nikkei reported, while public broadcaster NHK and the mass-circulation Yomiuri newspaper said the figure could go up to 500 billion yen.

Nikkei said the loss was related to a valuation dispute over Westinghouse Electric's purchase from Chicago Bridge & Iron of a US nuclear service company.

Jiji Press and other local media carried similar reports.

"Currently we are studying a loss of some 100 billion yen... linked to the purchase", Toshiba said in a statement following the reports.

Westinghouse and seller Chicago Bridge & Iron have turned to an independent accountant to resolve a dispute over a difference in asset valuation, Toshiba said.

Toshiba currently expects an annual net profit of 145 billion yen, up 45 percent from an earlier estimate, on sales of 5.4 trillion yen.

A once-proud pillar of corporate Japan, Toshiba has been besieged by problems, most notably a profit-padding scandal in which bosses for years systematically pushed subordinates to cover up weak financial results.

In an intensive overhaul, Toshiba has been shedding businesses and announced the sale of its medical devices unit to camera and office equipment maker Canon.

In May, Toshiba appointed a new president to steer the vast conglomerate past the scandal.

With the restructuring efforts, Toshiba positioned the nuclear and chip businesses as core activities, but a huge loss in the nuclear arm may force further measures including capital injection, NHK and other reports said.

In December last year, Japan's Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission said Toshiba should be slapped with a record 7.37 billion yen fine over the profit-padding scheme that hammered its reputation.

Story continues

Japan's national pension fund, the world's biggest, said in June this year it was suing Toshiba over the scandal that slashed the value of its stock in the company.

The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) wants more than $9 million in damages to cover losses linked to some of its investment in Toshiba, and that figure may grow.

In March this year, the company said its US units were cooperating with US authorities over alleged accounting irregularities.
MILAN (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has told Monte dei Paschi it needs to plug a capital shortfall of 8.8 billion euros (7 billion pounds), higher than a previous 5 billion euro gap estimated by the bank, the lender said on Monday, confirming what sources told Reuters. Last Friday the Italian government approved a decree to bail out Monte dei Paschi after Italy's No. 3 lender failed to win investor backing for a desperately needed 5 billion euro capital increase. The bank said on Monday it had officially asked the ECB last Friday for go ahead for a "precautionary recapitalisation". A precautionary recapitalisation is a type of state intervention in a struggling bank that is still solvent. It means only a modest bail-in of investors though the government can buy shares or bonds only on market terms endorsed by EU state aid officials in Brussels. In its reply, the ECB said it had calculated the capital it believed the bank needed on the basis of a shortfall emerging from European stress test of large lenders earlier this year. In those tests Monte dei Paschi was the only Italian bank to come short under an adverse scenario. The ECB said the lender was solvent but signaled the bank's liquidity position had rapidly deteriorated between the end of November and December 21, Monte dei Paschi said. "The bank has quickly started talks with the competent authorities to understand the methodologies underlying the ECB's calculations and introduce the measures for a precautionary recapitalisation...," it said. The bank's problems date back several years but successive Italian governments have failed to tackle the issue, which became a political taboo this year with new EU rules banning state bailouts unless private investors take losses first. The European Commission said on Friday it would work with Rome to establish conditions were met for a bailout of Monte dei Paschi. But on Monday ECB policymaker Jens Weidmann said plans for a state bailout of Monte dei Paschi should be weighed carefully as many questions remain to be answered. Italy's market watchdog Consob said last week the bank's shares and securities would be suspended from trading until the conditions of a state bailout become clear. (Reporting by Silvia Aloisi, writing by Stephen Jewkes)
TUESDAY, Dec. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Taking antipsychotic drugs significantly increases the risk of premature death among Alzheimer's patients, a new study indicates.

Researchers analyzed data from almost 58,000 people in Finland diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease between 2005 and 2011.

Slightly more than a quarter of the Alzheimer's patients took antipsychotic drugs. The study found they had a 60 percent higher risk of death than those who didn't take the drugs.

The risk of death was highest when patients first started taking antipsychotics, but the increased risk persisted with long-term use of the drugs.

Patients who took two or more antipsychotic drugs at the same time were nearly twice as likely to die early than those who took one antipsychotic.

Although the study found an association between antipsychotic drug use and a higher risk of dying, it cannot prove a cause-and-effect link.

But, the researchers -- led by Marjaana Koponen, a doctoral student from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland -- said their findings support previous studies. The first warnings about increased risk of death among Alzheimer's patients taking antipsychotics were issued more than 10 years ago.

The new study confirms current recommendations that antipsychotic drugs should be used only for the most difficult behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as agitation and aggression, and that length of use should be limited, the researchers said.

Also, patients should be given the lowest possible doses, and should not be given two or more antipsychotics at the same time.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

More information

The Alzheimer's Society in the United Kingdom has more on antipsychotic drugs.
"The day we arrived at Ohope Beach, in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand's North Island was a perfect early summer day.

This was the current weekly combo for the FaceBook Group Hipsta365. It suited the light conditions perfectly, with Stavros lens highlighting the detail of the foliage."

Joy Coyle

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This post is also available in: French
WEST PALM BEACH, FL--(Marketwired - December 27, 2016) - Rennova Health, Inc. (RNVA) (RNVAZ), a vertically integrated provider of industry-leading diagnostics and supportive software solutions to healthcare providers, announced today that it has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement and paid a deposit to acquire certain assets related to Scott County Hospital, based in Oneida, Tennessee.

Prior to closing in July 2016, Scott County Hospital was classified as a Critical Access Hospital (rural), had 25 beds, operating rooms and a Laboratory that provided a complement of ancillary diagnostic services, as well as an emergency department capable of operating 24/7. The purchase includes a 52,000 sq. ft. hospital building and 6,300 sq. ft. professional building on approximately 4.3 acres. The hospital was one of a group of seven hospitals that entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early 2016.

Rennova entered into an agreement to acquire the assets out of bankruptcy for approximately $1,000,000, which includes $400,000 owed to a local bank that has a lien on the property. The bankruptcy court issued an order on December 23rd thereby making the purchase agreement effective. Closing of the purchase is expected to take place in early January 2017. The hospital has a number of licenses that need to be reinstated and is party to a number of in-network contracts with payers. Subject to obtaining requisite government and other approvals and licenses, Rennova believes the hospital will reopen in part in the 2nd quarter of 2017 and is working towards having the hospital in full operation by the 3rd quarter of 2017.

The hospital had unaudited annual revenues of approximately $12 million for 2015. These revenues were attributable to the typical services of a rural acute care hospital, including emergency room visits, outpatient procedures, diagnostic ancillary tests, physical therapy and inpatient hospital stays. Based on the hospital's historical information, Rennova believes it offers a predictable patient base with predictable revenues as it serves the general healthcare needs of its community and supports local physicians.

"This acquisition is further demonstration of Rennova's efforts to grow our business in a direction that will secure more predictable, recurring revenue for the provision of health care services and our state of the art solutions," said Seamus Lagan, CEO of Rennova. "A Rural Critical Access Hospital creates certain opportunities for Rennova to leverage its existing knowledge and services for the benefit of the hospital and surrounding physicians. We have hired specific expertise to oversee this project and believe we can reinstate the majority of the team from the local community that previously operated the hospital successfully. We look forward to proving and expanding this rural hospital model in the coming years."

About Rennova Health, Inc.

Rennova Health provides industry-leading diagnostics and supportive software solutions to healthcare providers, delivering an efficient, effective patient experience and superior clinical outcomes. Through an ever-expanding group of strategic brands that work in unison to empower customers, we are creating the next generation of healthcare. For more information, please visit www.rennovahealth.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
As you look forward on your farm and business, always keep the consumer in mind, Mike McCloskey explained to attendees at the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Councils annual gathering in Columbus, Ohio. As you look forward, good science and technology are bountiful . . . pick those that are easy sells to consumers, the owner of Fair Oaks Dairy said. We have to defend every one of our practices in the eye of the consumer.

Those thoughts later drew a question from the audience, How do we deal with consumers emotion? asked a central Wisconsin dairy farmer attending the meeting.

Defend the defensible concepts, and move away from the indefensible, McCloskey responded in talking about farm practices.

Dairy also must be united against irresponsible marketing as well, said McCloskey, who also holds a veterinary degree. We (dairy leaders) have been pointing out irresponsible marketing. Dont try to take away a tool that is proven, said the Indiana dairyman. Chipotle, Dannon, and Panera have done irresponsible marketing. These unfounded tactics must be exposed, said the dairyman who met with executives of Chipotle and Dannon to open a dialogue into these issues.

We all lived through BST, McCloskey reminded the audience. We did not come together as an industry, and we lost a very effective product.

At the end of the day, if you are in dairy, you must keep the consumer in mind in everything you do, said McCloskey. Remind consumers that we care about our environment, our cows, and our products.

These days, the consumer wants to have an eye all the way to your farm, said McCloskey, who hosts 500,000 people annually at Fair Oaks Farms. Ultimately, we (dairy) have to get others telling our stories. Thats when we really win.
Tom Sietsema

Tom Sietsema has been the Washington Post food critic since 2000. In leaner years, he worked for the Microsoft Corporation, where he launched sidewalk.com; the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; the San Francisco Chronicle; and the Milwaukee Journal. A graduate of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, he has also written for Food & Wine, Gourmet, GQ, Travel & Leisure and other national publications. In 2016, he received an award from the James Beard Foundation for his series identifying and rating the "10 Best Food Cities in America" the previous year.
I just saw the news. RIP, Carrie Fisher. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.

Who knows how the Star Wars franchise will handle her passing. I just saw "Rogue One" and it includes a substantial performance from Peter Cushing, who has been deceased since 1994. I hope Carrie Fisher does not have that sort of CGI afterlife in the series.
2016 may have been gruelling for some, with the political shockwaves of Brexit and the election in the US of Donald Trump, not to mention a spate of celebrity deaths.

But it was a big year for those engaging the tools of empirical science to better understand the natural universe around us.

In fact, 2016 kicked off with one of the biggest discoveries of this century so far: the detection of gravitational waves by an international team of scientists, including several from Australia.

Fortuitously enough, this came almost precisely 100 years after Albert Einstein predicted such waves ought to exist, and is a testament to the power of the scientific method.

Based on the observations of his day, along with the power of mathematics and his inspired imagination, Einstein was able to describe a phenomenon that it was impossible for him to test.

Yet the dogged persistence of scientists in the intervening century enabled them to build a detector with a sensitivity that boggles the mind: it could spot a wobble in the fabric of spacetime that was 10,000 times smaller than the width of a proton.

Yet, in light of this profound discovery, we still dont teach Einsteins theories in high school.

Speaking of the fundamental constituents of the universe, 2016 saw four new elements  113, 115, 117 and 118  added to the periodic table.

Not that they only appeared this year; theyd been discovered as far back as 2003.

But naming an element isnt as easy as it used to be. We now call them nihonium (Nh); moscovium (Mc); tennessine (Ts) and oganesson (Og). The quest to find the end of the periodic table  and the end of matter  continues.

Turning our attention to the skies, NASAs Juno probe made its way to the king of the planets in our Solar System: Jupiter.

While its settling in, the astronomical community is eagerly awaiting what it can tell us about the gas giant.

It was also a big year for those hunting for planets outside of our solar neighbourhood.

In fact, it turns out theres a wee planet (by galactic standards) around the closest star to our own Sun, Proxima Centauri b.

While still 4.24 light years from Earth (only 40,113,000,000,000 km), it does bring travel to a planet in another star system into the plausible-enough-to-consider category.

Back here on Earth, automation, robotics and driverless cars were big topics in 2016.

The crash of a Tesla car while driving under its own control caused great controversy about the safety of self-driving cars.

But this may just be an indicator the sector is in its infancy and needs careful regulation rather than an indictment against the concept of taking humans out of the drivers seat.

This may come as little concession to those professional drivers and other workers who may lose their jobs to robots, an issue that we covered last year.

In fact, Googles AlphaGo showed that artificial intelligence now has an edge even in abstract games such as Go, once thought the preserve of human minds.

But this year there was a more positive angle on the coming robot invasion. While we may lose jobs, others will be created in their stead. And the great wealth that is generated through automation could eventually lead to free money for everyone.

Not that technology is always benign. Cybercrime continued to dominate the headlines in 2016.

In April the federal government released its Cyber Security Strategy, although to mixed reception from experts in the field.

We also saw the alarming emergence of nefarious forces exploiting security holes in the Internet of Things devices to launch attacks against the very infrastructure of the internet.

And who can forget the fateful night in August when the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census servers were brought offline after a series of relatively minor distributed denial of service attacks.

But it wasnt all bad news. Pokemon Go launched to become an overnight success/fad, although some of the shine of chasing virtual monsters has started to wear off.

And that just scratches the surface of science and technology in 2016.

Wed like to thank all the wonderful academics who have taken their time to share their research and observations with us, and you the reader for engaging with and sharing their stories with the world.

Here are some of the top stories from the science and technology desk for the year:

Michael Lund, Science and Technology Editor, The Conversation and Tim Dean, Editor, The Conversation

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Now read: NASA studying the ocean with a space laser
Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
YEREVAN.  The transit of goods from Europe to Iran can be more beneficial via Armenia, rather than by way of Turkey.

Chairman of the Association of Armenian Freight Forwarders, Makar Arakelyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am, during the Armenian-Iranian Business Forum in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia.

Even though Iran-Europe cargo transportation is currently conducted primarily through Turkey, Armenia may have an advantage in terms of fuel prices.

Turkey is considered one of the worlds most expensive countries when it comes to gasoline and diesel prices, and it does not permit entering into the country with ones own fuel.

They [i.e. Turkey] dont allow taking cheap fuel from Iran, and they obligate to fuel the automobile only in their country, informed Arakelyan. And since fuel is cheap [here] at us [in Armenia], we can draw Iranian carriers [towards us].
Portugal is considering abandoning golden visa scheme

Biden and Erdogan to meet at G-20 summit

NATO supports normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and welcomes EU efforts

Bank of England raises interest rates by largest amount since 1989

Scholz says Berlin must change its attitude toward China

Cavusoglu and Stoltenberg disagree over Sweden's and Finland's fulfillment of commitments

Turkish Vice President to visit Azerbaijan and occupied Shushi

Britain buys 250 million pounds worth of oil from Azerbaijan from July 2021 to June 2022

Yair Lapid congratulates Benjamin Netanyahu on winning election

Armenian MOD: Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense spreads another disinformation

ENISA: War in Ukraine, geopolitics fuel cyberattacks

Armenian MFA: Yerevan and Baku agree to speed up work on agreeing procedure of Commissions' activities

Zelenskyy will not participate in G20 summit if Putin participates in it

WP: Man who attacked Pelosi's husband was in the U.S. illegally

At Upper Lars, 30 cars are allowed through per day instead of previous 300: What are authorities doing?

Bloomberg: Turkey unlikely to sign Sweden's bid for NATO membership before the end of the year

Military servicemen in Armenia to be attested: Discussion at parliamentary standing committee

IEA calls for urgent action on gas shortages in Europe

French Senate to consider resolution demanding immediate withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenian territory

Papikyan: The final number of dead will be published after the identification is complete

Armen Grigoryan presents to Patrushev consequences of Azerbaijani aggression

Indonesia reveals its own kamikaze drones

UN: Russia resumes participation in inspection of ships in Black Sea

Grigoryan: Armenia interested in using communication routes through Azerbaijan

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
YEREVAN.  Recreation at Armenias Lake Sevan can be organized not solely at the lakeshore, but on the lake itself, Nature Protection Minister Artsvik Minasyan stated at his year-end press conference on Tuesday.

In his words, solely the Sevan lakeshore is considered a recreation area, whereas the lake surface is considered a reserve belt with separate zones.

But ecologically dependable tourism can be permitted, added Minasyan. For example, the initiative of passenger ferries can be developed so that people can recreate not only at the [lake]shore, but also on the lake. Thus, we also will extend the holiday season [to up to 8 months, instead of the current 3.5 months].

The minister added that if private investors wish to propose such a recreation, ferry ports can be built at the shores of resort towns and villages along Lake Sevan.
In this 1994 photo, Hugh Iltis, Herbarium acting director, right, and Ted Cochrane, Madison Herbarium curator, check the identity of oaks (Quercus) and sages (Salvia) from the Sierra de Manantlan Biosphere Reserve in western Mexico.
The experts will test for legal insanity the bankrupt Armenian businessman Aram Petrosyan, who took hostages in Citibank branch of downtown Moscow after the New Year holidays, his attorney, Stanislav Maltsev, told RIA Novosti news agency of Russia.

The investigation commissioned a stationary psychological and psychiatric expert examination for Petrosyan as early as in November, but it has not yet been conducted due to the overloaded schedule of the specialists. The examination is planned to take place after the New Year holidays, the attorney noted.

The specialists should establish whether the businessman is sane and whether he can be accountable for his actions, although a prior expert examination recognized Petrosyan sane. It is not ascertained whether this will be a repeated examination.

Petrosyan is accused of terrorism and hostage-taking. He is in custody upon the decision of the court. The term for the arrest is till 24 February 2017.

We appealed the extension of Petrosyans arrest term. We ask the Moscow City Court to place him under home arrest. The day of considering our appeal has not yet been appointed, Maltsev said.

In the evening on August 24, bankrupt Armenian businessman Aram Petrosyan took four people hostage in a Citibank branch in downtown Moscow, and threatened to blow up this branch.

Later, however, he released the hostages and surrendered to Russian law enforcement.

In addition, it was found out that the object, which he said was a bomb, was fake.

During his interrogation, Aram Petrosyan said with this action, he simply wanted to draw attention to his bankruptcy.
STEPANAKERT. - Despite the complicated military and political situation, the Karabakh Government managed to finalize year 2016 with the planned economic growth.

Prime Minister of Karabakh Arayik Haroutyunyan told the aforementioned at the meeting with reporters on Tuesday.

In his words, all the social programs have been implemented, the executive ending the fiscal year without unfulfilled commitments. Another 8-10 percent economic growth is expected in the coming year, Haroutyunyan said.

Referring to the negotiation process round the Karabakh conflict, the PM noted that the ongoing process supported by the mediators can be qualified not as negotiations but meetings. Of course, meetings are important: thanks to them there is no large-scale war in the region. As to the options of the final settlement of the issue, the position of the Armenian side is precise in that respect: any proposed option should be approved by the people, he noted.

Touching on the restoration of Talish village, the PM didnt consider appropriate the concern that a significant security issue may arise in terms of the return of the population.

Firstly, the engineering works and technical replenishment at the frontline allow to confidently say that any encroachment by the adversary will quickly be noticed and prevented by our army. Consequently, the significant recent reduction of border incidents is visible to everyone. Secondly, in case of a possible war, all the settlements will face the security issue and in this respect it is not correct to single out any specific settlement. It is a different issue that the Government will attach special attention to the border settlements, providing additional significant social guarantees to their residents the Premier stressed.

Nevertheless, Haroutyounyan stressed that year 2016 was one of achievements. 2016 will be considered a year of important achievements in the life of Artsakh. We will still have an opportunity to assess April: it was indeed our second victory, since we managed to prove to the adversary that it has no right and possibility to speak with us by the force of arms. Moreover, we proved to the international community that the Armenians stand united and in case of danger can become one feast in a few hours. We managed to ensure economic growth and sufficient rates of natural demographic growth. We managed to prove to those suspicious that Artsakhs fate is already guaranteed from political, economic and military standpoints, recording another year of development. This was indeed a year of development, a year of victory and a year of success, Arayik Haroutyunyan concluded.
AQAP Clarifies Association with al-Masra Newspaper, Claims 11 Attacks on Houthis and SBF in Abyan, al-Bayda', Ibb
An Iranian official says the country paid half price for Boeing (BA) jets, which he seems to view as something to be especially proud of. He shouldn't.

Iran, wake up. Everybody pays half price for Boeing jets -- except for those who pay even less. And it is the same at Airbus (EADSY) . Nobody pays the list price.

"Volume customers -- that is, anyone who needs more than a dozen jets -- get 50% off Airbus and Boeing list prices if they ask politely and wear a tie," said Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst at the Teal Group.

On Sunday, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported that Iran's deputy transport minister said his county will only pay half of the announced price for 80 new Boeing planes, according to The Associated Press.

"Regarding the style of our order and its options, the purchase contract for 80 Boeing aircraft is worth about 50% of the amount," said Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, according to the AP. He did not elaborate.

Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said, "We don't discuss the specifics of any agreements." Moreover, airlines that buy aircraft from Boeing and Airbus make agreements not to disclose the actual price they paid.

However, "It is well known that large orders come with large discounts, whether from Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier or Embraer," said aerospace analyst Scott Hamilton of Leeham.

"Iran's statement of a 50% discount is in keeping with this reality," he said.

Aviation consultant Addison Schonland added, "The reason the minister in Iran made that statement was to indicate to his people how clever they were."

However, Schonland said, "a small airline might pay 50% for aircraft, but the test is 'What would American (AAL) or British Airways or United (UAL) pay if they bought 100 jets at a time?'"

"They would not get 50% off -- they would probably start at 60%," he said. "Iran got a deal, but it was not quite the deal they thought they got."

On Dec. 11, Boeing and Iran Air, Iran's national airline, said the carrier will buy 50 737 MAX 8s, 15 777-300ERs and 15 777-9s, with a combined list price of $16.6 billion.

And 10 days later, Airbus and Iran announced another deal, in which the carrier agreed to purchase 100 jets, including 46 A320 family jets, 38 A330 family jets and 16 A350s. Price was not announced. Deliveries are to start in 2017, while Boeing deliveries begin in 2018.

Boeing's deal with Iran is controversial. Although the company has the U.S. government's approval to fill the order, some Republicans in Congress are opposed and President-elect Trump has been critical of the Iran nuclear accord that enabled the deal.

Financing may also be a problem. Schonland said he expects the likely solution is that the Bank of China, a major aircraft lender, will end up as the financier.

"The Chinese would like to get rid of dollars and turn that money into profitable assets," he said. "The planes could be sold to the Bank of China, which could lease them to the Iranians. For them, it's a logical thing."

Perhaps the worst case for the lender, if the loan were not repaid, could be that Chinese customers -- who already provide about 25% of all Boeing orders -- would take possession of the aircraft.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
More than a year after he was arrested for shooting two men, one of them fatally, at a Southwest Side auto repair shop, a Madison man has revealed that he will claim self-defense when his homicide case goes to trial next month.

Lawyers for Sophea Mouth, 53, said in court papers filed this month that a confrontation with Thomas Dreger triggered a reaction in Mouth based on the multiple trauma he has experienced growing up in Cambodia, which in turn triggered severe anxiety, fear of immediate bodily harm and dissociation leading Mr. Mouth to shoot his gun at Mr. Dreger in an effort to protect himself.

Psychologists will testify that Mouth suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his experiences living in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime, which carried out a genocide from 1975 to 1979 that killed millions of people.

A criminal complaint states that Mouth shot Dreger and a friend of Dreger, Greg Pongratz, on Nov. 13, 2015, as they went to change the locks on the building housing Freeport Auto, 2001 Freeport Road, after the building had reverted back to Dregers ownership following a foreclosure. Dreger, 70, died at the scene. Pongratz, 53, survived and is now a quadriplegic.

In an interview with the State Journal last month, Pongratz said Mouth shot him first, then shot Dreger.

Mouth is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the shootings.

Mouths lawyers, state Assistant Public Defenders Stan Woodard and Luis Cuevas, are also asking Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara to allow them to present testimony about abusive statements that they say were made by Dreger toward Mouth, which made Mouth increasingly fearful that Thomas Dreger would follow through on his threats and harm Mr. Mouth.

Woodard and Cuevas intend to argue that under state law, a person may use or threaten to use force against another to keep from being harmed by that other person. To use deadly force, they wrote, the accused must reasonably believe he was in danger of great bodily harm or death and may only use such force as he reasonably believes is necessary to prevent or terminate the danger.

Mouth, they wrote, should be allowed to show that he reasonably believed that he was preventing or terminating an unlawful interference with his person, and can do so by establishing what he believed to be Dregers turbulent or violent character.

Woodard and Cuevas wrote that Mouth pointed a gun at Dreger in self-defense after he continued to advance in a physically aggressive manner against Mr. Mouth, denying Mr. Mouth the opportunity to take any of his personal possessions from the premises. The shots fired occurred in self-defense.

Mouths lawyers will make a case for using those arguments at a hearing on Jan. 4. The trial is scheduled to begin on Jan. 17.

Mouth, through his wife, bought Freeport Auto from Dreger on a land contract. After payments stopped coming Dreger went to court in March 2015 to foreclose. Dreger won a judgment and Mouth had 45 days to pay what he owed to stave off the foreclosure, according to court documents.

Pongratz told the State Journal that after the 45 days expired, he and Dreger went to Freeport to change the locks and arrived to find people, including Mouth, still working on vehicles. A conversation between Dreger and Mouth became heated, but neither man raised his voice much. Then Mouth positioned himself onto the back of a vehicle, Pongratz said, pulled out a gun and shot Pongratz in the face. The shot shattered his jaw and struck his spine.

After police arrived, Mouth admitted shooting both men, a criminal complaint states.
Cristina Kirchner, the fiery ex-president who dominated Argentine politics for 12 years along with her late husband Nestor, remains as divisive out of office as she was while in power. Her controversial legacy took a new hit Tuesday when she was charged in a corruption case and slapped with a $630-million fine. Kirchner (2007-2015), is accused of favoring a construction magnate friend, Lazaro Baez, for public contracts in Patagonia, her southern political bastion. The 63-year-old former president denies wrongdoing and calls the charges "political persecution." And she still has a powerful support base to back her up. Nearly every time she appears in court, swarms of protesters gather outside to denounce her opponents and proclaim their undying allegiance to Cristina. To her working-class base, Kirchner and her husband are saviors who salvaged Argentina after a 2001 economic crisis and stood up for the little guy. To her generally better-off opponents, she is an uncompromising bully who steered the economy back into recession and embarrassed the country with nasty attacks against her favorite foes. They included the old Falklands War enemy Britain, big media conglomerates whose empires she sought to dismantle, and "vulture" fund capitalists who sued Argentina over its defaulted debt. - Sidelined? - Kirchner took office in 2007, vowing to continue the work started by her husband and predecessor. Nestor Kirchner (2003-2007) had inherited an economy in shambles after what was then the largest sovereign debt default in history. But he turned it around thanks to booming demand for Argentine agricultural exports and his tough negotiations to restructure most of the country's $100 billion in privately held debt. He and his wife were widely expected to continue their term-for-term tango, but he died of a heart attack in 2010. Cristina Kirchner, a former senator and experienced politician in her own right, defended his legacy all the more combatively and won re-election in 2011. She stood down last year -- when term limits barred her from running again -- with an approval rating of more than 50 percent. But she failed to get her chosen successor elected. Argentines voted for the center-right businessman Mauricio Macri instead. Kirchner now accuses his camp of trumping up charges against her to sideline her from the political scene. - Power couple - Born in La Plata, near Buenos Aires, Kirchner met Nestor as a 20-year-old student and married him six months later. They got their start in national politics in Santa Cruz province in Patagonia, where Nestor became governor and Cristina a senator. Kirchner has sought to channel the legacy of Eva Peron, the adored first lady of the populist president Juan Peron in the 1940s and 50s. But while many Argentines worship Evita, Kirchner's legacy is darker. She also stands accused of ordering the central bank to sell dollar futures at artificially low prices, causing Argentina to lose hundreds of millions of dollars. And critics continue to link her to the mysterious 2015 death of Alberto Nisman, a prosecutor who had accused her of obstructing his investigation into a 1994 bombing at a Buenos Aires Jewish center. Those allegations have been thrown out in several courts. Meanwhile, some supporters already tout Kirchner as a presidential candidate for 2019. Asked last year how he thought she would spend her post-presidential life, her former chief of staff Anibal Fernandez said she "won't just stay home picking roses or taking care of the grandkids." Kirchner has two children: Maximo, a congressman, and Florencia.
Its tough to be a graduating Singapore student these days. With the unemployment rate at its highest since 2010, graduating students are likely to find getting their dream job more challenging, with many MNCs cutting entry-level openings meant for graduates looking to kick-start their career in an area of interest.

We wrote an article last week on how the banking sector has been one of the hardest hit in terms of job cuts, and how many of these jobs lost are unlikely to ever return.

These are ominous signs that the job market for young Singaporeans may not be as rosy and straightforward as it once was. Gone are the days when people graduate and go into the MNCs or SMEs of their choice, and have their first employer teach them all they need to know about the industry, while earning a decent starting salary at the same time.

The Problem With Expectations

Earlier this month, we wrote about the expectations that Singapore workers have when it comes to pay increment and bonuses. These are expectations that are created not through individuals carefully analysing whats happening in todays employment market, but rather, by whats generalised and reported in the media, or by what Singapore workers have come to take for granted based on what they experienced in the past.

For example, we may expect a 5% annual increment from our employers simply based on what the media reports, which in turn may be based on some observations or survey done by a recruitment company. This may or may not be an accurate reflection of whats actually happening on the ground.

But it doesnt matter for most people.

The expectations have been set, never mind if the media report wasnt that accurate to begin with, or if there were other reports that may contradict the report they read.

The other way expectations are set is based on what people are used to. For example, if I were used to enjoying a 10% increment each year during my first 3 years at work, I would expect a 10% increment in my fourth year as well, even if the economy werent doing well, or if the Singapore economy is experiencing deflation for 24 straight months.

Story continues

Read Also: Salaries Are Expected To Go Up By 4.7% In 2017; But Should You Expect To Receive This?

Forming Expectations From What We Read

How do undergraduates who have yet to enter the workforce get their job expectations from?

The first way is based on what they read. For example, the media may report that the median salary in Singapore is $3,375 (before employers CPF contribution) as of 2015 based on information provided by the Ministry of Manpower.

Other news report may be based on statistics provided by non-government agencies. For example, the Straits Times reported earlier this year that median salary for university graduates is $3,300, with 9 in 10 graduates finding employment within 6 months of their final examinations. This is based on a Graduate Employment Survey jointly conducted by NUS, NTU and SMU. Not to be outdone, SIM also did its own survey noting that 73% of its graduates found full-time job within 6 months with an average starting salary of $2,766.

Its easy to see why these seemingly innocuous reports can lead to expectations being formed. Undergraduates, who may otherwise have no idea about whats happening in the working world and hence, no expectations about how much they should earn, suddenly find themselves have a salary range in mind when it comes to landing their first job after graduation, never mind if they have zero experiences to begin with, or dont even know what the heck they want to do.

Forming Expectations From What We Learn

The other way expectations are created is based on what graduates are taught in school.

Due to the importance of attracting young Singaporeans to enrol with them, universities, both public and private, always like to paint a rosy picture of what their graduates can expect. They tend to be a little over optimistic, featuring ex-graduates of theirs who are now working in successful roles such as investment banking, private equity and hedge funds.

No universities would be caught telling their students the harsh truth that their degree is worthless, if they dont have the relevant internship experience or the right network to get into the career of their choice. Neither do they want to tell you that the banks themselves are cutting headcounts across the board.

The (Big) Problem With Graduates Who Expect The Average Starting Salary

Many graduates spend way too much time trying to find out what is the average starting salary for university graduates. The problem however is that this average starting salary really doesnt matter for you, the job seeker, especially if you want a rich and fulfilling career.

You see, the graduate who knows what he or she aspires to do is finding ways via internships, networking and self-education to work towards that role. Such a graduate isnt interested in knowing what the average starting salary is for year 2016 students. They already know what they want to do, whether the sector they are looking at is hiring people, and how much they are worth. They also know how useful (or not useful) they really are to hiring companies as a fresh graduate.

On the other hand, graduates who expect the average starting salary because of what others are saying are usually just giving out a signal that they have no idea how else to determine the value of themselves, or what they can offer  which unfortunately usually isnt very much since they dont even know what they want to do.

These are the graduates who are familiar with how much the average starting salary is in Singapore, but have no idea what is it that they want to do, even after 3 to 4 years in university.

Read Also: 3 Skills For Young Singaporeans To Stay Employed Anywhere In The World

Nobody Thinks They Are Worst Than The Average

Back in secondary school, our maths teacher taught us that median represent the value right in the middle of the data group.

When it comes to salary matters, it means that 50% of people earn more than the median while another 50% earn less than the median. Hence, earning less than the median is perfectly normal, especially if you know the industry you are in doesnt pay that much.

People who know what they want to do wouldnt be bother about the median. A graduate who intends to go into journalism would know that his or her starting salary is likely to be less than $3,000 due to the nature of the sector.

For graduates who are not sure about what they want to do, the median becomes a really important figure to take reference from, since they cant rely on other metrics. A job is only good if it offers at least the median salary. Negotiation is based largely on what the salary package offers, because the person doesnt really know what else to base it on.

Put yourself in the employers shoes for a moment. We think its fair to say that a company would prefer hiring people who knows what they want to do, and who really wants to join and stay with them. Why then would they want to pay the median salary for a person who is simply applying for the job because it sounds doable and pays the average starting salary?

Have The Right Expectations For The Right Reasons

This article isnt meant to say that graduate shouldnt have any pay expectations. Its always good to know whats available out there and what these jobs are paying. But you must also know how these jobs fit to your interest and career ambitions.

As a fresh graduate, your job is to have an understanding of what is it that you are interested in, and what are the skills sets and experience that your currently lack to get to the role that you aspire for.

It also only by knowing these things that you can set expectations on what you want out from your first job, rather than aimlessly applying for jobs with an expectation based on what you read online.

Read Also: 3 Simple Ways For Sporeans To Stay Ahead In Their Career

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The post Why Singapore Graduates Expecting The Average Starting Salary Probably Dont Deserve It appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's National Assembly approved a law on Tuesday that bans commemorative statues of Fidel Castro and naming public places after him, in accordance with the wishes of the revolutionary leader, who died last month. Castro always said he did not want a cult of personality, although critics point out that the cult was everywhere. His words are posted on billboards nationwide and his name is invoked at every public event. "His fighting spirit will remain in the conscience of all Cuban revolutionaries, today, tomorrow and always," President Raul Castro, Fidel's younger brother, told the Assembly, according to excerpts of his speech published by official media. The best way to pay homage to "El Comandante" - the commander - is to follow his concept of revolution, the president said. The new law does not ban artists from using Fidel Castro's figure in music, literature, dance, cinema or other visual arts, official media specified. Photos of him hanging in offices, places of study or public institutions also may be kept. Every since his death, a large photo of a young Castro dressed in military fatigues, with a rifle and pack slung over his back, has hung from a building in Havana's Revolution Square. Castro, a leading Cold War figure who built a communist state on the doorstep of the United States and defied U.S. attempts to topple him, died on Nov. 25 at the age of 90, eight years after handing the presidency over to Raul. Cuba commemorated his death with nine official days of mourning and two mass memorial services. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans also turned out to greet a funeral cortege carrying Castro's ashes 600 miles (1,000 km) east to Santiago, retracing the route that his rebels took when they overthrew the U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista in 1959. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Marc Frank; Editing by Bill Trott and Steve Orlofsky)
In this picture taken on Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, a street money exchanger holds Iranian and U.S. banknotes in downtown Tehran, Iran. Irans currency has struck an all-time low this week, trading at 41,600 rials to $1. While making Iranian exports more attractive to the world market in the wake of the nuclear deal, it also means peoples savings continue to lose value in the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, concerns gather about what U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might mean for the atomic accord going forward, even as most Iranians have yet to feel any change from it.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  At money changers across Tehran, shouting voices accompany each change of the signboards out front showing the value of the Iranian rial, which slips ever lower against the U.S. dollar.

This week saw Iran's currency fall to 41,600 rials to $1, its lowest point ever.

While making Iranian exports more attractive to the world market in the wake of the nuclear deal, it also means people's savings continue to lose value in the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, concerns gather about what U.S. President-elect Donald Trump might mean for the atomic accord going forward, even as most Iranians have yet to feel any change from it.

"Surely this negatively impacts people's lives. Lots of foreign goods are imported into our country, and many of the things people need come from abroad," said a Tehran resident who only gave his name as Babaei. "It also has a very negative psychological effect on the people."

In that last 10 years, Iran has seen the rial go from around 9,200 to $1 to 41,600 to $1, a depreciation of some 450 percent. Much of that collapse came in 2012 over the country's contested nuclear program, when the U.S. banned the world's banks from taking part in Iran's oil economy and the European Union imposed an oil embargo.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, international sanctions against the country were lifted in exchange for it limiting its enrichment of uranium. In the time since, Iran has rushed to increase oil production to regain its lost market share while simultaneously signing deals worth tens of billions of dollars with airplane manufacturers Airbus and Boeing Co.

But the rial, initially buoyed by the accord, has now fallen. While those who could long-ago offloaded their rials for other investments, average Iranians have faced harder times.

"This is tragic to me," said Ahmad Heidari, a 64-year-old retiree. "I have lost 20 percent of my purchasing power with this exchange rate because all prices are going up harshly."

Story continues

There are a host of reasons contributing to the rial's descent. Since Trump's election, the U.S. dollar has been strengthening. Meanwhile, Trump's unelaborated campaign promise to renegotiate the Iran deal has sparked uncertainty.

However, Iran's government in the past has manipulated its currency market to cover government budget deficits. It does that through using the difference between the lower government exchange rate and the higher market exchange rate to gain rials from oil sales, a move known in the financial world as arbitrage.

Hassan Salimi, the head of the Investment Group of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, has suggested arbitrage might be at play, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

"The government believed that it could sell a barrel of oil from $65 to $70 in 2017, but now it is certain that the price of oil will stay around $50," Salimi said Dec. 3. "Therefore, to make up for the deficit, it has increased the exchange rate."

Government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht on Monday, however, tried to ease concerns over the rial drop.

"The government is discontent over (the) increasing of the exchange rate," the state-run IRNA news agency quoted Nobakht as saying. "Our colleagues in the Central Bank are utilizing every instrument with economic logic to moderate and rationalize the currency exchange rate."

Despite the pain, Tehran-based analyst Saeed Leilaz said there was opportunity for Iran's entrepreneurs.

"Their products become more competitive," he said. "This is good for Iranians who wanted to export their product to the global markets."

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
By Radu-Sorin Marinas and Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania's president rejected the Social Democrat Party's nominee for prime minister on Tuesday, infuriating the leftist PSD which won a general election two weeks ago. The party's pick to lead the new government was Sevil Shhaideh, a close associate of PSD power broker Liviu Dragnea who was ruled out of the job due to a criminal conviction over a 2012 referendum rigging case. Dragnea's PSD won the Dec. 11 election by a wide margin and, with coalition partner and long-time ally ALDE, has 250 members in the 465-seat, two-house parliament, meaning it would easily get parliamentary approval for its government. Shhaideh, a 52-year-old woman from Romania's 65,000-strong Muslim community, is close to Dragnea who was a witness at her 2011 wedding to a Syrian-born former agriculture ministry consultant. "I have carefully weighed the pro and con arguments and I have decided not to appoint Mrs Sevil Shhaideh," President Klaus Iohannis told reporters, without elaborating on his reasoning. "As a result, I am asking the PSD and ALDE to make a new proposal." Dragnea said he had watched the president's decision with "stupefaction". "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow at the latest ... we will need to make a decision," Dragnea told a news conference. "I want to weigh up very carefully what is good and what is bad for Romania." "If, after analysis, we reach the conclusion that it is best to suspend the president, I will not hesitate. But we don't want to jump head-first and plunge the country into crisis." Parliament can initiate a presidential impeachment procedure, but it is complex, lengthy and would require a consequent consultative ruling by the Constitutional Court and a national referendum. Speculating on the president's motive for rejecting Shhaideh, political commentator Mircea Marian said: "Either there were national security reasons to reject her, as she is married to a Syrian citizen which may put security at risk, or there were purely political reasons." "The PSD has lost a lot by making this proposal, which came as a surprise to their hard core electorate." Rise Project, a member of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project of investigative journalists, said this month that Shhaideh's husband had posted messages on his Facebook account in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The PSD, which promised higher wages and pensions during the election campaign, had hoped Dragnea would stand for prime minister but Iohannis made clear he would refuse any candidate with a criminal record. Dragnea has kept his post as party chief despite being convicted this year for abusing his influence in a referendum to impeach former president Traian Basescu, for which he received a suspended two-year jail sentence. He is also on trial in a separate case. (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
Taiwan's defence minister warned Tuesday that enemy threats were growing daily after China's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions rise. After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships on Monday passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry. The naval drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump. Chinese media had earlier reported that the carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time along with its escort ships. It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in less than a month. Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily. "I ask for strict training... We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name. "The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all." Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships. His ministry estimated that the Liaoning would arrive at a base in China's southern island province of Hainan around Tuesday evening. "The ministry has been tracking the Liaoning carrier's movements so the public can rest assured... and will closely monitor its movements in the future," it said in a statement. Recently the Liaoning has been involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea, with J-15 fighter jets taking off from it and conducting air refuelling and combat drills, according to China's state news agency Xinhua. Earlier in the month the Liaoning led large-scale exercises in the Bohai Sea that included live ammunition for the first time. Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept. Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative. China poses the main military threat to self-ruled Taiwan. Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary -- even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949. It has more than 1,000 missiles aimed at the island, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.
TALLINN (Reuters) - The United States is committed to the security of the Baltic region and NATO, Republican senator John McCain said in the Estonian capital on Tuesday, during a visit seen as a bid to soothe concerns over the policy of President-elect Donald Trump. Trump unnerved many in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia by saying on the campaign trail he would consider a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to its aid. Russian military involvement in Ukraine and Georgia has stoked fears in the Baltics their former Soviet master might eventually try something similar there. "I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength," McCain told reporters in the Estonian capital. "And the best way to prevent Russian misbehaviour by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance." The U.S. stationed about 150 troops in each of the three Baltic countries and Poland in April 2014. On a three-day visit to the Baltics with fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham, McCain said he did not expect the U.S. to remove sanctions against Russia, imposed after its annexation of Crimea in 2014. "That is certainly not the case today as I know it", he said. He also said that the United States, regardless of who was its president, would have "a strong and significant response" as long as Putin continued "to occupy Crimea and has invaded eastern Ukraine and continues to threaten other nations in the region." Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 has fueled concerns in the Baltic states, all NATO members, that Moscow may want to reassert control across the whole region. "There is fear in the Baltics about the incoming Trump administration's relationship with Russia, that sanctions against Russia will be weakened or called off, and not strengthened as the Congress would want," Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the U.S. told Reuters. He said Russia had gained confidence after the muted response to its actions in Georgia. "If its actions in Ukraine are also forgiven, its next step is an open question," he said. McCain and Graham, who travel to Latvia on Wednesday and Lithuania on Thursday have expressed alarm at Trump's attitude towards Russia. They want Trump to take a tough line over what they termed Russia's "military land grab" in Ukraine and have also called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the United States, including Russia's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election. "There is no doubt that the Russians were hacking, but there is doubt whether it had any effect on the outcome of the election," McCain said. "There is no evidence right now that indeed the Russian cyber attacks and the leaking of the information had any tangible effect on the outcome of the American election." (Reporting by Andrius Sytas, Gederts Gelzis and David Mardiste; Editing by Simon Johnson and Raissa Kasolowsky)
Its hard to believe that its time to start looking towards 2017, but this year is almost over. Now is the time to see what is going to be big in the search marketing industry in the coming months. We saw some big changes in 2016, and they are likely to carry over into 2017. Weve compiled our top 4 SEO trends that we think will dominate the industry in the new year.

This isnt to say that these are all new  youve probably already about most of these and even started working on optimizing for them. But whether or not these trends are new or not is beside the point, these are the trends that you need to keep your eye out for and get ready for in 2017.

SEO Trends for 2017

Mobile First Index

Mobile has already taken over the search marketing world. In 2015, mobile searches surpassed desktop searches for the first time ever. With this, Google said that mobile and desktop were equal. However, thats not true anymore.

Google has since stated that it wants a mobile experience across all types of devices. Google recently announced its mobile first index. This is huge for the industry because now Google will crawl the mobile version of your site or responsive mobile version first, before the desktop version, and use that content to place you in the search results.

This shouldnt be a problem if you use a mobile responsive version of your website. Also, theres no need to start panicking right away  Gary Illyes, a Google engineer, has confirmed this update is still a few months away. However, this is something that everyone needs to be aware of and prepare for. For the entire guide on Googles mobile first index, you can click here.

Video Content

Video content has been on the rise for a little while now, and its not going anywhere in the near future. In fact, a high power at Facebook even stated that video will become the main type of content by 2020. We arent sure about all that  as for right now, written content is still the norm, but that doesnt mean that it will always be. It also doesnt mean that you should have variety in your content either.

However, as new technologies keep developing, Snapchat, Vine, Periscope, and even Instagram, video is not going anywhere in 2017. Even Google is experimenting with video ads in the search results. There are multiple types of video content that you can implement into your search marketing strategy  webinars, step-by-step tutorials, Q&As, etc.

Try out a few videos in your content, maybe as an addition to one piece you already have and see how it does. If it performs well, which I think it will, you know maybe you should be placing more importance in video.

Voice Search

For a while, voice search was something that was floating around out there but wasnt really playing a huge part in the search marketing industry. However, as mobile continues to increase and technology advances, voice search is gaining momentum. Today, 55% of teens say that they use voice search on a daily basis  with 56% of adults saying that they enjoy using voice search.

This trend is just going to continue to grow as we get into 2017. Why is this? As we stated earlier, with technology advancing, voice search is just another way that technology can make our lives simpler. Isnt just talking to your phone a lot easier than typing, especially when you are on the go or trying to multi-task?

What makes this something to look for and optimize for is that voice searchers are not going to be entering the same phrases or keywords as someone who is typing on a computer or smartphone. Since voice searches are more like spoken word, you want to make sure you understand the searchers intent and market to that. Use question words like who, what, where, when, why, you need to optimize differently for voice search. Try reformatting your headlines into questions that include these question words.

Structured Data and Schema

Structured data really hasnt been talked about as much as I thought it would be lately, but it is a very important in the SEO world. According to Search Engine Watch, structured data is information formatted in a way that can be universally understood. Through this structured data, search engines are able to understand a website easier and therefore gives them better SERP rankings.

Schema.org is structured data that was developed by Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Yandex, and it is a code that you can add to your website that allows all search engines to define it. While webmasters have been using this for a while, its been recently that Google has started to really use it to help crawl sites. Since it is making their jobs easier and helps them to display rich snippets in the search results, structured data and schema are going to continue to gain importance in the SEO world.

Look for structured data and schema to start playing an even bigger part in websites in 2017 and beyond. Search engines want to be able to crawl your website faster and easier, and with the advancements in this technology, they should start to implement it more.

Conclusion

Being mindful of these four trends will help you be more successful in your SEO efforts in the upcoming year. Make sure you optimize your search marketing strategies to account for these changes. Oh, and Happy New Year!
A 16-year-old who was shot and killed in Beloit on Friday was identified as Savion N. Latimer, of Beloit, the Rock County Medical Examiner's Department said Monday.

Shortly before 3:25 p.m., officers were dispatched to a municipal parking lot after gunshots were reported, the Beloit Police Department said. When they arrived at the lot at 1611 Hackett St., Latimer was found with a gunshot wound to his head, the police department said.

He was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries, the medical examiner's department said.

Four people have been arrested on tentative charges related to the incident, police said.

Two 16-year-old males, both from Beloit, were arrested on tentative charges of being party to a homicide and party to an armed robbery and are being held at the Rock County Youth Services Center, according to police.

Joldany Rodriguez, 19, of Beloit, was arrested and is being held in Rock County Jail on suspicion of the same crimes, police said.

A fourth individual, an 18-year-old man, showed up at the Beloit Memorial Hospital on Friday with gunshot wounds to his face and leg, police said.

He was taken to a Madison hospital and arrested on tentative charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver and a probation violation, according to police.

Police said all people involved in the incident know each other, and the investigation is ongoing.
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy was sentenced to five years in prison in absentia on Tuesday for posting a fake government pledge to dissolve the Southeast Asian country's border with Vietnam. The sentence follows months of tension between Cambodia's two main political parties, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Hun Sen has been Cambodia's leader for three decades but his grip on power was shaken in a 2013 general election when the CNRP won 55 seats in the National Assembly, leaving the Cambodian People's Party with 68 seats in the 123-seat assembly. Members of the opposition have complained of a crackdown by the government and its allies in a bid to intimidate critics before a general election in 2018. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Sam Rainsy and two members of his social media team, Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath, guilty of citing the false 1979 border treaty. The fake treaty, which they posted on Facebook, purported to show Vietnam and Cambodia agreeing to get rid of their mutual boundary. Presiding Judge Leang Samnath sentenced Sam Rainsy to five years in prison and Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath to three years, all in absentia. "The court orders the arrests of Ung Chung Leang, Sathya Sambath and Sam Rainsy to serve these sentences," Judge Leang Samnath told the court. Cambodia has fretted for centuries about its much bigger neighbours, Vietnam to the east and Thailand to the northwest, encroaching on its territory. The issue remains emotive and many Cambodians are suspicious of both countries. Sam Rainsy has been living in France since 2015 to avoid arrest in a separate defamation case. He did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday but said on Twitter the case against him and the two others had been "fabricated" by a "kangaroo court". The CNRP said it had no knowledge of the whereabouts of Ung Chung Leang and Sathya Sambath. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Paul Tait)
NAIROBI, Kenya  In a country not usually associated with classical ballet, a 16-year-old dancer leaps onto the stage, his gravity-defying turns taking the audiences breath away.

Joel Kioko is arguably Kenyas most promising young ballet dancer. Currently training in the United States, he has come home for Christmas  and is dancing a solo in a Nairobi production of The Nutcracker while hes here.

Hes the real deal, said Dance Centre Kenyas artistic director, Cooper Rust. Im pushing him to go for the stars. Paris Opera, Royal Ballet, here we come! Even if Joel ends up in a more regional company, it will be incredible.

Kioko grew up in Nairobis Kuwinda slum and took his first dance class five years ago in a public school classroom, with bare walls, no barre and no mirror, the desks and chairs pushed outside.

Now hes teaching holiday classes to aspiring dancers in Kibera, the Kenyan capitals biggest slum.

I dont know what I could have done without ballet, without dancing, Kioko said. I dont even know if I could have been existing, its weird to say, but dance, its everything to me.

His encounter with ballet happened by chance when he was 11. He was discovered by a fellow dance student who at age 14 was teaching a class at his school and told her teacher, Rust, about him.

From the beginning, when he joined the ballet, there was nothing else he could talk about, said Kiokos mother, Angela Kamene, who raised him and his sister in a one-bedroom shack shared with an aunt and a grandmother. It was just ballet, ballet, ballet. So I saw that he was happy, and so I was happy too.

Now others are pursuing dance as a way out of poverty. At the beginning of the school year, children in Kibera try out for the ballet classes, which are funded by charities Annos Africa and One Fine Day.

Michael Wamaya, a finalist for the 2017 Global Teacher Prize, teaches dance to around 100 kids a week in Nairobis Kibera and Mathare slums.

At the end of the day, were not just training them to have dance for fun, were doing it in a serious level, Wamaya said. We are doing it to make them have a career at the end.

But not everyone is applauding.

I can see it gives young people opportunities, said Christy Adair, professor of dance studies at Britains York St. John University and a prominent voice on ethnicity in dance. But she added: I think theres a kind of arrogance in the ballet organizations, where they think theirs is the way for training for dance.  Contemporary technique is more open to other peoples movement patterns and practices and experiences and heritages, which ballet isnt.

Wamaya acknowledged the criticism. People say sometimes, why are you not teaching them, for instance, African dance or hip hop? he said. Yes, its a Western thing coming in, but its dance, and dance is diverse, you know? To me, its not about ballet as a dance style, but its about the discipline that ballet has in itself as a dance technique.

As the only son in a family growing up without a father, Kioko laughed at the notion that some people might consider a man in tights, dancing classical ballet, to be unmanly. He was teased by some in his neighborhood about the dancing, he said, but he never had to fight.

Where I came from there is poverty, there is stealing, there is drugs, Kioko said. You have to be a man to live in where we live.  Its like a lion in the jungle, you have to show that you are the male there, you are the one who roars and everyone follows.
Medical marijuana could finally become a reality next year in Maryland, one of the states slowest to make the drug available for purchase after legalizing sales.

In 2016, regulators awarded long-awaited licenses to grow, process and sell cannabis while grappling with fallout from those shut out of the potentially lucrative industry. Now selected businesses are racing to set up facilities and pass final inspections so the first seeds can be planted and flowers can hit the shelves by the end of 2017, four years after lawmakers legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes.

For many of us who have been along this journey for a long time, that we have seen licenses issued is a light at the end of the tunnel for patient access, said Darrell Carrington, a medical marijuana lobbyist who leads the Maryland Cannabis Industry Association.

But ongoing litigation from three companies denied growing licenses, and looming legislation to address the lack of minority-owned marijuana firms, coulddelay the program.

As in 26 other states and the District of Columbia, the legal medical marijuana program in Maryland also hinges on the federal government continuing to turn a blind eye to businesses that are violating the federal marijuana prohibition. Its unclear whether that will change in the presidency of Donald Trump, who has supported medical marijuana but tapped marijuana legalization opponent Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as his attorney general.

Maryland marijuana regulators say the time spent exhaustively vetting businesses and developing strict oversight of their operations will end in one of the nations most reputable legal pot programs.

Its no secret that marijuana has a long-documented black market history, said Patrick Jameson, executive director of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission and a former state trooper. The Commission understands that medical cannabis can be controversial, but it intends to make Marylands program a high-functioning, professional, industry-leading medical program.

Officials say they will closely monitor marijuana at every stage of the marketplace, from how much is grown to how much is sold, using a tracking system in place in Colorado meant to stop illegal diversions of the drug and cash.

In addition, Maryland is one of few states to require that marijuana be tested by an independent laboratory before it can be sold, an attempt to avoid poor-quality cannabis containing excessive amounts of pesticides.

The Commission and I understand that people are suffering and we want to make the program operational as soon as possible, said Paul Davies, chair of the 16-member marijuana commission. Hopefully, during the summer of 2017 medical cannabis will become available to patients.

He and others said it is not yet clear how the program could be affected by legislation proposed during the General Assembly session that begins Jan. 11 in Annapolis.

Del. Cheryl Glenn, D-Baltimore, who rallied black lawmakers behind the medical marijuana cause, is angry that no companies led by African-Americans won grower licenses even after she pushed for legislative language to ensure minority participation.

She is using her new perch as head of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland to push for an overhaul of the cannabis commission and the diversification of the industry.

Glenn says she wants to void existing licenses and create a quicker, race-conscious process for approving marijuana growers  changes that advocates of medical cannabis warn could spur further delays.

Unfortunately, Maryland has had one of the slowest rollouts of a program like this in the country, said Kate Bell, a lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project. There are already patients who passed away waiting for this program. For very sick people, any delay can be significant.

It remains unclear what role Del. Dan Morhaim, D-Baltimore County, will play in supporting or opposing any new legislation. Morhaim, who was the legislatures chief proponent for medical cannabis, is affiliated with a marijuana company and has faced scrutiny from his legislative colleagues over his dual roles. He did not respond to a request for comment on the Black Caucuss efforts, or his legislative priorities for the coming year.

Maryland lawmakers first passed a law in 2013 allowing academic medical marijuana programs. The state authorized private medical marijuana businesses the next year, after no universities expressed interest in participating in the 2013 effort.

Other states have moved more quickly to get businesses up and running, advocates say. New York and Minnesota, for example, legalized medical marijuana in 2014, and already have the drug available for purchase for purchase with a doctors recommendation.

Glenn insists her efforts to diversify the industry will not drive further delays. The issue is personal for her  the cannabis commission is named after her mother, Natalie LaPrade, who died of cancer before she could use medical marijuana to alleviate her pain.

I had my mothers picture with me when the bill was signed into law; I never forget the pain and suffering that people go through every day, Glenn said. We can get medicine in the hands of our patients, but we can do it with the correct amount of diversity.

Commission officials have defended their process for awarding licenses, and plan to hire a diversity consultant to advise them on ways to help boost minority participation in the industry.

Any attempts to redistribute or expand the number of licenses probably will face resistance from the companies that have won approval to grow and process.

Michael Bronfein, a prolific donor to Maryland Democrats who is chief executive of Curio Wellness, has been recruiting growers and processors to form a trade association and hire lobbyists to represent their interests in Annapolis.

At an October panel in Baltimore, he opposed expanding the number of cannabis growers in the coming year, according to news reports. He declined to comment for this article, citing a busy schedule.

Marijuana regulators say the success of the program depends on interest from patients and their doctors  and the quality of the businesses supplying them.

As of December, just 171 physicians have signed up to recommend medical cannabis  a number regulators expect to grow once the drug is available.

Other medical professionals  including nurse practitioners, dentists and podiatrists  can start signing up in June.

Those who want to purchase medical marijuana will have to enroll in a patient registry that will also be set up in 2017. Patients must have a Maryland physician registered with the commission and a qualifying medical condition, including cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and seizures.

Commission officials warn that businesses currently trying to sell medical marijuana patient identification cards are scams.

After all of the politics, said Jameson, this program is about supply and demand.

maryland-marijuana
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes historic visit to Pearl Harbor with President Barack Obama on Tuesday punctuates the Obama administrations multiyear effort to prod Japan and its neighbors in Asia to decrease tensions by moving beyond lingering wartime grievances.

But as the two leaders pay homage to the 2,403 Americans who died in the surprise Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, the geopolitical backdrop for the event has been clouded by President-elect Donald Trumps pugnacious and unpredictable foreign-policy pronouncements. During the campaign, Trump raised alarms in both countries when he questioned the value of the U.S. militarys basing agreements in Japan and suggested the island nation consider developing its own nuclear weapons.

Abe is set to become the first Japanese leader to take part in a ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial, which honors the American sailors and Marines who perished aboard the battleship 75 years ago. The trip, in the works before Trumps election last month, is intended as a symbolic bookend to Obamas visit in May to Hiroshima, where the United States deployed the worlds first atomic bomb.

Like Obama, Abe does not plan to apologize for Japans sneak attack, which wounded an additional 1,178 and prompted the United States entry into World War II. Rather, he will reflect on history and renew the determination of the Japanese people not to repeat the devastation of war, said Tamaki Tsukada, spokesman for the Japanese Embassy in Washington.

U.S. military veterans are expected to take part in a ceremony that will be a powerful demonstration of how the two countries can overcome a very painful history to become the closest of allies and friends, Daniel Kritenbrink, the White Houses senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, told reporters.

Abes visit marks another delicate step toward broader regional reconciliation in Asia, though it is unlikely to satisfy demands in South Korea and China that the Japanese government formally apologize and atone for wartime atrocities. Three of Abes predecessors, including his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, a former prime minister, purportedly visited Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, but none took part in a ceremony to pay homage to the dead over concerns about right-wing political opposition in Japan.

Such a visit seemed unlikely as recently as three years ago when Abe, leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, visited Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine, the paean to Japans wartime dead, in a move that inflamed regional tensions and irritated the White House. The Obama administration has sought to improve relations in Asia, especially between U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, to hedge against Chinas rise and address shared challenges, such as a nuclear-armed North Korea.

Since then, Tokyo has negotiated, with support from the White House, a resolution with Seoul over the forced use of women as sex slaves by Japans imperial army. And Abe expressed remorse for the war during remarks to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress last year ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Obamas speech in Hiroshima, where he warned of the danger of nuclear weapons and urged disarmament, was well received in Japan, prompting Abe to pursue the reciprocal visit to Pearl Harbor. Obama is in Hawaii for his annual two-week winter vacation.

Their visit is a demonstration about how far the world has come in many instances, said Hawaii Gov. David Ige, the son of a World War II veteran who in 2014 became the states second governor of Japanese ancestry.

About one-sixth of Hawaiis population is of Japanese ancestry, and Japan sent 1.5 million tourists to the state last year, more than any other country. Abe, who arrived in Oahu on Monday, opened his visit with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a military cemetery known as Punchbowl.

The prime minister is scheduled to have a formal bilateral meeting with Obama before visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.

Ige said the relationship between the Japanese people and Hawaii is more than business, more than friendship  its family. He called the U.S.-Japan military alliance the most important to keeping the peace in Asia.

The question is what becomes of that alliance under Trump.

Along with questioning U.S. basing agreements in Japan and South Korea, Trump suggested last March that the two U.S. allies are freeloading off the United States security umbrella. His suggestion that they consider developing their own nuclear weapons drew sharp rebukes from the Obama White House, which called the idea catastrophic, and national security experts in both political parties.

Trump also has vowed to rip up the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration that includes Japan. Abe expended significant political capital to move the accord through the Japanese parliament over objections from protectionist domestic rice and automobile industries.

Within days of Trumps election, Abe rushed to begin building ties, becoming the first foreign leader to meet with the president-elect during a stopover in New York in November en route to an Asia-Pacific economic summit in Peru.

Trumps campaign rhetoric is campaign rhetoric, said Tsukada, the embassy spokesman. We dont believe the electorate or constituents take those message literally. In fact, you might have noticed that throughout the campaign, at one stage his rhetoric was extremely anti-Japan, with Japan-bashing type of language, but after a certain point it disappeared. By and large, we think he has a normal kind of balance.

Some foreign-policy analysts have speculated that Abe will seek to leverage the uncertainty around Trumps agenda to speed his own long-standing efforts to bolster the mission and capabilities of Japans Self-Defense Forces. Abe played host this month to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the prime ministers home town, in a bid to improve bilateral relations between their countries. That meeting, which had been in the works before Trumps victory, caused consternation in Washington.

Trumps antagonistic posture toward China, including his unprecedented phone conversation with the president of Taiwan last month, also has unsettled the region. Analysts said Abe would welcome a shift of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, but they cautioned that Chinas response to an escalation of tensions with the Trump administration could be aimed at Japan, as well.

Tokyo is relatively reassured that [Trumps] campaign rhetoric of extreme isolationism is gone, but the unpredictability factor is still the biggest challenge, said Sheila Smith, a Japan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. What Abe will want to do with Trump is to hug him close, and teach him about Japan and Asia.

I suspect theyre holdingtheir breath a little bit, Smith added. But I do think in Mr. Abes personal visit and his subsequent follow-up, hes trying to be the ally of choice for Mr. Trump.



Lyte reported from Honolulu.

pearl-harbor
Vera Rubin, an astronomer who proved the existence of dark matter, one of the fundamental principles in the study of the universe, but who battled sex discrimination throughout her career, died Dec. 25 at an assisted living facility in Princeton, New Jersey. She was 88.

She had dementia, said a son, Allan Rubin.

Rubins groundbreaking discoveries, made primarily with physicist W. Kent Ford, have revolutionized the way scientists observe, measure and understand the universe.

The concept of dark matter, an unknown substance among stars in distant galaxies, had existed since the 1930s, but it was not proved until Rubins studies with Ford in the 1970s. It is considered one of the most significant and fundamental advances in astronomy during the 20th century.

The existence of dark matter has utterly revolutionized our concept of the universe and our entire field, University of Washington astronomer Emily Levesque told Astronomy magazine this year. The ongoing effort to understand the role of dark matter has basically spawned entire subfields within astrophysics and particle physics.

Rubin, who spent most of her career at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D.C., continued to make new discoveries  including of previously unknown galaxies  into the 21st century. For years she was considered a leading contender for the Nobel Prize, but the award never came. Many attributed the oversight to gender bias among male scientists and prize committees.

The last woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics was Maria Goeppert Mayer, who shared the 1963 prize for her work on atomic structure. The only other woman to win a Nobel in physics was Marie Curie in 1903.

Alfred Nobels will describes the physics prize as recognizing the most important discovery within the field of physics, Levesque told Astronomy magazine. If dark matter doesnt fit that description, I dont know what does.

As a girl growing up in Washington, Rubin built a rudimentary telescope out of a cardboard tube.

Early in her career, she made discoveries that challenged accepted theories in astronomy, but she was seldom taken seriously by other astronomers, most of them male. When she applied to graduate school at Princeton University in the late 1940s, she was flatly told, Princeton does not accept women.

Rubin forged ahead, ultimately receiving a doctorate from Georgetown University while raising four children.

I worked for almost all of my early career as a part-time person so that I could be home at 3 oclock, and that was after they were all in school, Rubin told Discover magazine in 2002. It was almost overwhelming. I did a lot of my work at home.

She struggled to gain admittance to leading observatories. In 1964, she became the first woman to receive formal approval to use the Palomar Observatory in Southern California.

When she arrived, she discovered that it did not have a womens restroom.

She went to her room, she cut up paper into a skirt image, and she stuck it on the little person image on the door of the bathroom, astrophysicist Neta Bahcall told Astronomy magazine. She said, There you go; now you have a ladies room. 

While fighting these battles on Earth, Rubin peered into the cosmos and examined the rotation of more than 200 galaxies. Among other findings, she determined that stars orbiting on the outer edges of galaxies moved at the same speed as those near the interior.

The discovery defied the accepted norms of astronomy, which held that the far-flung stars should move more slowly. To account for the uniform speeds, Rubin concluded that the distant regions of galaxies contained considerable amounts of a dense, unseen mass, or dark matter, which affected everything from gravitational pull to the shape of galaxies to how stars move in relation to one another.

Although its precise composition remains unknown, scientists think that about 84 percent of the cosmos is made up of dark matter.

So important is this dark matter to our understanding of the size, shape, and ultimate fate of the universe, Rubin wrote in Scientific American in 1998, that the search for it will very likely dominate astronomy for the next few decades.

Vera Florence Cooper was born July 23, 1928, in Philadelphia. She moved with her family to Washington when she was 10. Her father was an electrical engineer.

She graduated from Coolidge High School in the District and, in 1948, from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She received a masters degree in 1951 from Cornell University and a doctorate in astronomy from Georgetown in 1954.

She taught at Montgomery College and later at Georgetown before joining the Carnegie Institution, a Washington-based research center, in 1965.

Rubin published more than 100 scientific papers and was on the editorial boards of professional journals and Science magazine. She published a collection of essays, Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters, in 1997. She was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and in 1993 received the nations highest scientific award, the National Medal of Science.

Her husband of 59 years, Robert Rubin, a physical chemist, died in 2008. All four of their children received doctorates in science or mathematics. A daughter, astronomer Judy Young, died in 2014.

Survivors include three sons, David Rubin, a geologist, of Santa Cruz, California, Karl Rubin, a mathematician, of Irvine, California, and Allan Rubin, a geologist, of Princeton; a sister, Ruth Burg of Washington; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Rubin was active in American Women in Science and worked to help other women in astronomy and other sciences. But if she was disappointed at not receiving the Nobel Prize, she never said so in public.

I think the question is, she told The Washington Post in 2005, are there women and have there been women who want to do science and could be doing great science, but they never really got the opportunity?
A six-vehicle pileup on Interstate 90/39 near Janesville blocked one lane of traffic for about an hour and a half on Monday and left three people injured, but none seriously hurt, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The crash happened around noon, near mile marker 173, in northbound traffic, blocking the left lane. Five wreckers were called to the scene to haul away the damaged vehicles. The lane was reopened at about 1:30 p.m.

The State Patrol said the cause of the accident is under investigation.
Nearly nine months later and it was all just a big mistake  or was it?

The city of Albuquerque recently returned Arlene Harjos 2014 Nissan Versa it had confiscated in April, when her son borrowed it and was arrested for DWI. The city took the car under an ordinance that allows seizing vehicles when the person driving has a second or subsequent DWI arrest or is driving on a suspended or revoked license.

The Albuquerque ordinance relies on the premise the vehicle represents a nuisance and the suspected drunken driver a danger to public safety. In a state with one of the highest DWI rates in the nation  11th-worst for alcohol-involved fatalities, according to a new report by CarInsuranceComparison.com  keeping people from driving under the influence is a serious concern. Thats especially true of repeat drunken drivers.

Thats why a case can be made for confiscating property in select cases from those not convicted and sometimes not even charged with a crime.

Key on select. Because taking property from those not convicted and sometimes not even charged with a crime has been a real money-maker for the city and other agencies. From 2010 to 2014, the city collected $8 million by seizing cars and selling them at auction or charging the owners steep fees to get them back. The city contends innocent owners can contest the seizures.

But Harjos case shows thats expensive and burdensome.

Rather than agreeing to have her car booted for 18 months and pay the city a hefty $4,000 fine she couldnt afford, Harjo eventually went to court to try to get her car back and overturn the ordinance. She also continued to make car payments while the city kept the vehicle.

And now it turns out the city shouldnt have taken her car at all because it wasnt seized within the citys limits. Oops! With more than a little egg on their faces, city officials returned her impounded car. City Attorney Jessica Hernandez said that after confirming information the seizure was in error, the city promptly informed Ms. Harjos attorneys that we intend to release the vehicle to her.

Whether one considers nine months prompt is up for discussion, but if Harjo, a group of New Mexico lawyers and the national Institute for Justice had not sued, its reasonable to ask whether the city would have returned the car. Harjos lawsuit to end the practice is proceeding.

A district court judge ruled in April 2015 that the state forfeiture act, amended in 2015 to abolish civil asset forfeiture while still allowing criminal forfeitures if the owner is convicted, doesnt overrule the citys nuisance ordinance. And there is precedent for taking action administratively against a suspected DWI driver prior to a criminal conviction  drivers can lose their licenses for a period of time.

Whats problematic is there is no statute of limitations or working mechanism to dispute a wrongful seizure  Harjos sons previous DWI was seven years earlier, in 2009, and he had told his mom he was borrowing her car to go to the gym when in fact he drove to Clovis and back. He was arrested headed back into Albuquerque.

A Journal editorial in September called on the city to consider setting a reasonable timeline for when the ordinance should apply to a prior DWI arrest and to use common sense when reviewing cases instead of seizing revenue-generating opportunities.

The city still faces a court date on its ordinance. Until then, officials should consider adjusting the civil forfeiture program so it serves its stated purpose  deterring drunken drivers  instead of deterring cash into coffers.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
The last of thousands of F-4 Phantom jets that have been a workhorse for the U.S. military over five decades are being put to pasture to serve as ground targets for strikes by newer aircraft.

But first, they received some well-earned honors.

The Air Force held a final flight retirement ceremony last week at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, where the last F-4s are still flying for the U.S. military. The ceremony celebrated the airplanes rich military history as the jet was a mainstay during the Vietnam War and used for decades for reconnaissance missions and anti-missile electronic jamming.

McDonnell Douglas  now part of Boeing Corp.  built more than 5,000 F-4s for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. It first flew in the late 1950s, and production ended in 1985.

The last F-4s still flying for the U.S. military took on a different role, serving as aerial targets and test aircraft during Air Force training over the New Mexico desert. The planes are either flown by pilots or remotely as drones by controllers on the ground. Theyve been used as targets for missiles and also used to test new radars and other missions. But with the retirement last week, the planes will no longer fly and instead be used as ground targets.

That the plane stayed in service so long is a testament to a range of roles that the F-4 could handle thanks to its large size, powerful engines and a two-member crew, said Jeff Duford, a National Museum of the Air Force research curator.

While other aircraft could handle some of the same missions, there were none that were as flexible as the F-4, Duford said.

It was not the best of anything but it could do everything, said Craig Schorzman, a retired Air Force colonel who lives in Tucson, Ariz., where he trained to fly the F-4 in the 1960s while at Davis Monthan Air Force Base before deploying to Germany and then Southeast Asia.

It wasnt the best air-to-air but we could do it. It could do close air support (of ground troops). It could do bombing. It could do any role, including nukes  we could do it.

The aircraft was hardy and very sturdy, Schorzman said, recalling times when his plane made it back to base despite being shot up. It saved my tail a few times.

Schorzman said the fighter-bomber could use a precision guidance system to guide bombs to their targets. We could go into a mouth of a cave.

The Navy originally got production F-4s to intercept enemy bombers threatening U.S. aircraft carriers, and initial models relied on air-to-air missiles. They were later fitted with guns during the Vietnam War to combat enemy fighters.

As a dogfighter, the F-4 wasnt great but could counter North Vietnams more nimble MiG fighters by using its more powerful engines to climb into a good position or get out of a bad one, Schorzman said.

While other aircraft such as the F-15 supplanted the F-4 in the fighter-bomber role, it still flew on for many years as camera-toting reconnaissance jets and in electronic-warfare versions that blinded enemy anti-aircraft missiles guidance systems.

I think it really speaks to the usefulness of the platform, Duford said.

The remaining 13 QF-4s at Holloman are flown by a detachment of a squadron from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, and dozens of the target planes have been shot down either over White Sands Missile Range near Holloman or over the Gulf of Mexico.

The Tyndall squadron has already converted to flying F-16s as aerial targets, and the Holloman detachment was expected to get its first F-16 target version last week.

Versatile F-4 Phantoms making final flight for US military
A former Archdiocese of Santa Fe priest who surfaced in Morocco this year is the focus of a lawsuit filed last week by a New Mexico man who alleges that he was sexually abused as a teenager by Arthur Perrault at the University of Albuquerque campus.

Another lawsuit filed against the archdiocese last week alleges that a former Las Vegas priest sexually abused seven San Miguel County residents when they were children in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Perrault lawsuit alleges that the former priest sexually abused a 17-year-old boy who enrolled in a college preparatory program at the University of Albuquerque, a now-defunct Catholic university where Perrault served as a faculty member. The lawsuit was filed in 2nd Judicial District Court in Albuquerque on behalf of a 65-year-old New Mexico man identified only as John Doe 64.

The archdiocese responded in a written statement that it does not comment on pending litigation, but it works closely with civil authorities to ensure safety of parishioners.

The archdiocese continues to be vigilant regarding sexual misconduct and stands firm on its zero tolerance policy, the statement said. All employees who work with minors must pass background checks and complete safe-environment training.

Perrault vanished from his Albuquerque parish in 1992 at the onset of the clerical abuse scandal that has led to an estimated 340 lawsuits against the archdiocese, nearly all of which have been settled under confidential terms.

Albuquerque attorney Brad Hall served Perrault in April with papers in an unrelated lawsuit at an English-language school in Tangier, Morocco, where Perrault worked at the time.

Mark Holbrook, director of the American Language Center in Tangier, said in an email response to the Journal that Perrault had been a part-time English teacher at the school for 20 years.

After learning of the allegations, Holbrook said he asked Perrault to resign and barred him from the school grounds. No complaints were made against Perrault for inappropriate behavior during his employment at the school, Holbrook said.

Another lawsuit filed in 1st Judicial District Court in Santa Fe alleges that Monsignor Hubert C. Lomme, then-pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Las Vegas, N.M., sexually abused seven preteen boys at the church from 1959 to 1964. Lomme died in 1986 at age 79.

The suit, filed on behalf of seven unidentified men ages 62 to 66, is the first clerical abuse lawsuit filed by attorneys with the Rothstein Law Firm of Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Hall has filed 64 lawsuits against the archdiocese since 2011, all but 10 of which have been settled for undisclosed amounts.
Seventeen-year-olds Kla Nieto and Devin Mares have been best friends since middle school, going through all the usual teen dramas  and a life-altering transition.

The two seniors, both born female, came out as transgender early in high school.

It was a difficult process  Devin said he was threatened by boys and ignored by girls  but they could also lean on each other.

This fall, they decided to take another step together.

Each ran for homecoming king and was voted a member of the courts, Devin at Atrisco Heritage Academy and Kla at West Mesa.

Im really glad I did it, Devin said. It was my last chance to be involved with school because Im going to graduate.

The friends are likely the first transgender youth in Albuquerque to be part of a homecoming court, according to Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico co-director Adrien Lawyer.

This is what being trans can look like, Lawyer said. They are setting an example. It doesnt have to be a life of discrimination and violence.

The two teens didnt realize they were blazing a trail, but they grin and do a fist bump when they hear the news.

That is awesome, Devin said, between slices of pepperoni at Dions, his favorite hangout. Doing it, you dont really see it as a big deal, but when you look back at it, most trans people dont have that confidence to run for homecoming court.

The pair are naturally social butterflies, Devin said, with many friends across their respective schools, so they felt comfortable putting themselves out there.

Campaigning for homecoming also gave them a chance to answer questions about transgender life, including sensitive ones on hormones and gender reassignment surgery.

People ask me what its like, and I tell them, its just who you are, Kla said. You just have to be yourself.

Overall, both feel like their schools are friendly places.

The bullying has stopped, Devin said, and most peers dont seem to have any problems with his identity.

Tanya Kuhnee, Klas English teacher at West Mesa High, agreed that transgender students generally receive good support from Albuquerque Public Schools.

I have to be honest, I have been really impressed with how our entire school community is accepting and kind, she said. It is not a judgmental community.

This summer, APS crafted new protections for transgender students, allowing them to change their names, gender pronouns and clothing style. Most controversially, they also can access restrooms and locker rooms where they feel comfortable.

The directive generated swift outcry.

Critics argue that APS is catering to a minority and creating uncomfortable, even dangerous, conditions for other students. A core group of detractors has spoken out at every school board meeting since that time, calling for a meeting with APS leadership.

Districts across the country are dealing with transgender issues.

In May, the Obama administration released new regulations requiring all schools to provide transgender students with access to restrooms that match their gender identities.

After school boards in several states fought the rule, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to weigh in.

Kla and Devin said they havent followed any of the developments but appreciate APS effort on the directive.

They can consider people being different from other people and let them do what they gotta do, Kla said.

The two friends plan to continue their activism after they graduate.

Devin eventually hopes to film a documentary about transgender men, highlighting their diverse backgrounds. He also would like to open a safe house to help homeless transgender teens and offer mentorship.

I would tell other trans kids who are thinking about making the transition that its not going to be easy, Devin said. You are always going to be hit with something, but thats simply life. Your transition truly helps you grow and be in tune with yourself because you realize everything doesnt come easy.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

LAS CRUCES  Every day, federal prosecutors in southern New Mexico head to the copper-plated U.S. District Court to face the daily grind of criminal immigration cases that now make up a majority of federal prosecutions nationwide.

The caseload has grown so large in New Mexico  with apprehensions of unauthorized immigrants more than doubling in two years after several years of decline  that U.S. Attorney Damon Martinez in June capped the number of nonviolent border crossers his office will prosecute at 150 a month.

There are hundreds more who could be prosecuted each month but arent, according to law enforcement sources. Immigrant advocates question whether nonviolent offenders should be prosecuted at all.

Discretion is built into the U.S. justice system, and Martinez said he face s competing priorities across the state, including prosecuting violent crime in Albuquerque and Indian country. The limit doesnt apply to drug mules or those with extensive criminal histories, who all get prosecuted, according to Martinez.

The system is comprehensive, Martinez said in a recent interview. Although there isnt a prosecution for everyone found here illegally, people are getting deported and there are consequences.

The U.S. Attorneys Office in New Mexico, which has about 75 attorneys, most of them in Albuquerque, has a stunning array of cases under its purview beyond the immigration offenses that can dominate attorney and staff time in southern New Mexico.

Just recently, it has been tasked with prosecuting cases from an operation that nabbed 104 Bernalillo County residents on firearms and narcotics trafficking charges; dozens of defendants allegedly belonging to the violent Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang; and the arsons that recently scorched nine Albuquerque businesses, which could lead to domestic terrorism charges.

The use of our limited resources must be prioritized to address the broad range of significant criminal activity in our state that impacts the public safety of all New Mexicans, Martinez said. This includes the investigation and prosecution of national security, violence, drug trafficking and immigration cases focusing on violent offenders.

The U.S. Attorneys Office cap applies to a specific offense known as a 1326a, illegal re-entry, without complicating factors like drug trafficking or extensive criminal histories. Those nonviolent offenders typically receive time served at sentencing, which in New Mexico amounts to 30 to 45 days on average, thanks to a fast-track system that moves these offenders quickly from arrest to deportation.

The lead investigative agency on illegal entry and re-entry is U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Spokesman Ramiro Cordero confirmed that apprehensions at the New Mexico border, including immigrants who could be charged with felony illegal re-entry, are far outpacing prosecutions.

Prosecutions swell

Illegal entry used to be a civil offense rather than a criminal one.

The U.S. Justice Department began ramping up criminal immigration prosecutions about a decade ago. The docket surged under the second Bush administration and again under the Obama administration.

It swelled to the point that, in fiscal 2016, criminal prosecutions for illegal entry, illegal re-entry and similar immigration violations made up 52 percent of all federal prosecutions nationwide, or nearly 70,000 cases a year, according to data compiled by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

The prosecutions have swamped federal courts. The U.S. District judges in Las Cruces are among the busiest in the nation, thanks to the immigration docket.

Before the U.S. Attorneys Office scaled back, the Las Cruces court was on track to surpass its caseload records; the new limit only puts the court back on track to meet its usual numbers this year, according to U.S. District Judge Robert Brack.

Brack sentences an average of 1,800 immigration-related cases each year. U.S. District Court Judge Kenneth Gonzales sees a similar number of cases as Brack, while judges from Albuquerque regularly cycle in to help them work through the caseload.

The dropoff debate

To what extent prosecution deters repeat border crossings is a matter of debate.

Illegal immigration, especially from Mexico, stands at a fraction of where it was a decade ago when massive borderwide prosecutions began. Experts say the sharp falloff in illegal immigration is in part a reflection of tougher border enforcement, including prosecutions.

Border Patrol apprehended more than 1 million people at the Southwest border in fiscal 2006, overwhelmingly from Mexico. Last fiscal year, apprehensions barely topped 331,000  44 percent of them from countries other than Mexico, including Central America.

Peter Ossorio, who served as a federal prosecutor in New Mexico from 1996 to 2004, said there are limits to whether prosecutions deter repeat offenders.

A lot depends on why they are crossing, he said. If they are fleeing for their lives  and we have been having a refugee problem, not an immigration problem  you arent going to stop them. You cannot deter them if the pressure propelling them is too great.

The same has been found to be true if the pull factors in the United States are too strong. A 2015 U.S. Sentencing Commission report found nearly 50 percent of people sentenced in fiscal 2013 for illegal re-entry had at least one child living in the United States.

Today, many unlawful border crossers do not enter the criminal immigration system at all. They include the tens of thousands of Central Americans, including families and unaccompanied minors, who are giving themselves up to Border Patrol and claiming asylum.

Those migrants enter administrative proceedings in the countrys immigration courts, where the backlog has topped half a million cases and waiting times for hearings are stretching to nearly three years in some districts.
FARMINGTON  San Juan College is projecting a $1.23 million reduction in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year mostly due to a loss in state funding.

Ed DesPlas, the colleges vice president for administrative services, updated the members of the San Juan College Board during a Dec. 6 work session about the proposed 2017-2018 budget.

The presentation on the early revenue projections followed a discussion on the approximate $1.14 million reduction for the current 2016-2017 budget that was approved later that night.

A total of 12 college employees were laid off as part of the budget cut. Four faculty, three professional, three support and two administrator positions were eliminated.

Higher education funding statewide was cut by 5 percent as required after the approval of state Senate Bill 9.

Following the budget cut, faculty members gave votes of no confidence to college President Toni Pendergrass and the board members on Dec. 8.

Lance Myler, the faculty association president, told The Daily Times earlier this month the process for the no-confidence vote started in October before the layoffs. The vote was in part due to frustration with communication related to the colleges finances, however.

DesPlas said in a Dec. 6 interview that he is projecting a reduction in state funding of about $1.15 million that will be reflected in the proposed 2017-2018 budget,

This follows a loss of about $1.83 million, or 7 percent, of San Juan Colleges state funding in the 2016 calendar year.

About $584,000 of next years expected shortfall is from a projected 2.5 percent reduction of state funding as legislators work to balance the states 2018 fiscal year budget, DesPlas said. And about a $210,000 reduction in state funding is a carryover from the current fiscal year.

DesPlas is also projecting a $354,000 reduction due to changes in the colleges funding formula as proposed by the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

And DesPlas said he is skeptical about the property tax revenue the college receives and is projecting a decline of about $315,000.

Weve seen some steady increases in property values in the county, DesPlas said. At the same time, our economy has been going in a southerly direction.

However, after talking with other San Juan College vice presidents, DesPlas is projecting an increase of about $237,000 in tuition and fees revenue. That is based upon a projected 2 percent enrollment increase, which means an increase in credit hours.

To address the projected $1.23 million reduction in state funding for the proposed 2017-2018 budget, administrators are reviewing ideas from a late October meeting with the college community.

The campus-wide meeting was held to solicit input from college employees on how to handle budget cuts. About 10 to 12 pages of ideas are being reviewed by administrators to see how viable they are, DesPlas said.

One idea DesPlas mentioned was a voluntary retirement incentive program to give payouts to retirement-eligible employees who agree to retire. DesPlas is currently developing the plan and it must meet certain conditions before it will be considered.

Its got to be financially viable, DesPlas said. It has to result in sustainable budget savings and spending reductions.

The budget is due to the New Mexico Higher Education Department by May 1.

Joshua Kellogg covers education for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627.



2016 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)

Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
The Albuquerque-based startup SunPort got a leg up on plans to explore European markets for its new solar plug-in device from a trio of University of New Mexico business students.

The students studied the English city of Manchester as a prime market for SunPorts device, which allows consumers to convert their energy use to solar power, given that areas international reputation for environmentally friendly policies. They analyzed costs, identified target hotels that might welcome the plug as an asset for guests, and presented their findings to classmates and others at the Anderson School of Management.

SunPort public-relations manager Sunny Tyrrell attended the presentation, part of an international management course where students design export plans for New Mexico businesses.

They did our homework for us, Tyrrell said. They pinpointed some specific hotels that are very applicable for us to go after as low-hanging fruit. When we start selling into Europe, wed definitely want to make contact with them.

About 50 students in 15 different groups designed export plans in the class, said international business professor Raul Gouvea.

It allows students to get their hands and feet wet with real-world experience, rather than attending a standard course that only deals with text books and lectures, Gouvea said. It offers them a global vision and mindset.

Such experiential learning, which includes extensive research and interviews with businesspeople and agencies, could boost New Mexico exports by identifying real business opportunities, and by preparing more local graduates for global trade, said Randy Trask of Encuentro Inc., which manages a Trade Alliance contract for the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.

The world is so globalized and markets so integrated now that students need a general understanding of how trade works, Trask said. Many of these students will end up working with small businesses in New Mexico, where they could help increase exports.

Even if businesses dont act on the export plans, they get exposure to potential global markets. That could help build a more vigorous export culture here, said Edward Herrera, who heads New Mexicos Office of International Trade.

Thats key in New Mexico, which still has a landlocked mentality thats focused primarily on domestic markets, Gouvea said.

Students drew up a range of export plans, such as selling pecans in Vietnam, Gruet Winery products in the Dominican Republic, NM Pinon Coffee in Norway, and Sadies salsa in India.

Quinn Palmer worked with two fellow students on a plan for Albuquerque-based Aqua Research LLC to sell its handheld H2go water purifier in India. He said global trade can be tough, but its critical in todays business world.

Im going into a workforce that is more globalized than ever before, Palmer said. This project really taught us about what its like to actually get out there and do the research on something actionable.
SANTA FE  A Democratic lawmaker from Albuquerque has resurrected his plan to ask voters in New Mexico to amend the states Constitution to abolish the job of the states education secretary, currently held by Hanna Skandera.

The proposal by Sen. Michael Padilla also would create an elected state board of education to oversee public schools. If approved by both houses of the state Legislature, it would go before voters in November 2018.

Padilla introduced a similar bill to eliminate the secretary of public education in 2013, but it died on the Senate floor.

His current proposal would allow the education board to hire and fire a state school superintendent at will.

Padillas resolution calls for the public to elect 10 people to make up the new board. That body would in turn hire a superintendent who would carry out the boards policies, much as district superintendents do under the control of local school boards.

Patricia Gipson, chairwoman of the Public Education Commission, said she thinks a state board of education is a good idea, but it should not lead to the elimination of the education commission.
PHOENIX  A man carjacked a driver at gunpoint in Phoenix then wounded two people after the vehicle crashed on a busy Arizona freeway and he tried to commandeer other cars to get away before he was shot and taken into custody, authorities said.

The mayhem on Monday evening forced a nearly 12-hour closure of Interstate 17  the main road from Phoenix to Flagstaff  as police conducted an investigation.

The road finally reopened early Tuesday.

Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Howard said it was amazing that more people werent hurt, given the gunfire and potential for more traffic collisions.

Things could have been much worse, he said.

Police said the 31-year-old suspect, whose name was not released, was trying to get to Mexico when he spotted the first victim and forced him to drive onto the interstate that was already clogged with holiday traffic.

The vehicle crashed into concrete dividers on the highway as the two men struggled over a gun and the steering wheel, Phoenix police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Howard said.

The driver ran away without injury when his vehicle was disabled in the crash.

Howard said the gunman then tried to steal at least three other cars at gunpoint after the collision brought traffic to a near halt.

The driver of a van was shot before managing to drive away. His injuries werent life-threatening.

Police said the suspect also jumped on the hood of a car and that driver was shot, causing the car to collide with another vehicle. The injuries suffered by the driver were critical but not life-threatening.

Officers initially thought they were responding to a traffic collision but soon learned the crash was tied to something more serious.

Finally, officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety confronted the suspect after he climbed onto the opposite side of the interstate and tried to steal other vehicles. Two officers fired shots, wounding the suspect.

The man, who suffered serious injuries, is expected to be booked on charges related to the shootings and carjacking attempts once he is released from a hospital.
To celebrate the 62nd anniversary of a school in northern Taiwan, students were invited to choose historical figures and cosplay them at a parade Friday.

Liu Hsi-cheng, a history teacher at Hsinchu Kuang Fu High School, suggested to his homeroom class that they go with famous people from Arabic culture, he told the Taipei Times.

But Lius students had another idea: a theme based on Adolf Hitler.

Liu warned his students that such a theme would be very controversial, the paper reported  but ultimately chose to respect the students decision and did not veto it after the class voted on it twice.

On Friday, students from the school in Hsinchu, about 55 miles southwest of Taipei, showed up to the festivities wearing Nazi uniforms and brandishing signs, arm bands and long red banners with swastikas on them.

In one photo that the school has since provided to the media, one student can be seen sitting atop a tank made from cardboard boxes, his arm (albeit his left one) raised in a Nazi salute.

As word of the school activity circulated online, the outrage was swift and widespread. On social media, people in Taiwan and abroad condemned the students decision as ignorant and a disgusting display of disrespect.

The incident also drew sharp rebukes from both the German Institute Taipei and the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, which handle nondiplomatic relations between Taiwan and their respective countries.

Israels representative office issued a statement Saturday that called the parade deplorable and shocking and noted that, less than a year ago, Taiwan had marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day for the first time with the participation of then-president Ma Ying-jeou.

It is deplorable and shocking that seven decades only after the world had witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, a high-school in Taiwan is supporting such an outrageous action as we witnessed yesterday at Hsinchu Kuang-Fu Senior High School, the statement read in part.

We strongly condemn this tasteless occurrence and call on the Taiwanese authorities, in all levels, to initiate educational programs which would introduce the meaning of the Holocaust and teach its history and universal meaning. Israel would support such endeavors as may be necessary.

Germanys representative office also released a statement saying it was alarmed by the Hsinchu parade.

In the course of Nazi rule, millions of people in Europe were persecuted and killed, the statement read in part. The Holocaust can be regarded as one of the most heinous crimes in human history. Unfortunately, it is clear that the students are not aware that the Nazi symbol means oppression and contempt for human rights.

That day, Taiwans Presidential Office ordered an investigation into the incident and the countrys education minister, Pan Wen-chung, formally apologized and urged all schools in Taiwan to learn from the mistake, the Central News Agency reported.

The schools principal, Cheng Hsiao-ming, said Saturday he took responsibility for the incident and would resign from his position.

Holding a sheet of paper with both hands, Cheng read aloud a lengthy statement to local reporters in which he apologized to Holocaust victims and to the general public for what had happened.

Educational institutions have a responsibility to teach students the correct values, Cheng said. We should teach students to learn from their mistakes.

In that vein, Cheng said the school would organize a series of educational activities about the Holocaust, including watching movies such as Schindlers List and Life is Beautiful. They had invited staff members from Israels representative office to speak at the school, he added.

Cheng also asked that the public not blame the teachers and students too much, as they had received overwhelming blowback from the public already, and vowed that they would turn this into an opportunity to teach understanding.

Cheng then bowed deeply to reporters.

Liu, the teacher, told CNS that his students deeply regretted their actions  and that he regretted allowing them to proceed with their theme.

I should have immediately rejected (their vote) on the spot, Liu told the news agency.

Teachers groups in Taiwan lamented the incident as a failure of the nations education system, the Taipei Times reported.

We feel that we have not worked hard enough, and have allowed this absurd, ignorant and indifferent attitude toward the universal value of human rights to spread and become an international joke, said a joint statement issued by Our Story Alliance of History Teachers and Action Coalition of Civics Teacher.

taiwan
Health officials are asking for help to locate a cat that bit a person Monday on the 1100 block of Williamson Street in Madison.

Public Health Madison and Dane County said a cat bit a person while it was fighting with another stray cat on a porch. The cat who bit the person is described as a domestic short hair cat that is brown tabby in color. It was also wearing a collar with a pink or red heart-shaped tag.

Anyone with information on the cat is asked to call the Dane County dispatch office at 608-255-2345 and ask for a animal services officer.

Health officials said if there cat isn't located, the person will need "painful and costly injections to prevent rabies."
FORT WORTH, Texas  A doctor who survived Ebola after contracting the virus while treating patients in Liberia has quietly returned to practicing medicine in Fort Worth.

Dr. Kent Brantly, who resumed practicing family medicine about a year ago, now works at JPS Health Network, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/2iApPbH ). He sees patients, teaches family medicine residents and works one day a week in labor and delivery at John Peter Smith Hospital.

He says some patients recognize him and bring up his battle of more than two years ago. Brantly also said all of the responses have been positive and many have told him they prayed for him.

I have patients in the clinic occasionally who say, Where do I know you from? or Ive seen you on TV,' the 35-year-old Indiana native said.

He became the face of Ebola for many in the United States, writing a book, appearing at the White House, speaking around the country and gracing the cover of Time magazine.

His experience in Liberia, where he worked for nine months as a doctor for the Christian relief agency Samaritans Purse, has helped shape his outlook for treating patients locally and around the world.

At one point, Brantly thought he was going to die after contracting the virus in July 2014. More than a week into getting sick, he received the experimental drug ZMapp.

I had a pretty dramatic response to that first dose, Brantly said. I was in that position of struggling to breathe, thinking Im going to die of respiratory failure in the next few hours, to being stable that night  not better but stable and I was evacuated the next day.

He would continue to get better after being flown to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Brantly said his health is fine now and he draws on his experience in Liberia to teach the message of caring for others  especially choosing compassion over fear.

Robert Earley, president and chief executive officer of the JPS Health Network, said, I could not have any greater respect for doctors like Dr. Brantly, not only for their humanitarian efforts, but for the medical knowledge they bring back to JPS.

___

Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com
Richard Adams, a British writer whose novel about rabbits, Watership Down, sold 50 million copies and mesmerized generations of readers by creating an ornately detailed fantasy world and subverting the Flopsy-Mopsy stereotype of warm and cuddly bunnies, has died at 96.

A daughter confirmed his death to the British newspaper the Independent, but other details were not immediately available.

Adams was an Oxford-educated public servant when Watership Down, his first novel, was published in 1972. The book follows a band of rabbits who search for a new home after Fiver, the runt of his litter, has a vision of their grassy home covered with blood  a result of the lands being developed by people for high class modern residences.

Led by Fivers older brother Hazel, the rabbits journey across woods and stream to arrive at Watership Down, where they battle a totalitarian bunny named General Woundwort before establishing a new, utopian warren.

Expecting a tale of friendly anthropomorphic animals in the spirit of Kenneth Grahames The Wind in the Willows or Beatrix Potters Peter Rabbit series, publishers and literary agents rejected Watership Down seven times, telling Adams that it was too childish for adults and too adult for children.

Many of the books rabbits are snared, gassed and killed in battle; chapters begin with epigraphs drawn from the Greek tragic playwright Aeschylus and the military theorist Carl von Clausewitz; and Adams leporine world is so detailed as to include rabbit mythology and an onomatopoeic rabbit language.

But discovering that the rabbit word for car is hrududu was apparently part of the books magic. It won prestigious prizes for childrens literature in England and earned the previously unknown Adams comparisons to Grahame and J.R.R. Tolkien.

If there is no place for Watership Down in childrens bookshops, the Economist magazine wrote, then childrens literature is dead.

The novels appeal, according to Cathryn M. Mercier, director of the Center for the Study of Childrens Literature at Simmons College in Boston, rested as much on its richly textured fantasy world as its apparent parallels to the human world.

We see qualities of ourselves in those feisty little rabbits, she said.

In one section, a rabbit named Strawberry offers a rebuke to human ways in an explanation of how animals are different from men: If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill, they kill. But they dont sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality.

Adams later revealed that the books rabbit heroes were based on his commanding officers in the British military during World War II, but he decried attempts to find larger meanings in the novel.

I promise you it is not a fable or an allegory or a parable of any kind, he told the Pittsburgh Press upon its release. It is a story about rabbits, that is all.

An animated movie was made in 1978, with voices provided by actors such as John Hurt, Ralph Richardson and Zero Mostel. A musical and an animated television series followed.

In a sign of the books reach, it even introduced the idea of a rabbit to readers who had never seen one: The covers of some worldwide editions featured gerbils scampering over sand dunes.

Richard George Adams was born in Newbury, England, on May 9, 1920. He was the youngest of three boys, the son of a nurse and a father who, when he wasnt working as the local doctor, tested Adams on the names of the birds and other wildlife that surrounded their home, urging him to learn, as well, his knotgrass and pimpernel, heartsease and speedwell.

In interviews, Adams recalled that his father was also class-conscious and something of a snob. As a kind of joke and nod to his father, Adams used early royalties from Watership Down to buy a genuine coat of arms for himself, appropriately featuring three rabbits on a green ground.

With the outbreak of World War II, he left the University of Oxford to enlist in the Royal Army Service Corps. He later joined a British army airborne division but never saw combat.

He completed his degree after the war. He received a masters degree in modern history in 1953, also from Oxford, and moved directly into the British civil service, where he spent the next two decades.

Working on issues as varied as slum clearance and outdoor advertising regulations, he rose to the position of assistant secretary in what would later become the Department of the Environment. Because of the amount of information he was required to gorge and synthesize, the job was good training for a novelist, he later told People magazine.

His writing career happened almost by chance. Adams had children late in life and liked to entertain them with stories. In 1966, driving from London to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeares birthplace, he began telling them about two rabbits named Fiver and Hazel who traveled to the real-life Watership Down, five miles from his childhood home.

Two weeks later, when he had finished his improvised tale, his daughters urged him to write it down. He completed the book over the next two years.

His next novel, Shardik (1974), a religious epic about a bear worshiped as a god, met with mixed reviews and some befuddlement for going so far afield from the green grass and warrens where Adams had made his name.

Critics panned its characters as stilted and one-dimensional, but Adams considered it his finest work and quit the civil service to write full time after its release. He took his library, family and money to the Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency, to escape higher English taxes.

His apparent disdain for negative reviews was tested by his later novels.

The Plague Dogs (1977) chronicled the escape of two dogs from an experimental laboratory in Englands Lake District. The book presaged his turbulent two-year term as president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, from which he resigned in 1982, because, he told the London Independent, the leaders seemed to be more concerned with each other than with the animals.

The Girl in a Swing (1980) and Maia (1985) were erotic love stories concerned with female sexuality. The books also coincided with the transition of Adamss public image from childrens writer and animal advocate to an elderly man with, in his words, a pretty erotic disposition.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Acland, whom he married in 1949, and two daughters, Juliet and Rosamond.

For the past three decades of his life, Adams lived in the small town of Whitchurch, in southern Hampshire. His private library was considered one of Englands finest, with works that included a second folio of Shakespeare and a Bible that had belonged to King Charles II.

Adams wrote a memoir of his early years, The Day Gone By (1990), and returned to the rabbits that made him famous just once, publishing Tales from Watership Down in 1996. The book, a collection of intertwined stories, served as prequel and sequel to the original novel.

He seemed at peace with the fact that nothing matched the success of his literary debut.

I try to look at it in a positive way, he told the London Guardian in 2015, to say to myself, Look at Watership Down  if you can do that, you can do any ruddy thing.

Of course you cant expect to have another success like that, but it does give you the confidence and the enjoyment to go on writing.

adams-obit
Vera Rubin didnt plan to be a pioneering female astronomer. When she was 10, lying awake at her home in Washington, D.C., memorizing the paths of the stars outside her window, I didnt know a single astronomer, male or female, she once said in an interview. I didnt think that all astronomers were male, because I didnt know.

But pioneer she did. Rubins work fundamentally changed astronomy by confirming the existence of dark matter, the invisible stuff that makes up 27 percent of the universe.

The way she worked changed astronomy, too. The field may have been all male when she entered it 70 years ago. But by the time she died Sunday, at age 88, that was no longer true. Thats in large part thanks to Rubin: a brilliant mentor and fierce advocate for women in science.

She made science kinder & the culture of research more human, tweeted Mika McKinnon, a science writer and geophysicist.

Those words hardly described science in the 1940s and 50s, when Rubin was at the beginning of her career. In an interview published by the American Institute of Physics, she recalled the day she told her high school physics teacher that shed been awarded a scholarship to Vassar.

He said to me, As long as you stay away from science, you should do OK,  Rubin recounted. It takes an enormous self-esteem to listen to things like that and not be demolished.

But Rubin learned a lesson from the experience: Rather than teaching little girls physics, you have to teach them that they can learn anything they want to, she said.

Attitudes did not change as Rubin ascended in her field. Though she had degrees from Vassar and Cornell and had presented before the American Astronomical Society at age 22, she was barred from getting a PhD at Princeton because the universitys graduate program didnt accept women. A few years later, she asked to attend a talk at the Applied Physics Lab, where her husband worked. She was rebuffed because wives were not allowed  never mind the fact that Rubin was a scientist in her own right, working on her PhD in astronomy at nearby Georgetown University.

But if the institutions of astronomy would not accommodate her, Rubin was not afraid to change them. In the mid 1960s, she was granted access to San Diegos prestigious Palomar Observatory, an old boys club so infamous astronomers called it the monastery. Though she could use the telescope, Rubin was informed that there was nowhere for her to relieve herself  the facility had no womens restroom.

She went to her room, she cut up paper into a skirt image, and she stuck it on the little person image on the door of the bathroom, former colleague Neta Bahcall of Princeton University told Astronomy magazine in the fall. She said, There you go; now you have a ladies room. Thats the type of person Vera is.

Speaking to CNN, Bahcall also recalled a time when an astronomer at the University of Chicago wrote to Rubin, asking her to advertise his schools program. She wrote back saying that if she were a promising young scientist just starting out in the field, she would never apply there because the programs faculty included no women.

Everywhere she went, Rubin fought for more women to be included. In 1976, when she found out that the first-ever Smithsonian Air and Space Museum planetarium show on the history of American astronomy would feature only men  all but one of them white  she lobbied for months for women to be included (sadly, her efforts were unsuccessful). She was part of a cadre of scientists and scholars who pressured Washingtons exclusive Cosmos Club to admit women. She criticized the National Academy of Sciences for its dearth of female members. She met with politicians to discuss the need to create more opportunities for girls.

All of us, men and women alike, need permission to enter and continue in the world of science, Rubin wrote in a 1986 editorial in the journal Science. While such permission has generally been granted to bright men, it has always been less readily granted to young women and continues to be denied to many women even today.

She described how an aspiring scientist might be the only female student in her department, endure more scrutiny than her male colleagues and be discouraged from seeking a high-profile position in her field. This kind of gatekeeping also serves to limit opportunities, she wrote.

Having made it past astronomys gatekeepers, Rubin was devoted to keeping the way open for women behind her. It is well known, she once said, that I am available 24 hours a day to women astronomers.

This was not an exaggeration, according to Sandra Faber, an astronomy professor emerita at the University of California in Santa Cruz who once spent a summer working with Rubin.

She was the first woman I encountered at that level, Faber told the Los Angeles Times. She helped me along at various crucial stages during my career. But each young person thinks they had the special relationship with Vera. She had that knack.

Speaking to Astronomy magazine, Bahcall remembered how Rubin encouraged her younger colleagues.

If they didnt get a job or they didnt get a paper published, she would cheer people up, she said. She kept telling her story about how there are ups and downs and you stick with it and keep doing what you love doing.

Rubin never received the Nobel Prize for her work  a snub that many interpret as a sign of the Nobel Committees gender bias (only two women have won the award for physics, and none in the past 50 years). A recent profile in Astronomy magazine suggested she was like the dark matter she helped explain: invisible.

But, also like dark matter, she made her influence felt.

rubin-appreciate
PEARLAND, Texas  Authorities say a woman brandishing a pistol at an apartment complex south of Houston has been shot and killed by sheriffs deputies after she refused orders to drop the weapon, then raised and pointed it at the officers.

Brazoria County Sheriffs officials say two deputies opened fire on the woman.

The name of the victim has not been immediately released and no motive has been disclosed. The sheriffs department says the womans pistol has been recovered.

A sheriffs department spokesman says a leasing agent at the apartment complex in Pearland, about 20 miles south of Houston, called for help Tuesday afternoon after he spotted the woman with the pistol, who told him to leave her alone as he approached her.

The sheriffs department and Brazoria County district attorney are investigating.
MCALLEN, Texas  Border Patrol agents near McAllen have rescued 11 people, including seven children, who were crossing the Rio Grande in a raft tethered to a vehicle on the Mexican side when smugglers yanked on the rope and dumped the people into the river.

The people trying to enter the U.S. illegally were struggling to stay afloat when they were spotted by agents late Monday night. Authorities tossed floatation devices to some and others were rescued by a Border Patrol boat. Some smugglers on the raft wore life jackets and swam back to Mexico.

No one rescued was hurt. Five were under the age of 9, including a year-old infant. Officials say all were from Honduras and Nicaragua.

Agents say the tethered raft is a smugglers tactic to make its retrieval easier.
HOUSTON  Federal authorities say six people have pleaded guilty in a $2 million bribery scheme involving Mexican officials securing aircraft maintenance and repair contracts with Mexican government-owned and controlled entities.

Prosecutors in Houston and San Antonio say charges and plea agreements unsealed Tuesday show the bribes were paid to several different foreign officials either by wire transfer or checks to accounts with Mexican government-owned customers. The scheme began in 2006 and guilty pleas have been taken since October.

Awaiting sentencing in 2017 are 55-year-old Douglas Ray, of Magnolia; 54-year-old Victor Hugo Valdez Pinon, a citizen of Mexico; Kamta Ramnarine and Daniel Perez, both 69, of Brownsville; and 55-year-old Ernesto Hernandez Montemayor and 58-year-old Ramiro Ascencio Nevarez, both Mexican citizens and identified as previous officials of unspecified Mexican state government entities.
SHANGHAI  Chinas financial capital is known for its glamorous riverfront. The neon-lit skyscrapers of the Pudong district are on one side and the beloved Bund, or embankment walkway, on the other, fronted by historic colonial-era bank buildings that now host high-end restaurants.

But beyond its glitz and showy new wealth, Shanghai is also home to research centers containing some of the countrys top experts on the United States. These institutions promote exchanges with U.S. universities and officialdom and give policy advice to their foreign ministry.

Their experts, like many Americans, are struggling to understand what is happening in a country they thought they knew.

We have the impression the United States has become a country out of our recognition, says Wu Xinbo, the director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, one of Chinas finest.

He was referring to the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. People are concerned because this is America, not an ordinary country.

Given the role that Chinas American-studies experts play, and their detailed study of U.S. society and institutions, it is worth pondering their confusion about the future direction of the United States.

First, a word about the Fudan center. It was established in 1985 after Ronald Reagan visited the university in 1984 and officials there decided they didnt have enough experts on America.

So we decided to create an American-studies center so we would have a group who understood better how the United States worked, says Wu. One of the founders was a pioneering female physicist, Xie Xide, who had graduate degrees from Smith College and MIT, and became president of Fudan University. The center has a network of contacts with think tanks and universities around the United States.

But, like most U.S. scholars with whom they were in contact, Fudans experts didnt foresee a Trump victory. They thought, says Wu, that his background was too weak  no government experience whatsoever  and that his style and comments on immigrants and women would disqualify him.

Now, unlike their experience with previous U.S. elections in which the presidency changed hands, they see no familiar faces of China experts in Trumps entourage. So they are scrambling to try to figure out what Trump means for U.S.-China relations and for the world.

Their concerns fall into several categories. First, they worry that Trump and his advisers dont understand China. Our concern is about his lack of experience and his very blunt style, says Wu.

On the same point, Chen Dongxiao, the president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, another institution with extensive U.S. connections, added: This is a very different style of leadership. We need to buckle up, but also to be more proactive in engaging with Trumps team.

But Chen worries that this new Trump style  emotional, breaking protocol, no briefings, bypassing all bureaucratic processes, messaging by tweets  is very risky. A tweet has only 140 characters and one can only guess at the politics, he notes. It creates crazy scenarios when dealing with very complicated relations.

Prime case in point was Trumps suggestion via tweet that he might upend the One China policy  the bedrock of U.S.-China relations. This is the policy by which U.S. presidents since Richard Nixon have acknowledged Chinas claim that Taiwan is a province of China; the United States unrecognized Taiwans sovereignty when it formally recognized China in 1979 and has maintained only an informal (but close) relationship with Taiwan since.

No issue in U.S.-China relations is more sensitive to Beijing than this one, but Trumps tweets and interviews seem oblivious or indifferent to this fact.

Another concern is that Trumps naivete, especially on the One China flash point, will embolden hawks within Chinas security establishment or spark nationalist reactions within the Chinese public.

Trump is a totally different kind of president and (our) hawks say we need to deal in a very different way, says Chen. In such circumstances, moderate Chinese scholars who have expertise on the U.S. system could be marginalized.

This worry leaves Chinas Americanists scrambling to get a better handle on the real Donald Trump and his advisers, while they also try to fathom what has happened to the country that many of them have studied for decades.

I heard much worried talk from these experts about an institutional crisis in the United States  the American publics loss of confidence in its governing system. They also worried about the collapse of U.S. support for the global trading system that had helped China rise.

One Fudan doctoral student told me: The U.S. I knew was a very limited blue part of the country. Young people in China should be encouraged to travel in red parts of the country. Most of us didnt understand that U.S. people suffered from the trade deficit with China.

I asked whether, given the Americanists failed election predictions, the Chinese government might now be less willing to consult them (these specialists have fallen out of favor in the past during periods of tense U.S.-Chinese relations).

We have to do a better job of understanding America, Fudans Wu admitted frankly. But then he added, The government will need us even more because this is a strange America.

I wish him luck in figuring out this strange new America.
I have learned the hard way not to put my personal life on the Internet. But suffice it to say that, God willing, things should be pretty much back to norm...

3 weeks ago
Mexico's plague of violence continued on Christmas Day with the discovery of six decapitated heads in one state and the killing of seven people in another.

The Michoacan state prosecutor's office said the six heads were found in Jiquilpan, a municipality near the state of Jalisco in a region that has been a battleground between competing drug gangs in recent years.
Published On Dec 27, 2016 01:10 PM By Rachit Shad

It exports CBUs and auto parts to South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina and Brazil

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) was presented the National award for Engineering Export Excellence at the 47th Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPCI) awards ceremony. The carmaker received a gold trophy under the Merchant Exporter category. In the past, TKM has been awarded the Exporter Excellence award by EEPCI for 10 years at the southern region level and 6 years at the national level.

Its manufacturing plant in Bengaluru, where it manufactures models for the Indian market, also exports Completely Built Units (CBUs) like the Etios and the Etios Liva, and auto parts to South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina and Brazil.

Several representatives from TKM attended the award ceremony, where Sandeep Bhagat, deputy general manager, TKM, received the award from Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, union minister of railways, Government of India. Raju B. Ketkale, senior vice president, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, shared his thoughts by highlighting that the company aligns all its processes to the Quality, Durability and Reliability philosophy, which has helped in manufacturing globally competitive automotive technologies and processes. He further added that such recognition will help the car firm to further foray into the international trade space with more products, which will help the company keep growth intact in export performance.

Ketkale said, In the year 2014-2015, we were successful in achieving good export numbers. TKM's exports from the country stand at 12.08 per cent on total turnover, showcasing our successful determination to bring the Indian Automobile Industry to hit the global chart."
Credit unions targeting young adults as prospective directors should deliver this message: We value you for the professional skills and perspective you bring to the table, not merely for your age, gender, or ethnicity.

Thats the chief takeaway from a panel discussion about attracting younger board members at the CUNA National Credit Union Roundtable on Board Leadership.

Theres some truth to the advantages of having demographic representation, but what we should want to seek out is the right kind of talent, says Andrew Stickney, 31, a board member at VSECU in Montpelier, Vt., and CEO of Burlington Bytes, which offers web design and marketing for small businesses in Vermont.

Credit unions seem to be getting that message. According to a Filene Research Institute survey, 64% of boards now consider specific skills in recruiting, compared with 43% in 2005. Nonetheless, practical considerations for recruiting younger directors exist, such as providing crucial perspectives on the use and value of emerging products and services.
Talking Points

The headline Japanese CPI print looked strong enough

But that was as far as Tokyos luck held

The rest of the mornings data dump was stubbornly weak

Consumer prices in Japan rose at their fastest pace for a year in November, according to official figures released on Tuesday; and the Yen ticked lower against the US Dollar after their release.

The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.5% on-year, which was what the markets had been expecting, well above the 0.1% seen in October.

However, while this looks like good news for the Japanese government, which has been trying for years to return some pricing power to the economy, the rest of the mornings data must have been far less cheering.

The core CPI print, which strips out the volatile effects food prices, fell by 0.4% on-year. That made it exactly the same as Octobers print and a tick weaker than the markets had hoped for. The CPI for Tokyo alone, which is released a month earlier, was flat for December, well below expectations.

Household spending also registered a huge miss in November, falling by 1.5% on the year rather than the modest-enough 0.1% gain expected.

The jobless rate ticked up, rising to 3.1%, from Octobers 3%.

USD/JPY slipped to 117.18 after the data, from 117.23 beforehand. The market looks predictably thin, as well it might sandwiched between the Christmas and New Year breaks. The overall tone of the greenback looks very solid, though despite some clear and unsurprising profit taking from the 14-year peaks seen just before markets wound down.

All in all, these data suggests that Japans domestic economy remains worryingly stuck in low gear, and will do little to damage the thesis that Yen accounts will be looking for better places to put their money in 2017.

USD/JPY in holiday mode

Chart compiled using TradingView

Would you like to know more about trading, Daily FX webinars are a great place to start.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research
Technology based on university research could lead to new generation of spectral systems for flight and space-based remote sensing

BEER-SHEVA, Israel...December 27, 2016 - ImageSat International (ISI) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) announced a collaboration to leverage BGU's breakthrough spectroscopy imaging research and develop a high performance, high resolution hyperspectral/ultraspectral imaging system with vast flight- and space-based remote sensing applications.

Remote sensing from space or aircraft has a wide range of applications including agriculture, climate and pollution monitoring, homeland security, and commodity exploration.

The compressive sensing technology utilized in this new camera system, which has been significantly miniaturized, requires only a tenth of the data traditionally needed to quickly produce high-resolution images.

The new camera system is based on the research of Prof. Adrian Stern, head of BGU's Unit of Electro-Optical Engineering; Prof. Dan Blumberg, BGU vice president and dean of research and development; postdoctoral fellow Dr. Isaac August; and Ph.D. student Yaniv Oiknine, who developed a miniature ultra-spectral imaging system that is compact, simple to operate and more cost-efficient than current systems.

Spectroscopic imaging collects and processes information that can help isolate and identify "signature fingerprints" found in objects, chemical substances or material defects that are not detectable by the human eye. While the human eye generally sees color in three bands of light (red, green and blue), spectral imaging divides images into many more bands to capture additional data across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Hyperspectral imaging sensors measure the light reflected by the earth's surface in different wavelengths, ranging from one- to several-hundred-per-pixel. This generates significant amounts of data that must be transmitted to the earth for processing, and may require enormous bandwidth.

"This new technology based on BGU research could lead to a new generation of spectral systems for flight and space-based remote sensing," says Prof. Dan Blumberg. "The collaboration between academia and industry is a sterling example of the 'NewSpace' concept, which promotes innovation and creativity in the space industry and will enable ImageSat to become the leader in the field of hyperspectral imaging."

###

About ImageSat International N.V.

ImageSat International (ISI) N.V. owns and operates very high-resolution earth resources observation satellites (EROS). A global leader in end-to-end geospatial solutions, the company specializes in satellite data extraction and analysis. ISIS offers NewSpace programming, with solutions and services that include mission ground segments, satellite imagery services, mapping and GIS, intelligence reports, intelligence analysis training, space-based persistent surveillance, total maritime awareness, agriculture and forestry, and geo-economics. The company, founded in 1997, is based in Or Yehuda, Israel. For more information, visit http://www.imagesatintl.com.

About American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) looks ahead to turning 50 in 2020, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. Visit vision.aabgu.org to learn more.
1. Hospital readmission rates decrease after federal law levies financial penalties for readmissions

Abstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-0185

URLs go live when the embargo lifts

Financial penalties levied under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program lead to the poorest performing hospitals to achieve the greatest reductions in readmission rates for common conditions. The analysis, led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital, is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program was enacted into law in 2010 and implemented in 2012 in response to the high numbers of patients who were readmitted within 30 days of their initial discharge from the hospital after treatment for several common conditions, including heart failure, pneumonia and acute myocardial infarction. While some readmissions may be unavoidable, there was evidence of wide variation in hospitals' readmission rates, suggesting that patients admitted to certain hospitals were more likely to experience readmissions compared to other hospitals.

Researchers examined Medicare fee-for-service hospitalization data from more than 2,800 hospitals across the country between 2000 and 2013 to evaluate whether passage of the federal law was followed by acceleration in improvement in 30-day risk-standardized readmission rates after initial hospitalization for acute myocardial infraction, congestive heart failure or pneumonia. Hospitals were categorized into one of four groups based on the penalties they had incurred under the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program: highest performance (0% penalty), average performance (greater than 0% but less than 0.5% penalty), low performance (equal to or greater than 0.5% but less than 0.99% penalty), and lowest performance (greater than or equal to 0.99% penalty). The data showed all groups of hospitals improved to some degree, but the hospitals that were the lowest performers before passage of federal reform had the highest improvement after being penalized financially. The authors suggest that these findings show how policies motivate health care providers to improve performance.

Note: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Cara Graeff. To reach an author, please contact Jennifer Kritz at jkritz@bidmc.harvard.edu or 617-667-7301.

###

Also in this Issue:

Issues Surrounding Age-Adjusted D-Dimer Cutoffs That Practicing Physicians Need to Know When Evaluating Patients With Suspected Pulmonary EmbolismAndrew J. Goodwin, MD; Russell A. Higgins, MD; Karen A. Moser, MD; Kristi J. Smock, MD; Wayne L. Chandler, MD; Kandice Kottke-Marchant, MD, PhD; Sarah K. Hartman, MD; Oksana Volod, MD; Alan F. Brown, MD; Vandita P. Johari, MD; Sharon Burr, MBA, MT; Nataliya Polyakov, MT; and Dong Chen, MD, PhDIdeas and OpinionsAbstract: http://annals.org/aim/article/doi/10.7326/M16-2030
December 27, 2016--(BRONX, NY)--Investigators at Albert Einstein College of Medicine were awarded more than $160 million from the National Institutes of Health in federal fiscal year 2016. The grants provide critical support for major research projects in aging, intellectual and developmental disabilities, diabetes, cancer and infectious diseases. Other key areas for which Einstein received federal support include developmental brain research, neuroscience, advanced cellular imaging, cardiac disease and initiatives to reduce health disparities.

"During this period of transition for Einstein, this level of funding convincingly demonstrates the excellence of our faculty and the research they conduct," says Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein and vice president of academic affairs at Montefiore. "This strong showing in our first year as part of Montefiore bodes well for our integrated research enterprise, as opportunities and collaborations develop and deepen."

In addition to grants for investigator research projects and training for students, faculty and postdoctoral fellows, Einstein received major new and renewal awards for Einstein centers, including:

Other major program and collaboration grants were:

Read about more Einstein grants, as well as published research, in Research Round-up.

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About Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nations premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2016-2017 academic year, Einstein is home to 717 M.D. students, 166 Ph.D. students, 103 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and 278 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 1,900 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2016, Einstein received more than $160 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, cancer, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. Einstein runs one of the largest residency and fellowship training programs in the medical and dental professions in the United States through Montefiore and an affiliation network involving hospitals and medical centers in the Bronx, Brooklyn and on Long Island. For more information, please visit www.einstein.yu.edi, read our blog, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook and view us on YouTube.
Bats, like humans, are extremely social mammals. They enjoy an average lifespan of 20-30 years, settle in large colonies, and rely heavily on social interactions for their survival, using vocalizations -- or calls -- for communication. There is very little known about the purpose and content of these noises.

A new Tel Aviv University study published in Scientific Reports extracts critical information from bat vocalizations to offer a rare, informative look into the world of bat communication. The new research, led by Prof. Yossi Yovel of the Department of Zoology at TAU's Faculty of Life Sciences, delves into the veritable cacophony emitted by bats to identify concrete evidence of a socially sophisticated species that learns communication, rather than being born with a fixed set of communication skills.

"When you enter a bat cave, you hear a lot of 'gibberish,' a cacophony of aggressive bat noise - but is this merely 'shouting' or is there information amid the noise?" said Prof. Yovel. "Previous research presumed that most bat communication was based on screaming and shouting. We wanted to know how much information was actually conveyed -- and we wanted to see if we could, in fact, extract that information."

For the purpose of the research, Mor Taub and Yosef Prat, students in Prof. Yovel's lab, recorded the sounds emitted by 22 Egyptian fruit bats in TAU's "bat cave" over the course of 75 days. The authors then assembled a dataset of approximately 15,000 vocalizations, which represented the full vocal repertoire the bats used during the experiment. By analyzing this dataset, the authors found that the vocalizations contained information about the identity of the bat emitting the call and even about the identity of the bat being addressed by the call. Moreover, while most of this species' vocalizations were emitted during aggressive encounters, by analyzing the spectral composition of the calls, the authors were also able to distinguish their specific aggressive context (such as squabbling over food, sleeping spots or other resources).

"Studying how much information is conveyed in animal communication is important if you're interested in the evolution of human language," said Prof. Yovel. "Specifically, one big unknown in the world of animal communication is their grasp on semanticity -- i.e., when you hear the word 'apple' you immediately imagine a round, red fruit. We found, in our research, that bat calls contain information about the identities of the caller and the addressee, which implies that there is a recognition factor. We were also able to discern the purpose and the context of the conversation, as well as the possible outcome of the 'discussion.'"

Due to the difficulty of cataloguing animal calls, these vocalizations are often grouped into one category in acoustic studies. According to Prof. Yovel, the new findings suggest that delving into animal calls could serve a bigger purpose, shedding light on the evolution of communication altogether.

"We generated a massive amount of data -- dozens of calls over three months," said Prof. Yovel. "We have found that bats fight over sleeping positions, over mating, over food or just for the sake of fighting. To our surprise, we were able to differentiate between all of these contexts in complete darkness, and we are confident bats themselves are able to identify even more information and with greater accuracy -- they are, after all, an extremely social species that live with the same neighbors for dozens of years."

The researchers were even able to identify different intonations indicating the greetings of a "friend" or a "foe."

"The last finding allowed us to predict whether the two would stay together or part, whether the interaction would end well or badly," said Prof. Yovel, who is currently researching different bat accents and the assimilation of bats into different social groups.

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Tel Aviv University (TAU) is inherently linked to the cultural, scientific and entrepreneurial mecca it represents. It is one of the world's most dynamic research centers and Israel's most distinguished learning environment. Its unique-in-Israel multidisciplinary environment is highly coveted by young researchers and scholars returning to Israel from post-docs and junior faculty positions in the US.

American Friends of Tel Aviv University (AFTAU) enthusiastically and industriously pursues the advancement of TAU in the US, raising money, awareness and influence through international alliances that are vital to the future of this already impressive institution.
ATHENS, GA - Issues with weeds, insects, and disease make certified organic production of vegetables challenging in the southeastern United States. Maintaining and building soil organic carbon in midscale organic production systems can also be difficult due to the warm, moist conditions that promote decomposition. The authors of a new study in HortTechnology say that cool-season cash crops paired with warm-season cover crops may help alleviate these concerns for organic production.

The researchers called crop rotation one of the "bedrocks" of organic agriculture in terms of managing soil fertility and soilborne pests, citing previous studies showing that crop rotations and cover crops diminished disease severity and incidence. "Current organic vegetable production studies tend to focus only on one crop," explained George Boyhan, lead author of the report. "The purpose of this project was to take a systems approach to evaluate two different crop rotations that focused on cool-season cash crops and included cover crops to meet these multiple objectives and produce high-value certified organic vegetables."

The research was conducted on certified organic land at the University of Georgia Durham Horticulture Farm in Watkinsville. The experiment consisted of two 3-year rotations: each entry point for a rotation was grown every year (six treatments consisting of three entry points for each of two rotations). In the first rotation, cool-season cash crops included onion, strawberry, and potato rotated with green bean, oats/austrian winter pea, southernpea, and sunn hemp. In the second rotation, onion, broccoli, lettuce, and carrot were rotated with millet, sunn hemp, egyptian wheat/iron clay pea, and sorghum x sudangrass/iron clay pea.

By the end of the study, onion, broccoli, and lettuce had yields comparable to or greater than conventional vegetable yields. Onion yields in both rotations were at least 80% of average yields in Georgia, while lettuce yields were at least double the average yields in Georgia and comparable to national averages in the second and third years of the study. Broccoli yields in the first year were substantially lower than average Georgia yields, but were comparable to average yields in the second year.

Potato yields, although lower than average yields in Georgia, increased each year of the study.

Strawberry, carrot, green bean, and southern pea crops did not fare as well. Strawberry yields in the rotations were lower than Georgia averages in all three years with a trend of lower yields over the course of the study. Carrot yields were less than half of average yields for Georgia. Green bean yields were half of average Georgia yields in the second year and were comparable to average yields in the third year.

"As expected from what is observed in cool-season organic vegetable production in Georgia, disease pressure was low," the authors said. They said that the experiments indicate that midscale certified organic production can reach reasonable yields with rotations of organic cool-season vegetables using cover crops in the southeastern United States, and also recommended longer-term studies to assess soil management strategies.

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortTechnology electronic journal web site: http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/26/5/637.abstract

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org
COLUMBUS, OH - Anthocyanins, plant pigments known for their health-promoting properties, are in demand for medicinal and industrial uses. Anthocyanins have become sought-after natural products, but the small number of plants that naturally produce anthocyanins has limited their widespread use. Researchers at The Ohio State University say the results of their recent study (HortScience, September 2106) can help to increase the environmental and economic sustainability of anthocyanin extract production in turfgrasses such as rough bluegrass.

Scientists Dominic Petrella, James Metzger, Joshua Blakeslee, Edward Nangle, and David Gardner said that nonconventional plants such as turfgrasses may be one way to meet the increasing demand for anthocyanins. "The anatomy and perennial nature of turfgrasses make them attractive anthocyanin production systems," explained corresponding author Dominic Petrella. "Rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis L.) is an attractive anthocyanin production system, since leaf tissue can be harvested while preserving meristematic tissues that allow new leaves to rapidly grow, thereby allowing multiple harvests in a single growing season and greater anthocyanin yields."

Light experiments were designed to determine conditions that favor anthocyanin synthesis in rough bluegrass. The scientists first evaluated whether treatment with high-intensity light could increase anthocyanin content, and then determined the wavelength(s) of light capable of upregulating anthocyanin synthesis to optimize light conditions. They also investigated the role of photosynthesis on anthocyanin production.

When exposed to constant high-intensity white light, rough bluegrass plants significantly increased anthocyanin concentration compared to untreated plants. Light-treated plants exhibited an average 117.64-fold increase in anthocyanin content, and accumulated anthocyanins in both leaf blades and sheath tissue. "Our data show that the anthocyanin content of rough bluegrass after high-light treatment is comparable to or greater than many common fruits and vegetables, particularly red leaf lettuce, and consists of the same anthocyanins," Petrella noted.

To determine the primary wavelength(s) of light responsible for upregulating anthocyanin synthesis, dark-grown and light-grown rough bluegrass seedlings were exposed to blue, red, and far-red LED light. Blue light, at intensities between 150 and 250 mmolm-2s-1, was the only wavelength that increased anthocyanin content. However, when red light was applied with blue light at 30% or 50% of the total light intensity, anthocyanin content was increased compared with blue light alone.

The authors said that a major advantage of using turfgrass for anthocyanin production is the ability to harvest leaves containing anthocyanin numerous times throughout a single growing season. Results from their first experiment showed that rough bluegrass plants maintain the ability to synthesize large quantities of anthocyanin over time, even after aggressive harvesting.

Further analyses showed that the use of turfgrasses over an entire growing season could potentially increase anthocyanin yield by two-fold over currently used plant sources. "These methods may help increase both the environmental and economic sustainability of anthocyanin extract production," the authors s

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The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/content/51/9/1111.abstract

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org
WOODS HOLE, MASS. -- One of the most profound changes in the life of an organism is what Antonio Giraldez calls "embryonic puberty": the stage when an early embryo stops taking instructions from its mother on how to develop and activates its own genome to kick out those instructions instead. This critical stage, called the maternal-to-zygote transition, happens in all embryos, from sea anemones to humans. Yet how it is regulated in the embryo is not yet known.

This week in Nature Methods, Giraldez and colleagues present a novel way to decipher the genetic code that embryos use to instruct many maternal messages (mRNAs) to be destroyed, and others to become stabilized. Giraldez is a Professor of Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine and was a 2016 Research Awardee in the MBL Whitman Center, where he conducted part of this research.

The method, called RESA (RNA Element Selection Assay), has broad applications, Giraldez says. "It's a modular method we can use in many contexts, depending on the question the investigator wants to ask, to dissect the meaning of different parts of the genome. It is a molecular 'Rosetta stone' to help us decode the functional elements within the genome."

In this case, they used RESA to detect the stability or decay of millions of RNA fragments in the zebrafish embryo, which in turn gave information about the genes that are shut down or activated during the maternal-to-zygote transition.

The team developed RESA in zebrafish, Giraldez says, "but the goal is to use it across many different species, so we can find meaningful 'words' or instructions in the genome from squid to mouse to human." He plans to continue testing RESA in squid and other marine model systems at the MBL next year, such as sea urchin and ctenophores.

"That's the part I am most excited about, is the MBL offers us this opportunity to test RESA across many species," Giraldez says. "That is priceless; it's work that cannot be done anywhere else in the world."

"The MBL made me realize that we know so much about a few species, and so little about so many other species," Giraldez says. "But now, with new sequencing technologies like RESA, we can really understand biology much more broadly across species. That is really a new revolution."

###

Citation:

Yartseva, Valeria et al (2016) RESA identifies mRNA-regulatory sequences at high resolution. Nature Methods, doi: 10.1038/nmeth.4121

The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery - exploring fundamental biology, understanding marine biodiversity and the environment, and informing the human condition through research and education. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago.
Scientists from MIPT, the Institute for Nuclear Research (INR) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Novosibirsk State University (NSU) have discovered that the proportion of unstable particles in the composition of dark matter in the days immediately after the Big Bang was no more than 2%-5%. Their study has been published in Physical Review D.

"The discrepancy between the cosmological parameters in the modern Universe and the Universe shortly after the Big Bang can be explained by the fact that the proportion of dark matter has decreased. We have now, for the first time, been able to calculate how much dark matter could have been lost and what the corresponding size of the unstable component would be," says a co-author of the study academician Igor Tkachev, Head of the Department of Experimental Physics at INR and a lecturer at MIPT's Department of Fundamental Interactions and Cosmology.

Astronomers first suspected that there was a large proportion of "hidden mass" in the Universe back in the 1930s, when Fritz Zwicky discovered "peculiarities" in a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Coma Berenices - the galaxies moved as if they were under the effect of gravity from an unseen source. This hidden mass that does not manifest itself in any way, except for a gravitational effect, was given the name dark matter. According to data from the Planck space telescope, the proportion of dark matter in the Universe is 26.8%, the rest is "ordinary" matter (4.9%) and dark energy (68.3%).

The nature of dark matter remains unknown, however, its properties could potentially help scientists to solve the problem that arose after studying observations from the Planck telescope. This device accurately measured the fluctuations in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation - the "echo" of the Big Bang. By measuring these fluctuations, the researchers were able to calculate key cosmological parameters using observations of the Universe in the recombination era - approximately 300,000 years after the Big Bang.

"However, it turned out that some of these parameters, namely the Hubble parameter, which describes the rate of expansion of the Universe, and also the parameter associated with the number of galaxies in clusters vary significantly with data that we obtain from observations of the modern Universe, by directly measuring the speed of expansion of galaxies and studying clusters. This variance was significantly more than margins of error and systematic errors known to us. Therefore we are either dealing with some kind of unknown error, or the composition of the ancient Universe is considerably different to the modern Universe," says Tkachev.

The discrepancy can be explained by the decaying dark matter (DDM) hypothesis, which states that in the early Universe there was more dark matter, but then part of it decayed.

"Let us imagine that dark matter consists of several components, as in ordinary matter (protons, electrons, neutrons, neutrinos, photons). And one component consists of unstable particles with a rather long lifespan: in the era of the formation of hydrogen (hundreds of thousands of years after the Big Bang) they are still in the Universe, but by now (billions of years later) they have disappeared, having decayed into neutrinos or hypothetical relativistic particles. In that case, the amount of dark matter in the era of hydrogen formation and today will be different," says the lead author of the research, Dmitry Gorbunov, a professor at MIPT and staff member at INR.

The authors of the study, Igor Tkachev, Dmitry Gorbunov, and Anton Chudaykin from IRN, MIPT and NSU analyzed Planck data and compared them with the DDM model and the standard CDM (Lambda-Cold Dark Matter) model with stable dark matter. The comparison showed that the DDM model is more consistent with the observational data. However, the researchers found that the effect of gravitational lensing (the distortion of cosmic microwave background radiation by a gravitational field) greatly limits the proportion of decaying dark matter in the DDM model.

Using data from observations of various cosmological effects, the researchers were able to give an estimate of the relative concentration of the decaying components of dark matter in the region of 2% to 5%.

"This means that in today's Universe there is 5% less dark matter than in the recombination era. We are not currently able to say how quickly this unstable part decayed; dark matter may still be disintegrating even now, although that would be a different and considerably more complex model," says Tkachev.

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The homeless sleep less and are more likely to have insomnia and daytime fatigue than people in the general population, findings researchers believe suggest more attention needs to be paid to improving sleep for this vulnerable population, according to a research letter published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Sleep is part of good health, but the homeless often have no access to safe and warm beds at night. Damien Leger, M.D., Ph.D., of the Universite Paris Descartes and Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris, France, and coauthors analyzed responses from 3,453 people who met the definition of homeless in French cities; most of the participants were men and had an average age of almost 40. They were living on the street, in short-term shelters, small social services paid hotels and other facilities for homeless people with children.

A questionnaire was used to ask about total sleep time at night and over the past 24 hours. Responses from the homeless were compared to individuals in the general population who participated in a large survey of the French adult population.

The homeless reported shorter total sleep (6 hours 31 minutes vs. 7 hours 9 minutes). Among the homeless, 8 percent reported less than four hours of total sleep over the past 24 hours compared with 3 percent of the general population, according to the results.

Homeless women also were twice as likely as men to report that they slept less than four hours and insomnia was reported by 41 percent of the homeless compared with 19 percent of the comparison group. Also, 33 percent of the homeless reported daytime fatigue compared with 15 percent of the general population. Among the homeless, 25 percent also reported regularly taking a drug to help them sleep compared with 15 percent of the control group, the results suggest.

"We believe that improving sleep deserves more attention in this vulnerable group. We strongly support strategies other than hypnotic agents to improve sleep in the homeless, including more careful control of noise, lighting, heating and air conditioning at night. Facilities could provide residents with sleep aids, such as earplugs, eye sleep masks and pillows. Screens between beds could offer some sense of privacy, even in collective dormitories, and addressing issues of personal security should promote better sleep," the article concludes.

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(JAMA Intern Med. Published online December 27, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7827; available pre-embargo at the For The Media website.)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Related material: The Editor's Note, "Sleeping on the Street," by Deborah Grady, M.D., M.P.H., a deputy editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, also is available on the For The Media website.

To place an electronic embedded link in your story: Links will be live at the embargo time: http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.7827
Missions at sea, in mountainous regions or close to skyscrapers are extremely risky for helicopter pilots. The turbulent air flows near oil rigs, ships, cliffs and tall buildings can throw a helicopter off balance and cause a crash. To provide pilots with optimal preparation for these challenging conditions, engineers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) are developing new simulation software.

Providing helicopter pilots with the best possible preparation for extreme situations: That is the goal of the new simulation software being developed by researchers working at TUM's Chair of Helicopter Technology. For the first time, real-time computational analysis will be implemented for both fluid mechanics and flight dynamics. "Until now, flight simulators have not adequately reflected the reality of flying in close proximity to large objects," says Dr. Juergen Rauleder. "The problem is that, when it comes to wind conditions and the response of the helicopter, existing programs follow a rigid pattern. That means that local variations and changing conditions are not taken into account - unless the entire flow environment is known in advance."

But it is the unforeseen air flows that can be the most treacherous: For example, a moving ship causes air turbulence and sudden local shifts in wind speed known by specialists as "ship airwake flow". It changes continually through wave action and fluctuating inflow conditions. In addition, turbulence occurs near the deck, the bridge and other ship structures. As a helicopter approaches the ship, there is interference between these air currents and the flow produced by the rotors. Conditions near a mountain slope or next to high buildings are similarly complicated. In all of these cases, the helicopter's flight characteristics are influenced by complex and overlapping aerodynamic effects.

Stress for pilots and machines

Dealing with those situations takes a lot of skill and practice, both of which can currently be acquired only through on-the-job training. To become adept at landing on a ship in heavy seas, for example, a student pilot has to repeat this tricky situation dozens of times with an experienced flight instructor. That's the only way to gain the necessary experience to compensate for the complex interplay of air flows through perfectly timed adjustments to the pitch of the rotor blades.

"Conventional training is expensive, risky and very stressful for student pilots. It also imposes heavy demands on the aircraft: Because the first attempts usually result in rather hard landings, the dampers and landing gear take quite a beating," explains Rauleder.

Flow fields and flight dynamics all in one

His team has now developed a simulation program that combines flow mechanics and flight dynamics in real time: "The numerical model is extremely flexible and does not depend on stored flow data. We only have to enter the external conditions such as topography, global wind speeds and the helicopter type. During the simulation, our algorithms use that data to continuously compute the interacting flow field at the virtual helicopter's current location," the engineer explains.

The new program also lets pilots instantly "feel" the impact of the local air flows on the helicopter. This allows them to try out the effects of their control movements in a stress-free situation: perfect preparation for a soft landing that is easy on the aircraft. The potential of this method has attracted international interest, including from the U.S. Office of Naval Research, which is contributing funding under the auspices of its basic research program.

The ultimate test for flight simulators: reality

The TUM researchers have successfully validated the new real-time simulation with established reference models. All that is left to do is the biggest test of all: the reality check. To find out whether the virtual models actually reflect conditions at sea, the engineers are cooperating with researchers at the U.S. Naval Academy, the George Washington University and the University of Maryland.

The specialists in Washington have measured air flows on a ship using hundreds of sensors. To check the flight dynamics, the TUM team will also be using in-flight data collected by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). "The validation of the models and testing of our simulation environment by experienced pilots in our research simulator is enormously important for our developments," says Rauleder. "That's the only way we can ensure that the simulator training provides student pilots with optimal preparation for tough missions."

###

Publication:

J. Bludau, J. Rauleder, L. Friedmann, M. Hajek: Real-Time Simulation of Rotor Inflow using a Coupled Flight Dynamics and Fluid Dynamics Simulation, Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2016, Braunschweig

Contact:

Technical University of Munich

Dr. Juergen Rauleder

+49 (0)89 / 289-16303

juergen.rauleder@tum.de
Marijuana use significantly increased and its perceived harm decreased among eighth- and 10th-graders in Washington state following enactment of recreational marijuana laws, according to a UC Davis and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health to be published online in JAMA Pediatrics. There was no change in use or perceived harm among 12th graders or among similar grades in Colorado.

The journal also posted editorials on the impact of legalization of marijuana by Wayne Hall and Megan Weier and by Alain Joffe.

The authors believe the study is the first in the nation to assess changes in teens' perceptions and marijuana use before and after legalized recreational use, and compare these attitudes and use in 45 other contiguous states where marijuana use is not legal.

The data showed that legalization of recreational marijuana use significantly reduced perceptions of marijuana's harmfulness by 14 percent and 16 percent among eighth and 10th graders and increased their past-month marijuana use by 2 percent and 4 percent in Washington state but not in Colorado.

Among states without legalized marijuana use, the perceived harmfulness also decreased by 5 percent and 7 percent for students in the two grades, but marijuana use decreased by 1.3 percent and .9 percent. Among older adolescents in Washington state and all adolescents surveyed in Colorado, there were no changes in perceived harmfulness or marijuana use in the month after legalization.

The researchers compared data on the perceived harmfulness of marijuana use to health and self-reported marijuana use for nearly 254,000 students in the eighth, 10th and 12th grades in Colorado, Washington and 45 other contiguous U.S. states who participated in the Monitoring the Future survey.

The survey measures drug, alcohol and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. The authors compared Washington and Colorado with 45 other states in the contiguous U.S. that did not legalize recreational marijuana use. In a sensitivity analysis, they also compared Washington and Colorado data with 20 states with medical marijuana laws but no recreational marijuana laws; results were unchanged.

The investigators attribute the lack of change in attitudes and marijuana use among teens in Colorado after legalization to a more robust commercialization effort prior to the law taking effect.

Colorado had very developed medical marijuana dispensary systems before recreational use became legal, with substantial advertising which youth were exposed to. Colorado also had lower rates of perceived harmfulness and higher rates of use compared to Washington state and other states where recreational use is not legal.

"While legalization for recreational purposes is currently limited to adults, potential impacts on adolescent marijuana use are of particular concern," said Magdalena Cerda, an epidemiologist with the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program and first author of the study.

"Some adolescents who try marijuana will go on to chronic use, with an accompanying range of adverse outcomes, from cognitive impairment to downward social mobility, financial, work-related and relationship difficulties. We need to better understand the impact of recreational marijuana use so we're better prepared to prevent adverse consequences among the most vulnerable sectors of the population," Cerda said.

While more targeted research is needed to determine the influence of legalized recreational marijuana use among adolescents and how well the Washington state and Colorado experiences can be generalized to the rest of the U.S., the authors believe that states considering legalized recreational use may also want to consider investing in evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs for adolescents.

The potential effect of legalizing marijuana for recreational use has been a topic of considerable debate since Washington and Colorado first legalized its use for adults in 2012. Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C., followed suit in 2014, and voters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada approved recreational use this past November.

"The perceived harmfulness of marijuana has declined sharply in the U.S. in the last few years, despite the fact that there are adverse consequences associated with marijuana use in some adults and in adolescents," said Deborah Hasin, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and in psychiatry at Columbia University and principal investigator of the study.

"Epidemiologic monitoring of these consequences as more states legalize recreational use, and public education about potential health consequences, are important to protect public health," Hasin said.

Cerda noted that the study suggests that legalization of marijuana in Washington reduced stigma and perceived risk of use, which could explain why younger adolescents are using more marijuana after legalization.

"Other potential reasons for the increase in use include increased access to marijuana through third-party purchases, and lower price," Cerda said. "Older adolescents may also have had their attitudes and beliefs about marijuana formed before recreational marijuana use was legalized, making it less likely their use would change after legalization."

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The research is funded with grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse R01DA034244 and K01DA030449, and from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism K01AA021511.

Cerda conducted the study with Deborah Hasin, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and in psychiatry at Columbia University professor and principal investigator of the study.
In a research letter published Dec. 27, 2016, in JAMA, University of Chicago physicians describe a new concern for patients in the hospital: distractions caused by the misfortune of other patients.

The researchers found that when one patient on a typical 20-bed hospital unit took a turn for the worse - a cardiac arrest, for example, or being transferred to an intensive-care unit - the other patients on that ward were at increased risk for their own setbacks.

In the six hours after a critical-illness event, the odds that a second patient in the same unit would undergo a comparable crisis increased by about 18 percent. If there were two such events during a six-hour time period, the risk of yet another occurrence went up by about 53 percent. Risks were slightly higher when the initial critical illness events occurred at night.

Cardiac arrests, urgent ICU transfers or patient deaths were also associated with delayed discharge from the hospital for the other patients on the same unit.

"This should serve as a wake-up call for hospital-based physicians," said study author Matthew Churpek, MD, MPH, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago.

"Our data suggests that after caring for a patient who becomes critically ill on the hospital wards, we should routinely check to see how the other patients on the unit are doing," Churpek said.

"Following these high-intensity events, our to-do list should include a thorough assessment of the other patients on the unit, to make sure none of them are at risk of slipping through the cracks."

Luckily, such events were relatively rare. Nearly 84,000 adult patients were admitted to non-ICU beds at the University of Chicago Medicine from 2009 to 2013. About five percent of those patients were subsequently transferred to an intensive-care unit (4,107) or experienced an in-hospital cardiac arrest (179).

Patients who had a cardiac arrest or required ICU transfer tended to be a few years older and male. They had been in the hospital, on average, for 13 days, four times longer than patients who did not have a critical-illness event.

"We suspected this phenomenon based on our own anecdotal experience," said co-author Samuel Volchenboum, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago and director of the University's Center for Research Informatics. "But until we had access to a large, well-curated research-data warehouse, we couldn't perform a study like this."

"Very few academic centers have access to the kinds of high-quality data needed to perform this type of investigation," he added.

The study was designed to detect and quantify any increased risk to neighboring patients. The researchers speculate that one potential factor may be that doctors and nurses could have been "temporarily diverted to help care for critically ill patients," Volchenboum said. "Further study is needed to determine the causes of this effect."

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The study was funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Additional authors were Anoop Mayampurath, Gozde Goksu-Gursoy, Dana P. Edelson and Michael D. Howell, all from the University of Chicago.
'Value-based insurance' design also getting tested in Medicare Advantage plans for seniors in three states starting in January

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A health care reform idea originated by University of Michigan faculty will get a major test among members of the nation's military and their families, thanks to a provision in the national defense spending bill signed by President Obama on Friday.

Called Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID), the approach departs from the traditional "one size fits all" approach to health insurance out-of-pocket costs. Instead of uniform copays and deductibles for prescription drugs, medical tests and other health care use, V-BID tailors those costs so that individuals are charged least for the items that benefit them most, based on what health conditions they have.

Under the provision in the new National Defense Authorization Act, the TRICARE health insurance program for current and retired members of the military and their dependents will test V-BID in a pilot program.

By January 2018, the pilot will assess whether the V-BID approach helps people with certain conditions stick to their medications, get care that meets specific quality standards, and have better outcomes and a better experience. The assessment of this effort may lead to further rollout of the V-BID approach in TRICARE.

Medicare test launches in January

Even before the TRICARE demonstration begins, senior citizens in three states who have certain health conditions will get access to V-BID-style insurance.

Starting in January, seniors enrolled in certain Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Indiana who have diabetes, heart disease, depression and certain other conditions will see their co-pays and deductibles reduced for specific services and providers.

The general approach with V-BID is to lower the cost barrier between a person and the specific tests and treatments that have been proven to provide the most benefit to people with the same health conditions.

More states and more health conditions will be added to the Medicare Advantage demonstration in 2018, under an expansion of the V-BID program in the Health Plan Innovation Initiative approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Further expansion to all 50 states is being proposed by members of Congress.

"We're gratified to see how this concept is spreading into critical federal insurance programs, even as we work to engage with insurers and others in many settings to help them build clinical nuance into their plan designs," says A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., who directs the U-M V-BID Center and co-originated the concept. Fendrick is a member of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

###

Fendrick, a professor in the U-M Medical School and School of Public Health testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel in February 2016. The committee recommended that V-BID be included in the massive $619 billion defense spending bill.

For more about V-BID, visit http://vbidcenter.org/
A new study quantifies the value of home care that families provide to special health needs children without compensation.

U.S. families provide nearly $36 billion annually in uncompensated medical care at home to children who have special health care needs, such as muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis, according to a large national study.

The study by researchers at USC, Boston Children's Hospital and RAND Corp. appears to be the first to document the volume and cost of the children's in-home medical care. They found that an estimated 5.6 million children with special health care needs receive 5.1 hours of weekly medical care at home. In many cases, depending on their condition, children receive much more. While home care is beneficial for the children, it comes at great cost to family members or guardians.

Many parents and guardians are of limited means and would struggle to afford a professional caregiver, which would cost an estimated $6,400 a year per child, the study found. Even an unskilled professional to assist with care would cost them $2,100 a year.

"Children with chronic health conditions require a significant amount of care, and hiring a home health aide can be prohibitively expensive for a family," said lead author John Romley, an economist at the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. "To maintain their child's care, families often incur financial and emotional stress from reduced earnings."

Children who receive the most medical care at home tend to be age 5 or younger, are Hispanic, poor and live with conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy, that interfere with daily activities, the researchers found. Most of their parents or guardians did not graduate from high school. The families have had both public and private health insurance.

Although advances in care have enabled families to take on medical tasks such as changing feeding tubes or providing physical therapy at home, they do not receive reimbursement or pay for the hours they spend caring for the children. The value and cost of this care was unknown until now.

The financial burden of caring for children with special medical conditions can weigh heavily on families. Their efforts are time-intensive. Many miss work to care for their children. Collectively, the families lose more than $17 billion in income each year, the researchers determined.

"Parents want to do everything they can for their children, but it can be a real challenge to juggle their ill child, their other children and sometimes their job," says Mark Schuster, chief of General Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital and senior investigator of the study. "If parents did not provide this care at home, children would need to stay in the hospital longer, professionals would need to come to the home, or children might not get the care that their physicians prescribe."

The findings were published Dec. 27 in the journal Pediatrics.

Children receiving the most in-home care For the study, the researchers analyzed data collected in the 2009-10 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs. The survey results were based on telephone interviews with a sample of 40,242 parents and guardians of children with special needs.

About 11 million U.S. children have special health needs. Half of them - 5.6 million - receive at least 5.1 hours per week in medical care at home.

Care is much more time-intensive for certain conditions. The researchers found that 12 percent of the children receive more than 21 hours per week of care - largely for conditions such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or concussion, intellectual disability, or cystic fibrosis. These often are in combination with other health conditions.

The researchers estimated the value of their in-home care by calculating how much a family would spend to hire a caregiver. They based their estimates for lost earnings on the caregivers' wages.

For every child with special health needs, family caregivers forego an estimated $3,200 in earnings each year.

The families of these children do not just lose potential earnings or compensation, the researchers noted. Studies have shown, for example, that caregivers of a child who has cerebral palsy suffer psychological distress, cognitive issues and emotional problems. Out-of-pocket health care costs for a special health-needs child are three times more expensive than the out-of-pocket costs for children without any special conditions.

The researchers noted that the survey did not track the number of hours that caregivers spend assisting the children with routine daily activities such as bathing and dressing. "Had these tasks been included," they wrote, "the cost estimates would be much higher."

Policy solutions Although the Affordable Care Act provides health care to many of these families, the researchers said that the national survey will not provide insight into its effects until the latest round of data collection, which runs through 2017, is completed and released.

The researchers said policymakers could help caregivers with their costs by offering employers incentives to adopt flexible work schedules or shared-leave programs for employees. They also suggested paid family leave programs, improving care coordination, providing respite care that gives caregivers an occasional break, and home visits by clinicians.

"We need to do a better job of training family caregivers in how to take care of their children at home, and we need better supports for them," said Schuster, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

###

The researchers received no external funds for the study. Other study co-authors were: Aakash Shah and Katherine Vestal of Boston Children's Hospital; Paul Chung of the University of California Los Angeles; and Marc Elliott of RAND Corp.
The UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country is developing coatings for dental implants to provide them with capabilities to ensure success when they are implanted

The quest for surfaces capable of preventing bacterial colonisation and adhesion in the area surrounding the implant "is a subject of undoubted interest, borne out by the huge number of publications that have been developed in this field," explained Beatriz Palla, researcher in the Biomaterials Group of the UPV/EHU's Department of Polymer Science and Technology. The fact is that "about 10% of implants have to be removed due to osseointegration problems or to the onset of infections," she added.

When it comes to designing strategies to combat these problems, one has to bear in mind the challenge posed by providing the surface of titanium implants with antibacterial properties, and at the same time, by the tremendous resistance that bacterial strains are capable of developing to conventional therapies with antibiotics.

That was the challenge that the UPV/EHU group, which has for some time been developing materials geared towards dental implants, was keen to tackle. "We had already obtained coatings that facilitate the generating of bone around the implant and thus facilitate anchoring to the bone. In a bid to go a step further, we looked at how to turn these coatings into bactericides," said the researcher.

The method they used for this was sol-gel synthesis. Sol-gel synthesis is based on the preparation of a precursor solution (sol) that when left on its own for a while turns into a gel that can be used to coat the surface of the titanium screw, and after heat treatment at a high temperature in the kiln ends up finally being adhered to the screw that will be implanted. "We used silica as the precursor, because in many studies this compound has been shown to be osteoinductive, so it facilitates one of the objectives we wanted to achieve. What is more, to provide the materials with antibacterial characteristics, we added various antibacterial agents".

Three prototypes, one of them a trade secret

In the study carried out, Palla developed three types of coatings depending on the various antibacterial agents chosen; each one had a mechanism to tackle bacterial infections, either prophylactically by preventing the bacteria from becoming adhered initially and the subsequent infection, or else by eliminating it once it has developed.

What was needed in the case of prophylactic coatings was "a material with a very long degradation time so that it would remain adhered to the screw and work for as long as possible preventing bacteria from becoming adhered," said Palla. In the coatings designed to eradicate an infection that has already taken hold, however, "a rapidly degrading material is needed so that it can release the antibacterial agent as quickly as possible to attack the infection". What is more, one of the coatings developed for this purpose "is designed to be used in situ, at the dentist's surgery itself, on the infected screw without any need to extract the implant from the patient. This new material is in the process of being patented and remains a trade secret," pointed out the researcher.

In view of the results, Palla believes that "it is possible to confirm that coatings with an antibacterial capability and which do not affect the proper integration of the implant into the jawbone have been developed". She also admits, however, that there is still a long way to go until they can be applied and used at dentists' surgeries: "Apart from all the trials that remain to be carried out, it would also be advisable to pursue the research a little further to optimize the results more".

###

Additional information

Beatriz Palla-Rubio (San Sebastian, 1989) conducted this study as part of her PhD thesis entitled Recubrimientos antibacterianos basados en silicio para implantes dentales [Silica-based antibacterial coatings for dental implants] supervised by Marilo Gurruchaga-Torrecilla and Isabel Goni-Echave, both UPV/EHU professors. Various partnerships assisted her throughout her research: firstly, part of the research was conducted at the Jaume I University in Castellon (Valencian region) where discs were coated with titanium and later studied in vitro; secondly, the CSIC (National Research Council) in Madrid carried out the trials using cells. At the same time, the supply of implants was offered by the company Ilerimplant SL, of Lleida (Catalonia).

Bibliographical reference

Romero-Gavilan, F., Barros-Silva, S., Garcia-Canadas, J., Palla, B., Izquierdo, R., Gurruchaga, M., & Suay, J. (2016). Control of the degradation of silica sol-gel hybrid coatings for metal implants prepared by the triple combination of alkoxysilanes. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 453, 66-73.




Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





The situation becomes "more and more complicated"

For Jocelyne Colas Noel, National Director of the Episcopal Commission (Roman Catholic) Justice and Peace, the situation becomes "more and more complicated", pointing to the excessive and intransigent behavior of the representatives of the protesting parties, which make the situation more difficult, calling them to favor the interest of the country before their personal ambitions...



Success for 40 micro-companies

18 months after the launch of the "Innovation and Economic Development Laboratory" (LIDE) project, the 40 micro-enterprises created by Fort National youth are growing and are beginning to create jobs and income. These 40 young entrepreneurs are now looking for more credits and investors to maximize the experience accumulated since the start of their startup and sustain their efforts.



Petit-Goave : two police officers rewarded

Petit-Goave police informs us that police officers Philibert Jean Tony and Macillon Yves were chosen as the two best police officers of the year 2016 of Petit-Goave police station, therefore they will be honored on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 to the Hotel le Flamboyant (Delmas 75) at 6h00 pm in the presence of the High Command of the National Police IH/ iciHaiti / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave)



Day with the Diaspora of Atlanta

A delegation from the Haitian Consulate General in Atlanta want to Albertville, Alabama for a day with the Haitian community. Chief of Mission Faustin Lebon, accompanied by Consul Roody Metellus, Head of Health Department Sonia Timmer, and agents Rachelle Simon, Brierre Debrosse and Nathalie Celestin thanked the Eglise Porte Etroites led by Pasteur Johnny Jean Louis who jointly organized a health fair with a great part of civic education for women. The delegation also visited the company "Pilgrims" and some local authorities with which it shared positive comments on the integration of our compatriots in this city.



Diaspora : Invitation, Mass of Thanksgiving

On the occasion of the Commemoration of the 213rd Anniversary of Independence, the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti to the Kingdom of Spain is pleased to invite you to a Mass of Thanksgiving which will be celebrated on Sunday 1st January 2017 at 3 p.m. at the Parish of Santa Angela de la Cruz, located at Calle Cesar Manrique, 7 28035, Madrid.



At the end of the religious ceremony, the traditional soup of January 1st or "soup joumou" and refreshments will be offered to the refectory of the parish. The Embassy is relying on the presence in large numbers of members of the Haitian community and friends of Haiti to this commemoration.



Sharing of digital data...

A Memorandum of Understanding for the sharing of digital data was signed between the Investment Facilitation Center (CFI) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) as part of the project Open Data | Investing in Haiti ".



Other Memoranda of Understanding are foreseen with, among others, the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) and the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI).



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Kuala Lumpur : A fugitive in India, controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik is free to travel in Malaysia because he is not on the terror list here, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said.

The televangelist with his own Internet channel had last week visited a private Islamic-centric university in Shah Alam, Selangor, which is also under investigation for radical teachings after two students were arrested on suspicion of being Islamic State (IS) recruits planning a terror attack locally.

He is free to travel. He is not on [the] terror list here, the deputy home minister told Malay Mail Online when asked how Dr Zakir was allowed passage into Malaysia, despite being on the terror alert list in his home country, India.

He has been reported by several Indian newspapers to be on the run to avoid prosecution in India.

The Salafist preacher has also been banned from several countries like Bangladesh, Canada and the UK.

Dr Zakir, who was honoured by the Malaysian government with the 2013 Tokoh Maal Hijrah award, visited the Al Madinah International University campus on December 14 and was given a warm welcome by its management.

Source : Malaymail Online
English statesman Lord Palmerstone has rightly proficed long time back that nations have no permanent friends or allies, they have only permanent national interests. This implies internationally that diplomacy is a dynamic affair.

Nations evaluate and re-evaluate their preferences in international arena and then strategise what is best for them at that time and place. There is no romantism in diplomacy, it has to be pragmatic and cold blooded.

Russia, which has been our closest friend and ally since decades, it was Indo-Soviet peace treaty which desisted US Seventh Fleet from saving Pakistan from a horrendous defeat at the hands of the Indian Army in 1971. However, the same Russia is now hobnobbing with Indias two known enemies namely China and Pakistan.

On 27 Dec 2016, Russia, Pakistan and China are having a peace talk in Islamabad in which they may declare a major role for Taliban in future government of Afghanistan that will be music to Pakistani ears but against ours and current Afghan governments interest.

It is common knowledge that Pakistan has been sheltering the Mullah Omars Taliban since 2001 as also the Haqqani network both operating in Afghanistan from their sanctuaries located in Pakistan, doing their jihad against the Afghan government forces and the American troops assisting them. They are responsible for killing number of American and NATO troops operating in Afghanistan.

Mullah Omar the spiritual head of Taliban had died two years back but Pakistani intelligence agency ISI kept this fact hidden lest there starts a turf war within Taliban. It is worth remembering that Afghan Taliban is the creation of Pakistani Army from those Pashtuns of Afghanistan who took shelter in Pakistan during soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

After the departure of Soviets from Afghanistan, the Pakistani Army helped Taliban capture power in Afghanistan where they ruled for three years. They gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden. Only when Osama did 9/11, the US attacked Afghanistan and threw out Taliban rule. Pakistan quietly accommodated them in Quetta to be reinstated at a later opportune date.

Now, Pakistan wants Taliban as part of the ruling dispension in Afghanistan. It knows that Taliban will be its Trojan horse. Sooner than later it will again rule whole of Afghanistan something that will be against Indias interest.

Pakistan made a considered decision to go closer to Russia after it was caught red handed by Americans giving shelter to Osama Bin Laden in its military town of Abbotabad in 2011. Americans launched a raid and killed Osama Bin Laden.

Initially, Russia did not show any inclination to come closer to Pakistan due to Indian factor. However, now with India coming closer to the US, it looks like Russia has changed its stance.

In September this year, it did a joint military exercise with the Pakistani army. It has sold four MI-17 helicopters to Pakistan. What should be worrying India is that Pakistan is more or less a colony of China now? Russia till date had close relations with China but kept a respectable distance from Pakistan. Looks like, this equation is changing now. Russia is also showing interest in joining China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

India has a major stake in Afghanistan it must not allow Taliban to walk in. Towards this end it must convince the US of having no truce with Taliban as also the Haqqani network. At the same time in conjunction with Iran and Afghanistan India must revive Northern Alliance of yesteryears composed of Tajik, Uzbek and Hazara tribes of Afghanistan, which form 48% of its population in the north Afghanistan.

Then at least India will have a base from where demand of division of Afghanistan can be raised. Then table will get turned on Pakistan because if demand of greater Pakhtoonistan gets revived then not only Afghanistan but Pakistan will also shed large part of its area where Pakhtoons reside.

Source : Merinews
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The Czech president has linked recent attacks in Europe to the continuing influx of migrants escaping war-torn, poverty-stricken countries.

Milos Zeman told Czechs in his annual Christmas speech on Monday that "today almost no-one doubts the connection between the migration wave and terrorist attacks".
Donald Trump has said the United Nations is just a club for people to "have a good time", days after the world body voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The US president-elect said on Twitter that the UN had "such great potential", but had become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!".

On Friday, billionaire property mogul Mr Trump warned: "As to the UN, things will be different after January 20th" - referring to the day he takes office.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's UN vote brushed aside Mr Trump's demands that the US exercise its Security Council veto and provided a climax to years of icy relations with Israel's leadership.

Mr Trump said last December that he wanted to be "very neutral" on Israel-Palestinian issues. But his tone became decidedly more pro-Israel as the presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

His tweet on Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member organisation.

This year the Security Council has approved more than 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorising the UN's far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world.

The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues like the role of diamonds in fuelling conflicts, condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea and authorised an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Mr Trump's criticism of the UN is by no means unique. While the organisation does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy.

It has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

Mr Trump tweeted later on Monday: "The world was gloomy before I won - there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10 percent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!".

Markets are up since Mr Trump won the presidential election, although not quite by that much. The Standard & Poor's 500 is up about 6% since election day, while the Dow has risen more than 8%.

As for holiday spending, auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed one trillion dollars, representing a 3.6-4% increase in holiday sales from November through January.

The president-elect is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

- AP
By John F. Di Leo -



When the news media learned that there had been a late-night break-in at Speaker Nancy Pelosis San Francisco mansion and even a physical attack on her husband, they jumped on the story.

An attack on a Democrat leaders heavily-guarded home and her spouse within? Ten days before the midterms? What a godsend! In this era of terrible news and even worse polls for the Democrats, this might just be the twist to change the messaging and eke out some victories in this election.

So, before much was known, the message went out that Republican rhetoric and Trumpian extremism had struck again, and the poor defenseless elderly Speakers spouse, 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, was attacked and beaten by some MAGA-hat-wearing right-winger in his own home at 2:30 am Friday, leaving him with skull fractures needing immediate surgery.

The White House and Congressional leaders immediately joined in, trumpeting the official January 6 based line that right-wing political violence is the greatest danger to our country, jeopardizing everything from the coming election to our very way of life.

And then the truth started to come out.
Bubbles of methane rise to the surface when you probe mud in stagnant pools. This marsh gas is two dozen times more powerful, as a heat trapper, than carbon dioxide. The Arctic permafrost is melting, releasing vast quantities of methane into the atmosphere. Oil drilling and town dumps emit the gas. So do farm animals.

There are about 1.5bn cattle and 1bn sheep worldwide and their numbers are increasing. Vegetarian animals face a digestive challenge; stomach acids cant break down plant-cell walls. Cattle sheep and deer evolved fermentation chambers, known as rumens, in which bacteria attack plant fibres.

Methane, which the animal belches into the atmosphere, is a by-product of the process.

Your typical cow produces around 200 litres of the gas daily. Up to 60% of the methane produced by human activity comes from livestock, so how will we keep global temperatures to within 2C of pre-industrial levels if current agricultural practices continue?

The situation is particularly acute here; a third of Irish greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. Unless we find a solution to the belching problem, we wont meet our international obligations. There will be substantial fines.

During the 1970s, it seemed that an iconic animal from down under might be able to help. Kangaroos, like our livestock, have fore-guts in which plant cells are broken down, although marsupials dont chew the cud. Their gut bacteria, however, produce mainly acetic acid which the hosts go on to digest. Very little methane was expelled, scientists thought. Wallabies seemed to produce 80% less of the gas than cattle.

Kangaroo meat is exported to more than 50 countries. Using kangaroos to produce low-emission meat is an option for the Australian rangeland and could even have global application, claimed a study by the University of New South Wales in 2008.

The worlds chefs could help solve the methane problem by producing tasty kangaroo-meat dishes to wean us off beef and mutton. Fast food outlets of the future might sell marsupial burgers, and kangaroo roasts could become the piece de resistance on great occasions. Wallabies have survived on Lambay since they were introduced there decades ago. Could these aliens replace beef cattle in Irish fields?

Cattle and sheep are not to blame for methane production, however. The bacteria in their rumens are the real culprits, so researchers began examining the gassy guts of marsupials to identify them. The bacteria in the rumens of livestock, it was hoped, might be replaced by ones taken from kangaroos.

It was a tall order; the ancestral lines of the placental and marsupial mammals diverged around 140m years ago and the two have very different histories. Fore-gut bacteria are finely adapted to their hosts.

Introducing alien ones would mean undoing millions of years of refined adaptation but, with the global warming crisis deepening by the day and no other solution in sight, scientists seemed prepared to clutch at any straw.

Then a study carried out at Copenhagen Zoo put a spanner in the works. It seemed to show that the basis of the marsupial research was fundamentally flawed. Kangaroos, the Danish researchers claimed, produce just as much methane as cattle.

They dont belch out the gas, they fart it. Ten kangaroos, placed in sealed rooms at the Fowlers Gap Research Station in Australia, confirmed the finding.

When all the gases the animals produced, and those released from their dung, were measured, they were found to contain only slightly less methane than what normal livestock produce. Kangaroos probably dont have a unique micro-biome, one scientist reluctantly concluded.

The research focus has now shifted again. Its thought that methane production may not depend entirely on gut bacteria after all, but on how food passes through the marsupial stomach.

The methane emissions problem remains as acute as ever. Kangaroos cant help, but is there another creature which can?
Mike Madigan, who heads the Democratic Party and is about as popular statewide as tooth decay, is busy recruiting liberal gazillionaires to meet the challenge.

Rauner, an ultra-rich venture capitalist, has money to burn. And the person it will scorch is whatever Democrat takes him on.

Hes sending a message. Whatever Democrat considers taking him on will be attacked relentlessly.

We are two years out from the 2018 elections and he deposited $50 million into his own campaign coffers. Why so much, so soon?

There is Chris Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, and then there is J.B. Pritzker, an heir of the Hyatt hotel fortune. Both men, unlike Rauner, were born to great wealth.

It will be interesting if either of these fellows run. Somehow, I doubt it.

Why? Whoever challenges Rauner should expect to be attacked relentlessly. If you are a rich guy living a comfortable life, why would you put yourself through that? And its worth noting that neither Kennedy nor Pritzker have ever run for office before.

The interesting thing is that despite his loaded campaign coffers, Bruce Rauner is vulnerable.

First off all, mid-term elections almost always favor the party that doesnt hold the White House. And given the animosity Democratic voters hold toward Donald Trump, particularly in blue states like Illinois, Rauner will likely be swimming against the tide.

It doesnt mean he will drown, but it will be a tougher race than when he first captured the Executive Mansion.

And I make that statement reluctantly. Of all of the governors who have served in my lifetime, he comes the closest to matching my own libertarian ideology.

I want government out of my wallet and out of our private lives.

But Illinoisans are weary of the constant war between Madigan and Rauner.

Rauner views his election as a voter indictment of the longtime political boss, who he blames for Illinois fiscal ills.

And hes right for blaming Madigan. But Rauner has done a poor job of messaging about why he is engaged in this struggle. Ive covered every governor since James R. Thompson and this administration has done the worst job by far of sharing its vision for the state.

Because of this, voters view this conflict as a personality clash between two egos rather than a conflict between divergent political philosophies.

Madigan is hell-bent on making sure Rauner has no successes to run on when he seeks re-election. And the people of Illinois are suffering for it.

Many voters have taken to viewing Madigan like mildew on the shower curtain. They dont like it, but its hard to get rid of so they just put up with it.

While they may agree with much of what Rauner is trying to accomplish  term limits, independent redistricting and lower property taxes -- they may view Rauner as the more expendable part of the equation in ending the strife in Springfield.

Yes, Rauner is vulnerable.

I anticipate the next two years of the Rauner administration will look pretty much like the last two. The state will fall further behind in paying its bills and we will go four-years-straight without a state budget.

The majority in the legislature will do everything it can to block any Rauner endeavor.

And dont be surprised if state workers go on strike in the middle of this chaos.

Madigan, who collects power the way some grandmothers collect buttons, has every interest in continuing to stir the chaos. After all, Rauner is a threat to his power.

Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse journalist. He works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area and can be reached at ScottReeder1965@gmail.com.
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Throughout our stay in various universities in China, the Ghanaian and Chinese professors actually cannot understand why Ghana is still struggling to move from poverty, with all her strong relationship with the People's Republic of China.

Some of us here can attest to the fact that China is fast developing and our country can learn a lot based on the good diplomatic relationship between these two countries and it will take a leader, someone who knows the terrain of lobbying for direct foreign investment in China to perform such a task. We the Ghanaian youth in China believe that Prof. Gyansah is the best man to make the dream of our great leader and the President elect, Nana Addo to come to pass as the Ghana Ambassador to China. Our country Ghana is lacking a holistic and a futuristic development because for some time now we have been led by visionless leaders with poor lobbying skills, absence of rule of law and others but with Prof. Gyansah leading the Ghana mission in China, we see a great future where our country is will prosper with more foreign investments in Ghana, good welfare of Ghanaians in China and the NPP fraternity at large.

In view of these we are appealing strongly to the President elect and his able team to consider Prof. Lawrence Gyansah for the position of Ghana Ambassador to China, where good diplomatic relations between China and Ghana can be deepened. We believe Ghana can learn so many things from China to make the implementation of the one district one factory policy which is the vision of our President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and his running mate Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia easily.

In fact, these vision will seem to be impossible for those with myopic brains but with Prof. Gyansah, it is possible.

China is now an industrial giant in the world because of its visionary leaders. It is for this reason that we the youth of the China branch of NPP think, Ghana needs hard working, vibrant, results oriented, tried and tested individuals who have achieve a lot in their field of endeavors and who have excellent knowledge of business dynamics as well as the industrial zones in China and is well connected internationally to serve as an Ambassador. Ghana is tired of exporting agricultural products. It is about time we begin exporting industrial and manufacturing products into the world market and to do this, we need more Foreign direct investments. These can only happen if we have somebody with the kind of links that can make this a reality.

In China we can boast of so many Ghanaians who are capable and have the required track records to work in this capacity to meet the demand of this position, who is also a true blue party men and understands the vision of Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and the NPP at large. These brings to mind Prof. Lawrence Gyansah, a Ghanaian who is living in China, a strong supporter of our great party, whose contribution to our party has been enormous. He has served in various capacities to help our party as being a deputy communications director for the China branch.

He is very strong, optimistic, encouraging and promise fulfilling when it comes to party issues. He has dedicated his whole life both private and political to serve Ghanaians and the party with humility. Professor Lawrence Gyansah, is a philosopher, an initiator and a researcher from W.V.S Tubman University, college of Engineering and Technology.

He was born in Asiakwa, in the Eastern Region of Ghana in the year 1979. Between 2009 and 2012, he served as a director and a supervisor to positron Engineering Services limited and JAGOKS engineering and Trading limited respectively.

From 2011 to 2013, he was a professional service provider to Rutgers University of New Jersey, USA and Professor to the University of Liberia, T.J.R Faulkner college of science and Technology, Division of Engineering, Liberia which was sponsored by USAID.

He is also a member of a lot of professional bodies such as Association of Engineering Doctorates(AEngD). From 2008 to 2010, lectured at the University of mines and Technology and Regional Maritime University, Accra, Ghana. He served as an ROV Pilot in Offshore Engineering Company at Scotland in 2011. His research interest includes fatigue analysis of structures, finite element modeling, gradient materials and Nanotechnology.

Professor Lawrence Gyansah is an author and co-author of numerous referred research publications in international Journals and international conferences. He has won various International awards and has served in various boards with both local and International capacities. All these while he was very instrumental in organizing the party at the grassroots both home and abroad. China is a country that is blessed with talent and has a huge population to serve as a big domestic market for Chinese companies.

Now because of Globalization, all companies in the world and for that matter Chinese companies are looking forward to invest in countries but because of various barriers and lack of political will of host countries to give friendly environment to these companies, they are often afraid to do so especially when it comes to investing in some parts of Africa.

With Ghana advancing in democracy, there is a stable political atmosphere. With Nana Addo Steering the affairs of the country, we are going to see good governance and rule of law. We believe Ghana will be a preferred investment destination in Africa and the world within the next few months ahead of us for Chinese companies. This is the time we need highly spirited men like Prof. Gyansah to serve Ghana as an Ambassador.

Over the years Ghana has not been taking full advantage of China-Ghana relationship. But we believe with Nana Addo and His Running Mate Steering the affairs of the country, there is going to be a paradigm shift and Prof. Gyansah is ever ready to persuade more investors from China to invest in all sectors of the economy.

This is what he is into and is not going to be difficult for him to be given this appointment because he is poised for this position. Almost all Ghanaian students in China feels at home because of him. He is always seeking the welfare of Ghanaian students in various universities, moving from campus to campus to make sure things are in order for some of us.

Negotiating for scholarships for students both Partial and Full and a lot more. We believe if such a person is appointed as an Ambassador, Ghanaian communities in China will be more than happy than ever.

With the one district one factory initiative which is the vision of our leader, we believe we can contribute a lot to make that a reality. Ghana has a lot of bilateral agreements with China with both countries having a friendly relationship. In fact, the amount of economic support both countries receive from each other is beyond imagination, in terms of trade, technology and so on. We believe this is the time we transform these relations into developments.

......Signed..........

Philip Agyei Peprah

(Press Secretary)

Tel: 008617857180156

Mr. Moses Antwi

(2nd Vice Chairman NPP China Branch)

Tel: 008618353224318

Andrews Baidoo.

(Dept. Press Secretary)

Tel: 008615528360044.

Bright Nkrumah

(Communication Director)

Tel: 008613259757735

Boakye Joseph Danquah

(Team Coordinator)

Tel: 008615735462728
Tema, Dec 26, GNA - The Workers Unions of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) have schooled journalists on the operations of the two strategic state institutions.

The two workers union also exposed journalists to technical operations of TOR and BOST whilst debunking some negative media reportage chunked out by some journalists as results of misunderstandings of practical operations of the two companies.

Mr John Elton Botwey, Chairman of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) at TOR, flanked by Mr Abdul Rahman, Chairman of BOST Senior Staff Union and Mr Bernard Owusu, National Chairman of the GTPCWU took turns to educate the journalists on the Profit Sharing Policy of the two Companies.

Other issues are: BOST/TOR Profitability Strategy, TOR Production Capacity, TOR/BOST performance under deregulation, and Fuel Security under Mr Kwame Awuah Darko's leadership of TOR/BOST.

Mr Botwey noted that fuel security under the current leadership of Mr Awuah Darko has improved with consistent fuel supply for the past 30 months leading to Government effectively controlling the supply side of the market forces under deregulation 'No more emergency cargoes by the Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs).

TOR's production has been also boosted from 28,000 barrels per day to 45,000 barrels per day and progressively moving towards 60,000 targets with the commercialization of the F61 facility.

The TOR and BOST Unions said as a result of the synergy between two entities 'there is about $100 million cut in importation of finished petroleum products for each month'.

Mr Botwey also explained that BOST and TOR saved the country about $1.1 billion under 12 months of deregulating fuel price which would have gone into just consumption of fuel as subsidy.

Mr Rahman noted that the TOR/BOST Profit Sharing Policy was management motivational mechanism whip-up workers to give out their maximum and also to retain best hands in the two companies.

He said the Board of Directors through the management share friction of the profit of the companies with staffs across board; 'it has worked like magic, moral is very high hence our ability to hit production targets'.

The two Unions also used the occasion to debunk negative reportage in a section of the media describing such publications as 'mercenary journalism targeting at destroying the reputation of the Managing Director and the two companies for political gains.

'Ghana and workers will be the losers at the end of the propagandist media attack of the BOST and TOR, hence workers joining forces to defend the national strategic assets'.

Mr Owusu appealed to media practitioners to uphold the tenets of the profession - objectivity and cross check documents before publication.

GNA

By Francis Ameyibor, GNA
Accra, Dec. 26, GNA - The Christ Apostolic Church International (CACI) will celebrate its centenary anniversary in the year 2017, Mr Cephas N. Dosoo, the Secretary to the Odonkor Central branch of the CACI has announced in Accra.

He said the event would be on the theme: '100 years of Impacting the World through Pentecostalism'.

Mr Dosoo, who is also the Secretary of the Centenary Planning Committee, noted that: "there will be prayer sessions to prelude the anniversary activities from 2nd January to 8th January, 2017, where all pastors of CACI will converge at Asamankese, pray for the Church, the nation and the success of the centenary celebration".

He made the announcement at an End of Year Dinner hosted by the Christ Business Network (CBN), a Christian movement with the mandate of mobilizing professionals within the CACI for fellowship, networking and service.

Mr Dosoo who was briefing CBN members on the preparations towards the celebration, said the anniversary would be officially launched on 11th February, 2017.

He outlined activities lined up for the centenary launch to include: the launch of a book on the 'History of Pentecostalism in Ghana' as well as a CACI Anniversary Album'.

Mr Dosoo said other activities to mark the celebration at the National, Circuit, Area and Territorial level from March to November 2017 include; Quiz competitions, Health Talks, House to House Evangelism, Clean up exercises, Praise and Worship Nights, Awards and Thanksgiving services.

It also includes Children's Ministry Fun Games, the Anim Memorial Lectures, Youth Convention and Blood donation and Women's Ministry Convention.

Professor Geoffrey Emi-Reynolds, the Chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee and Territorial Deacon of the Accra East Territory of CACI, indicated the Committees' preparedness to tap into the rich and varied expertise of members of CBN.

He therefore, appealed to the members of CBN to contribute their quota - both human and material resources - towards the successful implementation of the centenary celebrations.

In his welcome address, Mr Theophilus Appiah- Agyei, the President of CBN said the group's vision was to be an immediate source of resource; both human and material, for the body of Christ.

He said the end of year dinner formed part of CBN's networking and fellowship sessions to promote unity among members.

Touching on the achievements of CBN, Mr Appiah-Agyei said CBN in its first year of existence had been duly registered, inaugurated with elected leadership, and has a draft welfare policy document pending acceptance by the CBN General Assembly in April 2017.

He said CBN had a promulgated working constitution, adding that 'we intend to form a strategic planning committee at the upcoming General Assembly in April, 2017, to develop a strategic plan for the group'.

In attendance were Mr Albert Owusu Boateng, a founding member of CBN and Mr Chezrie Takyi Degraft, founding member of CBN and executive member of the National Youth Ministry of CACI.

By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Dec 26, GNA - The Labone Leo Club, an international youth club, on Monday donated provisions and stationery to the Chosen Children's Centre in Darkuman.

Leo Lynus Affotey-Annang, the President of the Labone Leo Club said that the donation was one of its humanitarian services to the community this season.

"As part of our 23rd chatter anniversary celebration, we intended to support the less privileged in our society and we came to discover the Chosen Children Centre.

'Although the initial intention was to provide the Centre with a library, we found that the Centre had more pressing needs which were basic," he said, adding that so the Club donated books, a wooden shelf, food items, mattresses and first aid kit to the Centre.

Mrs Gertrude Mensa-Bonsu, the Managing Director of the Centre, said that there were 55 children being catered for at the Centre.

The Centre provides the children with food, home, and education.

She added that the Children's Center was mainly made up of children whose parents were in the rehab center and children who were abandoned on the street.

Mrs Mensa-Bonsu also said that the main source of funding for the Centre was donations and it has survived on donations over the years.

Lion Frank Ayivor, the President of the Lion's Club, reiterated the club's commitment to the community, saying, "over the years we have had eye screenings, hospital visits, donations, scholarships and many other humanitarian projects as our commitment is serving the community".

Leo Anthony Dennis Eklu, a former President of the Labone Leo Club, noted that the Club embarked on an average of 15 humanitarian services yearly.

This, he said, was sometimes done in collaboration with other Leo or Lion clubs.

Gertrude Mensa-Otabil commended the Labone Leo Club for its initiative and encouraged other organizations to support the Centre.

GNA

By Caroline Pomeyie, GNA
The Patriotic Alliance Movement (PAM) wishes to inform all NPP faithful, party activists, constituents in Weija Gbawe constituency and the general public to disregard the story captioned GIRLS GIRLS FOR NANA-ADDO WARNS TINA MENSAH published on Modern Ghana Website by Wilfred Otoo.

The said story is false and based on lies concocted by some saboteurs in Weija Gbawe constituency. To put on record, there is no group by name GIRLS GIRLS FOR NANA ADDO in Weija Gbawe constituency. The only group in the constituency which existed and operated in similar manner as "GIRLS GIRLS FOR NANA established by Otiko Afisa Dzaba was GIRLS GIRLS FOR TINA which is now calledLADIES FOR TINA after the NPP won the December 7 elections.

PAM wishes to state emphatically that, the said story was published in bad faith by some cowards in the Weija Gbawe Constituency; therefore the story should not be given the needed attention as it lacks credibility.

According to leadership of GIRLS GIRLS FOR TINA now " LADIES FOR TINA", and "V16" they have not issued out any warning to any person be it, the President Elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo or the MP Elect, Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah, hence the said story is untrue.

The leadership of the groups, further debunked the assertion that, Hon. Patrick Kumor, the first Vice Chair of the Weija Gbawe branch of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who doubled as the campaign manager for the just ended general elections which saw the NPP as winners is a womanizer. This reckless statement is unfortunate and lacks the merit for it to be considered as the truth.

Just for the records, Mr. Patrick Kumor is happily married with a daughter, therefore for any person or group of persons to make this weird allegation has or have evil intention against him and the party at large.

The same story went ahead to lay false claim that, the MP Elect, Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley met a group of Assembly members and told them to support her as she makes frantic efforts to ensure that Mr. Patrick Kumor becomes the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga South Municipal Assembly.

This is a complete lie in the highest order framed by pathological liars. The fact of the matter is that, it is the Assembly Members lead by Hon. Patrick Baidoo, the Assembly man for New Gbawe Electoral area that called on the MP Elect to convey their congratulatory and fare well messages to the MP Elect on her election as Member of Parliament for the constituency. The nomination of the Municipal Chief Executive was not among the issues discussed at the said meeting.

PAM, however, calls on Hon. Patrick Baidoo, the Assembly man for New Gbawe Electoral area and Mr. Taofik Latiff (Feeky), deputy "V16" coordinator who are behind the publication to apologize to all for peddling such falsehood about the MP Elect for Weija Gbawe constituency and Mr. Patrick Kumor, the constituencys first vice chairman.

Mr. Patrick Kumor, has risen through the rank and file of our great party to come this far, therefore he deserves to be accorded the needed respect. You may disagree with him on some issues but to the extent of manufacturing lies to tarnish his hard earned reputation.

Thank you

.signed

Kwesi Amoako-Agyapong (KAA)

Spokes Person for PAM
Just Land is an online/offline platform that provides fast, affordable, efficient and reliable services for thousands of vulnerable families to legally register their lands and obtain land documents in few days avoiding long bureaucratic procedures, cheating and corruption in Ghana.

Janix Kwabena Asare is a Professional GIS Consultant/Advocate, a Social Entrepreneur and a YALI Fellow who invented Just Land. This disruptive innovation was awarded by the HiiL Innovating Justice as the innovation with most impact in West Africa in during the 2016 Boostcamp held in Lagos, Nigeria on 29th September, 2016.

About 75% of all lands in Ghana are unregistered. Whether you are rich or poor, literate or illiterate if you are ignorant of the legal land acquisition/registration process you easily lose huge sums of money, properties, your land and even your life due to the tens of thousands of land ownership disputes in Ghana.

However, those mostly affected are the urban poor. Normally the only thing poor people own is their land. In Ghana, most land disputes have been caused by traditional leaders and individuals selling one land to more than one person. About 2% of land buyers ascertain the following information before purchasing a land. First, land ownership; second, the legal processes involved in the acquisition/sale of a land and; third, the suitability of a land for a purpose. This is defrauding the buyers. Land Litigation cases are rampant among court cases. Land disputes and litigation are causing troubles within and among families, communities and ethnic groups all over the country. There has been a lot of demolishing exercises carried out; flooding, and tidal waves raiding lands. These as results lead to the loss of huge sums of money due to the destruction of business infrastructures and houses which affect the financial status of people, their family and their SMEs. The major contributing factors are long bureaucratic processes, inadequate finances, ignorance and illiteracy across families.

Through Just Land online platform, individuals and organizations are provided with information on the details of the suitability of a land for a particular purpose, the legal land owner, the boundaries of a land as well as the legal step-by-step registration process involved in land acquisition. Just Land offers services for land buyers to verify the authenticity of Allocation Papers offer accurate Site Plan Design, Building Plans Design, and Cadastral Survey as well as acquire Lease and Building Permits.

Just Land is unique because it provides land buyers Just Lines (help lines) for them to call and send messages for free information or guide on legal land acquisition. Just Land also provides geoform (location based form) for land buyers to make on-site inquiries about land(s) of interest. Just Land informs land buyers about and the legal status of the land. For example if a land is not registered, is there a litigation issue? It also incorporates Geotrigger/Geofencing features that make land information readily available to the buyers while they are on the site of the land of interest. Users can choose when and at what times they would like to receive alerts about the land information.

Just Pad is also a mobile handheld field survey device designed for Land Surveying, Site Suitability Analysis and Building Inspection. Just Pad includes Just Land software installation, GIS and GPS capabilities.

Key Activities of Just Land are: Research, Open-Ended Discussions and Partnership with stakeholders in Land Management: Traditional Chief Stool Land Owners, Town and Country Planning, Lands Commission, Law Court, Assembly Men/Women as well as the Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI). Also, there is Land Information data collection into Just Land platform and Just Pad. Last but not least, educating and engaging community members on the legal step-by-step registration process involved in land acquisition through Community meeting, and the Mass Media.

In the next 5-10 years Just Land seeks to register 60,000 Lands, save countless and priceless lives, save families properties and funds worth 8.9 Billion US Dollars lost due to land ownership disputes. Just Land- Just for You

Source: https://innovatingjustice.com/en/news/six-boostcamps-held-across-africa-ukraine
The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Kwame Awuah Darko, has asked staff of the company to prepare for his exit as a new government takes over the reign of the country next year.

He is, therefore, asking the staff to give their maximum support and cooperation to his successor, whoever that maybe.

Addressing staff at the companys end of year thanksgiving service at Tema, Awuah Darko, who contested and lost the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NDC in 2012, said Im sure this will be the last time I address you at Christmas as your Managing Director. Change has come we must all support that change and work accordingly.

The comment was met with grumblings of regret from the staff as he continued by saying, and sometime; I dont know how long its going to be, but youll have the pleasure of being introduced to a new leader. I beg you, I pray, I urge you to give that person all the support and commitment above what you have given me.

This announcement is coming at a time when the refinery is preparing to refine crude from the Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) oil field this week.

TOR has taken delivery of one million barrels of first crude being produced from the TEN project. The product would be sold on the Ghanaian market when refined. This is coming amidst skepticism from some players in the oil and gas industry over TORs ability to refine crude from Ghanas Jubilee and TEN fields which are of premium quality.

The Managing director says the refinery is in a position to refine such grade of crude following major expansion and repair works.

At the beginning of this year, if anybody had said that TOR would be refining 7 million barrels and would have an extra 1 million barrels of ten crude sitting down to wait, nobody would have believed us, he touted.

He also disclosed plans to increase production capacity of crude to between 16 and 18 million barrels in 2017.

because of the expansion capacity we have, we are planning to do between 16 and 18 million barrels of crude oil processing in 2017, he said .

This would be realized after the refinery undergoes its turnaround maintenance program scheduled for February 2017.

As at 2015, the estimate on the refinerys books stood at GHC 1.6 billion, Mr. Awuah Darko in May 2016, announced steps being taken by the company to offset its debts in the next 10 years, after recording $800,000 profit between February and April.

The introduction of the Energy Debt Recovery Levy would also aid in paying off the debts.
Beni (DR Congo) (AFP) - The official explanation for a two-year wave of massacres in a restive corner of DR Congo centres on a shadowy rebel group accused of having ties to the global jihadist underground.

But some basic details about the alleged killers of more than 700 victims -- the latest over the Christmas weekend -- haven't quite convinced observers and experts.

The truth, they say, is more complicated and may lead all the way to the halls of power in the vast, mineral-rich and chronically unstable central African nation.

UN experts, referring to the claimed jihadist links in past reports, have simply stated: "There is no proof of this allegation."

But that has not stopped the Democratic Republic of Congo's leadership and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO from blaming the bloodbath around the town of Beni, in the country's strife-torn northeast, on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Secrecy shrouds the group, which is dominated by hardline Ugandan Muslims who were initially focused on overthrowing Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.

The group went on to absorb other rebel factions into its ranks and started carrying out attacks in 1995. Gradually pushed westwards by the Ugandan army, the ADF relocated most of its activities to DR Congo.

Residents find the body of a woman near the site of a clash between the Congolese army and suspected Ugandan rebels in Beni on October 10, 2016

When the Beni massacres started in October 2014, with most of the victims hacked to death, the ADF was quickly branded the culprit by both Congolese authorities and MONUSCO.

More than two years on, the government and the UN have been unable to protect civilians from the attacks, and the ADF remains the only official explanation -- with Kinshasa insisting on a jihadist link to the killings.

Army troops involved?

Many ADF recruits -- who were drawn this year from Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and as far as Somalia -- were not hardcore ideologues but young Muslims lured by the promise of going to study in Saudi Arabia, an intelligence agent and civil society source told AFP.

Meanwhile, the ADF has not claimed any of the Beni massacres, and no experts working on DR Congo have found a link between the group and the global jihadist underground.

"It's paradoxical," a civil society source in Beni told AFP, pointing to groups like Islamic State's claims of violence committed in its name.

Pinning the blame on jihadists "seems too simplistic", he said on condition of anonymity fearing for his safety, like most Congolese who spoke to AFP.

Others have gone further, alleging that government agents have a role in the killing.

A group run by US researcher Jason Stearns published a report in March claiming several distinct groups "appear to be involved in the massacres", including soldiers from the regular army.

It said members of the Congolese army, former rebels from the RCD-K/ML group -- who held the area during the 1998-2003 Second Congo War -- and local militias were all involved in the mass killings.

The government rejected the claims and said the ADF was "definitely" responsible for the massacres. Stearns was expelled from DR Congo after the report's release.

'Why these horrible killings?'

Three AFP journalists were strongly advised by a senior local security official to not delve too deeply into the area's security matters.

In an interview with AFP, Beni's Mayor Bwanakawa Nyonyi said he believes the massacres are carried out by a nebulous group, with politically-motivated "Congolese hands" behind them. He refused to say more about the suspects or their motives.

"Why these horrible killings?" asked the mayor.

In explaining the violence, some have cited struggles for control of trafficking in various industries like timber, agricultural produce or minerals in a region with extremely rich potential.

A group of UN experts has repeatedly questioned whether the Congolese military was involved in the trafficking in various industries or in some massacres. The group has also incriminated local militias in some killings that were allegedly linked to land disputes.
President-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, will today [Tuesday], be in the Western Region to thank the chiefs of people for their support and prayers in the just ended polls that resulted in his victory.

He will meet the Regional House of Chiefs at Sekondi before meeting some other identifiable groups in the region.

The visit to the region comes two days after he returned from the three regions of the North.

From the Western Region, Nana Akufo-Addo will visit the Central and Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, before the week ends.

Nana Akufo-Addo has already addressed members of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs, Volta Regional House of Chiefs, and has been to the three regions of the North, as well as the Ashanti Region, where he met the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The President-elects thank you tour follows his comprehensive victory in the 2016 general elections.

He is expected to be sworn in on January 7, 2017.



By: Sammi Wiafe/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Wife of Ghanas Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Hajia Hawudu Boya has denied allegations she fired gun shots in her neighbourhood to discourage noise-making in a church.

The incident which occurred in Tamale on Christmas Day is said to have caused a lot of panic among congregants of the Spring of Life Assembly Church.

Pastor of the church Yakubu Iddrisu, in an interview with Joy News claims she first fired tear gas at them before firing gunshots.

On 25th December at around 10 in the morning when we were having praises, we noticed that there was a strange gas, a strange irritating smell which we suspect was pepper spray or tear gas"

It came so strong that people started coughing, others were coughing and collapsing, the pastor said.

He said three members went to investigate the source of the gas and it was found out that it came from the Deputy Ambassadors house.

The delegation proceeded to the house, to question why they were being teargassed, it was there that Madam Boya stormed out of her house and fired warning shots in the air.

Pastors account



But Madam Boya denied the allegations. She said she rather was attacked.

Madam Boya said she has complained incessantly, to the pastor and pleaded with them to reduce the noise but nothing has changed.

She then informed the police who came to warn the congregation, yet they didnt stop.

On that particular day, Madam Boya said  I sent someone to go and tell them to minimize the noise, they beat up the boy and came back to my house".

She said her carpenter who was working on her wall was pulled down by some of the church members.

Madam Boya's account



Some of them were throwing stones into the house and beat up my security man. I never went there and so whatever they are saying is not true, she added.

Spokesperson for the Police in the Northern Region, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, says they are investigating the incident.

We have officially invited the two parties and we will meet tomorrow to address the issue, but we have asked the Spring of Life Assembly Church to minimise the noise.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | NSA
Contrary to expectations by many that politicians will spare us their usual fratricidal politics in this festive season, the opposite has been the case. One of such needless exchanges making waves is the internecine strife between newly elected MP for Weija Gbawe constituency, Tina Mensah and some youth groups of the NPP over who becomes the next MCE for Ga South.

Ordinarily, who becomes MCE for Ga South under an NPP government should not have bothered me or any member of the NDC, especially when our fledging but nascent democracy is fashioned around the notion of "winner takes all".

However, the tenets of democratic governance provide that when a party is elected to form the next governance, everybody, regardless of your party leanings, must contribute to the success of that administration. It is in the spirit of this that those of us in the Domeabra Obom find it very disturbing and nauseating that even before the president elect is yet to be sworn into office, all manner of lobbyists have been let loose to entice him into appointing certain personalities to positions.

Of particular interest in the scheme of things is the discussion on who becomes the next MCE for Ga South. It is worthy to mention that Ga South is made up of three constituencies, ie, Weija Gbawe constituency, Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro and Domeabra Obom.

Interestingly, out of the total number of Assembly men at the assembly, Domeabra Obom alone provides half of the membership, with the two constituencies sharing the remainder. Domeabra Obom, though located in Greater Accra, is the only "rural constituency" among the constituencies that make up the municipality.

It is also the most deprived and underdeveloped constituency among its peers. Due to the distance between Domeabra Obom and the other two constituencies, almost all the MCEs since 2004 when the district was created have concentrated on developing Weija Gbawe and Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro to the neglect of Domeabra Obom.

Other reasons account for this disturbing development. Since 2004, all three MCEs the district has produced have either come from Weija constituency or Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro. Domeabra Obom constituency has always been left out in the leadership role of the district. Though this constituency contributes a lot of resources to the district, all we get are crumps.

Needless to say, Domeabra Obom is the food basket of the other two constituencies. Not only that, the Hobor market also generates a lot of resources for the district. Despite all these contributions to the district, none of our compatriots have been seen worthy of heading the Assembly. The closest we have come to leading the assembly was last year when Mr Ahordagbe was elected Presiding member of the assembly.

Since 2004, all potential MCEs from Domeabra Obom who mustered courage to put themselves up for consideration were never considered by the NDC and NPP. The constituency has been left in the dark and all these two political parties have done was to use our dominating Assemblymen in pursuit of their agenda.

Prior to the 2012 election, almost everybody in the constituency realized that it was time we also produce MCE for Ga South. There are a lot of capable and competent personalities in the constituency to be considered for this post. That is to say, we are not lacking human resource.

Luckily for the people of Domeabra Obom, both President Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo visited the constituency during the just ended campaign. One of the major issues the chiefs of the area raised was how we have been shabbily treated in terms of the leadership of the assembly.

With this, the chiefs made two important demands in respect of the leadership of the assembly. First, the chiefs demanded that Domeabra Obom gets its own district assembly. Secondly, the chiefs also suggested that, while working on getting us our own assembly, the next MCE must come Domeabra Obom.

Both President Mahama and Nana Akufo Addo, in separate engagements, answered in the affirmative to these demands. They promised to be doers of their words when elected.

As faith would have it, Nana Akufo Addo won the December 7 election. As law abiding people of Domeabra Obom, we thought it was too early to start reminding Nana Akufo Addo of his promises. We were of the firm conviction that he is a man of integrity who takes his words and promises serious so there was the need to give him space to executive his mandate.

More so, he is yet to take office, and there are comparatively bigger tasks for him to executive than appointment of MCE for Ga South. But it appears our colleagues in the other two constituencies, particularly Weija Gbawe, are bent on repeating what they have done in the past.

Two NPP youth groups have accused Madam Tina Mensah of lobbying for her campaign manager who doubles as Weija Gbawe NPP first vice chairman, Patrick Kumoh, as MCE for Ga South. Ironically, neither Madam Tina Mensah nor Patrick Kumoh has come out to deny this allegation by their own party supporters. Instead, another NPP youth group, obviously acting on the orders of Tina Mensah and Patrick Kumoh, has debunked the allegation.

In the said "denial" press statement, the group extolled the virtues of Patrick Kumoh as wielding all attributes that can fetch him the MCE post. With this, it is clear that indeed some lobbying is ongoing to get Patrick Kumoh to get the node. Nana Akufo has promised to do away with the present mode of appointment of MMDCEs. He wants them to be elected by the people. To achieve this, the Local Government Act and article 243 of the 1992 constitution must be amended.

In the face of these hurdles, Nana Akufo Addo may at the initial stages of his presidency stick to the present mode of appointment of MMDCEs. This is where the people of Domeabra Obom need Nana Akufo Addo to demonstrate his commitment to the promise he made based on which he was elected.

Nana Akufo Addo must not bow to pressure and deny Domeabra Obom this great opportunity to demonstrate to the world that we can also put up a candidate to manage the assembly. We know that position is not our birth right, but it is only fair that we are also treated with dignity and respect like our counterparts in the other two constituencies.

Any attempt to deny Domeabra Obom the opportunity to produce the next MCE for Ga South will be met with strong resistance. We know as President (on and after January 7) Nana Akufo Addo reserves the constitutional right to determine who becomes the next MCE for the area. This is our humble appeal. We cannot afford to remain at the backstage of governance at the assembly. Madam Tina Mensah and her ilk should shelve their plans. It will not work this time round.

By Amos Blessing Amorse

Asabaham-Accra

[email protected]
27.12.2016 LISTEN

At long last, the battle has ended and the NPP has won the we are slightly leading election. There is no doubt that the 2016 election has signs of a Divine intervention. Indeed, Nana Addo rightly said the election was like a David and Goliath scenario with NPP being the David and NDC the Goliath. The truth must one day be told, the unprecedented nature of the NDCs campaigns agenda was vicious, criminal, and wicked. This was a party that made John Mahama a demagogue-John Mahamas image or picture was virtually on everything in Ghana. Additionally, they virtually bribed everyone and did not care about the repercussions. Interestingly, when the NDC was planning to rig the election-we are slightly leading-God was increasing the NPPs votes. Indeed, never in the history of our democratic dispensation has a government been so humiliated and fractured like the NDC in this 2016 election.

Now, Nana Addo and his advisors have the herculean task of assembling the best individuals that will parachute Nana Addo and the NPPs agenda of transforming the country. Seriously, anyone who thinks the problems confronting the country are not huge may be living in a different planet. Ghana is faced with huge and extraordinary challenges- ethnicity, corruption, unemployment, indiscipline, etc. How to deal with the avalanche of challenges confronting Ghana is seriously the headache of every patriotic Ghanaian. That is why the team Nana Addo is planning to assemble for his government is a daunting task. How to get people or persons who will strictly follow the blueprint or the road-map of transforming Ghana to be a better place than what we are witnessing now is significantly, by itself, a challenge.

The problems plaguing Ghana need an innovative approach from those individuals who will be fortunate enough to serve in this NPP administration. Truly, the country will not move forward if the status quo is maintained. That is why individuals with innovative and creative ethos are urgently needed to help push Nana Addos agenda. Obviously, sympathizers of NPP are anxiously waiting to see who makes it to Nana Addos government-would it be virtually the youth, or the same old faces or a mix? Of course, the babies with sharp teeth in the NDC government has given zero appetite to some to reject the youth block. Fortunately, in the NPP there is no babies with sharp teeth.

Clearly, expectations are deeply high, to the extent that even before Nana Addo announce his team, the usual Ghanaian speculations and heresy has suddenly become a trade for some media houses-many names are being bounded around. Shortly, Nana Addo will announce his ministers and other government appointees. Those individuals should be guided by innovation and an extraordinarily posture to resolve to make a difference in every facet of the Ghanaian economy. Yes, my National Youth Organizer, Sammy Awuku, has rightly said that the NPP won the election by taking the African route, but in governing this country we nonnegotiably need the Western style. Without creative thinking and innovation, our anticipated economic buoyance will be unattainable. Ghana need smart people; individuals who are desperately wishing to make an inerasable difference in the lives of a large percentage of the Ghanaian populace. Significantly, the NPP is a party that have individuals who know how to create money for the country. The reverse is true of the NDC who doesnt know how to create money, but knows how to chop the countrys money.

As Nana Addo and the NPP take over the duty of governing this precious country, let all those who will be fortunate enough to make it into Nana Addos team, to eschew arrogance and seriously embark on the path of innovation and creativity. We can do it with a strategic mindsets and a resolve to embark on the finest route to give comfort to all yearning Ghanaians.

Evidently, the NDC is going to come out swinging and will never allow the NPP an inch to breath, thus government appointees and my beloved NPP should be ready for the NDCs arsenals. It is against this background that with all humility plead with our NPP government appointees not to give a leverage for the NDC to ignite their propaganda apparatus and give a negative narrative to the NPP government.

The NPP can deliver and we must never fail the good people of Ghana.

Martin Kwaning

USA

Former TESCON President
Several indigenous practices that were deemed barbaric and inhumane like human sacrifice, slavery and other practices were outlawed because they were encapsulated in the quote of barbarism. What is more barbaric than massive abuse of the public office for private gains, plundering nations coffers, wrongful capital accumulation and thus becoming a charlatan and a chief bandit?

Introduction

Corruption in Africa has reached cancerous proportions. In fact, so pervasive is this

Phenomenon in the region that it has been labelled the AIDS of democracy which is destroying the future of many societies in the region. The corruption problem in Africa reflects the more general, and now legendary, climate of unethical leadership and bad governance found throughout most of the continent. (Kempe et al 2000).

There is massive immorality towards the civic public. Its quite obvious that within the era of the bullet and military generals, there were massive looting and banditry. The issue about rule of law, public accountability and good governance were thrown under a running vehicle. As a results Africas development was held in stagnation and retrogression. The crises was so great that the period was referred to as the lost decade. Standard of living plummeted country after country and by the mid-1980s the continents citizens were as poor or poorer that during the time of independence (bob milliar and bob milliar k 2013). Corruption was endemic as these chief bandits and heads of state landed hard on the nations coffers and looted massively. Gadhafi made a fortune of $60billion, Hosni Mubarak 42, Ben Ali $13billion, Mobutu Sesesoko, $10billion, Babangida in Nigeria $9billion, Nigeria again Sani Abacha, the butcher of Abuja $5billion, the major bandits have always been these military generals (see George Ayittey, Africas military scourge. San Francisco freedom forum.)

Ghana also experienced era of these military generals. But in 1979, some of these ex-military heads of states were executed by firing squad by FLT lieutenant JJ Rawlings due to cases of corruption during the governance and leadership of these generals and military coconut heads. But corruption even worsened.

Against this background, in the last decade and a half of the twentieth century Africas development was attributed to the politics not the economics. So there was a wind of democratization that was blowing. With which several African countries embraced democracy as a panacea for corruption. Because its been argued elsewhere that, intellectual reform, political reform, constitutional reform, institutional reform and economic reform were the necessary requirements for the combat corruption and make the continent a better palace( see George Ayittey (2011) speech, titled War on African Dictatorships, which he coins Ayittey Law)

But with respect to records, democracy has even created a spur for corruption to thrive. There is massive immorality towards the civic public. Several institutions in the Ghana are wallowing in corruption. This article will not look critically at corruption and development as it has been dealt with elsewhere. (See kemps et al 2000). But it looks briefly at the various corrupt activities and various dialectical views on this cancer. I then make my argument and suggestion that these public service occupants who swear an oath and normally with the Bible and Quran should be allowed to revisit the traditional cultures by swearing in with ANTOA a river goddess and thus see the nature of corruption after this approach.

PANDEMIC CORRUPTION IN GHANA: A BRIEF REFLECTION.

It was obvious that Ghana and Africa at large had a development impediment which was corruption. Corruption caused Africa massive setbacks, due to this democracy became the panacea for this ailment. Within this article drawing directly from kempe et al 2000, I define corruption based on the root Latin word to break, rumpere  which implies that something is badly broken. This something might be a moral or ethical code or, more often, an administrative rule or a law. The person who breaks it derives therefrom some recognizable benefit for him/herself, family, tribe, party, or some other relevant group.

Corruption as defined, the utilization of official positions or titles for personal or private gain, either on an individual or collective basis, at the expense of the public good, in violation of established rules and ethical considerations.

Several institutions in Ghana which are supposed to combat corruption are wallowing in this activity.

From the socio economic and governance survey, the police was the most corrupt public service, this was followed by the tax payers, office of the president, corrupt state officials, members of parliament, government officials, judges and magistrates, immigration and other public services. All these public services are wallowing in corruption. Graphic online on 26th day of February 2015 report from the IEA indicated that the police are the most corrupt public service.to reinforce this The deputy Ashanti regional police commander ACP Ampofo Duku opined that the MTTU is the most corrupt division in the Ghana police service. (Ghana web 25 April 2016).

IMANI Ghana estimated in their report that government misused about $1.6 billion from 2012 to 2016. (Pulse.com 21 July 2016). Where did all these amount of money go? Also, an estimation by the IMANI Ghana also shows that Ghana loses $30 billion annually (cicifmonline.com 15 may 2016). All these leakages are a results of massive corruption within the public sectors.

Corruption has become a regularized norm that all public service positions engage in. the police service are on top of the list. The police service have been criticized with respect to the massive bribery they engage in. they abuse their position and engage in acts that will benefit them. Massive immorality towards the civic public. Several surveys such as the afrobarometer, the IEA survey and several others found the police to be the top most corrupt institution. The education system is also bleeding with corruption. If you want to enter some tertiary institutions they is an institutionalized and acceptable form of corruption that serves as the path for admissions in Ghana irrespective of ones qualifications.

Again the judiciary is also captured within this activity. 34 high court judges were caught on camera receiving bribes whiles others were involved in other corruption related activities to influence judgment. This was captured by a CAMERA. But there are institutions built to check these activities but are not functioning in their right sense I that a camera has been able to identify corruption in the public services. Government officials turn their appointments into business of money making.

Corruption also is very pervasive in Ghanaian politics. Establishment of patron client relations. The ideal of democracy is always broken in that the linkage between a citizen and a politician has always been incentives that are given to them to buy their loyalty. Rent seeking, looting the nations coffers for campaigns. Lindberg(2003) identifies that democracy feeds neopatrimonialism and thus corruption is pervasive among politicians especially members of parliament.in his lecture professor Stephen Addai asserted that politicians see power as an avenue to amass wealth at the expense of the poor. He elaborated on the fact that money has been playing a major role in the nations political life and worse of all the fourth year term there is economic mismanagement. (Pulse .com 27th march 2015). There is massive misappropriation of funds which go into the pockets of these top government appointees. Kickbacks in contracts and other situations are all ways these top officials enrich themselves and their cronies.

With some statics of losses to corruption, between 2009 and 2011, the amount of judgment debt paid was over $200million. This amount equates the budgetary allocation for agricultures Ector, and was more than the total accumulated revenue realized by the national health insurance levy at the end of 2011. According to the auditor general, in 2011 alone Ghana lost about $50million to financial irregularities in the public sector.

COMBATING CORRUPTION: LET THEM SWEAR BY ANTOA. (BRIEF ANALYSIS)

This phase does not hit hard on religion but just a justifiable analysis. There are several corruption fighting institutions like the serious fraud office, the CHRAJ, commissions of inquiry and several other institutions. But corruption is still ubiquitous.

Top government officials and ministers of state swear by the bible and the Quran when they are being inaugurated into their various positions. In fact take an oath of corruption free posture when they ascend the throne. The fact is they are not supposed to abuse their office for private gains. If they do the nation suffers. They swear with the bible and the Quran, but still come and loot the nations coffers or engage in this act.

ANTOA NYAAMAH, a powerful river god has featured in Ghanas politics for some time. Politicians invoke the river god even though they have been sworn in by the bible and the Quran. Several instances have been recorded.

An NDC deputy women organizer, Ama Gyaama invoked the dreaded Antoa Nyamaah River to strike dead some faceless people who she claims are defaming the acting Ashanti regional minister. (Ghana web May 1, 2015).

Two leading supporters of the two presidential hopefuls in the NPP, Hopeson Adorye invoked the dreaded Antoa nyamaa on Okatakyie kwame Opoku Agyemang, due to conflict of interest.(the herald 6 the august 2014)

The deputy Eastern regional minister, Mavis Ama Frimpong threatened to invoke antoa nyamaah, river deity to clear her name in connection with a leaked tape that recorded her voice as chanting kukurudu, the slogan of the new patriotic party.(ghanacrusader.com and the daily guide)

Two women invoked curses on the EC boss of her likely to rig the election in the NDCs favor. (I Dec 2016, 3news.com)

Again in an interview with a party activist, he said,

When the MP gives you money then you curse yourself with ANTOA, that you will vote for him and the party else the deity should strike you dead.

Why do the politicians invoke the spirits if they swear by the bible or Quran?

The fact is there are evidences of the quick attack of this deity on people who are found guilty. And also there is a belief still in the traditional cultures.

The point is, these officials swear by the bible and Quran. These whole books stipulate clearly the wrongful nature of corruption. But these Christians and Muslims statesmen come into office and plunder the states coffers and engage in all sorts of wrongful acts which will make them rich. These judges also swear an oath to provide nothing but fair justice, but massively engage in corruption.

People in Ghana fear these powerful gods than the almighty God who created the inferior gods. But there is massive immorality in the civic public. The effects of corruption is huge and massive which sand the wheels of development.

From 1992 up to date they have been swearing with these holy books, but still plunder the nations coffers. Corruption is still widespread in Ghana and has become a norm.

With the indigenous cultures the chief swore an oath with these gods and they discharged their duties meticulously.

LET THESE TOP PUBLIC SERVANTS AND STATESMEN SWEAR BY ANTOA AND LETS OBSERVE THE NATURE OF CORRUPTION.
Moses Owharo

27.12.2016 LISTEN

My experience in ANC-GH is rather tale of bitterness and regrets. It is a tale for every one of us to learn from, so that we would understand the evil mindsets of some of our Nigerian brothers.

The smack of experiences I derived during sabotaging activities, which was initiated by the same people, is what I pray none of us acquires.

Numerous publications on false fraud allegations against me are rather overwhelming. From the angles generated to establish these reportages, from dubious source, it clearly indicates that the intent of the article was rather embellishing to purposely attack my good image, and the community I represented.

The source was inspired by high degree of intention that was borne out of unusual surge of determination to champion their personal and associates agenda in order to destroy my reputation. It is quite unfortunate to acknowledge that reputable media platforms were used to disseminate such devious intentions.

Out of desperations, these individuals initiated vague and brawling approach to unconstitutionally suspend me, this choice of approach is enough to articulate their evil intentions and reflected in most of the executives decisions to remain redundant and inefficient to carry out their duties during their tenures.

25th of June, 2016, the BOTs and Patrons of All Nigeria Community (ANC GH) adopted resolutions. These resolutions were signed by the Board of Trustees and PATRONS.

The outstanding debts that were incurred from organizing congresses, student symposium, services and transportations (that have developed unnecessary disputes between me and some service providers) and sarcastic attitudes of the executives (whose intentions aimed at frustrating my efforts) prompted the need to appoint the new acting executives.

It was being stated that some of the individuals are unknown faces in the ANC-GH but they are from Greater Accra Regional body who have contributed enormously in the ANC-GH, and were appointed to the office after due consultations.

In view of this decision, the followings were appointed:

1. Acting Assistant National Financial Secretary, Mr Daniel Aniekwe Obiorah

2. Acting Assistant National Financial Treasurer, Mr Godwin Onowu

3. Assistant National General Secretary, Rev Samuel Olutoba Oluseyi Afilaka.

The appointments of the aforementioned individuals and their respective designated offices also necessitated the need to effect relevant changes concerning the signatories of the various National Bank Accounts of the ANC-GH, especially the National Consolidated Account and National Administration and Management Account.

The ANC-GH BOTS and Patrons hence ratified that functional and actively working signatories were appointed in accordance with Article 18, section (i -iii); Article 1and Article 24 , section 1, sub- section (ii), section 7 and section provisions as contained in the 30th May 2014 Constitution of ANC-GH accordingly.

This unsubstantiated fraud case has quite generated defamatory perceptions against me. Having forfeited my personal projects and comfort for community duty, I am still being castigated as a black sheep.

I have dutifully served ANC GH from the distr ict to National levels. During my tenure as the General Secretary of Volta Region Chapter of the association, I was able to bring together three ambassadors to attend regional events.

It was during that period former ambassador of Nigeria to Ghana, Ambassador Onafowokan proposed ANC-GH Presidency to me, which high cost of running the association forced me to decline.

After pointing out the financial deficiency and challenges in the association, the former ambassador promised to support with finance to enable smooth running of affairs in ANC-GH. I accepted based on the expectations that the association will be supported by the High Commissioner.

I contested for the presidential election and won on merit. During my vetting, I was regarded as the best candidate because of my credentials.

Before I entered the ANC-GH, I was having 6 cars of my own and my small microfinance business was generating average revenue of 3,000 cedi daily, and a lot of Nigerians have equally benefited from it.

All the projects that could have generated monies for the community were truncated by Mr. Emmanuel Okeson and his group. Instances can be pointed to Access Bank, Zenith Bank, Glo, and recently, UBA that were well structured to sustain the running of the association. According to SAP, it was revealed that these projects were projected to value more than $17M, if they were allowed to see through their implementation stage. I planned using small percentage of the revenue realized to build the Association National Secretariat.

After truncating several projects, and due to lack of source generating revenue, I had to use my personal and business monies to run the association affairs. Apart from the $10,000 that was collected from the ambassador because I was also the one that asked for the money from the former ambassador.

We had to open an account for the money to be paid into it.

My name has been published everywhere as a fraudster. Meanwhile, I have not spent a cent from ANC-GH account for my personal needs.

My monies have been involved for over three years but I am yet to ask for refunds.

The former presidents (Prince Uche and Mr. Albert Bayor) of All Nigeria Community have had similar allegation of fraud, just the way I am being disgraced.

When the present AG. High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Mrs. Adekumbi Sonaike-Ayodeji came, I went to her with all the stakeholders to explain the situations our community is presently facing because of the wicked actions of Mr. Okeson whose notoriety in creating divisions in our community is well known by both Nigerians and Ghanaians.

Her Excellency told me that we are the best organized community, and assured not to support any illegality in the community.

It is surprising to experience twist of intention exuding from our High Commissioner as she illegally interfered and intended to control the community that was independently registered under the Ghana law, which does not fall under her jurisdiction.

Numerous efforts have been made to seek the audience of the acting High Commissioner to clarify the propaganda Mr. Okeson and Abraham Poko were building up to destroy my image.

She rather supported them in destroying it, even after having one on one discussion with her.

It is embarrassing to acknowledge that an individual with such pedigree is caught in web of these scandalous and devious acts.

Poko has been working with Okeson since the last ambassador left.

These people want to destroy my life because someone gave birth to me to go and look for bread to feed him. As you are destroying my own reputation, you are going about to get some money to feed yours. Who feeds mine if you destroy every atom of my livelihood?

Meanwhile they are calling me thief all over the place. What have I done?

I am apologies if I didnt give you the money to squander, but I used the money judiciously.

Whenever we came up with a project that would support the community, Mr. Okeson and alliances would sabotage it.

He is destroying our community, and our leaders are watching him.

This falsehood has left trail of reputation damage on the life.

Moses Owharo
A day or two to my departure from the Ashanti region to Accra on my way back to London after our successful electioneering campaign that saw Nana Akufo Addo and NPP elected to form the next government, I was approached by a highly worried or a concerned Ghanaian compatriot about the ongoing dubious or criminal attitude of the Omanhene (paramount chief) of Mpasaaso in the Ahafo Ano North Constituency/District in the Ashanti region.

It was reported to me that Nana Minta Dwansa III, the Omanhene of Mpasaaso in the Ahofo Ano division within the Asanteman Council has cultivated that criminal habit of constantly extracting money from all the poor and needy cocoa farmers working on the farmlands under his jurisdiction on the flimsiest of excuses.

On one occasion when one of his sub-chiefs passed, he dispatched his emissaries to every cocoa farmer or cocoa farm owner on his land to collect heavy sums of money from them with the simple explanation that he needed the money to perform the requisite befitting funeral rites for the departed sub-chief.

I had more important issues to deal with so I did not accord the report about the Mpasaasohene the needed attention, investigation and publicity it merited. However, on Monday 26 December 2016 when I phoned to Ghana to wish friends, relatives and old acquaintances a Merry Christmas, I was once again informed of the brazen but clearly criminal pursuit by the Mpasaaso Omanhene Nana Minta Dwansa III, to forcefully collect money from every cocoa or farm owner with purchased or leased farmland within his divisional traditional area.

He had sent two strong emissaries from his Mpasaaso palace with a big notebook containing the names, towns and addresses of all those cocoa farmers on his land, to their abodes throughout Ghana to collect various huge sums of money from them. These emissaries I was told, arrived at Kumawu on Thursday, 22 December 2016. They went to my deceased fathers house, went to my deceased father-in-laws and many other houses according to the written information in their notebook indicating the location of such cocoa farm owners. They went to Kumawu-Abotanso and many other places.

They would announce to their hosts that they had come to them from Mpasaaso on request by Mpasaaso Omanhene Nana Minta Dwansa III to collect money from them to enable him attend the impending funeral of the late Asantehemaa Nana Afua Kobi Serwaah Ampem II, the mother of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Overlord of Asanteman.

Is it constitutional or conventional for Mpasaasohene to indulge in such exploitative extraction of money from the cocoa farmers on his land each time he decides to attend a funeral? He quotes how much a farmer must pay but not what the affected farmers would voluntarily want to pay.

He is collecting from the farmers amounts of money depending on the size of their farms, whether they have had or will have a better yearly crop yield or not is not his concern. The amounts of money he is demanding range from GHC200 to GHC1, 600, thus, 2 million to 16 million old Ghana Cedis.

I detest quoting Ghana Cedis in the old currency but the new. However, for the sake of clarity, I have quoted them in both new and old Cedi currencies.

I think the attitude of Mpasaasohene is illegal. I know the farmers pay yearly royalties in one form or the other. Why should he force them to pay for his funeral needs whenever the occasion arises? Is it compulsory that he attends such funerals to display acts of ostentation or opulence when indeed he has not the means himself but to craftily extract money from poor and the needy persons?

I have a lot on my plate but I may take him on should he make it his habit to cleverly steal from the poor farmers.

When I heard that his emissaries had visited my deceased fathers house in Kumawu, old memories started creeping into my mind with tears streaming down my cheeks. It reminded me of the good old days we had as children with my father, his three wives and children at Oseikrom in the Mpasaaso area when our parents were working around the clock in the cocoa farms and cultivating new lands for cocoa crops.

Nonetheless, when my father passed in the year 1981, the cocoa farms he had given to each of his wives for the past seventeen and a half years preceding his death were all seized by his relatives. My mothers and their children were chased out of the farms and my fathers one huge storey building in Kumawu and his other house in Kumasi like criminals. Things could have turned into a regrettable catastrophe if I were in Ghana when my fathers relatives behaved bestially in treatment of my mothers and children as hereby reported.

I travelled to Ghana to attend my fathers funeral where I told his brother who inherited him and their family head, one Opanin Yaw Donkor, my candid opinion regarding their obnoxious treatment of my mothers and brothers and sisters. I have since been holding a grudge against my fathers brother for behaving that stupidly. Ever since inheriting my father, he had not been able to purchase a bag of cement or a pint of paint to repair the houses that are in near-total annihilation.

One thing that hurt me most was the painful treatment one of my fathers nephew, Kwabena Boye, who I took to Accra in 1978/1979 and secured him a job as a bus conductor, meted out to my mothers and brothers and sisters. He led a crusade of his relatives not only to insult my deceased father for willing a part of his property to us but also, to chase my mothers and their children out of my fathers house like chicken.

Anyway, before he died, Kwabena Boye realised his folly, profusely knelt down before my mothers and their children and begged for forgiveness of sins for having wronged them the way he did.

I would not disclose this information if Mpasaasohene had not acted deplorably. I would normally let sleeping dogs lie since my father died in 1981 with all his three wives and many children all dead.

I am sure Mpasaasohene will not push me to take him on unless what he is doing is permissible by the laws of the land. Is it compulsory that he attends Asantehemaas funeral if he has no money to do so? I see his action as purely amounting to thievery.

How do people expect me to respect the Asante chiefs who are always engaging themselves in criminal activities, selling lands to people, pocketing the money without carrying out any development projects in their areas and still require their subjects to be subservient to them?

I hope Mpasaaso Omanhene Nana Minta Dwansa III will rethink his decision to exploit the cocoa farmers for what I consider as a complete absurd reason.

From my fathers side, I can well attest to the veracity of the saying, the death that I shall succumb to is to me not as painful as not having a good person to inherit me. He may use the little money that I shall leave behind for my children for his personal use, leaving my children behind to suffer. Additionally, as it is said, As the tail of the cow never permanently remained at the bottom or rear of the cow, so shall the swish (tanned or died cow-tail) never remain in the hands of the fetish priest? I shall explain these sayings in future.

Rockson Adofo

(Written on 27 December 2016)
27.12.2016 LISTEN

Ningo (GAR), Dec. 27, GNA - Nene Tei Doku Agudah Huago IV, the newly installed Paramount Chief of Ningo, has called on the indigenes of the town to unite for the progress and the development of the area.

He said development has stalled in the area since the death of Nene Osroagbo Djangmah II in 2005 due to lack of understanding and divisions among the traditional leaders.

He appealed to the National House of Chiefs and the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs to intervene and help bring an amicable solution to petty squabbles existing in the area.

Nene Huago IV, who is also retired educationist, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency during which he also sent his seasonal felicitation to the people of the society.

He congratulated Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President-elect, for winning the December 7 elections and pleaded with him to consider the developmental needs of Ningo.

Nene Huago IV said the challenges of the area include poor road network, erratic water supply, lack of health facility, poor sanitation and unemployment amongst the youth.

Mr Alfred N. Huago, the Secretary to the chief, said the absence of a substantive chief for Ningo Traditional Area for the past 11 years had been the bane of the suffering of the people.

'However, I hope with the installation of the new chief, things will move on smoothly to ensure the development of the area,' he said.

GNA
Gomoa Dawurampong (C/R), Dec. 27, GNA - A two years forensic audit conducted by Nexia Debrah and Co, an accounting firm, engaged by the ARB Apex Bank Apex to verify the accounts status of the Akyempim Rural Bank has led to the indictment of three officials.

The three former top officials are being held for fraud which occurred from 2010 to the second quarter of 2015 and has led to liquidity crisis of the bank.

They are Mr Jacob Wellington Assan, General Manger; Mr Frank J.K. Baah, Operations Manager; and Mr Nifah Owuba, the Credit Manager.

Mr Alex Coffie, Interim Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, said this at the 30th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the shareholders of the bank at Gomoa Dawurampong.

The alleged fraud acts were detected by the audit team after the bank could not even pay salaries of government workers and other clients.

Mr Coffie said Mr Assan and Mr Baah were interdicted shortly after findings were made known.

The Board Chairman said Mr Nifa Owuba together with several other staff of the bank who were involved in fraudulent activities have been also dismissed.

Mr Coffie said the bank has decided to arraign the three officials before court to retrieve the missing funds. GNA
Takoradi, Dec.27, GNA - A senior midwife officer at the Takoradi Government Hospital in the Western Region has advised mothers and expectant mothers to adhere strictly to the six months exclusive breastfeeding of their newly born babies.

Madam Elizabeth Appiah told the Ghana News Agency on Monday that breastfeeding promoted the health of both the mother and the baby.

He entreated mothers of new babies to take their children's post-natal care seriously including their immunisation and nutritional needs.

She also cautioned mothers to refrain from using too much hot water to bath their babies but should gentle whenever they are massaging them in order to avoid any damage to their skin.

With regards to mothers who delivered through the caesarian session, the midwife advised them to come for regular reviews to prevent any future complications.

The senior midwifery officer advised women especially those delivering for the first time to seek support from experienced hands in bathing their children and treatment of their child's cord wounds.

She also entreated young mothers to dress their new babies with cotton cloth in order to ensure sufficient circulation of air around them and prevent any discomfort and rashes on their skin.

The Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital recorded 12 new births including two set of twins from December 24 - December 25, Essikadu Government Hospital recorded four, Takoradi; six and Kwesimintsim Hospital three births.

GNA

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Dec. 27, GNA - Mrs Helena Sarpei-Nunoo, the Founder of the Glory Gate of Zion Ministry, located at Papase, has called on Christians to share their love by assisting the poor and helpless.

She said by so doing, they would be putting smiles in the faces of the deprived and this would give them hope in the society.

Mrs Sarpei-Nunoo, who is a Clinical Pharmacist at the 37 Military Hospital, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency when the church held its 'Glory Gate Festival of Love' party for the people of Pabiman, near Kofi Kwei in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

The party which was held on Christmas Day was on the theme: 'When ye shall have done all these things, say we are unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10).'

Mrs Sarpei-Nunoo said it was a delight and joy when Christians share what they have with their community members as this shows their appreciation to what God has done for them.

She said they chose Pabiman to be a centre for the church because 'we intend to partner with the chiefs and the elders of the community to bring some improvement in the living standard of the people'.

Mrs Sarpei-Nunoo said the church was established five years ago and as part of its social responsibilities, it is assisting some Junior High and Senior High Schools graduates to further their education.

'We have also put some of them into apprenticeships to learn professions like masonry, carpentry, electrical, hair-dressing and dress-making,' she said.

Nii Pabi I, the chief of Pabiman, expressed gratitude to Mrs Sarpei-Nunoo for the gesture saying the elders of the community would ensure that the church is provided the needed assistance in its efforts.

GNA
27.12.2016 LISTEN

Yet despite the desperate attempt to supress the facts and keep these tragic events out of public glare, the anger of the people continues to boil and their rage is mounting.

Chief Kataps Ngwii of the Christian Information Network wrote the following:

"Goska, Southern Kaduna, 25th December, 2016: another Fulani herdsmen raid, destruction and killings. This must be seen as a terror attack not some herdsmen and farmer crisis. And to say Government has not been able to do anything about it means that the people of Southern Kaduna should simply arm themselves. When a government cannot protect you, you must arm yourself and protect yourself. It is quite obvious that the Nigerian government are protecting the Fulani herdsmen. And for Governor Nasir El-Rufai, I have already given my verdict. He is not only an overrated person but also the worst governor of 2016. Are you still doubting me?"

With these words the author has spoken the mind of millions. Yet it does not stop there.

Princess Chalya Miri-Gazhi went further by writing the following on her Facebook wall under the hashtag "SouthernKaduna, BloodBathOnChristmasDay". She wrote,

"Something is terribly wrong. An evil unleashed.

Governor Elrufai must answer for this.

Islamic terrorism via Fulani herdsmen being used to wipe out Christians of southern Kaduna. This is genocide. This is wicked. This is madness."

Her sense of sheer horror is shared by many and she has hit the nail on the head.

Finally Mr. Stanley Nwabia went further than Audu Maikori, Kataps Ngwii and Miri Ghazi by tweeting,

"Southern Kaduna and all northern minorities should unite, mobilize and defend themselves. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. NONE".

And he is absolutely right. The people of Southern Kaduna must defend themselves no matter what the odds are against them. They must be ready to die in defence of their own people.

That is, after all, how history is made. That is how glory comes. That is the path of honor. That is what makes the difference between righteous and noble men and mediocres. That is the difference between men of courage and understanding and those that are nothing but cowardly quislings. That is how great men live forever in the hearts and minds of their people.

You must muster the courage, shed the fear and stand up for the weak and the oppressed. You must strengthen your resolve, steel your hearts, remember that the hosts of heaven are standing behind you and speak truth to power.

You must never forget that there can be no peace without justice. And finally you must never forget that you serve a Living God who is faithful to His own and who is mighty in battle.

I send this message to the Christian faithful in Southern Kaduna. I urge you all to stand firm and to stand strong. Never give up. Never let those that kill you intimidate you. Fear them not. They are nothing but barbarians that come from the pit of hell.

They are not worthy of being called human beings let alone being called Africans or Nigerians. They come from a distant land and they were never part of us.

Sing songs of praise as you go forth to meet them in battle and invoke the name of your God. For each blow that you strike and each one that you take your forefathers and ancestors are watching and cheering you on from the balcony's of heaven.

Send these enemies of God, these cow-loving barbarians, these Amalekites and these Midianites back to hell where they belong.

They love violence: when they come with it give it back to them in full measure. It is the only language that they respect and understand.

Remember your wives, your children, your loved ones, your faith, your heritage, your history and your nation and fight to protect and preserve them.

Avenge those that have fallen at the hands of the enemy. Remember those that they slaughtered like sallah rams and cut to pieces like Christmas turkeys.

Remember those whose throats they cut and whose blood they drained into the gutter. Remember those whose children and wives they violated and butchered and whose homes and churches they desecrated and burnt to the ground.

Defend yourselves and your families because your government has refused to defend you. Instead of protecting you and bringing your tormentors to justice, your Governor has said that he pays your enemies your money.

Stand firm, resist them and be men even unto death. Always remember that Christians don't die, they only change address. When a Christian is absent from the body, he is present with the Lord.

Millions of your brothers and sisters from all over the world are watching you, cheering you on, wishing you well and praying for you: you are not alone.

As you grieve and mourn your loved ones, we grieve and mourn with you. We mourn them together. As you shed your tears, we shed tears with and for you.

Finally never forget the following: mutually assured destruction, or what many refer to as the balance of terror, is the only true deterrence to naked aggression and to the tyranny of tyrants. It is the only thing that makes genocidal maniacs, ethnic cleansers, psyschotic butchers and barack-room bullies think twice.

It kept the peace between the Western allies and the Soviet block for many years after the conclusion of the Second World War and throughout the period of the cold war. It led to the era of "d'etant", prevented a nuclear war and paved the way for peace between the superpowers of the world which remains till today.

The point is this: the display of weakness and fear attracts nothing but aggression whilst the display of strength and courage deters and repels it.

If you keep turning the other cheek even after you have been slapped ten times they will kill you all. It is time to rise up and take your destiny into your own hands.

On 26th December Prince Henry Nwazuruahu Shield wrote the following on Facebook.

"Today, human beings are being slaughtered like chicken in Southern Kaduna and all I see are Facebook posts condemning the act. Aren't we the problem? A Governor who swore that an attack against Fulani herdsmen was a debt he will make sure we paid as a nation is presently sitting in Government House Kaduna and overseeing the butchering of our fellow citizens and we are on social media shouting. Does Boko Haram care about Facebook? Do Fulani terrorists come online to respond to our complaints? We know the answer to all this madness. We know what to do to put a final STOP to it. But we like the sympathies we get when we act like victims. Southern Kaduna people, defend yourselves. Defend!! Defend!! Defend until the Government acts!!!"

Prince Henry Nwazuruahu Shield is absolutely right.

It is indeed time to defend yourselves from these cold-blooded murderers and it is time to stand up for your rights. You are freeborn men and women and not slaves.

You are full-fledged Nigerian patriots and not spineless quislings and second class citizens. You are the head and not the tail. You are on the top and not on the bottom. You are believers and not unbelievers. You bow to no man and you tremble before no barbarian, no Government, no tyrant and no King.

For the Lord is your light and your salvation, whom shall you fear? The Lord is the stronghold of your lives, of whom shall you be afraid? When evildoers assail you, uttering slanders against you, your adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall. On Christ the solid rock you stand, all other ground is sinking sand: all other ground is sinking sand!

He will be with you morning, day and night. He will be with you through every trial and tribulation. He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. He will heal your wounds with the Balm of Gilead and He will defend you and yours all the days of your life.

He will clothe you in His love, He will grant you favour and peace eternal and He will avenge you and yours and smite down your bloodthirsty enemies. Finally remember this: we have absolutely nothing to lose because to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Whichever way it goes and whatever the enemy brings our way, He that is high and lifted up, the Lord God of Hosts, the Ancient of Days, the Man of War and the God of the Armies of Israel shall be with us and He shall be our strength. His amazing grace abounds and He will NEVER forsake us. He is mighty in battle, true to His word and faithful to His own.

God bless you forever.
They cross the daunting Sahara and the treacherous Mediterranean on foot and in rickety boats,respectively, in search of greener pastures. And too many end up in unmarked graves-- in the Sahara and the Mediterranean.

They serve as soldiers in the armies of strong men.

They serve as vigilantes in chieftaincy and tribal and political disputes.

They fight over toilets while their counterparts across the globe argue about technology.

They suffer from massive unemployment.

And in the midst of all this, their leaders-- our leaders-- proclaim loudly that this is Africa's century!!

That in essence, is the story of Africa's youth.

There are, currently about 200 million Africans between 15 and 24, according to the African Development Bank, making Africa the youngest continent. This number is expected to double by 2045.

While the unemployment rate in Africa is believed to be about 6%, compared to the global level of 5%, the youth make up 60% of Africa's unemployed. This is despite the fact that Africa has 6 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the World.

Our 668 or so universities churn out 10 million graduates a year and half of these fail to find employment.

Alexander Chikwenda, Zambia's Finance Minister, described youth unemployment as a " ticking time bomb".

Unemployment and underemployment are certainly the biggest problems facing our youth but it is barely ahead of education, substance abuse and vulnerability to diseases like HIV , other STD's and dispair.

These problems and the failure of African leaders to address them raise fundamental questions.

Why do we spend our scarce resources producing graduates who lack the skills to be the workforce we need for development? Why do our educators continue to produce graduates in history and drama and foreign languages when they know graduates in the same fields are unemployed?

If Africa has 65% of the World's arable land, according to the African Development Bank, why do we spend 35 billion USD annually to import food even as our youth roam around unemployed? Depressingly, we are projected to spend a whopping 110 billion USD on food imports annually by 2025!

Today, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand each produce more food than Sub-Saharan Africa. Sadly , currently, we spend more on the millitary than on Agriculture.

Since Nkrumah's seminal 1963 Addis Ababa speech during the founding of the O.A.U., no African leader has laid out a vision of comparable depth, breadth and excitement.

Our leaders continue to re-arrange the chairs on the deck of our titanic continent even as it heads towards the proverbial iceberg.

We lack thinking and innovation. We lack the will to solve basic and pervasive problems.

Our tragedy is not for want of talent. We are the continent that produced a Pope 6 centuries ago. We are the continent that has produced 2 UN Secretary-generals, Pele and Mohammed Ali. We produced the geniuses whose inventions and innovations have transformed American and world science, arts and literature. And we are the continent on which a Malawian teenager invented windmills, a Ghanaian boy, Mawuli could drive the first time he sat behind the wheels of a car because he has watched his father and uncles for years and geniuses in Accra and Lagos can demonstrate, in a backhanded way, their ingenuity with 419 scams.

Some day, the youth of Africa will rise up against the selfish leaders whose greed has failed them and sent them, across the Sahara and the Mediterranean in search of opportunity. Or the voices of the dead, in unmarked graves will reach heaven and ask God for justice against the leaders who failed them.

Let us give our youth, in our schools, skills that are needed for our development.

Let us develop our Agriculture so that the 35 billion USD we spend a year importing food can help make our youth proud and prosperous farmers instead of dead migrants.

Let us stop parrotting the bull that drugs are not dangerous so our youth will not be sucked into its death spiral. Let our ambitions be about doing, for others, rather than being for ourselves.

Let us continue to advocate and struggle, on behalf of our youth.

Aluta Continua

Lift up Africa.

Arthur K
President-elect Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the Western regional house of chiefs that, he will relocate the headquarters of the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) to the Region as he promised during his campaign.

Nana Addo says he will also make the region the hub of oil and gas when assumes office.

He expressed gratitude to the chiefs for their support and asked for their prayers and support to help restore integrity in governance to fulfil the high expectations Ghanaians have reposed in him.

The President-elect said all his pledges will be fulfilled ..pledges of one-district-one factory is going to happen live..modernisation of the Takoradi Harbour is going to be doneConstruction of an Accident and Emergency Centre in Takoradi is on plan ..he said.

He revealed that modalities for the creation of the proposed Western- North region will be prepared so the proposal will be put to a referendum during the next District Assembly Elections next 2years.

He reiterated his promise of revamping the Western and Eastern corridor rail network by leveraging the revenue from the oil and gas for that purpose.

On his part, the President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi ll who is also the Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anwhiaso commended the President-elect for his victory at the recent polls and tasked him not to forget all the pledges he has made to the region since it is unfortunate that despite all the resources in the region it still lacks development.
Accra, Dec. 27, GNA - Clothe the Naked Outreach (CTN), an Accra based non-for-profit organization, would next year award scholarships to some 13 needy children across the country.

The packages would cover their education from primary to the tertiary level.

The initiative, which was unveiled at a hand -over ceremony of the organisation, is geared at bridging the gap between the privileged and the less privileged in the society.

Mr Stephen Kwasi Quainoo, the CTN President, who announced this on Monday, in Accra, also said seven children were currently on the scholarship scheme at various levels of education, including tertiary.

Mr Quainoo, however, explained that the CTN scholarship, unlike that of other organizations, was not designed for only brilliant children.

This, he said, was to ensure that equal opportunities were created for all persons to help combat neglect and segregation, which he explained widened the gap between the rich and the poor.

The CTN President observed that more than 90 per cent of street children were those who did not have any support from family members or did not have anyone to take care of them.

'The ultimate goal of CTN is to give hope to the poor by putting smiles on their faces, "he said

"We don't have in abundance, but the little we have whether clothes, money or food, we make sure that we share it with the poor and the needy." Mr Quainoo said.

Mr Stephen Kwasi Quainoo commended the outgoing leaders for working tirelessly to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.

He also congratulated the incoming leaders on their feat and advised them to emulate the good works of their predecessors so as to position the organisation on a higher height.

Meanwhile, Ms Johnetta Abraham, Educational Consultant, who is also a member of the CTN, called on the Government to support the organisation because the scholarship initiative would help eradicate streetism and juvenile delinquency.

Ms Abraham said the initiative could also contribute to the Government's concerted efforts to optimise the human capital base because a more educated human resource could lead to proper exploitation of the country's resources to boost productivity.

"I believe Ghanaian children have the capabilities like that of the advanced countries," the education consultant said.

Ms Abraham also urged stakeholders and every individual to support the CTN in the forms of used or unused clothes, money and logistics to help fuel its running.

The Clothe the Naked Outreach has since its inception, in 2010, donated clothes, food and money to numerous institutions, including the Maximum Security Prison at Ankaful and the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital in the Central Region, Countryside Orphanage, Rising Star Orphanage and Good Shepherd Orphanage at Kasoa.

The organisation has also donated clothes, food and farming tools to Kwaakwaa and Abodom villages in the Central Region as well as the Bepotuntum Village in the Eastern Region.

GNA

By Gideon Ahenkorah, GNA
Accra, Dec. 27, GNA - Abena Akuaba Appiah, Miss Queen and Beauty Universe, has encouraged young Ghanaian models to show resilience and focus on their dreams.

She asked models in the country not to let anything be a hindrance to their success adding that if any of them wanted to be an international model, only the sky is the limit.

Miss Appiah said this in Accra at a ceremony in her honour for her achievement in becoming the winner of the prestigious and widely contested international pageant, Queen and Beauty Universe.

Miss Appiah said discrimination was a big challenge she encountered for being dark-skinned adding 'however I managed to overcome this by exuding confidence and putting everything behind me, brushing it off and having my goal and target in front of me.'

She encouraged other young women to keep their heads up as 'there's nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it.'

Meanwhile the Ghanaian model shared plans of going back to school to complete her remaining semester. She also intends to continue her work with Baldwin University Foundation to assist under-privileged children to go to school.

'Right now, that is my key, I want to use this platform to help people,' she said.

She expressed appreciation to all Ghanaians for their support, acceptance and warm welcome.

'When I was coming, I didn't expect such a huge welcome, but what I have gotten, I am happy,' she said.

She commended Eurostar, the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, the Ghana Police Service, Yutong and all her sponsors for their support.

GNA

By Debora Apetogbor, GNA
28.12.2016 LISTEN

Accra, Dec. 27, GNA - The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) wishes to congratulate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on his election as the President of Ghana.

The Association considers his election to the highest office of the land a credit to his perseverance and tenacity in the service of Ghanaian politics, the defense of human rights and loyalty to democracy.

'We note with admiration, his determination never to give up on his dreams of becoming President by contesting the position this year despite losing on two previous occasions as flag-bearer of his party, the New Patriotic Party'.

This was stated in a statement signed by the President Affail Monney and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

'The Association is confident that his rise through the fight for democracy and political development in Ghana's recent history, especially as a human rights activist through the Movement for Freedom and Justice, the 'Kumepreko' demonstrations and his role in setting up the Ghana Committee for People's and Human Rights, a non-governmental organisation in defence and education on human rights in Ghana would continue to shape his plans and programmes concerning the development of the country,' it said.

The GJA, recalled the critical role the first gentleman of the land in-waiting played when he was Attorney-General and Minister of Justice under the Kufuor Administration in the repeal of the Criminal Libel and Sedition Law in August 2001.

'His experience and expertise can therefore not be in doubt and we hope that he will bring them to bear, to enhance good governance and democratic development of Ghana,' it added.

The GJA is confident that the President-elect when he takes office would apply that same zeal in ensuring the enactment of a Broadcasting Law and the Right to Information Law, which was under wrangling in the out-going Parliament.

'Both laws will be crucial not only in promoting excellence in journalism but also improving the general information flow.'

The GJA has taken note of the President-elect's accusation of the state-owned media of bias in their reportage and had taken the criticism in good faith.

'Although we do not wish to hold brief for them, we at the same time request that under Nana Akufo-Addo's administration, the necessary reforms would be carried out to strengthen freedom and independence of the state-owned media in particular.

The Association has therefore proposed a system under which state-owned media houses which receive government subventions do not take them directly from any ministry but instead from the National Media Commission and with Parliamentary oversight.

Such reforms it described were necessary to free state-owned media in particular from subtle governmental intimidation.

The GJA pledged to collaborate and support the continued promotion of press freedom and media accountability in Ghana, which the President-elect has always stood for.

'It is our hope that under his presidency Ghana will undertake policies and programmes that inspire excellence in the Ghanaian media'.

The Association wished the president-elect God's guidance in his new position and assures him of the GJA's cooperation in the enhancement of functional democracy.

GNA
Nine bloggers and journalists were arrested in Addis Ababa last week, according to local media and Human Rights Watch, just days before Secretary of State John Kerrys scheduled visit to Ethiopia on Tuesday. Six bloggers for Zone 9, an Amharic-language website whose writers have criticized the government, and three freelance journalists were arrested. No formal charges have yet been filed. The timing of the arrests  just days before the U.S. secretary of states visit  speaks volumes about Ethiopias disregard for free speech, Leslie Lefkow, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Africa division, said in a statement on Monday. Getachew Reda, an adviser to Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, said the arrests had nothing to do with the journalists work. The police have put under custody people who have been suspected of being involved in criminal activities, he said.
Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, considered Lebanons most influential Sunni Muslim politician, returned unexpectedly to Lebanon on Friday after three years of self-imposed exile. Mr. Hariris return is being seen as a bid to reassert his leadership over Lebanons Sunni community amid growing concern that many Sunnis are being radicalized by the war in Syria. Mr. Hariri, above, left Lebanon in 2011 after his government was toppled by a coalition that included the Shiite militia Hezbollah. He has split his time between Paris and Saudi Arabia, citing concerns for his safety. He is the son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a bombing in 2005 and whose assassination set off an uprising that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon after a long military presence. On Friday, Mr. Hariri met with Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Arctic kelp forests may provide safety from acidifying oceans during long summer days because of extended sunlight exposure.

Long periods of sunlight force big algae, like kelp, to trap more solar energy and absorb more carbon dioxide from the water through photosynthesis. This pushes pH levels upward and provides sea creatures with a less acidic environment.

According to an article in Science Advances, an international team of researchers observed an Arctic kelp patch in Greenland and discovered that the average pH rose from 8.09 to 8.24 in 10 days.

While sea levels are usually alkaline, rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have contributed not only to rising atmospheric temperatures, but also to falling pH levels and rising acidity in ocean surface water due to chemical reactions when carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater.

Dorte Krause-Jensen of Aarhus University in Denmark, a co-author of the study conducted in Greenland, notes that pH levels have dropped since the industrial revolution.

The shift in pH makes it difficult for organisms like snails and crabs to draw calcium-building materials out of seawater and summer time is a critical period for growth and development. Having a kelp forest or other algae cluster as a refuge provides sea creatures with a more regulated and alkaline environment.

Studies conducted on coastal clusters and their effects on water acidity are relatively new, said Krause-Jensen. Most previous studies have focused on the consequences of acidification in the open ocean.

Krause-Jensen and colleagues monitored acidity in Greenlands Disko Bay where the sun does not set between May 25 and July 17. While the pH fluctuated, the averages rose during this time, as compared to later in the year and farther south where pH averages remained at 8.1 after 15 ours of sunlight a day.

The assertion that kelp may provide refuge from acidification is being heavily discussed among experts. But overall, tests have confirmed that kelps and algae can contribute to local trends and have an impact on their own local environment.

Image: Tom Thai, CC-BY

Lauren Leising is a freelance writer based out of Athens, Georgia.
After 40 years since the first outbreak of the Ebola virus, there is finally a successful experimental Ebola vaccine that could be available by as early as 2018. On December 22, The Lancet Medical Journal released results from a trial showing that the vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, provides 100% protection from the Ebola virus.

The vaccine is now going through an approval process to be fast-tracked for use. Merck Sharp & Dohme, the vaccines manufacturer, received breakthrough therapy designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration and PRIME status from the European Medicines Agency, both of which allow for a faster review process once the vaccine is submitted.

The trials were conducted in Guinea, one of the countries most affected by the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Participants were given a single dose of the vaccine beginning in March 2015. Of the nearly 6,000 people who received the vaccine, all were free of the ebola virus 10 days later.

In an equally-sized control group that was not vaccinated, 23 participants were infected by the Ebola virus. However, despite these results, it is still unknown whether the vaccine will work on children since the participants were all adults.

In 2014, the Ebola outbreak killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa. The viral illness infects humans through contact with infected animals and then can be spread between humans through infected bodily fluids. Until now, the only way to prevent outbreaks was to quarantine those anyone who was infected with the virus.

The trial was led together by the World Health Organization (WHO), Guineas Ministry of Health, Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian Institute of Public health, with hope that these results will help combat any future outbreaks.

Jane Snyder is a health intern with Paste and a freelance writer and photojournalist based out of Athens, Georgia.
Contact

Bhavin Shah

***@volansys.com Bhavin Shah

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-- Volansys LLC, a leading IoT Experts, announced that they will be launching a smart, cost-effective, multi-function IoT Gateway Solution for Home Automation at CES 2017, Las Vegas, Nevada."Our extensive experience in building IoT Solutions for leading product brands has led to a great understanding of customer challenges in bringing new IoT products to market faster. As a result, we launched our Modular Gateway and Modular Edge products during last year. We will be launching our company's next product a ZigBee ready secure Home Automation product aimed at building consumer grade IoT solutions, at CES 2017. HomeBridge is flexible enough to support wide-range of devices and is rapidly customizable to support other device interfaces as required by specific use case. HomeBridge is a ready-to-use ZigBee Gateway which will boost time to market for most IoT device makers.says Mr. Manan Patel, CEO of Volansys Technologies.HomeBridge is smart, cost-effective, multi-function IoT Gateway Solution for Home Automation. It is highly reliable wireless ZigBee Gateway with a quick and easy commissioning of sensors/devices and can be plugged into a standard wall outlet anywhere in your home/office. It is designed to support a broad range of devices such as thermostats, air conditioners, light controls, door locks, garage doors, security systems, and various appliances; it can connect up to 40 such devices. Off-the-shelf, it comes with leading IoT cloud support and iOS/Android Mobile Application. It is also designed to support other leading IoT Cloud platforms.Want to pre-orderor have a 30-min free consultation to understand how this will be useful to solve your business problems? Mail us at business@volansys.com to schedule your meeting at CES 2017 http://volansys.com/ ces-2017 Volansys is Next Generation Digital Transformation, Product Realization, and Data Sense Company. We are '' to realize your ideas into life. Volansys has evolved intoservingall over the world and is gradually soaring in both facets. Their technical domain strengths, innovative approach, craving to do things differently and adherence to on-time delivery with uncompromised quality, make them a preferred choice for all technological needs. At Volansys, they build a culture that rewards self-development and innovation. In all the aspects, their perspective is -Ecosystem of trust can be built in collaboration.Volansys enables Digital Transformation for enterprises, startups, and technology providers with proven expertise in an integrated set of disruptive technologies innovating solutions in the field of Wireless Connectivity, Multimedia, IoT, Wearables, Mobility, and Cloud Computing. With enormous IoT Success Stories in a diverse domain and cutting-edge expertise from sensors to control systems to analytics including cloud & mobility, Volansys help customers in building their unique connected solution. Volansys transform extraordinary ideas into actionable insights and engineer ideas into reality. End-to-End services ranging from Hardware & Firmware Design, Embedded Software Design & Development, Verification & Validation, Cloud SaaS & PaaS architecture design & development, Mobile Application Development to Quality Engineering, Volansys help in creating a turn-key solution along with very strong and strategic partnerships. A major focus is on all the components, services, innovations, and industries revolving around Internet of Things.
In Clic, we love to follow your experiences, how you get on with the citizens of Sevilla after learning one of the most spoken languages in the world. Spanish is very important as a language, but also the experiences you get through learning.

By: CLIC International House

Seville culture

Media Contact

Clic

clic@clic.es

+34954502131 Clic+34954502131

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-- When you think of sun, beaches, culture, beautiful monuments, incredible gastronomy and the most incredibly nice and welcoming people in southern Europe, what comes to mind? Exactly! Andalusia, the most populated and second largest area in Spain as well as a fantastic destination to appreciate rich Mediterranean culture and of course learn Spanish while having the time of your life. So, what is the best place to achieve this? Sevilla, the capital of the region, a thriving and stunning city that has so much to offer.It is by far one of the most popular destinations in the country to learn one of the most spoken languages in the world! Many people from around the globe, pick this magical southern cityto take a Spanish course and get the most of the experience with native teachers. However, you are bound to come across some strange idioms thatuse frequently and are sometimes very hard to understand. You definitely won't learn this slang in your Spanish course, so we are here to help!Pay attention dear reader as we present several "so you can feel like a real southern native and maybe impress your new Andalusian Friends!We think it is fair to start with a word that is very commonly used in Sevilla. If someone refers to you asyou should start to feel part of the Andalusian family! It is a very friendly familiar way to sayorDo you like amazing Andalusian gastronomy? Gazpacho, salmorejo, tortilla de patatas, croqueta, whodoesn't?(If there is anyone in the room who is not in love with these specialties, please raise your hand, we can help you). When it comes to Sevillian tapas, it's high time to "", which means to be. Are you ready for the experience? Then..Pontepuo de comer!Another very frequent one is: ". Please, learn this word, use it and you will be loved by the entire community. This word is a compound made up of two different words: mi + alma, which literally means "my soul". This is a very kind way to sayorand a very direct manner to both linguistically and socially immerse yourself in the culture.This one can sound a bit awkward but it is also widely used in the streets of Sevilla. It means to succeed in doing something, be good at something or accomplish a goal successfully. If we take the idiom literally, it could be translated as:, which does not make much sense. However, we encourage you to use it to motivate your friends when they do something good: te sales de la pellejakillo!We bet you want to knowthe coolest way to sayin Sevillian Spanishyep, you can be very cool and use eitherorwhen agreeing to any opinion or to express how you like something:- Te parece bien el plan? (are you happy with the plan?)- Si, Chachi/flama (yes, cool!)They say (we don't know the source) that Sevillians are passionate about their opinions and how they express themselves, exaggeratingoutrageously most of the time. As this can be a very common conversational situation, you can always respond to someone who is telling you something (in a nice way): saherao!, like trying to convey that things were not as big, or impressive, or extremely good/ bad as they are suggestingIs not Hindi, it is Sevillian again, and this literally means:- Ayer trabajeunapesha(yesterday I worked a lot/too much)or- Te gusta su nuevo coche? (Do you like her new car?)- Una pesha! (a lot)What is this? The translation into standard Spanish is: Adios! And a very informal and friendly Andalusian farewell idiom. Socondioeveryone!Hope these expressions will help you with get more out of theexperience of learning Spanish in Sevilla!Address: Albareda 19, 41001 Seville, SpainPhone: +34954502131Email: clic@clic.esWeb url:
J & G Transmissions, a Transmission Repair Shop servicing Salt Lake City, UT has retained elleven group as their new marketing Agency of Record to increase market share in 2017.

By: J & G Transmissions

Contact

elleven group

Samuel Sadler

***@ellevengroup.com elleven groupSamuel Sadler

End

-- James Dall of J & G Transmissions, an automotive transmission repair company in Murray, UT announced today they have retained a new Agency of Record. Dallas, TX-based elleven group was awarded the contract. "Since starting out in 1988 we have always put the customer first, so we have enjoyed a very high referral rate for our industry. Now it's time for us to go beyond what we have accomplished in the past and serve a greater number of people." Dall was humble when talking about the company that is actually the largest transmission rebuild shop in the State of Utah.Bret Brockmeier, Service Manager of J & G Transmissions said, "We needed a smoother, more fluid approach to our business and the marketplace. Transmissions are a unique niche and is a competitive industry so a company has to raise it's standards if it's going to grow. We have chosen a partner that is helping us do just that." Brockmeier is a strong Manager and is not afraid of growth. He continues, "The key to a successful future is consistent growth. Now thers nothing that can stop us because J & G Transmissions really is the best transmission repair shop around.""When realizing that our day to day at the shop was the model definition of "Insanity" we decided to seek out someone to help change all that." Says Amber Cooke, CFO of J & G Transmissions.Cookecontinues,"Researching"ellevengroup"wastheanswertoourproblems. Doingthesamethingoverandoveragainandexpectingadifferentresultwasnotgoingto changewithoutanoutsidesource.Retainingellevengrouphasgivenushopetobreakthecycle ofinsanity!""J & G Transmissions is the best at what they do. From the Managers to Builders they have potential for greatness and increased market share. They are honest, do the job right the first time and genuinely want to do what's right for the customer. Now everyone will know how good they are and their numbers will reflect it." Says Samuel Sadler, CEO of elleven group.For more information visit www.jandgtransmissions.com press contact www.ellevengroup.com
A hotel plot is planned in connection with REDI, under construction at Kalasatama, Helsinki. For this planning work, SRV organised a limited invited architectural competition in cooperation with the City of Helsinki. The jury decided unanimously to award first place to the competition entry HILA, by Architects Soini & Horto

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Wishing to make a strong comeback in the domestic market, Tata Motors has announced the appointment of Akshay Kumar as their brand ambassador for the commercial vehicle business. The company will launch a full fledged promotion campaign starting from the first week of January 2017, announcing their association.

Speaking on the association, Akshay Kumar said, The Tata brand is one that most of us have grown up with and now to be associated with them is indeed an honour. No one understands Indian trucking better than Tatas and there couldnt have been a better and more apt brand to promote. It was fun being in the drivers seat of one of those monster machines, during a product shoot

Tata Motors has been working on their commercial business with renewed vigour for some years now. Back in 2015, they announced that they will launch 100 new vehicles by 2018/19. The company is well on its way to achieve this target and has already launched about 50 vehicles. These new vehicles include the companys Ultra range of light trucks and expansion of Prima range of medium and heavy commercial vehicles.

Mr. Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, We are delighted to announce versatile and reliable Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as the new face of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Business Unit. Akshay embodies dynamism, popularity, machismo, performance and style. More importantly, he blends well with the core values of trust, reliability, responsibility and good leadership of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Business.

Other initiatives being planned by Tata Motors over the next two to three years also includes eight improved and enhanced vehicles across five key brands. Enhancement of dealership base, buyer conveniences and improved after sales service facilities are also on the cards.

Other initiatives on the cards are 40 new products in JLR, enhancement of JLR manufacturing capacities in the UK, expansion of operations both in China and Russia and penetration into new export markets such as Australia, Philippines and Vietnam.

News Release
Scientists at Stanford University and the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have discovered a way to use diamondoids -- the smallest possible bits of diamond -- to assemble atoms into the thinnest possible electrical wires, just three atoms wide.

By grabbing various types of atoms and putting them together LEGO-style, the new technique could potentially be used to build tiny wires for a wide range of applications, including fabrics that generate electricity, optoelectronic devices that employ both electricity and light, and superconducting materials that conduct electricity without any loss. The scientists reported their results today in Nature Materials.

"What we have shown here is that we can make tiny, conductive wires of the smallest possible size that essentially assemble themselves," said Hao Yan, a Stanford postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the paper. "The process is a simple, one-pot synthesis. You dump the ingredients together and you can get results in half an hour. It's almost as if the diamondoids know where they want to go."

The Smaller the Better

Although there are other ways to get materials to self-assemble, this is the first one shown to make a nanowire with a solid, crystalline core that has good electronic properties, said study co-author Nicholas Melosh, an associate professor at SLAC and Stanford and investigator with SIMES, the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences at SLAC.

The needle-like wires have a semiconducting core -- a combination of copper and sulfur known as a chalcogenide -- surrounded by the attached diamondoids, which form an insulating shell.

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Their minuscule size is important, Melosh said, because a material that exists in just one or two dimensions -- as atomic-scale dots, wires or sheets -- can have very different, extraordinary properties compared to the same material made in bulk. The new method allows researchers to assemble those materials with atom-by-atom precision and control.

The diamondoids they used as assembly tools are tiny, interlocking cages of carbon and hydrogen. Found naturally in petroleum fluids, they are extracted and separated by size and geometry in a SLAC laboratory. Over the past decade, a SIMES research program led by Melosh and SLAC/Stanford Professor Zhi-Xun Shen has found a number of potential uses for the little diamonds, including improving electron microscope images and making tiny electronic gadgets.

Constructive Attraction

For this study, the research team took advantage of the fact that diamondoids are strongly attracted to each other, through what are known as van der Waals forces. (This attraction is what makes the microscopic diamondoids clump together into sugar-like crystals, which is the only reason you can see them with the naked eye.)

They started with the smallest possible diamondoids -- single cages that contain just 10 carbon atoms -- and attached a sulfur atom to each. Floating in a solution, each sulfur atom bonded with a single copper ion. This created the basic nanowire building block.

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The building blocks then drifted toward each other, drawn by the van der Waals attraction between the diamondoids, and attached to the growing tip of the nanowire.

"Much like LEGO blocks, they only fit together in certain ways that are determined by their size and shape," said Stanford graduate student Fei Hua Li, who played a critical role in synthesizing the tiny wires and figuring out how they grew. "The copper and sulfur atoms of each building block wound up in the middle, forming the conductive core of the wire, and the bulkier diamondoids wound up on the outside, forming the insulating shell."

A Versatile Toolkit for Creating Novel Materials

The team has already used diamondoids to make one-dimensional nanowires based on cadmium, zinc, iron and silver, including some that grew long enough to see without a microscope, and they have experimented with carrying out the reactions in different solvents and with other types of rigid, cage-like molecules, such as carboranes.

The cadmium-based wires are similar to materials used in optoelectronics, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and the zinc-based ones are like those used in solar applications and in piezoelectric energy generators, which convert motion into electricity.

"You can imagine weaving those into fabrics to generate energy," Melosh said. "This method gives us a versatile toolkit where we can tinker with a number of ingredients and experimental conditions to create new materials with finely tuned electronic properties and interesting physics."

Theorists led by SIMES Director Thomas Devereaux modeled and predicted the electronic properties of the nanowires, which were examined with X-rays at SLAC's Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, a DOE Office of Science User Facility, to determine their structure and other characteristics.

The team also included researchers from the Stanford Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and Justus-Liebig University in Germany. Parts of the research were carried out at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source (ALS) and National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), both DOE Office of Science User Facilities. The work was funded by the DOE Office of Science and the German Research Foundation.
Though declines in bee populations have heightened awareness of the importance of pollinating insects to the world's food supply, numerous bee species remain undescribed or poorly understood.

Utah State University entomologist Zach Portman studies a diverse group of solitary, desert bees that aren't major pollinators of agricultural crops, but fill an important role in natural ecosystems of the American Southwest, including the sizzling sand dunes of California's Death Valley.

With Terry Griswold of the USDA-ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit at Utah State and John Neff of the Central Texas Melittological Institute in Austin, Portman reports nine, newly identified species of the genus Perdita in the December 23, 2016, issue of Zootaxa. His research was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awarded in 2011 and a Desert Legacy Grant from the Community Foundation.

Unexpected finds include the curious ant-like males of two of the species, which are completely different in appearance from their mates.

"It's unclear why these males have this unique form, but it could indicate they spend a lot of time in the nest," Portman says. "We may find more information as we learn more about their nesting biology."

Some of these bees, found exclusively in North America, sport scientific names inspired by Shakespearean characters, such as Perdita titania, named for the fairy queen from A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elusive and tiny, Portman tracks the bees by watching for their buzzing shadows in the blinding, midday sunlight the diminutive insects tend to favor.

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"Their activity during the hottest part of the day may be a way of avoiding predators," says the doctoral candidate in USU's Department of Biology and the USU Ecology Center. "They appear to be important pollinators of desert plants commonly known as 'Crinklemats.'"

Crinklemats, flowering plants of the genus Tiquilia, grow low to the ground and feature ridged, hairy leaves and small, trumpet-shaped blue blossoms.

"Like the bees, Tiquilia flowers are very small," Portman says. "The bees must squeeze into the long, narrow corollas and dunk their heads into the flowers to extract the pollen."

The scientists report the female bees use pollen collected from the flowers to build up a supply to nourish their young. Once they have completed a pollen provision, the bees lay their eggs on the stash and leave their offspring to fend for themselves.

Portman says the bees have developed a special adaptation called a "hair basket," with inward-facing, hooked hairs, that allows them to collect pollen as they dive into a flower.

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"We don't yet know if the bees use their legs to scoop pollen into the basket or if they simply collect it using their heads," he says. "There's still a lot of unknowns."

Portman says understanding more about these adaptations between the bees and the flowers they pollinate may be critical to the preservation of their surrounding environment.

Beyond their role as pollinators, he says the bees are interesting from an ecological and evolutionary standpoint due to their adaptations to arid habitats and high contrast color patterns.

"Some of the bees feature stripes and others have spots, which could be patterns for camouflage or a form of mimicry," Portman says. "These are characteristics we're still exploring."

Much of what Portman and his colleagues know about bees of the Perdita genus is built upon the work of the late University of California, Riverside entomologist Phillip Hunter Timberlake. Born in 1883, Timberlake described and named more than 800 bee species during his astounding 70-year career.

"Timberlake was considered eccentric, but his scholarship is to be admired," Portman says. "Although identifying Perdita and finding the bees' nests is challenging, these bees have a lot to tell us about adaptation to a harsh and inhospitable environment."
Google: Mobile First Index Is Not Yet Live

With all the Google shuffles recently in December, as I covered in the Google updates category, some SEOs and webmasters believe that Google has pushed out their mobile first index fully.

As we reported in November, the mobile first index is being experimented with by Google in the live results but is not yet fully live. That stands true today.

We know Google won't launch it until they come out with a more detailed recommendations list for webmasters, which they have not done yet.

Plus, this morning, Google's Kazushi Nagayama from the Japan office, said (strongly implied) on Twitter that it is not live. He joked that he read it was lived and they missed the memo with Gary Illyes.

Here are those tweets:

@KazushiNagayama we're missing the memos like a boss \_()_/  Gary Illyes (  ) (@methode) December 27, 2016

Both work for Google and they are mocking the story that said it was live.

So for now, the Google mobile-first index is not fully live at all - so stay tuned.

Forum discussion at Twitter.
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Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., through its subsidiaries, manufactures, markets, and distributes high-performance coatings systems in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. It operates through two segments, Performance Coatings and Transportation Coatings. The company offers water and solvent-borne products and systems to repair damaged vehicles for independent body shops, multi-shop operators, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) dealership body shops. It also provides functional and decorative liquid, and powder coatings used in various industrial applications, including architectural cladding and fittings, automotive coatings, general industrial, job coaters, energy solutions, HVAC, appliances, industrial wood, coil, and oil and gas pipelines; and coatings for building materials, cabinet, wood and luxury vinyl flooring, and furniture market under the Voltatex, AquaEC, Durapon, Hydropon, UNRIVALED, Tufcote, and Ceranamel for liquid coatings; and Alesta, Nap-Gard, Abcite, Teodur, and Plascoat brands for powder coatings. In addition, the company develops and supplies electrocoat, primer, the basecoat, and clearcoat products for OEMs of light and commercial vehicles; and coatings systems for various commercial applications, including HDT, bus, and rail under the Imron, Imron Elite, Centari, Rival, Corlar epoxy undercoats, and AquaEC brands. It also sells its product under the Audurra, Challenger, Chemophan, ColorNet, Cromax, Cromax Mosaic, Durapon 70, Duxone, Harmonized Coating Technologies, Imron ExcelPro, Lutophen, Nason, Spies Hecker, Standox, Stollaquid, Syntopal, Syrox, Raptor, U-POL, and Vermeera brand names. The company was formerly known as Axalta Coating Systems Bermuda Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. in August 2014. Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Capital One Financial Corporation was founded in 1988 with the goal of revolutionizing the credit card industry. The companys ground-breaking services were data-driven, opened the doors of credit to millions of people, and today Capital One is one of the worlds largest banks.

The companys commitment to connecting people with responsible credit helped to rank it 10th in the US in regard to total assets and 72nd globally. The company has nearly $400 billion in assets in late 2022 and operated a network of subsidiary institutions including Capital One bank. Capital One Financial Corporation is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and operates a network of branches and offices throughout the US, Canada, and the UK.

Capital One Financial Corporation is the holding company for Capital One Bank (USA), National Association; and Capital One, National Association, which provides various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Capital One Financial Corporation operates in three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking. The Credit Card segment operates a wide range of revolving consumer credit cards while the Consumer Banking segment offers a range of traditional banking and investment products including auto and home loans, savings, and certificates of deposit. The Commercial segment offers business accounts, financing, commercial and multifamily real estate, and commercial and industrial loans.

In the US, the company serves its clients through digital channels, branches, cafes, and other distribution channels located in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. Digital services include online accounts, account services, loan applications, and investments. Among the many features of banking with Capital One are fee-free checking accounts, cloud-based financial tracking services, and Capital One Cafes. The company operates more than 40 cafes across the US where anyone, not just account holders, can get a coffee or snack as well as improve their financial education. The cafes are equipped with ample public space, nooks for private work, and even event space for meetings.

Capital One continues to advance the digital financial industry to this day. The company was among the first to move its operations to the cloud, doing so in 2012, and it is now developing machine learning, open source, and cloud technology applications to help detect and prevent fraud, secure accounts, and improve banking services.

Capital One is committed to aiding the worlds fight against climate change. To that end, it is pursuing several avenues that include influencing its value chain, fostering a sustainable office culture that is in sync with its surroundings, promoting and financing sustainable energy projects, and transparency in regard to its climate goals.
The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd..

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Newell Brands Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, and distributes consumer and commercial products worldwide. It operates in five segments: Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances, Home Solutions, Learning and Development, and Outdoor and Recreation. The Commercial Solutions segment provides commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions; closet and garage organization products; hygiene systems and material handling solutions; and home and security, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms products under the BRK, First Alert, Mapa, Quickie, Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, and Spontex brands. The Home Appliances segment offers kitchen appliances under the Crock-Pot, Mr. Coffee, Oster, and Sunbeam brands. The Home Solutions segment provides food and home storage; fresh preserving; vacuum sealing; and gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery, and home fragrance products under the Ball, Calphalon, Chesapeake Bay Candle, FoodSaver, Rubbermaid, Sistema, WoodWick, and Yankee Candle brands. The Learning and Development segment offers writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens, and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; and baby gear and infant care products under the Aprica, Baby Jogger, Graco, NUK, Tigex, Dymo, Elmer's, EXPO, Graco, Mr. Sketch, NUK, Paper Mate, Parker, Prismacolor, Sharpie, Waterman, and X-Acto brands. The Outdoor and Recreation segment provides outdoor and outdoor-related products under the Campingaz, Coleman, Contigo, ExOfficio, and Marmot brands. It serves warehouse clubs, department and drug/grocery stores, mass merchants, home centers, office superstores and supply stores, contract stationers, and distributors, e-commerce, sporting goods, specialty, and travel retailers. The company was formerly known as Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and changed its name to Newell Brands Inc. in April 2016. Newell Brands Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; prepaid programs and management services; commercial credit and debit payment products and solutions; and payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts. It also provides value-added products and services comprising cyber and intelligence solutions for parties to transact, as well as proprietary insights, drawing on principled use of consumer, and merchant data services. In addition, the company offers analytics, test and learn, consulting, managed services, loyalty, processing, and payment gateway solutions for e-commerce merchants. Further, it provides open banking and digital identity platforms services. The company offers payment solutions and services under the MasterCard, Maestro, and Cirrus. Mastercard Incorporated was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, New York.
Skechers U.S.A., Inc. designs, develops, markets, and distributes footwear for men, women, and children; and performance footwear for men and women worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Wholesale, International Wholesale, and Direct-to-Consumer. It offers casual, casual athletic, sport athletic, trail, sandals, boots, and retro fashion footwear for men and women under the Skechers USA, Skechers Sport, Skechers Active, Modern Comfort, Skechers Street, Mark Nason, and BOBS brands; sneakers, casuals, boots, and sandals for boys and girls under the Skechers Mega-Craft, S-Lights, SKECH-AIR, Foamies, Twinkle Toes, Z-Strap, Skechers Stretch Fit, and Skechers Street brands; and technical footwear under the Skechers GOrun, Skechers GOwalk, Skechers GOtrain, Skechers GOtrail, and Skechers GO Golf brands. The company also provides men's and women's slip-resistant and safety-toe casuals, boots, hikers, and athletic shoes; and lifestyle apparel for men, women, and kids. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 4,306 company and third party owned Skechers stores. The company sells its products through department and specialty stores, athletic and independent retailers, boutiques, and online retailers; and through its e-commerce sites, concept stores, and factory and warehouse outlet stores. It also licenses its Skechers brand. Skechers U.S.A., Inc. was incorporated in 1992 and is headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California.
For two days, a dog in Ukraine lay on the train tracks, her injuries making it impossible to move.

Denis Malafeyev

But this dog - later named Lucy by the man who shared her story on Facebook - wasn't alone. Another dog, Panda, was there.

Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Rescued Animals Melt Into This Woman's Arms When She Sings To Them

Denis Malafeyev

Every time an oncoming train roared into sight, Lucy's guardian angel curled up on the tracks beside her.

Denis Malafeyev

Before the train reached them, Panda nudged Lucy's head down, ensuring they both remained as flat as possible - while the train rushed just inches above their heads. And so these steadfast companions faced death time and time again, pressed tightly against each other. Then they made another friend. On Christmas Day, Denis Malafeyev got a call from friends who had seen the dogs defying death on the tracks near the village of Tseglovka. He raced to the scene to find that Panda wasn't just protecting her injured friend from trains - but from anyone who got too close.

Denis Malafeyev

"Several attempts to remove the animal from the rail were in vain," Malafeyev wrote on Facebook. "Because the dog strongly defended her from us." So Malafeyev was forced to watch the same terrifying scene repeat itself: a train blaring into view and Panda pushing Lucy's head down just enough to avoid being hit. "He warmed her for hours," Malafeyev added. "So she's not cold and put himself in danger every time." Malafeyev, who often helps dogs in distress, was finally able to earn Panda's trust and get close enough to pick up Lucy from the tracks. Of course, there was one condition. Panda had to come along for the ride.

Denis Malafeyev
Ever get a craving for a certain brand of sake?

The LCBOs flagship store on Queens Quay has seven or eight to choose from, but there are more than 70 online and at its East Asian Products of the World boutique store on Highway 7 East in Markham, where the Japanese rice wine is flying off the shelves.

Were having a hell of a time continuously stocking the store, says the liquor retailers chief executive George Soleas.

Born in Cyprus and seeking refuge in Canada as a boy after the Turkish invasion of his homeland, Soleas today is on a mission to bring an international flavour to the liquor retailers stores.

Im an immigrant. Im a staunch Canadian, but I am also proud of that heritage, he said.

Forty years ago when I came here, I would go to the Danforth and buy my stuff that I was used to at home, like Greek cheese and other items, and I felt a lot of others do the same, whether they are Italian, Portuguese, East Asian.

To that end, the LCBO launched Products of the World boutiques last year within existing locations to showcase all of the items that would naturally appeal to a particular demographic, such as Portuguese products in the Stockyards, German products in Waterloo and Kosher products at three locations, including Bathurst and Lawrence.

Not surprisingly, the first one opened in the heart of Greektown on Danforth Ave. It features more than 100 Greek wines and spirits, including many of Soleas favourites like Assyrtiko, a white wine varietal from the island of Santorini.

Sales are up an average of 150 per cent compared to this time last year. The selection is triple the stores previous offering and is believed to be the best assortment available outside of Greece.

As well as that store is doing, the East Asian boutique store in Markham blows it out of the water. That LCBO location has enjoyed more than 400 per cent growth since launching its huge selection of vino and spirits from East Asian countries including Japan, China and South Korea last April.

This selection is believed to be one of the best assortments of its kind in North America, notes Soleas.

Many of the wines and spirits are from LCBOs consignment program, which means they are available to customers for the first time outside of bars and licensed restaurants. The selection is regularly refreshed to keep the assortment interesting, he says.

Products have also been chosen to appeal to a wide range of tastes and budgets, and stores are staffed with knowledgeable product consultants who offer expert advice on the rare listings. Staff in many locations even speak that country or regions language.

Its a very exciting initiative. We have a selection of about 24,000 products a year. But we were not really showcasing this selection to the rest of Ontarians, Soleas explains.

We felt if we roll out these stores, not only do they become destination stores but all of these products are part of e-commerce.

So if you live in London or Ottawa and you wanted a particular Greek wine or a Spanish wine you dont have to come to Toronto to get it at that destination store. You can place your order through online and well deliver it to you, he says.

LCBO now has 13 such specialty stores and will open at least three more showcasing exclusive products next year, including California brands in Toronto in January, Italian booze in Woodbridge, and French wine and spirits at a location as yet to be determined.

In certain areas we are not just aiming at the demographics. We also look at which store has the highest sales of certain wines and spirits and has the capacity to accommodate 200 extra products, says Soleas.

Thats how South African Products of the World recently landed in Pickering, New Zealand brands in North York, Argentina in Aurora and Chile in Mississauga.

So we look at a number of different variables. Its a complex equation. One is demographics, one is size of the store, one is knowledgable staff and capacity to accommodate all that.

Overall the program has seen a 53 per cent growth in sales, says Soleas.

They all have the largest selection outside of their countries, he says.

Ken Wong, marketing professor at the Smith School of Business at Queens University, says the LCBO is wisely following what the food industry has been doing for some time with great success.

The ethnic market has now gone mainstream. Remember it used to be that only Chinese people ate Chinese food and now everyone does, he says.

Going international is what grocers are doing now, and the localization aspect caters to the tastes of the neighbourhood, Wong explains.

He says Products of the World boutiques are an especially good fit in the multicultural GTA.

I grew up in Montreal so Im used to a lot of diversity while Toronto was seen as a cultural wasteland, but things have really changed, he says.

Indeed, when Soleas first came to Canada as a teenager in the 70s, he worked in his uncles steak house in Hamilton, where there wasnt a whole lot of diversity either. Hes come a long way from chef to chief executive of the LCBO, a gig he started last summer after working nearly 20 years in various roles at the giant liquor retailer.

Its been an amazing journey. This is a fantastic organization to work for. Weve gone from a distributor to a retailer to a marketer, he says, jokingly comparing the bright and well-stocked Summerhill location to Toys-R-Us.

The status quo today is not fine. In retail if you adopt status quo youll be crushed. You need to always innovate, he notes.

To that end, customers will eventually be introduced to a more digital experience in LCBO stores.

Youll be able to use your mobile phone to do a lot of different things. You could walk in a store and if youre participating (on the app), well know what you like, your taste profile. Well be able to make recommendations to you, and youll be able to scan the bottle and get information on the product, history and food matching, Soleas explains.

He says thats what todays consumer  particularly millennials  are looking for. And at the end of the day, despite being a government-run agency, the LCBO is a business.

Were always looking for new ways to do things better. We need to continue to capture any growth there is in the market to ensure our stores remain viable and operationally efficient, he says.

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In a gentrifying neighborhood of San Francisco, a couple exit their cab and head toward an apartment, rolling suitcases behind them. Unbeknownst to them, a private investigator by the name of Michael Joffe sits in his parked car just across the street, discreetly snapping pictures.

This is not a divorce case or an international spy caper - nothing that salacious or mysterious. It is instead an episode that provides a window into how bitter the feud between struggling tenants and home-sharing websites like Airbnb has become. Joffe works for a tenant lawyer who in turns represents a family that was evicted from their apartmentthe one that the couple was entering that day.

The goal of the stakeout was to uncover and document smoking-gun proof that the landlord is violating city ordinances limiting the use of private homes for short-term rentals. Its very lucrative work nowadays in San Francisco, the city thats come to represent Americas shortage of affordable housing.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you want to look at it, its a decent living in San Francisco right now being an investigator doing these kind of jobs, because here are so many of them, Joffe, 48, said.

Airbnb disputes that home-sharing has significantly reduced housing for the poor and moderate-income, pointing the finger instead at rising demand and restrictions on building new units. But in recent weeks it has taken steps to comfort alarmed officials, a sign perhaps that these sorts of aggressive steps by tenants are helping sway the debate. Starting in November, for example, Airbnb instituted a one host, one home policy in San Francisco and New York as a way to knock out investors who may be collecting apartments to market on the web for short stays.

We strongly oppose illegal hotels and bad actors who remove housing from the market, company spokesman Nick Papas said. Weve removed thousands of listings from our platform that arent right for our community. We are committed to working with cities to address their specific needs.

Still, with municipal governments lacking the staffing to enforce housing ordinances, theres no shortage of work for private eyes like Joffe. When hes not taking pictures of people coming and going, he sometimes poses as a prospective tenant to see if landlords allow short-term rentals.

One case he looked into involved Brian Grzybowski, who claimed in court papers that he and his wife were forced to leave their $2,950-a-month Potrero Hill apartment in 2015 after the landlord falsely claimed they needed the apartment as a permanent residence for a family member.

The unit soon popped up on Airbnb, Craigslist, FlipKey, Zeus Living and Tripping.com, according to the complaint in California Superior Court. Now the Grzybowskis are paying $5,500 a month to live a block away. Its against San Francisco law to evict someone for the purpose of leasing their apartment for a short term.

Joffes job involved inspecting the unit, in the presence of attorneys from both sides, to determine that it was set up for short stays. One finding: it had small soaps and shampoo bottles, as would be found in a hotel room.

The suit was settled in a way that didnt require an admission of liability, said John Brydon, whose law firm represented the landlord.

In many cities, people on the wrong side of the median income are feeling the pinch. In New York, a June study by two nonprofits that advocate for affordable housing found that the top 20 neighborhoods for Airbnb listings in Manhattan and Brooklyn had average rent increases almost twice those found in the city as a whole between 2011 and 2015.

In the Soho/Greenwich Village area of Manhattan, for example, a short-term rental can make close to $10,000 a year, according to the study. Local elected officials picked up on the report as proof that the citys shortage of affordable housing has been made worse by home-sharing sites.

A group of New Orleans-based volunteers published a paper that found that the average rent on an entire home on Airbnb in that city was $251 a night, compared with an average of $26 a night for a full-time renter.

A study in San Francisco found that neighborhoods with the highest number of evictions in a one-year period also had the highest number of commercial hosts on Airbnb. While there are many reasons for San Franciscos affordable housing problem, said Kevin Guy, director of the citys Office of Short-Term Rentals, the growth of such rentals are taking units off the market that would otherwise be available to people who want to be long-term San Francisco residents.

To be sure, the study noted the boost the city got from tourists who otherwise wouldnt have been able to afford its hotels. And for many people, the income from renting couches or extra rooms allows them to afford to remain in San Francisco.

Still, Airbnb decided to cooperate with limits on home-sharing implemented in London and Amsterdam, and dropped a lawsuit challenging fines against people who post apartments in New York that were illegally converted to short-term rentals.

It also praised rules adopted in New Orleans, which limit room rentals to 90 days per year in non-owner-occupied homes, and allow website registrations to be passed through to city enforcers to ensure theyre on the level.

For Rhiannon Enlil, 34, the reforms didnt come soon enough to stop her eviction from an apartment near New Orleanss French Quarter, whose bars, music venues and restaurants attract tourists from across the globe. Her landlord said he wanted her two-bedroom apartment to rent out on the web. Enlil, a bartender, has been living with her boyfriend since June.

Im deeply in love with New Orleans, and I will live in a refrigerator box under the highway in order to stay here, Enlil said. But there are a lot of people I know who are talking about how they cant afford to live here anymore. Theyre the very fiber of the city, like people in the service industry and people who are musicians, who dont make a lot of money.

MORE ON THESTAR.COM

Airbnb tightens home sharing limits in London, Amsterdam

Hotels, Airbnb face mandatory tax as John Tory unveils city funding moves

Airbnb may break into flight-booking to rival Expedia, Priceline

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A lot of stuff happened in 2016: some of it strange, some of it trivial, but a lot of it just plain awful.

From Aleppo to Zika, from Brexit to Brangelina, from lots of dead rock stars to one dead gorilla, from the death of Rob Ford to the rise of Donald Trump, humanity had plenty of reasons to despair over the state of the world we live in.

Rather than wallow in it, we decided we had no choice but to turn around and laugh about it. So we enlisted 10 Toronto comics  and a few from Twitter  to take part in our Roast of 2016, offering their best insults of all the crap we endured this year.

RELATED:Hey 2016! Youre ugly and you stink: Menon

Read it and weep, with the occasional snort-laugh.

JANUARY

The New York Times calls Canada hip

Which means that it stopped being hip about six months ago.

 Ed the Sock

We immediately proved them wrong when we could not shut up about it afterwards.

 Michael Kolberg

Celine Dions husband Rene Angelil dies

Do you think where he is he can still hear her voice? If so, which one do you think hes in?

 Emma Hunter

FEBRUARY

Goodwill goes bankrupt

I guess Goodwill will have to start shopping at Goodwill.

 Jan Caruana

MayorJohn Tory gives Drake the key to the city

Some people say that Drake is Canadas sweetheart, which is bulls--t because we all know Canadas sweetheart is Chalet Sauce chips.

 Alice Moran

Drake already has the key to any city: money!

 Ed the Sock

MARCH

The Jian Ghomeshi trial

That poor teddy bear.

 Robby Hoffman

Rob Ford dies

Hes a fat guy. He could rap. He even had a bit of a Jamaican accent sometimes. He was the Biggie Smalls of Toronto rap videos and crack videos  more so than the rappers that are on Much Music right now.

 Quinn C. Martin

APRIL

Starbucks starts serving booze

Now the yoga moms can stop sneaking it into their venti lattes.

 Jan Caruana

If you think this makes baristas like bartenders you can tell all your troubles to, forget it. If they dont care about spelling your name right on your cup, they really dont care about the rest of your life.

 Ed the Sock

Booze at Starbucks? Who cares. Call me when they put McVodka on the Value Menu.

 Michael Kolberg

Beyonce drops Lemonade

Well, you know what they say. When life gives you lemons, create a visual album that will serve as the topic of numerous feminist think pieces.

 Jan Caruana

The Panama Papers

The leaked documents finally offered proof of what we all knew but wouldnt say: former Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has a great accountant.

 Michael Kolberg

MAY

Harambe the gorilla killed at Cincinnati Zoo

A gorilla got killed. Oh, and also 470,000 Syrian men, women and children.

 Kjartan Hewitt

Raccoon-resistant green bins

What a shame. Everyone knows how much raccoons like to recycle.

 Ali Hassan

JUNE

Brexit

Brexit was awful, but at least now I have a fun word for ditching brunches when Im too hung over.

 Kjartan Hewitt

Nigel Farage is proof that to win the support of the British people you dont have to be likeable or smart or respectable or kind or even good-looking, so long as you have a horrible idea.

 Michael Kolberg

Capybaras escape High Park Zoo

Casting at TheAmazing Race is approaching them as a potential team for next season.

 Emma Hunter

JULY

Pokemon Go

Never thought Id get old enough to yell, Hey you kids, get off my lawn! but my house is a gym and mystic punks keep trying to roll it.

 Alice Moran

The concept behind Pokemon Go is already a reality for Trump supporters, who see imaginary terrorists in all public spaces.

 Ed the Sock

Torontos masked bride

This chick is the reason guys dont wanna get married.

 Jan Caruana

Gator attack at Disney World

Despite the warning signs, the father thought all Disney alligators could be detected by a ticking sound.

 Ed the Sock

Toronto Fashion Week cancelled

Said Montreal while exhaling cigarette smoke: Did it ever exist?

 Emma Hunter

AUGUST

Its a great time to be a racist or sexist troll

Sexist trolls drove Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones off Twitter  maybe the nicest thing anyones ever done for her.

 Ed the Sock

I hear theyre making an all-female version of Brokeback Mountain and I personally cannot wait.

 Robby Hoffman

Last I logged onto Twitter and saw the word nazis trending and I thought, I wonder if this is how my grandpa felt when he saw the word nazis trending in the 30s.

 Alice Moran

SEPTEMBER

Taxi vs. Uber wars

Im sorry, can you pronounce taxi for me?

 Robby Hoffman

People dont understand the extra cost for a taxi isnt for the ride; its for the foreign language lessons.

 Ed the Sock

Protests over Ontarios sex ed curriculum

I loved watching TV interviews with parents complaining and saying, We will teach our kids this thing at home! Will you? Because you couldnt even say the words sex ed out loud to an adult journalist.

 Ali Hassan

I think Ontario should be proud of educating children about sex. When I was a teen, sex ed was just a guy named Ed whod park his van behind the school and ask if he could show you his wiener.

 Jan Caruana

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt file for divorce

I just realized that Jennifer Aniston has zero social media accounts and is living in a kind of bliss none of us can possibly imagine.

 @mckinneykelsey

Are we now in for at least six months of Jennifer Anistons every facial expression being scrutinized for signs of schadenfreude?

@GuyLodge

OCTOBER

Fan tosses beer during Jays game

We were just a little too smug when we found out he was from Hamilton!

 Ali Hassan

Though the Jays played an impressive season, we the fans managed to embarrass ourselves, tarnishing our better image and destroying our long-held Canadian principles of sportsmanship and not wasting beer.

 Kjartan Hewitt

Shoppers Drug Mart applies for marijuana licence

Just a way to move more of their crappy Life brand potato chips.

 Ed the Sock

Kim Kardashian tied up and robbed in Paris

The one time Kim isnt being filmed and this happens!

 Robby Hoffman

Rough year for Kimye, between the robbery, hospitalization and new rumours of divorce. A spokesperson for the couple said, The family is asking for publicity during this difficult time.

 Michael Kolberg

Donald Trump brags about grabbing women

Safest place for that guy? Oval Office.

 Emma Hunter

NOVEMBER

Trump wins U.S. election

Chewbacca Mom voted for Trump, so it isnt not her fault.

 Robby Hoffman

Trudeau might not be the sharpest, but at least hes pretty. Whats their excuse?

 Emma Hunter

The American election scorched the earth faster than a fire in Fort Mac in a windstorm.

 Craig Lauzon

Welcome to North America: Prime Minister Selfie, meet President Tweet.

 Ed the Sock

Let us not forget the biggest losers in the Venn diagram of losers in this election: female Muslim Mexicans. There may only be seven of them . . . but still, they lost big time.

 Ali Hassan

Prince Harry dating Meghan Markle

I love that Prince Harry has managed to find himself a girlfriend who looks like both Kate and Pippa Middleton.

@camillalong

DECEMBER

Mick Jagger has eighth child

Does he know? You guys should tell him. Also: GROSSSSSSSSSS.

 Emma Hunter

You cant always get what you want . . . unless what you want is an eighth child and youre Mick Jagger.

 Ali Hassan

Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize

I totally get the Nobel committee. Reading books is hard.

@Shteyngart

Compiled by Laura Beeston

Meet the roasters

Craig Lauzon is a member of Royal Canadian Air Farce, where he has been a regular since September 2004. @TheCraigLauzon

Jan Caruana is an actor, writer, teacher, director and Canadian Comedy Award winner. @JanCaruana

Ed the Sock is a Canadian comedy legend whos launching a new web program in January. @EdTheSock

Quinn C. Martin headlines a regular comedy night at Harlem Restaurant. @QuinnTheComic

Michael Kolberg is the host of The Actually Really Good Stand-Up Comedy Show at Comedy Bar. @MikeyKolberg

Kjartan Hewitt can be seen in this season of The Beaverton and the upcoming season of The Strain. @thatjerkiwant

Alice Moran is an actor and writer whose hobbies include jokes and eating pizza like its her job. @Alice_Moran

Robby Hoffman is a comedian and TV writer who has loud things to say. @iAmRobbyHoffman

Emma Hunter is the co-host of The Beaverton. @Emmahuntress

Ali Hassan hosts CBCs Laugh Out Loud and Canada Reads 2017. @StandUpAli

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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIAThe food world is in a foraging frenzy, with top-notch restaurants jumping in on the latest phenomenon. But down in South Australia, folks arent all that fussed.

To be honest, in S.A. it has been a standard practice for some time, says Paul Henry, a South Australian food and wine ambassador. It really comes from the frugal habits of early settlement, and has endured as both good husbandry and good ecology.

People have been plucking away at the landscape for generations, for native herbs such as the delightfully named pig face, to the plethora of non-native pine mushrooms that pepper South Australia. Much has been learned from the areas Aboriginal peoples, who had a complex agricultural system for tens of thousands of years.

Related story:7 more things to do in or near Adelaide

That doesnt even scratch the surface of other time-honoured practices, such as baiting and trapping yabbies (crayfish) in dams, jigging for squid off all of the beach jetties, and general recreational fishing for Tommy Ruff (a small, sardine-like herring), says Henry. All of this is commonplace.

Henry comes by such knowledge honestly, as a past creative director of Tasting Australia, an annual Adelaide-based eating and drinking festival with more than 100 interactive events and a wine brand consultant in one of the worlds most prolific wine regions. Hes also honest about what he feels are the biggest draws of South Australia.

Apart from serial droughts, we have a benign and bountiful landscape and coastline  4,000 kilometres of it, with the coldest, cleanest, deepest and most nutrient-rich waters on earth, he says.

The foraging mindset means a lack of fish farms and genetically-modified crops, while the nations agricultural border control measures (among the worlds strictest) help ensure an absence of pests.

Those factors all fit for Tiffany Schultz, who runs Conscious Lifestyles, an eco-conscious catering and event consulting company in Adelaide. An ecologist by trade, Schultz now educates people on the production and preparation of locally harvested, seasonal foods.

Its really unhealthy how disconnected from our food we are, and where it all comes from, says Schultz. You absorb into your body what your foods gone through so its important that its been respected along the way.

As part of Tasting Australia, Schultz recently partnered with Kate Grigg, an Adelaide horticulturist and conservationist, to lead a guided wild mushroom-picking workshop about an hours drive outside of town in the Adelaide Hills, a lush, rolling landscape that rings the city.

Foraging is a brilliant way to connect you to the primal nature of eating, says Schultz. You can only collect what natures providing, theres nothing artificial about it. It is what it is.

Armed with a basket, a curved mushroom-cutting knife and a wealth of mycology knowledge, Schultz and Grigg gingerly walk the sold-out Wild Mushroom Forest Feast tour into the rows of towering pine trees of Kuitpo Forest Reserve, warning the crowd to be mindful of their step so as not to squash the very fungi theyre foraging for.

Their next warning  about whats edible  is even more important.

If you do make a mistake, it can potentially be deadly, says Grigg. So you cant just be pretty sure, you have to be 100 per cent sure.

Thanks to early settlers, whose imported pine and oak saplings contained fungi spores, South Australia boasts the countrys biggest population of edible introduced mushrooms. There are an estimated 250,000 species of fungi in Australia, though only 15,000 types have been documented so far.

A lot of our native mushrooms havent been tested to see if theyre edible, says Grigg. The indigenous people did eat some, but that knowledge is lost. Once you start to learn a bit about the mushrooms, you know what is going to be edible and what to look for.

A lot of what she and Schultz have learned has come from walking these woods and searching for mushrooms such as porcinis, slippery jacks and saffron milk caps. Grigg regularly eats about 20 different species (mostly fried with a knob of butter), but its about more than finding ones dinner  its about stewardship.

Low-impact foraging is doing the least amount of damage as you can, says Grigg. Dont pick everything in sight . . . Be mindful that we dont necessarily know whats going to trigger a collapse in that ecosystem.

After collecting a dozen edible large saffron milk caps and slippery jacks, tour participants head to the reserves Woodcutters Cottage to enjoy the fruits of their forage in a mouthwatering four-course meal. The feast is prepared with local and seasonal food foraged or homegrown in the surrounding area  even the natural wine by Commune of Buttons was made with absolute minimal intervention, chemical or otherwise.

Were really disconnected from the earth and that stops us from protecting it, looking after it and respecting it, says Schultz. Were trying to bring back the shared communal meal and conviviality with what I call hyper-local and hyper-seasonal food.

With the space to learn and expert knowledge to share, people such as Grigg and Schultz are proving that the South Australian pioneering spirit is alive and well  and very well fed.

Emma Yardleys trip was sponsored by the South Australia Tourism Commission, which didnt review or approve this story.

When you go:

Go on this trip: Tasting Australia runs April 30 to May 7 in 2017. Details: tastingaustralia.com.au

Do your research: southaustralia.com

When to go: South Australia enjoys warm summers and mild winters  but remember, the Southern Hemisphere experiences seasons in the opposite order of Canada. Summer (December-February) is dry and hot, with temperatures climbing up to 35-40C; fall (March-May) is warm and sunny; winter (June-August) can be rainy and quite chilly; and spring (September-November) is lush and pleasant.

Get to Adelaide: Many international airlines fly direct from Toronto to Australia  including Qantas, Air Canada and Air New Zealand. There are no direct flights to Adelaide so you would need to connect internally. Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia offer flights between most major cities in Australia, the shortest being one hour and 20 minutes from Melbourne.

Get to Kangaroo Island: Serviced by the regional airline REX, there are multiple daily flights from Adelaide to Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, all year round. Tickets start at around $123 (AUS) one way. There is also a SeaLink ferry service with one-way adult tickets starting at $49 (AUS).

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Animals seem to slither their way into the news every year. And 2016 saw numerous animals become the centrepiece of high-profile court proceedings and political hot potatoes.

Here are some of this years Canadian animal newsmakers:

High Park capybaras

Two large rodents escaped a downtown Toronto zoo last May and remained at large for weeks in a giant park. High Park Zoo staff dubbed the animals, just six months old, Bonnie and Clyde. The daring escape led to dozens of sightings. Animal detectives flocked to the park to try to find the critters. Zoo staff laid traps with food near the parks waterways since, they explained, capybaras like to hide in the water with just their noses above the surface  and thats where they liked to mate. One was eventually caught June 12 and the other remained free until June 28. The hunt for Bonnie and Clyde reportedly cost the city $15,000.

Animal House

In August, the Ikea monkeys former owner, Yasmin Nakhuda, threw an annual party for her supporters where she met her two new monkeys, Caesar and Diva  the latest additions to her growing menagerie. Guests roamed Nakhudas sprawling property in Kawartha Lakes, Ont., watching burlesque dancers, sipping wine and snapping photographs of the other animals: two miniature donkeys, a wallaroo named Wall-E, a few alpacas groomed like best-in-show poodles, two tiny marmosets, two ferrets and a skittish black-and-white fox.

Nakhuda moved there in 2014 after losing her son Darwin, a Japanese macaque that escaped from her car and wandered into an Ikea store. Images of the tiny monkey wearing a beige shearling coat triggered a social media frenzy and a legal battle that Nakhuda eventually lost to an animal sanctuary where Darwin now lives.

New Brunswick python

In an emotional trial that ended in November, a jury found a New Brunswick man not guilty of criminal negligence causing death after his African rock python escaped its enclosure and killed two young boys three years ago. Noah, 4, and Connor Barthe, 6, died during a sleepover in Jean-Claude Savoies apartment in August 2013. The python escaped by travelling through a ventilation duct and dropping into the living room where the boys slept. A pathologist who performed autopsies on the boys said they died of asphyxiation and each was covered in puncture wounds from snake bites.

The boys, who were best friends with Savoies son, had spent the day of the sleepover petting animals and playing at a farm owned by Savoies father. They stayed over in Savoies apartment, which was above the Reptile Ocean pet store he owned at the time. A former Toronto Zoo curator of reptiles testified that snakes become more aggressive when they detect possible sources of food  and an attack would have been unlikely had there been no animal smells on the boys.

Montreal pit bulls

A pit bull escaped from a Montreal home in June and savagely attacked and killed a woman in her own backyard, setting in motion a fierce political battle that has ended up in court. Police shot and killed the dog as it stood over a lifeless Christiane Vadnais.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre led the charge as the city swiftly passed a bylaw banning new pit bulls and placing strict rules on current owners of pit bulls when walking the animals or keeping them outside the home. The bylaw was quickly challenged by the local SPCA in court, which suspended it until it hears legal arguments. The Montreal SPCA argued that some elements are discriminatory, unreasonable and unenforceable and would result in all pit bulls being penalized regardless of their behaviour. In November, the Crown said it would not lay charges against the dogs owner, further galvanizing Coderres belief the city needs the bylaw.

Alleged fighting dogs

Last January, Ontarios animal welfare agency filed a court application to destroy 21 dogs seized in a raid on an alleged dogfighting ring. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Chatham-Kent police took 31 the dogs in October 2015 from a home in Tilbury, Ont. Five people now face more than 300 criminal charges related to animal cruelty and weapons offences. Three of the dogs were euthanized for medical reasons, but the OSPCA requires court approval to put down 21 others for behavioural reasons. The American SPCA evaluated the dogs and said they are some of the most aggressive dogs they had ever seen.

The dogs have been kept in a secret location for more than a year now as the case makes its way through the judicial system. Some of the dogs had puppies that are now fully grown and stand a good chance at being adopted outside the province  pit bulls are banned in Ontario  once the case is complete. Throngs of animal activists have shown up to every court date. Even Don Cherry, a noted animal lover, wants the dogs saved. Two animal groups, Animal Justice and Dog Tales, tried to intervene in the case, arguing they would represent the best interests of the dogs. A judge in December denied their application. The case continues.

Dead belugas

Two beluga whales, a mother and her daughter, died mysteriously nine days apart at the Vancouver Aquarium in November. Aquarium officials said the pair  Aurora, 29, and Qila, 21  exhibited similar symptoms before dying, but examinations failed to pinpoint why they died. They were the last two belugas at the facility, although it does own five others that are currently housed at marine parks in the United States. Officials said none will return to Vancouver and plans to expand the beluga tank will be put on hold.

Hot pigs

In August, an Ontario woman went to trial to defend a criminal mischief charge for giving water to pigs on their way to slaughter. Animal activist Anita Krajnc told court she gave pigs water through a porthole on June 22, 2015, and got into a heated argument with the driver of the truck transporting the animals to a slaughterhouse. The pigs owner filed a complaint with police the next day and later told court he was worried for the safety of his animals, which, by law, are his property. The Crown agrees with the farmer, saying Krajnc was interfering with his property when she gave the pigs water.

Krajnc pleaded not guilty and used her defence to put the meat industry on trial, testifying that giving bacon to kids was akin to child abuse. The case has dragged due to a sporadic court schedule and isnt expected to conclude until next March. Krajns was back in the news in October after a transport truck carrying pigs to slaughter crashed, killing 40, while more than 100 were walked to the nearby abattoir. Krajnc was arrested and charged with obstructing a peace officer. She said she was arrested after she went behind police tape to take photographs of the pigs.

Bowmanville Zoo tiger

The owner of an Ontario zoo famous for providing animals for Hollywood movies was charged with five counts of animal cruelty in April after a video surfaced of a man appearing to whip one of his tigers. The video taken at Bowmanville Zoo, east of Toronto, was captured by an undercover operative working with the activist group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which released the footage in December 2015. Months later, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) charged Michael Hackenberger with four counts of causing an animal distress and one of failing to comply with the prescribed standards of care for an animal. Hackenberger said he was not guilty of the charges. A Bowmanville Zoo spokesman, and long-time friend of Hackenberger, said the zoo believes in his innocence.

Hackenberger stepped down and the zoo closed in October, blaming the video for a catastrophic drop in attendance. The zoo, which was established in 1919 and claims to be the oldest private zoo in North America, is now in the process of finding homes for its animals. Two lions were recently sent to a zoo in New Brunswick.

Bears, guinea hens and a peacock

In late November, Ontarios animal welfare agency laid five animal cruelty charges against Marineland, allegations of mistreatment that were quickly rejected by the Niagara Falls, Ont., tourist attraction. The OSPCA charges relate to the parks bears, guinea hens and one peacock. The agency inspected Marineland after receiving a complaint about alleged animal cruelty.

Marineland has denied all allegations and said it will vigorously defend itself in court. Marineland also said the OSPCA visited the park in response to a complaint by a former animal care worker who was fired for poor performance and inappropriate behaviour. Marineland said the former employee is seeking revenge with the help of a radical animal rights organization based in California that filed the complaint.

Drowning penguins

Seven penguins drowned at the Calgary Zoo last week prompting calls for surveillance cameras in all animal enclosures. The zoos penguin exhibit had been closed for maintenance and a colony of 22 Humboldt penguins was staying in a back holding room with two pools. Officials believe the incident happened some time between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, when a zookeeper found seven penguins dead.

Jamie Dorgan, the zoos director of animal care, said staff sampled the water and checked temperature and air conditioners, but nothing was out of sorts. Necropsies on the penguins confirmed they drowned.

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WINNIPEGAs grand chief of an organization representing northern Manitoba First Nations, Sheila North Wilson has a lot of experience dealing with spotty Internet and cellphone service.

North Wilson carries two phones  one which she says works some of the time, and the other hardly at all. Some communities have dial-up Internet while others rely on a combination of phone and satellite reception. Still others have nothing.

Its why her group, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc., welcomes the recent decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to declare broadband Internet access a basic service across the country.

Not to say that technology is the end-all and the be-all, because there are some people that dont want any part of it and are quite comfortable being away from technology in our communities, North Wilson said.

But for day-to-day business and accessibility to the rest of the world, its high time we received this connectivity in our communities.

The aim of Canadas telecommunications regulator is to ensure that within the next 10 to 15 years, service providers offer Internet to all households and businesses at speeds of at least 50 megabits per second for downloading data, and 10 megabits per second for uploads.

The regulator also says mobile wireless service should be made available to all households and businesses throughout Canada, as well as along all major Canadian roads.

Its big news for Canadas smallest towns, where slow Internet means more than just difficulty sharing cat videos.

Farming organizations have long called for improved Internet service.

A document prepared by the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan earlier this year prior listed broadband Internet and cellphone coverage amongst its issues of concern.

Producers like Leeann Minogue, who farms with her husband east of Weyburn, Sask., said in the document that people living in cities and towns dont think twice about downloading large files or videos. But on farms, she said download speeds using towers and dishes are much slower than broadband Internet.

Minogue, who called for better service, noted things like phone and power all came to rural Saskatchewan after a fight.

The commission is giving telecom firms access to an escalating $750 million dollar industry-sponsored fund over the next five years to invest in broadband infrastructure if they guarantee a set price for service.

North Wilson said businesses in remote communities need better service.

We have, for example many artisans or people that offer services that could be out there more if there was better connectivity, she said.

She said residents of remote communities also need reliable Internet because government services and information are moving online.

Her organization played a role in the CRTC hearings, noting their input was mentioned a number of times in the landmark decision.

Last year, North Wilson was dealing with the deaths of three people in a house fire on the Bunibonibee Cree Nation. Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett phoned her to pass along a message of condolence to the community, but North Wilson said she didnt get it right away.

In some communities, she said its likely she wouldnt have received the message at all.

They want to be connected, like the rest of the world, to the rest of the world, North Wilson said.

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OTTAWAThe stark monument, titled Reconciliation, features the statues of two men and a woman on a parapet, their gazes fixed in the distance.

This depiction of three peacekeepers is unique in the world, the federal government says. Set near Ottawas ByWard Market, the monument is meant to honour the more than 110,000 Canadian soldiers who have served on peace missions since 1948.

A short walk away stands the National War Memorial, which pays tribute to Canadian soldiers killed in conflicts dating back to the Boer War. This site serves as the heart of the countrys commemoration on Remembrance Day.

The fact there are two monuments suggests that peacekeeping is not combat, that the two roles are distinct and easily separated. Except thats not reality. Not today. Not, in fact, for many decades.

And not, one expert says, in Mali, where Canadian soldiers could soon be headed, deployed by a Liberal government keen to underscore its claim that Canada is back on the world stage.

The looming deployment promises to stir debate not only on the merits of the mission but how the operation should be even characterized.

Whats clear is that peacekeeping is no longer the appropriate term, said noted military historian Jack Granatstein.

Yet he cautions that deep-seated nostalgia for the blue beret peacekeeping role risks blinding Canadians to the real dangers of peace deployments.

Thats the problem. You have a public that believes that you put on a blue beret and you go out and everybody sings hallelujah and its all fine, Granatstein, a fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said in an interview.

These are really wars we are getting into and were pretending its peacekeeping. Thats a bad mindset for the public. Soldiers know what they are doing. . . . They know its dangerous but the public is still 40 years in the past in its thinking.

Theres good reason for the nostalgia. The notion of peacekeeping is deeply ingrained in Canadians sense of country and their place in the world, said Walter Dorn, a professor of defence studies at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces College.

The image of the peacekeeper is key to the Canadian identity. . . . . Its not just rose-coloured. It speaks to a reality about this country, Dorn said.

It is a concept that Canada helped pioneer, thanks to Lester B. Pearson, who served as external affairs minister and prime minister. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts to persuade the UN to deploy a large force to defuse the Suez crisis the previous year.

That was a major achievement, one of Canadas greatest achievements in its foreign affairs history, Dorn said.

Canada remained a significant contributor to UN peacekeeping forces, with upward of 2,000 soldiers deployed overseas. But in recent decades under both Liberal and Conservative governments, Canadas presence on UN peace operations has declined. Today, Canada has just 112 personnel serving with the UN, including 84 police officers and 19 troops.

The Liberals pledged in the 2015 election to recommit to supporting UN peace operations and make specialized capabilities, such as medical teams and aircraft, available on a case-by-case basis.

Now the Liberal government is weighing the deployment of up to 600 soldiers and 150 police officers to make good on that pledge.

The Star has reported that the mission is probably headed to Mali, where a multinational force of 10,579 troops currently serves under a UN umbrella to help stabilize the country threatened by militants with links to Al Qaeda.

The Canadian contingent could be split up and dispatched to more than one location. The government is expected to make a decision at a cabinet retreat in January.

Yet Granatstein said there are no good locales for a Canadian mission in Africa.

The reality is if were going to Mali, were going into what is effectively a war zone against a well-armed Islamist group of rebels, he said.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan are also in the midst of civil wars. Wherever we go in Africa is not where we should be going and is dangerous. We will have dead Canadians and frankly achieve nothing, he said.

Granatstein said a peace mission requires a credible chance of success, a firm end date, the ability for people to get in and out easily, right weapons for the job and orders that let us use them.

Yet the conflicts across Africa are jumbled, messy, confusing and Canadas contribution will not matter a damn, he said.

But Dorn argues that Mali is exactly the kind of place where Canadian troops need to be. Its these places in the world that require attention so they dont blow up and become big problems for us, he said.

These so-called forgotten areas of the world are key to establishing longer-term peace. I would also add that we deploy troops not just for national interest but also for our national values and peacekeepers can make a big difference in showing that Canada has national values that arent purely selfish.

Whats our identity and what could be more important to a nations identity, its what we are on a world stage. Are we a selfish nation or are we a generous one?

He said a mission to Mali would fulfil a number of objectives for the government, helping the United Nations, Africa and Mali itself, a place where he said there is some peace to keep.

Its a place where there is a terrorist threat, where the French are trying to fight and the Americans are trying to fight the terrorist threat in the Sahel region and this will make a major contribution, Dorn said.

Dorn makes a distinction between a peace mission and combat operation. A peace mission implies that soldiers use force only in a defensive role, not offensive, he said. He cited the trinity of peacekeeping principles  consent for the deployment, impartiality in their actions, and defensive use of force.

It implies that you dont have enemies but that like a police officer you use force when there is an imminent threat, Dorn said.

But he, too, acknowledges that peace missions carry real risks.

More than 3,500 soldiers have been killed on UN missions over the years, including 122 Canadians.

Pollster Frank Graves expects there will be public backing for the mission, partly because of that nostalgia Canadians have for peace missions and a desire to see Canada play a role in the world.

But he said Canadians are wary about military deployments in the wake of the long mission in Afghanistan, where doubts linger whether it produced lasting differences.

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This summer, I received a letter from a reader.

If you are healthy, pray to your God that you stay healthy, it said. Because when the devil comes knocking, your life as you knew it is done.

My beat is ostensibly about work. But as I quickly learned, its also about many other things. Its shaped the way I think about community, family and well-being.

One of the most stark examples of how these things intersect this year was a group of former General Electric workers who say decades of exposure to a range of toxic chemicals in their workplace made them sick.

It was a story about the legacy of our provinces industrial history (whose passing we spill much ink bemoaning.) Here in Peterborough was an oft-unspoken price that some say they paid. Lung cancer. Bowel cancer. Brain cancer.

In the months photojournalist Melissa Renwick and I spent between Toronto and Peterborough, we were struck by how a single workplace touched an entire community. And to be fair, much of it was positive: For over a century, major employers like General Electric were glue in towns like Peterborough. The retirees we met spoke of GE as a family. Workers grew up here, met their future partners, joined bowling leagues and went to dances together.

But it was also hard to ignore the pall illness cast over this industrial city. I cant think of many offhand conversations Melissa and I had with complete strangers that didnt end with a story of their neighbour or cousin or friend who got sick. It was the grotesque elephant in the living room.

We learned a lot about resilience in our months of reporting.

Take GE retiree John Ball. As a boy, he loved chemistry and dreamed of studying at university  but those ambitions ended when his father could no longer spare him from the farm. Eventually, he ended up in a factory.

(Workers told us that this was, in fact, part of the commercial appeal of places like Peterborough: The labour supply was seen as better educated than their American counterparts, and farm kids were viewed as hardy employees.)

Hardy is the word for Ball. When he started at GE Peterborough, he says he swiftly began sounding the alarm about toxic substances in the workplace. What he lacked in formal education, he made up in sheer tenacity. Here was a man who left school in Grade 10. He worked at one the most powerful corporations in the world, not to mention the single biggest employer in town. Most would take this as a cue to punch in and shut up.

Instead, Ball got himself training on workplace chemicals from his former union. He took meticulous minutes at the companys Joint Health and Safety Committee, kept seemingly every document in existence and let nothing slide. In other words, he admits (with a slight hint of pride) to being a bit of a pain in the backside. But far from being some paranoid kook, we now know the true nature of many of the substances he persistently warned about.

These were individual acts of courage, but they would have been impossible without the broader sense of community his colleagues show to this day. Which is why this story wasnt just about a bygone era, it is also about the present.

Resolve is easier in numbers. But in todays fissured workplace, where workers are more likely to be temporary, part-time or on contract, building community on the job is much harder. I hear this persistently from readers: Precarious work is not just stressful and financially uncertain. It is also lonely and isolating.

The price of the industrial era has, for many, been physically monstrous. What, in 20 years, will be the price of our new status quo?

As 2016 draws to a close, that is the question on my mind. By the time the devil comes knocking, will we have an answer?

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A refugee named by the BBC as one of the worlds 100 most inspirational and influential women in 2016 has had her asylum claim suspended by Ottawa because of her activism.

Karima Mehrab was recognized by the British Broadcasting Corporation for her campaigns for independence for Balochistan, an area that had been under the British rule until 1947 and was later acceded to Pakistan as one of the countrys four provinces.

Ironically, Mehrabs efforts are also what got the 33-year-old chair of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO), one of the groups behind the Balochistan separatist movement, into trouble in Canada.

Mehrab is facing an inadmissibility order by the Canada Border Services Agency because of the groups involvement in subversion against the Pakistani government. Her asylum claim has been put on hold pending the outcome of an inadmissibility hearing by a refugee board tribunal in early 2017.

The Baloch Students Organization is banned by Islamabad but it is not among the terrorist entities listed by the Canadian government. Mehrab was scheduled to go forward with her refugee hearing in late October.

Mehrab said she joined the organization in 2006 while attending Atta Shad Degree College in Turbat and climbed the ranks to lead the student group after the abduction of its former chair, Zahid Baloch, in 2014. After a year in hiding, she arrived Canada in November 2015.

According Mehrabs asylum claim, as the Pakistani military cracked down on the movement, her family home was attacked with mortar shells on at least three occasions and one of her cousins was abducted and tortured by officials looking for her.

I feared for my life and the danger to my life was increasing daily. I am thankful to the Canadian government officials that they helped me and a few of my other colleagues to move to this free country, Mehrab said in her claim.

In their order, Canadian border officials said Mehrab is inadmissible on security grounds for being a member of an organization that engages, has engaged or will engage in an act of subversion against a democratic government as understood in Canada.

Canadian border officials would not comment on the inadmissibility order against her, as the matter is still before a tribunal.

Mehrab said her people have been denied the most basic human rights such as access to education, land and natural resources ownership and the rights to practice and preserve their cultural heritage. Some 20,000 Baloch people, mostly youths, have been disappeared by the Pakistani security forces since 2003, she said.

Nadeem Kiani, press minister at Pakistans high commission in Ottawa, said Mehrabs allegations about the military crackdown are unfounded.

We have a democratic government. We have a free, vibrant press in Pakistan. We have not heard these (accusations) in Pakistan, Kiani told the Star. It is unfortunate that these people seek asylum in Canada on the grounds of atrocities. They are just not true. There are no such situations.

The BBC is simply misguided when naming Mehrab as inspirational and influential, he added.

Mehrab, represented by lawyer Max Berger, insists the group leads a peaceful movement and condemns the Pakistani armys and paramilitarys suppression and enforced disappearance of its members.

We have never engaged in any violent act, which is against the BSOs constitution. The allegations that BSO has engaged in violence are not correct, Mehrab told the Star in an interview.

Im surprised Im facing these accusations by Canada while the Pakistani army itself that has committed all these violent acts is not asked any question.

Amnesty International has reported on arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, deaths in custody and extrajudicial executions targeting political activists in Balochistan.

There has been a breakdown of law enforcement in the face of politically motivated attacks particularly throughout the province of Balochistan, said Human Rights Watch in a recent annual report.

London-based immigration lawyer Elizabeth Ruddick, who has represented refugees from Balochistan, said she has never had such an asylum case refused in the United Kingdom.

The seriousness of the human rights crisis in Balochistan is such that any Baloch nationalist who gets a fair hearing by someone who takes the country evidence into account is ultimately granted refugee status, said Ruddick, who has been consulted by Berger.

In no case of which I am aware have the British authorities ever suggested that the BSO is involved in terrorism or armed struggle.

Berger said his client has been upfront in her asylum claim about her membership and leadership within the students organization and she plans to vigorously fight Canadian officials accusations of her groups subversion by force against Pakistan.

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Give or take, Premier Kathleen Wynne travelled about 90,000 kilometres abroad this year  more than twice the circumference of the Earth  in her pursuit of jobs and investment in Ontario.

For her efforts in Japan, South Korea, Israel, Mexico, India and the United States, Wynne and her ministers helped Ontario businesses, hospitals, colleges, and universities ink 137 agreements worth $660 million that should create 776 jobs in the province.

The premiers overseas missions are part of the provinces going global strategy to attract investment and lessen Ontarios dependence on the U.S., which accounts for more than 80 per cent of its trade.

Wynne hopes that by diversifying markets and increasing exports, she can increase job creation at home.

Our top priority as a government is jobs and growth, so now is absolutely the right time for us to double down on our global trade strategy, and thats what this mission is about, she told the Star in January before her eight-day trip to India.

The premiers foreign missions are hardly vacations  she zigzagged 7,200 kilometres around India, visiting Amritsar, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

There, she met twice with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as with the chief ministers  the equivalent of provincial premiers  of five of Indias 29 states.

Ontario firms, universities and colleges signed 65 agreements worth $240 million, generating 150 new jobs at home.

In May, Wynne was in Israel and the West Bank. She met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

That Middle East trip led to 44 agreements for Ontario companies and academic institutions worth $180 million, which should lead to 200 new jobs here.

Last month, Wynne was in Japan and South Korea, meeting with automakers and other corporate executives.

The trade missions to Japan and Korea were very successful  about $240 million worth of agreements and 426 new jobs for Ontario, she told the legislature earlier this month.

But beyond that, the over 45 businesses and education leaders that travelled with us to Korea and to Japan made contacts that will lead to research, to further business, to benefits for both Ontario and their jurisdictions.

Wynne is hopeful that her other excursions  to Michigan, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Mexico  will result in yet more jobs for Ontario in the months and years ahead.

Ontario is already a leader in automotive parts and assembly. But we cant take our success for granted. North Americas highly competitive auto sector calls on us to work more closely with our friends and industry partners in Michigan, she said in August after signing a memorandum of understanding with Gov. Rick Snyder to promote auto industry innovation and regional competitiveness.

Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown joked that Wynne was away so much this year because it was more pleasant for the premier to be outside Ontario.

Theres a lot of opposition to her policies around the province, said Brown earlier this month.

Having said that, we do want to drive investment to Ontario, said the Tory leader, who led a delegation of his MPPs to India in January and also met with Modi.

Brown expressed concern that Wynne may not be the best salesperson for the province.

Whats her pitch to promote Ontario? Come to Ontario  we have the most red tape; we have suffocating gridlock; we have the highest hydro rates in North America; we have a skills mismatch so were graduating young people for the wrong jobs, he said.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, for her part, said Wynnes missions are helpful.

Any time a government or a premier is out selling our province to other parts of the world  can have positive impacts to us, said Horwath.

Its important that governments try to sell our values, the things that we have that are valuable to the rest of the world. Our economy is something that needs to have greater attention from other interests instead of just our biggest  single trading partner, which is the U.S. she said.

But lets face it, this premier should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Shes focusing a lot on these missions, but in the meantime our education system is falling apart, weve got long-term care and home care that arent meeting the needs of the people of Ontario, theyre selling off Hydro One to their friends and the well connected on Bay Street.

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Sure, 2016 was crazy year all round, with the U.S. election, Brexit, a seeming flood of celebrity deaths, and terrible developments for people in Syria, Nigeria and elsewhere. But amid all this human drama, many animals managed to make big impressions with their wits, daring, sacrifices and cuteness.

You might have forgotten about several of them. So here, in no particular order, is a list of some of the most interesting critters of 2016.

Inky the octopus

Inky became a global sensation after the New Zealand aquarium where hed been kept revealed that the cephalopod had fled his tank, scooted across the floor and slipped to freedom by way of a drainpipe to the ocean. With that feat of self-liberation, Inky became a Pixar-style hero to humankind, a model of octopus intelligence and a muse for debates on the merits of anthropomorphism. Is Inky still living out his days in the South Pacific with similar derring-do? Well never know, and that only adds to his mystique.

Harambe the gorilla

Harambe, the Cincinnati Zoo gorilla who was fatally shot after a toddler fell into his enclosure, left quite a legacy. His death immediately spawned discussions about animals in captivity, responsible parenting, zoo safety and wildlife conservation. Harambe has since become the inspiration for lots of weird memes, not to mention some racial slurs.

The baby bison of Yellowstone

This bison was never named, so it will forever be remembered by one image: a sweet-faced, fuzzy and somewhat bewildered-looking animal standing in the trunk of an SUV. The bison had arrived in that strange spot after tourists in Yellowstone noticed it alone on a road, shivering and approaching cars. (Depending on the telling, the tourists worried that it looked cold.) This isnt a terribly unusual situation in Yellowstone  or in nature, for that matter  and the park ended up euthanizing the calf, a decision officials scoldingly attributed to human interference.

Pedals, the upright-walking bear

This black bears fan base grew over the few summers he wandered around suburban New Jersey on his hind legs, an unusual gait caused by injuries to his front paws. Some lovers of Pedals, as he was dubbed, faulted the state for not placing him in a sanctuary where his disability would be less of a vulnerability. Pedals did end up dying  at the hands of a hunter.

The horse in a tweed suit

Ahead of a major equestrian event, an English bookmaker hired a former apprentice to Alexander McQueen to make a tweed suit  for a retired racehorse. The resulting photos were nothing less than astonishing. But that was just our opinion, one fashion experts verdict? Noble and regal and believable.

The eagles that ate a cat

We all need to eat. Just because your tastes dont extend to cat doesnt mean baby eagles shouldnt like it. Just ask the eagle family of eastern Pittsburgh, whose kitten dinner was live-streamed for all the world to see.

The squirrel suicide bomber

A local politician in Chicago had enough with aggressive squirrels that he said were damaging trash cart lids, and he publicly aired his anger about the rodents at a City Council meeting. Just a few weeks later, the alderman was biking when a squirrel darted out and fatally entangled itself in his spokes, sending him over the handlebars and to the hospital. Coincidence? The alderman thought not.

The mountain lions of Los Angeles

L.A. is a city of stars, but were partial to the four-legged predators who stalk the Santa Monica mountains and lead action-packed lives worthy of silver-screen treatment. Theyre bound by freeways. They have adorable kittens. One mountain lion ate a zoo koala. Another escaped a death sentence for killing alpacas. And sadly, just last week, the mother of some of those kittens was killed trying to cross a highway. The kittens, according to the National Park Service, probably arent old enough to survive without her. The question driving this big cat epic is whether the rest of their brethren can.

Patton the Goldendoodle

Unless Donald Trump acquires an animal at some point, hell be the first U.S. president in 150 years not to have a pet. One Florida acquaintance of Trump is determined to ensure that doesnt happen. Shes even acquired a puppy she says shes sure will become the first dog in the Trump White House. His name is Patton, hes a Goldendoodle (golden, of course!), and hes darn cute. But Trump hasnt yet committed to him.

The moose that battled to the death

Heres a sight you dont stumble across often, even when youre wandering around the woods of Alaska: two male moose, their antlers entangled, frozen mid-battle in a slough. Two Alaska men found them and snapped photos, which shot around the world. Many saw the scene as a metaphor for American politics in 2016.

Programme website: http://bbc.in/2fBKcVo For racer snakes, the emergence of marine iguana hatchlings is a feeding bonanza.

The baby iguana of the Galapagos

This reptile hatchling starred in some of the most suspenseful footage of 2016. Would he escape a terrifying band of racer snakes determined to make him their snack? The chase, aired in BBCs Planet Earth II, was straight out of a James Bond movie. It was Indiana Jones. It was the way George Miller might track Tom Hardy fleeing apocalyptic gearheads through the deserts of Mad Max, said the Washington Post.

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HAVANACuba announced Tuesday that its economy shrank this year for the first time in nearly a quarter century as a plunge in aid from Venezuela overwhelmed a surge in tourism set off by detente with the United States.

Economy Minister Ricardo Cabrisas and President Raul Castro told Parliament that the islands gross domestic product fell nearly 1 per cent after seeing average annual growth rate of nearly 3 per cent in 2011-2015.

Cabrisas blamed the slump on Venezuelas troubles and a decrease in revenue from Cubas few exports, which include sugar, refined gasoline and nickel, whose price has dropped in recent years.

In spite of the drop in GDP, the free social services that our population enjoys have been preserved, defying predictions that the Cuban economy would collapse and upsetting blackouts would return, Castro said.

The two men spoke to Cubas rubber-stamp National Assembly, which also passed a law announced by Castro last month banning public memorials to his brother Fidel, the revolutionary leader who died on Nov. 25 at age 90.

The last time official figures showed a fall in Cubas gross domestic product was in 1993 after the Soviet Union collapsed, abruptly stripping away much of the islands aid and trade.

A global drop in petroleum prices has slammed Venezuelas oil-dependent economy, forcing it to reduce shipments of heavily subsidized crude oil to Cuba, with exports dropping from 115,000 barrels daily in 2008 to 90,000 in recent years to 40,000 in the past few months.

In addition, the number of contracts for Cuban professional services with Venezuela has dwindled and some payments have not been made, Cabrisas said. A large number of Cuban doctors have long travelled to Venezuela, with their salaries going directly to Cubas government.

This confirms what we had said about Venezuelas situation leading to a recession, Cuban economist Pavel Vidal, a professor at a university in Colombia, told The Associated Press.

Cabrisas, whose speech was partially transmitted on public TV, also blamed the economic slump on U.S. sanctions on Cuba, with officials previously saying that the 55-year-old embargo has cost the island $125.9 billion, including $4.6 billion last year.

Tourism, however, has been thriving since U.S. President Barack Obama ordered the restoration of diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana two years ago. Overall visitor numbers rose more than 15 per cent in 2015 and again this year.

Cabrisas said he expects the islands gross domestic product to grow 2 per cent next year if the government cuts costs, increases exports and finds alternatives for certain imports.

Vidal said he was surprised by the prediction.

Theyre thinking things are going to improve in Venezuela, he said. And theyre relying on fiscal spending without backing from revenue.

Other economic experts told The Associated Press that possible solutions could include boosting the private sector and deregulating portions of the public sector, excluding areas such as health or education.

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India successfully test-fired its longest range nuclear-capable missile, confirming its status in the select group of nations with weapons that can travel from one continent to another.

Agni-V, with a range of more than 5,000 kilometres, completed its final firing test at the Defence Research and Development Organizations range on Dr. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha on Monday.

This was the fourth test of Agni-5 missile and the second one from a canister on a Road Mobile Launcher, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. All the four missions have been successful.

Indias president, Pranab Mukherjee, confirmed the launch with a tweet. Congratulations DRDO for successfully test firing Agni V. It will enhance our strategic and deterrence capabilities. he wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon followed with his own tweet: It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence.

Indias space and missile programs, along with economic growth of more than 7 per cent and a bid for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, is part of the countrys efforts to build up its defence capabilities and establish itself as a world power.

The locally-developed Agni-V is capable of reaching as far as Beijing, IANS reported in July. India joined a group including the U.S., Russia, China, France and the U.K that have intercontinental ballistic missiles when it first test-fired Agni-V in 2012.

Indias current range of missiles are mostly intended for confrontation with neighbouring rivals China and Pakistan. India has fought three wars with Pakistan and one with China.

While differences over border disputes remain, India and China have improved political, economic and military ties in recent years. Relations between India and Pakistan are passing through their worst phase in more than a decade.

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MONTREALRocco Sollecito, a reputed Mafia leader in Montreal who was murdered last May, was denied a public commemoration mass in Italy on Tuesday due to his infamy.

An archbishop and a local police chief forced the cancellation of the mass in Grumo Appula, a small town of Sollecitos roots, part of the larger metropolitan area of the city of Bari, in southern Italy.

Sollecito, 67, was gunned down while driving his car in Laval, northwest of Montreal. He was a childhood friend and later a close associate of Vito Rizzuto, the reputed leader of a large crime syndicate in Montreal who died in 2013 shortly after his release from prison.

A priest in the small town posted notices inviting parishioners to mass Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. But the police chief ordered the mass held at dawn instead to avoid drawing a big crowd.

Bari-Bitonto Archbishop Francesco Cacucci also opposed the evening public mass as a great scandal. He called it inappropriate for someone who didnt live a Christian life.

In the end, no mass at all was celebrated.

Italian media reported the church was closed Tuesday evening and had a significant police presence.

A retired Montreal police investigator familiar with the Mafia told The Canadian Press Sollecito was Vito Rizzutos right-hand man and was blamed by some in the Rizzuto clan for not doing enough to protect the family when Vito was in prison.

Sollecito reportedly had been making money on his own and had fallen out with the Rizzutos.

With files from The Associated Press

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As his time as U.S. president comes to a close, Barack Obama has sparked an unlikely controversy across the pond  by appearing to agree that Labour, Britains left-wing opposition party and a traditional partner of the Democratic Party, had disintegrated over the past year.

His comments came during an interview with David Axelrod, a political consultant who worked on Obamas 2008 and 2012 campaigns, for his podcast, The Axe Files.

The exchange was prompted when Axelrod asked about the future of the Democratic Party after the 2016 election loss. During Britains 2015 election, Axelrod had worked with Labours Ed Miliband  a centrist leader who went on to lose by an unexpectedly wide margin. Axelrod asked Obama whether he was scared that the Democrats would move further to the left, as Labour had done under Milibands successor, Jeremy Corbyn, and end up in a very frail state.

Obama appeared to agree with Axelrods description of Labour under Corbyn but suggested that the Democrats would fare better as they were pretty grounded in fact and reality. He then went on to say that Sen. Bernie Sanders, who challenged Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary campaign, was a pretty centrist politician relative to Corbyn.

Axelrods interview with Obama was posted online on Monday. His comments about Corbyn and the Labour Party, only a fleeting part of the hour-long interview, were not widely commented on by U.S. listeners. However, the comments soon sparked wide conversation in Britain, a longtime U.S. ally, and its political world, where Corbyns leadership of Labour is a hot topic of debate.

The 67-year-old socialist, formerly little known outside leftist political wings, was selected to lead Labour last year after winning the support of Britains trade unions, which control large numbers of votes. Corbyn has been wildly popular with Labours grassroots but is at odds with many of his fellow Labour politicians, who claim he is unelectable.

After a vote of no confidence from his fellow Labour lawmakers over his low-key role in the campaign that preceded Britains Brexit referendum this summer, Corbyn was reelected party leader in September. The election has hardly fostered unity in the Labour Party, however, offering very little in the way of a challenge to Prime Minister Theresa May, who took office in July.

In response to Obamas comments, a spokesman for Corbyn gave a statement to the Guardian:

Both Labour and US Democrats will have to challenge power if they are going to speak for working people and change a broken system that isnt delivering for the majority.

What Jeremy Corbyn stands for is what most people want: to take on the tax cheats, create a fairer economy, fund a fully public NHS [National Health Service], build more homes and stop backing illegal wars.

For the establishment, those ideas are dangerous. For most people in Britain, theyre common sense and grounded in reality.

Obama and Corbyn have met before: According to reports in the British press, they met for an hour and a half in April. After the talk, Corbyn said the two men had an excellent discussion that touched on the challenges facing post-industrial societies.

In the past, Corbyn, whose foreign policy views have led some to brand him as anti-American, had called Obama a Pentagon president, like all the others.

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PEARL HARBOR, HAWAIIUnder a warm Oahu sun, with the tranquil, teal waters of Pearl Harbor behind them, former enemies came together Tuesday to acknowledge the tremendous loss caused by the Japanese attack on U.S. military installations in Hawaii 75 years ago.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama made a historic pilgrimage to the site where the devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II.

As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place, Abe said.

He did not apologize for the attack but said we must never repeat the horrors of war again.

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe was the first to go to the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

There, he and Obama placed a pair of green-and-peach wreaths made of lilies and tossed purple flower petals into the water. The rusting wreckage of the ship where more than 1,000 American service members are entombed can be seen just under the waters surface.

Obama and Abe closed their eyes and stood silently for a few moments.

Afterward, they spoke at nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, where Obama called the harbour a sacred place and said that even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and lasting peace.

As we lay a wreath or toss flowers into waters that still weep, we think of the more than 2,400 American patriots, fathers and husbands, wives and daughters, manning heavens rails for all eternity, Obama said.

In likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, Obama said the two countries are bound by shared interests and common values and their alliance is the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific and a force for progress around the globe.

The two leaders greeted survivors in the crowd, shaking hands and hugging some of the men who fought in the Dec. 7, 1941, battle.

The visit is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japans government has said.

Its a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abes predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

For Abe, its an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor.

This visit, and the presidents visit to Hiroshima earlier this year, would not have been possible eight years ago, said Daniel Kritenbrink, Obamas top Asia adviser in the White House. That we are here today is the result of years of efforts at all levels of our government and societies, which has allowed us to jointly and directly deal with even the most sensitive aspects of our shared history.

In the years after Japans attack, the U.S. incarcerated roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Obama did not apologize at Hiroshima in May, a visit that he and Abe used to emphasize their elusive aspirations for a nuclear-free future. Nor did Abe on Tuesday.

No apology needed, said 96-year-old Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. navy veteran who survived what president Franklin D. Roosevelt called a date which will live in infamy.

War is war, Rodrigues said as he looked at old photos of his military service. They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do.

Abes visit is not without political risk given the Japanese peoples long, emotional reckoning with their nations aggression in the war. Though the history books have largely deemed Pearl Harbor a surprise attack, Japans government insisted as recently as this month that it had intended to give the U.S. prior notice that it was declaring war and failed only because of bureaucratic bungling.

Theres this sense of guilt, if you like, among Japanese, this Pearl Harbor syndrome, that we did something very unfair, said Tamaki Tsukada, a minister in the Embassy of Japan in Washington. I think the prime ministers visit will in a sense absolve that kind of complex that Japanese people have.

Since the war, the U.S. and Japan have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obamas tenure, including strengthened military ties. Both Obama and Abe were driving forces behind the trans-Pacific Partnership, a sweeping free trade deal now on hold due to staunch opposition by Congress and President-elect Donald Trump.

Moving beyond the painful legacy of the war has been easier for Japan and the U.S. than for Japan and its other former foes, such as South Korea and China. As Abe arrived in Hawaii, Beijing dismissed as wishful thinking the notion that Japan could liquidate the history of World War II by visiting Pearl Harbor.

Japan can never turn this page over without reconciliation from China and other victimized countries in Asia, said Hua Chunying, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.

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WASHINGTON The Trump hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, would be among the finest in the world, Donald Trump promised two years ago, another example of our involvement in only the best global development projects.

But the dream of a world-class Trump Baku died this month. Trump said he backed out of the deal because of delays and blown deadlines by the developer, who has close family connections to the Azerbaijani government.

The demise of Trump Baku is not isolated. With Trumps inauguration as president a litter over three weeks away, his company has pulled out of a few international business deals that might have created especially sticky conflicts and controversies for his administration.

In addition to Azerbaijan, the company began to back out of a deal in another former Soviet republic, Georgia. It also cancelled a hotel project in Rio de Janeiro that had come up in a fraud investigation. Soon after the election, the Trump Organization closed four companies formed this year seemingly in anticipation of a hotel deal in Jidda, Saudi Arabia.

Domestically, Trumps companies agreed to a union contract at his hotel in Las Vegas and a labour organizing campaign at his new hotel in Washington, D.C. His son Eric announced the suspension of activities by his charitable foundation after a Washington Post story questioned whether donors might get favourable treatment by the new administration.

Alan Garten, chief counsel for the Trump Organization, said the international moves were business decisions, based purely on the status of the projects, not because the president-elect was scrambling to clean up potential conflicts before he takes office.

Trump himself was not involved, Garten said, only his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and other company executives.

His focus is solely on filling out his Cabinet and turning the country around, Garten said of the president-elect.

Trump has said he will turn over operations of his company to his children. But that alone would not necessarily resolve conflicts, experts said.

Past presidents put their assets in a blind trust, outside their control. Letting the children run the company would not meet the legal requirements for a blind trust, according to the Office of Government Ethics.

Unless the president divests himself completely from his business, even a seemingly innocuous thing can make a big difference, said Farok Contractor, a professor of international business at Rutgers University. For example, a decision as routine as a policy change that could raise the value of the U.S. dollar could hurt Trumps bottom line on overseas projects if theyre tied to other currencies, he said.

Garten would not discuss details of how Trump plans to turn over control of his businesses. That would all be coming out in the next few weeks, he said.

The Azerbaijan deal was one illustration of how Trumps business dealings could complicate foreign policy for the new administration. The oil-dependent country has a reputation for cronyism and corruption, with a small group of elite families controlling much of the countrys economy.

I would say corruption is a whole system in Azerbaijan, said Thomas de Waal, a senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has written extensively about the country and its neighbours.

There is no rule of law as we know it in the U.S. or a European country, he said. Everything is done through personal connections. When you deal with business in Azerbaijan, youre dealing with individuals, and youre dealing with politically powerful individuals.

For the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Baku, Trump made a deal with a company called Garant Holding, controlled by Anar Mammadov, a son of the countrys transportation minister.

Mammadov has had a substantial profile in Washington, where he had a non-profit called the Azerbaijan America Alliance. The organization now has a dead phone number and website. Mammadov and the groups Washington lobbyist, James Fabiani, did not respond to requests for comment.

As with most of his hotel deals, Trump did not develop the building but licensed his name. He entered the deal in 2014 and reported receiving $2.8 million (U.S.) in management fees for the hotel, housed in a gleaming 33-story curved tower in Baku even though the hotel never opened. De Waal said the real estate market in Azerbaijan has been hammered by the drop in oil prices and devaluations of the countrys currency.

Azerbaijan borders Iran, and the company has lobbied vigorously for the interests of its state-owned oil company and in hopes of swaying members of Congress to its side in a long-running territorial dispute with Armenia, another neighbour.

But Garten said any potential issues on conflicts with U.S. policy are not a basis to terminate the contract. The Baku tower had been stalled for over a year, he said; he wouldnt talk about how much money the company may be owed. The letter cancelling the deal was sent Nov. 30.

Its terminated I mean, its over, Garten said, saying theres no continuing business dispute: They dont have to agree.

For now, the Trump name is still on the building, said Alex Raufoglu, an Azerbaijani journalist working in Washington. He said the cancellation will be seen as a message that Trump is creating some distance from the countrys president, Ilham Aliyev, who has cracked down on dissent and jailed opponents.

The Azerbaijani Embassy declined to comment on Trump or the hotel project.

Garten said the company also has sent a default notice to the developers of another stalled Trump-branded project, in a Black Sea resort town in Georgia also because, the Trump Organization says, the developers did not live up to the terms of the licensing deal. The developers, Silk Road Group, did not respond to requests for comment. After the U.S. election, it was quoted as saying it still hoped to complete the deal, even with Trump as president.

The Trump family also has apparently shelved hopes of a luxury hotel in Saudi Arabia. In 2015, as the Trump Organization was scouting for hotel deals in the Middle East, it set up eight companies. Four were closed that year, and the other four were shut down a week after the election, according to Delaware corporate filings.

We looked at a deal and created entities in anticipation of a transaction, but there was never a transaction, Garten said, adding that he did not know the details.

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SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OFWhile lawyers desperately tried to restore the impeached South Korean presidents powers, politics advanced without her Tuesday as parties and potential candidates postured for elections that could take place in just months.

Dozens of lawmakers split from the conservative ruling party and likely will try to create a party fielding outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as its presidential candidate. Bans potential rivals reacted by questioning his presidential credentials and touting their own ideas, including significant policy changes in regard with relations with nuclear-armed North Korea and allies United States and Japan.

Choung Byoung-gug, one of the 29- lawmakers who left the Saenuri Party accused President Park Geun-hyes loyalists in the partys leadership of neglecting the values of real conservatism and shamelessly defending the historically worst infringement of constitutional values. More Saenuri lawmakers may leave the party in the coming weeks.

The split came as investigators widened their inquiry into the scandal surrounding Park, who has been accused of allowing a longtime confidante of manipulating government affairs and colluding with the friend to extort money and favours from the countrys biggest companies. The investigators summoned a former presidential aide as well as the former health minister over the decision to support the merger of two Samsung affiliates.

The special prosecution team planned to summon the presidents jailed friend, Choi Soon-sil, but she requested a delay citing health reasons.

Ban is seen as the best hope for conservatives to win the Blue House after Parks collapse complicated politics for her party. Recent opinion polls show voters slightly favour Ban ahead of liberal politician Moon Jae-in, who conceded the presidential race to Park four years ago.

In a recent meeting with South Korean reporters in New York, Ban described the political turmoil at home as heartbreaking and said he was ready to burn his body in devotion for South Korea, his strongest hint yet that he would run for president.

Kim Kyoung-soo, an opposition lawmaker who serves as Moons spokesman, dismissed the plans by the Saenuri defectors to create a new party for the presidential race, saying watermelons cant be made by drawing lines on zucchinis.

Kim said voters will not approve a political reshuffle that lacks sincere remorse and self-reflection, and only chases the delusion of recreating a pseudo conservative government.

Moon likely would have to withstand a challenge from outspoken Seongnam city mayor Lee Jae-myung in the Democratic Partys primaries.

Lee, who brands himself as an anti-establishment figure and is compared to both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, saw his popularity rise amid the rage over Parks scandal. He calls for stronger policies to reduce the widening gap between rich and poor and curb the excesses of chaebol  the large, family-owned conglomerates that dominate the countrys economy.

In a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Lee said Bans popularity could soon decline over allegations that he used a high-profile post to gain personal profits, apparently referring to allegations raised by news reports that he took bribes from a businessman in 2005 and 2007. Ban has denied the claims.

Lee also said South Korea should stop the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defence system to defend it from North Korea. Echoing Moons position, Lee said the security benefits of having Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, are diminished by worsened relations with China. The planned deployment has angered China, which suspects that the system would allow U.S. radar to better track its missiles.

Lee also criticized Parks agreement on compensation for South Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military in World War II and says Seoul should allow a new military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo to expire. Lee said South Koreans still distrust Japan because it never sincerely apologized for invading and colonializing the Korean Peninsula in the early 20th century.

The date of any early presidential election is depended on the outcome of the impeachment case against Park.

Parliament voted on Dec. 9 to impeach her, and the 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 serving as the government caretaker.

If the court formally removes Park from office, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.

At the courts preparatory hearing Tuesday, Parks lawyers challenged whether she had to attend the trial. Her lawyers also asked the court to request reports from 16 organizations and companies answering whether they were really forced into giving money and favours to foundations controlled by Choi. Lawmakers said the request could pressure the companies and shouldnt be made. The lawyers actions were seen as an attempt to buy time for Park.

The court said it would hear pleadings in the impeachment case on Jan. 3.

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Re: Former TDSB head stripped of teaching license, Dec. 19

Former TDSB head stripped of teaching license, Dec. 19

(See Correction) The Toronto District School Board has to confront many challenges and sometimes, like the rest of us, does not look far enough down the road. As far as their treatment of former TDSB Director of Education Chris Spence, it seems that they have made a mountain out of a molehill. They have kept him suffering for four hellish, indecisive years only to remove his well-earned teaching certificate.

Did they try to see this in proper perspective? He did nothing to endanger any student; he did everything to help them. Why? Because he is a gifted teacher, a superlative one in contrast to some lesser types.

Surely four years of agonizing and apologizing on Spences part should gratify the most vengeful ones on the Committee. At the same time, it does not exonerate them. Let those without sin cast the first stone.

The ones who we are penalizing most are the younger generation. We want our children to have the best education possible. So what do we do? Take out of commission one of the best educationalists that Toronto schools have experienced. Chris Spence imparts a love of learning to those in the classroom. Surely the TDSB could make a New Years resolution to reinstate him for our childrens sake as well as his own.

Rev. Nettie Hoffman, Toronto

Correction  December 28, 2016: The letter above mistakenly refers to the TDSB stripping former education director Chris Spence of his licence. In fact, the Ontario College of Teachers revoked his licence.

Im finding it very difficult to have any sympathy whatsoever for the disgraced former TDSB director after the Ontario College of Teachers stripped him of his teaching certification. By his own words, its quite clear that Mr. Spence still doesnt grasp the gravity of his offense. I am a man who made a grievous mistake. Not theft, not forgery, not fraud. Plagiarism is theft. Claiming someone elses words as your own is fraud.

And as for the rest, once youve made the same mistake repeatedly, its no longer a mistake  its a choice. Spence made the choice, and now he must face the consequences.

Christian Fletcher, Scarborough

It is painful to read about Chris Spence stripped of his teaching certificate for plagiarism. Despite any action by the College of Teachers, he is a teacher and a compassionate and gentle human being. He loves kids, particularly those who may be struggling for one reason or another. He taught me to have faith in everyones potential and ability. He taught me that kindness can help gain trust. He taught me that excitement and delight can enhance learning. He taught me that physical exercise is a necessary partner of sedentary learning. No one can strip Chris Spence of who he is and how many young lives he has touched and will influence in the future.

Gerri Gershon, Toronto

What is most remarkable about the case of Chris Spence  aside from his melodramatic, self-serving hyperbole and his effort to mitigate his offence by alluding to far worse crimes that he did not commit  is his assertion that what he did was Not theft, not forgery, not fraud ... But plagiarism. He clearly has no idea that plagiarism is nothing other than a form of theft, forgery, and fraud.

Thus, his moaning about his predicament has more to do with the fact that he got caught, than with his actually comprehending what he seeks to belittle as his grievous mistake. It would seem that Mr Spence has a way to travel yet before his thoughtful pose becomes something other than just that: a pose.

Adam Lynde, Toronto

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Re: Shelter the homeless, Editorial Dec. 20

Shelter the homeless, Editorial Dec. 20

Having grown up in the shadow of the CNE grounds I have to think that there must be millions of square feet of heated building space unused throughout the winter months. Perhaps Mayor John Tory should look towards these unused assets as a temporary solution to the Citys homeless problem.

And, perhaps this could become a win-win situation if some of those in need could be employed sprucing up these buildings, which because of age are looking less than their best.

Al Truscott, Collingwood

It is good to see the Star once again showing compassion for the homeless. Shelter is OK for an overnight stay, but humanity should have more. Everyone should have a home of their own, modest perhaps, but a place where they can maintain the privacy essential to human beings.

Homelessness springs from poverty, of which there should be no such thing; nevertheless it is a standard feature of capitalist society.

Regrettably, capitalism does not look like it will be leaving anytime soon.

Ken Ranney, Peterborough

Brava to Cathy Crowe, who gets it. Demerit points to Mayor John Tory and the City for being blindsided by the wrath of winter.

Opening up the armouries at Fort York and Moss Park where more adequate shelter of cots and the ability to serve hot food would make more sense than what is actually happening now.

In the St. Lawrence Community Centre (built on TDSB land), which shares its space (gym and pool) with Market Lane Public School and the St. Lawrence Daycare  a makeshift warming centre from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., has been made available to the overflow (maximum 45 homeless) from Margarets Housing. Floor mats, snacks, games and books will be on offer from Dec. 15 to March 30.

Though we all agree shelter is needed, and is an urgent issue, the community was informed less than a week before the program began. I say, informed, rather than consulted. Had this happened, the school administration, our teachers, our parents, our trustees and superintendent would have been better prepared  they were all informed mere days before.

Though the decision was made in October by the City  due diligence of this community centres activity was not done. Details were glossed over and underplayed by City officials.

No one in this community thinks anyone should be left on the streets in the cold. We all agree that this particular centre is not set up for this given the proximity to the school and young children.

As it is, the rooms chosen for shelter are right next to the daycare facility. They share walls, doors and a hallway. The chemicals needed to thoroughly clean are harsh and toxic for children to breathe in. Bed bugs, hepatitis C, tuberculosis are just a wall/door away from these vulnerable children.

Problematic too, are multiple fire doors leading to the kindergarten playground. So far we have had no answers from the City on how, or by whom both the schools playgrounds will be checked for drugs/contraband prior to each school day. Already needles have been found outside the doors of the community centre, as children enter for daycare, and Market Lane kids pass on their way to to school.

When asked why other community centres as John Innis or Matty Eckler, all standalone centres with one point of entry/exit were not being usedthe City had no response.

I predict that our school numbers will take a hit. With kindergarten registration in February, and word of mouth of the shelter  this school has always had to struggle with bad optics due to poor Fraser rankings. In addition, parents from other neighbourhood schools are talking about pulling their kids out of the centres programs.

Blindsided by the incompetence of bureaucrats who have not done their homework. Epic fail at the expense of this school, daycare and community.

Angel Narick, Toronto

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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.
Tyler Technologies, Inc. provides integrated information management solutions and services for the public sector. The company operates in three segments: Enterprise Software; Appraisal and Tax; and NIC. It offers financial management solutions, including modular fund accounting systems for government agencies or not-for-profit entities; utility billing systems for the billing and collection of metered and non-metered services; products to automate city and county functions, such as municipal courts, parking tickets, equipment and project costing, animal and business licenses, permits and inspections, code enforcement, citizen complaint tracking, ambulance billing, fleet maintenance, and cemetery records management; and student information and transportation solutions for K-12 schools. The company also provides a suite of judicial solutions comprising court case management, court and law enforcement, prosecutor, and supervision systems to handle multi-jurisdictional county or statewide implementations, and single county systems; public safety software solutions; systems and software to automate the appraisal and assessment of real and personal property, as well as tax applications for agencies that bill and collect taxes; planning, regulatory, and maintenance software solutions for public sector agencies; software applications to enhance and automate operations involving records and document management; and data and insights solutions. In addition, it offers software as a service arrangements and electronic document filing solutions for courts and law offices; software and hardware installation, data conversion, training, product modification, and maintenance and support services; and property appraisal outsourcing services for taxing jurisdictions. The company has a strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services for cloud hosting services. Tyler Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
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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Panasonic Corp together with Tesla Motors announced on December 27 that they have reached an agreement to begin production of photovoltaic cells and modules in a Buffalo, New York factory.

The two companies released a joint statement that said the two were planning to begin production of the PV modules in 2017 during the summer and by 2019 increase to a gigawatt of module production.

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These PV cells and modules are high-efficiency and will be used for producing solar panels for non-solar roof products said the joint statement released by both.

When production begins of solar roofs, Tesla will incorporate cells from Panasonic into the many different types of solar glass roofs that Tesla is to manufacture added the statement.

Panasonic Corp said it would be investing over 30 billion yen equal to approximately $256 million in the Tesla Motors facility that will make PV cells as well as modules. This deepens the partnership between the two companies.

Panasonic, based in Japan, which has pulled back from making consumer electronics that are low margin to focus on its automotive components as well as other businesses that targets corporate clients, is making its investment into the factory of Tesla in Buffalo.

The electric carmaker based in the U.S. had made a commitment for the long term with Panasonic as part of this deal along with providing the factory space and the infrastructure.

The plan is just one part of its solar partnership that both of the companies announced for the first time during October of this year but did not speak of any specifics related to investment amounts.

Tesla will work on an exclusive basis with Panasonic, which has been an longtime partner with the company, to supply batteries for its new Model 3 electric vehicles, the first mass market vehicle for the company.

Panasonic is the exclusive supplier of the batteries for the Tesla Model X and Model S vehicles.

As part of this new agreement, Panasonic will pay the capital costs in the factory in Buffalo and Tesla will make a purchase commitment for the long term of Panasonic products said the joint statement released by the two companies.

This new collaboration extends the already established business relationship between Panasonic and Tesla, which includes production of grid storage battery cells and the electric vehicles at the Tesla Nevada Gigafactory.
Background:

Colima volcano is one of the most active in North America and one of the potentially most dangerous ones. It has had more than 30 periods of eruptions since 1585, including several significant eruptions in the late 1990s. Scientific monitoring of the volcano began 20 years ago.The Colima volcanic complex is the most prominent volcanic center of the western Mexican Volcanic Belt. It consists of two southward-younging volcanoes, Nevado de Colima (the 4320 m high point of the complex) on the north and the 3850-m-high historically active Volcan de Colima at the south.A group of cinder cones of probable late-Pleistocene age is located on the floor of the Colima graben west and east of the Colima complex. Volcan de Colima (also known as Volcan Fuego) is a youthful stratovolcano constructed within a 5-km-wide caldera, breached to the south, that has been the source of large debris avalanches. Major slope failures have occurred repeatedly from both the Nevado and Colima cones, and have produced a thick apron of debris-avalanche deposits on three sides of the complex. Frequent historical eruptions date back to the 16th century. Occasional major explosive eruptions (most recently in 1913) have destroyed the summit and left a deep, steep-sided crater that was slowly refilled and then overtopped by lava dome growth.---
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.

---

Source: Klyuchevsky information by the GVP (Smithsonian Institution)


Self-Portrait on the Border Line Between Mexico and the United States (1932) by Frida Kahlo, on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910-1950" exhibit. (Philadelphia Museum of Art/Collection of Maria and Manuel Reyero/ Banco de Mexico Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust/Artists Rights Society)

In 1910, the Mexican people overthrew the corrupt and sclerotic dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, who had ruled the country for decades with authoritarian rigor. Years of violence, civil war and assassinations ensued before the country stabilized under an institutional revolutionary party, which grew progressively more hierarchical and autocratic.

Outside Mexico, the revolution is remembered in large part through the mural style of Diego Rivera. It seems a colorful event, dense and teeming with people, yet rigidly choreographed, like theatrical spectacle. But look a little closer, and Riveras stolid and statuesque rural peasants, industrial workers and revolutionary fighters dont really have much character. Their faces, if we can see them at all, are blank and expressionless, more a collection of racial and ethnographic types than actual people. And there is little in his static pageantry to suggest the violence of revolution, or much more than a caricature of the things that caused it.

An engrossing exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910-1950, includes an ample cross section of Riveras work and several iconic pieces by his wife, Frida Kahlo, who was a more emotionally searching painter. And it includes the work of the other great muralists and artists who captured the spirit of the moment  and the imagination of the world  including Jose Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros. But it goes well beyond these international art stars of the era, exploring the work of modernist artists who were not overtly political  painters who never fell into political lockstep with the often ugly and parochial nationalism that was the dark side of the revolution  and movements and countermovements of artists who looked to Europe and the wider art world for inspiration. If nothing else, this exhibition puts a face, often literally, on the human figures who gather all too obediently and orderly in the great murals of Rivera and his visually muscular confreres.

[When Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo lived in Detroit]

In The Labyrinth of Solitude, the Mexican poet Octavio Paz described his countrys revolution as an existential event, liberating and channeling enormous energies of self-discovery. It wasnt just a political project, and the ideology driving it was at best confused and disorganized. But there was, at least, an emergence from cultural stasis and solipsism into self-consciousness. The revolutionary explosion is a prodigious fiesta in which the Mexican, drunk with his own self, is aware at last, in a mortal embrace, of his fellow Mexican.



Portrait of Martin Luis Guzman (1915) by Diego Rivera. (Philadelphia Museum of Art/Fundacion Televisa Collection/Banco de Mexico Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust/Artists Rights Society)

The art made during the period of the revolution, from the late years of the Diaz regime through the decades of efforts to institutionalize the revolution from the 1920s to 1940s, encompasses a vast range of styles and techniques. The first rooms of the Philadelphia exhibition, which closes on Jan. 8, begin with artists struggling to create a distinctively Mexican identity while simultaneously engaging with the innovation of the leading art movements in Europe. Rivera is already a presence  and clearly a bit of sponge when it comes to the riches on offer in Paris. But the Mexican elements are superficial, often just a bit of color or spice mixed into the standard avant-garde recipe. Riveras portrait of Martin Luis Guzman, from 1915, is typical: a fluent cubist work with the brightly colored pattern of a decorative serape fitted into one of its flat, quadrilateral planes.

With the revolution, and the chaos that followed, the formation of a Mexican identity wasnt just an aesthetic project; artists struggled to take in hand the larger political definition of what it meant to be Mexican and what Mexico would become as a nation. Among the larger tensions that organize the prodigious outpouring of creative energy during this period is one between self-discovery as psychological project and self-discovery as social or ethnographic project. With the revolution, people were seeing themselves in a new light, and seeing other people around them for the first time. So there are works such as Roberto Montenegros 1926 Maya Women, in which ethnic facial features are exaggerated and the women are arrayed against a flat background of peasant huts; and then there is the powerful self-portrait of one of the seminal figures of the revolutionary period, Gerardo Murillo, who went by the name Dr. Atl.



Maya Women (1926), by Roberto Montenegro. (Museum of Modern Art/Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1941/VEGAP)

Murillo depicted himself with an oversize and commanding head, reminiscent of a Byzantine saint, set against a volcano in blue, a color with deep religious significance. Behind Murillos furrowed brow and intense gaze are forces waiting to erupt, psychological energies with volcanic power.

[In Philadelphia, a look at how artists struggled to make sense of World War I]

Self-discovery also led to smaller revolutions of identity, in the relations between men and women, and a new sexual liberation within urban enclaves. Two portraits from the early 1920s, one of the young painter Abraham Angel by Manuel Rodriguez Lozano, the other of Rodriguez Lozano painted by Angel, are refreshing after rooms full of often depersonalized art. The two men were lovers, and their images have a rare psychological intimacy in an exhibition often given over to stark symbolism and confrontational icons of suffering and injustice. Angel and Rodriguez Lozano were associated with an arts group known as the Contemporaneos, who were inspired by European art trends, admired the decadence and dandyism of writers such as Andre Gide and Oscar Wilde, and sought aesthetic distinction in personal expression rather than the grand themes of political struggle and national identity.



George Gershwin in a Concert Hall (1936) by David Alfaro Siqueiros. (Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas/VEGAP)

The Contemporaneos, however, were seen as regressive by more politically minded left-wing artists (Rivera called them maricones, a slur toward gay men, in a 1934 article), and in a 1941 painting by Antonio Ruiz, The Paranoids, they are ridiculed as bourgeois and effeminate. The relatively open sexuality of some of the groups members made them an easy target, but so, too, did their independence and commitment to a larger sense of artistic individuality. No surprise, the art they produced is among the best material in the exhibition  and two exquisite paintings by Rodriguez Lozano appear near the end of the exhibition, confirming the power of his artistry in the 1940s.

Also appearing late in this 40-year survey of Mexican art are two animal paintings by another painter associated with the Contemporaneos, Rufino Tamayo. Both the 1942 Lion and Horse and The Mad Dog from 1943 seem at first like beasts that have wandered out of the tormented menagerie of Picassos Guernica. They are tragic images and, despite their subject matter, are very much about human suffering. Far away from the revolution, the larger world was engaged in a brutal struggle. Mexican artists who identified strongly with the values of the revolution took up the anti-Fascist cause in posters, graphic design and paintings. But Tamayo in his animal portraits, and Rodriguez Lozano in a haunting (and hauntingly prescient) 1944 painting The Holocaust, underscored the suffering, the human dimension of the conflict and the appalling cultural toll of ideology.

These late works are powerful but lack the cultural-icon status of the more populist style cultivated by the muralists. They arent instantly recognizable as Mexican paintings, or political paintings, or revolutionary works. But one senses in them a quality easily lost in the tumult of revolution and political struggle, and a quality hardly detectable in much of the work of the muralists: the direct, spontaneous power of empathy.

Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910-1950, is on view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through Jan. 8. For more information, visit philamuseum.org.
This story has been updated.



President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pause after tossing flower petals into the Wishing Well on Tuesday at the USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The visit was the first in which those countries leaders visited the site of the Japanese attack that brought the United States into World War II. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

The leaders of Japan and the United States took to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to prove that even bitter enemies can become allies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not apologize but said that Japan must never repeat the horrors of war again.

Seventy-five years after Japans surprise attack sent America marching into World War II, Abe and President Obama peered down at the rusting wreckage of the battleship USS Arizona, clearly visible in the tranquil, teal water. More than 1,000 U.S. war dead remain entombed in the submerged ship, and in a show of respect, Obama and Abe dropped purple petals into the water and stood in silence.

As the prime minister of Japan, I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place, Abe said later at nearby Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

That was the closest Abe would get to an apology for the attack. And it was enough for Obama, who also declined to apologize seven months ago when he became Americas first sitting president to visit Hiroshima, where the United States dropped an atomic bomb in a bid to end the war.



The battleship USS Arizona sinks after being hit by a Japanese air attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. The ship remains under water as a memorial to those who died in the attack. (U.S. National Archives via Reuters)

It was enough, too, for Alfred Rodrigues, a U.S. Navy veteran who survived the attack. The 96-year-old said he had no hard feelings and added, War is war.

They were doing what they were supposed to do, and we were doing what we were supposed to do, Rodrigues said before the visit.

Abe, who became Japans first leader to visit Pearl Harbor with a U.S. president, said the visit brought utter silence to me. His remarks capped a day that was carefully arranged by the United States and Japan to show a strong and growing alliance between former foes.

They started with a formal meeting at another nearby military base, in what the White House said was probably Obamas last meeting with a foreign leader before leaving office in January.



Obama and Abe were the first U.S. and Japanese leaders to visit the USS Arizona Memorial together. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Obama, speaking after he and Abe laid wreaths at the memorial, called the harbor a sacred place and said that even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and lasting peace.

As we lay a wreath or toss flowers into waters that still weep, we think of the more than 2,400 American patriots, fathers and husbands, wives and daughters, manning heavens rails for all eternity, Obama said.

Then the two leaders greeted survivors in the crowd. They shook hands and hugged some of the men who fought in the December 7, 1941, battle that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called a date which will live in infamy.

Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, but Abe was the first to go to the memorial above the sunken USS Arizona, where a marbled wall lists the names of U.S. troops killed in the Japanese attack.

In the years after Pearl Harbor, the United States imprisoned roughly 120,000 Japanese-Americans in camps before dropping atomic bombs in 1945 that killed some 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Since the war, the two nations have built a powerful alliance that both sides say has grown during Obamas two terms, including strengthened military ties.


Tommy Jacomo, the Palm's general manager who knows the secrets of Washington's power players, is retiring at the end of the year. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

The second that regular customers of the Palm walk through the restaurants glass door, Tommy Jacomos wheels start spinning.

He knows their names, he knows which table they like, what wine theyll order, and whether they like to sit facing the door or away from it.

Jacomo, the Dupont Circle steakhouses executive director, who has stood watch over that very door for 44 years, cant explain how he does this, how he maintains a mental database that churns out information faster than an iPhone.

Its like a filing system up there, he says, pointing to his head. Theres something about their nose or their eyes thatll make me remember em. When hes stuck for a name, he uses a trick he heard about years ago and mentally recites the alphabet until he connects a letter to a face.

Theres an actual database in the restaurants computer system now, where waiters can track these things. I dont need it, he says.

Now Jacomo, 72, is retiring at the end of the year and taking that vast trove with him. With his departure, Washington, a town where transactions can so often feel impersonal, is losing one of its rare characters, a guy who knew that your kids birthday was coming up and when you were working on a big business deal.

The lore of the Palm is studded with cameos by the uber-famous: the time the dining room gave a standing ovation to Joe DiMaggio, the meals ex-presidents enjoyed, or the night Jacomo faux-sparred with Muhammad Ali. But the real story is one of powerful lobbyists and lawyers, with the odd politician or cable pundit thrown in  the people whose cartoon faces line the walls, a tradition that started at the original Palm in Manhattan.

Many of those people dine here multiple times a week, drawn not by inventive cuisine (the steak-centric menu seems oblivious to several decades worth of food trends) but by the feeling that they belong here.

I always tell people its the best place to eat in Washington, says Democratic strategist and talking head James Carville. And its about the 48th-best restaurant. A lot of that is on Tommy.

Jacomo is not the maitre d of film, that cool and reserved character who shows you to the table without a word. Nor is he the corporate greeter reading brightly from a script.

He welcomes regulars with a hug or a backslap. His ties are a tad wider and his mustache a tad longer than the fashion. His voice is like gravel on a Queens road.

And his humor is legendary. Bill Regardie, the colorful former publisher of Regardies magazine, who estimates that he has eaten at the Palm as many as 5,000 times, recalls Jacomo once approaching his party, which was packed with well-heeled guests, and asking, with concern, Who drives the silver Mercedes?  as if the slick vehicle were being towed or keyed by ruffians. About five of us get up, Regardie says, and Tommy just starts cracking up like hes pulled the funniest gag ever.

Jacomo has seen presidents and world leaders in his dining room, but hes agnostic about fame. I like to make people feel important whether theyre a big shot or not, he says.

For Palm regulars, the table is all-important.

Top Washington divorce lawyer Sandy Ain likes a booth, and he likes to sit facing the door, so that other diners only see his dining companions, who might be high-profile clients, from the back.

Regardie is also a booth guy (second on the left, if its available), but he likes to sit with his back to the door so that hes not distracted by all the acquaintances who come in. One time, I had lunch with a friend who told me Id been so rude, because I spent the whole meal talking to other people, he says. So now I just sit facing away.

Some regulars like to sit right beneath their caricatures, a mark of status.

But what to do if a VIPs preferred table is taken? Ain says thats where Jacomo deploys statesman-worthy diplomacy: He knows how to manage people and flatter peoples egos  and how to take care of their disappointment.

Jacomo, though, makes this sound easy. His favorite solution is to steer the table-less to Table 30, near the bustling wood-clad bar. Its a completely s--- table, he says, laughing. But I tell them that theyre lucky theyre getting the family table. Its where my brother and I used to have lunch every day, so we can call it that!



Tommy Jacomo, right, greets Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

Jacomo greets customers during his final month on the job. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

Choreographing the restaurants seating arrangements, though, isnt Jacomos most delicate task. That would be determining who gets their likeness on the wall. There are no hard-and-fast rules to this process, but Jacomo is the sole arbiter. The caricatures may be famous  theres Larry King, and no fewer than three of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (each with his name spelled differently, all incorrect). But there are also plenty of names no one would recognize  just good customers, or people Jacomo likes.

Radio producer Marc Sterne, who works for the Tony Kornheiser Show, recalls when Jacomo surprised him by mounting his caricature on the wall. They had met when Sterne was working on a local radio show and booked Jacomo for segments. Sterne visited the restaurant and was taken aback by the VIP treatment he got. Im this piddling producer guy, and Tommys giving me a bear hug, and I felt important, he says. And later, when I had my picture up  if I live to be 150, I dont think anything would be cooler.

But theres only so much wall space, and taking down a drawing to make room for others is fraught. You might have someone you havent seen in 35 years, Jacomo says. You take them down and, goddamn it, the next day, the family comes and the grandkids are crying, going, Wheres Poppy? 

But Jacomo clearly relishes the process, perhaps because the drawings make him feel as if hes amid a crowd of friends, even when the restaurant is empty. When its closed, Im like Nixon, he says, referring to a possibly apocryphal story about Richard Nixon roaming the halls of the White House, conversing with the portraits of former presidents. I talk to them all.

Jacomo arrived in Washington in 1972, after his brother, Ray, asked him to come help him open the Palm. Tommy, then a ski instructor in Vermont, had been a bar-back at the New York Hilton and, more important, had some carpentry skills. Ray needed him to help finish the restaurant interior.

He figured he would stay for a few weeks. He never left.

Maybe the lure was in his blood. Jacomo is a third-generation restaurant guy: His father was a bartender at the Waldorf Astoria and his grandfather was a steward there.

But a better explanation might be found in the way he describes the appeal of his other pursuit, betting on the horses: I just like being in the action.

He had some wild days, before he got married and had two daughters, now 28 and 25. He once drove his motorcycle through the restaurant dining room. In 1977, he was arrested and later acquitted on cocaine charges.



Tommy Jacomo gets a smooch from colleague Eden Abebe. (Bill OLeary/The Washington Post)

Over the past 44 years, hes seen a lot of change: the demise of the three-martini lunch. The advent of pagers, then BlackBerrys and smartphones, meaning that no one was ever really off the clock.

Diners palates became more refined, and Washingtons restaurant scene exploded. It used to be just, Red or white? and Steak or lobster?  he says. People are much more sophisticated now.

Which is all very well and good  theres a larger salad selection and even an ahi tuna appetizer on the Palm menu these days  but Jacomo becomes comically animated when considering the effect of cooking shows on the dining public. They watch three of em and think theyre a chef, he says. Now, everyones a freaking gourmet!

Jacomo had hoped to work for another three years or so, but last year, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Surgery was successful, but his lungs collapsed twice, and now he totes an oxygen pack with tubes that snake past his signature mustache.

He plans to still come in sometimes from his home in Manassas, Va., maybe once a week, to check on things. General Manager Michael Melore has been overseeing the dining room in his stead and has inherited the mantle of keeper of the caricatures.

As he eases into retirement, Jacomo, the guy who remembers everyones name, is just as much of a VIP as the powerful people he welcomed into the Palm for more than four decades, his boldfaced friends say.

Carville cops to dropping Jacomos name. Hes a fashionable friend to have, Carville says. Its like being buddies with the attorney general.

And Regardie thinks that the restaurant gave his friend from Queens stature alongside senators and TV stars. In a restaurant of big shots, he says, Tommy was a big shot.
In this Nov. 19, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos, tapped by Trump to be secretary of education, pose for photographs at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Some people  including President-elect Donald Trump  believe that to improve U.S. education, the nation should stop spending so many tax dollars on public schools and instead invest in alternatives, including charter schools and taxpayer-funded vouchers for private and religious schools.

They say they are part of a movement for school choice, for empowering all parents, regardless of income, to select the best learning experience for their children.

Others believe that fixing American education will require bolstering the public school systems that are obligated to serve every child.

To them, school choice is a code. They call it privatization.

The education world has been feuding for years across this semantic divide. But it has deepened as the movement toward choice  or privatization  has accelerated during the past decade, giving rise to charter schools and voucher programs nationwide.

And now the battle is headed toward political center stage: School choice has gained perhaps its most powerful proponent ever in Trump, who has called it the civil rights issue of our time and pledged to spend $20 billion to push for an expansion of charters and vouchers.

[Trump pitches $20 billion education plan at charter school that received poor marks]

He showed he was serious when he picked billionaire Betsy DeVos  who has spent millions of dollars and more than two decades pushing to expand voucher programs nationwide  as his nominee to lead the Education Department.

School choice among the most exciting aspects of a @realDonaldTrump presidency, & among the most underappreciated messages of his campaign, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway tweeted recently.

The notion of school choice has ties to our nations racially segregated past. Many families seeking to avoid court-ordered integration either fled to white-only private schools  sometimes attending with the help of taxpayer-funded vouchers  or rallied for the right to choose which public school their children would attend. That approach almost always meant that white schools stayed white and black schools stayed black.

Yet over time, school choice has come to be associated with freedom, and it now polls well with Americans. No one wants a child to be trapped in a terrible school, and most believe that parents should be able to shape their childrens education.

My goal is to give parents options, said Robert Enlow, president of EdChoice, an Indianapolis-based organization that advocates for vouchers and other programs that allow tax dollars to pay private-school tuition.

Those who say such options amount to privatization are outing themselves as defenders of a broken status quo that fails to adequately serve children, he said.

But those who favor the language of privatization say that school choice masks reality  they say vouchers and charters redirect the flow of taxpayer dollars from public schools, which most Americans support, into unaccountable private hands.

[Trump picks billionaire Betsy DeVos as education secretary]

Its a direct attack on public education, said Diane Ravitch, a historian and former Bush administration official who has become one of the most voluble critics of vouchers and charter schools and a proponent of the term privatization. You dont kill public education without killing something thats very important to our sense of the public good, our civic responsibility.

Polls by the American Federation for Children, a pro-voucher group that DeVos led until she became Trumps nominee, show that American voters are significantly less likely to support vouchers than choice.

Its the same kind of linguistic play that comes around the issue of abortion, Ravitch said, referring to the terms pro-choice and pro-life to describe activists on either side of that fight. Theyre really using euphemisms to not say what they mean.

Voucher and charter-school critics say the neediest children  those who struggle academically or behaviorally or whose parents dont have the wherewithal to shop around for private schools or provide transportation to far-flung schools  often arent able to exercise choice in a meaningful way. Instead of escaping to better opportunities, those children are worse off, consigned to public schools that have been drained of badly needed resources.

[Five myths about charter schools]

Ive heard a lot of different ways that opponents of public education have tried to make their deeply unpopular ideology sound more palatable to parents, despite the evidence, said Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee. But however they talk about it, the fact remains that parents want strong public schools for their kids and for all kids, and I consider it to be my job to help cut through rhetoric that is intended to confuse, and make sure parents understand the true impacts of policies on students across the country.

The disagreement over choice does not cleave neatly along the nations usual dividing lines. Some parents of color are strong advocates for school choice as a civil right, for example, yet the NAACP opposes vouchers and has called for a moratorium on charter schools. The battle is also muddied because there are many Democrats  such as President Obama  and some Republicans who embrace public school choice, including charter schools, but oppose vouchers.

[School-choice advocates divided over Donald Trump and his education pick, Betsy DeVos]

The term voucher is problematic enough that Republican pollster Frank Luntz has advised choice advocates to instead use the term opportunity scholarship. Now, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and the District are among the jurisdictions that offer opportunity scholarship programs.

Luntz said its a smart strategy for voucher opponents to attack choice as privatization: People want accountability, but they dont want schools turned into factories or businesses. They believe that education has a heart, not just a head.

But he adds that he believes teachers unions and others attacking DeVos as an enemy of the public good are making a mistake.

The idea that parents should have the right to choose where their kids go to school, most Americans do believe that should be a right. The idea that schools should be held accountable for failing year after year  again, almost universal support, he said.

When she talks about what shes for, and they talk about what theyre against, shell win.
Shannan Wise, right, with her attorney, Zina Makar. Wise, a single mother of two who had no criminal history, spent five days in jail because her family could not afford the $1,000 needed to secure her release through a bail bondsman. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

Shannan Wise, who was working two temp jobs and attending school for medical billing, remembers the countless calls she made from Central Booking in Baltimore, praying that her friends and family would come up with the $1,000 she needed to get out of jail.

She told her sisters to pawn her television set. They would try to pawn their laptops. One person offered $25. Others pitched in $100.

Wise, 27, had never been in jail before October 2015, when a police officer arrived at her home and said he had a warrant for her arrest. Her younger sister, who suffers from mental illness, had filed an assault charge against her. Wise, a single mother of two, stayed in jail for five days before she was able to post bail.

Zina Makar, the co-director of the Pretrial Justice Clinic at the University of Baltimore School of Law, said her client didnt get out sooner simply because she is poor. If the money had not been scraped together, Wise would have been detained until January 2016, when her first hearing was held and the charges were dismissed.

Advocates say Wises experience is not uncommon, shared among other poor defendants in Maryland and across the country.

A bail bond operation across the street from the Central Booking facility in Baltimore. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

According to a 2016 report by the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, more than 46,000 defendants between 2011 and 2015 were detained more than five days at the start of their criminal case. Of those, more than 17,000 were held on less than a $5,000 bail.

We are putting people in jail because they are poor, said Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D), who unsuccessfully pushed for changes to the bail system when he served in the state Senate.

Following statewide efforts in New Mexico, Kentucky and New Jersey, Maryland is rethinking its money-based bail system, making moves toward either altering or eliminating it.

The steps are part of a broader effort to address the racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system and reduce the costs of detaining nonviolent offenders awaiting trial.

This is connected to the concern about mass incarceration, said Del. Erek L. Barron (D), who last year successfully sponsored a bill that eliminated mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders.

[When it comes to pretrial release, few other jurisdictions do it D.C.s way]

The Maryland Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear testimony Jan. 5 from Frosh and others about overhauling the system. The police union, county prosecutors and the bail bond industry are against the court taking up the issue, arguing that only the General Assembly should handle changes to the system. They raise concerns that an overhaul would put public safety at risk, with fewer people showing up to court for trial.

State Sen. Michael J. Hough, a Republican from Frederick who has worked with Democrats on criminal justice legislation, including last years sweeping bill that shifted the focus of sentencing for nonviolent drug offenders to drug treatment over incarceration, said he is interested in changing the bail system but opposed to Froshs end-run around the General Assembly. Hes trying to force our hand at changing it.

He added, Im willing to look at the system, but Im not willing to blow the whole system up.

Hough said any change should be based on evidence, not anecdotes. He suggested that an independent agency compile data on the states bail system, similar to the data on the states prison population from the Pew Charitable Trusts, which led to the Justice Reinvestment Act.

Advocates in Maryland have been trying to overhaul the system for more than a decade.

Maryland had a chance to really lead on this issue, and Im hopeful that now it will keep pace, said Cherise Fanno Burdeen, executive director of the Pretrial Justice Institute. Its a win-win-win except for the bail bondsmen. Thats the political fight that we have lost time and time again in Annapolis.

The most recent effort was sparked earlier this year by five Democratic lawmakers who asked Frosh to weigh in on whether the states bail system was constitutional. In the past two years, class-action lawsuits have been filed in San Francisco and the suburbs of St. Louis by Equal Justice Under Law, a D.C.-based organization that fights inequalities in the justice system.

The lawmakers said they worried whether Marylands bail system, which they say is unfair to poor and minority defendants, would pass constitutional muster.

Frosh said the system, which sets bails at amounts many defendants cant afford, could violate due process.

After Froshs opinion, District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey advised judges and commissioners in October to impose the least onerous conditions on those awaiting trial. The attorney general also asked the Maryland Court of Appeals to consider a rule change to ensure defendants who arent a public safety risk dont languish in jail simply because they are poor.

In November, the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure of the state Court of Appeals also recommended that the court issue a rule change that would call on judges not to set bail that is too high for a poor defendant to pay unless the defendant is considered a flight risk or danger to society.

Bail bondsmen have pushed back against Morrisseys advice and started a massive social-media campaign citing cases in which Maryland judges have cut back significantly on setting bail for defendants.

Vinnie Magliano, president of East Coast Bail Bonds, one of the largest bail bond companies in the state, said his business has dropped nearly 90 percent since Morrisseys letter.

That was the goal, to basically take us out of business, Magliano said. I just dont understand this great push to just let everyone go. . . . Im worried about the safety of people who come in contact with the person who doesnt show up for trial and has a warrant for their arrest.

Magliano said he is hoping that the court will decide to let the General Assembly, the ones who were elected, make any changes to the bail system.

An earlier version of a photo caption incorrectly said that Shannan Wises bail was $1,000. Her bail was set at $100,000. She needed $1,000 to secure her release through a bail bondsman.
Richard Adams was an Oxford-educated public servant when Watership Down, his first novel, was published in 1972. (PA Wire)

Richard Adams, a British writer whose novel about rabbits, Watership Down, sold 50 million copies and mesmerized generations of readers by creating an ornately detailed fantasy world and subverting the Flopsy-Mopsy stereotype of warm and cuddly bunnies, died Dec. 24 at a nursing home in Oxford, England. He was 96.

He had a blood disorder, said a daughter, Juliet Johnson.

Mr. Adams was an Oxford-educated public servant when Watership Down, his first novel, was published in 1972. The book follows a band of rabbits who search for a new home after Fiver, the runt of his litter, has a vision of their grassy home covered with blood  a result of the lands being developed by people for high class modern residences.

Led by Fivers older brother Hazel, the rabbits journey across woods and stream to arrive at Watership Down, where they battle a totalitarian bunny named General Woundwort before establishing a new, utopian warren.

Expecting a tale of friendly anthropomorphic animals in the spirit of Kenneth Grahames The Wind in the Willows or Beatrix Potters Peter Rabbit series, publishers and literary agents rejected Watership Down seven times, telling Mr. Adams that it was too childish for adults and too adult for children.

Mr. Adams, holding a pet mouse, in 1974. (Tom Smith/Daily Express/Hulton Archive via Getty Images)

Chapters begin with epigraphs drawn from the Greek tragic playwright Aeschylus and the military theorist Carl von Clausewitz; and Mr. Adamss leporine world is so detailed as to include rabbit mythology and an onomatopoeic rabbit language.

But discovering that the rabbit word for car is hrududu was apparently part of the books magic. It won prestigious prizes for childrens literature in England and earned the previously unknown Mr. Adams comparisons to Grahame and J.R.R. Tolkien.

If there is no place for Watership Down in childrens bookshops, the Economist magazine wrote, then childrens literature is dead.

The novels appeal, according to Cathryn M. Mercier, director of the Center for the Study of Childrens Literature at Simmons College in Boston, rested as much on its richly textured fantasy world as its apparent parallels to the human world.

We see qualities of ourselves in those feisty little rabbits, she said.

In one section, a rabbit named Strawberry offers a rebuke to human ways in an explanation of how animals are different from people: If they have to fight, they fight; and if they have to kill, they kill. But they dont sit down and set their wits to work to devise ways of spoiling other creatures lives and hurting them. They have dignity and animality.

Mr. Adams later revealed that the books rabbit heroes were based on his commanding officers in the British military during World War II, but he decried attempts to find larger meanings in the novel.

I promise you it is not a fable or an allegory or a parable of any kind, he told the Pittsburgh Press upon its release. It is a story about rabbits, that is all.

An animated movie was made in 1978, with voices provided by actors such as John Hurt, Ralph Richardson and Zero Mostel. A musical and an animated television series followed.

In a sign of the books reach, it even introduced the idea of a rabbit to readers who had never seen one: The covers of some worldwide editions featured gerbils scampering over sand dunes.

Richard George Adams was born in Newbury, England, on May 9, 1920. He was the youngest of three children, the son of a nurse and a father who, when he wasnt working as the local doctor, tested Mr. Adams on the names of the birds and other wildlife that surrounded their home, urging him to learn, as well, his knotgrass and pimpernel, heartsease and speedwell.

As a kind of joke and nod to his status-conscious father, Mr. Adams used early royalties from Watership Down to buy a genuine coat of arms for himself, appropriately featuring three rabbits on a green ground.

With the outbreak of World War II, he left the University of Oxford to enlist in the Royal Army Service Corps. He later joined a British army airborne division but never saw combat.

He completed his degree after the war. He received an honors degree in modern history in the late 1940s, also from Oxford, and moved directly into the British civil service, where he spent the next two decades.

Working on issues as varied as slum clearance, outdoor advertising regulations and the Thames Flood Barrier, a London landmark, he rose to the position of assistant secretary in what would later become the Department of the Environment. Because of the amount of information Mr. Adams was required to gorge and synthesize, the job was good training for a novelist, he later told People magazine.

His writing career happened almost by chance. Mr. Adams had children late in life and liked to entertain them with stories. In 1966, driving from London to Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeares birthplace, he began telling them about two rabbits named Fiver and Hazel who traveled to the real-life Watership Down, five miles from his childhood home.

Two weeks later, when he had finished his improvised tale, his daughters urged him to write it down. He completed the book over the next two years.

His next novel, Shardik (1974), a religious epic about a bear worshiped as a god, met with mixed reviews and some befuddlement for going so far afield from the green grass and warrens where Mr. Adams had made his name.

Critics panned its characters as stilted and one-dimensional, but Mr. Adams considered it his finest work and quit the civil service to write full time after its release. He took his library, family and money to the Isle of Man, a British Crown dependency, to escape higher English taxes.

His apparent disdain for negative reviews was tested by his later novels.

The Plague Dogs (1977) chronicled the escape of two dogs from an experimental laboratory in Englands Lake District. The book presaged his turbulent two-year term as president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, from which he resigned in 1982 because, he told the London Independent, the leaders seemed to be more concerned with each other than with the animals.

The Girl in a Swing (1980) and Maia (1985) were erotic love stories concerned with female sexuality. The books coincided with the transition of Mr. Adamss public image from childrens writer and animal advocate to an elderly man with, in his words, a pretty erotic disposition.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Acland, whom he married in 1949, and two daughters, Juliet Johnson and Rosamond Mahony; six grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

For the past three decades of his life, Mr. Adams lived in the small town of Whitchurch, in southern Hampshire. His private library was considered one of Englands finest, with works that included a second folio of Shakespeare and a Bible that had belonged to King Charles II.

Mr. Adams wrote a memoir of his early years, The Day Gone By (1990), and returned to the rabbits that made him famous just once, publishing Tales From Watership Down in 1996. The book, a collection of intertwined stories, served as prequel and sequel to the original novel.

He seemed at peace with the fact that nothing matched the success of his literary debut.

I try to look at it in a positive way, he told the London Guardian in 2015, to say to myself, Look at Watership Down  if you can do that, you can do any ruddy thing.

Of course you cant expect to have another success like that, but it does give you the confidence and the enjoyment to go on writing.
On Christmas Day, Tricia McCauley made a pie and prepared her signature Brussels sprouts to take to a holiday party with fellow members of the Districts theater scene. At 4:30 p.m., she posted on Facebook that she was on her way.

She never showed for dinner.

A frantic search by friends and family, scouring city blocks, ended just after midnight Tuesday, when a man walking his dog near Dupont Circle spotted McCauleys white two-door Scion iQ with its Plant more plants bumper sticker. He called police.

Police found the car a few minutes later parked in the 2200 block of M Street NW in West End. In a nearby CVS store, they confronted a man who had been spotted driving the Scion. A police report says that an officer asked the man for the keys and that he surrendered them. Inside the car, police found McCauleys 5-foot-4, 115-pound body.

Tricia Lynn McCauley, 46, of Washington, D.C. (Courtesty of Metropolitan Police Department)

[Everybody had a crush on her: Before she was killed, Tricia McCauley radiated light]

McCauley had been strangled and beaten, authorities said. Police charged the man, Adrian Duane Johnson, 29, with first-degree felony murder, among other crimes.

Police said they dont know how the 46-year-old McCauley first encountered Johnson. The two were strangers, police said. Interim D.C. police chief Peter Newsham said detectives dont know where or when McCauley was killed.

Johnson has a long record of arrests, mostly for theft and nonviolent crimes, in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Court files contain notations of possible mental illness, though he has been ruled competent in the past.

Russell Dixon, Johnsons stepfather, said Johnson had been living on the streets and suffered from mental problems. But Dixon said he never saw any signs of violence.

I never saw any aggression, he said.

1 of 17 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  17 shocking crime stories from 2016 View Photos A beloved mayor in Fairfax faced allegations of a meth-for-sex scheme, and a man (successfully) used a the-stop-smoking-pill-made-me-do-it defense after shooting his wife. Caption A beloved mayor in Fairfax faced allegations of a meth-for-sex scheme, and a man (successfully) used a the-stop-smoking-pill-made-me-do-it defense after shooting his wife. A pastors disturbing message to his wife before killing his daughter and himself Police in Maine said former Air Force chaplain Daniel Randall bought a shotgun after completing treatment for substance abuse and drove to the home of his estranged family, where he killed his adult daughter, Claire Randall, pictured here in a 2008 photo, and then himself. A neighbor discovered their bodies at the house in Hebron, Maine. Read the story Gretchen Ertl/Providence Journal via AP Wait 1 second to continue.

Dixon said Johnsons mother, Marlene, had tried to help her son. He suggested that the courts had been too lenient on his stepson. The court system let him go. Thats not the help he needs, he said. He should have been held.

Marlene Dixon was unaware that her son had been arrested.

When she heard he was a suspect in a killing, she responded: No, no, no, no, no.

Earlier this month, Johnson was arrested at a CVS store in the Columbia Heights neighborhood and charged with stealing four electric toothbrushes. Court records show that Johnson was ordered detained in that case on Dec. 17. But at a Dec. 20 hearing, the records state, the government did not have a witness and was not ready to proceed.

The court docket says prosecutors urged a judge to release Johnson into the most restrictive monitoring possible, which typically requires defendants to be confined to their homes. Johnsons attorney told the court that her client required mental health screening, which he could not get under the restrictive program.

The judge ordered Johnson released with GPS monitoring, ordered him to stay away from the CVS and to seek mental health screening. A law enforcement official said Johnson did not show up as required Dec. 21 to have the GPS device secured on his ankle. There is no indication in the court file of any follow-up.

McCauleys death has hit hard people whose lives intersected with her diverse world  professional acting, yoga instruction, herbalism, running Leafyhead Lotions and Potions, and urban gardening.

When McCauley didnt show Sunday for the annual party hosted by Bill Largess, the artistic director for the Washington Stage Guild, guests didnt worry immediately. She had slept through a similar dinner in the past. It wasnt until Monday morning, when she failed to board a plane to Oregon to visit family for the holiday, that real concern set in.

Friends began a search and set up a Facebook page run by McCauleys brother. Ann Norton, the executive director of the Washington Stage Guild, went to McCauleys apartment on North Capitol Street. Roommates were gone; she found the apartment neat as a pin, though McCauley had left behind an unwashed pan with the scrapings of her Brussels sprouts, caramelized in balsamic vinegar.

It was a clue that McCauley had left for the party and taken her food.

What happened in the ensuing hours remains unknown.

Police said they tracked Johnson to several locations Monday, including spots on Georgia Avenue in Northwest, Fourth Street near the courthouse and on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast. Between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. that day, Newsham said, Johnson was inside a CVS store near Union Station. Newsham said Johnson assaulted a worker and stole some items; McCauleys car was nearby.

At 10:21 p.m., D.C. police issued a critical missing alert for McCauley, with a picture of her and descriptions of her car and a man who may have been seen driving it. It flashed on Jonathan Padgets phone as he walked his dog about midnight near 21st and P streets Northwest. He knew McCauley through his involvement in D.C. theatre.

Padget said he saw a white car parked on P Street with a man in the drivers seat smoking a cigar or cigarette, with music blaring. He was bouncing around to the music, Padget said. He was looking directly at me.

Padget, a freelance writer, said the man stuck his head out the window and angrily asked, Hello, sir, how are you? He then drove off, but not before Padget noticed that the license plate matched the one on the police alert. He called police, who found the car three blocks away.

Several hours later, McCauleys brother, Brian, posted on Facebook: Tricia is gone, they have found her body. Thank you all for your work, support and love.

On Tuesday evening, people gathered inside the tiny D.C. yoga studio where McCauley taught. The group of about 100 gathered candles and walked to LeDroit Park Community Garden where the actress tended to plants and herbs.

Jim Zidar held his candle steady even as his emotions welled to the surface.

She was an utterly fearless artist, Zidar said.

Jennifer Jenkins, Ian Shapira and Victoria St. Martin contributed to this report.
Gennine A. Hagar became chief U.S. probation officer for the District in 2007. She is retiring after nearly three decades with the probation office. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

In 1988, so many D.C. men returning from prison were dying of HIV and AIDS that a federal probation officer was assigned full time to help manage their care, Gennine A. Hagar recalled.

Today, the staff member in that equivalent role coordinates a different life-sustaining task  helping former prisoners find jobs  for a caseload reduced by half as the Districts overlapping epidemics of addiction, disease and violent crime have waned.

Hagar, chief probation officer for the federal court in the nations capital, reflected on the changes as she prepares to step down this month after more than three decades in what she calls the business of second chances.

I have been in mansions, and I have been in homeless shelters. I have watched offenders dig in and lead new and improved lives, and I have watched some die, Hagar said at a recent farewell ceremony at the court.

But the greatest gift will always be living to see someone you have worked with, prayed for or invested in change their life, she said. And the loving kindness we show them is what matters most.

I have been my whole career in the business of second chances, says Gennine A. Hagar, the retiring chief U.S. probation officer for the District. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

The U.S. Probation Office for the District, with a staff of 44 and an annual budget of $4.2 million, oversees federal offenders sentenced to probation as well as those who have completed prison sentences.

Federal probation officers report to judges, not to the police or prosecutors, and in the District they have the option to carry firearms on duty. The job mixes law enforcement and social work, and many speak of their work as lifesaving and transformational.

Hagar, 56, said that her time working with ex-felons has not cracked her belief in second chances, even as she has watched societys views on crime and punishment swing like a pendulum.

Hagar got her start in the 1980s, as crime was cresting in Washington and nationwide, triggering a law-and-order response that quadrupled the number of people incarcerated in the United States between 1980 and 2014 to 2.2 million.

Her retirement comes as Washingtons per capita homicide rate is one-fourth its 1991 peak of 479, mirroring national trends.

She also is leaving at a crossroads for sentencing changes.

A spate of recent actions by some states and by the federal government has shortened prison terms and focused penalties on higher-level drug offenders while diverting others to less costly alternatives. But bills pending in Congress to recalibrate sentencing patterns from the war on drugs era have stalled.

President-elect Donald Trumps choice for attorney general, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), has been a vocal opponent of such legislation, saying proposed changes would endanger millions of Americans whose safety is increasingly threatened by rising crime rates.

[The Justice Department just unveiled new prison reforms. But the Trump administration might scrap them.]

Hagar said in an interview that she is hoping for a sustained and even stronger focus on housing, job training, and mental-health and addiction treatment to break the cycle of repeat imprisonment.

I have been my whole career in the business of second chances, and since the president-elect says he is the president of all Americans, I am going to wait and see if he keeps his word before I guess about anything he may or may not do, Hagar said.

He was paying attention

A case she handled many years ago helped steel that commitment to avoid rushed judgments.

Hagar was a front-line officer in 1990 with a client in his late 20s who was part of the violent drug trade, had family problems and a temper bad enough that, she recalled, I didnt think he would make it, given his attitude.

During their visits, he seemed not to focus on her guidance and spent so much time asking about how she watered her office plants that she snapped, If you make it off supervision, you can have that plant.

Two years ago, the man was back in the probation office, saw Hagars photo in the waiting area of the office she ran by then and asked to meet with her.

I want my plant, he reminded her jokingly. He had gone on to run a landscaping business and was back because he had driven an employee to a probation appointment.

Hagar gave him the plant, thanked him for hiring an ex-offender and took a picture.

And it made me realize he was paying attention, Hagar said. Thats one of those days that makes your life worthwhile.

Born in Pocomoke City on Marylands Eastern Shore, Hagar was salutatorian of her high school class and graduated in 1982 with a sociology degree from what is now Towson University. She spent 24 years as a Maryland and federal probation officer, D.C. jail treatment worker and sentencing specialist before becoming the first woman to head the District federal courts probation office in 2007.

We were babies in probation together. We thought we were saving the world, recalled Shari L. McCoy, who started as a probation officer with Hagar in 1988 and became one of her deputies.

But it was a violent and painful time for the District.

Congress had passed the Sentencing Reform Act in 1984, which dramatically cut judges sentencing discretion and use of parole, and the act was followed by escalating mandatory-minimum sentences aimed at gun and drug offenders. But the law also caught lower-level criminals.

It wasnt unusual to see young people get life sentences, multiple life sentences, 360 months, said Mark McCroson, another of Hagars deputies, who joined her in 1990. She kept in mind the human aspect of our challenge, in what at that time seemed like a factory at the court.

Hagar also was starting out when many judges saw the sentencing changes as an intrusion on the judicial branchs independence, recalled U.S. Senior Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who was chief judge of the Districts federal court from 2008 to 2013. He worked with Hagar when he was new to the bench and she was one of the courts first two sentencing specialists in 1991.

Gennine convinced me the [sentencing] guidelines ought to work, Lamberth said recently, and eventually, they did work.

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the strict ranges of jail times set by the U.S. Sentencing Commission could be taken as advisory only. Other sentencing changes flowed from political efforts to reduce prison costs and end racial disparities in punishments.

[Congress is closer than ever to easing sentences for drug offenders]

The caseload for Hagars agency dropped to about 1,000 people this year  nearly half the 1,868 in 2010. The sentencing changes had an effect, but so did lower crime rates, a shift of crimes to outside the District, and administrative changes that put federal offices in Maryland and Virginia in charge of supervising ex-offenders from the District who had moved to those states.

More than 70 percent of those supervised by the federal office for the District are employed, according to data provided by Deputy Chief Brian D. Shaffer, who is Hagars successor as chief. Only 15 percent of closed cases  or about 40 a year  are revoked for new crimes or other violations, the data shows.

The federal probation offices relative success comes with offenders who as a group tend to be older than those handled in local courts, sentenced to longer terms for more serious offenses, and are less likely to cycle in and out of prison for petty thefts.

[It does not have to be this way: Report slams services for former inmates returning to D.C.]

Technology, training and the hiring of more experienced officers also have bolstered success rates, even as the number of probation officers dropped by two-thirds over her 31 years, Hagar said.

Shift in the publics attitude

But the biggest difference that I see, Hagar said, is a shift in the publics attitude, where the fear of employing or housing those who were once called ex-convicts has been moderated by a more nuanced view of returning citizens trying to reenter society.

[Ban the box bill gets D.C. Councils tentative approval after years of debate]

The community seems to be embracing those coming home, and it could be because so many went away in this community, Hagar said. The offenders in the 1980s and 1990s, they were shunned, so much so. And I would feel it, I would go and ask employers, Are you hiring? Yes. And would you hire somebody with a record? They would say, Youre kidding, right?

Today theres a difference; employers might ask, Can you share their record with me? Is he a threat to my business? 

[U.S. attorney general to states: Help prisoners get IDs when theyre released]

Hagar said her thinking has been consistent on focusing on the person in front of her.

Theyre still people, just like us, she said. Everything you were afforded in life to help make you successful, thats what theyre going to need  people to give them a break, help them get food when they dont have any, to be better parents, places to live they can afford, and jobs with wages high enough that they can take care of themselves.

They are supported in a courthouse whose workers donate work and job interview clothes and take part in an annual holiday Snowflake program that gives gifts to children of ex-offenders.

The office also runs a computer-equipped job-finding center at the courthouse, hosts regular job fairs, and throws an employer appreciation breakfast every two years, which is well attended by judges and dozens of companies.

People do change. They have to want to change . . . but they have to be pushed, too, Hagar said. We should always be willing to give our fellow man a hand. . . . Dont give up.
Bike racks are currently available on some cars on MARCs Penn Line during weekend service. (Maryland Transit Administration)

Traveling with a bike from Baltimore to downtown Washington could become a lot easier next year for riders of Marylands MARC commuter trains.

The Maryland Transit Administration plans to install bike racks on its trains to allow daily commuters to take their two-wheel vehicles aboard. The goal, officials say, is to have at least one bike car on every train servicing the three MARC lines by the end of next year.

Officials say they want to provide a first- and last-mile solution to commuters and offer an alternative transportation option as more people in the greater Baltimore and Washington regions embrace cycling.

We recognize that our train doesnt pull off right to your doorstep or right to your work, so we want to give options to be able to get you to and from where you want to go, MTA spokesman Ryan Nawrocki said.

MARC began testing the option on the Penn Lines weekend service two years ago. Demand for bike racks grew quickly after the service was introduced in December 2014, and the MTA doubled the number of cars outfitted with bike racks in 2015, officials said. Now, all Penn Line weekend trains, which travel between Baltimore and Union Station, have the bike-car option.

The next logical step is to have them on all trains even on the weekday, said Erich Kolig, director of MARC Train and Commuter Bus Services.

State transportation officials say there is a growing demand from riders who want to take their bikes aboard trains and then ride to their ultimate destination. In introducing the service for daily commuters, MARC would be catching up on a national trend to provide bike carry-on options aboard rail cars.

A similar program is so popular in the San Francisco Bay area that the Caltrain commuter-rail system expanded bike capacity. Still, people get bumped because of limited bike space.

This year, Amtrak, in expanding its bike options, began to offer carry-on bike service on its Vermonter line, which operates daily between Washington and St. Albans, Vt., with stops including Philadelphia; New York; Hartford, Conn.; and Springfield, Mass.

Amtrak allows passengers to ride in designated cars equipped with bike racks. But the service requires a reservation and a $20 fee for the bike in addition to the ride fare. Riders using the service must arrive early at the station, board a bike car and remove the front wheel of the bike so it fits into the rack.

In the Washington area, Virginia Railway Express, with routes from the District to Spotsylvania and Manassas, allows riders to take full-size bikes only on specific trains and only on specific cars on those trains. VREs chief of staff said the agency doesnt have plans to retrofit any of its cars for bikes at this time.

[As Metro struggles, Capital Bikeshare takes bigger role in regions transit network]

Bike advocates welcomed the expansion of bike racks aboard MARC, saying it is another step to better integrate the two modes of transit and facilitate multimodal travel. But they said that if the expanded bike program is to be successful for daily commutes, the key will be to have the bike-car option on all trains.

Then it becomes a real transportation option, said Greg Billing, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. If you ride in with your bike in the morning, there has to be a rack on any train going back, he said. If that option isnt available, transporting a bike on the train doesnt really work, he said.

Currently, bike riders are allowed to bring full-size bikes aboard the train and secure them in one of 23 racks. There is seating for 40 people in the bike car, according to MARC. There is no charge to use the bike racks, but they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

As the agency moves to expand the service, some bike advocates expect MARCs biggest challenge will be to work with the jurisdictions it serves along its routes to try to make the areas around stations more bike-friendly.

Kolig said the agency has a $96,000 grant and matching funds to retrofit about one-third of its trailer cars  the cars that dont have a restroom. He said the agency will begin to install racks as early as the spring. But MARC wont add them to the schedule until there is an adequate number of bike cars. He said he expects one bike car on each train by the end of 2017.

Folding bikes are already allowed on commuter trains, but some riders say traveling with one during peak rush-hour times can be difficult for the owner and fellow passengers.

Folding bikes are a little bulky, said Billing, who tried taking a folding bike on a MARC ride to a conference in Baltimore. The train was packed. I didnt love it.

But a full-size bike will have great appeal, he said.

When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. If you live two to four miles away from the train station, you can ride to it, Billing said. If you dont feel comfortable leaving your bike at the station or if you want it on the other end of your trip, this is the perfect solution.
Actress, herbalist and yoga instructor Tricia McCauley was reported missing by D.C. police Monday night. Police said the circumstances of her disappearance seemed to be suspicious.

Friends said she had been missing since Christmas Day, when she said that she was on her way to dinner but never arrived. Police have scheduled a press conference for 8 a.m. Tuesday.

A flier described her as a critical missing person. Police released a photo Monday night of a man they said might have been driving her car, which the flier described as a white two-door Toyota Scion hatchback.

Early Tuesday, friends and a family source said they had been told that the womans vehicle had been found, as well as a man who police thought might have been driving it. They said the discovery was made in the West End.

Police declined to confirm that information, but said an investigation was underway in the 2200 block of M Street NW. They ve scheduled a press conference for 8 a.m. Tuesday.

In the flier, McCauley was described as white, 46, 5 feet 4 and 120 pounds. It said she had brown hair and light brown eyes. Her address was given as a block of North Capitol Street NW in the Bloomingdale neighborhood.

McCauleys website offers a long list of acting credits, including 10 with the Washington Stage Guild.

She had also appeared in films and television commercials, and was heard in voice-overs.
About 1.4 million people living in nursing homes across the country can now be more involved in their care under the most wide-ranging revision of federal rules for such facilities in 25 years.

The changes reflect a shift toward more person-centered care, including requirements for speedy development of care plans, more flexibility and variety in meals and snacks, greater review of a residents drug regimen, better security, improved grievance procedures, and scrutiny of involuntary discharges.

With proper implementation and enforcement, this could really transform a residents experience of a nursing home, said Robyn Grant, director of public policy and advocacy for the Consumer Voice, a national group that advocates for residents rights.

The federal Medicare and Medicaid programs pay for most of the nations nursing home care  roughly $75 billion in 2014  and in return, facilities must comply with government rules. The new regulations, proposed last year by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, take effect in three phases. The first kicked in late last month.

They allow residents and their families to be much more engaged in the design of their care plan and the design of their discharge plans, said David Gifford, a senior vice president at the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly 12,000 long-term-care facilities.

Grant goes even further, saying the new approach puts the consumer in the drivers seat. Until now, she noted, a persons care has too often been decided only by the nursing home staff. And if the resident is lucky, he or she is informed about what that care will entail, what will specifically be done and who will do it.

One controversial measure prohibits nursing homes from requiring residents to agree in advance that any disputes will be settled through a privately run arbitration process instead of the court system. The industry association has objected, claiming that Medicare officials have authority only to regulate matters related to residents health and safety and that an individuals right to use arbitration cannot be restricted. The ban is on hold until an association lawsuit, to force the government to drop the provision, is decided.

HHS reviewed nearly 10,000 comments on its draft proposal before finalizing changes. Here are highlights of the requirements now in effect:

 Making the nursing home feel more like home: The regulations say that residents are entitled to alternative meals and snacks . . . at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal times. Residents can also choose their roommates, which may lead to siblings or same-sex couples being together. And a resident also has a right to receive visitors of his or her choosing at the time of his or her choosing, as long as it doesnt impose on another residents rights.

 Bolstering grievance procedures: Nursing homes must now appoint an official who will handle complaints and follow a strengthened grievance process. Decisions must be in writing.

 Challenging discharges: Residents can no longer be discharged while appealing the discharge. They cannot be discharged for nonpayment if they have applied for Medicaid or other insurance, are waiting for a payment decision, or are appealing a claim denial.

If a nursing home refuses to accept a resident who wants to return from a hospital stay, the resident can appeal the decision. Also, residents who enter the hospital have a right to return to their same room, if it is available.

A states long-term-care ombudsman must now get copies of any involuntary discharges so the situation can be reviewed as soon as possible.

 Expanding protection from abuse: The definition of abuse now includes financial exploitation. Nursing homes are prohibited from hiring any licensed professional who has received a disciplinary action because of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or financial exploitation of residents.

 Ensuring a qualified staff: Consumer groups had urged federal officials to set minimum staffing levels for registered nurses and nursing staff, but the industry had opposed any mandates. None were included in the final rule. Instead, facilities must have enough skilled and competent staff to meet residents needs. There are specific training requirements for caring for residents with dementia and for preventing elder abuse.

Competency and staffing levels are not mutually exclusive, said Toby Edelman, a senior policy attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Person-centered care and other improvements dont mean anything if you dont have the staff who know the residents . . . and can figure out why Mrs. Smith is screaming.

Kaiser Health News is a national health-policy news service that is part of the nonpartisan Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Vera Rubin, an astronomer who proved the existence of dark matter, one of the fundamental principles in the study of the universe, but who battled sex discrimination throughout her career, died Dec. 25 at an assisted living facility in Princeton, N.J. She was 88.

She had dementia, said a son, Allan Rubin.

Dr. Rubins groundbreaking discoveries, made primarily with physicist W. Kent Ford, have revolutionized the way scientists observe, measure and understand the universe.

The concept of dark matter, an unknown substance among stars in distant galaxies, had existed since the 1930s, but it was not proved until Dr. Rubins studies with Ford in the 1970s. It is considered one of the most significant and fundamental advances in astronomy during the 20th century.

[VIDEO: Astronomer Vera Rubin tells 2011 graduates her predictions about the year 3000]

Vera Rubin in her office at Washingtons Carnegie Institution in 2010. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

The existence of dark matter has utterly revolutionized our concept of the universe and our entire field, University of Washington astronomer Emily Levesque told Astronomy magazine this year. The ongoing effort to understand the role of dark matter has basically spawned entire subfields within astrophysics and particle physics.

Dr. Rubin, who spent most of her career at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, continued to make new discoveries  including of previously unknown galaxies  into the 21st century. For years she was considered a leading contender for the Nobel Prize, but the award never came. Many attributed the oversight to gender bias among male scientists and prize committees.

The last woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics was Maria Goeppert Mayer, who shared the 1963 prize for her work on atomic structure. The only other woman to win a Nobel in physics was Marie Curie in 1903.

Alfred Nobels will describes the physics prize as recognizing the most important discovery within the field of physics, Levesque told Astronomy magazine. If dark matter doesnt fit that description, I dont know what does.

As a girl growing up in Washington, Dr. Rubin built a rudimentary telescope out of a cardboard tube.

Early in her career, she made discoveries that challenged accepted theories in astronomy, but she was seldom taken seriously by other astronomers, most of them male. When she applied to graduate school at Princeton University in the late 1940s, she was flatly told, Princeton does not accept women.

Dr. Rubin forged ahead, ultimately receiving a doctorate from Georgetown University while raising four children.

Vera Rubin in 2010. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

I worked for almost all of my early career as a part-time person so that I could be home at 3 oclock, and that was after they were all in school, Dr. Rubin told Discover magazine in 2002. It was almost overwhelming. I did a lot of my work at home.

She struggled to gain admittance to leading observatories. In 1964, she became the first woman to receive formal approval to use the Palomar Observatory in Southern California.

When she arrived, she discovered that it did not have a womens restroom.

She went to her room, she cut up paper into a skirt image, and she stuck it on the little person image on the door of the bathroom, astrophysicist Neta Bahcall told Astronomy magazine. She said, There you go; now you have a ladies room. 

While fighting these battles on Earth, Dr. Rubin peered into the cosmos and examined the rotation of more than 200 galaxies. Among other findings, she determined that stars orbiting on the outer edges of galaxies moved at the same speed as those near the interior.

The discovery defied the accepted norms of astronomy, which held that the far-flung stars should move more slowly. To account for the uniform speeds, Dr. Rubin concluded that the distant regions of galaxies contained considerable amounts of a dense, unseen mass, or dark matter, which affected everything from gravitational pull to the shape of galaxies to how stars move in relation to one another.

Dark matter has not been directly observed, and its precise composition remains unknown, but scientists think it constitutes about 84 percent of the cosmos.

So important is this dark matter to our understanding of the size, shape, and ultimate fate of the universe, Dr. Rubin wrote in Scientific American in 1998, that the search for it will very likely dominate astronomy for the next few decades.

Vera Florence Cooper was born July 23, 1928, in Philadelphia. She moved with her family to Washington when she was 10. Her father was an electrical engineer.

She graduated from Coolidge High School in the District and, in 1948, from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She received a masters degree in 1951 from Cornell University and a doctorate in astronomy from Georgetown in 1954.

She taught at Montgomery College and later at Georgetown before joining the Carnegie Institution, a Washington-based research center, in 1965.

Dr. Rubin published more than 100 scientific papers and was on the editorial boards of professional journals and Science magazine. She published a collection of essays, Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters, in 1997. She was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and in 1993 received the nations highest scientific award, the National Medal of Science.

Her husband of 59 years, Robert Rubin, a physical chemist, died in 2008. All four of their children received doctorates in science or mathematics. A daughter, astronomer Judy Young, died in 2014.

Survivors include three sons, David Rubin, a geologist, of Santa Cruz, Calif., Karl Rubin, a mathematician, of Irvine, Calif., and Allan Rubin, a geologist, of Princeton; a sister, Ruth Burg of Washington; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Dr. Rubin was active in promoting the careers of women in astronomy and other sciences and worked to help other women in astronomy and other sciences. But if she was disappointed at not receiving the Nobel Prize, she never said so in public.

I think the question is, she told The Washington Post in 2005, are there women and have there been women who want to do science and could be doing great science, but they never really got the opportunity?
RUSSIA

Black box retrieved from military jet wreck

Russian divers on Tuesday morning retrieved the data recorder from the wreckage of a Russian military jet that crashed en route to Syria on Christmas Day, killing all 92 aboard.

The Tu-154 airliner disappeared from radar just one minute after taking off from the southern Russian city of Sochi. It slammed into the Black Sea moments later.

Why the plane crashed is a mystery. Investigators have suggested various causes, including fuel issues or mechanical error, while politicians have sought to play down speculation of a possible terrorism link.

An affiliate of the Islamic State militant group asserted responsibility for an explosion that downed a Russian airliner in October 2015, killing all 224 on board. Russia confirmed that a terrorist act brought down the plane over Egypts Sinai desert.

Amid speculation about a mechanical malfunction in Sundays crash, Russias security services were reported to have grounded all their in-service Tu-154s.

Russian airlines have largely phased out the jet, but it has remained a workhorse of the military.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told reporters that investigators have begun to examine the black box but that

it was too early to say what caused the weekend crash.

 Andrew Roth

ARGENTINA

Ex-president indicted in corruption case

Former Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was indicted Tuesday in a corruption case.

Federal Judge Julian Ercolini approved charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernandez and two former aides.

Also named was businessman Lazaro Baez, whose company allegedly benefited from irregular contracts.

The judges order froze the equivalent of up to $633 million of each defendants assets, though it was not clear they have that much.

The defendants are accused of associating to illegally take public funds meant for public works between May 2003 and December 2015, largely in the southern province of Santa Cruz.

Fernandez, whose late husband was president from 2003 until 2007, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

She has alleged that she is the victim of persecution by Mauricio Macri, who succeeded her as president last December.

In May, a judge indicted her on charges of manipulating currency exchange futures markets.

 Associated Press

ROMANIA

Muslim woman wont be named as premier

Romanias president on Tuesday declined to nominate as prime minister an economist who could have become the countrys first female Muslim premier.

President Klaus Iohannis said he had carefully weighed the arguments and decided not to nominate Sevil Shhaideh, 52. He called on her Social Democratic Party, which won a parliamentary election on Dec. 11, to name another candidate.

Iohanniss refusal prompted anger among the Social Democrats, with Chairman Liviu Dragnea saying the party would consider impeaching him if . . . we reach the conclusion it is good for the country.

Dragnea cannot become prime minister himself because of an election-fraud conviction this year.

Iohannis did not say why he would not name Shhaideh, criticized by some as lacking sufficient political experience.

 Associated Press

Trial of 29 ex-police officers begins in Turkey: Twenty-nine former Turkish police officers have gone on trial accused of aiding the coup attempt in July, the first trial in Istanbul over the failed putsch. The government blamed the coup attempt on followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen and has cracked down on his movement. The former officers standing trial are accused of failing to carry out their duty to protect the president on the night of the coup attempt.

Tainted liquor kills 31 in Pakistan: At least 31 people died from drinking tainted liquor over the Christmas holiday in Pakistan, police and doctors said. A police officer said dozens were hospitalized in the eastern Punjab province after they consumed contaminated alcohol. Alcohol is mostly prohibited in Muslim-majority Pakistan, but non-Muslims can purchase it from licensed shops. Most poor Christians buy homemade liquor.

 From news services
Philip B. Heymann is a former deputy attorney general under President Bill Clinton and assistant attorney general under President Jimmy Carter. He is the James Barr Ames professor of law emeritus at Harvard University Law School.

Last week, President Obama granted clemency to 153 individuals who had been incarcerated under mandatory minimum drug-sentencing laws, bringing to more than 1,100 the number of clemency petitions the administration has granted. You dont just try to hammer everybody for as long as you can, because you can, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told the New York Times.

That is the right attitude for someone tasked with the fair administration of justice. Unfortunately, Yates and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch have, for the past year, rebuffed efforts by me and many other former senior Justice Department officials to even discuss another prosecution in which justice fell far short: the case of Sholom Rubashkin, a Brooklyn-born rabbi who was sentenced to 27 years for bank fraud.

Rubashkin, a 57-year-old father of 10, has already served seven years for the crime, which ordinarily merits no more than three years. Worse, his sentence was based on perjured testimony and prosecutorial misconduct.

If even a few highly respected prosecutors think a particular case was handled unjustly, resulting in a vastly excessive sentence, the departments representatives should be prepared at least to discuss the reasons. In Rubashkins case, 107 former Justice Department officials, including five former attorneys general, six former deputy attorneys general (myself included), two former FBI directors, 30 former federal judges and other leading jurists, have sought to meet with senior officials of the department we once served. The only response: a form letter from an assistant attorney general stating that no meeting could take place while Rubashkin was also pursuing his case in court.

Meanwhile, Kevin Techau, the U.S. attorney in Iowa (where Rubashkin was prosecuted), has suggested that Rubashkin used his financial resources to buy the support of so many prominent justice officials. Not only has Rubashkin lost everything he owned in this case, his wife and children now depend heavily on the support of their community for their needs. Moreover, all 107 of us are working on this pro bono. Among other things, former deputy attorneys general Larry Thompson, Charles Renfrew and I have traveled to distant meetings and volunteered considerable time to this matter, all on our own nickel.

The facts are clear: Rubashkin was vice president of Agriprocessors, a kosher meatpacking plant based in Postville, Iowa. In May 2008, more than 500 federal immigration agents raided the plant and arrested hundreds of undocumented workers. The raid resulted in the company declaring bankruptcy. Rubashkin was arrested a short time later and charged with bank fraud.

And this is where things went terribly wrong. The sentence for bank fraud depends on the amount of the loss to creditors. In this case, the prosecution deliberately increased the amount of the loss  and thus the length of Rubashkins sentence.

Independent assessors had valued Agriprocessors assets at $68 million. Yet evidence uncovered after the sentencing showed that prosecutors interfered in the bankruptcy proceedings, threatening nine prospective buyers of the business that the companys assets would be seized by the government if any member of the Rubashkin family stayed active in the firm after the bankruptcy sale. No other relative has ever been charged by these prosecutors. Aaron Rubashkin, the founder and family patriarch, was critical to the companys value. Brands such as Aarons Best were built on his name. He possessed the institutional knowledge and connections throughout the kosher meat-processing business. By effectively removing Aaron Rubashkin, prosecutors destroyed the companys value.

All nine prospective investors  including one who offered $40 million  walked away from the sale. Agriprocessors then sold for $8.5 million, resulting in a huge loss to creditors and what is essentially a life sentence for Sholom Rubashkin.

In an effort to cover their tracks, prosecutors denied at Rubashkins sentencing that they had interfered in the bankruptcy-sale process. The prosecutors knew that the bank, the victim whose collateral was at stake, was upset with their interference. Legal counsel for the bank sent prosecutors a letter complaining about their actions. However, prosecutors failed to provide that letter as well as other evidence to Rubashkins defense team.

Instead, prosecutors offered testimony to support their claims that there was no interference with prospective buyers. But handwritten notes, recently discovered by Rubashkins attorneys, prove there was a meeting at which the prosecutors imposed their No Rubashkins edict. In determining the amount of the loss to creditors, the sentencing judge explicitly relied on this counsels false testimony. Prosecutors were present, but no prosecutor pointed out the falsity to the judge, who explicitly stated her reliance on it.

I am saddened by the unwillingness of the departments senior leaders to even discuss the injustice that more than 100 of their predecessors and former judges find evident in the Rubashkin case. Experienced former prosecutors and career Justice Department officials view this case as a stain on an institution created to uphold the law. If the departments leadership refuses to act, I hope President Obama pardons Rubashkin and ends this tragedy. The alternative is a display of either blind self-righteousness or frightened defensiveness that is inconsistent with the Justice Department we all have served and respected.
Spare us the kissy-face.

It was June 2001 and I was covering President George W. Bushs trip to Slovenia, where he had just met Vladimir Putin for the first time. I and others were struck by Bushs praise for the Russian leader as trustworthy. Said Bush: I was able to get a sense of his soul.

But back in Washington, my editor had no interest in such talk. He rewrote my lede with other news  a tidbit about missile defense  and he moved the kissy-face stuff about Putins soul down to Paragraph 18.

In retrospect, that moment in Slovenia defined the Russia relationship for years to come. Putin had seduced Bush, who only slowly came to understand he had misjudged this adversarys soul. Putin opposed Bush in Iraq and was unhelpful with Iran. He shut down independent television, sent business leaders who criticized him into exile and prison, ousted democratic parties from government, canceled the election of governors and invaded Georgia.

The kissy-face happened all over again when President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to reset relations. Russia responded by working against the United States in Syria, sheltering Edward Snowden, invading and occupying parts of Ukraine, and hacking and meddling in the U.S. election to defeat Clinton.

(McKenna Ewen,Whitney Shefte,Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post)

Now its Donald Trumps turn for kissy-face, and the president-elect is practically groping the Russian dictator. After Putin gloated Friday that Democrats need to learn to lose with dignity, Trump tweeted Putin a sloppy kiss: So true! he said of Putins comments.

Trump also celebrated a letter he received from Putin calling for more collaboration between the two countries. His thoughts are so correct, Trump said.

Trumps blush-inducing embrace of the strongman has included repeated praise of Putins leadership, deflected questions about Putins political killings and disparagement of U.S. intelligence for accusing Russia of election meddling.

In three weeks, Trump will assume the presidency, and well learn what his embrace of Putin really means. Perhaps Trump is just a dupe and hell realize over time that Putin is no friend. The alternative, supported by Trumps choice of Putin-friendly advisers Michael T. Flynn and Rex Tillerson, is that Trump really is pro-Putin and will grant the Russian dictator more latitude internationally and will emulate his autocratic tendencies at home.

The former would require us to endure some policy failures as Putin proved himself again to be an adversary. The latter would test the limits of our democratic institutions.

In either case, it would be useful for Americans to have at least a cursory sense of the man our new president proposes to embrace. Heres a quick glimpse into Putins soul to get us started:

Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was killed outside the Kremlin as he walked home one night last year. Putins regime blames Chechens, but Nemtsovs is one of a dozen high-profile murders of opponents widely thought to have been sanctioned by Putins government.

Another Putin opponent, Alexander Litvinenko, was killed in London by polonium poisoning in 2006. The British government said Putin probably approved the hit. That same year, opposition journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed outside her apartment.

In 2009, lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in prison after being denied medical care. Others working on his investigation of corrupt Russian politicians also died suspiciously.

Among the many business leaders imprisoned or ousted under Putin are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was head of the oil giant Yukos, and associate Platon Lebedev. The Russian human rights group Memorial says there are 102 people held in Russian prisons for their political or religious beliefs.

The Kremlin has provided funding and training for far-right nationalist parties in Europe, and it used its state media and an army of hackers and social-media trolls to spread disinformation in the United States, in continental Europe and in Britain before the Brexit vote. The goals: to weaken European unity and the NATO alliance and to keep Europe dependent on Russian energy.

Russia also used disinformation to destabilize the Ukrainian government as Russia annexed Crimea. In Syria, where Russia propped up the Assad regime with indiscriminate bombing in Aleppo and elsewhere, Britain, France and the United States have blamed Putins government for the mass slaughter of civilians.

An Amnesty International summary of Putins rule leaves no doubt about his totalitarian state: Journalist Killed . . . Human Rights Lawyer Killed . . . Gay Rights Protesters Attacked . . . Exhibition Organizers Sentenced . . . Activists Beaten and Detained . . . Opposition Leader Held in Detention . . . Repressive Laws Enacted . . . Fines for Promoting Homosexuality Imposed . . . President Putin Signs Law to Re-criminalize Defamation . . . USAID Expelled . . . Federal Treason and Espionage Act goes into effect . . . Prominent NGOs are Vandalized . . . Moscow Authorities Detain Protesters and Opposition Party Members.

This, Mr. President-elect, is the man you are embracing. Please spare us the kissy-face.

Twitter: @Milbank

Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
PEOPLE RETURNING anywhere from incarceration have to contend with many challenges, but the District of Columbia puts an additional obstacle in their way. The system that is supposed to help them with reentry instead sets them up for failure. That is the conclusion of a new report detailing the grim realities of returning D.C. citizens that faults both local and federal officials.

It does not have to be this way, says the report, Beyond Second Chances, by the Council for Court Excellence, a nonprofit that pushes for improvements in the citys criminal justice system. Estimating that 1 in 22 adults in the District are under some form of correctional control, the report argues that successfully integrating ex-offenders into the community would benefit not only them but also the public at large.

Overlapping federal and local jurisdictions cause much of the problem. Each level of government has its own its own standards and procedures. Offenders are sent to federal facilities throughout the country, depriving them of contact with family and other needed supports. When they return to the District, they are given insufficient or inadequate support services.

Particular aim is taken at Hope Village, the privately run halfway house in Southeast that is under contract to the federal Bureau of Prisons. About half of the Districts returning citizens spend time in a halfway house at the end of their sentences, and most of those men go to Hope Village. The report faults the facility for shortcomings in security and assisting ex-offenders in critical areas such as helping them find jobs. A Hope Village official told us the findings were unfair and one-sided, but this is not the first time the facility  known as Hopeless Village among some of its inhabitants  has come under criticism. Federal officials might want to take to heart the reports recommendation to look for a new provider with a different model when the contract expires next year. Also faulted for a lack of resources and clear strategy was the Mayors Office on Returning Citizen Affairs.

The report details programs, locally and across the country, that successfully provide ex-offenders a second chance. As Council for Court Excellence policy analyst Emily Tatro said, This is a moment when we can really rethink how people are returning from prison and jail.
In his Dec. 22 op-ed, Happy holidays, Donald, E.J. Dionne Jr. summed up the current Christmas spirit very well while pointing out the inconsistencies of certain people. Many Christians, whose faith is based on the New Testament, which preaches love and forgiveness, choose to follow the Old Testament preachings of hate and retribution. The Christ of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John would likely be the first to say happy holidays to someone of another faith.

Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our Constitution. Although it means that each person is free to practice his religion (or none), it also means that that person cannot force his brand of religion on anyone else. It is time for these strident Christians to understand that anyone who does not adhere to their brand of religion is not picking on Christianity but merely exercising his constitutional rights.

We are all Americans, as expressed by Khizr Khan at the Democratic National Convention, and we have become great by working together, not by being divisive.

Edward Robinson, Millsboro, Del.
If Dec. 7, 1941, is the day that Franklin D. Roosevelt said will live in infamy, then Dec. 20, 2016, has got to be a close second. No Americans died that day as they did at Pearl Harbor, but the American Century, as Time magazine founder Henry Luce called it, came to a crashing end. Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Moscow to settle matters in the Middle East. The United States wasnt even asked to the meeting.

Winston Churchill said in 1942 that he had not become Great Britains First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. Nonetheless, by the end of the 1940s, much of the empire was gone. Churchill was an unapologetic colonialist, but he was up against liberation movements of all kinds, not to mention the antipathy of the United States to imperialist ambitions  in short, history itself. Churchill had a marvelous way with words, and greatness accompanied him like a shadow, but in certain ways he was a 19th-century man wandering, confounded, in the 20th.

[The bloodbath in Aleppo will haunt humanity]

Barack Obama is quite the reverse. He is a 21st-century man who never quite appreciated the lessons of the 20th. He has been all too happy to preside over the loss of American influence. Aleppo, Syria, now a pile of rubble, is where countless died  as did American influence. The Russians polished it off from the air, doing for the Syrian regime what the United States could not figure out how to do for the rebels. The city hemorrhaged civilian dead, and America, once the preeminent power in the region, did virtually nothing.

It could be that Obama was right. It could be that all along he knew that the rebels were beyond saving  although he predicted that Bashar al-Assad would be toppled  and, anyway, the United States was not going to again get into some Middle Eastern quagmire. America had twice made war in Iraq; it had lost Marines in Lebanon. Though perhaps these were just excuses to do nothing. After all, no one ever recommended putting boots on the ground in Syria. That was Obamas straw man.

Time will tell is the appropriate cliche. But I, along with others, thought the United States could have limited the bloodletting, that it could have established no-fly zones where Syrian government helicopters could not have dropped barrel bombs. It could also have established safe zones for refugees. The Russians managed to do what they wanted to do. Why not the United States?

The answer has always been clear to me  Obama did not care enough. Not from him ever came a thundering demand that Russia and Iran get out and stay out. Behind the arguably persuasive reasons to do little in Syria was an emotional coldness: This was not Obamas fight.

Say what you will about Donald Trump, he cares. He cares about things I dont, and he has some awful ideas, and he is an amoral man in so many ways. But, in contrast to Obama, his emotions are no mystery. When the Chinese fished a U.S. Navy drone from the Pacific Ocean, the White House reacted so coolly you would think freedom of the seas didnt matter. Trump, however, tweeted his indignation, finally telling Beijing it could keep the drone  a way of telling them to stuff it.

[Aleppo and American decline]

Hillary Clinton lost the election for a host of reasons, not the least of them her shortcomings as a candidate. And Trump won for many reasons, not the least of them his political talents. But Clinton had to defend an administration that was cold to the touch. Kellyanne Conway keeps pointing out that Clinton had no message. True. Neither, for that matter, did Obama. He waved a droopy flag. He did not want to make America great again. It was great enough for him already.

That coolness, that no-drama Obama, cost lives in Syria. Instead of rallying the United States to a worthy cause  intervening to save lives and avoid a refugee crisis that is still destabilizing Europe  he threw in the towel. The banner he flew was one of American diminishment. One could agree. One could not be proud.

Since the end of World War II, American leadership has been essential to maintain world peace. Whether we liked it or not, we were the worlds policeman. There was no other cop on the beat. Now that leadership is gone. So, increasingly, will be peace.

1 of 9 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  See how Obama has aged during his presidency View Photos Eight years after he burst onto the scene with a youthful vigor, his once-black hair has gone nearly fully gray. Caption Eight years after he burst onto the scene with a youthful vigor, his once-black hair has gone nearly fully gray. Aug. 4, 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) smiles as the audience sings him Happy Birthday during a campaign stop at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Mich. Rebecca Cook/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Read more from Richard Cohens archive.
Reshma Saujani is founder and chief executive of Girls Who Code. Julie Sweet is the North America group chief executive for Accenture.

The United States has a computing-skills crisis that is holding back American companies and economic growth. The solution lies with girls and young women.

Employers simply cannot fill positions that are becoming increasingly critical to their businesses. Recent data show that there are 500,000 open computing jobs in the United States and fewer than 40,000 new computer science graduates to fill them  only 7,000 of whom are women.

We cannot address this skills crisis by ignoring half of our talent pool. Yet, despite unprecedented efforts to expand computer science education for children and young adults, womens share of the computing workforce continues to fall  from 37 percent in 1995 to 24 percent today. New research from Accenture and Girls Who Code shows that womens share will fall to 22 percent by 2025 if we dont change the way we teach computer science to girls.

Its not that girls and young women are not being taught computer science; they are and have been for years. Its how they are taught that is not working. Boys and girls learn and are motivated in different ways. For example, for boys, it doesnt matter whether their teacher is a man or a woman, but our research shows that girls are 26 percent more likely to study computer science if they have a female teacher.

This is compounded by strong gender imbalances we see every day  from the classroom to the boardroom to the movie screen  where men are primarily seen and depicted as our societys computer scientists.

Cracking the gender code requires tailoring computer science education to girls.

This starts in junior high, where we need to spark girls interest  and show them that computing can be fun and is not just for boys. We also need to do more to inform parents and teachers how they can truly engage girls. Our research reveals that girls who are exposed to computer games at an early age are four times more likely to go into computer science.

The high school years are even more challenging in terms of sustaining girls interest. Large numbers of girls who were engaged in computing in junior high lose interest in high school and never return. For example, not having friends in a high school computing class can reduce by 33 percent the likelihood of a girl studying the subject in college.

For high school girls, you cannot be what you cannot see, so we need to train more female computer science teachers, who can help draw more girls into computing  and retain them. It is also vital for teachers to show girls that computer science is relevant across all aspects of life  from health care to clean energy  and that they as individuals can make a real impact on the world through computing careers.

Finally, in college, the role of a mentor is paramount as young women transition between computing as a discipline and computing as a career. To improve outcomes, colleges should partner with businesses to encourage more on-campus speaking and mentorship programs featuring women. Once again, more female teachers will help. The good news is that tailored initiatives at colleges such as Harvey Mudd College and the University of California at Berkeley  with a strong female presence in computer science departments  show that efforts to make computer science courses appeal to women have significantly increased female participation.

Why focus on computing, when womens share of other engineering and science fields is also low? Other science and math fields have already experienced gains in the share of female graduates in recent years. Computing is the only field that continues to decline. It also happens to be one area where we know the jobs are.

Getting all this right has vast implications for the U.S. economy. We estimate that a more targeted focus on girls could triple the number of women working in computing, from 1.2 million today to 3.9 million by 2025, moving their share of jobs from 24 to 39 percent.

U.S. business cant meet the demands of our digital economy if we do not unlock our pool of female talent. The need for computing talent will only increase as more industries become technology-driven. If nothing is done to change the downward trend, we will not meet businesss urgent demands for talent, and young women will miss out on these high-value jobs.
ALL YEAR, it has been a real-time environmental catastrophe. The Great Barrier Reef, an unparalleled ecological treasure that supports all sorts of sea life and a range of human needs, not to mention a huge tourist economy, has seen the largest coral die-off ever recorded. If this were a rare event, separated by many years from the next big die-off, the reef would rebound. But in the age of climate change, scientists say this and other tragedies are frighteningly likely to be compounded.

Experts have been tracking the destruction for months, announcing their final conclusions Nov. 29. They found that across a long stretch of the northern end of the reef, an average of 67 percent of the coral died, according to aerial and diver observations. In these zones, the reefs lively colors have been replaced by antiseptic white of bleached coral. Though weather events helped spare other areas this degree of destruction, the reefs northern portions had been the most pristine.

In this case, the problem appears to have been water temperature, which was up to two degrees warmer than the normal summer peak. This threw off the delicate balance between the coral organisms and the algae that provide them sustenance. Natural variability may have played some role in raising the temperature  it was an El Nino year, which means the Pacific Ocean was hotter. But global warming probably set the scene. Australian scientists concluded that this years coral crisis was rendered far more likely because of climate-change-related ocean warmth. As the planet continues to warm, human influence will be more and more likely to interact with natural variation in dangerous ways. Among other things, that means all that dead coral may not have a chance to rebound.

Rising ocean temperatures, sadly, are not the only threat human greenhouse-gas emissions pose to coral. More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere translates into more acidic oceans, which erode coral structures. Then there are the more mundane threats that harm sea life, including coral. Fishermen use explosives to kill and capture ocean creatures. Urban and agricultural runoff makes water cloudy, inhibiting the photosynthesis on which reefs depend.

Scientists are racing to figure out how to help reefs survive the onslaught they are likely to face in coming years, examining corals that do better under stressful conditions and considering ways to preserve those that might struggle. But if human beings are to preserve crucial biodiversity  which comes with a range of benefits, from underpinning food chains to revealing lifesaving drugs  they have no choice but to curb the underlying problems. Greenhouse-gas emissions must come down, and countries that are not properly managing their runoff or their fishing industries must tighten their rules.
Regarding the Dec. 19 front-page article In Poland, a preview of populist rule one year out:

The Polish government is instituting reforms to better serve the Polish people, not the elites. To call Poland an insular place is truly baffling considering that this year Poland hosted millions of international pilgrims at the World Youth Day celebrations in Krakow. Countless tourists have visited Wroclaw, this years European Capital of Culture. These and many other examples illustrate that Poland welcomes travelers and foreigners alike to explore our rich culture and heritage.

Many of the arguments and disagreements outlined in this article are being had in many places, including in the United States. The Post has every right to support or disagree with political points, but using such language as convulsed when describing protests  protests that are no different from those that American cities see on a regular basis  showed that the aim was not to explore the reforms happening in Poland but to present them as the so-called neo-Dark Age.

Also, the vote for Polands 2017 budget bill, described by opponents quoted in the article as illegal, was held in accordance with parliamentary procedure, and, although it was hindered by opposition members of Parliament, the budget was passed by a constitutional quorum.

Piotr Wilczek, Washington

The writer is the Polish ambassador to

the United States.
Reading the Dec. 23 Metro article Ethics experts see conflict in Trump winerys visa request, I was surprised that President-elect Donald Trumps winery in Virginia is trying to get visas for foreign workers. Why wouldnt the winery employ the unemployed Rust Belt people who voted for him so that he would get them jobs? This would be a good starting point in fulfilling one of Mr. Trumps many campaign promises.

Clemencia Amir, Beltsville
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe presents a wreath at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl in Honolulu on Dec. 26, 2016. (Hugh Gentry/Reuters)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes historic visit to Pearl Harbor with President Obama on Tuesday punctuates the Obama administrations multiyear effort to prod Japan and its neighbors in Asia to decrease tensions by moving beyond lingering wartime grievances.

But as the two leaders pay homage to the 2,403 Americans who died in the surprise Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941, the geopolitical backdrop for the event has been clouded by President-elect Donald Trumps pugnacious and unpredictable foreign-policy pronouncements. During the campaign, Trump raised alarms in both countries when he questioned the value of the U.S. militarys basing agreements in Japan and suggested the island nation consider developing its own nuclear weapons.

Abe is set to become the first Japanese leader to take part in a ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial, which honors the American sailors and Marines who perished aboard the battleship 75 years ago. The trip, in the works before Trumps election last month, is intended as a symbolic bookend to Obamas visit in May to Hiroshima, where the United States deployed the worlds first atomic bomb.

Like Obama, Abe does not plan to apologize for Japans sneak attack, which wounded an additional 1,178 and prompted the United States entry into World War II. Rather, he will reflect on history and renew the determination of the Japanese people not to repeat the devastation of war, said Tamaki Tsukada, spokesman for the Japanese Embassy in Washington.

U.S. military veterans are expected to take part in a ceremony that will be a powerful demonstration of how the two countries can overcome a very painful history to become the closest of allies and friends, Daniel Kritenbrink, the White Houses senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, told reporters.

The USS Arizona Memorial, marking the resting place of the crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when Japanese Naval Forces bombed Pearl Harbor, is pictured on December 24, 2016. (Jerome Cartillier/AFP/Getty Images)

Abes visit marks another delicate step toward broader regional reconciliation in Asia, though it is unlikely to satisfy demands in South Korea and China that the Japanese government formally apologize and atone for wartime atrocities. Three of Abes predecessors, including his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, a former prime minister, purportedly visited Pearl Harbor in the 1950s, but none took part in a ceremony to pay homage to the dead over concerns about right-wing political opposition in Japan.

[Is Abe the first sitting Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor? Well, actually, he may be the fourth.]

Such a visit seemed unlikely as recently as three years ago, when Abe, leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party, visited Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine, the paean to Japans wartime dead, in a move that inflamed regional tensions and irritated the White House. The Obama administration has sought to improve relations in Asia, especially between U.S. allies Japan and South Korea, to hedge against Chinas rise and address shared challenges, such as a nuclear-armed North Korea.

Since then, Tokyo has negotiated, with support from the White House, a resolution with Seoul over the forced use of women as sex slaves by Japans imperial army. And Abe expressed remorse for the war during remarks to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress last year ahead of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Obamas speech in Hiroshima, where he warned of the danger of nuclear weapons and urged disarmament, was well received in Japan, prompting Abe to pursue the reciprocal visit to Pearl Harbor. Obama is in Hawaii for his annual two-week winter vacation.

Their visit is a demonstration about how far the world has come in many instances, said Hawaii Gov. David Ige (D), the son of a World War II veteran who in 2014 became the states second governor of Japanese ancestry.

About one-sixth of Hawaiis population is of Japanese ancestry, and Japan sent 1.5 million tourists to the state last year, more than any other country. Abe, who arrived in Oahu on Monday, opened his visit with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a military cemetery known as Punchbowl.

The prime minister is scheduled to have a formal bilateral meeting with Obama before visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.

Ige said the relationship between the Japanese people and Hawaii is more than business, more than friendship  its family. He called the U.S.-Japan military alliance the most important to keeping the peace in Asia.

The question is what becomes of that alliance under Trump.

Along with questioning U.S. basing agreements in Japan and South Korea, Trump suggested in March that the two U.S. allies are freeloading off the United States security umbrella. His suggestion that they consider developing their own nuclear weapons drew sharp rebukes from the Obama White House, which called the idea catastrophic, and national security experts in both political parties.

Trump also has vowed to rip up the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration that includes Japan. Abe expended significant political capital to move the accord through the Japanese parliament over objections from protectionist domestic rice and automobile industries.

Within days of Trumps election, Abe rushed to begin building ties, becoming the first foreign leader to meet with the president-elect during a stopover in New York in November en route to an Asia-Pacific economic summit in Peru.

Trumps campaign rhetoric is campaign rhetoric, said Tsukada, the embassy spokesman. We dont believe the electorate or constituents take those message literally. In fact, you might have noticed that throughout the campaign, at one stage his rhetoric was extremely anti-Japan, with Japan-bashing type of language, but after a certain point it disappeared. By and large, we think he has a normal kind of balance.

Some foreign-policy analysts have speculated that Abe will seek to leverage the uncertainty around Trumps agenda to speed his own long-standing efforts to bolster the mission and capabilities of Japans Self-Defense Forces. Abe played host this month to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who visited the prime ministers home town, in a bid to improve bilateral relations between their countries. That meeting, which had been in the works before Trumps victory, caused consternation in Washington.

Trumps antagonistic posture toward China, including his unprecedented phone conversation with the president of Taiwan this month, also has unsettled the region. Analysts said Abe would welcome a shift of U.S. policy toward Taiwan, but they cautioned that Chinas response to an escalation of tensions with the Trump administration could be aimed at Japan, as well.

Tokyo is relatively reassured that [Trumps] campaign rhetoric of extreme isolationism is gone, but the unpredictability factor is still the biggest challenge, said Sheila Smith, a Japan expert at the Council on Foreign Relations. What Abe will want to do with Trump is to hug him close, and teach him about Japan and Asia.

I suspect theyre holding their breath a little bit, Smith added. But I do think in Mr. Abes personal visit and his subsequent follow-up, hes trying to be the ally of choice for Mr. Trump.

Lyte reported from Honolulu.
Pro-Europe protesters demonstrate outside the Supreme Court in London on Dec. 6. (Andy Rain/European Pressphoto Agency)

The British government said Tuesday that it would begin rolling out mandatory identity checks for voters, prompting a backlash from those who say the move could effectively disenfranchise millions.

The controversy, with strong echoes of one that played out across the United States this year, turns on the question of whether identity checks are a reasonable tool to combat electoral fraud or are merely an attempt at voter suppression by another name.

Until now, voters in every part of Britain except Northern Ireland have been allowed to vote without presenting an ID.

But that will change under a pilot program announced Tuesday by Britains Conservative government. A photo ID, such as a drivers license or passport, will be required in up to 18 different areas across England for local elections in 2018.

If the program is successful, it could be expanded nationwide. Britain is next expected to hold national elections in 2020.

Voting is one of the most important transactions you can make as an individual, and in the 21st century many transactions require proof of ID, Chris Skidmore, the constitution minister, told the BBC on Tuesday.

Skidmore denied that the pilot program targets any particular community and said the program would help ensure that British citizens can exercise their democratic rights regardless of their race or their religion.

[In Britain, a surge in hate crimes]

But critics said the program would disproportionately hurt immigrants and poor voters who lack the necessary documents.

Labour Party spokeswoman Cat Smith said that mandating identification risks denying millions of electors a vote. She cited data from Britains Electoral Commission showing that 3.5 million voters  or about 7.5 percent of the national total  would not have the necessary photo ID.

Katie Ghose, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, compared the plan to using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

There is simply no evidence to suggest that electoral fraud is widespread across the U.K., Ghose said in a statement. Where it has occurred, it has been isolated and should be tackled locally.

Ghose, whose group campaigns to improve democratic participation, said that evidence from the U.S. shows that its generally those already most excluded from the political process that are worst affected by strict ID laws.

[Brexit debate seen as making Britain more racist]

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 34 U.S. states have laws requiring that voters show some form of ID at the polls.

Allegations of voter fraud and voter suppression became flash points in this years U.S. presidential election campaign.

Republican-controlled state legislatures in recent years have passed laws making it more difficult for citizens to register and to vote. The changes, Democrats have argued, amount to an organized effort to disproportionately exclude poor and minority voters.

Republicans say the changes are needed to prevent fraud. Following his November victory, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that Democratic rival Hillary Clinton had benefited from the support of millions of people who voted illegally.

He supplied no evidence, and election-law experts say the claim is baseless.

Read more

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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Earth-moving equipment stands in the disputed Israeli settlement of Ramat Shlomo on Dec. 23 after reports emerged that an additional 300 housing units are planned for this neighborhood just north of Jerusalem. (Jim Hollander/European Pressphoto Agency)

The Israeli government stepped up its running battle with the Obama administration on Tuesday, saying it had proof that the United States had orchestrated a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning settlement activity.

We have ironclad information that emanates from sources in the Arab world and that shows the Obama administration helped craft this resolution and pushed hard for its eventual passage, David Keyes, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told reporters. Were not just going to be a punching bag and go quietly into the night.

[Israel postpones approval of new settlement construction amid spat with U.S.]

State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner denied that the administration had precooked the resolution. But the U.S. explanation did little to quell fears in Israel that another Security Council censure may be forthcoming, even though U.S. officials insisted that no more U.N. resolutions are expected.

Toner said the United States had abstained, allowing passage of the resolution, because it was balanced  it also condemns Palestinian incitement to violence and terrorism  and because there was growing concern that increased settlement activity was imperiling a two-state solution.

This was a resolution that we could not in good conscience veto, because it condemns violence. It condemned incitement, Toner said. It reiterates what has long been the overwhelming consensus internationally [on settlements], and it calls for the parties to take constructive steps to advance a two-state solution on the ground. There was nothing in there that would prompt us to veto that kind of resolution.

[Netanyahu summons U.S. envoy over U.N. anti-settlement resolution]

The Israeli allegation of U.S. collusion in the resolution appears to be linked to meetings Secretary of State John F. Kerry had in recent months with Palestinian and Egyptian diplomats and officials from resolution co-sponsor New Zealand, where Kerry stopped last month en route to Antarctica. State Department officials said no specific language was discussed.

There is no truth to the notion that we discussed the text of any resolution or that we previewed any position we might take on a hypothetical resolution in those meetings, said a senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to comment on the private meetings.

Amid acrid bitterness in Israel over what is seen as the United States failure to protect Israel in not using its veto, Kerry is returning to Washington from vacation to give a speech Wednesday morning outlining his vision for resolving the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

There will be an end-to-an-era undertone to his remarks. With less than a month left before President Obama leaves office, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that the U.S.-Israel relationship will be markedly different.

[Trump could soon discard a long-standing precedent on Israel]

But there appeared to be little chance that the Israeli government would heed the wake-up call Toner said he hoped the U.N. resolution would sound for Israel and curtail settlement activity.

Israeli officials pressed ahead, preparing to approve construction permits Wednesday to build 600 new homes in East Jerusalem, which came under Israeli control after the 1967 war. Since Fridays vote, Netanyahu has summoned diplomats from countries that voted for the resolution and recalled Israels ambassadors in New Zealand and Senegal, two of the four countries that sponsored the resolution. Some right-wing members of Netanyahus coalition have called on him to ramp up settlement construction and have said Israel should annex parts of the West Bank.

Meanwhile, new details started to emerge about the behind-the-scenes diplomatic scramble that preceded the resolution  approved by a vote of 14 to 0  declaring that Israels settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have no legal validity and are a flagrant violation under international law. It calls the settlements an obstacle to achieving a two-state solution and peace with the Palestinians.

A diplomat from a Security Council nation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, largely backed up the Obama administrations account that it played no role in bringing the resolution to a vote. It had been discussed among Security Council members for months, but the U.S. position was well known.

The United States never told anyone how it would vote, not even in a consultation room where the 15 members of the Security Council gathered before they filed in to vote, according to the diplomat. The U.S. officials in attendance said they were still in consultations over the resolution, the diplomat said.

In Israel, the newspaper Haaretz reported that Britain, not the United States, appears to have been the driving force behind the resolution after Egypt, which had initially sponsored the resolution, withdrew. It described Netanyahu being sharp and caustic in a phone call to New Zealands foreign minister, Murray McCully, calling the resolution a declaration of war. Haaretz said that Netanyahu vowed to recall Israels ambassador to New Zealand but that McCully rebuffed the threat.

The report said that after Egypt backed down, Palestinian and Arab Persian Gulf diplomats urged the four co-sponsoring nations to move on with the resolution anyway. The message was driven home by Britain, which had worked directly with the Palestinians on drafting the language.

A last-minute glitch came up when Russias ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, proposed postponing the vote until after Christmas, according to an interview the deputy Russian ambassador to Israel gave on Israel Army Radio. This reportedly followed a phone call between Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The other Security Council ambassadors refused to wait, however.

Read more:

Israel says theres never been a more right-wing U.S. ambassador than Trumps pick

Some Israelis see $38 billion U.S. military aid offer as a failure

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news

Eglash reported from Jerusalem.
Abdullah al-Haimi points at a cement factory in Amran destroyed by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike. The complex has been hit dozens of times, destroying jobs. (Sudarsan Raghavan/The Washington Post)

Abdullah al-Haimi walked through the wasteland, pointing out the damage at a now-closed cement plant. A warehouse here, broken beams protruding. A quarry there, littered with shrapnel.

In total, he said, the complex had been bombed 53 times in the past year and a half  all by Saudi-led coalition warplanes, aided by the United States.

One strike at the main entrance killed 15 people, including an ice-cream vendor outside the gate.

But for Haimi, a manager at the plant in western central Yemen, the greatest destruction has occurred far beyond the perimeter of the state-owned facility. The lives of the 1,500 employees, and thousands of relatives who depended on them, have been shattered.

Those who died didnt die alone, he said, his voice choking as sunlight poured into a warehouse through the gaping holes left by the strikes. We died with them.

A cooking gas factory destroyed by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in the northwestern city of Hajjah, more than doubling black-market prices. (Sudarsan Raghavan/The Washington Post)

In Yemen, it is not just the impoverished who are suffering. The war is also decimating the small but essential middle class, eroding the backbone of an economy that was already the regions poorest and most dysfunctional before the violence erupted 21 months ago.

The airstrikes have targeted nearly every industry, erasing countless jobs and dreams. An air, sea and land blockade by neighboring Saudi Arabia has made fuel and food scarcer, causing prices to skyrocket in a nation that imports 90 percent of its food and medicine. A banking crisis has added to the turmoil, leaving government workers unpaid and harming businesses.

[In Yemens war, trapped families ask: Which child should we save?]

A military spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition said in an email that all potential targets are scrutinized to ensure that they are genuine. Asked specifically about the Amran plant, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Asiri replied that in many cases, the Houthi rebels the coalition is fighting are using former civilian sites for weapons and ammunition storage, as command-and-control centers, and for other military purposes.

Christopher Sherwood, a U.S. military spokesman, said the United States does not participate in targeting, target selection or target engagement in support of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Yemens economic plight mirrors that of other nations gripped by civil war and political uncertainty after the Arab Spring uprisings more than five years ago. A recent U.N. survey found that the upheavals have cost the region $614 billion in lost growth since 2011.

Yemen has been in decline since its longtime autocrat, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, was forced out of power nearly five years ago. But any hope for growth vanished when the conflict erupted in March 2015. Now, the Houthis and Salehs supporters are fighting militias nominally loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, last year. They now rule the northwest, while Hadi controls swaths of the south and east.

Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Persian Gulf nations entered the conflict to reinstate Hadi, while the United States, worried about Yemens al-Qaeda branch and an emerging Islamic State presence, is aiding the Saudis by selling them weapons, refueling their warplanes and providing intelligence and other support.

At least 10,000 people have been killed, including many civilians, and more than 3 million are displaced, according to U.N. statistics.

Some died in assaults on infrastructure. More than 200 businesses have been damaged or destroyed by airstrikes since the war began, including dozens of factories and warehouses, according to the Sanaa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

These are not military facilities, said Abdul-Hakeem Al-Manj, a legal adviser for the chamber, whose headquarters was obliterated by an airstrike in January.

In some cases, he said, factories have been destroyed during clashes but it was difficult to determine which side was responsible.

But the impact is clear. Yemens economy shrank by 34.6 percent last year, according to U.N. estimates, and is expected to contract an additional 11 percent this year.

Anwar Jarrallah understands why. His factories are running at a quarter of their capabilities, he said, and in some months are shut down altogether. With airstrikes hitting power plants, electricity is scarce or nonexistent. Fuel-driven generators are essential but expensive to run.

The seaport in Hodeidah  where much of what northwestern Yemen imports and humanitarian aid arrives  was also attacked, disabling giant cranes and other equipment.



The damage, coupled with the blockade, delays shipments of Jarrallahs chicken feed and vaccines, by months sometimes. And now he has to hire a ship with its own crane and pay more in insurance.

Once his shipment arrives, it is often stuck for days at the port, incurring additional charges. Houthi officials also slap on fees. Then Jarrallah pays other taxes at Houthi checkpoints to ensure that his freight passes through, he said.

Meanwhile, the banking crisis has made business transactions nearly impossible. Western banks are unwilling to extend credit, and the central bank stopped providing guarantees to importers, leaving them to self-finance shipments.

The situation worsened in September when President Hadi, to prevent the Houthis from accessing money, ordered the transfer of the central bank to the southern port city of Aden, where he has established his government. Importers are now unable to readily acquire foreign currency that was already scarce, and 1.2 million public employees are no longer being paid.

The airstrikes, de facto blockade and collapse of the central bank have together precipitated the near-total collapse of Yemens economy, said Scott Paul, a senior humanitarian policy adviser for the aid agency Oxfam America. These steps show that all of the main parties are willing to wage economic warfare and risk tremendous suffering by ordinary people in order to advance their positions.

[The story of a Yemeni girl married off at 11]

For Jarrallah, acquiring letters of credit to pay for his imports has become harder and costlier. A lot of merchants are reeling from these same problems, he said at his office in Sanaa.

Across the country, the attacks have set off a chain reaction of misfortune.

In Amran, the cement factorys closure affected hundreds of truck drivers, and distributors as well. The plant contributed funds to help provide sanitation services, support local schools and aid the disabled.

Its not just us who are out of jobs, said Haroun Al Sadi, another manager at the factory. We even had a big water truck that provided free water for people. All this is gone now.

Like other employees interviewed, he said the plant was never used as a military base or to store weapons. It was targeted for political reasons, Sadi said. They want people to go hungry and then turn against the Houthis.

Earlier this year, an airstrike pummeled the only cooking-gas distributor supplying the northwestern city of Hajjah and surrounding areas, more than doubling the black-market prices.

The attack increased the cost of living for 700,000 people, said the owners son, Yasser Yahya Selba, who still possessed the pieces of an American-made MK82 bomb that hit one of the storage tanks.

At a street market in Sanaa known for its secondhand sales, Khalil Al Ammari has been seeing a new kind of customer at his stall: the government worker.

In recent weeks, a stream of bureaucrats, soldiers, police officers and others who have not been paid in three months have sold their possessions. Ammari said one government ministry worker even sold him his bed and said now he would sleep on the floor.

The desperation, I think, is only going to grow, Ammari said.

Samira Ali used to work in a government lab in the war-torn southern city of Taiz. Then she was displaced by an airstrike and forced to move in with her sister in Sanaa. She has sold her jewelry and the shares she owned in a telecommunications company to help pay expenses. Theres nothing left to sell, lamented Ali, who once earned $270 a month, about four times the average salary.

At a Houthi-organized protest against the central-bank move, Hamoud Muhsein, an administrative aide in the mayors office, explained his increasingly desperate situation. With five children to provide for, he had sold his car, some of his guns, even the gold his wife received at their wedding. Now, he was selling his refrigerator. Even if we did have electricity, we have nothing to put in the fridge, he said.

At a grocery store in Sanaa, prices of imported beans, rice, sugar and other staples have shot up 50 percent. Owner Towfik Al-Raymi said most of his customers were employees from embassies, tourism agencies, oil firms and airline companies, but as their offices closed, fewer come now. Some have not paid down their credit in months and are begging him not to cut them off.

If my customers dont pay, Ill go bankrupt, he said.

Haimi began working at the cement factory in 1982. Now he, too, has sold his wifes wedding gold and other possessions. He can no longer afford tuition for his two daughters.

Haimi walked past giant, rusting bulldozers, past an office that contained the remnants of an American munition that hit the plant. It was a CBU-105 cluster bomb made in July 2012 by Avco Corp., now Textron, based in Rhode Island.

I was supposed to retire this coming year, he said. By then, well be living on the streets. If we had actually died, it would have been better for us.

Thomas Gibbons-Neff in Washington and Ali Al-Mujahed in Amran contributed to this report.

Read more:

A cluster bomb made in America

In Yemens capital, signs of hatred toward America are everywhere

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news
U.S. President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a press conference at the Great Hall of People on November 12, 2014 in Beijing. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

President Obama noted at a news conference this month that the United States has seen some evidence that Chinese government hackers have reduced their pilfering of U.S. companies intellectual property and sensitive data.

But, he added, they have not completely eliminated these activities.

Although some researchers say the hacking activity has plummeted, officials at the Treasury and Justice departments and at the National Security Council have been pushing to impose economic sanctions on several Chinese firms that have benefited from past thefts of U.S. firms commercial data.

Over the past year, they have advocated the use of a 2015 executive order on cyber-sanctions that would allow the government to sanction individuals and companies that were enriched by material hacked from the computer networks of American businesses.

Its about specific justice for specific victims, said one U.S. official, who like others interviewed requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

A sanctions package that names specific Chinese companies has been ready for more than a year. But other senior officials in the State Department and within the National Economic Council have been opposed, largely for diplomatic and timing reasons. These officials did not want to risk torpedoing a global warming accord with China. At other times, it was concern about adding to tensions over Chinas activities in the South China Sea.

The administration was close to pulling the trigger on the sanctions last year but drew back after Chinese President Xi Jin Ping reached an agreement with Obama that his country would not conduct such activity, and would set up a high-level joint dialogue on cybercrime and cooperate in investigations.

Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, said Chinas commercial hacking dropped 90 percent over the past year after the agreement. I think this drop in activity after the threat to use sanctions has been the biggest accomplishment in cyber in the last 30 years, he said.

Others note, however, that the indictments of five Chinese military hackers for economic espionage also played a role in changing Chinas behavior.

But Beijings cooperation in law enforcement matters has not been optimal, officials said. And the Chinese government has not taken action against those who hacked U.S. companies and stole their intellectual property or pricing information, they said.

If the Obama administration were to impose economic sanctions on Chinese companies, that would be a gift to President-elect Donald Trump, said James A. Lewis, a cyber-policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. It would be a chit he could trade in talks with the Chinese, he said. He could offer to lift sanctions in exchange for some economic or trade concession.

At this point, the use of the order against China is highly unlikely, officials said.

Its hard to see the administration picking that fight with China with so few days left in the administration, a second senior official said.

The Trump administration, however, could choose to use it.
The Obama administration is close to announcing a series of measures to punish Russia for its interference in the 2016 presidential election, including economic sanctions and diplomatic censure, according to U.S. officials.

The administration is finalizing the details, which also are expected to include covert action that will probably involve cyber-operations, the officials said. An announcement on the public elements of the response could come as early as this week.

The sanctions portion of the package culminates weeks of debate in the White House on how to revise a 2015 executive order that was meant to give the president authority to respond to cyberattacks from overseas but that did not cover efforts to influence the electoral system.

The Obama administration rolled the executive order out to great fanfare as a way to punish and deter foreign hackers who harm U.S. economic or national security.

The threat to use it last year helped wring a pledge out of Chinas president that his country would cease hacking U.S. companies secrets to benefit Chinese firms.

(Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

[Treasury, Justice officials pushed for economic sanctions on China over cybertheft]

But officials concluded this fall that the order could not, as written, be used to punish the most significant cyber-provocation in recent memory against the United States  Russias hacking of Democratic organizations, targeting of state election systems and meddling in the presidential election.

With the clock ticking, the White House is working on adapting the authority to punish the Russians, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. President Obama pledged this month that there would be a response to Moscows interference in the U.S. elections.

Russia had denied involvement in the hacking.

One clear way to use the order against the Russian suspects would be to declare the electoral systems part of the critical infrastructure of the United States. Or the order could be amended to clearly apply to the new threat  interfering in elections.

Administration officials would also like to make it difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to roll back any action they take.

Part of the goal here is to make sure that we have as much of the record public or communicated to Congress in a form that would be difficult to simply walk back, said one senior administration official.

President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a news conference in Beijing in 2014. A year later, Xi reached an agreement with Obama that his country would stop commercial cyberspying. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

Obama issued the executive order in April 2015, creating the sanctions tool as a way to hold accountable people who harm computer systems related to critical functions such as electricity generation or transportation, or who gain a competitive advantage through the cybertheft of commercial secrets.

The order allows the government to freeze the assets in the United States of people overseas who have engaged in cyber-acts that have threatened U.S. national security or financial stability. The sanctions would also block commercial transactions with the designated individuals and bar their entry into the country.

But just a year later, a Russian military spy agency would hack into the Democratic National Committee and steal a trove of emails that were released a few months later on WikiLeaks, U.S. officials said. Other releases followed, including the hacked emails of Hillary Clintons campaign chairman, John Podesta.

Fundamentally, it was a low-tech, high-impact event, said Zachary Goldman, a sanctions and national security expert at New York University School of Law. And the 2015 executive order was not crafted to target hackers who steal emails and dump them on WikiLeaks or seek to disrupt an election. It was an authority published at a particular time to address a particular set of problems, he said.

So officials need to engage in some legal acrobatics to fit the DNC hack into an existing authority, or they need to write a new authority, Goldman said.

Administration officials would like Obama to use the power before leaving office to demonstrate its utility.

When the president came into office, he didnt have that many tools out there to use as a response to malicious cyber-acts, said Ari Schwartz, a former senior director for cybersecurity on the National Security Council. Having the sanctions tool is really a big one. It can make a very strong statement in a way that is less drastic than bombing a country and more impactful than sending out a cable from the State Department.

The National Security Council concluded that it would not be able to use the authority against Russian hackers because their malicious activity did not clearly fit under its terms, which require harm to critical infrastructure or the theft of commercial secrets.

You would (a) have to be able to say that the actual electoral infrastructure, such as state databases, was critical infrastructure, and (b) that what the Russians did actually harmed it, said the administration official. Those are two high bars.

Although Russian government hackers are believed to have penetrated at least one state voter-registration database, they did not tamper with the data, officials said.

Some analysts believe that state election systems would fit under government facilities, which is one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors designated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Another option is to use the executive order against other Russian targets  say, hackers who stole commercial secrets  and then, in either a public message or a private one, make clear that the United States considers its electoral systems to be critical infrastructure.

The idea is not only to punish but also to deter.

As much as I am concerned about what happened to us in the election, I am also concerned about what will happen to us in the future, a second administration official said. I am firmly convinced that the Russians and others will say, That worked pretty well in 2016, so lets keep going. We have elections every two years in this country.

Even the threat of sanctions can have deterrent value. Officials and experts point to Chinese President Xi Jinpings agreement with Obama last year that his country would stop commercial cyberspying. Xi came to the table after news reports that summer that the administration was preparing to sanction Chinese companies.

Complicating matters, the Trump transition team has not yet had extensive briefings with the White House on cybersecurity issues, including the potential use of the cyber sanctions order. The slow pace has caused consternation among officials, who fear that the administrations accomplishments in cybersecurity could languish if the next administration fails to understand their value.

[Trump turning away intelligence briefers since election win]

Sanctions are not a silver bullet. Obama noted that we already have enormous numbers of sanctions against the Russians for their activities in Ukraine. So it is questionable, some experts say, whether adding new ones would have a meaningful effect in changing the Kremlins behavior. But in combination with other measures, they could be effective.

Criminal indictments of Russians might become an option, officials said, but the FBI has so far not gathered enough evidence that could be introduced in a criminal case. At one point, federal prosecutors and FBI agents in San Francisco considered indicting Guccifer 2.0, a nickname for a person or people believed to be affiliated with the Russian influence operation and whose true identity was unknown.

Before the election, the administration used diplomatic channels to warn Russia. Obama spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Group of 20 summit in China in September. About a week before the election, the United States sent a hotline-style message to Moscow using a special channel for crisis communication created in 2013 as part of the State Departments Nuclear Risk Reduction Center. As part of that message, the officials said, the administration asked Russia to stop targeting state voter registration and election systems. It was the first use of that system. The Russians, officials said, appeared to comply.

Read more:

Heres what you need to know about Russias election hacking

Obama says we will retaliate against Russia for election hacking

Moscow has the worlds attention. For Putin, thats a win.
Kurdish-led fighters were approaching a strategic dam controlled by the Islamic State in northern Syria after days of fighting that killed a senior military commander of the extremist group, a spokesman for the U.S.-backed forces and others said Tuesday.

Talal Sillo of the Syrian Democratic Forces said the fighters, with the support of U.S., French and British special forces, have driven the Islamic State from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and were about three miles from the Euphrates Dam.

The SDF, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, has been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November, advancing with the help of U.S.-led airstrikes. The operation is aimed at encircling and eventually retaking Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic States self-declared caliphate.

The city is home to nearly 200,000 mostly Sunni Arabs and an estimated 5,000 Islamic State fighters.

The ongoing operation is the second phase west of Raqqa, Sillo said, adding that the first phase was north of the city. More phases will come later to isolate the city and then to begin liberating it.

The capture of the dam, which controls the flow of water to parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, would deal a major blow to the extremist group, which has held the facility for more than two years. Behind the dam lies Lake Assad, which at 247 square miles is Syrias largest reservoir.

Each side claims to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other. The Islamic State-linked Amaq news agency reported Monday that 24 SDF fighters were killed in the area, while Sillo said his forces had killed dozens of extremists.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fate of a top Islamic State military commander known as Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti is still unknown after he was targeted by U.S.-led coalition aircraft. The Syrian army said Abu Jandal was killed fighting in the Tabqa area near the dam. Islamic State supporters on social media confirmed that he was killed.

The U.S. Central Command said coalition aircraft conducted nine strikes near Raqqa on Monday that engaged three Islamic State tactical units, destroying vehicles rigged with explosives, a bridge, a fighting position and a supply cache. It said two airstrikes near the Ein Issa area to the north of Raqqa hit two Islamic State tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.

Sillo said that in recent days the SDF has captured 502 square miles. He said its next target is the town of Tabqa, home to a military base where Islamic State fighters killed scores of captured Syrian troops in 2014. He said the fighting on Tuesday was concentrated near the Jaabar castle on Lake Assad, after the SDF captured the nearby village of Jaabar.

The U.S.-backed SDF is made up of several Arab, Kurdish, Turkmen and Christian groups that have captured wide areas of northern Syria from the Islamic State over the past year. The largest and most powerful groups in the coalition are the main Kurdish militias known as the Peoples Protection Units, or YPG, and the Womens Protection Units, or YPJ.

The SDF is the most effective ground force battling the Islamic State in Syria.
A Texas man charged with fatally slashing the throats of his wife and infant son allegedly told co-workers he heard voices telling him to kill people and had dreamed of hurting his spouse, according to a newly released police affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

The accusations detail suspect Craig Vandeweges bizarre behavior before and after his 36-year-old wife, Shanna Vandewege, and their 3-month-old son, Diederick, were found dead in Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 15.

Before he was detained last week in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, Craig, 35, allegedly told a man he met inside a 7-Eleven that he was bound for Las Vegas  where, he allegedly said, he planned to meet with President-elect Donald Trump to talk about the killings.

Forth Worth police allege Craig told the unnamed man at the gas station that he was on the run and that the government was trying to conspire against him by saying he had killed his family. He also allegedly said he was getting together with Trump to work it out with him.

On Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 7-Eleven in Glenwood Springs on reports of an individual acting suspiciously. The officers arrived just as Craig drove off.

Police tailed Craigs vehicle and initiated a traffic stop soon after the car exceeded the posted speed limit, according to the police affidavit.

He allegedly showed no emotion as he explained to the arresting officers it had been a long week and his wife and kid were murdered in Fort Worth, Texas, the affidavit states. Shanna and Diederick were found in the master bedroom of their home with apparent knife wounds to their necks, authorities have said.

Before taking him into custody in Colorado, local police searched Craig and found a loaded pistol in his waistband, another gun in an ankle holster, and a number of condoms in his pockets, according to the affidavit He was also carrying a wedding ring

Inside his vehicle, officers recovered camouflage, clothing, numerous bottles of medication and an AR-style rifle.

Story continues

Craig was arrested for allegedly speeding and not having proof of insurance. At the time of his arrest, Fort Worth authorities had prepared an arrest warrant for him on capital murder charges.

He is awaiting extradition to Texas, but authorities have not provided a timeline for when he may be returned from Colorado.

He has yet to enter a plea to the charges against him and his attorney, Leslie Barrows, was not available Monday for comment.

The Only Way He Could Tolerate His Wife Was by Drinking

Fort Worth detectives have interviewed several of Craigs co-workers since the Dec. 15 killings and learned that Craig allegedly often complained about his wife and her appearance and made statements about harming her, according to the affidavit.

Days before the slayings, Craig allegedly told a co-worker hed had a dream in which he sliced the heads of his wife and father like bologna. 

Soon after learning Shanna was pregnant, he allegedly told the same co-worker he wished he could push her down the stairs and kill her that way. Craig also told co-workers he was taking prescriptions that made him hear voices that tell him to kill people, police allege in the affidavit.

His wife could not do anything right and she dressed and wore her hair poorly and the only way he could tolerate his wife was by drinking, Craig allegedly said at work.

The affidavit characterizes his interactions with investigators as overly calm and notes that trace amounts of blood were detected on the rims of two sinks in the Vandewege home, suggesting someone attempted to clean the crime scene. Investigators further allege someone took steps to stage a robbery of the familys home.

Shannas friends previously told PEOPLE she and Craig moved from Colorado in May after he got a promotion at work. Shanna was a registered nurse at a nearby hospital but was on maternity leave.

In an email to PEOPLE, childhood friend Monica Vance wrote,  had wanted a family since she was a little girl. She planned it out, including names, before she was 12.

Longtime friend Cindy Prevatt said, 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 their son.




The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: College, The Short List: Grad School and The Short List: Online Programs to find data that matter to you in your college or grad school search.

It makes sense that accepted students would be eager to enroll in highly ranked MBA programs. But the business schools with the highest yield rates aren't necessarily the most prestigious. The business schools where the highest proportion of accepted students enrolled as full-time MBA candidates in fall 2015 include No. 1-ranked Harvard Business School and West Texas A&M University, which fell among the bottom one-fourth of ranked schools.

[Define MBA goals before applying to graduate school.]

An overwhelming 90.7 percent of students who made the cut for Harvard took advantage of the opportunity. However, prestigious private schools are not the only ones with high yield rates. Four of the 10 schools with the highest yield rates are state schools.

[Determine whether getting an MBA makes financial sense.]

Moreover, some schools with high yield rates are schools that accept most applicants. West Texas A&M University, a public school with a 72.2 percent acceptance rate, had a yield rate of 85.4 percent.

Among the 80 ranked schools that reported their acceptance and enrollment data to U.S. News in an annual survey, the average yield rate was 48.7 percent, and the lowest was 25.8 percent at Hofstra University's Zarb School of Business.

Listed below are the full-time MBA programs where an acceptance letter is most likely to prompt a student to enroll. Business schools considered for this list accepted a minimum of 100 students; those that accepted fewer than 100 students were not evaluated. Unranked schools, which did not meet certain criteria required by U.S. News to be numerically ranked, were not considered for this report.

Story continues

* RNP denotes an institution that is ranked in the bottom one-fourth of its ranking category. U.S. News calculates a rank for the school but has decided not to publish it.

Don't see your school in the top 10? Access the U.S. News Business School Compass to find student enrollment data, complete rankings and much more. School officials can access historical data and rankings, including of peer institutions, via U.S. News Academic Insights.

U.S. News surveyed 470 schools for our 2015 survey of business programs. Schools self-reported myriad data regarding their academic programs and the makeup of their student body, among other areas, making U.S. News' data the most accurate and detailed collection of college facts and figures of its kind. While U.S. News uses much of this survey data to rank schools for our annual Best Business Schools rankings, the data can also be useful when examined on a smaller scale. U.S. News will now produce lists of data, separate from the overall rankings, meant to provide students and parents a means to find which schools excel, or have room to grow, in specific areas that are important to them. While the data comes from the schools themselves, these lists are not related to, and have no influence over, U.S. News' rankings of Best Colleges, Best Graduate Schools or Best Online Programs. The yield data above are correct as of Dec. 27, 2016.

Ilana Kowarski covers graduate schools for U.S. News. You can reach her via email at ikowarski@usnews.com.
Many of us are ecstatic to see 2016 come to a close, but the end of a month means a new selection of content is being removed from Netflix. Thankfully, the list isnt especially long for January 2017, but there are definitely a few gems on there youre going to want to get to before they disappear for good.

Don't Miss: Watch the first trailer for Attack on Titan season 2

You have less than a week left to watch these movies, but considering its the week after Christmas, theres a good chance you have some free time to sit down in front of the computer or the TV and waste a few hours.

These are our picks for the ten best movies departing Netflix streaming on January 1st:

Crash

Dazed and Confused

Ghost Town

Maid in Manhattan

Miracle on 34th Street

South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut

The Italian Job

Sixteen Candles

Saving Private Ryan

The Fast and the Furious

Often times, it can be hard to any worthwhile inclusions for this list (hence the occasional absence of the list from our monthly slate of articles), but this month, it was genuinely hard to pick just ten.

Not only did we have to leave off another fast, furious movie (Tokyo Drift), but we also couldnt make room for some a the fantastic 30 for 30 documentaries that are being taken off of Netflix at the beginning of the year. Honestly, its worth going through the whole list we shared earlier this month.

Dont forget to check out all of the new movies and TV shows being added to Netflix in January.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. OBAMA, JAPAN'S PM TO SEEK RECONCILIATION AT PEARL HARBOR

Though Japanese leaders have come to Pearl Harbor before, Shinzo Abe will be the first to visit the memorial built in the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

2. RESCUERS FIND FLIGHT RECORDER FROM BLACK SEA PLANE CRASH

The Russian defense ministry says the "black box" would be immediately flown to Moscow but doesn't mention whether it has been damaged.

3. U.S., RUSSIAN MILITARY TALKS ON FIGHTING ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS PROVING USEFUL

The progress dispels the notion that ties between the former Cold War foes are "frozen."

4. WHAT TRUMP THINKS OF THE U.N.

The president-elect is questioning the effectiveness of the international organization, saying it's just a club for people to "have a good time."

5. EXPORT BAN ON MONUMENTS HITS AT PYONGYANG'S SOFT POWER

The U.N. statue sanctions are a slap at one of North Korea's most venerable cultural institutions.

6. WHERE WINTER STORM CREATES TREACHEROUS TRAVEL

High winds and drifting snow continue to make driving hazardous in the Dakotas, and the severe weather disrupts air travel in the region.

7. EGYPT EASES PRESSURE ON GAZA STRIP

After nearly a decade of helping Israel to blockade Gaza, Cairo makes a step toward improving ties with the territory's Hamas rulers.

8. WHY EX-SOMALI REFUGEES REGRET COMING HOME

Upon return to their country from the world's largest refugee camp in Kenya, Somalis report hunger, gangs and the threat of attack by extremist group al-Shabab.

9. WHO PLANS TO LAND PROBES ON MARS BY 2020

China says that it is determined to quicken the pace of the development of its space industry, which has already rapidly advanced.

10. AT MINNESOTA, BOYCOTT IS OVER BUT TENSIONS ARE NOT

In the week since Minnesota avoided canceling its Holiday Bowl plans because of a player protest, The AP speaks to six people involved in the saga concerning the suspension of 10 players in connection with an alleged sexual assault.
Lin-Manuel Miranda had a better year than most. After his play Hamilton: An American Musical won the hearts of Broadway critics and hip-hop heads, he seamlessly crafted the star-studded The Hamilton Mixtape. By teaming up with some of the genre's most celebrated stars like The Roots, Nas, Queen Latifah, and Chance The Rapper, the project scored the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 earlier this month.

Miranda sat down with the Rap Radar Podcast to discuss a slew of topics ranging from his decision to link up with Nas on the mixtape highlight "Wrote My Way Out", bringing Ja Rule and Ashanti back together for a collaborative effort, and his love for hip-hop. Check out some of his standout quotes from the interview below.

On Memorizing the Lyrics to Black Sheep's Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Stealing my [sister's] copy of Wolf in Sheep's Clothing and that was the first album I made myself memorize beginning to end. That was like the first big one for me.

Channeling '90s New York Rap and Big Pun for the Making of Hamilton

When you listen to Hamilton [and] the references you'll hear, it's a lot of 90s New York [rap]. Hamilton is my best [Big] Pun impression most of the time. It's how many syllables - I'm not just gonna rhyme at the end of the sentence - it's can I squeeze seven rhymes in there. Can I squeeze eight rhymes in there?

On Rapping With Nas on "Wrote My Way Out"

I wasn't going to be on it until I heard that beat. When I heard that beat, because you know, I'm a playwright. I don't think of myself as a rapper. I think of myself as a playwright, a performer, and I'm not trying to take anyone's spot...

Who's been more vulnerable than Nas on the track? What I was thinking about a lot when I was writing that was one, the notion of writing, and the notion of salvation through writing, which Nas talks about a lot. I was also thinking about his verse on Scarface's "In Between Us", which is one of my favorite opening lines ever in hip-hop.

Story continues

On the Creative Process behind The Hamilton Mixtape

Our mutual friend Riggs Morales can tell you, I wanted to do the mixtape before the show even came out. That was my original idea. When I was reading the book for the first time, I was thinking, 'What rapper or what R&B artist is most like George Washington?' Not what he's physically, or sound like, but who's that spirit?' You know, that was the fun for me; casting the founders as our hip-hop founders.

What ended up happening was we finished the show and the show took off so big. We said, 'Let's wait,' because the heroes that we were gonna chase and have to pitch this weird pitch are gonna see the show. We made a wish-list. I was like, 'The people I was thinking about as I was writing this are: Common, John Legend, Nas.' Like, I just sorta of made a hip-hop heroes wish-list and then Riggs job was to get them to the show.

On Reuniting Ja Rule & Ashanti in the Studio

They've never lost touch. They're still very tight. They went to see the show together. They came into the studio and I think it was Ashanti's mom's birthday. So they came in like, 'Whoooooo!'

On Getting Bullied in Elementary School

Before I went to the school that I went to in elementary school, I was in a school where I was the first kid who knew how to read and got the crap beat out of me for it.

On His Relationship with Joell Ortiz

That Brick Bodega Chronicles knocked me the f--k out! I hadn't heard anyone really rhyme like that since Pun. I think him and Black Thought are really underrated.

On Busta Rhymes Being the Louis Armstrong of Rap

I think he is to hip-hop, what Louis Armstrong is to jazz. Like, that voice to me, it represents [hip-hop] in a very real way.

On Meeting the Descendants of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr

It was surreal. Listen, my parents were both born in Puerto Rico. I can point back a couple of generations, but to have a group of people that are really united and defined by what their ancestors did 200-something years ago, that's like really crazy. That's not something I have a lot of experience in. One of the other crazy things, as I was writing it, I learned - I was living all the way Uptown. I was living on 218 Street and one of my next door neighbors was a descendant of Burr. Antonio Burr. He's a really great dude. There was another person in my building who knew what I was writing about was like, 'You know Antonio Burr lives in this building, right?' And he's a great guy. He really helped inform my thinking on Burr because this is a guy who lived on the other side of it.

On Hamilton Cast Talking to Vice President-Elect Mike Pence

We found out he was going to be there at 2 in the afternoon that moment. We have always spoken to the people who come to our show. And that's not even a partisan thing. When I was at the White House with Obama, I talked to him about Oscar Lopez Rivera, who is a prisoner that means a lot to a lot of Puerto Ricans and we really want to see him freed, especially now with Obama leaving office. I think that's the best chance we're gonna get. I talked to Obama about that when I was at the White House. So, the fact that Pence was there, we weren't trying to make some partisan anything. The goal was, there's a lot of people scared as a result of this election. We hope you lead all of us.

Listen to the full podcast here.
15 Carrie Fisher quotes to remind you why she was a feminist icon

After suffering a heart attack on Friday, December 23rd, iconic actress Carrie Fisher died this morning. The actress, best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, was only 60 years old. She is survived by her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and her 24-year-old daughter, actress Billie Lourd. The familys spokesperson confirmed Fishers death by issuing a statement to PEOPLE on behalf of Lourd:

It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning, the statement says. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

The actress was far more than Princess Leia  Fisher was also an amazing feminist who was never afraid to call out the relentless double standards she faced in Hollywood, and responded like a badass when Twitter trolls (and even reporters) criticized her appearance in the 2015 movie The Force Awakens.

As we work through our grief, lets pay tribute to Fisher for being a champion for women  whether she was discussing ageism, advocating for mental health, encouraging you to stand up for yourself, or explanining the importance of facing our fears, the actress deserves endless praise for providing inspiration to women everywhere.

1. Screw beauty, its superficial anyway, and my other attributes matter way more than my appearance.

carrie fisher

Fisher said this in January 2016, responding to ageist, body-shaming comments made by New York Post writer Kyle Smith.

2. Debbie [Reynolds] remains the girl-next-door, whereas I live somewhere down the street.

carrie fisher debbie reynolds

Fisher told this to the TV Times, emphasizing that feminism and womanhood look different for each and every woman.

3. [Y]ou should fight for your outfit. Dont be a slave like I was.

This is what Fisher advised her Force Awakens co-star, Daisy Ridley, referencing her own objectifying slave costume in The Empire Strikes Back.

Story continues

4. Females get hired along procreative lines. After 40, were kind of cooked.

Carrie Fisher

5. We treat beauty like an accomplishment, and that is insane. Everyone in L.A. says, Oh, you look good, and you listen for them to say youve lost weight. Its never How are you? or You seem happy!'

Carrie Fisher Comedy Awards

6.Stay afraid, but do it anyway. Whats important is the action. You dont have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.

A true inspiration. #carriefisher #rip  A photo posted by Namaste, Bitches (@nambitches) on Dec 27, 2016 at 11:28am PST

7.I got to be the only girl in an all-boy fantasy, and its a great role for women. [Leia is] a very proactive character and gets the job done. So if youre going to get typecast as something, that might as well be it for me.

8.Youth and beauty are not accomplishments, theyre the temporary happy.

carrie fisher force awakens

9.There is no point at which you can say, Well, Im successful now. I might as well take a nap.

10.I identify more with who I feel myself to be than what I look like. Either way, am I obliged to entertain you with my appearance?

Carrie Fisher 1977

11.Men dont age better than women, theyre just allowed to age.

12.I finally quit apologizing for it For being something different. For being strong. Strength is a style. But this happens in acting a lot. If you pretend something over and over, sometimes it comes true.

13. There are two things that I know certain men are good for: pushing swings and killing insects.

14. Its a mans world and show business is a mans meal, with women generously sprinkled through it like overqualified spice.

15. I am the beginning with girl power deal with it.

princess leia

Rest In Peace, Carrie Fisher  we are forever grateful for your amazing films and, more importantly, your empowering feminism.

The post 15 Carrie Fisher quotes to remind you why she was a feminist icon appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Greater access to international travel, movie-inspired destinations and the end of generic travel are among the trends predicted to take shape in the coming year, according to experts at Cheapflights.

The online publisher of travel deals has released its predictions on the trends that will change how and where Americans will be traveling in 2017.

For starters, Cheapflights experts predict that 2017 will bring in a "golden age" of international travel, thanks to the proliferation of ultra low-cost airlines and increased consumer buying power with currency fluctuations.

Though the fallout from Brexit and the rise of nationalistic sentiment could create potential "headwinds" for overseas travel, the report points out that others may use travel as the antidote to the politics of the day.

Consumers will begin to embrace unbundled airfare and add-on travel fees such as checked baggage and pay-as-you-go services as a way to take control of their budget, says the report.

And good news for those eyeing airborne travel next year: base airfares are expected to continue dropping in 2017, having already dipped to a five-year low in 2016.

Travelers are seeking out more authentic, meaningful travel experiences as opposed to the idea of simply getting away.

Homestays and short-term rentals that allow visitors to live like a local, along with local tours and services such as EatWith that invite tourists to dine with locals in their homes, are also narrowing the gap between tourists and locals.

Here are a few destinations that are predicted to experience a rise in interest in 2017, thanks to milestone anniversaries and a little boost from the movie industry:

Cork, Ireland

Last month, West Cork's Clonakilty took the title of best town in Britain and Ireland in the 2017 Urbanism Awards hosted by The Academy of Urbanism. Recognizing its potential as a destination for lovers of old churches, castles, architecture, pubs, and covered markets, low-cost airlines have also been adding routes linking the East Coast to County Cork in the south.

Story continues

Finland

Beginning New Year's Eve, Finland will kick off a year-long celebration feting its 100th anniversary right up until its Independence Day on December 6, 2017. The festivities will include the building of a SnowCastle and SnowHotel, and will shine the spotlight on a travel destination that has long been eclipsed by neighbors like Iceland, Norway and Sweden. With saunas, snow, the Northern Lights, beaches and stunning scenery, expect Finland to make more travel headlines in 2017.

Polynesia

Just as Disney's "Frozen" brought Norway the kind of publicity money can't buy, the studio's latest blockbuster "Moana" is poised to boost interest in the tropical paradise of Polynesia.

Canada

To fete the country's 150th anniversary in 2017, Canada will be pulling out all the stops, with bigger and louder fireworks, festivals and celebrations throughout the year. One of the biggest perks for visitors: free admission all year long into the country's national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites.
- By PJ Pahygiannis





Manuel A. Salceda is an investor, property developer and hotel owner. He is an ardent follower of Buffett and Munger's principles. He is interested in small companies at or below intrinsic value with little or no debt. He likes businesses that are easy to understand and not related to a rapidly changing enviroment (like technology).

1. How and why did you get started investing? What is your background?





I am a hotel developer and operator. My parents emigrated from Spain without any money, so I was raised in a "work and save" environment, which served me well. I started investing in 2001 in private investments and in 2007 in the stock market.

2. Describe your investing strategy and portfolio organization. What valuation methods do you use? Where do you get your investing ideas from?

I invest in companies that I consider will be worth more tomorrow than they are today. I try not to have more than 10 different companies in my portfolio since tracking more becomes harder. My valuation method is very simple: I ask myself how much money "available for distribution to shareholders or for growing the company" do I think this company is going to make. If the answer is much more than what the current share price recognizes, then I consider investing. My ideas come from a lot of places. Blogs, visiting businesses, WSJ, Barron's, Fortune, Forbes, 52-week lows, etc.

3. What drew you to that specific strategy? If you only had three valuation metrics what would they be?

I only need one, owners earnings: money generated and available for distribution to shareholders or for investing in growing the company.

4. What books or other investors changed the way you think, inspired you or mentored you? What is the most important lesson learned from them? What investors do you follow today?

Story continues

Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) changed my way of viewing the stock market and life. The books that most influenced me are "Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist" and "The Intelligent Investor." The most important lesson I learned is that shares are parts of real businesses and not mere blips and tickers on a screen waiting to be traded.

5. How long will you hold a stock and why? How long does it take to know if you are right or wrong on a stock?

At least for a year. I never invest thinking about swapping it fast. Among my six current holdings, I have one that I have held for almost 10 years (Berkshire). Knowing if I am right or wrong my take a few years, though it is usually clear in a year or so.

6. How has your investing approach changed over the years?

A lot! I am more patient and controlled. I no longer panic when some big guru thinks differently than me. I have learned to think by myself and for myself. The incentives of many investors are not always correctly aligned with those of the companies in which they invest, so it is important to discern among opinions.

7. Name some of the things that you do or believe that other investors do not.

I have no intelligent answer for this.

8. What are some of your favorite companies, brands or even CEOs? What do you think are some of the most well-run companies? How do you judge the quality of the management?

Whole Foods (WFM), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Mattel (MAT) are among my current holdings and favorite brands. My favorite CEO is by far Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio). The most well-run company in the world is Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A)(NYSE:BRK.B) , but Google (GOOG), Facebook (FB), Amazon (AMZN) and Apple (AAPL) seem also very well managed (I have no investments in any of those). The quality of management is very easy to judge. If they accomplish the goals they set and do not change route every quarter, then I consider them competent. If they also treat shareholders fairly and invest wisely, then I consider them of quality.

9. Do you use any stock screeners? What are some efficient methods to find undervalued businesses apart from screeners?

I do not. I follow a few companies I like and wait (for years) for the stock price to get where I think is the right entry price. I usually get new ideas in blogs or magazines.

10. Name some of the traits that a company must have for you to invest in, such as dividends. What does a high-quality company look like to you and what does a bad investment look like? Talk about what the ideal company to invest in would look like, even if it does not exist.

I do not look for any specific trait. A high-quality company is usually one with predictable sales and earnings in a not terribly cyclical industry. A bad investment is one where management has a bad reputation, when the company loses money more often than not or when there are lots of "non recurrent" charges that recurre more often than not. The perfect company would be Google with Buffett at the helm, investing any free cash produced after reinvesting in new ventures for growing the business and maintaining competitiveness.

11. What kind of checklist or homework do you utilize when investing? Do you have a specific approach, structure, process that you use? Or do you have any hard cut rules?

I have a checklist I use for detecting some easy red flags. I do have a very simple process based on available information filed with the SEC.

12. Before making an investment, what kind of research do you do and where do you go for the information? Do you talk to management?

SEC. I usually do not talk to management.

13. How do you go about valuing a stock and how do you decide how you are going to value a specific stock? When is cheap not cheap? If you can, give some of examples.

Owners earnings (cash available for shareholders or growing the business after reinvesting all that is necessary for maintaining the competitive advantage currently held by the company). This is the only metric I value. I consider it cheap when owners earnings are higher than what the market recognizes in the stock price. A good example of a high-quality company with a high price is Amazon. It is an amazing company with a great competitive advantage, but the current stock price asumes higher owners earnings in the not so distant future, something I am not willing to bet on with my money.

14. What kind of bargains are you finding in this market? Do you have any favorite sector or avoid certain areas, and why?

Retail is currently a sector where there are a few reasonably priced stocks, but there are not many bargains nowadays. I avoid cyclicals or industries where I am a total outsider with no insight.

15. How do you feel about the market today? Do you see it as overvalued? What concerns you the most?

I think that as a whole it is not cheap, but there are a few names that are actually cheap. I am not very concerned since many tech behemoths like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft (MSFT) are the ones driving the indexes to new highs. There are a lot of non-tech companies at decent valuations.

16. What are some books that you are reading now? What is the most important lesson learned from your favorite one?

I am currently reading "Sapiens."

17. Any advice to a new value investor? What should they know and what habits should they develop before they start?

Think independently. Read "The Intelligent Investor" and be cool when the hard times come, and they will!

18. What are your some of your favorite value investing resources or tools? Are there any investors that you piggyback or coattail?

I have nothing intelligent to answer and I do not coattail.

19. Describe some of the biggest mistakes you have made value investing. What are your three worst investments that burned you? What did you learn and how do you avoid those mistakes today?

I have never made a terrible mistake. My worst mistake was not investing in Google when I considered it fairly valued during the Great Recession a few years ago.

20. How do you manage the mental aspect of investing when it comes to the ups, downs, crashes, corrections and fluctuations?

It does not affect me at all.

21. How does one avoid blowups in value investing?

Never put all your money in one company (unless it is Berkshire) and never invest in turnarounds since they rarely turn.

22. If you are willing to share, what companies do you currently own and why? How have the last five to 10 years been for you investing-wise compared to the indexes?

Berkshire Hathaway- a great company, spectacular management, wow moat and very well diversified).

Whole Foods Market - a great brand, good locations, amazing concept, good execution and pricing power. Going through a rough patch though.

Mattel- great proprietary brands and good execution, but going through some troubles with a few of its key brands.

Chipotle Mexican Grill- great brand, tasty food, trendy concept with pricing power. Going through what I consider a temporary problem.

Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY)- good management, shareholder oriented and good capital allocators. The market thinks this kind of company is going to disappear, I do not!

Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA (XSWX:CFR)- the owner of what I consider wow luxury brands like Cartier and Mont Blanc, among others. Decent valuation at a moment where the market expects Asia to stop buying.

I have had a much better return than the SPY or Berkshire during the last five and 10 years.

23. Here is a fun one - What stock would Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) or Benjamin Graham buy today if he were you.

No clue.

24. What is the most contrarian investment you have ever made? Why did you make it and how did it turn out?

Banco Santander (BSBR) when the world thought all the financial system were going down, more so the European banks. I made it because I am from Spain and I knew Santander was not going anywhere and the valuation was ridiculous. I tripled my money in a very short time, but it was a very tiny position.

25. If most fundamental investors study the greats (e.g. Buffet, Klarman, etc.), then surely value investing is no longer a 'contrarian' investment strategy?

It will always be since it goes against human nature!

Start a free 7-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Aden (AFP) - At least 28 Huthi insurgents and 12 Yemeni soldiers were killed Tuesday in the southern province of Shabwa as government forces pushed to capture a rebel enclave, military officials said.

The fighting flared when forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi attacked rebels in Bayhan district, on the border between Shabwa and Marib provinces.

Bayhan is the only part of Shabwa province still controlled by the Iran-backed rebels after government forces supported by the Saudi-led Arab coalition last year expelled them from five southern provinces.

"The death toll of the Huthis has reached 28 while 12 soldiers of the legitimate forces were killed," a military official said.

Military officials said government forces backed by coalition warplanes drove the rebels out of several positions in the area, adding that 14 insurgents were also captured.

The Yemen conflict has killed some 7,000 people since the Saudi-led intervention in March 2015, according to the United Nations.

The coalition began the military campaign against the rebels after they closed in on Hadi in his refuge in the southern city of Aden, forcing him to flee to Riyadh.

The rebels and allied renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh continue to control the capital Sanaa, which they overran in September 2014, along with several mainly northern regions.
Star Wars fans around the world were saddened to learn that actress Carrie Fisherwho shot to fame playing Princess Leia in the original trilogydied Tuesday.

Fisher, who reportedly suffered a heart attack on a plane last week, died in Los Angeles at the age of 60. Though she would eventually take jobs as a screenplay doctor and a writer, Fisher was best-known for playing the take-charge princess of the space opera classics A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. She also reprised her role as Princess Leia in the latest Star Wars installment The Force Awakens, released in late 2015.

For despondent lovers of the galaxy far, far away, here are some of Fishers most memorable quotes from the Star Wars series:

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, youre my only hope.

In one of Fishers first lines in A New Hope, her character enclosed a secret message in droid R2-D2 asking help from renowned Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi in her rebellion against the Empire.

Arent you a little short for a stormtrooper?

Upon meeting Luke Skywalker for the first time in her cell on the Death Star, Leia expresses her skepticism at his stormtrooper disguise.

Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder.

In a fight with her romantic interest throughout the series, smuggler Han Solo, Fishers character hurled a Star Wars-themed jab at her beau, played by Harrison Ford.

Id just as soon kiss a Wookie.

Leia fires this line at Han during a tense argument about their relationship in The Empire Strikes Back.

Hes my brother.

At the end of Return of the Jedi, Leia explains her relationship with Luke to a confused and jealous Han.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f330003%2f2ff58a54-23fa-4f96-8adc-32371e6e0376

If India had to summarize the outgoing year in a single phrase, it would be this: a mixed bag.

What else explains the distinction of being the country with the most selfie deaths in the world and also the one with the world's largest solar power plant?

SEE ALSO: 8 crazy things Indians did in 2016 to get into Guinness World Records

All that and more happened in 2016. Here are some 'records' India scaled this year.

1. Largest solar power plant

Image: ABB

Kamuthi, a small town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, became the home to the world's largest solar power plant at a single location. It was built in a record time of eight months, faster than California's Topaz Solar Farm, the former largest solar plant.

2. Most trees planted in a day

Image: AP

Quite an irony that the country which houses some of the most polluted cities in the world plants most trees in a day to help fight climate change. More than 800,000 volunteers came to together to plant nearly 50 million saplings in a day in the northern Indian city of Allahabad. The erstwhile record of 847,275 trees was set by Pakistan in 2013.

3. Longest non-stop flight

Image: AP

State-run airline, Air India, overtook UAE's Emirates to record the longest non-stop flight ever when it flew 15,300 km (9,506 miles) from New Delhi to San Francisco through the trans-Pacific route instead of the usual Atlantic route. It also managed to cover the distance in the shortest time.

Watch what the flight captain had to say about the feat.



4. Largest beach clean-up

Image: Facebook/Lewis Pugh

UN officials, Indian celebrities and residents of Mumbai's Versova area got together to clean up more than 4 million pounds of trash along a 2.5 km beach (1.5 miles) stretch. This was the world's biggest such clean-up drive that witnessed participation from Eric Solheim, chief of United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) and Lewis Pugh, the UN Patron of the Oceans.

Story continues

5. Most selfie deaths

Image: AP

India accounted for the highest number of selfie deaths in the world for the second year in a row. Most of these have been reported to be water-related casualties, revealed a study by the Carnegie Mellon University. The country's financial capital Mumbai, situated along the Arabian Sea, has now declared 16 no-selfie zones across the city.

BONUS: India Leads the World in Spam-Relaying Messages
What drives shares or pulls them down after a company comes up with quarterly earnings? Its not exactly how well a company performs in the recently concluded quarter or exhibits strong growth; it is an earnings beat or a miss which drives the market post release.

Investors always intend to take position ahead of time and fish for stocks that are likely to come up with an astounding performance. After much deliberation, Wall Street analysts forecast earnings of companies. These estimates act as investment leads.

The Importance of an Earnings Beat

A positive earnings surprise or an earnings beat is typically the case when actual or reported earnings come in above the consensus estimate. Historically, if a companys earnings manage to beat market expectations, its stock surges post release.

After all, a 20% earnings rise (though it looks good apparently) doesnt tell you if it is a decelerating growth momentum. If that is the case, the companys fundamentals are in serious question.

Also, seasonal fluctuations are a vital factor in determining a companys earnings growth. If a companys Q1 is seasonally weak and its Q4 is strong, then it is likely to report a sequential decline in earnings in Q1. In such cases, the growth rates are fallacious when it comes to analyzing the true picture of a company.

On the other hand, Wall Street analysts club their insights and the companys guidance to derive an earnings estimate. Thus, beating this key number is almost equivalent to beating the companys own expectation as well as the market perception. And if the margin of surprise is big, it typically drives the stock higher right after the release.

How to Find Stocks that Can Beat?

Now, since it is difficult to foretell if a company will beat or miss in the upcoming earnings season, investors can check its earnings surprise history. An impressive track record generally acts as a tailwind, sending the stock higher. It indicates that the company might surpass estimates even in its next release.

Story continues

The Winning Strategy

In order to shortlist stocks that are likely to come up with an earnings surprise, we chose the followingas our primary screening parameters.

Last EPS Surprise greater than or equal to 10%: Stocks that delivered a positive surprise in the last quarter are likely to surprise again.

Average EPS Surprise in the last four quarters greater than 20%: We lifted the bar for outperformance slightly higher by setting the average earnings surprise for the last four quarters at 20%.

Average EPS Surprise in the last two quarters greater than 20%: This points to a more consistent surprise history and makes the case for another surprise even stronger.

In addition, we place a few other criteria that push up the chance of a positive surprise.

Zacks Rank less than equal to 2:Only companies with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) rating can get through.

Earnings ESP greater than zero: A stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of #1, 2 or 3 (Hold) for an earnings beat to happen, as per our proven model.

In order to zero in on those that have long-term growth potential and high trading liquidity we have added the following parameters too:

Next 35 Years Estimated EPS Growth (Per Year) greater than 10%: Solid expected earnings growth exhibits the stocks long-term growth prospects.

Average 20-day Volume greater than 100,000: High trading volume implies that the stock has adequate liquidity.

A handful of criteria narrowed down the universe from over 7,700 stocks to 12.

Here are five out of the 12 stocks:

Diamondback Energy Inc. FANG: This Zacks Rank #2 company is engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin in West Texas. The Zacks Industry Rank of the stock is in the top 23%.

Burlington Stores Inc. BURL: It is an off-price apparel and home product retailer, with a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Industry Rank of the stock is in the top 15%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Morgan Stanley MS: It is a global financial services firm, with a Zacks Rank #1. The Zacks Industry Rank of the stock is in the top 14%.

Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Inc. HASI: This Zacks Rank #2 company is a real estate investment trust. The Zacks Industry Rank of the stock is in the top 21%.

Veeva Systems Inc. VEEV: This Zacks Rank #2 company is a provider of cloud-based software solutions for the life sciences industry. The Zacks Industry Rank of the stock is in the top 26%.

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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Brooklyn rapper Troy Ave has left the hospital after being wounded in an ambush shooting on Christmas Day  but not before being visited by friend and fellow rapper 50 Cent.

Police said Troy Ave, whose birth name is Roland Collins, was shot as he stopped at a red light in his car on Linden Boulevard at East 91st Street in East Flatbush at about 4:20 p.m. Sunday, according to NBC. The shooter then approached the vehicle and fired before fleeing on foot.

Tonight, Troy Ave was targeted again on Christmas, Scott Leemon, an attorney for the rapper, said in a statement obtained by Billboard. In Brooklyn, going to meet his family for the holiday, he was shot two times.

Attorney John Stella told NBC that Troy Aves girlfriend, who was in the passenger seat of the vehicle, was unharmed.

50 Cent visited the 31-year-old rapper as he recovered at the hospital with bandages on his head, posting a photo of the duo on Sunday.

Dope boy Troy all good, Merry Christmas, 50 Cent captioned the snap.

On Monday, Troy Ave posted a video of himself leaving the hospital with his arm in a sling and bandages still wrapped around his head on Instagram.

shot in my head, shot in my back, GOD is Great Ya boi is back, he wrote. From the bottom of my heart thank yall 4 all the prayers.

Stella told the New York Daily News that the rapper still has bullets lodged in his head and back, and surgery to remove the bullets will be scheduled.

Earlier this year, Troy Ave was arrested and charged in the shooting that left four wounded, one fatally, at a T.I. concert in New York City. The rapper, who shot himself in the leg during the incident, can be seen firing a gun inside the venues third-floor green room in video footage released by the NYPD. He was charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, but he has been free on $500,000 bail, according to Billboard.

My heart goes out for his family. I know this is something they all worry about, Stella said. It is unfortunate that this is something in the back of his mind always the possibility of being targeted.




Eleven people were killed and scores were injured by gun violence in several Chicago neighborhoods over a long and bloody holiday weekend, capping a year of record-breaking murder rates in the Windy City.

On Monday, two shootings in broad daylight brought the weekend tally to 53 people shot since Friday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune reports. At least a dozen of those injured are in serious or critical condition, making the death toll likely to rise.

On Christmas at around 9:20 p.m., two brothers, ages 18 and 21, were gunned down by an unknown assailant while playing dice on their familys front porch in the South Side, the Tribune reports. Five other friends and relatives were injured in the surprise attack, at least two were in critical condition and may have since died of their injuries.

It seemed like it was going to be a pretty decent weekend. Christmas, no shooting, then boom, their neighbor Anthony Marshall told the Tribune. By Monday evening, Chicago had seen at least two double homicides among eight multiple-victim shootings, according to the Tribune, which has kept a tally of gun violence throughout the long weekend.

A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, Anthony Guglielmi, told the paper that many of the shootings occurred in neighborhoods with historical gang conflicts. He said most of the attacks were carried out against potential rivals while at holiday gatherings, prompting retaliatory violence.

Some 45 guns were seized by police in areas where gang violence is prevalent, Guglielmi said, reiterating the police departments call for the gun sentencing tools against repeat offenders so that we can adequately hold people accountable for the citys unacceptable level of gun violence.

As of early December, Chicagos homicide toll had topped 700, a level of violence not seen in the city since the drug wars of the late 1990s. Last years murder rate closed at 488, according to police figures cited by the Tribune.

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Police said 77 people were killed in November alone, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Chicago police have reportedly confiscated almost 8,000 guns since the start of the year, the Journal says, about 20% more than in 2015, while they have also stepped up gun-related arrests by about 8% from last year.

A recent CNN investigation into Chicagos gun-violence epidemic said that an average of one child whose age is 16 or younger has been killed in the city every week for about 25 years, with streets and homes  like the South Side front porch targeted on Sunday night  the two most likely places to be murdered in Chicago since the turn of the century.
HOUSTON (AP)  Federal authorities say six people have pleaded guilty in a $2 million bribery scheme involving Mexican officials securing aircraft maintenance and repair contracts with Mexican government-owned and controlled entities.

Prosecutors in Houston and San Antonio say charges and plea agreements unsealed Tuesday show the bribes were paid to several different foreign officials either by wire transfer or checks to accounts with Mexican government-owned customers. The scheme began in 2006 and guilty pleas have been taken since October.

Awaiting sentencing in 2017 are 55-year-old Douglas Ray, of Magnolia; 54-year-old Victor Hugo Valdez Pinon, a citizen of Mexico; Kamta Ramnarine and Daniel Perez, both 69, of Brownsville; and 55-year-old Ernesto Hernandez Montemayor and 58-year-old Ramiro Ascencio Nevarez, both Mexican citizens and identified as previous officials of unspecified Mexican state government entities.
By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Healthcare company Abbott Laboratories <ABT.N> has won U.S. antitrust approval for its proposed $25 billion acquisition of medical device maker St. Jude Medical Inc <STJ.N>, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Tuesday.

Abbott agreed to divest two medical devices used in cardiovascular procedures to resolve FTC concerns the acquisition would stifle competition, the commission said in a statement.

"We continue to work to obtain final regulatory approvals and anticipate closing before the end of the year or shortly thereafter," Abbott spokeswoman Elissa Maurer said in an email.

The company will sell St. Jude's vascular closure device and Abbott's steerable sheath to Japan-based Terumo Corp <4543.T>. In October, Abbott said the companies would sell some of their medical device businesses to Terumo for about $1.12 billion as a step toward completing the deal.

Vascular closure devices are used to seal small holes made in an artery to prevent bleeding following a coronary angiogram, a special x-ray to see if coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed. Steerable sheaths are used to help place catheters into the heart.

European antitrust enforcers agreed to the deal in November provided the companies divest the two devices. Representatives for Abbott and St. Jude were not immediately available for comment.

Abbott has said the deal will help it compete against larger rivals Medtronic Plc <MDT.N> and Boston Scientific Corp <BSX.N> as hospitals look to cut the number of their suppliers.

St. Jude has been under pressure after short-seller Muddy Waters and research firm MedSec Holdings said in August that its heart devices were riddled with defects that make them vulnerable to cyber hacks. St. Jude has denied the allegations and sued both firms.

In October, St. Jude said it had told doctors to stop implants of its Nanostim leadless cardiac pacemaker, citing reports of problems with electronic data reporting caused by a battery malfunction that could put patients at risk.

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There have been no reports that any patient injuries resulted from the malfunction, St. Jude has said.

Abbott has been divesting businesses to focus on its cardiovascular devices and diagnostics business, selling its medical optics division to Johnson & Johnson <JNJ.N> for $4.3 billion earlier this year. It spun off its pharmaceuticals business as AbbVie Inc <ABBV.N> in 2013.

Abbott is trying to pull out of a second deal, the $5.8 billion acquisition of diagnostic test maker Alere Inc <ALR.N>, which had failed to file financial statements and disclosed probes into billing and foreign sales practices.

The two companies are suing each other.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz; Additional reporting by Toni Clarke; Editing by Leslie Adler, Alan Crosby and David Gregorio)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to deliver remarks Tuesday at Pearl Harbor in a visit aimed at strengthening U.S.-Japan ties. Alongside President Barack Obama, Abe will speak some 75 years after Japan attacked the naval base in Pearl Harbor killing thousands and sparking the U.S. entry into World War II.

"The meeting will be an opportunity for the two leaders to review our joint efforts over the past four years to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, including our close cooperation on a number of security, economic, and global challenges," the White House said about Abe's visit to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in statement. "The two leaders visit will showcase the power of reconciliation that has turned former adversaries into the closest of allies, united by common interests and shared values."

Abe will be the fourth Japanese prime minister to visit Pearl Harbor, but the first to visit the Arizona, a massive battleship that sunk after it was bombed, killing 1,177 Marines and sailors. Abe's visit is a show of reciprocation after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, one of the Japanese cities on which the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb in 1945.

"The world was forever changed here, but today the children of this city will go through their day in peace," Obama said in Hiroshima in May. "What a precious thing that is. It is worth protecting, and then extending to every child. That is a future we can choose, a future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not as the dawn of atomic warfare but as the start of our own moral awakening."

The visit from Abe comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office. The Japanese leader and the president-elect already had a "very candid discussion," in November, according to Abe. It was the first visit from a foreign leader with Trump after he won the presidency. As with most things concerning the Trump administration it is difficult to predict how Japan-U.S. relations will shift under the new president. But this trip is a major effort toward maintaining cooperation between the nations.

Story continues

"I think, for Americans to see a prime minister come here, it really shows the depth and strength of our alliance," U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy told ABC News.

The event at Pearl Harbor is scheduled to begin around 3:05 p.m. EST. You can watch a live stream at the White House website here or simply watch the embedded video feed below.

Related Articles
Actor, producer and comedian Ricky Harris has died at the age of 54 from a heart attack, according to his manager Cindy Ambers (via Variety).

A US citizen and native of Long Beach, Harris' film and TV credits include "Murder Was The Case", "Heat", "Poetic Justice", "Bones", "Moesha", "Everyone Hates Chris", "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story", and, most recently, Thomas J. Churchill's "Check Point", which is scheduled for release on January 20.

Harris was involved in the 1990s West Coast rap scene and contributed to several hip-hop records, with many of the artists he had previously collaborated with -- such as Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Warren G and Cedric the Entertainer -- taking to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute to the performer.

Harris is survived by his mother, his former wife and two daughters.






Shares of Adeptus Health, Inc. ADPT have been severely underperforming. This is evidenced by the fact that the stock has lost 85.7% year to date, whereas the Zacks categorized Medical Hospital industry has declined 8.7%. The companys performance was also weaker than other players from the same industry, such as LifePoint Health, Inc. LPNT, Tenet Healthcare Corporation THC and Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. ACHC that declined by 19.6%, 49.7% and 44.5%, respectively.





Why Did the Stock Underperform?



The leading patient-centered healthcare organization has been affected by tight liquidity, pressurized patients volume, high expenses, exposure to a competitive market to name a few. These negatives have taken a toll on its stock as well.



The company has been witnessing volume weakness in the non-HOPD markets due to stiff competition. It is also incurring incremental costs in relation to opening three hospitals.

Lower revenues from the companys non-HOPD markets like Houston, San Antonio and Austin as well as its fixed cost model directly hit its bottom line.



The company is also facing problems in billing and collection efforts. This is indicated by the increase in days sales outstanding (DSO). The introduction of ICD-10 created the need to outsource the companys billing and collections to an experienced vendor. However, the companys DSO has been risen from 54 days in the third quarter of 2015 to 80 days in the second of 2016. As of the third quarter of this year, the DSO was 119 days. As evidenced by the rising DSO, the transition to McKesson has clearly not moved ahead as planned.



Furthermore, the company had to incur higher expenses due to the conversion of non-HOPD to an HOPD market in Denver.



Adeptus has generated negative operating cash flow in the last reported uarter in order to fund its rapid growth and is currently exploring financing options to improve its liquidity position. Recently, the company disclosed a surprise $57.5 million incremental financing to bolster its liquidity position.



Adeptus lowered its adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $70$80 million from the prior range of $110$115 million in the third quarter, which indicated difficult operating environment for the company.



Nonetheless, the companys management team is taking initiatives to help bring about the changes necessary to restore profitability and, ultimately increase shareholder value. In this regard it has appointed Goldman Sachs to explore various financing alternatives. The company also changed its corporate governance structure by separating roles of the Chairman and the CEO to better face the challenges.



In this regard, the company recently appointed Gregory Scott  its Director since 2013  as Chairman of the board. The company is currently looking for a suitable candidate to fill up the post of its CEO. In order to address its liquidity crunch the company is scaling back development activities until it can successfully execute a plan to improve business. The company is also focusing on completing the conversion of non-HOPD markets to HOPDs. Moreover, it is working on addressing issues with its primary third-party billing and collections company by implementing new internal and external resources to recoup its billings.



Despite the aforesaid steps, there remains a lack of visibility over the stocks 2017 earnings performance. Hence, we do not expect to see a rebound in the stock price any time soon.



Adeptus Health carries a Zacks Rank # 5 (Strong Sell).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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On Dec 27, we issued an updated research report on Aetna Inc. AET.

Aetna has come into the spot light recently owing to its pending merger with Humana Inc. HUM. The deal, however, has been sued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) on grounds that the merger would restrict competition in the U.S medical insurance market. The DoJ has also objected the joint decision of Aetna and Humana to sell certain MA assets to Molina Healthcare Inc MOH. Though the duo referred to divestment as a Good Business move, the DoJ alleged that the asset sale was meant to shove its underperforming businesses to Molina and not just for the sake of business growth. Along with the Aetna-Humana merger, the Justice Department sued the merger between Anthem Inc. ANTM and Cigna Corp. CI on similar grounds.

The antitrust trial of Aetna-Humana merger closed last week. The judge's decision on whether to allow the deal to proceed is expected to come by January. In case of a favorable ruling, the merger will be closed by Feb 15, 2017. The deal, which was originally slated to be closed in June last year, has been delayed and is still shrouded in uncertainty.

Since the aforesaid litigation, shares of Aetna have been losing value. The stock has gained only 6.5% since Jul 21, whereas the Zacks categorized HMO industry has gained 10.7%. Cessation of share buyback owing to the pending merger has also contributed to this share price depreciation. Hence, it is not surprising that shareholders confidence on the stock has also been affected.

PRICE CHART SINCE JUL 21, 2016

Nevertheless, Aetnas relentless efforts in transforming the Health Care System via accountable care organizations impress. More than 40% of its medical spending is generated through some form of value-based care model. The company believes that it will be able to increase the share of such spending to 75% by 2020. In order to accomplish its target, the company ties up with numerous health care providers to increase its value-based care offerings.

Story continues

The companys healthy balance sheet with historically high reserve strength, RBC ratio of approximately 550% and parent cash of $2.3 billion at the end of third quarter 2016 indicates its operational efficiency. The company projects excess cash flow of up to $2.4 billion for 2016.

Declining operating expense ratio in the first nine months of 2016 reflects its strong commitment to managing its operating costs. Management expects operating expense ratio to be approximately 18% for 2016, lower than that of 2015 and 2014. This reduction in expenses is expected to drive the companys margin expansion.

Aetna is aggressively expanding its reach in the fast growing government businesses. Management expects the government business to add 20 cents to 25 cents per share to the companys bottom line in 2016. Aetna is also expanding aggressively in the international markets with its second-highest exposure to international business.

Aetna enjoys competitive leverage and a strong enterprise value by virtue of its brand name. We expect such positives to helps it survive in the market despite the challenges it currently faces.

Zacks Rank

Aetna presently holds rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .

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The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the largest police union in the United States, has published an open letter to Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos. The note calls for the online retailer to stop selling all apparel and related products associated with Black Lives Matter and its messaging. The letter specifically points to the phrases Black Lives Matter, Bulletproof, and Hands up, dont shoot as those that should be pulled from Amazons virtual shelves.

In the letter, Chuck Canterbury, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, writes, Because I believe you share the FOPs goal of increasing the bonds of trust between the men and women of law enforcement and the communities they serve, I wanted to let you know that my members are very upset that you and Amazon are complicit in the sale of this offensive merchandise. I understand that these are third party sales, but Amazon does have the ability to prohibit the sale of products which are offensive to the public and which may damage your companys good name amongst FOP members and other active and retired law enforcement officers.

Just last week, Walmart removed Black Lives Matter-associated merchandise after receiving a similar letter from the FOP. Like with Amazon, the Bulletproof and Black Lives Matter apparel was being sold through Walmarts website by third-party vendors.

According to The Economist, Roland Fryer, a Harvard economist, found that black people were 17.3 percent more likely to incur use of force by police after controlling for characteristics like age and circumstances of the encounter (such as running away or trying to assault an officer). Fryer also found that black people were 21.1 percent more likely than whites to have force used against them, even in instances where police described them as being perfectly compliant with police instructions.

While the FOP seems to take issue with the mass-retailing of Black Lives Matter-related merchandise, many believe that the fashion community as a whole hasnt done enough to call attention to systemic racism and the disproportionate number of African-American men, women, and children. In July, stylist and blogger Hannah Stoudmire boycotted Mens New York Fashion Week to highlight the fact that none of the participating designers or fashion houses had publicly expressed condolences to the families of Alton Sterling, Philandro Castile, or any of the other black lives lost at the hands of police violence this year.

Story continues

In an Instagram post, Stoudmire wrote: The Fashion Industry acknowledged the Paris Attacks and The Orlando Shootings, but not once did they acknowledge the innocent black lives lost to police brutality. Today is Day 1 of NYC Mens Fashion Week and I will not attend this year and I know that my presence will not be missed, nor will it matter and business will carry on as usual, but not for me. Im just not built that way. How do you think I feel as a Black woman who works in this industry?

Word of Stoudmires boycott spread, and a number of protesters appeared alongside her outside of the shows, wearing black T-shirts with the names of black victims of police violence in white lettering. The group stood silently outside of the venue where the mens shows were being held, with their hands up.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) ultimately responded to Stoudmire and her peers, expressing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and posting on Instagram about Stoudmires protest:

An important reminder no matter how busy the week. #blacklivesmatter A photo posted by cfda (@cfda) on Jul 12, 2016 at 9:41am PDT

During Septembers New York Fashion Weeks women shows, stylist Shayla Hill further underscored the perceive lack of attention by the fashion industry to the Black Lives Matter movement and its issues, wearing garments bearing messages pointedly saying as much  including a pink sequined jacket painted to say, Vogue Doesnt Care About Ebony Issues.

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Value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. After all, who wouldnt want to find stocks that are either flying under the radar and are compelling buys, or offer up tantalizing discounts when compared to fair value?



One way to find these companies is by looking at several key metrics and financial ratios, many of which are crucial in the value stock selection process. Lets put American Airlines Group Inc. AAL stock into this equation and find out if it is a good choice for value-oriented investors right now, or if investors subscribing to this methodology should look elsewhere for top picks:



PE Ratio



A key metric that value investors always look at is the Price to Earnings Ratio, or PE for short. This shows us how much investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings in a given stock, and is easily one of the most popular financial ratios in the world. The best use of the PE ratio is to compare the stocks current PE ratio with: a) where this ratio has been in the past; b) how it compares to the average for the industry/sector; and c) how it compares to the market as a whole.



On this front, American Airlines has a trailing twelve months PE ratio of 6.20. This level actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the PE for the S&P 500 compares in at about 19.84. If we focus on the stocks long-term PE trend, the current level puts American Airlines current PE ratio above its midpoint of 5.28 over the past two years, with the number having risen rapidly over the past few months.







Further, the stocks PE also compares favorably with the Zacks classified Transportation sectors trailing twelve months PE ratio, which stands at 15.21. At the very least, this indicates that the stock is relatively undervalued right now, compared to its peers.

We should also point out that American Airlines has a forward PE ratio (price relative to this years earnings) of 8.73, so we might say that the forward earnings estimates indicate that the companys share price will likely appreciate in the near future.



P/S Ratio



Another key metric to note is the Price/Sales ratio. This approach compares a given stocks price to its total sales, where a lower reading is generally considered better. Some people like this metric more than other value-focused ones because it looks at sales, something that is far harder to manipulate with accounting tricks than earnings.



Right now, American Airlines has a P/S ratio of about 0.61. This is way lower than the S&P 500 average, which comes in at 2.84 right now. Also, as we can see in the chart below, this stands somewhat below the highs for this stock in particular over the recent past.



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If anything, AAL is in the lower end of its range in the time period from a P/S metric, suggesting some level of undervalued tradingat least compared to historical norms.



P/CF Ratio



An often overlooked ratio that can still be a great indicator of value is the price/cash flow metric. This ratio doesnt take amortization and depreciation into account, so can give a more accurate picture of the financial health in a business. This is a preferred metric to some valuation investors because cash flows are (a) generally less prone to manipulation by the companys management and (b) are less affected by variation in accounting policies between different companies.



The ratio is generally applied to find out whether a companys stock is overpriced or underpriced with reference to its cash flows generation potential compared with its competitors. However, it is not commonly used for cross-industry comparison, as the average price to cash flow ratio varies from industry to industry.



In this case, American Airlines P/CF ratio of 3.58 compares favorably with the Zacks classified Transportation-Airline industry average of 5.57, which again indicates that the stock is undervalued in this respect.





Broad Value Outlook



In aggregate, American Airlines currently has a Zacks Value Style Score of A, putting it into the top 20% of all stocks we cover from this look. This makes American Airlines a solid choice for value investors. Clearly, AAL is a solid choice on the value front from multiple angles.



What About the Stock Overall?



American Airlines looks to be a good choice for value investors, and there are other favorable factors that this company enjoys, as well. It is worth noting that American Airlines has a Growth grade of B and a Momentum score of A. This gives AAL a Zacks VGM scoreor its overarching fundamental gradeof A. (You can read more about the Zacks Style Scores here >>)



However, the companys recent earnings estimates have been mixed at best. The current quarter has seen four estimates go higher in the past sixty days compared to one lower, while the full year estimate has seen five revisions upward and one downward in the same time period.



This has had a clear impact on the consensus estimate, as the current quarter consensus estimate has risen by 11.6% in the past two months, while the full year estimate has climbed just 2.2%. You can see the consensus estimate trend and recent price action for the stock in the chart below:

AMER AIRLINES Price and Consensus



AMER AIRLINES Price and Consensus | AMER AIRLINES Quote

This somewhat mixed trend is why the stock has just a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and why we are looking for in-line performance from the company in the near term.



Bottom Line



American Airlines is an inspired choice for value investors, as it is hard to beat its incredible lineup of statistics on this front. However, with a Zacks Rank #3, it is hard to get too excited about this company overall. In fact, over the past two years, the Zacks Transportation-Airline industry has largely underperformed the broader market, as you can see below:

So, value investors might want to wait for estimates and analyst sentiment to turn around in this name first, but once that happens, this stock could be a compelling pick.



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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)  A man has been formally arraigned on a capital murder charge in the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old boy in a road rage incident in Little Rock, Arkansas.

A Little Rock district judge on Tuesday ordered 33-year-old Gary Holmes to remain jailed without bond on charges of capital murder and two counts of committing a terroristic act in the shooting death of Acen (AY'-sin) King.

Holmes has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police said Acen was on a shopping trip with his grandmother, Kim King-Macon, on Dec. 17 when he was shot.

King-Macon told police she had stopped at a stop sign in the rain when a man honked his horn, then got out of his car and fired a gun.
New York (AFP) - US prosecutors announced criminal charges Tuesday against three hackers who allegedly made $4 million in illicit profits from insider trading of information pilfered from law firms advising on corporate mergers.

The three defendants, two from Macau and one from China, successfully breached the computer networks of international law firms with New York offices by unlawfully obtaining a firm employee's credentials and installing malware on his company's server, the US Attorney's office in New York said.

The malware permitted the hackers to monitor law firm communications about more than a dozen transactions in 2014 and 2015 that were discussed or contemplated, including some deals that were never consummated.

The hackers then bought shares of companies that would later be acquired, winning big profits.

The hackers allegedly made $380,000 on trades of Intermune, a drug maker bought by Germany's Roche in 2014; $1.4 million in trades on Altera, bought by Intel in 2015; and $841,000 on Borderfree, acquired by Pitney Bowes in 2015.

"This case of cyber-meets-securities fraud should serve as a wake-up call for law firms around the world: you are and will be targets of cyber hacking because you have information valuable to would-be criminals," US Attorney Preet Bharara said.

The authorities arrested Iat Hong of Macau in Hong Kong, who is now pending extradition proceedings. The other two defendants, Chin Hung of Macau and Bo Zheng of China, are at large, a spokesman for the US Attorney's office said.
Australians wont be able to get their drink on at one beach in particular for summer after visitors left the pristine shoreline covered in trash on Christmas Day. As a result, in officials declaring an immediate ban of alcohol at Coogee Beach. More than 10,000 people left the beach covered in 15 tons of trash including alcohol bottles, cans and cigarette boxes, according to reports.

Randwicks City Council announced the ban Monday, explaining that alcohol would not be allowed at Coogee Beach or surrounding beachside parks during the summer season, which is from December through February.

Randwicks Mayor Noel DSouza said in a statement he was disappointed in beachgoers for not taking better care of public property.

The poor and inappropriate behavior of a few on Christmas Day have forced Council to introduce a total alcohol ban for the area for summer., DSouza said. The public outrage to the devastation of the parks and beach itself on Christmas Day has been quite phenomenal. The clear message weve received is that we need to give the beach and nearby parks back to all people to enjoy peacefully and safely. It is disappointing we have to take such a strong stance, but we need to reassure the community that they can feel safe when visiting and enjoying the jewel in the crown of Randwick City, Coogee Beach.

The ban will take effect at Coogee Beach and all nearby reserves and parks as of Thursday until the end of Australias summer.

The complete ban on alcohol came following alcohol restrictions at Dunningham and Goldstein Reserves issued by city council just a few weeks before Christmas. The restrictions prevented adults from having open alcohol at the beach and surrounding parks between 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related incidents at the beach.

Story continues

Earlier in the year, beaches near Melbourne also issued alcohol bans. Drinking curfews were put in place at St. Kilda and Port Melbourne beaches, as well as parks around the City of Port Phillip back in January. Initially, people were able to consume alcohol at the beach until 8 p.m. However, to reduce the chances of trash being left behind and alcohol-related accidents, the city changed the curfew to start at 5 p.m. instead.

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MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Unusual torrential rain in Australias outback turned the Uluru monolith into a series of cascading waterfalls and triggered flash floods, and seven people are missing including a Japanese tourist who was swept away in a car and an Australian family. Police were using helicopters to search for the family of six, missing since Christmas Day downpours drenched the desert that is usually sweltering in the midst of the southern summer at this time of year. A car carrying three people, believed to be Japanese tourists, was washed off a road into a flooded creek near the town of Alice Springs, police said. Two people managed to get out but police had "grave concerns" for the third who was trapped as the vehicle was washed away, said Acting Superintendent Brendan Muldoon. "We're told by witnesses it rolled over a couple of times and was wedged up against a tree," Muldoon told reporters on Tuesday. Authorities closed the UluruKata Tjuta National Park, which surrounds the landmark also known as Ayers Rock, as record-breaking summer rain fell on Sunday and Monday. The rock, a sacred aboriginal site, was shrouded in cloud as water cascaded off it. Northern Territory Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Sally Cutter said more than 232 millimetres (nine inches) of rain fell on the town of Kintore on Monday, more than double the record December rainfall of 110 millimetres (four inches) in 2003. Uluru is one of Australia's major tourist destinations, attracting 300,000 visitors a year. The park reopened on Tuesday. About 80 people remained in evacuation centres in Kintore on Tuesday and roads in the area were inaccessible, a Northern Territory Police and Emergency Service's spokesman told Reuters. (Reporting by Jarni Blakkarly; Editing by Robert Birsel)
By Aditi Shah and Promit Mukherjee

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI (Reuters) - As India's biggest corporate showdown heads from the boardroom to the courtroom and brings in a Who's Who of the country's legal profession, ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry vows a multi-layered battle for governance reforms at the $100 billion conglomerate, people close to him say.

Mistry, who was dismissed from his post in October and has since left boards at other Tata group companies, will step up his legal fight with patriarch Ratan Tata and others and make his case in any regulatory investigations into the Tata group, three people familiar with Mistry's strategy said.

Mistry has so far broadly laid out three sets of allegations: breaches of governance within the Tata group; misconduct at Tata ventures; and the illegality of his ouster.

"If all of those are put together, it paints a picture - of mis-governance and misappropriation," said one of those people. "I think there will be different elements, which will all be looked at in different forums."

Tata Sons, the holding company with stakes in listed firms operating in a range of industries, denies Mistry's allegations and says it has followed the highest standards of corporate governance.

Two lawyers representing Tata said the group is ready to defend itself and will challenge the merits of any legal action Mistry takes.

In his first salvo, Mistry last week filed a petition at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), a quasi-judicial body that deals with corporate grievances in India, alleging mismanagement and shareholder oppression by Tata Sons, and seeking the replacement of the group's board of directors.

On Tuesday, Tata hit back, filing a legal notice against Mistry, accusing him of breaching confidentiality rules, and alleging he shared "confidential data, business strategies, financial information" related to Tata Sons.

BURDEN OF PROOF

Tata legal advisers say the burden of proof is on Mistry, who will need to prove his assertions that decisions taken by Tata Sons were not in the interest of all shareholders, and it mismanaged group companies' affairs.

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"He will first have to substantiate that something wrong happened and that there were actions intended to oppress him," Tata group counsel Mohan Parasaran said before the Tata filing.

Parasaran said Mistry would need to prove that certain decisions taken by Tata Sons - such as the $12 billion purchase of steelmaker Corus' assets in Europe or the decision to continue making the loss-making Nano car - were oppressive to the interest of minority shareholders in Tata Steel and Tata Motors.

"Only proving that these were bad decisions does not amount to anything," Parasaran said. "Broadly, we have a strong legal case."

Responding to Mistry's petition, the NCLT stopped short of granting his request to prevent the Tata Group from issuing new securities that would dilute his stakeholding. It will hear the petition again on Jan. 31.

Lawyers not involved in the proceedings say the legal battle could stretch from the Bombay High Court to the Securities Appellate Tribunal, and even to the Indian Supreme Court.

Corporate grievance cases in India can drag on. A dispute between the companies of billionaire brothers Mukesh and Anil Ambani over natural gas supplies lasted for two years and went all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Both the Tata and Mistry camps have hired some of India's top legal brains.

"The stage seems set for the next round where courts and regulators will be involved," said Vaneesa Agrawal, a securities lawyer at Suvan Law Advisors.

Mistry alleges misconduct in the way some Tata companies awarded contracts, and fraud at one of its aviation ventures.

He also alleges some trustees of Tata Trusts - charitable trusts that own two-thirds of Tata Sons - undermined the boards of Tata Sons and group companies by demanding a say in key internal matters - in breach of securities rules.

"The make or break will be whether Mistry can prove that the Trusts used their powers in the interest of their personal whims," said a Mumbai-based lawyer, who asked not to be named.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah and Promit Mukherjee, with additional reporting by Abhirup Roy and Euan Rocha in Mumbai and Douglas Busvine in New Delhi; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)
As far as retirees go, Betty Stein keeps a pretty busy schedule. She writes two columns a week for her local newspaper in Fort Wayne, Indiana. When she's not on deadline, she's often volunteering at a middle school, where she helps students with writing and assists with the literary magazine.

Stein turned 100 in early December, but she shows no signs of slowing down soon. "Some people think I should be sitting in a corner knitting," she says, laughing. "But I have things I want to do."

Stein has achieved something everyone around the world wants, but too few achieve: happiness in her golden years. What actually causes that happiness is hard to pinpoint, but researchers have some guesses. And some countries, they say, do better than others at laying the groundwork for a strong sense of well-being later in life.

As the world's population ages, addressing their needs will be an ongoing challenge. In 2015, there were 901 million women and men over age 60 across the globe, according to the U.N. By 2030, that figure is projected to grow to 1.4 billion.

Most older people around the world report that two factors are key to their well-being: access to income and access to health care, says Mark Gorman, senior policy adviser at HelpAge International, a global network of organizations that advocate for older people worldwide.

Income is key to giving older people a sense of security, Gorman says, but it's not only about what they can provide for themselves.

"One of the reasons people value an income is not because they want to be rich," he says. "They want to participate in communities and they want to be able to contribute to their families."

[READ: These are the 10 happiest countries in the world.]

In South Africa, for example, his group found that older people enjoyed spending their pension on family members -- paying for them to start a business or go to school. Around the world, he's heard from community members who say that what they most appreciate about their pension is the chance it affords them to attend important community events, like weddings.

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In many countries, "If you go to a wedding party, you have to bring a gift," he says. "If you can't afford to do that, you don't go."

Access to health care is important, experts say, because it can prevent or lessen some of the physical challenges that often occur later in life. Health and happiness may seem separate, but they are closely intertwined, says Terry Fulmer, president of The John A Hartford Foundation, which funds programs to improve the care of older adults in the United States.

"I have never seen a person who is sick who could tell me emphatically that they are content and happy," she says.

Being healthy later in life leads to a sense of self-mastery, Fulmer says, and makes it easier to access the social networks that add to the quality of life in older years.

For Stein, being social is in her DNA. She's got a walker, but that doesn't stop her from filling her schedule with lunches and dinners. She had a bout of pneumonia a few weeks ago, which she says slowed down her social life a bit. "But keeping busy, both mentally and physically, are important," she says.

A ranking of countries by Gorman's group, called the Global AgeWatch Index, factors in the ability for older people to connect socially, as well as stay healthy and financially self-sufficient.

The 2015 index, the latest version, looks at how 96 nations are addressing four main criteria: income security, health status, capability and an enabling environment -- all factors the group believes leads to a sense of well-being later in life.

The countries that top the ranking -- as well as middle-ranked countries such as Chile, Argentina and Mauritius -- have "long-standing social welfare policies delivering universal pensions and better access to health care, as well as action plans on ageing," according to Index.

[READ: Why Danes happily pay high rates of taxes.]

Industrialized nations tend to be at the top, while African countries tend to be overrepresented at the bottom. Afghanistan takes the last spot. Stein's country, the United States, is No. 9.

The Index gives kudos to Switzerland, the No. 1 nation, for a range of policies on active aging. It also points to Japan, the world's oldest country, which it praises for adopting a comprehensive welfare policy, universal health care and a universal social pension.

Here are the top 10 countries for aging, according to the Global AgeWatch Index.



Rank Countries 1 Switzerland 2 Norway 3 Sweden 4 Germany 5 Canada 6 Netherlands 7 Iceland 8 Japan 9 United States 10 United Kingdom

Devon Haynie is news editor, international for U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dhaynie@usnews.com.
Whether you are looking to grab a bite before the big night out or going for something more low-key this year, New Year's Eve is one of the best nights to dine at one of Los Angeles' most-buzzed about restaurants.

Many are offering special menus, live music and complimentary champagne to help ring in 2017 style. From celebrity hotspot Catch LA to sexy sushi spot Katana, there are a ton of delectable dinner options that shouldn't be missed before the end of the year.

Keep reading to see our top 10 LA NYE restaurant picks below.

CATCH LA

Photo: CATCH LA

Catch LA

Spotting celebrities like Kate Hudson, Selena Gomez, Orlando Bloom and Ryan Seacrest at Catch LA is always common at the new LA hotspot. This New Years Eve, dine like the stars by reserving a table as part of an early seating or a late seating. The restaurant will offer its a la carte menu, plus a few standout specials, including Oven Roasted Dorade and Five Pound Wild Caught Norwegian King Crab with a per person food and beverage minimum. They will also have a DJ for the late seating and will be bringing in TVs too, so guests can watch the ball drop while eating in style.

Delilah

Photo: Delilah

Delilah

For its first New Year's Eve, the h.wood Groups newest endeavor, Delilah in West Hollywood, will be celebrating with a night of dinner and dancing, black tie Gatsby-style. The hybrid restaurant/lounge will offer two seatings, $150 for the first seating 7 p.m. until 8:30 pm. and $300 for a second seating anytime after 9 p.m. which comes with one complimentary bottle of Perrier-Jout Bell Epoque Champagne for every six guests.

Prix fixe menu includes standout items such as Fried Calamari, Pan Seared Salmon and Delilah's famous Slutty Brownie dessert.

For reservations call 323.745.0600 or email reservations@delilahla.com.

The Tuck Room Tavern

Photo: The Tuck Room Tavern

Tuck Room Tavern

Tuck Room Tavern in Westwood is unlike any other NYE dining experience. Food fans can enjoy a five-course dinner 5- 8 p.m. for $75 per person and optional wine flight for additional $35, which includes Ahi Tuna Cudo Cone with tempura Hass avocado, yuzu aioli, togarashi and chili oil, Root Vegetable Duo gratin onion soup and salad, Seared Scallops with cauliflower puree, brown butter-meyer lemon vinaigrette and pea tendrils, a Land & Sea main dish with grilled petite filet mignon, butter poached lobster tail, crispy fingerlings, truffled and bearnaise and finishing with a Red Velvet Pavlova crispy vanilla meringue, red velvet raspberry chunk ice cream, whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

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Tuck Room Tavern is also offering a Cocktail Countdown for $60. At 9 p.m., enjoy the Norma Jean Cocktail with strawberries, vodka and lemonade. At 10 p.m. sip on the Lookbetternaked Margarita made with 100 percent de Agave Camarena Tequila, organic agave nectar, lemon, lime and sweet herb of Paraguay. At 11 p.m. try the Tiki Foreplay with Bacardi Anejo, El Dorado 8-year-old Demerara Rum, Balsam Amaro, blood orange, magnolia, strawberry, pineapple and passion fruit. At midnight, toast the new year with glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne.

Guests can extend their holiday celebration by heading to the adjacent iPic Theaters to see one of the much-anticipated new film releases, including this seasons must-see blockbusters, such as "La La Land," "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and "Passengers." Rather than watching from small uncomfortable seats with basic movie snacks, iPic Theaters LA offers ultra-wide reclining seats with individual service call buttons that summon ninja-like servers in case you still have room for a few more treats.

In fact, iPics specially crafted Dining in the Dark in-theater menu gets a sweet feature to ring in the New Year with a festive dessert from Chef Sherry Yard. For one night only, New Years Eve moviegoers can order a celebratory Baked Alaska made with raspberry sorbet, vanilla gelato, warm toasted meringue, chocolate sauce and pearls, with a $12 glass of La Marca Prosecco to ring in 2017 or luxe it with a $17 pour of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. Guests can also simply enjoy the elegant dessert a la carte for $8.

For reservations call 310-307-7004

Cocktail Countdown tickets available HERE

Bagatelle Los Angeles

Photo: Bagatelle Los Angeles

Bagatelle Los Angeles

This New Year's Eve, Bagatelle Los Angeles introduces two special prix fixe packages that include bottle service and new dishes available for one night only. The first seating, priced at $100 per person, is a savory three-course meal that offers Homard Poche et Caviar DEsturgeon (Maine lobster with sturgeon caviar, Bellwether Farms ricotta and nueskes bacon), Risotto Aux Chanterelles et a la Truffe Noir (chanterelle mushroom, butternut squash, cipollini, arugula) and Gateau au Chocolat Chaud et Grand Marnier (warm chocolate cake with caramel budino, whipped creme fraiche and tahitian vanilla ganache), to name a few.

The second seating, priced at $175 per person, is an exquisite five course meal that offers Heirloom et Petites Betteraves (baby beets, Dom Perignon rose compressed pear 24k gold vinaigrette and arugula), Les Pates Papardelle (hand-cut pasta with butter-poached Maine lobster, radicchio and caviar crema), Cotelette DAgneau Sonoma (grilled lamb rack, smoked merguez, brussels sprouts and rosemary-pear chutney), Raspberry-Dom Perignon Gelee (champagne sorbet) and Genoise a la Noix de Doco (coconut sponge, caramelia-gold ganache and rum creme anglaise).

For reservations call 310-659-3900 or visit bistrotbagatelle.com.

Paley

Photo: Paley

Paley

Ring in 2017 at Paley, in the heart of Hollywood starting at 5:30 pm. For $65 per guest (and $35 wine pairing) guests can enjoy a celebratory four-course dinner with menu items, including mirin-braised Pork Belly with ginger-apple puree and Pan-Roasted Halibut with caviar.

While you dine, a five-piece jazz band will play tunes until 11 p.m., when a live DJ duo will start their set as guests watch the ball drop. At midnight toast the new year with a complimentary glass of champagne and stay for the party until 2 a.m.

For reservations visit paleyhollywood.com.

Fig & Olive Melrose Place

Photo: Fig & Olive Melrose Place

Fig & Olive Melrose Place

Celebrate the debut of 2017 in style at Fig & Olive Melrose Place's annual White & Gold Party. Guests will sit down to an amazing four-course dinner menu, including dishes like lobster bisque, foie gras served with fig chutney, seared sea scallops in a vinegar truffle dressing and beef filet mignon (we're drooling already). Fig & Olive will also have a champagne toast and a countdown to the new year with a balloon drop and tunes by the hottest DJs.

For reservations call 310-360-9100 or email melroseplace@figandolive.com

Michael's on Naples

Photo: Michael's on Naples

Michael's on Naples

Head to the beach, Long Beach that is, and kick off 2017 at Michael's on Naples with an irresistible Italian five-course meal prepared by Chef Eric Samaniego. For $125 per person/$175 with wine pairing, guests will enjoy Vitello Tonnato (roasted veal, crispy veal sweetbread, tuna sauce and caper berries), Tagliatelle con Aragosta (homemade pasta, Maine lobster, caviar and tarragon), Ippoglosso (roasted Alaskan halibut, porcini gnocchi and mustard greens), Wagyu (seared Wagyu beef, smoked sunchokes and roasted maitake mushrooms) and Torta Di Cioccolato (chocolate-hazelnut cake and roasted banana gelato). Also includes a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

For reservations call 562-439-7080 or visit opentable.com/michaels-on-naples

Doheny Room

Photo: Doheny Room

Doheny Room

Head to Doheny Room for a roaring good time this New Years Eve. In addition to an open bar for $100, the West Hollywood hotspot is hosting two seatings of prix fixe dinner curated by Award Winning Chef Daniel Elmaleh. Complimentary bottles of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut, music by Metty and midnight champagne toast are also included.

Tickets available at tixr.com.

For table reservations contact DohenyRoomReservations@sbe.com

Katana

Photo: Katana

Katana

Get ready to party like it's 1920 this New Years eve at Katana. In addition to the Japanese hotspot's famed sushi bar and robata grill , Katana's NYE celebration will also feature a Cigar Lounge, roaring '20s decor and party favors, jazz music, confetti cannons and complimentary midnight champagne toast.

For reservations call 323-650-8585

The Nice Guy

Photo: The Nice Guy

The Nice Guy

Dine alongside West Hollywood's hottest crowd at the Nice Guy this New Year's Eve. The A-List restaurant/lounge will be offering two seatings, the first, $150 6-8 p.m. and a the second for $200 per person, which comes with a complimentary bottle of Dom Perignon, after 9 p.m. Diners can nosh on items such as Octopus Carpaccio with olives, capers, potatoes, mensuna greens and garlic aioli, Braised Short Rib with black garlic glaze, sweet potato mash and gremolata dressing and finish up with Nutella Cannoli with tiramisu mousse filling, chocolate chips and powdered sugar.

For reservations call 310-360-9500

Related Articles
The future is looking brighter for Being Mary Jane. Bet announced today that the two sides have reached a settlement in star Gabrielle Unions multimillion-dollar breach of contract lawsuit against the network.

BET Networks is pleased to announce that they have reached an amicable agreement with Gabrielle Union and look forward to sharing the new season of Being Mary Jane with its loyal fans beginning January 10, 2017, the network said today in a statement provided to Deadline. No further details were revealed. Reps for Union did not respond to request for comment on the settlement.

The future of BETs signature drama appeared to be in doubt after Union filed the lawsuit in October. Union had alleged BET and the shows producers had reneged on an agreement to have a significant break between the 10-episode fourth and fifth seasons of the drama. According to Unions camp, BET and Being Mary Jane producers threw that deal aside so production could run back-to-back and costs cut. Union was seeking general damages of at least $3 million and a declaration that BET could not seek more than 13 episodes for any season of Being Mary Jane. Series producer Breakdown Productions also was a defendant in the suit.

There is no word on how this deal will effect the action SAG-AFTRA has taken against BET over allegedly breaking the contract the union had with the net.

Related stories

'Madiba': First Look At Laurence Fishburne As Nelson Mandela In BET Miniseries

'Being Mary Jane' Case: BET Slams Gabrielle Union & SAG-AFTRA For "Playing This Out In The Media" - Update

'Being Mary Jane' Adds Valarie Pettiford, Ashton Holmes & Chike Okonkwo
- By Adam Lawrence





The Senate released a report that was over 125 pages long and covered a year-long investigation into drug pricing last Wednesday. The report goes into detail of four companies that hit major headlines in 2015 for obscenely high drug prices, including the infamous Martin Shkreli and his 5,000% price hike for Daraprim. With Donald Trump as the new president-elect, biotech stocks and health care stocks in general saw a bump following the election.





Many market players were unhinged by the possibility of a Clinton presidency and fears surrounding her stance on the industry overall. However, following what is being called "The Trump Bump," new developments that have coincidentally been found on President-elect Trump's Twitter feed have some investors a bit skittish. He too has expressed interest in lowering the cost of pharmaceutical drugs.

The committee was clear and made the distinction between the companies investigated in the report and other new businesses and drug companies developing new drugs. With Republican control of the Congress, many are seeing this as a bit more protection for pharma and biotech companies. Republican Senator Susan Collins told The New York Times that she did not think the solution would be for the government to set drug prices.

"Our report does not recommend that the government get into the business of setting prices for prescription drugs," Collins said. "We think that would have a harmful impact on the pipeline of innovative drugs."

Despite the negative light shone on companies like Turing Pharmaceuticals, Retrophin Inc. (RTRX), Rodelis Therapeutics and Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX), new and novel drugmakers as well as researchers continue to press forward. New government regulation brought about by President Obama's 21st Century Cures Act Bill aims to direct government funds to aid in the rapid commercialization of unique therapies and underserved areas of research.

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Vitality Biosciences (VBIO), for instance, recently announced it has received the Drug Enforcement Administration's approval to scale up its activities at its facilities used for the development of novel pharmaceutical drugs. The company has targeted what has (up until 2014) been an illegal substance across the U.S., but recent developments and state legalization have aided in the expansion of the active ingredient for use with medical applications.

Recent moves made by the DEA brought up additional regulation on the topic. However, Vitality has been working with the DEA as well as the California Research Advisory Panel (a part of the California Attorney General's Office) to ensure substantial on-site guidelines are put in place to prevent any deviation of Schedule I substances. Vitality is currently overseeing preclinical studies of its proprietary prodrugs that were reviewed and approved by the FDA. "We are excited to scale up our research and to aggressively pursue clinical testing of our compounds, and this approval greenlights that work," explained Dr. Brandon Zipp, director of research and development and scientific co-founder of Vitality Biopharma, in a recent press release.

This news comes during the stock's latest bull rally that began earlier in December. In fact, shares of Vitality have not traded this high since October and a recent uptick in trading volume has become noticeable compared to previous months. Last month, Vitality announced it filed an international PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application that includes 79 patent claims and almost 200 individual compounds. No new developments have surfaced regarding the progress of this application.

Likewise, Calithera Biosciences Inc. (CALA) has found itself gaining more attention in the market. The company recently announced a clinical trial collaboration to evaluate Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMY) Opdivoin combination with Calithera's CB-839. Calithera's drug is designed to target a pathway that would starve tumor cells of glutamine and could actually reverse tumor resistance to checkpoint inhibitors.

In combination with Opdivo, the companies are looking to achieve improved and longer lasting efficacy in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma who have cancer that is stable or possibly increasing on a PD-1 inhibitor therapy. PD-1 normally acts as a type of "off switch" that helps keep T-cells from attacking other cells in the body. When PD-1 binds to PD-L1 (a protein on some normal and cancer cells), it basically tells the T-cell to leave the other cells alone.

Some cancer cells have large amounts of PD-L1, which helps them evade immune attack. Because Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to actually receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world a few years ago, it would seem that Calithera is aligning itself responsibly with a proven therapy for its combination strategy. Susan Molineaux, CEO of Calithera, said in a press release the company believes that "by blocking glutamine consumption in tumors, and redirecting this key nutrient for cell growth and proliferation to T-cells, CB-839 could enhance the effects of Opdivo. With support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Calithera is excited to advance this combination into the Phase 2 portion of CX-839-004, our ongoing study in ccRCC patients."

Other drugmakers are seeing advanced phase trial successes, which could bode well and play off of what the government has begun putting into place. Just this week, biomedical company Prima BioMed (PBMD) announced positive AIPAC (Active Immunotherapy PAClitaxel) Phase IIb trial results for its IMP321 therapy for breast cancer. Data from a 15-patient study confirmed previous trial results that showed IMP321 is safe and well tolerated. In anticipation of the confirmation of the dose escalation committee, the company looks to begin the randomized phase of this trial next month.

IMP321 is Prima's lead product that works to build T-cell responses. Its current trial status is through a chemoimmunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer as well as metastatic melanoma (which is in Phase I). Though the stock has been relatively flat over recent weeks, this news has certainly excited the market.

In a previous release, the company stated that it expects to report interim data from the first group of patients in the Phase I TACTI-mel trial of IMP321 for melanoma patients "in late December." Considering the timing right now, it could be expected sooner rather than later as well. This is certainly something for investors to chew on during the latter half of this month. Suffice it to say that the expected randomization phase in January could be another catalyst pending the escalation committee review.

In sum, the act put in place by President Obama as well as the move for a government push to get new drugs to market faster could bode well for companies like these, not just heading into 2017 but into the next presidential term as well.

Disclosure: The author of this article owns ZERO shares of any stock mentioned within this article.

Start a free 7-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






(Reuters) - A winter storm that threatened the U.S. Northern Great Plains with icy roads, power outages and high winds is expected to ease its grip late on Monday as it moves east into the Great Lakes and New England, forecasters said. The storm is forecast to bring a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of northern New England overnight, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. "Farther south, rain and a few thunderstorms are possible along and ahead of the cold front from the Ohio valley to the lower Mississippi valley and the Southeast tonight and Tuesday," it said. Even as the storm's grip weakened, authorities in North Dakota, where the front had dumped up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow, urged travelers in much of the state to stay home because of hazardous conditions. The NWS reported 19,000 homes or businesses without power in South Dakota, and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co said almost two dozen areas were without electricity. Service in some areas was not expected to be restored for days. More than 260 flights were delayed or canceled at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and highways across much of Minnesota were covered or partly covered with snow and ice, according to state transportation officials. The storm also shut some highways in South Dakota, with snow and low visibility cutting speeds on Interstate 90, the state Department of Transportation said. The NWS reported wind speeds of more than 60 miles per hour (100 kph) in parts of North Dakota and Minnesota as the storm moved through. Elsewhere, another weather system was expected to move into the Pacific Northwest late on Monday, bringing rain and mountain snow to the Cascades and the region's interior, the weather service said. Temperatures would be above average across most of the central and eastern United States on Tuesday. East Coast afternoon temperatures were forecast to be 10 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 14 degrees Celsius) above average. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco, Daniel Trotta in New York and Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Paul Tait)
Vacation days have a slightly different meaning for the employees of Bertch Cabinets.

To reward its employees for a successful year of business, a cabinet manufacturing company in Iowa announced it will take over 800 employees on a Caribbean cruise in January.

We leave Jan. 8, company president Gary Bertch told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Weve got four charter aircraft that will be flying directly to Miami Sunday and staying at a nice five-star hotel. Then on Monday, well bus over from the hotel to the port and load up on the ship.

From there, the week-long vacation on a Carnival ship will make stops in Cozumel, Mexico and Key West, Florida.

The company announced the vacation on Facebook.

Bertch is excited to announce a company wide vacation! they wrote on Dec. 20. We will be closing all facilities January 9-13 so we can set sails for the sunny Caribbean! This trip wouldnt be possible without the hard work of our incredible Bertch associates!

Bertch said he offered the tropical getaway as a incentive to meet goals set forth by the company, which was founded in a barn in 1977, more than a year ago.

We were anticipating wed have better sales again this year, he said. We just tried to get all of our people pumped up a little more to achieve the various goals, both customer-oriented goals and financial goals.

The company periodically rewarded its employees with a vacation starting with a trip to Acapulco in 1989; another took the company to Hawaii. However, the practice stopped in 2005 ahead of the recession that hurt the business until last year when they were finally in the black again.

Were happy we were able to achieve our goals. And theyre never easy. The financial goal was the big one, he said. We hit the other goals. Not by much. But we hit them. Were looking forward to the following year.




On Dec 27 2016, we issued an updated research report on leading medical devices company, Boston Scientific Corporation BSX. The stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Boston Scientific traded neck and neck with S&P 500 index over the past six months, until it delivered unimpressive third-quarter 2016 results. Unfavorable currency movement has been a major dampener during the quarter. Despite a raised 2016 guidance, the companys share price has fallen further on account of certain product halt in late October. Accordingly, per the last share price movement, overall the company lost 77%, as against a 12.91% gain of the index over the last six months.

Sluggish CRM sales over the recent past also continue to weigh on Boston Scientific's results. Although, in the third quarter, the company witnessed a rebound in the segments performance, the sustainability of this growth is still doubtful given the disappointing performance in the companys worldwide defibrillator sales. Strong competitors in the large medical device market also pose a tough challenge for Boston Scientific.

On a positive note, backed by a strong global team and perfect execution of long-term strategic plans the company posted 9% organic growth. We believe, Boston Scientific will overcome the hiccups with its efforts to strengthen core businesses and invest in new technologies and markets. The companys Urology business is also gaining traction. However foreign exchange and competition are the main concerns.

We have noted that the company continues to strengthen its core businesses and invest in new technologies and global markets, which accounted for the sales upside across most of its businesses and regions over the recent past.

An important part of the companys growth strategy is to continue pursuing development opportunities outside the U.S. by expanding global presence, inclusive of the emerging markets. Boston Scientific hopes to sustain its strong overall international performance considering several key new product launches that are in the early stages of their rollout. The company is also optimistic about its core cardiology segment which is gradually stabilizing, with growth witnessed in the BRIC nations.

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Key Picks

Some better-ranked medical stocks include NxStage Medical Inc. NXTM, Baxter International Inc. BAX and Bovie Medical Corporation BVX. NxStage Medical and Baxter International sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) while Bovie Medical carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

NxStage Medical gained 14.0% over the last one year compared to the S&P 500s 9.7% growth. The company has a four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 46.3%.

Baxter International rallied 15.7% over the last one year, much higher than the S&P 500. It has a trailing four-quarter average positive earnings surprise of 27%

Bovie Medical recorded a 95.9% gain in the past one year, way better than the S&P 500. The company has a trailing four-quarter positive average earnings surprise of 28.7%.



Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest tickers for the entirety of 2017?

Who wouldn't? These 10 are painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks to buy and hold. Be among the very first to see them >>



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



BOSTON SCIENTIF (BSX): Free Stock Analysis Report



BAXTER INTL (BAX): Free Stock Analysis Report



NXSTAGE MEDICAL (NXTM): Free Stock Analysis Report



BOVIE MEDICAL (BVX): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
BP plc BP operated AIOC (the Azerbaijan International Operating Company) recently inked a letter of intent (LoI) with SOCAR (the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan) relating to the future development of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG) field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. We expect these developments to result in stock price appreciation. Year to date, the stock has gained 18.5%, while Zacks categorized sub industry Oil & Gas-International Integrated Market has increased by 19%.





The agreement pertains to the development of the field till 2050 and is expected to add substantial resource development potential by the middle of the century. Currently, the ACG field yields circa 620,000 barrels of oil equivalent.



Leading energy companies like BP, Chevron Corp. CVX, INPEX, Statoil ASA STO, ExxonMobil Corp. XOM, TPAO, ITOCHU and ONGC Videsh hold stakes in AIOC.



The LoI approves the vital commercial terms for the future development of the ACG field and will assist the parties to close negotiations and conclude fully-termed agreements in the next few months. This agreement will also facilitate future investments and projects as well as create many thousands of jobs in the years ahead.



Located about 100 kilometers east of Baku, ACG is a massive field and also the biggest producing oil field in the Caspian Sea. It spans across an area of over 432 square kilometers and lies in water depths ranging between 120 meters and 170 meters. The depth of the reservoir is 2,0003,500 meters.



The existing ACG production sharing agreement (PSA) was inked in Sep 1994 for a period of three decades. Oil production from the field commenced in Nov 1997. To date, the field has produced over 3 billion barrels of oil and has involved an investment of about $33 billion.



There are six producing platforms on ACG that are connected to a world-class onshore terminal in Sangachal near Baku. From the terminal, ACG oil is exported to world markets mainly 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.



BP currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2017



In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest tickers for the entirety of 2017?



Who wouldn't? These 10 are painstakingly hand-picked from 4,400 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. They are our primary picks to buy and hold. Be among the very first to see them >>



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



BP PLC (BP): Free Stock Analysis Report



CHEVRON CORP (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report



STATOIL ASA-ADR (STO): Free Stock Analysis Report



EXXON MOBIL CRP (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil posted its worst-ever primary budget deficit for the month of November, erasing all of the gains recorded in the previous month and highlighting the government's lingering challenge to rebalance the depleted public accounts.

The country's primary budget deficit was 39.141 billion reais ($11.90 billion) in November, central bank data showed on Tuesday, wider than the 35.9 billion reais gap expected in a median forecast of economists in a Reuters poll.

In October, the country had a primary surplus of 39.5 billion reais thanks to revenues from a program that allowed Brazilians to pay fines and taxes to legalize their undeclared assets held abroad.

President Michel Temer has vowed to plug the widening budget deficit that has cost the once-booming economy its investment-grade rating and complicated an incipient recovery after two years of recession.

Despite the steep deficit in November, the government is widely expected to meet its deficit target of 163.9 billion reais in 2016. For next year, the government aims for a deficit of 143 billion reais.

The country's public sector gross debt remained stable at 70.5 percent of gross domestic product in November.

For 2017, the central bank expects the country's gross debt to climb to 76.9 percent of GDP.

($1 = 3.2887 reais)

(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Writing by Bruno Federowski and Alonso Soto; Editing by W Simon and JS Benkoe)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  Brazil's Foreign Ministry says it's trying to find Brazilian migrants who disappeared during an attempt to reach the United States by way of the Bahamas

The ministry says that families of the missing migrants lost contact with them on Nov. 6, and reported the issue to authorities on Nov. 15.

Brazilian news media have reported the boat was carrying 19 people to the Miami area, but the ministry hasn't confirmed that figure or released the identity of the missing people.

The ministry said Monday it's working with authorities in the US and in the Bahamas to find the missing people, but said there is no information on their location.
Some of the most heart-stopping events of 2016, ranging from extreme danger to valiant heroism, happened to be caught on video.

In August, a group of Maryland citizens banded together and formed a human chain to save a woman trapped in a car that was caught in a flash flood.

Read: The Police Officers Who Weren't Shy to Bust a Move This Year

There was also a "caught on camera" moment of complete strangers who came together to overturn a car that had flipped with the driver stuck inside. The good Samaritans heaved the car over and the driver was brought to safety.

Last month, surveillance cameras recorded a 9-year-old hero who caught his 11-month old baby brother in what could have been a catastrophic four-foot-fall from a changing table.

Devastation was also widely caught on video this year, from tornados in the Midwest that brought down a Starbucks store in August to the fires that raged in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, last month.

The world also witnessed some crazy video from the animal kingdom.

A tiger trainer was dragged through the cage in front of shocked children attending a fair in Pensacola, Florida, in October.

The trainer's fiance ran inside the cage and began hitting the tiger with a whip to force the beast to release her. Fortunately, tragedy was averted  the tiger let the trainer go.

In February, Arizona Senator Jeff Flake was in Africa investigating the poaching of elephants for their tusks and filmed a heard coming for his vehicle. He and the tour group he was traveling with were able to escape by the skin of their teeth.

Read: 9 Selfless Kids Who Went Out of Their Way to Help Others This Year

There were also nail-biting moments like the terrifying carjacking of a 24-year-old Atlanta woman in May.

She fought back to no avail, as the carjackers made off with her car.

A terrified civilian in her twenties was on a ride along with a rookie cop in October when a routine traffic stop took an unexpected turn and they were shot at.

Story continues

As the fleeing driver blew through two stop signs, the assailants began shooting at the officer after refusing to pull over.

Watch: Would You Know What to Do? Deputy Saves Baby With Infant CPR Technique

Related Articles:
Prepare the smelling salts, royalty fans: Buckingham Palace may look nice on the outside, but inside, its in shambles. Is nothing sacred?

The home of Queen Elizabeth II has been deemed to be in such a miserable state of disrepair, its downright dangerous to live therewhich explains why the British government recently announced its pouring 369 million (or $467,168,760) into fixing up the place over the next 10 years.

So whats wrong with the legendary palace, exactly? Well, for starters, the wiring in the walls is 60 years old, and at high risk for sparking a fire that could burn the queen to a crisp. Sagging drain pipes and 30-year-old boilers also up the risk of a flood or other calamities. The palace may even be plagued with environmental hazards including asbestos, mold, and lead paint. Yikes!

Not that most of this is entirely surprisingBuckingham Palace, after all, is over 300 years old. Some say these renovations are way late, not only for the benefit of the royal family and visiting dignitaries but also for the millions of tourists who check out the palace every year.

Renovations include enhanced security gates. Steve Back / Barcroft Media / Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Im a huge lover of the British royal family and believe that Buckingham Palace is well overdue an extensive renovation, says James Harris, a former Londoner who is the director at The Agency real estate firm in Beverly Hills, CA, and stars on Bravos Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.

Still, though: Hed wager that the renovation will take even longer than a decadeand cost a whole lot more than projected.

The likelihood of the project remaining inside of the budget is slim to none, as these expansive remodel projects typically go over budget, especially when youre upgrading and redesigning a palace, Harris adds. My estimation is the project takes 12 to 13 years and ends up costing $800 million.

Construction management expert Lance Luke estimates the renovations will cost even moreover $950 millionand take 15 to 20 years, depending on how large and how many crews are working on the project at the same time.

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The work involves various trades, and proper scheduling and coordination is the key, he explains.

All of which begs the question: Given theyll be using taxpayer money to embark on these upgrades, is it really worth all the trouble? The renovation has drawn criticism, but some say it will pay for itself in the form of tourism dollars.

The price is high, but remember that the royals are a source of great tourist income to the country, says real estate lawyer Bob Tankel. A well-reasoned article in The Atlantic a few years ago figured that the income the family and institution bring in balances the cost. Absent the family and all the trappings, fewer tourists would come to visit and spend money at the castle and elsewhere.

And besideswhat country allows its royal family to live in run-down digs?

The post Buckingham Palace Is a Dump?! A Shocking Peek Behind the Regal Facade appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  A court in Cambodia on Tuesday sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader to five years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiring to incite chaos by posting misleading documents on his Facebook page.

The conviction by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court is the latest legal problem for Sam Rainsy, head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. The several cases against him are generally considered part of Prime Minister Hun Sen's strategy to weaken his opponents ahead of local elections next year.

Sam Rainsy was found guilty in absentia of conspiracy to incite chaos and using and falsifying public documents. His Facebook page had reposted from a fellow party member several poorly translated documents suggesting that Hun Sen's government had signed a treaty ceding territory to neighboring Vietnam, Cambodia's traditional enemy.

Two opposition party members who maintained the Facebook page for Sam Rainsy were found guilty of the same charges, and also given five-year prison sentences, but with two years suspended. The two are also in exile.

The original poster of the erroneous material, opposition Sen. Hong Sok Hour, was sentenced last month to seven years in prison.

Defense lawyers in Sam Rainsy's trial had argued that the case hinged on a mistranslated document found on the internet for which the defendants were not responsible.

They also said that Sam Rainsy had nothing to do with posting the false information, and routinely allowed his staff to post any interesting material.

In a Facebook posting responding to the verdicts, the opposition leader accused Hun Sen of often using "his puppet court" as a political tool.

He said the court's decision would strengthen his resolve to contest 2017 local elections and the 2018 general election.

Sam Rainsy has been in exile since November last year to avoid a jail term on a defamation conviction that he had believed was covered by a royal pardon.

More recently, he was found guilty of defamation in a separate case for alleging that a senior government official sought to inflate Hun Sen's online popularity by buying "likes" for his Facebook page.

The government in October banned his re-entry from abroad, making it more difficult for him to fight the charges even if he chooses to return.
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
Actress Carrie Fisher has died after going into cardiac arrest on a plane last week, ET confirms. She was 60.

"It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," family spokesperson Simon Halls said in a statement to ET on behalf of Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, on Tuesday. "She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers."

Fisher was on a flight from London to Los Angeles International Airport on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott told ET that they responded to LAX for a patient on an inbound flight in cardiac arrest at 12:11 p.m., and paramedics provided advanced life support and aggressively treated and transported the patient to a local hospital.

The daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds, Fisher was born into the industry, making her onscreen debut in 1975's Shampoo. At the age of 20, she became an overnight sensation for playing Princess Leia in Star Wars IV -- A New Hope in 1977.

MORE: Stars React to Carrie Fisher's Death

The original Star Wars films -- A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi -- would go on to define Fisher's career, largely thanks to her iconic portrayal of a modern damsel in distress. Leia was a princess unlike any other. She didn't need to rely on men -- Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) or Han Solo (Harrison Ford) -- to rescue her or coil in the presence of the dreaded Darth Vader. Sure, she found romance in the end, but it was very much on her own accord.

Leia's metal bikini -- which Fisher wore in Jedi and on the 1983 cover of Rolling Stone -- also made the actress a sex symbol of the '80s. She later refuted the status, telling Star Wars newcomer Daisy Ridley "that's an opinion of someone" during a 2015 conversation for Interview magazine. Fisher even went so far as to warn Ridley not be forced to wear a similar costume. "You should fight for your outfit," she advised. "Don't be a slave like I was."

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Fisher reprised her role as Princess Leia in The Force Awakens, the first film of Disney's continuation of creator George Lucas' franchise, reuniting her with Ford. In November, the actress opened up about an "intense" affair she had with the actor 40 years prior. In her new memoir, The Princess Diarist, Fisher reveals that she began an affair with the then-33-year-old Ford after a birthday party for Lucas, and their fling continued for three months during filming. "I looked over at Harrison. A hero's face How could you ask such a shining specimen of a man to be satisfied with the likes of me?" Fisher wrote in her memoir.

Fisher's other notable film roles included The Blues Brothers, Hannah and Her Sisters and When Harry Met Sally.

MORE: Mark Hamill Is 'Devastated' Over Carrie Fisher's Death

In addition to acting, Fisher also became known for her writing, starting with the semi-autobiographical novel, Postcards From the Edge, about an actress dealing with drug addiction and coming to terms with her relationship with her mother, which she later adapted for the Mike Nichols' film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. Fisher's relationship with Reynolds would eventually serve as an undercurrent to her most autobiographical work, the revealing 2008 autobiography, Wishful Drinking.

Based on her hit one-woman stage show, Wishful Drinking revealed what it was like growing up in Hollywood, becoming a cultural icon at such a young age, her battles with drugs and issues surrounding her mental health.

In the three decades after Star Wars, Fisher was very frank about her personal issues, publicly discussing her bipolar disorder on ABC's 20/20 and opening up about electroshock therapy treatments on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

Fisher also wrote the screenplay for the 2001 TV film, These Old Broads, starring her mother as well as Reynolds' old rival, Elizabeth Taylor, in her final film role. Fisher and Reynolds also revisited their irritable but loving relationship in the new documentary, Bright Lights: Starring Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, which is scheduled to air on HBO in 2017.

While Fisher had a troubled relationship with fame and her success associated with Star Wars, she returned to the franchise in 2015 for The Force Awakens and will next be seen in the untitled sequel, Episode VIII. Her likeness as Princess Leia also appears at the end of the new Star Wars standalone film, Rogue One, forever cementing her fate as the damsel who redefined what it meant to be a princess.

Related Articles
In the wake of Carrie Fishers death on Tuesday, the iconic actress is being remembered by those who loved and worked with her on screens both big and small.

PHOTOSCarrie Fishers Best TV Roles Remembered

Fishers mother, Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds, posted this touching message to her fans on Facebook:

Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother



Fishers half-sister, actress Joely Fisher (Ellen, Til Death) posted a photo of the two of them on Twitter, along with a remembrance saying the earth is off its axis today how dare you take her away from us:

Breaking my silence with a broken heartthe Unfathomable lossthe earth is off its axis todayhow dare you take her away from us pic.twitter.com/fUHwsHRwyy  Joely Fisher (@MsJoelyFisher) December 27, 2016

Mark Hamill, who famously co-starred opposite Fisher in the Star Wars films, initially had no words to express his grief, but later described her passing as downright heartbreaking:

Its never easy to lose such a vital, irreplaceable member of the family, but this is downright heartbreaking. Carrie was one-of-a-kind who belonged to us all- whether she liked it or not. She was OUR Princess, damn it, & the actress who played her blurred into one gorgeous, fiercely independent & ferociously funny, take-charge woman who took our collective breath away. Determined & tough, but with a vulnerability that made you root for her & want her to succeed & be happy. She played such a crucial role in my professional & personal life, & both would have been far emptier without her. I am grateful for the laughter, the wisdom, the kindness & even the bratty, self-indulgent crap my beloved space-twin gave me through the years. Thanks Carrie. I love you, mh

Fishers other main Star Wars co-star, Harrison Ford, released the following statement:

Carrie was one-of-a-kindbrilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravelyMy thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her Mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her.

Star Wars creator George Lucas, meanwhile, noted that, Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives, before adding, She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved. In Star Wars, she was our great and powerful princess  feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie, and all Carries family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams posted a handwritten tribute to Fisher on Twitter, calling her just as brilliant and beautiful, tough and wonderful, incisive and funny as you could imagine:

The official Star Wars Twitter account quoted Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, who called Fisher Princess Leia to the world, but a special friend to all of us:

"She was Princess Leia to the world but a special friend to all of us. We will miss her dearly." -Kathleen Kennedy https://t.co/E96OuqnFQL pic.twitter.com/lr0rm0sRxc  Star Wars (@starwars) December 27, 2016

Fishers The Force Awakens co-star Daisy Ridley said in a statement:

Devastated at this monumental loss. How lucky we all are to have known her, and how awful that we have to say goodbye.

Tina Fey, who appeared opposite Fisher on an episode of 30 Rock, released the following statement:

Carrie Fisher meant a lot to me. Like many women my age, Princess Leia occupies about sixty percent of my brain at any given time. But Carries honest writing and her razor-sharp wit were an even greater gift. I feel so lucky that I got to meet her. Im very sad she is gone.



Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is also weighing in, calling Fisher smart, funny, talented [and] surprising. (She recurred on the Fox comedy as the voice of Angela, Peters supervisor at the Pawtucket Brewery.)

Carrie Fisher was smart, funny, talented, surprising, and always a hell of a fun time to be around. Family Guy will miss her immensely.  Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 27, 2016

Michael Rosenbaum, who worked with Fisher on an episode of The WBs Smallville, credits the actress for inspiring his love of writing:

You were an exceptional human being @carrieffisher !You got me to start writing & to start giving less of a shit! I will miss you immensely! pic.twitter.com/AGLvPJYKAI  Michael Rosenbaum (@mrosenbaum711) December 27, 2016

Sally Field, who worked with Fisher on the movie Soapdish, wrote:

NOOOOOOOO!!!! Not Carrie too. Brave, fearless, endlessly smart and always funny.CARRIE. noooooooooo.  Sally Field (@realmommagump) December 27, 2016

Scroll down for more reactions from Fishers co-stars, loved ones and general admirers in the industry:

I thought I had got what I wanted under the tree. I didn't. In spite of so many thoughts and prayers from so many. I am very, very sad.  Anthony Daniels (@ADaniels3PO) December 27, 2016

I'm deeply saddened at the news of Carrie's passing. She was a dear friend, whom I greatly respected and admired. The force is dark today!  Billy Dee Williams (@realbdw) December 27, 2016

There are no words for this loss. Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly. pic.twitter.com/GgIeYGeMt9  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) December 27, 2016

Carrie was brilliant, funny and talented. Sending huge love be to her mom, her daughter, Billie and her many friends  mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 27, 2016

Bob Iger, chairman and CEO, The Walt Disney Company, on Carrie Fisher's passing: pic.twitter.com/syIhNC5ULa  Disney D23 (@DisneyD23) December 27, 2016

ALWAYS HUMOROUS, ALWAYS ELOQUENT, CARRIE FISHER'S CONTRIBUTION TO POP CULTURE ICONOGRAPHY & GENDER POLITICS WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN #RIPCARRIE pic.twitter.com/vl3bQg66cM  Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) December 27, 2016

Four days prior to her death, Fisher suffered a heart attack during a flight from London to Los Angeles. How will you remember Fisher? Drop a comment with your own tributes below.

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Debbie Reynolds, the 84-year old Hollywood screen icon who was Carrie Fishers mother, posted a brief Facebook message after her daughters death on Tuesday.

Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother, the message read.

Carrie Fishers 24-year old daughter Billie Lourd, whose father is CAA agent Bryan Lourd, first confirmed her mothers death. It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning, her statement said. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly, she continued.

The trio appeared together at the Screen Actors Guild awards in 2015, when Reynolds received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Fisher said at the time, She has been more than a mother to me, not much, but definitely more. Shes been an unsolicited stylist, interior decorator and marriage councilor. Admittedly, I found it difficult to share my mother with her adoring fans, who treated her like she was part of their family. She has led two lives, public and private, sometimes concurrently, sometimes not.

Her half-sister, actress Joely Fisher, tweeted that she had a broken heart.

Breaking my silence with a broken heartthe Unfathomable lossthe earth is off its axis todayhow dare you take her away from us pic.twitter.com/fUHwsHRwyy  Joely Fisher (@MsJoelyFisher) December 27, 2016

A new documentary, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, will screen at the upcoming Palm Springs Film Festival after showing at the Cannes and New York Film Festivals. Directed by Fisher Stevens and Alexis Bloom, it chronicles the months leading up to the SAG honors and will air on HBO in March.

Story continues

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Carrie Fisher Set to Appear in Two New 'Family Guy' Episodes

Carrie Fisher: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Her Life

What Carrie Fisher, Bowie, Prince and Muhammad Ali Taught Us
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f330615%2fc4db286e-34b1-4aab-b3a4-29022f71b287

Carrie Fisher will forever dazzle the world with her wit and humor, even in her obituary.

Fisher died on Tuesday at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack during a flight from London to Los Angeles last Friday. The news is heartbreaking, and many remembered Fisher for inspiring both young and old. From Fisher bravely speaking publicly of her struggles with mental health to her candid interviews and brazen online presence, the actress and author impacted many lives on and off the screen.

As first noted by Vanity Fair, Fisher's sense of humor was showcased in a simple request she had lined up for her obituary.

In her autobiographical book Wishful Drinking, Fisher detailed some of the troubles she encountered while filming with Star Wars.

Fisher writes that George Lucas explained his reasoning by claiming that a bra would simply strangle someone to death.

Carrie Fisher died on Tuesday. She drowned in moonlight and was strangled by her bra.

[h/t:Vanity Fair]
Lucasfilm has expressed grief at the death of Carrie Fisher, calling her a cherished member of the Star Wars family who provided hope to generations of little girls who dreamed of becoming a hero and saving the world.

Fisher died Tuesday at age 60 after suffering a heart attack on Friday while aboard a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Carrie holds such special place in the hearts of everyone at Lucasfilm it is difficult to think of a world without her. She was Princess Leia to the world but a very special friend to all of us, said Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm. She had an indomitable spirit, incredible wit, and a loving heart.

Fisher was also credited with paving the way for a new kind of female hero, one who was not just a damsel to be rescued but a force for good in and of herself. Princess Leia cleared a path for other powerhouse women in pop culture.

Kennedy said the actress defined the female hero of our age over a generation ago. Her groundbreaking role as Princess Leia served as an inspiration of power and confidence for young girls everywhere. We will miss her dearly.

Fisher went from being the sassy older sister of the Star Wars family to its tart-tongued tell-it-like-it-is aunt. She was anything but precious about the galaxy far, far away and never failed to take jabs at her characters unusual hairdo and costumes. But as much as Fisher teased or tormented, there always seemed to be deep affection for both Princess Leia and the fans who loved her.

Fisher was only 19 when she first played the royal adventurer with the cinnamon-bun hair in 1977s original Star Wars, and her most recent on-screen appearance in last years The Force Awakens saw Leia shed the princess moniker for the title General, still leading the forces of good against an army of galactic fascists. (Fisher cracked that her new costume looked like a fancy gas station attendant.)

She had already completed work on next Decembers Episode VIII, which is being directed by Rian Johnson. But her unexpected death will likely require changes to filmmaker Colin Trevorrows Episode IX, which doesnt open until 2019 and is still only in the script phase. It isnt believed to begin filming until a year from now. Lucasfilm hasnt commented on that as yet, with many of her colleagues and friends still grappling with the personal loss.

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She was also credited with thanks on the recent Rogue One film for allowing her image to be used, with a digital recreation of Leia looking as she did in the 1977 original.

Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, the parent company for Lucasfilm, said Fisher was one-of-a-kind, a true character who shared her talent and her truth with us all with her trademark wit and irreverence.

Millions fell in love with her as the indomitable Princess Leia; she will always have a special place in the hearts of Star Wars fans as well as all of us who were lucky enough to know her personally, Iger added. She will be sorely missed, and we join millions of fans and friends around the world who mourn her loss today.
Plenty of Carrie Fisher fans will likely be looking to watch some of the actress movies after her recent death. While some of Fishers most popular films are not available with a subscription to the top streaming services, there are various ways to see her most famous roles.

None of the Star Wars movies in which Fisher appears can be streamed with a subscription to Netflix or Amazon Prime. However, Star Wars: The Force Awakens can be streamed on Starz. A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi can all be purchased on Amazon Video, iTunes and the Google Play store.

Aside from her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, Fisher has appeared in other iconic movies. She played a major role in When Harry Met Sally, which can be seen with a subscription to Hulu. Woody Allens Hannah and Her Sisters, featuring Fisher, is available on Amazon Prime.

Other Fisher movies available with Amazon Prime include Shes Back, Sweet Revenge and Soapdish. They were released in 1989, 1990 and 1991, respectively. Both Amazon Prime and Hulu are streaming the 1978 episode of Saturday Night Live that was hosted by Fisher.

One of Fishers most recent films can be streamed with a subscription to Amazon Prime. Wishful Drinking, Fishers one-woman stage show based on her autobiography, was released in 2010.

Fisher made a few well-known cameos later in her career, and one of her most famous ones can be streamed online. She plays a nun in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, which is available on Netflix streaming.

Carrie Fisher

Photo: Getty Images

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Carrie Fisher has passed away at the age of 60, and our hearts are absolutely shattered

It is with a horribly heavy heart that we have to be the bearer of this tragic news: Carrie Fisher has passed away at the age of 60 after complications from a heart attack last week.

This is a sentence none of us have ever wanted to write, especially me, a girl who grew up loving Star Wars and idolized Princess Leia for all that she stood for and believed in. She didnt take any sass. She got her own blaster and took down her fair share of stormtroopers. She helped save the Rebellion, and before Rey, before Jyn, she gave us a female hero we could believe in, and relate to.

While details of Carries passing are still emerging, and this is very much a developing story, multiple outlets have been able to confirm this sad news. A spokesman for Carrie, Simon Hall, released this statement to The Hollywood Reporter:

It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly, Halls statement read.

Saying that she was loved and will be missed is barely just the half of it. Carrie was a woman who not only survived shooting four Star Wars movies (or, five), but also battled addiction, alcoholism, and was vocal about her bi-polar disorder. She was a voice for everyone struggling, and a funny voice at that. Her wisdom, guidance, and light will be missed for all eternity. Probably even longer. We miss her already.

The post Carrie Fisher has passed away at the age of 60, and our hearts are absolutely shattered appeared first on HelloGiggles.
The Princess Diarist Book Signing We bet Gary knew all about the Ford affair before the public did. Fisher's pup, who was always by her side, attended a book signing at the Grove in L.A. on Nov. 28  and even had his own seat and Sharpies. (Photo: Araya Diaz/WireImage)

Stars Wars alum Carrie Fisher, who died on Tuesday at the age of 60, had some big love affairs (Harrison Ford, anyone?). However, in her later years, her favorite date on the red carpet was her French bulldog, a therapy pet. "Gary is very devoted to me, and that calms me down," Fisher, who had bipolar disorder, said in 2013. Gary is like my heart." The dog, who was reportedly by her side at the hospital in her final days, attended many star-studded events with Fisher  from premieres to political gatherings. See some of their sweetest public moments
Carrie Fisher will appear as her iconic Star Wars character one last time.

The actress, who played Princess Leia in the famous franchise, died Tuesday but her legacy will live on in the upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VIII, which is set to be released in December 2017.

MORE: Carrie Fisher, 'Star Wars' Princess, Dies at 60

At the time of her death, Fisher, 60, had already finished shooting her second reprisal of Leia after 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

This past July, director Rian Johnson confirmed via the Star Wars Twitter account that filming had come to an end on next year's highly anticipated flick.

Final slate of the final shot. VIII is officially wrapped. Cannot wait to share it with you all! -@rianjohnson pic.twitter.com/l4Apk0Ro4i  Star Wars (@starwars) July 22, 2016

"Final slate of the final shot. VIII is officially wrapped. Cannot wait to share it with you all! -@rianjohnson."

MORE: Carrie Fisher Dies at 60: Stars React to Actress' Death

As for Fisher's involvement in Star Wars: Episode IX, while the film is still in pre-production according to IMDB, fans had expected to see Leia again on the big screen. Mark Hamill is the only star currently listed as a rumored cast member.

ET has reached out to Disney for comment.

"No words," Hamill tweeted after learning the news of Fisher's death with a throwback photo of the two dressed in character as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. "#devastated."

Fisher went into cardiac arrest on Friday while traveling on an airplane from London to Los Angeles International Airport.

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"It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," family spokesperson Simon Halls said in a statement to ET on behalf of Fisher's daughter. "She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers."

Related Articles
Carrie Fisher, who passed away from a heart attack at the age of 60 on Dec. 27, was best known for portraying Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. In addition to appearing in Star Wars and numerous other films such as Shampoo and When Harry Met Sally..., Fisher was a writer, performer and Hollywood script doctor. But Fisher had another talent she didn't share too often with the public: Her natural and strong singing voice.

Fisher occasionally showcased her vocals when goaded by her mother, Debbie Reynolds, who sang a beautiful duet with her daughter in 2011 on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

"When you were just a little girl, you wouldn't sing, I always said I'd love you to sing, and you always shied away," Reynolds said to Fisher on Oprah's show. "But you wouldn't do it, and you had a great voice."

Fisher did have a lovely voice, and Billboard takes a look back at some of those moments below.

Fisher and Reynolds Duet on "You Made Me Love You" and "Happy Days Are Here Again"

In 2011, there was a sweet moment on Oprah when mother and daughter joined together for a touching performance of "You Made Me Love You" from the Broadway musical Irene, which Reynolds had a starring role in. "I stopped singing for 30 years," Fisher said to her mother, but joined in for "Happy Days Are Here Again" toward the end.

Fisher Dons a Playboy Bunny Suit for Laverne and Shirley

In a 1982 episode of Laverne and Shirley, Fisher took the microphone for a humorous scene where she sang "My Guy" in a Playboy Bunny outfit. Check out both Fisher and Penny Marshall trying to impress Hugh Hefner, who makes a cameo in the scene, below.

Princess Leia Brings Peace to the Galaxy With Star Wars Holiday Special Song

Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3P0, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo were all on hand to celebrate Light Day on the maligned 1978 holiday Star Wars TV special. "This day brings us closer to freedom, and to harmony and to peace. No matter how different we appear, we are all the same in our struggle against the powers of evil and darkness," Leia says in the clip.

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Fisher Sings the Star Wars Theme A Cappella with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots

Before the opening of The Force Awakens, Fisher joined Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, along with stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Lupita Nyong'o, and Harrison Ford for this a cappella mashup of several Star Wars songs.

Fisher Jams With the Plastic Ono Band

Fisher sang Yoko Ono's "What A Bastard The World Is" from the album Approximately Infinite Universe live with The Plastic Ono Band on the first night of the group's shows at The Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles in Oct. 2010.
* Budapest stock index tests record high as MOL rises almost 3 pct * Croatia offered to buy MOL's INA stake after years of wrangling * Forint, zloty touch multi-week highs, Polish unit retreats * No sign of intervention in forint market -FX dealer By Sandor Peto BUDAPEST, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Shares in the oil and gas firm MOL pushed Budapest's equities index close to a record high on Tuesday after Croatia's government said it would buy MOL's stake in Croatia's INA.

MOL shares were up by 2.7 percent by 1107 GMT, helping the index rise 0.8 percent.

Most other stocks on the bourse and in Central Europe were treading water. Currencies and government bonds were mixed, with the forint touching a 5-week high against the euro.

The Zagreb government said on Saturday it would buy out MOL's 49 percent stake in INA, in which the Hungarian firm holds management rights.

INA shares surged by over 9 percent in Zagreb, on volume of more than double its 30-day daily average - although only 28 shares were traded as INA has only a small free float. MOL's turnover was around a quarter of its 30-day daily average volume, with business on the wider Budapest bourse very thin.

"There are no institutional investors in the market between Christmas and the New Year and retail investors thought the news about the buyout offer is good," one Budapest-based stock trader said.

MOL and Croatian governments have been wrangling over control of INA for years, hindering investments.

The government has not disclosed details of its offer to buy MOL's stake. According to the market valuation, MOL's stake is worth some 16 billion kuna ($2.22 billion).

Regional markets were otherwise quiet.

The zloty hovered around the 4.4-to-the-euro line, quickly retreating from 6-week highs.

But the forint traded at 5-week highs and remained firmer than the psychological barrier of 310 to the euro, even though the Hungarian central bank continued to boost liquidity in local markets last week through its one-week and one-month currency swaps.

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Market participants generally believe that the Hungarian central bank would prefer the currency to weaken past 310 to the euro.

On the other hand, a firmer currency will reduce the forint value of foreign-currency state debt at year-end, helping the debt agency AKK as it tries to cut the debt-to-GDP ratio from about 75 percent at the end of last year.

"(Forint) turnover is low and there has been no sign of intervention (from the state) so far," one currency dealer said.

AKK has reduced the level of debt issues in the past weeks and even limited its repo operations, indicating that it wants a lower year-end debt level, one Budapest-based fixed income trader said.

"Bonds are steady now ... A weakening is possible in January-February, when the state usually sells more debt," the trader said.

CEE SNAPS AT 1052 MARKETS HOT CET CURRENCIES Lates Previ Daily Chang t ous e bid close chang in e 2016 Czech crown 27.02 27.02 +0.0 -0.10 50 85 1% % Hungary 308.8 309.3 +0.1 1.87% forint 500 650 7% Polish 4.400 4.398 -0.05 -3.23 zloty 0 0 % % Romanian 4.533 4.532 -0.02 -0.31 leu 0 3 % % Croatian 7.553 7.547 -0.08 1.14% kuna 0 0 % Serbian 123.2 123.4 +0.2 -1.41 dinar 100 800 2% % Note: daily calculate previ close 1800 change d from ous at CET STOCK S Lates Previ Daily Chang t ous e close chang in e 2016 Prague 918.9 916.7 +0.2 -3.91 2 5 4% % Budapest 31925 31638 +0.9 +33.

.33 .81 1% 46% Warsaw 1931. 1933. -0.12 +3.8 34 60 % 8% Bucharest 7027. 7013. +0.2 +0.3 99 61 1% 4% Ljubljana 703.0 705.2 -0.31 +0.9 4 1 % 9% Zagreb 1995. 1991. +0.2 +18.
On Tuesday, actress Carrie Fisher died at the UCLA Medical Center after suffering a heart attack days earlier. The actress was 60 years old.

Most famous for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars series, Fisher went on to become an established author and screenwriter and inspired many of her viewers and peers in Hollywood.

I remember the first time it was weird to me was when someone wanted to thank me because theyd become a lawyer because of me, Fisher told the Los Angeles Times. The main thing they said is that they identified with me. I felt like that was somebody that could be heroic without being a superhero and be relatable.

Being an inspiration to many, its no surprise that Hollywood was quick to react on Twitter to the news of her death with many celebs calling her an icon and a legend.

During a flight from London to Los Angeles on Dec. 23, Fisher suffered a heart attack. Upon landing, the actress was rushed to UCLA Medical Center. While she spent three days in intensive care, her mother, Debbie Reynolds, said she was in stable condition.

A spokesperson for the family confirmed her death, releasing a statement on behalf of Fishers daughter, Billie Lourd. It is with very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning, the statement read.

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Carrie Fisher

Photo: Reuters/Paul Hackett

Related Articles
LONDON (Reuters) - The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is in danger of extinction because it is running out of space, research led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has found.

After a sharp decline in numbers there are now just 7,100 cheetahs in the world, or 9 percent of the historic range, the ZSL, Wildlife Conservation Society and Panthera study found.

In Zimbabwe, the study found, these pressures have seen the cheetah population plummet 85 percent from 1,200 to at most 170 animals in just 16 years.

Wildlife experts are calling for the big cat to be rated "endangered", up from "vulnerable" among threatened species, to give it greater environmental protection.

Capable of sprinting up to 75 miles per hour in short bursts, the cheetah is notoriously secretive and information on its status had been difficult to gather, meaning its predicament had been overlooked, the study said.

"Our findings show that the large space requirements for cheetah, coupled with the complex range of threats faced by the species in the wild, mean that it is likely to be much more vulnerable to extinction than was previously thought," said Dr Sarah Durant, who is leading the cheetah conservation programme.

The study said that cheetahs were vulnerable to several dangers such as prey loss due to overhunting, habitat loss and illegal trafficking. Added to that, more than three-quarters of cheetahs live outside protected wildlife areas and, because they roam wide, are more vulnerable.

(Reporting by Elisabeth O'Leary; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
London (AFP) - Antonio Conte has challenged his Chelsea stars to use their club record run of 12 successive victories as the foundation to win the Premier League title.

Conte's side moved seven points clear at the top after a 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday and they are now just two more victories away from equalling Arsenal's Premier League record of 14 consecutive wins.

Should the Blues defeat Stoke and Tottenham in their next two games, they will have earned a significant statistical landmark.

But it is trophies that matter most to former Juventus and Italy boss Conte and he has set his sights on leading Chelsea to the Premier League crown they last won in May 2015.

"I prefer to win the title than the record," Conte told Chelsea TV.

"Records are important, but not all. It's important to write history only when you win.

"To be in the history of the club and to win 12 games in a row is fantastic. But with the players we want to continue."

Bournemouth switched to three at the back to try to match the Chelsea formation that has proved such a success since Conte first deployed it earlier this season.

But Conte's men still proved too strong and the Italian views teams changing tactics as a mark of respect.

It is a nice problem for Conte to have, and one that is familiar after his time at Juventus, who won 33 of 38 games under him in 2013-14.

"After 12 wins in a row, every team who play against Chelsea try also to change their formation. It happened also in Italy when I was manager of Juventus," Conte said.

"We must be prepared for the formation of our opponent (to change). I think this means great respect for us."
U.S.energy behemoth Chevron Corporation CVX recently reported that its wholly-owned affiliates have signed an agreement to divest its Indonesian and Philippines Geothermal assets to Star Energy Consortium.

Chevron, which first began its geothermal operations in the 1960s, has a 40% interest in the Philippine Geothermal Production Company. This company operates the Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal power plants in Southern Luzon, which provide steam to power plants and are capable of generating 692 megawatts of power. The Darajat and Salak fields in Indonesia, which were discovered by Chevron in the 1980s, have a combined operating capacity of 647 megawatts.

Chevrons has planned this divestment to improve its financial situation. The company has already sold assets worth $2.2 billion as of the end of the third quarter and is on track to attain its goal of maximizing the value of its upstream businesses by managing its portfolio effectively.

San Ramon, CA-based Chevron is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas firms in the world, based on proved reserves. It is engaged in oil and gas exploration and production, refining and marketing of petroleum products, manufacturing of chemicals and other energy-related businesses.

Year to date, the Zacks categorized International Oil and Gas Integrated industry has registered an impressive growth of 14.41%. However, the Chevron stock has outperformed the industry by gaining 27.21%.

This is because Chevron  one of the most oil-weighted majors  is poised to benefit from the recent OPEC deal and the subsequent improvement of crude prices. As it is, the company has been able to boost returns and remain competitive by taking up aggressive cost-reduction initiatives. However, Chevron is experiencing signs of weakness in the refining business due to fuel oversupply amid weak demand.

As a result, Chevron currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that the stock will perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.

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Some better-ranked players from the broader energy sector include Braskem S.A. BAK, Suncor Energy SU and McDermott International Inc. MDR. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

In the last four quarters, Braskem posted an average positive earnings surprise of 105.5%.

Suncor, on the other hand, delivered an average positive earnings surprise of 40.55% in the last four quarters.

In the last four quarters, McDermott posted an average positive earnings surprise of 250.00%.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - The Vatican should take steps to improve relations with China, the Chinese head of religious affairs said on Tuesday, a week after the Roman Catholic Church said it was hoping for "positive signals" from Beijing. Pope Francis is trying to heal a decades-old rift with China where Catholics are divided between those loyal to him and those who are members of a government-controlled official church. One of the obstacles to improving relations is the question of who should be able to appoint senior clergy. China says bishops must be named by the local Chinese Catholic community and refuses to accept the authority of the pope, whom it sees as the head of a foreign state that has no right to meddle in Beijing's affairs. Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, was quoted by state news agency Xinhua on Tuesday as saying China "hopes the Vatican takes an even more flexible and pragmatic attitude, and takes actual steps to create beneficial conditions for improving relations." China wants constructive talks to narrow differences, increase consensus and promote improved relations, he told a meeting of Chinese Catholics. "The Chinese government's position on improving Sino-Vatican ties has always been clear and consistent," Wang said. The Vatican said last week it was "certain that all Catholics in China are waiting with trepidation for positive signals that would help them have trust in dialogue between civil authorities and the Holy See and hope for a future of unity and harmony." The two sides have been at loggerheads since the expulsion of foreign missionaries from China after the Communists took power in 1949, and the Vatican's continued maintenance of official ties with self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as its own. Prospects for a deal were set back this month after Lei Shiyin, a government-backed bishop excommunicated by the Vatican, participated in the ordination of new bishops.. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's industrial sector showed the strongest profit growth in three months in November, suggesting the world's second-largest economy was improving, though policymakers noted gains were too dependent on rebounding prices for oil products, iron and steel.

Industrial profits have had a solid rebound this year after falling last year, boosted by a recovery in commodity prices as supply tightened due to a capacity reduction drive and an infrastructure boom.

Profits in November rose 14.5 percent to 774.6 billion yuan ($111 billion) from a year ago, the highest since August's record 19.5 percent spike, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Tuesday. Profits in October rose 9.8 percent.

Industrial profits rose 9.4 percent in the first 11 months from a year earlier, up from 8.6 percent in January-October.

"Industrial profits rose relatively fast due to a lower base last year, and the growth was overly reliant on a price rebound in raw material industries such as oil refining, and iron and steel," He Ping, an NBS official, said in a note accompanying the data.

Profits in manufacturing rose 13.7 percent for January-November from a year earlier, while those for the ferrous metal processing industry as well as oil and nuclear fuel refining more than tripled.

BROADER CRACKDOWN?

Producer prices rose at the fastest pace in more than five years in November as prices of coal, steel and other building materials soared, boosting industrial profits and giving firms more cash to pay off mountains of debt.

But analysts say recent signals from China's top leaders that more will be done in 2017 to crack down on asset bubbles is putting pressures on raw material prices, casting doubts over the sustainability of such a price rebound.

"The question is whether price rises in recent months resulted from a genuine improvement in demand, or financial speculation," said Zhou Hao, senior economist at Commerzbank.

"From what we are seeing, the leadership apparently thinks it's the latter."

Story continues

Zhou said the government "might introduce new policy measures to curb raw material price growth."

Chinese steel futures fell sharply on Monday to the lowest level in over a month, as traders took cues from market talk that Beijing may tolerate slower economic growth amid rising debt and an uncertain global environment.

STABLE GROWTH

Tuesday's data covers large enterprises with annual revenue of more than 20 million yuan from their main operations.

China's growth has stabilized this year, with 6.7 percent expansion in gross domestic product in the first three quarters. But corporate debt continues to rise, increasing risks as China looks to push ahead structural reforms.

Firms are seeing more payments being delayed, as accounts receivable at the end of November rose 9 percent from a year earlier. That increase was biggest than the rise in revenue from main operations.

"The difficulty in making repayments is still a relatively large hurdle that limits the production and operation of firms," NBS's He noted.

Tuesday's data also showed Chinese industrial firms' liabilities at the end of November were 5.6 percent higher than at the same point last year, despite rising at a slower pace than assets have.

China's industrial output should grow around 6 percent in 2017, like this year, a state-run newspaper quoted industry minister Miao Wei as saying on Monday.

($1 = 6.9494 yuan)

(Reporting by Beijing Monitoring Desk and Yawen Chen; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Richard Borsuk)
BEIJING (Reuters) - A court in southern China has handed out jail terms of up to 10 years to nine people from a Chinese fishing village once seen as a cradle of grassroots democracy after finding them guilty of illegal protests and other charges. Wukan, in Guangdong province, erupted in renewed protest in September. Unrest had rumbled on since June after the arrest of a popular leader who was finally jailed in October for corruption, charges widely disputed in Wukan. The village received international attention when a 2011 uprising over land grabs forced authorities in Communist Party-ruled China to back down and grant local direct elections. The Haifeng County court said in a statement late on Monday the nine had been jailed for crimes including illegal demonstrations, disturbing traffic and intentionally spreading false information. The court did not specify sentences for individuals, but said the sentences ranged from two years to 10 years in jail. An indictment from the same court earlier this month said their crimes occurred between June and September this year. While low-level democratic experiments have been tried in villages across China, Wukan's took place in the glare of both domestic and international publicity, and marked a rare moment when Communist Party officials backed down in the face of protest. Beijing leaders are fearful of growing calls for democracy and losing their grip on power. Weeks of "umbrella revolution" pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, to the southwest of Wukan, in 2014 presented Beijing with one of its biggest political challenges in decades. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)
BEIJING (AP)  Chinese authorities handed down prison sentences to nine protesters in a fishing village that's received international attention for its demonstrations against land seizures, state media reported Tuesday.

The villagers in Wukan were given sentences on Monday ranging from two to 10 years for offenses that included illegal assembly, blocking traffic and disrupting public order.

With a population of 13,000 people and located near Hong Kong, Wukan was the site in 2011 of a rare victory for protesters against the ruling Communist Party over the issue of the government taking land of farmers and peasants to build large-scale projects. Facing an international spotlight, the party allowed villagers to elect their local party secretary. The winner of that election was Lin Zuluan, a former protester.

But Lin's detention on corruption charges earlier this year sparked more than 80 straight days of rallies calling for his release, despite warnings from Chinese authorities not to assemble.

This time, police moved in to violently suppress the protests. They fired rubber bullets at demonstrators and assaulted journalists from two Hong Kong newspapers conducting interviews in the village.

Videos shared on Chinese social media showed one person with blood on his arm and chest, and another being treated for an apparent bullet wound on his hand.

Lin gave a televised confession to charges that he took up to 593,000 yuan (about $85,300) to "influence livelihood and economic projects" in the village. He was given 37 months in jail. But one of his former lawyers told The Associated Press in September that he believed Lin had confessed under pressure to protect his family, and soon afterward, Lin withdrew his confession and tried to appeal his sentence, but was unsuccessful.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Two Chinese companies and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC have agreed to buy a 10 percent stake in a digital mapping company controlled by Germany's leading carmakers to help them develop self-driving cars. Chinese digital mapping company NavInfo, internet group Tencent and the Singapore fund will invest in mapping company HERE under a deal announced on Tuesday. China is pushing the development of electric and autonomous cars and has made several high-profile investments in high tech companies in Europe. German carmakers Audi, BMW and Daimler will reduce their combined ownership of HERE by 10 percent, HERE and the buyers said in a statement. China is on track to overtake the United States as the largest market for premium cars, a step which forces the German manufacturers to find alliances with local players in Asia to help them expand new services such as autonomous driving. HERE and the Chinese consortium did not disclose financial details of the deal, which they expect to close in the first half of 2017. Germany's luxury carmakers bought HERE from Nokia for 2.55 billion euros ($2.6 billion) last year to create a platform for developing self-driving cars and to secure their access to intelligent high-precision mapping systems. The German carmakers have developed their own prototype autonomous vehicles and wanted to cut their dependence on mapping data from software giant Google which has also developed a self-driving vehicle. HERE needs capital to expand its network of high-precision maps quickly, and has been in discussion with potential partners including Amazon.com, Microsoft and Bosch. Self-driving cars need such maps to navigate, and use sensors to create services such as a system for monitoring road conditions and finding parking spaces by using vehicle-mounted cameras to scan the road ahead. China has taken an interest in automotive technology investments to help develop its autonomous and self driving car know-how. Earlier this month Chinese mobile operating systems company Thunder Software Technology Co Ltd (Thundersoft) agreed to acquire Finnish automotive software company Rightware for 64 million euros ($67 million). Future Mobility, a Chinese automaker controlled by Tencent Holdings has poached autonomous driving personnel from Google, Daimler and BMW in the race to make self-driving cars. There have also been high-profile takeover approaches for high-tech companies in Europe, particularly in Germany, though Chinese overtures have not always been welcome. Home appliance maker Midea bought industrial robot firm Kuka in a 4.5 billion euro deal in May, in what was the biggest Chinese deal for a German industrial technology company. China's Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund withdrew a 670 million euro bid for chip equipment maker Aixtron this month after the United States blocked the acquisition of its U.S. division on national security grounds and German authorities withdrew their approval. Germany and China have become involved in an increasingly public dispute about access to each others' markets, with China complaining about unfair scrutiny of its acquisition targets in Germany, and Germany wanting reciprocal access to firms in China. HERE also said it will form a joint venture with NavInfo to extend its products to China using NavInfo's data and services. Tencent will use HERE's mapping and location platform services in its own products, both in China and internationally. ($1 = 0.9576 euros) (Editing by David Clarke/Ruth Pitchford)
Chinese Yuan: Manipulated Does NOT Mean Unpredictable

markets are bigger than governments.

By Elliott Wave International

This years U.S. presidential election brought into focus one market you dont hear about often: the Chinese yuan, or renminbi.

Donald Trump has been telling us all for a long time now that China is a currency manipulator. Its part of his plan for his first 100 days in office to get on with making sure that China is legally declared to be such a currency manipulator and thus start the process of doing something about it.

The problem with this is that China really is a currency manipulator. But theyre manipulating the value of the yuan up, not down. Thus returning it to the correct free market value isnt going to have the desired effect of closing Americas trade deficit with China. (Forbes, Nov. 13.)

However things shake out with China under the new White House administration, lets look closer at the basic premise of this argument  namely, that Chinas government manipulates the currency.

By definition, market manipulation means stopping the free-market forces from doing what they do best: setting a fair value of an asset that suits both the buyer and the seller. It also implies that the manipulated market is no longer predictable using trend indicators you would apply to other, freely-traded assets.

So, does this mean that the yuan has been unpredictable?

You be the judge.

Below, you see a chart of the yuan vs. U.S. dollar exchange rate going back to 2014.

The arrows on this chart show you the timing of 15 yuan forecasts subscribers saw over the past two years in our Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday Asian-Pacific Short Term Update, edited by Chris Carolan.

Shanghai. Sensex. ASX200 & Beyond  See Whats Next for Asian-Pacific Stocks Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, our Asian-Pacific Short Term Update brings you new, objective forecasts for the Nikkei 225, ASX200, Hang Seng, Shanghai Composite, S&P Nifty and more. Weve just released the December 20 issue, and were offering it to you  FREE  through this special offer. Read your free issue now

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[Click chart to expand]

March 18, 2014 : The dollar is rallying and the yuan falling as wave 5 appears complete. With prices breaking out now above the upper weekly Keltner channel for the dollar versus the yuan, we can state that a very large dollar rally is in its early stages .

May 11, 2014 : The dollar rally this year versus the Chinese yuan is the largest against that currency since rates were allowed to partially float twenty years ago. The daily chart shows that the dollar has completed five waves up against the yuan. The daily Jurik RSX has now turned lower with a bearish divergence. We should expect some additional pullback in the dollar now versus the yuan . [It] will present an opportunity to become bullish on this cross rate on further weakness.

December 9, 2014: We showed the long-term Yuan charts a few times earlier this year after the dollar completed a long-term, five-wave decline. The subsequent dollar yuan rally managed to break above its upper weekly Keltner channel and then challenge the upper monthly channel. Then, the dollar began a months-long pullback against the yuan. Weve been waiting for signs of the next wave higher in dollar yuan . That wave is beginning now.

January 27, 2015 : A long term dollar rally versus the yuan fits Elliott Wave Internationals outlook for deflation. the dollar rally versus the yuan remains in its early and formative stages .

July 30, 2015 : Its been some time since we checked in on the dollar yuan exchange rate. The rate is pegged by the Chinese government, though it is subject to market pressures. Weve been patiently awaiting an upside breakout in the dollar against the yuan. Recent news reports have highlighted the increasing flight of capital from China. That capital flight causes upward pressure on the dollar yuan, which is the direction weve been expecting this market to take for some time. Reports are also tracking heavy Chinese selling of U.S. Treasuries in order to dampen the upward pressure on dollar yuan. For now, the peg holds tight, as shown in the weekly chart. Yet at some point, markets are bigger than governments. We expect dollar yuan to defeat those who are determined to peg it. when that time comes, it will be a third-of-a-third wave higher for the dollar against the yuan [targeting] trading area at 6.80.

August 23, 2015 : China is holding the line again on the yuan, but their very small devaluation is lagging far behind the large moves in their neighbors exchange rates. The offshore yuan continues to put pressure on the Chinese for further devaluations. That devaluation will come , but we may need to wait a while before it occurs.

October 13, 2015 : The bigger picture in the yuan shows that the dollar decline since the sharp devaluation move is clearly corrective . To sum up all the evidence, we are closely monitoring these markets for an expected resumption of volatility across all financial markets.

November 10, 2015 : The dollar is once again stronger versus the offshore yuan than the official, onshore, pegged trading. A higher dollar versus emerging market currencies will once again pressure China to devalue the yuan. We continue to expect the yuan to trade at 6.8 per dollar in coming months.

December 15, 2015 : Were seeing the Chinese yuans steady devaluation as the fixed onshore exchange rate continues to follow the offshore rate, where the dollar is moving higher . The 6.80 level of Minor wave 4s trading range as shown on the monthly chart is our minimum target for this move. The yuans devaluation will keep the pressure on emerging market currencies in coming months. Each country believes the best way to fight deflation is to devalue their currency and export that devaluation to their neighbor. These pressures on all currencies to devalue will continue into 2016.

January 12, 2016 : The yuan will move lower regardless of Chinese government actions. But this reversal today likely marks the wave (iii) top in the dollar, so we may expect a week or more of quieter yuan trading before the long-term dollar rally resumes .

April 24, 2016 :  The yuan seems poised for another round of devaluation as the dollar exchange rate moves higher in Minute wave v.

May 10, 2016 : The dollar is moving higher again versus the yuan as Minute wave v gathers upside momentum. The dollar is trading at the largest premium over the yuan on the offshore market since February. Look for the dollar to continue towards our long-term price target at 6.80 yuan per dollar in coming weeks and months.

June 19, 2016 : The dollar advance against the yuan continues. This Minute wave v rally is orderly so far.

October 4, 2016 :  We have a long-term minimum target of 6.83 for this advance , which is the level of the previous fourth wave, the end of the Minor 4 triangle in 2010, shown on the monthly chart. We first issued that price target over a year ago in 2015. This strong, long-term trend up in the dollar versus the yuan deserves our respect.

November 8, 2016: The Chinese yuan has reached our long-term price target of 6.80.

So, what should we make of this brief history?

Its best summarized by this quote from Chris Carolans Asian-Pacific Short Term Update:

The [dollar/yuan] rate is pegged by the Chinese government, though it is subject to market pressures.

markets are bigger than governments.

Shanghai. Sensex. ASX200 & Beyond  See Whats Next for Asian-Pacific Stocks Every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, our Asian-Pacific Short Term Update brings you new, objective forecasts for the Nikkei 225, ASX200, Hang Seng, Shanghai Composite, S&P Nifty and more. Weve just released the December 20 issue, and were offering it to you  FREE  through this special offer. Read your free issue now

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Chinese Yuan: Manipulated Does NOT Mean Unpredictable. EWI is the worlds largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.



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By Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - A toxic homemade Christmas liquor killed at least 23 people, mostly from Pakistan's Christian minority community, and made dozens sick, police said on Tuesday. At least 45 people were treated for poisoning after drinking the moonshine in the town of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab province, about 315 km (195 miles) south of Islamabad. "The maker and supplier of the toxic liquor is also included among the dead," senior police official Bilal Kamyana told Reuters. "The maker prepared liquor at home and sold it in polythene bags for 500 rupees (about $5) each." Deaths from tainted liquor, often home-brewed, occur periodically in Muslim-majority Pakistan, often around religious festivals. In March, at least 40 people, mostly Hindus, died after drinking toxic liquor days ahead of the festival of Holi. It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in the country, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities. Christians make up about 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 190 million people, with most living in Punjab. (Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Berlin (AFP) - About 400 peace activists were marching Tuesday from the outskirts of Berlin towards the devastated Syrian city of Aleppo, heading down the refugee trail in reverse.

Organised by Polish journalist and blogger Anna Alboth, the "Civil March for Aleppo" aims to build political pressure to help civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict.

Carrying white flags and hiking backpacks and wearing outdoor gear against the cold and wet December weather, the marchers had on Monday left from the centre of the German capital.

Alboth told Germany's left-leaning Tageszeitung daily that only a core group of 30 activists planned to walk all the way, adding that she expected they may be blocked at the Turkish border.

"The true purpose of the march is that the civilians in Syria get access to humanitarian aid," she said. "We are marching to build pressure."

The starting point was the disused airfield of the Nazi-era Tempelhof airport, which during the Cold War became the hub for the Berlin airlift and now houses several thousands refugees from Syria, Iraq and other countries.

The marchers plan to cover around 20 kilometres (12 miles) a day and walk through the Czech Republic, Austria and several western Balkan countries to Turkey -- and then on to Syria.

It is the route into Europe that was taken last year by more than a million people, many fleeing battlefields in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, with the majority ending up in the top EU economy Germany.

Several thousand people have pledged on Facebook they would join at least a section of the about 3,000-kilometre (1,900-mile) trek bound for Syria's second city, which is now squarely under the control of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Backed by Russia and Iran, Syrian troops last week retook control of eastern Aleppo, which had been held by disparate rebel groups since mid-2012, after a devastating month-long offensive that caused tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Germany has pledged 15 million euros ($15.6 million) in aid to pay for medical staff and trauma counsellors for the devastated city, Development Minister Gerd Mueller said.
SAN FRANCISCOHow should climate scientists react to a president-elect who calls global warming a hoax? How much should they prepare for his administration? And should they ready themselves for the worst?

These questions loomed over the fall conference of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) this month, the largest annual gathering of Earth scientists in the world. How the scientific profession chooses to answer them may decide whether the United States can summon the political will necessary to finally vanquish climate-change denialismor whether it will continue to muddle through on the issue, not really attending to it, as it has for the past three decades.

The meeting revealed a quasi-generational split. Many scientists continue to act like aloof and methodical professionals. They want to provide sound data and quietly advocate for good policies. When the profession is threatened, they will advocate for funding, but they will also respond to Trump like academic actuaries, sighing deeply and then getting on with their work.

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Another group recognizes that a key fact of modern scientific understandingthat the Earths climate is warming, thanks to the industrial burning of fossil fuelshas unfortunately become a central political issue of the era. They see it as their duty to correct the record, and they will respond to attacks on scientific fact as activists would: by organizing protests, educating the public, and shaming their local governments and national representatives into action.

At the conference, it wasnt clear which camp was coming out on top.

* * *

Each December, more than 20,000 scientists who study the Earth systemseismologists, geochemists, climatologistsassemble for the AGU fall meeting in San Franciscos Moscone Center, a set of three cavernous convention centers in the citys financial district.

It is an incredible sight. Researchers in flannel and marmot fleece spill out of auditoriums, meeting rooms, and nearby Starbucks shops. They fill a hall as large as a city block with dozens of rows of poster presentations. They talk about invigorating questions in scienceseemingly basic queries like how the moon formed and whether global warming makes Western wildfires more likely.

Story continues

Communicating science is not the same as doing science.

This year, too, they talked about politics. On the first day of the conference, a set of climate scientists talked to a packed room about how best to communicate the reality of global warming. Naomi Oreskes, a historian of science at Harvard University and the co-author of Merchants of Doubt, urged researchers to keep their public messaging on the issue simple.

For us as scientists, simple feels simplistic. This leaves people confused, and it leaves the door open for climate-change denial, she said. The solution was for researchers to just get over their fear of telling simple, emotional stories.

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Communicating science is not the same as doing science, she said. The standing-room-only crowd nodded along.

The next day of the conference saw a less docile gathering. At noon on Tuesday, climate-activism groups held a protest to assert the reality of climate change and stand up for science. The rally was well advertised, and it was easy to get to, held at noontime only two blocks from the convention hall.

It was a frightening time for climate scientists. The Trump transition team had recently sent a lengthy questionnaire to members of the Department of Energys civil service. The team sought the specific names of employees who studied climate issues for the government or who had accompanied Obama-era political appointees on trips to international climate meetings. The survey suggested that the new administration would fire scientists just for doing their job. The protest was an easy way to register their discontent.

The rallys stage was impressive. Scientists in white lab coats stood on steps of a Catholic church and held signs saying PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES, STAND UP FOR SCIENCE, and ICE HAS NO AGENDAIT JUST MELTS. Organizers had lined up an impressive set of speakers. Yet when the rally began, only a couple hundred people stood in the square.

The bottom line is, we dont want to be here. None of us want to be here. We want to be in our labs, we want to be in the field, we want to be with our students, said Oreskes to the crowd from the rally stage.

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But we are at a moment in time, a moment in history, where we have to do something else as well. And thats stand up and be counted, she added.

Eventually, more scientists arrived from the hall, and the crowd grew to about 500. Organizers and protesters seemed pleased with the attendance.

But Kim Cobb, a professor of Earth sciences at Georgia Tech, told the audience that it was not enough.

How many thousands of our peers are still in the poster halls and lunches with their buddies, or prepping talks in their hotel rooms? she asked the crowd. What is the nightmare scenario that will get you out of your hotel rooms? What will have to happen, folks? Because its happening. Its time. Its past time. Please join us.

Later in the week, the Trump team would rescind the Department of Energy survey, calling it the mistake of a single employee. The integrity of federal science had won out, for now.

But the stand up for science rally was an easy way for those 20,000 conference attendees to express their dissatisfaction with the new regimes anti-science policiesa straightforward way to assert their political relevance during lunch. Thousands of people might have showed up, and they didnt. To be fair, there were also sessions ongoing at the conference at the time, including one on the shifting landscape for science under the Trump administration.

But when given the choice about whether to do their work, or whether to assert their political relevance in an easy way, thousands of researchers voted with their feet.

* * *

The 2016 meeting of the AGU was not supposed to feel like this. Back in October, its schedule had seemed upbeat. In addition to the usual seminars on earthquakes and atmospheric chemistry, there was a new slate of sessions that focused on how researchers could help improve the Paris Agreement. Events focused on the path forward from Paris and shifting the energy mix in a post-Paris world.

Government science, too, seemed comfortable in its new era. President Barack Obama promised in his first inaugural address to restore science to its rightful place, and he had successfully brought a generation of scientists, researchers, and policymakers into the federal government. With this team, Obamas administration crafted the Clean Power Plan, a set of domestic protections limiting carbon-dioxide emissions from the power sector. The Environmental Protection Agency strengthened processes limiting air and water pollution that had become sclerotic during the Bush administration.

And while the battle over outright climate-change denialism hadnt been won, it seemed possible that many Republicans, smarting over Donald Trumps shambolic presidential campaign, would finally drop the bizarre claim that the planet wasnt warming. Some of the partys members had already recognized the crisis. It even seemed plausible to hope that, by 2020, climate scientists could occupy a public role similar to the one held by seismologists or atomic scientists: respected arbiters of fact, sensible advisors of public policy.

Then Trump won.

The AGU scheduled emergency sessions that crowded out the post-Paris plenaries. Climate activists passed out fliers in front of the convention hall. And you could sense an entire slumbering ecosystem of scientific resistance rousing itself back to life.

It didnt always feel like a conference at war. In most quarters, it even felt normal. As Buzzfeeds Peter Aldhous writes, researchers young and old still compared notes over coffee, asked probing questions on the poster floor, and greeted old friends over beers at 3:30 p.m. (an AGU tradition).

But in private, many scientists fretted about what was to come. One morning, I asked a long-time EPA civil servant about the mood at the agency. (He asked not to be named out of fears about his job.)

Have you ever seen the movie Titanic? he replied. Theres a scene where, right after the ship hits the iceberg, everyone is just standing on the deck saying, Well, what the hell just happened? They had no idea about what was coming for them. Thats how it feels right now at EPA.

* * *

Climate science does, in fact, have a fairly robust professional lobbying infrastructure. Much of it was built to respond to the allegations that the Bush administration censored or tampered with federal science during the mid-2000s. The Union of Concerned Scientists helps federal scientists decide whether to blow the whistle on similar activity. (Many federal agencies now have internal scientific integrity policies, in response to the same allegations.) And thanks to more recent legal attacks on individual researchers, there is now a Climate Science Legal Defense Fund.

There is also an entire architecture of climate-action protest groups, like 350.org and the Sierra Club, some of which congealed around the Peoples Climate March in September 2014.

These two arms give the climate-change crowd an impressively deep bench. The climate movement already has a policy arm, a research arm, and an activist arm. With most climate scientists onboard, it could gain an even more impressive constituency. Climate scientists live in every state, in urban areas and rural areas, on the East and in the West. They are also often connected to locally respected institutions in their community.

The profession of climate science has already activated itself. It wasnt clear if individual climate scientists all realized they had a role to play too, beyond their research.

Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

In part, this is because leaders argue that they need to wait to see what the administration does before organizing a resistance. When the data come, when we have the evidence, when there is a line at which decisions have to be made, there may be fights that have to happen, said Thomas Zurbuchen, the head of NASAs space scientific mission, at a Monday session, according to Buzzfeed. He said that worried attendees should behave like scientists and wait to see what the administration does before opposing it.

Some had begun pre-emptive education. On Thursday, in the basement of a nearby Marriott, a set of policy leaders held a pre-emptive session meant to help federal scientists, like that EPA worker, carry on in the years to come. They counseled federal scientists on how they could continue their work even if the new administration was hostile to them.

We need  to be less risk-averse, and yell louder, and be political.

The leaders said encouraging words, and they educated scientists about the support structures that were already in place. But they also dont know whats comingbecause, frankly, no one does. It wasnt clear whether the Trump administration would attempt to discreetly tamper with government reportsor whether it would try worse.

This is different from the Bush administration, said Andrew Rosenberg, the director of the Center for Science and Democracy, a nonpartisan advocacy group connected to the Union of Concerned Scientists. You have people in place in the transition who are openly hostile, and have spent in some cases significant parts of their career, attacking the agencies they are now involved with. Attacking scientists directly for the work that they do. Thats different.

Gretchen Goldman, the research director at the Center for Science and Democracy, added that the profession was now much more organized than it had been 15 years prior. Scientific professional organizations like AGU now consider it their role to take stands on non-partisan scientific issues.

Were already mobilized. I think we are in a much better place, she said.

But some audience members believed the scientific agencies should take a more politically forthright role, and work closer with climate and environmental-justice groups.

We as scientists have to become comfortable saying how we feel, even if it sounds political, said Jane Zelikova, an ecologist and a research fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. And we need an organization like the Union of Concerned Scientists to be less risk-averse, and yell louder, and be political.

Zelikova is also a member of 500 Women Scientists, a grassroots organization of female scientists who support a more inclusive scientific community and who oppose the anti-knowledge and anti-science tenets of the new administration. Though they were founded after the election, they now have 11,000 members.

Others agreed with her. Activism gets a bad name, said Kathy Dervin, a board member at the U.S. Climate and Health Alliance. Its a public service for us to do science.

She argued that scientific institutions could work more closely with health organizations, since public health agencies are highly trusted and often extensively use climate research. The health sector has not been very active yet on climate change, she told me.

After the event ended, Goldman told me that this years AGU had a different tone than previous years.

Every year, [AGU] happens, and theres a million sessions, and theres a tiny corner for policy topics. We come and do our thing, but its sort of just a side conversation, she said. This year is entirely different. Theres been, all week, conversations about policy and scientific integrity. Every keynote has touched on it. People come up and thank us for what we do. All of a sudden, I think people are seeing the value of engagement in a new light.

Other organizations working in the policy arm reported a similar uptick. Over the week, the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund held free one-on-one conferences with worried researchers. Lauren Kurtz, the funds executive director, said that every block on her schedule was filled with researchers wanting to meet.

When researchers are concerned about new tactics from the Trump administration, they are concerned about people like Chris Horner and David Schnare. Both are members of the Trump transition team, and both have spent years suing individual climate scientists or trying to gain access to reseacherss emails through lawsuits. Schnare has also appeared on the conspiracy-theorist internet TV program Infowars.

* * *

A USGS seismologist describes his work to U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell (USGS)

There wasnt only talk of politics at AGU; actual politicians were there too. On Wednesday, two different high-ranking Democratic leaders spoke at AGU, and both implored scientists to engage in public conversations about the science.

Sally Jewell, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and the former CEO of REI, toured the poster hall on Wednesday morning and talked to federal scientists.

One display focused on the environmental costs of introducing a fracking well to public land. The scientist seemed hesitant to state the externality costs of fracking straightforwardly, instead preferring to describe it in terms of as competing priorities.

Jewell asked the scientist to frame her work in monetary terms and not scientific ones. I think that for scientists like yourself, as we go into the next administration, making the business case will be important, she said. How does this [fracking well] affect how many people decide to stay in hotels?

Later that day, speaking to thousands of AGU attendees, she beseeched them to communicate their work clearly and confidently to the public. She also emphasized the importance of the federal scientific integrity policies that the Obama administration had put in place.

The scientists natural inclination is to be a bit introverted and focused on your work, she said. Public investment in your work is critical but you must make that case. I am optimistic about the futureI am optimistic you will make a case for your work.

As CEO of REI, she said, she always tried to remember that with Congress and other policymakers, if youre not at the table, youre on the menu.

Instead of talking about the green of conservation, lets talk about the green of money, she added.

The scientists gave her a standing ovation. But the voice that stood out was that of Governor Jerry Brown of California, who stopped by for a last-minute speech on Wednesday morning. In his barnstormer of an address, which made national headlines, he asked young climate scientists to remain in the field.

One of the vices in the spiritual life is called tepidity, he said. Weve had a lot of tepid climate fighters, people who are not really telling the full truth. But there is a paradoxical benefit when someone takes to an absurd length a completely erroneous position. That so unmasks the error that it allows everyone else to refute it.

He continued. Im not discouraged. I cant think of anywhere else to be than in climate science today. Fights are fun. And this fight is big. And its gonna be attractive, and its gonna take a lot of smart people.

How, exactly, those smart people should fight remained an open question. But climate scientists could learn from Browns happy-warrior talk. Climate science can seem like a dire, dour sciencethe Earth really is warming, and the consequences of it really will be badbut they also research an ecstatic and incredible subject. They study the whole planet! What an incredible privilege. Climate denialists are on the wrong side of scientific consensus, and they have been for 20 years. Scientists should feel happy to call them on their BS.

In that light, I suspect that the more activist scientists are right. If they so chose, climate scientists could become an incredibly powerful constituency. The climate-change movement has a well-distributed expert network alreadyif those experts so choose. Nothing stops climate scientists from talking to local churches or high schools nearby them, from sharing the story of climate science in a straightforward and non-condescending way. Nothing stops them from organizing protests. Nothing stops them for calling for local policies to mitigate catastrophic climate change.

Many climate scientists want to go about their lives focusing intently on their work and getting the research done. It is a laudable and pleasant dream. The problem is, climate denialists know that, in this fallen world, it really is just a dreamand they will exploit it until climate scientists engage.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Picking a paint color is very hard. There are just so many swatches to view, and so much time you can spend comparing and contrasting your options in every room of your home, inside and out, the trim, the ceiling, your fenceand on and on it goes. If youve even spent hours, days, or months of your life trying to pinpoint the perfect hue, we feel your pain.

Still, there are some paint choices that never seem to come up for question. Ever wondered why barns are red? Why is the White House white? And is the Golden Gate Bridge supposed to be  gold, instead of a reddish-orange?

The answers to these and other traditional paint choices may surprise you, and they make good stories, too.

Why are barns red?

Regardless of whether youre in the Northeast or in the deep, deep South, a drive through the countryside reveals a curious phenomenon: Barn after barn after barn, almost all are painted red. Why?

Sure, the bold hue means youll never get lost on a multiacre farm. But thats not the reason generations of farmers chose it.

The simple truth: Red paint was once dirt-cheap to make. Red ochre combines iron and oxygen, two of the most common elements in our worldthus their low cost as a paint additive. Of course, today most paint colors (based on artificial dyes) cost the same, but the tradition of painting barns red has stuck aroundregardless of sticker price. Because, lets be real: Blue barns look strange.

Why is the White House white?

While plenty of schoolchildren have heard that the U.S. presidents home was painted white to cover up a British attempt to burn it in 1814, this actually isnt true. Its a myth!

The building was first painted with a lime-based whitewash in 1798 in order to protect the porous stone underneath from freezing. After nearby residents started calling the presidential residence the white house, officials decided to make the color, then the name, permanent (the White House wasnt officially known as such until 1901, through a decree by President Theodore Roosevelt).

Story continues

Why are green rooms green?

Many a musician, actor, dancer, and public speaker has spent more than a few nerve-wracking moments wringing their hands in the green roomthe backstage holding pen before they go onstage. According to the Oxford Companion to the Theatre, this term first appeared in 1678 in Thomas Shadwells play A True Widow, which refers to a green room, behind the scenes.

The area is also called a scene room, and some argue that green is merely the result of a game of telephone gone wrong. But there is another interesting theory: Since the limelights in theaters leave a greenish afterimage in actors field of vision, green walls helped soothe the tired eyes of performers exiting the stage.

Why are roofs in Greece blue?

Blue Greek roofs MartinM303/iStock

Picture the Mediterranean in your head. Chances are good you visualize a sea of blueand not just the water. As seen in many a tourism poster, Grecian roofs painted an eye-popping shade of blue provide a striking topper to the pristine white walls below.

Theres a good reason for this. The white limestone plaster walls reflected the bright light of the sun, keeping each homes inhabitants cool. But they were also blinding to look at, so residents found a clever way to reflect the sunlight without burning their eyes: a blue pigment called loulaki, typically used to keep white fabrics bright. A little was mixed with the limestone plaster to tone down the whiteness, and more was added to roof materials to achieve that classic bold blue hue.

Why is the Golden Gate Bridge orange?

First things first: Its definitely orangeInternational Orange, to be precise, a shade of orange vermillion unique to the San Francisco landmark.

Before the bridges construction in 1933, builders typically used boring shades of black and gray. But with so many ships passing beneath the bridge en route to the San Francisco Bay (often at night or in the fog), making sure the structure was highly visible was a priority. In fact, the military favored painting it in black and yellow stripes  or perhaps red and white stripes.

Fortunately, architect Irving Morrow prevailed, choosing a color that would complement its backgroundan orange that evoked the sunset, with warm tones that reflected the nearby land. And thank goodness he did!

The post Color Us Surprised: The Amazing Story Behind Red Barns and Other Paint Traditions appeared first on Real Estate News & Advice | realtor.com.
new home wrap tyvek

US home prices have extended to their best levels since the financial crisis, according to the October reading of the S&P/Case-Shiller index.

The national home-price index rose by 5.6% on an annualized basis in October, up from 5.4% in the prior month.

The 20-city index, which covers major metropolitan areas like Seattle and Chicago, increased by 5.1%, up from 5% in September.

Seattle, Denver, and Portland, Oregon, continued to record the highest highest annualized price increases.

Though prices are back at levels seen in the most recent housing bubble, economists contend that speculation and euphoria are not driving the market this time.

Home prices have been rising as a healthy jobs market and historically low mortgage rates have increased demand for homeownership since the financial crisis. Also, constrained supply helped to bid up the prices of existing homes, especially in desirable East Coast and West Coast cities.

Heading into 2017, at least two things are top of mind for housing economists. First, the prospect of higher mortgage rates may prompt prospective buyers who are dragging their feet to quickly lock in the lowest rates they can. Also, if strong demand continues to push prices higher but wages don't keep up, affordability could worsen.

"Affordability measures based on median incomes, home prices, and mortgage rates show declines of 20-30% since home prices bottomed in 2012," David Blitzer of S&P Dow Jones Indices said.

"With the current high consumer confidence numbers and low unemployment rate, affordability trends do not suggest an immediate reversal in home price trends. Nevertheless, home prices cannot rise faster than incomes and inflation indefinitely."

NOW WATCH: Watch Yellen explain why the Federal Reserve decides to raise rates





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Comedian Ricky Harris, who is best known for his skits on Snoop Dogg albums, died Monday at the age of 54. His cause of death was not immediately confirmed, but some reports claimed that Harris suffered a heart attack.

Harris extensive work includes his racy stand-up act, giving voice to several hip-hop characters, and roles in films like "Heat," "Dope" and "This Christmas," as well as TV series such as "CSI: Miami," "NYPD Blue" and "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story."

He was the man behind the legendary voice characters DJ EZ Dicc, TaaDow and Saul-T-Nutz in albums by Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound. In 2004, Harris lent his voice to various characters in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

Harris, who was the son of a preacher and raised in Long Beach, California, made his acting debut in the 1993 drama Poetic Justice, which starred Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. Harris is survived by his mother, his ex-wife and two daughters.

Snoop Dogg posted a short video to Instagram remembering the actor as my big brother, my homeboy and a Long Beach original, adding that Harris was on his way to heaven now.

Ice Cube and many other hip-hop stars paid tribute to Harris on social media.

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Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso will meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Congolese president tweeted Monday. The two leaders will discuss the ongoing crisis in Libya and other issues concerning the African continent.

A tweet from the presidents spokesman Thierry Moungalla said the two leaders would discuss ways to end the turmoil in Libya, described by the United Nations as a human rights crisis, and other broader issues affecting the continent. No other details were mentioned in the tweet.

The Trump team reportedly did not respond to requests for a comment confirming the meeting between the real estate mogul and Sassou-Nguesso. The incoming president is currently at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and will assume office Jan. 20.

The Congolese president, who has been in power for nearly 32 years, extended his reign when he won the elections by a landslide in March this year. Sassou-Nguesso first came to power in 1979 and has remained the head of the Republic of Congo ever since, except for a five-year period when he lost the elections in 1992.

The 72-year-old won 60 percent of the vote in the March 2016 election, with his nearest challenger hovering at 15 percent. The weekend poll was held under a communications blackout with the opposition alleging voting irregularities.

The country, rich in oil and timber, modified its constitution in an October 2015 referendum, abolishing the age and the two-term limits on presidential candidates. The now-abandoned rules would have prevented 72-year-old Sassou-Nguesso from running for president in 2016.

Trump has received several calls from leaders around the world since defeating his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 election. The president-elect also met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in November and the two have planned another meeting for Jan. 27.

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HALIFAX, Pa. (AP)  Three emaciated young children were locked inside a room like "caged animals" with no heat and little food, and two of them risked death from abuse and neglect when police and child welfare investigators arrived at their home in mid-December, authorities said.

A Halifax Township couple have been charged with aggravated assault, false imprisonment and related offenses. Joshua and Brandi Weyant are jailed in Dauphin County on $1 million bail each.

Investigators suspect the couple stopped feeding and caring for the children in September, according to court documents.

Court records do not list an attorney for the couple who could comment on the charges.

In a police interview, Brandi Weyant allegedly blamed her husband for the abuse. Joshua Weyant denied abusing the children but said he didn't want them "overfed," a police affidavit said.

The children told authorities they were locked in their bedroom at night, pounding on the wall to be let out to use the bathroom, but relieving themselves when no one came, Pennlive.com (http://bit.ly/2hJSln8 ) reported.

When authorities showed up, the children, a 6-year-old boy and two girls, ages 4 and 5, were underweight, their skin was caked with animal hair, dirt, feces and urine, and they "reeked of a strong odor similar to that of caged animals," the affidavit said. All of them showed signs of physical abuse.

The 6-year-old weighed about 27 pounds, while the 5-year-old weighed 23 pounds and was so lacking in abdominal fat that her internal organs risked collapse, according to court documents.

A doctor told police that had the children not received medical treatment, it's likely the two older siblings would have died within days or a week "as a result of the physical abuse and neglect they received in their home," police said.

Brandi Weyant told authorities on Dec. 20 that Joshua told her not to feed the three children or "she would get in trouble," the affidavit said. She said she wanted to give up the children to people who could care for them, but her husband wouldn't allow it.

Story continues

She said she became ill and bedridden in September and did not care for the children, but "made assumptions that the victims were fed."

Confronted with Brandi Weyant's allegation that he told her not to feed the children, Joshua Weyant told police, "We feed the kids in order," the affidavit said.

"He later states that he didn't want the children overfed," the affidavit said. "He states that the house always has food and there is never a shortage of food in the house."

Both defendants denied physically abusing the children.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 2.

Joshua Weyant faces unrelated child sexual abuse charges from 2013, according to court records.
After 63 years of living side-by-side, a Tennessee couple died just hours apart days before Christmas.

Dolores and Trent Winstead met in the 1950s in Dickson County, Tennessee. They were married not long after meeting  after Trent proposed to Dolores in a bathroom.

In order to not get a no, I guess, he waits until shes brushing her teeth to ask her to marry him, son Eddie Winstead told WKRN, a local news station.

The two were polar opposites, but thats what made their relationship last, their daughter, Sheryl Winstead, said.

I think thats what made them click, she continued.

When Trent was sent overseas to serve in Korea, he would write continuously to Dolores, stating he was awful glad to hear from her.

The couple spent their later years together in West Nashville, Tennessee, until recently when Trent was taken to the hospital with failing kidneys.

Dolores stood by his side as much as possible, until she also fell ill.

She starts having a really bad headache  she was having a brain aneurysm, Eddie said. Both of them ended up in the same hospital room. From that point, she lasted about two days.

Dolores passed away just weeks before their 64th wedding anniversary. After her death, son Eddie realized he had to be the one to tell his father.

I had to lean next to him, and just kind of tell him, Mom has passed,' he said. When that happened, it was kind of like his whole spirit just changed.

I told him Dad, if you want to go be with mom, thats quite alright with Sheryl and I,' Eddie continued.

Trent passed away hours later. The two were buried together.

Its like God made their travel arrangements and they went together, Sheryl said. Its just really sweet.




HAVANA, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Cuba's economy shrank 0.9 percent this year due to a fall in exports to its oil-producing allies as they struggled with the long slump in global fuel prices, its economy minister told the National Assembly on Tuesday in a closed-door speech.

The figure suggests the centrally planned economy contracted sharply in the second half of the year after drastically cutting imports, investment and fuel use due to a cash crunch. The government had reported 1 percent growth for the first half.

In excerpts published by official media, Economy Minister Ricardo Cabrisas told the National Assembly that the economic outlook was brighter, forecasting strong growth next year for the sugar industry and tourism.

"For 2017, we expect growth of 2 percent in gross domestic product following a contraction of 0.9 percent in 2016," Cabrisas was quoted as saying by official media. The economy grew 4 percent in 2015, according to the government.

Given a global drop in commodity prices, Cuba is struggling with a fall in exports of nickel, refined oil products and sugar, as well as a decline in revenue from the sale of medical services to oil-producing allies like Venezuela and Angola.

In a further blow to the Cuban economy, crisis-stricken Venezuela slashed its exports of cheap oil to Cuba this year.

In one bright spot, Cuba's detente with the United States has fueled a boom in the tourism sector and supported private sector growth through increased remittances.

But some experts fear growth from thawing relations with the United States may be at risk since Republican Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, has vowed to "terminate" Obama's engagement with Cuba unless Havana gives the United States what he calls a "better deal." (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Marc Frank; Editing by David Gregorio)
Daisy Ridley has released a statement following the death of her Star Wars castmate Carrie Fisher on Tuesday.

Devastated at this monumental loss, Ridley wrote. How lucky we all are to have known her, and how awful that we have to say goodbye.

Ridley, 24, starred in last years Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which saw Fisher reprise her role as General (nee Princess) Leia Organa. The pair shared a moving scene in the final moments of the film, and both actresses will appear in 2017s Star Wars: Episode VIII.

For the better part of Star Wars history, Fisher was the only female lead in the franchise. But at Star Wars Celebration 2015, the actress said she welcomed Ridleys involvement. Its good to have a little help, said Fisher. I liked being the only one when I was 19 Now, I need some backup.

She spoke about her young costar in an interview with EW last year. Ive been trying to help her, Fisher said. Ive been warning her, thats how I help people.

Fisher shared one such warning in a conversation with Ridley in Interview magazine: You should fight for your outfit, she said. Dont be a slave like I was.

All right, Ridley responded. Ill fight.

Head here for more tributes to Fisher from her Star Wars costars and members of the franchises family, and here for others from around Hollywood.
Ghost Busters actor Dan Aykroyd mourned the death of ex-girlfriend Carrie Fisher Tuesday. The two were engaged in 1979 but split two years later.

Aykroyd, 64, took to Twitter to share his statement. Our beautiful brilliant funny wise kind and generous Blues Sister -so ironic, the actor wrote to his 233,000 followers. Xmas was Carrie's favorite thing next to babies. His tweet was liked more than 1,400 times within minutes.

Aykroyd and Fisher dated after they met on the set of The Blues Brothers. Co-star John Belushi set them up, CNN reported in 2011. His proposal wasnt exactly romantic.

I almost choked on some kind of vegetable that I shouldn't have been eating: Brussels sprouts! Fisher explained, according to CNN. So he had to give me the Heimlich maneuver. He saved my life, and then he asked me to marry him. And I thought...wow, what if that happens again? I should probably marry him.

When I was going to have the kissing scene with John, he went around the set singing My Best Friend's Girl, she added with a laugh.

Fishers family spokesman, Simon Halls, released a statement behalf of Fishers daughter, Billie Lourd. It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning, the statement read to People Magazine. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

Fisher, 60, had a heart attack on a plane from London to Los Angeles. She was rushed to UCLA Medical Center by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Her eyes were closed and she had an oxygen mask over her face. She never regained consciousness.

Fisher is survived by her daughter, her brother, Todd Fisher and sisters Tricia and Joely Fisher.

Carrie Fisher

Photo: Carrie Fisher

Story continues

Follow me on Twitter @mariamzzarella

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American astronomer and feminist Vera Rubin, who found the first observational evidence of dark matter in the 1970s, died of natural causes on Sunday. She was 88.

Vera Rubin was a national treasure as an accomplished astronomer and a wonderful role model for young scientists, Matthew Scott, president of the Carnegie Institution, where Rubin did much of her pioneering work, said in statement released Monday. We are very saddened by this loss.

Rubin, the only astronomy major to graduate from the womens college Vassar in 1948 and only the second female astronomer to be elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, was born July 23, 1928. She obtained her masters degree from Cornell University after she was told that women were not allowed to enroll for Princeton Universitys astronomy program  a policy that remained in place till 1975  and her Ph.D. from Georgetown University, where she went on to teach for 10 years.

Vera was an amazing scientist and an amazing human being, Neta Bahcall, an astrophysicist at Princeton University, said in the statement. A pioneering astronomer, the mother of flat rotation curves and dark-matter, a champion of women in science, a mentor and role model to generations of astronomers.

After observing dozens of galaxies in the 1970s, Rubin and her colleagues found something odd. Stars far from the galactic center were moving as fast as those near the centre  a phenomenon that violated Newtonian gravitational theory.

This led to the discovery that something other than the mass of visible matter was responsible for the stars motion. This dark matter is now known to make up 27 percent of the universe, and a staggering 85 percent of the universes mass. It does not interact with normal matter through electromagnetic force and therefore does not absorb, emit or reflect light, making it dauntingly hard observe and study.

The visible matter  planets, stars, galaxies  constitute just 5 percent of the cosmos, the remaining 68 percent being made up of dark energy.

Story continues

I think many people initially wished that you didn't need dark matter, Rubin said in an interview with the physicist Alan Lightman in 1989. It was not a concept that people embraced enthusiastically. But I think that observations were undeniable enough so that most people just unenthusiastically adopted it.

Even now, scientists are no closer to understanding what dark matter is  although several theories regarding its composition have been put forward.

In addition to her trailblazing work in astronomy, Rubin was also an outspoken advocate for increasing the role of women in science.

I live and work with three basic assumptions, Rubin once wrote. (1) There is no problem in science that can be solved by a man that cannot be solved by a woman. (2) Worldwide, half of all brains are in women. (3) We all need permission to do science, but, for reasons that are deeply ingrained in history, this permission is more often given to men than to women.

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MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  "I was betrayed," lamented Madino Dhurow of her return to Somalia from the world's largest refugee camp, Dadaab, where she lived for 12 years. She said she was assured safety and support back home but she found those promises to be empty.

She is among thousands of Somalis who left the sprawling camp of some 260,000 in neighboring Kenya, sometimes under pressure, after the Nairobi government announced it would close Dadaab, calling it a recruiting ground for Somalia's al-Shabab Islamic extremists and a base for launching attacks.

Al-Shabab has carried out several assaults in Kenya in retaliation for sending Kenyan troops to Somalia in 2011 to fight the extremists, who are waging an insurgency against Somalia's weak Western-backed government.

The insurgents' deadly attacks in Somalia also threaten the lives of those returning from Dadaab.

"All the security improvement and welfare information we were told we would find here turned out to be false," Dhurow said, watching her six children wade through dirty, stagnant water in the Mogadishu displaced persons' camp that is their current home. "We got many promises, but it was a deception meant to make us leave."

Conditions are dire at the Somali camp, called Daryeel. Families live in makeshift homes of sticks and plastic sheets that are unfit to protect them from the upcoming monsoon rains, not to mention the armed gangs that often prey on the camp at night.

Refugees said each family received $400 support cash from the United Nations once they agreed to return home to Somalia, but the money has not gone far.

It is not what those living in Dadaab expected when they were pressured to leave, sometimes after spending their entire lives in the refugee camp.

Some Somali refugees have been living in Dadaab in eastern Kenya for more than 20 years, since Somalia descended into chaos following the 1991 ouster of longtime dictator Siad Barre by warlords who then turned on each other. Somalia is trying to rebuild and faces a presidential election that has been delayed several times amid security and other concerns.

Story continues

Some 35,000 Somali refugees have been supported in returning voluntarily to Somalia since 2014, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

But some Somali refugees report harassment and intimidation by Kenyan security agents to leave Dadaab quickly and speed up the repatriation process.

"Many of us had a deadline to leave. Personally, I didn't want to leave Dadaab but I had no choice to stay on," said Halimo Abdow, a mother of nine who returned to Somalia in August.

Once they reached Somalia, Abdow and her children were driven from place to place by violence and financial crisis. They first went to a camp in Mogadishu but soon moved to her hometown, Afgoye, complaining of a lack of assistance by aid agencies.

Then al-Shabab attacked a police station in Afgoye last month, triggering hours of clashes that left at least six people dead. A mortar shell hit near Abdow's home, leading her to move again to a nearby nomadic village where water supplies are usually scarce.

Amnesty International and other rights groups have said Kenya is coercing residents of Dadaab to return to Somalia where they risk getting killed or forcibly recruited into al-Shabab.

Some returnees also blamed aid agencies, saying the insufficient and wrong information they provided made them to return to Somalia. The returnees say they now face hunger despite promises that they would be assisted.

"As opposed to what we were told, what we found here is all about insecurity incidents during the day and gangs preying into our camps to rob us of the little things we were given before," said Ali Haji, a father of five who returned to Somalia after eight years in Dadaab.

"Whoever ventures to go outside will be killed," he said.

Somalia's government has criticized the decision by Kenya's government to close Dadaab camp and warned that forced repatriation of refugees would only worsen the security situation there. For a while earlier this year, the Jubbaland State government based in Somalia's third-largest city, Kismayo, stopped accepting refugees because of a lack of resettlement plan by aid agencies. It later accepted them after talks with aid agencies.

Last month, the Kenyan government announced it was extending by six months its deadline for closing the camp and sending the refugees home. Aid groups called the delay a short relief but said that with the new May 31 deadline hanging over them, Somali refugees will continue to feel they have to leave.

"As long as Kenya denies Somali refugees secure legal status and threatens to close camps and deport them, refugees will feel they have no choice but to go home with U.N. return support cash instead of being forced out with nothing," said Gerry Simpson, a senior refugee researcher at Human Rights Watch.
Vice President Joe Biden is being accused of convincing Ukraine to vote in favor of the United Nations Resolution 2334 Friday that condemned Israel for building housing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israels Environmental Protection Minister Zeev Eklin told the Jerusalem Post Monday that Biden persuaded Ukrainian diplomats to vote yes on the measure, who would have reportedly abstained if he hadnt.

A member of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's office told the Jerusalem Post that Biden had indeed called, but was unable to confirm whether or not their discussion involved the Friday U.N. vote.

Bidens office has adamantly responded that Eklins allegation that the vice president had anything to do with the U.N. vote was false. Such a move by Biden could signify the role President Barack Obama might have played behind scenes of the vote. But a statement from the vice presidents office released on Dec. 19 said the phone conversation between Biden and Poroshenko had been about making improvements to Ukraines banking sector.

The Vice President called Ukrainian President Poroshenko last week to discuss PrivatBank and other issues specific to Ukraine," the vice presidents communications director, Kate Bedingfield, said. "He did not discuss the U.N. Security Council resolution."

Despite heavy pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the U.S. to veto the measure, it abstained from voting, resulting in the U.N. Security Council approving the resolution with 14 votes to 0.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, was the only member to raise hand her hand during the vote as the lone abstention.

Netanyahu summoned Israels leading ambassador to the U.S. Daniel Shapiro Sunday while issuing harsh words for the Obama administration following the vote, CNN reported Monday.

"We have no doubt that the Obama administration initiated it, stood behind it, coordinated on the wording and demanded that it be passed," Netanyahu said Sunday.

Story continues

The Obama administration has had a history of disapproving Israels plans to expand building housing settlements in the much-contested area of the West Bank. Palestinian authorities have claimed the West Bank and Eastern Jerusalem as being part of their future state.

Alternatively, Netanyahu was looking forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, who tweeted on Saturday that things will be different at the U.N. after he is inaugurated.

"The big loss yesterday for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!" Trump tweeted.

Related Articles
Earlier this month, The Boeing Company BA inked a deal with Iran Air for 80 jetliners valued at $16.6 billion. However, on Dec 25, Iran Air revealed that it has negotiated to pay only half the announced price.



Note that the deal was announced in Jun 2016 by Boeing and it included the delivery of 50 737 Max 8s, 15 777-300 ERs and 15 777-9s to Irans national carrier.



What Iran Said



According to Iran's official IRNA news agency, the country's deputy transport minister, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, said that given the nature of the order and its options, the purchase price for 80 Boeing jets is approximately 50% of the list prices.



Order Discounts



It is widely known that when a commercial plane manufacturer discloses a firm contract, it is valued at the full list price of the planes in the order. Usually though, no one pays list prices, especially if the order contains such a huge number of planes.

Boeing has a history of providing discounts on the list prices of its planes. Using 2014 data of list prices, deliveries and reported revenues, the average discount that Boeing applies on the list prices of its commercial airplanes is 47%. Given its trend of raising discounts, along with the fact that Boeing regularly increases list prices, it is quite possible that the company will offer higher discounts in the future.



A Similar Deal



Iran Air inked a similar deal with Airbus Group SE EADSY, Boeings direct rival in the commercial airlines space, this month, under which Airbus will supply 100 jets to Iran Air. The deal would be worth $18.0$20.0 billion at list prices. However, the head of Iran Air has commented that the contract value would ultimately not exceed $10 billion.



How Would the Iran Air-Boeing Deal Benefit?



Boeings management expects the deal to create thousands of employment opportunities for U.S. citizens directly in relation with the production and delivery of the 777-300ER models. Going forward, the company expects to create another 100,000 jobs in the U.S. aerospace value stream for the full course of deliveries of these planes. Therefore, upon successful execution, the deal will significantly improve the employment scenario in the country and in turn, contribute to the economys overall GDP.



Besides its economic advantages, the deal is projected to bolster Boeings international business mix and fuel margin expansion, once the company begins rolling out deliveries in 2018, thereby boosting shareholder value either through dividend hikes or a higher share price.



Our View



Note that President-elect Donald Trump has all along criticized the Jan 2016 Iran nuclear deal, which curbed the Islamic Republics participation in nuclear activities in exchange for relaxing trade restrictions, in particular on the export of crude oil from Tehran. However, it is courtesy of this agreement that Boeing received such a huge order from Iran.



Nevertheless, last months legislation is preventing the Treasury Department from authorizing U.S. bank transactions for the sale and even barring the Export-Import Bank from helping Iran financially. Since Iran is not economically well positioned, this could prove to be a serious headwind for the successful execution of this deal.



Considering this, Trumps expected focus on economic growth stands against Congressional opposition. Moreover, given that he has not yet made any comment on this deal, it is uncertain as to how exactly he will react once he steps into the Oval Office next month.



Price Movement



Boeings stock has gained about 9.2% in the last one year, underperforming the Zacks categorized Aerospace/Defense industrys gain of 10.9%. This could be because Boeing continues to face challenges in the form of uncertainties related to high-cost programs, risks related to key project executions, order cancellations and stiff competition. The company has also put up a weak show in comparison to other major players in the same space like Northrop Grumman Corp NOC and Lockheed Martin Corp LMT, both of which outperformed the industry.

Story continues





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President Barack Obama will have to wait until after he leaves office to see if some of his most touted foreign-policy achievements  such as the opening to Cuba and the Iranian nuclear deal  survive his presidency. But even before he exits, it is already obvious that his signature policy in East Asia, the pivot or rebalance, is deader than a dodo. And, no, its not just resting; its nailed to the perch.

Chinas brazen seizure of a U.S. underwater drone on December 15 in international waters makes that clear. That China handed it back a few days later hardly makes up for this act of thievery without any conceivable legal justification, given that the area in the South China Sea where the drone was taken is outside even the fanciful limits claimed by Beijing in its nine-dash line. Unless this was an insubordinate act of a lowly naval captain (which no one in Beijing has suggested), it was a message that China can do what it wants in the Western Pacific and the United States cant stop it.

That message is communicated even more potently by Chinas ongoing efforts to fortify its man-made islands in the South China Sea, transforming them into unsinkable weapons platforms for threatening the U.S. Navy and the navies of neighboring states. Obamas Pacific pivot was designed, in part, to move greater American military and diplomatic muscle into the region to stop this Chinese power grab, but it has singularly failed to achieve any significant results.

Another building block of the rebalance was Obamas commitment to a free trade system that would bring the nations of East Asia, minus China, into closer alignment with Washington. But the 12-member Trans-Pacific Partnership was already in trouble before the election, having been rejected by both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Following Trumps victory on a protectionist platform, congressional leaders decided not to bring it up for ratification during the lame-duck session. This leaves the way clear for China to push its competing free trade treaty  the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)  which excludes the United States. Close U.S. allies, including Australia, South Korea, and Japan, have all expressed an interest in joining the Sino-centric RCEP.

There are other signs that East Asian states are gravitating toward the Middle Kingdom and away from Uncle Sam. In early November, Malaysian Prime Minister Nijab Razak journeyed to Beijing for a high-profile summit that resulted in the signing of trade deals worth $34 billion. This included Malaysias first-ever agreement to purchase weaponry from China  four navy ships.

Razaks summit came just after another visit to Beijing, this one by renegade Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has overseen a reign of terror in the name of fighting drugs that has resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 people since he took office in June. In Beijing, Duterte announced: America has lost now. Ive realigned myself in your ideological flow. Duterte keeps threatening to prohibit U.S. military forces from visiting the Philippines. He calls Americans, including President Obama, sons of bitches and praises China for having the kindest soul of all. So what do I need America for? he demands.

Donald Trump appears determined to curb Chinas growing power  symbolized for him by the U.S. trade deficit with China  even as he also prepares an opening to Moscow. Hence Trumps call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Dec. 2, the first time that a U.S. president or president-elect has spoken to a Taiwan president since 1979; this was clearly intended as a shot across Beijings bow. Yes, thats right: Trump also wants to reset relations with Russia and pivot to the Pacific, just as Obama once hoped to do. Is there any reason to expect that this policy will be any more successful the second time around?

When it comes to dealing with China, Trump has two points in his favor  his air of menacing unpredictability and his commitment to raise defense spending  although both come with major asterisks attached.

Many commentators have suggested that Trump will seek to emulate Nixons madman act in order to pressure China and other adversaries into making concessions. Admittedly, the madman theory did not work for Nixon  he failed to spook Hanoi into ending the Vietnam War in 1969 as he had hoped. But Trump might be able to do a more convincing impression of a war-mongering lunatic; in his case the act, in fact, might be all too authentic. Certainly China will be more worried about tangling with Trump than with No Drama Obama. Trumps call with Tsai Ing-wen suggests that he has a penchant for brinkmanship that his predecessor, for better or worse, lacks. Trump could thus bludgeon China into making concessions  or blunder into a war that no one wants.

Trumps other trump card, so to speak, is his advocacy of expanding the U.S. armed forces. He has called for increasing the Army from 450,000 active-duty soldiers to 540,000, the Marine Corps from 182,000 Marines to 200,000, the Navy from 272 deployable ships to 350, and the Air Force from 1,141 combat aircraft to 1,200. The increases to the Navy and Air Force are particularly significant in the context of the Pacific, where Chinas expanding arsenal of missiles and submarines has been tilting the balance of power against the U.S. 7th Fleet. The problem is that Trump has given no hint of how he will pay for this buildup, which will cost a minimum of $363 billion over four years. Given that Trump has also announced plans for massive infrastructure spending and tax cuts, it is far from obvious that congressional budget hawks will allow him to ramp up defense spending.

Against these uncertain advantages must be balanced the many problems Trump will confront in trying to change the balance of power in Asia. Its not simply a matter of his lack of knowledge of the region or his lack of experience in diplomacy or national security affairs. Or his taste for intemperate rhetoric and his habit of firing off late-night tweets. There is also his long-standing hostility to American allies, whom he sees as ungrateful freeloaders, and to free trade, which he sees as a rip-off.

Since the election, Trump has had conversations with the leaders of South Korea and Japan in which he was said to have reassured them he will not abandon U.S. alliances. But what will happen if he demands, as he has said he will do, that South Korea and Japan pay more for the privilege of being protected by the United States? Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Park Geun-hye are pro-American enough that they might agree. But Park is now in the process of being ousted in impeachment proceedings. The leading opposition candidates to succeed her  the leftist Moon Jae-in and the populist Lee Jae-myung (who has been labeled Koreas Trump)  are considerably less pro-American and more inclined to conciliate, rather than confront, North Korea. If one of them wins the presidency, and Trump demands more payment for protection, South Korea just might let U.S. troops leave without a fight. And if that were to happen, Americas standing in the Pacific region would plummet.

So, too, if Beijing proceeds with its RCEP trade accord while Washington makes no attempt to revive the TPP, Americas influence will also decline. Even worse will occur if Trump boosts tariffs and declares a trade war with China  which would amount to a mutual suicide pact, given the extent to which the Chinese and American economies are interconnected. The odds of this self-destructive policy being implemented have now increased with the appointment of arch-protectionist Peter Navarro, who wrongly claims that trade with China is killing the U.S. economy, to lead a new National Trade Council at the White House. Erecting tariff barriers will hurt the U.S. economy and vastly decrease Americas influence in Asia.

If he is serious about making good on Pacific Pivot, Part II, Trump will need to rethink his aversion to allies and to free trade  along with his habit of unleashing his id every time he opens his mouth or sends a tweet. The new president will soon discover that Xi Jinping, if he feels insulted, has far more potent means of retaliation than Little Marco Rubio, Lyin Ted Cruz, or Crooked Hillary Clinton could possibly have imagined.

Photo credit: FENG LI/Getty Images
For Donna Gigliotti, like the rest of the collaborators who eventually boarded the project, Hidden Figures was an undeniable proposition. The true story of three black women employed at NASAs segregated facility in Virginia in the 1960s, whose mathematic and technical talents were integral to the early days of the space race, Hidden Figures rights a wrong with a history that has largely overlooked their importance. And, as Gigliotti explains, it celebrates the tenaciousness necessary to survive in a work environment dominated by white men, under a system of institutionalized racial oppression that stacked the odds against them.

A year after an Oscars hashtag inspired a debate about representation on screen, during which the tide of progress has felt, at times, like it might be waning, Hidden Figures is an essential tonic. Its an optimistic movie, not just in terms of the story it tells, but for the industry itself; a gathering of deeply passionate individuals determined to persevere even as, per Gigliotti, the prospect on the page didnt seem to suit the narrow checkboxes favored by feature film financiers.

How does this story come across your desk?

I have this company called Levantine Films, and I started it about two and a half years ago. The company is designed to develop and finance material, so in the course of developing Im always on the lookout for books, manuscripts, plays. And because I live in New York, its terrific because publishing is here and theatre is here. This book proposal came through to us, it was 55 pages. It was called Hidden Figures and it was written by a woman that I had never heard of called Margot Shetterly. It had just been bought by William Marl. I read the 55 pages and I put it down and I wondered how it was possible that nobody had ever heard this story. I figured it was just me, and I was undereducated, so I called 10 people that I think are smarter than I am, and it was true: nobody has ever heard of this story. Its amazing.

It was funny because I was going to do ADR work with Whoopi Goldberg, having just read this book proposal, and after the ADR session, I said, Do me a favor. Just read this in the car on the way home. And she did, and I still have those emails from her; theyre phenomenal. Everything is in capital letters: YOU MUST MAKE THIS MOVIE. And the funny part was, I MUST BE IN IT. I thought, I love you, but youre 61 years-old, and nobody in the movie is above the age of 45. It didnt work out, but she said, Youll be my hero if you make this; its unbelievable that I didnt know anything about these women.

At that point I was thinking I couldnt ignore it. If theres a hallmark for the kinds of movies I make its that theres always a strong woman at the center of everything. Thats true of Shakespeare in Love, and its Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook, and its Kate Winslet in The Reader. In this, you have three superheroes, so I had to option it.

I got on the phone with Margo Shetterly. She didnt really have any exposure to Hollywood, and I think she was very suspect of this woman calling her up saying, Im going to get this movie made. But she believed me, and here we are.

When was that?

I actually looked at the option agreement the other day, it is dated March 2014. Obviously I wanted to go and commission a screenplay, and there were a variety of people that presented pitches. But Allison Schroeder said to me, I was born to write this screenplay. I said, Fine, tell me why. She said, I went to Stanford where I studied math and engineering. OK, so right there she had a leg up. Then she said, My mother, my father and my grandmother all worked for NASA. And I interned there for four summers when I was in college. At that point I had to sit up straighter and think maybe she was the right person.

She loved doing her research. She is very, very smart. And when I optioned it, I said to Margot, Will you make all your research available to us? She said yes, so I got the two of them together and facts and figures were flying back and forth between them. When Allison sent her first draft, the script made me cry within the first 20 pages. I was on a night shoot, so I thought I must have been really tired and emotional. But that wasnt the case; everyone that read that script wept.

She had a little more work to do, and then I put it out to agencies to find a director and young Mr. [Theodore] Melfi raised his hand. He was very persuasive about why he wanted to do it. And Pharrell Williams he was like a dog with a bone. He would not let go. This guy would call me and sing to me. I met with him in New York and he said, This is the kind of music that Im thinking about, and he sat down and sang me an entire song.

And then Octavia Spencer came in to see me and she said, Ill do anything to be in this movie, and I dont know which part I want because theyre all fantastic. I dont know if I should play Mary or Dorothy. You just have to love that.

This was July 2015. Teds last movie had been made by Peter Chernin, and he asked to show him the script. So we did, and Peter and Jenno [Topping] kind of went nuts for it. They said, We only deal with Fox, can we show it to Elizabeth Gabler? I said, Sure, why not. At that point we had two other studios interested in it, and so it was kind of exciting. But I thought it was right for Fox and for Elizabeth. I knew what the budget should be and I knew how we wanted to release it. I said, This is what Im looking for on this film. I want it to be greenlit, I want it to be released in December of 2016, and I want it to go wide in January. She was as good as her word, and we made the movie.

We prepped in January, we shot in Atlanta and we wrapped in May.

What has inspired that level of fervor in everybody, do you think?

I can make a suggestion. Part of it is the environment were living in. The picture was greenlit before OscarsSoWhite, so theres no correlation there. But the fact that existed, and the Black Lives Matter movement, and everything that has gone on in the country over the last few years, all of that is important.

When you see real peoples lives depicted on screen, and those people have done remarkable work and have not been recognized for it, you get to the end and youre hit by the cumulative effect of seeing these people get their due. Thats the emotional response that people have to it, and everyone can relate.

The other aspect is that when John Glenn went up into orbital space, that was the last time this country was completely and utterly united. We had an enemy, which was Russia, and they were ready to bomb us and to spy on us. The entire country overcame issues of gender, race and ethnicity to follow this story. When it was announced on the radio that there was a problem with his third orbit, traffic around Cape Canaveral stopped. People got out of their cars, in the middle of the road, and got down on the ground to pray for his safe return.

Glenn was such a hero after coming back from space that John F. Kennedy called up the head of NASA and said, Under no circumstances are you ever to send John Glenn into space again. Glenn didnt know this at the time and he came back saying, That was fun, I want to go up again. But he didnt return to space until he was 72 years old. The reason Kennedy said this was that Glenn was such a hero that, if something had happened to him in space, and he should be harmed or die, it would have been a disaster for the country.

So its those two things. Its recognition for those women and what they did, and its the idea of America in a very specific kind of unity that I think we all long for.

One of these women, Katherine Johnson, played by Taraji P. Henson in the movie, is still alive.

Shes 98 years old, and a little deaf in one ear, but shes still playing Bridge twice a week. The one person she jumps for is the President of the United States. I was talking to her not long ago. The one person she will do anything for is Barack Obama. Who, by the way, calls her quite often. Her daughter said, The White House; theyre always in touch with my mother. If the President says, Katherine, can you come here, shes always, like, Yup. Its sort of a pain in the ass, because shes in a wheelchair and can only walk a little bit, but for Barack They call him Barack. Barack calls and Katherines there.

When you hear a story like that you think there must be some good karma in the world. It was so interesting to talk to Katherine, because when you try and engage her on racism its not an easy thing to do. She was going to do her job and it didnt matter what was in her way. She didnt talk about racism or sexism. She said, I had a job to do and I knew I was the best person to do it, so I did it.

Has she seen the film?

Yes, I took it down to Hampton, Virginia, which is not an easy place to get to, let me tell you. We rented out an AMC theater and we brought the DCP down for her. She and her two daughters came in and watched the movie, and I was watching her watch Taraji P. Henson play her. I was pretty sure we were OK when I heard sniffling from that row. They liked it.

You talked about movements like OscarsSoWhite, and there can be no denying that this industry is under increasing pressure to address its many representation crises. Your filmography speaks for itself when it comes to projects in which women play strong roles. So where do you stand on the progress being made? Are you at all optimistic that, at the financing level, theres any more appetite for more diverse stories?

In a word, no. The Academy took a lot of flack for the Oscars this year, and I have to say, as a member of the Academy for nearly 25 years, while its very white, male-dominated, I really dont think thats the problem. I think its an employment issue. Until women and people of color are in high-ranking positions in the room, I dont think anything is going to change.

The only way to do it is you have to go and do what I just did. And Im going to tell you something: Im not special. Everybody in the world saw the proposal for Hidden Figures. Nobody paid attention to it except me. Because why would they? Who in their right mind would think that developing a movie about three black mathematicians working at NASA in 1962 would be an easy proposition? Its women, its a period piece, theyre African American. Theres a million reasons why you wouldnt do it.

So what it takes are individuals, to take it into their own hands. And this is what Im going to do. Im going to make movies like this, and I will do it in such a way that they become attractive in terms of the whole package, so that nobody can deny them. Thats the only way at this point.

What I do, ultimately, think is that the younger generation of executives are coming up now and maybe they will have an influence. To me, the hope is that independent producers go out and theyre on the forefront of this. If theyre smart about it, and the way that you put the package together and the budget level, then you can make it appealing to the studios and theyll sign on.

But in the immortal words of Jeffrey Katzenberg, Its not called show art, its called showbusiness. You think about the 60s and 70s, and guys like Bob Altman and early Scorsese, those guys were artists and weve lost some of that because the business has become such a business. I remember a time when the weekend grosses were not reported in news. You had to go with Variety on a Tuesday when they had the chart. Now its, Moana makes such-and-such, biggest two-day opening of an animated picture, blah blah, before Thanksgiving. It has nothing to do with Moana being a lovely film with a good story. Nobody cares about the art or the content. Yet that is so stupid, because content is the thing. What the story is, and how it empowers people to want to see the movie.

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'Silence,' 'Patriots Day' & 'Hidden Figures' Debut As Awards-Season Films Pick Up Steam - Specialty B.O.

SAG Movies: Surprises, Diversity & True Ensembles Dominate As First Guild Weighs In On The Race
Dozens of people died after drinking toxic alcohol over the Christmas weekend in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The development came one week after tainted liquor in Russia caused more than 70 deaths.

The alcohol was reportedly procured by two Muslim men, both of whom were among the dead, for a holiday party in Toba Tek Singh and was distributed mostly to Christians on Sunday. It is illegal for Muslims to purchase alcohol and minority religions such as Christians must obtain a permit to do so. In response to the country's strict liquor laws, many Pakistanis have resorted to making their own home-brewed alcohol.

"The men who belong to the Christian community drank liquor on the night of Dec. 25 and went home. Tragedy struck the next morning when many did not rise from their beds, while others got sick," Police Officer Mohammad Nadeem told BBC Urdu.

Local liquor stores were reportedly out of booze for Christmas, leaving the two men tasked with providing the alcohol to get it "from somewhere else," according to local authorities. The latest death toll was at least 32 with dozens more injured, some of whom had to have their stomachs pumped. Authorities have also said the maker and supplier were killed in the incident, the Australian Associated Press reported.

The news followed another tainted alcohol incident in Pakistan's Punjab region in late October when 11 were killed in the district of Jhelum, about 200 miles northeast of Toba Tek Singh and about 78 miles southeast of Islamabad. Bootleg brews have also killed hundreds across neighboring India in the last several years.

Last week, more than 70 people died after drinking "surrogate alcohol," cheap herbal or chemical-infused liquids such as bath oils, in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, Russia. Liquor becomes hazardous for consumption when methanol, or methyl alcohol, as opposed to normal ethanol, or ethyl alcohol, is introduced to the mix.

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NEW YORK (AP)  That glittering ball in Times Square may be the best-known object dropping on New Year's Eve, but it's by no means the weirdest.

There's stiff competition in that category: Everything from a fish to a shoe to a giant candy Peep will descend on Saturday to welcome in 2017.

The tiny lakeside town of Port Clinton, Ohio, will celebrate the new year by dropping a 20-foot-long, 600-pound replica of a walleye fish. The annual Idaho potato drop in Boise will feature a massive lit-up "glowtato" to celebrate one of the state's most famous products. In Lake Tahoe, Nevada, a brightly lit gondola is dropped at the Heavenly Mountain ski resort.

In Key West, Florida, four different things  including two humans  are lowered to welcome the new year. A giant conch shell is dropped at Sloppy Joe's Bar, a costumed "pirate wench" is lowered outside the Schooner Wharf Bar, a wedge of Key lime descends into a huge margarita glass at the Ocean Key House Resort, and of course in what is probably Key West's most famous New Year's Eve tradition, a large red high-heeled shoe carrying female impersonator Gary "Sushi" Marion is lowered outside the Bourbon Street Pub complex on Duval Street.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, hosts a two-day family-friendly Peeps festival that includes the dropping of a 200-pound lit-up Peeps chick. Peeps manufacturer Just Born began operating in Bethlehem in the 1930s.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a lit-up guitar is dropped at the Hard Rock Cafe on Beale Street. Raleigh, North Carolina, which calls itself the city of oaks, drops a giant acorn to welcome the new year. Atlanta hosts a peach drop, and New Orleans drops a fleur-de-lis.

The tradition of dropping a ball to mark a moment dates back to the 19th century, but it didn't originate as a New Year's Eve custom. "Time balls" were once displayed in harbors and lowered daily to signal a certain time of day so that ships could precisely set the chronometers they used for navigation. The New Year's Eve tradition began in 1907 when a time ball was dropped as part of a public celebration hosted by The New York Times at its building in Times Square.

The Times Square ball has been redesigned a number of times over the decades. It was originally made of iron, wood and 25-watt lightbulbs. The ball that will drop Saturday night in the moments leading up to midnight is made from Waterford crystal triangles, illuminated by thousands of LED lights.
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines remains steadfast in his controversial war against drugs, promising in a press conference Tuesday morning to protect military and officers who partake in the street killings of suspected traffickers. Duterte, who has encouraged civilians to perform vigilante-style assassinations of criminals, also slammed the United States for its "hypocrisy" in human rights issues around the world, citing the invasion of the Panama canal.

"I am trying to protect the next generation," Duterte said Tuesday.

The Philippines war on drugs is linked to at least 5,900 deaths across the country since the president took office in June this year  the majority of those being extrajudicial assassinations. Duterte has called on civilians to take part in an apparent cleansing of the streets, maintaining popularity for repeatedly condemning national crime and vowing to do whatever it takes to eradicate the nation of drug smugglers. The president has even touted his own accounts of killing suspected drug traffickers as the mayor of Davao, the Philippines' third-most populated city, though his spokesperson Ernesto Abella later told reporters not to take his admission literally.

Meanwhile, protestors throughout the Philippines and around the world have slammed Duterte for "steamrolling the rule of law," claiming his purported war on drugs has only made the country more unsafe.

Duterte continued to fight against his opponents Tuesday, instead spotlighting U.S. interference in the Philippines and demanding the White House stay out of its affairs. "I am criticizing the Obama administration for its shortsightedness, and for pure hypocrisy, including human rights," Duterte said.

Most recently, Duterte criticized the United Nations for comments made by High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein, who suggested the U.N. perform an investigation into the presidents claims he murdered civilians while in office.

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"You do not talk to me like that, you son of a bitch," Duterte said Sunday. "I will burn down the United Nations if you want. I will burn it down if I go to America."

"Duterte is steamrolling the rule of law and its advocates both at home and abroad," Human Rights Watch said in a statement published in August. "He has declared the soaring number of killings of alleged criminal suspects as proof of the 'success' of his anti-drug campaign and urged police to 'seize the momentum' Other countries, including the United States and European Union members, should make it clear to Duterte that inciting such violence is unacceptable and will reap potentially severe diplomatic and economic costs, beyond the human one."

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Cairo (AFP) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has approved a law to set up a council headed by his appointees that oversees the media and ensures compliance with "national security" requirements.

The law, passed by parliament and published in the official gazette on Monday, mandates the council to investigate media funding and fine or revoke permits of those deemed in violation.

The council will be composed of a head picked by Sisi and 12 members recommended by parliament and other institutions, and also approved by the president.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has accused Egypt of placing restrictions on media and being a "leading jailer of journalists".

The law says the council would guarantee the right of citizens "to enjoy a free and honest media".

But it also tasks the council with "guaranteeing the compliance of media institutions to the requirements of national security".

Sisi has dismissed criticisms of media restrictions in Egypt, but he regularly complains of its performance and has suggested it occasionally harms the country with critical coverage.

The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate official Khaled Elbalshy said the law tightens government control on media.

"The new law entrenches the status quo including control over the media through a council picked by the executive branch," he told AFP.

The law came days after police arrested a journalist with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel on suspicion of fabricating news on the country.

Egypt accuses the channel of backing the Muslim Brotherhood movement, outlawed after the military toppled Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 and cracked down on his supporters.

Egypt had provoked international condemnation in 2013 when it arrested three Al-Jazeera journalists, including a Canadian and an Australian, and sentenced them to jail on similar accusations.

They were later released.
How to get Emma Stones la-la-lovely style from La La Land

The music, the lead actors, the dialogue: Everything about La La Land is swoonworthy  from the opening shot to its grand finale.

But one of the most beautiful things about La La Land is the clothing worn by Emma Stones ingenue character, Mia. Her retro style screams classic Old Hollywood glamour in the most youthful, simple way possible.

The film, La La Land, tells the story of an aspiring actress, Mia (Stone), and a stubborn jazz musician, Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) as they fall in love and make their way through the ups and downs of being an artist in Los Angeles. It is a nostalgic, timeless work of art infused with the long-lost energy of old-fashioned musicals.

la la land

The costume designer for La La Land, Mary Zophres, has worked on many iconic films, from The Big Lebowski and Fargo to True Grit and Interstellar. Zophres was also responsible for the to-die-for vintage 40s attire that Gosling and Stone wore in Gangster Squad. For Mias wardrobe, inspiration came from legendary stars like Julie Christie, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, and Katharine Hepburn.

The entire movie is filled with bright, glorious colors that make you green with envy. Of course, none of us are strangers to Stone-inspired style envy.

While most of the films wardrobe is one-of-a-kind, here are some similar pieces you can snag to recreate the dreamy looks of La La Land.

Mias yellow dress

yellow dress

One of Mias most iconic looks is this yellow dress from the movie poster. It was designed by the films costume designer, Mary Zophres, but you can find this similar dress on Modcloth for $59.99. If you want something with a small print, Topshop and Modcloth have great alternatives as well. For this dress, Zophres took inspiration from Matisse paintings and a yellow gown worn by Stone to premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Similar shoes to Mias dancing brogues can be found at Modcloth or Overstock.

Mias coral shirtdress

coral dress

Every vintage-loving girl has a perfect shirtdress (or two or three), Mia included. This sweet coral number similar to hers can be found at Asos for less than $50  how spectacular is that?

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Mias vibrant wardrobe was a very purposeful choice. When talking about the color palette for the film in an interview with Fashionista, Zophres said:

Hopefully [the use of color] evokes some kind of emotion that lands in the subconscious or conscious.

Mias emerald dress

emerald dress

This beautiful emerald dress is a standout from the film, and part of an especially dreamy dance sequence. The above Modcloth dress is a pretty close match, but a little pricey ($125). You can get a dress at Mango for a lower price ($70), but its a less similar style. This look was inspired by an outfit worn by Judy Garland in the 1954 film A Star is Born. The color looks amazing with Stones fair skin and red hair  its no wonder Sebastian cant keep his eyes off Mia in this scene.

Mias blue dress

blue dress

Mias blue dress is another custom design by Zophres, but this swingy strapless Asos dress comes pretty close for $42.50. You can even get a little tulle or mesh, and DIY the halter.

Mias LBD

black dress

Mias style seamlessly blends retro and modern trends. At $30, this sexy H&M dress is almost an exact replica of the dress worn in the movie, just a little bit shorter.

la la land

The film pays tribute to the Technicolor era of Hollywood, so its fitting that the female leads wardrobe is a rainbow of gorgeous vintage pieces. If you havent seen La La Land yet, put on your favorite vintage dress and dance your way to the nearest movie theater ASAP. You wont regret it.

The post How to get Emma Stones la-la-lovely style from La La Land appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said the West was breaking promises in Syria, accusing Ankara's partners of backing "terror groups" including IS jihadists in the country.

At least 37 Turkish soldiers have died in Turkey's major incursion inside Syria since it was launched in August to back pro-Ankara Syrian fighters battling IS and Kurdish militia.

Casualties have mounted as the military seeks to take the town of Al-Bab from IS jihadists and Ankara has become more impatient over the lack of support from the US-led coalition against the extremists for the Turkish operation.

"The coalition forces are unfortunately not keeping their promises," Erdogan said at a news conference alongside visiting Guinean President Alpha Conde.

"Whether they do or they don't, we will continue along this path in a determined way. There is no going back on the path we have set out on," he added.

Turkey has met the fiercest resistance yet of the campaign in the fight for Al-Bab, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) south of the Turkish border.

For more news videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.

Erdogan complained that rather than supporting Turkey, the West was backing the Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units (YPG) and Democratic Union Party (PYD), who work with the United States on the ground in Syria, and also IS.

"They are supporting all the terror groups -- the YPG, PYD but also including Daesh (IS)," Erdogan said.

"It's quite clear, perfectly obvious," he said, adding that Turkey could provide proof in pictures and video.

Erdogan had made a similar claim on a visit to Pakistan in November alleging that "the West stands by Daesh right now" and its weapons were Western-made.

But the Turkish leader expressed confidence over the assault saying "we now have the Daesh terror group surrounded on four sides in Al-Bab".

"Yes we have martyrs... but now there's no turning back," he said.

Erdogan made no mention of a video purportedly showing two Turkish soldiers being burned to death by IS in Syria.

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Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said earlier there was no information confirming the video.

Erdogan said that along with Russia, Turkey backed a plan to bring the parties in the conflict together with key powers for peace talks in the Kazakh capital Astana.

But he said that "terror groups" must not be included and that Turkey also wanted to see its Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed Tuesday he had evidence that the U.S. supported terrorism in the Middle East by providing funding for the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants.

Erdogan told reporters at a press conference in Ankara that he allegedly had proof that the U.S. provided assistance to ISIS and Kurdish militant groups. Many of the Kurdish groups have been labeled by Turkey as terrorist organizations, including the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Both groups are active in northern Syria, where Turkey has launched a pro-Syrian opposition operation to against ISIS positions.

"They were accusing us of supporting Daesh," Erdogan told members of the media while using the Arabic-language acronym for ISIS. "Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG, PYD. It's very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos."

Turkey is considered a strategic NATO ally in the Middle East. However, Erdogan has previously expressed his discontent with Washington's policy. In October, he vowed to fight terrorism at home and abroad in spite of what he perceived as weakness in his Western allies. He also criticized the U.S.' decision not to include Turkey in operations against ISIS in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Throughout Syria's five-year civil war, Turkey and the U.S. have been opponents of Syrian President Bashar Assad and have backed various rebel factions against the Syrian army and its allies, which include Russia and Iran. Recent major victories by the Syrian government and its supporters, however, have brought Turkey to the negotiating table.

Since pro-Assad forces expelled opposition militants from their former stronghold of Aleppo, Syria's former commercial capital and largest city, Erdogan has expressed his willingness to work with Damascus, Moscow and Tehran in reaching a solution to the conflict that has killed over 400,000 Syrians and displaced millions more. The Russian Ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, was assassinated an event in Ankara one day before Turkey, Russia and Iran were scheduled to hold major peace talks in Moscow, an act which both Turkey and Russia labeled as terrorist and an attempt to sabotage negotiations in Syria.

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ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he has evidence that U.S.-led coalition forces give support to terrorist groups including the Islamic State and Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD, he said on Tuesday. "They were accusing us of supporting Daesh (Islamic State)," he told a press conference in Ankara. "Now they give support to terrorist groups including Daesh, YPG, PYD. It's very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos," he said. (Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Whether you want to promote social and animal welfare, environmental conservation or gender equality on your next trip, there are plenty of ways to travel responsibly. Stay mindful of your travel choices, leave a positive impact on the places you go and take steps to minimize your carbon footprint and other negative consequences, says Michael McColl, co-founder of EthicalTraveler.org, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting human rights and the environment. But of course, treading lightly goes far beyond choosing eco-friendly accommodation options and certified travel companies. That's why U.S. News got the inside scoop from top sustainable travel experts to help you make informed travel decisions that foster economic development, empower local communities and protect natural resources. Here are some simple ways to do good, lend a hand and be an ethically conscious traveler.

[See: 8 Ethical Travel Destinations to Visit in 2017.]

Conduct Diligent Research

"I think it's important that travelers spend a little bit of time before they travel to educate themselves on the places they're going to see," says Martha Honey, executive director of the Center for Responsible Travel, a nonprofit group in Washington, D.C. She advises perusing online resources to dig deeper into the history, politics and social and environmental practices of the places you want to visit before your trip. Make sure to check if a company is certified under recognized green publications and ask the company you want to travel with if they've won any sort of eco awards, she advises. Some handy resources to consult include ResponsibleTravel.com, the World Travel & Tourism Council, a trade group that releases Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, and the Born Free Foundation, which aims to protect threatened animals across the globe. The Rainforest Alliance, which features Sustainable Tourism Standards for hotel and lodging services and inbound tour operators, is another helpful resource to verify if the accommodations you're interested in advocate responsible practices. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is championing excellent work to certify the certifiers, McColl says. "If your travel provider claims they have an eco-certification, go to that certifier's website, and see who certifies them," he advises.

Choose the Right Travel Companies and Organizations

It's important to be vigilant of greenwashing (or spreading false information to promote an eco-friendly public image), McColl explains. "Read up on the eco-issues at your destination before your trip, so you can be an informed consumer," he says. Also, investigate the accommodations you're interested in closely. "If a hotel claims to have all low-flow faucets and showers, but they are required to do that by local law, they're not going above and beyond the minimum. Conversely, low-flow toilets may not matter in the rainforest, but waste minimization and local purchasing may be very important," he explains. "Ask about their environmental policies. Ask about the percentage of managers who are women or minorities. Businesses want to offer what consumers want. We travelers can help businesses understand that consumers care about responsible behavior by tourism providers. The more of us who ask, the more they realize that this is important," he says.

As for tour operators, there's no universal certification program available, McColl explains. Your best bet is checking a company's website to look for their eco-practices and certifications, he says. Some reputable tour companies offering eco-friendly and minimal-impact vacations include Backroads, Discovery Voyages and G Adventures.

Make an Effort to Be Culturally Sensitive

Aside from promoting sustainable practices, it's important to understand and be cognizant of varying customs in different countries, Honey says. "We need to be careful about making quick judgments," and travel with "a bit of humility and a willingness to learn," she adds. "We get so caught up adhering to our values," she says, translating to an intolerance of different cultures and practices we encounter. To be culturally sensitive and enjoy a richer and more eye-opening experience, dress appropriately, pick up a few key phrases in the local language and ask permission before entering sacred attractions.

[See: Going Green: 5 Top Eco-Friendly Trip Ideas.]

Offset Your Carbon Footprint

Relying on airplanes (and consuming plenty of jet fuel) to get from point A to B certainly isn't planet-friendly, but the reality is, air travel is essential to access destinations in desperate need of tourism, particularly developing countries. And while flying is a necessity, you can still fly smart, Honey says. When you choose your flights, consider direct routes, fly out of green airports like San Francisco International and look at the carbon offset programs to help reduce your overall footprint, Honey advises. For instance, United and Delta measure their respective carbon emissions on different routes and give passengers the option to donate money to offset projects, such as investing in renewable wind-based energy sources and forest conservation efforts in Peru. Also, when you arrive at your final destination, lighten your impact by taking the train, getting a bike, walking or relying on public transportation, Honey adds.

McColl also suggests taking fewer trips and staying for extended periods of time to minimize carbon emissions. "Spend a month or more in Thailand or Costa Rica, in one trip, rather than doing several shorter trips. By the same token, consider travel by train or bus, which is always more eco-friendly than travel by car or plane," he says.

Give Back to the Local Community

Traveling like a local by dining at locally owned businesses and staying in locally owned inns, apartments and hotels yields immersive experiences and the satisfaction that "your money is much more likely to support the local family that runs that business," McColl says. And if you're the type who enjoys planning do-it-yourself getaways and planning ahead, "look for links on travel provider websites that link to their environmental and community-support efforts," he says. If you don't see this information, it could be a telltale sign that they're not upholding these policies, he says.

[Read: 6 Sinking Cities to Visit Before It's Too Late.]

If you're passionate about community development, seek out resorts that are championing work to give back "by hiring and training locals to work in their businesses, buying needed supplies locally and supporting local nonprofits," McColl says. Fortunately, there are a variety of venerable tour and hotel operators with programs that do good for the community. "Find ones that have been vetted, so you avoid greenwashing, fake orphanage scams, etc.," McColl says. "When you work with such companies, you will often have a much more authentic experience, so your purchase will be win-win."





More From US News & World Report


Snoop Dogg and other stars paid tribute to Ricky Harris after it was confirmed that the actor and comedian died on Monday at age 54.

A cause of death has not officially been confirmed but Harris' manager, Cindy Ambers, told the Los Angeles Times that he suffered a heart attack two years ago. Harris grew up with Snoop Dogg in Long Beach, California, and the two sang together in church.

PHOTOS: Stars We've Lost in Recent Years

He is perhaps best known for his recurring role in Chris Rock's sitcom Everybody Hates Chris and his role in the 1993 drama, Poetic Justice, which starred Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. He also voiced numerous characters on hip hop albums, including several by Snoop Dogg.

C u when I get there like we used to do in church on the east side tell Nate to hold my note  A photo posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:19pm PST

The 45-year-old rapper remembered his friend by sharing some of these videos on Instagram. "C u when I get there like we used to do in church on the east side," Snoop Dogg wrote. "Tell Nate to hold my note."

MORE: Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg's Best Moments (So Far)

Ricky. Harris. In bones. A video posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:11pm PST

Gonna miss my family and. Friend. We made this up on the fly we talked about this day rest well  A video posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on Dec 26, 2016 at 7:26pm PST

Todd and. Dick. Aka. Ricky harris. R. I. P. Damn we were so naturally funny 2gether since. 83 A video posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on Dec 26, 2016 at 11:37pm PST

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer also remembered Harris, tweeting: "Devastated!!! #RIP to the One and Only #RickyHarris Always been a super solid dude."

Story continues

Devastated!!! #RIP to the One and Only #RickyHarris Always been a super solid dude https://t.co/XPUQqx5sia  CedricTheEntertainer (@CedEntertainer) December 27, 2016

Harris is survived by his mother, his ex-wife and two daughters.

WATCH: Elton John, Ricky Gervais and More Pay Tribute to George Michael

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By Hugh Bronstein BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was indicted on Tuesday on charges she ran a corruption scheme with a public works secretary who was arrested in June while trying to stash millions of dollars in a convent. A federal judge accused them and other officials of the Fernandez administration of crimes "including the deliberate seizure of funds principally meant for public road works." Corruption charges have long swirled around Fernandez and her husband and predecessor, the late Nestor Kirchner. She denies wrongdoing and accuses Argentina's current leader, Mauricio Macri, of using the courts to persecute her. The country was riveted in June when Fernandez's former public works secretary, Jose Lopez, was arrested while tossing bags stuffed with millions of dollars over the walls of a Catholic convent on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. A gun-toting Lopez started hurling the money into the Our Lady of Fatima convent when the elderly nuns inside were slow to answer the door in the early morning hours of June 14, according to a neighbor who witnessed what happened and called 911. A surveillance video shows the nuns finally welcoming Lopez and accepting the cash while paying little attention to the automatic rifle he had placed by the convent door. Lopez and his direct boss, former Planning Minister Julio De Vido, were indicted along with Fernandez on Tuesday. The alleged skimming of road projects took place in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, where Fernandez lives. The ruling said the offenses took place until Dec. 9, 2015, Fernandez's last day as president after eight years in office. No arrest warrant has been issued for Fernandez, and Lopez is already in jail on money laundering charges. In May Fernandez was indicted for "unfaithful administration to the detriment of public administration." During her administration, according to the charges, the central bank took money-losing positions in the futures market just before a widely expected devaluation of the peso currency. Fernandez, head of the leftist faction of the Peronism party umbrella, is revered by millions of Argentines for her generous welfare programs. She is reviled by others, who accuse her of wrecking Argentina's economy, Latin America's third biggest, with profligate state spending and heavy-handed trade and currency controls. (Additional reporting by Maximiliano Rizzi; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
carl paladino

Carl Paladino, a former chair of President-elect Donald Trump's New York campaign, apologized on Tuesday for comments he made last week to a Buffalo, New York, arts publication about the Obama family.

He had told the publication that his 2017 wishes included President Barack Obama dying of mad cow disease and first lady Michelle Obama "return[ing] to being a male."

"I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others," Paladino said in a statement provided to the Buffalo radio station WBEN. "I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could not have made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings."

The Buffalo developer and member of the local school board made the statements to Artvoice when asked what he wished to see happen in 2017.

"Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford," he said. "He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarrett, 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."

Paladino then made a racially charged comment about 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 insisted in his Tuesday statement that he's not racist.

"I've spent years dedicated to the mission to defeat the thought that the liberal progressive elitist establishment can continue to hold our minority children captive in the cycle of poverty simply to provide their voting base," he said. "I don't intend to yield to the fanatics among my adversaries. I certainly am not a racist."

He also said that he hadn't intended to send his responses to Artvoice's survey to the publication itself, but rather to his friends.

But when The Buffalo News initially asked Paladino to confirm he made those statements to Artvoice, he doubled down and said, "Tell them to all go f--- themselves."

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"Tell that Rod Watson I made that comment just for him," he continued. Watson, an editor and columnist at The Buffalo News, is black.

Paladino met with Trump earlier this month at Trump Tower but did not divulge what he discussed with the president-elect.

The Trump transition team condemned Paladino's remarks in a statement.

"Carl's comments are absolutely reprehensible, and they serve no place in our public discourse," the statement said.

Allan Smith contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: Trump slams Alec Baldwin: 'His imitation of me is really mean-spirited and not very good'





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By Gernot Heller

BERLIN, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Brexit vote, the U.S. presidential election and nationalism and terror attacks at home are all casting shadows on Germany's economic outlook for 2017, several industry leaders said in a Reuters survey.

The leaders of the German Industry Association (BDI), the Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) and the Employers' Association all expressed fears about uncertainties, especially with elections in Germany and France due in 2017, and protectionist trends in some countries.

"Expect the unexpected," BDI President Ulrich Grillo told Reuters. "The level of global uncertainty has increased as has the unpredictability. Unfortunately I fear that won't change very much in 2017."

Britain's referendum decision to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election surprised pollsters and markets around the world. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her conservatives are expected to win a fourth consecutive term in September but uncertainties such as terror attacks are clouding the picture and such expected outcomes should be no longer taken for granted, the industrialists said.

Grillo said he fears political instability could increase due to a combination of growing self-doubt in the west, autocrats flexing their muscles elsewhere and the rise of populists.

Anton Boerner, head of the German trade association (BGA), said all the external uncertainties were weighing on export firms.

"Nationalist trends are poison for society as a whole and Europe needs to be reminded of all that it has in common," said Ingo Kramer, president of the Employers' Association. He said an increase in protectionism would be devastating for Germany which relies on exports for about half of its economic output.

Eric Schweitzer, the leader of the DIHK, saw considerable risks for Germany related to Brexit as well as Trump's election.

"I fear there is something deceptive about the relatively good economic situation right now," he said. "The Brexit vote could still hit the EU economy and especially the German economy. Donald Trump's critical comments on free trade in his campaign are causing a lot of uncertainty at German companies."

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Association of Skilled Trades president Hans Peter Wollseifer underlined the challenge of integrating hundreds of thousands of refugees who have arrived in the last 18 months.

All the industry leaders said they hoped Merkel's conservative party, along with the other parties campaigning ahead of the election expected in September, would focus on industrial competitiveness and the creation of jobs in areas with bright futures.

In October, Germany lowered its economic growth target for 2017 to 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent.

(Writing by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
Reportedly, Facebook Inc. FB and a host of other social media services will now have to take down posts that apparently provoke terrorism immediately, following the approval of a bill by Israel courts. Per media reports, the Facebook Bill will arm the government with powers to remove offensive content without even giving social media companies any prior warnings.

Israels Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan was quoted by media reports as saying Incitement leads to terrorism, but Facebook and other social media companies do not respond to all of the polices requests to remove such content, or take a long time to do so. If the bill, which has raised concerns about restrictions on free speech, becomes a law, social media providers would no longer have such liberty of judging the merit of each request in Israel.

In July this year, Facebook was blasted by the Israel government for noncooperation. Erdan had accused Facebook of not removing offensive content that Palestinians post against the country on the network. As per a Bloomberg report, Israel has seen an unprecedented increase in lone wolf attacks by Palestinians and the government felt that posts backing such gruesome incidents on social media platforms like Facebook tend to glorify such ghastly acts.

Per media reports, in a stern statement, the minister had said, Facebook today, which brought an amazing, positive revolution to the world, sadly, we see this since the rise of ISIS and the wave of terror, it has simply become a monster. Facebook today sabotages, it should be known, sabotages the work of the Israeli police, because when the Israeli police approach them, and it is regarding a resident of Judea and Samaria, Facebook does not cooperate.

Reportedly, Israel now joins the list of countries, which have passed similar legislations including the U.S, U.K, Canada and Australia.

The popularity of social media platforms has been soaring. However, these platforms have been used by anti-social elements for propaganda. As a result, law enforcement agencies and governments have been cracking down hard on these companies.

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On the other hand, even companies like Facebook, on their part, have been taking a lot of steps to control abusive/prejudiced content on its platform. Facebook has always maintained that we work regularly with safety organizations and policymakers around the world to ensure that people know how to make safe use of Facebook. There is no room for content that promotes violence, direct threats, terrorist or hate speeches on our platform." The company has a trained team that can review such posts and take it down, if required, in a span of 24 hours.

Plus, it has been vehemently trying to crackdown on fake news, which at times can lead to violence. Per the blog post, the initiatives taken up by Facebook to curb fake news on its platform include improvement of technical systems to develop a more efficient detection of false stories. It is also working to enable its 1.79 billion users to report stories that are fake. This apart, the social network is availing the help of third parties for better verification of news and is looking at the option of labeling stories that are "flagged" counterfeit by them. Furthermore, the company declared that it is raising the bar for stories that appear in related articles under links in News Feed. Facebook said it will also scrutinize ads that promote bogus stories for monetary gains. Lastly, it said that it will work with the entire news industry to improve its fact checking systems.

A few days back, Facebook along with Twitter Inc. TWTR, Microsoft Corp. MSFT and Alphabet Inc. GOOGL joined hands to curb extremist activities on social media platforms. The companies said that they all are getting together to identify the images, video and other content that compose of radical content and create a database for the same and delete it.

At present Facebook carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Year to date, Facebook shares have generated a return of 12.05% compared with the Zacks Internet Services industrys return of 2.72%.



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The revelation that fake news deceived voters in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election generated real outrage in the aftermath of Donald Trumps electoral victory. The top fake news stories garnered more clicks than the top real news stories on Facebook in the final three months of the campaign season. Fake news and other campaign fantasies led Oxford Dictionaries to select post-truth as the word of the year for 2016.

But stories that gain popularity by presenting readers fantasies and nightmares as current events are hardly new. In medieval Britain, national and local political action was guided by prophecy. Prophecies were invoked by rebel leaders, appropriated by ruling elites, and, ultimately, censored by a government fearful of their disruptive potential. Prophecys effectiveness in shaping medieval politics offers a rejoinder to those who suggest that fake news and other political falsehoods can be ignored, or laughed off. Prophecy, like fake news, worked as persuasive writing because it told people what they wanted to believe or spoke to their darkest fears.

Recommended: My President Was Black

British politics provided ample opportunity to test the power of imagined worlds. When Owain Glyndwr, Edmund Mortimer, and Henry Percy plotted against Henry IV at the turn of the 15th century, they used the popular Prophecy of the Six Kings to justify their actions. A later historical account has the three rebels committing to treason on the condition that they are the people about whom the prophet speaks. The fantasy that Glyndwr, Mortimer, and Percy were prophesied saviorsa fantasy they themselves may have believedhad the very real effect of attracting popular support for their insurrection.

Prophecy also played a key role when the Wars of the Roses broke out between the Houses of York and Lancaster in the 1450s. The Yorkists used the prophecies of Merlin to support Edward IVs claim to the throne. The Lancastrians interpreted the same prophecies to mean that their candidate, Henry VI, deserved the crown. One Yorkist manuscript, a sumptuous scroll now in Oxfords Bodleian Library, features a circular array of insulting names for Henry VI. The names, in English and Latin, include usurper, fool, and scoundrel, as well as white dragon, a symbol for the Saxonsalways the antagonists in British prophecy. The Yorkist scroll was not meant to win hearts and minds. It was meant to stoke partisan rage.

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Prophecies were highly imaginative texts. Knights, heraldry, dragons, double crosses: The genre offered an intoxicating blend of fantasy and realism. One Yorkist prophecy in alliterative verse, found in two Bodleian manuscripts, takes the form of an imagined interview between an English member of Parliament and God. The MP asks what will happen to the realm, and God conveniently foretells the defeat of the Lancastrians, represented as treacherous Saxons. Some of the predictions in prophecies referred to the near future (like FiveThirtyEights election forecast), but most of the action amounted to history in the future tense. This was writing that wins consent for a hostile takeover; writing that justifies political violence; writing that kills.

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Prophecy wasnt just an early form of infotainment. It was an instrument of colonization. Some of the earliest recorded prophecies in Britain appeared in the 12th century, in a Latin historical narrative written by a Welsh cleric named Geoffrey. But prophetic style quickly spread from Latin and Welsh to English, and from the margins to the centers of British political power.

By identifying as Britons rather than Saxons, English elites used prophecy to legitimize their rule over the Irish and Welsh and their aggressions against the Scottish. The English projected themselves as spiritual victims of the imperialism of their own ancestors, the Anglo-Saxons. Another Yorkist scroll, held by the British Library, ends with an English passage in which an angel predicts that the Britons will not inherit the island until the Saxons become as sinful as the Britons had been before. The passage aims to galvanize the political will of English readers, not to elicit sympathy for real Celtic peoples. Prophecy rewrote history. The language of the vulnerable was weaponized against the vulnerable.

In the mouths of Welsh rebels and English peasants, prophecy was social protest. In the hands of the ruling classes, it became propaganda. In the 15th century, English kings and parliaments began passing laws against false prophecy, in effect criminalizing prophecy without official authorization. The earliest laws claimed to be about other things: vagrancy, civil disorder. They claimed to restrict prophecy only incidentally, as it related to pressing social problems. But the laws were really acts of pre-emptive censorship.

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In theory, the laws targeted prophecies made on false grounds. But prophecy, oriented toward the future and heavily coded, did not lend itself to objective distinctions between truth and falsehood. In practice, the anti-prophecy laws gave pretext to punish political dissidence. A 1542 act under Henry VIII, less covertly worded than earlier legislation, sought to protect such persons as have and had such arms, badges, or cognizances from the great peril and destruction of false prophecies. In other words, the state vowed to shield the nobility, those with hereditary coats of arms, from recrimination by their social inferiors. It did not matter whether the targets of these laws created new illicit prophecies or circulated old ones. Those caught prophesying about the imminent demise of a king or knight faced fines, jail, or execution.

Such was the fate of John Dobson, a Yorkshire vicar, put to death in 1538 for interpreting a popular prophecy to indicate Henry VIIIs downfall and the restoration of Catholicism in England. Dobson may well have disseminated heterodox prophecies, but his real mistake was probably making some powerful enemy. The defendants tried under the anti-prophecy laws were nearly always the most vulnerable members of society: servants, tradespeople, low-level clerics like Dobson, and women of all classes.

As a result of all this top-down political pressure, the textual record of prophecies is severely undemocratic. It is shaped by the political agendas of the most powerful.

No wonder many surviving prophecies express horror that the prevailing social hierarchy will dissolve. Yet this was also a key to their popular appeal. One prophecy tells of a dystopian future with knights and knaves clad in the same clothing. Another dreads the day when lads wed ladies. These predictions warn readers against the horror of a classless society. This horror did not correspond to any real world. Medieval England was in no danger of becoming a communist state. Rather, fear of social reformation was a tool to maintain the very hierarchy that was supposedly deteriorating. And heres the chilling partit worked. John Dobsons problem wasnt just an oppressive law but also whichever of his acquaintances decided to turn him in.

By the late Middle Ages, prophecy had become a mass medium. It managed to affect the real world by constructing an echo chamber and then enticing people to live in it. It is worth asking what present conditions pollsters, politicians, and journalists seek to render inevitable.

Ultimately, medieval prophecy demonstrates the enduring power of a fantasy to change reality itself. Prophecy didnt describe the world as it was, but as it was to beor as it might become. That fantasy was more powerful than any lived reality. People killed and died for fantasies. People didnt act politically because of what they had lost but because of what, in their most potent fantasy, they feared losing.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Fallout is continuing from the U.S. vote  or abstention thereof  on Fridays U.N. Security Council resolution to condemn and halt the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis of the potential passage of another resolution censuring Israel before U.S. President Barack Obama leaves office late next month. Israel is also bracing itself for the outcome of a peace conference the French are organizing for Jan. 15. Israel has repeatedly said it will not participate.

U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro was summoned to meet with Netanyahu late Sunday; several other foreign dignitaries were also called to Israel, but only he was meant to meet with the prime minister. Netanyahu, under criticism from opposition leaders in his own country, also accused Obama for playing a leading role in the creation and passage of Fridays resolution, although the United States denied this. Netanyahu looks ahead to the arrival of the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to change U.S. policy at the United Nations when he is inaugurated on Jan. 20.

In other news: On Monday, Oleg Erovinkin, assistant to Russian oil giant Rosneft boss Igor Sechin, who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was reported to have been found dead in a car in Moscow. State media has reported that the 61-year-old died of a heart attack.

It was one of many Russian-related deaths reported over the weekend. On Sunday, a Russian plane crashed into the Black Sea near Sochi. The Russian armys official choir was on board, en route to perform in Syria. The plane was carrying 92 people. There are no apparent survivors.

Also on Sunday, it was reported that the Christmas truce that was brokered for Eastern Ukraine fell apart. It was supposed to go into effect at midnight on Dec. 24. The Ukrainian military Anti-Terror Operation said the Russian-backed separatists broke the truce at least 39 times in 24 hours.

Photo credit: AMIR COHEN/AFP/Getty Images
Until ISIS invaded Iraqi Kurdistan, either enslaving or massacring the Yazidi population, few outside the region were even aware of this much-persecuted people. Hussein Hassans The Dark Wind is the rare drama made about the community, focusing on a womans difficult re-entry after being abducted by the fundamentalist fanatics. Occasionally clumsy in treatment and editing, The Dark Wind builds to a certain power, and its topicality will likely interest festival programmers and showcases. Misplaced controversy has swarmed around the film ever since protests during the premiere at the Duhok Film Festival in September, but Dubais top prize will now kick-start its chances of international exposure.

The films acrimonious reception in Duhok, close to the Yazidi holy town of Lalesh, came from a belief that it portrayed the community in a bad light: After being raped by her ISIS abductor, the female lead is spurned by Yazidi elders for no longer being pure. Its worth questioning whether Yazidi women were among those objecting to the films depiction of rejection, or if the protesters were primarily men. After all, the benighted idea that women lose their value after being violated is hardly unique to one religion or people. The truth is that Dark Wind is a sympathetic portrait of a devastated people, and the audiences emotional investment is not just directed toward the raped woman but to her steadfast, heroic fiance as well, who represents the finer side of his society.

Just after Reko (Rekesh Shahbaz) and Pero (Diman Zandi) become engaged, ISIS overruns their village and Pero is among a group of women sold into slavery. Reko, a Peshmerga fighter, desperately searches for his beloved, finally discovering her in the Kurdish part of Syria among a group rescued by a female Peshmerga unit. When found, Pero is in a semi-catatonic state, deeply traumatized from her captivity. Reko brings her back to the refugee camp where their families now live, and shes welcomed with pained joy by her mother Xezal (Meryem Boobani). Others are less hospitable, including her father Reso (Adil Abdulrahman) and Rekos father Hadi (Abdullah Tarhan), who no longer wants his son marrying a woman whos not a virgin.

The script contains no fat at all, barreling from one clear-cut scene to another in a model of straightforward storytelling. Does the film portray certain members of the community as backward? Yes, but it also shows others treating Pero with sympathy and respect. However, one wonders whether a line saying Yazidi elders had forgiven women raped by ISIS is a poor translation, as obviously the term forgiveness is fraught with major problems. Another important issue to consider is that there are no other fiction features about the Yazidis, a situation that makes impossible demands on The Dark Wind to accurately represent an entire society  a scrutiny almost no film could withstand.

Hassan, in his third feature, keeps the love story between Reko and Pero at the films heart while balancing it with scenes of ISIS attacking, as well as Peshmerga resistance (the latter edited in an often ungainly way). Early shots are nicely composed but lit in an overly theatrical manner, giving way to a greater feel for realism that really comes together towards the end, when Hassan musters a well-calibrated emotional tug. At one point a character mentions that ISIS attempted the 73rd genocide of the resilient Yazidis; clearly their stories deserve further cinema exposure, but until then, The Dark Wind is a respectable beginning.

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Istanbul (AFP) - Twenty-nine Turkish police officers went on trial Tuesday accused of failing to defend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the military's failed coup in July, the first such case in Istanbul.

The hearings follow a massive crackdown on alleged putschists -- 41,000 are under arrest in a national state of emergency and the trials are set to be the most far-reaching legal process in the country's history.

Five months after the coup attempt, small-scale cases involving suspects have already begun in the provinces and on Monday 60 people went on trial in the southwestern city of Denizli.

But the trial in Istanbul -- in a gigantic courthouse outside the Silivri prison in the city -- is the most significant to date. The government says 248 people were killed by the coup plotters.

The accused are charged with seeking to overthrow the government as well as allegedly being members of the group led by US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who the authorities accuse of leading the plot.

Gulen, who Turkey wants to see extradited from the United States, vehemently denies the charges.

Of the 29 police on trial in Istanbul, 24 are under arrest, one on the run and the rest on bail.

Special forces in camouflage gear stood guard outside the courthouse and snipers were posted on the balconies of nearby minarets.

- 'Heaviest punishment' -

The names of the accused and the indictment were read out, the state-run Anadolu news agency said. Arguments for the defence are expected to follow with the initial hearings expected to last until Friday.

If convicted, 21 suspects each face three life sentences on charges of staging a coup.

The other eight officers could be handed jail terms of between seven-and-a-half and 15 years on charges of "terror group" membership.

Three police helicopter pilots are specifically accused of ignoring orders to protect Erdogan's waterside residence in Istanbul. Others allegedly failed to report for duty or to support colleagues resisting the coup.

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"We will make sure the guilty -- within the framework of the law -- are punished and given the most heavy punishment possible," said lawyer Orhan Cagri Bekar, head of the July 15 Association, which represents victims of the coup.

President of the Turkish lawyers' association Mehmet Sari said the trials would have a wider bearing for the country.

"Never again will a group interfere in our state and to try to lead a putsch. This is what this trial will do," he said.

- 'Full force' -

However there has been growing international alarm over the extent of the crackdown amid the state of emergency imposed after the coup, with critics concerned it has been used to target Erdogan's opponents.

With the purge showing no sign of relenting, the interior ministry said 1,096 people suspected of links to Gulen were detained in the last week alone.

Erdogan has said there are strong public demands for retribution even extending to reimposing the death penalty.

He also said last week that the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara was carried out by a Turkish policeman loyal to Gulen, a claim not yet accepted by Moscow.

In a rare political speech, Erdogan's prominent younger daughter Sumeyye Erdogan Bayraktar said the group of Gulen had been "unmasked" in its tactic of "taking possession of the minds and hearts" of people.

"Our state will defend the integrity, security and public will of our country with full vigour and force. All of this will be within the rule of law," Anadolu quoted her as saying in Chicago.

Following the start of the Istanbul trial, several others will start, including on February 20 of 47 suspects accused of trying to assassinate Erdogan at a holiday resort.

The courthouse in Silivri has huge resonance for Turks after it was also used in trials against suspects in 2013 accused of a separate coup plot known as Ergenekon.

That case was strongly supported by Gulen and 275 police officers, journalists, lawyers and academics indicted for allegedly conspiring to oust Erdogan. But the convictions were quashed amid accusations Gulen had perverted the process.
On Tuesday, 29 Turkish police officers were put to trial in Istanbul over their alleged involvement in last Julys failed coup plot against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Theyre also accused of allegedly working with Turkish cleric-in-exile Fethullah Gulen, a former Erdogan ally who fell out of favor with the president and is now living in Pennsylvania.

Its the first big tranche of Turkish authorities to go to trial among nearly 41,000 police, military and government officials, and civil servants who are accused of being linked to the coup  a crackdown that has many international observers worried about the fate of Turkeys crumbling democratic institutions and rule of law. Its also expected to be the most extensive legal process in Turkish history and is aimed to get to the bottom of the failed coup that led to nearly 250 deaths.

Smaller-scale trials have already begun in southwest Turkey, but this is the first high-profile trial. Of the 29 suspects in Istanbul, 21 face three life in prison while eight would be sentenced to up to 15 years behind bars.

Many leaders from fellow NATO ally nations, including the United States, worry Erdogan used the failed coups aftermath and crackdowns to consolidate power. Washington has so far rebuffed Turkish calls to extradite Gulen to face trial in Turkey, saying Ankara did not supply enough evidence to prove the cleric was behind the coup. But Erdogans been accusing Gulen of more crimes in recent weeks; he was quick to blame the Dec. 19 assassination of Russias ambassador to Turkey on the Gulenist movement. Russia has not yet accepted those claims.

Meanwhile, Turkish authorities continue to be sensitive about insults or slights against their president. On Monday, the boss of a cafeteria at newspaper Cumhuriyets offices said he would refuse to serve tea to Erdogan. He was promptly detained by police and, if convicted, could face four years in prison for insulting the president.

Cumhuriyet and other Turkish media outlets that have been critical of Erdogan faced sharp reprisals in the post-coup crackdown. In November, 10 Cumhuriyet staff were detained, accused by Turkish officials of supporting Gulen and Kurdish militants while its former editor-in-chief, Can Dundar, fled to Germany. Reporters Without Borders this year gave Turkey a low ranking  151 of 180 countries  of national press freedoms, including behind Tajikistan, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

Photo credit: OZAN KOSE/AFP/Getty Images
(The following statement was released by the rating agency) HONG KONG/LONDON, December 26 (Fitch) Fitch Ratings is pleased to announce the appointments of Stephen Schwartz and Michele Napolitano as Heads of Asia-Pacific and Western Europe Sovereigns, respectively. Mr. Schwartz joined Fitch earlier in December as a Senior Director from Moody's Investors Service, where he was a Group Credit Officer for Asia Pacific in their Credit Strategy and Standards Department. Prior to joining Moody's in 2014, Stephen held positions in Hong Kong as Chief Economist for Asia at BBVA and Senior Economist/FX Strategist at Merrill Lynch. He earlier spent an extended part of his career with the International Monetary Fund in a variety of positions covering the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, including as the IMF's Senior Resident Representative in Jakarta. Based in Hong Kong, Stephen reports to Tony Stringer, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer for Fitch's Sovereign Group. Mr. Napolitano re-joined Fitch in December as a Senior Director from Barclays Investment Bank, where he was a Senior Economist in their Risk department in London. Prior to joining Barclays in 2015, Michele was a Director in Fitch's Sovereign Group, covering various analytical roles within the Western and Emerging Europe teams. Before this, he held positions as Economic Adviser to the UK Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and Senior Economist for the Economist Intelligence Unit. Based in London, he reports to Ed Parker, Head of Europe, Middle East and Africa Sovereign Ratings. "Stephen and Michele's extensive knowledge and experience further support our strong regional franchises in Asia-Pacific and Western Europe. They are welcome additions that also augment the global expertise shared within Fitch's Sovereign Group," said James McCormack, Fitch's Global Head of Sovereign Ratings. Media Relations: Peter Fitzpatrick, London, Tel: +44 20 3530 1103, Email: peter.fitzpatrick@fitchratings.com; Leslie Tan, Singapore, Tel: +65 67 96 7234, Email: leslie.tan@fitchratings.com. Additional information is available on www.fitchratings.com ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEB SITE AT WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA, AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE, AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE CODE OF CONDUCT SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. 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NEW YORK (AP) -- The U.S. government is investigating some Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan cars because the brake pedal may lose pressure, making it hard for drivers to stop the vehicle.

Three crashes were blamed on the braking issue, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday. The brake pedal can go "soft" when driving on slippery or uneven surfaces. NHTSA received 141 complaints, with some reporting that their car stopped past red lights, leaving them in the middle of flowing traffic.

The investigation covers Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan cars with model years 2007 to 2009. NHTSA estimated that there are about 475,000 of those vehicles.

The maker of both car models, Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Co., said it will cooperate with the investigation.

The Fusion and Milan vehicles were also part of the massive recall to remove Takata air bags that could explode.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f330187%2f94edc250-7a12-4bbb-b743-aed439daae26

"Loosen up. Swing, man."

Frank Sinatra had some very Frank Sinatra-like advice for a young George Michael, who had complained about fame in a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times' Calendar magazine.

SEE ALSO: Details emerge of George Michael's many quiet acts of kindness

After George Michael's death, reported on Christmas day, people are sharing this open letter from Ol' Blue Eyes. It was printed in the same magazine a week after the interview. At the time, Michael was struggling under the weight of public expectations for his sophomore album, "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1."

Under this pressure, then 27-year-old Michael wanted to stay out of the limelight. He only agreed to do three interviews in the U.S., the LA Times being one of them. He even refused to have his photo taken for the article.

In the interview, Michael addressed criticism that his shying away from the media was a gimmick.

"But I'm also sure that most people find it hard to believe that stardom can make you miserable. After all, everybody wants to be a star. I certainly did, and I worked hard to get it. But I was miserable, and I don't want to feel that way again," he said.

Sinatra certainly knew a thing or two about fame, and its struggles. He announced his retirement in 1971, only to go on after a hiatus and play 1,000 more shows. Sinatra died in 1998 at age 82.

Here's the letter, from the excellent @LettersofNote Twitter account.

Remember when @LettersOfNote ran that amazing letter from Frank Sinatra to George Michael? Swing, man. https://t.co/dxh5AJm148 pic.twitter.com/uBr71x9dfQ  Ben Greenman (@bengreenman) December 26, 2016

The full text:

George Michael must have taken this advice to heart. While Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 indeed didn't sell as many copies as his first solo album, Faith  it performed extremely well in the UK. He persevered despite legal and personal troubles in the '90s, to have a decades-long career.

Story continues

The LA Times interview is well worth reading, if you're interested in knowing more about the era. In it we see how Michael correctly anticipated that music videos and touring was the way to success, and that's how he and Wham! conquered America.

The article also explains the star's struggle to be seen as a serious songwriter after finding such smash success as a "teenybopper."

R.I.P., George Michael.
By Dion Rabouin

NEW YORK, Dec 27 (Reuters) - A number of global fund managers say they are buying emerging market assets for 2017 after the beating the sector has taken since the U.S. election in November, even though credit rating agencies have a less positive outlook.

Since the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, emerging market stocks are down nearly 7.0 percent, based on the Morgan Stanley Capital Index, and the yield spread of emerging market bonds over benchmark U.S. Treasuries is wider by 10 basis points, reversing some of the gains seen earlier in the year.

On Nov. 8, the date of the U.S. election, the EMBI Global year-to-date total return was 14.04 percent, and a week later, on Nov. 14, it had halved to 7.60 percent.

Currencies such as Mexican peso and the Turkish lira have tumbled 10 percent or more in the wake of the election.

U.S. President-elect Trump has pledged to impose protectionist trade policies and restrict immigration which would likely damage most emerging market economies.

The Washington, D.C. bank lobbying group, the Institute for International Finance, reported this week that $23 billion has flowed out of emerging market funds since Oct. 4, with $18 billion of that taking flight since Nov. 9.

"The magnitude of outflows has diminished significantly in recent weeks, but the direction has remained persistently negative," said Scott Farnham, an IIF research analyst.

FUND MANAGERS POSITIVE

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager is expecting to reap solid gains from all emerging market asset classes, especially bonds, the firm's chief fixed income strategist, Jeff Rosenberg said at the company's recent global outlook summit.

Other global fund managers also see a rebound on the horizon.

Ricardo Adrogue, head of emerging markets debt at Baring Asset Management Ltd, said analysts, including ratings agencies, are confusing structural versus cyclical problems when evaluating the sector.

"Our assessment of emerging markets is actually strengthening at the time that developed market institutional framework is weakening," he said.

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Similarly, Michel Del Buono, head of portfolio strategy at Makena Capital Management LLC, who oversees $18 billion across asset classes, also has a bullish outlook.

"If you're exposed in the right way and you have a long-term perspective you should keep a significant weighting to emerging markets," he said.

Del Buono said he favors investments in things like healthcare, retail and for-profit education in places like Nigeria, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.

If prices keep dropping, Del Buono and Adrogue said they would keep adding to their positions, echoing what other investors told Reuters,

Morgan Harting, lead portfolio manager for multi-asset income strategies at AllianceBernstein said he is especially bullish on the energy sector and is investing in countries like Russia and Brazil as well as companies like Hungarian oil and gas group, Mol Group.

"As we get more economic data to validate that the underlying fundamentals in these economies continues to firm then people are going to get more aggressive in investing in emerging markets," Harting said.

CREDIT RATING AGENCIES LESS CONFIDENT

However, credit ratings agencies S&P Global, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have recently lowered positive credit outlooks and written even more negative outlooks for emerging markets. Moody's even highlighted the risk of capital flight and potential weakness in the banking sector.

Diane Vazza, managing director of global fixed income research at S&P Global ratings agency, noted worries about geopolitical risk and energy companies not being able to adjust to a longer-term trend of lower prices for oil and gas.

"About a third of (emerging market) corporates have negative outlooks," Vazza told Reuters. "So we expect additional downward pressure across emerging markets." (Reporting by Dion Rabouin; Editing by Daniel Bases)
Bobbie Preddy's mother ran out of money years ago. She's 98 years old and if she lives longer than six more months, Preddy might be out of cash, too.

Preddy's mother requires round-the-clock care, due to frequent urinary tract infections and related conditions. Together, Preddy and her mother determined the only way she could get the support and care she needed was at an assisted-living facility. But costs for even one of the cheapest facilities in the market are hundreds of dollars more than Preddy's mother can afford with her pension checks each month.

"I'm going to run out of money and my mother might still be alive," she says. "And I don't see anything, anywhere that can help that."

Preddy's dilemma is not uncommon. Her mother is one of more than 8 million individuals in the U.S. that require support from long-term care services, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the great majority of whom are more than 65 years old. Family Caregiver Alliance, a nonprofit support organization for caregivers, lists at least 10 different options for living arrangements, each with varying degrees of provided care, independence and cost. According to the insurance company Genworth, the average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home in the U.S. is more than $90,000, and a year in an assisted-living facility is more than $40,000 , expenses that are not always covered by public insurance programs.

Globally, the number of older persons is growing faster than any other age group. In 2015, one in eight people was more than 60 years old, according to the United Nations. By 2030, they project an increase to one in six people, or 1.4 billion individuals over the age of 60.

When it comes to aging, experts say the greatest challenge our world currently faces -- more than pensions or birth rates -- is planning for and financing long-term care.

Long-term care is like an "exploding bubble," says Randall Ellis, a professor at Boston University whose research is focused on health economics. "It's the largest uninsured risk for the aging population."

Story continues

In the U.S., when people face the dilemma that Preddy does with her mother -- once houses have been sold, a lifetime of savings has been depleted and health conditions have reached the point that in-home care is not an option -- others may rely on Medicaid to cover costs.

In 1965, Medicare and Medicaid became the first public health insurance programs in the U.S. when they were signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. Medicare was intended for individuals over 65 years old and those with end-stage renal disease, or kidney failure. Medicaid was intended to cover low-income individuals. But as of fiscal year 2014, long-term care services accounted for about a third of Medicaid spending, or $152 billion.

Preddy's mother is well beyond 65 years old and, with an annual income of about $17,000, would be considered low-income by many. Her pension is far from enough to pay for her long-term care, but it is enough to disqualify her for both public health insurance programs and leave her family scrounging for funds.

"There's an extreme bias in the allocation of resources away from older people to other groups," says Peter Lloyd-Sherlock, a professor of social policy and development at the University of East Anglia in the U.K. whose research focuses on the social protection of older people in developing countries. Costs associated with long-term care -- financial and otherwise -- are inevitable, he says, and the systems created to distribute those costs exemplify the values of that society.

Taking care of an individual at home will always be less expensive than bringing him or her to a nursing home or assisted-living facility, says Terry Hokenstad, a professor of global health at Case Western University. Policies and programs that support informal caregivers like family members, he said, make it easier to keep older adults at home and out of long-term care facilities longer, therefore reducing their overall costs.

In a number of European countries, pension funds are used to compensate unpaid caregivers. Denmark and the Netherlands automatically cover time spent outside the labor force due to caregiving, while Germany and Norway reward caregivers with additional credits to their own pensions.

"Say an older person has a stroke and goes into the hospital," Hokenstad says. "The first thing we (Americans) think is to get them to a nursing home. The first thing they think in the Nordics is how they can get back into their own home and what sort of improvements are needed to make it happen."

[RELATED: Danes pay high taxes, so how are they so happy?]

But Naoki Ikegami, president of the Japan Society of Healthcare Administration and the Japan Health Economics Association, warns against a reliance on informal care for older adults. A long-term care industry has a public responsibility and legal obligation to provide appropriate care, he said, but it's difficult to monitor whether family members are actually caring or not.

Instead, restricting the "medicalization" of long-term care -- maintaining a separation between health care spending and activities and those related to long-term care -- can keep expenses down. "Health care can always be interpreted as a life or death situation," he says. "In health care, we give doctors a blank check to do whatever the patient needs. But with long-term care, we can rely on a more objective way of measuring need."

In 2000, Japan developed a universal insurance program for long-term care in response to public outcry against growing problems of neglect. Funded by tax revenues and higher premiums for those over 40 years old, out-of-pocket costs for long-term care services are limited to a 10 percent co-payment. A revision this year raised that rate to 20 percent for those with above average income.

Ultimately, national and global debates on long-term care come down to whether the responsibility to look after our growing elderly population should be a public or private one. Like Japan and Denmark, most developed countries have favored strong, publicly funded social safety nets.

For Josh Wiener, former director of the Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care program for the non-profit research organization RTI International, creating a successful system is a matter of finding the political will to make long-term care a policy priority.

[RELATED: These countries are believed to be the best for citizenship.]

"Long-term care is higher on the political agenda mostly everywhere else than it is in the U.S.," he said. "Germany established a long-term care insurance program at a time when they were dealing with the unification of the East and the West. They recognized a need and they went ahead and did it."

The same happened in Japan, where policy makers saw they had an aging population and agreed to address it . But the U.S., he said, tends to avoid the conversation.

For a while, private insurance plans that allow individuals to protect a greater share of their assets dominated the long-term care coverage discussion in the U.S. But the number of providers for these private plans has decreased dramatically in recent years.

A voluntary public insurance program almost made its way into President Barack Obama's health care reform plans in 2011. But the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, or CLASS Act, was quashed for fear of adverse selection, or attracting a disproportionate number of high-cost users, that would drive up premiums and because it couldn't prove to be debt-free for at least 75 years as the law requires.

Bobbie Preddy and her mother share a caring and trusting relationship; they're "simpatico," she says. Preddy doesn't hope for her mother to die, but she does hope that supporting her mother doesn't have to cut too much into her own retirement savings.

Deidre McPhillips is a data reporter at U.S. News. You can find her on Twitter or email her at dmcphillips@usnews.com.
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- A naval program that has become a target for critics is preparing to commission the USS Gabrielle Giffords, named for the U.S. politician who survived an assassination attempt in 2011.

The USS Gabrielle Giffords, constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, has completed testing in the Gulf of Mexico and is scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2017. The company handed over the $475 million ship to the Navy on Friday.

Giffords was shot in the head during a mass shooting in Arizona in 2011 and helped christen the ship in 2015. It's part of a hotly debated program that congressional critics slam as flawed and too expensive but that Navy leaders defend as a critical new step in naval warfighting.

The 421-foot-long Giffords will be the ninth in a series of high-speed vessels designed to navigate in shallow coastal regions known as littoral waters. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has cited the $12.4 billion spent for 26 littoral combat ships as the worst example of wasteful Pentagon spending.

The ship's name also has been a target for conservatives who see it as promoting stricter gun laws, a cause Giffords has promoted. Some critics lampooned the ship as being gun-free, a bit of parody and fake news that was debunked on snopes.com.

The Navy said it chose to name the ship in honor of Giffords because of the perseverance she showed after the shooting.

"Courage comes in many, many forms  physical, mental, spiritual and political. Gabby has truly modeled courage and resilience," Vice Adm. Philip Cullom said at the christening ceremony.

Constructed from aluminum and featuring a distinctive trimaran design, the Giffords is armed with missiles, machine guns and fast-firing weapons designed to hit a variety of targets. Its normal crew of 40 sailors and officers can be supplemented as needed for missions.

A sister ship of the Giffords, the USS Montgomery, sustained hull damage in October while navigating the Panama Canal. The same ship was damaged in a collision with a tugboat weeks before.
Garry Shandlings cause of death has been revealed. The late comedian died of from pulmonary thrombosis, a blood clot that traveled from his leg into his lungs, according to an autopsy report.

The 66-year-olds autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE, states the star of The Larry Sanders Show had a combination of drugs in his system at the time of his March death, including Xanax and pain killers (opiates  codeine/morphine and hydrocodone) due to recent dental surgery.

The report also states that Shandling, who is best known for his hit TV sitcom Its Garry Shandlings Show  which ran from 1986 to 1990 on Showtime  had an enlarged heart and that his death has been ruled an accident and natural.

PEOPLE previously confirmed that Shandling collapsed while on the phone with 911 before being taken to St. Johns hospital in Santa Monica, California, where he died on March 24. Winter told PEOPLE Friday that Shandling spoke to a doctor friend before his death, complaining about the discomfort in his legs and shortness of breath.

RELATED VIDEO: The Best of Garry Shandling

Following his death, tons of fellow comedians and actors mourned the death of their longtime friend.

When you get the light in a comedy club you know your time is up, Jim Carrey said in a statement to PEOPLE. Life doesnt always give you a signal. Garry Shandling performed at the highest level on and offstage. He was an excellent man and he was more than ready for the Big Show. Bravo Garry! Yours was a life well lived.

Im crushed. That man, made me laugh. Spoke to me as a peer, Kathy Griffin told PEOPLE. Even though Ive known him since the 90s, its in the last few years that we have had meaningful and memorable one-on-one talks. I had no idea our last one would be four days ago.




George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are feeling the loss of their close friend and collaborator, Carrie Fisher.

The beloved Star Wars actress died on Tuesday after going into cardiac arrest during a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday. Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, released a statement on Tuesday reacting to the sad news, calling Fisher the series' "great and powerful princess."

"Carrie and I have been friends most of our adult lives," Lucas, 72, noted. "She was extremely smart; a talented actress, writer and comedienne with a very colorful personality that everyone loved. In Star Wars she was our great and powerful princess -- feisty, wise and full of hope in a role that was more difficult than most people might think. My heart and prayers are with Billie, Debbie and all Carrie's family, friends and fans. She will be missed by all."

NEWS: Stars React to the Death of Carrie Fisher

Spielberg, 70, worked with Fisher on 1980's The Blues Brothers. He's also, of course, close friends with Lucas as well as Fisher's Star Wars love interest, Harrison Ford, whom he directed in the Indiana Jones films.

"I have always stood in awe of Carrie," Spielberg said in a statement. "Her observations always made me laugh and gasp at the same time. She didn't need The Force. She was a force of nature, of loyalty and of friendship. I will miss her very much."

Ford also praised Fisher in his own statement on Fisher's death. "Carrie was one-of-a-kindbrilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless," the 74-year-old actor said in a statement to ET. "She lived her life, bravely...My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her."

A number of Fisher's Star Wars co-stars have reacted to the news via social media.

"No words," Mark Hamill captioned a black-and-white throwback photo of the pair on Twitter, dressed in character as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, respectively. "#devastated."

Story continues

"There are no words for this loss," Peter Mayhew, who plays Chewbacca, also tweeted. "Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly."

There are no words for this loss. Carrie was the brightest light in every room she entered. I will miss her dearly. pic.twitter.com/GgIeYGeMt9  Peter Mayhew (@TheWookieeRoars) December 27, 2016

NEWS: Carrie Fisher Wrote Her Own Obit in 2008 -- 'I Drowned in Moonlight, Strangled by My Own Bra'

Fisher was 60 years old.

Watch the video below for more on the legendary actress.

Related Articles
Global Smartwatch Shipments

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence Apps and Platforms Briefing subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

Google is preparing to launch two flagship smartwatches running the new Android Wear 2.0 operating system, Android Wear Product Manager Jeff Chang told The Verge.

Similar to Google's Nexus line of smartphones, the devices  slated for release in Q1 2017  will use the manufacturer's branding rather than Google's.

Google is likely hoping the new devices will boost its share of the global smartwatch OS market.

By taking a more hands-on approach to how the OS is implemented on the device, Google is likely hoping to provide a better user experience that more closely follows the company's vision for how the device should function, rather than the forked versions of Android Wear offered by third-party smartwatch vendors, which Google has less control over. Apple's watchOS is projected to comprise about 52% of total smartwatch shipments in 2016, according to IDC, while Android Wear is expected to make up just 23%.

Nevertheless, despite Google's bullish stance on wearables it'll likely be at least five years before smartwatches fully take off. Here's why:

Smartwatches lack a clearly defined use case. Smartwatches fulfill many of the same functions as smartphones, but offer less processing power and fewer apps. Less than 1% of smartphone owners (the devices need to be tethered to a phone) purchased a watch in 2013, and that increased to just 2% by 2015.

Smartwatches remain too expensive for many consumers. High-end devices from vendors like Apple and Samsung typically start at $350 for the base model, with premium devices costing more. Meanwhile, low-end smartwatches, which cost around $150 to $250, provide even less functionality than the high-end devices.

Currently, there's not a market for smartwatch upgrades. With the death of the two-year carrier contract, the smartphone upgrade cycle is getting longer  the share of smartphones replaced every two years in the US fell dramatically, from 40% in 2013 to 16% in 2014, according to Recon Analytics. If the yearly launch of a new device model that users rely on every day isn't enough to drive consumers to upgrade within two or even three years, then a secondary device like a smartwatch would likely have an even longer cycle. Because of this, first-time buyers and early adopters will likely continue to drive smartwatch shipments.

Story continues

When they first broke onto the scene, smartwatches were touted as the next generation of devices set to transform consumers lives. And brands, service providers, and the healthcare segment were ready to capitalize on their always on nature, which promised to provide greater insight into consumer habits. But while the market initially grew rapidly, it has begun to cool off, as consumers become impatient with the technology's lack of distinct capabilities, such as LTE connectivity and device-specific apps.

In the next few years, the smartwatch market will likely see the addition of new functionality and increased capabilities, which will see the device shipments grow at an annualized rate of 18% through 2021 to reach 70 million units.

However, smartwatches are reliant on a number of factors in order to generate any sort of meaningful consumer demand. Until such a time, adoption of smartwatches will likely be sluggish, as consumers wait for vendors to produce products that can run independently from their phones and provide more useful functions.

So what does this mean for the device championed as the replacement for the smartphone? Should vendors manage to implement a lower price point, better functionality, and expanded use cases, there is a vast potential for accelerated global growth. Moreover, because of the low adoption rate thus far, there is still ample opportunity for new entrants to join the market, and capture mind share.

Laurie Beaver, research associate for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on smartwatches that examines all areas of the smartwatch market, including a five-year forecast, key growth trends, market leaders, consumer demand, and more. It also discusses the need for the inclusion of standalone capabilities in smartwatches, as well as the importance of bringing both better apps to the devices and greater consumer awareness of capabilities. Lastly, it explores the nascent smartwatch app market, including its shortcomings and how it can be improved.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the report:

Demand for smartwatches has cooled as consumers wait for better functionality. But early demand suggests the market could take off when functionality improves.

Apple will continue to drive a large portion of the overall market, however, Android Wear devices will quickly catch up as emerging markets begin to adopt the technology.

Health and fitness remain a dominant segment of the smartwatch market, providing healthcare workers and hospitals with savings opportunities. As technology and app development advances, the benefits of smartwatches within these segments will become even more robust.

The future of the smartwatch market remains somewhat unclear, however, there is profound opportunity for businesses and developers to begin exploring the nascent smartwatch market. This will give them a head start against competitors.

In full, the report:

Forecasts smartwatch shipments through 2021 for both overall device shipments as well as by operating system.

Provides an overview of the main players in both hardware and software, and how they will size up in the future.

Demonstrates the effect of Apples entrance into the market, and why it's unlikely to dictate future growth.

Gives insight into what technologies need to be worked on in order to incentivize future growth, the effects they will have on the market, and how they can be used.

And much more.

Interested in getting the full report? Here are several ways to access it:

Subscribe to an All-Access pass to BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report and over 100 other expertly researched reports. As an added bonus, you'll also gain access to all future reports and daily newsletters to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and benefit personally and professionally. >> Learn More Now Access the Ultimate Mobile, Apps & Platforms Reports Bundle and save 95% today. You will gain immediate access to the Chatbots Explainer and 75 other comprehensive research reports covering the most important topics impacting the mobile. >> Bundle & Save Now Purchase & download the full report from our research store. >> Purchase & Download Now





More From Business Insider


By Camille Augustin

A San Antonio, Texas man is being held without bond after a federal grand jury indicted Gavin Friedman for detailing threats against President Barack Obama in various letters, Raw Story reports.

Within the 21-year-olds four letters, that were mailed to an undisclosed location, the suspect said his motive behind the threats on Obamas life was so that Friedman can become a martyr in the name of Allah.

The letters were created over the course of 2016, beginning Jan. 22, and the most recent being mailed on Sept. 27. Friedmans threats were also aimed at the FBIs main office in Houston, Texas, and an attack on the White House through explosives.

A federal judge deemed that Friedmans actions pose a serious risk to the potential that he will obstruct or attempt to obstruct justice, or threaten, injure or intimidate or attempt to threaten, injure or intimidate a prospective witness or juror, and pose as a flight risk, KSAT 12 reports. In February 2015, Friedman was jailed on assault charges.

This post Grand Jury Indicts Texas Man Who Threatened To Assassinate President Barack Obama first appeared on Vibe.
Limiting drivers visibility on roads and creating dangerous conditions for travel around the holidays, blowing and drifting snow was a major issue Tuesday morning in the Great Plains, according to national and local reports. On Monday, snow, freezing rain and high winds continued from Sunday but appear to be calming, NPR reported Tuesday.

Still, the storm was expected to head east and reach New England, though how much it could affect the region was unknown.

Travel warnings were issued for most of North Dakota as many highways were closed in the Dakotas, while also causing power outages in Nebraska and western Iowa, the Associated Press reported.

One expert said movement around the region was unlikely until late Monday afternoon.

"Between the ice and snow, and winds howling like crazy, there will be nothing moving," National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Gust in Grand Forks, North Dakota told the AP. "Then it's dig-out time."

Officials hoped to limit any possible injuries or accidents in North Dakota with road closures. Some 240 miles along Interstate 94 and parts of U.S. Highways 2, 52 and 281 were closed to drivers on Sunday night and into Monday morning.

More than 12,000 customers of South Dakota Rural Electric Association lost power Monday morning, and high winds in central and eastern Nebraska resulted in power outages for hundreds.

More than 20,000 Grand Rapids, Michigan residents also saw their lights go out Monday night, between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. local time, a Consumers Energy spokesperson told CBS News.

The National Weather Service said the same storm is moving east and the forecast calls for snow, sleet and freezing rain in sections of northern New England. But as it should also break up and head south, rain and thunderstorms could affect the Ohio Valley down to the Mississippi Valley and in the Southeast region on Tuesday.

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi journalist was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen from her home in Baghdad overnight, police and relatives said on Tuesday, prompting Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to order an investigation. Afrah al-Qaisi is an outspoken critic of government institutions in satirical columns she writes for several local newspapers and media outlets. Qaisi used to work for the pan-Arab, Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. Iraq's Interior Ministry said in a statement it had formed a team to look into her abduction. The gunmen took Qaisi from the predominantly Sunni southern Saydiya district of the capital where she lived with her family, according to Ziyad al-Ajili, head of the Iraqi Journalistic Freedoms Observatory. "They separated the children from their mother after forcefully entering the house and took money, jewellery, laptops and her car as they left," Ajili said. Her husband was away at the time and the assailants broke into the house after Qaisi refused to open the door. Iraq is ranked second after Somalia in the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2016 Index of Impunity, which calculates the number of unsolved murders over a 10-year period as a percentage of each country's population. Over the past decade, 71 journalists have been killed with impunity in Iraq, according to the CPJ. Many were victims of Sunni insurgents who were active in Iraq even before Islamic State militants overran around one third of the country more than two years ago. But other armed factions, including Shi'ite militias, some backed by the government, have grown increasingly powerful through their participation in Baghdad's fight against Islamic State. (Reporting by Saif Hameed; Editing by Isabel Coles and Raissa Kasolowsky)
Halliburton Co. HAL recently declared that it has entered into an agreement to settle a 14-year old securities lawsuit for $100 million.

The Erica P. John Fund class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2002 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, accusing Halliburton of misrepresenting its potential liability in an asbestos litigation. Also, the lawsuit was filed in connection with slips in accounting for long-term construction projects and the exaggerated benefits of a merger entered in 1998.

Under the terms of the agreement, Halliburton will fund approximately $54 million of the $100 million settlement fund, and its insurer will fund the remainder.

Houston, TX-based Halliburton is one of the largest oilfield service providers in the world. It offers a variety of equipment, maintenance, and engineering and construction services to the energy, industrial, and government sectors.

Year to date, the Zacks categorized Oil and Gas Field Services industry has registered an impressive growth of 31.13%. However, the Halliburton stock has outperformed the industry by gaining 59.88%.

Halliburton currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which implies that the stock will perform in line with the broader U.S. equity market over the next one to three months.

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Harrison Ford has released a statement following the death of Carrie Fisher, his Star Wars costar and long-time friend.

Carrie was one-of-a-kind brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely, Ford said. My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her.

Fisher suffered a heart attack while on a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday. Following her hospitalization, Ford released a statement saying he was shocked and saddened by the news.

Both Ford and Fisher shot to fame thanks to George Lucas Star Wars  Episode IV: A New Hope, playing Han Solo and Leia Organa, bickering heroes who would become a couple by the end of the original trilogys Star Wars  Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The actors reprised their roles in last years Star Wars: The Force Awakens, playing a Han and Leia who had become estranged after their son, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), turned to the Dark Side.

It felt historic to have her, especially with Harrison, back in scenes together, Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams told EW last year. I can only imagine the baggage that they bring to it, Im just a fan who loves this stuff, but theyve been living with it  and living in it  since 77.

Of reuniting with Ford onscreen, Fisher joked at the time, I think were pretty sick of each other by now, so we pretend to be interested in each other between takes. And we fail. Im mostly interested in how stays in such good shape. I can talk to him about that for a long time.

Disney

This year, as part of her memoir The Princess Diarist, Fisher revealed she and Ford had an off-screen affair during production on the original Star Wars.

It was so intense, Fisher said of their relationship in a statement to PEOPLE. It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend.

In addition to Ford, Star Wars cast mate Mark Hamill, as well as Lucas and other members of the franchises family, have paid tribute to Fisher since her death on Tuesday morning.
Harrison Ford eulogized his Star Wars co-star Carrie Fisher as a one-of-a-kind person and an original after the actress died Tuesday at the age of 60.

Carrie was one-of-a-kindbrilliant, original, Ford said in a statement. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely.

Ford went on to say that his thoughts were with Fishers mother Debbie Reynolds, daughter Billie Lourd, and brother Todd Fisher.

We will all miss her, he said.

Fisher recently revealed that she and Ford had an exciting three-month affair during the making of the first Star Wars film. She was 19 years old, while Ford was 33, married, and a father of two.

Fisher said that she informed the actor that she was going to reveal their affair in her memoir, The Princess Diarist, which was published this year. She had some regrets about going public.

Hes incredibly private, Fisher told People. I feel really bad about doing that to him. But yes, I told him I found the journals and I was going to publish them, and he sort of went, Lawyer!

Ford and Fisher also created on-screen sparks. Their characters in the Star Wars films, Han Solo and Princess Leia, have a combative relationship that ultimately results in a passionate romance. Both actors reprised their roles in last winters Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Fisher suffered a heart attack on Friday while on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She died Tuesday morning.

She was a member of a prominent show business family: Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, was the star of Singin in the Rain, and her father, Eddie Fisher, was a popular recording star. In addition to Star Wars, Fisher wrote the best-selling novel Postcards From the Edge and appeared in Soapdish and When Harry Met Sally.

Related stories

Carrie Fisher Set to Appear in Two New 'Family Guy' Episodes

Carrie Fisher: 10 Things You Might Not Know About Her Life

What Carrie Fisher, Bowie, Prince and Muhammad Ali Taught Us
Kiev (AFP) - A popular Ukrainian female combat pilot who served time in a Russian prison gave President Petro Poroshenko a new headache Tuesday by launching her own opposition movement.

"This is meant to ... create a real change in the system," local media quoted Nadiya Savchenko as telling reporters in the western city of Lviv.

Savchenko's new movement is called RUNA -- an acronym for the Movement of Ukraine's Active People. She said the movement would be transformed into a political party when the time was right.

The announcement adds Savchenko to the slowly growing list of those willing to stand up to Kiev's pro-Western government that is seen as riddled with corruption.

Mikheil Saakashvili -- the former president of ex-Soviet Georgia who briefly served as governor of the strategic Odessa region -- has also created his own movement meant to topple Poroshenko and hold snap elections.

Ukraine has been torn by 31 months of war with insurgents that Kiev views as Russian proxies and is only starting to recover from an economic crisis that saw production shrink by about 17 percent in 2014-15.

Support for the government is low and morale weakened by the death of nearly 10,000 people in a conflict fought over regions that were once the industrial heartland of the former Soviet state.

Moscow denies any meddling but international monitors have seen tanks and other heavy military equipment enter the Ukrainian war zone from Russia throughout the war.

The 35-year-old Savchenko initially became a symbol of Ukraine's resistance to what Kiev considers Russia's occupation.

Yet Savchenko's political star has somewhat faded since her release from a Russian prison in May.

She had been sentenced for alleged complicity in the murder of two Russian state television journalists in the war zone in June 2014 -- a charge she denied and that led her to hold several hunger strikes.

Savchenko has contradicted Poroshenko by supporting direct talks with the militias and was forced out from the leadership post of the the populist political party of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for that reason.

Poroshenko remains Ukraine's most popular politician and is a trusted ally of the West.

Yet his majority in parliament remains slim and people like Saakashvili and Savchenko are wildcards who may yet gain political strength.
There is a scene in the new feature film "Hidden Figures" where Octavia Spencer, portraying a real-life NASA mathematician, leads a group of her fellow African American women "computers" down a hall towards their new assignment.

The scene, which represents a moment of empowerment in the movie, evokes a civil rights march. But it also mimics an iconic clip from a 1983 feature film that was set during the same events in history, but with a different focus. In "The Right Stuff," it is original astronaut John Glenn and the other members of NASA's Mercury 7 who march down the hall, dressed in their silver spacesuits. But it is more than just that scene that links the Philip Kaufman film with director Ted Melfi's "Hidden Figures."

Both films dramatize and take liberties with the "based on true events" stories they seek to retell in order to celebrate the achievements of their respective leading characters. [On 'Hidden Figures' Set, NASA's Early Years Take Center Stage]

"They really did a big Hollywood rollicking adventure," said Margot Lee Shetterly, whose book by the same title served as the basis for "Hidden Figures." "That great spirit that the space program has  that sense of adventure and drama  they brought all of that to this movie, and these women got to be the protagonists."

The right atmosphere

"Hidden Figures," which debuted in select U.S. theaters on Sunday (Dec. 25) and opens wide Jan. 6, tells the "untold story" of Dorothy Vaughan (Spencer), Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) who with other black and white women served as "computers" before the electronic machines took over, both in purpose and title.

In particular, the movie focuses on the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the events leading up to and through the launch of John Glenn (Glen Powell), who, on Feb. 20, 1962, became the first American to orbit Earth.

Story continues

Glenn has been portrayed on the silver screen just twice; first in "The Right Stuff," and now in "Hidden Figures." But whereas the earlier film centered on the adventures of the astronauts, "Hidden Figures" looks behind the scenes at the work of NASA's Space Task Group and, specifically, the challenges that its women mathematicians faced within the context of the early 1960s and the civil rights movement.

Glenn, who died on Dec. 8 at the age of 95, did not have a chance to see "Hidden Figures," but he was on record for not liking the "The Right Stuff," stating in a 1996 interview that he didn't think the film "accurately reflected the people involved in the Mercury program, including me."

It is a contention that was shared by several of his fellow early astronauts, as well as by historians.

"From an atmospherics perspective, I enjoyed 'The Right Stuff,'" said NASA's chief historian Bill Barry in an interview with collectSPACE.com. 'From a history perspective, it is cringe worthy."

Barry, who joined the agency in 2001, was not around to advise on "The Right Stuff," but he and others at NASA did offer input into the script for "Hidden Figures" at the invite of the filmmakers.

"They wanted to get the atmosphere of the film correct," he said.

"Like anything based on real-life events, there are some temporal things that, as a historian, are like, 'eh, that didn't really happen like that,' but I think that the movie is true to the stories of the main characters," he said. "On the whole I was very happy with the outcome."

Shetterly was still writing her book when production of the film began  it was only just released in September  but she was also available to the filmmakers as they sought to condense a story spanning a few decades into their setting of just a couple of years.

"For better or for worse, there is history, there is the book and then there's the movie," Shetterly said. "Timelines had to be conflated and [there were] composite characters, and for most people [who have seen the movie] have already taken that as the literal fact." [How 'Hidden Figures' Came Together: Interview with Author Margot Shetterly]

Side by side hallway scenes from "Hidden Figures" (left) and "The Right Stuff." 20th Century Fox/Warnter Bros. via collectSPACE.com

'Not a documentary'

"Movies become reality for a lot of people," said Barry.

For audiences watching "Hidden Figures" who think what they see on the screen happened exactly as depicted, they might believe Johnson, Jackson and Vaughan were close friends, that Al Harrison (Kevin Costner) was the head of the Space Task Group and that Johnson completed quick calculations as John Glenn waited on the launch pad to lift off. The real history, however, was different.

"To be able to tell a story in a way that the audience can understand and make it entertaining enough for them to be able to watch, I think the scriptwriters have to be creative and find a balance between telling the exact historic details and delivering a story that is both interesting and gets the message across," Barry explained.

"I say this all the time but the movie is not a documentary," said director Ted Melfi. "We were painfully aware and very careful with how we portrayed the women and the things they accomplished."

"There are little liberties taken here and there to dramatize, but the crux of the story is true," he told collectSPACE.com.

For Shetterly, perhaps the biggest difference between the movie and reality are the number of people depicted.

"You might get the indication in the movie that these were the only people doing those jobs, when in reality we know they worked in teams, and those teams had other teams," she said. "There were sections, branches, divisions, and they all went up to a director. There were so many people required to make this happen."

"It would be great for people to understand that there were so many more people," Shetterly explained. "Even though Katherine Johnson, in this role, was a hero, there were so many others that were required to do other kinds of tests and checks to make [Glenn's] mission come to fruition. But I understand you can't make a movie with 300 characters. It is simply not possible."

Movie poster for "Hidden Figures," opening wide on Jan. 6, 2017. 20th Century Fox

'The highest praise'

Unlike "The Right Stuff," where the general history of the Mercury 7 was already a part of the public consciousness, audiences going to see "Hidden Figures" may have little or no knowledge by which to judge the movie's veracity. That provided a freedom for the filmmakers to take liberties with the history, but also a responsibility to ensure the overall film rang true.

"I think that in these days, in particular, filmmakers have a huge responsibility to stay true to history because most people will go to see the movie and they are never going to read the book, much as everyone should read Margot's book  it is great a book and well-researched and much better than [Tom Wolfe's] 'The Right Stuff,' quite frankly," stated Barry.

Barry thought "Hidden Figures" delivered more truth than fiction, despite the limitations of the medium.

"On the whole, I am pleased with the balance of this thing and I think it does a good job of telling a complex story," he said.

Shetterly also enjoyed the film, which she said embodied the "spirit of authenticity."

"I loved it. I mean, really, honestly," she said. "I was crying, I was laughing, I was just like, 'What happens next? Does Glenn make it back home?'"

"I think a lot of people will get sucked into the movie and get transported to NASA-land. I hope so," Shetterly said.

"I have told my employees that I hope every single one of them gets to see it," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden told collectSPACE.com. "They will laugh, they will cry through it and a lot will get very angry because it not a black women story, it is the story of any minority in a technical field, even today."

Ultimately though, it was one of the original women who is depicted in "Hidden Figures" who perhaps offered the best endorsement for the film.

"Katherine Johnson saw the movie and she really liked it," said Shetterly. "So I think that is pretty much the highest praise you can give, when the person whose life is being shown on the screen says 'Yep, that kind of looks like it!'"

Return to collectSPACE in the week leading up to "Hidden Figures" opening on Jan. 6, 2017 for a more in-depth look at some of the history depicted in the film.

Watch a behind-the-scenes look at the hidden story in "Hidden Figures" at collectSPACE.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2016 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.

Editor's Recommendations
A high school principal in Taiwan has resigned after students at his school reportedly dressed up as Nazis for a holiday parade, prompting outrage from local educators and the islands Israeli representative.

According to the Taipei Times, the schools principal, Cheng Hsiao-ming, took full responsibility and will step down as the head of Kuang Fu High School in Taiwans Hsinchu City.

Photos of students hoisting swastika banners and parading behind a cardboard tank went viral over the weekend. One student was seen emerging from the tank and giving the Nazi salute, a red armband appended to his or her jacket.

The event, which the school originally branded as cosplay, immediately caught the attention of Israels de facto diplomatic mission in Taiwan, the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei (ISECO), which called the event deplorable and shocking.

Schools should educate for tolerance and understanding among people, and we are deeply disappointed that this took place in Taiwan, read a statement shared on the ISECO Facebook account.

We strongly condemn this tasteless occurrence and call on the Taiwanese authorities, in all levels, to initiate educational programs which would introduce the meaning of the Holocaust and teach its history and universal meaning, the statement continued.

The Taipei Times reports that Cheng, the principal, has pledged to strengthen Holocaust awareness by screening films such as Schindlers List and Life Is Beautiful, and says that the school would invite speakers from the Israeli office to address students.

Story continues

Cheng reportedly said that a teacher had recommended Arabic culture as a theme for the event, but that the students twice voted against it in favor of a Nazi parade. The students were advised that the theme would be controversial, according to the Taipei Times, but the teacher decided to respect their decision.

Some students seemed unaware of Hitlers atrocities, while others said they chose the theme because it would be reportedly easy to convert their school uniforms into Nazi costumes.

Educators say the botched event exposed inherent flaws in Taiwans school system; the self-ruled island off the coast of eastern China has its own fraught history of authoritarianism and violence, and history curricula are often closely managed by the government.

The students lack of empathy to the historical trauma suffered by others shows that Taiwanese history and civic education is in crisis, Hua Yih-fen, a history professor at the National Taiwan University, told the Taipei Times.

She and other educational professionals say authoritarian imagery and practices such as strict uniform codes and militaristic anthems have become institutionalized in schools on the self-ruled island  which was a place of refuge for nationalists exiled from the mainland following Mao Zedongs communist victory in the Chinese civil war in 1949.

Events that took place in the past continue to have reverberations in the present, Hua told the Taipei Times, and the incident in Hsinchu proved that Taiwan still has a long way to go on its path toward transitional justice and in dealing with its own historical traumas.

[Taipei Times]
Hilaria Baldwin discovered her love for Latin ballroom dancing as a teen, but as she became more committed to performing professionally she struggled with eating disorders.

The yoga instructor and mom of three details her battles with anorexia and bulimia in her new book, The Living Clearly Method.

Without realizing it, I started drifting away from the playful connection to movement Id enjoyed as a young child and into a different and darker kind of dynamic: pushing my body to its limits and commanding it to perform through pain or fatigue, Baldwin, 32, writes.

Her body had already reached its limits by the time Baldwin started college at New York University.

A long simmering struggle with anorexia and bulimia began to hold me firmly in its grip, she says. By the time I was 20 years old, my 5-foot-3 frame was at least 20 lbs. under a healthy weight. My nails were brittle, my hair was falling out, my period was MIA, and my energy had tanked. I was miserable and desperate to feel better.

Thankfully Baldwin discovered yoga, which helped pull her out of her funk. But while the practice initially reduced Baldwins stress, she flew through the ranks to become a yoga instructor and open her own studio  and once again found herself taking on too much.

I wish I could say that it was smooth sailing from this point on, but sometimes things have to get a whole lot worse before they get better, Baldwin says. Even while I was helping so many others, I still didnt listen to my body. Extraordinarily long days became my reality; skipping meals was par for the course.

RELATED VIDEO: Hilaria Baldwin Bares (Almost!) All One Day Postpartum: I Want to Do All That I Can to Normalize a Real Body

She hit a breaking point  literally  in 2009, when a nagging hip pain combined with a bad fall on pavement left her leg bone severed from her hip. Her year in recovery was the rude awakening that Baldwin needed.

My year of recovery turned out to be a year of waking up, in which I healed my two-decade-long eating struggle and began to treat myself right, she says. I started to find pleasure in engaging fully with the whole process of eating, instead of checking out or avoiding it.

The imbalances that had been there for much of my life returned to balance, and I looked and felt a hundred times better as a result.




This week, President Barack Obama again spoke about his prospects of winning a third term in office, if he were allowed to run under the Constitution. But as history shows, even when that was possible, the odds were against any candidate.

President Coolidge chose not to run

In a podcast interview with former adviser David Axelrod, President Obama said, I am confident in this vision [of hope and change] because Im confident that if I  if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it. President-elect Donald Trump didnt agree with Obamas assessment.

The 22nd Amendments ratification in 1951 limits the number of terms an elected President can serve in office. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once, the amendment reads.

Unless there is a new constitutional amendment that changes the 22nd Amendment, President Obama or any President who has been in office for more than six years before seeking another term cant run for President again. For example, in 1968, Lyndon Johnson was eligible to run for President since he had only served the last year of President John F. Kennedys term. But Johnson declined to do so.

For generations, Americans and politicians veered away from the concept of a third-term President. George Washington had set an unofficial precedent in 1796 when he decided several months before the election not to seek a third term.

In 1799, a friend again urged Washington to come out of retirement to run for a third term. Washington made his thoughts quite clear, especially when it came to new phenomena of political parties.

The line between Parties, Washington said, had become so clearly drawn that politicians regard neither truth nor decency; attacking every character, without respect to persons  Public or Private,  who happen to differ from themselves in Politics.

Story continues

Washingtons voluntary decision to decline a third term was also seen as a safeguard against the type of tyrannical power yielded by the British crown during the Colonial era.

Between 1796 and 1940, four two-term Presidents sought a third term to varying degrees. Ulysses S. Grant wanted a third term in 1880, but he lost the Republican Party nomination to James Garfield on the 36th ballot. Grover Cleveland lacked party support for a third term but was a rumored candidate. Woodrow Wilson hoped a deadlocked 1920 convention would turn to him for a third term but he received no support at the Democratic convention.

Even the popular Theodore Roosevelt couldnt get by party objections to a third term. Roosevelt passed on running for a third consecutive term in 1908, fully aware of the Washington precedent. But after a fallout with President William Howard Taft, he sought a third nonconsecutive term in the 1912 presidential election. He lost the election but came in second ahead of Taft.

It was left to Franklin Roosevelt to break the third-term rule. In 1940, Roosevelt decided to run again after World War II broke out in Europe and Nazi Germany overran France. The move caused some key Roosevelt supporters within the Democratic Party to leave his campaign. Roosevelt insisted that he was in the race to keep America out of war in Europe, and he easily defeated Wendell Willkie on Election Day.

After Franklin Roosevelt died in 1945, momentum built quickly for a presidential term-limits amendment. Congress passed it in 1947, and it was ratified by the states in 1951.

But even after the 22nd Amendment was ratified, two Presidents had aspirations of a third term within the amendments limitations. Harry Truman was President when the amendment was proposed and ratified, and its language allowed for Truman to run for office in 1952. But a loss in the New Hampshire primary led to Trumans withdrawal from the race.

And in 1968, Johnson dropped from the presidential race after a disappointing showing in New Hampshire amid poor poll numbers.

Among the two-term Presidents who had third-term hopes, just FDR is among the seven possible candidates who won re-election, and a constitutional amendment soon followed his 1944 election, to a fourth term, to prevent another full three-term scenario.

A second viable candidate with two terms in office was Calvin Coolidge, who kept his plans secret until an August 1927 White House press conference, where he made a simple statement: I do not choose to run for President in 1928.

Recent Stories on Constitution Daily

The most powerful son-in-law in presidential history

On this day, Woodrow Wilson seizes the nations railroads

Americas forgotten war ended on this day, and few people knew
By Timothy Mclaughlin

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago's holiday weekend was marred by bouts of gunfire and a dozen killings, continuing a yearlong surge in violence in the third largest U.S. city that has pushed the number of murders to a nearly two-decade high.

Police blamed gang conflicts for much of the violence.

From Dec. 23 through Dec. 26, there were 44 shooting incidents in the city of 2.7 million and 12 people were killed, according to the Chicago Police Department. The number of murders in Chicago stands at 754 for the year.

The murder rate is the highest since 1997, when 761 people were killed.

"These were deliberate and planned shootings by one gang against another," Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at news conference on Monday. "They were targeted knowing fully well that individuals would be at the homes of family and friends celebrating the holiday."

Ninety-percent of those fatally wounded during the weekend had gang affiliation, criminal history and were pre-identified by technology used by the police department to recognize people who might be involved in gun violence, Johnson said.

Johnson, who was appointed as the city's top police officer in March, has railed this year against the light sentences handed down to repeat gun offenders, saying they have emboldened shooters who do not fear the repercussions.

At an event for business and civic leaders earlier this month, Johnson said gang members believe the judicial system in Cook County, which includes Chicago, is a joke.

Johnson also has spoken out against what he has described as a national narrative that portrays police officers in a negative manner.

His own department, which is under a federal civil rights investigation, is working to rebuild trust in the city after a string of high-profile incidents that lead to his predecessor being ousted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

(Reporting by Timothy Mclaughlin; Editing by Bill Trott)
Lucasfilm



On December 27th, 2016, the world lost Carrie Fisher at the age of 60. Fisher was beloved for her sardonic wit, her turn as a rebel princess in Star Wars, and her big-hearted humanitarianism. As we collectively mourn the loss of such an important and necessary voice in the world, it can be difficult to know what to do with your grief. The bereavement that accompanies the death of a beloved celebrity can wound deeply, especially if they were embedded in fabric of your childhood or were intertwined with a touchstone moment in your life. If youre looking for a way to tangibly mourn, and have a dollar or two to spare, consider donating to one of the many charities Carrie Fisher was a patron of. Or even if you cant, these foundations can always use boots on the ground and ears on the hotline.

Alzheimers Association



Alzheimer

Related Links:





Alzheimers is insidious and  for now  irreversible. But since 1980, the Alzheimers Association has diligently worked to bring about a cure and help those suffering from the condition. Funding gets funneled into research but also a 24/7 hotline in over 200 languages, face-to-face counseling, assistance in being placed in clinical trials, and local chapters offering a range of services. Fisher is on record as a patron of the cause. If youd like to donate in remembrance of her, head over here.

Make-A-Wish Foundation



Make-A-Wish Foundation

When a child has a life-threatening illness or medical condition, the Make-A-Wish Foundation does everything in their power to grant that child his or her dream. To that end, Fisher was among one of many celebrity donors whove helped Make-A-Wish grant over 270,000 wishes since its inception in 1980. Wit over 28,000 volunteers across the United States, the Foundation is currently in an upswing, with more than 14,800 wishes granted in 2015 alone. If youd like to help, you can learn how to help here.

Story continues

The Midnight Mission



The Midnight Mission

For over 100 years, The Midnight Misson has helped men, women, and children who are experiencing homelessness. The project offers the immediate assistance of food, shelter, clothing, and medical care along with longer-term solutions such as counseling, workforce training, recovery services, and education. In 2014, Fisher was honored for her support of The Midnight Mission at the Golden Heart Gala. If youd like more information  or to donate funds  their website is MidnightMission.org.

Humanist Hub



Humanist Hub

Founded back in 1974 as the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, the Humanist Hub has spent the last 42 years helping make the world a better place through a multitude of programs. From counseling services and home care to anti-racism collaboratives and interfaith/secular explorations, the Humanist Hub is committed to the values of love and compassion. Fisher was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. The organization accepts donations via PayPal.

International Bipolar Foundation



IBF

Carrie Fisher, the icon was crucial in bringing attention to bipolar disorder  a condition that went undiagnosed in Fisher until her late 20s. Across her one-woman show, countless interviews, and several books, Fisher has helped chip away at the stigma around the mental disorder. She even received the Beatrice Stern Award from Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services for her advocacy efforts. You can make donations to the International Bipolar Foundation directly on their website or by selecting them when shopping on Amazon Smile.
Making a film about government corruption in China has to take guts, but what if you grew up poor in mainland China with zero filmmaking experience? What if the secret police began tailing your every move and national security officials harassed your family and friends? What if you had no idea how to use hidden cameras?

When Nanfu Wang made Hooligan Sparrow she had some serious odds stacked against her, but with the help of a pair of concealed-camera glasses, a microphone under her skirt and an immutable desire to document the truth, she created a film that made the Academy shortlist, and was given the Best Emerging Documentary Filmmaker award by the IDA.

It may not have aired in China, but Wangs film following activist Ye Haiyan (Hooligan Sparrow) as she protests the kidnap and rape of six school girls has received a great deal of notice in the rest of the world. As Wang says, I feel really grateful that the story has so much response and exposure, especially in the current time in the US. It saddens me to see now the country that I lived in here is going through such difficult times as well and how relevant everything isthe right to protest, the right to information, the right to know. Its very interesting.

How did you decide to make this film?

Its a long story. When I came to the US, I went to journalism school at Ohio University, but prior to that, when I was in China, I had not seen a documentary because I grew up in a small village in remote China and media was not accessible. In 2012 I decided this is what Im going to do with my life. But at the time, I had never touched a camera and I didnt know how to edit. I had no skills so I applied to New York Universitya program called News and Documentary. I thought about going back to China to make a film and at the time, I was interested in many, many topics like the healthcare system. My father died when I was 12 and I wanted to expose the healthcare system in China because I felt like if we had a better system, he wouldnt have died at such a young agehe was 33.

Story continues

I also wanted to make films about the educational system in China because I didnt go to high school or college in China. I started working when I was 16, so I fought really hard to get back to school.

Another topic that interested me was sex workers because, like I said, I grew up in a village and I had seen a lot of women from the village who didnt have access to education and they end up becoming sex workers because they did not have skills, they did not have education and they were really discriminated against. So I wanted to make a film about the poorest sex workers in the country, but I also knew that it would be hard to get access to them. Ive known Hooligan Sparrowher name is Ye Haiyanfor a long time through social media, but I had never seen her in person at the time.

She was very proactive and she did a lot of radical activism by putting her own nude photos on the internet. And one thing that really attracted my attention was she did a free sex campaign where she went to brothels and offered sex for free to people to expose the living conditions of those sex workers and migrant workers who are usually their clients. The sex there was usually $2 per service so they are some of the poorest people. I thought she would be the perfect person to introduce me to the sex workers. I contacted her through e-mail and phone and she said, Come back to China and we can talk.

When I got to China, she was planning a protest. There was a breaking news story about six school girls, aged between 11 and 14, who were raped by their school principal and a government official, so she wanted to do the protest. I initially decided to follow her to the protest and it was then that I knew that the story wouldnt be about sex workers anymore, but what turned out is much more complicated and a much bigger story than I initially planned to make.

hooligan sparrow

Did you know you would become a target for government surveillance once you began making a film?

No. My life was not political when I lived in China so I knew very little about the activist world. I was aware of the corruption in China but I didnt know the scale of the surveillance. When I got here to go to the protest with her, she warned me. She said, Its dangerous. You could be arrested and you could be disappeared. You could just be found dead. I thought it was a joke. I didnt believe her that much. I thought it was a little exaggerated but then a week after I went to the protest, my family got the phone call from national security agents and thats when I realized they took it really seriously. Then, a few weeks later, my friends were taken into interrogation simply to be asked whether they know me and whether they know what I was doing and where I was. We were followed by plain clothes officers, secret police. Everywhere we went they knew our whereabouts and they knew that we were going there and theyd be waiting there for us.

You used a micro-camera in your glasses and we see you putting your audio recorder under your skirt. How did you decide what would work best?

I started doing research on what hidden cameras are available and I found a lot on the internet. There are hidden cameras in a watch shape or in pens or a button, but because it was summer it was really difficult to hide anything because we were wearing less clothes. I cannot put on a watch and then constantly raise up my arm and take a look at a watch. Thats not feasible. So later I thought maybe glasses, that would be the most perfect because its on eye level. So I bought a pair and I thought nobody would notice but I was pretty naive because the glasses were huge and were black. No young girls would wear those kind of ridiculous, large glasses. So, you can see in the film that eventually the police did find out that the glasses were a hidden camera.

How has making this film changed how you feel about your home country?

Its like the movie The Truman Show. I feel like towards the end of the movie, all of a sudden you realize that your whole life in the past had been lies. I realized that there were activists like Ye Haiyan in China who were constantly depicted by the state media as criminals, but they are real people like us and are fighting for other peoples rights. I never expected that there would be so many secret police on the streets and I never expected that the government would go so far to silence anybody who was remotely connected to human rights activism or even just a person like me, who is trying to tell their story.

There are some really terrifying moments where youre clearly frightened but you continue filming. When were you the most scared?

I think every day I was pretty afraid. One of the biggest fears was I didnt know when they would break into the house. I didnt feel safe even when I was in somebodys house because they could break in anytime and I was worried about my footage constantly. I think the activists, they inspired me a lot because I know that theyve been living in China for their entire lives and their lives are constantly under threat, harassment and fear but they still continue doing what they do.

Compared to them, my experience was quite temporary really, and I knew that I had the ability to leave if I wanted to, more than them. So their courage really inspired me. At the same time, I feel like I was the storyteller. I had the connection to the outside world. I know English and I almost felt like I was the only person that could get this story out and if I dont tell this story, if I quit, then whatever happened to them, nobody would know.

Do you think youre able to travel back to China?

Its still unknown whether I can go back. I wish there is a black list that I can check. Am I on the list or not? But unfortunately there isnt, or fortunately there isnt. So I dont know if I can go back and the only way to find out would be try to go and see what would happen. At this moment, I feel like I still want to evaluate, kind of assess the risks or the consequences when Im ready to go back.

My family were visited by national security agents recently because the film has been getting a lot of exposure outside of China, and my family was told that they were monitoring what I say in media and whether its something negative about China. I had a debate, because I was really concerned about my family, but I also feel that if I stay silent, if I dont say anything, then their tactics are effective. Then its helping them to suppress people and the only way that the change might happen is actually to say what I witness and what I disagree with rather than stay silent.

Have you had a chance to speak with some of the people in the film since it came out?

I showed a rough cut of the film to all of the main subjects before I finished it and now, theyve had a few underground screenings in China. The main subject, Hooligan Sparrow, saw it and she wrote a long article about the film but then the next day the government deleted it. The same happened with a few media outlets who were brave enough to write about the film. Soon it was deleted. So the film right now is censored in China. No media outlets were allowed to report it. One of the other main subjects, Wang Yu, the lawyer, shes still in jail. She was arrested in July 2015 and she was held for a year without any charge and in February of this year she was finally charged with subverting the government.

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Mr. March with KimberCharleston Animal Society

One day last May at a South Carolina fire training facility, 34-year-old Rob Tackett posed for the Charleston Animal Societys 2017 firefighter calendar  sexy and shirtless and holding Kimber, an adorable German Shepherd puppy.

Her owner and his wife told me she wouldnt go around any guys, says Tackett, a firefighter with the Charleston Fire Department and Mr. March in the Charleston (South Carolina) Firefighter Calendar. And when I first met her she curled up in my arms, it was an instant connection. She felt safe with me.

He never dreamed hed one day be her owner.

Tackett, an Army veteran, bonded with Kimbers owner, Steve Hall, who had served three tours of Iraq and Afghanistan as an elite Marine sniper.

Hall had returned from his tour of duty suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, wracked with nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety, according to a video he made with the Charleston Animal Society.

Hall had found that the symptoms were only alleviated with the help of his dog, Scout, who died last December. After Scouts death, Hall began to spiral downward, his flashbacks and anxiety returning, according to the video.

Meanwhile, as Hall was suffering, a malnourished puppy who was hairless from severe mange and a bacterial skin infection was found on the side of a road and brought to the Charleston Animal Society. As her hair grew back, it turns out that she was a German Shepherd puppy, and she was named Kimber.

Last winter, Hall adopted Kimber, who became his constant companion and helped ease his PTSD symptoms.

He really needed that companionship, Kristin Kifer of the Charleston Animal Society tells PEOPLE.

Tackett and Kimber bond during the photo shootCharleston Animal Society

In the months after the calendar photo shoot, Hall and Tackett became good friends. But over the summer, Hall fell ill, requiring neck and back surgeries. Hall asked Tackett, a lifelong animal lover, to watch over Kimber during his hospital stay. And after a few weeks, with his health still shaky, Hall asked Tackett if hed adopt Kimber.

Story continues

He was heartbroken, recalls Tackett. He said, My health is not where I want it to be. We cant take care of Kimber. I dont want her going anywhere else. 

Tackett didnt hesitate.

I love that dog, he says. She is an incredibly special dog, Ive never been around a dog like her. Just being around her makes everything easier.

Kimber, now 13 months and 45 pounds, has been with Tackett since October.

Tackett and Kimber during the photo shootCharleston Animal Society

She keeps me happy, says Tackett.

Kimber is a certified PTSD dog, and Tackett hopes that with a bit more training hell bring her to visit other veterans and share the joy she emanates.

Shes skittish around other people at first, says Tackett, attributing it to Kimbers past abuse as a puppy. But when she gets comfortable she is the most loving dog in the world.

All proceeds from the calendar go to the Charleston Animal Societys medical fund, which saves thousands of abused, neglected and abandoned animals every year, like Kimber.

Related:

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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.

Andrew McCutchens name keeps coming up in trade rumors. (Getty Images/Justin K. Aller)

CHECKING IN: The Toronto Blue Jays have looked into trading for Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, though nothing is considered serious. The 30-year-old McCutchen hit .256/.336/.430 over 675 plate appearances last year. Hes due $14 million in 2017, and has a $14.5 million option for 2018. Toronto is seeking an upgrade in right field, where Ezequiel Carrera is currently slated to start. The Pirates indicated they were willing to deal McCutchen earlier in the offseason, but havent found the right deal just yet. [@JonHeyman]

ON TARGET: The Atlanta Braves have catcher Matt Wieters on their wish list. The 30-year-old catcher hit .243/.302/.409 over 464 plate appearances with the Baltimore Orioles last season. The Braves are currently slated to open the year with Tyler Flowers behind the plate, so Wieters would be a clear upgrade. The Braves have focused on picking up short-term veterans thus far this winter, so its unclear whether they would be willing to hand Wieters a long-term deal. [Jim Bowden]

Jose Quintana remains a coveted pitcher on the trade market. (Getty Images/Jonathan Daniel)

NOTHING GOING: The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees have not discussed a deal involving both Jose Quintana and David Robertson. The Yankees have been mentioned as a trade partner for Quintana, and that could still be the case, but it appears there isnt interest in a reunion with Robertson. The White Sox would likely be willing to part with both players for the right price, but Quintana would have much more value. The 27-year-old lefty posted a 3.20 ERA over 208 innings last year. [@Joelsherman1]

WHAT ELSE? While the offseason is quiet now, a number of significant moves still need to be made. Here are the five biggest things we still need to be resolved before the winter is over. [The Stew]

Story continues

WANTED MAN: Teams have turned their attention to Joe Blanton now that all the elite relievers have come off the board. The 36-year-old Blanton posted a 2.48 ERA over 80 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. He prefers to pitch on the West Coast, and that could make a reunion with the Dodgers more likely. [@jcrasnick]

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

      

Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
Michelle Obama has been wearing Preen since 2011 [Photo: Instagram/oprah]

Preen, or Preen by Thornton Bregazzi as the brand is formally known, may be an unfamiliar name to some. But its caught the attention of the worlds leaders from Michelle Obama to the Duchess of Cambridge.

Established by husband-and-wife design duo Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi in 1996, Preen has dressed the First Lady nine times with Michelle even choosing the label for her last ever interview. Wearing a printed chiffon maxi (thats currently on sale at Net-a-Porter for 1017) for a talk with Oprah, the soon-to-be former First Lady proved her style credentials once again.

Shes educated people in print and colour, and taught people that you dont have to follow the traditional rules for formal dressing, Justin recently told The Telegraph. The pair have become such a staple in Michelles wardrobe that they were invited to a 2015 White House dinner celebrating her favourite designers.

The Duchess bought two of the same Preen gowns earlier this year [Photo: PA]

Its not just Americas leaders that have favoured the British brand. Our very own Duchess of Cambridge added the label to her wardrobe this year, buying two of their fitted Finella dresses in the past few months alone. In September, Kate was seen wearing the red design during her Canada tour while an appearance at an awards ceremony in November saw the royal don the same style in black. Of course, both colours sold out immediately.

So how does a fashion label become a household name for two of the most important families in the world? Well, the designers journey with FLOTUS started back in 2011 when she and Barack Obama embarked on their first visit to the UK. A presidential or royal tour usually means a wardrobe full of the countrys designers so naturally, Preens flattering printed styles were at the top of the list.

Samantha Cameron wore Preen for two high-profile political announcements [Photo: PA]

The labels signature designs were also spotted on Samantha Cameron for two very important political engagements. The former prime ministers wife sported an electric blue checked dress for 2015s Conservative general election victory while wearing a similar style in white for the announcement of David Camerons resignation in September.

Story continues

Perhaps its Justin and Theas understanding of the modern woman that puts them at the forefront of political dressing. The designers told The Telegraph that its part of their job to make things for real women as well as catwalk figures (which most recently saw punk and paganism meet in a flurry of ruffled designs).

Preens SS17 collection was full of metallics, ruffles and pagan iconography [Photo: Getty]

Or maybe its their forward thinking that allows leading ladies to feel comfortable being seen by millions in a Preen dress. The duo may have started selling skinny jeans to Kate Moss but they have grown up along with their customers. We design things that will photograph well and look good as a static image. We used to be all about black and grey, but that doesnt sell online. If you do black now, you have to add a graphic element to grab attention, they commented in a recent interview.

After all, female political and royal figures are now renowned for their fashion choices as much as their speeches. And when the worlds watching, you know you have to take risks and impress.

It seems Preen has developed the perfect formula. They may not be a household name in the average family but theyre known where it counts.

Goodbye high street: The Duchess of Cambridges wardrobe cost 174,000 this year

Michelle Obama says her door is open for Melania Trump in candid exit interview with Oprah Winfrey
San Luis Potosi (Mexico) (AFP) - A huge crowd turned out Monday to celebrate the 15th birthday of Rubi Ibarra, a small-town Mexican girl -- though it was fewer than the 1.3 million people who said they were coming after the invitation went viral online.

Girls' 15th birthday parties are often a huge affair in Latin America, when families pull out all the stops to welcome them to womanhood.

But Rubi's "quinceanera" party took the phenomenon to a whole new level, after the invite became an offbeat internet sensation.

"We found out through social media and we said 'Let's go. Everyone is invited? Let's go," said Tania Rodriguez, who traveled five hours by car to attend the party held in a large field in Villa de Guadalupe, in San Luis Potosi state.

"With all the coverage on her, Rubi felt like part of the family," added her husband Gonzalo Torres, before heading off in search of "more beer."

About 10,000 partygoers of all ages came to see Rubi, who danced the night away in a bejewelled floral princess gown with a dramatic red skirt.

The teen was the center of attention on a rock concert-style stage set up in the field, as journalists jostled to capture her every move.

The evening featured fireworks, a banquet sponsored by a food company and a concert broadcast on a giant screen.

- Viral invite -

Rubi danced with friends, as well as the men of her family, receiving a rose from each, in keeping with tradition.

"Hi, how's it going? We would like to invite you this December 26 to our daughter Rubi Ibarra Garcia's 15th birthday party in La Joya," her dad, Crescencio, said in the video invitation that went viral.

Dressed in a cowboy hat typical of northern Mexico, he ticked off the names of the bands that would play at the party and announced a horse race with a 10,000-peso prize (about $500), as his wife and the now-famous Rubi stood at his side.

"Everyone" is invited, he said.

Story continues

About 1.3 million Facebook users replied that they would attend the party originally set to be in La Joya, a village of 200 people near the city of San Luis Potosi.

"This all got out of control," Crescencio said in one of the many media interviews he has since been asked to give.

"That doesn't mean we didn't want to invite everyone, of course, but here our parties are regional... This is something we weren't expecting."

Rubi fielded numerous interviews herself, becoming a national sensation with her dark hair, cute smile and braces.

An airline turned the commotion into free publicity, offering discount tickets to get to the party. And a video game has emerged in which a teenage girl runs down a red carpet, tossing invitations to all and sundry.

The family said they were originally expecting around 800 people for the party. Local authorities moved it to the large field and sent a security detail for what Mexican media were calling "the party of the year."

Tragedy marred the horse race that had taken place earlier in the day.

"Two people entered the track and were hit by the horses... One of them died and the other was hospitalized with a broken leg," the state of San Luis de Potosi in a statement.

But the party continued as planned.

As the sun set, Rubi shared a dance with her father.

"We love you, Rubi!" guests shouted as a band began playing traditional Mexican music, with some donning paper masks of the teen's face.

But not everyone in Mexico found the fuss amusing.

"This has taken on completely scandalous proportions," said Mercedes Poire, head of the Center for Public Opinion at the Universidad Del Valle de Mexico.

"We face the gigantic risk of falling into a society of the absurd."
Investors in Yamana Gold Inc. AUYneed to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the December 30th, 2016 $7 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?

Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?

Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Yamana Gold shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Yamana Gold is a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) in the Mining-Gold industry that ranks in the Bottom 36% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst has increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while one analyst has revised the estimate downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from 8 cents per share to 2 cents in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Yamana Gold right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

Looking to Trade Options?

Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the LULU earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Lululemon (LULU) Earnings with Options or check out the embedded video below for more details:

Story continues



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New Delhi (AFP) - India's government has banned some 20,000 charities from accepting overseas funds because they failed to comply with the rules, a home ministry official said Tuesday.

KS Dhatwalia, a spokesman for the federal home ministry which revoked the licences, told AFP that they had been cancelled "over the period of one and a half years".

"They have not followed FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) norms while applying for (licence) renewals," he said.

Without the licenses the NGOs will not be able to receive overseas donations, which could likely impair their day-to-day operations.

Dhatwalia, however, said they can reapply and have their licenses renewed by the ministry.

"Applications can be sent again. And if they are renewed and revalidated, these NGOs can receive foreign funds and start regular work."

Meanwhile that leaves only 13,000 NGOs with licenses in India where charities, especially foreign-backed ones like Greenpeace, have come under increased scrutiny since Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014.

A major crackdown began in early 2015 after an intelligence report said groups like Greenpeace were damaging the country's economy by campaigning against key development projects.

The government has cancelled licences of thousands of NGOs since then, citing misuse of overseas donations to harm the country's growth.

Critics have argued that the apparent clampdown was an attempt to stifle voices of dissent.

An Indian charity running schools for low-caste Dalit children said last week it was set to close down after its foreign funds were blocked over alleged threats to national unity.

The home ministry said the charity had engaged in "undesirable activities aimed to affect prejudicially harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic, regional groups, castes or communities".
By Rina Chandran MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A center for transgender school dropouts is set to open this week in India to help address the challenge of a lack of formal education that forces them into low-paid jobs. The Sahaj Alternate Learning Centre in the southern state of Kerala will initially house 10 transgender students taught by volunteer teachers and social workers. "This is a center for those transgender students who had to drop out of school because they were abused or because they were kicked out by their families or school authorities," said activist Vijayraja Mallika, a founder of the center. "We want to try and mainstream them, and integrate them into society with a complete education and some skills with which they can find a job and be independent," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. India is estimated to have about 2 million transgender people. In 2014, the country's Supreme Court ruled that they had equal rights under the law, and granted legal status to the third gender. Alongside the right to marry and inherit property, they are also eligible for quotas in jobs and educational institutions. But abuse and exploitation are common. Often thrown out of home by their families, many lack a formal education and are denied jobs, forced into sex work, begging, or dancing at weddings to make ends meet. Recently, there have been moves to extend more benefits to the community, with Odisha state becoming the first to give transgender people welfare benefits such as pension. Bollywood is also lending a hand, with 6 Pack Band, a pop band of transgender women featured on the soundtrack of a Bollywood movie this year. It was hard to find a property for the center in Kerala, and the founders were rejected by more than 50 owners, Mallika said. "This center is very important because despite the laws, social acceptance is still low and we are discriminated against by employers and our own families," said transgender activist Kalki Subramaniam, who is inaugurating the school on Dec. 30. The curriculum will also include some vocational skills. "Education is the only tool we have to advance, to support ourselves and to make something of ourselves," she said. (Reporting by Rina Chandran @rinachandran, Editing by Astrid Zweynert. 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 to see more stories.)
India has said it has reached out to Saudi Arabia in its efforts to try and secure the release of an Indian priest who was abducted in Yemen by suspected Islamic State (ISIS) operatives in March. In a video spread across social media over the weekend, Father Tom Uzhunnalil was seen pleading for help from Pope Francis and the Indian government.

Uzhunnalil, also known as Tommy George, also claimed that his nationality was the primary reason why he had not yet been rescued. The date the video was shot remains unknown but while its authenticity has not been independently verified, relatives have confirmed it was the captured priest, reports The Times of India.

Uzhunnalil, from the Indian state of Kerala, was in Yemen working at a care home operated by the Missionaries of Charity in the port city of Aden when it was attacked by suspected ISIS militants March 4, killing 16 people. Yemen has been ravaged by a war between the government, supported by Saudi Arabia, and the rebel Houthis, allegedly backed by Iran. The conflict, which has raged since early last year, has so far cost the lives of more than 7,000 people.

Following the circulation of the video showing Uzhunnalil, India claimed that it was doing everything it can to secure his release.

"With regard to the safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Efforts continue in this regard."

Uzhunnalil, though, said in the video that he may already be home if he had been a different nationality.

If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously and would have got me released, he said. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value.

My captors have made many contacts with the Government of India to get me released. I am very sad that nothing has been done seriously in my regard.

Story continues

Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating. I may need hospitalization soon.

Reports earlier this year claimed that Uzhunnalil was set to be executed on Good Friday. While it said it couldnt verify the authenticity of the video or its content, the catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) has said that it believes the priest is still very much alive and that his life being fought for.

"Even if it is authentic, whatever he is saying is under duress, Joseph Chinnayyan, deputy secretary general of the CBCI said. We are certain that he is still in captivity and efforts are on to free him.

Related Articles
By Gayatri Suroyo JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian court will proceed with a controversial blasphemy trial against Jakarta's Christian governor, who is accused of insulting the Koran, a judge said on Tuesday, a case seen as a test of religious freedom in the Muslim-majority nation. A panel of judges rejected a call by lawyers defending Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama to strike down the case because it had violated the ethnic Chinese politician's human rights and breached procedures. "The exception by the defendant will be considered and decided by the court after examination of all evidence. The defendant's exception is not accepted," said Judge Abdul Rosyad. A tearful Purnama denied at his first hearing on Dec. 13 that he had intended to insult the Koran while he was campaigning ahead of elections in February for the governorship of Jakarta, capital of the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Hundreds of white-clad Muslim protesters chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) outside the court in north Jakarta on Tuesday and called for the jailing of the governor, known by his nickname Ahok. A smaller group of his supporters were also present outside the courthouse, which was flanked by lines of police. The presiding judge on the panel, Dwiyarso Budi Santiarto, said the defence could appeal to a higher court if they did not agree with the decision to proceed with the case. Purnama, after consulting his lawyers, told the court he would consider doing so. The governor was named a suspect after hundreds of thousands of people, led by Muslim hardliners, attended rallies in recent months calling for his arrest. Blasphemy convictions in Indonesia can carry a jail term of up to five years and nearly always result in conviction. Amnesty International has criticised the law for hurting freedom of expression and for targeting religious minorities. President Joko Widodo, seen as a Purnama ally, has blamed "political actors" for fuelling the protests, but declined to elaborate. As governor, Purnama has won credit for cutting red tape and improving the performance of Jakarta's bloated bureaucracy. However, his abrasive language and insistence on clearing city slums has alienated many voters. After suffering a slide in support in opinion polls, Purnama has rebounded to become the frontrunner again in the election race to lead Jakarta, according to a poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute earlier this month. The next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3 and will be moved to an auditorium in the Agriculture Ministry in the south of the city for security reasons, authorities said. (Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Paul Tait)
Pennsylvania authorities believe a 5-month-old girl may have been left alone for as many as four days  starving and dehydrated  before dying, after her parents fatally overdosed on heroin nearly two weeks ago, PEOPLE confirms.

The small body of Summer Chambers was found Thursday inside a bassinet in the upstairs bedroom of a Johnstown, Pennsylvania, home, according to police. The remains of her 19-year-old mother, Chelsea Cardaro, were found in a neighboring bathroom while her father, Jason Chambers, 27, was found lifeless on the first floor.

Local pathologists estimated Summers parents had been dead a week by the time a friend found them, according to Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan. Authorities believe the mother and father died almost simultaneously, Callihan says.

Its so sad and really illustrates just how bad the heroin epidemic is, not only here but across the country, Callihan tells PEOPLE.

Had they not died within minutes of each other, we believe one would have called 911 for help for the other, Callihan says, adding, The pathologists said a child can live a couple of days without food or milk. She was only 5 months old, so she was on her back  she had no way to move from that bassinet.

This was a picture in my mind Id rather forget, Callihan says.

Summer succumbed to dehydration and starvation, according to officials. PEOPLE was unable to reach Summers grandparents for comment Tuesday.

Callihan says a friend was called to check on Chambers and Cardaro when the couple, who had recently moved to Pennsylvania from New York, failed to show up for planned holiday festivities.

 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.

From left: Chelsea Cardaro and Jason Chambers.Facebook

Neighbors didnt think it was out of the ordinary that they didnt see them around, because they were traveling to New York for Christmas, Callihan says. Someone called one of their friends, who opened a window and climbed inside.

Story continues

The friend found all three bodies and immediately called 911.

Callihan says police recovered evidence of drug use and heroin from the couples home and believes the two were using a substance that was obviously laced with something. Tests are being performed on the heroin that was removed from the residence to determine if other chemicals were present, she says.

 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.

According to Callihan, police had been called to the couples home before: Last month, Chambers overdosed on heroin and responding police and EMS technicians revived him using Narcan, a heroin overdose antidote.

State child welfare authorities were contacted after Chambers overdosed, Callihan says. Officials visited the home on Dec. 7 and felt everything was appropriate, and Cardaro denied being a drug user.




Tehran (AFP) - Mehdi Karroubi, a leading member of the Iranian opposition who has been under house arrest for almost six years, announced he is quitting his party, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

Karroubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi were reformist candidates during the 2009 presidential election, and questioned the shock victory of conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad which led to mass protests.

Two years later, both leaders ended up under house arrest for their part in the protests, which regime leaders still call "the sedition".

"Considering my situation since (2011) and given that I do not know how long this will last, I ask my friends to accept my resignation," Karroubi, 79, wrote in a letter to his party, according to reformist newspaper Shargh.

There have been repeated calls for Karroubi and Mousavi to be tried in court to no avail.

Hardliners claim house arrest was actually an "act of clemency" for the two leaders, since otherwise they would be put to death for sedition, in the words of ultra-conservative lawmaker Mojtaba Zolnour last week.

Sadegh Larijani, the head of the judiciary, which is considered close to hardliners, said Monday that the "sedition dossier is still open and will be examined," without giving further details.

Karroubi said his resignation was aimed at preserving the unity of his party, National Trust, ahead of the presidential election in May -- despite it being banned since his arrest.

"While keeping its independence, the party must cooperate with the other reformist groups and movements," he wrote.

President Hassan Rouhani, a moderate who allied with the reformists to win power in 2013, has failed to secure the release of Karroubi and Mousavi as he promised during his campaign.

Reformists and moderates have said they will maintain their alliance ahead of May's election, when Rouhani is expected to run for a second term.

The conservative camp have also sought to unite their disparate factions. A new group called the Popular Front of the Forces of the Islamic Revolution was announced on Sunday with a view to choosing a single candidate to run against Rouhani.
BAGHDAD (AP)  Gunmen kidnapped an Iraqi journalist after breaking into her Baghdad home, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday, a reminder of the dangers reporters face in a war-torn country where authorities have struggled to maintain security.

The Interior Ministry said Afrah Shawqi al-Qaisi was abducted from her house in the southwestern Saydiyah neighborhood on Monday night. It called on residents to come forward with any information that might help the investigation. The ministry statement did not give details of the kidnapping.

Citing her family's account, the head of the Baghdad-based Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, Ziyad al-Ajeeli, said eight gunmen arrived in at least two pickup trucks, claimed to be members of the security forces, and asked to search the house.

Once inside, they handcuffed al-Qaisi's 16-year-old son, kept him in the kitchen and took gold, money, phones, laptops and a car, al-Ajeeli said. They also badly beat her brother-in-law, who lives next door, he added.

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered the security forces to investigate the kidnapping and to "exert the utmost effort" to save al-Qaisi.

Al-Qaisi, a veteran journalist and an employee of the Iraqi Culture Ministry, is a leading critic of the country's endemic corruption.

On Monday, she published an article in a local media outlet criticizing an Interior Ministry officer who badly beat a school principal in front of students and teachers for refusing to punish a pupil who quarreled with the official's daughter.

Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, who have been frequently targeted by militant groups since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Dozens of journalists have been killed while covering military operations.
Irving Azoff's Global Music Rights will offer temporary licenses that will allow radio stations to play hundreds of artists as GMR and the Radio Music Licensing Committee go to court over radio rates for songwriters, Billboard reports.

Stations will have until January 31st to sign GMR's interim agreement that will last through September 30th. The performance rights group boasts a roster of hundreds of top artists including the Beatles, Adele, Beyonce, Jay Z, Daft Punk, Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. Radio stations that play these artists without signing the interim agreement and paying the applicable fees could face copyright infringement suits.



The temporary licenses will cover, in part, a handful of songwriters who left the licensing giant ASCAP for GMR in the past two years, but remained covered by ASCAP agreements that expire at the end of 2016. While the RMLC and ASCAP have signed new licensing agreements, those ASCAP GMR songwriters are not covered.

Stations will have to contact GMR to gauge the exact cost of their licensing fee, though a retroactive fee adjustment will be available depending on future licensing agreements or the outcome of the suit between GMR and the RMLC.

The two groups have filed dueling anti-trust suits, with Azoff's GMR contending that radio rates for songwriters are too low and the system for negotiating them outdated and in need of change. For years, ASCAP and BMI  which represent about 95 percent of music copyrights  maintained a royalty rate of 4 percent of stations' revenue. Per court documents, GMR is seeking $42 million for the RMLC's 10,000 stations to license its music for a year.

With the interim licensing agreement, the RMLC has withdrawn a request for an injunction that would have prevented GMR from suing stations for copyright infringement during the anti-trust litigation. However, sources told Billboard that GMR had no intention of filing such suits so long as RMLC was negotiating rates. In fact, many GMR artists not covered by ASCAP or BMI, including the Who, Drake and the Eagles, were played regularly on the radio throughout 2016.

Related Content:
Shadowhunters star Isaiah Mustafa is ready to settle down.

The actor took to Twitter to share the news that he asked his girlfriend Lisa Mitchell to marry him during their vacation in New Zealand. Mustafa shared a video of the two of them shot via a drone.

In the video he called Drone-posal, Mustafa said: When she thinks youre taking drone shots for your travel blog but you propose.

After receiving well wishes from fans of his Freeform series, the actor shared his message of thanks on Twitter, saying: Thank you to everyone for all the congrats on our engagement! He added, Also, wanted to take a moment to thank the best fandom out there. #Shadowhunters You guys cant be outdone! I love you!

Mustafa has been quiet about his love life, although he did share during an interview with Express in 2013 that while he looks suave in the ads he made for Old Spice, hes actually a bit shy when it comes to approaching women in real life.

Im shy when it comes to women; Im not loud and brash like him, Mustafa said, comparing himself to the character he played in the ad. I dont normally approach women. Im very quiet. Im not a loud person and the character is very bold so they think theyre going to get that and then they get me.

The character has definitely made him easy to spot. Mustafa also said that he had received many odd requests from women after his starring stint.

Aside from the Old Spice character, Mustafa is also making waves as Luke in the television adaptation of Cassandra Clares The Mortal Instruments. Catch Mustafa as the head of the New Yorks wolf pack when the series, which also stars Katherine McNamara and Dominic Sherwood, premieres its second season on Jan. 2, 2017.

Isaiah Mustafa

Photo: Reuters/Kevork Djansezian

Related Articles
CARLSBAD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2016 / Isodiol, the Southern California-based cannabinoid innovator, is proud to announce that it has reached an agreement with Vancouver, British Columbia, Canadian Zeolite Corp. (the "Company") (CNZ.V) (CNZCF) (ZEON.F) to research and develop cannabinoid-infused Zeolite products. The initial products to be developed are intended for human and animal consumption.

Zeolites are microporous, aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts. The term zeolite was originally coined in 1756 by Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who observed that upon rapidly heating the material stilbite, it produced large amounts of steam from water that had been adsorbed by the material. Based on this, he called the material zeolite, from the Greek word meaning "to boil" and "stone". Zeolites occur naturally but are also produced industrially on a large scale.

The Canadian Zeolite products developed with Isodiol will be nano-amplified for immediate bioavailability then combined with cannabinoids and other adaptogenic herbs. The first products will consist of detoxifying, anti-aging products for oral consumption.

As with all of Isodiol's cannabinoid products, all Zeolite products will be laboratory tested for purity prior and documented with certificates of analysis with each product run.

Isodiol's Chief Operating Officer, Troy Nihart, stated, "Isodiol is looking forward to introducing these new products to the marketplace. Zeolite, as an additive, has tremendous potential especially with its detoxification properties. We feel there is an undiscovered zeolite market which we can begin to develop and are very excited to begin a partnership with Canadian Zeolite."

Ray Paquette, Chief Executive Officer for Canadian Zeolite stated, "We are excited to be working with Isodiol who is at the forefront of developing and marketing CBD products. We are excited to implement our natural zeolite into Isodiol's already successful product lines which will bring immediate value to our shareholders."

Story continues

Correction to Prior Release: Isodiol's R&D will focus on human and pet-grade zeolite-infused anti-aging products intended for detoxification.

Media Contact:

Denise Mahaffey

media@isodiol.com

760.908.6565

About Canadian Zeolite:

Canadian Zeolite Corp. is an environmentally friendly Green Tech business well suited to today's economic environment. The Company is operating and has a competitive advantage in the world of zeolites given the products has been tested, applied and exceeds the standards of specific markets. The Company is working with dedicated global advisors recognized as leaders in zeolite use.

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.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete contemplated work programs and the timing and amount of expenditures. Canadian Zeolite does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

About Isodiol:

Isodiol and its team of collaborators are a group of companies that together, grow & harvest hemp on an industrial scale, and then process it to extract the non-psychoactive cannabinoids to the highest available purity for worldwide distribution. By utilizing one of the world's largest hemp farms, Isodiol and its partners are the choice for industrial volumes of high-grade, non-psychoactive cannabinoids. Pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic companies worldwide have gained market share due to our products. For more information, visit www.Isodiol.com. To follow Isodiol online, visit Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

LEGAL DISCLOSURE

Isodiol does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act (US.CSA). Cannabinoids are a natural element of industrial hemp. Isodiol's products are not intended to cure, mitigate or diagnose disease states.



SOURCE: Isodiol
Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel could advance plans this week for thousands more settlement homes in annexed east Jerusalem despite a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity, an official said Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city, according to the Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building.

Meir Turjeman, the deputy mayor of Jerusalem who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process.

In brief comments to AFP on Tuesday, Turjeman said there were no plans to call off discussions in response to Friday's Security Council resolution. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the UN vote.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," he said.

According to Ir Amim, the 618 units include 140 in the Pisgat Zeev neighbourhood, 262 in Ramat Shlomo and 216 in Ramot.

The United States abstained from Friday's vote, enabling the adoption ofx the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

US President Barack Obama's administration has grown increasingly frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967.

It later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

There have been growing warnings that settlement expansion is fast eroding the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers currently live in the West Bank and a further 200,000 Israelis live in annexed east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.
By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Jerusalem municipality is due to act on Wednesday on requests to construct hundreds of new homes for Israelis in areas that Israel captured in 1967 and annexed to the city, drawing fresh criticism from the United States that settlement activity puts Middle East peace-making at risk. Israel is still fuming over the resolution approved last Friday by the United Nations Security Council that demands an end to settlement activity in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said he was aware of press reports about plans for more settlement building. "We would hope that the U.N. Security Council resolution would serve as a wake-up call, a call to action, an attempt to alert both sides, but certainly Israel, that its actions with regards to settlement activity are a detriment to moving forward with a two-state solution," Toner told a news briefing. Israel described as "shameful" the decision by the United States to abstain in the vote rather than wield its veto. The Obama administration is a strong opponent of the settlements. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is to make remarks on Wednesday regarding Middle East peace and discuss steps needed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. An agenda published by Jerusalem City Hall listed applications for at least 390 new homes whose approval looks certain to intensify international and Palestinian opposition to the Israeli settlement-building. The Municipal Planning and Construction panel usually meets on Wednesdays; the permit requests were filed before the Security Council resolution. Settler leaders and their supporters have been urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step up construction in East Jerusalem, accusing him of having slowed the pace last year because of international pressure. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported on Tuesday that 1,506 housing units for Israelis have already been approved in East Jerusalem this year, compared with 395 in 2015. The Jerusalem municipality said in a statement on Tuesday it would "continue to develop the capital according to zoning and building codes, without prejudice, for the benefit of all residents." Israel considers all of Jerusalem its united capital, a stance not supported by the international community. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. Some 570,000 Israelis live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, in settlements that most countries consider to be illegal and the United States terms illegitimate. Israel disputes that, citing historical, political and Biblical links to the areas, as well as security concerns. The new U.N. resolution changes nothing on the ground between Israel and the Palestinians and will probably be all but ignored by the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Donald Trump. However, Israeli officials fear it could spur further Palestinian moves against Israel in international forums. A U.S. official said after Friday's vote that Washington's decision to abstain was prompted mainly by concern that Israel would continue to accelerate settlement construction and put at risk a two-state solution of the conflict with the Palestinians. The U.S.-backed peace talks have been stalled since 2014. (Additional reporting by Ori Lewis in Jerusalem and Lesley Wroughton in Washington; Editing by Gareth Jones and Leslie Adler)
Jerusalem (AFP) - An Israeli committee is on Wednesday to discuss issuing permits for more settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem, despite a landmark UN resolution demanding an end to such activity.

The Ir Amim NGO, which monitors settlement building, said the planning committee could approve permits for 618 housing units in the mainly Palestinian eastern sector of the city.

It would mark the first such approvals since Friday's UN Security Council vote demanding a halt to Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territory.

The resolution, which passed after the United States took the rare move of abstaining, infuriated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who lashed out at President Barack Obama and vowed not to abide by it.

Jerusalem deputy mayor Meir Turjeman, who also heads the committee, has reportedly also spoken of seeking to advance plans for some 5,600 other units at earlier stages in the process.

On Tuesday he told AFP there were no plans to call off discussions in response to the UN vote. The hundreds of building permits were on the agenda before the resolution was passed.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," he said.

And on his Facebook page, Turjeman said: "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem.

"I hope the government and new US administration will give us the momentum to continue and make up for the shortage created over the eight years of the Obama administration," he said of settlement construction.

Israel has already taken diplomatic steps in response to what it calls the "shameful" resolution, which received the support of 14 Security Council members and a US abstention.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministry said it was "temporarily reducing" visits and work with embassies of nations that voted for it.

On Christmas Day it summoned ambassadors of countries that voted for the resolution while Netanyahu met US ambassador Daniel Shapiro on Sunday.

Story continues

- Revived peace efforts? -

Security Council members such as Russia, China and Britain are key to Israeli diplomacy or trade and some analysts suggested the measures being taken were more symbolic than substantive.

Washington is Israel's most important ally and provides it with more than $3 billion per year in defence aid.

By declining to use its veto, the US enabled the adoption of the first UN resolution since 1979 to condemn Israel over its settlement policy.

Even as Israel reacted with fury, US Secretary of State John Kerry was preparing to offer a "comprehensive vision" of how to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process in a speech on Wednesday.

"We haven't given up on this and we don't think the Israelis and Palestinians should do either," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

Obama's administration has been frustrated with settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967.

Israel later annexed east Jerusalem in a move never recognised by the international community.

Settlements are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state and seen as illegal under international law.

Some 430,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and 200,000 Israelis live in east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has signalled he will take a softer line on Israeli settlement building by promising to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

The UN resolution demands "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" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the basis of years of negotiations.

The resolution contains no sanctions but Israeli officials are concerned it could widen the possibility of prosecution at the International Criminal Court.

They are also worried it could encourage some countries to impose sanctions against Israeli settlers and goods produced in the settlements.
Jerusalem (AFP) - An Arab Israeli lawmaker was placed under house arrest Tuesday over accusations he smuggled mobile phones to Palestinian prisoners, a case that has drawn outrage from the country's right-wing politicians.

Basel Ghattas of the Joint List, a coalition of Arab Israeli parties, appeared before a court in Rishon Lezion near Tel Aviv and was ordered to remain under house arrest for 10 days as the investigation continues, police said.

He has been barred from leaving Israel and cannot visit security detainees in prison for the next 180 days, according to police.

The 60-year-old was arrested on Thursday after being questioned about the accusations, which he denies. He has waived his parliamentary immunity, allowing the investigation to proceed.

Israeli media have reported that 12 mobile phones were found on two separate prisoners in searches after Ghattas visited.

One of the prisoners is serving time for the kidnapping and murder of an Israeli soldier in 1984, news site Ynet reported.

Arab lawmakers from the Joint List, the third largest force in parliament with 13 seats, frequently clash with Israel's leaders.

Arab Israelis make up some 17.5 percent of the country's population, and are descended from Palestinians who remained on their land after the creation of Israel in 1948.

They hold Israeli citizenship, but largely see themselves as Palestinians.

Balad, Ghattas's party, is especially critical of Israeli policies.

Its three parliamentarians triggered outrage among Jewish Israelis earlier this year when they met relatives of Palestinians who authorities say were killed while carrying out attacks.

In response, parliament passed a controversial law in July allowing the expulsion of lawmakers deemed guilty of racial incitement or supporting armed struggle against Israel.
By Stefano Bernabei and Silvia Aloisi

ROME/MILAN (Reuters) - The Italian government is likely to put in around 6.5 billion euros ($6.8 billion) to rescue the country's third biggest lender Monte dei Paschi di Siena <BMPS.MI>, more than initially expected, sources close to the matter said on Tuesday.

The higher cost of the state rescue is due to the fact that the European Central Bank has revised the bank's capital shortfall to 8.8 billion euros from a previous estimate of 5 billion euros.

The bank requested government support - in the form of a precautionary recapitalization by the state - last week after its plan to raise 5 billion euros from private investors flopped.

A 6.5 billion euro capital injection would give the Italian government a stake of around 70 percent in the lender.

The remaining 2.3 billion euros should come from the conversion into shares of subordinated bonds held by institutional investors, as required by new European rules for dealing with bank crises.

A precautionary recapitalization is a type of state intervention in a struggling bank that is still solvent. It means only a modest bail-in of investors though the government can buy shares or bonds only on market terms endorsed by EU state aid officials in Brussels.

Under the scheme proposed by Italy, the government will compensate the 40,000 or so retail investors holding around 2 billion euros of the bank's junior debt, who will convert their notes into shares.

The retail investors will be able to swap those shares for senior bonds, with the state buying back the shares from the bank. The scheme needs EU approval, which could take two to three months.

The ECB, which is close to completing an inspection of the bank's loan portfolio, took a harsher stance on its capital shortfall to be "on the safe side and help restore confidence in the bank", one of the sources said.

Monte dei Paschi, which has been in crisis mode for years, emerged as the weakest lender in European stress tests last summer.

Story continues

The Tuscan bank, the world's oldest, will use around a third of the 20 billion euros earmarked by the Italian government to bolster ailing lenders.

Shares and securities in the bank have been suspended from trading until the details of the rescue scheme - such as the price at which the government will buy the bank's shares - become clearer.

Other lenders expected to benefit from government support include two regional banks - Popolare di Vicenza and Veneto Banca - and Genoa-based Carige <CRGI.MI>.

(Editing by Louise Heavena)
Photo credit: John Dolan

From Harper's BAZAAR

Jamie Siskin and Andrew Goldstein met at an upscale burger joint in 2011over a decadent truffle burger. She had grown sour on truffles after a bad experience a few years earlier; he was a burger savant (and a member of the Gotham Burger Social Club, a monthly patty-reviewing collective) and committed to helping her expand her already adventurous palate. One delicious bite and she was hookedcountless emails were exchanged, foodie adventures enjoyed and after endless experimental burgers later, Andrew proposed.

This would be and was the perfect New York first dateexcept, that infamous first burger was a prop burger and the impromptu meet-cute was a staged demo for a food segment. Yes, even a stunt burger left over from a demo can be topped with rich, truffley goodness. The burger demo was Jamie's first shoot as a food publicist (she's now the VP of digital and culture for downtown food and lifestyle PR firm, BeccaPR) and potentially Andrew's millionthhe was seasoned TV writer and producer with credits ranging from MTV's Boiling Points to countless food shows to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Their instant chemistry and a job switch that left Andrew in need of endless food talent to book for a new morning show had them emailing daily, and after a successful second shoot, it was an equally-indulgent celebratory burger at The Spotted Pig that sealed the deal. After four years of dating, moving in together and a puppy named Dusty, Andrew proposed on the beach in Westhampton, in front of Jamie's parents home, almost a year ago today. "It was just us, and it was perfect," the bride recalled.

Photo credit: John Dolan

A wedding in the Hamptons, where they got engaged and spent their summers, seemed the perfect fit. And finding a location that was equal parts modern, chic and flexible for the area's temperamental weather proved easier than they anticipated. "We watched [The Parrish Art Museum] go up over the past few years and immediately fell in love with the incredible architecture, the landscape and the vineyard it's set on. We loved that our guests were going to be able to explore the museum during cocktail hour and that the terrace was perfect for our receptionrain or shine," Jamie explained. "Our ceremony site was perfectly situated under the [museum's] geometric pillars and looked out over the vineyard. We knew it was the place we wanted to get married the second we saw it." The reception space at the museum was a blank slate in the middle of a rustic vineyardit was "dramatic, earthy and naturalwhile also being minimalist and modern." Without having to pipe and drape and add stereotypically event-esque touches to the space to make it work for them, the couple was sold.

Jamie's mother, Jane Siskin, has been in fashion for decades and most recently launched the it-girl favorite contemporary womenswear line, Cinq a Sept. Once Jamie had chosen her Monique Lhuillier gown, there was no one better to design the bridesmaids dresses and the MOH dress than her mother. "We chose blush to compliment the blush tones of [my] bridal gown, and as a reference to [my] rose gold engagement ring," the bride said. The design team at Cinq a Sept also made a lace top to go over the Jamie's gown for the ceremony, which she accessorized with Tabitha Simmons shoes, and her rehearsal dinner dress, which is pictured above. For the big day, the mother of the bride selected a printed look from Temperley London, with touches of all the colors in the wedding's blush, indigo and ivory palette.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

The ceremony at the museum turned out to be their second. "We got married legally on Friday, at the Town Hall in Westhampton, and one of Andrew's oldest friends from summer camp, Michael Landsburg, performed the Jewish ceremony on Sunday. (Fun fact: Internet-ordained ministers cannot legally perform marriage ceremonies in Suffolk County). The service at The Parrish was celebratory, light and fun," explained the couple. Underneath a Putnam & Putnam-decorated floral arch overlooking the vineyards, the couple exchanged vows in their Jewish ceremony. As a mid-ceremony surprise, in addition to the tradition of sharing wine from a kiddish cup, their friend and officiant presented the couple with a chocolate chip cookie (an ode to their favorite snack) for them to each take a bite of as not only a religious union, but a union that was unique to them as a couple.

Photo credit: John Dolan

The details outside of the menu were not lost on the couple, who each specialize in planning and producing events and shoots to the very last detail. Working with superstar vendors was the first stepthe couple enlisted Duke + Van Deusen to help them orchestrate the affair and Putnam & Putnam for jaw-dropping design that brought the lush outdoors in seamlesslyand then some. Invites were crafted with Bella Figura, with deep navy calligraphy by Sarah Hanna. Invites were edged in rose gold foilanother call to Jamie's ring. Menus and escort cards were packaged with craft paper, a nod to the couple's desire for a truly laid-back vibe with a sophisticated polish.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Another move that drove home an easygoing feel was the couple's choice in photographer John Dolan, who employs a more documentary, candid and genuine style of shooting than most classic wedding-day shooters. A focus on the intimate moments shared between the couple and with their family and friends kept the photos of the wedding as true to the moments they captured as possiblewithout fluff, fuss or force. An impromptu photo session with John during their cocktail hour helped Jamie and Andrew capture moments that still felt effortless and easy rather than uncharacteristically posed.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

Food, understandably, was of utmost importanceas was the overall experience for the couple and their guests. The pressure was onwith their both loving and working in foodfor the event to deliver on style and taste. The Putnams created one-of-a-kind indigo table linens and napkins as well as the ribbon that tied the bride's bouquet in collaboration with Erin Considine. "Our overall goal was making our guests feel comfortable and enabling them to have as much fun as possibleso we removed anything that we felt could be interpreted as formal or fussy, Jamie said. Low centerpieces to encourage conversation and keep tables feeling intimate as well as minimal silverware and stemless glasses kept the vibe laid-back. Small restaurant-like touches, like a communal bread basket and family style side dishes were used to keep guests feeling like they were dining at one of the couple's favorite NYC spotsor at the best version of one of their at-home dinner parties.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

The goal of the cocktail and dinner menu was comfort and funand meeting the expectations of the guests who were all too excited to eat the food Jamie and Andrew loved. "We immediately fell in love with Sonnier & Castle's food and their incredibly beautiful, yet simple presentations," Jamie explained. "We went way over the top with the menu"which included nostalgic hors d'oeuvres like upscale buffalo chicken meatballs, all-beef pigs in a blanket and truffled baked potatoes, a tuscan table of breads, veggies, charcuterie and spreads at cocktail hour and a seated dinner of fall burrata salad, short rib and/or black bass paired with irresistible sides and a dessert array of cookies and wedding cake peppered with nostalgic touches like a snowball dessert with marshmallow fluff and a brownie parfait. "We wanted there to be something for everyone," said the couple. They considered their menu an "end of summer" celebration, and themed the menu as such. At the cocktail hour, guests were welcomed with a drinka choice of either an Aperol Spritz or a cold rose.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

Cocktail hour in the gallery setting, a reception on the terrace and an after party in the theatre allowed the couple to create limitless food experiences for their guests. "For dinner, we opted for French service, having servers offer each guest a bit of fish and/or short rib and had all side dishes served family style. For dessert, in addition to wedding cake (which was made by my pastry school classmate and decorated by Putnam & Putnam) we had the folks from Dreesen's Donuts (an East Hampton favorite) frying fresh donuts inside of the party. They also had a truck parked outside for guests to take some donuts home," said the bride. The most fun food, however, was during the after party-"Andrew is from Philadelphia, so Philly-style soft pretzels were shipped in and passed around the dance floor, in addition to mini Shake Shack-style burgers, mini bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches on biscuits and French toast sticks."

To bring warmth and a lush feel into the minimalistic gallery space, the couple enlisted Putnam's help to deck the space with blooms and whimsical touches. A floral installation floated over the dance floor, and arches of blooms were placed at key entry points to the venue. A hand-cut indigo, white and metallic silver paper fringe background in the same palette as their linens was hung for a photo booth, which was flanked by vintage lounge furniture from Rent Patina. For the after party, disco ball clusters of all different sizes were installed over the dance floor for a focal point in the Parrish's theatre.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Music, in addition to the menu, was incredibly important to the couple for an even more sentimental reason. The groom's late father, Louis Goldstein was a sax player in a wedding band by night and a forensic psychologist by day. For the couple's first dance, Andrew had a 20+ year old recording of his dad playing Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are" remastered. "The band played the recording through the end of Louis' sax solo and then picked up and took over. It was perfect." The band, City of Six, played for the rest of the night and kept the entire room on their feet: "they are the most incredible band I've ever heard (but I'm obviously biased)everyone was up dancing the entire night," the bride recalled.

Photo credit: John Dolan

Photo credit: John Dolan

The.End.

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Japans Prime Minister Abe visits Pearl Harbor memorial on Hawaii trip Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, second from right, with President Barack Obama, right, wave after speaking at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016. (Photo: Dennis Oda/The Star-Advertiser via AP)

Putting 75 years of resentment behind them, the leaders of the United States and Japan are coming together at Pearl Harbor for a historic pilgrimage to the site where a devastating surprise attack sent America marching into World War II.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abes visit Tuesday with President Barack Obama is powerful proof that the former enemies have transcended the recriminatory impulses that weighed down relations after the war, Japans government has said. Although Japanese leaders have visited Pearl Harbor before, Abe will be the first to visit the memorial constructed on the hallowed waters above the sunken USS Arizona.

For Obama, its likely the last time he will meet with a foreign leader as president, White House aides said. Its a bookend of sorts for the president, who nearly eight years ago invited Abes predecessor to be the first leader he hosted at the White House.

For Abe, its an act of symbolic reciprocity, coming six months after Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima in Japan, where the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb in hopes of ending the war it entered after Pearl Harbor. (AP)

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
(PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii)Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday to recognize the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack that spurred America to enter World War II.

Japans former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the countrys World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the office of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site.

The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family.

The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, its significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.-Japanese relations to get to this point.

Abe wont apologize for Japans attack when he visits, the government spokesman said earlier this month.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to offer an apology.

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war.

On Monday, Abe visited the Ehime Maru Memorial near downtown Honolulu. Nine boys and men died when a U.S. Navy submarine collided with their Japanese fishing vessel off Oahu on Feb. 9. 2001. Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Caroline Kennedy, U.S. ambassador to Japan, were among those who joined Abe for the solemn memorial visit.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his condolences on Tuesday to the people who were killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, after visiting the memorial to the sunken battleship USS Arizona. "President Obama, the people of the United States of America and the people around the world, as the prime minister of Japan I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who have lost their lives here," Abe said. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)
By Emily Stephenson HONOLULU (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday stopped at several memorials in Hawaii, one day before he visits the site of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor during a trip intended to show a strong alliance between his country and the United States. Abe made no public remarks and stood in silence before a wreath of flowers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a memorial to those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Abe, joined by two of his Cabinet members, bowed his head before wreaths of white flowers and greenery laid at the feet of stone monuments at Makiki Cemetery in Honolulu dedicated to Japanese who settled in Hawaii in the 1800s. The crowning event of the trip comes Tuesday, when Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Pearl Harbor, the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the United States into World War Two. Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is spending his winter vacation there. Abe does not plan to apologize for the 1941 attack but to console the souls of those who died in the war, his aides said this month. Japan hopes to present a strong alliance with the United States amid concerns about China's expanding military capability. Japan was monitoring a group of Chinese warships that entered the top half of the South China Sea earlier on Monday. "I am very much looking forward to sending out a strong message on the value of reconciliation, as well as our sincere prayer for the souls of the war dead," Abe, speaking through an interpreter, said at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Abe has called U.S.-Japan relations an "alliance of hope" and said the devastation of war should not be repeated. In China, where the government has repeatedly urged Japan to show greater repentance for World War Two and Japan's invasion of China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said it was "wishful thinking" for Abe if he hoped to use the visit to "settle the accounts" for the war. "No matter the posture, no matter what show is put on, only sincere reflection can realize the key to reconciliation," Hua told reporters. Japanese leaders hope to send a message of unity as well to President-elect Donald Trump, who triggered concerns before his Nov. 8 election by opposing the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and threatening to force allied countries to pay more to host U.S. forces. Abe has tightened ties with Washington during his four years in office, stretching the limits of Japan's pacifist constitution and boosting defense spending. Amid wind and rain on Monday, Abe presented a wreath at the armed forces memorial located at Honolulu's Punchbowl Crater. After a moment of silence, he signed a guestbook and then stopped at the grave of former U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, who fought in World War II in Europe and whose parents were Japanese. He died in 2012. Abe's visit will come seven months after Obama became the first serving U.S. president to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped an atomic bomb in the closing days of the war in 1945. At least three Japanese premiers have visited Pearl Harbor, but the Japanese government says Abe will be the first to pray for the dead with a U.S. president at the memorial built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson, additional reporting by Hugh Gentry, and by Linda Sieg in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Nick Macfie)
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) 10digi, a start-up backed by IT firm SoftAge Information Technology, today launched a new service to help customers get mobile SIM cards delivered at their doorstep free of cost.

The web and app-based platform will also facilitate activation of the SIM cards. Besides, users will be able to choose service providers and compare type of plans as well.

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Currently, the company works with Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Tata Teleservices and said it is in discussion with others like Airtel.

"Users just have to visit 10digi platform, request for a connection and go through the documents availability section. Once the request is made, our mobile retailer will arrive at the time specified by the user to collect the documents and deliver the SIM," 10digi co-founder and CTO Sherjil Ozair said.

While the service is free, they can get services like photocopy (of identity/address proofs) and photograph for a nominal charge, he added.

Asked about the companys business model, Ozair said it will get a fee from telecom operators for every subscriber that it signs up.

"We plan to expand the services to 135 cities by March 2018. By then, we should have a turnover of Rs 250 crore," he said, adding that the company will invest Rs 2 crore to enhance its presence in Delhi-NCR.

Ozair claimed that using the companys platform, customers can get their SIM activated within 4 hours for prepaid connections, and within 8 hours for postpaid connections as compared to the current process which takes anywhere from 8-48 hours.

Also, the company said it is hiring about 500 people to undertake the role of mobile SIM retailers, who will deliver the SIMs and this number will be gradually ramped up. PTI SR BAL

--- ENDS ---
By Emily Stephenson HONOLULU (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday stopped at several memorials in Hawaii, one day before he visits the site of the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor during a trip intended to show a strong alliance between his country and the United States. Abe made no public remarks and stood in silence before a wreath of flowers at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, a memorial to those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Abe, joined by two of his Cabinet members, bowed his head before wreaths of white flowers and greenery laid at the feet of stone monuments at Makiki Cemetery in Honolulu dedicated to Japanese who settled in Hawaii in the 1800s. The crowning event of the trip comes Tuesday, when Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Pearl Harbor, the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the United States into World War Two. Obama, who was born in Hawaii, is spending his winter vacation there. Abe does not plan to apologize for the 1941 attack but to console the souls of those who died in the war, his aides said this month. Japan hopes to present a strong alliance with the United States amid concerns about China's expanding military capability. Japan was monitoring a group of Chinese warships that entered the top half of the South China Sea earlier on Monday. "I am very much looking forward to sending out a strong message on the value of reconciliation, as well as our sincere prayer for the souls of the war dead," Abe, speaking through an interpreter, said at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Abe has called U.S.-Japan relations an "alliance of hope" and said the devastation of war should not be repeated. In China, where the government has repeatedly urged Japan to show greater repentance for World War Two and Japan's invasion of China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said it was "wishful thinking" for Abe if he hoped to use the visit to "settle the accounts" for the war. "No matter the posture, no matter what show is put on, only sincere reflection can realise the key to reconciliation," Hua told reporters. Japanese leaders hope to send a message of unity as well to President-elect Donald Trump, who triggered concerns before his Nov. 8 election by opposing the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and threatening to force allied countries to pay more to host U.S. forces. Abe has tightened ties with Washington during his four years in office, stretching the limits of Japan's pacifist constitution and boosting defense spending. Amid wind and rain on Monday, Abe presented a wreath at the armed forces memorial located at Honolulu's Punchbowl Crater. After a moment of silence, he signed a guestbook and then stopped at the grave of former U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye, who fought in World War II in Europe and whose parents were Japanese. He died in 2012. Abe's visit will come seven months after Obama became the first serving U.S. president to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped an atomic bomb in the closing days of the war in 1945. At least three Japanese premiers have visited Pearl Harbor, but the Japanese government says Abe will be the first to pray for the dead with a U.S. president at the memorial built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson, additional reporting by Hugh Gentry, and by Linda Sieg in Tokyo and Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Nick Macfie)
Jen Kirkman is back and shes not afraid to tell it like it is  again.

In Just Keep Livin?, the comedian explores some all-too-relatable topics. Filmed at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City, she jokes about people who wont travel alone, getting a tattoo at 41, male feminists, and her solution to street harassment.

You yell, Nice tits? Please dont yell it to us, she says of street harassment in the trailer above. Please roll up your window and smash your face against the glass.

Apart from her many appearances and stand-out moments on Chelsea Lately, Kirkman has also appeared on Comedy Centrals Drunk History, on which she narrated an episode about Frederick Douglass starring Don Cheadle, Will Ferrell, and Zooey Deschanel.

Just Keep Livin?, a title clearly inspired by Matthew McConaugheys foundation, hits Netflix Tuesday, Jan. 3. Its a follow-up to her first original comedy special, Im Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine), which premiered on the streaming service in 2015.
Its all about family for John Boyega.

The 24-year-old Star Wars actor recently spent some quality time with his nearest and dearest, and documented the sweet moments on Instagram  including a photo of himself and his father wearing matching outfits.

Stunting with my daddy, Boyega wrote alongside the picture he posted Tuesday. The shot shows both men giving serious looks.

Last year, the London-born actor said that while his Nigerian parents are very proud of his accomplishments, they were never Star Wars fanatics  not even close.

My parents are not interested in Star Wars whatsoever, Boyega told The Hollywood Reporter. Theyre only interested in The Force Awakens. In terms of the rest, theyre like, OK, cool, but youre not in it. 

On Christmas Day, the actor shared a photo of himself walking with a pal, writing, A day of love, appreciation, family and food! Enjoy the day everyone x have an amazing Christmas. Eat well ! Care later !

The star also honored his Nigerian roots on Saturday, sharing an Instagram photo of a room full of men, women and children. He gave the black and white shot a simple caption, including only a heart and Nigerian flag emojis.

In addition to posting his twinning look with father, Boyega has also been sharing other holiday images with loved ones.

Last week, Boyega spent some quality time with his sister, uploading a black and white photo of the two laughing.

WATCH: Check out John Boyegas Sweet Visit to a Childrens Hospital

My mum always talks about when she brought me home and this lady in the pic used me as her favourite baby doll for years, Boyega recalled in the photos caption.

Despite that Im happy to have her by my side wherever I go! #sissylove #Gracethesmooich #akaturtle.




BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was indicted Tuesday in a corruption case involving public works.

Federal Judge Julian Ercolini approved charges of illicit association and fraudulent administration against Fernandez, and two former aides: ex-Planning Minister Julio de Vido and former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez.

Also named was businessman Lazaro Baez, whose Austral Construcciones company allegedly benefited from irregular contracts.

The judge's order froze the equivalent of up to $633 million of each defendant's assets, though it was not clear they have that much.

The ruling published by official Center of Judicial Information said the defendants are accused of associating to illegally take public fund meant for public works between May 2003 and December 2015, largely in the southern province of Santa Cruz.

The judge said 52 contracts worth about $2.9 billion were assigned to Baez's companies at prices that averaged 15 percent above the original budget.

Fernandez's late husband Nestor Kirchner was president from 2003 until 2007.

Fernandez made no immediate comment on the charge, but she has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and invited an audit of public works contracts during her administration.

Her attorney, Gregorio Dalbon, said on his Twitter account that he was not worried about the indictment and said he would appeal.

Illicit association carries a possible 10 year prison sentence, while fraudulent administration can lead to six years behind bars.

Since leaving office in December 2015, Fernandez has alleged that she is the victim of persecution by her conservative successor, Mauricio Macri.

In May, a judge indicted Fernandez on charges of manipulating currency exchange futures markets, allegedly causing economic damage to the government.
Honoring his and his girlfriends love for aviation, Evan Heinrich, decided to pop the question to his college sweetheart after riding on the baggage claim carousel at an airport in Ohio.

In a video of the special moment, Elizabeth Hammel, 24, can be seen reading a scrapbook Heinrich made for her. But before she finishes, Heinrich comes around the carousel cross-legged and playing his guitar.

Read: Critics Blast Controversial Wedding Proposal That Involved Fake Police Standoff

We are both big aviation enthusiasts so I thought the airport would be a good place to do it, Heinrich told InsideEdition.com. I figured everything out really last minute and Im just an avid guitar player so it kind of all worked out.

Heinrich, 25, is a student pilot at Akron-Canton Airport and some of the employees helped him put together the idea.

The two have been dating for three years and met while in a plane-building club at the University of Akron.

Read: Gymnast Aly Raisman Dating NFL Player Who Asked Her Out on Viral Video

I had no idea until I got about halfway through the little book and the last page had a picture of a ring on it, Hammel told insideEdition.com. I saw Eric coming down the carousel with his guitar. I thought it was adorable.

And, of course, she said yes.

I was very surprised and I was really glad he did it. I was really happy to be marrying him, Hammel said.

Watch: Photographer Finds Couple Who He Snapped During Surprise Engagement

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Since shedding his boy band image (R.I.P. *NSYNC), Justin Timberlake has flourished as a pop powerhouse since releasing his solo debut, 2002's Justified.

His blue-eyed soul has helped him land repeat-worthy collaborations with some of hip-hop and R&B's finest along the way, including the likes of production heavyweight Timbaland and rap icon Jay Z. Even his breakout solo hit "Like I Love You" featured a guest verse from Virginia-bred duo Clipse.

These days, Timberlake is relishing in fatherhood and keeping the world on its feet with the Golden Globe-winning single "Can't Stop The Feeling" off the soundtrack for the DreamWorks film Trolls. While a highly anticipated follow-up to 2013's two-part The 20/20 Experience in the new year is still TBD, revisit J.T.'s best rap and R&B duets below.

Justin Timberlake, "Like I Love You" Feat. Clipse (2002)

Back when Timberlake was a baby-faced bachelor, this groovy number cemented J.T.'s solo career as a genre-fusing wunderkind. Featuring production from The Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams) and a special sixteen from Clipse (Pusha T and then-named Malice), the lead single off Justified was a dancefloor magnet.

The Black Eyed Peas, "Where Is The Love?" (2003)

While Timberlake offers his signature vocals to the hook, this B.E.P. track peaked at No. 8 on the Hot 100 and served as an anti-gun violence anthem. Originally released in 2003, the group's members apl.de.ap, Taboo, will.i.am and Fergie released a 2016 version of the track which included Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla $ign, Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake and Jaden Smith.

Snoop Dogg, "Signs" Feat. Justin Timberlake & Charlie Wilson (2004)

The D-O-double-G recruited J.T. and Charlie Wilson for this R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece single, produced by The Neptunes. Timbelake glides on the hook, singing about a potential bae, "I'm not sure what I see/Cupid don't f--k wit me!/Are you telling me this is a sign?/She's looking in my eyes, now I see no other guys/Are you telling me this is a sign?" "Signs" also hit the Hot 100, reaching No. 46.

Story continues

50 Cent, "Ayo Technology" Feat. Justin Timberlake (2007)

This 50 Cent collaboration hit No. 5 on the Hot 100 in 2007, featuring a very direct come-on line from Timberlake who utters on the chorus, "Ayo, I'm tired of using technology/Why don't you sit down on top of me?"

Justin Timberlake, "SexyBack" Feat. Timbaland (2006)

To kick off his new wave R&B sound on his 2006 sophomore set FutureSex/LoveSounds, Timberlake tapped his partner-in-crime Timbaland for the sexy single, which was inspired by David Bowie's Diamond Dogs and The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.

Justin Timberlake, "My Love" Feat. T.I. (2006)

Timberlake teamed with Tip for the FutureSex set's second single, which also nabbed the 2007 Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Justin Timberlake, "Chop Me Up" Feat. Three 6 Mafia & Timbaland (2006)

Timberlake and Three 6 Mafia (mainly DJ Paul and Juicy J) represented their Tennessee roots with this hard-hitting, chopped and screwed cut from FutureSex/LoveSounds.

Justin Timberlake, "Until The End of Time" Feat. Beyonce (2006)

Though initially released with Timberlake as the lone artist, this dreamy love song off FutureSex/LoveSongs landed a remix from Beyonce and also helped the headliner become the first solo male artist of that decade to release six top 40 hits from the same album.

Rihanna, "Rehab" Feat. Justin Timberlake (2007)

On the bad gal's third studio effort Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna called on Timberlake for an assist on this Hannon Lane and Timbaland-produced entry about a crumbling relationship. Timberlake also appeared in the dark, steamy video.

The Lonely Island, "Dick in a Box" Feat. Justin TImberlake (2008)

This Saturday Night Live digital short spawned a full-length version that helped the comedic trio (Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone) win an Emmy for "Best Original Music and Lyrics" in 2007. Donning oversized suits and gift-wrapped boxes on their crotches, J.T. and Samberg sing of giving their special women a, er, simple gift.

Ciara, "Love Sex Magic" Feat. Justin Timberlake (2009)

Off Ciara's 2009 set Fantasy Ride, "Love Sex Magic" finds the pair oozing chemistry, especially in the eye-popping visual that finds CiCi flaunting her flexibility in front of a receptive Timberlake.

Justin Timberlake, "Suit & Tie" Feat. Jay Z (2013)

Giving new swag to business attire, J.T. and close pal Jay Z clink their champagne glasses for this dapper number, which served as Timberlake's comeback single off The 20/20 Experience.

Justin Timberlake, "Cabaret" Feat. Drake (2013)

Part 2 of the 20/20 double-album release featured a J.T. collaboration with Drake for the frisky "Cabaret," where the self-proclaimed 6 God lays down a verse fit for a nightclub rendezvous.

Jay Z, "Holy Grail" Feat. Justin Timberlake (2013)

Jay Z and J.T. linked back up for the lead single off the Brooklyn rapper's 2013 effort Magna Carta Holy Grail, which features Timberlake's vocals in raw, heart-wrenching form as he sings of the pitfalls of fame.
Kanye West is feeling experimental these days.

After first shocking his fans by dying his hair blond following his release from the hospital earlier this month, Kanye's at it again. On Monday, the 39-year-old rapper was spotted leaving a movie theater in Los Angeles, debuting a new 'do tinged with pink.

Kanye wore a shearling jacket, an oversized white hoodie, camouflage pants and lace-up boots to combat the recent cold weather in L.A.

Splash News

NEWS: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Take North to See 'The Nutcracker' in Rare Family Outing

Last week, the "Famous" rapper kept his hair covered with a hat when he and his wife, Kim Kardashian West, took their 3-year-old daughter, North, to see the Los Angeles Ballet perform The Nutcracker.

Despite split rumors brewing between Kanye and Kim after a difficult 2016, a source close to the couple told ET earlier this month that the two are more "madly in love than ever."

"Kim and Kanye have to work at their marriage, just like any couple," the source said. "Of course there are some bumps in the road at times, but that's not unlike any other marriage. It takes work. They are definitely still together and more madly in love than ever."

WATCH: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Enjoy Date Night, Are 'More Madly In Love Than Ever'

Check out how the Kardashians celebrated Christmas at Kris Jenner's lavish Christmas Eve party in the video below!

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Kanye West has rainbow sherbet-colored hair now

It looks like someone asked for brightly colored hair this Christmas and got what he wanted. Yesterday, Kanye West was spotted out with pink and orange hair, and we cant help but notice how much his new do looks like rainbow sherbet.

The rapper and fashion designer, who was hospitalized recently for exhaustion, attended a Christmas Eve party at mother-in-law Kris Jenners house. He then spent Christmas Day at sister-in-law Kourtney Kardashians house with wife Kim and children North and Saint. Then on Monday, West attended a movie with friends in Santa Monica, and while leaving the theater was spotted with his new rainbow hair.

And just as we all expected, the internet went into a tizzy. Many people think his new hair looks like a snow cone, while others feel its reminiscent of a scoop of tropical-flavored sherbet. Either way, this is making us hungry.

We must admit, its pretty uncanny.

#kanyewest #yeezy #wtf #dead #lol #haha #rp A photo posted by King Me (@supreem_clientele) on Dec 27, 2016 at 7:38am PST

Earlier this month, the world-famous rapper showed off newly bleached hair when he met with Donald Trump at Trump Tower.

Trump and West

But, obviously the blond wasnt cutting it, hence the drastic new coloring. When West decided to go blond, industry psychotherapist Dennis Palumbo talked to The Hollywood Reporter about Wests drastic change, especially after being involved in such a harrowing robbery in October.

Dr. Palumbo, who has been treating Hollywood patients for over 25 years, said,

For people in the public eye, when you go into rehab, have a traumatic experience like being robbed, go through a painful and very public divorce or have a career disaster of another kind, looking different is a way to demonstrate, even unconsciously, that they have a different persona. He added, It indicates  Ive gone through the fire and come out of the other end with this new look. I think its a sign, both to themselves and their audience, the public. Its like a makeover, psychologically.

Story continues

YEEZY season3 Hooded Shearling natural avaiable in store and online @Farfetch #kanyewest #foreverspoon #farfetch #season3 #corsocanalchiaro50 A photo posted by SPOON SHOP (@spoonitaly) on Dec 27, 2016 at 7:41am PST

With this robbery and his hospitalization under his belt, its definitely safe to say that Ye has been through quite a fire. This new look is certainly different, but hey  different is a good thing!

We have a feeling this might be just the tip of the Kanye West hairstyle iceberg. And hey, what better way to ring in the new year than with rainbow hair?

The post Kanye West has rainbow sherbet-colored hair now appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge on Christmas. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kate Middleton had an interesting accessory for church services on Christmas: a Band-Aid.

Middleton took the historic stroll in Bucklebury, West Berkshire, with her husband, Prince William, and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, looking elegant in an oxblood coat from British high street brand Hobbs.

On her left hand was, obviously, her engagement ring, but also a nude-colored Band-Aid wrapped around the tip of her thumb. The fact that shed leave the house  or palace, perhaps  with a Band-Aid on is just further proof that the Duchess really is of the people. Some celebs would have had a surgeon come in and miraculously fix the boo-boo before stepping outside, or they might have worn ridiculous gloves. Or they just wouldnt have left the house at all until it was healed.

Although Middleton is royalty and, by definition, the furthest thing from relatable, she has proven once again to be one of the most relatable women in the public eye by rocking that nude tape in a very DGAF manner.

And thats not the first time she has stepped out while wearing the child-friendly accessory. In November, she was spotted with a large bandage across her left hand at a womens center in Gloucester. A few weeks later, she had a wound on her thumb at a childrens event at the Natural History Museum. Isnt it the children who are supposed to be covered in Band-Aids? Oh, Kate, always getting tussled up.

In August during a visit to the national youth charity Youthscape in Luton, she wore a bandage on her right thumb.

The royal medical tape first made an appearance in 2008 when she was spotted leaving the Boujis nightclub in London wearing the unconventional accessory.

And the Band-Aid isnt the only thing she wore on Christmas that shed worn before; she sported the long coat with a fur collar on Valentines Day back in 2012 and then again on Christmas of the same year.

No matter what else shes wearing, the princess makes a bandage look good. Excuse us while we go out and buy a box.
Washington (AFP) - With fewer than four weeks left in office, US Secretary of State John Kerry will on Wednesday lay out a vision for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The goal of a two-state solution, with Israel and a future Palestine living side-by-side within agreed borders has eluded generations of US diplomats.

But in the final days of President Barack Obama's administration, and with Israel's government openly hostile to outside pressure, Kerry wants to leave his mark.

"He feels it's his duty in his waning weeks and days as secretary to lay out what he believes is a way towards a peaceful two-state solution," his spokesman said.

"It's always important to try to keep the process moving forward, to lay out constructive visions for the future," spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

Negotiations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas's administration are already a dead letter.

And if Kerry wants the sides to pay attention to his "comprehensive vision" of a settlement, he faces two stark challenges that even his ill-fated predecessors did not.

Firstly, Netanyahu is already in a towering fury over Obama's decision last week not to veto a UN Security Council motion to condemn Israeli settlement building.

Secondly, incoming US leader Donald Trump has signaled he will take a much softer line, nominating an ambassador who wants to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.

Arab leaders warn such a move would provoke a regional diplomatic backlash and Palestinian protests, and Netanyahu has no incentive to act before Trump's inauguration.

Nevertheless, Obama and Kerry are clearly not ready to give up on the region yet, hoping the UN resolution and the Washington speech will save a moribund process.

Already, earlier this month, Kerry showed his frustration with Netanyahu's refusal to curtail Israeli settlement building on disputed West Bank and Jerusalem land.

Story continues

- Greater Israel -

"There's a basic choice that has to be made by Israelis, by the leadership of Israel, by all of you who support Israel and care about Israel," Kerry warned US and Israeli officials.

"Is there going to be a continued implementation of settlement policy, or is there going to be separation and the creation of two states?" he demanded.

Netanyahu had already told the same meeting of the Saban Forum that the main impediment to peace was the failure of much of the Arab world to recognize Israel.

Kerry insisted the accelerating program of Jewish settlement building on land Palestinians claim for their future state acts as a "barrier" to peace.

This has been US policy for decades, but Kerry went further, accusing members of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition of actively opposing a peace deal.

Washington, and the bulk of the international community as reflected by UN votes, foresees two states based on Israel's 1967 border with some land swaps.

According to Kerry, the Israeli right -- despite Netanyahu's protests that he is ready for direct talks without preconditions -- wants to thwart this.

"They don't want peace. They believe it's greater Israel," Kerry told Saban, an annual US-Israeli leadership forum.

"And they want it to block the peace process because they want those places to belong to Israel. That's the history of the settler movement, my friends."

This year Obama awarded Israel the biggest US military aid package in history -- $38 billion over ten years -- but Netanyahu is unimpressed.

On Wednesday, a Jerusalem planning committee is to discuss issuing building permits for hundreds more settler houses in the mainly Palestinian east of the city.

"We'll discuss everything that's on the table in a serious manner," Jerusalem's deputy mayor Meir Turjeman told AFP.

And on his Facebook page he added: "I'm not concerned by the UN or anything else trying to dictate our actions in Jerusalem."

Netanyahu's government has also accused Obama of colluding with the Palestinians and with Egypt behind Israel's back to push last week's UN resolution.

Toner denied this, insisting it was "not accurate" to suggest that the motion had been "pre-cooked" before Egypt unveiled it last week.

But he confirmed that US officials had seen draft resolutions and suggested "what further changes were needed to make the text more balanced."

- Last word? -

And Washington clearly did nothing to dissuade other UN members from bringing forward the resolution -- the first passed against settlements since 1979.

"It's not like our views regarding settlements or regarding resolutions with respect to Israel aren't well known," Toner said.

So will Wednesday's speech be the Obama administration's last word on the conflict before he leaves office on January 20?

Might Kerry attend a Paris peace conference on January 15, despite deep Israeli hostility to the project?

"I don't want to predict anything," Toner said. "Certainly this administration's going to continue to work until January 20."
By PTI: London, Dec 27 (PTI) Fragments of a carpet - likely made in the 17th century India - along with a silk gown and other royal artefacts have been discovered from a 400-year-old shipwreck near the Netherlands.

The carpet, made from silk and wool, is decorated with flowers and animals, including lions.

Based on the patterns, colors and weaving techniques, art historians concluded that the fabric was likely manufactured in Lahore, in present-day Pakistan, during the second quarter of the 17th century, researchers said.

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Local divers found the Lahore carpet among other textiles in a shipwreck around Texel Island in the Wadden Sea, which was a heavily trafficked area during the Dutch Golden Age.

The shipwreck was covered in sand, resulting in unusually good preservation, researchers said.

"Its almost like having the fragments of an original Rembrandt in front of you," researchers were quoted as saying by the Live Science.

Earlier this year, the Kaap Skil museum in the Netherlands started displaying a complete silk gown that was also recovered from the wreck.

The dress had been preserved in a clothing box that was packed with many other items, including a cloak, stockings and bodices adorned with gold and silver thread.

Leather covers of books (the pages had disintegrated) were salvaged from the wreck. They bear the coat of arms of the English King Charles I, suggesting that perhaps the cargo onboard the ship belonged to the royal Stuart family.

The carpet fragments will be on display in an exhibition called "Diving into Details" until mid-February next year. PTI MHN SAR AKJ MHN

--- ENDS ---
By Lesley Wroughton and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will lay out his vision for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a speech on Wednesday, days after the United States cleared the way for a U.N. resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlements. The speech, less than a month before President Barack Obama leaves office, is expected to be the administration's last word on a decades-old dispute that Kerry had hoped to resolve during his four years as America's top diplomat. It could also be seen in Israel as another parting shot at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has had an especially acrimonious relationship with Obama since they both took office in 2009. The United States on Friday broke with a longstanding approach of diplomatically shielding Israel and abstained on a United Nations Security Council resolution that passed with 14 countries in favor and none against. Israeli officials described the abstention as a "shameful" decision. President-elect Donald Trump, who urged the White House to veto the resolution, chided the world body as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." On Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry's speech would lay out next steps for a peaceful solution based on Israeli and Palestinian states side by side. Toner said the United States hoped the U.N. vote would serve as a "wake-up call" that settlements are a detriment to a two-state solution. Israel for decades has pursued a policy of building Jewish settlements on territory it captured in a 1967 war with its Arab neighbors, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. NEW SETTLEMENT REQUESTS Most countries view the settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace. Israel disagrees, citing a biblical connection to the land. Washington considers the settlement activity illegitimate. Undeterred by the U.N. resolution, Israel's Jerusalem municipality is due to consider on Wednesday requests for construction permits for hundreds of new homes for Israelis in areas captured in 1967 and annexed to the city. Since learning last week of Kerry's planned speech, Israeli officials have been concerned he might use the address to lay out parameters for a Middle East peace deal. Netanyahu's aides are confident the Trump administration will likely ignore any Obama principles and pay no heed to the U.N. resolution, but they fear Kerry's remarks will put Israel on the defensive and prompt other countries to apply pressure. Israeli officials accuse Kerry and his staff of formulating and pushing for the U.N. resolution. The White House strongly denied accusations it "cooked up" the resolution with the Palestinians, and Toner dismissed such claims on Tuesday. Kerry previously failed to bring about a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in talks that froze in 2014. U.S. officials left little doubt they put much of the blame on Netanyahu's stance on settlements. Some 570,000 Israelis live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem among more than 2.6 million Palestinians. (Writing by Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Yara Bayoumy and Howard Goller)
While most families gather around the Christmas tree in cozy pajamas or ugly holiday sweaters to celebrate Christmas Eve, theres one family that treats the holiday like a full-on red carpet event. If youre thinking its the Kardashian-Jenners, youre right. Kris Jenner threw her annual holiday bash on Saturday and the whole family showed up (yes, even Kim Kardashian West) in their best cocktail attire. We broke down each and every look, below.

First up, Kylie Jenners black sequin Saint Laurent jumpsuit. She wore a skin-tight sleeveless onesie featuring a high collar that probably looks familiar. Taylor Swift wore the same outfit to the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards in April and Heidi Klum chose it for an Ocean Drive magazine event in November.

Getty; FameFlynet

But clearly Kylies been feeling the look for a while  earlier in the week she wore a similar material courtesy of her diamond-encrusted cutout pants.

Next up, another fashion faceoff! Khloe Kardashian twinned with none other than the hostess of the party (and ultimate fashion faceoff master), her mom, Kris. She chose the same gold, shimmery Balmain mini dress that Kris wore earlier this year to a Magnum Double event in Cannes. Both kept the accessories minimal, letting the deep V, ultra-short metallic mini do all the work.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

RELATED PHOTOS: 6 New Years Eve Outfit Ideas, Inspired by the KarJenners

Kim Kardashian has been keeping a very low profile since her Paris robbery, and while she didnt post any photos on her own social media, she did pop up on her sisters. Khloe featured her on her Snapchat story saying, Look who it is in the house. Mrs. West in the building, Khloe said while cuddling Kim.

And the star was featured in some Instagram photos wearing a gold metallic Rodarte dress featuring a ruffled neckline and hem, plus a thick choker necklace with a jeweled cross embellishment.

Kendall Jenner chose the shortest and sexiest look of the night in a tiny embellished David Koma strapless mini dress featuring a zig-zag design, worn with translucent lace-up booties and a plethora of chokers.

Story continues

While Kourtney Kardashian paired a strapless white tube top with high-waisted pants and a glamorous white fuzzy stole.

If youre wishing you traded in your footie pajamas for a sparkly jumpsuit on Christmas Eve like the KarJenners, its not too late to channel the famous family. We have a six perfect New Years Eve outfits inspired by the KarJenners most outrageous party outfits of 2016 to help you ring in 2017 in the most over-the-top way.

Which outfit is your favorite?




The Kardashians donned their finest for Kris Jenners glam Christmas Eve do [Photo: Instagram/kyliejenner]

Since being robbed at gunpoint in Paris three months ago, Kim Kardashian has been keeping a low profile. The 36-year-old star has been silent on social media and hasnt made any public appearances. In fact, shes been practically invisible until now.

For Kris Jenners infamous Christmas Eve party, Kim arrived in her glamorous best, wearing a glitzy golden gown by Rodarte. She proved that chokers are here to stay (whether you like it or not), accessorising with a thick crucifix style and a gold lip ring.

Kendall and Kylie both wore sequinned looks [Photo: Instagram/kyliejenner]

Kylie Jenner donned a tight sequinned jumpsuit by Saint Laurent while older sister Kendall opted for a bedazzled mini dress and bright red lips.

Khloe and Kourtney rivalled their younger siblings with Khloe choosing a tiny embellished Balmain dress and Kourtney going for an all-white furry look. Even three-year-old North wasnt left out of the designer festivities, wearing a custom design by Alexander Wang.

If only all Christmas parties were like this.

Kim Kardashian returns by putting on a steamy display for LOVE magazine

36 times Kim Kardashian proved shes not afraid to try a new look
Buenos Aires (AFP) - Cristina Kirchner, the fiery ex-president who dominated Argentine politics for 12 years along with her late husband Nestor, remains as divisive out of office as she was while in power.

Her controversial legacy took a new hit Tuesday when she was charged in a corruption case and slapped with a $630-million fine.

Kirchner (2007-2015), is accused of favoring a construction magnate friend, Lazaro Baez, for public contracts in Patagonia, her southern political bastion.

The 63-year-old former president denies wrongdoing and calls the charges "political persecution."

And she still has a powerful support base to back her up.

Nearly every time she appears in court, swarms of protesters gather outside to denounce her opponents and proclaim their undying allegiance to Cristina.

To her working-class base, Kirchner and her husband are saviors who salvaged Argentina after a 2001 economic crisis and stood up for the little guy.

To her generally better-off opponents, she is an uncompromising bully who steered the economy back into recession and embarrassed the country with nasty attacks against her favorite foes.

They included the old Falklands War enemy Britain, big media conglomerates whose empires she sought to dismantle, and "vulture" fund capitalists who sued Argentina over its defaulted debt.

- Sidelined? -

Kirchner took office in 2007, vowing to continue the work started by her husband and predecessor.

Nestor Kirchner (2003-2007) had inherited an economy in shambles after what was then the largest sovereign debt default in history.

But he turned it around thanks to booming demand for Argentine agricultural exports and his tough negotiations to restructure most of the country's $100 billion in privately held debt.

He and his wife were widely expected to continue their term-for-term tango, but he died of a heart attack in 2010.

Cristina Kirchner, a former senator and experienced politician in her own right, defended his legacy all the more combatively and won re-election in 2011.

Story continues

She stood down last year -- when term limits barred her from running again -- with an approval rating of more than 50 percent. But she failed to get her chosen successor elected.

Argentines voted for the center-right businessman Mauricio Macri instead.

Kirchner now accuses his camp of trumping up charges against her to sideline her from the political scene.

- Power couple -

Born in La Plata, near Buenos Aires, Kirchner met Nestor as a 20-year-old student and married him six months later.

They got their start in national politics in Santa Cruz province in Patagonia, where Nestor became governor and Cristina a senator.

Kirchner has sought to channel the legacy of Eva Peron, the adored first lady of the populist president Juan Peron in the 1940s and 50s.

But while many Argentines worship Evita, Kirchner's legacy is darker.

She also stands accused of ordering the central bank to sell dollar futures at artificially low prices, causing Argentina to lose hundreds of millions of dollars.

And critics continue to link her to the mysterious 2015 death of Alberto Nisman, a prosecutor who had accused her of obstructing his investigation into a 1994 bombing at a Buenos Aires Jewish center.

Those allegations have been thrown out in several courts.

Meanwhile, some supporters already tout Kirchner as a presidential candidate for 2019.

Asked last year how he thought she would spend her post-presidential life, her former chief of staff Anibal Fernandez said she "won't just stay home picking roses or taking care of the grandkids."

Kirchner has two children: Maximo, a congressman, and Florencia.
South Korea's ruling conservative party officially split Tuesday over the impeachment of scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye, threatening to complicate presidential elections that could be held as soon as March.

A group of 29 lawmakers left the ruling Saenuri Party, arguing that its leadership refuses to embrace reforms despite the political crisis fuelled by the corruption scandal that has engulfed Park.

Their departure left the party with 99 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly, relegating it to second place behind the liberal Democratic Party.

In a statement, they accused the ruling party of defending Park, branding her as the "worst-ever" offender against constitutional order.

"Our departure will provide momentum to turn the country's tragic incident -- the impeachment of its president -- into chances for the development of democracy", the dissident group said.

More than 60 Saenuri lawmakers crossed party lines to join opposition parties in passing a motion to impeach Park this month.

The case is now being considered by the constitutional court, which has up to 180 days to rule on the validity of the impeachment that charged Park with multiple criminal and constitutional violations -- ranging from bribery to abuse of power.

The next presidential election is slated for December 2017, but if justices confirm impeachment, Park will be permanently removed and elections must be held within 60 days -- meaning a ballot could be held as early as late March.

The Saenuri Party split could be problematic for one frontrunner -- outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

He had been widely expected to compete as a centre-right candidate on the Saenuri ticket but is now without an obvious platform to launch and run his campaign.

The 72-year-old last week strongly hinted he will jump into the presidential race, saying he was willing to devote himself to developing South Korea.

An opinion poll last week showed Ban was neck and neck with Democratic Party hopeful Moon Jae-In, each with a 23 percent support.

Story continues

It remains unclear whether Ban will join the Saenuri Party or the emerging conservative party.

Park is accused of colluding with her friend Choi Soon-Sil to strong-arm large companies like Samsung into handing over tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations Choi allegedly controlled and plundered.

Park also allegedly ordered aides to leak state documents to Choi, who has no official title or security clearance, allowing her to meddle in some state affairs including the appointment of top officials.

Choi, who is said to have had a "Rasputin-like" influence over the president, has denied all charges against her.
Korean Air Airbus A380

Korean Air flight attendants will now have freer access to on-board Tasers.

On Tuesday, the Seoul-based airline "loosened" the usage policy for tasers located on board its aircraft, CNN reported.

"We have decided to improve our conditions and procedure on using Taser guns to cope with violent acts and disturbances on board in a fast and efficient manner," Korean Air wrote in a statement to Reuters.

However, it is unclear how the airline will implement the new procedure or when it will take effect.

Korean Air was not immediately available to comment.

The policy shift comes one week after Korean Air drew criticism for its handling of an unruly passenger on a flight from Hanoi, Vietnam to Seoul.

On December 20, 80's pop star Richard Marx stepped in to help the Korean Air cabin crew subdue a physically aggressive passenger. On Twitter, Marx criticized the crew of being "ill equipped to handle the situation." In an Instagram post, Marx's wife, former MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, who was also on the flight, accused Korean Air flight attendants of not knowing how to use the on-board tasers and ropes.

According to Reuters, Korean Air stated that its cabin crew were hesitant to deploy its tasers because the equipment is only allowed to be used in situation where the lives of the passengers and crew are in danger or if the safety of the flight is under threat.

The policy is designed to give cabin crew more leeway in the decision to use tasers.

NOW WATCH: Delta says they removed the YouTube prankster for disrupting 'the cabin with provocative behavior'





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Photo credit: Josh Scott / Hyundai

From Road & Track

I've been keenly watching Korean automakers-especially Hyundai-for at least 30 years. Their fortunes were mixed: Early Korean cars were cheap but terrible.

Later, they became reliable but dull reminders of low-end Japanese cars. Daewoo failed and was absorbed by General Motors. Hyundai acquired Kia.

SsangYong is too small to matter. Today, the Korean auto industry is essentially Hyundai-Kia, a global powerhouse driven by brilliant design.

I was working at GM during the Daewoo takeover. They were doing a lot of things better and smarter than we were. Their die-making process, for instance, was outstanding. At the time, U.S. industry preproduction prototypes were usually rough approximations: "We'll get the correct fits later." We got prototypes faster and cheaper than the Koreans, but they were of limited usefulness. With succeeding iterations, dimensions changed, so suppliers of interior trim, moldings, glass, seals, etc., were forever chasing the latest "body math" and were always one generation behind. This goes a long way toward explaining poor fits on U.S.-produced vehicles of that time. The Koreans' initial prototypes, on the other hand, were carefully made to be dimensionally identical to production-intent cars. Their up-front investment in perfect prototypes avoided waste and saved time and countless dollars. We sent many teams over to learn that process, which marked a major turning point in the production quality of GM's vehicles worldwide.

Compared with the Japanese, the Koreans were less draconian in protecting their domestic market from imports, so they faced competitive reality. They also encouraged foreign investment, such as Ford's interest in Kia in the 1980s. Aside from early missteps, the Korean automakers have shown amazing skill in adapting to the needs and wants of a global market.

Japanese executives, in my experience, often get tangled up in history, tradition, and the supposed superiority of their culture, but I've found Korean leaders to be bold, tough, gregarious, and open to new ideas. This is in stark contrast to the banks of stone-faced Japanese execs at intercompany meetings, where little was ever said or accomplished. The Koreans are not hung up on their culture: They hire the best, Korean or not. It's their strength. They accept risk. They are also stern taskmasters: It might not be fun to work at Hyundai-Kia, but the success speaks for itself.

Story continues

The turning point for Hyundai-Kia came with the dramatic new design direction ushered in primarily by VW/ Audi veteran Peter Schreyer. Rather than adopting a safe, design-follower strategy, the company repeatedly surprised the world with standout sedans and crossovers. They are today the global leaders in high-volume vehicle design. Coupled with outstanding reliability, it's a hard strategy to beat.

As for Genesis, Hyundai's new standalone luxury brand, its initial cars are well executed but unnecessarily conservative. In the remaining 20 years or so of the auto industry as we know and love it, Hyundai lacks the time to establish Genesis as a credible luxury competitor. Besides, it launched with only sedans. Maybe something to compete with the Porsche Cayenne would be more successful.

Bob Lutz has been The Man at several car companies. Ask him about cars, the auto industry, or life in general.

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Charles Krauthammer

Conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer railed against the United Nations on Tuesday, saying President-elect Donald Trump should put his name on the organization's Manhattan headquarters and "turn it into condos."

Krauthammer told Fox News host Bret Baier that the UN has "turned out to be a disaster," criticizing the recent Security Council resolution urging Israel to stop building settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

"This is very serious damage that cannot be undone because you can't change a Security Council resolution without the acquiescence of the Russians and the Chinese, and you're not gonna get it," Krauthammer said.

The nationally syndicated columnist then joined other conservatives in calling for the abolishment of the UN's Manhattan headquarters.

"It is an organization that exacerbates tensions; it does not assuage them," Krauthammer said of the UN. "Any move to minimize our support for it, any move to get it out of the US  imagine if headquarters were in Zimbabwe, the amount of weight and coverage it would get would be zero."

He continued: "I think it's good real estate in downtown New York City, and Trump ought to find a way to put his name on it and turn it into condos."

NOW WATCH: Here's how the White House master bedroom has changed from president to president





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You can hear the AMG C63 S Coupe coming before it pulls into view. From around the corner, an assured rumble emanates from AMGs hand-built, 4.0-liter biturbo V-8 engine and performance exhaust. The ultrahigh-performance version of the C-Class Coupe is elegance with attitudeespecially clad with the Edition 1 package, a livery that mimics that of Mercedes-AMGs DTM (German touring car series) racecars. Bright yellow asymmetrical racing stripes practically glow under a gloomy sky; they run the length of a body painted in Selenite Grey Magno, a metallic paint with a matte finish. An equally electric yellow trim runs along the edge of staggered black twin-spoke wheels (19s in front, 20s in the rear), AMGs carbon ceramic rotors with bronze-painted calipers peeking through. While the standard AMG C63 is almost understated, the Edition 1 is anything but.

With the streets still wet from a rare Southern California rainstorm, we click it into Sport Plus mode and head for the hills. In the cabin are AMGs superb sport seats with diamond-quilted leather and much more yellow trim. In all, the Edition 1 adds an array of aesthetic and race-inspired options that push the $75,000 base price up to $94,600, including matte carbon-fiber accents and a performance steering wheel covered in Dinamica, a grippy Alcantara-like material.

With 503 hp under the hood, the AMG C63 S has more than enough power to conquer the sweeping turns of Sunset Boulevard as we drive west toward the ocean. Its torquey even at low revs, and with a maximum of 516 ft lbs at our disposal, its easy to get too much wheel spin off the line at what seems like far too many stoplights. Turning north onto Pacific Coast Highway, we hit the throttle and whizz by a plethora of Priuses as the engine purrs and the exhaust growls. Steering-wheel paddles are there in case the driver feels like pulling flaps, but the 7-speed transmission does it perfectly well on its own, accompanied by a delightful crackle here and there out of the twin tailpipes. The sound is never obnoxious, however, unlike that of the Jaguar F-Type R that we keep pace with for a while, fussing and cackling as if suffering from an auditory Napoleon complex. As we cruise toward Malibu, we switch over to Comfort mode, where the soundtrack and the sport suspension become more subdued, although even in its most docile setting, the ride in the AMG C63 is firmly sprung.

Although we prefer to give the AMG 63 S Coupe a workout, it more than suffices as a daily driver, as long as nobody has to squeeze into the rear seats. Mercedess Comand interface is standard, with navigation and real-time traffic displayed on an 8.4-inch screen. Standard safety features include adaptive brake technology and a collision mitigation system, which help in stop-and-go traffic. And theres plenty of space in the trunk for luggage.

Turning off onto one of the less-traveled canyon roads, we switch it back to Sport Plus and start climbing. As the roads narrow and the curves tighten, the steering stays direct and precise. In a day when many equate a heavy steering feel with sportiness, the engineers at AMG know that responsiveness doesnt have to leave you with aching biceps. The chassis is stiff and balanced as its tossed to and fro, and the front carbon ceramic brakes are fantastically bitey, with a short pedal travel that inspires confidence going into the trickiest hairpin. We smile as we speed toward the Kanan Dume tunnel and let er rip with the windows down, that AMG sound ringing through a tube of concrete and steel.

Its a real beast, Matthias Schottle, from the AMG development team, would later tell us.

Were inclined to agree. (mbusa.com/amg)

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Leah Remini isnt backing down on her stance against Scientology.

Amidst the success of her searing A&E docuseries Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, the actress and author could soon be living the harsh reality of the latter portion of the programs title. During Fridays episode of Larry King Now, Remini welcomed a lawsuit from members of the controversial religious organization, which she followed for 34 years between 1979 and 2013.

The church calls your reality show a scripted, rehearsed, acted and dramatized work of fiction featuring liars who have, for a profit, been telling differing versions of the same false tales of abuse for years, many reviewed and discredited in courts of law,' King told the 46-year-old star, noting the groups disdain for the program, which explores the experience of Remini and several former church members with a critical focus. Theyre saying you have liars.

Then they should sue us. Its as simple as that, Remini responded. They say this on every outlet they can. They have said that about every single person whos spoken out, and not one lawsuit has been brought to anybody.

She continued: This is not a group that is scared of a lawsuit. Theyre a litigious group. If that were true, they would simply sue us. And I welcome them to do that.

The Church of Scientology has threatened legal action against its detractors in the past. In 2015, it published a five-page letter in The Hollywood Reporter criticizing director Alex Gibneys expository documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief ahead of its leader, David Miscavige, threatening to sue his father, Ron, for publishing a tell-all memoir earlier this year.

Remini, who also wrote a book about her dealing with Scientology, titled Troublemaker, told King the churchs bark doesnt scare her, and she plans to bite back as long as she can.

Story continues

What Im not going to stand for is an organization with this kind of money to continue to do things like that and to bully people and to harass people and to defraud people out of their lives, their money, but more importantly their families, she said. Im just not going to sit around and watch it happen.

Watch a snippet of Reminis interview with King above. Check out the actress full episode of Larry King Now on Ora TVs website here.

Related:

For more celebrity videos visit Yahoo View, available now on iOS and Android.
BSP's Chhotey Lal Verma from Agra and RLD's Puran Prakash from Mathura chose the BJP over their respective parties.

By Siraj Qureshi: Two sitting MLAs of the Agra division quit their parties, barely a couple of months before the UP Assembly elections and joined the BJP.

BSP's Chhotey Lal Verma from Agra and RLD's Puran Prakash from Mathura chose the BJP over their respective parties.

Verma had contested elections on a BSP ticket in 2012 and become the MLA of Fatehabad in Agra district but the BSP probably lost its charm for him. He had been expressing his inclination towards the Samajwadi Party, although he hadn't resigned and neither had he joined the SP.

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MLAs joining the BJP:

1. When the Samajwadi Party chose former Fatehabad MLA and recent defector from the BJP, Dr Rajendra Singh to contest the election from Fatehabad seat, Verma decided to seek refuge in the BJP camp and has now formally joined the party after meeting the party's UP president Keshav Prasad Maurya.

2. As the Assembly elections are nearing, several sitting legislators are busy trying their luck to choose a party that suits their future political prospects. The legislators and other leaders are betting on the party which they think is likely to win.

3. Interestingly, out of the previous 5 elections, the BJP has won the Fatehabad seat 3 times, so Verma's decision could bode well for his political future which has been full of shifting allegiances as Verma is known in the political circles for changing parties very frequently.

4. In 1993, Verma had contested the elections on a BJP ticket and won by 15,000 votes. But he lost in 1996.

5. In 2002, the BJP again gave Verma a chance and he defeated the BSP MLA by a small margin of votes.

6. In 2007, Verma left the BJP and joined the Samajwadi Party, contesting the elections on SP ticket, but lost to BJP's Rajendra Singh.

7. In 2012, Verma joined the BSP to contest elections from Fatehabad and won.

8. Now the stakes have been reversed. While Singh is in the SP and Verma in the BJP, this faceoff between the two local stalwarts will be quite interesting to watch, if Verma manages to get a ticket from the BJP.

9. Similar is the case of RLD MLA from Mathura Puran Prakash, who is hopeful that he will get a ticket from the BJP, although the party has not given any indication yet, for any of the two new entrants. Also read: Taj Mahal is incomparable, Modi shouldn't discredit its importance: Agra Tourism industry

--- ENDS ---
Earlier this year, Lin-Manuel Miranda traded New York for Washington when he and the cast of Hamilton paid a visit to the White House. Now, with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama less than a month away from departing 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the creator of the Broadway smash is weighing whether hed return once President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

I mean, yeah. I dont know what that invite looks like, honestly, but yeah, he said during an interview on Elliott Wilson and Brian B.Dot Millers Rap Radar podcast. I think its been a hell of a year, and something that I have been proud of is that people on lots of different sides of the political spectrum have responded well to the show. I think its because our countrys history is really complicated and theres a lot of really dark chapters to it.

But we all live here now. It is important to talk about how we got here, and what we want the best version of it to be going forward, Miranda continued. Well make steps forward to some people, sideways to some people and backwards to some people. We all live here now and it is our responsibility to enact the best of our ideals and work through the contradictions and the obstacles that were present at the founding  Im not leaving. Im not moving to Canada or London. I hate leaving 181st street! I think the best of our country is worth fighting for.

Miranda departed the lead role in Hamilton in July and has spent the subsequent months promoting Disneys animated hit Moana, for which he wrote some of the songs, and gearing up for his role alongside Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns. Hamilton has continued on at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, and the production made headlines last month when Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended a performance and cast member Brandon Victor Dixon read a statement to him from the stage during the curtain call. (Trump tweeted at the time that the cast harassed Pence and demanded they apologize.)

We didnt have much of a heads up, Miranda recalled. We found out he was going to be there at 2 oclock in the afternoon. We have always spoken to the people who have come to our show. Thats not a partisan thing The fact that Pence was there, we werent trying to make any partisan anything. The goal was, there are a lot of people scared as a result of this election. We hope you lead all of us. You act on your pledge to lead all of us to me, that being seen as divisive speaks to how really divided we are right now. Because I think that is an olive branch. To his credit, he took is that way I was really grateful that he stopped to listen. He didnt have to stop I will always be grateful for him having that dialogue with us  regardless of the noise around it.

Listen to Mirandas full interview here, and head here for Miranda answering 20 questions for EW about 2016.
A low-caste pregnant woman and her husband were beaten with sticks after refusing to allow a group of higher-caste men to graze cattle on their farmland in India, police said Tuesday.

The alleged attack in western Gujarat state is the latest incidents of violence against Dalits, who lie at the bottom of India's deeply entrenched social hierarchy system.

Police said Rekha Sankhat, who is six months pregnant, and her husband were recovering in hospital after the assault in the town of Una, and had registered a complaint.

"Babu and his wife were abused by the upper-caste members," local sub-inspector MA Vala told AFP.

"A complaint has been registered. Further investigation will be conducted," he said.

Vala said the unborn child was unharmed in the attack, but Rekha has sustained injuries on her legs and shoulder.

In a similar case in September, a low-caste pregnant woman and her family were attacked for refusing to clear away a cow carcass.

Dalits, formerly known as "untouchables," are commonly tasked with removing dead cows from streets, where the animals often roam freely.

Anger and protests erupted among the community in July after cow-protection vigilantes wrongly accused four Dalit villagers of killing a cow -- considered sacred in India -- and stripped and publicly thrashed them.

A video of that incident, which also took place in Gujarat's Una town, had gone viral and prompted enraged Dalits to call for an end to outlawed but still practised caste discrimination.

Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi has since urged a halt to attacks on Dalits and an end to all caste discrimination.
Air India accommodated over 16,274 kgs of currency notes on 17 of its aircrafts from November 10 till December 12.

By Manogya Loiwal : To help the government in easing the suffering of the people post demonetisation, Air India accommodated over 16,274 kgs of currency notes on 17 of its aircrafts from November 10 till December 12, for distribution to the remote northeastern destinations like Agartala, Aizawl, Imphal, Bagdogra and Port Blair.

The effort of the Air India has brought great relief to the people in those states.

Initiative of Air India and RBI: The Reserve Bank of India had sought Air India's cooperation to ensure dispatch of the currency to different parts of northeast and Andaman and Nicobar Islands to cater the demand for legal currency. Air India will carry the currency to these areas for one more month. Recently, the water transport between Andaman and Kolkata had taken a hit leaving containers full of new currency notes at the dock for more than a week. Air India came to the rescue and transported the currency to its destination in the islands. A dedicated team under a regional cargo manager worked in tandem from Kolkata and Guwahati to monitor the movement of all the shipments of the RBI. Air India has been giving priority to dispatching the currency notes, at times, even putting its commercial interests in the backburner. With various flights going to the remotest of places in India, Air India has chipped in their contribution to the flight of the government's demonetisation.

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Also read: New Jersey-based Indian man fondles woman in Air India flight to Newark, apologises in notes

--- ENDS ---
Mark Hamill took to Twitter after hearing about Carrie Fishers death. The Luke Skywalker actor started playing Princess Leias brother in the Star Wars films in 1977.

Hamill kept his message short, making it clear that he was at a loss for words. His hashtag noted how upset he was.

Fisher died Tuesday morning after suffering a heart attack on Dec. 23. According to TMZ, she never regained consciousness after she went into cardiac arrest on an airplane. She died at UCLA Medical Center.

Hamill had tweeted after initial reports that Fisher had fallen ill. On Friday, he wrote, as if 2016 couldn't get any worse... sending all our love to @carrieffisher. He also shared more well wishes for the 60-year-old actress on Christmas with a series of images.

The two worked together on the first three Star Wars flicks and reunited in recent years for the latest installments. Theyre both expected to appear in next years Star Wars: Episode VIII. The film, which still doesnt have an official title, is set to hit theaters Dec. 15, 2017.

Unfortunately, Fisher isnt the only member of the Star Wars family that Hamill has said goodbye to this year. In August, R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker died after battling an unspecified illness.

Carrie Fisher Mark Hamill

Photo: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios

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Like many Star Wars fans around the world, actor Mark Hamill could not believe the news that Carrie Fisher died Tuesday.

Hamill, who starred as reluctant hero Luke Skywalker in the intergalactic series, tweeted his shock over the sudden death of his co-star Fisher, along with a picture of the two actors in their costumes from the original trilogy.

Fisher and Hamill played rebellion fighters who meet aboard the Death Star, where Fishers character, Princess Leia, was imprisoned. The two joined forces to take down the evil Empire, learning later on in the series that they were actually twin siblings fathered by evil Empire leader Darth Vader. Though they didnt share any screen time, both actors reprised their roles in The Force Awakens, the latest installment of Star Wars released in late 2015.

Fisher suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles on Dec. 23. During her hospital stay, Hamill posted a get-well message on his Instagram page:
TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Sen. John McCain has pledged U.S. support to the security of Russia's three Baltic neighbors amid worries that the United States may not be fully committed to the defense of NATO allies following statements by President-elect Donald Trump.

McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said during a visit to Estonia on Tuesday that Washington should consider at least basing troops permanently in that country.

He says the U.S. remains committed to NATO, but that having soldiers assigned to Estonia full-time instead of during rotations would strengthen military ties between the two nations.

McCain, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is touring Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania this week with fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar. The lawmakers also plan to visit Ukraine, Georgia and Montenegro.
The hero Las Vegas mom who hiked for 30 hours in freezing cold temperatures to save her family stranded in deep snow at the Grand Canyon has revealed her miraculous story of survival.

Read: Cancer-Stricken Man Wins a Year's Worth of Pizza and Donates It to Local Food Bank

College professor Karen Klein, her husband Eric and 10-year-old son Isaac set out along a road to visit the Grand Canyon over the Christmas weekend only to find it had been closed by a snowstorm.

Their GPS then re-directed them to a little used road in the forest, where they became stranded in the snow.

Unfortunately, we got stuck in a ditch, she told Inside Edition from her hospital bed. The car went off the road.

Fortunately, she had recently taken a course in wilderness survival and decided that she would be the one to go for help.

I've had lots of experience with winter camping, outdoor survival skills and hiking," she said. "Im a runner. I've done triathlons. I'm in pretty good shape.

She hiked an amazing 26 miles in 30 hours until she found a cabin where she collapsed in exhaustion.

I ate pine twigs, young seedling pine twigs as well as putting snow in the sides of my mouth to let that melt, she said.

She even drank her own urine for hydration, something she said she is not embarrassed to talk about.

I'm not ashamed to say that. It seems kind of silly. It's one of the ways I learned how to survive, she told Inside Edition.

When she did not return, her husband hiked to higher ground, where he got a cell phone signal, and called 911.

The family was eventually rescued and Karen is being hailed a hero, with many calling their situation a "Christmas miracle."

Read: Elderly Couple Married for 73 Years Dies Within Hours of Each Other

It wasn't about me. It was I can't let my son down, I cant leave him without a mother,'" she told Inside Edition.

Story continues

She is currently in a Utah hospital recovering from injuries suffered during her ordeal.

Watch: Taylor Swift Surprises 96-Year-Old Fan and World War II Veteran With Concert at His Home

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By India Today Web Desk: It's Manu Punjabi's birthday today. The aam aadmi contestant shares his birthday with the show's host Salman Khan. So hopefully there will be double celebration inside the BB 10 house. While contestants will surely plan something special for the Bollywood superstar on his birthday, Manu will get a surprise from his fiancee Priya Saini.

Priya has sent a chocolate truffle cake for the love of her life.

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Also read: Bigg Boss 10: Mona Lisa is miffed with Manu Punjabi; here's why "He is locked inside the Bigg Boss house. All I could do is send a cake for him. So I ordered it online and have asked the show's management to give it to him. It's a designer, chocolate truffle cake which has the animated characters, Motu Patlu's 3D figures on it. Motu and Patlu are Manu's favourite cartoon characters and I am sure this will bring a smile on his face," she told TOI.

Now we want to see Manu's reaction when he cuts the cake.

Also read: Bigg Boss 10: Manu Punjabi to join Priyanka Jagga in the secret room!

Bigg Boss airs Mon-Fri at 10:30 pm and Sat-Sun at 9pm on Colors TV

--- ENDS ---
First lady Michelle Obama and President Obama chat with the troops at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua, Oahu. (Photo: AP)

Her time as first lady is winding down, but Michelle Obamas personal style just wont quit. Mrs. O joined President Obama to address the troops on Christmas at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kailua.

The FLOTUS took time away from wrapping presents, choosing instead to wrap  her dress  this fetching $478 silk colorblock Penelope wrap dress from DVF, to be exact. She added a pair of flat, strappy sandals, one of the luxuries of celebrating Christmas in a place thats warm year-round.

Obamas colorful DVF number was previously worn by a then-pregnant Blake Lively back in July. The actress actually wore the dress over another DVF piece, the sequin-laden Havita slipdress. You can still treat yourself to it for $898.

Blake Lively double-dipping her dresses in July. (Photo: Getty Images)

Do you prefer the dress by itself or paired with another?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
Microsoft may be a major tech company, but that doesnt mean the company cant make hilarious mistakes on social media.

In fact, the team behind the Microsoft Office Twitter account made a hilarious mistake after replying to a Twitter user complaining about 2016  and their response has gone viral.

Twitter user @Officialchinxs was complaining about 2016 when he decided to use some slang.

Word 2016 has been the worst year yet, the tweet said, with a crying emoji.

Microsoft must be having a rough day, because instead of realizing that his use of the word word was slang, the people at Microsoft Office took the tweet personally.

Ouch, Microsoft Office Twitter replied, adding their own sad emoji. The company then asked Do you have any feedback for us?

Though Twitter user @Officialchinxs hasn't responded to Microsoft Office tweet, a few other users have.

Twitter user @FemaleTexts joked around saying, That one person that assumes everything you say is about them.

Another woman added Commas save lives, thinking that a comma on the original tweet could have prevented this mistake from happening.

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A Pennsylvania mother is recovering in a Utah hospital this week after walking 26 miles in the snow over 36 hours in an attempt save her stranded family, according to reports.

Karen Klein was on vacation near the Grand Canyonwhich is closed for winterwith her husband and 10-year-old son when the familys car got stuck in the mud, the Associated Press reports. Klein offered to walk to get help, since her husband was recovering from an injury. But with the area abandoned, she walked for 26 miles before finally taking shelter in an abandoned rangers cabin.

Her husband and son walked in the other direction until they received cell phone service and called for help. A team of searchers on snowmobiles found Klein curled up in a bed in the cabin. This is a Christmas miracle, said Jim Driscoll, chief Sheriffs deputy for Coconino County. We were really beginning to think, especially with the snow coming in  we pulled out all the stops.
Troubled Italian lender Monte dei Paschi remains solvent, a requirement for a government bailout under European Union rules, but its potential capital shortfall has widened to 8.8 billion ($9.2 billion).

The assessment from the European Central Bank, previously reported by news services including Reuters, was confirmed by Siena-based Monte dei Paschi in a statement on Monday. The regulator's report allows the lender to move forward with a "precautionary recapitalization," according to a person familiar with the matter. Such an infusion is meant to prevent a future shortfall rather than cover any previous or current losses.

Monte dei Paschi, the world's oldest bank and the third-largest in Italy, said its net liquidity has deteriorated rapidly in the three weeks through Dec. 21, dropping 36% to 7.7 billion. The lender confirmed Friday it had requested a bailout after financial markets snubbed its efforts to raise 5 billion ($5.22 billion) to bolster a balance sheet depleted by bad loans.

The announcement came moments after Italy's cabinet approved the emergency creation of a 20 billion fund to help distressed lenders, raising the prospect that the bank would be nationalized.

Monte dei Paschi said last week it had secured a 2 billion debt-for-equity swap as it worked to raise money from institutional investors, but the lender was unable to obtain the remaining 3 billion, in part due to political turmoil in Italy. Voters in the country had rejected constitutional reform early in the month, effectively forcing the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, one of the driving forces behind Italian bank restructuring.

The new caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, said Friday that the bailout of Monte dei Paschi would comply with European Union rules, and that bondholders would have to accept some losses to lighten the burden on Italy's taxpayers.

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 bondholders, many of them retail investors, 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 would be paid to the banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Mediobanca, that advised Monte dei Paschi on its fundraising efforts.

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Podgorica (Montenegro) (AFP) - Montenegro's prosecutors said Tuesday they have issued international arrest warrants for two Russian and three Serbian nationals suspected of planning an anti-government attack during October's parliamentary election.

The five are wanted for "setting up a criminal organisation and attempted terrorism," a statement from the prosecutor's office said.

A group of Serbians was arrested on the eve of Montenegro's October 16 polling day and accused of plotting to seize parliament.

Former premier Milo Djukanovic had accused his pro-Russian opposition rivals of being behind the plot, which he said included plans for his assassination.

Leaders of the opposition Democratic Front have repeatedly denied this, claiming the case was set up by the government.

A total of 18 Serbians and two Russians are suspected of planning the attack.

According to local media the warrants for the five were issued in early December.

Media identified one of the sought Serbians as Nemanja Ristic, who appeared in a photo standing near Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The picture was taken on December 12 during Lavrov's visit to Belgrade.

Montenegro's prosecutors made the announcement a day afer Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said he did not know whether Ristic figured on an Interpol wanted list.

He said Lavrov's safety had not been endangered at any moment.

Special prosecutor Milivoje Katnic said in November that two Russians still at large figured among the suspects, who wanted to stop Montenegro's imminent accession to NATO.

But he said there was no evidence of Russian authorities being involved.

Earlier this month one of the suspects struck a plea bargain with the prosecutor and a court gave him a six-month suspended term.

Serbia initially questioned the timing of the arrests, but Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic later said Belgrade had also detained people over "illegal activities".

Story continues

The Democratic Front openly calls for Montenegro to have closer ties with Russia and Serbia, and insists on a referendum on NATO membership.

Montenegro was invited to join the military alliance a year ago, but the decision is yet to be ratified by Podgorica and several member states.

Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists won the most seats in the election and cobbled together a coalition to rule.

The veteran leader remains head of the party and was succeeded as premier last month by his close ally Dusko Markovic.
MAPUTO (Reuters) - Mozambique's Renamo opposition party will cease all military operations against government forces for the next seven days to allow the public to enjoy New Year festivities, its leader Afonso Dhlakama said on Tuesday. Rights groups estimate that dozens of people have been killed this year in tit-for-tat attacks between Renamo fighters and the ruling Frelimo government. Renamo and Frelimo fought on opposing sides in a civil war from 1976 to 1992 in which a million people died. Mozambique is on the verge of developing huge offshore gas reserves which could transform one of the world's poorest countries into a middle-income state. Competition to control this newfound wealth could stir unrest, analysts say. I announce the provisional cessation of military hostilities across the country as from midnight Tuesday," Dhlakama, who is in hiding, told reporters by telephone. "I took the initiative, I called the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, and gave him the possibility to offer this provisional truce." Mediated peace talks collapsed earlier this month but Dhlakama said that he was willing to continue to dialogue with Nyusi following Monday's productive telephone call. Nyusi told reporters on Monday that he was "encouraged" by the conversation with Dhlakama and he described the provisional ceasefire as a "sign of hope for the whole country". Renamo has retained a militia since the end of the war and violence has intensified since Frelimo won a disputed election in 2014. Renamo is demanding that it control six provinces where it won the most votes and the inclusion of its militia in the army and police. Frelimo has said that Renamo must disarm before any agreements can be reached. (Reporting by Manuel Mucari; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
A video of Muslims and Jewish people dancing together at a Hanukkah celebration in Bahrain has been condemned by Hamas as a humiliating and disgraceful spectacle.

For the second year in a row, the Arab state hosted a candle-lighting ceremony marking the start of Hanukkah, Saturday. The event, hosted by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, was attended by a selection of Bahrains tiny Jewish population as well as Jews from France. Later, a video was posted to YouTube showing Jewish men in kippahs and Muslim men wearing keffiyehs dancing together.

That combination led to a furious reaction from the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas.

In light of the increasing pace of international sympathy for the Palestinian cause and the growing boycott of the Zionist movement in all forms, a group of dignitaries and traders in the State of Bahrain hosted a Zionist, racist and extremist Jewish delegation and danced with them in a humiliating and disgraceful spectacle, Hamas officials said in a statement, as reported by The Independent. Hamas calls on Bahrain to fully stop any form of normalization with the Zionist enemy.

Bahrain is the only Arab Gulf state that has a synagogue. It was also the first to appoint a Jewish ambassador, when Houda Nonoo was selected as the Bahraini ambassador to the United States in 2008. However, the Jewish population in the country of around 1.4 million people has shrunk to less than 50.

Speaking at the first Hanukkah event he hosted last year, King Al Khalifa said that it was vital to embrace religious tolerance and understanding.

The call to war against terror needs to come from the leaders of all the religions as one, he said. Here in Bahrain members of all the religions live with no fear, and we will continue to allow Jews to live peacefully and quietly, maintaining their lifestyle, their customs and the commandments of their religion without any fear.

Hamas condemnation of the video, which has been viewed nearly 42,000 times on YouTube, comes just days after it welcomed the passing of a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Banka and East Jerusalem. Israel has condemned the members of the UN Security Council who voted in favor of the resolution and the United States, which abstained.

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He dared the Congress leader to respond on the slew of scams that had rocked the previous UPA government.

By Brijesh Pandey: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today sought to turn up the heat on the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for leveling allegations of "personal corruption" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He dared the Congress leader to respond on the slew of scams that had rocked the previous UPA government.

RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD CHARGED THE CONGRESS:

Rahul Gandhi is making all kinds of baseless allegations. I challenge him that he should reply why didn't he speak on 2G, coal block allocation, Commonwealth Games, Adarsh and Dewas scams, Prasad told mediapersons.

The Union Minister alleged that Congress made efforts to influence the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe on 2G scam. "I was a member of JPC and I have no hesitation to say that effort was made to influence the JPC. Rahul never spoke on 2G, Adarsh, coal scams. Congress tried to influence the finding of that report," he said.

Prasad charged that Rahul was trying to defend the Swiss bank account holders because he knew that there is a bilateral agreement between India and Switzerland over information sharing.

The Minister also took Congress on for the perceived failure to unite the Opposition on demonetissation. He called it a "flop show" of Rahul and said instead of 16 parties only eight turned up. "And very soon Rahul will be crying alone. The bubble of Opposition unity has burst," he said.

He said the party which talked of corruption presented a comic picture. "2G coal scam, Fodder scam and Narda scamsters were asking us on demonitisation. Rahul and his party have been the biggest patrons of corruption," he said.

Prasad said demonitisation has been implemented to make the country honest. He claimed that the initiative has broken the back of terror and Maoist funding. "The country is with PM Narendra Modi and today's presser (of the Opposition) clearly shows who are rattled with this. Rahul should answer that corrupt people are being arrested every day is he afraid of that or what," he said.

He reiterated that demonitisation had given this nation a new light to honesty. The poor are most troubled with corruption. He said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was ready to speak in Parliament's Winter Session but the Opposition did not let him speak," he said.

The Minister said the bubble of unity which has pricked the Opposition will haunt Congress. "Earlier the Opposition would gang up against Congress and now Congress is ganging up against BJP. This shows that BJP has won," he said.

Prasad said every day was showing that Rahul Gandhi lacked maturity.

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--- ENDS ---
Searching for signs of life, or life's precursors, on the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa could spoil the hunt before it begins  which is why many scientists advocate going underground.

An ocean containing twice as much water as all of Earth's seas is thought to slosh beneath Europa's 10-to-15-mile-thick (15 to 25 kilometers) ice shell. For this reason, astrobiologists regard the 1,900-mile-wide (3,100 km) Jovian moon as one of the solar system's best bets to host extraterrestrial life.

Furthermore, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has spotted evidence of water-vapor plumes emanating from Europa's south polar region, suggesting that material from the ocean may fall back onto the moon's icy surface. [Europa May Harbor Simple Life-Forms (Video)]

That's an exciting prospect for NASA, which aims to put a lander on Europa in the 2020s to look for chemical evidence that the moon could support life. (NASA's Europa mission began as a flyby-only affair, but the U.S. Congress ordered the inclusion of a lander late last year.)

However, the very landing could complicate this search greatly. Firing thrusters to slow the spacecraft's descent "will be like hosing down the ground with ammonia, and this is a very inconvenient thing to do," said Ralph Lorenz, a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland.

It's inconvenient because ammonia contains nitrogen, he said. "Everything in our body has nitrogen," Lorenz told Space.com. "If you are interested in nitrogen as a prerequisite for life, then finding even traces of it at Europa is important, and so even a little thruster contamination matters a lot."

If such contamination were to occur, scientists would struggle to figure out if nitrogen detected at Europa was native or imported from Earth, he said.

In a study published in the journal Planetary and Space Science this past August, Lorenz found that putting a 440-lb. (200 kilograms) spacecraft down on Europa would disturb the surface out to 30 feet (9 meters) around the lander. He concluded this after studying images of past surface disturbances caused by spacecraft landings on Earth's moon and Mars.

Story continues

Scientists cannot assume that the Europa lander will be able to move away from such a contaminated site. NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has wheels, so it drove away from its Red Planet landing site back in 2012. But scientists know little about the hazards on Europa's surface, Lorenz said.

"The distribution of rocks could cause a lander to tip over, or it could fall into a crevasse," Lorenz said. "In space exploration, it's not good enough to speculate that this will work. Why throw 1 [billion] or 2 billion [dollars] into it?"

The issue of nitrogen contamination on Europa is more problematic than it is on Mars or Earth's moon because the Jovian satellite is much colder than these other worlds, Lorenz said. At its warmest, temperatures on Europa don't rise above minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 160 degrees Celsius). Under such frigid conditions, ammonia is more likely to stick to Europa's surface, allowing it to interact with other molecules and perhaps make a mess of observations, Lorenz said.

Other researchers think that sampling Europa's surface is important, but that the best samples lie deeper. "We have to go down, beneath the surface," said Britney Schmidt, a planetary scientist at the Georgia Institute of Technology who has worked on NASA's Europa lander mission concept.

This means drilling into Europa's ice. Schmidt thinks a mission needs to drill at least 4 inches (10 centimeters) down, to a place where the thrusters haven't contaminated the ice and space radiation hasn't destroyed biogenic molecules  the stuff necessary for life's processes to take place.

"If we get 10 centimeters, or a meter [about 3 feet], down, this area hasn't been blasted with the thrusters," Schmidt told Space.com. "Maybe a portion, but the confidence for getting a pristine sample goes up the further you go down."

The Europa lander won't just be looking for ammonia or nitrogen, stressed Peter Willis, a chemist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Still, he said, the Europa lander mission will take precautions; the lander will likely bore into the ice, Willis said. NASA also plans to employ the sky-crane landing method, which put Curiosity down on Mars, with the Europa craft, he added. After descending toward Europa, a hovering spacecraft will fire thrusters into the air to stay aloft while it uses a cord to lower the lander down to the surface. Then, it will let go. [How Curiosity's Sky Crane Landing Worked (Infographic)]

In such a case, "the spacecraft actually falls, but we hope not too far," Willis said.

Limiting the amount of Earthly organics being sprayed on Europa's surface will help NASA's quest to find extraterrestrial life  even if what researchers are looking for doesn't walk or swim, Schmidt said.

"People want us to drill into Europa and find a fish," she said. "But right now, this is not realistic; the hope is to land there and detect biogenic molecules, the molecules essential for life."

Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.

Editor's Recommendations
Except for a circle of trusted friends, family and colleagues whom I told at the time, Id kept mostly quiet about the incident. I had many good reasons to do so. And there was something else lingering at the back of my mind: Trump was known for viciously attacking womens looks when he didnt like them or when he wanted to intimidate them.

Id already spent years feeling ashamed and degraded by his actions and words and I didnt want to subject myself to any more humiliation, especially in front of the entire world.

Skip ahead one week, and thats exactly what happened.

A lot of thought  more than a decades worth  and many conversations with editors, my family and friends went into the decision. And also, so did my experience working on this book. Id been inspired by the hundreds of personal anecdotes Id read about women empowering themselves and not allowing other peoples limited, skewed conceptions of beauty interfere with how they thought about themselves. If our Curvy & Confident writers could be brave and bare their souls, so could I.

I stayed silent for a week after the story went online, hidden away in a hotel in New Jersey. My friends protected me, and my privacy. Meanwhile, I took comfort in the hundreds of supportive e-mails and online comments from women whose confidence has been shaken by similar experiences.

But Trump had challenged my credibility, so People decided to publish a follow-up story.

This meant I had to come out of hiding and pose for at least one photo. I felt self-conscious about it, but I agreed.

I met the photographer in a loft in Chelsea and we got to work. I tried not to think about the reality that millions of people would be scrutinizing this photo, including you-know-who. I tried to look good, I tried to look confident, and I held my head up high. As I did this, something surprisingly wonderful happened.

The People photographer saw it too.

Confidence! she yelled out. Yes!

I smiled. She was right. It felt good to overcome my fear and do the right thing. I would no longer let the words, opinions or actions of one person, any person, hurt me. I was serene, confident and empowered.

So go ahead, look at me.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - More than 3,000 people in northeast Nigeria who were forced to flee the seven-year insurgency waged by Islamist militants have returned to their hometown following the reopening of major roads in the area, the army said on Tuesday. Damasak - in the northwest of Borno, the state worst hit by the militants - was taken over by Boko Haram in late 2014, when it controlled an area the size of Belgium in northeast Nigeria. The insurgents were pushed out of the town by the army in July. President Muhammadu Buhari said on Saturday that the army had taken back Boko Haram's main camp in the Sambisa forest. On Sunday, the government said it was reopening two roads between Borno's capital, Maiduguri, and the northern towns of Damasak and Baga. Army spokesman Sani Usman said more than 3,000 people used one of the roads to return to Damasak on Monday. Reuters was unable to independently verify his statement. "They were residents of Damasak displaced by the insurgency staying as refugees in the neighboring Niger Republic and internally displaced people in Maiduguri," he said. Usman said the returnees went through military security checks when they arrived and were met by local government officials and community leaders. More than two million people have been displaced during the insurgency as Boko Haram tries to establish an Islamic state, run using a strict interpretation of sharia, in the northeast. About 15,000 people have been killed. After the announcement that the Sambisa camp had been taken, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, said the former game reserve would be used as a military training base to prevent the insurgents returning. Security analysts say Boko Haram split this year with one faction led by Abubakar Shekau operating from the Sambisa forest and the other, allied to Islamic State and led by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, based in the Lake Chad region. Despite having been pushed back by a military offensive in the last few months, Boko Haram still stages suicide bombings in northeast Nigeria and in neighboring Niger and Cameroon. (Reporting by Lanre Ola; Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja and Alexis Akwagyiram in Lagos; Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Nine residents of the Chinese "rebel" village of Wukan have been jailed for "disrupting social order" after September protests against officials turned violent, leading police to shut down the settlement and impose a media blackout.

Wukan, a 13,000-strong fishing village in the southern province of Guangdong, became a symbol of resistance against corruption after a mass uprising over allegedly illegal land grabs propelled it onto global front pages in 2011.

Last September local police detained 13 residents for "disturbing public order", a move that triggered mass protests in the village, including clashes with the police who quickly put the area on lockdown.

Now nine villagers have been jailed for between two and ten years for staging an unlawful assembly, parade and demonstration which "severely disrupted social order" and for disseminating false information, according to a statement posted Monday on the website of the People's Court of Haifeng.

"The circumstances were so serious that manufactures and business could not operate and severe losses were caused," the statement said.

Other charges included disturbing public transport and disrupting public services.

Several of the nine were among the 13 village residents detained in September.

The arrests and demonstrations that month followed the jailing of village chief Lin Zulian, who played a key role in the 2011 protests.

He was sentenced to three years in prison after confessing to accepting bribes worth some $590,000 yuan ($90,000), the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The 2011 protests in Wukan were initially seen as just another bout of social unrest in China, where tens of thousands of such incidents occur each year.

But when a protest leader died in police custody, residents stepped up their demonstrations, barricading roads into Wukan, and effectively expelling security forces for more than a week.

Communist Party authorities unexpectedly backed down and promised rare concessions, including pledges to investigate the land dispute and allow village polls to be held in an open manner -- with Lin the eventual winner.

But President Xi Jinping, who came to power as ruling party chief in 2012, has tightened social controls and cracked down on dissidents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he delivers joint statements with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Atef Safadi/Pool

Israel's government said Monday that it planned to approve the construction of nearly 6,000 new homes in the predominantly Palestinian eastern Jerusalem, with 600 settlements due to be approved Wednesday.

Deputy Mayor Meir Turgeman, the committee chairman responsible for planning the expansion, told the newspaper Israel Hayom that the settlement expansion would continue, in defiance of a UN Security Council resolution passed Friday calling on Israel to immediately halt the construction of new homes on Palestinian land.

"We remain unfazed by the UN vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem," Turgeman said. "I hope the Israeli government and the new US administration will support us, so we can make up for the lack [of support] during the eight years of the Obama administration."

The resolution has infuriated the Israelis and worsened the already chilly relations between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stemming most prominently from the US-led nuclear negotiations with Iran and Obama's longstanding opposition to Israel's settlement policy.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that it was "reducing" working ties with 12 of the UN Security Council countries that voted to pass the resolution, and Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting Sunday that he had "no doubt" the Obama administration colluded with the Palestinians behind Israel's back.

Netanyahu on Sunday summoned to Jerusalem 10 ambassadors from the UN Security Council nations that voted to pass the resolution to personally reprimand them. He also canceled a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May that had been scheduled on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos next month.

Obama Netanyahu

"Israel is a country with national pride, and we do not turn the other cheek," Netanyahu said, according to The New York Times. "This is a 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 UN is unacceptable to us."

Story continues

The resolution "condemned all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character, and status of the Palestinian territory, occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem."

Though Netanyahu lobbied the US to wield its veto power during the vote, it was never expected that Israel would abide by the terms of the resolution if it passed.

Netanyahu's office released a statement immediately after the vote passed, calling it "absurd" and saying Israel "looks forward" to working with the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump to "negate" the resolution's "harmful effects."

It is unclear what, if any, steps the international community will take to compel Israel to abide by the terms of the resolution, which requested the UN secretary-general "to report to the council every three months on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution."

Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki suggested that the resolution would allow the Palestinians to appeal to international legal bodies to hold Israel accountable for settlement expansion.

"Now we can talk about the boycott of all settlements, the companies that work with them, et cetera, and actually take legal action against them if they continue to work with them," he said, according to The Times.

He added: "We are looking to devise a comprehensive vision, and hopefully 2017 will be the year when the Israeli occupation ends."

NOW WATCH: 'Let it be an arms race': Trump doubles down on nuclear weapons tweet





More From Business Insider


A New York City woman punched and stabbed a transgender black man on Christmas after he offered her his seat on the subway. She refused adamantly, exclaiming, I dont want to sit next to black people, before stabbing him.

The incident occurred around 11:05 p.m. Sunday when the victim, 44-year-old DaVonte Jarrett, told 30-year-old Stephanie Pazmino that she could have his subway seat as the two were riding the train through the Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem.

Pazmino declined the offer and told her cousin in Spanish that she didnt care to sit next to a black person, Raw Story reported Monday.

Jarrett, who was on his way home from his job as a hair stylist in Bayonne, New Jersey, got up from his seat anyways after telling Pazmino she didnt have to sit next to him if she didnt want to. He then took a seat across from her, trying to forget about the incident. But when he got up to leave the train, she began punching him, Jarrett told the New York Daily News. He didnt even realize Pazmino had also stabbed him until another passenger stepped in to help. Pazmino had stabbed him in the arm with a two-inch knife while also slicing his face.

I ran to the ticket booth to ask the attendant to call the police, she stated that she did, and that I should sit down. And I passed out after that, Jarrett said.

Law enforcement authorities rushed Jarrett to a local hospital. He said he wasnt aware if Pazmino also went after him because he was transgender.

Police apprehended the assailant close to where the crime had occurred and charged her with a hate crime, reckless endangerment and weapons possession.

Sunday's incident was not the first hate crime charge in New York City this month. A public transit worker and an off-duty police officer were both the victims of hate crimes because they were Muslim.

A 45-year-old Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) employee originally from Egypt, Sosa Salama, was told, You are a terrorist and you shouldnt be working for the city before being pushed down a flight of stairs at Grand Central Station on Dec. 5. A week later, a man called off-duty NYPD Officer Aml Elsokary, who was wearing a hijab, an ISIS b***h. The man also threatened to slit her throat.

Story continues

There have been 701 incidents of hateful incidents of harassment reported across the country, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported last month.

Related Articles
Trump Tower was evacuated after police were called to Donald Trump's Manhattan headquarters to investigate a suspicious package on Tuesday.

The entire building was being evacuated around 4:30 p.m. as NYDP and FDNY came onto the scene, the NYPD told The Hollywood Reporter. Police discovered an unattended bag in the lobby and deemed the situation to be safe by 5:20 p.m.

"Suspicious package at Trump Tower has been examined by NYPD Bomb Squad. Deemed to be an unattended bag and safe," posted the NYPD from its official Twitter account.

Police later said the bag contained children's toys.

Suspicious package at Trump Tower has been examined by NYPD Bomb Squad. Deemed to be an unattended bag and safe. pic.twitter.com/0vcyDi8TMA

- NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) December 27, 2016

The news first surfaced on Twitter when witnesses took to the social media platform to say they were being told to leave the building. One witness said security was descending on the building and that it was being evacuated. Another posted a video showing people running out of the lobby as a guard yelled at them to exit.

The president-elect, who lives in the tower, is currently at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for the holidays.

@writefreedom09 pic.twitter.com/A0wAeibTFo

- Cielo (@cielo_celest) December 27, 2016

The amount of security Trump Tower has is insane. The whole block is being evacuated at the moment

- Cielo (@cielo_celest) December 27, 2016

They just made everybody clear Trump Tower.... wtf is going on

- Michiru Kaioh (@ANiceBreaseOut) December 27, 2016

As the situation was unfolding, Trump took to Twitter to again respond to President Barack Obama's claim that he would have won the 2016 election if he had been elligible to run.

"President Obama campaigned hard (and personally) in the very important swing states, and lost," tweeted Trump. "The voters wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

President Obama campaigned hard (and personally) in the very important swing states, and lost.The voters wanted to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016

Read more: Election Aftermath: Are Trump Tower Residents Fleeing?
By Jeff Mason PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe joined U.S. President Barack Obama for a symbolic joint visit to Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, commemorating World War Two dead and pledging that Japan would never wage war again. The visit, just weeks before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office, was meant to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance in the face of a rising China and amid concerns that Trump would have a more complicated relationship with Tokyo. Abe and Obama commemorated the dead at the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the remains of the sunken battleship. Abe became the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial, a centerpiece of the historic site. We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken, Abe said. To the souls of the servicemen who lie in eternal rest aboard the USS Arizona, to the American people, and to all the peoples around the world, I pledge that unwavering vow here as the prime minister of Japan, he said. Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor with torpedo planes, bombers and fighter planes on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, pounding the U.S. fleet moored there in the hope of destroying U.S. power in the Pacific. Abe did not apologize for the attack. Obama, who earlier this year became the first incumbent U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, where the United States dropped an atomic bomb in 1945, called Abe's visit a "historic gesture" that was "a reminder that even the deepest wounds of war can give way to friendship and a lasting peace." The two leaders stood solemnly in front of a wall inscribed with the names of those who died in the 1941 attack and they took part in a brief wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a moment of silence. "In Remembrance, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan" was written on one wreath and "In Remembrance, Barack Obama, President of the United States" on the other. They then threw flower petals into the water. After their remarks, both leaders greeted U.S. veterans who survived the attack. Japan hopes to present a strong alliance with the United States amid concerns about China's expanding military capability. The leaders' meeting was also meant to reinforce the U.S.-Japan partnership ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of Trump, whose opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact and campaign threat to force allied countries to pay more to host U.S. forces raised concerns among allies such as Japan. Abe met with Trump in New York in November and called him a "trustworthy leader." Obama called for a world without nuclear arms during his visit to Hiroshima. Trump last week called for the United States to "greatly strengthen and expand" its nuclear capability and reportedly welcomed an international arms race. (Reporting by Jeff Mason in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Linda Sieg in Tokyo; additional reporting by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Alistair Bell and Lisa Shumaker)
By Emily Stephenson

HONOLULU, Dec 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast on Monday that he would have won most Americans' support if he had been able to run against Donald Trump for a third term.

"No way!" Trump countered in a tweet, citing as liabilities U.S. companies taking jobs overseas, the fight against Islamic State militants and Obama's signature healthcare law.

Barred by the U.S. Constitution from seeking a third four-year-term, the president told his former adviser David Axelrod in a podcast that Americans would have backed Obama's vision.

"I'm confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it," Obama said, referring to his 2008 campaign message of hope and change.

A wealthy businessman, the Republican Trump will assume his first public office when he succeeds Obama on Jan. 20. He defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8 with a promise to clean up Washington.

In a tweet, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said Obama would have beaten Trump and Clinton would have won if not for an FBI statement shortly before the election disclosing new material on Clinton's email practices as secretary of state.

Clinton's aides have said FBI Director James Comey's announcement, which led to no charges, swung the election, a charge Trump's team has dismissed.

Obama said Clinton "performed wonderfully under really tough circumstances." He said she focused on Trump's flaws and could have argued more that the Democratic Party agenda helped working people.

Trump garnered more than 270 of the 538 state-by-state electoral votes to win the presidency. Clinton won 48.2 percent of the popular vote compared with 46.1 percent for Trump, according to the Associated Press.

(Reporting and writing by Emily Stephenson with Obama in Hawaii; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Howard Goller)
The Enforcement Directorate has found that a company - Rajeshwar Exports - has diverted money around Rs 700 crore to Hong Kong in the month of November.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: On Monday afternoon (December 26), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team conducted searches at five locations belonging to Rajeshwar Exports Pvt Ltd, a diamond import company, in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

By late evening, after seizure of some indiscriminating documents and recording statements of two company directors, ED officials were shocked to know that the case is having international ramifications.

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During its investigation, the ED found that Rajeshwar Exports has diverted money around Rs 700 crore to Hong Kong in the month of November.

THE MODUS OPERANDI

In the beginning, the department had information that in the name of importing diamonds and remitting the money back, Rajeshwar Exports and its subsidiaries had deposited around Rs 100-150 crore in various bank accounts, which needs to be examined. "But after searches, the ED team got to know that amount of Rs 700 crore has been diverted outside the country i.e. Hong Kong last month. It is a case of fake import remittance", a source from ED told Indiatoday.in

For the diversion of black money, at least 7-8 shell companies were created. Later, around 25 bank accounts were opened in various banks in India. "In November, money from these bogus companies started flowing into these bank accounts. Subsequently, with the help of multilayering, the entire money got diverted (RTGS) to an international bank accounts in Hong Kong," the source said.

COMPANY PAID SALARY TO TWO MEN TO POSE AS DIRECTORS

The agency recorded statements of two directors of Rajeshwar Exports - Prashant Vijay Pawar and Sujata Dhan Kumar Kharga - who were nothing but pawns in the hands of management. They were paid Rs 5000 per month to remain in that position. "The proxy owner of this company is still hiding", the source said.

WHOSE MONEY IS IT?

Now the bigger questions are: who's money were inserted in the banking channel, why money was diverted in Hong Kong and who is the ultimate beneficiary of this money outside India? In its probe, ED got to know that one Mumbai-based hawala agent has applied his mind to deposit the entire money in bank accounts and diverted it at one go.

"The hawala man is not the real owner of this money. The hawala agent was being used by paying him a good percentage of commission. The department is still trying to track down the real owner of this money," the ED official told Indiatoday.in.

As per the information available on Ministry of Corporate Affairs website, Rajeshwar Exports is a private company, incorporated on 06 May 2013. It is classified as non-government company and is registered in Mumbai. Its authorized share capital is Rs 2,500,000 and its paid up capital is Rs 100,000. It is into supporting/auxiliary transport activities and travel agencies business.

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"It is a small company, which has no capacity to deposit such a big amount by its own," the source said.

ALSO READ:

Demonetisation hits money laundering market in Delhi; only 5 per cent hawala survived note ban

ED perplexed with intercom facility at Zaveri Bazaar, crucial evidences still out of reach in hawala scam

--- ENDS ---
By Emily Stephenson HONOLULU (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said in an interview broadcast on Monday that he would have won most Americans' support if he had been able to run against Donald Trump for a third term. "No way!" Trump countered in a tweet, citing as liabilities U.S. companies taking jobs overseas, the fight against Islamic State militants and Obama's signature healthcare law. Barred by the U.S. Constitution from seeking a third four-year-term, the president told his former adviser David Axelrod in a podcast that Americans would have backed Obama's vision. "I'm confident that if I had run again and articulated it, I think I could've mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it," Obama said, referring to his 2008 campaign message of hope and change. A wealthy businessman, the Republican Trump will assume his first public office when he succeeds Obama on Jan. 20. He defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton on Nov. 8 with a promise to clean up Washington. In a tweet, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said Obama would have beaten Trump and Clinton would have won if not for an FBI statement shortly before the election disclosing new material on Clinton's email practices as secretary of state. Clinton's aides have said FBI Director James Comey's announcement, which led to no charges, swung the election, a charge Trump's team has dismissed. Obama said Clinton "performed wonderfully under really tough circumstances." He said she focused on Trump's flaws and could have argued more that the Democratic Party agenda helped working people. Trump garnered more than 270 of the 538 state-by-state electoral votes to win the presidency. Clinton won 48.2 percent of the popular vote compared with 46.1 percent for Trump, according to the Associated Press. (Reporting and writing by Emily Stephenson with Obama in Hawaii; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Howard Goller)
It was a week where oil prices marked its highest close since July 2015 and natural gas futures surged on cold weather.

On the news front, American energy giant Chevron Corp. CVX decided to unload its geothermal fields in Indonesia and the Philippines, while Brazils Petrobras PBR is selling $2.2 billion in upstream and downstream assets to Frances TOTAL SA TOT.

Overall, it was a good week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures edged up 0.1% to close at $53.02 per barrel, while natural gas prices jumped 7.2% to $3.3320 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: ExxonMobil's CEO Transition, BP's Oil Deal and More.)

Oil prices ticked modestly higher to settle at a 52-week high as traders and analysts grow more confidant that producers will adhere to their agreed output cut quotas, which will reduce the global inventory glut next year. However, the potential return of supply from Libya, an unexpected build in U.S. crude inventories and a burgeoning rig count kept prices in check.

Oils-Energy Sector 5YR % Return

Oils-Energy Sector 5YR % Return

Meanwhile, natural gas turned sharply higher following a bigger-than-expected withdrawal. The commodity was further buoyed by the ongoing cold snap that translates into strong demand for the heating fuel.

Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories

1. U.S. energy behemoth Chevron Corp. reported that its wholly-owned affiliates have signed an agreement to divest its Indonesian and Philippines Geothermal assets  earlier valued at $3 billion  to Star Energy Consortium.

Chevron, which first began its geothermal operations in the 1960s, has a 40% interest in the Philippine Geothermal Production Company. This company operates the Tiwi and Mak-Ban geothermal power plants in Southern Luzon that provide steam to power plants and are capable of generating 692 megawatts of power. The Darajat and Salak fields in Indonesia  founded by Chevron in the 1980s  have a combined operating capacity of 647 megawatts.

Story continues

The geothermal asset sales are part of Chevrons efforts to shore up its financial condition amid weak commodity prices. The company has already sold assets worth $2.2 billion as of the end of the third quarter and is on track to attain its goal of maximizing the value of its upstream businesses by managing its portfolio effectively.

2. Brazil's state-run energy giant Petrobras entered into an agreement with Frances TOTAL SA to divest assets worth $2.2 billion. The divestment includes stakes in oilfields and two thermal power stations.

Per the agreement, Petrobras will receive cash of $1.6 billion post the closure of the deal. The remaining amount will be received over the length of the partnership with TOTAL. Moreover, the agreement gives Petrobras an option to buy a stake in a Gulf of Mexico field owned by TOTAL and ExxonMobil Corp.

The divestment plan is in sync with Petrobras efforts to lower its huge debt burden. In fact, the company is the most indebted in the world with a debt of $122.65 billion at the end of third-quarter 2016. As a result, Petrobras intends to divest assets worth as much as $15.1 billion over 20152016 and another $19.5 billion over 20172018. Through these initiatives, the company expects to achieve a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 2.5 times in 2018 as against 5.3 times at year-end 2015. (Read more: Petrobras and TOTAL Sign Asset Sale Deal Worth $2.2B.)

3. Independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company Anadarko Petroleum Corp. APC announced that it has agreed to sell its operated and non-operated upstream assets and operated midstream assets in Marcellus Shale in north-central Pennsylvania to Alta Marcellus Development, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alta Resources Development, LLC, for nearly $1.24 billion.

The divestiture covers nearly 195,000 net acres, which had generated sales volumes of 469 million cubic feet per day in the third quarter of 2016. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017, subject to necessary approvals.

To focus on high-return assets and improve capital efficiency, Anadarko has been systematically selling its non-core properties since 2004. Keeping with this, year to date, the company has announced or closed monetization in excess of $5 billion.

The divestment of these assets will allow Anadarko to focus on its oil-levered assets in the Delaware and Denver-Julesburg (DJ) basins. (Read more: Anadarko to Sell Marcellus Shale Assets to Alta Resources Unit.)

4. Energy explorer Chesapeake Energy Corp. CHK inked an agreement to divest a portion of its acreage to an affiliate of Covey Park Energy LLC for about $465 million.

The assets to be divested include producing properties in its Haynesville Shale operating area in northern Louisiana, which span across a net acreage of 41,500 and comprise 326 operated and non-operated wells that currently produce about 50 million cubic feet (mmcf) of gas per day, net to Chesapeake. The transaction is anticipated to close in the first quarter of 2017.

We note that the company has exceeded its 2016 asset divestment target by about $500 million, which brings the total gross proceeds from divestitures to about $2.5 billion. Chesapeake intends to continue its pursuit of strengthening its balance sheet and the Haynesville asset divestment is in sync with its strategy. (Read more: Chesapeake to Sell Haynesville Assets for $465 Million.)

5. Schlumberger Ltd. SLB recently declared that it has inked two accords with Transocean Ltd. RIG to provide services for pressure control equipment management over a period of ten years. The value of the deals is estimated at more than $350 million. Transocean currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Per the first agreement, Schlumberger will handle Transoceans Cameron risers in the Gulf of Mexico. The contact also comprises activities like storage, maintenance, inspection, repair, recertification and data-driven riser management of rigs.

According to the second deal, Schlumberger will give solutions for the maintenance of blowout preventer systems and associated pressure control equipment for nine ultra-deepwater rigs -- capable of drilling in harsh environments -- of Transocean.

Schlumberger believes that the agreements will likely improve the uptime of pressure control equipment. The accords will also lower the total cost of ownership for offshore equipment. (Read more: Schlumberger Inks Twin Agreements with Transocean.)

Price Performance

The following table shows the price movement of some the major oil and gas players over the past week and during the last 6 months.

Company Last Week Last 6 Months XOM -0.50% +1.48% CVX +2.07% +16.21% COP -0.83% +18.99% OXY +3.19% -4.20% SLB +1.14% +11.54% RIG +1.17% +30.70% VLO +3.76% +31.20% TSO +0.83% +20.82%

Over the course of last week, The Energy Select Sector SPDR was down 0.07%. The worst performer was Houston, TX-based energy explorer ConocoPhillips whose stock price fell 0.83%.

But longer-term, over the last 6 months, the sector tracker has gained 14.74%. Downstream operator Valero Energy Corp. was one of the major beneficiaries during this period, experiencing a 31.20% price increase.

Whats Next in the Energy World?

In this holiday-shortened week, market participants will be closely tracking the regular releases i.e. the U.S. government data on oil and natural gas. Energy traders will also be focusing on the Baker Hughes data on rig count.

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Investors in Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ANTH need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the January 20th, 2017 $1 Put had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.

What is Implied Volatility?

Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mean there is an event coming up soon that may cause a big rally or a huge sell off. However, implied volatility is only one piece of the puzzle when putting together an options trading strategy.

What do the Analysts Think?

Clearly, options traders are pricing in a big move for Anthera Pharmaceuticals shares, but what is the fundamental picture for the company? Currently, Anthera Pharmaceuticals is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) in the Medical-Biomedical and Genetics industry that ranks in the Top 26% of our Zacks Industry Rank. Over the last 60 days, no analyst has increased their earnings estimates for the current quarter, while two analysts have revised the estimate downward. The net effect has taken our Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current quarter from loss of 37 cents per share to loss of 41 cents in that period.

Given the way analysts feel about Anthera Pharmaceuticals right now, this huge implied volatility could mean theres a trade developing. Often times, options traders look for options with high levels of implied volatility to sell premium. This is a strategy many seasoned traders use because it captures decay. At expiration, the hope for these traders is that the underlying stock does not move as much as originally expected.

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Each week, our very own Dave Bartosiak gives his top options trades. Check out his recent live analysis and options trade for the LULU earnings report completely free. See it here: Bartosiak: Trading Lululemon (LULU) Earnings with Options or check out the embedded video below for more details:

Story continues



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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  A Christmas Day shooting that left a woman dead triggered a car chase and gunbattle in suburban Portland that critically wounded an Oregon State Police officer and killed the slaying suspect, who had a troubled home life, authorities and court records said.

Trooper Nic Cederberg, 32, an Army veteran who has been with the department for seven years, underwent surgery Monday and remains in critical condition, state police said on their Facebook page.

The incident began when police in King City found the woman's body after responding to a call about shots being fired late Sunday, Washington County sheriff's Sgt. David Thompson said.

The suspect, James Tylka, 30, was seen driving away and officers pursued him, police said. The chase ended with an exchange of gunfire about 20 miles south of Portland.

Authorities did not release other information about the chase and shootout, except that officers from three police departments were involved and have been placed on paid administrative leave, a routine move.

But details emerged about Tylka's problems at home. He was locked in a protracted dispute with his former wife over custody of their son and child support payments, according to court records.

Social media and court records indicate he was married to Kate Armand and that the couple had a baby girl.

Tylka posted a photo on Facebook early this month of the couple kissing in happier times and commented: "We aren't divorced." Someone responded that she hoped they work things out.

Police have not released the name of the woman he is believed to have killed, but Megan Armand told media outlets that the victim was her sister, Kate.

"We are still in shock and devastated from last night's events," she said in a statement. "My heart is broken from the loss of my only sister. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the wounded OSP Officer and his family."

Several Facebook posts by Kate Armand's friends expressed grief, describing her as a good person and an amazing mother to the nearly 1-year-old girl.

Story continues

Tylka updated his Facebook profile photo shortly before his death, displaying a picture of the couple. He also updated his cover photo, showing his two children, a boy and a baby daughter.

Tylka's ex-wife, Sabrina Starks, had filed for immediate temporary custody of their son in September, saying the boy was in danger of potential abuse. She said Tylka spoke about suicide in September 2015, drawing a call to police, before leaving town for four months.

Starks wrote in the custody request that they agreed to joint custody in May 2016 but he had been acting irrationally, impulsively and aggressively, constantly pressuring the boy for updates about what she was doing.

She said the boy was crying when she picked him up on Sept. 5 and that he told her Tylka yelled at him and a grandmother.

"I asked him what he meant. (The boy) stated, 'If I don't tell Daddy what you do, he yells at me and sends me to the corner. I told him no, and he yells until I tell him,'" she wrote.

A judge denied Starks' request for immediate temporary custody. They divorced in April 2011, court records say, but it's not clear when Tylka married Kate Armand. Starks mentioned the marriage in her custody request, however.

Mike Rowe, a spokesman for the police department in nearby city of Beaverton, said Tylka was a cadet there between 2004 and 2006. Rowe said he does not know why Tylka left the program.

Earlier this month, an auto dealer filed a small claim against Tylka, saying he owes $450 for a down payment of a vehicle.

____

Follow Steven DuBois at twitter.com/pdxdub
(RAMALLAH, West Bank)  The Palestinian president said Tuesday that he hopes an upcoming Mideast conference in France will set a timetable for independence after the U.N. delivered a harsh rebuke over the construction of Israeli settlements in lands claimed by the Palestinians.

Israel is meanwhile advancing plans for thousands of new homes in east Jerusalem despite the U.N. Security Council resolution. The Palestinians want to make that part of the city their future capital.

The United States broke with past practice and allowed the Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a flagrant violation of international law.

The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation  and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month, President Mahmoud Abbas said early Tuesday in his first public remarks since the U.N. vote.

We hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation, Abbas told a meeting of his Fatah party. The (resolution) proves that the world rejects the settlements, as they are illegal.

On Jan. 15, days before President Barack Obama leaves office, France is expected to host a conference where dozens of countries may endorse an international framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes such a move, saying it would undermine the negotiating process.

Netanyahu has repeatedly called on Abbas to meet for direct talks without preconditions. Abbas has refused unless Israel first ends settlement construction.

The Palestinians claim the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians, as parts of their future state. Israel says settlements, along with other core issues like security, should be agreed upon in direct talks.

Story continues

Despite the U.N. resolution condemning settlements, Jerusalem Municipality is set to approve thousands of new housing units in the eastern sector of the city this week. The Jerusalem District Zoning Committee is convening Wednesday to discuss approving fresh construction in that part of the city, the pro-Netanyahu daily Israel Hayom reported.

We remain unfazed by the U.N. vote, or by any other entity that tries to dictate what we do in Jerusalem, Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Meir Turgeman, who heads the zoning committee, told the paper this week. I hope the Israeli government and the new U.S. administration will support us, so we can make up for the lack (of construction) during the eight years of the Obama administration.

Netanyahu was outraged by the U.N. Security Council resolution and has declared a number of steps in response to the measure, which passed 14-0 with an American abstention.

Israel summoned ambassadors from council members, including the U.S., to protest. Netanyahu is recalling his nations ambassadors to New Zealand and Senegal for consultations and canceling a planned January visit to Israel by Senegals foreign minister. He also ended Israeli aid programs to the African country.
Panama City (AFP) - Panamanian prosecutors headed to the United States on Tuesday seeking information on the alleged payment of bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to officials of the Central American country.

The Panama attorney general's office said investigators are looking to "obtain details of alleged acts of bribery and use of financial institutions in Panama."

The US Justice Department recently reported that Odebrecht had paid bribes worth hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain contracts in nine Latin American countries.

It said the construction company paid more than $59 million in bribes to Panama between 2010 and 2014 to obtain contracts valued at $175 million.

Two sons of former president Ricardo Martinelli have denied Brazilian newspaper reports that they had received $6 million intended as a bribe for their father from Odebrecht.

The brothers, Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, said they reserved the right to take legal action against those responsible for the alleged media campaign against them, adding that they could not allow their honor "to be tarnished by special interests."

Martinelli lives in voluntary exile in Miami. The Panamanian government has requested his extradition on allegations of espionage and corruption.
At least 23 were killed, and 45 people were treated for poisoning after drinking the moonshine in the town of Toba Tek Singh in Pakistan.

By Reuters: A toxic homemade Christmas liquor killed at least 23 people, mostly from Pakistan's Christian minority community, and made dozens sick, police said today.

At least 45 people were treated for poisoning after drinking the moonshine in the town of Toba Tek Singh, Punjab province, about 315 km (195 miles) south of Islamabad.

"The maker and supplier of the toxic liquor is also included among the dead," senior police official Bilal Kamyana said. "The maker prepared liquor at home and sold it in polythene bags for 500 rupees (about $5) each."

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Deaths from tainted liquor, often home-brewed, occur periodically in Muslim-majority Pakistan, often around religious festivals. In March, at least 40 people, mostly Hindus, died after drinking toxic liquor days ahead of the festival of Holi.

It is illegal for Muslims to buy or consume alcohol in the country, and minorities need permits to buy it in restricted quantities.

Christians make up about 1.6 percent of Pakistan's 190 million people, with most living in Punjab.

--- ENDS ---
A 40-year-old mother in Shrewsbury Township, Pennsylvania, fatally suffocated her 12-month-old son before taking her own life. Police said they found the two dead alongside each other Monday afternoon while performing a welfare check.

Sheri Shermeyers body was discovered with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on her bed, reports said Tuesday. Shermeyer suffocated her son John, police said.

A seven-paragraph Facebook post, apparently directed toward the boys father and containing the words, You will never see your son again, reportedly was uploaded onto Shermeyers profile page 90 minutes before police discovered the two corpses. The suicide note suggests she had been coping with depression and relationship issues as it called the father a nasty man and asked him, Why should you have your name carried on?

I have been slowly dying inside. I'm confused, just torn down, hardly ever go out in public anymore, don't socialize with people, I've become a hermit, the post reads. I feel that the only thing I have to live for is this little guy asleep in my arms right now, John.  And even now, all I can think about is leaving this world  putting a gun in my mouth and leaving, which is what is going to happen.

The disturbing post had been shared 410 times and received 236 comments as of Tuesday afternoon, many of which offered support for the family while condemning the mother.

A coroner was dispatched to the home in York County, Pennsylvania, roughly 110 miles west of Philadelphia, around 2 p.m. Tuesday.

A comment left by Cindy Richard, the director of the York County Suicide Prevention Coalition, offered support for anyone in the community who may be upset by the horrible news.

Shermeyers death is being investigated as a suicide while the infant's is a homicide. The autopsies on the bodies were scheduled to be performed at a local hospital Wednesday.

Story continues

Roughly 20 percent of injury-related deaths among babies younger than 1 in the U.S. were attributed to homicides, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Infants were more likely to be killed by their mothers during the first week of their lives but by a male figure, whether it be the stepfather or the biological one, anytime afterward, childtrends.com said.

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Star Wars fans are mourning the death of actor Carrie Fisher by posting pictures on Twitter of their daughters dressed like Princess Leia.

Fisher, who died at the age of 60 on Tuesday, rose to fame in the role of Princess Leia in the original trilogy. The role won her the adoration of legions of fans, both male and female, who admired the beautiful and independent rebellion fighter she played.

Parents who looked up to Fishers character as children took to social media on Tuesday to post pictures of their daughters dressed as Princess Leia in white robes and braided hair, a costume she wore during the first three movies.

In honor of Carrie post pics of you or your feisty daughters dressed up like Princess Leia. I want to see em all. I'll start. #CarrieFisher pic.twitter.com/1u63OHRWir  Single Mom Survives (@SnglMomSurvives) December 27, 2016

Parents praised Fisher, and her character, for serving as a role model for themselves and their children:

Thanks for inspiring young girls like me @carrieffisher . You will be missed so much  pic.twitter.com/fV38tRD7GK  sassy sableye (@regressoms) December 27, 2016

My daughter was not into Disney Princesses or anything like that. But she did and does love Princess Leia. Her Princess Leia hair when young pic.twitter.com/V98Ikt4WyK  Diana (@dianaallen) December 27, 2016

One father recalled the young crush he had on Fishers Princess Leia:

Story continues

RIP Princess Leia. The first person I ever had a crush on. Here is my daughter dressed up like her pic.twitter.com/B8Vi33WRaF  Once A Runner (@coopercoach) December 27, 2016

Another mom dug into her photo archives to post a picture of her younger self dressed as Princess Leia:
HOBART, Australia (AP)  Supermaxi Perpetual Loyal has taken line honors in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race with its winning time nearly five hours faster than the previous record.

Skippered by Anthony Bell, Perpetual Loyal crossed the finish line at Constitution Dock in Hobart around 2:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday to complete the 630-nautical-mile race in 1 day, 13 hours, 31 minutes, 20 seconds.

That shattered the race record, set in 2012 by rival supermaxi Wild Oats XI, by 4 hours, 51 minutes, 52 seconds.

Wild Oats XI had been leading the race and was on target to take line honors for the ninth time when it suffered a hydraulic failure on Tuesday and was forced to withdraw.

Perpetual Loyal inherited a comfortable lead, making up for its misfortunes of the last two years when it had to quit the race. In 2015 it was forced out with rudder damage and, in 2014, it withdrew after striking a submerged object.

This year it was able to take full advantage of favorable wind conditions which propelled the 88-boat fleet at a record pace.

"We got a good set of weather conditions," Bell said. "Sometimes you just need a little bit of luck and we've certainly had our fair share of bad luck, so I was entitled to ask the forecasters for that."

Bell said he was immediately aware of the misfortune that struck Wild Oats XI and handed Perpetual Loyal the race lead. The failure of a hydraulic ram affected the movement of the yacht's keel and forced it to pull out of the race and head for the port of Eden.

"We saw the boat tilt right over, we saw them come to a sudden stop," Bell said. "Our first worry was that it might have lost a crew member overboard.

"We radioed them and said, 'Hey if you're in trouble we're prepared to stop the race and go over and help the guys' but the fortunate thing is no one got hurt."

Wild Oats arrived safely in Eden late Tuesday night.

Owner Sandy Oatley, who was not aboard, was shocked the yacht was forced out of the race for the second straight year.

Story continues

"Last year we tore the mainsail and we've done a lot of preparation and training in that regard and the boys were very happy with that," Oatley said. "This hydraulic failure has come out of left field."

The 70-foot New Zealand yacht Giacomo, skippered by Jim Delegat and whose teenage sons Nikolas and James were among the 14-man crew, crossed the line two hours after Perpetual Loyal to take second place.

Giacomo completed the race in 1 day, 15 hours, 27 minutes, 5 seconds, just a few minutes ahead of the Hong Kong-based supermaxi Scallywag. All three top finishers were under the 2012 record.

"This type of yachting is a boyhood dream come true," Delegat said. "The key really is we picked a good plan, a good strategy."

Bell said following the race that he wouldn't defend his title next year, preferring to sell Perpetual Loyal and move on to other sailing challenges.

"We called last shots for the boat last year, we said 'this is going to be our last trip to Hobart' and we didn't make it to Hobart so we thought we should come back," Bell said. "This boat is a great boat and it needs the next owner, someone to pick it up and jump into it with passion and enthusiasm."
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine authorities said Tuesday that anti-narcotics operations have led to the arrest of 10 suspects, including three Chinese nationals, and the seizure of nearly 1 metric ton of methamphetamine, the country's biggest drug haul ever.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the 890 kilograms (1,962 pounds) of methamphetamine seized in raids this month has a street value of around 6 billion pesos ($120 million).

The National Bureau of Investigation filed criminal complaints before the Justice Department on Tuesday against three Chinese and three Filipino suspects arrested Friday in almost simultaneous raids in San Juan city in eastern metropolitan Manila in which 600 kilograms (1,323 pounds) of methamphetamine was seized from a car and a nearby house.

"This is the biggest bust by any enforcement agency," Aguirre said.

The bureau said the series of raids followed months of surveillance after receiving intelligence information in September on a Chinese group involved in the manufacture and distribution of drugs in metropolitan Manila.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been waging a brutal crackdown against illegal drugs since he took office in June. More than 6,000 suspected drug users and dealers have been killed, alarming U.S. and U.N. officials and human rights advocates.

Duterte said in a speech Tuesday that he would work until the last drug dealer is off the streets and the last drug lord is killed. "I will really kill you, you sons of bitches," he said.

He said the suspects arrested Friday in San Juan were lucky that he was not in Manila at the time, because "if the (methamphetamine) is that much in a house, I will really kill you, let's not resort to any drama, I will shoot you myself if there's no one else to do the shooting."
27 Dec - Now that she is closer to giving up her Miss Universe crown to her successor, Pia Wurtzbach has been reminiscing the time when she won the 2015 Miss Universe title.



Sharing several photos from the pageant held in Las Vegas back in December last year, Wurtzbach stated that she was ready to make her childhood dreams come true when she came into the competition.



In a post of a photo from her swimsuit segment, she wrote, "Let me tell you, it wasn't cool to be the 9th country called during top 10! I was dying in anticipation. My heart was pounding and I remember thinking "How am I ever gonna get the chance to do final question if I don't pass the swimsuit competition first!" [But] all the [hard work] paid off as I got into top 10 and eventually finding out that I actually ranked pretty well for this round."



"Thank God for my trainers," she added.



In another post, she shared a photo of herself wearing the now famous Albert Andrada's blue gown, and said that she had been planning for a while to show a Filipino made gown on the Miss Universe stage.



"Basically this blue [Albert Andrada] gown almost didn't make it in time for the final night because of flight [cancellations] due to bad weather in Manila. But to the rescue was another Filipino designer who is based in LA, [Oliver Tolentino]. He lent me his beautiful red gown that I wore for the preliminary competition. [...] But then this blue gown finally makes it 2 days before the final night," she wrote.



In another post, Wurtzbach shared her thoughts about the moments before she made into the top three.



Wurtzbach wrote, "I just wanted to hear Steve Harvey say "Philippines!" so badly. And I remember singing this song in my head to help me calm down, "Hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?" And so Steve did as I advance to top 3!"



"Who else was nervous when I was last to be called for the final round?" she asked.



She ended the throwback with a photo of her with the coveted crown, and wrote, "42 years of drought and now it finally reigns. A year ago, I was blessed with this title. I know that most of you feel like the year has gone by so quickly but it's actually the opposite for me. My year as Miss Universe felt longer than that."



"Without sounding too corny, I think it's because so much happened. It's filled with memories for a lifetime. The best ones are the life lessons I learned the hard way," she added.



(Photo Source: Pia Wurtzbach Instagram)
Police used water cannon and arrested protesters in Santiago, Chile, on December 26, who were calling for the release of a Mapuche spiritual leader, Machi Francisca Linconao, and demanding information about her health.

Linconao was detained in March, along with 10 others, on charges on arson relating to a fire in January, 2013, that led to the deaths of two major landlords, TeleSur reported. Her supporters say the evidence against her is suspect, and that her arrest is part of a government campaign to oppress the Mapuche people and deny them territorial rights.

Linconao began a hunger strike on December 23, according to Chilean reports, and her health was believed to be in decline.

Marchers in Santiago said police were heavy-handed and repressive in their response to the protesters, attempting to block the route of their march, as this video shows.

The protesters tried to enter the Ministry for Women and Gender Equality to demand information about Linconao, but were pushed back by police. Several people were arrested, according to both protesters and Chilean media. The video here shows people being taken away in a police vehicle, while others argue with police against the arrests. Credit: Facebook/Fran Orellana via Storyful
WASHINGTON (AP)  Police say a Washington, D.C., woman missing since Christmas has been found dead.

Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham said at a news conference Tuesday morning that 46-year-old Tricia McCauley was found dead in her car. Police have a suspect in custody. He says there were signs of trauma to McCauley's body.

Newsham says McCauley was last seen alive on Sunday afternoon. Media outlets report that the yoga teacher missed a Christmas dinner with friends on Sunday and then missed a flight to visit family on Monday.

Newsham says the suspect was linked to her car after a theft at a CVS on Monday. He was arrested after McCauley's car was spotted early Tuesday.

Newsham says police expect to identify the suspect Tuesday afternoon.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the security at the airport, has issued these new guidelines.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: In an effort to boost security, the airport employees across the country will have to carry Aadhaar cards to work along with their airport entry pass (AEP), from January 1.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the security at the airport, has issued these new guidelines.

This comes in the backdrop of series of meetings between the BCAS and CISF, where discussions were held to plug in any possible loopholes.

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Employees working at the airports are issued AEP every year:

1. This POS is used extensively by private, contractual, government employees but this is mostly a concern with private employees that Aadhar card is seen as essential and robust part of security system.

2. Sources said, in view of the cases of forged AEPs, the security agencies have asked the staff to carry Aadhaar cards as well.

3. "Since, almost every citizen now has an Aadhaar card, we will make it mandatory for them to carry it. Besides the Aadhar also has biometric details of the individual. This will be an additional security feature," DG CISF OP Singh told India today.

4. The CISF is responsible for security at the airports while the BCAS frames security rules.

5. There have been some cases where fake AEPs were detected.

6. In a recent case, a private employee with AEP was caught in a case involving money.

7. The CISF officials privy to the meeting said that it is a belief now that most people possess an Aadhar card and even in case of frauds, the onus will lie with the individual and there is possibility of immediate detection, so the suggestion by the guarding forces was accepted and has been communicated to all regional directors of the BCAS in the country.

Also read: Disaster averted at Delhi airport as Indigo, SpiceJet aircraft come face-to-face

--- ENDS ---
The time has come: you can finally soar alongside Tony Stark as he battles the forces of evil at Hong Kong Disneyland.

The Lantau Island-based theme park is set to officially debut its long-gestating Iron Man Experience ride on Jan. 11, though industry bloggers with Theme Park Review were invited to board the new attraction as its first public riders on Christmas Day as part of the projects soft opening phase, capturing a thrilling POV video of the ride in motion.

Utilizing a similar ride system found on the classic Disney attraction Star Tours, Iron Man Experience invites guests on a simulator-style journey with the titular superhero as he battles against Hydra to save the city of Hong Kong. Before boarding a 44-person Iron Wing vehicle, visitors navigate through the Stark Expo, where the latest products from Stark Industries  including several Iron Man props  are on display.

The Iron Man Experience marks the first opening in a $1.4 billion multi-year expansion planned for the 11-year-old park. Future installments, set to open between 2018 and 2013, include a large Avengers-themed ride, an amusement land based on the Arendelle region from the animated hit Frozen, a live-action show featuring characters from Moana, and large-scale renovations to the parks Sleeping Beauty Castle set to increase its overall size.

Stateside, the world of Marvel is set to take over the Disneyland Resorts Tower of Terror ride in 2017, when the classic drop-tower attraction will undergo a lengthy rehab beginning Jan. 2, reopening later in the year with a Guardians of the Galaxy theme under the name Mission: Breakout.

Check out the full POV video of Hong Kong Disneylands Iron Man Experience ride above.
President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a historic trip to Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, marking the first time a sitting Japanese leader visited the site of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that killed more than 2,300 people and drew America into World War II.

After participating in a wreath-laying ceremony aboard the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the two leaders delivered remarks at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The prime minister extended sincere and everlasting condolences to the U.S. service members who were killed in his countrys attack on Pearl Harbor, but stopped short of apologizing for the bombings, the Associated Press reported.

Abe paid homage to the brave men and women who were killed in the attack and said, We must never repeat the horrors of war again.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

It is my wish that our Japanese children, and President Obama, your American children, and indeed their children and grandchildren, and people all around the world, will continue to remember Pearl Harbor as the symbol of reconciliation, Abe said. We will spare no efforts to continue our endeavors to make that wish a reality. Together with President Obama, I hereby make my steadfast pledge.

The prime minister added that showing respect  even to a former enemy  represents the spirit of tolerance that Americans celebrate.

Obama said in his remarks that Abes visit to Pearl Harbor is a historic gesture that shows the power of reconciliation, while also noting that the alliance between the U.S. and Japan has never been stronger.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

The United States and Japan chose friendship and they chose peace. Over the decades, our alliances have made the nations more successful, Obama said. Today, the alliance between the United States and Japan, bound not only by shared interests but also rooted in common values, stands as the cornerstone of peace and civility in the Asian-Pacific and a force for progress around the globe, our alliance has never been stronger. In good times and in bad were there for each other.

Story continues

The president also paid tribute to Pearl Harbor survivors in the audience and said the nation salutes them.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

Obama and Abe met Tuesday morning at Camp H.M. Smith, a U.S. Marine Corps installation on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, before traveling on to Pearl Harbor. There they boarded the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, where they took part in a wreath-laying ceremony honoring those who were killed at the site.

The two leaders paused and bowed their heads in front of two wreaths made of peace lilies in the memorials shrine room, which has the names of American service members killed in the attack printed on the walls. They then walked out onto the well area of the memorial and dropped purple flowers into the water, according to pool reports.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

After the ceremony, Obama and Abe delivered remarks at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, on a pier overlooking Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.

The White House said in a statement Monday evening that the meeting will be an opportunity for the two leaders to review our joint efforts over the past four years to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, including our close cooperation on a number of security, economic, and global challenges.

The two leaders visit will showcase the power of reconciliation that has turned former adversaries into the closest of allies, united by common interests and shared values, the White House also said.

The symbolic visit comes amid Obamas family vacation in Hawaii, and seven months after the presidents trip to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb in 1945. The president stopped short of apologizing for the bombings during his visit, instead using it as an opportunity to reflect on the tragedies and human toll of war.

RELATED VIDEO: President Obamas Powerful Message to PEOPLE Readers: This Election Should Not Negate All the Progress Thats Been Made

We have known the agony of war. Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons, Obama wrote in the guest book at Hiroshima Peace Park.

Officials said Abe would likewise not apologize for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during his Tuesday visit. He previously told reporters that the visit, which took place shortly after the 75th anniversary of the bombings, was intended to console the souls of the victims.

I would like to show to the world the resolve that horrors of war should never be repeated, Abe said. Our talks in Hawaii will be a chance to show the rest of the world our ever-stronger alliance in the future.




Dec 27 (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.

- Japanese electronics giant Toshiba Corp said it would record another hefty write-down connected to its U.S. nuclear business, clouding the company's plan for turning around after an accounting scandal in 2015. http://on.wsj.com/2i9lB7G

- A strengthening dollar is re-emerging as a threat to U.S. manufacturers by making their exports more expensive and their foreign earnings less valuable. http://on.wsj.com/2i9bAr7

- Citing attorney-client privilege, U.S. law firms keep secret the owners of money that moves into and out of their pooled accounts, a money-laundering vulnerability that U.S. prosecutors say was exploited in a multibillion-dollar fraud at Malaysian state fund 1MDB. http://on.wsj.com/2i9ihK4

- Israel's settlement-building in disputed areas is accompanied by an edging away from support for a Palestinian state, thanks partly to domestic political rivalries-a trend that helped spur a United Nations condemnation of the country but also could limit the impact of that censure. http://on.wsj.com/2i9cbJs

- The nearly $1.4 trillion student-loan market is expected to be far more hospitable to private lenders under a Donald Trump administration than during the last eight years. http://on.wsj.com/2i9fSik

- The concentration of wealth among president-elect Donald Trump's nominees is setting up an arduous and expensive Senate confirmation process that could slow implementation of the White House agenda. http://on.wsj.com/2i9bVdn

- Argentina's Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay was forced out of his post on Monday as the economy struggles to rebound a year after President Mauricio Macri took office and introduced a series of market-friendly reforms. http://on.wsj.com/2i9ipJu

(Compiled by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru)
Ask any producer aged 35 to 25 to name their five biggest influences, and you've got a 75 percent chance you'll hear The Prodigy mentioned. The English electronic trio's seminal LP The Fat of the Land hit ears in 1997 at the height of the big beat era, and helped redefine the genre. It was exciting, it was raw, it was punk, and it was loud as all hell.

The Prodigy continues to be one of the most revered acts in the electronic world, but they're a rare bird on stage and in the studio. Looks like 2017 is scheduled to be a big on for the band's fans though: The group was already announced as a headliner at 2017's Ultra Music Festival in Miami and EXIT's new Sea Star Fest in Croatia.

Now, the band has taken to social media to promise new music in the coming months. No final word on if the release will be a proper album, or when exactly in 2017 fans can expect a drop, but the suspense is half the fun, right?

New tunes coming 2017 #theprodigy #championsoflondon #purefire #fuckknowswhatmonthsodontask https://t.co/K5vMe7DfYU

- The Prodigy (@the_prodigy) December 26, 2016
Is Remy Ma feuding with Nicki Minaj?

While Ma has not directly addressed the issue, many believe that her verse in the remix of the song Wait a Minute is directed at Minaj.

In the song, Ma says: Same [people] call me, thats how I knew yall was phony/ I put putting that work, taking em to church, cause I leave em holy/ Will I smoke this [girl]?/ Yes/ Probably fail my piss test/ Get rid of those fake breasts/ And put a vest on this chest.

Ma also mentioned that the girl she was referring to has lost her ghostwriter, so her time in the limelight is almost up.

People on Twitter have assumed that the verse was aimed at Minaj. The speculation became stronger when Minajs ex-boyfriend, Safaree Samuels, posted a photo with Ma on Instagram.

It is interesting to note that Minaj hinted that she and Ma may collaborate on a track. During an interview with Ebro in the Morning in October, Minaj said it was only a matter of time before a track from them is released. When I was working on The Pinkprint, I wanted to do a song with Remy and Foxy [Brown], and I still have the song to this day, Minaj said. It was on a Diplo beat, but it was super-hood and hard.

This is not the first time that speculations about a rift between Ma and Minaj have surfaced.

Ma denied Minajs claim that they had worked on a song together during an interview with Rap-Up. When asked about the song, Ma said it was never recorded. When we discussed it, she actually said, Dont tell anybody. Its top secret, Ma said. So the fact that she disclosed that information is beyond me. I dont think thats what people wanted to hear, that combination. That was just my personal decision so I didnt want to do that.

The rapper added that she opted out of the project because she did not feel like it was appropriate for her to be there, considering the other artist collaborating on the track is Minajs friend, and she and Minaj arent exactly close.

Remy Ma

Photo: Reuters/Danny Moloshok

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Small and relatively see-through zebrafish may help researchers unlock a mystery in the fight against cancer that could lead to breakthroughs in early detection of childhood leukemia. A new research project at Wayne State University in Detroit will use thousands of the fish to try and identify genetic and environmental factors that may lead to the cancer.

The research is funded by Kids Without Cancer, a group of parents whose children have been treated for cancer at the Childrens Hospital of Michigan, according to media reports Tuesday. The non-profit has committed $356,000 to the cause, a figure that can support 10 years of research starting in 2017. That's when an aquatic housing system was scheduled to be installed at the universitys Integrative Biosciences Center.

We had so much success with our original support that we saw the potential of additional scientific breakthroughs if we could ramp the research up, Chris Vandenberg, the executive director of Kids Without Cancer, told the Detroit Free Press.

Researchers were working to find pesticides that may trigger a specific gene that causes leukemia. That previous research bred the zebrafish to have human leukemia genes. The next stages of testing will seek to determine what causes some children with the gene to develop leukemia while others live relatively healthy, cancer-free lives. Researchers will quickly be able to see if the fish develop leukemia because of changes in blood and skin colors.

The new efforts came after the White House introduced the so-called Cancer Moonshot that hopes to implement an effort to end cancer. That effort has been led by Vice President Joe Biden, whose son died of brain cancer in 2015 after a silent battle with the disease.

The quest received funding this month when President Barack Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act with bipartisan support to provide $6.3 billion to improve electronic health records, precision medicine, mental health care and interoperability between researchers and care givers.

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In the first phase, Congress will agitate at district headquarters on January 5 against the move and in the second phase, it will take this fight to the block level led by Mahila Congress workers.

By PTI: Congress has announced that it will hold countrywide protests on January 5 at all district headquarters and on January 8 at the block level to highlight the common man's woes due to demonetisation and the "personal corruption" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At a meeting of all top Congress leaders chaired by party's vice president Rahul Gandhi it was decided to involve the commoner in the fight against demonetisation.

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Sources said Congress will also hold pressers across the country at the central and the state level on December 29 and 30 and later on January 2 at the district level, where the "personal corruption" by the Prime Minister and sufferings of common people will be highlighted.

Also read | Anti-demonetisation meet: Left, JDU and NCP decline Sonia Gandhi's invite

The meeting was attended by all party general secretaries and secretaries, PCC chiefs and other top leaders at the central and the state level.

The sources said that in the first phase, Congress will agitate at district headquarters on January 5 and in the second phase, it will take this fight to the block level with Mahila Congress holding such agitations and demonstrations on January 8.

DEMONETISATION A SCAM: CONGRESS

Addressing party men, Gandhi alleged that demonetisation had turned out to be a "scam" and that the Prime Minister had "indulged" in corruption and not come out clean on the "Sahara diaries" bribery issue.

"If an independent probe is held, Modiji will stand exposed," he is reported to have said at the meeting.

Rahul also asked party men to gear up for taking their fight to the public and highlight the "personal corruption" by the Prime Minister and the woes of the common man due to the note ban.

Also read | Lalu warns PM Modi to select his favourite 'chauraha' to face punishment for demonetisation failure

During the meeting, Rahul sought feedback from state leaders on note ban woes.

Starting December 29 and 30, Congress will push for withdrawal of all financial restrictions imposed on the common man post-demonetisation and ask the government to allow the public deposit and withdraw money freely from their bank accounts.

CONG TO HIGHLIGHT SUFFERING OF COMMON MAN

"We will also highlight the personal corruption by the Prime Minister... and the suffering of the common people due to demonetisation," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

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The party will focus on highlighting "losses suffered by people, who lost their jobs due to demonetisation, contraction of economy and the hardships of the poor, farmers and traders".

Also read | Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi thanks people for enduring demonetisation pain

Prime Minister Modi, while announcing the decision to invalidate 500 and 1000 rupee notes on November 8, had said that there would be some inconvenience to people for the initial 50-day period that ends on December 30.

--- ENDS ---
Richard Adams, the bestselling English author best known for his hugely influential 1972 debut novel Watership Down, which has been adapted numerous times, including the acclaimed 1978 animated film and a 1990s animated series, has died. He was 96.

Richards much-loved family announce with sadness that their dear father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at 10pm on Christmas Eve, said a message posted today on Adams official website.

A quote from his most famous novel accompanied the announcement  It seemed to Hazel that he would not be needing his body any more, so he left it lying on the edge of the ditch, but stopped for a moment to watch his rabbits and to try to get used to the extraordinary feeling that strength and speed were flowing inexhaustibly out of him into their sleek young bodies and healthy senses.

You neednt worry about them, said his companion. Theyll be alright  and thousands like them.'

Adams famously carved out one of the greatest second-acts in literary history, establishing himself as an important talent at age 52 after a career spent in civil service. Born in 1920 in Wash Common near Newbury, Berkshire, England, Adams initially intended to study history, attending Oxford for two years until he was drafted into the British Army during the second world war. Adams never saw combat but served as a Brigade liason in the Royal Army Service Corps in Palestine, Europe, and east Asia. Following his wartime service, Adams returned to Oxford and, after graduation in 1948, joined the British civil service.

He eventually became Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, which would eventually become part of the Department of the Environment, and stayed on this career path for more than two decades. Though he began writing fiction in his spare time, he remained unpublished and could easily have retired as a public servant. That changed, however, thanks to his daughters.

Story continues

While on a road trip in the late 1960s, Adams had begun telling his daughters a made-up story about a group of rabbits escaping their doomed warren. As their enthusiasm for the story grew, Adams added more details, eventually creating a complex mythology and culture for his fictional rabbits. As he told it in later interviews, his daughters insisted he publish his stories as a book. After two years, he completed the book: Watership Down.

watership_down_cover

The story follows Hazel and Fiver, two littermates low on their warrens hierarchy who lead a group of other outcasts on an epic quest to establish a new home safe from the threat of human beings. Along the way, they encounter several other groups of rabbits, evade both man, beast, and even fellow rabbits trying to kill them, ultimately triumphing despite incredible risks and devastating loss.

Watership Down was, at first, a hard sell. Rejected by four publishers and three agencies, it was Rex Collings who agreed to publish it  to immediate success. Hailed for reinventing the genre of fiction written from an animals point of view, Adams created a detailed, densely crafted culture and mythology for his fictional rabbits whose intricacy, complexity and internal consistency is rivaled only by J.R.R. Tolkeins Lord of the Rings universe. It was also praised for its realistic characters and indeed, many of the books colorful figures were inspired by people Adams had known, particularly during his World War II service.

The book would quickly sell more than a million copies and became cultural sensation. And, much like Tokeins works, the novels fictional lapine language added new words and concepts to the English language, most notably Tharn, which means being frozen in terror. It would eventually win the Carnegie medal and the Guardian childrens prize.

watershipdown

Of course, Watership Down is probably best known today for the 1978 animated adaptation  an adaptation still joked about for being somewhat terrifying to kids expecting a charming tale of rabbits and instead getting an epic filled with dangers and bloody battles. Directed by Martin Rosen and John Hubley and written by Rosen, the film featured the voices of John Hurt, Richard Briers, Michael Graham Cox, and Harry Andrews in a chilling performance as the books primary villain, rabbit dictator General Woundwort.

While a success in British theaters, it flopped in the United States but has since become a cult classic. Numerous other adaptations have followed, with a $100 million BBC/Netflix adaption starring James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Boyega, and Ben Kingsley due out in 2017.

Adams wrote nearly 20 other works of fiction and nonfiction. Among them, his 1977 novel Plague Dogs, about two dogs who escape an animal testing facility. It was adapted as an animated film in 1982, written and directed like Watership Down by Martin Rosen. Other works include his 1988 historical novel Traveller, and his 1996 short story collection Tales from Watership Down.

Among his other achievements, Adams was once a writer-in-residence at the University of Florida and later at Hollins University in Virginia; he received the inaugural Whitchurch Arts Award for inspiration in 2010; and was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Winchester.

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Actor and comedian Ricky Harris has died, The Hollywood Reporter was told by his manager, Cindy Ambers. He was 54.

Harris, whose numerous credits in television and on film include Heat, Poetic Justice and Everyone Hates Chris, died Monday of a heart attack, Ambers said.

Harris also worked with Snoop Dogg on his rap albums. Snoop, Ice Cube and Chuck D, among many others, paid their respects on social media.

#Repost @snoopdogg  Ricky Harris. R. I. P.

A video posted by The Connector (@fuzzfantab) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:52pm PST

C u when I get there like we used to do in church on the east side tell Nate to hold my note

A photo posted by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:19pm PST

Damn, we lost Ricky Harris. The world is a little less funny today. RIP homie. pic.twitter.com/5AalZndlx2

- Ice Cube (@icecube) December 27, 2016

RickyHARRIS got 1st light from @icecube @SIRJINX & US doin voices on AmerikkasMostWanted. We were all in resPEct to his ability. Tough year

- Chuck D (@MrChuckD) December 27, 2016

Devastated!!! #RIP to the One and Only #RickyHarris Always been a super solid dude

A photo posted by Cedric The Entertainer (@cedtheentertainer) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:41pm PST

Rip Ricky Harris pic.twitter.com/yJGUDLQHXY

- DJ POOH (@DJPooh) December 26, 2016

ricky harris - Google Search i can't believe this ! RIP Ricky https://t.co/Rld8LaUkfk

- Sinbad (@sinbadbad) December 27, 2016

RIP Ricky Harris.

- Estelle (@EstelleDarlings) December 27, 2016

RIP Ricky Harris Dam this crazy please send prayers out for his family wow this hurts man.

A photo posted by Warren G (@warreng) on Dec 26, 2016 at 4:08pm PST

Read more: 15 Greatest George Michael Songs: Critic's Take
American actor and comedian Ricky Harris died on Monday of a heart attack, according to his manager, Cindy Ambers. He was 54.

Harriss film and TV credits span Murder Was The Case, Heat, Poetic Justice, Bones, Moesha, Everyone Hates Chris and The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. He most recently starred in Thomas J. Churchills Check Point which will be released on Jan. 20.

A native of Long Beach, Harris was also involved in the 1990s West Coast rap scene and contributed to many hip-hop records. He notably collaborated with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre and lent his voice to popular hip-hop songs such as Ice Cubes Turn Off the Radio and Snoop Doggs W-Balls.

Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Warren G and Cedric the Entertainer are among the many hip-hop artists who expressed their condolences and paid tribute to Harris.

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Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto has little to prove, having won almost nothing but acclaim over two decades for his collaborations with the very biggest names in filmmaking.

Since moving to Hollywood in 2000 he has worked on numerous occasions with Oliver Stone, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese, and shot movies for Cameron Crowe and Pedro Almodovar.

Nominated only once for an Oscar -- for Lee's 2006 cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" -- Prieto has his biggest chance yet to go one better in February.

He is among the early favorites to win a cinematography statuette for his work on Scorsese's religious historical epic "Silence," which features sweeping panoramas of Taiwan's rugged, mist-shrouded coastline.

"It's something I'd enjoy, for sure. It's not something I strive for when I'm shooting or when I'm designing a movie," he tells AFP.

The 51-year-old, who also filmed Morten Tyldum's 2016 sci-fi movie "Passengers" with Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, has a reputation for versatility and his unconventional use of lighting and color.

But he insists he is never "flashy," bringing what the film demands rather than what will make him look clever.

"I don't know if awards and all that recognize that stuff," he says, playing down his chances of an Oscar nomination.

- Sin and sacrifice -

From his adoptive home of Los Angeles, Prieto has helped lead a renaissance in Mexican cinema alongside Inarritu through films like "Amores Perros," "21 Grams," "Babel" and "Biutiful" (2000-2010).

Among his other movies are Ben Affleck's Oscar-winner "Argo," Spike Lee's "25th Hour" and Curtis Hanson's acclaimed "8 Mile."

"Silence" is Prieto's second collaboration with Scorsese since the pair scandalized Hollywood with the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll story of infamous financier Jordan Belfort in 2013's "The Wolf of Wall Street."

Story continues

"Here we are -- this man from New York City and this guy from Mexico City doing a movie about Portuguese priests in Japan," he recalls.

"It was very foreign for both of us but really amazing, quite a journey."

With its high-minded meditations on loyalty, faith, sin and sacrifice, "Silence" is tonally the diametric opposite of "The Wolf of Wall Street," which served up three hours of profanity, lawbreaking and nudity.

Prieto said filming the love scenes between Lawrence and Pratt in "Passengers" was challenging, especially given it was her first sex scene.

"The most important thing is that the actors feel comfortable, and I know that Jennifer was... a little nervous about it," he recalls.

"Chris Pratt obviously is a gentleman and all of us were very respectful. But it's tricky, it's not easy."

- 'Opposite styles' -

Prieto developed a love of filmmaking as a child in Mexico City, where he and his older brother would make monster movies with their father's 8mm camera, learning stop-motion animation by watching 1960s fantasy film "Jason and the Argonauts."

It whet his appetite for the movie business and he enrolled in film school, setting him on a path that would see him working with some of his heroes.

Asked what kind of director he prefers -- collaborative or dictatorial, meticulous or freeform, a planner or an improviser -- Prieto says he appreciates the diversity more than any particular style.

"Ang Lee and Oliver Stone are kind of almost opposite styles and I really enjoy both. Ang is a very precise director, very meticulous. Oliver likes to be surprised," Prieto says.

"He thrived on a little bit of chaos on set and you have to be on your toes with Oliver all the time. I think Scorsese is a mixture of both. Same with Inarritu. They both are precise but also let things just happen."
Bucharest (AFP) - Romania's president sparked fresh political turmoil Tuesday after blocking a proposal by the leftist party that won elections this month to appoint the EU country's first female and first Muslim prime minister.

Klaus Iohannis gave no reasons for his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it was due to her Syrian husband's background.

"I have properly analysed the arguments for and against and I have decided not to accept this proposal," the president told reporters, calling on the PSD to "make another proposal".

Shhaideh, 52, who has only five months ministerial experience, is from Romania's small and long-established Turkish minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been the problem.

Instead the focus was likely on her husband, 54, who worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before emigrating to Romania in 2011 and marrying Shhaideh the same year, according to the PSD.

Non-profit investigative journalism group the Rise Project said that he has several times expressed his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and for Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah.

Website HotNews cited unnamed sources as saying that the security services had "strongly cautioned" against Shhaideh's nomination because of the closeness of her husband and his two brothers to the Assad regime.

This might have made giving Shhaideh the necessary security clearances to be the NATO member's prime minister problematic.

"I suppose that his rejection is linked to questions of national security and because the United States would not have been very keen," political analyst Andrei Taranu told AFP.

- What now? -

The PSD had proposed the previously little-known Shhaideh after its thumping poll victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote, enough to form a majority coalition with its partners ALDE.

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The leader of the PSD, Liviu Dragnea, had withdrawn his own bid to become prime minister because of a conviction that bars him from office.

Shhaideh's personal closeness to Dragnea -- he was a witness at her wedding -- has led to accusations that he will remain in charge behind the scenes.

On Tuesday after her rejection, Dragnea said the PSD was considering its options including moving to suspend Iohannis or going to the constitutional court.

"In our opinion the president is determined to set off a political crisis," Dragnea said. "If our conclusion is that it is in the country's interest to suspend Mr Iohannis, I won't hesitate."

However, Taranu said that any attempt by the PSD to remove the head of state was problematic because Iohannis is entitled to request a second proposal for premier.

The PSD's election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it from office.

The inferno was blamed on corruption -- something Brussels has long complained about since Romania joined the EU in 2007.

But during the campaign Dragnea focused instead on the economy, vowing to boost salaries and pensions in the EU's second-poorest country.
BUCHAREST, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Romania's President Klaus Iohannis rejected the leftist Social Democrat Party's (PSD) proposal to name Sevil Shhaideh for prime minister designate, he said on Tuesday.

"I have carefully weighed the pro and con arguments and I have decided not to appoint Mrs Sevil Shhaideh," Iohannis told reporters. "As a result, I am asking the PSD and (coalition partner) ALDE to make a new proposal."

Together with its long-time ally ALDE, the PSD has an outright majority in parliament with 250 members in the 465-seat two-house assembly, allowing them to easily give their government a vote of confidence and pass legislation.

(Reporting by Radu Marinas and Luiza Ilie; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
* Russia condemns new U.S. defence policy bill

* Accuses Obama administration of trying to influence Trump

* Says hopes new U.S. administration will be 'wiser' (Adds U.S. response)

By Andrew Osborn

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia said on Tuesday that a U.S. decision to ease restrictions on arming Syrian rebels had opened the way for deliveries of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, a move it said would directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.

Moscow last year launched a campaign of air strikes in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad and his forces retake territory lost to rebels, some of whom are supported by the United States.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the policy change easing restrictions on weapons supplies had been set out in a new U.S. defense spending bill and that Moscow regarded the step as a hostile act.

U.S. President Barack Obama, who has been sharply critical of Russia's intervention in Syria, signed the annual defense policy bill into law last week.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner dismissed the Russian charges, saying the administration remains opposed to providing portable anti-aircraft missiles, or MANPADS, to Syrian opposition groups.

"Our position on MANPADS has not changed. We have a very deep concern about that kind of weaponry getting into Syria," Toner said, referring to fears that portable anti-aircraft missiles could end up in the hands of Islamist militants and be used against civilian airliners.

The National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by Obama on Dec. 23, appears designed to assuage the administration's misgivings but imposes a new layer of congressional oversight on any presidential decision to provide them.

A provision bars the U.S. Defense Department from spending funds on MANPADS for Syrian rebel groups until the secretaries of state and defense submit a report to congressional committees explaining the decision to do so.

The report would have to include which groups would receive the weapons, intelligence analyses on the groups and the kinds and numbers of MANPADS to be supplied.

Story continues

Moscow cast the bill as lifting restrictions on the provision of such weapons to Syrian rebels.

"Washington has placed its bets on supplying military aid to anti-government forces who don't differ than much from blood thirsty head choppers. Now, the possibility of supplying them with weapons, including mobile anti-aircraft complexes, has been written into this new bill," Zakharova said in a statement.

"In the administration of B. Obama they must understand that any weapons handed over will quickly end up in the hands of jihadists," she added, saying that perhaps that was what the White House was counting on happening.

The U.S. decision was a direct threat to the Russian air force, to other Russian military personnel, and to Russia's embassy in Damascus, said Zakharova.

"We therefore view the step as a hostile act."

Zakharova accused the Obama administration of trying to "put a mine" under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump by attempting to get it to continue what she called Washington's "anti-Russian line."

The Obama administration has in recent weeks expanded the list of Russians affected by U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.

Trump, during his election campaign, said he was keen to try to improve relations with Moscow and spoke positively about President Vladimir Putin's leadership skills.

A back-and-forth exchange between Trump and Putin over nuclear weapons last week tested the Republican's promises to improve relations with Russia however.

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.

"The current occupants of the White House imagined that they could pressure Russia," said Zakharova. "Let's hope that those who replace them will be wiser." (Additional reporting by Peter Hobson in Moscow and Tom Perry in Beirut and Jonathan Landay and Lesley Wroughton in Washington; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky and Alan Crosby)
By Peter Hobson MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia, China and Pakistan warned on Tuesday that the influence of Islamic State (IS) was growing in Afghanistan and that the security situation there was deteriorating. Representatives from the three countries, meeting in Moscow, also agreed to invite the Afghan government to such talks in the future, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "(The three countries) expressed particular concern about the rising activity in the country of extremist groups including the Afghan branch of IS," ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters after the meeting. The United States, which still has nearly 10,000 troops in Afghanistan more than 15 years after the Islamist Taliban were toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces, was not invited to the Moscow talks. The gathering, the third in a series of consultations between Russia, China and Pakistan that has so far excluded Kabul, is likely to deepen worries in Washington that it is being sidelined in negotiations over Afghanistan's future. Officials in Kabul and Washington have said that Russia is deepening its ties with Taliban militants fighting the government, though Moscow has denied providing aid to the insurgents. Zakharova said Russia, China and Pakistan had "noted the deterioration of the security situation (in Afghanistan)". The three countries agreed a "flexible approach to remove certain figures from sanctions lists as part of efforts to foster a peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement," she added. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last month asked the United Nations to add the Taliban's new leader to its sanctions list, further undermining a stalled peace process. Earlier on Tuesday, Afghan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni said Kabul had not been properly briefed about the Moscow meeting. "Discussion about the situation in Afghanistan, even if well-intentioned, in the absence of Afghans cannot help the real situation and also raises serious questions about the purpose of such meetings," he said. A number of Afghan provincial capitals have come under pressure from the Taliban this year while Afghan forces have been suffering high casualty rates, with more than 5,500 killed in the first eight months of 2016. An offshoot of Islamic State has claimed responsibility for several attacks in the last year. (Reporting by Peter Hobson and Mirwais Harooni; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)
* Lavrov says discussing with opposition before peace talks

* Opposition group says knows nothing of negotiations

* Russian officials see possible talks in Kazakhstan mid-Jan

* Opposition group urges rebels to cooperate in ceasefire efforts (Adds Syrian opposition statement)

By Andrew Osborn and Tom Perry

MOSCOW/BEIRUT, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia's foreign minister on Tuesday said the Syrian government was consulting with the opposition ahead of possible peace talks, while a Saudi-backed opposition group said it knew nothing of the negotiations but supported a ceasefire.

In an interview with Interfax news agency, Sergei Lavrov did not say where the consultations were taking place or which opposition groups were taking part.

Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out the principles any agreement should adhere to.

Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy, but Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally.

"During the recent meeting in Moscow with my colleagues from Iran and Turkey we approved a joint declaration in which we confirmed our readiness to guarantee a future agreement between the Syrian government and the opposition," Lavrov told the Interfax news agency in an interview.

"Negotiations about that are going on," he said. Interfax said he was referring to talks between the opposition and the Syrian government.

George Sabra, a member of the High Negotiations Committee, a body grouping armed and political opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, said it had no knowledge of the consultations.

The HNC includes armed groups fighting Assad under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. It took part in a failed bid to launch peace talks earlier this year. The HNC was established in Saudi Arabia with Riyadh's backing in December 2015.

Story continues

The HNC's general coordinator Riad Hijab in a statement urged rebel groups to cooperate with "sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire but said it had not been invited to any conference.

Hijab said confidence-building measures were needed to create an atmosphere for political transition talks which should be held in Geneva and sponsored by the United Nations.

"We support the shifts in positions of some international powers and the positive, sincere efforts that could represent a starting point for realising the Syrian people's aspirations," Hijab said in a written statement distributed to the media.

The HNC said it wants to see a truce that covers all of Syria, in line with previous U.N. resolutions which forbid the use of banned weapons such as barrel bombs and chemical agents. The resolutions call for all sieges to be lifted, humanitarian aid access and a halt in air strikes and forced displacement.

NO DATE FIXED FOR TALKS

Russia's foreign ministry later said Lavrov had discussed a peace plan for Syria with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in a telephone call on Tuesday, without elaborating.

Lavrov also told Kerry that a U.S. decision to ease some restrictions on arming Syrian rebels could lead to more casualties, it said. Earlier Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the easing of the restrictions could directly threaten Russian forces in Syria.

President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia, Iran and Turkey and Assad have agreed that Astana, the Kazakh capital, should be the venue for new Syrian peace talks.

Russian officials say preparations for the talks are under way, but that invitations to participants have not been sent out and the exact timing has yet to be decided.

The officials, who have spoken of mid-January as a possible date, said it is too early to talk about contacts with the HNC.

Lavrov spoke to Mevlut Cavusoglu, his Turkish counterpart, by telephone on Tuesday. The two men agreed to push for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and to prepare for the Astana talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The RIA news agency cited an unnamed diplomatic source as saying that representatives from the Russian and Turkish militaries were holding consultations with the Syrian opposition in Ankara about how a possible nationwide ceasefire might work.

Separately on Tuesday Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he had evidence that U.S.-led coalition forces in Syria were giving support to "terrorist groups" including Islamic State and the Kurdish militant groups YPG and PYD. The U.S. State Department called the accusations "ludicrous."

Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan told Russia's state-backed RT TV station in an interview that Saudi Arabia should not be allowed to take part in the Syrian peace process, the RIA news agency reported.

It cited him as saying he thought Riyadh's insistence that Assad should step down meant it had no place at any talks.

He also said that Assad should have the right to stand in the next presidential election if he wanted to, RIA said.

(Additional reporting by Katya Golubkova and Peter Hobson in Moscow and Lisa Barrington and Tom Perry in Beirut; Editing by Alison Williams, Gareth Jones and Lisa Shumaker)
It is going to be for the first time that the party vice president will be addressing the leaders and members on Foundation Day function. He will also unfurl the party flag.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: The Grand Old Party, Congress, is all set to celebrate its 132 Foundation Day and leading the yearly celebrations will be its vice president Rahul Gandhi.

It is going to be for the first time that the party vice president will be addressing the leaders and members on Foundation Day function. He will also unfurl the party flag.

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The party leaders point that Amethi MP is their defacto President.

With Congress President Sonia Gandhi staying away from limelight due to health reasons, Gandhi scion has taken the centre stage even since chairing the Congress Working Committee- the highest decision making body - up to addressing the joint press conference of 8 opposition parties .. Many senior leaders are saying time has come for Rahul to officially take over the party as working president.

--- ENDS ---
Russia has grounded all Tu-154 flights until authorities establish the cause of Sundays plane crash that killed all 92 people aboard, Interfax news agency reported Tuesday, citing a source. Terrorism has been ruled out, but officials suspect technical fault or pilot error could have led to the accident.

The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine plane designed in the late 1960s and entered service in the 1970s. The crashed plane was built in 1983 and underwent maintenance in 2014, according to the Russian defense ministry. The aircraft, belonging to the ministry, had 6,689 hours of flight.

Following the crash, the ministry said that the plane was flown by a class 1 pilot with over 3,000 hours of flying experience.

The Tu-154 plane of the military and transport aviation of Russias Defense Ministry was flown by experienced pilot Roman Volkov, the ministry said at the time.

The Tu-154 has been involved in a series of crashes. On Jan. 1, 2011, a Tu-154 plane operated by the Russian airliner Metrojet for its Kolavia Flight 348 caught fire and exploded at a Siberian airport. The Moscow-bound plane carried 124 people, of whom three were killed and 43 injured.

In 2010, a Polish Air Force Tu-154 crashed in western Russia killing then-President Lech Kaczynski.

In the latest crash, search and rescue teams have so far recovered 12 bodies and 156 body fragments. On Tuesday, one of the three black boxes was found in the Black Sea.

The plane was carrying a total of 84 passengers and eight crew members and was headed to Latakia province in western Syria for New Years concert. Elizaveta Glinka  a prominent charity activist and humanitarian worker  was aboard the plane along with journalists from Russian broadcasters Channel One, Zvezda and NTV. Most of the passengers were members of the Alexandrov Ensemble, the official choir of the Russian Armed Forces.

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MOSCOW (AP)  A senior Russian military official says domestic industries have learned to produce engines and other parts previously imported from Ukraine.

Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in a Tuesday interview with online Gazeta.ru that the lack of supplies from Ukraine hasn't had a significant impact on Russia's military capability. Borisov says Russia acted quickly to develop the industrial capacity to supply its own military hardware.

Ukraine cut all military exports to Russia after Moscow's 2014 annexation of Crimea and support for a pro-Russia insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Until then, Russia had depended on Ukrainian defense industries to provide numerous components for its weapons, the legacy of close ties between the two ex-Soviet neighbors.

Borisov says Russia has launched its own production of helicopter engines and ship turbines that previously were purchased from Ukraine.
UPDATE: 4:43 a.m. EST  The examination of fragments from the crashed Russian Tu-154 plane show no signs indicating an explosion or a fire on board the jet before it crashed into the Black sea, a security source told TASS on Tuesday.

"The four main versions are an engine being hit by a foreign object, substandard fuel that caused the loss of thrust on and eventually stopped the engines, the pilots mistake and the planes technical failure," Russias Federal Security Service earlier said.

Meanwhile, another local media cited an expert who said a bird may have hit the aircrafts engine, causing the crash.

UPDATE: 12:45 a.m. EST  Russian news agency TASS reported Tuesday that divers found the black box located in the fin section of the Tu-154 aircraft in the Black Sea, adding that two other flight recorders that are located in the tail section of the aircraft were yet to be found.

Original story:

The black box of Russian Tu-154 plane has been detected in the Black Sea, sources told local media Tuesday. The military plane, which was carrying 92 people, crashed Sunday while on its way from Sochi to Latakia province in western Syria.

According to local reports, the flight recorder will be extracted from the water and analyzed to determine the cause of the crash. Earlier, the commander-in-chief of Russian Aerospace Forces said the flight recorders of the plane were placed in the fin of the Tu-154 jet and suffered minimal damage.

Divers and submersibles have so far recovered at least four pieces of debris, 11 bodies and 86 body fragments from the sea floor. Most of the bodies found so far were taken to Moscow on Monday. Russia expanded its search operation Monday for the remains of the plane but strong currents and deep water were reportedly complicating the efforts. Russian news agency TASS reported one of the 11 bodies recovered so far belongs to the pilot in command, Roman Volkov.

"When large fuselage fragments were lifted, one more body was found. When lifted the body was identified as the planes pilot in command Roman Volkov, judging by the insignia," a source reportedly said.

Story continues

Russia's transport ministry said Monday that human error or mechanical fault were likely responsible for the downing of the jet.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said military investigators were considering all theories, but that the version it may have been "a terrorist act" was "nowhere near the top of the list." The four potential causes being considered for the crash were a foreign object entering the engine, poor quality fuel causing engine failure, human error on the part of the pilot or a yet unknown technical issue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin directed Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to establish and head a government commission for an investigation into the incident. The countrys investigative committee launched a criminal case into "the violation of rules of flights safety or preparation for them."

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MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport's arms sales are likely to have risen to about $13 billion this year, Sergei Chemezov, the head of industrial conglomerate Rostec told reporters.

Rosoboronexport is part of Rostec, which owns companies including Kalashnikov, maker of the Ak-47 assault rifle used around the world.

A spokesman for Rostec said the company's 2015 arms sales came to $12.7 billion.

Chemezov has been subject to U.S. and EU sanctions for Moscow's role in Ukrainian crisis.

The United States has lifted some of the sanctions it imposed on Rosoboronexport, however, as it owns some helicopters made by the company.

"They have lifted the sanctions from Rosoboronexport as they need some spare parts for the helicopters," Chemezov told reporters at a briefing.

Rostec, which has stakes in some of Russia's largest industries and partnerships with foreign companies, was created in 2007 by Putin using Rosoboronexport's assets to boost the non-resources sectors of the economy.

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has launched a fundraising campaign for Syrians displaced by a five-year civil war, including those evacuated from eastern Aleppo, state news agency SPA reported on Monday. More than 11 million Syrians - around half of the population - have been displaced by the fighting, which began in 2011 and has killed more than 300,000 people. Saudi Arabia has been one of the main supporters of rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom Riyadh regards as a tool of regional arch-rival Iran. Thousands of Syrian fighters and civilians have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo in a week-long operation this month after government forces backed by Russia and Iran closed in on their stronghold. Many of them are staying in temporary shelters in freezing temperatures. SPA reported that King Salman bin Abdulaziz had ordered a relief campaign to be started on Tuesday and had allocated 100 million riyals ($27 million) to the drive. "The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, has ordered a popular campaign to be launched ... to provide relief for the brotherly Syrian people," SPA said. The agency said the funds would be used to set up a camp for refugees and to provide food, medicines and blankets for displaced Syrians. It did not say where the camp would be located. The agency said King Salman also donated 20 million riyals of his own money to the campaign, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef had donated 10 million, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had contributed 8 million. Saudi Arabia has contributed to United Nations relief campaigns for Syria, including at fundraising meetings in Kuwait and elsewhere. ($1 = 3.7510 riyals) (Reporting by Ali Abdelatti; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Saudi Arabia began a fundraising campaign on Tuesday aimed at mitigating the displacement of more than 11 million people after five years of civil war in the neighboring country of Syria. The effort followed ongoing evacuations in Aleppo, one of the most historic cities in the Middle East, where at least 150,000 residents had been trapped in the middle of a war-zone as the region had been all but decimated by Russian, Iranian and Syrian aerial bombardments.

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, has ordered a popular campaign to be launched ... to provide relief for the brotherly Syrian people," Saudi Arabian state news agency SPA reported. King Salman reportedly donated 20 million riyals, more than $5 million, of his own wealth toward the fundraising effort, which will allocate donations toward building refugee camps, as well as providing resources for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian fleeing regime-held regions of the nation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef also donated more than $2.6 million, while Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contributed over $2.1 million to the cause.

RTX2WMY2

Photo: Reuters

King Salman has been one of the most vocal proponents to the Syrian regime and its crimes against humanity, despite ongoing human rights offenses throughout his own country. Saudi Arabia has also been one of the largest supporters of rebel forces fighting against Syrian President Bashar Assads military.

The Saudi Arabian government began the relief campaign on Tuesday afternoon, providing an additional $27 million toward establishing refugee camps and securing essential resources for incoming evacuees. Syrians have been fleeing the country in the heart of a harsh winter season, as subzero temperatures and a lack of food, water, electricity and heat further complicate efforts to relieve innocent victims of the countrys international conflict.

Its not the first time Saudi Arabia has donated to relief efforts for Syria, either. The country, which shares a border with Syria, has previously contributed to campaigns spearheaded by the United Nations as well.

Anywhere between 312,000 to 470,000 casualties have occurred since the inception of the Syrian conflict in 2011, after great political unrest ultimately led to a civil war with a plethora of factions fighting on the ground, including opposing support from Russia and the United States. Syrian forces claim to have retaken Aleppo from rebel forces in recent weeks, furthering the scope of the Assad regime and its power in the region.
Riyadh (AFP) - A Saudi man has been jailed for one year for calling for an end to the Muslim kingdom's guardianship system that gives men wide controls over women, local media said Tuesday.

The man, who was also fined 30,000 riyals ($8,000) by a court in the eastern city of Dammam, was convicted of "inciting to end guardianship of women" in statements he posted on Twitter and in public posters, the Okaz daily said.

He was arrested while putting up posters in mosques in Al-Hasa district calling for an end to the globally unique system that subjects women in the ultra-conservative kingdom to male control.

During questioning, police found out that the man was also behind a wide online campaign to end the guardianship, the paper said.

The defendant admitted pinning up the posters in several mosques, saying he solely launched an "awareness campaign" after finding that some "female relatives were facing injustice at the hands of their families," the daily said.

Thousands of Saudis signed in September a petition urging an end to the guardianship system following a Twitter campaign which the court claims was launched by the defendant.

Saudi Arabia has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

Under the guardianship system a male family member, normally the father, husband or brother, must grant permission for a woman's study, travel and other activities.

Activists say that even female prisoners have to be received by the guardian upon their release, meaning that some have to languish in jail or a shelter beyond their sentences if the man does not want to accept them.
A Saudi Arabian daily retracted its report which said Riyadh was planning to sell 49 percent stake in the state-owned oil giant Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) within the next 10 years. The al-Eqtisadiah newspaper apologized Sunday for its completely wrong report published Saturday.

Al-Eqtisadiah apologizes for the information published on Aramco, the Saudi Arabian financial newspaper reportedly said, calling its report far from reality.

The retracted report cited an unnamed source who said the kingdom would sell nearly half the stake in the world's largest oil company within the next decade.

The shares for sale and the timeframe are different to those mentioned in the article, the newspaper reportedly clarified Sunday, adding that the story was based on an unverified source.

The kingdom is planning on selling some shares in the company in 2018 in what could be the worlds biggest initial public offering. Aramcos CEO Amin Nasser said in October up to 5 percent stake was being discussed for the public offer but the exact size would be determined by the Saudi Supreme Court.

The oil giant is also looking to expand overseas and is considering potential joint ventures in several countries, including China, India, U.S. and Vietnam, Nasser said at the time.

We are looking at the current market status that, even though challenging, is an excellent opportunity for growth, Nasser said.

However, Aramco could face problems in the U.S., where it wants to own refineries, once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trumps energy adviser and CEO of oil producer Continental Resources Inc., Harold Hamm said earlier in December that Washington should look into and potentially block foreign companies from owning U.S. oil refineries.

Speaking about the partnership between Saudi Aramco and Citgo  the U.S. subsidiary U.S. subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela SA  Hamm reportedly said foreign owners buy a refinery, and they move in just their oil, nobody else. They dont buy oil from me. They dont buy oil from anybody else Im sorry. Were on to that. It shouldnt be permitted.

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the construction major under Urban Development Ministry, will assist Bhutan in construction of green and sustainable infrastructure.

A Memorandum of Understanding in this regard was signed between CPWD and Department of Engineering Services under Bhutans Ministry of Works and Human Settlements in Thimpu, an official statement said here today.

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Under the MoU for bilateral technical cooperation in infrastructure engineering, CPWD will assist in promoting sustainability in the built environment, capacity building through training of Bhutanese manpower, benchmarking in building and road sectors besides deputing engineering experts to Bhutan.

CPWD Director General Abhay Sinha signed the MoU in the presence of Bhutans Minister of Works and Human Settlements Lyonpo Dorji Choden. PTI MP DV

--- ENDS ---
Photo credit: instagram

From ELLE

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Selena Gomez made a rare public appearance to visit patients at Cook Children's Medical Center in her home state, Texas.

One of the patient's mother's took to Instagram to share this emotional message:

Selena came to see Madison today! Love that she took time out of her busy schedule to make her day! Shelby and Madison both remember watching her on Barney, Wizards of Waverly Place and have been listening to her music for years! Such a great gift of kindness she showed us today!!

E! News reports that Selena decorated cookies with kids in the hospital's play areas and made a lot of her young fans very happy.

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By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed alliance of militias has made unexpectedly rapid gains against Islamic State near its Syrian headquarters in Raqqa, advancing to within a few kilometres of a major dam, its spokesman said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based organisation that reports on the conflict, said one of Islamic State's top commanders in Syria was probably killed in fighting near the dam on the Euphrates River some 50 km (30 miles) west of Raqqa city, Islamic State's main base of operations in Syria. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance, including the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, launched the second phase of a campaign against Islamic State 10 days ago. The ultimate aim is to capture Raqqa city. The latest phase is targeting IS-held areas to the west of the city, including the dam near Tabqa. The first phase, launched in early November, targeted IS positions to the north. "1,300 square km (captured from Islamic State) in 10 days - we were expecting it to take longer, but the Daesh (Islamic State) defences disintegrated," Silo said in a phone interview. Fifteen SDF fighters had been killed in the latest advances, he said. IS was deploying suicide car bombs in its efforts to fend off the assault, Silo said, adding that these were being destroyed before reaching their targets thanks to anti-armour weapons recently supplied by the U.S.-led coalition. U.S. special forces were working "side by side with our forces", he said. The Observatory identified the Islamic State commander killed in the latest fighting as Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti. Observatory Director Rami Abdulrahman said he was killed as IS fighters sought to recapture the village of Jabar, which the SDF captured on Monday. The counter-attack failed. (Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Andrew Roche)
By Zeba Siddiqui

HYDERABAD, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Vasudeva Prakash left his job as a mechanic in Hyderabad three years ago for what he calls a more lucrative career: taking part in clinical trials on generic drugs.

For two years, Prakash participated in trials of drugs being tested to treat HIV/AIDS and other diseases for contract research organizations (CROs) hired by global pharmaceutical companies. The drugs tested at Indian CROs have been key in getting several hundred medicines approved for sale around the world.

Yet, Prakash did not follow international guidelines for testing - and the CROs that hired him didn't require him to. He says that to earn more money he would participate in back-to-back trials on different drugs with gaps of only a few weeks or even a few days, instead of waiting the 90 days that the World Health Organization recommends.

Half of more than a dozen volunteers interviewed by Reuters across four cities - Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and New Delhi - also said they waited much less than 90 days between trials. In the past three-to-four years, they said they spent several months at a time in different cities so that they could participate in as many studies as possible.

Prakash provided documentation proving he underwent trials with short gaps at Apotex Research Pvt Ltd, owned by Canadian drugmaker Apotex Inc; Lotus Labs, owned by U.S. generics giant Actavis; Ethics Bio Lab, owned since last year by U.S. drugmaker Par Pharmaceutical Inc; and India's Semler Research Center Pvt Ltd, among others. Ethics Bio and Apotex did not respond to requests for comment. Lotus Labs and Semler said they had systems in place to check for cross-participation by trial volunteers.

The guidelines of the WHO, which decides on approvals for drugs sold in several countries dependent on United Nations programs for basic medicines, are not legally-binding for the CROs. While India has guidelines on clinical trials, they don't specify the length of time participants should take between trials.

Story continues

Still, the serial testing of some volunteers is raising new questions about the level of oversight of India's generic drug trials industry, after some CROs came under recent international regulatory scrutiny. Last year, the European Medicines Agency banned about 700 medicines across Europe after an investigation revealed data tampering in some trials of generic drugs in India.

International medical experts said that undergoing back-to-back trials endangers the health of patients participating. It can also compromise clinical data gathered through these trials, on the basis of which drugmakers seek approval to sell generic medicines around the world.

"The time gap between participation in two different trials should be 90 days minimum," said Stephanie Croft, a lead inspector at the WHO. "When is incomplete or incorrect it could pose a serious risk to patients."

Gyanendra Nath Singh, head of India's national drug watchdog, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), said that it has been trying to inspect more CROs in the past two years. The watchdog is also considering the introduction of a track-and-trace system through which patients can be tracked across CROs, he told Reuters.

"We are emphasizing on good regulatory practices  some reports have shown that the CROs have deviated from (the) system," said Singh.

India's Health Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

GLOBAL REACH

Several large international drugmakers, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Mylan NV, rely on CROs in India to carry out tests on cheaper versions of branded drugs. The aim of these so-called "bioequivalence" studies is to gauge whether non-branded drugs are equally safe and effective. The faster the trials are undertaken, the faster the drugs can come to market.

In some major markets, such as the United States, being the first to launch a generic guarantees market exclusivity for a period of time, which can reap millions more in sales.

International and local regulators have struggled to keep its oversight in line with the growth of an industry that expanded rapidly in the 2000s, as drugmakers shipped clinical trial work to India to save money. The market is estimated to have crossed $1 billion in 2016, according to consultants Frost and Sullivan.

Over the past two years, international regulators have suspended or banned medicines tested by four major Indian CROs after finding manipulation of clinical trial data and other violations.

Issues found at Indian CROs are "a big problem that is gaining more and more attention from all sorts of agencies," said Anders Fuglsang, a consultant and former regulator long involved in audits and inspections of CROs around the world on behalf of international regulatory agencies and companies.

Last year, the European Union banned about 700 medicines that had been approved based on clinical trial data provided by GVK Biosciences, then India's largest CRO. European regulators said they found GVK had manipulated data concerning the heart readings of patients taking part in the study. GVK denied any violation, but several large drugmakers that had won drug approvals based on GVK's data were asked to re-apply for approval with fresh evidence.

Such re-testing is a headache for drugmakers, as it is expensive, and delays lead to a loss in sales, said Nilesh Gupta, managing director of India's Lupin Ltd, which was one of the companies to be affected by a U.S. ban on trials by Semler earlier this year.

GVK, part of the Indian conglomerate GVK Group, has since limited its business interests in the generic drugs testing business, said Shankar Chelluri, a spokesman for the company. Overall, sentiment towards the generic drug trials business is weak, Chelluri said.

Another CRO, Quest Life Sciences, was found last year to have manipulated clinical data on certain trials, according to inspection reports from the WHO and the UK's medicines authority. The Spanish and German regulators had also found problems with Quest's trials, and the WHO said it found Quest had falsified data on drugs including the antibiotic doxycycline hyclate and HIV/AIDS drugs lamivudine, zidovudine and nevirapine.

Quest managing director T.S. Jaishankar said his CRO, which has conducted dozens of generic drug trials for companies including India's top drugmaker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries , has since invested heavily in improving its systems and been cleared by all international regulators. In a response to Reuters, a spokeswoman for the European Medicines Agency said they were "closely monitoring" the involvement of Quest in the drug approval applications they receive.

India, like other countries, has ethics committees - groups of independent experts - meant to approve the design and conduct of clinical trials. Their stamp of approval is required by foreign regulators considering allowing a generic drug to be sold. However, these committees depend on the CROs for reimbursement in exchange for reviewing trials. Three members of different committees Reuters spoke to said national guidelines did not clearly define their roles and responsibilities.

In the wake of trial data manipulation scandals at CROs in the past three years, many large drugmakers including Swiss firm Novartis, have been shifting more critical trials back to the United States and Europe, according to consultants and industry executives.

Novartis is also ramping up its own checks of Indian CROs, said Bodo Lutz, a data integrity officer at the Swiss firm. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Hyderabad in July, he said: "We can't rely on the regulators ... we're increasing our own audits."

VOLUNTEERING "LIKE AN ADDICTION"

Prakash, the former mechanic, said he was never asked by CROs, and their 'agents' who approached him for studies, about whether he had recently taken part in another trial.

"Everybody does it. Once you start getting the money, it's very hard to quit. It's like an addiction," said Prakash.

He said after the first study, he began to regularly receive messages on his phone and Facebook, often from agents working on behalf of CROs, informing him about ongoing clinical trials where volunteers were required. Such messages included three key things: the city where the trial was being conducted, the total pay offered, and the "blood loss", or the amount of blood the volunteer will need to provide.

Venkatesh, from the southern city of Tirupathi, described travelling from Chennai to Hyderabad and then to Bangalore and Mangaluru for different trials.

"I know of several people who participate in three or four trials in the same month," said Venkatesh, who stopped volunteering two months ago and has since married. He did not want to be referred to by his full name.

Prakash said he was paid 10,000-30,000 rupees ($147-$441) per trial, depending on the duration and type. He stopped participating after his health began to deteriorate last year at age 25.

He now works at a call centre earning 20,000 rupees a month, but, despite knowing the risks, entered two more trials recently to raise cash.

"I needed some money desperately so I did it, but I won't do it again," he said.

($1 = 68.005 Indian rupees) (Additional reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi; Editing by Martin Howell)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2016 / Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Darling Ingredients Inc. (DAR) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/Darling_Ingredients_DAR or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com, or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 27, 2016 / Lundin Law PC, a shareholder rights firm, announces that it is investigating claims against Universal Health Services, Inc. ("UHS" or the "Company") (UHS) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.

To get more information about this investigation, please contact Brian Lundin, Esquire, of Lundin Law PC, at 888-713-1033, or via email at brian@lundinlawpc.com.

Buzzfeed issued a report on December 7, 2016 announcing its comprehensive investigation into Universal Health, "based on interviews with 175 current and former UHS staff, including 18 executives who ran UHS hospitals; more than 120 additional interviews with patients, government investigators, and other experts; and a cache of internal documents." The report found that "[c]urrent and former employees from at least 10 UHS hospitals in nine states said they were under pressure to fill beds by almost any method - which sometimes meant exaggerating people's symptoms or twisting their words to make them seem suicidal - and to hold them until their insurance payments ran out." When this information was disclosed to the public, shares of Universal Health fell $15.01 per share or nearly 12% to close at $111.36 per share on December 7, 2016, causing investors severe harm.

Lundin Law PC was founded by Brian Lundin, a securities litigator based in Los Angeles dedicated to upholding shareholders' rights.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

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Lundin Law PC

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SOURCE: Lundin Law PC
A three-time Oscar-winning production designer, taking gold most recently for Martin Scorseses Hugo, Dante Ferrettis professional relationship with the legendary filmmaker takes him through nine films, from 1993s The Age of Innocence all the way up through Silence. Starring Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver as Jesuit priests facing violence and persecution in 17th Century Japan, Silence was a mammoth undertaking, a nearly three-hour film shot in dozens of locations across Taipei. Speaking with Deadline, the 73-year-old production designer breaks down his research process, his methodology as a production designer, the films numerous halted production starts over the years, and his long-standing relationship with Martin Scorsese.

How did you first come to be involved with Silence?

We talked about Silence many years ago, because I did prepare this movie five times. The problem was the money. I remember the first time when we sat down. We said, We have to do this movie, but we cant do it in Japan, because in Japan, it costs too much.

I went for the first time to New Zealand. In New Zealand, I found some places, beautiful places. Then at the last moment, they said, Oh, Dante, forget it for the moment, because we have to do another movie; we dont have the money for this movie.

Then, he called me again, another time. He said, Oh, Dante, you have to find something more close to us. So I went to see [Northern] California. California has so many places, so maybe we can do this here, in terms of a landscape. I said, We have to build anywaythe villages, everything.

Then, I went to Canada. Over there, I also found some place which was okay. Also this time, he said, Oh, Dante, forget it. I say, Okay. Forget it. [Laughs]

Then one day, he said, Dante. Were going to see Taipei in Taiwan, because over there, we are in China, we are close to Japan, and it really costs much less to do a movie over there. I said, Okay, well go.

Story continues

I went over there, I saw everything, and then Marty said, Dante, this time, were go ahead. Were going to do the movie. I went for nine months to Taipei in Taiwan. I found many locations for building the villages. Actually, I built all of Macau in the studio, on the back lot. On the back lot, we built the college. We started with the big cathedral, with all the stairs.

Nothing was there. Everything was built. Then, we built the Macau waterfrontfor when Rodrigues and Garrpe go to find Kichijiro inside the tavern. Then, all this stuffthe whole street, the taverneverything is built. Everything you saw in the movie is built from scratch. We didnt find anything. Then we did the missionary college and missionary Rodriguess room. Then, we found the location near Taipei where we did the beach, the wood, the village. Everything also was built with all the art in different places.

Then, I found another place for Goto, the second village. We built the village, crumbling for miles near the beach, where we had the execution. We built everything. [Laughs]

How is it, today, working with Scorsese? What is your working relationship like?

To work with Marty, for me at this point, has become not difficult, because this is movie number nine which I did with Marty. With Marty, in the beginning, of course I had to read the script, and then we see each other for a couple hours and he tells me what he likes to have. Then, I tell him what my idea is. He shows me some movies in his office, in the screening room. And then sometimes hell say, OK, look at the movie. Forget it. There is only one thing maybe thats interesting.

This normally is my job with Martythis is the way to work with him. Also, he always comes to see the set at the last moment. At the last moment, I call him, I say, Marty please, come to look at the set, because whats going on if something doesnt work? Oh, Dante, Im tired. I have to shoot this. I say, OK, but tomorrow, you come here with all these people and then something doesnt work, whats going to happen? OK, OK. Then he comes to look. Oh, great. Great. Bye. [Laughs]

What kind of research process did you go through for the film?

For this, it was 17th Century, so the research which I did was for the old Nagasaki. It was the paintings, and the drawings and all this stuff because theres obviously no pictures, nothing. I saw many books with a lot of design like it was in the period.

I changed many things. I put my own fantasy because Ive been to Tokyo and Kyoto for many days, many weeks. I looked all aroundhow was the city, the village of that period? Because part of the villages are still there. Even if there is more stuff[and its] more modernthere is also the old part. It was very interesting to see everything also for building Nagasaki.

This project seems like it was a feat of endurance to shoot, coming in at almost three hours long, at so many locations. How did you make your way through a production with such extreme requirements?

Yes, it was difficult. It was difficult because there were many problems. We worked well in Taiwan, but at the same time, they dont make too many movies. The problem was to have a lot of people for the build, but at the same time, we didnt ever have the money for bringing people from our side. For me, the only person I ever had was the set decorator, and a painter from Italy. That was it. For all the rest, we used people from Taiwan. Then, we divided all these people just to go to make all these different villages. During the shooting of these two villages, we did the big prison. We did the prison, and at the same time we built also the Inquisitors house. And also the little prison, and then the hole in the floor to put the prisoner upside down. All this, like I said, it was built. Nagasaki, it was built. The temple was built.

Did the climate on location present challenges for you?

Yes, because when you go to build something outside, on location, when its difficult to find everything In every location, wed bring all this stuff from Taipei to build an entire village. When youre on the stage, its OK, because you have everything here for work. But anyway, were still alive.

Did seeing the film premiere at the Vatican have special meaning for you?

I saw the movie before in New YorkI went to New York and then Marty showed me the movie. And then Marty came to Rome, a week later. He showed the movie for the Pope, but they were alone. What happened, I dont know. A day after, we went again to the Vatican, with the priests, Jesuits. Everybody loved the movie.

I was curious, also, because when I was shooting, I didnt have the time to go to look at what we shot the day before, two days before. Sometimes, I went to see Thelma [Schoonmaker], the editorI would say, Please, can you show me what we shot? I need to see. Then, Oh, this is good. Maybe its better for next time to change something, more or less.

With all the building that went on, what was your single greatest challenge with this production?

Just in the beginning, to think through what we have to do. Also, another thingI like to always make a mistake, because if you make a mistake, everything looks more real. When everything is perfect, it looks like a set. When you make a mistake, for me, its like being an actor. Its important when I say, I want to always make mistakes, because its like somebody lived the period which were going to do. Its like I am an architect in that periodI have to do what I like to do.

Youre attached to Scorseses next project, The Irishman. Is that right?

Yes. Now, well see when. I actually dont know. Marty said, OK, maybe April, May. Well see.

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* De Silva hits defiant 43 * Sri Lanka trail by 105 runs * Bad light stops play (Updates at close of play) PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Dhananjaya de Silva enhanced his rapidly-growing reputation with an unbeaten 43 as he kept South Africa's strike bowlers at bay to see Sri Lanka to 181 for seven in their first innings at the end of the second day of the first test on Tuesday. The 25-year-old, who hit a six with his first scoring shot when he made his test debut against Australia in July, brought Sri Lanka within 105 runs of South Africa's first innings total of 286 before bad light stopped play for the day. Sri Lanka had been in serious trouble at 21 for three as their top order was decimated but De Silva's knock and 39 from captain Angelo Matthews stemmed a possible collapse. Eleven wickets fell on a day when a bowler-friendly track proved something of a nightmare for batsmen. Suranga Lakmal claimed career-best figures to help dismiss South Africa in the first hour, completing his first test match five-wicket haul and finishing with 5-63 as the home side added just 19 runs to their overnight total of 267-6. South Africa's hopes of significantly adding to their score quickly faded as Vernon Philander was dismissed and followed back to the pavilion by Keshav Maharaj and Kyle Abbott, who each faced only three balls and failed to score. Quintin De Kock was the last South African wicket to fall, out for 37. South Africa then made quick inroads through the pace duo of Abbott and Philander to wrestle back control of the contest. Dimuth Karunaratne was the first Sri Lankan dismissed, getting an inside edge to Abbott and playing onto his stumps to depart for five. Kusal Perera went next for seven, caught behind by De Kock off Philander, and Kusal Mendis followed soon after without scoring as the wicketkeeper took another diving catch, this time off Abbott's bowling. Sri Lanka lost Matthews and opener Kaushal Silva, who had seen three wickets go down before him, in the second session and after tea Dinesh Chandimal (28) was given out leg before wicket off a Philander delivery and Rangana Herath (24) similarly trapped by Maharaj. Play will start 28 minutes earlier on Wednesday but rain is predicted for some part of the day. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Brian Homewood)
Cruise control. Taiwan has been nervously watching as Beijings aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, cruised past Taiwan on its way to the South China Sea in recent days, though Chinese officials said the movement was a routine drill. Taiwan has emerged as a point of contention between President-elect Donald Trump and China after Trumps phone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and his statement suggesting that his administration might ignore with the decades-old One China policy.

The threat of our enemies is growing day by day. We should always be maintaining our combat alertness, Taiwan Defense Minister Feng Shih-kuan said on Tuesday. China, of course, does not recognize the independence of Taiwan, which has purchased billions in U.S. weaponry over the decades. Last December, the government in Beijing confirmed that it was building a second aircraft carrier, and China likely has the ability to build multiple carriers over the next 15 years, the Pentagon said in a report earlier this year.

Beijing, Moscow have complains about that U.S. defense spending bill. Chinese officials arent happy over a provision contained in the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Barack Obama last week calling for more cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries. In a statement, Beijings Foreign Ministry said, we urge the U.S. side to abide by its promises made to China on the Taiwan issue, stop U.S.-Taiwan military contacts and arms sales to Taiwan, to avoid damaging Sino-U.S. ties and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Moscow and Syria. On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling Washingtons plans to drop some restrictions on supplying weapons to Syrian rebels a hostile act that threatened Russian warplanes operating in the country. The passing of this law in the last days of team Obama is an indication the administration is planting a landmine for the future administration of Donald Trump, in an attempt to complicate affairs in the international arena, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

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Sanctions. Likewise, the decision to renew U.S. sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and annexation of Crimea in 2014 was an attempt to impose the Obama administrations vicious anti-Russian course on the incoming Trump administration, she added. We hope that those who succeed them will be wiser. Still, U.S. officials tell the AP that talks between American and Russian military officials to ensure their aircraft dont run into one another over Syria have been fruitful, and have at times progressed beyond merely tactical communications.

To the Baltics. In an open message to Donald Trump  who has celebrated Russian President Vladimir Putins authoritarian tactics and questioned NATOs relevance, unnerving the alliances Baltic members  Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham arrived in Estonia on Tuesday on a trip widely perceived as an attempt to reassure Baltic states concerned Trump may not be committed to their defense.

I think this visit is being done to emphasize that, whatever happens after the inauguration, the U.S. Senate will be something the Baltic states can calmly rely upon, Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuanias former ambassador to Washington, told Reuters. McCain and Graham will next travel to Latvia and Lithuania on Thursday where theyll meet heads of state and defense officials.

In recent days, Trump has Tweeted approvingly about Putins criticism of Hillary Clinton, his opponent for president, and showed off a congratulatory note the Russian leader sent him after the election.

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

Russia

Russian officials are saying they dont believe that terrorism caused the crash of a Russian military plane that killed 92 people when it crashed into the Black Sea, according to the New York Times. The Tupolev 154 took off from Sochi on Sunday with 68 entertainers on board headed for a holiday concert in Latakia, Syria, where Russian forces in the country are based. Russian authorities are currently mounting search operations and say theyve found the black box. Russian Interior Minister Maxim Sokolov says terrorism has been ruled out already and Russian Air Force has vouched for both the pilot and the aircraft involved.

Afghanistan

The New York Times reveals the story behind a Norwegian diplomats secretive, backchannel talks with Taliban leaders and the story of a peace deal that might have been. Alf Arne Ramslien tells the paper he started meeting with Taliban officials sent by the groups late emir Mullah Omar to talk about a possible peace deal to end the fighting in Afghanistan starting in 2007. Norwegian diplomats managed to arrange for Taliban and an Afghan government delegations to meet in Norway for talks in 2008 but the effort was sabotaged when a Taliban delegation members family was attacked in an explosion in Quetta  an act officials believed was a warning that Pakistan didnt want the talks to continue.

Capt. Niloofar Rahmani, the Afghan militarys only female pilot, used to be a symbol of things going right with the country. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports, Rahmani is in the U.S. asking for asylum. After a C-130 training course Rahmani was attending ended last week, she refused to return to Afghanistan and sought asylum, saying she hoped to fly either for an airline or the U.S. Air Force if her request is accepted. The Afghan military has had repeated problems with troops deserting once they arrive in the United States for training.

Pakistan

Fake news has generated some very real threats in international relations as Pakistan defense minister threatened Israel with nuclear war over a bogus online story. The AP reports that a fake news purveyor AWD News published a story about a non-existent threat by a former Israeli defense minister threatening to use nuclear weapons against Pakistan if it sent troops to Syria. Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif read and believed the story, leading him to tweet ominously at Israel that Pakistan is a nuclear state too.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabias interior ministry estimates that about 2,093 Saudi citizens have joined up with jihadist groups abroad as foreign fighters. Agence France Presse reports that the ministry believes that 70 percent of fighters are currently with groups in Syria. The rest of the foreign fighters were either in Yemen, Afghanistan and Pakistan, or Iraq.

Business of defense

This year is ending with a bang for U.S. arms sales, according to Defense News. Arms sales greenlit by the State Departments Defense Security Cooperation Agency up until late December amount to around $45.2 billion. The end-of-year blowout sale of F-15QA and F/A-18E fighter jets to Gulf countries pushed the 2016 total up by around $31.2 billion.

Photo Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images
Brussels (AFP) - Belgium has prevented six attacks over the past two years, a senior police official said Tuesday, with the country still a prominent target for jihadist assaults.

"I can announce... that over two years, since November 2014 precisely, we have been able to foil at least six attacks," Eric Jacobs, head of judicial police in Brussels, said in an interview with the daily La Derniere Heure, without offering further details.

Jacobs said Belgium has been fighting terrorism for 20 years but with population growing in the Belgian capital, the number of groups has multiplied.

"There are more than 200 nationalities in the capital. There is not only Daesh (an acronym for Islamic State). There are other radical movements," he said.

In January 2015, Belgian police dismantled a cell in Verviers in the east of the country which was later seen as the rough beginnings of the jihadist group that attacked Paris in November that year.

And on March 22, IS-linked attackers struck Brussels airport and the metro killing 32 people, despite the arrest in the Belgian capital only four days earlier of the last surviving jihadist from the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam.

Since that attack, Belgian police and intelligence services have seen a major increase in information, "up to 600 tips daily", Jacobs said.

"A lot of the tips are not relevant but when we're told that some grey car is suspect, if we don't verify it and there is an attack the next day, they are going to say that we knew and didn't do anything," he said.

The threat level in Belgium remains high at three on a scale of four levels and is expected to be unchanged through the New Year holiday.

"Forty-five percent of the federal judicial police in Brussels are assigned to combat terrorism," Jacobs said, urging continued reinforcement of the police services.
PARIS (AP)  French authorities say the main suspect in Berlin's deadly Christmas market attack made a stop in the eastern French city of Lyon, yet they still don't know how he entered French soil.

The Paris prosecutors' office says Tuesday that Anis Amri, who was shot dead Friday outside a deserted train station in a Milan suburb following a four-day manhunt, bought his train ticket for the Italian city at Lyon's Part Dieu train station.

Amri was filmed in the railway station before he traveled to the French Alpine town of Chambery, where he then went into Italy.

Italian police said Amri traveled from Germany through France and into Italy after his truck rampage in Berlin killed 12 people and injured 56 others.
By PTI: Kapurthala (Pb), Dec 27 (PTI) A criminal case has been registered against a Congress MLA and three other party leaders for allegedly beating a ticket aspirant and throwing away his turban in Nadala village here. In a complaint lodged with Subhanpur police, complainant Kulwinder Singh Babbal alleged that he was invited to a meeting by Congress leader Daljit Singh to express his views for giving ticket to an outsider Gurbinder Singh Atwal from Bholath assembly seat. He alleged when he opposed the candidature of Atwal being an outsider, Daljit and other Congress leaders started beating him and threw away his turban.

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They also took out revolver and threatened him with dire consequences at the instance of local Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh, he claimed. A criminal case has been registered under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act against Congress leaders, including Rana Gurjit and Daljit and one unidentified person, police said, adding no arrests have been made as yet.

Meanwhile, Rana Gurjit today said it was a political conspiracy against him as he had only presided over the meeting to bring unity among Congressmen. He demanded the cancellation of the "false" case registered against him and other Congress leaders. PTI cor VJ RCJ

--- ENDS ---
PABRADE, Lithuania (AP)  Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite gazed imperiously over snow-covered woodlands, the stage for NATO's "Iron Sword" exercise. One of the European Union's toughest leaders  and a karate black belt to boot  she knows that power these days needs real military hardware to back it up.

With an increasingly bellicose Russia on its doorstep and a capricious ally in U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, the rest of the EU is forced to acknowledge as much too.

Europe used to be good at influencing people and nations without toting a gun. It was called soft power, and depended on aid, trade, diplomacy, even culture. If there is one lesson for 2017, it is that soft power alone won't work anymore.

Far from Lithuania's icy roads, where the exercise involving 4,000 allied troops from 11 nations sought to impress nearby Russia, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker stressed the need for a stronger defense posture before EU legislators earlier this month.

"Our credibility not only depends on being a soft power," he pleaded as he called for more, and better-coordinated, defense spending after decades of sinking budgets in many European nations.

Even if the seeds of change were already planted, Trump shouted loud and clear over the summer that the United States stands ready to help European nations in the face of a Russian threat only if they pay their fair share for NATO's combined defense. It called into question the vaunted Article 5 of the alliance treaty, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all, and that the target would automatically receive help and assistance.

Ever since World War II, the second time in the 20th century Europe had to count on American help to end a conflict, it has been thus. Over time, a budgetary laziness set in, with many countries convinced the United States would come through in an hour of need.

As "the guarantor of peace after the Second World War in Europe," the United States long has shared responsibility for the continent's safety, Grybauskaite said. "We expect that this mission, and this understanding, will stay." But heading into 2017 with Trump's priorities less than clear, that could be wishful thinking.

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Defense and military clout has never been a cornerstone of the EU, which built its network of close cooperation on trade and economic cooperation. Instead NATO pools the military forces of much of Europe and North America and has historically been instrumental in rebuffing the Soviet Union.

Since the demise of Communism, it seemed the heyday of EU soft power had come. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's influence over the wars in Syria and Ukraine, now dragging on for years, has deeply frustrated a Europe only able to change events on the ground through diplomacy, money or humanitarian aid.

"Faced with the brutality of the Syrian regime and its supporters, notably Russia and Iran, we are not as effective as we would like to be," EU Council President Donald Tusk said. "Unfortunately, I know who is effective enough, not in humanitarian assistance, but in bombing."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said "we are all seeing something in the 21st century that is shameful, that is heart-breaking, that shows we haven't been able to act politically how we would like to act."

It's one more reason why the EU is finally trying to coordinate the patchwork of national defense spending, planning and production among its 28 member states, which range from nuclear powers Britain and France to tiny nations like Luxembourg and Malta.

Time and again, Juncker has hit the mantra of coordination  more to the point, the lack of it. Decades ago, the EU was already seeking to coordinate defense industries, to little avail. The result is waste and inefficiency in a vital task for any political group: assuring security for its citizens.

"We, Europeans, we spend 200 billion euros a year on but we are 12 to 15 percent as efficient as the Americans because we overlap and don't work together enough," Juncker said, adding that up to 100 billion euros a year could be saved.

"We have in Europe 174 kinds of weapons," Juncker said, highlighting the wasteful profusion. "One European helicopter and one European tank would be enough."

But beyond greater synergy, there must be increased spending. In a rare entry into the public debate, even France's military chief called for more money.

Gen. Pierre de Villiers, chief of the general staff, said that, "peace, no longer is a given. We have to conquer it." He wants to upgrade France's nuclear arsenals and other equipment, and boost defense spending over the next five years to 2 percent of gross domestic product, compared to 1.77 percent currently.

That 2 percent threshold is the official NATO guideline. While the United States spends 3.61 percent on defense, only four of the EU's 22 NATO members meet the target. When Trump comes to Brussels for his first NATO summit sometime this spring, he need not look far for a lackadaisical member state. Belgium continues to spend less and less on defense and currently stands in NATO's second worst spot with 0.85 percent.

Lithuania's Grybauskaite wants to be able to look Trump straight in the eye.

In Pabrade, after inspecting NATO armored vehicles, Grybauskaite insists that Lithuania is on track to meet the target. "Lithuania next year will be having 1.8 percent of GDP already and the next year, 2018, we will have our 2 percent."

"We are doing our homework  we are investing into our defense," she said.

___

Casert reported from Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Panama City (AFP) - Two sons of Panamanian ex-president Ricardo Martinelli denied on Monday reports that they had received $6 million intended as a bribe for their father from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht.

Ricardo Martinelli Linares and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares said in a statement that news reports linking them to a $6 million payment aimed at securing substantial contracts for Odebrecht were "groundless."

Their father, who was president from 2009 to 2014, has been living in voluntary exile in Miami, Florida. Panama is seeking his extradition to face allegations of graft and spying on political opponents.

The brothers' statement was published on the Twitter account of the former president, who confirmed its authenticity to AFP without providing any details.

The brothers said they reserved the right to take legal action against those responsible for the alleged "media campaign" against them, adding that they could not allow their honor "to be tarnished by special interests."

Brazilian newspapers last week quoted former Odebrecht chief Luiz Eduardo Soares as telling Brazilian prosecutors that "commissions" had been paid to Martinelli's sons.

The US Justice Department recently reported that Odebrecht had paid bribes worth hundreds of millions of dollars to obtain contracts in nine Latin American countries.

It said the construction company paid more than $59 million in bribes to Panama between 2010 and 2014 to obtain contracts valued at $175 million.

Several members of Ricardo Martinelli's former cabinet have been jailed on related corruption charges.

Panama's government on Thursday warned of punishment for public employees who took bribes from Odebrecht.

That declaration 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."

Odebrecht 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.
South Korean lawmakers defecting from the ruling Saenuri Party said Tuesday they would soon launch a new political party and hoped the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would join them. The lawmakers are hoping Ban would agree to run for president as part of their new party.

The Saenuri Party is embroiled in a political controversy  South Koreas biggest in recent years  with President Park Geun-hye, a member of the ruling party, at the center of a corruption scandal that led to a parliamentary impeachment vote against her earlier in December.

Twenty-nine lawmakers, who will join the new party, also voted in favor of Parks impeachment.

We are hoping Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will join the New Conservative Party for Reform, and if he joins, it will be right that he would compete in a fair primary, Yoo Seong-min, a member of the new party and a possible presidential candidate, reportedly said using the partys tentative name.

Park, who is still president in name, allegedly allowed her friend Choi Soon-sil to meddle in government affairs. Choi allegedly influenced Parks decisions and used her ties to the president to amass profits. Both Park and Choi have denied any wrongdoing.

The nations Constitutional Court said Tuesday official hearings regarding the impeachment of Park would begin next week. Following the parliaments Dec. 9 vote, the court has up to six months to either dismiss the charges against Park and reinstate her as president or fall in line with the parliaments decision.

If the court approves the parliaments impeachment vote, fresh elections must be held within 60 days.

Ban has not officially announced his bid for presidency but said he would devote himself to his country after he finishes his second term as the U.N. chief. The 72-year-old served as South Koreas minister for foreign affairs from 2004 to 2006 and will return to the country on Jan. 15, 2017.

I will devote my whole body to work hard if what I have seen and experienced as the U.N. secretary-general helps develop the Republic of Korea, Ban told Korean media last week. I will decide what to do after meeting people from every walk of life after returning home.

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A new poll indicated that popular support for the U.N. chief in his home country had risen by 2.8 percent last week. Ban is currently enjoying a slim lead over other potential presidential candidates.

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PORT ELIZABETH (Reuters) - Sri Lanka suffered a top order collapse and slumped to 37 for three at second day's lunch after Suranga Lakmal claimed career-best figures to help dismiss South Africa for 286 in the first test at St George's Park on Tuesday. Lakmal, who took four wickets on the opening day on Monday, completed a first test five-wicket haul and finished with 5-63 as South Africa were dismissed inside the first hour of the session. The home side added just 19 runs to their overnight total, losing four wickets cheaply in under nine overs at the start of a sunny day. South Africa then made quick inroads through pace duo of Kyle Abbott and Vernon Philander to wrestle back control of the contest. Seven wickets fell in the bowler-dominated first session on a wicket expected to assist the bowlers throughout the day. Dimuth Karunaratne was the first Sri Lankan dismissed, getting an inside edge to Abbott and playing onto his stumps to depart for five. Kusal Perera went next for seven, caught behind by Quinton de Kock off Philander and Kusal Mendis followed soon after without scoring as the wicketkeeper took another diving catch, this time off Abbotts bowling. Kaushal Silva (12 not out) and captain Angelo Matthews (5 not out) will resume after lunch with Sri Lanka still 241 runs behind. South Africa had been hoping de Kock and Philander would add significant runs to their overnight total of 267-6 but Philander went in the fifth over of the day, tempted into a hook by a short ball from Nuwan Pradeep and being caught at deep square leg. He was out for 13 and was followed quickly back to the pavilion by Keshav Maharaj and Abbott, who both faced only three balls and failed to score. Maharaj was caught behind by wicket Dinesh Chandimal off Lakmal while Abbott was run out. De Kock was the last South African wicket to fall, out for 37 as he was superbly yorked by Pradeep. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
Los Angeles (AFP) - Hollywood star Carrie Fisher -- best known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the wildly popular "Star Wars" films -- died Tuesday, days after suffering a heart attack on a transatlantic flight.

The 60-year-old actress had been in intensive care in a Los Angeles hospital after collapsing on the jetliner from London on Friday.

"It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," family spokesman Simon Halls told AFP in a statement on behalf of Fisher's daughter.

"She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly."

Hopes had been raised for Fisher's recovery after her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, told her Twitter followers on Sunday her daughter was in stable condition.

Fisher was catapulted to worldwide stardom as the royal rebel Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, which has been a cultural phenomenon since the release of the films from 1977 to 1983.

She had just finished filming the third season of her latest screen project, the Amazon comedy television series "Catastrophe," which is set in London.

She had also been on a publicity tour for her new book, "The Princess Diarist," which made headlines because she wrote about a three-month affair with Harrison Ford while they were filming the original "Star Wars" trilogy.
Carrie Fisher dies at 60 Carrie Fisher, best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, has died following a sudden heart attack; she was 60. (Photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images)

Carrie Fisher, best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, has died following a sudden heart attack; she was 60.

Fisher suffered a massive heart attack on Friday during a flight from London to Los Angeles. "It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning," read a statement from family spokesperson Simon Halls. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

Actress Anna Akana, who was also on the flight, noted that Fisher wasn't breathing for 10 minutes or so after the attack. Once the plane landed in Los Angeles, paramedics performed CPR on Fisher for 15 minutes before getting a pulse. They then rushed her to nearby UCLA Medical Center, where she was placed on a ventilator. Hours later, Fisher was moved from the emergency room to the intensive care unit, her brother, Todd Fisher, told our sister site, Variety.

Fisher shot to international fame as Princess Leia in the 1977 blockbuster Star Wars and reprised the role in 1980's The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Return of the Jedi. She returned to the franchise as Leia in last year's The Force Awakens.

See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Tumblr.
Star Wars newest heroine is paying tribute to the galaxys most famous princess.

Daisy Ridley, who plays Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is offering her condolences following the death of Princess Leia actress Carrie Fisher, 60, on Tuesday.

Devastated at this monumental loss, Ridley, 24, said in a statement to PEOPLE. How lucky we all are to have known her, and how awful that we have to say goodbye.

Fisher, 60, was aboard an 11-hour flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday when she went into cardiac arrest. Paramedics removed her from the flight and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for a heart attack. She later died in the hospital.

Ridley and Fisher costarred in the Force Awakens, with Fisher reprising her role as Princess Leia. During the run-up to the films premiere, the actresses spoke about the importance of portraying strong female leads.

Well, obviously Princess Leia and Carrie are a source of inspiration for girls for the past 30 years, said Ridley at a Los Angeles press conference. Im definitely not quite there yet but I hope Rey will be something of a girl power figure.

RELATED: Iconic Star Wars Actress Carrie Fisher Dies at 60

Fisher also spoke to Ridley about her sex symbol status, warning the actress to remain in control of her own image. You should fight for your outfit, Fisher told Ridley in Interview Magazine. Dont be a slave like I was.

Since her death, other members of the famous franchise have paid tribute to Fishers life and legacy, including Star Wars creator George Lucas and her Star Wars costars Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, who played Han Solo and Luke Skywalker respectively.

Carrie was one-of-a-kindbrilliant, original, Ford said in a statement to PEOPLE. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely  My thoughts are with her daughter Billie, her mother Debbie, her brother Todd, and her many friends. We will all miss her.

Hamill was speechless about the heartbreaking news of Fishers death: No words #Devastated, the actor tweeted alongside a photo of the two during their Star Wars years.




Juliette Timsit posted this image of the Anne Frank Elementary School defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti in Montreuil, France, on Dec. 25, 2016. (Juliette Timsit via Facebook)

This year, the start of Hanukkah was met with a spate of anti-Semitism, including an apparent attack at a California synagogue, and at a school in France that was defaced with graffiti in German declaring, Jews prohibited. Even President-elect Donald Trump was bombarded with anti-Semitic tweets after he sent good wishes to those celebrating the holiday.

In the case of the California synagogue, Rabbi Boruch Rabinowitz arrived at the Living Torah Center Chabad in Santa Monica on Sunday morning to discover feces and rice smeared across the front window of the synagogue.

Although there were no anti-Semitic messages found on the building, the timing and location of the defacement, near the prominently displayed menorah, have led Rabinowitz and others in the congregation to believe that it was a religiously motivated attack.

This seems kind of intentional, assistant Rabbi Dovid Tenenbaum told the Los Angeles Times. With a religious artifact in the window, we have to assume so.

Santa Monica police officers took a report at the scene of the crime but, the Times noted, there were no witnesses.

Living Torah Center in Santa Monica, Calif., in August 2016. (Google)

Meanwhile, in suburban Paris, swastikas and anti-Semitic messages were found spray-painted across the front of a school named for Anne Frank in Montreuil. Frank was the young Holocaust victim whose published diary is one of the most famous accounts of Jewish life in Europe under the Nazis.

Police are reportedly investigating the vandalism, but as in the case of the incident in Santa Monica, there were no witnesses or security cameras to capture the vandals. Still, Montreuil Mayor Patrice Bessac condemned the graffiti on Twitter and declared, Those who allow themselves to cross the red line must know that they will be exposed to severe punishment, according to the Israeli news site YNet.

Najat Belkacem, Frances education minister, echoed Bessacs sentiment, tweeting, The inscriptions on Montreuils Anne Frank School are despicable. These actions will not remain unpunished.

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The schools former principal, Juliette Timsit, posted photos of the hateful graffiti on Facebook.

Juliette Timsit posted this image of the Anne Frank school defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti in Montreuil, France, on Dec. 25, 2016. (Juliette Timsit via Facebook)

This is the school that was targeted, particularly because of its name, Anne Frank, she wrote, according to a translation published by YNet and the Times of Israel. I was very proud to be a principal in this school. I love it. I am deeply affected by this and can barely hold back the tears.

Both France and the United States have experienced recent surges in anti-Semitism. According to the Jewish Agency for Israel, the organization responsible for aliyah, or Jewish immigration to Israel from other parts of the world, a record 8,000 Jews relocated from France to Israel in 2015, more than any other country in Europe. The majority reportedly cited a steady increase in anti-Semitism over the past 15 years as their primary reason for leaving.

In the United States, a new wave of American anti-Semitism really began over the course of the 2016 presidential election. According to the Anti-Defamation League, more than 800 journalists were subjected to anti-Semitic Twitter attacks during the election  just one part of a recent spread of anti-Jewish language, imagery and conspiracy theories aired both online and in public in the past year.

Despite Trumps disavowal of his more blatantly white supremacist or anti-Semitic supporters, the ADL argues that there were several occasions on which Trump at least inadvertently fanned the flames of this growing anti-Jewish sentiment. Critics point to the incident in which he tweeted an altered image of his rival Hillary Clinton atop a pile of money with Most Corrupt Candidate Ever! written inside a Star of David. They also point to his accusation that Clinton was secretly plotting with bankers and other members of the global elite to rig the U.S. economy, echoing a classic anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jews control the worlds banks.

However, just one month after a group of white nationalists celebrated Trumps presidential win with Nazi salutes, the president-elect came in for criticism from some of his anti-Semitic supporters when he tweeted Happy Hanukkah on Christmas Eve.

Wtf I hate trump now, tweeted one disappointed fan. Did you move to Israel already? Or only forgot to wish Merry Christmas? another retorted.

Others reacted much more viciously to Trumps Hanukkah message, with several people tweeting in reply the claim that Jews promote white genocide.

Do not assist them in wiping out our race, read one appeal to the president-elect.

You better be f***ing kidding me! declared another, whose account has since been suspended. I voted for you and you said you were a good Christians [sic] and we dont support satanic jews.

Trump recently declared his presidential win a victory for beleaguered Christians tired of being forced to forgo wishing their neighbors and colleagues a Merry Christmas in favor of the more politically correct Happy holidays.

It is perhaps because of his public crusade against the war on Christmas that some supporters may have forgotten that Trumps daughter, Ivanka, converted to Orthodox Judaism before her wedding to Jared Kushner in 2009 and that their three children  Trumps grandchildren  are Jewish. Kushner is one of Trumps closest advisers.
Some law school applicants struggle with the LSAT, and their challenge is to convince schools to look beyond test scores.

Clare Prober, 22, of Massachusetts, was one of those applicants. Because her mother tongue is Russian and not English, she says, it was difficult for her to finish the reading comprehension portion of the LSAT quickly enough to achieve the test score she wanted.

This was frustrating for Prober, who had excelled as an undergraduate at Wheaton College in Massachusetts.

Nevertheless, Prober was determined to go to law school. She carefully crafted her application essays and emphasized both her background as a child of Russian immigrants and her achievements during college. The goal was to make the strongest possible case for acceptance and mitigate concerns admissions officers might have because of her LSAT score.

[Find out ways to craft a successful application to a top law school.]

Prober focused her personal statement on her experience as a Russian - American, and she described in her essay how her Russian roots shaped her perspective on the U.S. legal system. In the other written components of her law school application, Prober discussed both her academic accomplishments and work experiences.

"I think I got into some schools that, just based on my LSAT scores alone, I shouldn't have gotten into," says Prober, who just wrapped up her first semester at Suffolk University School of Law.

Prober recommends that other law school applicants adopt the same approach. Here are four ways to build a solid case in a law school application.

1. Focus on experiences that shaped your character: Anthony Ervin, director of admissions at the North Carolina Central University School of Law, says he is not as interested in hearing about where a student grew up as much as he is in learning about his or her character.

Ervin says applicants should be mindful that every anecdote they tell about their past in their law school application should have a point that is relevant to their desire to be a lawyer, and that communicating personal drive is an essential component of a strong personal statement.

Story continues

"Our criteria is we're looking for passion, work ethic and commitment," Ervin says.

[Explore how to strengthen a law school essay with a thesis.]

2. Discuss your career goals: Cameron Dare Clark, a second-year student at Harvard Law School, says the central theme of his law school application was his dream to become a civil rights attorney.

Clark says his experience as an African-American man from a low-income family inspires his hope that law can be used as a tool to fight for social justice.

He says conveying a compelling vision of your future strengthens your law school application.

"The most effective way to create a clear and coherent application is to start with the vision and work backwards," Clark said in an email.

3. Remove fluff: Matt Shinners, senior consultant at jdMission and senior manager of academics at Manhattan Prep, says law school applicants sometimes make the mistake of disclosing too much information.

Shinners says excessive detail is counterproductive, because it bores the reader and distracts from the core message.

"Put down in one sentence what you want to convey," Shinners says.

Towards the end of the application process, he says, applicants should pare down their application to make it as concise as possible

Anything that does not illustrate your main point should be cut, Shinners says, and if you are not sure what the essence of your application is, one useful exercise is filling in the blanks of the following sentence: "I am an ___ person who wants to go to law school because ___."

Shinners says this exercise will help distill and frame an argument for acceptance.

[Consider these law school scholarships.]

4. See if you've swayed an acquaintance: A relative stranger is more likely to notice flaws in your application and give criticism than a close friend, Shinners says.

People who care about an applicant often accept the claims an applicant makes without demanding proof, he says, but strangers are more skeptical. Moreover, he says, an acquaintance is more likely to call you out on language that sounds arrogant.

"Your friends and family will fill in the gaps and look at your application in a positive light," he says . "It's important to make sure that somebody who doesn't know you will take away the same thing as somebody who does know you."

Searching for a law school? Get our complete rankings of Best Law Schools.

Ilana Kowarski covers graduate schools for U.S. News. You can reach her via email at ikowarski@usnews.com.
An Indigo flight was headed towards taxiway after landing just when a SpiceJet aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Both the passenger jets came face-to-face.

By Anindya Banerjee: A major disaster was averted at the Delhi airport today when two aircraft came face-to-face moments before one was to takeoff.

According to reports, an Indigo flight was headed towards taxiway after landing just when a SpiceJet aircraft was preparing for takeoff. Both the passenger jets came face-to-face. Operations at the airport were not affected due the incident.

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HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:

The runway that the Indigo aircraft used for going to taxiway after touching down was also used by another SpiceJet flight for take off.

Though there was enough distance between the two, it was against the defined aviation rules for the two jets to use the same runway.

In such incidents relating directly to passengers' safety a default inquiry takes place. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) inquiry will also be probing the role of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) in the incident.

"SpiceJet flight SG 123 operating Delhi-Hyderabad was following ATC instructions at all times at the Delhi airport. While taxiing, the SpiceJet crew observed another aircraft on the same taxiway in the opposite direction. Acting promptly, the SpiceJet crew immediately stopped the aircraft and intimated the ATC," said a SpiceJet spokesperson.

JET AIRWAYS FLIGHT SKIDS OFF RUNWAY AT GOA AIRPORT

The near miss at the Delhi airport comes just hours after a Jet Airways flight with 161 people on board veered off the runway and skidded into the field at Goa airport. Some passengers were hurt in the incident.

Jet flight 9W 2374 was scheduled to fly from Goa to Mumbai at 4.40 am but aborted the takeoff at the last moment as pilots detected a technical snag.

The flight spun 360 degree before coming to a halt in the field inside the Dabolim airport premises.

Passengers were made to de-board the jet through emergency chutes and brought back to the airport safely."Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in an official statement.

Click here to watch the video.

ALSO READ:

Jet Airways Goa-Mumbai flight with 161 on board skids off runway, all passengers evacuated BSF aircraft crashes near Delhi airport, all 10 on board killed

--- ENDS ---
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian opposition's main political body on Tuesday urged rebel groups to cooperate with "sincere regional efforts" to reach a ceasefire but said it had not been invited to any conference, referring to a meeting in Kazakhstan proposed by Russia. Riad Hijab, general coordinator for the High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said confidence-building measures were needed to create an atmosphere for political transition talks which should be held in Geneva and sponsored by the United Nations. "We support the shifts in positions of some international powers and the positive, sincere efforts that could represent a starting point for realising the Syrian people's aspirations, by reaching an agreement that brings security and stability," Hijab said in a written statement distributed to the press. The HNC said it wants to see a truce that covers all of Syria, in line with previous U.N. resolutions which forbid the use of banned weapons such as barrel bombs and chemical agents. Other resolutions call for all sieges to be lifted, humanitarian aid access, a halt in air strikes and no more forced displacement. Iran and Russia support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the nearly six-year Syrian conflict. Turkey and the United States support opposition groups. Peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this year because of a surge in violence. Russia, Iran and Turkey said last week they were ready to help broker a peace deal after holding talks in Moscow where they adopted a declaration setting out principles for an agreement. Arrangements for the talks, which would not include the United States and would be distinct from separate intermittent U.N.-brokered negotiations, remain hazy. But Moscow has said they would take place in Kazakhstan, a close ally. Hijab said the HNC had not been informed of any official arrangements, but said: "Certainly, defining a clear agenda will help define the positions of the active powers." (Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Tom Perry; Editing by Louise Ireland and Dan Grebler)
The principal of a Taiwanese high school has stepped down after students held a Nazi-themed parade ahead of the Christmas weekend, triggering a furore and harsh criticism from Israel.

Photos and videos circulated online of students wearing mock Nazi uniforms while holding swastika flags and banners, some laughing and dancing, during a parade on Friday to celebrate the school's 62-year anniversary.

A teacher also joined in the procession and was seen giving a Nazi salute as he stood inside a tank made of paper cartons, according to local media.

As the students marched, a compere announced: "Here comes Hitler, salute to him students, or the tank will crush you later or you will be taken to the gas chamber," according to a video posted on Apple Daily's website.

As criticism mounted, Cheng Hsiao-ming, head of Kuang Fu High School in northern Hsinchu city, apologised for allowing the parade to go ahead and tendered his resignation.

"I apologise to the victims and the public... We made a mistake and I will take the responsibility to step down," he said Sunday, promising that other school officials would also be punished.

The Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei issued a statement condemning the incident as "tasteless" and "outrageous".

"It is deplorable and shocking that seven decades only after the world had witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust, a high school in Taiwan is supporting such an outrageous action," it said in a Facebook post.

Germany's de facto embassy in Taiwan said in a statement that the students failed to understand that the Nazi symbol stands for human contempt and oppression.

Taiwan's education ministry has also apologised over the incident and demanded the school immediately improve students' history education.

East Asian pop culture and commercial art has a long history of fascination with Hitler and the Nazis.

Occasionally, Hitler turns up in Asian advertisement campaigns, and a pub called "Nazi Bar" briefly operated in Taipei in the 1990s.

In 2011, Taiwan's 7-Eleven came under fire for selling key rings and magnets sporting a Hitler lookalike, but the convenience store chain denied the images were meant to represent the German dictator.
Taiwan's defence minister warned Tuesday that enemy threats were growing daily after China's aircraft carrier and a flotilla of other warships passed south of the island in an exercise as tensions rise.

After sailing south of Taiwan itself, the Liaoning and five other warships on Monday passed the Taiwan-administered Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.

The naval drills are seen as a show of strength by Beijing as its relations worsen with Taiwan and the United States, following a protocol-breaking telephone conversation between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US President-elect Donald Trump.

Chinese media had earlier reported that the carrier was headed for the Pacific on exercise for the first time along with its escort ships.

It was the latest in a series of recent exercises staged by China, after its military aircraft passed near Taiwan on December 10 for the second time in less than a month.

Taiwan's defence minister Feng Shih-kuan said Tuesday, during a promotion ceremony for generals, that threats from the enemy were growing daily.

"I ask for strict training... We train the soldiers so they can not only survive the war but also destroy the enemies and accomplish their missions," he said, without referring to China by name.

"The threat from our enemy is increasing day by day. We need to maintain combat vigilance at any time. This is my expectation of you all."

Feng confirmed that Taiwan sent RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft to monitor the Chinese warships.

His ministry estimated that the Liaoning would arrive at a base in China's southern island province of Hainan around Tuesday evening.

"The ministry has been tracking the Liaoning carrier's movements so the public can rest assured... and will closely monitor its movements in the future," it said in a statement.

Recently the Liaoning has been involved in exercises in the Yellow Sea, with J-15 fighter jets taking off from it and conducting air refuelling and combat drills, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.

Story continues

Earlier in the month the Liaoning led large-scale exercises in the Bohai Sea that included live ammunition for the first time.

Ties between Taiwan and China have turned increasingly frosty since Tsai's election victory in January. Beijing has cut off official communication with her government, which took office in May, after it refused to publicly accept the "one China" concept.

Under Taiwan's previous government the two sides had stuck to the "1992 consensus", in which they agree there is only one China without specifying which is its rightful representative.

China poses the main military threat to self-ruled Taiwan. Beijing sees the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification -- by force if necessary -- even though the two sides have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949.

It has more than 1,000 missiles aimed at the island, according to Taiwan's defence ministry.
By Andrew M. Seaman (Reuters Health) - After marijuana was legalized for adults in the U.S. state of Washington, younger teens there perceived it to be less harmful and reported using it more, a new study found. States should consider developing evidence-based prevention programs aimed at adolescents before they legalize the recreational use of marijuana, the researchers say. "Across the country there has been a decreased perception of risk and an increase in marijuana use among adolescents," said lead author Magdalena Cerda, of the University of California, Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento. She told Reuters Health that trying marijuana at a young age is tied to an increased risk of regular use later on. Chronic use of marijuana may be tied to negative outcomes, such as psychosis and poor financial status. Cerda's team reports that since 1996, 28 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, and Colorado and Washington state legalized it for recreational purposes in 2012. For the new study, the researchers used data from a national survey of 253,902 teens in grades eight, 10 and 12. The survey, conducted between 2010 and 2015, included questions about how harmful adolescents perceived marijuana to be and whether they had used it within the past month. In Washington state, eighth graders' perception of marijuana's harmfulness fell by about 14 percent from before legalization (2010 to 2012) to afterward (2013 to 2015). Similarly, among 10th graders, the perception of harmfulness decreased about 16 percent. Additionally, the proportion of kids reporting marijuana use in the previous month rose 2 percent among eighth graders and about 4 percent among 10th graders over that same period. Those changes were significant when the researchers compared them to states that hadn't legalized recreational marijuana, where teens' perception of harm fell by 5 to 7 percent and their use of the drug only increased about 1 percent. There were no significant changes in perceived marijuana harmfulness or use among 12th graders in Washington, however. The researchers speculate that older students may already have a fully formed opinion of marijuana. Additionally, the researchers didn't see any significant before-and-after-legalization differences among students in Colorado. Possibly, they say, this might be because adolescents there were exposed to a robust medical marijuana industry before its recreational use was legalized. In an editorial accompanying the new study, Dr. Alain Joffe of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore said research on marijuana is crucial for public policy development. "Sound public policy should be based on data that are meticulously collected and thoughtfully analyzed," writes Joffe, who is an associate editor of JAMA Pediatrics. "The evolving status of marijuana in the United States provides a critical opportunity for us to do so." Since 2012, Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, D.C. have also approved marijuana for recreational use. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed its opposition to the legalization of marijuana, which it says may be harmful to youths (see http://reut.rs/2hhKNH2). SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2hhGGeo JAMA Pediatrics, online December 27, 2016.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Japanese electronics company Panasonic and U.S. electric car maker Tesla said Tuesday they plan to begin production of solar cells at a factory in Buffalo, New York.

The two companies said they finalized an agreement calling for Tokyo-based Panasonic to pay capital costs for the manufacturing. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla made a "long-term purchase commitment" to Panasonic.

Their statement gave no financial figures.

The factory in Buffalo is under development by SolarCity Corp., a San Mateo, California-based solar panel company owned by Tesla. The photovoltaic cells and modules will be used in solar panels for non-solar roof products and solar glass tile roofs that Tesla plans to begin making, the announcement said.

Production is due to begin in mid-2017. Tesla said it will create 1,400 jobs in Buffalo, 500 in manufacturing and plans further expansion in Buffalo.

Panasonic also is to work with Tesla on next-generation technology, the companies said.

New York state has committed $750 million to build and outfit the plant at Buffalo's RiverBend site, the centerpiece of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" program to revitalize the upstate region's largest city.

SolarCity has committed to investing $5 billion over 10 years in New York state, hiring almost 1,500 workers at the Buffalo plant for five years and employing at least 2,000 more people across New York in exchange for use of the state-owned plant.

In October, when word emerged about the possible manufacturing collaboration, the head of New York state's economic development agency said SolarCity will be held to job creation promises made when the state committed funding to build and outfit the plant, which is expected to begin production next summer.
Buenos Aires (AFP) - Thieves robbed the Buenos Aires home of Argentine striker Carlos Tevez while the Boca Juniors star was in Uruguay celebrating his wedding, police sources revealed on Tuesday.

The value of the stolen items has yet to be disclosed, as the former Manchester City and Manchester United forward had still to file an official complaint.

Tevez married the mother of his three children, Vanesa Mansilla, last Thursday in front of more than 200 guests at a ceremony on the banks of the Rio de la Plata.

But he discovered the break-in on Sunday when he returned to his house in the affluent San Isidro neighborhood on the outskirts of the Argentine capital.

The thieves purportedly gained access to his home through a building site on an adjoining property.

The 32-year-old is expected to finalize a transfer to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua this week, reportedly set to pocket 40 million euros ($41.6m) a season -- 20 times what he currently earns at Boca Juniors.
A capital murder charge has been filed against a 32-year-old Texas man who was allegedly found Saturday sitting in a truck, parked outside an Oklahoma prison, smeared with blood.

Law enforcement officials in McAlester, Oklahoma, tell PEOPLE that Jeshur Robinson is the sole suspect in his fathers killing in Dallas. He remains in custody on $1 million bail, court records show, and is awaiting extradition.

Robinsons father, 61-year-old Glen Williams, was found dead in his Texas home Saturday. Officials say he was stabbed to death.

Upon entering Williams home, investigators immediately noticed obvious signs there had been a struggle prior to the killing, according to authorities. While at the scene, detectives quickly realized that Williams truck was missing and issued a statewide bulletin in hopes of locating the vehicle.

But as detectives were sifting through his fathers residence in Texas, McAlester police were responding to the Oklahoma State Penitentiary on reports of a man behaving suspiciously in the prisons parking lot.

 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 officials, Robinson was seated in his fathers truck when officers approached him. He allegedly had blood on his hands and clothing and there were blood smears on the truck. He also tried to discard a bloody folding knife, officials allege.

Police say they recovered drugs from the vehicle.

Court records do not indicate if Robinson has retained a defense attorney. Officials say he recently served prison time for prior theft and drug possession convictions.




Cars dealers who have shown high bank deposits and high sales figures in November have been served notice by the income tax department.

By Virendrasingh Ghunawat: The Income Tax Department has issued notice to top car dealers across India asking them to provide details of all those who booked a vehicle after November 8, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced withdrawal of Rs 500, 1000 notes.

Exclusive: Mumbai dance bars already celebrating New Year, courtesy demonetisation

Car dealers who have shown high bank deposits and high sales figures in November after demonetisation have been asked by the Income Tax department to submit details of their customers. The income tax department is not only targeting luxury car customers but every car purchaser who got home a new vehicle after November 8.

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HERE'S THE UPDATE:

The income tax department has informed car dealers that after examining the list of customers, I-T officials will start issuing tax notices to these customers between 1-15 January.

Auto dealers have already started submitting the asked data to the department.

"I-T officials had given notice to us, seeking details of all customers. They wanted to check our back dated entries. The department feared that there might be customers who had used their black money to purchase cars by November end, but dealers might have shown back dated entry of before November 8," a source from one the car dealers said.

I-T officials have confirmed that "such notices have been sent to car dealers across the country, after seeing high sales figures for the month of November and their bank deposits for that month."

WATCH: Cash withdrawal limits likely to continue after December 30

ALSO READ:

Approaching deadline: What happens after Narendra Modi's 50-day promise to curb black money

Demonetisation hits money laundering market in Delhi; only 5 per cent hawala survived note ban

--- ENDS ---
This may be the most highest attended quinceanera ever.

Rubi Ibarra Garcia, a teenager in Mexico, had an overwhelming 15th birthday party when thousands showed up to take part in the celebration at the small village of La Joya, San Luis Potosi State, Mexico on Monday.

Weeks before the quinceanera, her father, Crescencio, created a Facebook event and video that was originally intended specifically for the familys neighbors and friends. However, what Crescencio didnt realize was that he set the invite to public instead of private.

AP Photo/Enric Marti

We invite you on December 26 to our daughter Rubi Ibarra Garcias quinceanera in La Joya, Crescencio Ibarra said in the 45-second clip, adding, Everyone is cordially invited.

The invite quickly went viral, with 1.2 million RSVPs, 978,000 shares and #XVdeRuby trending on social media. Mexican airline Interjet even offered a 30-percent discount off flights to attend.

On the day of her birthday, Rubi took to Facebook to speak to all those who were going.

To all those who have already arrived I ask you to please do not despair because in truth we are many people and we are just seeing how to speed things up, the birthday girl wrote on Monday. I just ask for your patience so that we can all enjoy this party.

At 1:30 p.m. PST, the Ibarra family hosted an exclusive mass held at the Iglesia de Guadalupe, according to NBC News. Next on the birthday agenda were a mid-afternoon lunch for the family followed by a horse race with a 10,000 peso prize.

And at the quinceanera, which marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood, guests sat at tables, dressed in white and red linens, near vendor and party tents while enjoying dinner, desserts and dancing.

Feliz Cumpleanos, Rubi!




When Rubi Ibarra Garcia's parents posted a video inviting guests to attend her quinceanera, they never could have predicted just how many people would accept.

But on Monday, thousands of strangers descended on a ranch near La Joya, a rural town in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to celebrate the girl's 15th birthday.

Read: Dad Defends Spending $6 Million on His Daughter's Quinceanera

Rubi, dressed in a fuchsia gown and a sparkling tiara, was swarmed by guests as she made her way to a Mass held as part of the coming-of-age celebration.

Attendees watched bands perform and feasted on traditional Mexican cuisine before Rubi and her father shared a father-daughter waltz. Red Cross workers and state police were on hand to monitor the party, The Associated Press reported.

The massive event unfolded weeks after Garcias parents accidentally posted a public invitation on Facebook. In the message, her father, Crescensio Ibarra, said there would be a horse race as part of the event, with the winner taking home 10,000 pesos, or about $500.

"Everyone is cordially invited!" Ibarra said at the end of the video.

His wife later clarified that he'd meant "everyone" from neighboring communities, not "everyone" from across the globe.

But it was too late. The message went viral and as many as 1.3 million people responded to the event to say they'd be attending.

Read: Teen and Her Ex-Marine Dad Surprise Her Quinceanera Guests With Incredible Dance Routine

It became so large that Interjet, a Mexican airline, dropped flight prices to the area by 30 percent with the slogan: "Are you going to Rubi's party?"

On Monday, guests travelled from across Mexico and even from the U.S., NBC reported.

But the event also brought tragedy as Felix Pena, 66, a local stablehand, was knocked down by one of the racing horses and trampled to death, CNN reported. Pena had previously said he would be entering the competition.

Story continues

The horse race was subsequently called off.

Watch: Father-Daughter Duo Dance Their Hearts Out to 'Can't Stop the Feeling'

Related Articles:
ANKARA, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Three foreign banks, including one from the United States, are considering entering the Turkish market, possibly as soon as next year, the head of the country's banking watchdog was quoted as saying.

Bank of China began operations this year in Turkey, whose population of nearly 80 million - the youngest in Europe - remains an attractive demographic for foreign banks despite investor concerns about security issues and a government crackdown that has followed a failed coup in July.

Mehmet Ali Akben, the president of the Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), said three further banks had expressed an interest doing business in Turkey.

"(That) means they will go through a process, but we think they might be in Turkey in 2017," the Anadolu news agency quoted him as saying on Monday.

One was from the United States and another from Dubai, he said, without identifying the nationality of the third bank.

A fourth bank which already has a representative office in Turkey, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, was interested in acquiring a banking licence, he said.

Akben said there had also been expressions of interest from India.

Turkey has been a difficult market for foreign banks to crack, particularly the retail segment, where competition is stiff and local lenders already offer services such as biometric ATMs and accounts in different currencies.

(Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by David Dolan and John Stonestreet)
Live from New York, it's - what the hell is going on?

Carrie Fisher hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978, not long after she became a household name thanks to Star Wars. Her character, Leia, was so popular, Fisher came out as the princess for her opening monologue in which she bounced jokes off Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Yes, it is as out there as it sounds. But, that's not even the best part.

The absolute best part is the skit following the monologue when the princess visits a beach party attended by a slimy Bill Murray character looking for some action.

We don't want to ruin anything, but the skit ends with Leia in a two-piece and taking part in a musical number.

Sure, it sounds strange, but it was the '70s, so whatever.

Fisher died Tuesday at the age of 60. Her Star Wars family, made up of actors and legions and legions of fans, were heartbroken by the news.

Check out portions of the SNL episode below:

Read more: Remembering When Princess Leia Got a 'Star Wars' Figure Before Darth Vader and Han Solo
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP)  In a historic pilgrimage, the leaders of Japan and the United States took to the hallowed waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday to prove that even the bitterest enemies can become allies. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not apologize, but conceded Japan "must never repeat the horrors of war again." Seventy-five years after Japan's surprise attack sent America marching into World War II, Abe and President Barack Obama peered down at the rusting wreckage of the USS Arizona, clearly visible in the tranquil, teal water. More than 1,000 U.S. war dead remain entombed in the submerged ship, and in a show of respect, Obama and Abe dropped purple petals into the water and stood in silence.

WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States says China has the right to sail in international waters after a Chinese aircraft carrier cruised past Taiwan and into the contested South China Sea. Taiwan's Defense Ministry reported Monday that the aircraft carrier and five warships sailed 90 nautical miles south of Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China. Beijing says it is a routine training exercise. China has previously accused U.S. warships of making provocative passes through the South China Sea. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday the U.S. recognizes lawful uses of the sea, and the same rights apply to the U.S., China and other nations.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean investigators on Wednesday detained the country's former health minister as they expand their inquiry into a corruption scandal involving impeached President Park Geun-hye. The special prosecution team now has 48 hours to decide whether to request a formal arrest warrant for Moon Hyung-pyo. Moon faces allegations that he pressured the National Pension Service to support a controversial merger deal between two Samsung affiliates last year, even though the fund's stake in one of the companies lost an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars in value. Investigators also summoned Kim Sang-ryul, Park's former senior secretary for education and culture, to look into allegations the presidential office kept a "blacklist" of cultural figures deemed as unfriendly to Park's administration and denied them state support.

Story continues

BEIJING (AP)  China said it is willing to have constructive dialogue with the Vatican but stressed the importance of patriotism to Beijing and adapting Catholicism to Chinese society. A top religious affairs official made the remarks Tuesday at a meeting of representatives of China's official Catholic church taking place this week in Beijing, state media reported. Wang Zuo'an, the director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, said the Chinese government hoped that the Vatican can adopt a flexible and pragmatic attitude, and take concrete actions to create favorable conditions for improving relations, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP)  With somewhere around 4,000 artists and staff, the Mansudae Art Studio, a huge complex of nondescript concrete buildings on a sprawling, walled-off campus with armed guards in the heart of Pyongyang, churns out everything from watercolor tigers to mosaics so large they seem to depict a race from another, taller planet. But its statues  the really big, bronze, monumental ones on foreign shores  are what appear to have caught the attention of the U.N. Security Council. In one of the odder items on the list of things North Korea can't export under United Nations' sanctions, statues were explicitly listed for the first time last month when the Security Council approved a raft of punishments in response to Pyongyang's latest nuclear test, which it conducted in September.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Afghan government expressed concern over a high-level meeting on the country held in Moscow on Tuesday between Russia, China and Pakistan that did not include any Afghan representatives. Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Shekib Mostaghni said his government was not invited and hasn't been briefed on the agenda. He said this approach, regardless of the good intentions of the participants, would not help the situation in Afghanistan, where the government has been at war with the Taliban for more than 15 years. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a joint press release that the three countries discussed the "deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan" and the "increased activities of extremist groups," including local affiliates of the Islamic State group.

LUCKNOW, India (AP)  At least two people were killed and 38 others injured when 14 coaches of a train derailed in northern India early Wednesday, two of them falling into a dry canal bed, police said. Superintendent of Police Prabhakar Chaudhary said the accident happened near Kanpur, a city in Uttar Pradesh state. The area is nearly 400 kilometres (250 miles) southeast of New Delhi. The cause was not immediately known. Police officer Zaki Ahmed two of the eight critically injured passengers died later in a hospital. All of the other injured have been hospitalized. Ahmed Javed, the state's top police officer, said all of the passengers have been evacuated from the derailed coaches.

MULTAN, Pakistan (AP)  At least 31 people have died from drinking tainted liquor over the Christmas holiday in Pakistan, police and doctors said Tuesday, raising an earlier toll. Local police officer Atif Imran Qureshi said dozens of people were transported to hospitals in the eastern Punjab province after they consumed contaminated alcohol. A total of 19 people died Tuesday, and 12 the day before, he said. Umair Ahmed, a physician at Allied hospital in the city of Faisalabad, said a dozen more people were still being treated. Alcohol is mostly prohibited in Muslim-majority Pakistan, but non-Muslims can purchase it from licensed shops.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  A court in Cambodia on Tuesday sentenced the country's exiled opposition leader to five years in prison after finding him guilty of conspiring to incite chaos by posting misleading documents on his Facebook page. The conviction by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court is the latest legal problem for Sam Rainsy, head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party. The several cases against him are generally considered part of Prime Minister Hun Sen's strategy to weaken his opponents ahead of local elections next year. Sam Rainsy was found guilty in absentia of conspiracy to incite chaos and using and falsifying public documents.

KUWAIT CITY (AP)  A Kuwaiti criminal court on Monday sentenced a Filipina to 10 years in prison for pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group. The court ruling, which can be appealed, also calls for her deportation from the country after she serves her prison sentence. The woman was arrested in August and accused of joining the terror group through its affiliate in Libya via email while working as a maid. The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said it was verifying the conviction and that its embassy in Kuwait "is prepared to extend legal and consular assistance to make sure that she gets due process and her rights are not violated." The extremist group has targeted tiny, oil-rich Kuwait in the past.
robot child humanoid boy

Thirty years ago, it was a big deal when schools got their first computers. Today, it's a big deal when students get their own laptops.

According to futurist Thomas Frey, in 14 years it'll be a big deal when students learn from robot teachers over the internet.

It's not just because the technology will be that sophisticated, Frey says, but because the company responsible for it will be the largest of its kind.

"I've been predicting that by 2030 the largest company on the internet is going to be an education-based company that we haven't heard of yet," Frey, the senior futurist at the DaVinci Institute think tank, tells Business Insider.

Frey's prediction comes amid a boom in artificial intelligence research. Google is developing DeepMind, a complex piece of machine-learning software. IBM is developing Watson-powered robots. Amazon is developing drone delivery.

"Nobody has quite cracked the code for the future of education," Frey contends.

His vision for 2030 includes a massively enhanced version of today's open online courses  the kind of instruction you may find with Khan Academy, Coursera, or MIT OpenCourseWare. Only, the instructors won't be humans beamed through videos. They'll be bots, and they'll be smart enough to personalize each lesson plan to the child sitting in front of the screen.

Frey suspects that kind of efficiency will allow students to learn at much faster rates than if they had to compete with 19 other students for the teacher's attention. Students will breeze through their material at four or 10 times the speed, perhaps completing an undergraduate education in less than half a year.

"It learns what your proclivities are, it learns what your idiosyncrasies are," he explains. "It learns what your interests are, your reference points. And it figures out how to teach you in a faster and faster way over time."

Story continues

He uses the example of Google's DeepMind learning to play the Atari video game "Breakout." Not only did it quickly pick up on the rules, but within a half hour it figured out a way to achieve incredibly high scores  all with little human input.

Machine learning will accelerate in a similar fashion in the education space, Frey says. Online bots will pick up on a student's strengths and weaknesses and use a series of algorithms to tailor the lessons accordingly. Research suggests this personalized method is among the most effective at raising kids' overall achievement.

Frey doesn't go so far as to argue education bots will replace traditional schooling outright. He sees them more as a supplement, perhaps as a kind of tutor. If a child struggles with algebra, a bot may be able to offer some help during homework time or over the weekend.

It's up for debate whether AI can master the subtleties of language, thought, and reason all within the next 14 years. One of the greatest hurdles for machine learning is grasping social interactions. Many AI systems today are still less capable (cognitively speaking) than a 6-year-old.

Frey trusts 14 years isn't too generous a timeline for the technology to ramp up, given how quickly technology innovation builds on itself. The internet was just beginning to enter a lot of people's homes 14 years ago, in 2002. But by 2007 people were already surfing the Web on their iPhones, and today the internet is almost omnipresent in daily life.

Frey predicts that artificial intelligence will have the same trajectory in the education space. By 2030, DeepMind's ability to master "Breakout" could seem as quaint as dial-up modems do today, and what seemed like a massive library of online content in 2016 could look to future students like a skimpy collection that hardly does anything.

NOW WATCH: These high-tech classes are the coolest thing happening in schools today





More From Business Insider


Here are four stocks with buy rank and strong income characteristics for investors to consider today, December 27th:

B&G Foods, Inc. (BGS): This shelf-stable, and frozen food and household products maker has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings improving 0.2% over the last 30 days.

B&G FOODS CL-A Price and Consensus

B&G FOODS CL-A Price and Consensus | B&G FOODS CL-A Quote

The company has a dividend yield of 3.77%, compared with the industry average of 0.00%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 4.08%.

B&G FOODS CL-A Dividend Yield (TTM)

B&G FOODS CL-A Dividend Yield (TTM) | B&G FOODS CL-A Quote

Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (WMC): This real estate investment trust has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 1.1% over the last 30 days.

WESTERN AST MTG Price and Consensus

WESTERN AST MTG Price and Consensus | WESTERN AST MTG Quote

The company has a dividend yield of 11.91%, compared with the industry average of 8.79%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 17.44%.

WESTERN AST MTG Dividend Yield (TTM)

WESTERN AST MTG Dividend Yield (TTM) | WESTERN AST MTG Quote

Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (HE): This electric utility company has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings rising 0.2% over the last 30 days.

HAWAIIAN ELEC Price and Consensus

HAWAIIAN ELEC Price and Consensus | HAWAIIAN ELEC Quote

The company has a dividend yield of 3.69%, compared with the industry average of 3.21%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 4.49%.

HAWAIIAN ELEC Dividend Yield (TTM)

HAWAIIAN ELEC Dividend Yield (TTM) | HAWAIIAN ELEC Quote

Domtar Corporation (UFS): This communication papers, specialty and packaging papers maker has a Zacks Rank #2 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings gaining 0.1% over the last 30 days.

Story continues

DOMTAR CORP Price and Consensus

DOMTAR CORP Price and Consensus | DOMTAR CORP Quote

The company has a dividend yield of 4.17%, compared with the industry average of 1.72%. Its five-year average dividend yield is 3.09%.

DOMTAR CORP Dividend Yield (TTM)

DOMTAR CORP Dividend Yield (TTM) | DOMTAR CORP Quote

See the full list of top ranked stocks here.

Find more top income stocks with some of our great premium screens.

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WESTERN AST MTG (WMC): Free Stock Analysis Report



DOMTAR CORP (UFS): Free Stock Analysis Report



HAWAIIAN ELEC (HE): Free Stock Analysis Report



B&G FOODS CL-A (BGS): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f31918%2f170e6539-dca2-4448-877c-b88d217e3e14

Located in the desert centre of Australia, Uluru is known for its size and striking red colour as well as its sacred significance for Anangu, its traditional Aboriginal Australian owners, but rarely for rain.

Taller than the Eiffel Tower, its banks became temporary waterfalls at Christmas after downpours swept the area. The Bureau of Meteorology called the conditions a one-in-fifty-year event.

The Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park was closed to visitors Monday local time due to "an extreme weather event," according to Parks Australia. It reopened Tuesday.

It wasn't all good news for the region, with the rains causing flash flooding and property damage around the town of Kintore, ABC reported.

SEE ALSO: #DefineAboriginal shows what it's like to be Indigenous in the face of racism

Still, a few lucky visitors who were onsite for the unusual rain were able to capture the incredible sight of water cascading down the sides and domes of Uluru and nearby Kata Tjuta.

And, lucky for us, they shared them on social media. Consider this some travel inspiration (and, hopefully, a good omen) for 2017.

Uluru in typical weather.

Image: Getty Images

Image: Bianca 'Jim' Hewes/twitter

A video posted by Bianca Hewes (@bhewes) on Dec 24, 2016 at 12:55am PST

Image: BIANCA 'JIM' HEWES/TWITTER

A video posted by waginski (@waginski) on Dec 24, 2016 at 11:34pm PST

A video posted by Mick Gillies (@mickgillies) on Dec 25, 2016 at 4:27pm PST

Image: BIANCA 'JIM' HEWES/TWITTER

A video posted by Christina Ong (@pikachuu1012) on Dec 25, 2016 at 2:42pm PST

Image: Bianca 'Jim' Hewes/Twitter
By Makiko Yamazaki and Greg Roumeliotis

TOKYO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp said it may have to book several billion dollars in charges related to a U.S. nuclear power plant construction company acquisition, sending its stock tumbling 12 percent and rekindling concerns about its accounting acumen.

The Japanese group said cost overruns at U.S. power projects handled by the CB&I Stone & Webster Inc business it acquired last December from Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV (CB&I) (CBI.N) would be much greater than initially expected, potentially requiring a huge writedown.

Toshiba's announcement came as its Westinghouse Electric Company subsidiary is engaged in a legal and accounting row with CB&I, which has argued in court that it expected a relatively small payment from Westinghouse of only $161 million (198 million pounds) when the deal closed on the understanding that the latter was taking on a challenged business.

Toshiba's latest writedown would be another slap in the face for a sprawling conglomerate hoping to recover from a $1.3-billion accounting scandal, as well as a writedown of more than $2 billion for its nuclear business in the last financial year."This will come as an additional shock to Toshiba's institutional investors that may further undermine confidence in company management, as well as significantly weakening its international nuclear credentials," said Tom O'Sullivan, founder of energy consultancy Mathyos Japan.

O'Sullivan noted the acquisition in December 2015 coincided with the finalising of a record fine by Japanese regulators for accounting irregularities at Toshiba, indicating that corporate governance controls were extremely weak.

Toshiba Chief Executive Satoshi Tsunakawa, who only took the helm in June after his predecessor embarked on a series of restructuring steps to clean up Toshiba's books, said the conglomerate would look at some kind of strategy to boost capital.

"We would have needed to boost our capital base anyway because our shareholders' equity ratio is low," he told a news conference.

Story continues

As of end-September, Toshiba had shareholders' equity of 363 billion yen, or just 7.5 percent of assets, which could fall close to zero if the company is forced to log significant losses.

Asked if Toshiba's liabilities would exceed its assets, Chief Financial Officer Masayoshi Hirata said the company had not yet completed its estimation of the charge.

It would finalise that by mid-February, he said, adding that the conglomerate would explain the situation to its main banks and seek their support. Toshiba's main lenders are Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc and Mizuho Financial Group (8411.T)

Toshiba has positioned its nuclear and semiconductors businesses as key pillars of growth while seeking to scale down less profitable consumer electronics units such as personal computers and TVs.

But Toshiba could revise the positioning of its nuclear business if need be, said Tsunakawa, who has been credited with having shaped a medical equipment unit into a major earnings driver. The unit was sold to Canon Inc (7751.T) this year.

Tsunakawa added that asset sales or a potential listing of its cash-cow flash memory chips division were options that could be considered.

DEAL OF DISCORD

The deal between CB&I and Toshiba's Westinghouse division has been fraught with disagreement since at least July.

Clashing over who should shoulder potential liabilities related to cost overruns and over calculations for net working capital for the unit, CB&I sued Toshiba's Westinghouse division after Westinghouse said it was owed more than $2 billion.

Delaware's Chancery Court earlier this month dismissed the CB&I lawsuit, which accused Westinghouse of making claims in bad faith by seeking to use an arbitration process on net working capital of the nuclear construction business to eliminate liabilities it should have inherited by closing the deal.

CB&I has since launched a legal appeal that is pending. A Westinghouse spokeswoman reiterated on Tuesday that the company expected the issue to be decided by an independent third-party auditor pursuant to the terms of the deal with CB&I.

"Both the (CB&I legal) appeal and the independent auditor process are expected to be determined in 2017. CB&I will continue to defend its position vigorously in both processes," a CB&I spokeswoman said.

CB&I received no upfront payment for the sale of the nuclear construction business, but stood to receive earnouts based on the progress of the completion of two U.S. projects by Stone & Webster: a nuclear power plant in Georgia for Southern Co (SO.N) and two reactors in South Carolina for SCANA Corp (SCG.N).

CB&I and Westinghouse were consortium partners building those reactors prior to their deal for Stone & Webster, which was meant to resolve disagreements over each contractor's responsibilities over the projects.

As of Sept. 30, CB&I had incurred an after-tax goodwill impairment charge in 2016, as a result of the sale of its nuclear operations to Westinghouse, of $904 million. In 2015, it incurred another $1.1 billion after-tax impairment charge.

Shares in Toshiba, which remains on the Tokyo bourse's watch list due to concerns about internal controls, finished 12 percent lower, giving it a market value of around $14.2 billion. CB&I shares were flat in afternoon trading in New York on Tuesday at $34.19.

Prior to Tuesday, Toshiba had forecast a full-year net profit of about 145 billion yen this financial year, a turnaround from a loss of 460 billion yen, thanks to strong demand for flash memory chips from Chinese smartphone makers.

Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center, said the focus may soon shift to whether Toshiba will divest some of its businesses if the latest loss wipes out its shareholders' equity.

"There will be a lot of companies that want to buy Toshiba's businesses," Ishino said. "It is possible that its NAND flash memory business would attract various buyout offers as there are few players in the market," he said.

($1 = 117.4200 yen)

(Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki in Tokyo and Greg Roumeliotis in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski; Additional reporting by Aaron Sheldrick, Ayai Tomisawa, Yoshiyuki Osada and Chris Gallagher in Tokyo, Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware, and Aparajita Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Anti-corruption agencies in Madhya Pradesh have close to Rs 1,000 crore with them that has to be deposited in banks before December 30.

By Hemender Sharma: Demonetisation has thrown up a strange problem before the anti-corruption agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, Special Police establishment of the Lokayukta and Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Madhya Pradesh.

A major part of manpower with the agencies these days is standing in bank queues trying to deposit the money seized during anti-corruption raids in the past decade in nationalised banks.

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According to an estimate, agencies in Madhya Pradesh have close to Rs 1,000 crore with them that has to be deposited in banks before December 30.

Cash to be deposited by December 30:

1. Although, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed all the agencies to deposit the old Rs 500 and 1000 notes, banks officials are not depositing money without case specific directions from the courts, where trials are pending.

2. For the CBI, the situation is a little less tricky as the agency operates a current account where they can deposit the seized money.

3. The CBI has got several crores in its custody that were seized by the Special Task Force of the Madhya Pradesh Police from the VYAPAM Scam accused.

4. According to a top CBI official, the agency will have to return the money to those from whom it was seized, in a scenario when they get acquitted from court.

5. "Just in case they get acquitted, they will seek back the money and there would be further litigation if banned currency notes are returned. They will seek legal tender," a CBI official dealing with the VYAPAM files said.

6. For the Lokayukta police and the EOW of the state police, the problem is a little more peculiar as they do not even have bank accounts where the seized money can be deposited.

7. Both the agencies have now decided to open bank accounts in nationalised banks in the name of SPs where the seized money can be parked as fixed deposits.

8. Though the officials are aware that these fixed deposits will earn interest, no one at this stage wants to talk about who will eventually get the interest earned on these fixed deposits.

9. "For the moment, the biggest concern is to deposit all the seized money in nationalised banks before December 30. A decision on who will get the interest will be taken when such a situation arises," a top officer of the Special Police Establishment of the Lokayukta said.

10. The problem is not just confined to anti-corruption agencies like the Lokayukta, CBI and EOW.

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11. Money seized by the police of various districts too has to be deposited in nationalised banks before December 30.

12. The investigating officers of all the cases in which money has been seized and are still in the trial stage are now seeking directions from the concerned courts.

13. Bank officials are insisting on specific directions from concerned courts with a clear mention of the amount that has to be deposited to escape from any future trouble.

14. There is, however, no clarity on what will the Income Tax department do with the old 500 and 1000 notes that have been seized during various raids after demonetisation was announced on November 8.

Also read: Black money travels abroad, ED investigates a diamond import firm for diverting Rs 700 crore to Hong Kong

--- ENDS ---
Not a day goes by that Jeff Neilson doesnt think about the decades-old killing of his 21-year-old wife, Tracey  and the moment he found her lifeless body in their home, riddled with stab wounds.

Jeff had returned to the couples home in Moore, Oklahoma, on the night of Jan. 5, 1981, after a day of classes at the University of Oklahoma. He found Tracey splayed out on their bloodied bed.

It was a horrible day, Jeff tells PEOPLE in this weeks issue, on newsstands now, as the 37th anniversary of his wifes killing approaches.

During my first years at medical school, I was dissecting cadavers, but nothing prepares you for that  it was absolutely horrible.

Investigators in Oklahoma are making a new push to solve Traceys killing, reaching out to the public with hopes of generating tips that may lead, at last, to the killers apprehension and arrest. While there have been precious few developments in the cold case in 30-plus years, detectives  and Traceys widower  havent abandoned all hope.

 For much more on the cold case investigation, subscribe to PEOPLE or pick up this weeks issue, on newsstands now.

Im not entirely sure what closure means, but I do think knowing what happened would help, in some ways, in dealing with the psychological repercussions of what happened to Tracey, says Jeff, a 56-year-old orthopedic surgeon in Paris, Texas.

After finding his wife dead that night in 1981, Jeff says he went crazy for a minute before heading toward the front door. He exited the home, ran down the street to a friends house and called 911.

Tracey was just a joy to be around, Jeff tells PEOPLE. Everyone loved being around her. She was beautiful and fun and just wonderful to be around. She was extremely smart and funny and I loved being around her  she is missed by essentially everyone who knew her.

 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.

For decades after the killing, his wifes death plagued his daily thoughts, sometimes overwhelming him. But time dampens the severity of your pain, Jeff says.

Story continues

It is still something you think about on a daily basis and it continues to hurt, he says.

While frustrated by the lack of answers to Traceys cold case, Jeff tells PEOPLE his wifes keychain  which investigators believe the killer may have taken as a souvenir  is still missing and could be the key to solving this crime.

That key ring would be one way to link someone to the killing, he explains. We hope a mistake is made. I think were doing a Hail Mary pass here and trying to do whatever we can to stimulate one phone call to authorities that could lead to something.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 800-522-8017.

 Reporting by JOHNNY DODD




Should oil patch investors be worried that recent gains will soon be undone? Certainly, there is a case to be made, but on balance the major slide from mid-2014 through February is likely over.

The two major issues in the energy market are the recent agreement by OPEC and the desire by the incoming Trump administration to attain energy independence for the U.S.

OPEC is still shaking. The OPEC agreement comes months after crude prices hit a multiyear low of $26 a barrel in February. That compares with more than $100 in mid-2014, and around $51 recently.

Energy patch stocks followed a similar roller-coaster ride. The Energy Select Sector SPDR exchange-traded fund (ticker: XLE) hit a recent low of $52 in January, before rebounding to around $75. The ETF holds a basket of energy industry stocks including Exxon Mobil Corp. ( XOM), Chevron Corp. ( CVX) and Schlumberger Limited ( SLB). It has annual expenses of 0.14 percent, or $14 per $10,000 invested.

[See: Oil ETFs: 8 Ways to Invest in Black Gold.]

At least part of the rebound in the stocks over that period was investor anticipation that producers would eventually cut back, through an OPEC agreement or otherwise. It comes back to the adage, "the cure for low prices is low prices."

Still, there did end up being a formal agreement that was announced in November.

"The OPEC deal has certainly boosted the expected price of oil in the short term, or perhaps better said put a floor in at above $40," says Bill Stone, chief investment strategist at PNC Asset Management Group.

So, don't expect the price of crude to drop below $40 in the near future.

OPEC is still shaky. Just like all cartels, OPEC is unstable. That's because each member country has an incentive to cheat by pumping more oil than it said it would. It's a variation on the prisoner's dilemma that individual cheating makes sense, but collectively it hurts.

Because of that inherent instability, expect what Stone refers to as supply "leakage" to manifest as production exceeds the agreed levels.

Story continues

That extra output can be hard to identify because the oil market is nothing if not murky. Still, it will likely mean higher production levels than those announced.

Energy independence. One of the things that President-elect Donald Trump has suggested is that the U.S. should attain energy independence. Such a situation would mean that the country wouldn't need to import oil from overseas.

It's something that Continental Resources CEO Harold Hamm says could be achieved quickly.

One of the worries is that more supply from the U.S. means more supply worldwide, and would tend to push prices lower than they would be otherwise. That concern may be overblown because energy independence doesn't necessarily have to be a tsunami of additional oil.

"I wouldn't agree the energy independence would cause a global oil glut," says Thomas McNulty, director at Navigant Consulting in Houston.

He says that improved efficiency of the drillers in North America means that production can be turned on and off very quickly on wells that have been idle for a while. Idle wells don't tend to degrade in the way that idle mines do.

Better still, the oil industry is far more efficient than it was just a few years ago. "Fracking was revolutionary and even that has gotten better efficiency," he says. "For example, if it used to take six months to get a well going again, now its two months."

And as more drilling is done, more efficiencies will be squeezed out of the operations.

[See: The Best Energy Stocks to Buy for 2017.]

So what? The U.S. might not need to constantly produce crude oil in order to have energy independence. Instead, the wells could simply be available to turn on depending on the need for additional crude.

As with many things that involve the incoming administration, little is clear about how near the top of the agenda energy independence will come.

"For 2017 the biggest issue is policy uncertainty," says Charlie Ripley, investment strategist for capital markets and trading, at Allianz Investment Management in Minneapolis.

Investment implications. The overall news for the energy industry is positive, but that doesn't mean all oil stocks will do well.

"Oil companies and their stocks don't always trade in lockstep with oil prices," says Stephen Wood, chief market strategist, at Russell Investments. "There may be idiosyncratic factors that can influence any specific oil company -- and its share price -- that may not be directly related to the price of the commodity."

The idiosyncrasies could include pipeline accidents, tankers leaking, terrorist attacks on foreign operations or management failures.

[See: 10 of the Worst Performing Stocks of 2016.]

That probably means that buying specialty mutual funds or ETFs would be less risky than individual stocks.

Simon Constable is a columnist and author. In addition to following the financial markets, he likes to watch his cat play with string. You can follow him on Twitter @simonconstable.
Carl Paladino in the lobby of Trump Tower earlier this month. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Carl Paladino, who co-chaired President-elect Donald Trumps campaign in New York, issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday amid continuing uproar over racially offensive comments he made about President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

In a press release, Paladino apologized to the minority community for his remarks, which appeared in a feature that was published in the Western New York weekly Artvoice on Dec. 23. Paladino blamed the comments on an emotional reaction to President Obamas handling of the situation in Syria and accidentally hitting the wrong button in his email.

I never intended to hurt the minority community who I spent years trying to help out of the cycle of poverty in our inner cities. To them I apologize, began Paladino, who has been a member of the school board in Buffalo, N.Y., since 2013.

Paladino, a billionaire real estate entrepreneur and former gubernatorial candidate who has reveled in a reputation for inflammatory comments, also took shots at progressive haters and the media in his statement.

His initial remarks were a response to a questionnaire from Artvoice that asked people what they wanted to happen in 2017 and who they wanted to go away. Paladino said his main desire for the New Year was that President Obama would die after contracting mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford [sic]. He also wrote that he wanted Michelle Obama to go away and return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

Paladinos remarks were quickly condemned by a slew of politicians and a spokesman for Trumps presidential transition team, who called them absolutely reprehensible. Even Paladinos own son blasted the comments as disrespectful and absolutely unnecessary. Nearly 13,000 people have since signed an online petition calling for Paladino to be removed from the Buffalo school board.

Donald Trump and Paladino speak at a 2014 pro-gun rally in Albany, N.Y. (Photo: Hans Pennink/Reuters)

In his Tuesday statement, Paladino said he received the questionnaire from Artvoices Jamie Moses shortly after President Obamas press conference in which he discussed the extensive casualties in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

Story continues

I received Jamie Moses emailed survey at an emotional moment after I had just listened to Obamas statement that he regretted the slaughter in Aleppo that, in fact, resulted from his failed and cowardly foreign policy. His policy is to look the other way while innocent people were murdered and starved. I view Barack Obama as a traitor to American values, said Paladino.

Paladino further said he was wired up when he answered the questionnaire and described his response as a mistake.

Those survey questions provided me with the spark to vent and write deprecating humor about a bad president for whom the mainstream media continues to seek an undeserved legacy, Paladino said. I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people who are totally responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others. I was wired up, primed to be human and I made a mistake. I could not have made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings.

Paladino speaks before a Trump rally in Rochester, N.Y., April 10, 2016. (Photo: Mike Groll/AP)

Paladino also implied that he did not mean to publicize his response.

I publicly took responsibility for what I said and confirmed those were my answers, but, believe it or not, I did not mean to send those answers to Artvoice, said Paladino. Not that it makes any difference because what I wrote was inappropriate under any circumstance. I filled out the survey to send to a couple friends and forwarded it to them not realizing that I didnt hit Forward I hit Reply. All men make mistakes.

In a previous interview with the Buffalo News, Paladino did not claim his answers were a mistake. He stood by the comments and said they had nothing to do with race. Paladino also told the News that he made the remarks just for Rod Watson, one of the papers black editors.

Tough luck if you dont like my answer, Paladino said to the paper.

In his statement on Tuesday, Paladino took shots at liberals criticizing his comments and media outlets who are reporting on the controversy.

What is horrible is watching my family and friends react to the rabid hordes of attacking parasites we now call activist progressives, Paladino said. As for the vanquished progressive haters out there spewing their venom at anything that is a reminder of their humiliating defeat, irrelevance is tough to chew on. For the mean-spirited, disoriented press trying to find grounding and recover legitimacy on my back, pray that you still have a job next year because you have lost all credibility with the people, he later added.

Paladino concluded with a vow that he wont leave the school board and by wishing people a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yahoo News called Paladino shortly after he sent out his apology, and he declined to comment further. The statement says it all for me, he said. Paladino also wouldnt say whether he has spoken with Trump about the issue.

I cant talk about this, Paladino said.
Donald Trump plans to dissolve the Donald J. Trump Foundation as part of his effort to avoid any conflict with his role as president come Inauguration Day. The president-elect announced in a statement Saturday that his counsel will handle the dissolution and that he plans to pursue his philanthropy in other ways.

In his announcement, Trump touted the "enormous good works over the years," saying the foundation contributed millions of dollars to countless groups, including veterans, law enforcement officers and children.

The foundation, however, has come under increased scrutiny and is under investigation by the New York State attorney general's office. The foundation cannot legally dissolve while it is being investigated, according to the office of state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

"The Trump foundation is still under investigation by this office and cannot legally dissolve until that investigation is complete," said spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick in a statement.

Read more: Trump to Dissolve His Charitable Foundation

On Monday night, Trump took to Twitter to defend the nonprofit and criticize the media amid swirling criticism since he first made the announcement.

"I gave millions of dollars to DJT Foundation, raised or recieved millions more, ALL of which is given to charity, and media won't report!" tweeted Trump. He then posted, "The DJT Foundation, unlike most foundations, never paid fees, rent, salaries or any expenses. 100% of money goes to wonderful charities!"

I gave millions of dollars to DJT Foundation, raised or recieved millions more, ALL of which is given to charity, and media won't report!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016

The DJT Foundation, unlike most foundations, never paid fees, rent, salaries or any expenses. 100% of money goes to wonderful charities!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 27, 2016

In a 2015 tax filing made public on Nov. 18, Trump's charity admitted it violated IRS regulations barring the foundation from using its profits to benefit Trump, his family or his companies.

Story continues

The Trump Foundation has raised $13.6 million since it was launched, with $4.9 million donated directly from Trump. The president-elect has not donated to the charity since 2008, according to CBS News.

Also Monday, Trump tweeted the world was "gloomy" before his election win and claimed credit for a lifted stock market and big holiday spending.

"There was no hope," he tweeted. "Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!"

The world was gloomy before I won - there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016

Markets are up since Trump won the general election, reports the Associated Press. The Standard & Poor's 500 is up about 6 percent since Election Day and the Dow has risen more than 8 percent. Auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed $1 trillion.

Read more: Fist-Raising Trump Wishes All Merry Christmas
(Reuters) - Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou plans to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing political turmoil crisis in Libya and other African issues, Sassou's spokesman said on Monday. Sassou's spokesman Thierry Moungalla, in a post on Twitter, noted that the two men were meeting to discuss ways to the end the Libyan crisis as well other broader issues affecting the continent, according to a statement attached to the tweet. He did not give any other details about the meeting plans. Representatives for Trump's team did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking to confirm the meeting with the incoming Republican president, who takes office Jan. 20 and is spending this week at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Libya is grappling with continuing political turmoil as rival governments split the nation's East and West, and other armed factions also compete for power. The United Nations earlier this month also cited an ongoing human rights crisis affecting migrants there. Trump, a New York businessman who has never held elected office, has been holding an ongoing stream of meetings at his property in Palm Beach as well as Trump Tower in New York City as he prepares to assume the White House from Democratic U.S. President Barack Obama. Most of his meetings have centered on possible candidates to serve in his administration, including his Cabinet. In November, Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and, according to a report, the two plan to meet again Jan. 27. Trump has also fielded numerous calls from a number of world leaders since winning the U.S. presidential election Nov. 8 against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. (Reporting by Tim Cocks in Senegal and Melissa Fares in Palm Beach, Florida; editing by Diane Craft)
Ankara (AFP) - A Turkish court has put a broadcast ban on reporting of the investigation into last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Ankara Andrei Karlov, state media said on Tuesday.

A Turkish policeman opened fire on Karlov while he was delivering a speech at the opening of a photography exhibition, in an assassination that stunned Russia and Turkey.

An Ankara court agreed to a request by prosecutors for a ban on broadcasting images of the assassination -- which was caught on film -- as well as the investigation itself, the state-run Anadolu news agency said.

This includes news concerning witnesses, victims or suspects in the murder.

The ruling said such news could be prejudicial to the investigation and to national security. The ban will last for the duration of the investigation.

It was not clear what had prompted the ban one week after the December 19 murder but it came one day after the daily Hurriyet published a detailed interview with the sister of the murderer Mevlut Mert Altintas.

The sister, named as Seher O., said her brother had been "brainwashed" while attending police school in Izmir.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Altintas was a member of the group of US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 15 coup.

However this has yet to be echoed by Russian officials, who say it is too early to comment on the investigation.

In recent years, Turkish authorities have repeatedly placed broadcast bans on sensitive issues and in the wake of attacks, citing national security.

Critics say freedom of expression has declined in Turkey after Erdogan became president in August 2014 but the government has insisted everything is done within the framework of the law.
Nicosia (AFP) - The president of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot region of northern Cyprus said Tuesday that a referendum on reunifying the island could be held in the summer if talks next month went to plan.

Mustafa Akinci and President Nicos Anastasiades of the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus are due to meet in Switzerland in January, in a bid to give new momentum to the process.

"If everything goes well and there is no accident on the way, then a referendum could be on the agenda in the summer months," Akinci told reporters in Nicosia.

He said there are some 100 issues to deal with in the Cyprus negotiations but the most sensitive amount to just 8-10 issues, including land, property and security.

Anastasiades and Akinci agreed to resume the talks for the reunification of the divided Mediterranean island after negotiations broke down in Switzerland last month.

Akinci confirmed he would hold one-on-one talks with Anastasiades before being joined on January 12 by the three guarantor powers of Cyprus -- Britain, Greece and Turkey.

"There will be no one else around the table," Akinci said.

Turkish Cypriot media earlier this month quoted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin as saying the Turkish strongman would be joining the talks from January 12.

Meanwhile Anastasiades will travel to Athens Friday for talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras ahead of the fresh negotiations, his government's spokesman said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the island in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.

The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognised by Turkey. The Republic of Cyprus is however an EU member.

Anastasiades and Akinci, who are among the most outspoken proponents of a deal, are under huge pressure to deliver progress in the talks. But any agreement they reach will have to be approved by their respective communities in referendums.

Akinci, born in Limassol which is now in the Greek Cypriot south, had himself repeatedly spoken of 2016 as a "window of opportunity" to solve the Cyprus problem.

Cypriots on both sides of the island in 2004 voted in referendums on a UN plan to reunite Cyprus. It was overwhelmingly approved by Turkish Cypriots but also overwhelmingly rejected by the Greek Cypriots.
(Adds McCain comment)

TALLINN, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The United States is committed to the security of the Baltic region and NATO, Republican senator John McCain said in the Estonian capital on Tuesday, during a visit seen as a bid to soothe concerns over the policy of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump unnerved many in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia by saying on the campaign trail he would consider a country's contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to its aid.

Russian military involvement in Ukraine and Georgia has stoked fears in the Baltics their former Soviet master might eventually try something similar there.

"I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength," McCain told reporters in the Estonian capital.

"And the best way to prevent Russian misbehaviour by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance."

The U.S. stationed about 150 troops in each of the three Baltic countries and Poland in April 2014.

On a three-day visit to the Baltics with fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham, McCain said he did not expect the U.S. to remove sanctions against Russia, imposed after its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

"That is certainly not the case today as I know it", he said.

He also said that the United States, regardless of who was its president, would have "a strong and significant response" as long as Putin continued "to occupy Crimea and has invaded eastern Ukraine and continues to threaten other nations in the region."

Russia's annexation of the Crimea in 2014 has fueled concerns in the Baltic states, all NATO members, that Moscow may want to reassert control across the whole region.

"There is fear in the Baltics about the incoming Trump administration's relationship with Russia, that sanctions against Russia will be weakened or called off, and not strengthened as the Congress would want," Zygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's former ambassador to the U.S. told Reuters.

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He said Russia had gained confidence after the muted response to its actions in Georgia.

"If its actions in Ukraine are also forgiven, its next step is an open question," he said.

McCain and Graham, who travel to Latvia on Wednesday and Lithuania on Thursday have expressed alarm at Trump's attitude towards Russia.

They want Trump to take a tough line over what they termed Russia's "military land grab" in Ukraine and have also called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the United States, including Russia's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election.

"There is no doubt that the Russians were hacking, but there is doubt whether it had any effect on the outcome of the election," McCain said.

"There is no evidence right now that indeed the Russian cyber attacks and the leaking of the information had any tangible effect on the outcome of the American election."

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas, Gederts Gelzis and David Mardiste; Editing by Simon Johnson and Raissa Kasolowsky)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged a California lawyer on Tuesday with defrauding people who signed up for an immigrant investor program aimed at creating jobs for Americans.

Emilio Francisco raised $72 million from investors in China, the SEC said in a statement. He and his marketing firm, PDC Capital, "diverted investor funds from one project to another and outright stole at least $9.6 million that was used to finance Franciscos own businesses and luxury lifestyle," it said.

The EB-5 immigrant investor program allows foreigners to apply to permanently live and work in the states by investing money in certain projects that create U.S. jobs, it said.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by David Gregorio)
After a complete washout session in the Parliament, Opposition is gearing up to launch individual dharnas starting tomorrow.

By Supriya Bhardwaj: Opposition parties protested against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move in a united manner during winter session in the Parliament. And, barely a fortnight later, outside the Parliament, the Opposition parties are all set to protest individually. The RJD is planning to hit the streets in Bihar tomorrow.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has called all party workers for a mahadharna across the state.

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Congress that has been protesting in various states will be hitting the streets on January 5 and 8. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi chaired a meeting of around 300 state and district level party leaders on Monday and decided to take the Demonetisation fight to the other states from national capital.

TMC chief Mamata Banarjee blowed the trumpet in national capital and informed the media that party will protest from January 1 to 8 in Bengal, and their slogan would be 'Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao'.

Other opposition parties are also charting out their protest strategies to corner the government on demonetisation issue outside the Parliament.

Also Read

What was demonetisation's real motive, asks Rahul; Mamata asks if Modi will resign after 50 days Demonetisation decision wrecked Winter Session in 2016

Demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee takes yet another jibe at Modi

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The public in the United Kingdom is growing concerned over Queen Elizabeth IIs health after the British monarch skipped mass on Christmas Day for the first time in decades. Buckingham Palace said the queen had a heavy cold and while she would stay indoors, she would still participate in the Dec. 25 celebrations.

The monarch, who turned 90 this April, has attended the Christmas service at the St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham every year since the family began celebrating Christmas there in 1988. It is not known if the queen ever missed Christmas service since ascending the throne Feb. 6, 1952, when she was 25 years old.

However, the BBC reported there was no sense of undue concern and according to the Palace, the monarch skipping service was just a precautionary measure.

Here are 12 facts about Queen Elizabeth II:

1. She is the world's longest-reigning living monarch and the sixth woman to ascend the British throne.

2. In Sept. 2015, she beat her great-great-grandmother Queen Victorias record, having spent 63 years and 216 days on the throne. Queen Victoria, who died in 1901, ruled for 63 years and seven months.

3. Her coronation, which took place in Westminster Abbey in June 1953, was the first one to be televised in England.

4. The queen has had four children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles

Photo: REUTERS/Chris Jackson/Pool

5. Queen Elizabeth speaks French fluently.

6. She loves horses and dogs and has owned over 30 corgis.

7. Since beginning her reign, there have been 12 U.S. presidents and seven Roman Catholic popes.

8. The queen, who learnt to drive in 1945, is the only person in the U.K. who does not need a drivers license to drive. She also does not need a passport for international travel.

9. During World War II, the then-princess drove a truck and trained as a mechanic.

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10. She is the first British monarch to visit China in 1986 and has visited over 115 countries.

Queen Elizabeth coronation

Photo: REUTERS/STEFAN WERMUTH

11. In April 2009, she met U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and the two were photographed with their arms around each other. The picture caused quite a stir as touching the monarch is not usual occurrence.

12. In 2014, she visited the sets of the hit U.S. TV series Game Of Thrones and spoke to some of the cast members. She declined an invitation to sit on the Iron Throne but accepted a miniature model from Dan Weiss, one of the shows executive producers.

Queen Elizabeth GOT

Photo: REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE

Related Articles
Donetsk (Ukraine) (AFP) - Ukraine's pro-Moscow insurgents on Tuesday released two women they had held captive thanks to the intervention of Nadya Savchenko -- a Kiev-born female combat pilot who spent nearly two years in a Russian jail.

The freeing of the women -- a judge and a journalist -- came after Savchenko, now a member of parliament, held a private meeting with the heads of the separatist regions of Lugansk and Donetsk earlier this month.

Savchenko has fervently taken up the cause of winning back the freedom of some 110 people believed to still be held by the militias in their industrial enclave in the southeast of Ukraine.

But her trip to the war zone created controversy in Kiev because it was not authorised by President Petro Poroshenko.

The Ukrainian leader refuses to have formal contacts with the rebellion's commanders because they lack legitimacy in his eyes.

An AFP correspondent saw two women -- regional judge Anzhelika Presnyakova and journalist Olga Svorak -- handed over to a Ukrainian envoy who came to the rebels' de facto capital of Donetsk.

It was not immediately clear how long they had been held captive or under what circumstances they were captured.

They were taken back to Ukrainian-held territory by Volodymyr Ruban, the head of a non-governmental organisation involved in prisoner swaps.

Ruban told reporters that Savchenko's visit to the separatist region "helped ease the prisoners' release".

But her trip has been condemned by some Ukrainian officials because it contradicted Kiev's line of refusing to negotiate with the insurgents but communicating with them through Western mediators.

The 35-year-old Savchenko initially became a symbol of Ukraine's resistance to what Kiev considers Russia's occupation of the east.

Poroshenko and his Western allies view the separatists as Russian proxies who have been fighting a 31-month war that has claimed nearly 10,000 lives to destabilise the Ukrainian government and keep it dependent on the Kremlin's whims.

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Moscow denies interfering in the conflict but international monitors have seen tanks and other heavy military equipment enter the Ukrainian war zone from Russia throughout the war.

Yet Savchenko's political star has fallen since her release from Russia in May.

She had been sentenced for alleged complicity in the murder of two Russian state television journalists in the war zone in June 2014 -- a charge she denied and which led her to hold a series of hunger strikes.

Savchenko has now taken on views that forced her to leave the populist political party of former prime minister Yulia Timoshenko that she originally headed.
By Jonathan Stempel

Dec 27 (Reuters) - United Continental Holdings Inc will install new conveyor belts and take other steps to improve worker safety at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub in New Jersey, after federal inspectors found hazardous conditions in its baggage handling operations there.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday said the accord resolves its August 2015 lawsuit accusing Chicago-based United Continental of committing a serious violation of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

The Labor Department said United's settlement could become a template for other carriers.

"United Airlines is setting a workplace safety standard that other airlines will be compelled to follow," Jeffrey Rogoff, the department's regional solicitor in New York, said in a statement.

United is the largest airline at Newark Liberty, scheduling close to three-quarters of its flights.

According to the Labor Department, "below-the-wing" handlers who moved baggage between United's aircraft and terminals, and within terminals, were forced to bend, lift, reach or twist awkwardly when collecting items on conveyor belts, loading gate-checked baggage at passenger jet bridges, and loading and unloading baggage in aircraft cargo bays.

As a result, there was increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as back, shoulder, and neck strains and sprains, and handlers reported at least 622 such injuries between 2011 and January 2015, the department said.

Under the settlement, United agreed to hire a consultant to examine repetitive stress and injury risks in its Newark Liberty baggage handling operations and adopt the consultant's recommendations or similar measures within two years.

United also agreed to form a dedicated ergonomic safety committee, and pay a $7,000 civil fine.

"The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority," United said in a statement. "We are reviewing our ergonomic practices in order to further improve the work environment for our employees." (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - United Continental Holdings Inc will install new conveyor belts and take other steps to improve worker safety at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub in New Jersey, after federal inspectors found hazardous conditions in its baggage handling operations there.

The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday said the accord resolves its August 2015 lawsuit accusing Chicago-based United Continental of committing a serious violation of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

The Labor Department said United's settlement could become a template for other carriers.

"United Airlines is setting a workplace safety standard that other airlines will be compelled to follow," Jeffrey Rogoff, the department's regional solicitor in New York, said in a statement.

United is the largest airline at Newark Liberty, scheduling close to three-quarters of its flights.

According to the Labor Department, "below-the-wing" handlers who moved baggage between United's aircraft and terminals, and within terminals, were forced to bend, lift, reach or twist awkwardly when collecting items on conveyor belts, loading gate-checked baggage at passenger jet bridges, and loading and unloading baggage in aircraft cargo bays.

As a result, there was increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as back, shoulder, and neck strains and sprains, and handlers reported at least 622 such injuries between 2011 and January 2015, the department said.

Under the settlement, United agreed to hire a consultant to examine repetitive stress and injury risks in its Newark Liberty baggage handling operations and adopt the consultant's recommendations or similar measures within two years.

United also agreed to form a dedicated ergonomic safety committee, and pay a $7,000 civil fine.

"The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority," United said in a statement. "We are reviewing our ergonomic practices in order to further improve the work environment for our employees."

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
BEIRUT (AP)  Kurdish-led fighters are approaching a strategic dam controlled by the Islamic State group in northern Syria after days of fighting that killed a senior IS military commander, a spokesman for the U.S.-backed forces and others said Tuesday.

Talal Sillo of the Syria Democratic Forces said the fighters, with the support of U.S., French and British special forces, have driven IS from dozens of villages and farms in recent days and are now about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Euphrates Dam.

The SDF, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, has been on the offensive in Raqqa province since early November, advancing with the aid of U.S.-led airstrikes. The operation is aimed at encircling and eventually retaking Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-declared caliphate.

The city is home to nearly 200,000 mostly Sunni Arabs and an estimated 5,000 IS fighters.

"The ongoing operation is the second phase west of Raqqa," Sillo said, adding that the first phase was north of the city. "More phases will come later to isolate the city and then to begin liberating it."

The capture of the dam, which controls the flow of water to parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq, would deal a major blow to the extremist group, which has held the facility for more than two years. Behind the dam lies Lake Assad, which at 640 square kilometers (247 square miles), is Syria's largest reservoir.

Both sides claim to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other. The IS-linked Aamaq news agency reported Monday that 24 SDF fighters were killed in the area, while Sillo said his forces had killed dozens of extremists.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fate of a top IS military commander known as Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti is still unknown after he was targeted by U.S.-led coalition aircraft. The Syrian army said Abu Jandal was killed fighting in the Tabqa area near the dam. IS supporters on social media confirmed he was killed.

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The U.S. Central Command said that coalition aircraft conducted nine strikes near the city of Raqqa on Monday that engaged three IS tactical units, destroying vehicles rigged with explosives, a bridge, a fighting position, and a supply cache. It said two airstrikes near the Ein Issa area to the north of Raqqa hit two IS tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions.

Sillo said that in recent days the SDF has captured 1,300 square kilometers (502 square miles). He said their next target is the town of Tabqa, home to a military base where IS fighters killed scores of captured Syrian troops in 2014. He said the fighting on Tuesday was concentrated near the Jaabar castle on Lake Assad, after SDF captured the nearby village of Jaabar.

The U.S.-backed SDF is made up of several Arab, Kurdish, Turkmen and Christian groups that have captured wide areas of northern Syria from IS over the past year. The largest and most powerful groups in the coalition are the main Kurdish militias known as the People's Protection Units, or YPG, and the Women's Protection Units, or YPJ.

The SDF is the most effective ground force battling IS in Syria.
The US doctor who survived Ebola after contracting it in Liberia in July, 2014, has returned to work in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dr. Kent Brantly began quietly practicing medicine in the United States around a year ago. He sees patients at a community health clinic, teaches family medicine residents and works one day a week in labor and delivery at John Peter Smith Hospital, according to the Star Telegram in Fort Worth.

Brantly says his experience in Liberia has helped shaped him into the man and doctor he is today.

There are innumerable lessons we could draw from that experience, Brantly told the newspaper. The one I have tried to preach the most is choosing compassion over fear. I think that, at its core, is the most important lesson that this experience has illustrated. I talk about that from the perspective of my religious faith, the teachings of Jesus to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Seeing the devastation of Ebola firsthand has also helped him prepare for another outbreak.

One of the lessons we learned is our interconnectedness, that anything happening somewhere around the world  any epidemic, disaster, humanitarian crisis  it can show up at our doorstep in the blink of an eye and we have to be prepared for that, he said.

He calls his hospital a safety net for those who need his help and guidance.

Many of our patients dont have access to care anywhere else, he told the newspaper. And just like medicine anywhere else, I get to walk through life with people in the midst sometimes of their most difficult and challenging circumstances theyve faced  a terminal diagnosis, bad news, poor prognosis and also the most joyful times with people  like the birth of a new baby.

The president and CEO of the JPS Health Network added that Ebola has changed how patients are now treated when they come to one of their clinics. Youre going to be asked, Where have you been? What symptoms are you facing? Robert Earley told the Star-Telegram. Youre going to have a series of questions asked today that you werent asked five years ago. Brantly, who nine days after becoming sick didnt think he would survive, says that some of his patients recognize his face from when his story first made headline news. I have patients in the clinic occasionally who say, Where do I know you from? or Ive seen you on TV, he said. And sometimes I have patients who I got to take care of as a resident and they show up in my clinic and put two and two together and they say, I saw you on TV and I told everybody thats my doctor.  Since he fell ill in Liberia and barely made it out of the country alive, he has been on the cover of Time magazine and wrote a book with his wife, Amber, Called for Life: How Loving Our Neighbor Led Us Into the Heart of the Ebola Epidemic. He will also be part of a documentary, Facing Darkness which will be shown across the country for one-night only on March 30, 2017. Brantly wont rule out ever returning to Liberia or another country as a medical missionary, but for now hes focused on the people who need him in Indiana. I hope we get to back to that work, whether its disaster response or what we were setting out to do, which was to live lives of quiet service among people of great need, he said. Right now, were trying to do that among the people of Tarrant County.


Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela took delivery Tuesday of its third load of new, bigger denomination banknotes, its central bank said, but there was no sign of them in circulation yet despite official promises and mounting public anxiety.

"Seven hundred and ten crates of 500-bolivar notes have just arrived from Stockholm," the bank's vice president, Jose Khan, announced on state television.

They and other new denominations ranging up to 20,000 bolivars are being brought in by President Nicolas Maduro to replace 100-bolivar notes he wants to scrap, claiming they were being used by "mafias" along the border.

But citizens in the street complained they had not seen any of the new money, despite Maduro's promise that it would be available from December 15.

"Nothing at all. Still haven't seen them," a fast-food street vendor, Nicolas Flores, 40, told AFP in Caracas.

Maduro's announcement that the 100-bolivar notes would suddenly no longer be legal tender provoked long lines of people trying to change them, and looting and rioting in some areas, resulting in four deaths.

Following the unrest, the president extended until January 2 use of the 100-bolivar bills, each of which is worth 15 US cents at the highest official exchange rate.

The 100-bolivar bills represent more than three-quarters of the money being used in Venezuela, according to the website Prodavinci.

The central bank estimates that nearly 100 million 500-bolivar banknotes should be delivered this month. Experts believe that to be insufficient to meet demand.

"The banknotes that have arrived represent a little more than five percent of what they are withdrawing from circulation," said one economist, Asdrubal Oliveros.
Viggo Mortensen, Jeff Nichols, and Pharrell Williams will receive Varietys Creative Impact Awards during the Palm Springs Film Festival in January. Varietys 10 Directors to Watch will also be honored at the festival.

The event is presented by Mercedes Benz and located at the Parker Palm Springs.

Mortensen will receive the Variety Creative Impact in Acting Award for his leading role in Captain Fantastic.

Viggo Mortensens tremendous work in Bleecker Streets Captain Fantastic has garnered him both a Golden Globe and SAG nomination and we are happy to be honoring him at our brunch for his performance in the film as well as his 30 year career as one of the most daring actors working in cinema today, said Steven Gaydos, Vice President and Executive Editor of Variety.

Nichols will be honored with the Variety Creative Impact in Directing Award for helming Loving.

In less than a decade, Jeff Nichols has journeyed from the early career promise of Shotgun Stories, to the internationally acclaimed achievements of Take Shelter, Mud, and Midnight Special to this years powerful and moving historical drama Loving, explained Gaydos. Nichols has already created such an accomplished, visionary body of work that one cant imagine any assessment of current American cinema that doesnt include him near the top of the list of key filmmakers.

Williams will have the distinction of being the first recipient of the Variety Creative Impact in Producing Award for his work on Foxs Hidden Figures.

We reward him for championing a film that showcases the incredible true story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson  three African African American mathematicians working at NASA who helped win the space race in the 1960s, Gaydos said.

Ten exciting talents named on Varietys 10 Directors to Watch include German helmer Maren Ade for her heartbreakingly funny film Toni Erdmann and Barry Jenkins for his Miami-based movie Moonlight. The full list spans the creative landscape and puts a spotlight on a mixture of independent and studio filmmakers.

Story continues

Previous 10 Directors to Watch include Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone), Ava DuVernay (Selma) and Christopher Nolan (Memento). The list debuted in 1996 and the annual event moved to the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 2011.

One of the most exciting things for me about the festival is being able to host Varietys 10 Directors to Watch brunch, said Michael Lerman, the festivals Artistic Director. Not only is it a fantastic event, but it also nicely compliments our festival program with selections from our Talking Pictures and Awards Buzz sections, as well as the director of our opening night film The Sense of an Ending, Ritesh Batra. Its an exciting list this year!

The full list of Varietys 10 Directors to Watch is below:

Maren Ade, (Toni Erdmann)

Ritesh Batra, (The Sense of an Ending)

Otto Bell, (The Eagle Huntress)

Julia Ducourna, (Raw)

Geremy Jasper, (Patti Cake$)

Barry Jenkins, (Moonlight)

Emmett and Brendan Malloy, (The Tribes of Palos Verdes)

Kleber Mendonca Filho, (Aquarius)

William Oldroyd, (Lady Macbeth)

David Sandberg, (Lights Out)

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Old notes would no longer be allowed to be deposited in banks after December 30.

By Indo-Asian News Service: Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi's black money scheme be valid after December 30? The question takes on importance because old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes would no longer be allowed to be deposited in banks after that date.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Deposit Scheme 2016 (PMGKY) is open till March 31, 2017, or for the rest of the current financial year.

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But the tax, penalty, cess, surcharge and deposit under the scheme can only be paid with demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 till December 30, according to the details of the scheme advertised by the Income Tax Department.

So what happens when a person wants to declare undisclosed income on or after December 31? The department has left this question hanging.

ALSO READ | Demonetisation is a war on black money; wrongdoers must note, govt has changed: PM Modi

Under the scheme, a person disclosing income would have to pay total tax, surcharge and penalty amounting to 49.90 per cent of the undisclosed income.

Additionally, 25 per cent of the undisclosed income would have to be put in PMGK Deposit Scheme 2016 for four years without interest.

Since, obviously, the black money sought to be unearthed would be in old currency notes, how will a person declaring such income pay the penalty or deposit the 25 per cent amount on December 31 and up to March 31, 2017?

Is the government planning to extend the date of depositing old currencies for those declaring undisclosed income?

If the government does allow black money hoarders to deposit old notes after the December 30 deadline, it would be giving them preference over honest taxpayers who have to deposit all their old currency notes in their bank accounts by then.

ALSO READ | Since PM Modi announced demonetisation, PMO has received 600 calls about black money

A more cumbersome procedure of seeking special permission from the RBI kicks in after that deadline for anyone who wants to deposit demonetised notes.

In the case of PMGKY, the government does not seem to have thought through the practical aspects of inviting declaration of black money in the new year.

The black money scheme provides "total confidentiality" to the declarer. It also provides for immunity from prosecution under various laws.

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By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The director of a West Virginia nonprofit agency who called first lady Michelle Obama "an ape in heels" in a Facebook post has been fired and the institution put under outside management, state officials said on Tuesday. Pamela Taylor, director of the Clay County Development Corp (CCDC), which provides services to poor and elderly residents, drew international condemnation after her comment last month about Obama went viral. She resigned in November but was reinstated last month, prompting West Virginia to review its contracts with the nonprofit. Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblin's office said the state had secured an agreement under which the Appalachian Area Agency on Aging will manage the CCDC for six months. "Following the state's request for specific assurances that the CCDC is following anti-discrimination policies, we have been assured that Pamela Taylor has been removed from her position as CCDC director," Tomblin's office said in a statement. Taylor could not be reached for comment. The nonprofit in Clay, West Virginia, a small town about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Charleston, the state capital, receives state and federal funding. After the Nov. 8 election, Taylor went on Facebook to praise the switch from Obama to former model Melania Trump, the wife of President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican. "It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified first lady back in the White House. I'm tired of seeing an ape in heels," she wrote. Beverly Whaling, Clay's mayor, resigned after coming under fire for replying to Taylor's comment: "Just made my day Pam." The Charleston Gazette-Mail has reported that the nonprofit received about $1.5 million in federal funding and $363,000 in state funding in 2014. (Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Alan Crosby)
Beni (DR Congo) (AFP) - The official explanation for a two-year wave of massacres in a restive corner of DR Congo centres on a shadowy rebel group accused of having ties to the global jihadist underground.

But some basic details about the alleged killers of more than 700 victims -- the latest over the Christmas weekend -- haven't quite convinced observers and experts.

The truth, they say, is more complicated and may lead all the way to the halls of power in the vast, mineral-rich and chronically unstable central African nation.

UN experts, referring to the claimed jihadist links in past reports, have simply stated: "There is no proof of this allegation."

But that has not stopped the Democratic Republic of Congo's leadership and the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO from blaming the bloodbath around the town of Beni, in the country's strife-torn northeast, on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

Secrecy shrouds the group, which is dominated by hardline Ugandan Muslims who were initially focused on overthrowing Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni.

The group went on to absorb other rebel factions into its ranks and started carrying out attacks in 1995. Gradually pushed westwards by the Ugandan army, the ADF relocated most of its activities to DR Congo.

When the Beni massacres started in October 2014, with most of the victims hacked to death, the ADF was quickly branded the culprit by both Congolese authorities and MONUSCO.

More than two years on, the government and the UN have been unable to protect civilians from the attacks, and the ADF remains the only official explanation -- with Kinshasa insisting on a jihadist link to the killings.

- Army troops involved? -

Many ADF recruits -- who were drawn this year from Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and as far as Somalia -- were not hardcore ideologues but young Muslims lured by the promise of going to study in Saudi Arabia, an intelligence agent and civil society source told AFP.

Story continues

Meanwhile, the ADF has not claimed any of the Beni massacres, and no experts working on DR Congo have found a link between the group and the global jihadist underground.

"It's paradoxical," a civil society source in Beni told AFP, pointing to groups like Islamic State's claims of violence committed in its name.

Pinning the blame on jihadists "seems too simplistic", he said on condition of anonymity fearing for his safety, like most Congolese who spoke to AFP.

Others have gone further, alleging that government agents have a role in the killing.

A group run by US researcher Jason Stearns published a report in March claiming several distinct groups "appear to be involved in the massacres", including soldiers from the regular army.

It said members of the Congolese army, former rebels from the RCD-K/ML group -- who held the area during the 1998-2003 Second Congo War -- and local militias were all involved in the mass killings.

The government rejected the claims and said the ADF was "definitely" responsible for the massacres. Stearns was expelled from DR Congo after the report's release.

- 'Why these horrible killings?' -

Three AFP journalists were strongly advised by a senior local security official to not delve too deeply into the area's security matters.

In an interview with AFP, Beni's Mayor Bwanakawa Nyonyi said he believes the massacres are carried out by a nebulous group, with politically-motivated "Congolese hands" behind them. He refused to say more about the suspects or their motives.

"Why these horrible killings?" asked the mayor.

In explaining the violence, some have cited struggles for control of trafficking in various industries like timber, agricultural produce or minerals in a region with extremely rich potential.

A group of UN experts has repeatedly questioned whether the Congolese military was involved in the trafficking in various industries or in some massacres. The group has also incriminated local militias in some killings that were allegedly linked to land disputes.
In our day-to-day lives, talking about money is atypical cocktail party conversation. Even when it comes to your spouse and family, money conversations can become strained. This may be because money represents so much more than the actual piece of paper it's printed on.

Although money is an integral part of one's life, the paradox is no one wants to talk about it. "Many people are more willing to talk about their sex lives than talk about their money," says Gary Dayton, a licensed psychologist and head of Peak Psychology, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Money can have profound symbolic meanings. "To many, money symbolizes comfort and living with ease, but it can also bring up scary issues of dependence, insecurity and even survival," Dayton says.

[See: 10 of the Worst Performing Stocks of 2016.]

Etiquette and good manners may also play a role in our views on talking about money. "Emily Post classified money as a third-tier topic of conversation, making it a full class worse than sex and religion for discussing in mixed company," says Sarah Newcomb, behavioral economist at Morningstar in the District of Columbia. "Among the very wealthy, discussing money is often considered gauche. It's tacky to gloat. In less privileged homes, the stress of daily money management is something parents often want to shield from their children and friends."

Money can be a surrogate for power. Money represents status, and how much money you make or have is often tied up in how successful we believe ourselves to be, says Jean Wilczynski, financial planner and investment advisor at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Old Lyme, Connecticut. "Our self-worth is often tied to our financial wealth, perhaps because that is more easily measurable against someone else's financial wealth. We, rightly or wrongly, think that others judge our success by how much money we make or have."

Family messages and attitudes can also impact views on money. "The person who works long hours and takes no vacations seeking to acquire as much money as possible may do so because of the messages received as a child by parents who lived through the Great Depression," Dayton says. "There is never enough money to make you secure."

Story continues

Despite all these hurdles, it can be important for families to stop the perpetuation of the taboo. "The silence about money within the family keeps young people from developing financial skills," Dayton says.

When money is a safe topic, you can work together to reach your goals, Newcomb says.

Here are some tips to start healthy money conversations now.

Take stock of your financial situation. Identify the areas that cause stress and make a plan, Dayton says. "If you find you are overspending, for example, brainstorm ways to scale down expenses. If too deep in debt, seek debt counseling. Put your plan down on paper, and then commit to it."

Become aware of how you deal with stress associated with money. "Are you overeating, arguing more, gambling, drinking or doing other unhealthy things?" Dayton says. "Recognize such behavior is unconstructive and doesn't address the source of your stress. If the behaviors are causing trouble in your life, consider seeking help from a psychologist. You don't want the problem to get worse."

View your challenges as opportunities to grow. "Think of ways you can deal with the stress in a healthier manner," Dayton says. "Getting exercise is a good way to reduce the stress you feel. Having dinner in with (your) spouse and family can pave the way for better communication and bring yourselves closer together. Take a course at the local college on family finance. Develop your finance skills, and teach your family what you learn."

[See: 11 Tips for the Sandwich Generation: Paying for College and Retirement.]

Have open and honest financial conversations with your aging parents. "Many adult children worry that they will need to care for an aging parent either physically or financially, or both," Wilczynski says.

Find out how and where your parents want to live and be cared for. "Having the conversation without making decisions or promises is also important," Wilczynski says. "We don't always know what the future will bring, and I've seen a few cases where a child promised the parent could live with them, but a change in circumstances -- remarriage, divorce, job loss, health care needs -- made that impossible and that created a great deal of resentment."

Adult children should know where to find a parent's legal, financial and health care details. At least one of them should know where to find the will, powers of attorney, and any health care directives.

"Each of us, regardless of age, should have a listing of all our advisors with their contact information: lawyers, financial advisors, accountants, doctors and anyone else that might need to be contacted," Wilczynski says. "Also important is to have a list of all accounts: bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and insurance policies. How detailed to make the list is an individual choice, but a trusted friend or relative needs to know how to locate and use this information."

[See: 13 Tips for Singles Nearing Retirement.]

Talking about our personal finances is difficult. "It is hard for everyone, not just you. So don't beat yourself up over not wanting to do it," Wilczynski says. "But do resolve to make a start. Even baby steps forward get you moving in the right direction. You and your family will be better for it."





More From US News & World Report


In our day-to-day lives, talking about money is atypical cocktail party conversation. Even when it comes to your spouse and family, money conversations can become strained. This may be because money represents so much more than the actual piece of paper it's printed on.

Although money is an integral part of one's life, the paradox is no one wants to talk about it. "Many people are more willing to talk about their sex lives than talk about their money," says Gary Dayton, a licensed psychologist and head of Peak Psychology, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Money can have profound symbolic meanings. "To many, money symbolizes comfort and living with ease, but it can also bring up scary issues of dependence, insecurity and even survival," Dayton says.

[See: 10 of the Worst Performing Stocks of 2016.]

Etiquette and good manners may also play a role in our views on talking about money. "Emily Post classified money as a third-tier topic of conversation, making it a full class worse than sex and religion for discussing in mixed company," says Sarah Newcomb, behavioral economist at Morningstar in the District of Columbia. "Among the very wealthy, discussing money is often considered gauche. It's tacky to gloat. In less privileged homes, the stress of daily money management is something parents often want to shield from their children and friends."

Money can be a surrogate for power. Money represents status, and how much money you make or have is often tied up in how successful we believe ourselves to be, says Jean Wilczynski, financial planner and investment advisor at Exencial Wealth Advisors in Old Lyme, Connecticut. "Our self-worth is often tied to our financial wealth, perhaps because that is more easily measurable against someone else's financial wealth. We, rightly or wrongly, think that others judge our success by how much money we make or have."

Family messages and attitudes can also impact views on money. "The person who works long hours and takes no vacations seeking to acquire as much money as possible may do so because of the messages received as a child by parents who lived through the Great Depression," Dayton says. "There is never enough money to make you secure."

Story continues

Despite all these hurdles, it can be important for families to stop the perpetuation of the taboo. "The silence about money within the family keeps young people from developing financial skills," Dayton says.

When money is a safe topic, you can work together to reach your goals, Newcomb says.

Here are some tips to start healthy money conversations now.

Take stock of your financial situation. Identify the areas that cause stress and make a plan, Dayton says. "If you find you are overspending, for example, brainstorm ways to scale down expenses. If too deep in debt, seek debt counseling. Put your plan down on paper, and then commit to it."

Become aware of how you deal with stress associated with money. "Are you overeating, arguing more, gambling, drinking or doing other unhealthy things?" Dayton says. "Recognize such behavior is unconstructive and doesn't address the source of your stress. If the behaviors are causing trouble in your life, consider seeking help from a psychologist. You don't want the problem to get worse."

View your challenges as opportunities to grow. "Think of ways you can deal with the stress in a healthier manner," Dayton says. "Getting exercise is a good way to reduce the stress you feel. Having dinner in with (your) spouse and family can pave the way for better communication and bring yourselves closer together. Take a course at the local college on family finance. Develop your finance skills, and teach your family what you learn."

[See: 11 Tips for the Sandwich Generation: Paying for College and Retirement.]

Have open and honest financial conversations with your aging parents. "Many adult children worry that they will need to care for an aging parent either physically or financially, or both," Wilczynski says.

Find out how and where your parents want to live and be cared for. "Having the conversation without making decisions or promises is also important," Wilczynski says. "We don't always know what the future will bring, and I've seen a few cases where a child promised the parent could live with them, but a change in circumstances -- remarriage, divorce, job loss, health care needs -- made that impossible and that created a great deal of resentment."

Adult children should know where to find a parent's legal, financial and health care details. At least one of them should know where to find the will, powers of attorney, and any health care directives.

"Each of us, regardless of age, should have a listing of all our advisors with their contact information: lawyers, financial advisors, accountants, doctors and anyone else that might need to be contacted," Wilczynski says. "Also important is to have a list of all accounts: bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and insurance policies. How detailed to make the list is an individual choice, but a trusted friend or relative needs to know how to locate and use this information."

[See: 13 Tips for Singles Nearing Retirement.]

Talking about our personal finances is difficult. "It is hard for everyone, not just you. So don't beat yourself up over not wanting to do it," Wilczynski says. "But do resolve to make a start. Even baby steps forward get you moving in the right direction. You and your family will be better for it."

Kira Brecht is a financial journalist who writes extensively on stock, commodity, and foreign exchange markets, investing strategies, the economy and the Fed. She was managing editor at SFO (Stock, Futures & Options) Magazine for 10 years, creating digital magazine, newsletter and online content aimed at the individual investor. She began her career on the floor of the Chicago futures exchanges covering commodity markets for a financial newswire service. Follow her on Twitter @KiraBrecht.
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Imagine waking up one day to find that millions of dollars have been credited to your account. An Indian woman has been living that life for two days, and things continue to get stranger for her.

SEE ALSO: This online retailer is now selling cash!

Uttar Pradesh-based Sheetal Yadav says she was taken by surprise when she walked to an ATM two weeks ago and found that her account had Rs 1 billion ($14.7 million) in it.

Her surprise quickly turned into terror as she asked the person next to her to check if she had read the amount on paper slip correctly. She had. Yadav visited several other ATMs in the neighbourhood hoping the bank to show her a different figure.

The good samaritan, who earns a monthly salary of just Rs 5,000 ($74), turned to her bank to bring the matter to their attention. At the bank, she says she was told to come back later as the manager wasn't around. Even after the manager arrived, he refused to do anything about it, she added.

Yadav, along with her husband Ziledar Singh, have now written about the matter to the Prime Minister's office, in hopes that at least this would get the mistake rectified. So far they haven't had any luck.

The couple insist that they couldnt have had this much amount in their bank as they make meagre living. To add, Yadavs account was created as part of governments Jan Dhan Yojana, an initiative that aims to, among other things, get people with low income to open a bank account and get government subsidies transferred directly to those accounts. This, the government hopes, would ensure subsidies are reaching the real people rather than getting lost in a chain of middlemen.

There have been multiple incidents of corrupt bank officials laundering money into such bank accounts in the wake of India's demonetization. Taking it into account, the government has capped the amount that can be withdrawn from Jan Dhan Yojana bank accounts.
By Randi Belisomo (Reuters Health) - To humanize the intensive care unit and comfort families of the dying, Canadian doctors have found a way to elicit happier memories at the bedside. Theyre creating Word Clouds - and they say the practice is valuable for them, too, because it helps them forge their own bonds with patients. Staff members in the ICU of St. Josephs Healthcare in Hamilton, Ontario say the process is an economical way to alleviate a stressful time. They have incorporated Word Cloud creation into regular practice and recently studied its impact. It was surprisingly meaningful, said Dr. Meredith Vanstone, an assistant professor of family medicine at McMaster University. She and her colleagues interviewed 37 relatives and 73 healthcare providers of 42 dying patients who were Word Cloud subjects. The Word Clouds, generated through the website wordle.net, are graphic representations of descriptions of patients, not just by loved ones but also by the healthcare professionals caring for them. They're "a form of art - a 'Picture of Words,'" according to Vanstone and her colleagues. Word Clouds are a catalyst for telling stories, Vanstone told Reuters Health. Its a way to get families away from thinking about negative things going on. The distillation of stories promotes attention to the patient as a whole person, she said, reflecting a lifes entirety during a time when many focus on the details of the final days. One Word Cloud, for example, contained roughly 50 descriptors (hardworking, best-uncle-ever, Bob-Dylan, fishing and union-man), with the phrases arranged around the patients name. Writing in BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, the authors share a comment about the process from a patients daughter: . . . it was more of a family bonding in time of need . . . its nice to talk about something that brings a smile on your face. For clinicians in the ICU, which is a stressful place to work, Word Clouds provide the opportunity to create human connection, said study coauthor France Clarke, also of McMaster University. They reinvigorate the passion that brought (providers) to this career and do some healing to the people who are around. The project hinges on the practice of narrative medicine, a care model in which clinicians elicit patients stories and recognize their common humanity. Narrative medicine, which aims to benefit patients and doctors, was pioneered by Dr. Rita Charon at Columbia University College of Physician and Surgeons in New York City. Charon, who was not involved in this project, calls it beautiful. Forging authentic connections among clinicians, patients and families is one of narrative medicines highest aims, and one Charon says the eliciting of stories for the graphic facilitates this kind of connection. Providers get to know the bravery, the reluctance to give up, the eagerness with which they hear footsteps of a visitor, Charon told Reuters Health. Seeing the image of the Word Cloud was also healing, the study found. Some family members reported looking at them regularly to feel closer to loved ones after their death. Having it is a chance to reflect and remember, Vanstone said. It makes a community among those who are usually pretty separated, the family on one side and the doctors and nurses on the other side who only meet when there is bad news to be had, Charon said. This is one small example of a much larger mission: to let it be known that physicians care so deeply for what happens to their patients and to learn that that matters. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2iA7sne BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, online November 24, 2016.
"PM should answer the nation what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for those affected by it," the Congress vice-president said.

By Brijesh Pandey: Rahul Gandhi today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tell the nation why he imposed demonetisation on the nation and who is responsible for the sufferings of the poor people.

Attending the press conference in New Delhi today with the Congress leader was West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who called demonetisation a "mega scam" and asked if Modi will resign at the end of 50 days if things do not improve.

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"PM should answer the nation what was the real motive of demonetisation and what will he do for the poor people affected by it," the Congress vice-president said.

"Demonetisation has made no impact on black money. It is an attack on financial independence, poor people," he said.

"December 30 is about to come and the situation is the same. The motive of demonetisation has failed completely," Rahul said at a press conference he hosted with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in New Delhi today.

"PM Narendra Modi says he is fighting corruption but not answering allegations of personal corruption against him," he said, referring to his allegations of Modi taking money from some corporates when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister.

DEMONETISATION A MEGA SCAM: MAMATA

Mamata called demonetisation "a mega scam, one of the biggest one after independence", and said Modi has pushed India back "by 20 years" by imposing his unilateral decision of banning the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

"If things remain unresolved even after 50 days, will PM Modi take responsibility and resign as the Prime Minister of the country?" Mamata demanded.

"Modi had said the good days ("achche din") will come. Is this a sample of his achche din?" she asked.

"In the name of cashless, the Modi government has gone baselss and total faceless," she said.

"They do whatever they feel like like. The federal structure is totally destroyed. It is not emergency, it is super emergency," the Trinamool Congress chief said.

COMMON MINIMUM AGENDA SOON: MAMATA

With most major Opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party, the Left, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Janata Dal (United), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) boycotting the Rahul-Mamata press conference, the Opposition attack is already blunted.

But Mamata claimed the Opposition is still united. "All the Opposition parties will make a common minimum agenda programme," she said.

--- ENDS ---
2016 has been a bountiful year for space science. Before the calendar runs out, here's our list of the biggest space stories and events of the past 12 months.

There were monumental new discoveries, including the first-ever direct detection of gravitational waves, which gives scientists access to a whole new realm of information about cosmic events. This year, scientists also discovered a potentially habitable planet orbiting the star nearest to Earth's sun.

As always, there were also hurdles and setbacks. The ExoMars mission sent both an orbiter and a lander to the Red Planet, but the lander crashed into the planet's surface before it could begin its science mission. And multiple studies searching for signs of a particle that could explain mysterious dark matter turned up empty.

As the year winds down, 2016 also leaves us with some tantalizing possibilities for 2017, like the potential observation of a ninth planet beyond Pluto orbiting our sun. But before we look ahead, let's look back. Here are the biggest and best space science stories of 2016.

First-ever direct detection of gravitational waves

In February, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) collaboration made physics history when it announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves  ripples that stretch and compress space itself. Albert Einstein showed that space and time are fundamentally linked, so gravitational waves actually pass through the cosmic fabric known as space-time.

The direct detection of gravitational waves opens up an entirely new realm for astronomy because these waves carry information about the objects and events that create them, and this information is not conveyed by any other means. Right now, scientists can study the universe by collecting light from distant objects (and, in some cases, other kinds of particles), but gravitational waves are not created by the same mechanisms that create light. LIGO made two gravitational-wave detections this year (the second was announced in June), and in both instances, the waves came from two black holes swirling around each other and colliding. Those mergers would have been invisible to astronomers were it not for gravitational waves. As LIGO continues to study the sky, scientists are eager to see what other cosmic treasures it uncovers.

Story continues

[Further Reading: Gravitational Waves Detected by LIGO: Complete Coverage]

This artist's impression shows what it might look like on the surface of Proxima b, a planet that orbits the star nearest to Earth's sun. ESO/M. Kornmesser

A planet around the nearest star to Earth's sun

The star Proxima Centauri lies just 4.2 light-years from Earth's sun  a stone's throw, cosmologically speaking. In August, scientists discovered a planet orbiting in Proxima Centauri's habitable zone, or the region where liquid water might exist on the planet's surface (and thus boosting the odds that life might have evolved there). This newly discovered planet, dubbed Proxima b, has a minimum mass of about 1.27 times Earth's mass, further increasing the possibility that this planet could be habitable.

Shortly after the discovery was announced, a group called Project Blue started fundraising to build a space telescope with the targeted mission of studying Proxima b and looking for signs of life there.

In April, the Breakthrough Foundation  whose board members include physicist Stephen Hawking, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and entrepreneur Yuri Milner  announced an initiative called Breakthrough Starshot, which will aim to send a microchip-size spacecraft to another star. With the discovery of Proxima b, the Starshot project organizers announced that they would target this newfound planet, and potentially search for signs of life. The spacecraft would be accelerated with a massive (and expensive) laser system, and would still take about 20 to 25 years to reach Proxima b.

[Further Reading: New Planet 2016: Complete Coverage of Proxima b's Discovery]

Ice deposit on Mars is bigger than Lake Superior

A massive ice deposit spanning a region the size of New Mexico was discovered in Mars' mid-northern latitudes. The deposit lies between 3 and 33 feet (1 to 10 meters) below the Red Planet's surface, it's between 50 and 85 percent water (the rest is dirt), and its total volume is about the same as that of Lake Superior, which holds about 2,900 cubic miles (12,100 cubic kilometers) of water.

The ice deposit could be useful if humans eventually settle on Mars. The region where the deposit was found, called Utopia Planitia, could be easily accessible by spacecraft because it is relatively flat and low-lying. The ice deposit was discovered using the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

[Further Reading: Photos: The Search for Water on Mars]

Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of Jupiter's moon Europa contain what appear to be water plumes erupting from the moon's surface. The images were taken in 2014, but the results of the analysis were not released until 2016. NASA, ESA, W. Sparks (STScI)

Hubble spies potential water plumes on Europa

The Hubble Space Telescope has spied what appear to be plumes of water erupting from the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. This icy satellite may harbor a liquid water ocean deep below its surface, and scientists think that ocean could have the right ingredients for life. NASA is currently planning to send an orbiting probe to study Europa in the 2020s.

If Europa is indeed spewing water from its ocean into space, that opens up the door for an orbiting mission to sample the water (without having to drill into the ice or even land) and look for hints of biology there. The Hubble telescope had spotted a plume erupting from Europa in 2012, but that detection seemed like it might have been a rare outlier, because no plume activity was observed in the intervening years.

[Watch This Video for More: Possible Water Vapor Plumes on Europa Spotted by Hubble Again (Video)]

Dark-matter search comes up empty

Four studies released this year came up empty in a search for a particle that could possibly compose the mysterious substance known as dark matter. Although dark matter does not radiate, reflect or block light (and is thus invisible in the traditional sense), dark matter's gravity can bend light, giving scientists the opportunity to detect it. There are various other bits of evidence that indicate dark matter not only exists but is five times more common in the universe than "regular" matter (the stuff that makes up stars, planets and people).

The first study came from the incredibly sensitive Large Underground Xenon dark matter experiment, which failed to detect signs of a hypothetical particle called a weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP). The negative results don't rule out WIMPs, but they do put new restraints on the potential characteristics of a WIMP dark matter particle. Two additional searches for WIMPs were conducted using data from the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which collects high-energy particles from the universe. Those searches also came up empty. A final study looked for signs of another hypothetical particle, called an axion, using Fermi data from one particular galaxy, but it turned up no such evidence.

[Further Reading: The Search for Dark Matter in Images]

Tabby's Star saga continues

In 2011 and 2013, a distant star known as KIC 8462852 (also known as Tabby's Star) appeared to dip in brightness as seen from Earth. This kind of brightness change can occur when an object such as a planet passes in front of a star, but planets orbit their parent stars on a regular time loop, and the changes in brightness coming from Tabby's Star were highly irregular. In 2015, a hypothesis emerged that captured the public imagination: Maybe an alien civilization had built some kind of megastructure around Tabby's Star, periodically blocking the star's light as seen from Earth. Alternative explanations (all of which seem far more likely) were produced, but there's not enough evidence to fully explain the mystery.

In 2016, the saga of Tabby's Star continued. New evidence suggested that the star's sporadic dimming might have been going on for a century. That makes it unlikely that the source of the dimming is a swarm of comets, but it could also make it unlikely that an alien megastructure is to blame. Further observations revealed that the star not only demonstrated periods of rapid brightening but was apparently decreasing in brightness overall.

That hasn't discouraged people from investigating the star further. The Breakthrough Listen initiative, which will spend $100 million over the next 10 years to hunt for signals possibly produced by alien civilizations, plans to study Tabby's Star with the 330-foot-wide (100 m) Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia. Astronomer Tabetha "Tabby" Boyajian of Yale University (for whom the star is nicknamed) was part of the team that originally identified the star's irregular behavior. Boyajian and her colleagues collected more than $100,000 through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, and they plan to use those funds to pay for telescope time to study Tabby's Star further.

[Further Reading: Alien Megastructure? 'Tabby's Star' Continues to Baffle Scientists]

The dwarf planet Makemake that orbits the sun beyond Pluto was discovered to have a tiny companion satellite. NASA, ESA, and A. Parker and M. Buie (SwRI)

Dwarf planet Makemake has its own moon!

The dwarf planet known as Makemake lies even farther out in the cold reaches of the Kuiper Belt than Pluto, at about 45 times the distance between the Earth and the sun. But it's not alone out there: Earlier this year, scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a small moon orbiting Makemake (pronounced MAH-kay-MAH-kay). This miniature companion is thought to be about 100 miles (160 km) wide. (Makemake itself is about 870 miles, or 1,400 km, wide  or a little more than half the diameter of Earth's moon.) Scientists will watch the orbital dynamics of Makemake and its moon to learn more about the dwarf planet, including its density.

[Further Reading: Dwarf Planet Makemake Has a Moon | Video, Dwarf Planet Makemake: An Icy Wonder in Pictures]

Exciting Developments in 2016:

In addition to the above science results, 2016 gave ys some tantalizing hints about new science we can expect to hear about in 2017 and the years ahead.

Juno arrives at Jupiter

NASA's Juno spacecraft arrived at Jupiter on July 4, and settled into its unique orbit with the giant planet. The plan was to have Juno make a close approach of Jupiter every two weeks, but a thruster problem forced the probe to stay in a longer orbit and instead make a close approach of Jupiter every 53 days.

Even though no major science results have been produced by the Juno science team yet, the JunoCam instrument has been sending back stunning images of the Jovian giant, providing an unprecedented look at this gaseous monster. Juno principal investigator Scott Bolton said the images are already providing tantalizing hints about the science that Juno will produce.

[Further Reading: Photos of NASA's Juno Mission to Jupiter]

ExoMars arrives at the Red Planet

The ExoMars mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos, was designed with two parts: an orbiting satellite and a surface lander. But the lander met an early end when the landing technology malfunctioned, causing the probe to crash into the Martian surface.

But the orbiter remains operational, and it's gathering information that will help inform the next phase of the ExoMars project: sending a rover to the Martian surface. The rover will include a drill that will dig to depths of up to 6.5 feet (2 m) into Mars' dirt and soil.

[Watch This Video for More: Red But Not Dead - ExoMars Orbiter to Look for Water and Life | Video]

This artist's concept shows a SpaceX uncrewed Dragon capsule on the surface of Mars. This year, the private spaceflight company announced plans to send capsules to Mars as early as 2018. SpaceX

SpaceX plans to visit Mars by 2018

In September, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk delivered a long-awaited speech outlining the company's plans to eventually build human colonies on Mars. But before SpaceX starts sending humans to the Red Planet, it could help serve various science objectives, such as returning dirt samples collected by NASA's Mars 2020 rover (scheduled to launch in 2020).

In April, Musk announced on Twitter that the company plans to send uncrewed landers to the surface of Mars as early as 2018. Although NASA will offer technical support for SpaceX's first missions to the Red Planet, the agency announced this month that it will not send science equipment on the very first SpaceX missions. Instead, the agency will wait until SpaceX has proved out the technology.

[Further Reading: SpaceX's Interplanetary Transport for Mars in Images]

'Planet Nine' may lurk beyond Pluto

Early this year, a group of scientists announced that they had found significant evidence to suggest that there is a planet the size of Neptune beyond Pluto, orbiting our sun. The so-called Planet Nine hasn't been observed directly yet, but the movement of other bodies in that outer part of the solar system indicates the presence of a massive body, the researchers said.

The group, led by Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology, produced more evidence later in the year, as they looked at more data tracking the precise motion of small bodies in the Kuiper Belt (the region of the solar system beyond Neptune that is filled with small, rocky, icy bodies). Theories have also emerged about where the planet came from and how it arrived at its distant  and likely very tilted  orbit around the sun. The authors of the paper also have proposed ways that the planet could be spotted by modern telescopes, as well as the general region where they say the planet should be orbiting. Perhaps 2017 will be the year Planet Nine is found.

[Further Reading: Planet Nine: Theories About the Hypothetical Planet]

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

Editor's Recommendations
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  For most of the past decade, Egypt has been a quiet partner with Israel in a blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that has stifled the economy and largely blocked its 2 million people from moving in and out of the territory. But after a three-year crackdown, there are signs that Egypt is easing the pressure in a step to repair its shattered ties with the Islamic militant group.

In recent months, Cairo has increased the number of people allowed to exit through the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's main gateway to the outside world. It also has begun to allow Gaza to import commercial goods through Rafah for the first time since 2013 and sent public signals that it is interested in improving relations.

"There is a ball of hope that was thrown by Egypt," said Ashraf Jomaa, a Gaza community leader who has taken part in recent meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss the changing ties. "The question is how we, the Palestinians, shall catch that ball and develop the hope."

The changes, while still in their infancy, mark a significant departure from what has been a tough Egyptian crackdown since the military ousted its then-president, Mohammed Morsi, in 2013. Hamas, an offshoot of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, enjoyed close relations with him and quickly fell into disfavor with the new government.

Under President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the former military chief who ousted Morsi, Egypt all but destroyed a once-thriving network of cross-border smuggling tunnels used by Hamas  robbing the group of its main economic lifeline and a key source of weapons.

Targeting Islamic militant groups in Egypt's northern Sinai Desert, it also destroyed hundreds of homes in the volatile border area to create a "sterile zone." Egypt's state-run media have repeatedly accused Hamas of collaborating with militants in Egypt, a charge the group denies.

The crackdown has had a devastating effect on both sides of the border.

Story continues

The olive and palm trees that once lined the 40-kilometer (25-mile) road from Rafah to El-Arish, the provincial capital of North Sinai, have been razed and even small bushes have withered.

The road is littered with checkpoints, tanks and mobile artillery units, manned by anxious young soldiers. In the town of Sheikh Zuwaid, where travelers used to stop to buy Egyptian mobile phone cards and snacks, stores were gutted, their doors bombed out. The bullet-riddled houses above them were turned into military positions, with sandbags covering the windows and snipers stationed on the roofs. The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch estimates that thousands of people have been displaced  most of whom moved either elsewhere in town or to El-Arish.

In Gaza, years of Egyptian restrictions, coupled with an Israeli blockade and three wars between Hamas and Israel, have devastated the economy and weakened Hamas.

The U.N. and other international bodies estimate unemployment to be 43 percent, and Hamas has struggled to pay the salaries of the 40,000 police and civil servants it hired after seizing Gaza in 2007.

An Israeli naval blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent arms smuggling, means that most goods enter Gaza through Israeli-controlled cargo crossings. While most consumer goods are freely available, prices of fuel, cigarettes and other items have spiked because of limited supplies. Construction materials, badly needed to rebuild damage from a 2014 war, remain in short supply.

But Egypt's recent turnaround has begun to bring some relief. In the past six months alone, Rafah crossing has been opened more than 40 days, compared to just 26 in all of 2015, allowing thousands of people to leave for jobs, medical care, family visits and studies abroad.

Last month, it allowed a top Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, to travel abroad for the first time since Morsi was toppled. In addition, it allowed a Malaysian official to enter Gaza to meet with Hamas officials. In another first, it allowed cargo to be shipped into Gaza through Rafah, including 40 new cars, painting materials and tar.

In recent months, Egypt has invited three delegations of businessmen, academics, community leaders and journalists from Gaza for semiofficial conferences in Cairo. Participants said the issue of creating a trade zone between Gaza and Egypt was raised. Hamas has begun paving a patch of land on the Palestinian side of the crossing for what local media say will be an area to contain more imports from Egypt.

At a recent meeting, Egyptian officials said they were interested in "opening a new chapter" with Gaza, said one official, who was not allowed to be identified under the briefing guidelines. "We are still evaluating the situation, and this is a long dialogue until we reach better relations."

Hamas has welcomed the moves, saying it is ready to shutter the tunnels if commercial activities increase above-ground. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said, "If the (Rafah) crossing opened commercially, what's the need for the tunnels?"

But Hamas, an armed group sworn to Israel's destruction, has repeatedly seen its hopes dashed as it tries to emerge from isolation. It remains unclear how far Egypt is willing to help the group, especially if it continues using tunnels to bring in arms.

"If the tunnels are used by the Palestinian resistance, then this is something else that doesn't harm the Egyptian security," Zahar said.

Beverly Milton-Edwards, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Center, said any Egyptian moves toward Gaza are to promote its own national security interests. With Egypt still locked in battle against Islamic extremists in Sinai, any change will likely be slow and cautious, and could depend greatly on Hamas' own actions.

Egypt still fears Sinai militants will use the tunnels to escape or to bring in explosives from hard-liners within Hamas' armed wing.

"The signaling of intent is carefully calibrated to remind the Gaza government of the levels of control and power that Egypt can exert positively or negatively," Milton-Edwards said. "If there is not enough evidence of compliance by the Hamas government then Cairo will not hesitate to halt all alleviating measures."
DailyFX.com -

Talking Points

Japanese housing starts expanded far more weakly in November than they had the previous month

However, this can be a volatile series

The real bad news was in overall construction orders, they fell sharply

The Yen was steady against the US Dollar on Tuesday after Japanese housing starts came in much weaker than they had in the previous month.

Novembers total starts rose by 6.7%, well below Octobers strong 13.7% gain for what is admittedly a volatile series. Perhaps more worrying for policymakers in Tokyo, overall construction orders fell 6% on-year in the same month. They had been up by more than 15% the month before.

There will be some element of seasonality in these figures, most of which have been reasonably strong through the summer and early fall. All the same however, this is another weak data release from Japans economy.

Data already released on Tuesday showed that both core consumer prices and household spending were very weak in November, although employment levels held up.

USD/JPY remains very much in holiday mode though, in a week stuck between the Christmas and New Year breaks. Australia and the UK are out for holidays too, which will see trading desks there thinly staffed if they are operating at all.

The pair got up to 117.36 after the data, from 117.34 before in a market that doesnt seem in the mood for heroics. The US Dollar has pulled back a little from the 14-year highs seen last week, but that there should be some profit taking on such gains is hardly surprising over the holiday period.

There was one bright-ish spot in the form of Novembers national Consumer Price Index excluding both food and energy costs. That rose 0.2% on-year according to the Bank of Japan, a rise that, while hardly a blockbuster, was at least as expected by the markets.

Another lacklustre run of Japanese numbers wont do any harm to the thesis that Japanese monetary policy will remain loose even as the US Federal Reserve raises rates. That in turn should support USD/JPY as part of a general turn toward a perkier greenback.

Story continues

Nowhere to go USD/JPY

Yen Steady as Japanese Construction Underwhelms

Chart compiled using TradingView

How are we doing? Check out DailyFX analysts fourth-quarter forecasts.

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research



original source

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from IG.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. (Photo: PBS)

With so much to watch on TV, it can be difficult to plan ahead. But were here to help! Here are the five shows you wont want to miss this week.

Every Brilliant Thing: Monday, Dec. 26, at 8 p.m. on HBO

Looking for something to feel happy about this holiday season? Jonny Donahoe rattles off a whole list of happy things in this filmed version of his acclaimed one-man show, which recounts the story of a boy who keeps track of lifes many joys as a way to try to cure his mothers depression.





The 39th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 9 p.m. on CBS

As the presidents Oval Office residency winds down, the Obamas make their last trip to the Kennedy Center, this time honoring artists including Mavis Staples, Al Pacino, James Taylor, and the Eagles.

Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve: Saturday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. on ABC

Pitbulls New Years Eve Revolution: Saturday, Dec. 31, at 11 p.m. on Fox

NBCs New Years Eve With Carson Daly: Saturday, Dec. 31, at 11:30 p.m. on NBC

So many ways to celebrate New Years Eve, so little time! While Ryan Seacrest hosts Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, and Thomas Rhett in New York, Pitbull welcomes Salt-N-Pepa, Tone Loc, and Naughty by Nature to his Miami home base. Last but not least, Carson Daly calls on his Voice colleagues, Alicia Keys and Blake Shelton, to join his Times Square party.

The Mick: Sunday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. on Fox

Kaitlin Olson trades always-sunny Philadelphia for super-wealthy Greenwich, Conn., in her new series, playing a grifter who becomes the unlikely guardian of her fugitive sisters children.

Related: The Mick Is Bringing an FXX Edge to Fox

Sherlock: Sunday, Jan. 1, at 9 p.m. on PBS

A new round of Sherlock is the best belated Christmas present we could ask for. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman start 2017 on a high note by reuniting for three fresh adventures as the premier crime-solving duo, Holmes and Watson.




For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  December 27, 2016  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the Industry: Industrial Metals, Part 2, including Vale S.A. (NYSE:VALE  Free Report), Fission Uranium Corp. (OTCMKTS:FCUUF  Free Report), Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:FSUGY  Free Report) and Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (OTCMKTS:KIROY  Free Report).

Industry: Industrial Metals, Part 2

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/99028/industrial-metals-well-placed-for-the-long-term

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.

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.

Story continues

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. (NYSE:VALE  Free Report) , 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. (OTCMKTS:FCUUF  Free Report) carries a Zacks Rank #2 and its estimates for 2016 have moved up over the past 60 days.

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (OTCMKTS:FSUGY  Free Report) , carries a Zacks Rank #2 and has witnessed upward movement in its earnings estimates over the past 30 days.

Kumba Iron Ore Ltd. (OTCMKTS:KIROY  Free Report) 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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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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VALE SA (VALE): Free Stock Analysis Report



FISSION URANIUM (FCUUF): Free Stock Analysis Report



FORTESCUE METAL (FSUGY): Free Stock Analysis Report



KUMBA IRON ORE (KIROY): Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  December 27, 2016  Zacks Market Edge is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life.

The Best Investing Podcasts for 2017

In this era of video-on-demand, it would seem that audio would be the old-fashioned way to get your news and information. But the success of podcasts, which continues to grow, has turned media on its head.

As of early 2016, 21% of Americans age 12 or older said they had listened to a podcast in the past month, up from just 12% in 2013. Most of those listens are now being done on mobile devices, aka, their phones.

Podcasts popularity has resulted in an explosion of podcast shows. No one knows the exact number of podcasts that are being produced, but Libsyn, one of the large podcasting networks, said in 2015 it hosted 28,000 shows, up from just 16,000 in 2013.

That's a lot of podcasts.

But if you're a stock investor and you're looking for a few podcasts to check out for stock picks on your commute on the way into the office, how do you find a show about investing among the thousands of shows out there?

Investment Podcasts: Where Are You?

There are a wide variety of podcasts that cover money, such as NPR's famous Planet Money podcast which discusses everything happening in the economy and showcases interesting money stories. But Planet Money is not a podcast that focuses on stocks or the stock market.

Similarly, there are dozens of "trading" podcasts, and those can be helpful for those who want to move in and out of positions quickly. But they're not as helpful to the longer term investor or those who want to learn "how" to invest.

Personal finance podcasts are also popular including ones that teach you how to get out of debt, save for retirement or buy a house.

But investing podcasts, which talk about stocks, are rare.

Story continues

I searched the podcast universe, and took polls of my friends and colleagues, and came up with the best of the investing podcasts plus a "bonus" podcast, which isn't an investing podcast, per say, but provides investing ideas for those who want to dig a little bit deeper.

These are the podcasts investors should be listening to in 2017.

My Favorite Investing Podcasts for 2017

Zacks Value Investor Podcast

The Value Investor Podcast, hosted by me, covers value investing topics every week in just under 15 minutes. I'm including my own podcast because I believe its one of the best at giving weekly value stock and value ETF ideas.

This is a show for the long term investor looking for stock ideas and how to find value stocks. It's not the place for the day trader types. I cover topics like how to avoid value traps as well as top value stocks to buy now.



Motley Fool Money

Motley Fool Money is Motley Fool's flagship weekly podcast that is also broadcast on radio stations across the United States. These shows run about 40 minutes and have outside guests discussing economic and stock market topics. They also provide stock picks.

I like this podcast as a good overview about what is going on that week on Wall Street or in Washington DC, either politically or with the Federal Reserve. These are more time sensitive so a show from 3 months ago probably isn't worth your time.



InvestED: The Rule #1 Podcast

InvestED is a weekly podcast hosted by Phil Town and his daughter, Danielle Town, who is a corporate attorney. Phil Town is a fund manager and author of the popular book The Rule #1. They range in length from 30 minutes to an hour and sometimes include outside interviews.

I like these podcasts because they cover the basics of investing such as finding companies that have moats, how to determine free cash flow and how to value a company. These podcasts aren't as time sensitive as some of the other shows. You won't get as many stock ideas here.

The Investors Podcast

This is an interesting weekly podcast with some of the biggest names in investing. Hosted by Preston Pysh and Stig Brodersen, they review books on investing and business topics such as a book on billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen as well as Jim Collins' "Good to Great" masterpiece about what makes a company move to the top of the pack. They also interview well-known investment managers like value investor Bill Miller.

These episodes are about 30 to 45 minutes and provide good ideas for long term investors. As a fan of investing and business books, in general, this is a great source of ideas for your own library. The podcast covers value investing strategies more than stock picks.

Sound Investing

Paul Merriman spent 50 years in the money management business before retiring a couple of years ago. But retirement hasn't slowed him down. He continues to write articles for Marketwatch.com and does Sound Investing, a weekly podcast that lasts between 15 minutes and an hour and a half. They are usually around 30 minutes.

These are podcasts where he discusses different investment strategies, mostly geared towards long term investors. What I like about the podcasts is that he makes investing seem so easy, as long as you stick with it and have patience. He cuts through the noise and shows you ways to grow your portfolio through simple techniques. This is advice from someone who has been investing a long time. Sometimes it pays to listen to someone who has seen it all.

Recode Decode Podcast

Recode Decode Podcast from Kara Swisher isn't an investing podcast, per say. That's why it's the bonus here. Every week she interviews top journalists and CEOs about hot topics in Silicon Valley. The shows last about an hour.

If you're interested in investing in technology and social media companies, these interviews are a great source of ideas and information about what is really going on on the West Coast. You may hear an interview with a company that becomes the next "hot" thing.

Explore the Podcast Universe

Podcasts can be a great way to get stock ideas and learn investing techniques. You have to do something on the way to work, right?

These are some of my favorite investing podcasts but there are plenty of others out there including here at Zacks. I also host the weekly Zacks Market Edge podcast, which is about general economic topics and includes stock and ETF picks. Zacks covers interesting topics in the news and how those relate to investing and finance on the Friday Finish Line podcast with Maddy Johnson and Ryan McQueeney.

Tracey Ryniec manages the Insider Trader and Value Investor portfolios at Zacks.com. She hosts 2 weekly podcasts:Zacks Market Edge Podcast and the Value Investor Podcast. You can also catch her on Twitter at @TraceyRyniec.

About Zacks

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Media Contact

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zsa Zsa Gabor and Frederic Prinz von Anhalts adopted son has died.

The Los Angeles coroners office confirms to PEOPLE that Oliver Prinz von Anhalt died on Dec. 25. TMZ first reported the news, with von Anhalt telling the website that Oliver died in a hospital following a motorcycle accident on Mulholland Drive.

The coroners office confirmed that Oliver was taken to the hospital on Dec. 18, the same day that Gabor died at the of 99. Von Anhalt told TMZ that he wasnt aware Oliver had been in an accident and believed he was in Germany until the coroner informed him on Monday.

Oliver Prinz von Anhalt (L) and Sham Ibrahim at an art show on July 9, 2015SplashNews

RELATED: Zsa Zsa Gabors Life in the Spotlight: Her Biggest Scandals and Sad Last Years

Oliver, a well-known socialite in L.A., was one of several adult men who bought their royal titles from von Anhalt through adoption. Von Anhalt, formerly known as Hans Georg Robert Lichtenberg, changed his own name after paying Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt to adopt him as an adult.

According to the Associated Press, von Anhalt acknowledged making millions of dollars by passing the family title to at least 10 other people. If someone offers you $2 million, you do it, von Anhalt reportedly said.

One of Olivers adopted brothers, Marcus Prinz von Anhalt, paid his respects on social media, posting several tributes to a man he says was my brother, my best friend, my soulmate.

Olivers death comes just days after his adoptive mothers, who died Dec. 18 at age 99. Plagued by health problems in her later years, including a lung infection, the amputation of her right leg and eventually chronic dementia, Gabor succumbed to a heart attack after spending the last five years on life support.
Irina Shayk has had a pretty major 2016. Not only did she walk all the major international runways, per usual, but she also scored a cover for W magazine and Vogue Russia, Germany and Japan, Givenchy and LOreal campaigns, did her best Demi Moore impression for Love magazines sexy advent calendar, and of course she walked the Victorias Secret runway while barely concealing that she was newly expecting with her boyfriend of a year and a half Bradley Cooper. So it should come as no surprise that the Russian model is kicking off 2017 on an equally high note, landing the January cover of Vogue Brazil and showing off her pre-pregnancy physique.

To start off the new year, the model stripped down for a major new magazine cover, wearing a striped sweater by Miu Miu pulled back into a crop top, underwear by Intimissimi and a handful of necklaces and hoop earrings by Carla Amorim. Her makeup was kept simple and natural to match her disheveled wet look hair. The cover image was shot by Italian photographer Giampaolo Sgura, marking the second time the pair have worked together, previously photographing Shayk for the magazines August 2014 cover.

RELATED PHOTOS: Irina Shayks Gorgeous Emerald Ring Worn on That Finger Reminds Us Of  (Hint: Shes a Royal!)

Sgura shot two covers for Vogue Brazils January issue, also shooting the lingerie model looking almost makeup-free wearing a Hope Resort swimsuit and more jewelry from Carla Amorim, posing in front of a vintage car as the sun sets behind her.

Giampaolo Sgura/Vogue Brazil

Having worked together on numerous projects since the pair first met in 2013 on set for the cover of Vogue Spain, Sgura enthused to the publication, Shes the coolest and funniest girl in the world. Of course, we would expect nothing less from the model who managed to steal Bradley Coopers heart.

What do you think of Irinas cover? Sound off below!




The company is expected to enhance its product lineup in the coming year. Here's a look at some products the tech giant is expected to launch in 2017.

Google has had a good run in 2016 as far as its hardware offerings are concerned. The company launched a range of hardware in October including the Daydream View VR headset, Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, Google Home Speaker, Chromecast Ultra and Google Wi-Fi router, all of which were met with good market response.

So what does the company have in store for 2017? Here are four products Google is expected to launch in 2017:

Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches: The company is expected to launch two new flagship Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches in the first quarter of 2017. The upcoming smartwatches might not come with Google or Pixel branding, but instead have the name of the manufacturer. They are expected to have new features such as standalone apps that can function without a smartphone, Android Pay support and Google Assistant support.

Pixel 2.0: The Pixel smartphone was Googles masterstroke in 2017 and is still in high demand. Its successor, expected to be released next year, is likely to have a sharper design in comparison to the existing device. Another expected feature is an improved camera. The current device, which comes with a 12.3-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera, has lens flare issues.

While the Pixel is compatible with the Daydream View VR headset, the new device is expected to have augmented reality (AR) features based on the Google Tango platform.

Google Glass 2: When Google debuted the Google Glass in 2012, it was widely appreciated, but Google shut down the project in 2015 over lack of sufficient AR content. The Google Glass used an AR-compatible camera mounted on eyeglasses for gaming and other features. But in 2016, both AR and VR picked up big time. The Google Glass might make a comeback the next year.

Google Robot: Google is training a four-legged robot in its Boston Dynamics division to make deliveries. The robot, called the Spot Mini, was showcased at the Neural Information Processing Systems conference in December and might start making deliveries by 2017-end.

Related Articles
2016 was a banner year for Netflix. Not only did the service continue to gain traction in spite of rising subscription costs, but the amount of original programming on the service grew exponentially as well. But even with over 600 hours of original content this year, Netflixs slate for 2017 will be its most impressive yet.

Don't Miss: The best TV shows on Netflix youve never heard of

Today, with Christmas behind us and 2016 winding down, weve decided to round up nine shows that will keep us subscribed to Netflix for another year. While only a few series have been 100% confirmed for 2017, these are nine shows we expect to see (and cant wait to watch) on Netflix next year:

Big Mouth

'Sausage Party' film premiere, Los Angeles, USA - 09 Aug 2016

Nick Kroll and John Mulaney have become one of comedys most beloved duos with their hit Broadway show Oh, Hello. After seeing how well they work together on stage, were even more excited to see the animated series starring the two comedians, which was also created by Kroll Shows Nick Kroll.

Bill Nye Saves the World

Everyones favorite Science Guy returns in 2017 with his own talk show on Netflix. Launching next spring, each episode will tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims. Nye will host the show, but several correspondents will be featured regularly as well.

Dear White People

Dear White People - 2014

Based on the movie from 2014, Dear White People is a send up of post-racial America that also weaves a universal story about forging ones own unique path. This is only Lionsgates second original series for Netflix, but the first one did alright  a little show called Orange is the New Black.

The Defenders

Daredevil. Jessica Jones. Luke Cage. Iron Fist. Theyve all been leading up to this  a miniseries that will bring all of the Marvel heroes together to take on the biggest threat any of them have ever encountered. If you like what Marvel has done with Netflix so far, this show might be reason enough to stay subscribed.

Story continues

Iron Fist

Originally slated as the last of four character-focused series from Marvel (before The Punisher earned a spot on the schedule), Iron Fist will hit Netflix on March 17th. Finn Jones plays the role of billionaire Danny Rand, who returns to New York City after being missing for years, trying to reconnect with his past and his family legacy. Of all the Marvel shows, this has the potential to be the least grounded (in a good way).

Mystery Science Theater 3000

A new episode of MST3K hasnt aired this millennium. The shows tenth season came to an end in 1999, but nearly two decades later, the creators attempted to revive the show through Kickstarter. The project was a massive success, and now were going to get a full new season of the show, hopefully next year.

Ozark

jason-bateman

While theres another Jason Bateman Netflix show were even more curious about, Ozark, which explores capitalism, family dynamics, and survival through the eyes of (anything but) ordinary Americans, also has us intrigued. Bateman will star in the show and will also serve as executive producer and director.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

One of the most series of childrens novels ever written, A Series of Unfortunate Events is being adapted to the screen once again, with Neil Patrick Harris stepping in as the dastardly Count Olaf. While fans are cautiously optimistic about this series, its hard to imagine it being any worse than the awful 2004 movie.

Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later

Fifteen years ago, the cult classic comedy Wet Hot American Summer arrived in theaters. Last year, the cast reunited for a prequel series on Netflix. In 2017, Amy Poehler, Elizabeth Banks, Bradley Cooper, Paul Rudd, Michael Ian Black and Ken Marino are teaming up yet again for a sequel series. We cant wait.

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On Friday, Trump warned, "As to the UN, things will be different after January 20th," referring to the day he takes office.

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AP

By AP: Days after the United Nations voted to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, Donald Trump questioned its effectiveness Monday, saying it's just a club for people to "have a good time."

The president-elect wrote on Twitter that the UN has "such great potential," but it has become "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

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On Friday, Trump warned, "As to the UN, things will be different after January 20th," referring to the day he takes office.

The decision by the Obama administration to abstain from Friday's UN vote brushed aside Trump's demands that the US 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 presidential campaign progressed. He has spoken disparagingly of Palestinians, saying they have been "taken over" by or are condoning militant groups.

Trump's tweet Monday about the UN ignores much of the work that goes on in the 193-member global organization.

UN RESOLUTIONS

This year the UN Security Council has approved over 70 legally binding resolutions, including new sanctions on North Korea and measures tackling conflicts and authorizing the UN's far-flung peacekeeping operations around the world. The General Assembly has also approved dozens of resolutions on issues, like the role of diamonds in fueling conflicts; condemned human rights abuses in Iran and North Korea; and authorized an investigation of alleged war crimes in Syria.

Trump's criticism of the UN is by no means unique. While the organization does engage in large-scale humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts, its massive bureaucracy has long been a source of controversy. The organization has been accused by some Western governments of being inefficient and frivolous, while developing nations have said it is overly influenced by wealthier nations.

Trump tweeted later Monday, "The world was gloomy before I won - there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10 per cent and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!"

Markets are up since Trump won the general election, although not quite by that much. The Standard & Poor's 500 is up about 6 percent since Election Day, while the Dow has risen more than 8 percent.

As for holiday spending, auditing and accounting firm Deloitte projected in September that total 2016 holiday sales were expected to exceed $1 trillion, representing a 3.6 per cent to 4.0 per cent increase in holiday sales from November through January.

The president-elect is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. He had no public schedule Monday.

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During the course of a first-degree murder investigation in Bentonville, Arkansas, police noticed that their main suspect  a man named James Andrew Bates  owned an Amazon Echo. Realizing that the Echo is always listening for the wake word, authorities there are now focused on determining if Amazons virtual assistant happened to record any pertinent information that might help them pursue their case.

Don't Miss: The iPhone 8 could use dual vertical cameras to put a DSLR-killer in everyones pocket

According to a report from The Information, authorities in Bentonville secured a warrant demanding that Amazon hand over any audio logs on its servers from Bates Echo. Amazon refused to hand over any information it may or may not have had on its servers, and instead opted to give police Bates Amazon purchase history on the off-chance that it might help.

Whats particularly interesting about the case is that the Amazon Echo wasnt the only Internet of Things device Bates had in his home. The report adds that Bates connected water meter revealed that upwards of 140 gallons of water were used on the night that the victim, one Victor Collins, was murdered and found dead in Bates hot tub. Police naturally believe that this points to Bates effort to clear up and wash away any evidence of the crime. Of particular interest is that detectives managed to find out that Bates level of water usage on the night of the crime had only been reached once before, back in 2013.

5Newsonline adds:

Detectives observed the rim of the hot tub and the patio had been sprayed down with water and two hot tub head cushions and three hot tub knobs were lying on the ground nearby, the affidavit states. One of the head cushions appeared to have diluted blood spots on it, according to the affidavit. Investigators also found watered down blood spots on the sides of the hot tub and another large area of blood spatter on the hot tub cover, the affidavit states.

Story continues

Bates attorney argues that individuals have a right to privacy in their own home and that there is a big problem that law enforcement can use the technology that advances our quality of life against us.

While not exactly similar to Apples legal tussle with the FBI, this case raises a number of interesting issues concerning the growing popularity of IoT devices and the degree to which tech companies will take measures to protect sensitive user information.

Update: Amazon has issued an official statement on the matter. It reads as follows: Amazon will not release customer information without a valid and binding legal demand properly served on us. Amazon objects to overbroad or otherwise inappropriate demands as a matter of course

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in five Star Wars movies, passed away on Tuesday morning, a few days after suffering a massive heart attack.

Don't Miss: A man waited 416 days to see what happened when his iPod stopwatch passed 9,999 hours

Even though her mother took to Twitter on Christmas Day to announce that Fisher was in stable condition, it looks like her health took a turn for the worse.

Fisher suffered a massive cardiac arrest 15 minutes before her flight landed in Los Angeles on Friday. A doctor aboard the plane and paramedics performed CPR before Fisher was taken to the hospital.

According to People, it was family spokesman Simon Halls who confirmed the death of the actress.

It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd, [her daughter], confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning, reads the statement.

She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly, Lourd said. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.

Fisher finished shooting for the fifth Star Wars movie in her career this year, and recently started touring for her latest memoir, The Princess Diarist.

The beloved actress may have passed away, but her iconic performance playing Princess Leia over the span of 40 years will forever remain with us.

Trending right now:

See the original version of this article on BGR.com
Apples iPhone is already a pretty secure device, and the company has gotten a lot of good press for its habit of pushing back against law enforcement agencies who want an easy way to access its devices. But if Apples built-in security features and encryption just arent enough for you  or you dont trust the company to keep your communications private  you have another, much more expensive option. Its called the K iPhone, and it manufacturer says its the go-to choice for military personal, heads of state, and anyone who values their privacy.

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The K iPhone is made by KryptAll, which sells several different pieces of encrypted communications gear, from the aforementioned Apple smartphone to a mobile broadband satellite communicator that can produce a cellular signal anywhere on the planet.

KryptAll says its modified iPhone utilizes modified components, a custom firmware, and the companys own VoIP app to make end-to-end encrypted phone calls to anyone in the world. But while it can make calls to any number, it can only take incoming calls from other KryptAll devices, to ensure security. The company says that phone calls made of its encrypted network cannot be tapped or tracked, and that not oven KryptAll has any way of knowing the details of the calls.

The companys guidelines for law enforcement describes it thusly:

KryptAll provides VoIP audio calls that are secured by encryption. KryptAll is a zero knowledge system as calls are not stored on the server network and calling records are not generated. The KryptAll phone can make calls; however, cannot receive KryptAll calls unless it is from another KryptAll phone. We do not have a history or copies of calls exchanged by anybody on the system. We do not have the decryption keys thus we cannot intercept any of the calls sent through KryptAll. KryptAll does not assign or control IP the address.

Story continues

Its super secure, but the K iPhone can also be used just like any other iPhone, and downloading apps and other common smartphone functions perform just as youd expect. The company, which has been selling its encrypted devices for just a couple of years now, says it already has some extremely important clientele, including privacy advocates and executives from Rolls-Royce, Maybach, and other companies.

That makes a lot of sense, because in order to afford one of these custom iPhones youll definitely need a pretty healthy paycheck. The devices, which the company sells on eBay for some reason, are several thousands of dollars each, and the current price of the iPhone 7 version is over $4,500.

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See the original version of this article on BGR.com
What a man can do, a woman can even do better!

If this saying has been but another inspirational buffoonery that has been peddled to you over the years, the story of one Ghanaian lady will inspire you to think otherwise.

Get more latest news in Ghana here

The lady, who has been identified as one Ajara Yahaya, reportedly is an electrical engineer, who lives in Zongo area of Techiman, Techiman is the capital of Techiman Municipal of the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana.

READ MORE: John Mahama receives a heroic and triumphant welcome in Bole despite defeat in elections

The story of this Ghanaian female electrician is inspiring everyone

In pictures, that have since gone viral, Ms. Yahaya is seen performing electrical repairs, climbing power poles and working on a streetlight in one of the pictures.

PAY ATTENTION: Get all the latest news on the go with the YEN.com.gh app

Regularly, these photos would not draw such attention from social media, but the backstory behind them have created a certain buzz.

The story of this Ghanaian female electrician is inspiring everyone

Some sects on social media are especially impressed that Yahaya is making such strides in an industry that is generally reserved for men.

READ MORE: John Mahama is just a talented thief - Wanlov rejoices over president's defeat to Nana Addo

Ms. Ajara Yahaya, one the other hand, seems very pleased with herself (who wouldn't be). On her Facebook page, she was very thankful to one Mr. Patrick for teaching her how to "work on streetlights."

The story of this Ghanaian female electrician is inspiring everyone

She posted several pictures showing herself at work with some other people.

The YEN.com.gh team has reached out to Ms. Ajara Yahaya and will bring you an exclusive interview with her.

We believe her story is an incredible one and should be shared as an inspiration to many.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Mayawati-led BSP is under the Enforcement Directorate scanner.

By Atir Khan: The Enforcement Directorate is digging deeper into the Rs 104-crore cash deposits found in an account belonging to the Bahajun Samaj Party (BSP) in a United Bank of India (UBI) branch.

According to sources, the agency is probing how the party account got huge cash deposits, and why office-bearers were in possession of big amounts of money in Rs 1000 denomination.

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Here are the developments:

Sources have told India Today that of the total amount, Rs 12 crore was deposited in September and Rs 21 crore in August.

Besides the Rs 104-crore deposits, another Rs 1.43 crore was detected in an account belonging to BSP supremo Mayawati's brother Anand. This account too is maintained with the Karol Bagh branch of the UBI bank.

Sources said that while Rs 102 crore was deposited in demonetised Rs 1,000 notes, the remaining amount was deposited in the old Rs 500 notes.

"From the account of Anand, we detected around Rs 1.5 crore. A sum of around 19 lakh was deposited in the account after demonetisation," an Enforcement Directorate official said.

"The raid was conduced on the basis of information that over Rs 15-20 crore was being deposited every other day in the branch of the United Bank," the official said.

The agency has sought the complete details about these two accounts from the bank and asked bank officials to submit CCTV footage and KYC documents used to open the accounts.

(with inputs from IANS)

ALSO READ: ED detects huge deposits in Mayawati's brother account

ALSO READ: Mayawati: Congress-SP alliance in UP depends on BJP's green signal

ALSO WATCH

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In the wake of Goa accident in which a Jet Airways aircraft skid off runway on Tuesday, India Today spoke to a pilot with Jet who believes pilot fatigue could be the reason behind the accident.

A Jet Airways plane carrying 161 passengers and crew took a 360-degree spin as it skidded off the runway while taking off from Goa's Dabolim airport.

By Mustafa Shaikh: In the wake of Goa accident in which a Jet Airways aircraft skid off runway on Tuesday, India Today spoke to a pilot with Jet who believes pilot fatigue could be the reason behind the accident.

"My first reaction to this accident was that it's fatigue which we are facing. We are barely getting 2-3 hours of sleep," said the pilot who has been with Jet for two years and has 7000 hrs of flying experience, with 4000 hrs piloting Boeing.

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The pilot, a senior commander with Jet, highlighted the pressure pilots face and said their rest was being monitored by a software called optimiser over the last 2-3 months.

Here's what he said:

#1 The pilot alleged that airlines coin rules as per availability of staff and entice DGCA to approve them.

#2 The other rule he spoke about was the breathe analyser test -- which if a pilot fails to take before flying it's assumed as per rules that he's drunk.

#3 "Authorities are waiting for another accident to happen which risks the life of people after which an inquiry will be ordered but no action will be taken on it," said the pilot.

A Jet Airways plane carrying 161 passengers and crew took a 360-degree spin as it skidded off the runway while taking off from Goa's Dabolim airport on Tuesday morning.

Fifteen passengers suffered minor injuries while being evacuated, and emergency slides were used to move those on-board out of the plane.

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After several attacks on the western border, the ISI plans to open a new front in eastern India by launching an attack from a new terror launchpad.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: Pakistan's powerful intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI, is planning to open new fronts to launch attacks in India.

According to intel sources, ISI has made a tactical shift in its strategy for India. After several attacks on the western border, the ISI plans to open a new front in eastern India by launching an attack from a secret terror launchpad.

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Here are the revelations:

Indian intelligence sources said that ISI has recently set up a terror camp in Marisot, which is situated on Thailand-Myanmar border.

Intelligence sources have further revealed that Pakistan's ISI is using Taliban fighters to train Rohingya Muslims to launch terror attacks. This is part of Pakistan's strategy of making India bleed by a thousand cuts.

The terror launchpad in Marisot will be used to launch attacks on India and Bangladesh.

If sources are to be believed, ISI with the help of the Pakistan Taliban is training groups like Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Arkana (HuJI-A) and some Khalistani militants.

Marisot terror camp first came into the picture some months ago when a terrorist was interrogated by intel agencies.

Intel agencies believe that ISI is arranging huge funds and weapons for terror activities, and recently arranged a meeting between Maulana Abdul Kuddus and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed.

Maulana Abdul Kuddus is a Rohingya Muslim of Pakistani origin and heads the HuJI-A. He is believed to be close to the Pakistan Taliban.

ALSO READ: From NIA files: The mastermind and handlers of terrorists, who attacked Pathankot air base

ALSO READ: Indian government yet to be convinced by Pakistan's tough talk on terror

ALSO WATCH

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Last month, banned cash flew into Nagaland by the planeload, sparking a lot of scrutiny and media frenzy.

By Shripal Shaktawat: Rings of launderers and arms suppliers are pumping illicit wealth into tax-exempt bank accounts of local tribes and, worse, as investments in guns in the country's remotest northeastern parts, an India Today investigation has discovered.

Last month, banned cash flew into Nagaland by the planeload, sparking a lot of scrutiny and media frenzy.

But few credible leads emerged as to who actually might be turning black money into white in the farthest hinterlands - and how.

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As part of its incisive exposes of underground cash mafias, India Today's special investigation reached the most distant corner of the nation's northeast and busted a racket of launderers and gun-houses trading scrapped currency.

DIMAPUR, DEN OF LOOT

In Dimapur, Nagaland's main city, underhanded operatives were found to be helping black-money sharks park their loot in safe hideouts.

Posing as a marble dealer, India Today's reporter met a money tout, Noor Mohammad, who agreed to facilitate stashing of void currency in accounts of tribal people.

"There are ten to 15 accounts of a single family. But you wouldn't like to have accounts from a single household. You need four or five accounts from separate people," he advised. "These Naga people pay no taxes. They don't even pay 25 paisa in taxes."

He suggested depositing money in Naga accounts in separate instalments till Dec 30. "I'll get my cut. So I will have to do it for you," he remarked.

Middleman like Noor Mohammad were found to be abusing a provision of IT law that keeps tribals of Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh outside of the income-tax net.

INVESTMENT IN WEAPONS

But Naga accounts aren't the only haven tax thieves are exploiting in the northeastern region. For them, buying weapons as instruments of investment has also emerged as a viable option, the India Today investigation discovered.

Aided by massive corruption, several firearm suppliers in Dimapur were seen organizing weapon permits even for non-residents, that too in exchanged for dissolved banknotes.

Viraj of Sarmati Gun-House in Dimapur demanded Rs 1.40 lakh for a single license for a .32 pistol. "This is the license rate. "The pistol price will be separate," he explained.

This shady network seemed to be well entrenched into the system.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

Viraj then brought in a man, who identified himself as staff of the state's police department.

"I am a typist in police. I am in the arms section," said David Kibami. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen."

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Kibami and Viraj quickly promised to arrange a gun license for India Today's undercover reporter. "It will be made from here," Kibami said.

After guaranteeing a gun license, Viraj offered his wares to invest the reporter's fictitious black money in. "We will get it (the black money) adjusted in the weapon. By that time, you'll also get your licence," promised Viraj.

An accomplice, called Vikas, then presented his current account for Rs 80 lakh. He quoted a fee of 25 percent.

"We have to bribe the sales tax inspector as well. We have to show everything in the book. But it's a yearly account. We'll have your money settled in there," Vikas said.

"There shouldn't be any problem for adjusting Rs 80 lakh. Right?" prodded the reporter.

"There's no problem for an amount up to Rs 80 lakh," Vikas replied.

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang, "We have been getting reports of deposits in Nagaland from quite some time. Nothing has been established till now. There are reports of huge deposits in Arunachal Pradesh and even Assam. We are trying to find out."

On India Today Special Investigation, Zeliang said, "We will look into the matter seriously."

--- ENDS ---

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With the move decided in a review meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh today, only 13,000 Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are now legally valid.

By Mausami Singh: The government today cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) of a whopping 20,000 of 33,000 NGOs in the country for incomplete documentation.

With the move decided in a review meeting chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh today, only 13,000 Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are now legally valid.

The government said it wants to clear the "ambiguity over the recent FCRA row" and further streamline the process and make it more transparent.

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Countering allegations that the government was targeting a certain group of NGOs, the Home Ministry said the axe now falls on more than 50 per cent NGOs in the country for lack of necessary documents.

The Home Ministry added that the licences of the remaining 13,000 NGOs are also being verified. The MHA said that 3000 more applications have come for renewal in the past year.

ALSO READ:

Centre going easy? After cancelling license of 10,000 NGOs last year, only 1 banned this year

Govt cancels Teesta Setalvad NGO's licence for foreign funds

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Colombo, Dec 27 (PTI) Veteran politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake who served twice as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka today passed away after a brief illness.

Wickremanayake, 83, who also held many key ministerial positions since 1970, was ailing for sometime and breathed his last this morning, his family said.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a leading private hospital on December 21.

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Wickremanayake served twice as the Island nations premier first from 2000 to 2001 and then from 2005 to 2010.

He was appointed prime minister by former Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 21, 2005.

It was Wickremanayake who paved the way for Rajapaksa to emerge as the next leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). He resigned from his position as the leader of the main opposition in 2002 to make way for Rajapaksa to become the leader of the opposition.

That move cleared the way for Rajapaksa who went on to become the President.

In his previous stint as prime minister, Wickremanayake succeeded prime minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike who had resigned at the age of 84.

A host of political leaders cutting across party lines condoled the death of Wickremanayake.

"Veteran Politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was loved by his people for many decades. My condolences are with his loved ones and followers," President Maithripala Sirisena tweeted.

Rajapaksa also tweeted his condolences.

"Deeply saddened by the death of former Sri Lankan PM & veteran politician Ratnasiri Wickremanayake. My condolences to his family," Rajapaksa said in a tweet.

He entered politics in 1960 winning the Horana seat in the March General Election as a member of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna.

In 1970, he was appointed Deputy Minister, Justice and went on to be the General Secretary of SLFP in 1977.

In the 1994 General Election, he won the Kalutara District seat and was appointed as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs and Plantation Industries and the Leader of the House in President Chandrika Kumaranatunges Cabinet.

His son Vidura Wickremanayake is also a member of the parliament. PTI CORR CPS AKJ CPS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) The US national, allegedly raped by five men at a five-star hotel here earlier this year, identified three of the four arrested accused in a test identification parade today, police said.

The test identification parade was conducted at Tihar jail and the US national managed to identify the tour guide, driver and cleaner while she couldnt confirm the identity of the hotel staffer, he said.

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The US national arrived here a few days ago to join the probe and recorded her statement in front of a judicial magistrate where she reiterated that she was raped by five persons in the five-star hotel in Connaught Place.

She flew back to the US this evening. She has assured police that she would come down to India in case they needed her again for the probe. Police have told her that they would be filing a charge-sheet in the case soon, sources said.

The four men, who were arrested yesterday for allegedly raping her in April, were today sent to two-day judicial custody by a city court.

They were sent to Tihar Jail after Delhi Police moved an application seeking their judicial custody.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) had issued a notice to Delhi Police asking it why the Rape Crisis Cell of the womens panel was not informed when the victims statement was recorded.

Earlier, the complainant had said she was not "satisfied" with the probe and was ready to come to India to identify the accused.

The woman had alleged that she was raped by the men for two days and also threatened with dire consequences if she reported the matter to anybody.

She had also stated that the accused had made a video of the act and threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone. She had also told the police that the accused had claimed to have sexually assaulted a couple of other female tourists as well.

A team of psychologists and psychiatrists had assisted the woman in recalling the details of the incident. The team is also working with the police in their investigation to tie up loose ends. PTI SLB SMN

--- ENDS ---
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to speak to Bakshi and the other superseded officer, Southern Army Commander Lt Gen PM Hariz, to examine issues of seniority in the force.

Lt Gen Bakshi went on leave on Tuesday for the next few days, to Bhubaneswar, and is likely to join office after the New Year weekend.

By Ajit Kumar Dubey: The government may assign Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi, who has been superseded for the post of Army chief, a position of similar stature to be created soon, sources told Mail Today on Tuesday.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to speak to Bakshi and the other superseded officer, Southern Army Commander Lt Gen PM Hariz, to examine issues of seniority in the force days after Lieutenant General Bipin Rawat's elevation as Army chief. The appointment of Rawat, a counterinsurgency specialist, raised eyebrows among opposition parties because he was given the job ahead of two more senior candidates.

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The ruling BJP has retaliated by accusing rivals of "politicising" defence matters. The last time the senior-most officer of the army was superseded for the appointment was in 1983, when Gen AS Vaidya took over instead of Lt Gen SK Sinha.

Also read: Why Lt General Bipin Rawat, man who led surgical strikes in Myanmar, is best suited to be Army chief

Also read: Political slugfest breaks out over Army chief's appointment

Parrikar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi by January for a presentation on creation of the post of permanent chairman of the chiefs of staffs committee (COSC) who would be responsible for tri-services issues such as procurement, training and futuristic planning for the military.

"Bakshi is a sound officer and is of very high intellect and capability. We would want to use his experience and intellect for the forces' betterment" senior defence ministry sources said.

"He is a capable officer and still has seven-eight months left in service. He will be considered for the post along with other officers." However, the sources clarified that Eastern Army Commander Bakshi, who met Parrikar on December 20, has not been given any assurance or promise as "lollypop" that he would be given the post for abiding by the government's decision on Army chief.

Experience

Sources said during the meeting with the minister, Bakshi raised the issues related to adverse situation for officers from the armoured and artillery divisions in getting experience in counterinsurgency operations compared to those from infantry battalions.

On the matter of sorting out seniority issues between Rawat, Bakshi and Hariz, sources said Parrikar is likely to take up the subject with the Southern Army Commander on December 30. "The minister has already had a word with Bakshi and the indications are that he is not going to quit from the Army in wake of the decision," the sources said.

In a major shakeup, the government announced on December 17 Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next Army chief, considering his experience in dealing with the country's "biggest threat"- terrorism in Kashmir and the Northeast.

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Sources said it was felt that Rawat was best suited for the job under the circumstances. On the government choosing Rawat over Bakshi, the sources said, "On a spinning wicket, a spinner would be chosen over a fast bowler and a seamer, but it doesn't mean that those left out were bad bowlers in any way." Rawat is from infantry while Bakshi and Hariz are from armoured regiments and the two have comparatively little experience in dealing with terrorism.

Rawat will take over as the Army chief on December 31, replacing General Dalbir Singh Suhag. Lt Gen Bakshi went on leave on Tuesday for the next few days, to Bhubaneswar, and is likely to join office after the New Year weekend.

Reform

Top ministry sources said the government's decision to appoint Rawat ignoring the seniority criteria in the services will prove to be a reform as this will do away with factionalism. Earlier, based on date of birth and seniority, officers could figure out the next service chiefs five to six years in advance and coteries would start forming those in line of succession.

"Now nobody would be sure of their future and everybody would be giving their best in their commands for bagging the top job," they said. Meanwhile, Western Air Commander air marshal SB Deo would be appointed as the next Vice Chief of Air Staff as the incumbent, Air Marshal BS Dhanoa, was named the next Air Force Chief.

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: Ahmedabad, Dec 27 (PTI) A Dalit man and his pregnant wife were allegedly beaten up by members of another community at Ugala village in Gir Somnath district for preventing grazing of their cattle in a farm where the couple has been working as labourers, police said today.

Babubhai Sankhat (35) and his six-month pregnant wife Rekhaben (30) were allegedly attacked on December 25.

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"Babubhai and Rekhaben were hired by the farm owner to work in the cotton field at Ugala village. On December 25, they had an altercation with some members of a community who wanted to take their cattle in the field for grazing," investigating officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, SC/ST Cell, PS Valvi said.

He said the couple was beaten up with sticks after they objected to cattle grazing, saying it would damage standing crop in the farm.

"Both of them were first rushed to a hospital in Veraval and then shifted to Junagadh for further treatment. Gir-Gadhda police has registered a complaint of assault as well as under various sections of the Prevention of Atrocities Act," Valvi said, adding further investigation is on.

The officer said the condition of the duo is stable.

An FIR has been registered at Gir-Gadhada police station in this regard. Police are yet to make any arrest.

Incidentally, four dalit youths were thrashed allegedly by cow vigilantes in nearby Una taluka in this district in July, triggering massive protests across state by the community. PTI PJT PD NSK GVS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Thrissur/Kochi,Dec 27 (PTI): Harmony, unity and tolerance is the DNA of India and USP of Indias ancient and rich cultural heritage, Minister of State for Minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here today. He stated this while inaugurating Buon Natale, the largest gathering of Santa Claus, a Christmas procession, amid a huge gathering of people from all walks of life in Thrissur. Naqvi said India?s centuries old history is proof that its people had always defeated those forces who wanted to disturb its rich culture. Buon Natale celebrations,in connection with Christmas and New Year, are being organised by the Thrissur Archdiocese. Naqvi said that despite religious and cultural diversity, the spirit of social harmony, unity and tolerance has been strengthened for several centuries which has maintained India?s DNA of Unity in Diversity. Naqvi, also MoS for Parliamentary affairs, said it had been reaching out directly to people of these communities through Sadbhav Samagam,Progress Panchayat and Hunar Haat and strengthening the feeling of trust and development among them. He urged the people to judge the Narendra Modi Government through its works and not through misinformation propaganda started by some people against the government. Naqvi said India is the best example for the world in relation with communal and social harmony, unity and tolerance and also protecting rights of the Minorities. "India is the champion of social harmony and ensuring Minorities? rights. India?s cultural harmony is the password of social harmony. Social harmony can?t be ensured without cultural harmony," he said.

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Even with various languages, religions, regions and cultural traditions, the country is united only because of its cultural harmony, whose special feature is unity in diversity, he said

Naqvi said that cultural harmony not only saves us from religious narrow-mindedness and confrontation; it also strengthens the fabric of social harmony. "We have to protect and strengthen this fabric of social harmony, unity and tolerance at any cost.Every religion, every region, every culture and every community will have to move forward together to make India an example of social unity for the entire world," he said. Lauding Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur diocese and ?Buon Natale?, he said this function is a gathering which promotes social harmony and unity, tolerance and brotherhood. Buon Natale? has already entered Guinness World Records as the largest gathering of people dressed up as Santa Claus. Earlier today, Naqvi met George Alencherry, Cardinal and Major Arch Bishop of Diocese of Ernakulam at Kochi and discussed various issues concerned to the Christian community. He said the Modi Government has been making honest effort to provide light of development to all sections of society. Naqvi assured that no "destructive agenda" will be allowed to dominate our "development agenda". PTI TGB APR APR

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They have been arrested for allegedly withdrawing money to the tune of Rs 1.88 crore from various ATMs in a fraudulent manner.

By Press Trust of India: Five employees of a ATM maintenance firm have been arrested for allegedly withdrawing money to the tune of Rs 1.88 crore from various ATMs in a fraudulent manner, police said on December 26.

The five persons allegedly colluded and removed cash from various ATMs fraudulently to the tune of Rs 1.88 crore, stated a police release.

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The investigation followed after their company hired the arrested men as 'cash custodians' for different ATMs, it added.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohan Rao held a press conference today addressing the IT raids at his properties last week, but some statements he made need a closer look.

By Akshaya Nath: Sacked Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Rama Mohan Rao said in a press conference on Tuesday that he wanted to bring out the truth behind the IT raid at his residence last week and also throw light on the panchanama that was recovered from his residence.

While appealing to the people of Tamil Nadu and invoking the emotions that surround former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's death, Rao said, "I am being targeted and my life is in danger."

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He insisted that this wouldn't have happened if the former chief minister was alive, and that the state is now left without anyone to protect it.

Read more: AIADMK MP condemns use of CRPF forces in I-T raid at Tamil Nadu chief secretary's office in secretariat

Here are five points from his statement that need a deeper look:

#1 Rao was quick in talking about how his residence had only Rs 1,12,320, 40 to 50 pavan of gold belonging to his wife and 25 kg of silver that were in the form of idols. However, he did not mention anything about the Rs 2000 notes worth Rs 30 lakh, another five kilograms of gold and undisclosed assets worth more than Rs 5 crore that were seized by IT officials after raiding close to 11 places belonging to Rao, his son Vivek and Vivek's in-laws.

#2 During the presser, Rao said, "I don't know who Shekar Reddy is. I am not associated with him. I have been working for the government of Tamil Nadu for the last 32 years and as the chief secretary have met so many people."

The IT department had previously said the raids were conducted following the recovery of documents directly linking Rao and Shekar Reddy. Reddy is a mining baron who was arrested on December 21, following IT raids recovered cash worth Rs 132 crore, including Rs 34 crore in new notes, and 177 kg of gold. He allegedly has close relationships with many senior bureaucrats and politicians in the state.

#3 Rao claimed that the State government did not protect him and that Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was present at the Secretariat, did not stop the IT officials from raiding his chamber.

A point to remember here, is that the IT department was raiding 11 places simultaneously, and without proper procedure and permission the raids wouldn't have taken place in the first place.

Also read: After Jayalalithaa's demise and Cyclone Vardah, I-T raid at chief secretary's house is latest storm to hit Tamil Nadu

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#4 Rao has alleged that he was put under house arrest and was not allowed out of his residence for nearly 26 hours. Being a senior bureaucrat, Rao should be well aware that during raids, people inside the building being raided are not allowed outside till the raid is complete.

Commenting on the same senior political analyst R Mani said, "IT Raids are generally carried out following specific rules and regulations. Generally, even on raids on small fish they follow their rule book. And for a big fish like Rao they would have ensured that maximum legal formalities were completed. Without having reactions from IT department it is not fair to blame them simply on the basis of words which came from a controversial officer. "

#5 A point that Rao highlighted all along the press meet was that he was an officer appointed and tutored by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, and that this scenario wouldn't have arisen had she been here.

As a law abiding citizen and a person in the government for last 32 years Rao should know that a person's credibility is not based on who appoints him. His statements clearly indicate that this appeal to the people in the name of Jayalalithaa is just a political ball game. It should not be forgotten that the person whom he calls his mentor also had a disproportionate assets case against her, one that is still pending in the Supreme Court.

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--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Hyderabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Hitting out at main opposition Congress for criticising the construction of his new official residence, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today said the buildings complex was built as per requirements.

"Congress has exposed its mindset in studying and projecting an issue. When you say something, it should be believable by people. Speaking so low and small on Chief Ministers residence when the CM is in House...Can there be 150 rooms in the CMs residence? Can Congressmen show? Is this the way?" Rao asked in the Legislative Assembly during a debate on housing.

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He said the official residence building complex was built with about Rs 36 crore with facilities for organising large meetings and spacious vehicle parking.

"That Nizam (erstwhile ruler of Hyderabad) had left lakhs of acres of land for us. We dont know what is that poverty of thought of not having an official residence for Chief Minister. We built this with Rs 36 crore or Rs 37 crore so that there is a parking space for 300 cars and for holding (district) Collectors conference or any other conference of officials, without having to go somewhere else, for organising official programmes, with a good hall to meet people. How many chief ministers will be there after KCR?

"Its the official residence of the Telangana Chief Minister. Its not KCRs residence. Its not the own building of KCR. Its the property of Telangana people. It will show the profile of our state, if foreigners come, those from neighbouring states come. Its the pride of Telangana," Rao said.

The CM had moved into the new official residential buildings complex at Begumpet here last month with Congress claiming the "wastage" of public money for its construction.

The sprawling official buildings complex, including the CMs residence and office, a conference hall and two existing buildings, has been named as Pragathi Bhavan by government.

Meanwhile, Rao said his government is committed to construct double-bedroom houses for poor as promised by his party (TRS). (More) PTI SJR NSK NSK RYS

--- ENDS ---
The Kolkata-based businessman was arrested on Thursday from an airport while he was trying to flee Malaysia.

By Manogya Loiwal : Following the arrest of Parasmal Lodha by Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week, the ED officials are now conducting a raid at his office in New Alipore.

The Kolkata-based businessman was arrested on Thursday from an airport while he was trying to flee Malaysia, for allegedly illegally converting demonetised notes worth Rs 25-crore into new currency notes.

Today, a group of ED officials from Salt Lake office reached Peerless Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd and conducted a raid.

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According to reports, Lodha has connections with industrialist J Shekhar Reddy, and K Srinivasulu who were arrested also in the context of illegally exchanging old notes for new ones and going against RBI guidelines.

Another businessman and liasoner named KK Singhania is also on the radar for his alleged conections with Parasmal Lodha.

A controversial Kolkata-based real estate developer, Lodha has stakes in mining, finance, consultancy and restaurant firms. Lodha is now the director of seven firms, including Peerless, and is registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

--- ENDS ---
This 26-year-old complained against a man leering at her at a restaurant in Kolkata and instead of taking action against the man, the manager asked her to leave.

By India Today Web Desk: Facebook user, Vijaya Das, wrote a post about her experience at a restaurant in Kolkata where she was asked to leave when she complained against a man leering at her.

Vijaya went for a Christmas dinner with her family at Sher-e-Punjab in Sukanta Nagar, Kolkata. After she ordered food Vijaya realised that a man was constantly staring at her.

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"I suddenly saw a shady man was looking at me with the most dirty look one can give", wrote the 26-year-old.

She ignored the man initially and asked her father to sit in front of her so that the man does not get to see her but then the man glided to the next seat to look at her.

Also read: This brave woman just took on a cyber blackmailer and wants your help to catch him

"He was drinking heavily. I ignored at first as society teaches us to do in this situation."

Vijaya also claimed that the man was looking at every woman passing by.

When she finally decided to voice her discomfort and she shouted at him, the man pretended as if he did not know who she was pointing at. Vijaya's father backed her but the man audaciously asked them to complain to the management and not him.

Also read: What goes on in a stalker's mind and 7 ways to keep them at bay

Vijaya claimed that she called "the lady police troupe". "They all looked uncomfortable when I asked for help. They were enjoying their Christmas chat on the front yard. They didn't expect a girl to get molested at this very hour", read the post.

Soon, the manager of the restuarant came and asked Vijaya and her family to leave. When she protested and asked what wrong did she do and why is he not throwing him out, he told her that he cannot ask him so she and her family has to leave.

Infuriated by this incident, she posted two videos and wrote a post which has gone viral on social media.

Read the full post here:

--- ENDS ---
By Nolan Pinto: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to imbibe Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'Make in India' by utilizing biofuel in a big way. It has inducted 25 Scania buses that run completely on biodiesel.

Rajender Kumar Kataria, MD KSRTC, believes that using biofuel not only promotes the local industry but also cuts down on pollution by up to 70 per cent.

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From India Today magazine - Biodiesel: The gen-next fuel

The 25 new buses have been deployed on the Bengaluru-Kundapur, Bengaluru-Bidar, Bengaluru-Tirupati and Bengaluru-Chennai routes, with no changes in fare.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The state road transport organization began trials last year with 10 buses run on 20% biofuel and 80 per cent petrodiesel. The results were very encouraging and hence they decided to try and run a bus completely on biodiesel for a few months ago. This was never done in India and the officials were apprehensive whether it will succeed or not. They focused on 4 parameters to judge whether biodiesel would work well.

THE 4 PARAMETERS

1. Impact of biodiesel on the engine of the bus

2. Benefit accrued to the KSRTC

3. Is it really an eco-friendly fuel

4. Feedback of the drivers since they are the custodians of the bus

"The results were very good. For the environment especially, there was a reduction of about 60-70 per cent in pollution and this was very interesting for us all," Kataria said. They also found that the mileage remained the same but the vehicle performance was much better.

2-WAY STRATEGY OF KSRTC

As of today, there are almost 24,000 buses in operation run by the state's four road transport corporations. Since there is no modification required to utilize 20 per cent biodiesel, they plan to follow the 80:20 pattern in fuel consumption. This means while 80 per cent will be petrodiesel, the rest 20 per cent will be biodiesel. This will help in curbing pollution levels by 30 per cent.

In the second phase, all high-end buses that are to be procured will have retrofitted engines that can use both 100 per cent biodiesel or 100 per cent petrodiesel.

STUDY INVOLVED EXTERNAL AGENCIES

To make sure they were going the right way, KSRTC involved three external agencies to bring out a report on the 100 per cent biodiesel buses. IISc, RV and JSS colleges were a part of this study that had both experts and students taking part.

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"They gave us a fantastic report and that prompted us to take this step towards inducting these buses. This report was also shared with the government of India," Kataria added.

MAJOR CHALLENGES AHEAD

The biggest hurdle to make all this successful would be adequate and constant supply of biodiesel to run these buses.

"So far there was a meager requirement in the market. Now that a demand has been created, I am confident that the supply base will increase in the nation," Kataria continued, adding that the organization now sources its requirements from companies based out of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kolkata.

(Inputs from Surabhi KS)

ALSO READ:

In pics: PM Modi launches Make in India project

Make in India: Manohar Parrikar approves manufacture of six indigenous coast guard surveillance planes

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Kolkata, Dec 27 (PTI) Speculation about Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi, who has been superseded by Lt Gen Bipin Rawat as the next Army Chief, taking premature retirement heightened today after he proceeded on leave.

Army sources, however, said Lt Gen Bakshi is on a pre- scheduled three-day leave and is expected to resume duties on December 30, a day before Lt Gen Rawat takes over as the new Army Chief.

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There has been speculation that Lt Gen Bakshi may take premature retirement.

He had recently met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, fueling speculation about his possible resignation.

Lt Gen Rawats appointment as the new Army Chief superseding seniors Lt Gen Bakshi and Southern Army commander Lt Gen P M Hariz had also sparked a fierce political row between a section of the Opposition and the government. PTI SAP GVS SK GVS

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The canteen on the Mezzanine floor of the state administrative headquarters caters to hundreds of employees from various government departments as well as visitors.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: At a time when Maharashtra government is promoting cashless transactions at every place, it seems they have forgotten their own headquarters. The canteen in mantralaya, the state administrative headquarters, still accepts payments only in cash.

The canteen on the Mezzanine floor of the state administrative headquarters caters to hundreds of employees from various government departments as well as visitors.

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India Today visited the canteen and preen ted a debit card for the payment. The employee at the counter informed that there was no card system at the Canteen as yet. When asked whether the canteen accepts money through Mobile valets the answer again was in negative.

THE STING

Reporter: Can we have coupons for snacks?(OFFERS DEBIT CARD)

Counter employee: "No.. We have not started this ( card payment ) as yet..

Reporter: You don't accept cards..?

Employee: No

Reporter: PayTm

Employee: No, we don't have anything of that sorts till now..

Reporter: So, only cash?

Employee: yes only cash. So, how many people?

Reporter: Three

Employee: So, take coupons for Rs 50 rupees. "We are not cashless as yet. We are told it will happen soon may be from January 1."

Demonetisation puzzle: How will PM's black money scheme work after Dec 30?

--- ENDS ---
A decision in this regard was taken in the weekly Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to form a separate ministry for the welfare of the other backward communities.

A decision in this regard was taken in the weekly Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The decision has surprised many in the political circles:

1. The decision comes in the backdrop of the recent rallies held by the Maratha community demanding reservations in education and jobs.

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2. The OBC community too had organised counter rallies in some places demading reservations.

3. The new ministry, likely to formulated in next 3 months, will also cover the welfare of "Vimukt Jati and Nomadic Tribes" (VJNT) and Special Backward Classes (SBC).

4. "There are several schemes that are undertaken for the welfare of OBCs by the state government. These schemes and welfare programs are implemented under the social justice ministry. There was a growing demand for a separate ministry as the Ministry of Social Justice is already overburdened. The OBC community is in large number and hence, we have decided to form a separate ministry for the welfare of the community," said Fadnavis.

5. The Opposition has criticised the move calling it a mere eyewash.

6. "Announcing the formation of a ministry and working for the true welfare of OBCs are two different things. Are they going to make a special budgetary provision for the ministry? The payment of scholarship fees of OBC students is still pending for a long time. They are just trying to derive political mileage out of this," alleged Nawab Malik, spokesperson of the Nationalist Congress Party.

Also read: Shiv Sena alleges BJP turned Shivaji memorial into election campaign

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Mumbai, Dec 27 (PTI) Maharashtra cabinet today decided to carve out a separate ministry for Other Backward Classes and some other communities. The new ministry will start functioning from April 1, 2017. At present the Social Justice Ministry is in charge of welfare schemes for Scheduled Castes (SC), OBC, Special Backward Classes (SBC), Vimukta Jati (denotified tribes) and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT). The budget for the Social Justice department is Rs 5,500 crore. "Except Scheduled Castes, all other communities will be separated from the Social Justice department and would come under the OBC Ministry," Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said. When asked who would head the new ministry, Mungantiwar said it wont necessarily be an OBC leader. "It is the Chief Ministers prerogative to assign the charge to a person he finds suitable," he said. Social Justice Minister Rajkumar Badole said out of 63 schemes of his ministry, 24 will be transferred to the OBC ministry which will cover 3.83 crore beneficiaries. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil alleged that separate ministry would create rift between various communities. "There was no need to form a separate ministry. Instead, schemes for them should be implemented by the Social Justice ministry with priority," the Congress leader said. State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare however welcomed the decision. It was NCP president Sharad Pawar who implemented the Mandal commission report for OBCs when he was the Chief Minister in 1990s, Tatkare pointed out. PTI MM MR MM KRK

--- ENDS ---

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The explosive was wrapped in a white paper with the note "New year gift for Editors" and was discovered on late Monday evening at the daily's office.

By Manogya Loiwal : A hand grenade was found in the office of an evening daily, 'Pandam' in Imphal, Manipur today after which editors and scribes staged a sit-in protest at Keishampat.

The explosive, which was wrapped in a white paper with the note "New year gift for Editors", was discovered on late Monday evening after an unidentified person who claimed to be a cadre of Kangleipak Communist Party - Military Council, (KCP-MC) called the editor informing him about the presence of a hand grenade.

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The editor immediately informed the police and a team of Imphal West District Police led by the SP, Imphal West arrived and disposed the bomb safely with the help of a bomb squad team.

Updates on the incident so far:

1. The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) have vehemently condemned the act of placing a hand grenade at the office of a daily and issuing threats to the editors of print and electronic media by the KCP-MC.

2. In protest, all media houses have collectively decided to suspend the publication of newspapers for December 28 and electronic media houses did not air news bulletins on Tuesday.

3. All newspapers on Tuesday printed a blank editorial column.

4. Y Rupachandra, editor-in- chief of Impact TV, a local channel and general secretary of Editors' Guild, Manipur, informed that repeated appeals had been made to the state government to create a secure environment, if not for individual journalists, at least for media houses.

5. However, he said, the constant requests have been ignored by the government.

With inputs from Jit Ningomba.

Also read: Kiren Rijiju meets Manipur CM over economic blockade

--- ENDS ---
Enforcement Directorate will share its findings on the two accounts with the Income Tax department.

By Chirag Gothi: The Enforcement Directorate's probe into the bank account linked to Bahujan Samaj Party has found that Rs 104 crore were deposited in seven tranches after demonetisation scheme was announced. Of the total amount, Rs 102 crore were deposited in the party account in 23 days.

Here are more updates on the ED investigation:

In BSP supremo Mayawati's brother Anand's account, Rs 18 lakh were deposited in three tranches (portions). The ED had detected Rs 1.43 crore in Anand's account during a raid at a United Bank of India branch in Karol Bagh.

According to the transaction record, Rs 1.25 crore were deposited in Anand's account through an RTGS. The Enforcement Directorate is trying to track down the person who sent the money through RTGS.

Sources said the money was transferred to Anand's account by a company, and ED is probing the link between the company and Mayawati's brother Anand.

The Enforcement Directorate will be sharing its findings with the Income Tax department. The I-T department is likely to send notices to BSP and Anand seeking details of the cash deposits. Further course of action will be decided once the I-T department takes over the investigation.

According to sources, the ED is probing how the party account got huge cash deposits, and why office-bearers were in possession of big amounts of money in Rs 1,000 denomination.

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ALSO READ: Mayawati: BJP misusing state machinery to malign BSP, dare PM to reveal his party's bank details

ALSO READ: ED to probe how BSP bank account got Rs 104 crore cash deposits

ALSO WATCH

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Chennai, Dec 27 (PTI) Vaiko-led MDMK today walked out of Peoples Welfare Front (PWF), an alliance coordinated by it last year, which later faced the 2016 Assembly polls as a six-party bloc.

Vaiko said the decision was taken at a high-level meeting at his residence here.

"All the members of the high-level committee participated and had detailed discussions. MDMK is leaving PWF," he said.

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Vaiko, the coordinator of PWF, whose other constituents include CPI(M), CPI and VCK, said their friendship will continue.

A resolution by the committee also stated that MDMK was walking out of PWF, and that it would continue to maintain its friendship with the other three parties.

Though there had been some differences of opinion between MDMK and the rest, Vaikos support to Prime Minister Narendra Modis demonetisation scheme did not go down well as the other three parties had been fiercely opposed to it.

CPI(M) state secretary G Ramakrishnan said MDMK had welcomed demonestisation, "an important issue that has affected all sections of the society."

"The rest of us (CPI-M, CPI and VCK) had been carrying out struggles against demonetisation while the MDMK high command had welcomed Modis announcement. When there is a difference of opinion in such a key issue, we think it is not possible to remain in an alliance. MDMK seemed to have decided on that basis," he told reporters in response MDMKs decision.

Although there were some minor difference of opinion, "this is the most important reason" for the alliance to move forward, he said, adding that they had even asked MDMK to review its support to demonetisation.

The CPI(M) leader, however, insisted that their friendship will continue.

PWF, coordinated by Vaiko as a movement last year, later managed to stitch an alliance with actor-politician Vijayakants DMDK and former Union Minister GK Vasans TMC(M) for the May 2016 polls.

However, the six-party alliance failed to create any impact, with none of the parties managing to return even a single MLA.

DMDK and TMC(M) had walked out of the alliance after the poll debacle.

Vasan, responding to MDMKs decision, said there was "nothing new" in it.

"MDMK leaving PWF is along expected lines. There is nothing new in it," he said. PTI SA APR KIS

--- ENDS ---
The great poet Mirza Ghalib claimed eternity for his verses. These couplets will tell you why.

By India Today Web Desk: Mirza Asadullah Beg Khan, who later adopted the pen name, Mirza Ghalib, has forever been the last word in invoking the poetry that life is. His poignant musical verse has melted hearts every time, across generations-transcending all barriers of language or race. Overwhelming as it is, the romantic in Ghalib has repeatedly found expressions over the ages, through all forms of media--be it through the hypnotic renditions of ghazal maestros or through adaptations in films and theatre.

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On his birth anniversary, let us now commemorate this great legend, by revisiting his idea of love and romance, in his very own words.

1. Unke dekhne se jo aa jaati hai muh par raunaq

Woh samajhte hai ke beemaar ka haal achchha hai

Translation:

On seeing her my face brightens up

She presumes the condition of the sick lover is better now

Also Read: Year-Ender 2016: The musicians we lost to fate in 2016

2. Hamko unse wafa ki hai ummeed

Jo naheen jaante wafa kya hai

Translation:

I hope for faith from one

Who doesn't know what it means to be faithful

3. Mohabbat mein nahi hai farq jeene aur marne ka

Usi ko dekh kar jeetey hain jis kaafir pe dam nikle

Translation:

In love there is no difference between life and death do know

The very one for whom I die, life too does bestow

4. Yeh na thi hamari qismat ke visal-e-yaar hota

Agar aur jeetey rehte yahi intezaar hota

Translation:

That my love be consummated, fate did not ordain

Living longer had I waited, would have been in vain

5. Dil hii to hai na sang-o-Khisht dard se bhar na aaye kyun

Roenge ham hazaar baar koii hamen sataaye kyun

Translation:

It's just a heart, no stony shard; why shouldn't it fill with pain

I will cry a thousand times,why should someone complain?

--- ENDS ---
Local media in Telangana carried reports on Jai being spotted on the banks of Penganga river.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: One of the country's beloved tigers, Jai, went missing from Maharashtra's Tadoba National Park in April this year.

Now, reports of the missing tiger being spotted in Telangana have raised the hopes of the Maharashtra government.

WHO IS JAI?

In August, the Maharashtra government had said that the Central Bureau of Investigation must take up the case of missing Jai.

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Nine-foot long and weighing nearly 250 kg, Jai was named after Amitabh Bachchan's iconic character in 'Sholay'. The biggest tiger in the Tadoba National Park, Jai was a photographer's delight.

ALSO READ: Maharashtra wants CBI to look for missing tiger Jai

Earlier BJP MP Nana Patole had alleged that the tiger, who was a huge draw at the park, was killed by poachers.

A RAY OF HOPE

The latest reports have given the Maharashtra government some reason to rejoice.

"Some news channels and newspapers in Telangana carried an item saying that Jai has been spotted on the banks of Penganga river," said Maharashtra Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.

"I spoke to the Forest Minister of Telangana Jogu Ramanna. We have requested for video footage to ascertain the identity. We will be in a position to confirm only after checking the footage. It will be easy to identify Jai as he is tagged with a radio collar," the minister added.

ALSO READ: 250-kg tiger missing: Maharashtra govt launches massive hunt, Rs 50,000 reward announced

ALSO WATCH

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Dec 27 (PTI) Politically unstable Nepal saw a change in guard in 2016 with Prachanda becoming the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation, but the crisis persists over the new Constitution that sparked violence in Terai region bordering India with which Kathmandus ties improved steadily paving way for President Pranab Mukherjees maiden visit.

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The year began on a turbulent note as the unrest spilled over from the previous year over the Madhesi demands for greater political control following promulgation of the new Constitution in September last year.

Over 50 people were killed during the months long violent agitation by Madhesis who blocked a key border trade points with India, resulting in shortage of essential supplies in Nepal and causing hardships to its people.

The unofficial border blockade was finally lifted on the southern frontier with India on January 5 with a brief clash between Indian traders and agitating Madhesis.

On January 23, the Nepalese Parliament endorsed bills for amending three clauses of the Constitution to incorporate the demands of the disgruntled Madhesi groups.

The amendment included provisions such as proportionate and inclusive representation of all marginalised communities including the Madhesis in all state mechanisms and allocation of seats in the Parliament on the basis of population.

Prime Minister K P Oli visited India in February. Prior to the visit the pro-China premier had said that he would only visit India if the unofficial blockade was lifted.

During Olis six-day India visit, he met President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and other important leaders. Two MoUs each worth USD 1 billion were signed between Nepal and India.

The first USD 1 billion line of credit assistance was announced during Modis visit to Nepal and the second USD 1 billion assistance was announced during Swarajs visit to Nepal for rebuilding after the quake.

Oli paid an official visit to China in third week of March, during which Nepal and China signed 10 agreements to boost economic cooperation that includes, an agreement to facilitate trade and transit between the two neighbours, concessional loan for constructing Pokhara Regional Airport and an economic and technical cooperation agreement.

President Vidya Bhandaris proposed visit to India was cancelled in May as the cabinet did not endorse her travel plans and the government recalled its envoy to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, escalating tensions in bilateral ties.

India had witnessed a strain in bilateral ties after the adoption of a new Constitution by Nepal that divided the tiny nation into seven provincial units and marginalised Madhesis, who are largely of Indian-origin and inhabitants of the Terai. MORE PTI SBP KUN ZH AKJ CPS

--- ENDS ---

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EBC will be entitled to get 21 per cent reservation, aspirants from OBC will be entitled to 12 per cent reservation, aspirants belonging to SC will be entitled to 16 per cent reservation while aspirants belonging to ST will be entitled to 1 per cent reservation.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: In the major decision, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet today announced 50 per cent reservation in state judicial services which means provision of 50 per cent reservation has been made with immediate effect to all the candidates applying for job in Bihar lower judiciary.

Giving details about the state cabinet decision, Dr. Dharmendra Singh Gangwar, Principal Secretary, General Administration said that aspirants belonging to Extremely Backward Class (EBC) will be entitled to get 21 per cent reservation, aspirants from Other Backward Classes (OBC) will be entitled to 12 per cent reservation, aspirants belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) will be entitled to 16 per cent reservation while aspirants belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) will be entitled to 1 per cent reservation.

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Adding further, the principle secretary informed that 35 per cent quota has been reserved for women belonging to all the above four categories.

In another decision, the state cabinet has approved the proposal to provide a compensation of Rs 11 lakh to family members of martyrs of Indian Army who have laid their lives in line of duty. Earlier, the state government used to give Rs 5 Lakh as compensation to kin of martyrs which has now been increased.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Ahead of its Ambassadors meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India today made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year boy united with his natural parents.

Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents.

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In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents."

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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. PTI PYK DV

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Ahead of its Ambassadors meeting with authorities in Norway involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family, India today made it clear that it wants the five-and-a-half year boy united with his natural parents.

Taking a hard stance, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said she refuses to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than natural parents.

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In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, "Our Ambassador in Norway is meeting the Norwegian authorities today regarding Aryan. I refuse to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents."

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that authorities in that country have taken away their son, also a Norwegian national, on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the Ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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. PTI PYK DV KIS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Norway today told India that it is handling the case involving the custody of a child of a Indo-Norwegian family in accordance with the Norwegian Child Welfare Act which includes directions from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

This was conveyed to the Indian ambassador who had gone to meet the Norwegian officials, who also informed him that since child welfare cases are highly sensitive, the cases are therefore subject to a strict duty of confidentiality.

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Ahead of the meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said India wants the five-and-a-half-year-old boy united with his natural parents and refused to accept that foster parents can take better care of the child than the natural parents.

"The foster parents are totally ignorant of the Indian culture and our food habits. We want restoration of Aryan to his natural parents," Swaraj had tweeted.

According to Norwegian Embassy Spokesperson here, "The Indian ambassador to Norway visited the Norwegian authorities earlier today (in Oslo) to discuss the child welfare case involving a Norwegian/Indian family, where the child holds Norwegian citizenship. The meeting had a constructive atmosphere.

"The Norwegian authorities have reiterated 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."

During the meeting with the Indian envoy, the Norwegian authorities also said the the Act applies to all children in Norway, regardless of their background, residential status or citizenship.

The embassy also was once again assured that the Norwegian authorities were dealing with the case with complete sensitivity and awareness.

Indian national Gurvinderjit Kaur and her husband, who is a Norwegian national, have alleged that the authorities in that country have taken away their son on a frivolous complaint of abuse.

Kaur had also written to the ministry seeking help in getting back her son, who has been taken away by the Norway Child Welfare Services.

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. PTI PYK SC

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: (REOPENS DEL57)

(REOPENS DEL57)

BJP leader Vijay Jolly hailed the government and Swaraj for their effort to restore the child to his natural parents.

Jolly was first contacted by the couple for help and he had written to the External Affairs Minister in this regard.

"Today is the 14th day of captivity of Aryan who is living in shadow of fear and is still in the custody of Barnevernet, the Norway Child Protection Agency," Jolly said.

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He said the governments stand demonstrated its "commitment" to protect Indians overseas. PTI VIT SMN

--- ENDS ---
Pakistan's finance ministry ruled out scrapping of the Rs 5,000 note, saying it would hurt business.

By Reuters: Pakistan's government has dismissed a recommendation from the upper house of Parliament to scrap the Rs 5,000 ($48) bank note to cut the flow of illicit money and reduce the size of the informal economy.

India scrapped its two biggest currency bills - the Rs 1,000 ($15) and 500 notes - in November in a bid to flush out money hidden from the tax man, leading to acute currency shortages and raising concern about growth there.

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Pakistan's Senate passed a non-binding resolution this month calling for the government to follow suit to "reduce illicit money flow, encourage the use of bank accounts and reduce the size of the undocumented economy".

But the finance ministry ruled out such a demonetisation, saying it would hurt business.

"Given the continuing use of cash in transactions, the government believes that discontinuation of the Rs 5,000 note would adversely affect the efficiency of exchange in business," the ministry said in a statement, seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Also read: Now, Pakistan to demonetise its high Rs 5000 note

The Rs 5,000 note is Pakistan's biggest.

During the last financial year, 17 per cent of currency notes printed were of the 5,000 denomination, the finance ministry said.

INFORMAL ECONOMY

Pakistan has a huge informal economy and transactions are often handled in cash, partly because much of the population is not in the formal sector.

The government frequently offers tax amnesties to encourage people with hidden wealth to declare assets and enter the banking system, hoping to expand an extremely narrow tax base.

But governments have struggled for decades to boost a meagre tax-to-gross domestic product ratio of only about 10 per cent.

The ministry said the government hoped to encourage digital banking to "reduce the dependence on currency".

"This is the way to move forward for promoting documentation in the economy rather than by cancelling any existing denomination," it said.

Also read: Toxic liquor kills 23, leaves dozens sick in Pakistan on Christmas

--- ENDS ---
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with economists and experts at a session organised by NITI Aayog on the theme "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead."

By Reema Parashar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in his first such interaction with economists and experts, called for innovative approaches in areas such as skill development and tourism.

The session was organised by NITI Aayog, on the theme "Economic Policy - The Road Ahead."

The session details:

1. During the session, participants shared their views on various economic themes such as agriculture, skill development and job creation, taxation and tariff related matters, education and digital technology.

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2. The session also discussed governance reforms, data driven policy and future steps for growth.

3. In his intervention, the prime minister thanked various participants for their suggestions and observed that such exercises earmarked expenditure only at the onset of monsoon, which was not desirable as it results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months.

4. Speaking about the budget cycle, PM Modi said that this has an effect on the real economy. He added that in our existing budget calendar, the authorisation of expenditure comes with the onset of the monsoon.

5. This, he said, results in government programmes being relatively inactive in the productive pre-monsoon months. Sp, keeping this in view, the date of budget presentation is being advanced, so that expenditure is authorised by the time the new financial year begins.

6. Niti Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, at a press briefing later, said that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the economists was an experiment where the latter gave presentations on three important focus points - agriculture, jobs and budget related issues.

7. The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Minister of State for Planning Rao Inderjit Singh, Vice Chairman NITI Aayog Arvind Panagariya, and senior officers from the Union government and NITI Aayog.

8. It was also attended by economists and experts including Prof Pravin Krishna, Prof Sukhpal Singh, Prof Vijay Paul Sharma, Neelkanth Mishra, Surjit Bhalla, Pulak Ghosh, Govinda Rao, Madhav Chavan, NK Singh, Vivek Dehejia, Pramath Sinha, Sumit Bose, and TN Ninan.

Also read: I don't make false promises, I remember what I say: PM Modi in Dehradun

--- ENDS ---
While the Queen couldn't attend the Christmas service due to a cold, Will and Kate took their kids along to St Mark's Church.

Prince George, sucking on minty candy canes on Christmas, while walking out of church with his parents. Photo: Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: Like most Christians around the world, the British Royals attend the Christmas service at a church on Christmas morning. But this year, things took a rather adorable turn.

Little Prince George, Prince William and Kate Middleton's first-born, was seen stepping out of St Mark's Church in Englefield, southern England, with a yummy-looking candy cane!

While the Queen couldn't attend the service, the rest of the royals made it there. Photo: Reuters

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According to a report in Time magazine, while the Queen stayed home due to a heavy cold, the rest of the royal family attended the Christmas service at St Mark's. It's quite rare for the Queen to miss the service--and usually, that would have made the headlines.

Also read: 3 generations of British Royals came together for this official portrait

But it was Prince George and Princess Charlotte (both of whom were given candy canes to sit through the service quietly) who grabbed the world's attention.

Both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were given candy canes. Photo: Reuters

And why not? The cute 3-year-old Prince of Great Britain looks absolutely adorable while sucking on those minty candy canes. And, come to think about it, that's just what Christmas means to kids all over the world anyways--a good time to load up on the goodies that scream of the festive season.

--- ENDS ---
The incident took place around 5 am when Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for take off.

By Press Trust of India: The Navy said its prompt response in rescuing passengers on-board the Mumbai-bound Jet Airways flight that veered off the runway at Dabolim Airport in Goa early today, averted the incident from turning into a "catastrophe".

"The Navy responded within 15-20 minutes and all the passengers were evacuated safely out of the aircraft. It would have turned into a catastrophe had the Navy not acted promptly," a Naval spokesperson said.

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The incident took place around 5 am when Jet Airways flight 9W 2374 that had arrived from Dubai and was bound for Mumbai, skidded off the runway while aligning for take off.

The Goa airport is located in Indian Navy's facility, INS Hansa in Vasco town, nearly 25 km from here.

As many as 15 passengers suffered "minor injuries and fractures" during the evacuation process, Navy sources said.

"Few guests have sustained minor injuries during the evacuation process and medical assistance is being coordinated by the Jet Airways team and the airport authorities," the airlines said in a statement.

RUNWAY MADE AVAILABLE HOURS BEFORE DEADLINE

Beside 154 passengers, there were seven crew members on board.

Meanwhile, the runway was made available for flight operations at 9 am, hours before the initial deadline of 12.30 pm.

Soon after the incident, Navy officials had cordoned off the aircraft that had tilted towards its front end, while the passengers alighted.

"After the passengers were evacuated, the operation to rescue the aircraft started. The damage to the runway was also accessed by a team of Indian Navy and Airport Authority of India officials," the spokesperson said.

"There was lot of muck on the runway as the flight was grounded on the sides of the runway," he said.

During the rescue operation hours, a chartered flight was diverted to Bangalore, while an Oman Air flight that was scheduled to arrive in morning, was diverted to Mumbai, he said.

A total of seven scheduled flights that were to land at the airport were cancelled, while one scheduled flight and another chartered flight remained grounded. The two aircraft will take off later during the day.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Uzhunnalil: India

New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) India today said it was in regular touch with Yemeni authorities and Saudi Arabia regarding the safe release of Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted nearly nine months ago from war-torn Yemen, after a video of the priest pleading for help became viral.

"You are aware of the circumstances currently prevailing in Yemen where fighting is going on with no central authority in that country.

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"With regard to the safe release of Father Tom who was abducted some months ago, we have been in regular touch with countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia as also the local Yemeni authorities. Efforts continue in this regard," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

In the video, also uploaded on Facebook, Tom was seen as pleading for help from Indian government and fellow Christians including Pope Francis. However, the veracity of the video could not be ascertained.

He also said "several months have gone by and my captors have made many contacts with the government of India to get me released. Honourable President and Prime Minister of India, I am very sad nothing has been done seriously in my regard. Reports have been in news that everything is being done to get me released quickly but in reality nothing seems to have happened."

He further said had he been "a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously by authorities and people and (they) would have got me released. I am from India and therefore, I perhaps am not considered as of much value".

Uzhunnalil was abducted from the port city of Aden in March 4 by militant group ISIS. PTI PYK ZMN

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: "More recently Russia has lost major contracts to other key weapons suppliers, threatening its longstanding supplier relationship with India. Russian sales of advanced weaponry in South Asia have been a matter of ongoing concern to the United States because of long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India. The United States sought to expand its military cooperation with and arms sales to India as part of the US strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific region," the report said.

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After lifting its arms embargo in 2014, Russia signed an agreement with Pakistan for four MI-35 attack helicopters.

"This sale marks a shift in Russian foreign policy towards Pakistan," the report said.

During the mid-1990s, Russia sold major combat fighter aircraft and main battle tanks to India, and has provided other major weapon systems through lease or licensed production, the report said.

It continues to provide support services and items for these various weapon systems, it said. PTI LKJ ZH

--- ENDS ---
Sekhar Reddy, according to the FIR, used many public servants and bank employees to change his old currency.

By Pramod Madhav: The Central Bureau of Investigation's FIR copy on the money laundering case against Sekhar Reddy claims that the sand mining baron used a certain number of unknown public servants and bank employees to change the demonetised currency into new notes.

After getting information from the Income Tax department about a seizure of Rs 24 crore new notes from a 'Tata Ace' vehicle at Vellore, and the huge amount of demonetised currencies and many kilos of gold acquired from Reddy's residence, the CBI arrested him, Prem Kumar and Shrinivasulu under IPC 120-B r/w 409, 420 IPC and section 13(2) r/w 13(1) (c) on December 21.

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Case against Reddy:

1. The chargesheet has clearly stated that Reddy is a government contractor, partner of SRS Mining based in Chennai and operates majority of sand quarries at Vellore and neighbouring districts.

2. The CBI then accuses Reddy and his associates to have deprived the public in enforcing their right by using unknown public servants from different banks to illegally convert demonetised notes into new notes.

3. "The bank officials who were trusted with the new currency notes to be distributed to the public, as per the instructions given to the bank from time to time by the RBI, defying the same they helped the accused persons for a consideration," claims the FIR.

4. The question that still lingers is, who are these corrupt officials and bank employees who were capable enough to siphon out such huge amount of money, even after a strong vigil from the government side?

5. Following the raids and arrest of Reddy, Tamil Nadu's top bureaucrat Ram Mohan Rao's residence was also raided.

6. Later in a press conference, Rao totally denied knowing Reddy and stated that he was being targeted and that his life was in danger.

7. IT sources said that more ground work is in process as more raids are on the way which might roll out many more top hats.Also read: CBI sends second lookout notice to TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay; Tapas Pal too summoned

--- ENDS ---
Shama Sikander, who had earlier opened up about her battle with bipolar disorder, talks about the lowest point of her life when she attempted suicide.

By India Today Web Desk: If you are a 90s kid, you would definitely remember Sony TV's popular serial Ye Meri Life Hai and its simple yet confident protagonist Pooja, who makes her place in a modern metro college, slowly but steadily. This was the soap that struck the chord with the audience and made Shama a household name. Though she was also seen in miniscule roles in Bollywood films like Dhoom Dhadaka, Mann and Prem Aggan, Ye Meri Life Hai changed the ballgame for her.

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But the last 5 years of her life were really hard for her. The actress had opened up for the first time about her battle with the bipolar disorder few months back, around the time when her short film Sexaholic released. She revealed how she felt hopeless, directionless and extremely gloomy during that time.

Also read: Watch: Here's how the gorgeous Shama Sikander brought in her birthday

Shama in a recent interview revealed that she had even attempted suicide 5 years back, when she thought she couldn't handle her emotions. She also ignored her ex-boyfriend Alexx O'Neil's advice that she should see a doctor.

TV actress Shama Sikander. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Shama Sikander

"Alexx, who has a degree in Psychology, suspected that I had bipolar disorder and advised me to consult a doctor. But at that time, I didn't want to get cured; I just wanted to give up. Though my life was going great, I was bored of it; nothing would impress or excite me. I even tried to commit suicide one night. I kissed my mother good night and told her not to wake me up. After that, I swallowed several sleeping pills at one go. Just before slipping away, I texted my brother my bank account details, which made him panic. He immediately called my mother to check on me and I was rushed to the hospital three hours later," the actress told The Times of India.

TV actress Shama Sikander. Picture courtesy: Instagram/Shama Sikander

She adds, "I was angry with my family for saving me. I wanted to go and return as a new person. I didn't see death as the end; rather, it was the beginning of a new life. I didn't know that a rebirth was possible in the same life. But slowly, my soul awakened and I realised that it was a spiritual calling."

"My condition didn't improve even after two years of medication, but when it did, I started looking at life with a new perspective. Now, I seek joy in small things and make a conscious effort to befriend people. I have become more open and receiving. I want to share my story so that people will know that it's okay to be messed up," she said.

Hope Shama's story helps those who are fighting a similar battle.

--- ENDS ---
The Maharashtra government will be making a grand statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea spending Rs 3,600 crores. The foundation stone of this project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24, 2016.

By Sahil Joshi: As expected, Shiv Sena has termed the foundation laying ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea as a political gimmick of the BJP. The party questioned the intent behind it in its mouthpiece Saamna, claiming that the ceremony felt like BJP's election campaign.

The Maharashtra government will be making a grand statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea spending Rs 3,600 crores. The foundation stone of this project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24, 2016.

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Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was a special invitee for the ceremony but only after Shiv Sena threatened to boycott the ceremony if the Thackeray scion was not given due respect.

HERE'S HOW THE EVENT UNFOLDED: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis personally extended an invitation to Uddhav and made him a special guest at the occasion. But despite that, the grand ceremony at MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai witnessed tussle between Shiv Sena and BJP workers. Shiv Sena workers complained that they were not allowed onto the ground as most of the invitations had already been extended to BJP workers to make it an out and out BJP's show of strength. When Uddhav Thackeray began his speech, the crowd of BJP workers started chanting Modi's name, which was later countered by Shiv Sena workers. When it continued for other speakers, Fadnavis had to intervene. The ceremony became a topic a discussion among political circles on how Modi ignored issues raised by Uddhav Thackeray in his speech. Sources revealed that since then Shiv Sena leaders became angry with BJP.

Finally today's Saamna editorial warned BJP not to play politics with Shivaji's name and also criticised the BJP for turning the foundation ceremony into a political tussle.

--- ENDS ---
The 8 SIMI men had allegedly broken the Bhopal Central Jail during the intervening night of October 30 and 31.

By Hemender Sharma: The judicial commission, appointed to investigate the Bhopal jailbreak and the subsequent encounter of 8 SIMI suspects, served a notice to the Bhopal Central Jail asking the authorities to explain the circumstances under which the incident took place.

The 8 men had allegedly broken the Bhopal Central Jail during the intervening night of October 30 and 31 and all of them were gunned down in an encounter about 15 km from the jail, just a few hours later.

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The case so far:

1. Bhopal Police had tried to justify the encounter by saying the 8 under trials had first opened fire and were killed in retaliatory fire.

2. The MP Anti-Terrorist Squad chief had gone on record saying that all of them were unarmed just minutes after the encounter.

3. A lot of questions were also raised on the authenticity of the encounter after videos of the encounter surfaced.

4. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan too publicly declared the eight men as dreaded terrorists, even though he was later forced to change his words when they were called under trials in the notification issued for appointment of the judicial commission to probe the entire incident.

5. The commission is headed by retired High Court judge, Justice SK Pandey and it has been mandated to submit its finding within three months.

6. The commission has also started recording statements of police officers who were involved in the encounter.

Also read: Bhopal hospital rats shocker: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan does surprise check, suspends top officials

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) SpiceJet shareholders have approved paying up to Rs 15 crore as annual remuneration to managing director Ajay Singh as the no-frills airline continued making profits for seven straight quarters.

Besides, shareholders have cleared the appointment of Anurag Bhargava and Harsha Vardhana Singh as independent directors of the company.

These proposals were among those approved during the annual general meeting of the airline held on Monday.

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In a filing to the BSE, SpiceJet today said various resolutions including the payment of remuneration to Singh has been approved with requisite majority.

Singh, who has been instrumental in reviving the fortunes of SpiceJet after taking back the reins in January 2015, had decided not to take salary till the airline turned profitable.

As per the proposal presented before shareholders, the airline proposed a remuneration of up to Rs 15 crore each year to Singh, subject to various conditions.

Apart from a fixed monthly salary of Rs 50 lakh, he would be eligible to a variable pay of up to two per cent of the annual profit and the latter component would be a maximum of Rs 9 crore per annum.

Singh would also be eligible for other benefits such as "company-maintained car with driver, mobile expense reimbursement, provident fund, gratuity, personal accident insurance, medical insurance for self and dependents".

Last month, SpiceJet reported its highest-ever quarterly profit of Rs 59 crore in July-September. It had posted a net profit of Rs 29 crore in the year-ago period.

Shares of SpiceJet gained over 1.5 per cent to close at Rs 56.95 on the BSE. PTI RAM IAS JM

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Colombo, Dec 27 (PTI) In a goodwill gesture, Sri Lanka will soon release 20 Indian fishermen held for allegedly fishing in its territorial waters, a senior minister has said.

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his ministry has recommended to the Attorney Generals department to release the 20 fishermen from India.

"Indian fishermen will be released, but their fishing vessels will not be returned," Amaraweera was quoted as saying by Colombo Page.

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"So this is essentially a sign of goodwill. Very quickly the fishermen will be released," he said.

Amaraweera said that the Indian government has submitted a request for the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody.

Once the recommendations reach the Attorney General, he will inform the court that there is no objection, the Minister said.

According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Sri Lanka is currently holding 51 fishermen and 114 fishing boats in its custody.

On January 2, a Joint Working Group (JWG) of India and Sri Lanka will hold a ministerial-level meeting here, to find a permanent solution to the issue of fishermen, an irritant in bilateral ties. PTI CPS AKJ CPS

--- ENDS ---
"Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said.

By Indo-Asian News Service: In a shocking incident, the body of a foreign tourist kept outside the post-mortem room at a Bihar hospital was eaten by stray dogs, police said on Tuesday.

The negligence of health officials is being said to be the reason behind the incident.

"Some stray dogs were seen eating body parts of a Bhutanese woman, who was killed in a road accident in Begusarai on Monday," police official Ali Sabri said.

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According to police, Pema Choden, 53, was hit by a speeding truck.

WHAT HAPPENED

She was on her way to Bodh Gaya in Gaya district to attend Kalchakra Puja of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, scheduled to be held in January.

"The woman, along with other Buddhist Lama were travelling in a bus. They alighted in Begusarai for refreshment and unfortunately when she was crossing the road, was hit by a vehicle and died," police officials said.

After the accident, police sent her body to hospital for post-mortem. "But the concerned health officials left her body in the open outside the post-mortem room and some stray dogs ate some parts of the body," police said.

Taking serious note of the incident, Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav has asked the district civil surgeon Harinarain Singh to submit an explanation within 48 hours.

Singh has, however, blamed police officials for this incident. Allegedly, police did not hand over her body to the hospital but left it outside the post-mortem room.

However, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Mishra said hospital officials were responsible for it.

"I have asked the local police station in-charge to inquire into it," Mishra said.

Also Read

Kerala stray dog menace: People allegedly barge into homes, kill sheltered dog

Supreme Court considers taking steps to control Delhi's stray dog menace

--- ENDS ---
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj through a series of tweets assured that she will spare no effort to secure Father Tom's release from ISIS' captivity.

By India Today Web Desk: After a video of Kerala priest Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted by militant outfit ISIS from Yemen in March this year, surfaced the internet, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that she has seen the video and will spare no effort to secure his release from captivity.

She said since Father Tom is an Indian citizen and the "life of every Indian is most precious for us", "we will spare no effort to secure" his release.

I have seen the video from Fr Tom. He is an Indian citizen and the life of every Indian is most precious for us. /1 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

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We got Fr Alex Prem Kumar and Judith D'Souza released from Afghanistan. /2 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

We have spared no effort and we will spare no effort to secure Fr Tom's release from captivity. /3 Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 27, 2016

In the video, Father Tom Uzhunnalil appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pope Francis to secure his release and complained that he was being ignored because he is from India.

Also read: ISIS-abducted priest's SOS to PM Modi and Pope: Ignored since I am an Indian

"If I were a European priest, I would have been taken more seriously. I am from India. I am perhaps not considered as of much value", the priest said.

He has also claimed that his abductors had contacted the government on several occasions but nothing has been done so far.

"Dear Pope Francis, dear Holy Father, as a father please take care of my life. I am very much depressed. My health is deteriorating."

CPI(M) has slammed the Modi government for its "lukewarm attitude" and CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has urged the centre to take the necessary steps to ensure Father Tom's release, reported The News Minute .

Watch the video here :

--- ENDS ---
"Where is the state government? What business does the government of India, CRPF have to enter the chief secretary's chamber? Did they get chief minister's permission," he asked.

"I was the chief secretary, I am the chief secretary of Tamil Nadu. They have no guts to serve me with the copy of transfer order," Rama Mohan Rao said.

Accusing the current state government of being spineless, he said, "If madam (Jayalalithaa) had been alive, would this happen to Tamil Nadu?".

He alleged the CRPF entered his house on gunpoint and he was under house arrest. "If they wanted to search my house, they could have transferred me. How much time does it take for a chief minister to transfer a chief secretary," he asked.

Denying links with sand mining baron Sekhar Reddy, Rao said, "I have nothing to do with him. He has nothing to do with any government business".

The sacked official said he is being targeted, and "fears for his life". "I may be a big hurdle for many", he said.

"I have served the people of Tamil Nadu for the last 32 years and will continue to serve the people. They know what has happened to the state in the absence of J Jayalalithaa and hence I will approach the people's court," the former chief secretary said.

"CRPF entered my house, they showed me the search warrant, my name was not there. They have found nothing," said Rao, who was sacked from the post following the Income Tax raid at his house and office. At the end of the 24-hour raid, I-T officials recovered Rs 30 lakh cash and five kg gold from the premises.

He instead claimed the search warrant was in the name of his son Vivek. During the raid, Vivek had confessed to having undisclosed assets worth Rs 5 crore.

"I will hand over to you the panchnama of what the Income Tax department has found in my house," he said, adding that the I-T officials found Rs 1.12 lakh cash and 40-50 gold souvenirs belonging to his wife and daughter from the house. Silver idols weighing 25 kg were also recovered, Rao said.

"They have found nothing; no incriminate documents, no secret chamber," the former Tamil Nadu chief secretary claimed.
The Tamil Nadu fishermen were threatened and asked to return home by the Sri Lankan Navy officials.

By Akshaya Nath: In an ongoing tussle between the Tamil Nadu fishermen and the Sri Lankan Navy, close to 3000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were forced to return home.

The fishermen recounted that they were intimidated at gun point and threatened to return, leaving behind their catch.

1. "We were all fishing when Sri Lankan Navy officials at gun point threatened us. We were forced to leave our catch. This is the source of our livelihood and if we are unable to follow our source of income, how are we going to survive?" questions Dominic, a fisherman from Rameshwaram.

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2. According to reports, five fishermen were injured after being attacked by the Sri Lankan officials.

3. In the month of December, close to 30 fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy.

4. Indian fishermen have been continuously asking for the intervention of the central and state government to bring an end to their struggle.

5. During the recent meeting between Chief Minister O Paneerselvam and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the issue of fishermen was also highlighted.

6. "We don't have any choice, we don't have another way to live. If the government doesn't interfere, then there is no choice but to die," said another fisherman from Rameshwaram.

Also read: Pakistan to release 439 Indian fishermen in two batches

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: in Valley

Jammu, Dec 26 (PTI) CPIM leader M Y Tarigami today submitted a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly demanding setting up of an inquiry panel headed by a retired Supreme Court judge to probe therecent civilian killings in the Valley.

He also submitted two more resolutions urging the central government to initiate a process of "structured dialogue" with all stakeholders to find a solution to the Kashmir issue and ban the use of pellet guns by security forces to meet any law and order situation.

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The assembly session will begin here on January 2 and conclude on February 4.

Tarigami also submitted a private members bill seeking amendments to sections 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 of the stringent Jammu Kashmir Public Safety Act. PTI AB GVS GVS

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Hyderabad, Dec 27 (PTI) The Telangana government would soon launch bike ambulances to help patients in remote areas of the state, Health Minister C Laxma Reddy said here today.

The bike ambulances would be used in remote areas, mainly inhabited by tribals and also congested localities in Hyderabad and other cities, he said.

The state government would also increase the number of vehicles transporting bodies of the poor from major state-run hospitals to their native places, a government release quoted him as saying. PTI SJR RMT

--- ENDS ---

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By Ashish Pandey: Meet Yadireddy, a beggar from Andhra capital city Vijayawada, who donated a silver crown to Lord Ram.

At a time when many across the country are facing a severe cash crunch, the offering made by the beggar to Lord Ram came as a surprise for many.

75 year old Yadireddy hailing from Nalgonda district of Telangan had came to Vijayawada as teenager. During his life's journey for livelihood he did many odd jobs and drove a rickshaw for almost forty five years. But for past few years, as he turned old, he started begging on the city streets. He actally realised soon that he was earning more than what he needs and since he has no family, Yadireddy decided to spent his extra earnings on spiritual work.

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A THANK TOY GESTURE TO GOD

"I believe in god and I have only survived till now due to the strength and courage he has given me. As a thank you, I am offering my bit to Lord Rama", said Yadireddy.

"He was begging for many years in the temple premises and now performed a great gesture by decided to offering this to God. Yadireddy has become an inspiration to many as he has sent a message that money is materialistic and hence donesn't matter while good deeds are heavenly " said Temple Chairman and MLA Gautham Reddy.

Yadireddy had earlier donated silver crowns to Sai Baba as well and now he has chosen to donate silver crowns for Kodanda Ramalayam in Mutyalampadu. He spent nearly Rs 150,000/- for silver crowns while he also donated Rs 20 Thousand for Nitya- Annadanam.

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27 (PTI) A day after senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan hit out at Congress and UDF leadership in Kerala, alleging that it had failed to function as an effective opposition, three front partners - IUML, RSP and Kerala Congress (Jacob) echoed similar sentiments today.

In an embarrassment to Congress, Muraleedharan, MLA, former KPCC President and son of party veteran late K Karunakaran said in Kozhikode yesterday that there is no opposition in the state.

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"Congress and UDF have failed miserably to capitalise on the lapses of the LDF government and the government is now mocking at the UDF," he had said.

"Congress leadership is unable to react appropriately on important issues. The leaders are only interested in increasing their personal mileage by showing their faces on television channels," he had said at a function to mark his fathers death anniversary.

E T Muhammed Basheer, secretary of IUML, the second largest party in UDF, said the opposition has been unable to highlight the governments failures.

"The UDF has certain issues which need to be addressed by the allies. It is time to organise agitations against the government," he said.

While RSP state secretary A A Aziz said UDF should think of organising more protests against LDF, Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Johnny Nellore said UDF needs to work with more vigour.

Though KPCC President V M Sudheeran maintained a studied silence, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said he welcomed all criticism.

Putting up a brave face, he said there are no differences of opinion in UDF and all front partners are united.

He said heviewed positively the criticism against the Congress by Muraleedharan.

"I welcome and respect Muralis criticisms. He is a close friend, a former KPCC President and a senior leader. What he said is that UDF should be strengthened and opposition should launch more agitations against the state governments anti people policies," Chennithala told reporters here.

He said UDF would meet on January 3 to discuss and chalk out various agitational programmes of the front. Chennithala said people are facing lot of hardships due to the Centres demontisation exercise and the anti people policies of the state government.

He denied reports of KPCC President V M Sudheeran, former ChiefMinister Oommen Chandy and himself moving in different directions. "There are small differences," he said, adding the functioning of UDF was different from that of LDF.

IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, who also called a press meet to clear the air over criticisms,said UDF has done what it could do in the last six months. On January 3, UDF will meet and settle all issues, he said. PTI UD APR SUA

--- ENDS ---

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By PTI: New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) The US health regulator has banned import of drugs from Badrivishal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Pune-based manufacturing facility.

The US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has issued the alert under Import Alert 66-40, which authorises the health regulator "detention without physical examination of drugs from firms which have not met drug GMPs".

The companys plant in Pune district manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients and speciality chemicals. The products are exported to over 30 countries including the US, UK, Germany and France.

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The drug firms Pune-based plant is approved by Maharashtra FDA. The facility is spread across an area of over 12,000 square feet. PTI MSS AKT BAL

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: The government officially invited Madhesi Front for a

The government officially invited Madhesi Front for a dialogue to settle the issue while deputy premier and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa embarked for an official visit to India aimed at improving bilateral ties and met his counterpart Swaraj among other senior officials.

On August 3, CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Prachanda was again elected as Prime Minister with the support from Nepali Congress, the largest party in the parliament, as the agitating Madhesi Front also backed the move, hoping to receive support for their demands.

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He vowed to develop friendly relations with both India and China and for implementing past agreements to expedite post-quake reconstruction works through consensus.

Prachanda, who was prime minister from 2008 to 2009 and quit following the controversial sacking of then Nepal Army Chief Rukmangad Katuwal, was not at good terms with India during his first stint that lasted for 280 days.

He is the only communist leader to become the Prime Minister of Nepal twice. With his elevation, all the top three executive posts -- President, Vice-President and Prime Minister -- in Nepal are now held by communists.

After assuming office, one of the first decisions by the Prachanda government was to grant Rs 1 million each to families of those killed during the Madhesis protests, fulfilling one of the key demands of the agitating groups.

The government also sent special envoys to India and China to improve relations with neighbours as Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi toured India, while Finance Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara visited China.

Prachanda paid a four-day visit to India in September for improving strained ties between the two neighbours. A 25 point joint communique was issued at the end of his visit during which he met the top Indian leadership including Modi.

He claimed his visit had taken Nepal-India ties to a new high.

In a high-profile visit, President Mukherjee travelled to Nepal in November first week on a three-day visit to the country and met his counterpart President Bhandari, Prime Minister Prachanda and other top leaders.

Mukherjee welcomed efforts to implement the Constitution.

Army chief General Dalbir Singh also visited Nepal in November at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart.

Indias decision to demonetise higher denomination currency notes severely hit the Nepalese economy and premier Prachanda even called up Modi who assured him of efforts to address the problem.

On November 30, the Nepal government registered another bill in Parliament for constitutional amendment to address the demands of the Madhesi parties. The proposed bill aims to redemarcate the provincial boundary.

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The bill also seeks to address three other key issues citizenship, representation in the Upper House and recognition of languages spoken in various parts of the country.

However, the agitating Madhesis said the bill was not satisfactory as it did not fully address their demands, while the main opposition CPN-UML also opposed it.

The prime minister unveiled USD 8 billion post-disaster reconstruction plans for next five years in May. PTI SBP KUN ZH AKJ CPS

--- ENDS ---
Amazon China released its annual list of the most well-read cities in China and named Baotou the most book-loving city in China on Dec 16.

Alongside Baotou, Huaian, Jinhua, Hohhot, Lanzhou, Urumchi, Hefei, Weifang, Wenzhou and Zhengzhou also appear on the list, taking the first 10 places between them. Reading is gaining in popularity throughout lower-tier cities in China, with most of the top 10 cities on the Amazon list being second and third-tier cities.

A teacher monitors students reading in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/wenming.cn]

The most popular books among Baotou residents in 2016 were books concerning English tests and computer exams. Novels including The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Grief Grocery Store by Higashino Keigo, were among the top-selling books.

Baotou, the largest city of North Chinas Inner Mongolia autonomous region, is looking to promote reading among its residents and has successfully hosted the 26th National Book Expo. Starting on July 28, the book expo was attended by delegations and publishers from 44 provinces and cities across China, who brought with them an estimated 200,000 books for one of the greatest events for readers in China.

Attendees at the 26th National Book Expo in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on July 28. The event saw record sales volumes of more than 4 billion yuan ($600 million). [Photo/wenming.cn]

Feng Chuanyou, one of the top readers who received an award at the book expo, expressed his excitement on winning the citys title and said that he was more than happy to witness the popularization of reading in the city.

To make the city more bookish, Baotou has hosted citywide reading festivals for five consecutive years. More than 300 reading activities have been hosted in the city so far, attracting more than 1.5 million residents to participate. Famous authors were invited to give lectures in the city.

Reading is becoming increasingly fashionable in Baotou, with a total of more than 300 reading associations established.

Yu Qiuyu, one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese cultural and literary figures, gives a lecture on Chinese culture in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/wenming.cn]
The National Council of Resistance of Iran published a letter dated December 18, that they wrote. The political prisoners letter follows:

O, Aleppo, we praise your resistance. You the people of Aleppo and the combatants resisted to the last breath without water, bread, food, medicine and medical care or hospitals against Russians heavy bombing and airstrikes and brutal attacks by Assad forces and Iranian regimes mercenaries and sectarian militias.

The cry of the innocence and oppressed people (of Aleppo) and appeal of the hungry women and children for help did not receive any response and the mercenaries of anti-human regime in Iran occupied Aleppo under the umbrella of heavy bombing and airstrikes by Russia. After the occupation, they viciously started killing and executing and intimidating the residents. This is a war crime (and a crime against humanity) that provokes outrage, anger and shame of every human being.

The hearts of Iranian people and Syrian people and combatants are together and one heart because we have a common pain and both nations have suffered lifelong oppression of dictatorships. We have no doubt that what happened in Aleppo will be ruined on the head of Assad regime and this is a historic ambuscade that will finish both regimes in Iran and Syria altogether.

The time and opportunities for both regimes of Iran and Syria have ended and the revolution is alive in both countries, and soon people of both nations with the storm of revolution and popular developments will get rid of both evil regimes.

Ali Moezi and Abolghassem Fouladvand,

Political Prisoners in Gohardasht Prison, Iran

December 18, 2016

A Christian political prisoner incarcerated in Gohardasht prison in Karaj, Ebrahim Firouzi, has written to George Sabra, former President of Syrian National Coalition. He expressed his sympathy, and announced his support for the people of Syria.

The NCRI published part of his letter. In it he says, It is not only me and you but also our nations that are the victims of the aggressive policies of the mullahs regime ruling Iran. We have a common pain and are sympathetic because for the regime of Velayat-e faqih, which is an example of Nazism today, the people of Iran and Syria do not matter and the mullahs would not hesitate to destroy the world in order to satisfy their sense and ambition of dominating the world if they find it necessary.

He also says, The reactionary regime ruling Iran has taken backward the civil societies of our countries and the two nations hope for establishing an advanced and democratic society is the resistance that emerges in us with the power of God.

Also in Karaj, another group of political prisoners have condemned the crimes committed by the Iranian regime and its mercenaries in Syria and expressed their solidarity with people in Aleppo. The NCRI has published parts of their letter as well, it follows here:

Having spent years of our lives in prison, we prisoners are quite familiar with the nature of turning the truth upside down by regimes media, but you could easily find out about the crimes committed in Aleppo even amidst the regimes distorted and censored news.

From inside the prison, we tell the hero of a city, Aleppo, which heroically sustained 15 months of bombing, and to each and every one of our unseen dearest women, men and children of Aleppo: your endurance, fight and resistance despite all its pain and suffering, was a new model for determination to take control of ones destiny which changed the regional and global balance of power, with its signs already emerging and its unbelievable fruits sure to come.

Although we are in captivity and subject to the retaliation by those same people who are killing you, and, ironically, despite being held captive in our own home Iran for the same reason you have been slaughtered at yours, but please accept our sympathy and know that we are standing by your side. The interventions by the so-called Iranian leaders are condemned as war crimes by not only any noble, liberal Iranian, but also by any global citizen.

Looking back at the protests by students and youth in the United States during the Vietnam war as well as the protests held by French students and people against Frances intervention in Algeria, and together with youth in Ahwaz and all the enlightened and courageous Iranian students, we yell from the depths of prison: we are all with you, Aleppo.

Rajaee Shahr Political prisoners, Karaj

Hassan Sadeghiz

Saeid Masouri

Reza Akbari Monfared

Mohammad-Ali Mansouri

Saleh Kohandel

Shahin Zoghitabar
After more than 15 months continuous air raids and a long-lasting inhumane siege, Syrian rebels and civilians sealed an international agreement to depart Syrias once economic and cultural hub, wrote Heshmat Alavi.

The December 26 article added:

In the past few weeks widespread bombing campaigns continued relentlessly on civilian areas. No Aleppo hospital was spared. The IRGC and its foot-soldiers, numbering at the tens of thousands, spearheaded the military of Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in horrific mass executions of innocent people. The United Nations reported 82 individuals, including women and children, were murdered on the spot in the streets and in their homes. God knows how many more incidents have gone unreported.

The amazing perseverance shown by Aleppo locals for years now in the face of atrocious airstrikes and artillery shelling is unprecedented to say the least. Amidst all this, the silence and inaction seen from the West, especially the United States, will remain forever a source of shame.

Conflict of Interests

In the pro-Assad camp there are three decision-makers. First Russia, second Iran, and third the Syrian regime. The role played by Assad and his military in such scenes is next to nothing.

The West and Turkey became frantic for a ceasefire in Aleppo in the early days of the war due to the negative public opinion resulting from shocking crimes. They sought to have the rebels and remaining civilians transferred to other Syrian opposition controlled areas.

On December 13th, Washington and Moscow reached what can be described a ceasefire agreement. Intense negotiations between Turkey and Russia were started afterwards, resulting in an agreement between the Syrian opposition with Russia and Turkey to evacuate Aleppo. Practically, the parties involved in the talks were Aleppo representatives and Russia, hosted by Turkey. All necessary preparations were made to begin evacuating the city from the morning of Wednesday, December 14th.

However, Iran disrupted this agreement and the IRGC hindered the evacuation process. It was crystal clear Russia and Iran were pursuing different objectives and sets of interests. Iran sought not to have Aleppo evacuated but to exterminate all Syrian rebels and civilians.

Twenty-four hours later, pressure from the international community forced the implementation of the Russia-Syrian rebel agreement on December 15th. On the morning of that day the first convoy carrying the wounded exited Aleppo, only to face roadblocks imposed by Iran-backed forces and the Assad military.

Iran raised certain conditions for the evacuation. Russia later threatened to airstrike any party hindering the evacuation, an obvious warning to Iran. Tehran was forced to wind back under Moscow pressure.

As a result, the last phase of this war and the method chosen to evacuate Aleppo was a defeat for Iran and a victory for the Syrian opposition. Especially since the conflict of interest between Iran/Assad and Russia became crystal clear. Politically speaking, Iran has become a secondary party in Syria.

For Putin, a political settlement now makes sense. Staying involved in an ongoing insurgency does not. But for that, he needs the opposition  which is fractured  to accept a political outcome, and there is little prospect of that so long as Assad remains in power, as explained by Dennis Ross, who served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. W. Bush, the special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and was a special adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia (which includes Iran) to the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Is this the end?

The turn of events does not spell the end of the Syrian opposition. The opposition controls large swathes of Syria, with areas over ten times larger than Aleppo and millions of residents. Idlib Province has at a three million strong population; the western coast of the Euphrates in the Turkish border, recently liberated by the Free Syrian Army from Daesh (ISIS/ISIL); large portions of Deraa Province neighboring Jordan; a strategically important section in the north in Latakia Province on the Turkish border; large portions of areas in the Damascus vicinity and large portions in the Aleppo vicinity.

In contrast to Western mainstream media reporting, the Syrian opposition enjoys the capability to rise once again.

Despite all its differences, a comparison made to the Iran-Iraq War may help. In 1986, Iran made significant advances taking control over the Faw peninsula in southern Iraq. Western media and think-tanks all forecasted further advances by Iran and a defeat for Iraq. In 1988 Iran was forced into a U.N.-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Deep divisions between the Syrian nation and the Assad regime have reached the point of no return. Nearly 500,000 have been killed and more than half of the Syrian population displaced. The Syrian nation will never accept the continuation of this regime. Despite sporadic military advances, Assad has no place in Syrias future.

Where Iran stands in Syria

Iran will not be the final victor in Syria.

First  For Iran, it is vital to maintain Assad in power. His fall will mark the end of Irans crusades in Syria. Even if the Syrian opposition becomes weaker, the overall crisis will continue while Assad remains in power. Assad is no longer acceptable in the international stage with an international consensus over his resort to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Second  While Iran is financing and providing the ground forces, in this war, it no longer enjoys the first and final word. Russia calls the shots now with stark differences in interest, as seen in Aleppo.

Trumps America

U.S. President Barack Obamas weak foreign policy, especially the failed engagement with Iran, prolonged the Syrian crisis, allowed Tehran to take advantage, Russia to take the helm and America be sidelined.

Where will developments lead with Donald Trump in the White House? What will be the new U.S. foreign policy vis-a-vis Syria, Iran and the Middle East? How can we define Washingtons relationship with Moscow, and what practical measures will Trump take against Daesh (ISIS/ISIL)? Time will tell.

Good relations between the U.S. and Russia will at least not have a negative impact on the region, and this is good news for the Syrian opposition. Russia has weighable interests in Syria. However, what will Trump do with Iran? Considering Trumps harsh tone on Iran to this day, far more positive outcomes can be forecasted for the Syrian opposition.

Second, Trump and secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson have the potential of eventually convincing Russia to provide concessions. This is not in Irans interests, as Tehran remembers Russia ditching Libyan the dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

Lesson learned in Syria

For 16 years America has failed to adopt a correct policy in the Middle East despite having huge opportunities to make significant changes. The 2003 war literally gift-wrapped Iraq to Iran, parallel to the highly flawed mentality of preferring Shiite fundamentalism to Sunni fundamentalism. This allowed Iran take full advantage of such failures and resulting voids.

Aleppo will be a short-lived success story for Iran. The tides are changing across the globe and Iran will no longer enjoy opportunities from West rapprochement. Understanding this very well, this is exactly why Tehran has resorted to such atrocities and sought to massacre all in Aleppo.

In contrast to how the U.S. handed Iraq in a silver plate to Iran, Russia never entered the Syria mayhem to hand it over to Iran. The roots of Aleppo remain in the hearts of all Syrians. As world powers, especially the U.S. and Russia review their future objectives, Iran will be the first and ultimate party to suffer.
The tens of thousands foot soldiers of the IRGC, spearheaded the Syrian military in mass executions of innocent people, according to Alavi. The United Nations reported 82 individuals, including women and children, were murdered on the spot in the streets and in their homes.

In an article in the American Thinker on December 26, Heshmat Alavi, political journalist and activist, writes about the he intense war that lost Aleppo some weeks ago after a struggle with a lame-duck Syrian army of less than 20,000 deployable forces , backed up by Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and its proxy forces on the ground, as well as Russia with its indiscriminate air strikes.

Alavi writes, The amazing perseverance shown by Aleppo locals for years now in the face of atrocious airstrikes and artillery shelling is unprecedented to say the least. Amidst all this, the silence and inaction seen from the West, especially the United States, will remain forever a source of shame. He adds, In the pro-Assad camp there are three decision-makers. First Russia, second Iran, and third the Syrian regime. The role played by Assad and his military in such scenes is next to nothing.

The people of the world hoped for a ceasefire in Aleppo in the early days of the war because of the shocking crimes, and wanted to have the rebels and remaining civilians transferred to other opposition-controlled areas.

Washington and Moscow reached what can be described a ceasefire agreement on December 13th. Negotiations between Turkey and Russia began soon after, and resulted in an agreement to evacuate Aleppo. Alavi writes, Practically, the parties involved in the talks were Aleppo representatives and Russia, hosted by Turkey. All necessary preparations were made to begin evacuating the city from the morning of Wednesday, December 14th.

The agreement was breached by Iran and the IRGC disrupted the evacuation process. Iran sought not to have Aleppo evacuated but to exterminate all Syrian rebels and civilians.

Pressure from the international community forced implementation of the Russia-Syrian rebel agreement twenty-four hours later, on December 15th, when the first convoy carrying the wounded exited Aleppo, only to face roadblocks imposed by Iran-backed forces and the Assad military.

While Iran raised conditions for the evacuation, Russia threatened to airstrike any party hindering the evacuation. Tehran was forced to bend to Moscows pressure, resulting in a defeat for Iran, and a victory for the Syrian opposition.

Alavi writes, Politically speaking, Iran has become a secondary party in Syria.

For Putin, a political settlement now makes sense. Staying involved in an ongoing insurgency does not. But for that, he needs the opposition  which is fractured  to accept a political outcome, and there is little prospect of that so long as Assad remains in power, as explained by Dennis Ross, who served as the Director of Policy Planning in the State Department under President George H. W. Bush, the special Middle East coordinator under President Bill Clinton, and was a special adviser for the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia (which includes Iran) to the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

This is not the end of the Syrian opposition. It still controls large swathes of Syria, with areas over ten times larger than Aleppo and millions of residents. Idlib Province has a population of three million; the western coast of the Euphrates in the Turkish border, recently liberated by the Free Syrian Army from Daesh (ISIS/ISIL); large portions of Deraa Province neighboring Jordan; a strategically important section in the north in Latakia Province on the Turkish border; large portions of areas in the Damascus vicinity and large portions in the Aleppo vicinity.

Western mainstream media reporting aside, the Syrian opposition has the capability to rise once again.

Divisions between the Syrian people and the Assad regime have reached the point of no return. Nearly 500,000 have been killed and more than half of the Syrian population displaced. According to Alavi, the Syrian nation will never accept the continuation of this regime.

What ever Iran believes, it will most likely not be the final victor in Syria.

In the first place, for Iran, it is vital to maintain Assad in power. His fall will be the end of Iran in Syria. Should the Syrian opposition become weaker, the crisis will continue while Assad remains in power. Additionally, Assad is not acceptable to the international community because of his crimes against humanity.

Secondly, while Iran is financing and providing the ground forces, Russia is calling the shots and has differences in interest. The foreign policy of U.S. President Barack Obama allowed Tehran to take advantage and prolong the Syrian crisis, while Russia took the helm and America was sidelined. With Donald Trump in the White House, there may be a very different U.S. foreign policy regarding Syria, Iran and the Middle East.

Russia has interests in Syria, but Trumps view toward Iran and the nuclear deal, are uncertain. A good relationship between the U.S. and Russia will not have a negative impact on the region, and this is good news for the Syrian opposition.

Theres a great possibility of Trump and his secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson eventually convincing Russia to provide concessions. Alavi says, This is not in Irans interests, as Tehran remembers Russia ditching Libyan the dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

For 16 years America has failed with their Middle East policy despite opportunities to make significant changes. The 2003 war literally gift-wrapped Iraq to Iran, parallel to the highly flawed mentality of preferring Shiite fundamentalism to Sunni fundamentalism. This allowed Iran take full advantage of such failures and resulting voids, Alavi writes, adding, Aleppo will be a short-lived success story for Iran. The tides are changing across the globe and Iran will no longer enjoy opportunities from West rapprochement. Understanding this very well, this is exactly why Tehran has resorted to such atrocities and sought to massacre all in Aleppo.

In contrast to how the U.S. handled Iraq, Russia left the roots of Aleppo in the hearts of the Syrians. As world powers, especially the U.S. and Russia, review their future objectives, Alavi believes that Iran will be the first and ultimate party to suffer.
This is rich: Frequently anonymous source blasts Beacon's Kredo for using anonymous sources

Meanwhile, the Washington Free Beacon's Adam Kredo blames it on the Americans, saying that the White House has had a secret campaign to scapegoat Israel for the 'talks' failure.



Multiple sources told the Washington Free Beacon that top Obama administration officials have worked for the past several days to manufacture a crisis over the reissuing of housing permits in a Jerusalem neighborhood widely acknowledged as Israeli territory. Senior State Department officials based in Israel have sought to lay the groundwork for Israel to take the blame for talks collapsing by peddling a narrative to the Israeli press claiming that the Palestinians were outraged over Israeli settlements, the Free Beacon has learned. These administration officials have planted several stories in Israeli and U.S. newspapers blaming Israel for the collapse of peace talks and have additionally provided reporters with anonymous quotes slamming the Israeli government. The primary source of these multiple reports has been identified as Middle East envoy Martin Indyk and his staff, according to these insiders, who said that the secret media campaign against Israel paved the way for Secretary of State John Kerry to go before Congress on Tuesday and publicly blame Israel for tanking the talks. The Palestinians didnt even know they were supposed to be abandoning negotiations because of these housing permits, which are actually old, reissued permits for areas everyone assumes will end up on the Israelis side of the border anyway, said one senior official at a U.S. based pro-Israel organization who asked to remain anonymous because the Obama administration has in the past retaliated against critics from inside the pro-Israel world. Then Martin Indyk started telling anyone who would listen that in fact the Palestinians were angry over the housing issue, the source said. Eventually, the Palestinians figured out it was in their interest to echo what the Americans were saying. We've known for a long time what a shmuck Indyk is, haven't we? He's also a member of the board of the New Israel Fund. Back to Kredo.

One former Israeli diplomat familiar with Indyks tactics said that he is a crass political player who has a history of planting negative stories about Israel in order to undermine the Netanyahu government and bolster his hand in the talks. Ive seen this before and see his fingerprints, said the source, who referenced a separate story two weeks ago in which U.S. government sources implied that newly installed Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer was not performing his job effectively. Its certainly in Indyks interest now [to undermine the Israelis], but this was a game he also used to play when he was ambassador twice, said the former diplomat. This is part of Indyks playbook. There was only one person who would do this kind of thing and its Martin Indyk and his staff, the former diplomat added. Another Washington-based source familiar with the talks said that Kerrys peace team has a track record of trashing Israel anonymously. Its one of the worst-kept secrets in Jerusalem that Kerrys team leaks anti-Netanyahu quotes and claims to the Israeli pressnot that is should be a mystery why Israeli reporters based in Israel keep producing anti-Bibi quotes from American officials, the source said. But just imagine the outrage if the roles were reversed and Bibi had a team on the ground in D.C. trashing Obama to the Washington Post on background, the source said.

Martin Indyk is going to resign from the leadership of the Obama-Kerry State Department's 'negotiating team' for the 'peace process' after being exposed as the source for Nachum Barnea's YNet story blaming Israel for the failure of the 'peace talks.'



The Israeli daily Haaretz reported that Indyk is considering resigning in light of President Barack Obamas intention to suspend US involvement in seeking a negotiated end to the conflict, citing unnamed Israeli officials who are close to the matter. Indyk has informed the Brookings Institute that he will soon return to his vice president post, from which he took a leave of absence during the negotiations, Haaretz reported. It also said Indyk is being identified in Jerusalem as the anonymous source in a report by Yedioth Aharonoth columnist Nahum Barnea on Friday in which unnamed American officials primarily blamed Israel for the failure of the peace talks. There are a lot of reasons for the peace efforts failure, but people in Israel shouldnt ignore the bitter truth  the primary sabotage came from the settlements, the official told Barnea. He's a bitter old man, isn't he?

US chief Middle East negotiator bottle washer Martin Indyk went on a 30-minute anti-Israel rant at a Washington bar on Thursday night just before meeting with former Defense Minister and Prime Minister Ehud Barak.



Indykwho has been identified by the Washington Free Beacon as the source of a recent series of anonymous quotes in the press condemning Israelwas caught openly lashing out at Israel over drinks with several members of his staff and wife, Gahl Burt.



The conversation took place in the hotel bar at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursday night, shortly after Indyk finished delivering remarks at the Washington Institute for Near East Policys (WINEP) annual gala.



While Indyk was critical of Israel in his public remarks, he and his staff are said to have let loose on the Jewish state over drinks before Indyk was scheduled to meet with former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.



The tone was nasty, according to the source who overheard the conversation.



Indyk and his staff openly blamed conservative Israeli politician Naftali Bennett and others for sabotaging the [peace] negotiations by issuing permits for new Israeli housing blocks in Jerusalem.



In the 30 minute conversation, no one at the table mentioned a single wrong thing the Palestinians had done, according to the source who overheard the conversation. There was no self-criticism whatsoever.



Indyks staff also weighed in on the peace process, saying that while the press may believe that peace negotiations broke down over Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas unilateral bid for statehood at the United Nations, they knew the truth and that [talks had broken down] way before that due to settlements, according to the source.



The staff relished how critical Indyk was of Israel in public speech, the source said. They laughed about it.



Indyk also took aim at WINEP executive director Rob Satloff, who had moderated a question-and-answer session with Indyk earlier in the evening.



Indyk was incredulous that Satloff had offered an alternate explanation of the settlement issue, one that applied less blame to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Indyk told his crew that Satloffs explanation was just false and that no one he knows believes it.



The conversation then turned to Israels treatment of the Palestinians, according to the source, who additionally provided a hand-drawn map of the bar area pinpointing Indyks location. Indyk did not respond to emails requesting comments, and the State Department is denying that the conversation took place. But there are far too many details in this story.



On Monday, Martin Indyk took to Twitter (which is not just a tool of the Trump campaign) to blast the Washington Free Beacon's Adam Kredo for using anonymous sources to attack Vice President Joe Biden for pressuring Ukraine to vote against Israel in last Friday's Security Council vote on 'settlements.'Typical 'liberal' that he is, Indyk maintains a double standard: When he's the anonymous source, he wants to be protected, but when someone else uses an anonymous source, that's not okay.Here are a couple of the instances in which it's come out over the last few years that Martin Indyk, now head of the Brookings Institution, which took $14 million from Qatar , and formerly US ambassador to Israel, has been caught being an anonymous source.In May 2014, Indyk went on a drunken tirade blaming Israel for the talks' collapse.Oh, by the way, in his younger days, Indyk was known as Arafat's yes-man , and the 'Palestinians' continually sought his participation in the last round of talks against Israeli opposition.Thankfully, he is unlikely to play any role in a Trump administration. Good riddance.

Labels: Martin Indyk, Middle East peace process, two-state solution
[December 26, 2016] iEx.ec Blockchain Cloud Computing Platform Releases Its Whitepaper







LYON, France, Dec. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- iEx.ec has released the very first version of its whitepaper showcasing the future of Internet. The document offers a detailed description of iEx.ec's vision, the market, development roadmap and the upcoming crowd sale of its tokens scheduled for January 17, 2017. iEx.ec which stands for "I Execute" is a French/Chinese company headquartered in Lyon, France with an office provided by Tsinghua University X-elerator. The platform was first introduced at the Ethereum Devcon2 conference held in Shanghai, China in September 2016. The team also successfully showcased a demo of the platform at the Super Computing Exhibition 2016 held in Salt Lake City, USA. With the platform, iEx.ec aims to provide blockchain based distributed applications a scalable, secure and easy access to the computing resources required for their execution. It uses the blockchain to organize a market network where everyone can monetize their servers, applications, and data-sets. This technology extends the Ethereum smart contracts allowing the creation of virtual Cloud infrastructure that provides High-Performance Computing (HPC) services on-demand. iEx.ec leverages a set of research technologies that have been developed at the INRIA and CNRS research institutes in the field f Distributed and Parallel computing. iEx.ec relies on XtremWeb-HEP, a mature, solid, and open-source software which implements all the needed features viz. fault-tolerance, multi-applications, multi-users, hybrid public/private infrastructure, deployment of virtual images, data management, security and accountability, and more.



The new Proof-of-Contribution protocol being developed by iEx.ec allows off-chain consensus. With the Proof-of-Contribution protocol, external resource providers can have their resource usage certified directly on the Blockchain. iEx.ec aims to deploy a scalable, high-performance, secure and manageable infrastructure sidechain that will promote a new form of distributed governance, implying key HPC, Big Data, and Cloud industry leaders. The team believes in a future of decentralized infrastructure and market network, where Big Data, HPC, IoT, and AI applications, highly valued datasets, and computing resources (storage, CPU, GPU etc.) will be monetized on the Blockchain with the highest level of transparency, resiliency, and security. iEx.ec will be the key platform powering this future.

About iEx.ec iEx.ec is a follow-up to the CloudPower project, which was supported by the French National Research Agency (French), the University of Lyon, the French National Institute for Research in Computer Science (INRIA), the University of Paris XI, and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Learn more about iEx.ec at  http://iex.ec

iEx.ec on YouTube  https://youtu.be/kUM0qR2cmZY Media Contact Contact Name: Gilles Fedak

Contact Email: [email protected]

Contact Phone: 33630905448

Location: Lyon, France iEX.ec is the source of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. Related Links Bitcoin PR Buzz iEx.ec Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUM0qR2cmZY 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/iexec-blockchain-cloud-computing-platform-releases-its-whitepaper-300383566.html SOURCE iEx.ec

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[December 27, 2016] Unium Launches New Home WiFi Software Solution- Alphabet's Access Team Explores as Others Adopt

SEATTLE, Dec. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unium launches today in Seattle with a software solution that improves WiFi performance in the home. Home environments have multiple complexities that interfere with WiFi performance for consumers. Our software addresses these complexities without the need for you to purchase additional hardware. Unium software deploys, extends and optimizes your WiFi ensuring that your network is fast, reliable and frustration-free. "Like many people, we had difficulties with the WiFi in our homes including dead spots, buffering of movies, and music that stopped mid-song. In 2013, we decided to solve these problems based on our decade of experience working with the U.S. Department of Defense to solve their wireless and security problems. People deserve better WiFi," says John Stachowiak, CEO of Unium. "That's the mentality that Google Fiber and our other customers have, too." More than 50% of people report having issues with their home WiFi1 and the issues will incease as more devices connect to the internet. Unium solves issues such as slow spots or dead spots in the home with software that helps customers position their devices, creates a secure mesh network, and steers devices to their optimal path back to the internet. This ensures that consumers have the Wifi they deserve.



"Unium will be a driver in creating better connected home experiences," says Riley Eller, CTO of Unium. Unium software works with the same open standards that have made wireless internet possible, and will work across a variety of wireless chipsets, processors and operating systems to improve whole home WiFi. The software was created for embedded and low power applications so it uses minimal CPU and RAM. It provides network-wide configuration management, mesh-range extension and steering of clients to the optimal path back to the internet. Unium software is available to license by feature or as an all-in-one package.

"Software is the future of WiFi," says Martha Bejar, who joined the Unium Board on December 16th. "I've been in the networking and telecommunications industry for more than two decades and saw it transform both industries. Unium will revolutionize the home network as well." Unium will announce a full slate of partners as new devices launch with Unium in the coming months. For more information, go to: www.UniumWiFi.com. Unium (formerly CoCo Communications) is a privately-held company located in Seattle, whose mission is to give you the WiFi you deserve. 1 The Home Network, IDC. https://www.linksys.com/resources/img/features/ea8500/The_Home_Internet_Network_IDC_Brief.PDF Media Contact:

Kristina Libby

[email protected]

207-215-4031 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unium-launches-new-home-wifi-software-solution--alphabets-access-team-explores-as-others-adopt-300383494.html SOURCE Unium

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EFFINGHAM -- HSHS St. Anthonys Foundation is excited to invite you to their Glow-Inga event set for Jan. 14 at the Keller Convention Center.

This event features glow-in-the-dark hats, card dabbers and lots of fun, music and games to go with it. There will be a 50/50 game, concessions, and raffles that evening as well. Special thanks go to Event Sponsor, Dave Roepke Painting, for helping make Glow-Inga 2017 possible/

Proceeds from this event will support the HSHS St. Anthonys Mother/Baby program and HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois. The Mother/Baby program offers a free visit to mom and baby in their home after delivery. A registered nurse visits as a complimentary extension of the hospital stay and checks the patient's physical condition, talks about breast or bottle feeding, provides any advice on care for the newborn and answers any questions or concerns.

The HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois service offers supportive and compassionate care that can bring peace, comfort, and dignity to a patient on those last days of life.

Advanced tickets for this event are available for $25 per person. This includes 10 cards, glow dabber, and glow hat. Additional cards are available for purchase at the event. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Glow-Inga starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets are limited. For ticket information, call or text 217-994-3158 (special dedicated number just for Glow-Inga event) or email Glow-INGA2017@hshs.org. A ticket order form is also available at stanthonyshospital.org  Select Events & Classes, and search for Glow.
The world faces the prospect of more tension with China over trade, security and human rights after Xi Jinping awarded himself another five-year term as leader of the ruling Communist Party and called for self-reliance in technology, a stronger military and protection of core interests abroad. At a party congress, Xi gave no sign of plans to change the "zero-COVID strategy that has frustrated Chinas public and disrupted business and trade. He called for faster military development and announced no change in policies that strain relations with Washington and Asian neighbors. Xi is tightening control at home and trying to use Chinas economic heft to increase its influence abroad.
SPRINGFIELD  Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly may not have approved a full years budget in 2016, but they did manage to agree on nearly 200 laws that go into effect when the new year begins.

Heres a look at 17 new Illinois laws for 2017:

1. Battling opioid and heroin addiction

Following up on landmark legislation from 2015, lawmakers passed two measures aimed addressing the states opioid and heroin addiction crisis. One allows drug court participants to use medication-based addiction treatments. The other requires licensed substance abuse programs to provide educational information on medication-based treatments and the use of anti-overdose drugs.

2. Declaring a state artifact

Illinois has a state animal (white-tailed deer), state bird (cardinal) and even a state pie (pumpkin), but it hasnt had an official state artifact until now. Welcome the pirogue, a type of wooden canoe made from a hollowed-out tree.

3. Prohibiting bath salts sales

It is now a Class 3 felony, publishable by a fine of up to $150,000, to sell or offer for sale synthetic stimulants commonly known as bath salts, among other nicknames. The state law, sponsored by Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, and Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, also lets local governments revoke the licenses of retailers who are convicted of violations.

4. Protecting workers online privacy

A 2013 law made Illinois the second state to prohibit employers or prospective employers from requiring employees or applicants to disclose usernames and passwords for social media accounts. A new law broadens that protection to any personal online account and prohibits employers from disciplining employees or declining to hire applicants for refusing to provide that information.

5. Allowing emergency personnel to inject epinephrine

All trained emergency medical technicians in Illinois will now be able to treat severe allergic reactions with epinephrine injected through a syringe rather than with costlier autoinjectors, better known as EpiPens. Sponsored by Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, the law comes as the maker of the EpiPen is facing a public outcry and federal scrutiny over dramatic price increases.

6. Tracking down life insurance beneficiaries

Life insurances companies are now required to check Social Security records to identify policyholders whove died but whose benefits have gone unclaimed by their survivors. The law, which Democratic Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs backed, was a response to audits that identified more than $550 million in benefits that have gone unpaid since 2011.

7. Extending the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits

Known collectively as Mollys Law, a pair of measures extends to five years from two years the statute of limitations for bringing wrongful death lawsuits when someone is the victim of violent intentional conduct and strengthens penalties for public bodies that violate the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The law, sponsored by Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, is named for Molly Young, a 21-year-old who was fatally shot in 2012 in the apartment of her boyfriend, who was then a Carbondale police dispatcher.

8. Requiring lawyers for minors in homicide investigations

Law enforcement officials are now barred from interrogating children younger than 15 without an attorney present when investigating homicides and certain sex crimes. The law previously applied to children younger than 13. The new law also simplifies the notice of rights that officers must read to all minors and expands the requirement for videotaping interrogations of minors.

9. Training cosmetologists to spot abuse

Licensed cosmetologists will now receive training to spot domestic and sexual abuse as part of their continuing education requirements. Illinois is believed to be the first state to pass such a law. While cosmetologist wont be required to report abuse, supporters say theyre in a good position to identify it and offer help to victims.

10. Repealing the tax on tampons

The so-called tampon tax is no more in Illinois. A new law exempts tampons, menstrual pads and menstrual cups from the 6.25 percent statewide sales tax, which applies to nonessential items like soft drinks, candy and grooming products.

11. Providing homes for retired police dogs

Police K-9 officers will have first crack at adopting their four-legged partners when the dogs retire. If the officer doesnt wish to adopt a dog, another officer or employee can, or the dog can be offered to a nonprofit organization or no-kill animal shelter.

12. Prohibiting low-wage noncompete agreements

Passed in response to Jimmy Johns having restaurant employees sign agreements barring them from taking jobs at other sandwich chains, the new law prohibits such agreements for workers who earn $13 an hour or less. Jimmy Johns settled a lawsuit with the Illinois attorney generals office by agreeing to stop using the agreements, which the company says it didnt enforce.

13. Creating flexibility for sick days

Illinois employers now will be required to let employees use up to half of their paid sick days to care for family members, including children, spouses, siblings, parents, parents-in-law, grandchildren, grandparents or stepparents.

14. Protecting against high lead levels

In the wake of the crisis over lead-contaminated water in Flint, Mich., Illinois passed a law requiring property owners to address high lead levels before selling a building or renewing a lease. The law applies to residential buildings and child care facilities regulated by the states Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.

15. Requiring information on abortion

An update to the states Health Care Right of Conscience Act requires medical providers to give patients information on procedures such as abortion if patients request it, regardless of a providers religious objections. However, the law is facing a First Amendment challenge from a group of northern Illinois clinics.

16. Relaxing regulation for yoga schools

A new law clarifies that schools or programs that teach yoga or train yoga instructors arent required to obtain licenses from the Illinois Board of Higher Education. The law was passed in response to the board telling some yoga teacher training programs that they needed to be licensed as vocational schools.

17. Targeting catfish

A measure sponsored by Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, adds catfish to the list of fish that can be caught using pitchforks, underwater spear guns, or bows and arrows. That list already includes carp, buffalo, suckers, gar, bowfin, shad and drum.
(TCO-PSFR-GS6-86367)

Vacancy No. EAPRO/TCO-VA-2016/73-2

Job Level : GS-6

Duty Station: Thailand Country Office, Bangkok

Position No. : 86367

Application Close: 19 February 2017

Contract Type : Fixed-Term

Purpose of the Position

Under the supervision of Fundraising Specialist, the incumbent will assist in developing the donor retention strategic plan and implementing donor-centric communication programmes. With a focus on telephone marketing and new media, the objective is to better engage donors so they continue making regular donations, stay committed, make a larger gift, renew their regular donations, convert to become regular giving donors and build loyalty. The incumbent will manage the day-to-day operation both in-house and outsourced contractors to ensure optimum delivery of services.

Major Responsibilities

1. Support in the development and execution of the private sector fundraising strategic plan

Assist in developing donor retention and loyalty strategic plan and implementing donor-centric communication programmes with a focus on using telephone marketing and new media as a means to better engage with donors so that they continue making regular giving donation, staying committed, making a larger gift, renewing their regular giving donations, converting to become a regular giving donor and are saved from becoming an unintentional lapse donor created by dishonored payments due to change in the account details, expired credit card, lost/stolen/frozen cards and/or insufficient funds through a proactive follow-up system and increase of rebilling attempts, and managing and monitoring the performance of both in-house and outsourced contractors to ensure a delivery of excellent services in the area of data collection, gift processing, credit card/direct debit bank submission/collection and call center services.

Provide overall administrative support to the team, including arranging meetings and drafting related minutes, maintaining the filing system, etc.

2. Support the monitoring of programme results and report on progress

Provide support on the evaluation of the performance of each activity, including analysis of income, expenditure and return on investment (ROI) and progress against budgets.

3. Support in Knowledge Management and capacity building

Research, analyze, verify and synthesize information on best practices and lessons learnt to support knowledge development and capacity building in the area of work

Support capacity development activities through training and product knowledge briefing to improve performance of in-house and outsourced teams.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 More Of The Same: Latest Population Stats Confirm The Great Stagnation Continues, Plus: ABQ Crime Wave Rolls On As Mayoral Campaign Nears



For the year that ended July 1, 2016 the states population grew by 687, or 0.04 percent, according to the U.S Census Bureau. . . In the 12 months that ended July 1, the states net outmigration totaled 7,111, meaning that many more people left the state than came to it. . . The only reason New Mexicos population grew was that births far outnumbered deaths. New Mexicos dismal population growth rate was the 42nd lowest in the nation, and the lowest in the region.



If there was any good news in the Census data for New Mexico it was that the population actually grew. The state lost population in 2014 and 2015. . In the past six years, the state has had a net outmigration of 37,780 people.



That's one big brain drain we've experienced. How slow has population growth been here? On April 1, 2010 the Census Bureau estimate put the state''s population at 2,059,198. Today--nearly seven years later--we are barely above that at 2,081,015. Are there any visible reasons the state's population will spike in the new year ahead? Not any we can see.



ALL CRIME ALL THE TIME



The ongoing crime wave in the ABQ metro is one reason folks find moving here an increasingly unattractive option and moving out increasingly attractive. And like the energizer bunny it just keeps going and going. Reader Mike McMillan can attest to that:



Hi Joe, I enjoy reading your blog from Silver City. My family and I are in Albuquerque for the holiday. Knowing the high crime rate, we removed all shopping bags from our car and took them into our hotel (near the Airport) for the evening. When we went downstairs the next morning we learned 6 vehicles that were parked right in front of the hotel had their windows busted and contents stolen. Mostly Christmas gifts were stolen from travelers en route to see family. So sad to see this crime wave continue, even right in front of a well-lit and nice hotel parking lot.



One of the front desk staff said the hotel across the street witnessed the break ins and notified our hotel which called the police but it took an hour for an officer to respond.



And there's this new kind of crime becoming



Mail problems have become such an issue in one Northeast Heights community that neighbors say the postal service has stopped delivering mail. Its happening near Alameda and Louisiana, and the people who live there say their cluster box has been broken into again and again. Gaylene Gonzales says back in September she and her neighbors started opening their boxes to find nothing. So, Gonzales tracked down her mail carrier. A postman was held up, and they stole the master key," she was told. The community finally got a letter from the post office telling them the case is under investigation. Then, a few weeks later the thieves came back. They took a crow bar and went to the back of the mailboxes and busted them open,she said.



It's confounding how the ABQ community seems to have given a pass to Mayor Berry and the city council as this crime wave continues unabated amid a severely understaffed police force. But there is a mayoral election that begins next month and it gives the city a chance to reset its expectations--something that will have to be done if ABQ is to thrive--not just survive.



MISSING QUESTION



A lengthy



This is the home of New Mexico politics.







Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.



( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2016 The chile is great, the weather is often delightful and what a great place to celebrate the holidays. But that and many other positive aspects of our Land of Enchantment simply can't compete with the long-term economic and social conditions crisis that has engulfed the state. The latest on the Great Stagnation:That's one big brain drain we've experienced. How slow has population growth been here? On April 1, 2010 the Census Bureau estimate put the state''s population at 2,059,198. Today--nearly seven years later--we are barely above that at 2,081,015. Are there any visible reasons the state's population will spike in the new year ahead? Not any we can see.The ongoing crime wave in the ABQ metro is one reason folks find moving here an increasingly unattractive option and moving out increasingly attractive. And like the energizer bunny it just keeps going and going. Reader Mike McMillan can attest to that:And there's this new kind of crime becoming more common in the metro:It's confounding how the ABQ community seems to have given a pass to Mayor Berry and the city council as this crime wave continues unabated amid a severely understaffed police force. But there is a mayoral election that begins next month and it gives the city a chance to reset its expectations--something that will have to be done if ABQ is to thrive--not just survive.A lengthy exit interview with ousted UNM President Bob Frank and not one mention of the political influence wielded at UNM by the sitting governor through her loyal regents and how that played a role in his eventual demise? How's that going to improve the future at UNM? Come on, man.This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)
An effort to crack open the U.S. Constitution and install new restraints on the federal government will return to the Nebraska Legislature next year.

State Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete says she'll bring back a proposal for this state to join a call for a convention of states to consider constitutional amendments restricting federal spending and power, and limiting terms for federal officeholders.

At a simulated convention held in September, delegates proposed abolishing the federal income tax, requiring a supermajority of Congress to approve any new federal debt, and enabling one-quarter of either house of Congress to force a vote on any new federal regulation.

Supporters say a real convention of states  which would be a first in U.S. history  would provide a long-needed check on federal authority.

Donald Trump's victory in the presidential race and Republican majorities in Congress haven't lessened the desire by some to limit federal power and spending, said Ebke, who ran for office as a Republican but has since registered as a Libertarian.

"There is a growing sense in the public that regardless of who's in the White House, that's not going to fix all of our problems," she said.

Opponents argue the convention process isn't defined well enough to prevent it from spiraling out of control, with diverging interests trying to alter other portions of the Constitution.

"People don't understand what's at stake," said Renee Fry, executive director of OpenSky Policy Institute, a Lincoln-based think-tank.

Eight state legislatures have already passed similar applications for a convention of states; 34 must do so for a convention to take place, although the applications have no expiration date.

If a convention is held, any proposed constitutional amendments must then be ratified by legislatures or state-level conventions in three-fourths of the states. The process is outlined in Article V of the Constitution.

Ebke introduced a similar proposal in 2015, which was briefly debated by the full Legislature this year before being returned to committee and removed from the legislative agenda.

This time, Ebke said, "We may have more voices ready to say something."

Ten senators cosigned the previous resolution (LR35), but she expects to have a "significant number" of new cosponsors in the upcoming legislative session, which starts Jan. 4.

She and two supporters  Sens. Curt Friesen of Henderson and Brett Lindstrom of Omaha  took part in September's simulated convention of states in Williamsburg, Virginia.

They didn't wear tricorn hats, but the three Nebraskans at one point followed a fife and drum corps through Colonial Williamsburg, and heard speeches by actors portraying James Madison, who is considered the father of the Constitution, and Patrick Henry, another founding father who famously coined the words, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

Despite the Revolutionary flare, Ebke said technology and the expectation of transparency would make a modern convention more accountable than when the Constitution was born in 1787.

That founding document was drafted in Philadelphia's Independence Hall with doors locked and windows shuttered.

"That's not going to happen this time," Ebke said. "You do something like this, everything's going to be televised, everything's going to be live-streamed, every delegate's going to have their cellphone and be tweeting."

Fry called the idea concerning, if proposals that advanced from the simulated convention are any indicator.

She said restricting federal debt would hinder the government's ability to weather a recession without raising taxes, and eliminating the income tax would wipe out 47 percent of federal revenue.

"They wanted a simulation to show that it wouldn't be a runaway convention, and what they did would have decimated our economy," she said. "There's a lot at stake for Nebraskans."

That includes millions of federal dollars funneled into this state for rural schools, hospitals and broadband Internet access, as well as funding for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans assistance and other public benefits, Fry said.

Limiting federal power could also mean "taking an eraser" to constitutionally protected voting rights or eliminating avenues for help if those rights are violated, said Bri McLarty, director of voting rights at the nonprofit Nebraskans for Civic Reform.

McLarty said Ebke's proposal "flew under the radar" last legislative session. Next year, "if it gets out of committee, it will be a big battle."

Vernon Kirk, a clinical psychologist from Gering who supports Ebke's proposal, said the requirement that three-fourths of states ratify any proposed amendments is a good safeguard, essentially ensuring veto power for any 12 states.

The federal government existed for decades without an income tax, Kirk said, and no matter which major political party is in power, it "still gets bigger and more bloated."

Supporters also see a convention of states as the most effective way to dial back the national debt, which is approaching $20 trillion.

Kirk said the only other way to cut the debt is through Congress. However, "the chance of that is zero because they're really happy with their out-of-control spending."

He also supports amendments to limit U.S. Supreme Court power and grant more regulatory authority to the states.

"It's necessary because our federal government is out of control."
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The headlines in the Lincoln Daily Star more than 110 years ago heralded the heroics of a now ordinary piece of firefighting equipment.

"Smoke Helmet Was Useful"

"The Damage at Harpham's Building was Held in Check in a Novel Manner"

On Nov. 5, 1906, a fire broke out in the saddle factory's wholesale warehouse at Eighth and P streets. The building is now home to businesses including Vincenzo's Ristorante and The Tavern.

"Chief (Horace) Clement saw that the situation was a dangerous one," the article read. "Smoke was pouring up the elevator shaft and driving out the occupants of the top floors of the building."

An all-service gas mask made for miners but adopted by firefighters at the time helped them get into the furnace room and put out the blaze, which caused the 2016 equivalent of $500,000 damage.

Until the helmet arrived in the early 1900s, Lincoln's firefighters grew and groomed their own smoke protection.

"(Early) firefighters -- one of the reasons they had big beards, mustaches and things like that was to filter smoke, their snot and that other stuff," said Lincoln Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Tim Linke.

Then came the smoke helmet, put to use for the first time that November morning to fight a fire started by scraps of waste leather stored too close to the furnace.

The helmet cost the city $150 at the time, the 2016 equivalent of almost $3,800.

The burning leather gave out a smothering, suffocating smoke, the article read.

Using the helmet, two firemen alternated fighting the blaze. The helmet protected their eyes and nostrils as air was pumped in from outside using a bellows. A speaking tube allowed for communication.

"Chief Clement this morning declared that the smoke helmet saved the day," the 1906 story said. "Without it, the firemen would have been handicapped and, perhaps, life would have been lost."

A disabled resident unable to make it out of the building when the fire broke out waited it out on the roof, the article said.

Although the helmet was the hero that day, firefighters neglected to use it over the years, said Linke and fellow Battalion Chief Eric Jones.

Each rig might have had one smoke helmet, "but nobody touched it," Jones said.

Those who used breathing equipment were seen as weaker firefighters by their peers, he said.

Jones, who started in 1994, remembers the time an older fire captain tapped him on the shoulder while he was looking for fire amid heavy smoke and directed him to the blaze.

"When it was crystal clear (inside), you realized this guy doesn't have a mask on," Jones said.

"And we're wearing everything," Linke said.

Jones and Linke consider themselves lucky they started their careers in the 1990s as the profession moved toward mandated use of so-called self-contained breathing apparatus.

"With our air masks on, we still have twice the cancer rate (than) normal people," Jones said.

Earlier this year, a Lincoln firefighter died of cancer believed to be caused by years of exposure to smoke, they said.

Protective clothing can continue to give off harmful chemicals absorbed during a fire after the crew returns to the station, Jones said. They're supposed to shower after a fire and swap out their gear so the dirty gear can be professionally cleaned, Jones said.

Cancer-causing chemicals aren't the only danger in the smoke, they said.

An increase in the use of synthetic materials in buildings today has made the smoke itself fuel for fire, Jones said.

"All smoke is bad for you," he said. "But the smoke today is much, much, much worse, and we're finding that the smoke itself is so volatile that it's flammable."

In a recent fire, smoke coming out of a door in a home ignited and sent flames into the room, he said.

"It's like we're walking into a house full of natural gas now," Jones said. "You just never know when it's going to kick off."

Since 1906, the city's firefighters have continued to employ new equipment that allows them to more aggressively extinguish blazes.

Lincoln Fire and Rescue's high-tech breathing masks make communicating amid chaos easier and the job safer.

In addition to protecting firefighters' lungs, masks used in the latter half of the decade amplified communication. Until LFR got its latest gear, fire crews often relied on hand signals to communicate.

A $1.3 million federal grant helped LFR replace 15-year-old masks last year with new ones that pair with their radios.

The new gear also has integrated safety alert devices firefighters used to wear on their hips like large beepers. The devices turn on automatically when firefighters use their oxygen masks.

The new masks also show crews and fire commanders how much air they have left. Commanders can call out firefighters with low oxygen levels to refill their tanks.

Jones and Linke believe new safety measures will include thermal imaging displays inside the mask and computer displays that track firefighter locations in 3-D.

That technology exists now, but it's too bulky and expensive, they said.

And commanders worry too much technology could give firefighters sensory overload.

They train to ensure crews aren't so reliant on technology they lose their ability to do the job, they said.

"You could be 20, 30 feet into a burning house and everything goes haywire and all you have is the air you breathe and the hose in your hands and you've got to know how to either get out or continue to advance," Linke said.
Lincoln police are investigating what a 22-month-old boy did while he was missing from a babysitter's house for five hours on Tuesday.

The boy was found wandering alone with his blanket, disheveled and dirty, in the 1200 block of Court Street, Capt. Bob Farber said.

Though he was exposed to temperatures in the 40s, the boy was cleared by medics and returned to his family.

"By all accounts, the child was fine, Farber said.

A babysitter last saw the boy around 8:30 a.m. when he was placed in a play pen at a home in the 1100 block of New Hampshire Street, about two blocks from where he was found.

Investigators were still looking into why the boy wasn't reported missing until 11:35 a.m., Farber said.

He was found just before 2 p.m.

Officers later Tuesday were still conducting interviews, and no one had been ticketed, Farber 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.

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? When no American interests are at stake, the engagement becomes impossible to sustain.

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.
I am done with the empathy tour.

Done sitting with Trump supporters as they parrot the lies his victory was built on.

Done standing among the crowds for Trumps thank you tour as they insist theirs is not a campaign of xenophobia and divisiveness, while rabidly chanting, Build the wall!

Done fielding the hateful, racist, and misogynistic phone calls and emails and comments, which they argue are absolutely not hateful or racist or misogynistic.

Since President-elect Donald Trumps election, there has been a clarion call of empathy for rural, white, working class Americans  real America, were often told, as if black and brown working-class Americans living in cities are any less American.

Experts call this the double standard of deservedness.

I call it hypocrisy.

When African-Americans protest against profound racial inequality  unequal conditions that are directly traceable to discriminatory governmental policies  they are often condemned by the right as whiners who should simply try harder to remedy their own situations, University of California, Irvine, political scientist Michael Tesler wrote recently on the Huffington Post.

To quantify this double standard, he embedded an experiment in a HuffPost/YouGov survey. It asked half the respondents if they agreed or disagreed with this statement: Over the past few years, blacks have gotten less than they deserve.

The other half got the same statement, except blacks was changed to average Americans  a group, he wrote, that psychology research shows is implicitly synonymous with being white.

Guess the result?

The biggest double standard was among Trump voters, who thought African-Americans were much less deserving than average Americans.

Almost two-thirds of Trump voters said average Americans arent getting as much as they deserve; only 12 percent of Trump supporters said blacks have gotten less than they deserve.

Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, a professor of African-American studies at Princeton University, said this double standard has been a staple in the narrative of black American life.

As American as apple pie or white privilege or white entitlement. Or, racism  plain and simple.

This election, struggling rural whites looked at struggling urban blacks and decided their racial differences were more relevant than their shared economic struggles.

So they hitched their wagons to a billionaire who is filling his cabinet with more billionaires who wouldnt know economic anxiety if it bit them on their pampered behinds.

This is the politics of divisiveness, played to perfection by conservatives who condemned a campaign to stop the police killings of black youth, and who now demand special compassion for whites in the Rust Belt.

I can pinpoint the exact moment I felt the narrative turn. It was this summer, when a friend was being interviewed about the best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir about white working-class Americans that without once mentioning Trump offered a fascinating window into why so many white working-class people would embrace him.

As I listened, I remember thinking how quickly the conversation had turned from communities of color  Remember when Black Lives Matter issues dominated the headlines?  to white people, again.

And now here we are wringing our hands to empathize, to understand, turning ourselves inside out to come up with reparations for our dismissive attitude toward middle-America whites.

Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve, professor of criminal justice at Temple University, took a more optimistic approach to this duplicitous call for empathy. In addition to a rise of bigotry, shes also witnessed more people joining the fight against it.

There has never been a more important time to be bearing witness to racism, she said.

The empathy tour is over.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed -- Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (in part).

The statistic on the percentage of criminal cases that go to trial in Platte County no doubt raised a few eyebrows.

Only 1 percent or 2 percent of the 1,200 to 1,300 prosecutions filed each year end up in a trial before a jury or a judge, according to reporting by Columbus Telegram reporter Jim Osborn. Virtually all the remaining cases were settled with a plea bargain.

Platte County might be on the high end of the spectrum when it comes to plea bargains, but the situation there is not dramatically different elsewhere.

In Lincoln, about 5 percent or fewer cases go to trial in front of a jury or a judge, according to Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly.

Television and movie dramas create the impression in popular culture that jury trials are commonplace. But some legal experts think jury trials are almost obsolete.

In federal court 97 percent of criminal convictions are the result of guilty pleas,

U.S. District Judge John Gleeson wrote in a 2013 court opinion. In comparison, 81 percent of federal convictions in 1980 were the product of guilty pleas.

There is a powerful motivation for prosecutors to make plea bargains  it saves tax dollars. Sen. Paul Schumacher of Columbus, a former prosecutor, said, Weve got a luxury legal system that if it were rolled out all the time, we couldnt afford to use it.

And Platte County Public Defender Tim Matas is only being realistic when he says that the legal system would grind to a halt if a case went to trial every week.

But one has to question whether its healthy for justice for jury trials to almost vanish from the system.

Defendants are presumed innocent, and should be convicted only they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Is that happening in Platte County? Is it happening in Lancaster County?

In a jury trial the system is tested. Jury trials are a constitutionally guaranteed check against the abuse of prosecutorial power. Justice is delivered out in the open  not negotiated behind closed doors.

The right to a jury trial has been revered throughout American history. That the hallowed right seems to vanishing before our eyes is ought to do more than just raise eyebrows. For the sake of a healthy system of justice, its time to stem the trend, especially in Platte County.
Its time to stop the silliness. LIBA does not want to eliminate or shut down StarTran (" Much ado about city transportation ," Dec. 23). In fact, some of our members rely on StarTran to help employees get to work.

LIBA has simply pointed out that if the Lincoln roads plan passed as-is it would mean worse roads and more congestion. We also pointed out that the way we prioritize the allocation of our roads dollars needed to be examined.

Of the more than $400 million to be spent on StarTran, we pointed out that over $200 million was discretionary funding and that some of the discretionary funds, not all, might be used to help our roads system. LIBA testified at City Council that the city should rework the plan to address its deficiencies and work to avoid wheel tax increases. LIBA has never suggested making debilitating cuts to StarTran, nor have we asked the city to touch any of the needed StarTran matching funds. All we have said is that the plan could be, and needs to be, better.
A Christmas Eve fire has destroyed an auto shop in Howells.

Howells Fire Department was dispatched to Fiala Automotives shop at 9:18 Saturday night, Fire Chief Michael Semerad said.

Firefighters arrived to find heavy fire and smoke. They fought the blaze for hours in temperatures as low as 22 degrees before being able to bring it under control around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, Semerad said.

No injuries were reported and the building was unoccupied, although had several vehicles in it, he said.

Semerad said the building was a total loss. The Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause.
She didnt expect Chimney Rock to teach her so much.

She didnt expect to become so connected to the 325-foot landmark, almost possessive of it, that shed bristle slightly when she saw others taking its photo, too.

Or that shed be this sad that the project to photograph the monument every day during 2016 is over in a few days.

Its bittersweet, Sharon Henderson said this week. I got really attached to Chimney Rock. Really attached to it.

The Panhandle photographer and a friend, Rod Russell, really didn't know what to expect when they decided to capture a year's worth of sunsets at Chimney Rock, a milepost for pioneers who had traveled the Oregon, Mormon and California trails.

They planned to take turns traveling to the tower, and to post new photos on a Facebook page and, when the year was over, publish a book.

Not all of their plans held up. Though it was a 40-mile round trip for each of them, they often double-teamed the sunset, staking out the spire from different directions. They had to suspend the book idea when it became clear it would be too costly. So theyre selling calendars instead, each month a different picture of Chimney Rock.

But their Facebook page, CR365, became a popular place. Nearly 4,000 people follow it, and some shots of the rock get hundreds of likes. There are a lot of people that love Chimney Rock, she said. I think it reminds so many people of home, if they dont live here anymore.

On good nights, when the clouds danced with the light, they would take up to 400 photos. Even on stagnant nights, they would still shoot dozens. Then they would edit them down and post the best six or so.

It taught me a lot about a lot of things, Henderson said. It taught me about seeing a very long project through from beginning to end, it taught me that its not always an easy thing to do but it can be done.

It taught her the light surrounding Chimney Rock is never the same, the color combinations changing from moment to moment. Even though they took thousands of photos -- her cameras took a beating in the last year, she said -- they never took the same picture twice.

And that taught them both to be better photographers, she said.

They watched the land around the monument change, too. They started in winter and will end in winter, but in the months in between, the land was plowed, planted and harvested. Wheat and corn and sunflowers and hay.

We let the different seasons play with the way we framed the photos, Henderson said.

And the commitment they made taught her something about time. About how fast it can fly. She was surprised to realize they were 100 days in, then 200, then 300.

I dont think it made time go faster, but it made me aware of how fast it goes. If I had hated the project, it probably would have dragged out.

There were only a couple of nights in the past 12 months when she felt she was weighing her options: Take a trip out of town, for instance, or go shoot Chimney Rock.

Thats about as bad as it got, and I still did it. Its still the most peaceful time of my day, still the most tranquil part of my day.

The photographer's not sure what shell do Jan. 1. She might make the 21-mile drive to Chimney Rock out of habit. But she's also planning a new project for 2017 -- photographing a years worth of sunsets at Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Nebraskans wanting to donate or receive harvested deer can participate in the Deer Exchange.

This program is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. It brings together hunters who have a surplus of deer with recipients willing to accept the deer meat.

The Deer Exchange, which is available annually from Sept. 1 through March 1, allows hunters and potential venison recipients to join a database and search for other participating parties in their area. Parties will work out the details of the transfer. While the venison cannot be sold, recipients may pay for the processing or butchering of the meat. Donors and recipients can register online for free.

Recipients will have the choice of accepting whole field dressed deer, skinned and boned deer, wrapped and frozen deer or processed meat. Donors are responsible for properly field dressing and checking deer at a check station before transfer.

When transferring game animals, the hunter must provide the following information on a transfer tag: name, phone number, permit number or seal number, estimated weight of meat (in pounds), species of animal, date taken, signature of donor and name of recipient. A transfer tag is available in the 2016 Big Game Guide.

To join the Deer Exchange or view participants, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/deerexchangeprogram.
Dear Doctor: If I received the flu shot in September, will I still be protected from the flu in March?

Dear Reader: That's a very good question -- and the answer depends, in part, on your current health.

The flu season normally lasts from November to March, but it can begin in October and even end in May. The injected influenza vaccine, which contains three to four inactivated viruses from the prior flu season, spurs the formation of antibodies to help your body fight off influenza if you're exposed. It takes about two weeks after the vaccine for your body to produce sufficient protective antibodies.

If you are a young, healthy person under 50, you're more likely to get a good immune response from the vaccine -- and also more likely to have an immune response that lasts six to 12 months. You'll also have a greater and longer-lasting immune response if you get the flu vaccine every year. So if you got your shot in September, you should have immunity that lasts throughout the flu season.

If you're older than 50 and have diabetes, cancer, or kidney or liver failure, your ability to mount a good response from the vaccine decreases. So six months after your vaccination, you may not have sufficient antibodies to ward off the flu. This has been shown specifically for the H1N1 influenza virus. If you received the vaccine on Sept. 1, you may be less protected by April of the following year against H1N1.

This decreased immunity is especially pronounced in people over the age of 65. It decreases even further among those over 65 who have chronic illnesses.

Some pharmacies have been administering the flu vaccine as early as the middle of August. This isn't necessarily a bad thing for someone older than 65 or someone with chronic illnesses, because you still get immunity from the vaccine that should last through much of the flu season. Still, it's probably better to wait until at least the middle of September to get the flu vaccine just to ensure you're protected for as much of the flu season as possible.

Finally, it's especially important to get yearly flu vaccines if you are: older than 60; between the ages of 6 months and 4 years; have chronic illnesses; or are pregnant. The flu is especially risky for these groups.

While imperfect, the flu vaccine is the best way our society has found to decrease the death rates and the long-term complications from a potentially fatal disease that causes anywhere from 3,300 to 49,000 deaths per year in the United States.
Hanel delivered the coats to the students and spoke to them about bullying and the importance of being kind on Dec. 2.

Goodland Elementary School hosted a Soup, Sandwich and Solutions parent-teacher get-together to discuss the School Improvement Plan goals and the state report card results. Parents had the opportunity to engage in a variety of hands-on activities that will allow them to support the math and literacy goals of the school. It was during this event the students received their winter coats.
RACINE  The REAL School students only had three hours to use the supplies given to them to build a fluid-powered machine that would lift blocks onto an 11-inch platform.

The students competed at the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the annual Fluid Power Challenge in November against 41 other schools in southeastern Wisconsin.

They received the first-place award for teamwork for building a machine, with three eighth-graders executing the task and a fourth directing the action.

It was kind of (intimidating), said John Cisler, REAL School student. You just focus on the instructions and get it done.

About a month before the competition the students were introduced to the challenge through a math teacher who showed them a video.

When I watched the video I was like that would be pretty cool to do,  said Araya Cannalte, REAL School student, adding that they often stayed after school to work on the project. We all had different ideas here and there that really helped build this.

Cisler and Cannalte, along with classmates Brookelyn Tuinstra and Jordan Tuinstra all volunteered to be part of the team.

Even though you might not want to do it at the beginning, when youre first introduced to it, its fun, said Brookelyn Tuinstra, adding that she is interested in becoming an engineer. I know that if youre a girl and an engineer, theres a lot of jobs open.

Getting ready

The students spent one day on the MSOE campus before the competition to learn about fluid power and the supplies they would use. Then they had time to prepare for the big day.

In the three weeks, they were supposed to build a prototype and come up with an idea that they could re-create in three hours, said Blair Kath, REAL School teacher.

Kath is a theater teacher, but helped the students prepare for the competition, often telling them Im learning this with you.

The task of building something powered by water seemed like a huge challenge.

When we started this I thought this is going to be a lot of work,  Cannalte said. But once the science and designs were explained to her, her confidence grew. I was getting it and it seems easier to me now  I look at it differently now.

It was the REAL Schools first time entering the competition and they brought home a first-place trophy. REAL School Principal Curt Shircel said the school is proud of the students accomplishment.

It gives them a chance to have a little fun, design some things and spark that interest, Shircel said.

Shircel said activities like this will help students as they enter into high school to decide with of the Academies of Racine theyd like to go into when they start.

We will start looking for these other opportunities to gage their interest, Shircel said. As they go into ninth grade theyre going to be able to decide if this a pathway that they want to pursue.
RACINE  Julian Thomas Elementary School students got the chance to learn from one of their peers recently.

It was part of the first meeting of Brothers of Purpose, a group of student leaders that meet once a month to improve their leadership skills.

Gifford Elementary School student Alex Hart spoke to the boys about starting his own business, Build a Bow, and what it takes to make his business successful.

After his brief presentation, Julian Thomas Elementary School students had the opportunity to design their own bow ties.
MUSKEGO  More than 30 care packages from Muskego High School were shipped on Dec. 7 to troops stationed overseas.

The numerous care packages are a result of Warriors for Troops, a service project coordinated by Muskego High Schools National Business Honors Society. President Megan Curley brought the project idea forward.

This project is very close to Curleys heart as Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Curley, her father, just returned from Isa Air Base in the Kingdom of Bahrain in July. With her dad deployed last Christmas, Curley knew that a service project like this would bring a lot of joy to troops at this time of the year. Curley researched the different items soldiers would likely want while overseas and planned to help gather the donations.

Care packages consisted of sunflower seeds, beef jerky, beef sticks, Rice Krispie treats, red and black licorice, Tootsie Pops, chocolate, nuts, shaving cream, deodorant, and a letter of appreciation. Money was also donated to cover costs of shipping and for additional care package supplies. The National Business Honors Society received donations from students, parents, staff and local businesses. The goal of 30 care packages was met and the cash donations allowed the National Business Honors Society to purchase iTunes gift cards to include in the care packages.

Jennie Curley, Curleys mother and Air Force reservist in the 440th Airlift Wing based out of Milwaukee, and her father are very proud of Megan for tackling this project. He went on to say, I dont believe Megan, and her fellow students, realize how much joy they will bring to the soldiers and sailors who will be the recipients of the care packages.
RACINE Dont call it a shortage, but if the Racine Unified School District could add more school counselors, social workers and psychologists, it would.

At the high school level theres one social worker for 1,600 to 2,100 kids, said Andrea Rittgers, director of student services for Unified. Theyre busy. Id like to get some more support for them.

At the high school level, there are about six school counselors, one full-time psychologist and one part-time psychologist. Teachers and other school staff members also assist with any issues.

Everybody pitches in with a student or situation, Rittgers said. They all communicate with one another to make sure whatever the need is, is being met.

Every school has support staff, Rittgers said, but the number of staff members available varies by school.

There are other support staff available, Rittgers said. So theyre maybe taking on some of the things that the social workers would do at other levels because, generally, there are more of them.

Unified has 83 support staff members. Many of them split their time between two schools.

At the elementary level some share, some have one support staff member whos full-time and another thats shared with another building, Rittgers said. Some of our elementary (schools) have a full-time social worker. Others do a 60/40 split  Id like to increase that.

The support staff are critical, Rittgers said, to understanding whats going on in a students home that may affect their learning.

Thats part of their role, is helping find whatever is going on in a childs life and in their familys life causing this barrier that is not allowing them to have academic success, Rittgers said. Their role is to help the families remove that barrier so that the students can have academic success. They work a lot with our families.

Time spent in classroom

On top of responding to the daily needs of students at all levels, Rittgers said the counselors offer guidance lessons in classrooms at minimum once a month in every single classroom.

For our larger schools, thats a hefty chunk of classroom visits, Rittgers said.

Many support staff members work with special-education students, she said: They service them for a number of minutes each week and work on, generally, behavioral topics.

Focus on mental health

Unifieds Deputy Superintendent Eric Gallien said the amount of need is driven by the students  not necessarily the staff  but in the past few years the district has added one or two additional full-time-equivalent staff members.

Right now we meet the threshold to provide the minimum services, Gallien said. We want to increase that, and so each year we set a list of budget priorities that go over and beyond what we would normally provide schools.

The biggest issue, district officials say, seems to be finding the funding to hire more staff to be full time at one school instead of splitting between two schools.

We had talked to the board (at the end of summer) when we were finalizing our budget, about adding social workers, specifically at the elementary level, said Stacy Tapp, chief of communication and community engagement for Unified.

That was a priority for us at the time; the budget didnt allow it at the time. The board made the decision that didnt prioritize that at the time, but thats something weve continued to look at.

District officials said the School Board has been supportive of increasing support staff members.

This year, the district expanded its number of mental health clinics, going from two  one each at SC Johnson Elementary and Wadewitz Elementary  to three, with one at Knapp Elementary.

Gallien said improving mental health services is a major priority for the district.

To do it on-site seems to be a more effective model, he said. And where we have those services, were seeing tremendous impact on school climate as well as the staff.
The Republican lawmaker who introduced a bill last year to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring guns inside university buildings says he will reintroduce the proposal in the Legislatures upcoming session because he believes students are still at risk when they cant bring weapons with them to campus.

But many of those students, as well as professors, university administrators and law enforcement officials, say the proposal from Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, would make them less safe by letting people take guns into classrooms, faculty offices and other areas.

So before Kremer formally introduces his proposal a second time, opposition groups already have begun their efforts to lobby the public and legislators against the bill.

Permit holders have been allowed to bring concealed weapons onto the grounds of Wisconsin public universities and technical colleges since the states concealed carry law was passed in 2011, but the law allowed institutions to ban weapons within their buildings, which many  including UW-Madison  have done.

Kremer and other advocates for concealed carry say that means any permit holder who plans on entering a campus building in effect cant bring their weapon with them on their way to and from campus. Students are then more vulnerable to crime on and around their universities, he argues.

Were treating (students) like second-class citizens, Kremer said. We have safety issues around our college campuses, and we should not be advertising to the criminals that our students walking to and from schools have zero protection.

His 2015 bill eliminated the exception that allows universities to ban weapons within buildings.

The proposal was met with a wave of resistance, including opposition from every police chief and chancellor in the University of Wisconsin System, and never received a public hearing or a vote.

With the Legislatures 2017-18 session set to begin in January, Kremer said he will reintroduce the proposal. Citing posts about safety on the site Niche.com, where students rate their colleges, Kremer said problems with crime havent gone away.

Building opposition

News that Kremer is planning to revive his bill has spurred UW students and officials into action.

UW-Madison officials say they have started talking with legislators ahead of the next session to build opposition, noting their concerns with the potential that the bill could lead to weapons being allowed in dorms or venues such as Camp Randall Stadium.

Adding concealed weapons to the many challenges our police department has to deal with would put everyone at risk, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank wrote in a Dec. 13 statement. We remain absolutely opposed to any changes that would weaken the current prohibition on concealed weapons in campus buildings.

Members of UW-Madisons student government held a day of lobbying Dec. 15 in which students, parents and faculty called lawmakers to express their opposition to the proposal.

Bills prospects unknown

Its not yet clear whether the idea will have better odds in the Legislature a second time around.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in 2015 that he never heard an outcry of support for the proposal from his Republican colleagues. Asked how much of a priority Vos will consider the bill in the upcoming session, spokeswoman Kit Beyer said, The new session starts in January, so the speaker hasnt had a caucus discussion on the issue.

Rep. Dave Murphy, R-Greenville, the chairman of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, where the first iteration of the bill was sent, said he is planning to talk with Kremer about the proposal.

I would like to see that bill be very concise  and make sure that its a bill I can support, Murphy said.

UW-Madison students have said they are concerned that lawmakers could act on the bill in early January, when many of them will be away from campus for winter break. The universitys spring semester starts Jan. 17.

But while Kremer said he plans to introduce his proposal early in the session, he doubts the bill would be ready by early January. Kremer said he has not decided how or when he will introduce it, nor has he found a co-sponsor.

This is a real concern and an issue, he said. But is it something that we need to roll out day one? I dont think so.
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